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“Let’s check his house; maybe we’ll find something.” Lu Yang beckoned the others to leave.

The ghost that lured Qin Yuanhao followed behind. Barbarian Bone thought the ghost did a good job and decided to reward it with two skewers of lamb— theoretically, if the skewers are burnt, the ghost could taste them.

Whether the ghost gets well-cooked skewers or burnt ones will have to be proven through practice.

Qin Yuanhao’s house was sparsely decorated, feeling empty and lifeless for a single occupant.

The trio entered the training room, which, besides a jade statue of indeterminate gender in robes, contained only two rows of bookshelves filled with cultivation techniques and secrets.

“This must be the Everlasting Being worshiped by the Everlasting Sect,” Meng Jingzhou mused, circling the statue. The material of this statue was much stronger than that of ordinary statues, but its likeness was far inferior.

Doesn’t everyone expect their statues to be lifelike?

“《Water Avoidance Technique》,《Introduction to Formation》,《Sword Moves Deciphered》… These are quite common techniques found even on the first floor of our scripture pavilion.” Lu Yang’s hand brushed over the spines, enjoying the sensation over the uneven surfaces.

“《Common Methods to Please Your Boss》,《Understanding People》,《Machiavellian Maneuvers》, what kind of nonsense is this?”

Lu Yang picked up 《Common Methods to Please Your Boss》, its corners worn from frequent use, indicating Qin Yuanhao’s thorough reading.

“Method 1: Become a family member of your boss. Depending on your age and capabilities, you can target the boss or their children.”

Qin Yuanhao’s note: The helm leader never removes their mask, unknown identity and gender, cannot approach, cannot marry.

“Method 2: Present a treasure. Ostentatious gifts make the giver appear boastful, which is unlikable. It’s recommended to give subtle yet expensive gifts to your boss.”

Qin’s note: Loaned to buy a jade chair for the helm leader, hoping it works.

“Method 3: Cultivate interests. Pay attention to your boss’s hobbies and develop similar interests.”

Qin’s note: The helm leader likes fishing. I went fishing with them by the river. I caught more fish than the helm leader, hoping they won’t be jealous of my talent.

“Method 4…”

“Method 5…”

Qin Yuanhao was very diligent in trying to please the helm leader, albeit with little success.

“It seems it’s tough inside the demonic sect as well,” Lu Yang remarked with a chuckle.

Thanks to Qin Yuanhao’s notes, Lu Yang gained a basic understanding of the helm leader and the various stewards.

“From bottom to top, the hierarchy within the Yanjiang Rudder is ordinary cult members, stewards, and the helm leader. Ordinary cult members are numerous, ranging from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Building stages, and it’s difficult for them to access the secrets of the Everlasting Sect.”

“Only by passing an assessment can one at the Foundation Building stage become a steward. There are twelve stewards in total in the Yanjiang Rudder. Now that Qin Yuanhao is dead, there are only eleven left.”

“The helm leader’s identity is unknown, with Golden Core stage cultivation, but the exact level is unclear. They like fishing.”

Besides, the trio found some scattered spirit stones and a few spells that didn’t seem suited for the righteous path, such as hypnotism and bedroom arts, hardly worth mentioning.

“Let’s go. It’s time to prepare for the demonic sect’s test in nine days.”

…

At the boundary of Yanjiang County, numerous taciturn cultivators moved through the deep forest, the patchy sunlight casting eerie shadows on their expressionless faces.

Every cultivator kept a considerable distance from one another, vigilantly watching their surroundings, ready to strike at the first sign of vulnerability in others, aiming to eliminate competition.

They were all rogue cultivators from the demonic path who had learned of the trial location through various channels and rushed to the Yanjiang Rudder in advance.

Under the crackdown by the righteous path, their living space was continuously shrinking. To gain more resources, they had to join a large organization, with Yanjiang Rudder being their primary target.

Previously, joining the demonic sect required a steward’s recommendation and, consequently, bribing a steward.

This time was different; everyone had a chance, making it a once-in-thirty-years opportunity to join the demonic sect.

An hour before the trial’s start, a fair number of rogue cultivators had arrived.

“Look, isn’t that Chi Xu Long, who slaughtered an entire household overnight, not sparing even a mouse, and then left under everyone’s watchful eyes?”

A brawny man, holding an unidentified beast’s leg bone like a savage, had bronze skin, bulging muscles, and arms covered in scars. He grinned, revealing teeth like a wolf’s.

Chi Xu Long had a high reputation among rogue cultivators for his brazen and domineering deeds. Having survived numerous battles and even leveling up during fights, he was known for his invincibility and resilience.

“Chi Xu Long, I didn’t expect you to be here.” A scholarly-looking man with a fan teased Chi Xu Long.

Chi Xu Long snorted, “Heh, Shen Jin Yi, a mere scholar who doesn’t teach in schools but comes here instead. There’s no one here who needs your teaching!”

“What, he’s Shen Jin Yi, who specifically teaches how to kill in his school?!” Someone heard Chi Xu Long addressing the scholarly man as Shen Jin Yi and gasped, stepping back.

Indeed, Shen Jin Yi was a teacher, but he didn’t teach Confucian classics. Instead, he taught efficient and secretive methods of assassination.

He had trained countless assassins, becoming a feared figure among rogue cultivators.

Despite Shen Jin Yi’s smiling and seemingly frail appearance, angering him meant not knowing how one might die.

“Assassins? Just a bunch of cowards afraid to show their faces.” A swordsman carrying a broad blade sneered, not taking assassin Shen Jin Yi seriously.

Shen Jin Yi was about to retort but swallowed his words upon recognizing the swordsman, muttering through clenched teeth, “Yi Zhang Hong!”

“What are you calling your grandpa for?” (TL Note: He’s basically saying that he’s the assassin’s grandfather which is an insult) Yi Zhang Hong, unfazed by Shen Jin Yi’s murderous gaze, spat contemptuously.

Rogue cultivators widened their eyes; present were notable figures from the underworld: Yi Zhang Hong, known for drawing blood within a meter’s reach and reputed to be unbeatable in close combat, even half-step Golden Core experts hesitated to confront him.

Besides these three, numerous notorious villains with bounties on their heads had arrived. No one dared to mess with them for fear of being killed in retaliation.

These villains gathered, leaving others, who felt insufficient in cultivation, to stand far away, too scared even to speak up loudly.

Suddenly, the appearance of three individuals caught everyone’s attention: a swordsman in the center, a scholar to his left, and a man with a radiant smile on his right, looking almost insane.

The trio’s silent, forward gaze disregarded the rogue cultivators, exuding an incredibly powerful aura.

“Who are they? Do you know them?”

“I don’t know, but they seem significant.”

The trio moved straight through the crowd to the forefront, muttering something about the “Immortal of Immortality” before seemingly retrieving furniture from the other side of the stone wall, though they were actually taking it out of a jade pendant.

Chi Xu Long and others pondered, “They can open the stone wall, so they must be from the demonic sect.”

After settling down, the swordsman coughed twice to draw everyone’s attention.

“I am Lu Yang, and these are Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone. We are the examiners for this selection. The Everlasting Sect disciple selection starts now. Line up and report your personal information.”

(End of the chapter)