Chapter 412: The Divine Path (Combined Three Parts)

The five young ladies were seeing the true form of the Ding Tou Jie for the first time.

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

When they went to find it, they lacked the means to identify this evil, and ultimately 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 Quhui Si’s bounty notice.

But such evils cannot be measured by mere levels.

The Ding Tou Jie is elusive and hard to guard against, cunning and alert; Geng Qi and the four Level Five pursuers, though not fully committed, had indeed been outwitted and escaped multiple times.

This alone proved the Ding Tou Jie’s capability.

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

Geng Qi looked deeply at Xu Yuan: no wonder he’d come out specifically to catch Da Fu, saying, “It’s time to show off.”

This young Zhanglu 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 hadn’t happened hadn’t happened at all.

But Da Fu had saved his life; Fu Jingyu smiled, deciding Da Fu deserved the title of “Goose Captain” of the Quhui Si!

“Thank you!” Fu Jingyu bowed.

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

Pedestrians and merchants 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 men?”

“You fool, can’t you see? Those Quhui Si captains must be possessed by the evil!”

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

“Of course—I’ve witnessed Master Xu unleash his might three times, slaughtering evils until not a single piece of armor remained!”

This was also a minor but real trouble.

The people in the city all knew Master Xu of the Quhui Si was formidable—they stopped running and watched from afar!

But Xu Yuan had no time to care about this—the foulness threads had trapped the six captains.

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

He quietly spat out 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 rarely parasitize livestock.

Even if they do, they choose cattle or horses.

But they are not incapable of parasitizing geese.

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

Though still invisible, their high-speed movement stirred air currents that Geng Qi and the others could sense.

“Master Xu…” Geng Qi couldn’t help but worry and called out.

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 sighed.

But Da Fu seemed naturally inclined to suppress these insect evils.

He unleashed his power, swallowing one after another, devouring seven or eight in the blink of an eye.

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

It slammed hard into Da Fu’s feathers.

When the young lady stroked 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 “Bronze Skin, Iron Bones!”

The Ding Tou Jie was dazed.

Then it realized this “dizziness” wasn’t just from the impact.

It was damn poison!

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

Da Fu turned and swallowed it whole.

Only then did Xu Yuan use Wang Ming to take a look.

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 zhang into the air.

Then he swung his wings powerfully.

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 by the foulness net, unable to move.

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

The Ding Tou Jie inside their brains sensed a powerful danger.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

Behind each head, a parasitic umbrella burst open!

Their faces twisted as grotesque insect tendrils spread from eyes and mouths!

They looked horrifyingly repulsive.

But Da Fu paid them no heed.

He pecked one, then yanked it out of the skull and swallowed it.

Six corpses collapsed to the ground.

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

Xu Yuan knew the Ding Tou Jie was Level Seven.

But after using “Wang Ming” just now, he saw all six were Level Eight.

Fu Jingyu had no time to grieve—he hurriedly led Xu Yuan to find the other six.

Xu Yuan kept “Wang Ming” active.

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 foulness threads and sighed: “Da Fu, go.”

The young lady followed closely again, watching Da Fu display his might, excitedly rubbing her hands.

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

Xu Yuan sensed it, turned, and said: “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… hard to describe.”

The young lady froze, then sighed softly, abandoning the idea.

She was kind-hearted—she’d never bully others or force a purchase.

But she couldn’t help wondering: what exactly had happened?

“Uncle Jiu.”

Geng Jiu stepped forward immediately: “Miss.”

“Find time to look into this Zhu Zhanlei.”

Geng Jiu: “...”

Da Fu devoured every single Ding Tou Jie.

Including the original Level Seven one.

That “mother” resisted fiercely!

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

Da Fu, full, belched, exhaling a faint wisp of yin energy that dissipated in the air.

He staggered back and stood before the food cart.

His expression held pride—and a touch of disdain.

Only Xu Yuan understood:

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

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then let it be—Da Fu had earned this moment of pride.

But suddenly a hand reached out, pressing gently on Da Fu’s head, stroking him a few times.

The texture was wonderful!

The young lady smiled sweetly.

Da Fu flew into a rage—then saw it was the young lady, so he narrowed his eyes; she smelled nice.

Xu Yuan retracted the foulness threads.

Lang Xiaoba led the captains rushing over and, without waiting for my lord’s orders, arranged for the alchemists to handle the scene.

“Burn each brother separately—make sure you don’t mix them up.”

Lang Xiaoba instructed.

Di Youzhi stepped forward: “My lord, should we follow the standard compensation for fallen officers?”

Xu Yuan nodded: “Stick to the old rules.”

“Yes!”

“Old rules” meant that besides the imperial compensation silver, the yamen’s private treasury would also contribute funds.

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 if they searched the whole city, no one except himself and Dafu could detect the 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 a wry smile to Geng Qi beside him and shook his head helplessly.

No words were needed.

It wasn’t that my lord Xu had broken his word—this evil had dared to stir trouble on his territory, and it had parasitized one of Xu Yuan’s own men. Xu Yuan had lost twelve brothers; of course he would eradicate it without hesitation.

Geng Qi subtly waved his hand, signaling he understood.

This exchange had to be kept hidden from the Young Lady.

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

Especially Fu Jingyu.

Of these twelve captains, more than half had been personally trained by him after he took command of the Nan Cheng patrol post.

They were no different from his own disciples.

Xu Yuan patted his shoulder and comforted him: “This is our job—it’s unavoidable…”

Fu Jingyu nodded silently.

No matter how corrupt the Three Gui Affairs Offices were, thousands died each year at the hands of evils.

On the frontlines against evils, they had real, tangible achievements.

“Let’s go back.”

Xu Yuan invited the Young Lady to reside at the yamen.

She agreed: “Good—I’ll check the bounty notices at the Quhui Office again.”

Geng Qi sighed helplessly, but the Young Lady clearly wasn’t done having fun.

Besides, this Ding Tou Jie wasn’t really their accomplishment.

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

It was easy to find out.

Mainly because Zhu Zhanlei’s affair had become common knowledge throughout the Shanhe Office!

But Geng Jiu couldn’t tell the Young Lady himself, so he quietly informed Wei Ershiyi.

Wei Ershiyi relayed it to the Young Lady, whose jade-white cheeks flushed crimson, and she spat softly.

She didn’t blame Dafu—she blamed Zhu Zhanlei: “You knew Dafu had a bad temper, yet you, a young master, still provoked him—you deserve it.”

Fortunately, Zhu Zhanlei didn’t hear this “evaluation,” or he’d have cried out in protest.

By evening, Zhu Zhanlei and Miao Yu arrived.

But Zhu Zhanlei had heard the Young Lady was at the yamen.

He knew her identity, so he didn’t enter—he sent someone to call Xu Yuan out: “Come, let’s drink.”

Xu Yuan estimated that Zhu Zhanmei, escorting military supplies, was slow but would arrive soon.

“No! I am upright and righteous—how could I consort with the likes of you…”

Zhu Zhanlei sneered: “Not to Baiyue Pavilion—just plain wine.”

Miao Yu was displeased: “If you’d said plain wine, I wouldn’t have come out.”

Zhu Zhanlei glared: “My third sister’s almost here—still want to get caught?”

Miao Yu shrank back: “Plain wine’s fine—I’m turning over a new leaf myself!”

The three found a tavern near the yamen and planned only a light drink.

Though night travel wasn’t banned today, they still had to be cautious—no staying out too late.

Zhu Zhanlei raised his cup and sighed: “Zhan City still falls short. In Luocheng, there are grand taverns where you can stay overnight after drinking.”

The building is enormous—covering more than ten mu—with rooms on every floor for eating, drinking, and entertainment—all in one place…”

It’s not quite a brothel—it’s better described as “more than a brothel.”

After dark, everyone stays within the same building, doors and windows pasted with door gods and decorated with calligraphy scrolls.

High-level cultivators guard the premises, so even all-night revelry carries no danger.

After a few cups, the door to their private room opened.

Zhu Zhanlei opened his mouth to curse—who had such poor manners—then saw his third sister enter.

He immediately changed his tone: “Waiter, bring us some more good dishes.”

Miao Yu also fawned, pulling out a chair for Zhu Zhanmei.

Only Xu Yuan sat calmly.

Zhu Zhanmei picked up her chopsticks and began eating—efficient in everything, even meals. No “refined, demure lady” pretense.

Nor did she devour like the hero Ji Shuangqiu.

She ate quickly, then set down her chopsticks when full.

She had just arrived in Zhan City and heard from Shanhe Office staff that two officials and Xu Yuan of the Quhui Office were drinking together.

So she came to find them.

She hadn’t expected them to actually be here.

She’d suspected Miao Yu and her younger brother had just named some tavern to deceive their subordinates, while secretly taking Xu Yuan to Baiyue Pavilion or somewhere similar.

Now she knew it wasn’t true—but for some reason, she smiled slyly and said: “You don’t know—my lord Xu, in Shiping County, the county magistrate presented four pipa girls—exquisite in beauty and talent…”

Xu Yuan’s face turned black.

Zhu Zhanmei described the four girls as surpassing even the white foxes—Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanlei listened, envious.

Xu Yuan silently calculated—he’d have to find a chance to discuss with Zhu Zhanmei: let’s not bring up these dark episodes again.

Fortunately, Miao the Official was loyal—he saw Xu Yuan’s discomfort and, during Zhu Zhanmei’s pause to sip tea, changed the subject: “I’ve got some news about the Tianzhu embassy—want to hear it?”

“Yes, tell us quickly,” Xu Yuan said at once.

Mentioning official business, Zhu Zhanmei stopped gossiping.

Miao Yu began: “Both you and Xu Yuan will go to Luocheng—Zhanlei, you stay and guard Zhan City.”

Zhu Zhanlei nodded immediately.

He had no interest in getting involved in such affairs.

Last time’s Princess Consort case was chaotic enough—he nearly lost his life.

Then Miao Yu got to the point: “My family learned some things from the Demon Extermination Army. Their so-called ‘professions’ resemble our Seven Sects, but their abilities are bizarre and varied.”

This kind of information has long circulated—no need to ask the Demon Extermination Army.

For example, they have a profession called “Artisan,” very similar to our Jiangxiu.

But some professions have no equivalent among our cultivators.

Like “Sailor”—physically strong, with water manipulation, plus abilities in dispelling illusions, controlling evils, and shape-shifting.

Another is “Thief”—extremely fast, with stealth, evasion, code-breaking, lock-picking, and disguise.

It’s said over a hundred years ago, a foreign “Thief” successfully replaced a major duke in our realm, and only after his death was he discovered to be an impostor.

This shows their profession-based abilities are mostly composite.

And unlike us, each of their professions corresponds to a supreme “Profession God,” and all their abilities derive from that god.

The secret potion used to take up a profession supposedly allows direct communication with the Profession God.

But this so-called communication… is likely just a faint sensing of the god’s power.

The Profession God probably doesn’t even notice these insignificant new initiates.

Xu Yuan had never heard any of this—his father Xu Huanyang had never mentioned it.

But big-family youths like Miao Yu had all heard rumors.

Zhu Zhanmei added: “The Western Tribes have dozens of small states.”

Their territories are small—only Xue Shagui’s realm is roughly comparable to the Ming Empire, though its land is harsh and its population sparse.

We call them Xue Shagui, Dutch Fan, and Biyan Yi—but they themselves make no strict distinctions, and their states are constantly at war.

They have thirteen professions, which they call ‘Divine Paths,’ divided into nine ranks from lowest to highest.

Yet their ultimate goal in reaching the ninth rank is merely to become a subordinate deity under their Profession God—a concept hard to grasp.”

Xu Yuan asked: “Do their Profession Gods respond to them?”

Here in Zhengzhou, the Door Gods still protect the people, but the gods of history have long ceased manifesting miracles in the mortal world.

Miao Yu shook his head: “I don’t know. My family has business ties with someone in the Demon Extermination Army, so I’ve learned some details.”

The leader of this Tianzhu embassy is a sixth-rank “Illusionist,” whose abilities are strange and unpredictable. The Demon Extermination Army has lost three battles because they’re unfamiliar with these Westerners’ professions.

The Westerners struck with brutal force, and seven professionals of the Exorcist Army perished.

It is said they seem to understand our Seven Sects’ capabilities very well; the Exorcist Army suspects that some old Siamese nobles fled to India and allied themselves with the Green-Eyed Barbarians, leaking all our secrets.

Xu Yuan calculated: sixth-rank was equivalent to Fourth-Stream.

He couldn’t help but worry—had Elder Ma secured a Fourth-Stream to hold the line this time?

If not, a group of Fifth-Streams probably couldn’t defeat that illusionist.

Miao Yu continued: “There’s also a fifth-rank sailor in the envoy group—he fought the most against the Exorcist Army and has never lost.”

The most troubling part is, most of the envoy group haven’t even fought yet—we know nothing of their abilities.”

After this exchange, the group grew deeply uneasy, and the wine lost its appeal.

After a few more words, they dispersed.

Xu Yuan returned to the yamen, pondered for a while, then let it go: this was a matter of state—Elder Ma would handle it fully; his own frantic thinking would achieve nothing.

Tomorrow, he’d settle the Champa affairs, prepare, then depart for Luocheng—whatever Elder Ma ordered, he’d do.

As for the contest against the Green-Eyed Barbarians, if Elder Ma assigned him to fight, he had nothing to fear.

He possessed a Fourth-Stream artifact.

The other side couldn’t possibly disgrace themselves by sending a sixth-rank to fight him.

As long as it was fifth-rank, he was unafraid.

Then Xu Yuan took out the glass bead again—how exactly did one use this thing?

He’d originally planned to send it to Ghost Witch Mountain, but since the court intended to station a river force in Champa, further arrangements were likely—better to wait and observe.

Could he feed it to himself, to strengthen his Dragon Pearl dantian?

Xu Yuan hesitated.

After feeding it, his corruption would surge again.

If he molted, he might expel the ten-thousand-year corpse poison left by the Ancient Corpse Empress.

Would the Ancient Corpse Empress sense it?

Even if she didn’t sense it, he couldn’t hide it the next time they met.

Xu Yuan wasn’t ready to break ties with the Ancient Corpse Empress yet.

He was deeply tempted by the strange arts the glass bead might grant.

“Find a way to reduce corruption...”

Xu Yuan weighed his options, then put the glass bead away again.

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

The Westerners’ secret medicine requires cocoon food.

If he could obtain some cocoon food, could he use it to break into the envoy group and gain intelligence on their professional abilities?

Where could he find cocoon food?

The next day, Wei Shi brought good news: “No survivors escaped.”

She studied the map but found no trace of the Nail-Head Abscess’s location.

That meant the Nail-Head Abscess had been entirely eradicated.

Xu Yuan exhaled in relief.

“What are the elders’ plans now?”

Wei Shi shook her head: “The Young Lady hasn’t decided yet.”

The Young Lady had reviewed the Purification Office’s bounty notices yesterday afternoon.

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

The Purification Office’s notices must be collected from all regions, compiled at the central headquarters, then redistributed.

Or perhaps the Southern Headquarters issues them uniformly.

The Purification Office has no artifact capable of synchronizing bounty notices across all offices.

Even if such an artifact existed, it wouldn’t be assigned to the Purification Office.

The River Ya men seized it first.

And they wouldn’t use it for issuing bounty notices anyway.

The Strange Hunters remain a tiny, insignificant group in the Ming Empire.

But by afternoon, Geng Jiu returned to Xu Yuan: “The Young Lady wishes to return to Luocheng with you first. Your bounty notices are incomplete—she must see Luocheng’s before deciding.”

Xu Yuan rubbed his chin: “The Young Lady knows about the Indian envoy group, then?”

Geng Jiu nodded with a wry smile.

Not just Xu Yuan—Geng Jiu and the other three also believed the Young Lady simply wanted to go to Luocheng for the spectacle.

Geng Jiu brought another piece of intelligence: “When I was in the Northern Capital, I spoke with a naval commander about the Red-Haired Barbarians.

They fought the Red-Haired Barbarians in the South Seas.

The Red-Haired Barbarians also have many professionals.

Like us, their professionals undergo transformation—they call it ‘Fallen Descent.’

According to that commander’s estimation, the risk of Fallen Descent for their professionals is far greater than ours.

Each promotion requires a secret medicine, but the formula differs by profession and rank.

Yet every secret medicine requires cocoon food.

Moreover, their ‘artisans’ are numerous; the artifacts they produce are called ‘tools,’ and their professionals greatly favor using tools to enhance their abilities.

Whether they too have a ‘fate weight’ limit in this regard remains unknown.”

“Thank you, Elder, for the information.”

Xu Yuan grew even more determined to obtain a supply of cocoon food.

Now it wasn’t just about trading cocoon food for intelligence—he wanted to study its “nature” closely, perhaps uncovering secrets of the professionals themselves.

(End of Chapter)