Chapter 852: Probably
The Old Temple-Viewing Master had come to Fallen Mountain mainly to see Zhu Lian, but unfortunately he was somewhat disappointed. The man before him was far from awakening from his dream.
Among all the cultivators in the world, there were only three and a half that the old Daoist felt most at ease with and held in the highest respect: the Rite Sage, the Great Heavenly Teacher of the Jade Capital, and that Bodhisattva in the Western Buddhist Kingdom.
As for the remaining half, he did not hold him in high regard, but he did feel at ease—that was Lu Chen.
However, the Old Temple-Viewing Master also had some doubts. Could it be that this Zhu Lian had already awakened long ago, but had simply never truly entered the dream from the very beginning?
Lu Chen, that fellow—what couldn't he do?
Once these few Fifteenth Realm cultivators were gone from heaven and earth, then any existing or future Fourteenth Realm great cultivator, regardless of which world they belonged to, would essentially lose their greatest shackle. They would become freer, freer in a way that approached the pure essence of "freedom."
Fortunately, the Haoran World still had the Rite Sage, who was the most particular about rules. But as for the Qingming World, that truly invincible one in the Jade Capital, the Second Heavenly Teacher Yu Dou—everyone on the street had known his temper for thousands of years.
It was likely that all great cultivators at the Ascension Realm, whether registered cultivators or wild cultivators from mountains and marshes, would have to carefully weigh their relationship with the Jade Capital. Even the existing Fourteenth Realm great cultivators in the Qingming World, as long as they were incompatible with Yu Dou's temperament, might need to arrange their retreat early.
Of course, among these, Sui Chu Palace's Wu Shuangjiang and the Grand Xuan Du Temple's Sun Daochang would be two exceptions.
One was bent on fighting Yu Dou to the death, and the other, as the unshakable fifth in the world, would naturally not be an easy target if it came to a real exchange of Dao techniques. Besides, "I've put in a few good words for you and Lu Chen on the sunning grounds, and you, Yu Dou, still have the face to come looking for my trouble? You'd be an ungrateful bastard."
Zhu Lian suddenly asked a question: "If the Rite Sage also departs, what would the several worlds look like?"
The Old Temple-Viewing Master smiled amiably and said, "That question is treasonous."
Cui Dongshan said bitterly, "Rude, too rude. It's a good thing our Rite Sage has a good temper and won't bother with your unreasonable nonsense."
He clasped his hands together, raised them above his head, and shook them vigorously.
Zhu Lian asked again, "After the Dao Ancestor scattered his Dao, the Great Heavenly Teacher was missing for many years, and Lu Chen doesn't care about anything. Would Yu Dou directly use the entire Jade Capital, with lightning speed, to detain all Fourteenth Realm cultivators and most of the Ascension Realm ones? Is that possible? If so, on the Qingming World side, is there anyone who can manage it, anyone who can stop Yu Dou?"
The Old Temple-Viewing Master sneered, "Wu Shuangjiang long ago issued a prophecy for Yu Dou that was like a final verdict: 'If you, sir, do not cultivate virtue, then everyone on the boat will be your enemy, and that is the way to death.'"
Having said this, the Old Temple-Viewing Master smiled. "Sun Temple-Master, that fellow, has always been a bit of a rogue. After hearing this prophecy, he openly shouted and cursed Wu Shuangjiang, saying, 'Let go of your stinking fart! Who is my Daoist friend Yu Dou? Truly invincible! Even if the whole boat is full of enemies, so what? Daoist friend Yu wants exactly this kind of magnificent feat that seems dangerous but is actually a false alarm.'"
As for the Old Temple-Viewing Master's implication, it was naturally that besides Sui Chu Palace and Xuan Du Temple, he himself, who had now moved his Guan Dao Temple to the Qingming World, was also someone sharing the same boat as Yu Dou.
Cui Dongshan poured a cup of tea for the Old Temple-Viewing Master. "Senior, regardless of what you say, you and my master can be considered friends despite the age difference. It's rare for you to visit Fallen Mountain. Who knows when your next visit will be? Why don't I take you for a stroll around Ji Se Peak?"
The Old Temple-Viewing Master snorted, "Don't try to establish a friendship with me casually. I've already given Chen Ping'an a rubbing of the Lotus Flower Blessed Land. That's more than enough."
Cui Dongshan still wouldn't give up. "Just taking a walk on Fallen Mountain—senior won't even agree to that? That's a bit too cold and distant."
Every step this old Daoist took in the mortal world, the ground he trod upon was of great significance, because every place was a field for cultivation.
Spring plowing and autumn harvesting, always wearing shackles, busy in the fields all one's life—who was that talking about?
That stubborn temperament of this Old Temple-Viewing Master was, of course, because he had the right to be arrogant. What was a "field"? In his early years, he had taken heaven and earth as his fields and ridges.
On the earth, soil has its age and properties, rain and dew nurture grass, farmers labor, and the Agrarian School sows all grains. Commoners manage their fields: if the soil is thin, they fertilize it; if the soil is light, they wrap ox hooves in cloth and trample it. In this way, weak soil turns strong. And the common folks' method of pressing green manure, though seemingly ordinary, actually has deep origins—pressing is a method of suppression.
This old senior of the Eastern Sea Guan Dao Temple walked a path that ultimately could transform the filthy turbid qi between heaven and earth into clear qi. This mysterious clear qi was even harder to obtain by human effort than the spiritual qi that cultivators regarded as the foundation of the Dao. If spiritual qi was the foundation of cultivation, then clear qi was the source of fortune.
If the ancestral master of the Agrarian School among the Hundred Schools had been lucky enough to meet this Old Temple-Viewing Master, he would have been even more exaggerated than Cui Dongshan.
"It is fitting that the people are harmonious and the years bountiful, the five grains flourish abundantly—this belongs to the auspicious descent of the gods and the great year."
Cui Dongshan couldn't possibly miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He wished he could take the old Daoist to tread upon every green mountain and clear water of his own peaks!
When it comes to being a person, one must be down-to-earth like this.
The Old Temple-Viewing Master shook his head. "Such a simple principle of gain and loss—do I need to teach you, Embroidery Tiger?"
Cui Dongshan looked at him with mournful eyes, wiping the table back and forth with his sleeve. "Senior, you're scolding people again."
The Old Temple-Viewing Master was full of sarcasm. "You deserve to be that Chen Ping'an's student. Aren't you ashamed to show your face?"
Cui Dongshan instantly became radiant. "Old Temple-Viewing Master, you're praising me again! I'm a bit unprepared."
The Old Temple-Viewing Master couldn't be bothered to waste words with this muddle-headed fellow. He abruptly cut to the chase and said bluntly, "That stretch of green cliff by the Dragon Beard River—I want to take it away. Now, who technically owns that land? The Great Li Song clan? Or that Ruan Qiong, who still carries the title of sage?"
If it's the Great Li court, that's easy to handle. These few steps I've taken during this visit to the ruins of the Pear Blossom Cave Heaven are already compensation enough. A long, steady flow, blessings extending far and wide.
If it's Ruan Qiong, as a mountain cultivator, who owns the landscape and land of the Dragon Beard River, I'll just make a deal with him directly.
Why give Ruan Qiong this face? Of course, it's because of his daughter, Ruan Xiu.
Relying on one's realm to seize things by force? That would be beneath his dignity, and besides, one must consider the cycle of heaven's way.
A Daoist cultivator, if he lives long enough, will truly understand one principle: if you owe a debt, you must repay it.
Except for the three ancestral masters of the three teachings, who treat the entire world as their own little plot of land—that's a different matter.
The next tier of territory is the various blessed lands and cave heavens, similar to how the Old Temple-Viewing Master had his own Lotus Flower Blessed Land.
Zhu Lian was somewhat surprised. He glanced at Cui Dongshan beside him.
Cui Dongshan looked helpless and shook his head at Zhu Lian. He had misjudged; he had missed a big opportunity. Previously, Cui Dongshan really hadn't noticed anything extraordinary about that green stone cliff.
If he had known earlier, he would have moved it to Fallen Mountain to use as a feng shui stone. Anything that this stinky Daoist priest with the ox nose fancied was obviously priceless.
But being a person isn't about being afraid of making mistakes; correcting mistakes and making amends is the essence of being a person.
Cui Dongshan craned his neck, looking toward the river, and began to calculate. "Dragon Beard River—in the earliest times, it was just a small stream. If I remember correctly, it was called Wu Stream. And the early Wu Stream Chen clan was the top surname in the Pear Blossom Cave Heaven. But later they declined. Coincidentally, coincidentally, my master's ancestors happened to have a piece of land over there. If you really want to trace it, it's actually Fallen Mountain's property... As for the land deed, if the Old Temple-Viewing Master wants to see it, I'll go find it later..."
Of course, Cui Dongshan was talking nonsense. The Old Temple-Viewing Master wasn't so easily fooled. He directly separated three strands of his mind and sent them to the prefectural city and county government's land registry office, as well as the Dragon Prefecture Kiln Supervision Bureau. He quickly perused all the household registrations and land deeds, and even thoroughly deduced the river course changes and fields of the Dragon Beard River, which was anciently called Wu Stream.
In the world of men and affairs, like clouds steaming and pillars dampening, there are traces to follow.
The Old Temple-Viewing Master withdrew his strands of mind, frowned slightly, and looked at the blacksmith shop by the river. Liu Xianyang, a young Jade Pure Realm sword cultivator.
Cui Dongshan suddenly understood. He clapped his hands and laughed. "I see! No wonder the Patriarch, when he traveled through the Lotus Flower Blessed Land back then, praised it with the line, 'Autumn water pours into the Milky Way; far, far beneath the lotus flowers.' Now I understand why She Yue was deliberately left here back then. So this is the key to her future realm-breaking and Dao-joining. Could it be that that green cliff is a moon palace mirror? 'How wondrous, this single stone; the green cliff gathers the roots of clouds! I suspect it's an ancient moon, round and fallen here.' Old Temple-Viewing Master, have I guessed correctly? Yes or no?"
The Old Temple-Viewing Master said, "Go and negotiate a price with that sword cultivator for me."
It's better to have as little to do with this young man who likes to sleepwalk as possible. It's not that he feared a sword cultivator, but he worried that with one careless move, some ancient god from ten thousand years ago might follow the threads and find the 'himself' before he had attained the Dao—then everything would be lost.
The Old Temple-Viewing Master squinted and smiled. "If you want to help him raise the price, that's fine too."
Cui Dongshan took a large gulp of tea to moisten his throat, then called out with his heart voice from afar: "Liu Sleepyhead, Liu Sleepyhead! Little brother has a favor to ask!"
Over at the blacksmith shop, Liu Xianyang was sitting on a bamboo chair under the eaves, snacking on melon seeds and chatting with Yu Qianyue beside him. Hearing Cui Dongshan's heart voice, he said, "What is it? A favor? A favor? Then don't even say it. I don't have such a brother!"
Cui Dongshan sniffled and wiped his face with his sleeve. What is brotherhood? Liu Xianyang is the real deal! Cui Dongshan quickly explained the general situation to Liu Xianyang, being very familiar. He said the benefits of this deal probably had to go to Fallen Mountain, because they were missing a long sought-after mountain-protecting treasure. Coincidentally, a sucker had shown up who could provide that thing. Cui Dongshan didn't even talk about compensation or converting it into Valley Rain coins for Liu Xianyang.
Liu Xianyang turned his head and spit out a melon seed shell. "Hell's bells, what a trivial matter! Easy peasy! Just make sure that sucker pays full price!"
Liu Xianyang's peripheral vision caught the round-faced girl, and he suddenly shouted, "Wait! Wait a minute! I have to discuss this with Miss Yu first!"
Cui Dongshan clicked his tongue. "Liu Sleepyhead, what's the matter? Got a wife and forgot your brother? Oh well, I see what kind of person you are now."
Liu Xianyang turned to roughly explain to She Yue about the stone cliff—that it might be her chance to break through her realm. But as soon as She Yue heard about 'moon palace' or 'treasure opportunity,' she was annoyed by these convoluted things and simply pretended not to hear anything. Besides, you're Liu Xianyang—why ask me about your stuff? What kind of relationship do we have? Seems like nothing.
Nowadays, there were fewer and fewer ducks in the Dragon Beard River, and the shop's old duck bamboo shoot stew had decreased accordingly. That didn't help her mood.
So she had bought a nest of fluffy ducklings, but as she raised them day by day, she grew attached. She had to warn Liu Xianyang every day not to get any ideas.
Liu Xianyang immediately replied with his heart voice to Cui Dongshan, "Miss Yu says, for my sake, it's no big deal. Whatever opportunity or fate, she doesn't care at all."
Cui Dongshan admired profusely. "Sister-in-law is truly a good match! Brother Liu is so lucky!"
Remembering something, Cui Dongshan swore solemnly, "When you and Miss Yu get married, if the gift I give isn't the third largest, I'll change my surname to yours!"
Liu Xianyang asked curiously, "Who's giving the largest gift? Chen Ping'an?"
Cui Dongshan chuckled, "My master doesn't have much money. It has to be our Fallen Mountain's Chief Zhou!"
Liu Xianyang nodded. "Remind Chief Zhou for me. If he's busy and can't come, the red envelope must arrive. As for how much to give, let him decide. As for the wording, Brother Cui, you'll have to help me polish it. That's roughly what I mean."
Cui Dongshan thumped his chest hard enough to shake the sky.
The Old Temple-Viewing Master suddenly squinted and said, "Cui Dongshan, tell Liu Xianyang this one more thing: if that stone cliff is refined properly, it will become an Immortal Weapon."
Cui Dongshan relayed the sentence without hesitation.
Liu Xianyang immediately jumped up and said, "An Immortal Weapon?! Brother Cui, you need to raise the price! Make that buyer pay through the nose! Alright, alright, that's all. Don't bother me anymore, or we won't be brothers."
Cui Dongshan indeed said no more and withdrew his gaze from the Dragon Beard River.
People like Liu Xianyang—everyone would envy them a little.
While Cui Dongshan was talking to Liu Xianyang, the Old Temple-Viewing Master did a little calculation, tracing back to the origin.
Liu Xianyang's ancestral line was proficient in the arts of disturbing dragons, raising dragons, and slaying dragons. They had actually been granted the compound surname Imperial Dragon. And the earliest character for 'Liu' itself was pictographic of a battle-ax or weapon—a very authoritative character. After the dragon-slaying campaign, it was likely that the Liu clan's ancestors changed their surname back to Liu. Otherwise, in this Pear Blossom Cave Heaven, if all later descendants had been surnamed Imperial Dragon, it would have been too conspicuous and would have been suppressed by the invisible great Dao of the small cave heaven, harming the life fortunes of later generations. Naturally, a clan would find it difficult to flourish and prosper.
The Old Temple-Viewing Master asked, "Does this young man know his own family history?"
Cui Dongshan smiled. "Whether he knows or not, he's still the same Liu Xianyang."
So when Tian Wan tried to matchmake Liu Xianyang with Zhi Gui from Mud Vase Alley, it wasn't random.
If Heaven bestows a living, you can settle down and live a stable life. If the Ancestral Master bestows a skill, you have a craft to rely on and can make a living anywhere.
But if a person doesn't know to turn their thoughts inward and reflect, even if both Heaven and the Ancestral Master bestow their gifts, it's still useless. It's like having an empty bowl with no rice—being in bliss without knowing it. Because they don't know to take a step back and think. According to the mountain's terminology, this is called "technique and Dao not matching."
Liu Xianyang certainly had great aptitude, but in truth, countless immortal-seed prodigies with cultivation potential in the world quietly wasted away in the mundane. Some even lived worse lives than ordinary mortals. If Liu Xianyang's heart had taken a slight wrong turn—laziness, stinginess—then maybe now there would be an idle, good-for-nothing bachelor in Huaihuang County, spending all his days complaining about fate.
Cui Dongshan smiled and asked, "Senior, what price would be fitting for an Immortal Weapon?"
The Old Temple-Viewing Master waved his hand, and a cloud-patterned paper suffused with purple qi spread out on the table. He pressed his two fingers together and began to draw.
The most important Daoist texts in the world were none other than the "Three Mountains Script" and the "True Form Diagram of the Five Sacred Peaks." In ancient times, immortal officials and divine beings—none without an immortal name and green register—could receive such teachings.
In earlier times, Daoist cultivators, when seeking famous mountains and great waters, establishing sects, or building cities by the water, often carried these diagrams. Mountain ghosts, water immortals, goblins, and all evil spirits dared not approach them. Later, the Daoist methods scattered and spread among the people. Besides the widely circulated "Mountain-Searching Diagram," there was also this "True Form Diagram of the Five Sacred Peaks." However, later generations of Qi refiners who drew such Daoist diagrams could not grasp the true essence of the methods. They couldn't even find the door in—the form wasn't right, so the spirit and qi naturally scattered.
Cui Dongshan knew that the Old Temple-Viewing Master would know that he knew what he was going to give.
There was no need to say more.
Cui Dongshan leaned over the table, clicking his tongue in wonder, to express his respect and gratitude.
What the Old Temple-Viewing Master used was Daoist magic, consuming Dao qi, and infusing it with sublime Dao intent. In short, on this path of Daoist method that the Old Temple-Viewing Master was depicting, it was like the method of rubbing inscriptions—the more times you copy, the shallower the meaning becomes.
Zhu Lian carefully watched the old Daoist drawing and smiled. "Unable to buy a mountain to learn painting, yet a myriad of scenes enter the painting."
In the future, when he tried to imitate it, even nine-tenths resemblance in form would be easy, but how much resemblance in spirit he could achieve—he would only know when he put brush to paper.
Cui Dongyang picked up a corner of the scroll, gently shook it, and weighed it in his hand.
He guessed that this was the second time the Old Temple-Viewing Master had performed such a divine feat. If it had been the first time, it would have been an Immortal Weapon with both offensive and defensive capabilities. Thus, the True Form Diagram in his hand was one grade inferior.
This ancestral Daoist diagram could be considered a second-tier genuine relic.
Unfortunately, it was only half an Immortal Weapon in rank. If used as a heavy attack treasure, it would be used up and gone—that would be a waste of a precious thing. But if framed as a painting and hung inside a home, it would be incredible. In a word: for about a thousand years, no sudden disasters would occur; auspicious signs would gather; and there would no longer be the worry of "the lofty house with ghosts peering into its rooms."
Cui Dongyang sighed. "Senior, framing it to hang on a wall is really not as convenient as carrying it in a scroll on the person."
The Old Temple-Viewing Master was unmoved.
Cui Dongyang had to say, "Senior said it himself: with a little refinement, it would be an Immortal Weapon. But how can this junior refine this Daoist diagram and elevate it to an Immortal Weapon? Besides, senior's craftsmanship is almost perfect—this junior has neither the ability, nor the heart, nor the audacity to gild the lily."
The Old Temple-Viewing Master smiled. "Then I'll take back those words about 'refining it into an Immortal Weapon.' Would you rather pretend you didn't hear them, or should I trouble myself to take back the words and make you truly unable to hear them?"
At the mountain gate, Little Mi Li had been watching the table the whole time. She was mainly worried that the melon seeds would run out or the tea would be insufficient.
She suddenly noticed that the big white goose had one hand behind its back, beckoning to her.
Little Mi Li frowned deeply, her two little eyebrows furrowed. What did the big white goose want? Her clever little brain wasn't quite enough for this.
She thought about it seriously but couldn't figure it out. So, she was powerless and couldn't help.
Little Mi Li gave up. She simply said a sentence ahead of time. Standing on tiptoe, she shouted loudly to the kindly old Daoist, "Old Daoist, do you like the tea? Want me to give you some tea leaves?"
The Old Temple-Viewing Master smiled and nodded.
Little Mi Li immediately dashed toward Zheng Dafeng's house to get some tea leaves for the old Daoist. As she ran, she turned her head and said, "Old Daoist, I'm not kicking you out! Keep drinking tea and eating melon seeds. Wait a moment, no hurry! I'll grab some more."
The Old Temple-Viewing Master stood up, but two white jade scroll axes appeared on the table beside him.
Zhu Lian and Cui Dongshan exchanged a smile.
Sure enough, our Right Protector's prestige was the greatest. The most face.
The Old Temple-Viewing Master flicked his sleeve and collected the stone cliff into his sleeve. The green cliff by the river was still there, but the form was there while the spirit had left.
Cui Dongshan put away the scroll and the white jade axes. Then he and Zhu Lian both stood up—they still had to observe some basic hospitality etiquette.
Unexpectedly, the Old Temple-Viewing Master sat back down and sneered, "What? Did I say I was leaving? Is Fallen Mountain kicking guests out?"
Cui Dongshan plopped back down. Zhu Lian smiled and asked, "Why not have a meal on the mountain before you go?"
The Old Temple-Viewing Master ignored him. He stood up again and said, "Whether you wake from the dream or enter it, when you come to the Qingming World in the future, you will owe me a meal. If you end up dying of old age here in this mountain, then consider I never said anything."
Zhu Lian smiled and nodded.
Finally, the Old Temple-Viewing Master took a jar of tea leaves from the little girl in black and thanked her.
Little Mi Li scratched her head. "Old Daoist, you're too polite."
The Old Temple-Viewing Master gazed into the distance. Mountains and waters stretched endlessly—water low, mountains high.
Why climb the mountain? What is cultivation?
One person murmured, and the mountains echoed back.
---
On the city wall, Wei Jin and Cao Jun had somehow become the hosts of Sword Qi Great Wall. People kept coming and going, all having to greet them.
Cao Jun was quite happy. These recent times had been a turn of fortune. Not only was he practicing swordsmanship beside Zuo You, but he had also encountered a series of great figures. First, there was an unknown Daoist who seemed to be Chen Ping'an's cheap uncle. Then, Ning Yao, who had returned to her hometown; Qi Tingji; Lu Zhi; and the Third Heavenly Teacher of the Jade Capital, Lu Chen. Lu Chen had even personally invited him to the Qingming World. He couldn't enter the Summer Retreat Palace—so what? As long as Cao Jun nodded, he could follow Lu Heavenly Teacher to the Jade Capital as a guest!
Chen Sanqiu and Die Zhang landed right beside Shao Yunyan.
Beside this former Spring Banner Studio sword immortal were also Mrs. Tuo Yan and several sword children of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect.
Shao Yunyan roughly explained the situation to the two local sword cultivators. He had very high hopes for Chen Sanqiu.
Chen Sanqiu asked doubtfully, "Sword Immortal Shao, has Chen Ping'an broken through again?"
Shao Yunyan shook his head. "Still at the Jade Pure Realm. It's just that somehow, after Lu Heavenly Teacher lent that lotus crown to the Hidden Official, his realm can't be seen clearly anymore."
Chen Sanqiu could casually call Chen Ping'an by his name, but Shao Yunyan still had to respectfully address him as Hidden Official.
Die Zhang said, "Wherever the person goes, business follows. The Second Shopkeeper definitely won't lose out."
Mrs. Tuo Yan had originally been with Chen Ping'an, barely gaining some confidence. But after today's commotion, she was again intimidated by the Hidden Official.
What now? After becoming the closed-door disciple of the Old Master of the Literary Sage School in the Haoran World, and serving as the last Hidden Official of Sword Qi Great Wall, he wasn't done yet? Was he going to become the Fourth Heavenly Teacher of the Jade Capital in the Qingming World?
Chen Sanqiu knelt on one knee, gazing into the distance, lost in thought.
The melancholy wanderer who loved drinking, finally returned home, yet the person he missed was in another land. He didn't even dare to drink.
Beside him, Die Zhang, a one-armed woman, had her empty sleeve tied in a knot. Her figure was thin and frail, yet she carried a large sword on her back.
The scenery of the Haoran World was indeed full of wonders: magnificent mountains and rivers, each season with its own charm—the water surface clear and round, the mountain flowers blooming like flames. A fisherman on the river raised his pole; the remaining sunset merged with spring water, scattering into silk. All were beautiful sights, but after seeing them, that was that. Much seen, much forgotten.
As for Chen Sanqiu, he had produced a travel journal, meticulously recording the local customs and everything he had seen and heard along the way.
Shao Yunyan knew the origin of those two swords. A Liang had "borrowed" them from the Great Li imitation Jade Capital back then. He teased, "You two have such a good relationship with the Hidden Official, yet you missed the Fallen Mountain's sect founding ceremony? How improper. What, are you worried that the Great Li Song clan will demand those two long swords back?"
Treasure Bottle Continent, especially the Great Li Dynasty, would actually receive some intangible gifts in sword dao fortune from this.
Moreover, with the existence of Chen Ping'an and Wei Jin, it was like a barren field unfit for cultivation that would continuously generate seeds of the sword dao.
As for the slight sword dao fortune of the old Zhu Ying Dynasty, compared to Sword Qi Great Wall, it was insignificant.
Die Zhang twitched the corner of her mouth. "Return swords? What swords? A Liang gave them to us. If the Great Li court has the ability, let them go argue with A Liang."
Chen Sanqiu smiled. "It's fine. No need to be polite with Chen Ping'an. At worst, when Fallen Mountain holds its branch sect ceremony, Die Zhang and I will each give two gifts."
Over the years of traveling through various continents of the Haoran World, apart from practicing swordsmanship, they had made some small gains in external matters. For example, during a trip to Liuxia Continent, they accidentally entered a heavily restricted mountain-and-water secret realm and both picked up some treasures.
They had agreed that once either of them broke into the Upper Five Realms, they would establish their own sword dao sect in the Barren Wilderness World.
Die Zhang would be the sect master, and he would be the founding patriarch and head of discipline.
As for the Ascension City in the Five Colors World, there was no need to discuss it. The struggle there wasn't for a single time or place, but for the entire world's eternal legacy.
In the Haoran World, Qi Tingji had established the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. Chen Ping'an's Fallen Mountain was also a sect now.
In the Qingming World, just considering friends like Dong Huafu and Yan Ming—neither would be Dao officials forever. In the future, they would establish their own sects. Probably, like him and Die Zhang, they would partner up. "Doesn't want to earn money, Yan Fatty" and "Spends money like water, Dong Black Charcoal"—truly a perfect match.
Especially Dong Huafu, who had been a peculiar child since childhood. According to Dong San'geng, "Our Dong family has produced a remarkable genius! Why? At such a young age, he already knows how to lead A Liang around."
Indeed, Dong Huafu had always been close to A Liang, completely lacking in formality. Every time he went out, he liked to find A Liang, running along the way while casually choosing things, and finally returning the same way. Because A Liang had become his money bag, the boy would just say over and over, "A Liang, give me money."
When quarreling or fighting with peers from Tai Xiang Street and Yu Hu Street, if he could win, fine. If he couldn't, he would drop a harsh word: "Wait here. I'm going to find A Liang and have him chop you to death."
When encountering those unruly adults who teased him about his mother's infatuation with A Liang, he would say, "What are you acting tough for? Careful—I'll let A Liang loose."
Pang Yuanji from the Summer Retreat Palace seemed to have gone to the Western Buddhist Kingdom.
So the Barren Wilderness World should also have branches of Sword Qi Great Wall spreading out.
The common ancestral mountain, the earliest Patriarch's Hall for all the world's sects—it was probably this very Sword Qi Great Wall.
The road ahead was still vast and indistinct, but the future was definitely promising.
Maybe this was what Chen Ping'an meant by "No matter who a person is, they need to have a few hopes"?
Chen Sanqiu's hopes now were several. Besides establishing a sect in the Barren Wilderness World, he also wanted to go to the Five Colors World in the future and see his own ancestor.
And, of course, that girl—Dong Bude—whom he had sought but never obtained.
He Qiusheng spoke to Chen Sanqiu, "I've met Sword Immortal Chen."
He had seen Chen Sanqiu before at the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, but hadn't been able to speak with him.
Chen Sanqiu frowned. "You've mistaken me for someone else. I'm not Chen Ping'an."
The young man was caught off guard.
Looking at the displeased white-robed sword immortal, the young man's heart was uneasy.
Chen Sanqiu, as a member of the Tai Xiang Street Chen clan, had his family's ancestor being the old sword immortal Chen Xi, who had inscribed his name on the city wall just like his master. Moreover, his master had privately said that Chen Sanqiu, staying in the Haoran World, would not have a low Dao journey. If he threw himself into the Confucian school, he might even obtain a life-naming character.
But the reason He Qiusheng wanted to say a few words to Chen Sanqiu—the young man actually had a strange reason: both their names contained the character "autumn" (qiu).
Chen Sanqiu suddenly smiled. "Remember this: from now on on this city wall, don't address a Core Formation realm sword cultivator as 'sword immortal.' You might get a sack over your head and a beating."
He Qiusheng was speechless.
Wu Manyan, a straightforward girl with bright eyes, stepped in front of Die Zhang and said loudly, "I'm very happy to see Senior Die Zhang again!"
Die Zhang smiled and nodded.
Actually, when she first met the little girl in Southern Bodhisattva Continent years ago, Die Zhang had been puzzled ever since. The little girl's words and actions were not only respectful and polite, but her bright, lively eyes seemed to be filled with admiration for her.
Die Zhang had no idea what Wu Manyan admired her for. It couldn't be because she had one fewer arm than ordinary people, could it?
Wu Manyan did feel a genuine respect for Die Zhang. The reason was simple: this woman before her was the shopkeeper of a thriving wine shop.
The Great Shopkeeper!
Even the Hidden Official was just the Second Shopkeeper!
Teacher Lu had said that when it came to doing business, Chen Ping'an in his Sword Qi Great Wall days was even more formidable than when he was the Hidden Official in the Summer Retreat Palace.
In Sword Qi Great Wall, Chen Ping'an's official position couldn't have been higher. Apart from nominally still being under the command of the old sword immortal, only this Big Sister Die Zhang could have Chen Ping'an assisting her.
Not far away, five sword cultivators from Tongye Sect landed together on the city wall. The earlier inexplicable heavy snow that came and went, followed by five sword lights dragging across the sky, had made them realize that something extraordinary involving gods and immortals had occurred today at the Sword Qi Great Wall ruins.
Yu Xin had a special identity. Li Wanyong carried an ancient sword called "Chi Seal" and was the direct disciple of the previous sect master.
Du Yan, being a member of the Du clan, was having the hardest time among the five. Just over a decade of calamities—family matters, sect matters, continent matters—this young sword cultivator felt he had endured a lifetime's worth of grievances, all turned into a belly full of bitterness. As for Qin Shuihu, he had been highly accomplished in literature since childhood, with elegant and beautiful diction that shook the mountain world. He was also very famous in the mortal world, especially skilled at long rhapsodies—first narrating events, then discussing them, in proper order, with appropriate density, neither hurried nor slow. Zuo You had once "stayed as a guest" at Tongye Sect for a period, and had personally said, "Surprisingly, there is actually a decent scholar seed here."
Wang Shizi, with a respectful expression, was the first to clasp his fists and ask Wei Jin, "May I ask Sword Immortal Wei, where did this extraordinary phenomenon come from?"
Wang Shizi was the only one among the five Tongye Sect sword cultivators who had trained at Sword Qi Great Wall.
This sword cultivator, a wild cultivator from Tongye Continent, was at the Golden Core realm back then. Later, he followed Zuo You when he left Sword Qi Great Wall to go to Tongye Sect.
At Sword Qi Great Wall, Wang Shizi had been too embarrassed to mention his hometown. Both his circumstances and his temperament were somewhat similar to Yu Yue, the old sword cultivator who had now become a guest elder of Fallen Mountain.
Treasure Bottle Continent, because of the young Hidden Official and the Snow Wind Temple's Wei Jin, was not looked down upon by Sword Qi Great Wall; on the contrary, it was regarded highly. Bai'ai Continent at least had two sword immortals who had died generously, and later the female sword immortal Xie Songhua who had rendered meritorious service. But Tongye Continent? At Sword Qi Great Wall, it was truly a case of having achieved no merit whatsoever.
Wei Jin explained, "Chen Ping'an, Ning Yao, Qi Tingji, Lu Zhi, and the Jade Capital's Third Heavenly Teacher Lu Chen—five of them went together to the Barren Wilderness World to reinforce A Liang and Zuo You, who were deep in enemy territory."
Wang Shizi was dumbfounded.
Ning Yao and Qi Tingji were Ascension Realm sword cultivators.
Lu Zhi was one of the top ten peak sword immortals on the city wall. Although she was still at the Immortal Realm, her combat power could fully match an Ascension Realm sword cultivator.
And how did Lu Chen get involved?
Moreover, how did A Liang and Zuo You end up together, going deep into the Barren Wilderness World to draw their swords?
And with such a lineup led by the Hidden Official, heading south, who in the Barren Wilderness World would dare to show their face, who could stop them? Five sword cultivators and a Fourteenth Realm cultivator—who couldn't they kill?
Wang Shizi's mind was a mess, but he didn't dare to ask Wei Jin anything further.
Yu Xin hesitated for a moment, then asked with her heart voice, "Sword Immortal Wei, is Mr. Zuo alright?"
Love clouds judgment.
Wei Jin said, "If the battle situation had been settled, Chen Ping'an wouldn't have gone on this trip."
Yu Xin breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Wanyong glanced at this great sword immortal of Snow Wind Temple, who was famous throughout the world, clearly surprised. A great sword immortal with such outstanding combat power—why wasn't he accompanying them?
To say Wei Jin was afraid of death would be a joke. He had twice challenged Heavenly Lord Xie Shi of Northern Reed Continent while at the Jade Pure and Immortal Realms. That was why this was so strange.
Wei Jin was kind to Wang Shizi because, despite being a wild cultivator, Wang Shizi was willing to come to Sword Qi Great Wall. Moreover, Wang Shizi had also practiced swordsmanship beside Mr. Zuo. As for this unfamiliar one who kept staring at him appraisingly, Wei Jin warned, "Foreign sword cultivator, watch your eyes."
The sword cultivators of the world were only divided into two types: those who had drawn their swords at Sword Qi Great Wall, and those who had never been to Sword Qi Great Wall.
Cao Jun grinned. "Ahead, there were two groups of registered cultivators from the Central Earth Divine Continent. Our mountain master—oh, I mean the Hidden Official—put them in their place without any temper left. Let their lesson be a warning to you outsiders. Besides, our mountain master holds grudges. Have you heard what happened to Zhengyang Mountain? Especially you, Sword Immortal Li. I heard you had a little conflict with the Hidden Official's senior brother, Zuo You?"
Li Wanyong looked at Cao Jun. Cao Jun looked at Li Wanyong.
Actually, they could be considered two birds of a feather, suffering the same fate. But that only made them dislike each other even more.
At the Sunken Sun, those stationed there included Su Zi, Liu Qi, the Great Li's Song Changjing, and Yu Gui Sect's Sect Master Wei Ying.
In recent years, Tongye Sect had been hit by waves of troubles one after another. After the war ended, the reason it had been able to survive, teetering but not falling, was thanks to two forces: one was the Great Li Dynasty of Treasure Bottle Continent to the north, and the other was the Yu Gui Sect of the same continent. The new sect master, Wei Ying, had not kicked them while they were down, infiltrating, splitting, or devouring Tongye Sect. On the contrary, during the Middle Earth Confucian Temple deliberations, he had spoken several very weighty words in Tongye Sect's favor.
They had to be grateful for that.
Thus, the five sword cultivators of Tongye Sect had not come to this Sword Qi Great Wall as their final destination. They were actually going to the Sunken Sun at the Guixu to visit Song Changjing and Wei Ying.
Moreover, Qin Shuihu and Du Yan were fans of Su Zi and Liu Qi respectively—the kind who would be happy for years just by meeting them and exchanging a few words.
Currently, the positions of Tongye Sect's sect master and discipline patriarch were still vacant.
After discussion, the young sword cultivators had decided: whoever first and second broke through to the Jade Pure Realm would become sect master and discipline patriarch, shouldering the burden.
Only after Tongye Sect gradually recovered its vitality would they make changes. In fact, nowadays, the Patriarch's Hall of Tongye Sect consisted only of these young people.
Next, Yu Xin went to chat with Mrs. Tuo Yan. She seemed to get along well with Wu Manyan too.
Wang Shizi stayed beside Wei Jin, humbly consulting the Snow Wind Temple great sword immortal on a few sword techniques.
Qin Shuihu flew on his sword to find old Master He Shou to discuss scholarship.
Du Yan found Shao Yunyan. His family had had some negligible ties with Spring Banner Studio of Daoxuan Mountain in the old days—just some convoluted business dealings. He had heard that now Sword Immortal Shao was not only a registered cultivator of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect but had also been promoted from his original role as a guest elder of the sect to managing money. Within a hundred years, Shao Yunyan would manage all the sect's treasury matters and handle the sect's social relations. He had agreed with Qi Tingji on a hundred-year term. Shao Yunyan would only be a transitional money manager. Once the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect found a suitable candidate, Shao Yunyan would step down.
Tongye Continent had only two neighbors: Treasure Bottle Continent and Southern Bodhisattva Continent.
Wei Jin glanced at that woman, the sword cultivator named Yu Xin. She was born with a delicate, perceptive heart.
Thus, Tongye Sect still had hope of rising again. They just had to endure.
Wei Jin laid his sword across his knees and gazed south into the distance.
He wondered if A Liang, Zuo You, and this group including Chen Ping'an could all return safely.
---
At the gate of Fallen Mountain.
As the Old Temple-Viewing Master was about to leave, Cui Dongshan suddenly asked with his heart voice, "Can you calculate a rough idea?"
The Old Temple-Viewing Master nodded. "Calculating the rough process isn't hard, but the result is unpredictable."
Cui Dongshan's expression turned serious. "What's the rough idea?"
The Old Temple-Viewing Master smiled slightly. "For example, two people ascending to the Fourteenth Realm together. Or someone opening Mount Tuoyue with their sword."