Chapter 536: A Whole Continent Raises Its Swords
One old and one young Daoist, following local custom, could only travel on foot. The old Daoist was no exception, walking alongside his disciple along the riverbank. The young Daoist, Zhang Shanfeng, was wide-eyed with wonder.
The Yingyin Chen Clan truly lived up to their reputation as the exclusive holders of the title "Pure Confucian," truly deserving to be called the world's foremost collection of honorific arches. This must be what the top-tier scholarly family looks like.
In truth, they could have hired a carriage to go to the Chen Clan ancestral hall, but they were simply short on cash. Even if Zhang Shanfeng agreed, the silver in his pocket would not.
Fortunately, Zhang Shanfeng was accustomed to wandering the martial world's rivers and mountains. He just felt a bit guilty that his master had to endure hardship alongside him. Although the master's cultivation base might not be high, he had long since achieved the stage of fasting, so this journey of several hundred miles was not necessarily difficult to traverse. Still, a disciple's filial piety had to be shown, right? But every time Zhang Shanfeng turned around, his master was walking while nodding off like a chick pecking at rice. Zhang Shanfeng couldn't help but admire his master's ability to doze off even while walking.
As they passed a green cliff by the river, Zhang Shanfeng saw a young man in Confucian robes sitting there in a daze, his back to the master-disciple pair.
Fire Dragon True Man opened his eyes and smiled. "Another one who likes to sleep. He'll definitely amount to something."
Zhang Shanfeng said aggrievedly, "Master, when I first went up the mountain, I was young and loved to sleep. Why didn't you say that then? How come my senior brother always took a chicken feather as a command arrow, forcing me to get up and cultivate? Senior Brother Xiangzhi always said that I had the same aptitude as him, and if I didn't cultivate diligently, it would be a great pity. So even if Master didn't care, he, as senior brother, couldn't bear to see me waste the karmic opportunity of mountain cultivation. Well, in the end, I found out that Senior Brother Xiangzhi was only at the Cave Dwelling Realm, but he always spoke with such a big tone that I thought he was a Golden Core land immortal. So when senior brother died of old age, I cried terribly. I was reluctant to part with Senior Brother Xiangzhi, but actually, I was also a bit disappointed. I always felt that I was both stupid and lazy, and in this life, I wouldn't even be able to attain the Cave Dwelling Realm."
Fire Dragon True Man laughed. "How did my edicts and decrees become chicken feathers? Besides, what's so low about the Cave Dwelling Realm?"
Outside Padi Peak, under Fire Dragon True Man, there were the four main lineages: Taisia, Peach Mountain, White Cloud, and Finger Mystic. Although Fire Dragon True Man had never deliberately established any mountain or water rules, so any disciple could roam Padi Peak freely without any taboo, yet even Taisia Primordial Sovereign Li Yu and other peak-establishing grand cultivators did not allow disciples from their lineages to go to Padi Peak to disturb the True Man's sleep. Moreover, Padi Peak cultivators were notoriously fond of staying indoors and indeed had low cultivation bases. So cultivators from other lineages, regardless of seniority, almost all—like Taisia Primordial Sovereign's direct disciple Gu Mo—had only one impression of the Padi Peak uncles, grand-uncles, or grand-masters: high seniority, low Dao.
During this time, among the Padi Peak Daoists, Zhang Shanfeng was probably the most deceived. Perhaps in the eyes of great cultivators like Primordial Sovereign Li Yu, this little junior brother was hopelessly ignorant due to being too close to the lamp. But seeing that the master got along well with this little junior brother, they dared not add any superfluous actions.
That was nothing. Back when Zhang Shanfeng proclaimed he would go down the mountain to slay demons and vanquish evil, Master Fire Dragon True Man tricked his disciple again, saying that since he was going down for training, he might as well go far away, because there weren't many demons around Padi Peak. As a result, Zhang Shanfeng not only left Padi Peak far behind but eventually traveled all the way to Vase Bottle Continent. Except for Taisia Primordial Sovereign, who was in seclusion at the time, the peak-establishing patriarchs of Peach Mountain, White Cloud, and Finger Mystic lineages were actually somewhat panicked, fearing that the little junior brother might encounter danger so far from their own mountain peaks. Especially the Finger Mystic Peak's Jade Pellet Realm Daoist, whose combat strength could be considered comparable to an Immortal, hoped that the master would allow him to leave North Juju Continent and go to Vase Bottle Continent to secretly protect Zhang Shanfeng. But Fire Dragon True Man did not agree, saying that Daoists cultivate their own Dao; if someone protects the path, it won't succeed.
The three peak-establishing patriarchs still felt it was inappropriate, but since the master's words were always decrees, they dared not disobey. However, the White Cloud lineage patriarch, after discussing privately with the other two junior brothers, felt that the master was not attentive to the little junior brother, and they, as senior brothers, must shoulder the responsibility of protecting his path. So this old Daoist immortal, along with the two junior brothers, found a flawless excuse to go down the mountain, changed their route, and secretly escorted Zhang Shanfeng for a stretch. Therefore, Zhang Shanfeng's dangerous experiences in slaying demons and the subsequent loss of heart after setbacks were known to the White Cloud patriarch, which meant the other two lineages also knew. Especially when the Finger Mystic patriarch learned that Zhang Shanfeng had dejectedly boarded that Da Jiao Mountain ferry boat, the Peach Mountain patriarch at that time calculated with his fingers and was greatly alarmed. The former could no longer hold back and planned to have the Finger Mystic Peak junior brother carry a sword down the mountain to protect the little junior brother for a stretch, even if the master forbade him from following. Unexpectedly, Fire Dragon True Man suddenly appeared and stopped them. The Finger Mystic Peak patriarch tried to argue, but was immediately pressed on the head by the master's palm and pushed back to the Finger Mystic Peak's secluded cave. When Fire Dragon True Man turned around and smiled at the Peach Mountain lineage's direct disciple, the latter immediately said there was no need to trouble the master, and returned to his peak to go into seclusion.
Later.
The White Cloud lineage patriarch received a flying sword message from the Padi Peak ancestral hall and immediately obediently rushed back to Padi Peak, where he was inevitably scolded.
But when he left Padi Peak, his face was full of joy. Only then did the Peach Mountain and Finger Mystic junior brothers realize that the master had scolded their senior brother and then given him a sweet date.
Well, everything was in the master's hand. It depended on who had more courage, who cared more about the little junior brother, and dared to take the risk of being held accountable by the master to resolutely go down the mountain and escort him? Both were lofty figures and instantly understood everything. So the Finger Mystic Peak patriarch chased after the White Cloud lineage senior brother, saying he wanted to spar. Unfortunately, the senior brother fled quickly, not giving the junior brother a chance to vent his anger.
Arriving at this green cliff by the river meant they were already close to the Chen Clan. For cultivators, even if they didn't ride the wind, at least mentally, it was just a few more steps.
Zhang Shanfeng reminded, "Master, although we were invited this time, we still need to observe the etiquette of visiting a household. Don't do like that time on Central Sea Islet, where you just stamped your foot to greet the host and made them come out to see us."
Fire Dragon True Man nodded and smiled. "Alright."
Zhang Shanfeng asked doubtfully, "The few books bought from the bookstore—they won't make that scholar think we're rude?"
Fire Dragon True Man shook his head. "Giving books to a scholar is the greatest courtesy under heaven."
Zhang Shanfeng felt a bit reassured.
Actually, the young Daoist still didn't know whom they, master and disciple, were going to meet.
Zhang Shanfeng recalled something. "Master, we cultivators embrace the Dao deep in the mountains, using mountain and river spiritual energy to wash our hearts beyond worldly things. We do not call on princes, nor seek audience with the Son of Heaven. But how do Confucian disciples cultivate? Is it really just by reading books? But if reading like that can cultivate realms, then wouldn't everyone in the world be able to cultivate? If someone secretly took books from the Haoran World to other worlds, especially the Barbaric World, wouldn't that be a huge disaster? The demons would gain a large group of cultivators, and more demons would be able to attack the Sword Qi Great Wall. What can be done?"
Fire Dragon True Man laughed. "These questions are indeed well-asked. But they shouldn't be answered by an old Daoist like me; that would be improper. Right?"
Zhang Shanfeng suddenly felt a gentle breeze on his face. Turning around, he saw an old Confucian in blue robes approaching from not far away, nodding with a smile. "Before answering your questions, I'd like to know what books you've brought to give me."
Fire Dragon True Man patted his disciple's shoulder. "Shanfeng, see? Someone is asking you for a gift."
Zhang Shanfeng quickly made a Daoist salutation, addressed the old man as "Old Mr. Chen," then took off his bundle and pulled out three books.
The old man took them, glanced at them, looked a bit helpless, thanked the young Daoist, and still put them into his sleeve.
He, Chen Chun'an, was regarded by the world as the number one disciple of the Yasheng lineage.
And this foreign surname Great Heavenly Master from Dragon Tiger Mountain had given him three books that should have been banned and destroyed by the Wensheng lineage.
After putting away the books, Chen Chun'an said, "Confucian disciples, in fact, follow roughly the same path as Daoist cultivators—it's just that they nurture the Haoran Qi within. You embrace the Dao deep in the mountains, far from the human world, creating a pure and quiet realm where things and self are both forgotten. We scholars, by contrast, 'close the door and read as if in deep mountains.' As for the place and method of cultivation, they are the study and the books of sages, along with the principles contained in the words of those books. However, there are still thresholds—not everyone can truly cultivate just by flipping through books. For example, the entry-level breathing techniques must be taught by gentlemen and worthies to academy scholars. And the innate bone structure for cultivation is another threshold. Hence, many literary giants and old scholars who have read extensively still cannot prolong their lives through reading alone."
Zhang Shanfeng found this explanation somewhat mystical but still bowed. "Thank you, sir, for clarifying my doubts."
Chen Chun'an smiled. "No need to be overly polite. Scholars read, Daoists cultivate—they are essentially fellow travelers. Etiquette should be simple and genuine, not excessive and superficial."
In fact, Chen Chun'an knew the answer to Zhang Shanfeng's last question but deliberately did not reveal it.
Contrary to what the young Daoist thought, Confucianists never prevented all sentient beings from reading and cultivating.
This was a rule established by Li Sheng.
Zhang Shanfeng turned to look at his master.
Fire Dragon True Man laughed in exasperation. "What? Just because you met an imagined super-reclusive master on the roadside, you're already dissatisfied with your own master for not having the demeanor of an immortal?"
Zhang Shanfeng blinked.
It was you, Master, who said that. I didn't think so.
Fire Dragon True Man pointed at the green cliff not far away. "That kid practicing swords in his dreams?"
Chen Chun'an nodded. "It's a pity that he has to be returned to Vase Bottle Continent later. I'll miss him. I've chatted with him here often over the years. Probably won't have the chance after this."
Fire Dragon True Man said to Zhang Shanfeng, "That's Chen Ping'an's best friend. Aren't you going to say hello?"
Zhang Shanfeng was taken aback, then took his leave of the master and the old gentleman, and ran over.
Fire Dragon True Man and Chen Chun'an did not head toward the Yingyin Chen Clan ancestral hall but walked slowly along the river. The old True Man said, "At least you hold down South Bodhisattva Continent. What about the southeast Tongye Continent and the southwest Fuyao Continent? What will you do?"
Chen Chun'an remained silent for a long time.
Actually, this question was a bit strange.
If the demon army of the Barbaric World could truly breach the Sword Qi Great Wall and flood like a tide to submerge that greatest seal character stamp under heaven, Daoxuan Mountain, then it was uncertain whether Chen Chun'an could even defend South Bodhisattva Continent, the closest to Daoxuan Mountain. So what did Tongye and Fuyao continents have to do with him?
Chen Chun'an smiled. "Old Scholar once advised me, implying he gave me two choices: either don't die, or die earlier, just don't die at some inopportune moment."
Fire Dragon True Man sighed with emotion. "Wen Sheng's predecessor has no equal in this world when it comes to understanding the human heart and human nature."
In terms of age, Fire Dragon True Man was far older than that Old Scholar, yet when mentioning Old Scholar, he still sincerely addressed him as "predecessor."
Chen Chun'an nodded.
He did not refute.
Even though he was a pillar of the Yasheng lineage, his own scholarship fundamentally opposed the scholarly principles advocated by that Old Scholar.
In the Confucianism of the Haoran World.
The struggle among sages over the direction of the Dao ultimately depends on whose Dao better protects the common people and benefits the world.
A gentleman's contention is over the rightness or wrongness of principles, to distinguish right from wrong.
A worthy's contention might be over the temporary good or bad of their own scholarship, merely fighting on paper.
The intricate rules of Confucianism are the greatest protectors of this Haoran World.
And the self-imposed restrictions of each Confucian sage are the most binding acts under heaven.
That man at the southern end of Vase Bottle Continent in Old Dragon City, who was severely punished by Yasheng himself and regarded by scholars of a hundred schools as one of the seventy-two accompanying sacrificial sages who had lost their sacrificial offerings, had also, in the matter of scholarship, greatly benefited Confucian disciples from various academies and lineages across different continents. Thus, from worthy, they could rise to gentleman. Hence, even though this man had a mortal enmity with Wen Sheng's Old Scholar's not-real-disciple, Old Scholar still acknowledged the man's extraordinary scholarship and recognized its potential merit for the current world.
Thus the past passes by, day and night without cease.
Two old men, reunited after a long separation, talked about the greatest matters under heaven.
Two young men, over by the green cliff, got along like old friends from the first meeting, chatting about trivial, mundane matters.
The young Confucian sitting there dozing was Liu Xianyang, whom Chen Dui had brought from Vase Bottle Continent's Li Zhu Cave Heaven to Bodhisattva Continent.
Learning that the young Daoist named Zhang Shanfeng was a close friend with whom Chen Ping'an had traveled, Liu Xianyang was very happy and asked Zhang Shanfeng about the sights and experiences of that journey.
As for some inside information about Vase Bottle Continent, the Great Li Iron Cavalry, and Li Zhu Cave Heaven, Liu Xianyang knew some but not much, only able to glean clues bit by bit from landscape gazettes. Studying abroad, with no support, Liu Xianyang had to be frugal. At the Yingyin Chen Clan, all books, no matter how rare and expensive, could be freely borrowed by students. But landscape gazettes cost money. Fortunately, Liu Xianyang had made some friends among the Chen Clan disciples and academy scholars and could learn about events on other continents through them.
Compared with the tall, cheerful boy from the small town back then, Liu Xianyang had become increasingly steady and reserved. He studied diligently, pursued scholarship rigorously, and never relaxed for a moment in his secret cultivation. He became more and more in tune with the Pure Confucian Chen Clan's family tradition and landscape.
In contrast, the boy from Mud Bottle Alley, who had always been taciturn around outsiders—Chen Ping'an, Liu Xianyang's best friend—was pursuing the freedom of his own heart, seeking and obtaining.
Zhang Shanfeng poured out everything like beans from a bamboo tube, telling all of Chen Ping'an's good points.
For this young Daoist of Padi Peak, even if he knew that he had actually missed the chance to become a foreign surname Great Heavenly Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, he might regret it a bit, but he wouldn't be too sad. More likely, he would think that his master must have been crazy to think that he, Zhang Shanfeng, could ever aspire to the Great Heavenly Master's foreign surname position? He wouldn't even dare to think too much about it. Even if he learned about that inexplicable missed opportunity, Zhang Shanfeng wouldn't let it disturb his Dao heart too much.
This was probably Zhang Shanfeng's most unrecognized precious quality.
Even more so than his persistent belief that his master's Dao skill was average and not high.
But when Zhang Shanfeng talked about parting from Chen Ping'an twice, he was genuinely sad.
Zhang Shanfeng took off an ancient sword from his back and handed it to Liu Xianyang, whom he had just met and already considered a friend. With a bright smile, he said, "This is the sword Chen Ping'an bought at the Qingfu Workshop. The sword's name is 'Zhenwu.' The soldier's armor pill that can transform into a set of Sweet Dew Armor was also bought on credit. I owe Chen Ping'an a lot. But now my master has helped me get two bottles of Water Elixir from an old friend at the Zheze Market. Whenever I get a chance, I'll give them to Chen Ping'an as interest."
Liu Xianyang slowly drew the sword from its sheath. It had fine cracks and was covered in rust.
He flicked the blade with his finger; it hummed softly. He nodded and said, "It's heavy."
Zhang Shanfeng asked doubtfully, "This sword isn't that heavy, is it?"
Liu Xianyang squinted, staring at the subtle ripples on the sword's surface, discerning the secrets within. This had nothing to do with Liu Xianyang's cultivation realm; in fact, through countless dreams set in bizarre ancient battlefield ruins, he had seen countless excellent swords. Some he could pull out; others he couldn't lift no matter what, even broken swords. Liu Xianyang still couldn't personally lift them, but he had made it a habit to remember each sword's ancient seal-script name, sheath style, the patterns of overflowing sword qi, and carefully feel the differences in each sword's sword intent. Even more mysterious was that he, a "modern outsider" who could ignore the passage of time in dreams, would often still have his consciousness thoughts torn apart by the sword strikes of "ancient people" from the past, forcing him to exit the dream drenched in sweat. In worse cases, Liu Xianyang would coughing up blood and suffer dizziness for days.
Thus, regarding swords, Liu Xianyang had long become an expert.
Not in terms of cultivation realm, but in terms of breadth and height of vision, he might surpass many sword immortals of North Juju Continent.
Liu Xianyang gently returned the sword to its sheath.
This sword.
He had never seen it in dreams.
But that feeling—he seemed to have distinctly felt it on a largest ancient battlefield site. Stepping into that place made Liu Xianyang stagger, as if the world had become heavier.
Whether this sword was that one was hard to say. Perhaps it was an exquisite imitation, carrying a bit of that "sword intent."
Zhang Shanfeng re-shouldered the ancient Zhenwu sword. He turned his head and noticed that the tall young man seemed very sad.
Zhang Shanfeng was puzzled. Why, upon hearing that his best friend from home had become so accomplished and still remained a good person unchanged, did Liu Xianyang seem more sad than happy?
Liu Xianyang clenched his fists on his knees, gazing into the distance, and said softly, "You got to know Chen Ping'an later than I did, so you might not know—that guy's greatest hope in life was just to live safely and peacefully. He was the most timid, most afraid of illness and disaster. But in the earliest days, he was also the least afraid of ghosts under heaven. Strange, isn't it? Back then, it seemed he felt he had already tried his best to live, and if he still had to die, he was guiltless. If he died, maybe he would meet people elsewhere."
Liu Xianyang murmured, "So the Chen Ping'an you know has become so cautious—he must have found a reason he absolutely cannot die. Do you think there's anything wrong with that change? I also think it's good, but I know it makes him live very tiredly. When we knew each other, besides me, no one knew how many things he had done for a mother and son in Mud Bottle Alley who had shown him kindness, how much effort he had put in, how much grievance he had endured."
Liu Xianyang smiled. "In this life, I've only seen him cry twice. The last time was when I was about to die. The first time was very early, when I was an apprentice at the dragon kiln with him. He heard some gossip from Apricot Alley cursing that the Mud Bottle Alley woman and he had an unclear relationship. I got up in the middle of the night and didn't see him. I went outside and saw him sitting on a bench at the door, his face covered in tears."
"I squatted beside him. After learning the story, I, who had always been big-hearted and never cared about street gossip, initially even found it amusing. So I smiled and asked him if it was really true. At that time, he was crying so much that he had no spirit left and ignored me. So I knew that at that moment, his heart was truly broken. I didn't continue joking with him. I don't know how to comfort people, so I just accompanied him. Finally, he figured it out himself. He told me that the kindness of Gu Can and his family was something he would never repay in a lifetime. From then on, when doing things for them, he had to be even more careful. He couldn't let people gossip. He couldn't just do things for his own peace of mind without regard. In the end, the ones who would suffer most would be Gu Can and his mother."
Liu Xianyang leaned back and fell flat on the ground, resting his head on his hands. "Actually, at that time, I really wanted to tell him: Is it possible that Gu Can's mother didn't care at all about the gossip? It was just you, Chen Ping'an, brooding alone and overthinking. But in the end, I didn't say those words because I couldn't bear to. I couldn't bear to see any change in the Chen Ping'an of that moment. I was afraid that if I said it, Chen Ping'an would become enlightened and wouldn't be as good to me, Liu Xianyang, anymore. That was my selfishness at the time, because I already knew then that if he became less good to Gu Can today, he would be less good to me, Liu Xianyang, tomorrow. But now that I've walked across a continent to get here, after so many years, I deeply regret not letting Chen Ping'an always be that Chen Ping'an. He should think more about himself. Why should he live for others his whole life? Why should he? Just because Chen Ping'an is Chen Ping'an?"
In the dusk, by the river cliff, a gentle breeze brushed the face.
Tonight should still have the bright moon in the sky.
Zhang Shanfeng was silent for a long time, then asked softly, "When will you go home to see?"
Liu Xianyang lay there, eyes closed. "I'll try to make it sooner. At least ten years."
Zhang Shanfeng sighed. "You should go back earlier. Books say that if you achieve wealth and honor and don't return home, it's like walking in fine clothes at night. For us cultivators, it's very difficult. On the mountain, we don't sense the passage of years. It seems like just a few blinks, and when we return home, what is left? And who can we show off to? Even if the clan still exists and there are descendants, what can we say?"
Liu Xianyang said, "I have no deep feelings for my hometown. I'm not going back to prove anything to anyone. So when I return to Vase Bottle Continent, the first place I'll go is not that small town, and the first person I want to see is not Chen Ping'an."
Zhang Shanfeng turned to look at him. "A knot in your heart?"
Liu Xianyang still had his eyes closed, smiling faintly. "A dead knot can only be undone by death."
Liu Xianyang opened his eyes and suddenly sat up. "When I reach Vase Bottle Continent, I'll pick a Mid-Autumn Festival reunion night and challenge Zhengyang Mountain in my dreams with my sword!"
Zhang Shanfeng asked softly, "Not waiting for Chen Ping'an?"
Liu Xianyang crossed his arms and laughed heartily. "Don't forget—it's always been me, Liu Xianyang, taking care of Chen Ping'an!"
But Liu Xianyang hadn't forgotten.
In fact, from the very first day they met, it was Chen Ping'an who had saved him, Liu Xianyang, on that Mud Bottle Alley.
Zhang Shanfeng didn't think Liu Xianyang was boasting.
Because Chen Ping'an had often mentioned that a guy named Liu Xianyang had taken a lot of care of him and taught him a lot.
But about the meeting and parting of those two best friends in their youth, Chen Ping'an never said a word.
Liu Xianyang suddenly turned to look northeast.
His heart stirred.
Liu Xianyang suddenly said, "I need to sleep for a while."
Zhang Shanfeng was a bit helpless. He was quite like his own master.
In the distance.
A Confucian robe and a Daoist robe—the two old men sighed simultaneously.
Especially Fire Dragon True Man; he was deeply sorrowful.
Because that old friend who had visited Padi Peak before traveling to Daoxuan Mountain was the first North Juju Continent sword immortal to die in battle south of the Sword Qi Great Wall.
Now that North Juju Continent had received the news, this commotion arose.
This was an ancient tradition passed down through generations in North Juju Continent.
The whole continent offers swords to the fallen.
Sword qi surges to the heavens.
The whole world knows.
---
On that small mountain in the Lotus Kingdom, Chen Ping'an had stayed quietly for three days, both practicing boxing and cultivating.
Regarding the breathing techniques of cultivators, Chen Ping'an had never been so focused. Sitting cross-legged, he could completely forget himself.
When the time came, Liu Jinglong's talisman formation, which could withstand three attacks from a Nascent Soul cultivator, dissipated on its own.
These movements finally made Chen Ping'an open his eyes.
Earlier, Chen Ping'an had taken off the black dharma robe and changed into a simple blue robe. He shouldered his bamboo chest and took out an ordinary green bamboo walking staff, then walked down the mountain.
Once again, he looked like a blue-robed scholar traveling with his books.
The pure cultivation of the lower five realms, besides refining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into one's own small world's "cave heaven and blessed land," also strengthens the bones and sinews, making them extraordinary. Entering the Cave Dwelling Realm, one's bones become heavy and firm, glossy like green jade; wherever Dao power reaches, it manifests here. After entering the Golden Core Realm, one goes further: bones and meridians together take on the aspect of "golden branches and jade leaves"; inside and outside the qi mansion, clouds and mists diffuse, lingering for a long time. Especially after entering the Nascent Soul Realm, it is like opening up a small human cave heaven at key acupoints, further refining the condensed spiritual energy like Golden Core juice, nurturing a small Nascent Soul figure that aligns with one's own Dao. This is the foundation of the upper five realm cultivator's Yang Shen out-of-body avatar. However, it is similar to the Golden Core in that each has its own rank and quality.
This is the bone structure and aptitude of a qi practitioner.
The so-called "bone structure" of a cultivator is how large the small world of the human body is, the vessel that carries spiritual energy.
As for "aptitude," after embarking on the path of cultivation, it determines whether a qi practitioner can become a land immortal and how good the rank of the Golden Core and Nascent Soul is. The speed of a qi practitioner's cultivation can show a world of difference.
As for temperament, that is heart cultivation. It is the most ethereal and often fails at critical moments, yet it can also unexpectedly lead to success. For example, back on Willow Palace Island, Liu Laocheng, despite his iron will, was almost destroyed early by a demonic heart born from love. Lu Fang of Lotus Flower Blessed Land was trapped by love; for sixty years, Jiang Shangzhen (under the alias Zhou Fei) protected his path, yet he never fully untied his heart knot.
Consider Jiang Shangzhen, who seemed to wade through even more mud of love and emotion, yet was not haunted by such a demon at all.
All due to different temperaments.
As for opportunity, it cannot be sought through hard work; it seems to rely solely on fate.
Back then, He Xiaoliang of Shengao Sect, Huang Ting of Tongye Continent's Taiping Mountain, and of course Li Huai, who was very familiar with Chen Ping'an, were all the kind of people whose luck was so good it defied reason.
Now, Chen Ping'an had successfully refined two natal objects: the Water Residence Water Seal and the Great Li Five-Colored Soil, creating a fine pattern of mountains and rivers supporting each other.
Thus, his cultivation had sped up considerably.
The absorption and refinement of spiritual energy became increasingly rapid and stable.
So it was understandable that as long as Chen Ping'an was willing to find a place with beautiful scenery and abundant spiritual energy, even if he remained motionless on that small mountain, sitting in meditation day and night, he would still be increasing his cultivation base and realm.
Therefore, it's easy to understand why the more talented a cultivator is, the less likely they are to spend long years mingling in the mundane world. Unless they encounter a bottleneck, they might go down the mountain, seeking movement after stillness, to cultivate their heart besides studying immortal arts, sorting out the context of their heart path to avoid straying or hitting a wall without knowing it. Many insurmountable barriers are extremely mysterious; perhaps moving one step forward reveals a completely different sky. Perhaps one needs to wander across heaven and earth, seemingly detouring for thousands of miles, to accumulate and then break through the bottleneck with a single spiritual flash, and the barrier is no longer a barrier.
For ordinary cultivators, the third realm is a not-insignificant barrier, called the "Staying Realm" by those on the mountain.
But this saying has always been nonsense among hereditary immortal clans.
That's why wild cultivators envy registry immortals so much.
The third-realm difficulties that they might bleed and break their heads over and still not find a path forward are, for disciples of great immortal families, as easy as raising a hand to look at palm lines—every path is clearly visible.
And Chen Ping'an's third realm was like that of a wild cultivator.
Because no one had ever given him any specific guidance on cultivation.
Earlier, the Longevity Bridge was broken and fragmented, so discussing it was meaningless.
Later, he carried the sword and practiced boxing, focusing single-mindedly.
Previously, at the Immortal's Inn named Kingfisher in Green Oriole Country's Dragon Head Ferry, Liu Jinglong had explained the key points of cultivating the lower five realms in detail. However, since they belonged to different sects and schools, and Qi Jinglong was constrained by mountain rules and taboos, he couldn't explore Chen Ping'an's various qi mansion conditions to guide him step by step. Therefore, much of Liu Jinglong's teaching and clarification was still somewhat general for Chen Ping'an, who had just entered the third realm of qi practitioners. It was about future matters, not current specifics. Nonetheless, those words of Qi Jinglong were indisputably golden words and precious advice.
Because they were guaranteed to be correct.
This required Qi Jinglong to stand very high on the mountain to explain them thoroughly.
Chen Ping'an naturally kept them firmly in mind.
Wasn't he now drinking the pot of wine Liu Jinglong had left behind? He took small sips slowly, planning to keep at least half a pot.
Refining the First and Fifteenth was still hard to endure.
Now that his physical injuries were far from healed, Chen Ping'an walked even more slowly and cautiously.
But when Chen Ping'an neared the border of Deer Leek Commandery, he sensed something.
Still, he pretended not to know.
Dealing with this kind of tailing—Chen Ping'an wouldn't claim to be particularly adept or clever, but among his peers, there probably weren't many better.
Earlier, there had been the secret following of the Nascent Soul cultivator Li Fugu from Book Trowel Creek, which Chen Ping'an had detected early. Then there was the mutual scheming with Gao Cheng of Jingguan City in North Juju Continent, and then the second wave of assassins from Geyue Mountain.
Besides, the skulking assassin in question now wasn't really of high cultivation and thought himself well hidden. But he had excellent patience; many times when the opportunity seemed good, he held back.
So Chen Ping'an let the assassin "protect his path" for him.
Deer Leek Commandery was the hometown of the down-on-his-luck scholar Lu Dun, whom Chen Ping'an had met on the mountain.
But Chen Ping'an didn't plan to visit his home, because even if he wanted to, he might not find the person.
A scholar whose attendant was surnamed Zhou instead of Lu—maybe it was a case of "prevention is better than cure," not telling Chen Ping'an his true surname.
But Chen Ping'an felt that was right.
True openness between people is never just about baring one's heart in words.
Shallow friendship yet deep talk, casually throwing out true feelings, can easily lead to self-deception.
If you don't take responsibility for yourself, how can you take responsibility for this world and others, and then give genuine kindness?
But such reasoning aside, it's still not good when the world gets to the point where treating others sincerely is also a fault.
Chen Ping'an bypassed the town on his way and decided not to keep entangled with that assassin.
So on a secluded path, his figure suddenly vanished, appearing beside the assassin lying in the reeds. Chen Ping'an stood on the tip of a reed, swaying silently with the wind and the reed, looking down. It was still a youth, wearing a black robe and a snow-white mask—undoubtedly a Geyue Mountain cultivator. But this was what made it interesting. This young Geyue Mountain assassin had followed him, Chen Ping'an, all the way in hiding, working very hard. Either Qi Jinglong hadn't found the person, or the reasoning was hard to convey, and Geyue Mountain had actually dispatched an upper-five-realm cultivator to assassinate him; or Qi Jinglong had completely explained the reasoning, and Geyue Mountain chose to abide by a larger rule: even if the employer was different, after three attempts on the same person, even if someone else later came to Geyue Mountain with a mountain of gold and silver, they would no longer carry out assassinations against that person.
If that were the case.
Why hadn't Qi Jinglong shown up yet?
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment, then spoke, "The person is gone. Not worried?"
The Geyue Mountain assassin stiffly turned his head and looked at the blue-robed guest standing on the reed beside him.
It wasn't that he didn't want to flee, but his instincts told him that fleeing meant death; staying put still offered a sliver of hope.
He sat up and took off his mask. "I had an agreement with that Liu. If you discovered my whereabouts, that counts as my assassination failure. From then on, I have to learn from him and call him Master. So don't kill me."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Then where is he?"
The youth shook his head. "He told me to tell you that he needs to go to the Great Seal capital first and will come back to find us later."
The youth said this, then punched the ground in frustration. "This is my first assassination mission down the mountain!"
Chen Ping'an drifted down, stepping out of the reeds first, using his walking staff to clear the way.
The youth hesitated, then gritted his teeth, tossed away the mask, and followed the blue-robed man onto the road.
Chen Ping'an slowed his pace. The youth glanced at him, steeled himself, and caught up to walk side by side.
There had been some rumors about his assassination target within Geyue Mountain. As a key fosterling of Geyue Mountain, growing up beside the mountain lord, he had the opportunity to know some inside information.
In short, despite this guy looking good-tempered, even more like a scholar than a scholar, after the first assassination in Geyue Mountain's sure-win attempt had failed, and soon someone else paid to hire mountain assassins, the mountain lord had personally told the youth that the guy beside him was a formidable character who was very good at causing trouble and very good at solving it.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Are you a sword cultivator?"
The youth nodded. "Master says I'm a very valuable innate sword embryo, so I must treasure my life and not rush to take jobs. Otherwise, he would lose money from the immortal cash he's invested in me. So I've always wanted to take on jobs early, to help Master and Geyue Mountain earn money. Who knew I'd run into someone like that Liu? He said he could stand still and let Master attack freely, and after each attack, he would listen to one of Liu Jinglong's principles. So Master attacked twice and listened to two of his principles."
At this point, the youth was filled with disappointment.
In his memory, Master's sword strikes never returned empty-handed.
No matter the opponent's cultivation, heads rolled.
The youth exhaled heavily, the pent-up frustration not diminished. "Geyue Mountain always keeps its word, so in the end, Master had no choice but to send me to assassinate you. And from now on, I have nothing to do with Geyue Mountain. I have to follow that Liu to some damned Taiwei Sword Sect."
Chen Ping'an smiled and extended his open palm.
The youth frowned. "What?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Shouldn't you thank me properly for allowing you to go to the Taiwei Sword Sect to cultivate?"
"You're out of your mind?!" the youth rolled his eyes. "Who wants to be a registered immortal?! It's just that my skills are insufficient. Many times I felt the opportunity wasn't right, or I would have already stabbed you to death with my sword, right through the heart!"
Chen Ping'an withdrew his hand and chuckled. "Such heavy killing intent. It's indeed fitting for you to study under Qi Jinglong."
The youth turned and spat. "That Liu, even if he's stronger than our mountain lord master, so what? Do I have to change my allegiance? Besides, that guy looks like a bookworm. If I have to study under him, calling him Master every day while he drones on and on, I'm afraid I'll never cultivate into half a sword immortal."
Chen Ping'an said, "Have you considered that your master actually hopes you can follow Qi Jinglong to cultivate?"
The youth was silent for a moment. "I guessed as much. Master has always been good to me; I've always known that. So I plan to call Liu 'Master' with my mouth, but in my heart, I'll only ever acknowledge one master in this life."
The youth turned his head, afraid that this guy would gossip when he got to Liu Jinglong, and he would suffer later.
But somehow, walking on the road with him, he felt like saying more of what was in his heart.
Probably because the change was too great; he had to let it out or he felt he would be stifled to death.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "It's good and right for you to think that way now. If you change your mind later, it doesn't mean you're wrong now."
The youth frowned deeply. "Who do you think you are to spout such great truths? What, you think because you can stop me from killing you, you're great? So you can point fingers at me?"
This temper.
Really not good.
Chen Ping'an was unperturbed. "Who can't speak truths? I'm stronger than you, and I'm willing to reason. Is that a bad thing? Would you rather I punch you to death, or beat you half-dead, forced you to kneel and beg me to reason? Better?"
The youth was a bit frustrated and raised his hand. "Stop, stop, don't give me that. My mountain lord master was annoyed by Liu for half a day, and then he told me to pack up and get out without letting me say another word."
Chen Ping'an smiled, twisted his wrist, and produced two jars of glutinous rice wine. "Care for a drink?"
The youth's eyes lit up. He grabbed one of the wine jars, opened it, and took a big gulp, then made a face. "So this is what wine tastes like. Boring."
Chen Ping'an didn't turn his head, just kept walking slowly. "Since you've drunk it, you should finish it. No hurry. If you dare to toss it on the roadside now, I'll first teach you some of Qi Jinglong's lessons, and they'll definitely be lessons you don't want to hear."
The youth's face twisted with sarcasm. "Tsk, in the end, it's still using force to suppress. I'm not saying this to be mean, but you're even worse than that Liu!"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Take your time and drink your wine before Qi Jinglong returns. If I'm not mistaken, for a long time to come, even if you really want to drink, you won't be allowed."
The youth frowned. "How do you know that Liu told me beforehand that I shouldn't let you persuade me to drink?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "I'm not a clairvoyant immortal."
The youth raised his arm, looked at the wine jar in his hand, hesitated, but still didn't dare to just throw it away. He took another sip. The wine actually tasted pretty good; it didn't have that scorching, gut-wrenching feeling at all.
It seemed he was born to drink.
As expected of an innate sword embryo!
He suddenly asked tentatively, "Why don't you tell Liu that you'd like to take me as a disciple?"
Chen Ping'an ignored him.
So the youth began to persuade this blue-robed guest, saying he would definitely remember his kindness and repay him in the future. Once he returned to Geyue Mountain and burned incense in the ancestral hall to rejoin the clan, he could help him assassinate enemies for free...
Chen Ping'an asked, "By the way, what's your name?"
The youth wasn't the type to answer every question, but this matter of his name was an even greater source of pride than being an innate sword embryo. The youth sneered, "Master gave me the name! Surname Bai, given name Shou! Mark my words: within a hundred years, there will be a sword immortal named Bai Shou in North Juju Continent!"
Chen Ping'an said, "Oh, then you'd better be careful about your future nickname. White-Haired Sword Immortal or something doesn't sound very nice."
The youth thought it over. The guy had a point!
He nodded. "Thanks!"
Chen Ping'an raised his wine jar. The young sword cultivator named Bai Shou was startled for a moment, then quickly understood and clinked his jar with Chen Ping'an's, and they each drank.
Bai Shou wiped his mouth, feeling pretty good. He thought he now had a bit of heroic spirit and sword immortal style.
Chen Ping'an lowered his voice and smiled. "Listen to your master about everything else. But as for drinking—it's a shame for a sword immortal not to do it."
Bai Shou nodded vigorously. "You were annoying at first, but now I see you much more favorably. What's your name?! You should know that I, Bai Shou, won't bother to remember many people's names in this life. Look at that Liu—have I ever called him by his full name? No."
Chen Ping'an said, "My name is Chen Haoren (Chen Good Person)."
Bai Shou fumed, "Don't be ungrateful!"
Chen Ping'an turned his head. "What, are you going to hit me?"
Bai Shou rolled his eyes. "Do you think I'm stupid?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Yeah. So, are you going to hit me?"
Bai Shou was so aggrieved he could hardly stand it, so he took a big swig of wine.
This was practically the second greatest humiliation he had suffered since descending the mountain!
Chen Ping'an turned his head.
Dust-covered Qi Jinglong had apparently arrived long ago and had been following them for a while.
Qi Jinglong said helplessly, "You're getting addicted to persuading people to drink?"
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Every swordsman probably remembers the person who first offered him a drink."
Qi Jinglong asked, "Then who was it for you?"
Chen Ping'an said, "The first was also a swordsman. Later, it was an old gentleman."
Although Bai Shou had been calling Liu "that Liu" in front of Chen Ping'an, now that Qi Jinglong was actually beside him, he fell silent, not daring to say a word, as if the mere presence of this man beside him, holding that unfinished wine jar, even if he no longer drank, was already wrong.
The land dragon of North Juju Continent, Liu Jinglong. Back then, he had truly stood still, allowing Bai Shou's master, the mountain lord, to deliver two sword strikes!
Inside a seemingly casually drawn talisman formation, a small world without flying swords, after two strikes, his master had lost even the spirit to deliver a third!
Qi Jinglong said, "I plan to return to the sect and go into seclusion."
Chen Ping'an said, "Mm. Break through soon, so I can come find you. If it's too late, I might have already left North Juju Continent. I won't turn back just for you."
Then he smiled. "If you're willing to drink, I might consider it."
Qi Jinglong waved his hand. "Forget it."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Did you go to the Great Seal capital earlier?"
Qi Jinglong sighed. "A bit unexpected. Before arriving at the Great Seal capital, Gu Youren had already sent a message saying that Ji Yue of Yuan Ti Mountain didn't need to go to all that trouble; they would just settle their life-and-death duel at Jade Seal River. I'm not interested in that kind of slaughter, so I didn't stay. But Gu You and Ji Yue should be fighting soon."
Chen Ping'an also sighed and started drinking again.
Bai Shou said, "What's so great about a tenth-tier martial artist? Ji Yue is a great sword immortal. I figure it'll take at most three sword strikes."
Chen Ping'an turned to him and smiled. "Do you see how miserable I am right now?"
Bai Shou nodded. "Covered in wounds, naturally miserable. Why? The sharp methods of our Geyue Mountain cultivators left a deep impression on you, right?"
Chen Ping'an and Qi Jinglong exchanged a smile.
The youth frowned. Wasn't that the case?
Qi Jinglong suddenly said, "Chen Ping'an, before I leave, let's find a quiet mountain peak. You'll see an uncommon sight. Then you'll understand North Juju Continent better."
Chen Ping'an nodded in agreement.
That night.
The three climbed to the top of a high peak.
At the Great Seal capital, by the Jade Seal River.
Ji Yue stood on one bank.
An old Confucian in blue robes stood on the opposite bank, smiling. "Just offer your sword."
Ji Yue nodded. "I trust your character, Gu You."
This night in North Juju Continent.
From the mountain peak of a great sword immortal who had earlier rushed to Daoxuan Mountain, the sword cultivators of the sect first offered their flying swords in unison, shooting up to the sky.
Like a white rainbow of sword qi rising from the earth.
Then, the dazzling sword light of Bai Shang, the number one sword immortal of the North, soared swiftly upward.
Again, at the Taiwei Sword Sect where Qi Jinglong belonged, led by the sect master, all sword cultivators drove their flying swords, their sword lights simultaneously piercing the night, illuminating the entire sect territory like daylight.
Finger Mystic Peak also had a patriarch old Daoist who offered the peachwood sword usually used only for slaying demons and monsters.
Sword immortal Ji Yue of Yuan Ti Mountain, at the Jade Seal River of the Great Seal dynasty, even though he was about to begin a life-and-death battle with a tenth-tier martial artist, first drove his sword into the sky to pay homage to a certain comrade who had died far away.
At Floating Sword Lake, led by sword immortal Li Cai, all sect sword cultivators offered their swords.
At the ancestral hall of Pima Sect's Woodcoat Mountain, besides a few sword cultivators who had already offered their swords, Sect Master Zhu Quan held his knife hilt, letting Pang Lanxi drive his long sword into the sky for the ritual.
At Skeleton Bank, the heroic spirit Pu Rang also drew his sword. Gao Cheng took the initiative to disperse the restrictions of heaven and earth with a punch, just so Pu Rang's sword could rise higher!
Even all the sword immortals, sect peaks, and sword cultivators who were hostile to that fallen sword immortal—all without exception—joined in offering their swords.
And so.
Beams of sword qi, varying in brightness, lit up one after another across the map of North Juju Continent.
In the night of the Haoran World, there were naturally many lights in the human world.
But never had it been like this with North Juju Continent—so many sword immortals and sword cultivators uniformly unleashing their swords, as if lamps were simultaneously illuminating the whole continent.
Within the borders of the Lotus Kingdom, on the summit of a nameless high peak.
Qi Jinglong also began to offer his sword.
This time, he exerted his full strength. His natal flying sword, named "Rules," shot up from the ground, its sword qi like a rainbow, a spectacular sight.
Qi Jinglong clasped his hands behind his back and gazed at the slender lines rising from the earth.
All were sword cultivators of the continent paying homage to their fallen comrade, simultaneously honoring the common path of all sword cultivators.
He suddenly turned his head and looked at Chen Ping'an beside him, smiling. "Are you sure? If someone with ill intent sees it and reveals your hidden ace, it might cause you big trouble in your future travels."
But Qi Jinglong already knew the answer.
At some point, Chen Ping'an had already drawn his long sword.
The sword's name was Sword Immortal.
Chen Ping'an looked up and said softly, "I've thought about so many things that others wouldn't bother to think about. Wasn't it so that for some things, I wouldn't have to think twice?"
A blue robe fluttered unsteadily at the mountain peak, sleeves snapping in the wind.
The young Bai Shou, whose eyes were already dazzled by Qi Jinglong's sword light, strained to keep his eyes open, thereby not missing that scene.
When that man softly said "Go,"
A golden sword light appeared in the world, magnificent sword qi shooting straight to the sky.
Not only that, but a snowy white and a dark green sword light also shot out from the man's acupoints, one after the other, rising into the sky.
When Qi Jinglong retracted his natal flying sword,
Chen Ping'an raised his sheath. Sword Immortal descended from the sky and sheathed with a clang.
Then, the blue-robed swordsman, a traveler in North Juju Continent, gently shouldered it behind him.
At that moment, the young sword cultivator named Bai Shou felt that it was quite something to have given him a drink.
They parted.
Qi Jinglong rode the wind north, and Bai Shou could also travel by wind.
Bai Shou turned his head and saw that man standing there, making a drinking gesture toward him. Bai Shou nodded vigorously. Neither spoke.
But Qi Jinglong said, "Don't even think about drinking."
Bai Shou said angrily, "Liu, if you keep this up, I'll slip away and go find your friend to be my master!"
Qi Jinglong laughed. "You can try. He'll definitely drive you away."
Bai Shou asked doubtfully, "Why?"
Qi Jinglong smiled. "He'd begrudge the money for the wine."
Bai Shou scoffed. "You're lying to ghosts. Could he be that stingy?"
Qi Jinglong nodded. "Even more stingy than you can imagine."
Bai Shou groaned. "I've been blind. I was even planning to take him as my master."
Bai Shou suddenly asked, "So, you won't let me drink—is it because you're worried it will hinder my swordsmanship, or because you're begrudging the money?"
Qi Jinglong said, "Both."
Bai Shou fumed, "Liu, then you're even worse than him!"
Qi Jinglong turned his head and asked with a smile, "When did I ever say I was better than him?"
Bai Shou was so frustrated he could barely speak. After holding it in for a long time, he finally exploded, "You and your friend are both like this! Damn it, I've fallen into a den of thieves!"
Qi Jinglong smiled. "I wouldn't go that far."
Bai Shou sighed.
Life was going to be tough.
On the mountain peak, Chen Ping'an, who had finally shouldered his sword again, began his slow descent. He thought that Qi Jinglong and his newly accepted disciple were probably speaking well of him—saying he was generous and open-handed, and so on.