A Great Sect's Visitor

Wang Yue spoke of this point.

His expression became incomparably heavy.

This was the shackle of the martial path; it had nothing to do with innate talent or endowment. Without the inheritance of a secret technique, no matter how brilliant or talented one might be, it was difficult to break through beyond Internal Strengthening.

"Secret power, aside from being cultivated through secret techniques, can also be nurtured with rare treasures of heaven and earth."

"But without a secret technique to cultivate it..."

"Attempting to transform internal force into qi is truly a task of extreme difficulty."

He shook his head and sighed deeply.

Qin Jiu's expression shifted, and he could not help but think of the Third-Order Spirit Beast that Han Zheng had gifted him; the latter must have intended to use that beast to nurture secret power.

"I am still some distance from Internal Strengthening..."

"It will take quite some time to break through, let alone reach the level beyond Internal Strengthening."

"For now, I should focus on clearing the meridians throughout my body as quickly as possible."

"As for secret techniques..."

His eyes flickered, and he turned his head to look at the spoils of war on the table.

These were the items seized from Baili Ce.

Perhaps they contained a secret technique?

Holding onto this thought.

Qin Jiu carefully inventoried them one by one. However, to his disappointment, this pile of items contained neither secret techniques nor any martial arts manuals. The only paper present was the secret formula that had been presented to that man earlier.

"So many silver banknotes."

"Excluding the twelve thousand taels I gave away, there are actually eight thousand taels more. Added to these medicinal pills, the total value can be considered a haul of fifteen thousand taels."

"As for this Nine-Orifice Blood-Sealing Pill..."

Qin Jiu looked at a brown porcelain bottle, his brows furrowing slightly.

This type of pill.

There were six bottles in total, with twelve pills per bottle, but he did not know their purpose.

"Uncle Wang, do you recognize this pill?"

"I do not."

Wang Yue observed it for a moment before shaking his head.

Seeing this, Qin Jiu felt that it was highly likely to be the medicine Ruan Chen mentioned, bestowed by the Divine Fist Sect specifically to avoid Demons.

He thought for a moment.

Then, he had Wang Yue find someone to test the pill.

As for Qin Jiu himself, he was unwilling to test it personally. Although Flawless allowed him to be immune to all poisons, this did not mean he was willing to risk his life, especially since this was not a desperate situation.

Not long after.

A First Refining martial artist walked into the courtyard.

Qin Jiu did not waste words, merely stating that whoever tested the pill would receive one hundred taels of silver. The man threw the pill into his mouth without a second thought.

"Master, my blood and qi seem to have stopped flowing."

The man's expression was anxious as he said, "But this does not affect my movements, nor has my strength been impacted. This pill has sealed my aura; it is somewhat like feigned death, but as long as I wish, I can instantly circulate my blood and qi to break out of this state."

"Hmm."

Qin Jiu nodded slightly.

He could still clearly sense the man, but the thick blood and qi within his body were deathly silent, like a piece of truly withered wood.

This pill must be exactly what Ruan Chen had described.

"Uncle Wang, reward him."

"Thank you, Master!"

The man took the silver and bowed excitedly.

Qin Jiu waved his hand to dismiss him.

He then looked at Wang Yue and said decisively, "Go notify Qin Xuanzhou immediately. Tell him to organize the men; we are leaving Songshan County."

However, the next morning.

An unexpected figure arrived at the Qin Mansion.

"Commander Fu?"

In the reception hall.

Qin Jiu had just walked into the hall after being notified by Qin Xuanzhou when he saw the visitor. It was Fu Hanchuan, who had previously left the city. His face was very grim, and behind him stood armored soldiers from the Demon Suppression Bureau.

"May I ask what business brings you to the Qin Mansion?"

"Head of the Qin Family, your household has been packing supplies since early this morning. What exactly are you planning?"

Fu Hanchuan let out a cold snort, his eyes narrowing as he said, "Last night, the Han Family and the visitors from the Divine Fist Sect outside the city were all brutally murdered. This Commander suspects the Qin Family is inextricably linked to these events. You must accompany me to the Demon Suppression Bureau for questioning."

"Commander Fu, one must not speak so recklessly."

Upon hearing this, Qin Jiu's expression cooled.

"My Qin Family has always been law-abiding and pays our taxes on time every year. If you have no evidence, then according to the laws of the Great Zhou, even if the County Magistrate himself were here, he could not simply detain me for questioning."

"The law?"

"Do you not find that statement laughable?"

Fu Hanchuan sneered, "When you sent Qin Jingming and the other two into the Demon Suppression Bureau, you didn't mention any laws. Now that the great families of the Inner City are being wiped out one after another, only the Qin Family remains unscathed. That alone is enough for this Commander to harbor suspicions."

"Only the Qin Family?"

"Why do you not suspect the Canghai Martial Arts Hall?"

Qin Jiu's tone remained calm as he said flatly, "Furthermore, has the County Magistrate's excursion to slay demons gone smoothly? Since you have returned today, why is the steward of my Qin Mansion still nowhere to be found?"

"If you wish to interrogate me,"

"Then have the County Magistrate come here himself."

"I, too, have a few questions for him regarding why my steward has vanished, neither seen alive nor found dead."

Fu Hanchuan heard this.

His pupils constricted slightly.

As if recalling something, his expression grew increasingly unsightly.

"Report."

At that moment.

A figure suddenly walked into the main hall.

"Reporting to the Family Head, there are people outside the mansion claiming to be disciples of the Mystic Firmament Sect, requesting an audience."

"The Mystic Firmament Sect?"

Qin Jiu's expression shifted.

He immediately ordered the messenger to bring them in.

On the other side, Fu Hanchuan's expression changed slightly as he turned his head to glare at the entrance.

Before long.

Three figures walked into the hall one after another.

The leader had a rugged face, his aura long and profound, making him difficult to fathom. The other two were clearly at the Internal Strengthening level, both of them youths.

"Oh? People from the County Office are here too?"

"That's perfect, it saves this old man from having to notify you one by one."

"I am Zheng Dahai, an outer sect elder of the Mystic Firmament Sect. I have come to Songshan County today to recruit disciples for our mountain gate. You lot from the County Office, do me the favor of announcing this: anyone within the borders of Songshan, regardless of whether they are from the Inner City or Outer City, rich or poor, provided they are under thirty years of age, may come to..."

He stopped there.

His gaze landed on Qin Jiu.

"Are you the head of this household?"

"In reply to this Elder, this Humble One is Qin Jiu, the current head of the Qin Family."

Qin Jiu bowed in greeting.

Zheng Dahai nodded and said, "To be so outstanding at such a young age—a fine seedling. I wish to borrow your family's Martial Arts Arena; would you be willing to accommodate me?"

"Of course, of course."

Qin Jiu nodded quickly.

At the same time, his heart could not help but tremble.

This Zheng Dahai had been able to see through his martial cultivation realm from several paces away, and judging by the aura radiating from him—vast as an abyss and heavy as a mountain—he was far superior to the County Magistrate.

"Good."

Zheng Dahai looked toward Fu Hanchuan again and said, "You lot, help me announce to the entire city that they may come to the Qin Mansion today to have their bone structure measured. Anyone accepted into the sect may bring their family members to follow the Mystic Firmament Sect back through the pass."

"The Qin Family is involved in several massacres within this county."

"We are currently here conducting an investigation."

Fu Hanchuan hesitated, saying, "Elder Zheng, could you perhaps move to the County Office? The Martial Arts Arena there is not only larger but far more convenient than this place."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Dahai snorted coldly, "What? Since when did this old man owe you any favors?"

"A bunch of incompetent fools."

"Though I have only just arrived, I can sense that demons are running rampant in this city. Yet, instead of slaying demons, you lot bring so many martial artists here to arrest people. The Great Zhou imperial court is truly a gathering of trash from top to bottom. Those above wish to abandon the common people and retreat behind the pass, while those below, even when death is at their doorstep, still insist on preying upon the people."