We are now in Zhang Village

From beginning to end, he didn't utter a single word of help, nor did he even cast a glance in his direction, as if the scattered corpses of the Moonlit Frogs and the demon cores hidden beneath their flesh were simply things he was meant to do alone.

He would squat or stand, his sleeves rolled up, his hands covered in sticky juice and bits of meat, yet his movements were steady and deliberate, without a sound.

Normally, the people in the Enforcement Hall would not get involved in these things, but now their defenses have been somewhat breached.

The sensation wasn't intense, but it was like a fine thorn that quietly pierced my once cold and hard heart, making it hard to ignore.

Their consistent rule is simple: the strong are respected, and the weak are left to their own devices!

Within the sect, those with high strength naturally enjoy all the resources and glory, while those with low strength should obediently stay in a corner.

But the person in front of them had such an obvious lack of talent in cultivation, yet he was more composed than anyone else when it came to doing things, which made their previous silent contempt seem somewhat unfounded.

"Should we go help?"

It has to be said that the gap between their feelings and reality has been enormous from the beginning until now.

Before they came, they had imagined countless scenarios. They thought that if they encountered some ignorant monsters or if any force dared to offend the sect, they would simply show their Enforcement Hall tokens and, if necessary, draw their swords and fight to the death.

Who would have thought that such menial tasks as collecting demon cores would fall to them?

This job is undignified and shameful; people would laugh at it if word got out, saying that a dignified disciple of the Enforcement Hall was squatting in the mud digging up demon cores for others.

No, Zhou Lingxuan wouldn't blame them for it, since they hadn't asked for help in the first place.

He didn't even bother to ask why they were standing so far away, treating the people behind him like wooden stakes.

But the more they felt this way, the more uncomfortable they felt.

They didn't say anything, which only made them look like they had gone too far.

"go."

One of them gritted his teeth and spoke.

The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed as if it had taken a lot of effort to squeeze it out of his throat.

The people around him looked at him, his face tense, and he added another sentence.

"Aside from his lack of talent in cultivation, I really don't think he's inferior to us in any way!"

This statement came suddenly, but it was also very true.

The group exchanged glances but remained silent.

At first, the Second Elder assigned them to protect a sect's internal servants and stewards, which displeased them. However, due to the rules of the Enforcement Hall, they could not resist, much less question the superiors' proposal.

So the journey was not pleasant at all; she spoke with a huff, and her gaze towards Zhou Lingxuan was indifferent, hoping that this matter would be resolved soon and she could return home.

No one expected that in the end, it would be him struggling with himself.

"Don't be afraid."

"We can only say that we've witnessed another strange genius, but we'll have to see if he can go the distance!"

The speaker emphasized the word "genius," but there was little sarcasm in his tone; instead, it conveyed an inexplicable expectation.

Geniuses are not unusual, especially those who are extraordinary. They are relatively rare, but not entirely invisible.

This world is never short of people with extraordinary talents; what it lacks are those who can make it all the way to the end.

Whether this person can go far is anyone's guess, but at this moment, they are finally willing to take the first step and see.

Zhou Lingxuan turned around, surprised that the people from the Enforcement Hall would help him collect demon cores, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

He originally thought these people would just stand by and watch, and that it would be none of his business if they returned to the village empty-handed.

Is this also an order issued by the Second Elder?

Upon closer reflection, even if the Second Elder had ordered protection, it wouldn't have been so meticulous as to arrange for him to collect demon cores.

However, Zhou Lingxuan had no objection to having someone do his work for free, since it was a good thing.

He withdrew his gaze, slightly raised the corner of his mouth, and said nothing more, taking it as tacit consent.

There were quite a few corpses of the Moon Frog, and it took the three of them a long time to clean them up.

The frog's abdomen was cut open, and the demon cores were removed one by one. The blood and grime on them were then simply cleaned off.

The usable frog skins and webbed feet were collected separately and piled up on the ground, filling the entire waterside with a fishy smell.

Zhou Lingxuan also dug out all the fur and claws of the Hidden Wind Wolf, which were all excellent materials.

The fur of the Hidden Wind Wolf gleamed with a faint gray light under the moonlight, and its claws and teeth were as sharp as blades. With a little refining, it would make a good material for crafting artifacts.

He organized these things one by one, his movements displaying the expertise of a seasoned professional.

"Deacon Zhou, these are all second-tier demon cores of the Clear Moon Frog."

Thank you.

Zhou Lingxuan knew that for the people of the Enforcement Hall, a second-tier demon core was no longer of much use.

At their level, the things they could get in exchange for a second-tier demon core were simply not worth considering.

For the people of the Enforcement Hall, it would be better to curry favor with Zhou Lingxuan than to ask for a not-so-abundant amount of spirit stones.

The benefits are neither too great nor too small; the key lies not in the demon core itself, but in the attitude.

Zhou Lingxuan naturally noticed this as well, so his "thank you" was short but not perfunctory.

"Now that we've found the Heart-Cleansing Herb, let's return to the village."

Now that he has experienced the desire to fight, Zhou Lingxuan feels that the purpose of fighting is simply to vent his dissatisfaction.

All the pent-up frustration that had been building up in his chest, unspoken and unspoken, seemed to have been released all at once during the fight.

It was exhilarating, but afterwards, there were still important things to do.

He's always been good at distinguishing between what's important and what's not.

The moment the words "Qingxincao" appeared, the people in the Enforcement Hall were somewhat dazed.

For them, most of their missions were killings; once the sword was drawn, blood was drawn, and when the order was given, lives were taken.

As for the so-called collection tasks, they were a waste of their talents.

Therefore, for the people of the Enforcement Hall, the collection task is not their main task at all, and even if they fail to complete it, no one will punish them.

That's why they didn't react for a moment when Zhou Lingxuan casually uttered those three words.

It turns out that when this person went into the mountains, he was still thinking about those few plants.

The Heart-Clearing Grass grows deep in the forest where spiritual energy is abundant, and it can be found easily.

Although they are scattered, they are not difficult to find. As long as you know which forest is damp and which valley has abundant spiritual energy, you can always find a few clumps among the mossy rocks or beside the roots of ancient trees.

Although the Enforcement Hall doesn't often take on such missions, they are quite familiar with the locations where these supplies are collected.

Sometimes I patrol the mountains at night, sometimes I follow people as they pass by; I've seen it all before.

"Deacon Zhou, shall we return to the village now?"