At the West Market, Chen Xu lifted his foot and started walking.

He intended to test the mysterious little Daoist child, assuming the other was now hungry and desperate, he would surely not let Chen leave easily.

Sure enough, just as Chen Xu started to walk, the little Daoist child's eyes twinkled and immediately followed, saying:

"Hey, young man, don't hurry away, wait for me!"

Chen Xu did not stop his pace, only turned his head slightly and raised an eyebrow, asking, "What did you call me?"

The little Daoist child instantly realized he misspoke, thinking his current situation is like a tiger fallen in Pingyang, he needs to change some habits.

He said sheepishly, "Heh, I got used to hearing my master talk like that in the mountains, so I started thinking of you as one of those younger generations seeking immortality.

Young... Ahem, scholar, have you taken the imperial exams? Are you a scholar or an advanced scholar?"

Chen Xu found the child's speech tone very peculiar, and while one could understand it as the result of being long secluded in nature, oblivious to worldly affairs, that wasn't entirely unreasonable.

But combined with the unfathomable foundation of the other, Chen Xu now reasonably suspected that this child was perhaps old wine in a new bottle.

However, it might not necessarily be the case because the other's handling style genuinely gave off the vibe of a child pretending to be an adult, which seemed like true childishness.

The power possessed by this person might hold other secrets.

Of course, guessing alone couldn't yield accurate answers, and Chen Xu wasn't in a hurry.

He continued walking while responding to the little Daoist child, "My name is Chen Xu, I recently passed as a scholar this year. May I ask my little brother for his name?"

The little Daoist child sped up to keep pace with Chen Xu, and Chen Xu noticed that his strides looked ordinary, yet carried a certain unexplainable rhythm.

Despite having short legs, his speed was not slow at all.

This was not due to any True Qi Technique, but rather from an innate understanding of the principles of heaven and earth.

At that moment, the little Daoist child's body suddenly exuded an indescribable profundity.

Chen Xu, endowed with Innate Qi, was gradually mastering it, instinctively sensing everything within his surroundings.

Indeed, his walking had an inexplicable rhythm to it as well.

Walking through the streets and alleys, while entrenched in the mundane world, he felt as if detached from it.

As the two walked in this manner, one ahead of the other, over time, the little Daoist child began looking at Chen Xu with growing amazement, suddenly blurting out, "You say you just became a scholar this year?

No, I don't believe it! Could you be a trickster advanced scholar disguised as a scholar?"

Chen Xu smiled without answering.

The little Daoist child seemed to realize something, his eyes flickered, he quickly puffed out his chest, and said without leaving a trace, "I... Daoist, heh, you can call me Kongcan, True Master Kongcan...

Ahem, never mind, just call me Kongcan.

Let me tell you, I specialize in divination. I see misfortune in your recent future, how about I help you avert disaster in exchange for some meals?"

Seeing that Chen Xu appeared unmoved, the little Daoist child hurriedly added, "Don't think I'm bluffing. Remember the vendor earlier, I told him he was going to have a bloody disaster and indeed he did.

Right? If only he had heeded my warning, that disaster could have been avoided long ago!"

Ha, this little Daoist mentioning "bloody disaster" only made it sound more comical.

However, Chen Xu did not entirely disregard the "misfortune" predicted by the little Daoist.

Even Master Jiu had specifically reminded Chen Xu about ominous fortunes, prompting Chen Xu to utilize the Spiritual Cicada Jade Robe for a calculation.

Despite the little Daoist's unreliable appearance, Chen Xu would not ignore a single word he said.

Chen Xu pretended to ponder, "You're skilled at divination?"

The little Daoist Kongcan immediately hummed with pride, "Mountain, medicine, fate, divination, physiognomy, which of them do I, Daoist master, not know? Which of them am I not proficient in?"

Oh, does this mean the little Daoist is a treasure trove?

Chen Xu continued on with large strides, turning a street corner, suddenly facing a splendid and grand restaurant.

That was precisely Cui Yunqi's establishment, Zuanyu Building.

Chen Xu walked straight towards the restaurant, and the little Daoist Kongcan immediately followed.

Now at sunset, when the lamps were first lit.

Inside the restaurant, the aroma of the dishes wafted, with melodies weaving through the air, and singing girls accompanying, it was truly a lively scene.

The little Daoist smelt the fragrance of food in the air, swallowing spit yet feigned sophistication: "This restaurant is passable, inviting me here shows your... sincerity!"

Chen Xu smiled.

He entered the restaurant with a flick of his robe sleeve.

The main hall was bustling with activity, hosting a pitch-pot game.

Someone had hit ten arrows in succession, winning a prize allowing them to pick a signature dish from the restaurant's menu today.

Instantly, greetings and praises filled the air, and the successful pitcher beamed with joy.

But then, the shopkeeper, who had been standing by with his hands down, suddenly turned his head, eyes shining.

A wave of inexplicable joy spread over the shopkeeper, as he hurriedly scurried to the entrance, repeatedly exclaiming happily, "Mr. Chen, it's truly Mr. Chen gracing us with your presence.

Quickly, quickly, prepare the private room on the second floor, bring out all the signature dishes!

Mr. Chen, please come this way..."

The pitch-pot player was being praised by the crowd but instantly felt displeasure:

"How could the shopkeeper be so excessive? We want to eat a dish, yet neither is available. Limited availability and requiring even divination and pitch-and-toss games.

But as soon as that person arrives, the shopkeeper promptly orders all the signature dishes to be served? Are guests in this restaurant still ranked in hierarchy? Excessive, truly excessive..."

The pitch-pot player spoke more and more in anger, almost losing the interest to dine at the restaurant completely.

Almost about to leave out of rage, unwilling to have tonight's meal.

Suddenly, someone leaned closer, whispering a reminder, "Brother, you misjudge the shopkeeper. Do you know who just arrived?"

"Who is it?" the irate player exclaimed, "Even if it's an aristocratic family member or high official, they shouldn't be treated as such! Did we pay any less for being here?"

"Ah, that's Mr. Chen, the top scholar of the Yunjiang Prefecture academy exams this year. From the Great Li's Splendor Record, Thirty-First of the Xuan List, that Mr. Chen!"

...

Instantly, the angry person was speechless.

He froze, staring at the shopkeeper bowing low, raising his hand, enthusiastically guiding the young man in a blue robe up to the second floor.

The blue-robed scholar stood tall and graceful, his facial features appearing unclear under the chaotic interplay of lights and shadows, but his overall demeanor was like the clear moon in the sky and a gentle breeze in the mountains.

There was an unexplainable, awe-inspiring presence about him.

As he passed through the hall, the whole raucous scene fell into silence.

Only when his figure disappeared up the staircase, did the stunned pitch-pot player exhale realizing:

"So it was him! If it were him, then even if the shopkeeper sent up two more tables of signature dishes, what would it matter?"

As the Great Li's Splendor Record spread, it turned out that even in the remote Yunjiang area, it whipped up a storm.[/p]

On the second floor, the little Daoist Kongcan was also taken aback.

He glanced downstairs, unable to resist saying, "You, Brother Chen, you're incredibly famous."

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