"Do not panic. I bestow upon you a great fortune."
Chu Bai murmured to himself.
In his Sea of Consciousness, the Golden Talisman Decree that symbolized his Golden Seal Decree trembled violently. At that moment, the pure and immense mass of Divine Dao Origin and Incense Fire Will Power he had previously absorbed from the Evil Dao Seal and Ribbon surged back out from his fingertips like a bursting dam.
Chu Bai knew that while this power was a top-grade resource, it was a ’thing of Cause and Effect.’
If it remained in his body, he not only risked detection by the Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator from the Prefecture City, but he might also become entangled in the Divine Dao Will, compromising the purity of his path to the Qingzhou Celestial Ladder.
But by returning it to its original owner, he could not only dispose of this hidden danger in secret, but also help the Water Uncle recover.
The Water Uncle looked at Chu Bai in a daze, feeling the energy, heavy as a mountain, pour into his body. He didn’t know what Chu Bai was doing, but he instinctively felt a warmth and longing deep within his soul.
He did not resist, merely lowering his head obediently.
BOOM!
As the last trace of Divine Dao Origin returned to its place, the once-dim, light-blue Divine Light around the Water Uncle’s body suddenly erupted into golden rays several feet long!
His originally broken and shrunken Origin was forcefully pieced back together in that moment. Although he couldn’t instantly recover to his former peak, his dissipated Spirituality flared like a rekindled ember, instantly lighting up his eyes.
The Water Uncle’s body trembled violently.
Pain, terror, and realization began to surface in his once-empty eyes, followed finally by the fanatical awe of one gazing upon a god.
At this moment, because this power had been filtered and re-bestowed through Chu Bai’s Golden Seal Decree Fate Chart, the depths of the Water Uncle’s will had been branded with Chu Bai’s mark.
He was no longer just a True God sanctioned by Great Zhou.
He had also become a "Disciple" under Chu Bai’s own decree.
"I... I, the Stream Water Spirit..."
The Water Uncle’s form wavered, his once-illusory shadow solidifying. He dropped to his knees in the mud and sand, prostrating himself before Chu Bai in the most solemn of bows. His voice was trembling, yet firm:
"Thank you, Lord... for the grace of Enlightenment and for making me anew!"
’Lord.’
Chu Bai gazed at the vibrant Water Uncle, who had now regained his intelligence, and couldn’t help but feel a slight stir in his heart.
His original intention was simply to return the Origin and gain an informant in the process. He hadn’t expected the power of his Golden Seal Decree to be so tyrannical that it made the Great Zhou True God acknowledge him as master at the Fate Chart level the very moment his Spirituality was restored.
"Rise."
Chu Bai withdrew his hand, his expression returning to its usual cool detachment.
"Henceforth, before the Great Zhou Law Net, you will remain the dutiful yet wit-damaged Water Uncle. In the shadows, however, you will watch over every dark corner of this Sanmu River. If any powers not belonging to the Law Net emerge, you are to report to me at once."
"As you command!"
The Water Uncle rose. His Cultivation had already recovered to Late-stage Qi Cultivation, and his eyes were bright and full of life.
In his eyes, as he looked at Chu Bai, was not only awe, but also an absolute loyalty identical to that of Lord Locust.
Looking at his new "Household Servant," Chu Bai felt reassured.
He had Lord Locust in Dahuai Lane and the Water Uncle on the Sanmu River.
Here in the small Anping County, he had silently woven a web of influence that belonged to him alone.
What’s more, the Water Uncle’s public identity remained, and he still held his divine post.
"Go. Return to your post."
Chu Bai waved his long sleeve.
"I take my leave."
The Water Uncle bowed again, transformed into a stream of azure light, and silently disappeared into the churning river water.
As Chu Bai stood on the riverbank watching the now-calm surface of the water, the last of his worries evaporated.
The seasons turned, and more than half a year slipped by quietly under Anping County’s tranquil facade.
The shocking case of the assassination attempt on the Water Uncle at Threadline Gorge was finally resolved thanks to the decisive intervention from the Prefecture City of Dayuan.
The True Spirit Association, a Wild Cultivator organization, was listed as the number one wanted target within Qingzhou, and all subsequent cleanup and tracking operations were taken over by experts from the Prefecture City.
Although the Anping Evil Suppression Department had rendered distinguished service in the case, both Pang Song and Chu Bai knew the truth. The mastermind had a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in their ranks. After the crushing defeat at Chaotic Bone Ridge, they would undoubtedly retreat like a venomous snake, coiling up in the deep mountains and vast marshes beyond the reach of the Law Net. Finding any trace of them again anytime soon would be next to impossible.
During this period of relative peace, the Water Vein of the Sanmu River also took a turn for the better.
At Chu Bai’s direction, the "Stream Water Spirit" did not display an immediate, full recovery. Instead, he methodically and slowly "regained his intelligence" through the incense of the common people and the offerings from the Water Department.
Half a year passed, and the Divine Spirit finally feigned a return to his former lucidity.
Though his power had yet to return to its peak, it was a night-and-day difference from his previous muddled state.
The Water Department Director, Shi Guanqiao, personally visited the Evil Suppression Department to offer his gratitude. With the True God’s return, Anping County’s water conservancy and shipping traffic returned to good order. It was a joyous outcome for everyone involved.
And during this half-year of living in seclusion, Chu Bai’s Cultivation within Qingfeng Courtyard finally bore its most bountiful fruit.
In the Cultivation Room, although the light from the Five Elements Gathering Spirit Array was subdued, the almost viscous Spiritual Pressure in the air revealed its master’s terrifying progress.
Chu Bai opened his eyes. Inside him, Magical Power surged like a mighty river. After countless cycles of Micro Level compression and refinement, it had accumulated to a critical point. In an explosive moment, it finally shattered the last paper-thin barrier.
Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer!
It had been three years since he’d graduated and joined the Anping Evil Suppression Department. In that time, Chu Bai had advanced at a practically miraculous speed, officially stepping onto the final rung of the Qi Cultivation Realm.

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