[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h":3,"chapter-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-144":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Devouring Evil, Exterminating Demons Across All Heavens",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2267089,4426,"Chapter 144: The Foundation of the Great Pharmacy","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-144",144,"\u003Cp>He’s not a crane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Chongxiao quickly explained over the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is one of the eight Elders of the Special Capture Bureau, Master He Lai, who has long resided in Chang’an.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because we knew Guangling might soon face upheaval, but there was also a cold disaster, and air routes were disrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he attached his soul to the immortal crane he had accompanied for years and flew here to lend aid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result? Mo Shengyi, Du Chen, and the others acted too quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone resisted and counterattacked just as fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even flying here in crane form, this Elder was still too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soul detached from the body, attached to an immortal crane?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu exclaimed, “Master, please come in—it’s daytime now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane covered its chest with one wing, like a man stroking his beard, and said proudly, “With my mastery of arcane arts, as long as I return to my physical body within seven full days after soul detachment, there is no issue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this period, whether day or night, using the crane’s body to perform spells causes little hindrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the most profound Ghost Gate healers, though capable of soul travel at night and Mianqiang  performing spells after dark, suffer greatly when exposed to sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zongheng Secret Incantations, though an art, emphasize harmony of body and mind and discourage soul detachment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu couldn’t say for sure what realm this method—unafraid of day or night, soul lodged in a crane, flying thousands of miles—belonged to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with his current Body of the Martial Stove God, he could perceive spiritual forces without deliberately opening his meridians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he had seen no sign that the crane’s body was inhabited by a soul—clearly, its mental purity was extremely high, its operation seamless and flawless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu stepped closer to the windowsill and pointed to the lower right corner: “Actually, the Principal is still there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know. I saw him just now, but then I noticed you through the window and became more curious about you, so I came to see you first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane’s syrinx is not as complex as those of parrots or mynas; this voice is produced by minute mental energy subtly influencing the air within the syrinx.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Chu Tianshu got close enough, he could sense this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when Master He Lai spoke, his beak opened and closed slightly, mimicking human lip movements, his expression vivid and lifelike—as if he truly spoke with his beak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard about your affairs in the Ao District. Were you satisfied with the reward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu smiled. “Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Then I’m sure this reward will satisfy you too. But the true value of money lies in its ability to leverage other resources.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master He Lai said, “Beyond mere money, I have another proposal for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They mentioned your online shop in the Ao District. A true man should have his own enterprise. You don’t just want a tiny online store, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But to expand a pharmacy business, beyond necessary paperwork and licenses, the most critical thing is supply channels. The current market is flooded with inferior and counterfeit herbs, despite repeated bans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can handle all your paperwork, and have the Pharmaceutical Research Institute under Chang’an Tech Institute serve as your supplier. We’ll also grant you a free allowance for pharmacy location selection—within this limit, we’ll cover the costs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu’s heart stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening a large pharmacy had indeed been his second childhood wish, ranked just below resolving his own strange illness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with his current strength, he also harbored a desire to expand his influence and build his own team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Special Capture Bureau was decent, but its scope was too vast—certain matters clearly suffered delays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Building and cultivating strength around himself would be more advantageous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet if his fate accumulated too much, he’d be thrust into another world again—this stop-and-start pattern made building a loyal team impossibly difficult, so he hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he used the pharmacy as his foundation, there would be established precedents; the people he befriended and trained would naturally have tasks, their own order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herbs needed for cultivation—whether for calming the spirit or for internal and external use in martial training—would be far easier to obtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu was already tempted, but kept his tone casual: “So that’s the perk? I thought the Special Capture Bureau might reward me with a secret manual instead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Secret manual? I bought the Zongheng Secret Incantations you posted on the internal site—it’s profound and full of potential. You haven’t mastered it yet, have you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane paced two steps along the windowsill. “I heard you practice both life and destiny cultivation. I haven’t paid much attention to martial arts manuals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But throughout history, the greatest masters have always focused more on arcane arts. Martial arts are merely more suitable for widespread adoption.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you have talent for arcane arts, refining the Zongheng Secret Incantations is certainly the right path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zongheng Secret Incantations were indeed excellent—but they don’t allow cheating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning arcane arts means poring over manuals, constrained not only by the author’s linguistic ability but also by their experience, mindset, era, and terminology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding the most effective way to cultivate any art is never easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But martial arts manuals, once processed by the Token, reveal their true meaning instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Tianshu smiled. “Then help me open the pharmacy. Location isn’t urgent—I might be busy with other things soon. Just get the paperwork and credentials ready for me. Oh, and do you offer discounts on supplies?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Giving you this slot is already a discount.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane paused, then said, “I’ll have them prepare a list for you. Common herbs on that list, if purchased in sufficient volume, qualify for discounts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he finished speaking, the red-crowned crane spread its wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wu-hu-hu, this seems to cost me more than the original reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I originally proposed this to exploit my authority and save a fortune in rewards. Looks like my scheme has failed again. I might as well go chat with some other slow-witted old men.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane circled downward, flew over the bridge, and landed beside Feng Jianhua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Jianhua saw the crane land and merely smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think I heard you say something absurd just now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Jianhua said, “If you want to be serious, stay serious. Ending with absurdity undermines the credibility of everything you said before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red-crowned crane lifted its neck, its claws stepping on snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When all the things I promised reach him in truth, he’ll know my credibility is solid—and then my absurdity will become humor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Jianhua asked, “If Guangling doesn’t need you, when will you return?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why rush? This is a rare few days of leisure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane said, “The Guangling incident will likely accelerate the release of many products.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the most important is still our Chang’an Project No. 1. When that’s released, I won’t know how busy I’ll be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I might as well take this free time to stroll with old friends.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Jianhua clicked his tongue. “We haven’t kept in touch much these years—I don’t even have your current number. Don’t pretend we have deep friendship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Back then, I saw your arrogant attitude—magic user superior, martial artist mediocre—and I always wanted to smack your head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane flapped its wings and strolled forward, laughing loudly. After a while, it drifted back and whispered softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Spirit Realm is drawing nearer, and magic cultivation will become increasingly unshackled. Do you know how agonizing it was to see ancient, complete manuals filled with ‘practice and die’ taboos?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last time, someone in the northwest tried crossing that boundary using the overflow zone’s environment. They only fell unconscious for a few days—no mind dispersal, as ancient texts warned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Jianhua’s expression changed: “You want to try too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a thousand years, even those who claimed to forge new paths and dared to breach forbidden realms still died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In martial arts manuals, the unattainable sections were mostly lost—some deliberately damaged—while new schools proliferated downward, toward the base levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But magic manuals preserved strange methods—even forbidden sections weren’t necessarily destroyed; they could be hidden through other means to deter learners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above, there are ancient strategies; below, there are countermeasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone always finds a way to crack them, determined to see what content forbade their practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout history, many have died from an insatiable curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not just me wanting to try—we enjoy the benefits of being Elders, so we must bear this risk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane said calmly, “We can’t still be stuck in place when the spirits and gods truly descend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Jianhua fell silent for a moment, then said, “You few were always the most promising. I wish you success.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t lose heart, old Feng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane said, “They say no martial art yet found has the purity of intent to match Hate Heaven Art and allow you to switch cultivation paths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But a thousand years ago, even older martial artists didn’t rely solely on manuals—they relied on eating!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crane circled Feng Jianhua, full of energy—whether naturally so or because of the crane’s body, it was hard to tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t dared to train hard these years, afraid your power might grow too deep and become uncontrollable. But you’ve caught a good time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In these few years, we’ll definitely create something to suppress your flaw and let you advance again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Jianhua smiled freely. “Then I’ll take your words as auspicious. If I get something from you, I’ll just call you my benefactor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1591,"2026-06-19T20:45:51.976Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b95261b61bca91836e467734b2205a1221af53129015322cfc7294a72eebc4e1","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-145","devouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-chapter-143",155,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdevouring-evil-exterminating-demons-across-all-h-cover.jpg"]