Attaining Immortality, Starting From Slaying Demons

"All right, go back and stay put."

Wu Dao'an finally took a serious look at Jiang Yuanhua's current state, then waved his hand dismissively.

He called in a Demon Suppression Bureau Bailiff, "Fetch a Golden Wolf Jade Token."

After he spoke, he turned to Shen Yi, "Since he's an old acquaintance from Qingzhou, after you get the token, you may open the Armory and select a vessel for nurturing the Divine Soul for him. As for the quality, that's up to you."

Upon hearing this, the man from the Demon Suppression Bureau showed envy on his face.

The Armory was the place where the Martial Temple collected the treasures of Jiuzhou. Whether it was the Demon Suppression Bureau or demon catchers, after earning merits in the Capital City, they would exchange them for rewards from the repository.

To freely choose the quality was not much of an issue. After all, the young man was already an Inspector of the Demon Suppression Bureau, and a vessel for the Divine Soul was a benefit he was entitled to.

What was most important was being allowed into the Armory. This signified the trust and importance the Martial Temple placed on him.

"After you've finished the task, bring Shen Yi to see me," Wu Dao'an said.
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Having said this, Wu Dao'an walked towards the outside; there were still people in the great hall waiting for refinement.

"Inspector sir, this way, please," said the bailiff, who was experienced in handling affairs in the Imperial City.

He walked briskly for a distance, then stood waiting ahead, giving Shen Yi and Jiang Yuanhua a chance to talk privately.

"What is really going on..."

Jiang Yuanhua hurriedly floated to Shen Yi's side, his worry tinged with suspicion.

"Last time I came to the Capital City, I registered my name inside the Martial Temple."

Today's encounter left Shen Yi somewhat puzzled too. He remembered that during his previous visit to the Capital City, he had seen quite a number of figures in the courtyard behind the main hall of the Martial Temple. Although not abundant, they were certainly not rare.

"Recorded name disciple, not a full disciple?"

Jiang Yuanhua's face changed slightly. In the Martial Temple, not just anyone could claim to be a disciple. It might even be inaccurate to say that Wu Dao'an was just a disciple of the Martial Temple.

This group's cultivation levels varied widely, but they shared one thing in common: Each had hope of breaking through to the Deification Transformation Realm.

But… Shen Yi was a Primordial Grandmaster, right?

What he had originally suggested was for the two Primordial Grandmasters from Qingzhou to somewhat conceal their true strength, to fool the ears and eyes of the Martial Temple and the Immortal Sects and avoid troubles.

He didn't say anything about mixing into the inner workings of the Martial Temple!

If this were to be exposed, even if the Martial Temple had initially planned to hold back, they might be so incensed as to wash their hands of the affair.

"Let's go," said Shen Yi quietly, walking with measured steps toward the front.

Finally, he could stuff this chatterbox into a jar. His mood inexplicably improved a great deal.

The Demon Suppression Bureau Bailiff led the two men to the back of the Martial Temple.

He then hurried to the Demon-suppression Bureau Office and soon returned, carrying a box made of precious wood. Lifting the lid revealed a palm-sized gold-inlaid jade plaque lying on bright red cloth, the whole presenting the form of a ferocious wolf, intricately beautiful.

"Officer Shen, please take the token," offered the bailiff respectfully with the box.

Shen Yi reached out to hold it in his palm, feeling its smooth warmth, emitting a faint heat.

The next moment, his vision was suddenly engulfed by a sea of white mist.

To call it mist didn't do justice to its thickness, which was as soft as cotton and as smooth as silk, almost solidifying into substance.

This was a portion of the Incense Willpower accumulated since the founding of the Great Qian until now, belonging to the Demon-suppression Bureau.

However, since the Inspector was also a Primordial Grandmaster, this portion was actually also reserved for the disciples of the Martial Temple.

"Huh," Shen Yi sighed softly, tightening his grip on the jade token.

Used to the Demon Suppression Bureau's rule of work first, eat later, he hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.

Perhaps this was the difference between the Imperial Court and the sects.

The former needed rules to maintain the stability of Jiuzhou, seeking a peaceful equilibrium.

The Martial Temple, more akin to a sect, sought to break through limits.

"Officer Shen, with this token, you may open the Armory… The Armory is right before you. If there's nothing else, I shall take my leave," said the bailiff.

The bailiff left swiftly without the slightest hint of reluctance.

The armory was not a place for someone of his status to pry into.

"In front of me?"

Shen Yi stood behind the Martial Temple, facing the towering and wide relief wall in front of him, which was engraved with thirteen majestic figures, each with different postures and facial expressions, representing the thirteen Deification Transcendent Realm Cultivators enshrined within.

He tried reaching out with his divine consciousness to touch the Golden Wolf Jade Token.

In that instant, it was as if an invisible massive lock had been unlocked.

A stairway made of golden jade unexpectedly appeared in front of him, stretching straight down.

An illusionary array?

Shen Yi had encountered similar things in Peacock Valley, but the formations there couldn't stop anything; they were merely tricks for the eyes and could be forcefully breached with a touch.

But the relief wall before him was obviously different.

When he had approached it earlier, he had felt a sense of danger instinctively alerting his body.

It should be noted that he had not only reached the Primordial Realm in his cultivation but had also practiced the body refining technique that had captured two Demon Kings. To sense an irresistible danger was telling of the might of this formation.

"This was built a long time ago when the Martial Temple invited a renowned clan famous for their arrays to construct it. You will not find a second one like this throughout the entire Great Qian Dynasty,"

Jiang Yuanhua, who was also visiting the armory for the first time, had heard of such news given his position as a General.

"The most famous deed of that clan was using a formation to trap and kill a Transcendent Spirit True Man from Mysterious Light Cave alive. Afterwards, they used the formation to hide their entire clan... Until now, Mysterious Light Cave has still not managed to get their revenge."

The alliance of three powers and Thousand Demon Cave were the strongest forces, but they weren't the only ones.

There were many small countries, various sects, and even among demons, places like Qingqiu existed.

Hearing this, Shen Yi silently took note of it.

Strengthened by the mighty cultivation of the Primordial Demon Infant and the overpowering body forged by Demon Blood Tempering, these were his advantages. However, things like formations, alchemy, and artifact crafting, though considered minor arts, were not to be underestimated.

He stepped onto the golden jade staircase and descended.

Jiang Yuanhua followed closely behind, equally curious as he looked around.

Until he met a pair of aged eyes.

An elderly man, whose physical body was almost withered to just a layer of skin, sat quietly by a wooden table against the wall. After glancing at the two of them and noticing the jade token in Shen Yi's hand, he nodded slightly and then turned his gaze away.

Yet another Upper Realm Martial Immortal.

Jiang Yuanhua's Yin God instinctively avoided the old man's sweeping gaze and continued to walk inside after Shen Yi.

What came into view was a splendid great hall, divided into many side halls, with someone waiting at the entrance of each one.

Shen Yi internally uttered a lament.

He didn't have other plans; he simply wanted to see and casually browse the Primordial Martial Arts collected by the Martial Temple.

But with his status as an Inspector, there would be plenty of opportunities, no need to rush this moment.

"What do you need?"

An old man who looked somewhat more normal approached them.

"A vessel for nurturing the Divine Soul," Shen Yi nodded politely.

"What grade?" asked the old man.

"Let him pick himself," Shen Yi replied and turned to look elsewhere, quickly finding the side halls designated for precious tools, elixirs, martial arts techniques, and various other items.

Jiang Yuanhua suddenly felt a warmth in his heart. Truly befitting of a Primordial Grandmaster. To speak frankly, despite his role as a state General, he had not noticed such an outstanding talent within the office, nor had he offered any help.

Anyone emerging from struggling in a place like the Demon-suppression Bureau would hold some resentment, to some extent.

But he had never seen Shen Yi show any slightest animosity towards him...

Well, there was no good will either; he was simply overlooked.

"Thank you, Officer Shen."

Once again, Jiang Yuanhua gave a fist salute and expressed his sincere thanks before following the old man to another area.

Cultivating the Divine Soul within a vessel was a very tedious and dull task.

Perhaps it would entail staying put for hundreds or thousands of years... but at least, one's life was not at risk.