The day before Xu Ming left Wudu, he visited the warehouse of Wudu's Zhenyun Division.
The Zhenyun Division of Wudu could be likened to the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty, an organization directly serving Emperor Wu. Typically, matters were handled through Wei Xun, who could be seen as the equivalent of the director of the Eastern Depot.
Not long ago, Xu Ming had gone to the imperial palace to request something from Emperor Wu. Upon hearing Xu Ming's request, Emperor Wu was puzzled. However, after Xu Ming explained his reasoning, the emperor agreed but only allowed him to take a portion.
Accompanied by the deputy director of the Zhenyun Division, Xu Ming entered a small room within the warehouse. The room was permeated by a peculiar odor, emanating from a liquid specifically used to preserve corpses—somewhat similar to formalin on Xu Ming's previous world, Blue Star, though not as pungent.
At the center of the room stood a large coffin. When opened, it revealed the corpse of a monster, preserved perfectly in a pale blue liquid.
A hole was visible where the heart of the corpse should have been. This corpse belonged to Shen Sheng, the man Xu Ming had killed years ago on Mount Shunan. The hole in the chest was the result of a punch Xu Ming had delivered at that time. After reporting to the court, Shen Sheng's body had been transported back to Wudu for research.
Through dissections conducted by medical cultivators, it was discovered that aside from human blood, Shen Sheng's body also contained the bloodline of a magical beast—Stone Ogre Demon.
In recent years, not just in the Wuguo (Wu Kingdom) but across various regions of the world, rumors had spread about a cult called the Black God Cult. The cult was said to be using magical beasts to enhance their power and conducting experiments on both cultivators and commoners.
The Wuguo had organized multiple campaigns to eradicate the Black God Cult. However, the cult was like a hydra—elusive and never fully extinguished. It always managed to resurface after some time.
It was clear that Shen Sheng's body had been altered. Whether he had been forced into this transformation or had willingly undergone it was unknown, as he was already dead. But Xu Ming believed Shen Sheng had likely been coerced.
Moreover, Xu Ming couldn't shake the feeling that Shen Sheng's last words to him carried some hidden meaning. It seemed as if Shen Sheng wanted to tell him something but was unable to.
Before his death, Shen Sheng had requested Xu Ming to take his ashes back to Qingyang County in Shuzhou. Xu Ming was no saint; he had no intention of fulfilling the wishes of someone who had taken countless innocent lives.
However, Shen Sheng's request was too peculiar. Normally, a criminal with such heinous crimes wouldn't have the gall to ask a stranger, especially a law enforcer, to take their ashes back to their hometown.
This led Xu Ming to suspect that there might be something significant in Qingyang County. Thus, he decided to bring Shen Sheng's ashes and investigate. Xu Ming explained this reasoning to Emperor Wu during his audience.
Emperor Wu believed Xu Ming was overthinking it, but nonetheless granted his permission. The emperor also gave Xu Ming a jade token, allowing him to approach the local magistrate directly if needed.
"Lord Wenwu, this is the corpse you requested. It has been well-preserved," the deputy director of the Zhenyun Division said to Xu Ming.
"Thank you, Lord Lin," Xu Ming nodded. "I only need a small jar of ashes, nothing more."
"Understood," the deputy director replied. He drew a sword, severed one of the corpse's arms, placed it on an iron platform, and incinerated it with a breath of flame, personally reducing it to ashes.
This deputy director, Lord Lin, was a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Many cultivators from various sects took up posts in local government offices or the Zhenyun Division. This was usually for training purposes or in exchange for specific rewards. They refrained from engaging in political matters, so it did not affect their lifespan.
The deputy director of the Zhenyun Division was one such individual. He did not involve himself in governance; he was merely a hired enforcer. Once he completed his training, he would return to his sect.
Before long, the deputy director of the Zhenyun Division finished burning the severed arm into ashes, placed them into a small jar, and handed it to Xu Ming.
After expressing his thanks once again, Xu Ming left the Zhenyun Division.
The next day, outside Wudu City, Xu Ming bid farewell to his mother and departed the Xu household, accompanied by the Tianxuan Goose and Xu Pangda.
Beyond the city gates, Xu Ming met up with Fang Ling and his family. Since Qingyang County—Xu Ming's destination—happened to be along the way to Baihe County, Xu Ming had been tasked with escorting Xu Pangda and Fang Ling there.
As for the Tianxuan Goose, she had expressed a desire to see the outside world. Xu Ming didn't object and allowed her to tag along.
Outside the city gates, Xiong Haizhi, Li Han, Guang Yin, and others came to see Xu Ming off. Even Hu Tao showed up, though Wu Yanhan did not.
"Who knows where that rascal Wu Yanhan has gone? We haven't seen him for ages. If you hear anything about him while you're out there, check if he's alive. If he's dead, at least collect his body," Li Han said to Xu Ming.
Li Han and the others didn't know that Wu Yanhan was actually Princess Wu Yanhan—Wu Yanhan in disguise. They assumed their comrade had simply disappeared and were somewhat worried.
[T/N: I think her male alias might be Wu Yanhang in English. But since I was using Wu Yanhan from the beginning, I won't change it now.]
Xu Ming smiled and nodded. "Alright."
He had no intention of revealing Wu Yanhan's true identity. They would find out eventually—he might as well let them be surprised when the time came.
"Be careful on the road," Xiong Haizhi cautioned. "Avoid unnecessary trouble, especially with rogue cultivators. Disciples of prestigious sects still have some moral boundaries, but rogue cultivators… they'll sell even their own wives for a bit of resources."
"Don't worry, I'm not a child," Xu Ming reassured him with a nod.
"Big Brother Xu, take care!" Guang Yin said nervously.
"I'll be fine. Not like I'm going to die." Xu Ming smiled, then glanced at the sky. "Time to go."
Xu Ming and Xu Pangda climbed into the carriage. Together, they drove it toward Baihe County. The Tianxuan Goose flapped her wings, flew onto the roof of the carriage, stretched her neck, and let out a few cheerful cries.
"Not going to see him off?"
On the top floor of the towering Stargazing Pavilion in the imperial palace, Emperor Wu stood with his hands behind his back, smiling as he looked at the young girl before him.
The girl snorted softly, her expression calm. "What's there to see him off for? It's not like he's going to die."
Emperor Wu chuckled. "What if he meets a pretty girl on the road and forgets all about you when he comes back?"
"Ha."
The girl turned, folding her hands in front of her. Her skirt swayed as she descended the staircase below the pavilion.
"Well, she'd have to be prettier than me first."
Watching his daughter slowly walk away, Emperor Wu stroked his chin and muttered to himself, "Speaking of which, today happens to be the day the Beauty Ranking is updated."
Just as Emperor Wu finished speaking, a red scroll suddenly unfurled in the clear, cloudless sky, hanging high for all to see.