In the eighth year of the Qingli era, during autumn, in Fengyun County on Zhenbao Street, the street was bustling with people traveling about, filled with the sounds of voices and the glinting of horse carriages.

At this moment, a crowd on Zhenbao Street was gathered around a stall, looking about and joking for a bit before turning away to leave. By the roadside, a young Taoist was sitting cross-legged. He was tall and had a handsome face with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his robust chest muscles pushed up against his robe.

Beside him, there was an iron cage and a wooden board. Inside the cage, a rooster was pecking at grains from a green porcelain bowl. Written in brush on the wooden board next to it were eleven large characters: “Selling a Domineering King Rooster for one hundred taels, no bargaining.”

At this time, someone from the crowd teased, “Taoist, why don’t you let this Domineering King Rooster show off its skills?”

Yi Chen did not respond to these onlookers but instead pulled out another wooden board from under him, which read: “Only selling to those fated, those willing may come forth.”

The crowd came and went, with many spectators but no buyers.

Just then, an antique store owner, Wang Yuanwai, narrowed his eyes, attracted by the green porcelain bowl the rooster was pecking at. He stepped forward and said, “taoist, this Domineering King Rooster indeed possesses a mysterious charm. I’ll buy it.”

After the transaction was completed, Yi Chen handed the 2 kilogram heavy rooster to the chubby Yuanwai, smiling and performing a salute with his hands clasped together, “May fortune be boundless as the heavens.Owning this Domineering King Rooster, your family will have no worries.”

“Haha, thank you for your blessing, Taoist. How about you also give me that green porcelain bowl? I plan to keep this rooster as a pet and I’m afraid it won’t be accustomed to pecking grains from any other bowl!” After saying this, Wang Yuanwai reached out to grab the green porcelain bowl but was a step too late as the young Taoist had already tucked it into his chest pocket.

“Yuanwai jests, how could that be possible! I’m only selling the rooster, not the bowl. I’ve sold so many Domineering King Roosters using this ancient green porcelain bowl as bait for those who recognised and tried to be greedy for it in the surrounding areas. You might not know this, Yuanwai, but this rooster was destined to be with you today.”

“Moreover, Yuanwai, this rooster can be steamed or stir-fried, and it greatly replenishes one’s vital energy. No need for thanks,so please be on your way, I shall take my leave.”

After saying this, Yi Chen slowly stood up, bowed to the surrounding crowd, neatly stacked the two bricks he had been sitting on, and with a punch, broke them apart. Then, carrying the iron cage and holding the green porcelain bowl, he disappeared at the end of the street with a few jumps, leaving the stunned crowd to burst into laughter after a moment.

…

…

…

Half an hour later, Yi Chen, having bought some fine medicine and half a piece of ginseng with a hundred taels, left the city gates of Fengyun County.

He was not originally from this world. Ten years ago, he had transmigrated into the body of an eight-year-old orphan during a snowy winter, nearly freezing to death. Just when he thought he was about to meet his end, he was saved by the master of Hidden Dragon Temple, Bai Yunzi, who took him in as a disciple.

Ten years has passed, and recently, his master Bai Yunzi had accidentally let a ghost’s yin energy enter his body while helping villagers exorcize a ghost. Now, he is bedridden.

Out of necessity, Yi Chen had to come out and make money for medicine.

What could he do when his master was such a good person? Most of the savings in the temple had been spent by his master on charitable deeds like distributing porridge and medicine. Without finding a way to make some money, they wouldn’t even have food to eat, let alone for medicine.

With the sun overhead, Yi Chen hurried on his way, urging the sparse Pure Yang internal energy within him to move faster.

Indeed, the world Yi Chen had transmigrated to was not an ordinary ancient world but a terrifying world where demons roamed and evil spirits were rampant.

Being taken in by a master of Pure Yang Taoist techniques, Bai Yunzi of the Hidden Dragon Temple, Yi Chen felt extremely fortunate.

Unfortunately, despite ten years since transmigration, his “golden finger” had yet to arrive, much to his regret.

Without a golden finger, how could he make the most out of his transmigration?

After ten years of practicing the Minor Pure Yang Technique and enduring hardship, he had barely reached the second layer, and his internal energy was so weak that he had to conserve it even while traveling.

As he was lost in thought, the Hidden Dragon Temple appeared on the horizon.

Worried about his master’s condition, Yi Chen quickened his pace.

Hidden Dragon Temple was located at the foot of Dragonfall Mountain, a small Taoist temple built brick by brick by his master and some benevolent donors, not much larger than a five-sectioned residential courtyard.

In the front courtyard, there were two trees planted.

One was a jujube tree, and the other was also a jujube tree.

As soon as he entered, he saw his naturally cross-eyed junior brother, Qing Yunzi, running out with a mournful face: “Big brother, you’re finally back. Master… Master… is not doing well.”

Yi Chen’s heart sank at these words, “What? Wasn’t master still hanging on before?”

“How could it suddenly become so serious?”

Tears welled up in his eyes as he hurried towards the back courtyard.

There, a tall but gaunt elderly man lay on the bed, barely clinging to life. Qingfeng and Mingyue, two young Taoist boys, stood by the bed, secretly wiping away tears. Everyone from the Hidden Dragon Temple had gathered.

“Master! Why did your condition suddenly worsen?” Yi Chen, upon seeing this scene, couldn’t help but have tears swell in his eyes.

He clumsily tried to stuff half of the ginseng into his master’s mouth. The tears in Yi Chen’s eyes were genuine. He was the first orphan his master had taken in, and over the past ten years, his master had treated him no like he was his own son. In times when ordinary families were struggling to put food on the table, Yi Chen always had meat to eat and was personally taught the Minor Pure Yang Technique.

Unfortunately, his aptitude was lacking, and his cultivation of internal techniques had been surpassed by his junior brother, Qing Yunzi.

“Disgraceful disciple, are… are you trying to choke me to death?” With the half piece of ginseng pushed into his mouth, the tall elder on the bed seemed to regain a bit of vitality .

“Disastrous disciple, where did you get this ginseng? How did you get the money?” Bai Yunzi raised an eyebrow and asked sternly.

“I sold the Domineering King Rooster and bought it from the pharmacy.” Yi Chen replied obediently.

“That worthless rooster sold for so much money?”

“The shopkeeper knows the goods, only selling to those destined.” Yi Chen remained obedient.

“At the very least, as long as you never engage in nefarious activities.” The white-haired Taoist on the bed sighed deeply, took a few bites of the ginseng, and looked a bit better.

“Yi Chen, I am of old age and have inadvertently been invaded by yin energy. My end is near. I have a few words to entrust to you, and you must promise me.”

The white-haired Taoist, half-lying on the bed, looked earnestly at Yi Chen.

“Master, please speak.”

“Nowadays, the world is changing, and evil spirits are becoming more rampant. Chaos is approaching.”

“After I die, you will be the new master of the Hidden Dragon Temple.”

“Your junior brothers are not as astute as you. After I pass, you must take care of them and assume the responsibility of the eldest brother.”

“You are intelligent and resourceful, something I have always known. Once I am gone, without someone to discipline them, you must promise me to always do good deeds and not seek personal gain. Do not engage in wrongful acts and win people over with virtue, practicing the way of benevolence and righteousness.”

Yi Chen nodded vigorously, “Master, rest assured, I will take good care of my junior brothers and lead with virtue, practicing the way of benevolence and righteousness.”

“Good!”

The white-haired Taoist on the bed showed a relieved smile and then said with difficulty:

“In my final moments, I have only two wishes.”

“One is to glorify the name of the Hidden Dragon Temple, such that none will ever suffer from the harm of demons and evil spirits.”

“The second wish is hidden within the belongings I leave to you. After I die, you… you will see for yourself.”

“I do not insist on these wishes. Do as much as you can. If not, prioritize your lives. If necessary, this Taoist temple can be abandoned, with you and your junior brothers living as ordinary people.”

“It’s just a pity that none of you three brothers have awakened ‘Spiritual Awareness’ to cultivate my Pure Yang Force and exorcise demons and evil spirits!”

With a last effort, the white-haired Taoist finished speaking and then tilted his head, closing his eyes.

“Master, why did you have to go~” Seeing this, Yi Chen couldn’t help but cry out, tightly embracing his master’s body, as the disciples cried together.

“Cough… Cough cough”

“Reb… Rebellious disciple, stop holding on so tight, do you want to disrespect your ancestors? I was just resting for a while.”

“Wh… why the wailing? There will be time for that later.”

The white-haired Taoist in Yi Chen’s arms opened his eyes again, and his complexion suddenly became rosy. He sat up straight, and red energy flowed out of his seven orifices before dissipating into the air.

Yi Chen knew that this time, his master truly reached his end, being unable to lock in the Pure Yang Force he had cultivated with great difficulty. Knowing that, tears the size of beans began spilling from his eyes.

The white-haired Taoist smiled and touched Yi Chen’s cheek, then touched Qing Yunzi, Qingfeng, and Mingyue’s faces one by one, kindly saying to everyone, “Foolish children, who in this world does not die?”

“There is no banquet that does not come to an end.”

“After I die, just cremate my body, no need for fancy arrangements. I, Bai Yunzi, came into this world with nothing and will leave it the same way, without regrets.”

“Qingfeng, Mingyue, Qing Yunzi, you… you must remember to listen to your eldest brother.”

“It’s just a pity that none of you have ‘Spiritual Awareness’.”

“Otherwise, you could definitely ensure peace in this region and truly inherit my teachings.”

“Remember, you must do good deeds and not seek personal gains.”

“Spiritual Awareness… Spiritual Awareness.”

At this moment, a yellow leaf quietly fell from the jujube tree in the front courtyard.

The white-haired Taoist once again touched Yi Chen’s cheek, smiled, and then passed away seated on the bed.

(End of the chapter)