Hong Ming!
In that year, Zhou Dao left Pingjiang City to attend the Primordial King Ceremony in the capital, was passing by the Evil Mountains, and within a broken temple, he met a scholar frustrated by his lack of achievement.
That was Hong Ming.
At that time, Hong Ming had repeatedly failed the examinations, his spirit and appearance were in disarray, and he nearly fell for the schemes of a fox fairy.
If it were not for Zhou Dao's timely arrival, perhaps he would have long since become white bones in Green Mountain, his remains rotting for who knows how many years.
Later, Zhou Dao, at the foot of Xuantian Taoist Temple Mountain, comprehended the Sun Cursing Seal and frequently interacted with Hong Ming, forging a bond.
After that, inspired by the miraculous Taoism, Hong Ming gave up the pursuit of official ranks and traveled the world, seeking to cultivate and understand the profound mysteries of Celestials and humans.