Chapter 682: Above the Line
A ferry from the Central Earth Divine Continent docked at Daoxuan Mountain under the cover of night, but it did not unload cargo. Instead, over a hundred Qi refiners disembarked, their breaths long and steady, all of them accomplished cultivators who strictly adhered to the rules.
At the Spring Banner Studio, Nalan Caihuan and Shao Yunyan personally welcomed them, escorting them all the way to the main gate. These cultivators were Yin-Yang School and Mohist mechanism masters, but they would not ascend the city wall to fight.
They split into several groups, each heading to the Mirage, the Summer Retreat Palace, the Winter Shelter Palace, and a few private residences of Sword Immortals. Among these was the Elm Immortal Manor, whose foundation was formed by that Sword Immortal’s refined Bright Moon Flying Immortal Poem Tablet. Adjacent to it were the residences of several female sword cultivators, which, at the behest of a Hidden Official lineage sword cultivator temporarily serving as “Supervisor of Works,” were allowed to leave the forbidden grounds set by their masters. Three Golden Core sword cultivators were about to fly on their swords to the city wall. Having been confined to their residences for so many years by their master, practicing swordplay day in and day out, they had even forgotten about their female attire and neglected to request a robe from the garment workshop. They were eager to go to the city wall and kill as many demons as they could. However, they were blocked by a young girl with a small hand-copied inkstone tied at her waist and a bamboo backpack, who told them they could only go to the Mirage; otherwise, they had to obediently return to their residences and continue practicing swordsmanship.
Five Yin-Yang School cultivators and Mohist mechanism masters, after receiving a geomantic map gifted by the Summer Retreat Palace and a detailed annotation, began to crack the restrictions of this private residence one by one. The door opened smoothly, and soon a luminous mirror with a moon motif emerged above the Sword Immortal's private residence, hanging in the air. Inside the ancient mirror, four auspicious beasts galloped around the mirror knob. Once the formation was activated, the surroundings of the private residence were illuminated brilliantly, every detail visible.
This group of outland cultivators responsible for moving the Elm Immortal Manor and this residence took a moment to watch the confrontation between the girl and the three Golden Core sword cultivators. She spoke very fast, like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube. Although the outland cultivators had learned some of the Sword Qi Great Wall’s dialect during their journey to Daoxuan Mountain, they could only catch the gist. In any case, her momentum alone completely overwhelmed the three Earth Immortals.
No matter how the three Golden Core sword cultivators reasoned with her emotionally or logically, it was useless with the girl. One of them, truly anxious, shouted, “Guo Zhujiu! Don’t think that just because the Hidden Official is your master, you can act all high and mighty! The three of us are at least Golden Core cultivators, your seniors on the path of cultivation…”
In fact, the girl often came here to climb the walls and wander around, so they were quite familiar with each other.
Guo Zhujiu crossed her arms, looking impartial, “Anyway, if you dare go to the city wall, my Hidden Official lineage flying sword will get there faster, and then a certain Sword Immortal will throw you back here. You won’t even be able to go to the Mirage, which has more space.”
A relatively steady Golden Core sword cultivator smiled bitterly, “No room for negotiation?”
Guo Zhujiu nodded, but then said, “It can be!”
The three Golden Core sword cultivators, along with the outland Qi refiners watching the show, were caught off guard.
Guo Zhujiu said, “As long as you don’t go to the city wall, you can intercept and kill all the fleeing demons that cross the wall. But you are not allowed to die. If one dies, the other two will be grounded by a certain Sword Immortal for a hundred years.”
Guo Zhujiu pointed toward the Mirage, “The Executioner and our Hidden Official lineage’s top sword immortal, Mi Jianxian, are there. It’s not your turn, you little Golden Cores.”
The three sword cultivators exchanged smiles. It was better than watching from the sidelines in the Mirage.
Guo Zhujiu suddenly said, “Don’t die.”
Three streaks of sword light flashed and vanished.
The outland Qi refiners, who were of no low realm, felt heavy-hearted and puzzled.
Was it really that the sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall didn’t care about their lives or Dao paths? When forced by necessity, dying without regret wasn’t rare in the Haoran World either, but how could there be cultivators who sought death so eagerly when they didn’t have to die?
Guo Zhujiu turned her head, gazing at the three streaks of sword light as they faded into the distance, refusing to look away for a long time.
She was afraid they would act impulsively and go straight to the city wall. She even thought that if they went to the city wall, she would follow.
Guo Zhujiu kept looking toward the city wall, secretly searching for the figures of her parents, but she couldn’t find them.
Master, parents, children, lovers, ancestors, juniors, friends.
Which sword cultivator on the Sword Qi Great Wall didn’t have a solid reason to kill demons? There were also many sword cultivators below Sword Immortal realm willing to kill demons but not willing to die. The Elder Sword Immortal and the Summer Retreat Palace no longer forced anyone. They only needed to guard the city wall; if things went wrong, they could retreat on their own, and if it seemed safer, they could return. Now on the Sword Qi Great Wall, the Confucian gentlemen and worthies had already resigned from their posts as supervisors, and the Hidden Official lineage of the Summer Retreat Palace rarely sent flying sword messages to the city wall.
Guo Zhujiu turned around and smiled, “Seniors, you’ve worked hard.”
The outland Qi refiners, who had been carrying some resentment and complaints due to the heavy sword aura and numerous suppressions here, found themselves speechless when faced with the sincere thanks of a girl with a bamboo backpack. After all, they could earn some hard-earned money here. That was the most important thing, but also, in the academies and schools, this action would be recorded, a considerable merit.
At the Winter Shelter Palace, another group of outlanders had arrived.
There was no one left to teach boxing. The dozen or so children now practiced entirely on their own. According to Jiang Yun’s words, besides walking the stake and standing the stake, they also had paired sparring matches, beating each other to death.
When the Qi refiners passed the training ground, all the children stopped practicing. Most looked indifferently at the immortal cultivators from the Haoran World.
The sword cultivator Gu Jianlong, serving as temporary supervisor here, didn’t bother to explain anything to these children. He was lazy and unwilling. Besides, if he said a few fair words, the two groups, with their vast age difference, might end up fighting directly. Gu Jianlong always believed that the Haoran World, even with the Hidden Official, with friends like Lin Junbi and Xuanshen, and with those outland sword cultivators, was still the Haoran World.
At the sword workshop.
Luo Zhenyi sat on a step, eyes closed, concentrating, nurturing his flying sword.
A young outland Golden Core cultivator, while working with his sect elders, mustered the courage to approach the girl. But before he could speak, the woman said “Thanks for your hard work,” then added “Now scram.”
Two statements, one for the task, one for the person.
At the garment workshop, Wang Xinshui gazed toward the city wall. An old outland cultivator smiled and asked, “Young friend, may I ask your age and realm? This old man is truly curious.”
Wang Xinshui returned the courtesy, smiling as he turned his head, “On the Sword Qi Great Wall, it’s not worth mentioning.”
Seeing the old man didn’t believe him, Wang Xinshui added, “That’s not false modesty.”
The old man laughed, “Being able to speak amicably with you, young friend, is already an unexpected joy of this long journey.”
Wei Wenlong had already returned from the Mirage to the Spring Banner Studio and spoke about the fierce methods of the Throne Great Demons. For example, one called Huang Luan seemed to have gone mad, smashing about ten or twenty percent of the pavilions and towers toward the city wall. Those small worlds meticulously refined by Huang Luan also hid many Earth Immortal demons, including some demon sword cultivators shouting “The first to cross the city wall, so-and-so.” After a Daoist temple shattered, relying on sword light to fly, one barely endured a sword strike from a Sword Immortal, managed to cross the city wall, and fled onto the city grand formation. Then Mi Yu struck down from above, cleaving both Golden Core and Nascent Soul in two. A light flick of his sleeve, and the clouds dispersed—truly the elegance of a Sword Immortal.
Nalan Caihuan looked at Wei Wenlong’s admiring expression and said testily, “No matter how much of a brocade pillow Mi Yu is, he’s still a Jade Perfection realm. Dealing with a severely injured Nascent Soul is more than enough.”
Shao Yunyan asked with a smile, “Who was the so-and-so?”
His own Sword Immortal was at the same realm as Mi Yu, actually slightly inferior in real combat power. Shao Yunyan’s face was not insignificant at Daoxuan Mountain, but poor Mi Yu on the Sword Qi Great Wall was just casually mocked by a Nascent Soul sword cultivator like Nalan Caihuan.
Wei Wenlong shook his head, “I couldn’t understand the barbaric wilderness’s official language. Afterward, Sword Immortal Mi didn’t report the opponent’s name, only said ‘the first to cross the city wall,’ five words.”
Shao Yunyan sighed, “The Water Essence Palace’s Ancestor Yun Qian should be visiting soon.”
Nalan Caihuan sneered, “The Hidden Official has good vision and methods. It’s true that only a Qi refiner like Yun Qian doesn’t treat her own Jade Perfection realm as a Fifth Realm. If it were another sect’s Fifth Realm ancestral master, how could they be so constrained?”
Shao Yunyan was a mild-mannered man who rarely showed any sharpness. Today, he rarely clashed with Nalan Caihuan, saying, “Yun Qian’s Dao heart is higher than mine.”
The implication was: I, Shao Yunyan, am a Sword Immortal; you, Nalan Caihuan, are only a Nascent Soul, so naturally she’s higher than you.
Nalan Caihuan raised an eyebrow, “Higher realm, higher Dao heart, so what? If it came to life and death between us, could Yun Qian survive?!”
Shao Yunyan smiled, returning the color, slowly saying, “And so what? That doesn’t stop her Dao heart from being higher than yours.”
Wei Wenlong silently applauded his teacher’s “And so what”—absolutely brilliant.
Nalan Caihuan sneered, “Sword Immortal Shao hasn’t spent much time with the Hidden Official, but you’ve picked up about seventy or eighty percent of his skill with words.”
Shao Yunyan chuckled, “I wouldn’t dare claim that.”
But aside from banter, when Wei Wenlong faced the ledger on the table, he unconsciously became lost in thought.
One of the four major private residences on Daoxuan Mountain, the Water Essence Palace, the only one not yet touched by the Sword Qi Great Wall, seemed to still be in heated debate, no conclusion in sight.
First, the Rain Dragon Sect’s sect master personally visited the Water Essence Palace, but still couldn’t convince her junior sister Yun Qian to abandon the idea of moving north. Of course, Yun Qian couldn’t persuade her senior sister either. When Yun Qian made the northern migration plan public on a small scale, the Water Essence Palace, with its many factions, became fraught with contradictions. Most seemed to have received secret letters from the Ancestral Hall, giving Ancestor Yun Qian a soft refusal. Yun Qian, a Jade Perfection realm deity, returned to her own peak in the Rain Dragon Sect, only to find that many direct disciples and secondary disciples also had objections, unwilling to follow Yun Qian north. Especially a direct disciple who had become a Dao partner with Fu Ke, resolute in saying she would not leave the Rain Dragon Sect, that she could only fail her teacher’s kindness. This left Yun Qian increasingly weary at heart.
Yun Qian had no choice but to hide her traces and secretly visit the Spring Banner Studio. She sat in the meeting hall, meeting Sword Immortal Shao Yunyan and Nascent Soul sword cultivator Nalan Caihuan from the Sword Qi Great Wall.
Yun Qian was indeed not good at dealing with people. She came worried, and after sitting down, didn’t know how to begin.
Shao Yunyan didn’t want this Rain Dragon Sect ancestor to be too embarrassed, so he took the initiative, “Is the Rain Dragon Sect’s Ancestral Hall thinking that even if the Sword Qi Great Wall can’t be held, then discussing retreat and relocation later won’t be too hasty? Because the Rain Dragon Sect’s ancestral court is still a considerable distance from Daoxuan Mountain. If the situation really becomes dire, they can just learn from the wanderers, pack up important items and bundles, and leave eventually. Moreover, gathering their storage artifacts and space artifacts, plus your sect master’s sleeve universe, in the worst case, it’s enough to preserve the sect’s vitality.”
Yun Qian was silent, nodding lightly.
Shao Yunyan continued, “But if they relocate now, moving the mountain roots and water fortunes, dismantling the mountain-water formation, it will be hard to restore later. In short, many difficulties, not cost-effective, not suitable to move, wait and see—that is the careful decision of the Rain Dragon Sect’s Ancestral Hall.”
Nalan Caihuan suddenly said, “Sword Immortal Shao underestimates the Rain Dragon Sect’s business acumen. They’ve already started secretly buying up shops and properties on Daoxuan Mountain. Well, that makes many stores that were willing to abandon their ancestral businesses unwilling to sell. The Rain Dragon Sect truly has great merit!”
Shao Yunyan glanced at Nalan Caihuan. She leaned back slightly, resting against her chair, indicating that she would be mute from now on.
In fact, these weren’t harsh words. The truly piercing remarks she hadn’t spoken: for example, there must be high-ranking members in the Rain Dragon Sect, not just one or two, who were thinking of making a bigger profit during the upheaval of heaven and earth, not just a Reed Flower Island that you, Yun Qian, couldn’t take by force, but even splitting off a large piece of territory from Tongye Island as a subsidiary sect’s location was possible.
Shao Yunyan said, “From the current situation, the Rain Dragon Sect’s ancestral court clearly will not migrate north. The reason not many sect cultivators follow you, Friend Yun Qian, actually can’t be blamed on their shortsightedness. Rather, it’s because their calculations are savvy. First, any cultivator following you north would be suspected of splitting the Rain Dragon Sect. Once the Ancestral Hall is angered, your senior sister could directly issue a decree, turning them from registered immortal masters into wild cultivators of the mountains and marshes. That’s a tangible worry close at hand.”
“Second, even if they risk the northward migration, where would they go? Where could they find an immortal island as spiritually rich as the Rain Dragon Sect’s ancestral court? Would they have to rent territory? When have Rain Dragon Sect cultivators ever needed to live under someone else’s roof? If they casually choose a place with thin spiritual energy, how many of the migrating cultivators’ Dao paths would be delayed for centuries or millennia?”
“Even further, if they do find a barely suitable overseas immortal island, building a residence, constructing a mountain-water formation, the expenditure on heavenly materials and earthly treasures—where would that huge sum of immortal money come from? Ancestor Yun Qian is famously not good at management and has shallow resources. Moreover, she is ascetic and doesn’t like socializing, with mediocre connections. Following a great cultivator who has only realm but no way to generate wealth, wandering in a foreign land—no matter how you look at it, it’s not a good decision.”
Yun Qian was speechless, didn’t even nod.
Nalan Caihuan finally spoke, “What to do?”
Shao Yunyan rubbed his brow. It was fortunate it was Yun Qian; any other Fifth Realm cultivator would have left in anger by now.
Nalan Caihuan glanced at the indecisive Fifth Realm female cultivator and asked, “Yun Qian, how many people can you take away?”
Yun Qian said, “Sixty-two, including three Earth Immortals.”
Nalan Caihuan said, “That many?”
Yun Qian blushed.
She mistakenly thought Nalan Caihuan was being sarcastic again.
Nalan Caihuan said unexpectedly, “I can lend you all the immortal money I’ve saved up.”
Shao Yunyan was greatly surprised. Nalan Caihuan lending money to Yun Qian wasn’t in the plan.
Yun Qian asked doubtfully, “Why is that?”
Nalan Caihuan said, “Once the world is in chaos, mortal money loses value, but immortal money becomes more valuable. I have only one condition.”
Yun Qian nodded, “Please speak.”
Nalan Caihuan said, “If one day you, Yun Qian, break away from the Rain Dragon Sect and establish your own sect, I will be the sect master. Rest assured, by then I will certainly be a Sword Immortal. If not, if you stubbornly hold onto your status as a registered Rain Dragon Sect cultivator, then after a hundred years, you will repay the money according to the mountain rules.”
Yun Qian thought for a moment and nodded, “It’s settled!”
Finally, she showed some of the decisiveness befitting a Fifth Realm cultivator.
Shao Yunyan knew that cultivators like Yun Qian were naturally suited to be second-in-command, not sect masters.
Nalan Caihuan turned and smiled, “Sword Immortal Shao, if there’s an opportunity, how about becoming our chief offering?”
Shao Yunyan replied without hesitation, “Agreed.”
This bond of incense friendship forged with Nalan Caihuan at the Spring Banner Studio was extraordinary. Shao Yunyan was already a Sword Immortal with a wide circle of friends. Nalan Caihuan, though overly shrewd in business and lacking some magnanimity, was exactly the kind of person needed to manage affairs if they established a sect in the Haoran World.
Yun Qian felt greatly relieved.
Shao Yunyan had an excellent reputation at Daoxuan Mountain. He couldn’t simply be regarded as a Jade Perfection Sword Immortal.
Moreover, at critical moments of life and death, one’s true character was revealed. The Spring Banner Studio was so close to the Sword Qi Great Wall; Sword Immortal Shao’s nature was clear for all to see. Compared to the money-making Nalan Caihuan, Yun Qian actually trusted Shao Yunyan more in her heart.
Nalan Caihuan said, “My business is done. Brother Yunyan, you continue with the main matter.”
Shao Yunyan didn’t mind Nalan Caihuan’s change of address. He said to Yun Qian, “The last time the Hidden Official came to the Spring Banner Studio, he said that if Friend Yun Qian’s northward migration was obstructed, there was a compromise plan. Friend Yun Qian could go to the Rain Dragon Sect’s Ancestral Hall again and say you are willing to personally lead a group of sect disciples on a traveling journey, about five years, and ask your senior sister for a sum of immortal money as expenses for leading the training. Of course, the amount shouldn’t be too large. Besides exploring Dragon Trench, you’ll also visit various immortal secret realms, like Reed Flower Island, travel through the Creation Cave, seek ancient immortal fortunes there. Qi refiners below Earth Immortal who are interested can follow. Additionally, you’ll tour places like Resting Dragon Stone.”
Shao Yunyan paused and smiled, “The Hidden Official originally thought Friend Yun Qian could only take away thirty people, but it turned out to be double, which is a bit troublesome. If sixty-two people leave the Rain Dragon Sect and Water Essence Palace all at once, your senior sister and the entire Rain Dragon Sect Ancestral Hall will likely lose face.”
Yun Qian fell into a dilemma again.
Nalan Caihuan couldn’t stand this female cultivator’s lack of worldly experience. Some cultivators were truly only fit for single-minded pursuit of the Dao. She couldn’t help but speak up, “What’s so hard about that? At the Ancestral Hall, you should reflect and blame yourself properly, say you’ve given up the absurd idea of moving north, and are willing to make amends by fulfilling your duties as an ancestor for the sect disciples. Then have those cultivators who were earlier willing to follow you north find some nice excuses to take intercontinental ferries from Suopo Continent and Vase Continent, for example, saying they are traveling to visit friends. Remember, they must leave in batches. Let a few go every now and then, without showing any sign. Otherwise, with your senior sister’s temper, after you lead the expedition, she might secretly imprison or house-arrest them. She is capable of that.”
Yun Qian nodded gently.
After settling the hundred-year agreement, Nalan Caihuan looked at Yun Qian’s weak and naive appearance and suddenly found it endearing. Such a great cultivator who didn’t contend with the world was unlikely to cause trouble for the sect master. In the Haoran World, many immortal peaks had been ruined by their own people—for instance, when a cultivator rose to become the peak’s top realm, ambitious and power-hungry, it would lead to internal strife.
Shao Yunyan said, “Making a big show of dismantling houses and moving residences for the northward migration actually only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. The Hidden Official had concerns about the three matters I mentioned earlier, but at that time we hadn’t fully opened up, worried that Friend Yun Qian might misunderstand our intentions, so it wasn’t appropriate to speak plainly. What we sought then was simply to help Friend Yun Qian preserve some seeds of cultivation for the Rain Dragon Sect. However, the Hidden Official also admitted that migration had no good strategy; we could only strive not to take the worst one. What I’m about to say now, I ask Friend Yun Qian to consider carefully. The so-called traveling journey is, of course, false. Abandoning the northward migration is actually true. Only then can the Rain Dragon Sect feel at ease and let you go.”
Shao Yunyan sighed as he spoke.
Yun Qian’s expression was focused, “I beseech Sword Immortal Shao to enlighten me.”
Shao Yunyan smiled, “After you travel through Reed Flower Island and the Creation Cave, you will continue east and eventually land on Tongye Island. The Hidden Official wrote in his letter, ‘Firewood is in the green mountains,’ which means as long as the green mountains remain, there is no worry about firewood, but also implies that firewood is in the mountains, not in the water. Then you and your sect disciples will have three options. First, go find the Heavenly Lord of Taiping Mountain and say that you, Chen Ping’an, are a friend.”
“Then head north, cross continents to land at Old Dragon City, first find the Southern Sacred Mountain Lord of Vase Continent, Fan Junmao. The Great Li Song family is currently digging a great river. Rain Dragon Sect cultivators are skilled in water methods, which can both hone their Dao conduct and accumulate some incense friendship. After accomplishing this, continue northward through Vase Continent, take the Hemp Garment Sect ferry from Oxhorn Mountain Ferry to Bonespar Beach, then take the Spring Dew Garden ferry. The destination is the Dragon Palace Lesser Heaven in the middle of North Juzhou Island, co-owned by the Water Dragon Sect, Drifting Reed Sword Lake, and the Xiao Family of Cloud Palace. Among them, the Great River Water Chief Li Yuan and the Southern Fragrance Water Hall Lady Shen Lin are both friends of the Hidden Official. You can settle and cultivate on one of those Duckweed Islands, even borrow it for a hundred years without issue. As for which of these three places you ultimately choose to settle—whether to attach yourself to Taiping Mountain, establish a residence on the banks of the great river in Vase Continent, or stay in the Water Fortune-rich Dragon Palace Lesser Heaven—it all depends on Dao affinity.”
Shao Yunyan paused briefly, then said in a low voice, “The Hidden Official once said that this journey is ultimately one of displacement and hardship, certainly not smooth sailing. It will inevitably require accommodating others everywhere, so Friend Yun Qian must pay close attention to the mental changes of your sect disciples and offer much guidance.”
Yun Qian glanced at the main seat in the meeting hall and asked, “I have only one last question. I implore Sword Immortal Shao and Friend Nalan: why is the Hidden Official willing to do this?”
Shao Yunyan smiled knowingly, “To be honest, I’m also curious. The Hidden Official’s impression of the Rain Dragon Sect… is quite average.”
Nalan Caihuan said bluntly, “I dare to assert that that fellow is both helping others and helping himself. A young man without mortal enemies could never have achieved what he has today or possess such a Dao heart!”
Shao Yunyan joked, “Fortunately, Wenlong isn’t one to tattle, and Mi Yu is used to being bullied by you. Otherwise, with the Hidden Official’s small-mindedness, heh.”
Nalan Caihuan suddenly stared intently at Yun Qian.
Yun Qian was baffled.
Nalan Caihuan burst out laughing, “Your Rain Dragon Sect has many female cultivators.”
Yun Qian didn’t know why she would say that.
Nalan Caihuan laughed to herself, “Good, good. Our Hidden Official, aside from everything else, has always been respectful and aloof toward women. The more beautiful, the more cautious.”
Shao Yunyan didn’t want Nalan Caihuan to continue rambling, so he stood up and cupped his hands, “I wish Friend Yun Qian a smooth journey.”
Yun Qian stood up and returned the gesture, “Sword Immortal Shao’s planning grace and Friend Nalan’s loan grace, Yun Qian will remember.”
After Yun Qian left.
Nalan Caihuan and Shao Yunyan walked together toward the accounting room. She asked, “Do you know about Chen Ping’an’s situation in his hometown?”
Shao Yunyan shook his head.
He was pondering one matter: according to the young Hidden Official’s prediction, the likelihood that Yun Qian and the Rain Dragon Sect cultivators would eventually choose Tongye Island seemed the smallest, but was actually the greatest.
The reasoning was simple: Tongye Island would likely be shattered, with many immortal forces reduced to less than one in ten. However, Yun Qian would first travel through the other two continents.
Nalan Caihuan laughed in frustration, “I am neither friend nor foe to Chen Ping’an. Telling me won’t kill you. Don’t forget, we might end up on the same peak someday.”
Shao Yunyan smiled, “Whether to be friends with Chen Ping’an is a matter of personal preference. As for being enemies, I think we’ll pass.”
Shao Yunyan actually knew quite a bit about Chen Ping’an.
Because Shao Yunyan would follow Lu Zhi and the Drunken Face Lady to South Suopo Continent. Chen Ping’an hoped that after Shao Yunyan arrived in South Suopo Continent, he would meet Liu Xianyang once. And his direct disciple Wei Wenlong was a confirmed offering of the Fallen Mountain, so both sides were very candid. When Chen Ping’an last appeared at the Spring Banner Studio, he talked more about the inside story of his hometown.
The young Hidden Official was in the Great Li dynasty that occupied a continent. His sword inquiry against the Righteous Mountain was a move that affected the whole situation. If he tore off the mask with Great Li, Fallen Mountain would be surrounded by enemies with nowhere to hide. The Jise Peak Ancestral Hall could not be moved.
But if the chessboard was enlarged, Vase Continent lay between North Juzhou and Tongye Island. North Juzhou had Bonespar Beach Hemp Garment Sect, Taihui Sword Sect, Drifting Reed Sword Lake, Spring Dew Garden, etc. Tongye Island had the Jade Gui Sect with Jiang Shangzhen sitting in charge, and Taiping Mountain, which he had met by fate.
Since the Great Li Song family had been steeped in pragmatic learning for over a hundred years, they would naturally calculate this account carefully: the specific gains and losses, whether it was worth acting as a protective charm for a Righteous Mountain.
Liu Xianyang’s method of sword inquiry was certainly viable.
But deep down, Chen Ping’an hoped that one day, that old beast, the Mountain-Moving Ape, would be besieged and killed by Righteous Mountain itself.
He would only need to sit in the Righteous Mountain Ancestral Hall, be forced to play the honored guest by a group of so-called sword cultivators, drink tea or wine as he pleased, and watch the Mountain-Moving Ape fall into isolation and betrayal.
Sword inquiry is in the heart.
Of course, directly ascending the mountain with Liu Xianyang, inquiring of Righteous Mountain, and throwing the Mountain-Moving Ape’s head into the Ancestral Hall was also a satisfying thing.
I don’t lose; you do as you please.
At the door of the accounting room, Nalan Caihuan suddenly said, “Looking only at the arrangements for Yun Qian’s retreat, Shao Yunyan, are you afraid?”
Shao Yunyan smiled, “Afraid? Afraid of what?”
Nalan Caihuan shook her head, “Nothing.”
—
On top of the city wall, Lu Zhi looked down at the battlefield at her feet, where demons clustered like an anthill. This female Great Sword Immortal was nursing her wounds; half her face was a blur of blood and flesh. The battle was stalemated, so she couldn’t spare the attention.
Besides, Lu Zhi had never cared about her appearance.
Earlier, she had gone too far outside the city and taken a natal spell from the Great Demon Chongguang, plus a flying sword from Sword Immortal Shouchen.
But at the moment, in the world’s largest anthill, there was a line tide surging violently southward.
Flying swords in front, thousands of sword cultivators behind.
Above the line, flying swords and demons clashed head-on.
Countless demons were sent flying backward, their broken limbs and remains splattering everywhere.
This was the city-exiting sword formation led by the three Great Sword Immortals: Nalan Shaowei, Yue Qing, and Mi Hu. Those willing to fight outside the city could let loose their swords.
Further away were Ah Liang, Chen Xi, and Qi Tingji—three Sword Immortals who had carved words on the city wall—each occupying one spot on the battlefield, forming a triangular support.
Among them, Qi Tingji struck with full force, and each time his sword energy vibrated and dispersed, the area within a hundred or so zhang was cleared, only to be swarmed by countless demons again.
Besides the Great Demons Huang Luan, Yang Zhi, Bai Ying, and the Golden Armored Divine General, who were responsible for disrupting the city wall, they would fight Ah Liang and the other two periodically, with occasional participation from other Throne Great Demons.
High in the sky, Dong San’geng and that Throne Great Demon who had refined half the moon essence were locked in a long battle using a huge moon as their battlefield.
Looking up, a fine black line was clearly visible on the enormous full moon.
Even from such a distance, the mark was visible. If one were within the moon, one would surely need to fly a long way on a sword to see both ends of the sword scar.
That was caused by a previous strike from Dong San’geng.
The Old Deaf One, though a demon, killed other demons more straightforwardly than many Sword Immortals. He used a secret technique to superimpose his massive true body and towering Dharma form, specifically tearing apart the heads and limbs of those colossal demons, then casually hurling them like flying swords toward the southern battlefield.
The Three Teachings Sage—the old Daoist’s robe was painted with an ancient Great Mountain True Form Diagram, far more than just the Five Sacred Mountains.
The old Daoist held a natal object, the Immortal Multi-Treasure Mirror, as large as a giant lake above the sea of clouds. Wherever the mirror light shone, all became scorched earth.
The Confucian Sage took a scroll, “The Yellow Flow Great River Map,” from his sleeve. He pressed his two fingers together and lightly wiped. The long scroll unfurled, falling from the city wall, suspended between heaven and earth. The Yellow River’s water descended from the sky, smashing the demons swarming the city wall back to the ground, drowning them in the flood, leaving countless bones.
The Buddhist Saint, drenched in blood, had golden blood coalescing into ten golden dragons.
This monk broke his own fingers to serve as the spines of the golden dragons, then used the blood from the broken fingers to dot the dragons’ eyes.
Finally, with all ten fingers severed, the monk gently brought his palms together, bowed his head slightly, and intoned a Buddhist chant.
On the battlefield, Li Cai stood alone, wielding her sword deep into enemy territory. Surrounded on all sides by demons and spells.
There was no end to the killing. What could be done?
Kill more!
If I die here today, you heartless bastard Jiang Shangzhen, remember to squeeze out a few tears at least, put on a show!
Thousands of sword cultivators left the city wall, opening the formation in a line tide. As the battlefield advanced, that originally straight line gradually thinned and twisted.
A young sword cultivator named Chen Li followed the line tide of sword energy, moving freely across the battlefield. He didn’t linger, stabbing any demon that was wounded but not dead with his sword. If one strike wasn’t enough, he didn’t get tangled.
The youth Chen Li wore the sword Huiming, and his natal flying sword was “Sleep and Wake.” That sword was a relic of a Sword Immortal. When the flying sword’s ability was combined with that, it could form the prototype of a small world. Although he was only at the Observation Sea realm, he was extremely shrewd in battle, calculating, with near-instinctive control over the battlefield situation, seeking benefits and avoiding harm. He also loved scavenging wildly on the battlefield. Before seeing money or treasures, he would scurry everywhere; once he saw money, he was the type to risk his life for it. Hence he earned the nickname Little Hidden Official.
The youth had once written on a placard in that tavern the bold words: “A hundred-year Sword Immortal easily obtained.”
Chen Li killed a burly demon with one sword strike. While running with his sword, he casually wiped the blood from his face, rolled to dodge a flying sword from a hidden demon sword cultivator, while at the same time sending his flying sword “Sleep and Wake” straight at the opponent. The opponent also dodged the flying sword. They parted ways, neither intending to pursue.
An elderly Golden Core sword cultivator of the Sword Qi Great Wall was surrounded, nearly having his sword arm chopped off by a demon’s axe. Unexpectedly, a dull-faced green-robed swordsman blocked the blow and casually lopped off the demon’s head. The Golden Core sword cultivator thanked him. Even if he took an axe blow, it wouldn’t kill him, but losing an arm on the battlefield would force a temporary retreat. Unexpectedly, the swordsman tore off his face mask and smiled slightly. The Golden Core sword cultivator was stunned, then laughed heartily, “You dog of a Second Shopkeeper!” Then a sharp pain shot through his heart as the “Young Hidden Official” stabbed his heart with a sword, shattering the old man’s Golden Core with sword energy. The man re-covered his face and vanished in a flash, heading to another part of the battlefield.
Wei Jin of the Snow Temple, who had been recuperating and watching the battlefield, immediately stood up and flew off on his sword.
This person must be killed.
Otherwise, the consequences would be endless.
He was of the same school as Chen Ping’an and Shouchen, and extremely so. Capable of self-preservation with sufficient killing power—only when both were achieved did so-called scheming and methods have meaning. Otherwise, it was better to simply strike with the sword, direct and straightforward.
In the heart of the battlefield, a burly armored figure rode a fine horse, holding a long spear. The spear had pierced the bodies of three sword cultivators.
This Great Demon reined in the horse with one hand, making it turn in place. The burly armored figure, his face hidden by a mask, seemed to be patiently waiting for a Sword Immortal.
A young sword cultivator was punched through the chest by a demon with a human head and ape body, falling listlessly. The demon then crushed his head with a foot. Just as the demon looked up, a sword light from far away exploded its entire head.
A young female sword cultivator whose natal flying sword had been destroyed staggered in retreat. A demon lunged sideways, grabbed her arm, and punched her neck. Her entire arm was torn off. The demon put it in its mouth and chewed loudly. Then it shook its chin at the two companions of the female cultivator in the distance, indicating they could go ahead and rescue her. The girl fell in a pool of blood, her face covered in gore, her vision blurry. She strained to look at the young men far away, who had grown up with her. She picked up a broken weapon nearby and thrust it into her own heart.
The demon frowned, tossed away the half-chewed arm, and was about to attack the two young sword cultivators when a sudden punch shattered its body completely.
It died without even seeing the face of the female martial artist who struck—only an unremarkable, thin old woman.
At the entrance of the Armor Account Tent, an old man in gray stood expressionless, looking at the battlefield.
The bearded man Liu Cha stood beside him and asked, “Are we just letting the Sword Qi Great Wall drag this out? Since they didn’t choose to retreat to the Haoran World, Chen Qingdu clearly intends to abandon the Sword Qi Great Wall itself to leave behind a batch of sword seeds.”
The gray-clad old man smiled, “Retreat to the Haoran World? I would be quite happy with that. As long as they leave this entire Sword Qi Great Wall to me, let these sword cultivators go wherever they want, as long as they withdraw from here to Daoxuan Mountain. Given the nature of those Qi refiners in the Haoran World, in the three continents of South Suopo, Fuyao, and Tongye, maybe we wouldn’t even need to act—they might start fighting among themselves first. Unfortunately, Chen Qingdu isn’t stupid. Otherwise, if the Sword Qi Great Wall sword cultivators retreat today, and South Suopo retreats tomorrow, and Tongye and Fuyao follow the day after, sooner or later the cultivators of the eight continents would all retreat to the Central Earth Divine Continent. I wouldn’t stop them.”
Liu Cha said, “According to messages from the dead warriors who crossed the city wall, the Sword Qi Great Wall has mobilized a large batch of Yin-Yang School and Mohist mechanism masters, planning to elevate the entire city into the sky.”
The gray-clad old man nodded, “That would be a bit troublesome. Relying solely on the Sword Qi Great Wall’s formation foundation, even with the Mirage as the tip of the Heaven-Opening Sword, plus those Sword Immortal residences to help clear the path, they still cannot lift the entire city.”
The old man smiled, “Isn’t this act of Chen Qingdu like a cornered dog jumping over a wall?”
Liu Cha didn’t speak.
At Daoxuan Mountain, the young innkeeper of the Crane-Sparrow Inn sat at the entrance basking in the sun. Year after year, nothing new, but it was better than weathering wind and rain.
By the Old Gate, the little Daoist apprentice was still flipping through a book. The sword-carrying man crouched beside him, complaining that he was flipping too fast.
The Great Heavenly Lord had received a decree from his master when he emerged from seclusion.
The Sword Veneration Pavilion was already closed. The shops still open on Deer Cliff were also deserted. Lingzhi Studio was nearly empty. The Arrest-and-Release Pavilion no longer had its bustling crowds.
Most cultivators of the Rain Dragon Sect still felt the sky wouldn’t fall.
The children on Reed Flower Island continued to pester the old man with questions about strange people and things on the land.
In the Fifth World, an old scholar urged the most proud scholar in the mortal world to strike more sharply with his sword, more domineeringly, more like a Sword Immortal.
At the highest point of the Jade Capital in the Azure Underworld, a young Daoist returned from afar, walking slowly along the railing, carrying a pile of scrolls in his arms. They were all divine being scrolls he had collected from various places. Once unrolled, they could bring spring garden dreams, immersing one in a world of purple and red, with women half-hiding their faces behind round fans. There was a summer-heat relief scroll, with a little yellow cat curled on a rock to cool off. There was a scroll with much blank space, “Fishing Alone in the Cold River Snow,” a tiny solitary boat where one could fish alongside an old man in a straw raincoat. And there was a scroll showing a green-robed scholar watching woodcutters on Taiping Mountain.
In Vase Continent, atop Jise Peak of Fallen Mountain, the Ancestral Hall rippled slightly, and a tall, white-robed woman appeared out of thin air.
The Great Mountain Lord of Piyun Mountain, Wei Bo, opened his eyes then closed them, pretending not to know.
The old man Yang in the backyard of the town’s pharmacy was puffing on smoke.
At the Sword Qi Great Wall, in the prison, Chen Ping’an retracted his innate ability “Sparrow in a Cage.” He held a blood-dripping demon sword cultivator’s head. Where the flying sword had pierced his heart, a golden whirlpool appeared, but there was no wound or blood.
Nianxin began preparing to sew, telling him to be careful this time. This mending of true names was different from before—the weight was extremely heavy.
Shuangjiang crouched beside her, asking the young man, who was sitting cross-legged with his back bare, since the Hidden Official Ancestor was a scholar, did he have a life-bound character?