So it turns out I'm the demon!

The Purple Star hangs brightly in the sky.

It was like a piece of braised pork that had just come out of the pot, hanging over the heads of a pack of hungry wolves.

You can see it, but you can't eat it.

It is foreseeable that a bloody storm is about to break out in the cultivation world.

Those monsters at the peak of the thirteenth realm would probably beat the dog's brains out.

But this is ultimately a game fought over by those powerful beings who stand tall in the clouds, and it has little to do with the majority of lowly cultivators who are still struggling in the mud.

After the initial shock, everyone quickly calmed down.

It's nothing more than a few words of gossip about who will ultimately win this super star position.

However, compared to the unreachable Ziwei Star, what truly shocked the members of the Demon Slayer Division was another piece of news.

Jiang Mu has broken through to the third realm.

That spoiled brat they once looked down on and despised, the guy they used to tease as a mascot, has actually broken through to the third realm in such a short time.

Just outrageous!

Could this guy be a once-in-a-million genius?

……

Inside the office where the official in charge of signing documents resided.

Ran Qingshan rubbed his knee while looking at Jiang Mu with the eyes of someone looking at a monster:

"You really broke through?"

Even after seeing it with his own eyes and sensing the aura of the third realm on the other party, he still found it hard to believe.

In the corner of the room, Zhang Xiao Kui, who had also come to share the good news, timidly raised his hand and whispered:

"My lord, I've also broken through..."

At this moment, his aura flowed smoothly and harmoniously, as if he had been reborn, exuding vitality and powerful confidence.

However, all they got in return was being ignored.

Nobody paid him any attention.

Ran Qingshan's gaze remained fixed on Jiang Mu.

Jiang Mu replied nonchalantly, "My lord, it was just good luck."

luck?

Ran Qingshan remained silent.

Once might be luck, but what about twice or three times?

"This kid must possess some kind of hidden, special physique to be able to improve so rapidly..."

Ran Qingshan pondered to himself.

Only now did he begin to take Jiang Mu seriously.

I misjudged it.

Ran Qingshan suppressed the turmoil in his heart, sat back in his chair, and his expression became more serious:

"Now that you've reached the Third Realm, you've become a pillar of the organization. According to the rules, you should now be promoted to Star Rank."

"Tell me, which star deity do you want?"

Ran Qingshan tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "The three realms correspond to the evil star officials, which are the seventy-two earthly evils."

As the head of the hall, and having repeatedly performed extraordinary feats, you don't need to painstakingly accumulate seniority like ordinary demon slayers. Except for a few special Earthly Fiend Stars, you can freely choose the other Earthly Fiend Star Officials.

Jiang Mu stared intently at Ran Qingshan:

"Sir, could you possibly get me a legitimate copy?"

"Authentic?"

Ran Qingshan was taken aback. Although he had never heard of this term before, he understood what Jiang Mu meant.

He pointed to the sky outside the window:

"There's one hanging in the sky right now, hurry up and get it certified, I won't stop you."

Jiang Mu: "..."

Ran Qingshan rolled his eyes and sneered:

"Do you think the orthodox star officials are like cabbages in a field, that you can just pick one whenever you want?"

Cultivators at the third and fourth realms can only attain the position of a star official at the Earthly Fiend level; this is a rule ordained by Heaven.

There are only seventy-two orthodox Earthly Fiend Star Officials!

There are at least tens of thousands of cultivators in the third and fourth realms throughout the world. With seventy-two pits and tens of thousands of people watching them, do you think they'd leave any for you?

Even if there are any hidden channels or inheritances within the company, they are definitely not something you can covet.

Tens of thousands of cultivators are vying for seventy-two positions.

This is no longer a roll.

This is raising poisonous insects.

Jiang Mu persisted, "Is there really no other way?"

Ran Qingshan sighed, knowing that young people were ambitious, and patiently explained:

There are only two ways to obtain a legitimate star official position.

Firstly, etc.

Once the person occupying the position breaks through and obtains a new Heavenly Star position, the Earthly Fiend position will become vacant.

But even if it becomes available, you'll still have to compete with tens of thousands of people. What do you think your chances of winning are?

Secondly, robbery.

"Find a cultivator who possesses a legitimate Earthly Fiend Star Official position, challenge him to a Star Rank challenge, defeat or kill him, and you can legitimately seize his Star Rank."

At this point, Ran Qingshan looked at Jiang Mu with a half-smile:

"But do you have that ability?"

Moreover, there's a dead end here.

If you do not prove your star position, you cannot draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and you cannot harm the orthodox star officials in the slightest.

You have become a false star official. Although you have gained power, the orthodox lineage has a natural bloodline suppression over false stars. Your supernatural powers are halved in front of them, or they may even be directly sealed.

Tell me, how do we fight?

Moreover, the rules of Heaven dictate that this battle for the throne must be fought in a fair and square one-on-one contest.

It cannot rely on external forces, nor can it be attacked by allies, otherwise Heaven will not approve, and the star position will not be transferred.

Tell me, how are you going to win?

Jiang Mu remained silent.

It does sound like an unsolvable vicious cycle.

Am I, a cheater, destined to be reduced to repairing pirated software?

This is so cheap!

Jiang Mu's eyes darted around, and she asked, "In our Huzhou City, is there anyone who is a legitimate Earthly Fiend Star Official?"

"What? You're really planning to try your luck?"

Ran Qingshan chuckled and shook his head.

"Within our Demon Slaying Division, there is currently no legitimate Earthly Fiend Star Officer in charge. However, the youngest son of the Divine Sword Sect outside Huzhou City, He Shuangying, holds the position of 'Earthly Hidden Star,' making him a genuine and legitimate member."

Jiang Mu was somewhat surprised.

How can a mere martial arts sect be more powerful than the Demon Slayer Bureau?

Ran Qingshan knew what he was thinking and said calmly:

"Although the imperial court is powerful and can suppress the martial arts world, some things are not as simple as you think. The two sides are interdependent and deeply intertwined."

If the imperial court were to truly wipe out all the martial arts sects and seize all the orthodox official positions, then the world would truly descend into chaos.

Fearing that Jiang Mu might impulsively cause trouble, Ran Qingshan's expression turned serious, and he warned:

"The Divine Sword Sect is still very important to Huzhou City. They contributed a lot during the last Mist Demon invasion. Moreover, the patriarch of the Divine Sword Sect who is in seclusion has considerable cultivation. Don't provoke him."

Seeing Jiang Mu's gloomy expression, Ran Qingshan's tone softened a bit:

"If you really want a legitimate official position, I can help you inquire in other prefectures, but don't get your hopes up too high."

Those who possess a legitimate astrological position tend to be low-key and try to conceal their astrological influence to avoid attracting unnecessary covetousness and trouble.

Unless they reveal it voluntarily or someone very close to them tells them, it is difficult for outsiders to know.

For now, you should be more practical. Choose a pseudo-star official seal and cultivate it slowly. If the opportunity arises later, you can change it.

At this point, Ran Qingshan suddenly had a thought.

He recalled the cultivation technique that General Shangguan had given him not long ago, and the promise of "the position of the orthodox star official of the Earthly Fiends".

Jiang Mu... can you do it?

Ran Qingshan sized up the other person, then secretly shook his head.

That technique is too difficult; this kid basically has no hope.

However, since the other party has already broken through to the third realm, giving them a share won't hurt.

"Then I'll listen to you and choose a star official seal first," Jiang Mu finally compromised.

Piracy is fine, let's practice first.

Ran Qingshan nodded and asked, "What star position do you want?"

Jiang Mu said:

"I want the Earthly Hidden Star Official."

Ran Qingshan frowned: "Are you sure?"

"Sure!"

Among the seventy-two Earthly Fiends, the Earthly Hidden Star Official is of medium rank.

But Jiang Mu still harbored a sliver of hope.

If that young master of the Divine Sword Sect were to die by accident, then he, being in the same place and cultivating the same type of Star Official, would have an easier time seizing the opportunity to compete for it.

Although the hope is slim, it's better than nothing.

Last night I had a dream in particular where God said to me, "I gave you a legitimate position as a star official, but you lost it."

After thinking it over, Jiang Mu concluded that it must have been stolen by that brat He Shuangying.

This grudge will be remembered for now!