https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-106-Supreme-Art-of-True-Intention-Xixi-s-Terrifying-Talent/12984007/
Chapter 105: The Devil Ox hasn't eaten fish bait in a long time, Exorcising Demon Slayer Carving Zho
Chapter 105: The Devil Ox hasn't eaten fish bait in a long time, Exorcising Demon Slayer Carving Zhong Kui!
Li Che suppressed his elder brother's attempt to stand up, allowing him to continue drinking.
The elder brother swayed unsteadily, but he didn't refuse and sat back down on the chair, continuing to drink with Old Chen.
Li Che walked to the courtyard entrance, his face slightly cold and lonely, with a frown on his forehead.
The door creaked open, revealing two figures in official uniforms.
The official uniforms were black and red, embroidered with red cloud patterns, made of special material, and stood straight and stiff. On the chest, a golden character 'Tranquil' was embroidered.
These were the robes of the Temple Guard Service officers!
Li Che's eyes narrowed as he recognized the two visitors as Temple Guard Service divine enforcers. After all, these robes were too eye-catching, and everyone in Golden Light City knew of them.
"Are you Li Che?"
After opening the door, the two Temple Guard Service divine enforcers fixed their gaze on him.
A powerful divine essence pressure surrounded them, creating an unspoken aura of authority. Just a glance from them was enough to make one's heart tremble.
This was clearly a unique divine secret technique of the Temple Guard Service divine enforcers.
Although the pressure from the two enforcers had no effect on Li Che, it was like a gentle breeze.
Nevertheless, Li Che took a deep breath, his face changing slightly, and he clasped his fists, "Greetings to the two officers."
The Temple Guard Service, as the martial force of the Great Jing Court, could be understood as the Six-Section Gate. Although they primarily dealt with mysterious temple matters, they would intervene in any affairs related to divinity.
Seeing the Temple Guard Service divine enforcers at his home, Li Che's eyes narrowed.
How could they have come so quickly?
It shouldn't be. When he killed Qin Yuqing, he hadn't left any evidence, and the gray-masked undercover agent had testified to his absence at the scene.
It was impossible for the truth to be exposed so quickly.
The leading divine enforcer narrowed his eyes and raised a Temple Guard Service divine enforcer token, looking at Li Che with indifferent eyes, "Come with us, the senior enforcer has some questions for you."
"Senior Enforcer?" Li Che's heart sank slightly.
Within the Celestial Surveillance Agency, the senior enforcer was equivalent to a junior inspector.
Why would such a high-ranking official have questions for him out of the blue?
Could they suspect that Qin Yuqing's death was related to him?
Li Che frowned, glanced at the courtyard, and then followed the two divine enforcers into the dark alleys.
He took out two gold leaves and handed them to the divine enforcers.
"I wonder which senior enforcer wants to interrogate me?"
However, the two divine enforcers smiled mockingly, "Bribing us, the Temple Guard Service officers, is no small crime. If we are discovered, we'll be whipped."
Upon hearing this, Li Che immediately understood.
They wanted more money.
So, he took out ten more gold leaves and handed them over.
This time, the divine enforcers didn't refuse and directly took the money. Indeed, they needed more money.
"You don't need to worry too much. Senior Enforcer Zhang Lianhao just wants us to bring you in for questioning. He has some questions for you regarding Qin Yuqing. Do you know about the third miss of the Qin family who died tragically? Before her death, she secretly captured many cultivators who came from Thunderstrike City."
"Therefore, we need to take away and question all cultivators from Thunderstrike City. As for why the senior enforcer specifically asked for you, we don't know."
The two divine enforcers, in front of Li Che, casually divided the twelve gold leaves among themselves and smiled as they spoke to Li Che.
Li Che's attitude pleased them, as he seemed to understand the situation well.
Having made a trip at this hour, their mood was already sour, but now with some gold leaves in hand, they felt better about the journey and the extra money earned.
"Although you have blood replacement cultivation, it seems unrelated to the death of the third miss of the Qin family. She was a True Qi Master and a Divine Foundation Perfection cultivator..."
The divine enforcer smiled.
Hearing this, Li Che's heart eased a little.
"Oh, it's lively in the courtyard, hosting a family banquet. Should I inform my family? Otherwise, they might be anxious, and it won't be a joyful celebration." The divine enforcer glanced at Li Che.
Li Che clasped his fists, "I just passed the Third Rank Guest Scholar Examination at the Celestial Surveillance Agency today."
"My family insisted on setting up a table to celebrate this good news. I initially refused, but they said it's a significant event, so we set up a table to celebrate."
"Since you've come at this hour, why not have a drink before leaving?"
As Li Che finished speaking, the two divine enforcers' faces changed slightly. The divine essence in the air paused momentarily.
"A Third Rank Guest Scholar of the Celestial Surveillance Agency?"
The two divine enforcers exchanged glances, their eyes revealing surprise.
Then, in a tacit understanding, they took out the twelve gold leaves they had just divided and returned them to Li Che.
"So you're a colleague from the Celestial Surveillance Agency... We didn't know, and since you're an external guest scholar, it's a public duty. We bear no guilt for our ignorance."
Li Che waved his hand, returning the gold leaves.
To establish a firm footing in the city, he needed to maintain good relations.
"How can we take these back? It's a trouble for you two to come at this hour. Let's consider it a token of appreciation." Li Che smiled and invited the two divine enforcers from the Temple Guard Service into the courtyard for a drink.
They gave face and didn't press further.
After drinking, Li Che and Zhang Ya exchanged a few words and left together.
...
...
Golden Light City, Temple Guard Service.
As the largest martial force in Golden Light City, the Temple Guard Service was filled with powerful cultivators. Countless cultivators were stationed here, as the Temple Guard Service constantly monitored the mysterious temple.
If the divine essence of the mysterious temple outside the city infected and created evil spirits, the Temple Guard Service would send people to clear and suppress them.
Although the Great Jing Court granted considerable authority to the city's aristocratic families, the Temple Guard Service's deterrence remained formidable.
The Temple Guard Service's headquarters differed from the Celestial Surveillance Agency's Treasure Tower.
The main gate had three openings, each with a pair of dark wooden doors. On both sides of the gate, there were huge stone sculptures of dragon-like creatures, lifelike and imbued with divine essence. Their angry gaze could make one's heart tremble.
Inside, numerous pavilions stood tall, with flying eaves and raised corners. Unlike the Celestial Surveillance Agency's Treasure Tower, which had an eight-story building, most of the structures here were two to three-story pavilions, filled with solemnity and coldness.
"Please, Master Li."
The two divine enforcers' attitudes were much more relaxed as they spoke to Li Che.
Upon entering the Temple Guard Service, the dense divine essence was almost overwhelming, naturally creating a sense of oppression. Those who hadn't cultivated divine essence might not even be able to circulate their qi and blood.
Li Che showed a displeased expression and slowly followed the two divine enforcers.
After a moment, they arrived at a two-story pavilion.
After opening the door, Li Che thanked the two divine enforcers and stepped into the pavilion.
The Temple Guard's senior enforcer, in terms of status, was equivalent to a junior inspector in the Celestial Surveillance Agency, but the power in his hands was far greater. After all, under a senior enforcer, there were ten divine enforcers of the Divine Foundation Realm, and under each divine enforcer, there were dozens more divine enforcers.
Some powerful senior enforcers even had over a hundred divine enforcers under their command.
How could the junior inspector of the Celestial Surveillance Agency, who worked alone, compare to that?
Of course, both were independent departments with different functions, so they couldn't be compared in this way.
As Li Che stepped into the pavilion, the divine enforcer silently closed the door.
The rich aroma of tea permeated the air, and when Li Che looked around, he saw a sandalwood desk. Next to the desk was a small tea table with a boiling kettle. Green tea leaves danced in the bubbling water.
A figure, dressed in a red tiger-embroidered enforcer's robe, sat upright in a chair, preparing tea.
The dense divine essence was almost tangible, filling the air and making it difficult to breathe.
The dim candlelight flickered, illuminating the pavilion brightly.
"I am Li Che, and I have met the senior enforcer," Li Che said respectfully.
The middle-aged man lifted his head, revealing a hideous scar on his face.
He held a teacup, took a sip, and then slightly raised his eyelids, his gaze falling on Li Che.
Boom!
In an instant, the divine essence within the pavilion seemed to be manipulated by a terrifying divine consciousness, swirling and gathering above Li Che's head.
"Devil Ox?"
The two words, cold and devoid of emotion, were spoken by Zhang Lianhao, the senior enforcer.
Under the pressure of the divine essence, Li Che began to act, his face turning extremely pale, and his legs trembling uncontrollably.
"Senior Enforcer, are you talking about the ruthless Devil Ox from Thunderstrike City?"
Li Che clenched his teeth, as if struggling under the weight of the divine essence, and breathed heavily through his nose.
Silence filled the entire building, with only the sound of the boiling water in the kettle breaking the quiet.
Zhang Lianhao watched Li Che quietly for a long time before saying, "Someone said you are the Devil Ox."
Li Che took a deep breath and said, "That's slander!"
"The Devil Ox killed the elderly master of the Zhang family in Thunderstrike City, and he was a True Qi Master. Saying I'm the Devil Ox is like saying I can kill True Qi Masters."
"Senior Enforcer, do you think I can kill True Qi Masters?"
A powerful divine consciousness swept through Li Che's body, scanning him repeatedly.
However, Li Che's vital energy, cultivated through the Dragon Elephant Vajra, and his divine essence, refined through the Pure Heart Dao Fruit, were hidden, making it impossible to be detected.
After the fruitless scanning, the divine consciousness eventually dissipated, and the oppressive divine essence also dispersed, making the air in the entire pavilion seem to become fresher.
"Indeed, with your blood replacement technique, you can't kill True Qi Masters."
Zhang Lianhao withdrew his divine consciousness and stopped the intimidation.
"Congratulations, you have become a third-rank guest scholar of the Celestial Surveillance Agency."
Li Che was drenched in sweat and clenched his fists, but he didn't say more.
"Senior Enforcer, I have just arrived in Golden Light City, and I don't know who is slandering me. Who is spreading these lies?"
Zhang Lianhao poured a cup of tea and handed it to Li Che, "Drink some tea, don't be angry. The Temple Guard's method of handling cases is like this—first intimidate, then investigate."
"The one who said I was the Devil Ox, I think I know him. His name is Zhang Xiangyang, the former divine catcher of Thunderstrike City."
Li Che's eyes narrowed. The escaped Zhang Xiangyang had appeared in the city and was caught and imprisoned.
This was the safest place in the city.
He couldn't help but reflect on his own methods. He should have found a way to get rid of Zhang Xiangyang earlier, and then there wouldn't have been this kind of incident today.
"So it's the divine catcher..." Li Che let out a breath.
"Don't believe the words of the Spirit Infants Sect! The Spirit Infants Sect has committed countless atrocities in Thunderstrike City. Even the city lord, Cao Guang, joined the sect and sacrificed a thousand spirit children. It's truly inhuman!"
Zhang Lianhao's eyes were calm, as if he had seen it all before, and he nodded, "Yes, it's very inhuman."
"I didn't believe it either, but I still wanted to ask you about something. Do you know about Xu Beihu? The people of Thunderstrike City were tortured and killed by Qin Yuqing, and she was also targeting the An family who had moved to the city. She was about to make her move when she suddenly died."
Zhang Lianhao took a sip of tea and exhaled hot air.
"Alright, you can go now. Be careful. The Spirit Master of the Spirit Infants Sect has escaped, and I heard that he's after your daughter, who received the Spirit Infant Woodcarving. Once the ritual is complete, they will be connected. The Spirit Master might still come after your daughter, the supreme spirit child."
Upon hearing this, Li Che's face turned pale, and his eyes widened in shock.
"The Spirit Master of the Spirit Infants Sect? The Spirit Infants Sect... How could they be so vicious? My entire family has moved to the city, and they still won't let us go?"
"The city's security shouldn't be an issue, but I'm afraid he might sneak out at night and attack your family."
Zhang Lianhao glanced at Li Che, who was trembling with anger and fear.
"I've asked all that I need to. You can go now..."
Li Che was so angry that his body trembled slightly. He thought for a moment, wanting to seek Zhang Lianhao's protection.
Zhang Lianhao didn't even look at him and simply waved his hand dismissively.
Li Che had no choice but to leave the pavilion.
As he stepped out of the government office, Li Che's intense anger dissipated, and his face became calm.
There was another person in the pavilion, and he felt a murderous intent from them.
The Heaven Earth Chessboard enveloped Li Che, and he clearly sensed the other person's aura, as dark as if it were dripping water...
"Someone from the Qin family?"
The aura was somewhat familiar. When he had shot and killed the Gray Mask spy in front of the Qin family's gate, this person's aura had appeared.
As for the senior enforcer, Zhang Lianhao, he didn't seem to have any murderous intent towards Li Che. It seemed he was acting on someone's behalf, but his words carried a deeper meaning.
Li Che's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Zhang Xiangyang... The Spirit Master..."
"Fishing? The Devil Ox hasn't taken the bait for a long time..."
...
...
Inside the pavilion.
Zhang Lianhao poured another cup of tea, and after a moment, a figure emerged from the shadows.
It was Qin Haonan, Qin Yuqing's brother.
How so? Do you think your sister was murdered?"
"He's just a small-time Blood Warrior, with a divine essence as weak as a stream... Do you think he could have killed her?"
Zhang Lianhao asked.
Qin Haonan stroked his beard, "It doesn't seem so, but Zhang Xiangyang from Flying Thunder City said that Li Che and Devil Ox are somehow connected..."
"What a pity. This boy has become a Third-Rank Guest Scholar in the Celestial Surveillance Agency. Otherwise, I wouldn't have wasted words; I would have just killed him directly." Qin Haonan sighed, "At that time, if he were Devil Ox, he wouldn't have surrendered easily. He would have revealed his trump card and resisted..."
Qin Haonan spoke straightforwardly, showing no embarrassment about discussing the murder in front of Zhang Lianhao.
"It seems he was recommended by Li Qingshan. If you really kill him, won't you be afraid that Li Qingshan will come back and use his Ram Hammer to smash your head?"
"Haha, Li Qingshan values this person because of his daughter, a Spirit Child. The recommendation is probably just a favor..."
"This Li Che is just a Blood Warrior. Dead is dead."
"Why would Li Qingshan offend my Qin family for him?"
"However, according to Zhang Xiangyang, this Devil Ox... Even if it's not Li Che, he's still connected to Li Che's family. Li Che's daughter, Li Nuan Xi, is also very close to Devil Ox. Zhang Xiangyang saw it himself. Perhaps... they are master and disciple?"
Qin Haonan looked at Zhang Lianhao.
"You better think it through. He's a top-notch Spirit Child pre-selected by a branch sect of the Primordial Divine Sect."
"Then you're not just provoking Li Qingshan, but directly provoking the Primordial Divine Sect."
Zhang Lianhao sipped his tea and said indifferently.
"Time to see him off."
Qin Haonan furrowed his brows, glanced at Zhang Lianhao, and without saying more, turned and left.
After exiting the Temple Guard Service's office, he stood on the long street in the darkness.
"The Divine Sect is indeed not to be trifled with..."
After a moment's thought, Qin Haonan headed towards the direction of the Golden Rift Sect.
...
...
When Li Che returned home, everyone was still awake.
Seeing Li Che's safe return, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's good that you're safe, really good..." Elder Brother Li Liang had mostly sobered up from his drinking, as Li Che had been taken away by the Temple Guard Service, and their reputation was well-known.
Old Chen puffed on his tobacco pipe, his brows tightly knit, "Is it because of the Flying Thunder City incident? Ai, that thousand-knife-worthy Cao Guang..."
After Li Che calmed everyone down, they gradually left.
Zhang Ya put Xixi to sleep and then stopped Li Che, her hands on his waist, "Husband, are you really okay?"
She knew Li Che's true identity, which made her very worried.
After all, the capital city was much stronger than Flying Thunder City, with countless powerful individuals, causing her sense of security to plummet.
Li Che rubbed Zhang Ya's head, "I'm fine. How can I not be safe when I've returned unharmed? Moreover, I'm now a Third-Rank Guest Scholar in the Celestial Surveillance Agency. Even if the Temple Guard Service has no evidence, they wouldn't dare to act rashly against me."
Zhang Ya pressed her cheek against Li Che's robust chest, listening to his vigorous heartbeat, and her heart calmed slightly.
She softly hummed in agreement.
"You're the head of the family; you can't let anything happen to you. We need to watch Xixi grow up together."
"Don't worry. In two months, it's the entrance exam for the Divine Sect's branch sects. Xixi is basically guaranteed to become a disciple of the Divine Sect. No one dares to touch her, and after she enters the sect, even fewer will dare."
"Alright, no need to worry. Everything will be fine with me."
"Let me check. Did you practice martial arts today? Did you master those muscle-stretching techniques I taught you? Let's see if I should teach you new ones."
"New techniques?"
Amidst Zhang Ya's soft and gentle voice, the couple entered a muscle-stretching cultivation session.
...
...
The next day.
Li Che, feeling refreshed, left home and headed to the Celestial Surveillance Agency for his shift. He donned the robe of a Guest Scholar, underneath which he still wore a black elastic suit.
The shift was simple; he just had to drink tea and chat with Shangguan Qinghong in the tea room.
"Are you going to accept the task of carving a wooden statue for divine essence crystals?"
Shangguan Qinghong, her crystal-like jade feet bare, squatted on a chair, munching on melon seeds.
Hearing Li Che's question, she took out the task book and began flipping through it.
"There is one. It's for an inner disciple of Heart Monkey Temple who cultivates Wrathful Divinity. They need a Ten Cities-level 'Wrathful Gaze Exorcist' type statue. There's no reference statue, so the woodcarving master can freely express themselves, but after the product is completed, it needs to be checked for the client's satisfaction before the deal is confirmed."
Shangguan Qinghong explained.
"What if the client is not satisfied?" Li Che furrowed his brows.
"The client can refuse to accept it. This is the task contract. If you can't accept it, then don't take the task." Shangguan Qinghong stated matter-of-factly.
Li Che nodded, "How much is the reward?"
"Two Ten Cities-level Divine Essence Crystals."
"Just two?"
Shangguan Qinghong gave Li Che a strange look, "That's the market price, and you don't think two Ten Cities-level Divine Essence Crystals are too few, do you? Your monthly salary is only three crystals..."
Li Che smiled awkwardly, as he had already spent this month's salary.
Being a Moonlight Clan member, Li Che naturally hoped for a higher price.
"Are you taking it?" Shangguan Qinghong popped a melon seed, blinking her big eyes as she asked.
"I'll take it!"
"There's no reference statue, so I can freely express myself?" Li Che narrowed his eyes.
"Yes!" Shangguan Qinghong nodded.
Li Che seemed deep in thought. This was his first task, the first step towards building his reputation.
If he wanted to earn more Divine Essence Crystals in the future and quickly gather enough to push the maturity of his Pure Heart Dao Fruit to level 3...
The reputation from this first task was extremely important! With a good reputation, high-paying tasks would come pouring in!
"A Ten Cities-level divine essence wooden statue can create a gap, and it's not just about the divine essence content... One can only focus on the artistic expression."
Li Che's eyes lit up slightly as he thought back to his previous speculations. Based on his memory of divine statues, he could further enhance his immortal artisanry...
Now, he could thoroughly test his skills with this first task.
"Wrathful Gaze Exorcist... To exorcise ghosts, one must have a wrathful gaze..."
"Then it should be that..."
"Leopard head with circular eyes, iron face with twisted beards!"
"General Who Exorcises Demons and Slays Devils, Iron-faced Zhongnan, Demon Sweeping Venerable!"
"Zhong Kui!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report