Chapter 640: Those Willing to Save the Heavens from Collapse, Please Rise
At Luopo Mountain, evening approached and snow was on the horizon.
Zhu Lian was being particularly pedantic.
Rain then clear, clear then rain, neither rain nor clear but snow again—the scenery of my homeland is most exquisite.
Today, Zhu Lian and Zheng Dafeng played chess while complaining about each other. Zhu Lian grumbled that Brother Dafeng's gaze was too upright, scaring away the immortal lady Huang Ting. Zheng Dafeng complained that the old cook's skills were not refined enough, failing to keep the immortal lady, causing Luopo Mountain to lose a nominal guest elder who was a Nascent Soul sword cultivator—a great sin indeed. The old cook had to bring out several treasured books of immortals and hand them over to Zheng Dafeng for safekeeping.
Wei Bo sat to one side, not understanding why after so long, the two still had anything to argue about.
On second thought, he figured it out—it was because the female Daoist Huang Ting was attractive enough, wasn't it?
Zhu Lian looked at Wei Bo and asked with a smile, "I heard you're about to rush to the capital to visit the emperor, see if you can scrape together some dragon qi to throw into the blessed land. That's what they call traveling with a purpose."
Zheng Dafeng chimed in, "Indeed, the mountain lord can't keep freeloading by watching chess and not putting in any effort."
Wei Bo was helpless. Nowadays, the title of Northern Mountain Lord had spread all the way to the North Ju Luzhou region. It was said that even passing pheasants couldn't leave without laying an egg.
But it wasn't for nothing. In the latest Lotus Root Blessed Land, after throwing in thousands of Grain Rain coins, it not only rose to become a mid-grade blessed land but also took on a new atmosphere. Spirits and monsters of mountains and rivers, orphaned ghosts, and nascent heroic spirits and deities emerged like bamboo shoots after spring rain. However, there was an overall bottleneck in numbers.
But as long as enough immortal money was thrown in, the sky would grow higher and the earth wider, the fortune would become thicker, and the previous bottleneck would naturally be broken.
What interested Zheng Dafeng most was a popular scholar-beauty novel from the Nanyuan Kingdom. The woman in the book, who appeared as a spirit, was actually born from resonance. Yet she was still dim-witted, drifting around, secretly watching that unfamiliar mortal world from within books and paintings.
Her appearance was a rare occurrence even in the Hao Ran World.
Her birth was quite different from that of the little girl Chen Nuanshu.
This woman's existence was purely a condensation of human hearts from various dynasties, from all directions, thread by thread. It was a kind of low-grade "manifestation of the Great Way."
But even if it was low-grade, it was still a manifestation of the Great Way. To touch even the slightest bit of the "Way" was no small matter.
If it were in any other blessed land, once discovered, she would surely be arrested. There would be no shortage of buyers, and she could fetch a shocking price.
But fortunately, she was born in the Lotus Root Blessed Land, under the supervision of a young mountain master who valued rules. Her fortunes in the future probably wouldn't be too bad.
Zheng Dafeng wiped his mouth. "A place that produces outstanding people—worth a visit! Delicate, timid young ladies and gallant heroes who cherish the fair—neither can be lacking. Otherwise, those orphaned souls and fierce ghosts might do them harm."
Zhu Lian, however, said, "Just leaving her on the mountain seems fine to me."
Zhu Lian had always harbored a great hidden worry. In the past, the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, now the Lotus Root Blessed Land, he always vaguely felt that the old temple master's schemes were far-reaching.
Whoever entered the blessed land, no matter who, would not have an easy time.
Wei Bo also said, "Since you've chosen an easygoing life, then go ahead and live that leisurely life all the way to old age."
Zheng Dafeng laughed. "What are you thinking? Our Luopo Mountain is full of talented people. Where would I be needed? I'm just going to stroll around and relax."
Zheng Dafeng was actually better at chess than Zhu Lian and Wei Bo, so playing chess was very easy for him. While Zhu Lian was deeply engrossed in thought, Zheng Dafeng picked up a folding fan from the table. Fanning himself in the middle of winter was ridiculous. It was just for show. He tucked it into his sleeve. Such an elegant item in the hands of a handsome man like himself was simply perfect. As long as a woman wasn't blind, she would like it. If any woman didn't like it, she was pretending.
At present, besides Pei Qian who was still roaming outside and Old Master Zhong with Cao Qinglang who had gone to the South Boso Continent for a journey, Luopo Mountain was actually quite lively. Yuan Lai and Yuan Bao had recently stayed on the mountain to cultivate. Zheng Dafeng wanted to sincerely teach little Yuan Bao boxing, but the girl was too shy and thin-skinned. Like Cen Yuanji, she ended up learning boxing from a decrepit old man. The boy Yuan Lai wanted to learn boxing from Zheng Dafeng, but Zheng Dafeng wasn't too keen on teaching him. He only taught some miscellaneous book knowledge, and the boy was often scolded by his sister.
In addition, on the Sword Worshipping Platform of Luopo Mountain, three unregistered disciples had recently taken up residence in seclusion.
They were three genuine outsiders from the Sword Qi Great Wall.
Golden Core sword cultivator: Cui Wei.
And two alleged shop assistants: Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu.
The three didn't take the hemp-clad sect's ship that returned from Old Dragon City to North Ju Luzhou, heading directly to Ox Horn Mountain Ferry. Instead, they took a short-distance ferry northward, then followed an underground river said to be carved by a true dragon. Carrying three travel permits and a Great Li Peace Token, they traveled north, finally passing through Red Candle Town and Chess Dun Mountain, entering the territory of Luopo Mountain.
Under Zhu Lian's arrangements, they settled at the Sword Worshipping Platform, silently and without a sound.
Since they were only registered disciples of Luopo Mountain, they didn't need to offer incense or bow to portraits for now.
With the generous donations of the guest elder Zhou Fei, the construction of manor houses on all of Luopo Mountain's vassal peaks was in full swing. As Guest Elder Zhou put it, "The more expensive, the better. Don't save money for me. How does immortal aura come about? It's built from the heaviest immortal coins, one coin at a time!"
Cui Wei, in particular, kept a low profile. During that long journey, he had already gotten a rough idea of how precious a Golden Core bottleneck sword cultivator was in the Hao Ran World. A Golden Core qi refiner could hold a peak-opening ceremony, which even the top sects of the Hao Ran World would value greatly—let alone a sword cultivator who was a sure bet to become a Nascent Soul. But Cui Wei was even more reserved than Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu, almost to the point of timidity.
When Cui Wei left the Sword Qi Great Wall, aside from his natal flying sword, he brought only two things: a robe from a garment workshop and a standard-issue longsword from a sword workshop.
Zhang Jiazhen received a scroll of calligraphy personally written by Mr. Chen, with the words "Farming in Sunshine, Reading in Rain." At the top and center were two seals.
Jiang Qu received a stack of talismans gifted by Mr. Chen, among which was a golden-colored talisman.
Zheng Dafeng asked, "Old Cook, are you just going to leave those two young men alone at the Sword Worshipping Platform? I don't think that's good. Why not send them to the Year-End Shop to soak up some human atmosphere?"
Wei Bo chuckled. "You can't say that. Zhang Jiazhen and Jiang Qu are from the marketplace; they don't lack that."
Zheng Dafeng laughed. "I just think Zhang Jiazhen looks promising. I want to set him up with little Jiu'er. The three of us sleeping alone with cold blankets every night—is that comfortable? Do we want these younger ones to follow in our footsteps? I don't think so. Absolutely not."
At the Year-End Shop was Shi Rou. At the Grass-Head Shop lived three nominal guest elders: the blind old Daoist Jia Sheng, the lame young man Zhao Denggao, and the little girl Tian Jiu'er.
Zhu Lian smiled. "Those two young outsiders at the Sword Worshipping Platform will probably amount to something, but they'll bloom late. We need to be patient."
Wei Bo said, "Even if they want to be useless, they'll have to ask if Guest Elder Zhou Fei's immortal coins will allow it."
Zhu Lian and Zheng Dafeng nodded together. "Reasonable."
Zheng Dafeng said, "Later, tell Nuan Shu to note this down. Next time the ancestral hall meets, bring it up and show it to Brother Zhou Fei."
Chen Nuanshu finished her tasks and came over to watch the chess game.
Chen Lingjun yawned as he entered the courtyard. Seeing Chen Nuanshu, he grinned. "Little idiot, you still haven't refined that Dragon King Basket?"
Back when Chen Ping'an left Luopo Mountain, he had given the pair of Dragon King Baskets from the North Ju Luzhou Immortal Mansion ruins to Chen Nuanshu and Chen Lingjun, telling them to refine them as suppressors for Luopo Mountain's vassal peak, Yellow Lake Mountain. Chen Lingjun had long succeeded in refining his, but Chen Nuanshu was progressing slowly. However, "slowly" was only relative to Chen Lingjun. Someone who almost got taken by Lu Chen to cultivate in the Green Curtain World couldn't have poor talent.
Chen Nuanshu looked dejected, silent, her little hands gripping her sleeves.
Wei Bo reached out and pressed down on Chen Lingjun's head, bending down to ask with a smile, "What was that?"
Chen Lingjun blinked and said seriously, "Nuan Shu, for cultivation, diligence is enough. Don't rush. Rushing can lead to mistakes. Learn from our master: slow in walking the stake, fast in throwing the punch."
Wei Bo patted Chen Lingjun's head. "If you keep running your mouth like that, when Pei Qian returns to Luopo Mountain, you'll have to deal with it yourself."
Chen Lingjun nearly knelt to the great mountain lord Wei Bo. He immediately stood on tiptoe, put his hands on Wei Bo's shoulders, and smiled ingratiatingly, urging the standing Wei Bo to sit down so he could massage the mountain lord's shoulders.
Up in North Ju Luzhou, the Taihui Sword Sect was a top-tier clan! Wasn't the direct disciple of Sword Immortal Qi Jinglong, Bai Shou, formidable?
Pei Qian kicked him once, and he writhed on the ground.
The most terrifying thing was that Pei Qian held grudges.
Cen Yuanji, Yuan Bao, and Yuan Lai, after a break from boxing practice, came to the courtyard together to relax.
As soon as they arrived, they saw Chen Lingjun massaging Wei Bo's shoulders and back while praising Brother Dafeng's refined taste. If that fan had spiritual awareness, it would be crying tears of gratitude, thanking its luck for falling into Brother Dafeng's hands.
Chen Nuanshu gave up her seat. Cen Yuanji and young Yuan Lai didn't sit, but Yuan Bao thanked her and sat down.
Chen Lingjun rolled his eyes hard.
This girl picked up by Lu Baixiang had absolutely no sense of propriety.
Look at the ones his master had picked up—starting with himself—weren't they all geniuses?
Take little Mili, for instance. She was still squatting at Chess Dun Mountain, eagerly waiting for Pei Qian, with a big bag of sunflower seeds. Little Mili's heart was bigger than a bowl.
Yuan Bao was just lucky to arrive at Luopo Mountain late. All the extraordinary people—he, Chen Lingjun, had already scouted them thoroughly, risking his life and his great path. Lu Chen, Ruan Qiong, Old Man Yang—he had personally sparred with them all. Otherwise, with Yuan Bao's temper, her little head would have been smashed to pieces long ago.
Zhu Lian smiled. "Yuan Bao, do you have something to say?"
Yuan Bao nodded. "I can wait until Old Master Zhu finishes his chess game."
Though the girl was sharp, she still knew her manners.
Besides, Yuan Bao had a very good impression of Old Master Zhu Lian. The bad one was Zheng Dafeng, and the so-so one was the great mountain lord who came to Luopo Mountain to loaf around.
Earlier, Old Master Zhu had visited the Lotus Root Blessed Land and brought out only one scroll—extremely long—a masterpiece by a renowned painter from his hometown in his early years.
It depicted wealth, prosperity, bustling crowds, and a thriving era.
At that time, Pei Qian, sharp-eyed, noticed that the scroll lacked horses but had many oxen, donkeys, and mules. She sighed, "With so many little donkeys, if I grit my teeth and take out one Snowflake Coin, could I buy a hundred of them?"
Yuan Bao and Yuan Lai were also present. Yuan Lai searched the scroll for a bookstore, while Yuan Bao glanced at it and sneered, "Signs of decline are everywhere."
Zhu Lian nodded. There was truth to that.
In fact, the scroll depicted the very capital where Zhu Lian lived. Within less than sixty years, all those romantic scenes and prosperous airs were shattered by horse hooves.
Even though Zhu Lian exhausted his efforts, he still couldn't turn the tide. In the end, he left the court and battlefield, returned to the martial world, transforming from a noble son to a Confucian general, and finally into that "martial madman."
In that lifetime, among his past experiences, Zhu Lian had three proudest achievements.
Compiling books. Even Cui Dongshan thought Zhu Lian's regular script was excellent.
Inventing double-entry bookkeeping.
Writing a martial arts manual with a low threshold for entry and fast breakthrough, but extremely difficult to reach the peak. He wrote ninety-nine volumes, giving them away to anyone he met, letting the martial world fight over them.
Scholars, common folk, the martial world.
Looking back on his life, whether as the noble son Zhu Lian or the martial madman Zhu Lian, he felt he had accounted for everything.
Zhu Lian put the white stone he was about to play back into the bowl and smiled. "Yuan Bao, this game is hard to decide quickly. If you wait for us to finish, it'll be a while. Speak first."
Zheng Dafeng started cracking sunflower seeds.
Wei Bo didn't say much. In the chess game, unless Zhu Lian intentionally deliberated, Zheng Dafeng would end it in a couple of moves.
Yuan Bao said, "I have some thoughts about the Lotus Root Blessed Land. I'll speak my mind. If I'm wrong, please forgive me, Old Master Zhu."
Zhu Lian smiled. "Feel free to speak. Right or wrong isn't necessarily for me to decide. Everything can be debated, argued, and reasoned."
Yuan Bao appreciated this old senior's openness and magnanimity, so she never felt constrained with him.
Yuan Bao said solemnly, "We should directly print some simple immortal techniques as books, and have the emperors of the four countries issue imperial decrees for everyone to practice. Then promote martial arts manuals the same way, with no threshold. Even if someone has poor talent and can't cultivate any immortal techniques, they can still follow the martial path. Whether they succeed or not, they've been given the chance. They can climb with their own abilities. Otherwise, after we've spent so many Grain Rain coins, are we just here to watch the excitement? We need to profit, right?"
Yuan Lai said softly, "Chivalry with martial arts disrupts prohibitions. For the court and government, it would be very troublesome. The entire Lotus Root Blessed Land would be extremely hard to control. If we're not careful, the government becomes a decoration. Once the court and government lose their authority, the operation of the entire mountain-and-water system will be in trouble. Cao Qinglang once said that even the smallest world still needs stability."
Yuan Bao sneered. "If those emperors and officials refuse to act or do it poorly, then directly replace them with obedient puppets. Dare to kill, can kill, suppress mountain qi refiners, and slay martial grandmasters. To take a step back, if you're really afraid the pond is too small to nurture dragons, it's simple. Pull out promising seedlings from the blessed land and raise them on Luopo Mountain. There are so many peaks and immortal mansions sitting empty. For instance, qi refiners with hope of reaching the Cavern Dwelling realm, or martial artists who've reached the sixth realm, can become unregistered disciples of Luopo Mountain. Accumulate enough merits, and they can get positions, better boxing manuals, and higher immortal techniques to learn."
Yuan Lai's voice grew even softer. "What about people's hearts? It's not that simple, sister. Just at Master's peak alone, there are so many complicated personal relationships."
Yuan Bao glared at this bookish brother of hers, who was nothing but trouble. No wonder he got along best with Cao Qinglang.
Zhu Lian hadn't spoken.
The girl's words weren't entirely right, nor entirely wrong.
But some things were interconnected. It wasn't as simple as the School of Calculation's additions and subtractions. It was more like building a house: if one beam is crooked, given time, the whole house collapses.
Still, it was good that she thought and spoke openly. So Zhu Lian wasn't in a hurry to refute or endorse anything. He just smiled at the girl, indicating she should be bolder and continue speaking her mind.
Yuan Bao crossed her arms and squinted. "Master is constrained because the situation is too chaotic. The Lotus Root Blessed Land is different from Luopo Mountain. Here, our Luopo Mountain is the heavenly lord of the entire blessed land! Who isn't afraid of death? Who doesn't cherish life? In our Hao Ran World, immortal techniques and divine powers are so wondrous. Under the general trend, what are people's hearts? Maybe they'll cling to Luopo Mountain before they even think of rebelling."
Zheng Dafeng said with a grin, "In childhood, only feared the difficulty of studying; in youth, always thought being human was easy."
Young Yuan Lai immediately noted that down in his heart. Uncle Zheng's knowledge was actually considerable.
Zhu Lian scratched his head and sighed, "Yesterday a boy rode a bamboo horse; tonight, how is he already a white-haired old man?"
Wei Bo smiled and asked, "Yuan Bao, I have a question. After these people come to the Hao Ran World and are raised on the vassal peaks of Luopo Mountain, what will they do in the future?"
Yuan Bao had already prepared an answer and blurted out, "Continue cultivating, or urge them to practice martial arts. Once a qi refiner reaches the Dragon Gate realm or a martial artist reaches the seventh realm as a grandmaster, we can sell them directly to forces in the Jewel Small World. Build good karma, earn big money. Those with high aspirations, unwilling to be treated as goods, can sign contracts with Luopo Mountain. After leaving Luopo Mountain, set a term of decades or a hundred years, whatever. Let them buy their freedom with money!"
Wei Bo asked again, "If among these people, some commit evil and cause chaos, who gets the blame?"
Yuan Bao frowned. "Why care about that? In the martial world, life and death are their own responsibility. They brought it on themselves. If they lack skill, they get trampled. The strong have more reasons—that's how the world has always been, on and off the mountain. Why should it be charged to Luopo Mountain?"
Zhu Lian's expression remained unchanged.
Zheng Dafeng rolled his eyes.
Wei Bo pinched the golden earring between two fingers, also troubled.
Lu Baixiang really taught his disciple with little effort.
Yuan Bao clenched her fists and said firmly, "In the Lotus Root Blessed Land, we are the heavenly lord. We control them everywhere. Those who obey prosper, those who oppose perish! Once they leave Luopo Mountain and have nothing to do with us, it's just business. What 'born of heaven and earth'? This is a great world we smashed out with thousands of Grain Rain coins! And we'll keep spending, smashing more Grain Rain coins. Why should we?"
Yuan Bao was a bit angry. "The formation of heavenly materials and earthly treasures is too slow. Concentrating spiritual qi into cultivation sites—how fast can that be? Are we supposed to keep losing money? My master makes money with great difficulty and hard work! Not like some people who sit on the peak, sunbathing, playing chess, and enjoying the snow."
Zhu Lian waved his hand with a smile. "Yuan Bao, in our Luopo Mountain, whether in this discussion or future arguments, we need to remember the principle of 'judging the matter on its merits.' Otherwise, even if you're right, you'll be in the wrong."
Yuan Bao nodded. "I'll listen to Old Master Zhu."
Zheng Dafeng cracked sunflower seeds, actually feeling a bit guilty from the girl's words.
Yuan Bao took a deep breath, her eyes resolute. She glanced at Zheng Dafeng and Wei Bo. "If any of you dislike someone and want to deal with them, fine. I'll take responsibility for throwing the punches and cleaning house. Consider it a waste of raising a useless piece of trash."
Cen Yuanji had been signaling her good friend to speak less for a long time, but by now her eyelids were twitching from the strain.
Cen Yuanji started rubbing her eyes.
Yuan Bao gently squeezed Cen Yuanji's arm, indicating she understood.
Throughout Luopo Mountain, only Cen Yuanji was the most agreeable—a true friend.
The rest were either freeloaders, troublemakers, grinning rascals without proper conduct, or people with muddled thoughts who didn't know what they were thinking all day.
Well, Nuan Shu was an exception—diligent, non-confrontational, and quite endearing.
Zhu Lian said, "Yuan Bao, I roughly understand your thoughts. I've noted them. Don't worry, I won't just shelve them. Maybe at the next ancestral hall meeting, this line of thinking will be brought up separately. Ancestral hall meetings are no joke. Every word is recorded. So you'd better think it through more thoroughly in the near future, so you won't be caught off guard by loopholes. Here's a suggestion. Do you want to hear it?"
Yuan Bao smiled. "Please speak, Old Master Zhu!"
Zhu Lian glanced at the nervous young Yuan Lai and said, "Yuan Lai has different views, doesn't he? You set aside your sisterly authority for a while, try to be calm, and first convince Yuan Lai. Think about it—if you can't even convince Yuan Lai, even if I bring this matter to the ancestral hall agenda, do you think you'll have the confidence? Isn't that true?"
Yuan Bao thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright!"
Zhu Lian said, "In various places on Luopo Mountain outside the ancestral hall, everyone follows their own path of cultivation. But once you take a seat in the ancestral hall, every word must be weighed and re-weighed. This is still about judging the matter on its merits. It's not me pulling rank or targeting you, Yuan Bao, or thinking the girl's sharpness needs to be curbed. Our Luopo Mountain doesn't have such messy bad rules. Not now, and never will."
Yuan Bao smiled. "Old Master Zhu has always been open and honest. Yuan Bao won't overthink things."
Zheng Dafeng sighed deeply.
Whatever the old cook said, the girl listened to.
So many immortal books, all bought by the old cook and hidden on the mountain. Why was he the only one seen as a loafer?
Comparing people pisses you off.
Yuan Bao left the courtyard with her friend Cen Yuanji and her blockhead brother, happy in both coming and going.
Chen Lingjun muttered, "Such a domineering little girl."
Zhu Lian smiled. "Luopo Mountain should have such ideas. For fighting and competing, the more the merrier. So I'm telling you in advance: no matter the final result of the ancestral hall meeting, don't hurt the girl's feelings."
Wei Bo shook his head. "This approach isn't without benefits. In fact, many blessed lands in the Hao Ran World operate roughly along these lines, even less direct than Yuan Bao's proposal. On one hand, it's too mercenary, damaging the reputation. It would be very difficult to become a sect candidate and then a formal sect. On the other hand, as Yuan Lai worries, Yuan Bao still underestimates people's hearts. Most—not all, but most—of the great seeds of the Dao or martial geniuses will rebel, turning against Luopo Mountain. In the end, it's like draining the pond to catch all the fish."
Zheng Dafeng said, "The girl is only at what realm as a martial artist? To have this kind of vision is already impressive."
Wei Bo's expression suddenly darkened.
Zheng Dafeng asked, "Is Mili in trouble?"
Wei Bo had only sensed something subtly earlier. Now he immediately activated his divine ability to observe the mountains and rivers.
Unexpectedly, Chen Lingjun had already taken to the wind and left Luopo Mountain, a streak of cyan light.
Wei Bo laughed. "Pei Qian is already protecting little Mili."
Zhu Lian said calmly, "Wei Bo, don't interfere in this. Luopo Mountain will handle it."
Wei Bo didn't mind and nodded. "If I get involved, it might make things awkward. I need to go to the capital for a meeting anyway. I'll leave first. Do as you please."
Zhu Lian suddenly acted coy. "This is so embarrassing. I feel awkward."
Wei Bo asked with a smile, "Should I leave later?"
Zhu Lian had already stood up. "The mountain lord's affairs are important. Go early and return soon, preferably with some windfall."
Wei Bo's form dissipated, instantly a thousand miles away.
Zheng Dafeng motioned for little Nuan Shu not to worry, and definitely not to follow Chen Lingjun to the Three Rivers Confluence at Red Candle Town.
Zheng Dafeng continued cracking sunflower seeds.
Could our Luopo Mountain be bullied on our own turf? What a joke.
Then Zheng Dafeng rubbed his chin. Luckily, the young mountain master wasn't on the peak. With Chen Ping'an's current temperament, he'd probably throw a punch first, then find a quiet place to cut off a river, and only then talk reason.
---
The Great Li Emperor's study was not actually very large.
But to enter and sit down to speak, one needed a big enough official hat or a high enough cultivation realm.
The young Emperor Song He was resting with his eyes closed. Today, there was no court session as an exception, all for the upcoming discussion.
Moreover, the situation was special—most were Dao cultivators, with only a handful of Great Li officials: the Minister of Rites and two vice ministers, just three people.
Song He opened his eyes. About the time it takes to burn an incense stick remained. The young emperor glanced at the desk, where there was a landscape painting by Li Yingqiu, left there by the previous emperor. After Song He inherited the throne, he didn't remove anything from the room, only added a few items. Then feeling it too cluttered, he quietly removed some.
The container holding Li Yingqiu's landscape scroll was an early celadon brush pot from the Dragon Kiln of Li Zhu Cave Heaven. It was quite an eyesore.
Li Yingqiu was not a mountain person. The music, chess, calligraphy, and painting of the mortal world had never caught the eye of mountain immortals. But there were exceptions. Li Yingqiu was an unavoidable figure in the history of Sui Dynasty painting and calligraphy. Not only was he favored by the Great Li Song clan, but many mountain immortals in the Jewel Small World also admired him.
Inside the brush pot, besides Li Yingqiu's meticulous blue-green landscape, there were also flower-and-bird paintings by Bian Ye.
Song He glanced at the scrolls in the brush pot. The young emperor wanted to apologize to Li Yingqiu: "Sorry to have your landscape paintings neighbor this man's flower-and-bird works."
Song He had a very poor impression of Bian Ye, both his paintings and his character, finding them unrefined. This man was a down-and-out painter from the old Lu dynasty who drifted into the vassal state of Great Li. He was one of the few outsiders to put down roots there, which earned him the favor of the Great Li emperor of that generation. All his paintings bore multiple seals from two successive Great Li emperors. Bian Ye probably never imagined that less than a hundred years after his death, because he couldn't make it in the Lu dynasty and came to the barbarian land of Great Li to scrape a living, he would inexplicably become the saint of painting in the Jewel Small World, showered with praise like "most skilled in the subtlety of flowers and birds, exquisite coloring, vivid as life," and "consummate skill, a model for all ages."
When Song He was young, he and some princes listened to teachings here. Someone shared Song He's view, saying the man's paintings were too garish. The previous emperor at the time made no comment on the quality, only saying that no matter who became the owner of this room, whether they liked it or not, the man's paintings must be kept.
However, in that brush pot, there was a scroll of calligraphy that was truly a treasure, titled "Better Not to Return Home Than to Return Home."
It could even be called the greatest treasure of this Great Li imperial study.
It was a work by Song He's teacher, the Great Li Dynasty National Teacher Cui Chan. A genuine piece.
Cui Chan's calligraphy, especially his running and cursive scripts, was supremely wonderful, recognized throughout the Hao Ran World as worth a thousand gold pieces per character.
The senior disciple of the former Sage Wen Sheng's lineage, the Embroidery Tiger Cui Chan, deserved that "embroidery" character, just as Chen Chun'an of the Boso Continent deserved the "pure" in "pure Confucian."
Cui Chan had the Four Themes Among Flowers, Four Themes Above Clouds, Four Themes By the Stream, Four Themes At Mountain Peaks—sixteen scrolls in total that have been passed down.
These sixteen scrolls were scattered across the nine continents, all in the hands of renowned collectors. One peak-level grandmaster from the Central Earth Divine Continent, who had a deep connection with Cui Chan, spent a fortune to acquire two scrolls, the "Beggar Begging for Rice Tablet" and the "Struggling for Seats Tablet," and publicly destroyed them, hailed as a heroic act.
But a hundred years later, the truth came out. This old cultivator, who claimed to be "the foremost in the world in detesting Cui Chan," had his secret leaked by his descendants. Outsiders learned that this old bastard had only destroyed two forgeries, secretly keeping the genuine articles for his family.
Additionally, it was said that the Liu clan of the Ai Ai Continent, the White Emperor City, the Lord of the Yu clan of Central Earth, and Jiang Shangzhen of the Jade Gui Sect all had one of his works in their collections.
Cui Chan entered the study, made a bow, and said, "Your Majesty, we can begin the discussion."
It was the ritual between ruler and subject.
The young emperor immediately stood up and returned the bow, which was the ritual between master and disciple.
It wasn't necessary, but Song He never deviated from it, even in front of all the senior ministers of the small court.
After Cui Chan sat down, the Minister of Rites and the two vice ministers bowed and then took their seats.
Then came the mountain people of the Jewel Small World, one by one.
Ancestor of the Shengao Sect, Dao Gate Immortal, Great Heavenly Lord Qi Zhen.
Great Li's chief guest elder, Patriarch of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, Ruan Qiong.
Ancestor of the Wind and Snow Temple, a Dao practitioner who looked like a child. His most recent appearance was during the three sparring matches between the Wind Thunder Garden and the Sunlit Mountain.
True Martial Mountain, a sword-carrying man who had just been promoted to the position of ancestral hall lawkeeper.
To outsiders, True Martial Mountain only needed one Ma Kuxuan to have a future.
Wind and Snow Temple was not inferior either; it had Wei Jin of the Immortal Platform. The only flaw was that Wei Jin had little attachment to the temple due to his teacher's influence, keeping distant and cold. Now he had gone to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Otherwise, Sword Immortal Wei Jin would have had a seat here today.
Chief guest elder of the True Realm Sect, Liu Laocheng, a wild cultivator from the Letter Lake.
A great noble of the Guanhu Academy.
Master of the Piyun Mountain Linlu Academy.
Old Dragon City Lord Fu Qi.
Great Sui Dynasty, ancestor of the Geyang Gao clan.
The new Five Marchmount Mountain Lords of the Jewel Small World. Only four had come today, including the Northern Lord Wei Bo and the Central Lord Jin Qing.
The Southern Lord Fan Junmao had not appeared.
The Mozi (Mohist Master).
The Mohist wandering knight Xu Ruo, with a sword behind his back.
An ancestor of the Yunlin Jiang clan.
Two river true gods from the central region of the Jewel Small World.
There was a rumor that they would gather the waters of six rivers and twelve streams, eventually converging into the sea as a great river!
It seemed this shocking rumor was no empty talk.
The head of the Qingfeng City Xu clan, who had acquired a piece of mole cricket armor, was like a tiger with wings, with immense killing power.
A young woman from Sunlit Mountain, said to be a newly appointed old master in charge of finances. Compared to the sword-cultivating ancestors of Sunlit Mountain, she was obscure.
She sat at the very end today.
Even behind the leading peaks of the old Great Li territory.
Logically, Sunlit Mountain and the Qingfeng City Xu clan were deep allies. But when the Xu clan head was waiting for an audience elsewhere, he saw this female cultivator from Sunlit Mountain beside him and only nodded slightly, too lazy for pleasantries.
She, on the other hand, took the initiative to stand up, make a Daoist salute, and then sit down.
In total, thirty-six cultivators and mountain-and-water deities had gathered earlier. Most were chatting with each other—for instance, the Jiang clan and the Fu family of Old Dragon City were in-laws, and the Qingfeng City Xu clan and the Pillar State Yuan clan were in-laws, with some ties to the Right Vice Minister of Rites. The Minister of Rites himself sat next to Ruan Qiong, speaking cordially. Wei Bo and Jin Qing were annoying each other. The other two new mountain lords seemed to have a decent relationship, discussing serious matters. Qi Zhen and the Mozi were having a great conversation. And the Geyang Gao clan ancestor, having lived in seclusion at the Piyun Mountain Linlu Academy for many years, plus the great noble from Guanhu Academy, could talk about scholarship.
This poor female cultivator from Sunlit Mountain couldn't find anyone to talk to.
Cui Chan stood up and cut to the chase: "Today, I have summoned you all to discuss ten matters."
Inside and outside the study were two different worlds.
Everyone held their breath, with no casual expressions.
Besides the fact that today's discussion in the imperial study concerned everyone, the Great Li National Teacher's current realm, shrouded in clouds, was also critical.
As for the three high officials of the Ministry of Rites, they were like students listening to their teacher.
Cui Chan said, "First matter: the court will soon announce the deputy mountains for the Five Marchmounts."
The four mountain lords naturally listened carefully, as it involved the foundation of their Dao.
In fact, this matter wasn't just about the Five Marchmounts' internal affairs; it also affected the interests of everyone present.
The Minister of Rites stood up, opened a booklet, and began reading names.
After reading the last name, the minister looked at Cui Chan, who was still standing. Cui Chan nodded slightly, and the old minister sat down.
Cui Chan said, "Second matter: select several candidate peaks that have popular support to become formal sects."
The Qingfeng City Xu clan head straightened his back and sat up properly.
The female cultivator from Sunlit Mountain also quickly composed herself.
She seemed especially afraid to look directly at the Dragon Spring Sword Sect's Sage Ruan Qiong.
Even when waiting for the emperor's summons earlier, she hadn't glanced at Ruan Qiong.
The reason was simple: for Sunlit Mountain to become a sect-level immortal clan, they needed to seize all the sword Dao fortune of the entire Zhu Ying Dynasty, establishing immortal mansions there to recruit and scoop up all sword cultivation talents.
In the end, four candidate peaks, including Qingfeng City Xu clan and Sunlit Mountain, had the chance to leap into sect status. The Great Li court would then tilt financial and material resources toward them.
Third matter: discuss the excavation of the great river leading to the sea, and nominate various immortal masters to assist.
The two great river true gods, now of equal rank to Tiefu River's Yang Huapin, could barely contain their excitement.
Although today's discussion didn't decide who would become the final great river deity, being invited to participate was honor enough.
Additionally, the Great Li court had designated three people: Civil Official Liu Qingfeng, Martial Officer Guan Yiran, and Liu Xunmei.
The other assistants were all mountain cultivators from peaks near the future great river, each offering advice.
The Yunlin Jiang clan ancestor felt the trip was worthwhile because the great river's mouth was very close to their clan, so he proposed that a Jiang clan member, Jiang Yun, participate.
The True Realm Sect guest elder Liu Laocheng smiled knowingly.
Fourth matter: screen the various mountain-and-water temples and shrines across the land, promoting the orthodox ones to formal temples with corresponding imperial decrees. Local peaks and cultivators should help increase incense offerings. Any unauthorized shrines (淫祠) should be immediately banned and destroyed. Local peaks are responsible for suppression.
The two vice ministers of Rites each read their respective booklets.
Fifth matter: relocate the Great Li capital's imitation Jade Capital to the central mountain region of the old Zhu Ying Dynasty.
The Mozi stood up and briefly explained some precautions.
All below the thirteenth realm can be killed. The person responsible for guarding the Jade Capital was an old acquaintance of the Central Mountain Lord Jin Qing: the Mohist wandering knight Xu Ruo.
Sixth matter: discuss that all immortal forces in the Jewel Small World must pay taxes to the Great Li court according to law.
The imperial study fell into silence.
Cui Chan spoke: "This matter is complicated. To cover everything won't be settled in a day or two. Today, you only need to say yes or no. If yes, people will work out the details. If no, we'll shelve it for now. The Great Li court won't target anyone in the near future. Whether you agree or not, after leaving this place, you'll receive a booklet with detailed explanations. Different peaks will have some variations but no major differences. Now, there's no need to rush your decision. Today is just to inform you. There will be at most a one-year buffer period."
Seventh matter: the Great Li dynasty borrows money and personnel from various peaks and how to repay. Additionally, each peak needs to send cultivators down the mountain to "pacify" the remnants and old princes of the fallen dynasties and vassal states, inviting them to stay temporarily in the Great Li capital region. If they like the local customs, they can settle long-term.
Eighth matter: discuss revitalizing Buddhism in the Jewel Small World and building temples, appointing a virtuous and eminent monk as the chief officer.
Upon hearing this, Heavenly Lord Qi Zhen frowned deeply.
Ninth matter: the Cliff Academy of the Great Sui must return to the ranks of the seventy-two Confucian academies. If possible, the Linlu Academy should also strive for this.
The Geyang Gao clan ancestor was greatly gratified.
One by one, the matters and agenda items were pushed forward rapidly under Cui Chan's leadership.
The young Emperor Song He just sat behind his desk, not at all angered by the national teacher's presumption, but rather looking spirited.
Cui Chan said, "The previous nine matters are all to prepare for this tenth matter. The last matter concerns the lives of everyone here, including His Majesty."
Cui Chan flicked his sleeve, and a panorama of the entire continent was presented to everyone.
All important peaks and sects appeared as lights on the scroll.
Cui Chan said, "We need to discuss the post-breach scenario of the Sword Qi Great Wall, after the Tongye Continent falls. How should the Jewel Small World arrange its defenses to resist the demon army's advance north?"
The Five Marchmounts of the continent command all mountains. The great river in the center concentrates the continent's water fortune.
The Guanhu Academy, Cliff Academy, and Linlu Academy are the continent's literary pulse.
The Shengao Sect, Dragon Spring Sword Sect, Wind and Snow Temple, True Martial Mountain, Old Dragon City, Yunlin Jiang clan, Letter Lake True Realm Sect, Sunlit Mountain, and Qingfeng City Xu clan are all key defensive points.
Plus all vassal forces and scattered major peaks—each is a rooted, immovable piece on the board.
Cui Chan said, "A series of coastal defensive points alone, like Old Dragon City and the Yunlin Jiang clan, are far from enough. We need sufficient strategic depth, and mutual support between peaks."
"Connecting points into lines, then into surfaces, is still too rigid."
"We also need a large number of offensive sword boats, more mountain-crossing ships. We'll have to pour in countless immortal coins."
"Many other strategies don't concern you now. Speaking more is useless. You will learn them in due time."
The Great Li capital's imperial study was dead silent.
Cui Chan pointed far to the south of the Jewel Small World's map, and to the west—one was the Tongye Continent, the other should be the Central Earth Divine Continent.
Cui Chan said coldly, "A Hao Ran World of such scale actually needs the smallest Jewel Small World to help block the demon army—isn't that a huge joke? I'd rather let the seven continents of the Hao Ran World laugh themselves to death."
Finally, Cui Chan said solemnly, "The vast Tongye Continent couldn't stop the demon army and is destined to sink and fall quickly. So let our little Jewel Small World do the job. Everyone: the great pressure bears down upon us. Those willing to save the heavens from collapse, please rise."
The young emperor was the first to stand.
Everyone present stood up.
At that moment, a person who didn't look like a cultivator walked into the imperial study and said with a smile, "My surname is Fan, but not from the Old Dragon City Fan family. I come from the Central Earth Divine Continent. I have some wealth and am willing to use immortal coins as a pillar of strength to do what little I can for the Jewel Small World."
Outside the study, in the corridor, stood an old eunuch in bright red python robes, his expression strange, squinting at the white-robed boy squatting against the wall.
The white-robed boy shouted angrily, "I've been running my ass off, exhausted, just to trick that old Fan into coming here. I've been standing here for most of the day, and I can't even take a break? Am I pissing or shitting here? Why do you care if I squat or stand? Try staring at me again—I'll give you a monkey stealing a peach, a bottom-fishing scoop. Believe me? Scared?"
The space was isolated; no one outside could hear. But inside the study, Cui Chan still called out, "Cui Dongshan!"
The white-robed boy with a mole between his eyebrows shook his sleeves. Instead of walking proudly into the study, he just left, tossing back a single sentence: "Good news: the Sword Qi Great Wall can hold out two or three more years longer than expected."
Cui Dongshan went to that imitation Jade Capital, climbing the tower alone.
At the top, through the window, he looked out at the sky and felt a bit nostalgic for the time when he was locked in an attic as a child, reading books.
Who would have thought that now, still a young lad, he was also a white-haired old man?
To hell with the sorrows of youth unknown; to hell with the old crane's single cry drowning out all noise.
The young seedling that fails to flower—grief since ancient times.
One continent like this, several continents like this, the mountain-and-water mortal world, the entire world like this.
Cui Dongshan slapped his face. "In such a moment, I should cry."
He rubbed his cheeks, opened his mouth wide, and let out an "awoo." "I'm fierce."
After leaving the Great Li capital.
On the official road, passersby stared.
A thin, frail, pitiful child carried the white-robed boy on his back, trudging along. The young lord was delighted.