Celestial Official!

Despite not having slept all night, Yan Chen felt not the slightest bit tired; on the contrary, he was full of energy and enthusiasm!

The practice of the "Divine Furnace Burning with Passion and Desire Curse" was of great benefit to him.

After burning away the desires of "sorrow," Yan Chen's mind was calm and composed, and he found it difficult to generate any profound thoughts.

Under the guidance of the Qi seed in the dantian, the fiery true Qi circulates autonomously without his control or guidance, breaking through acupoints and making some progress.

If we're not talking about actual progress, it's roughly "15%".

The results achieved overnight are remarkable!

This is without any pills or elixirs to assist in the process.

Otherwise, Yan Chen is confident that he can break through the acupoints within ten days!

At the latest, it will not take more than half a month.

"In addition to that, there is another gain that should not be overlooked."

At this moment, he calmed his mind and carefully perceived the situation.

Then, one can sense a faint, almost imperceptible heat emanating from behind the brain's nerve gate, to the left and right of the fontanelle.

Like a faint flame that would be blown away by the wind, it hid in the crevices, barely burning.

This tiny flame was the "life-giving fire" that he had generated after burning away his "worries".

Although it is still weak, it is probably difficult to use it against the enemy.

However, using it as a trigger to stir the thoughts of those whose cultivation level is lower than one's own should not be difficult.

At that time, whatever thoughts or actions one has will be within one's control.

"No wonder Master Zhu taught me such Taoist arts; this is an excellent method for 'managing subordinates'!"

In a flash of thought, Yan Chen suddenly got up, washed up, and then, with a flick of his sleeves, pushed open the door to the quiet room.

Outside the quiet room is a long corridor with flowers and plants on both sides. Walking along the corridor for more than ten steps, you will reach the main hall of the Cui Shu Lou.

This is also where everyone gathered last night. Many documents, files, and account books in the Cui Shu Lou are stored in the bookshelves here and sealed away.

Apart from the shopkeeper and a few other individuals, no one else has the right to make any moves without authorization.

It was still early, the corridors were deserted, and the hall was quiet.

Yan Chen sat down at the head of the table, intending to learn about the specifics of Cui Shu Lou and Xu Chun Fang so that he could prepare in advance for using pills and spiritual medicines as resources for cultivation in the future.

But when one's gaze falls upon the mountain of documents on the desk and the rows of files and accounts in the bookcase...

He couldn't help but groan inwardly at the headache and reached up to rub his temples.

"There are so many, when will we be able to finish watching them?"

Yan Chen pondered for a moment, then shook his head and decisively gave up.

Time is precious, but it should not be wasted on mundane matters.

From beginning to end, all he cared about was the procurement and sale of pills and elixirs. However, even though he was the manager of Cui Shu Lou, he had no reason to line his own pockets.

At the very least, the watch face is not good.

Therefore, it is necessary to obtain the many pills and elixirs required for cultivation through other means.

But how exactly should we do it?

"I need to benefit from it, but I can't have any worries about the future, and I also have to act within the scope of the Jade Sleeve Rules..."

Yan Chen tapped his fingers on the table, lost in thought.

Unconsciously, a faint light seemed to flicker and fade deep within his pupils.

Suddenly—

Light footsteps could be heard coming from the corridor outside the door.

Yan Chen suddenly looked up.

Then, Yu Shunan, dressed in a green robe, with her hair styled in a slanted style and a beautiful face, entered the hall carrying a stack of books.

"Senior Brother Yan, these are all official documents and account books that have been accumulated since the previous manager left."

"Senior brother can take a look. If he thinks there's no problem, then he can hand it over to junior sister to handle."

Yan Chen shook his head and smiled:

"Junior sister, you don't need to go through all this trouble in the future. You can make the decisions on such matters yourself."

"Since you're new here, there are many things that you don't understand as well as you do, junior sister."

"How can that be allowed? Wouldn't that disrupt the rules and order? Senior brother, please don't joke!"

Yu Shunan's slightly reproachful voice rang out.

Soon she came gracefully over, placed all the books she was carrying on the table, and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

As she looked up, her gaze inadvertently met Yan Chen's for a moment.

At that moment, Yu Shunan felt her mind surging, as if a heavy hammer was striking a drum, each sound reverberating.

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, making it difficult to control my wandering thoughts.

Such a change caused her palms and the backs of her hands to be covered in fine sweat, and her cheeks to flush red.

But after a moment, she snapped back to her senses, subconsciously touching her still slightly flushed cheeks, and murmured:

"What happened to me just now?"

"Is Junior Sister Yu feeling unwell?"

Yan Chen asked in confusion.

Yu Shunan shook her head, her gaze slightly evasive, and said:

"Um... well, it's nothing, I just remembered there's something I haven't taken care of yet. Please forgive me, senior brother, I'll have to take my leave for now!"

After saying that, he turned around and hurriedly walked out of the hall as if he were fleeing.

Yan Chen's expression remained unchanged as he lightly rubbed his fingertips together, as if an invisible energy flowed and lingered within them.

"To subtly guide one's thoughts and alter their course of action... Such a Taoist art is truly wondrous."

……

……

Below the stilted buildings of the Qing Sheng Sect, there is a secluded house.

Zhao Qingyun and Huang Zaiyuan sat at their respective tables, looking at the various dishes on the table, but their faces were full of worry and distress.

Across the table, Zeng Deyan stood with one foot on a bench, holding a crispy roasted chicken leg and tearing into it with big bites, his lips and teeth glistening with oil.

Seeing his expression, Huang Zaiyuan simply drank his tea and buried himself in thought.

Zhao Qingyun, however, couldn't contain himself. He lightly tapped the table and said:

"Master Zeng, do you not take our words to heart at all?"

"Look, you're in such a hurry again."

Zeng Deyan didn't even look at him. He just opened his mouth and spat out a piece of bone, which landed right in Huang Zaiyuan's teacup. The warm tea splashed all over the table, flowing horizontally and vertically.

"this……"

Huang Zaiyuan wiped his sleeve and glanced at Zhao Qingyun with a helpless expression.

Zhao Qingyun frowned, about to speak again, when Zeng Deyan spoke first:

"It's just a new manager. What's the big deal?"

"What waves can a mere brat make, even with the second level of Qi Refining?"

"I know the rules of the Jade Sleeve Sect best. Those so-called 'upper cultivators' only care about their own interests. They don't care about the lives of those below them. Therefore, if that kid doesn't live up to his potential, no one can help him!"

"What does Master Zeng mean?"

"Ignore that guy surnamed Yan. Our deal will proceed as planned!"

Zeng Deyan slurped up a chicken leg bone, let out a satisfied burp, and said casually:

"Won't another batch of pills arrive in your valley in three days? Just follow the old method and trade privately with the 'Holy Church'!"

Zhao Qingyun still had reservations:

"Besides Yan Chen, Danlan Valley has also sent many mortal disciples this time. These people are all from local clans or from Taoist schools. They are all insightful and knowledgeable, and they are probably not easy to fool."

Before Zeng Deyan could even speak, Huang Zaiyuan laughed and said:

"Brother Zhao, have you forgotten? Doesn't your Zhao family also have someone among those Danlan Valley disciples?"

"With him acting as an inside man, there shouldn't be any unexpected problems!"

"You mean Zhao Dengke? He doesn't know the tricks of the trade, and I have no intention of getting him involved!"

Zhao Qingyun frowned.

Zeng Deyan sneered:

"The Zhao and Huang families, two of the three major surnames in Xuchunfang, have a good relationship with my 'Holy Sect,' which is why they are thriving and prosperous."

"Compared to those fifth-rank Daoist clans, the only difference is that they have no lineage of inheritance."

"Our Holy Sect is currently in dire need of elixirs and spiritual medicines. Your Zhao family has received many benefits from the Holy Sect. Do you still think you can remain aloof and hope to one day clear your name and whitewash your past?"

Zhao Qingyun struggled slightly, his expression changing several times.

In the end, he could only sigh helplessly.

……