What do you mean by saying that the corpses I sew are all ominous creatures?

"How did he die?" I asked.

"He died in a great upheaval in the Valley of Ten Thousand Butterflies."

Lei Zhenshan flicked his cigarette ash, his eyes filled with a sigh.

"Chen Yang, you may not know this, but ten years ago, Wan Die Valley was not like this.

Although the Valley of Ten Thousand Butterflies was secluded and isolated from the world at that time, they cultivated the Gu of Nature and emphasized the coexistence of all things.

Although it's somewhat strange, it's definitely not some evil or crooked practice.

"But ten years ago, a brutal power struggle broke out within Wandie Valley."

No one knows the specific details, only that after that turmoil, almost all of the older generation of great Gu masters in Wandie Valley were killed or injured.

The entire sect's style of doing things suddenly became extreme and cruel.

It was from that time onward that they began to frequently intervene in secular affairs, and even colluded with some forces in Southeast Asia and Japan.

Lei Zhenshan stared intently at the gap in the curtains.

"Before that turmoil, this saintess was just an ordinary disciple."

The position of the Holy Maiden originally belonged to her exceptionally talented older sister.

The records clearly state that the original saint died in the turmoil, her soul and spirit utterly destroyed.

Lei Zhenshan sneered: "But now, a living 'sister' has appeared in Jiangcheng and become your assistant?"

This is interesting. It seems the water inside the Valley of Ten Thousand Butterflies is deeper than I imagined.

If what you're saying is true, then in that situation, the saintess's reaction definitely wasn't that she mistook someone for someone else.

He stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and instantly unleashed his full, iron-blooded aura.

"Chen Yang, you don't need to worry about the Wan Die Valley anymore."

Now that I'm here, I will take full responsibility for this matter.

I will bring that saintess back to headquarters for personal interrogation. As for Jiang Ling...

I will also send a special investigation team to find out whether she has come back from the dead or is some other monster in human skin.

Lei Zhenshan walked up to me and patted my shoulder heavily with his calloused hand.

"You only have one task now: to heal your injuries and then cultivate."

He stared into my eyes, his tone extremely serious.

"Let's make a deal."

Chen Yang, although you are quite strong now and are already among the top in your age group, you are still not good enough in my eyes.

"When the day comes that the droplets of malevolent energy within your body have completely solidified into a flawless, perfectly round malevolent pill, then you shall depart for the capital."

"Find me at a place called Veteran Teahouse in the western suburbs of Beijing."

Once you get there, just give your name, and someone will naturally bring you to see me.

Lei Zhenshan's expression became somewhat complicated, carrying the expectation of an elder for a younger generation.

"The day you condense the evil core will mean that you have truly stepped into the upper echelons of the folk world, and will be able to protect yourself in the vortex to come."

"By then, if my investigation makes further progress, I will personally hand you the map pointing to your parents' final location."

"But until then, no matter what happens, no matter what you hear about your parents, you have to keep it to yourself. Understand?"

I looked at Lei Zhenshan and felt the heavy pressure on his shoulders; it was a responsibility, but also a form of protection.

After a long silence, I stood up and nodded solemnly to Lei Zhenshan.

"I understand, Uncle Lei."

Lei Zhenshan looked at me, a smile of relief appearing on his face.

He didn't say anything more, but took two items out of his jacket pocket and gently placed them on the dark red solid wood coffee table.

One was a milky white porcelain bottle, sealed with a red cork, from which a faint, refreshing medicinal fragrance could be smelled.

The other was a crystal about the size of an adult's fist, completely black.

Looking at the menacing aura emanating from this thing and its appearance, I recognized it almost instantly.

Mysterious Yin Sha Crystal.

"This bottle of muscle-regenerating pills is an internally prepared wound medicine from the General Administration, and it has a remarkable effect on damage to the meridians."

The skills passed down in your family are quite formidable; you should be able to put them to good use.

Lei Zhenshan pointed to the porcelain bottle, then looked at the Xuan Yin Sha Crystal.

"This Xuan Yin Sha Crystal is a trophy I obtained from killing an evil cultivator back then, and it has remained in my possession ever since."

This was your father's favorite cultivation resource back then, and I think it's the same for you.

"Take this, consider it a small gift from your uncle."

I was taken aback and was about to decline when Lei Zhenshan stood up.

He brushed the ash off his pants, his tone regaining its decisive and efficient edge.

"Alright, stop being so fussy, it's nothing special."

I have to go. That holy maiden from Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley is very strange. I have to personally escort her back to the capital.

"In Jiangcheng, I've already given instructions to the acting bureau chief: as long as you don't cause any major trouble, nobody will bother you."

After saying that, Lei Zhenshan didn't give me a chance to speak. He turned around and strode out of the reception room.

His imposing figure appeared exceptionally resolute in the dim light of the corridor.

I stood there, looking at the two things on the coffee table, my heart heavy.

Captain Zhang quickly pushed open the door and came in with a smile: "Advisor Chen, the commissioner has already left. Shall I take you home?"

"Thank you for your help, Captain Zhang."

I put away the porcelain bottle and the evil crystal, speaking gently.

When I got into the black Buick minivan from the Folklore Bureau, the night outside was already as thick as ink.

The streets of Jiangcheng were still brightly lit, with neon lights flashing a mesmerizing glow.

Occasionally, you can see a few young people who have just come out of a nightclub, laughing loudly with their arms around each other's shoulders.

The world seems so peaceful and so normal.

It was already 1 a.m. when I got back to my rented room.

I took out my key and turned the familiar security door.

The room was quiet, the air thick with the stuffiness of a room that hadn't been ventilated in a long time, and a faint, lingering scent of malevolent energy that belonged only to me.

I didn't turn on the light, but relied on my keen senses to skillfully walk to the bedside and sit down.

In the darkness, I took out the Xuan Yin Sha Crystal from my pocket.

The moment you touch this thing, an extreme chill rushes from your palm straight to your head.

In the dim moonlight, I could see what appeared to be liquid slowly flowing inside the crystal—the concentrated essence of malevolent energy.

Compared to the one I bought at the auction and the one that Guan the Blind Man gave me, the evil crystal left by Lei Zhenshan is clearly of a much higher quality.

Its internal malevolent energy was so pure that it contained not a trace of impurity, and even faintly exuded a mysterious rhythm.

"The Killing Pill..."

I murmured those two words softly.

According to Grandpa's notes, the condensation of evil energy was just the foundation.

To truly transform oneself by compressing and condensing this liquid-like malevolent energy within the dantian, ultimately removing its impurities and refining it into a substantial pill, is the only way to achieve a complete metamorphosis.

With the Sha Dan, the recovery speed, explosive power, and enhancement of mundane techniques of Sha Qi will all experience a qualitative leap.