Chapter 750: Eleven Figures on the Ten-Thousand-Year Summit
A paper-tied immortal?
What bold words, daring to not even put an immortal in one's sights.
Han Yushu ignored the soaring momentum at the mountain gate, merely finding the young man's way of speaking refreshingly novel. As expected of a proud orthodox disciple from a major Central Continent sect—the wording was witty and the tone audacious. In short, despite his earnest admonitions, this arrogant young man still had no idea he was courting death.
Aside from Taiping Mountain, which belonged to the lineage of White Jade Capital's Grand Master, he had some understanding of the divine proclamation sects on Bottle Gourd Continent, as well as Cao Rong, one of the direct disciples of White Jade Capital's Third Master Lu Chen, who cultivated on the mountain of the old White Frost Kingdom, and Xie Shi, the Daoist Heavenly Lord from Northern Jambu Continent. In particular, he knew the general doctrinal lineage of Crouching Peak, home to Fire Dragon True Person, and the paths of their respective Daoist arts and divine powers.
Jiang Shangzhen grew increasingly anxious, speaking rapidly, "Good Brother, have you had too much wine? What nonsense is this about 'paper-tied'? Sect Master Han's talisman arts are foremost on Tongye Continent; he's even called the second-best talisman master in the entire Haoran world. You cannot underestimate him, do not treat him lightly. Especially Sect Master Han's 'Three Mountains Secret Talisman,' derived from the orthodox tradition, with a majestic aura. In terms of foundation, it's no weaker than Dragon Tiger Mountain's Five Thunder True Law. He is especially skilled in water and earth talismans, which are unfathomably mysterious. Not to mention his 'Supporting Luan and Summoning Truth' heretical immortal arts, which are truly unique…"
Han Yushu let the glib Jiang Shangzhen reveal his secrets, let the young man, whose expression seemed moved, prick up his ears to hear Jiang Shangzhen divulge heavenly secrets.
Han Yushu didn't care, but his daughter Han Jiangshu glared angrily and said, "Jiang Shangzhen, do you still not observe mountain rules?!"
Jiang Shangzhen stopped his speech, turned to her, and grinned, "Of course I do! If I didn't, would Sister Jiangshu still be gazing at me with such affection?"
Han Yushu casually waved his sleeve, signaling his daughter not to get angry. Jiang Shangzhen of the Yugui Sect was always this slick-tongued and lacking in decorum.
With that one sleeve of his immortal power, he simultaneously shattered the talismans the young man had previously hidden in the nearby mountains and waters. Trying to set up such formation techniques in front of me, Han Yushu—that's like beating a drum before a thunder god, utterly ridiculous.
Of course, Han Yushu was wary of a former sect master of the Yugui Sect, and even more wary of Jiang Shangzhen's damaged willow leaf. Back when Jiang Shangzhen was at the Jade Terrace Realm, there was a terrifying rumor that a single willow leaf could slay an immortal—that wasn't Jiang Shangzhen boasting. When this man fell in realm, it was from the Flying Ascension Realm to the Immortal Realm. If it weren't for being certain that Jiang Shangzhen's current lifebound flying sword was utterly unsuitable for deployment, then today Han Yushu would only rescue his daughter and immediately leave Taiping Mountain territory.
In any case, as long as Jiang Shangzhen didn't personally make a move, it didn't matter whether he spoke or not, whether he revealed heavenly secrets or not. He, Han Yushu, both in person and in Dao arts, stood on high ground, hovering above that young man.
Perhaps because the formation's hub had been broken by Han Yushu, the young man reluctantly put away the talisman he had been holding between his fingers.
Han Jiangshu felt a sense of satisfaction. A formation master? Making a fool of himself without even realizing it! Did he really think that the title "Second Talisman Immortal" was just a casual joke among Earth Immortals on Tongye Continent?
Jiang Shangzhen looked at Sister Jiangshu, whose face showed a 'revenge served' expression, and his gaze grew increasingly pitying.
"Talismans for an immortal are as natural as heaven and earth. Another Talisman Immortal? Truly never heard of it."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Never heard of it, but now I've seen it with my own eyes. Seems just ordinary. Barely passable as an attendant to light the stove or hand a brush to that old immortal Yu Xuan."
Han Yushu dismissed it with a smile.
Jiang Shangzhen lightly clapped his hands. "Even if we lose the battle, we won't lose our spirit. As expected of my Good Brother. Not at all unworthy of me taking care of Sister Jiangshu for a while."
But Jiang Shangzhen had a slight doubt. Was Chen Ping'an not going to directly start a fight today? That didn't seem like the usual style of his Good Brother Mountain Lord.
No matter what, it's a pity Yu Xuan is still comprehending the Fourteenth Realm; otherwise, hearing such sincere words from Chen Ping'an would be so pleasant, like drinking fine wine, refreshing to the spirit. The key point was that, barring accidents, Chen Ping'an had never even seen Talisman Immortal Yu Xuan. Such heartfelt words, spoken so naturally and effortlessly. Jiang Shangzhen felt he couldn't do it, couldn't learn it. If he tried deliberately, both speaker and listener would probably feel awkward. So perhaps this could be considered Chen Ping'an's extraordinary talent, a lifebound divine ability?
That old fellow Yu Xuan was truly a man of steel. During the battle of Bai Ye's sword challenge on Fuyuan Continent, only Yu Xuan crossed continents to provide aid. Later, somehow, out of misfortune, he comprehended the starry river. Unexpectedly, he didn't stop there; during that time, he returned to the mortal world near the ruins of Hanging Sword Mountain, willingly consuming his own cultivation base to personally detain a great demon of the Flying Ascension Realm. It was rumored that Yu Xuan had privately joked with the Great Heavenly Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, saying he had figured out one thing—the reason his immortal qi wasn't perfect enough was certainly because he lacked a mighty mount.
But then again, this delayed Yu Xuan's breakthrough by at least three hundred years.
Yang Pu, the academy scholar, had been holding an empty wine jug, pretending to drink. Too many things had happened today, leaving the scholar bewildered and overwhelmed.
In fact, from the moment he had made his move, Han Yushu hadn't been in a hurry to subdue the young man because he had been carefully observing the surroundings, worried that the young man might have a higher-realm guardian hiding nearby, waiting for an opportunity. Feuds on the mountain were the most exhausting. If meeting a stranger on the road, it was best not to provoke the young ones. If the other party was a registered immortal master, then best not to provoke their ancestral masters.
This young man clearly had both. Young in age but extraordinary in achievement, so much so that Han Yushu found it unbelievable. He was probably not even fifty years old, yet right under his nose, he had received the martial destiny of 'strongest,' and he was also proficient in talismans. "Entering the hall" was not enough to describe it; he had even managed to trap his daughter Han Jiangshu. Unfortunately, Han Yushu never knew the details of their clash, nor whether Jiang Shangzhen had intervened. If this person had set a trap beforehand, arranged a formation, and lured Han Jiangshu to voluntarily enter the small world of mountain-water restrictions, then it would have been fine. But if they had met by chance and immediately started fighting, then this young junior truly had the capital to roam an entire continent single-handedly.
And the reason Jiang Shangzhen appeared so calm now, standing by with folded arms, letting the young man confront an immortal, could only be that Jiang Shangzhen had already made a move against Jiangshu. There would be a suspicion of bullying, because whether in status, realm, or actual combat skills, Jiangshu was far from Jiang Shangzhen's match. In fact, Han Yushu didn't even think he could wrestle with Jiang Shangzhen to determine victory or death.
When it came to martial achievements among cultivators on Tongye Continent, Jiang Shangzhen firmly held the first seat, and the second seat was far behind him.
After weighing the situation, Han Yushu was more inclined to believe that Jiang Shangzhen had intervened rather than that the young man had defeated Jiangshu on his own. Otherwise, his daughter Jiangshu, a genuine Jade Terrace Realm cultivator, wouldn't have such a gnashing hatred for Jiang Shangzhen. She had never dealt with him before; there was no reason for her to hate him to the bone.
Jiangshu had always been sensible and good at assessing the situation. Otherwise, Han Yushu wouldn't have taken her traveling all over, building connections among the various immortal families on the mountain. Sometimes, she would help the Wanyao Sect with matchmaking.
Someone had once said a golden saying that spread widely on the mountain: A woman's smile is the most formidable flying sword under heaven. If beautiful, it pierces the heart; if ugly, it pierces the eyes.
And that person was currently sitting by the mountain gate drinking.
Yang Pu had a flash of inspiration. He looked at Old Sect Master Jiang and the Jade Terrace Realm female cultivator who had yet to rise, then looked into the distance at the confrontation between Senior Chen and the immortal Han Yushu. Yang Pu felt something was off. For instance, when Senior Mountain Lord Chen had earlier grabbed the female cultivator by the hair and flown against the wind, then landed and invited him to drink—could it be that he had deliberately revealed Jiang Shangzhen's identity in front of Han Jiangshu, setting a trap for Han Yushu? Intentionally making the immortal mistakenly believe that Old Sect Master Jiang had captured Han Jiangshu? Yang Pu sighed with emotion. If his guess was correct, then Senior Chen was far too cunning… no, too meticulous in his calculations.
Han Yushu smiled. "First, I'll help you temper your boxing skills, then let you slowly stabilize your martial realm. Consider it my last bit of patience for an outsider junior. Three strikes and you're out. Hope you value your life."
Chen Ping'an twisted his wrist, lightly swinging the narrow saber, a puzzled expression on his face. "Aren't you trying to confirm whether I have a guardian? Can immortals just blatantly lie like that? Then what about Flying Ascension Realm cultivators—do they just spew nonsense all over the place, splashing me?"
Han Yushu smiled knowingly.
Han Jiangshu turned purple with anger. That cursed bastard, his language so vulgar, like a lowlife wilderness rogue cultivator.
Jiang Shangzhen struggled to suppress his laughter. He glanced at that pampered Wanyao Sect immortal lady—a Sister Jiangshu who wasn't even worth Chen Ping'an scheming against. No wonder Chen Ping'an had evaluated her as "too blessed to be in the Jade Terrace Realm." It didn't sound like a compliment, but in fact, it wasn't harsh at all.
Jiang Shangzhen shifted his gaze, looking into the distance at Chen Ping'an. It was hard to imagine this was the same youth who had mistakenly entered the Lotus Flower Blessed Land. Thinking about Han Yushu, then about himself, Jiang Shangzhen became increasingly grateful for their own encounter that began with a fight.
Chen Ping'an deliberately spoke the Tongye Continent dialect with a slight awkwardness, but it was actually quite fluent, so it only made him sound somewhat like an outsider. However, a few times his pronunciation inadvertently revealed his origin, using unique rhymes of the Central Continent Great Elegant Speech.
Clearly, this was a deliberate "more words, more mistakes."
In other words, during this "pointless" chat with Han Yushu, Chen Ping'an had to ensure it was reasonable while simultaneously giving an Immortal Realm grand cultivator the opportunity to follow the clues—even if he wouldn't be presumptuous, he would inevitably be skeptical. But if Han Yushu from the Three Mountains Blessed Land wasn't proficient in Central Continent Great Elegant Speech, then Chen Ping'an would have been winking at a blind man. However, for Chen Ping'an, it was just a few casual words; no effort needed. Facing an Immortal Realm senior who helped him temper his skills, this bit of courtesy was necessary. Over at the Sword Qi Great Wall, with nothing to do and time passing slowly, yet his thoughts were too many and too fast, he could only dwell on things alone every day. There was no such thing as "biting off more than he could chew." So not only could he speak the continent's elegant speech, but he could also speak the standard official language of the ten great dynasties of the Haoran world more fluently than a native, especially when it came to the subtle nuances of word choice, with extreme precision.
When outsiders believed a certain truth and Chen Ping'an deliberately schemed, he would provide one small truth after another to support that thread.
Jiang Shangzhen increasingly admired his own foresight and unique insight. Willing to bet early on Luopo Mountain, he had only spent some immortal money to acquire a nominal patron, and now he would strive for the position of chief patron.
Han Yushu, worried about unforeseen complications, was unwilling to waste more time with the young man. Otherwise, if bystanders arrived to join the fun and shifted allegiance to Jiang Shangzhen's side, they would likely use some excuse about the disparity in realms or the sect master being an elder to mediate, preventing him from teaching an ignorant junior a lesson.
So Han Yushu didn't waste another word with the young man. He lightly patted the purple-gleaming gourd at his waist. The momentum was far less grandiose than before; instead, a wisp of Samadhi True Fire emerged from the gourd, like a slender fire snake slithering out. With a simple shake of its head and tail, in an instant, a flame rope over a hundred zhang long appeared in the sky, shooting toward the young man in blue. The fire rope traced an arc in the air, as if an unseen deity were wielding a whip, striking mountains and rivers from the heavens.
Chen Ping'an reached out and grasped the narrow saber Zhan Kan, which had been thrust into the ground. He bent his knees slightly, stomped the ground, and dust flew up. The next moment, he appeared several li away from the mountain gate. Purely by displaying the wandering posture of a martial artist's physique, he exhibited the divine effect of an Earth Immortal shrinking the distance between mountains and rivers. His slender figure in blue robes paused for a moment as he slashed down at the ferocious fire rope hurtling toward him. Han Yushu watched this scene with cold eyes and shook his head slightly. For Jiangshu to lose to such a brute—if this got out, it would indeed be a huge joke. He, Han Yushu, and the Wanyao Sect couldn't afford such shame.
The blade of the narrow saber Zhan Kan completely missed the fire snake rope—a slash into empty air. The fire rope instantly coiled around Chen Ping'an's arm, like a long snake winding and coiling. The Samadhi True Fire abruptly contracted to a dozen zhang, binding Chen Ping'an's entire arm that held the saber. In the next moment, Han Yushu moved his mind, and a phenomenon arose like a dragon walking through water. Using a Qi practitioner's Bridge of Longevity as the path, the spiritual qi of various grotto-heavens seemed like forests and vegetation. Whatever place the fire dragon passed through would be burned to ashes.
Han Jiangshu's eyes sparkled. Her father had clearly used the most refined wisp of Samadhi True Fire from that ancient relic gourd. Inside the gourd's small grotto-heaven, successive masters of the Wanyao Sect had used dragon spittle and other rare treasures to fuel the fire. The raging flames had burned for several thousand years, refining countless wood-attributed spiritual treasures. Such a rank of true fire—the ancient gourd with a world within—had only nurtured three grains of pure true fire the size of a lamp wick. These were indestructible by heavy attack treasures; even a Jade Terrace Realm sword immortal's lifebound flying sword couldn't break this technique with a single strike.
Besides being hard to break and extremely troublesome, this technique—which was not part of the talisman path—had its greatest mystery in its ability to quickly bind a cultivator's three souls and seven spirits, using the hard-earned spiritual qi of heaven and earth as dry kindling to burn fiercely. The more unstable one's Dao heart, the more fuel was added. With the slightest carelessness, a thousand-zhin dam could collapse from a single ant hole; a spark could become a blaze that scorches the sky. For a Qi practitioner, the entire small heaven-earth would in an instant become a vast fire sweeping the wilderness, everything turning to ashes. The more desperate the struggle, the faster one sought death.
In short, as long as there was a realm difference between Qi practitioner and Immortal Han Yushu, if one hadn't cultivated a cool and refreshing intent, wasn't a true Daoist master, or didn't possess Buddhist divine powers, then Han Yushu could kill with this single technique.
At the same time, Han Jiangshu sacrificed a dark green dharma saber that sliced through the sky, dragging a trail of fireflies, straight for the young man's head, like an executioner beheading a criminal.
The dharma saber "Azure Luminescence" was obtained by the founding master of the Wanyao Sect by chance from a shattered ancient Azure Luminescence Grotto-Heaven. It was a genuine semi-immortal weapon in rank. If its appearance hadn't been damaged, preventing it from being refined into a lifebound object, it would have been an undisputed immortal weapon treasure. Its sharpness was such that it could treat a military general's Dew Armor like white paper. As one of Han Yushu's medium-refined items—though not a major-refined lifebound object—its edge was unmatched and could be used like a sword immortal's flying sword. The Three Mountains Blessed Land stored a Dragon-Slaying Platform the size of a bookcase. In the history of the Wanyao Sect, Han Yushu had used this dharma saber to split it in two several times.
Han Jiangshu, except for the willow leaf "watching" her brow, could not communicate with her father via heart-to-heart speech. Otherwise, there were no restrictions. Jiang Shangzhen's move was very measured, not too harsh on her. So she could see the battlefield situation very clearly. Previously, the Samadhi True Fire from the gourd, appearing like a flood bursting its banks, was just her father's tactic to make the opponent lower his guard. Then, sacrificing one grain of lamp-wick true fire and using the dharma saber "Azure Luminescence" to decapitate—that was the style of an immortal: a swift battle resolved in two moves.
Han Yushu made a hand seal with one hand, pointing here and there. A small talisman-restricted heaven-earth appeared around the young man.
Jiang Shangzhen nodded and praised, "Neat and decisive. Summoning the Seven Stars, the Big Dipper seals death. The beauty lies in 'a deliberate heart without words is formation; talismans without paper are true.' As expected of the second talisman master. I, Jiang, am honored to be a fellow Tongye Continent cultivator with Sect Master Han."
Human life corresponds to constellations. When heaven gave birth to me, where is my star?
Han Yushu's method of setting up talisman formations lay in being able to summon starlight and use it. This obscure divine ability had relatively few inheritors compared to practices like "drinking mist and savoring dew" or "worshipping the moon and refining form." Fewer inheritors meant less appearance in the world, making it easier for a Qi practitioner to rely on one trick to conquer all.
Han Jiangshu, whose face was still stained with blood, had just shown a hint of a smile when her expression froze.
She saw the young man standing on a mountain peak, one hand dragging the saber, the other arm raised high, actually gripping the sharp edge of the green dharma saber with his palm. On his other arm, golden light flowed, and the fire snake manifested by the Samadhi True Fire had not only inexplicably retreated from the small human heaven-earth but seemed to be coiled back by a golden dragon. The young man smiled and said, "Daoist fasting and sitting in oblivion hinge on a dead heart. When studying Zen and learning Buddhism, one must first be willing to die. The so-called 'willing to die' is nothing but a determination to go forward without turning back. I, a mere Earth Immortal, dare to arm-wrestle with an immortal, so naturally I am a person willing to die and determined to die."
Chen Ping'an turned his head to look at the mountain gate of Taiping Mountain, feigning sudden realization. "Ah, I see. Your father is truly an Immortal Realm senior with the bearing of a master. When sparring with a junior, he likes to give two or three moves first? Otherwise, displaying such petty tricks in front of me, Sister Jiangshu, shouldn't you laugh again?"
Chen Ping'an lightly stamped his foot, letting his boxing intent spill out, colliding with the talisman restriction that was like a sky-covering small world. Seven grains of starlight, which had seemed like eternal stars embedded in the sky canopy, now appeared like seven flickering oil lamps. In the torrent of boxing aura, they swayed precariously, dimming and brightening, no longer possessing the mystical phenomenon of transforming heaven and earth.
Han Yushu was actually quite surprised.
Not only was he surprised at how easily this person broke the formation, but he was even more puzzled that the young man's bamboo robe spell armor was completely unharmed.
Beneath that Qingchen Mountain bamboo robe, he seemed to be wearing a celestial robe rich in Daoist intent, most likely a semi-immortal weapon rank Daoist robe.
The outer bamboo robe was a decoy. These orthodox lineage disciples from major Central Continent immortal families were full of schemes.
Samadhi True Fire, dharma saber "Azure Luminescence," talisman restriction—three moves unleashed simultaneously. Any ordinary Jade Terrace Realm cultivator would suffer severe damage to their foundation.
Han Yushu could certainly control himself; he wouldn't actually kill the young man. He had always wanted to probe the other's family background and sect lineage, for instance, forcing the opponent to unleash some Daoist divine power from the inner robe. If the Daoist robe beneath the bamboo robe was of a higher immortal weapon rank than expected, he could find an opportunity to withdraw. Cultivation climbing was not easy, but finding a graceful exit was simple. Han Yushu was not one to act recklessly.
The Wanyao Sect, located in the Three Mountains Blessed Land, had been isolated from the world for thousands of years, painstakingly building a deep foundation with long-term plans. Since they had decided to move the ancestral hall's spirit seat out of the blessed land and into this Haoran world's Tongye Continent, there was no need to provoke a major sect from Central Continent. Because Han Yushu aspired to gradually grow the Wanyao Sect into a leading power on the continent, like the early Tongye Sect or Yugui Sect.
Nowadays, the Central Continent Confucian Temple strictly forbade unauthorized fighting among peak realm cultivators. If they were discovered, even if it only slightly affected the mortal world's mountains and rivers, the Confucian Temple would first make two upper-five-realm cultivators cross continents to the temple, each receive fifty strokes, and then decide accordingly. Thus, there were already a dozen or so upper-five-realm cultivators being "hosted"—though actually under house arrest—in the Merit Forest. If anyone dared not to come and confess their sins, each continent would have a Flying Ascension realm cultivator, not necessarily a Confucian Temple sage, specifically tasked with "inviting" people to the Moral Forest for seclusion and reflection. If they dared to resist, they would be killed on the spot, and merits would not redeem them.
In the Moral Forest, where Vice-Vice-Vice Vice-Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice-
(Note: The original text has a long repetition of "Vice" which seems to be a formatting error. I'll interpret it as a single instance: "In the Moral Forest, which was personally hosted by the Confucian Temple's Deputy Master Elder Dong, it was rumored that old friends from different continents often met and exchanged similar dialogues: 'You've come too? Not lonely anymore.' 'What a coincidence, let's drink.' Among these people was even a Confucian sage, the former head of Yufu Academy, Zhou Mi.")
Han Yushu had made up his mind. It seemed this fight needed to be harsher, the blows heavier.
He could no longer observe the etiquette of stopping at a touch. Otherwise, he and his daughter Jiangshu—an immortal and a jade terrace—would lose face here at Taiping Mountain, and it would be hard to pick it back up.
Han Yushu moved his mind slightly, actively extinguishing the last bit of light from the talisman formation, and asked with a smile, "Judging by the martial destiny, are you currently in the Distant Journey realm, or perhaps the Mountain Summit realm? Having obtained the title of 'strongest,' you must be quite confident in your boxing arts?"
Jiang Shangzhen chuckled. "Sister Jiangshu, see that? In the future, learn from your father more. Knowing when to pick up and when to put down is the mark of a true hero."
Han Jiangshu's face darkened.
On the battlefield where the two were locked in combat, Chen Ping'an had a playful expression. Holding the saber in his right hand, he smiled and said, "You guess?"
Not to mention a Han Yushu, even Jiang Shangzhen, who knew him inside out, probably didn't know the reason.
Chen Ping'an had deliberately chatted more with Han Yushu, not just to play with words mysteriously. He had to divide his mind, and further distract himself to stall for time.
It turned out that when Chen Ping'an had broken through from the strongest ninth realm to the tenth realm of martial arts, he found the martial destiny gift split in two—one real, one illusory. Unlike previous breakthroughs, where a martial artist simply absorbed the world's martial destiny, this time there was a separate realm. No wonder Chen Ping'an had felt there wasn't enough martial destiny before.
So much so that Chen Ping'an had to let his mind travel ten thousand miles, immersing himself in it, as if being dragged into an ethereal great heaven-earth. He ended up on a mountain summit, where the martial destiny of heaven and earth was so dense it was like water. Chen Ping'an felt as if he were walking in the River of Time for the first time.
On that summit, there were eleven positions, just enough for "eleven people" to stand in a circle. In terms of "seats," there was no hierarchy, making it impossible for Chen Ping'an to discern the realm level of each martial artist.
For ten thousand years in the tenth realm of martial arts, the highest person at each realm—one person per realm—was unique.
It wasn't that the current strongest in each world could come and stay, waiting for future martial artists to push them out.
But if one person possessed the title of 'strongest' in multiple realms, enough to be "unprecedented," they could occupy multiple positions.
For instance, the same person in white stood in four different positions, occupying four seats alone—martial artist Cao Ci at different ages and different realms.
Additionally, Chen Ping'an recognized Pei Cup. But this Female Martial God only held one position.
A figure in a bright red robe, hair loose.
It was Chen Ping'an himself.
Tenth-realm Chen Ping'an meeting ninth-realm Chen Ping'an.
That feeling was extremely strange.
What made Chen Ping'an even more emotional was that among the eleven positions, there was a little black charcoal girl, arms crossed over her chest, wide-eyed, not knowing what she was thinking or looking at.
Apart from the perfected realm Chen Ping'an who had come to this summit, the others—whether Pei Cup and her apprentice Cao Ci, or the other master and apprentice pair—were all mere illusions at this summit.
Chen Ping'an walked up to the little charcoal girl, instinctively bent down slightly, raised his hand, and wanted to flick her forehead with a smile.
As the founding disciple of Luopo Mountain, seeing her own master, what was she spacing out about?
But Chen Ping'an raised his hand and then lowered it. As a master, he couldn't bear it. Even though this disciple wasn't actually here.
Practicing boxing was very hard.
Chen Ping'an had been through it himself and knew the bitterness best.
Chen Ping'an began to look around, wondering what mystery there was in coming here. He couldn't leave; his mind was temporarily unable to leave this place. With nothing to do, Chen Ping'an had to guess which of the "eleventh realm" martial artists was actually Pei Cup, himself, Cao Ci, or Pei Qian—someone else. There were only four left.
A voice sounded, echoing through heaven and earth: "Why have you climbed to the summit?"
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and answered from the bottom of his heart: "To deliver one punch, so that martial artists of the same generation feel that heaven is above."
The owner of the voice seemed unsatisfied with this answer. "Not enough. Answer again."
---
Outside that summit heaven-earth, Han Yushu truly no longer acted with any senior deportment.
Even Jiang Shangzhen's expression turned serious, watching the battle in silence.
Han Yushu had put away the dharma saber Azure Luminescence back into his sleeve, and another ancient item appeared beside him: a Daoist ritual instrument, the Yun Ao, anciently called Yun Dun, said to be a replica of the item used by ancient gods to move clouds. It was a tall wooden rack, much larger than the later Yun Ao which had many little gongs. The wooden rack was refined from ten-thousand-year-old ancient pine resin. Immortal Han Yushu's Yin spirit left his body, his white robes fluttering—another ancient robe of great age. The Yin spirit Han Yushu stood before the Yun Ao, holding a small mallet. Ancient seal script inscribed the six characters: "Made by Shangyuan Madam," another lost treasure from an ancient secret realm.
Yin spirit Han Yushu stepped on white clouds, lightly striking the drum with the mallet, accompanying it with true incantations. Both had rhythm, both steeped in ancient meaning: "Cloud forest's Ao, true immortals descend with favor, light and shadow fill the void, spiritual wind and strange fragrance, divine thunder and harmonic music…"
As he spoke, a woman appeared faintly in the sea of clouds, opening a pair of golden eyes. She walked in emptiness, came beside the cloud mound, extended her finger, and followed the small mallet, lightly tapping on the drum face of the Yun Ao, as if singing in harmony with Han Yushu.
Within several hundred li of Taiping Mountain territory, clouds and fog rose from the earth everywhere, as if a mortal fairyland amid white clouds. The sea of clouds surged, rolling like snow waves.
Meanwhile, Han Yushu's true form opened his mouth and gently breathed out. The immortal's breath gave birth to white clouds. From one of his lifebound qi palaces, a green talisman of pure water destiny shot out.
Han Jiangshu's face changed drastically.
Was her father determined to kill this person?
Otherwise, why would he sacrifice this talisman?
This was one of the six secret talismans of the Three Mountains Blessed Land. Although this talisman had an orderly lineage in the Wanyao Sect, only one person per generation could possess it. Others could secretly read through the manual and learn the cultivation formulas, but they would still be unable to refine this talisman.
The true marvel of the talisman path lay in using cinnabar secret talismans to internally refine the small heaven-earth within one's body—that was the true pinnacle. Otherwise, holding an external talisman, no matter how high the technique or how great the power, was ultimately just an external object for the cultivator. One needed to refine the talisman in the true sense, like an inscription on a cliff, fusing it with a golden core or infant Yin spirit. This was a line from an immortal's step-by-step poem: "Five mountains all accumulate bones, three mountains faint as blocks; step up and leap into clouds, open a heavenly gate lock, gaze down and comprehend profound truth."
For Sect Master Han Yushu of Wanyao Sect to successfully refine this "spit creates river" talisman, he not only had to possess the fundamental treasure talisman, but also had to continuously enhance it. It wasn't a one-and-done endeavor. Every sexagenarian cycle, on the winter solstice when water returns to rivers, lakes, and seas, he had to take one measure of water—no less, no more—and in the lifebound qi palace where the talisman was stored, he would inscribe the four characters "Rain Master's Decree." On the summer solstice, he would remove it, borrow the blazing sun to walk the water once, form a thunderbinder in his left hand with the "Water Dragon Thunder" inscription on his palm, right hand perform the "Five Dragon Open Vigor" hand seal, then burn over a dozen water-style talismans including the "Great River Horizontal Flow" talisman, drink up the measure of water, pour it into the water palace, and continuously deepen a well within the small heaven-earth of his body. This would allow him to sense and connect with the waters of the five lakes, four seas, nine rivers, and eight streams. When holding this talisman in combat, the cultivator only needed to silently recite the true incantation, intone a few formulas, and instantly, dharma like heaven and earth would appear. Vast water would surge like a great river, spewing a thousand li, like a river flowing sideways, covering mountains with water.
Jiang Shangzhen sighed. "Such talisman water dharma, moving seas and lakes, transporting rivers. 'A mouthful of spittle drowns a person'—the ancients did not deceive me."
Han Jiangshu's face changed again and again.
She saw that her father truly had murderous intent, and he sacrificed another ancestral mountain talisman that only the sect master could refine.
Han Yushu used a sword formula to write the two characters "Tai Mountain," dividing his mind. Within his qi palace, he pinched a pinch of dirt, then scattered it with a spell, forming a great mountain.
The "pinch dirt becomes mountain" talismans in the world were numerous, most talisman cultivators knowing of this type. But how could they compare to this "transport Tai Mountain" talisman? In today's Haoran world, probably only the old records of some major sects would mention "Tai Mountain." And except for ancient families like the Cloud Forest Jiang clan of Bottle Gourd Continent, most books and secret records would be vague, unable to explain the true origin of this mountain.
The mountain hung upside down, peak pointing downward.
Together with the horizontal river that had hung in the air without falling, they formed a pattern of mountains and waters relying on each other.
The sea of clouds above the ground was thus set off by the mountain and river hanging in the sky, making it seem as if they were high in the heavens.
Han Yushu looked down and sneered, "Whether you are Jade Terrace or Immortal Realm, a combined heaven-earth great heavenly tribulation will reveal the truth."
He really didn't believe that any random young man, not even fifty years old, could be in the same realm as him.
Once he decided to go all out, Han Yushu had no more stray thoughts, except for constructing a magnificent restriction equivalent to a Jade Terrace Realm heavenly tribulation.
Han Yushu's true form then took out from his sleeve a golden talisman paper painted with five mountains, using a sword formula to write the two characters "Five Peaks." The talisman paper itself only lacked the two characters for talisman courage. He had long ago used the five-colored soil of mountains to refine it into talisman cinnabar ink. Han Yushu threw out the talisman, sending it to the sky canopy. Five mountains hung upside down, like five lifebound flying swords, their "sword tips" pointing directly at the formation prison trapping the young man on the ground.
Han Jiangshu first saw the young man trapped in that heaven-earth, then saw her father sacrifice this talisman. She wanted to rise, but that Jiang Shangzhen was simply unreasonable, unaware of the gravity of the situation. A piece of willow leaf again embedded itself into her brow, deeper than before, causing Han Jiangshu to fall to the ground in pain, her soul and spirit trembling violently. A sword cultivator's flying sword was so unreasonable; even with just residual sword qi and sword intent, it could still injure one's personal heaven-earth!
Han Jiangshu angrily said, "Jiang Shangzhen, I advise you to stop while you're ahead. Don't push your luck!"
Jiang Shangzhen blinked, looking embarrassed. He held the wine flask between two fingers, gently shaking it, and said aggrievedly, "Push my luck? Sister Jiangshu underestimates my little brother, doesn't she?"
Han Jiangshu didn't understand.
Yang Pu was even more foggy.
Every word of Old Sect Master Jiang was laden with hidden meanings.
Han Yushu turned his head toward the mountain gate and asked with a smile, "Sect Master Jiang, can you release my daughter now?"
Jiang Shangzhen shook his sleeve, took out a stack of talismans, licked his lips, pulled out one golden talisman, raised it high, and said to Han Yushu with a smile, "Gift for you?"
It was a talisman paper that similarly only lacked the "Five Peaks" finishing touch of talisman courage.
Han Yushu shook his head and laughed. "Never mind, the Wanyao Sect doesn't lack such a talisman."
Jiang Shangzhen said, "I am a sword cultivator. Writing 'Five Peaks' is worth more than your talisman drawing. Really don't want it? I'm not short of money, but the Wanyao Sect and Sect Master Han are. Besides, Sect Master Han, you're getting on in years and your eyesight is failing. Earlier, I clearly said you almost became my father-in-law. Given my well-known devotion on the mountain, haven't you ever wondered why I took the trouble to come see Sister Jiangshu?"
Han Jiangshu was mortified.
Han Yushu frowned slightly.
Could it be that Jiang Shangzhen wasn't just being glib, but that there was actually some filthy old business in the Three Mountains Blessed Land? Why hadn't Jiangshu mentioned it? Han Yushu suddenly laughed in spite of himself. He had heard from a direct disciple in the early years that Jiangshu had indeed inexplicably chased after a certain "rich youth" who spent money like water. But at that time, the Wanyao Sect's intelligence said he was a legitimate disciple of the Tongye Sect. So Han Yushu had not pursued the matter further. At that time, the Tongye Sect was at its zenith, with Founder Du Mao being the only Flying Ascension realm on Tongye Continent, and especially his lifebound item, the Sword-Swallowing Boat, which was naturally capable of restraining sword immortals.
Han Yushu withdrew his gaze. Another murky account—out of sight, out of mind. Whenever it involved Jiang Shangzhen, it was always this thorny. Fortunately, the current sect master of the Yugui Sect was Wei Ying.
Han Jiangshu was silent for a moment, then couldn't help asking, "Jiang old thief, how do you have this talisman?!"
Jiang Shangzhen rolled his eyes. "Rich and handsome, devoted and not frivolous—who does that describe?"
Jiang Shangzhen turned to the academy scholar and asked, "Brother Yang, you're a gentleman. You tell me."
Yang Pu felt a twinge of conscience and said softly, "Is it Old Sect Master Jiang?"
Jiang Shangzhen smiled and handed the golden talisman to Yang Pu. "Gift for Brother Yang. It's the thought that counts. Don't despise it. If you do, I'll give you a few more."
Yang Pu quickly shook his head. "Old Sect Master, why not just give me a jug of wine?"
Always pretending to drink from an empty wine jug, Yang Pu really found it too much. Apart from the two diligent Earth Immortal door gods, the rest were either Jade Terrace or Immortal realms, either sect masters or mountain lords. Yang Pu could no longer keep up the act.
Jiang Shangzhen took out a flask of wine, gently slapped the talisman onto the flask, and tossed it to Yang Pu. "First finish the wine, then return both the flask and the talisman to me."
Yang Pu caught the flask, helpless.
Han Jiangshu sneered. "Sect Master Jiang is truly generous and knows how to buy people's hearts."
She wasn't that low-realm bookworm; she knew the value of a Five Peaks talisman.
Among the water talismans in the world, even Han Yushu's "spit becomes river" talisman, which was already a first-class secret treasure talisman, could take water from anywhere as long as one didn't demand a specific rank. But this Five Peaks talisman had extremely high requirements for the rank of mountain soil, because it wasn't just the five mountains of an ordinary state, but five ancient peaks including Tai Mountain. Later talisman cultivators either didn't know what Tai Mountain was, or as for Sui Mountain, one of the ancient "Five Peaks" on Central Continent, how many cultivators could obtain a handful of its soil? The real big trouble was not even the cloud-shrouded Zhongnan Mountain, which was an ethereal "mountain market"—even harder to find than seeing a mirage and then deducing and searching. Even harder than seeking Sui Mountain or seeing Zhongnan Mountain was that one of the five peaks, East Mountain, had disappeared without a trace over a hundred years ago, as if it had vanished from heaven and earth. This made it absolutely impossible to successfully refine a Great Five Peaks talisman in the mortal world. So every Five Peaks talisman in the world, if involved in a transaction, would be marked up significantly.
It was said that only a handful of great talisman masters like Yu Xuan, plus the talisman repository of one of the sixteen treasuries of the Bai'ai Continent Liu clan, still had some preserved. Probably at most thirty. Rarity made them precious. Each was already extremely rare and priceless. The Great Five Peaks talisman had become increasingly hard to obtain. For peak cultivators, the price of this talisman had multiplied several times over a hundred years. Now, the asking price had reached "one talisman for ten Grain Rain" levels, shocking the world. After all, for each talisman a cultivator used, one fewer existed in the world. Such a sky-high price, yet cultivators still bought—not because they had too much money, but because the true value of this talisman lay in its ability to help peak cultivators studying earth dharma to deduce clues about Tai Mountain, Zhongnan Mountain, and East Mountain.
Jiang Shangzhen suddenly muttered, "Strange."
Trapped within an immortal's talisman restriction, Chen Ping'an rested his hands on the hilt of his saber, pondering seven or eight countermeasures. Ultimately, he chose a plan that was not very cautious, not in line with his usual habits.
Years of cultivation, hard work saving money.
There is no wine I cannot afford, no sword I cannot deliver.
Chen Ping'an released the saber hilt, abruptly shook both sleeves, and yellow paper talismans surged forth like two mighty rivers. He did not try to disperse the grand formation restriction, nor did he go to the sky canopy to resist the mountain pressing down.
Thousands of talismans skimmed the ground, finally coming to an abrupt halt, forming a large circle several li in radius with Chen Ping'an at the center. At the same time, he quietly sacrificed a lifebound flying sword, Moon in the Well, which split into thousands, dotting the talismans.
Chen Ping'an turned his back to Taiping Mountain and said softly, "Rise."
A brilliant sword light rose from the ground, smashing through the sea of clouds and a symbolic Talisman Tai Mountain. The sword light surged straight into the sky, reaching the heavens.
Han Jiangshu's face turned ashen. Trembling, she said, "He truly is a... Sword Immortal."
Jiang Shangzhen looked up at that scene—it wasn't unfamiliar. He had been fortunate enough to witness it once in Northern Jambu Continent, and his heart yearned for it. So back then, he had also sacrificed a complete willow leaf.
But today, looking at that willow leaf, Jiang Shangzhen, with a touch of frost at his temples, simply put down his wine flask, imitated Chen Ping'an by folding his hands into his sleeves, and then turned his head to look at the empty Taiping Mountain.
At that strange mountain summit elsewhere, Chen Ping'an clasped his hands behind his back, pacing slowly. Finally, he gave his answer again: "My boxing is one realm higher than yours."
Heaven and earth fell silent.
A moment later,
As his mind withdrew from the summit, Chen Ping'an lifted the saber Zhan Kan from the ground, sheathed it, and stepped across the void, appearing in the sky. Smiling at Han Yushu, he said, "Chen Ping'an of Luopo Mountain seeks a sword duel with the Wanyao Sect."
Han Yushu's expression was sincere. He made a Daoist hand gesture and said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, your sword techniques are unsurpassed. This junior has offended you greatly."