Wait a minute, where is my master?

The Taoist had no idea that although he had informed Li Mi and the latter had indeed issued orders,

most people in the city had been tainted with resentment when they underwent the Body Purification Skill and were not in their right minds. They only knew that they suddenly felt refreshed and then woke up with no knowledge of who had rescued them.

But is there any wall in the world that doesn't let wind through?

This is what happened.

Among the traveling merchants and Loose Cultivators who witnessed Jin Xu perform the Body Purification Skill outside the city, one was from the Immortal Robe Pavilion.

You ordered the night watchman, forbidding them from gossiping with outsiders.

So, I mentioned it to my boss, she doesn't count as an outsider, right?

The lady boss of the Immortal Robe Pavilion learned that a young Taoist had rescued people and remembered the Taoist who resembled a banished immortal, who had bought clothes at her shop recently.

Through her best friend's channels, she also learned that the transformation of the Zheng family's old residence into a fountain spectacle was the work of this Taoist who seemed like a banished immortal.

With these clues, she was eighty percent certain and then she asked her intimate girlfriend for confirmation.

And her girlfriend's grandfather just happened to be from the Su family.

You see, it wouldn't be a problem for Su Liebo to go home and hint to his granddaughter about who was Gusu City's life-saving hero, would it?

Thus, the lady boss of the Immortal Robe Pavilion confirmed the identity of the one who saved Gusu City.

She dared not disturb the night watchman's station because the city was going through a special period, and she was clear about the priorities.

She could only continue to inquire into more details about this life-saving hero.

After all, running such a shop in Gusu City was no small feat.

And upon further investigation, she discovered that the Taoist's monastery of practice wasn't far from Gusu City.

Before, when Jin Xu had set out to exorcise demons and perform acts of chivalry, he hadn't deliberately hidden his identity. He hadn't expected that his demon-slaying and exorcism efforts would end up upheaving the local Demon Sect completely.

So, that's how his identity got revealed.

Knowing who had saved Gusu City and their own lives as well,

the lady boss of the Immortal Robe Pavilion wanted to visit to express her gratitude, and perhaps see if she could offer herself in marriage to reciprocate the young Taoist's deeds.

But the first time she went, she found the monastery's gates were not open.

So, she waited another day and returned.

Then, she couldn't resist bragging to her best friend about her discovery...

Well, who doesn't have a few best friends, right?

Gusu City's savior being in the small platform mountain monastery quickly spread like wildfire.

Cultivators in the city, and ordinary people alike, all wanted to thank their life-saving hero.

Oh, and there were those who had heard that the young Taoist was rather handsome and came especially to see him.

As for why Li Mi didn't send a message to Jin Xu ahead of time and instead, it was Little White's subordinate, the gatekeeping wolf, who came to warn him,

Mr. Li swore that he was truly busy with Gusu City's reconstruction and had overlooked this matter.

Plus, in his view, it wouldn't have been possible to keep the matter secret for long, as Jin Xu becoming famous was only a matter of time, especially since many had seen him ascend into the sky, holding the sphere in his right hand and casting spells with his left.

They weren't followers of the Demon Path; they couldn't just kill someone because they saw him saving their lives.

So, this is why the small platform mountain is bustling with visitors today.

...

In an ordinary residence in Shangjing City,

The Third Elder of the Demon Sect still bore a listless and seductive demeanor, reclining on the bed.

But the bloodstains on her robe indicated that her current situation did not seem too favorable.

Suddenly, a pitch-black eye appeared!

The voice followed.

"How are your injuries?"

"Not enough to kill me, but can you change how you appear every time? It's so creepy!"

The Third Elder tried to throw something at it, but realized she had run out of Spirit Fruit on this occasion.

"Just hold on for a few more days, my real body is about to emerge from seclusion."

The pitch-black eye ignored her, shooting a black mist from its pupil that landed on the Third Elder's abdomen.

There was a faint golden light there, left by the large-bellied monk.

"...uh."

The Buddha light dimmed, yet did not vanish.

"The old monk of Wanbao Temple has improved his cultivation, wait until my true body arrives."

The pitch-black eyes sighed, then continued to ask, "You all launched the plan a day ahead of time, how did you still let Xia Xuanmin hold out until that old monk came to support?"

The Demon Sect's plan was originally scheduled for the mid-July, but due to advance warning received and some special reasons, it was launched on July 14th.

Speaking of this, the Third Elder of the Demon Sect stood up from the bed, bitterly clenched his teeth before saying,

"Because of the unexpected events in Gusu City.

Xia Xuanmin knew we had a plan and decided to counter-plan, so we took the opportunity to sabotage his four provincial cities and damage his national fate.

He thought cutting off the national fate would solve everything, little did he know that for decades, the current Prime Minister, the concubines in the palace, even the Imperial Physicians in the Imperial Hospital, all had our people among them.

That's why he lost!

However, the resentment in Gusu City and the sudden disappearance of the Transformation Pond were caused by some unknown master.

This allowed Xia Xuanmin to regain that part of the Dragon Energy of the national fate and hold on a bit longer!

In that brief moment, that old baldy from Wanbao Temple arrived!"

"So, the incident occurred in Gusu City?"

The dark eyes clearly lacked understanding of the outside world's events.

"Yes, the person who intervened was seen in the appearance of a young Taoist," affirmed the Third Elder of the Demon Sect.

"Since that's the case, I'll send a black-eyed scout to see which master it was. I'm not even sure if it's an old friend from the Divine Sect."

"What about Shangjing City then?"

"You just keep a low profile for now, wait until I come out of retreat. Great Xia's national fate is extremely important for our Sect's subsequent plans, and, Xia Xuanmin must die!"

The remarks were made nonchalantly, but within few words, the founding sovereign of Great Xia was judged.

"But that old baldy from Wanbao Temple is still here, and we don't have many cards left to play in Shangjing City,"

After battling the obese monk of Wanbao Temple, the Third Elder clearly held deep apprehension towards him.

"Heh, that baldy can't stay here forever, can he? You know the rules of Wanbao Temple."

"Indeed."

After the conversation, the black eyes disappeared from within the room.

The Third Elder of the Demon Sect lay back on the bed and quietly performed his techniques, dissipating the fading Buddha light on his lower abdomen.

...

Outside Shangjing City.

Xu Qian, in his tattered clothes, gazed at the fallen city walls and the busy city guards, questioning his life choices.

"Is this place Shangjing City? Did someone really knock down the walls of the capital of Great Xia? Maybe I should just go back to Gusu, this place doesn't seem very safe."

He began to miss his strong legs—Jin Xu.

During his journey, Xu Qian had encountered assassinations twice, each time narrowly escaping with his life.

Thankfully, he had taken the life-saving willow leaves given by Jin Xu before leaving, which also enhanced his realm by two minor levels, otherwise he might not have made it here safely.

Notice the long sword that used to hang on his waist is gone—it broke during a fight.

Despite his inner complaints, Xu Qian still marched towards the direction of the city gate.

Although the city walls had collapsed, the gate had not, so he had to go through it.

Moreover, he'd lost all his storage magical artifacts while escaping; he had nothing left to return to Gusu with.

"Halt, Shangjing City is currently under martial law, no unauthorized individuals allowed to pass."

A city guard shouted.

"Brother, it's me, Xu Qian, a seventh-grade watchman of Great Xia."

"Token!"

Upon hearing the other person was a watchman, the city guard did not relax his vigilance, as Shangjing City was currently conducting a strict search, fearful of the Demon Sect infiltrating.

Even if you are a watchman, even a prince would need to show a token.

"...The token is in my storage artifact."