Ma Tianzheng inwardly started. He hastily went over everything that had just happened in his mind, and suddenly, understanding dawned. “Just now, a demon descended to wreak havoc upon the mortal world. Heavenly soldiers and generals were dispatched to capture it. A large lobster monster fell to this place and nearly took my life. Luckily, you intervened and saved me?”

Gao Yiye: “How could someone like me possess the virtue or ability to save you? The one who truly saved you was the Dao Xuan Deity.”

Ma Tianzheng’s heart jolted again. His mind, already muddled, became even more so. Following her lead, he immediately addressed the sky, “Thank you, Dao Xuan Deity, for your life-saving grace!”

Gao Yiye: “Who are you? Where do you come from? What is your purpose?”

Ma Tianzheng hastily clasped his hands in a Taoist salute. “This humble Taoist is of the Quanzhen Dragon Gate sect, a disciple of the esteemed Master Wang Changyue. My name is Ma Tianzheng. I wander the world solely in search of immortals to validate the true path.”

“Oh? An itinerant Taoist,” Gao Yiye said. “Then you must have traveled many roads and seen many things?”

Ma Tianzheng: “I dare not claim much! This humble Taoist has roamed the world for over twenty years, journeying north and south. I have gained some small measure of worldly experience, but I would never presume to be boastful.”

“Hmm, good,” Gao Yiye smiled. “The Deity says a person like you is useful.”

Ma Tianzheng: “???”

He looked left, then right. “The Deity spoke? Where is the Deity? I didn’t hear anything.”

Gao Yiye: “Only I can see the Deity.”

Ma Tianzheng’s expression became puzzled. An inner voice shouted: She’s lying to me! She must be lying! I don’t know how many fellow practitioners have used this exact script before.

Just as that thought crossed his mind—BANG!—the invisible walls descended once more, trapping him inside again.

Ma Tianzheng: “!!!”

Li Daoxuan, seeing the slightest flicker of doubt in his eyes, immediately lowered the glass cup over him, giving him no time to think.

Ma Tianzheng was terrified. I merely harbored a suspicion, a fleeting thought in my mind, and I was trapped again? What exactly is this thing trapping me?

Gao Yiye reached out her hand and gently tapped on the glass wall, like knocking on a door. Instantly, the four glass panels snapped up and flew back into the sky.

Ma Tianzheng was flustered. “Saint Lady, what just—”

Gao Yiye: “The Deity says this Taoist… has problems.”

Li Daoxuan’s words were a classic, generic reprimand – perfectly applicable anywhere. A single “you have problems” throws the spotlight back on the person, forcing them to search within for flaws that fit the accusation.

Sure enough, Ma Tianzheng immediately applied it to himself. I have problems. I truly do. For several years now, I haven’t been a devout Taoist. My heart has been in turmoil. I’ve been plagued with doubts about the existence of deities. My conviction in the Dao is nearly shattered. He sees right through me!

“Deity!” Ma Tianzheng spoke urgently, “This disciple is but dabbling in Taoism! I haven’t fully mastered the Taoist classics. Previously, I had never heard of the revered title ‘Dao Xuan Deity,’ hence my repeated rudeness towards you. But now this disciple knows! I beg you, grant me a chance to make amends!”

Gao Yiye: “Hmm. The Deity says your attitude of admitting fault seems sincere enough, so he won’t hold it against you.”

Ma Tianzheng heaved a huge sigh of relief. “This disciple cultivated the Dao since childhood. I spent the first two decades practicing under Master Wang at the Quanzhen Dragon Gate sect. The next twenty years I wandered the world, seeking immortals and inquiring about the path. Yet, I had shallow blessings. In over forty years, I never once met a true immortal… A few days ago, I heard tales of Your Lordship and sought out the City God Temple in Chengcheng County. Guided by a lay practitioner, I came to Gaojia Village… I never dreamed this disciple would actually witness the Deity manifesting in person. This truly is my profound fortune!”

Plonk! He knelt down and kowtowed deeply. “Your disciple Ma Tianzheng pays respects to the Dao Xuan Deity!”

Ma Tianzheng was thrilled, his body trembling with excitement.

He had been ready to abandon his faith entirely. Who would have thought that now, his conviction in the Dao had become firmer than ever before?

He had finally found a true immortal! This was something even his revered teacher Master Wang had never achieved.

From this day forth, he need never again doubt whether immortals existed in the world. No—more accurately, he need never again feel guilty when lecturing scriptures to others, ashamed that he was teaching them something he himself didn’t truly believe.

His inner guilt vanished. It felt as if his very soul had been cleansed.

Gao Yiye: “You came here solely to find a true immortal?”

“Yes!” Ma Tianzheng declared. “This disciple traversed the world solely to catch a glimpse of a true immortal!”

“Now you’ve seen one,” Gao Yiye said. “What do you intend to do next?”

Ma Tianzheng was momentarily stunned. That’s right… what comes next?

Gao Yiye smiled. “It seems you haven’t figured that out yet either. Well, take your time to ponder it. The Deity commands: think it through clearly, then return and speak to me.”

With that, Gao Yiye turned around. The Deity’s hand was already resting on the ground, waiting. She gently climbed onto the Deity’s palm and sat down, a blissful, proud smile spreading across her face.

Li Daoxuan’s hand moved horizontally, carrying her over valleys, through the sky, back towards Gaojia Fortress.

Ma Tianzheng watched the Saint Lady fly away, a tumult of emotions churning within him. After a long while, he finally came back to his senses. He picked up his Green Edge Sword, sheathed it on his back, and scanned the ground around him. There were huge footprints left by the lobster monster, and large crater-like depressions like rings from the Deity’s transparent magical artifact.

He knew now: everything he had seen was no hallucination. It had truly happened.

Suddenly, his spirits soared!

I’ve found a true immortal! What is there left to fear?

Haha!

From now on, I can preach scriptures and the Dao to others with firm conviction! I’m not lying! I’m NOT lying! Hahaha! Hahaha!

Swinging his arms wildly in exhilaration, he dashed towards Gaojia Village!

Meanwhile, Gao Yiye was sitting on Li Daoxuan’s palm, flying slowly back towards the village. Li Daoxuan didn’t dare move his hand too fast. Because even a ten-centimeter movement of his hand translated to twenty meters within the box world. If he moved just a fraction too quickly, the speed would be unbearable for Gao Yiye. So, slowly it was, carrying her on a smooth glide.

Gao Yiye tilted her head back curiously. “Deity, why did we have to tease that Taoist so much? He didn’t seem like a bad person.”

“Because he himself doesn’t know if he’s a good person or not.”

“Ah? Why is that?”

Li Daoxuan didn’t explain. He just smiled.

An itinerant Taoist who had traveled every corner of the world… that was incredibly useful. Li Daoxuan had an idea. Handing this task to anyone else felt unreliable. But someone like Ma Tianzheng, a widely traveled Taoist, he was just the person who could do it.

I’ll observe him for a few more days, once he’s truly become one of my little people, I’ll entrust him with that honorable and challenging task.

Li Daoxuan opened his phone and looked at a name he had researched long ago: Song Yingxing. The premier scientist of the late Ming Dynasty. Hehehe. Song was far away. Reeling him in through normal means was impossible. An itinerant Taoist was the perfect solution.