The rooster crows, and the world becomes bright.

Gao Xuan didn't hear the rooster crow, but he was already awake. This was a biological clock developed over more than a decade, more reliable than an alarm clock.

A few rays of morning light filtered through the window, casting a soft glow over the room.

Gao Xuan sat on the bed, holding the quilt, his eyes a bit blank. He was awake, but his mind was still a little foggy.

The events of last night's banquet at the Dragon Court were still vivid in his mind. He remembered deliberately wiping a bit of oil on his sleeve as a mark.

Gao Xuan returned to his senses and looked at his sleeve, which was clean and had no trace of any mark.

The events of last night were, after all, just a dream.

At this thought, a twitch ran through Gao Xuan's forehead, as if something were about to leap out of his mind.

He was a bit surprised, was there really a Golden Core?

His Spiritual Power was restricted, and Gao Xuan couldn't always perceive his own state.

He focused his mind inward and discovered that deep in his forehead, there indeed was a Golden Core.

Last night's banquet was not a dream, his Divine Soul had left his body to attend the banquet.

The Dragon Monarch truly possesses extraordinary Divine Techniques, far stronger than the Ancient Daoists.

This Golden Core is not really a great thing either. What use is becoming an immortal in this world?

The key is that the Golden Core is now planted deep in his forehead, and it can't be taken out.

The Dragon Monarch said to refine it with Heart Fire for thirty years. During this time, the most important thing is not to speak. Speaking would be fatal...

Gao Xuan was half a chatterbox by nature, and the other half because of the Six-winged Celestial Cicada.

In the first world, he reincarnated as a cicada, with no organs to speak and no need to speak, so not speaking wasn't a problem.

But in this world, which is already extremely boring, not being allowed to talk is very uncomfortable.

If he could go into seclusion for Cultivation, not speaking would be fine. The problem is that the world has very low Mana, and even a few days of seclusion is remarkable. Secluding for decades is absolutely impossible.

Gao Xuan sighed, from today on he must overcome his nature, which is the hardest part.

After leaving the room, Gao Xuan habitually cooked and cleaned up.

When the Ancient Daoist came out of his room, the two of them sat face to face to eat. The Ancient Daoist looked at Gao Xuan and sighed, "Take care of yourself."

The Ancient Daoist actually attended the banquet last night as well, but he was hiding in a corner, and Gao Xuan didn't see him.

The Ancient Daoist saw clearly all that Gao Xuan did. What puzzled him was where his disciple got that recitation.

However, these matters are no longer important. Gao Xuan made a big splash and got a great benefit. But he also created a big trouble.

After eating, the Ancient Daoist called Gao Xuan to the main hall, "Disciple, I have a question for you."

The Ancient Daoist asked solemnly, "If someone wants to kill me, but if you plead they will spare me, would you plead?"

Gao Xuan was troubled and used his finger to dip water and write three words on the table: "Hard to say."

This question really tests one's humanity.

Gao Xuan and the Ancient Daoist naturally had no real affection. He certainly was unwilling to risk his own life to save the Ancient Daoist.

But standing by and watching the Daoist get killed without doing anything was also hard to justify.

The Ancient Daoist, understanding as ever, sighed with deep sorrow, "As your master, I can't help you, nor can I drag you down."

He took a small package from beside him, "I'm leaving today to wander the world, and I'm leaving the Daoist Temple to you."

Gao Xuan was a bit surprised, the Ancient Daoist was already sixty, and at such an age, going out into the world to seek refuge is truly difficult.

He used his finger to dip water and write: "Master, if someone needs to leave, it should be me."

The Ancient Daoist shook his head, "If a group of people can't find you, they'll surely make things difficult for me. So I better go. I've made some friends in my early years, don't worry..."

The old Daoist dug out a small jar from under the bed, containing some broken silver and Copper Coins. The Daoist divided the money into two halves.

"Half of it I'll use on the road. The other half is for you. Since you can't speak, you have no way to earn money, this should be enough for three to five years."

Gao Xuan felt a bit touched, this old Daoist was indeed good-hearted.

Even though he was implicated, he didn't complain but instead shared his savings evenly.

The Ancient Daoist said, "When you ascend to immortality, maybe this master can bask in your glory..."

Though he said that, the old Daoist was over sixty years old, living another thirty years could be challenging.

The Ancient Daoist was straightforward, after splitting the money, he packed his small bag, took a bamboo staff, and left just like that.

Gao Xuan watched the Ancient Daoist leave, unable to help but sigh. The run-down Daoist Temple, after all, was a place to reside.

What to do about the wind, frost, rain, and snow on the road after leaving the temple? The Jianghu world, it's not easy to traverse.

But the Ancient Daoist was right, if those looking for him can't find him, they'll surely trouble the Ancient Daoist.

This Daoist Temple, no matter what, the Ancient Daoist can't stay.

Gao Xuan went back to the Ancient Daoist's room to tidy up. From now on, this would be his room. The Ancient Daoist was even more negligent, the bedding hadn't been washed in who knows how many years, it was shiny with grease.

This room was a bit more spacious, with a larger wooden bed and furniture like wooden cabinets and tables and chairs.

Gao Xuan cleaned inside and out, washed the bedding, rearranged the furniture, and finally made the room somewhat habitable.

Without the Ancient Daoist, Gao Xuan actually felt a bit more at ease. He took out the scattered Copper Coins and silver to check twice.

According to current prices, this money could buy twenty bushels of grain, roughly two thousand catties of rice.

Assuming one catty a day, it would last him five years.

However, one cannot only eat grain. There is the need for salt, and some daily expenses. Calculating that, it might last three years.

Be it a Daoist or a monk, ten parts craft stem from nine parts speech. Without speaking, how would others know what you do...

Literacy rates in this era are abysmally low, communicating in writing is even less reliable.

Gao Xuan lay in bed and sighed silently; in this inefficient era, language was the primary means of communication, with no substitute.

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