Chapter 221: Entering the Martial Vault, Saving Jiang Yuanhua

"That's enough. Go back and stay there."

Wu Dao'an finally examined Jiang Yuanhua's current state carefully, then waved his hand.

He summoned a Zhen Mo Si officer: "Go fetch a Jin Langyu token."

Having spoken, he looked at Shen Yi: "Since you are an old acquaintance from Outside Qingzhou, after you take the token, open the Martial Vault and choose a vessel to nurture his soul for him. As for the quality level, it is up to you."

Hearing this, the Zhen Mo Si man's face showed envy.

The Martial Vault is where the Wumiao collects treasures from the Nine Provinces; whether Zhen Mo Si or demon hunters, when they bring merits to Jingcheng, they exchange them for rewards from the vault.

Choosing a quality level at random is nothing special; after all, the young man is already a Zhen Mo Si Patrol Commissioner, and this is merely a soul-nurturing vessel. He certainly has this level of treatment.

Most importantly, he can enter the Martial Vault, which represents the Wumiao's trust and regard for him.

"After you finish your business, bring Shen Yi to find me again."

Having spoken, Wu Dao'an stepped out towards the outside, as people in the main hall were still waiting to be refined.

"Patrol Commissioner my lord, this way please."

Officers working in the Imperial City are naturally extremely sensible.

He walked quickly for a distance, then stood ahead waiting respectfully, leaving Shen Yi and Jiang Yuanhua an opportunity to chat.

"What exactly is the situation..."

Jiang Yuanhua hurriedly floated to Shen Yi's side, worry mixed with suspicion.

"The last time I came to Jingcheng, I registered a name inside the Wumiao."

Today's encounter left Shen Yi equally confused; he remembered that the last time he came to Jingcheng, he had seen many figures in the courtyard directly behind the Wumiao. While not numerous, they were not scarce either.

"Registered disciples, not formal students?"

Jiang Yuanhua's expression changed slightly. Inside the Wumiao, one cannot simply be a disciple; to put it bluntly, even my lord Wu is merely a Wumiao disciple.

This group's cultivation levels were uneven, but they shared one common point: they all had hope of breaking through to the Transformation of Spirit Realm.

But... Shen Yi is a master of the Slain Hunyuan Sect?

What he had warned about before was to let the two Slain Hunyuan Sect masters from Outside Qingzhou slightly conceal their strength, fooling the eyes and ears of the Wumiao and the Immortal Sects to avoid much trouble.

He did not say to let the other party infiltrate the interior of the Wumiao!

If this matter were exposed, even if the Wumiao had previously intended to protect them once, they would be so angry they would let go and stop caring.

"Let's go quickly."

Shen Yi's expression remained calm and composed as he strolled forward.

Finally, he could find a jar to stuff this chatterbox into; his mood inexplicably felt much more comfortable.

That Zhen Mo Si officer led the two men to the rear of the Wumiao.

He then hurriedly went to the Zhen Mo Si government office, and soon returned holding a section of a precious wooden box. Lifting the lid, a palm-sized inlaid gold and jade plaque lay upon bright red cloth, the whole presenting the posture of a fierce wolf, exquisite and beautiful.

"Please, my lord Shen, hold the token."

The officer respectfully presented the box.

Shen Yi reached out and grasped it in his palm; the touch was warm and moist, carrying a trace of warmth.

The next moment, his vision was suddenly occupied by a sky-covering white mist.

Rather than white mist, its density was like cotton and silk, as if about to congeal into substance.

This was the portion belonging to the Zhen Mo Si within the incense and vow power accumulated since the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty up to the present.

However, since the Patrol Commissioner is a master of the Slain Hunyuan Sect, this portion is actually reserved for Wumiao disciples.

"Hoo."

Shen Yi slightly tightened his grip on the jade token.

Accustomed to the Zhen Mo Si rule of handling business before eating, he never imagined things would go so smoothly.

This is probably the difference between the imperial court and sects.

The former needs to use rules to constrain the Nine Provinces, seeking stability and peace.

The Wumiao is more like a sect, seeking to break through the upper limit.

"My lord Shen, with this token you can open the Martial Vault... the Martial Vault is right before your eyes. If there is nothing else, this subordinate will take his leave."

The officer showed no hesitation whatsoever and quickly left the place.

The Martial Vault is not a place someone of his status can peek into.

"Right before my eyes?"

Shen Yi stood at the rear of the Wumiao, looking at the tall and wide relief wall before him. Carved upon it were thirteen towering figures, each with different postures and faces; these were precisely the thirteen Transformation of Spirit Realm cultivators enshrined there.

He attempted to touch the Jin Langyu token with his divine sense.

In an instant, it was as if an invisible great lock had been opened.

A staircase paved with gold and jade suddenly appeared before him, extending straight downwards.

An illusion formation?

He had seen similar things in Kong Que Valley, but the formation back then could not stop anything at all; it was merely a trick of the eye, and one could force a way through simply by reaching out.

But the relief wall before him was clearly different.

When he approached earlier, he felt the danger his body instinctively warned him of.

To know that he now not only had his cultivation reaching the Slain Hunyuan Realm, but also practiced the body-refining method of capturing two demon kings, yet the danger he perceived was still irresistible, one can imagine the power of this formation.

"This was built very long ago when the Wumiao invited a great family famous for formations from outside. You cannot find a second one in the entire Great Qian Dynasty."

Jiang Yuanhua was also visiting the Martial Vault for the first time, but as a General, he had heard some news about these matters.

"The most famous thing that great family did was use a formation to trap and kill a True Person of the Transformation of Spirit Realm from the Xuan Guang Cave alive, and then used a formation to hide the entire family... until now, the Xuan Guang Cave still has not succeeded in getting revenge."

The Sanfangtong Alliance and the Thousand Demon Cave are the most powerful forces, but that does not mean there are only two forces.

Numerous small countries, various sects, and even on the demon side, there exist entities like Qing Qiu.

Hearing this, Shen Yi silently committed it to memory.

The Slain Hunyuan demon infant's cultivation is formidable, and its demonic blood-forged body is ruthless—these are my advantages, but arts like array formation, pill refining, and weapon forging must not be underestimated.

He stepped forward and descended along the Jin Yu staircase.

Jiang Yuanhua followed closely behind, also curiously glancing around.

Until he met a pair of ancient eyes.

An old man, his flesh nearly withered to nothing but skin, sat quietly beside a wooden table against the wall; he glanced at the two, noticed the jade talisman in Shen Yi's hand, gave a slight nod, then withdrew his gaze.

Another elder Wu Xian.

Jiang Yuanhua's yin spirit instinctively avoided the old man's gaze and followed Shen Yi deeper inside.

Before him stretched a golden and splendid grand hall, divided into many side halls, each with someone waiting in front.

Shen Yi silently sighed in regret.

He hadn't expected anything else—simply wanted to see for himself, flip through whatever Slain Hunyuan martial arts the Wumiao had accumulated.

But with the rank of Inspector, opportunities abound; there's no need to rush now.

"What do you need?"

An old man who looked slightly more normal approached.

"A vessel for nurturing the spirit," Shen Yi nodded politely.

"What grade?" the old man asked again.

"Let him choose for himself," Shen Yi said, turning away and quickly locating the side halls for artifacts, pills, and martial techniques.

Jiang Yuanhua suddenly felt a warmth in his heart—no wonder he was a Slain Hunyuan Sect master; frankly, as a provincial commander, he had never noticed such a prodigy in the government office, nor offered him any aid.

Anyone who had fought their way out of the Zhen Mo Si would carry some resentment, however slight.

Yet he had never seen Shen Yi show him even a hint of malice…

Well, neither had he shown any fondness—simply ignored him entirely.

"Thank you, Lord Shen."

Jiang Yuanhua bowed again, sincerely thanking him, before following the old man toward another hall.

Nurturing the spirit within a vessel is a tedious and dull task.

One might remain there for hundreds or even thousands of years… but at least, one's life is secure.

(End of Chapter)