Chapter 755: Visiting

Chapter 755: Visiting

Before leaving Cloud Lair Blessed Land, Chen Ping'an brought Pei Qian to visit Yellow Crane Isle and proactively pay a visit to Ye Yunyun.

Chen Ping'an wore a middle-aged man's face covering, a jade hairpin in his hair, a long blue gown, and had put away his narrow saber and Sword Nurturing Gourd. He only wore a Fasting Tablet at his waist.

Pei Qian, on the other hand, was dressed in clean and neat black clothes. It turned out to be a dharma robe, used to slightly conceal her fist intent.

She had twisted her ponytail into a bun, revealing a high forehead, looking very fresh and tidy.

Cui Dongshan had gone wandering with Jiang Shangzhen, busy with who knows what, so Chen Ping'an didn't call him.

Wearing the Fasting Tablet at his waist, ignoring the mountain and river prohibitions, a cultivator in a high tower scanning the surroundings with his divine sense, after confirming the Fasting Tablet was authentic, didn't continue to observe the two.

Chen Ping'an led Pei Qian into the Yellow Crane Isle, which was a snail shell used as a cultivation site. The wide streets and continuous high-gate mansions made Chen Ping'an briefly lose focus.

Finding Ye Yunyun's residence, Chen Ping'an pinched the beast-face door knocker and lightly tapped three times. A talisman beauty with gentle brows and bright eyes opened the door. She curtsied to the two guests and said softly, "Two Immortal Masters, please follow me."

Having received Ye Yunyun's instructions, she led the master and disciple along corridors and through passages, with a scene at every step. As they moved, the scenery changed. In her eyes, besides the beautiful scenery, there was actually even more spirit money.

Within the large and small mansions of Yellow Crane Isle, over three hundred talisman beauties all came from Jade Fungus Ridge. It was said that just this one business had once made Jade Fungus Ridge earn a huge profit, filling their coffers to the brim. Jade Fungus Ridge had suffered that catastrophic disaster, completely cutting off its legacy, so the secretly made talisman beauties from the Shuyi Tower of Jade Fungus Ridge were lost to history.

The fox-pelt beauties of the Xu clan from Clear Wind City in the Jeweled Bottle Continent also seemed to have disappeared inexplicably. Clear Wind City publicly stated that the fox kingdom needed to be sealed for a hundred years, causing many immortal sects to regret it deeply. Especially those mountain powers on Jeweled Bottle Continent who were skilled in commerce, they were even more pained, as otherwise, they could have resold them at a high price to Parasol Leaf Continent and made a huge profit.

Pei Qian frowned slightly, speaking in a condensed voice, "Master, Yellow-Clad Yun is a bit too arrogant."

If it were in her own Fallen Mountain, they would never treat guests so perfunctorily.

Chen Ping'an teased, "I think your airs are also not small."

Pei Qian said gloomily, "If I came alone to knock on this door, it wouldn't matter even if they didn't open it. But since Master personally came to visit, Ye Yunyun should at least show her face. As a Rank-Tethering martial artist, her magnanimity is really not great."

Chen Ping'an laughed, "When you're out in the world, the sky is high and the earth is vast, don't take yourself too seriously."

Pei Qian had been defending her master, but ended up being scolded instead. Yet she was actually quite happy.

The talisman beauty led the master and disciple to a quiet courtyard with a moon-shaped gate. Inside, bamboo shadows swayed. She smiled, "We're here."

Chen Ping'an thanked her, tore off his face covering, and revealed his true appearance. Walking along the small bamboo path, the view suddenly opened up. There was a building with nine bays in width, covered with green glazed tiles, though it couldn't compare to the glazed tiles Chen Ping'an had picked up in the Northern Jujube Continent back then. Later, in the Dragon Palace Lesser Heaven, Chen Ping'an had used those few glazed tiles to do business with Fiery Dragon True Monarch, priced in Valley Rain Coins, at a fifty percent discount. Fiery Dragon True Monarch seemed to have resold them to the Glazed Tile Pavilion of White Emperor City.

So the matter of having the luck of meeting elders wasn't something that fell from the sky.

The courtyard was huge, usable as a martial arts training ground. Xue Huai was sparring with Guo Bailu. Xue Huai was at the Far Traveling realm, so he suppressed his realm by one.

Guo Bailu had just reached manhood and had recently entered the Golden Body realm, but he had entered the sixth and seventh realms consecutively as the strongest.

So the fist exchange between them didn't involve bullying.

Ye Yunyun stood under the eaves, guiding their punches.

Ye Xuanji, a young female cultivator from the Ye clan of Pu Mountain, stood to the side, wearing a Dragon Maiden Immortal Robe called Xiangshui Skirt, with a string of Bright Pearls refined from Lu Shui Pit Prison Beads on her wrist.

No wonder Jiang Shangzhen had a good relationship with the Cloud Herb Hall of Pu Mountain.

Chen Ping'an stopped at the entrance of the courtyard and performed a fist salute.

Ye Yunyun returned the salute.

Chen Ping'an didn't bypass the two sparring in the courtyard to go under the eaves. Instead, he stopped right there, withdrew his fist, and gently extended his palm, indicating for Ye Yunyun to continue guiding her two juniors in fist techniques.

Ye Yunyun nodded, not being polite with this Cao Mo.

As for whether the two martial artists from another continent, who were even more outsiders than Guo Bailu, might steal fist techniques, Ye Yunyun wouldn't underestimate Cao Mo to that extent.

Pei Qian didn't carefully watch the two sparring. She focused more on the scenery.

Chen Ping'an, however, didn't deliberately avoid watching the fist exchange. It was a rare opportunity to roughly judge the fist principles of Martial Saint Wu Shu and Cloud Herb Hall.

But after all, this was because his realm was high. If Chen Ping'an were still at the third or fifth realm back then, as long as the other party didn't mind, he could ask them to slow down their punches, otherwise he wouldn't be able to see clearly.

So what Chen Ping'an paid attention to wasn't the specific stances and moves, but the "little bit of meaning" on the pure martial artist. This "little bit of meaning" could be divided into two types: one was the divine meaning of the inherited fist style, where the source of living water came from; the other was the martial artist's temperament, like a field of the heart, determining how much fist intent water a pure martial artist could carry, the width of the martial path they walked, and roughly how high their martial arts achievements could be. As for the rest, it was just the toughness of the martial artist's physique, whether it was paper-thin. In fact, taking one punch would reveal the answer.

Chen Ping'an communicated with Pei Qian mind-to-mind, "All martial artists in the world learn fists for two things: hitting others and being hit. The ultimate pursuit is just 'I can throw one more punch than you.'"

Pei Qian naturally understood.

Chen Ping'an asked with a smile, "If you suppressed your realm and exchanged fists with Guo Bailu?"

Pei Qian honestly said, "I'd knock him out with one punch. Provided that the Divine Man Drumming Style counts as one punch. If I used other fist techniques, it might take two or three punches."

Just as Chen Ping'an was about to speak, Pei Qian quickly added, "Master, I mean suppressing my realm to the sixth realm. I'm not saying I look down on that martial saint's direct disciple and would carelessly suppress to the fifth realm." Chen Ping'an smiled faintly, pretending to be calm and composed with an air of detachment.

Actually, what he meant earlier was for Pei Qian to suppress her realm to the Golden Body realm and spar with Guo Bailu at the same realm.

Hard to talk about.

What kind of fist feeding is that.

Back on the Sword Qi Great Wall, one of the things the Hidden Guardian official most longed for if he could return home was to suppress his realm and feed fists to his senior disciple on the second floor of the bamboo tower. Fall down from where you got up. Now it seemed that if he dared to suppress his realm and feed fists, he would stand up from where he fell, only to fall again? That wouldn't do.

Pei Qian sighed, "I'm not like you, Master. I never do well at suppressing my realm to fight opponents."

Chen Ping'an maintained his smile, "Then keep trying. Otherwise, what use is a master? You don't need to deliberately avoid watching the fists. That would be like protesting too much. Watch openly. Ye Yunyun won't mind. Maybe Guo Bailu will take the initiative to come to Fallen Mountain and ask 'Zheng Qian' for a fist exchange."

Pei Qian scratched her head.

The fist techniques of Cloud Herb Hall in Pu Mountain were extremely profound. They emphasized walking the stance like stepping in a starry pattern. Studying this fist was like cultivation. The Ancestral Hall of Pu Mountain had over a dozen array diagrams in its collection. Many fist stances and techniques were evolved from Immortal's Diagrams. The requirement for striking was to fight in the space a cow can lie down, determining victory within ten feet. When encountering an enemy face-to-face in a narrow path, they would attack quickly and directly. The advancing and retreating steps of Pu Mountain martial artists were few and fast, their fist techniques simple yet powerful. Any basic stance or technique required Pu Mountain martial artists to practice tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of times, accumulating fist intent day by day. So once they struck, it was almost instinctual, making it easy to seize the initiative. They were also skilled at "exchanging blows" with the enemy, but their style prioritized delivering three or four of their own punches while only taking one from the opponent. This was the unique "hospitality" of Cloud Herb Hall martial artists.

If it came to a life-or-death fight between martial artists of the same realm, Pu Mountain martial artists were known as "one punch decides life and death."

This was also the root reason why Jiang Shangzhen demanded Ye Yunyun not casually spar with Martial Saint Wu Shu. Wu Shu's punches were so heavy they almost had no martial virtue to speak of. Ye Yunyun's punches were also not light, extremely ruthless.

Wang Fu su, a Rank-Tethering martial artist from Northern Jujube Continent, once said that Pei Axiang of Thunder God Temple fought like a woman, while Ye Yunyun of Cloud Herb Hall punched like a man. It was a pity that Axiang didn't marry Yellow-Clad Yun as a wife.

Pei Qian focused a bit more, watched the fist exchange, held back, held back again, but finally couldn't help quietly saying to her master, "Guo Bailu's punches are beautiful, and he's experienced in fighting. But he really can't take a heavy punch. According to your theory, Master, he's only learned half of the fist techniques. If he gets into a life-or-death fight where he's slightly disadvantaged, Guo Bailu will be in big trouble. As for this Xue Huai, his fists are too rigid. Even suppressing his realm, he leaks like a sieve, causing his fist intent to stagnate. Master, did Martial Saint Wu Shu and Yellow-Clad Yun not teach them diligently or feed them fists properly?"

Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "Look more, talk less."

Pei Qian said, "Oh."

Guo Bailu was Wu Shu's senior disciple, and it was very likely he would also be his only disciple, so he had received the true transmission of Wu Shu's fist techniques.

Xue Huai was also a direct disciple highly valued by Ye Yunyun. The exchange of fists, which took half a stick of incense, actually only had three real exchanges between the two. And their fist paths were simple and unadorned, with almost no noticeable stances. In short, they were very unlike martial arts performers in the martial world. They didn't jump around randomly, didn't open up their stances carelessly, and didn't shout loudly. So to an outsider just looking for excitement, it naturally didn't seem interesting.

If someone only learned the stances of these two schools without grasping the meaning, then opening a martial arts school in the martial world would surely have no business, and they'd be too poor to open their pots.

Ye Yunyun said, "Both of you, rest for an incense stick. Later, Xue Huai, you don't need to suppress your realm."

Xue Huai and Guo Bailu both stepped back and bowed to each other in salute.

Entering the main hall of the mansion, host and guests took their seats.

Xue Huai and Guo Bailu stayed outside.

Ye Xuanji prepared the tea, the most famous Rotten Rope Tea from Cloud Water Ferry. The name of the tea wasn't pleasant, but it tasted good, one of the top ten famous teas in Parasol Leaf Continent.

Pei Qian originally wanted to stand behind her master, but Chen Ping'an sent her to sit down.

Chen Ping'an looked at Pei Qian, who was sitting upright.

Many years ago, Pei Qian was still a little charcoal girl who would lie down if possible and sit if lying wasn't an option. Every time they stopped during their travels, as long as she saw tables and chairs, she would sprint over and quickly grab a seat. But back then she was young, and when sitting on a chair, her feet couldn't even reach the ground.

Chen Ping'an withdrew his thoughts, looked at Ye Yunyun across from him, and said, "Junior is acquainted with Old Immortal Lu Yong of Azure Tiger Palace. On this northern journey, I should pass by Heaven Que Peak of Clear Boundary Mountain. At that time, I will ask for a few Sitting Forgetting Pills for Pu Mountain, as an apology to Senior."

Ye Yunyun shook her head, "The gift is too heavy. Mr. Cao doesn't need to be so courteous."

Seeing that Cao Mo was dressed like a scholar in a long blue gown, Ye Yunyun couldn't directly call him by name, so she simply addressed him as Mr.

Old Nascent Soul Lu Yong of Azure Tiger Palace was now a famous alchemy grandmaster.

Especially the Sitting Forgetting Pill from Azure Tiger Palace was one of Lu Yong's signature alchemy achievements.

This pill could help cultivators calm their minds and nurture their spirits, warm and nourish the heart aperture, and eliminate subtle hidden dangers in cultivators. But the Sitting Forgetting Pill was extremely difficult to refine. Besides consuming a large number of precious materials, it had very high requirements for celestial timing and location. The key was that it needed the unique mountain and river spiritual energy of Clear Boundary Mountain. So in the past, when the Ancestral Hall of Parasol Leaf Sect rewarded meritorious earth immortals, there would often be a few Sitting Forgetting Pills. Pure martial artists could take this pill, but it would be a terrible waste. As Lu Yong once said to a certain "Young Master Chen," giving a Sitting Forgetting Pill to a reckless man on a dead-end road was like feeding peonies to a cow—a gross misuse of valuable resources.

For Pu Mountain Cloud Herb Hall, where the line between martial artist and cultivator was not so clear, a batch of Sitting Forgetting Pills, no matter how many, would be like sending charcoal in snowy weather—a great supplement.

So this Cao Mo indeed knew how to handle people.

If not for the shallow relationship between them, and given Ye Yunyun's temperament, she certainly wouldn't be ambiguous. The Sitting Forgetting Pill was a rare item on the mountain that had a price but no market. If they could buy it at a high price, even paying a premium would be fine—the more the better. However many pills Azure Tiger Palace had, Pu Mountain would be willing to buy.

Except that back then, Azure Tiger Palace dominated the north, and they only used these hard-to-find Sitting Forgetting Pills as favors, selling them at half price to top-tier mountain sects like Parasol Leaf Sect and Peace Mountain. Pu Mountain couldn't even get a look in.

Moreover, Lu Yong was considered the earthly immortal of the continent who most looked down on pure martial artists.

Chen Ping'an lowered his head to take a sip of tea, holding the cup in his hand, and looked up with a smile, "Senior might have misunderstood. I blame myself for not making it clear earlier. Junior only dares to guarantee that Old Immortal Lu will sell to Cloud Herb Hall at a fair price that won't make Azure Tiger Palace a profit or a loss. I can't even be sure that Azure Tiger Palace has any Sitting Forgetting Pills right now. But regardless, as soon as this pill comes out of the furnace, Old Immortal Lu will immediately inform Pu Mountain. Whether Cloud Herb Hall wants to buy them depends entirely on Cloud Herb Hall's decision."

Ye Xuanji's eyes lit up. If not for the strict family rules of the Ye clan of Pu Mountain, she would have urged her Ancestral Grandmaster to agree immediately.

Pei Qian seemed to be daydreaming while sitting on the chair, but she was actually paying close attention to her master's expression and words.

Sure enough, her master was still skillful in handling matters, seamless and watertight.

If Ye Yunyun had agreed from the start, Master would have gone along with it and given Pu Mountain a few Sitting Forgetting Pills for free.

But since Ye Yunyun was being polite, Master had a way to remedy the situation, providing steps for both sides to move forward smoothly.

It connected Master, Pu Mountain, and Azure Tiger Palace with a bit of incense-fire relationship, so it would just be a business deal that still followed the rules of commerce.

Even if, worst case, Ye Yunyun couldn't bring herself to accept even that face and still refused, then Master's proactive visit to apologize today could be ended appropriately.

Ye Yunyun thought it over and nodded with a smile, "Then I'll thank Mr. Cao in advance."

Chen Ping'an said casually, "If Azure Tiger Palace doesn't have ready-made Sitting Forgetting Pills for now, I will also beg Old Immortal Lu to send a letter to Pu Mountain explaining the situation."

Ye Yunyun looked at the man across from her and smiled, "Then I'll trouble Mr. Cao to convey my thanks to Old Immortal Lu. If there are no Sitting Forgetting Pills for now, when Azure Tiger Palace refines them in the future, they should let Pu Mountain know first. I will personally go to Clear Boundary Mountain to collect the pills, and at the same time, offer some protection to Old Immortal Lu and Clear Boundary Mountain."

If not for Jiang Shangzhen's previous explanation, Ye Yunyun would really think this guy was talking nonsense.

Nowadays, Lu Yong of Heaven Que Peak could not be regarded as an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

On the map of the continent, besides Jade Gui Sect and Ten Thousand Yao Sect, Lu Yong could completely ignore even Gold Summit Temple, let alone Cloud Herb Hall and White Dragon Cave.

Chen Ping'an stood up, and Pei Qian immediately followed suit.

Chen Ping'an saluted with his fists, "Then I won't disturb Senior's teaching of fists."

Ye Yunyun stood up, glanced at "Zheng Qian," and asked with a smile, "Why not let Zheng Qian spar a bit with Xue Huai?"

Chen Ping'an glanced at Pei Qian. Pei Qian's meaning was clear: whether to spar or not was up to the master. If they really exchanged fists, whether to knock Xue Huai out in one punch or a few, the master just needed to say the word, and she would keep count, controlling the number and intensity of punches.

Chen Ping'an smiled and shook his head, "Better not today. We'll wait until we have a chance to visit Pu Mountain in the future."

Ye Yunyun saw them off. This time, she accompanied them all the way to the moon-shaped gate. It was only because Cao Mo declined her further company that Ye Yunyun stopped; otherwise, she would have gone all the way to the mansion's main gate.

Ye Xuanji accompanied Ye Yunyun along the small bamboo path and said telepathically, "Ancestral Grandmaster, this Mr. Cao has a very good temperament. Earlier, when I was refilling his tea, he even nodded to thank me."

If Zhou Fei's gaze made women feel they were wearing too few clothes.

Then this Mr. Cao's gaze made Ye Xuanji feel that even if he accidentally happened upon a painting of a beauty emerging from a bath, he would look away to avoid impropriety.

Ye Yunyun said calmly, "Indeed, a true gentleman."

She actually only said half a sentence. The other half was not suitable to say to a family junior.

Cao Mo was too smart.

Ye Xuanji still couldn't believe it and asked doubtfully, "Can he really help us buy a batch of Sitting Forgetting Pills from Heaven Que Peak? This favor is really not small. The old Palace Master Lu Yong of Azure Tiger Palace, because of that old grudge, is very averse to all mountain martial artists."

The most marvelous aspect of this pill was that it could make a cultivator's heart barrier seem to grow the two door gods used by commoners on their doors to ward off evil and avoid filth, helping the cultivator protect their heart barrier.

Moreover, when a qi practitioner entered deep meditation, immersing their mind in a small world, it could also make an earth immortal's golden core or Nascent Soul feel as if clad in a feather robe. So the Azure Tiger Palace's unique Sitting Forgetting Pill was also known by the reputation of "Feather Robe Pill" in Parasol Leaf Continent.

A Daoist true man from Azure Tiger Palace had once escorted his disciple down the mountain for training and was severely injured by a Far Traveling realm martial artist. His golden core shattered, and his great path was cut off.

The eighth-realm martial artist who injured him later had his own master severely wounded by Martial Saint Wu Shu and needed various miraculous pills to prolong his life. The Sitting Forgetting Pill from Azure Tiger Palace was one of them. The Far Traveling realm martial artist went personally to Azure Tiger Palace to beg for the pill. Lu Yong refused to see him regardless of how humbly he apologized, keeping his doors closed and guests out. Ultimately, that Rank-Tethering martial artist lasted only ten years before passing away. With a few batches of Sitting Forgetting Pills, he could have lived another five or six years without much problem. So the grudges on the mountain easily come full circle. When watching others suffer, you can laugh quietly to yourself, but even if you can't help laughing out loud, don't laugh too loudly.

Ye Yunyun nodded, "Since Cao Mo has opened his mouth, Lu Yong will probably agree."

Ye Xuanji smiled charmingly and lowered her voice, "Mr. Cao definitely comes from a wealthy and powerful family. The way he sits, speaks, and moves is very elegant and refined."

Ye Yunyun rarely had a smile for her Pu Mountain junior. Unprecedentedly teasing, she said, "What, you've only been down the mountain for a few days and you've already forgotten about the romantic trysts under the moon on the mountain?"

Although Ye Yunyun was usually stern, she was ultimately the head of a mountain sect. She wasn't just a martial arts fanatic who only knew how to learn fists; otherwise, Pu Mountain wouldn't have its current prosperity.

Ye Xuanji blushed and asked tentatively, "Ancestral Grandmaster, have you never encountered a man who made your heart flutter in this life?"

Ye Yunyun shook her head, "Love between men and women is meaningless. Better to learn fists and stand atop the peak."

After leaving this mansion, Chen Ping'an did not immediately leave Yellow Crane Isle to return to Cloud Pass Peak. Instead, he cast an illusion spell for himself and Pei Qian, with spiritual energy ripples swirling around them, making their forms and faces indistinct. Then he took Pei Qian to another immortal residence on the same street. Before leaving Ye Yunyun's mansion, Chen Ping'an had already put his face covering back on.

At this moment, another talisman beauty opened the door. Chen Ping'an asked if this was the lodging place of Lu Ying, the chief offering from Gold Summit Temple. The talisman beauty wasn't annoyed, but just smiled and said nothing, because it wasn't the rule. Chen Ping'an then gave his name and background: Cao Mo, an offering of the Jiang clan. Upon hearing that he was a Jiang clan offering and seeing the top-grade Fasting Tablet hanging at his waist, the talisman beauty immediately said she would report this matter and asked Offering Cao to wait a moment.

Although the talisman beauty was a puppet, the Shuyi Tower of Jade Fungus Ridge had used a "Yin Residence" technique. The talisman-refined beauty's outer skin itself was like an inn. By letting a female ghost or spirit reside within, each talisman beauty was no different from an ordinary person in both appearance and intellect. However, the reason why Shuyi Tower's talisman beauties were unrivaled on the continent was because two master painters were responsible for drawing the talismans. One could paint a woman's unique charm on the talisman paper, making each talisman beauty from Shuyi Tower unique, with bright eyes and lively glances, never rigid. The other could add finishing touches, making each talisman beauty like a rare and sole edition of a treasured book.

Unfortunately, when the great demon attacked, their momentum was unstoppable, and their methods were brutal. In the end, Jade Fungus Ridge was destroyed, Shuyi Tower collapsed, and the two master painters, a Daoist couple on the mountain, chose to burn all the talismans, shatter their own golden cores, and die together.

While waiting at the door, Chen Ping'an asked telepathically, "What are you thinking about?"

Pei Qian said, "It seems harder to give favors than to receive them."

Chen Ping'an smiled, "The martial world wasn't walked for nothing."

Pei Qian asked curiously, "Master, what are you looking for in this Lu Ying?"

Chen Ping'an said, "To personally see and hear to determine the style of Gold Summit Temple."

Pei Qian said, "Gold Summit Temple? Yin Miaofeng and Shao Yuanran?"

Chen Ping'an nodded, "Those two Grand Spring offerings are both old acquaintances of ours."

Lu Ying slowly walked to the door, gave a Daoist greeting, "Lu Ying, Chief Offering of Gold Summit Temple."

Chen Ping'an returned the greeting, "Cao Mo, Second-Class Offering of Cloud Lair Jiang Clan, Second-Class Guest Elder of Nine Chess Peak of Jade Gui Sect, Third-Class Guest Elder of Divine Seal Peak Ancestral Hall."

Pei Qian kept a straight face, suppressing a laugh.

What was Master doing? A string of casually made-up titles. Was he deliberately showing off his status or intentionally exposing himself to be looked down upon?

Lu Ying suppressed some discomfort in his heart and said with a kind expression, "I wonder what business Guest Elder Cao has visiting today?"

Chen Ping'an smiled, "There was a misunderstanding earlier that I must specially come to apologize to Offering True Man."

Lu Ying asked, "Is it about You Qi of White Dragon Cave sparring in fist techniques and Dao magic?"

You Qi at Dragon Gate realm, Ma Linshi at Cavern Dwelling realm. Both were top-notch mountain cultivation prodigies. Especially Ma Linshi, who held a very high seniority in White Dragon Cave, was a sure thing for earth immortal aptitude and hoped to become a reviving ancestor in White Dragon Cave's history. In the future, entering the upper five realms, though extremely difficult, was at least something they could aspire to. How many cultivators, so-called young talents, didn't even dare to hope for the title of earth immortal.

Chen Ping'an nodded, "Exactly."

Lu Ying laughed, "Has Guest Elder Cao knocked on the wrong door? I come from Gold Summit Temple, not a cultivator from White Dragon Cave. The reason I left our temple was only to escort these children. The one who ties the bell must untie it. Since the misunderstanding was with White Dragon Cave, you should go early to resolve it with them. Isn't that the logic, Guest Elder Cao?"

"I have nothing to discuss with a mere Dragon Gate realm junior from White Dragon Cave."

Chen Ping'an said with a slightly sarcastic expression, "Offering True Man is a respected senior on the mountains of Parasol Leaf Continent. Cao Mo has long admired you. If I don't come here, where should I go? Even if the two Ancestral Masters of White Dragon Cave were guests at Yellow Crane Isle today, I would pretend not to see them. As for misunderstandings, to be honest, I don't really care. Who should apologize to whom, who should visit whom—that's still up in the air."

Lu Ying stroked his beard and smiled, nodding gently, "Guest Elder Cao is a man of true temperament."

So it turned out to be another fellow who came seeking the name of Gold Summit Temple.

On this journey, Lu Ying had seen far too many such people. Registered mountain immortals, emperors and ministers from the mortal world, martial heroes from the martial world—there were as many as fish in the river.

Mostly, things were satisfactory. The direct disciple Guo Bailu of Wu Shu and the martial artist cultivators of Cloud Herb Hall were all well-behaved. Only White Dragon Cave was restless, which was fine, giving Lu Ying more opportunities to appear. For example, earlier in the Mirage City of Grand Spring, Ma Linshi, that little troublemaker, had provoked a member of the imperial family.

A crippled, one-armed slovenly man was drinking in a tavern with a bunch of rough guys, loud and boisterous, apparently smelling of horse manure. Who would have thought that such a piece of trash was actually the younger brother of the Grand Spring Empress?

And now, in this strictly regulated Cloud Lair Blessed Land, it was again Ma Linshi who caused You Qi to be beaten unconscious by a fat kid who called himself the Undefeatable Little Divine Fist. Utterly disgraced, You Qi spent the past few days clamoring to return to his sect while secretly sending a flying sword letter to White Dragon Cave. Lu Ying just took it as entertainment to relax. At this moment, Lu Ying's patience was extremely good as he entertained a worthless guest elder from the lowest tier of Jade Gui Sect, wasting time.

In the mountain registries, guest elders, being more casual, were inherently inferior to offerings. This fellow who called himself the lowest guest elder of Jade Gui Sect really didn't inspire any interest in Lu Ying for making connections.

But that white-clothed youth who had been squatting on the railing, although slovenly and full of nonsense, was very likely a registered earth immortal of the sect-head level, unassuming and low-key. His style was more wild than Lu Ying's. He dared to use his realm to cast a body-binding spell on You Qi in Jiang Shangzhen's Cloud Lair Blessed Land, which made Lu Ying quite attentive. And of course, there was that Zhou Fei, whom Lu Ying had already taken a grudge against. Lu Ying didn't dare to act rashly against him.

Nowadays, Parasol Leaf Continent was full of muddy waters, with too many dragons crossing the river. For example, that Ten Thousand Yao Sect from Three Mountains Blessed Land, a father and daughter: the celestial Han Yushu and the Jade Pure realm Han Jiangshu. Old Temple Master Du was extremely wary of them.

To be honest, as long as they weren't cultivators from other continents who had come a long way, Lu Ying didn't think highly of many native cultivators of his own Parasol Leaf Continent.

For example, this guy who had three titles but none of real weight, Lu Ying was gradually losing patience. Unexpectedly, the man even shamelessly shifted his gaze to look inside the gate, probably hinting that this Offering True Man should invite them in for a chat? Lu Ying sneered inwardly. In an instant, he used his Nascent Soul cultivator's great divine ability to try to break through that mountain-and-river illusion spell, completely unconcerned whether this act would violate taboos, wanting to determine the weight of this Guest Elder Cao.

Cao Mo immediately set up another mountain-and-river illusion spell, his face showing visible anger.

Lu Ying was greatly relieved. Sure enough, he was just a passable mountain golden core guest.

Cao Mo flicked his sleeve and left, walking down the steps. But he suddenly turned his head and said, "If Offering True Man wants to bring people down the mountain for training in the future, it's best to leave at noon."

Lu Ying remained standing where he was, utterly confused, thinking this was some mysterious remark from a mountain cultivator.

Pei Qian said calmly, "Because sooner or later, trouble will come."

Lu Ying's face darkened.

Low realm, low status, but quite bold. Sure enough, he was a registered mountain immortal. Probably relying on the incense-fire relationship accumulated by his ancestral hall, he had scraped together the positions of offering and guest elder at Cloud Lair Blessed Land and Nine Chess Peak of Jade Gui Sect.

Lu Ying for the first time lifted his foot to step over the threshold. The two quickly walked away, with Guest Elder Cao even casually tugging at the Fasting Tablet at his waist.

Lu Ying withdrew his foot, sneered, and muttered to himself after turning around, these damned registered mountain immortals, no matter where they go, can't change their bad habits.

On the main street, Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian both heard Lu Ying's muttered remark. Pei Qian laughed, "Master, this guy is really skilled at arguing. He insults himself worse than he insults others. He can't lose."

Chen Ping'an, however, frowned, feeling that something was off, but he had no clue.

It was an intuition that something had gone wrong, some unforeseen accident, with no reason to explain it.

If you had to reason it out, it was probably that the Hidden Guardian official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, once beaten, tended to remember the lesson.

Pei Qian said, "Master, this man's Dao heart is filthy. For Gold Summit Temple to choose Lu Ying as their chief offering, their tradition can't be much good."

Chen Ping'an hummed in agreement.

Lu Ying flirted a few words with the talisman beauty by his side, then sauntered back to his lodging. After sending the beauty away, the old Nascent Soul sat down on a chair in an instant, clutching the armrests with both hands, his face full of incredulity, drenched in sweat, muttering, "How is this possible? Hasn't this person already returned to the Desolate Barbarian World?"

Earlier, Lu Ying had used a unique secret technique to break through the illusion spell. His original intention was to deliberately disturb the grass and startle the snake, to confirm whether Guest Elder Cao Mo was a golden core cultivator, and also to see the true appearance of the woman. If she was good-looking, there was no harm in looking.

This divine technique, which Lu Ying had obtained from a secret realm immortal mansion, could see a person's true face.

But normally, Lu Ying wouldn't lightly use it, firstly because it wasn't very useful. On the mountain, a cultivator's appearance didn't matter much. What mattered was their registration, status, and realm. Moreover, half of Lu Ying's cultivation foundation, which had allowed him to step by step become a Nascent Soul, came from that shattered secret realm's ancient mansion. And that old account was tied to a bloody incident involving the deaths of over a dozen registered direct disciples from two sects. So even when facing that white-clothed youth or Zhou Fei standing beside Yellow-Clad Yun, Lu Ying pretended he didn't have this rather useless divine ability.

Who could have expected that one glance would reveal a sky-filling disaster for Lu Ying.

Back when Shao Yuanran, the young golden core of Gold Summit Temple, was in his cultivation spot, on his desk, Lu Ying had accidentally glimpsed a figure painting. Shao Yuanran had written two names on it.

Chen Yin, Chen Ping'an.

At the time, Shao Yuanran's expression had changed slightly, and Lu Ying knew there must be a great mystery. After some scheming, Lu Ying got a vague answer: this person's identity was unpredictable, his origins strange. He had once caused a storm in the Grand Spring Dynasty. But Shao Yuanran only said he could be sure that the non-assault on the Mirage City of Grand Spring, which had been preserved, was because this person intended to take the entire capital as his pocket. That kid Shao Yuanran was ruthless enough; not only did he not require Lu Ying to swear a heart oath, but he only said one more sentence, which made it more effective than any vow of secrecy. Because Shao Yuanran said this person, Chen Yin and Chen Ping'an both being pseudonyms, might very likely be one of the Young Ten, the number one among the Hundred Swordsmen of Tuo Yue Mountain in the Desolate Barbarian World: Fei Ran.

Lu Ying wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a long breath.

Fei Ran. Chen Yin, Chen Ping'an.

Cao Mo, offering of the Jiang clan? Guest elder of Divine Seal Peak?

Why did Jade Gui Sect, like Grand Spring Dynasty, tread so dangerously yet ultimately stand firm? Could it be that inside...?

Lu Ying started sweating again and gave up wiping it off. His Dao heart was unstable, feeling as if he had walked through the gates of hell.

Anyway, I saw nothing. I know nothing. Let Cao Mo or Fei Ran do whatever they want. As for this matter, even if Du Hanling of Gold Summit Temple asks, I won't say a single word.

Lu Ying moved stiffly, slowly turning his head to look at the door. A black-clothed woman with her hair in a bun was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, smiling ambiguously.

Just as Lu Ying was about to stand up, a warm, mellow voice came from behind him, "Sit."

A blue-clad guest stood behind the chair, one finger lightly pressed against the backrest.

Lu Ying immediately lowered the bottom he had just lifted and sat frozen on the chair, like a You Qi hit by a body-binding spell. The old Nascent Soul, who had seen countless storms and waves, remained motionless except for the steady stream of sweat. He didn't even dare to form a thought.

The person behind him placed his hands on the backrest and said with a chuckle, "Junior has intruded into your home without permission. Will Offering True Man be angry?"

Lu Ying dared not shake his head too much, only slightly. A wild cultivator who acknowledged no kin, now acting like a registered mountain immortal before his own founding ancestor, he said firmly, "No, no. I wouldn't dare. Absolutely impossible!"

A moment later, Lu Ying's face was ashen, his lips trembling.

Because the old Nascent Soul, unwilling to wait for death, had used another trump card escape technique. He gathered his golden core and Nascent Soul onto a single thought, which vanished in an instant, attempting to leave the mansion to tip off the only person he now trusted, the Rank-Tethering martial artist Yellow-Clad Yun. As for the Jiang clan of Cloud Lair Blessed Land, or Divine Seal Peak of Jade Gui Sect, he dared not trust any of them. Once he pulled Ye Yunyun over, stayed by her side, and firmly protected a single Mirror Flower Water Moon to quickly inform Gold Summit Temple, he would have a sliver of a chance to survive—and at most, that sliver of a chance. As for announcing it to the world, forget it. Not to mention whether Jiang Shangzhen would give him the chance, even if he could, Lu Ying, unless forced to death, would never trade his life for merit. Exposing the collusion between Jade Gui Sect and the Desolate Barbarian World—so what? All the merit from the Confucian Temple would fall on Gold Summit Temple, but Lu Ying would die utterly and completely.

But no matter how much he calculated, he never expected that the thought, which could have been hard for even a celestial to detect, would wander around as if hitting a ghost wall between heaven and earth.

The person behind him laughed, "You can't even be a proper turncoat weathervane, and you still call yourself an old Nascent Soul predecessor?"

Lu Ying sighed and said in the relatively rusty Great Elegant Speech of the Desolate Barbarian World, "Fei Ran, I accept my defeat at your hands. Kill me or dismember me, do as you please."

The man nodded and said two words, "Alright."

Lu Ying immediately put on a bitter face, losing all heroism, "Swordsman Fei Ran, can we talk again? As long as you leave me a way to live, I can do anything."

The man reached out a hand, fingers like hooks, and grabbed Lu Ying's neck. In an instant, let alone speaking, even using telepathy became a luxury for Lu Ying. But the man deliberately urged, "Talk? You talk. A way to live? Not just a single Nascent Soul Lu Ying—so many dead people have already left a way to live for you Parasol Leaf Continent. Offering True Man, your skill in cursing and joking is truly number one under heaven."

Pei Qian, having nothing to do, sat down on the threshold.

No matter what Master did or said, she didn't interfere. Pei Qian just reached out to touch her bun, then rubbed her forehead. Unconsciously, it had been many years since she last pasted talismans.

Many years ago, when the young woman was still a little charcoal, her master would wash her hair and teach her how to manage her messy hair. There were no treacherous mountains or evil rivers, no human hearts or ghostly schemes. On their travels, master and disciple seemed to see clear waters and green mountains everywhere.

Many years later, when she walked the martial world alone, she often heard the saying that taking a master is like being reborn. She felt the old saying was truly right. Having recognized her master, she was like a little girl reborn into a good life—the best under heaven.

Actually, in recent years, when her master was not around, Pei Qian sometimes felt that practicing fists was very hard. If she hadn't practiced fists back then and just stayed hidden on Fallen Mountain, wouldn't that have been better? Especially after returning with her master, Pei Qian didn't even dare to hold her master's sleeve anymore, so she felt that even more. Growing up wasn't good. But today, when she accompanied her master to sneak into the mansion, her master seemed finally not to have to worry about her, not needing to specifically instruct her what to do and what not to do. And she seemed finally able to do something for her master. Then Pei Qian felt that practicing fists was good, that she hadn't suffered enough hardships, and that her realm wasn't high enough.

When Pei Qian came back to her senses, she found that her master had already moved a chair and was sitting facing Lu Ying.

Chen Ping'an turned his head and scolded, "With a great enemy before you, you dare to be distracted?"

Pei Qian scratched her head, "Master is here, so I just slack off a little."

Chen Ping'an glared at her.

Pei Qian quickly said, "I know, Master. I'll be more careful next time."

But to be honest, even if Pei Qian stood still and let Nascent Soul Lu Ying hit her with his trump card technique, it would just be her getting a little hurt, while he would be beaten to death in two or three punches without any suspense.

It really wasn't that Pei Qian looked down on cultivators of the Haoran World. Speaking only of physical bodies, even Jade Pure realm cultivators were like paper and bamboo strips.

After two or three punches, they liked to fall straight down and play dead, desperately trying to squeeze money out of her.

But Pei Qian dared not say such things to her master. She could beg for anything but chestnuts. The Discipline Elder Longevity, that old woman, had some skill with words.

Pei Qian looked around. It was a small world dense with sword aura.

Master had become a sword immortal.

Chen Ping'an didn't know what Pei Qian was daydreaming about. He just chatted and talked with a well-known old Nascent Soul senior.

While listening to Lu Ying talk about a few little-known deeds of Fei Ran, he laughed and cursed, "Damned thing, so shameless, I don't have a grandson like that."

Lu Ying's heart was filled with sorrow. Swordsman Fei Ran, what are you acting for? What's the point now that things have come to this?

Chen Ping'an didn't mind Lu Ying firmly believing he was Fei Ran.

It would be best if Du Hanling of Gold Summit Temple thought the same. Once both parties "knew the score in their hearts," the situation would become very interesting.

About half an hour later, Lu Ying first used a remote body-binding spell on the talisman beauty acting as gatekeeper, then personally escorted Guest Elder Cao Mo to the main gate. The chief offering of Gold Summit Temple was amiable enough, but his demeanor inevitably showed a hint of arrogance, still treating himself as a senior. He exchanged a few words of encouragement with Cao Mo, and they parted ways.

-----

Jiang Shangzhen brought out a pure white cloud-boat ferry, naturally a private treasure. The ferry boat was refined from moonlight and white clouds of the blessed land, traveling very fast at night. Its rank was similar to the "Ink Splash" dragon boat of Fallen Mountain.

Jiang Shangzhen didn't take the ferry north with them, saying he needed to stay in Cloud Lair Blessed Land for another month or so, waiting until the selection of the thirty-six Flower Fairies at Rouge Terrace was finished before going to Heaven Que Peak to meet up.

Bai Xuan was quite happy, finally able to have a room each. A friend as rich and generous as Brother Fatty Zhou was worth befriending.

Among the nine children, Sun Chunwang had never shown her face, always confined by Cui Dongshan in his sleeve universe. Cui Dongshan was very curious how many decades this dead-fish-eyed girl could endure inside.

The Dao heart of a cultivator was the strangest thing. It might be a piece of rough jade needing careful carving, a piece of iron needing fierce forging, or the moon in the water, shattered by external forces only to reform.

So not all sword immortal seeds were suitable for tempering their Dao hearts in Cui Dongshan's sleeve. Besides Sun Chunwang, Bai Xuan and Yu Qingzhang were also suitable.

Cui Dongshan sat on the railing, took out a folding fan, and lightly tapped his palm. He asked, "I heard from Fatty that during those years you practiced swordsmanship in the hairpin, you were actually quite silent. Besides eating, practicing, and sleeping, at most you'd borrow some books from Yu Qingzhang. You had a cold face and were hard to get along with. How come as soon as you met my Master, you changed completely?"

Bai Xuan sat nearby, carefully choosing his words, timidly, "It's like entering a room of orchids—after a while, you naturally become fragrant."

Cui Dongshan curled his lip, "Not sincere enough."

Bai Xuan lowered his head, silent for a long time, then raised his head to look at the distant sea of clouds. The sunset over the clouds was a unique spectacle, very much like his hometown's city walls.

Cui Dongshan asked, "Why did you give yourself the nickname Little Hidden Guardian?"

Bai Xuan said quietly, "My master was a Dragon Gate realm sword cultivator. My master's master was only at the golden core realm. Actually, the three of us were very poor. To let me practice swords, we became even poorer."

Cui Dongshan said, "Your master is a woman?"

Bai Xuan hummed in affirmation, "Not good-looking, and she liked to scold people. When I was a kid, I liked to play. Every time I was scolded badly, I'd run away from home, wander around Grand Elephant Street and Jade Tablet Street, complaining that my master was a pauper. I thought that if I had been taken in by some rich sword immortal as a disciple, I wouldn't have had to suffer so much. Money meant nothing."

Childhood.

Actually, at this moment, Bai Xuan was still a child.

But all children under heaven think they're not small anymore, and all old people are afraid they're too old.

Cui Dongshan said, "Did your master get severely injured on the battlefield? Did you stay with her until she passed?"

Bai Xuan was silent for a long time, then finally nodded, said softly, "Not the whole time, just one night. When my master withdrew from the battlefield, her life-bound flying sword was gone. Her face was shredded by sword qi. Without that pill from the Hidden Guardian, she wouldn't have lasted that long. She would have died before dawn. Every time she tried to open her eyelids, as if to see me more clearly, it was terrifying. And when she grinned at me, it was even scarier. I didn't dare cry out loud. I actually knew my appearance at that time was worthless and would make my master very sad. But I couldn't help it—I was just scared."

That's why Bai Xuan was so afraid of female ghosts with bloodied faces.

Bai Xuan said softly, "That fight, we didn't win, but we didn't lose either. So I'm especially grateful to Chen Ping'an for letting my master and my master's master not die in vain."

Cui Dongshan asked, "It's been so long. Is there anything you want to say to your master?"

"I haven't thought about it."

Bai Xuan shook his head, thought for a moment, and said, "Probably something like: I'll practice swords well. Master, rest assured."

The child's expression was focused. He was thinking of his master.

Cui Dongshan said, "Oh."

In an instant.

The world was vast and boundless. Then Bai Xuan saw, not far away, a female ghost with a bloodied face. He recognized her as his master.

Master was looking at him.

Bai Xuan suddenly realized he had so many things he wanted to say to his master, and he wasn't really that afraid of her appearance anymore.

Bai Xuan walked over, reached out, and gently grasped her sleeve.

Cui Dongshan stood far behind the master and disciple, watching this scene from a distance.

On the ferry boat, in his own room, Chen Ping'an was carving a vermilion seal. In the mortal world, in the field of seal carving, vermilion characters were always harder than white characters.

Pei Qian sat quietly nearby. After her master finished carving the base inscription, she asked, "Master, is this a gift for the old Immortal Lu of Azure Tiger Palace?"

Heaven Que Peak of Clear Boundary Mountain, Azure Tiger Palace's Lu Yong.

Pei Qian remembered him well—an old immortal who was extremely skilled in conversation. His expertise in being polite and giving favors was top-notch.

Master had said that on this northward journey, they would only stop at a few places. Besides Heaven Que Peak, the ferry would only pause near Buried River and Mirage City in Grand Spring Dynasty. Master wanted to meet that Water Goddess and the Old General Yao, who was reportedly bedridden with illness.

Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded, "A greeting gift, you know."

The side inscription of the seal read: "A kind heart is the best feng shui."

The base inscription: "Clear Boundary."

Chen Ping'an took out a stack of books from his nearby object, purchased from the market at Qu Shan Ferry. "Go copy books in your room."

Pei Qian, however, didn't move. She took out paper and brush and started copying books right here beside her master.

Chen Ping'an didn't stop her. He stood up, looked at Pei Qian's copying, and nodded, "Your handwriting is pretty good. Half as good as your master's."

Just as Pei Qian was about to say something sincere, her master bent his finger and lightly tapped the table, reminding her, "Be focused when copying and writing."

Chen Ping'an sat back down and picked up a book.

Disciple copies books, master flips through books.

The Northern Jin Kingdom, which bordered the southern border of Grand Spring Dynasty, was only slightly better than Southern Qi in that it had managed to continue its national fortune. After these years of recovery, it had finally regained some vitality.

As for the capital of Southern Qi, which had once been a military tent of the Desolate Barbarian World, the fate of the country's mountains and rivers was predictable. Both civil and military temples were completely destroyed. City gods, land gods, and mountain and river deities were all taken over by high-ranking local demons from Parasol Leaf Continent. From the court to the martial world, it was no longer just a mess that could be described.

One day, Chen Ping'an walked out of his room to the bow of the ship. Pei Qian was overlooking the mountains and rivers below. With her were two young girls, Nalan Yudie and Yao Xiaoyan.

Chen Ping'an asked, "Will we pass through the territory of Golden Jasper Prefecture?"

Pei Qian nodded vigorously and estimated, "About eight hundred li."

She thought her master might have forgotten this.

Thinking back to that year, she had been the only one accompanying Master on his travels through Parasol Leaf Continent. Pei Qian had seen the mountain god's wedding procession for the first time, and later accidentally got involved in a battle between a mountain god and a water lord.

Before reuniting with her master, Pei Qian had traveled the old route through Parasol Leaf Continent alone, passing by the rebuilt Golden Jasper Prefecture. But she hadn't thought to visit.

The prefect of Golden Jasper Prefecture in Northern Jin Kingdom had been trapped by the third prince of Grand Spring Dynasty and his men that year, becoming a prisoner held in Mirage City. Unexpectedly, though, this misfortune turned out to be a blessing, as he escaped that calamity.

Pei Qian roughly told her master the recent situation of Golden Jasper Prefecture, all gossip she had heard during her solo travels. The ghost wife that the prefect had married back then had now become the water lord of a nearby large lake. Although her realm wasn't high, her rank was quite elevated. It was said that it was all the doing of the Grand Spring Empress, and it had become a celebrated story on the mountains.

Chen Ping'an smiled, "Perfect. Back then, I made an appointment with that mountain god prefect that if I ever passed by, I would visit Golden Jasper Prefecture and ask him for a drink."

Cui Dongshan was walking on the railing, followed by Bai Xuan with his hands behind his back, who was followed by Cheng Chaolu practicing walking stances. Cui Dongshan called out, "Master and Senior Sister, just go visit. The ferry is in my hands."

Bai Xuan carried a bamboo-sheathed bamboo sword on his back.

Nalan Yudie and Yao Xiaoyan were a bit excited, looking forward to it.

A mountain god's mansion! How rare a place. They had never seen one.

Chen Ping'an summoned a talisman boat, planning to take Pei Qian and the two little girls on a wind-riding journey.

He Gu and Yu Xiehui came running over, clamoring to go along and broaden their horizons.

Bai Xuan sighed and shook his head, "Childish. Very immature."

But Cui Dongshan grabbed him by the head and threw him far toward the talisman boat.

Bai Xuan laughed loudly, twisted his body, drew his bamboo sword, and stepped onto it, quickly catching up to the talisman boat. He landed gracefully, and the bamboo sword sheathed itself automatically.

He Gu and Yu Xiehui watched with envy. This guy Bai Xuan was really at the Cavern Dwelling realm.

Nalan Yudie said crossly, "Master Cao said we're not allowed to reveal our identity as sword cultivators."

Bai Xuan snorted, "Little girl, long hair, short knowledge. With Brother Cui here, over mountains and rivers, through wind and clouds, I'm free of all taboos."

Pei Qian asked with a smile, "Free of all taboos? Is that a lesson taught by the Great White Goose?"

Bai Xuan quickly weighed the importance of "Senior Sister" and "Little Senior Brother," and decided that Cui Dongshan was probably more formidable. A man shouldn't be a weathervane. He put his hands behind his back and nodded, "Of course. Brother Cui instructed me to be bolder when talking to people in the future. He also promised to teach me a few peerless fist techniques, saying that with my talent, practicing fists for a few days would be like Fatty practicing for years. Later, when I go down the mountain alone for training, I'll walk stances across rivers, ride my sword over mountains, very dashing. Brother Cui sighed with emotion earlier, saying that in the future Fallen Mountain, since I'll be both a sword immortal and a grandmaster, I'll be the one who most resembles his Master."

Pei Qian smiled, "Learning fists is good."

Bai Xuan felt something was off and quickly tried to make amends, "Sister Pei, if we ever spar, you'll have to suppress your realm. After all, I'm young and started learning fists late."

Pei Qian nodded, "No problem. When we spar, I'll let you decide how many realms I need to suppress."

Bai Xuan laughed loudly, "Sister Pei is a martial artist; you have to keep your word! But don't worry too much, Sister Pei. Although I started late, I learn fast and break through realms even faster. By the time we spar, you probably won't need to suppress too many realms."

Pei Qian hummed, "Definitely."

Chen Ping'an glanced at Bai Xuan, a look of pity in his eyes. This clever little bastard seemed to have surpassed even Chen Lingjun in surpassing his predecessor.

Bai Xuan asked telepathically, "Yudie, Yudie, what realm is this Pei Qian? We're from the same hometown. You can't favor outsiders and lie to me."

Nalan Yudie said, "Sister Pei never said what realm she was. Xiaoyan asked her for a long time on Cloud Pass Peak, but she just smiled and didn't answer. Finally, when Xiaoyan got annoyed and pressed her, Sister Pei only said that if she were to spar with her master, it would take about a hundred Pei Qians to barely draw."

Bai Xuan looked at the young woman. Poor thing. Being the Hidden Guardian's senior disciple, her talent and aptitude seemed very ordinary.

When they were still over a hundred li of mountain road from Golden Jasper Prefecture, the talisman boat silently landed. The group walked toward the mountain god's mansion.

Bai Xuan asked, "Master Cao, what's this? Walking on two legs is so tiring and not very immortal-like. Be careful they shut the door in our faces at Golden Jasper Prefecture. This Prefect, from the sound of it, is a big official with his own mansion. Brother Cui told me that in the Haoran World, the prime minister's doorman is a third-rank official, very arrogant."

Nalan Yudie complained, "You talk too much. Cavern Dwelling realm, sword immortal's tone."

He Gu nodded, "..."

Yu Xiehui added, "The nickname Little Hidden Guardian isn't enough. Big Hidden Guardian would suit our Bai Xuan better."

Bai Xuan squinted at them, "Once I start learning fists, I'll casually reach the fifth or sixth realm, plus the Cavern Dwelling realm. You do the math: isn't that the upper five realms?"

Chen Ping'an smiled and shook his head.

Pei Qian took out a green bamboo staff from her nearby object.

She remembered something. It was near here that she had obtained talismans for the first time in her life: a Pagoda Subduing Demon Talisman and a Yang Qi Lantern Lighting Talisman. At first, her master had lent them to her to help her build courage, and later gave them to her.

Pei Qian said quietly, "Master, in Golden Armor Continent, I met the Talisman Immortal Yu."

Chen Ping'an was surprised, "That old immortal Yu, who is said to monopolize the talisman Dao?"

Pei Qian nodded with a smile, looking a bit embarrassed, "On the battlefield, not only did Old Senior Yu help me kill a Jade Pure realm demon, but in the end, he also gave me that Jade Pure realm's life-bound object, of half-immortal soldier rank."

Chen Ping'an sighed, "Senior truly has unparalleled immortal spirit. It's only fitting that Old Senior Yu should merge with the galaxy and enter the fourteenth realm."

Pei Qian hummed in agreement.

The hundred-odd li of mountain road was nothing to Chen Ping'an and his group. Moreover, compared to the rugged roads when Chen Ping'an had passed through this area last time, they were much wider. Chen Ping'an glanced a few times and knew it was the work of the imperial court.

Passing by a stone arch bridge crossing a stream, Chen Ping'an crouched at the bridgehead to look at the newly carved boundary marker. He frowned slightly.

He hesitated whether to visit Golden Jasper Prefecture.

Pei Qian asked, "Master, what's wrong?"

Chen Ping'an stood up, "There might be trouble."

After a moment's thought, Chen Ping'an smiled, "It's fine. I'll leave after I finish my drink."

Thirty li from Golden Jasper Prefecture, the scenery was beautiful, with a murmuring stream. A pavilion was built by the water.

A squad of armored soldiers sat scattered by the roadside, gambling at small stakes but keeping their voices low. Inside the pavilion, a cultivator sat cross-legged in meditation, holding a horsetail whisk.

A young general leaned against the wall outside the pavilion, arms crossed, eyes closed, calming his breath.

Chen Ping'an signaled Pei Qian and the others to stop. He walked forward alone.

The two within and without the pavilion: a Contemplating Ocean realm cultivator and a fifth-realm martial artist.

The young general opened his eyes and said calmly, "If you're going to Golden Jasper Prefecture, you might as well turn back. The mountains and rivers here are now sealed."

Chen Ping'an turned to look at a spot. In a deep, greenish pool in the stream, a pale face surfaced, strands of hair spreading like water plants. It was a young girl's face, wearing a pomegranate skirt. She then sat on a rock on the opposite bank, though her embroidered shoes were still submerged in the stream. She seemed intentionally antagonistic to the young general and laughed, "Sealed mountains? We here at Golden Jasper Prefecture didn't know about that. Sir, if you want to visit our mansion, I can lead the way."

The old immortal inside the pavilion snorted coldly and lightly flicked his whisk. The stream outside the pavilion seemed to have a dam built across it, blocking the flow. The water level kept rising, with no more water flowing into the small pool.

The female ghost didn't mind. She just sank a bit lower, her legs more submerged. Seeming to recall something, she said to the blue-clad man, "Don't worry about being given a hard time on your way back. Our Golden Jasper Prefecture has a direct path to Pine Needle Lake. Boating on the lake, the scenery is beautiful. If you want to go ashore, don't worry about whether the ferry boat might be stolen by thieves. The Lady Water Lord of Pine Needle Lake is originally the wife of our Golden Jasper Prefecture Prefect!"

Chen Ping'an finally opened his mouth and smiled, "Then I'll impose on you."

The old immortal who had used water magic to cut off the stream finally opened his eyes and sneered, "Petty water ghost, spouting nonsense, tired of living?"

The young general seemed to have changed his mind. He waved his hand, signaling the armored soldiers to let them through. He also said to the blue-clad man, who had a saber and a wine gourd at his waist, "It's best you don't linger too long at Golden Jasper Prefecture. When gods fight, mortals suffer—that's no joke. But if you want to visit Pine Needle Lake, feel free."

Chen Ping'an cupped his hands in thanks.

The young general nodded.

Chen Ping'an walked along the path by the stream. The female ghost from Golden Jasper Prefecture, holding up her skirt, walked on the water's surface.

From the pavilion.

The Contemplating Ocean realm old cultivator named Guo Yiluan walked to the door and said mockingly, "General Liu, you're quite easygoing, letting them through just like that."

The young man, named Liu Hui, was only in his twenties but already a fifth-rank military general. Moreover, he held a temporary position as the Five-Region Mountain-and-Water Inspector for Northern Jin Kingdom. That meant on the northern sacred mountain's territory, the youth could direct and mobilize all mountain and water spirits below the mountain lord rank, including city gods and land gods from every prefecture and county, as well as civil and military temples.

Liu Hui came from a prominent commandery family in Northern Jin Kingdom, but he became a general through military merit. The reason was simple: his family had been completely wiped out in the cataclysm that sank the entire continent.

Besides this, there were rumors that the young general had a story with the emperor's sister, who was married off to a foreign kingdom.

The young general's expression was indifferent, "If we're not careful and end up tearing apart with Grand Spring Dynasty, starting a war, Immortal Guo might be more agreeable than I am."

The old cultivator's face darkened. He snorted coldly and returned to the pavilion to continue his breathing exercises.

The mountain-and-water registry of Golden Jasper Prefecture had actually already been "moved" to Grand Spring Dynasty, yet Golden Jasper Prefecture was located on the indisputable territory of Northern Jin Kingdom. So if it didn't move again, it would lose its legitimacy. Even if they argued before the Sage Mount of Great Fu Academy, Grand Spring Dynasty and Golden Jasper Prefecture would still be in the wrong.

The more subtle issue now was actually the eight-hundred-li Pine Needle Lake. The ownership and division of this large lake were indeed open to negotiation.

The Northern Jin Emperor's intention was clear: Golden Jasper Prefecture must be moved north, and ideally, they should take the entire Pine Needle Lake. If Grand Spring Dynasty bullied them with their power, then they would go to the academy to seek justice from the Sage.

Northern Jin's bottom line was to split Pine Needle Lake in half, letting the Water Lord's mansion control only about a quarter of it.

The two countries had actually been arguing about this for several years, making a lot of noise. On Grand Spring Dynasty's side, both court officials and those in the martial world were very tough. Some young officials and border generals were already clamoring to let Northern Jin hear the sound of hooves.

In the stream, the female ghost turned to look at the shore and smiled, "You look unfamiliar to me, guest."

Chen Ping'an smiled, "It's normal for you to find me unfamiliar, miss. About twenty years ago, I passed through the territory of Golden Jasper Prefecture and happened to witness the Prefect's wedding procession. Later, I had the honor of meeting the Prefect once. I wasn't able to have a cup of orchid brew back then, so on this trip, I thought I'd try to make up for it."

The female ghost was taken aback and immediately became suspicious.

Because she had been in that mountain god's wedding procession at the time. How could she not remember seeing this person?

Chen Ping'an had actually recognized her at a glance earlier. He smiled, "Miss, do you still remember that little charcoal girl who accidentally broke a mountain-and-water taboo back then? Not only did you not hold it against her, but later, when you were escorting the Mountain God's Wife back to Golden Jasper Prefecture, you were holding a lantern. After getting permission from the old lady, you even invited me to the wedding banquet. But I was in a hurry to travel and missed the Prefect's wedding feast."

Pei Qian, holding her mountain-walking staff, smiled knowingly.

The female ghost suddenly laughed, "It's you?! Back then you were still a young man... a young gentleman! No wonder I didn't recognize you."

After all, not just anyone could encounter a mountain god's wedding procession. Either they were a weakling with too little yang qi, or they were a cultivator traveling down the mountain.

But the female ghost sighed inwardly. This man was probably not some high-ranking mountain cultivator.

Otherwise, in just twenty years, his appearance would have changed so much that she couldn't recognize him at all.

Nowadays, Golden Jasper Mountain God Mansion and Pine Needle Lake Water Lord Mansion were like one family. The Prefect and the Water Lord were more of an immortal couple than even mountain cultivators.

But for now, both water and mountain mansions were in troubled times.

Otherwise, the folks at the pavilion wouldn't be talking nonsense about sealing the mountains.

A Contemplating Ocean realm old immortal was indeed quite skilled in Dao magic, but under normal circumstances, who would dare to run roughshod over Golden Jasper Prefecture and Lake Lord Mansion?

In the end, it was because everyone had a big tree to lean on. The Prefect and his wife were like that, and so was that old immortal. The problem was that their own Golden Jasper Prefecture wasn't within Grand Spring Dynasty, but within Northern Jin Kingdom.

The female ghost rubbed her sleeve and pinched a small green fish between her fingers, about an inch long. She gently breathed on the small green fish, "dotting its eyes," then whispered a few words of telepathy. Then she lightly tossed it. The fish entered the water, flicked its tail, and disappeared at great speed.

The messenger green fish soon arrived at the gate of Golden Jasper Prefecture. An old man with mountain spirit origins dared not delay and immediately reported the news.

A man in a golden dharma robe, Zheng Su, was once the highest-ranked mountain god below the five sacred peaks of Northern Jin Kingdom—the Prefect of Golden Jasper Prefecture.

Upon receiving the secret message from the green fish, he immediately used a messenger flying sword gifted by Grand Spring Dynasty to transmit a message to his wife, Liu Yourong, who was stationed at the Lake Lord Mansion.

Back then, if that passerby hadn't used a talisman and a sword to intercept and kill the licentious water god of Pine Needle Lake, the consequences would have been endless.

But only his wife and a few trusted confidants knew this inside story. Zheng Su didn't tell anyone else.

Today, Zheng Su walked to the main gate, patiently waiting for the "young immortal master" who had a kindness toward Golden Jasper Prefecture. A Prefect showed a rare joyful expression in recent years.

On the road to Golden Jasper Prefecture, Pei Qian, holding her mountain-walking staff, suddenly called out, "Master."

Chen Ping'an turned his head, "What's wrong?"

Pei Qian grinned but said nothing.