Chapter 958: Green Calm Sword Sect
Tao Ran swallowed a mouthful of saliva, steeling himself and mustering his courage to ask through heart-to-heart communication: "Are you really that someone?"
He didn't even dare to speak that person's name outright—it was simply too outrageous.
Chen Ping'an smiled and replied through heart-to-heart: "Last time by the Lin River, didn't I already say that unless something unexpected happened, it would be me? You just didn't believe it, Sword Immortal Tao."
How the hell was I supposed to believe?
A random young man on the road, with twin sabers at his waist, wearing a green shirt, long gown, and cloth shoes, claiming to be Chen Ping'an—and I'm just supposed to take his word for it?
It was like someone from the heavens suddenly appearing before your eyes, or a character stepping out of a book.
Today, Cui Dongshan, dressed in white with a sword, was giving Tao Ran a thumbs-up from a distance. Beside him, the great Sword Immortal Mi was winking and making faces at Tao Ran.
There was still about half an incense stick's time before the auspicious moment for the founding ceremony. Chen Ping'an walked quickly forward, exchanging a few pleasantries with the observing guests. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the muddle-headed sword cultivator Tao Ran looked left and right, picked a spot for himself, and finally, Chen Ping'an took his martial nephew Zheng Youqian by the hand and stopped at a "small hilltop" on the very edge. These people, who were about to become registered disciples of the Green Calm Peak on Immortal Capital Mountain, had—funny enough—most of them still not recognized the true identity of the green-clad sword immortal before them. After arriving at the square, they had instinctively gathered together, but had nothing to talk about among themselves. When the square grew crowded, they became even more nervous and uneasy.
At this moment, Chen Ping'an clasped his fists and smiled: "Let me formally introduce myself. My surname is Chen, given name Ping'an, from Dragon Spring Commandery, Great Li Dynasty, Treasure Vase Continent. I serve as the Mountain Lord of Fallen Mountain. I am a Confucian scholar of the Sage Wen lineage. My teacher is the Sage Wen, who recently reclaimed his position in the Confucian Temple. I am also the teacher of Cui Dongshan, Pei Qian, Cao Qinglang, and a few others."
This was also the first time Chen Ping'an had openly stated his identity as the Mountain Lord of the upper sect and spoken to them in a serious manner.
Chen Ping'an patted the child beside him on the head and introduced with a smile: "Zheng Youqian is my Senior Brother Junqian's first disciple, my martial nephew."
The group standing opposite Chen Ping'an at this moment included, besides Tao Ran, a Golden Core sword cultivator who was originally a wandering wild cultivator from the Tongye Continent's mountains and swamps.
There were also two Earth Immortal ghost cultivators, a Daoist couple well-versed in formations: Wu Gou and Xiao Manying.
Three exiled cultivators from the former Shuyi Pavilion of Jade Branch Hill: Lan Yi, Yu Xinglou, and Fu Zhu.
There was also Shao Boxian, a Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator and the exiled crown prince of the former Zhu Ying Dynasty on Treasure Vase Continent, along with his servant girl Meng Long, who had followed him through many wanderings and a long period of exile; she had now changed her name to Dugu Menglong. Tongye Continent was about to welcome its second female monarch. For this master-servant duo, Cui Dongshan had previously had Xiao Mo apply a concealment technique. Beside them was a female cultivator from Da Jiao Mountain in North Ju Lu Continent, Shi Qiu.
Chen Ping'an looked at Shi Qiu, who pursed her lips and smiled, lightly nodding.
Chen Ping'an clasped his fists again to express thanks: "The founding of the sect on Immortal Capital Mountain, from site selection to construction, and now to today's ceremony, has been extremely rushed in every aspect. To have achieved such a scale for the various peaks of Immortal Capital Mountain in such a short time is like building a ferry crossing from scratch—truly starting from nothing. All of you have worked hard."
Setting aside the three old members of Fallen Mountain—Shao Boxian, Zheng Youqian, and others—the sword cultivator Tao Ran, who had taken over the shop by the Lin River, and the two groups of cultivators, Wu Gou and Lan Yi from Jade Branch Hill, had all been personally brought to Immortal Capital Mountain by Cui Dongshan. Thus, they could be considered founding elders who followed Cui Dongshan to establish the sect. Previously, they had mainly contributed to the construction of the Wind Kite ferry boats and the ferry crossing itself. One of these cross-continent ferry boats, the Wind Kite, was equivalent to a small mountain sect in terms of both member numbers and combat strength.
On the ferry boat were nearly a hundred talisman puppets and golden-armored warriors, carefully refined by Cui Dongshan, named Rain Workers, Golden Masters, Mountain Bearers, Fish Seekers, and others. They were indistinguishable from real people in both appearance and intelligence. They were responsible for the daily maintenance of the Wind Kite ferry and the geographical survey of its routes. The latter's main duty was actually to "search for treasures and pick up leftovers" in the mountains and rivers of Tongye Continent. For this, Cui Dongshan had given them a temporary official title: "Mountain and Water Inspector." Wu Gou and Xiao Manying, who were proficient in formations, were in charge of the daily operation of the Wind Kite ferry.
Chen Ping'an said to Shao Boxian through heart-to-heart: "I've met the mountain lord Jin Qing. As for your founding a kingdom by the Lin River, we'll discuss it in detail later."
Shao Boxian smiled and nodded in thanks.
Chen Ping'an asked with a smile: "When will you break through to the Upper Five Realms?"
Shao Boxian's face was full of worry: "Difficult."
Besides these "Mountain and Water Inspectors" with strange backgrounds, there were over two hundred talisman warriors and mechanism puppets of much lower rank than the Rain Workers and Fish Seekers, serving as laborers. They had been the ones constructing the mansions and ferry crossings of Immortal Capital Mountain. The three cultivators from Shuyi Pavilion of Jade Branch Hill had previously served as temporary dock overseers. They were not old, all over a hundred years old, and their current realms were not high either—two at Ocean Observation realm and one at Cave Mansion realm.
Actually, before Chen Ping'an arrived, the three of them had already been completely terrified.
Because the casual conversations among the many observing guests were not kept as heart-to-heart communications. For example, the young woman with a coiled bun—she wasn't a stranger; they often saw her at the ferry crossing and knew her as Pei Qian. But how could she be linked to the renowned female grandmaster "Zheng Qian"? After Pei Qian and the man she respectfully called "Sword Immortal Xu" started talking about battles in the Golden Armor Continent, mentioning people like Cao Ci and Yu Juanfu, and Pei Qian herself mentioned meeting an old immortal in purple robes, Fu Lu Yu Xuan! That made the man's identity clear: it was Xu Xie, the great sword immortal of Golden Armor Continent, known as "Sword Immortal Xu Jun." This guest elder of the Liu family from the Ai Ai Continent had crossed continents to Tongye Continent and settled at the Qu Mountain Ferry. According to rumors in several landscape gazettes, he was there to prevent the Jade Gui Sect from sabotaging the Liu family's ferry boats. The Jade Gui Sect had sent their shrine hall offering Wang Ji to confront this "Sword Immortal Xu" at Qu Mountain Ferry.
Coincidentally, Wang Ji was also present today, and he had brought along a child who looked less than ten years old. This child turned out to be the new peak master of Nine Yi Peak of the Jade Gui Sect.
Huang Yi Yun of Pu Mountain.
She had been selected as one of the top ten martial arts grandmasters in Tongye Continent's history, and together with Martial Saint Wu Shu, they were the last two Stopping Realm martial artists in Tongye Continent.
Then there was the old man, Yao Zhen, the grandfather of Yao Jinzhi, the current female emperor of the Great Spring Dynasty, the foremost of the ten great dynasties of Tongye Continent. Beside the old man were two others: one was the Minister of Rites, and the young man with a crippled leg and a broken arm was the prefect of the Mirage City of Great Spring.
Additionally, there were cultivators who claimed to be from Iron Tree Mountain in the Central Earth Divine Continent. There were also two Daoists from the Ground-Lying Peak in North Ju Lu Continent. Could they be the disciples of the Fire Dragon True Person, maybe even his direct descendants?
They had previously stated to Immortal Master Cui that they could guarantee that the three infamous individuals, while retaining their status as registered cultivators of Jade Branch Hill, could at least find a place to eat at Immortal Capital Mountain without wandering around and facing contempt. After all, the Jade Branch Hill sect's destruction was the result of opening the door to thieves, ultimately led by a former throne great demon, Qie Yun, who slaughtered almost everyone. Beautiful female cultivators had suffered especially terrible fates. But now, almost all local cultivators in Tongye Continent felt that the Jade Branch Hill had brought it upon themselves.
In truth, Lan Yi and her two fellow disciples were already more than satisfied with this. It might be an exaggeration to say they felt deeply grateful to Immortal Master Cui, but it was no exaggeration to say they were sincerely grateful to Immortal Capital Mountain. Even if Mr. Cui had been direct and early in revealing his intentions—that he was interested in the unique craft secretly passed down by the Shuyi Pavilion—so what? They had a place to settle, could earn money steadily together over time, and moreover, Immortal Master Cui wouldn't demand the secret method for refining talisman beauties from the Shuyi Pavilion.
Chen Ping'an didn't use heart-to-heart communication; he spoke directly to the three of them: "Just cultivate peacefully here at Immortal Capital Mountain. If someday you wish to restore your old identities, when you feel the timing is right in all aspects, even if you want to voluntarily leave the registration of Immortal Capital Mountain, I can guarantee on behalf of Cui Dongshan that there will be no obstruction whatsoever. As for reviving the incense heritage of Shuyi Pavilion of Jade Branch Hill, or even rebuilding Jade Branch Hill, Immortal Capital Mountain will do its utmost to help. Moreover, if you're willing, as time goes on here at our Immortal Capital Mountain, if you come to trust Sect Leader Cui and Immortal Capital Mountain, we can formally become mountain allies in the future. Before that, you may actively seek out scattered disciples of Jade Branch Hill, and Immortal Capital Mountain will set aside a peak as a temporary Daoist ground to accommodate them."
Lan Yi and the other two felt as if they had swallowed a huge peace of mind pill. This was an absolutely tremendous surprise.
With just the three of them, not even having an Earth Immortal cultivator among them, rebuilding Shuyi Pavilion in their lifetimes was a great luxury, let alone rekindling the incense fire for the entire shrine hall of Jade Branch Hill.
Cui Dongshan smiled knowingly. His teacher had clearly said this deliberately for everyone present to hear.
His teacher was making his own final judgment on the matter of Jade Branch Hill's destruction.
In his teacher's view, perhaps if the chaotic times could not accommodate a blinded Jade Branch Hill, then in the future peaceful world, Tongye Continent would inevitably need a Jade Branch Hill.
Therefore, regardless of how the entire Tongye Continent viewed that upheaval at Jade Branch Hill, from Fallen Mountain in Treasure Vase Continent to the Green Calm Sword Sect in Tongye Continent, they were willing to revive the incense of Jade Branch Hill.
Cui Dongshan was beaming with energy.
This was very good.
The more his teacher got involved, the better.
What he feared most was his teacher completely washing his hands of the matter, being lukewarm toward Immortal Capital Mountain from now on, and ignoring it. Then how agonizing would that be for him, the proud student?
Cui Dongshan came to Tao Ran's side, elbowed the Sword Immortal Tao, and said through heart-to-heart with a smile: "Sword Immortal Tao, let me tell you a few things. First, Jiang Shangzhen is our Immortal Capital Mountain's upper sect, the chief offering of Fallen Mountain, though he uses the alias Zhou Fei. Old Sect Leader Jiang has a great temper in our Fallen Mountain; his reputation is very solid. So if you become a member of the shrine hall of Immortal Capital Mountain, cursing him a few times is no problem—he can't talk back. Surprising, isn't it?"
Tao Ran kept a straight face, silently telling himself that since even "Chen Ping'an" was the real Chen Ping'an, cursing Jiang Shangzhen or whatever was a small matter.
"Also, that guy Yu Mi, who you find so obnoxious, is actually Mi Yu, the 'Mi Lan Yao' from the Sword Qi Great Wall. Surprising?"
Tao Ran cautiously glanced sideways at... Mi Yu. Sword Immortal Tao smiled awkwardly and subconsciously rubbed his waist, feeling a chill.
In fact, from Chen Ping'an to Xiao Mo, then to Mi Yu, Tao Ran had already cursed them all.
Lan Yi, as the senior sister of the Shuyi Pavilion, wept with joy and choked up: "Mr. Chen, why must you treat us three nobodies so generously?"
Chen Ping'an gave his answer: "Let's not talk about the rights and wrongs of that tragic upheaval, nor the established facts of the great mistake made. I'll only say this: If there is no compassion, why open the door?"
Chen Ping'an continued: "The road is rugged, the task is heavy and the journey is long. In this process, there will certainly be many criticisms. You need to prepare yourselves mentally early on."
Then Chen Ping'an smiled: "Of course, if you ever give up on this idea, finding it too difficult, and despite all efforts, you still can't achieve it—can't do it no matter what—our Immortal Capital Mountain also welcomes you to then sit on a specially arranged chair in the shrine hall of Green Calm Peak."
Lan Yi, Yu Xinglou, and Fu Zhu bowed to Chen Ping'an and Cui Dongshan, the two sect leaders, in thanks.
The auspicious time had arrived.
Cao Qinglang took out a key and opened the main gate of the shrine hall of Green Calm Peak.
Chen Ping'an and Cui Dongshan, teacher and student, walked side by side through the gate and crossed the threshold, first heading toward the main hall of the shrine hall ahead.
As the ancestral peak of Immortal Capital Mountain, the shrine hall of Green Calm Peak currently only hung one scroll painting.
The ancestor of the upper sect, Fallen Mountain's Mountain Lord Chen Ping'an.
In a green shirt with a sword on his back, a jade hairpin in his hair.
Extremely lifelike.
Cui Dongshan had ultimately not followed his teacher's wishes and placed the three portraits of the shrine hall of Ji Se Peak in the center, with his and Cui Dongshan's portraits hanging at the far left and right ends.
Today's ceremony for establishing the lower sect of Immortal Capital Mountain was still the same as the previous upper sect Fallen Mountain's ceremony—no cumbersome formalities, extremely simple, not at all complicated.
Inside the shrine hall, two rows of chairs were placed on the left and right.
One side was the upper sect, Fallen Mountain. The other side was the lower sect, Immortal Capital Mountain, Green Calm Sword Sect.
On one side: Chen Ping'an, Chang Ming, Wei Wenlong. Pei Qian, Zhou Mili, Xiao Mo, Jia Sheng, Zhang Jiazhen.
Rear seats: Nalan Yudie, Bai Xuan, Sun Chunwang, Chai Wu.
Total of twelve people.
On the other side: Cui Dongshan (Immortal realm), Mi Yu (Immortal realm sword cultivator), Cui Wei (Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator), Zhong Qiu (peak Far Roaming realm martial artist), Sui Youbian (Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator), Cao Qinglang (Golden Core realm cultivator), Tao Ran (Golden Core realm sword cultivator).
Rear seats: Shao Boxian (Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator), Meng Long, Shi Qiu. Jiang Qu. Yu Xieshui, Cheng Zhaolu, He Gu. Wu Gou, Xiao Manying (two Earth Immortal ghost cultivators). Lan Yi, Yu Xinglou, Fu Zhu.
Total of nineteen people.
The upper and lower sects combined had thirty-one members.
Behind the two rows of chairs on each side were seats for the observing guests—one group were natives of Tongye Continent, seated behind Cui Dongshan; the other group were outsiders, seated behind Chen Ping'an.
Great Spring Dynasty: Yao Zhen, Prefect Yao Xianzhi, Minister of Rites Li Xiling. Peace Mountain Mountain Lord Huang Ting, protector offering Yu Fushan. Pu Mountain Thatched Cottage: Mountain Lord Ye Yunyun, Law Enforcer Tan Rong, Xue Huai.
Jade Gui Sect: Old Ancestor Zhang Fenggu, offering Wang Ji, Nine Yi Peak Peak Master Qiu Zhi, Wei Gusu, Wei Xianyou, Cloud Grotto Blessed Land Jiang Heng. Qiu Du, Hu Chuling. Zhong Kui, Yu Jin. Demon Suppression Tower Qing Tong.
Dragon Tiger Mountain: Outer Surname Grand Heavenly Master Liang Shuang, Ma Xuanhui. Ground-Lying Peak: Pointing Finger Peak Yuan Lingdian, Zhang Shanfeng. Tai Hui Sword Sect: Sect Leader Liu Jinglong, Pian Ran Peak Bai Shou. Iron Tree Mountain: Guo Ran, Tan Yingzhou. Zheng Youqian. Golden Armor Continent Great Sword Immortal Xu Xie. Ai Ai Continent: Liu Jubao, Liu Youzhou. Central Earth Divine Continent Xuan Mi Dynasty: Yu Panshui.
Total of thirty-five observing guests.
The seating arrangement for the observing guests was also very interesting, because there was no arrangement at all—everyone just sat wherever they pleased.
Last time at Fallen Mountain's Ji Se Peak, those responsible for offering incense were Chen Nuanshu and Zhou Mili.
This time at Green Calm Peak, it was Cao Qinglang and Zhou Mili, each holding an incense tube.
And last time at the founding ceremony of Fallen Mountain, the incense offering in the shrine hall of Ji Se Peak had forty-three registered members of the shrine hall in front and thirty-six observing guests behind.
For this lower sect's incense offering ceremony, except for Chen Ping'an, the upper sect's ancestor, who did not need to offer incense, the green-clad figure simply stood in the first position on the left.
After everyone offered incense in turn, they found chairs and sat down.
Zhong Kui could clearly feel Chen Ping'an's awkwardness.
It's not good to be too young and accomplished either.
Standing there alone, and then being experienced by the Dragon Tiger Mountain's Outer Surname Grand Heavenly Master, the Liu family's God of Wealth, Yu Panshui, and others—the feeling was beyond words.
The fat man Yu Jin felt helpless, always feeling he had suffered a great loss. But thinking that Zhong Kui still had to retrieve half of his family assets from Chen Ping'an, he endured it.
Zhang Shanfeng was also suppressing a smile.
Qing Tong found it quite amusing.
Afterward, Cui Dongshan, along with Cao Qinglang and the Right Protector of Fallen Mountain, Zhou Mili, followed the customary mountain rules to first unveil the cloth covers of the two plaques at the mountain gate and the shrine hall.
Green Calm Sword Sect.
At the foot of Green Calm Peak, they had to obediently set up ladders and hang up the couplet presented by Wu Shuangjiang.
Then they returned to the shrine hall.
If Immortal Capital Mountain had not intentionally kept everything simple, the next step would have been for a highly respected cultivator to serve as a sort of herald, loudly reciting congratulatory messages from sect ancestors, immortal mansion leaders, and dynasty monarchs who could not attend in person. Generally, for a lower sect ceremony in the Haoran world, with the backing of the upper sect and various connections, this single step would often take half an hour or even longer, because there were often over a hundred such congratulatory messages.
Skipping this step, Cui Dongshan then methodically introduced everyone present, starting with the upper sect Fallen Mountain, then the registered cultivators of the Green Calm Sword Sect, and finally the observing guests.
Next was the Law Enforcer of Fallen Mountain, Chang Ming, who announced the members of the shrine hall of the Green Calm Sword Sect.
Chen Ping'an. First Sect Leader Cui Dongshan, Law Enforcing Ancestor Cui Wei, Chief Offering Mi Yu, Financial Manager Zhong Qiu. Sui Youbian, Cao Qinglang, Tao Ran, Wu Gou, Xiao Manying.
Afterward, Cui Dongshan, in his capacity as sect leader, formally invited Huang Ting of Peace Mountain to serve as the Chief Guest Elder. Ye Yunyun of Pu Mountain and Yao Xianzhi of Great Spring Dynasty were invited as Registered Guest Elders.
He also invited Qing Tong and Qiu Du to serve as Registered Offerings of the Green Calm Sword Sect, and the sword cultivator Cao Jun, who could not attend the ceremony today, as a Junior Offering. The three would effectively fill the positions of members of the shrine hall of Green Calm Peak.
The observation ceremony for the guests concluded at this point.
Next, the first shrine hall meeting of the Green Calm Sword Sect was to begin.
Members included: Chen Ping'an, Chang Ming, Wei Wenlong, Pei Qian, Zhou Mili, Xiao Mo, Jia Sheng.
Cui Dongshan, Mi Yu, Cui Wei, Zhong Qiu, Sui Youbian, Cao Qinglang. Tao Ran, Wu Gou, Xiao Manying, Qiu Du.
Plus the five offerings and guest elders who had seats in the shrine hall: Qing Tong, Qiu Du. Huang Ting, Ye Yunyun, Yao Xianzhi.
Chen Ping'an personally escorted the observing guests out of the shrine hall. Except for a very few who remained in the square, everyone else began to return to their various mansions and residences on the various peaks.
Without rushing back to the shrine hall, Chen Ping'an came to Liu Jubao and Yu Panshui, who had remained on the mountaintop, and said with a smile: "Please forgive the poor hospitality."
Liu Jubao laughed and teased: "Not having to greet dozens of familiar and unfamiliar people, being a leisurely spectator from start to finish—such a relaxed and pleasant observation experience, I hope to have more of it."
Yu Panshui glanced toward the ferry crossing and said cheerfully: "Lord Hidden Official, that Wind Kite ferry boat isn't bad, is it?"
Chen Ping'an smiled: "It would be even better to have another one."
Yu Panshui got anxious and complained: "Not taking the fat, but picking the lean—there's no such business sense in the world."
Cui Dongshan jumped up and wrapped his arm around Yu Panshui's neck, pulling him down so the latter had to bend over: "Fatty Yu, if you're not fat, who is?"
Liu Jubao coughed lightly, and someone finally withdrew his gaze from somewhere, quickly smiling and greeting the Lord Hidden Official.
Chen Ping'an looked at Liu Youzhou, nodded, and smiled: "It's been many years since we parted at Osmanthus Island. I've missed you."
Back then, both of them were still youths.
Immortal Capital Mountain's Green Calm Peak pierced the clouds. Standing on the mountaintop and looking into the distance, the view was filled with rolling seas of clouds.
A single green-clad figure atop the white clouds, myriad scenes gathered within both eyes.
---
Inside the Profound Capital Observatory, a fat man who seemed to fatten up every season wore a peach-wood talisman personally bestowed by the old observatory master at his waist, allowing him to ignore the subtle prohibitions that could confuse even a Flying Ascension realm cultivator. Yan Zhuo scurried to find the Daoist master Sun's cultivation ground—a famous "observatory within an observatory"—and gently knocked on the vermilion gate of the main hall, tentatively asking: "Old Observatory Master, are you in seclusion? Busy?"
An impatient voice came from inside: "If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost."
Yan Zhuo rubbed his hands outside the door: "On my way here, I met a worldly hermit. He doesn't wear a Daoist robe or cap, but instead pins flowers in his hair. Old Observatory Master, can you take a look for me? If his character is solid, this might be a steady stream of big business—endless profits!"
Yan Zhuo had just returned from a trip outside, euphemistically called an external cultivation journey but actually a tour of various branch lineages and subordinate sects of the Profound Capital Observatory.
Previously, within the main observatory, Yan Zhuo hadn't felt anything special—he could see Old Observatory Master every few days in the peach grove, pulling up two stools to sit in the stream and drink a little wine together. Never mind that they were seven or eight generations apart—Daoist Sun wasn't particular, and Yan Zhuo didn't stand on ceremony. Daoist Sun didn't care, and following his example, the high-ranking true persons were even more polite to Yan Zhuo. Plus, the Profound Capital Observatory was a lineage of Daoist sword immortals, and many Daoist officials carried swords. Naturally, this gave Yan Zhuo an illusion.
It felt like he was still at home, still on the Sword Qi Great Wall.
Seniority and realms didn't matter.
But when Yan Zhuo actually left the Profound Capital Observatory and ventured into the vast mountains and rivers outside, he realized that a Daoist priest with a degree from the main lineage of the Profound Capital Observatory had quite a reputation. The disciples and descendants of Daoist Sun, the heads of observatories in various countries, the nation-protecting true persons scattered across Qi Prefecture, all treated this young fat man from the main observatory with great respect and courtesy.
Actually, Yan Zhuo had misunderstood. Not every registered Daoist official from the Profound Capital Observatory received such treatment. Those Daoist immortals were genuinely curious about one thing: what exactly was this fat man's relationship with the old observatory master? So they looked at the relatively unfamiliar Yan, a sword cultivator, with amused eyes, thinking, "Could the old observatory master have found a bastard son and brought him home?"
After all, few Daoists from the Profound Capital Observatory would dare to meddle with that peach grove.
The old observatory master had always adhered to a certain principle: since they took on disciples, if the master didn't teach them, were they supposed to let outsiders teach them the ways of the world?
Coupled with the old observatory master's unique and distinctive style, the entire Profound Capital Observatory in the Qing Ming world was one of a kind. Outside the White Jade Capital domain, they could walk sideways.
As for Yan Zhuo's true identity, the Profound Capital Observatory, as the main lineage, had not publicized it, deliberately keeping it secret. Since the old observatory master didn't bring it up, who dared to leak the news?
Thus, even among the current members of the Profound Capital Observatory, fewer than ten Daoist officials knew that Yan Zhuo came from the Sword Qi Great Wall, including Han Zhanran, the Daoist with the Dao name "Spring Radiance" who served as the observatory's "gatekeeper."
Anyway, the Profound Capital Observatory never lacked stories and topics.
Daoist Sun chuckled: "Is it that crazy fellow who likes to dress up as a woman?"
I heard that guy wandered all the way to the border of Qi Prefecture before stopping. What a nose for trouble—the moment his senior sister came out of seclusion, he came running over.
But at least he knew some rules, not directly entering the territory of the Profound Capital Observatory. After all, the Profound Capital Observatory and his sect didn't get along. This guy was probably afraid of getting ambushed.
As for what Fatty Yan called "business"—wasn't it just to get some of that peach grove's produce?
Yan Zhuo's smile, which had initially fooled a big fool, gradually froze.
After a moment of silence, Yan Zhuo jumped up and roared: "Is he a swindler? Rebel! How dare he come to the doorstep of our Profound Capital Observatory to cheat and deceive? I'll go find Sister Zhanran immediately and demand justice from him!"
It turned out that the other party had claimed that Yan Zhuo's meticulously crafted peach branch pens, peach talisman tablets, peach leaf bookmarks, and other items could be sold by him to Yong Prefecture, which was not adjacent to Qi Prefecture, guaranteeing big profits with a thirty-seventy split. As long as Yan Xian Guan nodded, he could just wait to collect money from then on.
Additionally, the Profound Capital Observatory had baskets of peaches every year anyway. The Daoist officials couldn't finish them all, and giving them away for free was wasteful. There were so many immortal mansions and Daoist temples in Yong Prefecture that had festivities almost every day. Festivities required celestial fruits by the basket. The world-famous immortal peaches of the Profound Capital Observatory—could there be a problem with sales?
Yan Zhuo thought it was feasible. No matter how bold the other party was, how high their backing, they wouldn't dare to cheat the Profound Capital Observatory, right?
"How did he introduce himself to you?"
"This guy called himself Qing Ling, with a name but no surname, and no Dao name either. He said he'd been wandering the martial world for a long time, had many friends, and everyone was willing to give him some face..."
Hearing this, the old observatory master inside laughed mockingly. This was like running a gang—"friends in the martial world."
"I asked him his realm. He honestly said he was an Immortal realm cultivator, from the foremost sect in Yong Prefecture, with considerable prestige in his sect. I also saw that he had three attendants with him, who all seemed to be Land Immortals. Probably afraid I wouldn't believe him, this friend Qing Ling even offered to leave behind an iron flute he carried as a deposit. I didn't dare take it. He left a mailing address, and I think he's still waiting for my news."
Daoist Sun smiled, pondering whether to inform his senior sister about this person.
This place was actually the ancestral shrine hall of the Profound Capital Observatory, the fundamental ground of all branches of the Daoist sword immortal lineage in the world.
The hall hung portraits of successive generations of observatory ancestors, at least forty or fifty of them.
Among the sects and descendant Daoist temples outside White Jade Capital, the practice of hanging portraits varied depending on their depth. Some were Golden Core Daoists who, after death, had portraits hung in the shrine hall and enjoyed incense offerings. But for a colossus like the Profound Capital Observatory, one needed at least to be a Jade Pu realm cultivator to qualify.
Because Sun Huaizhong, the current observatory master, had such high Daoist skill and had lived for so long, occupying the position without doing much for many years, many of the "ancestors" on the portraits were actually of a lower generation than Sun Huaizhong.
The portraits in the ancestral hall were arranged from highest to lowest generation, forming a pagoda-like structure.
High on the wall, there were three blank portraits in a row, two side by side, reserved for the future Observatory Master Sun Huaizhong and his senior sister Wang Sun.
This was like a "place held vacant"—not too strange in the Qing Ming world. It was like common folk who didn't avoid talking about life and death and had their coffins prepared early while still alive.
The more blank portraits an immortal mansion's shrine hall had, the more living ancestors the sect possessed.
The ancestral hall's main gate slowly opened. Daoist Sun stepped over the threshold and walked out, stroking his beard and squinting: "He's come for my senior sister. Finding business with you is just a bonus, using you as a stepping stone."
As the gate opened, Fatty Yan lowered his head, careful not to look inside the hall. When the gate closed, Yan Zhuo looked up and asked a very practical question: "Observatory Master, can you give me a straight answer? If I go into business with him, can I really make big money?"
Daoist Sun nodded: "Yes."
Yan Zhuo sighed in relief: "As long as he's not a swindler. It's always good to know more such experts and get familiar with them."
Daoist Sun smiled: "This Long Xinpu doesn't like staying on the mountain to cultivate properly. He loves to stir up trouble in the martial world. Over time, those with shallow eyes have respectfully called him 'Master Long.' But compared to Lin Jiangxian's 'Master Lin,' the substance is far behind. Anyway, Long Xinpu has thick skin. Even if someone fearless wanted to call him 'Sect Leader Long,' he'd dare to accept it."
That old Daoist who used the alias Qing Ling was truly named Long Xinpu, an old ancestor of the Soldier Solve Mountain in Yong Prefecture. By seniority, he was even the supreme ancestor of the current sect leader.
Soldier Solve Mountain was one of the foremost peaks in Yong Prefecture. As the only surviving "elder of the same generation" from Soldier Solve Mountain, claiming to have prestige in the sect and some face abroad was not blowing one's own trumpet.
But Soldier Solve Mountain had a rather unusual atmosphere. The Daoist ages of its cultivators were not high, with a saying of "a calamity every thousand years," and it wasn't that the older they were, the stronger they fought.
Because the cultivators there didn't live long, this person's seniority was a great advantage. Otherwise, for sects like the Profound Capital Observatory or Harvest Mountain, having a supreme ancestor as their observatory master or sect leader would scare people to death, right?
After all, someone who could live five or six thousand years—how low could their realm be?
This Long Xinpu of Soldier Solve Mountain was from the same hometown and the same year as his senior sister, both from a small place in Yong Prefecture.
But in terms of realm, cultivation talent, and fighting ability, he was far, far inferior to his senior sister.
This guy wandered around outside, neither starving nor being beaten to death, relying solely on his mouth. He had fallen in realm three times, all because his mouth had no filter.
Yan Zhuo asked curiously: "This senior—did he come for the observatory master's senior sister? Is there a story behind this?"
Daoist Sun glared: "If it's not your business, don't ask."
If you, kid, spout nonsense, with my senior sister's temper, she won't bother with a junior. Then she'll come after me.
When I was younger, it didn't matter. But now I'm an observatory master; I need some dignity. Covering half my face every day when I go out would be embarrassing.
Daoist Sun led the way out of this forbidden observatory within the observatory and casually asked: "What did you gain from your trip outside?"
Yan Zhuo said with deep emotion: "I was treated with great respect everywhere I went. Very satisfying. It wasn't in vain that I had the foresight to pick the Profound Capital Observatory early on. In this matter, Dong Heitan is not as good as me."
Actually, this was thanks to the recommendation of the young Hidden Official. Otherwise, the money-obsessed Fatty Yan, under the strict rules of White Jade Capital and on the path to making money, might have had eighteen skills but no way to use them.
Lin Jiangxian's Crow Mountain in Ru Prefecture relied on numbers and the strong support of the Red Gold Dynasty's martial arts sect. Their direct martial artists could walk sideways in that continent.
And the Profound Capital Observatory in Qi Prefecture was the undisputed... big boss.
Unlike Yin Prefecture, which had Two Capital Mountain and Great Tide Sect as sworn enemies. But times had changed; the two families had become one family, literally. Mountain sects intermarried often, with disciples taking a liking to each other and tying the knot, but two sect leaders becoming Daoist partners? That was unprecedented in the Qing Ming world.
In Zhu Prefecture, there was also Harvest Mountain contending with the Qing Ci Palace, one of the ancestral courts of Daoist talismans.
Even in You Prefecture, there was the Shou Shan Pavilion that could match the Di Fei Mountain Hua Yang Palace.
It was hard to say who dominated.
In Yong Prefecture, there were the Immortal Staff Sect and Soldier Solve Mountain, two top-tier immortal mansions, always vying for the top position in the state.
Of course, the White Jade Capital was the master of the entire Qing Ming world. Even the Profound Capital Observatory was far inferior in comparison.
It could even be said that all sects in the Qing Ming world were "external branches" of the White Jade Capital.
Yan Zhuo asked: "Old Observatory Master, can I do business with him?"
Daoist Sun hummed in acknowledgment: "As you wish. Money dealings, just business. There's no taboo here."
Besides, the old grievances between the Profound Capital Observatory and Soldier Solve Mountain, in Sun Huaizhong's view, were not an irresolvable knot. It was just that the current sect leader of Soldier Solve Mountain was stubborn and couldn't see past it.
Daoist Sun asked: "Are you really that fond of making money?"
Yan Zhuo smiled: "I really am. I've liked it since I was a child. Besides cultivation and practicing swordsmanship, I have to find something to do to distract myself and keep occupied."
Daoist Sun nodded: "Good."
If there was an opportunity through this business to ease relations, and later recommend Yan Zhuo as the accountant of the Profound Capital Observatory's main court, at least he would have something to say for himself.
Otherwise, people would accuse him of nepotism. And the Profound Capital Observatory didn't urgently need a sweeper at the moment.
Daoist Sun said: "Go call Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing. We'll go out together to relax."
Yan Zhuo nodded and agreed, then went to call those two lucky fellows with deep fortune.
Yan Zhuo asked tentatively: "Should I first send a flying sword message to that old senior from Soldier Solve Mountain?"
Daoist Sun shook his head: "No need."
Last time, Daoist Sun traveled out of body in his yin spirit, touring the Haoran world again. He eventually took on two direct disciples in North Ju Lu Continent, gathered them into his sleeve universe, and brought them back to the Profound Capital Observatory.
But they were only nominal direct disciples. He gave them a few Daoist books and some immortal formulas. In fact, it was the upper-fifth-realm Daoist officials like "gatekeeper" Han Zhanran who taught them swordsmanship and Daoist formulas.
According to Daoist Sun, "When it comes to teaching, I have a flaw: I can teach geniuses, but not slow learners."
Those two young outsiders from North Ju Lu Continent in the Haoran world dared not complain.
They only felt that being connected to an immovable number five in the world was an immense blessing from their ancestors. They dared not ask for more.
Besides, all Daoists of the Profound Capital Observatory's main lineage could cultivate in peace. At least no one had to worry about being bullied outside.
Old Observatory Master Sun Huaizhong was like a towering ancient tree, sheltering all Daoists. Everyone enjoyed the cool shade beneath it, focusing solely on cultivation.
Yan Zhuo found Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing and said that their master had issued a decree for them to accompany him for a walk. People compared, and it was infuriating. These two peers, as the old observatory master's direct disciples, had fearlessly high seniority in the Profound Capital Observatory and were allowed to cultivate in a thatched hut in the peach grove as an exception. Di Yuanfeng and the other had no contempt for Fatty Yan; without a word, they followed Yan Zhuo to meet their master.
Back in their hometown of North Ju Lu Continent, at a ruined immortal mansion, Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing had personally experienced how "inhuman" someone could be in their actions.
No wonder their master called him "Little Friend Chen."
But when they later learned that the other party was the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, they began to congratulate themselves on their "survival" and their fortune in misfortune. They cherished their current stable cultivation years even more.
Yan Zhuo smiled: "When Chen Ping'an comes to the Profound Capital Observatory in the future, the three of you will be reuniting with old friends. You must have a good drink! Any thoughts on the wine? I can help prepare a few jars of immortal brews early on. As for the price, that's negotiable—I guarantee the original price!"
Di Yuanfeng didn't respond.
Zhan Qing, however, smiled: "That sounds wonderful. We'll trouble Brother Yan to put in the effort."
In fact, meeting Di Yuanfeng and the others was also the first time Chen Ping'an, after accidentally entering the Lotus Blossom Blessed Land, mustered the courage to venture into mountain-river secret realms like those mountain cultivators, seeking Dao and immortals, pursuing opportunities.
Looking only at the outcome, Chen Ping'an had gained a lot. But the danger in the process was truly frightening. Beyond that, Chen Ping'an had also unknowingly taken on a not-insignificant karmic burden. At the small Daoist temple on the mountaintop, there was a peachwood statue of a middle-aged Daoist. The true identity of this person was none other than the junior disciple of the Profound Capital Observatory's Daoist Sun, who had been personally questioned and challenged by Yu Dou, the Second Deputy Head of White Jade Capital, who came wearing his ceremonial robe and carrying his immortal sword. The one who died under the sword of the truly invincible was this very Daoist official of the Profound Capital Observatory.
And this person's direct disciple, Song Maolu, was a Daoist hailed as "the disciple surpassed the teacher."
According to the Fire Dragon True Person's words at the Frog Water Island in the Dragon Palace Lesser Paradise back then, this Daoist, who was a martial nephew to the observatory master, had used Yong Prefecture as his base and gathered nearly sixty percent of the Daoist lineages outside White Jade Capital. This statement, of course, had some exaggeration. Because the top-tier sects and immortal mansions hadn't truly allied with Song Maolu. There might have been private agreements, but at least publicly, they hadn't joined the Yong Prefecture alliance. Still, it was shocking enough, like the Fire Dragon True Person's metaphor: in our Haoran world, it would be like someone being able to contend with half of Confucianism and the Confucian Temple in the Central Earth.
And Song Maolu's master, Sun Huaizhong's junior disciple, the Flying Ascension realm old Daoist's peachwood statue, was now the key to the Wood Dwelling of Chen Ping'an's Five Elements lifebound treasures.
Besides Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing, who were gathered into the old observatory master's sleeve universe, like chickens and dogs ascending to heaven, actually, the female cultivator Liu Guibao of the Color Sparrow Mansion had also almost become the observatory master's direct disciple.
Yan Zhuo asked with great curiosity: "When will us brothers have a little drink and you tell me all about that journey and how you met Chen Ping'an?"
Because of his relationship with Chen Ping'an, Yan Zhuo was especially close to them.
As for what those two thought, Fatty Yan didn't care.
Zhan Qing smiled and agreed, saying it was no problem. Di Yuanfeng, however, felt helpless; he really didn't want to mention that old sly, money-grubbing "Good Man Chen."
Back then, Di Yuanfeng's family had fallen from grace. He wore an heirloom precious saber at his waist and had learned some saber techniques from a family retainer who was a former border general. He had used the alias Qin Juyuan of the Jiayou Kingdom, of course to frame and slander the latter. On the way, he met "Daoist Sun," Master Huang, and others—a group of disliked mountain and wild cultivators—who joined forces for wealth. On that journey to the immortal mansion's secret realm, Di Yuanfeng had his life on the line, risking everything for great fortune. In contrast, Zhan Qing, as the young marquis of the Beiting Kingdom, was a notorious playboy and fickle lover. With a bamboo staff and straw sandals, a sheep-fat jade flute tucked at his waist, a noble young master's air, carrying a bamboo staff hiding a soft sword, and accompanied by a beautiful woman, he seemed to be on a pleasure trip.
As for why the old observatory master was willing to take them as disciples and bring them to the Qing Ming world, Zhan Qing and Di Yuanfeng were still baffled. They became Daoist officials in a daze, walking in the Profound Capital Observatory, inexplicably called "uncle" or "martial uncle" by upper-fifth-realm old true persons, sometimes even "grandmaster uncle" or "great grandmaster uncle," and even respectfully called "supreme uncle" or "supreme grand-uncle."
But between the two fellow disciples, their relationship was average. In essence, they had never been on the same path.
Different paths, at least that's what they themselves thought.
Zhan Qing cautiously asked: "Brother Yan, how did the Lord Hidden Official, as an outsider, manage to establish himself at the Sword Qi Great Wall in the first place?"
Yan Zhuo thought carefully and burst out laughing: "By treating people with sincerity!"
While Fatty Yan was off calling the others, Daoist Sun found his senior sister Wang Sun and tentatively asked: "That Long Xinpu from Soldier Solve Mountain has come knocking. Do you want to see him?"
The maiden-looking female Daoist said calmly: "If he's using the pretext of being a fellow villager to catch up, then forget it—I won't see him. If you think he's here to discuss something important with our Profound Capital Observatory, then you're the observatory master, so it's up to you. I don't mind either way."
Daoist Sun asked: "What if he's here for both reasons?"
Wang Sun said: "Of course, public matters take precedence over private. A meeting wouldn't hurt."
Daoist Sun sighed in relief. After a moment of silence, he said without any particular reason: "Senior Sister, our master was fortunate in his later years."
As for the teacher of Daoist Sun and Wang Sun, the old Daoist with the Dao name "Qing Yuan," he had died a natural death, without illness. Several of his disciples were considered successful. If he had lived a few hundred years longer, he might have been worried.
Wang Sun nodded: "It's lucky the master left early. If he had lived a few more years, we would have infuriated him to death."
Even when mentioning her master, Wang Sun didn't mince words.
Daoist Sun smiled: "Every one of you back then was unwilling to take over the master's position and succeed as observatory master. I've always suspected that when the master chose me, you might have quietly said something to him."
"Without evidence, don't talk nonsense."
Wang Sun sat under a peach tree, pressed her hand on a sheathed longsword, and lectured: "As a junior disciple, show some respect."
Daoist Sun chuckled helplessly.
Back then, the previous observatory master of the Profound Capital Observatory, Daoist "Qing Yuan," had brought a group of seven children into the observatory to cultivate at the same time. After that, the old true person never took on any more direct disciples.
And out of those seven children, three later became Flying Ascension realm cultivators!
Besides Wang Sun, who had just "come out of seclusion," and the current observatory master Sun Huaizhong, there was also their junior disciple, who liked to carry a mountain-traveling staff and wander with a backpack. He came from a small place famous for loquats, was born poor, and was named Huang Gan. His later Dao name was "Qing Li."
Three fellow disciples: Sun Huaizhong, Senior Sister Wang Sun, and Junior Disciple Huang Gan—all had successively reached the Flying Ascension realm and had each served as the Profound Capital Observatory's abbot, head seat, and lecturer.
Thus, the year the previous observatory master took his last disciples was regarded in later generations as a "bumper year" in the Profound Capital Observatory's history.
Even in the thick almanac of the entire Qing Ming world, it was destined to be a heavy stroke.
That was why when the old scholar last visited the Profound Capital Observatory with a child in a tiger-head hat, he made a special trip to this ancestral shrine hall to burn three sticks of incense for the previous observatory master.
Those in the portraits and those burning incense outside the portraits—both knew how to take disciples.
Moreover, there was a not-insignificant Daoist connection between the old scholar's last disciple and the previous observatory master's youngest disciple.
That was very good.
The previous observatory master of the Profound Capital Observatory, Yuan He, with the Dao name "Qing Yuan," first formally taught his indoor disciples by giving them a copy of the Dao ancestor's work, which had only five thousand words.
Wang Sun only read the opening six words—"The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao"—and closed the book.
The old Daoist, who was then only serving as one of the three high-ranking officials of the observatory, nodded and smiled.
He told her she could go play.
The little girl, who still had her hair in two pigtails at the time, hopped and skipped out of the room to play alone.
Leaving behind Sun Huaizhong and the other fellow disciples, staring wide-eyed at each other, thinking she was like a celestial being.
Afterward, Sun Huaizhong asked his senior sister what had happened.
Her explanation at the time was: "I don't know how to read. What was that book the master threw at me?"
Sun Huaizhong had actually believed her. Youthful ignorance, youthful ignorance!
Indeed, his senior sister Wang Sun came from a family of snake-catchers in Yong Prefecture; it wasn't surprising she couldn't read.
In contrast, most of Sun Huaizhong and the others came from good backgrounds—not only could they read, but they had also memorized many Daoist scriptures. For example, the youngest junior disciple, Huang Gan, who was considered the best cultivation material from the start, had already thoroughly read the entire Daoist canon by the age of ten.
It was only many years later that Sun Huaizhong learned the truth: his senior sister had simply thought that the newly acquainted junior "Xiao Sun," despite being young, was at least a cultivator. That he could ask such an idiotic question was pitiful, so she made up a clumsy excuse to comfort him.
Anyway, in those years, every time his senior sister saw Sun Huaizhong, she looked at him with especially "kind" eyes and never had a cold face. She probably saw him as a little fool needing her pity.
After that, Wang Sun's cultivation path was extremely smooth. Breaking through realms was like splitting bamboo.
She completely crushed her peers, leaving them far behind, only able to watch her ascending silhouette from afar.
As time passed, all the Daoists of the Hui generation in the Profound Capital Observatory resigned themselves to fate. It was clearly impossible to compare, so they simply stopped comparing with Wang Sun.
When discussing Daoist techniques or debating principles, no one sought out Wang Sun.
Wang Sun first crushed her peers, then caught up with the generation of her teachers, and then surpassed the two generations above Hui, which included many brilliant cultivation geniuses. She surpassed them all, one by one.
The later generations' comment that Wang Sun "heard the Dao as a child" was no joke.
As the junior disciple Huang Gan, whose cultivation talent was second only to Wang Sun, there was a prophecy before he entered the Profound Capital Observatory: "He will be a celestial immortal." Ironically, he turned out to be the slowest in cultivation.
As for Sun Huaizhong, in those carefree cultivation years, he considered himself neither outstanding nor mediocre. With Senior Sister Wang Sun around, genius or not became meaningless. Later, being called "late bloomer" or "slow to develop"—he took it as insults.
After that group of Hui-generation Daoists grew up, the Profound Capital Observatory, as the leading authority of the Daoist sword immortal lineage, became famously known in Qi Prefecture as a "mountain within a mountain" that kept aloof from worldly affairs, secluded in cultivation, rarely interacting with the outside world.
When the Hui-generation Daoist officials began to form the backbone of the Profound Capital Observatory and take up key positions, the observatory's originally refined and elevated style changed. It became sharp and increasingly involved in the world.
Often, when fellow disciples suffered losses outside, Wang Sun would wave her hand, and dozens of cultivators of the same generation would secretly go on long journeys behind their elders' backs. Each time, Sun Huaizhong led the charge, Junior Disciple Huang Gan served as the strategist, and Senior Sister Wang Sun handled the more powerful opponents and cleaned up the mess. For example, after returning to the observatory, she was the one who argued with the senior masters. After being scolded, they would all be confined to the peach grove for reflection. They would be grounded together—a case of sharing hardships.
When Sun Huaizhong unexpectedly emerged from the Hui generation and became the abbot of the Profound Capital Observatory, over the following millennia, with the observatory master's tacit approval, even secret instigation, the sword immortal lineage of the Profound Capital Observatory's favorite and most skilled style—"one-on-one duels"—was carried to its extreme. The dozens of exquisite sword formations of the Profound Capital Observatory—how did they come about? From countless group beatings.
And the "quirks" of Daoist Sun, who had gone from Xiao Sun to young observatory master to old observatory master—well, to be more fair, some of these "fine traditions" known to everyone on and off the mountains were actually learned from Senior Sister Wang Sun in their youth.
For instance: hit someone while the iron is hot.
---
Green Calm Sword Sect, first shrine hall meeting.
Beside the chairs were small tables with a bowl of clear tea and a dish of melon seeds.
It seemed this would become a custom for future shrine hall meetings.
Cao Qinglang and Pei Qian were responsible for pouring tea, and Little Mi Li was in charge of distributing melon seeds.
The little girl in black clothes was especially serious; what could she do? She had to ensure that the total number of melon seeds in each dish was accurate to the last one!
Last night, while accompanying Pei Qian in the vigil, she had practiced for a long time but still felt it wasn't safe enough—she could only manage an error of two or three seeds. She was anxious. Pei Qian helped her devise a flawless plan: if there was an error when she took out the melon seeds, Pei Qian would signal Little Mi Li—different signals for a difference of two seeds or one seed. Haha, perfect!
Chen Ping'an was the first to break open a melon seed. The kind mountain lord soon saw the trick. Very good—he had three more seeds than anyone else. Little Mi Li was indeed biased toward him.
Jia Sheng was the most upright and solemn. The old immortal had thought he wouldn't be part of this first shrine hall meeting after the sect's founding. Unexpectedly, Mountain Lord Chen was still so mindful of the old, and Sect Leader Cui was indeed so respectful to his teacher.
Qiu Du was not much better than Old Immortal Jia.
Apart from Jia Sheng and the old woman, Yao Xianzhi was the most uncomfortable. When he had half-jokingly asked Mr. Chen for a guest elder position in the lower sect, he hadn't taken it seriously himself. Unexpectedly, he not only became a registered guest elder but also got a fixed seat in the shrine hall of Green Calm Peak.
As for Sword Immortal Tao, of course he wasn't dozing off.
"Everyone, relax. It's not 'just' a private family chat—it already is."
Chen Ping'an picked up his tea bowl, paused for a moment as if struck by a thought, and smiled: "We must admit one thing: our upper and lower sects have a very righteous atmosphere. Everyone has contributed."
There was a slight awkward silence. Chen Ping'an had planned to say that since no one in the room was speaking, they were all in agreement. Good, let's start the meeting.
Fortunately, Old Immortal Jia Sheng, with a sincere expression, was the first to break the silence and said solemnly: "Indeed!"
Then Cui Dongshan, Pei Qian, Cao Qinglang, and others all stared blankly at Old Immortal Jia.
Chen Ping'an suddenly stood up.
At the mountain gate of Green Calm Peak, a woman in a red cotton-padded jacket with flying eyebrows appeared out of nowhere, a wine gourd hanging at her waist. She led a horse with one hand and called out: "Little Master Uncle!"
--- End of Chapter ---