The ancient return was exposed by his sister's live stream.

"Chiba?" Chen Siyao was taken aback. "What's that?"

"The highest position in Tantric Buddhism is equivalent to abbot," Cai Jingwen explained, adding that she had read some materials on Tibetan Buddhism.

"Ex?" Yang Wanqing asked. "Then why is the master here?"

Huiming smiled bitterly: "Because of this beast."

He looked at the giant beast's carcass on the ground, his eyes filled with lingering fear: "Three months ago, a herdsman went missing in this area. Later, his remains were found in the mountains and reported to the Tantric sect. I rushed over to investigate and discovered that a Gu eagle was responsible. I went to great lengths to kill the Gu eagle, thinking the matter was settled. I never expected..."

He looked at the giant beast's head: "This is another one, and it's far stronger than the previous one. My left arm was bitten off by it. If it weren't for your intervention, I would have died here today."

"Gu Diao?" Cai Jingwen was taken aback.

In the live stream chat, comments flew by:

[I am Ying Zheng: Gu Diao? That name sounds familiar...]

[Dongmen Chuixue: I think I've seen this in an ancient book before...]

[Shanhaijing Research Institute: The *Shanhaijing* (Classic of Mountains and Seas), specifically the *Nanshan Jing* (Classic of the Southern Mountains), records: "There is a beast in the water called Gu Diao. It looks like an eagle but has horns, and its cry is like that of an infant. It eats people!" This is it! Exactly the same!]

Upon seeing this comment, Yang Wanqing exclaimed, "Brother Hao! Someone in the live stream said that this is the Gu Diao from the Classic of Mountains and Seas!"

Chen Hao nodded slightly: "More or less, but this is just a mutation and evolution."

"Mutation and evolution?" Monk Huiming was taken aback.

"This Gu Diao possesses ancient bloodline, and it's the king among them." Chen Hao looked at the corpse. "If you could kill an ordinary Gu Diao, you wouldn't have been driven to such a desperate situation by this one. The fact that it could bite off your arm shows that its strength far surpasses that of its kind."

Huiming suddenly realized: "So that's how it is... No wonder... I thought it was because my cultivation was not high enough..."

He looked at Chen Hao, his eyes filled with reverence: "You were able to kill this fiend with a single sword strike; your cultivation is so high that this humble monk has never heard of it before. May I ask which school you belong to?"

Chen Hao smiled faintly: "I'm not affiliated with any sect or school; I figured it out on my own."

Huiming was taken aback, then became even more respectful: "Your talent is extraordinary, I admire you greatly."

In the live stream:

[I am Ying Zheng: He figured it out on his own?! That's genius!]

[Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood: My brother is amazing! He's self-taught!]

[Born as a human: Can someone really achieve this level of cultivation through self-exploration? I don't believe it... unless he's exceptionally gifted.]

[Ignorant and incompetent: Maybe they had a stroke of luck? Isn't that how it's written in novels?]

【Journey West: The Chosen One! Absolutely the Chosen One!】

Chen Siyao squatted down, looking curiously at the giant beast's corpse: "Brother, is this thing really a ferocious beast from the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas'? Isn't that just a myth?"

"Many things recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas actually existed in ancient times," Chen Hao said. "They just gradually became extinct or hid in deep mountains and forests, so ordinary people could not see them."

"So the Classic of Mountains and Seas is real?" Yang Wanqing's eyes lit up. "There are so many mythical beasts in it! Phoenixes, unicorns, dragons... are they all real?"

Chen Hao did not answer directly, but only said, "Some of it is true, and some of it is just hearsay."

But this answer was enough to cause an uproar in the live stream:

[I am Qin Shi Huang: My God! The Classic of Mountains and Seas is real! The books I've read since I was a child aren't myths!]

[I'm a terrible student: Do dragons really exist? I really want to see one!]

[Li Yi 357: If the Classic of Mountains and Seas is real, then many historical texts need to be re-examined...]

[Extraordinary Brother: My worldview has collapsed... I've studied for so many years, and you're telling me mythology is real?]

[ID 55841: Not all myths are true. Didn't Chen Hao say that some are just rumors?]

[Rich Guy: I don't care if it's true or not, I just want to know, does Master Chen still accept apprentices?]

Ying Wenjie's gifts immediately topped the leaderboard, with his ID "I am Ying Zheng" displayed at the top of the screen. He shouted into his phone, "Master Chen! I am Ying Wenjie from the Ying family of the capital! I am willing to offer everything, just to become your disciple! Please give me a chance!"

Ye Chendong followed closely behind, sending gifts to second place and relentlessly clinging to the top spot: "Master Chen! Ye Chendong of the Ye family in Chancheng! From a family of martial artists, I'm hardworking! Please accept me as your disciple!"

Under Chen Hao's hemostatic technique, Monk Huiming's complexion improved slightly. He looked at the corpse of the Gu Diao on the ground and sighed, "This thing killed more than a dozen people, but today it has finally been brought to its end. I can finally give you an explanation when I return."

"Master, your arm..." Cai Jingwen looked at his severed arm with concern.

Huiming smiled bitterly: "An arm for more than a dozen lives, it's worth it. Besides, I'm over seventy years old, it's already a blessing that I can go back alive."

He looked at Chen Hao, struggled to his feet, and bowed deeply: "I will forever remember your life-saving grace. If you are ever in need, the entire Tantric sect will do its utmost to help you."

Chen Hao helped him up, saying, "Master, you're too kind. It was nothing."

It was just a small favor...

Huiming's lips twitched. Killing the King of Gu Diao with a single sword strike—was that considered a piece of cake?

In the live stream:

[I am Ying Zheng: It was just a small favor... Master Chen is too modest]

[Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood: My brother is so low-key!]

[Dongmen Chuixue: This level of cultivation would be considered a terrestrial immortal in ancient times.]

[Extraordinary Person: I'm so jealous, really jealous]

Cai Jingwen stood to the side, looking at Chen Hao's profile, her heart pounding with excitement.

This man walked on water, slew a demon with a single sword, and saved a high-ranking monk of the Tantric sect, yet he only said it was "a small favor." His strength was not about showing off or being ostentatious, but rather a calmness and confidence etched into his very bones.

She suddenly realized that her previous little schemes were utterly ridiculous.

How could a man like that be easily moved?

But the more she did this, the more she couldn't help but want to get closer.

Even just glancing at him or saying a word to him makes her heart race.

Li Li finally came to her senses and asked in a low voice, "Then... what should we do with this thing? Just leave it here?"

"I will contact the temple and have someone come and deal with it," Huiming said. "The animal's hide and bones are rare materials that cannot be wasted."

"Materials?" Yang Wanqing asked curiously. "What can they be used to make?"

Huiming glanced at Chen Hao, and seeing that he did not object, he said, "The bones of the Gu Diao can be ground into powder and used in medicine, with miraculous effects in treating external injuries; its feathers can be used to make talismans to ward off evil spirits; and its horns are even more precious, and it is said that they can repel water, but this humble monk has only heard of them."

"Water-walking?" Chen Siyao's eyes lit up. "Doesn't that mean I can walk on water like my brother?"

Huiming smiled wryly: "That requires extremely high cultivation; it's not enough to just have horns."

Chen Hao looked at the corpse of the Gu Diao and said calmly, "Its inner core is still intact, which will benefit Master Huiming's injuries."

"Inner core?" Huiming was taken aback.

"These kinds of ferocious beasts, when they cultivate to a certain level, will condense an inner core within their bodies, containing their life's cultivation." Chen Hao walked to the corpse, reached under the giant beast's belly, and when he withdrew his hand, there was a crystal-clear bead the size of a pigeon egg in his palm, gleaming with a faint, eerie light.

"This is the inner core?" Yang Wanqing leaned closer to examine it. "It's so beautiful!"

Chen Hao handed the inner core to Huiming: "Take this, it can reconnect your meridians and help you recover your vital energy. Although the severed arm cannot grow back, at least it can save your life and prevent any lasting injuries."