"Innocent Heart?"

Qingfeng was taken aback, his young face wrinkling in disbelief.

He had personally witnessed the young man surnamed Bai, clearly brimming with vigorous Qi Blood and full of vitality.

Like himself, as a Daoist Cultivator, his intuitive senses were sharply keen. Just by getting slightly closer, he felt an intense heat, akin to being next to a blazing furnace.

He didn’t seem like a Daoist Cultivator.

Instead, it was the other man’s brother, with his slender form and graceful features, who inexplicably exuded a refreshing aura.

Like fresh rain nourishing the vegetation of a secluded mountain, making one want to draw near.

Their differences were as clear as day.

Why did the Observatory Master say that the elder brother was the superior seedling?

"Ah, Qingfeng, I always encourage you to read more, yet you often refuse and prefer idleness.

Have you not heard the Taoist Scripture: ’The people are joyful, as if feasting on rare delicacies and ascending a springtime platform, yet I alone remain quietly detached, as an infant who has yet to grow.’

Many laypeople mistakenly reinterpret ’Innocent Heart’ as naivety and kindness, which is far from accurate.

Its true essence is not such. Pure and untainted, naturally genuine, that is the innocent; complete in essence and preserving its truth, thus is the true heart."

Elder Chongxu was in a good mood, feeling quite satisfied, as if witnessing two precious herbs thriving in his own field, so he spoke more to Qingfeng:

"Back in the day, there was great commotion when the Daoist entered demonic possession, shocking the Red County Divine Land. That Daoist Kou from the Meridian Sword Sect, became a Great Sword Immortal by advancing to the Divine Power Secret Realm at forty.

Few knew that he possessed the Innocent Heart, progressing remarkably fast, and within merely twenty years, he made his mark on the Simurgh Platform, renowned across the world.

I was newly appointed then, stationed in Yihai Prefecture, and had met him once.

Tsk tsk, truly transcendent and extraordinary. It’s hard to believe such an unparalleled figure would fall into the Turbid Tide."

Qingfeng couldn’t help but scratch his head, his eyes showing confusion:

"Yet, the Observatory Tower rates the world’s talents and potential, and their appraisal of the ’Innocent Heart’ is that it allows unhindered cultivation, not fearing any external demonic Turbid Tide.

If so, why did the one titled ’Lord of Ten Thousand Swords’, Kou Daozi, fall into demonic possession and betray the Upper Sect?"

Chongxu Zi was stumped by the question, and with a stern face, coughed twice to change the subject:

"Perhaps the Dao rises an inch, while the demon rises a foot. The heart demons of Divine Power Giants are in no way comparable to the evil illusions born from our meditation visualization.

Qingfeng, quickly take my Duster to Fenghui Trading Company to seek out some suitable good items and exchange for two as meeting gifts."

The little Daoist child immediately agreed, then looked up and asked:

"Master, is there a spending limit?"

Chongxu Zi’s brows raised, ready to swing the Duster towards Qingfeng’s stubborn head:

"What, do you plan to purchase the entire Fenghui Trading Company? Two pieces of good seedlings are all they are, not some unparalleled, peerless supreme talents!

I’ve always been accurate at judging people. Those two brothers are well-dressed, yet without attendants, indicating they have come from afar and are not of the top three ranks in background.

This opportunity to enter the Daoist School as students is like a pie falling from the sky, dropping before them without reason not to be moved."

Qingfeng uttered an ’oh’, barely holding back from speaking the truth, as Yuanyang Temple’s influence doesn’t compare to the Zhi Xin Temple, which also governs Yihai Prefecture.

Over the years, any good seedlings emerging have been snatched up by Master Xuanji, never falling into Master’s grasp.

People can easily inquire and know; by then, they might flow towards higher places, seeking out Zhi Xin Temple.

"Master, are we still traveling?"

Qingfeng raised the Duster, considered a Magical Artifact, over his head.

"Let’s pause for a few days, and I’ll observe a bit. Yihai Prefecture may not be hiding dragons and crouching tigers, but it certainly is a gathering of masters, with several Four Cultivation Grandmasters."

Chongxu Zi walked while pondering, deciding for this period to divine every day for fortune and misfortune.

"I initially entered the Daoist School and learned the Six Line Assessment. If my talent wasn’t lacking, I could have settled into the Observatory Tower.

Though not as proficient as Qiu Changtian, who insightfully resolves matters, seeing afar, I should not have issues predicting general fortune."

After Qingfeng left, he tightly clutched three large Copper Coins, facing the Five Emperors Divine Statue in the main hall, clasping hands and muttering his thoughts as he cast the coins six times to form hexagrams.

Coins clattered onto the ground with a clear sound.

"Celestial Mountain Escape Trigram, dense clouds obscure the sun?"

Chongxu Zi squinted his eyes:

"Escape means avoidance, retreating without emerging; thus its force greatly diminishes, leading to all matters not being successful.

Not a good omen!

Qiu Changtian’s bad luck, could it still be lingering?"

...

...

"Tonight, I’m going to recognize the Master’s ’Mountain Gate’; you stay home well, call for a servant if you need any food.

Once I’m done with urgent matters, I’ll take you for a stroll, to appreciate the bustling scenery of the County City."

Bai Qi reminded them briefly; he and Ah Di, Bai Ming, were now settled in the renowned Fugui Square in Yihai Prefecture.

The long street was lined with mansions and courtyards, pavilions and towers are interspersed, forming a complete whole, each arranged according to ceremonial order.

Entering the main gate, then a screen wall, then a stone garden, and finally a water garden, all meticulously designed.

The lodging arranged by He Jingfeng was called Nine Palaces Platform, featuring three distinct sceneries.

The screen wall was carved with ancient script ’Fu’ character, totaling one hundred, precisely, surrounded by auspicious clouds.

This was Fujulong Hall, bringing fortune into the hall, symbolizing good fortune.

Next was stepping into the water garden, with hills sized of Longevity Stones, set within the lotus pond, several streams of flowing water cascading.

This was Golden Waterfall, swirling winds and gathering water, full of vitality.