Chapter 3

As the sound of footsteps approached, a woman walked into the room under Qin Jian'an's leadership.

Qin Feng looked towards the door and was momentarily stunned.

He had never seen a woman like her before. Her black hair fell straight down to her waist, and a black square scarf covered her exquisite face like a collar. Her exposed eyes shimmered with a faint azure light, exuding a bewitching charm.

She wore tight azure black trousers that clung to her slender thighs, and on her upper body, she only wore a black vest-like garment. The contours of her body were alluring, revealing smooth and fair arms.

Her dressing like this was far from the conservative style of the ancients, but if she encountered an enemy, this outfit was precisely the most suitable.

"I am Cang Feilan from the Demon Slayer Department in Jinyang City, practicing the Hundred Ghosts Dao Lineage. I am here on General Qin's orders to examine your soul. Sit up," she said in a calm voice, devoid of any emotion.

Qin Feng complied, lifting the blanket and sitting at the edge of the bed.

Cang Feilan took a small bronze censer from her waist and lit it with a fire starter. White smoke wafted out of the censer, filling the air with a pleasant fragrance.

At this moment, Qin Feng noticed that she had two short daggers hanging from her waist, along with a wooden token inscribed with a character '斩' and three stars.

Qin Feng knew that this was the Demon Slayer Token of the Demon Slayer Department. Every Daoist who joined the Demon Slayer Department would receive such a token.

These Demon Slayer Tokens were divided into Wooden tokens, Green jade tokens, and Red lotus tokens, each with one to three stars.

The higher the level of the token, the more stars it had, indicating the holder's higher status and greater abilities within the Demon Slayer Department.

In this small city of Jinyang, possessing a three-star wooden token was extraordinary.

"This is Soul-Stabilizing Incense, which can stabilize your Divine Soul. Sit still, I will examine your three immortal souls and seven mortal souls," Cang Feilan instructed. She then drew her fingers together in front of her eyes, and azure rays of light emerged from the depths of her pupils.

As a practitioner of the Hundred Ghosts Dao Lineage, she was a Grade 9 Yin Eater, Grade 8 Astrologer, Grade 7 Eye Opener, and could distinguish ghosts and souls.

At this moment, Cang Feilan had activated her ability to observe Qin Feng's three immortal souls and seven mortal souls.

Inside the room, everyone held their breath, afraid to make a sound and disturb the process. Qin Feng swallowed nervously, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Various Dao Lineages in this world possessed mysterious abilities, and the Hundred Ghosts Dao Lineage that she practiced was no exception. Qin Feng wondered if she could discern his reincarnation process.

"Strange," Cang Feilan frowned slightly.

Upon hearing these words, everyone else in the room was shocked.

"Miss Cang, is my son's three immortal souls and seven mortal souls really damaged?" 

"As expected, I knew that Feng'er's soul was taken away by that demon, otherwise why would he call me 'second mother'." Second Madame's eyes turned red and she sobbed again.

Qin An clenched his right fist, his brows furrowed in concern.

Qin Feng was also taken aback, staring at her in disbelief.

Cang Feilan shook her head and spoke again, "Rest assured, Young Master Qin's three immortal souls and seven mortal souls are undamaged. It's just that his Divine Soul is exceptionally strong, evenly matched with a Grade 8 Hundred Ghosts Daoist like me, which surprised me."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"Young Master Qin, have you cultivated the Hundred Ghosts Dao Lineage?" Cang Feilan put away the bronze censer and asked.

Qin Feng thought for a moment and replied, "I have been studying since childhood. I wanted to join the Literature Saint Dao Lineage, but my talents were limited. I am still just an ordinary scholar."

"A scholar? I see," Cang Feilan nodded thoughtfully. "The Literature Saint Dao Lineage emphasizes Literature Qi empowerment, which explains why your Divine Soul is stronger than others. However, in Great Qian, most people prefer martial power. Many focus on Divine Martial Dao Lineages, emphasizing body refinement. Even those who primarily cultivate Divine Soul, like me, eventually tread the path of the Hundred Ghosts. People like Young Master Qin, who study the classics and aspire to join the Literature Saint Dao Lineage, are very rare."

"A scholar is useless," Qin Feng mocked himself.

Cang Feilan, hearing this, furrowed her brows slightly. A hint of displeasure flickered in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed this emotion, returning to her previous icy demeanor.

"Yesterday, an evil monster entered Jinyang City. Apart from Young Master Qin, everyone who encountered it lost their souls on the spot. I have some questions that need answers from Young Master Qin."

Qin Feng nodded and recounted his vague memories of encountering the sinister mist.

Upon hearing the account, Second Madame cried and pounded Qin Jian'an, saying, "It's all because you sold our ancestral home and moved away from the Imperial Capital. Otherwise, how could our Feng'er have faced such danger? It's like walking through the Gates of Hell!"

Qin Jian'an comforted Second Madame while blaming himself, "It's my fault."

After recording the events, Cang Feilan rolled up the scroll. A white light flashed on the three-star Wood Spirit token, and the scroll disappeared from her hand.

Qin Feng widened his eyes in amazement. This Demon Slayer Token could actually store items?!

"It seems that the black mist is an evil monster specialized in devouring human souls. Fortunately, Young Master Qin's Divine Soul is extraordinary, and Lord Sizheng arrived in time, scaring off the evil monster," she explained.

In local Demon Slayer Department, the leader was called Sizheng, the most powerful person among them.

"Scared it off?" Qin Feng seized the point, unable to help asking, "Wasn't the evil monster eradicated by Lord Sizheng?"

Others also looked over at the question.

Cang Feilan shook her head, "The evil monster was formidable. Conservatively estimating, it probably had at least Third Cycle Calamity Power. It also had a strange Divine Ability that allowed it to move swiftly. By the time Lord Sizheng arrived, the evil monster had long disappeared without a trace."

In the Great Qian Dynasty, demons and ghosts were categorized by Calamity Power to determine their strength.

Single-Cycle Calamity Power was similar to a Human Race Dao Lineage of Grade 9, Second Cycle was similar to Grade 8, and so on.

The evil monster that invaded Jinyang City this time had at least Third Cycle Calamity Power. This meant that, to kill it with absolute certainty, at least a Grade 6 Daoist would be needed. After all, demons and ghosts with Second Cycle Calamity Power often developed their own Life Source Divine Ability. If a Human Race Daoist of the same level was careless, they would perish on the spot!

"No wonder the curfew was imposed four days ago in Jinyang City," Second Madame said, her face turning pale, clutching Qin Jian'an's sleeve tightly.

"Be careful these days, everyone. Although the Demon Slayer Department has strengthened night patrols, that cunning evil monster might still cause unexpected incidents," Cang Feilan warned before turning and leaving.

Seeing his mother in a state of fear, Qin An spoke up, "Father, Mother, Big Brother, rest assured. With me here, Qin Mansion will be safe and sound."

As he spoke, he lightly stamped his right foot, leaving a shallow footprint on the hard oak stone floor.

Among Human Race Dao Lineages, if one asked which Dao Lineage had the strongest battle strength beyond Grade 6, Divine Martial was undoubtedly the first!

Seeing this scene, Qin Feng's eyes revealed a look of envy. To survive in such chaotic times, relying solely on others was not enough. Only by improving his own strength could he truly find peace.