"You actually cultivated the Seventh Technique to this extent. I didn’t expect you to be a genius in the Sword Dao."
Li Yuanning’s expression was complex, "I couldn’t tell that your Spirit Root was average, but your perception is exceptional."
In his eyes, a Five Elements Mixed Spirit Root was just average. The fact that the other party could cultivate the Black Death Saber Technique to this degree in such a short time could only be attributed to perception.
Someone with high perception may cultivate slowly, but their speed in learning cultivation techniques and Divine Techniques is fast, and even breaking through realms becomes easier, compensating for the lack of talent.
Perception is related to one’s mind and is even rarer than Spirit Roots.
"What, want to take me on as a disciple?" Shen Wang chuckled softly. In fact, his perception was quite average, mainly relying on the system.
For instance, by using the Black Death Saber Technique to kill an enemy, he would gain experience rewards, and thus he had long cultivated this Saber Technique to perfection.
As for the perception he inherited from his daughter, it was temporarily related to water attributes and didn’t help much in training Saber Techniques.
Of course, the Top-grade Water Spirit Root accelerated his cultivation speed significantly. These were all benefits brought by the system.
Opposite him, upon hearing Shen Wang’s jest, Li Yuanning shook his head, speaking realistically, "We’ve both become guarded against each other; it’s impossible to be master and disciple. If I took you on, I’d be afraid of being murdered by my disciple one day."
"That’s unfortunate; let’s leave it at that. You’d better leave soon, lest the Yun Family comes back and chops you to pieces."
Shen Wang said with a sarcastic smile.
Li Yuanning and Gong Yu were healing on the side, not in a hurry at all: "You discovered the departure of Profound Thunder Zhenren before I did, and only then chose to act suddenly."
He looked deeply at Shen Wang: "I hadn’t finished speaking just now, so let me continue. I want to invite you to join our side. With your abilities, you can develop well with us."
Shen Wang thought to himself that there was indeed someone behind this guy. After all, a Golden Core Level Martial King has some background.
"Have you heard of the Demon Suppression Department of the Sun and Moon Dynasty?"
Li Yuanning spoke with hidden meaning.
"Demon Suppression Department? You’re with the Demon Suppression Department?"
Shen Wang’s face was peculiar. The Demon Suppression Department is an institution used by the Sun and Moon Dynasty to manage Evil Demons and Outsiders. He hadn’t been anything of a villain before, only knowing its name, not its nature.
"Surprised? You think because I use Gu Poison, I should be hunted by the Demon Suppression Department and the Major Sects."
Li Yuanning chuckled: "Unfortunately, for the Demon Suppression Department, it’s more like letting the state light the fire but not the commoners."
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck in Shen Wang’s mind, and he glanced at Gong Yu: "So this guy was also with the Demon Suppression Department?"
"Considered a hidden piece, usually helping clean up some Sect Clan members, doing dirty work for the Demon Suppression Department’s branch in Xi Province."
Li Yuanning revealed Gong Yu’s identity without hesitation, his gaze icy: "Sadly, this person forgot his duty, colluding with a Cultivation Family, getting somewhat out of control, he must die."
Shen Wang’s eyes flickered, roughly guessing the whole story.
The Demon Suppression Department deliberately let these bandits survive in Xi Province to do dirty work, like targeting Sect Clan members or robbing wealth as extra income.
But this person became greedy, colluding with the Yun Family, originally backed by Profound Thunder Zhenren there wouldn’t be any issues, but his appetite grew too large, his group of bandits expanding, and the Demon Suppression Department now saw they had raised an uncontrollable wolf, naturally breeding a killing intention.
So, Li Yuanning entering Black Water Stronghold was indeed to eliminate this guy.
At least, that was one of the objectives.
Just as he thought of these things, Shen Wang suddenly felt his hair stand on end, noticing an additional figure in the distant woods.
This person wore a tight black robe, a silver mask, with no discernible gender, appearing very strangely. If not for Shen Wang’s strong Sensing Power, he might not have noticed the person appearing at all.
He suddenly understood where the earlier unease came from, this person was likely Li Yuanning’s companion, very powerful, at least at the late-stage Foundation Establishment Level, perhaps even at Golden Core Level.
If they decided to act against him, he would be in danger, maybe unable to return to his ancestral home.
The shadow spoke: "You’ve said too much to him."
Judging by the voice, it was a woman, cold in demeanor.
Li Yuanning said: "I want to recruit him into the Demon Suppression Department."
"He’s from a Cultivation Family."
The woman didn’t have a favorable attitude towards Shen Wang. Her words implied that people from a Cultivation Family couldn’t join the Demon Suppression Department.
"He’s from a minor family, and his relations with the family aren’t too close, which fits the rules."
Li Yuanning shook his head: "But you’re the person in charge of Xi Province, so it’s up to you to agree or not."
Shen Wang stated directly, unwilling to get involved with these people. Running errands for others was not as comfortable as living freely.
The masked woman looked at Shen Wang: "Cautious, shrewd, powerful, you meet the criteria, and you even dare to refuse, but I insist you join the Demon Suppression Department."
It seemed that Shen Wang’s refusal had actually aroused the woman’s displeasure.
Shen Wang was a bit speechless, pursing his lips: "I’m not going, can you really capture me and take me away?"
"The benefits of joining the Demon Suppression Department are more than you think. One of them is that mutual harm is prohibited, and it also helps protect family members, which suits you well."
The Black Death Blade King coaxed.
"I don’t know you guys, you can’t expect to convince me with just a few words."
Shen Wang coldly replied. Since he knew nothing about the Demon Suppression Department, how could he join on just a few words, unless he really had no other choice?
"No rush, first survive the Yun Family’s reprisals, then let’s talk about empty words."
The masked woman glanced at the Array: "Let’s go, you’ve completed your task well this time. You can go back and choose what you want."
Li Yuanning nodded, leaving Shen Wang with a final word: "Shen Wang, in your eyes, the major sects are very powerful. Let me remind you, in the Sun and Moon Dynasty, the most powerful is not the sects or families, but the dynasty that rules this hundred thousand miles of territory."
Having said that, he turned and left, not pleading for Shen Wang to join.
"These two are quite arrogant, huh."
Shen Wang was a bit annoyed; wasn’t it just an iron rice bowl, did they really think he coveted it that much?
"But to actually meet someone from the Sun and Moon Dynasty this time, that’s rare to see."
He muttered, other than last time seeing ordinary Black Armor Army in Celestial Crystal Town, he basically hadn’t encountered government officials.
Growing up in a family, in his impression, the presence of the government was very low, akin to non-existent.
It seems now, these people have been secretly monitoring the major families and sects, exerting influence in some way.
He guessed the Black Death Blade King was active a few hundred years ago due to the Sun and Moon Dynasty’s support, but it hadn’t surfaced, and everyone assumed he was just a Loose Cultivator.
"Even though the Sun and Moon Dynasty supposedly governs this region, I’ve heard it’s long been struggling. What’s the benefit of joining?"
Shen Wang shook his head, whether it was a sect or the Demon Suppression Department, joining either meant having to work, and neither was any better.
He took one last look at the chaos outside, then turned back to his ancestral home, summoning Liu Shan and his wife over.