Starting as a prodigy wanting milk? A world-destroying deception in the opposite direction.

Although the Shen family was once a family of spirit mediums, it had long lost its former grandeur, and the vermilion gate was peeling.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, Shen Zhen pushed open the door and saw her father, Shen Zhenglan, standing in the courtyard, holding a book on spirit cultivation. Upon seeing Shen Zhen enter, his tone was completely indifferent:

"You're back. Wash up and have dinner."

Shen Zhen replied, "I understand."

The father and son were both quiet people, and he was used to it.

Just then, footsteps came from the inner room, and the younger sister, Shen Xuan, came out carrying a plate of freshly steamed pastries. The little girl was wearing a light blue apron and smiled as she said:

"Brother, you're finally back! I heard from Dad that you went on a mission."

Shen Xuan was sixteen years old, two years younger than him, but she was lively and gentle, and had already grown into a graceful young lady with a lively and playful look in her eyes.

She handed the plate to Shen Zhen, her eyes full of concern:

Are you alright?

I've heard that the mutants outside are terrifying.

"It's nothing, the rumors outside are just exaggerated." Shen Zhen picked up a piece of cake and patted her younger sister's head.

I won't let anything happen to myself, and as a protector of the community, protecting my neighbors is my duty.

He looked at his sister's clothes:

"Why are you cooking yourself? Where's Aunt Wang?"

"Aunt Wang has taken leave due to family matters," Shen Xuan said, turning around and pulling him towards the main room.

"Dad said you've been working hard on cases lately, so he specially made mutton soup, which he simmered all afternoon."

On the square table in the main room, a clay pot of meat broth was bubbling. Shen Zhenglan sat down in the main seat and said calmly:

"It's rare for me to come back these days, so I'll drink some nourishing soup."

Shen Zhen sat down next to her sister, and Shen Xuan served each of them a bowl of soup. The mutton was stewed until tender and melted in their mouths, and the warm soup was delicious.

"Brother, have you been especially busy lately?"

Shen Xuan, scooping up the soup, suddenly spoke.

"A few days ago, I went to the alley entrance to buy something and saw Grandma Ding and Aunt Wang fighting over rice. The two usually get along very well, but they almost got into a fight because they said if they didn't fight, there wouldn't be any left."

Shen Zhen paused for a moment while holding the soup bowl:

"Robbing rice?"

"Yes," Shen Xuan nodded, a look of confusion on her face.

"And there's Uncle Yu from West Street, who's usually very mild-mannered."

I don't know what came over me yesterday, but I yelled at the vegetable vendor, accusing him of shortchanging me, even though I saw that the scale was accurate.

The neighbors are saying that people are restless lately, probably because the gods are unhappy again.

Shen Zhen's heart skipped a beat.

I wonder if my sister's descriptions of "greedy eating and stealing food" and "unexplained rage" are related to what Lord Wang Juan mentioned about "heretics collecting human instincts".

These seemingly scattered, trivial matters are likely hidden clues.

He didn't say much, only gave the following instructions:

"Go to crowded places less often in the future. If you see something like this again, go home immediately and don't get involved."

"Okay," Shen Xuan stuck out her tongue.

"I wouldn't dare join in the fun, I just find it strange."

Hey bro, when can you come with me to a temple fair?

You said you were busy last time, and it's been almost a month now.

"Once I finish the case I'm working on," Shen Zhen patted her head, "I'll definitely go with you."

Shen Zhenglan took a sip of soup:

"Solving cases is important, but don't neglect your cultivation."

"You've just advanced to the mid-stage of the first rank, and your mental power is still unstable. You can't neglect your daily basic spell practice."

"I know, Father," Shen Zhen replied. "Lord Wang gave me the case files from four years ago."

Shen Zhenglan replied:

"Okay, then take a closer look. The case file records are more detailed than what you can hear. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions."

The family enjoyed a happy meal together, and after dinner, Shen Zhen returned to her room.

The room was simply furnished with a bed and a desk, on which were piled several books on the cultivation techniques of the Spirit Master.

He took out the book "Records of Abnormal Cases in the Fourteenth Year of Ningxi in Qingshui County" from his pocket and opened it by the light of the oil lamp on the table. It was a copy made by the Ceremonial Office.

The file begins by describing the disaster in Shimizu County four years prior:

In the autumn of the fourteenth year of the Ningxi reign, strange incidents of "villagers frantically eating raw grain" broke out in five neighboring counties one after another.

The villagers seemed to have lost their minds, fighting over uncooked rice and raw meat, and even gnawing on tree bark and eating clay.

Many people died from abdominal distension or were injured in the struggle for the food.

The soothing spirits at the time determined it to be "a gluttonous mutation caused by the god's emotional disorder," and the mother, Lin Wanru, led a team to suppress it.

Shen Zhen flipped through the pages, his gaze lingering on the record in the middle of the file:

"...Several bottles of Nianchen Liquid were seized at the crime scene, suspected to be counterfeit. This type of Nianchen Liquid contains abnormal Nianchen..."

His heart sank.

Four years after the mysterious case, Jin Wanquan was transferred from a neighboring county to the main temple's divine grace treasury. Four years later, the Nianchen Liquid has encountered another change, and it seems that this matter is indeed inseparable from Jin Wanquan.

If that's the case, then he was also partly responsible for his mother's death.

Continue scrolling down; at the end of the file is an attached [Foul Qi Detection Record]:

"A faint greenish stench lingered at the scene, without a fixed form."

Those who come into contact with the patient are prone to developing cravings for food. Based on the symptoms and test results, it has been preliminarily named: delusional eating disorder...

Shen Zhen looked at the file, his fingertips tracing the two characters "食妄" (Food Delusion), which was the predecessor of the distorted version of the Food Delusion Seal left behind today.

As the oil lamp flame flickered, the ruler in his arms seemed to respond, and the light of the character "真" (zhen, meaning true) shone through his clothes, casting an uncertain glow on his face.

He took out the Mind Ruler given to him by Wang Juan, and the fluctuations of fourth-order Mind Power were gentle yet firm.

Needless to say, he was determined to find out the truth about his mother's sacrifice and to expose Jin Wanquan and the forces behind him.

"Mother, I will definitely find out the truth."

Shen Zhen muttered to himself, took back the Mind Ruler, and put it back in his bosom.

He did not sleep well that night.

My dreams are filled with handwriting on case files, the lingering image of my mother, and the eerie appearance of the villagers fighting over raw grain.

at the same time.

In a secret room of Jin Wanquan's mansion, the Shenenkuku Supervisor, a dark figure quietly appeared.

Jin Wanquan bowed deeply, his attitude extremely humble:

"My lord, what did His Highness say? My payment..."

"This is half the payment," he said, before the shadowy figure handed him a cloth bag.

"His Highness said that as long as Nianchenye's hands and feet are thoroughly cleaned..."

After it's done, you'll naturally get your share of the reward, and your family's safety will be guaranteed.

Jin Wanquan hurriedly took the cloth bag, his fingertips tracing the opening, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes:

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Don't worry! That batch of goods was replaced according to His Highness's instructions; there absolutely won't be any problems."

The shadowy figure snorted coldly:

"It had better be that way. Don't think you can hide the fact that you're taking double the benefits from His Highness. If you ruin the grand plan, you and your family will all be executed."

After saying that, his figure flashed and disappeared into the darkness.

Jin Wanquan tightened his grip on the cloth bag, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.

But the thought of his family's safety and the large sums of money on both sides quickly replaced his unease with greed.

As long as both sides keep quiet, he can reap the benefits and become the biggest winner.

On the other side, just as dawn was breaking, Shen Zhen got up, washed up, changed into his Jingxie Division uniform, and headed to the training ground.

The Jingxie Division's martial arts arena at the Fu Nian Temple is located on the west side of the Holy Emperor's capital.

As the capital of the Fengyun Empire, the Holy Emperor's Capital is also a core hub where imperial power and divine power intertwine.

It was just dawn, and many people had already arrived at the training ground; they were all young, aspiring cultivators who had come to take the test.

Since Captain Hanyan and the others were not seen, they must have gone to carry out a mission.

A middle-aged man in his thirties, with a lithe build, a serious face, and piercing eyes, was scrutinizing the candidates who were arriving one after another.

He was the chief examiner for this assessment, Tie Xuan, the instructor of the Jingxie Division.

"Little Shen's here?" Lei Lie greeted Shen Zhen with a smile.

"You'll be in charge of recording the assessment results later, and while you're at it, you can also help Coach Tie with his evaluation."

"Okay." Shen Zhen nodded, walked to the table by the platform and sat down. On the table were the assessment record sheet and pen and ink.

"Oh, right, there's something I forgot to tell you," Lei Lie suddenly remembered something.

"Your mentor, Senior Yi Tianxing, sent someone to inquire about you a couple of days ago, asking you to visit him when you have time."

Mentioning Yi Tianxing warmed Shen Zhen's heart.

Yi Tianxing was his mentor, who has since retired.

Back then, he was taught step by step how to absorb mental dust and transform mental power. After his mother's sacrifice, it was his mentor who encouraged him and helped him to get back on his feet.

"I understand, Captain Lei."

"I'll visit my mentor as soon as I'm done with this busy period."