I used folk talismans to ward off the evil spirit.

Chapter 88 Strange Spirit Tree, Visitor from Another World (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Jiang Jun rested at home for a few days, repeatedly nurturing the peach wood sword he had compiled and made until it was indistinguishable from the original of the other four protective artifacts, and then he had some free time.

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling on the "Red Lotus of Karmic Fire" on the windowsill, when he suddenly remembered something.

There's still a Lord-level Mysterious Tree in the Department of Mysteries, waiting for him to purify it.

During this time, he was busy overcoming tribulations, establishing new paths, and compiling new town artifacts, and almost forgot about this matter.

"Perfect timing, let's go take a look." He stood up and headed out the door towards the Qingjiang City Bureau of Supernatural Affairs.

He did not deliberately conceal his aura, but only slightly obscured his face with a clear light. Others could only think that he was very handsome, but they could not remember his specific appearance.

While they were still on their way, several extraordinary beings in the distant Divine Bureau building simultaneously opened their eyes.

Su Tie put down the documents in his hand, stood up, and straightened his collar.

Jiang Daoxuan was practicing boxing in the backyard. After finishing his stance, he walked slowly toward the building.

The other two elderly people also came out of their respective quiet rooms and met in the corridor.

A man with a full head of silver hair, meticulously combed, dressed in a dark gray Zhongshan suit, looked like a retired professor.

The other was dressed in an old military uniform, his back ramrod straight, and the wrinkles on his face looked like they had been carved by a knife.

"That person has arrived," the old man in his worn military uniform said succinctly.

"I sensed it." The silver-haired old man nodded. "Let's go."

The four of them did not disturb anyone else; they simply stood in a row at the entrance of the building.

The passing police officers were puzzled, but seeing the four men's solemn expressions, they all consciously took a detour.

Before long, Jiang Jun appeared at the street corner.

Su Tie was slightly taken aback when he saw that he was dressed in ordinary clothes and no longer had the image of an emperor in his crown.

But he quickly realized what was happening and stepped forward first, clasping his hands in a fist and bowing slightly: "Senior, it is an honor to have you here. We have failed to greet you properly."

Jiang Daoxuan cupped his hands in greeting and laughed heartily, "Master Juntian has arrived. The opening of the Way of Suppressing Things caused quite a stir last time."

The other two elderly people also clasped their hands in greeting.

Jiang Jun returned the greeting and said with a smile, "I apologize for disturbing you all."

Su Tie stepped aside to lead the way, introducing them as they walked: "This is Mr. Qian Boyong, and this is Mr. Zhou Maoxiu. Like Mr. Jiang, they are the pillars of Qingjiang City."

Qian Boyong nodded with a smile, saying little.

Zhou Maoxiu looked Jiang Jun up and down and sighed, "He is a towering figure to be admired and a virtuous person to be followed."

Jiang Jun smiled and said, "Old Zhou, you flatter me."

Upon entering the reception room, the guests and hosts took their seats.

Su Tie personally poured tea for Jiang Jun and handed it to him with both hands.

Jiang Jun took the tea, sipped it, and said, "It's refreshingly crisp on the palate, with a lingering sweetness. A fine tea!"

Su Tie smiled and said, "This is this year's pre-Qingming Longjing tea, the genuine product from Jiangnan. I'll have someone prepare some for you later."

"Then I'll accept it without further ado." Jiang Jun nodded slightly.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jiang Daoxuan said sincerely, "Mr. Juntian, we haven't had a chance to thank you in person for the matter of those two old men."

"To be honest, the Ghost Realm has been plagued by troubles in recent years. We old bones were already prepared to go to our coffins. You have really helped us extend our lifespans."

Qian Boyong picked up the conversation, his voice neither too loud nor too soft: "Old Zhou and I have both recovered quite a bit. If we were to fight a Lord-level opponent now, I wouldn't dare say we'd emerge unscathed, but at least we wouldn't be a burden to the younger generation."

Zhou Maoxiu, a man of few words, only said two words: "Thank you."

Jiang Jun waved his hand: "Everyone, there's no need to be so polite. Besides, the gift of that wondrous object was already given, so there's no need to keep it in mind."

He casually asked, "I wonder where those two old men are now? I haven't seen them for a long time. If it's convenient, I'd like to visit them."

Su Tie laughed, "Those two are now the Commander-in-Chief's favorites," traveling everywhere with several important figures. Right now, they're probably in the Northeast, helping an old veteran regain his youth.

Jiang Jun was also happy for them: "This is no wonder I've had such good fortune. If your company can find any more He Shou Wu blood vines, please send them to me as well. Purifying them into mountain hermits is just a convenient thing to do."

The group exchanged more pleasantries, but that's another story.

These extraordinary individuals bear a heavy responsibility; they can't just sit here chatting idly forever.

Su Tie then asked at the opportune moment, "Senior, is there something important you need to discuss?"

Jiang Jun nodded: "It's nothing serious. You guys mentioned last time that there's a Lord-level Mystic Tree that I'm keeping to purify."

I've been busy building the road lately and almost forgot. I just happened to come and check it out today.

Su Tie suddenly realized, stood up and said, "That tree has been kept for you all along, please come with me."

After passing through numerous blockades, Jiang Jun and his group arrived at a closed underground laboratory beneath the Divine Bureau building.

In the center of the laboratory stood a huge dead tree, its trunk so thick that three people could barely encircle it, its branches flailing like tentacles, and its bark grayish-white, covered with strange patterns.

At its roots, a dozen golden rune chains were wrapped around it, the ends of which disappeared into the void, firmly pinning the entire tree to the spot.

This is the power of the "Chen Wang Jian," a treasure of the Shenyi Temple in Qingjiang City.

"When the Ghost Realm descended, this tree escaped in the chaos and killed many people." Su Tie's tone was calm, but it carried a chilling undertone.

"It's currently suppressed by Chen Wangjian and seems relatively docile, but it's actually extremely ferocious. If you wish to take it back for purification, would you require us to cripple it?"

"No need for that, this is fine." Jiang Jun waved his hand and walked to the tree.

He raised his hand and pressed it on the tree trunk. The "Five-Colored Stone" in his sea of ​​consciousness slowly rotated, and the five-colored light guided his divine thoughts and true energy, seeping into the withered tree.

Su Tie and the three elderly people were prepared to wait for ten days to half a month.

Unexpectedly, an hour later, the gray on the dead tree began to fade, the bark gradually turned bluish-brown, and the bare branches were no longer tangible, sprouting tender green buds.

The original intense eeriness and stubborn eeriness were completely erased.

This lord-level strange tree has now transformed into a spirit tree!

Jiang Daoxuan remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was secretly alarmed.

For such lord-level monsters, apart from requesting the intervention of the Dao Openers, the only way for the Divine Bureau is to use divine artifacts to activate the laws of the world, annihilate them, and take their lord-level monster status and extraordinary essence.

Jiang Jun's ability to "turn harm into benefit" was unheard of before the emergence of the Way of Suppressing Things.

"Truly worthy of being called a pioneer of the Way," he thought to himself. "His method of suppressing things is indeed extraordinary!"

Qian Boyong and Zhou Maoxiu exchanged a glance, each with their own thoughts.

Su Tie stepped forward and asked Jiang Jun, "Senior, now that this tree has been purified, what are its specific uses?"

Jiang Jun sensed it with his divine sense for a moment and replied, "The efficiency of converting spiritual energy is very high, thousands of times that of elite-level spiritual plants."

"But it's not yet clear whether it has any special abilities. Perhaps we'll know the specifics once it blossoms and bears fruit, but that might take time."

"Then this tree—" Su Tie hesitated for a moment, "should we leave it with the Department of Mystic Arts, or should you take it back, senior?"

Jiang Jun shook his head: "I don't have time to take care of it. Let it stay here and be cultivated and studied by the professionals."

He paused, then joked, "But if I figure out the fruit's effects and find it useful, Director Su, don't forget to save me a portion."

Su Tie immediately said solemnly, "Senior, rest assured. If this spirit tree bears fruit, the Department of Divine Wonders will definitely prioritize supplying it to you. If you no longer need it, then we can consider other uses for it."

Jiang Jun nodded, without refusing.

Having agreed to leave the spirit tree in the Department of Divine Wonders, Su Tie immediately arranged for professionals to take over.

Soon, a middle-aged man in a white coat led the team in.

Upon seeing the spirit tree, his eyes widened, and without even bothering to greet it, he approached it.

He was wearing thick glasses, holding a magnifying glass, and walked around the tree trunk several times, muttering to himself.

This man is named Du Mingyuan. He is a botanical expert transferred from the Life Science Research Institute by the Department of Supernatural Affairs, specializing in the study of the variation patterns of supernatural plants and spiritual plants.

"This—this is probably not a plant from Earth." Du Mingyuan's voice trembled slightly.

"I cannot find any corresponding characteristics of its cell structure, xylem arrangement, and leaf stomatal distribution in any known plant classification."

"Either it's a new species that has never been discovered before, or—" He looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment, "or it's not a plant from Earth at all."

The group looked at each other in silence for a moment.

The Mirror Realm is actually a projection of the real world on Earth. Each of the various bizarre plants should, in theory, have a corresponding species in reality.

Previously, researchers thought that its original form was too obscure because it had been so distorted.

But what if we look at it differently, and it wasn't even a product of Earth to begin with?

Where would it come from? The Abyss? Or another world invaded by the Abyss?

Qian Boyong pondered for a moment and said, "According to convention, the spirit of a strange tree that has harmed people should be dispersed after purification, and it should only be used as a tool."

"But if this tree is from another world, then its value is different. It could be a valuable sample for our research on the ecology of the Mysterious Abyss."

Zhou Maoxiu frowned: "The rules cannot be broken."

"Rules are made by people," Jiang Daoxuan waved his hand. "Let's observe first. Have Du Mingyuan assemble a team specifically to handle the research."

"All research must be conducted under Chen Wangjian's supervision. Any abnormalities must be immediately blocked and reported."

Qian Boyong and Zhou Maoxiu exchanged a glance but said nothing more.

After meeting and exchanging ideas with Jiang Jun and observing his methods for purifying the strange plants, the three elders excused themselves to attend to their own work, leaving only Su Tie to keep the guests company.

Back in the reception room, the two sat down again.

Jiang Jun picked up his teacup, took a sip, and suddenly remembered something.

"Director Su, do you have any other items in your warehouse like that piece of lightning-struck peach wood—items that clearly possess mysterious energy but whose purpose is unclear?"

Su Tie paused for a moment, then said, "Senior, are you referring to those fake divine artifacts? There should be some in warehouses all over the place."

"If you have any extras, I'd like to exchange some," Jiang Jun said sincerely. "These might be of great use to my art of suppressing objects."

Su Tie, recalling the piece of peach wood struck by lightning and the latest information on talismans, immediately understood: "I'll report to the commander-in-chief. If it's below the Radiant Sun level, we should be able to give it directly to you, senior, without needing to exchange it."

"As for the Radiant Sun-class—" He paused, "if there are any that you might need, senior, I can give you one."

Jiang Jun's brow twitched slightly: "Can Director Su make that decision? Even if its purpose is unclear, just in terms of grade, this is a treasure that even those at the Transcendent Realm would fight to the death for!"

Su Tie replied decisively, "Of course. After all, your help to our Bureau of Divine Wonders is far more valuable than these material possessions."

Jiang Jun felt a little more at ease. It wasn't that he coveted those few magical artifacts, but rather that the attitude of the Department of Mysteries made him feel reassured.

He didn't refuse: "Then thank you very much, Director Su."

After leaving the reception room, Jiang Jun suggested visiting the news center where Cai Liang worked. Su Tie happened to be there on official business, so he excused himself and arranged for someone to show him the way.

The press center is located on the third floor of the Department of Paranormal Research building and has several bright offices.

A display screen on the wall scrolls through information about strange events and promotional materials for local talismans.

The director of the news center was a woman in her thirties, surnamed Nie, named Nie Xiaoyu. She had short hair, wore round-framed glasses, and spoke crisply and concisely.

"Senior Juntian, I've heard so much about you." Nie Xiaoyu extended her hand enthusiastically, but then felt it was presumptuous and withdrew it, bowing instead.

Cai Liang was pleasantly surprised to see him: "Teacher, did you come all this way to see me?"

"What are you thinking about? —" Jiang Jun smiled, exchanged a few pleasantries with Nie Xiaoyu, and then sat down next to Cai Liang's workstation.

Cai Liang's desk was piled high with documents and newspapers, and several forum pages were open on his computer screen.

He poured Jiang Jun a cup of tea and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Teacher, my usual work involves writing internal reports or posting online to guide public opinion. That's all the work we do in the news center."

"What's wrong, feeling listless?" Jiang Jun picked up his teacup and glanced at him.

Cai Liang scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly: "It's not that it's boring, it's just that sometimes it feels quite trivial, and it's a bit different from what I imagined."

Jiang Jun put down his teacup, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly said, "Then help me take over the job of distributing the town's goods."

Cai Liang was taken aback: "Huh?"

"It takes me a lot of effort to compose posts every time," Jiang Jun said casually. "You're my eldest disciple, so it's only natural for a disciple to do the work." He's quite suitable for this task.

"When new products come out in the new town, I'll send you the information, and you can write and publish it. You're more professional than me at how to word things and how to guide public opinion."

Cai Liang's eyes lit up, the gloom on his face vanished, and he straightened his back: "Don't worry, teacher, I'll take care of this!"

Nie Xiaoyu, who had been listening intently the whole time, kept a straight face but was secretly overjoyed.

The fact that Cai Liang released the information about the talisman means that the Department of Supernatural Affairs could obtain the information in advance.

With improved resource allocation, policy formulation, and market guidance, every step can be handled with greater ease.

She was already planning how she could help Cai Liang polish his manuscript once he received his new assignment.

Jiang Jun glanced at Nie Xiaoyu's feigned composure, a slight smile playing on his lips, but didn't expose her.

He has a good working relationship with the Department of the Supernatural, and as long as it's not used for personal gain, he's willing to grant them this benefit.