142. I am a reasonable person.

Since entering Xuzhou City, Chen Huangpi had felt a persistent sense of unease. Everything he saw and heard involved strange people.

Everyone spoke in a language he could not understand, and performed actions that made no sense to him.

Fortunately, not everyone was abnormal.

These cultivators were quite normal.

They were ready to kill at the slightest disagreement—very much fitting his understanding of what cultivators should be like.

Meanwhile, in the eyes of those cultivators, Chen Huangpi—who had just crushed a Golden Core cultivator to death as easily as one would squash a chick, all the while wearing a relieved smile—was simply a lunatic whose mind was not quite right.

Everyone kept retreating, terrified that a single wrong word would provoke this madman into flying into a murderous rage on the spot.

On both sides of the road, walking along the paths designated for oxen and horses, barefoot and with their trouser legs caked in mud, the commoners wore expressions of utter shock and bewilderment.

Cultivators were towering, lofty figures.

They were "people" whom common folk like them would normally avoid from a distance of three hundred paces, never daring to even lift their heads for a glance.

Yet today, a young Daoist priest with strange speech and a questionable intellect had actually crushed one of these "people" to death with his bare hands.

It was simply too terrifying.

Seeing the fearful gazes the commoners cast at him, Chen Huangpi felt an indescribable sense of complacency swell within his chest.

He puffed out his chest and said with a hint of pride, "Don't be afraid. Although all of you are very strange, I'm not a bad person. Oh, my good uncle, why does the gourd you're selling have a glutinous rice filling?"

"Does that make it taste better?"

With that, Chen Huangpi walked right up to a middle-aged man who was carrying a straw pole stuck full of various gourds.

His gaze was sharp.

His expression was eager.

It was so intense that the middle-aged man's legs turned to jelly and he dropped to his knees with a loud plop.

Then, he began kowtowing incessantly to Chen Huangpi, begging for mercy: "Have mercy, my lord! Spare my life, my lord!"

"I'm not a lord," Chen Huangpi corrected. "I'm only thirteen years old. Master says I'm still a child."

"Have mercy, child! Spare my life, child!"

Swoosh...

All the surrounding commoners dropped to their knees as well.

This left Chen Huangpi thoroughly baffled. He asked, "Huang Er, why are they suddenly kneeling to me?"

The brass oil lamp replied, "That cultivator said the commoners walk on the paths for oxen and horses, which makes them oxen and horses. Oxen and horses are disobedient and need the whip. I suppose these beasts of burden must be afraid that you're going to beat them."

Upon hearing this, Chen Huangpi experienced a sudden flash of insight. He turned to the commoners and scolded angrily, "Oh! I merely wanted to know if that gourd tasted good, yet you would judge me in such a manner! Clearly, you are trying to splash dirty water on me."

"You're bullying a child! You truly have no shame!"

"Get up, all of you, or I'm going to get angry!"

At these words, how could the commoners dare to remain kneeling? They all sprang to their feet in unison, though they still kept their heads lowered, not daring to meet Chen Huangpi's gaze.

Chen Huangpi was only thirteen years old, which made him relatively tall among his peers.

Yet compared to adults, he only reached about chest-height.

However, because the commoners were slouching and bowing their heads, when he looked out over them, it felt as though he were looking across a field of melons.

This gave him an indescribable sense of discomfort.

"What, feeling that thick barrier again?" the brass oil lamp chuckled mockingly. "Your cultivation is powerful, and your strength is extraordinary. They are merely oxen and horses that can walk, cry, and speak. Being able to catch a glimpse of you is a blessing they accumulated over eight lifetimes. There's no need to mind them so much."

Chen Huangpi shook his head. "The destitute people in the great mountains—there is no barrier between them and me."

There were many destitute people living deep within the hundred thousand mountains.

Although Chen Huangpi had only met the destitute folk of Yellow Gourd Village, those people had treated him as their savior, addressing him affectionately as "young master." There had been no barriers between them whatsoever, and they had conversed with complete ease.

Yet upon arriving in Xuzhou City, even though the commoners here lived better lives than the destitute villagers, every single one of them looked withered and dejected.

Just at that moment, a crisp and melodious voice rang out from within a carriage draped with banners bearing the character "Cao."

"Esteemed Daoist brother, if there is anything amiss with my Cao family, please speak of it openly. Why vent your frustrations on these beasts of burden? If word of this gets out, wouldn't it become a laughingstock?"

As the voice faded, a woman wearing a hairpin and a beautifully embroidered pleated dress stepped down from the carriage, followed by a maid of fifteen or sixteen years.

The maid's cultivation was quite extraordinary.

As for the woman herself, she possessed Nascent Soul cultivation. While she lacked the natural, makeup-free peerless beauty of Song Qiuyue, beneath layers of heavy cosmetics, she possessed an indescribably bright and striking allure.

She looked very much like a vibrant flower blooming in the depths of autumn and winter.

"You are truly pretty."

The moment Chen Huangpi laid eyes on her, his throat went dry and his face flushed red.

His heart pounded wildly in his chest, and his urge to kill surged uncontrollably.

However, the woman harbored no murderous intent toward him.

Finding no justification, Chen Huangpi could not simply walk up and cut off her head.

Noticing Chen Huangpi staring fixedly at her, the woman felt a slight ripple of displeasure, but her expression remained completely unchanged.

This youth was only twelve or thirteen years old.

Yet his cultivation was already so extraordinary.

He had likely reached the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage.

Even among the children of prestigious aristocratic families, he would be considered a top-tier genius.

Moreover, he must be a genius who had been cultivated with concentrated resources since early childhood.

Therefore, she had to treat him with utmost caution.

"This humble concubine is named Cao Huaying, courtesy name Liuru. *Huaying, fireflies dancing in the floating light.* I am a daughter of the Jiangbei Cao family. May I ask how the esteemed Daoist brother is addressed?"

Cao Huaying found it difficult to discern Chen Huangpi's true background.

The premier aristocratic family in Xuzhou City was naturally the branch of the Qinghe Song family stationed here. Following them were the Cao, Yang, Wang, and Li families.

Among these four, the Cao family—much like the Song family—was not a local clan; rather, they had migrated here because Song Tiangang, a member of the Song family, served as the Governor of Xuzhou. However, while called a migration, it was largely just a gesture of alignment.

For the most part, Cao Huaying did not reside permanently in Xuzhou City.

Her departure from the city today was not because she knew trouble was brewing in Xuzhou, but simply to visit her maiden home.

Otherwise, why would she travel with such a high-profile entourage?

"My name is Chen Huangpi," he replied. "My home is on Jade-Crowned Mountain."

"So it is Brother Chen. Forgive my lack of respect," Cao Huaying said, offering a slight bow with cupped hands. "Brother Chen's courtesy name is truly extraordinary. *Huang* refers to earth—carrying all things with great virtue. But where does *Pi* originate from? Could it signify the husk of a jade stone, lying dormant and hidden, yet displaying immense might when revealed?"

Even as she said this, however, Cao Huaying rapidly mentally reviewed all the prominent aristocratic families of the Great Kang Dynasty, yet she could not recall any clan surnamed Chen.

And where in the world was Jade-Crowned Mountain?

"Chen Huangpi, this little lass makes a lot of sense!" the brass oil lamp chimed in his mind. "I've always wondered why the master gave you such a wretched name—how is it any different from Chen Dog-Egg or Chen Second-Dog? Listening to her interpretation now, perhaps that truly is the profound meaning behind your name."

"She's maliciously misinterpreting it! That's fallacious nonsense!"

Chen Huangpi stared expressionlessly at Cao Huaying and said, "Judging by how you split hairs and play with words, you must be a scholar, right?"

Cao Huaying smiled faintly. "Women of the Great Kang are not permitted to take the imperial examinations. Although this humble concubine possesses a modest reputation for talent, I read without seeking a deep understanding. Strictly speaking, I am merely one of those who dabble in elegance to add a touch of feminine charm to a scholar's study."

"Good, at least you have some self-awareness," Chen Huangpi said coldly. "Since you know you lack culture, why are you trying to show off in front of me?"

"When has this humble concubine ever shown off?"

"You maliciously misinterpreted my name. If that isn't showing off, what is?"

Chen Huangpi glared at Cao Huaying. "My skin was yellow when I was born, so I was named Chen Huangpi. What does that have to do with mud and stones? You are clearly trying to humiliate me."

"You claim you read without seeking a deep understanding—then what kind of books do you read?"

"I have read five cartloads of books and scanned through a vast library. I am a top-tier genius of this world! Yet even I wouldn't dare to distort the meanings of words within books. How many books have you actually read that you dare to spout such nonsense in my presence?"

"Do not call yourself a scholar ever again, because you are illiterate."

Chen Huangpi's words caused Cao Huaying's complexion to shift between red and white.

The cultivators beside her grew even more anxious and unsettled.

They simply could not comprehend the situation.

The Cao family was a prominent aristocratic clan.

Yet this Chen Huangpi before them was cursing a daughter of the Cao family to her face, even calling her illiterate! Who in Xuzhou City didn't know that the Cao family's daughter was a renowned talented woman?

Even Lord Song Tiangang had once praised essays written by her, stating that if she were not a woman, she would surely have been a minister to the Son of Heaven.

Cao Huaying took a deep breath.

She forced herself to maintain the poise of a cultured lady, though her expression inevitably chilled.

"Brother Chen, it was this humble concubine who was lacking in manners," Cao Huaying said coldly. "However, Brother Chen killed my man and blocked our path here. I wonder how my Cao family has offended you? If there is an offense, please state it clearly, Brother Chen. If there is none, then perhaps we might set out a banquet at a later date for you to accept our apologies. How does that sound?"

Chen Huangpi replied, "I don't know your Cao family. Your man occupied the road, told me to scram, and harbored murderous intent toward me. That is why I took action and killed him."

"Just because of that?"

Cao Huaying's expression turned one of utter astonishment.

She had thought there was some deep-seated feud between Chen Huangpi and the Cao family, and that he was seizing the opportunity to make trouble...

"What else could it be?" Chen Huangpi asked strangely. "I am a reasonable person. I am not a lunatic who slaughters the innocent indiscriminately."

"Brother Chen, there is no need for this." Cao Huaying bowed once more, suppressing the anger rising in her heart. "You and I are both children of aristocratic families. Among aristocratic families, there is no right or wrong. If there has been any offense, you need only state it, and my Cao family will naturally present generous gifts and set up a banquet to apologize."

Chen Huangpi shook his head. "I cannot accept your apology."

"Why?"

"Because I am not the child of an aristocratic family."

"Then why do you possess such cultivation at such a tender age?"

"Master says I am a genius. A genius is bound to be different from ordinary people."

"Your home is on Jade-Crowned Mountain. Where is Jade-Crowned Mountain?"

"In the hundred thousand mountains."

"I see."

Cao Huaying nodded expressionlessly at Chen Huangpi, then turned and walked back into her carriage.

"Since he is not the child of an aristocratic family, he is no genius."

"Just a mortal with a bit of innate talent."

"Kill him."

As her words fell, beams of divine light soared into the sky from the carriages at the rear of the procession.

Immediately afterward, towering divine avatars manifested within the city.

Ten deities, surrounded by surging, vibrant energies of incense and worship, stood aloft, looking down coldly and ruthlessly at Chen Huangpi below.

"Kneel!"

The deities spoke in unison, their voices rolling like great temple bells, carrying an irresistible, coercive force.

On the left and right ox-and-horse paths, the commoners whom Chen Huangpi had just made stand up found themselves unable to control their bodies as they dropped to their knees once more.

Chen Huangpi said indignantly to the deities, "You bad gods, they haven't offended you at all! Why are you making them kneel?"

The deities replied coldly, "We are telling *you* to kneel."

"I haven't done anything wrong. There's no reason for me to kneel."

"How laughable. You actually wish to reason with us."

"Fine then, I won't reason with you anymore."

With a sigh, Chen Huangpi drew his sword—which had been transformed from a branch of the demonic tree.

The next second, a terrifying, peerlessly massive sword qi, roughly a hundred zhang in length, slashed directly toward the ten deities.