The Mechanical Golden Falcon hovered hundreds of feet above the cliff’s edge, blasting fierce winds downward.
Several figures in bright silver Flying Fish Robes leaped from the falcon’s back. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and they landed without stirring a speck of dust, a testament to their profound cultivation.
The leader was a middle-aged man with a sinister face, hollow cheeks, and a pair of narrow eyes that glittered with a cold light, like a viper’s.
A silvery-white long saber hung at his waist, and embroidered on his chest was the insignia of the Dayuan Prefecture’s Inspection Department—a Regular Eighth-Grade Inspector Captain, Wei Chuan.
As Wei Chuan landed, the terrifying aura of his Qi Cultivation Perfection cultivation swept out, unrestrained, sending loose stones flying in all directions.
In his hand, he clutched a Hand Order that emitted a warm, faint glow.
That Hand Order contained the sealed Divine Thought of Dayuan Prefecture’s Commander. Once activated, the Great Zhou Law Net within a ten-li radius would fall under his complete authority. No Demon, no piece of evidence, could escape the ensuing pursuit of the Law.
However, after Wei Chuan landed, he didn’t even glance at the wreckage filling the river, nor at Qii Pan being held down in the mud. His sinister eyes locked onto Chu Bai, who had just climbed out of the river.
"The Dayuan Prefecture Inspection Department is taking over this investigation!"
Wei Chuan’s voice was bone-chillingly cold, dripping with an unquestionable air of superiority. He took a step forward, his Official Qi weaving together with the Spiritual Pressure of Qi Cultivation Perfection as it bore down on Chu Bai.
"Anping Petty Official, who gave you the nerve to disturb this scene?"
Wei Chuan commanded coldly, his right hand already on his saber hilt, his voice laced with undisguised killing intent. "Hand over the item you’re hiding. Now. Then retreat one hundred paces and await judgment! Dare to hesitate for even a moment, and you’ll be dealt with for insubordination and treason!"
At his side, Han Xingmo stumbled back several steps under the pressure, his face pale as a sheet. This was the way of Dayuan Prefecture—forceful, domineering, treating lesser officials like dirt.
Chu Bai stood among the scattered rocks. The faint heat of the Divine Seal in his robes still burned his palm. Facing this mountain-like pressure, he lowered his gaze, hiding the cold, five-colored light deep within his pupils.
The river wind howled through Threadline Gorge, churning the nauseating black fog.
Faced with the enormous Mechanical Golden Falcon and Wei Chuan, who radiated the pressure of Qi Cultivation Perfection, the expressions of the Water Department Warriors and Demon-slaying Guards were all filled with dread.
The Flying Fish Robes of the Dayuan Prefecture’s Inspection Department were a symbol of authority throughout the region. That Hand Order, in particular, represented the indisputable right to take command.
Many guards, shaken by the Official Qi, felt their knees tremble slightly. They subconsciously wanted to step aside and clear a path to the heart of the crime scene.
And yet, standing at the epicenter of a Spiritual Pressure strong enough to crush an ordinary Cultivator, Chu Bai did not retreat. Instead, he took a step forward.
The gravel beneath his feet was pulverized by the sheer Power of his step, emitting a dull thud.
"Lord Wei, the situation has changed. There is no need to trouble you gentlemen from the Prefecture City at this time."
Chu Bai met Wei Chuan’s sinister gaze, his voice calm yet infused with Spiritual Power so that it carried clearly to everyone present. "This case has far-reaching implications. Lord Zhang, Director of the Anping Evil Suppression Department, is already on his way.
"To preserve the evidence at the scene, please wait a moment. Once the Director arrives, our two parties can decide how to proceed."
As he spoke, Chu Bai subtly used his wide sleeve to shield the Seal and Ribbon nestled in his robes, which was now emitting a faint golden glow.
He didn’t say a word about the Seal and Ribbon being intact.
This was his only trump card.
A remnant of the Water Uncle’s Spirituality still lingered, and this Seal had recorded the killer’s Qi signature.
In such a treacherous and unpredictable situation, there was no guarantee that this Inspector Captain from Dayuan Prefecture, who had just dropped out of the sky, was here to investigate the case—or to eliminate loose ends.
If he handed over the Seal, and the man truly was a contingency sent by the Godslayer, he could simply destroy the Divine Seal on the spot. Then the blame for the Water Uncle’s final demise and the assassination of a Divine Spirit would inevitably be pinned on the Anping Petty Officials present for their failure to protect him.
When that happened, not only would Chu Bai and Han Xingmo receive no credit, they’d be lucky to keep their heads.
’Besides... this man arrived in such a hurry and seemed more intent on assigning blame than investigating. It might be related to Qii Pan’s capture.’
’I absolutely cannot let him take control of this matter.’
"What did you say?"
A muscle on Wei Chuan’s sinister face twitched violently.
It seemed he had never imagined that in a remote backwater like Anping County, a mere Ninth-Grade Demon Slaying Officer would dare to publicly defy his command.
He took another step forward, his Qi Cultivation Perfection aura crashing down on Chu Bai like a tidal wave. The silver long saber at his waist let out a piercing shriek. "I represent the Dayuan Prefecture Inspection Department, and I hold a Hand Order from a Foundation Establishment Lord! Anping Petty Official, I will say this one last time—move!"
Wei Chuan’s gaze cut across Chu Bai’s chest like a sharp blade. He had already sensed an unusual fluctuation there. Though the black fog concealed it, the entire purpose of his journey was for that very thing.
"And if I don’t?"
Chu Bai lifted his head, his gaze so calm it was almost glacial. The Five Elements cycle within his body had accelerated to its limit. [Microscopic]-level Magical Power settled quietly in his meridians, ready to counter a thunderous strike.
The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing.
The Demon-slaying Guards, who had been about to step aside, all froze upon hearing their captain’s words.
Feng Qin and Hu Hao exchanged a glance. Without a shred of hesitation, they drew their long sabers and stepped into position behind Chu Bai.
"Demon-slaying Team, assemble!"
With that single cry, the hundred-odd, once-scattered Demon-slaying Guards displayed an astonishing degree of unity.

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