Becoming a fox fairy from Liaozhai

Chapter 843 is really annoying

Chapter 843 is really annoying

In front of the main seat in the hall was a dark wooden table. The golden seal on the table, with its divine light restrained, looked dull and gray. The divine object was self-effacing. If it weren't for its important placement, it would have been regarded as just a copper ingot if thrown into a corner.

The golden book, suspended in the air, was above the golden seal; there was indeed a connection between them.

Gong Mengbi did not rush to refine the golden seal, but asked, "Is the Demon Examiner actually a Heavenly Official?"

Chun Minwen nodded.

“Your Excellency may not know this—” Chun Jing Shu looked at Gong Meng Bi with a mixture of disdain and mockery, as well as jealousy: “The Demon Examination Institute is divided into two parts, the Inner Institute and the Outer Institute. The Inner Institute is established to examine the cultivation of fox immortals throughout the world, hence the name Inner Institute. Our place is the Outer Institute, established by order of the Heavenly Palace to examine those who study the Dao throughout the world, hence the name Outer Institute.”

Chunminwen nodded: "The Outer Office is under the imperial decree of the Heavenly Palace, so although the Demon Examiner of the Outer Office is not a head priest of the Heavenly Palace, he is still registered in the Heavenly Palace. The appointment documents for the envoys have been issued, and they are now registered in the Heavenly Palace, which makes us very envious."

Upon hearing this, Chun Jingshu let out a loud sigh, her face turning rather unpleasant.

This was something Gong Mengbi was unaware of: the Juxia Division was extremely independent, essentially reporting only to the Headmaster. Although the recommendation of virtuous individuals would involve consulting with the Chief Instructor Xun, the Chief Instructor Xun almost never made decisions on this matter—it was an unspoken understanding that they would not escalate disputes to an irreparable degree.

Therefore, although Xun Jijiu was the head of the Tianhu Academy, he had no authority over the Juxia Division and could not know everything about it.

Human cultivators sometimes do indeed concurrently hold divine positions in the Heavenly Palace. For example, Gong Mengbi knew that in the Exorcism Institute, there were many human cultivators who were granted titles such as messenger, spirit official, and general, fulfilling the Heavenly Palace's duties of exorcising evil spirits and slaying demons in the human world. These were all honorary titles, registered in name only, but without real power.

The same applies to the Demon Examiners. However, the fact that a sixth-rank Demon Examiner could be nominally registered in the Heavenly Palace and directly receive orders from the Heavenly Palace, even if it was just an honorary title, shows that the actual influence of the Juxia Division is much greater than imagined.

Gong Mengbi looked at Chun Jingshu and immediately understood that she both looked down on him and hated him for stealing her future.

The "Yuanwai Envoy" is someone who performs the duties of an envoy but does not hold any corresponding divine authority. Originally, Chun Jing Shu was supposed to replace the previous Demon Examiner Envoy, who had been promoted, but the Three Immortals recommended Gong Meng Bi for the position, thus blocking Chun Jing Shu's path.

"Being recognized by the Heavenly Palace is probably not an easy thing to do." Gong Mengbi saw it clearly; any good thing would never slip through their fingers.

“That’s not necessarily true.” Chun Jing Shu’s face was calm, but the mockery in her eyes could not be hidden: “Envoy, please don’t say such discouraging things. With Hu Ling Guan away, the outer office is entirely in your hands.”

Gong Mengbi remained silent, but Chun Minwen urged, "Envoy, please refine the golden seal quickly. Heavenly artifacts are unlike any other; refining them takes considerable effort. If you miss the appointed time for the golden book, you will be punished."

Chun Jing Shu looked at Chun Min Wen, whose face paled slightly, and she choked on her words.

Gong Mengbi readily agreed, walked to the table, reached out and grabbed the gold seal, preparing to pick it up.

But the moment he touched the golden seal, everything went black before his eyes.

It was as if the universe had collapsed and the sun and moon had been turned upside down, plunging the entire world into a devastating apocalyptic scene. Demon kings from all the heavens surged forth from the collapsing world, casting their gazes upon Gong Mengbi. In an instant, all the divine powers and techniques that Gong Mengbi had cultivated collapsed along with the world, and even his primordial spirit entered a state of decay and depletion.

"Haha..." A melodious laugh rang out from outside the room. Su Zhenzhen was dressed in fine clothes, and when she laughed, the pearls and jade pendants on her body jingled.

Chun Jing Shu also laughed and said, "This wild fox actually dared to touch the divine seal like that, but he didn't know that to become a demon test envoy, one must first undergo demonic trials. He neither specially learned the demon-controlling spell nor prepared any calming magic treasures. He's so rash, I'm afraid he'll suffer a great loss."

"Suffering a loss is a minor matter. If we fail the Demon Exam, it won't be a loss at all." Su Zhenzhen shook her head and sighed, feigning regret.

Chun Jing Shu looked at Chun Min Wen and said coldly, "You're quite dutiful, don't you know you're also surnamed 'Chun'? Why are you reminding this vixen?"

Chunminwen's face turned pale, and she said, "I didn't remind him, but if the Golden Book is missed, the entire Outer Bureau will suffer."

"Hu Yingxing asked for leave on his own, and Gong Mengbi arrived late to take up his post. What does that have to do with us?" Su Zhenzhen spread her hands, revealing a pair of dazzling emerald bracelets on her slender wrists.

Chun Jingshu exclaimed, "Your new bracelet? It's a really nice piece."

"Isn't it beautiful?" Su Zhenzhen said, turning her wrist to show it off.

Chun Minwen looked at Gong Mengbi with some worry.

Seeing his anxiety, Chun Jing Shu mocked, "Why are you in such a hurry? Why don't you guess whether he can pass the demonic test, and when he will wake up?"

"It would be best if he really woke up." Su Zhenzhen covered her mouth and laughed.

Chun Minwen didn't want to talk to them and pretended not to hear them.

But Gong Mengbi, who was sitting at the table, looked up, took the divine seal on the table in his hand, and asked with a puzzled expression, "What are you talking about?"

Chun Jing Shu and Su Zhen Zhen both widened their eyes, as if they had seen a ghost.

Gong Mengbi tossed the divine seal into the air, and the seal awoke from its gloomy, dark state, emitting five rings of rainbow light that swirled in Gong Mengbi's hand.

"No...we didn't talk about anything!" Su Zhenzhen's lips trembled slightly.

Chunminwen was overjoyed and bowed, saying, "Congratulations on your return to your post, envoy! Congratulations on your return to your post, envoy!"

The two immortals also bowed their heads in congratulations.

Gong Mengbi nodded slightly, activated the divine seal, and a rainbow light swept across the golden book in the void. The restrictive spells on the golden book then disappeared, revealing the clear characters on it.

The golden book slowly floated down and landed in Gong Mengbi's palm. Gong Mengbi flipped through the golden book, which had only three pages. It recorded the names of three cultivators and the date by which they would undergo a demonic test. The demonic path they would be tested on had to be that of a demon.

Gong Mengbi couldn't help but show his disgust.

Those who cultivate themselves face ten kinds of demonic trials: the first is the Heavenly Demon, the second is the Earthly Demon, the third is the Human Demon, the fourth is the Ghost Demon, the fifth is the Divine Demon, the sixth is the Yang Demon, the seventh is the Yin Demon, the eighth is the Disease Demon, the ninth is the Demon of Evil, and the tenth is the Realm Demon.

It is sometimes called the Ten Demon Tests, and sometimes the Ten Demon Trials. In short, it is a comprehensive examination of those who cultivate the Tao, screening out those who will become immortals or gods, and sending those who do not meet the requirements back to start over or excluding them from the righteous path.

The definition of demons is: "Demons are abundant in the mountains and forests. Those who enter the Pure Land for cultivation but whose thoughts are not sincere often attract fox spirits, mountain spirits, stone monsters, and demons. They fear that people will become immortal and transform into alluring beauties to seek food, or sing beautiful poems to reveal their forms. Therefore, those who practice the Great Law are very wary of them."

Gong Mengbi admitted that he had misjudged them; he hadn't underestimated these aristocratic families, but rather overestimated them.

To categorize oneself as a demon or monster in order to pass the demonic test, and to engage in seductive acts, even if one has a name in the Heavenly Palace, is contrary to Gong Mengbi's pursuit of returning to the ancient ways and changing customs.

"Snapped."

The golden book was thrown to the ground by Gong Mengbi and landed in front of Chunminwen.

"How annoying! Investigate! I want to see which three cultivators are the ones who want me to conduct this test of demons and monsters."

Chunminwen quickly picked up the golden book, and seeing Gong Mengbi's obviously displeased expression, she said cautiously, "Envoy, this is the Heavenly Treasury Golden Book, it cannot be thrown away carelessly."

Gong Mengbi merely glanced at the golden book, clearly disdainful of it. He then looked at the two immortals hiding by the wall and said, "You two help him, one each. By this time tomorrow, I want to know the result."

"what?"

(End of this chapter)