https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-634-The-Honest-Official-s-Promotion/12947036/
Chapter 635: Family Matters
Chapter 635: Family Matters
As the woman left, Shen Yi casually tossed the iron token to Meng Xiwen.
It was important to be self-aware, and although obtaining this token might bring him more convenience, the position of Monster Slayer was crucial to the safety of the entire prefecture. Giving such a responsibility to someone new and inexperienced would undoubtedly cause significant problems.
"Hey, stop!"
Meng Xiwen waved his sleeve, returning the token, "Don't treat this as child's play. Despite that woman's young appearance and casual demeanor, she's a general with an official title from the Demon Slayer Bureau."
Mentioning the title, his voice carried a hint of sourness, but he wasn't joking about such matters, "Rest assured, she wouldn't have asked you to temporarily take over as the Monster Slayer unless she was certain of your character and knew you'd do your best to help."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Shen."
Meng Xiwen cupped his hands, clearly having been upset with Ye Lan earlier. After she left, he didn't actually value the position of Monster Slayer much.
After leaving those words, he slowly strolled back to his room.
"Senior Shen."
Ye Jing also bowed slightly to Shen Yi and then handed over a storage bag.
"Hmm?"
Shen Yi took the storage bag and found a small, crystal-clear net lying quietly inside.
"Meng Tou knew he couldn't get away with this," Ye Jing explained softly, "In his words, even the Dao Master would be punished, so why should I hand over something?"
"This item belonged to Master Qingmei and is considered a Nine Tribulation Treasure. It can hold the water of a river. Now that you're the Monster Slayer, keeping it as a self-defense item isn't a bad idea."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi didn't hesitate and put away the storage bag, "Please thank Meng Tou on my behalf."
The Demon Slayer Bureau often clashed with the Three Teachings, and the suppression of Jade Dragon Ancestor and the Bear Demon by Shen Yi's Wanderer techniques was just one example of the power of the Three Teachings' cultivation techniques.
To compete with disciples from those orthodox major sects, one would be at a significant disadvantage without a few handy magical artifacts.
However, Shen Yi learned something new from Ye Jing.
"A Nine Tribulation Treasure..."
It seemed that after leaving Hongze, everything he encountered was somehow related to the elusive tribulations.
Could these artifacts also undergo tribulations? If so, Shen Yi's heart stirred slightly, and the scope of his demonic lifespan's power seemed to have expanded again.
"In the Tri-Immortal Sect, treasure refinement is considered a grand path. Many immortal families study this art, but neither Meng Tou nor I are particularly skilled in it."
Ye Jing now had a better understanding of this new colleague. In many matters, he possessed astonishingly versatile experience, making it hard to imagine how such a young cultivator could have both high cultivation and the time to travel the world.
However, when it came to very basic things, Shen Yi seemed to have no knowledge at all.
Only in such moments did his claim of coming from a remote area seem slightly more credible.
"My sister, General Yanlan, knows more about these things. If you're interested, you can discuss it with her."
"We'll talk about it later."
Although Shen Yi wasn't very familiar with the rules of the Divine Dynasty, this woman had come here personally to handle matters related to Master Qingmei. Even if they weren't of the same level, they weren't far apart.
She wouldn't have the time to pay attention to a Seventh Rank cultivator like him.
In comparison, it was more reliable to collect more Lingguang Rat Demons like the Black Bear Stone.
He didn't know about the Tri-Immortal Sect, but at least the Bodhimanda Sect didn't mind accepting such demonic mortals.
Just then, Shen Yi suddenly felt the iron token in his hand tremble. He looked up at the girl in front of him, "Hmm?"
"This is Earth God contacting us."
Ye Jing slightly furrowed her brows. Unless it was necessary, Elder Ming rarely contacted her group of Monster Slayers.
After all, most of the Demon Slayer Bureau's work couldn't be known to the Immortal Court, and although the Earth God cared about the Divine Dynasty, he ultimately still relied on the celestial salary.
Meng Xiwen pushed open the door, also looking surprised.
Among the many Earth Gods, Elder Ming was one of the most experienced, so it was rare for problems to occur in Juyang Prefecture.
After more than ten days, they had encountered two troublesome matters in a row, which was unusual.
"Senior Shen, let's go take a look."
It was clear that even if Meng Xiwen verbally disagreed with Ye Lan, he genuinely took her words to heart.
Having said he would resign, he wouldn't overstep his boundaries.
Shen Yi lightly nodded and left the inn.
Meng Xiwen raised an eyebrow and then chuckled softly, gaining a deeper understanding of this young man.
The other party had mysterious principles and an unyielding pride that others found hard to detect, but he wasn't arrogant, and moreover... he seemed to share the same indifference towards these superficial honors.
At least up until now, Meng Xiowen hadn't seen a trace of excitement or enthusiasm on Shen Yi's face, which was completely unlike an inexperienced young man.
Thinking of this, the gloom in his heart finally lessened a bit.
Despite Meng Xiowen's nonchalant appearance, he was wholeheartedly dedicated to serving Juyang Prefecture, but all he got in return was punishment. Anyone would feel upset for a good while after such an outcome.
...
Juyang Prefecture, Earth God Temple.
In a rare moment, Min Zhiyan stood alone at the entrance, without the two old boys accompanying him.
Finally, three figures approached.
He habitually walked towards Meng Xiowen, but just as he took a step forward, he froze.
The Earth God was well aware of the dismissal of someone, but the scene before him still left him a bit dazed. He saw that the one standing at the front, accompanied by two others, was not Ye Jing as expected, but rather the young man he had personally sent off.
This positioning silently conveyed a lot.
No... it couldn't be.
He had sent Shen Yi there to have someone keep him in check! How could this kid have become the leader in just a few days?
When did the Demon Slayer Bureau become such a ridiculous mess?
Then what was the point of sending Shen Yi there? Was it to give this already unruly outsider even more power to stir up trouble?
"What are you all thinking..."
Min Zhiyan gritted his teeth and glared at Meng Xiowen, communicating his thoughts.
"Tsk, this has nothing to do with me. It's General Yanlan's order."
At the mention of this name, Meng Xiowen couldn't help but speak with a mocking tone again. But after glancing at the black-robed youth beside him, he sighed, "Rest assured, this kid is more reliable than Ye Jing."
"Also, you don't think I, Meng, am the petty type, do you?"
"I promised to keep an eye on him, and I'll keep my word."
"..."
Min Zhiyan stood there in a daze, his mind focused on Meng Xiowen's second sentence, barely registering the rest of the conversation.
More reliable than Ye Jing?
As the Earth God of Juyang Prefecture, his understanding of Ye Jing was profound. Although she wasn't as skilled as her sister, she was still a powerful cultivator who was efficient and competent in her duties, especially when it came to slaying demons.
Shen Yi had only accompanied them on one mission, and it had ended up like this, requiring the intervention of a titled general.
To receive such high praise from Meng Xiowen was astonishing.
This scene suddenly reminded the Earth God of the previous Sage Traveler Zhi Kong.
He took a deep look at Shen Yi, wondering what abilities this man, who had just arrived in Juyang Prefecture without any connections, possessed to gain the approval of these influential figures in such a short time.
"Elder Shen, the old man just received some news."
He shook his head and looked around to ensure no one was eavesdropping before approaching the three of them, "This matter isn't just related to Juyang Prefecture. In the middle of the three prefectures, there's a place called..."
"Cloudy Cavern?"
Meng Xiowen slightly lifted his head, his voice carrying a hint of gravity, "The one where the Patriarch serves as an official in the heavens?"
Aside from the Three Teachings, there were also differences among ordinary sects.
The most pitiful were those with broken lineages, and slightly better were those who had once been connected to the Three Teachings or the Immortal Court and still maintained that connection.
As for the most influential, it was those whose 'connections' were still alive.
To put it bluntly, they had a direct line to the heavens! If anyone dared to offend them, their Patriarchs could send a squad of immortal soldiers to settle the matter.
"Indeed."
Min Zhiyan nodded. Although Shen Yi was the Demon Slayer Official, when it came to such matters, he trusted Meng Xiowen's judgment more, "This Cloudy Cavern produces Golden Jade Sand, which is annually offered to the Divine Dynasty. But today, we just received news that due to their meritorious service in offering treasures, the Immortal Court has specially bestowed upon them a Divine Horse as a reward."
A Divine Horse bestowed by the Immortal Court might seem like just a mount, but it was more than just a cultivation technique or immortal pill.
This gift represented the acknowledgment of the Immortal Court.
When an Immortal Official personally arrived, holding the Jade Edict, it was an awe-inspiring sight. This alone was enough to intimidate the other immortal sects in the surrounding area.
Even if the sect declined in the future, as long as this Divine Horse was still alive, anyone who rode it, mortal or not, would receive respect.
"You mean they sent the portion meant for the Divine Dynasty to the heavens to curry favor with their Patriarch?" Meng Xiowen clicked his tongue.
"Wrong."
Min Zhiyan looked at him seriously, "The portion for the Divine Dynasty is not lacking."
"Then..."
Meng Xiowen instinctively looked over but immediately fell silent.
For such a heavenly treasure, the Divine Dynasty would have already investigated its specific production. How could there be an extra portion, and not just a small amount, but enough for the Cloudy Patriarch to exchange it for a Divine Horse?
There are many things that can influence such a treasure, but the simplest and most convenient one is the Imperial Aura.
"What I mean is, you used to be the strongest among the Demon Slayers, and regarding this matter... Go take a look. If there's truly a problem, even if we can't defy the Immortal Court's authority, at least we can remind them to stop."
"After all, the Immortal Chariot has already been replaced. Don't take things too far." Min Zhiyan sighed lightly.
"What do you think, Shen Yi?"
Meng Xiowen looked at Shen Yi, and to be honest, this matter wasn't something that the Juyang Prefecture Demon Slayers should get involved in, and it had nothing to do with Min Zhiyan either.
In the past, with a single word from this old man, Meng Xiowen would have gone without hesitation.
But now, Shen Yi was in charge, so he had to see what she thought.
"Go and take a look."
Shen Yi didn't hesitate at all and nodded directly.
He currently had more debts than he could handle.
Moreover, his Demon Lifespan was temporarily sufficient, and more importantly, he had a way to consume this lifespan.
Under the guise of running errands, it was never wrong to wander around.
"..."
Min Zhiyan's mood suddenly became a bit complicated.
For some reason, with this kid involved, he always felt something was off.
Clearly, his cultivation wasn't that high, but he gave off the impression that he was about to cause a big mess at any moment. He hoped it was just his overthinking.
"Be careful. With an Immortal Official around, don't let them sense the presence of the Demon Slayer Bureau." He reminded her with a few extra words.
"Rest assured."
Shen Yi knew that this Earth God had some reservations about her, but she didn't intend to explain further.
She truly wasn't someone who liked to cause trouble.
"That's good."
Min Zhiyan felt slightly relieved, waved his hand, and summoned an Immortal Chariot. This horse was larger and more beautiful than the one Shen Yi had ridden earlier, and the carriage also looked cleaner.
He watched as the three of them left.
He stood there deep in thought for a long time before turning around and heading towards the Earth God Temple.
Just then, two little boys with strange expressions returned from outside.
Behind them was a large group of people.
Leading them was the newly appointed Juyang Prefecture Rain-Praying Envoy, Prince Ziyang.
As for the people behind him, they appeared extremely disorganized, with both young and old, each dressed differently.
Among them were some with astonishingly beautiful appearances, but there were also ordinary-looking, ugly old men.
There was even a wooden man who had exchanged his body using crude methods.
"You... You treat the old man here as..."
This Earth God suddenly felt a bit suffocated. With his experience, he knew exactly what Ziyang was thinking.
For someone from a small place like this, the first thing they would do after establishing themselves was to bring their entire family.
He could understand that.
But... But how could they bring their families like this!
"Cough, cough."
Ziyang coughed twice and forced a smile, "Just arrange them casually, we're not picky. It's fine whether they enter the sect or become officials..."
As soon as he said this, the faces of the people behind him became slightly strange.
Zi Xi glanced at her brother. In this prosperous world outside, it seemed that his status wasn't as high as he had described in his letters.
Wasn't he supposed to have entered the Immortal Dynasty and become a high-ranking official?
"..."
Min Zhiyan took a few deep breaths and finally suppressed the suffocating feeling in his chest.
His face was filled with helplessness, and he waved his hand, "Give me a few days to consider."
"Of course, I brought these old friends here mainly to register them."
Ziyang smiled at the two little boys.
"This... This isn't necessary, is it?" The eyelids of the two boys twitched.
Among this group, there were even Foundation Establishment cultivators, but any proper sect wouldn't allow disciples with such cultivation to leave the mountain for training.
This group didn't seem capable of causing trouble.
They looked more like refugees.
"By the way, where's my brother?"
Ziyang's face also showed a bit of embarrassment. For such an embarrassing matter, he couldn't possibly come alone.
"..."
Min Zhiyan took a few deep breaths and finally suppressed the suffocating feeling in his chest.
His face was filled with helplessness, and he waved his hand, "Give me a few days to consider."
"Of course, I brought these old friends here mainly to register them."
Ziyang smiled at the two little boys.
"This... This isn't necessary, is it?" The eyelids of the two boys twitched.
Among this group, there were even Foundation Establishment cultivators, but any proper sect wouldn't allow such low-cultivation disciples to leave the mountain for training.
This group didn't seem capable of causing trouble.
They looked more like refugees.
"By the way, where's my brother?"
Ziyang's face also showed a bit of embarrassment. For such an embarrassing matter, he couldn't possibly come alone.
"He's..." Zi Xi glanced at her brother. In this prosperous world outside, it seemed that his status wasn't as high as he had described in his letters.
Wasn't he supposed to have entered the Immortal Dynasty and become a high-ranking official?
"..."
Min Zhiyan took a deep breath, and the suffocating feeling in his chest finally subsided. His face was filled with helplessness, and he waved his hand, "I'll consider it."
"That's natural. I brought these old friends here mainly to register them."
Ziyang smiled at the two little boys.
"This... This isn't necessary, is it?" The two boys' eyelids twitched.
Among this group, there were even Foundation Establishment cultivators, but any proper sect wouldn't allow such low-cultivation disciples to leave the mountain for training.
This group didn't seem capable of causing trouble.
They looked more like refugees.
"By the way, where's my brother?"
Ziyang's face also showed a bit of embarrassment. For such an embarrassing matter, he couldn't possibly come alone.
"He's..." Zi Xi glanced at her brother. In this prosperous world outside, it seemed that his status wasn't as high as he had described in his letters.
Wasn't he supposed to have entered the Immortal Dynasty and become a high-ranking official?
"..."
Min Zhiyan's expression turned helpless, and he waved his hand, entering the Earth God Temple.
He didn't notice that at the moment he entered, the group of "refugees" who had seemed strange before suddenly had their eyes sharpen in unison.
The two little boys' faces changed slightly, sensing the aura of those who had fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
(End of Chapter)
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