Chapter 897: Twelve High Positions
Cui Dongshan was the first to walk out of that forbidden thunder pool formed by golden sword qi.
Little Mo said, "No mistakes."
Cui Dongshan nodded and smiled. "Master needs to go into seclusion for a while. We just need to wait."
The white-clad young man clasped his hands behind the back of his head. Little Mo, in his yellow hat and blue shoes, cradled a green bamboo staff in his arms.
Cui Dongshan spoke through heart communication, "Aside from the most crucial matter, Master will also slightly refine that 'Moon in the Well,' to see if it can manifest into a series of... heavenly-earth mazes. It might be the Immortal Capital Mountain outside, it might be the Summer Retreat Palace that no longer exists, or it could be the Lit Bead Cave Heaven before it fell to the homeland. The more detailed Master's understanding of 'mazes,' the closer he gets to 'truth.' So if this succeeds, Master will essentially allow this natal flying sword to master a second 'evolution' divine ability in addition to quantity. Combined with the 'Caged Sparrow' that forms its own small heaven and earth, it will be absolutely foolproof."
Little Mo was somewhat puzzled and asked, "May I ask, Sect Leader Cui, why doesn't the Young Master use Moon in the Well together with Caged Sparrow?"
Cui Dongshan laughed helplessly. "Everything is difficult at the start. Going from zero to one is always harder to conceive and achieve than going from one to ten. Besides, as I said, what Master pursues is 'truth,' not falsehood. Therefore, every person, object, and event evolved from 'Moon in the Well' is close to reality, which is already extremely difficult."
Little Mo understood immediately and nodded. "So it's truly as difficult as ascending to heaven."
Chen Ping'an's inspiration came from the Middle Earth Confucian Temple discussions, Li Baoping's hand gestures, "The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things." And later, during his sword duel with the culprit of Tuo Yue Mountain, the latter had created that Milü corridor. Chen Ping'an then, by the dry pond behind the Bamboo Tower on Fallen Mountain, recalled that Buddhist saying, "Like the lotus not touching water, like the sun and moon not dwelling in emptiness." Finally, Chen Ping'an remembered the 'Travel Pavilion' he had built himself in that prison on the Sword Qi Great Wall.
So later at the Wangxing Flower Lodge in Daquan Dynasty, he had asked Little Mo to help protect the path, and Chen Ping'an made two attempts. The first was using the numerous 'rubbings' from the heart-lake book tower to 'copy' a thousand li of mountains and rivers in the Tuo Yue Mountain territory—every flower, grass, mountain, and house, all detailed down to the finest detail. But when he tried to 'bloom the flower,' he fell short. After being reminded by Little Mo outside the house, Chen Ping'an no longer sought completeness. He only manifested the growth of a Purple Gold Lotus Seed through the Great Dao, but still voluntarily gave up when the flower was about to bloom.
Little Mo's eyes lit up, and he hesitated to speak.
Cui Dongshan seemed to guess what he was thinking and nodded. "You thought of it, and I thought of it too. So Master must have thought of it even earlier. But this move consumes too much money, and it's not any of the three kinds of immortal money, but the extremely scarce Golden Essence Copper Coins. Besides, Master has also fallen in realm. The most urgent matter is still healing and restoring his realm, so it's mostly been deliberately put on hold by Master."
"Houses and four walls are called Yu; the extent covered by boats and carriages is called Zhou."
Cui Dongshan looked up at the sky, stamped his foot on the ground, then withdrew his hand, shook his sleeves, and murmured, "Up, down, north, south, east, west are called Yu; past and present are called Zhou."
With Moon in the Well, the number of flying swords is directly linked to the level of realm. For example, when Chen Ping'an borrowed the fourteen-realm Dao method from Lu Chen and dueled the eldest disciple of Tuo Yue Mountain's Grand Ancestor, he once rallied and evolved nearly five hundred thousand flying swords. In fact, this was Chen Ping'an intentionally or unintentionally 'hiding his brilliance.' If he hadn't minded the loss of spirit and qi and had unleashed all his power with the 'Moon by the Well' or even 'Moon in the Sky' of that time—close to peak rank and perfect form—the number of flying swords could have reached a shocking eight hundred thousand.
As for the Caged Sparrow, as Cui Dongshan expected, Chen Ping'an had long pondered a possibility for a second natal divine ability, related to the River of Time.
This was also why Chen Ping'an, during his recent travels, had learned to smoke a dry pipe like Old Man Yang, even if it was uncomfortable, he still forced himself to puff clouds.
Whenever Old Man Yang discussed matters in the backyard of the pharmacy, he would smoke a dry pipe to cover up heavenly secrets. The root of his Great Dao was to confuse and disturb a river of time. Unless it was the Three Teachings Patriarchs, no one—no matter how proficient in the fourteen-realm great cultivator, such as the Old Observer of the Observation Temple—could hope to trace back along a river of time and find any clues.
But those smoke clouds from the dry pipe were actually the incense of the human world, which only gods could control. Or, to put it a step lower, like a second-rate authentic relic of calligraphy and painting, they were Golden Essence Copper Coins.
So on the Wind Kite Ferry, Chen Ping'an quietly asked Changming for a few pouches of Golden Essence Copper Coins, which would of course be on account.
In Cui Dongshan's view, once Moon in the Well could evolve heaven and earth, approaching 'truth,'
And combined with that Caged Sparrow, which could control the flow of the river of time within a small heaven and earth,
The fate of outsiders placed inside could be imagined.
Little Mo suddenly said guiltily, "If I had known this earlier, I would have agreed to Dao Companion Lingchun."
Cui Dongshan turned his head and asked with a smile, "How so?"
It turned out that the Dao-name Lingchun, the upper sect's Chief of Law Enforcement Changming, had previously on the Wind Kite Ferry wanted to get a few lost superior sword techniques for her newly accepted direct disciple, Nalan Yudie. She said Little Mo could set any price, and she would exchange pouches of Golden Essence Copper Coins.
Little Mo felt that since he was already a nominal guest elder of the upper sect, it would be embarrassing to accept money. Teaching sword techniques to Nalan Yudie was just a trivial matter. He couldn't refuse her, so he had to put his foot down and say that if money was involved, he wouldn't give the sword manual.
As a result, Chief of Law Enforcement Changming really didn't want the sword techniques anymore.
Anyway, buying sword techniques was just a broad net she was casting.
Cui Dongshan teased, "Little Mo, Little Mo, you're too honest and straightforward. You can't be so rigid in such matters. You could have asked Sister Changming for one or half a pouch of Golden Essence Copper Coins, given the sword techniques, and gained her favor—killing two birds with one stone."
Little Mo humbly accepted the advice and nodded. "I still haven't truly adapted to the local customs."
Cui Dongshan said, "I have a suggestion. At the foot of Second Mountain, the Immortal Peak, there is a Green Garment River with a Fallen Treasure Beach. I'll give it to you as a place for cultivation in the future. You can build a thatched hut there and regularly teach the Dao."
Little Mo was hesitant. "I can only say my realm is passable, but this matter of discussing the Dao is so important. My Dao conduct is truly shallow. Teaching others would only make a fool of myself. And with the Young Master and Sect Leader Cui shining ahead like pearls and jades, how dare I presume to be a teacher?"
In ancient times, regardless of a 'Daoist's' background, the two words 'transmit the Dao' carried unimaginable weight.
Cultivate the Dao, verify the Dao, attain the Dao, transmit the Dao.
Only with all four can one be considered a true 'Daoist.'
So earlier at the Taoyuan Villa, the Young Master and that Nascent Soul cultivator named Lu Ying had freely given twelve characters:
"Quietly contemplate, respect matters, warn the world; do not claim to have cultivated, cultivate to attain, attain the Dao."
It struck a chord deep in Little Mo's heart.
A cultivator needs to calmly reflect, respect all things in heaven and earth, and also remain vigilant toward this world. So one should not easily say that one has already cultivated a Great Dao.
They are still far from it.
Cui Dongshan raised both hands, made fists, and finally brought his palms together with a light clap. He laughed, "Has Master ever told you that one should neither be arrogant and look down on others, nor be self-deprecating and disregard one's own worth? Only by not going to extremes can one be a gentleman, a righteous person."
Little Mo nodded. "That makes sense."
Actually, Cui Dongshan had more to say but didn't.
The old master of this place was Tian Wan, so her senior brother Zou Zi must have walked through this cave heaven ruin. Once Master can freely walk in the river of time, he could find a chance to duel Zou Zi in the future.
Though it might not succeed, it was no longer an impossibility.
A thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers could not stop or overcome the straw sandals on Master's feet.
Little Mo said, "After we leave here, when the Wind Kite Ferry returns to Immortal Capital Mountain, I'll go find Dao Companion Lingchun and ask for a few pouches of Golden Essence Copper Coins."
Cui Dongshan nodded. "It's not easy to buy fragments of divine golden bodies these days. Don't even think about Treasure Bottle Continent. The Great Li court won't leave any loose ends. Even if someone sells, it will be at a sky-high price. Over on Parasol Leaf Continent, plus Fu Yao Continent, there might still be some chances. When the divine golden bodies of landscape gods shattered back then, not all were completely scavenged by the barbarian military camps. But you can only pick up some small scraps. After all these years of recuperation, the mountain and secular worlds have recovered. Everyone is as shrewd as a ghost."
A figure in a blue robe walked out of the thunder pool restriction.
Cui Dongshan felt conflicted. Using self-deception to deceive heaven was not the same as plugging one's ears while stealing a bell.
Someone above listened down below.
Master insisted on standing as an equal with him.
The group arrived at the foot of the mountain. Cui Dongshan introduced, "This mountain is called Red Pine Mountain. Getting our hands on it was a pleasant surprise. Actually, at the beginning, when Chief Zhou and I desperately tried to block Tian Wan from leaving Treasure Bottle Continent, we were aiming for that famous Cicada Shell Cave Heaven."
This cave heaven ruin, which had no reputation in history and was not among the thirty-six minor cave heavens, was now named by Cui Dongshan as Long Spring Cave Heaven.
Tian Wan, Cornus officinalis Peak, Zhengyang Mountain, the genius brother from Water Dragon Peak who managed intelligence...
Chen Ping'an and Cui Dongshan exchanged glances.
Cui Dongshan nodded vigorously. This was feasible.
Chen Ping'an shook his head. Such a spontaneous idea was inappropriate and unsuitable.
Cui Dongshan signaled with his eyes: Master, you should at least ask Little Mo for his opinion, right? Otherwise, it's a kind of one-man rule, doesn't suit you.
Chen Ping'an still shook his head.
Little Mo always set up barriers for members of Fallen Mountain and Immortal Capital Mountain, never probing their heartstrings, let alone the Young Master and Sect Leader Cui. So he only vaguely sensed that this matter involved him. He tentatively said, "Young Master, if there's anything difficult for you regarding Little Mo, that would be my dereliction of duty."
Cui Dongshan laughed. "It has nothing to do with Master. I wanted to give Little Mo an extra burden: take charge of Fallen Mountain's intelligence affairs. Unfortunately, Master refused."
Little Mo considered for a moment and said, "I can first assist on the sidelines. If it turns out I'm competent, I'd naturally be willing to share some of the Young Master's worries."
Chen Ping'an teased, "Little Mo, you're a peak Flying Ascension realm swordsman. Wouldn't it be beneath you to deal with intelligence dispatches every day?"
Little Mo shook his head. "Consider it reading books for free. That is the greatest pleasure in the world."
Cui Dongshan nodded vigorously. "True, true! Just like wine you don't have to pay for is the best wine in the world."
Chen Ping'an smacked Cui Dongshan on the head. "I run my own brewery. What money do I spend on wine?"
Cui Dongshan continued to introduce, "This small cave heaven isn't large—just a hundred li in radius—but the abundance of heavenly and earthly spiritual qi is not much less than the Parasol Tree Small Cave Heaven of the Parasol Leaf Sect. At most, it's twenty to thirty percent less, and that's without me pouring any immortal coins into it."
Cui Dongshan shook his snow-white sleeves, smug. "Ha, who says I don't have a long-lost, unrelated sister I've recognized?"
Chen Ping'an hesitated for a moment. "Common mortals look up at the sky, seeing it as a blue mirror. Cultivators on mountains look down at the great earth, which is also a mirror, albeit a relatively bumpy one."
One misstep, and a cultivator might see an abyss from the mountain. Then all sorts of views of self and others arise.
Cui Dongshan nodded, understanding that Master was reminding him not to toy with people's hearts.
At the foot of the mountain, there was a babbling brook. The water was tinged red, like elixir carefully refined by immortals, and its weight far exceeded ordinary water.
Back in his hometown's Lit Bead Cave Heaven, Ruan Qiong had set up his blacksmith shop and casting furnace by the river because he valued the Dragon Beard River's heavy and subdued water, suitable for sword casting.
Chen Ping'an crouched by the stream, cupping water in his hand. It had a luster like fine jade.
Cui Dongshan crouched beside him and explained, "The brook has this unusual appearance because the ancient pines on the mountain, many thousands of years old, and various immortal flowers naturally wither and revive, nourishing the water year after year, constantly consolidating the character of 'red.' It's naturally an excellent material for talismans. Later, we can trade with old man Yu or Mount Dragon Tiger. According to my estimation, taking a fixed amount of three thousand catties per year won't affect the cave heaven's Dao foundation."
However, at least within sixty years, Cui Dongshan had no intention of earning a single coin from this cave heaven. It had great uses.
In the Red Pine Mountain, rare flowers and herbs like lingzhi mushrooms, ginseng, and poria cocos had all been marked by Cui Dongshan one by one and recorded in a ledger.
During the climb, Chen Ping'an casually asked, "Is there an account book?"
Cui Dongshan said, "I have one, but Master Zhong doesn't yet. These rare flowers and plants are countless in the mountain. A hundred-year 'age' is a small threshold; there are 216 of them. After three hundred years, it's a medium threshold; there are seventy over three hundred years old. A thousand years is a major threshold, similar to a cultivator's life-and-death tribulation; sixteen have survived that. Additionally, the mountain's unique red pines total 360, which generally have longer lifespans than flowers. There are 195 that are over a thousand years old and still alive, and nineteen over three thousand years. Overall, the numbers are quite impressive."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Truly a mountain of gold and silver."
At the mountain peak, there was also a crimson celestial mansion shrouded in a sea of clouds.
Chen Ping'an walked over to a withered ancient pine that had fallen to the ground. The growth rings were extremely dense. After a cursory glance, he estimated it was over four thousand years old. He broke off a large piece of golden pine resin. It was extremely heavy. Whether used for medicine or for making ink and incense, it was excellent. Chen Ping'an looked around. This mountain truly had immortal coins everywhere. You could just pick them up while climbing.
It reminded him, for no reason, of his earlier exploration in the Northern Julu Continent, which had been far more arduous.
So the lower sect of Fallen Mountain, Immortal Capital Mountain built by Cui Dongshan, didn't lack money. The lack of people was only temporary.
No wonder Cui Dongshan, as the lower sect master, could be so assertive, and of course, he spared no effort in poaching from the upper sect.
Chen Ping'an didn't put the pine resin into his sleeve. Instead, he casually placed it back on a branch of the rotten pine.
Little Mo noticed that Cui Dongshan seemed to be eagerly waiting, full of anticipation. When he saw the Young Master put the resin back, Cui Dongshan looked a little dejected.
Chen Ping'an clapped his hands and continued climbing. He asked casually, "That Cicada Shell Cave Heaven has been missing for a long time but has never been removed from the list. It's still one of the thirty-six minor cave heavens. Is there a story behind that?"
Cui Dongshan nodded. "That Cicada Shell Cave Heaven is the most important relic in the ancient Shu region, bar none. Legend has it that several ancient sword immortals underwent cicada molting there, ascended to immortality in broad daylight, shed their immortal minds, and left behind their bodies like cicada shells. Later relics, like those of the Great River or Dragon Palaces, are nowhere comparable. Because each sword immortal's discarded body carries residual Dao charm, which might contain one or even several ancient sword paths."
Chen Ping'an asked curiously, "How did the Cicada Shell Cave Heaven disappear from Treasure Bottle Continent back then?"
Cui Dongshan laughed. "It was originally the place where Zheng Juzhong's master attained the Dao. This guy had superb swordsmanship and a stubborn temper. He was an outsider traveling across continents to Treasure Bottle Continent. But he got this greatest fortune—right inside this small cave heaven, he reached the Flying Ascension realm. Later, somehow, he incurred the wrath of many. Over a dozen native and foreign sword immortals ganged up on him. They fought fiercely, causing mountains to crack and earth to split. Casualties were heavy. Eight Upper Five Realm swordsmen and six Nascent Soul swordsmen—fourteen in total—none escaped. He killed them all. Because it was a dispute among swordsmen, they had signed a life-and-death pact before the duel, and the battlefield was inside the Cicada Shell Cave Heaven, so no innocent people were harmed in the secular world. The Middle Earth Confucian Temple didn't interfere much."
Little Mo praised endlessly. No wonder he later became the Dragon Slayer.
Even without talking about swordsmanship, just the temper was to his liking.
Chen Ping'an said, "The sword Dao fortune of Treasure Bottle Continent started to decline from that time, right?"
Cui Dongshan nodded. "Most of the fallen sword immortals were native to Treasure Bottle Continent. It was like a prestigious family that had its assets confiscated overnight. The situation turned sharply for the worse. The family declined. For three thousand years, it remained prostrate. Later, Tian Wan and Bai Shang secretly conspired and interfered, so it wasn't until you and your group rose that things recovered a bit."
"The aftermath of that sword duel was enormous for Treasure Bottle Continent. Not only did all those sword immortals perish inside the Cicada Shell Cave Heaven, but many sword Dao families lost their lineage and incense. All the sword Dao fortune carried by those swordsmen was sealed inside the Cicada Shell Cave Heaven. There was an even more troublesome matter: it was as if the entire sword Dao of Treasure Bottle Continent had been completely suppressed by an outsider swordsman."
Cui Dongshan finally grinned. "After all, he was Zheng Juzhong's Dao teacher. He had some weight."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Why hasn't a single mountain spirit that opens its wisdom and takes form appeared in the Red Pine Mountain so far?"
Cui Dongshan sighed. "The old master of this place was definitely a great ancient immortal with vast divine powers. He was probably a true recluse, pure-hearted, with few desires, naturally disliking commotion. So he used a truly 'mountain-sealing' method. Even after several thousand years, the plants and trees in the mountain wouldn't open their wisdom. Even after he left, he didn't remove the mountain confinement restriction."
Chen Ping'an couldn't help but exclaim, "What an extraordinary person!"
According to Tian Wan's claim at the time, the Cicada Shell Cave Heaven was not on her.
She wasn't lying. To be precise, she didn't know where it was herself.
It used a more sophisticated mountain-sealing restriction than that of the Great Li Empress Dowager Nan Zan, and it must have been the work of Tian Wan's senior brother Zou Zi. When Cui Dongshan had 'scoured the mountain' and inspected earlier, looking for the mountain gate in Tian Wan's soul, he had almost fallen for it and capsized in a ditch.
Now, Tian Wan only had a 'key' to open the mountain. She speculated that her senior brother had taken it to the Lit Bead Cave Heaven. But no matter how much Cui Dongshan later divined and deduced, he couldn't find any clues.
Near the summit, Cui Dongshan quietly suggested, "Master, before you go to the Azure Verdant Heaven, you can quietly cultivate the Dao here."
Master could peacefully study swordsmanship and cultivate the Great Dao in this mountain, fusing all his life's learning and miscellaneous arts into one furnace, finally attaining the Dao and ascending.
At the same time, this meant Master could stay in the lower sect for a long time.
As for the upper sect Fallen Mountain, Master was already used to being a hands-off manager. Besides, Old Chef handled affairs, you had the deep-pocketed Chief Zhou, and the Flying Ascension realm swordsman Little Mo as a nominal guest elder, and a Flying Ascension realm outer celestial demon as a miscellaneous disciple... And you still want to steal Master from me?
Chen Ping'an declined this matter and instead suggested, "Forget about me. Let the three children, Chai Wu, Bai Xuan, and Sun Chunwang, come here to cultivate."
By now, Chai Wu had successfully refined the 'Ember' that Little Mo had given her into her natal object, barely qualifying as a swordsman.
Chen Ping'an had been somewhat worried earlier. During his southern tour, at the Wild Cloud Ferry of Spirit Wall Mountain, he had sent a flying sword letter to Immortal Capital Mountain. Besides sending Cui Dongshan a map of the terrain along the route that he had seen and drawn himself, the letter also specifically inquired about Chai Wu's sword-forging matters. When he received the reply, it said the little girl's sword-forging was going very smoothly.
In ordinary mountain sects, even large ones, how to treat a small group of direct disciples whose cultivation aptitude deserved the word 'stunning' was always a considerable challenge.
Either they easily developed arrogant habits, or they were too rigid, only knowing cultivation and completely ignorant of worldly affairs.
For example, Ma Linshi of White Dragon Cave, as the direct disciple of Cave Lord Xu Qingzhu, had a high seniority, good talent, and was the immortal offspring of a Dao couple, being showered with affection.
Until now, Fallen Mountain in this regard could be said to have 'broken new ground,' very different from the common situation on the mountains. The family style was unique.
This family style wasn't achieved by Chen Ping'an alone. At most, he had learned from Ruan Qiong and True Dragon Venerable, almost copying some unwritten rules of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect and the Paralyzing Peak.
Among the third-generation disciples of Fallen Mountain, Chai Wu, Sun Chunwang, and Bai Xuan.
These three children undoubtedly had the best cultivation aptitude. Chen Ping'an and Fallen Mountain naturally wouldn't deliberately pursue a so-called 'even treatment.'
Cui Dongshan laughed. "The vast-sea little girl and the dead-fish-eyed little girl have such good talent that I will definitely keep them by my side and meticulously teach them the Dao. But since they already have clear teachers now, I can only add a little icing on the cake. At most, I can pass down a few side-door Dao methods and teach some swordsmanship."
"For example, that Chai Wu. I'll strive neither to force growth nor waste her cultivation talent. See if I can help her... leap straight to heaven, directly from the Willow Tendon realm to the Jade Pu realm." Based on current observations, there is some certainty. Of course, luck is still needed. So Master, you can have some expectations."
Chen Ping'an, upon hearing this, had to take out a flask of wine to calm himself with a drink.
But he wouldn't mind drinking such 'calming wine' a few more times.
Liu Qi, Zhou Mi.
And that female cultivator on the Azure Verdant Heaven who ranked among the top ten young candidates.
And one of Li Liu's reincarnations had also jumped directly from the Willow Tendon realm to the Upper Five Realm.
Even if some were missing, they were still an undeniable handful. Calling it a once-in-a-millennium event in a whole world wasn't an exaggeration.
Cui Dongshan said seriously, "For Chai Wu and the other two, whether they come here to cultivate or not doesn't make much difference. Even if they come, there's no rush. So I still insist on my earlier suggestion. I hope Master can cultivate alone here."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "So I can go into seclusion here and monopolize this 'one'?"
One sealed-off small cave heaven could just support one cultivator in reaching the Flying Ascension realm.
Little Mo suddenly realized why Cui Dongshan had been eagerly waiting for the Young Master to pick up that unremarkable piece of pine resin.
Cui Dongshan looked a bit disgruntled but didn't deny it.
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and said, "When I travel the Middle Earth Divine Continent with Liu Jinglong and return here, I'll give you a definite answer. If I really need to go into seclusion by then, you must agree to one condition."
Cui Dongshan understood and nodded. "Your student will first resign as the lower sect master, then accompany you on your journey to the Azure Verdant Heaven."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "The former doesn't matter. You can discuss it with Cao Qinglang. But the latter must be kept; no breaking the promise."
They reached the summit. Clouds and mist swirled around them. Cui Dongshan snapped his fingers, and instantly the mist cleared. The view opened up. A vermilion gate slowly opened. Behind the gate, there was a screen wall that turned out to be a huge stone stele. Chen Ping'an stepped over the threshold and looked up at the ancient script, which roughly explained the origin of this mountain. However, the content was obscure and unclear. To put it simply, he recognized all the characters, but didn't understand most of the meaning.
"Dao Mountain Crimson Mansion, Immortal City ten thousand li locks Chan Juan... Racing on the Great Dao, arrowheads are first, jade and stone perish together. Spiritual nature follows the body to decay, drink resentment in the Yellow Springs... Melt arrowheads and cast golden bodies, how can this be belittling the world and the human realm..."
After bypassing the stele, there was an empty hall. Twelve statues of golden bodies stood inside, but their faces were all blurred.
Little Mo spoke up, "These are the twelve high-ranking gods who once stood high in the heavens."
Chen Ping'an felt a resonance. He hesitated for a moment, then took out the narrow saber 'Execution.' He held it with both hands, the tip touching the ground. Instantly, the mist on one of the statues dissipated, revealing its true face. It slowly opened its eyes, as if gazing back at Chen Ping'an.
This narrow saber, which Chen Ping'an held in his palm, came from the subordinate of one of the five supremes of old, the Sword Bearer, and had been named 'Executioner' by later generations.
Cui Dongshan suddenly said, "Little Mo, let's withdraw."
Little Mo nodded. Following the white-clad youth, they backtracked. When they stood outside the gate again, it slammed shut.
Besides this 'Executioner,' who slumbered near the Sword Qi Great Wall,
There was also the high-ranking god 'One-Eyed,' who had hibernated for ten thousand years in the Five Colors Heaven before being slain by Ning Yao's sword. His divine duty in ancient times belonged to the Armor Bearer, responsible for the alternation of day and night. This statue also stood in the hall.
The high-ranking god that appeared from beyond the sky on Parasol Leaf Continent had once walked across the mountains and rivers, crossed the sea to the Old Dragon City of Treasure Bottle Continent. But he was blocked from landing by Chen Ping'an's two senior brothers. His name was 'Resounder.'
The male Earth Immortal Ancestor, Old Man Yang from the backyard of the pharmacy, was the Green Youth Heavenly Lord.
The female Earth Immortal Ancestor, also of human cultivator origin, was the co-master of the Heavenly Moon in the ancient Heavenly Court.
They each controlled a Flying Ascension Platform that guided earthly immortals to ascend and become gods.
Both of these two always showed goodwill to the earthly world, their homeland.
They belonged to the same generation of cultivators as the earliest master of the Dao hairpin from Immortal Hairpin City and the Old Observer, who had been the cave master of the Fallen Treasure Cave in the early years.
Little Mo had cultivated slightly later than these few, with a slightly younger Dao age.
'The Sleeper-Awaker' was the master of dreams. For all sentient beings outside the gods, especially cultivators who had begun the climb, it was easy to fall into inverted dreams and then give birth to heart demons.
'The Speechless One' had a 'silence' divine ability, also known as 'Heart-Voice.' The heart-voice speech of cultivators and the sound condensation of pure martial artists were said to originate from this.
'The Replicator' created countless imitation suns, moons, and mountain river secret realms, so also called 'Imaginer' or 'Forger.'
The master of the Thunder Department various offices.
'The Arranger' was under the Fire God, responsible for the placement of all divine corpses.
'The Settler' was under the Water God, governing the orderly flow of the river of time.
Finally, there was one high-ranking god that had no records in the Middle Earth Confucian Temple, the Western Buddhist Kingdom, the White Jade Capital of the Azure Verdant Heaven, or the Summer Retreat Palace of the Sword Qi Great Wall. No name was used, as if a distant reverence.
The Five Supremes of ancient times.
The Heavenly Court Co-Master, the Sword Bearer, the Armor Bearer, the Fire God, the Water God.
Then came the twelve high-rankings.
Besides that unique 'Unnamed,' there were Executioner, One-Eyed, Sleeper-Awaker, Heart-Voice, Replicator, Resounder, Master of the Thunder Department, Arranger, Settler, plus the male and female Earth Immortal Ancestors.
Furthermore.
Feng Yi, one of the ancient Wind Gods.
The Rain Master, that kiln worker from the hometown.
As for the old coachman in the Great Li capital, his divine rank was slightly lower, similar to the difference between a Six Ministry Vice Minister and a Director. But although the latter's 'official status' was slightly lower, his divine duty was prominent and his authority was immense. Because the old coachman was one of the chief official gods of the Thunder Department in the old Heavenly Court.
Chen Ping'an twice took out three incense sticks from his sleeve and offered them to the two statues.
One of them had great merit for all sentient beings in heaven and earth. The other had great kindness to Chen Ping'an himself.
As the old saying goes, suffering is a blessing, which teaches people to be good.
But suffering is just suffering; the more you suffer, the more bitter it gets.
Some unspeakable suffering, when a person finally endures it, they should silently bear it themselves. Don't speak lightly to others who are still suffering. That would be making trouble.
He walked out of the hall, bypassed the stele, and opened the gate.
His eyes were bright and clear, his vision wide. The sky was clear and the earth bright.
This year on Parasol Leaf Continent, around the Minor Snow season, there had been several goose-feather snowfalls. It was abnormally cold. Every mountain celestial mansion had snow covering the mountains when they opened their doors. Everywhere in the human world, heavy snow bent the branches, and the sound of breaking jade rose and fell. Unexpectedly, when the Major Snow season actually arrived, it only sprinkled a half-hearted mix of rain and snow.
On Immortal Capital Mountain, the Green Duckweed and Immortal Peaks stood side by side. The Green Duckweed Peak, as the ancestral and main peak, had the Fuyao Flat at its summit, which was also the site of the lower sect's ancestral hall.
As for the second peak, Immortal Peak, at its foot was the Green Garment River with the Fallen Treasure Beach on its bank. It had no origin connection with the Old Observer's Blue Cave Fallen Treasure Beach. Cui Dongshan just took it to seek a good omen, hoping that in the future, lower sect cultivators, whether entering the mountain to seek immortals or descending to train, would have treasures and opportunities falling like rain, all landing safely in their pockets. The Sweeping Flower Platform at the top of this peak had already been taken a fancy to by Sui Youbian. She opened it up as a place for cultivation.
Additionally, Immortal Capital Mountain had a slightly lower branch peak that jutted out sideways. Cui Dongshan named it Secret Snow Peak. The cliff faces were largely exposed, all jade white, and fifty or sixty mansions would be built along the mountain.
At present, only one residence had a bit of a celestial mansion look. It was specially prepared by Cui Dongshan for his Master. No one else had such treatment.
Cao Qinglang and Pei Qian benefited from it, respectively living in the east and west wing rooms.
Early one morning, Chen Ping'an withdrew a wisp of his mind from his small personal heaven and earth. As he got out of bed and was about to put on his cloth shoes, he glanced at the drizzly weather outside the window and changed into a pair of boots instead.
After leaving the house, he found Pei Qian sitting under the eaves watching the rain. When she saw her master appear, she said that Cao Qinglang and Mr. Little Mo had gone to help Little Senior Brother.
As for Pei Qian herself, she naturally had to stay here to take care of her master's daily needs. She first asked if Master wanted breakfast. Chen Ping'an nodded. Pei Qian told Master to wait a moment, went to the kitchen, busied herself for a short while, and soon brought food to the table.
Chen Ping'an sat at the table with his hands tucked in his sleeves, squinting with a smile.
On the table were a bowl of warm millet porridge, two dishes of pickled vegetables, and even a steamer of crab roe soup dumplings?
Chen Ping'an picked up his chopsticks, drank the porridge and ate the vegetables, then picked up a crab roe soup dumpling. He nodded with a smile. "Good skill. Warms the stomach and nourishes the body. In the future..."
He had meant to say that in the future, whoever married Pei Qian would be lucky. But when such matters came to mind, that conflicted mentality of being both a teacher and a father started acting up again, so he stopped.
He had finally raised his daughter. Why should she be like water poured out once married? What kind of nonsense logic was that in the world?
But if Pei Qian really met someone she liked in the future, then getting married was fine. But that boy had better not expect to see a good face from him. Not getting hit with a sack over his head would already be lucky.
Pei Qian noticed her master's shifting expression. This was a rare sight. She couldn't help asking, "Master, something on your mind?"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Nothing."
But after holding it in for a long time, Chen Ping'an still cautiously, using a casual tone, seemingly nonchalantly asked, "Back then, when I wasn't by your side and you traveled alone so far, did you meet any particularly outstanding peers or young talents on the mountains?"
Pei Qian thought for a moment and nodded. "I saw some. Pretty capable."
Chen Ping'an smiled broadly. "Anyone who left the deepest impression? What's his name?"
After his travels in the Middle Earth Divine Continent, Master would have to meet him.
Pei Qian's expression turned strange. She finally began to sense something wrong. "Master, what are you up to?"
Chen Ping'an said seriously, "Just chatting."
Pei Qian complained, "Master, don't think too much. I don't have any of that romantic entanglements written in books. Just practicing martial arts and boxing is enough."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "At a strange mountain peak, I saw two pairs of teacher and disciple."
Pei Qian was bewildered.
Chen Ping'an teased. "Among them was a little charcoal stick, dazed after seeing her master. A flick on the forehead, and she hugged her head and howled."
Pei Qian grinned.
On Parasol Leaf Continent, as the current 'strongest' in the world who had entered the Tenth Realm martial artist, Chen Ping'an found that the martial fortune bestowed was less than expected. But he quickly knew the answer. It turned out the martial fortune had been invisibly split in two, then forcibly dragged to a strange heaven and earth. At that extremely bizarre mountain peak stood eleven people.
In a great heaven and earth, martial fortune was thick as water. Eleven pure martial artists formed a circle, so there was no distinction of rank. They were all 'the strongest martial artist of a certain realm with no precedent in ten thousand years.'
Among them were two pairs of teacher and disciple.
The Great Duan Dynasty of Middle Earth: Pei Bei, Cao Ci.
Treasure Bottle Continent, Fallen Mountain: Chen Ping'an, Pei Qian.
And that fellow Cao Ci alone occupied four positions on the peak.
Chen Ping'an used to worry that practicing boxing was too bitter, and the childhood Pei Qian, who hated pain the most, might give up halfway.
Now he worried that Pei Qian's hard training would feel unworthy. Because martial practice is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you retreat. Relying on a mouthful of pure true qi, like a cavalry patrol guarding the mountains and rivers. Unlike cultivators, who after refining natal objects, open up mansions everywhere, like building cities, occupying strategic passes, and having a thorough understanding of their own territory. Then methodically absorb the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, either chiseling mountains or filling lakes, constantly replenishing their assets.
Chen Ping'an finished breakfast, put down his chopsticks, and suddenly asked, "Pei Qian, Master asks you, what is the purpose of reaching the peak of martial arts?"
He pushed the bamboo steamer on the table toward Pei Qian and smiled. "No need to answer immediately. Finish eating first."
Pei Qian picked up the last crab roe soup dumpling and said indistinctly, "Besides Master, no one in front of me."
"Not enough."
Chen Ping'an shook his head and laughed. "Answer again."
Pei Qian looked surprised. "Huh?"
She quickly swallowed the soup dumpling and wiped her mouth. That wasn't enough?
Seeing Master still waiting for an answer, Pei Qian had to steel herself and said softly, "Only one realm lower than Master?"
Chen Ping'an glared.
Pei Qian scratched her cheek. "Then I'll be bold and be the same realm as Master?"
Chen Ping'an laughed angrily. He tapped the table lightly with two fingers, like flicking her forehead. "Be serious!"
Pei Qian felt troubled. What more did Master want her to be serious about?
Chen Ping'an thought of a different way. Suddenly his expression became grave, and he spoke through heart communication. "Pei Qian, after receiving so many 'strongest' titles, haven't you encountered any strange people or strange things?"
The key was that Pei Qian had also been at that mountain peak. She had a seat.
Pei Qian began to search her memory. Then she recalled something and nodded. "Master, sort of. When I was little, I seemed to have a dream. I saw a strange person I can't remember clearly. He took me... not up the mountain, but down. He asked me why I learned boxing. I was young and didn't know better, so I honestly answered what was on my mind."
Obviously, she was starting to lay the groundwork.
At that time, she was young and naive, prone to nonsense. Master shouldn't take it seriously. Don't settle the score later.
Chen Ping'an waited for the rest.
Pei Qian grew more uneasy but didn't dare hide anything. She told Master the whole process in detail.
It turned out that Pei Qian thought she was dreaming, so what was she afraid of? She absentmindedly said she learned a hammer of boxing, and as Master's senior disciple, she just learned something good from him. Otherwise, boxing was so miserable, why bother? The little charcoal, while descending the mountain, hopped and jumped, imitating the blustering of the big white goose, and threw punches at the extremely tall person beside her, asking if he was afraid, if he was afraid.
Hearing this, Chen Ping'an couldn't help rubbing his brow.
Not surprising. It was exactly the kind of thing Little Charcoal would say and do.
Then Pei Qian's next sentence made Chen Ping'an laugh angrily. He had to take a deep breath.
"Not afraid, huh? Then you wait. When my master comes, you better kneel and kowtow. Believe it or not?"
Chen Ping'an maintained a smile and curled his finger. "Come here. Master has taken in such a senior disciple. What a blessing."
Come on. Not enough to eat? Flicks on the forehead are plentiful.
Pei Qian smiled awkwardly, said she would clear the dishes, and slipped away.
In the rainy and snowy weather, Chen Ping'an walked alone with an umbrella, following a winding mountain path to Cui Dongshan's humble thatched hut to discuss the list of guests for the ceremony.
Unfortunately, there were no cliff carvings yet. Actually, if the lower sect was willing to be shameless and let Zhu Lian forge them, they could pass as genuine. Maybe in a few days, countless famous cliff inscriptions would appear. Of course, Cui Dongshan could do it himself.
Wearing a blue robe, he gently spun the umbrella handle in the drizzling rain.
Since a specific date had been set, the founding ceremony of the lower sect would be on the day of the Beginning of Spring next year. So the upper sect Fallen Mountain and a newly built sword room on Immortal Capital Mountain began to get busy, sending flying sword letters to invite various guest observers.
However, compared to the ceremony when Fallen Mountain was founded, there would be fewer guests. Even on Fallen Mountain, not everyone would come.
For instance, on Chen Ping'an's side, he only invited Liu Jinglong, Zhong Kui, and Huang Ting, who practically belonged to two sects at once.
In the Five Colors Heaven now, even a Golden Core cultivator could establish a sect. The Middle Earth Confucian Temple wouldn't interfere anymore.
There were also Lu Yong of Green Tiger Palace, Ye Yunyun of Pu Mountain Thatched Cottage, Willow Soft the River Goddess of the Buried River in the Blue Wandering Palace of Daquan Dynasty, and a pair of landscape god Dao partners: Mountain God Zheng Su of Golden Jade Palace and Lake Lord Liu Yourong of Pine Needle Lake.
Whether in number of attendees or ceremony scale, it might not match a Golden Core peak-opening ceremony.
Arriving at the thatched hut, Chen Ping'an closed his oil-paper umbrella, leaned it against the wall outside, and stepped inside. There was a large desk piled with manuscripts and blueprints hand-drawn by Cui Dongshan.
Cui Dongshan put down his brush, stepped back, and bowed to his Master across the desk. Chen Ping'an waved his hand, telling him to continue with his work. He sat on a long bench and casually picked up a manuscript for an earth and wood construction project that still smelled of ink.
The stationery on the desk was very humble. A homemade green bamboo holder held a bundle of Daquan Dynasty rooster-feather brushes. The rest, including the ripe xuan paper and pine soot ink, were purchased from the marketplace.
Chen Ping'an put down the drawing and looked up. "Although you borrowed one hundred Grain Rain Coins from Lin Shou, there is still a surplus of many immortal coins in the Fallen Mountain treasury. Five or six hundred Grain Rain Coins should be no problem. Are you sure you don't want any?"
Since all the products from that Long Spring Cave Heaven couldn't be cashed in for immortal coins temporarily, it had to be calculated separately.
On Fallen Mountain's side, the trading route with the Haisu Patch Sect and the Spring Dew Garden in the Northern Julu Continent covered the heavenly materials and earthly treasures of the entire southeastern coastal area of that continent. Later, Cloud City and the Great Yuan Dynasty, and Floating Sword Lake were added, allowing Fallen Mountain to enjoy abundant wealth in recent years.
Cui Dongshan shook his head and laughed. "Master, really no need to spend extra money."
Chen Ping'an nodded and listed the guests he had invited. Cui Dongshan said helplessly, "Master doesn't handle lower sect affairs, but you're still my Master and the upper sect master. What's there to discuss about such small matters?"
Chen Ping'an noticed a private seal on the desk. He picked it up. The edge had quite a few inscriptions.
"Cold season, ponds dry up, lotus leaves are spent, withered branches slanting, no longer having the appearance of canopies that lift up the rain; therefore, the wandering fish have scattered..."
Chen Ping'an gently placed the seal back in its original position, knowing that Cui Dongshan was referring to the upheaval in the Lit Bead Cave Heaven back then.
The bottom bore the eight-character vermilion intaglio seal script like celestial script: "Heavenly Sutra and Earthly Truth, Explaining Characters and Words."
Cui Dongshan laughed. "Back when I was a guest at the Nan Yue Lord's Mountain in Caizhi Mountain, I had nothing to do with Pure Green of the Bamboo Sea Cave Heaven. We had some gripes, and, learning from Master, I engraved it, since bad memory isn't as good as rotten pen. If Master likes it, you can take it. It can serve as a book collecting seal."
Chen Ping'an declined. He asked, "Do you need help moving the remaining two mountains?"
Cui Dongshan said, "No need. Compared to this Immortal Capital Mountain, those two auxiliary peaks are much lighter. Two trips, if quick, would take at most a month and a half."
Chen Ping'an roughly described the Pu Mountain journey.
Cui Dongshan said, "Actually, to be safe, Yellow Garment Yun should have given that immortal painting to the Middle Earth Confucian Temple. Keeping it at Pu Mountain all along might be a considerable hidden danger. For example... forget it, no 'for example' about it."
Cui Dongshan was afraid of jinxing it with his words. If he was right, it would be a calamity for Pu Mountain no less than the one that befell Taiping Mountain back then. For instance, an immortal painting that was actually a layered formation. If, at some point, a mastermind activated the restriction from afar using the formation hub, causing an instant explosion, it would be equivalent to a Celestial Immortal cultivator self-destructing their golden core, Nascent Soul, flesh, and soul. The power and lethality would be roughly equivalent to a full-strength sword strike from a Flying Ascension realm swordsman. If half of Pu Mountain was left, they would be lucky.
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Ye Yunyun understands the gravity. She was easy to negotiate. So the authentic immortal painting has actually been quietly tucked into Little Mo's sleeve. He's keeping it for Pu Mountain for a few days. In Pu Mountain's secret vault, there's just a fake. Ye Yunyun didn't even tell Xue Huai. Now we'll see if we can catch a big fish."
Cui Dongshan nodded. "Xue Huai might only be the first layer of smoke screen. Pu Mountain, if not careful, might have hidden hands."
Given Zhou Mi's style, since his long-term scheme at Pu Mountain had already failed, he wouldn't show any mercy.
Chen Ping'an said, "For example, Ye Yunyun's elder brother. After the war ended, he's been running around outside all these years, never staying at the Yuncao Thatched Cottage."
Like this time, Chen Ping'an visited Pu Mountain's Yuncao Thatched Cottage but didn't meet him.
To speculate about others with the worst malice and to be willing to give others the greatest kindness only seem contradictory; actually, they don't conflict.
Then, hearing about the journey along the Chi Lin River, Cui Dongshan's eyes lit up with curiosity. "It was actually a Marriage Shop?"
Clearly, Cui Dongshan had heard of Marriage Shops, maybe never seen one. He rubbed his hands. "Master, that old woman and the girl who ran the tea booth by the Chi Lin River—would they be willing to become guest elders of our Immortal Capital Mountain? Not even formal, just guest elders? Named or unnamed, it's up to them."
Chen Ping'an laughed angrily. "Now you call me 'Master' and say 'our'?"
The old True Man Liang Shuang, now an outer-surname Grand Heavenly Master of Mount Dragon Tiger, could remove that talisman without any problem.
After the old woman regained her freedom, what would the master and disciple, including the girl who liked to play matchmaker, do next? Chen Ping'an didn't ask then.
Chen Ping'an said, "If you sincerely want to try recruiting them, you can send a flying sword letter to Pu Mountain and ask Ye Yunyun or Xue Huai to help ask."
Cui Dongshan chuckled. "Just waiting for Master to say that!"
Chen Ping'an gave a dry laugh.
Cui Dongshan dry laughed back.
Among the nine sword immortal seedlings Chen Ping'an brought back from the Sword Qi Great Wall, Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting had already gone elsewhere with Yu Yan. The remaining seven children: Cheng Zhaolu was now practicing swords at the Sweeping Flower Platform under Sui Youbian; Yu Xiefan reluctantly accepted the law-enforcing Cui Wei as his master; He Gu's master was Sword Immortal Mi Yu, who was about to become the lower sect's chief guest elder; plus Nalan Yudie from the Wind Kite Ferry—that made four recruited by the lower sect.
If you added Sun Chunwang, it would be five.
Only Bai Xuan and Yao Xiaoyan remained at Fallen Mountain and the Sword Worship Platform.
Bai Xuan was afraid of the big white goose, but that was only a small part of the reason.
Yao Xiaoyan hit it off with her new master, who was the same height as her.
However, since the Green Duckweed Sword Sect was a sword dao sect, Chen Ping'an had to accept his student Cui Dongshan's poaching.
But in the end, Cui Dongshan, as the lower sect master, had gone to extremes. He even tried to poach Chen Ping'an himself for the lower sect. After all, once he chose to go into seclusion in the Long Spring Cave Heaven to break through realms, whether from the Jade Pu bottleneck to Celestial Immortal or higher, it wouldn't be a matter of months, but years or even longer.
Chen Ping'an said, "I'm hesitating whether to invite Li Fugu of the True Realm Sect."
After all, this female Nascent Soul cultivator was still a guest elder of Fallen Mountain.
As for the true realm sect's master Liu Laocheng and chief guest elder Liu Zhimao, forget it.
Apart from that bracelet of three colors—fortune, prosperity, and longevity—that he had taken a fancy to, Chen Ping'an shamelessly asked Little Mo for a Daoist robe. He planned to send both items to Zhou Caizhen of the True Realm Sect in Treasure Bottle Continent.
Cui Dongshan shook his head. "It won't make much difference. The lower sect might as well save a robe."
Chen Ping'an asked, "What do you mean?"
Cui Dongshan suppressed a smile and said, "Master, Little Mo and I have agreed that before the lower sect's founding ceremony, he'll give me some robes. I'll try to make sure that the lower sect's ancestral hall members, direct disciples, guest elders, and guest elders—since there aren't many—each get one. As for the guests coming to Green Duckweed Peak for the ceremony, they're out of luck. It's hard for the lower sect to favor some over others, which would hurt feelings. So we'll just give none."
Chen Ping'an sighed helplessly. "That Little Mo!"
Just accompanying him on his first visit to Cloud Cover Mountain, Little Mo had directly given away two treasures of semi-immortal-soldier rank, and given them exceptionally fittingly. Those two small, cute-looking weapons were extremely useful, especially in the hands of a Five Peaks Mountain Lord. A green jade axe could be used to 'open mountains,' and a yellow jade battle-axe could be used to 'suppress water fortune.'
Now Lord Wei Mountain was probably laughing in his dreams.
Wei Bo must be counting the days until Little Mo visits the Northern March Mountain again.
Cui Dongshan called out, "Master."
Chen Ping'an was puzzled. "Hmm?"
Cui Dongshan grinned brightly. "Although Master doesn't carry a sword now..."
Chen Ping'an cut him off decisively. "Stop!"
Cui Dongshan still said, "Sweeping mountains and rivers, sword qi fills the autumn sky."
Chen Ping'an stood up and muttered, "This unhealthy trend on Fallen Mountain was started by you."
Cui Dongshan looked aggrieved. "Master, after thinking it over, I've finally determined who the greatest contributor to Fallen Mountain's atmosphere is."
Chen Ping'an was curious. "Who?"
Cui Dongshan lowered his voice. "It's Little Baoping!"
Chen Ping'an was stunned for a moment. He sat back down and rubbed his chin. But soon he scolded Cui Dongshan with a smile, "Don't try to frame Baoping here. You need a slap."
Cui Dongshan rubbed his forehead and smiled bitterly.
If little junior sister Guo Zhujiu might be Pei Qian's only headache, and Pei Qian was many people's headache,
Then for Cui Dongshan, it was naturally that little girl in the red cotton-padded jacket from back then.
But not many people knew about it.
Cui Dongshan said, "Master, if you have business, go ahead."
Chen Ping'an, however, just turned around and continued sitting. He looked at the drizzling rain outside the door and said softly, "Not busy."
On Immortal Capital Mountain, at the top of the branch peak Immortal Peak, the Sweeping Flower Platform.
Sui Youbian had finished teaching swordsmanship and boxing to her disciple Cheng Zhaolu and went to admire the scenery at the Fallen Treasure Beach by the Green Garment River at the foot of the mountain.
Yu Xiefan, during a break from sword practice, came here to unwind. Halfway, the rain stopped, so he held the closed oil-paper umbrella and swung it like a sword.
The masters of these two sword immortal seedlings were both Nascent Soul realm swordsmen, though now one was an official and the other not.
Yu Xiefan placed the oil-paper umbrella on the railing at the cliff's edge, then hopped and sat on the railing, watching the little cook practice boxing and stance. It looked quite impressive.
When Cheng Zhaolu finished his practice and came over to Yu Xiefan, the little cook hesitated for a long time but didn't dare speak.
Yu Xiefan crossed his arms and swung his legs. "Spit it out if you have something to say."
Cheng Zhaolu whispered, "Take a break. Although I don't like Cui Wei much either, but..."
Before he could finish, Yu Xiefan was a bit unhappy and interrupted. "Cui Wei is at least the law-enforcing officer of the lower sect. That guy has a narrow mind. Watch your mouth."
What right did you, a little cook still in the lower fifth realm, have to dislike Cui Wei?
"Take a break" was the nickname Bai Xuan had given Yu Xiefan. Others had nicknames too: Cheng Zhaolu was "Little Cook," Nalan Yudie was "Little Abacus." At least it was better than Sun Chunwang's "Dead Fish Eye." "Better than nothing," as they say, so Yu Xiefan and the others just accepted it.
Of course, Bai Xuan also self-titled "Little Hidden Officer," but nobody acknowledged it. It seemed that the last time he met the "Little Hidden Officer" Chen Li, Bai Xuan had been shut down.
Cheng Zhaolu habitually rubbed his chubby face. "Ha!"
Among the nine children who had traveled far from home, the little fatso had the best temper.
But last time in the Cloud Grotto Blessed Land, when Cheng Zhaolu had his first fist fight with someone, he won cleanly and decisively. Although it was a Dragon Gate realm cultivator, and the big white goose had secretly interfered, it had still earned the children's admiration. They didn't say it, but they all had a scale in their hearts. Even Cui Dongshan had been slightly surprised. He hadn't expected that this seemingly mild-mannered kid had a small explosive temper. Once he acted, he didn't hesitate.
After all, born in a place like the Sword Qi Great Wall, being able to fight and willing to fight was more important than his family name.
For the high-born children of the Grand Elephant Street and Jade Tablet Street, if they weren't sword cultivators, it was fine. But if they were, and their sword strikes were soft on the battlefield, earning no real battle merit, they would be the most despised.
Cheng Zhaolu cautiously said, "Take a break, but anyway, I've noticed that the Hidden Officer doesn't look down on your master at all. No, he looks up to him! Why, I don't understand, but that's how it is."
Yu Xiefan imitated the Hidden Officer's habit of tucking his hands in his sleeves and nodded sternly. The little cook had finally said something decent.
If he looked down on him, why would Cui Wei have settled as a guest elder on Fallen Mountain? And his rank wasn't low. Now he was even the law-enforcing officer of the lower sect.
If he didn't look up to him, could he sit at the same table with the Hidden Officer and the big white goose and drink? He had seen it clearly. When it came to toasts the Hidden Officer initiated, Cui Wei ranked second.
Cheng Zhaolu said, "I wonder where Yu Qingzhang and He Shugui are now."
Yu Xiefan snorted disdainfully. "Those two ungrateful bastards. I don't care where they are."
Cheng Zhaolu whispered, "Is it 'people have different aspirations'?"
Yu Xiefan scoffed and refused to comment.
Yu Xiefan glanced into the distance. That Sui Youbian, who never smiled at anyone, had already walked very far away. He lowered his voice and asked, "Little cook, tell me the truth."
"What?"
"Your master and our Hidden Officer... hmm?!"
Cheng Zhaolu was baffled. "What do you mean?"
Yu Xiefan reached out of his sleeve and patted the little fatso's shoulder, imitating the Hidden Officer's action and tone. "Zhaolu, you're just a simpleton with simple luck."
He had heard that on the Sword Qi Great Wall's wine shop tables, there was an unwritten rule: if you called someone by name without adding "ah," they were not close, they were an outsider, definitely not an insider.
Cheng Zhaolu grinned. "Simpleton with simple luck." He loved hearing that.
Yu Xiefan suddenly jumped off the railing.
Cheng Zhaolu turned his head. It was the Hidden Officer.
Yu Xiefan warned, "Don't say what shouldn't be said!"
Cheng Zhaolu nodded vigorously. "Got it!"
Chen Ping'an smiled and asked, "What is it that shouldn't be said?"
Yu Xiefan sighed in despair. "The little cook secretly likes Nalan Yudie."
Cheng Zhaolu was instantly dumbfounded.
Chen Ping'an let out a surprised "Oh" and pretended to be astonished. "I thought Cheng Zhaolu liked Yao Xiaoyan."
He used the closed oil-paper umbrella in his hand to tap his palm and nodded to himself. "That's it, that's it. No wonder he spends money to buy books from Nalan Yudie. It's a deliberate attempt to get close. Cheng Zhaolu, you're something, kid. At such a young age, you have this kind of insight. You won't have trouble finding a wife in the future."
Cheng Zhaolu's face flushed. That wasn't it at all.
Nalan Yudie, the little money-grubber, indeed had a good habit. She would transcribe every word of the Hidden Officer's golden maxims. Cheng Zhaolu was afraid of missing out on boxing principles, so he frequently needed to borrow her 'archives.' Every page cost money. Often a page had only a few words, just one sentence. Nalan Yudie even made a ledger for Cheng Zhaolu, with interest.
Yu Xiefan burst out laughing.
After laughing, Yu Xiefan whispered, "Hidden Officer, I can assure you that I will quickly break through to the Cave Dwelling realm. I won't be too much slower than Sun Chunwang and Bai Xuan."
Seeing that 'Take a break' had made a pledge, Cheng Zhaolu had to follow suit. "Hidden Officer, I'll try not to be at the bottom."
Actually, to be honest, among the nine peers, someone had to be at the bottom anyway. If it was him, it was fine.
Besides, the Hidden Officer had long said that there were good methods for slow cultivators.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "The hardest learning in the world is effort; the easiest learning in the world is results."
Yu Xiefan nodded.
Then Chen Ping'an winked and turned to tease the little fatso. "Remember to tell that to Nalan Yudie later. Then you'll have a chance to chat with her. No need to thank me."
Yu Xiefan started laughing again.
Cheng Zhaolu sighed. If Nalan Yudie found out, he would be beaten half to death.
Chen Ping'an took out four books from his sleeve, two for each. Two were "Standard Sword Techniques," one was "Mountain-Shaking Fist Manual." They were, of course, hand-copied copies. The fist manual was for Cheng Zhaolu. There was also a booklet for Yu Xiefan. Chen Ping'an didn't speak through heart communication; he said aloud, "Yu Xiefan, take good care of this booklet. Don't show it to outsiders easily. The content may not be useful. Just treat it as miscellaneous reading."
Yu Xiefan's natal flying sword happened to be named "Word-Breaking Command."
Because of the Night Boat incident, Chen Ping'an had looked up some books on this topic at the Confucian Temple and had some insights. He selected the content and recorded it in a booklet.
The two children solemnly took the books with both hands and thanked the Hidden Officer.
Chen Ping'an reached out and touched the heads of the two children.
Yu Xiefan put the two books into his bosom and then whispered, "Hidden Officer, I heard you have countless confidantes in the jianghu."
Chen Ping'an's heart tightened, but he remained expressionless and asked with a smile, "Who told you that?"
Yu Xiefan said, "Who else but Bai Xuan? He described it in vivid detail. Cheng Zhaolu can testify."
The little fatso started playing dumb.
Probably except for Sun Chunwang, everyone was somewhat intimidated by Bai Xuan.
Before, at the Sword Worship Platform, a vassal peak of Fallen Mountain, Lord Bai Xuan was truly half-hearted about practicing swords. Instead, he practiced boxing more diligently than Cheng Zhaolu. He often mumbled a mantra: "Does Lord Bai Xuan still need to practice swords? Did I come here to be an immortal with the Hidden Officer? Of course not. I'm here to learn boxing. That way, when I later mix in the jianghu, they can't say that a sword-cultivating immortal is bullying those who wield staves and train their physiques."
Yet Bai Xuan was extremely lazy in cultivation, but his sword-forging speed was very fast. So he liked to walk around every day with his hands behind his back, 'delighting in being a teacher,' giving guidance to others in cultivation. The problem was, Bai Xuan's few words often hit the mark and were actually useful.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Alright, I'll have a good chat with Bai Xuan later."
Finally, the three swordsmen—one big and two small—stood by the railing and looked at the distant scenery.
After the rain, the sky cleared, and the scenery was fresh.
The great earth and rivers seemed like ownerless things. The post-rain landscape seemed forged from metal.
On the Wind Kite Ferry, besides the ambitious second steward Jia Sheng and the accountant Zhang Jiazhen who only buried his head in calculations, and the idle law-enforcing officer Changming, it was her direct disciple, Little Abacus Nalan Yudie, who could actually help with accounts. She assisted Zhang Jiazhen in recording and calculating, pretty proficient.
Of course, the most bored one was definitely Sword Immortal Mi Yu, who was nominally the ferry's escort.
Over time, Mi Yu had gotten quite familiar with the little girl Chai Wu. She seemed to enjoy the drifting life on the ferry, not staying at Immortal Capital Mountain but staying on the boat. During cultivation breaks, she would lean on the windowsill to watch the scenery or walk a few laps around the bow and stern.
The little girl drank alone with great style.
Like her cultivation, it came naturally.
A slurp, a nod, picking up a salted peanut, a plate of smashed cucumber, a dish of sauced meat.
Master was right. Being an immortal was good. You could spend money to eat meat without spending money.
So she had to cultivate well, never be kicked off the boat by Mountain Lord, and strive to become a direct disciple.
Chai Wu was just a little worried. The Mountain Lord, who her master said had a drinking capacity comparable to his, seemed to think she was a bit stupid and not suitable for cultivation. Probably this Mountain Lord really had too many things on his hands. Anyway, he wasn't willing to teach her himself anymore. Later, he had Mr. Little Mo do it.
Chen Ping'an had asked Mi Yu to help protect the little girl's path for a while. Among qi refiners, sword cultivators and talisman cultivators had notoriously high thresholds, and it all depended on whether the heavens would grant you a meal.
The ferry headed south and made a stop at the southernmost Qu Drive Ferry.
On a hilltop at Qu Drive Ferry, a guest elder of the White Aiai Continent Liu clan was stationed. Nominally, he was there to assist in guiding some cross-continent ferries, but actually had nothing to do.
This "Sir Xu," named Xu Xie, was only two hundred years old and already a great swordsman.
In his home continent, Golden Armor Continent, Xu Xie had once drawn his sword to block Wan Yan Laojing's treacherous strike. Before that, Xu Xie had been relatively unknown, only emerging when the chaotic times came.
Playing chess with Xu Xie at the mountaintop for 'small bets for fun' was Wang Ji, an ancestral hall guest elder of the Jade Gui Sect, nicknamed the Executioner.
Wang Ji and Zhong Qiu were both scholars and hit it off immediately. They managed to play a few games of chess. As for the onlookers, Mi Yu and Xu Xie had nothing to say to each other, only exchanging glances.
At Jade Gui Sect's Jade City Ferry, the Wind Kite Ferry learned that the long-vacant Divine Seal Peak had just gotten a new owner. The Jade Gui Sect's ancestral hall had no objections and made an exception for this swordsman, allowing him to move into Divine Seal Peak before reaching Golden Core.
Because the child was only nine years old and already a Dragon Gate realm swordsman.
He was said to have three natal flying swords.
It seemed there was no other explanation except 'Heaven's favored son, born at the right time.'
And Jade Gui Sect now had as many as three private ferries that could accommodate several cross-continent ferries simultaneously, excluding the lower sect True Realm Sect in Treasure Bottle Continent. Besides Jade City Ferry, there were also Traveler's Ferry and Distant Mountain Ferry, the latter two built on vassal peaks.
Later, the ferry returned north, pausing in the air near the Lin River.
Zhong Qiu and Mi Yu went together to the stall by the river.
Tao Ran was relatively polite to Master Zhong, having met him a few times with a good impression.
This Golden Core swordsman said that a group of people had come by earlier, claiming to be from Immortal Capital Mountain. Among them was a blue-robed saber user who said he was Cui Xianshi's master, named Chen Ping'an.
This person had a bowl of wine here. Didn't cause any trouble, but his speech was off. He said he was that Sword Immortal Chen from Treasure Bottle Continent.
If he was so humorous, why didn't he go tell stories under the bridge to make good money?
Mi Yu's eyes were full of pity. He reached out to pat this Golden Core sword immortal's shoulder as a consolation.
If Tao Ran's words were heard by Pei Qian... heh.
Tao Ran twisted his shoulder to dodge that claw. He wasn't familiar at all with this fellow who called himself Yu Mi. Both times they met, he wore white clothes. Did he think he was Qi Tingji of the Sword Qi Great Wall, or that he had drunk with the old Sword Immortal Qi?
Besides, Tao Ran could tell at a glance that this guy's looks and demeanor were pretty much the same as Jiang Shangzhen's—a playboy. Very annoying.
Mi Yu withdrew his hand, picked up a bowl of wine from the table, and took a sip. He Grimaced. Watered down?
Tao Ran really didn't know one thing now: in the old days on the Sword Qi Great Wall, almost every time Qi Tingji patrolled the city wall, he would seek out Mi Yu in the clouds to drink.
Although they were far apart in age and realm and swordsmanship, they were both recognized as handsome men on the Sword Qi Great Wall. One was 'Qi the Road Trip,' the other 'Mi the Waist,' so they had a lot to talk about.
Zhong Qiu smiled and didn't explain. He just gave Tao Ran some instructions.
Tao Ran wasn't impatient. He noted everything down.
When the Wind Kite Ferry docked at their own Immortal Capital Mountain, Mi Yu didn't get to see the Hidden Officer. Cao Qinglang said Master was in cultivation. But Mi Yu received a message: the Hidden Officer told him to be sure to bring Bai Xuan when he returned to Treasure Bottle Continent's Hornet Ferry.
Mi Yu was somewhat gleeful.
Later, passing by the Green Tiger Palace on Clear Mirror Mountain, Old Immortal Lu Yong personally handed Zhong Qiu a porcelain bottle, asking Master Zhong to pass it to Mountain Lord Chen.
He said it was the latest batch of successfully refined Sitting Forgetting Pills, but regrettably, only three pills were made.
Zhong Qiu cupped his fist in thanks.
Mi Yu only had one question: "Does Old Immortal Lu have any enemies?"
Lu Yong laughed loudly and waved his hands.
After the ferry left the Parasol Leaf Continent and entered the sea, Mi Yu, being bored, jumped off the Wind Kite Ferry and flew north on his sword, a white rainbow streaking across the sky.
Green Duckweed Peak, inside the Long Spring Small Cave Heaven.
Chen Ping'an had chosen the highest floor of a pavilion in that Dao Mountain Crimson Mansion. All doors and windows were closed.
Inside the room: one meditation cushion, one low table, one incense burner.
On the table were placed several books: "Mountain-Shaking Fist Manual," "True Trace of Elixir Writing," "Standard Sword Techniques," his personally written and compiled "Thunder Bureau," and a 'broken book' obtained from a celestial mansion ruin in Northern Julu Continent...
And a large pile of bamboo slips with inscriptions.
Chen Ping'an sat on the cushion, with both palms facing up, stacked on his abdomen. He closed his eyes in concentration and slowly breathed and exhaled.
Like an old monk in samadhi, like a true lord in sitting and forgetting, like a divine corpse in stillness.