CHAPTER 159: CHAPTER 149: SCHOLAR LEVEL 7, CELESTIAL RAIN VILLAGE

The courtyard was deathly silent.

As Yang Quanfeng’s voice fell, the air seemed to freeze.

Qin An squinted his eyes, lightly tapping his fingertips on the knife sheath, producing a crisp "ta-ta-ta" sound.

"Clarity and chaos coexist; whichever prevails will determine this Pseudo-God’s virtue or vice."

The aura within the coffin fluctuated between purity and impurity, akin to the Pseudo-God lingering on the edge of good and evil.

One thought can lead to enlightenment, another can turn to demonhood.

What Yang Quanfeng referred to as troublesome just now meant precisely this.

Yang Quanfeng slowly said, "The Evil Extermination Bureau has never dealt with educating Pseudo-Gods, so in such situations, they should be directly exterminated."

According to the Bureau’s rules, benevolent Pseudo-Gods are allowed to exist and are not interfered with.

But if it’s an ambiguous Pseudo-God like this, one must draw the sword to kill.

Yet, the situation now is different.

The Pseudo-God in the coffin might provide clues to the demon hall, and killing it directly would be a waste.

Qin An pondered for a moment, his eyes gleaming slightly: "You all called me here for something, why not be direct."

Since they summoned him, there must be a reason, and presumably, it has something to do with him.

The nine Jinzhou officers exchanged a look, and a pale-faced Wan Ziqing spoke weakly.

"In a village far from the Evil Extermination Bureau, named Celestial Rain Village, there resides a benevolent Pseudo-God."

"He accepts offerings from the villagers, ensuring favorable weather conditions for Celestial Rain Village."

Qin An frowned slightly, unsure why they were mentioning another Pseudo-God now.

But he did not interrupt, instead signaling Wan Ziqing to continue.

Wan Ziqing paused for a moment, then said, "That Pseudo-God originated from a general’s statue. Initially, he was not benevolent, but eventually, for unknown reasons, became virtuous."

"If he could assist, perhaps the situation with the Pseudo-God in the coffin could be resolved."

For a group of Jinzhou officers tasked with guarding Lingzhou, engaging in the matter of educating is indeed challenging.

Currently, their only thought is to use someone with a similar experience to the Pseudo-God in the coffin to reverse the anomaly.

If this method fails to resolve it, they would have no choice but to erase the Pseudo-God within the coffin.

Qin An pondered, "What do you need me to do?"

Yang Quanfeng nodded, "It’s too far, the state officials can’t travel to Celestial Rain Village, but if we issue a task, I’m afraid..."

The rest of Yang Quanfeng’s words remained unspoken, but Qin An understood.

Issuing a task would naturally be taken by Mountain Patrol Officers.

However, Mountain Patrol Officers, as the hands of the Evil Extermination Bureau, believe only in killing without salvation.

Even if it’s a benevolent Pseudo-God, it’s uncertain if they would return with anything but a corpse.

Qin An frowned, "So you’re asking me to go personally?"

Having summoned him here, Qin An naturally understood their intentions.

Yang Quanfeng nodded, "This task doesn’t go through the state officials, nor the Mountain Patrol Officers. It’s a private request from us."

Rules are always rules; without order, there is chaos.

Yang Quanfeng knew very well that nothing is done for free in this world.

If they truly find a clue, these Jinzhou officers will be commended by the main state, as it’s their duty.

But Qin An, a Mountain Patrol Officer, fulfilling his duty of slaying demons, gains little merit.

The rules of the Evil Extermination Bureau are stringent; though sometimes inflexible, this steadfastness is what keeps it standing strong in Lingzhou.

But entrusting Qin An with this task, he shouldn’t walk away empty-handed.

Qin An rubbed his chin, signaling Yang Quanfeng to continue.

Yang Quanfeng took out a wooden box from his bosom and handed it to Qin An, "Five demon cores, gathered by us."

Qin An raised an eyebrow, taking the wooden box. Inside were five pure demon cores.

"Nine people gathered five demon cores?"

He just made a teasing remark.

In fact, these five demon cores are very useful to him.

Currently, he only has two demon cores left, and besides using them to deduce Cultivation Techniques, they are essential for performing the Blood-Burning Demon Hand secret technique.

Though Jinzhou officials are wealthy, experts in the Returning to Storage Realm typically absorb the demon cores themselves once obtained, not leaving them on hand.

Gathering enough for five demon cores is truly not easy.

Yang Quanfeng, understanding Qin An’s teasing tone due to their deep connection, helplessly asked, "When do you plan to depart?"

Qin An infused the five demon cores with True Qi, absorbing them all, "The day after tomorrow."

Including the two existing ones inside him, Qin An now has a total of seven demon cores stored internally.

As for why it’s the day after tomorrow, it’s naturally because his scholar profession can reach level seven tomorrow.

Traveling at night poses inconveniences, whereas day travel is much easier.

Yang Quanfeng thought for a moment, then nodded, "In that case, we can rest assured."

The day after tomorrow is not long; they can continue suppressing the Pseudo-God in the coffin, keeping it perched at the juncture of good and evil.

Qin An stood up, "It’s getting late. I wish to return and rest."

Emerging from Ding County, Qin An had always maintained this habit, staying perpetually energized.

Only with ample energy can one deal with emerging dangers.

After Qin An left, the numerous Jinzhou officers exchanged glances, continuing to stabilize the Pseudo-God’s aura.

...

Time quietly passed, and in the blink of an eye, a day had gone by.

Qin An, as per his usual routine, only returned the miscellaneous books to the shelf once evening fell.

In front of him, mist swayed briefly, then condensed into text in midair.

[Scholar lv.7 (0/1500): Your reading speed has greatly improved, and you have an eidetic memory]

[Talent: Jade Bone Realm Heart Method Mastery, Jade Bone Realm Heart Method Mastery]

As the mist formed into words, it quickly vanished without a trace.

A flood of information flowed into Qin An’s mind, and after absorbing it all, he opened his eyes.

At the seventh level of the scholar profession, he could now perfect all Jade Bone Realm Heart Methods without depleting his vitality.

Moreover, for Heart Methods above the Jade Bone Realm, such as the Gui Cang Realm, the vitality consumption has significantly reduced.

"It’s time." Qin An thought to himself, finding a Heart Method book on the shelf.

The Heart Method was titled "Dragon Subduing Heart Scripture," a technique founded in Buddhist Dharma.

Qin An’s Bodhi Profound Scripture is derived from the Bodhi Sect Heart Method and carries the powers of ice and fire.

This Buddhist Heart Method aligns well with it and can further enhance the effects of the Bodhi Profound Scripture.

When he reached the door, Qin An casually exchanged at the state official’s place, then headed towards the courtyard.

As for the other cultivation techniques, Qin An didn’t exchange them for the time being.

The remaining merits, Qin An exchanged all for demon energy, getting a total of five more pieces.

Including the seven demon energies stored, Qin An now has a total of twelve demon energies.

As for why not exchange for other cultivation techniques, it’s because his proficiency in other professions hasn’t caught up, and these twelve demon energies may not be enough.

Even if he expends a great deal to deduce them, his reserves would be depleted.

Since he’s about to go on a mission, Qin An doesn’t want to venture out without a foundation.

Upon returning to the room, it was already late at night.

Qin An closed the door and after reading through the Dragon Subduing Heart Scripture, his scholar proficiency increased a bit. Only then did he sit cross-legged and begin to run the Dragon Subduing Heart Scripture.

The Dragon Subduing Heart Scripture is a Gui Cang Realm skill, with an added layer of Buddhist Dharma, extremely obscure and difficult to understand.

Fortunately, Qin An has the gift of the scholar profession.

In front of him, the smoke twisted, appearing like a snake in midair.

[You practice the Dragon Subduing Heart Scripture, but unfortunately, your talent is lacking, seeing only a part.]

[You are unwilling, and after sitting in silence for years, resolve to forcibly deduce the technique at the cost of vitality.]

[After consuming some demon energy reserves, you finally gain insight.]

[Dragon Subduing Heart Scripture (Initial Comprehension)]

Qin An’s eyes suddenly opened wide: "Not enough, continue!"

He continued to operate the Dragon Subduing Heart Scripture.

The next moment, the smoke before him disappeared again, transforming into a new line of text.

[You possess the Bodhi Profound Scripture and realize they share common ground, deciding to unite the two.]

[A large amount of demon energy is consumed, the vitality in your body steadily decreases, and you gain a sliver of insight.]

Qin An slightly raised an eyebrow: "The leap from Initial Comprehension to Small Success in the Gui Cang Realm truly surpasses the Jade Bone Realm."

Just now, this consumed Qin An’s storage by two pieces of demon energy.

Actually, after thinking for a moment, Qin An understood the reason.

If transitioning from Initial Comprehension to Small Success in the Jade Bone Realm is like a stream, then in the Gui Cang Realm it’s like a river.

Thus, the needed demon energy naturally piles up higher.

"Having reached this point, there’s no reason to stop."

Qin An, without further thought, continued to deduce upward.

Before him, the smoke congregated once more into new text.

[You continue to choose to consume demon energy, and finally, after multiple consumptions, gain insight.]

[The Bodhi Profound Scripture is too domineering, completely devouring the Dragon Subduing Heart Scripture.]

[Bodhi Heart Scripture (Small Success)]

Three demon energies, a total of three demon energies were fully used by Qin An.

Now, Qin An’s internal demon energy reserves are down to nine pieces.

Though the consumption seemed high, Qin An’s gains were not insignificant.

The transition from Initial Comprehension to Small Success represents a huge enhancement.

Many patrol officers have been immersed in it for years, and still might not succeed in breaking through, yet Qin An did so within moments, apart from practicing the scholar profession.

Within him, as his True Qi surges continuously, in Qin An’s internal organs, the heart and liver are completely enveloped by this True Qi.

Moreover, having previously tempered the five viscera with the Yang Elixir, Qin An’s True Qi purity far exceeds others of the same level.

"Rest for a day, tomorrow head to Celestial Rain Village," Qin An thought in his heart.

Having elevated his level to Small Success, Qin An was ready to head to Celestial Rain Village the next day to complete the task assigned by Yang Quanfeng.

The night gradually deepened, and Qin An, clutching a cold star, lay on the bed and drifted into a shallow sleep.

The following day.

Qin An obtained a fast horse and headed straight for Celestial Rain Village.

On the official road, dust clouds flew as Qin An’s fast horse overtook carriage after carriage, gradually leaving them behind.

...

Celestial Rain Village, a small village under the jurisdiction of Kuandao County in Lingzhou.

On the way, it was necessary to pass through an extremely steep mountain road, unsuitable for fast horses.

Qin An handed over his fast horse to the county government in Kuandao County, and amidst the bowing and scraping of a group of constables, he took the Celestial Rain Village map and headed directly there.

Although the mountain road was precariously steep, for Qin An, who possesses the Dragon Roar Wind Step, it posed no hindrance at all.

Nothing unusual occurred on the way.

However, as Qin An reached the front of Celestial Rain Village, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, furrowing his brow slightly.

Ahead.

The dusk hung like rust over the horizon, pressing the last shimmer of daylight into the muddy dirt road.

Slanted thatched roofs sagged, like emaciated dogs deprived of their spines.

At the village entrance, a dead locust tree’s twisted branches bore cracked bark, with beads of dark red sap pooling like scabbed wounds.

The creaking of the well’s pulley pierced the silence.

Someone withdrew a hand from the edge of the well, and a wooden bucket clanked with a hollow echo at the bottom.

A few scrawny chickens foraged at the fence roots, their claws scraping over the moss-stained bricks, producing a nerve-grating screech.

This scene before him was not what Celestial Rain Village was supposed to look like.

According to the information Qin An had received, under the benevolent care of a Pseudo-God, Celestial Rain Village should have been a thriving, prosperous village.

But why had it become so destitute?

Qin An furrowed his brow and ventured towards the village.

Since he had come, he must figure it out, especially with the demon hall’s clues promising benefits for him.

The closer he got to the village, the more pronounced the oppressive heaviness became.

Once Qin An stepped in, the woman drawing water at the well immediately shifted her gaze.

Then, Qin An detected a hint of deep-seated aversion in her eyes.

"Why the aversion?" Qin An wondered inwardly.

Just as he was contemplating this, a dense chorus of footsteps echoed from afar.

Qin An turned his head to see a group of villagers approaching, wielding various farming tools, their faces full of fury.

They were just ordinary folk, but they seemed unafraid of Qin An, instead encircling him.

The middle-aged villager leading them raised his carrying pole and shouted, "Get out! Celestial Rain Village doesn’t welcome outsiders!"