Chapter Fifty-Seven: Submitting the Roster
The next day.
Demon Suppression Office Headquarters.
Baili Feihong returned to his desk.
"Over two hundred lives from the Chu Village, just gone like that."
"The kappa demon was finally slain."
"East Shore City is becoming more and more dangerous lately."
Several administrative staff of the Demon Suppression Office discussed the matter. News traveled fast.
Baili Feihong shook his head and picked up the book on his desk, reading it carefully.
The Annals of the Great Yuan
Before their rebellion, the Gu Liang clan was already a major family in the Central Plains. The founding patriarch of the Gu Liang family rose in revolt, swept through the eighteen regional warlords, and, with an aura that dominated all lands, unified the Central Plains, the Northern and Southern Wilds, the Western Regions, and established the greatest empire in the history of the Central Plains.
He pacified the six directions, united the world, looked upon all beneath heaven with disdain, and none could oppose his might. His brilliance was so dazzling that even the ancient sects retreated from the world.
Gu Liang the First founded the Great Yuan Empire, but did not move against the sects. Instead, he soothed the great martial families and drew the sects to his side. He established the Demon Suppression Office.
He formed a united front to resist demons, evil gods, and eradicate heretical cults.
By rights, Gu Liang the First, the foremost Immortal in the world, should have lived a thousand years without exaggeration.
Yet, for some unknown reason, sixty years after the founding of the empire, Gu Liang the First died suddenly.
His eldest son inherited the throne.
Gu Liang the High Ancestor continued his father’s legacy, quickly stabilizing the situation in the Great Yuan.
He gathered the greatest martial experts, formed a mighty army. Ten years after ascending the throne, the empire knew peace, and the people enjoyed prosperity.
Then he did something unprecedented: he concealed weapons throughout the realm and sent cavalry to patrol the martial world.
It was this act that, to this day eight hundred years later, has kept the sects from interfering in the imperial court.
"The sects have yet to show their shadow, and the Great Yuan Empire is digging its own grave?"
Recalling the days when Gu Liang the First dominated an entire era, and how Gu Liang the High Ancestor’s cavalry created an age of prosperity for the empire, it was troubling now to see their descendants reduced to consorting with demons and monsters.
This thought unsettled Baili Feihong.
"Better let the Warden deal with this headache."
He glanced at the mechanical clock on the wall—exactly noon.
Baili Feihong stood up and made his way to the top floor of the Demon Suppression Office.
He knocked on Gongyang Yan’s office door.
“Baili Feihong, come in.”
He pushed open the door and entered.
Gongyang Yan’s face was grave, her spirit slightly dimmed. Clearly, the emergence of the Black Sky God’s followers had placed her under immense pressure—more than even the mysterious prophecies ever had.
Just what kind of existence is this Black Sky God?
“Madam Gongyang, last night after leaving Chu Village, I stopped by the ancestral home of the Fu family in Fairness Town,” Baili Feihong said, presenting a register with both hands.
“This register lists many of those involved in the East Shore City opium case. It should have been left by Elder Fu.”
Gongyang Yan took the register and read it carefully.
Moments later, her face brimmed with murderous intent.
“Empire-eating parasites are everywhere,” she said through gritted teeth, her words so chilling that Baili Feihong felt as though he’d fallen into an ice pit.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down his back.
So the gap between us is still this vast!
“You’ve done well. It’s best you don’t show your face in this matter, but your merit is noted. Also, I’ve arranged for a large supply of Essence Blood Pills, Channeling Pills, and Spirit Refining Pills to be stored with Yan Ruyu. Take my token and collect them.”
Gongyang Yan didn’t look up.
But Baili Feihong felt a hint of coldness in his heart.
Had she guessed that Elder Fu left other items behind as well?
She probably had.
Oddly, this made Baili Feihong feel a bit relieved.
Sometimes, when facing such a formidable superior, exposing a few weaknesses, offering up some leverage, was no great harm—and it could effectively protect oneself.
Subordinates’ greed allows superiors to better control them.
Compared to Zheng Yishan, Baili Feihong was practically a moral saint.
He could never forget Zheng Yishan’s conversation with Inspector Zhang of the Constabulary about splitting spoils sixty-forty—putting greed on full display.
“Go and notify Zheng Yishan to see me.”
Baili Feihong, who had been looking for an excuse to leave, felt as if a burden was lifted.
“Yes, Madam Gongyang. I’ll go at once.”
He headed straight for the Demon Suppression Office canteen.
It was noon—the perfect time for lunch. Zheng Yishan wouldn’t be in his office or out on assignment, but in the dining hall.
Baili Feihong had no idea about Zheng Yishan’s past habits. Zheng Yishan was one of the few Grade A Demon Suppressors, holding high status in the Office.
“Lord Zheng, Madam Gongyang wishes to see you in her office. She has matters to discuss with you,” Baili Feihong said quietly as he approached.
Zheng Yishan, enjoying his lunch, looked displeased—not at Gongyang Yan, but rather at the young man before him, who seemed to be growing increasingly audacious.
Who knew what luck this boy had to gain Gongyang Yan’s favor, even being granted authority to act independently.
He’d even snatched the Night Demon case from Ding Bo.
That was something to make a fuss over—Ding Bo was easy to bait.
“Very well.”
Zheng Yishan set down his chopsticks, stood up, and left in a hurry.
Baili Feihong shook his head, found a seat, and called over a dining attendant to order a tableful of dishes.
The only pity was that the canteen only served lunch, and apprentices were not permitted to eat there.
“Thirty-year ginseng black chicken soup.”
He now realized that the Demon Suppression Office canteen was his true paradise.
This was his first meal here, and he ate heartily.
A sip of the soup sent a warm current flowing through his body.
He activated his Blood Refining Art, converting the energy into blood essence.
He glanced at his Skill Book—it had changed:
Owner: Baili Feihong
Martial Realm: Body Refinement/Organ Refinement
Skill Points: 832 (Can upgrade, synthesize, or evolve skills)
Skill 1: Culinary Arts, Mastery (Exp: 128/400)
Skill 2: Four Seas Fist, Peak (Five skill points to upgrade)
Skill 3: Blood River Blade (Incomplete, four moves), Peak (Skill points can complete, evolve, or synthesize)
Skill 4: Blood Refining Art, Peak (Skill points to upgrade, evolve, or synthesize)
Skill 5: Demon Suppression Six Paths Scripture, First Path (Opening Meridians 0/100000), Blood Refining Ninth Cycle (0/9000000)
Skill 6: Carefree Wander, Mastery (530/90000)
Skill 7: Five Elements Demon Suppression Hand, Peak
Skill 8: Blood Suppresses Mountains and Rivers (Divine Ability, First Stage, 1/100)
Skill 9: Dragon in the Waves, Peak (Ten skill points to upgrade)
Ninety million experience for Blood Refining?
But Baili Feihong quickly realized why the requirement was so high.
His Blood Refining Art could no longer keep up with his pace.
“I can only rely on pills, refining them into experience to complete the Ninth Cycle.”
Once the Ninth Cycle was perfected, his blood would undergo a tremendous transformation.
As for the divine ability Blood Suppresses Mountains and Rivers, though it required little experience, even gaining a single point was arduous—it depended on practice and comprehension.
“The Six Paths Scripture is full of peerless arts and divine powers. So far, I’ve only grasped the Five Elements Demon Suppression Hand, because my internal organs are fully tempered, making this technique flow naturally.”
“But divine abilities are another matter.”
Divine abilities are manifestations of laws themselves. Given Baili Feihong’s current realm, he was lucky to perform them at all—mastery was a far-off dream.