Chapter 0023

Chapter 23: Enforcer: I Am Lord Mu Rong Ya’s Dog!

In the Red Dust Cave of the Joyous Union Sect, Zhou Tong sat cross-legged in cultivation, bright light spilling from the point between his brows. The cave had been turned into a medicine field. He had planted every seed they had seized, and he placed the Seven-Star Bixue Lotus at the center like a king among herbs. Simply staying in this cave caused one’s cultivation to grow on its own.

Zhou Tong steadied his breath as a clear thought rose in his mind: [The peak of the Split Soul stage is not worth much.]

He had to get stronger, then stronger still. Suddenly, a muffled thunder flashed in the air. He snapped his eyes open, leaped up, and kicked a streak of lightning into pieces.

Zhou Tong landed with a heavy face and judged himself honestly: [This body is too weak.]

His spirit power was as strong as an Emperor Realm expert, but his physical body could not match it. He was a true outlier, watched by the Heavenly Dao at every moment. If this continued, not only would his cultivation be held back, his life would be in danger. The urgent task was to temper his body until it could carry his spirit power.

That, however, was not easy. Body tempering was difficult and full of danger. One mistake could tear flesh and leave a wound on the Dao forever.

Zhou Tong did not care at all. The simplest and most effective way was to summon a Heavenly Dao Lightning Tribulation and use thunder to strike his body to strengthen it. He curled a small smile as a stubborn thought formed: [To hell with risk. If I die, I die. If I live, I win big.]

To summon the Lightning Tribulation, he needed Heavenly Dao engraved stones to set up a great array. He scratched his chin as a new worry rose: [Those stones are rare. I wonder if the Joyous Union Sect has any. I should ask Master.]

He moved like thunder and was just about to leave when the little demoness burst in, her eyes wide.

She grabbed his sleeve and blurted out in a rush: “Bad boy, the Enforcer’s messenger is here. He wants to cancel the Joyous Union Sect’s status as a sect. Master is facing him right now.”

Zhou Tong’s heart jolted. The Enforcer was a powerful organization that kept order and cut down monsters and demons. They had the right to manage and punish all cultivators. To stay running, they regularly posted missions. Completing missions earned merit. With merit, you could trade for rare treasures. As for sects, every cycle they had to pay a set amount of merit. If they owed for too long, the Enforcer would cancel their right to exist as a sect. The Joyous Union Sect had been a name only these last few years, so the Enforcer had not visited. Now that this was brought up, it was no small matter.

Zhou Tong’s gaze sharpened as he made a quick decision: “Take me to see.”

When they reached the front of the Joyous Union Sect, both of them froze in surprise.

The Enforcer had indeed come, but the scene was not what Zhou Tong expected. The messenger was on his knees at Mu Rong Ya’s feet, eyes full of heat and worship as he declared with a tremble: “I am Lord Mu Rong Ya’s dog.”

The title demoness was not for nothing. She could reach for the moon in the Nine Heavens, catch turtles in the five seas, and in between charm people until their souls almost left their bodies. But the point where a person’s soul almost fled was only other people’s limit; it was not the limit of Mu Rong Ya’s charm.

Zhou Tong stepped forward and spoke in a dry voice as he tapped lightly to wake the man: “Master, don’t tease him.”

Mu Rong Ya puffed her cheeks like a girl in a sulk and waved her hand carelessly: “These people are bullies. I refuse to pay. Let’s see what they can do.”

Zhou Tong’s tone turned serious as he looked her in the eye: “Do not fool around. The Enforcer’s old monsters are not weaker than you at your peak. If we fight them head-on, we will suffer.”

He helped the messenger stand. Even then, the man could not look away from Mu Rong Ya, as if his soul had been hooked. Zhou Tong kept his voice respectful: “Senior, please tell your elders that tomorrow we will come to take missions to repay the merit we owe.”

The messenger bobbed his head again and again like a pecking bird: “Yes, yes, yes. I understand. I will pass on every word. Tomorrow I will wait for the young master.”

He left almost skipping, looking back every few steps with clear reluctance.

Mu Rong Ya tossed her hair and shouted from behind with an eye roll: “Get lost.”

Being yelled at only made the messenger grin wider as he soared into the clouds, satisfied.

Zhou Tong was stunned. He had not expected such a tough type to turn into a wagging puppy in front of his master. He turned to Mu Rong Ya and asked with a half-smile: “Master, did you use Silken Phantasm?”

Silken Phantasm was the third part of the Joyous Union Heavenly Art, a supreme charm technique. Used by anyone, it boosted charm. Used by a peerless beauty, it was terrifying.

Mu Rong Ya lifted a brow in unapologetic pride: “He had a nasty attitude, so of course I taught him some manners.”

Zhou Tong could only give a wry smile. The nickname demoness fit her perfectly.

Just then Long Ling Yun popped out from nowhere, eyes shining as she tugged at Mu Rong Ya’s sleeve: “Master, I want to learn that move too. It is much more useful than sword work.”

A pale hand shot out and pinched Long Ling Yun’s ear. The little demoness tugged her away as she scolded without mercy: “Keep dreaming. I already taught you the Joyous Union Heavenly Art. If you want that technique, learn to read first. Come with me.”

Long Ling Yun yelped and hopped along: “Ow, ow. Weren’t you just soaking your feet in flower petals? How did you appear behind me all of a sudden?”

The little demoness’s face reddened at once as she snapped back: “Be quiet.”

Ever since she had stepped on Zhou Tong last time, she had picked up the habit of soaking her feet in petals.

Mu Rong Ya waited until the two disappeared, then turned to Zhou Tong with a frown as her voice softened: “Little one, are you really going to Enforcement City tomorrow?”

Zhou Tong tucked away his smile and asked what he actually needed: “Master, do you know where to find Heavenly Dao engraved stones?”

Mu Rong Ya blinked, then laughed lightly: “I do not know what you are planning, but if you want those stones, you really do need to go to Enforcement City. You will need to exchange merit for them.”

Zhou Tong’s eyes lit up: “In that case, we set out tomorrow.”

Mu Rong Ya stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder: “Wait a moment, little one.”

Her fragrant lips touched his, and the kiss went deep. Power, thick and steady, poured into him like a river.

Split Soul shattered, and Turn Soul emerged.

The breakthrough came as natural as breathing.

Mu Rong Ya stepped back and pretended to glare as her ears turned scarlet: “This is only a thank-you. Do not overthink it. I have no interest in you at all.”

She ran off. From behind, Zhou Tong could still see the tips of her ears glowing red.

The next day, Zhou Tong, Long Ling Yun, and the little demoness set off for Enforcement City. For the sake of the sect’s survival, they had to be workers for a while. Mu Rong Ya stayed behind at the Joyous Union Sect to keep watch, in case someone without honor tried to rob them again.

Soon the three walked into the Hall of Enforcement, where missions could be taken to earn merit. Right away, they met two familiar faces. Tang Qi walked side by side with Chen Ling’er, and there was no hiding the mockery on his face. He lifted his chin and spoke like a cat playing with a mouse: “Senior brother, betraying your sect doesn’t feel so good, does it? Don’t worry. This is only the beginning. I promise you, today you won’t earn even a little bit of merit.”

Zhou Tong answered without even looking at him as his gaze slid past to yesterday’s messenger: “You do not get to decide.”

The messenger straightened at once and introduced himself with a respectful fist salute: “I am the envoy assigned to receive you. You may call me Luo Yi.”

Luo Yi’s voice turned official as he laid it out: “Over the years, the Joyous Union Sect has fallen behind by a total of five hundred thousand merit. If you cannot pay half within three days, then the Joyous Union Sect has no reason to exist.”

Gasps rippled around the hall. Five hundred thousand merit was worth about five million spirit stones. That was close to the full wealth of a small sect. A poor sect like the Joyous Union Sect could never produce that much. Having their status stripped seemed almost certain.

Zhou Tong stepped forward like it was nothing and spoke crisply: “There is no time to waste. Let’s begin.”

Luo Yi lifted a hand with a playful smile as he shook his head: “Wait. The normal missions are already gone. I prepared something better for you.”

At his wave, a stone stele slammed down. Lines of missions were carved across its face.

Everyone leaned to read and then looked up with pity. The missions did offer huge merit, but even the easiest one required refining a sixth-grade pill. That level of difficulty was not something young people could complete.

Tang Qi folded his arms, smiling coldly as he tilted his head: “I told you. Today you will not get even half a point of merit.”