Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the Back Hall of the Evil Suppression Department, a private study that was usually quiet and deserted was now shrouded by an invisible Spiritual Pressure.
The doors and windows were tightly shut, isolating it from all the clamor of the outside world.
Chu Bai sat cross-legged upon a daybed, his eyes shut tight, his breathing long and deep.
Around his body, a five-colored Spiritual Light flowed like water ripples. The sharpness of Metal, the vitality of Wood, the gentleness of Water, the ferocity of Fire, and the weight of Earth—the Power of the Five Elements intertwined and circulated within him, a cycle of Endless Life.
As he pushed the Guiyuan Technique to its limit, the liquid Magical Power within his Dantian Qi Sea, long since accumulated to its peak, began to churn violently, like a river about to burst its banks in search of a final outlet.
For any other Cultivator, this would be the most perilous moment of breaking through their bottleneck.
The slightest misstep could lead to damaged meridians, or even Qi deviation.
But for Chu Bai, who possessed a Heaven-defying Fate Chart like [Non-stop Rushing, Unceasing Labor], so-called bottlenecks were a joke.
’As long as I work hard, there will be a reward. As long as the progress bar is full, a breakthrough is inevitable!’
’Break!’
With a single thought, Chu Bai acted without a hint of hesitation or delay.
BOOM!
It was as if a silent roar echoed from within his body.
Under the impact of this majestic and pure Spiritual Power, the formless barrier between the Early and Middle Stages of Qi Cultivation shattered instantly, like a thin sheet of paper!
His Qi Sea expanded, his meridians widened!
His once-brimming Magical Power seemed to ascend to a new level, becoming more condensed, more pure. A nascent power surged from his Dantian into his limbs, cleansing every inch of his Flesh and Blood and bone.
Chu Bai suddenly opened his eyes.
Two tangible beams of brilliant light shot from his eyes, stirring faint ripples in the empty air.
His entire aura changed. Gone was his previous restrained calm, replaced by a nascent, weighty majesty, as if a sharp blade was being unsheathed for the first time.
Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer—achieved!
Chu Bai rose to his feet, his body feeling lighter and more powerful than ever before.
He clenched his fist, and a CRACKLING pop sounded from his knuckles.
"This feeling... is truly different."
Stepping into the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation was not just about doubling his total amount of Spiritual Power.
He could clearly feel that his physical body, nourished by this new Magical Power, had become tougher and stronger. If he were to encounter that Bloodthirsty Black Wolf now, even without using Magic, he could trade several blows with it relying on physical strength alone.
Beyond that, what surprised him even more was the change in his Divine Thought.
Originally, under the blessing of the Skilled Realm of the Guardian Scripture, his Divine Thought had a range of only five zhang. But now, with the breakthrough in his Cultivation Realm, his Divine Soul also seemed to have been nurtured in return.
With a single thought.
His formless Divine Thought surged out like a tide, instantly passing through the walls and extending outward.
Six zhang... eight zhang... ten zhang!
It had doubled completely!
Within a radius of ten zhang, the rustle of wind in the grass, the flutter of falling leaves, and even the hushed conversation between two constables in the next courtyard were all as clear and distinct as the lines on his own palm.
"A ten-zhang radius..."
A flash of joy appeared in Chu Bai’s eyes.
In a battle at the Qi Cultivation Stage, this distance was practically equivalent to a full map view. Whether for precise strikes with Magic or for predicting an enemy’s movements, he would hold the absolute initiative.
’I’ve broken through the Realm. I’m officially a Cultivator at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation.’
Chu Bai reined in his aura, his usual gentle and refined demeanor returning. Only his dark eyes were deeper than before.
The candle in the private study had long since burned out, leaving only a wisp of curling smoke.
When Chu Bai awoke from his Meditation, he felt the ceaselessly surging Middle Stage Spiritual Power within him, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
He had spent half a day stabilizing his new Realm, and now his Spirit, Essence, and Qi were all at their peak.
He did not rush to go out. Instead, he reached out and read through the intelligence reports that had piled up on his desk.
He had been in seclusion for the past few days to break through, but the turmoil in the outside world had not stopped in his absence.
First was a message from an Iron Token within the Evil Suppression Department.
Pang Song had acted quickly. Ever since they set the time that night, Team Three had moved with great fanfare to the banks of the Sanmu River under the guise of a routine patrol.
In the past two days, the Iron Token had vibrated frequently, mostly with short reports from Pang Song.
"Patrol in Xiahe Village. Found a private shrine in the home of fisherman Li Ergou, where he was making offerings to an unidentified wooden statue..."
"Patrol in Zhao Family Bay. Found traces of rituals throughout the village and dug up the ashes of burned yellow paper from under the old locust tree at the village entrance..."
The intelligence was very detailed. Pang Song had indeed kept his word. He made a big show of it out in the open and had caught quite a few fishermen in the act of worshipping Wild Gods.
But between the lines, Chu Bai could also read of Captain Pang’s headache and helplessness.
"Many fishermen are involved, and most are ignorant men and women who only know how to pray for a good catch, unaware of the law. If we arrest them all according to the rules, I fear several villages will be emptied. Not only will the jails be unable to hold them, but it could easily incite a popular uprising.
Although there are some leads on Team Two’s earlier extortion, these unruly villagers fear power but feel no gratitude. They are terrified of retaliation and are hiding a great deal..."
Chu Bai put down the Iron Token, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk.
’This is the difficulty of working at the grassroots level. The law does not punish the masses—a thorny problem in any world.’
’Pang Song wants to use this to strike at Team Two, but if his methods are too harsh and he drives the fishermen to rebel first, then this fire will burn him instead.’
Next, Chu Bai picked up a letter that was beside the reports.
There was no name on the envelope, only a faint blue, water-patterned seal.
That was the special stationery of the Water Department, a letter delivered by someone on behalf of his senior brother, Han Xingmo.
Unfolding the letter, he saw the handwriting was elegant and forceful, exuding a calm and steady air.

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