Chapter 227 Seeking a Contract and Making a Choice

The Demon Archive Division is located in the northeast corner of the Demon Suppression Division's yamen. It is an independent three-story pavilion with flying eaves and bracket sets, presenting a solemn atmosphere. A black plaque with gold characters hangs above the lintel, and two guards dressed in blue-black official uniforms with short blades at their waists stand at the entrance. Their breathing is steady, and their gazes are sharp.

Seeing Shen Suning and Chen Mu approach, one of the guards stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over their waist tokens.

“The Demon Archive Division is a restricted area; unauthorized personnel are forbidden from entering.”

Shen Suning flashed her waist token.

“Shen Suning and Chen Mu of Team C of the Demon Hunting Division, here to exchange merit points.”

The guard verified the waist tokens and took a special look at Chen Mu. After the battle in Youxu Valley, the name Chen Mu was already well-known within the Demon Suppression Division. He stepped aside to clear the path, his tone becoming more polite.

“Please come in, you two. Minister Lu is not in the division today; Administrator Zhao is on duty.”

Stepping through the gates of the Demon Archive Division, they saw several rows of massive red sandalwood shelves placed against the walls, displaying various items categorized by type.

On one side was a weapon rack holding sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks. Most were standard-issue, but there were a few uniquely shaped pieces that faintly shimmered with spiritual light.

On the other side were medicine cabinets and pill racks. Porcelain bottles and jade boxes of all sizes were neatly stacked and labeled with the names and effects of the Medicinal Pills.

In the center were several long counters displaying miscellaneous items such as Talismans, Formation Plates, and compasses, as well as a few oddly shaped objects of unknown purpose.

It was still early, so the Demon Archive Division was quite quiet. Only behind a long desk near the window sat an old clerk with his head down, organizing documents. The beads of his abacus clicked and clacked. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and pushed up the reading glasses on the bridge of his nose.

“Oh? Guests have arrived.”

The old clerk's voice was hoarse, and a professional smile was plastered on his face.

“I am Zhao Jin. Have you two come to exchange merit points?”

Shen Suning handed over their waist tokens. “Sorry to trouble you, Administrator Zhao.”

Zhao Jin took the tokens and pulled out two thick ledgers, quickly flipping through them.

“Shen Suning, a total of five hundred and thirty-one merit points; Chen Mu, two hundred and eighty-five points.”

He recorded the numbers and looked up at the two of them, especially Chen Mu, a glint of sharp light flashing in his eyes.

“Little Friend Chen is a young hero who became famous in a single battle; I have heard of you. To accumulate such merit points after being in the division for such a short time is truly admirable. I wonder what you two would like to exchange for?”

Chen Mu looked around. “May we look around first?”

“Naturally, naturally.”

Zhao Jin stood up, walked around the desk, and made a gesture of invitation.

“The Demon Archive Division has three floors. The first floor mostly contains standard-issue weapons and armor, common Medicinal Pills, and basic Cultivation Techniques suitable for colleagues in the Dao Entry Realm. The second floor houses many high-quality items, occasional precious Magic Treasures, Medicinal Pills to assist in breaking through realms, and some martial arts Secret Manuals of considerable power. As for the third floor...”

He paused, a hint of mystery appearing on his face.

“Everything kept on the third floor is a heavy treasure of the division, be it fragments of ancient treasures of immense power, extremely rare natural spiritual items, or even a few ancient Cultivation Techniques that lead directly to Divine Abilities. However, the third floor is protected by a Restriction. No one may enter unless Minister Lu is present or one holds a command medallion from the Lord Thousand-Household.”

Shen Suning softly explained to Chen Mu.

“Minister Lu is the chief official of the Demon Archive Division, holding a rank equivalent to a Banner Master. He spends most of the year outside searching for rare treasures and is rarely in the division. As for the Lord Thousand-Household...”

She shook her head, her meaning self-evident. How could they easily meet a figure like Liao Huaizhong?

Zhao Jin led the two of them on a slow tour of the first floor, introducing items from time to time.

“This Army-Breaker Saber is forged from hundred-refined cold iron and is incredibly sharp; it costs sixty merit points. This bottle of Red Sun Pills contains the essence of earth fire, refined with forty-nine types of yang-attribute medicinal ingredients; it can bolster blood-qi and dispel cold. There are ten pills per bottle, costing forty points...”

Chen Mu listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over the items, and shook his head.

These things might be precious to ordinary Martial Artists, but to him, they were somewhat useless.

As for weapons, he had the soul-slaying blade. Although it hadn't been fully tempered with Calamity Astral Qi, its unique soul-slaying effect was far superior to these standard Magic Treasures. Furthermore, the cultivation of the Hunyuan Wuji Calamity Body relied on plundering Lifespan and tempering with Calamity Power; the auxiliary effects of external pills were truly limited, so Medicinal Pills were of little use to him.

As for Cultivation Techniques... he already possessed several supreme arts. Taking on too much would lead to failure unless it was a technique that complemented his existing system or was of an extremely high grade; otherwise, it was unnecessary.

Seeing that Chen Mu's expression remained indifferent throughout, a flash of surprise crossed Zhao Jin's eyes, and he then smiled.

“It seems the things on the first floor do not catch Little Friend Chen's Dharma Eye. Please follow me to the second floor.”

The layout of the second floor was similar to the first, but the items on display were clearly fewer. Each was placed individually in a specially made jade box or glass cover, surrounded by misty spiritual light and an extraordinary aura.

“This Black Tortoise Shield uses the shell of a hundred-year-old black tortoise as its primary material, infused with Earthen Essence. Its defensive power is extremely strong, requiring one hundred and twenty points to exchange. This Mind-Tranquilizing Pendant is carved from refreshing jade marrow with a calming Formation engraved inside; wearing it can settle the heart and mind, resisting common illusions. It costs ninety points...”

Chen Mu still shook his head.

The smile on Zhao Jin's face faded slightly. After a moment of deliberation, he pointed to an area in the corner shrouded by a light screen.

“That is the rarities section of the second floor. There are a few items there that might catch your eye.”

Three items were displayed behind the light screen.

A longsword that was entirely dark blue with ice-crack patterns on the blade; even though it was unsheathed, a biting cold air emanated from it. A bottle containing only three golden-red pills the size of dragon eyes; their fragrance was restrained, yet one whiff made the mind feel refreshed. Finally, there was a dark, leather scroll with three words written in ancient seal script: ‘Spirit Refining Art’.”

“Spirit Refining Art?”

Chen Mu's heart stirred slightly. He already had the Soul-Loss Art, which specialized in Divine Soul slaughter, but this Spirit Refining Art sounded more like an orthodox Divine Soul cultivation method. Perhaps it could complement the Soul-Loss Art?

Seeing that he finally found something of interest, Zhao Jin offered an introduction.

“This is an Incomplete Manual of a secret method specifically for cultivating the Divine Soul. It is said to originate from an ancient Sect. After cultivation, it can strengthen the Divine Sense and condense Soul Power. When facing an enemy, one can even use Divine Thought to strike the opponent's Divine Soul. However, this scroll is missing more than half, and the cultivation method is somewhat dangerous. It has been kept in the division for many years without anyone inquiring about it. It costs two hundred points to exchange.”

Before Chen Mu could decide, his gaze moved past the light screen and landed on an inconspicuous corner at the end of the second floor.

There was a tightly locked small door there. The door was pitch black and covered with complex runes, with faint ripples of spiritual power. There was a lock on the door with a peculiarly shaped keyhole, clearly requiring a special key.

Zhao Jin followed his gaze, his face turning somewhat solemn.

“That is the entrance to the third floor. As I said earlier, no one may enter the third floor without the command medallion of Minister Lu or the Lord Thousand-Household. The Restriction on the door was jointly set up by several Formation masters in the division. Those who trespass... do so at their own risk.”

Chen Mu withdrew his gaze. He had no intention of forcing his way in; his current strength was insufficient, and there was no need to cause unnecessary trouble.

Seeing that Chen Mu still lacked interest in the items on the second floor, Zhao Jin was quite helpless and could only say,

“If there is nothing you need on the second floor either, then I am powerless. Perhaps you can wait for Minister Lu to return, or achieve greater merit to obtain the Lord Thousand-Household's command medallion, and then go to the third floor for a look.”