Becoming a martial arts god starting from the mortician.

Zhou Wenyuan dragged Shen Qi along at a rapid pace, heading straight for the Observatory.

The two drove straight in, heading directly to the signing room where Director Jiang Xinyue handled official business.

Seeing Zhou Wenyuan's face flushed and his eyes wide open, the guards on duty thought that Lord Zhou must have something urgent to attend to, so they quickly stepped aside.

With a "bang," Zhou Wenyuan pushed open the door.

Jiang Xinyue was sitting behind a large desk, holding a file in her hand. Hearing the noise, she frowned slightly and looked up.

Zhou Wenyuan strode forward and pressed down on the table. The wooden table made a dull creak.

"Master! Test again!" Zhou Wenyuan strode forward, his hands gripping the edge of the table, his voice excited. "Shen Qi went from the initial stage of Qi Separation to breakthrough in just half a day! This kind of progress is definitely not a second-grade martial vein!"

Jiang Xinyue put down the dossier and her gaze fell on Shen Qi. She then probed his aura and found that the previously radiating scorching blood energy had been subdued, and his external strength and internal malevolence were in harmony.

"Indeed, the Qi Sha has been formed." Jiang Xinyue nodded slightly and waved her wide sleeves. "Old Zhou, take him to the Martial Arts Hall first, I'll be there shortly."

Zhou Wenyuan readily agreed, then pulled Shen Qi up and turned to rush towards the Martial Arts Examination Hall.

The martial arts hall was dimly lit. A white jade stone the size of a millstone sat quietly on a black iron platform, its milky white light slowly flowing within.

Before long, Jiang Xinyue, with her hands behind her back, slowly strolled across the threshold.

"What are you standing there for? Give it a try." Jiang Xinyue waved her sleeve.

Shen Qi stepped forward, raised his right hand, spread his five fingers, and placed his palm on the cool white jade surface, slightly stimulating his blood and qi.

The milky white light inside the white jade stone instantly surged, and a sliver of red light suddenly appeared from the core of the stone, rapidly rising along the jade's texture.

The red light surged forward with tremendous force, without the slightest pause.

Finally, the dazzling red light crossed the 80% mark and stopped steadily at the 90% mark. The entire piece of white jade was bathed in a translucent red light, and the dimly lit martial arts testing hall was illuminated by this red light.

"Grade A!" Zhou Wenyuan exclaimed with ecstatic joy. "Master, it's Grade A!"

The light was too bright. Outside the martial arts examination hall, several passing clerks and guards craned their necks to look. Whispers broke out.

Jiang Xinyue walked to the door and glanced around: "Nothing to do?"

The crowd immediately fell silent, lowered their heads, and quickly dispersed.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go back to the signing room." Jiang Xinyue turned around, put her hands behind her back, and walked out.

The three returned to the signing room. Jiang Xinyue walked behind the large desk, picked up her brush, and dipped it in ink.

"According to the Great Evolution Law, those with Grade A martial arts lineage must be registered immediately and sent to the Divine Capital Martial Guard Camp," Jiang Xinyue said as she spread out the register. "However, quite a few Grade A martial arts lineages are sent to the Divine Capital every year, so one more won't make a difference. On the contrary, your talent in the art of destiny is truly one in a million. You will remain in the Observatory and we will make further plans after the Yao Guang Envoy returns south."

Having said that, he wrote on the blank register and read aloud: "Shen Qi of Qingping Town, age 22, skilled in Spring Wood Kung Fu and Tiger Subduing Fist, ranked first in martial arts, serving as the Imperial Astronomical Observatory of Chengping County..."

Jiang Xinyue stopped writing at this point and instructed the steward beside her, "Bring me the Jia-character waist token."

Before long, the steward entered carrying a black lacquered tray. On the tray was a dark blue waist tag with a dark red "甲" character engraved on the front and cloud patterns engraved on the edges.

Zhou Wenyuan reached out and took the waist token, turned around and stuffed it into Shen Qi's hand, gently patting his shoulder: "Take good care of it. With this token, you'll save a lot of trouble when traveling and doing business within the Dayan territory."

Shen Qi put the waist token into his pocket and placed it close to his body.

Zhou Wenyuan pulled up a chair and sat down, looking at Shen Qi with earnest planning: "Now that you've achieved Grade A and your cultivation has reached the Gang Sha Realm, you don't need to go back to the mortuary in the outer city. The armory in the inner city is short of a manager, or you can directly join the patrol battalion as a captain. As long as you nod your head, you can allocate cultivation resources at will, and within three years, I guarantee you'll reach the Bao Ti Realm."

Jiang Xinyue put down her brush, picked up the teacup beside her, skimmed off the foam, and looked at Shen Qi with interest: "Old Zhou is right. You are now a first-class martial artist, and your future is limitless. Armory, patrol battalion, or stay in the department as a steward, which would you like to choose?"

Shen Qi bowed respectfully: "Thank you both for your kindness. I would like to serve as the Suppressor of Evil."

Zhou Wenyuan frowned, his smile instantly freezing. His voice rose two octaves, tinged with anger: "Have you lost your mind? A Grade A Martial Vein, a Qi Refining Realm cultivation, the Director is offering you a bright future to choose from, and you insist on getting involved with that dead man's bad luck? You have no shame, but the Celestial Surveillance Bureau does!"

Shen Qi lowered his eyes, his expression unchanged: "A family craft cannot be lost. I only wish to live a peaceful life and have a quiet life dealing with corpses."

"You!" Zhou Wenyuan was furious, raising his hand as if he wanted to slap this stubborn mule awake.

"Alright, Lao Zhou," Jiang Xinyue interrupted, "Since he wants to prepare the body for burial, a shaman is just the right person."

Jiang Xinyue raised her hand to stop him and looked at Shen Qi to explain, "The Suppressor of Evil is an official position within the Overwatch Bureau, specializing in handling the remains of martial artists at the Gang Sha realm or above. After a martial artist cultivates to the Gang Sha realm, their body is filled with evil energy. If it is not handled in time after death, the evil energy will leak out, and ordinary people within a hundred steps will die if they touch it. Since you have cultivated to the Gang Sha realm, you can naturally serve as the Suppressor of Evil."

Shen Qi's heart stirred slightly, and he immediately agreed without hesitation: "This humble servant is willing."

Zhou Wenyuan sighed deeply, sat back heavily in his chair, pointed at Shen Qi, and after a long pause, finally managed to utter, "He just happens to be stubborn."

"Hahahaha!" Jiang Xinyue laughed loudly, teasingly saying, "Since the founding of the Dayan Dynasty, the Observatory has been established for over a thousand years. You, Shen Qi, are the first person with a top-tier martial lineage to give up a promising future and insist on doing this unlucky job."

Shen Qi lowered his head and remained silent. The Master seemed to be in a very good mood recently; he hadn't been this lively and talkative a few days ago.

A moment later, the steward returned carrying a tray. On the tray was a set of dark red-trimmed black martial robes, and on top of the robes was a two-inch square black iron seal, the knob of which was carved in the shape of a Bixie (a mythical beast).

Shen Qi stepped forward and took the seal and martial robe with both hands. The black iron felt heavy and icy cold in his hands.

"The Suppressors of Evil don't have their own offices within the Bureau." Jiang Xinyue was in a good mood. "Recently, there has been unrest at the Northern Border Pass, and several Suppressors of Evil in the Bureau have been transferred to the Northern Border for support. Now, you are the only one left in Chengping County. Since there is no one to teach you, you can continue to stay in the outer city mortuary. When there is work to be done, the Bureau will send someone to summon you. You don't need to come to report for duty on weekdays."

Shen Qi clasped his hands in a fist salute, his expression solemn: "This humble servant understands."

Jiang Xinyue looked at him, her gaze deepening: "Don't neglect the art of destiny. Since your master values ​​you, you should know its importance."

"Yes."

"Step down."

Shen Qi thanked Zhou Wenyuan again, then took the clothes and seals and turned to leave the signing room.

Watching Shen Qi's departing figure, Zhou Wenyuan shook his head repeatedly and couldn't help but ask, "Master Si, are you just going to let him run wild like this?"

"Let him be." Jiang Xinyue walked to the window and looked towards the northern horizon. "Chaos has broken out in the north. The Yao Guang envoy has been gone for so many days without any news. I'm afraid peace won't last much longer."

Zhou Wenyuan remained silent. He knew that Jiang Xinyue was right, but he still felt sorry for Shen Qi.

Shen Qi walked out of the gate of the Observatory. The winter sun shone on the bluestone slabs, giving them a cold feel. He looked down at the black iron seal in his hand, his thumb rubbing the Bixie seal knob, its touch icy cold.

A first-class martial lineage, the Suppressor of Evil.

Shen Qi put away the seal, a smile playing on his lips. He strode towards the outer city, his steps light and quick, disappearing into the crowd on the long street.