Subduing the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Branch

"It was over..."

In the deserted mountain villa.

The six Transformation Class disciples rejoiced at having survived the calamity.

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

Of course.

They had merely been supporting cast.

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

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

A Qi Refining cultivator had interfered in a Foundation Establishment battle and completely sealed the victory. Such a record was rare even within the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land. Especially the abilities Jiang Li had displayed in this battle—whether Sword Aura Manifestation or the killing move unleashed by drawing spiritual energy from Spirit Stones—had left everyone utterly shaken.

Compared to him, this group of Transformation Class disciples had become mediocre fools instead.

Murong Qing descended.

Her cold eyes fixed upon Jiang Li.

"Was the price severe? I have Pills that nourish the foundation and strengthen the constitution."

Hearing this, the others abruptly came to their senses as well.

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

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

Li Xi nervously wanted to cast a spell.

Jiang Li pressed down on her hand.

He shook his head.

"I'm fine."

He was practically delirious with joy right now.

How did he look like someone in trouble?

Not only had his cultivation leapt to Qi Refining Level 7, but the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art had also gained the new trait, 'Heart of Justice'. The Dragon Slaying Sword had received one as well.

Its damage boost had reached an astonishing 150%, and it had gained the new trait 'Dragon's Might', taking him further and further down the path of being a Dragon Bane.

His only loss was perhaps the nearly one thousand Spirit Stones he had consumed.

But compared with what he had gained and the contribution points about to fall into his hands, those Spirit Stones were nothing.

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

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

After resting and searching the place for a while.

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

Along the way.

Jiang Li was testing the effects of the new trait, 'Heart of Justice'.

He looked with both eyes.

A hazy gleam surfaced in his gaze.

Then.

The world before Jiang Li's eyes underwent a subtle change.

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

White signified neither evil nor merit.

Green represented those who did good.

Purple marked great philanthropists.

Red denoted sinners.

Dark red signified those burdened with grave sins.

Black marked a demon lord of one region.

Understanding dawned upon Jiang Li.

He immediately grasped the effect of Heart of Justice.

It could help him more quickly identify sinners and provide the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art with fuel.

At the same time.

When he immersed his mind in it, he could distinguish more specific information.

For example, what good deeds someone had done and what sins they had committed.

Jiang Li clicked his tongue inwardly.

This new trait was powerful.

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 hide their identity before him.

It was just...

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

And for the moment, he could not see much use for it.

He could hardly rely on this ability to expose undercover agents everywhere, could he?

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 planned never to leave the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land again and intended to die of old age there, the only outcome of going out would be death.

At that moment.

A system notification sounded.

Ding. As the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art's belief in justice has risen to a new level, the trait 'teachings' has 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." After successful reform, those who are taught will wholeheartedly strive upward and proactively teach others, their words carrying a degree of persuasiveness.

Jiang Li glanced at it.

He sucked in a cold breath.

The newly evolved trait 'teachings' had taken brainwashing to an entirely new height.

Forcing others to reform was one thing, but those who had reformed would even go and persuade others to do good on their own. This was no longer simple brainwashing—this was fucking control over other people's minds.

But...

He liked it.

Previously, the trait 'teachings' only lasted for a few days before expiring. But after evolving, its duration had grown longer, it had gained a spreading effect, and it was no longer limited to Qi Refining stage cultivators.

One could spread to ten, ten to a hundred, a hundred to a thousand.

A single spark could directly start a prairie fire.

If he planted one "taught person" here, next year he would reap a whole group of "taught people."

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

If the time was right 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.

Several ideas arose in Jiang Li's heart.

When they passed Frostfeather City, he claimed that he had some private business to handle and would return to the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land later.

Not long after.

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

It was called the Drunken Flower Brothel.

This was a Ten Thousand Demons Sect branch.

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

Every day, a massive amount of unverified information passed through the Drunken Flower Brothel before being relayed back to the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.

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

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

A madam with a willow-slim waist and a heavy air of the pleasure quarters swayed over.

She was the Drunken Flower Brothel's madam.

She was also the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's contact person, codenamed Nightingale.

A Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.

Under normal circumstances, she would not personally receive guests.

Unless she encountered a target she was eager to hunt or someone from the organization, she would go meet them.

Unfortunately.

Jiang Li qualified as both.

He had once had a chance to become this place's "top male courtesan."

Unfortunately, he had ultimately failed to persuade her to stay.

And she had regretted it for quite some time afterward.

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 possessed it would be regarded as upper management at any branch and could freely mobilize that branch's resources.

Of course.

Such an opportunity only came once.

Once it was used, the Myriad Desire Demon Lord would learn of it afterward. He would 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 mission or assign him a second undercover mission.

But Jiang Li was not worried.

Because he had already decided to occupy this Ten Thousand Demons Sect branch like a magpie taking over a nest.

Subduing the organization's contact person was merely the first step.

Sure enough.

When Nightingale caught sight of the red waist token flashing briefly at Jiang Li's waist, her pupils contracted slightly, and a trace of astonishment flashed through her eyes.

This minor cultivator who had only been at Qi Refining Level 1 two years ago now held a blood-red token, a token of identity possessed only by the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's upper ranks.

What was going on?

Nightingale calmly withdrew her gaze. Her boneless hand rested upon Jiang Li's shoulder, and with a smile like a blossoming flower, she pulled him toward the highest floor of the Drunken Flower Brothel.

The guests along the way did not notice anything amiss.

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 madam immediately dropped to one knee and said solemnly, "Nightingale, contact person 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 her head before him.

It had to be said.

Borrowing a tiger's hide really did feel good.

And now...

He was about to do something meaningful—

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

With the evolved new trait 'teachings', Jiang Li took less than ten minutes to make her completely "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 after another and converted each of them.

A small number of these girls were Ten Thousand Demons Sect disciples, all lying low. At the Drunken Flower Brothel, they usually sold their talents but not their bodies. When their cravings struck, they would seduce several mortals and use them as blood food.

Before long.

One bout of sobbing after another drifted from the private room.

It was enough to stir pity.

Yet Jiang Li's smile only grew brighter.

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

And the first thing he intended to do was simple.

Lure that old dog Yuan Li out and kill him.