I became the demon of the female devil

Chapter 396 The Deepest Affection in the Nine Provinces! Refining the Dao and Merging the Law!
thump—

After all the accompanying personnel boarded the dragon-patterned flying boat, a gong was struck, and the scene fell silent.

Standing at the bow of the ship, holding a yellow paper in both hands, Lady Sun announced loudly: "By imperial decree of the Princess, Chen Mo, commander of the Tianlin Guard, is hereby appointed as acting provincial inspector and prefect of Nan Tu Prefecture, to handle all affairs, large and small, until the imperial envoy arrives to hand over the reins!"

"I will obey Your Highness's command!"

The officials knelt down in response, prostrating themselves and kowtowing, "Your Highness, we respectfully see you off!"

The dragon-patterned flying boat slowly took off. Chen Mo looked up and saw the Empress Baby lying on the porthole, smiling and waving at him.

"Mmmmm~"

Chen Mo blew her a kiss.

The Empress's face flushed slightly as she nervously looked around.

Seeing that everyone had their heads down and hadn't seen what was happening, she finally mustered up her courage, pouted her lips, and pressed them against the window, leaving a faint lip print.

"Boom~"

As the magic array lit up, the flying boat quickly rose and soon disappeared into the horizon.

In the cabin.

Only when the city below had become a tiny dot and was completely obscured did the Empress withdraw her gaze. The smile on her face gradually faded, and she slumped weakly onto the table.

Looking at the golden butterflies fluttering in the glass jar, she sighed softly.
"What should I do? We've only just separated, and I'm already missing him."

What she experienced last night was a feeling she had never experienced before.

The first time she went shopping with her sweetheart, the first time she ate at a roadside stall, the first time she kissed under fireworks... This made her temporarily forget her identity as the empress, break free from worldly constraints, and truly become Jiang Yuchan herself again.

But even the most beautiful dreams eventually come to an end.

The sweeter the time spent together, the more painful the separation. Now, I feel empty inside, as if a piece of me has been ripped out.

dong dong——

At that moment, the butterfly fluttered and bumped against the transparent jar wall.

"Do you want to come out and have some fun?" The Queen reached out and opened the lid.

A butterfly flew out, circled her once, and then hovered in the air, beginning to flutter its wings continuously.

Scales fell from the wings, shimmering with iridescent light in the sunlight. Amidst the flickering light, a line of text unexpectedly appeared:
I only wish your heart were like mine, then my longing for you would never be in vain.

Before the Empress could react, the light became even more dazzling, making it impossible to look directly at it. When her vision returned, the golden butterfly had disappeared, and a glittering golden hairpin lay quietly on the table.

The handle of the hairpin is decorated with fluttering butterflies, with clear and detailed patterns, and the wings inlaid with precious stones are still fluttering slightly.

The tiny characters were neatly engraved on the hairpin.

"This is……"

The empress was stunned.

Only now did she realize that this "love potion" was a token of love that Chen Mo had given her!

When the two are together, they are like butterflies fluttering in the air. But when they are apart, all the longing in their hearts surges up. Sensing the change in their emotions, the butterflies will turn into golden hairpins and tie up her black hair.

Only those with feelings can experience longing.

The Empress remained silent for a long time before picking up the hairpin and inserting it into her hair bun.

Turning my head, I saw her stunning face reflected in the glass window, a bright smile on her lips, but tears glistening in her slightly reddened almond-shaped eyes.

"We had agreed that I would never cry this time, but this jerk, he just had to break my heart before he would stop?"

"But I really love this gift..."

"Little thief, come back quickly..."

……

……

Egret City, the prefectural capital.

Chen Mo shaded his eyes with his hand as he watched the flying boat disappear into the distance.

"I wonder if Her Highness has discovered the surprise I prepared for her?"

The love potion seems useless, and frankly, it really is useless; its value lies more in evoking emotions.

Because it feeds on thoughts and has many variations, its rank is not much lower than that of the Heart-Eating Gu, making it extremely difficult to cultivate. He really put in a lot of effort to keep this thing alive.

Last night's blood recognition ceremony was just for show. In reality, before the cocoon hatches, it needs to be soaked in the heart's blood to finally survive.

But as long as it makes the Queen Baby happy, then everything is worth it.

As the most affectionate man in Kyushu, Chen Mo has his own life motto: If you love her, don't let her tears flow from her eyes.

After the flying boat had gone far away, the state officials got up one after another, but their expressions remained solemn and they did not relax in the slightest.

Everyone knew that the purge of the Nan Tu officialdom had only just begun.

Officials who had ties with the Gu God Cult or the barbarian tribes have been taken away. Those suspected of embezzlement and dereliction of duty have been imprisoned in the government jail, awaiting the judgment of the imperial envoy. Their fate is predictable.

Although they are safe for the time being, who can guarantee that their hands are completely clean once they have served in office?

Often, if others take it, you have to take it too. If you try to stay out of it, you'll become the target of exclusion. This is an unspoken rule that everyone knows... So if you really investigate to the end, probably few people can stay out of it. You have to prepare an escape route in advance.

The eldest princess's oral message was very clear—

Before the imperial envoy arrived, Chen Mo was in charge of overseeing all affairs of the government office, the implications of which are self-evident.

To escape unscathed from this purge, you must cling to this powerful figure!

In an instant, all eyes were on Chen Mo.

However, since no one could fathom the young man's temperament, no one dared to approach him rashly, and an eerie silence fell over the atmosphere.

"Master Chen!"

Prefect Jiao Yu broke the silence first, quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "I have long admired Lord Chen's name. He killed the Blood Demon Fu Li back then, eliminating a great threat to the court. Now he has thwarted the conspiracy of the Gu God Sect and the barbarians, saving the people of the southern border from suffering. He is truly a role model for us all!"

"A man of great reputation is not without merit; Lord Chen is a true hero!"

"In my humble opinion, a shrine should be built for the living to receive the incense offerings from the people!"

"That's right, not only should we ensure that the virtues of our ancestors are passed down to future generations, but it should also serve as a constant reminder to us not to forget our original aspirations!"

Other officials, not wanting to be outdone, gathered around and loudly echoed the sentiment.

What you say at this time is not important; what is important is to make your stance clear, otherwise you will definitely be targeted.

“Since you have all put it this way, and it is truly difficult to refuse your kind invitation, then I will not decline.” Chen Mo nodded and said, “Let’s choose the Ziyun Temple as the location for the shrine. The offering hall there is already in place, which will save us from large-scale construction and the waste of manpower and resources.”

?

The moment these words were spoken, the air fell into a deathly silence.

The group looked at each other, their expressions somewhat bewildered.

They were just saying it casually, why did this person take it seriously?

And they agreed way too quickly, without any politeness at all!

"Cough cough..."

Jiao Yu glared at the official who had first brought up the matter, cleared his throat, and tentatively said, "I wholeheartedly support the construction of the shrine, but then again, this is not something I can decide alone; it must first be verified by the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate."

Once this kind of thing goes through the process, it can be a long wait. The documents are passed up and down the hierarchy, and it can take at least a year and a half to get approved. Even if it is approved, he has countless ways to suppress it.

To put it bluntly, they wanted to force Chen Mo to give up this idea.

Living shrines are not only used to record achievements, but also represent a kind of spiritual totem.

As the governor of a prefecture, before he had even retired, someone else's memorial archway was erected in his territory. Doesn't this indirectly show that he was a mere figurehead, incompetent and lacking in both virtue and talent?

"Alright." Chen Mo said calmly, "Then I will send a message back to the capital now and ask the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate to issue the approval immediately."

"what?"

Jiao Yu was taken aback upon hearing this.

Isn't that a bit too much?
The adjutant beside him gently tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Lord Chen's father is the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, a high-ranking official of the third rank! He himself is also a third-rank honorary official bestowed by the emperor!"

Although Chen Mo's reputation was great, it was only limited to the Central Plains and the Southern Frontier.

Jiao Yu was transferred from Jinyang Prefecture. Although he knew about his deeds, he was not familiar with these details. Hearing this, he felt a chill in his heart!

So he was originally a noble and wealthy man?
And their background is far too powerful!
"Well, it doesn't have to be that complicated..."

Jiao Yu quickly changed his tune, rubbing his hands together and chuckling, "If the people are grateful for your kindness and spontaneously build temples to worship you, the court generally will not prohibit it, which also saves us from those cumbersome procedures."

"Hmm." Chen Mo nodded in satisfaction and said, "Very good. Since Lord Jiao is so knowledgeable, then you will be in charge of this matter."

"Leave this to me," Jiao Yu nodded vigorously. "I have two requests," Chen Mo said. "First, although it is to be built in the name of the people, the workers must be hired at twice the market price, and their wages must not be deducted. Second, this money cannot be drawn from the state treasury. I'll trouble you, Lord Jiao, to find a solution yourself."

"..."

Jiao Yu's expression stiffened slightly.

This time he finally understood. So, he was being asked to pay out of his own pocket?
However, as long as we can get through this safely, even if it costs us some money, it will be worth it.

"As for the temple repairs, Lord Jiao might be overwhelmed. In order not to affect official duties, let Magistrate Kuang temporarily handle all matters, big and small, in the prefecture," Chen Mo continued.

"what?"

"My lord, what do you mean by this?!"

Jiao Yu's pupils suddenly contracted, his expression filled with disbelief.

Chen Mo narrowed his eyes and asked, "What, does Lord Jiao have any objections to my arrangements?"

Facing those indifferent eyes, Jiao Yu's breath hitched, and his fist clenched tightly in his sleeve, but in the end he lowered his head and said, "No, I will follow your orders."

The other officials felt a chill run down their spines upon seeing this.

Unexpectedly, before the imperial envoy even arrived, Lord Chen was already targeting the prefect!
"Lord Kuang, is everything alright?" Chen Mo looked up at Kuang Yinghao, who was standing at the back of the crowd.

Kuang Yinghao's throat moved, and he lowered his head and said, "No problem."

"Alright, let's disperse then. Everyone return to your posts and resume your duties." After saying this, Chen Mo turned and left.

The scene was completely silent, the atmosphere incredibly tense.

After that banquet where they exposed each other's crimes, the trust between the state officials had collapsed. They glanced at each other, their eyes filled with vigilance and wariness. No one said anything, and they all turned and left the government office.

Jiao Yu was left alone, standing there blankly, lost in thought.

……

……

"Lord Chen, please wait!"

As soon as Chen Mo stepped into the inner courtyard, a voice called out from behind him.

He stopped and turned around, only to see Kuang Yinghao chasing after him.

"Does Lord Kuang need something from me?" Chen Mo asked.

Kuang Yinghao approached, hesitated slightly, and said, "This humble official feels that the arrangement just now was inappropriate."

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's wrong with it?"

Kuang Yinghao frankly said, "Lord Chen is also an official in the court. He should know that in this big dye vat, no one can remain untainted. At most, Lord Jiao can only take advantage of a little. Compared with him, he is already considered to be a pure stream."

"Sir, is it really necessary to target him like this?"

Chen Mo sneered and retorted, "So Lord Kuang believes that as long as one is not corrupt, one is a good official?"

"This..." Kuang Yinghao was speechless for a moment.

"In my opinion, as a local official, it is understandable to line one's own pockets on ordinary days, but when you are needed, you must stand up instead of shirking your responsibilities."

"Knowing that the Gu Body Cult was in the city, the prefect's first thought was to cover up the news and cover up the truth. This is a grave mistake!"

"Have you considered what kind of situation the people of Bailu City will face if you really manage to deceive them this time?"

Chen Mo stared intently at Kuang Yinghao, his tone growing increasingly stern, "It's not that he doesn't want to be greedy, it's that he doesn't dare! Just because he's cowardly and afraid of trouble, and cherishes his reputation, he's willing to sacrifice countless lives. You're telling me this is what you call being a virtuous person?"

Kuang Yinghao hung his head, speechless.

He initially supported Jiao Yu's decision, since no one expected things to escalate to this point.

Yin Tiankuo used the people in the city to make Gu poison, and the barbarians even turned the prefecture into a sieve... If it weren't for Chen Mo and the Princess using thunderous methods to suppress them, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
“Jiao Yu is not particularly evil, he is just rather incompetent, but incompetence itself is the greatest sin,” Chen Mo said. “I will make things clear with the Imperial Envoy and let him live a peaceful life until retirement, but he is not qualified for the position of Prefect of Nantu.”

As for appointing Kuang Yinghao, it's like choosing the best among the worst.

At least from the previous interrogations, it was clear that this person still had some backbone and was reasonably capable; at least he could keep the situation under control.

"Your humble servant understands," Kuang Yinghao nodded in response.

"Oh, right, since you're here, there's something else I need you to do."

Chen Mo took out a blueprint from his Heavenly Profound Ring and handed it to Kuang Yinghao.

"what is this?"

Looking at the intricate patterns on it, Kuang Yinghao was completely baffled.

"The Ninefold Mysterious Gate Golden Lock Formation normally absorbs and stores the Yuan Qi floating in the air. When necessary, it can be activated to protect the city. When fully activated, even a second-grade Grandmaster cannot break through it in a short time."

"I will notify the Tianlin Guard's Nantu branch and have them send people over to assist in setting up the formation."

"After all, the barbarians have also been dragged into this, so we must be wary of their counterattack to prevent the tragedy of that year from repeating itself."

Chen Mo paused for a moment, then said, "You don't need to worry about any problems with the formation; it has already been reported to Her Highness the Princess."

Kuang Yinghao carefully examined the blueprints and discovered that the imperial decree was indeed stamped at the bottom.

At this moment, he realized that the core of the formation was located at Ziyun Mountain, and he was stunned for a moment before saying, "So this is why Lord Chen wants to build a temple?"

“Ziyun Mountain gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which can further amplify the power of the formation. Since someone has brought this up, I might as well go with the flow.” Chen Mo said, “This matter should not be known by too many people. It can be used as a cover. On the surface, we build a temple, but in secret, we build a large formation.”

Kuang Yinghao remained silent for a moment, put away the blueprints, then bowed deeply and said in a deep voice:
"In his letter, Kuang Jie lavished praise on Lord Chen, saying that you are different from others and are a pillar of the nation with the talent to govern the world."

"I initially thought there was some exaggeration in those words, but now it seems they were too conservative."

"Lord Chen, you are a truly good official."

Unlike his previous respectful yet distant attitude, his tone was now filled with heartfelt reverence.

"Stop with this awkward stuff, go do your own thing."

Chen Mo waved his hand impatiently.

He's not that noble; he has his own selfish motives.

This time, Qi Ye's actions exposed the emperor's conspiracy, making him feel an unprecedented sense of crisis.

It has been previously verified that building ancestral temples and receiving incense offerings from the people can enhance the dragon's energy. This Ninefold Mysterious Golden Lock Array, after being modified, can not only provide protection but also gather the earth's energy to the Ziyun Temple, further enhancing its effect.

This is also his biggest trump card right now!

"Trying to use me?"

"That depends on whether you have the ability!"

Chen Mo sneered inwardly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

……

……

After explaining things to Kuang Yinghao, Chen Mo returned to his room.

Previously, the Xuanjia Guards were stationed in the prefecture, and outsiders could not approach them, so Li Yuan and the others could only stay in the outer city's restaurants.

Chen Mo first sent a message to them, asking them to come over, then sat cross-legged on the bed and opened the system panel.

This trip south to investigate the case spanned two prefectures, Tiannan and Nantu, and involved a series of arduous battles, leaving both mentally and physically exhausted.

But equally, the rewards were also quite substantial.

Besides the true spirits obtained from killing Yin Tiankuo and the elders, the most important things were those two techniques:

One is the "Purple Cloud Heart Sutra", and the other is the second volume of the "Gu Sutra".

Chen Mo took out the two cultivation techniques, and then took out a crimson stone with complex patterns engraved on its surface, which continuously emitted high temperature.

The Refining Stone was a reward he received after completing the [Heavenly Southern Demon Hunt] event. It can be used to fuse two cultivation techniques or martial arts skills, and there is a chance that they will undergo a transformation. Before he broke through to the Grandmaster level, the [Azure Dragon Shattering Star Force] that allowed him to repeatedly defeat his superiors came from this stone.

"The Gu God Sect's body-modifying cultivation method is not suitable for me, but some of its techniques are very useful, especially the 'Transformation of Myriad Phenomena' which can transform a region of heaven and earth into one's own power..."

"But that move is still based on Gu worms in essence."

"If it were combined with the Purple Cloud Heart Sutra, it might produce different effects..."

"At most, I'll only lose one refining stone, so why not give it a try?"

Chen Mo made up his mind and crushed the crimson stone with a bang!
[Should we refine the following cultivation techniques: "Gu Scripture" and "Purple Cloud Heart Scripture"?]

"Yes!"

boom!
A deafening roar echoed in my mind!
At the same time, beams of brilliant light suddenly emanated from his dantian!
"and many more……"

"This is?!"

Chen Mo was stunned by what he saw.

(End of this chapter)