Wait a minute, where is my master?

The scorching sun was blazing high in the sky.

The sunlight of July had gradually become fiercely hot.

In front of the tall building at the watchman's post, two guard soldiers were quietly grumbling.

Guard A, "On such a hot day, why did the officials choose to hold the meeting at noon?"

Guard B, "Shh, keep your voice down. All the bigwigs from the city are here today; something big must be happening."

Guard A, "Pfft, when the sky falls, there will be tall ones to bear it. We won't be involved in any big issues. Do you think Mr. Li from our watchmen wants to give a lesson to the three big families in the city? I saw the eldest son of the Zhao family has come."

Guard B, "You think it's still the era of Emperor Min in power? Our watchman has long lost that influence."

As the two whispered about the gossip, the voice of Li Mi suddenly reached their ears.

"The meeting is over; report to the Office of Punishments to receive 30 lashes each."

The two were first stunned, then their faces instantly turned the color of bitter gourd. How could Mr. Li divide his attention during the meeting!

Inside the tall building, on the second-floor hall.

Li Mi was sitting in the main seat of the hall, with people also filling the seats to his left and right.

The day before, Xia Yunzhao had reported discovering traces of the Transformation Pond. He immediately reported it to Shangjing City and then, disregarding his injuries, flew toward Wild Wolf Ridge.

En route, he encountered Jin Xu and the Three Cold Friends who were returning.

After a brief exchange about the events, Jin Xu also came to Gusu City at the invitation of Li Mi and Xia Yunzhao.

It was then that the little Taoist realized that he was likely the one who had been implicated. In the formation, the words of the two Hall Masters from the Demon Sect had been heard by all; it was clear that the formation was aimed at him.

However, Jin Xu had settled in Little Platform Mountain just over a month ago, and he reckoned that the incident of him killing an elder of Medicine King Valley in Lezi Mountain hadn't been spread. It could only be because of his several exorcisms, which spoiled the plans of the Demon Sect, that he was targeted.

Moreover, Xia Sunyang and Li Mi could testify that the muscular man Jin Xu had blown up with a punch was one of the Hall Masters of the Twelve Halls of the Demon Sect.

After understanding why he was targeted, the little Taoist felt helpless. He was just doing some good deeds to earn a reward; why did it have to result in retaliation?

However, there was also good news. On the way back, Xia Yunzhao kept pulling him to whisper and chat.

It was then he accidentally mentioned the ancient well in the back courtyard of the Taoist temple, filled with Spiritual Liquid, and Jin Xu realized how valuable his own well water was!

A simple calculation showed that a bucket of well water was roughly as valuable as a chest of Spirit Stones in his Mystic Treasure Pearl.

The little Taoist thought carefully and remembered that when his master was still alive, he would draw two buckets of well water every day to brew tea for the Tianxing Taoist. This activity had continued for six months without any noticeable decrease in the water level of the ancient well, so it seemed he really did have a mine in his backyard.

Well, it seems he had misunderstood his master. His master hadn't left him without meaningful assets; what he left was simply in liquid form.

Now that he knew why he was targeted and also discovered he had a mine in his backyard, Jin Xu was ready to say his farewells and return to Xuanxu Temple.

He prepared to move his home since being targeted hadn't caused him any harm, but there were still two "weak" Nascent Soul Realm demon servants at home.

However, upon learning that the little Taoist had blown up a Hall Master of the Demon Sect with a punch, Li Mi earnestly tried to retain him. Gusu City was in dire need of high-end combat power, and naturally, Mr. Li hoped Jin Xu would stay to help. He even promised a reward.

But the little Taoist didn't agree and instead said he'd think it over.

Joking aside, he already had a mine in his backyard; did he still need to earn a hard reward?

Li Mi was momentarily stunned when he was rejected; he knew that this little Taoist had helped Xu Qian solve three cases before. Didn't Xu Qian report that this mysterious person loved gold and silver?

Why didn't it work?

After being rejected, he specifically emphasized that the reward would be in gold and silver, only to receive from Jin Xu a look as though he were staring at a fool.

At last, Xia Yunzhao couldn't stand by any longer, and transmitted a message, "Jin Xu, if you are willing to stay in Gusu City for a few more days, you can come here tomorrow to attend the meeting at the night watchman's quarters. If you are unwilling, that is also fine."

The young Taoist, having heard this, politely acknowledged and then took his leave.

Just when everyone thought they had lost a strong support, unexpectedly, Jin Xu arrived the next day.

At that moment, he was sitting in the first seat on the left side of the hall.

Li Mi, upon seeing the young Taoist arrive, wanted to offer his seat to him, but was politely declined.

...

Last night, Jin Xu rushed back to Xuanxu Temple, and told Yu Yaoer and Little White about the events that happened after he went out that day, indicating that the two women's judgment was right, something big was indeed about to happen in Gusu City.

He also mentioned his plan to move again.

The two women said that the master/temple master had the final say, so Jin Xu prepared to drive the Xuanxu Temple like pulling green onions on dry land and then find another quiet place.

However, Little White quietly said, "Temple master, can I take those little followers I have collected with us?"

Yu Yaoer also mentioned that before leaving, could she go to Qian Deng Town to buy some meat and seasonings, and then go to repay the meat owed to Da An Village before leaving.

Their words left Jin Xu, who was about to start his incantation, stunned.

Then he stopped his movements and walked over to sit beside the Big Willow Tree.

His hands were crossed and propped up under his chin as he fell into deep thought.

Yu Yaoer and Little White, seeing the young Taoist's expression, wisely remained silent and did not disturb him.

Although he hadn't been at Little Platform Mountain for long, Jin Xu had indeed met quite a few people: An Laoxiang and the villagers of Da An Village, one old and one young constables from Qian Deng Town, Zhao Dabao and Xu Qian from Gusu City, women offering incense, and the pack of wild wolves and dogs collected by Little White.

He could easily walk away on his own, but what about these people? If the power of the Transformation Pond was truly as Xia Yunzhao had described, he felt these people might not have much chance to survive.

The young Taoist was a bit bewildered, and this bewilderment stemmed not only from whether he should stay, but also from uncertainty about his own strength.

In a nutshell, because he did not understand his own true strength, he did not know which tasks he could handle and which he could not.

Just like before on Lezi Mountain, when he had unexpectedly obliterated the Third Elder of Medicine King Valley, who was in the Void Refinement Realm, Jin Xu thought he might have reached Divinity Transformation.

But then today, Li Mi told him that the muscular strong man in the formation whom he had blown up possessed the strength of Divinity Transformation.

Had he crossed the tribulation? But there was no lightning striking him from the sky, and his master had said crossing tribulation had to involve being struck by lightning.

The young Taoist sat under the tree for the whole night, with the two women accompanying him.

At dawn, after a night of reflection, Jin Xu stood up, a faint golden light shimmering around him, and he had figured it out.

And at the moment he figured it out, he felt the golden spiritual power within him grow a bit more.

"To be self-sufficient when in need, and to help the world succeed when capable" - he couldn't achieve that.

Deep down, Jin Xu was still cautious, but if he were to just walk away, he felt he would definitely regret it. Since he would regret it, it might be better not to leave yet. He would return to Gusu City to see what he could do within his abilities.

He didn't aim to satisfy everyone, but to live without guilt.

If all else fails, he could always move.

Thus, the young Taoist returned to Gusu City, taking Yu Yaoer and Little White with him.

On the gate of Xuanxu Temple, hung a large sign saying, "The Taoist is down the mountain, business suspended."

At the doorway, several gatekeeper wolves lazily lounged around.