Late at night, Lin Ji sat cross-legged on his bed.
Spiritual energy continuously circulated through his limbs and bones, strengthening with each circulation.
He cultivated the "Mighty Qi Technique" of the Celestial Supervisory Bureau, a cultivation technique of the founding master of the Great Qin Dynasty.
The founding master was a selfless individual who made this technique public for the bureau, allowing anyone who contributed to the bureau to apply for cultivation. This was to prevent demons and monsters from wreaking havoc and to ensure the stability of the Great Qin Dynasty.
Lin Ji had joined the bureau partly for the purpose of cultivating this technique.
The founding master was a powerful cultivator at the Eighth Realm, indicating that the Mighty Qi Technique could reach the Eighth Realm directly, making it a rare and advanced cultivation technique.
However, due to its difficulty, many in the bureau preferred slightly weaker techniques over the Mighty Qi Technique.
But for Lin Ji, the slow progress was not a problem.
After two hours, Lin Ji finally suppressed the restless spiritual energy in his dantian.
"Just this cultivation session alone is enough to match two months of my regular progress," Lin Ji thought to himself.
In the past, after slaying demons with the Karmic Ledger, his cultivation would progress, but not as rapidly as this time.
Since Lin Ji had no bottlenecks in his cultivation, he couldn't simply elevate his cultivation base like this.
"What did that Taoist do exactly?"
Lin Ji was well aware that the commoners who died unjustly at Minghua Tower yesterday were just the tip of the iceberg of the Taoist's evil deeds. Otherwise, his cultivation progress wouldn't have been so exaggerated.
After pondering for a while, Lin Ji couldn't figure it out.
Anyway, since the people were already dead, he didn't bother thinking about it anymore.
Outside the window, the night had quietly passed.
A bright light in the east enveloped Qingyang County.
"If nothing unexpected happens, the heavenly gift should appear today. What could it be?"
In a good mood, Lin Ji rarely put on the attire of a constable, slung his sword, and walked out of his courtyard.
However, his good mood was soon disrupted.
Lin Ji stood in front of Li's pancake shop with a dark expression.
"You know I'm in town, yet you didn't save me a couple?" Lin Ji said.
"Come early tomorrow, we're closed today," Old Li replied, folding up the stove and closing the shop in front of Lin Ji.
Helpless, Lin Ji had to find breakfast elsewhere. He hadn't walked far when he ran into Lu Cong, who was patrolling the streets.
Normally, demon hunters didn't patrol the streets; such minor matters were left to regular constables like Song Er. But Lu Cong was restless by nature.
Apart from eating, he loved strolling around.
Lin Ji had advised him a few times, but Lu Cong turned a deaf ear and continued to wander the streets every day. After a few attempts, Lin Ji stopped bothering.
Strolling around was better than squandering money at gambling dens.
"Boss, what are we having for lunch today?" Lu Cong asked.
"Look up at the sky," Lin Ji replied nonchalantly.
Lu Cong looked up but couldn't make sense of it. Scratching his head, he asked, "There's nothing in the sky."
"Look to the east."
"There's only the sun in the east."
Lin Ji smacked the back of Lu Cong's head.
"The sun has just risen, it's not even fully bright yet, and you're already thinking about lunch?"
"Hehe," Lu Cong chuckled awkwardly.
The two of them strolled around the county, stopping here and there.
In half an hour, their hands were filled with various foods - fruits, pastries, meat pies, tea eggs, and more, all bought from street vendors who refused payment, praising Qingyang for being a place where officials didn't bully the common folk.
"Boss, being a constable is quite a good job," Lu Cong said with a mouthful of meat pie, oil dripping from his mouth. "We don't have to pay for food."
"This is nothing. Go to other places in the future, and you'll know what corrupt officials are like."
"Corrupt officials?"
"They extort, commit crimes."
Lin Ji casually explained, "Do you know why Song Da from the Tiger Head Gang gives us silver every month?"
"Why?"
"Because in other places, businesses like these involve constables. By not accepting money, we make Song Da uneasy. Do you think he's being respectful? He's afraid."
Lu Cong nodded in confusion, and Lin Ji wasn't sure if he understood.
This big simpleton had never left Qingyang County in his life; his world was limited to the county seat.
Although Lin Ji often teased him for his lack of knowledge and inability to read many characters, this simple life was also a kind of fortune, especially in these chaotic times.
Suddenly, a commotion ahead caught their attention.
"Let's go check it out," Lin Ji said, leading Lu Cong over.
Upon arrival, they found the young master of the Qian family, who ran the rice shop in the county, arguing with a Taoist.
The young master held a large blade with an extravagant scabbard, adorned with gold and jade, but the blade itself was plain, even showing signs of rust.
"You deceitful Taoist! Selling me this blunt, worthless blade for five hundred taels!" the young master exclaimed angrily.
The Taoist running the stall stroked his goatee, smiling, "The blade may be damaged, but the scabbard..."
"The scabbard is fake too! The gold is dyed, the jade is polished marble! Do you think I'm easily fooled?"
On the side, Lu Cong watched the scene with amusement, not even considering intervening.
Lin Ji's attention, however, was on the large blade wielded by the young master.
"A hidden gem, this is a demon-slaying blade."
Activating his spiritual eye, Lin Ji saw through the true nature of the blade.
The blade was inscribed with formations, faintly exuding demonic energy.
This demonic energy was the residual aura of the demons slain by the blade, indicating it had vanquished numerous demons.
"A long-unused demon-slaying blade, sold for only five hundred taels?"
Just as he was pondering this, Lin Ji suddenly realized.
Could this be the heavenly gift that killed the Taoist yesterday?
Regardless, whether it was or not, he had seen it and couldn't let it go.
"Young master, this blade is quite good," Lin Ji remarked casually.
"It's Constable Lin," the young master's previous anger vanished instantly as he respectfully saluted Lin Ji, then said, "If Constable Lin likes it, I'll find a better blade for you later. This one is too worn out."
"No, I'll take this one. No need for you to gift it, I'll pay for it," Lin Ji said, taking the blade without even glancing at the scabbard.
Behind him, Lu Cong had already taken out five hundred taels and handed them to the young master.
By now, the young master also realized.
"Constable Lin, is this blade..."
"It's not something you can use."
"Understood, understood," the young master comprehended, not daring to ask further, and quickly left.
After seeing off the young master, Lin Ji turned to the Taoist with the goatee.
Using his spiritual eye, he saw that the Taoist was weak, emaciated, with no trace of cultivation.
"Taoist, where did you get this blade from?"
"It was passed down by my master. Starving on the mountain, I had no choice but to sell my master's heirloom."
As they spoke, the Taoist's stomach grumbled loudly.
He awkwardly gestured to Lin Ji, "If the official has no business, this humble one would like to find a place to fill his stomach."
Lin Ji glanced at the sky and said, "Alright, you're not from our Qingyang County, are you? Come with me, I'll treat you to a meal."
Feeling guilty for buying the demon-slaying blade for five hundred taels, Lin Ji thought, "That's a good bond, saving money."
The Taoist with the goatee chuckled.