Nan Zhi had made up her mind to slay the evil soul half a month ago. When she learned that the secret realm was a fragment of the Four Provinces Continent, she intentionally had Hongluo avoid the area, fearing it might affect her.
As it turned out, Hongluo didn't even recognize Ma San, the locust-headed man.
And the evil soul of the Locust God had long since forgotten the little red-furred hedgehog spirit that had followed him thousands of years ago.
Nan Zhi didn't know what Hongluo's fate would have been in the original timeline of the Four Provinces Continent.
But she would never let history repeat itself.
Hongluo was real, Wanniang was real, Xu Zi was real, the Nan family was real, and Shen Luohe and Hua Xijian were real.
She didn't want to see her friends and relatives, whether familiar or new, become cold names recorded only in history.
However, the Four Provinces Continent had shattered into forty-nine secret realm fragments scattered across the Blue Star. With the current spiritual resurgence in the real world, trying to find all the remaining fragments by herself would be a monumental task.
Nan Zhi lowered her eyes, watching the splashes of water created by the red fish swimming before her, and slowly tapped the stone tabletop.
Since the traces of the secret realms were spread across the entire Blue Star, she had to make full use of her Ma Guniang and Mountain Lord cover identities to expand her own influence.
After all, she couldn't be everywhere at once. Constantly playing multiple roles made it easy to slip up.
The people joining Ma Guniang's ranks needed to have brains and courage, be fundamentally good-natured, and remain orderly and low-profile.
Furthermore, they needed to understand the situation and not act like Li Dapeng, who felt that cultivators were superior to others.
She didn't want to spend every day cleaning up after her subordinates.
It would be best if this candidate had some connection to the authorities.
Nan Zhi's gaze suddenly drifted to the side.
...
Life underwater was undoubtedly dull and tedious.
Once the initial novelty wore off, being confined to a small space every day became a chore. The food was a monotonous diet of fish and shrimp without any seasoning; no matter how much effort the cooks put in, everyone inevitably grew weary.
It was a deep-seated exhaustion.
It was the numbness that followed extreme emotional highs and lows, a state where the body had surpassed its threshold.
The dangers they had encountered in the secret realm were still fresh in their minds. Every day, someone would wake up from a nightmare, only able to fall back asleep by staring at the soft white light of the night pearl overhead.
Some were like trembling newborn beasts, constantly needing to confirm that the figure in azure hadn't disappeared before they could feel at peace.
Fearing that the group's mental health would deteriorate, Qin Yue set aside time every day for psychological counseling. She even organized the group to sing patriotic songs before bed to strengthen their mental state.
By supporting and comforting one another, they managed to endure the nightmare-like memories.
All of them had written wills before coming down here.
After being gone for so long, they didn't know how their families would react. Qin Yue knew her mother would likely burst into tears upon seeing her return alive.
Qin Yue sat in front of a sampling box, clutching a wolf tooth necklace with a gentle expression.
"Sister Qin, I was wondering why you weren't resting. So you were hiding here."
Lyu Dongfang, Hu Manni, and Liu Guansheng crept over like thieves and sat beside her. Qin Yue couldn't help but smile.
"Here, I threw out some trash for those academic professors, and they gave this to me."
Lyu Dongfang furtively pulled a chocolate bar from his pocket and waved it in front of them.
"I was planning to eat it alone with my sister, but that brat Liu Guansheng saw it and insisted on a bite. I figured I couldn't let him have it all to himself—"
Liu Guansheng, who had lost quite a bit of weight, still looked fair-skinned, but the flesh on his cheeks had visibly thinned. He gave Lyu Dongfang a light shove.
"Stop talking nonsense. Let's just split it quickly. We've been eating fish and compressed biscuits every day. If someone gave me a bag of fifty-cent spicy strips right now, I'd call them my ancestor!"
At the mention of the word "spicy," everyone instinctively swallowed.
There were enough supplies, and there were fish and shrimp in the water, so they certainly wouldn't starve.
But they had cravings.
The supplies on the fish's back were reserved for the wounded and the elderly professors; after all, the young people could endure more.
The four of them were close in age and had become life-and-death friends through this ordeal, especially Lyu Dongfang and Liu Guansheng.
The two of them, who used to be bitter rivals and fought whenever they met, were now so close they were practically inseparable, despite their constant bickering.
They both knew their bond was forged in blood.
The chocolate bar wasn't very large, so they only got a small taste.
Yet, they were incredibly satisfied.
The four of them leaned against the sampling box, looking up at the river flowing overhead as the night pearl emitted its warm glow.
"Sister Qin, do you miss home?" Hu Manni asked in a soft voice, her eyes slightly red. "I miss my grandmother too. She must think something happened to me. I don't know how sad she must be."
Hu Manni had lost two of the three spirits that accompanied her when she entered the secret realm. She had been depressed until she heard they were going home, and only then did some color return to her face.
Qin Yue treated Hu Manni like a younger sister and spoke from the heart.
"Yeah. My father passed away early, so my mother raised me alone. After I got into the police academy and became an officer, I didn't spend much time with her. When I get back, I want to take some leave and spend quality time with her."
"Hey, do you think the country thinks we're dead since we've been missing for almost two months? They might have already held funerals for us," Lyu Dongfang suddenly suggested with a wild imagination.
"When I get back, I'll take my funeral portrait and go clubbing in front of the relatives I hate. I'll scare them to death, hahaha!"
"What is... 'clabbing'?"
A voice with a strange, clearly stiff intonation suddenly came from above them. Their scalps tingled, and they jumped in surprise.
Qin Yue rolled away, her hand already reaching for her waist, only to find Hongluo squatting on the sampling box, looking at them with a grin while cupping her face.
"Ma Guniang... wants to see you."
Ma Guniang wanted to see them?
They looked at each other, unsure of what this meant.
...
...
"You've arrived?"
When the four followed Hongluo over, Ma Guniang was leaning against a wooden couch with her eyes closed.
She opened her eyes and frowned slightly at the four of them, but her gaze settled on Qin Yue as she spoke directly.
"In years past, the cultivation world collapsed and shattered into the Four Provinces secret realms, scattered across the mortal world. I intend to recruit demon suppressors to walk the earth and seek out their locations.
I see that you possess some courage and resolve. Are you willing to join the Demon Suppression Division?"
Although it was a question, her tone was flat.
It was a massive, unexpected surprise.
Qin Yue was struck by this sudden opportunity, and countless pros and cons flashed through her mind.
A second later, without blinking, she immediately bowed.
"This junior, Qin Yue, is willing to join the Demon Suppression Division and serve Ma Guniang."
"Mhm, you are indeed a clever one."
Ma Guniang lazily flicked her sleeve, and three treasures glowing with spiritual light slowly floated toward Qin Yue.
"When I first awoke, I was in a daze and mistook you for a demon suppressor, passing a technique to you. Now that I have taken you under my wing, it can be considered a fated coincidence.
These three items are the Snake-Bear Pill, the Spirit Beast Talisman, and the Exquisite Bone-Piercing Mirror.
The Snake-Bear Pill can be paired with your Small Twelve Bone Forging Method to solidify your frame and temper your blood and bone. The Spirit Beast Talisman will help you form a contract with a spirit beast. The Exquisite Bone-Piercing Mirror is perfectly suited to your current cultivation level and will serve as protection.
The Lord Commissioner is currently far away in Penglai in the East Sea, tracking an evil dragon. When she returns victorious, I shall report everything to her and finalize the date of your induction into the division."
Just keep spinning the tale, Nan Zhi thought. Since the nonexistent Commissioner is nowhere to be found, I'll consider it a loss if the government actually manages to find her.
"Thank you, Master."
Qin Yue accepted the items respectfully, but Ma Guniang shook her head and chuckled.
"I have merely given you some guidance; I am not yet your Master. Cultivate well. It will not be too late to call me that once you reach Foundation Establishment."
Qin Yue's eyes dimmed slightly as she nodded in agreement.
Beside her, the other three were green with envy.
Pills!
Talismans!
Dharma treasures!
Any one of these items would cause a bloodbath if they were released to the outside world!
And there were rewards too?!
Ma Guniang, are you still looking for disciples?
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