[It hadn't been many years since Shen Qingshan took office, yet he proactively requested to resign, attracting no small amount of strange looks.]

[Facing the Prefecture Chief Commissioner and the full hall of Demon Slaying Division officials and Demon Slayers, Shen Qingshan patiently explained his reasons for resigning.]

[Of course, he wouldn't say he was going to the Starry Domains to become the Shen Family's Founding Ancestor.]

[Instead, he made up a more reasonable excuse.]

[“Alright! No one cares why you're resigning! Commissioner Zhang recommended you as Chief Banner Officer, and now you're leaving just like that—how is Commissioner Zhang supposed to save face?! And how am I supposed to explain this to him?!”]

[This Commissioner Zhang was Zhang Miao, the inspector who had previously gone to Baiyun County.]

[“Chief Commissioner, but I really have to leave. I'll hand over all my current duties clearly to the Deputy Chief Banner Officer, I promise it won't affect official business.”]

[“I said no means no! Get back to your post right now and do your job, or I'll charge you with dereliction of duty!”]

[Shen Qingshan's face showed displeasure.]

[“Chief Commissioner, I came here to work, not to be imprisoned. What kind of rule doesn't allow someone to leave?”]

[The Chief Commissioner released his Three Energies, forming an aura field, suppressing Shen Qingshan with the pressure of the Spirit Condensation Realm.]

[“In the Prefecture Division, I am the rule!”]

[Just then, a far stronger force descended from the heavens, and everyone in the entire Demon Slaying Division felt a prickling sensation on their backs!]

[“Boom!”]

[The sound of a footstep came from the sky.]

[“Boom!”]

[Another one.]

[After three sounds, everyone in the hall could no longer stand properly and had to circulate their techniques to resist.]

[After four sounds, those with lower cultivation levels were pressed flat against the ground.]

[The terrifying footsteps stopped there.]

[The Chief Commissioner, unable to stand steady, cupped his fists toward the outside of the hall.]

[“I wonder which senior has honored us with their presence. Has our Prefecture Division offended you in any way? Please, speak face to face...”]

[With a loud crash, the roof of the government hall shattered into pieces with a “crackling” sound.]

[You smashed directly down, shattering the hall's floor into fragments. All the furnishings inside were scattered in disarray by the gale your descent had stirred up.]

[“Brother-in-law, why are you wasting words with him? Saying something to him is already giving him face. Why bother swallowing this old man's nonsense?”]

[Seeing that your feet had left the ground, clearly bearing the bearing of a Martial King, the Chief Commissioner didn't even dare to look at you.]

[Then he thought back to what you had just said.]

[“Brother... brother-in-law?”]

[This Martial King was calling Shen Qingshan his brother-in-law?]

[Oh my god! Shen Qingshan, you had connections like this and never mentioned it?]

[Doesn't this make me look like a complete clown?]

[Shen Qingshan still couldn't resign.]

[Because the Chief Commissioner insisted on keeping his official position and salary.]

[And the entire Prefecture Division, top to bottom, had no objections to it. Talk about a mess.]

[Afterward, with your reminder, Shen Qingshan started practicing the Righteous Sun Formula again.]

[Since he hadn't been practicing a different technique for long, switching back was quick.]

[After staying in the prefecture city for a few days.]

[That day, your always-released Divine Sense finally detected the figures of Shen Linfeng and the other.]

[They had flown here, but you knew they weren't Martial Kings—they were both at the Spirit Condensation Realm.]

[They could fly because they were using Ascent Talismans.]

[Shen Linfeng held a compass in his hand, the needle pointing toward Shen Qingshan's residence.]

[“There should be one here now, right?”]

[“If not, we'll be going back empty-handed.”]

[“There's supposed to be a lineage in Qingzhou, isn't there? Why have we been searching for days and only found this one? And judging by his nice place to live, he might not even meet the conditions.”]

[“Who says? It's our bad luck to have drawn Qingzhou.”]

[Shen Linfeng and Shen Lincong were discussing the headache of seemingly failing their KPI this time.]

[Suddenly, your voice sounded from behind them.]

[“The two elders aren't unlucky—you've hit the jackpot!”]

[The two were startled, turned around, and immediately put distance between themselves and you.]

[Sweeping you with their Divine Sense, they found they couldn't see through your cultivation level.]

[“Sir, could you be a Martial King?”]

[You lifted your chin.]

[“That's right.”]

[The two elders immediately became much more respectful.]

[No matter where you are, a Martial King carries tremendous weight.]

[“We wonder what guidance the senior has to offer.”]

[Even though you looked young right now and they both looked like old men, they still had to call you “senior.”]

[That's just how cultivators are—there's only the “Senior Realm,” the “Dao-Friend Realm,” and the “Ant Realm.”]

[“I know who you are. The Shen Family of the Starry Domains.”]

[The two showed expressions of surprise.]

[“I also know what you're here to do. You're looking for Dust Lineage descendants who meet the criteria to participate in the Mirror Wielder selection.”]

[The two were so shocked their mouths fell open.]

[“I also know that the Mirror Wielder selection is just a front. In reality, it's to pick the most suitable descendant for the Founding Ancestor's possession.”]

[The two frantically retreated in shock.]

[“You... you... who the hell are you?!”]

[“Everything you just said is nonsense! Don't spread it around and ruin the Shen Family's reputation!”]

[You smiled, pointed at them, with an expression that screamed, “We're all foxes who've lived a thousand years—don't play the ghost story game with me.”]

[“I have a huge contribution I want to gift to the two of you. Sure you don't want to hear it?”]

[“Not interested!”]

[“Dual-Soul Sacred Physique, a descendant of the Shen Family.”]

[“Hmph! What Dual... Dual-Soul Sacred Physique?!”]

[Luckily, these two knew about the Dual-Soul Sacred Physique.]

[It was possible that all members of the Shen Family knew. Given Founding Ancestor Shen's erudition, he definitely knew what a Dual-Soul Sacred Physique was, so he would have ordered his subordinates to specifically look out for this kind of physique.]

[The rest of the conversation was much easier.]

[You credited the merit of finding Shen Qingshan to Shen Linfeng and the other, letting them receive a reward when they returned to the Starry Domains.]

[In exchange, these two had to do you a favor: bring you and Shen Qingshan's family to the Starry Domains and make proper arrangements.]

[“This way, it seems this term's Mirror Wielder selection won't need to be held.”]

[“Brother Linfeng, we've really accomplished a great deed this time!”]

[Nineteenth year, age thirty-eight.]

[Extracting traits...]

[Extraction successful!]

[「Death Diva」(White Common): You excel at raising the roof at funerals; your singing is moving and you never get stage fright.]

[Adjust traits?]

[Yes / No]

[You chose Yes.]

[You replaced 「Ageless Male God」 with 「Senior Tomato User」.]

[You replaced 「Dragon Plays with Phoenix」 with 「Bad News Spreads in Martial Circles」.]

[Shen Linfeng and the other took you through the official channels to enter the Starry Domains.]

[Afterward, they first settled Third Sister and Shen Jia down properly, then they arranged an introduction for you and Shen Qingshan to meet the Great Elder, Shen Wanquan.]

[You quickly stopped him.]

[“I don't want to see Shen Wanquan. I want to see your clan leader, Shen Yue.”]

[“Why?”]

[“You'll find out soon enough.”]

[Shen Linfeng couldn't figure out how you knew so much about the Shen Family, but he couldn't afford to worry about it anymore. Right now, he just wanted to hurry up and claim his merit.]