Chapter 365: Who Can Lend Me a Sword

The Dust Apothecary once again buzzed with activity.

After Zheng Dafeng had sparred with the four painting-scroll figures for half an hour, he allowed them a brief respite. This intermittent training continued, with Zheng Dafeng consistently suppressing his cultivation to the Eighth Realm, though gradually increasing its potency. He progressed from the initial Distant Travel stage to the flawless peak of the Eighth Realm. Facing the increasingly adept combined attacks of Wei Xian and the others, Zheng Dafeng found the task less and less easy. The four never convened to speak, even during breaks, standing apart, each pondering their own thoughts, everything communicated silently.

Pei Qian, carefree as ever, finished her dinner, copied her books, and then, under the eaves of the courtyard, practiced a wild, self-taught swordplay with her mountain-walking staff. Satisfied, she went to sleep in the side room. Before sleeping, she greeted Chen Ping’an at the door, then opened the green bamboo book box Chen Ping'an had placed in her room. She examined the treasure box given by Yao Jinzhi, looking at this and that, a treasure-suppressing talisman still stuck to her forehead. Shaking her head, she was full of satisfaction. "Today, I'm rich!" she exclaimed. Touching the talisman on her forehead, she felt a slight concern. She knew selling it could buy a large mansion, but she was reluctant. "Forget it, I'll wait until I have a second one," she thought. "Anyway, I have plenty to eat and wear now. A mansion wouldn't be that useful." But she resolved to have a mansion as grand as the Water Goddess Bi You's residence, with such an eccentric screen wall that everyone would know she was rich the moment they entered.

On the night the group moved into the apothecary, the Zhao-surname Yin God returned with a stack of geomantic maps. No one knew where he'd acquired them, but they were neatly arranged on the table in the main room. Under the lamplight, Lu Baixiang, having asked Zheng Dafeng for a stiff-bristled brush, began to meticulously mark and annotate the maps, as if deploying troops. He identified the "fortified positions" of the Old Dragon City's five great clans, the "strength distribution" of the enshrined retainers and Golden Core Earth Immortals, and then drew a straight line between the Ascension Platform and the Dust Apothecary.

Wei Xian was also present. Zhu Lian and Sui Youbian, however, did not participate. One was reading a book under the eaves, bathed in moonlight, while the other stood in the courtyard, refining the pure true energy within her Qi storage acupoints.

As for Zheng Dafeng, he had already gone to sleep in the side room, snoring loudly. They had agreed to resume sparring in two hours.

The sparring served to hone the four's martial arts cultivation, raising their realms further, while also helping them absorb the spiritual essence of the Azure Tiger Palace pills at the fastest rate.

This deal was a great advantage for Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an remained standing by the table, watching Lu Baixiang, Wei Xian, and the Zhao-surname Yin God circle, mark, and point on the geomantic maps. He rarely offered advice, only intervening when the two men and one Yin God disagreed on a specific detail. In such cases, Chen Ping'an would decide which option was better. In fact, he was quite relaxed.

His "journey along the river of time" during the last trip to Lotus Flower Paradise had been long and the ages were far more ancient. Yet, even so, Chen Ping'an only dared claim to have a superficial understanding of human nature and the high court and distant rivers and lakes. As for these specific plans related to military strategy, Chen Ping'an would not interfere. He left it to the experts. Wei Xian, needless to say, came from the battlefield, while Lu Baixiang was a rare, first-class all-rounder, proficient in military strategy, familiar with the tenets of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in Lotus Flower Paradise, not to mention the arts. The founder of the Demonic Sect's only lack was that he had only just arrived in the Great World and hadn't yet reached a mountain peak.

However, on the path of cultivation, from the foot of the mountain to the halfway point, and then to the summit, the number of fellow travelers always thinned. If one strayed and reached the end of a dead-end road, watching others continue to climb, what should one do?

Therefore, Chen Ping'an could understand Sui Youbian's anger when her obsession with achieving the highest possible martial arts realm in this life plummeted from the potential of the Martial God Realm to the Ninth Realm, nearly collapsing her heart and shattering her sword intent. However, he did not agree with it. Zheng Dafeng, with a carefree smile, said to Sui Youbian and the others, "The Ninth Realm, nothing special!" Did they really think the Ninth Realm was like cabbage on the roadside? Zheng Dafeng was the direct disciple of Old Man Yang! The gatekeeper of Li Zhu Paradise almost suffered a cultivation deviation at the threshold of the Ninth Realm.

Sui Youbian's advancement to the Golden Body Realm during the ruined temple battle was already a great opportunity, something to be secured. Yet, she still only craved the scenery at the highest point. This went against the grounded, step-by-step approach to martial arts emphasized in the Great World.

However, Chen Ping'an didn't believe his reasoning would truly convince the Lotus Flower Paradise's female sword immortal. But it didn't matter. The Heart Sword belonged to him, Chen Ping'an, and so did the Azure Tiger Palace pills. Whether to give them to Sui Youbian, when to give them, and how to give them, was all his decision.

No one owed Sui Youbian anything.

Under the lamplight, a main thread had been drawn from the geomantic maps. The disputes inside the room were decreasing, and Chen Ping'an walked out to get some fresh air.

He walked across the courtyard and sat on the long bench under the eaves opposite the main room.

The layout of the Dust Apothecary was very similar to the Yang family apothecary in his hometown. When Chen Ping'an walked to that long bench, he would remember the scholar who had visited Old Man Yang for the first time, folding his umbrella and sitting in almost the same spot.

Encountering injustice in the world, and recognizing it as such, makes it most difficult to calm the heart.

Had it been Gao Shi or Liu Cong, they wouldn't have seen it as injustice. They would have stood by and watched, perhaps even seizing the opportunity to profit.

Had it been Jiang Shangzhen, he might have thought it wasn't even a matter, a waste of time to even look at it.

Even though the ruined temple ambush had cost him dearly, Chen Ping'an didn't harbor deep resentment. Of course, not resenting didn't mean he would be soft when it was time to strike.

But Jiang Shangzhen might never understand why Chen Ping'an had wanted to kill Zhou Shi and the crow spirit in Lotus Flower Paradise.

Even Zheng Dafeng, currently sleeping soundly, probably didn't understand why Chen Ping'an wanted to interfere in the Old Dragon City turmoil.

The reason was simple. If both sides were roughly equal in strength, then their paths diverged, and each acted according to their own principles. They could fight back and forth, relying on their own abilities, scheming and plotting, and Chen Ping'an could accept whoever lived or died.

But Cao Qinglang's parents, those two heads carelessly thrown on the ground by Zhou Shi and the crow spirit, were dripping with blood.

And there was that little girl from the apothecary, killed by the Fang family's scion.No matter how many reasons or excuses Ding Ying or the Fang family had to convince themselves and the two worlds, these three individuals should never have suffered such a calamity.

At this moment, Chen Ping'an was unaware that Qi Jingchun had once drunk inferior wine at Li Huai's home and told Li Er frankly that a true hero strikes at the stronger.

He only knew that Ah Liang, before ascending, had told them all that any true powerhouse should consider the freedom of the weak as their boundary.

Humanity experiences countless joys and sorrows, each with their own hardships and blessings. No two leaves are the same in this world, and no river flows identically.

But some principles are universal.

Lu Tai, at Eagle Fort, told that pitiful woman with the "heart-seed ghost fetus" that life in this world is uninteresting, better not to have come.

Chen Ping'an pondered over and over, realizing it wasn't that the world was uninteresting, but that there were too many unreasonable people.

Good people suffer losses, and can only console themselves that suffering is a blessing, only warn themselves to offend a gentleman rather than a petty person, while evil people commit evil without knowing it, or even knowing it, yet still doing it.

Chen Ping'an sat on a long bench. Inside the main room, they were still meticulously scrutinizing every detail. Zhao's Yin spirit was familiar with the power structure of Old Dragon City. Therefore, Wei Xian and Lu Baixiang, as one side, and the Yin spirit, putting herself in the position of the Fu family, were conducting "war games" of attacks against the Dust Pill Shop from different angles and with varying forces. Wei Xian and Lu Baixiang responded accordingly.

Zhu Lian was under the eaves, perusing his most treasured erotic novel, a new book he hadn't bought long ago, which he had relentlessly read until it looked like an old book. At this moment, he was muttering about it being a work of conscience, a true masterpiece. It turned out that this crudely printed book, attributed to a clearly fake talented scholar and beautiful woman, had a long list of "masterpieces" by fellow enthusiasts on the last page, complete with insightful commentary. Thus, the old man closed the book again tonight, sincerely sighing, "May good fortune be with good people always."

Saying this, the stooped old man turned to Chen Ping'an with a sheepish smile, "Young Master, I apologize for my indiscretion. I will be more careful in the future."

Chen Ping'an smiled and waved his hand, reminding him, "Remember to keep that matter a secret for me."

Zhu Lian said guiltily, "It's this old servant's lack of talent. I've been feeling uneasy these past few days and wouldn't dare reveal a single word."

Chen Ping'an didn't respond.

Earlier, on the Sky Gate Peak ferry, Chen Ping'an had considered sending a letter from Inverted Mountain to the Crane Inn, asking the manager to forward it to the sword-bearing man, hoping it could reach Sword Qi Great Wall and be delivered to Miss Ning. However, he struggled each time he put pen to paper, unsure how to write the letter. In the end, he sought out Zhu Lian, who could utter the phrase "the sound of heartstrings fluttering." Unexpectedly, this Zhu Lian, whom he thought was a playboy, was actually the old lecher in Sui Youbian's eyes. The suggestions he gave either gave Chen Ping'an goosebumps or left him drenched in cold sweat, so he returned empty-handed.

In the courtyard, Sui Youbian drew her sword and flicked it with her finger.

She listened intently to the clear, ringing sound.

This woman, usually the least likable of the group, actually had a rare smile on her face at this moment.

Chen Ping'an smiled, "Sui Youbian, you look much better like this. Why do you always wear a stern face? If there's a chance in the future, I'll introduce you to a sword immortal."

Sincere words, expressed with respect.

Sui Youbian sheathed her sword, turned to look at Chen Ping'an, and sneered, "The fox's tail is showing already? What, do you want me to warm your bed?"

Chen Ping'an laughed heartily, "No way, I'm too timid."

Zhu Lian smiled and said, "Willing to follow the master to the Heavenly Terrace, idly sweeping fallen flowers with the immortals, such beautiful poetry. Young Master, I wonder if you are the master or the immortal?"

As soon as Chen Ping'an heard Zhu Lian's lewd flattery, he knew things were about to go south. Sure enough, Sui Youbian's face turned icy, and she radiated killing intent, probably contemplating who to kill first with her sword.

Chen Ping'an and Zhu Lian almost simultaneously made a hasty retreat, one darting into the house and the other running into the pharmacy in front.

Sui Youbian snorted coldly and returned to her room. Pei Qian was already asleep. Perhaps because she was used to being alone since childhood, and no one cared how she acted, and she often slept in the open, or sprawled on the stone lions in front of wealthy households, her sleeping posture was truly awful, limbs sprawled out, and the blanket couldn't retain any warmth. Sui Youbian frowned, gently walked over, helped move the little girl's limbs, and tucked in the corners of the blanket.

Sui Youbian lit the lamp, sat alone at the table, silent and alone, with only her sword for company.

Chen Ping'an slept on the floor in the pharmacy tonight, his sleep light.

Zheng Dafeng often sparred with the four of them in the courtyard.

Chen Ping'an closed his eyes, listening to the sounds of the flowing fist intent, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, all gently rippling in his heart, like knocking on a door.

The alley was uneventful overnight.

The Fu family still had some face left. Moreover, with the great battle imminent, even if someone had the strength to enter the alley and provoke Zheng Dafeng, it would be like slapping the Fu family's face, and now the Fu family's reputation in Old Dragon City was almost equal to that of the Yunlin Jiang clan. If it weren't for that, Fu Qi wouldn't have personally challenged Zheng Dafeng to a duel on Dragon Ascent Stage.

The most important thing in the strategy discussion in the main room earlier was how many immortal artifacts Fu Qi could actually use.

It was already a strange and unsettling matter that a Fu family disciple could use a semi-immortal artifact, which was extremely difficult to control and could even backfire, with only a Golden Core Realm cultivation, but over time, the outside world had simply accepted it.

Chen Ping'an woke up early in the morning. Zheng Dafeng was squatting at the door of the main room drinking porridge, and Pei Qian was squatting beside him, whispering to each other. No one knew when they had become so close.

Lu Baixiang was playing the zither in the house, with the rhythm of high mountains and flowing water.

Wei Xian was practicing the six-step stance he had learned from Chen Ping'an in the courtyard, and Sui Youbian was no better, practicing the Sword Furnace Stance.

Zhu Lian was relatively considerate, bringing Chen Ping'an a large bowl of plain porridge, saying that he wanted the young master to taste his craftsmanship. Chen Ping'an sat on a long bench and drank the porridge. As the sky gradually brightened, he felt refreshed.

He opened the front door panels, and the Dust Pill Shop opened its doors to welcome guests. As for whether there were any customers, there actually were some early in the morning.

Chen Ping'an opened the door and practiced stances and boxing in the alley, all the way to the corner of the street, then turned around and came back. As he was boxing for the third time, a couple entered his line of sight.

One familiar face was not surprising, but the appearance of the other, a woman who was not very familiar but left a lasting impression on Chen Ping'an, was somewhat unexpected.The young man was Fan Er, and beside him was a young woman in a green robe. Chen Ping'an had encountered them before, when the two ferries passed by each other in the underground dragon-vein waterway. She had even displayed her skill in manipulating a wine pot mid-air.

From afar, Fan Er saw Chen Ping'an and laughed boisterously, "Chen Ping'an, do you dare to battle me, Fan Er of the Fourth Realm?"

Chen Ping'an stopped in front of the apothecary, shaking his head, "I dare not."

"We are both Grandmasters of the Fourth Realm! To meet on such a narrow path, yet not engage in a climactic battle, wouldn't that be a great regret for the world!"

Fan Er, using a wild flurry of fists resembling the "turtle-beating" style that even his master would disown, began his opening gambit. He made strange noises and charged towards Chen Ping'an with flailing limbs.

Chen Ping'an raised a hand to his forehead. He had no choice but to slowly advance, cooperating with this Fan Er in a "Grandmaster-level peak showdown."

Fortunately, Fan Er only managed to run a dozen steps before the green-robed woman grabbed him by the collar and tossed him behind her. "Stop embarrassing yourself here. If you want to show off, go to the Dragon Ascension Platform."

Fan Er obediently followed behind her, winking at Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an stopped, puzzled. "Are you Fan Er's elder sister, Fan Junmao?"

Fan Junmao, also with a wine pot at her waist, kept walking and sneered, "I wish I didn't have such a younger brother. But I can't control my father and his concubine's amorous entanglements."

Fan Er cheerfully snickered.

Chen Ping'an sighed inwardly, then felt relieved. Only a person like Fan Junmao, with such a personality, could earn Fan Er's true affection and respect. If she were a virtuous and quiet young lady, he would still like her, but wouldn't admire his sister from the bottom of his heart like this.

Fan Junmao had no intention of entering the apothecary. She pointed, "Fan Er, go inside and wait."

Fan Er yelped twice and happily ran into the apothecary. As he brushed past Chen Ping'an, he risked his life to remind him, "Please accept my condolences."

Chen Ping'an was surprised. "Miss Fan, could it be that you are..."

Before Chen Ping'an could finish, Fan Junmao nodded. "You guessed it. It's me. Last time we met, you headed south, and I went north, to your hometown, the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven. The person I saw was that old man Yang. He doesn't care much for Zheng Dafeng, wanting him to survive or perish on his own in Old Dragon City. However, he specifically mentioned you, saying that if I was interested, I could take a closer look."

Regarding Old Man Yang's attitude towards Zheng Dafeng, Zheng Dafeng didn't want to deceive Chen Ping'an on this matter. He had already stated last night that the old man had long made a threat: even if his useless disciple died, he shouldn't reveal anything about his origins.

Therefore, Fu Nanhua's only impression of Zheng Dafeng was the lazy gatekeeper of the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven.

Fan Junmao called out, "Fan Er, throw out a chair. Remember, a chair, not a bench!"

Fan Er responded and actually carried a chair to the front of the shop, throwing it directly out the door.

Fan Junmao caught it, placed it against the wall opposite the apothecary, and sat down with a thud. Leaning back, she swayed the chair back and forth, saying lazily, "Zheng Dafeng might not understand that Fu Donghai planned this, but Fu Qi wasn't aware of it. Fu Donghai, that ambitious but incompetent fool, acted on his own. Fu Qi knew some secrets and inside information about the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven and was determined to win Zheng Dafeng over. Before, he even brought a long-legged woman, someone called Fu Chunhua, to find Zheng Dafeng, but Zheng Dafeng rejected her kindness at the time. Even so, Fu Qi just treated Zheng Dafeng as a powerful outsider, letting him stay in the Fan family's small pond without causing trouble. However, Fu Donghai made a big mess, and Madam Jiang of the Yun Lin Jiang clan, for better or for worse, interfered, turning Fu Qi's 'misunderstanding,' which could have been explained and handled behind closed doors, into a matter of the Jiang clan's pride. Now what? That's why there's a duel on the Dragon Ascension Platform where someone must die. Otherwise, the Fu family would be slapping the Jiang clan's face right after their marriage alliance. If you were the ancestor of the Yun Lin Jiang clan, what would you do?"

Chen Ping'an replied, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings; face is not more important than reason."

Fan Junmao seemed shocked by the answer and took down her wine pot. "Thank goodness I didn't drink just now, or I would have choked to death."

Chen Ping'an sat on the doorstep. "Although I have some disagreements with Sun Jiashu, I think that among the major families in Old Dragon City, the Sun family's business practices are the most upright."

Fan Junmao took a sip of wine, her eyes playful, and asked with a smile, "Our Fan family doesn't meet your eye?"

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Being able to raise a future successor like Fan Er, the Fan family's traditions must be good. It's just that when there are too many people in the ancestral hall with a say, they'll inevitably have their own agendas. As the head of the family, you have to take care of everyone, making it difficult to... stay pure, and even inevitably compromise. I understand this principle. But in Zheng Dafeng's case, the Fan family is indeed not benevolent enough. If, and I mean if, I were to do business with the Fan family in the future, I wouldn't be at ease unless Fan Er personally handled it. But with the Sun family, I'd be more at ease if Sun Jiashu himself didn't get involved."

Fan Junmao tilted her head, clicking her tongue. "You're not stupid. Why does Old Man Yang always say you're not clever enough?"

Chen Ping'an chuckled. "I've been away from home for many years. Besides growing taller, my brain has to grow a bit too, right?"

Fan Junmao nodded. "It's true that your brain has grown a bit, but when you encounter big matters, you're still not clever enough."

Chen Ping'an didn't mind and went straight to the point. "Can we start talking about the deal?"

Fan Junmao scoffed. "Just by looking at the list Zheng Dafeng gave me, I knew your refinement attempt must have failed. You're not just an amateur, but also have your sights set too high. If I'm not mistaken, the natal item you refined using the Five Elements Water isn't of low grade, right? The refinement incantations and cauldron were also good, right? But do you know that besides the inevitable failure, once it fails, the accumulated problems are deep, and it's destined to have endless troubles?"

Chen Ping'an's expression turned solemn.

Fan Junmao smiled. "I know you're the kind of person who doesn't believe in fate. As for business, I don't care if you lose or gain after buying my family's goods. Don't worry, I've brought you a whole bunch of heavenly treasures. I want that old flood dragon's Golden Core from Flood Dragon Gorge! Such a rare item, with no price, indeed tempts even me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have made this trip myself; Fan Er could have come."Fan Junmao tilted her head back and took a hearty swig of wine. "You guessed right. I'm going to fleece you, take advantage of your misfortune! And this cut will be merciless. But can you, Chen Ping'an, afford not to pay?"

Chen Ping'an tossed the porcelain bottle containing the old Flood Dragon's golden core. Fan Junmao caught it with a swift hand.

Chen Ping'an asked, "I heard from Zheng Dafeng that you can control the cloud sea above Old Dragon City. If I can offer something even better, would you be willing to act, regardless of who wins or loses at the Ascent to Dragon Platform, to safeguard Zheng Dafeng's life?"

"Fan Er has a shrunken treasure I gifted him. He should be taking things out now. Since I'm a member of the Fan clan, I still need to conduct business with some integrity. The items are all of high quality, only a bit expensive. You won't find any flaws. Even if you went to the Fu family, Fu Qi could only give you items of similar quality."

After saying this, Fan Junmao lightly tossed the porcelain bottle in her hand, smiling. "Even if I break the rules and choose to act, I estimate there's only a fifty percent chance of saving Zheng Dafeng's worthless life. Besides, I don't want to at all."

Chen Ping'an was about to speak.

Zheng Dafeng already sat on the threshold, one on each side of Chen Ping'an, becoming two doorgods for the Dusty Elixir Shop. Zheng Dafeng smiled and said, "Alright, asking her is useless."

Fan Junmao nodded, flipping her wrist, the porcelain bottle vanishing from sight. "Indeed."

Chen Ping'an was once again forcibly interrupted by Zheng Dafeng, who even shook his head, signaling not to take out that item.

Fan Junmao's eyes lit up. "You really have good stuff?! Take it out and let me see. If I think it's worth it, taking action isn't impossible. A good fight strengthens the bones, not a bad thing."

Zheng Dafeng suddenly stood up. "Enough! Fan Junmao, is Chen Ping'an's attempt to refine his natal treasure really that hopeless?"

Clearly, he was trying to change the subject, preventing Fan Junmao's curiosity from growing.

Fan Junmao found it boring, slumping back in her chair, shaking the wine flask in her hand. "Do you really think refining a natal treasure is like a lower-realm Daoist casually refining a few Qi-nurturing pills? Do you know about the so-called opportune timing, advantageous location, and concord of the people? Or does Chen Ping'an think he's one of those uniquely blessed, heaven-favored lucky ones, an amateur who can just find a place and successfully refine a natal treasure on the first try? If you, Chen Ping'an, succeed, I, Fan Junmao, will gouge out my eyeballs and give them to you."

Zheng Dafeng turned to Chen Ping'an and said, "Then don't refine it!"

It was rare for Zheng Dafeng to be so serious; it had hardly ever happened in his life.

Chen Ping'an had no choice but to nod. "Then forget it. I know my luck with gambling."

Fan Junmao stood up. "Alright, that's settled then. Zheng Dafeng, fight well when the time comes. I'll be watching from above. Remember to die with heroic spirit."

Zheng Dafeng reverted to his usual self, rubbing his hands together with a smile. "Miss Fan, what color dress will you be wearing in the cloud sea that day? This green robe is nice, but you should change your outfit occasionally."

Fan Junmao, after all, was no ordinary woman. She chuckled and said, "Even if I stood on the Ascent to Dragon Platform naked, you wouldn't be able to open your eyes. Perhaps Fu Qi would stab you with a sword first, still not satisfied, then stomp on your head. When your eyeballs explode, with a 'bang', they'll fly from the Ascent to Dragon Platform into the cloud sea. Then I'll pinch them between two fingers and, with a 'pop', they'll explode again."

Zheng Dafeng quickly begged for mercy. "Miss Fan, can't you say something nice about me?"

Fan Junmao laughed heartily as she walked down the alley, striding away.

Once she was sure Fan Junmao was far away, Zheng Dafeng said in a deep voice, "That demon core, do you know that in the final moment, if you just took it out, whether it was Fu Qi, or someone from the Yunlin Jiang clan, or even any Celestial Realm grand cultivator, they would all be moved? You would have had a chance to trade it for a life. You gave it to Fan Junmao today, and what did you get in return?! Even if she acts, it's only a fifty percent chance. But that's only for me, Zheng Dafeng. Even if I'm saved, how will you all leave Old Dragon City?"

Chen Ping'an suddenly laughed. "I'm not willing to be your, Zheng Dafeng's, Dao preacher."

Zheng Dafeng rolled his eyes, sitting back on the threshold. "You think I want to? It's something that will make me never be able to hold my head up in front of Li Er for the rest of my life."

Chen Ping'an folded his hands in his sleeves, gazing at the wall. "But if it's to be the protector of the current Zheng Dafeng, I'm willing."

Fan Junmao suddenly "sat back" in that chair, laughing loudly. "Looks like there's an even more impressive demon core, eleventh realm? No, a twelfth-realm great demon's core! It must be the golden core of that great demon from the Fuzhi Sect in Tongye Continent. Interesting, interesting!"

Zheng Dafeng's expression changed drastically, staring intently at the green-robed woman. "I'm not joking with you. Don't even think about that demon core!"

Fan Junmao extended a finger, lightly twirling a fist. Behind her, wisps of mist began to spread on the wall, eventually gathering at her fingertip into a small cloud.

If she hadn't planned ahead, she wouldn't have been able to hear Zheng Dafeng's heartfelt words.

Tsk, even someone like Zheng Dafeng is willing to open his heart to someone?

Fan Junmao squinted at the young man.

Fan Junmao took a sip of wine, her face full of satisfaction. "A twelfth-realm great demon's golden core can be refined in three ways: large, medium, and small. The difficulty of a large refinement is no less than refining a natal treasure. You, Chen Ping'an, shouldn't even think about it. It's perfect for me. I control the cloud sea above you two. In fact, the Fu family is just a manager. When I'm not here, the Fu family can use some, but when I am, they can't even use a tiny cloud from my fingertip."

She wiped her mouth, unable to conceal the heat in her eyes. "Give me that demon core, and I can devour the water luck of the three sides of Old Dragon City's sea. Pick a good time, and the opportune timing, advantageous location, and concord of the people will all be there. What do you say? Take it out, and I can have a fifty percent chance of saving Zheng Dafeng's life. Anyway, that worthless life is bound to be lost sooner or later. It doesn't matter if I save him once."

Chen Ping'an smiled and asked, "May I ask Miss Fan, what about the medium and small refinements?"

Fan Junmao raised an eyebrow. "The small refinement isn't difficult, and it's best to use it to soak wine. As for the effects, whoever drinks it will know!"

Chen Ping'an nodded with a smile. "Alright, then I'll use it for a 'medium refinement'. Thank you for the reminder, Miss Fan."

Fan Junmao stood up, her eyes sharp.Zheng Dafeng stood up, his voice heavy. "Fan Junmao! Don't forget, I still have a Yin Spirit here! If you dare to attack, I dare to make your cultivation stagnate for at least a century!"

Fan Junmao paced back and forth in the alley directly opposite the pharmacy's entrance, her eyes fixed on the fellow named Chen Ping'an.

Finally, Fan Junmao stomped her foot and soared into the sky, rushing into the sea of clouds. Frustrated beyond measure, she roared and waved her sleeves, grabbing chunks of clouds and smashing them against each other.

After thrashing about for some time, she fell backward, lying on the clouds. "If I took some to brew wine, I wouldn't have to worry about it for the rest of my life!"

She wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and began rolling around on the clouds.

Back in the alley, Zheng Dafeng wiped sweat from his forehead, glancing at the unmoving Chen Ping'an. "You really have some nerve!"

Chen Ping'an's expression remained unchanged. "Take a look at my back?"

Zheng Dafeng actually stepped over the threshold to take a look. Sure enough, Chen Ping'an was drenched in sweat...

Zheng Dafeng chuckled, sitting on the threshold. "I never thought that black charcoal kid who used to gaze longingly at the world outside would become who he is today."

Chen Ping'an took down his gourd for nurturing swords, taking small sips of wine. "Neither did I."

A moment of silence followed.

Chen Ping'an turned his head, smiling as he asked, "Has it changed for the better, or for the worse?"

Zheng Dafeng pondered. "It's probably not bad either way."

Then, Zheng Dafeng slapped himself. "Have you, Zheng Dafeng, learned to flatter people after only spending a day with Pei Qian and Zhu Lian?"

Standing up, Zheng Dafeng muttered to himself as he walked back to the pharmacy's courtyard, calling out to the four painted figures to spar. This time, the four of them felt a heavy pressure from Zheng Dafeng, not like guidance at all, but more like he was using them as practice dummies.

Fan Er ran out of the shop, smiling as he sat next to Chen Ping'an. "Everything has been put inside."

Chen Ping'an hummed in acknowledgement. "I probably won't refine a Natal Treasure, but I want to refine something else small. You should head back early; this isn't a place to linger. Don't cause any unnecessary trouble for your family."

Fan Er didn't delay. "I'll find another opportunity to come to the pharmacy later."

Chen Ping'an stood up, escorting Fan Er to the corner of the street, where a carriage was already waiting. The coachman was none other than Ma Zhi, the Golden Core Sword Cultivator from the Guihua Island ferry, his Natal Sword called Liangyin (Cool Shade).

*The path of the Sword Cultivator, a Qi Practitioner's sixty-year-old cave, a hundred-year cave, the Sword Cultivator still young.*

Back then, the old Sword Cultivator Ma Zhi had even complained to Chen Ping'an, saying that if the Fan family was willing to give up half of their wealth and wholeheartedly support him, a Golden Core Sword Cultivator, he could ascend to the Nascent Soul realm.

Chen Ping'an didn't walk out of the alley, smiling and waving to the old Sword Cultivator, who nodded with a smile in return.

That night, Chen Ping'an lay on the roof, holding a jade pendant that he didn't often take out, gazing at it blankly. Under the moonlight, it was crystalline and translucent.

Although Chen Ping'an didn't have much divine money, his possessions were not few. This jade pendant was one of his earliest treasures, obtained before his first long journey to the Great Sui.

He didn't refine the 'Water' Character Seal.

On the road of life, some dangerous trials are worth risking oneself for, but some temptations must be heeded with the old adage: "If fate grants you eight feet, do not seek ten."

Chen Ping'an placed the jade pendant on his body, gently covering it with his hands, and closed his eyes.

The Sword of Infatuation had been lent to Sui Youbian, but even with her, the sword was far from enough for Chen Ping'an. It was a pity that the Sword of Long Breath had been left in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, or it could have been used to face enemies.

*If only someone could lend me a sword.*

But such a thing was too good to be true.

Until the day before the Great Cold solar term, the Dusty Medicine Shop remained calm and uneventful, without a single customer.

However, despite the lack of customers, a seemingly empty intercontinental ferry had docked at the island's ferry crossing.

The City Lord of Old Dragon City, Fu Qi, the training nanny of the Yunlin Jiang Clan's old Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator, and Du Yan, the direct disciple of the Tongye Sect, stood shoulder to shoulder, waiting for someone to disembark from the ferry.

In the end, only an unremarkable old man walked off the ferry.

If the three people who had hunted down the Great Demon of the Spirit Support Sect were present, they would have recognized this person's identity.

The revival ancestor of the Tongye Sect surnamed Du.

The simply dressed old man leisurely disembarked from the ferry, greeted everyone at the dock with a friendly demeanor, and exchanged mundane pleasantries, showing none of the "old lunatic" of the Tongye Sect, as Jiang Shangzhen had described.

However, when the old man looked towards Old Dragon City and spoke of serious matters, everyone immediately felt the pressure of a mountain bearing down on them. "Is it a ninth-realm Martial Artist?"

Fu Qi replied with a wry smile, "Indeed."

The old man extended his thumb, wiping the corner of his mouth. "Authorized by the Great Li Dynasty, your Fu family of Old Dragon City gifted our Tongye Sect four ferries on the Upside-Down Mountain route, a gift that is not insignificant."