https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-173-The-Deeply-Cunning-Jiang-Qiuluan/12554272/
Chapter 174: The Martial Temple's Invitation, Retrieving the Blade and Descending into the Abyss
Chapter 174: The Martial Temple's Invitation, Retrieving the Blade and Descending into the Abyss
The Martial Temple was the foundation of the Great Qian Dynasty, holding an extremely revered position.
The Demon Suppression Department and the Demon Catchers were able to operate independently from the imperial court because they were under the jurisdiction of the Martial Temple.
Elder Wu, as one of the temple's celebrants, had the authority to speak on behalf of the entire Martial Temple.
Could he refuse? Jiang Chengyun was completely dumbfounded. In the lands of the Nine Provinces of Great Qian, whether in the courts or the rivers and lakes, any martial artist would dream of joining the Martial Temple.
It possessed the finest magical artifacts, the greatest abundance of Elixir pills, and an endless collection of precious martial arts manuals.
Moreover, when it came to backing, who could compare to a living, breathing, Nascent Soul realm cultivator?
They didn't need to actively recruit; the best and brightest would come to them.
Yet at this moment, Elder Wu was waiting for Shen Yi's response.
"Stay in the Martial Temple and attend to the Golden Body," the old man said, a hint of complexity flashing in his cloudy eyes. This young man's situation was unheard of; he had absorbed all the aura emitted by the Golden Body, causing these old men to feel a twinge of heartache for it.
But this also indirectly proved how valuable this person was.
It would be a shame to just let him go.
After some discussion, they decided to keep this young man; it wouldn't be a loss.
Jiang Qiuluan stood with his hands hanging by his sides, quietly watching Shen Yi.
It was more or less what she had expected.
With the young man's talent, no one could ignore his existence, not even the Martial Temple.
What surprised Jiang Qiuluan, however, was how proactive these celebrants were, completely shedding their formerly aloof and detached demeanor.
They must have only met Shen Yi once.
What had happened during his time training in the Martial Temple?
"What benefits do you offer?" Shen Yi asked curiously.
"Benefits?" Elder Wu's eyelids twitched. In all these years, the Martial Temple had never invited outsiders to join them.
And now this young man was negotiating with him?
He closed his eyes, calming his mind, before opening them again, "The reason we remain here is singular in purpose—to refine the Golden Body and break through to the Nascent Soul realm. Here, we have the most abundant incense aspiration power."
Elder Wu shook his head, "Don't rely on your youth and talent, thinking you have all the time in the world. A thousand years pass in the blink of an eye. Only when you truly embark on this path will you realize how insufficient time is."
"So...don't waste your precious lifespan on useless matters, like Qingzhou. Once those Mixed Yuan martial artists pull out, they'll naturally resolve the issue."
These few words caused Jiang Chengyun's mood to sink for some unknown reason.
It sounded simple to say that the issue would be resolved once the Mixed Yuan Masters withdrew, but in reality, it represented the cries of the millions of people of Qingzhou, the fall of the Demon Suppression Department's generals, and the tragic deaths of many Demon Catchers.
However, in the face of time that stretched for thousands of years, these matters seemed insignificant.
The people were like weeds, multiplying rapidly.
The generals were a bit more precious, but as long as there was enough incense aspiration power, they could be replicated.
In the eyes of the Martial Temple, it was merely a temporary setback; they could always take back their territory from the demons later.
As a Demon Catcher of Qingzhou, he couldn't really fault them for this.
Because if they didn't resolve their other troubles, it wouldn't just be a matter of temporarily losing Qingzhou.
"...”
Shen Yi remained silent for a moment before finally lifting his gaze, "Then forget it."
With unlimited access to incense aspiration power and the best talent in Great Qian, it would be like having a future Nascent Soul realm cultivator.
The problem was...his talent was fake.
If Shen Yi agreed, it would be far more than simply becoming a disciple of the Martial Temple; he would be groomed as a successor.
How much esteem did that imply? Yet, it had been turned down so casually.
Could it be that Shen was the one who truly had his heart set on Qingzhou?
With this thought, the look in Jiang Chengyun's eyes as he regarded the youth gradually filled with profound admiration.
"Ah," Elder Wu sighed, as if he had anticipated this response.
Only those of the same kind could truly understand each other.
They, too, had once been this proud, believing that there was no one in the world as talented as themselves, that breaking through cultivation realms was as simple as eating and drinking, and that time was of little concern.
The old man stood up, took out a long, rectangular jade box from his storage treasure tool, and placed it on the table. "At least let me put your name down."
The young man was still young and would surely come to regret his decision one day. This was a lesson they had all experienced once, and while they hoped he would learn from their mistakes and avoid taking the long route... oh well, at least he wouldn't be snatched up by those immortal sects first.
After all, this young man was also a Demon Suppression General, and upon returning to Qingzhou, he would still cultivate the Yin Spirit Path. A little delay wouldn't hurt.
The three people in the courtyard turned their attention to the jade box on the table.
Jiang Qiuluan seemed to guess something, and a strange glint flashed in her clear eyes.
From Elder Wu's words, it seemed he intended to recruit Shen Yi.
Thus, the item in the jade box was likely far more than just a medium-grade treasure tool.
Indeed, as the old man opened the lid, a treasure tool in the shape of Shen Yi's waist dagger revealed itself.
"I was worried that you might not be used to it, so I specifically chose it after much consideration," the elder explained.
The straight blade of the dagger was a cold color, with a subdued glow and tooth-like scale patterns. Black rays, resembling mist, emanated from the patterns.
"The dagger is named 'Abyssal Abyss,' and it's a high-grade treasure tool," Elder Wu introduced. "It has no special features, but it can cut through the bodies of Demon Kings. It also has the function of guarding one's soul... If you encounter the Howling Moon Demon King, whose ability can cause souls to scatter and leave the body, carrying this dagger will protect your soul from harm."
The elder took out the long dagger and threw it to the youth.
Shen Yi caught it smoothly and examined it carefully. "Where's the sheath?"
"...Should I also give you a full set of armor?" Elder Wu exhaled, slightly exasperated.
"Are you serious?" Shen Yi looked up, only to see that the old man had already turned and left the courtyard, leaving behind only these words: "Since you've accepted the dagger, I assume you're satisfied with it. Then, it's settled that your name will be recorded in the Martial Temple's records."
Not only was it a high-grade treasure tool, but it was also specifically chosen to counter the Demon King in Qingzhou.
And the final condition was to join the Martial Temple, an opportunity that others could only dream of.
Even Jiang Qiuluan had never received such treatment.
She realized that ever since she started traveling with Shen Yi, she had encountered many novel experiences.
Just then, she noticed that the youth had removed the dagger from his waist and was trying the sheath of Abyssal Abyss on it. He then turned to her and asked, "Can I return half of it first?"
"...”
Jiang Qiuluan walked over and took the black dagger from him. It felt icy to the touch, and the pungent scent of demon blood lingered on it.
It was clearly the same as she remembered, yet it also felt completely different.
It was as if he had completed a long journey for an old friend and was now passing on this experience to her before embarking on a new adventure.
She glanced at the black sheath with golden patterns at Shen Yi's waist and a faint smile curved her lips. "Okay."
(End of Chapter)
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