What You Want, You Cannot Afford

The county office's inner hall.

Led by Shi Qingsheng, the two entered side by side.

"Cui Cheng and Zhao Yue of the Origin-Returning Sword Sect pay our respects to Lord Shen!"

The moment they saw Shen Changqing, Cui Cheng and Zhao Yue cupped their fists in greeting.

"Please, have a seat."

"Thank you, my lord!"

After expressing their thanks, the two took seats below him.

As they sat down, Shen Changqing carefully sized them up.

The Origin-Returning Sword Sect.

He had not heard much about it. He only knew from Situ Bei that it was a martial sect from Vast Source Prefecture.

Though it had no Grandmaster overseeing it, its strength was not weak.

Now that he had seen the two of them.

Shen Changqing could not discern much from them.

After all, although he was a Connate martial artist, it was difficult to sense too much without actually fighting.

But according to the information provided by the Skywatch Guard.

Cui Cheng and Zhao Yue before him were both martial artists in the late Meridian Opening Realm.

At that moment.

A yamen runner served tea.

Shen Changqing withdrew his gaze and lifted his teacup. "I have never had much dealings with the Origin-Returning Sword Sect. You two have suddenly come to my office today—what is the matter?"

"I had only just arrived in Lin'an City when I heard of Lord Shen's deeds in slaying fiends. I could not help but admire you, so I came here to witness Lord Shen's bearing for myself."

Cui Cheng smiled faintly.

"Having seen Lord Shen today, I now understand that the rumors were no exaggeration."

"Mm."

Shen Changqing nodded. "You have seen me now. If there is nothing else, you may return."

"Th-this—"

The smile on Cui Cheng's face immediately stiffened.

He had not expected Shen Changqing to issue an order to leave just like that.

The other man did not play by the usual rules, catching him somewhat off guard.

But Cui Cheng had seen the world. Though Shen Changqing did not follow convention, he did not reveal much surprise.

"Lord Shen is straightforward, so I will not beat around the bush either."

"If you have something to say, say it." Shen Changqing took a sip of tea, casually set the cup back where it had been, and fixed his gaze on Cui Cheng again.

Seeing this.

Cui Cheng's expression remained unchanged as he cupped his fists. "I have heard that Lord Shen comes from the Demon Suppression Bureau. I trust you have also heard the news that the essence blood of a demon is about to emerge?"

"I have heard something of it."

Shen Changqing nodded.

He had known Cui Cheng's purpose would not be simple.

Demon essence blood.

The moment the other man mentioned it, Shen Changqing had more or less guessed his purpose.

Cui Cheng said, "The demon essence blood is about to emerge. To be honest, the various factions that have come here all seek it. The demon essence blood has existed around Lin'an City for several centuries. If the Demon Suppression Bureau truly wanted it, it would have had many chances to act.

Yet until now, the Demon Suppression Bureau has made little movement. I presume it disdains the essence blood.

Of course, the Demon Suppression Bureau has vast resources, so it is only natural that it would not value demon essence blood. But for small sects like ours, the essence blood is something we desperately desire."

After a pause.

Cui Cheng's eyes grew fervent. "May I ask what Lord Shen thinks of the demon essence blood?"

"You are worried that I will make a move to seize it?"

Shen Changqing asked blandly.

Cui Cheng nodded directly. "Yes!"

"If I move to seize it, what will you do? And if I do not, what will you do?" Shen Changqing spoke unhurriedly, observing every shift in the other man's expression.

At those words.

Cui Cheng cupped his fists. "If Lord Shen moves to seize it, the Origin-Returning Sword Sect is willing to pay a price in exchange for Lord Shen not acting. But if Lord Shen insists on competing for it, the Origin-Returning Sword Sect will withdraw immediately.

However, ours is not the only faction competing for the essence blood. Even if the Origin-Returning Sword Sect withdraws, the other factions may not be willing to do so.

Likewise, if Lord Shen does not compete for it, that would naturally be an excellent thing. If possible, the Origin-Returning Sword Sect is also willing to offer some benefits in exchange for a chance to receive Lord Shen's assistance."

Cui Cheng spoke with great sincerity.

There was no choice.

The man before him was not merely the magistrate of a city; he also came from the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Though the Origin-Returning Sword Sect was not small, before the Demon Suppression Bureau, it was no different from an ant.

Truly offending the Demon Suppression Bureau over this would be no good thing.

Besides.

In Cui Cheng's eyes, Shen Changqing might not necessarily care about demon essence blood. The Demon Suppression Bureau slew so many fiends that demon essence blood was likely not difficult for it to obtain.

What other factions regarded as treasure might be within easy reach for the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Cui Cheng had spoken plainly.

Seeing that, Shen Changqing got straight to the point as well.

"To me, demon essence blood is neither here nor there. As for asking me to help, honestly, your Origin-Returning Sword Sect may not be able to afford the price."

He had already touched upon the Outer Astral Realm.

The strongest person in the Origin-Returning Sword Sect was only at the Outer Astral Realm.

For a sect whose strongest member was merely at the Outer Astral Realm, unless it emptied its entire foundation, how could it possibly satisfy a martial artist on the verge of reaching that realm?

Besides.

What did the Demon Suppression Bureau lack?

To be honest, Shen Changqing did not think much of the mere Origin-Returning Sword Sect.

Those blunt words made Cui Cheng's expression somewhat awkward again. If anyone else had belittled the Origin-Returning Sword Sect like this, he might have flown into a rage long ago.

But when those words came from someone of the Demon Suppression Bureau, he had no way to refute them.

As for Zhao Yue at his side.

She did not dare to speak carelessly at all.

In her mind, she was still recalling yesterday's sight of heads rolling everywhere, as well as Shen Changqing's indifferent eyes that regarded life as nothing.

Forget belittling the Origin-Returning Sword Sect.

Zhao Yue was even worried that if their talks broke down, Shen Changqing might kill her. What then?

Ignoring Cui Cheng's awkwardness, Shen Changqing continued.

"My duty is only to guard Lin'an City. So long as you do not disrupt the order of Lin'an City, however you fight over the demon essence blood has nothing to do with me.

Likewise, if fiends wreak havoc within the city, then as citizens of Great Qin, you should also lend aid when it lies within your power."

"Lord Shen is absolutely right."

Cui Cheng hurriedly agreed.

"Then that is for the best. If there is nothing else, go back. Do not worry that I will compete with you for the demon essence blood. But when the time comes to eradicate fiends and your assistance is needed, I do not wish to see anyone making excuses.

Whether it is your Origin-Returning Sword Sect, the Seven Luminaries Sect, or the Heavenly Blade Gate, remember that you are all people of Qin."

After Shen Changqing finished speaking, he raised his teacup, plainly seeing them out.

Seeing this.

Cui Cheng could say nothing more. He could only rise and cup his fists. "Lord Shen, we shall take our leave first!"

With that, the two left the county office.

Watching their departing backs, a faint smile curled across Shen Changqing's lips.

The two from the Origin-Returning Sword Sect had come to probe whether he intended to compete for the demon essence blood. This showed that, in the eyes of these factions, he already carried considerable weight.

There were two reasons for this.

First, the Demon Suppression Bureau stood behind him. Second, it was related to what had happened earlier in the county office.

"Chaos rules the age and fiends bring calamity, yet they still sweep only the snow before their own doors. How can the scourge of fiends ever be quelled?"

Shen Changqing could not help shaking his head.

From the Eternal Life Alliance's fiendish ambush at the county office, one could see these martial sects' attitude toward fiends. They avoided them whenever possible and would never approach lightly.

Fiends were strange and sinister. A single misstep could cost one's life.

He had nothing to say about martial sects fearing fiends and not wishing to become their enemies.

After all, being afraid of death was everyone's right.

But if they still sat back and watched fiends wreak havoc when it was within their power to act, that was rather inexcusable.

"Martial sects can stand to this day only because they have the support of the people in their regions. Yet they accept the people's support without ever doing anything for them. How are they any different from parasites? I only hope you know what is good for you."

Shen Changqing recalled some cases he had seen before.

In truth.

Aside from necessary materials, the Archive Pavilion also held many records concerning fiends and martial sects.

It recorded how the people of one region had supported a martial sect, only for that sect to seal its mountain and refuse to emerge when fiends arrived, allowing the people of several cities to be slaughtered to the last.

Afterward.

Naturally, an expert from the Demon Suppression Bureau ascended the mountain and exterminated all thousand-odd members of that sect.

Once word of this spread, the martial world was left in solemn silence.

Yet it still could not completely intimidate those martial sects. Some factions continued to sit and watch fiends cause havoc.

Some were punished by the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Others found suitable excuses and pretexts, evading the Demon Suppression Bureau's severe punishment.

But no matter what.

The more such cases Shen Changqing read, the less favorable an impression he had of martial sects.

After Cui Cheng came calling, over the following days, other factions and sects also came to visit one after another.

Without exception.

They all wanted to probe whether Shen Changqing or the Demon Suppression Bureau had any intention of competing for the demon essence blood.

Once they confirmed that Shen Changqing and the Demon Suppression Bureau had no such intention, they all left with their hearts at ease.

Thus.

Lin'an City returned to its former tranquility.

Over those days, aside from necessary social obligations, Shen Changqing spent the rest of his time peacefully cultivating the Heavenly Martial Astral Qi.

The Heavenly Martial Astral Qi had reached the eleventh layer and already touched upon the level of Outer Astral.

The more he cultivated.

The more he felt that the thin layer of Astral Qi within his body was undergoing some marvelous change, making his entire body itch faintly.

However.

Relying on his own talent to break through to the Outer Astral Realm would not be so easy.

After several days of secluded cultivation.

Aside from discovering that his control over the Heavenly Martial Astral Qi had grown somewhat stronger, Shen Changqing saw no other changes.

As for a breakthrough.

There was not even the faintest sign of it.

The step from the eleventh layer to the twelfth was extraordinarily difficult.

"The Connate Realm is divided into Inner Astral and Outer Astral. Once one cultivates Outer Astral, a martial artist's defense and offense both increase greatly; it is not something the Inner Astral Realm can compare with. If I rely on myself, breaking through to Outer Astral may take half a year or a year.

Unless fiends provide nourishment, then I may have a chance to hasten my breakthrough."