Chapter 88 - 82: Testing the Mole, Jiang Mu
When two people cultivate the *Purple Mansion Agreement* at the same time, and their Cultivation Levels grow deeper, a mysterious connection will form between them.
Of course, at present, only Shangguan Luoxue could feel it, a one-way perception.
Although she could sense that someone had begun cultivating the technique, the other person hadn’t officially broken through yet, so she couldn’t pinpoint their exact location.
But now, that connection had suddenly become clear.
Evidently, the other person had already broken through to the First Layer, which was enough for her to get a fix on their position.
Shangguan Luoxue lightly raised her slender fingers and formed a Spell.
A handful of purple snowflakes emerged from her palm, carrying a wisp of her Divine Sense as they drifted out of the Underground Palace.
However, they stopped abruptly in midair.
The purple snowflakes coalesced in the air, transforming into a hazy, ethereal figure.
The figure’s robes fluttered as if it were a Fairy under the moon, but its pair of light purple eyes were currently filled with confusion.
"Strange..."
Shangguan Luoxue’s elegant brows furrowed slightly. "The aura is clearly within Hu State, so why can’t I lock onto the exact location?"
Of course, she didn’t know that some beast was AFK grinding.
The Star Position, the Star Pill, and the Cultivation Technique he was practicing were all with the Demon Shadow. Even though the results of the cultivation were fed back to Jiang Mu, he simply couldn’t be sensed.
This was because the Demon Shadow had no consciousness, no physical form, and no soul; it was essentially a mass of void energy.
You want a Divine Sense to perceive a mass of void?
Isn’t that like asking a blind person for directions?
’Could it be that this person sensed my probing and used some kind of Secret Skill to conceal themselves?’
Shangguan Luoxue was completely baffled.
Her Divine Sense spread out like a net, meticulously probing every inch of Hu State.
The result was still nothing.
This feeling of losing control made her, who was usually as cool and detached as ice and snow, feel inexplicably frantic.
’Forget it. No rush.’
Shangguan Luoxue forcefully suppressed the turmoil in her heart, her gaze profound.
’I’ll be reaching the Seventh Layer soon. When that time comes, I can forcibly pull him into the "Purple Mansion Divine Realm." No matter how he conceals himself, there will be nowhere to hide.’
’But... when that time comes, do I really have to cultivate it?’
Recalling her master Ling Ye’s past warning, the woman’s heart grew heavy.
’Forget it. I’ll see when the time comes.’
She shook her head, suppressing these distracting thoughts.
Right now, there was another matter giving her a headache.
She had to find an apprentice, and fast.
The Cold Moon Sect had been passed down from generation to generation; she couldn’t let its lineage end with her.
But the sect’s requirements for accepting apprentices were incredibly strict.
Their aptitude and talent had to be one in ten thousand, their appearance and bearing outstanding and refined, and most importantly, their future development in a certain area had to show astonishing potential.
It was too difficult.
Especially since she, as the Garrison Envoy, couldn’t leave Hu State.
The reason Ling Ye had chosen to become a Patrol Envoy, rushing around slaying demons, was partly to fulfill a past deal with the Court, and partly to help her find a suitable successor.
But after so many years, they still hadn’t found anyone.
’Is it really so hard to find someone with big ones?’
Shangguan Luoxue glanced down at herself, a rare trace of childish annoyance appearing on her cold and stunningly beautiful face.
’What a stupid sect rule!’
’If it really comes to it, I’ll just take a male apprentice.’
...
Jiang Mu had no idea that because of his diligent cultivation of the *Purple Mansion Agreement*, his innocent self was now being targeted by a certain big shot.
The following days returned to a peaceful routine.
He would either hole up at home cultivating, take Zhang Xiaokui out to patrol the streets, or accompany Bai Xiang in the vegetable garden to water and fertilize the plants...
Occasionally, he would stop by the Document Library to browse through old case files.
Of course, the most important thing was to periodically remind a certain young lady:
"Xiang’Er, my birthday is in four days, you know. Is the gift ready yet?"
"Xiang’Er, it has to be a surprise, otherwise your master will be heartbroken."
"Xiang’Er..."
The result was that Bai Xiang was under immense pressure.
She thought about what gift to get while washing clothes, while chopping vegetables, and even while reading a book.
In the middle of the night, she suddenly sat up:
"No, seriously, is there something wrong with him?"
...
One morning, as Jiang Mu was in the courtyard supervising Yuan Ahqing’s cultivation, there was a sudden knock on the gate.
He opened the gate to find a young bailiff in the uniform of the Demon-slaying Bureau, who said respectfully:
"Master Jiang, the Lord Chief has summoned you for an urgent matter."
"Do you know what it’s about?"
"It should be about assigning you a mission."
A mission?!
Jiang Mu’s eyes lit up instantly.
’It’s finally here!’
His "cheat" had already run out of power, and he had even been thinking about sneaking out of the city to try his luck.
"Got it. I’ll be right over."
Jiang Mu went back inside to change his clothes, said goodbye to Bai Xiang and Yuan Ahqing, and then rushed excitedly to the Demon-slaying Bureau.
He arrived at the Chief’s Seal Room.
But he found that besides Ran Qingshan, Yan Fenghuo, the Hall Master of the Fourth Hall, was also there.
"Ah, you’re here, Xiaojiang."
Ran Qingshan closed the intelligence report in his hands and looked at him with a cheerful smile.
"Have you had enough rest at home these past few days? You’re looking rosy-cheeked; you’ve even put on some weight."
Though he was joking, Ran Qingshan was actually feeling quite emotional inside.
This scion of a wealthy family, whom he once had the least faith in, was now repeatedly giving him shocks.
He had even obtained the position of an orthodox Star Official now.
’It’s simply outrageous.’
Jiang Mu was in no mood for pleasantries and got straight to the point. "Lord Chief, is it to kill demons?"
"That’s right."
Ran Qingshan’s smile faded as he handed him the report from the table.
"We have new information from the patrol team. A Demon we’ve been hunting for a long time is hiding in Black Wind Valley.
"According to the intel, including its subordinates, there are about seventy demons in total, and we’ve confirmed their exact location."
"What kind of Demon? What’s its realm?" Jiang Mu’s eyes shone.
More than seventy!
’That’s more than seventy power banks.’
Ran Qingshan didn’t specify the type of Demon, only saying:
"The leader is at the peak of Tier Four, and the rest are mostly Tier Three or low-level Tier One and Tier Two demons.
"When the Fog Demons invaded, this Demon took advantage of the chaos in the city to stir up trouble and killed many people. This time, I intend for you to cooperate with Master Yan and go eliminate it together."
"Master Yan..."
Jiang Mu glanced at Yan Fenghuo beside him.
In the Demon-slaying Bureau, it wasn’t rare for two halls to undertake a mission jointly.
But the problem was the merit points.
Merit points determined the allocation of resources.
Even in a cooperative mission, whoever held the initiative and contributed the most would naturally get the largest slice of the pie.
It was just like Xu Fu, the Hall Master of the Seventh Hall. Before Jiang Mu arrived, he was perennially at the bottom, and on missions, he mostly played second fiddle to others, doing the dirtiest and most tiring work for the fewest merit points.
He was nicknamed "Xu Leftovers."
Now, Ran Qingshan was specifically telling him to cooperate with Yan Fenghuo, which was clearly telling him to go eat leftovers.
Jiang Mu frowned slightly. "Lord Chief, why not let my Eighth Hall go alone?"
He wasn’t afraid of offending people.
He had already clashed with Yan Fenghuo last time at the Shen Mansion. Hoping for them to reconcile was impossible.
Since that was the case, he might as well just throw all pretense out the window.
’I just want to hog it all for myself. If you don’t like it, what are you gonna do about it?’
Yan Fenghuo’s face immediately darkened.
’I’ve never seen someone so openly sideline a colleague. This guy is too ruthless. Does he really think he’s invincible?’
Ran Qingshan gave a dry cough and waved his hand.
"Alright, I’m also considering your safety. Just cooperate as you’re told. If you don’t want to go, then stay home and rest."
"Fine, then."
Jiang Mu reluctantly gave up.
Eating leftovers it is, then. In any case, his only goal was to recharge his "cheat."
The merit points didn’t matter.
"Master Yan, shall we depart now?" Jiang Mu looked at Yan Fenghuo.
Yan Fenghuo said coolly, "Aren’t you going to summon your two subordinates?"
Jiang Mu shook his head. "No, I’ll be fine on my own."
Zhang Daxie was currently preparing for a breakthrough and wasn’t suited for a mission. Zhang Xiaokui, on the other hand, needed to stay and guard the Government Office.
"Then let’s go."
Yan Fenghuo said nothing more and turned to walk out.
As he turned, he exchanged a look with Ran Qingshan.
Ran Qingshan’s eyes held a trace of worry, but Yan Fenghuo returned a look brimming with confidence.
He was confident.
This time, he would definitely expose Jiang Mu as the mole!
His old vow still stood—
If he couldn’t expose him, he, Yan Fenghuo, would not only eat shit while doing a handstand on the spot, but he would also personally pack up his wife and deliver her to that bastard Jiang’s bed!
He would do as he said!