"Gu Family Village!"
Jiang Qin's expression remained calm as he looked towards Gu's Manor, where a barely visible stream of energy and blood rose into the sky. This was the kind of mutual induction only strong warriors could perceive.
"This person is indeed no ordinary individual," Jiang Qin thought, his expression becoming more serious. "Even most warriors at the Marrow Cleansing Realm wouldn't possess such energy and blood."
Before arriving, he hadn't taken Gu Qingfeng seriously—even if the man had killed Patriarch Qingyang. After all, Qingyang's strength wasn't impressive in the eyes of the Evil Suppression Division.
But now, Jiang Qin realized he had underestimated Gu Qingfeng. Such vigorous energy and blood were not something ordinary warriors could possess.
And Jiang Qin was certain—Gu Qingfeng had already noticed his arrival.
As expected, soon after Jiang Qin's thoughts formed, the gate of Gu Manor opened, and Gu Peng stepped out, greeting him politely.
"I am Gu Peng, the current head of the outer hall of Gu Family Manor. On the orders of the manor's owner, I invite you inside."
"Very well," Jiang Qin said, casting a casual glance at Gu Peng before nodding slightly and following him inside.
Gu Peng was at the beginner stage of blood refinement. In Jiang Qin's eyes, he was like an ant. In the entire Gu Manor, only the manor's owner commanded any real respect from him.
Inside the lobby, Jiang Qin saw a middle-aged man sitting at the head of the room. When their eyes met, the air seemed to freeze.
"Master, the distinguished guest has arrived," Gu Peng announced, breaking the silence.
Gu Qingfeng waved his hand. "You may leave."
"Yes!" Gu Peng retreated.
Gu Qingfeng then turned his attention to Jiang Qin with a slight smile. "May I ask where you are from, and what brings you to my Gu Family Manor today?"
"I am Jiang Qin, deputy commander of the Evil Suppression Division in Guangyang Prefecture. I heard that you, Master Gu, killed Patriarch Qingyang and eradicated the Qingyang Sect, so I've come to invite you to join our division."
Jiang Qin didn't mince words, speaking directly. After all, the existence of the Evil Suppression Division was known by many. His identity alone gave him confidence.
"Evil Suppression Division?" Gu Qingfeng's expression shifted slightly.
He had considered many possibilities, but he hadn't expected someone from the Evil Suppression Division to come in person.
Jiang Qin, with his hands behind his back and a slight arrogance in his posture, continued: "The Evil Suppression Division is an imperial subordinate force, full of powerful warriors and sorcerers. We deal with beings like Patriarch Qingyang regularly. In fact, many of our members are far stronger than him."
"Master Gu, you must know that martial arts alone are difficult to master. Even reaching the Grandmaster level is no match for the power of a true sorcerer."
"Our division possesses secret techniques, like refining evil spirits into the body. If you join and prove yourself, you could be rewarded with these methods in the future."
Having said this, Jiang Qin took a seat and waited for Gu Qingfeng's response. In his mind, there was no chance the man would refuse.
The Evil Suppression Division was affiliated with the imperial court, offering status no ordinary sect could provide. And the allure of refining evil into one's body was something no one could refuse.
Gu Qingfeng did not immediately respond. Instead, he asked, "Commander Jiang, you said martial arts are difficult to master. Is the Grandmaster level truly the limit for warriors? Is there no higher realm?"
"For most warriors, yes. Reaching the Grandmaster level is extremely rare, and few ever achieve it," Jiang Qin replied. "However, from what I see, you are already on the verge of refining your organs. If you survive long enough, you may have hope of becoming a Grandmaster."
He paused before continuing, "As for realms beyond Grandmaster, there are ancient rumors of a select few breaking through to the Great Grandmaster level. Their energy and blood burn like a furnace, their power far surpassing that of a Grandmaster. It's said they can live for eight hundred years and tear apart restricted zones with their bare hands."
"But these are just legends. Even so, what good is it to become a Grandmaster? After eight hundred years, you still turn to dust. The only real path is to refine evil into your body and become a sorcerer."
Jiang Qin's point was clear—martial arts had limits. The real way forward was to join the Evil Suppression Division and gain its secret techniques.
Gu Qingfeng absorbed this information, intrigued. He hadn't known of the concept of restricted zones before. "What exactly is a restricted zone?" he asked.
"Restricted zones are areas where disaster-level evil spirits gather," Jiang Qin explained. "In those places, the evil is nearly invincible, and it becomes impossible for living creatures to enter or exit. Such areas lead to the extinction of life, which is why they are called restricted zones."
Gu Qingfeng nodded, understanding now. These zones were caused by disaster-level evils.
Suddenly, he thought of something and pulled out the black powder he had obtained earlier. Using his energy and blood, he manipulated the jade box containing the powder to fall in front of Jiang Qin.
"Commander Jiang, do you recognize this?"
Jiang Qin's expression shifted as he examined the black powder, the cold aura of it causing him to react.
"It seems I underestimated you," Jiang Qin said. "I didn't expect you to have killed a strange creature!"
"Strange creature?" Gu Qingfeng asked, puzzled.
"Evil spirits are nearly impossible to kill, but strange creatures are different," Jiang Qin explained. "They arise from the resentment of living beings, and while they can be dealt with, they are difficult to find. They can drain a warrior's energy and blood if not handled carefully."
He continued, "When a strange creature dies, it leaves behind black powder like this. They are dangerous but not as challenging to face as true evil spirits."
Gu Qingfeng now understood—the creature he killed was one of these strange beings. It was likely connected to the mysterious events at Tomorrow Village.
Jiang Qin's eyes narrowed as he asked, "Now that your questions are answered, are you ready to join the Evil Suppression Division?"
Gu Qingfeng remained calm. "What would I need to do if I joined?"
"Simply follow orders," Jiang Qin replied. "In return, not only will you receive the benefits I mentioned earlier, but Gu Manor will be safe from other sects. Without our protection, your destruction of the Qingyang Sect will draw many enemies. Without our support, trouble will be inevitable."
Gu Qingfeng frowned. "What does destroying the Qingyang Sect have to do with other forces?"
Jiang Qin scoffed. "Because you're a warrior, not a sorcerer. In this world, sorcerers rule. No matter how strong a warrior is, they are still beneath sorcerers. The martial arts world won't tolerate a mere warrior controlling a region."
Gu Qingfeng fell silent, digesting this information. After a pause, he smiled.
"Thank you for your offer, Commander Jiang, but I've always preferred my freedom. I have no intention of joining the Evil Suppression Division."
Jiang Qin's face darkened. "Think carefully. Rejecting our offer could bring consequences. Other sects won't remain idle for long."
"I understand," Gu Qingfeng said calmly. "But I'd like to see if warriors truly are inferior to sorcerers."
His energy surged, a powerful aura filling the room.
Jiang Qin's expression shifted. "You've refined your internal organs!"
He hadn't expected this. Gu Qingfeng's strength was far greater than he had imagined.
After a tense moment, Jiang Qin snorted. "Very well, but remember—refining your organs doesn't make you invincible. Don't regret your decision."
With that, he stood and left.
As Jiang Qin departed, Gu Qingfeng called for a servant. "See Commander Jiang out."
The servant complied, and Gu Qingfeng watched Jiang Qin leave, his expression growing cold.
"The Evil Suppression Division... It seems destroying the Qingyang Sect has only brought more trouble."
He clenched his fists. "I don't seek conflict, but I won't shy away from it. If anyone challenges us, I'll make them pay dearly."
Gu Qingfeng had not reached this point by bending to others. Jiang Qin's real aim was to make him a tool for the division, but Gu Qingfeng refused to be controlled.
"It's all about strength," Gu Qingfeng muttered. "If I were a Grandmaster or beyond, no one would dare to look down on me."
For now, his priority was improving his strength. He called Gu Peng again and instructed him to bolster security around the manor and keep an eye on the martial world's movements.
Gu Qingfeng was ready—whatever trouble came, he would face it head-on.