Chapter 3: Clear Sky After Rain
Chen Ping'an simply stood silently on the city wall, as if patiently waiting for dawn.
Song Yunjian, also known by his Dao name Yingning, was happy to "use public office for private gain," taking a few more glances at the scenery of the capital. Whether day or night made no difference to a quasi-flying-ascension existence like Song Yunjian—his vision was unconstrained.
A group of visitors arrived at the city wall. Song Yunjian silently bowed to them.
Chen Ping'an snapped out of his reverie and asked with a smile, "Why has Your Majesty come?"
Emperor Song He said, "I came to see you."
Chen Ping'an teased, "Afraid I might abandon the job?"
Song He reached out and touched the city wall, his fingertips feeling its roughness and also the coolness of the summer night. "I'm both afraid that Great Li's tomorrow will be full of uncertainty, and I feel that if the court no longer had you, National Teacher Chen, just thinking about it seems relaxing. But these two thoughts have been fighting, and in the end, the former won. So when I learned that National Teacher Chen had returned safely to the capital, I was happy."
Cui Chan was not only the former National Teacher of Great Li but also the teacher of Emperor Song He. Song He knew Cui Chan's character well. Chen Ping'an was the only successor, with no substitute. So once Chen Ping'an stopped being Great Li's National Teacher, the Great Li dynasty would truly become the sole dynasty of the Song family. That was indeed a temptation, neither small nor large.
Song Yunjian had a thought: if there really were no National Teacher Chen, this Great Li emperor would be quenching his thirst with poison.
Chen Ping'an smiled slightly. "That feeling is understandable. It's like when you're squatting in an outhouse in a village, and there's a group of people chatting outside."
Song He was startled, then burst into laughter. He had lived in a village before. Song Yunjian, however, didn't quite understand the tacit understanding between the two on this matter.
Chen Ping'an explained, "From tonight onward, I will truly treat Your Majesty with sincerity. Previously, circumstances forced me to be more calculating; I simply couldn't afford a single misstep."
Song He said, "Mr. Chen doesn't need to tell me the specific reasons. I'm not very concerned with matters of the mountains or the heavens. What I care most about, as the person called by this name, is whether a year from now, from the richest places to the harshest cold regions, every citizen of Great Li can earn a few more silver coins. Whether the northern markets, the southern temple fairs, and the southwestern street gatherings can become livelier around the New Year. Whether more children, when they first learn the character 'human' and follow their teachers to bow before the portrait and plaque of the Supreme Sage, will increase. Whether the military preparedness of Great Li's border forces can be raised another level."
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then said, "The future 'Great Li' that the late emperor and Senior Brother Cui once envisioned but never achieved—Your Majesty and I can definitely accomplish it and see it."
Song He said, "Mr. Chen, then I'll really take you at your word?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Within thirty years, we'll be number one."
Song He spread his arms and slapped his hands heavily on the city wall. "Good, then I can go back and sleep peacefully."
Chen Ping'an reached out and patted the emperor's arm, teasing, "With two sons and a daughter at such a young age, Your Majesty has worked hard."
Song He couldn't help laughing. "Then you should get moving too."
Song Yunjian felt somewhat emotional. Wasn't the so-called perfect harmony between ruler and minister, as described in books, exactly this?
He believed that over the past hundred years, the emperors of the Song family of Great Li must have had extremely complex feelings about that "embroidered tiger" (referring to Cui Chan) deep in their hearts.
From initial suspicion and belief, to surprise and excitement, then to jealousy, hatred, and fear? Ultimately resigning to fate and becoming inspired?
Song He turned and said, "When I interacted with my teacher (Cui Chan), I actually didn't dare speak my true thoughts. I was afraid of saying the wrong thing, afraid of failing to grasp his meaning, afraid of losing his patience."
He paused briefly and added self-deprecatingly, "It's not that I'm trying to curry favor or build a relationship with you, Mr. Chen, by saying this. If I did that, it would only backfire."
Chen Ping'an nodded.
Song He rubbed his hands together and said, "My teacher once tested me with a question: what has changed the least among human affairs over the past ten thousand years?"
Chen Ping'an answered without hesitation, "The human heart."
Song He said with mixed feelings, "I really don't understand the embroidered tiger as well as you, Mr. Chen."
On the mountains, places of cultivation only distinguish between true self and false self. In the mortal official world, it's like constantly diminishing the self and enlarging the heart.
On the true battlefield, it can be summed up simply as life and death. In the marketplace, it seems everything can't surpass the word "money."
Chen Ping'an said frankly, "The Chen Ping'an before today might have said that any decision from the National Teacher's mansion could be suggested, objected to, or vetoed by Your Majesty. At most, I would add, 'I am extremely sincere. Strategy shows in words, character shows in deeds. The National Teacher's mansion welcomes Your Majesty's supervision.' That would seem to hand the initiative to Emperor Song He, but in truth, it's a trap. Your Majesty is ultimately not the executor of these state policies. After two or three mistakes, Your Majesty would naturally lose confidence and ultimately delegate all power."
"This might be the optimal solution selected from a hundred or thousand sentences derived from several meanings."
Chen Ping'an smiled and pointed to his own head. "Saying such things doesn't require using the brain."
"Now, of course, I still have such insights, but I prioritize them as candidates. I consciously pause, think more, and deliberately make things difficult for myself."
The former is like being in a sea of clouds, the emotions displayed seeming affectionate and gentle but actually too precise to be scrutinized. Too flawless, too detached.
The latter is like squatting somewhere, looking at a flower growing out of a patch of mud, protecting it with both hands, glaring at a passerby who might step on it, getting angry, cursing, or even getting up to fight.
The truth of history: some parts exist, some don't, some exist again. It's like each of our unique memories.
Each present moment of our lives is like the layers of soil on the earth, accumulated layer upon layer into a surface.
Song He sighed, "Sincerity and rectification of the heart are nothing more than this."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Still far from it."
Song He suddenly asked, "Can that collapsed earth god temple on the old village road be repaired this year?"
Chen Ping'an nodded with a smile. "Definitely."
Many people, matters, and things, if forgotten by one generation, might be completely lost forever. For example, certain dialects, certain pavilions, or that Chenghu (Blessings) Temple that the emperor never forgets.
Song Yunjian could see that the emperor treasured that period of village life very much.
The ten great dynasties of Haoran. The Central Divine Continent occupies five: Chenguan Dynasty, Da Duan Cao Clan, Da Shou Yin Clan, Xuanmi Dynasty, and Shaoyuan Dynasty.
The Song Clan of Great Li in Eastern Treasure Vase Continent is third, the Da Yuan Lu Clan in Northern Reed Continent is last. Additionally, there is one each in the Aiai (White) Continent, Liuxia (Flowing Sunset) Continent, and Southern Shakyamuni Continent.
Fuyao Continent, Golden Armor Continent, and Tongye (Paulownia Leaf) Continent currently have no strong countries that can enter this list.
This is like an invisible, very hidden struggle for the Great Way.
Of course, the Da Shou Yin Clan is bound to fall from this list. Several dynasties on the Central Divine Continent, like the Da Yong Dynasty, have a chance to fill the gap.
Cao Xiong said he wanted to go to Great Li's secondary capital and the Qi River crossing area. Lu Jun also got permission from National Teacher Yang Houjue to see more of Great Li's local customs. So the two crown princes decided to travel south in a wandering martial arts manner. One took the alias Cao Lue, the other Lu Jun, pretending to be attendants of Canal Commander Liu Shuai. They would ride out of the capital together at dawn.
As for whether they would leave a name in the martial world or meet some female warriors and have some romantic stories... they were very confident about that.
Before "setting out to return to the palace," Song He remembered something and asked, "Da Quan's female emperor Yao Jinzhi?"
Song Yunjian chuckled silently. So even an emperor is human and curious about these "unofficial histories"?
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Although she is a woman, she is a good emperor."
Song He hummed in acknowledgment.
Song He pointed into the distance and said, "I once stood here with my teacher, looking into the distance at that central great river that was about to be dammed."
"My teacher said it might flood, harming both banks, or it might dry up, causing despair for those who rely on it for irrigation. But it might also bring favorable weather and national peace from then on."
Song He smiled. Perhaps in his teacher's eyes, even he, the student, along with all the civil and military officials of Great Li, were just children learning to read.
Chen Ping'an also thought of a certain "question" from his senior brother.
Little junior brother, to truly surpass Yu Dou, it's not just about sword techniques and Daoist methods, is it?
Chen Ping'an turned to look at Song Yunjian, who understood and dispelled the illusion covering the city wall. Chen Ping'an silently took a step back.
In the lamplight, people began to see the flash of imperial yellow and the blue robe on the city wall.
On the road outside the city, someone was the first to recognize the new National Teacher, and someone shouted "Your Majesty!" Eventually, along the winding line of bright lights, everyone was shouting "Great Li! Great Li!"
---
Once again, we had to trouble Divine Lord Wei to use a translocation technique that comprehends all methods through one method, sending Chen Ping'an directly to Gathering Spirit Peak.
Originally, the late-night snack was supposed to be hotpot, but after some discussion, certain people felt that hotpot might not showcase the old cook's exquisite skills, so they decided to just make a couple of small dishes.
The number of registered members of Fallen Mountain was indeed not large, but there were many small factions.
Several tables were set up in the old cook's courtyard, with the faction lines clearly displayed on the tables.
For example, Pei Qian, Nuan Shu, and Xiao Mili belonged to the "Bamboo Tower lineage." So even the mountain master's wife was pulled over by Xiao Mili. Pei Qian also called over the chief law-enforcement officer, Chang Ming, to sit with them.
Since Ning Yao was sitting there, the reserve disciple Sun Chunwang naturally had to follow, and Chang Ming certainly had to bring her beloved disciple. So that made a big table.
Guo Zhujiu, Xie Gou, and the White-Haired Boy belonged to a small faction that wanted to compete for attention with the Bamboo Tower lineage, especially Pei Qian. Xiao Mo was also pulled over by Xie Gou to sit at their table.
Bai Xuan sitting at this table was certainly significant.
The leading big brother, Zhong Qian, led the lazy fellows like Chen Lingjun, Zheng Dafeng, and Wen Zixi to join Guo Zhujiu's table, but they were already shouting for wine and meat.
What kind of behavior was that? Outrageous! Were all the soldiers I led such useless eaters? Zhong Qian frowned slightly, raised his hand and pressed down twice, and Chen Lingjun and the others immediately quieted down.
Those sword cultivators like Qi Tingji and Lu Zhi sat alone at a table. They were all curious about one thing: how did that golden body realm martial artist with a toothpick in his mouth have such high prestige?
Was the dining table his place of cultivation? Or did he have a natal flying sword named "Late-Night Snack"?
The gatekeeper Daoist had long gone to sleep, snoring like thunder. Wen Zixi went to the house at the foot of the mountain twice to call him but couldn't wake up Daoist Celestial Wei. So Wen Zixi decided to ask the old cook to make two more stir-fried dishes, and after the snack, he'd take a food box to Celestial Wei.
The old deaf man (Old Long'er) received the notice from Gathering Spirit Peak. But this Gan Yiban, who had moved away from the Sword Worship Platform and built a thatched hut on Huaying Peak, was now devoted to teaching. He said that the period of ren (9-11 PM) and the transition between day and night (11 PM-1 AM) were two critical moments for immortal cultivation lessons. The several Daoist formulas he taught required effort during these times. He couldn't rest easy, so he had to watch over those children. He would save the late-night snack for later.
Wei Bo sat at Zhong Qian's table. After all, Ning Yao's table was all women, and Qi Tingji's table was all sword immortals from the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. Fortunately, a seat beside Wei Bo was reserved for Zhu Lian.
There was another table: the Old Scholar, Cui Dongshan (who was about to be promoted to vice mountain master), Chief Zhou (Zhou Mi), Cao Qinglang, Deng Jianping, Ning Ji, and Zhao Shuxia. An empty seat was left for the mountain master.
Chen Ping'an hurried into the courtyard, sat down, and smiled at his teacher beside him. The Old Scholar was the first to pick up his chopsticks, grinning. "Let's get to work!"
For any other sect, if a cultivator fell from the fourteenth realm—let alone a flying-ascension realm cultivator falling all the way from flying ascension to immortal, to jade pu, to nascent soul—wouldn't that be a sky falling?
But in the courtyard of Gathering Spirit Peak, that sable-hatted young girl who had kicked off her boots and was sitting cross-legged was still being "competitive," cheeks puffed out with food, mumbling, "Although I didn't fall as many realms as the mountain master, I started falling from the flying-ascension realm..." The exuberant Gang Leader Xie was speaking with gusto when Alliance Leader Guo, prompted by a look from a certain white-haired deputy gang leader, suggested she kick off her boots too.
Wen Zixi was toasting to the next table with Vice Mountain Master Jiang, saying, "We're brothers, no need for many words. I'll go first. Our friendship is in the wine. In the future, help your brother out more..."
Ning Yao was picking up food for Pei Qian, Xiao Mili, and the others.
Wei Bo raised his cup with the old cook, and they clinked lightly, each drinking it all in one gulp.
Chen Lingjun finished a chicken leg, stood up, held his cup with both hands, and said he'd take the lead—everyone should toast to the Old Sage of Literary Studies. He'd make a round at this table first, the rest of you follow.
Chen Ping'an glanced sideways at the blue-robed child (Chen Lingjun), who immediately wilted. Unexpectedly, the Old Scholar laughed and said, "Alright, alright," and instead pulled his closed-door disciple to his feet, saying that as the teacher, he should lead the mountain master in toasting everyone first.
The Old Scholar stood there and quietly asked Chen Ping'an, "Can you drink?" Chen Ping'an smiled. "Dealing with them is no problem. Whether I can drink or not doesn't matter."
There was a burst of laughter. Everyone except for Ning Yao's table declared they wouldn't accept it. Even Ning Ji was eager to try, planning to have a small drink with his teacher, but worried it might be inappropriate. Then he saw that Senior Brother Cao and Senior Brother Zhao had already stood up with cups, ready to test their teacher.
Pei Qian stood up with a smile. Instead of using a cup, she poured a full bowl of wine and picked up a jug. Cao Qinglang, sensing the situation was unfavorable, immediately sat back down to avoid the initial onslaught. Zhao Shuxia deliberately turned his head to chat with Deng Jianping beside him. In an instant, only Ning Ji was left standing there foolishly, looking at his teacher, waiting for a drink.
What night is tonight? Bright moon, heavenly heart.
The Azure Cloud Gentleman has asked about the Dao and the sword. The wanderer in the martial world has asked about grudges and fists. Have you all asked anyone about wine?
---
The capital is the premier place of a nation. The most powerful officials and the richest people of the Great Li dynasty all exert their utmost effort here, pursuing more power and wealth, achieving their ambitions or aspirations. The rise and fall of power and the endless flow of wealth know no day or night. Tonight's capital is especially so. Those with clear eyes know that after tonight, tomorrow, Great Li's officialdom will face a thrilling great purge. Many officials who seem glued to their chairs in various government offices, along with their families, will lose their former glory. At the same time, many who have become disheartened will, as soon as dawn breaks and after the grand court and small court sessions, win seats, reputations, and power they wouldn't even dare dream of in their wildest fantasies.
In the Yuan family of Yichi Lane, the head of the family Yuan Chong, the old man who had controlled the Censorate for many years, ignored the anxious relatives and leaders of various branches who were like ants on a hot pan. Yuan Chong only summoned Yuan Cheng and his sister Xu Mi, and also invited a "peer" from the family whom he hadn't seen for years, the sword immortal Yuan Huajing.
Not far from the Yuan mansion, in the Wei family, several young men including Wei Jia had already been beaten to death with canes. The women were kneeling outside the ancestral hall, weeping in a huddle.
Vice Minister Dong Hu rode in his carriage through the side gate into the Zhao mansion of Tianshui (Celestial Water) to meet Minister of Rites Zhao Duanjin. Regarding the blockade of Old Oriole Lake during the day, both the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial had officials involved.
Sun Changmao, who had recently been promoted from the Court of State Ceremonial to the Office of Transmission, then transferred to become Minister of Personnel—a "heavenly official" of the dynasty—closed his doors to visitors.
But actually, the old man secretly sent for Guan Yiran, a director of a bureau in the Ministry of Revenue. "Closing doors" meant refusing colleagues and outsiders. Guan Yiran was a child he had watched grow up and had high hopes for as a younger generation member. Moreover, who in Great Li's officialdom, or indeed the entire Treasure Vase Continent, didn't know that the Ministry of Personnel of Great Li belonged to the Guan family? And that Guan Laoyezi (Old Master Guan) could be so overbearing was tacitly accepted by three successive Song emperors of Great Li and the former National Teacher Cui Chan.
The old man asked, "Yiran, do you think you're a good person?"
Guan Yiran smiled. "How should I say this."
Sun Changmao continued, "Can you be an honest and capable official who will leave a good name in history, especially one recognized by the common people?"
Guan Yiran said, "I certainly have confidence. As for the result, we'll have to see after a few decades. It's not for me to decide."
Sun Changmao was silent for a moment, then said, "At tomorrow's small court, I will propose to His Majesty and the National Teacher that you be transferred to the Ministry of Personnel."
Guan Yiran thought for a moment and asked, "A meteoric rise, straight to minister?"
Sun Changmao laughed and cursed, "You brat! Even a right vice minister might not pass, and you want minister? How about I bring the official hat over and let you wear it for a while to satisfy your craving for being a minister?"
A direct promotion to Vice Minister of Personnel was not easy. In fact, it was precisely the surname "Guan" that made Guan Yiran's promotion speed far slower than the other two chief supervisors of the great river. There was an inside story that ordinary officials couldn't understand: Old Master Guan had originally communicated with the "higher-ups," deliberately letting Guan Yiran undergo more tempering for... a dozen or so years. The court would then observe the situation. If he performed well, he'd be promoted. If not, Guan Yiran would be a mid-level official of Great Li for life. Moreover, during these years, Guan Yiran could be transferred to various ministries for experience, but he could not be placed in the Guan family's Ministry of Personnel. Otherwise, all the Guan family's many allied families, former students, and subordinates would do their utmost to promote Guan Yiran, helping him solve all problems outside the Ministry of Personnel.
Sun Changmao also had his own calculations. If proposing Guan Yiran's promotion to Vice Minister of Personnel didn't work, he would then suggest sending Guan Yiran out of the capital to be a prefect in some prefecture. Which prefecture? The old man had already thought of one: poor, remote, with a pitifully small registered population. But a prefect was still a prefect, an official position in a frontier region. Guan Yiran could thus enter the ranks of a nation's regional officials.
Guan Yiran smiled. "Being an official in the Ministry of Personnel isn't really being an official. It's being a peacemaker who is both constrained and can be promoted while lying down. Grandfather Sun, I'll go to Ju Prefecture instead. The poorest, smallest borderland with bitter cold."
Sun Changmao felt both gratified and distressed. "Ju Prefecture? That's too impoverished. The people there have been fierce since ancient times, miasma abounds, and it's a place where political and religious education hasn't been established..."
Guan Yiran brushed his hand over his head and laughed. "But the official hat is the same size as any other prefect."
"Then let it be settled. If you don't become the prefect, don't come crying and making a scene at my place."
The old man nodded, then was silent for a moment. He sighed, "When I was young, reading those martial arts novels and courtroom stories, I'd always see some 'Lord Qingtian' (Impartial Sky) descending from the clouds as it were, overturning all the wrong verdicts and redressing injustices overnight. Or a new Number One Scholar, having studied hard in poverty, without any official experience, would gain the emperor's favor and quickly govern a place with perfect order, with every citizen living and working in peace and contentment."
Guan Yiran smiled. "Novels and stories, right? They cater to the readers' desire to vent their frustrations. Emotional satisfaction first, logical coherence second. Life is already not easy, why seek trouble in books?"
Sun Changmao squinted at Guan Yiran. "Books are books, the world is the world. Pages can be turned or not, based on personal preference. But life is something you open your eyes to every day. So now, with the young National Teacher Chen at the helm of the great ship of Great Li, do you think it's logical or emotional?"
Guan Yiran smiled slightly. "Both emotional and logical, with both tied for first."
The old man nodded. "That's good. That's good."
In the dead of night, the streets of Yichi Lane outside the mansion would occasionally become noisy and chaotic.
Yan Yongfeng, the Chief Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, a short, wiry man who was the head of the Yan clan of Purple Radiance, was eating chilled watermelon with his elder brother Yan Jiaoran, looking completely at ease.
On Chi'er (Whistle) Street, there was also a lot of activity. In addition to cavalry soldiers from the ordinary Office of Military Affairs led by Hong Ji, there were also army-following cultivators selected and promoted by Yan Jiaoran himself, responsible for making arrests.
Those being taken out of various high-ranking mansions were mostly young faces and young adults who had a lot of standing in the capital of Great Li. If they were this influential in the capital, they would only have more status and position in the provinces.
As for whether these people, who were simultaneously called home from all corners of the capital by their families, would be thrown directly into the Ministry of Justice's prison, sent to the Grand Court of Adjudication for sentencing, or taken to the Censorate for trial, it depended on how many 'Grain Rain coins' they had earned during the excavation of the great river. Occasionally, some powerful, elderly capital officials would shout loudly about the clauses and provisions of Great Li's laws, demanding to know if people recognized them or not.
Not only were the streets and lanes where Great Li's aristocrats gathered surrounded by cavalry soldiers and army-following cultivators, but several wards were also sealed off, especially brightly lit.
The mansion of the Minister of Revenue, Mu Yan—who was hailed as the nation's prime minister of finance—was not on Yichi Lane or Chi'er Street. He came from a local, modestly well-off gentry family.
Mu Yan, nearing fifty, was an extremely shrewd official with a rare nose for money and account books. That was why he had been specially promoted from Left Vice Minister of Justice to Minister of Revenue, replacing Ma Yuan as the nation's prime minister of finance.
And tonight, the Minister of Justice, Ma Yuan, wearing his official robes, personally visited Mu Yan's house. Looking at the pale, colorless Minister of Revenue and the shuddering children of Mu Yan, Ma Yuan said calmly, "It's better for me to take you away in person than to have you escorted by armored soldiers."
By the Cattail River, there was a medium-sized tavern. A fat man led a timid-looking but curious girl on a tour of the tavern's main hall, private rooms, and kitchen. By their side was Cao Gengxin, wearing a purple gourd at his waist, persuading Miss Chen Xi to take a job here. If Boss Wei dared to have improper intentions or make unwanted advances, he, Cao Gengxin, would personally throw Fat Wei into the Ministry of Justice prison and make him lose a hundred catties of fat... Fat Wei stomped his foot in anxiety, making the floorboards shake, insisting he was a proper person, and telling Miss Chen Xi not to listen to Brother Cao's nonsense...
The girl from out of town squinted with a smile, hesitating to speak, but finally couldn't help asking Cao Gengxin softly, "Brother Cao, is your official position bigger than Magistrate Han's?" Cao Gengxin sighed, preened, and slapped his wine gourd, saying, "Miss, your experience is a bit shallow now. The official hat on my head, now that's big. When Magistrate Han, a sesame-seed official, sees me, his tongue will tie up. I only need to glare and snort, and he'll get flustered. So, Miss Chen Xi, rest assured. Since we've sworn brotherhood and sisterhood, when you go out to buy rouge and powder, just be full of confidence, bargain loudly with the shopkeepers and vendors..."
The girl was bewildered. When had they sworn brotherhood and sisterhood...
---
On the mountain path from Gathering Spirit Peak to the Ancestral Hall of Ji Se (Clear Sky) Peak, they were walking in twos and threes. Clouds and mist swirled, carrying a faint smell of wine.
The Old Scholar had already returned to the Central Divine Temple of Literary Studies. The workload was heavy, because the two worlds were about to clash head-on. According to the Old Scholar, not only was the Second Sage truly angered, but the three Deputy Masters of the Temple had also clearly stated that, except for the severely weakened Fuyao, Tongye, and Golden Armor Continents, the remaining continents would continue to draw troops to send to the Barren Wastes. Ferries, equipment, and all necessary war materials were to be maximized within half a year. All immortal palaces and cultivation grounds would have to contribute people, money, and effort, with no exceptions.
Wen Zixi wasn't even a registered member of Fallen Mountain. Earlier, he wanted to take his leave and go down the mountain, but Chen Ping'an insisted he stay, saying they should go together.
Zhong the First, with a toothpick in his mouth, was delighted to learn he could participate in the Ancestral Hall meeting, and even his hiccups stopped.
Wei Bo suggested being cautious and waiting at least half a year before activating Fallen Mountain's protective formation, which was both offensive and defensive.
Qi Tingji and Mi Yu would travel together to the Barren Wastes world, going to the Return to Ruins Ferry where Heavenly Master Zhao Tianlai and Fire Dragon True Person were located.
Guo Du had already handed over the map of the interior of the Barren Wastes to the Literary Sage.
Chen Ping'an told Xie Gou to call over Old Long'er to join the Ancestral Hall meeting. Old Long'er was somewhat reluctant. The mountain master should just give orders, and he, an ordinary guest elder, would follow them. Formal meetings were not his place.
Entering the Ancestral Hall, they offered incense one by one and took their seats. Chen Ping'an got straight to the point. "In the next hundred years, there will be more newly emerged flying-ascension and fourteenth-realm cultivators. The mountain world will only become more chaotic. The grudges accumulated over many years are very likely to erupt in the short term. For Dao cultivators, this century, blessed by that rain of divinity falling upon the human world, will be a great era not seen in ten thousand years. This applies to immortal cultivators seeking the Dao, as well as pure martial artists at the foot of the mountain. All sorts of strange phenomena and coincidences will become increasingly dazzling. Fallen Mountain has received opportunities and gifts from the Great Way, and there will certainly be no shortage of them. So now, those who need to go into secluded cultivation should do so as soon as possible. Those who need to heal wounds should do so thoroughly. Those who need to break through realms should do so quickly. There is no time to waste; the opportunity will not come again."
"For those who are teachers to others, apart from improving and accumulating their own Dao power, transmitting the Dao is a top priority. All the spiritual materials, immortal money, magical instruments, and pills needed for cultivation and martial arts training by the members of the Ancestral Hall and all your disciples—just ask Wei Wenlong, our great accountant. If it can be given or not, give it. If the mountain doesn't have it, go buy it or borrow it. This applies to Fallen Mountain, as well as the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect and the Green Duckweed Sword Sect."
"Jiang Shangzhen is promoted to Vice Mountain Master. Xie Gou supplements as Chief Guest Elder. Gan Tang supplements as Second Guest Elder. Xiao Mo remains an ordinary guest elder, as he needs to go into secluded cultivation for a considerable time."
"Jiang Shangzhen will go to Book and Sword Lake to take over the True Realm Sect. Whether the name of the lower sect needs to be changed, as suggested by Cui Dongshan to 'Book and Sword Lake,' we won't discuss tonight. Jiang Shangzhen only needs to make a decision and then inform Fallen Mountain. Besides that, whether the new lower sect needs to borrow a few upper fifth-realm cultivators from the Green Duckweed Sword Sect can be discussed privately between Sect Leaders Jiang and Cui."
"As for myself, in the near future, I'll be running between two places: attending court in the capital as Great Li's National Teacher, and returning at night to the Fuyao Lu cultivation ground. I'll use the opportunity of rebuilding from the ruins to observe the Dao through 'Daoist Ding' (referring to a person)."
"Xiao Mo and Xie Gou, before you go into your respective secluded cultivation, you must have a good discussion with Gan Tang to see if you can help resolve the problem of the clashing flying swords."
Currently, the only top-tier combat power that can stay on the mountain for a long time seems to be Old Long'er, a flying-ascension realm cultivator.
Xie Gou crossed her arms and chuckled. "I'm just a nascent soul realm cultivator, but I'm being presumptuous enough to teach a flying-ascension old immortal. How tense! I'm just afraid that Old Gan (Gan Yiban) — oh, now we should respectfully call him Second Guest Elder — if he hears something he doesn't like, his killing intent and ferocity might surge, and he'll slap off my dog head."
Old Long'er said solemnly, "Down the mountain, they say taking a teacher is like being reborn. On the mountain, the grace of transmitting the Dao is like receiving a new life. Don't mention master-disciple status; even if I were to acknowledge Brother Xie and Brother Xiao Mo as my parents tonight, that would be fine."
Xiao Mo rubbed his forehead. This Gan Tang's skin thickness and rhetoric nowadays! Truly, one must look at him with new eyes after a separation of three days.
Xie Gou was satisfied. Old Long'er, who had taken Xiao Mo's second seat position, didn't let his tail rise. She nodded and gave a thumbs-up. "An honest man speaks honest words."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Yuan Huang has already come up the mountain to learn boxing from me. His heart is very sincere, his martial arts talent is high, and his character is good. But I had already decided that Zhao Shuxia would be my closed-door disciple in martial arts. How do we resolve this?"
Zhao Shuxia said, "Master, it's simple. Let Yuan Huang be my senior brother. Being the youngest junior brother is the most advantageous. No one should fight me for it."
Pei Qian smiled. "Having another junior brother is a good thing."
Ning Ji hadn't drunk much tonight, but he really had a low alcohol tolerance and was slightly tipsy. Earlier, the senior sister (Pei Qian) had come over smiling with a bowl to toast them. He immediately trimmed his sails, saying he was on the same side as the master and the senior sister... Ning Ji naturally had no objection. One more senior brother meant more care.
"Then it's settled."
Chen Ping'an continued, "Fallen Mountain has always been friendly to others. We have few enemies, just a handful. Zhengyang Mountain (Positive Sun Mountain) dares not make any move for now. The Da Shou dynasty on the Central Divine Continent will first have to bear the accountability of a Vice Master of the Literary Temple. My personal grudge is with the White Jade Capital (Heavenly Court), both Yu Dou and Jiang Zhaomo. When I visit the Azure Firmament (Heavenly Realm) again, it will be a contest of Daoist methods, sword techniques, and fists, to distinguish high and low, decide victory and defeat, determine life and death. As for Pang Ding of the Spirit Treasure City, it's both personal and public enmity. That's simple: one of us must die."
"If Old Thief Pang is willing to kowtow and admit his mistake, that's fine. As long as he kowtows until his head falls off, I'll accept his apology."
"The Wu Continent of the Azure Firmament was originally one of my most feared hypothetical enemies. Two ancient divine objects, Exorcism and Execution, could allow that old fourteenth-realm cultivator to supplement his Dao more. But it's more or less as I expected. The senior of Wu Continent is extremely loyal and has great spirit. After this battle, we won't necessarily be friends, but we are definitely not enemies."
"The final dam closure of the great river on Tongye (Paulownia Leaf) Continent is very important. Apart from the Green Duckweed Sword Sect needing to pay long-term attention and ensure a proper conclusion, I estimate that at that time, the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect will need to send a few sword cultivators to oversee things there and prevent accidents."
Chen Ping'an hesitated briefly, then chose to "reveal heavenly secrets" and took the initiative to say, "The gatekeeper Daoist of our Fallen Mountain, Master Celestial Wei, is actually the reincarnation of the first Daoist in the ancient human world. Now, the two have separated. The former remains, but the latter has dispersed all his Dao power. If he hadn't taken action earlier to dispel the vortex, I believe the human world would soon have faced a true age of Dharma decline."
"The consequences would be unimaginable. For example, spiritual energy of heaven and earth is the foundation and cornerstone of all spells and divine powers. If a certain alchemist (Daoist practitioner) leaves his cultivation ground, whether for worldly experience or visiting friends and saving others, upon meeting another traveler on the road, between two Dao cultivators, their inner hearts would inevitably regard each other as enemies, or at least be heavily suspicious. What good is 'my heart'? And what about 'his heart'? 'One must not have the intention to harm others, but one must not lack the heart to guard against them.' Once the Dao heart of an alchemist becomes like this, one can imagine what the human world would look like."
"As for whether Master Celestial Wei has anything left on him, I'm not sure, and I won't investigate. Before today was one way; after tonight, it remains the same."
Saying this, Chen Ping'an glanced at the blue-robed child (Chen Lingjun) who was pretending to listen attentively but whose eyes were actually vacant. At that moment, Chen Lingjun's mind was racing, trying to figure out if he had said or done anything improper. The answer was... countless!
Chen Ping'an laughed sarcastically. "Patriarch Jingqing? Had too much to drink and losing steam?"
Chen Lingjun looked confused. Why was the mountain master calling him that? "Huh?"
Chen Ping'an said with a helpless laugh, "It's a good thing you're going down the mountain for your travels tomorrow."
Chen Lingjun said weakly, "Mountain Master, actually, I'm usually reliable in what I say and do. My mind is sharp."
Chen Ping'an smiled slightly. "A wise man sometimes makes a mistake, right?"
Chen Lingjun's eyes lit up, and he clapped. "Right, exactly! The mountain master has hit the nail on the head!"
The sword cultivators like Zhu Su were all very impressed by this blue-robed child.
Chen Ping'an stood up and smiled. "Any upper fifth-realm sword cultivator or mountain summit/ultimate realm martial artist present, please take the trouble to come with me tonight to the imperial palace of the Da Shou dynasty."