Master Above, Disciple Bows!

The City Lord, Fang Daoqi, made his move. After the giant crocodile's roar, it vanished without a trace.

It had left Green Ridge City.

Several houses collapsed, and over a dozen people died or went missing... The authorities quickly stepped in to provide aid.

The dead were buried, the injured treated.

Everything was soon quiet, as if nothing had happened.

Even when Luo Zhou returned to the Daoist Academy, none of his classmates discussed the event.

The matter was forbidden from spreading; apart from the witnesses, no one heard a word.

The reason Luo Zhou came to the Daoist Academy was the bustling crowd of classmates, which brought him an inexpressible sense of peace.

Being with his classmates stopped Luo Zhou's body from trembling with fear.

Humans, after all, prefer to huddle together for warmth.

The terror of the old Crocodile Dragon had chilled Luo Zhou to the bone.

But what chilled him even more was Green Ridge City's attitude.

The crocodile ate people, and it ate them.

The City Lord, Fang Daoqi, had only driven it away, not killed the old Crocodile Dragon.

Unable to comprehend why, Luo Zhou suddenly stood up, gritted his teeth, and strode towards the Daoist Academy's dean's office.

Arriving there, he stood at the door, hesitating for a long time, unsure whether to enter.

Suddenly, a voice reached his ears: "Is that Great Hero Luo? Come in!"

The words carried a hint of playfulness.

Luo Zhou pushed the door open and entered. An old man was inside.

A thin, withered old man, clad in a green robe, with a vigorous spirit and a face like a child's despite his white hair.

Upon closer inspection, he was immaculately clean, free of even a speck of dust, and a chilling spiritual energy flowed around him, as if everything nearby was being torn apart by it.

This was the Dean of the Daoist Academy, Zhao Bochen, one of the top three figures in the city, whom even the City Lord had to greet with respect.

Luo Zhou had once used his reputation, impersonating his student, though they had no master-disciple relationship.

Entering the dean's office, Luo Zhou bowed and said, "Immortal Sprout Class Three's Luo Zhou greets the Dean. How are you, esteemed Dean?"

He bowed respectfully.

Zhao Bochen smiled, looking at Luo Zhou. He had noticed the young man long ago.

"Great Hero Luo! Is something the matter?"

Luo Zhou gave a wry smile and said, "Dean, please don't tease me. The so-called 'Great Hero' was just a joke I made."

"It's alright. I am pleased with your actions. The Daoist Academy is proud to have a student like you. Luo Zhou, strive hard in the future, participate in the Ascension Ceremony, and enter the Heaven and Earth Dao Sect. Then, you can truly become a great hero, protecting the weak and benefiting the common people!"

Luo Zhou spoke slowly:

"Dean, actually, the so-called 'Great Hero' was truly just a joke. When I was young, I was sickly and quite foolish. It was only because my parents never abandoned me, loving and caring for me, that I survived. However, when I was ten, a beast tide attacked Ningze Prefecture. My parents died fighting for Green Ridge City and for the Heaven and Earth Dao Sect."

As he spoke, word by word, Dean Zhao's expression gradually became solemn, and he listened intently.

"At that time, only my two brothers and I were left. We used to love listening to the storytelling in the tea houses about 'The Legend of Three Heroes and Five Righteous Men.' My eldest brother said that if a great hero had passed by then and killed the sea beasts, our parents wouldn't have died, and we wouldn't have starved and been bullied! Later, my eldest brother became an apprentice, and I haven't seen him for three years. My younger brother, with his good talent, was taken in by an uncle. My talent was poor, so my uncle didn't want me. I held my younger brother, reluctant to let him go! My brother said he would cultivate diligently and return as a great hero to beat anyone who bullied me... So, after I awakened, with a bit of spiritual energy, I fantasized about being a great hero. But I understood that it was just a game among classmates at school. With the Daoist Academy protecting me and the Dean backing me, I could indulge in this game. In reality, being a great hero truly means death, dying without a burial place! Even in the storytelling, the protagonists of 'The Legend of Three Heroes and Five Righteous Men,' though written about as dying for their cause, were not given good endings, no matter how skillfully it was spun..."

The old Dean, Zhao Bochen, sighed and said, "A clear-headed child, and a child who has suffered. Speak, what is it you need from me?"

"I know I can't be a great hero, unable to uphold justice for everyone," Luo Zhou said slowly. "But with countless heroes in this city, why hasn't anyone upheld justice for the hundreds of thousands in Green Ridge City!"

Before the old dean could speak, Luo Zhou continued, "This morning, during the heavy rain, I passed by Green-Green Bay. I saw the old Crocodile Dragon, Yue Canglong, and I saw City Lord Fang Daoqi!"

Then, Luo Zhou said in fury, "Actually, everyone knows who the Rainy Night Devil is! It's just a beast, and I don't believe all the heroes in the city can't kill it! Why, why is no one upholding justice? It has eaten tens of thousands of people, tens of thousands! That's enough to circle the city once! Why, why is no one stopping it! I don't understand. I know you, Dean of the Daoist Academy, are the most just, so I've come to ask you, Dean, why?"

At this question, the old dean, Zhao Bochen, remained silent for a long time, and sighed again. At this moment, he seemed to have become incredibly old.

"Since you want to know, I'll tell you. Do you know what Green Ridge City was called 187 years ago?"

Luo Zhou was stunned and replied, "No!"

"Back then, it was called Qingniwa, just a small town." Zhao Bochen looked into the distance, as if recalling something, and continued, "Back then, this place was unremarkable, ordinary. But, back then, a great hero was born here. That stone statue in front of the City Lord's mansion, have you seen it?"

In the center of the city, in front of the City Lord's mansion, stood a stone statue of a heroic female warrior. On festivals, the City Lord would lead people to pay respects. Every city celebration was held in the square before that statue. Luo Zhou nodded, but he didn't know who it was.

"The stone statue is the great hero of our Green Ridge City. Her name is Yue Cangqing, and she was the first female cultivator from this region to ascend the Heavenly Staircase in the Ascension Ceremony and enter the Heaven and Earth Dao Sect. Moreover, in the Heaven and Earth Dao Sect, she found a good master, had countless fortuitous encounters, fought fiercely with fellow Daoists, and strived for self-improvement, flourishing greatly. 187 years ago, she advanced to the Golden Core stage and was known as the True Person of Green Ridge! When she advanced to the Golden Core stage, the Liang Kingdom, to curry favor with her, changed our town's name to Cui Ling Town. She didn't forget her roots; back then, she returned home almost every year, bestowing various rewards and strongly supporting Cui Ling. She built the Dharma City Disk, exterminated the Great Sea Demon, expelled evil spirits, erected the Great Sea Pillar, used talismans to block storms, opened up fertile land, and formed the Fire Crow Army... With her support, Cui Ling Town transformed from a town into a city, developing prosperously and leading to today. In fact, all the cultivators and all the people in our city have benefited from her and are considered her descendants under her protection. Without her, we wouldn't exist! It's only in the last sixty years, as the True Person of Green Ridge entered seclusion, that our connection has weakened."

Hearing this, Luo Zhou understood. "Is Yue Canglong her pet?"

"Before she attained the Dao, Yue Canglong protected her, which is how she survived. However, Yue Canglong's beastly nature remained, and it liked to eat people. She couldn't bring it into the Heaven and Earth Dao Sect. At that time, she was still weak, and if she had brought Yue Canglong in, it would have surely died, so she left it in her hometown. For so many years, Yue Canglong has been secretly eating people, and everyone actually knew, but who dared to touch it? Because it had the True Person of Green Ridge behind it! Anyone who killed Yue Canglong would surely die!"

Luo Zhou didn't know what to say. "Setting aside past favors, let's talk about future livelihoods. You should know that Qinglan City, 120 miles off the coast, has always been competing with us for the most prosperous place in Ningze Prefecture! No, actually, we snatched their past glory. Because we had the True Person of Green Ridge! Why are they competing with us again now? Because they also have a True Person Qingning! Are the two cities just fighting for honor?"

Seizing docks, seizing shipping, seizing fisheries, seizing businesses...

Seizing the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands in our city!

Without the support of True Person of Green Ridge, think about it, perhaps Green Ridge City would regress to Qingniwa...

So, no one dared to act, no one could act!"

Luo Zhou remained silent for a long time. Such a monumental secret, so that's how it was.

"Furthermore, the most crucial point is that Yue Canglong has the blessing of True Person of Green Ridge.

Having received the spirit of heaven and earth, he has perfectly merged with these seas, rivers, and lakes.

Without the ability to shatter the seas, rivers, and lakes, no one can kill him.

It's not that they don't dare, it's that they lack the strength!

I actually tried to snipe him in secret!"

At these words, Luo Zhou's eyes lit up, and he looked towards the Dean.

"But I failed. I couldn't break the connection between heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers!"

"Therefore, for my entire life, I've been punished to only be the Dean of Daoist Academy, unable to leave Green Ridge City even a single step!"

The last sentence was the punishment from True Person of Green Ridge.

Luo Zhou stood up and respectfully bowed deeply to Dean Zhao.

"Student Luo Zhou, thanks to the Dean for not fearing power and protecting the common people!"

Dean Zhao chuckled and said, "I'm not dead yet, why bow.

By the way, Luo Zhou, what Spirituality did you awaken?

I see your energy is constantly increasing?"

Luo Zhou answered selectively:

"Dean, I actually awakened the Spiritual Power Nine Bulls and Two Tigers.

It's just that I've only awakened the Nine Bulls' Strength now, and I still need some time and opportunities to awaken the strength of the two tigers."

Dean Zhao nodded and said, "So that's how it is, the Spiritual Power Nine Bulls and Two Tigers!

Such energy, don't let it go to waste.

Luo Zhou, I want to pass you the auxiliary immortal position of a cultivator, Force User, are you willing?"

During the last great battle, the bandits from Sanjiang Gang had mistaken Luo Zhou for a Force User.

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhou didn't hesitate at all and immediately prostrated himself.

"Master above, accept this disciple's bow!"

Once you're involved, you're stuck. Like a willow tree growing roots, this master must be accepted!