Chapter 498: Heaven and Earth Unbound
The ancestral mountain of the Pima Sect was called Muyi. The mountain was lofty and steep, but there were no luxurious buildings; the cultivators merely built thatched huts. Due to the sparse population of Pima Sect cultivators, the place seemed even more desolate. The only barely something that could be considered a celestial retreat was a mansion halfway up the mountain, hanging a plaque inscribed with "Dharma Image," used to receive guests.
Three days ago, Mount Muyi had begun to be sealed off, no longer receiving guests.
Not only that, but the archway at the entrance of the Ghostly Marsh Valley also started to be strictly guarded. Those undergoing trials could leave but not enter.
From the market at Naihe Pass, to Mural City, to the Yaoye River area, and throughout the entire Skeleton Beach, no one found this unreasonable.
Because they had already witnessed even more unreasonable things.
First, on the same day, the three paintings of the Celestial Official and Divine Maiden in Mural City had become line drawings.
Compared to the great catastrophe that followed, this was nothing. Many cultivators on Skeleton Beach were still immersed in the disappointment of having missed out on three blessings. Not long after, they each witnessed a heart-stopping scene. Late at night, on the land of Skeleton Beach, a huge white bone appeared out of thin air, towering like a mountain. It revealed itself with an invincible posture. It should have been the Dharma manifestation of Gao Cheng, the city lord of Jingguan City in Ghostly Marsh Valley. Using brute force, it pried open the barrier between heaven and earth. When the bone Dharma manifestation, which should have been hidden in the underworld, appeared in the mortal world, it caused a conflict with the great Dao. The friction between the bone and the spiritual energy of Skeleton Beach produced a dazzling array of flowing lights and colors, blooming into a brilliant burst of sparks, making the bone Dharma manifestation look like an ancient fire god descending upon the world.
That bone was clearly chasing a golden ray of light speeding south toward the ancestral hall of Mount Muyi. Although Gao Cheng was delayed by a saber and a sword from Ghostly Marsh Valley, the saber wielder hovered in the air, facing off against the thousand-zhang bone, small as a grain of rice. But with each saber strike, thunder roared and light surged. From a distance, the strike was like building a long bridge. Observing its aura, it was undoubtedly Zhu Quan, the sect leader of the Pima Sect. Yet there was also a sword, its momentum no less impressive than the Jade Purity realm Zhu Quan. Strands of brilliant sword qi rose from the earth, the sword light like rainbows, extremely fast and straight.
The crooked-shouldered bone Dharma manifestation seemed to have another restraint within Ghostly Marsh Valley, yet it still raised its palm and pressed down heavily. Instantly, it stirred up a thick sea of clouds reeking of yin malice, filled with wailing ghosts and howling wolves. The cloud sea seemed to pile up with more than a dozen vengeful spirits and souls that could not be reborn after death, struggling bitterly in the sea of suffering.
The cloud sea surged violently toward the ancestral hall of the Pima Sect. Then the mountain protection formation of the Pima Sect activated. Over a thousand armored puppets flew out from Mount Muyi. Each was several zhang tall, clad in talisman-imbued iron armor, their bodies covered in flowing golden light and silver threads. They crashed into the cloud sea. The cloud sea was continuously thinned, but its downward momentum remained. Within Mount Muyi, waves of armored heroic spirits rushed forward one after another. Finally, the cloud sea and the thousands of heroic spirit puppets created by the Pima Sect engaged in mutual slaughter, ultimately destroying each other.
At the same time, a ray of light extended down from the ancestral hall on Mount Muyi, like lightning traveling, weaving a brightly shining formation at the archway plaza. Then a golden god, five hundred zhang tall, rose from the ground, wielding a giant sword. It swept the sword horizontally toward the waist of the bone Dharma manifestation.
Gao Cheng's bone Dharma manifestation failed in its attack. At the junction of Ghostly Marsh Valley and Skeleton Beach, a golden god suddenly struck with its sword. The huge bone grabbed the sword blade, golden sparks falling like rain to the earth. For a moment, the entire Skeleton Beach shook with heaven and earth. The bone Dharma manifestation swung its arm to fling away the giant sword, its form falling, instantly sinking into the shadow of the earth, presumably retreating back into the small world of Ghostly Marsh Valley.
The golden god also retreated into the formation, and the ray of light returned along the same path to the ancestral hall on Mount Muyi, condensing into a precious pearl held in the mouth of a bronze dragon statue in the hall.
The night over Skeleton Beach slowly returned to silence.
Inside the celestial mansion halfway up the mountain.
The young Pang Lanxi, upon whom the Pima Sect placed great hopes, sat at a stone table, staring intently at the young wanderer across from him. The latter was flipping through a yellowed military text pillaged from Sheeps Intestine Palace.
Although Pang Lanxi was young in years, his seniority was high. He was the sole direct disciple of an old ancestor of the Pima Sect. Several Golden Core cultivators had to call him Little Martial Uncle, and more cultivators in the middle five realms could only call him Little Martial Grand Uncle. Over the past three days, the only guest in the mansion was this young swordsman in blue. Pang Lanxi had visited several times before. Out of curiosity, they had talked about everything that could be talked about, asked everything that could be asked. The other party was clearly sincere and didn't deliberately beat around the bush. But after thinking it over afterward, Pang Lanxi felt like he hadn't gotten to the point at all.
It was hard to imagine that this person was the same impoverished painting buyer who had shamelessly haggled with him in Mural City back then.
At that time, his childhood sweetheart had even made him run out of the shop to remind this person not to flash his money when traveling in the martial world. It turned out they had both been fooled by this guy.
The sect ancestor in charge of the rules in the ancestral hall was unwilling to reveal celestial secrets, only saying that they would wait until the sect leader returned to Mount Muyi to discuss it. However, before leaving, he sighed and commented that with this level of cultivation, to escape alive from Gao Cheng within Ghostly Marsh Valley was truly no small skill.
Pang Lanxi became even more curious about what exactly had happened in Ghostly Marsh Valley and how this person had provoked the city lord of Jingguan City.
Chen Ping'an put down the military text written by a general of the Divine Strategy State in his early years. Remembering something, he smiled and asked, "Lanxi, now that all eight murals in Mural City have become line drawings, what will happen to the business of the shops beneath the murals of the Three Divine Maiden—Riding Deer, Hanging Inkstone, and Summoning Rain?"
Pang Lanxi was also a bit troubled. Helplessly, he said, "What else can be done? Xingzi is nearly worried to death. She says there will definitely be no business coming in from now on. Now that Mural City has lost those three blessings, the number of visitors will drop sharply. What can I do? I just have to comfort her. I told her some big principles I heard from my senior brothers and disciples. But unexpectedly, Xingzi didn't appreciate it. She got angry with me and ignored me. Chen Ping'an, how could Xingzi be like this? I clearly meant well. Why is she unhappy?"
Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. "Do you want to know why?"
Pang Lanxi nodded. "Of course."
Chen Ping'an's smile grew deeper. "Lanxi, I heard that your great-grandfather still has a few complete sets of the 'Gallery Filled' version of the Divine Maiden paintings. And these are his most time-consuming, most heartfelt, and most proud works in his lifetime."
Pang Lanxi was stunned for a moment. Then, after a short while, he said resolutely, "As long as you can help me understand, I'll go steal the paintings for you right now!"
Chen Ping'an was speechless. He gestured for Pang Lanxi, who had already stood up, to sit back down. "A gentleman does not take what others cherish. I don't covet those 'Gallery Filled' versions. I only hope you can persuade your great-grandfather to pick up his brush again and paint one or two sets of 'Hard Yellow Gallery Filled' versions that are not too inferior. I'll buy them with money; I'm not asking you to steal. One set is enough, two sets would be better, three sets would be best."
Pang Lanxi was a bit suspicious. "Just that?"
Chen Ping'an nodded.
Pang Lanxi was still hesitant. "Stealing has its pros and cons. The downside is that I'll definitely get scolded, and I might even get a beating. The upside is that it's a one-time deal, straightforward. But if I have to pester my great-grandfather shamelessly to get him to pick up his brush and paint with real effort, that's not easy. My great-grandfather has a strange temper. Everyone in the Pima Sect has experienced it. He always says that the more meticulously and faithfully one paints, the more it offends the Eight Divine Maidens when bought by vulgar worldly men."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Sincerity is the key. Without that devout foundation, your great-grandfather might not be able to capture that charm. Otherwise, any master painter could copy a scroll with every detail perfectly. So why is it that only your great-grandfather captures the spirit best? It's because his heart is clear and pure. Perhaps the Eight Divine Maidens noticed it back then. When hearts connect, the brush naturally blooms with wondrous strokes."
Pang Lanxi blinked.
Was this honest talk or flattery?
---
Outside the mansion, a tall white-haired old man, with a brush and inkstone hanging from his waist, turned to look at an old friend, an ancestor of the Pima Sect, who was just withdrawing his hand.
The white-haired old man asked, "This kid's cultivation level—he shouldn't know we were eavesdropping, right?"
The ancestor smiled. "I helped conceal your aura. He probably doesn't know. But there are countless techniques in the world; accidents are not impossible. The fact that he could escape Ghostly Marsh Valley means he can't be judged by common sense."
The white-haired old man stroked his beard and laughed. "Regardless, these words of his please me greatly."
This ancestor of the Pima Sect was the same one who had followed Jiang Shangzhen into the Mural City secret realm earlier. "Are you really willing to sell?"
This Pang Lanxi's great-grandfather, Pang Shanling, had a grand ambition in his youth: to paint all the magnificent mountains under heaven. But later, for unknown reasons, he settled down at the Pima Sect. Pang Shanling lowered his voice. "Let's watch a bit more? I'd like to hear how this outsider will guide Lanxi."
The ancestor frowned with displeasure. "He is our guest. I only reluctantly agreed to use some divine abilities because you insisted. Eavesdropping further is not in line with our Pima Sect's way of treating guests."
Pang Shanling glared at him. "Lanxi has already lost the blessing of the Riding Deer Divine Maiden. If he stumbles again on the emotional front, I'll see if his master doesn't curse you bloody!"
The ancestor snorted. "His cursing skills are formidable, but my fighting skills are better. Every time he curses, he feels good for a moment, then lies in bed for a month."
Pang Shanling suddenly smiled. "I'll give you a set of 'Hard Yellow' Divine Maiden paintings later. They deserve the praise 'wondrous brush produces flowers.'"
The ancestor raised his hand, palm holding a view of mountains and rivers, and smiled. "I've been waiting for you to say that. You're too slow, not straightforward."
But then the ancestor quickly withdrew his divine ability. Pang Shanling asked doubtfully, "Why?"
The ancestor laughed. "The other party is a bit unhappy. Let's quit while we're ahead. Otherwise, if he goes to the sect leader and complains about me, I'll be in trouble. We made such a big commotion in Ghostly Marsh Valley, forcing Gao Cheng to reveal his Dharma manifestation and leave his lair to appear on Skeleton Beach. The sect leader struck herself, and we even used the mountain protection formation. Yet we only shaved off a hundred years of his cultivation. The sect leader will definitely be in a terrible mood when she returns to the mountain."
Pang Shanling looked a bit worried. In the past two days, Ghostly Marsh Valley had been completely cut off from the outside world. Although the soul lamps in the ancestral hall were still lit—meaning the cultivators stationed at the Pima Sect's two towns, Qinglu and Lanshe, were unharmed—who knew if Gao Cheng, in a rage, would completely fight to the death? The thousand-year stalemate between Skeleton Beach and Ghostly Marsh Valley could be broken in an instant. Pang Shanling feared that at some moment, the soul lamps in the ancestral hall would start going out one after another, and the extinguishing would be very fast.
In the end, how many lamps would remain? No one could guarantee. Sect leader Zhu Quan, Golden Core Du Wensi, none were exceptions. If a real war broke out, given the style of the Pima Sect cultivators, it might be the great cultivators whose soul lamps went out first.
That ancestor guessed Pang Shanling's thoughts and smiled comfortingly. "This time, Gao Cheng has damaged his vitality. He will definitely be furious—that's to be expected. But there are still some good news in Ghostly Marsh Valley. The one who struck with the sword earlier was Pu Rang from Bailong City. Plus, that Yuan Ying heroic spirit from the Divine Strategy State generals has always been at odds with Jingguan City. When the sky screen opened earlier, I saw him seemingly wanting to intervene. Don't forget, there is also that Peach Grove, and the two reclusive experts from the temple and the monastery. They won't let Gao Cheng kill wantonly."
Pang Shanling nodded slightly. "I hope so."
Back at the mansion.
Pang Lanxi didn't care anymore. His childhood sweetheart Xingzi was the most important. "Alright, you talk. But if I don't find it reasonable, I won't go to my great-grandfather and get scolded."
Chen Ping'an first raised his hands in a fist salute to show that the immortal masters outside should not go too far. Then he gently placed one hand on the military text, stroking the cover lightly. After leaving Ghostly Marsh Valley, he had discovered that the books carefully collected by the Demon-Catching Great Immortal of Sheeps Intestine Palace were mostly well-preserved and in good condition. These were fine editions, rare editions, and even unique copies that had survived for a thousand years. This put him in a good mood. He began to enlighten the young man, speaking softly with a smile. "Lanxi, do you think it's difficult for you to reach the Golden Core realm and become what mortals call a Land Immortal?"
Pang Lanxi said earnestly, "Chen Ping'an, I'm not boasting, but Golden Core is easy, Nascent Soul is not hard."
Chen Ping'an nodded. What Pang Lanxi said was indeed fact. Over the past few days staying at this Pima Sect mansion, through casual chats with the young man and exchanges with several direct disciples of the Pima Sect, including the Golden Core cultivator Yang Lin from Mural City, he had roughly learned Pang Lanxi's importance in the sect. It was highly likely that he was being groomed as a future sect leader, or at least someone who would hold great power in the Pima Sect.
Moreover, Pang Lanxi had extraordinary talent, a pure heart, and a kind demeanor. Both his innate roots and his acquired temperament perfectly matched the Pima Sect. This was the wondrous nature of the Great Dao. If Pang Lanxi had been born in the Book-Scanning Lake, the same person might not have achieved high attainments in the Dao, because the Book-Scanning Lake would have constantly eroded his original nature, harming his cultivation and opportunities. But on Mount Muyi of the Pima Sect, he was like a fish in water, as if heaven-made. This was probably what it meant that a place nurtures its people. Some who blame heaven and others may not fully lack self-awareness; they might truly have had bad luck.
Seeing Chen Ping'an start to daydream, Pang Lanxi couldn't help but remind him. "Chen Ping'an, don't get distracted! One or two sets of 'Gallery Filled' paintings are beckoning to you. How can you wander off into the distance?"
Chen Ping'an apologized, then asked, "You are destined to be a long-lived immortal of the mountains. Your Xingzi is a mortal of the market towns. Have you thought about this? An ordinary woman will have some white hair at forty, and by sixty, she may already be a white-haired old woman. Then how will that Xingzi girl face a Pang Lanxi who may still look like a youth or at most twenty?"
Pang Lanxi's heart tightened. He murmured, "I could deliberately follow the natural order and not keep my youthful appearance. I could become a white-haired old man too."
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "You are wrong on multiple counts."
Pang Lanxi looked up, bewildered.
Chen Ping'an said, "Let's not even mention that when you become an old man, you will still have a radiant inner spirit and a flowing glow. Let's set that aside."
Chen Ping'an paused briefly, then said softly, "Have you ever put yourself in her shoes, truly thought about it for that Xingzi girl you care about so much? Some things, the way you think, however well you think them, no matter how good your intentions, are they necessarily good? Are they necessarily right? Have you ever considered that true goodwill is never a matter of what I or we wish unilaterally?"
Pang Lanxi opened his mouth but said nothing.
Chen Ping'an continued slowly, "Back in Mural City, I was just a passing traveler to you two. She had you run out of the shop to remind me to be careful. Such a kind heart must be a good girl worth your affection. Earlier, when I observed you two in the shop, as a bystander, I could roughly tell that Xingzi has a delicate mind but a broad heart. That is extremely rare. She did not feel inferior because you are an immortal dining on clouds and dew while she is a mortal merchant dealing with money. She did not feel that way. Do you truly know how rare and how good that state of mind is?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "You don't know."
Pang Lanxi stood speechless, his lips moving slightly.
Chen Ping'an said, "So over the years, it's been her taking care of your feelings, hoping you focus on your cultivation and climb higher. If I'm not mistaken, every time you go down the mountain to help at the shop, when you part, she will not show too much reluctance. Afterwards, you might even feel a bit down, wondering if she doesn't like you as much as you like her. Am I right?"
Pang Lanxi's eyes felt sore. He pressed his lips tightly together.
Chen Ping'an sighed, took out a jug of wine. It wasn't any celestial brew, just the kind of local rice wine from Dragon Spring County sold in the capital of the Great Li Empire. Chen Ping'an took a small sip. "You never truly thought about her feelings. You just thought about how you should act. Is that good?"
Pang Lanxi shook his head. "No, not good at all."
Chen Ping'an said, "So this time, when the Divine Maiden paintings in Mural City lost their blessings and the shop might close, you thought it was a trivial matter. To you, Pang Lanxi, of course it's trivial. How much profit can a market shop make in a year? A few pieces of Xiaoshu money? And how many immortal coins do you receive from the Pima Sect ancestral hall each year? But you have no idea how important that shop, right at the foot of the Pima Sect mountain, is to a market girl. Losing that livelihood, even just moving to some market like Naihe Pass, to her, isn't that a world-shattering event?"
Chen Ping'an took another sip of wine, his voice gentle and rich, the words like the wine itself, flowing slowly. "Girls' thoughts are always more long-term than boys of the same age. How to put it? The difference is like this: a boy's thoughts walk on a mountain, only looking at the high places. A girl's thoughts are like a winding river, meandering into the distance."
Pang Lanxi's face crumpled. He didn't know what sad image he recalled, but just thinking about it made this young man, who was usually carefree and without distant worries, feel a wrenching pain. Tears already swirled in his eyes.
Chen Ping'an glanced at him and sighed softly.
What a resilient Dao heart, seemingly iron-willed—even Liu Laocheng of Gongliu Island had taken a huge fall over love.
Chen Ping'an suddenly smiled. "What's there to fear? Now that you know a bit more, just do better in the future. Think more for her. If you really feel you're not good at understanding a girl's heart, I'll teach you the simplest method: talk to her sincerely. Don't feel embarrassed. A man's face—outside, try not to lose it even once. But with the girl you care about, you don't need to force it all the time."
Pang Lanxi nodded, wiped his face, and grinned brightly. "Chen Ping'an, how do you know so much?"
Being a cultivator, once the point was made, it was like removing a leaf covering his eyes. Pang Lanxi's mind returned to clarity.
Chen Ping'an raised the wine jug and shook it. "I walk the world, and I drink."
Pang Lanxi asked curiously, "Is wine really that good?"
Chen Ping'an said nothing, just drank.
He was still patiently waiting for news from Ghostly Marsh Valley.
Actually, there were some things Chen Ping'an could explain more clearly to the boy. But if he laid out the threads, it might touch on the Great Dao, which was a great taboo for mountain cultivators. Chen Ping'an would not cross that line.
Moreover, the vague, hazy love between young boys and girls was a kind of beauty in itself. Why break it down and explain too much?
Pang Lanxi took his leave, saying that at least two sets of 'Hard Yellow' Divine Maiden paintings were as good as done. He just had to wait for good news.
As Pang Lanxi was about to step out of the courtyard gate, Chen Ping'an suddenly called out to him and smiled. "Oh, by the way, remember this: if you really think what I said makes sense, when you act on it, still think it over more. Not every piece of good-sounding advice necessarily suits you."
Pang Lanxi waved his hand and laughed. "I'm not really that stupid. Don't worry, I'll figure it out myself!"
Chen Ping'an then got up and began practicing his six-step standing stake posture around the stone table.
At dusk that day, Chen Ping'an stopped his fist stance and turned to look.
From the direction where the bone Dharma manifestation and the golden-armored deity had appeared earlier on Skeleton Beach, a figure was riding the wind. When an Earth Immortal did not deliberately conceal their momentum while traveling on the wind, there was often thunder and great commotion. But after reaching the upper five realms, one could "unite with the Dao" of heaven and earth, moving silently, with barely even a ripple of energy. The figure speeding straight toward Mount Muyi was likely Zhu Quan, the sect leader, who was in the Jade Purity realm. Yet she still caused such a great disturbance. Either she was deliberately showing off to intimidate certain forces lurking on Skeleton Beach, or she had been severely wounded in Ghostly Marsh Valley, causing her realm to become unstable.
The figure swept into Mount Muyi, then suddenly braked sharply, like an arrow shooting toward this mansion halfway up the mountain.
Inside the small courtyard, the wind was chaotic, making Chen Ping'an's sleeves rustle.
It was indeed Zhu Quan, the one who had cultivated in a thatched hut in Qinglu Town.
Chen Ping'an cupped his fists. "Thank you, Sect Leader Zhu."
Zhu Quan waved her hand, sat down at the stone table, and spotted the wine jug on the table. She beckoned. "If you're really sincere, hurry up and treat me to a jug of wine to satisfy my craving."
Chen Ping'an sat across from her, took out a jug of rice wine. "It's just local rice wine, not celestial brew."
Zhu Quan removed the clay seal, tilted her head back and took a big gulp. Wiping her mouth, she said, "It is a bit light, but at least it's wine, not water."
She glanced at the young man sitting quietly across from her and asked, "Are you familiar with Pu Bones? During your travels in Ghostly Marsh Valley, even when you were charging around with Yang Ningxing, I didn't look. I don't know what abilities you have that made Pu Bones draw his sword for you."
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Not familiar. To be precise, we had a bit of a conflict. Near Crow Ridge, I had a dispute with the female ghost of Funi City, and Pu Rang stopped me from chasing Fan Yunluo. Later, Pu Rang took the initiative to find me once. I saw him in a blue robe with a sword, so I asked him why he didn't covet the long sword on my back."
Zhu Quan said the rice wine was light, but she had drunk a lot, quickly finishing the jug. She slammed the empty jug onto the table. "So what did Pu Bones say?"
Chen Ping'an smiled but said nothing.
Zhu Quan grunted. These two really were birds of a feather?
What, just because they wear blue robes and use swords, they think they're something special?
But Zhu Quan glanced at the wine jug. Well, she had drunk his wine, so she should be a bit more polite. Besides, after the dogshit Jiang Shangzhen, any outsider male looked like a fine young man to her. Moreover, this young man had introduced himself with "Chen Ping'an of Piyun Mountain, Great Li Empire," and that business deal was quite satisfactory to her. Piyun Mountain—she had heard of it. She had even heard of the Great Li Northern Peak deity Wei Bo several times. There was no help for it; the Pima Sect's financial road in other continents relied on that cross-continent ferry ship. And this young man's second sentence she also believed. He said he owned half of the Niujiao Mountain Ferry, so for the next five hundred years, all docking fees for the Pima Sect's ferry ships would be free, without spending a single Xuehua coin. Zhu Quan felt that this long-term deal, where she didn't have to spend a single copper coin, was absolutely worth it! If this got out, who would still dare call her a spendthrift?
But Zhu Quan was still a bit stifled. This guy was too much like her nemesis Pu Bones. She laughed. "Actually, you were overthinking it. When you came to me earlier, you didn't need to offer any conditions. As long as it was against the north, not just Jingguan City, any bone frame I didn't like, I would have blocked it. Are you feeling regret now? Is your little heart trembling?"
Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. "Sect Leader Zhu is heroic and righteous, embodying the grand style of the Pima Sect. But I am a guest and a junior. I cannot be improper. The proper courtesies must still be observed."
Zhu Quan rubbed her chin. "Nice words, but they don't sound pleasant to my ears."
Chen Ping'an took out another jug of wine.
Zhu Quan nodded with a smile. "The words aren't pleasant, but you look much more pleasing to me now."
Chen Ping'an picked up the half-finished jug of rice wine and drank slowly.
Zhu Quan glanced at the young man's dawdling way of drinking. She shook her head. Now he didn't look pleasing again.
"No need to bring out more wine."
Zhu Quan finished the second jug, placing the empty jug on the table. "Pu Bones really pissed off Jingguan City this time. It won't be easy for him from now on. But that guy never cared about such things anyway. Gao Cheng is annoyed by him too. If they fight, he can't go all out. But if he fights to the death, he can actually kill Pu Bones, but it would cost Jingguan City some vitality. He can't not fight either, because this time Gao Cheng lost all face. First, he failed to kill you, and then that dog thief Jiang Shangzhen's broken net held him for half a day. When Gao Cheng retreated to Ghostly Marsh Valley, guess what? He couldn't bear to tear that broken net full of Xuehua coins to shreds, so he just pinched his nose and put it away. Haha, before Gao Cheng made his name on Skeleton Beach, he was probably used to such frugal housekeeping. After making his name, he never thought he'd see this day! That rotten maggot Jiang Shangzhen, that black-hearted lecher, actually did a good deed in his life!"
Zhu Quan felt immensely satisfied and laughed heartily. Then she naturally reached out her hand.
Chen Ping'an sighed inwardly and placed a third jug of rice wine on the table.
Zhu Quan started drinking. Probably feeling it was too much to keep asking for wine, she began to drink in small sips, conserving it.
So it was indeed the city lord of Jingguan City.
The most powerful spirit in Ghostly Marsh Valley.
Earlier, when Chen Ping'an was determined to escape Ghostly Marsh Valley, he had also made some guesses. He had carefully screened all the Nascent Soul ghosts recorded in the northern part of the "Relax the Heart Collection." Gao Cheng of Jingguan City had naturally crossed his mind, but he thought it unlikely. Because, like Pu Rang of Bailong City, or the two reclusive experts of the Big Round Moon Temple and Small Xuan Du Monastery in Peach Grove, the higher the realm, the higher the vision. Chen Ping'an's words by the Black River, "Attain this fruit, should have this heart," had a broad application, except for rogue cultivators. Moreover, there were always accidents in the world; nothing was certain. So even though Chen Ping'an felt that Yang Ningxing's so-called northern spying had the lowest likelihood of involving Gao Cheng, Chen Ping'an was precisely the type to expect the worst. He directly treated Gao Cheng as his hypothetical enemy!
Otherwise, Chen Ping'an was already in Qinglu Town, with Zhu Quan, the Pima Sect leader, cultivating in a thatched hut just a few steps away. Why would he still need to use two gold-tier Shrinking Ground Talismans to tear open the sky screen and leave Ghostly Marsh Valley? And before that, he had already determined that Qinglu Town harbored spies from Jingguan City, so he deliberately made an extra trip to Copper Stink City. This self-rescue plan had truly begun to operate quietly from the moment he tossed that Xiaoshu coin to the ghost general who was the city defense captain of Copper Stink City.
Actually, deep in Chen Ping'an's heart, he had barely managed to outline a hidden thread, a vein.
On this thread, there were many key nodes. For example, at the cliffside iron chain bridge, Yang Ningxing had stated his perception.
By the Black River, the old monk looked across the river, chanted a Buddha song, and said a seemingly casual "Turn back is the shore."
After entering Qinglu Town, which should have been the safest place in Ghostly Marsh Valley, he couldn't even draw talismans or maintain his stance in sword furnace practice. That unprecedented unease was extremely rare.
Going further back, there was the blessing of the Celestial Official and Divine Maiden paintings in Mural City. The Riding Deer Divine Maiden walked out of the painting, went to the Yaoye River ferry, transformed into an old woman, and tested him.
Mural City was Chen Ping'an's first stop in Beiju Continent!
Yang Ningxing had refined pure evil thoughts into a mustard seed. The scholar in the waterside shrine had once said, seemingly unintentionally, that he had never once won against Chen Ping'an.
All things in the world always come with both blessing and disaster.
Chen Ping'an felt this deeply.
If he had been completely immersed in the lingering good fortune, what would the consequences have been?
At this moment, even though Chen Ping'an was far from Ghostly Marsh Valley, on Mount Muyi of the Pima Sect, he still felt a lingering fear.
Imagine if he had been a smooth-sailing "Bundle Carrier" in Copper Stink City. Under normal circumstances, he would naturally have continued north. Because although there had been constant disturbances along the way, they had all been thrilling but safe. Instead, he kept picking up bargains everywhere. Nothing hugely good happened, but good luck came continuously—earning a little here, making a little there. And in the end, the Riding Deer Divine Maiden had nothing to do with him. The Thunder Pond of Jixiao Mountain had nothing to do with him. The blessing of Baojing Mountain also had nothing to do with him. He, Chen Ping'an, seemed to rely solely on his caution plus "a little bit of luck." That would have been the most comfortable, least dangerous state Chen Ping'an could imagine.
Chen Ping'an squinted his eyes and downed the rest of the rice wine in his jug.
Zhu Quan glanced at the long sword Chen Ping'an carried on his back and shook her head slightly. She felt it shouldn't be that item. Gao Cheng of Jingguan City, although the lifelong enemy of the entire Pima Sect, was acknowledged by successive Pima Sect leaders as not lacking in either cultivation or magnanimity. He could be called a hero among ghosts. So even if the young man truly carried a semi-immortal weapon, Gao Cheng would not be so greedy, let alone so furious. Zhu Quan, rare for her, mentally rehearsed her words before speaking. "Why Gao Cheng targeted you—I won't ask, and you don't need to tell me proactively. That's your grudge. Of course, fighting to the death with Gao Cheng and Jingguan City has always been the duty of Pima Sect cultivators. Life and death without resentment. You don't need to feel that because you escaped to my Mount Muyi to take shelter, you have to get involved later, help out, or repay a favor. That's unnecessary. Neither of us needs to be so polite."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Alright."
Zhu Quan laughed. "Good lad, no false courtesy."
---
Inside the Small Xuan Du Monastery in the Peach Grove of Ghostly Marsh Valley.
The monastery's master, an old Daoist, stood under the towering peach tree. Mist swirled at his feet, then slowly unfurled like a huge scroll of mountains and rivers.
When the scroll showed a scholar entering Copper Stink City to participate in what seemed like a child's play imperial examination.
Xu Song, the "little Daoist boy" holding a whisk, felt a chill in his heart and spoke tremblingly, "Master, is this the legendary 'Galloping Horse' scroll of the long river of time?"
The old Daoist nodded. "The head of the Chongxuan Office of the Grand Source Dynasty, the Yunxiao Palace, personally sent me a letter asking me to help Yang Ningxing protect his path for a stretch. To do a good deed thoroughly, I painted this scroll. But don't worry, this is just a copy of the true Galloping Horse scroll. The price won't be too high. Others can only view it three times. I'm showing it to you once so you can observe the Dao. Stones from other mountains can polish jade. So look carefully."
Xu Song was shocked. "That Little Heavenly Lord of the Chongxuan Office, with his brother fetching things from Baojing Mountain, Yang Ningxing himself only came to Ghostly Marsh Valley for a stroll. Why such trouble?"
The old Daoist smiled. "At first, I was also puzzled. I guessed it mostly involved a struggle over the Great Dao. After you finish watching this scroll, the truth will come to light."
Xu Song's eyes widened, unwilling to miss a single detail in the scroll.
But Yang Ningxing's actions in Copper Stink City were truly unsightly. If this scroll weren't a Galloping Horse, Xu Song would think his master was making a mountain out of a molehill, and the Yunxiao Palace master was overthinking.
But when Xu Song saw the "scholar" transform the Summer-Avoiding Lady of a peeling mountain into black smoke and swallow it in one gulp, while on the wall crouched that young swordsman—
Xu Song's expression became serious.
Then came various events.
Xu Song watched with his heart pounding, his thoughts surging.
When the scroll of mountains and rivers at his feet finally ended, turning into a rolled painting gently held by his master, the old Daoist smiled. "Any thoughts?"
Xu Song said with shame, "If your disciple were that... Good Brother, I don't know how many times I would have died at Yang Ningxing's hands."
The old Daoist nodded. "If you were that person, you wouldn't have escaped Ghostly Marsh Valley either."
Xu Song recalled the commotion near Qinglu Town and the subsequent true immortal battle. This little Daoist boy felt somewhat discouraged.
The old Daoist looked at his proud disciple and smiled. "What, already feeling inferior to others? If I told you that this wandering swordsman from afar is actually just a little over twenty years old, would you want to knock your head against the peach tree?"
Sweat beaded on Xu Song's forehead.
The old Daoist shook his head and sighed. "Silly child. Amidst the coexistence of blessing and danger, on the thin line between life and death, to constantly gamble on that one-in-ten-thousand chance—is that really a good thing? To be deeply mired in the mortal world, entangled with karma—how terrifying that is for a cultivator. Putting that aside, even if you, Xu Song, are not as good as this person now, does that mean you stop cultivating and seeking the Dao? Then if I were you, would I be disheartened thinking about the lofty Dao Ancestor, slightly lower the three sect leaders, and even lower the ascendant immortals in the White Jade Capital, and tell myself, forget it, forget it?"
Xu Song looked up, his eyes confused.
The old Daoist flicked his finger gently on Xu Song's forehead. "We Daoists cultivate our own merit and our own matters. The only great enemy is the cage of rules that sees grass wither and trees decay, all mortals live and die. It is not in others. Others' honor or disgrace, rise or fall—what does that have to do with me? In my opinion, perhaps the true Great Dao is something you don't need to strive for. But... never mind, saying too much on this point is futile."
Xu Song stepped back, made a Daoist salute, and said, "Master, your disciple understands a little."
The old Daoist nodded with satisfaction. "That's enough."
---
Inside the celestial secret realm where each mural was originally a door.
Now that all eight murals had become line drawings, the spiritual energy of this celestial grotto had also lost most of its power, degenerating into an ordinary secret realm—not quite a grotto-heaven but more than a blessed land. It was still a good feng shui spot, but no longer impressive.
Jiang Shangzhen walked through it again, feeling very disappointed.
After using his life-bound object, the Willow Leaf, to cut open the sky screen and return to Skeleton Beach, he had not left Beiju Continent. Instead, he secretly came to this secret realm.
Some things, if he couldn't figure them out clearly, always made him itch.
Moreover, hiding in this place served two purposes. First, it was safer than hiding on Mount Muyi. Second, he feared that falling out with He Xiaoliang could have terrible consequences. That ruthless woman was a person of terrifyingly deep blessings. If she came to hate him, it was very possible that as long as he was anywhere in Beiju Continent, he would inexplicably suffer misfortunes. Not great disasters, but definitely annoying. For example, Jiang Shangzhen was very worried that if he showed his face on Skeleton Beach or Mount Muyi, he would unluckily run into some old girl traveling south, and she would snot and tears pour out, pouring out her heart. Jiang Shangzhen hated that kind of reunion the most.
But Jiang Shangzhen thought while lying in the flowerbeds of this secret realm, while sitting on the brocade-covered bed, while lying on the still-fragrant dressing table, while sitting on the high-rise railing where the fairy sisters must have leaned. Yet he still couldn't figure some things out. It seemed like in the blink of an eye, about three days had passed.
If he couldn't figure it out, he would ask.
So Jiang Shangzhen rode his life-bound object to a door and knocked rapidly.
Soon, a familiar face—the Pima Sect ancestor—appeared. As soon as he saw Jiang Shangzhen, he was furious. He roared, "Jiang Shangzhen, get the hell out! Our Pima Sect doesn't have dog shit for you to eat!"
Jiang Shangzhen sat on a railing, looking down at the hot-tempered old man, grinning mischievously. "Don't be like that. Let's talk nicely. I'm your ally now..."
The Pima Sect ancestor didn't waste words and was about to start a fight.
Jiang Shangzhen quickly raised his hands and said seriously, "I need to talk to your sect leader Zhu Quan, and also that guest staying on your mountain. It's best if they come here to chat."
The ancestor had already summoned his life-bound object, and it didn't look like he was just stretching his limbs.
Jiang Shangzhen lightly patted the railing with both hands and said helplessly, "This is a precious asset of your Pima Sect. If we fight, isn't it your loss?"
The ancestor sneered. When that life-bound wooden tablet appeared, four deity statues of Heavenly Kings stood around, their limbs slowly moving, golden light constantly gathering in their eyes.
Jiang Shangzhen hated it when Beiju Continent cultivators played this game—just fighting first and asking questions later.
If it were the old days, Jiang Shangzhen would have gone along with it. Back then, when he was just a Golden Core cultivator, he claimed to be the best at picking fights, the best at cursing and brawling, and the best at running away when things got dicey. He called himself the Triple Champion. But this time in Beiju Continent, Jiang Shangzhen had no intention of making a comeback.
Jiang Shangzhen glanced upward and breathed a sigh of relief.
In the sea of clouds high in the secret realm, Zhu Quan's embroidered shoes appeared again. At first, they were as big as mountains, blotting out the sky. But the instant they landed, they returned to normal size.
Zhu Quan was accompanied by Chen Ping'an.
The two appeared in the top corridor of this tall pavilion.
Zhu Quan told the ancestor to return to Mount Muyi.
The ancestor grumbled, put away his life-bound object and the four Heavenly King deities.
Jiang Shangzhen laughed heartily, jumped off the railing, and said, "Little Quan, they say a day apart feels like three autumns. We haven't seen each other for the equivalent of ten years. Do you miss me? I know you definitely don't, right?"
Zhu Quan couldn't be bothered to look at him. She said to Chen Ping'an, "Don't worry, I'll come if there's any trouble. Killing this lecher would be more satisfying to me than flattening Jingguan City."
Jiang Shangzhen was unperturbed. He leaned against the railing, fanning himself with his hand, and said with a smirk, "Little Quan is as lively and cute as ever."
Zhu Quan vanished in a flash, returning to Mount Muyi through the sea of clouds.
The moment the Pima Sect ancestor and sect leader Zhu Quan left, Jiang Shangzhen waved his sleeve. One strange magical treasure after another flew out from his sleeve, directly sealing the sea-cloud gate leading to Mount Muyi, along with the other eight small mural doors.
Then, from the sea of clouds came Zhu Quan's muffled voice: "Jiang Shangzhen, are you asking to be chopped?" Then the clouds shook violently. She must be pounding on the gate on the other side.
Jiang Shangzhen waved his sleeve again. More treasures, glittering and dazzling, flew out to completely block the sea-cloud gate. He then loudly swore, "If I commit any violence here, may Zhu Quan strike me dead the moment I step out! Deal?"
Chen Ping'an remained unmoved. He took out a jug of wine and tossed it to Jiang Shangzhen. "Thanks."
Jiang Shangzhen, for once, lost all his joking demeanor. He sighed emotionally. "I'm very curious. Did you guess who made a move on you?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Wasn't it Gao Cheng?"
Jiang Shangzhen, for the first time, had no playful words. He just stared at Chen Ping'an.
Chen Ping'an lightly jumped up and sat on the railing. Jiang Shangzhen also sat beside him. Each drank their wine.
Chen Ping'an said, "By your asking that way, I'm now truly certain."
Jiang Shangzhen was puzzled. "That makes me even more curious. I've checked your past through various channels. Logically, you couldn't have such deep entanglements with her."
Chen Ping'an first said something off-topic. "Sect Leader Zhu told me earlier that after Pu Rang of Bailong City struck Gao Cheng with his sword, he replied to her, 'A swordsman's actions are unbound by heaven and earth.' Well said."
Jiang Shangzhen took a large gulp of wine, swished it in his mouth like gargling, swallowed, then took another gulp and held it.
He had only lost a broken net worth about seventy or eighty Guyu coins in Ghostly Marsh Valley. But having watched such a good show from start to finish, he had no regrets.
Talking about money with me, Jiang Shangzhen? Is that an insult?
"As for being entangled with He Xiaoliang,"
Chen Ping'an said expressionlessly, slowly, "it's because that bastard Lu Chen set me up."
Jiang Shangzhen spat out a mouthful of wine.