I Have an Omen System-Chapter 68 - 66: Change of Status

Qin Xuan immediately waved his hand in refusal.

’I’m not an idiot. It’s obvious Zhang Yangzhou was the one who sabotaged Wang Jian’s attempt at Crossing the Tribulation.’

’Don’t be fooled by the fact that old bastard is only at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer. He’s full of ulterior motives and his methods are frighteningly effective—he can even plot against a Foundation Establishment cultivator!’

"Senior Brother Zhang, you must be joking. I serve under Master Wen Xiang of the Plague and Poison Sub-Altar. How could I suddenly jump ship to the Rot Heart Sub-Altar?"

Qin Xuan said, "How about this? Let me return and report to Master Wen Xiang first. I will give you an answer after that."

Qin Xuan’s flawless response left Zhang Yangzhou quite disappointed.

Zhang Yangzhou had been hoping Qin Xuan would agree right then and there.

That way, he wouldn’t have to get his own hands dirty. Wen Shichu would take care of Qin Xuan for him, eliminating this major threat.

"Senior Brother Qin, you’re too kind. You’ve already reached the Qi Cultivation Eleventh Layer, so I expect you’ve already been claimed. When you ascend to the position of Incense Master in the future, I hope you won’t forget your junior brother," Zhang Yangzhou said with feigned sincerity.

"Of course, of course," Qin Xuan said with a smile, cupping his hands.

The two addressed each other as "Senior Brother," their faces masks of humility and warmth.

Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought they were the dearest of friends.

...

’The Inner Sect’s waters run deep. I can’t believe a single branch under a Purple Mansion True Demon, Ten Thousand Poison Peak, has so many twists and turns.’

On his way back, Qin Xuan made a special trip to Plague Poison Island.

The Plague Gu Daoist was greatly surprised.

"No wonder Master Demon Child Blood Tyrant favors you so much. You really know how to handle things, kid."

Wen Shichu clapped his hands and praised him with a laugh. "I already know about your situation. Among the group that went to the Thousand Mechanisms Ancient Tomb, your performance was the best. Several Magic Altars are fighting to get you."

"Rest assured, no one will dare to touch you while you’re with me. Master Demon Child Blood Tyrant has already instructed me that once you successfully achieve Heaven Dao Foundation Establishment, he will send someone to escort you to the Punishment Hall."

"For now, just focus on your breakthrough here at my Plague Poison Altar. Consider it us forming a good connection."

Qin Xuan was overjoyed. "Thank you, Master Wen Xiang!"

...

After receiving Wen Shichu’s assurance, Qin Xuan immediately rushed to the Contribution Hall to claim his new Vice Incense Master Token.

’According to the rewards from the Thousand Mechanisms Ancient Tomb, I’m basically an Incense Master now!’

The one on duty at the Contribution Hall today was a short, stocky man who looked to be in his fifties, with abnormally thick arms. He was a Foundation Establishment Walker at the sixth layer named Jin Wuhai.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Qin, on attaining the position of Incense Master! From this day forward, you are the Vice Chief Incense Master of the Plague and Poison Sub-Altar under the Plague Bone Altar!"

"As a Vice Incense Master, the interest on your Sect Holy Loan will be reduced from 3% to 2.99%, and you will also receive a monthly stipend of three low-grade spirit stones."

"As for the other benefits, you’ll have to discover those for yourself, Junior Brother Qin."

Jin Wuhai said congratulatorily, chuckling as he handed Qin Xuan an exquisite White Jade Token.

He seemed to be a Tier Two Artifact Refiner. His fingers were misshapen and covered in burn scars, and his nails were black, sharp, and hooked like iron.

The moment he finished speaking, a wave of warmth emanated from the White Jade Token in Qin Xuan’s palm.

[Steward Qin Xuan of the Plague and Poison Sub-Altar, Plague Bone Altar, detected to have returned to the Sect. Identity updated.]

[Vice Chief Incense Master of the Plague and Poison Sub-Altar: Qin Xuan]

The entry representing Qin Xuan’s position had changed.

Qin Xuan suppressed his joy.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Jin. May I ask what the difference is between a Vice Chief Incense Master and a Full-time Deputy Incense Master?"

Jin Wuhai explained, "A sub-altar has one chief and two vice Incense Masters. The Vice Chief Incense Master is mainly responsible for all the trivial matters within the sub-altar, whereas the Full-time Deputy Incense Master holds more power."

"If the Chief Incense Master position is vacant or the person is away, the Full-time Deputy Incense Master is responsible for all affairs within the sub-altar."

"I see. Thank you, Senior Brother Jin."

"These are some specialties I acquired during my trip. I hope Senior Brother won’t find them lacking."

Qin Xuan cupped his hands in thanks and discreetly slipped the three azure spirit stones he had just obtained into Jin Wuhai’s sleeve.

Jin Wuhai’s eyebrows shot up, and he broke into a hearty laugh.

’Junior Brother Qin is quite an interesting character.’

Jin Wuhai accepted the spirit stones without a trace of movement. "Junior Brother Qin, it’s quite rare for someone at the Qi Cultivation Eleventh Layer to become a Vice Chief Incense Master based on merit alone, with no background."

"The waters of the Plague Bone Altar run deep. Let me give you a piece of advice: cultivate your Positional Divine Techniques as soon as possible, achieve Heaven Dao Foundation Establishment, and get promoted to Full-time Deputy Incense Master. Only then can you say you’ve truly secured your position as an Incense Master of the Plague Bone Altar."

’So being a Vice Chief isn’t enough. Only a Full-time Deputy is considered secure...’

Qin Xuan’s eyes darted. "Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother. I will certainly keep it in mind."

’I never expected a single Inner Sect Altar to have so many schemes. I need to study this carefully to avoid offending the wrong people in the future.’

...

After leaving the Contribution Hall, Qin Xuan made a special trip to the Scripture Pavilion.

He leafed through numerous records and finally gained a clear understanding of the Blood Demon Sword Sect’s structure.

’So, the Blood Demon Sword Sect is divided into the Outer Demon Sect and the Inner Sword Sect.’

The Outer Sect where he stayed before was part of the Outer Demon Sect in the narrow sense. The Instructors, Stewards, and even Outer Sect Elders he encountered all held positions within the Outer Demon Sect.

The Inner Sword Sect, which is the Inner Sect in a broader sense, was divided into ranks like Incense Master, Altar Master, Squad Leader, and Hall Master.

Hall Masters and Squad Leaders are all Golden Core Blood Demons.

Altar Masters are all Purple Mansion True Demons.

As for Incense Masters, a Chief Incense Master must have achieved Heaven Dao Foundation Establishment. The requirements for Vice Incense Masters are lower—anyone at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer or above is eligible.

"No wonder Zhang Yangzhou is so cautious. It turns out he’s afraid I’ll take his position as Full-time Deputy Incense Master."

Qin Xuan understood instantly.

The Plague Bone Altar of Ten Thousand Poison Peak oversaw six major sub-altars: Plague Poison, Withered Marrow, Rotting Heart, Yin Leech, Defeated Blood, and Soul Erosion.

The Chief Incense Master of the Rot Heart Sub-Altar, Grandma Rot Heart, had died. Now, the nearly one thousand Demon Disciples under the sub-altar were all under the command of Zhang Yangzhou, the Full-time Deputy Incense Master.

’If a Qi Cultivation Eleventh Layer cultivator like me were to go there, I would definitely take Zhang Yangzhou’s position in the future.’

"To become a Full-time Deputy Incense Master at only the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer... he must have connections to the Golden Core Blood Demon Ji Boyan..."

Qin Xuan had reason to suspect that Zhang Yangzhou might be a spy planted in Ten Thousand Poison Peak by the Vast Qi Tower.

’This goddamn Demon Sect is too fucking brutal.’

’When I was a Demon Disciple, I thought it would be great just to become a Demon Cultivator. After becoming a Qi Cultivation Demon Cultivator, I realized we’re nothing but ants. If you don’t become a Foundation Establishment Great Demon, you aren’t even considered human in the Demon Sect.’ 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Now, he was finally on the verge of Foundation Establishment, and the strongest kind at that—Heaven Dao Foundation Establishment.

’But so what? I’m still just a pawn in the hands of a Purple Mansion True Demon.’

A deep sense of powerlessness washed over Qin Xuan.

’Wait, I have a Golden Finger!’

’Damn, I almost developed an inner demon.’

The moment he thought of this, the gloom in his heart was instantly swept away.

...

On his way back, Qin Xuan saw the recently recovered Wang Jian and greeted him with a smile.

"Old Wang, long time no see!"

Hearing this, Wang Jian’s face, already grim from his failure in Crossing the Tribulation, darkened instantly.

’Old Wang?’

The two words sounded extremely grating to his ears.

Wang Jian had also just returned from the Contribution Hall, but he had received an Outer Sect Elder Token. He had also been mocked by the Contribution Hall’s Foundation Establishment Walker, Jin Wuhai, for his failure, so he was already in a foul mood.

Because he had been completely focused on his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment these past few days, Wang Jian’s impression of Qin Xuan was still stuck several months in the past.

He had no idea that Qin Xuan had passed the Thousand Mechanisms Ancient Tomb’s trial, let alone that he had been promoted to Vice Incense Master of the Plague Poison Altar and was now strong enough to trounce a Human Dao Foundation Establishment cultivator.

After all, how many normal Demon Cultivators didn’t take more than a decade to become an Inner Sect Incense Master?

Wang Jian’s face was dark. "Junior Brother Qin, I am an Outer Sect Elder now. Perhaps you should use a more appropriate form of address."

"Oh, an Outer Sect Elder, huh? You’re doing great, Old Wang. Keep it up."

Qin Xuan didn’t react at all. Instead, like a superior encouraging a subordinate, he patted Wang Jian on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up.

???

To Wang Jian, this felt like a monstrous humiliation.

’If it were an Inner Sect Incense Master, fine.’

’But you, Qin Xuan, were just a minor Demon Cultivator! A few months ago, you were groveling before me like a dog!’

’And even though I failed at Crossing the Tribulation, I’m still an Outer Sect Elder.’

’You just got lucky and earned Master Wen Xiang’s favor, allowing you to call me brother.’

’And now you dare to offend your superior? This is outrageous!’

The more he thought about it, the more furious Wang Jian became.

"You bastard! Are you trying to rebel?!"

Unable to contain his rage, Wang Jian thrust out a blackened hand, aiming a palm strike to shatter Qin Xuan’s skull.