Witch, please have some self-respect!

the next day.

Hao Rui was found dead at home at noon.

A few vain men came to buy things in the morning, but found the gate closed, so they just jumped in.

When they discovered Hao Rui was dead, instead of reporting it to the police, they ransacked his house.

When the second wave of illusory gentlemen jumped in, they found nothing, so they reported it to the law enforcement team.

Shen Yun, who had been silently observing from within the formation, was speechless.

He had seriously overestimated the moral standards of these hypocrites, thinking they would be discovered sooner rather than later.

"The villains were after money, and they looted everything."

The Holy Sect's enforcement team conducted a thorough search and performed a serious analysis.

There were too many lingering traces at the scene, making it difficult for them to identify the real culprit using their current methods.

"In the second block, another alchemist who refined Illusion Breaking Powder was killed. The two methods were exactly the same. The Illusion Breaking Powder and all kinds of materials were left. It is most likely that their customers did it."

"Both times were fatal with a single blow, and neither of the two alchemists put up a fight. The killer's strength must be at least at the late stage of the Body Nourishing Realm, and he must be practicing a technique to conceal his aura."

Based on their analysis, they temporarily focused their attention on drug addicts and began investigating the surrounding area.

As an enforcement team, we're not just sitting around doing nothing.

It doesn't matter whether the dead are brought to justice or not; the important thing is to make a show of it and put the minds of those around them at ease.

The Holy Ancestor's years of experience have shown that the more peaceful the city is, the more resources it produces each year.

Therefore, the law enforcement team must get things done and make others believe that they are doing things.

A murder occurred in an alley, and Shen Yun was acquainted with the law enforcement team, so it was only right and proper for him to step forward and ask a few questions.

They figured it out quickly.

No one suspected that he was the one who did it.

The enforcement team suspected there were too many items, so they decided to take this opportunity to investigate.

However, two days later, the situation changed somewhat.

......

A secluded inner courtyard of the Illusionary Mist Fairy House.

Zhuang Xiong, dressed in the robes of an inner disciple, sat in the pavilion, flipping through the booklets and listening to reports from his subordinates.

Today is the day for the bi-weekly settlement of the Illusionary Mist Gardens throughout the Holy City.

"The operations at Illusionary Mist Garden and Immortal Pavilion are running smoothly, but promotion hasn't been going well in those more remote pavilions!"

He frowned, and the five stewards below immediately bowed down, not daring to speak.

The person before me is the spokesperson for the Holy Sect of Illusionary Mist Immortal Workshop, and also an inner disciple who ranks among the top 100 outstanding inner disciples.

Within the Holy Sect, aside from the true disciples and elders, there are only the most elite members.

Noble and powerful.

"Poor and desolate places breed unruly people. Those marginalized neighborhoods are so poor that most people are very wary of Phantom Breaker powder..."

The person in charge of the matter could only explain in a low voice.

The unruly are poor and not easily fooled.

"Smack..."

A resounding slap landed directly on his face, sending the well-rested steward flying more than ten meters away like a doll.

"I also come from a poor family, are you saying I'm a troublemaker too!?"

Zhuang Xiong calmly withdrew his hand and dusted off the dust on his body.

"No, I wouldn't dare!"

The manager got up and immediately kowtowed to admit his mistake.

Snap~ Snap~ Snap...

He slapped himself repeatedly, blood mixed with tooth fragments flowing out, but he didn't care about the pain.

"Get lost..."

Zhuang Xiong glanced at the steward with disgust and waved his hand.

The steward curled up into a ball and rolled away from the courtyard without daring to stop.

"At Lingnongfang, two alchemists we sent there were killed overnight, and the enforcement team just arrested a few 'Illusionary Gentlemen' to take the blame. They're really getting more and more capable!"

Zhuang Xiong flipped through the report in his hand, and he was very angry.

Very serious consequences.

"Send Chen Youming, the deacon of the Enforcement Hall, to the Lingnong Workshop. The culprit must be found and severely punished. Let these people know the consequences of offending us."

Zhuang Xiong casually assigned someone to deliver the message and then gave the orders.

"Those poor neighbors aren't troublemakers, they're just a mob. They're cowards, they need to be dealt with properly."

"The Illusion-Breaking Powder is spread throughout the Holy City. This is the order of the True Disciples and also the order of the Deputy Lord."

If they are unhappy to punish me, I will punish you tenfold.

Their happiness makes us all happy.

"Do you understand!?"

........

"This is Steward Chen, here to investigate the murders of Hao Rui and Ma San. Master Shen lives nearby, so he came to inquire as usual."

Standing in front of the courtyard gate, Shen Yun listened to the deputy captain of the law enforcement team's introduction and understood why they had come.

However, the deaths of two alchemy apprentices unexpectedly alarmed even the senior brothers in the Blood Sea Realm.

Looking at Senior Brother Chen, who was tall and slender with a dignified expression, Shen Yun greeted him respectfully.

"Junior brother, did you hear any sounds that night?"

Chen Youming looked the young-looking old man up and down and asked in a deep voice.

He had practiced techniques related to divine perception and sensed that something was wrong with the person in front of him; perhaps this matter was related to this person.

"The array will block out some sound at night, I've never heard of anything different," Shen Yun replied calmly.

"I heard you had a conflict with Hao Rui?"

Chen Youming stared intently at Shen Yun, as if interrogating a prisoner.

"Yes, I can't stand those who use illusion powder; they disturb my peace."

Shen Yun spoke frankly about the matter.

There are too many people who dislike them.

"Junior brother, you are both a talisman master and an outer disciple, why do you still live here? Can't you go to a better place?"

Chen Youming changed the subject, subtly adding a sense of psychological intimidation to his words.

This method can directly cause people with low cultivation levels to become mentally confused and utter true words.

Shen Yun opened his ancestral aperture and concentrated his true intent, so he was naturally fearless.

However, he still answered honestly, "Because I have been working for Master Feng, and Master Feng has not returned these days, so things have not been arranged yet, and I have not moved away."

"Senior Sister Qingzhi is making arrangements for me, and I will be able to move out of Lingnongfang soon."

Upon hearing this, Chen Youming's pupils contracted.

He then glanced at the deputy captain of law enforcement next to him and saw him nod.

Chen Youming was truly unaware that the person before him was actually a true disciple.

This made me even more suspicious.

Could it be that the other disciples within the sect are jealous of their ability to make money through the Illusionary Mist Fairy Shop?

Since he was both a true disciple and the Fairy of Green Ganoderma, Chen Youming did not offend him too much.

They asked a few questions and then left.

Shen Yun closed the courtyard gate and pondered carefully.

There shouldn't have been any trace left.

I didn't expect it to alarm the Blood Sea Realm deacon to investigate. In the past, Lingnongfang has had cases where not only two people died, but more than a dozen people died.

That didn't seem to alarm the Blood Sea Realm; the enforcement team handled it all.

At most, it's just a bigger show.

"Could it be because of the Illusionary Mist Garden?"

Shen Yun realized that the situation here might be very complicated, and killing Hao Rui and the others wouldn't change anything.

But it's worth it to vent my anger.

In the days that followed, Shen Yun kept a much lower profile.

With the array shielding them, they could freely engage in cultivation activities in the courtyard, pretending nothing else had happened.

Every now and then, a few cultivators would come to buy rune stones.

Shen Yun sold some talisman stones according to the closeness or distance of the relationship, which was quite comfortable for him.

I bought two jars of blood from other sources, and my Blood Heaven Skill's power increased to 2,000 jin.

Daoji also arrived at the Fifth.

After asking Shen Yun once, Deacon Chen seemed to have forgotten about this person and ignored this side.

There seemed to be absolutely no doubt.

Shen Yun knew that a large part of the reason was related to Feng Luoyi.

Even though the young lady never appeared from beginning to end, and was unaware of this matter.

This is the true face of the lineage.

"Bang!"

Another day later, a muffled explosion rang out in the courtyard.

The Four Strikes Against the Heavens have been accomplished!

.....

It was noon that day.

The sky was clear and the air was fresh. A gentle breeze rustled through the cobblestones of the alley, stirring up a few fallen leaves.

The courtyard was concealed by an array.

Su Wan'er, Mianzhi, and Ruyan sat chatting at a stone table under a peach tree.

"Does Cotton Branch's talent meet the standards for joining the Holy Sect?"

"It's hard to say. There are millions of people in the city, but only a few hundred thousand are disciples of the Holy Sect."

...

Su Wan'er and Ru Yan were the main conversationalists, while Mian Zhi mostly listened quietly, nodding only occasionally when they glanced over.

Su Wan'er and Ru Yan kept glancing into the alley, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Not long after.

Shen Yun appeared with his hands behind his back, his calm and composed demeanor infecting the two of them.

After that figure appeared, Mianzhi also looked over, her pupils reflecting the old man's figure with a look of dependence.

These days, Mianzhi has almost recovered.

Shen Yun went out and borrowed a measuring rod to measure her talent.

These days, Mianzhi has gained unanimous approval from her family. As long as her natural talent isn't too lacking, guiding her to the next level shouldn't be a problem.

"Come to the quiet room, to prepare for testing the spirit of the cotton branch."

Shen Yun opened the door to the quiet room and went in first.

"Let's go, is Mianzhi nervous?"

Upon hearing this, Su Wan'er pulled Mianzhi to her feet.

The blind box event is about to begin.

Nourished by these Heavenly Spirit Rice and Spiritual Flesh, the cotton branch became plump and full, unlike its previous thin and dry state.

Although her chest was not as large as Wan'er's, it was still quite bulging.

It's very sturdy.

She already had several scars on her arms and body.

But it's unclear whether it's due to the rice or because she recovered better.

The scars have all disappeared, and the skin is smooth, fair, and without a single blemish, like an egg that has been peeled.

Her delicate oval face paired with her naturally innocent almond-shaped eyes makes her look adorable and charming.

She's very beautiful, a stark contrast to the gaunt girl she used to be.

"Close the door and measure qualifications in a dark room."

After closing the door, Shen Yun took out something.

It is a ruler about the length of an arm, made entirely of warm, white jade, with mysterious runes engraved on it.

It is indeed the measuring rod of the heavens.

A faint light emanated from the darkness.

Shen Yun placed the measuring ruler flat on the stone platform, pointed to the groove at the very front, and gestured for her to put her middle finger in it.

"It will be quick, don't be afraid, it will only hurt a little."

At the same time, the incantation was activated, and a stream of qi and blood was injected into it.

With a hum, the jade ruler shone even brighter.

The soft white jade light enveloped the group.

Cotton Branch pressed her finger on it, and a jade needle popped out, piercing her finger.

The jade-like ruler, stained with blood, began to rise steadily.

The ruler has ninety-nine markings, corresponding to the ninety-nine basic principles.

One by one

22

Shen Yun didn't pay much attention at first, but as the bloodstains continued to increase, he began to take it seriously.

Su Wan'er and Xiao Ruyan, who were standing to the side, stared in astonishment.

...

五五

The six or five showed no signs of stopping, and Shen Yun looked at Mianzhi in surprise.

Her eyes sparkled, and when she saw Shen Yun looking over, she twitched her lips slightly, as if she wanted to smile.

She just doesn't like to talk; she's not stupid and understands the meaning behind it.

The higher their natural talent, the greater their future help to the master.

Finally, the bloodstains on the jade ruler reached the Eight-Five Technique before stopping.

"Eighty-five, it's actually an eighty-five Dao Foundation!"

Su Wan'er looked at the markings on the jade ruler and was deeply shocked.

He still habitually raised the hand holding the cotton branch and wrapped the handkerchief in his palm around her fingers.

The cotton branches looked somewhat unfamiliar.

She naturally understood what this Dao Foundation represented; it was rumored that Feng Luoyi's Dao Foundation was only eight or nine.

Cotton Branch is almost the same size as the young lady!

Could it become a true successor in the future?

"Let me test the accuracy of this measuring rod."

Shen Yun couldn't resist testing it himself, and the jade ruler showed a foundation of five.

He pulled Su Wan'er along for the same test.

One Eighth Road Foundation.

There was also Xiao Ruyan, but she was not yet fifteen years old. The bloodstains were inconsistent, appearing and disappearing at will.

We tested it again by pulling the cotton branch, and it was still 85%.

The four people in the room fell silent.

Shen Yun and Su Wan'er exchanged a few glances, then looked at Mianzhi standing behind them.

It's a bit too high.

Even though Ruyan was small, she understood what this meant, and her gaze towards Mianzhi was filled with envy.

"Ahem... Mianzhi, you know we've never treated you like a maid."

Shen Yun coughed, breaking the silence in the room.

Turn on the crystal chandelier and sit down, holding onto the cotton branch.

Although Mianzhi is dull and always silent, she is not stupid.

"Cotton branch knows."

The little girl nodded firmly.

"So what are your plans for the future? I can recommend you to join the sect. There's an elder in the Inheritance Hall who guards the scriptures; he's clearly no ordinary person."

"Or perhaps waiting for the young lady to return and having her recommend me for entry into the sect would be a better option..."

Shen Yun quickly realized what was happening and began to carefully consider the matter for Mianzhi.

Even within the Holy Sect, Ba Wu Daoji would be considered among the most exceptionally talented.

Although I haven't heard any rumors of possession, I still have to be careful.

It's best to join a sect openly and honestly, otherwise you might bring trouble upon yourself.

"Cotton branch...I don't want to go."

She gripped Shen Yun's clothes tightly, feeling somewhat apprehensive when she heard that Shen Yun was going to send her away.

"Don't you want to go?"

Shen Yun and the other two paused, looking at Mianzhi with some uncertainty.

The truth?

Xiao Ruyan's eyes widened. "Sister Mianzhi, what do you want?"

Even though she was young, she knew that joining the Holy Sect would give her a brighter future.

"I think..."

Mianzhi hesitated for a moment, then her eyes hardened. "Cultivate...and then...protect the master!"

She nodded again, but sensing something was amiss, she continued, "And Madam..."

"And there's Ruyan," she added.

"Only by joining the Holy Sect can we better protect the Master!"

Su Wan'er was both amused and exasperated, and pulled Mianzhi to comfort her.

Shen Yun joked, "Then not only will you be able to protect me, I'll also be able to latch onto your coattails..."

With such great talent, it's really impossible to make the most of him if he stays by your side.

Now I know little about cotton, but later I'll regret it when I know more.

It's possible that resentment might even arise.

"I don't like strangers."

Mianzhi drooped her head and clung tightly to Shen Yun's arm.

Like a kitten afraid of being abandoned by its owner.

After trying to persuade her for a long time without success, and with tears welling up in Mianzhi's almond-shaped eyes, Shen Yun had no choice but to give up.

The main reason she's a bit dull is that she's autistic.

I don't like to interact with strangers.

"Then you can't regret it later."

Shen Yun decided to stop trying to persuade her. With his own resources, he could still help her develop in the early stages.

"I have no regrets about cotton branches!"

Upon hearing Shen Yun's words, Mianzhi raised her head, her eyes filled with a firm resolve, as if she had just joined the Party.

Finally, I don't have to be sent away anymore.

I just want to stay by the master's side.

Occasionally, the lady would teach her to recognize some characters, and she would quietly listen to their conversations. She was content as long as she had fried dough sticks to eat every day.

She had heard the master and mistress talk a lot about cultivation, but it was too complicated and she wasn't very interested.

"A pure person."

Shen Yun shook his head helplessly, then instructed Su Wan'er and Ru Yan not to leak this matter.

Let's pretend it never happened.

Mianzhi didn't want to go; she couldn't very well actually sell her off.