Chapter 301: The Treachery of the Martial World

Chapter 302: Sadness

The grand currents of the world, in truth, are mostly decided upon the mountains.

Far from the Eagle Fortress in the heavens.

A confrontation unfolded.

Their victory or defeat would almost decide the life and death of an entire Eagle Fortress.

Three natal flying swords, coupled with two young cultivators, and the entangling Binding Demon Cord and Five-Colored Belt.

The high-crowned old man could be said to be surrounded on all sides, not necessarily due to the numerical superiority of the opponents, but rather because he was being slowly whittled down and overwhelmed by their endless stream of magical treasures.

Faced with the two inexplicably monstrous youths, the high-crowned old man seemed to know his death was inevitable, his expression wistful and filled with helplessness, as he slowly said, "If it weren't for this situation, when that golden-robed youth stabbed me with his sword just now, I would have detonated my golden core myself, and then used my remaining nascent soul to kill you. After all, I, in my peak years, was a Golden Core cultivator on the verge of touching the threshold of the nascent soul realm. Even if you could dodge it, you definitely wouldn't be unscathed. Perhaps this handsome skin of yours would be ruined."

Lu Tai nodded, not denying it.

The corner of his eye, however, remained fixed on the high-crowned old man's two arms; those were the true trump cards that restrained the old man.

The old man was shrewd beyond compare. He lowered his head and looked, clicking his tongue. "All good things, indeed."

The old man glanced around, somewhat forlorn. "If it hadn't been for a disciple of an old ancestor from Peaceful Mountain who coveted my Five Peaks Crown, and I was unwilling to offer it up with both hands, how would I have fallen to this state today? He demanded it without success, so he secretly colluded with rogue cultivators, paying them to go on a killing spree, leaving none of my relatives and friends alive..."

Speaking of this, the old man chuckled. "I'm not one to be trifled with, either. I found an opportunity to slaughter two Dragon Gate realm cultivators. They were both true geniuses, much like you two. With good fortune, they could have ascended to the nascent soul realm; the Golden Core realm was a certainty. So Peaceful Mountain went mad, no longer caring about propriety. On the surface, a young Golden Core cultivator fought me in a duel, ultimately leading to a sharp decline in my cultivation. But what was the truth? Haha, what a Peaceful Mountain! Behind that young Golden Core was a nascent soul Earth Immortal, all for the sake of having me provide training to that young Golden Core cultivator, gaining both the reputation of defeating an old Golden Core cultivator and the tangible benefit of solidifying their cultivation. A fine example of making the most of everything, they called it. Tell me, aren't these so-called righteous sects formidable?"

Lu Tai's gaze passed over the prayer mat old man and turned to Chen Ping'an in the distance.

He could communicate with Chen Ping'an through their shared mindscape and guarantee that no Middle Five Realms cultivator could eavesdrop. However, Chen Ping'an could not respond. The technique of sound transmission used by Jianghu martial artists might seem magical to ordinary people, but in the eyes of mountain cultivators, it was a clumsy and inferior method. Therefore, if Lu Tai wanted to know Chen Ping'an's decision, they could only communicate through eye contact.

Knowing that the two youths were "exchanging glances," the high-crowned old man, nearing the end of his heroic path, ignored them. With difficulty, he raised his arm and extended a finger, lightly tapping the sharp sword tip that protruded from his chest. This heroic gesture caused the old man to vomit blood, but he remained composed. "If I'm not mistaken, this should be the sword that the number one swordsman of the Chenxiang Kingdom purchased from the Fuju Sect for a hefty price. It was already half a mountain magic treasure, and after devouring my heart's blood, it has finally taken another step forward and solidified its status as a true magic treasure."

The high-crowned old man laughed heartily, turning to look at the golden-robed youth standing on the flying sword, extending three fingers. "Youngster, you're truly wealthy. The long sword you carry on your back, although I don't know why it hasn't been unsheathed from beginning to end, could it also be a magic treasure?"

Chen Ping'an remained unmoved, not uttering a word.

The high-crowned old man withdrew his gaze and looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath. The wind howled, causing the old man's tattered sleeves to flutter.

"All the treasures I possess, you two little brats, who have ruined my great path, don't even dream of getting your hands on them!"

The old man suddenly burst into laughter. "My death is worth it, after all. The long sword in my chest, the colored belt and Binding Demon Cord on my hands, plus the Five Peaks Crown on my head, and the prayer mat beneath my butt, to be buried with five magic treasures, only a nascent soul Earth Immortal is worthy! If you add in the three natal flying swords, even the peak immortals of the Upper Five Realms are no more than this, right?"

The old man's body began to decay, with ashes falling from his body like rain. However, a dazzling brilliance bloomed from his dantian, shooting out in all directions.

Almost simultaneously, First, Fifteenth, and Wheat quickly retreated, moving away from the Dragon Gate realm cultivator who was about to detonate his golden core.

And the infatuated long sword, which had greedily drunk the old man's heart blood, was then pulled out from his chest by Chen Ping'an using his swordsman's sword control technique. But before pulling it out, he didn't forget to stir it violently, completely destroying the old man's heart. It was clear that even at the risk of the long sword being shattered, Chen Ping'an wanted to ensure the old man's death without a doubt.

The old man lowered his gaze. As the Five-Colored Belt, which was of vital importance to Lu Tai, left his arm, the high-crowned old man suddenly felt lighter, no longer having to suffer the humiliation of a dragon trapped in shallow waters, being teased by shrimps. The old man narrowed his eyes, waiting for the golden-robed youth to take away the Binding Demon Cord from his other arm.

But the old man was dumbfounded.

Not only did the golden Binding Demon Cord of extremely high quality not leave, but it bound his arm even more tightly, clearly intending to be buried with him.

Only at this moment, after calculating every move, did the old man finally erupt with the hidden viciousness and violence in his heart, as well as the trace of panic lurking deep within.

This uncontrollable unease was no less than when he was being chased by that young Golden Core cultivator from Peaceful Mountain.

What nascent soul Earth Immortal shamelessly providing protection, forcing the old man to provide training to Peaceful Mountain's Golden Core cultivator, was naturally a fabrication by the high-crowned old man.

It was all to create the impression that he was willing to die generously, so that after the Binding Demon Cord and Colored Belt were released, he could separate a wisp of pure nascent soul, abandon his physical body and cultivation, and completely escape. Although it would damage the foundation of his great path, it was better than dying on the spot. He could return to the city and find a good seedling for cultivation, bewitching them with words, casually weaving a tragic and heroic story, and then diligently help them cultivate, and then seize the opportunity to possess them.

Forget it, no time to worry about too much!

Even with the Binding Demon Cord still wrapped around his arm, if he didn't shed his mortal shell, he would really be doomed.

The high-crowned old man's dantian and qi sea exploded together. The prayer mat was completely destroyed, and the Five Peaks Crown was knocked away, flying towards the golden-robed youth behind him.

For a time, the heavenly wind was in chaos, exploding in all directions, and the spiritual energy shattered abruptly, like a burly man in a casting room forging iron, with sparks flying everywhere.Because Lu Tai was a Qi Refiner, it was even harder for him to endure. Even though they were fifty zhang apart, he still retreated again and again. Even in this dire situation, Lu Tai tried his best to inform Chen Pingan telepathically, telling him to choose a position that would guarantee his own safety, and use this as an opportunity to temper his martial arts body and soul, which would be greatly beneficial.

Through the chaotic aura, Lu Tai couldn't clearly see Chen Pingan's actions, but he believed that with Chen Pingan's cautious nature, he would make a safe choice.

Unknowingly, Lu Tai had already regarded Chen Pingan, a martial artist of the fourth realm, as a fellow traveler, and even, in some life-and-death decisions, was willing to trust and even rely on Chen Pingan to a certain extent.

This was particularly rare for Qi Refiners on the mountains, who pursued their own immortality, especially for the favored sons of heaven who hoped to attain enlightenment.

The high-crowned old man no longer hoped for perfection. Although he keenly noticed the hidden and roaming flying swords in several places, taking advantage of the moment when the alchemy chamber exploded and the light in the sky was dazzling, a wisp of the old man's refined Yin Soul seized an opportunity and decisively flashed towards a higher altitude.

Although a strand of golden thread was tightly wrapped around the Yin Soul, it was negligible in this earth-shattering upheaval.

Unexpectedly, although the golden-robed youth did not fall for the trick and did not reach out to catch the Five Peaks Crown, letting it fall to the ground without wasting any time, the high-crowned old man's Yin Soul was full of confidence. Stepping on that exaggerated flying sword, the golden-robed youth would not be able to catch up with him, unless he used the Inch-Step Talisman while controlling his sword, and the prerequisite was to accurately find his escape route. All three were indispensable.

Especially this opportunity, which was fleeting, because the Demon-Binding Rope was about to be broken free by the Yin Soul. After the alchemy chamber and the Qi Sea exploded together, there was very little spiritual energy left on the Demon-Binding Rope, making it difficult to restrain the Yin Soul firmly.

Otherwise, why would it be said that mountain cultivators fear the word "what if" the most?

In the sky, the golden-robed youth Chen Pingan used two Inch-Step Talismans in succession. The first time he left the flying sword needle tip, and the second time he came behind the wisp of refined Yin Soul out of thin air. For the first time, he drew out the "Long Qi" sword that the old Sword Immortal of the Sword Qi Great Wall had temporarily lent him. Chen Pingan was single-minded. In his mind, all he saw was Qi XianSheng facing Liu ChiCheng in the pink Daoist robe in the dilapidated temple.

One sword struck down!

Pitifully, the Yin Soul was like a broken duckweed, swiftly swept away by the flood of sword energy.

No trace of this person remained in the world.

After the successful strike of the sword, Chen Pingan had also reached the miserable point of exhaustion. The entire arm holding the "Long Qi" sword had turned into white bone, to the point that his five fingers could not hold the "Long Qi" sword. The long sword fell to the ground, and not only that, Chen Pingan himself slumped and crashed to the ground.

Chu Yi and Shi Wu were filled with anxiety, revolving around his falling figure, at a loss of what to do.

Fortunately, Lu Tai, whose hands and feet were sprouting and blossoming with lotus talismans, intercepted Chen Pingan in mid-air, and finally helped him stand on the slowly descending flying sword needle tip, while Lu Tai himself fluttered his sleeves in the air outside the flying sword.

Lu Tai looked at the miserable appearance of Chen Pingan, feeling both pity and anger. "Chen Pingan, you're too reckless! Do you not want your life anymore? What if he escaped? It's just a wisp of Yin Soul. It would take at least decades or even a hundred years for him to make a comeback. Will you and I still be afraid of him by then?!"

Chen Pingan tilted his head and spat out a mouthful of blood, and even had the mind to look in that direction for a long time, making Lu Tai laugh and cry.

Chen Pingan withdrew his gaze and turned to look at the high-altitude battlefield where the old cultivator had died, without any expression of triumph. "I was killing someone."

Lu Tai quickly took out a porcelain bottle, poured out fragrant and thick ointment into his palm, and slowly poured it on Chen Pingan's terribly scarred arm. Even Chen Pingan, who was so resilient, still gritted his teeth. Lu Tai explained in a low voice, "Bear with it, it can make flesh grow from bone."

Lu Tai looked around, as if searching for something. Understanding what he was looking for, he said annoyedly, "I already helped you catch the long sword and the Demon-Binding Rope just now, and temporarily stored them in my belt. But let me say this in advance, the Demon-Binding Rope is badly damaged and will require a lot of snowflake money to repair it to its original state. But don't worry, I'll pay for it, of course."

Chen Pingan breathed a sigh of relief, and then asked, "What about that high crown?"

Lu Tai rolled his eyes and said, "We're in the wilderness, so we're not afraid of someone picking it up and taking it away. It's easy to find."

The two, along with the flying sword, slowly descended to the ground.

Chen Pingan sighed. The futon had been destroyed, which was a bit of a pity. This time, vanquishing demons and eliminating evil had only left him with a high crown that could be moved out of a mountain.

However, back then, "going against the current" and insisting on killing the old cultivator on the spot had greatly benefited Chen Pingan's soul tempering. His fourth realm of martial arts had a "sinking" feeling for the first time, no longer the kind of ethereal and elusive meaning.

This change or opportunity was very similar to the choice of Gu Can's father's Yin God on the way to the Great Sui Dynasty.

Chen Pingan felt that this battle, even without the Five Peaks Crown, even if the Demon-Binding Rope was completely broken, would not be considered a loss.

Now, naturally, he had made a big profit.

Not to mention other things, just the quality of the infatuated long sword filled with evil aura had greatly improved. Selling it off would be a lot of money.

However, magical treasures were ultimately external things. Only boxing and swordsmanship were what Chen Pingan truly wanted to grab and hold onto firmly as his foundation.

Lu Tai suddenly smiled and said, "That Five Peaks Crown is quite beautiful. That old guy doesn't seem to have fully exerted the power of this magic treasure. He probably doesn't know the true origin of the Five Peaks Crown. When I return to the Central Earth Divine Continent, I'll go to my family's library and several geographical families to look it up. Maybe I'll find something."

Chen Pingan smiled and said, "Okay, that's what you mean by wanting to put it in your pocket. I know what kind of fart you're going to let as soon as you stick your butt up."

Lu Tai said angrily, "Chen Pingan, you've read some books of sages, can you be a little more civilized?"

Chen Pingan gave a heck and said, "Two big men, what's the point of being so particular?"

Lu Tai gave him a charming white eye.

Even though they had traveled together all the way, including riding the Treasure-Swallowing Whale from the Inverted Mountain to the Tongye Continent, he had no idea how many thousands of miles it had been, Chen Pingan felt that he still couldn't bear it.

The two landed in the mountains and forests outside Feiying Fort. With a thought from Lu Tai, his natal flying sword, Wheatgrass, flashed and disappeared.

Lu Tai took the initiative to reveal his background, "Compared to Needle Tip, Wheatgrass has mediocre lethality, but from the beginning of its birth, Wheatgrass possessed a rare magical power, 'Treasure Seeking'.""Listen, same as flying swords, but others' are just different, aren't they?" Chen Ping'an said with a smile, patting his sword-nurturing gourd. Both Chuyi and Shiwu were hidden inside.

However, this time, even Chuyi didn't hold a grudge against Chen Ping'an. Perhaps it was because this life-and-death battle wasn't like the previous two times in the City God Temple and amidst the thousands of soldiers, where they hadn't contributed much.

But the real reason was that, while Chen Ping'an was outwardly expressing envy, deep down he was filled with gratitude for Chuyi and Shiwu.

Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged under a large tree, glanced at his ghastly white arm, and curled his lip.

Lu Tai inexplicably reddened his eyes, appearing somewhat silent.

Chen Ping'an looked at him, "Sniveling and tearful, like a woman!"

Lu Tai was stunned.

Chen Ping'an laughed, a hearty laugh.

Back in the Bamboo Lodge of Luopo Mountain, Chen Ping'an had been scolded like this by the barefoot old man, and it had been very upsetting.

Now, he found that scolding others like that was quite enjoyable.

Seeing Chen Ping'an's cheerful laughter, Lu Tai's mind calmed down. He sat opposite him and asked, "Why did you have to fight so desperately?"

Chen Ping'an looked at him with a matter-of-fact expression, "Didn't we agree beforehand that you would go to the Eagle Fortress's main building, and I would deal with that sea of clouds? I have to fulfill my promises, right? Besides, that old evil cultivator was determined to kill me later. If I didn't fight desperately, I wouldn't have survived. What else could I do?"

Chen Ping'an paused for a moment, considered it, and added, "When you're fighting to the death with someone, it's always right to think of the worst-case scenario. If the demon-binding cord was really destroyed, I wouldn't blame you at this point; it was my own decision. It's like when we were dealing with that group of murderers; I thought we could stop, but you still wanted to pursue the mastermind. It's the same principle."

Lu Tai said apologetically, "That ribbon is my natal treasure, and it can't withstand damage. I'm sorry."

Chen Ping'an waved his hand, indicating that Lu Tai didn't need to explain anything. Seeing Lu Tai's dim expression, he smiled and comforted him, "It's not because I think it's nothing to me, but because I'm willing to trust you that I feel some things, you did them, and you have your own considerations. Between friends, there's no need to say too much."

Lu Tai's eyes welled up again. Chen Ping'an said earnestly, "You, ah, it's a pity you're not a woman. I used to have two friends in the Jianghu, the young Taoist and the bearded wandering knight I told you about. They weren't as fussy as you in these kinds of situations. You're too indecisive."

Someone who casually treats others as friends often doesn't have real friends.

Someone who likes to call others "brother" doesn't actually have real brothers in their heart.

So Lu Tai knew how much weight the word "friend" carried coming from Chen Ping'an's mouth.

Someone worth entrusting with life and death!

Chen Ping'an had indeed done so. The high-crowned elder had suppressed them with the Five Mountains. If Lu Tai had acted even a little slower, even if Chen Ping'an had hidden in the pit under the "mountain," he would still have been suppressed by the formation's spiritual energy and suffocated to death.

When Lu Tai thought of this, he felt even more melancholic, and he seemed even more like a woman.

Because he was the only listener in that small courtyard, having personally heard Chen Ping'an's stories, those things about dreams and wishes.

So Lu Tai said decisively, "Chen Ping'an, this time, when we split the spoils, I'll make sure you earn a fortune."

Chen Ping'an rolled his eyes, not bothering to speak.

A long silence.

Only the autumn sunlight, filtered through the sparse and dense branches, fell upon the forest.

Lu Tai finally opened his mouth quietly, "Chen Ping'an, you're afraid of death, and I'm afraid of fate. Do you think we're both in the same boat?"

Chen Ping'an shook his head, "Of course not. I'm more manly than you."

Lu Tai had finally poured his heart out to someone, only to be doused with cold water, and he was immediately furious, "Chen Ping'an! Why are you so boring!"

Chen Ping'an blinked, "I'm a grown man, what would I do to make another man think I'm interesting? Am I sick?"

Lu Tai said listlessly, "Okay, I'm sick."

Then he said in a voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz, "Even I don't know if I'm a man or a woman."

Chen Ping'an's ears perked up, and he was stunned, "What do you mean?!"

Lu Tai leaned back and lay on the ground, "It's just what it sounds like. I'm just a monster. Since I was little, the people who knew this secret were my parents, my two masters, an old ancestor of the family, and you're the sixth. Only after reaching Shangyang Terrace could I truly…"

By the end, Chen Ping'an couldn't hear him clearly at all.

Chen Ping'an held it in for a long time.

Lu Tai stared blankly at the sky, "Say whatever you want. Since I've said it, I can take any opinion you have."

Chen Ping'an shifted his position, moved closer to Lu Tai, and asked in a curious but slightly embarrassed voice, "Does it hurt a lot when women get their period?"

Lu Tai was struck by lightning. He turned his head, his face dark, and gritted his teeth, "Why don't you ask the girl you like?!"

Chen Ping'an subconsciously scratched his head, "I wouldn't dare to."

Lu Tai suddenly laughed and pointed at Chen Ping'an's arm.

Chen Ping'an cursed and quickly put down his arm, where the flesh was slowly growing back. It really hurt.

The two were silent again.

When Lu Tai sat up, he suddenly realized that the guy was sad, and very sad at that.

Lu Tai found it incomprehensible.

He didn't know what else in the world could make Chen Ping'an so distraught.

He saw that Chen Ping'an had an unfamiliar seal on his knee, a small one.

The Eagle Fortress had faced a great calamity today, but in the end, it was safe and sound.

And he, Chen Ping'an, was still alive and well.

The Lizhu Grotto-Heaven.