"Not interested?"
Qin Wuya froze.
The gray-clad elder behind him nearly popped his eyes out.
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Demon Suppressing Division!
This was a position countless people in Great Gan dreamed of obtaining! Wielding towering authority, commanding the Demon Suppressors across the land—what prestige! What glory!
They had considered that Lu Shaoyou might put on airs, bargain over the terms, or even hesitate because of his naturally unruly temperament.
But they had never imagined that the answer they received would be three words so crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Not interested.
Was something wrong with this kid's head?
Qin Wuya studied Lu Shaoyou deeply. In those clear, calm eyes, he saw genuine indifference—not some game of advancing to retreat.
He suddenly found it rather amusing.
Trying to recruit a "demon" who treated rules as nothing, killed as his heart pleased, and lived by swift vengeance and bitter grudges with worldly power and status was laughable in itself.
To someone like him, so-called authority was probably less practical than a pot of fine wine or a cultivation method that could make him stronger.
"Good. Very good."
Rather than becoming angry, Qin Wuya's admiration deepened.
Unmoved by worldly things, seeking only to strengthen oneself.
That was the mindset a pure martial artist, a true powerhouse qualified to contend for the pinnacle of Martial Dao, ought to possess.
"Since you have no interest in joining the Demon Suppressing Division, I will not force you. The doors of the Demon Suppressing Division will always stand open to you."
Qin Wuya abruptly changed the subject, his tone turning solemn.
"However, I would like to make a deal with you—or rather, cooperate with you."
"Cooperate?" Lu Shaoyou raised a brow.
"That's right." Qin Wuya nodded and said gravely, "To break the Sky Locking Array through a frontal assault alone would be harder than climbing to heaven. The only way is to start from within."
"Deep beneath Azure Province lies an ancient divine artifact known as the Qingzhou Ding. This cauldron is one of the Nine Dings, the core that connects our dynasty's fortune with Azure Province's earth veins."
It was precisely because of this cauldron that the Demonic Sect had been unable to turn Azure Province completely into demonic soil over the past two hundred years."
"But now, under the unceasing erosion of the blood calamity's power, the Qingzhou Ding has lost much of its spirituality and is already hanging by a thread. Our goal is to find it, use the imperial Secret Technique to restore it, reignite the dynasty's fortune, and coordinate from within and without to shatter the Sky Locking Array in one stroke!"
Lu Shaoyou listened quietly without interrupting.
Qin Wuya looked at him and said, word by word, "But the Qingzhou Ding is hidden within Azure Province's secret realm. No one knows its exact location.
To find it, we must locate the Dragon Vein Earth Key. There is a high chance that it is in the hands of the Blood Saber Sect."
"The Blood Saber Sect?"
At those three words, a glimmer of interest finally flashed through Lu Shaoyou's eyes.
Qin Wuya took in the change in his expression, a knowing smile curling at his lips.
He knew he had found the right person.
"The Blood Saber Sect was one of the local factions that helped the Demonic Sect set up the great array back then. It is also the Demonic Sect's largest lackey in Azure Province."
"My subordinates and I cannot reveal our identities after entering Azure Province, so it is inconvenient for us to personally handle many matters. Therefore, I need an ally strong enough and utterly unrestrained in his actions to pull out this nail for us."
"And you, Lu Shaoyou, are the most suitable candidate."
Qin Wuya's intentions were already obvious.
He wanted Lu Shaoyou to become their sharpest blade and lead the charge.
"You want me to be your spear and fish chestnuts from the fire for you?" Lu Shaoyou sneered, mercilessly exposing his intentions. "What do I get out of it?"
He was no saint who carried the world in his heart.
Saving Azure Province, saving all living beings—such lofty hats could not be placed on his head.
Without sufficient benefits, they wanted him to risk his life?
Not a chance.
"Of course there are benefits." Qin Wuya seemed to have expected this question and replied unhurriedly, "First, you will gain the friendship of the Demon Suppressing Division. From now on, wherever you travel under heaven, the Demon Suppressing Division's intelligence network will be open to you without condition."
"Second, so long as you obtain the Dragon Vein Earth Key, I can make the decision to let you choose any cultivation method, secret art, or divine weapon stored in the Demon Suppressing Division's secret treasury."
"Third, and most importantly."
Qin Wuya's gaze became overwhelmingly oppressive.
"This Sky Locking Array is a cage. It has not only trapped Azure Province's martial world—it has trapped you as well."
"With this array in place, the moment you break through to the Transcendent Mortal realm, you will inevitably draw the Demonic Sect's experts. As for what will happen then, there is no need for me to spell it out."
"Cooperate with us and break this cage. You will be breaking your own shackles and opening a great path that reaches the heavens."
"Is that reason enough?"
Those final words struck Lu Shaoyou's heart like a heavy hammer.
That was right.
Qin Wuya was correct.
He could choose not to care about national righteousness or the common people.
But he could not ignore his own path of Martial Dao!
He had come to this world carrying a system. What he sought was to sing all the way forward, climb to the highest peak of Martial Dao, and see the scenery beyond its summit.
Yet now, a cage stood across his path, blocking the road ahead.
That was something he could never tolerate.
They wanted to use him as a spear?
Lu Shaoyou sneered inwardly.
That depended on whether they could afford the price.
But...
This cage truly needed to be broken.
After pondering for a moment, Lu Shaoyou finally nodded slowly.
"Fine. I agree."
Seeing him agree, Qin Wuya and the gray-clad elder exchanged a glance and both let out a breath of relief.
"Excellent." A sincere smile appeared on Qin Wuya's face. "A pleasant cooperation."
He took out a pitch-black token from his robes, its front engraved with the ancient character for "Suppress," and handed it over.
"This is the Demon Suppressing Division's black iron token. With it, you may mobilize every hidden agent of the Demon Suppressing Division in Azure Province.
There is a spiritual imprint I left within it. Once you obtain the Dragon Vein Earth Key, crush it, and I will arrive within half an hour."
Lu Shaoyou accepted the token. It felt icy cold in his hand, and its texture was extraordinary. He casually tossed it once before putting it away.
"One final reminder." Qin Wuya's expression turned stern once more. "Before the Qingzhou Ding is restored, remember this well: no matter what, do not attempt to break through to the Transcendent Mortal realm. Otherwise, should you draw the Demonic Sect's experts into descending at any cost, the consequences will be unthinkable."
"Got it." Lu Shaoyou waved a hand impatiently.
He did not want to hear the same words a third time.
"Then we shall not disturb you any longer."
"Until we meet again!"
After saying that, Qin Wuya gave Lu Shaoyou a slight nod. Then, together with the gray-clad elder, his figure flickered, and they silently vanished from where they stood once more, as though they had never appeared.
Soul Severing Cliff was once again left with Lu Shaoyou alone.
The night wind swept past, stirring his tattered clothes.
Over the course of this single night, his world seemed to have expanded without limit.
What had begun as a small grudge in the martial world had risen into a game between the imperial dynasty and the Demonic Sect, tied to the survival or destruction of every living being in an entire province.
The Outer Domain Demonic Sect, the Sky Locking Array, the Qingzhou Ding...
"Heh, this world is getting more and more interesting."
Lu Shaoyou murmured softly. Yet there was not the slightest gravity on his face. Instead, a trace of eager battle intent flickered there.
He weighed the Qi Mei Cudgel in his hand, a cold curve rising at the corner of his lips.
But before beginning this grand game, he would first settle the score with the Blood Saber Sect.
Before you continue