Demon Sword Sect's Undercover

After an interrogation...

"Hou Niao, you're from the Criminal Investigation of Fufeng City in Three Rivers Prefecture of Anhe Country? You were offered as a sacrifice? So you came to us at Quanzhen for solace because you harbored resentment?

"I warn you, if you tell a single lie, do not blame us for being heartless!"

The chubby man stared at him, scrutinizing. Judging by this guy's performance, it probably was true. This kind of situation was quite common, as the Daoist Sects recruited disciples regardless of their background or origin, just like Quanzhen recruited people without regard for their identity. Anyone from any nation on the continent could join as long as they were willing, and they would have the opportunity.

The skinny man sneered, "My name is Bamboo Stick? They're Fat Pig, Bear, and Bookish Idiot? I don't remember us introducing ourselves in such a manner, do I?"

Hou Niao was at a loss for words. It indeed wasn't ethical to arbitrarily nickname others, and he couldn't explain that it was just a moment of frustration that led him to speak maliciously; he didn't say much else and simply handed over the white scholar robes in his hands,

"There was nothing to wear when I came down, so..."

The scholar frowned in disgust; he was someone with a strong aversion to uncleanliness, "Don't want it!"

The chubby man was meticulous, "Where did you get those talismans, elixir pills, and Daoist scriptures you have?"

A set of ten talismans, all five elements represented; a bottle of twenty unopened elixir pills; three scrolls of scriptures, each with profound meanings. These items were not what Loose Cultivators would typically carry. Usually, for Loose Cultivators, it was a mishmash of three talismans and a couple of pills. Where could one find such well-ordered possessions?

Hou Niao replied, unfazed, "They were given by the Anhe Daoist Sect as compensation for my sacrifice at the altar. I didn't have a chance to use them, and, well, now I barely can."

The chubby one nodded; he was simply asking out of routine. It was common practice in the Cultivation World for the Demon Sect and Daoist Sects to send spies to each other, and even within the various factions to conduct underhand dealings -- nothing surprising there.

For a Realm like Energy Induction, could a spy really uncover anything of substance? It's all bottom-tier, trivial matters, a far cry from the Sect's inner secrets.

Moreover, in the matter of cultivation, once you fully integrate into a system, you are altered by the system even as you infiltrate it; it's an interactive relationship. Take this foolish bird, how many years has he been cultivating the Dao? If he truly submerged himself in Quanzhen for ten or dozens of years, which would he feel more closely connected to, the Daoist Sect or the Demon Sect?

One is unconsciously changed, even brainwashed...Such is the charm of cultivation.

"My surname is Pang, and I am Mr. Pang the Great! This man here is surnamed Lu, Mr. Second Lu; the scholar's surname is Luo, and the big man's last name is Liang. He's the Third and Fourth Masters, and Jiangyou Town is overseen by us four. Make sure you remember that so you don't go around carelessly calling names and tarnishing our reputations for no good reason!"

So Hou Niao settled down in Sword Mansion. Honestly, except for not being able to fly far and wide, everything else was as casual as it was for a common person. No one restrained him, no one taught or ordered him around, and he enjoyed a lot of leisure.

Using this rare opportunity, Hou Niao, when not cultivating, strolled around Jiangyou Town to grasp the social structure, operational system, and the power of cultivation here.

Shan Country still had mortal imperium, but the connection between imperial authority and the cultivation Sects was even tighter. In other words, the royal family and the high-ranking ministers and officials here were primarily composed of Cultivators, which was different from Anhe Country where the Daoist Sect had almost completely withdrawn from secular control.

This was also where Daoist and Demon Sects' ideologies conflicted: the Daoist Sects preferred seclusion from the world, while Demon Sects focused on engaging with the world. In fact, their goals were the same: to ensure the peace and happiness of the populace.

Just like the whole of Da Feng Plain, which was akin to a province of Anhe Country in terms of status; the power center was in the largest and the sole city, Jin City, guarded by the Governor, who in reality was the most powerful Cultivator in the region.

In the Demon Sect, everything is based on strength; everything else is secondary.

Da Feng Plain had many towns—big and small—like Jiangyou Town, which were similar in nature to Fufeng City of Anhe Country; they also had their central towns responsible for the livelihood, safety, and military matters, among other affairs.

Of course, the focus was still on military affairs, especially on the extermination of demons, which was their primary duty; civil matters were handled by mortals, after all. Cultivators were scarce, and most of the subordinate positions could only be filled by mortals.

These four masters were the very officials in Jiangyou Town tasked with handling external demon threats, the office being called the Patrol Guard. On this matter, Anhe Country had no comparison. For instance, in Fufeng City, there had never been a real Daoist stationed there, only inspections every few years.

There were many reasons for such differences, such as the differing ideologies between the Daoist and Demon Sects, with Daoists more inclined to roam mountains, rivers, and great streams. Most importantly, due to geographical reasons, most of Anhe's demons were concentrated within several rivers, which comparatively made them easier to control.

In most kingdoms, monsters scattered across the land, and without the front-line forces of cultivators, many disasters would lead to inadequate support, out of reach of help.

Four people might seem a bit few, but considering the formidable power of cultivators, it also seemed quite normal?

The top leader of Jiangyou was the ultimate combat force here, but he had no chance to meet him; his realm was too limited, his skills too meager, not worth the attention of such individuals. Jiangyou Town was close to Anhe's Liuyang City, and the exchange of cultivators between the two was frequent. He, a mere Energy Induction cultivator, was hardly noteworthy.

Hou Niao was very clear; he was safe now. As long as they hadn't killed him back in the Poplar Forest, they wouldn't make things difficult for him, so long as he didn't intentionally deceive them.

The reason he was confined here was probably that they were inquiring about his background. For him, it had been a nearly two-month journey, but for a true cultivator, it would possibly be only a day? Or even shorter.

All he needed to do was wait for news here. Once everything was confirmed, he would head to Jin City, his real destination.

...The Patrol Guard seemed imposing in name, but like Sword Mansion and Huqiu, was only a farce in reality.

Huqiu was nothing but a hundred-yard mound, no higher than twenty yards; Sword Mansion was just a leaky stone house with nothing to it; the Patrol Guard similarly was just an empty shell of an office, no gatekeeper, no clerks, no servants, no kitchen...

A staff of four for four actual spots, one turnip in each hole.

But Hou Niao saw something different in this, a vibrant and ascending vitality!

Were they truly out of money to build a more luxurious building? Truly lacking the capability to choose a better environment? Truly no way to find some servants to serve tea and water?

Maybe not?

It's as if it were a Quanzhen Sect's sword, free from tassels and decorations, devoid of all frivolity, just possessing a sharp aura!

The four Patrol Guard masters were hardly ever at home during the day, usually only returning at night, and sometimes not returning for the entire night;

It was normal for them to be covered in dust from the road, and seeing blood on their clothes was not uncommon, which made him inwardly gasp in amazement.

This was completely different from the light and breezy demeanor of the Anhe Daoist Sect, almost like two different types of cultivation?

Even at night, the bustle continued!

In the grand hall on the first floor of Sword Mansion, the sound of sword strikes was unending; one danced with a sword, two brawled with each other, three fought in disarray, four engaged in a melee...

In whose night does the sword qi rise? Huqiu Stone Room remains lively all night long.