Chapter 991: Green Mountains and Flowers About to Blaze

Chapter 991: Green Mountains and Flowers About to Blaze

Beyond heaven there is heaven, beyond men there are men.

Plum blossoms piled like snow beneath the steps.

Upon hearing this, Gao Jun did not think the other was exaggerating or deliberately deceiving her. She could only sigh softly.

She had practiced the immortal arts over the years with what could not be called anything less than diligent devotion. Yet when facing this exiled immortal who had returned to the blessed land, she still only had a one-in-ten chance of victory.

Since the other party dared to come alone to the Lake Mountain Sect, he must have some backing—either his own strength was formidable enough, or there were hidden reinforcements in the shadows. What's more, back then in the Southern Garden Nation capital, when all the major powers had staged their dramatic encirclement, this sword immortal with the appearance of a youth had been surrounded on all sides, yet ultimately broke through, ascended the city wall to kill Ding Ying, and took command of the capital, preventing Ancestor Yu from daring to set foot in the city. After that battle, his name shook the world.

Gao Jun gave a mental order: "Disperse the formation."

Before Yu Zhenyi ascended, he had left the Lake Mountain Sect a hand-drawn immortal formation map. However, Yu Zhenyi had made it clear to Gao Jun that this mountain-guarding grand formation could only be an empty concept for the time being, and must await a change in celestial timing, waiting for an anomaly of sweet dew descending from heaven, before there was any opportunity to implement it. Gao Jun, who always respected her teacher and revered the Way, strictly followed this decree. After going into seclusion and emerging, she traveled alone for several years, visiting the five sacred mountains across the land, entering the mountains alone to seek immortals, hoping to find like-minded individuals. At the same time, combining the formation map left by Yu Zhenyi, she climbed the five sacred mountains to look down upon the world. On the Central Mountain, Gao Jun climbed higher and higher, along dangerous paths where none existed, until clouds appeared like the spine of the world beneath heaven, and only then did she know that this mountain was the foremost of all. At the peak, seemingly suspended alone in a sea of clouds, Gao Jun actually discovered the ruins of an immortal's cultivation hut—though they could only be called ruins, not ancient sites, for the many objects inside the hut were exquisite but not old. There were remnants of pine and cypress in the brazier, and Gao Jun could fully imagine a senior "immortal" burning incense while chanting Daoist scriptures. On the Northern Mountain, mountain flowers differed from those in the mortal world. When the scorching heat steamed outside the mountains, deep within the mountains there was still heavy snow. Gao Jun observed the celestial phenomena at night, and at dawn, she saw a feathered guest riding a white deer, who claimed to be the mountain's spirit. His expression was arrogant, regarding Gao Jun as a "person from a lesser nation." However, he probably sensed that Gao Jun's Daoist arts were not shallow, and although he disliked her unauthorized intrusion into his mountain domain, he did not speak harshly, only warned Gao Jun that being in this mountain, she must not rely on force to take objects or seize treasures. On the Eastern Mountain peak, where on clear days one could see the sea, purple clouds emerged from stone crevices, sea light floated with the red sun. Suddenly, thunder and lightning intertwined, wind and rain raged, and daylight darkened as if night had fallen. She witnessed with her own eyes a malevolent dragon leaping up from a deep pool halfway up the mountain. Having condensed the essence of the blue void, it shook the earth's veins mightily, its body over three hundred meters long, winding up the mountain, crushing countless rocks along the way. In the blink of an eye, the malevolent dragon, coiling around the peak, had directly created a winding new stone path resembling eighteen serpentine turns. But it was stopped by a man in a high crown with pale golden eyes, holding a white jade dharma seal inscribed with ancient bird-script characters. He not only blocked the malevolent dragon from reaching the summit, but then smashed the suddenly mountain-sized dharma seal onto the dragon's forehead, beating it back down into the dragon pool. Afterwards, a difficult and obscure Daoist formula emerged on the water's surface, with thousands of golden characters forming what seemed like a dharma decree immortal array, suppressing it at the bottom of the pool. The golden-armored divine being holding the dharma seal spoke with heavenly authority, sentencing it to cultivate its spirit in the deep pool for three hundred years before it could see the light of day again. On the Western Mountain, where all peaks seemed dangerously like crowns and killing intent showed sharp edges, Gao Jun met a young-looking scholar, filled with ethereal Daoist energy, who warmly invited Gao Jun, dressed in an apricot-yellow Daoist robe, to visit his cave dwelling. Gao Jun remained calm, only shrinking her hand into her sleeve to pinch a talisman as she followed the young scholar. She saw a magnificent mansion, standing in a heap of red and yellow clouds, like an imperial palace built in the heavens. The old man at the gate seemed to be a mountain wild spirit. The vermillion gate opened, and palace maids in groups were all not living beings. As she walked among them, a gentle breeze brushed her face, carrying the fragrance of orchids. The scholar smiled, saying this was a warm fragrant breeze, rare in the world, unique to his mountain—it could enter the seven orifices of a person's face to benefit their cultivation foundation, or could nourish the appearance of mortal women. In the main hall hung a portrait of a goddess, and immediately a servant took out an incense tube. The scholar first picked out three sticks of incense for Gao Jun, saying that the incense fire of the mortal world was divided between mountains and waters. Then he led Gao Jun to burn incense together and pray to the sacred mountain, bowing reverently to the mysterious. After they each took their seats, the scholar asked Gao Jun if she was married, and whether she was willing to become his Dao companion...

Having toured the famous mountains and great rivers of the world, Gao Jun finally perfected the immortal map left by Ancestor Yu. She set up the formation's pivotal points, and following the instructions in the Daoist book on refining objects, she carefully selected several treasures that could naturally contain the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, closely connecting them with the roots and water veins of the Lake Mountain Sect. Taking the immortal sword left by Ancestor Yu as the centerpiece, she ultimately created a mountain-guarding grand formation capable of both offense and defense.

If Yu Zhenyi was the first person to attain the Way, ultimately just cultivating himself alone, then Gao Jun was the true founding ancestor of the Lake Mountain Sect in a substantive sense. She personally established the formation, transmitted the Daoist books and immortal formulas, guided the disciples in their cultivation, both transmitted the Way and protected it, thus spreading the sect far and wide. Before Chen Ping'an revealed himself, he had conducted a rough survey of the mountains and waters. He could see that through the proper management of the Lake Mountain Sect over the years, if Gao Jun could one day achieve the Nascent Soul stage, secure the position of number one under heaven, and find a suitable successor who could also form a Golden Core, then within the next three to five hundred years, the sect's disciples would gather talent in abundance. People training in martial arts and practicing immortal cultivation of spiritual power could both proceed without hindrance, and the Lake Mountain Sect's throne as the foremost immortal mansion on the mountain would be extremely difficult to shake.

Gao Jun asked, "May I ask one more question, Sword Immortal Chen—what is your Daoist age on the mountain?"

Chen Ping'an smiled and shook his head, speaking euphemistically: "Mountain dwellers do not speak of age."

Gao Jun asked again, "In that Grand All-under-Heaven, are there many accomplished Daoists of such profound and mysterious realms as Sword Immortal Chen?"

Chen Ping'an had no choice but to nod and say, "Many. But it's still far from 'profound and mysterious' and 'attaining the Way.'"

There were indeed many Nascent Soul stage qi cultivators.

Gao Jun couldn't help but show a somewhat sorrowful expression, looking up at the sky. "How difficult is cultivation on the mountain, and in the end, we are just frogs at the bottom of a well."

If she didn't know about the magnificent scenery outside, the high winds of heaven, then it would be one thing. But it was precisely because she was a peak qi cultivator like Gao Jun, who understood matters beyond the heavens, that she was filled with worry and dared not slacken in the slightest.

Over the years, Gao Jun had always had a worst-case scenario in mind: that one day, exiled immortals from foreign lands like Chen Ping'an, coveting the precious materials of this blessed land, would gather for profit and come together, falling upon the mortal world like rain. How could she alone, Gao Jun, resist foreign enemies? But to say that she should now secretly plan, form alliances, prepare with the qi cultivators and grand masters of various nations in advance, and then form covenants with the mountain and river spirits—this truly made Gao Jun feel that her strength was insufficient. She feared that even if she could block one or two waves of exiled immortals, then Chen Ping'an and these celestial immortals from beyond the heavens would also form a bloc. Wouldn't the entire mortal world then suffer devastation? When immortals compete in arts, each displaying their divine powers, it's not comparable to the martial master battles of historical times, which at most affected one city. If the number of qi cultivators increased, and they completely let loose, unleashing an endless array of offensive and defensive treasures, then within a radius of a hundred miles, it would be a tragic scene of white bones piling up.

So deep in her heart, Gao Jun had a bold and audacious idea.

She gradually began to understand Ding Ying's actions somewhat. Of course, she did not approve, but she understood.

Gao Jun wanted to see the "Old Heavenly Lord" who pulled the strings behind the scenes, making the sun and moon his Dao arena, and the mountains and rivers his courtyard.

Gao Jun wanted to ask this person face to face: could he protect this world? How could it not become a training ground for those exiled immortals from foreign lands?

Chen Ping'an said, "Sect Leader Gao must not underestimate herself. Throughout history, all cultivators who were able to break through the constraints of a blessed land's bottleneck, upon reaching the Grand All-under-Heaven, have been, almost without exception, undeniably geniuses of the mountain."

The Penal Official Hao Su was the best proof.

Speaking only of his own Fallen Mountain, the four in the painting scroll, plus the Master Planter, had left the blessed land for thirty years. Among them, Zhu Lian was already a martial artist at the Peak of the Mountain summit, and Sui Youbian was also a Nascent Soul stage sword cultivator.

Gao Jun asked tentatively, "Sword Immortal Chen, shall I take you for a walk and a look?"

Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. "Much obliged."

The lake's light was lovely, with ten thousand lotus blooms, a clear breeze mirroring the water. On both banks, peach and willow trees were in full bloom, their reflections visible in the mountain-colored mirror.

As they walked onto a long bridge spanning the lake, Gao Jun couldn't help but ask, "May I ask, Sword Immortal Chen, how is Ancestor Yu now, and where is he?"

Having said this, Gao Jun laughed silently to herself. It seemed that since meeting this Sword Immortal Chen, she had been constantly asking this and that.

After Ancestor Yu had departed, many major events had still occurred in this world. For example, there was a strange person who had appeared out of nowhere—the new Sect Leader of the demonic sect, Lu Tai. He had easily gathered together the remaining remnants of Ding Ying's old forces, but had no intention of seeking greater power. Instead, he had set his sights single-mindedly on the Lake Mountain Sect. After Ancestor Yu had become a terrestrial immortal, he had entered seclusion three times, and on two of those occasions, Lu Tai had seized the opportunity to force his way into the mountain gate, forcibly interrupting the seclusion. In two life-and-death battles that had failed to produce a victor, Ancestor Yu had been delayed for many years, unable to...

Their wind-riding and cloud-stepping, their fierce combat, also allowed the martial artists of the world watching from afar on the ground to truly appreciate what was meant by mountain immortals in magical combat—it could make the sun and moon lose their luster, and the mountains and rivers tremble.

After this demonic titan had vanished for no reason, Lu Tai nevertheless taught a young genius who did not practice immortal arts but possessed extraordinary sword techniques, one who also delighted in opposing the Lake Mountain Sect.

This young man of unknown name had only practiced swordsmanship in the mountains for a few years before his sword arts had reached the level of the divine. When he descended the mountain, Ancestor Yu had just undergone his feathery transformation and ascension. The fledgling swordsman's first battle was to challenge the Lake Mountain Sect alone. The one who received his sword was none other than the current Sect Leader Gao Jun. She surpassed him by a narrow margin, and the two agreed to have another contest after ten years. But when the ten-year deadline arrived, the young swordsman broke his promise and disappeared without a trace. Gao Jun, in her subsequent visits seeking immortals, had also intended to find this person.

Chen Ping'an said, "He is already in another world, having advanced his realm to a further stage."

Gao Jun felt a weight lift from her heart, as if a great stone had fallen to the ground. Because the unpredictable and cunning demonic Sect Leader Lu Tai had once sneaked into the Lake Mountain Sect, found Gao Jun, and told a most heart-stabbing metaphor. He said that the foremost person of this land, upon joining the ranks of immortals, would end up at the very bottom. So don't think your Ancestor Yu is so impressive here; when he reaches the heavens, he'll just be a little servant boy sweeping the courtyard in a celestial lord's palace. If his luck is even worse, he'll only be fit to be a manure carrier watering the vegetable garden. So you'd better advise Yu Zhenyi quickly—better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.

"Yu Zhenyi has a very significant origin. There is a prophecy that says 'Dwelling briefly in the mortal world for a thousand years, always with the complexion of a child'—the one who spoke this prophecy is... well, his Daoist arts are unsurpassably high."

Chen Ping'an said, "Sect Leader Gao, when you leave this place in the future and travel far away, you will have the opportunity to reunite with your Ancestor Yu."

In Chen Ping'an's view, judging only by achievements, the public opinion of the Lake Mountain Sect was completely different from that of the world's people. Yu Zhenyi and Gao Jun had different roles—one was the founding ancestor of the Lake Mountain Sect, the other could actually be called the revival sect leader who reversed the decline. If Gao Jun had not inherited Yu Zhenyi's mantle and leaped to become the number one person under heaven of the Lotus Root Blessed Land, then the Lake Mountain Sect would have been one step slow, step after step slow, ultimately losing its first-mover advantage and being left behind by qi cultivators like Wei Liang of the Southern Garden Nation.

Because the "face" that Zhu Lian had crafted clearly carried a certain talisman true intent, Chen Ping'an was now also curious about one thing: since Zhu Lian had already touched the threshold of practicing immortal arts, why did he stop there? Although the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land had still been thin at that time, the more so it was, the higher the threshold for cultivating immortality. If someone took the lead in cultivating the Dao, like walking a single-plank bridge, they would more easily monopolize the celestial timing.

Speaking of matters beyond the heavens, Gao Jun was naturally more willing to believe this Sword Immortal Chen. That Lu Tai, who deliberately used words to disturb people's Dao hearts, was utterly detestable!

Chen Ping'an said slowly, "On the path of cultivation, it lies in breaking through realms layer by layer, climbing higher, and also in cultivating the mind and nurturing one's nature. Both are indispensable. The flying bird skims the blue void; you will reach the summit and look down from the top. When there is no path on the mountain, you become the peak. Or, when the water runs out, you watch the clouds rise. If the meditation barrier suddenly breaks, you will hear thunder rising from the flat ground."

Gao Jun pondered this for a while, then nodded. "Sword Immortal Chen's words are exquisite, like the speech of a divine being in the clouds."

Chen Ping'an laughed silently.

Gao Jun considered herself not particularly skilled in mundane affairs or worldly wisdom. The reason she was able to serve as the Sect Leader of the Lake Mountain Sect was, besides Ancestor Yu issuing a decree and secretly clearing all obstacles for her, also because she was indeed naturally suited for cultivating immortal arts and broke through realms the fastest. For Gao Jun, it was as if a celestial gate had suddenly appeared between heaven and earth. In the past, if one wanted to become a person above others who could look down upon nobles, one could only practice martial arts and boxing, becoming a martial grand master. But then a new path suddenly appeared in the mortal world. The terrestrial resident true beings and divine spirits and strange creatures in the ancient books of gods and monsters were no longer distant and ethereal existences; they had become tangible things and people within reach.

She was the greatest fortunate one of the Lake Mountain Sect.

Otherwise, when she had followed the Ancestor to the Southern Garden Nation capital that year, Yu Zhenyi had once concluded that if she, Gao Jun, were to walk only the path of martial arts in her lifetime, she would at most become a martial arts expert of the caliber of National Teacher Zhong Qiu or Empress Zhu Shuzhen.

Gao Jun showed a slightly apologetic expression. "Sword Immortal Chen speaks without reservation and answers every question. Gao Jun hereby offers her sincere thanks."

Chen Ping'an joked, "Sect Leader Gao, feel free to ask. I will absolutely not get annoyed. I've always been said to have the habit of being fond of teaching others, a disposition hard to change."

Gao Jun indeed did not stand on ceremony any further, continuing to ask, "Sword Immortal Chen said earlier that realms are climbed layer by layer, cultivation like ascending steps. So do we cultivators have specific divisions and names for our realms?"

Chen Ping'an nodded. "The Middle Five Realms: Cavern Dwelling, which signifies the human body establishing a connection with the external world of heaven and earth, like building a bridge, opening a mansion gate, and beginning to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Contemplating the Ocean, taken from 'I ascend the tower to observe the hundred rivers; the sea enters my embrace.' Ascend a high tower to observe the vast ocean, knowing the greatness of the world. Cultivators, having established a certain number of cavern dwellings, continuously absorb spiritual energy, retain it, nourish the physical body and warm the soul, like an endless river constantly expanding its riverbed and waterway, extending the meridians, like laying out post roads and official highways. Dragon Gate: The qi cultivator's spiritual energy scattered in the cavern dwellings seems to coalesce into a water dragon, swimming against the current like ascending water. Whether they can ultimately leap over the Dragon Gate in one go is a great threshold. If they succeed, they can find a 'Dan Chamber' and, within the mysterious, open another cavern of heaven. Hence the mountain saying: 'One who forms a Golden Core is of our kind.' If they fail, if the spiritual energy fails to break through the gate in three attempts, causing the dantian qi sea to completely dry up, it is very likely that they will forever fall and stop at the Cavern Dwelling realm. When a qi cultivator condenses a Golden Core, the quality of the core, like the civil examination in the secular world, has distinct gradations of superiority and inferiority. The degree of condensation of a Golden Core, the size of a Dan Chamber, and whether during the formation of the core one can attract a resonance between heaven and earth manifested as an anomaly—each has its own considerations. The Great Way is impermanent, the will of heaven is hard to fathom. Whether one can truly be called a genius of cultivation, whether one truly counts as uniquely favored by heaven, is determined in this one test. After this comes the Nascent Soul, where one can send the yin spirit out of the body to travel far, supplemented by the yang spirit's external body sitting in a small realm of heaven and earth. As it is said in the books, the great master freely rides the wind and travels carefree between heaven and earth."

"Under normal circumstances, Golden Core and Nascent Soul are collectively referred to as terrestrial immortals. A qi cultivator can independently travel through one continent of mountains and rivers of the Grand All-under-Heaven, and even establish a sect and become its founding ancestor without any problem."

"I speculate that your Ancestor Yu originally formed a first-grade Golden Core, while Sect Leader Gao's Golden Core quality is roughly of the second grade, which is quite remarkable. Even in the Grand All-under-Heaven, possessing a second-grade Golden Core is a karmic opportunity that many terrestrial immortals dream of but cannot obtain."

It sounded simple, easy to understand.

It seemed like casual conversation, where Chen Ping'an was just sharing some "common knowledge" of cultivation that was not considered profound or obscure in the Grand All-under-Heaven—maybe any terrestrial immortal of the Cloud-Glow Mountain could casually recite it.

But for Gao Jun, who now had to personally experience and comprehend all cultivation matters, these were words of the highest importance, pearls of wisdom. This discourse had the effect of dispersing the clouds and revealing the sun, its preciousness not inferior to the Daoist book left by Ancestor Yu.

Chen Ping'an was just following the flow of conversation, saying some casual words to Gao Jun that had nothing to do with profit or loss. Ultimately, he simply regarded her as a fellow Daoist on the future path of cultivation, speaking some ordinary words with an ordinary heart.

But when his words came to an end, in that instant, Chen Ping'an's inner heart was slightly stirred. He couldn't help but look around. In the unseen realm, it seemed there was some ineffable resonance between heaven and humanity, as if he had received a kind of praise and recognition from this heaven and earth...

The feeling of being weighed down was gone. He no longer had that sense of stagnancy he had felt when walking through the Lake Mountain Sect earlier.

In this moment, Chen Ping'an's understanding of a certain statement made by the abbot old monk of the South Garden Nation's Heart-Form Temple, and of a certain principle he had observed during the night trial at the City God Temple, deepened even more.

At the same time, it also confirmed Zhu Lian's speculation: that this Lotus Root Blessed Land might very well have indeed developed the embryonic form of a "Little Old Heavenly Lord," only waiting to "open its aperture" and then "refine its form." In fact, when the woman who was the incarnation of the blessed land's literary fortune had appeared earlier and was discovered by Everlife, this could already be regarded as a sign that things were falling into place naturally. Now, after years away, Chen Ping'an had returned to the blessed land and quickly obtained a certain degree of resonance with heaven and earth. Could it be that the old cook's mouth had truly been blessed?

But Gao Jun was unable to perceive this heavenly anomaly. She was merely immersed in another state, and asked curiously, "Above the Middle Five Realms and the terrestrial immortals, what are the next realms?"

"The first realm of the Upper Five Realms is called 'Uncut Jade.'"

"Uncut Jade? Does it mean returning to simplicity and becoming a flawless beautiful jade?"

Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. "Returning to truth and returning to simplicity means lifelong without disgrace. It is like forming a stainless body and building a leakless tower, able to be unstained by the mundane world. A cultivator who ascends to this realm is like a frog at the bottom of a well jumping to the rim of the well. Although it is still far from the sky, they can now view heaven and earth with a perspective closer to the complete picture and the truth."

In the history of the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, Yu Zhenyi was the first to begin the path of cultivation, so naturally there were no specific realm divisions.

In fact, when Yu Zhenyi had contemplated the matter of sending the yin spirit out of the body to travel far, he had made many careful attempts, extremely cautious, and left not a single word in writing in the Lake Mountain Sect, only personally and secretly transmitting it to Gao Jun.

This had directly led to Gao Jun not daring to easily send her yin spirit on a distant journey even to this day, only daring to choose auspicious days of clear celestial weather, in the deep night hours when the moon was white and clear, to attempt "leaving the body" within a radius of a thousand li around the Lake Mountain Sect.

Thinking back to when the young man in green beside her had faced Ding Ying in that life-and-death battle, Ding Ying, who monopolized the martial luck of heaven and earth, had somehow used a secret technique that allowed his yin spirit to leave the body and manifest a majestic dharma form as tall as the Ox-Flank Mountain, imposing and magnificent. Even now, when Gao Jun thought of it, she still felt both lingering fear and heartfelt longing. Unfortunately, she had not been practicing cultivation at the time, and as an outsider could only watch the excitement; otherwise, it would have been a rare and excellent opportunity to observe the Way, with endless benefits.

Crossing the bridge to the opposite shore of the lake, not far away stood a low mountain, on which was built the Ancestral Hall of the Lake Mountain Sect, currently enshrining only one ancestor.

It had been established only after Yu Zhenyi's "ascension," and its form and structure were entirely according to records in certain secret texts, completely different from the ancestral halls of martial arts sects.

Suddenly, Gao Jun asked a question about "Wen Yu" (matching in name) and "Shi Yu" (matching in substance), which was originally a highly crucial point of righteousness in the Confucian orthodoxy. Chen Ping'an smiled knowingly, understanding that Gao Jun's question carried profound meaning, but he still answered without reservation, fully and truthfully. At the same time, he gained some new understanding of Gao Jun. It seemed that over the years, living in seclusion in the mountains and concentrating on cultivation, she had read quite a few books. If it were a matter of Chen Ping'an personally breaking new ground or expressing novel insights based on the learning of former sages, Chen Ping'an had no confidence whatsoever. But if it were just a matter of borrowing insights from books and roughly organizing them, relying on Chen Ping'an's reading memory and ability to synthesize, then not just Gao Jun, but even the Sacrificial Wine of the Confucian Temple Academy or the Principal of a college—he could hold his own debating with them for half a day without showing fear.

Gao Jun's question was not asked merely for the Lake Mountain Sect, but for all cultivators under heaven. It was an unavoidable barrier.

The Lake Mountain Sect now had over a dozen qi cultivators, but aside from Gao Jun and two senior members of the sect who had ascended to the Middle Five Realms, the rest were still in the Lower Five Realms.

Here in the Lake Mountain Sect, it was always known throughout the world for its strict hierarchy and numerous sect rules. So when the disciples saw their Sect Leader Gao walking together with a strange young man in green, although each of them was shaken with great astonishment, they did not dare to show the slightest hint of it. From a distance, they stopped, silently paid their respects, and then quickly departed.

When a world where living beings are endowed with spiritual natures can ascend mountains and practice cultivation, and many incomprehensible magical anomalies appear, there emerges beyond books a tangible path of darkness and light, and a clear division between ghosts and humans. Particularly the distinction between immortals and mortals on and off the mountain becomes visible to the naked eye. The Lake Mountain Sect is now undeniably the number one sect under heaven, or rather it could be called the immortal mansion on the mountain.

Sect Leader Gao Jun, having practiced the immortal arts, had already attained proof of the Way, and therefore had mastered the art of preserving her youthful appearance. For twenty years, her countenance had hardly aged at all. On the contrary, like gold sand refined in a furnace, or uncut jade being carved, her skin and bones continuously had impurities and flaws removed, and she had already acquired an aura of a terrestrial immortal's body being like "golden branches and jade leaves." Just like Yu Zhenyi back then. After joining forces with Zhong Qiu to kill an exiled immortal and obtaining that immortal sword and immortal book, his appearance transformed from an old man with white hair to a middle-aged man, then a robust youth, and finally a young man. When he emerged from seclusion and appeared in the Southern Garden Nation, Yu Zhenyi had the appearance of a child riding the wind on his sword.

Unity of heaven and humanity, returning to old age from youth.

For martial artists, this was indeed a kind of extravagant hope.

When a world where every person's lifespan was originally fixed witnessed the emergence of qi cultivators, both the face and inherent character of that world would undergo earth-shaking changes.

Most fundamentally, a hidden struggle for "orthodoxy" would appear, which touched upon what Gao Jun wanted to know about "matching in name" and "matching in substance," and even more so, whether the Lake Mountain Sect could be legitimate in name.

The ocean of books was vast and boundless. The learning of the three teachings, plus the hundred schools of philosophers—there were more than a thousand scriptures and ten thousand traditions.

Chen Ping'an spoke eloquently, and Gao Jun listened attentively.

On the mountain path stood a simple pavilion, with a plaque bearing the two characters "Pine Tones." The ancient trees surrounding the pavilion were all so thick that they required both arms to encircle. The shade was lush and dense, covering and obscuring the sky. As the wind moved and shadows swayed, the mountain pavilion seemed to be in a pool of autumn water.

Beside it, a mountain stream gurgled, its clear waters winding. An old pine tree stood with a hunched back, its leaves at the crown especially luxuriant. The green leaves drooped down like small green canopies. The sound of water came from above and below the pine leaves, like a celestial sound.

Travelers climbing the mountain would rest here for a while, gazing into the distance at the lake view. The view was wide and open, the heart joyful, the mind at ease, the vision bright.

Gao Jun invited Chen Ping'an to stop here and enjoy the scenery.

Back then, among that batch of "exiled immortals" including Chen Ping'an, there were Spring Tide Palace's Zhou Fei, Bird's Eye Peak's Lu Fang, the wandering knight Feng Qingbai, Mirror Heart Studio's Tong Qingqing, Fan Wan'er—strictly speaking, these last two were actually Peace Mountain's Huang Ting.

Logically speaking, setting aside Chen Ping'an's accidental entry into the blessed land, one would think that characters like Lu Fang and Huang Ting would have been like fish in water in this world. Instead, they found themselves in a more difficult situation. Their respective speeds of breaking through realms might not even match that of figures like Ding Ying or Yu Zhenyi, who were natives of this world. Perhaps this was the will of heaven operating unseen. This "Old Heavenly Lord" simply never looked favorably upon outsiders who seemed to have an inherent advantage—perhaps this could also be considered a kind of "common human sentiment"?

---

On the border where the Northern Jin Nation and the Pine Tones Nation intersected, there was an ancient city that had always been a land of fish and rice. To the south of the city, a water gate was opened called Feng Gate. Outside the city there were many ponds, with reeds and lotus blooms. Hence seasonal delicacies such as water bamboo, wild rice, and water chestnuts mostly entered the city through this gate. Inside the city, when the gentry and noble youths went on spring outings or when the lotuses were in full bloom, the entire city would turn out. Boats would gather in the lotus area, and every type of painted pleasure boat and small dinghy would be hired out. The large multi-story boats served as warp and the painted boats as weft, densely covering the water, shuttling back and forth like shuttles. The women on the boats were all meticulously made up, vying with each other in beauty and fragrance. The pleasure-seekers spent lavishly on boat banquets. On both banks, literary gatherings took place. Families of moderate means who could not afford to hire painted boats to tour the lake would walk along the shore or ride horses to enjoy the flowers, which was also a delightful sight. Hence, during this season, poor boys and children would make a living picking up embroidered shoes dropped by beautiful women on the water or the shore.

About half a li from the lotus area, there was a rural rice mill, with snow-white blocks of milled rice drying on the threshing floor. By the river, there was a temporary fish market selling fish, shrimp, turtles, crabs, and other aquatic goods. Compared to the crowded spectacle of boats in the lake, this place seemed particularly secluded and shabby. But there was a man and a woman who seemed utterly out of place in this scene, drawing frequent sidelong glances from the mill workers. A stooped old man in a long blue gown was leading a horse—this wasn't particularly unusual. What was unusual was the woman sitting on the horse, a moving beauty who seemed to have stepped out of a painting scroll.

She was wearing a large red silk robe with full sleeves, a belt of green jade around her waist, and a hundred-flower brocade skirt beneath. The skirt trim and tasseled belt were all embroidered with clouds and phoenixes.

On her feet, she wore ink-blue plain satin shoes, which, with the jolting motion of the horse, occasionally revealed a small section of white silk sock.

With such attire and color combination, it would have been easy for the person to be overshadowed by the clothes. But on her, it was simply beautiful to behold.

Under a tree, a burly, strong-built man sat cross-legged resting, looking at the old man leading the horse, who seemed like a servant.

The man didn't have the famous "Sword Refiner" at his waist, so he was most likely not Tang Tieyi, who had usurped the throne and proclaimed himself emperor.

The old man smiled and asked, "You are Zhong Qian, aren't you? We've been looking for you."

Zhong Qian said helplessly, "You came looking for me specifically? What exactly is the Emperor thinking? Didn't I have someone clearly send word? I neither bear enmity against the Northern Jin, nor will I defect to the Pine Tones Nation."

They really were persistent as a haunting shadow. They had even pursued him to the border between the Northern Jin Nation and the Pine Tones Nation.

The old man, stooped, let go of the horse's reins, clasped his hands behind his back, and said with a smile, "Tang Tieyi doesn't count for anything. He couldn't move me even if he wanted to."

Zhong Qian let out a cold laugh. "Old man, you've got quite a mouth on you. Speaking of the Emperor like that in the territory of the Northern Jin Nation."

The former Dragon Might General Tang Tieyi, after making a trip to the Southern Garden Nation and returning home, had the Emperor of the Northern Jin Nation soon abdicate to him. Tang Tieyi transformed and ascended to the dragon throne. It was said that there had been quite some twisted stories behind this. Because when he was in the Southern Garden Nation capital that year, Tang Tieyi had intended to rebel against the Northern Jin. But the old Emperor Wei Liang of that nation had already abdicated, Wei Yan ascended the throne, and Princess Wei Zhen refused to marry Tang Tieyi. In short, he had met with a rebuff in the Southern Garden Nation. After returning to the Northern Jin Nation, he hardened his resolve, raised an army on the border, marched north with his forces, and laid siege to the capital. Thus, the Northern Jin Nation changed its dynasty and ruling family.

Zhong Qian asked, "Are you human or ghost, god or immortal?"

The world had become strange now. All sorts of bizarre people and inexplicable things were emerging all at once. It seemed the turning point was that battle of the ten. Within a few years, the supernatural claims in the books had all become reality. The man had traveled the land alone over the years and had encountered many inexplicable oddities. To be precise, they were odd rather than ancient.

The woman remained seated on the horse, smiling with narrowed eyes.

Zhong Qian found this most unbearable. He sneered, "Fox spirit!"

Pei Xiang covered her mouth, giggling in delight.

The ones who had come to see Zhong Qian were none other than the fox kingdom's ruler and Zhu Lian.

Zhu Lian said, "Young man, don't be so hot-tempered. As someone who has been around, let me give you two words of advice: better to offend a man than a woman; better to offend a busy person than an idle one."

Zhong Qian said impatiently, "Don't beat around the bush. Just say it—who the hell are you, and what do you want from me?"

When it came to single combat, he really wasn't afraid of a Tang Tieyi nowadays. The old antiques who had long been famous in the martial world, like Chengyuan Mountain, the Arm Saint, and Liu Zong, the Knife Grinder, had either disappeared or retired. With the battle of the world's top ten occurring once every sixty years, these old fellows from the previous generation of the martial world seemed to have lost their edge. After Ding Ying died, all the limelight under heaven was taken by Yu Zhenyi and Lu Tai. When the respective number ones of the black and white paths—one said to have ascended, the other disappearing without a trace—were gone, the martial world became leaderless. Instead, a large number of people who practiced immortal arts emerged, along with mountains and rivers gaining spirits, and ghosts and strange beings appearing.

Just like this woman on horseback—she looked quite like a seductive ghost to him. How could any ordinary woman be so beautiful?

The old man smiled. "When traveling, one should treat others with sincerity. Let me first announce my name. I am called Zhu Lian. As for this lady on horseback, her name is Pei Xiang. You called her a fox spirit just now, so consider that a compliment—you said she's beautiful."

Zhong Qian frowned. "Which Zhu Lian?"

Zhu Lian smiled. "The one you least expect."

The burly man crossed his arms, turned his head, and spat a mouthful of thick phlegm onto the ground. "If you were Zhu Lian, then I would be Ding Ying."

The only thing this wretched old man had in common with Zhu Lian was a beautiful woman by his side. Her looks were probably what the books called "the beauty that topples cities and kingdoms"?

Of course, Zhu Lian knew about Tang Tieyi, Zhou Shuzhen of Reverence Tower, and old-timers of the martial world like Chengyuan Mountain. In the era before the blessed land's martial luck had soared, why they had still been unable to break through their realms—it was only because "the mountains and rivers had lost their color," reduced to a plain line drawing. Except for a very few exceptions, all sentient beings in the blessed land had ended up with incomplete souls, but those involved were completely unaware of this. Moreover, Tang Tieyi had also secretly turned to practicing magical arts, but his martial foundation was too good. The higher his realm, the more it became a burden. It wasn't like the Lake Mountain Sect's Gao Jun, who, being in a smaller boat, could turn it around more easily. Otherwise, the first Golden Body realm martial artist of the blessed land would by no means have been this junior, Zhong Qian.

Zhong Qian waved his hand. "Don't waste your time. It's not worth losing your life for some reward money."

Those who could claim to be able to defeat him, including Sect Leader Gao Jun of the Lake Mountain Sect, numbered at most one hand across the entire world.

Those who could have a fight with him before determining victory or defeat—that would take another hand.

This old man, whose steps and breathing were utterly ordinary, even if he was a deeply hidden martial grand master—Zhong Qian could give him a few more points—but he was definitely still not among the top ten.

But then Zhong Qian saw the old man still seemed eager to try. He moved forward slowly, carefully, rubbing his hands. "We who practice martial arts value an unyielding spirit. If we simply concede without testing ourselves, how will we know victory or defeat? That's just not right."

He took a few steps, then stopped. The thin old man placed one hand behind his back, extended the other, and smiled. "Come, come, let me see just how much weight the number one grand master of the Northern Jin Nation's fists and feet carry."

Zhong Qian said helplessly, "How about I call you an old senior and you be on your way? You're getting on in years, why wade into this muddy water? Don't think that just because I have a good temper, you can keep pushing. Let me give you a young man's advice too: when you're old, you have to accept your age."

But the old man spoke with great conviction: "Rest assured, I am a master of both external and internal arts, my muscles and bones are very sturdy, lively and vigorous. To be honest without any false modesty, don't look at how thin I am, but I'm no worse than you young folks in the slightest. Stick a big pancake on my backside, and I guarantee it'll be hot enough to burn your mouth in no time. If you don't believe me, let's borrow a kitchen from a farmhouse..."

Upon hearing this, Pei Xiang laughed heartily, her whole body shaking. Was this how the old cook had walked the martial world when he was young?

Zhong Qian simply couldn't stand listening anymore. He immediately stood up, made a fist, and gently tapped his chest. "Come on, hit me right here. If I take even half a step back, I lose. If I don't move, then you take this fox spirit and get the hell out, as far as possible."

Zhu Lian complained, "That's not how you ask for a fight. It doesn't follow the rules of the martial world."

Zhong Qian curled his lip. "Then you stand still and let me throw a punch?"

Zhu Lian said with feigned seriousness, "Then I'll do it."

Zhong Qian was just about to speak when he saw a flash, and a fist came.

The man immediately passed out, collapsing limply to the ground.

Pei Xiang glared at Zhu Lian.

Here you are, a Peak of the Mountain grand master, and you're having fun playing tricks on a mere seventh-realm martial artist?

Zhu Lian crouched down beside Zhong Qian, who was nearly foaming at the mouth.

Pei Xiang asked with a smile, "What do you think?"

Zhu Lian replied, "Naive, simpleton."

Pei Xiang was speechless. Why didn't you just say he was stupid straight out?

Zhu Lian smiled. "This kid doesn't have much of a bloodthirsty heart. He's even a bit soft-natured. Only when he's cornered like a dog forced to jump over a wall will he fight with his life on the line. He needs to add some killing intent in the future. So he needs a good blade, and he's also good material for learning the blade. The Cao family's blade techniques would suit him well."

A short while later, Zhong Qian slowly opened his eyes, groggy. It felt like he had been slapped awake. Still a bit dizzy and blurry-eyed, he vaguely saw the old man's face.

Zhu Lian smiled. "Awake?"

Zhong Qian was just about to draw up a breath of pure true qi when the old man crouching beside him, with two fingers joined together, tapped several acupoints in quick succession. Zhong Qian was instantly immobilized.

Zhong Qian's eyes widened, bloodshot veins appearing—a sign he was trying to reverse his true qi—but it was still futile.

The old man tucked his hands into his sleeves and teased, "Still young, after all. Your experience of the martial world is still a bit shallow."

Pei Xiang turned her head to look in one direction, a playful smile on her face.

A rider approached—a young woman with a heroic bearing, carrying a blade and bow. She shouted angrily, "What are you doing to Brother Zhong?!"

One of her hands was concealed in her sleeve, two fingers pinching a spirit talisman she had purchased at a high price.

Zhu Lian turned his head and smiled. "What could a worthless old man like me possibly do to your Brother Zhong? As for this lady beside me, even if she were to do something, what would it matter?"

Pei Xiang said seductively, "Nonsense, what lady? I'm still a maiden awaiting marriage!"

The young woman blushed with shame and anger. "Shameless! A seductive fox!"

The thin old man and the beautiful woman—they didn't look like proper people at all.

Zhu Lian stood up and smiled. "Little girl, don't waste that talisman in your sleeve. It must have cost a lot. You'd be better off keeping it well. I believe it will only become more valuable in the future. It can serve as a family heirloom for subduing demons and vanquishing spirits. If I'm not mistaken, you are named Song, aren't you? Your ancestral home is the former dynasty's old Duanzhou?"

The woman frowned deeply. Duanzhou was a term from the previous dynasty. And she did indeed come from that place. Her family had been a prestigious one for generations, so after the change to the Northern Jin Nation, although the family had declined, it was still considered a distinguished clan.

Zhu Lian smiled, narrowing his eyes. "There is indeed some resemblance."

He vaguely remembered that there had been an extraordinary woman in the Song family, a master inkstone maker who had been summoned to the palace to work on carving and repairing inkstones.

She had been extremely serious about her inkstone work, often taking several years to complete one inkstone, having "carved across half a hundred streams of Duanzhou." The woman's appearance had long blurred in his memory, for he had only seen her from afar once, carving an inkstone by lamplight, her expression so focused, quite touching.

To Zhu Lian, whether a woman could be called a beauty of the nation had never depended on her face, features, or figure, but on her expression.

This revisit to an old haunt stirred up feelings of nostalgia in Zhu Lian. When an old man returns home, it is generally like this—one step, one thought.

Both homeland and beauties can stir the heart, only inferior to fine wine in one respect: as the years pass, memories blur, as if watering down the wine.

Zhu Lian flicked his sleeve, and it was as if a paralysis talisman had been lifted from Zhong Qian. The man simply didn't bother to get up. For one thing, he had no will to fight left; he was doomed to lose. Aside from having no sense of martial honor, the old man was truly formidable in his boxing and footwork. Otherwise, even if he stood still, the two martial grand masters of the Northern Jin Nation would never be able to knock him unconscious with a single punch. For another, Zhong Qian also used this gesture to warn the woman who had foolishly taken a liking to him: even I admit defeat, so don't you do anything rash.

Zhong Qian said, "This senior of the martial world claims to be Zhu Lian."

The young woman was taken aback for a moment, then quickly sneered, "If you're going to put on an act, at least find a better excuse. Zhu Lian was killed long ago by Ding Ying."

Besides, this old man had no shame. If he had any sense, he should take a look at his own face in the mirror. Did he have the nerve to say he was Zhu Lian?

And even if, by some stretch of the imagination, he actually were Zhu Lian, that talisman would come in handy!

There was an elder in her family, a woman who had never married, living a lonely life to the end, leaving only one beloved inkstone as a grave good, with a portrait carved on its back. The eyebrows and eyes were vividly portrayed, true to life.

Beside the portrait was an inscription, as if engraved on the heart: "Had I known it would so entangle the heart, meeting is worse than never meeting."

The young woman suddenly brightened and asked tentatively, "Senior, are you really Zhu Lian?"

After all, the world was strange now, with gods, monsters, ghosts, and spirits appearing endlessly. Moreover, there were many heroic spirits of mountains and rivers these days. It wasn't entirely impossible that Zhu Lian had returned from the dead.

Zhu Lian said firmly, "How could that be? Of course not! I bear an irreconcilable enmity with that old murderer. If that bastard comes back to life and I see him, I'll make sure to grind his bones to dust and scatter the ashes..."

Old and decrepit, crude of speech, and especially with those eyes darting about her body—he was clearly an old lecher of no moral standing. Ha! A man with a woman on his arm who still covets what's in the pot.

This convinced the young woman that he was certainly not Zhu Lian. Indeed, how could it be? When would Zhu Lian ever be so concerned with the beauty of a worldly woman? Besides, even if Zhu Lian hadn't died at Ding Ying's hands back then, and the rumors of the martial world were just hearsay, even if he had lived long in the mortal world, as long-lived as Yu Zhenyi, far surpassing ordinary martial grand masters—even when Zhu Lian grew old and gray-headed, with a full head of white hair—he would still be the Zhu Lian who had inspired countless beauties to jointly exclaim, "Between heaven and earth, there is only one Zhu Lian."

In the former martial world, it was said by some heartbroken soul:

"Out of ten women, nine hate Zhu Lian, and the tenth is because she has never seen him."

Rumors said that nowadays there were two female ghosts with deep cultivation who delighted in wandering among mortals, along with several river goddesses who had been enshrined in temples with golden bodies, still holding someone dearly in their hearts, for a long, long time. From life to death, and from death to life, they had never let go of the same person.

This young woman surnamed Song found it utterly unbelievable and could not imagine how there could be such lovesick, foolish women. Wasn't he just a man? Was it worth it?

Afterward, the two women remained on horseback, Zhu Lian led the horse slowly, and Zhong Qian also walked on foot. The old man said he wanted to find a place to drink so they could discuss some serious business over a table.

Zhong Qian hesitated for a long time before he could help asking, "Old senior, let's be straightforward with each other. Are you really not Zhu Lian?"

Zhu Lian raised his hand and patted his own cheek, smiling. "What do you think?"

Zhong Qian said sullenly, "Then why did you claim to be Zhu Lian earlier?"

Zhu Lian said, "To be honest, when I was young, I was also a handsome lad whose threshold was worn down by marriage seekers. The pretty girls of the surrounding villages, whether they were yet to be married or already wed, were all quite fond of me. I reckon even that old murderer would feel ashamed to see me."

Pei Xiang teased with double meaning: "Oh, husband, what you just said is interesting. Look in the mirror, hurry up and look in the mirror."

At the same time, she didn't miss the chance to take advantage of Zhu Lian.

The young woman surnamed Song glanced at Pei Xiang, who made her feel inferior in comparison, and then at Zhu Lian, and was momentarily speechless.

---

At the Lake Mountain Sect of the Pine Tones Nation, host and guest were seated in the pavilion.

Chen Ping'an said, "Let me give a rather extreme example. If a small handful of qi cultivators could, by themselves, conquer cities and strongholds, and could destroy an entire city in the blink of an eye with a single gesture—do you think such a thing would be reasonable for a world?"

Gao Jun said, "A solitary yin does not give birth, a solitary yang does not grow. There is always mutual support and mutual suppression. For example, during one of my distant travels seeking immortals, I saw many strange and unusual phenomena. So now, the five sacred mountain spirits and mountain immortals, who may not yet be widely known, and I exist in a state of mutual wariness and mutual restraint. To take a step back, if they cannot restrain me, aren't there still 'world-transcending experts' like Sword Immortal Chen from higher nations or the celestial realm who can restore order?"

Chen Ping'an asked in reply, "And who restrains us? Relying on the benevolence, righteousness, and moral self-discipline in our hearts?"

Gao Jun seemed to speak of something else, but also replied with a question of her own: "Sword Immortal Chen, have you ever met the behind-the-scenes master of this blessed land?" Chen Ping'an nodded. "I have. He is a fourteenth-realm great cultivator, a Daoist priest whose Dao name is 'Grotto-Heaven Lord Azure Firmament.' So this entire blessed land actually has an alternative name, 'Contemplating the Way Temple.' Above the Uncut Jade realm is the Immortal realm, above Immortal is Ascension, and above Ascension is the fourteenth realm. This is an extremely rare situation. Most sects that possess a cavern heaven or blessed land have, at most, Ascension realm cultivators. These behind-the-scenes masters each seek something different. Some seek heavenly treasures and carefully select cultivation seedlings to include in their lineages. Some simply seek to observe the Way. There are also some immortal mansions that are poorly managed and become burdened by the blessed land, inverting priorities, leading to depleted treasuries and decline, ultimately forcing them to sell the blessed land to others."

Gao Jun nodded, took a deep breath, and got straight to the point: "Sword Immortal Chen, tell me the purpose of your visit to the Lake Mountain Sect."

He couldn't have come for no reason, just to reveal heavenly secrets that were priceless.

Moreover, this Chen Ping'an had no prior relationship with the Lake Mountain Sect whatsoever. To put it unpleasantly, because of Ancestor Yu, there was even an old score to settle.

The first half of Gao Jun's reasoning was only natural, but only half of it was correct.

Fallen Mountain, or rather Chen Ping'an, did not treat the entire Lotus Root Blessed Land, nor the Lake Mountain Sect as part of it, nor Gao Jun, with overly utilitarian motives. It couldn't be said that there was no trace of self-interest at all, but compared to ordinary sects that possessed a blessed land, it was indeed a very conscientious "landlord" or "master," giving more than taking.

Chen Ping'an said, "Before answering Sect Leader Gao's question, I must first inform you of three things. First, this fourteenth-realm great cultivator has already abandoned the blessed land. Second, the Lotus Flower Blessed Land has now been renamed the Lotus Root Blessed Land and is no longer in the Tung Leaf Continent, but in the northern Treasure Vase Continent, placed at my mountain home, known as Fallen Mountain. Third, the former Lotus Flower Blessed Land was classified as a lower-grade blessed land according to the Grand All-under-Heaven's divisions. Combined with Grotto-Heaven Lord Azure Firmament's purpose of observing the Way, no qi cultivators emerged. After I acquired 'this' blessed land, I elevated it to an upper-grade rank."

The heavenly treasures that had emerged in accordance with celestial timing had all been recorded in books by the governing official Everlife. According to the established strategy, Fallen Mountain would not "harvest" everything like reaping a field in autumn. The vast majority would be left for the blessed land's own circulation, with different cultivation opportunities and mountain treasures going to different households and individuals based on their own strength and destiny. Fallen Mountain would only take a small portion, and all accounts would be clearly recorded at the Indigo-Gray Peak. If the Mountain Lord Chen Ping'an reviewed the records and found that something had been improperly taken or obtained through illegitimate means, it would need to be quietly returned to the blessed land.

Besides the abundant spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the martial luck of the blessed land was also quite remarkable. This, of course, was due to Chen Ping'an's first disciple, Pei Qian, and her several "strongest" realm breakthroughs.

Gao Jun found it difficult to accept this truth momentarily. This Sword Immortal Chen beside her was actually the master of the entire blessed land?!

Fallen Mountain? Fallen as in spiritless, dejected? Did immortal mansions in the Grand All-under-Heaven really choose names so casually?

"In that year's battle of ten, those who ultimately emerged victorious and ascended the city wall each received their own opportunities and cosmic fortune. Among them, including the Knife Grinder Liu Zong, some chose to leave the blessed land, while others chose to stay in exchange for an immortal opportunity. For example, the Southern Garden Nation's National Teacher, Master Zhong, obtained a True Form Diagram of the Five Sacred Mountains. Your Ancestor Yu was extremely interested in this object, regarding it as something that must be obtained by any means necessary. But Zhong Qiu was cautious in his actions, and with Lu Tai meddling, making unexpected moves on the chessboard, that immortal diagram never became the Lake Mountain Sect's mountain-suppressing treasure."

Hearing this, Gao Jun's expression was awkward.

"After being refined, the Five Mountains Diagram merged with heaven and earth. Hence, the newest five sacred mountains of the blessed land do not fall under the category of the four nations' ritual mountain sacrifices. Later, various heavenly anomalies appeared, and the spiritual energy rose step by step—this was the external manifestation of the blessed land's grade elevation. In a blessed land, opportunities arising in response to the times sprouted up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. Besides the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which is the foundation of a qi cultivator's existence, martial luck also surged. So now, the martial artists of the world, advancing from the Body Refining Three Realms to the Qi Refining Three Realms, have experienced a latent change in their physical toughness, like fish in water—formerly in a shallow pond, now changed to a great lake. For a pure martial artist, practicing and boxing is a kind of tracing back to the source, like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate."

Having said this, Chen Ping'an pointed at the lake, then at the mountain stream. "Swimming against the current, martial luck gradually becomes as dense as this stream. The water striking the stones creates sound, and the effect of tempering the physical body becomes increasingly apparent. Common people can rarely perceive this; the cosmic transformation only occurs in silence."

Gao Jun asked the most critical question: "Is Sword Immortal Chen's return to the blessed land this time intended to recruit me, to have me change my affiliation and join your... Fallen Mountain?"

Chen Ping'an said bluntly, "It would be best if Sect Leader Gao is willing to serve as an honorary consecrator or guest elder. However, a forced melon is not sweet. Sect Leader Gao may not be willing to live under someone else's roof. Moreover, given Sect Leader Gao's current dual identity, it may not be suitable for you to join Fallen Mountain's lineage. My coming to the blessed land this time is actually to implement a preliminary plan of 'taking steps carefully whether good or bad.' But I must first have this conversation with Sect Leader Gao before I can decide whether to proceed. If the very first step in the chosen direction is wrong, the consequences would be disastrous. Doing more would mean making more mistakes, which would be detrimental to both Fallen Mountain and the Lotus Root Blessed Land."

Yu Zhenyi was able to ascend to the Nascent Soul stage within a medium-grade Lotus Flower Blessed Land and thereby fly beyond this world, but this did not mean that Gao Jun, with greater celestial timing in the upper-grade Lotus Root Blessed Land, would necessarily follow suit. According to theoretical calculations, she might be able to ascend a step and break through the celestial bottleneck to reach the Uncut Jade realm.

The root cause was still the considerable gap in their respective cultivation aptitudes.

Gao Jun had only gained the first-mover advantage and was favored by the way of this heaven and earth. But in mountain cultivation, besides innate aptitude and physical foundation, having good fortune and deep or shallow karmic opportunities were equally crucial.

So regarding whether Gao Jun could one day become the first Uncut Jade realm cultivator in the history of the Lotus Root Blessed Land, it could only be said to be fifty-fifty.

At the very least, after this meeting, Chen Ping'an was relatively optimistic about Gao Jun, who had a mild and unhurried temperament with almost no aggressive edge. The only issue was that Gao Jun currently lacked a lofty aspiration that she determined she must achieve, or one could say a kind of ambition different from ordinary people and even different from all other cultivators of this world. This might be the biggest difference between Gao Jun and the four in the painting scroll, who were the number one figures under heaven in history.

But such a thought could not be forced or hastened by others. It could only come about through Gao Jun's own fortuitous encounters on the cultivation path, naturally arising between doubt and certainty, between additions and subtractions of thoughts.

Gao Jun was silent for a long time, forcibly suppressing the turbulence in her Dao heart, before asking, "In Sword Immortal Chen's Fallen Mountain, how many Golden Core cultivators are there like me?"

"Not counting the lower sect, and excluding Fallen Mountain's honorary guest elders, there is only one Golden Core terrestrial immortal."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "There are more Nascent Soul cultivators, and even more in the Upper Five Realms. As for Ascension realm cultivators, counting both recorded and unrecorded ones, Fallen Mountain currently has three."

Such frankness immediately made Gao Jun, who was already not talkative, fall even more silent.

If a single Fallen Mountain in the Treasure Vase Continent was like this, then in an entire Grand All-under-Heaven, Ascension realm cultivators would be seen everywhere, wouldn't they?!

Chen Ping'an hesitated, and, for once, the Mountain Lord who always "dropped three realms out of respect before traveling the martial world" decided to praise his own goods: "Sect Leader Gao, don't misunderstand. A mountain such as Fallen Mountain is not commonly seen."

Gao Jun smiled bitterly and changed the subject. "I wonder what Sword Immortal Chen's so-called 'initial plan' is?"

Chen Ping'an said, "I intend to establish a contract. Besides Sect Leader Gao and Wei Liang of the Southern Garden Nation, it will also involve the five sacred mountain spirits, a few river orthodox gods, the monarchs of the four nations, along with Zhong Qian and several sixth-realm martial artists. In effect, the cultivators, pure martial artists, orthodox gods of mountains and rivers, the emperors below the mountains, and us from Fallen Mountain will jointly establish a relatively loose and broad contract. To name just one thing, it would be to help each nation establish a Bureau of Celestial Observation, to train aura viewers, and to regulate the behavior of mountain cultivators and martial grand masters. The original intention is to make clear our true thoughts from Fallen Mountain to you and the other parties."

Gao Jun was uncertain, deeply skeptical. She asked, "Sword Immortal Chen, since you at Fallen Mountain have the strength and confidence to elevate the blessed land's grade to upper rank, with the power to decide life and death at your fingertips, why bother with this superfluous act of self-restraint?"

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Sect Leader Gao, as the temporarily sole Golden Core cultivator of the blessed land, don't you have the power to decide life and death over the Lake Mountain Sect with equal ease? And how has that worked out? Should there be no rules at all? Can the life, death, honor, and disgrace of the Lake Mountain Sect's sixteen qi cultivators and hundreds of others be maintained solely by Gao Jun's personal will and individual thoughts?"

Gao Jun was suddenly startled. The Lake Mountain Sect had sixteen qi cultivators? Why wasn't it fourteen?!

But the next sentence made Gao Jun feel, for the first time, the killing intent of this Sword Immortal Chen.

"At the same time, it's better to speak clearly now, so that in the future no one dies complaining that they were executed without warning."

Gao Jun's expression became solemn and grave. She asked in a deep voice, "If I insist on not participating in this matter, what will be the consequence?"

Chen Ping'an smiled slightly. "You can rest assured. Nothing will happen to Sect Leader Gao or the Lake Mountain Sect. As long as you ensure that we keep our distance in the future, keeping well water separate from river water, we can continue to coexist peacefully."

Walking out of the pavilion, Gao Jun said she needed to go to the Ancestral Hall to offer incense before she could give her decision on whether to be one of the initiators of that contract.

Chen Ping'an waited for her at the pavilion, watching the woman's back as she left, and remarked with a smile, "If Gao Jun has no Gao Jun in her heart, how can she expect the Lake Mountain Sect to have Gao Jun in its eyes?"

Gao Jun's steps paused. She did not turn her head to speak, but continued on her way.

The small mountain had no other buildings besides the mid-mountain pavilion and the Ancestral Hall at the summit. In front of the mountain, a stream entered the lake; behind the mountain, all was wild and untamed.

Gao Jun stepped into the silent, empty Ancestral Hall. An old man was responsible for the hall's lanterns. The giant candles that burned day and night without ceasing made the hall, which would otherwise have been somewhat dim, exceptionally bright. When Gao Jun entered the hall and closed the door, unusual phenomena burst forth—sword qi and lightning filled the room with light, and dragon and cloud patterns coiled around the beams and pillars.

A crystalline, snow-white long sword suddenly swept close, slowly circling around Gao Jun like a bird relying on its keeper, very affectionate.

Gao Jun gently pushed the sword away, offered three sticks of incense, placed them into the bronze incense burner on the shrine table, then knelt on a cushion and kowtowed to the portrait of the ancestor. She rose, closed her eyes, and meditated.

Opening her eyes, she gazed at the portrait of the ancestor. Gao Jun had made up her mind in her heart.

In truth, there had been considerable controversy back then in the Lake Mountain Sect concerning the hanging of Ancestor Yu's portrait in the Ancestral Hall.

It was simply because there were many different opinions on what appearance Ancestor Yu in the portrait should take. Various factions held different views: some said an immortal-bearing, elderly face would be more dignified; others said a young face, both elegant and otherworldly; still others said it should be a child's form after attaining the Way, riding a sword, the most ethereal... The arguments had caused Gao Jun great vexation at the time. The key point was that the three different opinions represented three separate small factions within the Lake Mountain Sect.

So over the years, when governing the Lake Mountain Sect and encountering thorny problems, Gao Jun always asked herself the same question: What would Ancestor Yu do if he were here?

Chen Ping'an sat in the pavilion, watching several people fishing by the lake, whispering among themselves, occasionally glancing up at the small mountain, most likely speculating about his identity and his relationship with Sect Leader Gao.

With light footsteps, Gao Jun returned to the Pine Tones Pavilion.

She sat down and said, "One last question: how does Sword Immortal Chen and Fallen Mountain view this world as if it were your own courtyard?"

Gao Jun's implication was naturally whether Fallen Mountain would drain the lake to catch the fish for its own gain.

"All who go out are flower-viewers; by the river are many fishing guests."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "If the fishing guest is from a common household and fishes to fill his stomach, he naturally catches a few and eats a few. What he can't finish, he dries, or else keeps them in a water jar at home. If his household circumstances are a bit better, with a pond, he'll keep the fish alive there, enriching his own foundation at the expense of rivers and streams. This is like the Lake Mountain Sect's situation. In the future, when contending with other immortal forces that have come into prominence in the Pine Tones Nation, and with other nations, for those suitable for cultivation—Dao seeds—they will keep the 'fish' in this lake, feeding them nothing less than immortal arts and imparting secret Daoist books. But for me, since the entire world belongs to Fallen Mountain, what difference does it make where the fish are? As to whether I would favor the sect at the expense of the world—that is precisely why we need to establish this contract. A cultivator must beware of quenching thirst with poison; an immortal mansion mountain gate must worry about hidden danger, like fire beneath a pile of firewood. The arts of immediate effect are not the way to longevity and eternal vision. Techniques have their hierarchy, but certain principles are not distinguished by size. The principles that applied in the former Lotus Flower Blessed Land also apply in the Grand All-under-Heaven."

Chen Ping'an added one final sentence: "This metaphor was not my own idea. It was first proposed by a man named Lu Chen."

Gao Jun seemed to have an epiphany and murmured to herself: "Tracing back to the root, matters are divided into yin and yang principles. In both cases, someone is needed to act on behalf of heaven. Ancestor Yu once spoke to me about going with the flow or against it. Perhaps it was because my realm was insufficient at the time that Ancestor Yu did not speak too profoundly. He only mentioned that cultivators, in seeking proof of the Way and longevity, wishing to share the lifespan of heaven and earth, have their purpose in going against the current. Hence, they are always rejected by the Way of Heaven. Now I think it should be: first go against, then flow with, reversing yin and yang, ultimately reaching the same destination by different paths. Heaven and earth give birth to us cultivators; cultivators, having attained the Way, then reciprocate to heaven and earth. This cycle can be called the ultimate state of cultivation."

Chen Ping'an nodded. Indeed, it was not without reason that Gao Jun, as the number one under heaven, was chosen by the unseen "will of heaven."

At this moment, Gao Jun's state of mind seemed to be one of being "at a loss, absent-minded," yet in reality, she was in a valuable state of "resonating with the Way."

Before Ancestor Yu's final emergence from seclusion, just before his far journey, Gao Jun had once asked: What does it mean for a cultivator to attain the Way?

Yu Zhenyi had formed a sword seal that year, driving his sword into the sky. The sword light shot up, cutting through the sea of clouds above the Lake Mountain Sect in a single line.

Then, spreading his palm, Yu Zhenyi told her to hold her breath, concentrate, and look closely. She saw that the lines on his palm were like mountain ranges, with mist rising between them, transforming into a picture of a market town a thousand li away.

Man and mountain united, the Way directed, the immortal mountain ten thousand fathoms tall, severing the primordial void. Countless living beings, mountains and rivers like a painting, a thousand li in the palm, visible in the smallest detail.

Chen Ping'an did not want to disturb Gao Jun's state of sitting and forgetting. When she came back to her senses, he smiled and asked, "Sect Leader Gao, were you born into a scholarly family?"

Gao Jun did not know why he asked this. She showed a slightly self-deprecating expression, shook her head, and said, "My origins are not good. I went up the mountain to learn martial arts very early on, and I haven't read many books. Although the Lake Mountain Sect's collection is rich, surpassing that of the four nations, I didn't like reading since I was a child. The books I've read in my life, both intensive and extensive, combined, including boxing manuals, probably amount to less than a hundred."

Unlike the green-robed Sword Immortal before her, Gao Jun felt that this person's cultivation, knowledge, breadth of mind, and bearing all qualified him to be called both a grand master and a sword immortal.

Seeing a leaf fall and knowing autumn was coming—this showed that the Grand All-under-Heaven was indeed both awe-inspiring and disheartening.

Could Lu Tai's mockery not have been entirely baseless? But seeing was believing; hearing was mere rumor. She should indeed find an opportunity to leave the bottom of the well and go out to see heaven and earth from the mouth of the well.

Then, for some reason, Gao Jun noticed that the other party's expression was somewhat rueful. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, "Sect Leader Gao has a knack for understanding what she reads. Rare, very rare."

Gao Jun hesitated, then said, "Sword Immortal Chen just said that our Lake Mountain Sect has sixteen qi cultivators, but as far as I know, there seem to be only fourteen currently practicing."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "I'll speak plainly. Those two qi cultivators harbor no ill intentions toward your Lake Mountain Sect. They have merely taken this place as an excellent Dao arena. They likely also have the intention of supporting the dragon for you. So Sect Leader Gao can continue to pretend not to know, just keep it in mind. One of them is currently by the side of the Arm Saint Chengyuan Mountain. His true name is Huan Yin. The other, whose true name is Huang Shang, has long been a talisman cultivator of the Daoist path. Both of them are outsiders from the Tung Leaf Continent who entered the blessed land along with Lu Tai. I am not unfamiliar with them and can recognize them at a glance because I have dealt with them before. Their staying here incognito is probably Lu Tai's way of passing the time in a boring fashion. Sect Leader Gao need not think too much of it."

Words are the bridge for communication between people. But the mortal world has many divergent paths, also arising from words.

Thinking back to that year, at Flying Eagle Fort, the young Daoist Huang Shang's most memorable item for Chen Ping'an was that copper coin sword with "three-way communication treasure and nine-layered seal script."

Gao Jun's expression shifted slightly. Because Ancestor Yu had left a brocade pouch, instructing her that after forming a Golden Core, if she could go a step further, she could take two people as her personal disciples. But Ancestor Yu had not mentioned any further details. And the names of these two people happened to be "Huang Shang" and "Huan Yin." But Gao Jun had searched all the archives of the Lake Mountain Sect and could not find any records of the two. She had mistakenly thought it was a prophetic immortal saying from Ancestor Yu. She never imagined that the two had already been in the Lake Mountain Sect all along.

As for the existence of the Arm Saint Chengyuan Mountain, Gao Jun was fully aware. When Ancestor Yu left the Southern Garden Nation that year, Chengyuan Mountain had accompanied him back to the Lake Mountain Sect. However, this martial grand master had changed his appearance and name over the years. Now he was in the Lake Mountain Sect, serving as the lamp-lighter and incense-keeper of this mountain's Ancestral Hall. As to what agreement Ancestor Yu had made with Chengyuan Mountain back then, and why Chengyuan Mountain was willing to live incognito, Gao Jun had not asked. Some things, as Chen Ping'an said, she just needed to be roughly aware of.

Gao Jun asked, "What is the relationship between Lu Tai and Sword Immortal Chen?"

Chen Ping'an said, "Casual acquaintances who became close friends. We are dear friends who have not met for many years."

They descended the mountain together. Chen Ping'an asked, "Sect Leader Gao, do you know a martial artist from the Northern Jin Nation named Zhong Qian?"

"I have only heard of him, never met him."

That Zhong Qian was a... burly man with a gentle disposition. It was said that when he spoke to people, he was always a bit timid.

But according to the Lake Mountain Sect's secret intelligence reports, when this person got angry, he was an entirely different person altogether.

Gao Jun asked, "Sword Immortal Chen, may I follow you to Fallen Mountain?"

Chen Ping'an smiled. "One good turn deserves another. Of course. However, I must first go to the Southern Garden Nation capital. In two hours, Sect Leader Gao can ride the wind to the high clouds, and I will come to meet you there."

The Southern Garden Nation capital held the tranquility of the Heart-Form Temple and the clamor of Scholar's Lane.

There had once been a candidate for the imperial examinations who had returned to his hometown in dejection.

Years ago, following Old Yao, he had climbed the highest mountain of his hometown. Spending the night at the summit, the young kiln worker had looked far into the distance at dawn and seen for the first time the incomparably magnificent sight of the sunrise.

Later, he had stumbled into the Lotus Flower Blessed Land. In that Heart-Form Temple, in the deepening dusk, he had suddenly heard the sound of bells and drums, melodious and ethereal. In that instant, it seemed, his heart had become still.

Was there a single dharma in the world that could resolve all sorrows, settle the boundless mind? When the mind was settled, the lotus would bloom.

The two reached the foot of the mountain. Chen Ping'an took his leave, and in an instant, his form transformed into a flash of sword light and disappeared.

Even Gao Jun, who had seen many strange people and events, was caught off guard. She was stunned, but quickly accepted it. Such was the grace of a sword immortal.

In the twilight, the green mountains and the flowers seemed about to burst into flame. A dozen or so dazzling lines of sword light converged, and a figure in a green robe appeared at the mountain's summit. He stood alone in the spring breeze and evening light, gazing into the distance for a long time.

The sun set and the moon rose; heaven and earth were like a dark chamber, as if an immortal had suddenly untied a bag and released a lamp. The moonlight was like water, splashing the