Chapter 549: Sword Across the Knees, Looking Around in Confusion

Chapter 549: Sword Across the Knees, Looking Around in Confusion

At the city gate of Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, there was a great commotion, because after a young man and woman entered the city, the gate had been closed behind them.

Even the Water Dragon Sect gate-guarding cultivators who cultivated water methods could not detect that specks of golden light had swept down from the numerous plaques, falling to the ground where they gathered like fireflies, coalescing into a youth in a high crown and broad sash. He strode through the city gate, which closed behind him. The Water Dragon Sect cultivators guarding the gate were at a loss—this was an unprecedented phenomenon in a thousand years—and immediately sent a flying sword message to the Northern Sect's Ancestral Hall.

Before Chen Ping'an had descended far along the white jade steps, this youth appeared beside Li Liu. According to ancient ritual, he prostrated himself and kowtowed, speaking in a language that was obscure and difficult to understand, his voice extremely hoarse and aged, at odds with his youthful appearance.

Li Liu simply sat where she was, gazing into the distance at the figure descending the mountain. Finding the youth somewhat obstructive, she lightly waved her hand, moving him sideways a full zhang.

The youth straightened up but showed no anger at being so disrespectfully treated. Instead, he looked back at the small figure approaching the city gate and murmured softly, "The Great Path leaning toward water is exceptionally difficult."

He did not dare to spy on this white jade staircase, but assumed the young azure-robed swordsman was merely one of her pawns.

Li Liu's expression was cold as she said slowly, "Li Yuan, among the three shrines of the Ji River, the incense offerings at your middle shrine have always fallen far short of those at the upper shrine of the Grand Source Dynasty's Office of Religious Affairs."

The strange youth named Li Yuan spoke with guilt, "I have failed in my entrusted duty, a crime deserving of ten thousand deaths."

The Ji River, which ran east-west across the entire Northern Jujube Continent, once had three shrines. The lower shrine had long since been shattered and vanished. The middle shrine had been refined into the Water Dragon Sect's Ancestral Hall, while the upper shrine was in the hands of the Yang Clan of the Cloud Palace of the Office of Religious Affairs.

Li Liu had once met Yang Ningzhen at the Skeletal Beach's Ghost Valley, saying things that Yang Ningzhen found hard to believe but had no choice but to accept. As the legitimate eldest son of the Yang Clan of Cloud Palace, the elder brother of the "Little Heavenly Lord" Yang Ningxing, Yang Ningzhen had managed to rank among the top ten young talents of Northern Jujube Continent solely as a pure martial artist under an alias. Yet during the battle at Precious Mirror Mountain, against Li Liu, who had only recently returned to the path of cultivation in recent years, although Yang Ningzhen could not be said to have been utterly helpless, he had no chance of victory against her.

Li Liu asked, "Failed in your entrusted duty? Is watching over the incense offerings of this small shrine such a great matter?"

Li Yuan was left speechless.

His golden eyes dimmed somewhat, making him seem even more aged.

This ancient deity, who appeared as a youth yet exuded an air of age and decay, was one of only two remaining Water Lords of the Ji River. Even the founding patriarch of the Water Dragon Sect might not be as old.

In the Righteous Qi Heaven, Water Lord was an ancient office that had not been completely lost but was not widely known. These were often the ones who managed incense offerings at the great river shrines. The Confucian Temple in the Central Lands did not pay them much attention either, preferring to let them live or die as they would. Thus, whenever a Water Lord's golden body decayed and collapsed, the world would lose one such Water Lord.

Such beings were neither bound by secular dynasties nor did they interact much with immortal sects.

However, in the Azure Underworld Heaven, where Daoism held sway, the Water Lord was an extremely prominent deity with an orderly tradition of succession. Each great river had only one Water Lord, whose status far surpassed that of river gods or lake lords, and even the orthodox gods of the Five Sacred Mountains of the various dynasties could not compare.

Although the Water Dragon Sect appeared to have refined the Ji River Shrine and used this as its foundation for prosperity, establishing itself and resisting the many overbearing sword cultivators of Northern Jujube Continent, there were in fact many complicated secrets behind it all.

Before this supremely honored woman, Li Yuan felt like a minor clerk in the lowest level of the court, fortunate to have an audience with a high official at the center—how could he not be cautious and deferential?

Being reprimanded a few times to his face was itself a vast heavenly grace.

Within the entire Water Dragon Sect, besides himself—this insignificant Water Lord—only the successive sect leaders, who had passed down the knowledge orally through generations, knew of her true identity.

That hornless dragon jade token, which appeared to be the type issued by the Water Dragon Sect to its Ancestral Hall offerings, direct disciples, and guest retainers, was in fact the ancestor of all such jade tokens. Every single one had been carefully crafted in imitation of the token she held. The Water Dragon Sect cultivators at the city gate could not tell the difference, but Li Yuan could see it clearly. So even though her appearance had changed, and her identity in this life had changed, Li Yuan still rushed over immediately.

Li Liu suddenly smiled.

That fellow villager from the early days at the Pearl Bead Cave Heaven—they had never met or spoken—had actually sensed the moment the Water Lord Li Yuan appeared, but he never turned to look, simply continuing silently down the mountain.

But Li Yuan had been tactless, failing to immediately open the restrictions, so he could only wait outside the city gate.

Li Liu thought for a moment, then said, "Fine, let Mr. Chen stay here for a few days. It will be convenient for calming his state of mind."

This was the first time Li Liu had truly looked at Li Yuan. "Li Yuan, is there a place within that has rich spiritual energy and is relatively quiet? If there is, offer it up to entertain the honored guest. If there isn't, have someone clear a space."

Li Yuan nodded. "There is."

Even if there wasn't, there would have to be.

A person whom she addressed as "Mr."—as a gatekeeper of Dragon Palace Cave Heaven and concurrently the incense envoy of the middle shrine of the Ji River, if not for concerns about causing too much of a stir, Li Yuan would have been clearing the place out.

Who cared if the Water Dragon Sect was preparing to hold a Golden Register Dao Ceremony or a Water Official Rite? Who cared if it would infuriate the earthly immortals cultivating within the small cave heaven?

Li Liu said, "Don't reveal anything to the Water Dragon Sect yet. Just say a descendant of an old friend has come to visit. If you have a better explanation, handle it as you see fit. In short, don't let anyone disturb Mr. Chen's quiet cultivation here."

Li Yuan clasped his hands and bowed. "I respectfully obey your decree!"

Li Liu stood up and, with one step, appeared at the city gate. "Mr. Chen, passing by one of the Thirty-Six Small Cave Heavens without entering would be a pity. The Dragon Palace Cave Heaven has stockpiled a great many rare treasures, especially those inclined toward water and wood. Though the prices are high, the quality is excellent. If Mr. Chen finds anything to his liking, with this jade token, anything under a hundred Rain-Valley Coins can be put on credit with the Water Dragon Sect for sixty years."

Li Liu hadn't spoken truthfully.

Credit?

This Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, which had earned enormous profits for the Water Dragon Sect, the Yang Clan of Cloud Palace, and the Floating Lotus Sword Lake, had previously been one of her summer retreat palaces. Moreover, if Li Liu had the thought of reclaiming it, no matter how refined the Water Dragon Sect's successive patriarchs' methods were, or how well-constructed their landscape formations were at repelling sword immortals, what meaning would any of that hold against Li Liu? Besides, did the successive sect leaders of the Water Dragon Sect truly have no idea how their founding patriarch had gone from being a dull-witted mundane scholar to stepping onto the path of cultivation, and what coincidences had allowed him to ascend step by step?

So who was really extending credit to whom? It went without saying.

Chen Ping'an now felt apprehensive at the mere mention of "Rain-Valley Coins."

Without hurrying to remove the jade token, Li Liu added, "Mr. Chen, as long as your heart is not at peace, no matter how far you travel, you'll still be going in circles."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Alright, I'll trouble Miss Li then."

Li Liu shook her head with a smile. "Mr. Chen need not be polite. Li Huai has thought of Mr. Chen constantly for many years. Every time letters were exchanged between Mountain Cliff Academy and Lion Peak, Li Huai would mention Mr. Chen. I would never dare forget this immense kindness of both transmitting and protecting the Dao."

Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "Miss Li is far more polite than I am."

This was the truth. Back then, looking after Li Huai on his way to the Great Sui Academy had merely been fulfilling a promise. Besides, apart from being a bit mischievous, Li Huai hadn't caused Chen Ping'an much trouble.

Of course, little Li Huai's mouth when he was young—it was like honey and arsenic mixed together. Especially his talent for being a bully at home was unparalleled. But still, he was a child with a pure heart, who held no grudges and remembered others' kindness.

Chen Ping'an looked up but could no longer see any trace of that strange youth.

Li Liu explained, "That person is the local gatekeeper."

Chen Ping'an asked, "Similar to Zheng Dafeng?"

Li Liu smiled. "Their duties are somewhat similar, but compared to Uncle Zheng, one is in heaven, the other on earth."

Thinking back to those days when her younger brother Li Huai was still a child, Zheng Dafeng often carried Li Huai on his back to run to the Yang Family Shop.

Li Huai would shout that he couldn't hold it anymore, couldn't hold it anymore, and Zheng Dafeng would race along as fast as the wind, urgently saying that if he was a real man, he'd hold it a little longer, and release it in the backyard of the shop.

Anyway, whether Li Huai managed to hold it or not, in the end, both of them, big and small, would head for the New Year's Treat Shop in Dragon Riding Alley that sold pastries.

Throughout her long years, Li Liu had seen many pure and tranquil cultivators, untainted by dust, with unblemished states of mind, transcending worldly affairs.

But in this lifetime in Pearl Bead Cave Heaven, she had met many "true people" unrelated to cultivation realms. A small place with great character—even Li Liu found herself missing it from time to time.

The two of them walked side by side, ascending again.

It seemed that after discussing the main business, there was nothing left to say out of politeness.

Chen Ping'an was overthinking things and found it hard to speak, worried that an accidental word might bring unnecessary trouble upon Li Liu.

Li Liu, on the other hand, rarely thought about anything and was indifferent to everything.

Within the Water Dragon Sect's Ancestral Hall north of the Ji River, after receiving the flying sword message from the Dragon Palace Cave Heaven gate, most of the sixteen chairs were already occupied. The empty chairs belonged to great cultivators of the sect who were traveling abroad. Of those who could make it to the emergency meeting, apart from one Nascent Soul cultivator who had been in secluded meditation for years, not a single one was missing.

Inside the Ancestral Hall, among those present was the current Water Dragon Sect leader, Sun Jie, who was also the Dao transmitter of the Golden Core cultivator Bai Bi.

There was also Wu Lingting, the master of the little marquis Zhan Qing of the Northern Court Kingdom. However, as a newly promoted Nascent Soul offering cultivator with a background as a wild cultivator, his seat was toward the back.

Wu Lingting had been in an extremely foul mood lately. His only disciple, Zhan Qing, had vanished into thin air, neither dead nor alive—it was utterly ridiculous.

If not for the fact that the talisman-using true man Huan Yun, who had a good reputation in the mountains, had helped that girl Bai Bi prove what had happened, and that Zhan Qing's mysterious disappearance was indeed not directly related to her, Wu Lingting would have already caused a scene in the Water Dragon Sect's Ancestral Hall, directly confronting Sun Jie. So at this moment, Wu Lingting was holding back a bellyful of anger, his face extremely ugly. Zhan Qing was a disciple he greatly valued. For wild cultivators, especially earthly immortal wild cultivators taking on direct disciples, it was far more significant than registered immortal masters taking disciples. It was seen as a wild cultivator risking half their life to obtain a legacy of incense offerings.

After all, wild cultivators harming other wild cultivators—even a master killing a disciple or a disciple killing a master—was not uncommon. In contrast, registered immortal masters who possessed an ancestral hall almost never dared to commit such heinous acts against all propriety.

The gate of Dragon Palace Cave Heaven had closed itself.

This was certainly no small matter.

Sect leader Sun Jie had immediately convened all members of the Ancestral Hall.

Back then, a sword immortal who had lurked in secret for many years, stealing the cave heaven's suppressing treasures, had successfully escaped from Dragon Palace Cave Heaven. The process from the theft of the sect's foundational treasure to its recovery had been nothing short of tragic.

Among the dozen or so seats in the Water Dragon Sect's Ancestral Hall, the seat on the left had always been occupied by successive sect leaders, while the seat on the right had almost never been seen occupied.

This rule had been passed down for as many years as the Water Dragon Sect's Ancestral Hall had existed, unwavering.

No matter which offering cultivator or guest retainer of the Water Dragon Sect asked about this matter, the sect's cultivators were all tight-lipped about it.

The situation was simple.

Sun Jie explained it in a few words.

But within the Ancestral Hall, everyone wore grave expressions.

First, an unfamiliar woman produced an offering jade token, entered the city, and ascended the white jade steps. Then the city gate closed, cutting off heaven and earth. When cultivators tried to investigate, they found nothing.

Shao Jingzhi, the Jade Pure realm female cultivator of the Water Dragon Sect's Southern Sect, who appeared as a young woman with a dignified bearing, slowly spoke, "Sect leader, how about I immediately rush to the cloud sea at the cave heaven's ferry crossing and just wait there?"

Sun Jie frowned. "Besides that, what we really need to consider now is whether to put the entire cave heaven on lockdown. If we choose to lock down, it will inevitably unsettle people, affecting this year's Golden Register Dao Ceremony and the subsequent Water Official Disaster Relief Rite. Our Dragon Palace Cave Heaven has always been known for its stability. With these two consecutive grand events, not to mention our mountain friends from the Water Dragon Sect, but also the participation of numerous emperors, generals, and ministers from the Grand Source Dynasty and others, one misstep could give the Office of Religious Affairs and the Floating Lotus Sword Lake a handle to use against us."

Wu Lingting sneered, "These short-lived mortals down the mountain, clothed in silk and fed delicacies, have no real ability but are all delicate-skinned and tender-fleshed."

An old woman, both hands resting on a dragon-headed staff, appeared half-dead as if dozing. She sat beside Shao Jingzhi, clearly a cultivator from the Southern Sect. Now, she cracked open an eyelid, turned her head slightly toward Sect Leader Sun Jie, and spoke hoarsely, "Nephew Sun, in my opinion, just let Jingzhi take the sect's most precious treasure. If there are any miscreants, just kill them clean. I don't believe anyone can stir up much trouble in our Dragon Palace Cave Heaven."

Wu Lingting sat opposite, holding some respect for this old hag. She was also at the Nascent Soul stage like him, but within the Water Dragon Sect, she looked down on everyone.

Relying on her seniority, she addressed Sect Leader Sun Jie as "Nephew Sun" and showed intimacy toward Shao Jingzhi of her own Southern Sect lineage simply through her manner of address.

Fortunately, Sun Jie was broad-minded. If it were Wu Lingting sitting in the Water Dragon Sect's top seat, he would have slapped that old hag's face to pieces long ago.

Just as Sun Jie was about to speak, specks of golden light appeared on the opposite chair, eventually coalescing into a youth with a youthful face but withered spirit.

It was the Ji River Water Lord, Li Yuan.

Li Yuan performed a bow to Sun Jie. Proper etiquette had to be observed.

Sun Jie also stood up and returned the bow, but did not reveal the other's identity.

The old woman suddenly opened her eyes wide, her voice trembling. "Li Lang? Is it Li Lang?"

Li Yuan showed some emotion, glancing at the white-haired old woman, but did not speak.

The old woman's eyes reddened immediately. She no longer rested her hands on the dragon-headed staff but gently leaned it against her chair, placed her hands on her knees, smoothed her skirt, and looked down at her withered fingers, murmuring softly, "Li Lang's style remains the same, but I have grown old, so old. When I couldn't see you, I waited eagerly, longing until my hair turned white. Now that I see you, I realize that seeing is worse than not seeing."

Wu Lingting's expression turned sardonic.

What was this?

A handsome young man and an old, faded woman—had there been a romance between them in the early years?

That would truly be a very old story.

This was the interesting thing about the mountains—strange things were never truly strange. As long as cultivators had the leisure to meddle, there was excitement to be found everywhere.

Li Yuan spoke to Sun Jie via mental voice, getting straight to the point, "Sect leader, a descendant of an old friend of mine has come to visit. The jade token was also one I gave out in the early years. I appeared to reminisce about old times and, not wanting to be disturbed, employed some small means. I'm sorry for causing the Water Dragon Sect to mobilize and gather the Ancestral Hall. The fault is mine, and I am willing to accept punishment according to the Water Dragon Sect's ancestral laws."

Sun Jie replied with a smile, "Lord Water Lord, you are too serious. Since it is the descendant of an old friend visiting the cave heaven, this is a chance to form good karma, a good thing for Lord Li and also a good thing for our Water Dragon Sect. How about the two honored guests take up residence in my mansion within the cave heaven's main city?"

Li Yuan smiled. "No need to trouble the sect leader. I will take them to Duckweed Island."

Sun Jie nodded. "If there is any need afterward, Lord Water Lord, just say the word."

Li Yuan stood up and clasped his hands in apology to the Ancestral Hall members. "I have caused fellow Daoists to make this trip for nothing, disturbing your cultivation. I will certainly make it up later."

After saying this, Li Yuan transformed into specks of golden light and vanished instantly.

To be able to come and go within a sect's Ancestral Hall in such a manner was itself a display of power.

Because in the Ancestral Hall of any mountain immortal sect, every offering cultivator and guest retainer had to enter and exit through the gate on foot, no different from ordinary people entering and leaving a shrine.

Combined with the position of his seat and the Southern Sect old woman's loss of composure, everyone, including Shao Jingzhi, understood the gravity of the situation.

So when Sun Jie spoke with a smile, "Just a false alarm, we can disperse," no one showed any sign of complaint.

Who knew whether that elusive "youth" held grudges?

Any seemingly genial old-timer in the Ancestral Hall was often the most troublesome.

Sun Jie was the last to walk out of the Ancestral Hall. Shao Jingzhi was waiting quietly outside.

After everyone had flown away on the wind, Sun Jie smiled. "Your guess was right. It was the Ji River incense Water Lord, Li Yuan, a close friend of our Water Dragon Sect's founding patriarch."

Shao Jingzhi's expression was gloomy.

To put it bluntly, this place behind them wasn't really the Water Dragon Sect's Ancestral Hall at all. Everyone with a seat, seemingly glorious, was in fact—herself and Sect Leader Sun Jie included—in the embarrassing position of living under someone else's roof!

Sun Jie said casually, "When you drink water, remember the source."

Shao Jingzhi's face stiffened. She nodded.

Sun Jie continued with a smile, "Founding a sect is not easy, and maintaining it is also difficult. Jingzhi, I can overlook certain struggles, since good fortune shouldn't flow to outsiders' fields. But once someone goes too far, though I, Sun Jie, have always been called the most inept sect leader of the Water Dragon Sect, no matter how useless I may be, I am still a sect leader who has thoroughly studied the ancestral laws. I will have to steel myself and step in."

Shao Jingzhi's expression grew uglier still. She flew away on the wind, crossing the great river surface and returning directly to the southern shore.

Sun Jie was clearly using the Ji River Water Lord to discipline her, Shao Jingzhi, and the entire Southern Sect.

Sun Jie did not use any magical techniques. Instead, he used his hand to close the Ancestral Hall door and slowly walked down the mountain.

A sect was filled with countless affairs.

It was rare to find a moment of leisure.

For instance, Wu Lingting had been quite resentful earlier, so Sun Jie had promised him that in the next three rounds of Ancestral Hall disciple selection, Wu Lingting would be the first to choose a registered disciple.

Wu Lingting was also a handful. He directly asked if he happened to take a fancy to a good seedling that Shao Jingzhi's side had secretly had their eye on, what then?

Sun Jie replied to this wild cultivator offering with, "The Southern Sect is also the Water Dragon Sect."

Only then was Wu Lingting somewhat satisfied.

But in truth, promises were easy to make in words but not so easy to fulfill. One misstep could lead to conflict with Shao Jingzhi's Southern Sect, causing mutual resentment.

The north-south confrontation within the Water Dragon Sect was not something that had developed overnight, and it had both advantages and disadvantages. Successive sect leaders had both suppressed and guided it; it wasn't entirely a hidden danger. But many disciples of the Northern Sect naturally assumed that it was because Sect Leader Sun Jie lacked sufficient authority that the Southern Sect south of the great river had grown so strong.

Thus, Sun Jie's warning to Shao Jingzhi today.

Li Yuan's form was concealed within the cloud sea above the cave heaven. He sat cross-legged, gazing down at the green spiral shells within a jade plate.

Mountain life, close to clouds and water; in the snap of a finger, a hundred thousand years pass.

A white-haired old woman, known within the Water Dragon Sect for her eccentric temperament, stood atop her mountain peak, staring up at the cloud sea in a daze. Her expression was gentle. Who knew what this aged mountain woman was looking at?

Li Yuan did not look at her.

He vaguely remembered, many, many years ago, a solitary, introverted little girl. She was not cute at all and liked to wander alone at night atop the water's surface, clutching a large handful of pebbles, smashing the moon's reflection in the water time and again.

Chen Ping'an turned to look. The city gate had opened again, and finally, tourists were once more ascending the white jade steps.

After climbing the nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, Chen Ping'an and Li Liu reached the summit—a white jade platform covering over ten mu. Carved into the ground were coiled dragon patterns in sixteen positions, like a horizontally placed white jade dragon bi. But unlike the auspicious atmosphere of ordinary dragon bi in the world, the twelve coiled dragons carved into the ground were all bound with iron chains, with blades driven into their bodies. The flood dragons appeared to be in painful struggle.

Chen Ping'an carefully walked through the gaps between the coiled dragon patterns, but Li Liu showed no such caution. She stepped on the bodies and heads of the flood dragons, smiling. "Mr. Chen, those beneath your feet are all criminals and guilty subjects from ancient times. They are no longer orthodox true dragons, so we may walk without taboo."

In ancient times, true dragons were responsible for moving clouds and dispensing rain throughout the world. By this, they could accumulate merit and receive orderly levels of official recognition and rewards. Naturally, there were also punishments for dereliction of duty—at the Dragon Slaying Platform, they might have their sinews pulled and skin peeled, their dragon claws and heads severed, their true bodies and primordial spirits imprisoned. If the dereliction was severe, they were sentenced to execution by beheading and directly thrown into the water. If the offense did not warrant death, they were merely stripped of their status, their blood soaking the waters, rivers, and mountains, giving rise to the many descendants of true dragons.

Chen Ping'an asked softly, "Are they all still alive?"

Li Liu replied, "Most couldn't withstand the erosion of the river of time; they are dead through and through. A few are on their last breath. This earthly dragon bi is both their prison and a form of protection. Once the cave heaven shatters, they still cannot escape death. So they serve as the Water Dragon Sect's protectors. When a great enemy arrives, after receiving the token's decree from the Ancestral Hall, they can temporarily free themselves for a moment to participate in battle. They are quite loyal. The Water Dragon Sect has always kept them properly enshrined, annually replenishing the dragon bi with some essence of water movement to help these old flood dragons, who have been beaten back to their original forms, cling to life."

Chen Ping'an grew increasingly curious about Li Liu's extensive knowledge.

But such matters were not appropriate to inquire about.

Everyone has their own secrets and private matters. If two parties are truly friends, and the other party is willing to reveal something voluntarily, that is a sign of trust. The listener must be worthy of that trust, keep the secret, and not think that simply because they are friends, they can probe freely. Nor should they trade an old friend's secrets for a new friend's friendship.

Thus, some people appear to have friends everywhere, capable of drinking with anyone, as if life is a never-ending banquet. But when faced with difficulties, they find they have no friends at all; they only resent the coldness of the world. This is how it is.

If you do not treat others with sincerity, how can you win sincere friendship? This is even more true for shrewd people who rarely have friends in times of trouble.

Li Liu seemed to see through Chen Ping'an's thoughts and spoke frankly, "The reason my parents and I moved to the Northern Jujube Continent is because, compared to other continents, this region's environment is more suitable for my cultivation. If my father wanted to continue breaking through realms, staying in Vase Bottle Continent would have been almost hopeless. Here, it's still difficult, but at least there's some chance."

The size of a continent often determines the number of Upper Five Realm cultivators. The Northern Jujube Continent is vast and rich in resources, with spiritual energy far surpassing that of Vase Bottle Continent, hence its Upper Five Realm cultivators far outnumber those of Vase Bottle Continent.

However, the number of mountain summit martial artists, especially Limitless Realm martial artists, did not differ much.

The Northern Jujube Continent's native Limitless Realm martial artists, including Gu You, who had just perished together with Ji Yue, numbered only three.

Meanwhile, Vase Bottle Continent, the smallest of the Nine Continents, also had three: Li Liu's father, Li Er; the vassal king Song Changjing; and Fallen Mountain's Cui Cheng.

Now that Gu You had died in battle, it was an opportunity for all martial artists of the Northern Jujube Continent to share in the continent's martial fortunes. How much each could obtain naturally depended on their own abilities.

This was the foundation of the saying, "A Refining Spirit Third Realm martial artist dies in their home country; a Limitless Realm martial artist dies in their home continent."

Li Liu suddenly asked, "Mr. Chen, have you previously been to a landscape secret realm similar to a small heaven and earth?"

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Not long ago, I passed through an ancient ruin not recorded in any texts."

Li Liu said, "No wonder. After Gu You's death, martial fortunes scattered everywhere. But among them was a particularly rich portion of martial fortune, somewhat mysterious, seeming to contain a strong obsession of Gu You's. It lingered for a long time around the Northern Court Kingdom and Water Apex Kingdom, hesitating for about half a month before slowly dispersing. It probably couldn't find Mr. Chen. Had you received that gift, as the strongest Sixth Realm martial artist, your chances of smoothly breaking through to the Golden Body Realm would have been much greater. Even if that fellow martial artist of the same realm from Golden Armor Continent kept growing in fist intent, it probably wouldn't have affected Mr. Chen too much. Now, it's somewhat unpredictable. If the other party's fist technique keeps improving while Mr. Chen stagnates, and Mr. Chen breaks through his own bottleneck to the Seventh Realm before the other breaks through, you would lose that opportunity."

Chen Ping'an understood in his heart.

It was because he had practiced the Mountain-Shaking Fist for many years and had also received three fist techniques as guidance from Senior Gu You.

Thus, even as an outsider, Senior Gu had still been willing to share a portion of his martial fortune as a gift.

Having missed this bequest from Gu You, there was naturally regret, but no remorse.

Chen Ping'an, holding a green bamboo walking staff in one hand and lightly clenching his fist with the other, said, "It doesn't matter. Senior Gu You was from the Northern Jujube Continent. It's only natural for his martial fortune to be left to the continent's martial artists. I can only train my fist more diligently to live up to Senior Gu's expectations."

For Chen Ping'an, this gift was twofold. Even though he hadn't caught the martial fortune, he had to grasp the intention.

When one's own interests are truly at stake, yet one can still distinguish right from wrong, discern what to take and what to leave, and not let gain and loss disturb one's state of mind—that is true understanding.

Li Liu smiled. "Mr. Chen can think this way. It shows Gu You had good judgment, and my younger brother Li Huai's judgment wasn't bad either."

Chen Ping'an always felt there was something slightly off about how Li Liu spoke, yet it also seemed entirely natural, as if it should be so.

But thinking of the customs of his own hometown, he no longer found it strange. In his home on Mud Vase Lane alone, there was the sword immortal Cao Xi from the Southern Bodhi Continent, and Gu Can from Book Scroll Lake, and of course, himself, Chen Ping'an, had to be counted as well.

As tourists gradually ascended the platform, Chen Ping'an and Li Liu stopped speaking.

When there were sixteen people on the platform, sixteen snow-white flood dragons, condensed from clouds, appeared in all directions. Their heads drew near the platform, each cloud-sea flood dragon like a ferry boat.

Li Liu said, "Sixteen at a time. Each can ride a flood dragon, ignoring the small heaven's prohibitions, and enter Dragon Palace Cave Heaven smoothly. This is also one of the Water Dragon Sect's gimmicks."

Li Liu was the first to step onto a flood dragon's head.

Chen Ping'an followed suit, stepping onto the head of a cloud-white flood dragon and standing steadily.

Just as someone who had arrived late to the platform was about to push ahead, the ethereal figure of a green-robed god appeared on the platform, saying, "Below is a pit of deep water. The corpses there are all travelers who competed for the crossing. Whether life and death are great or small matters, you may judge for yourselves."

Only Chen Ping'an likely noticed that the green-robed god's standing position was as far from Li Liu as possible.

The sixteen snow-white flood dragons, formed from water movement, began to rise slowly. Just as they were about to break through the thick cloud sea, allowing passengers to glimpse a speck of golden light hanging from the sky's canopy, they suddenly dropped without warning.

Clouds and mist were all around.

Guiding her flood dragon to Chen Ping'an's side, Li Liu smiled, "That golden speck above our heads is a prototype sun formed from the essence of the incense offerings of the Ji River's middle shrine. It is also one of the Water Dragon Sect's foundations. But progress has been slow because they lack the proper method. The rough form is coarsely polished, and they started on the wrong path from the beginning. At the current rate the shrine accumulates incense offerings, even giving the Water Dragon Sect ten thousand more years, it still wouldn't succeed. The possibility of the Water Dragon Sect's cultivators creating their own sun and moon within Dragon Palace Cave Heaven is even smaller than snatching the pair of sun and moon from the shoulders of the pure Confucian scholar Chen Chun'an."

Chen Ping'an looked up but saw only the cloud sea, with neither the sky above nor the ground below visible, and not a trace of that golden light.

Chen Ping'an muttered to himself, "If I were a Water Dragon Sect cultivator, I would make the same choice. Even if there were only this single speck of light, I would be willing to keep accumulating incense offerings."

Li Liu said, "Mr. Chen, the matter of Dao cultivation is somewhat different from martial artist training. It's not that one can't employ the painstaking method of dripping water wearing through stone. But if a Dao cultivator only pursues this, it won't work. Though Qi practitioners may live long lives, they still cannot withstand sitting in meditation in the mountains a few times."

Chen Ping'an nodded with a smile. "I'll remember that."

About the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the cloud flood dragons gently shook, their four paws touching the ground. The surrounding clouds and mist dissipated, and everyone's field of vision opened up.

Chen Ping'an found himself standing atop a sea of clouds.

Looking down, it was a majestic city built on a massive island, like a dynasty's capital. Surrounding the city were green mountains, with precious light flowing.

Beyond the island's grand city were islands of various sizes, each with ancient structures built against the mountains or beside the water, like stars surrounding the moon, guarding the capital that seemed to stand at the center of heaven and earth.

For a thousand li, blue waves stretched endlessly into the horizon.

Above the cloud sea, green talisman boats of various sizes were suspended, some as small as wupeng boats, others as large as tower ships and warships.

The Water Lord Li Yuan stood not far away.

Li Liu led Chen Ping'an toward this youth, whom even the direct disciples of the Water Dragon Sect's Ancestral Hall did not recognize.

Li Yuan led the two toward a tower ship. After boarding, with no visible action and no cultivators on the ferry, the ship departed on its own.

Li Yuan said softly, "Duckweed Mountain Island has abundant water movement spiritual energy and has been vacant for a hundred years. Mr. Chen can stay there for cultivation. Moreover, it's not far from the former summer palace site. By talisman boat, one can reach it in half an hour."

Li Liu nodded. "Much obliged."

Li Yuan then became somewhat uneasy, feeling unsettled.

He cautiously asked, "Should I arrange some nimble-handed maidservants for Duckweed Island?"

Li Liu said, "Why ask me? Ask Mr. Chen."

Li Yuan immediately turned to inquire of Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an replied with a smile, "This is already quite an imposition. No need for such trouble."

Li Yuan did not press the matter further.

In the cloud sea stood a somewhat abrupt tall building. An old Nascent Soul cultivator of the Water Dragon Sect stationed there stood at the railing on the top floor. Upon seeing the hornless dragon jade tokens at the waists of the young woman and youth, he withdrew his probing gaze.

Still, he couldn't help but feel some suspicion. He knew almost all of the Water Dragon Sect's offerings and guest retainers. Why were these two faces unfamiliar? Could they be related to the Office of Religious Affairs or the Floating Lotus Sword Lake?

As long as the two jade tokens were genuine, the old Nascent Soul guarding the cloud sea would not cause any trouble or invite problems.

The tower ship moved as swiftly as a flying sword, bypassing the Duckweed Island ferry dock entirely, and directly stopped in the empty plaza of an immortal's mansion. The plaque on the mansion read, "Dragon Lord Stops the Clouds."

When the three disembarked and stepped onto the ground, the mansion's gate slowly opened.

Li Yuan explained, "Duckweed Island was once the cultivation site of an old offering cultivator of the Water Dragon Sect. He departed by bingjie a hundred years ago. His sect disciples were unremarkable; a Golden Core cultivator, in order to forcefully break through realms, secretly sold Duckweed Island back to the Water Dragon Sect. After this person fortunately became a Nascent Soul cultivator, he went roaming to other continents. The other senior and junior disciples had no choice but to all move out of Dragon Palace Cave Heaven."

The three crossed the threshold together. Li Yuan continued, "Besides this cultivation mansion, Duckweed Island also has four famous sites: the Throwing Water Pool, the Yongle Mountain Grotto, the Iron Workshop Ruins, and the Ascending Immortal Princess Stele. There are no people or masters on the island. When Mr. Chen has leisure from cultivation, you are free to browse as you please."

Finally, Li Yuan took off the jade token at his waist. One side was carved with a moving dragon pattern, the other bore the ancient seal script "Towering Green and Rain Mutual." He handed it to Chen Ping'an. "Mr. Chen, this object is the hub of Duckweed Island's landscape formation. There is no need to refine it. Simply wear it at your waist, and you can control the formation. Nascent Soul cultivators cannot probe the island mansion. Even a Jade Pure realm cultivator secretly observing this place would also stir ripples in the great formation."

Li Liu was relatively satisfied.

This place was clearly Li Yuan's private residence.

As for the past matters of the Water Dragon Sect offering cultivator's bingjie death and the internal strife among disciples, Li Liu was, of course, still indifferent.

True or false, what did it have to do with her?

Chen Ping'an did not make a show of declining. After thanking him, he accepted the heavy jade token, hanging it on one side of his waist alongside the Water Dragon Sect's "Rest and Pause" wooden plaque.

Only at this moment did Li Liu remove her own jade token, which was engraved with the four characters "Three-foot Sweet Dew." She handed it to Chen Ping'an with a smile. "Mr. Chen, consider it as my younger brother repaying some of his debt of gratitude."

Her implication was that he need not return it.

This scene made the Water Lord Li Yuan's eyelids twitch.

If it were him, he would probably have knelt to receive the decree and thank her for her grace.

Chen Ping'an shook his head. "This gift is too heavy. I cannot not repay it."

Li Liu said nothing more, simply handing the jade token to Chen Ping'an.

Li Yuan did not even dare to look further. He respectfully took his leave.

Thus, Chen Ping'an now had three tokens hanging at his waist.

Li Liu walked together with Chen Ping'an through the mansion, planning to stay briefly before leaving this summer palace that held nothing worth reminiscing about.

Once she left, how would Chen Ping'an repay her? Would the paltry Li Yuan dare to temporarily receive and safeguard that jade token?

Did the little Water Lord of the Ji River fear drowning?

How many Fire Ministry gods had been refined and killed by great fire in ages past?

How many river and water gods of heaven, earth, and the rivers and lakes had she suppressed and killed with great floods?

Chen Ping'an took out a Yuan Lord statue from his Fingertip Sundries and said with a smile, "Miss Li, I originally planned to give this to Li Huai when I next met him. Now, it's better for you to take it and pass it on to him."

Li Liu's gaze instantly became tender. It was as if she had suddenly become the young girl in the town who carried a bucket to draw water from the ancient well every day—willowy, gentle, and soft, without any sharp edges.

She took the small gift, raised it, and shook it with a teasing smile. "See? I'm different from Mr. Chen. When I receive heavy gifts, I'm never polite, and I accept them with a clear conscience."

Chen Ping'an's mood lightened as well. "I should learn from Miss Li."

Looking at this young man with his warm smile, Li Liu felt somewhat moved.

When her younger brother Li Huai had traveled far from home back then, he had seemed like the most ordinary child in the school, incomparable to Li Baoping, Lin Shouyi, Yu Lu, or Xie Xie.

On the journey to study in Great Sui, Chen Ping'an treated Li Huai only with an ordinary mind.

Later, when her father Li Er appeared, Chen Ping'an still treated Li Huai with that same ordinary mind.

Now, after she, Li Liu, had revealed herself at the Water Dragon Sect, it was still the same.

"You are Li Huai's sister, Li Er's daughter. No matter what your realm or fortune, I, Chen Ping'an, will try my best not to cause you trouble. Knowing that you're doing well will make me happy. That's all."

Be generous to others, be strict with oneself, and maintain cautious solitude.

This was what it meant to be a true scholar. Even if he was not a true teacher today, he would become one in the future.

So Li Liu smiled. "Lest Mr. Chen think I only have bad news to deliver, there are two matters I must congratulate you on."

Chen Ping'an's eyes lit up. Could it be that the Lotus Root Paradise needed two to three thousand Rain-Valley Coins, and that Fallen Mountain had overestimated the amount?

Li Liu said, "This sword has actually already become an immortal sword."

Chen Ping'an was stunned on the spot.

That Dharma robe Golden Sap, obtained from Flood Dragon Gully, could be upgraded to immortal grade by feeding it a large number of Gold Essence Coins—this was a truth Chen Ping'an had known for a long time. But he had been unable to achieve it due to insufficient resources.

But this sword immortal—when had it suddenly advanced from semi-immortal to legendary immortal sword?

Li Liu revealed the secret in a single phrase: "The sword contains a trace of Haoran Qi, and also a grain of pure Dao intent."

Chen Ping'an sank into contemplation. The latter he could understand, as the sword immortal had refined that shattered sword Qi gifted by Sun Daoren.

But the former, Haoran Qi—what was the reason for that?

Li Liu did not say more about this matter. "Also, while Mr. Chen stays on Duckweed Island, you may act without restraint and freely absorb the surrounding water movement spiritual energy. Such a small loss will not bother Dragon Palace Cave Heaven. Besides, this is the share that Duckweed Island is entitled to."

"There's also a piece of news that is neither good nor bad. I'll have that one named Li Yuan help deliver a letter to Fallen Mountain in Vase Bottle Continent. There won't be any traces left behind."

Li Liu stopped walking. "I'll go tour the main city of this Dragon Palace."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Miss Li, before you leave the Water Dragon Sect, you must let me know so I can return the jade token."

Li Liu was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Chen Ping'an also felt somewhat amused. Sure enough, he had guessed this Miss Li's little scheme.

Li Liu nodded. "Alright. Before I leave, I'll come to Duckweed Island."

Chen Ping'an did not try to detain her.

Li Liu transformed into a rainbow and departed, leaving not even a ripple of spiritual energy in the air.

The wind-riding aura was exactly the same as the sword immortal Li Cai's.

Chen Ping'an began to wander through the mansion alone, intending to find a secluded place suitable for cultivation. He planned to get a general look around first, then go see the Throwing Water Pool and the Ascending Immortal Stele.

Li Liu silently rode the wind upward, then drifted down near the mansion before heading toward the cloud sea.

She considered it as having already kept her promise.

In the cloud sea, the Water Lord Li Yuan stood with his hands at his sides.

Li Liu asked, "How is it at the Water Dragon Sect's Ancestral Hall?"

Li Yuan answered concisely, "No problem."

Li Liu smiled. "Li Yuan, all you have left is some thankless labor."

Li Yuan smiled in return.

Li Liu asked, "What connection do you have with that old woman?"

As long as Li Liu was within Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, her divine abilities surpassed even those of the saints of various realms.

Li Yuan shook his head with a sign. "It's my fault for pretending to be a water ghost back then and scaring a little girl."

Li Liu lost interest. She instructed Li Yuan to keep a close watch on Mr. Chen's cultivation, then casually tore open the sky's canopy. When she burst into a certain point of the great Ji River that bordered the small cave heaven, she was instantly thousands of li away, more elusive and mysterious than any immortal's divine ability of shrinking the earth.

Every river, lake, and sea in the world was within the jurisdiction of her small heaven and earth.

In truth, regarding Chen Ping'an's water mansion matters, Li Liu was perhaps the most qualified person in the world to offer advice. She simply hadn't spoken of it deliberately.

Chen Ping'an first selected a place for cultivation, then took a solitary walk around, visiting all four famous scenic sites before returning to the mansion. He took out six green bricks from a Daoist temple, arranged them on the ground, and began practicing his fist techniques by walking on the stakes.

Earlier, he had hung the sword immortal on the wall and leaned the walking staff against the wall.

After finishing his fist practice, Chen Ping'an went to a study to write a letter. He discussed matters concerning Lotus Root Paradise with Zhu Lian, along with many trivial details. At the end of the letter, he told Zhu Lian that he would wait in the Water Dragon Sect's Dragon Palace Cave Heaven until he received a reply from Fallen Mountain before continuing his journey. In the letter, he frankly told Zhu Lian that as a wandering bundle peddler who had traveled through nearly half of Northern Jujube Continent, he did have some surplus. However, if Fallen Mountain could borrow money, and if there were no hidden dangers or long-term worries, and they could fill the gap in time, then he would not sell off his assets cheaply. If there was still a gap, they didn't need to hide it. He would try to become a bundle peddler again in Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, and also have the Ant Shop at Spring Dew Garden clear out their inventory—every Rain-Valley Coin they could raise counted.

After putting down his brush, Chen Ping'an was not in a hurry to have that youth named Li Yuan help deliver the letter to Fallen Mountain.

Putting away the paper, brush, and secret letter, Chen Ping'an began to seriously consider one matter.

Whether to refine his third lifebound object within this Dragon Palace Cave Heaven.

Turning his head to glance at the sword immortal hanging on the wall, Chen Ping'an thought to himself that he was now someone who owned an immortal sword. Owing a few thousand Rain-Valley Coins wasn't too much to ask.

At Skeletal Beach's Wood Garment Mountain, Pang Lanxi had persuaded his grandfather to pick up his brush again and paint more sets of goddess images worthy of being given as gifts. That way, when he went on cross-continent training in the future, he would be justified.

Inside the Ghost Valley, a little mouse spirit still sat day after day on the steps outside the Sheep Intestine Palace, a wooden pole spear laid across its legs, basking in the sun. When the old ancestor was home, it dutifully kept watch. When the old ancestor was away, it secretly took out books and carefully flipped through them.

Inside Skull Pile City, Gao Cheng had recently been feeling somewhat unsettled, though he didn't know where things had gone wrong.

At the Mute Girl Lake, the little water monster that had been friendly with people was now gone. It was said that it had gone on a long journey with a young cultivator.

At the Golden Crow Palace, the highest-seniority Gold Core sword cultivator Liu Zhiqing still sat in meditation atop his mountain peak. Having sealed his mountain and gone into seclusion, Liu Zhiqing coldly observed the myriad phenomena and various emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, happiness—within his sect, using the human heart to purify his sword.

On Old Locust Street at Spring Dew Garden, that small shop with its hired shopkeeper was earning money steadily, like a thin but continuous stream. But unfortunately, there were fewer easy marks these days, which was somewhat regrettable.

That young clerk who carved seals and other desk accessories from the stones of Jade Ying Cliff was becoming increasingly skilled in his knife work, earning honest money one coin at a time.

Liu Jinglong had arrived at the Taihui Sword Sect and was now in seclusion attempting to break through to a new realm. It was said that among those he would challenge with his sword, two had already been confirmed: Li Cai of the Floating Lotus Sword Lake and Dong Zhu.

At the Peach Blossom Ferry in the Fuqu Kingdom, Liu Guibao was studying that Daoist scripture. Occasionally, she would think of that out-of-town scholar named Huai Qian. Besides blaming herself for having poor eyesight, she also felt a small sadness that lingered around her heart—it went away when waved off but crept back quietly.

Xu Xingjiu of the Cloud City had successfully broken through to the Guanhai Realm. He planned that when Mr. Liu eventually broke into the Upper Five Realm and successfully withstood the sword challenges of three sword immortals, he would bring enough fine wine to visit that young sword immortal he had long admired. He had heard that Mr. Liu actually liked to drink, but usually chose not to. For this, Xu Xingjiu had specifically trained his alcohol tolerance, causing Shen Zhenze and Zhao Qingwan some concern—had Xu Xingjiu become so arrogant that he was drinking so heavily? Xu Xingjiu had to explain that Mr. Chen had told him that if he couldn't hold his liquor, even if he did meet Mr. Liu, they wouldn't have anything to talk about, let alone drink together.

Outside a thatched cottage on a peak of the Taihui Sword Sect, the youth White Head, who had officially become a sect disciple, sat alone on a long bench, swaying back and forth, feeling bored. Well, he had thought that this Mr. Liu, being a famous sword immortal, would at least have an imposing immortal mansion within the Taihui Sword Sect. Who would have thought it was just this little run-down shack behind him? There were plenty of books inside, but he didn't like reading. So, with nothing else to do, White Head wondered if, as an assassin from Ge Lu Mountain, he could deal with those proud sons of heaven in the Taihui Sword Sect. But those peers all treated him politely, and you don't hit a smiling face. White Head felt he really couldn't bring himself to use his fists or his blade. The way those fellows looked at him—every single one was envious. White Head found it strange. Were you all so eager to become that Liu's disciple? Want to trade places? But after word got around, those people started looking at him strangely and never came by the thatched cottage again. Fine—he enjoyed the peace and quiet anyway.

On the western coast of Northern Jujube Continent, near the Baby Mountain's Thunder God Domain, an old and a young Daoist appeared out of thin air.

The young Daoist crouched on the ground, vomiting. This was the advantage of experience: first, make sure to eat and drink your fill; it's still a bit more comfortable than dry heaving for half a day.

The old true man crouched down, gently patting his disciple's back. "It's your master's Dao magic that's insufficient."

Zhang Shanfeng turned his head, his face miserable. "Master, saying that doesn't make me feel any better either."

Fire Dragon True Man smiled. "But your master feels a bit better inside."

Zhang Shanfeng took a deep breath. Just as he was about to stand, he crouched back down and continued vomiting.

Fire Dragon True Man was about to reproach himself a few times when a group of cultivators flew overhead toward Baby Mountain. Seeing the young Daoist's predicament, they burst into laughter.

Zhang Shanfeng paid them no attention, too dizzy to care.

The old true man, however, silently vanished and appeared behind two of the flying earthly immortal cultivators. He pressed a hand on each of their heads, smiling. "What's so funny? Tell me about it, let me have a laugh too?"

The two earthly immortals felt their scalps go numb. They immediately shrank their necks, looking like a couple of chicks. One of them bravely proclaimed, "Seeing an old immortal—we're happy!"

The other, slower to react, quickly tried to salvage the situation, "Delighted! Meeting an old immortal by chance—we're absolutely delighted today!"

Fire Dragon True Man gave them a gentle shove, sending the two earthly immortal cultivators stumbling forward, then returned smiling to Zhang Shanfeng's side.

Zhang Shanfeng was completely unaware of his master's departure and return.

Standing up, Zhang Shanfeng wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Master, we can be on our way now."

The old true man smiled. "No rush, take it slow. For Dao cultivators, time passes leisurely. If you walk too fast, you'll miss the scenery."

Zhang Shanfeng complained, "I want to give that Water Pill to Chen Ping'an as soon as possible."

The old true man nodded, counting on his fingers. This matter, indeed, could be hurried.

On Golden Armor Continent, within a ruin, Liu Youzhou yawned. That white-robed woman was still continuously throwing punches. From the looks of it, she was truly hooked. Cao Ci still didn't fight back, didn't speak, just looked at the fallen divine statues scattered about. Sometimes he would face them, bow, press his palms together, or clasp his hands in greeting. That woman, whose fist intent was growing increasingly intense, just kept punching. Liu Youzhou wasn't a pure martial artist, but he felt that her movements were becoming more and more formless, following her heart's whims. She no longer put her full strength into every punch.

But for Cao Ci, it seemed to make no difference. He still did his thing—you throw your punches, I look at my statues.

Suddenly, she stopped. The skin and flesh on her ten fingers and the backs of both hands were already gone, revealing white bone. She asked in a deep voice, "Still wrong?"

Cao Ci turned his head and smiled. "What, just because you can't knock me down with your fists, they're wrong? Then among your peers under heaven, are there any who have correct fist techniques?"

Cao Ci rarely spoke, and this was the first time he had said two sentences in a row. "There are no wrong fist techniques under heaven. Only martial artists who practice incorrectly and strikes that lack sufficient meaning."

The woman gritted her teeth. "It's not that I can't knock you down—it's that I can't even hit you!"

Cao Ci made an affirmative sound.

Then he said no more.

Since this was the fact, anyone with eyes could see it and knew it in their hearts. For him, Cao Ci, to say a few polite words would be easy, but what benefit would it be to her?

If a pure martial artist who aspired to reach the summit couldn't even tolerate a few truthful words and a few facts, how could they ascend the mountain with fist intent and ultimately stand firmly at its peak?

In this regard, that peer he had encountered at the Sword Qi Great Wall back then had done really well. Willing to accept fate, all the while preparing to one day reject fate.

Cao Ci continued forward. Remembering something, he asked, "Do you remember how many punches you've thrown?"

The young woman shook her head. "I didn't keep count."

Cao Ci, his back to her, said slowly, "Then from now on, only keep track of this. Don't think at all about how to throw your punches, or how to control your force. Just keep count of the number of punches."

The young woman frowned. "Cao Ci, why are you willing to instruct me in fist techniques?"

Cao Ci looked up at the sky's canopy. "It's not really instruction. It's just that you're worth a few extra words from me, so I say them. This isn't such an impressive thing. When you encounter other martial artists in the future, you can do the same, and I expect you will. The martial path is not a narrow goat trail of life and death. As for martial fortune, that's a different matter. Telling you about it seems somewhat inappropriate."

She laughed bitterly. "That's because you're Cao Ci. You're destined never to meet a peer who makes you feel despair. That's why you can say such things."

Cao Ci nodded. "I don't need to think about this."

She found it somewhat irritating.

Cao Ci said, "A true martial artist lies in purity. They shouldn't make others feel it's the anger of a common man every day."

Liu Youzhou clicked his tongue in wonder. Rare, rare—Cao Ci was willing to ramble on so much in one go.

This was probably what Cao Ci himself called purity.

After all, once this woman, as the world's strongest Sixth Realm martial artist, broke through to the Golden Body Realm, Cao Ci would have effectively gained an extra peer at the same realm. At the very least, their cultivation levels would be equal.

As for whose fist technique would be superior at that point...

She knew it best, surely. She would still feel utterly despairing. At the Sixth Realm fighting the Seventh Realm, being so battered was one thing. But if at the Seventh Realm fighting the Seventh Realm, she still couldn't so much as touch a corner of his clothes—Liu Youzhou would feel suffocated just thinking about it on her behalf.

On a bustling street in a prefectural city of the Azure Underworld Heaven, a dashing young Daoist had set up a stall by the roadside. He claimed that palm reading was a family heirloom skill, and there were especially many young women and matronly ladies around.

As for his little junior brother, after watching a tragic story of a cultivator's revenge, and since this place was his hometown, he had chosen to travel in plain clothes. The youth found a childhood friend who was like a brother to him, and also a girl he had grown up with.

The young Daoist, while stroking a pretty girl's soft, fair little hand, muttered mysteriously to himself. At the same time, he wondered if his little junior brother would let go of that friend who had been like an elder brother to him, and whether he would beg to take the girl back to the Jade Capital with them. This would be another not-so-joyful little story. The young Daoist was somewhat curious about what his junior brother would do. There were many choices, but in the end, it came down to how the junior brother viewed his so-called heart for the Dao.

Lu Chen gently set down the girl's lovely hand and spoke to her of some matters of fate and romantic fate.

He turned to look in a certain direction. He wouldn't call it disappointment, but there was no surprise or delight either.

That little junior brother was holding the corpse of a peer, silently weeping. The girl stood nearby, as if struck by lightning. In Lu Chen's eyes, she looked somewhat adorably foolish.

Just by killing one person, he had killed three hearts.

This was a transaction that was hard to say whether it was profitable or a loss.

Lu Chen propped his cheek on one hand, watching the bustling street. He smiled at a woman who had stopped in the distance and turned back to glance at him.

The young woman probably hadn't expected to be seen by that handsome Daoist. She twisted her slender waist and walked away, head bowed and blushing.

A woman's smiling face was an eternal pleasure.

Lu Chen figured that even if he looked for another ten thousand years, he would still find it a joy to behold.

Heaving a sigh, Lu Chen thought his little junior brother had done passably well. To kill another is to kill oneself—barely passable, having gotten through a heart barrier.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have minded another palm strike, smashing the junior brother into a pulp.

But compared to his, this little senior brother's, best expectations, there was still no small gap.

The human body is heaven and earth; a Daoist cultivates the Great Dao. How could the two great doctrines of "human body" and "purity" have such narrow meanings?

The more Lu Chen pondered, the more unhappy he became. Huffily, he drew a bamboo slip from his divination tube and gently snapped it in half.

That little junior brother was as if cut in half by a flying sword at the waist. He wasn't dead, but half-dead.

After all, he was a junior brother who carried three supreme immortal treasures from the Jade Capital. How could he die so easily?

Another Lu Chen appeared beside the junior brother, who, though split in two, was still struggling. He crouched down and smiled. "Little junior brother, work a bit harder. Piece yourself back together. You'll definitely live."

As for the Lu Chen at the roadside fortune-telling stall, he beamed broadly, extending his hand to a girl who had just sat down. "This humble Daoist is skilled in palm reading. When it comes to predicting romantic fate, I'm practically the sworn brother of the Old Man Under the Moon."

By the river of the Pure Confucian Chen Clan in the Southern Bodhi Continent, on a rocky cliff by the water, Liu Xianyang discovered for the first time that the old Confucian scholar was already standing there before him.

After climbing onto the stone cliff, Liu Xianyang bowed and greeted him as "old sir."

The two often met. The old man said he was a teacher. Since the Pure Confucian Chen Clan had an academy, there were naturally many people studying and researching here, and even more who came to travel. So Liu Xianyang wasn't surprised that he didn't recognize the old man.

Today, Liu Xianyang found the old gentleman somewhat different. He wasn't asking about Liu Xianyang's academic progress or whether he had doubts about certain passages, as he usually did. The old man had once said that when one's learning isn't deep, clamoring to disregard passages and abandon them is not good. When one's learning deepens, becoming obsessed with passages and clinging to them is also not appropriate. Learning in the world ultimately requires gradual progress.

The old Confucian scholar stood at the cliff's edge, gazing at the river. After a long silence, he turned and asked, "Liu Xianyang, what do you think of the family tradition and academic tradition of the Pure Confucian Chen Clan?"

Liu Xianyang was somewhat surprised. This was the same question the old gentleman had asked when they first met. He wondered why the old man was asking again.

Liu Xianyang gave a similar answer: "Good."

The old gentleman asked, "Good in what way?"

Liu Xianyang smiled. "Good in that it's useful."

The old gentleman nodded. "That's not bad at all."

Liu Xianyang asked softly, "Old sir, what were you thinking about earlier?"

The old man smiled. "When a man gets old, he always thinks about what will happen after he's gone."

Liu Xianyang had nothing to say to that.

The old man added, "Young people shouldn't be so gloomy. You should be full of vitality. Dare to point out what's wrong with the world. Dare to question what's wrong with the principles. Dare to think about how to take the principles you've learned from books and use them to benefit the world."

Liu Xianyang nodded. "I'll strive to do that."

The old man sighed. "Seeing you young people makes us old folks feel that time is never enough. That we haven't been teachers long enough."

Liu Xianyang sighed.

The old man smiled. "Don't sigh. Your luck will run away."

Liu Xianyang paused. Was that a thing?

The old man laughed heartily. "When I was little, the elders in my family used to scare me like that."

Liu Xianyang found it amusing.

In his memory, Chen Ping'an never sighed long and hard. It was he and that little snot who often lazed around, lying in the shade of trees in summer or on the ridges at night, trading sighs—one from him, one from the other—tirelessly, just messing around. But in those years, the one with the worst luck had always been Chen Ping'an. Now that he had become the mountain master of his hometown, did that count as a turn of fortune?

On the tenth day of the tenth month, Chen Ping'an took a talisman boat prepared on Duckweed Island to the main city island of Dragon Palace Cave Heaven. There, incense smoke curled. Even cultivators burned paper-cut winter clothes, following ancient customs to send clothes to their ancestors. Chen Ping'an was no exception. He bought a large basket of five-colored paper winter clothes cut by the Water Dragon Sect from a shop, brought them back to Duckweed Island, and wrote names on each one. The shop had included a small ordinary brazier for burning the paper. Only on the next day, the eleventh day of the tenth month, did he burn the paper. It was said that this should not be done on the Ghost Festival itself but on the day before or after, which would neither disturb the ancestors nor allow them and the wandering spirits to best receive the offerings.

Some of the local customs of the Water Dragon Sect were not unfamiliar to Chen Ping'an. For instance, when offering sacrifices to ancestors at graves back home, besides adding earth, the rituals were remarkably similar, with the same rule of "men kowtow without crying, women cry without kowtowing."

This day, Chen Ping'an burned paper for a full hour.

Even the Water Lord Li Yuan, watching from the cloud sea, was somewhat stunned. He almost couldn't resist checking what names were written on all those five-colored winter clothes.

But thinking of how she addressed this person as "Mr. Chen," Li Yuan did not dare to overstep.

On the fifteenth day of the tenth month, the Water Official Disaster Relief Day, the Water Dragon Sect held a grand Golden Register Dao Ceremony, setting up a Taoist ritual to dispel disasters and eliminate calamities for ancestors, and to accumulate blessings for the departed.

Compared to the expense of buying five-colored winter clothes during the Ghost Festival, offering incense and lighting lamps at this Golden Register ceremony cost far more than just a few Snowflake Coins.

Chen Ping'an voluntarily activated Duckweed Island's landscape formation, and Li Yuan pretended to have just been alerted and arrived.

Chen Ping'an inquired in detail about the rules of the Golden Register ceremony. Finally, he handed Li Yuan a booklet densely packed with names and places of origin, along with two Rain-Valley Coins.

He asked Li Yuan to participate in the Golden Register ceremony on his behalf, to have the Water Dragon Sect's eminent person write those names on special talisman paper, so that the deceased listed in the book could accumulate blessings for their next life.

Li Yuan couldn't help but ask, "May I ask, Mr. Chen, these departed ones?"

Chen Ping'an said, "I'm trying my best to make up for my mistakes. It's far from enough. I only hope it's still useful and not too late."

Holding the booklet, Li Yuan nodded. "Rest assured. Heaven and man respond to each other; spirits and gods communicate. Don't underestimate the sincerity of your own heart."

So Li Yuan personally went to handle the matter.

Chen Ping'an climbed onto the rooftop. Today, he had brought the sword immortal, laying it across his knees. Alone, he looked around in confusion.