Chapter 40 – Origins of the Shanhai Division

Luocheng, East District, Peace Noodle Shop

“Hiss…”

Lu Chen awoke from unconsciousness, feeling intense pain throughout his body.

“You’re awake? Have something to eat first.”

Lu Chen turned his head and saw Uncle Tian bringing a bowl of noodle soup to his bedside.

Feeling the hunger in his stomach, Lu Chen took the noodle soup from Uncle Tian while asking, “Uncle Tian, how long was I unconscious?”

“Three days. Fortunately, your cultivation foundation is solid and your physique is good. You’ll recover in ten days to half a month – nothing serious.”

“What about that person from the Shanhai Bureau?”

Uncle Tian sat down on a nearby chair and said with a smile, “You mean Bailing? That girl has plenty of work on her hands. Who knows where she might be running off to now.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve already given that girl a good talking-to. She’s deeply realized her mistake and won’t be so reckless in the future.”

“Here, this is her apology gift to you. Whether you accept it or not is up to you.”

As he spoke, Yu Tianqi placed a wooden box beside Lu Chen’s bed.

With some curiosity, Lu Chen opened the wooden box.

In the next moment, a sharp Sword Intent radiated out, making Lu Chen instinctively close his eyes.

When the Sword Intent dissipated, a black ancient-style long Sword came into Lu Chen’s view.

As a Sword Cultivator, the moment Lu Chen saw this Sword, he found himself inexplicably drawn to it, unable to look away.

Seeing this, Yu Tianqi nearby began explaining the Sword’s origins.

“Ink Dragon Sword, one of the twelve unique Dragon-Slaying Swords of the Shanhai Bureau.”

“If that girl Bailing hadn’t gone too far this time, and if the Bai family didn’t have some influence within the Shanhai Bureau, it wouldn’t have been so easy for you to obtain this Sword.”

“After all, it represents not just a Sword, but also a symbol of status and authority within the Shanhai Bureau.”

“Throughout history, the Ink Dragon’s masters have used it to slay numerous Demons and Heretical Cultivators, achieving remarkable military exploits. Countless people desire this Sword.”

“Then… can I accept it?”

Lu Chen didn’t let greed cloud his judgment, instead calmly asking Yu Tianqi.

“Well… that depends on you. Although Old Man Bai said it’s an apology and you shouldn’t overthink it…”

“Both you and I know that once you truly take this Sword, even if that’s not your intention, others will see you as having boarded the Shanhai Bureau’s pirate ship.”

“Although the Shanhai Bureau’s methods are somewhat overbearing, they treat their own people quite well. It’s up to you to decide.”

Hearing this, Lu Chen pondered for a moment but didn’t rush to make a decision, instead choosing to gather more information.

After all, he had never heard of the Shanhai Bureau before and didn’t understand why Bailing had suddenly approached him.

He needed more information before he could make a better judgment.

“Uncle Tian, could you tell me about the Shanhai Bureau?”

“Alright, there are some things you’re now qualified to know. After all, not everyone at the Qi Condensation Stage can injure a top-tier Foundation Establishment Stage Body Cultivator like Bailing.”

“If you were in the Shanhai Bureau, you’d realize what an astonishing feat you’ve accomplished.”

“Many young folks in the Shanhai Bureau are quite curious about you.””They all want to know just who the ruthless person is that could make a troublemaker like Bailing hit a wall, especially when it’s a Foundation Establishment cultivator against a Qi Condensation cultivator. They’re all watching the excitement without worrying about the consequences.”

“Is… is that so…”

Lu Chen scratched his cheek, not really feeling like he had done anything special.

“Don’t worry about these things for now. All you need to focus on is studying diligently and cultivating properly.”

“After all, the saying ‘below Foundation Establishment, all are ants’ isn’t just empty words.”

“And after witnessing that girl Bailing’s methods, you should understand how big the gap is between Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment, right?”

Lu Chen nodded – he understood all too well now.

He remembered how he had used all his techniques that day, and even with the advantage of surprise, he had only barely managed to injure her.

And Bailing?

Just a subconscious punch from her had left him bedridden for three days.

The difference between them could indeed be described as heaven and earth.

While this was partly because Bailing was no ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, Lu Chen considered himself no ordinary Qi Refining cultivator either.

Such a crushing defeat still left him feeling somewhat frustrated.

Yu Tianqi seemed to notice Lu Chen’s despondency and patted his head with a smile.

“Alright, alright. There’s no shame in a Qi Condensation cultivator losing to a Foundation Establishment cultivator. The real shame would be a Foundation Establishment cultivator losing to another Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

“Weren’t you curious about the Shanhai Bureau? Let me explain it to you properly now.”

Hearing this, Lu Chen immediately listened attentively.

“The Shanhai Bureau’s predecessor was the Demon Suppression Bureau. When the Demon Suppression Bureau was first established, its purpose was to imprison demons and heretical cultivators who committed crimes within the Nine Provinces.”

“But gradually, the Bureau’s members discovered that while some demons indeed threatened the safety of the Nine Provinces’ people, others weren’t inherently evil and could be utilized by the Bureau.”

“After nearly a thousand years of experimentation, the Demon Suppression Bureau gradually developed a comprehensive system for utilizing demons.”

“Another thousand years passed, and those first demons integrated into the Bureau gradually became part of the organization.”

“At that point, the term ‘Demon Suppression’ became inappropriate as it hindered unity.”

“After all, by then, many demons in the Bureau had reformed completely and fully integrated into the organization.”

“Hence, from that time onward, the Demon Suppression Bureau was officially renamed the Shanhai Bureau, and those demons recognized by the Bureau came to be known as Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts.”

“Today, these Mythical Beasts have become a force that cannot be ignored within the Nine Provinces. The Shangfu bird by Bailing’s side is one type of these Mythical Beasts.”

“Due to the unique nature of these Mythical Beasts, they also have the right to choose their own partners within the Shanhai Bureau.”

“Therefore, the first step to joining the Shanhai Bureau is to gain recognition from one of these Mythical Beasts.”

“This is why, though the Shanhai Bureau has few members, every one of them is an elite.”

“After all, gaining recognition from these Mythical Beasts requires considerable ability.”

“Within the Shanhai Bureau, Mountain and Sea Walkers represent the lowest rank, followed by Scripture Master, Grand Scripture Master, Guardian, and finally the Four Domain Lords.”

“Besides their formidable strength, the Shanhai Bureau also has numerous internal factions, with the Four Great Academies being the most prominent among them.””After all, they not only provide the Shanhai Bureau with a large number of talents every year, but these individuals, once grown, also give back to the Dao Academies themselves.”

“This has allowed the Four Great Academies and the Immortal Sects behind them to consolidate their influence across the Nine Provinces even further.”

“The Qingzhou Shanhai Division, where Bailing is stationed, is supported by the Clear River Dao Academy, one of the Four Great Academies. And the largest Immortal Sect within the Clear River Dao Academy is the Supreme Purity Dao Palace, which has long been entrenched in Evergreen Mountain.”

“If we consider the Immortal Sects as places detached from the world, then the Four Great Academies are the gateways to the mundane realm, while the Shanhai Bureau serves as the link between the two.”

“They never involve themselves in the affairs of Mortals in the secular world, only dealing with matters beyond Mortals.”

“And only those who stand out from the Dao Academies and Immortal Sects are qualified to enter the Shanhai Bureau.”

“Now you should understand why the Shanhai Bureau is so mysterious, right?”

“Although you’re currently a student in the Dao class, with one Foot already in the cultivation world…”

“As long as you haven’t entered a Dao Academy or reached the Foundation Establishment stage, you can’t truly be considered a cultivator, and naturally, you won’t have access to the level of the Shanhai Bureau.”

Hearing this, Lu Chen finally understood where Bailing’s overbearing arrogance came from.

Dao Academy, Immortal Sects, Shanhai Bureau…

For Bailing to become an Agent of the Shanhai Bureau, she must have stepped over countless peers to stand out.

With such experiences, no wonder she was so proud that she looked down on ordinary people.

Thinking of this, Lu Chen glanced at his chest wrapped in bandages and made a decision.

“Uncle Tian, I’ll take this Sword.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Tianqi’s smile widened even more.

“Good! Only children make choices; adults take everything!”

“I was originally worried you might be too concerned about face and refuse the Gift to avoid getting involved with those old fogies, but you haven’t disappointed me.”

“After all, who says you have to accept the whole ‘cannon wrapped in sugar’? You should be like me back in the day—not only eat the sugar coating but also fire the cannon back, slapping those old fogies right in the face.”

“What’s so great about the Shanhai Bureau? What’s so great about the Four Great Academies?”

“Back in my day, not to mention the Four Great Academies, I even barged into the Nine Immortal Sects!”

“What could they do to me in the end? They still had to let me go without a fuss!”

“Face is earned by oneself, not given by others.”

“Using the Shanhai Bureau’s Sword to slap the Shanhai Bureau in the face—I can’t wait to see the ugly expressions on those old fogies, hahaha!”

“Thinking they can buy off someone I’ve got my eye on with a lousy Sword? Dream on!”

“It’s not your Uncle Tian bragging, but back in the day, I was…”

For the next hour, Lu Chen listened to a legendary tale titled ‘The Great Sage Tianqi Braves the Shanhai Bureau and Storms the Nine Immortal Sects.’

As for how much truth there was in this story… Lu Chen remained noncommittal.

After all, when you hear the words “It’s not me bragging,”

It often means that what you’re about to hear… is most likely just bragging.

(End of Chapter)