My virtue is above yours.

Carrying the heavy demonic beast, Chen Jingxuan arrived at the foot of Qingyao Mountain in the northwest corner of the capital city, under the watchful eyes of passersby.

The twelve-story building sits atop the mountain, with red walls, green tiles, and upturned eaves. Sunlight reflects off the eaves of Feilong Mountain, creating a dazzling spectacle.

The red walls stretch from the foot of the mountain to the summit, enclosing only ornately decorated buildings.

He climbed the steps and, as agreed with his senior brother, placed the demon beast by the roadside. Since a grand ceremony was being held in the sect's square and he was already late, it was inconvenient to bring the demon beast inside.

Incense smoke, like clouds, rose above the square of Qingyao Mountain, ethereal and otherworldly.

"The ceremony has started, I need to sneak in quickly."

He hurried uphill and saw a mountain gate several meters high with the words "Qingyao Mountain" written on it.

Two Taoist priests in green robes stood guard behind the mountain gate.

Chen Jingxuan cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Greetings, senior brothers. I am Chen Jingxuan, an outer sect disciple, here to attend the ceremony. I hope you will allow me to pass."

One of them waved his hand, gesturing for Chen Jingxuan, who was covered in blood, to hurry inside.

Beyond the mountain gate, hundreds of Taoist priests stood in a vast square. On the high platform in front of the twelve-story building, two Taoist priests dressed in purple robes looked down upon all living beings.

The man on the left appears to be middle-aged, tall with thick hair and beard. His arched eyebrows give him an imposing presence. He stands with his arms crossed, exuding an air of authority. His purple robe is embroidered with a pair of qilin (mythical creatures).

The man on the right appeared to be a young man with a handsome and refined appearance, bright eyes and sparse eyebrows, and a touch of rosy blush between his brows, making him seem like an immortal descended to earth, captivating the attention of the young female Taoist priests below the stage. His purple robe was embroidered with a coiled dragon.

Chen Jingxuan had heard his master say that the one embroidered with a Qilin was Jing Hong, the top leader of Qingyao Mountain, and the one embroidered with a coiled dragon was Zhang Shunan, the son of the Celestial Master and the second-in-command of Qingyao Mountain.

He had just rushed into the temple when the abbot on the high platform pointed down the mountain: "Stand facing south, to celebrate for all people!"

Hundreds of Taoist priests turned around in unison and saw a green-robed Taoist priest covered in blood rushing in. The crowd immediately fell silent.

The square was completely silent, with everyone's attention focused on Chen Jingxuan. It was so quiet that you could hear Zhu Lingyun's toes scratching the soles of her shoes in the treetops.

On the high platform, the voice of Abbot Zhang Shunan resounded throughout Qingyao Mountain like a booming bell.

"Who goes there?"

Chen Jingxuan calmly bowed and said, "Chen Jingxuan, a disciple of the Outer Sect's Floating Cloud Temple, is late. Please punish me, Abbot!"

Zhang Shunan remained expressionless, quietly watching Chen Jingxuan below the steps.

"According to the rules, Chen Jingxuan, an outer disciple, has behaved improperly and should be punished by being confined in the back mountain for seven days."

Several Taoist priests came out from the side and tried to take Chen Jingxuan away.

"Wait a minute!"

The two Taoist priests guarding the gate suddenly rushed in front of Chen Jingxuan, bringing with them the several-foot-tall black and gold two-headed demon dog.

"Sect Leader, Supervisor! Let's hear what caused this disciple's delay. The demonic beast he brought is the two-headed hound that has been rampaging through the outskirts of the capital these past few days, causing countless disciples in green robes to suffer defeat. He was late because he was fighting the demonic beast, and the bloodstains on his body are proof enough. We cannot let him suffer an injustice."

The Heavenly Dao Sect has a strict hierarchy, with disciples of different ranks distinguished by the color of their Daoist robes. The lowest rank consists of disciples in green robes, most of whom have no cultivation or are at the Chao Che Realm. Disciples of the main sect have dragon and tiger patterns on the sleeves of their robes as a mark, while disciples of the outer sects do not.

The two saw Chen Jingxuan, dressed in green robes, placing the monster by the roadside from afar on the mountain. Upon closer inspection, they learned that it was the same monster that had ravaged the outskirts of the capital a few days ago, injuring and killing several disciples at the Qi Cultivation Realm.

The outer sect disciple was covered in blood and walked unsteadily, clearly having just engaged in a fierce battle with the demonic beast.

It was unexpected that this demonic beast was defeated by an outer sect disciple of the Chaoche Realm.

The two had only intended to look at the demonic beast, but they overheard the abbot inside saying he would punish the late disciple. How could they allow a loyal and righteous person who had rid the people of evil to suffer an unjust injustice?

That's right, the two of them just couldn't stand it. It was definitely not because they were greedy for the cultivation increase that would come from speaking out for justice, absolutely not!

Chen Jingxuan was somewhat stunned; things seemed to be developing in a strange direction.

These words caused a stir in the square, and the outer sect disciples who were unaware of the truth immediately began to discuss it.

"Weren't we just laughing at him? How come he's suddenly a hero?"

"This person managed to stay calm after doing something so big. If it were me, I would have carried the monster in."

"So, should they be punished or rewarded now?"

The green-robed disciples waiting on both sides also began to whisper among themselves.

"I fought this demonic beast a few days ago; it was incredibly domineering. Could a mere disciple at the Chaoche Realm really defeat it?"

"There are always people more powerful than you. If he cultivates some kind of domineering and fierce path and is also exceptionally talented, it is not impossible for him to challenge those of higher levels."

"I see this person is indeed extraordinary. He arrived late in front of everyone, yet remained unfazed. He defeated the demonic beast but did not rashly claim credit. He is a man of deep thoughts and should not be underestimated."

Chen Jingxuan knew very well that these ordinary disciples below were inexperienced and might believe that he had killed the demon beast.

But there were two people in purple robes standing on the high platform. They were even more unfathomable than his master. He felt as insignificant as an ant in front of his master, let alone these two. He could not lie to them.

Chen Jingxuan cupped his hands and said, "This disciple was indeed delayed on the road due to some personal matters. On my way back to my hometown, I happened to encounter a bully harassing my fellow villagers and had to intervene to help, which caused the delay. But it has nothing to do with this demonic beast. This demonic beast was captured by my senior brother Zhu Lingyun, and I was just carrying it on his behalf. This bloodstain is just remnants from the demonic beast."

The crowd below immediately began to murmur amongst themselves.

"I knew the green-robed disciple couldn't possibly be that powerful."

"Are you jealous? Maybe they're just being humble and saying that on purpose. Be careful you don't get proven wrong."

"That's nonsense, right? What kind of senior brother is that nice? My senior brother, even if I offered myself to him, he wouldn't help me! Ugh! What a scumbag!"

The disciples in green robes on both sides also began to whisper among themselves.

"Isn't Zhu Lingyun that cold-blooded, masked, double-pupiled weirdo?"

"I remember he usually didn't talk to anyone and was very arrogant. I never expected him to be such a caring person to his junior brother behind the scenes."

"Do you think Zhu Lingyun might cultivate humility and deliberately give the demon beast to his junior brother to achieve a win-win situation?"

"Impossible. He never speaks to anyone, nor does he look anyone in the eye. Such an arrogant person is more likely to cultivate the path of pride than the path of humility."

The two people on the platform remained expressionless.

The bearded sect leader spoke up: "Since Zhu Lingyun obtained it, let him come and claim the monster himself."

The sect leader's voice suddenly became as loud as thunder, resounding throughout the entire capital city.

"Zhu Lingyun! Come quickly!"

On the treetops outside the courtyard wall, Zhu Lingyun clutched her violently pounding heart, her toes tearing through the soles of her new shoes and snapping off treetops.

"Junior brother, this monster is yours, I don't want it anymore!"