My virtue is above yours.

Wang Guan pointed to Xiao Bao, who was panting heavily in the field below the mountain.

Chen Jingxuan hurried down the mountain to Xiao Bao's side. He sat on the ridge of the field and asked, "Where is my jade cicada?"

Xiao Bao, unable to control himself, pulled the plow, looking utterly defeated, and said irritably, "Why should I tell you?"

"Looks like you never learn your lesson."

Xiao Bao suddenly knelt down and ran up the mountain on his knees, repeatedly kowtowing to Wang Guan, which frightened Wang Guan, who was dragging his broken leg, back away.

Xiao Bao shouted excitedly, "I'm not human! I hurt the young master, so now you've gotten your revenge! Break both of my legs! If that's not enough, break the middle one too!"

Wang Guan was stunned. He saw that Chen Jingxuan had only gone down the mountain and spoken a few words to Xiao Bao, and the latter had come to apologize to him so humbly, changing his previous unruly personality as if he had truly reformed.

What exactly are Chen Jingxuan's methods?

Wang Guan fell into deep thought. He searched through his mind for knowledge about various paths of enlightenment and finally figured it out.

Master Chen must be practicing the Way of Benevolence!

The virtue of benevolence can educate others to do good; the greater one's own virtue, the stronger the effect.

Master Chen's strength should be at the first level of the Chao Che Realm, yet he has such a strong influence that he can make the originally unruly village bully repent and even pay off his debts with his own body. It is hard to imagine how profound Master Chen's virtue must be. He must be a person with great benevolence.

Benevolence is common, but those with such profound virtue are extremely rare.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. Such a virtuous person had entered the Daoist path and hadn't been able to study under a master—what a pity! Our Confucian school had lost a prodigy in vain!

So be it. The Confucian school has already exhausted its fortune with me, Prince An. How can we expect to have another Chen Jingxuan?

He helped Xiao Bao up, and the other person breathed a sigh of relief.

"As the sage said, repay injustice with justice, so I will not be polite."

Before he could finish speaking, a punch landed on Xiao Bao's face, and a mouthful of blood mixed with broken teeth sprayed onto the ground.

"You can keep the legs; the land in the village hasn't been fully planted yet."

Xiao Bao, utterly dejected, crawled back down the mountain, looking at Chen Jingxuan's grinning face: "Chen Quan'er! My cultivation is truly at its limit this time! You owe me!"

"If you keep acting so arrogantly, believe me, I'll make you lose cultivation points! Tell me now, where did you hide my jade cicada?"

"Sold."

Chen Jingxuan was somewhat surprised: "Who did you sell it to?"

"A few days ago, a traveling merchant said that the gentlemen in the capital really liked this kind of jade cicada, and he sold it for two taels of silver."

"Is this merchant heading to the capital?"

That's what he said.

"No other news? If you try to hide it, my master isn't as patient as I am; his punches are really heavy."

Xiao Bao said sadly, "It's really gone. I've told you everything I know."

This jade cicada is Chen Jingxuan's only clue to finding out about his parents' background and solving the mystery of his birth name. White jade is precious, and if his parents were really just refugees, they couldn't afford such a material. There must be a hidden story behind this.

He said to Xiao Bao, "Old Luo taught you to draw, so help me draw the image of Yu Chan."

Forced by his tyranny, Xiao Bao had no choice but to obediently comply.

They brought out a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and Xiao Bao quickly drew the shape of the jade cicada.

Wang Guan, standing nearby, pointed out the problem: "Why are there two flowing water patterns on the cicada's back? You didn't draw it wrong, did you?"

"Of course not. I've been sculpting this jade cicada for ten years, how could I possibly draw it wrong?"

"As long as it's correct. The unique patterns suit me perfectly." Chen Jingxuan carefully put the painting away; the more unique the patterns, the easier it would be to find.

After a while, a pale purple vortex appeared on the horizon.

Chen Jingxuan said, "My master has arrived!"

The vortex emitted a low rumble, drawing gasps of amazement from the crowd. In an instant, it sucked Xiao Bao into the vortex, which then vanished into thin air.

"My master has passed away. Please forgive him, he was old and didn't like to see people."

Chen Jingxuan stayed in the village for one night, and everyone gathered around to listen to him recount his experiences over the years.

Everyone asked with concern, "What have you been doing on the mountain all these years? Have you learned a lot of magical arts?"

Chen Jingxuan smiled and said, "It's not that exaggerated. I just work as a junior Taoist priest, sweeping, taking turns on duty, practicing martial arts, chanting scriptures, and accompanying my master to perform rituals in the temple. Sometimes I also go down the mountain to help people farm and catch thieves in the villages at the foot of the mountain."

Everyone laughed and said, "Brother Quan is too modest. He must have used magic to conjure up lots and lots of food for those villages. Brother Quan, please help us too!"

Chen Jingxuan quickly waved his hand: "If I really knew that kind of magic, I would definitely help everyone. But I really don't. All the experience and methods I've summarized over the years are in this book. As long as you follow the instructions in this book, within a few years, if there are no disasters or difficulties, doubling the grain supply will be no problem."

"Is it really that amazing?"

"The villages I've helped have all doubled their grain harvests thanks to this knowledge. Some of these villages have even poorer land than ours. If you just follow these guidelines, you'll have no problem."

Everyone rushed to look at the "Agricultural Improvement Manual." Even though they couldn't read the words, they figured it out by touching it and getting some of its magical energy.

Looking at this rare lively scene, Old Luo smiled kindly. He patted Chen Jingxuan on the shoulder and asked, "Brother Quan, how long are you staying this time?"

Chen Jingxuan said apologetically, "I'm afraid I can only stay for one night this time."

Everyone was stunned: "You haven't been back for ten years, and you're only staying for one night? Brother Quan, can't you stay a few more days? We're all really going to miss you."

Chen Jingxuan sighed, "I'm also very reluctant to leave everyone. However, this time I'm going down the mountain on orders from the sect. Every year, the Heavenly Dao Sect sends its disciples, who are scattered throughout the country's Taoist temples, to the main sect in the capital to stay for three years to assess their character, abilities, and talents. Only those who perform exceptionally well during the assessment have the opportunity to be promoted within the sect. If they don't have the opportunity to be promoted, they won't receive the main sect's resources and support. The path of cultivation is already difficult, and without the support of the main sect, they might remain just minor cultivators for their entire lives."

The group exchanged glances, concealing their disappointment and breaking into smiles.

The uncle next door said, "This is a good thing! Now that you've gone to the capital and have the support of the main sect, you have a chance to become an immortal. Qingyuan Village producing a cultivator like you makes us country bumpkins proud!"

Everyone agreed.

"Brother Quan, don't look so worried. Just go ahead and do your best. The villagers all support you. If you become an immortal in the future, remember to come back and visit us."

Looking at the sincere smiling faces, Chen Jingxuan was deeply moved. He was about to bow in respect when Old Man Luo stopped him, saying, "We're all family, so let's skip the formalities. Leave tomorrow's matters for tomorrow; let's give you a proper send-off today."

That night, Chen Jingxuan slept in his small, dilapidated house, as if he had returned to the carefree days of his childhood.

The next day, Chen Jingxuan waited in the village until the Bai family's grain carts arrived. There were three carts in total, fully loaded with grain, enough to last through the winter, pay taxes, and plant for the following year.

After handing over the grain to the Bai family, Chen Jingxuan was about to leave.

The villagers urged her to stay, saying, "Please pay your respects to Lady Muqing before you leave."

Mu Qing Niangniang is the local goddess, and there is a small shrine in the center of the village, inside which is enshrined a blurry and simple statue. Everyone is quite devout to her, and they kneel and worship her whenever there is an important event.

Chen Jingxuan politely declined, saying, "I have already entered the Daoist sect, so it would be inconvenient for me."

The group did not persist, but there was some disappointment in their eyes.

He waved goodbye to his fellow villagers and embarked on his journey to Beijing alone.

Wang Guan originally intended to travel with him, but due to his leg problems, he could only rest temporarily in the village.

The steward sent by the Bai family said to him, "Young master, my master wants you to go to the county to rest."

"No need. I've been in this village for half a month and haven't had a chance to really see what it's like. My leg should heal in a few days, so there's no need to trouble yourself. I'll rest for a few days and then I have to go back to the capital."

The butler respectfully handed over a stack of gifts: "Please convey my master's regards to the Prime Minister and your father."

"Of course. I will definitely convey my feelings to my mentor and my father."

Wang Guan lay down on a rocking chair under the shade of a tree and casually picked up a book next to him to read.

"The Agricultural Improvement Manual? What is that?"

He casually flipped through a few pages, his brow furrowing more and more, then turned back to the first page and read it carefully.

"Thought-provoking! Truly thought-provoking! Could this extraordinary book be a divine gift bestowed upon me, a man of such extraordinary talent? Aside from its methods of engineering, even the few scattered points on agricultural and sericultural reform are enough to provoke deep thought. If I were to write an essay on this, I would surely top the imperial examinations this year! No, I would top the examinations even without this book, for I am the most brilliant man under heaven! If Heaven had not given birth to me, Wang Guan, there would be no eternal darkness!"

Old Luo snatched the book away.

"You young man, don't be so pretentious. Don't ruin the book that Quan-ge left for me."

Wang Guan was shocked: "What? This book was also written by Master Chen?"

"Of course, did you write it?"

Wang Guan sat there, unable to calm down for a long time; his thoughts had drifted to the young Taoist priest.

Chen Jingxuan traveled for three days straight without sleep or rest.

Their vitality has gradually recovered. As cultivators in the Chaoche Realm are at the peak of mortal life, they can survive without rest for a few days without any major problems.

He walked along, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

"After arriving in the capital, there are two things to do. One is to deal with the sect's assessment. You have to work hard to improve your cultivation and perform well in order to gain the sect's favor. Otherwise, you'll be treated like a beast of burden, and rare opportunities and resources will be out of your reach."

"The second thing is to find Yu Chan and investigate her parents' secrets so that we can find out what our destiny character is. Otherwise, we will be at a loss when it comes to breaking through. The capital is so big that it is hard to find an artifact. We need to find someone with good information to help us."

On the fourth day, Chen Jingxuan climbed an unnamed mountain and saw a huge city in the distance.

The magnificent buildings were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. People and carriages came and went in an endless stream, and the noise could be heard from afar.

In the center of the city, the golden imperial city shone as brightly as the rising sun.

"Is this the capital? It's truly magnificent."

He leaped down the mountainside and landed beside the road. Passersby paid no attention, as if they hadn't seen him at all.

"People from the capital have seen the world. If this were in Yonglin County, everyone would be watching."

The avenue was bustling with people, carriages with exquisite carvings came and went in an endless stream, and pedestrians dressed in colorful silks walked by quickly.

The crowd suddenly became noisy.

"That's an incredibly large monster!"

"That person must be a Taoist priest from the Heavenly Dao Sect, right?"

"As expected of the Heavenly Dao Sect, their strength is truly extraordinary."

Chen Jingxuan squeezed into the crowd and saw a masked man wearing a blue Taoist robe and a bamboo hat, carrying a black and gold wild dog several meters tall on his shoulder. The dog had two heads, and it was completely dead.

The masked Taoist priest walked hurriedly, in a great hurry.

Chen Jingxuan vaguely felt that the figure was very familiar: "Senior Brother?"

The Taoist priest turned around and then quickly quickened his pace.

Chen Jingxuan smiled slightly: "Senior brother, if you don't stop, I'll call you by your full name! Zhu—"

Upon hearing this, the masked Taoist priest stopped instantly, turned around and rushed over, grabbing Chen Jingxuan with one hand and escaping into the mountains and forests.

He removed his mask, revealing a familiar face: sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, and an imposing presence. Most importantly, those golden double pupils were unmatched.

"Senior Brother Lingyun, why are you wearing a mask?"

"I should be asking you that! What brings you to the capital?"

"It's a sect inspection. Every year, disciples from other sects come to the capital for inspection. Today is the day for them to report."

"I forgot. How many times have I told you, can you please stop calling my name in public?"

Chen Jingxuan looked down at the shoes Zhu Lingyun was wearing; the soles were torn open, and ten toes were sticking out.

"Senior brother, I'm not trying to criticize you, but you've been in the capital for a year now, and you still haven't gotten rid of this social anxiety? You've already worn through the soles of your shoes in such a short time. Master has told you many times, how can you cultivate the Dao with a personality like yours? You said in your letter that you've already broken through to the Qi Nourishing Realm, so you can fly by controlling your Qi, right? If you're afraid of being seen, just fly in."

"Wouldn't flying in attract even more attention!" Zhu Lingyun sighed. "I don't want this either, but so many people are watching me, and it makes me feel terrible. Just thinking about how my senior brothers will look at me when I take this monster back later makes me—"

His toes tightened, leaving a row of marks on the ground.

"Senior brother, how about I take the monster back for you?"

After thinking about it, the senior brother agreed.

As Chen Jingxuan hoisted the demon beast onto his shoulder, blood suddenly seeped from the dog's mouth, soiling his face and clothes.

"Senior brother, you didn't say there was blood!"