This celestial master cultivates both physical and magical arts; why did you provoke him?

Li Daochun stood there, his face turning pale and then flushed.

He wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn't utter a single word. He turned around, lowered his head, and walked out of the inner hall.

Zhang Jingqing watched his retreating figure and shook her head. "He chickened out."

Zhang Jingxuan picked up her teacup and took a sip. "It's not cowardice, it's a wake-up call. He finally realized that in this era, he's nothing."

Xia En took the lollipop out of his mouth and looked at the sugar residue left on the stick. "Master, you were too harsh. He's an elder, after all; give him some face."

Zhang Jingxuan glanced at him. "What you just said was much harsher than what I said."

Xia En thought for a moment, then smiled. "That's true."

That evening, Fang Zijian posted an update online:

"Li Daochun came to Longhu Mountain to apologize today. Xia En said something to him, 'What have you ever won? You've won against keyboards.' That sentence is enough to make me laugh for a year."

The comments section exploded.

"Did Li Daochun really go and apologize? Is he really that cowardly?"

"It's not that he's cowardly, it's that he's come to his senses. He finally realizes how big the gap is between him and Xia En."

"Shane's words were so cruel, 'You've won against the keyboard.' Hahaha, that's like killing someone's spirit."

"The great wave of the times has passed, and it's clear who was swimming naked. Li Daochun is one of those who was swimming naked."

When the news reached Maoshan, Li Daoming sat in his chair and remained silent for a long time.

Then he sighed. "This time, Dao Chun has not only lost face for himself, but for the entire Maoshan sect."

The disciple beside him asked cautiously, "Master, should we do something?"

"What are you doing? Going to Longhu Mountain to confront Xia En? Do you think you can beat him?"

The disciple fell silent.

"Times have changed!!!"

Li Daoming stood up, walked to the window, and said:

"In the past, Taoist sects relied on reputation, status, and lineage. Now, they rely on strength. Whoever has the strength is the boss. Maoshan doesn't have someone like Xia En, so Maoshan can only bow its head."

He looked at the moon outside the window; the moon was round and bright.

"The emergence of Xia En from Longhu Mountain is a blessing for Longhu Mountain and for the Taoist community. Only someone like him can fight against the evil cult and protect ordinary people."

The disciple was stunned. "Master, you... don't hate Xia En?"

Why hate him?

Li Daoming laughed, "He was cursing Dao Chun, not Maoshan. Dao Chun certainly deserves to be cursed. If I were Xia En, I would have cursed him even more harshly."

The disciple was speechless.

The next day, Xia En received a WeChat message. It was from Li Qingyuan, and it only contained one sentence: "Xia En, thank you."

Xia En stared at the message for a long time before replying, "What are you thanking me for?"

Li Qingyuan: "Thank you for bringing Dao Chun to his senses. He's gotten too arrogant these past few years. He needed someone to give him a wake-up call."

Shane: "I didn't give him a warning. I just told the truth."

Li Qingyuan: "The truth is the most hurtful."

Xia En looked at the message and smiled. He replied, "Master Li, you're right. The truth hurts the most. But hurting someone is better than lying to them."

Li Qingyuan: "You're right."

Xia En placed her phone next to her pillow and closed her eyes.

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a silvery-white glow on the floor.

He recalled Li Daochun's appearance today.

He was looking down, his face pale, and his lips trembling. He suddenly felt a little sorry for him.

But he doesn't regret saying those things.

Because some things must be said, and some things must be done.

He rolled over and buried his face in the pillow. "Sleep," he mumbled.

A few days later, Fang Zijian published a long article on a self-media platform.

"The Great Waves of the Times: The Current State of Taoism as Seen Through Li Daochun's Apology".

The article states:

"Li Daochun's apology is not just an apology from one person, but an apology from an era. He represents the old Taoist sect, the group of people who get by based on seniority, seniority, and empty talk."

"Xia En represents the new Daoist sect, those who speak through strength, achievements, and fists. The great wave of the times has passed, and it's clear who was swimming naked. Li Daochun was one of those swimming naked, but he wasn't the only one. Those who hid behind their screens criticizing Xia En, those who only talked but didn't act, those who thought they were clothed when they were already exposed—they were all swimming naked..."

"But Xia En is different. He always wears clothes. Not designer brands, not luxury items, just a gray hoodie. But that hoodie is more valuable than any Taoist robe. Because that hoodie has been stained with the blood of the Zombie King, the black liquid of the Evil Spirit Cult's protectors, and the demonic aura of the ancient demon king. That hoodie is Xia En's battle robe."

This article has garnered over 30 million views. The comment section has completely exploded.

"Well written! The great wave of the times has passed, and it's clear who was swimming naked!"

"Shane's hoodie is worth more than any Taoist robe. I'm devastated by that."

"Li Daochun isn't the only one swimming naked; a group of people are. Those who only talk the talk but don't walk the walk are the ones swimming naked."

"Shane looks cooler fighting the Zombie King while wearing a hoodie than anyone wearing a Taoist robe."

Fang Zijian read the comments aloud to Xia En. Xia En lay on the wicker chair, a lollipop in her mouth, her expression calm.

"You write well," he said.

Fang Zijian's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really. But there's one thing wrong."

Which sentence?

"You said my hoodie was stained with the blood of the Zombie King, the black liquid of the Evil Spirit Cult's protector, and the demonic aura of the ancient Demon King. That's all true. But you said that hoodie was my battle robe, that's not right..."

Which sentence?

"You said my hoodie was stained with the blood of the Zombie King, the black liquid of the Evil Spirit Cult's protector, and the demonic aura of the ancient Demon King. That's all true. But you said that hoodie was my battle robe, that's not right..."

Fang Zijian was taken aback. "What's that?"

Xia En took the lollipop out of her mouth and looked at the sugar residue left on the stick. "I bought that on Taobao for ninety-nine yuan, including shipping."

Fang Zijian's mouth twitched.

"Battle robes?"

Xia En laughed. "No, that's just a piece of clothing. What's truly formidable isn't clothing, it's the person."

He threw the lollipop stick into the trash can and closed his eyes. "Don't bother me, go to sleep."

Fang Zijian looked at him and suddenly smiled.

This person really doesn't care what others think of him.

He didn't care about Li Daochun's insults, the controversy among netizens, or the great waves of the times.

He only knew one thing: to protect people.

As long as we can win.

The seventh day after the ordination ceremony.

Xia En originally planned to stay on Longhu Mountain for a few more days to keep his master company and move that several-thousand-pound stone back and forth a few more times.

But plans can never keep up with changes.

When Chen Guodong called, his voice was eight octaves higher than usual:

"Master Xia! Something's happened again in the eastern suburbs! This time it's not just one, it's a whole group!"

"A bunch of what?"

"Zombies! At least a hundred of them have emerged from the area around the Chu King's tomb! They're moving towards the city, not fast, but there are just too many of them; we can't stop them at all!"

Xia En was silent for two seconds. "The Tomb of the King of Chu? Didn't I destroy it last time?"

"I don't know! There might be other passages underground! Master Xia, please come quickly, or these zombies will invade the residential area!"

Xia En hung up the phone and sighed.

He looked at Zhang Jingxuan, who was sitting on a grand chair in the back hall, drinking tea. Her expression was calm, as if she had expected this long ago.

"Master, I must go down the mountain."

"Go ahead." Zhang Jingxuan put down her teacup. "How many moves will you use this time?"

Xia En thought for a moment. "It depends. If it can be resolved in one move, then we won't use two."

Zhang Jingxuan smiled. "Okay. Go ahead."

Xia En turned and walked out of the back hall.

Fang Zijian was already waiting at the mountain gate, holding his phone and looking excited.

"More material!"

Liu Ruyan stood next to him, carrying a backpack full of talismans and dry rations, her expression much calmer than Fang Zijian's.

"The car is at the bottom of the mountain, let's go."

Shen Ye walked out from the corner carrying the porcelain jar, his silvery-white eyes looking at Xia En.

"This time, I'll go with you."

Xia En glanced at him.

"Are you sure? Last time you were almost controlled by Xuanming."

"Not this time."

Shen Ye's voice was calm. "I have found a way to counter him."

Xia En stared at him for two seconds, then nodded. "Okay. Let's go."

Four people.

One person, one reporter, one school beauty, and one former member of an evil cult.

In addition, a female ghost named Cuihua floated above their heads and went down the mountain.

…………