Chapter 116: The Demon Scent, the Demon Mirror, and the Demon Monitoring Division

In a remote and inconspicuous corner of Emperor Peak sat a small, unremarkable courtyard. Over its entrance hung a slightly worn plaque bearing two words: Demon Monitoring Division.

Of all the countless departments within the Taichu Sect, the Demon Monitoring Division was by far the most mysterious.

Though it was located in a remote area and looked dilapidated, it was the most enigmatic and terrifying place in the entire sect.

Nominally, the Demon Monitoring Division was under the jurisdiction of the Discipline Hall, but in reality, it operated independently.

They did not investigate disciples for rule violations; their business was with demons. Their purpose was to monitor for any demons disguised as humans who might infiltrate the Taichu Sect, or any disciples who might have been possessed by a demonic entity.

Zhang Yang pushed open the gate to the courtyard and was immediately met with a wave of yin-cold energy from within.

The senior sister with the Brown Seed who had fallen in love with a spirit beast was sentenced to Jie Prison right here. A department that could pass judgment on a disciple with a Brown Seed—a grade higher than his own Gray Seed—would have no problem dealing with Qin Haoxuan. If he really was possessed by a demon, not even the Unsurpassed Purple Seed Xu Yu could save him. Zhang Yang sneered inwardly.

To ensure fairness and transparency, the members of the Demon Monitoring Division were drawn from all five halls, and its head was the Sect Master’s own junior brother, a man of reportedly immense cultivation.

In a situation like this, if Qin Haoxuan were truly found to be possessed, not even an appeal from Master Xuanji or Xu Yu begging the Hundred Flowers Hall’s master would make a difference.

“Who goes there?”

As Zhang Yang stepped inside, a cold voice rang out, forcing him to a halt.

A disciple with an equally cold, expressionless face appeared before him. He was the same height as Zhang Yang, but his entire demeanor was grim and sinister. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s, seeming to possess the magical ability to peer directly into a person’s heart and read their thoughts.

“Senior Brother, this disciple, Zhang Yang, has come to your esteemed division to report someone.”

The disciple frowned slightly. “My Demon Monitoring Division is no ordinary department. If this is about a common dispute between disciples, please go to the Discipline Hall.”

“It’s not. I suspect this person has been possessed by a demon,” Zhang Yang said. As the words left his mouth, he noticed that the courtyard, which he thought had contained only the two of them, was now silently occupied by four or five other figures.

“Demonic possession is no laughing matter. An innocent person must not be wronged. If we find out you are making a false report out of a personal grudge, the crime is severe,” a senior brother with a kinder face warned, though his words still carried a chilling air.

Zhang Yang shook his head solemnly. “This is not for personal revenge. I am certain of it. Do you senior brothers know what happened today at the Grievance Resolution Plain?”

The faces of the disciples tensed. One of them said, “Are you referring to the new disciple named Qin Haoxuan, still in the Sprouting Stage, who killed Yan Dong of the Ancient Cloud Hall, a cultivator at the Twelfth-Leaf?”

Zhang Yang nodded, secretly shocked. The Demon Monitoring Division’s intelligence network was truly fast. He had come straight here from the Grievance Resolution Plain without a single stop, yet they already knew.

At this, the face of the first disciple who had appeared grew even darker. He was from the Ancient Cloud Hall. For a Twelfth-Leaf disciple from his hall to be killed by a new disciple who had been in the sect for only five months was the height of humiliation.

If Zhang Yang hadn’t come to report it, he had been planning to investigate secretly himself. But now that a formal complaint had been made, they could openly bring the person in for questioning.

“I will bring him in for interrogation,” said the disciple from the Ancient Cloud Hall, whose name was Qian Guang. He called over several other members who were also from his hall, and together they set off for the Spirit Field Valley to make the arrest.

At that moment, Qin Haoxuan was sitting by the bed, watching a Nature Hall disciple skilled in medicine treat Pu Hanzhong’s wounds.

When Qian Guang and his men arrived, many of the new disciples were confused. But the older disciples saw the three small, gilded characters for “Demon Monitoring Division” on the men’s chests, and their faces changed dramatically. They instantly guessed the purpose of the visit.

The division was a special department with immense power, and its members were rarely seen. Its reputation, however, was well known, especially the unforgettable case from decades ago when the brilliant Brown Seed senior sister was sent to Jie Prison for her love of a spirit beast.

“Who is Qin Haoxuan?” Qian Guang asked loudly upon reaching Qin Haoxuan’s small house, not bothering to search through the crowd that had gathered.

Qin Haoxuan stepped out of the room. He glanced at Qian Guang and the insignia on his chest. Though he didn’t know who they were or what they wanted, he could tell it was nothing good.

“I am.”

“You’re coming with us.”

Just then, the Nature Hall disciple who had been treating Pu Hanzhong also came out. Seeing the men from the Demon Monitoring Division, his face fell. He stood in front of Qin Haoxuan and asked, “Why are you taking away my junior brother?”

“I’ve received a report that he is suspected of demonic possession. We are taking him back for examination!” Qian Guang said without expression. With a wave of his hand, several of his men moved toward Qin Haoxuan, taking out a Demon-Locking Rope to bind him.

“Wait! You can’t just tie someone up before the matter is even investigated!”

“Obstructing the official business of the Demon Monitoring Division is punishable by torture in Jie Prison!” Qian Guang’s voice was cold, and from his grim expression, it was clear he meant what he said.

The threat of Jie Prison, a place far more terrifying than Confinement Mountain, was a powerful deterrent. The disciples hesitated, but no one dared to interfere further.

“It’s alright. I’ll go with them and be back soon. Don’t worry, Senior Brother,” Qin Haoxuan said calmly, patting his senior brother’s shoulder. His treasures were all with Xu Yu. As long as they didn’t cut him open and dig out his Immortal Seed, there was no way for them to discover his secrets.

“Junior Brother, I’ll go inform our Master. Hold on,” the medical disciple said before hurrying off towards the Nature Hall.

Qin Haoxuan was taken to a secret room in the Demon Monitoring Division. Disciples from all five halls were gathered there to jointly supervise the proceedings.

Qian Guang took a half-man-sized mirror from the wall. This was no ordinary mirror; it was the division’s greatest treasure, the Demon-Revealing Mirror.

He channeled his spiritual energy into it, and its dull surface instantly brightened. A moment later, a powerful beam of light shot out from the mirror and shone on Qin Haoxuan. His shadow was cast onto the white wall behind him.

“Huh? It’s a human shadow…” Qian Guang muttered to himself, stunned. “Could it be that the possessing demon is so powerful that even the Demon-Revealing Mirror can’t detect it?”

At this point, Qian Guang was utterly convinced that Qin Haoxuan was possessed. How else could he have crossed twelve minor realms to kill Yan Dong in such a brutal fashion?

“Try the Demon Scent!” Qian Guang opened an ancient cabinet behind him and took out a musk-like ball. An instant later, a subtle fragrance filled the small room.

The Demon Scent was made from a demon’s life-core demon dan, a costly and difficult process. Even the Demon Monitoring Division had very little of it in stock. Most demons were revealed by the mirror alone.

Qian Guang carefully infused the Demon Scent with his spiritual energy. The charcoal-black ball began to glow with a violet light, casting an eerie pallor on everyone’s faces.

Many demons that could hide from the mirror would have their demonic nature agitated by the orthodox Daoist arts used to create the Demon Scent, forcing them to reveal their true forms.

Qin Haoxuan, however, took several deep breaths. While it agitated demons, to humans, it was a rare and refreshing fragrance. Many high-level cultivators enjoyed burning it during their practice to enhance the effects.

Qian Guang, who was observing Qin Haoxuan closely, was nearly enraged to see his look of blissful enjoyment. Seeing the disdain in Qin Haoxuan’s eyes only strengthened his conviction.

If both the Demon-Revealing Mirror and the Demon Scent failed, there was nothing more the ordinary disciples of the division could do. They were left with two choices: release Qin Haoxuan, or detain him for a period of observation and report the matter to their superiors.

After a brief discussion, all the disciples—except for the one from the Nature Hall, who insisted on releasing him—voted to detain him. With the majority ruling, Qin Haoxuan was locked in one of the division’s observation cells.

Qian Guang was certain that no demon, no matter how powerful, could hide its true nature indefinitely. Once he had conclusive proof, he could put Qin Haoxuan to death, clearing the name of the Ancient Cloud Hall and washing away its shame.

Not long after Qin Haoxuan was locked away, Master Xuanji arrived. Although Xuanji’s cultivation was not high among the elders, his seniority was. It was said that he had traveled with Sect Master Huanglong in his youth. The arrogant disciples of the Demon Monitoring Division had no choice but to receive him politely.

“Since you found no evidence of any problem, why is my disciple being detained?” Although Xuanji’s face was still kind and benevolent, his tone was much firmer, showing the authority of a Hall Master.

“Hall Master, while it is true we have not found conclusive evidence, the very fact that he, at the Sprouting Stage, defeated a Twelfth-Leaf cultivator—especially given that he is a weak seed—is contrary to all logic. As far as this disciple knows, such a thing has never happened in the history of the Taichu Sect, or even the entire cultivation world. Our duty is to the safety of the entire sect, and we must be cautious. I ask for your understanding, Hall Master.”

Qian Guang’s answer was flawlessly diplomatic, and Xuanji found himself with no rebuttal. Furthermore, the division had a strict rule: once a disciple was placed in an observation cell, they could not be released until the investigation was complete.

This was to prevent masters and elders from coming to rescue them. Only two people could order a release: the Sect Master, Perfected Man Huanglong, and the head of the Demon Monitoring Division, the Sect Master’s junior brother, Perfected Man Taiping.

But both Perfected Man Huanglong and Perfected Man Taiping were currently in closed-door cultivation. There was no telling what year or month they would emerge.