Chapter 222

Jiang Yuanhua was left in the Armory; Shen Yi did not stay long, turning and leaving the place.

Though it claimed to house treasures from across the entire Daqian Empire.

But for a Zunhunyuan Master, most of the items here held no meaning.

The true high-grade artifacts and Slain Hunyuan martial arts were guarded with extreme strictness; even a Zhen Mo Si Patrol Commander could not take as many as he wished.

"Take your time."

Shen Yi stepped off the long staircase and touched the jade talisman in his hand with his spiritual sense; the carved wall rippled and quietly returned to its original form.

He had barely walked a short distance when the previous clerk had already been waiting a long while.

"Patrol Commander, this humble servant Liu Kun has served at the General Office for years. You've just arrived in the Imperial City—please feel free to give any orders regarding what you need to know."

Liu Kun's posture was humble but without flattery, making him unobjectionable.

"Good, thank you."

Shen Yi nodded and followed him toward the courtyard behind the Wumiao's main hall.

"Commander Shen, this place is divided into four courtyards: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding. All are gifted experts from the Nine Provinces, including imperial court personnel and numerous martial sects and noble families—relationships here are complex."

Liu Kun explained as they walked: "But once inside the latter three courtyards, all regard themselves as Wumiao disciples. Generally, they cause no trouble; even if they do commit offenses, reporting them is enough—the Wumiao itself will punish them, no need for us of the Zhen Mo Si to intervene."

His words were tactful, but in truth, since that Patrol Commander left Daqian and the two Deputy Patrol Commanders perished, the General Office had long become an empty shell.

Handling paperwork—submitting achievements from regional Zhen Mo Si branches to claim rewards—was fine, but if actual combat were needed… among these so-called "disciples," there were no shortage of martial cultivators at the Nascent Core Realm's peak.

He brought Shen Yi to the location previously designated by Lord Wu.

Liu Kun bowed and took his leave: "You go ahead and attend to your business."

Before him stood rows of quadrangle courtyards built of blue bricks and gray tiles, one after another, with occasional fallen leaves drifting by—the atmosphere quiet and serene.

Soon, someone noticed the unfamiliar figure.

Though the Wumiao disciples seemed numerous, scattered across the vast Nine Provinces, they were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

A new recruit might not appear for many years.

Moreover… the youth was so young; by appearance alone, he was barely thirty.

Soon, a burly man approached and greeted him with a fist salute: "I'm Jiang He from Songzhou. May I ask where you're from, brother?"

Compared to imperial court officials, this burly man carried a stronger martial world aura.

"Qingzhou, Shen Yi."

Shen Yi gave a slight bow; apart from Lizhou and Tanzhou, he finally learned another new place.

He mentally noted it—he'd likely visit someday.

"I've been to Qingzhou."

Jiang He was clearly overly familiar, continuing the conversation: "Brother Shen, do you know Jiang Qiulan? I'm not much, but during my travels across the Nine Provinces, I once sparred with her. Miss Jiang wielded a long sword, her sword technique was sublime and uncanny—I'm far inferior! Since you're also from Qingzhou, you must be equally formidable!"

"…."

Shen Yi glanced at him; Jiang Qiulan was famed as Qingzhou's sharpest sword… but she didn't even use a sword.

Is boasting just another trait of martial world people?

He suddenly remembered Butcher Zhang—back when he was just at the Initial Stage, he'd dared to list himself alongside Yan Xingkong and Zhang Hengzhou as one of Qingzhou's legends.

It was an old tradition.

Shen Yi turned his gaze away and nodded: "Not bad."

"Brother Shen is too modest."

Jiang He laughed heartily.

Seeing the youth's reluctance to elaborate, he guessed the truth: the fellow likely had some talent, but due to his youth, his cultivation wasn't high—he'd never met someone like Jiang Qiulan, yet refused to show weakness.

He smoothly dropped the subject and asked: "You're here to join the Wumiao too? Why aren't you going inside?"

"I'm waiting for someone."

Shen Yi gazed into the distance; since Jiang He had approached, seven or eight others had drawn near, quietly listening. After hearing their exchange, they all halted and abandoned the idea of initiating contact.

"Waiting for whom? Need help finding them?"

Jiang He didn't hurry to leave—life was treacherous; more friends meant more paths.

He looked casually into the courtyard, only to see several fellow disciples quietly turning back inside: "..."

Hmph, a bunch of arrogant fools.

Before he could finish his mental insult, a cold, raspy voice came from behind.

"Are you that idle?"

Jiang He instinctively shrank his neck, without turning around, forced a nervous smile: "Mr. Wu, I'm off to train immediately."

He dashed into the courtyard in three strides, sneaking a glance back—he noticed Wu Dao'an, usually cold and distant, actually looked in decent spirits.

"Waited long?" The old man had clearly just finished a purification ritual for someone else.

"I just arrived," Shen Yi shook his head.

"Follow me," Wu Dao'an said no more, stepping into the courtyard and leading Shen Yi deeper inside.

Jiang He watched the two walk away until they left Ding Courtyard: "Huh..."

That kid seemed so quiet—turns out he's some big shot?

To be personally received by Old Wu? He's at least a Yi Courtyard prospect.

…

As they went deeper, the number of people around dropped sharply by several times.

Wu Dao'an made no effort to introduce anything, walking silently ahead.

"Mr. Wu."

A middle-aged Bai Shan rose to greet them, beside him a woman also dressed in Bai Shan—they looked like a celestial couple.

Wu Daoan waved his hand casually and walked straight past the two of them.

He had never had a pleasant face for these coarse martial artists.

"..."

The beautiful woman in white raised her brow-tips, looking at the youth behind Wu Laogui.

Within the Second Courtyard, another person was actually to be added?

And such a tender little fellow at that.

Those who could enter this courtyard numbered scarcely more than thirty; Perfect Core Embracement was the threshold.

The husband and wife exchanged a glance, each seeing the astonishment in the other's eyes.

Only after Shen Yi followed Wu Daoan out of the Second Courtyard did the two finally smile helplessly: "Scared me — turns out he's a Yin God cultivator."

Unlike martial artists.

Within the Wumiao, there was a very crude method to distinguish a Yin God cultivator's realm: look at the flesh body.

The more withered the flesh body, the higher the cultivation.

Because this meant the other party was no longer bound by the shackles of flesh and blood, and naturally would not set their mind on a mere mortal body.

The First Courtyard held the highest status, but that did not mean the highest strength; it valued talent more.

A Yin God seedling with hope of condensing a Golden Body Dharma Form was more readily accepted than a martial artist who had reached Perfect Core Embracement at a young age.

"You stay here."

Wu Daoan brought Shen Yi to a gloomy little courtyard.

It seemed empty and deserted.

Shen Yi silently looked toward the courtyard gate; in just one glance, he saw three Yin Gods — at that moment the three old men were nodding toward him.

"The First Courtyard doesn't have too many rules, but try to avoid entering senior brothers' and senior sisters' residences with your Yin God. Everyone has their own quirks, and it's easy to cause disputes. Others won't enter your courtyard either."

"Also, the doors and walls of these houses are all built with secret methods; your realm is low, and if you accidentally bump into them, your Yin God will be damaged."

Wu Daoan led him inside the house and offered a reminder.

A garrison commander accustomed to small places, feeling that no one else could see him, would pass through any door and burrow through any wall — in a place like the First Courtyard, that easily led to a beating.

He took a jade slip from his sleeve: "This is the Three Origins Ascension to Immortality Great Art. Keep it safe. Though we cultivate the same method, our understandings are entirely different; this old man won't mislead you. Once you've cultivated to the Upper Realm Wu Xian, go to the Martial Repository and choose a suitable Golden Body method."

"Many thanks."

Shen Yi took the jade slip, feeling a touch of novelty in his heart.

"No need for courtesy," Wu Daoan smiled, shook his head, and said, "The Wumiao lacks neither techniques nor the power of faith... what we lack is people."

Rather than the youth thanking the Wumiao, it was more fitting that the Wumiao should be glad of his joining.

"Don't go wandering about if there's nothing to do. Cultivate here in peace. If anything comes up, just order the people from the other three courtyards to handle it. If anyone dares disobey, come find this old man, and I'll straighten them out for you."

Shen Yi stood up noncommittally and saw Zhu Shixiong Wu off.

Then he closed the door.

He sat on the edge of the bed, pretending to be a wooden stump, only then letting his Yin God leave his body.

"Go, test whether the door and walls have any prohibitions."

Having given the order to Lady Qinghua in his heart, the Yin God drifted toward the door without hesitation, stopping at about an inch's distance.

"Reporting to my lord, if we get any closer, there will be problems."

A coquettish voice sounded in Shen Yi's mind; he then directed her to test the wall as well, confirming everything was as Wu Daoan had said.

He still did not move.

Who knew whether these Wu Xian had other means? Caution was never wrong.

Shen Yi used his divine sense to sense the jade slip in his hand.

A line of text quickly appeared on the panel.

【Wu Xian · Three Origins Ascension to Immortality Great Art: Not Yet Initiated】

First, he let the Yin God return to the Qi Sea, then drew Lady Qinghua back into the panel.

Only then did Shen Yi take out the Jin Langyu jade talisman, grip it in his palm, and channel the remaining four thousand-plus years of the demon's lifespan, gradually pouring it into this new technique.

【First year, you opened the Three Origins Ascension to Immortality Great Art, glanced at the preface, then closed it. This method requires a Lower Realm Wu Xian to cultivate; your Yin God is still a great distance from this realm.】

The accumulation that had been lacking when shattering the core back then now needed to be made up in full.

Shen Yi felt the sky-filling white mist surging toward him, his whole body filled with warmth.

The Yin God in the Qi Sea rapidly condensed, until, like a Dao Infant, it took on the vivid likeness of a person.

The Wu Xian realm, which required the incense offerings of all of Outside Qingzhou to sustain, had now taken shape — yet the surging white mist showed no sign of lessening.

Worthy of being the foundation since the founding of the dynasty… truly abundant.

One had to know, this was still only the portion belonging to Zhen Mo Si.

【Fifty-sixth year, you are now a Lower Realm Wu Xian, finally qualified to cultivate this method. You opened it again. Since learning the Tiannan Dan Shi method, you already had a certain understanding of these obscure texts; to you, it was finally no longer the completely unreadable heavenly book it once was.】

【One hundred and twenty-third year, you memorized the entire content by heart, then fell into thought. In your eyes, it had merely changed from a heavenly book whose words you couldn't read to a heavenly book where you recognized every word yet had absolutely no idea what the damn thing was talking about.】

【The same sentence, looked at by your eyes and Lady Qinghua's — two pairs — and you parsed out forty-eight different meanings.】

【What would a demon understand about Yin God methods? You pondered for a moment, decisively ruling out her opinion. Forty-seven remain.】

(End of this chapter)