Master of Strange Dao

Yu Ziqing looked over the information several times, then noticed an inconspicuous record and smiled before putting everything away.

He had Cece spread the news, and a few days later, Yu Ziqing arrived at the Abyssal Rift near Almsgiving Town.

Entering the Abyss, he found the Old Chief Venerate resting on a recliner.

"Long time no see, how have you been, elder?"

"Still hanging in there, not dead yet."

In just a few days, the Old Chief Venerate appeared. According to his previous whereabouts, he had been coming to the Abyssal Rift more frequently, suggesting he could no longer suppress it.

"I want to make a deal with you."

"What do you want?"

"Fifty drops of Sweet Rain Original Liquid in exchange for the detailed information of everyone within the Shadow Department."

"Impossible." The Old Chief Venerate's face turned dark, refusing outright.

"Then forty drops, for the detailed information of the Chief, the Deputy, and the Eight Shadow Envoys of the Shadow Department."

"What is it that you really want?" The Old Chief Venerate frowned deeply.

"Fine then, just the detailed information on Fu Xiao and four other people. Thirty drops, take it or leave it."

Yu Ziqing listed each name, and the Old Chief Venerate remained silent for a long time, his brow furrowed tightly.

"I have already lifted the ban, showing you face enough. Don't tell me this is not acceptable. These people shouldn't cross your line, should they? They all have issues, and I just want the information."

The Old Chief Venerate remained silent.

Even with Yu Ziqing retracting the ban, he didn't have enough Sweet Rain to perform an Almsgiving.

According to collective experiences, he might need at least fifty drops of original liquid to resolve the Heart Demon.

During Yu Ziqing's last dispersal of Sweet Rain, there wasn't much to begin with. Divided among everyone, it was impossible to have enough to resolve the Heart Demon in advance.

He had already wasted Sweet Rain once, having no second chance.

The Crown Prince also couldn't provide that much anymore.

He knew that Jinlan Mountain certainly knew he was close to losing control of his Heart Demon, which was why they sought him out at this time.

And what Yu Ziqing wanted didn't exactly cross his bottom line.

Even if it were Fu Xiao's personal information since he wasn't devoted to Dali but rather a genuine Shadow Department individual, the Old Chief Venerate didn't care about their lives, only worried about sharing the information with outsiders.

After a long period of contemplation, the Old Chief Venerate nodded.

"Fifty drops, everything you want will be given to you without any omission."

"Good, no concealment, no falsehood, we swear an oath with a handshake."

The two of them shook hands to seal the deal.

In merely three days, the Old Chief Venerate reappeared, handing Yu Ziqing a Storage Bag containing a wealth of information and records.

Yu Ziqing verified the contents briefly and handed the Old Chief Venerate a jade bottle containing fifty drops of Sweet Rain Original Liquid.

Both parties confirmed everything was in order, concluding the transaction without triggering the oath. Yu Ziqing smiled faintly.

"Pleasant cooperation. Wishing the Old Chief Venerate a speedy recovery."

Yu Ziqing turned and left.

The Old Chief Venerate, obtaining the Sweet Rain, wasted no time in preparing the Almsgiving ritual.

Right at the cliff's edge in the Abyss, he resolved his Heart Demon.

He watched as the Heart Demon was forcibly torn out of him by an invisible power, divided by the countless hungry ghosts surging from below the cliff. Feeling a sense of relief wash over him, he couldn't help but reveal a smile of being unburdened.

This signified his Heart Demon Tribulation had been resolved ahead of time.

The Old Chief Venerate quietly left, returning to his temporary residence, taking the same materials, frowning over them. He wanted to understand why Yu Ziqing sought these particular individuals' information.

Besides Fu Xiao, could the remaining individuals all be internal traitors?

Yet, he was unaware that after he departed, every trace of Devil Thought coalesced silently, all poured into Cece's Despair Abyss.

Trading Devil Thought for Sweet Rain, every hungry ghost was willing to accept.

Even without the chance to get a job change like Cece and Wu Shuangge, to awaken something divine and find importance like the Deceitful Ghost, was still worthwhile.

In Almsgiving Town, Yu Ziqing carefully examined those materials.

On the surface, it seemed like Fu Xiao's information was most vital. After reviewing it once and memorizing it, Yu Ziqing set it aside, focusing on the materials of the other individuals.

After a moment, Cece returned.

"Young master, it's done. The Heart Demon is strong, not much inferior to Lou Huai."

"Heh, go ahead and discipline the Heart Demon a bit. I'll listen to what it has to say later."

By acting first and accumulating enough information, only then could he have the opportunity to draw his sword when things turned.

Gathering basic information was too difficult, so it was far more convenient to directly approach the Jinyi Wei or the Shadow Department to get it, saving a lot of trouble.

He just needed to track down the most crucial pieces of information to fill in the final gaps.

Dealing with open figures, this was the best way.

Furthermore, having acquired the materials from the Old Chief Venerate, he didn't believe the Old Chief Venerate would not react and not personally investigate them.

Not discovering was fine, discovering the Old Chief Venerate's secret surveillance was also fine, treating it merely as stirring the grass to startle the snake.

He kept in mind the necessity of urgency; his personal power was truly weak. In confrontation with powerful individuals, only by drawing a sword could he hope to stand a chance.

There were many things that unless absolutely necessary, he could not personally do; otherwise, he would leave traces.

Just like this time with Song's son and daughter, it was a necessity; he couldn't trust anyone else, so he had to personally handle it.