I am a wandering immortal in the mortal realm.

Xuan Qingzi was dumbfounded. Was this person a Taoist priest or a martial artist?

It is important to know that one should remain calm and steadfast at home, and treat others with respect and courtesy. Whether performing rituals or exorcising evil spirits, one should always prioritize courtesy before resorting to force.

They would drive away evil spirits if possible, but would only resort to killing them if the spirits remained obstinate.

Moreover, even when taking action, one must adhere to Taoist etiquette.

After all, when people go out, whether they are Zhengyi or Quanzhen, they represent the face of Taoism.

How could one possibly take off their clothes and engage in hand-to-hand combat with a ghost in the street?

This is truly an insult to civility!

"stop!"

Xuan Qingzi couldn't bear to watch any longer. With a loud roar, he was about to scare the Taoist away and then defeat the female ghost in an even more elegant manner.

Shen Yuan was startled when someone approached. He shuddered and loosened his grip, and the ghost slipped away like a snake.

She was badly beaten by Shen Yuan, and it was a good thing he didn't use his wooden sword, otherwise she would have been dead long ago. However, the spiritual energy of the amulet covering his fists still made her feel very uncomfortable when it landed on the ghost's head. Her yin energy was dissipating, and her soul was faintly visible. She was on the verge of her soul being scattered.

Now that she had a chance to escape, why wouldn't she run away?

Seeing that Wang Duangong was still slumped to the side, the female ghost's eyes lit up and she was about to pounce on him.

Shen Yuan wasn't about to let her succeed. He reached into his robes, pulled out a talisman to ward off evil spirits, and threw it at Wang Duangong.

The immense and powerful magic quickly created an invisible barrier around the old man. The female ghost crashed into it, let out a scream, and quickly darted to the other side.

The moment the talisman blocked the female ghost, Xuan Qingzi's pupils involuntarily contracted.

Previously, when I saw Shen Yuan beating up the female ghost, I thought she was just relying on her strong yang energy and boldness. I didn't expect that she actually had a talisman on her body, and it was quite effective.

Judging from his generous manner, he seems to have many more of these talismans...

This is a magical talisman!

They don't even have many in their Jade Emperor Palace!

Xuan Qingzi was startled and couldn't help but have an absurd thought—could this Taoist priest have already learned how to draw talismans?

He was somewhat incredulous!

It should be known that although there are many Taoist disciples in the world, only a few have actually entered the Tao. In Xuan Qingzi's memory, the only people he had ever seen with real magical power were the leader of their Quanzhen Sect, Master Kaixuan, and the Dharma Protector Master Daoxuan.

Xuan Qingzi, having lived to seventy-four, with his neck almost buried in the earth, still couldn't grasp that glimmer of spiritual light. This other person looks so young; could he have already entered the Dao?

Nowadays, the talismans and ritual implements of the Jade Emperor Palace are all supplied by the Jade Capital, which is said to be the work of that Dao Xuan Zhenren.

He used it several times, and it was always very effective.

And this is also the source of the confidence that the Jade Emperor Palace dares to face evil spirits!

The fleeting golden light and the female ghost's painful howl when she was stopped halfway seemed to confirm one thing—the Taoist's talismans were no less powerful than those of his Jade Emperor Palace!

Xuan Qingzi couldn't help but put away his underestimation.

He preferred to believe that the other party was a beloved disciple of some bigwig in Yujing who had traveled to Linquan Town and happened to encounter a ghost wreaking havoc, so he stepped in to subdue it.

However, no matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't figure out which Taoist master was involved in this close-quarters combat style.

Just as he was pondering, the female ghost somehow slipped in front of him, seemingly having picked through a bunch of people before finally choosing him as her easy target.

"You dare, you evil spirit!"

Xuan Qingzi glared, his aura surging, and with a flick of his right hand to his waist, a bronze mirror appeared silently in his hand.

This is quite different from the equipment that Wang Duangong used to intimidate people!

The bronze mirror was entirely black, with cloud patterns painted on top and the Eight Trigrams engraved on the bottom. Its surface was so smooth that it reflected a person's image, radiating a soft, luminous glow. Yet, its overall appearance was simple and unadorned, implying that the treasure was kept hidden.

"Please, my precious one, grant me your light!"

Xuan Qingzi didn't chant any incantations, but simply said this sentence. Immediately, a ray of sunlight broke through the layers of clouds and transformed into a pillar of light, which was then guided onto the surface of the bronze mirror.

The bronze mirror instantly shone brighter, making the entire alley seem several degrees brighter. Furthermore, an invisible spiritual aura continuously emanated from it, overwhelming the female ghost.

"ah!!!"

The female ghost was imprisoned in place by the radiance, letting out a mournful howl. Then, Xuan Qingzi gave another order: "What are you standing there for? Quickly come and slay this evil ghost!"

"yes!"

The disciples who arrived later received the order, and with a peach-shaped sword engraved with cloud-shaped characters, they were about to hack the female ghost to death with their swords.

Shen Yuan quickly stepped forward to stop him, saying, "Please wait a moment!"

The young Taoist clearly had no intention of paying attention to the other party, and swung his sword down fiercely. It was Shen Yuan who reacted quickly, grabbing the other party's shoulder and pulling him off balance, causing him to fall to the ground.

"What are you doing?" Xuan Qingzi's eyes widened as he shouted at Shen Yuan, "Are you planning to aid and abet such a wicked creature?"

Although the other party might be a beloved disciple of some powerful figure, Xuan Qingzi was not at all hesitant when it came to matters of principle.

Moreover, he is a disciple of Quanzhen Taoism. Standing on the moral high ground to criticize the Taoists of Zhengyi Taoism is nothing more than political correctness!

The Taoist chuckled, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to accuse me. I simply found this ghost's arrival suspicious and was curious, so I wanted to ask her why she dared to trespass into this mourning hall."

"You say so?" Xuan Qingzi narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Ghosts are cunning. Now that I've finally subdued them, who knows if you're not plotting something sinister, trying to let her go?"

Shen Yuan chuckled and shook his head: "Fellow Daoist, aren't you overthinking things? Before you arrived, I was the one beating up this female ghost! If I wanted to let her escape, I wouldn't have waited for you to come!"

Xuan Qingzi's eye twitched, as if recalling the scene just now. He was about to say something when he heard a gasp from the side.

"Master Shen... Master Shen?"

The group looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young Taoist priest emerge from the crowd.

Facing the gazes of the crowd, he seemed somewhat embarrassed. After a long while, he bowed respectfully and said timidly, "Master Shen, I... I didn't expect to see you here!"

This Taoist priest was none other than the guest master outside the Jade Emperor's Palace that day.

A few days ago, he wouldn't have been so polite to Shen Yuan.

But after witnessing the Taoist priest riding a ghost's neck and beating up the other party, his worldview almost collapsed.

In all his years of life, he had never seen anyone so fierce.

If the other party can beat up ghosts today, he'll dare to beat up people tomorrow!

I think I offended him last time. What if he holds a grudge?

To this day, he no longer even has the courage to look the Taoist in the eye.

Shen Yuan simply smiled and returned the greeting: "How have you been, fellow Daoist?"

"Thank you for your greetings, Master Shen. I am doing well!"

Xuan Qingzi frowned and asked, "Zhao Xuan, do you know this fellow Daoist?"

Zhao Xuan hurriedly bowed to Xuan Qingzi and explained, "Abbot, do you still remember the visit from the abbot of Yiyuan Temple on Linquan Mountain a few days ago?"

Xuan Qingzi's pupils contracted, and he exclaimed in horror, "You're Shen Yuan?"

Shen Yuan smiled and said, "Since arriving in Linquan Town, I have heard of the abbot's great reputation every day and have felt deep respect for him. However, I have never had the chance to meet him, which has been a bit of a regret. I never expected that our first meeting would be here and at this time. It seems that fate is playing tricks on us!"

Xuan Qingzi's lips twitched. Damn it, fate was playing tricks on him. He had guessed wrong all along. This person was not some big shot's beloved disciple at all. He was clearly an unwanted stray dog!

How did he become so powerful? And those talismans...

Could it be that he was playing dumb all along to take advantage of others?

But he came in first place in the exam, and he didn't seem to be hiding his talent at all!

Thinking of this, Xuan Qingzi's gaze suddenly became subtle, and he secretly chuckled to himself: Do those old fogies of Zhengyi know what they have missed?

"So it's Fellow Daoist Shen. I apologize for the rudeness at the Jade Emperor Palace last time. I will definitely visit Yiyuan Temple in person sometime in the future!" Xuan Qingzi's attitude suddenly became gentle.

He has always been flexible about his bottom line and despises pointless struggles between Quanzhen and Zhengyi sects.

All of the previous actions were simply to avoid trouble. Now that we know a powerful newcomer has entered our lives, how can we not make serious friends with him?

"Fellow Daoist, you jest. The Jade Emperor's Palace holds the reins of the Daoist community in this area; it is I who should be paying them a visit. Besides, the Yiyuan Temple is currently in ruins and in dire need of reconstruction, making it truly inconvenient to receive guests!"

Shen Yuan is always humble, and he wouldn't be so eager to retaliate just because he was turned away last time.

That's what children do. It not only does them no good, but it also makes them enemies for no reason!

The martial arts world is not just about fighting and killing; it also involves human relationships and social interactions.

To put it bluntly, the Jade Emperor Palace is someone else's territory. You came here without permission. It's a favor if you see me, and it's your right not to see me. If you hold a grudge over this, then your character is really too bad!

Xuan Qingzi didn't stand on ceremony and laughed heartily: "In that case, I will await your arrival, fellow Daoist. I have recently acquired a fine tea, and I would be honored to invite you to taste it."

"You're too kind, fellow Daoist!"

After exchanging pleasantries, the previous slight displeasure had vanished. Shen Yuan seized the opportunity to say, "Would you mind releasing this ghost first? I have some questions to ask him!"

Xuan Qingzi paused, looking troubled, and said, "Fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but this mirror is called 'Pure Yang.' Once it is used, it can borrow innate Yang energy for one's own use. However, my magical power is weak, and this treasure can only be released, not retrieved. Only when this ghostly smoke dissipates can the mirror retract its divine light."

"Oh?" Shen Yuan frowned. "Would it be feasible to pull the female ghost out of there?"

Xuan Qingzi chuckled lightly, then said arrogantly, "Fellow Daoist, you jest. This mirror is a treasure of my Jade Emperor Palace. The light it emanates is vast and boundless, and the energy it generates is extraordinary, the foremost among all primordial energies. While it does not harm mortals, it is absolutely impossible for evil spirits to escape... escape... escape..."

As he spoke, his eyes widened, and he began to stammer.

The Taoist priest gripped the wooden sword and swiftly plunged it into the light. The unparalleled spiritual energy emanating from the mirror, upon touching the wooden sword, melted and shattered like solid ice meeting raging fire, instantly revealing a narrow passage.

From a distance, it looks as if a Taoist priest has cleaved the sunlight in two with a wooden sword.

Shen Yuan was also delighted. He hadn't expected that his casual attempt would actually work. He had previously thought that his wooden sword was only effective against demons and ghosts, but it turned out to be equally effective against these righteous magical treasures.

He smiled silently at Xuan Qingzi, as if to say: Sorry, my magic weapon is superior to yours!

Then, he reached in and pulled the female ghost out of the passage.

Xuan Qingzi shuddered at the Taoist's smile.

He didn't think there was anything special about the ordinary wooden sword in the other party's hand. In his eyes, it was clearly the Taoist priest who used his unparalleled magic power to break through the mirror light.

Where did this amazing guy come from?!

While Xuan Qingzi was lost in thought, the female ghost had already been pulled to the ground and thrown to his feet by Shen Yuan.

But she was inherently vicious and restless. As soon as she saw that she was free, she immediately stuck out her tongue and circled it up the Taoist's ankle.

The Taoist priest was wearing fine linen trousers. As soon as the female ghost's cold, wet tongue wrapped around him, the evil energy traveled up his leg, and he immediately felt a cold, slippery sensation pressing tightly against his skin, which then tightened its grip...

"How dare you!"

The Taoist priest shouted and slashed the female ghost with his sword.

While she was still dizzy, he grabbed her tongue, wrapped it around the female ghost's neck, and then punched her twice more.

Xuan Qingzi's eye twitched. Here it comes again, here it comes again, that familiar feeling is back!

"Still sticking out your tongue?"

The female ghost shook her head, completely losing her initial arrogance, and looked extremely pitiful.

Shen Yuan slapped her again: "Tell me, what are you doing here when someone's family is having a proper funeral?"

"It smells so good, it tastes so good..."

The female ghost uttered a few words intermittently, and Shen Yuan frowned upon hearing them: "What are you saying, 'It tastes delicious and smells good'?"

The female ghost couldn't explain it.

Xuan Qingzi seemed to have thought of something, hesitated for a moment, and then shook his head: "No, no, how can a ghost break into a house? Is the guardian spirit of this house just sitting around doing nothing?"

Shen Yuan turned to look at Xuan Qingzi and asked, "Fellow Daoist, have you discerned anything?"

Xuan Qingzi pursed his lips. He had only seen Shen Yuan display his prowess today, and he was determined to restore the dignity of the Jade Emperor Palace no matter what.

Thinking of this, he suddenly pulled out a compass, held up a bronze mirror in his left hand to the farmer's reflection, and cried out, "Please, treasure, bestow your light!"

With a whoosh, a beam of light, even softer than before, shot towards the opponent's dealer.

In an instant, spiritual energy surged, and radiance filled the air.

Xuan Qingzi raised the compass again and said calmly, "Please guide me, my precious treasure!"

A needle in the center of the compass began to spin left and right, without any rhythm, and was extremely chaotic.

He frowned, muttering incredulously, "How is this possible? The auspicious palace is gloomy, the host and guest have been reversed, no wonder ghosts can come and go as they please. This house doesn't even have a household god anymore, what kind of heinous crime has it committed that deserves divine retribution!"

Looking up again, he saw faint black mist rising from within the hazy light, and suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"No, no, there's actually another layer of blessing protecting this place. Otherwise, this place would probably have become a den of ghosts long ago!"

Shen Yuan looked at him: "Fellow Daoist, do you have anything to say?"

Xuan Qingzi remained silent for a while before slowly saying, "This family's house is not blessed by the house god. If they have not done something that offends both gods and men, then they must be hiding something taboo that has driven away the house god."

Shen Yuan's guess was confirmed. He took out a piece of official silver and handed it to Chen Cuier, who was standing there stunned, and asked, "Layman, do you have any more of this kind of silver at home?"

Before Chen Cuier could speak, Xuan Qingzi was shocked. He stepped forward, snatched the silver, and shouted, "You...how could you have such a thing as a sinful silver?"