With the last batch of Wild Cultivators escorted to the Death Prison, the handover for the Chaotic Bone Ridge case finally came to a close.
Inside the Evil Suppression Department, Pang Song was beaming, a spring in his step.
He greeted colleagues as he passed, then sidled up to Chu Bai, chuckling gleefully. "Younger Brother Chu, it looks like I’m really going to ride your coattails this time."
"Capturing a Qi Cultivation Perfection cultivator alive, seizing a Divine Dao Treasure... when this record gets reported to the Prefecture City, even though I was just the deputy leader, this year’s top evaluation is pretty much in the bag!"
In the Great Zhou Immortal Dynasty, the year-end performance review didn’t just mean a wealth of rewards and Pills; it also determined one’s chances of being promoted to Dayuan Prefecture, or even gaining the resources to pursue a Junior Eighth Grade Official Position.
Chu Bai watched Pang Song’s jubilant expression and simply offered a few smiling replies, but deep down, he felt little relief.
Once the commotion died down, Chu Bai returned to Qingfeng Courtyard alone.
Inside the Cultivation Room, the Five Elements Gathering Spirit Array was still operating smoothly. But Chu Bai didn’t immediately begin absorbing Spiritual Qi. Instead, he slowly closed his eyes, and his Divine Thought instantly sank into the depths of his Sea of Consciousness.
There, in his Sea of Consciousness, the Golden Talisman Decree that symbolized the "Golden Seal Decree, Jade Scroll of Heaven" was emitting an unprecedentedly dazzling radiance.
Around the Talisman Decree, a mass of extremely condensed energy, as brilliant as golden sand, swirled frantically. It was the Divine Dao Origin and Incense Fire Will Power he had absorbed from the silk Seal and Ribbon.
It was the very lifeblood that the True Spirit Association had forcibly stripped from the Water Uncle’s Status using a Secret Technique after they killed him.
’This has become rather troublesome.’
Chu Bai slowly opened his eyes, his brow slightly furrowed.
He knew full well that the Seal and Ribbon he had handed over to Zhang Cheng was now nothing more than an empty shell.
Although it still looked special and emanated divine fluctuations on the outside, the Origin within—which carried the Divine Spirit’s authority and a century of Merit—had long been devoured completely by his Fate Chart.
He could try to explain to Zhang Cheng that the Origin in the Seal and Ribbon had already been depleted from the Black Sheep’s prolonged refinement by the time it was found at Chaotic Bone Ridge, but that wouldn’t completely eliminate the hidden danger.
The biggest problem was that this power was too strong and too conspicuous.
Divine Dao Origin was unlike ordinary Spiritual Qi. It carried the unique imprint of the Great Zhou Law Net, as well as the Wish Power from the prayers of the Sanmu River’s populace.
Although Chu Bai could currently use his Fate Chart to lock it within his Sea of Consciousness, the faint "divinity" about him would be difficult to hide if he ever used his full power or was scrutinized by a Great Cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Stage.
A Great Zhou Demon-Slaying Officer carrying the Origin and Merit of the fallen Water Uncle.
If this were detected by the Merit Department or the Celestial Decree Department, the crime would be tantamount to deicide and usurpation.
’Golden Seal Decree...’
Chu Bai once again sensed his Fate Chart.
This Fate Chart was born to enthrone Divine Spirits. Its absorption of this Origin was less an accident and more an instinctive craving.
’Since it has already entered my Sea of Consciousness, it’s impossible to return it.’
’But I can think of other solutions.’
Chu Bai’s eyes flickered as his fingertips tapped gently on his knee.
Trying to forcibly strip it away would not only damage his own foundation, but the dissipating Divine Dao aura would act like a beacon, attracting the Prefecture City’s attention.
At this thought, Chu Bai slowly closed his eyes.
「A few days later, on the banks of the Sanmu River outside Anping County.」
The spring sun was warm, and the sparkling surface of the river resembled a vast bolt of turquoise silk, winding its way through the majestic mountains.
The weeping willows on the bank had sprouted new buds, swaying gracefully in the gentle breeze. It was a picture of peace and tranquility.
Chu Bai, dressed in a dark cyan official robe with the Jade Treasure Gourd at his waist, strolled along the river embankment.
As the captain of the Demon-slaying Team, conducting routine patrols outside the city and liaising with local Water Control Officials were part of his duties.
As he walked, his Divine Thought repeatedly swept the area around him.
Perhaps because of the recent bloody God-Stabbing Case and the purge at Chaotic Bone Ridge, the Sanmu River was exceptionally calm. Not only was there no Evil Qi, but he couldn’t even sense any significant demonic presence.
After completing his business with the local River Patrol Official and inquiring about recent water conditions, Chu Bai did not leave right away. Instead, he made his way to a secluded bend in the river.
He took the Demon Slaying Officer token, which emitted a faint red glow, from his robes. Making a grasping motion, he infused it with Magical Power.
"Stream Water Spirit of the Sanmu River, appear before me."
Chu Bai’s voice was steady, yet it carried an inexplicable authority.
Ripples spread across the calm center of the river. An instant later, a somewhat illusory figure clad in a light blue, gossamer Divine Robe slowly rose from the depths and landed on the bank.
This was the very same Water Uncle who had been gravely injured and left for dead at Threadline Gorge before being rescued by Shi Guanqiao.
With most of his Divine Dao Origin stripped away by the True Spirit Association, his power had plummeted from the equivalent of Qi Cultivation Perfection down to around the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation.
Although his Status remained, his gaunt face was blank and wooden. His eyes were hollow and lifeless as he mechanically bowed to Chu Bai.
"Greetings... Lord Demon Slaying Officer."
His voice was dry and raspy, like dead branches rubbing together.
Chu Bai looked at this True God, who resembled a marionette, but felt no contempt.
Though he was now witless, as the Water Uncle, he was still the Great Zhou Law Net’s anchor in this region, capable of monitoring any disturbance along the dozens of miles of waterway.
After inquiring about recent patrol records and confirming that the Water Uncle was merely performing his duties mechanically, Chu Bai slowly stepped forward and gently pressed his right index finger to the Water Uncle’s forehead.

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