The mine collapse occurred last night. No one dared to conceal it, so the incident was reported immediately. However, by morning, before the nation even had time to be shocked, news broke that everyone had been rescued.

With no fatalities, the incident’s priority dropped significantly. It barely registered on the public’s radar as people’s attention shifted to other headlines.

For those involved, however, the shock was indescribable. This worldview-shattering experience hadn’t faded in the slightest, even by the time they were discharged from the hospital.

Although they had all signed non-disclosure agreements, they didn’t hold back when talking amongst themselves. Besides, none of them were professionals; keeping something like this bottled up felt like it would drive them crazy.

"He’s a Daoist! And you’re chanting Amitabha? Next time, he won’t save you!"

"You’re right, you’re right! My mistake. Blessed Infinite Celestial Venerable! I’ll go to the nearest Taoist Temple tomorrow to make a donation, fulfill my vow, and pray for Taishang Laojun’s blessing!"

"Holy crap! So Cultivation is real! Does that mean all that stuff in martial arts novels is real, too?"

"Still thinking about your Qiao Feng and Ximen Chuixue? Who cares about Martial Arts? This was an Immortal Technique! Earth Escape!"

"And the healing! My arm was clearly fractured, but he just tapped it once and it was all better. They insisted I get an X-ray just now, and it showed nothing at all!" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"It feels like the world has changed into something I don’t recognize," a middle-aged man muttered.

"That’s it, I’m quitting tomorrow!" a young man declared. "I’ll travel to every famous mountain and great river if I have to. I’m going to join an Immortal Sect and seek the path of the Immortals!"

"Get real," an older man tried to reason with him. "We’ve all been to Buddhist and Taoist Temples. Most monks and Daoists are just normal people. If you had the right destiny, he would’ve taken you as a disciple right then and there. If you don’t, it’s useless to travel the world’s famous mountains."

...

Despite the NDAs signed by those directly involved and the gag orders issued to many others, the accident scene had been crowded. For one, some people had spotted Taoist Ming Yu and Taoist Yan Qi when they arrived. For another, with the hospital full of people when the rescued miners were brought in, loose talk led to occasional leaks. Add to that the reactions of the rescue workers and the wild speculation from uninformed outsiders...

All sorts of rumors were flying around!

Theories ranged from a staged event and a high-tech rescue operation to a Daoist ritual and a deep-seated conspiracy—the list went on.

Zheng Hongsheng, meanwhile, had returned to Yandu, where he added two new entries to his list of the Daoists’ abilities.

Earth Escape! Rapid healing!

Looking at the notebook detailing their Daoist Techniques, Zheng Hongsheng couldn’t help but sigh. ’Just how many other abilities are they hiding?’

"Director Zheng?" Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in." Zheng Hongsheng put down his notebook and looked at the visitor. "What is it?"

"It’s about the foreign Mages entering the country," the man reported. "After the Berkeley incident, many of them have been arriving. We’ve been using big data to identify and track them individually."

"I’m aware." Zheng Hongsheng nodded. "Have they done anything out of line?"

The Berkeley incident had deeply shaken some of the more well-informed foreign Mages. Once they learned the context behind it, they started coming to Celestial Xia.

However, they all entered on tourist or work visas, so there were no official grounds to stop them. The office could only monitor and track their activities.

Fortunately, the number of Cultivators in the world was small, so the caseload was manageable.

"For the most part, these people are just visiting the country’s famous Daoist mountains and temples. Some have tried to find a master, but they’ve all been rejected," the man continued.

Zheng Hongsheng snorted. "In their dreams!"

’The secret Tao Scriptures could produce tangible results; of course they had to take precautions.’

Ever since they began cooperating with the Taoist Research Institute, the office had been cataloging Daoists who had successfully cultivated Inner Breath True Qi while also collecting secret Tao Scriptures. At the same time, they placed certain confidentiality measures and restrictions on the transmission of these scriptures. At the very least, it was no longer as easy for a foreigner to find a master as it once was.

"So, having failed to achieve their goals, these people were initially law-abiding, but they’ve started getting bolder. Yesterday, one of them even caused a public disturbance."

Zheng Hongsheng’s expression darkened. "What happened?"

The Daoists from the Taoist Research Institute were practically Land Immortals, but he had much less patience for other Cultivators—especially foreign ones with ulterior motives.

"A Mage from Gaul was hitting on a girl in a bar. When she rejected him, he tried to use Magic to force the issue," the man reported. "Some bystanders saw it happen and thought he was using a date-rape drug, so they beat him up and called the police."

Zheng Hongsheng was speechless.

’And here I was, thinking those Mages had done something catastrophic. It was just *this*?’

"Prosecute him to the full extent of the law!" Zheng Hongsheng waved his hand dismissively. "And send someone to warn the rest of those Mages. Remind them that this is Celestial Xia’s territory and that they shouldn’t cause trouble."

"Yes, sir!" The man nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait." Zheng Hongsheng thought for a moment and called the man back. He then dialed Taoist Ming Yu’s number and explained the current situation.

At that moment, Taoist Ming Yu and Taoist Yan Qi had returned to Yangcheng and were just about to cross over when the call from Zheng Hongsheng came through.

"Our original idea was to stage a semi-public miracle, something to get our people interested in the path of cultivation," Taoist Ming Yu said, shaking his head. "I didn’t expect their side to lock down the news so well, while the great distance to our own meant the story didn’t spread. Instead, we’ve just attracted a few flies."

Zheng Hongsheng chuckled. "We can handle these flies, but since they are Cultivators, I thought it best to inform you."

Taoist Ming Yu knew exactly what Zheng Hongsheng was getting at. He nodded. "I’ll give you a batch of Celestial Spirit Protection Talismans. If any of them dare to use Magic on the person holding one, they’ll face the backlash."

"Excellent! Excellent!" Zheng Hongsheng laughed heartily. "Then I must thank you, Daoist."

...

「A few days later.」

A sullen, blond, middle-aged man arrived at the foot of Lao Mountain. Just as he was about to start his ascent, two men appeared and blocked his path, one on either side.

"Mr. Johnson, hello," the man on the left greeted him.

Johnson looked at the two men, his brow furrowing slightly. "Do I know you?"

"You don’t know us, but we know you," the younger man on the right answered. "In the last three days, two of the people you’ve interacted with have been hospitalized for anemia."

The corner of Johnson’s eye twitched. He shook his head. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"You know exactly what we’re talking about," the older man said calmly. "You were discreet, and you didn’t kill anyone, but you’re still a suspect in an assault case. Come with us."

Johnson sneered, subconsciously channeling his Magical Power. "I’m a citizen of Huaqi Country. Are you trying to arrest me without evidence? Aren’t you afraid of causing a diplomatic incident?"

Just then, an old Daoist a short distance away on the mountain path suddenly turned around. He was thin, with a bushy beard and a cigarette dangling from his lips, and had been sauntering leisurely up the mountain with a swagger. Now, he strode quickly toward them, his eagle-like eyes fixed on Johnson.

Johnson sensed the old Daoist’s presence as well. He whipped his head around as if facing a natural predator, his Magical Power flaring to life. "You—"

But before the word was fully out of his mouth, he felt a piercing Gang Qi erupt from the two men beside him. It flared with a brilliance like Celestial Light from the sun and moon, then rushed violently toward him.

PTHOO!

Johnson sprayed a mouthful of blood and was sent tumbling backward. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he collapsed, unconscious.