Chapter 571: Chen Ping'an of the Haoran World Comes to Find Someone

Chapter 571: Chen Ping'an of the Haoran World Comes to Find Someone

The Old Dragon City Sun Clan's cross-continent ferry, the Mountain Sea Turtle, had a back as massive as a mountain, with numerous buildings. Excluding cargo, it could still accommodate over two thousand four hundred people.

In contrast, the Falling Mountain dragon boat was not comparable.

The Mountain Sea Turtle and the Fan Clan's Osmanthus Island were similar in essence, both used for crossing seas and continents. However, Osmanthus Island's advantage lay in its ancestral osmanthus tree. Once its landscape formation was activated, it could withstand many maritime disasters. No matter how huge the waves rose, Osmanthus Island remained as steady as a rock.

The Mountain Sea Turtle did not have such a unique natural advantage like Osmanthus Island. But its mountain-protecting formation, though far inferior to Osmanthus Island's, was still sufficient to allow the ferry to submerge and avoid waves. Coupled with the Mountain Sea Turtle's own innate divine ability, the small town on its back became like an underwater city. Passengers within the ferry remained safe and unharmed. This was probably an excellent example of a cultivator "conquering heaven" through immortal techniques.

All priceless cross-continent ferries in the world, besides the ferry itself, also had routes painstakingly opened by generations of sect cultivators, each worth ten thousand pieces of gold. What Osmanthus Island could traverse—for example, the Flood Dragon Gully where Fan Clan boatmen had to pole and scatter rice to pay respects to the "mountain peaks"—the Mountain Sea Turtle absolutely could not pass through safely, and would not even dare to pass by from a distance. Many tired and thin flood dragons, following their innate nature to go to Southern Bodhisattva Continent to stir up wind and rain, would inevitably cause trouble if they saw that Mountain Sea Turtle. But by the same token, the Mountain Sea Turtle could pass through many dangerous places by avoiding water, or cross great demon waters where centuries of incense and friendship allowed passage—places where Osmanthus Island would be blocked.

The several major clans in Old Dragon City that possessed cross-continent ferries had lost not a few cultivators over the long years while opening and stabilizing routes.

That day, there were terrifying waves on the sea. The Mountain Sea Turtle slowly submerged. If not for the ripples of formation rippling along the edges of the great turtle's back, enveloping a tranquil and peaceful small world, it would have been almost no different from sailing on the sea. The various buildings, flowers, and trees on its back were completely undisturbed by the seawater.

Chen Ping'an was now a valued guest who had set aside past grievances with the Sun Clan, and moreover an ally embarking on a long-term trade. Sun Jiashu naturally placed Chen Ping'an in a top-tier immortal mansion. It was not large, but rich in spiritual energy. Under normal circumstances in cross-continent trade, the Sun Clan would rather leave this mansion vacant than hand it over to a great cultivator for rest. There was a significant reason for this: this small residence, named "Book Basket," was closest to the turtle pill that the Mountain Sea Turtle had been refining for nearly ten thousand years. Hence, natural water fortune was abundant, and the spiritual energy was the purest. Cultivators absorbing it would get twice the result with half the effort. However, if a great cultivator who had sworn mortal enmity with the Sun Clan harbored malicious intent, it would inevitably cause great harm to the Mountain Sea Turtle. Once they lost this cross-continent ferry, the Sun Clan's position in Old Dragon City would plummet.

After boarding the ferry, Chen Ping'an still spent six hours each day on cultivation and Qi refinement. The spiritual energy accumulated from the Water Mansion, Mountain Shrine, and Wood Residence had mostly been carefully sorted and slowly refined. The main focus was the medium refinement of the thirty-six Daoist temple green bricks, which contained wisps of water fortune and especially a hint of Dao intent, progressing slowly. Fortunately, after Chen Ping'an broke through in both cultivation and martial arts at Lion Peak, reaching the fourth realm of Qi refiner, the time required to completely refine the thirty-six green bricks was about thirty percent faster than expected.

Chen Ping'an sat on a meditation mat. In front of him was a Go board with stones and containers, all brought along by Chen Ping'an and placed in his somewhat empty Storage Artifact.

This time, Chen Ping'an traveled far without bringing many items. Apart from the green robe, the sword immortal—his swords First and Fifteenth, which had been with him for years—he only brought one Gold Liquor Robe. The Hundred-Eye Gluttonous Beast Robe had been given to Zhou Mili, the little girl in black, who wore it quite aptly and pleasingly. As for the Snowflake Robe taken from the female ghost at Skin-Smooth City, he had given it to Shi Rou.

Regarding this Gold Liquor Robe, Chen Ping'an had new plans. He could only apologize to Liu Xianyang. He had sent a cross-continent letter to the Chen Clan of Pure Confucianism and received a reply at Old Dragon City. Fan Er had personally brought it onto the Hemp Garment Sect ferry. In the letter, Liu Xianyang said, "Valuing beauty over friendship, that's what it is." But between the two of them, there was no need to stand on ceremony. Chen Ping'an was not being honorable, and Liu Xianyang was no less. In the letter, Liu Xianyang directly told Chen Ping'an to exchange the Gold Liquor Robe for something of similar value, or else the matter wouldn't be over. When they met, Chen Ping'an would have to stand still and let Liu Xianyang use a few moves of "monkey stealing the peach" and "fishing the moon from the sea." At the end of the letter, he told Chen Ping'an to pass a message to his sister-in-law: "May you have a child soon."

Chen Ping'an could only pretend he hadn't seen that. How could he say such a thing? Was he looking for death?

For this trip, Chen Ping'an brought two Storage Artifacts: a white jade token and a Daoist wooden token. One was from Zheng Dafeng's early years settling a debt at the Dust and Herb Pharmacy in Old Dragon City; the other was earned by his own hard work transporting a huge caisson.

The "Burdens Hawker" trade was something he could do wherever he went.

Last year at that Daoist temple immortal residence, it was precisely because he didn't have enough Storage Artifacts that he couldn't empty the temple's green bricks. If he had left even one brick behind, it would have meant that this Burdens Hawker hadn't truly mastered his craft.

As for immortal money, he only brought thirty Grain Rain Coins. This time, at Inverted Mountain, compared to his first visit to that Ganoderma Lucidum Studio, this Falling Mountain Sect Leader could at least openly take a few more glances at those treasures without feeling that one more look would get him thrown out. The items sold by Ganoderma Lucidum Studio were indeed of good quality, but the prices were enough to make one's heart ache.

After the Patriarch Hall was completed, Chen Ping'an took out all the surplus immortal money he had saved year after year as a Burdens Hawker, diligently accumulating it, and handed it over to Chen Ruchu, who was responsible for recording, filing, and managing the finances of Falling Mountain's Patriarch Hall. Unexpectedly, when Chen Ping'an was about to leave and wanted to take the money, Chen Ruchu stood beside Zhu Lian with a guilty look. Chen Ping'an immediately knew something was wrong. Sure enough, Zhu Lian only brought out a dry money pouch containing ten Grain Rain Coins, saying that this was all the spare money Falling Mountain had scraped together. It couldn't even be called spare money. Now Falling Mountain needed money everywhere. It was truly because the Sect Leader was going on a long journey that Falling Mountain had to put on a brave face and play the fat to avoid being looked down upon. Any more, and there really wasn't any.

Then Zhu Lian, being considerate, added, "If the young master feels really upset, I, Zhu Lian, have a way. I can convert the ten Grain Rain Coins into Lesser Summer Coins, and then the pouch will be bulging."

At that moment, holding that money pouch, Chen Ping'an felt like he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

What a Zhu Lian, even cheating himself?

Zhu Lian cheated Jiang Shangzhen, cheated Wei Po, cheated everyone. If he couldn't cheat, he would dig a trap overnight just to do it. He even had the nerve to dig traps in front of others. Chen Ping'an hadn't thought much of it before, but now that Zhu Lian was cheating even him, the Sect Leader, he knew the bitterness.

Then Chen Ruchu secretly extended two fingers.

Chen Ping'an immediately understood and bargained up to fifty Grain Rain Coins, saying that Ganoderma Lucidum Studio on Inverted Mountain had many treasures, all at good prices and good quality. As long as he returned to Vase Bottle Continent and did a little Burdens Hawker business at Oxhorn Mountain Ferry, making a few extra Grain Rain Coins would be no problem.

In the end, one side shouting about making money for Falling Mountain, the other patting his chest and feeling his heart while strenuously pleading poverty, they haggle back and forth until Chen Ping'an finally got thirty Grain Rain Coins.

At that time, at Oxhorn Mountain, Chen Ping'an boarded the Hemp Garment Sect's cross-continent ferry.

Later, Zhu Lian touched Chen Ruchu's head and said with a smile, "Warm Tree, you've done a great service."

In Falling Mountain, they still liked to call the pink-dress girl Warm Tree. Cui Cheng did so, as did the three good brothers Zhu Lian, Zheng Dafeng, and Wei Po.

Chen Ruchu was completely bewildered.

Zhu Lian smiled and said, "Actually, Falling Mountain still has a surplus of twenty Grain Rain Coins. Taking them all wouldn't really affect Falling Mountain, but it's not obvious from the black-and-white account books. Now that you're managing the money, you can learn from this. Our young master, when he was an accountant, was very thorough."

Chen Ruchu asked, "Why not give them all to the master?"

Zhu Lian said, "The young master is going to Inverted Mountain. There will be no expenses along the way. When he actually gets to Inverted Mountain, he won't have any mind for being a Burdens Hawker. That's all just a ruse to fool us. He's lying to ghosts. More likely, he wants to pick something good at places like Ganoderma Lucidum Studio, as expensive and presentable as possible, to give to the girl he loves. Of course, I'm not stingy with these twenty Grain Rain Coins, but the young master is still not experienced enough in matters of love. If a woman truly likes you—especially the woman our young master likes—I've never met her, but I'm sure of one thing: if you focus on money, she'll think it's vulgar."

Chen Ruchu was even more confused. "Then why did Mr. Zhu still give the extra twenty Grain Rain Coins?"

Zhu Lian smiled and said, "In love, is being too experienced necessarily good?"

Chen Ruchu was hazy and confused.

Zhu Lian, hunched over, put his hands behind his back as a gentle breeze brushed his face. He let the mountain wind blow the hair at his temples, watching the ferry rise into the sky and sail away. He said softly, "When a man is young, he always thinks about giving whatever he has to the woman. There's nothing wrong with that. Different ages, different loves—each has its own merits. There's no high or low, no good or bad. A life without regrets, too perfect, everything without mistakes—on the contrary, it's not beautiful. It makes it hard for people to remember fondly when they grow old."

Zhu Lian withdrew his gaze, turned his head, and extended his little finger. "Pinkie swear. You must not tell the Sect Leader what I said. Otherwise, with the Sect Leader's petty nature, I'll be in big trouble."

Chen Ruchu put her hands behind her back, somewhat angry, and complained, "Mr. Zhu, my master is not petty! Don't say that about the master, or I really will complain!"

Zhu Lian laughed. "What I mean by 'petty' is not a derogatory term in the worldly sense. It means remembering small things in the world that no one else cares about. Isn't that good?"

Chen Ruchu beamed with joy and then pinkie swore with Zhu Lian.

On the cross-continent ferry.

Chen Ping'an faced the Go board in front of him. He wasn't reviewing classic games; he was just looking at his own game.

The Falling Mountain Patriarch Hall itself had gathered a formation of stones, which was Chen Ping'an's true foundation.

The various connections in Vase Bottle Continent formed another more scattered formation, not yet taking shape. Chen Ping'an only hoped to follow fate in that regard.

The relationships in Northern Jambudvipa Continent formed a third territory, relatively clear. Chen Ping'an would manage and develop them with care and effort—for example, the Hemp Garment Sect, Spring Dew Garden, Cloud City, Color Sparrow Mansion, and potentially the Water Dragon Sect and Dragon Palace Cave Heaven. Whenever there was an opportunity, he could safely do business. At least, Chen Ping'an could act as a go-between, providing possibilities for various forces. Then each sect and mountain could weigh the pros and cons themselves. If everyone saw profit, they could sit down and talk. They could discuss business as business, without feeling it would harm friendships. If they thought it wouldn't work, that wouldn't prevent future meetings and drinking, only talking about leisurely matters.

Before Cui Dongshan left Falling Mountain, he sat with Chen Ping'an by the cliff, drinking and chatting slowly. Suddenly he said that he and his teacher were kindred spirits, both weaving webs. On this point, he, Cui Dongshan, had to admit that Old Scholar indeed had better vision.

Finally, Cui Dongshan began to comfort himself, saying that Old Scholar's eye for choosing disciples was really good, but unfortunately his own skill in taking a teacher was far superior.

Chen Ping'an was curious and asked who Old Scholar Wen Sheng's teacher was.

Cui Dongshan laughed heartily, saying that Old Scholar had no proper teacher. He only had a mediocre village schoolmaster. Since Old Scholar couldn't even compare in taking a teacher, how could he compete with him?

Chen Ping'an gathered all the stones one by one and put them back into the white stone container.

Then he took black stones from the other container. Many stones with names and mountain bases were scattered in disorder. Chen Ping'an picked them up with two fingers without looking and placed them in different positions on the board.

Chen Ping'an looked at the stones crisscrossing the board. Some clustered together, so many names he had only heard of, recorded in files. Either their names were carved on black stones, or they were opponents or enemies. For example, those "sword immortals" of Zhengyang Mountain, who had been suppressed by Li Tuanjing of Wind Thunder Garden for centuries; the various guest elders of Pure Breeze City's Xu Clan; and the in-laws the Xu Clan had attached themselves to, the Yuan Clan of Great Li's Supreme Pillar.

Killing by force, killing by principle, and killing by the heart—these were three completely different approaches.

Chen Ping'an was no stranger to any of them, because on his travels, he had personally experienced all kinds of storms and conflicts, big and small.

Chen Ping'an put his hands in his sleeves, leaned forward, and stared intently at the game.

"To shake the great and crush the firm, plan it slowly and carefully." This was a saying Chen Ping'an highly respected, a principle buried deep in his heart.

But the slow and steady layout was for the sake of a fast net closing. When he threw a punch or a sword strike, there should be no aftereffects.

In the meantime, he needed to use countless trivial matters to create a grand momentum where heaven, earth, and man were all aligned.

That year, A Liang in the Red Candle Town corridor would not have killed Zhu Lu.

As for Zuo You's challenge to Tongye Sect's sword, it was even more so.

Then, later, when Chen Ping'an visited the Misty Mountain Patriarch Hall for Fisherman, Zhao Luan, and Zhao Shuxia—that attack also taught him the essence. Lü Yundai and Lü Tingjiao, that father and son on the mountain, became enemies. In the end, after Chen Ping'an returned from Northern Jambudvipa Continent to Falling Mountain, he heard news: Lü Tingjiao, detained on Misty Mountain, had secretly colluded with a Great Li garrison general, rallied several guest elders, and attempted a coup. Lü Yundai killed him in anger. After that battle, Misty Mountain was severely wounded and announced a hundred years of seclusion.

Many such tactics in the world, even when they seemed to withdraw their hands, even when the swords were sheathed, the blade still rested on people's hearts. For decades or centuries afterward, if the heart moved even slightly, it would feel pain.

Chen Ping'an collected all the black stones from the board.

He picked up a snow-white stone without any inscription and placed it casually.

Although he was a terrible Go player, he liked the sound of stones falling on the board.

With nothing else to do, Chen Ping'an played a game against himself. The match was evenly matched, and he was satisfied. He felt this was real Go. What was the point of handicap stones? If the outcome was obvious, it wasn't fun either.

Chen Ping'an didn't hurry to gather the stones. He leaned back.

Thinking back to that year at the town's main gate, when he first saw that group of outsiders—more than ten years had passed in the blink of an eye. Everyone now had their own stories.

Fu Nanhua was now the undisputed next city lord of Old Dragon City. After marrying the legitimate daughter of the Yunlin Jiang Clan, the situation was settled. It was said that Fu Nanhua and Song Jixin, who had been enfeoffed as a prince in Old Dragon City, had a good relationship.

Cai Jinjian, besides breaking through in cultivation relatively quickly, had opened her own peak and mansion, rarely going out, focused on Dao cultivation.

That year on the way to Qingluan Country, at the famous alley in Bee Tail Ferry, he met again a young man in black, Jiang Yun. He had been the first to obtain the great opportunity at the Iron Lock Well in the town. This man was the only direct disciple of Liu Laocheng, a Jade Purity Realm wild cultivator outside of Gongliu Island. Chen Ping'an had a good impression of Jiang Yun. Later, at the Book Bamboo Lake, he dared to board Gongliu Island to visit Liu Laocheng. Besides the Saint's jade token on him as a life-saving charm, a considerable reason was that Liu Laocheng would accept Jiang Yun as a disciple.

The Great Sui prince Gao Xuan had originally "intercepted" the Dragon King Basket and the golden carp from Li Er. But Chen Ping'an had no grudge about that. After the Great Sui Gao Clan and the Great Li Song Clan signed a highly formal alliance, Gao Xuan served as a hostage, went to Great Li's Piyun Mountain, studied at the Linlu Academy, and did not deliberately hide his identity. Earlier, when Chen Ping'an took Li Baoping and the others to travel to the Great Sui Cliff Academy, he had met Gao Xuan. After that, while Gao Xuan studied at the academy, they had a tacit understanding and did not deliberately meet, let alone communicate. Otherwise, it would have been too taboo and not good for either side.

The mother and son of Pure Breeze City's Xu Clan obtained the Liu Xianyang family's heirloom Wart Armor. With that, the Xu Clan patriarch gained wings, becoming one of the most powerful Nascent Soul cultivators in Vase Bottle Continent. Not only did he successfully eliminate dissidents and firmly hold power, he also married the Xu Clan's legitimate daughter to the Great Li capital, forming an alliance with the Great Li Supreme Pillar Yuan Clan. Besides the Xu Clan's deep foundation, the patriarch's own cultivation was also a key reason. Over the years, apart from each side's secret investigations, the only connection between Chen Ping'an and Pure Breeze City's Xu Clan was probably those fox-fur beauty talismans.

At first, the Xu Clan owned a Cinnabar Mountain in the western mountains, vast and with excellent feng shui. Later, the two Great Li iron cavalry units of Cao Ping and Su Gaoshan were respectively blocked by the Zhu Ying Dynasty's border troops and vassal states. Coupled with many obscure machinations from various schools of thought, the continent's situation suddenly became murky. Pure Breeze City then made a decision they would regret: they sold Cinnabar Mountain cheaply and moved their cultivators out of Great Li. If they hadn't swallowed their pride, married their legitimate daughter to a Yuan Clan bastard son, and mended the fold by allying with the Yuan Clan, Pure Breeze City might have changed patriarchs by now.

That mountain-moving old ape was still a guardian elder of Zhengyang Mountain, his duties equivalent to Zhou Mili of Falling Mountain. That year, the little girl who looked like a porcelain doll but was deep and scheming, named Tao Zi, had grown into a cultivation genius of Zhengyang Mountain. Previously, when she entered the Cave Mansion Realm, congratulations came from all sides. The old ape even moved an old mountain from a destroyed small country as a gift. It was said that Tao Zi had hit it off with Song Jixin back in the town. After they parted, their relationship didn't grow distant but became closer. Her family's ancestor, one of the old sword immortals in power at Zhengyang Mountain, was certainly pleased.

That young female cultivator whose grandfather was the joint lord of the Tide Iron Cavalry was in the worst situation. She had accidentally killed the old woman of Apricot Flower Lane back then and was still remembered by Ma Kuxuan. Ma Kuxuan used all his merits—such as killing two Golden Core sword cultivators of the Zhu Ying Dynasty—plus borrowed some military merits from True Martial Mountain cultivators. According to a rule set by National Teacher Cui Chan of Great Li, he exchanged them for the disintegration of the Tide Iron Cavalry, which was then absorbed by Great Li. The old man who retired was killed by Ma Kuxuan on the road. Ma Kuxuan also gave the girl the humiliating name "Shu Dian" (counting the classics). In the eyes of many bystanders, with her family destroyed and her sect betrayed, if she continued to live, wasn't that forgetting her ancestors?

These people had come to his hometown town.

Many from his hometown had also left the town one after another.

For example, the children of that village school, including Li Baoping and others who went to Cliff Academy, and a little girl named Jia Chunjia who used to wear horn-like braids and followed her family to the Great Li capital. The two shops on Qilong Lane then passed to Chen Ping'an. Dong Shuijing stayed in Dragon Spring Commandery and started his own business, which grew larger and larger.

From Fulu Street, Li Xisheng went to Northern Jambudvipa Continent. Zhu He and his daughter Zhu Lu, after parting at Red Candle Town, first went to the Great Li capital, then there was no news.

Liu Xianyang's ancestors were originally the tomb keepers of that branch of the Chen Clan. The Chen Clan of Pure Confucianism was nostalgic and had a woman named Chen Dui take Liu Xianyang to Southern Bodhisattva Continent, agreeing that Liu Xianyang would return to Ruan Qiong after twenty years. This was what Chen Ping'an admired most about Liu Xianyang: he learned everything quickly. When they were apprentices in the Dragon Kiln, Liu Xianyang was accepted as a disciple by Old Yao, who shared all his skills. Later, they both worked as helpers in Ruan Qiong's blacksmith shop built by the Dragon Beard River. Ruan Qiong was unwilling to accept Chen Ping'an as a disciple, but he looked favorably upon Liu Xianyang.

Chen Ping'an had no grudge about this; he was just happy for Liu Xianyang.

In Chen Ping'an's heart, Liu Xianyang should live a better life.

From Clay Vase Alley, Song Jixin and Gu Can. From Apricot Flower Lane, Ma Kuxuan. From Fulu Street, Zhao You. And among the four great clans and ten surnames, many others of the same age that Chen Ping'an had never interacted with. They should all have left the former Lizhu Cave Heaven and gone to broader worlds, each with their own joys and sorrows, racing toward the Dao.

Friend or foe, they were all people who had walked out of Lizhu Cave Heaven.

Deep in his heart, Chen Ping'an had a private thought he had never voiced.

It wasn't just Vase Bottle Continent; in the future, the entire Haoran World should have to remember the four words "Lizhu Cave Heaven" because of these juniors on the path of cultivation.

Chen Ping'an sat up. Four flying swords darted out from different apertures.

First and Fifteenth, refined as Qi refiner's swords but not true sword cultivator's lifebound objects.

The other two were imitation swords from Hate Sword Mountain. One was given by Yuan Lingdian of Finger Peak, named "Pine Needle."

The other was purchased through Qi Jinglong, named "Devour Thunder."

Chen Ping'an used his will to control the four flying swords, filling the room with sword light.

Chen Ping'an extended two fingers together and gently pressed on the Go board.

The numerous black and white stones instantly bounced up.

Simultaneously controlling the four flying swords, he lightly tapped the stones about to fall back onto the board, flicking them higher. The room echoed with a series of crisp sounds, like heavenly music.

On the path of cultivation, the scenery was pleasant.

But the most moving scenery was still Miss Ning.

Unfortunately, he only dared to think so, not to say it.

———

The Sun Clan's cross-continent ferry had two stewards, one overt and one covert. The covert one was a guardian elder who had quietly left the Sun Clan ancestral home. He was not unfamiliar with Chen Ping'an.

But Chen Ping'an had never left the small mansion. The guardian elder did not want to disturb his cultivation, so he never showed himself. Still, he was somewhat curious: why had that youth, who had been only a third realm martial artist, broken through so quickly on the martial path? Could it really be, as in the street tales and random fantasies of down-and-out scholars, that he had eaten some miraculous elixir that gave him a hundred years of internal strength, or had been infused with a lifetime of power by a hermit master?

Only when the Mountain Sea Turtle approached that Inverted Mountain did the guardian elder see Chen Ping'an walk out of the mansion. At the highest observation deck on the Mountain Sea Turtle's back, he looked up at the world's largest mountain-shaped seal.

But at that time, both overt and covert stewards of the ferry were busy, so they abandoned the idea of showing themselves and talking with him.

As the battles at the Sword Qi Great Wall grew more brutal, the cross-continent ferries from the nine continents that did business at Inverted Mountain saw their trade increase, but profits did not rise much.

Anyone paying attention would notice that cross-continent ferries from Southern Bodhisattva Continent and Fuyao Continent almost no longer carried passengers for travel. They deliberately limited passenger numbers. Even if it meant earning less money and increasing ferry losses from long voyages, they made frequent round trips to transport more supplies to Inverted Mountain and onward to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Evidently, the Confucian academies governing those two continents had begun to secretly intervene.

Only Tongye Continent continued as usual. This was also related to the fact that Tongye Continent had few cross-continent ferries. Tongye was the most insular of the nine vast continents, disliking dealings with the outside world. The number of cultivators traveling to Tongye Continent and the number of local Tongye Continent Qi refiners traveling to other continents were disproportionate. Thus, Tongye Continent cultivators gave the impression of never leaving their home.

The reason was simple. Firstly, southeastern Tongye Continent was vast and resource-rich, fully self-sufficient. Secondly, the Tongye Sect and Jade Cauldron Sect sat at the north and south ends of the continent respectively, and there were relatively few immortal mountain establishments, but they were large. For thousands of years, the continent had been very stable. However, the great calamity a few years ago, which involved the Fu Ji Sect and Peace Mountain Sect, not only caught Tongye Continent cultivators off guard but also provided a considerable joke for the entire Haoran World. Fortunately, things had calmed down again, and various immortal forces were now recuperating.

Chen Ping'an stood by the railing of the observation deck. The cultivators around him were mostly from Vase Bottle Continent, with a fair number from other continents who had toured Vase Bottle Continent. This had been uncommon in the past.

As Vase Bottle Continent underwent dramatic changes, the Great Li Dynasty suddenly ranked among the top ten dynasties of the Haoran World. More and more cultivators from other continents came out of curiosity to Vase Bottle Continent. Before this, Vase Bottle Continent was just a remote pocket of land, not interesting enough to visit. Those who wanted to go elsewhere would choose Northern Jambudvipa Continent with its numerous sword cultivators, or go directly to Tongye Continent.

From north to south, the typical tour route for other continent cultivators was: Great Li capital, Divine Edict Sect, View Lake Academy, Old Dragon City. They rarely disembarked to tour other places.

In the future, perhaps a new stop would be added: the lower sect of Tongye Continent's Jade Cauldron Sect, Jiang Shangzhen's Book Bamboo Lake True Realm Sect.

After all, Jiang Shangzhen's reputation was considerable. A cultivator who could stir up trouble in Northern Jambudvipa Continent and still be alive and kicking was rare.

For the Haoran World, Northern Jambudvipa Continent was an extremely dangerous and unfriendly place, with too much killing intent. There were many places where people died who wouldn't have died on other continents.

After Chen Ping'an had actually traveled through Northern Jambudvipa Continent, he felt it was a place with more worldly chivalry than immortal aura. He could visit often in the future.

The sword immortal Wei Jin of Snow Wind Temple was now at the Sword Qi Great Wall.

The sword immortal Li Cai of Duckweed Sword Lake, after challenging the Great Micro Sword Sect, should also immediately head for Inverted Mountain.

Unfortunately, Cao Ci was no longer on the wall. After the two great battles, Chen Ping'an wondered if the little thatched hut Cao Ci had left there, and the thatched hut of the great sword immortal Chen Qingdu, were still there.

Near the observation deck, many cultivators from other continents conversed mostly in the refined language of the Central Earth Divine Continent. Their words were expansive and commanding, pointing at the world. They still had no respect for the mountains and rivers of Vase Bottle Continent. When mentioning the unstoppable Great Li iron cavalry, they offered no praise, only saying "not bad," or "decent for Vase Bottle Continent." But if placed in the Central Earth Divine Continent, they would certainly not have been so successful.

It wasn't entirely because these outsiders looked down on others—Cui Dongshan himself had said that Vase Bottle Continent's lack of Flying Ascension realm cultivators was a huge worry.

In a few decades, when the great momentum arrived, having only one sneaky old bastard who had reached Flying Ascension wouldn't be enough. What to do? Borrow! Fortunately, they wouldn't have to beg too much; otherwise, he, Cui Dongshan, would choke on his own blood from frustration.

Chen Ping'an pretended not to hear the heavenly secret revealed in Cui Dongshan's words.

National Teacher Cui Chan had first imitated the Jade Capital, then used the Great Li iron cavalry to swallow an entire continent. If he dared to do this, he would certainly not sit idly by, nor would he lead the entire Vase Bottle Continent to death.

Chen Ping'an withdrew his thoughts and looked around. Most people had come to witness the magnificent sight of the mountain hanging upside down between heaven and earth.

Outside Inverted Mountain, there were river-like paths like clouds and water, hanging in all directions between the peak and the sea.

Inverted Mountain, a hundred miles in circumference, had, besides the main peak guarded by the Great Celestial Lord, eight scenic spots, all of which Chen Ping'an had visited.

The first time he set foot on Inverted Mountain, he passed through the Arrest and Release Pavilion, which bore a plaque inscribed by the "True Invincible" Daoist Second from the Azure Underworld. At that time, Chen Ping'an parted ways with Liu Youzhou from the Ai'ai Continent. Liu Youzhou went to the famous Ape Taming Mansion.

There was the Sword Respect Pavilion, filled with portraits of sword immortals from past ages; the Incense Offering Tower, where Lu Tai tried to offer incense for his ancestor but was thrown out by the gatekeeper boy; the Thunder Ze Platform, where the female martial god Pei Bei forged her sword; the Ganoderma Lucidum Studio, where Chen Ping'an inadvertently bought a portrait of the ancestral Ganoderma Armor. Additionally, there was the Seal Hall (also known as "Lacking One Hall"), the picturesque Elk Antler Cliff, and the Master Blade Room, where Qingluan Country's Liu Qingshan's wife, the female Daoist Liu Boqi, came from. On the walls there used to be sky-high bounties for Song Changjing and Xu Ruo.

After the ferry docked at Inverted Mountain along a channel, Chen Ping'an thanked the Sun Clan ferry steward, and then, alone, set foot on Inverted Mountain again.

Chen Ping'an did not choose the Ganoderma Lucidum Studio, which both sold items and ran an inn. Instead, he again chose the Stork Inn, located at the end of a small alley. The innkeeper was stunned. "Chen Ping'an?"

Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded.

The innkeeper clicked his tongue. "This time, the Osmanthus Island's Jin Su didn't come with you? Now that you Vase Bottle Continent folks have a bit more spine, how about it, Mr. Chen, can you patronize my little inn? I'll pick a top room for you."

Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Just the same room as last time."

The man was a bit helpless. He fished a key out of a drawer and tossed it lightly to the green-robed, sword-carrying youth. "Chen Ping'an, you really should change this stingy habit. When you're out in the world, if you're not generous enough, how can you achieve great things?"

Chen Ping'an didn't rush to go to his room. He leaned against the counter, looking out at the familiar little alley. "I'm just a lower fifth realm Qi refiner. How much immortal money could I have?"

The man counted on his fingers and joked, "It's been almost ten years, hasn't it? You haven't made any money, and you haven't advanced a few realms either. Young Master Chen, what have you been doing since you left Inverted Mountain?"

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Just wandering."

The man, whose ancestors had guarded this inn for generations, shook his head. "No wonder you come back to Inverted Mountain and still patronize my little place. I got all happy for nothing."

Chen Ping'an took out two jugs of wine and handed one to the innkeeper. "Local wine from home."

The innkeeper opened it, sniffed, and laughed in mock anger. "Ordinary glutinous rice wine? Chen Ping'an, you really have the nerve to bring that out!"

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Drinking those immortal brews at Inverted Mountain doesn't count as real skill. Only drinking this shows character."

The innkeeper thought that made a kind of sense. They drank slowly as Chen Ping'an asked about recent happenings at Inverted Mountain. The innkeeper said it was the same as always. The only difference was that behind the lone peak of Inverted Mountain, the Great Celestial Lord, joined by two sword immortals, had newly opened a gate to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Anyone doing business now had to go through that way. There was no help for it—in less than ten years, there had been two brutal life-or-death battles. The original Mirror Gate alone wasn't enough to transport supplies. But now it was strictly controlled. Travel for pleasure had been cut off entirely. For ordinary people to go see the Sword Qi Great Wall was very difficult. Without connections, it was impossible. It wasn't just about money anymore, because previously, behind the Sword Qi Great Wall, in that city, the mix of fish and dragons had caused a huge blunder. The details were suppressed by Inverted Mountain, but it was definitely a big deal. Otherwise, Inverted Mountain wouldn't have been put under martial law—including a night curfew, which had never happened before. Led by the Master Blade Room cultivators, they checked everyone's identity tokens on Inverted Mountain in a single day. Even the four private estates, including the Ape Taming Mansion, were not exempt. That resulted in another random conflict. In any case, it was a major disturbance.

Chen Ping'an asked when the third battle would start.

The innkeeper smiled and said that was something even heaven didn't know, let alone mortals.

Finally, drinking his wine, the innkeeper sighed, "Inverted Mountain is not peaceful."

The previous two great battles had been too strange. The brutality was no less than before, but they were very short. Hence, both sides lost people very quickly and in large numbers. Especially the demon race of the Barren Wasteland Heaven, who paid an even greater price than before. Far from the pattern of the long past years, where each battle between the two sides was intermittent and often lasted twenty or thirty years. These two battles occurred within a brief ten-year span. One of the leading sword cultivators from Northern Jambudvipa Continent, a sword immortal, fell in the second great battle.

Chen Ping'an said, "It's been ten thousand years of unrest, just a hair's breadth away."

The innkeeper smiled. "That's true."

They gently clinked their wine jugs and drained the rest.

Chen Ping'an went to his room. The furnishings were the same, the view the same, clean and tidy.

With nothing to unpack, Chen Ping'an sat quietly for a moment, then left the inn and the alley, heading toward that solitary peak that served as Inverted Mountain's hub.

Only one gatekeeper remained—that little Daoist who looked like a child but was of very high seniority. He was still reading a book. Since few people came in or out now, more and more children from Inverted Mountain came to play here. As in the past, whenever a child approached the "Daoist boy," he would suddenly drift away on clouds. Some mischievous children deliberately did this, tirelessly, and after floating down, they would dash back toward him. The Daoist boy didn't mind.

Chen Ping'an bypassed the solitary peak and went to the rear mountain. According to the Stork Inn innkeeper, the sword-carrying man who had once taught him a smelting technique was still in penance, but had been moved to take charge of that gate.

After Chen Ping'an left, the little Daoist, who had been flipping through a book with a licked finger, looked up at the back of the departing green-robed, sword-carrying youth. On that youthful-looking face, there was a strange expression.

Chen Ping'an saw the man sitting on a stone pillar beside the gate, sleeping with his sword in his arms.

Unlike the Mirror Gate at the front of the solitary peak, which was now guarded only by the little Daoist who oversaw both entry and exit from Inverted Mountain and the Sword Qi Great Wall, the dozing sword carrier still guarded the rear, responsible for watching everyone returning from the Sword Qi Great Wall to Inverted Mountain. The front was managed by an old Daoist from Inverted Mountain.

The main street was bustling, a steady stream of teams passing through to go to the Sword Qi Great Wall.

The gatekeeper, however, was not the familiar old Daoist who had crafted the unique Subdue Demon Rope from flood dragon whiskers.

Chen Ping'an remained silent, hands in his sleeves, standing quietly beside the stone pillar. This side was much quieter, almost empty.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the sword carrier opened his eyes and chuckled. "Kid, it seems you don't really like the girl Ning, do you? You've been away for so many years, and now that you're here, I don't see you in any hurry."

Chen Ping'an felt a great relief. He clasped his hands. "I've seen senior. You still look the same."

The man waved a hand. "I have two pieces of news for you: one good, one bad. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Chen Ping'an said, "The bad news first."

The man clicked his tongue. "That's no fun. I'll tell you the good news first."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Senior decides."

The man sat cross-legged on the one-person-tall stone pillar, looking at the youth. "The good news is that Ning girl survived both battles by luck. Her realm is not low now. Mm, I hear she's also grown more beautiful and lovely. It's no surprise you like her. The real surprise is that she likes you."

Chen Ping'an waited for the rest.

The man said with a gleeful tone, "The bad news is that things are strictly controlled now. Many people who didn't follow the rules have died, both openly and secretly. If you don't have some solid connections, you simply can't get to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Don't expect me to bend the rules or secretly help you send a flying sword message. That won't work; otherwise, I'd lose even this last bowl of rice. So you can't get in, and the people inside can't arrange anything for you either. You'll just have to stand here dumbly, staring. Suits me fine. You can keep me company and chat, bring some wine and snacks, and we'll talk nonsense and bask in the sun every day. That would be a truly immortal life."

Chen Ping'an thought it over. "Nowadays on Inverted Mountain, which eminent figures have the authority to speak on this matter?"

The sword carrier extended a finger, pointing behind him. "That Great Celestial Lord of Inverted Mountain, the direct disciple of the 'True Invincible,' of course has the final say."

Chen Ping'an gave a wry smile.

That Daoist Great Celestial Lord had once fought with Zuo You on the sea, churning thousands of miles. Not giving him a hard time would already be gracious.

The sword carrier continued, "That old neighbor with the baby face could also do it. But that guy has a strange temper; he's not someone you can reason with. Then there's the one with the golden Subdue Demon Rope. After that... probably the only way is to find the right path and use enough money. For example, if someone at the Ape Taming Mansion is willing to pay for you—but that's not something Lesser Summer Coins can solve. And it would break the rules, carry risks, and Inverted Mountain would note it against you."

Chen Ping'an remained silent.

The man laughed. "I advise you not to get any ideas. Those merchant teams qualified to go to the Sword Qi Great Wall might take your money and promise to pass a message, but they will absolutely not do it. They'll just let your immortal money end up down the drain. Old Dragon City's Osmanthus Island doesn't have enough standing; no one there is qualified to go to the Sword Qi Great Wall. And besides, Osmanthus Island couldn't bear the consequences. Many people would die, and the entire Osmanthus Island might even be sunk by Inverted Mountain."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Now that I'm at Inverted Mountain, there is absolutely no reason I can't go to the Sword Qi Great Wall."

The sword carrier laughed. "Oh ho, as expected of a fourth realm Qi refiner, quite the big mouth."

Chen Ping'an grinned. "But I'm also a seventh realm martial artist, senior. Think of it as seven plus four, so I count as eleventh realm."

The man clicked his tongue. "Leaving aside everything else, your face is certainly thicker than that shabby kid from years ago. You must have tricked quite a few girls during your travels, eh?"

Chen Ping'an's face darkened. "Senior, you really shouldn't say things like that!"

The man chuckled. "Whether it's true or not, you know in your own heart."

With a flick of his wrist, Chen Ping'an produced a jug of immortal wine. The sword carrier was about to say something to make up for it, or even just snatch it away, but unexpectedly, that crafty youth, smiling, had already stashed the jug away at lightning speed.

The sword carrier rubbed his chin. "Chen Ping'an, that really hurts our friendship, you know."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Then I'll trouble senior to give me a straight answer."

The man looked around and said quietly, "First, go take a stroll. Let me see if there's a way."

Chen Ping'an nodded, understood, and turned to leave.

The man got anxious and shouted, "Kid, you want a horse to run but won't even let it eat grass? At least toss a jug of wine over to whet my appetite!"

Chen Ping'an waved goodbye without turning back.

Chen Ping'an went to the Ganoderma Lucidum Studio. Without saying a word, he directly bought a plain white jade token that he had taken a liking to at first glance years ago. It had no inscriptions or seal script; it was simply that the token's material itself was extremely rare, hence priced at a sky-high amount. Seeing that it still hadn't been bought, Chen Ping'an smiled brightly. The studio never haggled, so Chen Ping'an took out twenty Grain Rain Coins, carefully stored the token, and left the shop. Looking up at the sky, the sun was high. His mood, which had been somewhat dampened by the temporary inability to go to the Sword Qi Great Wall, improved a bit.

Chen Ping'an then went to the Sword Respect Pavilion. Like a first-time visitor from another continent, he walked slowly, looking at each portrait. Finally, he paused a bit longer in front of two portraits, then, with a normal expression, silently walked away.

Back at the Stork Inn, Chen Ping'an took out the Ganoderma Lucidum Studio jade token. Then he took out an ordinary jade token he had been using for practice. Comparing the latter's engravings, he took a deep breath, held it, and using the flying sword Fifteenth as a carving knife, he began to inscribe the plain white jade token, worth twenty Grain Rain Coins, with gentle strokes.

When the night was deep and quiet.

Chen Ping'an faced the completed jade token, inscribed on both sides, and blew on it. Then he gently wiped it with his palm and slowly tucked it into his sleeve.

Chen Ping'an left the inn and went to find the sword carrier.

This sword immortal stood beside the stone pillar, sword in arms, and laughed. "I have another good news and bad news. Which one first?"

Without extra words, Chen Ping'an tossed out eight jugs of osmanthus wine he had prepared in his Storage Artifact, lined them up neatly on the stone pillar. These were all gifts from Fan Er when he boarded the ferry earlier.

The man's expression was somewhat embarrassed. "The good news is that I intend to send you to the Sword Qi Great Wall. The bad news is a bit hard to say. I have a thin face."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "As long as it doesn't delay my going to the Sword Qi Great Wall, senior, just say it!"

The man nodded, instantly appeared at Chen Ping'an's side, grabbed the latter by the shoulder, and tossed him toward the gate. Then he laughed heartily. "The bad news is that you gave me all this good wine for nothing. Are you stupid? You've come all the way to Inverted Mountain, and do you really think those miscellaneous rules will keep you out? I was just messing with you. If you hadn't come back soon, I would have gone to the inn to beg you to get the hell out..."

Chen Ping'an's body spun as he faced the sword carrier outside the gate. His lips moved slightly, and then his figure vanished into the mirror surface, flashing away.

The man reached out, caught a jug of wine, took a big swig, and smiled. "Your old man is still your old man."

———

Beside a gate at the Sword Qi Great Wall.

An elderly female Daoist from the Master Blade Room opened her eyes. "Not a sword cultivator, yet carrying such a fine sword. Are you from one of the few wealthy and influential families of the Central Earth Divine Continent? Hmm, low cultivation level, but you're really not bad for a young man from a big family. Even most earthly immortal cultivators of the Haoran World don't land as steady as you. Have you been here before?"

Chen Ping'an didn't answer any of her questions. Instead, he asked, "Senior, are you Liu Boqi's master?"

The female Daoist nodded. "You know that disciple of mine who lost her mind and went off to get married?"

Then the elderly female Daoist suddenly realized. "You're that Chen Ping'an from Vase Bottle Continent, aren't you?"

Chen Ping'an was puzzled. "Senior, you know me?"

She smiled meaningfully. "That's an unnecessary question."

The sword immortal guarding the other side of the gate snorted coldly. "Not even a sword cultivator, at such an age, and still a below-fifth-realm cultivator. Liu Boqi's madness is far from Ning girl's madness."

Chen Ping'an paid no heed, keeping a smile on his face.

For other matters, Chen Ping'an would certainly be sincere and respectful toward these seniors, each with their own stories.

But regarding one particular matter...

Who the hell do you think you are?

———

Within the city.

On a certain main street, Chen Ping'an arrived in front of a large mansion and knocked gently.

He deliberately avoided looking at the row of heads on top of the wall.

They were all acquaintances, but they had never really spoken back then.

The gate slowly opened.

She asked, "Who are you?"

Chen Ping'an hugged her tightly and said softly, "Chen Ping'an of the Haoran World, come to see Ning Yao."