Si Lei Zhenjun

"Greetings to the two Immortals!"

The soldiers in front of the Xunxian Division bowed to Chu Xing and Wang Sanyuan.

Chu Xing nodded slightly and said, "Please lead us to find Commander Feng."

"Please come this way, both of you!"

The soldiers led Chu Xing and Wang Sanyuan into the vermilion gate.

What comes into view is a wide stone road with exotic flowers and plants planted on both sides, emitting bursts of fragrance. Walking along the stone road, you can see exquisite pavilions and terraces scattered in the courtyard.

Some of these pavilions are tens of feet high, while others are small and exquisite, but they are all exquisitely decorated with carved beams and painted buildings, and are magnificent.

Finally, the soldier led the two into a five-story building with green bricks and white tiles, and found Feng Da sitting on a cushion with his eyes closed in a large room on the first floor.

Feng Da slowly opened his eyes upon hearing the voice, and seeing that it was the armored soldier leading Chu Xing and the other two, he stood up with a warm smile on his face and stepped forward:

"You two young men are here again, are you still here because of the demonic cultivators?"

Chu Xing clasped his fists and bowed, then stated his purpose directly:

"Yes, Commander Feng, we suspect that it was the mortals in the Immortal Patrol who tipped off the demon cultivators."

Feng Da's expression did not change. He just picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

"But all the mortals in our department live in the Immortal Patrol Department and are only allowed to go out once a month. You two might have made a wasted trip."

Chu Xing acted as if he had realized it, and said with a faint smile:

"Captain Feng, since we're here, why not let us investigate a little?"

"Of course not. Zhang Dakai, take the two young men to the miscellaneous yard to find Manager Xu and ask him to fully cooperate with the two young men and not neglect them!"

Feng Da gave stern orders to the soldiers behind Chu Xing and the other two.

"Yes, please follow me, Immortals."

Afterwards, Zhang Dakai brought Chu Xing and the others to a courtyard where the houses were generally low and simply decorated.

"Please wait here for a moment, both immortals. I will go and fetch Manager Xu."

Zhang Dakai trotted into a two-story pavilion.

Less than half a minute later, an old man with half white hair and gray clothes came out with Zhang Dakai. He walked up to the two of them and bowed:

"Greetings to the two immortals. My name is Xu Shunian, and I am in charge of all mortal affairs within the Immortal Patrol Division."

Chu Xing waved his hand and said, "Manager Xu, there's no need to be so polite. We came here to inquire about the situation of the mortals in the Immortal Patrol Division."

"Go ahead, both immortals. We have 326 mortals in our company. I'm not just bragging. Just name a name and I can tell you where they live and how many people are in their family."

Xu Shunian stroked his goatee and said with a hint of complacency.

Chu Xing was secretly astonished. He was indeed a capable person. He was over fifty years old, but he could remember the information of more than three hundred people.

“How many people are over forty?”

Xu Shunian paused for a moment and said, "Only fifty-three people."

Chu Xing: "How many people here have frequent contact with cultivators on a daily basis?"

This time, Xu Shunian stood there and pondered for a long time, stroking his beard non-stop, and finally ripped off a few strands before saying:

"There are only five of them. The immortals don't like the elderly and weak to serve them."

Chu Xing nodded: "Then please ask Manager Xu to take us to check out the residence of these three people."

"Okay, please come this way!"

Xu Shunian made a "please" gesture and then walked towards a bluestone path in the courtyard.

"Chu Xing, why are we only looking for people over 40 years old?"

Wang Sanyuan patted Chu Xing beside him and asked in confusion.

"How many years do you estimate it will take you to cultivate from scratch to the Nascent Soul stage?"

Chu Xing turned his head slightly and his eyes fell on Wang Sanyuan who was standing beside him.

Wang Sanyuan hesitated for a moment and said, "About ten years."

"Because you have a top-grade spiritual root, and your master provides you with resources, it only takes ten years. What about high-grade and mid-grade spiritual roots?"

Wang Sanyuan frowned slightly and said:

"Um...if there are enough resources but no fortuitous encounters, it should take twenty years for a top-grade spiritual root, about forty to fifty years for a mid-grade spiritual root, and it's basically impossible for a low-grade spiritual root to reach the Nascent Soul stage without a fortuitous encounter."

Chu Xing:

"A sect will focus on cultivating top-grade spiritual roots, even the demon sects are no exception. That demon cultivator took such a huge risk and repeatedly committed crimes under the nose of the Immortal Patrol Bureau just for a little mortal flesh and blood. He is obviously not the type that the demon sects focus on cultivating."

"So that demon cultivator is most likely a mid-grade spiritual root. Given insufficient resources, it will take him at least forty years to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage."

Wang Sanyuan: "Then what does this have to do with you looking for a mortal over forty years old?"

Chu Xing looked at Wang Sanyuan as if he were a fool. "Take you for example, who are the mortals you are closest to right now?"

Wang Sanyuan didn't even think about it: "No, all the people I know are cultivators!"

Chu Xing was stunned: "Are you an orphan too?"

Wang Sanyuan had a question mark on his face and said indignantly, "My parents are still alive, and I have a sister!"

"I didn't expect you to be a second-generation cultivator. I'm so ignorant!"

Chu Xing finally reacted and sighed.

Wang Sanyuan looked as if he was about to ask more questions: "Well, a little family background is not worth mentioning!"

Chu Xing ignored his expression that said, "Hurry up and continue asking."

"Sanyuan, if you were a demon cultivator and your family consisted of mortals, and you went out to cultivate for forty years before returning to the mortal world to commit a crime, wouldn't the person who tipped you off be at least forty years old?"

Wang Sanyuan paused for a moment and said in a taunting tone:

"What if I just find someone from the Immortal Patrol and use his family to force him?"

Chu Xing rolled his eyes at him:

"Didn't you hear Feng Da say that mortals in the Immortal Patrol are only allowed out once a month? How could it be so easy to find someone if you don't know them?"

"I forgot for a moment."

Wang Sanyuan said embarrassedly.

……

"Chu Xing, we didn't find the flying bird you mentioned in these five people's residence. Could it be that we guessed wrong?"

Wang Sanyuan slumped on a stone bench and said angrily.

"It doesn't matter. Senior Sister Yu and the others are just trying their luck in checking outside the city. We are also trying our luck."

Chu Xing was lying on the lawn with his limbs facing the sky. He saw a dogtail grass next to him, so he picked it up and put it in his mouth.

Wang Sanyuan also followed Chu Xing's example and lay down, nudging Chu Xing with his arm:

"It's getting dark, why don't we... hehe..."

Chu Xing glanced at Wang Sanyuan:

"Who will keep an eye on them for us, then? Feng Zhangling has already spread the false news about the hunt for the demon cultivators."

Wang Sanyuan pointed at Dai Bao who was chasing butterflies in the air:

"Isn't Daibao here? Let him watch the yard and notify us immediately if any birds enter, right?"

Chu Xing said seriously:

"No, I promised Senior Sister Yu that I would keep a close eye on you, so just give up on that idea!"