"That's Chen Shi!"
Fu Leisheng was utterly surprised. When Shao Jing from the Immortal Gathering Tower introduced Chen Shi, he couldn't discern Chen Shi's cultivation level. He just thought Chen Shi was an ordinary young man, with some family money but little education, trying to get into the Scholars Academy to become a scholar.
Such things were common in the county town, so he got ten taels of silver from Chen Shi.
But what was this country boy doing now?
He killed the magistrate's wife!
The magistrate's wife was a fourth-level evil spirit, a demon that absorbed moonlight to transform. It could cultivate like a human cultivator, use spells, and had intelligence.
"What is his cultivation level?"
Fu Leisheng's gaze fell on the divine altar behind Chen Shi, filled with doubt.
There was no divine fetus in the altar, indicating it was only at the Spirit Shrine Realm. How could it have such incredible blood and energy, unleashing such powerful force and producing thunderous sound?
The thunderous sound just now was comparable to the power of a Thunder Talisman, forcing even a skilled person like him to raise a bamboo pole for defense.
Could this power really come from a Spirit Shrine Realm cultivator?
He was sure it wasn't the Spirit Shrine Realm; no Spirit Shrine Realm had such power.
Fu Leisheng closed his eyes, as if seeing Chen Shi's blood and energy gathering inside him, forming a boundless sphere.
This sphere moved along his arm, through his heart and lungs, returning to his dantian.
Chen Shi's dantian was like a sea of fire, with intense blood and energy forming a unique scene of a sun in the fire.
A golden lotus growing in the fire.
Fu Leisheng opened his eyes, and the strange feeling disappeared.
"A golden core, he's formed a golden core!"
He was shocked beyond words. An eleven or twelve-year-old child had actually formed a golden core.
But Chen Shi's golden core was clearly inside him, not nurtured in the divine fetus's mouth like others, which was peculiar.
Yet, it was precisely because of this that Chen Shi's strength was so terrifying, able to fight the magistrate's wife, an evil spirit, in close combat.
"With such high cultivation, why does he want to become a scholar? Wait, why is there no divine fetus in his altar? He's missing a stage."
Fu Leisheng's mind was in chaos.
No divine fetus, yet he formed a golden core?
No divine fetus, yet he nurtures a golden core?
Why does his dantian have a sea of fire with a lotus, capable of nurturing a golden core?
As he pondered, barking came from the county office courtyard, and Chen Shi slipped away.
Fu Leisheng entered the backyard, shooting his bamboo pole, piercing the magistrate's wife's head.
But then he saw the magistrate's wife's long body.
Her body was huge, beyond his expectations.
Her heart was pierced, arms broken, neck, abdomen, and back stabbed in many places, her long body cut into dozens of pieces by sword energy, dead beyond doubt. His shot was just redundant.
"These sword marks must be left by the Midnight Demon-Slaying Sword!"
Fu Leisheng examined the sword marks, murmuring, "Does the Midnight Demon-Slaying Sword have such power?"
Though the Midnight Demon-Slaying Sword was the strongest spell of the Divine Fetus Stage, in the Golden Core Stage, its power was less than that of the golden core.
Thus, Golden Core Stage cultivators often preferred to use their golden core against enemies.
However, the sword energy that killed the magistrate's wife showed power beyond normal sword energy.
Moreover, what shocked him more was that each of Chen Shi's sword energies accurately targeted the joints of the magistrate's wife's segmented body.
The sword energy cut along the weakest points of her joints, slicing her open.
Like a butcher skillfully dissecting an ox, it was done to perfection.
Fu Leisheng looked away, his heart pounding.
The county office backyard was a mess, stinking and filthy, with collapsed rockeries and half-destroyed houses, likely caused by the magistrate's wife's evil spirit core's destructive power.
The opposite wall appeared corroded and collapsed, bricks and tiles melted into green water, emitting a foul odor.
This was likely caused by the magistrate's wife's core hitting the wall.
"If such a demon core hit a person."
He shivered.
A golden core is boundless, formed by condensed essence, blood, spirit, and intent, with form but no substance, impervious to blades, axes, spells, or treasures. It can pass through anything without harm, extremely difficult to deal with.
Yet, a golden core also possesses immense power and incredible abilities.
Different golden cores can wield different spells.
Evil spirits' golden cores are even harder to handle, with more sinister power.
Seeing the magistrate's wife's golden core's destructive power, Fu Leisheng felt troubled. If it were him, killing the magistrate's wife wouldn't be easy. Once the core was out, his spells would be tainted, talismans ineffective, and treasures corrupted by evil, losing their power.
Yet Chen Shi managed to kill the magistrate's wife head-on.
"Who is this Chen Shi? How could he eliminate the magistrate's wife so quickly, and that body over there?"
His gaze fell on the body of Magistrate Geng in the corner, startled: "Magistrate Geng was killed by him too."
Geng Chun was a court-appointed magistrate, naturally powerful, yet he also died at Chen Shi's hands.
"Killing two golden core experts, Chen Shi really is only eleven or twelve, yet appears so young. What's his purpose in becoming a scholar?"
The county office's guards were approaching, likely alerted by the commotion, coming to investigate.
Fu Leisheng quietly left, following the direction Chen Shi had gone.
Chen Shi followed Heiguo's barking to the county office's main hall, where a mirror hung high, the place for court trials.
Arriving here, he felt an oppressive force, fear gripping his heart.
His past crimes unfolded like a scroll, vividly replaying in his mind.
Cold sweat dripped from Chen Shi, nearly forcing him to kneel and confess all his wrongdoings over the past two years.
"This county office has quite the setup!"
He suppressed his unease, examining the layout.
Besides the magistrate's desk and chair, there were two rows of interrogation rods, punishment rods, and embroidered spring blades.
These items were engraved with symbols, traced with cinnabar, and carried a menacing aura from frequent use.
Outside was a large drum, also painted with talismans, retaining the aura of those who beat it to seek justice, adding to the pressure.
Individually, these items wouldn't make Chen Shi feel fearful, but together, they compelled criminals to confess.
Heiguo seemed unaffected, barking at a side altar in the hall.
Chen Shi looked over, seeing the Ten-Thousand Souls Banner on the altar, with incense still burning.
This treasure strongly attracted him, like an irresistible delicacy, tempting him to consume the souls within the banner.
"If I were you, I wouldn't steal the Ten-Thousand Souls Banner."
Fu Leisheng's voice came, halting Chen Shi's hand reaching for the banner. He turned, puzzled, "What do you mean, Mr. Fu?"
Fu Leisheng smiled, "The Ten-Thousand Souls Banner is a treasure guarding New Township County, forged from the souls of countless executed criminals over the ages. Its power is immense. If the county lord raises this banner in battle, even powerful cultivators aren't its match. If you take it, you won't have a place in the entire Western New Bull Continent."
Chen Shi withdrew his hand, reluctantly glancing at the banner.
He wasn't greedy for its power, just had an urge to possess it.
But Fu Leisheng's words dispelled this thought.
Seeing him withdraw his hand, Fu Leisheng secretly sighed in relief, "Magistrate Geng was newly appointed and hadn't had time to refine this treasure. During the magistrate's absence, the county magistrate manages the banner. The magistrate will soon arrive here; we should leave quickly to avoid complications."
Chen Shi followed him, and the two, along with a dog, left the county office swiftly.
Chen Shi glanced at Fu Leisheng, feeling a good impression of this private teacher.
Fu Leisheng had barged into the county office for the students' safety, intending to eliminate the magistrate couple, contrary to what Hu Feifei had said.
"Mr. Fu is just a scholar; how does he have such strength?"
Chen Shi wondered.
Fu Leisheng sighed, "In one month, two magistrates have died. I wonder how long the next court-appointed magistrate will last. New Township County is truly an unlucky place for magistrates."
Chen Shi thought about it; both magistrates' deaths seemed connected to him.
The previous Magistrate Zhao fell because of the Zhao family's downfall, which was due to his grandfather eliminating the Zhao governor.
And this Magistrate Geng was directly killed by him.
"Mr. Fu, the court appointing an evil spirit as magistrate, has the government decayed to this extent?"
Chen Shi asked.
Fu Leisheng glanced at him, "Saying such things will make you a guest of the Ten-Thousand Souls Banner, destined for execution."
Despite his words, he sighed, "Government decay? It's more like national decay."
Chen Shi glanced at him, thinking he had the same potential for execution.
They returned to the Scholars Academy, finding Hu Feifei bullying a big white goose, plucking its feathers, with other geese looking dejected in the corner, likely just beaten.
"Feifei holds grudges."
Chen Shi felt a chill.
He had joined other students in bullying Hu Feifei and worried about her revenge.
Fu Leisheng waited until the fox spirit finished beating them before raising his golden core. The golden core's light broke the spells on the geese, restoring them to normal.
The students, still half-children, hugged each other in fear, some thanking Fu Leisheng.
Fu Leisheng laughed, "If you're cultivators, turning into geese is nothing to cry about. You might encounter more of this in the future."
The students looked pale.
"Don't go home yet; the magistrate will come soon, and the guards will escort you back."
Fu Leisheng said, "Country kids can stay at the academy overnight. The teacher saved your lives; have your families bring a string of coins tomorrow to thank him, understand?"
They nodded quickly, following his instructions.
Soon, a deep male voice came from outside the academy, "Mr. Fu, Zheng Shiyun is here to visit."
Fu Leisheng smiled, "It's Magistrate Zheng."
He went to meet him, hearing Zheng Shiyun say, "I was investigating the evil spirit stealing children, not realizing it was right under my nose, eating the magistrate and his wife, disguising as them, nearly harming these kids. Thanks to Mr. Fu, the evil was slain, and the children are safe. Are they all alright?"
Fu Leisheng laughed, "All safe. The evil spirit ate the magistrate couple, disguised as Magistrate Geng, intending to breed in New Township, but thanks to Magistrate Zheng's keen eye, the evil was exposed. Removing these two evils and saving so many children is all thanks to Magistrate Zheng. I merely assisted."
Zheng Shiyun beamed, "Mr. Fu is noble. Without your help, I couldn't have solved this case. I'll report to the court and request a reward for you."
Fu Leisheng quickly said, "No need, no need. I did nothing to deserve credit. I'm ashamed. Magistrate Zheng, you see, this Scholars Academy is in disrepair; the kids fear it might collapse. Could the county allocate some funds..."
Zheng Shiyun understood, handing over a small bag of silver and instructing the guards to give all their money to Fu Leisheng, "I came in a hurry after killing the two evils, only bringing a few dozen taels. If it's not enough..."
Fu Leisheng quickly accepted, smiling, "It's plenty."
"And these kids?"
"Please have Magistrate Zheng send them home."
Zheng Shiyun happily ordered the guards, "Beat the drums and send these kids home one by one, letting the whole city know of our righteous act."
The group agreed and took the frightened children away.
Fu Leisheng, delighted, went aside to count the money.
Hu Feifei approached Chen Shi.
Chen Shi tensed up.
Hu Feifei smiled, "Brother Chen, I'm not a tigress. What are you afraid of? You should thank me today. Without me and Mr. Fu, you'd have died in the county office."
Chen Shi looked at Fu Leisheng, whispering, "I don't think Mr. Fu is greedy. His righteous act, risking his life to save the students, shows his greed is just a facade."
Hu Feifei chuckled, "You've been fooled. He's genuinely greedy. You haven't seen his home; it's lavish, far more luxurious than this academy."
Fu Leisheng finished counting, walked over, and calmly said, "Loving money and righteous acts aren't contradictory. A gentleman loves money but earns it righteously. Every coin I make doesn't go against my conscience."
He handed a small bag of silver to Chen Shi, "This is yours."
Another bag to Hu Feifei, "This is yours. Both of you had a righteous act tonight; you deserve it."
Chen Shi was puzzled, "What do you mean, sir?"
Fu Leisheng said, "Taking gold without harm to virtue is what Master Confucius taught."
Chen Shi was confused, thinking, "Isn't that saying about taking gold from a defeated enemy without harming virtue? How did Mr. Fu twist it?"
Chapter ends.