Wait a minute, where is my master?

The clouds of calamity completely disappeared.

At this moment, in Shangjing City.

From a distance, it looked like a mythical city forged by heavenly thunder and divine fire.

The sky above the capital of Great Xia was covered with flames and golden thunderbolts, while the ground shone with golden and crimson hues.

The terrifying fluctuations of magic in midair were visible, yet the cultivators and citizens within the city felt an immense sense of security.

All because they recognized that the golden thunderbolts were cast by their own National Uncle Hero.

"It's the National Uncle, the National Uncle has dispersed the calamitous clouds! Long live Great Xia! Long live the National Uncle!"

Someone on the ground suddenly shouted this.

Then, a tsunami of cheering ensued.

The little Taoist, hovering in midair and just having confirmed that the clouds of calamity were fully dispersed, was startled by this sudden commotion.

He looked down at the streets below, where the cultivators and citizens who had emerged from their homes were gathering, his hands clutching at nothing. The effects of the "Fire Condensing Skill" and "Hand Palm Thunder" magic vanished in an instant.

The sky above the capital of Great Xia thus returned to normal.

Only the City Protection Array, which Commander Kui in his excitement had failed to close in time, seemed to testify that something complicated had just happened here.

The phenomenon in the sky dissipated.

The cultivators and citizens on the ground paused for a moment, then erupted into immense cheers once again.

This time, the citizens of Shangjing City seemed to have a tacit agreement, beginning to chant in unison.

"Long live Great Xia, long live the National Uncle" became the slogan they shouted.

Jin Xu, suspended in midair, watched the excited people below, his mouth twitching, his fair cheeks still a bit warm.

The little Taoist knew that if he were to land at this moment, he would probably be surrounded instantly, and might not have a moment of peace for the next ten days or half a month.

Moreover, since he was the one who had caused the heavenly tribulation, Jin Xu didn't consider solving it any heroic deed.

It was just part of the job.

"But it's not right for me to just stand in the sky like this."

Watching the crowd that was continuously gathering below, ready to welcome his descent, the little Taoist had a flash of inspiration.

"Hey! I've got it... just not sure if it'll work. Let's give it a try."

He circulated the spiritual power within his body and fully activated the "Concealing Skill," simultaneously initiating a movement akin to jumping out of the ground like a spring onion.

The cheering crowd on the ground suddenly fell silent.

The cultivators and citizens in the city were puzzled.

Who am I? Where am I? Why am I embracing this stranger with a smile on my face? And where did the massive cloud of calamity go just now?

By then, Jin Xu had already returned to the entrance of the Royal Venue.

It was very peaceful here, with only Xia Yunzhao and a bun seller who looked utterly panicked.

After all, most people had just flocked toward where he had been hovering.

Jin Xu released the "Concealing Skill" and walked towards the two of them.

Cheers rose again from the distant streets, but everyone was a bit bewildered.

The cheering was mixed with some strange questions.

"Hey, where did the National Uncle in the sky go?

He flew away in the blink of an eye?"

...

In front of the Royal Venue.

The little Taoist walked up to Xia Yunzhao, smiling at her against the backdrop of "Long live Great Xia, long live the National Uncle" from the distance.

Then, he turned to the still somewhat shaken bun seller and said,

"Boss lady, I'll have five tiers of buns, half meat and half vegetarian. Just steam them and bring them into the venue. Oh, and if someone comes by later asking if you've seen me, you must say you haven't."

"Eh... Eh, I understand, National Uncle," the bun seller answered, trembling as she made her way to the bun stand, stealing glances at Jin Xu's face.

Perhaps it was the calming effect of the young Taoist's face, or perhaps it was the familiar work she was doing with her hands. In any case, as the elder sister began to steam the buns, the nervousness and the fear that had arisen from the sight of the mystical clouds gradually dissipated.

"Mr. Jin, just now that was..."

The Empress of Great Xia didn't mind the distant cheers; her mind was filled with questions at the moment.

What Xia Yunzhao most wanted to know was, first, how those heavenly clouds had appeared, and second, what had exactly happened in that instant.

The group of exuberant Cultivators in the city had noticed that something was amiss, and as a top-tier cultivator in the Divinity Transformation Realm, she had naturally sensed that for a moment, her memory had been interrupted.

"It's just a basic Concealing Skill to hide one's aura. This isn't the place to talk, Miss Yunzhao, let's go inside."

Jin Xu took out a High Grade Spirit Stone from his storage treasure and casually placed it on the bun stall.

He wasn't lying—the Concealing Skill was indeed a basic magic.

"Madam, don't forget what you promised me."

After placing the Spirit Stone, the young Taoist and the Empress of Great Xia entered the grand entrance of the Royal Pavilion.

As for the elder sister selling buns, after picking up the High Grade Spirit Stone that she couldn't earn in ten years of selling buns, she thought to herself.

"This little country uncle sure is handsome. But why does our Emperor Zhao address a country uncle as 'Mr.'?"

After these two thoughts passed through her mind.

She then noticed that the Spirit Stone in her hand was a High Grade one, and moreover...

"Huh, this High Grade Spirit Stone also smells quite nice."

...

Inside the pavilion.

The young Taoist and Xia Yunzhao arrived next to the martial arts training ground.

A fish, a dog, and a worm were still obediently staying inside the Spiritual Power shield left by Jin Xu.

"Mr. Jin/Temple Master, Yunzhao sister/sister."

Both women greeted at the same time.

Little Black worm also scurried across the ground quickly. Ahem, but no one noticed it.

Jin Xu stepped forward and removed the shield.

Xia Yunzhao and the two women returned the greeting.

Then, the Empress of Great Xia, unable to contain her curiosity, eagerly asked the question on her mind.

"Mr. Jin, that heavenly tribulation..."

"I apologize, as this matter arose because of me."

Jin Xu bowed apologetically, then took out a jade bottle from his storage treasure that held seven "Strengthening Pills."

He pulled out the bottle stopper to show her: "I have been studying the Alchemy Technique all this time, and thanks to the Late-year Cold Iron Pill Furnace you gave me, Miss Yunzhao, I have successfully concocted a batch of pills.

However, it was this concoction of pills that led to the tribulation over Shangjing City."

The Empress of Great Xia was somewhat stupefied.

The heavenly tribulation that almost involved the entire Capital of Great Xia was caused by a few pills!? High-grade pills indeed sometimes attract a small heavenly tribulation upon completion, but those tribulations are usually very minor.

When Medicine King Valley hadn't met its demise yet, Xia Yunzhao, as the Seventh Princess of Great Xia and the first in natural talent for cultivation in the royal dynasty over a millennium, had witnessed this phenomenon a few times.

Yet, the Strengthening Pills concocted by the young Taoist had provoked such a terrifying heavenly tribulation.

"How strong could these Strengthening Pills be?"

This thought suddenly sprang into the Empress's head. And then, something came to her mind, causing her face to turn red suddenly.

And just then, a change occurred once more.

Seven radiant lights appeared out of nowhere and charged directly at Jin Xu with ferocity.

This sudden change not only startled the three people present.

Even Little White, who had been sneaking around the edge of the martial arts ground, possibly up to no good while everyone else was talking,

stopped in her tracks.