Chapter 217: The Feast! Hunting the Yellow Heaven Sect!

Chapter 217: The Feast! Hunting the Yellow Heaven Sect!

At the Inspection Bureau.

"Lord, it's so cold today!" Xie Xiaojiu rubbed her hands together in front of the fireplace.

The glowing charcoal illuminated her face, making her cheeks appear especially rosy.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning momentarily put down the book in his hand and glanced out the window.

The snow outside was falling heavily, like goose feathers, and occasionally, large patches of blood would drift through the gaps in the window, settling on the wooden floor and gradually accumulating into a thin layer of snow.

After that, Jiang Ning turned his head to glance at Xie Xiaojiu.

"If you feel cold, why didn't you wear more clothes when you went out earlier?"

Xie Xiaojiu shook her head, "Wearing too many clothes feels too restrictive; I don't like it!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled and didn't say anything further.

Indeed, for a martial artist, wearing too many clothes is quite inconvenient.

Even in this sub-zero level of cold, it wouldn't significantly affect a martial artist of his caliber.

At most, he might feel a bit chilly.

This cold wasn't life-threatening nor harmful to the body.

It might just be a bit uncomfortable at most.

Just then, Xie Xiaojiu tightened the collar of her clothes.

"Lord, I'll go close the window!"

"No!" Jiang Ning immediately stopped her.

Seeing Xie Xiaojiu's puzzled gaze, Jiang Ning pointed at the burning charcoal in front of him.

"If the doors and windows are completely closed, the lack of air circulation can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning."

"Carbon monoxide poisoning?" Xie Xiaojiu's eyes showed confusion.

"Mhm!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Facing Xie Xiaojiu's perplexed expression, this was the only explanation he could offer.

He certainly couldn't tell her that burning wood in an enclosed room produces a lot of carbon dioxide, which could lead to carbon dioxide poisoning.

If he said that, Xie Xiaojiu would only be more confused.

Seeing this, Xie Xiaojiu stopped insisting and tightened her collar again, continuing to warm herself by the fire.

Jiang Ning reopened the book in his hand.

【+1 Experience Points for the 'Recognizing Words and Phrases' skill】

Just then—

"Lord, aren't you practicing martial arts today?" Xie Xiaojiu asked as she looked at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning shook his head slowly while reading the book in his hand.

"I'll take a day off from training today."

At this moment, Xie Xiaojiu looked at Jiang Ning's serene reading posture, and a hint of excitement suddenly appeared on her face.

"I'll make tea for you, Lord!"

After saying this, she turned and left.

Watching Xie Xiaojiu's inexplicably cheerful figure, Jiang Ning smiled and shook his head, then continued reading the book in his hand.

Having reached the seventh stage of Sinew Refinement, which is akin to the Dragon Sinew level, further progress couldn't be achieved solely through effort.

External objects were indispensable for this step.

Only by relying on external objects could one make up for the innate deficiencies of the human body.

Moreover, Liu Lintang's recent display had greatly reduced Jiang Ning's sense of crisis.

So, he decided to relax his tense expression, read some books, broaden his knowledge, and incidentally gain some experience points for the 'Recognizing Words and Phrases' skill.

Breaking through this skill could increase his mental power.

After witnessing the Earth King's Yin Soul leaving its body in the Yellow Heaven Sect, Jiang Ning realized that mental power must not become his weakness.

If mental power became a weakness, he might not even know how he died in the future.

That night, if not for his exceptional mental power, he wouldn't have noticed the arrival of the Earth King's Yin Soul.

【+1 Experience Points for the 'Recognizing Words and Phrases' skill】

【+1 Experience Points for the 'Recognizing Words and Phrases' skill】

【+1 Experience Points for the 'Recognizing Words and Phrases' skill】

【.】

As time passed, Jiang Ning's proficiency in the 'Recognizing Words and Phrases' skill continued to increase.

His efficiency was now much higher compared to when he first started.

A moment later—

Xie Xiaojiu reappeared, constantly bringing in tea chairs and stools.

"What are you doing?" Jiang Ning asked curiously as he took a break and glanced at her.

"It's snowing today! It's the perfect time to make tea and enjoy the snow. It's a wonderful experience!" Xie Xiaojiu explained.

"Make tea?" Jiang Ning smiled and said, "Alright, go ahead then!"

After saying this, Jiang Ning continued reading his book.

Time passed by, moment by moment.

The snow outside fell heavier, and the world became silent.

"Lord, please have some tea!"

Xie Xiaojiu brought a cup of steaming hot tea to Jiang Ning.

"Good!" Jiang Ning looked up at Xie Xiaojiu and smiled slightly.

Then, he took the scalding hot tea and gently blew on the surface to disperse the two floating tea leaves.

After taking a small sip, the hot tea flowed down his throat.

Jiang Ning instantly felt a bitter taste in his mouth, followed by a sweet aftertaste, and finally, a sweet sensation on the tip of his tongue. A warm feeling spread from his abdomen throughout his body.

"How is it?" Xie Xiaojiu looked at Jiang Ning expectantly.

Jiang Ning looked at her expectant gaze and nodded slightly, "Good tea!"

"Thank you for the praise, Lord!" A smile immediately appeared on Xie Xiaojiu's face.

At that moment, the door opened, and a gust of wind and snow blew into the room.

The two looked up, and it was none other than Feng Jiuge.

Dressed in a fiery red outfit, she wore a fox fur coat and a hat made from fox fur.

"In this weather, you actually came?" Jiang Ning asked.

Feng Jiuge turned and closed the door, blocking the wind and snow outside.

She glanced at Xie Xiaojiu and then spoke to Jiang Ning, "You've been in the Surveillance Department for so many days, and you don't feel marginalized at all? In all this time, apart from Ye Qiu, the commander, occasionally seeking you out, none of the other three commanders have ever looked for you."

Upon hearing Feng Jiuge's words, Jiang Ning paused for a moment, then nodded in thoughtful agreement.

"Indeed, now that you mention it!"

Jiang Ning smiled faintly, "But what does this have to do with me?"

"Have you seen Ran Hongmei these days?" Feng Jiuge asked.

"No," Jiang Ning shook his head.

"That's it then!" Feng Jiuge continued to warm her hands by the fire, then turned to Xie Xiaojiu, "Xiaojiu, pour me a cup of hot tea, please!"

Xie Xiaojiu: "..."

She gave Feng Jiuge a speechless look, then slowly poured her a cup of hot tea.

Taking the cup from Xie Xiaojiu, Feng Jiuge said, "I saw Ran Hongmei at He Jinyun's place."

"What do you mean?" Jiang Ning asked.

Feng Jiuge shook her head, "I'm merely relaying what I've seen and heard."

Then she added, "But I can tell you clearly, they're marginalizing you! They're not including you in their plans."

"Play?" Jiang Ning asked in surprise.

"Play!" Feng Jiuge nodded, "Do you think people like He Jinyun join the Surveillance Department just for fun?"

"For the country and the people?" Feng Jiuge shook her head, "They're only after their own interests."

"In the Surveillance Department, contribution points can be exchanged for treasures from the Saint Warrior Treasury, and they can be used for all kinds of martial arts advancements."

"They can even be used to obtain the secrets of becoming a Saint Warrior."

"There are also legendary immortal medicines, treasures, divine abilities, and more!"

"And by consuming contribution points, you can directly advance your official rank and be transferred to larger cities!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning wasn't surprised at all.

For the country and the people?

For the Great Xia Dynasty?

He had never thought of it that way before.

Feng Jiuge looked at Jiang Ning, "Yesterday, they came to me, wanting to draw me into their plans."

"To do what?" Jiang Ning asked.

"To gain contribution points!" Feng Jiuge replied.

"Gain contribution points?" Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed.

"Yes!" Feng Jiuge nodded, "To gain contribution points!"

"How?" Jiang Ning couldn't quite believe his suspicions.

"You should have guessed something by now!" Feng Jiuge said, then looked out the window.

"Before, there were many followers of the Cult of Malevolent Gods in Luoshui County. Now, the heads of some of these people are being counted as contribution points."

"Is it true?" Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed.

"Claiming credit for others' achievements is quite common! Moreover, those people had issues to begin with, and some of them were even tainted by the aura of evil deities."

"Anyone tainted by the aura of evil deities can be considered a member of the Cult of Malevolent Gods!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning closed his eyes for a few breaths.

After a moment, he opened his eyes and looked at Feng Jiuge.

"And what about you? What's your decision?"

Feng Jiuge smiled, "To be honest, I'm tempted too! You don't understand the Saint Warrior Treasury, nor have you truly understood the value of contribution points in the Surveillance Department."

"The wealth accumulated by the Saint Warrior over nearly a thousand years has been completely opened up after the establishment of the Surveillance Department."

"With those treasures, even nurturing another Saint Warrior is possible!"

"And for us, just a small share is enough to advance our martial arts achievements to the next level."

"Furthermore, my team members below me have been feeling dissatisfied these days. Compared to others, they've gained far fewer benefits by following me."

Feng Jiuge sighed as she spoke.

"But I can't get past this mental hurdle!"

Then, she turned to look at Jiang Ning.

"I wonder what you think?"

"What does this have to do with me?" Jiang Ning asked.

"Don't you want to join in and reap the benefits?" Feng Jiuge asked.

"I have no such intentions!" Jiang Ning shook his head lightly.

"I understand!" Feng Jiuge stood up, "You truly haven't disappointed me!"

"I shall take my leave!" With that, Feng Jiuge suddenly turned and left.

Chi Ga—

As she opened the door, the wind and snow instantly poured into the room through the narrow gap.

Feng Jiuge suddenly turned to face Jiang Ning.

"Lord, if you have any doubts about the Flame Tide Spear Art, you can come to me for guidance. My mastery of the Flame Tide Spear Art was personally taught by my father, and I have already achieved mastery!"

A moment later, after Feng Jiuge left, Jiang Ning suddenly spoke up, "Xiao Jiu, what do you think about this matter?"

"I also have some understanding of this matter!" Xie Xiaojiu replied.

"Have your subordinates been complaining these days?" Jiang Ning asked.

"Yes!" Xie Xiaojiu nodded, "A commoner who is infected with the evil deity's breath can be considered a member of the beauty of it. Bringing back proof from their bodies is worth ten contribution points!"

"Ten contribution points? That's a lot!" Jiang Ning's gaze intensified.

Xie Xiaojiu nodded, "Indeed, it's a lot! One such commoner is worth a month's salary for an ordinary member. Moreover, one contribution point in the underground market is worth twelve to thirteen copper coins, which is equivalent to one or two silver taels."

Upon hearing these words, Jiang Ning immediately understood why Xie Xiaojiu's subordinates had been complaining.

Everything stemmed from the allure of wealth that stirred people's hearts.

A commoner who once worshipped the Cult of Malevolent Gods and was infected with the evil deity's breath but showed no resistance was worth a month's salary for them.

Such easily obtainable wealth would tempt anyone.

They joined the Inspection Bureau seeking wealth, power, and influence.

As long as they had contribution points, they could obtain all three.

"Why didn't you tell me about this before?" Jiang Ning asked.

Hearing this, Xie Xiaojiu spoke up, "There's nothing to say about it! I would never stoop so low as to do such a thing! Moreover, as someone from Luoshui County, I wouldn't do such a thing!"

Jiang Ning looked at her earnest expression and couldn't help but smile.

"Don't worry! I wouldn't do such a thing either!"

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Xie Xiaojiu secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

Having been by Jiang Ning's side these days, she naturally knew that Jiang Ning was currently in need of contribution points.

Now that Jiang Ning was aware of this matter, she feared that Jiang Ning would also view ordinary commoners as stepping stones for their advancement, just like those people.

If Jiang Ning were to make such a choice, she wouldn't know what to do herself.

At this moment, Jiang Ning quietly gazed out the window, murmuring to himself.

"No wonder I haven't seen many people from the bureau these days."

He stared out the window for a long time.

Suddenly, Jiang Ning sighed.

Confronted with this matter, he realized he had no solution at all.

This involved the interests of an entire class.

Even Hong Minghu must have been involved, and he tacitly approved of their actions.

Facing such a class, he currently had no way to make any changes.

He also knew that in such a situation, ordinary people had no ability to resist and could only accept their fate.

Even he himself seemed to only be able to uphold his principles.

That was all!

Suddenly, Jiang Ning stood up.

"I'll be right back!"

"Where is the lord going?" Xie Xiaojiu asked, then hurriedly grabbed the ermine coat from the chair beside her and draped it over Jiang Ning.

"I'm going to see the lord of the bureau!" Jiang Ning said.

Leaving these words behind, Jiang Ning pushed open the door, and the wind and snow rushed in through the door crack, causing his robe to flutter violently.

The ermine coat that Xie Xiaojiu had just draped over him was instantly blown away by the wind and snow.

"Lord..." Xie Xiaojiu began to speak.

"No need!" Jiang Ning said indifferently.

As his words fell, he stepped into the thick snow.

At this moment, outside the Inspection Bureau.

Accompanying Liu Linmen was an elderly woman who had been quietly lying in wait on the rooftop, completely covered by the heavy snow, which served as the best camouflage for her body.

She was currently hiding in the snow, secretly observing the entrance of the Inspection Bureau, quietly waiting for Jiang Ning to come out.

Facing Jiang Ning, who was an excellent sacrifice in her eyes, she couldn't wait any longer.

If she hadn't been well aware that the Inspection Bureau was the real dangerous place in Luoshui County, she would have even considered sneaking in directly.

She knew very well that if she offered such an extraordinary heavenly genius as a sacrifice to that deity, she would receive a reward that could change her destiny once again.

A reward that would allow her to rise to the highest ranks within the cult.

Thinking of this, her eyes revealed a hint of greed.

"Yellow Heaven Sect!" She licked her lips and whispered to herself, "If I can use this to rise to the top ranks of the cult, I can also participate in the hunt for the Yellow Heaven Sect!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end