Jia-Nine Office Begins Its Demon Hunt

Li Qingxian handed over a one-hundred-tael silver note.

Han Anbo waved his hand and laughed, "The rent for an ordinary empty room is only five taels of silver a year, and even the slightly more expensive ones are no more than ten taels. You haven't even spent all the money you gave me before."

"These include money for Life Buying; please help them exchange it for silver coins."

"That's true." Han Anbo accepted the silver note.

After agreeing on the plan, Li Qingxian took out the golden talisman paper from the book box and used the Brush-Wielding Art to refine the Thunder Talisman.

One batch of Thunder Talisman consumed only 10% of the mana, another batch consumed 30%, and finally five Thunder Talisman, each 100% of the mana, were created, exhausting all mana.

Even though the Thunder Dragon Fire Seal could quickly replenish its mana, it was eventually drained.

Exhausted of his magical power, Li Qingxian drifted off to sleep.

In the early morning, Li Qingxian faintly heard knocking and chattering. He opened his bloodshot eyes and looked towards the door.

Han Anbo walked in carrying two large bundles, placed them on the table, turned his head and looked over, saying, "Awake? The Fate Material sent by Daren Zhou. I've already told the guard to ask Daren Zhou for leave, and we'll go hunting demons again tomorrow."

Li Qingxian nodded and slowly got out of bed.

Han Anbo picked up a perfect Thunder Talisman, held it up to the light, and carefully examined it. He sighed softly, "Your talent in Thunder Arts is indeed extraordinary. Although I can't draw talismans, I've seen many. The incantation itself is mediocre, but the thunder power contained within is unlike that of Ninth Rank talisman; its power is probably at the Eighth Rank level."

Li Qingxian to himself that Han Anbo had a sharp eye. You Fei had said that her Thunder Arts at full power was indeed only equivalent to the Eighth Rank in terms of pure destructive force, but it contained the power to ward off evil, so its actual power was the Seventh Rank.

"Where 'Yu Ping?" Li Qingxian asked.

"He just tries to get on the good side of the cooks and find things to eat; that's all he does all day," Han Anbo said.

"I'll be refining Fate Artifact in a bit; could you please keep an eye on it for me?"

"Good."

After washing up, Li Qingxian noticed that the dining hall was closed, so he stole some snacks and pastries from Yu Ping to tide him over before starting to refine his Fate Artifact.

It only took an hour to successfully refine the Fortune Measuring Ruler and the Fate-Setting Scale.

Each of these two Fate Artifact also contains a portion of Spirit Metal.

Li Qingxian was content to remain in his Fate Mansion.

On Fate Star Mountain, the Fate Fishing Rod stands atop the mountain, overlooking all the surrounding peaks.

A golden ruler was stuck to the side, one side of which was engraved with star-like markings to measure fate, and the other side was engraved with water ripples to measure Fate Arts.

The Fate-Setting Scale are on the other side of the Fate Fishing Rod. They have a black wooden beam, a gold weight, and a black gold hook. The Fate-Setting Scale can weigh the reality and illusion of the Fate Mansion, Fate Star, Fate Pillar, and Fate Spirit. They can also be used for special Fate Arts, such as the Fate-Taking Arts.

Li Qingxian pondered in his heart.

"The Fate Fishing Rod has little practical use, but because I possess the Heaven's Mandate Instrument, which allows me to see Fate Mold, its effect is amplified ten thousandfold. The Fortune Measuring Ruler and Fate-Setting Scale are probably the same. As for the Fate Artifact and Fate Arts of other Fate Arts sects, I'll try to acquire them if the opportunity arises. However, it will require exchanging them for extremely valuable Fate Mold..."

Li Qingxian pondered the Fate Arts, while Han Anbo rented out a house to find people willing to sell their lives.

Demon-Hunting Office, small training ground, large flags fluttering on all four sides.

The more than one hundred Night Guard were divided into five teams and received instruction from a Sixth Rank official of the Demon-Hunting Office.

Song Yanxue stood on the reviewing stand, tall and slender, with a serious expression, and remained silent.

After the instructions were given, the troops set off.

Song Yanxue led the officials back to Snow Studio.

Walking along the road, a Seventh Rank official said, "Daren Song, that Li Qingxian really doesn't respect our Demon-Hunting Office. He agreed to participate in the demon hunt today, but suddenly changed it to tomorrow this morning. I had to find a team at the last minute to make up the numbers."

Song Yanxue frowned. Others might not know what happened in the Eerie Ground last night, but as Principal Fourth Rank commander, she knew everything. Because the Eerie Ground had to be kept secret, no one had spoken of it yet.

A sixteen-year-old child, having just advanced to the Fate Arts Master, has already solved the Yellow Springs Strange Land. Even if it costs him an ancestral Fate Artifact, it is still an extraordinary feat and a great achievement.

Unfortunately, he was Li Gangfeng's son, so it was inconvenient to report to the Emperor immediately. A suitable opportunity needed to be found. Otherwise, if it were any other Night Guard, the Emperor would have surely bestowed a reward the next day.

Such a good child, never causing trouble or making a fuss, never complaining, quietly serving the court and saving lives—why should he be criticized?

"Ye Han also suddenly changed his mind to tomorrow this morning, why didn't you mention him?" Song Yanxue asked in return.

The officials from the Demon-Hunting Office behind them were extremely surprised. They looked at each other, unable to understand. Song Yanxue clearly hated people who didn't follow the rules, so why was she so biased towards Li Qingxian? Could it be...?

The Seventh Rank official looked guilty and hurriedly said, "Ye Han is different. He has reached a crucial point in his cultivation and is about to be promoted to the Ninth Rank."

"From now on, focus your energy on cultivation and serving the court, and stop emulating Ye Han." Song Yanxue said, giving the Seventh Rank official a cold glance.

"Yes, yes, yes..." The Seventh Rank official was sweating profusely and dared not argue.

The other officials exchanged glances, increasingly puzzled. How did Ye Han, a perfectly good person, become a pariah in Song Sizheng's eyes?

Li Qingxian spent the afternoon cultivating, learning various basic Daoist techniques.

That evening, he took Han Anbo and Yu Ping to the rented house on Xinping Street to Life Buying.

Late at night, Li Qingxian and his two companions returned.

Six more ordinary life Fate Star Mountain Fate Star.

The next morning, Li Qingxian went to the rented house again and bought seven more Fate Star, making a total of thirteen.

In the afternoon, Li Qingxian, accompanied by Han Anbo and Yu Ping, who were fully armed and carrying packages, first went to Chunfeng Residence to bid farewell to Zhou Chunfeng and Zhou Hen, and then arrived at the Demon-Hunting Office's small training ground.

Upon arriving at the small drill ground adorned with colorful flags, a Seventh Rank official approached, inquired about the identities of the three men, glanced at Li Qingxian, and said, "Follow me; you are to join Wu Commandant's troops."

The four men approached a burly man with a thick beard and greeted him.

The burly man was dressed in Eighth Rank rhinoceros-head iron breastplate, complete with shoulder and arm armor, and the rest of his body was covered in shiny black checkered leather armor. He was two or three heads taller than the average person and stood in front like a big tree.

He glanced down at Li Qingxian, his expression serious, and asked, "Li Qingxian, the Fate Arts Master who Street Patrol Office?"

"It is I."

"Knows Daoist arts?"

"Meeting."

"Alright, I'm Wu Jingtian. Work hard with me and kill as many monsters as possible." After saying that, Wu Jingtian looked behind Li Qingxian and said, "Brother Han, you're a veteran Night Guard. Please give me some pointers on the way."

"Not at all, not at all. I'll do whatever you say, Daren Wu. I'm just a few years older, it's nothing."

Wu Jingtian glanced at Yu Ping, then went around to his back. The man, who neither seemed pleased nor angry, raised an eyebrow and looked at the three large bundles and the Tiger-Head Bronze Club on Yu Ping's back.

"Will it be able to transport so much cargo?"

Yu Ping puffed out his chest and said, "As long as there's food, I can manage."

"You can eat and drink, good. Follow me." Wu Jingtian led the three to a corner of the training ground.

A dozen or so people were gathered there.

"Qingxian, what brings you to this team?" Ye Han walked over happily.

Li Qingxian smiled and said, "It was arranged by your superiors in the Demon-Hunting Office. I thought you went yesterday."

"Don't even mention it. Something went wrong with my cultivation yesterday, so it had to be postponed for a day. Come, let me introduce you. This is the famous Fate Arts Master, Li Qingxian." Ye Han warmly put his arm around Li Qingxian's shoulder and introduced him to the others.

Apart from four people who were perhaps aloof and only gave a brief greeting, the other dozen or so were very enthusiastic, surrounding Li Qingxian and asking him all sorts of questions, some about Wei Yong, others about the Seventh-Rank Nemesis, leaving Ye Han standing aside.