Chapter One: The Taoist Chen Jiu

Great Jin Dynasty, Laozhou, Xinyang County.

Today was the funeral of the wife of Master Li’s son in Qingshui Town. At this moment, everyone in the Li residence was clad in white mourning robes, and not even the towering blue walls could stifle the sound of grief and weeping.

A young Taoist, his features somewhat refined and his figure tall and slender, glanced at the half-closed gates of the Li residence. Straightening his disheveled Taoist robe, he reached out and knocked at the door.

His name was Chen Jiu, a Taoist from a temple on the mysterious Mount Xuanmiao.

A few days prior, his master had been invited to perform a ritual, but urgent matters had called him away, so today, Chen Jiu had come in his stead.

Clang, clang!

With the crisp sound of knocking, a voice called out from within the residence.

“Who’s there?”

With a creak, the door opened to reveal a young maid in mourning white.

“And you are?” The maid eyed Chen Jiu’s Taoist attire and the wooden sword strapped to his back with suspicion.

Chen Jiu bowed and said, “I am Chen Jiu, disciple of Xuanmiao Temple, come to perform the ritual on my master’s behalf.”

Upon hearing he was merely a disciple, the maid’s brows knitted, and a fleeting hint of disdain crossed her eyes.

“Please wait, Taoist priest. I’ll go inform the master…” With that, she hurried back inside.

Chen Jiu wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking, Here I am, braving the scorching sun to come and perform the rites, and yet she looks down on me.

Before long, the gates swung open again, and this time, a corpulent man emerged.

Master Li’s face gleamed with oil, and his small eyes narrowed as he said coldly, “Your master’s business still isn’t finished? In that case, don’t expect full payment!”

Chen Jiu forced a smile. “My master sends his deepest apologies… Besides, I have learned his true teachings, and as for setting up the altar and performing the ritual…”

“All right, all right! Come in,” Master Li interrupted impatiently, then turned and trudged back inside, disgruntled.

“Your master was acceptable, but what skill could a mere disciple possess…” Though muttered under his breath, Chen Jiu caught every word.

He hesitated, a bitter taste in his mouth.

The truth was, Chen Jiu was not of this world. His soul hailed from a place called Blue Star.

One month ago, he had awakened to find himself in this strange land of spirits and monsters, inhabiting the body of an ordinary young Taoist in the Xuanmiao Temple.

Through conversations with his master and various books, Chen Jiu gradually realized this was a feudal era, ruled by a dynasty called the Great Jin.

Fortunately, he had always been fond of ancient Huaxia culture, so adapting to this world’s ways was not too difficult.

Yet, ever since his arrival, he lived in constant dread, for he knew that Taoists in this era were responsible for subduing monsters and exorcising demons.

In this world, spiritual energy was abundant, and cultivators could pursue immortality; naturally, there were all manner of demons and ghosts as well.

At first, he feared for his life, feeling helpless to protect himself.

But then, one morning a week ago, he discovered a vertical eye had grown on his forehead!

After repeated doubt and astonishment, Chen Jiu reached a conclusion: his golden finger had finally arrived!

Though he did not know the true origin of the “Heaven’s Eye,” after a few days’ practice, he had roughly grasped its abilities.

There were eight great powers within the Heaven’s Eye, but he had only unlocked three so far: Mind Control, Spirit Vision, and Instant Mastery.

Mind Control allowed him to control disembodied spirits or souls, whether human or monster, with the Heaven’s Eye.

Spirit Vision enabled him to perceive ghosts, monsters, and other supernatural beings.

Instant Mastery granted perfect memory and instant understanding at a glance.

Yet, even with these powers, Chen Jiu found little cause for cheer.

None of these abilities were truly lethal; they could hardly harm the demons and monsters, let alone protect him…

…

Following the maid past the screen, Chen Jiu entered a spacious courtyard. At the far end stood the mourning hall, where he could still see the altar and talismans his master had arranged.

“Take a seat,” Master Li said coolly before disappearing into the mourning hall.

The Li family’s relatives and household members cast curious glances at the young Taoist, whispering among themselves.

A servant soon brought over a straw stool and set it at the edge of the courtyard, precisely where a shaft of sunlight landed, glaring and uncomfortable.

Chen Jiu’s anger flared.

Such blatant disrespect!

He showed nothing on his face, merely moved the stool into the shade and sat down heavily.

He glanced at the sky. The sun was already dimming, and dusk was not far off. He knew it was not yet time to begin the rites.

The so-called ritual was no miraculous feat—just chanting scriptures and reciting incantations to guide the departed. He possessed no spiritual power, for he had yet to truly embark on the path of cultivation.

Once this affair was over, he must demand a method of cultivation from his master!

Such were his thoughts. In a foreign world, survival and growing stronger came first!

As this resolve settled in his mind, a thunderous crash erupted at the main gate.

Bang!

A blast of air, carrying splinters of wood, swept in and toppled the screen.

Startled, Chen Jiu jumped to his feet and looked toward the entrance.

The twin doors were shattered, and through the haze strode a towering, yellow-faced brute, fully eight feet tall!

The womenfolk shrieked and fled into the mourning hall, while the Li family’s guards rushed out.

“What’s going on?!” Master Li called out in panic.

“Master! Someone’s causing trouble!” Madam Li, clutching her tear-stained daughter, stared in horror.

Master Li, too, was taken aback by the giant’s imposing presence, but forced himself to respond with bluster. “How dare you make trouble in my house? Are you tired of living?”

But the burly, yellow-faced man ignored their shouting and threats. His gaze fixed hungrily on the mourning hall.

“All of you—come out of the hall. Now.” His voice was cold.

Master Li’s face changed dramatically. “Seize him!” he shouted.

At once, the guards exchanged glances, then charged the giant with gritted teeth.

The yellow-faced brute sneered. In a flash, he seized a guard by the throat; muscles bulged along his arm, and blood spurted as he crushed the man’s neck to pulp—killing him instantly.

One blow sufficed to terrify the rest. The guards paled, their legs trembling.

Chen Jiu’s heart sank. Such terrifying strength—and to kill without hesitation! This man was here for no good purpose.

“I’ll say it one last time: come out of the mourning hall, or you’ll end up like this!” He flung the corpse aside as if it weighed nothing.

Instantly, the family members inside the hall scrambled out in a panic, terrified they’d be next.

In a heartbeat, the once-empty courtyard was packed with more than twenty people.

Chen Jiu blended into the crowd, frowning as he quietly retreated to the back, ready to slip away at the first chance.

Suddenly, the yellow-faced man’s expression shifted. He glared at the gate, where a servant was trying to sneak out.

“Hm? Did I give you permission to leave?!”

He swung his arm, grabbed another guard, and hurled him at the servant as if tossing a chick.

With a sickening thud, the guard and servant crashed together at the gate, blood spraying.

The entire Li household was struck dumb with terror, not daring to breathe.

Master Li was inwardly wretched. He’d meant for the servant to slip out and call for help, but the brute was too sharp!

Chen Jiu frowned deeply. Something was terribly wrong.

Even if this man was eight feet tall and as strong as an ox, how could he toss a grown man around so effortlessly?

Driven by a strange impulse, Chen Jiu quietly removed the headscarf from his head, letting his hair fall and cover his forehead.

Open!

He called silently in his heart.

A strange sensation passed through him, and a seam split open on his forehead, revealing a vertical eye.

Heaven’s Eye!

Hidden beneath his unruly hair, the eye shone with a faint golden light.

Chen Jiu’s gaze sharpened as he activated Spirit Vision.

In an instant, the world before him turned golden, everything bathed in a luminous radiance.

As he scanned the people of the Li family, nothing seemed amiss—they all retained human form.

But when his gaze fell on the yellow-faced brute, his expression changed dramatically.

As expected, this man was no ordinary mortal!

Wrapped around the brute’s body was a golden-furred weasel spirit.

Chen Jiu quickly withdrew his Heaven’s Eye, his forehead returning to normal.

“So the yellow-faced brute is possessed by a demon…” His heart sank. To encounter a monster on his first assignment—what rotten luck!

As he pondered how to escape, the brute suddenly roared, “You there! The Taoist with the messy hair—come here!”

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