In the spring of March, the grass grows and orioles fly. The capital city is still as bustling as ever, as if nothing has changed. The return of the 108 prodigies was very low-key, and no one wanted to show off in public. Just like no one in the capital city talked about the war that took place on the Wu Shi Sea. "Brother Tao, let's say goodbye now." At Jinzoufang, at the gate of Cangyunzhou Guild Hall, Yang Tianci stopped, bowed and said goodbye to Tao Tie, who had changed into coarse silk clothes after landing in Qingzhou, then turned and left. "Brother Tao, there is a long way to go." Wei Fengge also bowed and said goodbye solemnly before leaving. Dong Shou bowed, said nothing, and walked away in silence. Afterwards, except for Yuan Luyao, Liu Yuling and Shen Qiong, the other geniuses bowed one by one and left.

Tao Tie kept his hands clasped together and said goodbye to everyone who said goodbye to him. After the hundred and four geniuses left, Tao Tie looked at the three people who came from Cangyun Province, smiled slightly, and entered the guild hall first. There was no welcoming ceremony, everyone just went back to their own courtyard. Under the camphor tree, Qiu Wanru sat alone on a stone bench, waiting quietly. "Tao Tie." Seeing that his temperament had completely changed, he really looked like a piece of stubborn stone, or more precisely, like a piece of stubborn pottery iron. Qiu Wanru called out and asked softly, "What do you think?" Tao Tie walked under the tree, sat down opposite Qiu Wanru, and replied calmly: "I just regret that I am unable to do anything." Qiu Wanru consoled and advised: "You have only been practicing for a short time, and you have accomplished so many things, which is already very good." Tao Tie grinned and smiled. It has a bitter taste, but also a sense of freedom. Perhaps, it is because I have deeply experienced the bitterness that I can be free and easy now. After laughing, Tao Tie asked, "Where is Senior Sister Dao? She went to the open sea last time and I haven't heard from her since." "Set out to sea from Yangzhou." Qiu Wanru looked a little strange. "Any questions?" Tao Tie immediately asked with concern. "Even if there is a problem, it is someone else's problem." Qiu Wanru put away her strange expression and said meaningfully, "Your Senior Sister Dao is now a great master among great masters. She is very powerful. She set out to sea from Yangzhou and in less than half a day, she wiped out the remnants of the Wuzhong Demon Sect that seemed to be showing signs of revival. She also picked up several large families and Buddhist temples in Yangzhou, and then headed southeast with a sword, saying that she wanted to teach those who dared to bully you a lesson." Tao Tie smiled happily upon hearing this, and sincerely hoped, "I hope Senior Sister can chop a few more times, and it would be best if she could cut that guy into pieces."

Qiu Wanru also laughed. This is indeed something Dao Xiaofeng can do. The two laughed for a while, and Qiu Wanru suddenly said, "Junior Brother Tao, the princess wants to see you." "Now?" "The sooner the better." "Then now." "Ah." The two reached an agreement and stood up and walked out. A carriage without any emblem was parked outside the Cangyunzhou Guild Hall. While walking and getting on the bus, including after sitting in the car, Tao Tie pretended that he did not notice that Qiu Wanru used the title "Princess" instead of the nickname "Yunshen". Three months is not a long time, but a lot can happen. The carriage drove away from Jinzoufang and headed out of the city. The scene of heavy traffic and crowds of people once again fell into Tao Tie's eyes. Peaceful, harmonious, prosperous, noisy, and full of vitality. This feeling is very good. When I was passing by the streets in front of the Imperial College, the Military Academy, and the Missionary Academy, I suddenly heard a voice shouting, "The results are out." Suddenly, a large number of people poured out from all directions. Tao Tie then remembered that the spring examination had already passed and today was the day when the results of the imperial examination would be announced. For the people of Dayong, the war in the distant sea is not as important as the spring examination. The greatest impact of the battle of Wushi Sea on the people of Dayong was the sacrifice of Pinghaiwei. As for how many demons were eliminated, how many islands were occupied, how many people were rescued, and how much space was reinforced, they were not willing to know. If we have to say there is an impact, it is that the absence of the hundred and eight geniuses makes this spring examination lack a lot of star power. No matter whether it was Confucianism, Martial Arts, Taoism, Buddhism, or Witchcraft, the people participating in the imperial examinations were strong, but there always felt that something was missing. However, in various places in the capital, apart from the examinees who were desperately searching for their names on the list, the crowds of onlookers were still as numerous as in previous years. It was surrounded by three circles inside and three circles outside, making it airtight and watertight. The carriage's speed was suddenly slowed down and it became very difficult to move forward. After finally walking out of the street, I heard someone shouting, "The results are out." However, the Dengzhen List, Ruyi List and Qianlong List also underwent an update.

"Aren't you curious?" In the carriage, Qiu Wanru asked softly. "It's just an empty reputation, what's there to worry about?" Tao Tie answered calmly. "That's not what you thought before you left." "People always change, and they always have to grow. Before I left, I placed too much emphasis on external things." "Really? Why didn't I see that at the time?" "Really? You should have seen that a long time ago." "No, I really didn't see that. Especially when you agreed to help the eldest princess compete for the throne and asked for that condition, you didn't seem to care too much about external things at all." "It's all in the past, let's not talk about it anymore." "Okay, then I won't tell you." There was a brief silence in the carriage. Qiu Wanru just spoke again, and said solemnly: "The princess has arranged it. You can talk to your followers before you go to see her." It turned out that Bai Qi Tianjiao did not wait for Tao Tie to return, and when he left Fuli Island first, he took the eight people and one ghost followers with him. When they arrived in Qingzhou, the princess arranged for people to take their followers to the capital before the 108 geniuses gathered. At this time, the followers were recuperating in a villa in Yuquan Mountain. "I should thank the princess." Tao Tie expressed his opinion very seriously. "It's no use telling me this. Go talk to the princess yourself." Qiu Wanru smiled. "Ah." Tao Tie nodded. Having said this, the carriage fell silent again. There was always an inexplicable disharmony in the conversations between the two, which was completely different from the feeling they had had when they were together before. "Ugh!" Qiu Wanru sighed. "Ugh!" Tao Tie also sighed.

The carriage had just driven out of the city and was still a long way from Yuquan Mountain. After the space was reinforced, impacts in various aspects have become apparent. In the past, the carriage could accelerate to maximum speed once it left the city and reach Yuquan Mountain in a short time. Now the carriage still reaches its maximum speed after leaving the city, but it is less than one-third of the previous speed. At this time, Tao Tie suddenly remembered that when he returned to Liuxian County last time, the authority to use the teleportation array between various places had begun to be tightened. "The court was indeed well prepared." With a sigh in his heart, Tao Tie looked at his nose with his eyes and his heart with his nose, and didn't look at Senior Sister Qiu who was sitting opposite him! Just like that, an hour and a half later, the carriage arrived at Yuquan Mountain. The two of them were silent all the way, without saying a few words. "Go ahead." After entering Yuquan Mountain, Qiu Wanru and Tao Tie separated at the teleportation pavilion. Tao Tie said nothing as he entered the teleportation array, which still functioned but consumed several times more power, and went to the villa where the princess had housed eight people and one ghost. In the pavilion, after Tao Tie left, a light radiated from Qiu Wanru's body, revealing the face of the eldest princess. I also changed all my clothes and jewelry. The real Qiu Wanru came over and said with a smile, "So, you've been seen through, right?" "Isn't this a natural thing?" The princess replied calmly, "His eyes will be able to see through more things in the future. In the end, what falsehood can cover up and hide from him? I just hope that he doesn't think that the truth is everything." "you are always like this." Qiu Wanru snorted, "Thinking too much, worrying too much." "Is it not good?" The eldest princess asked calmly. "not good." Qiu Wanru insisted firmly, and emphasized again, "Not good at all." At this time, Tao Tie came out of the teleportation array and came to the villa. He vaguely heard the conversation between the eldest princess and Qiu Wanru, but did not pay attention to it. In the other courtyard, five ghosts were sitting under the grape trellis in different postures. The middle-aged man put his hands behind his back, frowned, and looked up at the sky in deep thought. The old man and the old woman might have had an argument and were both sulking. The boy and the girl snuggle up to each other, loving each other, and the years are peaceful. In another corner, Tan Jinxuan and his ghost wife Xiaoqian were playing Go.

Xiaoqian's chess skills were obviously stronger than Tan Jinxuan's. She defeated Tan Jinxuan and made him look weak. The game would end soon. Mo Yuhan sat cross-legged on the rockery in the pool and used the secret technique of Jingling Mountain to purify and refine the spiritual energy, and then supplied it to a room with a closed door. In that room lived Chu Yingying, who had lost all her cultivation. "Master Tao." Xiaoqian, who was supporting her wrist and waiting idly for Tan Jinxuan to finish his long thinking, suddenly had her eyes light up. She was the first to notice Tao Tie and exclaimed in surprise. The shout woke up the others. It was not until they saw Tao Tie with their own eyes that Tan Jinxuan, Mo Yuhan and the Five Ghosts realized of Tao Tie's existence. What is particularly strange is that even though the naked eye can see it, the spiritual consciousness cannot perceive it. "Standing upright without a shadow?" Tan Jinxuan suddenly thought of this Tiangang method and shouted in shock. Then he discovered, even more surprisingly, that Tao Tie's cultivation level was clearly revealed: lower ninth rank! “Not quite upright and shadowless, but close enough.” Tao Tie corrected him lightly, and immediately changed the topic and asked, "Jin Xuan, you really won't go into Envoy Li's shogunate?" However, it was Li Huizu, the governor of Qingzhou and the military supervisor of Pinghaiwei, who believed that although Tan Jinxuan had taken unorthodox paths, he was still a talent, and was willing to recruit Tan Jinxuan into his court to assist him in official affairs. If there is a suitable opportunity in the future, I may be able to become an official. "No, I have already declined Li Shijun's offer and decided to continue to follow you, Lord Tao." Tan Jinxuan said firmly, "I no longer want to be an official." "Just think about it yourself." Seeing this, Tao Tie did not persuade him much, but stepped forward and gently patted Tan Jinxuan on the shoulder, then gently reminded him, "You should get more sun and replenish your yang energy." Tan Jinxuan didn't think there was anything wrong. The ghost wife Xiaoqian stomped her feet lightly. Tao Tie seemed not to notice this. He walked past Tan Jinxuan and approached the Five Ghosts. “When are you planning to go back?” The old man, the old woman, the young boy and the young girl all looked at the middle-aged man. It turned out that the Five Ghosts Sect had sent out a notice a few days ago, asking the five ghosts to return to the sect. The five ghosts have been dragging their feet until now and have not returned to the sect. "Leave later." The middle-aged man replied calmly, "There is no reason to leave without saying goodbye, nor will I never come out again after returning to the sect. Now that I have met Master Tao, there is naturally no need to keep the sect members waiting any longer." "Ah." Tao Tie nodded, took out a jade slip and handed it over, "I have some new insights into the Five Ghosts Moving Technique, and I have recorded them all here as a reward for you."

"Thank you, Master Tao." The middle-aged man did not refuse and took it directly. Afterwards, the five ghosts bowed to Tao Tie together, bid farewell and left. "What about you? Are you going back to Jingling Mountain?" After watching the five ghosts leave, Tao Tie immediately turned to look at Mo Yuhan, "I heard that Mengxi Sanren is vying for the position of the master of Jingling Mountain. Why don't you go back and lend a hand to Sanren?" Mo Yuhan opened his eyes and said in a clear voice: "Master specifically told me not to go back and to always follow Master Tao." "That's fine too." Tao Tie thought about it, stretched out his right sword finger, tapped lightly, and reminded, "Watch out, I will only practice it once." Mo Yuhan immediately watched attentively. There was only a tiny ripple in the air, and the air where Tao Tie was standing and the three feet around him suddenly became pure and clear. This move is exactly [Purification]. Although it is very different from the Jingling Secret Art of Jingling Mountain, one can still learn from others' experience. With [Purification] as a reference, Mo Yuhan's understanding of the secret art of purifying the soul will be greatly improved. The most important thing is that although Tao Tie's finger looks light, it actually carries divine power. Mo Yuhan felt like he saw a piece of the Dao. "Jingling Mountain has a foundation in Taoism. You can recite the Eight Great Mantras more often, and read the "Qingjing Sutra" and "Duren Sutra" more often." After saying this, Tao Tie didn't stay in the yard any longer. He came to Chu Yingying's house and knocked on the door. "The door is not locked. Please come in, Master Tao." Chu Yingying's voice came from the house, hoarse, dull but not desperate. Tao Tie pushed the door open and walked in. Chu Yingying was standing in the room. The Yu family's inheritance is a side branch related to Taoism, which belongs to the Taoist practice in a broad sense. Now that her side skills have been completely wasted, Chu Yingying did not lose hope, but instead actively practiced martial arts in an effort to regain her strength. Beads of sweat rolled down from her forehead and temples, but Chu Yingying was completely unaware and continued to persist. Tao Tie took a deep look and shouted in his heart: "Zhuzhu?" "what?" The wisdom of the black pearl jumped out from the Taiyi black pearl between the eyebrows and transformed into the appearance of a three-year-old girl that only Tao Tie could see. The Queen's finger was the one that truly relieved the burden of the Taiyi Xuanzhu.

Xuanzhu's intelligence grew a lot in an instant. I named myself Zhuzhu. With two pigtails on her head and colorful clothes, she put her hands on her hips and pouted her lips. Zhuzhu whined and complained, "Bad guy! Are you going to steal my things again?" Tao Tie smiled awkwardly and said, "It's not a robbery, it's a negotiation." "Humph!" Zhuzhu turned her back, not wanting to look at the bad guy's face, and although she was reluctant, she still asked, "What do you want to use? Who do you want to use it for?" Tao Tie shared Chu Yingying's deeds with Zhuzhu through his spiritual consciousness and said softly, "Let's give her a small drop of water so that she can practice again, okay?" "not good!" Zhuzhu was extremely angry and shouted, "There is only so much water in total, and you are so poor, you let me go hungry all day long. If I give away a little bit, it will take ten days for it to grow back! No! You bad guy! I won't pay attention to you anymore!" With a whoosh, the bead hit the Tai Chi mark between Tao Tie's eyebrows. However, a few tiny drops of water, the origin of all things in the universe, squeezed out from the Taiyi Xuanzhu. No matter how angry you are, you will still do what needs to be done. Zhuzhu is not a stubborn person. (End of this chapter)