Chapter 107: The Ninth Site

Xiao Cheng stepped inside the building. Contrary to its dilapidated exterior, the interior looked recently renovated. His spiritual sense revealed the locations of everyone inside—he had not been detected. He did not immediately seek out Wang Qiyi; his first priority was to understand the nature of this organization.

Passing through several walls, he finally arrived at a finely furnished office. Judging by its layout, the occupant held a significant position within Division Nine. Xiao Cheng glanced around and soon spotted a red-headed file among the folders on the desk. The document was filled with bureaucratic jargon and contained no substantive information, but its signature was unusual.

Stamped at the bottom was a crimson seal bearing the curved inscription: "National Security Intelligence Bureau, Division Nine, Huhai City Branch." Division Nine of the National Security Intelligence Bureau? Xiao Cheng’s brow furrowed at the mention. He hadn’t expected matters to be so complicated, with even the National Security Intelligence Bureau involved.

He had heard vague rumors about Division Nine before—a special branch responsible for monitoring unique individuals within the Celestial Empire, including cultivators and those with supernatural abilities. Ordinary laws simply could not govern such people; thus, a more powerful organization was necessary. Division Nine was born from this need.

Division Nine was not merely an intelligence agency; it possessed supervisory authority and answered directly to the chief commander, independent of the broader bureau’s control. It wielded temporary decisive power over special individuals’ fates—a terrifying level of influence.

Xiao Cheng was puzzled. How was Wang Qiyi connected to Division Nine? Could it be that Division Nine intended to target the Xiao family? If so, the family’s troubles would be immense.

He shook his head, dismissing the thought. Despite Division Nine’s great power, it would not act against the family. To the state, hidden cultivation families like theirs were invaluable resources and a vital part of national strength. As long as they did not break the rules, the state would not harm them and would even strive to protect them.

The Xiao family had always been law-abiding, except for some excessive actions by their security group, which the authorities tacitly accepted. Division Nine had no reason to move against them.

Unable to unravel the mystery, Xiao Cheng stopped pondering and returned the file to its place. He located Wang Qiyi and the innate eighth-rank expert nearby. With a thought, he passed through the walls again, arriving next to them.

His exceptional hearing allowed him to eavesdrop on their conversation from the other side of the wall.

Listening to their dialogue, Xiao Cheng smiled faintly, touching the Three Lives Jade Scroll hanging around his neck. Perhaps only someone who could perform Earth Escape techniques like him could enter here so effortlessly. Even with keen hearing, others would be unable to reach this spot.

It was likely because everyone believed Earth Escape techniques had vanished centuries ago that Division Nine had no defenses against it. Otherwise, they could have embedded steel plates within the walls, and his entry would not have been so easy.

……

Wang Qiyi was in an exceptionally good mood today—he was about to leave the Xiao family. He had endured a decade of servitude to them, reaching his limit.

Now, as he looked at the beautiful woman before him, he unabashedly admired her—something he had never dared to do before.

This woman, dressed in professional attire, was his superior in another identity: director of Division Nine’s Huhai City branch. A woman of innate eighth-rank cultivation was far beyond his reckoning.

But his mindset had changed. Since he was about to leave the Xiao family, he would discard his role as a Division Nine spy. This woman would no longer be his superior, so why not take the opportunity to appreciate her now?

Strangely enough, he had become a triple agent ten years ago. Before becoming a Division Nine spy, he was already a protector of the Tianfang Sect.

He had become a Division Nine spy by chance, through meeting this very woman, Mu Qingcheng.

At the time, Division Nine needed a spy to infiltrate the five great families to gather intelligence. Mu Qingcheng developed him into an undercover agent. With this cover, he could act more freely—and he accepted without hesitation.

“Qiyi, you did very well this time. The intelligence you provided is detailed. However, there are many doubts surrounding Xiao Guowei’s death. I suspect it is connected to a series of murders in the Xiao family over the past few years. You know we have been investigating those cases for ten years with no results. This time, it’s likely the same killer or organization.”

Mu Qingcheng, clad in black professional attire, wore glasses that gave her an austere yet solemn beauty.

She paused, adjusting her glasses, then continued, “I want you to comb through the Xiao family’s security system and extract all clues related to Xiao Guowei’s death. This is very important to us.”

The series of deaths in the Xiao family had long been a concern for Division Nine, which had investigated for years to no avail. Mu Qingcheng worried that if the killer’s scope expanded, it could disrupt the balance of special forces in Huhai, a risk they could not afford.

Wang Qiyi sneered inwardly. He was about to leave the Xiao family and had no interest in these matters. But Mu Qingcheng’s words reminded him: since he was planning to undermine Xiao Cheng, why not pin Xiao Guowei’s death on him?

“Yes, Director, I will follow your orders!” Wang Qiyi said seriously, masking his inner amusement.

“Also, protect Xiao Cheng’s safety while you remain with the Xiao family.”

Mu Qingcheng’s expression darkened. She knew what kind of person Xiao Cheng was. Division Nine’s files on him were thick. Had he not been the sole heir of the Xiao family, they might have already taken action against him.

Their tolerance of Xiao Cheng’s misdeeds was a pragmatic decision. She had repeatedly tried other means to persuade Xiao Fusheng to better manage Xiao Cheng, but to little effect.

Wang Qiyi nodded, his mind filled with cold laughter. Mu Qingcheng would likely never again have to worry about Xiao Cheng’s safety.

“Yes, Director. Take care,” Wang Qiyi said, saluting briefly before leaving. He had more important matters and could not linger.

After he left, Mu Qingcheng lowered her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. She found Wang Qiyi inscrutable. She had suggested many times that he leave the Xiao family to work full-time within Division Nine, but he had repeatedly refused.

At that moment, the earpiece hidden in her hair buzzed urgently. She answered, and a tense voice came through.

Upon hearing the report, Mu Qingcheng’s expression changed sharply. “What? Someone has infiltrated the building?”

Division Nine was a super-agency tasked with overseeing special individuals. An intrusion had never happened before. Though a high-ranking official, she quickly regained composure and asked, “What exactly happened?”

“Thermal imaging shows 25 heat signatures. Our building has an unaccounted-for person!”

Mu Qingcheng shivered. How could someone appear out of thin air inside the building? The structure, though appearing lax, was heavily monitored at key points and filled with cultivators. No one could hide under spiritual surveillance.

She immediately released her innate eighth-rank spiritual sense to scan the entire building but found nothing. Her spiritual sense detected only 24 people—no one else. But the thermal imaging did not lie.

This meant the intruder was likely a cultivator above innate ninth-rank, possibly even a Golden Core expert.

An intrusion into Division Nine was a direct challenge to its authority—and she would not tolerate it.

“Can you pinpoint the intruder’s current location?” Mu Qingcheng inquired.

“Director! He should be in the vacant room next to you!”

What? Right next door? Mu Qingcheng felt a chill run down her spine. A cultivator above ninth-rank was so close without her sensing it. If he wished to kill her, it would be as easy as reading a book.

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