Blind Preacher spoke with remarkable composure, but in his heart he was shouting wildly: “What a damn great opportunity! A natural-born sage, possessing the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart—has Heaven lost its mind, sending down such a treasure? Luckily I arrived quickly; if I’d been any later, who knows what demon or heretic might have snatched him away.”

David Thompson immediately ordered, “What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and bathe my son.”

“Wait, Mr. Thompson, if you trust me, let me personally handle the first bath,” said Blind Preacher.

David Thompson asked in surprise, “A cultivator should avoid blood and filth, shouldn’t they? If you’re tainted by it, won’t you lose your cultivation?”

“So Mr. Thompson knows that we cultivators must avoid blood and filth? Haha, rest assured, Mr. Thompson, bathing your precious son is my great fortune. Not only will I not lose my cultivation, but my cultivation will actually soar.”

Blind Preacher spoke bluntly and, without further ado, carefully walked over and took the blood-covered newborn from the midwife.

“A heart with seven orifices, immune to spirits and demons, repelling all evil—this is the bane of all magic, supernatural powers, and monsters. The only thing in the world that can restrain it is the mother’s blood.”

Blind Preacher thought to himself. The reason he didn’t trust the midwife was that he feared some evil force might take advantage of the situation.

Seeing Blind Preacher so carefully take his beloved son, David Thompson relaxed his guard a little.

“Quick, bring hot water,” Blind Preacher commanded.

Soon, a servant brought hot water. Blind Preacher tested the temperature, then gently placed the blood-covered infant into the warm water. As soon as the baby touched the water, the blood washed away, but to everyone’s amazement, the water in the basin didn’t turn crimson—it turned purple, as if emitting a violet glow.

“Fortune, fortune…” Blind Preacher was beside himself with excitement as he continued to wash the baby.

“Daoist, what is this?”

David Thompson stood by, astonished, but before he could process his shock, something even more incredible happened: the white hair at Blind Preacher’s temples turned black, and the wrinkles on his face faded.

Blind Preacher said excitedly, “The water from your son’s first bath is as precious as dragon marrow, better than phoenix blood, and far surpasses even thousand-year-old ginseng. With this opportunity, I can hope to achieve the Golden Core Dao. But since I’ve taken this treasure, I’ve also formed a great karmic bond. In the future, I’ll probably have to serve your family for life, like an ox or a horse.”

Though he said this, for the chance to form a Golden Core and pursue the Dao, such a price was nothing.

“My son’s bathwater is that miraculous?” David Thompson stared wide-eyed.

“Hurry, Daoist, stop! Leave some for my family.”

Blind Preacher laughed, “Don’t worry, Mr. Thompson. I alone can’t take all this treasure. When I refine this into the Violet Extreme Golden Core, I’ll be sure to give you a few, guaranteeing you a long life—well over a hundred years.”

“Good, good, good! I’ll leave it to you, Daoist,” David Thompson said, overjoyed.

Once the filth was washed from the baby, the once wrinkled and ugly infant seemed to stretch out, becoming delicate and flawless, plump and radiant, indescribably adorable—like a celestial child, or a flawless piece of jade.

“Damn, where am I? Did I transmigrate?”

The baby opened his eyes wide, his face full of disbelief, but to the others, he was just wailing loudly, his voice strong and powerful—more like an adult than a newborn.

David Thompson’s eyes shone with delight, and he burst out laughing: “Good, good! My son is extraordinary! Go, tell the servants—we’ll hold a grand banquet tomorrow!”

Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, fifteen years had gone by.

In a village called Xiahe near Guobei County, there was a small mountain. Over a decade ago, a Daoist temple had been built on it. Usually, only two people lived there: a blind Daoist, and a boy of about fifteen or sixteen.

At dawn, in front of the temple, a handsome and spirited youth stood holding a massive spear as thick as his arm, standing in a strange posture. With each breath, a mist of vapor shot out, as if he were a monk meditating and cultivating his qi. Beside him, the blind Daoist lounged leisurely in a rocking chair, supervising the boy’s morning practice.

“My good disciple, why have you been so diligent lately? Up practicing before the rooster crows—this isn’t like you. Usually, you’re always looking for ways to slack off,” said Blind Preacher.

Ryan Thompson wore a look of utter despair and asked, “Is our county called Guobei County?”

“You’ve lived in Guobei County for over ten years—what, have you forgotten where you are?” Blind Preacher replied.

Ryan Thompson gazed at the distant sky and sighed, “Yesterday I heard the villagers say there’s a temple outside Guobei County called Lanruo Temple, and it’s especially effective…”

“That’s right, there is a Lanruo Temple,” Blind Preacher said. “Why are you so interested? Just focus on your training and don’t worry about other trivial matters.”

“Guobei County, Lanruo Temple… I finally know which world I’ve transmigrated into.”