Though he was anxious to see his old home in the village, Chu Bai knew that now that he was back in the county seat, he first had to pay his respects to the teacher who had given him a new lease on life.
The Zhang Mansion still sat tucked away in a deep, quiet alley, a peaceful retreat from the surrounding bustle. Its door knocker was slightly tarnished, lending it an air of unassuming antiquity.
Chu Bai stepped forward and knocked.
A moment later, a side door creaked open, and a young servant in blue robes poked his head out.
The young servant’s eyes flickered with surprise when he saw it wasn’t a high official or dignitary at the door, but a travel-worn youth.
However, he quickly recognized the student from a previous visit. Not daring to show any disrespect, he swung the door open and led Chu Bai into the front hall. After serving him tea, the servant hurried to the rear courtyard to announce the arrival.
Before long, the sound of familiar footsteps approached.
Daoist Zhang was dressed in his usual loose Daoist Robe. His hair and beard were half-white, but he was hale and hearty.
As a Great Cultivator at the peak of Qi Cultivation Perfection, his aura remained profound. But upon seeing Chu Bai, a genuine smile spread across his face.
"Chu Bai? The Daoist School shouldn’t be out for the term yet, should it? What brings you here today to see these old bones?"
’The boy must be homesick,’ he thought. ’He probably took a leave of absence during a break to come visit.’
Chu Bai immediately rose and bowed deeply. "This student pays his respects, Teacher."
After straightening up, he replied with a smile, "Everything is well at the Daoist School. The past year has been quite fruitful, and I’ve had no trouble with fools picking fights."
"Now that I’m finally home, I came to pay my respects."
Master and disciple had been apart for a year. Though they had exchanged letters, nothing could compare to the warmth of meeting in person.
Daoist Zhang had Chu Bai sit down and asked him in detail about his life in the Prefecture City—his daily routine, his cultivation, even the friends he had made. Every word was filled with concern.
After they had chatted for a while, Daoist Zhang noted the heroic spirit in Chu Bai’s features, but he also couldn’t miss the weariness from a long journey etched on his face. Assuming the boy had just finished his first year of studies and taken leave to visit family, he stroked his beard and smiled.
"The coursework at the Daoist School is demanding, and the competition is fierce. Since you’ve taken leave to come home, you should set aside your cultivation for a few days. Spend time with your family and get some rest. Don’t push yourself too hard."
But Chu Bai shook his head at these words. He set down his teacup and said with a serious expression,
"Teacher, I have not returned on leave to visit family."
He paused, meeting Daoist Zhang’s quizzical gaze, and said calmly, "I am preparing to take up a post in our Anping County’s Evil Suppression Department."
"Hm?"
Daoist Zhang’s hand, holding his teacup, froze mid-air. His brow furrowed, and his gentle voice sharpened. "A post? What nonsense are you talking about!
The Daoist School program is three years long—that’s the critical time for building your foundation! It makes no sense to take a post now. Don’t tell me you got into some kind of trouble and were... expelled?"
His immediate thought was that Chu Bai had caused some disaster and been expelled, and his voice was laced with anxiety.
Seeing his reaction, Chu Bai quickly explained, "Please don’t worry, Teacher. It’s not like that.
I took the Immortal Official Examination and secured a position. Then, Judge Li granted me a White Talisman, giving me Official Status. As such, my studies at the Daoist School are considered complete."
"The Immortal Official Examination? A White Talisman? Graduating early?!"
This barrage of information struck Daoist Zhang like a series of hammer blows, making his head spin.
His eyes flew wide. He shot to his feet and crossed to Chu Bai in a single stride, heedless of his own loss of composure. He placed a hand directly on the pulse of Chu Bai’s wrist.
He sent a probe of his Spiritual Power into the boy.
A condensed, potent, and inexhaustible stream of Five Elements Spiritual Power surged through Chu Bai’s meridians. It was unmistakably the Qi Cultivation Third Layer—and what’s more, the purity of his Spiritual Power made it even stronger than that of a typical cultivator at the same Realm!
"The Qi Cultivation Third Layer... It’s only been one year..."
Daoist Zhang gasped, his hand trembling slightly.
He remembered it perfectly: when the boy had left Anping County a year ago, he had only just broken through to the Qi Cultivation First Layer.
How long had it been? And he had broken through two entire Realms in that time?
And he’d done it at the Daoist School, a place teeming with geniuses and brutal competition!
What shocked him even more was that, as his probe deepened, he—as a fellow holder of a White Talisman—could clearly sense the one in Chu Bai’s Sea of Consciousness. It shared the same origin as his own and pulsed with the aura of the Great Zhou Law Net.
This was no fake!
Daoist Zhang let go, stumbled two steps back, and collapsed into his chair. He stared at his prized pupil, who remained perfectly calm, and for a long moment, he was utterly speechless.
Even he, who had seen countless geniuses in his lifetime, felt his heart pounding in his chest.
’Breaking through two Realms in a single year, winning the top spot against his seniors, and Receiving a Talisman early... This isn’t just exceptional talent.’
’This is clearly...’
"A monster..."
Daoist Zhang muttered to himself, then his eyes lit up with an unprecedented, joyous light. He clapped his hands and roared with laughter. "Good! Excellent! I knew I wasn’t wrong about you! You’ve taken this step far faster and more steadily than I ever could have imagined!"
After the initial shock wore off, Daoist Zhang composed himself, though the joyous smile never left his eyes.
He took a sip of his tea and asked casually, "But with your status as the top graduate of the Immortal Official Examination, you’d be a hot commodity, sought after by every department in the Prefecture City. Why choose the Evil Suppression Department back here in Anping County?"
Chu Bai sat up straighter. He didn’t hide his intentions, laying his thoughts bare.
"Teacher, in my cultivation thus far, I’ve learned that one cannot progress by shutting oneself away from the world. The Evil Suppression Department may be arduous, but confronting cases involving Demons is the exact Sharpening Stone I need."
"Furthermore, Anping County is my home. I’m familiar with the area, and I’ll be able to act with fewer restrictions."
Here, Chu Bai paused, his gaze clear. "Besides all that, there is one other reason. I’m doing it for Lord Zhang Cheng."

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