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

Ni Shengyan said, "Gu Zhao, you may leave."

Gu Zhao already knew that what followed was not something he could listen to.

Some things you can listen to, and some things you can't.

He knew that even if Ni Shengyan didn't say anything, he would still go down to the second floor.

Gu Zhao took his leave and went downstairs.

Li Wanwan, Yang Yueqi, and the others did not care whether the corpse retriever stayed or left.

Ni Shengyan watched Gu Zhao's retreating figure until it completely disappeared, then she looked away and got back to the main topic.

The next sentence shocked everyone present.

"If I told Senior Brother Gong, that deputy director might not be dead."

He didn't die?

Yuan Shao and Yang Yueqi both changed color.

Yang Yueqi abruptly stood up, her face grim: "Ni Shengyan, what exactly do you mean by repeatedly provoking my Zhenhe Division?"

"The Deputy Commander is Senior Brother Gong's mentor. How dare you speak so rudely? Do you really think my Zhenhe Commandery has no one to rely on?"

Ni Shengyan ignored Yang Yueqi and only looked at the guard in front of her, who was in his early twenties.

Gong Yuzhou showed no surprise or anger; instead, his expression remained calm.

"Sit down first."

Yang Yueqi had no choice but to sit down as instructed.

The corpse retrievers on the first floor felt an oppressive atmosphere on the second floor, and could faintly hear the sounds of arguing.

They dared not linger and quickly went into the water to avoid harming the innocent bystanders.

Gong Yuzhou took out a magic array.

Streams of magical power were injected into it, sealing off the surrounding space to prevent others from eavesdropping.

He looked at Ni Shengyan: "Junior Sister Ni, why do you say that?"

Ni Shengyan said in a deep voice: "Back then, our patrol hall found out that this deputy director not only abused his power but also misappropriated the treasures in the Yinshui River for other purposes."

"Of course, these are nothing. The other directors in the Zhenhe Division are not necessarily clean either, but the three divisions turn a blind eye."

She looked up at Gong Yuzhou and said slowly, "But he shouldn't have done that, he was a spy from another sect."

Spy?

Gong Yuzhou frowned: "And then?"

Ni Shengyan said, "This matter is basically settled. It was personally finalized by the Patrol Hall and several Foundation Establishment True Persons from the inner sect."

"Three years ago, the Patrol Hall, together with the inner sect, was preparing to capture him."

"Unexpectedly, a month ago, this deputy director suddenly died in his cave, and the matter was left unresolved and never made public."

"If Senior Brother Gong doesn't believe me, he can go to the Zhenhe Division to verify it."

Gong Yuzhou asked again, "But what does this have to do with your coming here today?"

Ni Shengyan added, "That means that the deputy director back then actually faked his death and escaped, hiding in the Yinshui River."

Fake death to escape?

Hidden in the Yinshui River?

This is yet another shocking piece of news.

Gong Yuzhou asked the crucial question: "How did you obtain this information?"

"We're only at the Qi Refining stage, while the deputy director of the Zhenhe Division is a Foundation Establishment True Person."

"Crushing us is as easy as using a single finger."

Yuan Shao and Yang Yueqi also recovered from their shock.

Even if what Ni Shengyan said was true, how could a mere fifth-level Qi Refining Patrol Officer like her know such news?

This doesn't make any sense.

Ni Shengyan laughed and said, "That person must have paid a great price to fake his death and escape. He was also discovered by the Foundation Establishment True Person of the sect and seriously injured. His cultivation level has dropped, and he is probably only at the early stage of Qi Refining now."

"That's why I was able to get this news."

She changed her tone: "If I'm not mistaken, the reward your director promised you today is a Foundation Establishment treasure."

Is that correct?

Yuan Shao's expression hardened. Only a handful of people knew about this matter, yet Ni Shengyan was also aware of it.

Gong Yuzhou ignored all of that and looked only at Ni Shengyan, slowly saying, "You mean, in this lake dam..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ni Shengyan interrupted, "That one is hiding in the lake dam, or rather... perhaps it is an avatar."

The white snake in Gong Yuzhou's left hand seemed to sense the fluctuations in its master's emotions, gently licking his fingers.

"Then why did you come to find me?"

Ni Shengyan smiled and said, "I'll help you get that thing in the lake dam."

"In half a month, there is something I need your help with."

"If I cannot get it for you, then let's call it quits."

Gong Yuzhou's expression gradually returned to calm. "The Mingyi Sect has such a good thing? And of all things, it happened to fall on my head, Gong Yuzhou?"

"Sun Chan, Chen Qian, and even the commander of Tianzhu Prefecture are here."

Why are you looking for me?

Ni Shengyan was not in a hurry and patiently explained: "Sun Chan is fickle and likes to play tricks in secret. He is ambitious but not smart, fierce but cowardly, and he forgets righteousness for profit."

"Sun Qian comes from the Sun family and has a Foundation Establishment True Person backing him. He has already obtained a Foundation Establishment treasure. There's no need for him to take risks for the danger at hand."

"I don't know that commander well."

She paused, her gaze falling on Gong Yuzhou: "As for you, Senior Brother Gong, although you also have a Foundation Establishment True Person behind you, I know that you are unwilling to be controlled by them, just like me."

"You have a strong and enterprising spirit."

Ni Shengyan concluded, "I also know that Senior Brother Gong was extremely fond of that former deputy commander..."

"I hate him to the core."

The last four words were uttered.

Yuan Shao and Yang Yueqi both changed color, clearly not expecting this.

Would Senior Brother Gong harbor such deep resentment towards the Deputy Director who had shown him kindness?

What is the reason for this?

Chen Mu, Li Wanwan, and the other two members of Xunshan Hall never expected things to turn out this way; there were many inside stories that even they were unaware of.

Gong Yuzhou smiled and said, "Junior Sister Ni, you've successfully convinced me."

Ni Shengyan shook her head: "Senior Brother Gong, you already have the answer in your heart."

The two seem to have reached a consensus.

Gong Yuzhou removed the protective magic artifact, and the atmosphere relaxed again.

Gong Yuzhou asked, "So what should we do next?"

Ni Shengyan replied, "That thing won't come out for another two days."

"No rush, we just need to wait."

Gu Zhao went down to the first-floor deck.

The stable keeper hadn't left yet. Seeing him come down, he breathed a sigh of relief: "Brother Zhao, the scene on the second floor was terrifying just now. I was worried something had happened to you."

"Those outer disciples love to take their anger out on the menial disciples the most."

"They treat menial laborers like they're not human."

"Thank goodness you're alright."

Gu Zhao nodded; he couldn't even find peace in the morgue.

He just wanted to develop peacefully, but he always ended up in these whirlpools.

He was preparing to sit cross-legged and regulate his breathing when he suddenly felt a surge of energy within his body.

"Hmm... I've broken through to a higher realm!"

Gu Zhao focused his mind into the cauldron, and the characters on it appeared.

[Master of the Cauldron: Gu Zhao]

[Cultivation Level: Fifth Level of Fetal Movement (11% complete)]

[The Qi of Qi: Qian Yuan True Qi, Yu Shu Descending Thunder True Qi.]

【Technique: Corpse Water Azure Wave Scripture (Minor Success)】

Gu Zhao hadn't expected that he would have been reduced from 93% of the fourth level of the Fetal Movement stage under the pressure of Gong Yuzhou, Ni Shengyan and others' Qi Refining Realm.

It has broken through to the fifth level of fetal movement.

The stables are now at this level, having been established for six years.

He was supposed to break through in a few more days, so this was an unexpected gain.

However, considering the Qi Refining Realm of Gong Yuzhou and the others...

The task is arduous and the road ahead is long.