What kind of person is suitable for cultivating demonic arts?
Someone with desires in their heart, who can activate the demonic qi trigger in the shortest time, quickly convert the maximum amount of demonic qi, and not lose their sanity.
At least not lose it on the surface; whether their inner self is mad does not matter.
Besides this purpose, the group could not think of other possibilities for the demon’s current behaviour, so they would assume this for now.
Chu Jin could not help sneering. “As if it is that easy?”
Master Jue Xuan nodded. “Though it is not easy, demonic arts are simple to cultivate and powerful enough, so they are still a threat to us.”
Chu Jin admitted it. “I will go back and mobilise the constables from each county office, scatter them to investigate.”
The greatest advantage of the Da Jing court was that this land was under their control, with numerous low-level officials at their command. They could go down to fields, villages, and hamlets, probing every tiny detail.
Of course, there was another way.
Lu Zheng asked, “Have we found everyone in Tianjia Village? Has all the demonic qi been completely expelled?”
Guang Yue nodded. “Uncle Master acted; all expelled cleanly.”
Lu Zheng grinned and could not help asking, “That Wu fellow was infected by chance. Who knows if there are others affected in Dongxi Town?”
Master Jue Xuan nodded approvingly. Chu Jin said firmly, “Let us go and see.”
The group flew to Dongxi Town and indeed found another madman.
This man’s home was in Tianjia Village; he usually worked in Dongxi Town and went home once a month. His last visit home was seven days ago.
Unfortunately, he had no close kin in town, so the crowd had bound him, preparing to send him back to Tianjia Village.
With only one infected, before Master Jue Xuan could act, Guang Yue wanted to step forward.
“This time, let me.” Lu Zheng pulled Guang Yue back, then a Pure Cloud Spell struck into the man.
It expelled the self-generated demonic qi in his body, then used silver needles to draw out the strand of demonic qi trigger.
Shen Ying stepped forward, took a porcelain vial in hand, cast a spell to seal the demonic qi, then stored it in the bottle.
“Young friend seeks this demonic qi to find that demon?” Master Jue Xuan asked.
Lu Zheng nodded. “Let us see if it works.”
Chu Jin shook his head. “Would the other not think of this flaw? Whether White Cloud Temple’s aura viewing art or my tracking art, they will likely fail.”
Chu Jin did not even mention Master Jue Xuan. With Master Jue Xuan’s strength and experience, after discovering the demon had left seven days ago, how could he not have tried tracking spells?
But Master Jue Xuan showed support. “Worth a try.”
In truth, both Master Jue Xuan and Chu Jin thought Lu Zheng, though not weak in cultivation, still lacked experience, hence this move.
But better to try than not, better to act than idle, so letting Lu Zheng attempt was fine, a lesson in experience.
Shen Ying could not help chuckling at this. Lu Zheng smiled awkwardly too.
Truth be told, this was the first time using the treasure mirror to seek someone, and Lu Zheng was not certain it would find the demon, so he would not speak too boldly.
Thus, Lu Zheng patted his gourd, took out the Cloud Palace Treasure Mirror, and said to Shen Ying, “Give me a strand of demonic qi.”
Shen Ying nodded, pinched a formula in her hand, and drew out a strand even finer than before, delivering it to Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng took the demonic qi, processed it, followed the mirror’s built-in runes and seals, chanted the incantation, and sought the target.
On the other side, seeing Lu Zheng take out the Cloud Palace Treasure Mirror, Chu Jin and Master Jue Xuan realised he had a reliance, but the mirror’s aura was hidden, its power unknown.
Moments later.
The mirror’s surface suddenly blurred, then showed a layer of clouds.
Next, the clouds parted, revealing a scene from a bird’s-eye view.
“Found it?” Chu Jin was startled, shocked as he looked at the treasure mirror in Lu Zheng’s hand.
Master Jue Xuan was also stunned, but not as surprised as Chu Jin; instead, he looked at the displayed content with interest.
The group crowded close, watching together. Soon, the image in the mirror clarified.
At first glance, it was a half-old ancestral hall, walls mottled, surrounded by ancient towering trees, clearly in the mountains.
In the hall, a father and son knelt worshipping, muttering to themselves, unclear what they said.
The lens centre clearly faced the hall’s side curtain; behind it stood a figure shrouded in black mist, motionless.
And that worshipping father and son clearly had not noticed this figure at all.
“Demon!” Master Jue Xuan said lowly.
Though no aura was felt from the mirror, that black mist twisted, distinct from the ghost fog of the underworld.
“Is this a mountain village ancestral hall?” Shen Ying could not help saying. “No wonder Tianjia Village said these people had nothing special before; going to the hall to worship is, of course, unremarkable.”
“So, he has hidden in another mountain village?” Chu Jin looked at the surroundings, then asked Lu Zheng, “Can we see the full environment?”
Lu Zheng nodded, pulled the lens back, and the mirror soon showed the village’s full view.
“Where is this?” Chu Jin asked.
“South-southeast, about five hundred li.” Lu Zheng sensed for a moment. “Exact location needs closer approach to confirm.”
“That is not just…” Shen Ying thought and said, “Dingshan County?”
“Still in Yizhou?” Chu Jin’s eyes widened in fury upon hearing this.
Too much; the other’s intent clearly disregarded him as Yizhou Town Anomalies Office’s commander!
Chu Jin’s eyes flashed; he cupped hands and said, “Please, Young Master Lu, lead the way!”
“Duty calls.” Lu Zheng returned the salute with cupped hands, then held the mirror in one hand, rose on clouds, and flew into the sky with Shen Ying, straight south to Dingshan County.
Master Jue Xuan brought Guang Yue, and together with Chu Jin, they followed closely.
…
On the way, Shen Ying quietly asked Lu Zheng, “Need to call Daoist Ming Zhang?”
Lu Zheng thought and shook his head. “No need. Calling Lord Chu is for the Town Anomalies Office’s duty; calling my master too would seem to look down on Master Jue Xuan.”
Shen Ying nodded upon hearing this. “In Dingshan County, there is also a Xuan He Temple and a Lan Shan Temple.”
“How strong are they?” Lu Zheng asked.
Shen Ying thought, then shook her head again. “Likely no help.”
Lu Zheng, “…”
Then why say it?
Shen Ying smiled shyly; she had subconsciously thought of these two when considering allies, but after speaking, realised for this level of enemy, they could not help.
…
The group flew swiftly and soon reached Dingshan County territory. Lu Zheng halted the clouds, then pinched a seal formula in his hand.
“West of the county town, fifty li.”
The group followed Lu Zheng flying a bit more, soon passing a town, reaching the high mountain west of the town, looking far at a certain village in a valley.
“Here!”
