Golden Guard Treatment, Corpse Herder Arrives

While Chu Ge was studying Dragon Bell's condition, inside the Lin family mansion.

In a study decorated in an antique style, with finely carved rosewood furniture, Lin Tao was listening to a subordinate report on the progress of their surveillance.

Upon hearing the end of the report, a surprised smile appeared on his face, and he said, "I never expected that he wouldn't want to join the family, but instead wants to defect to the Demon Suppressing Division. Hehehe, interesting."

Although the Demon Suppressing Division wasn't as strict with its disciples as the sects, it had many tasks on a daily basis. Without strength, background, or talent, those who joined the Demon Suppressing Division might never get anywhere in life, remaining mere errand runners and thugs.

In Lin Tao's opinion, Chu Ge was being foolish. He was ignoring the well-connected Hidden Water Sect and choosing to join the Demon Suppressing Division, which was rather idiotic.

However, he would naturally set things right.

What he wanted was for Chu Ge to join his Lin family and follow him loyally, which would make it easier for him to get Chu Feixue. He couldn't let Chu Ge join the Demon Suppressing Division.

"Young Master Lin, the threshold for joining the Demon Suppressing Division is quite high. This kid has only registered his information; he definitely won't be able to join," the middle-aged scribe reporting the news chuckled.

"It's not absolute; there can still be exceptions. I will intervene. You just need to do your part."

Lin Tao shook his head.

"Yes!"

The middle-aged scribe's expression turned solemn. He stepped forward and presented the letter he had retrieved from the post office that day with both hands.

"As Young Master Lin predicted, that kid sent a letter to his sister."

Lin Tao nodded slightly, took the letter, and opened it. After reading the contents, he smiled, "This kid does have demands. He's asking his sister about Exotic Power secret techniques and legwork martial arts in the letter.

It's easier to handle someone with demands; I was afraid he wouldn't have any desires."

He paused and glanced at the scribe, "Did he discover you?"

"Of course not."

The scribe quickly waved his hand and said with a confident smile, "Although I'm not talented, I am skilled in tracking. That kid is only at the Bone Tempering strength, just like me, so he wouldn't discover me."

"That's good. Go and collect your reward. Continue to follow him.

He will definitely go to the Yun family tomorrow. I've already made arrangements there. After he hits a wall everywhere, bring him to see me."

At the Moon Xi Inn.

After careful consideration, Chu Ge decided not to rush to consume the thousand strands of Exotic Power to provide for Dragon Bell.

Not only did he not have that much Exotic Power currently, but he was also in an unfamiliar environment. Both his daily Martial Arts cultivation and the consumption required to maintain his unorthodox artifacts would deplete his Exotic Power.

Furthermore, after providing a thousand strands of Exotic Power to Dragon Bell, he could only guess what changes it would undergo; everything was uncertain.

To be safe, he should make thorough preparations and also give himself time to accumulate more Exotic Power, rather than acting rashly and risking everything.

He immediately stopped paying attention to the demanding Dragon Bell and instead reviewed the benefits offered by the external officer of the Demon Suppressing Division.

"Blood Ranking experts, upon joining the Demon Suppressing Division and passing background and life history reviews, can become Golden Sparrow Tiger Guards without an assessment, enjoying the treatment of a ninth-rank official of Great Zhou. They will receive a monthly salary of ten taels of gold and a bottle of Qi and Blood Pills.

If they possess Spiritual Aptitude, they can choose one Force Condensation level Exotic Power secret technique and a Force Condensation Realm cultivation method to learn.

They can enjoy the qualification to exchange for items from the Demon Suppressing Division's Golden Guard level Divine Weapon, spiritual materials, pills, and cultivation methods treasury, and can also qualify to cultivate in special Exotic Power training grounds."

Chu Ge carefully browsed until the end and found that it was written that if their contributions and strength were sufficient, Golden Sparrow Tiger Guards could also pass an assessment and challenge to be promoted to Demon Suppressing Division Envoys.

Envoys were also divided into ranks.

However, becoming an Envoy meant being at least a Great Zhou eighth-rank official at the lowest level, with corresponding improvements in various treatments and the level of treasury access.

According to Feng Shan, he was a Blood Ranking expert. If he stayed in the Golden Sparrow Tiger Guard position for a year or two, accumulated merits and contributions, he could easily be promoted to Envoy.

But it wasn't so easy for other Blood Change Realm cultivators who weren't on the Blood Ranking; their strength wasn't sufficient in the first place.

"This treatment is quite good, especially the qualification to directly learn Exotic Power secret techniques and cultivation methods, as well as the qualification to exchange for items from the various treasuries of the Demon Suppressing Division. These resources are very difficult to find outside."

Chu Ge was very tempted after reading the treatment details.

However, for the time being, he could only suppress his eagerness.

The background and life history review was a hurdle he, as a porter, couldn't overcome.

Although he had said he could handle it, he would need the Blood Augmentation and Marrow Cleansing Pills he would obtain in a few days as a cover.

Assuming he joined the Demon Suppressing Division with the identity of a porter, he would still have to accumulate contributions and merits before being promoted, even if he didn't need an assessment.

Therefore, joining with his own Blood Change Realm identity after some time wouldn't make much difference, other than requiring him to go through the assessment.

But the advantage was that his background and origins were clean, which wouldn't arouse suspicion.

"Demon Suppressing Division! Excellent! This is it."

Chu Ge's eyes shone brightly. "Great Zhou is only in decline now. As long as the Martial Emperor stands, no matter how chaotic it gets, it won't reach the prefectural cities and other major cities.

Conversely, now that minor chaos is starting, more talent is needed. By joining, I can obtain resources more easily and have a layer of protection."

He put away the various invitation letters.

Then he walked out of the room, called for a waiter, and asked him to find Wang Xiuyun.

Wang Xiuyun had been in the vicinity during the day handling matters for the merchant caravan.

Soon, they arrived at the room.

At this moment, Chu Ge had already rewritten a letter to his eldest sister and handed it to Wang Xiuyun, who had just arrived. He explained the situation with a smile and expressed his gratitude.

"It's just a letter, why are you being so polite with me? It's just that there are no teams heading towards the Hidden Water Sect these past two days. Are you sure you want to send it through my Wang Family's team?"

Wang Xiuyun pondered, looking surprised. "If it's urgent."

"It's fine, no rush. A couple of days is also okay."

Chu Ge waved his hand.

He still had to stay in Jiangcheng Prefecture for a while anyway, to buy some resources and broaden his horizons.

The Hidden Water Sect was, after all, quite remote, and he might not even be able to enter the sect.

Coupled with the strangeness he observed in the Lin Family, going there too early before understanding the situation might cause trouble for his eldest sister.

"Alright, I'll arrange it for you immediately."

Wang Xiuyun agreed readily.

The Wang Family also had some businesses in the prefectural city, so sending a letter was a small matter they could easily arrange.

After speaking, she added joyfully, "Oh, right, do you remember the benefactor I told you about?

I heard news today that he seems to have also come to the prefectural city and even went to the Demon Suppressing Division to claim a reward."

Her voice was excited, but then she pouted sadly, "It's a pity that he's like a dragon that shows its head but not its tail. By the time I heard the news and rushed to the Demon Suppressing Division, he was long gone. I don't know where he is now. I really want to thank him in person!"

"This..." Chu Ge felt a bit awkward.

He was actually standing right in front of her.

Being admired so much made him feel embarrassed and also curious. "How do you plan to thank him?"

Wang Xiuyun blinked. "Oh my, yes, I haven't even thought about it yet..."

"But it doesn't matter. As long as he likes anything, I'll do my best to satisfy him."

Wang Xiuyun smiled brightly. "It's a shame I can't see him. If you meet him in the prefectural city again, you must help me keep him there."

"Okay, that's definitely no problem."

Chu Ge agreed without batting an eye, then escorted Wang Xiuyun away from the inn. They agreed to go to the Yun Family the next morning.

After Wang Xiuyun left, Chu Ge took out the Little Sprite Qian, who was almost suffocating in his bag. He tapped the little one's head with his finger and chuckled.

"You'll stay in the inn by yourself now. Wear whatever clothes you like, but don't go out. I have to go out for a bit."

"Xiao Qian wants to go too! I haven't had a good time playing on the way here."

Xiao Qian huffed, hands on her hips.

Chu Ge: "Do you want to be stuffed in the bag again?"

"Bad pillar!" Xiao Qian was furious and turned away, hands behind her back, looking very angry.

Chu Ge was amused. "Alright, I'll make you some small toys when we get back. Don't forget, I'm a craftsman."

Xiao Qian's anger vanished as quickly as it came. She turned her head and secretly glanced at Chu Ge.

Sometimes it was hard to believe how skilled this burly, tall pillar was, yet it was true.

Leaving Xiao Qian at the inn, Chu Ge went out with a Thousand Mile Kite to fly it.

He was curious about how many strong individuals were in Jiangcheng Prefecture and how strong they were.

Especially the Lin family, who had set their sights on him, he wanted to see how many strong individuals were there.

Observing through the Thousand Mile Kite was the most covert and difficult to detect.

Meanwhile, on a mountain path less than thirty miles outside the prefectural city.

Four burly men in green robes, with skin like bronze and bones like iron, carried a golden palanquin, galloping swiftly along the mountain path. Soon, they saw the outline of the prefectural city on the distant horizon.

The person sitting in the golden palanquin was a silver-haired elder.

His face was thin, his eyes sunken, and his horse-like face and purplish-black lips were unsettling to behold.

At this moment, the elder sat leisurely in the palanquin, seemingly unaffected by the fatigue of the long journey. He held a teacup in his right hand and used the lid in his left to stir the few tender leaves on the surface of the tea. After taking a sip, he said calmly.

"Soon, soon. This old man can already sense the agitation of the corpse blood. The lost Little Sprite Qian is within Jiangcheng Prefecture."

"Stop!"

His words paused, and he suddenly raised his hand.

The four burly men who were galloping instantly obeyed the order and stopped in unison, their movements remarkably synchronized and eerie.

"Alright, stop here. It's been many years since this old man personally entered the prefectural city of Great Zhou. You four, go into the city first, find Little Sprite Qian, and bring her out!

If you can't bring her out, don't force it. Retreat quickly, and this old man will find an opportunity to act!"

The four burly men responded with dull nods, slowly placed the golden palanquin on the mountainside, and then all headed directly towards the prefectural city.