Chapter 730: Everything is Ready, Only the Wind and Snow Are Lacking
When Pei Qian climbed the mountain, she held a bamboo-yellow paper-cutting knife in her hand, her thumb gently pressing against the bamboo knife handle, pushing it lightly out of the sheath, then pressing it back in.
Although it was a writing-room ornament styled as a paper-cutting knife, made from the ancestor bamboo of the Green Divine Mountain's bamboo-sea cave heaven, if used against enemies, because the green bamboo came from this bamboo-sea cave heaven's ancestor bamboo, it could be considered an extremely powerful Dharma artifact for suppressing demons and ghosts.
Cen Yuanji happened to be descending the mountain practicing on the walking stakes. Pei Qian stopped again, standing sideways to let her pass, and at the same time, Pei Qian withdrew the bamboo knife into her sleeve.
On the steps of the mountain peak, Zhu Lian and Mi Yu sat drinking wine. Zhu Lian watched the scene and said with emotion, "Even if she were to walk through the martial world she once knew again, even with the exact same travel route, there would never again be that little charcoal-black girl who stuck a talisman on her forehead and muttered under her breath, 'Walk with swagger, demons' hearts falter.'"
In Mi Yu's original impression, Pei Qian was still the little girl he had met on the Sword Qi Great Wall—full of mischief, without any taboos. When Mi Yu encountered Pei Qian again at Fallen Mountain, he was indeed quite surprised. This somewhat abrupt feeling Mi Yu had was actually not much different from Sui Youbian's experience.
After Mi Yu climbed the mountain, all his understanding of Pei Qian actually came from casual chats with Chen Nuanshu and Zhou Mili. Of course, little Mili talked more with Mi Yu when they patrolled the mountain together every day. Mi Yu didn't need to step out every early morning; there would be a black-clothed little girl waiting punctually like a door god outside, without urging. Mi Yu had once advised little Mili not to wait at the door, but the little girl said that waiting for someone was a very happy thing, and then being able to meet them right away after waiting was even more blissful.
This simple, unintentional remark from little Mili almost made the carefree sword immortal, who had been drunk on clouds and rosy clouds in his hometown for a hundred years and another hundred years, burst into tears on the spot.
After Cen Yuanji finished her walking stake practice at the mountain gate, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and took a short rest. She sat on a bamboo chair beside Cao Qinglang and said softly, "Has Pei Qian changed so much?"
Cao Qinglang smiled and nodded without saying much. Cao Qinglang didn't even need to turn his head to know that Pei Qian was definitely looking back toward the foot of the mountain at this moment. If he said one more word, he would be noted down in her ledger.
Back then, Mr. Lu said that many children grow up in an instant, and that many people end up living their whole lives as white-haired children. At that time, Cao Qinglang couldn't understand that at all.
On the steps of the mountain peak, Mi Yu took a drink of wine and suddenly said, "Compared to Mili and Nuanshu, I really can't say I like Pei Qian all that much. Of course, I definitely don't dislike her."
Zhu Lian nodded and said, "That's very normal. Pei Qian is too clever. Many times, excessive cleverness itself is a long sword without a sheath or hilt. When the sword strikes others, it hurts; when you hold it, it hurts yourself."
Mi Yu said self-deprecatingly, "To say something shameless, having a pure martial artist like Pei Qian on Fallen Mountain somehow makes me inexplicably feel a bit more at ease."
Fallen Mountain didn't have many rules, but each one was major. Their way of dealing with people and affairs was too reasonable. Mi Yu, being lazy and carefree, could only deliver his sword. He couldn't help feeling constrained. But in the future, if Pei Qian took the lead down the mountain and didn't reason with people, he only needed to follow and ask who to duel with his sword. That would be a bit more exhilarating. Otherwise, when the Hidden Official came home, it would seem that he, Mi Yu, had been idling away his years at Fallen Mountain, which wouldn't look good. After all, few sword immortals could handle the Hidden Official's sword immortals' speech.
Zhu Lian smiled and said, "Sword cultivators and martial artists are not scholars after all. One cuts off heads with flying swords, the other opens up his boxing stance to face enemies. There's nothing they won't admit to. What both seek is unrestrained great freedom and great liberation. I discussed this quite a lot with the young master early on..."
Mi Yu found it a headache, lifted his wine flask, and said, "You guys go ahead and chat. Whatever conclusion you reach, don't tell me a single word. My head hurts."
Zhu Lian said, "Cen Yuanji, this girl, and Cao Qinglang, that child, are two of the few clear streams on our Fallen Mountain. What they stand for is the essence of Fallen Mountain's gate style."
Mi Yu asked doubtfully, "What do you mean by that?"
Zhu Lian smiled without speaking.
Mi Yu suddenly realized, clapped his hands in admiration, and muttered softly, "Makes sense, makes sense."
Pei Qian didn't go toward the bamboo building. Instead, she kept climbing on foot.
This bamboo-yellow paper-cutting knife, given by the old ancestor of the Yu family and handed over to Pei Qian by Sage Wen Sheng, had helped her a great deal. Otherwise, when Pei Qian returned home across three continents, she would have had to be a veritable 'burden carrier' all the way. Many items would have had to be left with Yu Juanfu. Not showing off wealth was an early tacit understanding between master and disciple. With this 'within an inch' storage item, Pei Qian was able to clear out her belongings, helping ants move their nest. Now it contained the battlefield remains of the Golden Armor Continent—sixty-nine mountain items Pei Qian had picked up from demon clan cultivators.
Earlier, at the Thunder God Temple in the Horse Lake Prefecture of the Aiai Continent, Pei Qian had taken out an iron spear belonging to a Jade Purity realm demon clan cultivator, of semi-immortal weapon grade. It had originally been gifted by the old immortal Yu Xuan. Pei Qian, using the divine man drum-beating style, broke both ends of the spearhead, which were like "sharp narrow blades," with her fists. It was as if it had suddenly become three weapons: two blades and an iron staff. With the Thunder God Mountain's thunder method tempering, the grade was slightly reduced, but not much. In the end, Pei Qian effectively gained an extra half of a semi-immortal weapon.
At that time, Pei Axiang was stunned. Was this little girl surnamed Pei so obsessed with money? However, Pei Qian planned to give a Dharma artifact to compensate for the Thunder God Mountain's loss from helping refine three items. Pei Axiang wasn't so petty and declined, saying only that in the future, the martial artists and boxers from Thunder God Temple and Fallen Mountain could exchange boxing techniques and hone their martial arts more. If they happened to meet in the martial world, they might look out for each other. Disciples from both schools only needed to state their names, and they would be friends in the martial world.
Pei Qian's eyes sparkled as she asked, "Senior Pei, is that really possible?"
Pei Axiang smiled and said, "Why not? Does Fallen Mountain look down on Thunder God Temple?"
When Pei Qian slightly let go of her mental knot about the forbidden stele and re-examined her journey across four continents, she found that she had actually done some things. It wasn't that she had accomplished nothing.
For example, she had helped Fallen Mountain and the Thunder God Temple lineage in Horse Lake Prefecture become closer, two originally unrelated mountain tops.
Moreover, together with her and Yu Juanfu, the seven upper fifth-tier cultivators from the Golden Armor Continent who had withdrawn from the battlefield, thirty-one earthly immortals, and many mountain cultivators who had fought side by side, all now knew about Pei Qian, a martial artist from Vase Continent who had reached the mountain summit realm with the title 'strongest' in the central region of Golden Armor Continent. She was the open-door senior disciple of someone from some mountain. Her manners were acceptable, at least she didn't lack basic etiquette. She wasn't someone with extremely poor family upbringing. At least Pei Qian's fists were always aimed only at strong enemies on the battlefield.
As for who that someone was and where that mountain was, Pei Qian always kept it hidden. She didn't want to say much and didn't dare to say much, afraid of bringing unnecessary trouble to her master and Fallen Mountain. The old cook had once cautioned Pei Qian that for a pure martial artist, many accidents and troubles provoked at the Golden Body realm could only be dispelled by the Distant Travel realm or even the Mountain Summit realm.
This actually had a similar subtlety to her master's teaching: "When walking the martial world, I'll first drop two or three realms, just as a token of respect."
Near the mountain peak, a few steps away from the old cook and Mi Yu, Pei Qian stopped and clasped her fists. Mainly, this sword immortal senior from the Sword Qi Great Wall hadn't yet offered incense and hung his portrait in the ancestral hall on Jise Peak, otherwise Pei Qian wouldn't have to be so deliberately meticulous about formalities. Then, she tossed the paper-cutting knife to Zhu Lian, using sound condensation into a thread, and detailed to the old cook the mountain-opening method for unlocking the barrier.
Zhu Lian submerged his mind in it for a moment and smiled, "Seventy-plus mountain heavy treasures. From now on, in literary duels with Li Huai, I'll surely win."
Pei Qian gently shook her head.
Such childish play from childhood would definitely not happen again. Perhaps what is called growing up is that interesting things from childhood line up one by one and become less interesting.
Pei Qian no longer spoke to the old cook privately via sound condensation but directly said, "Besides the paper-cutting knife itself, I'll keep the two blades and the iron staff—three items. The rest all go to the communal treasury. Please trouble Mr. Wei to help appraise their grades and estimate prices. Whether to sell or keep, do as you see fit."
Zhu Lian asked, "If I remember correctly, you haven't given the presents for Nuanshu and Mili yet."
Pei Qian smiled and said, "Already prepared. One doesn't interfere with the other."
Zhu Lian nodded and said, "Alright, then it's settled. In a few days, the Lotus Root Blessed Land will have a major event. It's about to be promoted to a high-grade blessed land. Don't rush off down the mountain for distant travels. Master Zhong will return to the mountain soon. Then we'll all go to the blessed land together. Besides Mountain Lord Wei and Island Master Liu, Fan Er from Old Dragon City and Sun Jiashu will also come to observe the ceremony. Everyone will witness the promotion of the blessed land's grade together."
Pei Qian said, "No problem."
Just as Pei Qian was about to turn around, Zhu Lian suddenly said with a grin, "Sword Immortal Mi said he doesn't like you much."
Pei Qian let out an "oh" and simply said, "It's enough that Senior Mi truly likes Sister Nuanshu and little Mili."
Mi Yu had an expression like yellow mud smeared on his face and crotch—neither wiping nor not wiping felt right.
Pei Qian clasped her fists to both sides and took her leave.
As Pei Qian turned from the halfway path toward the bamboo building, Mi Yu said helplessly, "Brother Zhu, that's not very nice."
Zhu Lian smiled and said, "It's better to say it outright. Do you think Pei Qian didn't know about this? Do you think Pei Qian cares whether Brother Mi approves of her or not?"
Mi Yu was relieved. "I was being sentimental."
Zhu Lian comforted him, "Since ancient times, sentiment has troubled the sentimental. The flavor of this, the unfeeling cannot understand."
Late at night, near the bamboo building, Pei Qian sat alone on the cliff edge, her feet dangling outside.
Little Mili seemed unable to sleep, so she simply gave up on it, picked up her golden carrying pole and green bamboo staff, and went early to stand by Pei Qian's gate, dozing off while waiting for dawn.
Her ears twitched slightly. Zhou Mili immediately opened her eyes and saw a snowflower coin on the ground. Little Mili shook her head, confirmed she wasn't seeing things, then quickly looked around, furrowing her little brows tightly. In the blink of an eye, she picked it up, then jumped up, spun around, and lightly tossed the snowflower coin into Pei Qian's courtyard. She clapped her hands softly—mission accomplished. When Zhou Mili turned around, she found another snowflower coin on the ground. This time, the little girl lay on the ground, stuck her bottom out, and crawled around a full circle. After much effort, she determined that this immortal coin was probably a lost sibling of the previous one. Zhou Mili lay on the ground, propping her cheeks with her hands, staring intently at that immortal coin. This was too strange—as soon as Pei Qian came home, money fell from the sky. She needed to think this through carefully. As for the golden carrying pole and walking staff, they had already joined forces with the black-clothed little girl to temporarily build a small nest for the immortal coin, lest it grow legs and run away. Pei Qian had once sworn that silver ingots under heaven really could grow legs and go visiting.
Someone asked from above, "What are you doing? Found money on the ground?"
Zhou Mili first pounced on the immortal coin like a hungry tiger on a sheep, then suddenly grinned. It turned out Pei Qian was sitting on the courtyard wall. Little Mili immediately grabbed the snowflower coin, did a carp leap to stand up, and was about to claim credit when Pei Qian pinched a snowflower coin between two fingers, shook it gently, put on a stern face, and asked, "Who just hit me with money? Little Mili, did you see who it was?"
Zhou Mili shook her head vigorously. "No, no, didn't see anything. Heaven and earth as my witness. Maybe Sister Nuanshu passed by and found money, who knows? I've been dozing at the door the whole time. I might even have been sleepwalking and fallen asleep on the ground without knowing."
Pei Qian asked, "Would Sister Nuanshu drop things carelessly?"
Zhou Mili immediately changed her story. "Jingqing! Jingqing! It might be Jingqing. He said he treats money like dirt... It must be Jingqing. He ate so many of Pei Qian's fried chestnuts and was too shy to pay, so he secretly came to give money. Ah, Jingqing meant well, and it's also my fault for not guarding the door properly..."
Pei Qian jumped off the wall and took little Mili back to the bamboo building. They sat together on the cliff edge. Finally, the black-clothed little girl was too sleepy and lay down on the young woman's lap, falling fast asleep.
The horizon turned fish-belly white. First a grain of light, then a great radiance.
Back when Pei Qian had left, Zhu Lian, having obtained the bamboo-yellow paper-cutting knife, immediately went to the accounting office to find Wei Wenlong. They tallied the estimated value of the items within Pei Qian's paper-cutting knife 'within an inch' storage. However, some of the mountain Dharma artifacts had unclear origins and strict prohibitions. Wei Wenlong's realm wasn't high enough, and he couldn't accurately determine their grades and prices. He was afraid of accidentally underselling them at the Ox Horn Mountain ferry port's burden carrier shop, letting outsiders from the mountains pick up bargains. Even if Fallen Mountain ultimately chose to keep them as treasures, they still needed to know exactly how rare they were; otherwise, letting them sit and collect dust would unsettle Wei Wenlong's Dao heart. Everything must have a precise price for Wei Wenlong to feel at ease. Whether to sell them off for profit, hold onto them to sell at a high price, or even a sky-high price—that wasn't important.
What Wei Wenlong enjoyed was the process of making money.
So, Zhu Lian had no choice but to trouble Senior Fellow Cultivator Eternal Life. This "founding law-keeping ancestor" of Fallen Mountain possessed certain innate divine abilities related to money and fortune that were indeed beyond reason.
Eternal Life helped Wei Wenlong identify omissions and gaps, re-evaluating three offensive heavy treasures that had been mistakenly considered high-grade spiritual tools. Even so, there were still several mountain items for which Eternal Life couldn't determine the true value.
In the end, Eternal Life gave a final estimate for the sixty-nine mountain items—a sky-high price.
It needed to be calculated in Grain Rain coins, and there was even a 'thousand' character.
So much so that Eternal Life said with a smile, "One thing at a time—note a minor fault on the Sword Worshiping Platform, but this must be recorded as a major merit for Pei Qian. As for making money for Fallen Mountain, from what we've seen so far, besides the master, Pei Qian is the most dedicated."
Zhu Lian rubbed his hands and laughed, "After all, she is my young master's open-door senior disciple."
Then Zhu Lian asked, "How about I call Brother Wei and Brother Mi over to double-check? Fellow Daoist Eternal Life's total valuation is certainly correct, at most a deviation of a hundred Grain Rain coins. But pinpointing individual items still leaves something to be desired. Once we finalize it, maybe we can squeeze out an extra two or three hundred Grain Rain coins in profit."
After all, Fellow Daoist Eternal Life's estimate was only for the value of the seventy-plus items themselves. In mountain trading, especially among registered lineage immortals from sect-level backgrounds, the younger ones had more money than they knew what to do with. They spent generously, caring only about whether they liked something.
Since it involved increasing Fallen Mountain's fortune, Eternal Life was in a good mood and teased, "You're quite protective of Pei Qian."
Zhu Lian was so cautious not only for the sake of earning more Grain Rain coins for Fallen Mountain but ultimately, he didn't want Pei Qian to suffer any loss at all.
Zhu Lian burst out laughing.
A moment later, besides Fallen Mountain's head steward, the law-keeping ancestor, and the accountant, two more arrived: our own Sword Immortal Mi, and the ever-reliable Mountain Lord Wei, who responded to any summons, coming tirelessly to another's mountain top.
Wei Bo examined the various mountain spiritual tools one by one. Two items piqued his interest: a strangely shaped stone mill grinder and an even more unremarkable square handkerchief.
Wei Bo smiled broadly, saying that since they formed a pair, they should be regarded as two Dharma artifacts. They bore ancient seal scripts that had long been lost in the Righteousness World: "Gold Law Officer" and "Department Director." If it weren't for the fact that the Lotus Flower Blessed Land of Zhu Lian's hometown had never had the custom of "tea competitions" since ancient times, Zhu Lian would never have let him, Wei Bo, come to pick up the bargain. Because when it came to everything from qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, any matter involving wind, flowers, snow, and moon, Zhu Lian was the true expert.
Upon learning this inside story, Wei Wenlong immediately looked at Zhu Lian. Before Wei Wenlong could even voice his thoughts, Zhu Lian had already clasped his hands behind his back, evidently having prepared his words. He immediately blurted out, "For the two sides of the tea grinder, I'll add two inscriptions."
"The grinding sound clanks, all with method, forcing the stubborn not to take divergent tracks or chaotic paths. I am the Gold Law Officer."
"Qin and se harmonize, four mountains embrace the shade, allowing the weak to travel this road without harm. I share the spring breeze with you."
"As for this square handkerchief, I could inscribe it, or let Mr. Cui write it in running script. In the summer mountains, with a feather fan and silk scarf, cool green shade, lying high on a bamboo chair, red sleeves in light makeup, clear tea with gentle breeze, stream swelling green mountains brushing face, moon rushing stars falling on shoulders. A few white clouds, a boat crossing the ferry, one bird's call, a flute rising before the mountain. Truly fine mountain, fine water, fine tea, fine heart, a pair of people."
Wei Wenlong nodded, "In that case, the two items won't be sold separately. Not only will each be priced as a Dharma artifact, but the price should also be doubled to be fair."
Mi Yu stood beside them, dumbfounded.
How the hell did these people make money like this? How did you guys develop such tacit understanding? Wasn't I supposed to come to Fallen Mountain together with Brother Wenlong?
Fortunately, Sword Immortal Mi hadn't made this trip for nothing. He managed to elevate two old Dharma artifacts that had dropped to high-grade spiritual tools back to genuine first-class Dharma artifact rank.
Among them was a sheathless sword with inscriptions on both sides of the blade: "Slender Eyebrow" and "Moon Halo." It had once been a beloved sword of a demon clan sword immortal in the Wildlands World. Later, as his cultivation rose, it became a chicken rib—useless but cherished—and he passed it to his direct sword disciple. After many twists and turns, it fell into other hands and lost its inherited lineage. Even its scabbard was gone. But this sword, never famous for great killing power, was rumored to possess a true wonder: the Moon Halo sword light could condense into a puppet sword servant named "Slender Eyebrow," with a woman's appearance and voice, "traced and modeled" after a local female sword immortal from the Wildlands World. When manifested, it was equivalent to a Dragon Gate realm sword cultivator in combat power. For an upper fifth-tier sword immortal master, such a female puppet was merely pleasing to the eye. But for any earthly immortal cultivator, in one-on-one combat, having an extra personal maid equivalent to a Golden Core realm cultivator, completely fearless and capable of multiple "soldier reincarnations," was a wild card and a winning move.
Mi Yu held the sword with one hand, flicked a sword flower, and with the other hand, brought two fingers together. He first gathered some moonlight from outside the window on his fingertips, then lightly pressed them against the sword handle. Using both moonlight and sword aura, he "washed the sword."
Sword light and moonlight flowed together, cascading to the ground. In an instant, a slender-browed woman appeared before everyone, standing gracefully. She wore a snow-white garment covered with clouds, water, mist, and rosy clouds.
Her face was cold, her eyes slightly dull. She finally looked at Mi Yu, moved stiffly, and performed a curtsey.
When Mi Yu withdrew all his sword aura, the woman's form dissipated and returned to the long sword.
Mi Yu placed the long sword back on the table and picked up a tattered Dharma robe that had originally been dull and lifeless. He put it near the window, gently shook it, and in an instant, gold and green interwove brilliantly, like peacock feather eyes, shimmering under the pale moonlight.
Mi Yu then revealed the secret: This Dharma robe, though heavily damaged in appearance, was meticulously woven using the Wildlands World sect Golden King City's signature technique of "Cloud Satchel Kesi, Through Warp and Broken Weft." The very foundation of Golden King City was that they added embroidered flowers on brocade to the dragon robe of the throne great demon Yang Zhi, allowing Golden King City, where female cultivators were the majority, to resist the wanton incursions of many great demons.
Mi Yu laughed and said, "When illuminated by light sources like sunlight and moonlight, the intersection of gold and green will transmit light, shimmering like water ripples and halos. Day and night produce different water-marked light colors through the Dharma robe. They are known as 'water roads divide yin and yang.' At night, the water road is turbulent and murmuring; during the day, it is clear and limpid. This allows some qi refiners who practice side-door secret arts and shouldn't be exposed to sunlight to refine day and night. So, in the Northern Ju Continent, the Colorful Sparrow Sect, somewhat similar to Golden King City, also has its foundation in Dharma robes."
Wei Wenlong and Mountain Lord Wei Bo tentatively asked, "Could yin-marsh officials like city gods and civil-military temple spirits wear this robe and patrol the yang world openly under broad daylight with a 'human body'?"
Wei Bo nodded and said, "Of course. However, we cannot master the true secret prohibitions of Golden King City, so we cannot sew genuine Golden King City Dharma robes. Except for the Day Wanderers in charge of daytime patrols, for other lesser officials and runners of city god pavilions and civil-military temples, the effect of wearing such a robe is not significant."
Wei Wenlong nodded, his mind racing. He said slowly, "The most valuable thing is still the 'Kesi' warp-weft technique contained in this Dharma robe. Even if it doesn't touch the fundamental Dao of Golden King City's robe-making, as long as it's slightly related, there will be no shortage of buyers. Even if, as Mountain Lord Wei said, the effect is minimal, but during the transition between day and night, even if the Night Wanderers can leave the office a quarter-hour earlier, that's a good thing. Having some spare money to show off to colleagues would also be a fine affair..."
At this point, Wei Wenlong's tone noticeably faltered.
In the Northern March realm, registered immortals might be barely okay, whether truly poor or faking poverty, they could still privately complain to their brothers in hardship.
But throughout the entire Great Li Northern Region, large and small mountain and water spirits were all officials under the jurisdiction of Clothes Cloud Mountain. Who would dare claim to have spare money? Would anyone go to Clothes Cloud Mountain to attend Mountain Lord Wei's night banquet and beg for a few cups of fine wine? The key point was that they were all pitiful, not even daring to complain about poverty.
Wei Wenlong had to quickly change the subject. "We can do business with the Colorful Sparrow Sect. Friendship is friendship, business is business. We'll use this 'ancestor' Dharma robe and a Golden King City weaving technique. Afterward, we can demand a thirty percent share of the profits from the Colorful Sparrow Sect. This weaving technique, since we've reverse-engineered it, can't be hidden. It will soon be imitated by outsiders. So, the Colorful Sparrow Sect needs to mass-produce hundreds or thousands of these robes quickly. Let the Hemp Cloth Sect, Duckweed Sword Lake, or Great Emblem Sword Sect help sell them. By then, other immortals will buy a few to dismantle and learn the technique. Some small mountain peaks we and the Colorful Sparrow Sect definitely can't stop, and we don't need to cut off others' livelihood. Consider it as building up an implicit goodwill. But for large immortal residences like the Qionglin Sect in Northern Ju Continent, if they want to openly sell this type of Dharma robe, they'll have to consider the repercussions from our combined forces."
Zhu Lian smiled and said, "There's no need to trouble Great Emblem Sword Sect or Duckweed Sword Lake for this business. After all, those are favors owed, not worth it. Later, we'll have Brother Mi take a trip to the Colorful Sparrow Sect and act as a nominal honored guest there. When the Qionglin Sect dares to sell the Dharma robe, Sword Immortal Mi will go ask sword at their mountain. If trouble arises, Brother Mi will fly his sword to find someone to drink with. Either find Sword Sect Leader Liu or Sword Sect Leader Li, no problem. Consider it lying low."
Mi Yu said with a grin, "Excellent, excellent."
Zhu Lian admitted honestly, "However, this uses up the goodwill of 'Yu Mi' as a nominal honored guest of the Colorful Sparrow Sect. We also need to be careful not to implicate the Colorful Sparrow Sect."
Mi Yu laughed and said, "What use is it for 'Yu Mi' to accumulate that goodwill? It's completely pointless. As for the fairy sisters and younger sisters of the Colorful Sparrow Sect, how could I bear to let them get hurt even a little? Before and after drawing my sword, I'll think it over carefully."
Zhu Lian glanced at the Golden King City Dharma robe and the "Slender Eyebrow" long sword on the table and said softly, "Fellow Daoist Eternal Life, Mr. Wei, besides voluntarily reducing the reasonable thirty percent profit share to twenty percent for the Colorful Sparrow Sect, I also plan to donate this sword to the Cloud City qi refiner Xu Xingjiu as his protective tool, in the name of Fallen Mountain. What are your thoughts?"
Cloud City was actually on the southeast trade route of Northern Ju Continent. Although it had been added to the chain later, it had always been somewhat powerless. Whether in terms of sect foundation or cultivator realm, it could not compare to the great immortals like the Hemp Cloth Sect in Skeleton Beach or the Spring Dew Garden. Even compared to the Colorful Sparrow Sect, its connection to Fallen Mountain in financial matters seemed weak. But this Cloud City, from its City Lord Shen Zhenze to his two direct disciples and the Dao couple Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan, had always been extremely friendly and close to Fallen Mountain. They gave their full strength in financial, human, and material resources but never tried to deceive by blowing their own trumpet. Even Wei Bo said that such a mountain ally was beyond price and irreplaceable.
Moreover, the old fisherman, who was traveling to Northern Ju Continent, had left his direct disciple at the Colorful Sparrow Sect and took his unregistered disciple Zhao Shuxia to Cloud City instead. After all, the Colorful Sparrow Sect had a heavy atmosphere of powder and rouge, with mostly female cultivators on and off the mountain. The old gentleman needed to be careful about propriety.
The custom of "asking for wine at the Flowing Peak" originated from Fallen Mountain's young mountain lord. The first outsider from Great Emblem Sword Sect to contribute to it was Xu Xingjiu of Cloud City, followed by Liu Zhiqing, the newly promoted Nascent Soul sword cultivator of the Golden Crow Palace. After that, on the road south to Skeleton Beach, a martial artist named Li Er specially took a pinnacle realm martial artist and a sword immortal to visit Great Emblem Sword Sect. That martial artist was the old martial artist Wang Fusu, who had once gone mad from martial arts training. The old man was beaten up by Li Er, his junior, at Lion Peak just because of a few heartfelt words. Fortunately, he was able to go with the accompanying sword immortal to the Flowing Peak of Great Emblem Sword Sect to drink a round of wine, titled "Ask fists and ask swords at Great Emblem Sword Sect, but better to ask for wine at Flowing Peak."
Boosted by the loose tongues of Wang Fusu and that sword immortal, 'asking for wine at Flowing Peak' became a 'corrupt trend' in Northern Ju Continent. So much so that the first thing Li Cai did upon returning to Northern Ju Continent was not to go back to Duckweed Sword Lake but to take wine directly to Great Emblem Sword Sect. Fortunately, Liu Jinglong had already descended the mountain for a distant journey, so he escaped the ordeal.
Eternal Life asked, "Is this a long-term business or a favor exchange?"
Zhu Lian laughed, "Pure favor, no business involved."
Eternal Life said, "Then I have no objections."
Wei Wenlong nodded and said, "I second the law keeper."
"I'll tell you two the details about Cloud City later."
Then Zhu Lian looked at Great Sword Immortal Mi.
Mi Yu was quite cheerful. Today was truly an auspicious day. He had finally managed to help Fallen Mountain a little. He had to make a note of it when he got back. He said cheerfully, "Same sentiment, same sentiment."
After saying this, Mi Yu for a moment felt as if he was back in the summer retreat pavilion.
Fellow Daoist Eternal Life left first. The sword talismans from the Dragon Spring Sword Sect hanging at her waist were almost as numerous as the keychain of little steward Chen Nuanshu. Since there was nothing on the mountain, Eternal Life bought them for fun. Later, when there were more registered disciples in the ancestral hall, she could distribute them according to the rules.
Eternal Life was naturally close to Ruan Xiu, so the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, with Ruan Xiu having greeted them, turned a blind eye to this. Moreover, every time Eternal Life bought sword talismans, she followed the rules she herself had set: each purchase doubled the price from the previous one. Eternal Life wasn't too willing to spend immortal coins, so she exchanged them for golden essence copper coins she had minted herself.
Ruan Qiong was famously unsmiling toward anyone on Fallen Mountain. Only Pei Qian was an exception before. Now, Fellow Daoist Eternal Life was also a partial exception. He still didn't smile, but when they occasionally met on the mountain, he would nod to this Fellow Daoist Eternal Life.
Finally, Zhu Lian said to Wei Bo, "Brother Wei rarely graces us with your presence. The old rule: melon seeds with wine?"
Wei Bo asked with a smile, "Rarely?"
Zhu Lian laughed and replied, "This is to highlight Brother Wei's mountain lord status."
Wei Bo and Fellow Daoist Eternal Life both used their divine abilities to leave Fallen Mountain.
Zhu Lian handed the Dharma robe and long sword to Mi Yu. "I'll trouble Brother Mi to make a trip to Northern Ju Continent."
Mi Yu reminded him, "Brother Zhu, remember to send a flying sword message to the Colorful Sparrow Sect the moment the Hidden Official returns to the mountain."
Zhu Lian agreed with a smile.
After Zhu Lian left the courtyard where Wei Wenlong's accounting office was, he took a walk alone on Fallen Mountain. He went to the mountain peak, where the old mountain god temple stood. He hadn't yet decided how to properly handle it. This place was at the summit of Fallen Mountain, and there were many taboos on the mountain.
He missed Brother Strong Wind a little. Enjoying pleasure alone is not as good as sharing it with others. Many key pages of the immortal books had colored illustrations with lightly folded book corners. That was Zhu Lian's thoughtfulness.
In the past, every time Brother Strong Wind came up the mountain to borrow books, a light shake would reveal the quality of the book just by the number of folded corners. Brother Strong Wind's steps were hurried when climbing the mountain, and even more hurried when descending.
As dawn slightly broke, Zhu Lian descended the mountain toward the bamboo building. He saw the two figures of Pei Qian and Zhou Mili, one big and one small.
Zhu Lian lightened his steps and sat down beside them. Little Mili was still sleeping soundly, sleeping especially sweetly. Adults have complicated adult thoughts; little water monsters have their little water monster worries. Weighing on each heart, the burden is actually the same.
Zhu Lian used sound condensation to tell Pei Qian the results of the previous night's accounting office discussion.
Pei Qian knew the old cook's intention: she shouldn't overlook Law Keeper Eternal Life and Sword Immortal Mi Yu and their contributions to Fallen Mountain.
Zhu Lian asked, "Feeling a bit better?"
Pei Qian nodded.
Zhu Lian smiled and said, "There's something I need to ask your opinion about."
After the old cook finished speaking, Pei Qian said, "I have no objections."
Zhu Lian gazed at the scenery beyond the cliff. "The only one who never tires of the same landscape of mountains and rivers might be our little Mili. On the path of life, some walk faster, some can walk slower. Some are tall, their hearts facing the sun, their shadows stretched long, spreading behind them on the road, allowing the children behind to always stay in the shade, avoiding the scorching sun and the wind and rain. Then the regret of having to grow up won't be so hard for you and me to let go."
Pei Qian gently rubbed little Mili's head. "I understand."
After a moment of silence, Pei Qian turned her head and said shamefacedly, "About the Sword Worshiping Platform matter, I sincerely apologize."
Zhu Lian squinted his eyes, lightly clenched his fists, placed them on his knees, and said softly, "Unnecessary. You underestimate the old cook's magnanimity, don't you?"
Pei Qian followed the old cook's gaze into the distance. "Whether the old cook minds, whether Pei Qian has this intention, and whether she's willing to apologize face to face—these are two different things."
Zhu Lian smiled slightly. "The young master teaches boxing well, but he teaches principles even better."
Pei Qian smiled knowingly. "This trip far away, I've walked many roads. Still, the old cook is the best at talking."
Zhu Lian laughed. "Since childhood, I've had a backbone of iron. Never one to trim my sails."
Pei Qian chuckled.
Pei Qian suddenly asked, "That fox kingdom, should I take a secret trip there before going down the mountain?"
Zhu Lian shook his head. "There are definitely some pawns planted by the Xu family of Qingfeng City hidden inside. Some have already been detained by Pei Xiang, or she has sent trusted underlings to secretly tail them. As for the rest, even the fox kingdom's ruler can't detect them. That's why it's best to place the fox kingdom in the Lotus Root Blessed Land. They won't be able to cause much trouble. You don't need to worry too much. The logic is simple: the Xu family would never guess that the fox kingdom has moved elsewhere. So the most important pawns in the fox kingdom are more about physical strength, mainly used to restrain a Nascent Soul realm fox kingdom ruler. To put it bluntly, if Chen Lingjun and Hongxia just stay in the fox kingdom, they can eliminate any unexpected incidents. As for some machinations, as long as those pawns dare to move, I can follow the vine to find the melon and root them out one by one. I'm not afraid of how they might engage us in schemes and force. Once the new fox kingdom's general situation is established, many people and events that were variables will naturally fit into the general trend."
Pei Qian hesitated.
Zhu Lian smiled. "Do you think I'm too indecisive, not resolute or clean-handed enough with the fox kingdom's ruler, Lady Pei Xiang? Or do you think I have too much private favor for Pei Xiang, worried that she won't be well-liked on Fallen Mountain, thus accumulating hidden dangers, and eventually small accidents adding up to a big disaster? It's not like that. To truly win someone over, strength and power alone are not enough. If Fallen Mountain were as it was when you and I first arrived, I would certainly suppress all kinds of ups and downs with thunderous force. But now, Fallen Mountain already has the confidence and foundation to plan things slowly."
"One must not have the heart to harm others, but one must have the heart to guard against others. Not only should we treat the world this way, but when the world sees us like this, we must also understand and accept it."
"Of course, I understand this principle, but I may not care much about it. The Zhu Lian inside and outside the Lotus Flower Blessed Land is the same. It's just that the young master cares a lot, and so naturally, the entire Fallen Mountain follows suit."
"Within the rules, one must give the heart enough elasticity to allow the other party to have some right and wrong between the two major lines of principle and righteousness."
"These words were originally meant to be said to Pei Xiang only when she voluntarily brings up the matter of 'literary fortune' in the fox kingdom with Fallen Mountain. Consider this just me rambling a few big truths to you. Take it as you will."
Pei Qian nodded. "I won't write down in my ledger the matter of Cao Qinglang losing money in the blessed land."
Zhu Lian laughed angrily. "So if I hadn't said this, you would have noted it down?"
Pei Qian said confidently, "Even my master wouldn't flip through my ledgers. The old cook has even less right to interfere."
Zhu Lian asked curiously, "Where did you break through to the Mountain Summit realm? The Aiai Continent?"
At the Thunder God Temple, Pei Qian had sent a flying sword message back to Fallen Mountain—that was the last family letter she sent. At that time, Pei Qian was still at the Distant Travel realm.
Pei Qian shook her head. "I encountered Sword Immortal Xie earlier on the northern ice field of the Aiai Continent, and the Thunder God Temple in Horse Lake Prefecture helped me send the letter. Senior Ma Xiang and Sister Sui Yu are truly good people. Besides, my Distant Travel foundation wasn't very solid at the time, so I didn't think about breaking through. I broke through in the Golden Armor Continent. Because Sister Zai Xi said it couldn't be held anymore. Rather than letting those beasts from the Wildlands World have it, it was better for me to snatch it first, to have something in the bag. It's just that I didn't have the ability to break through consecutively. Otherwise, according to Sister Zai Xi, if I break through from the Mountain Summit realm as the world's strongest to the Pinnacle realm, the martial fortune would be unimaginable. The difference between reaching the ninth realm from the eighth is incomparable. Moreover, at that time, the Golden Armor Continent was half Righteousness World, half Wildlands World. If I could get the 'strongest' title, I could learn from my master and compete for martial fortune from the Wildlands World's native land. There's no better bargain under heaven. So at that time, whether I was practicing boxing alone or going to the battlefield to kill with my fists, I was very focused, just like..."
Pei Qian turned her head and glanced at the second floor of the bamboo building.
The years when boxing practice was hardest, they were all spent there.
It was so bitter that it seemed all the bitterness in this life had been consumed.
After Grandpa Cui left, Pei Qian traveled alone across continents. Even on the Golden Armor Continent battlefield, no matter how fierce the fighting was, Pei Qian didn't feel it was particularly agonizing.
Pei Qian withdrew her gaze and asked, "Old cook, Grandpa Cui also went on a distant journey, right?"
Zhu Lian sighed. "Probably so."
Suddenly, a head poked out from the edge of the cliff, squeezed out a tear from each eye, and then looked up with grief and indignation. "You beautiful-as-a-fairy-but-not-charcoal guy, quickly return my respectable and adorable senior sister!"
Little Mili jolted awake, looking confused. "Pei Qian, Pei Qian, I think I heard the voice of that big white goose!"
Pei Qian smiled. "No, you didn't."
That big white goose had just been kicked off the cliff by Pei Qian.
Cui Dongshan, lying on a bed of white clouds that appeared from nowhere, slowly ascended, paddling like a boat to approach. He laughed mischievously. "Senior Sister, little Mili, old cook, do you miss me?"
Little Mili sat up straight, put her palms together, and murmured, "What a good dream. Let me take another nap."
Cui Dongshan squatted beside Pei Qian, one shoulder higher than the other, leaning back to look at her. "Senior Sister, what's going on with you? You're even taller than Little Junior Brother now."
Little Mili immediately opened her eyes, stood up, ran to Cui Dongshan's side, stood next to him, and compared their heights. She burst out laughing. "A whole string of 'oh oh's! So it's really you, big white goose! So sad, you went from first tallest to second tallest. My ranking didn't drop. Don't be sad, don't be sad. I'll lend you my happiness."
Cui Dongshan nodded with a smile. "Little Mili is the best."
Little Mili was on high alert and quickly gave him a look. Hey, hey, Pei Qian's ledger books—hers is the thinnest. Of course, Sister Nuanshu doesn't even have a ledger.
Cui Dongshan hummed and hawed, shrugged his shoulders, and was about to stand up impressively when little Mili quickly pressed him down with both hands. After a struggle, Cui Dongshan had to give up.
Zhu Lian looked at Cui Dongshan, then at Pei Qian.
Pei Qian looked at Zhu Lian, then at the big white goose.
Cui Dongshan laughed. "Cao Qinglang is Cao Qinglang. I don't have any objections."
Zhu Lian said, "So the blessed land work starts today? The people who should have come to observe the ceremony were all busy. Although they didn't come in person, the gifts haven't been lacking."
Cui Dongshan smiled. "Today is suitable for breaking ground and raising beams, suitable for sacrifices and alliances, suitable for betrothals and marriages. Everything is auspicious. Otherwise, why do you think I came especially today?"
Zhu Lian asked, "The pond behind the bamboo building?"
Cui Dongshan laughed. "It's better to seal it inside the Lotus Root Blessed Land, saving me one prohibition. Maybe there will be an unexpected return gift."
For Fallen Mountain, today was a day destined to be recorded in the history of the ancestral hall's registered disciples.
Even though the young mountain lord wasn't on the mountain, it really couldn't be delayed any longer.
Wei Bo, as the Northern March Mountain Lord, was still responsible for opening the entrance to the blessed land via the parasol tree umbrella. A group of people walked into the Lotus Root Blessed Land one after another.
Mountain Summit realm martial artist Zhu Lian, Mountain Summit realm Pei Qian, Immortal realm Cui Dongshan, Guanhai realm qi refiner Cao Qinglang.
A sword cultivator Mi Yu, whose Jade Purity realm bottleneck was as big as the sky, and even at the bottleneck, he seemed like an ordinary sword immortal who had just reached Jade Purity.
Fallen Mountain's Law Keeper Eternal Life, who seemed to naturally possess Jade Purity realm divine abilities. After three golden rains fell from the sky onto the human world, her current realm was a mystery.
Wei Wenlong, a Golden Core cultivator originally from the Spring Curtain Studio of Hanging Mountain, Chen Lingjun, who had completed the walking river to sea transformation, and Hongxia, who had walked through one river and four rivers.
Little steward Chen Nuanshu, and Fallen Mountain's Right Protector Zhou Mili.
And the fox kingdom ruler Pei Xiang, who was already in the blessed land. Sensing a trace of celestial phenomena deliberately leaked to her from the sky curtain, she immediately flew up from the new fox kingdom, which had been placed on the border of the Songlai Kingdom. She performed a curtsey to the Fallen Mountain crowd and finally chose to stand beside Hongxia at the edge of the group.
In fact, for this promotion of the blessed land's grade, many were absent, same as the young mountain lord: Old Master Zhong Qiu, Nascent Soul sword cultivator Cui Wei, and others.
Some were temporarily unsuitable to be too deeply involved, like Zhang Jiazhen, Jiang Qu, and Shi Rou, the acting shopkeeper of the Coin Press Shop in Qilong Alley.
Zhu Lian smiled and handed a money pouch to Cao Qinglang.
Cao Qinglang was greatly surprised and then shook his head. "Let Little Junior Brother or Pei Qian do it."
Pei Qian remained silent.
Cui Dongshan laughed. "A lower realm person coming is more auspicious and lucky."
Cao Qinglang was speechless.
Zhu Lian didn't withdraw his hand. Cao Qinglang had to take a deep breath, took the money pouch, and picked out one Grain Rain coin, looking around.
Pei Qian said, "Total eighty-one Grain Rain coins. Just slowly throw the money."
Cui Dongshan first formed a hand seal, and celestial phenomena appeared between heaven and earth.
The Lotus Root Blessed Land, the Well Cave Heaven, the cave heaven and blessed land connected.
Then Cui Dongshan opened his palm, revealing a miniature pond hovering about an inch above it. He gently blew on it, and it fell to the foot of a mountain in the center of the blessed land, taking root. Suddenly, it expanded into a large lake. A swaying purple-gold lotus grew from the water, each leaf as large as several acres. The lotus bud was still closed, not yet fully open, swaying in the wind. A single purple-golden bud, about to bloom but not yet.
Only the native qi refiners of the Lotus Root Blessed Land who had reached the Golden Core realm could see a vague outline. But for now, the blessed land had no earthly immortal cultivators.
Cao Qinglang clenched a Grain Rain coin, refined it into spiritual energy, and gently opened his palm.
The spiritual energy dispersed into the heavens and earth.
Wei Bo smiled faintly, took out a small golden crab from his sleeve. The little creature had earlier inexplicably received a Dharma decree to walk in a river and transform into a flood dragon. It was so anxious it ran around in circles in the great river. Li Xisheng suppressed his laughter, helped Little Vase complete a harmless little joke on the little creature, retrieved it from the great river, and finally gave it to Clothes Cloud Mountain Lord Wei Bo, asking him to present it to the blessed land. He specifically said to place it in the pond as the water guardian of the purple-gold lotus.
The little crab fell into the pond. The golden light of the talisman decree on its back flashed and vanished. In an instant, it shed its crab shell and transformed into a huge mansion like a dragon palace, slowly sinking to the bottom of the water.
Cui Dongshan then shook his sleeves, using the sleeve universe divine ability. One by one, flood dragon pearls rained down like rain, scattering into the rivers, streams, and ravines of the blessed land's human world.
These were gifts from the Lady Qingzhong, also known as Li Liu's "maid." Actually, they were the thousands of years of treasures accumulated from the Resting Dragon Stone in the Green Water Pit. She had given them all to Cui Dongshan in one go. After all, they weren't rare in Green Water Pit. But for the water transportation of any blessed land in the world, they were top-tier great nourishment.
At first, the plump woman felt a little embarrassed, thinking that some of the flood dragon pearls showing signs of 'pearl yellowing' couldn't be given away. She wanted to sift through them and only give the good ones. But Cui Dongshan sprayed spit in her face. Not only did he take all the flood dragon pearls, but he also demanded a water method supreme treasure from her.
Besides that, there were gifts from Skeleton Beach Hemp Cloth Sect, Spring Dew Garden, Colorful Sparrow Sect, Cloud City, Old True Man Huan Yun, Duckweed Sword Lake Li Cai, Great Emblem Sword Sect Liu Jinglong, Ji River Spirit Duke Shen Lin, Dragon Pavilion Marquis Li Yuan...
Lying Ground Peak Fire Dragon True Man, White Cloud lineage, Peach Mountain lineage, Finger Abyss Peak lineage, Great Cloud lineage—all sent gifts for the observation of the ceremony.
For example, Duckweed Sword Lake had a total of eighteen large and small lakes. Li Cai extracted one named "Cloud Mist Sword Down," with a small water area but abundant sword aura. It was one of two major sword-quenching places for Duckweed Sword Lake's earthly immortal sword cultivators.
Another example, Great Emblem Sword Sect entrusted the Hemp Cloth Sect to send a mountain, refined into a palm-sized miniature mountain, but with a real size not smaller than Grey Mist Mountain.
Shen Lin donated a continuous stretch of pavilions and towers from the Nanxun Water Hall. Li Yuan offered a verdant river with rich water transportation.
Yuan Lai, that boy, was also not stingy. This young martial artist who loved reading more found an immortal opportunity at the Central March Crown Prince's mountain: a complete broken secret realm containing two golden books and jade scrolls, rich in dragon aura. The broken secret realm couldn't be moved, so Yuan Lai sent the most precious golden books and jade scrolls to Fallen Mountain.
Clothes Cloud Mountain Lord Wei Bo certainly wouldn't be without a contribution.
And Fallen Mountain's offering 'Zhou Fei', who had invested in the blessed land as the head of the Jiang family, had already prepared a generous gift while helping the blessed land absorb refugees.
Additionally, Fan Er, the young head of the Fan family in Old Dragon City, and Sun Jiashu, the head of the Sun family, each sent gifts after receiving secret letters from Fallen Mountain.
Even Dragon Spring Sword Sect, Ruan Qiong had Liu Xianyang deliver a generous gift to Fallen Mountain.
When Cao Qinglang tossed out the second to last Grain Rain coin,
Heaven and earth resounded in unison.
Cao Qinglang let out a sigh of relief. Then this blue-robed scholar solemnly made a deep bow to each of the four directions.
The others also paid their respects to heaven and earth in this manner—some made deep bows, some clasped fists, some performed the curtsey.
One by one, celestial treasures appeared across the human world.
One by one, cultivation opportunities emerged endlessly.
One by one, originally wandering, chaotic ghosts, mountain and river spirits, and goblins gathered into a grain of true spirit, or found the embryonic form of their true name, began to awaken and gain intelligence, truly stepping onto the path of cultivation.
Within the borders of the four kingdoms, mountain and river spiritual energy began to converge on its own, becoming new feng shui treasures. Not only that,
Fallen Mountain's Law Keeper Eternal Life snapped her fingers. A golden torrential rain, as if obeying a Dharma decree, enveloped the earth, nourishing the rivers and mountains of the human world for thousands of miles.
Cui Dongshan jumped up, his two sleeves fluttering, repeating the word "chi" twice.
Each of two points of light shot through the air as fast as an immortal sword.
At the same time, the sun and moon not only appeared in the sky together but also suddenly brightened several times compared to before.
After drifting down, Cui Dongshan let out a sigh.
Everything was ready, only lacking the master's return home.
Only lacking a wind and snow from somewhere, to bring the night wanderer home to Fallen Mountain.