Chapter 412: The Divine Path (Combined Three Parts)

The Young Lady and her four companions were seeing the true form of the Ding Tou Jie for the first time.

Previously, they had been chasing it solely by relying on maps to lock its range.

When they finally located it, they were unable to identify the evil entity and ultimately lost it after it sensed them and escaped.

Geng Qi and the other three were also greatly startled—could that "elusive" white goose really be this powerful?!

The Ding Tou Jie was rated at Level Seven on the Purification Office's bounty notice.

But this kind of evil entity cannot be measured by such levels.

The Ding Tou Jie is elusive and hard to guard against, cunning and quick-witted; though Geng Qi's four Level Five pursuers weren't particularly diligent, they had indeed been evaded multiple times.

This alone proves the Ding Tou Jie's capability.

Da Fu can not only see it—he can swallow it whole!

Geng Qi looked deeply at Xu Yuan: no wonder he had specifically caught Da Fu earlier and said, "It's time to show off."

This young master of discipline constantly emitted little sparks of surprise.

Fu Jingyu heard the sound behind him, swiftly sidestepped, and turned to see Da Fu swallowing the Ding Tou Jie.

Fu Jingyu felt no fear—he believed that what had not yet happened had not happened at all.

But Da Fu had saved his life; Fu Jingyu smiled, deciding Da Fu deserved the title of "Goose Captain" of the Purification Office!

"Thank you!" Fu Jingyu bowed with clasped fists.

Xu Yuan, stepping on his fire wheel, shot across the street, waved his hand, and a net of foulness spread like a sky-covering tide.

Pedestrians and merchants nearby screamed and scattered in all directions.

But after running dozens of zhang, they stopped and turned back: "Is that Master Xu?"

"Why is Master Xu attacking his own people?"

"You fool, can't you see? Those Purification Office captains must have been possessed by the evil entity!"

"Yes, that must be it! Brother, your eyes are sharp!"

"Of course—they're the reason I've watched Master Xu unleash his divine power three times, slaughtering evil entities until not a single scrap remained!"

This was also a minor but annoying problem.

The townspeople all knew Master Xu of the Purification Office was formidable—they stopped running and watched from a distance!

But Xu Yuan had no time to care about them now; the foul net had trapped the six captains.

All six captains had been parasitized by the Ding Tou Jie!

He quietly opened his mouth and released the remaining Ding Tou Jie that had yet to find hosts.

Da Fu flapped his wings and charged forward with a loud "Gaa-gaa-gaa!"

Ding Tou Jie generally do not parasitize livestock.

Even if they do, they choose cattle or horses.

But they are not incapable of parasitizing a goose.

The remaining dozen or so Ding Tou Jie, enraged, surrounded and attacked Da Fu.

Though still invisible, their synchronized high-speed movement stirred air currents detectable to Geng Qi and the others.

"Master Xu…" Geng Qi couldn't help but worry and called out to Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan merely waved his hand: "Don't worry."

Then he added: "I can't help—this goose of mine has a terrible temper. If I step in, he'll think I'm stealing his food…"

"This…" Geng Qi laughed and groaned.

But Da Fu seemed naturally adept at suppressing these insect-like evil entities.

He unleashed his power, swallowing one after another—within moments, seven or eight were gone.

Finally, one Ding Tou Jie found an opening, darting behind Da Fu and striking sharply.

It slammed hard into Da Fu's feathers.

When the Young Lady petted him, Da Fu's feathers were soft and smooth, even more pleasant than fox fur.

But before the Ding Tou Jie, they were as hard as iron.

Like a Wu Xiu's "Copper Skin, Iron Bones!"

The Ding Tou Jie was dazed by the impact.

Then it realized this "dizziness" wasn't just from the collision.

It was fucking poisoned!

The Ding Tou Jie instantly felt limp and began to fall.

Da Fu turned his head and swallowed it whole.

Only then did Xu Yuan use his Sight of Fate.

His expression darkened, and he urged: "Da Fu, hurry up!"

Da Fu let out several loud "Gaa-gaa!" calls, then suddenly flapped his wings hard and soared a full zhang into the air.

He swung his wings with full force.

The Ding Tou Jie drifting in the air were instantly swept by a gale into a single cluster.

Da Fu charged in and swallowed them all, one by one.

The six parasitized captains had tried to rush forward to help but were trapped and immobilized by the foul net.

After eating the Ding Tou Jie, Da Fu approached the six captains.

The Ding Tou Jie inside their brains immediately sensed overwhelming danger.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Behind each head, a burst erupted—parasitic umbrellas unfurled from their skulls!

His face twisted as grotesque worm-like tendrils spread from his eyes and mouth!

It looked utterly repulsive and terrifying.

But Da Fu paid no heed to their threats.

He snatched one up in his beak and ripped it out from the skull, swallowing it whole.

Six corpses lay sprawled on the ground.

Xu Yuan turned and walked away: "Fu Jingyu! Where are the other six?"

Xu Yuan knew the Ding Tou Jie were Seventh Stream.

But just now, with 'Wang Ming' cast, he saw all six were Eighth Stream.

Fu Jingyu had no time to grieve; he hurried Xu Yuan onward to find the other six.

Xu Yuan kept 'Wang Ming' active the whole time.

After racing through three streets, they found another group of six.

The moment he saw them, Xu Yuan sighed inwardly.

All six were parasitized.

Xu Yuan sealed half the street with Evil Filth Threads and sighed: "Da Fu, go."

The Young Lady followed closely again, watching Da Fu unleash his power, excitedly rubbing her hands.

Behind the veil, her eyes kept glancing at Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan sensed something and turned to look at her: "I have a friend named Zhu Zhanlei—he's Zhu Zhanmei's younger brother."

He once tried to buy Da Fu from me. Da Fu found out. The outcome… was too awful to describe."

The Young Lady froze, then sighed softly, reluctantly abandoning the thought.

She had a good nature—she could never bully others or force a sale.

But she couldn't help wondering: what exactly had happened to him?

"Uncle Geng."

Geng Jiu stepped forward immediately: "Young Lady."

"Find time to look into this Zhu Zhanlei."

Geng Jiu: "..."

Da Fu devoured every single Ding Tou Jie.

Including the original Seventh Stream one.

That 'mother' resisted fiercely!

But it made no difference—she merely died more dramatically.

Da Fu, full, let out a burp, exhaling a faint wisp of Yin Qi that dissipated in the air.

He staggered back and stood before the food cart.

His expression held a touch of pride, mixed with disdain.

Only Xu Yuan understood:

This food cart isn't good enough—you'll have to go hunt for yourself again.

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then shrugged: fine, let Da Fu have his moment of pride—he earned it.

Suddenly, a hand reached out and pressed down on Da Fu's head, gently rubbing a few times.

The texture was wonderful!

The Young Lady smiled sweetly.

Da Fu flew into a rage, ready to lash out—but seeing it was the Young Lady, he narrowed his eyes. She smelled nice.

Xu Yuan retracted the Evil Filth Threads.

Lang Xiao Ba arrived with the Captains in haste; without being ordered, he arranged the Dan Xiu to handle the scene.

"Burn each brother separately—make sure you don't mix them up."

Lang Xiao Ba ordered.

Di Youzhi stepped forward: "My lord, standard posthumous compensation?"

Xu Yuan nodded: "Follow the old rules."

"Yes!"

"Old rules" meant that besides the imperial compensation silver, the yamen's private treasury would also pay out.

Enough to ensure their families lived comfortably for the rest of their lives.

Di Youzhi asked again: "Should we search the entire city for any survivors?"

Xu Yuan frowned—even a full-city search wouldn't help, since no one but him and Da Fu could detect Ding Tou Jie.

Wei Shi stepped forward: "No need. We'll know by tomorrow whether any escaped."

Xu Yuan suddenly understood: that artifact.

"Thank you, Elder," Xu Yuan bowed in gratitude.

Then Xu Yuan gave Geng Qi a wry smile and shook his head helplessly.

No words were needed.

It wasn't that Lord Xu broke his promise—this evil had dared to stir trouble on Lord Xu's turf, parasitizing his own men. Xu Yuan had lost twelve brothers—he would eradicate it without hesitation.

Geng Qi subtly waved a hand, signaling he understood.

This exchange had to be hidden from the Young Lady.

The cleanup was left to his subordinates; Xu Yuan and Fu Jingyu were both deeply downcast.

Especially Fu Jingyu.

These twelve Captains, more than half of them, he had personally trained after arriving at the Nancheng Patrol Office.

They were no different from his own disciples.

Xu Yuan patted his shoulder and comforted him: "This is what we do; it's unavoidable..."

Fu Jingyu nodded silently.

No matter how many dirty deeds exist within the Three Offices of Strange Affairs, every year thousands of people in the three offices die at the hands of evil spirits!

On the front line of fighting evil spirits, they have solid merits.

"Let's go back."

Xu Yuan invited the Young Lady to reside in the government office.

The Young Lady agreed: "Just right to go check the bounty notices at the Evil-Dispelling Bureau again."

Geng Qi was helpless, but the Young Lady clearly hadn't finished playing yet.

Moreover, this Nail-Head Boil incident wasn't really their achievement.

In the afternoon, Geng Jiu went out to inquire about Zhu Zhanlei's affairs.

He found out very easily.

Mainly because Zhu Zhanlei's affairs had become known to everyone in the entire Shanhe Office!

Geng Jiu couldn't go tell the Young Lady himself, so he quietly told Wei Nian Yi.

Wei Nian Yi relayed it to the Young Lady; on her jade-white cheeks, two red jade blossoms flew up, and she quietly spat.

She didn't blame Da Fu, but rather blamed Zhu Zhanlei: "Knowing Da Fu's bad temper, you young master still provoked Da Fu; you deserve it."

It was just that Zhu Zhanlei didn't know this "evaluation," otherwise he would have cried out to heaven in injustice.

By evening, Zhu Zhanlei and Miao Yu arrived.

But Zhu Zhanlei had already heard that the "Young Lady" was in the government office.

He also knew this Young Lady's identity, so he didn't enter, but instead had someone call Xu Yuan out: "Let's go drink."

Xu Yuan estimated that although Zhu Zhanmei was transporting military equipment slowly, she should be arriving soon.

"I won't go! This official possesses pure integrity; how could I conspire with you rascals..."

Zhu Zhanlei looked disdainful: "If you don't go to the White Moon Pavilion, we'll drink plain wine."

Miao Yu became unhappy: "If you had said plain wine earlier, I wouldn't have come out."

Zhu Zhanlei glared: "My third sister is arriving soon; do you still want to get caught?"

Miao Yu shrank his neck: "Plain wine is fine; recently this official also wants to reform and turn over a new leaf!"

The three found a restaurant near the office and only intended to have a small drink.

Although night travel wasn't banned today, they still had to be cautious and not stay out too late.

Zhu Zhanlei raised his cup and sighed regretfully: "Zhancheng is still lacking a bit. Luocheng has a large restaurant where, after drinking at night, one can directly stay in the building.

That building is built extremely large, covering over ten mu, with various rooms upstairs and downstairs, offering a one-stop service for eating, drinking, and entertainment..."

This kind of place is different from a brothel; it can be described as "not just a brothel."

After nightfall, everyone is inside one building; door gods are pasted on the doors and windows, and calligraphy scrolls are hung up.

High-level cultivators are stationed inside the building, so even if one parties wildly all night, there will be no danger.

The three drank a few cups, then saw the door to the private room pushed open.

Zhu Zhanlei opened his mouth to scold, wondering who was so rude—then saw his third sister enter.

Zhu Zhanlei immediately changed his tune: "Shopkeeper, add a few more good dishes."

Miao Yu was also very ingratiating, pulling out a chair for Zhu Zhanmei.

Only Xu Yuan sat steadily.

Zhu Zhanmei picked up her chopsticks and ate; she was capable in her work, and eating was the same. There was none of that so-called "refined and quiet" demeanor of a noble lady.

But she also didn't devour food like the hero Ji Shuangqiu.

She ate quickly, and after filling her stomach, she put down her chopsticks.

She had just arrived in Zhancheng and heard people from the Shanhe Office say that two lords and the Xu Lord from the Evil-Dispelling Bureau had gone drinking together.

So she asked for the location and came over.

She didn't expect they were actually here.

Zhu Zhanmei had originally guessed that Miao Yu and the little brother had simply named a restaurant, tricked their subordinates, and actually taken Xu Yuan to a place like the White Moon Pavilion.

Now it was confirmed that wasn't the case, yet Zhu Zhanmei inexplicably smiled and said: "You don't know; this time in Shiping County, the Xu Lord was presented with four pipa girls by the county magistrate, both beautiful and talented..."

Xu Yuan's face turned black.

Zhu Zhanmei described those four girls as far superior to Bai Hu; Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanlei listened with intense envy.

Xu Yuan secretly calculated that he must find an opportunity to discuss with Zhu Zhanmei: Let's not mention these dark histories in the future.

Fortunately, Lord Miao was loyal enough; seeing Xu Yuan's embarrassment, he changed the subject while Zhu Zhanmei paused to drink tea: "Regarding the Indian envoy delegation, I have some news; do you want to hear it?"

"Yes, speak quickly," Xu Yuan said immediately.

Now that serious matters were mentioned, Zhu Zhanmei stopped gossiping.

Miao Yu spoke first: "This time both I and Xu Yuan must go to Luocheng; Zhu Zhanlei, you guard Zhancheng well."

Zhu Zhanlei nodded immediately.

He did not want to join the commotion in such matters anyway.

Wasn't the last case of the Heir Apparent's wife enough commotion? Young Master Zhu almost lost his life.

Afterwards, Miao Yu finally got to the point: "My family inquired some news from the Demon-Slaying Army. Their so-called 'professions' are similar to our Seven Great Sects. Their abilities are also varied and extremely strange.

News in this regard has actually circulated for a long time; there was no need to inquire with the Demon-Slaying Army.

For example, they have a profession called 'Artisan,' which is very similar to our Artisan Cultivators.

But there are also some professions for which we have no corresponding cultivators here.

Take the 'Sailor', for instance: their bodies are relatively formidable, they possess the ability to control water, and they also have capabilities for dispelling illusions, controlling ghosts, and shapeshifting.

Then there is the 'Thief' profession: extremely fast, with abilities in concealment and evasion, decryption and lock-picking, as well as disguise and role-playing.

It is said that over a hundred years ago, a 'Thief' from the Red-Haired Barbarians successfully replaced a great duke within the country, and it was only discovered after his death that he was an imposter.

From this, one can see that their professionals' abilities are mostly composite in nature.

Moreover, unlike us, every one of their professions corresponds to a supreme 'God of that Profession', and all professionals' abilities originate from this God of that Profession.

As for the secret pills they use to initiate into a profession, it is said that after taking them, one can directly converse with the God of that Profession.

However, this so-called conversation... is mostly just sensing the power of the God of that Profession to some extent.

The God of that Profession would hardly deign to cast His gaze upon such tiny new professionals."

Xu Yuan knew nothing of this intelligence; his father, Xu Huanyang, had never told him.

Yet the scions of great surnames like Miao Yu had all heard whispers of it.

Zhu Zhanmei also spoke a bit: "The Western Barbarians have dozens of countries, large and small.

Their territories are not particularly vast; only the nation of the Snow Demon Ghosts is barely comparable to the Imperial Ming, but the Snow Demon Ghosts' lands are bitterly cold and sparsely populated.

We call them Snow Demon Ghosts, Red-Haired Barbarians, and Green-Eyed Savages, but in reality, they do not make such strict distinctions among themselves, and moreover, these nations are rife with contradictions and engaged in endless warfare.

They have a total of thirteen professions, which they call 'Divine Paths'; their power structure is divided into nine tiers, with the lowest being the first and the highest being the ninth.

Yet their goal upon ascending to the highest ninth tier is merely to become an attendant deity beneath the seat of the God of that Profession, which is somewhat hard to understand."

Xu Yuan could not help but ask: "Will their Gods of that Profession respond to them?"

Here in Zhengzhou, although the Gate Gods still protect the common people, the gods of history have basically left no more divine miracles to manifest in the mortal world.

Miao Yu shook his head: "I do not know. My family has a business partnership with a certain figure in the Demon-Extermination Army, so I managed to ask about some of the situation.

The leader of this Indian envoy is a sixth-tier 'Illusionist', whose abilities are bizarre and unpredictable. Because the Demon-Extermination Army is unfamiliar with the abilities of these Western Barbarian professionals, they have lost three matches in a row.

And the Western Barbarians are ruthless; seven professionals of the Demon-Extermination Army have died.

It is said they seem to know our Seven Great Gates' abilities very well; the Demon-Extermination Army suspects that perhaps old nobles from Siam fled to India, allied with the Green-Eyed Savages, and leaked all our secrets."

Xu Yuan did some calculations: a sixth tier is equivalent to a Fourth-Rate.

Thus, he could not help but feel some worry: had Old Lord Ma this time managed to secure a Fourth-Rate expert to hold the line?

If not, a group of Fifth-Rates would probably not be able to defeat that Illusionist.

Miao Yu continued: "There is also a fifth-tier Sailor in the envoy; in the contest with the Demon-Extermination Army, he fought the most and has never known defeat!

The most troublesome part is that most of the envoy has not yet made a move, so we know nothing about their abilities."

After this exchange, the group was filled with worry, and they could no longer enjoy their wine.

After exchanging a few more simple words, everyone dispersed.

Xu Yuan returned to the yamen, thought for a while, and then let it go: such matters of state would surely be handled with full effort by Old Lord Ma; pondering deeply himself now would not be of much use.

Tomorrow, he would settle the affairs of Champa, make preparations, and then set off for Luo City; whatever the Old Lord asked him to do, he would do.

As for the contest with the Green-Eyed Savages, if the Old Lord asked him to take the field, there was nothing to fear.

He possessed Fourth-Rate Crafted Objects.

The other side could not be so shameless as to send a sixth-tier to fight him.

As long as it was a fifth-tier, he had nothing to fear.

Afterwards, Xu Yuan took out the glass bead again; how exactly was this thing used?

Originally, he had thought of sending it into Ghost Wushan, but since the court intends to station a camp of River Soldiers in Champa, there are likely further arrangements to come, so it might be better to wait and see for now.

Then, should he consume this thing to strengthen his Dragon Pearl Inner Core?

Xu Yuan hesitated for a while.

After consuming it, his own corruption would likely surge again.

If he shed his skin, it would very likely expel the ten-thousand-year corpse poison left on him by the Ancient Corpse Empress.

Would the Ancient Corpse Empress sense it?

Even if she did not sense it, she could not be deceived the next time they met.

Xu Yuan did not yet want to tear up his relationship with the Ancient Corpse Empress.

Xu Yuan was very eager for the ghost arts the glass bead might bring.

"Find a way to reduce the corruption..."

Xu Yuan pondered in his heart and put the glass bead away again.

Just as he was about to sleep, he suddenly remembered something:

The secret pills of the Western Barbarians require Cocoon Food.

If he could obtain a batch of Cocoon Food, could he open a situation with the envoy and exchange it for some intelligence on professionals' abilities?

Where could he find Cocoon Food?

The next day, Wei Shi brought good news: "There were no fish that slipped through the net."

She had consulted the map, but did not find the location of the Nail-Head Boil.

This meant that the Nail-Head Boil had been completely eliminated.

Xu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

"What are the elders planning to do next?"

Wei Shi shook her head: "The Young Lady has not yet decided."

Yesterday afternoon, the Young Lady reviewed the bounty notices of the Sin-Erasure Office.

But the bounty notices here in Champa are still from half a month ago.

The bounty notices of the Purification Bureau must be compiled from all regions and sent to the General Office before being distributed back to the local bureaus.

Alternatively, the Southern Office could issue them uniformly for its own region.

The Purification Bureau possesses no artifact capable of synchronizing the issuance of bounty notices across all its local offices.

Even if such an artifact existed, it would not be allocated to the Purification Bureau.

The Canal Office had already seized it first.

Nor would it be used for something as trivial as issuing bounty notices.

In the Huangming Empire, the Strange Divine Detectives were merely a small group and were not highly regarded.

By afternoon, Geng Jiu came to find My Lord again: "The Young Lady wishes to return to Luo City with you first. Your bounty notices here are incomplete; the Young Lady must go to Luo City to review them before making a decision."

Xu Yuan scratched his chin: "Does the Young Lady also know about the Indian envoy?"

Geng Jiu nodded with a bitter smile.

Not only did My Lord think so, but Geng Jiu and the other four also believed the Young Lady simply wanted to go to Luo City to watch the spectacle.

Geng Jiu brought another piece of intelligence: "When I was in the Northern Capital, I once spoke with a Naval General about the Red-Haired Barbarians.

They have fought battles against the Red-Haired Barbarians in the Southern Seas.

There are many Practitioners among the Red-Haired Barbarians as well.

Like us, practitioners also undergo a sinister transformation; they call it the Fall.

Moreover, according to that General's speculation, the risk of a Practitioner falling is far greater than ours.

Every time they advance, they must consume a secret medicine, yet the formulas for these medicines differ for each profession and each rank.

However, every type of secret medicine requires Cocoon-Eaters.

Furthermore, their 'Artisans' are numerous; the artifacts they create are called 'Props', and their Practitioners greatly favor using Props to enhance their abilities.

As for whether they also face restrictions regarding Fate Weight in this regard, it remains unknown."

"Thank you, Senior, for informing me."

Xu Yuan felt even more convinced that he must acquire a batch of Cocoon-Eaters.

Now, not only could Cocoon-Eaters be exchanged for intelligence, but Xu Yuan also wished to study the "nature" of Cocoon-Eaters in detail; perhaps he could glimpse some mysteries of the Practitioners from them.

(End of Chapter)