As for the Library—
Nan Zhi only took a brief glance, but her heart was already filled with astonishment:
《Longhu Golden Light Manual》, 《Celestial Master Talismans (I)》, 《Celestial Master Talismans (II)》, 《Qingcheng Huaguang Sword Qi Cultivation Method》, 《Qingcheng Sword Manual (I)》, 《Qingcheng Sword Manual (II)》, 《Golden Light Curse》, 《Encyclopedia of Maoshan Talismans》, 《Basic Maoshan Formations》...
Although the points required to read them were an astronomical figure, this was enough to prove:
Despite the Spiritual Resurgence, the authorities' determination to maintain social stability remained unchanged.
They had grand designs.
But this was exactly what Nan Zhi wanted to see.
Without the state apparatus to maintain social stability, the Spiritual Resurgence would quickly lead to an influx of lawless cultivators who would ruthlessly exploit and deprive others based on the most primitive principle of “might makes right.”
The strong would slaughter the weak at whim, and the weak would turn their blades against those even weaker than them.
Cultivators would consider themselves transcendent, enslaving mortals and killing at will.
—How would that be any different from a dark version of the cultivation world?
Nan Zhi had absolutely no desire to see Blue Star destroy itself through humanity's own folly before she could even complete her Savior mission.
...
The officer in black watched her closely. Seeing that Nan Zhi did not show any signs of impatience, he smiled and said:
“Given your unique status, you may need to undergo a second registration. Would it be convenient for you to come with our colleagues?
“Please don't misunderstand; someone will escort you to a specific location for the second registration shortly.
“Of course, if you're unwilling, you can schedule another time, and our staff will visit you within three working days to complete the second registration.”
“No need. I'm free today anyway, so it's better to get all the registration done in one go.”
Nan Zhi's fingers flew across her phone's screen, the virtual keyboard clacking rapidly:
【Introduction to Alchemy: Distinguishing Pill Grades (I)】
【Introduction to Alchemy: The Necessity of Pill Fire Selection】
【Introduction to Alchemy: Cauldron Refining and the Selection of Alchemy Grounds】
—Thank goodness for her dear mother country; she didn't even need to contact the major sects to have a chance to collect all kinds of cultivation techniques.
...
“There are ten types of innate divine fires, which are Samadhi True Fire, Nanming Li Fire, Golden Crow True Fire, Liuding Divine Fire, Lunar True Fire, Ziwei Heavenly Fire...
“Ten earthly fires, such as Crimson Flame Demon Fire, Crimson Dragon Fire...
“Pill fires are divided into ten grades of heaven and earth, with further subdivisions into demon fires, treasure fires, beast fires, spirit fires, and artifact fires...”
Nan Zhi's post was quickly discovered, and a bunch of numbered IDs began to ask questions below:
【You've read too many novels, fellow Daoist. To put it bluntly, alchemy is just mystifying traditional Chinese medicine. If you throw all kinds of herbs into a crematorium furnace, the results will probably be the same.】
【Hiss, I don't think this is nonsense. It feels like a compiled collection of alchemical paths. Are you a disciple of Longhu, Maoshan, or Qingcheng Mountain? Aren't you afraid your master will whip you for posting this?】
【The poster's IP is in Qianli City, so they should be from Qingcheng Mountain.】
【Isn't Qingcheng Mountain a place for sword cultivation, specializing in producing sword immortals? How did it get involved with alchemy?】
【Thank you for sharing! I've been trying to refine pills using my home pressure cooker and gas stove, but I never got any results. I've learned so much from reading the poster's sharing!】
【Is there really such a thing as alchemy? I mean, how do so many ingredients withstand such high temperatures?】
【Didn't you read carefully? Alchemy isn't high-temperature burning like you think. It's using the unique properties of a pill fire to extract the essence. It's extremely profound and cannot be explained purely on a physical level.】
【I'm a materials science undergraduate. Our lab project is currently planning to investigate some ancient pill recipes that have been passed down. Unfortunately, not many have survived. The poster's share is very useful. Thank you so much, I've tipped you.】
【You make it sound so real, but has anyone actually seen a pill? It's probably all a scam.】
【Well, had you heard of cultivation before? Aren't you starting to cultivate now anyway?】
【The poster explains everything so logically. Maybe they are some reclusive Master of Qingcheng Mountain.】
【These things have mostly been lost, and only some major sects still preserve them. Qingcheng Mountain truly has a deep heritage.】
The Qingcheng Mountain disciples who were also browsing: “???”
Quit joking around, they didn't know about this either!
There were only three patriarchs on the mountain, whose combined ages were nearly three hundred and fifty years old. They trembled just walking; how could they possibly surf the internet?
So, which martial uncle had put on a cover identity to lecture on the Dao?!
...
“The Demon Suppression Division?”
In the research institute of the Special Investigation Bureau, Qin Yue hurriedly unbuttoned the collar of her suit jacket and took a stack of paper documents:
“Where is she? Is she settled? No one approached her rashly, right?”
The male secretary beside her whispered:
“Director Qin, everything was done according to your instructions. We received her carefully and didn't have too much contact.”
Two hours ago, Qin Yue was still in Jingbei attending a major conference, presenting a detailed report on the Yellow River Secret Realm to the organization.
As soon as she received the news, she had rushed back to Qianli City on a private jet without stopping, fortunately not wasting too much time.
She flipped through the documents in her hand in a few swift motions, a hint of astonishment appearing on her face:
The Chen Ping case... native of Mulian Lake... resigned more than half a year ago, claiming to go on a self-driving tour across the country... but in reality, there was no car rental information, and even the Sky Eye cameras hadn't captured any trace of her.
This young girl named Nan Zhi seemed to have completely vanished after the Mulian Lake station, only to suddenly pop up again today.
Where did she go?
What happened to her?
Who on earth had the ability to turn an ordinary person into a cultivator with a Qi Refinement Level 5 cultivation?
If the other party truly came from the Demon Suppression Division, it was no wonder her superiors had hurriedly recalled her to personally handle the contact.
In the room, the young girl was listlessly tapping on her phone. A pile of tea, snacks, and seasonal fruits sat before her, but she hadn't touched any of them.
Qin Yue had met Nan Zhi before.
Though it was only a brief encounter, she had left a deep impression.
Her skin was very fair, her personality seemed ordinary, but her eyes were exceptionally clear.
“Hello, I am Qin Yue.”
Qin Yue pushed open the door and got straight to the point, extending her hand to the girl sitting on the sofa:
“I am Qin Yue, a disciple under Ma Guniang of the Demon Suppression Division. I wonder if you recognize my master, fellow Daoist?”
“Ma Guniang?”
Nan Zhi looked pleasantly surprised, a hint of warmth appearing in her eyes:
“The one you mentioned... wouldn't happen to be Senior Sister Ma Jiu, would it? You're Senior Sister Ma's disciple?”
Little Aunt.
Senior Sister... Ma.
Qin Yue froze, and various fragments of information immediately pieced themselves together in her mind:
The Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Commissioner, whose name and cultivation level were unknown. Ma Jiu had once said that she was currently subduing dragons in the South Sea. She was highly skilled in Gu arts, possessed heavenly cultivation, and had once driven an insect tide to devour a True Immortal.
Nan Zhi was from Mulian Village in Xixiang. She had gone missing after returning to her ancestral home. The registry recorded that she was skilled in alchemy and Gu arts.
And the latest information recorded that she had appeared in a fast-food restaurant yesterday and gifted her friend Zhang Qiuyu what was suspected to be a pill.
Therefore—
Qin Yue's gaze locked, a name flashing through her mind, and her breathing couldn't help but quicken slightly:
The master of the person before her, Mu Changsheng, might very well be that incredibly elusive Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery Commissioner!
In the next moment, Nan Zhi, standing there, smiled and solved the riddle:
“My master is the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery's Demon Suppression Commissioner, who specializes in handling the demons and monsters of the mortal realm. Ma Jiu is a demon suppressor under him, at my master's beck and call, so she can be considered my half-senior sister.
“In that case, you shouldn't call me fellow Daoist. Come, let me hear you call me Little Aunt first?”
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