The lamplight flickered in the private chamber.
Chu Bai looked up, meeting Shen Xuance’s scrutinizing gaze. He spoke slowly, uttering eight words:
"The Spiritual Mechanism between Heaven and Earth... is ultimately finite."
Upon hearing Chu Bai’s eight-word answer, the look of appreciation in Shen Xuance’s eyes deepened, and he nodded slowly in approval.
"Correct."
"The Spiritual Mechanism of Heaven and Earth is finite, like the water in this cup. One person drinking from it can quench their thirst, but if ten thousand people drink from it, the cup will run dry."
Shen Xuance pointed to the teacup on the low table, his tone solemn. "That is why our Great Zhou established Daoist Schools, investigates household registrations, and regulates the world’s cultivators. One may only cultivate after receiving a talisman.
"It is not that the Court is stingy, but that we have no choice. If everyone were to grow recklessly like weeds, with no reverence and no sense of giving back, this world... would have long since fallen into chaos, following in the footsteps of the Cyan Nether Realm."
At this, he gave Chu Bai a deep look, a clear allusion to his previous act of devouring an entire realm.
Then, Shen Xuance’s tone shifted, laced with a hint of regret and helplessness. "The results of the Celestial Examination are now set, though the final rankings will take a few more days to process.
"But I can state with certainty that with your ability to turn a desperate tide, the title of ’Number One in Qingzhou’ is already in your grasp."
"This is an immense honor, and a moment of glory our Dayuan Prefecture hasn’t seen in a century."
"But..."
Shen Xuance’s fingers tapped lightly on the desk, and he let out a soft sigh. "Merit is merit, and a transgression is a transgression. The act of Foundation Establishment Without Talisman violates the fundamental laws of cultivation in Great Zhou. It is not something that can be simply offset by the title of ’First Place’."
"If we make an exception for you today because of your unparalleled talent, what happens when another prodigy decides to follow your example and treat the law as nothing? Once that floodgate is opened, the future ramifications will be profound. The state will lose its authority."
Chu Bai’s expression remained calm, betraying no hint of alarm at these words.
He knew very well that rules were rules.
"Since that is the law, I will accept the punishment."
Chu Bai straightened his posture, looked Shen Xuance directly in the eye, and asked the crucial question. "I only wish to know... do you, Lord Shen, and the laws of the Court intend to take my life?"
Under the Great Zhou Laws, Wild Cultivators were generally scorned, but the term was mostly applied to those who committed crimes or practiced Evil Techniques. The Government often turned a blind eye to ordinary, law-abiding Wild Cultivators at the Qi Cultivation stage. As long as they didn’t stir up trouble, the authorities couldn’t even be bothered to intervene.
But Foundation Establishment was different.
This wasn’t merely a leap in power level; it concerned the method of advancement itself.
It was just like with the True Spirit Association, the Wild Cultivator organization Chu Bai had once dismantled. When Zhang Cheng learned that its leader was suspected of possessing a Secret Technique for Foundation Establishment, his attitude instantly shifted from routine extermination to high-priority concern.
The reason was simple: the method for Foundation Establishment was a strategic resource, and more importantly, the key to the Court’s monopoly on power.
In the eyes of those in power, a single person who controlled an independent method of Foundation Establishment was more dangerous than a hundred rioting Qi Cultivators.
Hearing the three words "take my life," Shen Xuance couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head.
"Must you be so dramatic? You think me too narrow-minded, and you think Great Zhou too heartless."
Shen Xuance stood up, clasping his hands behind his back. "Our Dayuan Prefecture has, with great difficulty, produced a peerless scion capable of overshadowing all Thirty-Six Prefectures of Qingzhou. If I were to turn around and send you to the Demon-Slaying Platform, wouldn’t I, Shen Xuance, be a fool cutting off his own arm? That is a glory our Dayuan Prefecture still wants to claim."
Hearing this, Chu Bai was greatly relieved.
’As long as I don’t have to die,’ he thought, ’the rest is just a matter of negotiation.’
"Rest assured."
Shen Xuance’s tone softened, taking on a conciliatory note. "Though this matter is difficult, it is not a hopeless situation. When the Merit Department passes judgment, I will do my best to put in a good word for you. I’ll describe the desperate circumstances and frame your actions as a ’necessary measure in a time of crisis’."
At this, Shen Xuance’s brow furrowed slightly, as if he had thought of a difficult complication.
"It’s just... there is one variable."
"Director Hee Wenyan’s attitude on this matter is difficult to fathom. With a single act, you destroyed a Spirit Realm that could have been a sustainable resource. For the Celestial Observatory, that represents a tremendous loss."
Chu Bai’s heart skipped a beat.
That Purple Mansion Master was famously inscrutable. Though he hadn’t lashed out in the great hall, his final words had left the matter full of suspense.
’If that powerful figure holds a grudge,’ Chu Bai thought, ’and decides to slant his report to the Merit Department ever so slightly, my ’merits cancelling out transgressions’ will likely become ’transgressions outweighing merits’.’
But what was done was done; there was no use dwelling on it.
Chu Bai looked at Lord Shen, a man who clearly cherished talent and was now proactively extending an olive branch. He understood perfectly. Whatever happened, the stance of Dayuan Prefecture was to be on his side.
"In that case, thank you for your protection, Lord Shen."
Chu Bai cupped his fist in a solemn salute.
"Rest for a few days for now," Shen Xuance said with a wave of his hand. He dispelled the Restriction and turned to leave.
For the next few days, the Examination Department was a hub of activity, bustling with people and a constant stream of carriages.
With the Celestial Examination concluded and its ten thousand candidates returned, the massive undertaking of tabulating scores, finalizing ranks, and navigating the political games of various factions had everyone in the Examination Department running off their feet. They were so busy it felt like they could have polished the stone lions at the entrance three times over.
Meanwhile, Chu Bai, the man at the center of the storm, had become the only idle person in all of Dayuan Prefecture.
Confined to the private chamber to "rest and recuperate," he shut out the world. His sole focus was on refining his newly forged Circulation Wheel Dao Foundation, bit by bit digesting the massive resources he had devoured that day and converting them into his own power.
One day, the door to his private chamber was knocked upon once more.
A Petty Official in cyan robes entered with a deep bow. His demeanor was exceptionally respectful as he said in a low voice:
"Lord Chu, it is time."

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