In Fuzhou City, on West Gate Street, pedestrians watched a group of people with curiosity on the blue stone slabs. Three of them were riding tall horses, while one sat on the back of a huge blue ox, slowly walking along the street.

"It's Chief Escort Lin."

"That's Young Master Lin, he's so handsome."

"Wow, what a huge ox! Look, isn't that a Taoist priest on its back?"

“I’ve seen that Taoist priest before; he just entered the city yesterday.”

People were whispering among themselves.

Soon the three leaders dismounted, and Li Daoyi looked ahead.

A rather magnificent house appeared before us, with a vermilion gate in front of it, two huge stone lions in front of the gate, and two tall flagpoles standing on stone piers on the left and right sides.

The flag is embroidered with a majestic lion pattern in fine gold thread on a blue background. The flag flutters in the wind, highlighting the lion's imposing and powerful presence.

A black plaque stands in front of the gate, bearing the four large characters "Fuwei Escort Agency" in a vigorous and powerful style, clearly the work of a renowned calligrapher.

"Daoist Master, we've arrived," Lin Pingzhi said.

Li Dao nodded and then jumped off the ox's back.

Just then, the gate slowly opened, and dozens of bodyguards dressed in black rushed out and then stood on both sides.

"Please, Taoist priest."

Li Daoyi then led the ox toward the gate.

Although the bodyguards were puzzled by what they saw, they dared not say anything and obediently stood on both sides watching Li Daoyi lead the blue ox away.

Lin Zhennan and his son naturally dared not stop them, for such a magnificent ox could not possibly be kept in a stable like other animals.

"Moo..."

The blue ox suddenly bellowed.

The bodyguards were startled and almost lost their footing.

"What are you yelling about?" Li Daoyi slapped Niu Er and cursed.

Fuwei Escort Agency is very large, and it is indeed the number one power in Fuzhou City. This shows how powerful Lin Yuantu was back then, who built such a large foundation on his own.

He led the blue ox to the side of the escort agency's martial arts training ground and patted its head.

"Don't be naughty," Li Daoyi cautioned.

"Moo..." The blue ox nodded.

"Someone, go and fetch the best fodder." The head镖师 (bodyguard) immediately gave the order.

"Yes." Soon, several bodyguards accepted the order and left.

"Taoist Master, please. We have already prepared some light wine."

"good."

The group then headed towards the hall.

At this moment, a large table had already been set up in the hall, on which were placed all kinds of fine wines and spirits.

Li Daoyi naturally didn't stand on ceremony. He was an easygoing person by nature, and after he took his seat, the Lin family father and son, along with several镖头 (bodyguards/escorts), sat down.

"Daoist Master, those present here are all my brothers who have risked their lives for me. To be honest, I am ashamed to say that this matter has implicated them to some extent," Lin Zhennan sighed.

"Chief镖头, what are you saying? The镖局 (escort agency) is in trouble. If we leave, wouldn't we be ungrateful? Don't worry, the brothers will definitely fight that Qingcheng Sect to the death."

"That's right, when a person dies, the bird flies to the sky. Chief镖头, you don't need to say anything more."

"Yes, let's give it our all."

The head镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) all expressed their opinions, showing that although Lin Zhennan's martial arts skills were not great, he was a good person and his men were very loyal.

"Haha, you truly are a hero, Chief Escort Lin. These days, there aren't many brothers like you anymore," Li Daoyi praised.

"What the Taoist priest says is true. Come, let me toast the Taoist priest and my brothers." After saying this, Lin Zhennan raised his cup to everyone and then drank it all in one gulp.

"Dry."

Soon, after a few rounds of drinks, the conversation returned to the Qingcheng Sect.

“Young Master Escort, you did the right thing to kill Yu Renyan, you did a good job killing him. I have been to Sichuan to escort goods several times and have heard of this kid’s reputation. He is a scoundrel who, relying on his father’s prestige, committed all kinds of evil and disregarded human life. It is not unjust for such a person to die.”

"Indeed, what the superiors do, the inferiors follow. It's clear that there's not a single good person in the entire Qingcheng Sect."

"It's ridiculous that the Qingcheng Sect is considered one of the righteous sects. Bah!"

"I don't know what Shaolin and Wudang are thinking. Why don't they step in and do something about it? Can they still be considered leaders of the righteous path?"

The bodyguards were filled with righteous indignation.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, now that the Taoist priest is helping us, I believe the Qingcheng Sect will back down. At worst, I, Lin, will just have to pay more money. I absolutely cannot let my brothers risk their lives," Lin Zhennan reassured them.

After drinking, Li Daoyi was led to a quiet courtyard to rest.

"Master, this is the best courtyard in the manor. I'm sorry to trouble you."

"It's already very good." Li Dao nodded.

"Then Pingzhi will take his leave first. If the Daoist Master needs anything, he can simply instruct the servants."

"Please wait, young master."

After watching Lin Pingzhi leave, Li Daoyi pushed open the door.

"System, open the panel."

"bite…"

"Host: Li Daoyi".

“Cultivation level: First level of Qi Refining”

"Techniques: Basic Qi Cultivation Techniques, Minor Five Elements Spells."

"Amazing value: 110".

Looking at the panel, Li Daoyi sighed. After spending fifty points to buy a talisman for Lin Xi, he still had one hundred and ten points left.

"System, can anyone trigger my astonishment value?"

"No, only characters related to the plot can generate astonishment points."

Upon hearing this, Li Daoyi's face darkened. He had been planning to show off his magic in a crowded place, but it seemed that this bug wouldn't work.

Since the world we are in now is a world of martial arts and chivalry, it must be a storyline that takes place within it, and characters that are related to the storyline, to generate an "amazing" value.

"Exchange for a Qi Refining Pill."

"Ding, redemption successful, 100 points deducted."

Soon, a pill gleaming with white light appeared in Li Daoyi's hand.

"Let's improve it first."

After taking the pill, a warm sensation surged from his dantian.

As if some shackle had been broken within his body, Li Daoyi felt the energy within him grow stronger once again.

"Tsk tsk, cultivation is indeed powerful. I wonder how I compare to those at the Innate Realm now. There are Innate Realm cultivators in the Smiling Proud Wanderer world, right? I think Feng Qingyang and Dongfang Bubai are Innate Realm cultivators," Li Daoyi thought to himself.

According to the system's prompts, martial arts in the world of Swordsman are divided into acquired and innate. Acquired martial arts are further divided into unorthodox and orthodox. Unorthodox refers to those martial artists who have not cultivated internal energy and rely on their physical bodies. Most of the bodyguards in Fuwei Escort Agency are like that, including Lin Pingzhi.

Entering the ranks means cultivating internal strength. Such people are also known as third-rate martial artists. This level is considered a minor expert in the martial arts world, and Lin Zhennan is one of them.

The majority of martial arts practitioners today are third-rate, who are the elites of their respective sects. Above them are second-rate masters who have achieved some success in internal energy and can serve as elders or stewards in their sects. Linghu Chong of Mount Hua is currently at the early stage of second-rate, and reaching the second-rate level at this age is already considered exceptionally talented.

Each realm is further divided into four sub-stages: early stage, middle stage, late stage, and peak stage.

Above that are the top-tier masters, and most of the leaders of various forces are at this level. Of course, some are at the early stage, some at the middle stage, and some at the late stage. Although they all seem to be top-tier, there is a big difference between them. For example, Yue Buqun, who is at the early stage of the top-tier level, is no match for Zuo Lengchan, who is at the late stage of the top-tier level.

Of course, this isn't absolute; it also depends on the specific martial arts techniques practiced. Those with powerful techniques can easily fight opponents of higher levels. Take Dongfang Bubai, for example; he wouldn't be afraid to face ten top-tier masters of the same level alone. This is the advantage brought by talent combined with powerful techniques.

As for the innate level, Li Daoyi is certain that Feng Qingyang is now definitely in the innate level, and Dongfang Bubai is probably still at the peak of the first-class level, just a little short. As for whether Shaolin and Wudang have innate level practitioners, he doesn't know, and it wasn't mentioned in the original work, but he doesn't rule it out.

That night, Li Daoyi was invited by the Lin family father and son to have tea in the garden. The group sat in the pavilion, enjoying themselves immensely.

"Master, was what you practiced this morning martial arts?" Lin Pingzhi asked curiously. They had all witnessed that astonishing scene that morning.

You mean Tai Chi?

"Tai Chi? Could it be that the Taoist priest is from Wudang?" Lin Zhennan asked in surprise.

"No, I learned Tai Chi by chance; it's just for health and fitness," Li Daoyi shook his head.

"But, the Tai Chi diagram I saw..." Lin Pingzhi pressed.

"That's a divine technique, manifested according to my will during practice."

"Does immortal magic really exist in this world?" Lin Pingzhi asked in shock.

"Haha, didn't you call me Immortal Master this morning? Why are you starting to doubt me now?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Pingzhi's face immediately turned bright red.

“I am a Taoist practitioner, and what I practice is naturally the Taoist method of the Xuanmen, which is different from your martial arts.”

"If there are Taoist magic, then there must also be ghosts and gods?" Lin Pingzhi raised his head, his eyes full of surprise.

"Ping'er, don't ask any more questions," Lin Zhennan quickly scolded, fearing that Li Daoyi would be displeased.

"Young Master Lin, remember this: there are gods watching over you."

Just as Lin Pingzhi was about to speak, Li Daoyi stopped him with a gesture.

"Someone's coming."

"What?" Lin Zhennan quickly stood up.

The bodyguards around them also drew their weapons.

"Da da da..."

Soon, the sound of horses' hooves approached from afar.

"I'm here." Li Dao nodded, then got up and walked towards the outer courtyard.

The others quickly followed.

Before we even reached the square, a voice came from outside the gate.

"You son of a bitch, who is Lin Pingzhi? Get out here right now!"

"We are from the Qingcheng Sect. Lin Zhennan, hand over this little turtle, Lin Pingzhi!"

"A life for a life! Hand over Lin Pingzhi now, or we'll wipe out your entire Fuwei Escort Agency."

Suddenly, many Sichuan accents could be heard outside the gate.

"It really was them." Lin Zhennan's face darkened.

"Father, has Yu Canghai arrived?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhennan looked at Li Daoyi.

“Yu Canghai isn’t outside. Compared to someone hiding in the shadows, this person is extremely treacherous and cunning. He’s probably testing you,” Li Daoyi said, shaking his head.

Outside the Fuwei Escort Agency, on the third floor of an inn a hundred meters away, two people were looking out through the window.

One of them was an old man, and the other was an extremely ugly woman. If Lin Pingzhi saw them, he would recognize them as the grandfather and granddaughter who ran a shop by the official road outside the city. They were Lao Denuo and Yue Lingshan from the Huashan Sect.

"I hope this silly boy doesn't come out," Yue Lingshan thought to herself. Since this matter was related to her, she felt somewhat guilty.

"call out…"

Suddenly, another dark figure flashed by in the distance, leaping onto the roof of a building in a few bounds, seemingly also heading towards the Fuwei Escort Agency.

Yue Lingshan and Lao Denuo exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion.

At this moment, Laudenau extended a finger and mouthed two words silently.

Yue Lingshan's pupils shrank immediately. Lao Denuo had used the word "first-class," and the mysterious man in black was indeed a first-class master.