Chapter 21: Calling by Name
The sky was gloomy, heavy rain mixed with thunder and lightning, rainwater falling into the courtyard like a waterfall pouring into an ancient dragon pool.
The nine painted wooden dragons coiling around the pillars outside the main house seemed to have been given life by dotting the pupils. The darker the time, the more vividly they moved, as if at any moment they would soar into the sky.
Chen Ping'an hesitated about whether to keep the sword immortal Xu Jun for a while. Both of them were at the same new realm, so a sparring session at this time would benefit each other.
He remembered that year, also in the rain outside the Heavenly Palace Temple on Tongye Continent, he had exchanged sword strikes with Pei Min, one of the Three Supremes of Haoran with his sword art.
Pei Min, who possessed four lifebound flying swords, had not struck with lethal intent; his killing intent was actually not as strong as the opening sword strike he used as a "greeting."
Pei Min had once used an umbrella as a sword, hurling it toward the Yellow Flower Temple in a mirage city, nearly piercing Chen Ping'an through the heart and nailing him to the book wall.
As for whether Pei Min would take the opportunity to break into the Fourteen Realm, Chen Ping'an was not overly concerned or bothered by it.
It was somewhat surprising that Pei Min was not among the twenty people in that ancestral hall. After all, he and Zou Zi were both preachers of Lu Tai.
Thinking of Lu Tai, with whom he had once traveled together through the martial world of Tongye Continent, Chen Ping'an felt a twinge of nostalgia. They had parted ways early on, and it had been a long time since they last met.
He still remembered that journey through the martial world, which had a touch of both immortal aura and ghostly air, expanding his experiences and understanding of human hearts.
Without that foundation, the subsequent trip to the Book Scroll Lake would have been even harder to endure, and he might not have been able to make it through at all.
It was like a seal made of precious material: if the inscription on the base was poor, one could still grind it off and re-engrave because the material was cherished. But if a piece of porcelain shattered completely, no matter how skilled the artisan, how could it be pieced together and repaired? Would an old porcelain mountain in his hometown speak? No, it would not.
Pei Qian and Guo Zhujiu came to the three-section courtyard and saw their master puffing clouds of smoke.
Earlier at Youyi Peak, their master's wife Ning Yao had privately instructed them to persuade their master to smoke less tobacco and drink less alcohol. Pei Qian did not dare agree casually, but Guo Zhujiu confidently patted her chest and swore she would take care of it. However, after descending the mountain and returning to the National Preceptor's residence, Guo Zhujiu merely repeated the master's wife's instructions verbatim at the late-night dinner table. The master, while serving them food, smiled and said he would pay attention. Guo Zhujiu then gave herself an "excellent" evaluation for completing the task, leaving Pei Qian speechless, unable to learn from such behavior.
Chen Ping'an came back to his senses, turned his head, and smiled. "Xu Xie just left. My fault; I should have let him chat with you for a bit. Xu Xie's sword technique is not mixed, but I suspect he possesses several ancient sword arts that have been lost for a long time. They allow a sword cultivator to refine qi, forge swords, sharpen swords, suppress enemies, kill enemies, and nurture swords in one seamless flow. I couldn't very well chase him down and ask about it. You are juniors, and Xu Xie is currently a loose immortal, so you don't necessarily have to be too particular about the taboos of sect transmission. Xu Jun is generous, bold in character, and free in conduct. Maybe if he has a little wine and is in a good mood, he will take the initiative to teach you one or two superior sword techniques."
If so, when Xu Xie proactively mentioned that "decapitation" sword technique, could it be that he had a mutually beneficial idea of letting him, Bai Jing, and Xiao Mo help complete and elevate his sword path, and also intended to transmit it to Pei Qian through this roundabout way?
Xu Xie had never hidden his appreciation for Pei Qian, which included both the favor of a senior for a junior and the recognition of a kindred spirit.
The reputation of the grandmaster "Zheng Qian" among the mountain and secular circles on Golden Armor Continent was indeed impeccable. Probably more effective than titles like Hidden Official or Great Li National Preceptor.
Xu Xie initially could not understand why a young female martial artist, just like him, hated the barbarian monsters of the wasteland so deeply.
When he learned her true name and that she was the first direct disciple of the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, Xu Xie felt that it was only natural and inevitable.
Guo Zhujiu was eager to try. "Master, speaking of which, I happen to have a trump card martial arts secret skill. I've practiced it diligently for many years, and now it's greatly accomplished. Would you take a look and see how many steps I am from reaching the pinnacle of perfection?"
Chen Ping'an was a little curious and smiled. "Alright."
Guo Zhujiu raised both hands, assuming a posture of sinking qi into the dantian. "Master, senior sister, this sword technique of mine is best performed in the rain. I'll show you what it truly means to be impenetrable, like water not getting in. The sword moves like a swimming dragon. Even an opponent skilled in divination and foreknowledge cannot predict my next move, because even I myself don't..."
Just as Guo Zhujiu was about to leap into the courtyard, Pei Qian reached out, wrapped an arm around her neck, and dragged her back to the second courtyard, saying they wouldn't disturb master's thinking.
It turned out that Rong Yu had appeared by the side gate. Chen Ping'an greatly regretted it—he would have liked to see whether Guo Zhujiu's mad sword technique had surpassed the original. Only by witnessing it firsthand could he be sure. Rong Yu approached and smiled. "National Preceptor, am I interrupting?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Not at all."
Rong Yu said, "I just received a secret letter from Great Sui National Preceptor Liu Rao. He and Emperor Yin Fu have already begun secretly preparing to journey to the wasteland. However, Liu Rao has a request: he hopes that the National Preceptor can put in a good word with the Central Earth Confucian Temple to obtain a special document for the mountain lord to cross the sea. The reason is that Mountain Lord Yin Ni will be secretly escorting the emperor. This is not an ordinary mountain god crossing water but an unprecedented cross-continent long-distance journey. The Jade Firmament Palace has already agreed to accompany them to the wasteland. They are worried that if they ask directly, the Confucian Temple might not agree, since Deputy Leader Han's impression of Great Sui is generally mediocre. If the Yin clan's request is rejected, and then the suzerain state Great Li submits a second letter, it might make National Preceptor Chen seem too forceful, giving a bad impression at the Confucian Temple. It would be better for the National Preceptor to directly handle this matter with the Confucian Temple."
Chen Ping'an let out a scoff and smiled. "Liu Rao is so considerate? I have to help and then write a thank-you letter to him."
Rong Yu smiled without speaking.
Chen Ping'an said, "Write another official document to the Confucian Temple, suggesting they allow Mountain Lord Yin Ni to accompany Emperor Yin Fu and National Preceptor Liu Rao to the wasteland. Use the Great Li official script for the handwriting. After writing it, go to the study and use the National Preceptor's seal to stamp and affix the document yourself."
Rong Yu hesitated. "National Preceptor, this violates protocol. I cannot use the National Preceptor's seal arbitrarily. Even if you are watching, I cannot move it. Only you personally affixing the seal meets the regulations."
Chen Ping'an waved his hand. "Regulations are dead; people are alive."
Rong Yu remained unwilling, her gaze firm, insisting on her opinion. "National Preceptor, this is not a trivial detail where expediency can be applied."
Chen Ping'an had to explain. "I am about to restart my cultivation, and then I will need to go into seclusion frequently. The Middle Five Realms, or rather the first three realms, each require important seclusion. What then? The National Preceptor's residence can secretly record this matter. Rong Yu, every time you need to use the seal, have Guo Zhujiu supervise. Each of you record every document. After I emerge from seclusion, I will compare and verify to ensure there are no deviations or omissions. I will also write a secret record about this matter, so there is no need to fear that the emperor or the next National Preceptor will audit the accounts."
Rong Yu's expression was complex. She nodded silently.
Chen Ping'an changed the subject. "Rong Yu, have you ever heard a story about the founding emperor of the Yin clan, related to that female mountain lord?"
Rong Yu thought for a moment, quickly searched her memory, and soon said, "It is said that before the founding emperor of the Yin clan marched north, there was unrest in the previous dynasty's capital. Rumors spread that the military wanted to establish the Inspector General as the Son of Heaven and seize the throne from the widow and orphan. The founding emperor was troubled. He returned home and spoke with his family, asking about the rampant rumors and what should be done. His elder sister happened to be in the kitchen. She struck him with a rolling pin and chased him away, saying, 'When a man faces a great matter, should he not decide it in his own heart? Why come home to frighten women?'"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Yin Ni was indeed decisive."
Rong Yu looked troubled. "National Preceptor, I am also a woman, but I cannot follow her example and incite you to usurp the throne and become emperor."
Chen Ping'an pointed his tobacco pipe at the rain curtain, then at her, and said with exasperation, "Are you telling jokes in the heavy rain? Don't you think it's cold?"
Rong Yu pursed her lips, squinting with laughter.
Chen Ping'an said, "List all the treasures in several of Great Li's treasuries, roughly categorize them according to the Five Elements, compile five booklets, and then open another booklet, picking the most valuable items and listing them there. I need to examine them carefully soon."
Rong Yu nodded. "Tomorrow at the beginning of the Chen hour, I will place the six booklets on the National Preceptor's desk."
Chen Ping'an suggested, "You are also a pure martial artist. You can spar with Pei Qian. My first direct disciple, she learns fists quickly and also teaches them well."
Rong Yu naturally would not refuse such a great opportunity. She thanked the National Preceptor, performed a curtsy, and then turned the conversation back to official matters. "Regarding the Purple Smoke River's Gold Reed Prefecture, there are results."
According to Rong Yu, the ferry captain Zhou Gong, after receiving the National Preceptor's instruction, personally conducted three interrogations within half a day. The first was on the ferry, and the other two were held in the ancestral hall of the Purple Smoke River's Gold Reed Prefecture, an "open court" handling of the case. Apart from that Golden Core realm martial artist Yan You, who wanted to challenge the National Preceptor in a fist fight, and several female cultivators who were watching from afar, as well as Gold Pass Ancestor and several allies of the Purple Smoke River, such as Lan Ting, all had provided their testimonies, proving their innocence.
Afterward, the Ministry of Rites' Mountains and Rivers Department, the Ministry of Justice's Scrutiny Department, and the Piyun Mountain Patrol Department each responded publicly according to their duties. Besides reviewing and extracting archives, they also secretly consulted local mountain gods and city gods. It was confirmed that Yan You had indeed acted on a whim, with no one behind the scenes instigating him. He had simply wanted to show off in front of a woman he admired.
Chen Ping'an could not help but laugh. How many sword immortals and heroes had been turned around by the word "love"? Wei Jin was like that, and so was Fan Dache.
Rong Yu said, "The three sects besides the Purple Smoke River—their patriarchs were naturally frightened for nothing. Yan You turned misfortune into fortune. He followed Zhou Gong to the capital and will soon officially become a secretary in the military staff. Because he is a Golden Body realm martial artist, according to border army customs, his starting rank in officialdom is not low. After a period of on-the-job training, he will quickly receive an honorary military title."
"However, according to intelligence from the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Justice, after learning that their patriarchs and sect leaders had been summoned for questioning by the Great Li border army, more than ten registered cultivators secretly fled their sects, fearing that they would be caught in the same net. It is estimated that by now, they have been caught and are kneeling in the ancestral halls of those three sects."
Speaking of this, Rong Yu sighed. From the changes triggered by Old Oriole Lake affecting Yichi Lane and Chi'er Street, to top-tier Daoist sites like Eternal Spring Palace on Vase Continent, and then to second-tier immortal abodes like Purple Smoke River, many problems could already be seen. If left untouched, everything seemed peaceful, and the dynasty could last a thousand years. But once touched, as soon as it was torn open, it was all rotten pus covering up peace, bleeding profusely. Fortunately, there was still time.
Rong Yu believed in both National Preceptor Cui and National Preceptor Chen, and she believed even more in the foundation of the Great Li dynasty. She believed in old people like Lord Guan and Minister Shen, who held hopes, and even more in the young people who had not yet entered the court's central power or the ranks of regional officials, believing that they could surely make the Great Li dynasty, from top to bottom, inside and out, from military morale to popular sentiment, all upward and better.
Chen Ping'an generally did not ask much about the details of matters that had already been concluded. But the Purple Smoke River matter obviously concerned him more. He asked, "In the Gold Reed Prefecture's ancestral hall, were there no young people daring enough to argue with Captain Zhou?"
Rong Yu shook her head. "After all, people like Feng Jie and Wei Rui, who have ideas and can also act, are actually not many."
Chen Ping'an said, "A person's spirit and vision are cultivated bit by bit; scheming and capability are developed through one matter after another. It's similar to how a martial artist feeds punches."
"Take it slow. Some matters need quick action like cutting a tangled knot, but shaking a great and firm thing requires gradual planning. How the court handles Eternal Spring Palace is meant to be seen by major Daoist sites like Divine Proclamation Sect and Yunlin Jiang clan. Immortal abodes of Purple Smoke River's caliber are still the majority. The court should have appropriate patience; anyway, there's no fear of them misunderstanding. When blood appears in misunderstandings, it's easier for the living to remember."
Rong Yu nodded deeply, agreeing.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Finding a fool among the clever and finding a clever person among the fools—both are not easy."
Rong Yu seriously pondered the meaning of the National Preceptor's words. Was he planning to draw a knife against the clever people in some territory?
Chen Ping'an couldn't help but smile and remind her. "Rong Yu, don't think that everything I say has some deep meaning. It's not that exaggerated."
Rong Yu said, "The brain becomes sharper the more it's used."
Chen Ping'an teased, "That sounds like the tone of my senior brother and Mr. Zheng."
Rong Yu found it hard to respond.
Chen Ping'an smoked his pipe, squinting at the sky as if waiting for something.
Rong Yu followed the National Preceptor's gaze but couldn't see anything special.
Back then, in the northern border of Piyun Mountain, which had not yet become the Great Li Northern Peak, several immortal abode Daoist sites formed an alliance with one Nascent Soul and three Golden Cores, creating quite a stir.
After the Gourd Vine Cave Heaven shattered and fell to the ground, the military strategist Ruan Qiong replaced Qi Jingchun as the sitting sage. Soon, a group of immortal masters came to test Ruan Qiong's temper, or rather, Great Li's bottom line.
Ancestor Gold Light and several other highly respected and deeply skilled patriarchs brought their direct disciples on a joint journey through the mountains and rivers, illegally entering the jurisdiction. They were met by Ruan Qiong, who had left his blacksmith shop and gone into the clouds. In one go, he killed several female cultivators. The leader, a woman wearing a golden hairpin, was the sect leader of an immortal abode. After that, Gold Pass Ancestor of Purple Smoke River begged for mercy, but his head was still crushed by Ruan Qiong's hand. His physical body was destroyed on the spot, and his soul fled into the Purple Smoke River. Ruan Qiong did not beat a dog in the water further. Later, a female cultivator named Lan Ting, who was also the founding patriarch of her own immortal abode Daoist site, still had her head pierced through by a flying sword. Only the most perceptive one escaped quickly, still somewhat loyal, reminding Lan Ting of the power of Ruan Qiong's flying sword. Unfortunately, Lan Ting's final fate was worse than Gold Pass Ancestor's; her ancestral hall directly lit a lifebound lamp.
The methods of military strategists: violate a prohibition, pay the penalty. They wouldn't quibble with you, talk about human feelings, or care about face.
After this battle, regardless of how the immortal masters on Great Li's mountains felt, let's just talk about the Azure-clad Child, who had once had a small misunderstanding with Sage Ruan. Naturally, he was even more afraid of Ruan Qiong. Back then, he had been on the verge of death! Fortunately, he knew how to trim his sails and adapt quickly, remedying the situation in time.
Don't look at how Chen Lingjun was later teased a few times by the grinning Sect Leader Lu. Don't look at how Ruan Qiong's realm in that book "Collection of Passersby" was relatively low. But Patriarch Jingqing had placed Sage Ruan on the second page of the "Collection of Passersby."
Of course, when hiding on his own mountain peak, occasionally boasting without a draft to Xiao Mili and Bai Xuan, Chen Lingjun also dared to give Ruan Qiong the nickname "Ruan the Runner-up."
At the wedding feast on Youyi Peak, the Azure-clad Child drank heavily, his face red as a monkey's bottom. He toasted Ruan Qiong several times at the main table and brought up this matter. The child shouted in a loud voice, saying some heartfelt words about Sage Ruan's heroic qualities. His tongue was thick with drunkenness, and he gave Ruan Qiong a thumbs-up. After Ruan Qiong finally confirmed that this fellow wasn't being sarcastic, a smile also appeared on his face. Indeed, why bother with a little fool?
Moreover, deep down, Ruan Qiong felt that the Azure-clad Child had some spiritual intelligence.
He had no filter in his speech but was responsible in matters. Foolish but bold, with foolish luck. His Dao heart was clear, like a cloud rising and falling in the mountains, but it was still a cloud.
Furthermore, at that time, there was a little girl in black clothes standing beside him. She stood on tiptoe, one hand gripping the strap of a slung cotton bag, and the other hand raised to her mouth, whispering to him, saying that Jingqing was like this when drunk, and Sage Ruan should not blame him. Also, the immortal brew wedding wine at today's feast was just too good.
Ruan Qiong tilted his head slightly, smiled at the little girl, and said he understood, understood. The wine was decent, decent. He was glad Xiao Mili liked it.
As they chatted, Ruan Qiong saw from the bright eyes of the Right Protector of Luopo Mountain, the little girl, some unsaid words that were hard for her to speak.
Ruan Qiong then drank a large bowl of wine in one go, rubbed the little girl's head, which was his way of thanking her.
It was unclear whether he was thanking the little girl for telling someone those mountain and water stories in the past, or something else.
Ruan Qiong, who almost never exchanged pleasantries with anyone in his life, told Xiao Mili that if she ever felt wronged in the future, she could come to him, and he would seek justice for her.
At that time, a best man turned to look at a bridesmaid. The bridesmaid, however, smiled tenderly at Xiao Mili, then nodded to Ruan Qiong, who was meticulous. Ruan Qiong also nodded to Ning Yao. He then glanced at the best man, thinking, this little bastard is always so lucky.
Chen Ping'an smoked his pipe, gently exhaling smoke, his eyes fixed on the rain curtain hanging between heaven and earth. "It's not just about valuing Zhou Gong. For the mess at Purple Smoke River, he is the tip of the sword. For the entire Great Li's medium-ranked immortal abode forces, Zhou Gong and Yan You are both models, a good reference for the court."
"Moreover, not only the military strategist lineage of the Giant Salamander Ravine, but I believe the entire Snow Wind Temple will give Zhou Gong their full support."
Rong Yu knew that Snow Wind Temple had high hopes for Zhou Gong and had been wanting to summon him back to the mountain to serve as the second-in-command of the Law Enforcement lineage.
Zhou Gong, a military strategist cultivator already at the bottleneck of the Golden Core realm, was a direct disciple of the old ancestor of the Qin clan of Giant Salamander Ravine at Snow Wind Temple. His greatest dream in life was not even to break into the Upper Five Realms but to command a Great Li sword boat. Being the "boat master" of a Great Li sword boat, which was both offensive and defensive, was naturally more attractive than being the "ship master" of a mountain transport ferry used mainly for moving troops.
Ministry of Rites official Dong Hu once said that based on military merit, Captain Zhou Gong could serve as a deputy general of a prefecture or as the Minister of War of a vassal state. That was naturally a measured praise, because many military strategist cultivators from Snow Wind Temple and True Martial Mountain had chosen among the Great Li border army and registered cultivators before the former. And the two ancestral halls mostly made symbolic attempts to retain them, never forcibly preventing them from leaving, so as not to make things difficult for people like Yellow Brow Immortal. Thus, the Great Li court always had to remember this favor.
When Dong Hu went to Eternal Spring Palace as a guest, there were more than twenty military ferries moored at Mingdi Ferry. Zhou Gong's ferry was the one personally selected by the National Preceptor's residence.
Dong Hu, an old hand who had cultivated in officialdom, naturally understood the implications.
What was the relationship between the National Preceptor and Liu Xianyang? What was the connection between Dragon Spring Sword Sect and Snow Wind Temple?
Besides, the National Preceptor had recently made a deal with True Martial Mountain in his private capacity. The Ministry of Rites was required to record it according to regulations.
Chen Ping'an was actually still hesitant about whether to separate the sword boats and mountain transport ferries from the Ministry of War, and some mountain affairs from the Ministry of Rites, but one move affected the whole body; it was not that simple.
Chen Ping'an said, "At Youyi Peak, I met the Law Enforcement Patriarch of Snow Wind Temple. When I offered a toast, we chatted a little. She still wants to break into the Jade Pure realm, but her responsibilities leave her no choice; she can't just drop everything. I deliberately mentioned Zhou Gong, and she did not hide her high regard for him. So if Zhou Gong returns to the mountain to become the Law Enforcer in a few decades, it is possible."
Rong Yu could fully imagine that when the National Preceptor proactively toasted those military strategist experts of Snow Wind Temple and True Martial Mountain, chatting with the National Preceptor was definitely not easy.
Since Martial Temple Grand Duke Jiang had already appeared, those from the two military strategist ancestral halls on Vase Continent should at least be clear about two things.
Nowadays, cultivators, except those in seclusion, had all witnessed that Heaven and Earth Connection. But who among mortals had performed such a feat? Apart from a handful of peak cultivators, it was still not very clear. The Central Earth Confucian Temple was also deliberately downplaying the matter; at least for now, it was not the best time to reveal the truth to the world.
Earlier, the three temporary allies in the joint battle to slay Jiang She were Chen Ping'an, Zheng Juzhong, and Wu Shuangjiang.
Chen Ping'an said, "Return a favor with a favor; courtesy demands reciprocity."
Rong Yu smiled. "Our hearts are not far apart."
Smoke curled upward, ignoring the torrential rain, rising into the sky.
Even as slow as Rong Yu was, she noticed something unusual.
Song Yunjian appeared out of thin air. Even walking such a short distance, he used the earth-shrinking divine ability, showing how unusual things were.
Chen Ping'an said, "Later, remember to protect the entire Great Li capital as best as you can."
Song Yunjian nodded. "It is a matter of life and duty. Rest assured, National Preceptor, I know the gravity."
Chen Ping'an teased, "Your spirit and bones all trembling in fear?"
Song Yunjian smiled bitterly. "Indeed, not as calm as the National Preceptor in the face of great matters."
Chen Ping'an sneered. "Does this count as a big scene?"
Song Yunjian broke precedent by questioning, "This doesn't count?!"
Chen Ping'an said, "Later, use an illusion technique to avoid disturbing the capital's citizens."
Song Yunjian nodded. "I will do my utmost."
Rong Yu was completely baffled.
Pei Qian and Guo Zhujiu came over. Chen Ping'an waved his hand and smiled. "You two go back to your rooms. Just stabilize your Dao hearts and qi."
So they went back. Because they had experienced the battlefields of the Sword Qi Great Wall, Golden Armor Continent, and the Great Li auxiliary capital, they didn't ask "why" of their master.
Rong Yu asked, "Do you need to notify the Five Peaks God Lords?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Just have them stabilize the qi of their jurisdictions."
Rong Yu pressed on. "What about the Central Earth Confucian Temple?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "No need."
Rong Yu quickly left.
Chen Ping'an sensed a familiar aura rapidly approaching the capital.
It was Xu Xie, who was about to leave Vase Continent and cross the sea to North Reed Continent. He had returned along the same path. Truly worthy of Sword Immortal Xu Jun.
Xu Xie stood on a mountaintop in the capital region. He didn't actually know what was happening, but he had detected a suffocating pressure, as if "the Dao" was opening a path, forcibly breaking through the boundaries of heaven and earth to intrude into this realm.
Xu Xie sent a telepathic inquiry from afar. "Hidden Official, friend or foe?"
If the former, it was simple.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Hard to tell for now, Xu Jun. Watch from the sidelines."
Xu Xie said, "If you need someone to watch your back, just let me know."
Chen Ping'an replied, "Easy."
In the space between heaven and earth, there was a pecking sound.
It also sounded like the tearing of silk, or the faint cracking of celadon porcelain.
Song Yunjian strained his eyes to gaze into the distance at that "great gate." The first to emerge was a tall woman in a blue long dress. Her features were blurry, but her graceful body radiated flowing colors, layers of halo spreading like water ripples.
Even without seeing her face, she was still as beautiful as the most exquisite mural goddess in the world, eternally elegant even after thousands of years.
Then, a snow-white platform seemed to float out, made as if from countless snow-flake coins. There was a strange being on it, hair disheveled, covering its entire head. It knelt on the ground, its two thin arms outstretched, trembling. At its feet were toppled altars and scattered ancient ritual vessels.
A skeleton in a purple robe sat cross-legged on a dugout canoe. It glanced around, shook its sleeves, and extended a bone-white hand gleaming with countless golden threads inside. It quickly counted on its fingers. "Sure enough, it's the Heaven and Earth Connection, bridging a broken path. Someone actually succeeded. Impressive, truly impressive."
Every word spoken by this purple-robed bone Daoist rolled like thunder.
A burly man with extremely long eyebrows held a large halberd. He seemed mad, his expression desolate, but his eyes suddenly burned with passion as he stared at the figure in the blue shirt in the courtyard below. He murmured to himself, "I see you. Finally see you. You've made me suffer so much, so much. Worth it. Worth it. Hearing the Dao in the morning, I can die in the evening. I can die."
He stared directly at the man in blue for a moment. Several times he seemed about to speak, but in the end, he said nothing. He did not dare to leak heavenly secrets. He simply opened his arms and hurled the halberd fiercely into the sea. The long halberd, carrying immense momentum, split the waves and plunged diagonally into the seabed. Then, staggering, he sat down on the ground. As if transforming, he turned into a pile of ashes, scattering in the wind and rain.
The bone Daoist shook his head. Stubborn and foolish.
In about eight thousand years, it would be another cycle. Why bother? Just to meet an old friend again? Why not face the old with a new face?
Finally, a woman with broad sleeves and a jade crown appeared. She had no eyebrows. She habitually lifted the back of her hand and sighed faintly. The Dao had faded so quickly, even worse than the worst expected outcome. It didn't matter. Being freed and seeing the sky again was the best of a bad situation. Then, looking down at that city, she grew curious. Had the human world in later generations become so prosperous?
Even though she had dropped in realm, with just a slight stir of her Dao heart, she gathered all the words and thoughts from the entire city into her ears. With another stir, she had roughly understood the "current situation": Haoran Nine Continents, Vase Continent, Great Li Court, National Preceptor Chen Ping'an...
In a very fluent Great Li official language, she asked seductively, "Are you all still managed by that sword-wielding scholar and Little Master together?"
Her eyes glistened with tears. "Chen Ping'an, is there really no Green Hill anymore?"
Suddenly, she revealed her true form, ferocious, and shouted, "Chen, answer me?!"
Xu Xie was greatly impressed. Just watching, he felt her power. This "woman" changed her face too quickly, and she was too seductive. Even Xu Xie, a pure sword cultivator who was quite indifferent to matters between men and women, felt his Dao heart almost waver after just a few glances. It was definitely not deliberate on her part; it was simply a lifebound divine ability. Xu Xie had read quite a bit. Previously, when he saw phrases like "ruin the nation and bring calamity to the people" or "beauty is a disaster," he found them absurd. Today, he believed. Seeing it with his own eyes, he had no choice but to believe.
Xu Xie couldn't imagine what Chen Ping'an's current situation was like.
Previously, to prevent Zheng Juzhong and the senior brother from "exchanging counters," Lu Chen had once walked the River of Time to find that Gatekeeper.
One of his duties was to guard the "Latecomers" and "Rebels" in a River of Time.
Lu Chen did indeed meet that existence. Later, he also met Zheng Juzhong, and of course, the sword cultivator Huang Zhen from "three thousand years in the future." Also on the vast "mirror surface" where stars were as small as grains of sand and piled up layer upon layer, he saw many strange existences from both old and new almanacs, who had been imprisoned for a long time.
Over at the Night Voyager, Zheng Juzhong had mentioned this matter.
Probably the Heaven and Earth Connection had unconsciously broken certain taboos, allowing these beings to regain a certain degree of freedom.
Xu Xie saw a huge white fox encircling the entire Great Li capital, its massive fox tails gently swaying.
Its head hung low, staring at the National Preceptor's residence.
Chen Ping'an handed his tobacco pipe to Song Yunjian. "Hold this for me."
Ten thousand years of the human world, a book of running accounts.
A book of running accounts, ten thousand years of the human world.
Chen Ping'an asked, "That peach tree—has the number of flowers increased or decreased?"
Song Yunjian's heart was in turmoil. He smiled bitterly. "What do you think, National Preceptor?"
Chen Ping'an, barefoot and empty-handed, standing in the corridor, cursed like the Ultimate Sage Master.
Beside Xu Xie, a gentle breeze stirred. He turned to look and saw a young man of elegant and brilliant bearing.
Greatly surprised, Xu Xie smiled and asked, "Cao Ci, how is it that you also know the Three Mountain Talisman?"
Cao Ci jerked his chin toward the capital and smiled. "This guy taught me. He said if we spar later, I might end up like that fist exchange at Golden Achievement Grove. So I learned the Three Mountain Talisman and came over to thank him properly."
Xu Xie looked at him with a strange expression. He had heard of the Azure-White battle between Cao Ci and Chen Ping'an. The most interesting part wasn't the process itself but that it seemed the loser hadn't lost and the winner hadn't won.
What Xu Xie found even more unbelievable was today's Cao Ci, who had such... a desire to win!
In his words, in his eyes, in his momentum, Cao Ci had shown his attitude clearly: when exchanging fist techniques with a guy like this who lacked martial virtue, one really shouldn't be too virtuous.
Xu Xie smiled and asked, "Still a sure win?"
Cao Ci thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Hard to say."
Compared to that huge mountain-like azure fox, a tiny figure like a mustard seed slowly rose into the air. He gently rolled up his sleeves.
Looking at that massive head, he asked with a smile, "What did you call me?"
The purple-robed bone Daoist stood up from the dugout canoe. He had also quickly mastered the Gourd Continent elegant language. He sneered, "Clearly you're at the end of your rope, a waste fallen to the foot of the mountain, and still you have the face to play tricks here? No matter how tough your martial artist physique is, can it be stronger than that reckless Jiang She? Chen, this seat will try you first!"
Chen Ping'an paid no attention to this bone Daoist, whose Dao name and Dao power were both irrelevant, looking like a clothes hanger. He directly called out the true name of the former master of Green Hill.
The great fox's head seemed to be forcibly pressed down instantly, just right, touching the top of the outer city wall of the Great Li capital.
It struggled to lift its head. "Chen..."
The head lowered again, as if kowtowing.
It struggled violently, its dozen or so fox tails wildly flapping.
But it could only kowtow again.
The bone Daoist let out an "eh?" This fellow knowing the true name of that fox enchantress was not surprising. But without divine abilities or the power of "words become law," how could he make her bow her head again and again? Even if she had dropped in realm, she was still at least a Flying Ascension realm...
The bone body, already tempered to extreme toughness, suddenly shattered in midair without warning.
Unknowing what divine ability, without using any spiritual energy, the purple-robed Daoist reformed in the distance but did not continue speaking.
Xu Xie asked telepathically, "Can you see his Dao foundation?"
Cao Ci smiled. "Xu Jun, I am a pure martial artist."
Xu Xie changed the question. "How many punches can an ordinary Flying Ascension cultivator take?"
Cao Ci said, "It's best if they don't take a single punch."
Xu Xie then asked, "What about you?"
Cao Ci said, "We'll know after we fight."
On the snow-white platform, that being reached out and brushed aside the hair covering its face, revealing a face painted with colors, like a later-era Nuo opera mask. It murmured repeatedly in obscure ancient language, "Not, not."
And the woman in the blue dress, whose face had always been blurry, suddenly remembered a scene from ancient times: on a human path, seekers of the Dao, learners of the Dao, and transmitters of the Dao wound like a dragon, but there was an unknown sword cultivator standing far away. She had briefly left the line and exchanged a few words with him. That sword cultivator, who almost never spoke to anyone, said at parting, "If you get the chance in the future, take a look at my junior apprentice brother for me, and pass on a message: 'Do not slack in scholarship, do not be stubborn in sword practice, and don't have too good a temper.'"
She saw the man in the blue shirt shake his wrist and start rolling up his second sleeve.
He didn't seem like someone with a good temper either.