Chapter 117: The Talk of the Outer Demon, Concerning That Side? The Arrangement
In the Bureau of Immortal Inspection’s black-iron secret prison, the cold crow was bound by chains as thick as a thumb, restraining its wings and claws tightly. It had fainted and could not move, while several Immortal Officers beside it were probing its condition through various talismans and magical instruments.
“Its body is filled with dense demonic qi; there’s no way this could be faked…”
“But that’s strange. All four main gates of the Imperial Capital have Soul-Illuminating Mirrors suspended high above—how did this demon sneak into the capital?”
“Could it be that someone from the Duke’s Residence found a way to bring it in?”
After examining it, the Immortal Officers confirmed that this cold crow’s origins were indeed demonic; there was no mistaking it.
However, they were equally puzzled, for the creature’s cultivation was clearly weak. Judging by the classifications of demon kind, it was at most of the sixth or seventh tier—barely equivalent to the sixth or seventh rank in human cultivation.
A mere cold crow like this sneaking into the capital didn’t seem capable of stirring up any real trouble.
“Could it be a spy used by a foreign demon kingdom to scout or transmit information?”
As they speculated, a figure approached outside the black-iron cell—it was Immortal Officer Gu Ruoxi.
It was already late at night, yet she had not rested, clearly rushing over the moment she received the news.
“Have you discovered anything?” Gu Ruoxi asked.
“Not yet. We don’t know if this demon is pretending to be unconscious. It was fine before, but once it was brought back to the Bureau, it suddenly passed out. Looks like it’s got some wits about it,” said one of the officers, shaking his head.
Gu Ruoxi raised her brows. “Pretending to faint? That’s easy enough—just awaken it with a Thunder-Summoning Talisman.”
As she spoke, she raised her delicate hand. A talisman emitting faint golden light appeared, tiny sparks of lightning crackling upon it with considerable might.
“小丫头，还真是心狠。”
“倒不愧是顾家的血脉。”
Just as she was about to cast the talisman,
a strange screech suddenly rang out. The cold crow, which had its eyes tightly shut, abruptly opened them wide. Its disheveled feathers flapped frantically.
Unfortunately, the chains as thick as thumbs bound it firmly, leaving it unable to move an inch.
“Heh, seems it does have some wits about it after all.”
Gu Ruoxi sneered coldly and withdrew the talisman.
The Immortal Officers hadn’t expected the crow to truly be feigning unconsciousness; had they known earlier, they would have awakened it during the examination.
“Speak. Why did you infiltrate the capital and collude with the Duke’s Residence? What is your purpose?” Gu Ruoxi asked coldly.
“Caw caw! What do you mean, ‘collude’? It was that brat surnamed Shen who deliberately framed me! You can’t even see that?” The cold crow laughed strangely, seemingly unbothered by its predicament.
“Silence, you vile beast! You think that demonic qi of yours can be faked?” Gu Ruoxi snorted coldly.
The cold crow fell silent. It possessed the bloodline of the ancient Golden Crow, yet had been framed as a demon beast. Its pure spiritual light had been stripped away, replaced by thick demonic qi.
Needless to say, it knew this was the work of Shen Yanzhou.
“You foolish girl. If your Gu Family’s ancestor were here, he’d surely recognize my origins.”
“I came to the capital this time to save your Great Qian. If the Outer Demons are not restrained, within three years the calamity of world destruction will descend. By then, not only Great Qian, but the entire Nine Provinces will become a land of ruin.”
The cold crow sighed deeply, as though an aged sage resided within its soul.
“Pretending to be mysterious, playing tricks—seems I really should throw you into the Demon-Cleansing Formation to sober you up.”
Gu Ruoxi coldly snorted, flipped her hand, and a delicate little banner appeared, radiating spiritual light. With a gentle wave, it seemed to stir hidden formation patterns within the cell. Suddenly, within the secret prison, wood, water, metal, and fire emerged—manifesting the Four Elements to refine the bound cold crow.
A hissing sound filled the air…
Wisps of demonic qi evaporated like boiling oil meeting water, constantly dissipating. Yet the crow showed no sign of pain—only growing weaker.
This scene left Gu Ruoxi and the other officers stunned.
They had never encountered such a thing before.
Any demon that entered the Demon-Cleansing Formation would be like being thrown into hot oil—if not reverting to its true form instantly, it would still be burned and tormented to screams and thrashing.
But this cold crow remained motionless.
“Caw caw! I told you, I’m not some demon. This demonic qi merely taints my shell,” the cold crow laughed strangely.
“It’s just putting up a front. Its cultivation must be deep—an ordinary Demon-Cleansing Formation wouldn’t work on it.”
Just then, a voice came from outside the cell. Gu Ruoxi turned and saw Shen Yanzhou entering. He seemed to have rushed over from the Chilin Guards, slightly out of breath.
As he finished speaking, Shen Yanzhou raised his hand, and the little banner flew from Gu Ruoxi’s grasp into his palm.
Unlike Gu Ruoxi’s casual handling, the banner seemed to awaken a different kind of power in his hands. As he waved it, it grew larger, and the flag’s surface churned with earth, water, wind, and fire.
The scene within the prison changed drastically—the four elements that had been manifesting before suddenly surged, emanating a breath that felt almost like primordial chaos.
The cold crow, unmoved before, instantly changed its expression.
If the earlier refinement had merely tickled, now it truly felt as though it had been thrown into scalding oil. Its feathers bristled; the agony pierced even its very soul, making it tremble and wail in pain.
“So that’s how it is.”
The surrounding Immortal Officers all nodded in sudden realization.
That Shen Yanzhou could activate the Demon-Cleansing Formation wasn’t surprising at all.
After all, he was the so-called “Banished Immortal.” Any divine technique or spell—he could command with a mere gesture, even creating his own to alter the heavens.
Something as basic as a demon-cleansing technique? Child’s play.
Before long, the once-defiant cold crow wilted, utterly spent.
“Speak. Why did you collude with the Duke’s Residence to frame me? And where is the Duke’s Young Master, Liu Zi’an, now?”
Shen Yanzhou halted the formation and looked at the feeble cold crow, asking calmly.
“You Outer Demon—so cunning. I didn’t expect you to have infiltrated and seized control to such an extent already.”
“Even if that one intends to protect you, you’re exposed now.”
“The next time we meet… it won’t end like this.”
The cold crow cackled weirdly, its beady eyes glinting with human intelligence, a mocking light flickering within—as if entirely unfazed by its predicament.
The next instant, to everyone’s shock, its body suddenly expanded.
A violent surge of will and power clashed within it—and then, with a muffled boom, it exploded into a shower of radiant feathers.
“What… what was it saying?”
“How could it still self-destruct inside the Demon-Cleansing Formation? Was the formation not strong enough to suppress it?” Gu Ruoxi asked in disbelief, completely caught off guard.
Shen Yanzhou frowned slightly. The term “Outer Demon” puzzled him.
This cold crow had advised the Duke’s Residence before—almost as if it already knew certain events beforehand.
Could such a pre-knowledge of future happenings… be linked to “That Side”?
When Shen Yanzhou had first fooled the Martial God Lin Qingcang, he had used the name of “That Side.”
Could it be that he himself had now drawn the attention of “That Side”?
And now he was being called an “Outer Demon”?
Shen Yanzhou fell into thought. If he truly had been noticed by an existence from That Side, that was far from good news.
In the original storyline, That Side was never described in detail, but its very existence represented a kind of manifestation of the world’s rules.
To Shen Yanzhou, That Side’s existence seemed more like a “patch” meant to rationalize all happenings within the story.
“From another perspective, it actually makes sense…”
“If this world has a Heavenly Dao, then my appearance itself is an anomaly—disrupting the trajectory that should have unfolded naturally.”
“That Side, then, acts as the representative of Heaven’s Dao, restoring the disrupted order.”
“As the anomaly who shouldn’t exist in this position, I’ve become the ‘Outer Demon’ that breaks the world’s script?”
Thinking this, Shen Yanzhou suddenly understood somewhat.
“What’s wrong? Are you troubled because the trail has gone cold?”
Seeing Shen Yanzhou remain silent for so long, Gu Ruoxi thought he was vexed by losing the lead due to the demon’s self-destruction and spoke up.
“It’s nothing.”
“After dawn, I’ll be bringing someone to pay respects to Senior Chengyun,” Shen Yanzhou replied, his thoughts returning to another matter.
“Mm. You already told me. I’ve informed Third Grandfather too. Just bring the person directly when the time comes.”
Gu Ruoxi nodded.
The demon’s self-destruction indeed took everyone by surprise.
But since it happened within the Bureau of Immortal Inspection’s secret cell, the entire process had been recorded by the Shadow Stones—there was no issue of deliberate evidence destruction.
Chapter 118: The Outer Demon’s Talk, and That Side’s Scheme
When the news of the demon beast’s self-destruction reached the Duke’s Residence, everyone who had been waiting for the Bureau of Immortal Inspection to clear their name felt as if the sky had collapsed before their eyes.
The Old Duke’s vision went dark, and he fainted on the spot.
At the morning court session the next day, numerous ministers submitted memorials, each declaring that the incident had nothing to do with them.
After all, who could have expected the Duke’s Residence to be accused of colluding with a demon beast—caught red-handed by the rising star of the capital, Chilin Guards’ Thousand-Household Commander, Shen Yanzhou?
But now that the demon beast had self-detonated, all evidence was destroyed, and the subsequent leads were severed.
The Bureau of Immortal Inspection could do nothing about it.
Many began to suspect that the disappearance of the Duke’s Young Master, Liu Zi’an, might also be related to this case.
Could it all have been an act?
Emperor Mingde did not attend court that day, assigning the case of the Duke’s Residence’s alleged collusion with demons to the Crown Prince, Xia Chongming.
Xia Chongming found the sudden scandal deeply troublesome. The Duke’s Residence had existed since the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty, a powerful aristocratic clan with deep roots—too many ties, too much influence.
If the investigation were to reveal involvement from other noble families, the aftermath would be unimaginable.
Moreover, Empress Cui Jingyi’s birthday celebration was approaching, and envoys from various immortal sects and nations were already en route to offer congratulations.
If this major case wasn’t properly handled, it could harm Great Qian’s national prestige and invite mockery from foreign emissaries.
Unsurprisingly, Shen Yanzhou was once again recommended by the ministers in court and entrusted with the responsibility.
There was no avoiding it—his reputation was too radiant. Moreover, just a few days ago, the Demon Suppression King had lavishly invited many high-ranking officials to a banquet.
In both sentiment and reason, Shen Yanzhou, as the newly promoted Thousand-Household Commander of the Chilin Guards, was the best person to oversee this matter to the end.
After court adjourned, Crown Prince Xia Chongming immediately went to the Palace of the Yearly Rites to seek advice from Empress Cui Jingyi.
Meanwhile, in the Hall of Cultivated Mind on the other side of the Imperial City, Emperor Mingde, accompanied by Chief Eunuch Wei Gong, personally viewed the Shadow Stone report submitted by the Bureau of Immortal Inspection.
“Outer Demon? What does that mean?”
“This cold crow’s origin seems rather extraordinary,” Emperor Mingde frowned.
Wei Gong bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, it’s evident that someone powerful was behind this cold crow’s actions. In my view, it was likely used as a spy to probe information, but it happened to cross paths with the Duke’s Residence.”
Emperor Mingde snorted coldly. “No matter what, for such an unidentifiable creature to infiltrate the capital right under my eyes—this is the Bureau of Immortal Inspection’s negligence.”
Wei Gong said, “In this old servant’s opinion, it might be one of those so-called followers from Beiyu, managing to conceal itself and evade the Bureau’s detection.”
Emperor Mingde said indifferently, “Then this ‘Outer Demon’ it called Yanzhou—what does that mean? Some heretical evil?”
Wei Gong furrowed his brows; he too was puzzled as to why the cold crow had referred to Shen Yanzhou that way.
“A pity the trail’s gone cold. Had we restrained it sooner, we might have traced its origins,” he said regretfully.
If he had been present, perhaps he could have acted in time to prevent the self-destruction.
“The Demon-Cleansing Formation couldn’t suppress it. Even if you were there, it would’ve made no difference,” Emperor Mingde shook his head.
Wei Gong bowed. “Your Majesty, if this truly is a plot from Beiyu, it may not be a coincidence. The term ‘Outer Demon’ could be a seed they’ve planted for later use.”
Emperor Mingde fell into deep thought.
It was clear that Shen Yanzhou’s resurrection bore the shadow of Beiyu. It was highly possible that he was a piece Beiyu had planted within Great Qian—awaiting the right time to be used.
Now, labeling Shen Yanzhou as an ‘Outer Demon’ likely carried deeper meaning.
“You mean Beiyu targeted me—attaching such a name to my illegitimate son to taint him with infamy?” Emperor Mingde’s gaze darkened.
If Shen Yanzhou was the Outer Demon, then what did that make the ruler of Great Qian himself?
Wei Gong nodded. “It must still be investigated carefully. But if Your Majesty intends to acknowledge Prince Yanzhou publicly, the timing may need to be delayed.”
Emperor Mingde closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath.
After a moment, he looked coldly toward the south. “I can’t wait that long. Cui Jingyi and her Cui Clan think their arrangements are flawless, but how could I not see? To divert the royal dragon energy completely, she long ago conceived a child with her cousin, Cui Beiwang.”
Wei Gong’s face changed drastically. Such words had only ever been suspicions in the past—never spoken aloud.
After all, what man could endure such humiliation—especially the ruler of all Nine Provinces?
The truth was, the ambition and audacity of the Cui Clan of Hejian were simply boundless.
……
At the Bureau of Immortal Inspection, within the Loft of Star-Seizing.
Upon a tall platform lined with nine Seven-Star Lamps, Deputy Sacrificer Gu Chengyun sat cross-legged, wearing a wide white robe, feathered celestial crown, and exuding an aura of immortal grace.
Shen Yanzhou entered the hall with Fu Yuying, whose face was veiled by a thin layer of gauze.
“The Saintess of the Luofu Cloud Cavern in the Southern Border?”
Gu Chengyun smiled warmly, his gaze falling on Fu Yuying, clearly already aware of her identity.
“I pay respects to Senior,” Fu Yuying greeted softly, her tone calm and composed.
“It seems matters in the Southern Border are truly urgent, for even you, Saintess, have come personally to find me. For Thousand-Household Commander Gu’s sake, I’ll hear what you have to say,” Gu Chengyun said with a chuckle.
Fu Yuying’s voice remained steady. “Just as Senior imagines, whatever the Bureau of Immortal Inspection desires, the sects of the Southern Border can agree to—as long as our ancestral legacies are preserved.”
Gu Chengyun narrowed his eyes slightly. “Nice words, but I’m not a fool. The sects of the Southern Border won’t necessarily heed you. What authority do you have to make promises for them?”
Fu Yuying wasn’t surprised; her tone remained placid. “I can’t make decisions now—but that doesn’t mean I won’t in the future. The greatest threat to the Southern Border right now is the Demon Suppression King.”
“Besides the deep mountain territory of one hundred thousand li, even the vast lands bordering the foreign demon kingdom near Hantian Commandery can be ceded to the Bureau’s control. All Southern Border sects could then be granted immortal registry.”
Gu Chengyun smiled faintly. “Heh, quite the tempting offer.”
“In the past, I wouldn’t have believed such empty promises. But since Thousand-Household Commander Shen brought you, I’ll trust it this once.”
He had lived long enough to see through pretense. He knew Fu Yuying’s promises were but an expedient—intended to entice the Bureau to intervene and buy time for the Southern Border.
Before this, he hadn’t believed Fu Yuying could command the reclusive sects of the Southern Border.
But now, Shen Yanzhou stood beside her.
Gu Chengyun did believe in Shen Yanzhou’s capabilities. After all, he was favored by the Daoist Patriarch himself and accepted as a disciple, granting him an extraordinary background and influence.
The Gu Family, one of the Bureau’s three great hidden cultivation clans, could trace its lineage back to the Daoist sects. Saying they were a derivative branch of the Daoist lineage wasn’t far from the truth.
Now, with Gu Ruoxi and Shen Yanzhou growing close, the Gu Family naturally saw it as a favorable connection.
Hearing Gu Chengyun’s assent, Fu Yuying felt a faint relief. After all, this agreement was little more than a promise on paper. The Bureau wasn’t foolish; they wouldn’t involve themselves so easily on mere words.
But this was Shen Yanzhou’s plan.
He served as the guarantor between them.
The Bureau only agreed to step in because of him. And if successful, they stood to gain plenty themselves.
The Demon Suppression King, who had profited from the Southern Border for years, would finally be forced to disgorge his gains.
After leaving the Loft of Star-Seizing, Gu Ruoxi, who had been waiting outside, walked up to them. Her gaze swept over Fu Yuying, her tone slightly sour. “So you were helping her all along.”
Fu Yuying’s expression beneath her veil remained calm.
“Naturally,” Shen Yanzhou replied matter-of-factly.
Gu Ruoxi pouted slightly.
The corners of Fu Yuying’s lips curved faintly beneath her veil as she said, “With the Bureau’s involvement, the Demon Suppression King shouldn’t dare act recklessly in the Southern Border any longer. I can’t stay in the capital much longer; the Luofu Cloud Cavern will soon require my report.”
“No matter. Everything is within my plan.”
Shen Yanzhou smiled.
Gu Ruoxi found their cryptic exchange rather irritating. Weren’t she the one running messages between them?
Shen Yanzhou, however, hadn’t forgotten his “tool.” He casually drew a white porcelain pill bottle from his robes and handed it to her.
“What you wanted is inside.”
“Huh? Really? You’re being this generous?” Gu Ruoxi asked suspiciously, her charming eyes narrowing on the bottle before she accepted it.
“After all, I owe you for these last few times.”
Shen Yanzhou saw no need to keep stringing her along with the so-called “antidote.” She wasn’t the brightest, but after all this time, she must have realized the truth.
“You’d better not be lying to me.” Gu Ruoxi wrinkled her delicate nose, tucking the bottle into her robe.
Shen Yanzhou escorted Fu Yuying to the Bureau’s entrance. A luxurious black carriage waited quietly at the alley’s end.
“…That guy.”
Sensing a distant gaze, Shen Yanzhou halted his steps.
At the Bureau’s gate, several Immortal Officers were entering in formation. Among them, a young Daoist with a jade flute at his waist caught Shen Yanzhou’s attention.
“Gu Ruoxi was supposed to keep watch on Ye Xingchen, but it seems she startled him instead,” Shen Yanzhou thought, his eyes narrowing.
He was certain that man had issues.
That earlier deliberate approach to Gu Ruoxi must have had an ulterior motive. Now, their distance suggested he’d grown wary.
For someone originally obscure in the story to now stand as a child of fortune—what encounter or destiny had changed his fate?
“He hides deeply… but I don’t believe he can conceal his traces forever.”
After seeing Fu Yuying off, Shen Yanzhou turned back toward the Bureau.
Inside her room, Gu Ruoxi was fiddling with the white porcelain pill bottle, taking out a sugar pill, sniffing it, licking it—but hesitating to swallow.
When Shen Yanzhou pushed the door open, she hurriedly shoved it back into the bottle. Her moist lips, like flower petals, exuded a natural allure.
“What, still afraid I’ll trick you?” Shen Yanzhou approached casually, wrapping his arm around her with ease.
“Don’t—this is the Bureau…” Gu Ruoxi gasped softly, feeling his wandering hand and trying to push him away.
“So what if it’s the Bureau?”
“We’re just investigating the case—thoroughly. Any problem with that?” Shen Yanzhou asked.
“No one investigates like that,” Gu Ruoxi murmured weakly.
Shen Yanzhou chuckled, teased her for a while, then finally released her. “Enough jokes. I actually came for something serious.”
Gu Ruoxi’s cheeks flushed, her gaze watery and bright. She glared at him. “I knew you must have a reason.”
“Alright, what is it this time?”
She couldn’t help but wonder—Shen Yanzhou had already given her the antidote to the
“Ten-Thousand Gu Heart-Piercing Pill.”
So why was she still helping him?