Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Investigator

After the clerk said a few words, Han Yi finally understood his surprise.

The Bureau of Extraordinary Events was an institution specially established by the Great Xuan Dynasty to handle unusual events throughout the land, such as the movements of demons and monsters, and the devouring of people by evil spirits. It was distributed in every slightly larger city.

Since the Great Xuan Dynasty is the most powerful martial arts force in the world, all the sects in Anyan City, including the Crimson Flame Sect, the Thousand Leaves Sect, the Anyan City Bureau of Strange Affairs, the Wang family (the county magistrate), and the Huang family (the military affairs officer), are part of the Great Xuan Dynasty. For example, the sect leader of the Crimson Flame Sect is also the military affairs officer of Anyan City.

These forces work together to manage all matters, large and small, within Anyan City. For example, the Crimson Flame Sect, the Thousand Leaf Sect, the Huang Family, and the Wang Family are responsible for internal affairs, overseeing the daily lives of the people in Anyan City, maintaining order, and ensuring that the citizens live and work in peace. The Anyan City Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs, on the other hand, deals with external matters, specifically handling abnormal events such as demons and monsters that occur within the Anyan City area. It does not handle man-made disasters such as bandits or refugees.

It was only through the combined efforts of two forces, one inside and one outside An'yan City, that the people in this region were able to live and work in peace and contentment.

Furthermore, within Anyan City, powerful factions with established ranks, such as the Crimson Flame Sect and the Thousand Leaves Sect, are stretched thin in terms of manpower when maintaining their territory and handling affairs.

Furthermore, it is safer for disciples from powerful factions to complete sect missions and exchange items, as they do not need to go out and fight demons, so there is no danger. Therefore, you will rarely see disciples from these powerful factions in the Extraordinary Affairs Room.

The martial artists in this hall are mostly from small sects within An Yan City, or even lone warriors. Unlike Han Yi and his fellow disciples of the Crimson Flame Sect, they do not have suitable weapons, cultivation techniques, or pills. In the Extraordinary Affairs Room, as long as they complete the task and accumulate enough merit, they can exchange for these items!

Han Yi then understood why Pan Sheng, Li Feng, and others knew so little about demons. If he were to explain it using the theories from his previous life, the Great Xuan Dynasty was like a large corporation. The Crimson Flame Sect and the Thousand Leaf Sect were different departments within the same company, but the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs was another company under the same corporation. Since each company was responsible for different things, they naturally wouldn't pay much attention to it.

"So, how about it? Want to join the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs and become a glorious investigator?" the officer asked with a smile.

"Investigator?" Han Yi keenly heard an unfamiliar word he had never heard before.

"In the Department of Extraordinary Events, the martial artists who handle unusual events are called investigators, and they are divided into three levels: white jade, green jade, and gold jade."

Perhaps because it was getting late, there were fewer people in the hall. The official spoke slowly and patiently, "The so-called investigation is to investigate abnormalities and resolve minor matters."

"Fighting demons is considered a trivial matter?"

"It's a minor matter. The 'yin energy worm' and 'big-headed monster' mentioned in the mission bounty are just yin creatures that have been corrupted and mutated by yin energy," the clerk said with a smile. "They don't even qualify as demons."

Han Yi's thoughts raced, and an idea popped into his head: "So, the 'yin energy worms' and 'giant human-faced spiders' I encountered before were just a type of yin creature..."

"Then how should we deal with the real demons?" Han Yi continued to ask.

"That's beyond our knowledge," the officer said, bowing slightly with a respectful expression. "The demons will naturally be dealt with by the Xuanjia Guards and other officers!"

Han Yi hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "What are the restrictions after becoming an investigator?"

"There are no restrictions, but if you want to exchange for the treasures in the Extraordinary Affairs Room, you must accept a mission and exchange them based on the merits of the mission."

So, the Xuanjia Guards are officially registered members of the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs, while the investigators are contract workers—no, they should be considered temporary workers…

"That's all I have to say. So, how about joining the Extraordinary Affairs Bureau?" Perhaps impatient with the question, the officer asked again.

Han Yi hesitated for a moment, but it seemed that becoming an investigator wouldn't be bad, and the system could also absorb that so-called Yin energy, and joining the Extraordinary Affairs Bureau would allow him to obtain more information...

"Okay, I'll join!"

The officer took out a registration book, and after Han Yi filled in some personal information, he took the registration book and turned back to the back hall.

Before long, he took a jade pendant and handed it to Han Yi.

The jade pendant has a pure white surface, fine texture, round shape, and a warm, smooth feel like mutton fat. It is also engraved with a large character "探" (exploration).

"This jade pendant? It's exactly the same as the one I found in the 'Giant Spider with Human Face' cave..." Han Yi's eyes flashed. "A white jade pendant. It contains your personal information and achievements, and it can withstand three attacks from Yin entities. Keep it safe, because it will cost money to replace it next time."

"In addition, as long as you accumulate three Grade B Great Merits or become a Meridian Opening Stage Martial Master, you can upgrade to a Jade Pendant. The Jade Pendant has more powerful functions, and the benefits of becoming a Jade-level Investigator will greatly increase."

"By the way," Han Yi suddenly remembered something and asked, "how does the Extraordinary Affairs Office determine whether a mission has been successfully completed?"

"Or rather, how does the Extraordinary Affairs Office know that an unusual event has occurred?" Han Yi asked tentatively.

"First, someone witnessed it firsthand and reported it to the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs."

"second,

The official smiled without saying a word, then pointed to the top of the plaque above the pavilion. "See that mirror over there? That's a fragment of the 'Heavenly Mystery Mirror,' a high-grade Earth-rank spiritual artifact!"

"As long as the 'Heavenly Mirror' is there, all kinds of Yin energy fluctuations within hundreds of miles of Anyan City will be clearly visible. There is no need to doubt the authenticity of the mission. In addition, the jade pendant of the investigator was produced by it, so there is no need to worry that your credit will be embezzled."

"Isn't this several times more advanced than the satellites and cameras of my previous life...?"

I was so stupid, really...

At first, he thought that the dynasty in this world was just a low-level martial dynasty that relied on cold weapons, only that its territory was larger and its individual strength was stronger.

Later, after encountering the so-called "yin creatures" such as the "yin insect" and the "giant human-faced spider," his views began to change.

Now, he looked up at the 'Heavenly Mirror' hanging above him, and then looked down at the white jade pendant in his hand.

Han Yi felt as if something inside him had shattered into pieces with a "crash," and he knew that it was his values.

In this world, the imperial court can suppress forces like the Crimson Flame Sect to obey, protect ordinary people from demonic attacks, and even possess magical artifacts like the 'Heavenly Mirror,' which sound like something out of a fantasy novel from my previous life…

Han Yi immediately changed his mind.

"Also, high-grade Earth-rank, a spiritual weapon? What does that mean?" Han Yi's mind raced.

But judging from the official's expression... Han Yi had already become impatient after asking so many questions.

"Keep the white jade pendant safe and go accept the mission!" The official turned to look at Han Yi.

With a gentle smile on his face, he pushed a cloth bag over.

The clerk quickly and discreetly accepted the money. He weighed it in his hand, his expression softening, and his tone suddenly became gentle: "Is there anything else? Please speak freely."

"I wonder what that high-grade Earth-rank spiritual artifact is?"

This time, the official no longer showed any impatience and carefully explained to Han Yi.

It turns out that martial arts techniques have levels, divided into four stages: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow. Each stage is further divided into upper, middle, and lower grades.

The same applies to weapons and armor: Yellow-rank treasures, Profound-rank magic weapons, and Earth-rank spiritual weapons, each rank is also divided into three grades.

Above the Earthly Rank, all that is known is the Heavenly Rank, but the officials in charge do not know exactly what it is.

However, it is likely that the Heavenly Rank must possess power beyond the imagination of ordinary people. It is probably just a trivial matter for it to summon wind and rain and overturn rivers and seas!

Demons and monsters naturally have corresponding magical artifacts, but when Han Yi asked about the specifics, the official was vague and did not know the classification of magical artifacts.

Han Yi wondered what grade the 'Blood Plum Scarf' was and what its function was. On his system panel, the magical artifact 'Blood Plum Scarf' only had the words "purified" displayed.

"Indeed, money makes the world go round; those ten taels of silver were well spent!"

Having obtained so much information, Han Yi, carrying the books given to him by the official and with a white jade pendant hanging from his waist, returned to Qiuzhu Alley with satisfaction.

"It is oval in shape, with patterns on it, and its color is like obsidian. Its name is Xuan Yin."

Is this the Xuan Yin Stone?

Han Yi toyed with the stone he had obtained from the black market stall.

"Mysterious Yin Stones are extremely rare. The more deeply a Yin entity is tainted by Yin energy and the stronger it is, the more likely it is to produce Mysterious Yin Stones within its body. They are extremely valuable."

The booklets that the Bureau of Strange Affairs gave to Han Yi contained information about demons and monsters, and also indicated that they would collect Xuan Yin Stones at a high level.

"What is the purpose of the Mysterious Yin Stones collected by the Extraordinary Affairs Bureau...?"

"Han Yi muttered to himself.

The system can absorb Xuan Yin Stones, and he wanted to find an opportunity to acquire a few. Wouldn't that create another competitor...?

[Found to absorb yin energy, should it be absorbed?]

【Yes】

The familiar chill returned, but Han Yi, like someone suffering from Stockholm syndrome, had long since fallen in love with this feeling!

Although his body instinctively shuddered, he had only one feeling after seeing his Yuan Power increase.

"Cool!"

[Elemental Power Value]: 29

One Xuan Yin Stone adds ten points of Yuan Power and one year of lifespan.

"If that's the case, did the 'giant human-faced spider' in the cave that day also produce Xuan Yin Stones inside its body...?" Han Yi pondered thoughtfully.

Unfortunately, the 'giant spider with human faces' from that day had already been burned to ashes by him, and he didn't know if the Xuan Yin Stone had been burned to ashes. But he could no longer go back to the cave to look for it.

Right, Han Yi remembered the diary and jade pendant he had found that day.

After pondering for a long time, he silently stuffed the white jade pendant and diary into the deepest part of the cabinet, sealing them completely.

Handing these things over to the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs might bring some rewards, but he couldn't explain how he killed the 'Giant Spider with Human Face'.

He was unwilling to take any risks that could expose the system!

He is still too weak now, unless one day his strength becomes unparalleled in the world.

It's late at night, let's rest first. Perhaps it's time to improve our strength tomorrow.

Han Yi looked at the 29 Yuan Power points on the panel.

Late at night, at the Li residence. Elder Li Chengfeng waved to dismiss all the servants, extinguished the oil lamp with a palm strike, rose and went to a study, where he twisted a porcelain bottle a few times.

A soft creaking sound

A dark room suddenly appeared, with several oil lamps lit inside.

Elder Li sat cross-legged on a futon in the middle of the dark room and began to mutter to himself, as if he were talking to someone.

"I gave it to him..."

"He'll go to the Blackrock Mountains..."

A few murmurs could be faintly heard.

"Why don't you just do it?"

Suddenly, his face contorted in a ferocious expression, and his voice rose sharply: "What does it matter to me whether I can take revenge or not? You and I both serve the same master, what right do you have to order me around?"

At this moment, Elder Li's eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a madman.