The beggar's clothes were in tatters, his upper body against the wall, exuding a foul odor. Many wounds had already festered, making him appear at death's door. Although his body was covered with wounds and his clothes were full of holes, it was still clear that he was accustomed to a life of luxury.

His skin was very fair, his palms were not calloused, and his fingers were long and without signs of hardship.

People who toil in the countryside usually have short, thick fingers and rough skin.

He was evidently not from the countryside.

Chen Shi's gaze flickered: "Situ Tiangong, is this beggar a local from your town?"

Situ Wen stepped forward, examining carefully, and shook his head: "I don't recognize him. I haven't been back for many years, and there are many unfamiliar faces in town... Auntie An Xiu, do you recognize this man?"

An old woman came over, still vigorous and spirited. She glanced at the beggar and said, "I don't dare to say I recognize him at the moment, his face is somewhat unfamiliar..."

Chen Shi endured the pain at the back of his head, smiled and said, "Then, is he a refugee from another place?"

In the wooden cart, Black Pot suddenly noticed the Heaven Measuring Iron Ruler beside him silently floating upward, along with the West King Jade Seal, which also began to slowly levitate at this moment. It was helplessly bound like a mummy, unable to move, and only the eyeballs could turn. As he watched, the ancient patterns on the Heaven Measuring Iron Ruler gradually lit up, like Thunder Light flowing beneath these patterns.

At the same time, in the small temple behind Chen Shi's head, Scholar Zhu suddenly felt Heaven and Earth Righteous Qi flow through his entire body, and he couldn't help but float upwards. He was startled: "Little Ten is treating me as a Divine Embryo? Is there an enemy outside?"

Chen Shi seldom treated him as a Divine Embryo to worship; he usually just had him assist in his cultivation. This time, during his battle with over thirty Yin Messengers, he was injured, although not as severely as Black Pot. Chen Shi, at this moment treating him as a Divine Embryo, was borrowing his mana.

Little Dun also sensed a slight deviation in the atmosphere, as threads of Righteous Qi ran through her entire body, connecting her cultivation with Chen Shi's cultivation.

The beggar spoke: "Auntie An Xiu doesn't remember me? My name is Er Niu, from the east end of the town."

"Er Niu?"

Auntie An Xiu examined him carefully, and exclaimed in surprise, "It really is Er Niu. How did you end up in such a condition?"

The beggar, his breath weak, said, "I had a fight with someone, got injured, and fled all the way here. Auntie An Xiu, where are my parents?"

"He's truly from Qinghe Town." Chen Shi suppressed the urge to kill, and the Heaven Measuring Iron Ruler in the wooden cart quietly fell back.

The scar at the back of his head still burned, and the searing pain returned.

This scar only subtly ached when it rained, neither pain nor itch on normal days. The last time it hurt this much was at Taihua Qingyang Palace when the senior brother from Despair Slope executed Daoist Jing Hong.

That time, he learned that whenever he neared the Innate Dao Embryo, the scar would throb intensely!

"Wu Wang must be nearby!"

With this thought, his Primordial Spirit soared upward, looking down to survey the surroundings, taking in everything within a hundred miles.

Around Qinghe Town, aside from some sneaky ghost monsters and evil spirits, there were only passing ghosts, no other anomalies.

Situ Wen instructed a Lu Ban Sect disciple: "Go invite Physician Tan to treat Er Niu; we can't let him die."

Chen Shi's Primordial Spirit hovered high, overlooking Qinghe Town, taking everything in without any findings.

He withdrew his Primordial Spirit and his gaze returned to Er Niu.

Behind him, Auntie An Xiu was chattering: "Er Niu is a pitiful child. His father, Old Zhongtou, from the east end of town, was a gambling addict. He gambled away their fortune and sold Er Niu to gamble further, losing everything. Later, he sold their eldest son, the house, and his wife ran away."

Situ Wen laughed: "Auntie An Xiu can still recognize him, quite a good memory."

Auntie An Xiu chuckled: "Er Niu, that child, looks much the same as back then. When he was sold, he was about ten years old, right? The Daoist who bought him, leading him like he was leading a beast..."

Chen Shi's heart stirred slightly and said, "Er Niu was bought by a Daoist? I wonder where he's been cultivating all these years?"

Zhong Erniu raised his eyes to meet his gaze.

Zhong Erniu was a young man, around his twenties, with a proper appearance, not particularly handsome, but possessing an extraordinary aura. Even in ragged clothes and covered in blood, he seemed like a noble gentleman.

Strangely, he wore an earring under his left ear, shaped with a sun on the outer layer and a crescent moon hanging in the middle of the sun, very delicate.

"I was taken by that Daoist to a hill to cultivate, and later, he became my master," Zhong Erniu said.

Chen Shi approached, squatting down to face him, and said, "How many people were there on your hill? What cultivation technique do you practice? I am the current top scorer, if you have anything you don't understand, feel free to say so. I can guide you."

Zhong Erniu averted his gaze, lowered his eyes, and said, "Thank you, but I don't need your guidance. I am the first among my peers on that hill, and even when my master encounters issues, he needs to consult me."

Chen Shi said, "You may be the first among your peers on that little hill, but once you step out, it won't be the same. Tell me about your cultivation technique and I can surely guide you. Many have benefited from my guidance, and perhaps you will too."

Zhong Erniu chuckled lightly before suddenly coughing violently. After a moment, catching his breath, he said, "The sect's cultivation technique cannot be leaked. I ask for your understanding."

Scholar Zhu's voice came: "Little Ten, he hasn't answered any of your questions. He definitely has something to hide!"

"So, you actually don't want my help?" Chen Shi looked directly at Zhong Erniu, as if trying to see through to his heart.

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