Clues from the Special Capture Division

The Special Capture Division in Jiujiang Commandery City was the very heart of the entire Jiujiang Commandery, for it handled all matters related to sinister anomalies.

Fifty years ago, there had been no Special Capture Division.

Before that, there simply had not been so many sinister anomalies in the world. Things like Ghosts were merely strange rural tales passed among the common folk. Almost no one had actually seen such terrifying creatures.

But then heaven and earth changed, and evil spirits began to breed!

These horrifying things grew more numerous by the day, emerging one after another without end!

Once such malicious entities appeared, they inevitably caused immense casualties. Tragedy after tragedy unfolded, and every scene was bloody and horrifying.

At first, Xiang Kingdom's upper ranks believed these cases had been committed by bandits who roamed the rivers and lakes, so the Divine Constabulary Hall took over the investigations.

But before long, everyone realized something was wrong.

Following the clues, the investigators actually uncovered large numbers of sinister anomalies!

How could ordinary constables deal with such things? Many who found the anomalies met with disaster and lost their lives!

Thus, the world changed beyond recognition!

The calamity of sinister anomalies was not something ordinary constables could handle. Before long, large numbers of elite martial artists who had mastered inner force and true qi were transferred to the Divine Constabulary Hall. Only such people could contend, to some extent, with those unimaginable sinister anomalies!

Even the Spirit Masters who had kept themselves hidden away, devoting themselves solely to cultivation, emerged one after another and began clearing out the endless sinister anomalies in the world.

Over time, the Divine Constabulary Hall of old ceased to exist, becoming today's Special Capture Division—an organization dedicated to hunting and killing sinister anomalies.

The Special Capture Division had a rather complicated makeup. Though it was an official organization, it was not wholly under official control, because large numbers of Spirit Masters were active within it.

Spirit Masters wielded profound and unfathomable spirit arts, which were mostly passed down through family lines. Even worldly dynasties did not dare provoke powerful Spirit Master families lightly.

Millennia-old dynasties were rare, but millennia-old clans were common. And families that possessed the transcendent power of spirit arts... faintly stood above dynasties themselves!

It was impossible for the imperial court to command Spirit Master families through the authority in its hands. Thus, the relationship between the court and Spirit Master families was not one of superior and subordinate, but one of cooperation.

Though Spirit Masters were powerful, most had no interest in worldly power. Therefore, Spirit Masters held no official posts in the Special Capture Division and merely regarded themselves as consecrated guests.

Now, two of Jiujiang Commandery's Special Capture Division leaders had gathered together, their faces carrying a trace of gravity.

"Something happened outside the city. The Mu Family's caravan suffered severe losses." The speaker was none other than the head of Jiujiang Commandery's Special Capture Division—the Young Commander, Chu Han.

Seated across from Chu Han was a white-haired old man. He was Zong Wencheng, the Spirit Master consecrated guest who had guarded Jiujiang Commandery's Special Capture Division year-round.

Zong Wencheng also felt a headache coming on. "Not only the Mu Family—quite a few martial artists escorting the caravan died as well."

"Even Feng Xiang of Zhengyang Martial Arts School died. Jiujiang Commandery has lost another True Qi Realm martial artist."

The death of Deputy School Master Feng Xiang brought immense grief to everyone at Zhengyang Martial Arts School. It was likewise a tremendous loss for all of Jiujiang Commandery.

Just moments ago, Qi Zhengyang of Zhengyang Martial Arts School had personally come to demand an explanation, asking the two of them what exactly had happened. Zong Wencheng and Chu Han had gone to great lengths before they finally calmed Qi Zhengyang down.

Chu Han's tone carried a hint of puzzlement. "The matter has been investigated. The Evil Creature encountered by the Mu Family caravan was a Corpse Fiend."

"Corpse Fiends are immensely powerful, with Sha Qi so dense that not even sunlight can disperse it. That is why they can move about during the day. But... monsters like Corpse Fiends are exceedingly rare. Why did one happen to appear just outside Jiujiang City?"

Across the land, Evil Creatures ran rampant and the people lived in unrest. To safeguard the areas around Jiujiang Commandery, the Special Capture Division regularly sent people to sweep through all the Demons and Ghosts nearby.

Especially those powerful monsters—they were the primary targets of such cleansing.

Over time, Jiujiang Commandery had remained peaceful for quite a while. Yet this suddenly appearing Corpse Fiend... its origins were truly suspicious.

In response to the Young Commander's doubts, Zong Wencheng delivered very bad news.

"Regarding this matter, I specifically went outside the city to investigate. Using a tracking art, I found the Corpse Fiend's trail and origin."

"It crawled out from a Yin Cave outside the city. The Yin Cave gave birth to the Corpse Fiend."

Chu Han's eyes widened, his face filled with astonishment. "A Yin Cave?!"

Without another word, Zong Wencheng took a map from his robes and spread it across the table, then pointed to a place marked with a cross.

When Chu Han saw the marked location, the shock on his face swiftly turned into disbelief, because he knew that place.

Donghua Valley!

It was an ordinary little valley. Half a year ago, when the Special Capture Division had purged Evil Creatures in the wilderness, the Young Commander had personally taken part. Chu Han had even made a round of Donghua Valley himself.

He remembered clearly that there had absolutely been no damned Yin Cave in Donghua Valley half a year ago!

Zong Wencheng continued, "Evil spirits breed within Yin Caves, making it easy for sinister creatures like Corpse Fiends to be born."

"I have carefully examined Donghua Valley. The Yin Cave did not form naturally. Someone deliberately arranged it."

"In other words... the Mu Family caravan's attack was no accident!"

"Someone has made a move against us in the shadows!"

As soon as those words fell, silence descended upon the room in the Special Capture Division. Neither man spoke, and the air was heavy and oppressive.

Who was it that had secretly made a move against Jiujiang Commandery? What was his purpose? To nurture a Corpse Fiend capable of easily killing even a True Qi Realm martial artist, the person behind this... had to be no ordinary figure!

Unknowingly, it seemed as though an invisible giant hand had stretched across the skies above Jiujiang Commandery. One careless step, and the entire commandery might be destroyed by it.

At that moment, Chu Han and Zong Wencheng both thought of Ping'an County, which had been wiped out a year ago. Was this scene... not exactly like Ping'an County back then?

Chu Han's expression was graver than ever. "This matter is no small thing. We must report it to the Special Capture Division at the provincial capital immediately. Also, the Corpse Fiend fled after suffering grave injuries. Send more people to hunt it down."

Zong Wencheng nodded slightly. "Indeed."

In a courtyard within Zhengyang Martial Arts School, Qi Zhengyang stood in silence.

He had just gone to the Special Capture Division to demand an explanation. The two leaders of the Special Capture Division had spoken many soothing words and promised to investigate the matter quickly and give him an answer, but Qi Zhengyang was still deeply dissatisfied.

The martial arts school had lost a True Qi Realm martial artist!

True Qi Realm martial artists were not cabbages growing by the roadside. There were only ten of them in all of Jiujiang Commandery City.

It had been nothing more than an ordinary caravan escort mission, yet the school had lost a True Qi Realm martial artist. How could Qi Zhengyang possibly accept that?

"Alas..."

Qi Zhengyang let out a long sigh. Just as grief and frustration weighed on his heart, a set of footsteps drew his attention. Turning around, he saw Li Yuan walking in from beyond the courtyard.

The instant Qi Zhengyang saw Li Yuan, his pupils contracted. He sharply sensed something unusual about Li Yuan.

As fellow martial artists, Li Yuan's changes were glaringly obvious to Qi Zhengyang.

Li Yuan's blood and qi surged through his body like raging waves. His muscles, tendons, and bones were powerful and robust, far exceeding what the Body Tempering Realm should possess. Moreover, a peculiar fluctuation of power faintly emanated from him!

Qi Zhengyang stared at the approaching Li Yuan in astonishment, finding it utterly unbelievable.

"This is... inner force?"