Chapter 529: The Foundations of Fallen Mountain

Chapter 529: The Foundations of Fallen Mountain

After withdrawing his foot from the stream, Chen Ping'an exhaled heavily, a mouthful of turbid qi. He shook his right wrist with a snap, causing a few specks of ash to scatter.

Back then, Chen Ping'an's right arm had been sealed by an assassin from Gulu Mountain using a Buddhist divine ability. These were the remaining embers after that karmic entanglement had been completely shattered.

Qi Jinglong, a Nascent Soul sword cultivator on the verge of breaking through to the next realm, had also used the phrase "extremely perilous" to describe the river valley assassination. That Buddhist divine ability alone might have accounted for half the danger.

Chen Pin'an crouched down, cupped his hands to scoop up water to wash his face, and looked at his reflection in the water. He tilted his head, rubbed his palm over the stubble on his chin, and worried a bit about whether he would turn into a big-bearded man like Xu Yuanxia.

Chen Ping'an reached into the water, spread his palm, and gently pressed down. The stream's flow abruptly stopped for a moment, then continued flowing as usual.

He changed his hand gesture, drawing a circle and rotating his palm. The whirlpool in the water beside his feet grew larger and larger, but he soon stopped the motion, and the stream calmed again.

He remembered that when he used to travel with Zhang Shanfeng, he often saw the young Daoist spontaneously making gestures with his hands—neither fists nor palms, with strange meanings. Chen Ping'an had learned some superficial moves from him, but they never felt quite right. This was actually quite odd. In terms of fist technique strength, a hundred Zhang Shanfengs would not be Chen Ping'an's opponent, let alone the fact that Chen Ping'an was always extremely fast at learning fist techniques. For example, back in Lotus Flower Blessed Land, when Zhongqiu's basic fist stance, "Rectifying the Great Dragon," was demonstrated, Chen Ping'an could replicate it not only in form but also with some semblance of the spirit. Yet, he had never been able to grasp the essence of Zhang Shanfeng's fist techniques.

Chen Ping'an didn't dwell on it at the moment, simply assuming that Zhang Shanfeng's fist techniques were a unique method of nurturing qi practiced by mountain-cultivating Daoists, requiring Daoist mantras to be used in conjunction.

The lowest-level martial artists of the mortal world were mockingly called "mere fist practitioners" because they only knew some stances and routines without grasping the true meaning. Ultimately, the real intricacies and secrets lay in the circulation path of that single strand of pure true qi. At a deeper level, it was the matter of "divine intention," which was a mysterious and profound realm. Even within the same fist technique, the fist intent could vary greatly. The same master could teach the same fist manual to different disciples, but the results would be like a dragon giving birth to nine sons, each different. This was the same principle as how different people perceive mountains, water, wind, and snow, each with their own insights. That was why it was said, "The master leads you through the door, but cultivation is up to the individual."

Chen Ping'an stood up and slowly loosened his muscles and bones with a set of six-step stationary practice.

Refining a "Hero's Courage" was the key to the sixth realm.

This so-called "Hero's Courage" was not a physical object but a place of cultivation for that strand of pure true qi and the martial artist's soul. Its significance was comparable to a cultivator's golden core.

Chen Ping'an had previously said that he only lacked "two points of meaning" to break through to the next realm. Now that he had a Hero's Courage, only the last point of meaning remained. In fact, the resilience of Chen Ping'an's physique had long been comparable to that of the Golden Body realm. Cui Cheng's fist hammering, the sparring sessions with Zhu Lian, the tempering in the thunderclouds of the heavenly tribulation, and the countless battles during his travels—along with his tireless fist practice—were all part of a pure martial artist's external cultivation.

However, this last point could very well be a significant bottleneck, a chasm-like obstacle on the path to the Golden Body realm.

But Chen Ping'an was not in a hurry. The bigger the bottleneck, the better; it increased his chances of competing for the strongest sixth realm.

As for the word "strongest," Chen Ping'an had almost never thought about it before. The strongest third realm back then was forced upon him by that old man's fists in the bamboo tower of Fallen Mountain, punch by punch. It had nothing to do with whether Chen Ping'an wanted it or not. Under Cui Cheng, a tenth-realm martial artist, could Chen Ping'an simply refuse it?

One of the fundamental threads of Chen Ping'an's mental path, with one end tied to what Old Man Yao had said—"Grasp what is yours, and don't even think about what isn't"—could be summed up by the four characters on the Buddhist plaque in Crab Market: "Seek nothing externally." This naturally extended to the principle, "If fate gives you eight feet, don't ask for ten." Chen Ping'an considered this a self-evident truth, a natural progression of his mental journey. As a result, every word and action of Chen Ping'an over the long years had been subtly influenced.

For instance, the martial fortune of Old Dragon City had been repelled by Chen Ping'an, and twice at that. Also, Chen Ping'an almost never actively entered cave paradises or blessed lands to seek opportunities; he preferred "picking up scraps and making small fortunes."

It was like how people see a stream—they often only see the flowing water, not the riverbed beneath.

Chen Ping'an had been no exception in the past. It was only during his travels through Northern Julu Continent, observing people and the Dao, and examining his own heart through cultivation, that he slowly began to understand this truth.

"Knowing others is wisdom; knowing oneself is enlightenment."

That was very difficult.

All the knowledge that had been repeatedly refined, examined, and finally summarized was truly one's own truth.

Chen Ping'an sat down again beside the stream.

He looked to the south.

Not sure what he was thinking of.

He smiled.

Made a gesture of flicking a chestnut shell.

He wondered how Pei Qian was doing at the school now.

---

A cross-continent ferry from the Burial Clothes Sect in Skeleton Beach slowly docked at Oxhorn Mountain in Dragon Spring County.

A graceful woman, wearing a veiled hat and carrying a walking staff, was accompanied by a guardian exuding the aura of a Golden Core cultivator.

It was Sui Jingcheng, traveling southward, along with Rong Chang, a Nascent Soul sword cultivator from Floating Lotus Sword Lake.

After the ferry entered the territory of Precious Vase Continent, Sui Jingcheng often left her cabin and stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the mountains and rivers of other continents.

Beneath her feet lay that Great Li Dynasty.

Earlier, after entering Dragon Prefecture, which had descended from a cave heaven to a blessed land, Rong Chang had taken a distant look at Cloaked Cloud Mountain and sighed, "The landscape's spiritual energy is astonishing, truly worthy of being a northern sacred mountain of the continent."

Northern Julu Continent also had many Five Sacred Mountains, but compared to this newly emerged Cloaked Cloud Mountain, they were far inferior.

Hearing that the mountain god Wei Po was about to break through to the upper five realms, Rong Chang was even more emotional. A mountain deity stationed in their own territory was equivalent to a sage sitting in a small world; they needed to be considered at a higher realm. Once Wei Po reached the Jade Marvel realm, Great Li would effectively have a Golden Body deity at the Immortal realm. Combat power wasn't that important; what mattered was the national fortune of Great Li. The spiritual energy of the mountains and rivers, as well as the cultural and martial fortune of the entire northern region, would become more stable.

According to Sui Jingcheng, Wei Po had an extremely close relationship with that senior.

The night was heavy, and there were not many ferries at Oxhorn Mountain, so the Burial Clothes Sect ferry was particularly conspicuous.

The ferry would stay here for one day and depart the following night, allowing passengers from Northern Julu Continent to tour this broken, fallen former cave heaven. It was said that a new immortal shop had just opened on Oxhorn Mountain. Whether they could find bargains depended on their wealth and insight. However, the Burial Clothes Sect ferry manager also clearly informed all passengers that once they arrived at the northern sacred mountain territory of Precious Vase Continent, it was no longer Northern Julu Continent. Furthermore, Dragon Spring County was under the rule of the sage Ruan Qiong, who was from Wind Snow Temple. The rules were strict, and no one was allowed to fly freely on wind or swords. Anyone who caused trouble after disembarking should not expect the Burial Clothes Sect to intervene.

At the ferry terminal, a man dressed in white appeared, as divine as a deity. A golden earring dangled from his ear, and he smiled as he looked at Sui Jingcheng and Rong Chang.

Spirit sparrows constantly fluttered around him, and faint traces of rosy clouds flowed.

Rong Chang couldn't discern the other's depth, so his identity was obvious: the highest-ranking mountain god in all of Precious Vase Continent, Wei Po.

Sui Jingcheng quickened her pace and asked softly, "Are you the Mountain God Wei?"

Wei Po glanced at the walking staff in Sui Jingcheng's hand, raised his hand to gently shoo away the sparrows, then smiled and nodded. "I received the flying sword message and came to welcome you."

Rong Chang was a bit surprised.

Since when was a mountain deity so polite and warm? To personally come out to greet the two of them? After all, they were just strangers from afar.

In the previous Precious Vase Continent, a Nascent Soul sword cultivator like him might have warranted such treatment, but in Great Li's Cloaked Cloud Mountain, Rong Chang didn't think he had that much face.

This place, once the territory of Pear Blossom Cave Heaven, was known for its hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with many immortals.

Northern Julu Continent's Heavenly Lord Xie Shi, Southern Swaying Continent's Sword Immortal Cao Xi—both were said to have come from that small town's streets and alleys.

So once here, no one should bother bragging about their realm; it would only be laughable.

Sui Jingcheng felt a bit flustered and performed a bow. "Thank you for your trouble, Mountain God Wei."

Wei Po waved his hand, smiling kindly. "Miss Sui, no need to be so polite. Would you like to browse the small stalls at Oxhorn Mountain first, or go directly to Fallen Mountain?"

Sui Jingcheng said, "Let's go to Fallen Mountain first."

Wei Po nodded, activated his divine power, and brought Sui Jingcheng and Rong Chang directly to the foot of Fallen Mountain.

Rong Chang was startled again.

This Great Li Northern Sacred Mountain Deity should have little problem breaking through to the upper five realms. The degree of his harmony with the mountains and rivers was simply terrifying.

In an instant, they had traveled a thousand miles, and Rong Chang found that his own lifebound flying sword had barely stirred within him.

Wei Po said apologetically, "After all, this is Chen Ping'an's mountain. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to take you directly to the residence halfway up. I'll trouble Miss Sui and Sword Immortal Rong to hike up the mountain."

At the gate at the foot of the mountain, a hunchbacked man, barefoot, rushed out. He glanced at the veiled woman and then dismissed the man with her.

Wei Po introduced, "This Brother Gale is the gatekeeper of Fallen Mountain."

Zheng Dafeng stood beside Wei Po, rubbing his hands and grinning. "Miss Sui, is it? How about stopping by my place for a bit? Wei Po and I can whip up a late-night snack, consider it Chen Ping'an's hospitality, welcoming you. After you've eaten and drunk your fill, you can rest here. My place is big, with plenty of rooms. Not just one Miss Sui, even a few of your girlfriends wouldn't be a problem... Oh, my surname is Zheng. You can call me Brother Zheng, no need to be formal."

Sui Jingcheng was caught off guard.

Wei Po sighed helplessly. "Miss Sui and Sword Immortal Rong, whether you pause for a snack or head straight up the mountain, either is fine."

Then Sui Jingcheng and Rong Chang saw the hunchbacked man stomp on Wei Po's foot, still smiling. "Just a snack, no trouble at all."

Sui Jingcheng said cautiously, "Let's go up the mountain. There are some matters I need to discuss in detail with Mountain God Wei. The flying sword encrypted message couldn't convey everything."

Zheng Dafeng sighed, twisting his toe hard on Wei Po's boot. Wei Po remained calm and said to Sui Jingcheng, "Very well."

Rong Chang nearly broke a sweat, his sword heart unstable.

The four of them slowly ascended the mountain.

Zheng Dafeng lowered his voice, complaining, "So you're not going to help out?"

Wei Po smiled. "Let's talk business first."

Zheng Dafeng snarled, "A brother's lifelong happiness—how is that not serious business? Dammit, the rich get richer, the poor die of thirst."

Wei Po smiled. "There is a beauty in books, and there are many lovesick maidens in paintings."

Zheng Dafeng sighed. "In the end, it's just not quite right."

Wei Po patted Zheng Dafeng on the shoulder, comforting him. "A man of such talents, afraid he won't find a wife?"

Zheng Dafeng elbowed Wei Po in the side. "If it were Chen Ping'an saying that, I might have some confidence. But you?"

As Sui Jingcheng climbed the mountain, she looked around, her mind immersed. This was her senior's home.

Rong Chang, on the other hand, was baffled. He couldn't figure out the identity of that hunchbacked man. He was clearly a pure martial artist with a severed path, half crippled. How could he be so familiar with Wei Po? And neither of them seemed to think anything of it?

Sui Jingcheng slowed her pace. A young woman was coming down the mountain, practicing her fist forms. There was something familiar about her stance, so Sui Jingcheng began scrutinizing her appearance. Fortunately, she was pretty, but not that pretty.

Zheng Dafeng called out with a laugh, "Sister Cen! Practicing so late? That's too hard. Brother Zheng sees you've lost weight."

Cen Yuanji merely continued her practice, oblivious, completely focused.

She continued down the mountain.

Zheng Dafeng nodded approvingly. "No matter, not looking at your Big Gale brother is the right thing to do. Practicing requires concentration, right? As long as I'm in your heart, that's enough."

Wei Po sighed helplessly. "Don't disrupt Cen Yuanji's practice."

Zheng Dafeng sneered. "I'm helping temper her mental state. You're not a martial artist, so you wouldn't understand. Every time this girl runs up and down the mountain punching, the real hurdle is at my gate at the foot of the mountain. Don't think I do nothing while sitting on my little stool. But my fierce gaze and my suggestive words—how many ordinary female martial artists can withstand them?"

Wei Po's face lit up with sudden understanding. He nodded. "Yes, yes, yes. You're absolutely right."

Rong Chang was bemused. With his kind of talk and gaze, if he was born and raised in this small town, how had he not been beaten to death?

Or had his severe injuries and collapsed martial path been caused by that mouth? That's why he ended up as the gatekeeper of Fallen Mountain, forced to depend on Chen Ping'an, living under someone else's roof?

Or was there some hidden story, and looks were deceiving?

Zheng Dafeng chuckled. "Don't believe me if you want, but that woman Li didn't hold out. One day, Cen Yuanji will thank her Big Gale brother for his well-intentioned efforts. When that happens, she'll be crying and wiping her snot on me. Just imagining it is heartwarming."

Wei Po couldn't be bothered to reply.

This time, Rong Chang's sword heart was definitely unsteady.

Zheng Dafeng paused, shifted his gaze, and asked suspiciously, "Sword Immortal Rong, are you also experiencing some Dao benefits? That doesn't add up. My methods usually only work on women."

Rong Chang laughed. "It's nothing. Just some emotions from traveling a thousand miles from home."

But inwardly, Rong Chang no longer dared to regard the hunchbacked man as ordinary.

For a Nascent Soul sword cultivator's lifebound flying sword to quiver ever so slightly in his heart lake, how could a mere martial arts master perceive it instantly?

When they reached the mountainside, Zhu Lian was already standing there, smiling in welcome.

They all entered Zhu Lian's residence. Rong Chang then took his leave, and Zheng Dafeng led him to another place to stay.

Rong Chang had no worry about Sui Jingcheng's safety.

The aura of a mountain deity could be seen in the landscape of their jurisdiction.

Wei Po's path was certainly long.

Then, a "senior" who could hit it off with Liu Jinglong and also had a good relationship with Wei Po—the young mountain master's family style, good or bad, would not be hard to discern.

On the way, Rong Chang and Zheng Dafeng encountered a pink-skirted little girl.

Zheng Dafeng laughed. "Little Chen, no need to deliberately get up to work. The house is spotless. Oh, this is a guest from Northern Julu Continent, the great sword immortal Rong."

Chen Ruchu quickly performed a bow. "Fallen Mountain's little maid Chen Ruchu, greetings to Sword Immortal Rong."

Rong Chang smiled.

A small fire python with abundant literary fortune?

Another oddity.

Chen Ruchu pulled out a large bunch of keys, deftly selected one set, unlocked the door, and handed the keys to Rong Chang. She carefully explained which key corresponded to which door, but also mentioned that once he was settled, it was fine not to lock any of the doors, large or small. She would clean the rooms twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. If Sword Immortal Rong preferred not to be disturbed, that was also fine. If he needed tea or water delivered, she lived nearby and could be called with a word. After finishing in one breath, she quietly followed them into the residence. It was indeed spotless, clean, and refreshing. Though it lacked the immortal aura of a celestial mansion or the opulence of a noble family, it was very comfortable to look at.

Rong Chang had no complaints.

Zheng Dafeng laughed to Rong Chang, "Zhu Lian is our Fallen Mountain's head steward, and Little Chen is the junior steward. Sometimes Zhu Lian even answers to her. I especially like Little Chen."

Chen Ruchu smiled shyly.

Rong Chang thought for a moment and was about to take out a gift from his storage artifact to give to this pleasing little girl.

But Chen Ruchu was already about to take her leave.

Zheng Dafeng, grinning, pressed her little head down, so she had to stop.

Rong Chang brought out a small, exquisite spirit artifact: a gilt bamboo joint incense burner. It wasn't expensive, but it was worth a few small summer coins.

Chen Ruchu looked troubled. She felt it was too valuable. She could roughly gauge the amount of spiritual energy contained in immortal artifacts.

But Zheng Dafeng laughed, "What are you frozen for? Take it!"

Chen Ruchu took the small incense burner with both hands, then bowed to express her thanks.

After Rong Chang settled in,

Zheng Dafeng left the residence and saw the pink-skirted little girl still standing not far from the door.

Zheng Dafeng asked with a smile, "And Chen Lingjun? I haven't seen him around lately. Where's he been gallivanting?"

Chen Ruchu said softly, "Recently, he's been making a ruckus over at Turtleback. He's always so playful."

Now, their master owned many mountains.

Besides those leased to Dragon Spring Sword Sect for three hundred years—Treasure Register Mountain, Color Cloud Peak, and Immortal Herb Mountain—

There was also Fallen Mountain and Pearl Mountain.

And later, they'd bought Ash Mist Mountain, which was very close to Fallen Mountain and vast in territory. After the stallholders left Oxhorn Mountain, they acquired it, along with Cinnabar Mountain, which the Xu family of Clear Wind City had vacated, Turtleback and Weixia Peak, and Sword Worship Platform at the westernmost edge. These six mountains now belonged to their master's territory. Besides Sister Xiuxiu's home, their master now owned the most mountains in Dragon Spring County.

Zheng Dafeng saw through it all. "He's avoiding seeing Pei Qian's hardship in fist practice. Comparing himself to her makes him feel worse about his own idleness. So he'd rather not see it and runs off to mess around."

Chen Ruchu's expression dimmed.

Pei Qian's fist practice was far too brutal.

No less than her master's back in the day.

After preparing the medicinal bath, every time she carried the unconscious Pei Qian away from the second floor of the bamboo tower, she had to later take a bucket to clean the bloodstains upstairs.

On the floor, on the walls—everywhere.

It made her cry rivers of tears. Several times, while cleaning the blood, she would look at that old senior sitting cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation.

But the old senior just played dumb.

Zheng Dafeng patted the little girl's head. "Get some rest early. Doing the same thing day in and day out, and you never get bored. Even I admire you. If Chen Lingjun had half your patience and conscience, he would have made something of himself long ago, instead of always needing to curry favor from Chen Ping'an and borrow a seat from Wei Po."

Chen Ruchu said guiltily, "But my cultivation is too slow. I can't help with anything."

Zheng Dafeng sighed. "Don't think that way. Without Little Chen, Fallen Mountain would lose half its humanity."

Chen Ruchu's eyes widened, full of spirit. "Really?"

Zheng Dafeng chuckled. "Don't get proud. Keep it up."

The pink-skirted little girl nodded vigorously.

On the peaks of Fallen Mountain, the one who ran around the most was probably this little girl, always alone, silently doing trivial chores.

No one seemed to care about her.

But in reality, everyone cared about her.

On Fallen Mountain, if Lu Baixiang and the like suffered a great loss outside, and Chen Ping'an learned of it, given his stubborn temper, he might drag things out, first trying to reason with them.

But if the pink-skirted little girl were bullied outside the mountain, would Chen Ping'an still bother reasoning with the bullies?

Zheng Dafeng clasped his hands behind his head and walked slowly, not bothering to join whatever was happening at Zhu Lian's courtyard. Zhu Lian was so meticulous that Chen Ping'an, with his keen senses, trusted him completely. He, Zheng Dafeng, a crude brute, had nothing to worry about.

As for that veiled beauty visiting Fallen Mountain, Zheng Dafeng had seen her, and that was that.

It was like the old days at the Dust Medicine Shop in Old Dragon City.

The autumn moon was especially high.

Zheng Dafeng slowly descended the mountain.

He was looking forward to the day when Chen Ping'an would go down the mountain and reason with people.

For example, with Zhengyang Mountain. And the Great Li capital.

The funniest part was that when Chen Ping'an decided to go, it meant his reasoning was ready. Whether he spoke it or not, the other party would have to listen, whether they wanted to or not.

But Zheng Dafeng also looked forward to the other mountains beyond Fallen Mountain, wondering who would eventually inhabit them.

What was most worth anticipating was what name would be chosen if Fallen Mountain finally established its own sect.

When they'd chatted about it before, he, Zhu Lian, and Wei Po had exchanged glances and laughed, their laughter quite unrestrained.

At the small courtyard on the mountain,

Zhu Lian and Wei Po listened to Sui Jingcheng's detailed account. It mostly covered Chen Ping'an's travels through mountains and rivers and his experiences along the way.

Wei Po accepted the walking staff, planning to send it to Cui Dongshan from his Cloaked Cloud Mountain. That was more appropriate than Zhu Lian sending it from Fallen Mountain.

Besides the walking staff, Sui Jingcheng had also personally written a secret letter containing the words Chen Ping'an had entrusted her to tell that senior Cui. Sui Jingcheng didn't want to relay them verbally to Zhu Lian and Wei Po.

It wasn't that she didn't trust them; it was just her nature.

In that respect, she and Chen Ping'an were very similar.

Wei Po also accepted the secret letter.

Sui Jingcheng felt relieved.

Now, until she met that Mr. Cui, whom her senior had described as extraordinary, she only needed to "tour the mountains and rivers" of Precious Vape Continent peacefully under the escort of a Nascent Soul sword immortal, her senior martial brother.

But she planned to stay at Fallen Mountain and Dragon Spring County for a while.

There were many reasons: to meet her senior's first disciple, Pei Qian; to browse the immortal shops at Oxhorn Mountain ferry; how could she not visit Mountain God Wei's Cloaked Cloud Mountain? This place was once Pear Blossom Cave Heaven, one of the thirty-six lesser cave heavens, so she had to take a slow walk around. She could even go north to the Great Li capital first, then take the Spring Palace ferry back to Oxhorn Mountain ferry, where she could rest again.

Sui Jingcheng was led to her residence by an adorable little girl who looked like a porcelain doll.

Wei Po first went to Cloaked Cloud Mountain to send the walking staff and the secret letter, then returned to Zhu Lian's courtyard.

Zhu Lian was pacing slowly, pondering matters.

Wei Po didn't disturb him and poured himself a cup of tea.

For analogy, a mountain deity's cultivation could be directly reflected by their Golden Body. A cultivator's cultivation was measured by the amount of spiritual energy accumulated in their qi mansion.

From Wei Po's perspective, the four from the Lotus Flower Blessed Land's painting—the founding emperor of Nanyuan Kingdom, Wei Xian; the demon cult leader, Lu Baixiang; the female sword immortal, Sui Youbian—each had their own splendid lives and had stood at the peak of the human world in Lotus Flower Blessed Land. But if one only looked at mental state, none was as "perfect and flawless" or "cohesive and meticulous" as Zhu Lian. Born into a top-tier wealthy family of great renown, he secretly learned martial arts while casually reading books. A child prodigy, he had taken the imperial examinations early and ranked first. He patiently compiled historical records, spent a few years in the officialdom in obscurity, then formally entered the court. His career was smooth, and he quickly rose to prominence. Later, he turned to the martial world, wandering the land with extraordinary flair, living a life of play. He also witnessed the grime of the lowest ranks of the mundane martial world. When the mountains and rivers were on the verge of collapse, he stepped up to turn the tide, returned to the court, and threw himself onto the battlefield, abandoning his peerless martial arts to act only as a scholarly general, propping up the chaotic era. Ultimately, he returned to the martial world, transforming from a noble son into a wild, untamed martial lunatic.

So that's why, even in the Grand All-heaven World, Zhu Lian had little interest in anything. For him, the world was still the world, just a Lotus Flower Blessed Land swapped for a larger map of the Grand All-heaven World. But human hearts were still the same hearts, unable to produce much novelty.

Simply put, Zhu Lian had never really gotten excited.

Sui Youbian would aspire to truly soar as a sword immortal.

Wei Xian, with imperial temperament, ambition, and strategy, would try to rise again, wanting to control more troops and power than a blessed land's ruler.

Lu Baixiang would hope to start a new journey in the martial world, slowly accumulating foundation, eventually establishing his own sect, and one day leaving Fallen Mountain to stand on his own, as a pure martial artist looking down upon the mountain gods.

The three each had their own pursuits and had found their own path in the new world.

But what about Zhu Lian?

He desired nothing.

Zhu Lian's mental state had long been that of an untethered Dao.

To put it bluntly, if Zhu Lian peeled off his current face, he could make a fortune just by his looks. Besides, he had never really put effort into zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting, yet he was already so proficient.

To say it more elegantly, this astonishingly talented Zhu Lian could, if he turned to cultivation like Sui Youbian, advance in realms at a blinding speed, breaking through obstacles like splitting bamboo.

Zhu Lian snapped out of his thoughts, stopped, and smiled. "Sorry, I was lost in thought."

Wei Po poured him a cup of tea. Zhu Lian sat down, gently rotating the porcelain cup, and asked slowly, "How did the discussion with Cui Dongshan go regarding the secret purchase of Golden Body fragments?"

This was a crucial secret matter that Zhu Lian, Wei Po, and Zheng Dafeng had discussed. Once the Lotus Flower Blessed Land became a private property of Fallen Mountain, and it ascended to a mid-tier blessed land, they would need a large number of mountain deities. The more, the better, because the incense offerings of the mortal world were something Fallen Mountain could obtain without spending a single snow coin yet was vital to a blessed land. However, Golden Body fragments were directly tied to the Great Li court. Even if Wei Po broached the subject, it would be far from ideal. Therefore, they needed Cui Dongshan to assess the appropriate approach and conduct some under-the-table dealings with the immortal sects of southern Precious Vape Continent. The Great Li court, even if aware of it, would only turn a blind eye. For Fallen Mountain, that was sufficient.

Wei Po said, "Still waiting."

Wei Po suddenly smiled. "I believe after sending that walking staff, your young master's student, who was using about seventy or eighty percent of his effort, will now exert himself and be willing to spend twelve percent of his energy to deal with us."

Zhu Lian nodded. "With this Cui Dongshan, we must tread carefully."

Zhu Lian was very wary of Cui Dongshan.

Because the two of them were of the same kind.

Zhu Lian would never let down his guard just because of Cui Dongshan's complicated relationship with Chen Ping'an.

Also, Zheng Dafeng had said that someone well-versed in the operation of blessed lands would soon arrive at Fallen Mountain.

That was also good news.

Fallen Mountain hadn't gained a single grain rain coin, but every piece of insider information about blessed lands that this person provided would essentially save Fallen Mountain a grain rain coin.

Earlier, Sun Jiashu had personally climbed the mountain.

He had come with great sincerity.

The Old Dragon City Sun family was willing to provide three hundred grain rain coins, only taking regular interest, without any share of the future profits from the Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

The Fan family would also provide three hundred coins, on the same terms. The borrower would be a young man named Fan Er, not the Fan family head.

However, both families had many additional specific requests. For example, Sun Jiashu had proposed that within fifty years, Fallen Mountain must provide the Sun family with a nominal guest elder—a Traveling Realm martial artist or a Nascent Soul cultivator would suffice. This obligation would be canceled if the elder assisted the Sun family once during a crisis. Additionally, the Sun family planned to open a ferry route from Old Dragon City in the south all the way north, with the ferry terminating at Oxhorn Mountain ferry rather than the Spring Palace in the Great Li capital. This would require some care from Wei Po and Fallen Mountain, as well as help smoothing over relations with the Great Li court.

Even with these additional conditions that required gradual negotiation, Sun Jiashu's loan only charged interest, ensuring that the Old Dragon City Sun family would have a stable income regardless of the outcome.

However, the current Precious Vape Continent was undergoing a complete upheaval, presenting countless opportunities for wealth. The Sun family had almost emptied their coffers to bet on Fallen Mountain, which was far from the best option. The true business acumen would be to make money multiply like feet, similar to the other major families, investing in the vast area south of Guanhu Academy and north of Old Dragon City, making interest generate money. According to the gradually unfolding situation, the Sun family would not only profit steadily but could also build goodwill with the Great Li court and the new emperor of the Song clan. Once Great Li annexed a continent, this kind of implicit investment would help expand the Sun family's future financial avenues.

Zhu Lian suddenly said, "After the stallholders' shop opens, barring any surprises, the new Great Li emperor will take the initiative to send you a sum of gold and essence copper coins, or a pile of Golden Body fragments. Cloaked Cloud Mountain should just accept them, so that the young emperor doesn't overthink things. Intelligent people, when idle, tend to become suspicious, which would be counterproductive. However, let's be clear: relationships are relationships, business is business. It's still that Fallen Mountain buys them from Cloaked Cloud Mountain at a low price."

Wei Po smiled. "Of course."

Then he added, "If we could remove the 'low price,' it would be even better."

From hosting the grand second Night Parade to opening his own stall at Oxhorn Mountain, besides making some conscience-stricken immortal money, Wei Po was... also trying to make some more conscience-stricken gold and essence copper money.

Since even a great northern mountain deity needed to amass immortal money to aid his breakthrough, how could the Great Li court ignore it? In fact, the new Great Li emperor, more than anyone else in Precious Vape Continent, wanted Wei Po to successfully break through to the upper five realms. The louder the commotion, the better! Ideally, it would be a heavenly phenomenon of auspicious signs appearing over a thousand miles. What did that mean? It meant Song He's ascension was the most legitimate, celebrated by heaven and earth!

Wei Po was the only new Five Sacred Mountains deity enshrined by the previous emperor.

Yet Wei Po was the mountain deity of Great Li's dragon rising land, an extremely important figure. The Great Li capital was right under the watchful eyes of this deity.

So how to cleverly win over the "former court minister" Wei Po could easily become a lingering concern for the new emperor. Over time, without communication, it would become a thorn in the emperor's side. So Wei Po and Cloaked Cloud Mountain needed to offer a stepping stone for the Great Li court to descend gracefully, comfortably, and without awkwardness.

No wonder when Zhu Lian and Zheng Dafeng had brought up this matter earlier, Wei Po had agreed after some hesitation.

Because the three of them in that small courtyard were all skilled at playing chess, thinking several steps ahead.

Wei Po hesitated for a moment. "Aren't you going to ask how I suddenly learned about the situation in Lotus Flower Blessed Land?"

Zhu Lian waved his hand. "No need to tell me. What can be said, the three of us have already spoken freely. What's not convenient to say, it's meaningless for us to ask and answer."

Wei Po raised his glass. "Toasting with tea instead of wine."

Zhu Lian quickly slung his arm around Wei Po's shoulders, raised his glass with both hands, and smiled obsequiously. "I wouldn't dare not accept the great deity Wei's toast!"

After they both drained their cups, Wei Po laughed. "Too bad Brother Gale isn't here."

Zhu Lian rubbed the back of his head. "In terms of being human, neither of us can compare to him."

Wei Po had no objection.

After all, Wei Po wasn't human either.

That was a free advantage he had over Zhu Lian.

Taking advantage of this old cook, whether in chess or business, was no easy feat.

Wei Po stood up. "I won't disturb you while you make the late-night snack."

Zhu Lian nodded and sighed. "At first, I was tough. Now, I'm a bit nervous. When our young master returns to Fallen Mountain, I think I'll need to hide out at your place."

Wei Po looked a bit smug, but his expression vanished in an instant.

Zhu Lian got up to open the door.

Outside, a charcoal-black little girl with limp arms was banging her head on the door.

Probably because she hadn't been able to wake up that "Right Protector of the Dragon Alley."

Zhu Lian opened the door. Pei Qian staggered over the threshold, trembling. "Old cook, I can't sleep. Can I chat with you?"

Zhu Lian closed the door. "What's the problem?"

Pei Qian sat down on a stool, wincing as if her buttocks were blooming.

It wasn't that she couldn't sleep tonight; she had been woken by the pain. She couldn't sleep at all. Now she wanted to slap herself for ever saying that her bedding was her mortal enemy. Wasn't it coming true? That light, floating quilt felt like knives against her skin.

Zhu Lian asked, "Not hungry? Want a snack? It'll be quick."

Pei Qian shook her head, listless. "No appetite."

Zhu Lian asked again, "Something on your mind?"

Pei Qian grunted but didn't speak.

Zhu Lian pressed, "Worried about the mounting debts?"

Pei Qian nodded gloomily. "The old man said I still have a few days before I can break through to the third realm. When I do, I'll have a short time to copy books. But it won't last long before my hands and feet are useless again. So annoying."

Zhu Lian just listened without interrupting.

Pei Qian lifted her head to look at the huge jade plate in the sky. "Before, at Dragon Alley, I always wished that one day my master would whoosh home. Now, I both want him to come home and am afraid of him coming home. If my master finds out how many days I haven't copied books... if he gets angry and kicks me out of the sect, what then?"

The little girl's face wrinkled, her mouth pouted, and tears glistened in her eyes. "My master's done it before. When we first left Lotus Flower Blessed Land, in a place called Great Spring Kingdom on Tongye Continent, he abandoned me once. Old cook, think about it—what kind of person is my master? He keeps his worn-out straw sandals. Why would he just abandon me? At that time, I was still ignorant. He could abandon me and then regret it. Now I'm grown up. If he abandons me again, it will be for real."

Zhu Lian asked softly, "Is that what you're afraid of? So you've been afraid to grow up?"

Pei Qian raised her elbow with difficulty to wipe her face. "How can I not be afraid? What's so good about growing up?"

Regarding the copying of books, Zhu Lian had explained it to Pei Qian before. She had definitely taken it in.

But the real reason was something Pei Qian couldn't voice, something she kept buried in her heart.

Zhu Lian could roughly guess but didn't voice it.

Back then, Chen Ping'an had said to Pei Qian in person that the person he truly wanted to bring out of Lotus Flower Blessed Land was Cao Qinglang.

At that time, Chen Ping'an not only didn't like Pei Qian's extreme temperament, he actually hated it, and he hadn't concealed this from her.

What people called growth, in Zhu Lian's view, was just more weighing of pros and cons.

Pei Qian was in an awkward spot.

It wasn't that she didn't know how to weigh pros and cons; quite the opposite. The little orphan who had suffered so much was best at reading expressions and calculating gains and losses.

But after following Chen Ping'an, she realized that the things she was best at only pushed her further away from him.

So she had always feared growing up and had been secretly imitating Chen Ping'an, trying to become a Pei Qian that Chen Ping'an would accept.

There was nothing inherently wrong with that.

Because Chen Ping'an had enough patience to wait for Pei Qian to grow up slowly. He was also willing to, at different stages of her life, teach her different rules, manners, and ways of the world.

But nobody expected that when Lotus Flower Blessed Land split into four parts, and Zhu Lian and Pei Qian entered it, they would witness that scene.

In fact, if Pei Qian had only seen Lotus Flower Blessed Land and that young man in a blue shirt who had seemed to grow up overnight, an umbrella appearing in the rain, it might have been tolerable.

The problem was that at the very beginning, Pei Qian had seen Chen Ping'an walking with Cao Qinglang in the rain in that narrow alley at the entrance.

After arriving in the Grand All-heaven World, in Cui Dongshan's long scroll of time, she had seen a strikingly similar scene: a straw-sandaled boy walking side by side in the rain with a man he deeply respected.

That was why Pei Qian had said she could afford to lose to anyone except Cao Qinglang.

Because Pei Qian was afraid that Cao Qinglang, who had grown up and was extremely outstanding, would take what should rightfully have been his.

Pei Qian was afraid that one day, in the heavy rain, her master would hold an umbrella and walk side by side with Cao Qinglang, gradually fading away, and Chen Ping'an would never turn back.

Then Pei Qian, on Fallen Mountain in the Grand All-heaven World, would be like back then at the entrance of the narrow alley in Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

Possessing nothing.

The moment she had seen Cao Qinglang again in Lotus Flower Blessed Land,

Pei Qian felt as if she had fallen into an ice chasm, limbs frozen, and murderous intent in her heart!

But between killing Cao Qinglang and inevitably losing her master, and forcing herself to grow up and surpass him, Pei Qian, influenced by Chen Ping'an's example, after stepping out of Lotus Flower Blessed Land and the Tongye umbrella, stood once again before Fallen Mountain's bamboo tower.

She chose the latter.

Zhu Lian carefully chose his words. "If your master returns to Fallen Mountain and meets Cao Qinglang and likes him very much, would you be very sad?"

Pei Qian thought for a moment. "As long as he likes me the most, I'll be very happy. If he likes me as much as he likes Cao Qinglang, I'll be a bit unhappy. If he likes Cao Qinglang more than me, then... I'll be very sad."

Zhu Lian smiled. "Then you can rest easy. Out of those three scenarios, I don't dare say more, but at the very least, you can be sure of the second and hope for the first."

Pei Qian rolled her eyes. "You're not my master. What you say doesn't mean a thing."

But despite her words, she was actually a bit comforted.

Zhu Lian suppressed his smile. "Believe it or not. But you've been practicing fists for so long, with so many overdue debts, and you haven't broken through to the third realm yet. That's a bit off."

Pei Qian sighed heavily, her little face—which seemed less dark—frowning. "Right? The old man also said my talent isn't great, even worse than my master's. That's a lot of useless talk! How can I compare to my master? This is so worrying!"

Zhu Lian's heart trembled.

He had just made a casual joke to Pei Qian, but now the old senior had outdone him with even harsher lessons. Could he really say something so heartless?!

Zhu Lian rubbed the bridge of his nose.

He didn't want to talk anymore.

The third-realm bottleneck for a pure martial artist was the first and perhaps the most decisive barrier determining a martial artist's final height.

Its significance was no less than that of a Summit Realm martial artist breaking through the major threshold to successfully enter the tenth realm of Ultimate Realm.

If anyone else were teaching fist techniques, such a shocking breakthrough speed could be explained by a weak foundation, meaning they could never hope for the word "strongest," and their progress would be like paper from the start.

But the man in the bamboo tower?

Under his guidance, it seemed there was no such thing as a martial realm foundation that wasn't the most solid—only even more solid.

Pei Qian suddenly looked up and asked, "Old cook, what realm are you?"

Zhu Lian smiled. "Eighth realm, Traveling Realm."

Pei Qian lowered her head, fingers twitching, counting. She sighed again, looked up, and her face was full of disappointment. "Old cook, it'll take me several years to catch up to you."

Zhu Lian's smile stiffened. "I suppose so..."

Then Zhu Lian asked curiously, "Don't you know your master's realm?"

Pei Qian looked at him as if he were an idiot. "My master is sixth realm now."

Zhu Lian was even more puzzled. "Isn't the young master two realms lower than me? Why aren't you trying to catch up to him first?"

Pei Qian looked stunned, as if to say you're just not getting it, old cook. She shook her head with the air of an old sage. "Old cook, you're talking in your sleep. My master's realm has to be counted double, doesn't it?"

Zhu Lian was sincerely convinced.

Pei Qian shook her head, in a great mood.

She suddenly stood up, her toes lightly springing. She floated onto the wall, then silently onto the ridge of the roof, then stepped to the upturned eaves, and looked north.

She probably still didn't realize that her fist technique had already alarmed the spirits.

It wouldn't be long before she no longer needed to stick talismans on her forehead.

Zhu Lian suddenly remembered something, and his expression changed sharply. After a moment of silence, he asked seriously, "Pei Qian, you had two intense burping spells earlier. What did the old senior say to you?"

Pei Qian, still looking north, said angrily, "He said I deserved a beating."

That old man had also looked disgusted and said her martial realm was like an ant moving house or a turtle crawling. But that kind of thing, she'd keep to herself. Otherwise, a big mouth like Old Cook would have the whole Fallen Mountain knowing by tomorrow.

Zhu Lian slapped his forehead.

He really regretted letting Pei Qian start practicing martial arts so quickly.

Zhu Lian could guess with his gut that when Chen Ping'an returned to Fallen Mountain and discovered Pei Qian's abnormality, he, Zheng Dafeng, and Wei Po would all be in trouble. They'd definitely be chewed out.

To outsiders, Fallen Mountain might seem full of strange people and odd events. But from an insider's perspective, Pei Qian was probably the strangest.

Of course, Chen Ping'an was even stranger.

Any other master in the world would be overjoyed to have a disciple as insightful as Pei Qian.

But Chen Ping'an was different.

It wasn't that he couldn't weigh accounts; quite the opposite. This young man, who had served as an accountant for three years in Book and Scroll Lake, was the best at calculating.

He just desperately hoped that there would be someone around him, even just one person, who could, in what should have been carefree years, shoulder the burden of grass growing and willows swaying.

After that, there would be time for the vast heavens and earth, and the great Dao to wander afar.

Pei Qian looked down. "Old cook, I'm leaving."

Zhu Lian nodded.

Pei Qian leaped high, landing on the wall, then vaulted into the distance, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

As Cui Dongshan had written in his book:

"He leaped onto the roof, and the tiles made no sound. The moon was bright. He departed like a flying bird."