A True Gem Will Always Sparkle

Pushing through the throng, Du Chen felt a profound sense of oddity. From his seasoned perspective in performing good deeds, distributing food and currency to the three to four hundred vagrants gathered beneath the Weathervane, not to mention the ever-increasing numbers of sailors and laborers, would demand resources measured in crates—at least two or three dozen large cargo containers designed for sea vessels. Translated into Gold Coins, this undertaking would easily require several thousand!

Such a large-scale philanthropic act would naturally create a super-sensational impact, but concurrently, it risked generating extraordinary chaos. Yet, the individuals currently distributing the food and coins seemed utterly inexperienced, failing even to arrange for guards to maintain order. Ironically, the Battle God Isle dock guards, having previously assisted Du Chen in similar endeavors, were seasoned professionals and proactively began establishing control.

Concerned for his daughter, Du Chen had Harry wait outside with Beibei. He and Deboning pushed into the heart of the crowd, only to find themselves even more perplexed. It turned out that beneath the Weathervane's pole, there wasn't an overwhelming quantity of food and coins. Instead, there were just two stalls: one dispensing fragrant, ultra-authentic Seafood Rice, and the other distributing... Gold Coins!

Heavens, who possesses such immense wealth? Giving Gold Coins to beggars?!

The distributors were two heavily armored battle qi warriors, handing out one Gold Coin and a portion of Seafood Rice to each person who approached. Yet, the true magnanimous benefactor was nowhere to be seen.

"What a truly wealthy individual!" Du Chen finally reached the innermost circle, remarking to Deboning with a glance back. Just then, a basket of Gold Coins at the stall was depleted, and someone parted the crowd to bring in another. Du Chen pursed his lips. "Brook, let's go, quickly!"

"Young Master, weren't you keen to see who was performing these good deeds?" Deboning was pulled from the crowd by Du Chen, his gaze still coldly fixed on the battle qi warrior distributing the Gold Coins.

Du Chen shrugged. "I'll demonstrate it right now, showing you how true philanthropy should be conducted, how it should be unraveled! Look!" He gestured towards the crowd, lowering his voice. "In ten minutes at most, an uncontrollable pandemonium will erupt here, beyond the guards' ability to suppress. To avert this chaos, we should immediately head to the dock guard post and have them dispatch reinforcements to encircle this area!"

Deboning found it hard to believe but followed Du Chen nonetheless.

By this point, the number of people collecting Gold Coins surged. Beyond the truly needy—the beggars and laborers—even ordinary citizens and small vendors had rushed over upon hearing the news. A few clever individuals smeared mud and ash on their faces, then pushed into the crowd to claim their share. Once someone took the lead, many more quickly followed suit.

Some even, dressed in noble attire, remained discreetly at a distance, yet instructed their attendants to push through. Without a blush or a hint of exertion, they brazenly ordered their servants to claim the Gold Coins and enjoy a free meal of Seafood Rice.

Those living by the sea cared little for how much seafood they consumed, but they deeply valued that single Gold Coin. After all, the annual income for an average family of five across the Three Continents barely reached three to five Gold Coins. The allure of just one Gold Coin was thus unimaginable!

"Hey, aren't you the coconut vendor from the street? You're not short on money, why are you claiming Gold Coins alongside us beggars!?"

"What business is it of yours, you stinking beggar? Haven't you seen the noble lords secretly sending their servants to collect money?"

"Get out of the way! Make way for me!"

Gradually, a discordant atmosphere permeated the crowd.

"Gods, this is our life-saving money! How can you possibly have the heart to snatch it from us laborers!?"

"Get lost! What concern is it of yours?!"

The situation became precarious.

"Damn it, you already claimed once, why are you back for more money!?"

"Curse you! You have jobs, you have wages, yet you're still snatching from us!? Brothers, my brothers from the South District Tile Kilns, drive them out!"

For those who could survive, to claim money alongside beggars and laborers, sharing Gold Coins that could run out at any moment—this naturally ignited a sense of injustice among the beggars and laborers. *By what right?!*

The situation indeed descended into growing chaos. While the beggars naturally dared not lay hands on noble servants, they would certainly not tolerate opportunistic small vendors and peddlers. Verbal abuse, shoving, outright brawls... one, two, three... In no time, the area beneath the Weathervane was a scene of utter pandemonium.

The battle qi warrior distributing the Gold Coins clearly lacked experience in handling such incidents. He roared, "Silence! Maintain order, all of you! Damn it, anyone who isn't a beggar or a laborer, leave this place immediately!" His voice boomed across the entire area; he was actually a Battle God, and seemingly of no low rank, for without battle qi of considerable strength, it would be impossible to project one's voice so widely!

But... *leave*? Hmph, we've smeared our faces with mud and ash; can you truly distinguish who's a genuine beggar and who's a fake laborer?! Either don't distribute money at all, or if you do, don't even think about leaving us out! You're the one who started giving out money, so don't blame us!

"Damn it, you dare strike me!? Brothers, attack!" The situation finally spiraled out of control. Nearly a thousand people shoved and jostled, causing immense headaches for the two battle qi warriors.

At that moment, Du Chen and Deboning had just returned with the guard detachment. Du Chen, with a touch of self-satisfaction, remarked, "See? Understand now? Even philanthropy requires learning! Captain, if you please, instruct your soldiers to use heavy shields to forge a path, splitting into three routes to separate them!"

Just as the guards were about to act, a blue light suddenly shot from the sea, streaking through the sky like a meteor. In the blink of an eye, it flew above the chaotic crowd, bursting with a "boom" that seemed to make the very docks tremble. "Scoundrels! All of you, collect your money properly and let me finish my good deed!"

Such potent prestige! In an instant, the chaotic crowd collectively paused. The guards seized the opportunity to regain control of the situation!

Listening closely to the booming voice, Du Chen touched his nose and smiled, turning to Deboning. "I wondered who was being so generous; turns out it's him! You go back first, I'll handle things here!"

The man's voice called out again, "My most revered teacher, I've already seen you, don't... Hey! Francis, why did Brook leave?" A figure descended from the sky to Du Chen's side, a look of helplessness on his face—it was none other than the Sea Clan's young prince, Gode!

"Ah, Gode," Du Chen chided, adopting the air of a mentor, "was this whole mess your doing today? Sigh, no wonder your teacher is angry. You, my boy, you don't even know how to perform a good deed!"

Gode rolled his fishy eyes inwardly, thinking, *I'm older than you!* But out of consideration for Deboning, he still adopted an air of sincere inquiry. "I... wasn't I just trying to please Teacher Brook, wanting him to see what a great good deed I performed...? So tell me, how exactly should one do it!?"

Du Chen chuckled. "Firstly, distributing one Gold Coin at a time is far too much; it only fosters idleness... Secondly, you must organize the order properly, at least preventing opportunists from sneaking in!" Seeing Gode's bewildered expression, Du Chen shook his head. "Let me tell you a saying: 'Beggars by their feet, laborers by their hands.' Remember this, and you'll be able to distinguish the vast majority of those trying to take advantage... And thirdly..."

Gode nodded profusely, hastily went to instruct the two battle qi warriors, then returned to Du Chen's side with a grin, flattering him in a low voice: "You truly live up to your reputation as an Eminence dedicated to Guiding Towards Goodness! I admire you greatly, you see, the order is much better now."

"Naturally," Du Chen mused, swelling with quiet satisfaction, "our sect members are extremely experienced in performing good deeds!" *According to the Lotus Seal's calculations, I'm getting a share of Gode's good deeds this time, too! If not for me, could Gode have been so generous with his money? Isn't that right, my backside is starting to itch again—is it going to 'blossom' once more!?*

"Heh!" With order now restored, Gode timidly asked, "Francis, look, I've performed such a grand good deed this time. Will Teacher be happy enough to impart some Secret Techniques to me now?"

"This... I'm afraid it's still not enough. The hardest part about performing good deeds is perseverance! Little Prince, keep striving!" Du Chen chuckled inwardly. *You strive, and I'll take my cut too!* After a moment's thought, he asked, "How did your good deeds end up on Battle God Isle? Why aren't you doing them on your own Sea Clan territory?"

Gode grinned proudly. "I'm now a Graduate Student at the Pantheon Institute on Battle God Isle!" He lowered his voice. "Last time, thank you for giving me credit for saving Roxane. With that, plus my inherent strength and status, Dean Ricardo had no reason to refuse my advanced studies on Battle God Isle, hehe! And performing good deeds? It's best done right under Teacher Brook's nose!"

*This kid really does have some cunning!* Du Chen was about to laugh when, suddenly, Gode's eyes dimmed. "Sigh, we're not strangers, so there's no harm in telling you. I also have orders this time..."

Du Chen's heart tightened. He quickly asked, "Does the Sea Clan have an operation planned against Battle God Isle!?"

"No, you absolutely mustn't misunderstand!" Gode glanced around nervously, then whispered in Du Chen's ear, "I don't know what's going on, but Sea Emperor Thanes's eldest son, Peck, has arrived. Since I've become a Graduate Student, the Sea Emperor ordered me to cooperate with Prince Peck and obey his every command! Damn him! What's so great about him? He's just the Sea Emperor's son, isn't he!" He seemed entirely unimpressed by this Peck, inadvertently forgetting that he himself was, apparently, also a king's son...

"Do you know what the Sea Emperor's son is here for? It's probably not as simple as 'studying,' is it?"

"Studying, what studying?" Gode's voice dropped even lower. "To be honest, besides Peck, all the influential young masters of repute from across the Three Continents have arrived. So I'm guessing the reason so many young masters would come together must be..."

Gode gave a sly chuckle. "Chasing girls! An unparalleled beauty has appeared on Battle God Isle!"

Du Chen was instantly speechless. *Could this be possible? What kind of woman could draw all the influential young masters from across the entire world!?*

As they spoke, people on the docks suddenly began exclaiming in wonder. Following the sound, they saw a massive iceberg floating in from the sea. Battle God Isle was always spring-like, with a mild climate and warm waters, yet this iceberg carved through the waves without the slightest sign of melting. Instead, it churned the seawater, splashing onto its surface, making the iceberg appear even larger and more magnificent!

Dimly, at the apex of the ice-shrouded mountain, an elegant pavilion could be seen. Listening intently, ethereal zither music drifted from within. For a moment, it was as if the Cloud Terrace Immortal Realm itself was riding the waves, drawing ceaseless exclamations of awe from Battle God Isle's docks!

Gode's fishy eyes widened as he excitedly exclaimed, "Heh, that little runt Peck is about to have a bad time! I can't believe Loki from the Arctic Lands' Great Snow Mountain has also arrived..."