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

"Fellow enthusiasts in a private society?"

Gu Zhao asked curiously, "Are there really any ninth-rank cultivation techniques among them?"

The stableman nodded, then spat, "Those people are incredibly arrogant. We're all just menial disciples, but these guys come from good backgrounds. They look down on everyone."

Gu Zhao then asked, "Since Brother Ma knows so much about you, do you have any connections?"

The stableman smacked his lips, looking helpless, "Getting in isn't easy. You need someone's recommendation, and your cultivation level has to be at the seventh level of the Fetal Movement Realm."

Gu Zhao kept it in mind, but was curious as to why the stables were so annoyed.

The two of them managed to eat a couple of meals and then went to work.

What's the difference between this and going to work?

Being in the Demonic Sect starts with daily check-ins.

Gu Zhao entered the Yinshui River. Last night, his cultivation broke through to the fourth stage of fetal development, and his internal energy in his dantian increased, allowing him to stay underwater for longer periods of time.

All morning, not a single corpse was found on the several body retrieval boats managed by Cen Pan.

Gu Zhao, with his extraordinary vision, was unable to find any trace of him.

The stableman muttered, "What's going on lately...?"

Cen Pan stood on the corpse retrieval boat, his face grim.

For the past two weeks, the number of corpses retrieved each day has fallen far short of the required standards.

If things continue like this, the workload for this month will certainly not be completed, and he, as the steward, will inevitably suffer the consequences.

He felt a sense of fear when he thought of the methods used by the Zhenhe Division.

Time flew by and it was already afternoon.

Gu Zhao finally discovered that there was a black zombie lying quietly in the water, its body covered with black hair, each hair standing up like a steel needle.

However, the large cauldron inside the Heart Sea remained completely still and showed no reaction.

Therefore, finding spiritual objects in the Yinshui River is not as simple as it seems.

If we were to retrieve another black zombie today, it wouldn't be considered a big deal.

He touched the golden headband on his head, and the black zombie was steadily lifted up.

A cry of surprise came from the shore: "Someone's pulled out another black zombie!"

"It's Gu Zhao again. He's so lucky."

The boy then handed Gu Zhao a reward of three hundred coins.

"Thank you, Deacon."

Cen Pan, however, did not give him a friendly look.

The group of corpse retrievers were envious and put in even more effort.

Gu Zhao thought for a moment and realized that he now had 700 magic coins, which would be enough to feed him for half a month.

Although it's far from where you need to pay the Xianju fee.

At least there's hope for the future.

Just as Gu Zhao was about to enter the water, he caught a glimpse of three figures boarding the boat and ashore.

Cen Pan hurriedly ran over, his attitude respectful.

Gu Zhao was filled with curiosity when the stableman beside him immediately leaned over and whispered, "Brother Zhao, these people are high-ranking officers from the Zhenhe Division."

"Going to work!?"

The Zhenhe Division has always been the superior of the corpse retrieval business.

Gu Zhao looked up and saw that all three of them were wearing the same standard blue robes.

Cen Pan stood respectfully to one side.

The man at the head of the group leaned casually against the railing, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the people on board.

Cen Pan stepped forward and whispered a few words to the three men before hurriedly returning to call out their names:

"Chen Hai, Feng Mo... Stables."

She paused, then added, "And... Gu Zhao, come along too."

They selected eight people in a row.

The stable keeper and Gu Zhao exchanged a glance. No one dared to disobey the steward's order.

Of the eight, apart from Gu Zhao, they were all veterans at retrieving corpses from the boat, some of whom had been there for five years.

Cen Pan led eight people there.

"Guardian Gong, these men are all veterans from the morgue; they can be of use."

The young man called Gong Weishi was the one leaning against the railing.

He was tall and slender, with long, black hair cascading down his shoulders. He had a handsome face and a nonchalant air about him.

A white snake was coiled around his left wrist, occasionally flicking out its long, thin, bright red tongue.

The man merely extended his fingertip, slowly teasing the white snake, seemingly oblivious to the people around him.

The woman beside him, with a black mole at the corner of her eye, pinched her nose in disgust and said coldly, "These corpse retrievers stink. Stay away from me."

Cen Pan could only awkwardly force a smile.

The woman with the mole asked the man with the white snake, "Senior brother, are these people enough?"

The man slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping casually across the room before landing on Gu Zhao. He paused slightly and let out a soft exclamation.

"This person is quite good-looking."

Gu Zhao lowered his head slightly beside the stable.

The woman with the mole glanced at her again, but curled her lips in a sneer. So what if she's good-looking? She's just a lowly servant in the lower courtyard, utterly despicable.

She lifted her skirt a little higher, afraid of getting it on the body retrieval boat.

A slender man with a calm demeanor spoke up: "Senior Brother Gong, can these eight people really retrieve that thing from the bottom of the river? Although we have sealed off this section of the river, we have searched it several times with magical artifacts, but still found no trace of it."

Gong Yuzhou slowly raised his wrist, and the white snake silently slithered into his sleeve. He smiled faintly and said, "In the end, the business at the bottom of the Yinshui River still depends on the corpse retrievers."

"Professional matters should be left to professionals."

He then looked at Cen Pan and said in a calm tone, "Then I'll leave this matter to Steward Cen."

Cen Pan was flattered by the other party's politeness and repeatedly agreed, bowing even lower.

The three people in front of me are all outer disciples and belong to the Zhenhe Division.

Gong Yuzhou, at a young age, had already assumed the position of Commander of the Zhenhe Division.

A single guard could directly command over a hundred soldiers of the Zhenhe Division. These officers could be dispatched at will with a single order, and even held the power of life and death.

Moreover, this person has already become a disciple of a master in the outer sect, and his future is limitless.

Such a person was someone Cen Pan rarely saw on ordinary days, so he naturally adopted a very humble posture at this moment, and dared not pretend to be humble or arrogant.

Gong Yuzhou said calmly, "If this matter succeeds, I will speak with Senior Brother Jiang in District Ding and have your debts for the past few months of corpse retrieval work wiped clean."

He said calmly, "But what if the slightest mistake..."

Before he could finish speaking, Cen Pan was already sweating profusely and replied repeatedly, "Of course, of course I wouldn't dare to delay Commander Gong's important business."

Gong Yuzhou's gaze swept over the group of corpse retrievers. "If the job is done today, everyone will receive a reward."

Cen Pan quickly smiled apologetically: "It is already an honor for us to serve Commander Gong, how could we dare to ask for a reward?"

The woman with a mole at the corner of her eye immediately sneered: "Senior Brother Gong has always been fair in his rewards and punishments, when did it become your place to speak out?"

Cen Pan's heart tightened, and he hurriedly lowered his head: "Yes, yes, I will obey your orders, sir..."

Gong Yuzhou glanced over indifferently and interrupted, "Alright, go take care of your business."

The group of corpse retrievers were secretly delighted. They could see Cen Heilian looking so pathetic and embarrassed, and they could also get a reward. Why not?

Only Gu Zhao frowned slightly, sensing that something was amiss.

The Mountain Patrol Hall had just visited yesterday, and today the River Suppression Division has appeared again.

This Gong Weishi was clearly no ordinary person. Cen Pan was, after all, a steward of the morgue, and there was no reason for him to be so obsequious.

Not long after.

Gu Zhao and his group were then led to another body retrieval boat, which slowly sailed upstream towards the T-shaped section of the Yinshui River.

On the Yinshui River, a heavy fog hung in the air, lingering and persistent.

When they arrived at this body of water, a dozen or so people from the River Suppression Bureau were already waiting there, using large boats and fishing nets to block the river surface completely.

Gu Zhao looked up and saw Gong Yuzhou standing with his hands behind his back at the bow of the boat, with the disciples of the Zhenhe Division bowing in unison.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

The boats that were surrounding the body retrieval vessels also spontaneously moved to both sides.

The stableman, secretly watching from behind, couldn't help but mutter to himself, "A true man should live like this."