Stepping out of the central government office, Qin Lu gazed up at the sky, his mind churning.

“If I’m going out there, I need to be properly prepared.”

“Intelligence suggests the target is merely at Qi Condensation Perfection, but in the cultivation world, one can never be too careful. It’s safer to bring a companion.”

Having made up his mind, Qin Lu turned and headed toward his own district.

However, his destination was not his own manor, but the Gu Mansion located a few hundred meters away.

Among all his acquaintances, the person he trusted most was Gu Yue.

Perhaps it was the camaraderie forged in battle, her steadfast personality, or the fact that they had known each other since they were weaklings. Or perhaps it was simply because she had saved his hide more than once.

Whatever the reason, Qin Lu trusted Gu Yue with his life.

For a mission involving unknown variables and potential danger, having her watch his back would make him feel infinitely more secure.

“What? Your sister is in Secluded Cultivation?”

Qin Lu stared at the dark-skinned youth lounging in front of him, surprised.

Gu Can looked like he had just finished a heavy meal. A small wooden toothpick dangled from the corner of his mouth as he leaned against the doorframe, looking utterly slovenly.

“Yeah,” Gu Can mumbled around the toothpick. “Two days ago, she said she sensed the opportunity for a breakthrough. She’s aiming for the Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage, so she sealed herself away. Probably won’t be out for a while.”

“I see…”

Qin Lu nodded slowly.

It had been a year and a half since Gu Yue advanced to Foundation Establishment. Sensing a breakthrough now wasn’t unusual; it was expected.

It was just terrible timing. The moment he needed help, his go-to ally was unavailable.

“Why are you looking for my sister anyway?” Gu Can suddenly grinned, his expression turning cheeky and mischievous. “You two aren’t planning to sneak off for a secret rendezvous, are you?”

“You’re crazy.” Qin Lu rolled his eyes at him.

“Then what do you need her for?” Gu Can asked, his curiosity piqued.

Qin Lu turned to leave, but then stopped. He stared at Gu Can, a sharp glint of realization flashing in his eyes.

He had almost forgotten—this lazy kid was a Foundation Establishment cultivator too!

The sun hung high in the sky, bathing the earth in golden light. The warmth was a welcome respite from the lingering cold of the season.

At the gates of the White Jade Market, two figures walked out past the wards and immediately shot into the heavens, streaking toward the north.

They hovered and flew without the aid of any Magical Artifact—the hallmark of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

They were, of course, Qin Lu and Gu Can.

It hadn’t taken much convincing. Gu Can, who naturally loved excitement and hated boredom, didn’t even ask for the details before agreeing. He had practically jumped at the chance to leave the market.

As they cut through the clouds, Qin Lu began to brief Gu Can on the mission.

A moment later, Gu Can summarized the situation, shouting over the wind.

“So, simply put: A mortal crown prince noticed his father, the King, was acting strange. He investigated secretly and found the King seemed to be under the control of some dark art.”

“The Demon Slaying Sect’s stationed City Lord caught wind of it, confirmed it was an evil cultivator causing trouble, and identified the target’s strength as Qi Condensation Perfection. He requested support from the White Jade Market.”

“But Market Master Jiang didn’t have the time to deal with it personally, so he leveraged your desire to buy those shops to make you clean up the mess. Is that about right?”

Qin Lu nodded. “Mm, that covers it.”

Gu Can looked disappointed. A trace of helplessness appeared on his face.

“Hey, hey. I know I wanted to come out and play, but the target is just a Qi Condensation Perfection trash? Sending two Foundation Establishment cultivators to deal with him… isn’t that a bit excessive?”

“Safety first,” Qin Lu replied calmly. “Besides, evil cultivators are weird creatures. They usually possess secret techniques to explosively increase their strength. With you there, I can rest easy.”

“Ah, what’s there to worry about? In my opinion, Brother Qin, you’re just too cautious.” Gu Can laughed, shaking his head. “Hehe, when we get there, you don’t even need to lift a finger. Just watch from the sidelines. I’ll chop that evil cultivator down myself.”

“Fine by me.”

The two chatted idly as they sped toward their destination.

For a colossal Golden Core sect like the Demon Slaying Sect, the territory under its control was vast. To maintain order, disciples were dispatched to manage various regions like feudal lords.

This system offered several key benefits.

First, the stationed managers could organize Spiritual Root testing for age-appropriate mortals, ensuring a constant stream of fresh blood for the Sect.

Second, they protected the mortal populace. By resolving local crises early, they maintained stability and ensured the loyalty of the common people.

Third, having cultivators on the ground allowed the Sect to quickly identify and harvest precious natural resources, securing a steady income.

Fourth, and most importantly, if ghosts, Demon Beasts, or evil cultivators appeared, the manager could provide immediate disaster relief.

Therefore, across the Sect’s entire territory—except for a few extremely remote dynasties—Demon Slaying Sect representatives were everywhere.

It functioned like a centralized empire.

The Sect directly controlled three major markets. These hubs for cultivators were always governed by a Foundation Establishment expert.

For large mortal cities or dynasties, however, a mere Qi Condensation disciple was sufficient to rule over everything. In some remote backwaters, even outer sect disciples without significant cultivation could become the lord of a city.

Within their jurisdiction, these stationed disciples held absolute authority. They were emperors in all but name.

Qin Lu and Gu Can’s destination was one such place: a large mortal metropolis named Liang City.

Their contact was the Qi Condensation disciple stationed there.

The flight was smooth and uneventful.

They covered the two thousand li in just over three hours.

By the time they arrived, the sun was setting in the west, painting the world in hues of amber and gold. Amidst this scenic backdrop, a massive city sprawling across the plains came into view.

An ancient city wall, hundreds of meters long, tightly enveloped the metropolis. Inside, streets were arranged in an orderly grid, dividing the city into distinct districts.

As they approached, Qin Lu slowed down. He turned to Gu Can.

“Hide your cultivation level. We don’t want to startle the snake.”

Since an evil cultivator was operating here, he likely had mortal informants. It was better to keep a low profile until they identified the target.

“Hide my cultivation? I don’t know how!”

Gu Can spread his hands, his expression one of complete naturalness. Why would he ever learn a spell to make himself look weaker?

“You really are…” Qin Lu sighed, shaking his head.

With a thought, he retrieved a bracelet from his [Storage Bag] and tossed it to Gu Can.

“Your sister sold me this [Hidden Spirit Bracelet]. Wear it for now.”

Gu Can caught the bracelet, looking reluctant. “Brother Qin, is it really necessary to be this careful? Damn it, once we find that little Qi Condensation cultivator, I’ll just charge in and hack him to death!”

“Caution never hurts! Hurry up, we’re landing!”

Under Qin Lu’s urging, Gu Can grudgingly activated the [Hidden Spirit Bracelet], suppressing his radiating Spiritual Qi.

The two descended into a secluded grove outside the city walls.

After applying simple disguises to their clothes, they walked onto the main road. Mingling with a group of dusty porters and travelers, they blended seamlessly into the crowd flowing through the city gates.