# Chapter 957: On Qingping Peak
It was the Beginning of Spring.
There is the meaning of all things starting anew, of everything being reborn.
It is both the beginning of the four seasons and the first day of the year.
By the time Chen Ping'an returned from the Seasonal Rain Courtyard atop Sui Mountain to the Zhenyao Tower on Tongye Continent, the Sage of the Sage and the Pure Yang Daoist were nowhere to be seen.
Only Xiao Mo, wearing a yellow hat, green shoes, and carrying a green bamboo staff, stood with Qing Tong, dressed in an emerald green dharma robe, on the corridor of the top floor.
Chen Ping'an reslung the Night Wanderer onto his back, ready to head home. This long journey—leaving Xiandu Mountain with Xiao Mo, entering the Zhenyao Tower, stepping into the twelve illusionary realms secretly orchestrated by Zouzi and personally laid out by Qing Tong, then that dream journey through dozens of mountain and river temples, meeting Lu Chen again at the Fen River Temple in the Dream Liang Kingdom, and finally ascending together to the Lou Mountain of the Yellow Millet Sect... compared to all his previous travels, measured by the actual passage of time, it hadn't taken long. But if one counted the mountain and river distances within the twelve paintings, plus the journey of the heart, it truly felt like a lifetime had passed.
Qing Tong saw the young, travel-worn Hidden Official, hesitating as if wanting to speak, then stopping. Of course he wanted to attend the lower sect ceremony at Xiandu Mountain, but he found it hard to broach the subject. In truth, Qing Tong had already made up his mind—he had to latch onto Xiandu Mountain's powerful patronage. Tonight, he absolutely couldn't let Chen Ping'an slip away like this.
A scholar who could beat the Spring Welcome Drum for Ritual Sage after several millennia—in Qing Tong's eyes, whether he was the closed-door disciple of the Literary Sage lineage no longer mattered so much.
Qing Tong even speculated that if Chen Ping'an were willing and worked toward that goal, becoming the Vice Principal of the Confucian Temple might already be as good as his!
Chen Ping'an looked at Qing Tong, who seemed to be opening his mouth several times only to stop himself, and asked with a smile, "Senior Qing Tong, is there something you want to say?"
Qing Tong smiled awkwardly, feeling a bit resigned.
The other party wasn't even calling him by name anymore, not even "Daoist Qing Tong." Hmph, "Senior Qing Tong"—sounded warm but was actually distant.
Clearly, he meant to burn the bridge after crossing the river and draw a clear line between himself and the Zhenyao Tower.
Having traveled with Chen Ping'an for so long, and having gotten to know this young Hidden Official whom he once mistakenly thought was Zheng Juzhong of Baidi City, Qing Tong felt he had developed some ability to read subtle signs—catching hints, understanding hidden meanings, reading between the lines.
Xiao Mo couldn't stand Qing Tong's hesitation, delaying their master's travel, and said directly, "Master, Qing Tong wants to attend the lower sect ceremony at Xiandu Mountain."
Chen Ping'an laughed, "Small matter, small matter. Just attending the ceremony. Don't overthink it, Daoist Qing Tong. I just felt that since Xiandu Mountain hadn't sent an invitation, it wouldn't be proper etiquette. I was worried about slighting you."
Qing Tong quickly coughed, signaling Xiao Mo to spell it all out, not to beat around the bush.
He had made contributions during this spirit journey—even if no great merit, he had at least put in effort. Xiandu Mountain should at least offer him a "chief" position.
Besides, a Flying Ascension realm grand cultivator, and half the host of Tongye Continent to boot, having to beg someone to be a nominal offering or guest elder—if word got out, it would be a huge joke.
Xiao Mo said, "Qing Tong also wants to serve as a nominal offering or guest elder of the Qingping Sword Sect. We were just chatting, and he wanted me to put in a good word. I said that something like adding a seat to the lower sect's ancestral hall was a major matter. Even I myself am merely a nominal offering of Luopo Mountain, so of course I can't decide. Success or failure still depends on the master's personal decision. Besides, our Luopo Mountain isn't some one-man show—I imagine it won't be easy."
Chen Ping'an understood. He thought for a moment and nodded. "Qing Tong, if you're willing to humble yourself to attend the ceremony and then serve as a nominal offering or guest elder, Xiandu Mountain will certainly be honored. We'd be more than happy to have you. But Xiao Mo didn't deliberately deceive you. First, regarding lower sect affairs, my disciple Cui Dongshan and I have long agreed that I almost never interfere. I've left everything to Cui Dongshan's handling. It's hard to break the rules for anyone. Second, even in the upper sect at Luopo Mountain, when we hold ancestral hall discussions, I'm known to be unreliable. In all my years as mountain lord, I've been an absentee manager, never around. Everyone resents me for it. On many matters, they deliberately go against me to spite me."
Xiao Mo immediately added, "So when I saw Qing Tong didn't seem to believe me, I gave him a ready example. That year, when the master's proud disciple, now the first sect leader of Xiandu Mountain, Immortal Master Cui, vouched for and recommended Old Sect Leader Jiang to serve as Luopo Mountain's chief offering—wasn't there no small amount of objection? The process was quite tortuous. According to Protector Zhou, at the Jise Peak ancestral hall, they argued, almost turning the place upside down. It was only with great difficulty that he became Luopo Mountain's chief offering."
Qing Tong said flatly, "If it's truly too difficult, just pretend I never brought it up."
Do whatever you want. I'm not going to grovel.
Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. Acting tough with me? I'm not going to indulge you.
Xiao Mo reminded him via mental voice, "While you were away on your spirit journey, Master, Qing Tong emptied several rooms of their years of precious collections. From the look of it, he means to use them as congratulatory gifts for the ceremony."
Chen Ping'an glared at Xiao Mo. Shouldn't you have told me this straightaway? The Hidden Official immediately drew out his tone, "Ah, Daoist Qingtong, why are you speaking in anger? Don't be like this. Given the friendship between you and me, the term 'Daoist friend' is practically tailor-made for us three. Whether in public or private, by reason or sentiment, Xiao Mo and I should wholeheartedly recommend you and secure you a seat in the Qingping Peak ancestral hall!"
Qing Tong nodded.
Still seemed to be nursing his anger.
Before leaving the Zhenyao Tower, Chen Ping'an suddenly laughed. "Qing Tong, setting everything else aside, just on the term 'Daoist friend'—a kindred spirit and good friend—I am truly sincere."
Qing Tong nodded. "I only believe that sentence."
Xiao Mo glanced at his master.
Chen Ping'an nodded subtly, understanding.
This Daoist friend Qing Tong was no longer what he used to be—not so easy to deceive.
Afterward, Chen Ping'an took the lead in producing a Three Mountains Talisman. Qing Tong was rather surprised but kept his expression neutral.
Was he in a hurry to return to Xiandu Mountain, or did it mean that Chen Ping'an could now use this great talisman without consuming any merit?
Using the Three Mountains Talisman to shrink the earth, in the blink of an eye, they arrived at a mountain.
They were already within the borders of the Qingping Sword Sect. Three mountains stood in a row—Xiandu, Yunzheng, and Choumi—a main peak with two auxiliary ones.
On Choumi Mountain's Wucao Peak, this was precisely Cao Qinglang's secluded cultivation site.
Together with Yunzheng Mountain, both mountains were still concealed by formations.
All three mountains had been remnants of old mountain ranges on Tongye Continent. After careful construction and restoration by Cui Dongshan, they appeared brand new.
On the main peaks of the two auxiliary mountains, steles had been erected at the summits, carved personally by Cui Dongshan: "If Wucao Does Not Emerge" and "Heaven and Earth's Purple Qi."
Chen Ping'an in his blue robe with a sword on his back, Xiao Mo in his yellow hat, green shoes, and green bamboo staff, and Qing Tong in his emerald green dharma robe, handsome in appearance.
In the mountain grew a forest of green bamboos. The wind shook the bamboo grove, filling the mountain with rhythmic motion. Below, a secluded stream murmured, its sound now loud, now soft.
The three walked along the water. The stream in the bamboo grove gurgled as it flowed. Rocks jutted above the water surface. Clumps of sweet flags were verdant and lovely.
In the water, many hollow rocks had accumulated water to form small pools. In these stone hollows, the water was especially clear and cold, clear and deep. Many small fish darted up and down.
On both banks of the stream grew dense thickets of bamboo. Beneath the thickets, chaotic rocks were clustered like teeth, reflected in the water like cattle and horses drinking at the stream.
Chen Ping'an smiled and explained, "At another place, the main peak of Yunzheng Mountain, Wucao Peak, will be the daochang of this lower sect leader, Cui Dongshan. He will also serve as the first mountain lord of Yunzheng. In the future, besides handling the sect's specific affairs, he will also broadly accept disciples—in Dao techniques, swordsmanship, fist techniques, talisman writing, alchemy, formations, economics, etc.—each category will have its own disciples. After today's daytime ceremony, at the first Qingping Peak discussion, Cui Dongshan will also propose that among the future registered cultivators of the Qingping Sword Sect, the first one to break into the Jade Purity realm as a sword cultivator can take over Wucao Peak and become its second mountain lord."
"And this Juxing Peak beneath our feet—not the entire Choumi Mountain—will be temporarily managed by Cao Qinglang, who is secluded here forming his golden core. Because Cao Qinglang is not only the first cultivator of Juxing Peak, but he will also be the unquestionable next sect leader. This matter is already well known to both upper and lower sects. Thus, the Qingping Sword Sect will gain another tradition, an unwritten rule: starting from the second sect leader Cao Qinglang, all future third and subsequent sect leaders will come from the position of Juxing Peak's peak lord. For this, we have clearly drawn from the Nine Game Peak of the Yugui Sect."
"Since the sect is named Qingping Sword Sect, its foundation is naturally the way of the sword. Xiandu Mountain, as the ancestral mountain, will be the foothold for future sword cultivators. Yunzheng Mountain may be responsible for accepting pure martial artists. Besides Cui Dongshan, the lower sect also has Master Zhong and, at Zhe Xian Peak, Sui Youbian. Plus, we have an excellent relationship with Pu Mountain. Teaching fist techniques won't be a problem. As for Choumi Mountain, there may be some cultivators of various philosophical schools."
Qing Tong actually wasn't very interested in these sect affairs. Chen Ping'an's detailed explanations fell on his ears like the stream flowing slowly past, not reaching his heart.
But when it came to the matters of a sect's succession and hereditary transmission secrets, it was no small matter for any mountain grotto immortal mansion. Yet Chen Ping'an spoke of it so calmly and lightly, as if it were trivial. But for the future registered cultivators of the Qingping Sword Sect, this would likely be the source of countless loves and hatreds, the ebb and flow of people's hearts. So Chen Ping'an truly wasn't treating Qing Tong as an outsider.
Xiao Mo smiled. "Daoist Qing Tong, I'm hearing many of these things for the first time myself, so don't be so distracted."
Qing Tong's expression was helpless, but his reply carried a hidden edge: "I suppose I can't pull out a notebook and jot all this down."
Xiao Mo smiled. "I've built a daochang at the foot of Xiandu Mountain, at a place just named Luobao Beach. I believe I'll have many occasions to chat and reminisce with Supreme Offering Qing Tong or Guest Elder Qing Tong in the future."
Qing Tong's face stiffened.
Chen Ping'an suddenly asked, "In all these years, haven't you taken any disciples to teach techniques or fist arts?"
After all, Qing Tong was a Flying Ascension realm cultivator who was also half a Martial Saint. And given Qing Tong's habit of constantly wandering through the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, he didn't seem like someone who enjoyed an overly lonely life.
Qing Tong shook his head, embarrassed. "Never had any."
Mainly because his responsibility of guarding the Zhenyao Tower was too unique. Qing Tong didn't dare casually accept disciples, fearing it would bring him trouble. Besides, that old temple master of the Eastern Sea, the Grotto Lord of Empyrean Heaven, had bluntly warned Qing Tong that he wasn't the kind of material who could establish a sect and school on his own.
As it turned out, Qing Tong's caution had served him well. Take the disaster at Taiping Mountain—that was the best precedent. The Zhenyao Tower could easily have fallen into a similar situation. Moreover, Qing Tong felt that once he had an inaugural disciple, he wouldn't be able to stop taking disciples, much like his collections in the Zhenyao Tower, room after room. Qing Tong never looked at quality or rarity, only at fate and affinity. So the arrival of a closed-door disciple would be indefinitely postponed.
Chen Ping'an said with emotion, "Daoist Qing Tong is truly single-minded in seeking the Dao, making others feel ashamed by comparison."
Qing Tong again seemed about to speak but stopped.
The reason he had shamelessly tried to connect with Xiandu Mountain was that the situation in the world had changed, and so had his thoughts. He really wanted to snag a position as a first-generation founding patriarch of some sect.
Chen Ping'an seemed to see through Qing Tong's thoughts and said, "Return kindness with kindness. After I go into seclusion, I'll travel through Haoran with some friends. When we pass through the Central Earth Divine Continent, I'll stop at the Confucian Temple, drag my master along, and put in a few good words for you. We'll see if permission can be granted for you to establish a sect near the Zhenyao Tower in central Tongye Continent. We'll try to get permission for local demonic cultivators on Tongye Continent to join your sect. That way, we can spare them from being constantly on edge, their Dao hearts scattered, unable to focus on cultivation. Over time, this group of demonic cultivators, who already harbor resentment, could become a hidden danger to Tongye Continent."
"Qing Tong, you took the initiative to come with us to the Qingping Sword Sect with ulterior motives. I brought you to this Juxing Peak also with ulterior motives."
Qing Tong asked doubtfully, "What do you mean?"
Chen Ping'an walked with his hands in his sleeves along the bamboo path. "A person who looks far ahead yet is cautious can accomplish great deeds. A person of loyal and honest character can be entrusted with major affairs."
"In my view, the existence of Daoist Qing Tong himself—setting aside the Zhenyao Tower entirely—can serve as the fourth mountain of our Qingping Sword Sect, beyond Xiandu, Yunzheng, and Choumi."
"Daoist Qing Tong may not be an outstanding founding patriarch of a sect, but he will certainly be an extremely responsible, extremely dedicated, extremely good Dao protector."
Xiao Mo was greatly surprised.
Three "extremely" in a row—did Qing Tong really deserve this evaluation?
There was no subtext left in the master's words. He had laid everything on the table: he hoped Qing Tong would become the behind-the-scenes Dao protector of the Qingping Sword Sect, or at least one of them.
Qing Tong was even more astonished. He smiled bitterly, self-deprecatingly. "Even if you're sincere, I don't believe it myself."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "On this matter, you can believe it, because I have come this way step by step myself."
"Daoist Qing Tong, rest assured. Don't worry about falling into a nest of trouble. I'll explain in advance to Cui Dongshan and the others, ensuring that due to your realm and status, you won't be dragged into any sect affairs. So you only need to, as half an outsider, pay more attention to the yearly development trends of the Qingping Sword Sect. If you find anything off, even if you can't articulate exactly what's wrong, you can proactively bring it up with Cui Dongshan, or in the future with the second sect leader Cao Qinglang. There's no need to worry about whether your views are right or wrong."
Qing Tong nodded. "I only dare to promise that I will do my utmost. I won't make any other commitments."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Then it's settled."
The group walked to the summit of Juxing Peak. The sky was clear, the air fresh, the mountains green, and the moon pale. Looking around, their hearts were refreshed and spirits pleased.
Because of Lu Chen's evaluation, describing the stele inscription as a "certain immortal shedding" that preserved spirit while discarding form, Chen Ping'an took a few extra glances at that stone tablet.
A young man in Confucian robes hurried out from the stone chamber, bowing with clasped hands. "Master. Senior stranger."
As Lu Chen had predicted, the golden core Cao Qinglang had formed was ranked between first and second grade.
Forming a first-grade core meant having the aptitude for Flying Ascension. For example, in the early years, Wei She of the Ai'ai Continent, and Yao Qing of the Green Underworld, were both such cases. But in fact, many great cultivators who now stood at the pinnacle of the world had formed second-grade cores.
Chen Ping'an smiled with satisfaction. "Above second-grade core—a grand aura. Far better than when your master formed his core."
Then Chen Ping'an began to introduce Qing Tong. "This Daoist friend has the Dao name 'Qing Tong.' He is a native cultivator of Tongye Continent, in the Flying Ascension realm. Because his Dao name shares the character 'Qing' with our Qingping Sword Sect, Daoist Qing Tong feels it's a rare fate encounter. After my repeated invitations, he will serve as a nominal offering of the Qingping Sword Sect."
Cao Qinglang bowed again. "Junior Cao Qinglang pays respects to Senior Qing Tong."
Qing Tong nodded in acknowledgment, smiling, though inwardly he grumbled. The Hidden Official really did say whatever came to mind.
Chen Ping'an said, "Daoist Qing Tong's realm and seniority are perfectly clear. It's just that Mi Yu is already the designated chief offering, so Daoist Qing Tong must settle for the second seat."
Qing Tong was speechless.
So he was the second-seat offering now?
Wasn't this just a one-man show?
Cao Qinglang smiled warmly. "After all, our Qingping Sword Sect is a sword sect, so we can only slight Senior Qing Tong."
Qing Tong laughed. "It's no slight at all. I am honored to form a connection with the Qingping Sword Sect."
He didn't dare feel any slight.
Besides, Xiao Mo beside him—a Flying Ascension perfect sword cultivator—was currently only a nominal offering of Luopo Mountain, not even having a second seat yet.
A white-robed youth with a birthmark between his eyebrows came flying over on the wind with lightning speed. As his figure landed unsteadily, his two snow-white sleeves flapped noisily. He bowed. "Greetings, Master."
Cui Dongshan had just risen when a young woman with her hair in a topknot brought a black-clad little girl hurrying to Juxing Peak.
It turned out that after Cui Dongshan sensed his master's group, he had gone to knock on doors, calling on Senior Sister Pei Qian to bring along Little Rice, who had been staying up the night around the hearth with them.
Little Rice was hopping with joy, reporting happily, "Good Mountain Lord, Yu Mi has broken through! He is now the well-deserved, legitimate, genuine Great Sword Immortal Mi!"
Chen Ping'an deliberately showed a face full of surprise. "Impressive, impressive."
Qing Tong's heart stirred.
That Mi Lanyao from the Sword Qi Great Wall, the first chief offering of Xiandu Mountain, had already become an Immortal realm sword cultivator?!
Chen Ping'an bent down and rubbed Little Rice's head. "Have you been keeping watch for Great Sword Immortal Mi often?"
Little Rice grinned. "Nah, nah. Occasionally, occasionally."
Little Rice covered her mouth with her hand and whispered to Good Mountain Lord, "Yu Mi said that the seclusion process was extremely perilous. Every time his Dao heart became unsettled, he would think of the Hidden Official's calm composure on the battlefield, and his heart would settle. That's how he managed to break through. So Yu Mi repeatedly told me that this time, breaking through the bottleneck and emerging alive from seclusion, besides sincerely thanking Sect Leader Liu of the Taihui Sword Sect, more than half the credit goes to the Hidden Official. It has nothing to do with his own cultivation or sword heart—not a single copper coin's worth."
Chen Ping'an laughed in exasperation. "Bullshit."
Little Rice scratched her face.
Chen Ping'an immediately softened his expression. "Never mind him. Let's go back to Mixue Peak."
Qing Tong remained silent.
As for the atmosphere of Luopo Mountain, since during the previous dream spirit journey Chen Ping'an had chosen to pass by his home without entering, Qing Tong had never been able to experience it firsthand.
But Xiao Mo's words and actions had already prepared Qing Tong mentally. Still, from the looks of things, it seemed his preparation wasn't quite enough.
Chen Ping'an then helped introduce Qing Tong again.
After that, two figures came streaking down from a ghost city within the Dayuan Dynasty—Zhong Kui and the ghost immortal Yu Jin, who called himself Suzhou. Chen Ping'an had to introduce Qing Tong's identity yet again, though he omitted the Zhenyao Tower and Qing Tong's realm. It wasn't that he didn't trust Zhong Kui, but rather that he didn't trust the oily-looking Fatty Yu—a lord and master who had nearly accomplished the feat of "one continent, one kingdom" earlier than the Song Clan of Dali. In the history books, the so-called "husband holding a white blade, beheading a million heads" was no exaggeration.
Zhong Kui glanced at Chen Ping'an.
Chen Ping'an nodded.
Zhong Kui secretly gave a thumbs up.
Chen Ping'an gave Zhong Kui a thumbs up too.
They met as bosom friends, understanding each other without words.
Neither was lacking.
Because the two friends were like one clearing the path and the other helping to protect it.
Chen Ping'an had also witnessed with his own eyes Zhong Kui's "invincible posture" on the ghostly path. Clearing the path was not easy; protecting it was even harder.
Throughout the northwestern region of Tongye Continent, Zhong Kui had almost entirely by himself, using a spectacular method similar to Bai Ye's "swords transforming into ten thousand" back in Fuyao Continent, manifested his form into countless paths, guiding countless ghosts and yin spirits toward their forward direction, while simultaneously resisting the heavenly gales, forcibly suppressing the natural suppression that immortal mansion cultivators and various mountain and river spirits exerted over solitary ghosts, escorting them through the gates to the underworld. This was truly a feat that even Flying Ascension cultivators could not accomplish. At the same time, Zhong Kui personally walked the Yellow Spring Road. Without seeking an audience with those "Prefecture Lords" of Fengdu, he directly issued dharma decrees, strictly ordering the underworld clerks, ghost servants, and the numerous Ox-Head and Horse-Face figures along the paths not to arbitrarily whip any entering ghost. The key was that the entire Fengdu—whose status was transcendent, even capable of ignoring the ritual rules of the Confucian Temple and the White Jade Capital, as well as the dharma decrees of the Dao Ancestor—seemed to have no objection to this, as if tacitly approving Zhong Kui's overstepping.
So on this night of the transition between old and new, for all cultivators of Tongye Continent, the three Confucian academies, the kings and generals of various countries, and the mountain and river spirits, it was destined to be a sleepless night.
In fact, when Zhong Kui set out, Fatty Yu Jin had also accompanied him on a long journey, to the point that Yu Jin's heaven and earth aura was completely depleted.
For the ghost immortal Yu Jin, this counted as a novel form of Dao protection.
When they returned to that empty, ruined ghost city with no lingering souls left, the fat man collapsed to the ground. He didn't feel much sense of accomplishment, and for once, he didn't complain to Zhong Kui about his hardships.
Exhausted, lying on the ground, he spoke only one heartfelt sentence, with a hint of self-mockery: "I never thought that in this life, besides killing people, I would do things like this."
Brought to Xiandu Mountain by Zhong Kui, the fat man had been muttering along the way, complaining that Zhong Kui didn't know how to take care of people, working him like a donkey pulling a millstone, nearly exhausting him to death.
But when Yu Jin arrived at Juxing Peak, he felt it was worth the trip. His eyes lit up immediately because he saw that beautiful woman in the emerald green dharma robe.
The fat man felt a sincere admiration for Chen Ping'an. Huang Ting, Ye Yunyun, plus that female emperor of Daquan with whom his relationship was unclear—all were great beauties.
Picking flowers and touching grass—how disgraceful.
Taking advantage of Chen Ping'an's casual chat with Zhong Kui, the fat man scurried over to the immortal sister. "Your humble servant's surname is Yu, given name Suzhou. I am a sworn friend of Mountain Lord Chen. I wonder, miss, aside from your Dao name 'Qing Tong,' what is your full name, ancestral home, where do you live now, and do you have a master's sect? Your humble servant loves traveling most and would be happy to descend the mountain together with Sister Qing Tong after the ceremony to meet your elders."
Qing Tong actually didn't want to bother with this ghost immortal.
Because Yu Jin had previously wandered around Tongye Continent with Zhong Kui, Qing Tong had observed this master-servant pair a few times and knew Yu Jin's background thoroughly.
As for being mistaken for a female cultivator by this fat man, Qing Tong had no grudge about it.
Yu Jin smiled. "Your humble servant is not talented, but happens to have a bit of insight into poetry. For example, seeing you, miss, as beautiful as a painting, just like a lady of the Wu Tong shade standing in the moonlight, I feel inspired to say, 'When wind passes the plane trees, green grows the cool.' I'm afraid this might startle you, miss. To be honest, I am actually a ghost. But don't be sad about it, miss. When I was alive, I composed tens of thousands of poems. Now I've changed course and entered the realm of ci poetry. Seeing your refined taste, you must be a connoisseur of this art. For example, in my recent ci, I wrote about 'the melting moon, the light breeze, willow catkins leaning by the pear blossoms.' But I always feel that the character 'leaning' in this phrase is unsatisfying, hardly the best choice. What do you think, miss? If I changed it to 'brushing,' as in the wind brushing the face, would that be better? Or if I changed it to 'supporting,' as in supporting each other, wouldn't the aftertaste be the longest?"
Qing Tong was thoroughly annoyed and had to sneer via mental voice: "Yu Jin, I have seen some of your execrable doggerel. When it comes to plotting usurpation and leading armies, you are a first-rate figure. But when it comes to composing poems and filling in ci, you don't even rank among the dregs."
Yu Jin gave Chen Ping'an a resentful sidelong glance, looking annoyed. "Someone really has a deep friendship with Miss Qing Tong, telling her everything."
Cui Dongshan spoke up, "Master, why not go to Mixue Peak to rest first? Half an hour before the ceremony, I'll have Little Rice notify you?"
Little Rice took a deep breath and nodded vigorously, gripping her mountain-walking staff and golden shoulder pole tightly. A heavy responsibility lay on her shoulders; she had no excuse to shirk it.
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Just a short nap, eyes closed for a bit will do."
Cui Dongshan said, "Then let me walk with you down the mountain, Master, and discuss a few things?"
After that, Cao Qinglang and the others each returned to their residences on Mixue Peak at Xiandu Mountain.
Xiao Mo went back alone to Luobao Beach at the foot of the mountain. Pei Qian would arrange Qing Tong's lodging.
But Chen Ping'an kept Little Rice with him, having her accompany him and Cui Dongshan on a walk down Juxing Peak.
Cui Dongshan indeed had several matters to discuss properly with his master.
The first matter: whether to excavate a brand new great river in central Tongye Continent.
Previously, at Old General Yao Zhen's house, the Puyun Grass Hall side had also expressed this intention.
Unlike Vase Continent, Tongye Continent historically had an old river course. But times had changed. It had been fragmented and shattered by the kingdoms, small states, cities, and immortal mansions along its central route. Restoring the old to its original state was not very meaningful; old wasn't as good as new. Fortunately, there was a ready-made successful precedent to follow—the Qi Crossing on Vase Continent. Moreover, the difficulty of excavating that great river back then was far greater than that of this old river course on Tongye Continent.
Otherwise, even if Chen Ping'an and the Xiandu Mountain Qingping Sword Sect were among the initiators—the truly leading parties—they would still need to engage in plenty of heated arguments, inevitably encountering many fundamental disagreements.
Additionally, how many Grain Rain coins it would cost to build a great river depended entirely on how large the scale of this as-yet-unnamed new great river would be.
The Daquan Dynasty had apparently been planning this for a long time. Now there was a rough outline of the riverbed. But in Cui Dongshan's eyes, there were far too many places that needed correction—not mere minor details for someone else to fill in.
Chen Ping'an listened to the gist and asked, "When you discussed this with Old General and the others earlier, did you talk about the candidates for the high-ranking water gods of the great river?"
Because according to Confucian Temple regulations, once a great river was established, it meant that the Tongye Sect could create three extremely high-ranking water gods out of thin air—at least three high-ranking water gods of the duke, marquis, or earl levels.
If the leading parties—besides Xiandu Mountain and the Qingping Sword Sect, plus the Yao Clan of Daquan Dynasty, Pu Mountain, or even Huang Ting's Taiping Mountain—were the initiators.
Then would they sit behind closed doors and divide the three precious positions among themselves?
Or would they open the doors wide, attract as many countries and immortal sects as possible, list the most suitable water god candidates, and voluntarily give up one or even two of the slots?
This was actually no small problem.
Some scholarly attitudes were useless and only caused trouble.
And it wasn't just about being completely selfless and public-spirited to get things done.
Cui Dongshan blinked and laughed. "Previously, at Old General's house, everyone was sitting around the hearth talking about this. But at that time, everyone was faced with urgent crises and were more worried about whether this was even feasible. Whether we could even make a good start was still uncertain. Since you weren't present, Master, we didn't dare—couldn't dare—to discuss things so far ahead."
Chen Ping'an glared at him.
Cui Dongshan was clearly trying to make his master do all the hard work.
Cui Dongshan chuckled. "On the Daquan Dynasty side, our Beihe River Water God's Biliu Palace will definitely occupy one of the duke, marquis, or earl slots."
Chen Ping'an said softly, "This matter still depends on Liu Rou's own wishes."
The bigger problem was that the great river should not be too straight. Otherwise, the torrential waters rushing into the sea would easily carry away the continent's mountain and river fortune. Ordinary kingdoms and mountain immortal mansions along the way wouldn't be able to retain any. Hence, wherever the great river's channel was straight, there would be endless complaints.
But a great river should also not be too winding and tortuous, or it would easily damage the continent's mountain fortune. This also meant that many kingdoms' cities and farmlands would inevitably be flooded by the river's waters. Just the relocation of hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people living along the route was a staggering number. So wherever the great river curved, it would also attract endless criticism. Moreover, once the great river was established, besides excavating the riverbed, many rivers would need to be redirected. Many mountains in plains, especially basins, could become obsolete. For the kings and courts of recently restored kingdoms, this was a huge loss right before their eyes. So the weighing of pros and cons here involved extremely complex conflicts of interest across many aspects.
On Vase Continent, the Dali Kingdom was one kingdom ruling one continent, so they didn't need to calculate the pros and cons of each specific country and region. Additionally, Dali's officials were capable administrators, and no one dared to interfere or hold things back. How could Tongye Continent compare?
In the final analysis, there were two major problems: money and popular sentiment.
Chen Ping'an said with a helpless expression, "The most worry-free and labor-saving method is to use immortal money to buy the entire path the great river would take."
To save worry and labor, you had to spend a lot of money, using enough wealth to fill the great pit of human hearts.
Little Rice frowned, her two light brows furrowed, and sighed. "That would empty a mountain of money, how big would it have to be?"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "There's probably only one person with that kind of financial foundation—the Money God Liu of Ai'ai Continent."
Little Rice exclaimed, "That's way too rich! Too bad I'm not familiar with the Money God of Ai'ai Continent. If I met him, I wouldn't even know what to say."
Cui Dongshan smiled and reached out to ruffle Little Rice's head.
The little girl quickly ducked, bent her knees, and shook her head. That white goose was getting too bold—look, before he's even become sect leader, he's already gotten bold. When he becomes sect leader, it'll be too much, terrible, awful.
Chen Ping'an said, "You represent Xiandu Mountain and have full authority over the specific affairs. I'll only help to make the initial connections. But don't feel wronged about it. First, I'll have to deal with the Confucian Temple and the academy. Second, I've already arranged with Yang Zhi that maybe later, the Nen Daoist will also come to Tongye Continent to lend a hand. With one water and one mountain, just the cost of relocation alone can save an astronomical amount of immortal money. Additionally, Qing Tong at the Zhenyao Tower will also contribute. Since Qing Tong has become our second-seat offering of the Qingping Sword Sect, he certainly won't stand idly by."
Cui Dongshan rubbed his hands together with a smile. "Enough, more than enough. I'll learn from you, Master—know when to stop, know when to stop."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Anything else?"
Cui Dongshan then told him honestly. It turned out he planned to relocate more old Five Sacred Mountains and immortal mansion ruins, gradually settling them within the sect's territory.
Many of these old mountain ruins, now in the hands of various newly restored kings, were like chicken ribs—disappointing to part with but not worth keeping. After the great war, the newly established Five Sacred Mountain Lords didn't want to establish their offices on the dilapidated old sites either. They felt it was somewhat unlucky. Moreover, those ruined mountains, besides being thoroughly wrecked by demonic cultivators, had their surrounding heaven and earth aura completely drained—a huge hole. For those mountain lords to set up offices on the old sites was truly a headache. The restored emperors and monarchs also had their practical considerations. It wasn't just about seeking grandeur or leaving a name in history. The enfeoffment of mountains wasn't something anyone could do in any dynasty. The threshold for a monarch to perform the Fengshan ritual had always been extremely high. If the mountain site could be changed, not only could they legitimately perform the Fengshan ritual, but it would also help the kingdom's fortune shed the old and welcome the new—much like the New Year's new atmosphere in the mortal world.
In this way, Cui Dongshan's family assets—speaking only of immortal money, not counting the pile of heavenly treasures—might be completely squandered by his extravagant spending.
So the first sect leader of the Qingping Sword Sect was also hinting at poverty.
As for the expenses for excavating the great river, our lower sect really had no strength left. We could provide manpower, but when it came to money, it would have to rely on the master and the upper sect of Luopo Mountain.
Chen Ping'an shook his sleeves and smiled. "What a fine student I've taken. Such a proud disciple."
No wonder Cui Dongshan had deliberately made Little Rice walk between them—he was afraid of getting beaten, wasn't he?
The third matter finally didn't involve money.
It turned out that the Yugui Sect, taking advantage of Luopo Mountain's founding of a lower sect, had taken the initiative to show goodwill to Xiandu Mountain. They had even gone so far as to have the new peak lord of Nine Game Peak, the young sword cultivator Qiu Zhi, personally come to Xiandu Mountain to attend and observe the ceremony.
Should the Qingping Sword Sect take the opportunity to form an alliance with the Yugui Sect? There were pros and cons.
If a formal alliance was formed and a mountain covenant was concluded, it would mean both sides recognized the future mountain pattern of "Yugui in the south, Qingping in the north" on the continent.
Even if Xiandu Mountain had no such ambition, at the very least, the Yugui Sect was willing to unilaterally acknowledge this. That was a considerable show of sincerity.
If the two sides formed an alliance, the previous Peach Leaf Covenant would become a dead letter.
But if they didn't form an alliance, it would be like drawing an invisible line between them, with the Daquan Dynasty and the Lin River as the boundary—or perhaps the future great river as the border. The Qingping Sword Sect and the Yugui Sect would stay out of each other's way. If disputes arose in the future, since there was no shared affinity from past dealings, it would have to be handled strictly according to rules.
Chen Ping'an said, "This matter, think it over yourself. I won't give any opinions or suggestions."
Cui Dongshan wasn't surprised. He pinched his chin, a look of deep worry on his face.
Chen Ping'an couldn't be bothered to look at him. Who was he putting on that miserable show for?
The final matter: Cui Dongshan needed to confirm with his master the direction for the next hundred years.
Perhaps this was the most crucial, most important matter for Cui Dongshan and the lower sect.
Chen Ping'an said, "First, I'll go into seclusion for a while to return to the Jade Purity realm. Then I'll travel through the Haoran world, visiting several continents I haven't been to."
Regarding the Bamboo Sea Cave Heaven, the matter of opening a wine shop without collecting rent—that was a promise the Sage of the Sage had personally made.
Also, because of a certain matter Aunt Feng had entrusted him with in the Dali capital, Chen Ping'an had to make a trip to the Hundred Flowers Blessed Land. As for becoming a supreme guest elder or something, forget it.
Cui Dongshan asked tentatively, "Master, you'll go into seclusion here at Mixue Peak, right?"
Chen Ping'an said, "I'll go back to Luopo Mountain and give up that small cave heaven daochang to Chai Wu, Sun Chunwang, and the other children."
Cui Dongshan stomped his foot. "Little Rice, quickly say a few fair words for your little senior brother!"
Little Rice shook her head. "Haha, I want to go home too!"
Cui Dongshan said sorrowfully, "Why isn't our Xiandu Mountain also the Right Protector's home?"
Little Rice thought for a moment and gave the answer in her heart, "Here, I don't need to patrol the mountain every day."
She was clever. At Xiandu Mountain, the so-called patrol was just her finding something to do.
At Luopo Mountain, it was different.
From Old Cook, to Nuan Shu Sister, to Immortal Revered Xianwei at the mountain gate, and further to the Qilong Alley at the small town—everyone felt that patrolling wasn't just her fooling around. It was a serious job that had to be done earnestly. Even though it was a tiny matter the size of a grain of rice, only Zhou Milai could do it!
When Cui Dongshan heard Little Rice's explanation, he knew there was no room for negotiation. If he dared to argue further, he would probably get a scolding from his master.
Chen Ping'an rubbed Little Rice's head and asked Cui Dongshan, "How are the specific seating arrangements at the ancestral hall set up?"
Regarding the specific procedures for the lower sect ceremony, Chen Ping'an hadn't really looked into the details. Different mountain sects had their own family laws and ceremonial protocols.
Things too distant—unseen, unreachable, too far even to imagine.
And when good fortune really came knocking, it was like a dream.
That's why the earlier Luopo Mountain founding ceremony had been so slapdash and casual from start to finish.
Cui Dongshan laughed. "Master, as the upper sect leader, you naturally don't need to preside over the incense offering ceremony. You don't even need to offer incense."
After all, the central portrait in the lower sect's ancestral hall would be Chen Ping'an himself, as the upper sect leader.
There was no logic in offering incense to oneself.
This was, of course, because the founding of the upper and lower sects of Luopo Mountain and Qingping Sword Sect had come so close together.
In the vast majority of lower sects under Haoran, when they were first established, you wouldn't see the living founder of the upper sect—only a portrait.
Cui Dongshan continued, "Those like Fellow Daoist Changming, the discipline officer of Luopo Mountain, and Old Immortal Jia, the second manager of our Fengyi Ferry Boat, because they come from the upper sect, are somewhat different from the observing guests. They will follow behind you, Master, and burn incense before our group of lower sect registered members. As for the arrangement of the two rows of seats in the Qingping Peak ancestral hall, on the mountain, the respect for left and right varies and there's no fixed rule. So we'll follow the precedent you set at the Sword Qi Great Wall when you went to the Spring Banners Studio—the left side being the honored position."
For example, at the Dali court, civil officials honored the left, while the military honored the right. But in officialdom, promotion was called "moving right," while demotion was called "left transfer." Interesting.
"The left row for the upper sect, the right row for the lower sect, to show the lower sect's respect. Without the water source of the upper sect, how could there be the rivers of the lower sect?"
"But in the future, when the upper and lower sects hold joint discussions at Qingping Peak, the seats will be swapped. According to general rules, in the lower sect's ancestral hall, besides you, Master, who will have a permanent seat, even the upper sect's discipline officer Changming or chief offering Jiang Shangzhen will not have fixed seats, because they are not members of the Qingping Sword Sect's ancestral hall."
"Then there are Yao Xianzhi, Ye Yunyun, and Huang Ting. This group of guests will first burn incense as observers. After our first ancestral hall discussion, when they each obtain the status of offering or guest elder, they will re-enter the Qingping Peak ancestral hall for the first time as family members. Heh, they'll step out the front door, turn around, and step right back in."
Cui Dongshan asked with a grin, "Master, aren't you going to ask about the arrangement of the hanging portraits in our lower sect's ancestral hall?"
Chen Ping'an said crossly, "Whoever is the lower sect leader, let him worry about it himself."
Cui Dongshan pulled several sheets of paper from his sleeve. "Master, please take a look at these lists."
Three sheets of paper.
It was really just a formality.
The entire lower sect's registered members,
and the members of the Qingping Sword Sect's ancestral hall—those who had seats in the Qingping Peak ancestral hall—along with the specific positions they would hold in the Qingping Sword Sect.
Finally, the list of observing guests.
Chen Ping'an still took them and read them carefully. When he saw two names on the last sheet, he asked doubtfully, "Why are Liu Jubao and Yu Pangshui also on the observer list?"
Cui Dongshan laughed. "Regarding the excavation of the great river, Master, you plan to bring in the Liu Clan of Ai'ai Continent and the Xuanmi Dynasty—people with money but little sense, easy to overcharge."
Chen Ping'an frowned slightly.
Cui Dongshan immediately straightened his expression. "Master, rest assured. When they come, they'll only be responsible for providing money upfront and settling accounts afterward. They won't be allowed to use the excavation of the great river to secretly support puppet courts or immortal sects on Tongye Continent. But for this kind of thing, signing a written contract is of limited use. It actually requires a... gentleman's agreement."
At this point, Cui Dongshan began shuffling sideways. "Your student has no prestige or standing—of course it won't work, absolutely won't work!"
"So you, Master, will have to handle it personally!"
Chen Ping'an smiled, turned his head, and beckoned to his proud disciple.
Unbeknownst to them, the three had already reached the foot of Choumi Mountain.
Chen Ping'an looked up toward Xiandu Mountain. At the mountain gate of Qingping Peak, the lower sect of Luopo Mountain, the couplet gifted by Wu Shuangjiang would be hung—a genuine mountain-protecting treasure.
Every character on the couplet was filled with endless Dao resonance and concentrated spiritual energy.
Before resting, Chen Ping'an planned to go to Mixue Peak and first visit Zhang Shanfeng.
Zhang Shanfeng's senior brother, Yuan Lingdian of Zhixuan Peak, was actually still a nominal guest elder of Luopo Mountain.
He let Cui Dongshan go about his business and told Little Rice to continue staying up the New Year with Pei Qian. Chen Ping'an walked alone to the residence. Yuan Lingdian said that Junior Brother Zhang Shanfeng was in the middle of breathing exercises, so he had to give up.
Since he only intended to take a short nap, Chen Ping'an didn't go to the small cave heaven daochang. After all, there were many observing guests on the mountain, all visiting for the first time—Old True Man Liang Shuang, the Yugui Sect group, and of course, Pu Mountain's discipline officer Tan Rong.
The temporary resting place seemed to have been specially prepared for Cui Dongshan's junior brother Zhao Shuxia. The residence wasn't large—a two-courtyard house. Chen Ping'an picked a side room.
Chen Ping'an had just sat down cross-legged and was about to close his eyes to rest for a moment.
He sensed a little girl running along the road outside the door. When she got close to the residence, she began walking on tiptoe, quietly took her position, and then stood guard at the door like a door god, holding her green bamboo staff and hugging her golden shoulder pole.
Chen Ping'an smiled, stood up, and walked toward the door.
In a residence not far from Mixue Peak, Liu Jinglong looked at his dispirited disciple and asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"
Logically, now that Chen Ping'an had returned to Xiandu Mountain, Bai Shou should be able to relax, no longer worrying about being beaten up by Pei Qian for no reason.
Bai Shou looked conflicted and said dejectedly, "Blame that Bai Xuan. He gave me a huge problem."
Liu Jinglong didn't ask for the reason.
Bai Shou asked, "Hey, surnamed Liu, do you think when a person walks the jianghu, is face more important, or is righteousness the priority?"
Liu Jinglong laughed. "Don't ask me. You decide for yourself."
Bai Shou grabbed his head in frustration. "We're both surnamed Bai—why make trouble for another Bai?"
It turned out that Bai Xuan had a booklet recording many names, calling it a "Hero Register," all iron-boned heroes on it.
Earlier, Bai Xuan had asked Bai Shou if he wanted to join in the grand endeavor and seek justice from someone in the future.
If he helped Bai Xuan conceal this, Bai Shou always felt that paper couldn't wrap fire. One day, it would all come out, and none of the heroes listed in the booklet would escape.
But if he informed on Bai Xuan, Bai Shou couldn't get over that hurdle. It seemed too dishonorable, not his style.
Yet if he didn't inform, he was really afraid that Bai Xuan, that reckless fool, had secretly recorded his name in the booklet. When the matter was exposed, it would be a pair of underpants full of mud—even if it wasn't shit, it would look like shit.
This left Bai Shou indecisive. In the end, he felt it was safer to tell this matter to the surnamed Liu, so that if he was ever held accountable by Pei Qian, he would at least have a witness.
After hearing the secret matter, Liu Jinglong laughed. "It's not that hard. The one who tied the bell must untie it."
"What does that mean?"
Bai Shou was confused. "Don't tell me I have to bow and scrape to Pei Qian? No way! A real man getting beaten a few times is one thing—honest sparring, I'm outmatched, it's an honorable defeat. But me voluntarily submitting? Let her eat my farts..."
Bai Shou quickly shut up.
Liu Jinglong said helplessly, "I meant you should find Chen Ping'an. You finding me as a witness is not as useful as finding Pei Qian's master."
Bai Shou slapped his fist into his palm. "Brilliant!"
Outside the house, two figures stood—one big, one small.
Chen Ping'an in his blue robe, and the black-clad little girl.
Chen Ping'an knocked on the door and cheerfully stepped over the threshold with Little Rice.
That guy hadn't knocked but had jumped over the wall into the courtyard—Bai Shou couldn't be bothered with such trivialities now. Since the entire Mixue Peak was his brother's territory, Bai Shou stood up and laughed loudly. "Chen Ping'an, you must have heard everything. Later, when Bai Xuan gets beaten bloody, you need to help explain to Pei Qian."
Chen Ping'an stepped over the threshold and smiled, nodding. "Of course, no problem."
At that moment, Bai Shou, basking in his own joy, clearly hadn't yet realized the gravity of the situation.
Little Rice
had silently noted two things.
One major matter—Bai Xuan's Hero Register.
And one minor matter—the peak lord of Pianran Peak, Golden Core Sword Immortal Bai Shou, had addressed our Good Mountain Lord by his full name.
As for the first major matter, it involved "jianghu grudges," so she couldn't be the one to tip off Pei Qian or whisper in her ear.
But the second minor matter—if someone accidentally let it slip, surely it wouldn't be a big problem?
Liu Jinglong glanced at Little Rice, then shifted his gaze and found Chen Ping'an was indeed scheming.
Liu Jinglong coughed.
Bai Shou wasn't stupid either. He was startled and immediately forced a brilliant smile. "Little Rice, about today, remember to help me—mainly help Bai Xuan keep it a secret."
Little Rice immediately said solemnly, "I absolutely know nothing about any booklet. Never even heard of it!"
Bai Shou felt everything was safe. He waved his hand grandly. "Good brother, sit down and chat. Let's drink!"
Chen Ping'an was about to take out a jug of wine from his sleeve.
Liu Jinglong smiled. "In the Dali capital, I've already met Han Zhoujin. Thanks to someone's good fortune, I benefited quite a bit. When she saw me, Miss Han was very polite."
Without another word, he brought out two jugs of Changchun brew he had prepared long ago.
Of course, two jugs per person.
Probably worried that Sect Leader Liu wouldn't drink his fill, Han Zhoujin had said there were a few more jugs.
Chen Ping'an shook his sleeves and stood up from his chair. "I still need to go see Zhang Shanfeng. I'll stop chatting with you for now."
Liu Jinglong looked puzzled. "You just got here and you're leaving already? Not drinking a bit?"
The Mountain Lord Chen, full of righteousness, said, "You and me—who are we to each other? We don't lack this one meal of wine. After the ceremony, we'll talk later. Why be so polite? It goes without saying."
Leaving the residence, Little Rice lowered her voice and asked softly, "Good Mountain Lord, did Sect Leader Liu get pressured into drinking again?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Yes, yes. There's nothing to be done. Great Sword Immortal Liu's capacity for wine is well known. I can't envy that."
Afterward, Chen Ping'an knocked on a residence's door. The one who opened it was Old True Man Liang Shuang, an outer-surname great celestial master of Dragon Tiger Mountain.
As for Ma Xuanhui, who lived in the side room, as a cultivator who hadn't yet truly attained the Dao, her sleep was light.
The young female Daoist quickly emerged from her room and observed the three people chatting around the table in the main hall. Having heard her master mention the true reason for the great anomaly on Tongye Continent, she felt even more reverence for this blue-robed young man who already had a lower sect at such a young age. Her master had sighed that, in the future, the younger generation of cultivators would regard this man as a terrestrial deity.
But watching the blue-robed young man, and the black-clad little girl sitting on the same bench as him, taking small sips of wine, especially when he looked up and addressed her as "Miss Ma," Ma Xuanhui nodded in acknowledgment, smiled shyly, and quickly retreated into her room. For no reason, even though he was such an approachable person, Ma Xuanhui felt somewhat afraid of him.
Afterward, Chen Ping'an took Little Rice to the residence of the Pu Mountain Yuncao Hall members on Mixue Peak, where the old discipline officer was staying.
When Tan Rong saw Chen Ping'an, he smiled wryly and clasped his fist. "I was greatly disrespectful. I made a fool of myself."
Chen Ping'an returned the salute with an apologetic smile. "Previously at Yuncao Hall, I did not intend to conceal my identity."
Tan Rong asked, "Could I trouble Mr. Chen for... a few seal stamps?"
The old cultivator had originally wanted to say one seal, but changed his mind quickly.
Chen Ping'an agreed and asked if Discipline Officer Tan had any preferred seal inscriptions. Tan Rong only said to let Mr. Chen use his discretion.
On Mixue Peak, there was a relatively rare large mansion with deep courtyards and winding corridors, specially used to host registered cultivators from major sects.
It had been lying idle all along, but when the Yugui Sect cultivators came together to observe the ceremony, it came in handy.
Visiting at night, Chen Ping'an met Wang Ji, a Jade Purity realm offering of the Yugui Sect's ancestral hall.
Also Qiu Zhi, the peak lord of Nine Game Peak, a talented sword cultivator still just a child.
Plus the two direct disciples of the current Yugui Sect Leader, Wei Ying—both young Golden Core sword cultivators: Senior Brother Wei Gusu and Junior Sister Wei Xianyou.
And an old man named Zhang Fenggu, Dao name "Old Elephant," sitting in the host seat.
As for the "Young Master" Jiang Heng of the Cloud Grotto Blessed Land and his group, as well as the great sword immortal Xu Xie, who belonged to the Yugui Sect but was an outsider, none of them appeared.
Regarding this old master of the Yugui Sect, who shared the same seniority as Old Sect Leader Xun Yuan, he was an Immortal.
The reason Zhang Fenggu had not appeared in the earlier battle where the Yugui Sect was besieged by demons was due to the old cultivator's own difficulties.
As for this person's Dao foundation, Qing Tong had leaked some heavenly secrets.
Legend had it that in the largest dynasty on Tongye Continent in ancient times, an Elephant House was built. Over time, the elephants each developed spirituality. Before the monarch and immortal masters, all elephants could perform the three kneelings and nine prostrations. Only one old elephant still performed the ancient rites. Therefore, that dynasty once had a skilled painter paint the elephants for commemoration. Most elephants, though huge, appeared graceful and charming. Only this old elephant was completely different.
Chen Ping'an felt an immediate affinity upon first seeing this child named Qiu Zhi.
An instant connection.
And Qiu Zhi, upon seeing this famously renowned Hidden Official in person, felt much the same. The Hidden Official was very different from what he had imagined—a sword immortal, a sect leader. He gave no impression of arrogance or striking demeanor, even though he was an accomplished cultivator whose spiritual radiance was inwardly gathered. In conversation, he was willing to be amiable and approachable. Yet it was hard for him to be like those lofty senior elders on the mountain who seemed to be constantly looking down on others. This one made Qiu Zhi feel that he was always treating people as equals.
While Chen Ping'an was chatting idly with Zhang Fenggu and Wang Ji, he couldn't help stealing glances at Qiu Zhi.
Such a small child was already a Dragon Gate realm sword cultivator.
And it seemed Qiu Zhi had already touched the bottleneck of the Dragon Gate realm and would soon reach Golden Core.
Chen Ping'an almost blurted out that when he formed his core, he should come to the Nine Game Peak of the Yugui Sect to observe the ceremony.
But remembering the purpose of their visit, Chen Ping'an forced himself to hold back that sentence, only saying what seemed like a very polite remark: "The Yugui Sect has worthy successors."
He took his leave and, with Little Rice, found Yao Xianzhi. Chen Ping'an asked softly, "Is the old general asleep?"
Yao Xianzhi nodded, looking helpless. "He finally fell asleep with difficulty. Grandpa originally planned to stay awake until dawn because he felt that the matter of excavating the great river had finally made some progress. But after all, he's old and couldn't fight off sleep."
Chen Ping'an said softly with a smile, "When the old general wakes up in the morning, tell him that the excavation of the great river on Tongye Continent is on me and Xiandu Mountain."
Yao Xianzhi was astonished. "Really?!"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Is this the kind of thing to joke about?"
In the room opposite Yao Xianzhi's, a lamplight glowed yellow, faintly visible through the window paper.
It was the old Minister of Rites, Li Xiling, still reading late into the night.
The old man also had another identity—he was the uncle by marriage of the current Daquan emperor.
The old minister had personally accompanied Cui Dongshan on a trip to the Northern Jin Kingdom. It was through this man's connections that they purchased an old mountain, which became today's Choumi Mountain.
The new monarch of the Northern Jin Kingdom had shown great boldness, asking only fifty Grain Rain coins. And he hinted to Immortal Master Cui that if he was willing to take all five old sacred mountains, it would be only two hundred Grain Rain coins.
This wasn't selling—it was practically giving them away.
But certain transactions in the world often weren't just about money.
For example, a mountain guarded by a single Golden Core terrestrial immortal—even if the price were doubled or tripled to eight hundred Grain Rain coins for all five old mountains—would likely be seen by the emperor himself and the court as an insult to the Northern Jin Kingdom, even a provocation.
The old minister, reading and keeping the New Year vigil by lamplight, came from a family with profound scholarship. He had a rich collection of books and a keen eye for art. He was a first-class son of a wealthy and powerful family in the Daquan Dynasty, a recognized child prodigy and romantic talent. Then he met Yao Xianzhi's aunt and completely settled down. To marry her, because the Yao Clan of the border army adhered to a family ancestral precept—unwilling and afraid to form marriage alliances with high-ranking families in the capital for fear of arousing the suspicion of the Daquan Li Emperor—it was a bumpy road with many obstacles. Fortunately, the lovers eventually got married.
But as Minister of Rites, Li Xiling's father had been the previous Minister of Personnel. Now in the Daquan court, many matters didn't simply align with the emperor. He had former students and old subordinates, vague factions, plus former dynasty elders who mostly flocked to Li Xiling's banner. There was another group of young, upright civil officials and several generals from border armies. From the court to the local areas, three roughly formed forces were intertwined. Since the Daquan Dynasty was a rare case of a woman ascending the throne, the former maternal clan, the Yao Clan, had become the current imperial nobility. Now, Yao Xianzhi, as the capital's prefect, led one faction.
Chen Ping'an left Little Rice with Yao Xianzhi and went to knock on the opposite door. When he saw the old man emerge in a coat, he bowed. "Chen Ping'an of the Literary Sage lineage pays respects to Minister Li."
Because Li Xiling, as a youth, had studied at the Dafu Academy and apprenticed under a gentleman of the academy, he was not merely a broad Confucian disciple but an academy disciple in the true sense.
As a scholar who read the sages' books every day, Li Xiling couldn't show weakness before anyone.
The old minister, who had been deliberately maintaining a stern expression, suddenly broke into a smile. He quickly bowed in return, but as he straightened up, he slightly restrained his smile. "I dare not, I absolutely dare not accept such a great courtesy from Mr. Chen."
There was no shortage of topics with Li Xiling. Chen Ping'an was quite familiar with the Daquan Dynasty, so the old minister dragged him into a conversation for a full hour before Chen Ping'an could extricate himself.
After that, Chen Ping'an took Little Rice to Pei Qian's place. He found Cao Qinglang sitting by the brazier, and also the Great Sword Immortal Mi, who seemed to be lying in wait.
Little Rice began pulling out melon seeds from her slanting cotton pouch and sharing them for everyone to crack!
Besides those left behind at Luopo Mountain and Qilong Alley, Zheng Dafeng was in the Five Colors World. Chief Zhou and Wei Xian had both gone to the Barren Wilderness World.
Among the four from the scroll of the Lotus Flower Blessed Land in years past, Lu Baixiang had taken his two direct disciples, Yuan Bao and Yuan Lai, and established his own sect.
Among the nine sword immortal embryos Chen Ping'an had brought back from the Sword Qi Great Wall, Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting had already taken refuge with Luopo Mountain's offering Yu Yue and followed the old sword cultivator on a journey to other continents.
Chen Lingjun, along with Chen Ping'an's current youngest disciple Guo Zhujiu, was still at Lou Mountain on Vase Continent, observing the opening ceremony of the Yellow Millet Sect peak.
Unbeknownst, time slipped away. Thanks to Little Rice's cotton pouch, which was "well-stocked."
At dawn, the sky outside was faintly bright.
A crescent moon hung in the sky with a few stars. Spring mountains seemed to gather mist. Beyond the mountains, in the mortal world, roosters crowed, driving away the moonlight at the inn.
Chen Ping'an stood up. "I'll go rest for a bit."
About half an hour before the lower sect ceremony, the registered members of Luopo Mountain and Xiandu Mountain, along with the observing guests, began arriving one after another at the square outside the Qingping Peak ancestral hall.
The earliest ones there were Little Rice and her group. They had arrived an hour early. Besides Little Rice, there were Bai Xuan, Chai Wu, Sun Chunwang, and a few others—they formed a small faction.
Of course, Jia Sheng was also there, busy early on with social niceties.
Zhong Qiu arrived at the square slightly later than Old Immortal Jia.
When Master Zhong, who would serve as the lower sect's accountant and treasurer, arrived, Jia Sheng naturally stood behind Master Zhong and spoke less.
More and more observing guests arriving at Xiandu Mountain appeared in the square outside the Qingping Peak ancestral hall.
But some of these guests would soon change their status.
Already present in the square were three from the Daquan Dynasty: Old General Yao Zhen, Daquan's Capital Prefect Yao Xianzhi, and Minister of Rites Li Xiling.
Huang Ting, the female Daoist of Taiping Mountain, a Jade Purity realm sword cultivator.
Beside Huang Ting stood a new mountain-protecting offering she had taken when she returned from the Five Colors World to her hometown, Yu Fushan, Dao name "Fushan."
A master and disciple from the Central Earth's Iron Tree Mountain: Immortal Guoran, Dao name "Dragon Gate," with his disciple Tan Yingzhou.
Beside the master and disciple was Zheng Youqian, a direct disciple of Chen Ping'an's senior brother Jun Qian.
From Pu Mountain's Yuncao Hall: Sect Leader Ye Yunyun, her senior disciple Xue Huai, and Pu Mountain's discipline officer Tan Rong.
From the Central Earth Divine Continent: Liang Shuang, the outer-surname celestial master of Dragon Tiger Mountain. The old true man had taken a disciple on Tongye Continent, the female Daoist Ma Xuanhui.
From the Prostrate Earth Peak of the Northern Jukui Continent: a pair of senior and junior brothers, Yuan Lingdian and Zhang Shanfeng.
From the Yugui Sect's Nine Game Peak: the new peak lord, Dragon Gate realm sword cultivator, the youth Qiu Zhi. From the Jiang Clan's Cloud Grotto Blessed Land: Jiang Shangzhen's eldest son, Jiang Heng.
Two direct sword cultivator disciples of Sect Leader Wei Ying: Nian Jiu and Sui Yu. Their true names were Wei Gusu and Wei Xianyou.
From the Divine Seal Peak ancestral hall, Offering Wang Ji, Jade Purity realm. The guest elder of the Liu Clan of Ai'ai Continent, Driving Mountains Ferry, the great sword immortal Xu Xie, an outsider.
Jiang Heng was about to meet Chen Ping'an for the second time. The first time was at the Osmanthus Island, one of the intercontinental ferries at Old Dragon City, on the way to Inverted Mountain. Back then, their identities and realms were as different as clouds and mud.
The old former tutor of the old Great Dragon Palace, the old dragon Qiu Du. The old woman's only direct disciple, at the Engagement Shop by the Scale-Shedding River, the young girl Hu Chuling, nicknamed "Vinegar."
Zhong Kui brought the ghost immortal fat man Yu Jin, who called himself Suzhou.
Wei Xianyou secretly observed the Great Sword Immortal Mi, who was as white as snow.
Truly beautiful to behold.
Xu Xie took the initiative to find Pei Qian.
This unsmiling "Sword Immortal Xu" rarely showed a hint of a smile on his face when he saw Pei Qian.
Pei Qian clasped her fists in salute.
On the battlefield of the Golden Armor Continent, the one sword immortal and one martial artist had fought side by side several times.
In fact, this time he was willing to escort the Yugui Sect; Xu Xie was hoping to have a few words with Pei Qian.
This young great sword immortal, whose hometown was on the Golden Armor Continent, looked at Pei Qian as if she were a highly promising junior of his own family.
Xu Xie asked when Pei Qian would travel to the Golden Armor Continent again. When she did, she should let him know. He had some connections there.
Zhong Kui and Old General Yao Zhen were chatting happily.
Fatty Yu Jin's eyes never stopped moving. When he caught sight of the young female Daoist Ma Xuanhui, he sighed again with emotion.
Sui Youbian brought her disciple Cheng Zhaolu. She stood with Huang Ting and asked about the customs of the Five Colors World.
Yu Fushan and the old woman Qiu Du were chatting idly.
The Yugui Sect group stood together with Taihui Sword Sect's Sect Leader Liu Jinglong and Pianran Peak's Peak Lord Bai Shou.
Bai Shou deliberately avoided Bai Xuan.
Yuan Lingdian gathered with the Immortal Guoran, Dao name "Dragon Gate," because their master, Fire Dragon True Man, was an old acquaintance of Guo Outing.
On the square, upon learning that that young sprite named Zheng Youqian was actually Liu Shiliu's top disciple, many people couldn't help stealing extra glances.
Since he was Liu Shiliu's disciple, in terms of lineage seniority, he was Chen Ping'an's nephew.
The Literary Sage lineage's atmosphere was clear to all the worlds.
Xiao Mo stood with a group of Xiandu Mountain's newest registered cultivators. In fact, these people also didn't know who this fellow in the yellow hat, green shoes, and green bamboo staff really was.
Thus, Qing Tong appeared somewhat solitary.
Then, suddenly, the square fell silent for a moment, but soon everyone continued their conversations. They were merely a bit surprised but didn't take it too seriously.
Because almost simultaneously, three people had appeared out of nowhere: the Money God Liu of Ai'ai Continent, accompanied by his only son Liu Youzhou.
Also, a retired emperor of the Xuanmi Dynasty, Yu Pangshui.
Both parties had appeared in the most nouveau riche manner recognized by the mountain world.
Liu Jubao took the initiative to clasp his fists to Old True Man Liang Shuang. Liu Youzhou's gaze wandered, then locked onto her.
Yu Pangshui walked over to Cui Dongshan and Cao Qinglang, who were standing shoulder to shoulder.
About the time of one incense stick before the ceremony, on the mountain path connecting Mixue Peak and Qingping Peak, a sword cultivator who planned to arrive right on time for the "mountain opening" ceremony walked along. Tao Ran.
Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned to look. It was the blue-robed man he had met once by the Lin River. Today, instead of his twin sabers, he had swapped to wearing a sword on his back.
Quite versatile.
The man caught up with Tao Ran and greeted him with a smile. "Sword Immortal Tao."
Tao Ran's face darkened. He nodded.
Chen Ping'an said, "Don't worry. Today's ceremony won't last long. Everything will be kept simple."
Tao Ran said, "Whatever. After I offer incense to the portraits on the wall, I can doze off in my chair."
Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. "Of course, no problem."
Tao Ran said bluntly, "As the senior of Master Cui's lineage, the opening ceremony is no small matter on a mountain. You being so unhurried is a bit inappropriate, isn't it?"
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Anyway, everything that needed to be done is already done. Now it's my turn to snatch a little leisure."
Tao Ran asked casually, "Did you set up a mirror flower, water moon?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "No. I can't do those flashy things of slapping one's face to look fat."
Tao Ran chuckled. "True."
It wasn't easy to so openly admit you had no money.
Tao Ran said crossly, "Don't keep calling me Sword Immortal Tao. I don't like it. If it were before, with my temper, that would be equivalent to asking for a duel."
Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. "Alright, alright."
Rounding a small path, the view opened up before them. Ascending the steps, they reached the white jade square outside the Qingping Peak ancestral hall.
This time, it was truly dead silent.
Tao Ran nodded to himself. For such a small mountain, he hadn't expected the sect rules to be so strict.
As for observing guests, on today's Tongye Continent, how many congratulatory terrestrial immortals could rush here?
Then our Sword Immortal Tao saw, from a distance, that... Yellow-Clad Ye of Pu Mountain!
Tao Ran, no matter how much of a wilderness rogue cultivator he had been, unwilling to deal with mountain affairs, would never fail to recognize Ye Yunyun—both a great beauty and a Martial Saint.
Wait a minute—that man over there, why did he look so much like the Money God Liu of Ai'ai Continent?
And those people, with the style of their clothes and swords, why did they look like sword cultivators of the Yugui Sect?
Just to trick a Golden Core sword cultivator whose natal flying sword was already broken—you Xiandu Mountain people didn't need to put on such a show, did you?!
Then Tao Ran saw everyone on the square, all facing his direction, each with a solemn expression, each performing their own salutes.
On Qingping Peak, the blue-robed sword cultivator smiled and returned the salute with clasped hands.