Subduing the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Branch

"It's over..."

Inside the deserted manor.

The six Transformation Class disciples were filled with the joy of surviving a calamity.

This campaign had not only thoroughly destroyed one of the Yin Puppet Sect's secret strongholds, but had also killed one of the Yin Puppet Sect's core disciples, eliminating a demonic whelp from the Cultivation World.

Of course.

They had merely been supporting characters.

The true main forces were Murong Qing and Jiang Li before them.

More specifically, Murong Qing had been the feint, while Jiang Li had been the main attacker, delivering the fatal blow to Tang Qi.

For a Qi Refining cultivator to interfere in a Foundation Establishment battle and decisively secure the victory—such an achievement was rare even within the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land. Especially the abilities Jiang Li had displayed in this battle: whether it was Sword Aura Manifestation or the killing move unleashed by extracting spiritual energy from Spirit Stones, all of it was utterly shocking.

Compared to him, the Transformation Class disciples had instead become mediocre fools.

Murong Qing descended.

Her cool eyes rested on Jiang Li.

"Was the price severe? I have pills here that strengthen one's foundation and replenish vitality."

The others immediately came to their senses as well.

How could someone at Qi Refining Level 6 unleash such a terrifying killing move without paying any price? The more capable a trump card was of turning the tide of battle, the greater the price it demanded.

Jiang Li might look perfectly fine, but he had very likely already damaged his foundation.

Li Xi nervously wanted to cast a spell.

Jiang Li grabbed her hand.

He shook his head.

"I'm fine."

He was practically going mad with joy.

How could he possibly look like someone who was hurt?

Not only had his cultivation leaped straight to Qi Refining Level 7, but his cultivation art, the "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art," had also gained the new trait talent "Heart of Justice." The same was true for his spell, the "Dragon Slaying Sword."

Its damage amplification had reached an astonishing 150%, and it had gained the new trait "Dragon's Might," carrying him ever farther down the path of being a Dragon Bane.

His only loss might have been the nearly thousand Spirit Stones he had consumed.

But compared to the gains he had obtained and the contributions soon to fall into his hands, those Spirit Stones were nothing.

At worst, he could apply to the Ten Thousand Demons Sect for funding.

Take the organization's money and cultivate his own connections—wasn't that what being an undercover agent was all about?

After resting and searching the area for a while.

Murong Qing brought out a large Spirit Boat and set off back to the sect.

Along the way.

Jiang Li was trying out the effects of the new trait, "Heart of Justice."

His gaze swept over the surroundings.

A hazy sheen appeared in his eyes.

Then.

The world before Jiang Li underwent subtle changes.

A marker appeared above every person's head on the Flying Skiff.

White represented neither evil nor merit.

Azure represented those who did good.

Purple represented great benefactors.

Red represented sinners.

Dark red represented those steeped in sin.

Black represented a regional demon lord.

Understanding dawned upon Jiang Li.

He immediately grasped the effect of Heart of Justice.

It could help him locate sinners more quickly, providing fuel for the "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art."

At the same time.

When he immersed his consciousness in it, he could discern even more detailed information.

Such as what good deeds someone had done, or what sins they had committed.

Jiang Li secretly clicked his tongue.

This new trait was incredible.

No wonder it was said that sinners had nowhere to hide before him. As long as they dared appear before him, he could use the trait's effect to investigate their entire life from top to bottom.

No one could conceal their identity before him.

It was just that...

For an undercover agent like him to possess an ability akin to an "Eye of Judgment" was truly hard to evaluate.

And for now, he could not see much practical use for it.

He could hardly rely on this ability to expose undercover agents everywhere.

Only an idiot would do that.

Offending one Yin Puppet Sect had already given him a headache. If he offended several more, then unless he intended never to leave the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land again and simply grow old and die there, death would be the only outcome whenever he went out.

At that moment.

A system notification rang out.

Ding. Because the cultivation art "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" had reached a new stage through faith in justice, the trait "Teachings" had evolved on its own.

Evolution complete.

Teachings: Use Righteous Qi to teach others. Those who are taught are forcibly afflicted with the two states "Reflection" and "Repentance." Once successfully reformed, they will devote themselves wholeheartedly to self-improvement and proactively teach others, their words carrying a measure of persuasiveness.

Jiang Li glanced at it.

He sucked in a sharp breath.

The newly evolved trait, Teachings, had elevated brainwashing to an entirely new height.

Forcing people to mend their ways was one thing, but those who had reformed would actually go on to persuade others to turn toward good. This was no simple brainwashing—this was fucking manipulation of other people's minds.

However...

He liked it.

The previous Teachings trait only lasted for a few days before expiring, but the evolved Teachings lasted longer and had a spreading effect. It was no longer limited to Qi Refining cultivators either.

One could become ten, ten could become a hundred, and a hundred could become a thousand.

A spark could directly set the prairie ablaze.

If he planted one "taught person" here, then next year he could harvest a whole batch of "taught people."

If he used this method to control a Ten Thousand Demons Sect branch, would he not possess a force that could be used by him at any time?

If the time was ripe in the future, he could even replace the Myriad Desire Demon Lord and become the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's new Sect Master.

At that thought.

A few more ideas surfaced in Jiang Li's heart.

When they passed through Frostfeather City, he claimed to have some personal business and said he would return to the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land later.

Not long after.

Jiang Li appeared at an upscale pleasure house in Frostfeather City.

It was called the "Drunken Flower Brothel."

This was a branch of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.

Its scale was larger than the Yin Puppet Sect's secret stronghold, with more than three Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed there.

Every day, a great number of unverified messages passed through the Drunken Flower Brothel before being sent all the way back to the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.

Jiang Li only knew of this place thanks to that old dog Yuan Li, who had nearly let him make his debut in the Cultivation World and become the king of male escorts.

"Sir, do you have a girl you know?"

A matron with a voluptuous figure and a heavy air of the pleasure quarters twisted her slender waist as she approached.

She was the Drunken Flower Brothel's matron.

She was also the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's liaison, code name Nightingale.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Under normal circumstances, she would not personally receive guests.

Unless she encountered a target who had caught her eye or someone from the organization, she would go and meet them.

Unfortunately.

Jiang Li was both.

He had once had the chance to become this place's "male courtesan champion."

Unfortunately, she had ultimately failed to persuade him to stay.

It had left her regretting it for quite some time.

Jiang Li glanced at her.

He deliberately let the blood-red token at his waist show by accident.

This was the Myriad Desire Demon Lord's token of identity. Whoever held it would be regarded as upper management at any branch of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect and could freely mobilize that branch's resources.

Of course.

Such an opportunity could only be used once.

Once it was used, the Myriad Desire Demon Lord would learn of it afterward, then activate the divine sense within the token and give the undercover agent a test. Failure meant death.

The rules were that simple and brutal.

Jiang Li had already used the token once. If he used it again, the Myriad Desire Demon Lord would definitely shorten the time he had to complete his task or assign him a second undercover mission.

But Jiang Li was not worried.

Because he was already planning to seize this Ten Thousand Demons Sect branch like a magpie taking over a magpie's nest.

Subduing the organization's liaison was the first step.

Sure enough.

When Nightingale caught sight of the red waist token that flashed briefly at Jiang Li's waist, her pupils shrank and surprise flickered through her eyes.

This minor cultivator, who had still been at Qi Refining Level 1 two years ago, now held a token of identity that only Ten Thousand Demons Sect higher-ups possessed.

What was going on?

Nightingale calmly withdrew her gaze. Her boneless hand settled on Jiang Li's shoulder, and with a radiant smile, she pulled him toward the highest floor of the Drunken Flower Brothel.

The guests along the way noticed nothing unusual.

They merely looked at Jiang Li with considerable envy.

Soon.

After the two left the noisy hall and entered a private room.

The Drunken Flower Brothel's matron immediately knelt halfway to the ground and said solemnly, "Nightingale, liaison of the Frostfeather City branch, greets Lord Jiang."

Jiang Li nodded.

With the token of identity in hand, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator had to lower their head before him.

He had to admit.

Borrowing the tiger's hide felt pretty good.

And now...

He was going to do something meaningful—

Persuade a woman of the pleasure quarters to turn over a new leaf.

Under the evolved Teachings trait, Jiang Li spent less than ten minutes completely making her "turn over a new leaf."

She wept like pear blossoms drenched in rain.

She repented without end.

Then.

Jiang Li repeated the process.

He brought the Drunken Flower Brothel's girls in one by one and taught them all.

A small number of these girls were disciples of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, all living undercover. At the Drunken Flower Brothel, they normally sold their talents but not their bodies. Whenever their cravings flared up, they would seduce a few mortals and use them as blood food.

Before long.

Sobs rang out again and again from within the private room.

Pitiful enough to stir anyone's sympathy.

But Jiang Li's smile only grew more radiant.

At this point, this Ten Thousand Demons Sect branch had essentially fallen into his hands.

And the first thing he intended to do was simple.

Lure out that old dog Yuan Li and kill him.