Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

Shen Zhao stared at the official document from Qinghe County in his hand and read it again.

Fourteen out of the eighteen wounds were on his back, which didn't seem like the work of a demon at all.

However, the official document was stamped with the seal of the Demon Suppression Division of Qinghe County, and the autopsy record, on-site traces, and residual demonic energy were all present.

If you really want to pinpoint what the problem is, you can't quite put your finger on it.

"Why are these strange things happening all the time lately?"

Shen Zhao rubbed his temples.

He had just returned to the state capital and was planning to rest for a few days.

It seems we still need to deal with Gu Changjin's matter as soon as possible.

Delay will only lead to unforeseen changes.

As for how to handle it, it's simple.

Gu Changjin has a good bloodline, but his younger sister's innate bloodline is too weak.

The Shen family happens to possess a method for merging bloodlines.

If we force it, it will inevitably leave some trouble.

But if Gu Changjin becomes the son-in-law of the Shen family, then things will be different.

We're family.

Once we're inside the Shen family's door, won't we be at their mercy?

Shen Zhao's lips curled up slightly.

"Let's do it this way."

The next morning, Shen Zhao left the Demon Suppression Division and headed straight for the courtyard where Gu Changjin was currently living.

He personally arranged this place; the location wasn't great, but it was quiet.

Gu Changjin, a small-town demon guard from Blackstone Town, is already considered exceptionally well taken care of by Yunzhou Prefecture to have such a private courtyard.

But we had just reached the alley entrance.

Shen Zhao suddenly stopped.

The courtyard gate opened, and an old man dressed in a dark gold demon-suppressing robe walked out.

Shen Zhao's eyelids twitched instantly.

He recognized the old man; he was one of the commanders of the Demon Suppression Division of Yunzhou, a ninth-level martial artist.

He was a figure in the State Demon Suppression Division whose mere words could shake several counties below.

"Commander Chen?"

Shen Zhao quickly stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting.

The old man was also taken aback when he saw him.

"Shen Zhao?"

"Why are you here?"

"I……"

Shen Zhao glanced subconsciously at the courtyard gate behind him.

"One of my subordinates, whom I brought back from Qinghe County, lives here."

"But Commander Chen, you..."

The question hadn't been finished.

Commander Chen casually remarked:

"Are you here to report to the adults as well?"

"what?"

Shen Zhao was completely stunned.

Reporting to an adult?

What sir?

here?

He glanced at the courtyard gate again, almost subconsciously.

You didn't go to the wrong place.

This is the place I arranged for Gu Changjin.

Shen Zhao was momentarily stunned.

Commander Chen frowned slightly.

Just now, he had carefully sensed the aura emanating from Shen Zhao.

None? There isn't a trace of the "General Outline of Demon Warriors".

Not one of our own? Or have we misunderstood? That's strange.

However, it was none of his business to interfere in matters concerning his lord.

"Since you have something to do, you can go in by yourself."

Commander Chen left after uttering those words.

After only a few steps, footsteps echoed from the courtyard again.

Two middle-aged men walked out one after the other.

When Shen Zhao saw them, his expression changed completely.

No! It's the ninth rank again!

Moreover, they are both powerful figures in the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division.

One was in charge of prisons, and the other was responsible for the personnel deployment of the Demon Suppression Divisions in various counties.

Normally, the Shen family might not be able to gather all of these people together for a meal.

Are the three of them appearing together in Gu Changjin's courtyard early in the morning?

"Two adults."

Shen Zhao quickly bowed.

The two men simply nodded when they saw him.

One of them seemed to want to ask something, but was subtly pulled aside by the person next to him.

The three ninth-level martial artists quickly left together, leaving Shen Zhao alone outside the courtyard gate.

I felt a little numb.

"No... what's going on?"

Could it be that Gu Changjin has some background that I don't know about?

Shen Zhao's mind raced as he recalled Gu Changjin's resume.

Born in Blackrock Town, he lost his parents at a young age and trained at the Martial Arts Academy, reaching the first level at the age of twenty.

Everything is crystal clear, so where does this supposed powerful backing come from?

Surely the person you just casually pulled out of Qinghe County isn't actually a junior sent out by some big shot for training?

Shen Zhao stood at the door for a long time, hesitating.

Inside the courtyard, Gu Changjin was actually stunned even earlier than him.

Early this morning, three ninth-level martial artists suddenly came to our door.

Upon entering, they all bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Lord."

Gu Changjin stared at the three of them for a long time.

Who are you?

After the three explained their identities, experiences, and the recent expansion of the demon warriors, Gu Changjin finally understood.

Then he fell even more silent.

The "General Outline of Demon Warriors" spread much faster than he had imagined.

When he left Qinghe County, the number of cultivators had grown from just a few to several thousand.

In just two or three days, the number exceeded tens of thousands.

The place that expanded the most wildly was none other than the Demon Suppression Division.

The reason is simple.

Ordinary people who want to find demons have to try their luck all over the mountains and fields.

The Demon Suppression Division is not needed.

They have information about demons and know where they are.

Even in the dungeons of the state, county, and town demon bureaus, there are already many living demons imprisoned.

For someone who cultivates the "General Outline of Demon Warriors", this is hardly a dungeon.

It's clearly a ready-made cultivation resource library.

So after the first few demon warriors entered the Demon Suppression Division, things started to get out of control.

One tells two, two tell four.

Those who were originally martial artists could cultivate even faster.

After gaining immense strength, they will then hunt down even stronger demons.

The more they kill, the stronger they become; the stronger they become, the faster their reputation spreads.

By last night, the number of demon warriors within the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division had increased so much that even these three ninth-rank warriors had come looking for them.

Gu Changjin sat in the courtyard, his expression somewhat strange.

He had originally planned to take things slowly in this lifetime.

Study the world's major trends, and incidentally, cultivate your mindset.

How come my influence is growing outwards on its own without me doing anything?

"Could it be that this round is going to be..."

"Am I going to win without lifting a finger?"

Gu Changjin stroked his chin.

To be honest, that's actually quite possible.

Three ninth-level martial artists came today specifically to report on the internal situation of the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Division.

At the current rate, in a while, let alone the State Demon Suppression Division...

The demon-suppressing systems at the county and town levels below will likely be infiltrated by demon warriors.

Gu Changjin didn't even give any orders.

They are expanding on their own.

Just then, footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Shen Zhao finally walked in.

After he entered the room, he glanced around twice.

It's very ordinary! There's no powerful old man or some important figure sitting here, as he had imagined.

Looking at Gu Changjin again, he still exuded the aura of a first-level bloodline.

That's right, everything is fine.

Shen Zhao's doubts only deepened.

Could it have really been a coincidence just now?

Were those three ninth-level cultivators just here to meet someone else?

"Gu Changjin".

Shen Zhao suppressed his thoughts and got straight to the point.

Are you free tonight?

Gu Changjin looked at him.

"What's up?"

"A banquet was held at home."

Shen Zhao smiled and said:

"Now that you've come to the prefecture with me, you'll inevitably have to deal with the Shen family in the future."

"It just so happens that I have a younger sister."

"About your age."

"Let me introduce you to each other tonight."

Gu Changjin was slightly taken aback.

younger sister?

He looked Shen Zhao up and down.

Then I actually thought about it seriously.

Seeing his silence, Shen Zhao assumed he was flattered.

What Gu Changjin was thinking was...

Is your sister good enough for me?

It seems a bit difficult.

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Shen Zhao's smile gradually faded.

"What? You still need to consider it?"

He snorted coldly.

"Gu Changjin, who helped you get from Qinghe County to Yunzhou Prefecture?"

"If it weren't for my help, you'd still be living a miserable life in some small town down there."

"The fact that my Shen family is willing to give you a chance shows that we think highly of you."

At this point, Shen Zhao turned around.

"Think carefully before you come tonight."

"However, there's something I want to say upfront."

He turned his head to the side, his tone already carrying a hint of threat.

"Yunzhou is both very large and very small."

"If my Shen family is unwilling."

"I'm afraid there's no place for you in this entire Yunzhou."