Chapter 552: Not Only About Parting with Others
After discovering that Chen Ping'an was walking toward him, Zhang Shanfeng stood up, put away his oil-paper umbrella, walked toward Chen Ping'an, then stepped back while walking, asking worriedly, "Are you okay?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head and said, "Troubled or not troubled."
Zhang Shanfeng said angrily, "Say something I can understand!"
Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "Then it's nothing."
Zhang Shanfeng asked again, "Really?"
Chen Ping'an nodded and said, "More real than immortal money."
When Zhang Shanfeng thought of that, he got a headache, "This Water Dragon Sect is not generous. Just entering the Dragon Palace Cave Heaven costs one Small Heat Coin."
Chen Ping'an laughed and said, "I currently owe more than two thousand Grain Rain Coins in debt."
Zhang Shanfeng counted on his fingers. Chen Ping'an had just said "stop," but Zhang Shanfeng had already blurted out, "More than two million Snowflake Coins?!"
Chen Ping'an reached out and wiped his face.
When earning money, he most liked converting one Grain Rain Coin into Snowflake Coins. When in debt, he really couldn't like it at all.
Zhang Shanfeng suddenly said, "Chen Ping'an, some things, friends can't help with. You have to figure them out bit by bit on your own."
During his first journey down the mountain to slay demons and subdue monsters, this outer-surname Heavenly Master from Dragon Tiger Mountain had a hard time and almost didn't make it through. So he steeled his heart and went directly to Bottle Gourd Continent, where he got to know Chen Ping'an and Xu Yuanxia, gradually opened his heart, and even figured out a set of clumsy boxing techniques that couldn't be brought to the table.
Chen Ping'an softly hummed in acknowledgment.
Inquiring the heart's depths is the most piercing.
Chen Ping'an's current state of mind was certainly not as relaxed as his words and face showed.
Zhang Shanfeng took out a porcelain bottle from his bundle, "This bottle of Water Elixir was given by a friend of my master from the Central Continent's Shen Marsh. My master said you gave me the Heavenly Master Seal and the True Martial Sword, so I must return the favor."
Chen Ping'an was momentarily stunned but didn't stand on ceremony. He took the porcelain bottle. Not only was his palm cool, but his entire Water Mansion also had some unusual movement. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "A gift from the Water God of Central Continent's Shen Marsh?"
The Lake Lord of Cangyun Lake had also given Water Elixir, and earlier, he had seen the elixirs in the Water Hall that Liu Chongrun had secretly stored. But compared to this bottle of Shen Marsh Water Elixir, they were as different as clouds and mud.
That book of Immortal Beings from Inverted-Hanging Mountain had mentioned Shen Marsh—a great marsh in Central Continent. Could it be a Water Elixir refined by the Shen Marsh Lake Lord using his life-bound water luck?
Zhang Shanfeng nodded and said, "It's that Shen Marsh Water Elixir, but my master said its grade isn't too high. He said his relationship with the Water Gods of the world is average, so he couldn't get the best Water Elixir."
Chen Ping'an was a bit amused and exasperated. What Fire Dragon True Person called "the best" would truly be the best in all Haoran World. What he called "not too high" would also be very high.
Shen Marsh was extremely famous in Central Continent, with vast waters and a high-fifth-realm Deity in charge. The Lake Lord's Water Mansion was the famous Mianchi Palace. Legend had it that the object suppressing it was the world's largest Dragon King Basket. Shen Marsh had many ancient legends. It was said that an unknown Daoist once boated on the marsh under the bright moon. A flood dragon fleeing a heavenly tribulation dove into Shen Marsh. Lightning chains and thunder ropes covered the sky, and the flood dragon fled into the Daoist's sleeve. The Daoist casually repelled the heavenly tribulation, helping the flood dragon escape calamity, giving rise to the beautiful verse: "Thunder and lightning could not escape, fleeing into the gentleman's sleeve."
Chen Ping'an held the heavy bottle of Water Elixir, turned his head, and said softly, "Zhang Shanfeng, you have a good master."
Zhang Shanfeng grinned, "I've known that for a long time."
Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "The old True Person has a good disciple."
Zhang Shanfeng shook his head, "There are many disciples like me on Prostrate Peak."
Chen Ping'an said, "I don't think so."
Zhang Shanfeng beamed, "Always spouting some honest truths."
Chen Ping'an put an arm around the young Daoist's shoulder. Zhang Shanfeng bent down and tried to put his arm around Chen Ping'an's neck.
They horsed around.
Chen Ping'an led Zhang Shanfeng into the mansion and into the room.
Zhang Shanfeng caught sight of the green bamboo walking staff and the Sword Immortal hanging on the wall. He smiled and said, "Same as always."
Chen Ping'an moved a chair for him, and they sat facing each other.
Zhang Shanfeng began to talk about what he had seen and heard traveling with his master through Central Continent and Southern Bodhi Continent. Finally, he spoke of Liu Xianyang, who was studying at the Chen Clan of Pure Confucianism.
Chen Ping'an quietly listened to Zhang Shanfeng's narration, his mind peaceful and the ripples gradually calming.
Zhang Shanfeng then started talking about his journey home. Suddenly, he noticed that the guy across from him had fallen asleep while listening.
Zhang Shanfeng felt a bit helpless. He tiptoed to stand up, quietly left the room, gently closed the door, and then crouched under the eaves, staring blankly.
The world was strange. Some people only focused on what others had, not why. His master said this was like a leaf blocking one's view. He also said the world was even stranger in that thinking this way wasn't necessarily entirely bad.
Zhang Shanfeng always felt he was out of place with this world, not too related to his realm level.
Only when cultivating slowly on Prostrate Peak's mountain, or traveling the martial world with Chen Ping'an and Xu Yuanxia, or being alone facing the silent mountains and rivers, staying away from the hustle and bustle, would he not make mistakes that harmed others, and the world wouldn't harm him. Only then did Zhang Shanfeng feel a bit better.
So Zhang Shanfeng asked his master if his heart of seeking the Dao had a big problem.
His master said there was no problem. He said Confucianism was about doing addition: cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world—taking everything onto oneself. If one could bear it, they would enter the Central Earth Confucian Temple. Daoism was about doing subtraction: one by one, drawing boundaries, severing ties, forgetting both things and self without worry, and finally reaching the pure land. Buddhism, from the Lesser Vehicle's self-salvation to the Greater Vehicle's saving others, from gradual enlightenment to sudden enlightenment, the flapping of the banner and the mind, the three unsullied of precepts, concentration, and wisdom—these were all just stages of adding and subtracting. The three teachings seemed to have vastly different roots and paths, but cultivation was essentially like people walking—still similar.
Zhang Shanfeng crouched on the steps, turned his head, and glanced at the closed door.
His master was right. Every person was a small heaven and earth. When the door was closed, outsiders couldn't see the true scene inside.
Just then, Chen Ping'an softly called out from inside the room, "Zhang Shanfeng."
Zhang Shanfeng quickly replied, "I'm here, right outside."
Chen Ping'an, with a slightly weary tone, said, "Then I'll sleep a bit more. I never felt this way before, but I'm a little tired."
Zhang Shanfeng said, "Rest well."
Zhang Shanfeng sat crouched in place, his hands tucked into his sleeves, gently swaying back and forth, a smile on his face.
---
Down the mountain, there were some children who were extremely precocious. Whether they eventually became cultivation seeds on the mountain or not was not surprising.
What was truly strange was being able to accommodate two extremes of learning and temperament, constantly fighting without killing either. In Fire Dragon True Person's view, this was true tempering and cultivation.
The innate pure state of mind was hard to maintain and keep from dissipating. The acquired sincerity was hard to find. "True" means the utmost sincerity. When utmost sincerity is reached, it is bright as the sun and clear as the moon.
His own disciple Zhang Shanfeng and his friend Chen Ping'an—these two temperaments required teaching two different methods.
Fire Dragon True Person actually felt a bit resentful toward the old Literary Saint Master and Qi Jingchun. Since they had respectively taken him as a disciple and little junior, why hadn't they been more attentive? Why let Chen Ping'an wander so far by himself? Weren't they afraid he might die? Or go astray? Or simply give up, turn to Buddhism, or truly figure things out and switch to Daoism? This was actually something Fire Dragon True Person couldn't understand: why hadn't the old Literary Saint Master chosen to keep Chen Ping'an by his side, teaching by word and example? Also strange was that even though Qi Jingchun had to die, in fact, with Qi Jingchun's learning and ability, he could have done more. Why didn't he?
Truly, each one had an even bigger heart than the last.
Fire Dragon True Person felt he was already broad-minded, but compared to these two scholars, he seemed incomparable.
Fire Dragon True Person suddenly gave a "Huh?" and looked around, as if encountering something puzzling. But after a brief thought, the old True Person didn't bother with it.
At the bottom of the lake between White Armor Island and Black Beard Island.
A carriage hovered in the water. Water Governor Li Yuan and Nanxun Water Palace Lady Shen Lin stood side by side.
Shen Lin said in surprise, "This person actually knows Fire Dragon True Person?"
Li Yuan sneered, "Don't I know the old man too?"
Shen Lin smiled. Of course, she knew—she had been suppressed by Fire Dragon True Person using water techniques at the bottom of the Ji River for over a month.
Although Northern Juzhou all believed this old True Person of Prostrate Peak to be the most proficient in fire techniques in the world, without equal, few knew that Fire Dragon True Person was actually well-versed in water techniques.
Shen Lin was filled with heavy thoughts.
Just then, Li Yuan's scalp went numb.
It turned out that the old True Person on the shore was smilingly waving toward the carriage.
Li Yuan was about to scatter into golden light and flee, but he dismissed the thought because Fire Dragon True Person had already appeared by the carriage, standing on the back of a snow-white steed.
Shen Lin immediately made a hand seal and said respectfully, "Former Nanxun Water Palace member Shen Lin pays respects to Fire Dragon True Person!"
Fire Dragon True Person was quite polite to this Water God Lady. He smiled and said, "All laws are natural, follow fate, and the channel will form when the water comes."
The Water God Lady, whose face was like shattered celadon glaze, was startled and said tremblingly, "Thank you for the True Person's teaching."
Fire Dragon True Person smiled and said nothing. He glanced at Li Yuan, "Oh, isn't this our Governor Li of the Ji River Middle Shrine? Wherever I go, I see the Water Governor. Truly, fate is unstoppable."
Li Yuan stiffened his face, playing deaf and mute.
So what if his Dao techniques were high? He couldn't just hit me because he didn't like the look of me, could he?
Fire Dragon True Person laughed and said, "Water Governor Li, since you're free anyway, how about having a chat with me?"
Li Yuan looked bewildered and said, "I'm busy, very busy."
Fire Dragon True Person flicked his sleeve, "Oh?"
Li Yuan immediately said, "I can be not busy first."
An old Daoist and a young boy left the carriage and walked through the water.
Shen Lin used her divine powers to drive the carriage back to that summer retreat palace.
As soon as Shen Lin left, Li Yuan immediately flattered, "Old brother Fire Dragon, why didn't you say anything when you came to visit Water Dragon Cave Heaven? So formal—are you looking down on your down-and-out little brother?"
Fire Dragon True Person hummed in acknowledgment.
Right, I do look down on you, Water Governor Li.
Li Yuan felt there was no way to continue this conversation.
A dignified great river water governor, now in the water but feeling like in a cage, extremely uncomfortable.
After a long silence, the two swiftly traveled far under the water, their forms ethereal and light like clouds and mist.
Fire Dragon True Person finally spoke, "Since the Water Dragon Sect established itself, hasn't it treated you well, Li Yuan? So why are you putting on airs? Must your seat in the ancestral hall be placed first? Constantly reminding the successive sect masters of Water Dragon Sect that the ancestral hall is your territory? That they are just tenants? Have you, as Water Governor, got water in your brain? Do you truly see yourself as the common lord of the martial world, daring to be so arrogant and overbearing?"
Li Yuan said weakly, "If you want to accuse someone, you can always find a pretext. Old True Person, say whatever you want. I'll accept it all."
Fire Dragon True Person sneered, "A huge bond of incense and fate can't withstand such squandering. The favorable weather in Water Dragon Cave Heaven, largely worry-free—what does that have to do with you? Isn't it Shen Lin who's putting in all the effort? Years ago, when that Sword Immortal stole the cave heaven's water fortune supreme treasure, why did you stand by and do nothing? He could fool the busy Shen Lin and Nanxun Water Palace, but could he fool you, who idles around all day?"
Li Yuan pouted, "Water Dragon Sect didn't say anything either."
Fire Dragon True Person certainly knew there were more twists and turns here, not simple right and wrong. But in the world, one could generally look at the rough outcome. And the outcome was often the cause of the next cycle of karma. Like ripples on a lake—it's hard to see the whole great water, but every ripple's rise and fall—if a cultivator couldn't see them clearly, what were they cultivating for?
The old True Person said heavily, "If I didn't have old ties with that person, do you think I'd waste half a word on you?"
Li Yuan sighed, stopped playing dumb, and looked desolate. He said helplessly, "I've watched the rise and fall of Water Dragon Sect and the increase and decrease of incense for many years. I've lost many hopes. Now I find it meaningless. This generation's sect master, Sun Jie, is a good person, but so what? It's not like I never thought about having Water Dragon Sect refine the Ji River middle shrine. But the two people I valued before both failed to become sect master. One of them was even killed by me and Water Dragon Sect working together. Water Dragon Sect lives under someone else's roof, tormented by me year after year—they brought it on themselves."
Fire Dragon True Person seemed to feel a mix of sorrow for their misfortune and anger for their lack of ambition, "Stubborn and unchangeable thing!"
In the mountains, phrases like "adding the finishing touch," "the stubborn stone nods," "casting pearls before swine," and "talking to a brick wall" were all forms of learning.
Only the difference between immortals was hardest to communicate.
So Fire Dragon True Person said, "Just try to be a proper person."
Li Yuan was so furious he became embarrassed, "Fire Dragon True Person, don't bully me just because your Dao techniques are high!"
Fire Dragon True Person pressed a hand on this Water Governor boy's head and asked with a smile, "What if I do bully you?"
Li Yuan wanted to cry but had no tears. He wrinkled his face and said, "Then I'll listen to the old True Person and obediently be a proper person."
Fire Dragon True Person gave a light slap, sending Li Yuan crashing into a pit at the bottom of the lake. He scolded with a smile, "You remember the beating but not the lesson."
Li Yuan lay in the pit playing dead.
Fire Dragon True Person's form drifted down into the pit. He said seriously, "Don't truly see yourself as that lofty deity."
Li Yuan opened his eyes, "What if I end up stuck in between? Wouldn't that be even worse?"
Fire Dragon True Person shook his head, "Arrogant and self-righteous—truly hard to teach."
Li Yuan put his hands behind his head and said woodenly, "I'm just a frog at the bottom of a well who can't see the sky."
Fire Dragon True Person had already quietly left.
Li Yuan sighed in grief. I got slapped for nothing again.
---
Fire Dragon True Person slowly walked into the mansion on Fushui Island.
Chen Ping'an had already woken up and was in the courtyard watching Zhang Shanfeng practice his boxing.
When he saw the old True Person, Chen Ping'an was about to bow. Fire Dragon True Person waved his hand, "Tired or not, sincerity is enough. I still have that bit of discernment. Go inside and check out your third life-bound object. If there are no errors, refine it as soon as possible. When cultivating on the mountain, thinking too much is fine, but it doesn't mean you have to do things slowly. Besides, walking slowly doesn't mean you have to take one step at a time in a leisurely manner, Chen Ping'an. You need to carefully sort out the difference between the two."
Chen Ping'an silently kept it in his heart and held it in his mind.
Zhang Shanfeng stopped boxing and went into the room with his master and Chen Ping'an.
Chen Ping'an carefully took out the fragments of the wooden statue that had been enshrined in the mountain temple from his Within-Reach Object.
Fire Dragon True Person flicked his sleeve, and a layer of qi ripples like a dark green tabletop appeared in the room, smooth and bright as a mirror.
Chen Ping'an then took out the thirty-six green bricks that had paved the temple floor.
One hundred and twenty-two pieces of green glazed tiles.
And a large cluster of bamboo branches and a large pile of bamboo leaves gathered from that green bamboo.
Fire Dragon True Person asked, "You've walked through many cave paradises and blessed lands, slowly accumulating this wealth?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head, "I found them all in one place."
He didn't have the face to say he had "picked them up."
Fire Dragon True Person looked at him with a strange expression, "Are you a bandit?"
Chen Ping'an was about to take out a few other mountain treasures but stopped.
The fan of a lady, a pair of Dragon King Baskets, bought from "Sun the Daoist." Then the ancient mirror gifted by Huang Shishi, the Daoist Mind-Fasting Plate, the bracelet with a palindrome poem, and the tree-gall pot.
He had originally planned to let the old True Person appraise them and estimate their value.
Fire Dragon True Person glanced again at the pile of broken wood. Without rushing to reveal the heavenly secrets, he just pointed at those green bricks, "Their toughness is no less than the Dragon-Slaying Platform that sword cultivators dream of. Because they have been steeped in the true meaning of Dao techniques for many years, the water fortune essence contained within is just a surface manifestation. If you discard the bricks for the water fortune, you would be committing the worst kind of waste."
Chen Ping'an then glanced at Zhang Shanfeng beside him.
Fire Dragon True Person laughed, "What's there to give? Keep them for yourself! These thirty-six Heavenly Stars number is itself proof of Dao affinity. Missing even one would ruin everything."
The old True Person pointed to a key acupoint in Chen Ping'an's body, "In the small heaven and earth of the human body, the 'gang' in 'Tiangang' means the four uprights, taking the center of the four directions—that is my heart. The heavenly Tiangang is the yin-yang essence, the true earth. One void, one solid—both are great teachings of our Dao sect. Haven't you refined the five-colored earth as your five-element earth life-bound object? Perfect, then refine the true meaning of the thirty-six green bricks and use them as the mountain root of that central mountain in your heart. They can also nurture a cultivator's thoughts—killing two birds with one stone. But refining this object requires a large amount of qi. Creating a mountain root is no simple matter. Later, I'll teach you a formula. Dragon veins also distinguish mountains and water. Your method of refining objects isn't very suitable for creating mountains."
Fire Dragon True Person picked up a piece of glazed tile and laughed, "Do you know how many immortal coins this single tile would be worth if sold to the right person?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head.
Fire Dragon True Person stretched out a hand and shook it.
Chen Ping'an ventured, "Ten Small Heat Coins?"
Fire Dragon True Person teased, "Ten Small Heat Coins? Would it be worth me waving my hand?"
Zhang Shanfeng softly reminded, "Ten Grain Rain Coins, Grain Rain Coins!"
Chen Ping'an asked, "Is it to be sold to the Glazed Pavilion of White Emperor City in Central Continent?"
Fire Dragon True Person nodded. Talking to an intelligent person saved effort, "To ordinary immortal cultivators, one tile would be worth at most one Grain Rain Coin. Those who don't recognize its value might not even accept a few Small Heat Coins. Because this item only has a miraculous effect when accumulated in large quantities. In small amounts, it's just a flashy gimmick that doesn't work."
Chen Ping'an felt lucky that he hadn't sold his belongings cheaply. If he had known the truth later, wouldn't his Dao heart have been disturbed again?
Fire Dragon True Person picked up a bamboo branch and laughed, "This is a descendant of one of the ten ancestral bamboos of the Green Mountain God in the Bamboo Sea Cave Heaven. It can be called a direct child. Only when bamboo is as hard as stone can it become a vessel, with the virtue of firm nature. The straightness of the bamboo body, the upward striving of its joints, an open mind like an empty valley, carrying literature through the ages—these are all virtues and conducts. Which kind of virtue do you think you encountered with that bamboo, that you met it by chance and necessity?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head, "I can't guess."
Fire Dragon True Person smiled, "That's right."
This was precisely the many affirmations that Chen Ping'an had arrived at after inquiring his heart and then negating.
If a cultivator's heart inquiry was only to seek a dead heart, then besides the Daoist school, so many other schools would not cultivate the Dao.
Which kind of virtue bamboo he actually encountered wasn't important.
Chen Ping'an actually didn't know what was right.
Beside him, Zhang Shanfeng thought that if his master said it was right, then it was right.
Otherwise, his master always making things difficult for Chen Ping'an wouldn't be good.
Fire Dragon True Person suddenly said, "Shanfeng, go practice your boxing in the courtyard."
Zhang Shanfeng said "Oh" without asking why and went out.
Fire Dragon True Person reached out and grabbed. The wooden statue fragments on the table either flew or hovered, gently colliding with each other, swaying, and finally reassembled into a statue of a middle-aged Daoist.
Like reshaping the golden body of a mountain or river deity.
Looking at this "middle-aged Daoist," Fire Dragon True Person sighed softly.
Then Fire Dragon True Person put away his nostalgic thoughts, his expression serious, and said in a deep voice, "Chen Ping'an, where did you get this statue?"
Chen Ping'an roughly described the experience of visiting the mountain and searching for treasures.
He skipped over the many deeds of Sun the Daoist in the immortal mansion ruins.
But Chen Ping'an still underestimated Fire Dragon True Person's knowledge and Dao techniques.
Fire Dragon True Person gazed at the wooden statue and slowly said, "This person was killed by the Second Daoist wearing a dharma robe and wielding an immortal sword. Among his direct disciples, there was one named Song Maolu, who surpassed the master. He was a genius that the Azure Blue World hadn't seen in a thousand years. By his own strength alone, he gathered nearly sixty percent of the Daoist forces outside the White Jade Capital. Imagine—in our Haoran World, if someone could rival half of Confucianism, what would that be like?"
Chen Ping'an couldn't imagine it.
Fire Dragon True Person continued to reveal celestial secrets of another world. At his realm, especially with his merits, casually uttering the names of sages was no longer taboo. He continued, "As for this statue, it's not the ordinary kind enshrined in various temples of the same lineage. It is an important divine seat second only to the sect's main statue of this Daoist. You can think of it as a cultivator's out-of-body yin spirit. This wood was refined from the ancestral peach tree planted by the Xuandu Temple."
Fire Dragon True Person smiled, "And the abbot of Xuandu Temple, this wooden image's senior brother, has always been among the top ten in the entire Azure Blue World, hailed as the unmovable fifth person there. The Daoist sword immortal lineage basically relies on this abbot to uphold its grandeur."
At this point, Fire Dragon True Person asked, "Can you be certain there are no lingering problems?"
Chen Ping'an nodded, "Certain!"
Fire Dragon True Person laughed, "Good heavens, you've made a huge profit."
If it were an ordinary junior who dared to boast like that, Fire Dragon True Person would have advised them to think thrice before acting.
Since it was Chen Ping'an, he could skip that.
Besides, that Sun the Daoist from the Great Xuandu Temple who ascended back to the Azure Blue World had left this object willingly—that itself was a form of recognition of Chen Ping'an.
Fire Dragon True Person paused for a moment, looked at Chen Ping'an, and seemed to have thought of something until this moment. He vaguely guessed Qi Jingchun's painstaking intentions, but he didn't know if his guess was correct.
Fire Dragon True Person asked straightforwardly, "Do you have any heavenly materials and earthly treasures prepared for the ordinary refining of the five-element earth life-bound object?"
Chen Ping'an nodded, "Yes."
Fire Dragon True Person nodded, "Then that's enough. No need for superfluous additions."
Chen Ping'an felt relieved. After all, he only had one chance, unlike Cui Dongshan who had prepared three portions of five-colored earth. He had originally planned to pursue safety as much as possible, only refining when favorable timing, location, and human relations were all in place. This was also why, after arriving in the Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, Chen Ping'an was still hesitant about whether to refine this object.
Fire Dragon True Person looked at this young man who liked to ponder over and over and smiled.
If he were a wild cultivator from the mountains, he would have refined it as soon as he got it, damn everything else.
If he were a registered immortal master with an orderly lineage, he would have had senior mentors helping him plan, perhaps even more attentive than the disciple himself.
Fire Dragon True Person reminded, "Before refining, calm your heart."
Fire Dragon True Person joked, "Any more treasures? Bring them all out for a look?"
Chen Ping'an didn't stand on ceremony and took them out one by one from his Within-Reach Object.
Finally, he even took out that page of scripture, which was a Buddhist sutra.
Fire Dragon True Person initially felt a bit enlightened when he saw that page of scripture.
Fire Dragon True Person helped appraise the mountain treasures one by one. At one point, he picked up the delicate lady's fan, gave it a gentle shake, as if shaking off dust, smiled, and handed it back to Chen Ping'an, "Take another look."
Chen Ping'an took the fan. It still depicted a lady holding a fan. But upon closer inspection, he found that the small fan in the lady's hand also depicted a lady holding a fan. Within that picture was another picture. After a moment, Chen Ping'an quickly closed his eyes, reached out, made a fist, and gently pressed it against his brow.
Fire Dragon True Person laughed, "Put it away. Treasure it well."
Fire Dragon True Person pocketed the pair of bamboo-woven Dragon King Baskets, "Too dilapidated. Let me repair them for you. Not to brag, but this is no longer about a few immortal coins. Only with the fusion of water and fire, carefully refined, can the old be restored as old without damaging the root. These two small baskets, you'd better not sell them either. In the future, if your own mountain has great waters, you can use them for dragons and their kind. You must understand: besides their use as suppressors, Dragon King Baskets are also small dragon palaces under heaven. When used by cultivators, they are weapons. When dragons coil within, they become natural water mansions."
Chen Ping'an bowed in thanks.
Fire Dragon True Person seemed to have something he wanted to say but held back after Chen Ping'an put away all the items.
Fire Dragon True Person smiled, "It shouldn't be about your own affairs. I see—you're wondering about the customs of my Prostrate Peak?"
Chen Ping'an steeled himself and said, "Old True Person, I dare to say this: you can teach Zhang Shanfeng some profound Dao techniques now."
Fire Dragon True Person laughed heartily.
If the realm of a cultivator were the most solid immortal coins in the world, then precisely because of that, Fire Dragon True Person's Prostrate Peak did not allow any disciple to speak of realm levels.
The reasons for this were not for outsiders to know.
But this young man in front of him was not an outsider.
So Fire Dragon True Person asked with a smile, "Are you wondering why I deliberately hide things from Shanfeng?"
Chen Ping'an nodded.
Fire Dragon True Person turned and walked to the Sword Immortal hanging on the wall. He smiled, "When I take disciples, I only look at temperament, not talent. Who says a mountain must vie for so-called geniuses to build its foundation? Wouldn't it be better to have many lower-fifth-realm conscientious men on the mountain steadily rather than accidentally producing a high-fifth-realm scoundrel? Which is better?"
Fire Dragon True Person withdrew his gaze. It was a good sword, but it was also fighting again.
As expected of Chen Ping'an.
Fire Dragon True Person turned his head and smiled, "It's not that I say these things only after reaching this realm. I have always acted on this principle, steadfastly pursuing the Dao, cultivating both strength and mind, and that's why I have reached today's realm. Do you understand?"
Chen Ping'an replied, "Of course."
Fire Dragon True Person said, "I am like planting a big tree on Prostrate Peak, growing many branches. Each branch has different blossoms and fruits, some high, some low, some early, some late.
Some are limited by talent, and their branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits fall to the ground. For example, many senior brothers who cultivated earlier than Zhang Shanfeng couldn't break through bottlenecks and passed away. Some disciples are indeed naturally more suited to cultivation, so their time is longer, and their Dao techniques and realms are higher. For example, Taixia, Taoshan, Zhixuan, and Baiyun—these mountains, in my view, do not become any more special just because the disciples have higher realms. The height of Dao techniques lies not in fists, but in the human heart. It's just that with higher Dao techniques, reasoning is indeed easier, and the same reasoning might sound more reasonable. Prostrate Peak has always been trying to avoid this kind of spread. In my eyes, many disciples who are no longer alive are in no way inferior to the high-fifth-realm disciples of Baiyun and other lineages. Their every word and deed remain in my heart."
Fire Dragon True Person smiled, "Whether they cultivate on Prostrate Peak or leave to open new mountains, I will follow their original temperaments and teach them different Dao techniques. Some need the teacher's reprimand to pull them back a bit, to avoid detours and wrong paths. Some need the teacher's push to go faster and be bolder. But generally, the master leads you in, and cultivation is up to the individual. Zhang Shanfeng is a bit different. I don't need to deliberately teach him. An ordinary master teaches disciples to let them know. But the method I teach Shanfeng is the most natural—it's to let Shanfeng know for himself, but not know anything else. Is this selfish? It is and it isn't. Do Shanfeng's fellow senior brothers see it? They see it and don't see it. This is Prostrate Peak's pursuit of truth through cultivation."
Fire Dragon True Person smiled, "In a cultivator's view of realms, treasures, and opportunities, is there essentially any difference from a mundane person's view of gold, silver, power, and fortune? If a cultivator wants to be a true mountain immortal, he must come up with some different ideas, right? Stronger fists, longer life, more spells—is that what makes a superior immortal? Then there would be quite a lot of immortal lords in the world."
Chen Ping'an carefully pondered the old True Person's words.
Some of today's teachings from the old True Person would become rules that could be directly applied at Fallen Mountain.
Fire Dragon True Person said, "When your cultivation is high and your reputation is great, you will naturally encounter more and more people pointing fingers at you, wanting to teach Chen Ping'an how to be a person."
The old True Person smiled, "Then you must remember: people today talk about the ancients, the living talk about the dead—they're all just bullying the other person for not being able to speak. So first, Chen Ping'an, don't die. Also, the real villains in the world actually love good people the most. Only fools would keep disliking good people, complaining all day long about heaven and earth, saying good deeds aren't done enough or well enough. These people can't understand, can't be taught, can't change. Their heads are full of mush, their bodies full of aggression. In my view, they are the most formidable people in the world—I simply can't deal with them. When people reason, many, many of them just want to win or lose, to feel good inside, so they like either-or, going to extremes, afraid that if they don't, their reasoning won't be enough or big enough. These people seem full of reasoning, but actually they are the most unreasonable. You have to be careful with these clever people. That's why I sincerely admire the old Literary Saint Master. When reasoning with people, right is right, good is good. Reasoning is never about fighting, about beating the other person black and blue with words until they beg for mercy on the ground. Rather, it's about our reasoning ultimately being connected, each benefiting."
Although Chen Ping'an hadn't spoken all this time.
Fire Dragon True Person had already known part of the answer to a certain guess.
That was enough.
What a painstaking intention, laying threads for thousands or hundreds of thousands of years.
So this is how one could protect the Dao.
It seemed he had still underestimated Qi Jingchun's learning.
Truly, the Literary Saint lineage—all of them were protectively fierce to the point of lawlessness.
So Fire Dragon True Person spoke a meaningful and mysterious saying: "Chen Ping'an, sometimes what you think you have completely lost is what you have truly grasped. So some of your disappointments are the hopes of others."
Finally, the old True Person patted the young man's shoulder, "Alright, strike while the iron is hot. Quickly refine your third life-bound object! I'll personally guard the gate for you. This kind of treatment, ordinary cultivators wouldn't even dare to dream of. Otherwise, a third-realm qi refiner would be embarrassed to go wandering around?"
Chen Ping'an smiled bitterly, "Old True Person, you just said not to judge cultivators by their realm levels."
Fire Dragon True Person laughed, "You, Chen Ping'an, are not a cultivator of Prostrate Peak."
Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "That makes sense."
The old True Person clicked his tongue, "Your flattering skills are not very good."
Chen Ping'an nodded, "I'm not very good with words."
Fire Dragon True Person smiled knowingly, "Just be a good person who can smash his intestines and still be clear in conscience. That's enough."
---
With Fire Dragon True Person in charge, it would be hard for anything to happen on Fushui Island.
Chen Ping'an was in seclusion, refining his third life-bound object.
Before that, Fire Dragon True Person first taught him an ancient refining formula called "Refining Three Mountains." He had Chen Ping'an first refine the Dao technique true meaning of those thirty-six green bricks, consolidate the mountain shrine, and make it a fundamental vein of a mountain range. Unexpectedly, that kid asked if he could only refine the true meaning but not the bricks themselves. Fire Dragon True Person didn't ask much about what use those thirty-six bricks, now devoid of Dao meaning and water fortune, would be. He just said yes.
Otherwise, refining a wood-attribute life-bound object would inevitably cause a huge phenomenon. The commotion at the Water Mansion could be handled, but the mountain shrine, refined from the five-colored earth of Bottle Gourd Continent's new Five Sacred Mountains, would inevitably be affected by the qi. The good pattern of three objects supporting each other would lose balance from the start. Chen Ping'an would then have to spend a lot of time, effort, and resources to repair it. Fire Dragon True Person couldn't afford to lose face.
Fire Dragon True Person was a true mountain summit dweller. From a commanding height, he saw Chen Ping'an's current realm and pattern clearly.
For the Water Mansion—whether it was the life-bound Water Character Seal, the wall painting that had yet to be dotted with eyes but already had a rudimentary form, or that small pond—no more demands needed to be made.
The favored sons of heaven in Northern Juzhou who possessed such a Water Mansion configuration numbered at most a couple dozen. And the key was to look ahead: when could Chen Ping'an turn the pond into a deep well, then into a dragon pool?
As for Chen Ping'an's life-bound mountain shrine, its material was relatively ordinary, but it was already not inferior to the direct disciples of sect-level ancestral halls. And its strength lay in the long term. But no matter what, it couldn't compare to the Water Mansion and the future Wooden House.
However, Chen Ping'an's refining of the Dao meaning of those thirty-six green bricks and stripping their water fortune took a full ten days.
If it were his own founding disciples, probably three days would have been enough.
Fire Dragon True Person didn't think much of it. On the great path, some walk early and fast, but climbing a mountain is hard on stamina. They inevitably slow down. So only in the early stages of climbing do geniuses break through realms continuously. Those who, after entering the earth immortal realm, still advance like breaking bamboo are rare. Even Li Liu was no exception; she would linger at the Nascent Soul stage for a while and slow down after entering the high fifth realm.
But there were a very few, a tiny minority, who got faster as they went.
The former were generally the favored sons of heaven. The latter, however, could make those favored sons happy for many years, only to suddenly discover one day that they themselves were also mediocre.
Chen Ping'an was busy cultivating.
Zhang Shanfeng stayed on Fushui Island, wandering around, refining qi, practicing boxing, and chatting with his master.
One rainy day, Zhang Shanfeng held his umbrella and strolled by the shore. He saw a boy poking his head out of the water, who asked him a bizarre question: if he hit Zhang Shanfeng, would Zhang Shanfeng run back crying to his master?
Zhang Shanfeng crouched by the water and asked how hard the punch would be.
The boy, who was also bored, discussed the severity of the punch with the young Daoist at length.
After talking, Water Governor Li Yuan felt hope.
Then the young Daoist simply said, "Little Daoist thinks I should ask my master first before deciding whether to take this punch."
Li Yuan felt as if struck by a thunderbolt in clear skies. He had been secretly observing this person these days. This little Daoist looked pretty dumb. Why wasn't he the least bit honest?
Zhang Shanfeng couldn't help but laugh, "Just kidding with you. I've walked around Fushui Island many times. It's rare to have someone to chat with."
Li Yuan, who had only shown his head, leaped out of the water, sat cross-legged with his hands on his knees, and asked, "Little Daoist, how come with a master like that, your realm is still so poor?"
Zhang Shanfeng laughed, "A master can't cultivate for his disciple."
In fact, he always felt that the boy in front of him might have a few screws loose.
Li Yuan shook his head, somewhat pitying this little simpleton from Prostrate Peak. He clicked his tongue, "Little Daoist, you don't know your blessings. Your talent is definitely not great. If it were someone else, they'd have flown up to the Golden Core or Nascent Soul realms by now. Then they'd cry a bit and ask their master for a few heavy treasures to carry. Every time they traveled down the mountain, they'd walk sideways and everyone would call them 'big shot.'"
Zhang Shanfeng smiled, "It's not that I'm bragging just because I'm from Prostrate Peak, but with your temper, you couldn't become a Daoist of Prostrate Peak. But everyone has their own destiny. It's not necessarily a bad thing that you can't become a Prostrate Peak Daoist. I think you should be some Water God of Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, right? I quite envy you. You're born with the divine power to part water. Not so for me. I follow my master on the mountain to cultivate immortal techniques, and I learn them slower than anyone."
Li Yuan sneered, "But I see you, little Daoist, aren't the least bit anxious?"
Zhang Shanfeng rolled his eyes, "If being anxious worked, would you see me anxious or not? I know it doesn't work, so why be anxious?"
Li Yuan sighed, "The old True Person taking in such a mundane disciple like you must be frustrating."
Zhang Shanfeng giggled.
Li Yuan became more convinced that this guy was really a little simpleton.
Then Fire Dragon True Person must be an old simpleton too?
At this thought, Li Yuan felt a bit relieved and laughed along with the young Daoist.
But Li Yuan soon couldn't laugh anymore.
Fire Dragon True Person stood beside Zhang Shanfeng, also smiling.
Li Yuan immediately stood up and said, "Congratulations to the old True Person for taking in such a brilliant disciple. Not just one in ten thousand—the great path is promising, very promising."
This was probably where Li Yuan surpassed Water Dragon Sect Master Sun Jie.
Sun Jie, the Shen Marsh Water Lord, and of course, Li Yuan's colleague Shen Lin—none of them had the face to say such things in front of Fire Dragon True Person.
Fire Dragon True Person said, "Go inform White Armor and Black Beard Islands. Also notify Nanxun Water Palace. Whatever happens next, don't be nervous."
Since it was official business.
As Water Governor, Li Yuan stopped clowning around. He nodded, turned into specks of golden light, and vanished in a flash. He didn't want to show his face on White Armor and Black Beard Islands. Better keep it simple—let Shen Lin and Nanxun Water Palace clean up the mess.
As long as it didn't involve the Ji River or the cave heaven's incense and fate, Li Yuan couldn't be bothered with meddling.
Zhang Shanfeng noticed that Fushui Island had stopped raining. He put away his oil-paper umbrella and said softly, "Master, I think Fushui Island is a bit strange. The rain comes and goes without any warning."
Fire Dragon True Person nodded, "Shanfeng, you're meticulous and perceptive."
Zhang Shanfeng laughed, "I learned that from Chen Ping'an."
Fire Dragon True Person asked with a smile, "And what did Chen Ping'an learn from you?"
Zhang Shanfeng thought carefully, "To complain about poverty and beg for food?"
Fire Dragon True Person smiled, "Not bad either."
About the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
Zhang Shanfeng and Fire Dragon True Person rode the talisman boat rented from the Water Dragon Sect into the sea of clouds, overlooking Fushui Island from a distance.
Zhang Shanfeng suddenly noticed a carriage leaping out of the lake surface between White Armor and Black Beard Islands. A female deity stood at the front, apparently using her divine powers to gather the qi of heaven and earth from all directions toward Fushui Island.
Zhang Shanfeng said suddenly, "With Chen Ping'an's temper, if he finds out about what this Water God Lady did afterwards, he'll remember the gratitude for a long time."
Fire Dragon True Person slowly said, "Heaven and earth give birth to all things to nourish people. How one views heaven and earth is the great learning of a cultivator. The same table of food—some wolf it down, some chew slowly, some give thanks and remember kindness—these are devout men and women. Some pay the bill and settle the debt, afraid of owing even a single copper coin—these are us cultivators. Some eat and then overturn the table, afraid that others might also get to eat. The later ones, however, will call the strong 'lord' in awe, then go elsewhere to forage for food, copying what they saw. If they can't overturn the table, they put down their chopsticks and curse. Before leaving, they might even spit into the bowls and dishes. Some stand up, clean up the utensils, and still don't want to leave immediately. They help fix the shaky table and stools. The later ones waiting to eat will complain and even kick the person a few times."
Zhang Shanfeng was a bit dazed.
Fire Dragon True Person said with feeling, "What disappoints Confucian sages the most is always the scholars. What sullies the Dao techniques the most is the cultivators. What ruins the true Buddhist dharma the most is always those who chant sutras with their mouths."
Zhang Shanfeng asked, "What can be done?"
The old True Person slowly said, "Restrain oneself. Seek truth. Complete oneself."
Zhang Shanfeng asked with concern, "How is Chen Ping'an doing?"
Fire Dragon True Person thought for a moment, "Qi Jingchun's learning has never landed in empty places."
Zhang Shanfeng asked again, "Does Chen Ping'an know that himself?"
Fire Dragon True Person shook his head, "He never knew."
Zhang Shanfeng said suddenly, "I think that's right."
Fire Dragon True Person was momentarily stunned. He looked intently and shook his head with a smile, "What a fine little alley wooden house—a locust wood door that appeared out of nowhere. That's a bit unreasonable."
Half-open locust wood small house, every time passing by, soft crying seems to be heard.
Inside stood a peach tree, without leaves or blossoms.
No one knew when those soft sobs that seemed to knock on the door of the heart would gradually dissipate, nor when the peach leaves and blossoms would meet.
Perhaps in the coming spring.
Perhaps even longer.
Outside the small alley stood a lonely young man in blue robes, staring dazedly not far down the alley at a child hopping joyfully home, shouting that he could soon eat a sugar-coated hawthorn.
Chen Ping'an, who was no longer even a youth, slowly reached out his hand as if greeting that child.
The carefree, innocent child stopped and tilted his head to look at the adult.
In the end, the child seemed not to recognize who he was.
But the child also lost his cheerfulness. He silently passed through the figure of that person, went into the house, and closed the half-open courtyard door.
Leaving only the grown-up self standing outside.
Finally, that child seemed to have grown a little older, a little taller, and much darker. He opened the door, walked out of the house, carrying a large basket containing pots and pans, a clay pot for boiling medicine, and tattered, faded spring couplets.
The child lowered his head, clenched the ropes holding the basket with both hands, swayed unsteadily, left the house and the alley, and never came back.