Chapter 731: Looking Up to the Sky and Laughing Loudly, What More Is There to Say

Chapter 731: Looking Up to the Sky and Laughing Loudly, What More Is There to Say

Central Earth Sui Mountain.
The golden-armored god who had been sitting on the steps suddenly stood up, his expression solemn, and clasped his fists in greeting to the approaching figure.

The person capable of earning such sincere respect from the great god of Sui Mountain was, of course, not that sly-eyed, grinning old scholar, but rather the one beside him... Bai Ye, who had now become a child wearing a tiger-head cap.

The most arrogant man in the world, sword in hand, roaming through Fuyao Continent, cutting down one opponent after another. If you added Zhou Mi and Liu Cha, who had made their final moves, then it was Bai Ye alone wielding four immortal swords, challenging eight kingly thrones.

But at this moment, the child wore white robes and a bright red cap. His features were delicate, carrying a hint of distance and coldness. Upon seeing the great god of Sui Mountain, the child merely nodded lightly.

The old scholar pressed down on the tiger-head cap, "What's this? A child should know his manners. We're in the presence of our esteemed great god of Sui Mountain..."

The child raised a hand and patted the old scholar's hand, signaling that enough was enough.

The old scholar pretended to help adjust the tiger-head cap, which wasn't crooked in the first place, "The wind is strong on the mountain. Afraid you'll catch a cold?"

Bai Ye's soul was now extremely weak and needed something to help conceal the heavenly mechanisms, to avoid entanglement with that unsteady Tuo Yue Shan Grand Ancestor. So the old scholar had begged a treasured artifact from the Sage Temple. After the Sage took the ritual vessel from the temple, the old scholar managed, through much persuasion, to convince the Sage to help refine it a bit. The final form became this tiger-head cap, like the ones Bai Ye used to wear in his hometown as a child.

The great god of Sui Mountain truly felt indignant for Bai Ye. He spoke to the old scholar via mental voice, angrily, "Old Scholar, be serious!"

The old scholar withdrew his hand in embarrassment, then grinned at the child, "Should we walk to the summit on foot, or trouble the great god of Sui Mountain to give us a lift?"

The child had already started walking, too lazy to waste a word with the old scholar. He intended to walk to the summit of Sui Mountain to meet the Sage.

Bai Ye had visited many mountains in his life seeking immortals, but for some reason, through various twists of fate, he had passed by Sui Mountain several times but never set foot on it. So Bai Ye wanted to take this opportunity to walk.

The old scholar followed behind the tiger-head-capped young Bai Ye, turned his head to look at the big fool who wanted to sit back down, and cursed with a laugh, "Are you sitting there hoping to hatch a nest of chicks, or are you standing guard as a door god to collect money from the old man? Why aren't you protecting us? Move it! The mountain winds on Sui Mountain are howling. If this tiger-head cap gets blown off, don't blame me for not remembering brotherly love. When I get to the old man's place, I'll file a complaint first..."

The golden-armored god automatically ignored the old scholar's muttering, silently following behind the two as they ascended the steps.

The cliff carvings and stone tablets on Sui Mountain, whether in quantity or literary grace, were the finest in the Haoran world. One of the great regrets of the golden-armored god was that there was no tablet inscribed by Bai Ye's own hand.

But the current child in the tiger-head cap could probably be considered a true banished immortal.

The old scholar turned his head and said, "Bai Ye's poetry is unmatched, isn't it? Does Sui Mountain acknowledge this?"

The golden-armored god nodded, "Of course. Mr. Bai's poems are truly magnificent."

In fact, at the summit of Sui Mountain, the golden-armored god had deliberately left a blank stone cliff.

It must be known that on famous mountains in the world, there are often many cliff carvings by immortals, scholars, and poets. This is the so-called "famous mountains await sages since ancient times." Especially on the great peaks, over the past ten thousand years, there was almost no space left the size of a palm for future generations to carve or erect stelae. This fully demonstrated the sincerity of the great god of Sui Mountain. Moreover, this "Chief Mountain God of Central Earth" was not like that old scholar. He had this intention but never boasted about it. If Bai Ye didn't come to the mountain, he would keep it waiting. If he didn't come, then he would just keep waiting. If it were the old scholar with his temperament, he would have taken his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and blocked Bai Ye's door long ago.

The old scholar simply turned around, jumped up, and cursed, "Then how is it that a mountain as grand as Sui Mountain doesn't have a single word of Bai Ye's poetry? How are you the great god of Sui Mountain?"

The golden-armored god said, "I didn't want to disturb Mr. Bai while he was in seclusion studying."

The old scholar spat, "You just weren't sincere enough. It's normal that you're not close to Bai Ye. How many people in the world can call themselves brothers with Bai Ye, or even, by taking advantage of their own disciples, be half a generation above him?! But what about your friendship with me? Why haven't I seen you ask me for anything? Asking or not asking is your business; agreeing or not is mine. Shouldn't we talk about the order of precedence?"

The golden-armored god was quite annoyed and said via mental voice, "Otherwise, should I leave you alone at the foot of the mountain to keep muttering?"

The tiger-head-capped child was oblivious to the old scholar's rekindled provocation behind him. The child took pleasure in slowly climbing higher, admiring the scenery of Sui Mountain.

The old scholar immediately changed his expression, speaking amiably to the big fool, "Later scholars, speaking shamelessly, say Bai Ye's only flaw is in seven-character regulated verse. Not rigorous, many mismatched tones, so very few have been passed down. They call it 'long-waisted strong woman bee fluttering at flowers,' slapping the name 'bee-waist style' on Bai Ye's head. Compared to this tiger-head cap, it's not cute at all, right?"

The golden-armored god looked puzzled. Could it be that the old scholar had finally grown a conscience and wanted Bai Ye to leave a seven-character regulated verse carved on Sui Mountain?

The old scholar signaled to the big fool with his eyes, and seeing that the Sui Mountain god didn't catch on, he turned his back to Bai Ye and raised one hand, gently rubbing his fingers together.

The golden-armored god was genuinely tempted. As long as the old scholar got Bai Ye to leave a seven-character regulated verse, everything could be negotiated. Even lending the old scholar a branch peak mountain would be fine. Exchanging two or three hundred years of merit for a poem by Bai Ye.

The old scholar stopped in his tracks, stroked his beard and smiled, clearing his throat via mental voice, then said slowly, "Listen carefully... the regulations of poetry and meter, the rigid rules, can they really restrain Bai Ye..."

Unexpectedly, the tiger-head-capped child, who was already several dozen steps ahead climbing alone, said, "Seven-character regulated verse is indeed not my forte. If the Sui Mountain god hears a certain seven-character regulated verse, it's definitely a forgery by the old scholar."

The old scholar lamented, then scurried to catch up with the tiger-head cap. Just as he reached out to adjust the cap, Bai Ye slapped his hand away without turning his head.

The Sui Mountain god escorted the two all the way to the summit. He clasped his fists to the old master who was seated cross-legged, reading a book, then returned to the foot of the mountain.

Although Bai Ye was no longer a Fourteen Realm cultivator, his physical strength still far surpassed that of ordinary pilgrims. The climb took only about half an hour.

The old master turned his head and smiled at the tiger-head-capped child, "A bit busy, so I won't get up."

The child made a deep bow to the Sage.

The old scholar watched with great amusement. Already not very tall, and now bending over.

The scenery at the summit of Sui Mountain was magnificent. In the dead of night, the four skies opened; the starry river dazzled the eyes.

The old scholar sighed with emotion, "Heaven's will has always been high and difficult to question, but I must ask. The human world breathes like a drum of a turtle, how dare I not listen?"

He looked up at the sky, where massive stones seemed to crash into a lake, causing ripples that surged violently. This was the gray-robed elder's handiwork above the Dragon Gully, attempting to lure the remnants of the ancient gods from beyond the heavens into the Haoran world.

The Sage was busy mending the sky, to prevent the Ritual Sage from having too hard a time. As for the Tuo Yue Shan Grand Ancestor's spells and techniques that fell upon the mortal lands, the Sage would dispel them one by one.

A scabbard of the Tai Bai sword suddenly appeared beside the tiger-head-capped child. It had been sent back to Sui Mountain by Fu Lu Yu Xuan.

Bai Ye gently grasped it, hesitating as if to speak.

The old master nodded, "Go ahead. Whether in the Haoran world or the Qing Ming world, the mortal world is still the mortal world. Bai Ye is still Bai Ye."

Bai Ye bowed again, taking his leave of the Sage to travel to another world.

He owed too much to Elder Sun, so he planned to make a trip to the Great Xuan Du Temple.

Back when Bai Ye was on Fuyao Continent, he had already resolved to die. He had split the immortal sword Tai Bai into four parts, giving them away. Now that he could resume his cultivation, he wasn't worried about not repaying this debt.

By the time he reached the Great Xuan Du Temple, giving him at most a hundred years would be enough.

The old scholar crouched down, hands tucked into his sleeves, and said softly, "The world is a lodging house; by candlelight, I roam at night. I walk and suddenly see something, the long autumn moon shining bright."

The tiger-head-capped child held the scabbard in one hand and pressed the other on the old scholar's head, "You're still young. Complain less from now on."

In fact, aside from the Sage calling the Wen Sage "xiucai", other peak cultivators of the mountain often habitually called the Wen Sage "old xiucai". After all, there were thousands of xiucai in the world, and one who had been a xiucai as long as the Wen Sage indeed deserved the "old" title. But in truth, in terms of actual age, the old scholar was much younger than Chen Chun'an and Bai Ye, and far younger than the great god of Sui Mountain. Yet for some reason, the old scholar seemed very old indeed, both in appearance and demeanor. He wasn't as elegant as the refined Confucian Chen Chun'an, nor as celestial as Bai Ye. The old scholar was short, thin, and frail, his face deeply wrinkled, his hair white. In the past, when he accompanied the sacrifices at the Central Earth Confucian Temple, various academies and schools would hang his portrait, painted by a master artist who was a close friend. The old scholar would make a fuss, demanding to be painted younger and more handsome, complaining about where the scholarly aura had gone, insisting on realism, cursing realism, and threatening to do it himself...

The old scholar stood up and said, "A wanderer returning home is only natural. No matter how good a foreign land may be, remember to come home."

Bai Ye nodded, "I will."

The Tai Bai scabbard in his hand flashed and vanished, returning to one of his vital apertures.

The old scholar said worriedly, "I've heard the vegetarian meals at the Great Xuan Du Temple aren't very good."

The old master in the distance hummed in agreement, "I've heard that too. They're indeed mediocre."

The old scholar said to Bai Ye, "You hear that? Would I lie? Would the old man talk nonsense? It really is bad!"

Many years ago, the Second Sage had traveled widely in the Qing Ming world, a return of courtesy from the Central Earth Confucian Temple to the Jade Capital.

Bai Ye reached up to adjust the bright red tiger-head cap on his head, then looked up at the sky. After a moment, he lowered his gaze to take one more look at the homeland where pear blossoms bloom year after year.

---

Qing Ming world, outside the main gate of the Great Xuan Du Temple, a young Daoist wearing a lotus-shaped crown wasn't in a hurry to go find Elder Sun for business. He leaned against the gatehouse, smiling as he chatted with a senior sister Daoist. He said that his senior brother, Dao Number Two, had lent his sword to Bai Ye. The immortal sword Dao Collection had flown off for countless miles, which he had personally witnessed at the Jade Capital. "Sister Chun Hui, you were too far away to see clearly. At most, you could only see that trace of misty Dao energy traveling with the sword. A small pity."

The sword-carrying senior sister smiled, "No matter how much you chat, Sect Leader Lu, you still can't get through the gate. The grand master has decreed that even a wagging-tailed dog can enter, but Lu Chen is not allowed inside."

Lu Chen laughed heartily, "Elder Sun still holds me in the highest regard. It doesn't matter if I can't enter. Half of my intention in this visit was to see you, Sister Chun Hui. Having seen you, this trip is already worthwhile."

The senior sister of the Great Xuan Du Temple, whose Dao name was Chun Hui, looked somewhat helpless, "Sect Leader Lu, I really won't go to the Purple Qi Tower to cultivate and become the never-before-seen leader of the Jiang clan's foreign Spring Welcome Officers."

Lu Chen put on a pitiful expression, "If not the Spring Welcome Officer, then going to Emerald Green City would also be fine. Have you heard of Jiang Yunsheng, who just returned to his hometown? A boy with a baby face, lively and cute. He's also the Jade Polisher appointed by my senior brother during his travels abroad. If you, Sister Chun Hui, just nod, I'll have Emerald Green City arrange a happy occasion tomorrow! The betrothal gifts will be generous, large portions from both the Jiang clan of Jade Capital and Emerald Green City. The Great Xuan Du Temple won't need to provide any dowry..." The sword-carrying senior sister blushed with some anger, "Sect Leader Lu, please watch your words!"

Lu Chen blinked, then tentatively asked, "Then how about I have Jiang Yunsheng recognize you as his godmother? No need to betray your sect or ancestors to go to Emerald Green City. You'd gain a son for free. It would sound good too, greatly boosting the prestige of the Great Xuan Du Temple's sword immortal lineage."

The young-looking Jade Purity realm senior sister narrowed her phoenix eyes, "Sect Leader Lu!"

Lu Chen said helplessly, "Alright, alright. This little Daoist really isn't cut out to be a matchmaker. But to be honest, when I traveled to the Pearl Grotto-Heaven in the past, I spent years studying palmistry and could read fate, fortunes, and principles with great accuracy. Sister Chun Hui, how about I read your palm?"

A tall, thin old Daoist appeared at the main entrance, smiling, "Sect Leader Lu, has an outer demon possessed your soul? You're not being as persistent as usual. In the past, your Dao skills were profound, flowing like clouds and water, like dew and rain that soaked one place and leaked elsewhere. Why have you changed today, kindly playing the role of a matchmaker tying red threads? Chun Hui, why adopt Jiang Yunsheng as a godson? Isn't there a perfect candidate right in front of you? Why be so polite to a guest?"

This Elder Sun's attire was old-fashioned. He carried a peachwood sword on his back, wore a string of copper bells at his waist, and donned a Daoist robe made of ordinary silk, with twelve panels secretly arranged, corresponding to the twelve months of the year.

If any of his old acquaintances from the past saw him, they would surely praise him as having true immortal style and genuine Daoist bone.

Lu Chen grinned, "No, no, I'm nothing compared to your easy grace, Elder Sun. You're like an old dog lying in its kennel on watch, mouth moving but body still. Once you move, you show another kind of style—like an old turtle in a pond, stirring up waves."

Elder Sun smiled, "Come on, let's go inside and talk, you and I."

Lu Chen nodded vigorously, stepping one foot over the threshold but not letting it touch the ground.

Elder Sun maintained a kindly expression, standing to the side.

But the Jade Purity realm sword-carrying senior sister had already broken into a sweat on her forehead.

It wasn't that she was timid, but once Lu Chen's foot touched the ground inside the gate, the grand master would have to receive the guest, and it would be no joke. The mountain protection formation, temple restrictions, and all her senior brothers, even many she would address as senior uncles or granduncles, would instantly scatter around the temple to block the way... The cultivators of the Great Xuan Du Temple always enjoyed a good "group fight" against a single opponent.

Lu Chen hopped and changed feet, still keeping one foot hovering, "Hey, this little Daoist won't go in."

The sword-carrying senior sister found no amusement in this. She remained on high alert, though worried about being caught in the crossfire of a fight between the world's third and fifth strongest. However, duty called, and the Great Xuan Du Temple had a tradition of not losing face even when losing a fight. So she gritted her teeth and stood her ground, her hands hidden in her sleeves, already forming hand seals. While trying to protect herself, she would also look for a chance to slash a few swords at the Third Sect Leader of the Jade Capital or smash a heavy Dao technique or spell on him.

Elder Sun turned and walked toward the steps outside the temple gate. Lu Chen withdrew his foot, said goodbye to Sister Chun Hui, and swaggered along beside Elder Sun, laughing, "So the immortal sword Tai Bai is gone. Are you sad? I've got some salt here, Elder Brother Sun. Take it for your cooking, so the temple's vegetarian dishes aren't so bland."

Elder Sun descended the steps, but as he crossed the last step and his foot touched the street, the old Daoist brought Lu Chen along with him, and they instantly appeared tens of thousands of miles away.

Elder Sun liked peace and quiet. Outside the domain of the Great Xuan Du Temple, he had established a summer retreat. It wasn't a place of exceptional feng shui or special restrictions. The only scenery worth hosting guests was an ancient pine tree, green and lush, that seemed to have been there for ten thousand years.

Under the pine tree, a white-robed lad was brewing tea, and a divine being in armor with a purple beard like a halberd and a tall crown stood to the side.

Among the branches and leaves of the ancient pine hung a lovely "white jade plate," like a piece of scholarly stationery embedded in the green shade of the pine.

In addition, on the ground to the north and south of the ancient pine, Elder Sun and his junior brother had each carved a word in the past using the immortal sword Tai Bai: Bei Feng on the north, Nan Dou on the south.

Under the pine was a stone table. After the old Daoist Sun Huaizhong sat down, Lu Chen removed his boots, sat cross-legged, took off his lotus crown, and casually placed it on the table.

Lu Chen got straight to the point, "I came here on my master's orders. Otherwise, I really wouldn't be here looking for a scolding."

Elder Sun frowned slightly.

Apart from the fifth world at the dawn of creation, in the other four worlds with orderly heaven and earth and strict great Dao, whether in the Qing Ming world or the Haoran world, there was a huge rule when cultivators fought: four individuals had to be excluded. For example, in the Qing Ming world, no matter how bold someone was, they wouldn't think they could wrestle with the Dao Ancestor. It wasn't about whether their Dao heart was firm or whether they dared; it simply couldn't be done.

Even Elder Sun, no matter how much he disliked Dao Number Two, Yu Dou, still held considerable respect for the Dao Ancestor, as the Dao Ancestor rarely even went to the Jade Capital, letting his three disciples take turns managing it.

Lu Chen smiled, "Bai Ye doesn't like owing favors. So, unless something unexpected happens, he'll most likely come to the Great Xuan Du Temple to repay his debts. The Confucian Temple won't stop him either. I came to see you today just to give you a heads-up. Whatever happened between the Jade Capital and the Great Xuan Du Temple in the past will remain the same in the future. Bai Ye can cultivate here with all his heart. Whether or not he enters the ancestor hall roster of the Great Xuan Du Temple, the Jade Capital will only regard him as Bai Ye. So, Temple Master Sun, of all the worries you might have, you don't need to worry about this."

Elder Sun nodded.

Lu Chen propped his cheek on one hand, leaning against the stone table, "I've always heard that Elder Brother Sun has taken on some excellent disciples, real talents. Why won't you let this little Daoist have a look and feast his eyes?"

Elder Sun asked, "How did Bai Ye die, and how did he come back to life?"

Lu Chen sighed, fanning himself with his hand, "Zhou Mi's integration into the Dao was bizarre. The great Dao's hidden troubles are serious. This guy made the heavenly mechanisms of the Haoran world a complete mess. Half of the Embroidery Tiger, neither too early nor too late, just happened to cut off one of my key threads. I can't trust what my disciples He Xiaoliang, Cao Rong, and the others saw with their own eyes. It's better not to calculate than to calculate. Leave it to fate for now. Anyway, it's not my business yet. Even if the sky falls, isn't there still my invincible senior brother Yu Dou to hold it up?"

Elder Sun sneered, "Dao Number Two willing to lend his sword to Bai Ye nearly made this old Daoist's eyes pop out."

Lu Chen said lazily, "Senior Brother Yu is quite the hero, isn't he? Elder Brother Sun, as someone half on the same side, don't say such bitter words. They'll hurt feelings."

Elder Sun and Lu Chen both looked up at the sky at almost the same time.

Elder Sun stood up, burst into laughter, formed hand seals, and the white jade plate among the branches and leaves of the ancient pine gleamed brightly, its light covering heaven and earth.

Lu Chen hurriedly put on his boots, turned, and slipped away.

After Lu Chen left and the light subsided, Elder Sun found an old man and a child standing before him. His eyes widened in disbelief. "Bai Ye?"

The child wearing the tiger-head cap nodded, took out a scabbard, and handed it to the old Daoist, apologizing, "The immortal sword Tai Bai has been destroyed..."

The old Daoist waved his hand dismissively, cursed, "To hell with it! What's a minor matter to talk about?" He quickly walked over and crouched beside the child, teasing, "Whose little child is this? So exquisitely carved. The young women of the Great Xuan Du Temple will probably be too distracted to cultivate and will just come running to pinch your little face. Even I, as their grand master, wouldn't have much to say..."

Bai Ye's expression remained impassive. He simply tugged at the strings of the tiger-head cap around his neck.

The child's mood probably wasn't great at the moment.

On the way here, the old scholar had insisted that the Sage himself had reminded him: don't take off this cap until you've at least reached the Upper Five Realms.

Bai Ye couldn't even imagine what it would be like to be stuck wearing a tiger-head cap until he reached the Jade Purity realm.

Beside them, the old scholar was holding a travel talisman made of green material between two fingers. It slowly dissolved. When the talisman burned away completely, the old scholar would return to Haoran.

Elder Sun stood up, made a Daoist bow, and smiled, "Old Scholar, your grace is unparalleled."

The old scholar returned a bow, grinning as he praised, "Elder Sun, Elder Sun."

They exchanged knowing glances and smiled.

As the saying goes, meeting for real is better than hearing about it. Indeed, this was family.

Then the old scholar held the talisman in one hand, pointed to the sky with the other, stood on tiptoe, and shouted, "Dao Number Two! Invincible, are you? Either debate with me, or be straightforward and bring that immortal sword to cut me down. Come on, cut me right here! Remember to bring that sword, or don't bother coming. If you come without it, it won't be enough. This chivalrous Elder Sun by my side definitely won't take sides. Our grievances will only be settled with that immortal sword..."

At the highest point of the Jade Capital, Dao Number Two squinted his eyes, performed a quick calculation with his fingers in his sleeve, and glanced at the sky.

Bai Ye suddenly said, "The immortal sword Dao Collection will only return to the Qing Ming world before your talisman disappears."

Although his realm was gone, his insight remained.

The old scholar chuckled, his expression calm.

But the hand holding the talisman immediately dropped, swaying gently.

After a moment, he simply raised his hand and blew on it vigorously.

Since they were all family, who cared about face?

The old scholar might be poor, but he was never one for vain formalities.

Elder Sun laughed, "Wen Sage, no need to rush back. If Dao Number Two dares to come here, I dare to go to the Jade Capital."

The old scholar clutched the talisman in his hand, rubbing it as he smiled, "No, no, I can't involve Bai Ye, who just arrived, in such trouble."

Elder Sun suddenly frowned deeply, "Old Scholar, can you go to the fifth world?"

The old scholar shook his head, "Not for now."

Elder Sun warned, "It's best if you can."

The old scholar understood instantly. He opened his hand, and Elder Sun pressed two fingers together, gathering a particle of spiritual light on his fingertip, which he gently pressed onto the travel talisman personally drawn by the Sage.

The old scholar turned to look at the tiger-head-capped child.

He should be reassured, yet he really couldn't let go.

After all, Bai Ye was now just a child who needed to re-enter the Dao, no longer the most arrogant man in the world at the Fourteen Realm.

Bai Ye said, "Take care of yourself first. I'll find you for a drink later."

The old scholar nodded, suddenly feeling a pang of melancholy. He asked softly, "That Bai Ye who 'looks up to the sky and laughs loudly as he walks out the door' — I've always been curious about what kind of person he really was."

The old scholar was just asking casually. It didn't matter whether Bai Ye had an answer or not.

The child in the tiger-head cap thought for a moment, crossed his arms, stood slightly on tiptoe, lifted his head high, opened his mouth, then closed it again. During that time, as if reciting a lesson, he quickly said three words with almost no emotional inflection, "Ha, ha, ha."

It was rather perfunctory.

Elder Sun, a man who had seen many storms, felt that this was a new experience.

The old scholar laughed uncontrollably, his entire face wrinkling. But the old man, who loved to chatter, said nothing more. As the talisman disappeared, his form flickered and vanished. The gate of the sky opened, and he returned to the Haoran world.

---

Bottle Gourd Continent. Cui Chan's dharma form held an imitation of the Jade Capital in his hand. Today, Cui Chan's true body made an exception by not giving lectures. Instead, he received two old acquaintances. Both old friends didn't travel across continents in their true forms. There were many methods in the mountains, and the more profound techniques usually cost more, but Cui Chan didn't need to worry about that.

As Cui Chan descended to the mortal world, walking along the bank of the great river, a corpulent rich man and a plain-dressed middle-aged man flanked him, strolling by the water.

One was the god of wealth from the Snowy Continent, Liu Jubao. The other was Yu Yangshui, the retired emperor of the Xuan Mi Dynasty in the Central Earth. Neither was the type to fuss over immortal money.

Yu Yangshui, who in his family study had left a young man named Lin Junbi scratching his head, was now fawning profusely, "Brother Cui, what a grand scheme! Truly a world-changing endeavor! The three great undertakings of the Haoran world's brocade are not enough. This one must be added."

Liu Jubao wasn't as thick-skinned as Yu Yangshui, but his eyes couldn't hide his admiration as he looked at the water of the great river.

But what Liu Jubao saw wasn't just the rolling river; it was a continuous stream of immortal money. If a person had the skills, it was like opening a huge money bag at the river mouth.

Cui Chan asked with a smile, "Old Yu, how's your chess skill these days?"

Yu Yangshui complained, "You're asking what you already know. Still terrible."

Yu Yangshui's chess skill was, in Cui Chan's words from the past, "Old Yu spends more time picking up the pieces than playing the game."

His style was aggressive, decisive, and relentless. So he played fast and lost early. Cui Chan rarely wasted time with such a poor player. Yu Yangshui was an exception. Of course, the so-called chess game was more about the moves outside the board, and both parties knew it and enjoyed it. During the conflict between the Third and Fourth, when the Wen Sage lineage suffered a crushing defeat, Cui Chan betrayed his teacher and abandoned his heritage, becoming a pariah everyone cursed. But in the seemingly prosperous Da Cheng Dynasty, Cui Chan, while playing chess with Yu Yangshui at the Yingbai Pavilion, pointed out the underlying decline beneath the surface splendor. It was after that game that Yu Yangshui, who had been hesitating, made up his mind to change dynasties.

Cui Chan had one good quality that Yu Yangshui admired most. Unlike most scholars in the world, whenever he encountered problems that were known to be flawed but still unsolvable, Cui Chan would keep them to himself and not pretend to be profound. In short, Cui Chan only did what he could. He dared to do it, was willing to do it, and could do it. So when Cui Chan left the Yu family, in addition to an unquestionable chess victory, he also left a booklet for the dynasty change, saying only that he had done his best to help Old Yu sort out the outline and strategies for mutual reference.

Yu Yangshui saw him off at the foot of the pavilion steps, asking only, "What does the Embroidery Tiger seek?"

Cui Chan replied, "In the future, when I borrow money from the Yu family, you, Yu Yangshui, won't be vague. Give me as much as you can. I can't say how much I'll make, but I definitely won't lose money."

Yu Yangshui, notorious for his poor chess, was actually a sharp strategist with hidden thorns. Before he was thirty, he had become the state preceptor of the Da Cheng Dynasty, propping up several puppet emperors, earning the nickname "Dragon-Slicing Art." His reputation in both the mountains and the mortal world was mixed. There were many scandalous tales from the palace, widely circulated. Together with Jiang Shangzhen's personally written and self-published "Flora and History" in the Northern Ju Lu Continent, they were known as the "twin beauties of the mountains."

Cui Chan turned to ask Liu Jubao, "Brother Liu, still unwilling to place a heavy bet?"

Liu Jubao said, "Making money doesn't rely on gambling. That's the first ancestral rule of the Liu family. The two loans the Liu family has made to Great Li are not insignificant."

Gu Yu coins. Ten thousand. Twice, one hundred each time.

Cui Chan smiled, "Gambling? Are you underestimating the defensive posture of our Bottle Gourd Continent, or overestimating the offensive of the Barren Wasteland world?"

Liu Jubao smiled but said nothing.

Arguing with this Embroidery Tiger was the most pointless thing.

As for Liu Jubao, the god of wealth of the Snowy Continent, he controlled a Cold Crisp Blessed Land and managed the source of all Snow Flower coins in the world. The Central Earth Confucian Temple recognized the Liu family's ten percent profit.

There was a black-and-white contract. The signatories were the Ritual Sage and Liu Jubao.

That Snow Flower coin mine still had astonishing reserves. The founding masters of the School of Mechanics and the School of Yin-Yang had jointly surveyed and calculated for several years. The final answer pleased Liu Jubao greatly.

That meant the Liu family of the Snowy Continent was not only rich now but would remain rich in the future. Hence, they earned the praise of "Sitting and Eating, the Mountain Never Empties."

Even the Merchant Ancestor, Mr. Fan, said that God of Wealth Liu was truly rich.

Among the Liu family's honored elders, there was Pei Axiang of the Thunder God Temple on the Snowy Continent. As the number one martial artist on the continent, he was only ranked third among the honored elders. The School of Mechanics had three founding masters, two of whom were honored elders of the Liu family on the Snowy Continent.

Cui Chan asked, "Does Xie Songhua still not even want to be a nominal guest elder of the Liu family?"

Liu Jubao admitted it openly, nodding with a smile, "Money can't conquer every heart in the end. That's fine. I truly admire that female sword immortal."

A founding master of the Liu family was currently laboring to persuade the female sword immortal Xie Songhua to become a family guest elder. Hoping for her to become an honored elder was out of the question. Xie Songhua had never had any good feelings for her hometown on the Snowy Continent, and she held a particularly poor opinion of the wealthy Liu family.

So if Xie Songhua just nodded, not only would she never have to set foot in the Liu mansion, but as a guest elder, she wouldn't be asked to do anything. Even when the ancestor hall convened, she didn't need to be present. As long as she sent word, her opinion would still carry weight. In addition, for her two direct disciples, Ju Xing and Zhao Mu, until they reached the Upper Five Realms, the Liu family of the Snowy Continent would cover all expenses for their sword nurturing and artifact refinement—every rare treasure and immortal coin they needed.

But even then, Xie Songhua still wouldn't agree. From beginning to end, she said only one sentence to the Liu family's founding master: "If it weren't for the face of the Ape Trampled Mansion at Inverted Hanging Mountain, you would be challenging me with a sword."

The Liu family of the Snowy Continent certainly wasn't in need of a sword immortal to sit guard. But the family head of the Liu family had decreed that this elder must accomplish this matter and speak politely, showing plenty of respect to Sword Immortal Xie. Otherwise, when he returned to the ancestor hall, Liu Jubao wouldn't be nice about it.

Cui Chan laughed, "Business is business. Brother Liu, if you don't want to bet big for big gains, that's fine. Regarding the previous loans, the principal and interest, not a single Snow Flower coin will be missing from the Liu family. On top of that, I can have Xie Songhua serve as a honored elder of the Liu family, as a token of thanks for your willingness to lend money."

Moreover, Liu Jubao never forgot his roots. He had secretly spent countless sums just to bolster the martial and sword fortunes of the Snowy Continent. Cui Chan had seen it all.

In the world, the rich come and go, whether newcomers or old-timers. Someone always sits in the seat of the wealthy. So who deserves to be rich is a great question.

All worldly affairs, in the end, boil down to people dealing with people.

Liu Jubao said, "Next, the Barren Wasteland world will be contracting its lines. Even if Zhou Mi throws most of his top combat power toward the Southern Bodhisattva Continent, the Bottle Gourd Continent will still be in an awkward position."

Cui Chan sneered, "A swarm of mosquitoes?"

Liu Jubao fell silent.

Even "Fatty Yu," known for his carefree nature, felt his eyelids twitch. He hurriedly patted his chest to calm himself.

The Great Li Dynasty had worked hard for over a hundred years. The treasury's reserves, plus the private property of Emperor Song, were generous compared to an average major Central Earth dynasty. But before the Great Li iron cavalry marched south, just building the imitation Jade Capital and supporting the southward campaign had left them strapped. In addition to the countless floating sword boats lined up in the air, the mountain-crossing ferry boats that transported entire border armies as if walking on flat clouds, the armor talismans designed for the Great Li cavalry ("armor for both man and horse"), the siege weapons, defensive machines, and specially crafted crossbows against mountain cultivators, and the formation hubs along several coastal battle lines... so many mountain-faction items that devoured money without counting. Even if Great Li owned several gold and silver mountains, they would have been drained dry long ago. So what to do?

Borrow money.

Embroidery Tiger Cui Chan borrowed from the Merchant Ancestor Mr. Fan, from Yu Yangshui, from the Liu family of the Snowy Continent, from the Mojia giant, and secretly from the Hundred Schools of Thought.

Part of the debt was repaid through the huge profits generated by the Great Li iron cavalry's southern conquest, integrating one continent into one kingdom.

Beyond that, Cui Chan had also "pre-advanced" a large portion, which came from the Tung Leaf Continent—a continent ruined, its mortal dynasties and mountain sects almost entirely destroyed!

Liu Jubao shook his head, however, "No need for that. It's not clean."

Cui Chan turned his head and smiled, "Xie Songhua has volunteered to become a honored elder of the Liu family. Are you willing to stop her? You'd flip the table? Are you playing games with a female sword immortal who has a temper?"

Liu Jubao said helplessly, "You win."

Yu Yangshui laughed smugly, "Watching God of Wealth Liu suffer is truly refreshing. Good, good! Just for this move by the Embroidery Tiger, I'll take out another half of the Xuan Mi treasury!"

Cui Chan smiled, "No need to thank me. If you want to thank anyone, thank God of Wealth Liu for giving the Yu family this opportunity to make money."

Yu Yangshui clicked his tongue, "Only the Embroidery Tiger can borrow money in such a refreshingly unique way!"

Liu Jubao suddenly stopped, saying, "I only want to confirm one thing: Have you, Cui Chan, left yourself a way out? If you have, I'll place my bet, right now!"

Yu Yangshui also stopped, pricking up his ears. This was the answer he, as the head of the Yu family, most wanted to know. Once confirmed, not just the remaining half of the Xuan Mi treasury, Yu Yangshui would turn all sixteen vassal states upside down to join the Embroidery Tiger and God of Wealth Liu in making a great accomplishment. Who would dare rebel? Afraid his Xuan Mi Dynasty's territory wasn't big enough?

But Cui Chan shook his head, "The hearts of men are two different things. Sorry to disappoint you."

The implication was clear: a man may have no escape route, but his heart has a place to rest. That's all.

Cui Chan was a master of scheming in human affairs, national fortunes, and grand trends, but he was by no means someone who relied solely on cunning and dirty tricks.

Liu Jubao vigorously rubbed his face, then uncharacteristically swore a few curses. Finally, he stared straight at this Embroidery Tiger, "If the Liu family places a heavy bet, can we actually make money from the Tung Leaf Continent's land? And more importantly, will the money be hot or not? You can at least tell me that!"

Yu Yangshui muttered quietly, "You deaf one. The Embroidery Tiger has been saying it'll make money all along. You just like to get scolded to be happy. A hero and bold man like Brother Cui, if he set his mind to making money, you wouldn't just lose the 'North' in the Snowy Continent's name, Liu Jubao, you'd also lose your title as god of wealth."

Cui Chan looked at Liu Jubao and smiled, "Helping friends make money is one of life's great pleasures."

Liu Jubao's expression was complex. He raised a hand. Cui Chan hesitated for a moment, then lightly slapped it.

Liu Jubao withdrew his magical powers, his form dissipating, leaving behind one sentence, "The money is quite a lot."

Yu Yangshui didn't leave immediately. He accompanied Cui Chan a little further, until the great river temple was distantly visible. Then he stopped and said softly, "No matter what others think, I can't bear to see the world lose the Embroidery Tiger."

Cui Chan smiled, "It's okay."

Yu Yangshui sighed, then vanished in a flash.

Cui Chan sat by the great river, turned his head to glance at the distant Qi Du Gate, then looked back, a smile on his face. The old scholar with graying temples whispered softly to himself, "What more is there to say."