Chapter 530 (3): His Bonded Porcelain and Disciples

A man had just arrived at the immortal ferry station of Ox Horn Mountain on his clan's immortal ship, and following beside him was a maidservant called Ya'er.

The two of them soared on the wind and directly made their way to Downtrodden Mountain.

He had a sword tablet crafted by the Dragon Spring Sword Sect hanging by his waist, and this was something he had purchased from a local immortal force during his previous visit to Downtrodden Mountain.

Back then, he hadn't been able to bring himself to rely on his status to purchase the sword tablet for its original price, although this had nothing to do with his sense of morality and justice.

The person hadn't been willing to sell it for double the price either, so he had directly quadrupled the price and completed a happy transaction with the seller. Even so, the sword tablet had only cost him a single grain rain coin.

They descended from the sky after reaching the foot of Downtrodden Mountain.

"Brother Dafeng!" he shouted loudly.

A hunchbacked man sitting on a chair and basking in the sun in front of his residence immediately stood up and ran over, greeting warmly, "Oh, if it isn't Brother Zhou Fei!"

Standing beside Jiang Shangzhen was a breathtakingly beautiful young woman. She was none other than Ya'er, who had been brought out from the Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

After seeing her, Zheng Dafeng remarked with emotion, "You're drowning to death, huh?"[1]

"Can I ascend the mountain?" Jiang Shangzhen asked.

Zheng Dafeng nodded and replied, "Of course you can. However, Downtrodden Mountain has been short on funds recently, so there's a new rule in place stating that all visitors ascending the mountain need to pay a small fee. Since it's Brother Zhou Fei, I'll shamelessly bend the rules this one time and allow Brother Zhou Fei to pay whatever amount he sees fit. In any case, you're half a member of Downtrodden Mountain and almost became a guest elder, so feel free to pay however much you want."

Jiang Shangzhen chuckled and retrieved one grain rain coin, placing it in Zheng Dafeng's palm.

Zheng Dafeng placed the immortal coin into his sleeve and remarked, "Oh my, there's no need for this. This is a bit too much."

Ya'er was extremely clever and quick-witted, yet looking at the shameless hunchbacked man's response, she was almost unable to wrap her head around what was going on.

Zheng Dafeng accompanied Jiang Shangzhen up the mountain, asking, "What brings you here this time?"

Jiang Shangzhen smiled and replied, "I came here to express my gratitude to Downtrodden Mountain. It's all thanks to your mountain master that Bamboo Scroll Lake was able to gain a sword cultivator guest elder at the Unpolished Jade Tier. Additionally, I heard that Mountain God Wei hosted a second Night Travel Banquet, yet I missed the ceremony again. This riddled me with guilt, so I decided that I had to personally visit Downtrodden Mountain no matter what, firstly to express gratitude and secondly to offer my apologies."

A new sect called the True Realm Sect had been established at Bamboo Scroll Lake, and this was a major development that everyone in the mountains of the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent had heard about.

If it weren't for the deafening sound of hooves thundering across the continent, this piece of news would have definitely been the subject of spirited conversations between cultivators in the mountains for a very long time.

The True Realm Sect was a lower sect of the Jade Tablet Sect, currently the largest immortal sect in the Parasol Leaf Continent.

The chief guest elder was Liu Laocheng, the only Upper Five Tier vagrant cultivator of the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent.

Apart from him, the other guest elders of the True Realm Sect also included Cyan Gorge Island's Liu Zhimao.

In addition, a group of powerful cultivators from the Jade Tablet Sect had also traveled over to settle down at Bamboo Scroll Lake.

And now, Li Cai, a female sword immortal from the Northern Complete Reed Continent, had also become a guest elder of the True Realm Sect.

The rise of this lower sect was rapid and vigorous.

An increasing number of cultivators around the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent started to turn their gazes toward the Divine Edict Sect.

They were very curious about whether the powerful local force and the rapidly rising new force would openly clash with each other, or whether there would be many hidden undercurrents surging under the surface. Of course, the latter option would be far less exciting than the former option of powerful cultivators bashing each other to death.

Sect Leader Qi Zhen of the Divine Edict Sect was a twelfth tier heavenly lord, and he had also been bestowed a celestial tool by a branch master of the Daoist Sect. Moreover, the Divine Edict Sect was also a lower sect supported by a more powerful immortal sect in the Middle Earth Divine Continent. In fact, Qi Zhen's junior brother seemingly held an important position in the upper sect right now.

In any case, according to the speculations of the cultivators in the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent, the True Realm Sect would definitely expand its territory in a very careful manner over the next one hundred years.

The Imperial Song Clan of the Great Li Empire wouldn't allow another supremely powerful sect to establish itself in the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent.

In reality, the True Realm Sect was indeed abiding by the rules and regulations. Even when dealing with the many islands of Bamboo Scroll Lake, it had only used those bloody and iron-fisted methods in the very beginning, viciously punishing those who dared to resist. Now, however, it was already starting to mellow and revert to less violent methods, and some clever cultivators and islands were already starting to reap the rewards.

They discovered that following Liu Zhimao's restructuring of Bamboo Scroll Lake, and ignoring the restrictions borne from the rules and regulations of the immortal force, the strength and wealth of their islands were actually growing instead of shrinking. Moreover, the most interesting aspect was that the most lawless region of the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent — one that was filled with all kinds of people and vagrant cultivators — had seemingly transformed overnight, with many people in the region mysteriously becoming official immortals. In fact, they were official immortals of a sect-level immortal force.

During this time, Bejeweled Hairpin Island had attempted to move out of Bamboo Scroll Lake, and the True Realm Sect had especially carved out several islands with undulating mountains and waters, yet didn't make any decisions on their ownership. At the same time, a powerful cultivator of the sect suddenly started to cultivate in seclusion. Of course, all of these were minor matters.

Zhu Lian came out to greet Jiang Shangzhen, and the two of them enjoyed a hearty conversation.

Jiang Shangzhen offered two extremely valuable immortal treasures as late presents for the two Night Travel Banquets that he had missed, asking Zhu Lian to deliver them to Cloud Drape Mountain's Wei Bo.

In addition to these, Jiang Shangzhen initially planned to offer two more valuable immortal treasures to Downtrodden Mountain's young mountain master, thanking him for helping the True Realm Sect recruit an Unpolished Jade Tier guest elder.

However, Zhu Lian remarked that the guest elder was an Unpolished Jade Tier sword immortal, and one from the Northern Complete Reed Continent at that. As such, just two immortal treasures from Brother Zhou Fei seemed like too little. Three would be more appropriate.

Sitting on a stone chair in the courtyard, Jiang Shangzhen slapped his thigh and exclaimed that it was truly a crime for him to forget this matter. And thus, he directly retrieved... two immortal treasures.

Ya'er could barely bring herself to watch on.

After leaving the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, she had witnessed Jiang Shangzhen's tactics in the Jade Tablet Sect, appearing haughty on the surface but actually being very calculated. She had also followed Jiang Shangzhen to the Cloud Cave Blessed Land, witnessing his cold and heartless nature as he killed those rebellious earth immortals of the blessed land. He hadn't so much as blinked while crushing those cultivators as if he were crushing ants.

And finally, she had accompanied Jiang Shangzhen to Bamboo Scroll Lake. Even though he had never issued any specific commands, appearing like a leader who was delegating all of his tasks and not caring about anything at all, Ya'er — who was familiar with the management of large immortal forces due to her background in the demonic sect — had seen formless signs of Jiang Shangzhen's social skills in every interaction and matter.

This caused Ya'er to feel increasingly puzzled. Was that "otherworldly immortal" with the surname Chen worthy of being taken so seriously by Jiang Shangzhen? In any case, Chen Ping'an wasn't even present at Downtrodden Mountain right now.

The current Ya'er was no longer a naive frog at the bottom of the well like she had been in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

She had already witnessed the scenes at the pinnacle of the entire Parasol Leaf Continent.

Zheng Dafeng was extremely amused upon seeing this.

How interesting...

Gray Veil Mountain, Cinnabar Mountain, Exuberant Dawn Peak, and Ao Back Ridge...

All four of these mountains subordinate to Downtrodden Mountain now had their own subjugation treasures.

The most clever thing about these presents from Brother Zhou Fei was that the four valuable subjugation treasures could be used as supporting treasures in the future. In other words, if Downtrodden Mountain found more suitable immortal treasures to safeguard those mountains in the future, today's help during a time of great need would naturally transform into tomorrow's icing on the cake.

Of course, there was a critically important factor to the sect leader of the True Realm Sect being able to display such cleverness.

Wealth!

However, this was also understandable. The Cloud Cave Blessed Land had a resounding reputation, so much so that even the incredibly haughty cultivators from the Middle Earth Divine Continent frequently visited.

It was a huge source of income for the Jade Tablet Sect.

Thus, Zhou Fei was extorting a fat pig right now, Zhou Fei's pig.

One was willing to perform the extortion, and one was willing to fall victim to the extortion, leaving both parties happy. Perhaps this considerate and warm-hearted Brother Zhou Fei might even be feeling displeased with how little and how slowly Zhu Lian was extorting him?

Since they were at Suck-Up Mountain... Downtrodden Mountain, the two of them naturally needed to have a competition to determine whose "Dao power" was superior.

Jiang Shangzhen had been confident when coming to Downtrodden Mountain, yet he surprisingly conceded defeat in the end.

This was because Zhu Lian had a trump card, that remark from Pei Qian, Chen Ping'an's opening disciple.

The competition was quickly settled following this decisive blow.

Jiang Shangzhen was extremely impressed.

Ya'er felt very awkward as she stood there and listened on.

Zhu Lian and Jiang Shangzhen finally started to discuss the proper matters.

Ya'er was extremely reserved.

This was because the gaze of that hunchbacked man truly caused her to feel uncomfortable.

When they occasionally caught each other's gazes, however, Ya'er couldn't say that she felt disgusted. This caused her to feel slightly exasperated and helpless.

Ya'er decided that she wouldn't visit Downtrodden Mountain again in the future.

"I want twenty percent of the Lotus Root Blessed Land's profit, and with no limit on the time period. In other words, a permanent share of the profits."

Jiang Shangzhen raised two fingers and continued, "My offer is this. Firstly, the True Realm Sect will lend one thousand grain rain coins to Downtrodden Mountain. The sect will lend another two thousand grain rain coins to Downtrodden Mountain after the Lotus Root Blessed Land becomes a medium-grade blessed land. We'll lend a further three thousand grain rain coins after it becomes a high-grade blessed land. None of these loans will come with any interest.

"However, Chen Ping'an and Downtrodden Mountain must repay these loans to the True Realm Sect within one hundred years, five hundred years, and one thousand years, respectively. Otherwise, there'll be a fine on top of the base amount. As for whether these loans are repaid using immortal coins or through lending us people, the two parties can discuss this further in the future. We won't go into any detail for the moment.

"Secondly, I'll relocate people from the Cloud Cave Blessed Land to the Lotus Root Blessed Land, and these people will be responsible for helping Downtrodden Mountain take care of various chores. Thirdly, I can directly choose six islands located in the fringe regions of Bamboo Scroll Lake to gift to Downtrodden Mountain. Gift, not loan."

Zhu Lian smiled faintly and didn't say anything.

Jiang Shangzhen was in no hurry either.

"As things stand right now, immortal coins are worth the most, while people are worth the least. However, it's difficult to say whether this will remain the case for the foreseeable future," Zhu Lian suddenly said. "Brother Zhou Fei's Cloud Cave Blessed Land is large and has a wealth of natural treasures, and this is naturally very impressive. On the other hand, the Lotus Root Blessed Land is small and far inferior to the Cloud Cave Blessed Land. In terms of population, however, the Southern Garden Nation has twenty million people, while the Pine Song Nation and the two other nations have forty million people in total. This isn't a small number."

Jiang Shangzhen shook his head and waved his sleeve, immediately forming an isolated area and replying slowly, "If it were an outsider, someone like Old Sect Leader Xun, perhaps they would believe your words. However, it's a shame for you that I'm an 'otherworldly immortal' who's just walked out from the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, and I've roughly guessed the plans of that old temple master as well.

"So, apart from the Southern Garden Nation, the souls of the paper humans in the Pine Song Nation and the other nations will be extremely frail and fragmented in the short term. The fortune of the mountains and waters will be even thinner, so much so that they can almost be disregarded. Only the Southern Garden Nation is tangible and can make up for these shortcomings. Which is to say, the people and matters outside the Southern Garden Nation truly aren't worth much right now. They're not worth anything at all. The only thing that can be done is to wait, and the longer we wait, the more valuable these people and matters will become. And that's why I stressed the point of this being a permanent deal with no time limit."

Zhu Lian didn't accept or reject the offer, instead smiling and saying, "A permanent twenty percent cut of the blessed land's profit is a bit much."

However, this exchange caused Zhu Lian to hold Brother Zhou Fei in higher regard.

This was called guessing the plans of the heavens, and if one guessed correctly, then this was their ability and something that needed to be acknowledged.

At the same time, however, Jiang Shangzhen actually had a very similar view to Zhu Lian.

Zhu Lian was also gambling on the future of the great trend to push for a better deal.

More importantly, the other party had also gambled correctly.

Jiang Shangzhen retracted the isolated area and stood up, saying, "I'm going to stroll around for a while first, and I'll leave Downtrodden Mountain when I receive a solid reply to my offer. In any case, Bamboo Scroll Lake will remain the same shitty way regardless of whether I'm present or not."

Jiang Shangzhen and Ya'er soared through the sky and traveled to the provincial city of the Dragon Province, previously the prefectural city of the Dragon Spring Prefecture.

He planned to find a few playmates of similar ages for the child whom he had brought from the Northern Complete Reed Continent to Bamboo Scroll Lake.

Ya'er, the maidservant beside him, was evidently too old and too dumb.

Zheng Dafeng saw Zhu Lian's inquisitive gaze.

He smiled and explained, "The mighty figure whom I invited should arrive very soon, and they'll help us drive a better bargain with Jiang Shangzhen."

Their helper arrived on cue.

A young woman gracefully hovered into the small courtyard.

Zheng Dafeng chuckled and complimented, "Little Willow, you've grown up to be so remarkably beautiful."[2]

"Greetings, Uncle Zheng," Li Liu replied with a smile.

Zhu Lian didn't make any polite small talk, and he directly started to explain the matters pertaining to the Lotus Root Blessed Land to this unfamiliar young woman. He explained everything regardless of how big or small the matter, painting a picture of the current situation in the four nations.

As for Li Liu's identity and background? Zhu Lian didn't care about these matters at all. As the gatekeeper of Downtrodden Mountain, Zheng Dafeng would naturally have these things under control.

Li Liu didn't beat around the bush either, asking Zhu Lian to call Wei Bo over. She then opened the parasol leaf umbrella and entered the Lotus Root Blessed Land together with Zhu Lian.

The two people — a Far Roaming Tier martial artist and a powerful cultivator who had casually advanced to the Nascent Tier — peered down at the blessed land.

Li Liu pursed her lips and remarked, "As expected of the stinky Daoist priest. His Dao power has become much more profound than before, and it's no wonder that he dares to run over to challenge people in the Heavenly World."

Zhu Lian sat down cross-legged, completely ignoring Li Liu's comment.

Li Liu pointed at the vast expanse of mountains and rivers beneath them and said slowly, "According to the explanation from the past, the changes in this blessed land can be described as the mountains and rivers 'changing colors.' Back then, the heavens of this blessed land used a paramount mystical ability to create a region beyond the Southern Garden Nation, one with a form similar to the White Paper Blessed Land and an aura similar to the Incense Fire Blessed Land.

"To put it simply, all of the living beings outside the Southern Garden Nation — trees and vegetation included — are nothing more than white paper. They can continue to live, but they've already lost all of their so-called intent. In other words, these pieces of white paper are unable to nurture a single speck of incense essence no matter how devout they are, and no matter how they pray to the deities.

“Even so, this doesn't stop them from reincarnating in these new blessed lands. As long as the spiritual energy in this blessed land continues to increase, with the Southern Garden Nation also enjoying more and more incense offerings, all of the paper will grow thicker as a result, eventually allowing them to be indistinguishable from genuine living beings. In fact, they'll even possess the ability to cultivate or become deities."

"They'll transform from colorful paintings into realistic linework," Zhu Lian summarised in a calm voice.

"This is a fair assessment," Li Liu replied with a smile.

She then focused her gaze and pointed at several areas, continuing, "The so-called otherworldly immortals have already retreated from this shattered blessed land, and the cultivators who had already started to ascend the mountains are clearly no longer in the Lotus Root Blessed Land. Take, for example, the Lake Mountain Faction previously led by Yu Zhenyi. That area in the Pine Song Nation is extremely glaring, with a complete lack of mountain and water fortune. This is the result of that old Daoist priest taking a fancy to Yu Zhenyi, with Yu Zhenyi most likely in one of the four genuine fragments of the Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

"Lu Tai is another example. Do you see that scholarly clan in the capital of the Southern Garden Nation? There's also a huge blank space there, contrasting starkly with everything around it. This clan definitely produced someone whom the old Daoist priest found interesting. Thus, the rough ownership of the four fragments of the Lotus Flower Blessed Land is already very clear. The owners are Chen Ping'an, Yu Zhenyi, the first person to successfully switch to the path of cultivation in the history of the Lotus Root Blessed Land, Lu Tai, the otherworldly immortal who ruled the demonic sects, and the scholarly clan whose scripture library Chen Ping'an visited twice."

Zhu Lian didn't so much as take a single glance at these locations as he scratched his head and chuckled, "I'm not a mountain god or a water god, so I can't see those phenomena of heaven and earth."

Li Liu smiled and said, "Don't test me. There's no need to. And be careful of gilding the lily."

"Okay," Zhu Lian replied with a faint smile.

"Chen Ping'an will suffer an even more miserable death if you're a Go piece of that stinky Daoist priest," Li Liu commented.

Zhu Lian placed his fists on his knees, leaning forward slightly as the wind brushed against him. "Since we were fortunate enough to be born as humans, we should speak like proper humans and act like proper humans. Otherwise, what's the point of this journey through the human world?"

Zhu Lian squinted his eyes and continued slowly, "I was unable to stop heaven and earth from giving birth to me, but I have the ability to decide how I eventually die."

Li Liu turned around, finally observing this pure martial artist, who was wearing a face mask, carefully for the first time. "Zhu Lian, your Great Dao is within reach."

Zhu Lian looked up and faced the extremely dangerous young woman, remarking, "Miss Liu, it's a true shame that you're not coming to Downtrodden Mountain."

Li Liu felt slightly puzzled, but she couldn't be bothered trying to figure out the answer. That being the case, she continued to explain the key workings and taboos of blessed lands to Zhu Lian.

Her understanding of these matters was no inferior to Jiang Shangzhen's.

The reason for this was very simple.

Looking back at history, and disregarding their original Great Dao, Li Liu had still managed several blessed lands before. Among them, one small world and one blessed land — the Middle Earth Divine Continent's Ripple Small World and the Flowing Dawn Continent's Emerald Tide Blessed Land— had originally belonged to the thirty-six small worlds and seventy-two blessed lands. However, these two places had suffered even worse fates than the fallen and shattered Jewel Small World, with both of them completely broken and forgotten.

1. Drowning in women... ☜

2. The Liu (柳) in Li Liu's name literally means willow. ☜