At this moment, the six-tailed fox, which was originally cowering in the cage, suddenly spoke in a human voice, crisp but tainted with a chilling aura: "March 7th, those thirty child skeletons at the bottom of the Qinhuai River, are they still fresh?" Before the words fell, its fox tail gently swept across the void, and in an instant, the scene of the Zhang Family's secret chamber appeared in the air.

In the secret chamber, a bronze cauldron immersed in demon blood floated, with a child's skull engraved with a birthdate bobbing within, the scene eerie and terrifying, making one's skin crawl.

"Does the Family Head of the Zhang Family know that those fed with the spirit root need the seven orifices to be unobstructed?" Xu Qing's gaze was as sharp as electricity, his fingers pointing like a sword, speaking coldly. As his words fell, seven peculiar roots erupted from the seven orifices of the Zhang Family Head. These roots were dark red, gleaming with an oily sheen, with each tip piercing a pulsating Demon Clan Primordial Pill — obtained from hunting mountain demons with the Ministry of Industry's discarded bolt crossbows.

Immediately afterward, the roots that enveloped the Zhang Family Head exerted force like cannons, hurling him toward the center of the auction house's Demon Suppression Stele.

A tremendous boom resounded as the inscription "Guimao" on the Demon Suppression Stele suddenly cracked open, and a powerful suction emerged, instantly swallowing both the Zhang Family Head and the demon pills, as if intending to bury all these sins deep within endless darkness.

The tea cup in Duke Wei's hand trembled slightly, splashing out three droplets of tea, which astonishingly transformed into the words "sacrifice the chariot to protect the marshal" on the table.

In the private room on the second floor, all the family representatives at the auction simultaneously felt a chill, instinctively gripping the swords at their waists. They keenly recognized that the flashing marks on the edges of the words were the unique secret codes in the correspondence between their families and the Zhang Family, undoubtedly indicating the intricate and tangled relationships with the Zhang Family, making them realize that, as Duke Wei suggested, only by sacrificing the chariot to protect the marshal could Xu Qing's wrath be appeased.

…

…

"I apologize for alarming you all." Xu Qing appeared calm, casually brushing nonexistent dust from his sleeve. At this moment, eighteen craftsmen from the Heavenly Work Institute, dressed in uniform attire, swiftly lifted the red silk covering the display platform.

Nine intricately carved jade boxes, adorned with mystical bird patterns, slowly rose from the display platform, each containing a bronze tiger talisman that exuded an ancient and mysterious aura.

Xu Qing cleared his throat and said loudly, "These are the 'Cooperative Hunting Orders'. Holders of these orders may join the Demon Hunting Bureau to exterminate demons. Seventy percent of the acquired demon materials shall be submitted, retaining thirty percent." At this point, he deliberately paused, his gaze sweeping across the room.

The Cooperative Hunting Order is essentially a lower version of the Demon Suppression Order.

The Demon Suppression Order holds greater authority, allowing the holder to independently seek a region to hunt demons without being under the jurisdiction of the Court's Demon Hunting Bureau.

Whereas the Cooperative Hunting Order requires acting in concert with the Demon Hunting Bureau.

Hence, the auction of the Demon Suppression Order was highly anticipated by various families, who, under the assurance of Duke Wei, flocked to participate in this auction.

This time, while the families did not obtain the desired Demon Suppression Order, after witnessing the fate of the Zhang Family, they were greatly relieved.

Moreover, acquiring the Cooperative Hunting Order was still not a fruitless endeavor.

On the other hand, Xu Qing could expand the outer forces of the Demon Hunting Bureau through the Cooperative Hunting Order.

Frankly, the Demon Hunting Bureau is a public tool as well as the private tool of Xu Qing and the old Emperor.

And it was Xu Qing who offended others, strengthening the foundation of power for the Demon Hunting Bureau. The old Emperor was spared much trouble, with only pleasure.

But how far the relationship between the monarch and ministers will go in the end, only heaven knows.

At least for now, both are very much like the model relationship between Tang Wu and Yi Yin.

In fact, royal power and ministerial power are not entirely opposed; sometimes mutual reliance is more necessary.

Throughout history, when the king and ministers are united, greater achievements are possible.

Xu Qing himself believes that if power cannot be used for the benefit of the world, one will inevitably suffer backlash. Aligning with public sentiment and the general trend, power naturally arises without the need for competition.

Of course, at times, a slightly advanced perspective can be used to propel the larger trend forward.

…

…

The auction ended quickly.

After some time, outside the auction hall, the direction of the Zhang Family's villa suddenly ignited with blazing azure and purple demon fire. The fire soared into the sky, illuminating half of the Heavenly Capital, resembling a bizarre sea of flames, dyeing the dark night sky with an eerie hue.

Xu Qing quietly stood on the Observatory, overlooking the cityscape, watching as carriages from various families continuously streamed into the Demon Hunting Bureau warehouse like ants.

If you can't beat them, join them; this too is the norm for various families.

The Princely Heir of Duke Wei respectfully held the newly created "Cooperative Hunting Rules", quickly approached Xu Qing, and reported with a bow: "The Lu Family obtained the Northern Desert Wilderness order, the Zhu Family chose the South Sea Mermaid Reef..." The voice echoed in the night sky, clearly conveying the choices and directions of the various families.

At the third quarter of midnight, after fierce bidding, the last Cooperative Hunting Order was auctioned off by the Lao Mountain Sect with thirty carts of Netherworld Soil. This auction thus concluded but also heralded the beginning of new order and rules.

The "Immortal Dynasty Statutes" within Xu Qing's sleeves seemed to sense something, automatically flipping to a new page. The freshly inked provisions glowed with a faint blood light, clearly stating: All Cooperative Hunting acquisitions must be refined through the Demon Purification Bottle before being used in medicine.

The words become law, the voice holds the mandate of heaven!

In front of Xu Qing, the Princely Heir of Duke Wei leaned forward to demonstrate loyalty and respect, his eyes brimming with intense ambition for power.

A true man ought to be so!

Recently, Xu Qing has particularly favored this rising spymaster by his side. As for the Princely Heir's ambition for power, it serves as the whip driving him forward.

Of course, he also instructed Su Lianqing to covertly monitor him.

Nowadays, Su Lianqing no longer needs to engage in frequent trivial matters; she becomes more of Xu Qing's eyes to assist him in overseeing the realm.

This also frees Su Lianqing from burdensome trivial affairs, allowing her to play a greater role.

As the "Red Flower Ghost Mother", her codename gradually becomes the most fearsome and mysterious presence beside Xu Qing.

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