CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: JOINING THE DEMON SUPPRESSION TEAM

After half a cup of tea, Xu Ping slowly spoke up, "Do I need to search everywhere if I join the Demon Suppression Team? I’m afraid I don’t have the time."

"Fellow Daoist Bai, there’s no need for you to search personally; just join in the collective siege once the trace of a Demon Cultivator is found."

Seeing Xu Ping’s intention to join, Zhang Changqing was delighted, his face wore a warm smile.

"My place of residence is inconvenient to disclose. So, how will you notify me then?" Xu Ping asked.

"That’s simple."

Zhang Changqing took out two talismans, one black and one white, from his storage pouch, "These are Yin Yang Talismans. Once either talisman is activated, the other can sense its location and provide direction."

"If the Yin Yang Talisman in your possession lights up, it’s a signal; at that time, Fellow Daoist Xu can follow in the direction the talisman guides you."

"Yin Yang Talisman?"

Xu Ping was slightly stunned. As a Talisman Master, he had never heard of this kind of talisman, but he didn’t find it surprising.

After all, his knowledge is shallow, so it’s only normal that he hadn’t heard of it before.

But having this talisman put his last remaining concerns to rest.

"Since Fellow Daoist Zhang has thought it over so thoroughly, then I shall join the Demon Suppression Team," Xu Ping said after carefully considering his words.

He didn’t intend to get involved in this at first, but he really had no choice, for the offer was too tempting!

"That’s great. With the help of Fellow Daoist Bai, those Demon Cultivators are like autumn grasshoppers, they won’t be able to jump around much longer," Zhang Changqing said with great joy.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang praises me too highly; the main force to eliminate the Demon Cultivators still relies on high-level cultivators like you,"

Xu Ping complimented and then directed the topic to the magic sword: "Since I’ve agreed to join the annihilation team, does Fellow Daoist Zhang uphold his promise?"

"Of course, it’s six hundred lower-grade Spirit Stones, and this Blood-Drinking Sword will be yours," Zhang Changqing generously pushed the magic sword along with its sheath towards Xu Ping.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang is straightforward," Xu Ping was excited.

But after casually storing the magic sword and sheath, he began to take Spirit Stones out of his storage.

Hulah!

Hundreds of Spirit Stones were laid out all over the table.

Almost all were lower-grade Spirit Stones, only two were mid-grade Spirit Stones.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, count them. It should be exactly six hundred Spirit Stones," Xu Ping said to Zhang Changqing.

Seeing the Spirit Stones messily scattered on the table, Zhang Changqing frowned slightly and with a wave of his sleeve, all the Spirit Stones disappeared from the table.

Feeling the neatly arranged Spirit Stones in his storage pouch, his frown eased, and he felt delighted: "No need to count. I trust Fellow Daoist Xu."

"We’ve chatted for so long, and Fellow Daoist Bai hasn’t even had a sip of tea, how discourteous of me," Having put away the Spirit Stones, Zhang Changqing warmly poured Xu Ping a cup of Spirit Tea.

"You’re too courteous," Xu Ping had no interest in Spirit Tea, took a sip, and casually set the cup down.

Seeing the misalignment of the teacup, Zhang Changqing felt uncomfortable, his face showing hesitation.

Xu Ping noticed Zhang Changqing’s odd expression and asked, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, what’s wrong?"

Unexpectedly, Zhang Changqing suddenly stood up, apologized, and under Xu Ping’s baffled gaze, gently moved and rotated his cup.

Only when the cup aligned symmetrically with his own did Zhang Changqing sit down, looking content.

Seeing this scene, Xu Ping’s expression turned intriguing: ’Brother, isn’t your obsession a bit extreme?’

"Excuse me, when I see something unclean or untidy, I feel uncomfortable," Zhang Changqing apologized sincerely.

"No problem, it’s understandable and quite normal..." Xu Ping expressed his understanding.

Obsessive-compulsive behavior is things he had encountered before, and he had no particular thoughts about such people.

"I’m glad Fellow Daoist Bai understands. Many people think I’m doing it on purpose, but it’s really not....," Zhang Changqing seemed to have found a kindred spirit and began unloading his worries.

Xu Ping kept a polite smile and continually nodded in response.

Until his smile grew stiff, Zhang Changqing kept talking uninterrupted.

This person has not only obsessive-compulsive disorder but is also quite a talker!

Xu Ping was helpless and had to find an excuse to leave quickly.

"Take care, Fellow Daoist Bai, and visit more often," Zhang Changqing said with reluctance.

Hearing this, Xu Ping walked even faster.

...

Watching Xu Ping’s figure gradually recede, Zhang Changqing’s expression turned serious: "This Fellow Daoist Bai is not simple; even with my Purple Jade Celestial Dharma Eye, I cannot see through him!"

"From the mana fluctuations around him, it seems he only broke through the sixth layer of Qi Cultivation recently, but as for his Body Refining level, I can’t see through it.

"But these are just superficial. He seems to be hiding a deeply powerful force; when I tried to probe further, all I could perceive was an astonishingly sharp aura, almost breaking through my Purple Jade Celestial Dharma Eye."

"That sharp aura... a Sword Cultivator?"

Zhang Changqing couldn’t be sure, and maybe he could fully understand once his Dharma Eye improves.

"In any case, this Fellow Daoist Bai is on our side, and he has agreed to help eradicate the demons."

Thinking of the Demon Cultivator, Zhang Changqing felt a weight on his heart.

He initially didn’t think much of the Demon Cultivator, but after encountering him and his Spirit Pet Snake Demon, his view changed completely.

The Demon Cultivator was fine, but his Spirit Pet Snake Demon was extraordinary, breaking his Purple Jade Celestial Dharma Eye in one glance, and it was only recently that it recovered.

A Snake Demon breaking his Dharma Eye was almost unbelievable.

Yet it happened.

"That is no mere Spirit Pet Snake Demon; it’s more like an ancient creature," Zhang Changqing’s expression turned gloomy.

"He’s crazily killing to refine organs, perhaps to restore his power."

"We must find him quickly. This time, with Bai Zhiyuan’s help, he won’t escape so easily."

Zhang Changqing’s eyes were deep, filled with killing intent.

...

...

After parting with Zhang Changqing, Xu Ping hurried home.

Though eager to test the power of the upper-grade magic sword, it hadn’t undergone sacrificial refinement yet and couldn’t be used.

In less than half an hour, Xu Ping was home.

He locked the door and immediately began the sacrificial refining of the Blood-Drinking Sword.

With his sixth-layer Qi Cultivation, though his mana was abundant, refining the upper-grade magic sword was quite difficult.

Xu Ping introduced a wisp of his mana into the Blood-Drinking Sword.

Buzz buzz!

The wisp of mana caused the Blood-Drinking Sword to emit a radiant glow, hovering in mid-air, exuding a powerful suction, resembling a bottomless pit...

Xu Ping’s expression remained unchanged as he continued to feed mana.

About half an hour later...

His face turned pale, mana exhausted...

Taking a deep breath, Xu Ping looked at the Blood-Drinking Sword, which showed no significant change, before sitting to regain his mana.

Once his mana was fully restored, he transmitted it into the Blood-Drinking Sword again.

After this repetition four times, the Blood-Drinking Sword was finally satisfied, no longer greedily absorbing mana, but rather radiating with bright light, seemingly establishing a subtle bond with Xu Ping.