Surviving in the Demonic Sect, one begins cultivation by retrieving corpses.

He was hit by a water monkey but didn't die?

In the more than ten years that Cen Pan has worked in the morgue, he has never seen anyone survive.

Gu Zhao, what opportunity did you have?

The lowly corpse retrievers only knew that if they were hit by a water monkey, they were doomed.

Little did they know that, besides the water monkey's attempt to steal their souls, it would also leave behind a lingering malevolent energy.

There were one or two who were lucky enough not to die immediately, but they were ground down by that evil spirit until they were neither human nor ghost, just skeletons. Even the bone-grinding room considered them unlucky and refused to accept them.

This Yin energy is only harmful to spiritual practice; it comes from the Yin River.

Which one isn't sinister?

To completely eliminate it, one would need to consult a mid-stage Qi-cultivation physician from the outer sect, and use many precious medicinal herbs for several rounds of treatment.

It is something that outer disciples cannot bear.

He looked at Gu Zhao's face, which still had some color in it, as if nothing had happened.

Could it be that the Yin energy has not yet been activated?

Once that thing takes effect, it's like a maggot clinging to a bone, ensnaring a person and turning them into a living demon.

Cen Pan then remembered something else:

In the past two years, he has rarely seen Gu Zhao go into the water; he has always hired others to do the work.

Gu Zhao had a fellow villager who was a senior disciple in the outer sect. She was quite influential in the outer sect and took good care of him.

There is this relationship.

Cen Pan didn't make things difficult for Gu Zhao, otherwise he would really be living in a morgue supporting a young master.

If others bring it up, it will be Cen Pan who loses face.

Seeing that Cen Pan didn't speak, the group of corpse retrievers didn't dare to look up, remaining obedient and submissive.

Cen Pan glanced at the sky, then looked at the misty fog rising from the surface of the Yinshui River; it was time.

He rubbed his temples again; he hadn't slept for three days.

Although he possessed cultivation, he was gradually finding it difficult to endure the long hours spent on the Yin River.

The officials from the Upper Town River Management Office and the Mountain Patrol Office are coming to search this place, but there's no definite answer as to why.

The only ones suffering are the morgue staff, who have to spend all day and night just waiting around.

Cen Pan spun two steel balls in his hand, making a clattering sound. He glanced at Gu Zhao again and raised his eyelids.

"Take the ritual implements and go into the water."

He finished speaking.

Several young boys who had not yet embarked on their cultivation journey approached and handed out several headbands made of molten gold to the crowd.

Gu Zhao also took one in his hand.

This headband is a ritual implement.

All those who retrieve corpses must wear this item when they go to work.

Where they entered the water, when they went down, and when they came up—every detail is recorded, and not a single thing can be hidden.

Don't try to cheat or take shortcuts.

The group of corpse retrievers jumped into the water, plunging headfirst into the misty, cold Yinshui River.

Gu Zhao was a little nervous, as it was his first time in the water, but he knew the steward was there, so he pretended to be calm.

He then jumped into the water.

But once they entered the water, they realized that everything was very different.

The water, which looked clear from the shore, suddenly turned emerald green in my eyes.

The view was unclear; one could only see within two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters).

It's like the "fog of war" has been revealed.

The water was extremely cold and heavy, and it felt like needles were pricking my skin, causing unbearable pain.

They just keep trying to get into your mouth and nose, and you can't stop them.

This kind of discomfort is quite different from being tortured by a stove.

A little while later.

His neck felt like an invisible hand, gripping it tightly.

Difficulty breathing.

Gu Zhao forced himself to endure it and, following his original memories, began to circulate the "Corpse Water Azure Wave Scripture".

Within the dantian, a wisp of internal energy slowly rises, flowing upwards and circulating throughout the body via the meridians.

In an instant, it was as if a thin film had been covered the surface of the body.

"call!"

Gu Zhao then touched his neck, catching his breath. His chest still felt heavy, but it was much better than before.

Sure enough, without cultivating the "Corpse Water Azure Wave Scripture" to descend into the Yin Water River, there would only be one way out: death.

He is currently only at the second level of fetal movement, and has not yet refined his Qi. The Qi in his Dantian is merely innate and cannot be considered true Qi.

He didn't have much internal energy left, so he could only maintain it for half an incense stick's time before he had to go back to the boat to meditate and recover before going back into the water.

Swimming for a while is uncomfortable, but bearable.

He channeled his inner energy into the soles of his feet, which propelled him to move.

After trying to maneuver it a few times, it started tumbling in the water and leaped out, covering a distance of more than ten feet in the blink of an eye.

He's far superior to my swimming coach from my previous life.

This "Corpse Water Blue Wave Scripture" is truly wondrous; it is said that this practice has not yet been classified as a high-level skill.

It doesn't even qualify as the lowest rank, the ninth grade.

I wonder what kind of extraordinary skills are involved.

Gu Zhao looked around, but he could not see anything clearly except for about two zhang away.

Corpse retrievers swam past him, each one agile and far more skilled than him.

Some swam downwards, while others swam forward, each finding its own way.

He suddenly remembered that the original owner had originally planned to go down to the deep water area to make a big profit and settle the immortal residence fee.

The results of it?

Let's not talk about it anymore.

Gu Zhao looked down and immediately felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were standing on the edge of an abyss. It was pitch black below, truly bottomless, as if a ferocious beast was about to pounce out at any moment.

Let's forget about going downstream.

No one has found the body yet; the group is simply wandering in the river.

If a body is found, simply touch the golden headband on your head, and a rope will be lowered from the large boat of the body retrievers.

Half an incense stick later.

Gu Zhao felt his internal energy was about to be exhausted.

My whole body was freezing cold, and every hair on my body stood on end.

Gu Zhao, having already swum aboard the large ship, boarded the ship's first crew member to rest and recuperate.

He came today simply to see this Yinshui River and get used to it.

As for whether or not the body can be retrieved.

Gu Zhao, on the other hand, took things as they came, knowing that there was no need to rush, and kept the word "steady" in mind.

Cen Pan, the steward on the large ship, frowned. It had only been a short time since they went into the water, and someone had already come out of the water.

These peasants, trying to slack off again, huh!

When she saw that it was Gu Zhao, she was slightly taken aback.

Gu Zhao's face was pale and he was panting heavily, clearly indicating that he had exhausted his inner energy, so he wasn't exactly slacking off.

Knowing that Gu Zhao's days were numbered and that there was still an outer gatekeeper above him to protect him.

He didn't say much more.

But Gu Zhao is utterly useless; what did the outer sect see in him?

Cen Pan, still holding his ritual implements, was supervising the group of corpse retrievers, secretly calculating how many corpses they had retrieved this month and how many they still needed to reach.

Gu Zhao sat cross-legged and silently practiced the "Corpse Water Azure Wave Technique".

A gentle flow of energy gradually rose within my dantian, and I felt a bit warmer all over, though my skin still ached slightly.

It seems that this treatment can only temporarily alleviate the suffering and cannot completely eliminate the side effects of the Yinshui River.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn has passed.

One after another, the body retrievers climbed ashore and rested on the boat.

This is the benefit of having profound cultivation and abundant internal energy in the dantian, which allows one to linger underwater for longer periods.

After Gu Zhao finished breathing, he went back into the water.

Although he had mentally prepared himself to see the "corpse," he did not see a single wandering corpse today.

He had no choice but to go back to the boat to recuperate.

The stable boy also climbed up, shook off the water, and sat down next to Gu Zhao.

Looking up, Cen Pan's expression grew increasingly grim.

The stable smacked his lips. "This morning was really strange. More than a dozen people didn't even manage to find a single wandering corpse."

"Cen has a dark face and is bound to get angry. I'm afraid we'll have to work until dark today."

"What a miserable life."

Although Cen Pan held the position of steward, he was extremely strict with his servants, always wearing a stern face. Behind his back, everyone called him "Cen the Black-Faced."

Upon hearing this, Gu Zhao understood that he would have to work overtime today.

In the Demonic Sect, it all starts with overtime!

The stableman leaned closer and asked, "Brother Shao, are you still able to handle it?"

Gu Zhao was about to speak.

Suddenly, the large, black cauldron in my mind trembled violently, and the characters on it faintly appeared:

[Three hours have passed; you can now claim the Pure Yang True Fiend.]

[Claim or not?]