Chapter 636

"Shen Xianyou, this humble monk must still retrieve those golden scrolls, so I shall not linger longer."

At the door, Master Zhikong came to take his leave.

The people of the Divine Dynasty have seen much; without real benefit, who would believe in a demon?

Besides the spiritual light that brought warmth and comfort, healing hidden ailments, the rat demon had also distributed many golden scrolls.

Gold is precious, but the scriptures engraved upon them are even more valuable.

Though only a small segment was recorded, it was indeed the Three Trials Lotus Platform Method that Shen Yi used to protect his divine soul through trials and facilitate communion with heaven and earth.

Now, to recall them all is not because Master Zhikong is stingy.

Such a cultivation method—even experienced cultivators risk falling into delusion with a single misstep, let alone ordinary mortals who hold only fragmented scrolls. If, while reciting the scriptures, they cannot suppress greed and glance one extra time, the consequences are unimaginable.

Beyond that…

Master Zhikong slightly lifted his gaze, through the ceiling, toward the vast imperial aura above.

He felt a faint unease within.

Lately, thefts of such methods within the sect have grown increasingly frequent; the Puti Sect, one of the Tangtangsan Sects, seemed as if all its temple guardians had fallen asleep at once.

He was merely an ordinary pilgrim, unaware why such disturbances kept arising, yet he hoped nothing would disrupt this great human world because of it.

"Master, farewell."

Shen Yi bowed in return; even without the Earth God's reminder, he would not draw too close to Master Zhikong at this moment.

After all, he had just slain a Puti Sect pilgrim; whether he wished to join the sect or seek further gains from it, he must wait some time until this matter had fully settled.

This is also one reason why Shen Yi joined the Zhan Yao Si without asking about his treatment.

If these monks came knocking, aside from the Zhan Yao Si, which was founded specifically to counter the Three Sects, most other factions would gladly hand him over to avoid trouble.

"Hu."

After watching Master Zhikong depart from the inn, Shen Yi turned back inside.

As he reached to close the door, his body instantly tensed, and a sharp warning echoed in his mind from the spirit mouse.

"My lord, beware!"

Shen Yi's gaze darkened slightly as he turned back.

There, on his bed, a tall figure had appeared—wearing a dark green long dress, her two Bai Xi legs casually crossed.

The woman's features were elegant and lovely; she regarded Shen Yi with keen interest. Beneath her feet, a Bai Shan man was bound tightly with immortal ropes and sealed with talismans over mouth and tongue, trembling all over, drenched in sweat, emitting continuous muffled whimpers as if begging for mercy.

"You're the Zhan Yao person recommended by the Earth God?"

Before Shen Yi could respond, the woman tossed him an extraordinary sword and introduced herself: "Ye Jing, Zhan Yao Official of Jianyang Prefecture. Kill him, and I'll take you on."

At this, the Bai Shan man frantically thrashed on the floor, banging against it with thuds, his whimpers growing louder.

After waiting three days, the so-called Zhan Yao Si had finally arrived.

Yet Shen Yi merely glanced down at the sword in his hand: "Who is he?"

"Does he have anything to do with you?"

Ye Jing propped herself up on the bed's edge, sitting slightly straighter, her tone colder than before: "The Earth God said you're born with a killing fate. Killing a cultivator should be nothing to you."

"Who is he?"

Shen Yi acted as if he hadn't heard, repeating his earlier question.

Ye Jing paused, then rose and circled the young man once: "He's a disciple of the Sanxian Sect. Wanted to join my Zhan Yao Si—this is his token of loyalty."

No matter how you looked at him, he was merely a Dao Realm cultivator.

Elsewhere, he'd be a revered master; but to become a Zhan Yao person in the Divine Dynasty, he lacked sufficient skill.

Yet since he received a recommendation from Jianyang Prefecture's Earth God, he must have some exceptional qualities—perhaps not strength, but at least courage?

"…"

Shen Yi casually held the sword, walking to the man's side.

Upon sensing the cold blade's glow, the man looked up in terror, his pupils trembling, fixed on that pale, handsome face. On it, he saw no trace of mercy—only a chilling indifference to killing, impossible to fake.

Yet he felt no sharp pain as his neck was severed; instead, a clear voice reached his ear.

"What did he do?" Shen Yi slightly lifted the blade's tip, pointing it at the man's forehead.

"Why so many questions?" Ye Jing frowned impatiently, her lovely features hardening with frost: "As a Zhan Yao person, obey your superior. You're told to kill—kill. He's already sealed. This is easy. Why waste breath?"

"Or are you simply too afraid to offend the Three Sects?"

She lowered her voice, laced with contempt, waiting for his reply.

The next instant, Ye Jing's expression changed.

The young man casually waved his hand—the sword became a streak of light, slicing through the air with a sharp *shuu* and vanishing into her own scabbard at her waist.

"You—you what?" Ye Jing gripped her sword hilt.

Shen Yi said nothing, brushed off his sleeves, then raised his palm in a gesture to dismiss her.

"Think carefully—you only get one chance…" Ye Jing tried to speak further, but the young man sighed softly, grabbed the man on the floor, and hurled him out the door.

"Don't see me off."

Shen Yi did need a position, and he had no qualms about doing dirty work.

But on one condition: his impression of the Divine Dynasty remained favorable. The "dirty work" he accepted was that which the Immortal Court couldn't discover—aimed at eliminating cultivators who brought ruin to the land.

Not true "dirty work."

Someone without a brain, used as a blade.

Put bluntly, the Zhan Yao Si doesn't even allow its subordinates to possess a brain—it forbids asking why, yet expects protection when things go wrong? It's nothing but a scapegoat, used and discarded.

Shen Yi needs a tree to lean on temporarily—not to become a corpse buried underground, nourishing that tree's growth.

If he started down this path, he'd truly lose all freedom.

Of course, there's another reason… this woman's act was too fake. Whether her feigned arrogance or later provocation, it was all forced. If he let her lead him by the nose, he'd feel his intelligence insulted.

Facing this situation, Ye Jing was clearly at a loss; after a moment of silence, she snorted lightly, "It's not that impressive."

"Enough."

The Bai Shan man suddenly changed his expression, spat out the talisman between his lips and tongue, struggled his arms a few times casually, and thus untied the Xian Sect ropes binding him. He then climbed to his feet, brushed off non-existent dust from his clothes, and said, "Let me reintroduce myself. I am a Zhan Yao Si demon-slaying official from Jianyang Prefecture. Just call me Meng Tou. A demon-slaying official has two demon-slaying personnel slots under him; she counts as your half-senior."

"Does this count as passing?"

Ye Jing put away those detestable expressions on her face, looked at the man, and appeared somewhat dazed.

"Go back and practice more on your own," Meng Xiuwen glanced at her with disdain, "With this kind of performance, how can I, the big boss, ever feel safe taking you out to handle matters in the future?"

"Oh."

Ye Jing nodded. For today's matter, she had already practiced in front of a bronze mirror for two days.

Hearing Meng Tou's words, it seemed she had been exposed.

But that didn't make sense either. If this young man had truly seen through this, since it was just a play, why not play along and顺势 join the Zhan Yao Si?

"Your personality is quite good; I like it."

Meng Xiuwen then looked at Shen Yi again, nodding with a smile on his lips.

Yet a trace of imperceptible helplessness swept through his eyes.

In fact, no matter what response Shen Yi made, this young man was bound to join the Zhan Yao Si today. After all, according to the Earth God's meaning, the goal wasn't to find him a job, but to have someone manage him.

Since it is about managing him, what is there to pass or fail?

The true meaning of the assessment was for Meng Xiuwen to know what attitude to adopt towards this person afterwards.

If he truly possessed a killing fate by nature, attacked without asking reasons, and submitted this loyalty pledge, it would show great courage and ambition, a willingness to use any means, and a complete lack of conscience or bottom line. He would be an extremely sharp blade... but only a blade.

If he saw through this setup and spoke out to expose it, it would show excellent mental acuity and experience. Even facing the Divine Dynasty, he could remain calm and composed, his thoughts unshaken. He would be a promising talent.

But he happened to see through it, yet said nothing, and instead refused the Zhan Yao Si's recruitment.

This could only prove that this person is difficult to control, has strong principles, and harbors pride in his heart.

But the biggest problem is that although the Earth God said this person fears no offense to the Three Teachings, offending and killing are two different concepts.

Judging by today, the other party, until the very end, did not show the spirit of truly daring to act against members of the Three Teachings. This is the hardest threshold for the Zhan Yao Si to cross, yet also the most basic one.

Sigh, let's just manage him for now.

"Please eat this."

Ye Jing walked up to Shen Yi and handed over a bag of flower cakes. Clearly, she was using her way to express apology for those provocations just now.

She swallowed her saliva, "These are the most delicious flower cakes in the entire Jianyang Prefecture."

"..."

Shen Yi stared at the bag of cakes. He could understand that an organization like the Zhan Yao Si would definitely need to thoroughly test new recruits; he just wasn't willing to compromise.

Such a small matter was not enough to make him dissatisfied.

However, looking at these two people right here, they seemed utterly unreliable in every way, which truly made Shen Yi feel a bit less secure about embarking on this path.

"Get lost."

Meng Xiuwen pulled Ye Jing aside in one move, sat down next to Shen Yi with the familiarity of an old friend, "Rest assured, we won't let you work for free. Our treatment here is high; just work hard."

Speaking of this, he lowered his voice, "The Zhan Yao Si doesn't reward silver or money; we reward... that thing which all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens flock to. You should understand?"

Having said that, Meng Xiuwen stared tightly at Shen Yi, wanting to see what his reaction would be.

But the result disappointed him once again. This young man seemed like an ascetic monk with no desires or demands. No, even ascetic monks knew how important the Imperial Qi was; yet the other party showed not the slightest emotion.

Regarding this matter, Shen Yi had expected it long ago.

To make people sell their lives for the Imperial Dynasty and fight the Three Teachings, after thinking it over, the most valuable thing the Human Emperor could offer was the Shenzhou Imperial Qi. The effect of this on cultivators far surpasses divine treasures, rare artifacts, and longevity elixirs.

But for Shen Yi, it really made no difference from a chicken rib.

Clearly, crossing the physical tribulation is the most efficient method; why risk crossing the heart tribulation?

He simply wanted a force that could take the blame and bear the risks for him after he took action.

"What do I need to do?" Shen Yi looked at this demon-slaying official.

Meng Xiuwen remained silent for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh, "Just follow me for now. You don't need to do anything; just consider it getting to know our profession."

Having said that, he stood up and walked towards the door, stretching his arms, "Coincidentally, I have a task on hand; it's been a long time since I've exercised my muscles."

I don't know which countryside this young man is from; he is hard to figure out. But as long as he is kept by my side, while watching over him, I can gradually learn more.

"Here."

Ye Jing followed behind and handed that bag of exquisite small cakes to Shen Yi again, suppressing her craving, with some stubbornness in her eyes.

"..."

Shen Yi casually took it.

Seeing this, Ye Jing finally let out a light sigh. In her view, this meant the new colleague had accepted her apology.

Outside Jianyang Prefecture.

A tattered, blood-stained carriage moved along the small path.

Having had the experience with the pony earlier, Shen Yi was actually accustomed to this mode of travel. Although it couldn't compare to the speed of using the displacement method, it was more relaxed and wouldn't attract attention.

Ye Jing sat in the corner of the carriage, holding a bronze mirror, trying hard to squeeze out a pitiful look, muttering nonsensical words in her mouth.

"Do you want to practice too?"

Meng Xiuwen looked at Shen Yi and seriously reminded him, "Although you don't need to act, don't let the cat out of the bag."

Having said that, he briefly introduced, "Yulong Ridge hasn't had a single drop of rain for six months. The Divine Dynasty hasn't received any jade orders related to the Immortal Court. We suspect this matter is related to a nearby Xian Sect, so we plan to go investigate."

"Does the Zhan Yao Si also manage rain?" Shen Yi turned his gaze slightly.

Hearing this, Meng Xiuwen was stunned for a moment, then turned his head to look out the window, smiling faintly, "Do you know why our department of nine offices was established?"

His gaze stretched far to the north, and he spoke to himself, "Many years ago, a great prefecture in the Northern State offended an Immortal Official. For six hundred years, not a single drop of rain fell. From a prosperous land, it became a place of starving corpses everywhere, then a desolate wasteland, until now even the name of that place has been forgotten by people."

"Of course, for you, six hundred years is but a snap of the fingers; even if some natural or man-made disaster occurs, you can simply ride the clouds and flee to avoid it."

"But not everyone can possess cultivation like yours."

"Since then, the imperial court established a new department, which is how we came to enjoy a salary from the Divine Dynasty."

Meng Xiuwen finished speaking briefly, then turned back: "This was set up precisely because of the rain; if something similar happens again, naturally we must handle it."

"Of course, you need not fear."

Seeing Shen Yi silent, he chuckled and teased again: "If it truly were the will of the Immortal Court, it wouldn't fall to us mere underlings to investigate; it's probably just a few petty thieves with designs causing trouble."

"The founder of the Jade Dragon Sect once heard the Dharma under a certain senior of the Sanxian Sect; years ago, he already reached the Taiyi Zhenxian realm. This Xian Sect traces its lineage and can barely claim a connection to that senior. Therefore, unless necessary, do not make a scene; simply change your identity and conduct a covert visit first."

"She and I are Xian Sect geniuses who fled due to internal sect strife. As for you... just pretend to be the boy who does chores and holds the reins for us?"

"Rest assured, it won't be difficult; say little and observe much. Just practice well and do not let anyone detect any clues."

Meng Xiuwen felt he had already been extremely considerate toward this young man; as long as the other paid even a little attention, such a simple matter should be no problem.

Having said that, he handed over a bronze mirror.

"Thank you... no need."

However, Shen Yi glanced at the bronze mirror with a complex expression, shook his head, and closed his eyes to feign sleep.

If Master Zhikong were present, he would discover that Shen Xianyou's gaze just now was exactly the same as when he looked at them a few days ago.

"Tsk!"

Meng Xiuwen finally couldn't help rolling his eyes; he truly couldn't understand what sort of thing the Earth God had pushed onto him.

Born with a killing fate? Great ambition? Deeply appreciated by a Puti Sect practitioner?

Has Min Zhiyan been in the Earth God's temple too long, becoming somewhat senile?

He is somewhat clever, but whether it is his cultivation, his temper, or even his indifference toward imperial qi, where exactly does he fit to be a Demon Slayer?

"Enough, as you wish, as you wish."

Meng Xiuwen rubbed the bridge of his nose; at worst, he could add a mute setting for this boy later and barely manage to pass it off.

(End of this chapter)