Why did you provoke that old man? He's a reincarnation of a deity!

"Grandpa, let me go and meet him, and expose his fraudulent nature." Zixuan stamped her foot and turned to leave.

"Stop right there!" The old man's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable authority.

Zixuan paused, turning back to look at her grandfather. His usually kind face was now filled with solemnity. Her grandfather was actually scolding her for the sake of a liar.

This made Zixuan even more unable to accept it.

"Zixuan, listen to Grandpa." The old man walked up to his granddaughter, gently pressed her shoulder, and coaxed her:

"This old man is no ordinary person; we must not be rude to him."

"Grandpa," Zixuan called out unwillingly, "He's a complete liar! I heard just a few days ago that he was beaten half to death by his students!"

"Beat him half to death? To endure what others cannot, to possess such ability, yet to passively take the beating, and to be unwilling to harm the students—he is truly a model teacher."

The old man then offered another interpretation of Zixuan's words, which made Zixuan admire him even more.

"Grandpa! Didn't you understand what I said?! He's a notorious liar at our military academy!"

"No need for further explanation. Just be careful not to be rude later."

The old man didn't want to explain any further, so he interrupted him, his gaze heavy.

Zixuan bit her lip, her rounded chest heaving slightly, but in the end she did not go against her grandfather's wishes.

But the flame of resentment in her heart burned ever brighter.

"Let's go and pay our respects to that master." The old man straightened his robes and walked outside, reminding Zixuan as he did so.

"You mustn't be disrespectful to the master later, do you hear me?"

"Okay," Zixuan pouted and followed behind, secretly thinking to herself, "Only you call him a master. Grandpa, you're getting senile."

The four of them left the Taoist temple and followed the gravel mountain path back to the cliff edge on the back mountain.

Xiao Nian had already stood up and was standing by the bluestone, his back to everyone. His clothes fluttered in the mountain wind. The sun rose from the east, casting down golden rays that enveloped him in a golden halo.

The old man's heart skipped a beat. He quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and bowed very humbly.

"I am Zeng Yuanqiao from the Zeng family in Huxi. I was unaware that the master was practicing meditation here. I apologize for any inconvenience caused."

Xiao Nian turned around, his gaze falling on the face of the old man in the Tai Chi uniform. The name Zeng family of Huxi was particularly memorable to him.

The historical records of Blue Star describe the Zeng family of Huxi as having always been a force to be reckoned with in this land. Before the collapse of the Great Xia Dynasty, the Zeng family of Huxi was the most steadfast protector of the Great Xia. After the Great Xia was destroyed, warlords carved up the land, and foreign invasions occurred. The Zeng family of Huxi was one of the warlords, and Zeng Yuantu left a brilliant mark in that era of warlords.

Xiao Nian looked at the old man in front of her and casually asked a question.

"I am Meng Chenhai. Who is Zeng Yuantu to you?" Xiao Nian asked softly.

Zeng Yuanqiao was even more startled; he knew Zeng Yuantu. "He's my younger brother. Is the master acquainted with him?"

Xiao Nian chuckled, unsure how to put it. He couldn't very well say that he had seen the name in a history book from later generations.

Zeng Yuanqiao noticed the atmosphere was a bit awkward. He wanted to ask more questions, but then felt embarrassed to say too much since it was their first meeting.

He suppressed his doubts and stepped aside to let the person behind him pass. "This is Zhang Yong, the eighth disciple of Zhang Tianshi of Longhu Mountain. He has been treating my illness for the past few months and happened to meet you today."

The slender Taoist priest stepped forward, made a Taoist bow, and said with a gentle smile, "This humble Taoist priest, Zhang Yong, greets the Master. I was disrespectful just now, and I hope you will forgive me."

Xiao Nian glanced at him. There was a slight fluctuation of spiritual energy on this person, but it was definitely the aura of a cultivator. He should be at the first or second stage of the Qi Refining stage, which is equivalent to the second realm of martial arts. On Blue Star, this would be considered a pretty good level.

"Master Zhang, you're too kind," Xiao Nian returned the greeting. "I've long heard of the name of Master Zhang of Longhu Mountain. I'll definitely visit Longhu Mountain another day when I have time."

These words, spoken by Xiao Nian, came from the heart.

Zhang Tianshi was a powerful figure whom Xiao Nian had never met in his previous life. He had heard that the Zhang Tianshi lineage of Longhu Mountain had been passed down for thousands of years and was the orthodox lineage of the Zhengyi School of Taoism in China. He must have some extraordinary abilities to be able to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment stage on Blue Star, where spiritual energy is depleted.

However, Zeng Zixuan, who was standing next to her, heard these words and interpreted them differently.

"Sometimes when you're free? How about a visit to Longhu Mountain?" She sneered inwardly. "Who do you think you are, an old swindler, asking to pay respects to Zhang Tianshi? Zhang Tianshi isn't someone an old swindler can just see whenever he wants. What are you pretending to be, acting all high and mighty?"

The more she looked at Xiao Nian's calm and composed face, the more annoyed she became.

What came to mind was when she was fourteen years old, when she had just entered the military academy. This swindler, Meng, was a fake master who had swindled all her pocket money. This was the thing she least wanted to recall.

His act of putting on a brave face might fool his grandfather and Master Zhang, but it wouldn't fool her. Zeng Zixuan thought to herself that she had completely figured out the conman's tricks. Keep pretending, keep pretending, just keep pretending.

Seeing Xiao Nian's calm attitude, Zeng Yuanqiao breathed a sigh of relief and stepped aside to introduce her: "She's my granddaughter, Zeng Zixuan. She's practiced martial arts since she was little and has some knowledge of Western magic, but she's a bit mischievous. If she has offended you in the past..."

"Master, do you still remember me, your good disciple!" Zeng Zixuan stepped forward and bowed, her voice clear and sweet, with a sly smile on her face.

Xiao Nian glanced at him, slightly taken aback. The girl seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite recall how much of Meng Chenhai's memory he had lost while drinking.

"Hmm." Xiao Nian nodded calmly.

"I remember the teacher said he was a cultivator?" Zixuan tilted her head and blinked her big eyes.

"I've heard that cultivators can fly on swords and summon wind and rain, but I've never seen anyone do it. Teacher, could you demonstrate it for me? Just once, even a small spell would be fine."

While speaking, he put his hands behind his back and secretly made a magic hand gesture between his right index finger and thumb.

The thin water elements in the air were gathering at a speed invisible to the naked eye toward its fingertips. This was a water ball spell at the apprentice level of magic. It wasn't very powerful, but it was enough to soak someone completely and leave them looking disheveled.

She wanted to embarrass Xiao Nian in front of everyone.

Her thinking was simple: if someone can't even catch a water polo ball, why would they claim to be a master?

The burly man named Xiaofei noticed the young lady's subtle movements, his expression changed, and he was about to speak up to stop her when Zeng Zixuan had already made her move.

"How about this one?"

Suddenly raising his right hand and pushing his right palm forward, a fist-sized transparent water ball materialized out of thin air, shooting straight towards Xiao Nian's face with a splash of water.

The water sphere tumbled in the air, crystal clear. Her goal was simple: to embarrass Xiao Nian.

"Zixuan!" Zeng Yuanqiao shouted angrily, trying to reach out to stop her, but it was too late.

Xiao Nian didn't even lift her eyelids.

The water ball flew to within a foot of it, as if it had hit an invisible wall. With a clear sound, the water ball exploded, turning into a cloud of water mist that slowly dissipated in the morning breeze.

From beginning to end, Xiao Nian didn't move a single finger. He only made one movement: he slightly turned his head and calmly looked at Zeng Zixuan's face.

His gaze was indifferent, like an ancient well, unfathomable and without ripples.

But when Zeng Yuanqiao saw that gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine, and a coldness rushed straight to the top of his head from behind.

He had seen that look in his father's eyes before; it was terrifying.

The old man's eyes were even deeper and colder than his father's.

"Protective Qi." Zeng Yuanqiao blurted out, his voice trembling slightly, "True Qi Realm, you're actually at the True Qi Realm."

True Qi Realm? How is that possible? Xiao Fei and Zeng Zixuan were stunned.

The Transformation Realm represents one of the most outstanding martial arts masters in all of China. True Qi is only one level below it, but it already signifies a top-tier expert capable of projecting inner energy outwards and forming a protective aura around their body.

There is absolutely no one in the entire Jiangbei Province who has reached this level and whose records are intact!