Becoming a martial arts god starting from the mortician.

Shen Qi turned and stepped out of the Qi family's gate, handing over the subsequent search to the armored soldiers.

Several astronomical guards gripped their long swords and looked at Shen Qi's tall and straight back with genuine awe in their eyes.

With a mere wave of his hand, he annihilated a fellow evil cultivator; the methods of this newly appointed Suppressor of Evil were truly thunderous and overwhelming.

Two incense sticks later, in the front courtyard of the Imperial Observatory of Chengping County.

Shen Qi strode in and placed the dossier and several evil objects wrapped in oilcloth on the table. The wrappings were unwrapped, revealing pale white bone spurs and several broken black bone whistles.

Just as the clerk was about to go and receive it, the steward from the signing room strode over.

"Envoy Shen, the Chief Minister urgently summons you."

Shen Qi wiped his fingers clean, tossed the cloth aside, and turned to follow the steward into the inner courtyard.

Inside the signing room.

Jiang Xinyue sat behind her desk, with a folded booklet with a bright red cover pressed against her side.

Shen Qi stepped over the threshold and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

Jiang Xinyue pushed the crimson folded document directly to the edge of the table. "Take a look."

Shen Qi stepped forward and picked up the folding book. The cover was extremely heavy, with the official seal of the Ministry of War stamped on it, and the black iron vermilion seal of the Imperial Observatory printed side by side on the side.

Open the folded book. A few lines of text exude a chilling aura.

"The ley lines at the Northern Border Pass are damaged, and the foundation of the array is unstable. The various tribes of the Northern Barbarians frequently invade, plagues rage outside the border, and there are numerous ghouls. The border pass has been unable to be repaired for a long time. I hereby order all counties in Pingzhou to immediately dispatch elite guards and ghoul suppressing officers to rush to the aid of the border day and night without delay."

"According to the law, newly appointed Suppressing Evil Envoys should remain in their home prefecture and are not required to go to the battlefield." Jiang Xinyue looked up at him. "But last night, Envoy Yaoguang sent back a secret letter, specifically requesting that you accompany the army to the border pass."

Shen Qi closed the folding book, put it back on the table, and remained silent.

Although he hadn't seen it, he knew from what he'd heard that the border was dangerous, with remnants of the Great Netherworld, cultivators at the Understanding Realm, and even those at the Flawless Realm lurking in the shadows. But now that he had reached the Gang Sha Realm, the benefits from ordinary human life threads were negligible.

If one wishes to advance further and remain in Taiping County, it would take at least several years.

To become stronger, to defy fate, he had to go to a place where more people died and where martial artists were stronger! The Northern Battlefield was littered with the corpses of martial artists, and that was exactly what he needed.

Moreover, there's the Yao Guang Envoy over there.

A hint of eagerness flashed in Shen Qi's eyes. He clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice, "This subordinate obeys."

Jiang Xinyue took out a letter sealed with wax from her sleeve and handed it over.

"Keep this letter close to your body." Jiang Xinyue's gaze darkened slightly. "When you reach the border, hand it to Envoy Yaoguang personally. Do not entrust it to anyone else."

Shen Qi accepted the secret letter with both hands. The envelope was extremely thin, and the sealing wax was printed with a subtle Big Dipper pattern.

Jiang Xinyue leaned back in her chair, her tone becoming nonchalant again. "Although the Northern Border is in chaos, my senior sister is here. Since she has taken you, she won't let you die easily on the battlefield. Go."

Shen Qi tucked the secret letter into his inner robe and placed it securely against his chest. "This subordinate takes his leave."

After leaving the signing room, Shen Qi went straight to the armory in the backyard.

Outside the armory, several slayers drawn from various prefectures of Pingzhou Prefecture were gathered together. They were all dressed in black robes and carried swords, their brows furrowed with a chilling aura.

"The Northern Barbarians and the remnants of the Great You have been running rampant lately." A scarred-faced slayer wiped the blade of his sword, his eyes filled with malice. "They truly deserve to die."

"What's there to be afraid of!" another sneered. "Our job as exorcists is to deliver evil spirits from their clutches! When we get to the border, I'll twist all those bastards' heads off!"

Shen Qi ignored the discussions and went straight to the steward, handing him the official document.

The steward verified the seal with utmost respect and immediately turned to go into the storeroom. A short while later, he returned carrying a heavy mahogany box.

"Envoy Shen, this is a special approval from the Chief Commander for a three-month fixed supply for the elite troops going to the north."

Shen Qi opened the wooden box. Inside were three blood pills sealed in wax, along with two jars of mending ointment.

He closed the box and put it into his bag. As he left the inner city, the wind on the long street grew colder.

……

The outer city, the mortuary.

Zhao Youtian was sitting in the accounting room, sketching in the account book with a brush. Hearing footsteps, he looked up.

"Seventh Brother is back?" Zhao Youtian put down his pen and patted his clothes.

Shen Qi walked to the table and placed a small gray cloth bag next to the account book.

Zhao Youtian looked at the cloth bag, somewhat puzzled.

Shen Qi untied the cloth bag, which contained some silver coins and several bottles of common blood-activating pills.

Zhao Youtian was stunned. "Seventh Brother, what does this mean?"

"I'm leaving Chengping County," Shen Qi said calmly. "The imperial court has issued an urgent order to transfer me north to the border pass."

Zhao Youtian gasped.

The North! Drought, refugees, barbarians, war. Yesterday, he heard from some fleeing porters that the corpses in the north were piled higher than the city walls, and wild dogs were eating them until their eyes were bloodshot. That's a hellish place that eats people without spitting out the bones!

"Seventh Brother..." Zhao Youtian's lips trembled as he looked at the silver and medicine on the table.

"Thank you for taking care of me these past two months, brother." Shen Qi pushed the medicine bottle over. "This medicine is good for your son's health. Keep the money for arranging things."

Zhao Youtian's eyes reddened.

He had spent half his life in the outer city, and was used to people turning their backs on him and kicking him when he was down.

Many people, once they put on official robes, will no longer recognize old acquaintances.

Shen Qifei rose to prominence, but he never forgot his manager.

Zhao Youtian grabbed Shen Qi's wrist, his fingers trembling slightly.

"Seventh Brother, I don't have any other skills to help you."

"The North is dangerous. No matter how skilled you are, you'll have to save your life when you get there."

"When trouble comes, stay out of it, don't try to take credit, and don't stand out. Come back safe and sound; your brother has still reserved a room for you in this courtyard!"

Shen Qi patted Zhao Youtian's hand. "Don't panic, brother."

He withdrew his hand, turned, and walked towards the backyard. He pushed open the wooden door that had been used for two months; the interior furnishings remained the same.

The copy of "Yuanming Sui" on the table was still turned to yesterday's page.

Shen Qi walked over, closed the incomplete book, and carefully wrapped it in oilcloth. The Beast Heart Pill given to him by Li Yaoguang was kept close to his body in a hidden pouch, and Jiang Xinyue's secret letter was pressed in the innermost layer.

He took off his blue cloth robe and put on the black military robe issued by the Observatory.

The seal was tied to the waist.

The soft boots made a dull sound as they stepped on the blue bricks.

Shen Qi picked up his luggage, pushed open the door, and went out.

The black cat curled up in the corner and lazily flicked its tail.

Shen Qi didn't linger and strode out of the courtyard gate.

……

Shen Shi (3-5 PM).

Outside the north gate of Chengping County.

The cold wind swirled up snowflakes, rustling as they hit the leaves.

Three hundred elite guards stood in formation on the official road, their warhorses pawing restlessly at the frozen earth, their breath steaming in the air.

Lu Zheng, the deputy commander of the Pingzhou Martial Guard, rode a red-maned steed, wearing heavy armor and holding a crimson spear.

Upon seeing Shen Qi arrive, Lu Zheng slightly raised his hand. A soldier beside him led over a tall, black horse.

Shen Qi mounted his horse with swift, practiced movements.

The circulation of qi and blood kept the chill completely out of the black robe.

Lu Zheng's gaze swept across the entire army, his spear raised high, and he slashed down fiercely.

"Heading north!"

"drink!"

Three hundred armored soldiers roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens. The thunderous sound of hooves echoed as the armored torrent surged northward.

Shen Qi rode his horse in the procession, looking back at the towering city walls of Chengping County gradually blurring in the wind and snow.

Ahead, beneath the vast sky, heavy, inky clouds rolled and churned.

As the snowstorm pressed down on the city, the army rushed into battle.