From the first time he met Mr. Pei, before he knew it, Li Bai had been following him to practice literature and martial arts for four years.

In the past four years, Li Bai has also transformed from a twelve-year-old child to a sixteen-year-old young man.

He has been practicing martial arts all year round, and at this time he has grown to a height of nearly 1.8 meters, and his posture is also tall and vigorous, and the confidence brought to him by his knowledge and his innate free and easy temperament make him stand out from the rest.

It can be said that today's Li Bai is not an exaggeration to describe it with a sentence of Yushu Linfeng and both civil and military.

Of course, in addition to his own efforts, these are inseparable from Mr. Pei's teachings.

Mr. Pei is a teacher like no other.

The longer he came into contact with him, the more Li Bai felt that this gentleman was out of step with the outside world.

The reason why Mr. Pei has always been reluctant to admit such things as "master and apprentice", "monarch and minister", and "master and servant" is because he thinks that people should be equal to each other, and this kind of subordinate relationship will only become a shackle and estrangement that restricts equality.

However, the whole world is running on this relationship between superiors and subordinates.

That's why an idealist like Mr. Pei chose to abandon the world and live in seclusion.

And Li Bai, from the beginning in his heart that "Mr. Pei is my master", to "Mr. Pei and I are also teachers and friends", to finally understand that "Mr. Pei and I are actually equal people", it also took a lot of years.

This change in mindset is more difficult than the accumulation of knowledge.

The same is true of another skill that Li Bai learned from Mr. Pei - a way of thinking that is not confined to "right and wrong".

This is the philosophy of life that countless scholars may not be able to realize after reading countless Sumeru illusions on the stone wall of the Thousand Cave City, and this is also the real avenue hidden behind Mr. Pei's seemingly arrogant "Grotto Annotations".

And after Li Bai comprehended and got used to this kind of thinking, it can be said that he has benefited from it all his life.

............

Ping Pong –

With the sound of gold and iron clashing, the sword in Mr. Pei's hand flew out of his hand, and after a few circles in mid-air, it was lightly picked up by Li Bai in his hand.

"It's me winning again. Li Bai smiled and held the sword behind his back and handed it to Mr. Pei.

"Hmph......" Mr. Pei pursed his lips and reached out to take the sword, "Look at your smugness." ”

Li Bai smiled, put away his sword, untied a wine gourd from his waist, raised his head and drank a few sips, and said comfortably, "Ha-", and then said: "I've been winning lately." ”

"Yes......" Mr. Pei said, thoughtfully, and whispered again after a few seconds, "almost...... It's time. ”

"Huh?" Li Bai asked with a smile when he heard this, "What's the 'time'? Could it be that sir, do you have any other tricks to press the bottom of the box, and you are going to take them out to teach me?"

Unexpectedly, Mr. Pei replied very seriously: "It's time for you to go." ”

As soon as these words came out, Li Baike was stunned: "Where are you going?"

Li Bai knew that Mr. Pei was by no means the kind of person who was jealous of the virtuous and capable, and it was impossible to drive him away just because he had won him a few times, so he asked.

"Go find your own 'sword'. Mr. Pei replied.

"My sword?" Li Bai said, then turned his head to look at the one he was holding in his hand at the moment, "Isn't this one?"

Speaking of his broken iron sword, he bought it at a very cheap price in the bazaar of Thousand Caves City a few years ago, because it was used for practice, as long as it was iron, so Mr. Pei never said anything bad about this sword.

But at this moment, Mr. Pei didn't answer Li Bai's words at all, but said solemnly: "You can't find your 'sword' here, you can only find it in a broader world." ”

"This ......" Li Bai hesitated, "Do I have to look for it now?"

"Didn't you delay long enough?" Mr. Pei asked rhetorically, "You think I don't know...... You could have beaten me at least half a year ago, but you're trying to hide your limits?"

"I ......" Li Bai was seen through his thoughts, and he was also speechless for a while.

Although Li Bai seems to have a playful and casual attitude, he is actually a very considerate person in his heart, so when he first found out that he could win Mr. Pei, he chose to be merciful for fear of hurting Mr. Pei's self-esteem.

Later, after a delay of half a year, Li Bai won a small victory over the other party for the first time; also for the sake of the other party's self-esteem, Li Bai would deliberately pretend to be quite proud every time he won, as if he was lucky to win by going all out.

However, because of this, Li Bai's "martial arts" have stayed in a bottleneck for half a year and have not entered the country.

"You kid...... It's just too kind. Mr. Pei sighed, "In this world, people are sinister, if you want to be so gentle with everyone...... Then you'll have to be stronger, much stronger. ”

"You mean......" Li Bai thought for a moment and continued, "As long as I can find the 'sword' that belongs to me, I will be able to carry out my will freely, right?"

"When you find it, you'll understand. Mr. Pei did not answer this question directly.

"Then what if I can't find it?" Li Bai asked again.

"Then don't come back, and don't come to see me again......," Mr. Pei said, "Even if you come, I won't see you again." ”

Li Bai didn't understand this: "Sir, this is for ...... again"

But Mr. Pei shook his head and signaled that he didn't need to ask again.

Li Bai was silent for a moment, his eyes flickering, and he seemed to have made up some kind of determination.

"Okay, since Mr. doesn't want to explain, I'll go find it myself......" After saying that, he saluted Mr. Pei and prepared to leave.

But when he turned to leave, Mr. Pei couldn't help but remind Li Bai again: "Li Bai...... You have to remember that many times, what you think you desperately need and what you've been looking for isn't necessarily what you really want...... Perhaps, learning to let go of attachment can help you see more thoroughly. ”

............

During the rest of the journey, another memory came to mind.

Li Bai recalled that year, the day he arrived in Thousand Caves City, he was alone.

And when you leave, it's the same.

After bidding farewell to Mr. Pei, Li Bai stepped into the unpredictable sea of clouds and sand and embarked on his "sword-seeking journey".

In the following two months, he traveled many ways, but he never found his sword, nor could he understand the meaning of Mr. Pei's words, until one day...... He heard a legend, a legend about "a treasure that can grant any wish."

Now, he has finally come to the closest place to this legend - Jade City.

Here, it is the only remaining pearl among the 36 states in the clouds.

It is said that during the Miracle War, a mysterious force protected the city from the flames of war.

Therefore, after the war, instead of gradually declining like other states, it became the economic center of this new "era of merchants in the clouds" through the jade trade.

If the Thousand Caves City that Li Bai has stayed in the past few years is a treasure trove of knowledge that still has a lot of space to be explored, then the Jade City is a work of art that has been carefully carved.

The main street here is lined with many ornate buildings made of white boulders and various colors of jade, which are extravagant but not overbearing, and the walls and eaves of the buildings, as well as the jade roads mined under the feet of pedestrians, are carved with various plant motifs, such as mandalas, roses, tulips, hyacinths, etc., in the details of the designers' elegance.

The buildings in the streets and alleys away from the main street are based on the theme of "jade" and "stone", and there are countless bizarre and free styles, from the main hall with its dome design, to the round tower with a multi-pillar structure connected by sail arches, from the geometrically neatly shaped array of houses to the roadside huts with intricately patterned perforated windows, as if ...... In this city, building a random house is an original creation.

The most remarkable thing is that, unlike most "desert cities", there are only a few areas of yellow sand directly on the ground in the inner part of the city, most of the streets here are paved with smooth stone slabs, and there are open water sources everywhere in the city, and there are even small lakes and oasis gardens.

In fact, with the financial resources of the ruling class of Jade City, it is not difficult for them to "de-desertify" the entire city if they want to, but considering that many vehicles in the cloud are powered by "black crystal sand", they cannot operate without a normal desert environment, so they have retained some parts of the desert in the city.

That afternoon, Li Bai, Fu Feichen, Li Xingwei, and the Sasaire brothers and sisters, as well as the bodyguards who were hired by the Sasaire brothers and sisters, entered the city together in the medium-sized sand boats that had recovered their power.

"That's not right......" Not far from entering the city gate, Fu Feichen just glanced at the street and muttered this sentence.

"I was about to ask you, too. Li Bai, who was sitting beside him, also said, "Is the street in Yucheng so deserted?"

Even if it was the first time for Li Bai to come here, he could see that this phenomenon was definitely abnormal.

"Of course not, the streets here are usually crowded with people, and they are very lively. Fu Feichen said, "Today's meeting, I will also see you for the first time." ”

"I guess it's because of the 'treasure'. At this time, Li Xingwei suddenly interjected and joined their conversation.

When he said the word "treasure", the Cezaire brothers and sisters on the side also changed their expressions slightly, and turned their heads to look at them.

"Huh...... It's nothing to say this, right?" Li Xingwei smiled and glanced at the other people, "All of you who came to Jade City at this time, there's no reason not to know about this, right?"

"So, Brother Li, you're also here to find a treasure?" At this time, Cecel took the opportunity to make a tentative sentence.

"Fei Ye~ Fei Ye~" Li Xingwei replied crepe, "In the lower district, a poor machine master, and he is alone and weak, no matter how you look at it, it is impossible to rob others." He paused, then added, "What about me...... It's here to find 'business opportunities'. ”

"What business opportunity?" asked Li Bai.

But before Li Xingwei could reply, Fu Feichen hurriedly said to Li Bai: "Harm~ Why don't you say that you don't understand anything? In this situation, the meaning of 'looking for business opportunities' must be ...... Take advantage of the fact that people from all walks of life are coming to grab the treasure and fish in troubled waters to get a vote. ”

"Well......" Li Xingwei didn't deny it when he heard this, "You can say the same." ”

"Oh?" said Cesaire at this time, "that is, as long as someone can afford it, Brother Li is willing to 'cooperate' with that person, right?"

Li Xingwei knew what the other party meant, so he replied directly: "Big brother Cesaire wants to hire me?"

"yes. "Cesaire didn't beat around the bush, he was a person who didn't like it, wasn't used to it, and didn't disdain to lie, "I've seen Brother Li's skills before, if you're willing to play for me, I won't be stingy in terms of honorarium." When he said this, he looked at Li Bai and Fu Feichen again, "By the way, Li Bai and Feichen, if you are interested, I am willing to spend money to hire the two of you." ”

Sasaire is not just talking, this time he and his sister came all the way from Haidu, the target is the "mirage treasure"; originally they brought a total of more than 20 bodyguards, and these bodyguards are all good hands hired by them in the "Adventurer Association" in Haidu; however, they have been in danger along the way, losing their troops, and when they arrived in this jade city, not counting their brothers and sisters themselves, there were only six surviving bodyguards.

This amount of manpower, let alone fighting for treasures, is difficult to protect itself......

Therefore, Cezaire had planned to replenish some manpower after arriving in Jade City, and if Li Bai, Li Xingwei and Fu Feichen were willing to join, it would undoubtedly be a good thing for Cezaire.

"Well...... this" Just as Li Xingwei was about to answer Cezaire.

Suddenly!

With a "boom, boom", a huge trap beast rushed out of the crossroads in front of everyone.

In the blink of an eye, they burst from front to the left and to the right......

The feeling of oppression in that moment is like when you cross the street normally and suddenly a train passes in front of you.

Several bodyguards who were driving the sand boat were so frightened that they quickly stopped the sand boat, so they didn't hit it.

"What's going on? Is someone attacking again?" Cezaire's reaction was quick, and he immediately picked up his weapon and rushed out of the cabin of the sand boat.

Kylie followed her brother.

Seeing this, the others didn't hesitate for too long, and followed one after another.

But before they could go forward to see the situation, from the direction where the beast rushed out, a large group of men and horses followed.

There were fifty or sixty of them, and they occupied most of the street, and though they were all dressed in different ways, there was a place on the left side of each man's garment embroidered with a mark of plum blossoms and iron crosses.

"I'll go ......" As soon as Fu Feichen saw this group of people, he braked suddenly, and then tiptoed to turn one hundred and eighty degrees with a ballet-like turn, turned his face back, and whispered softly, "You can't see me...... Can't see me......"

Li Bai couldn't help but chuckle when he saw him, but after a few seconds, he still reminded: "Don't be afraid, there was not a single one of those people here a few days ago." ”

"Ah, there were more than 100 people that night, and you only saw it a few times, and you remember all of them?" Fu Feichen was a little unconvinced.

"Yes. But Li Bai replied with confidence.

Fu Feichen was so sure when he heard his tone, and Li Bai himself had already exposed his appearance in front of the other party, so he didn't care, and turned his face back.

"Get out of the way!"

"If you don't want to die, don't get in the way!"

As a result, this group of viscounts' men and horses didn't look at them at all, and passed by directly in front of them in a domineering manner.

Li Bai and the others looked in the direction of the group's advance, and could see that the huge trap beast just now was fighting with another group of people in the far side of the street.

"It didn't really come at us, it scared me. When the gang walked away, Fu Feichen breathed a sigh of relief and said to himself.

"At least now we understand why the streets are so deserted...... Li Bai shrugged his shoulders.

Obviously, this kind of "conflict between treasure hunter groups" can be seen everywhere in this jade city nowadays, and ordinary people and caravans who do not intend to wade into this troubled water and do not want to be affected by the pond fish will no longer run to the streets to wander around.

"Anyway......" Cesaire turned back to the crowd when he saw that the threat was lifted, "let's find a place to stay first." ”