Demon Sword Sect's Undercover

Jinxiu Continent is a newly emerging cultivation world, or so the books say.

Therefore, compared to the normal human world, Jinxiu boasts a very ancient cultural history, yet in terms of cultivation history, it's just a beginner; specifically regarding individual cultivation, there are hardly any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Spirit Plant Curios, Treasure Underground, or legendary figures—it's just the beginning for an era.

Old Meng, although not familiar with him, also faintly knew that Ti Ji felt sympathy for him, so he once secretly sent him an age-old so-called Immortal Herb, which was actually just a hundred-year-old ginseng worm.

Here, there's no room for the growth of Immortal Herbs, the ancient human presence has long since made this continent's environment rarely frequented by people, let alone hundred-year plants, even ten-year-old medicinal herbs are hard to find.

The ginseng worm was received by Sun Bo when he was not around. For him personally, refusing gifts is the minimum standard of personal conduct of a law enforcer; it's just that he hadn't found the right opportunity to return it yet.

Now there's no need to return it; Old Meng has already returned his soul to the Netherworld, and by killing the last descendant of the Wang Family, he had justified this chaotic gift.

Now, does it even matter whether one accepts it or not?

Pulse, also known as sensing energy, is the resonance between one's own meridians and the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism; simply put, ordinary mortals cannot sense the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism, only a very few either gifted, or taught profoundly, or by coincidental chance, or mistakenly can step onto this path.

Those with a real background in cultivation have a set of unique methods, which of course work much more effectively; but for someone like Hou Niao, to say it was coincidental chance would be overpraising him—it was purely by accident.

Once one could sense the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism, the next step was to solidify one's own sensation of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism; this is not an exaggeration, as many people at this level come and go, fluctuating up and down; sometimes they could sense it, sometimes not, alternating between effective and ineffective, which hardly qualifies them for further cultivation.

During the Pulse phase, the human body can sense the Spirit Mechanism, and in walking, sitting, or going through life, they manage to gain some benefits, which make their bodies healthier than ordinary mortals, but without any fundamental difference.

To have a fundamental difference, one must use the cultivator's cultivation technique to actively absorb the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism, thus completely transforming the mortal's body, meridians, and internal organs, and then it's possible to use basic magic that only cultivators can use.

Hou Niao was stuck at this very hurdle; he had spent all his wealth traveling the world looking for various Daoist Sect initiation techniques, yet none suited him, the effects were terribly poor, practically as good as none.

Using the words of those who had come before, this was not an issue of the cultivation technique, certainly not the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism, but rather a problem with his own innate qualities.

Although people capable of generating Pulse are few, the absolute number is still astonishingly high due to the large population base, but most people, like him, although they can sense energy, cannot induce it—this is a rule of heaven and earth; ultimately, cultivation is the privilege of the very few, if everyone could cultivate, the Spirit Mechanism of this world would eventually be drained by humanity.

The members of the Daoist Sect are sharp-eyed and saw through Hou Niao's nature at a glance, hence they did not accept him into their ranks; this threshold is not the first he has stumbled at, nor will it be the last.

If he had not worn this Daoist robe and willingly lived a normal life, it was certain that he would have extended his life, but he insisted on using the Daoist appearance to implement his ideal laws, which was quite awkward.

Now, everything has ended.

He meticulously tidied up the study and all its belongings, knowing that once he left, there might not be a day to return; in this world, danger was constant, and for someone like him, it was only a matter of time, nothing surprising.

These law books and codes, after his departure, will probably interest no one; the current officials prefer not to delve into these matters, choosing instead to curry favors and form alliances.

It's a pity, who knows which bookstore will benefit? Or will they become fuel for fire?

Turning around, he left the study and entered a small room next to the bedroom, where curtains hung low and fragrance from burning incense swirled; for a somewhat well-off family, no one would place their family shrine in such a rudimentary place, but the current status of the Hou Family was not what it used to be.

He changed the incense stick for his parents and knelt to pray; the Hou Family was not a grand clan with many rules, but now, as his journey was imminent, this last stick of incense...

"Honorable father and mother above, unfilial son Hou Niao, ashamed before the ancestors..."

His prayer was actually insincere, the Hou Family did not believe in such things; this was a common flaw among families of the legal profession, no faith in gods or spirits.

But in this world, gods and spirits had long existed, and when these mysterious entities spread throughout the Continent, it was, in fact, the law that suffered the most!

It was the growing pains that the Mortal World had to endure as it transitioned into the Cultivation World.

Growing tired of kneeling, he simply sat cross-legged next to the incense table, knowing he wouldn't have such an opportunity again, and with nothing more to conceal,

"Honored father, don't think I do not understand. All those things you taught me from a young age, you couldn't even achieve yourself. What were you thinking?

At seven, I saw you oppress both the plaintiff and the defendant, even fueling the flames... At ten, someone crept up to our door in the middle of the night looking to commit murder—was it someone you had coerced into confessing?

I know all these things, yet you still taught me to be an upright official in criminal law. Did you want me to make amends for the faults you once committed?"

He sighed and muttered, "It's better that you died, otherwise sooner or later your son would have brought you to justice... You should know, I only followed the path you laid out for me because I thought it was right, not because of you."

A self-deprecating laugh, "Yet to the true Daoist Sect, I am merely a mortal; being a mortal, how could I truly embody the law with my selfish human desires?

Did you have a sordid deal with the Wang Family? Was it an uneven distribution of spoils? Or did you hold some leverage over them? You departed too abruptly, too suddenly, and I still haven't fully understood; but that doesn't mean I don't know how you were murdered!"

Tired of sitting, he simply lay down, using his arm as a pillow, "At least I managed to eliminate the son of the Wang Family, avenging you. That was the only time I acted out of personal bias in my years of handling cases, and the last time... there won't be another..."

He murmured to himself as if his parents were listening beside him, speaking both for his family and for himself. Faintly, there seemed to be slight noises outside the courtyard, but he didn't care; he truly didn't believe any enemies would dare trouble him at this juncture.

Having already executed someone in court, only a fool would not understand that this caged tiger could only be quietly awaited to perish; they must not be pressed too hastily.

As expected, the rustling sound at the courtyard gate arose and then subsided, an endless cycle... He had no interest in bothering with these people, although he wasn't truly a cultivator from the Daoist Sect, he considered himself bound by their discipline.

The master of the law must practice self-discipline.

The blurry night passed, and at the break of dawn, the voice of Sun Bo called out, "Young master, young master, please come see at the courtyard gate."

Hou Niao walked out rather helplessly, Sun Bo was good in every aspect, except for his timidity...

As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he was startled by the scene outside—it was deserted, yet strewn with various objects.

There were several robes, finely stitched quick boots, a brand-new oil-paper umbrella, a turtle-shell water flask, steaming packs of dry food wrapped in cloth, freshly-picked fruits and vegetables, and even several chunks of silver and scattered Silver Coins...

Clearly, these items were sent by different people, all essentials for a long journey!

His eyes moistened slightly; this was the best way to repay him!

Right and wrong will inherently reveal themselves, justice always resides in the human heart; Heaven stands high above, watchful gods reside three feet above!