Outside the gates of the Merit Department in Dayuan Prefecture.
The setting sun was the color of blood, its final crimson rays spreading across the horizon. It cast a long, almost oppressive shadow from the black edifice that symbolized absolute law and a rigid hierarchy.
Chu Bai stepped through the vermilion gates that symbolized judgment, his pace faltering for a moment.
He sent his Divine Thought into the Storage Bag in his sleeve. Inside, the rewards specially approved by the Merit Department lay quietly.
Besides the five thousand Spirit Stones and the life-saving Merit Golden Scroll, what concerned Chu Bai the most was the Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation Technique he had been allowed to choose.
After a quick look through the Scripture Pavilion just now, he had finally selected an ancient manual called the Five Elements Unification Technique.
While this technique was not one of extreme lethality, its strength lay in its profound concept. It focused on unifying the Five Elements, gathering the Spiritual Mechanism of all creation into one’s own Chenn Palace—that is, the Dantian—to create an endless, self-sustaining cycle.
It was a match made in heaven for his Circulation Wheel Dao Foundation, which could command and transform the Five Elements.
’With this technique, I now have a way to refine my Foundation Establishment Spiritual Power during the journey.’
Chu Bai felt a sense of reassurance, but then he noticed a strange sensation in his chest.
The golden shackles, personally placed on him by a Purple Mansion Master, had trembled slightly the moment he stepped out of the gate.
The directive had pointed the way, but these shackles were a constant reminder of the prohibition—
He must not return south.
As long as he didn’t turn back, the pressure from the shackles wasn’t great. But if he developed any thought of returning before traveling the full 30,000 li, they would become a death sentence.
Chu Bai lowered his head and glanced at his attire.
It wasn’t a prisoner’s uniform, but a brand-new cyan official robe, issued by the Merit Department according to regulations.
The fabric was exquisite, faintly shimmering with light. Hanging from his waist was the Cyan Talisman Jade Token that represented his status as a Foundation Establishment Immortal Official, as well as the Demon Slaying Token that had been with him since his humble beginnings, stained with the blood of countless demons.
Although he was nominally a "Sinful Official in exile," burdened with immense debt and punishment, Chu Bai stood on the steps with a composed expression, his aura as profound as a great abyss and as immovable as a mountain.
The setting sun gilded his profile, making him look not at all like a prisoner about to be banished to the barbaric wilds. Instead, he resembled a high-ranking Governor, about to embark on a long journey to inspect his domain.
’North. 30,000 li.’
Chu Bai got his bearings. Without a single glance back at the bustling Dayuan Prefecture City, he strode forward along the wide Black Tortoise Dao, heading straight for the North City Gate.
His footsteps echoed on the empty street.
Half a step behind and to his side, a middle-aged man in a Regular Eighth-Grade Judge’s Robe followed silently, like a shadow.
It was the Merit Judge, Li De’an.
Throughout this farewell escort, Li De’an had not said a word.
He glanced sideways at the impossibly young man beside him. He looked at that face, which he could vaguely recall from the Daoist School’s Immortal Official Examination years ago, but which had now shed all its immaturity and become unfathomable. His heart was filled with a mix of emotions.
’It has only been a few years since we parted at the Daoist School...’
Li De’an lamented inwardly.
Back then, he had sat high upon the Bright Mirror Platform as the Chief Examiner, watching this boy from a Humble Family first display his brilliance in the trials. He had granted him the White Talisman and encouraged him on his path.
And now, that boy had already grown to his own level—a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, a Cyan Register Immortal Official.
’In terms of combat strength and depth of cultivation, I, his ’senior,’ probably couldn’t catch up to him even if I tried.’
’If this child had been born at the founding of the Great Zhou, he would surely have been a wise minister or a great general. It’s just a pity...’
Li De’an thought of the political games played by the Purple Mansion Masters in the main hall earlier.
As a senior Judge of the Junior Sixth Grade, he was a somebody in the Prefecture City. But in front of major figures like Zhu Wuji and Hee Wenyan, his status was low and his words carried no weight. He could only watch helplessly as Chu Bai was used as a pawn in their game and exiled to the Extreme North.
Beyond his pride in Chu Bai’s growth, he felt an even greater sense of regret at being powerless to change his fate.
’I wonder what he’ll be like when he returns. This 30,000-li journey will not be easy...’
The two walked in silence to the end of Black Tortoise Dao. Ahead, the tall archery tower of the North City Gate was already visible.
Suddenly, Chu Bai stopped.
He turned and gave a solemn bow to Li De’an, who had escorted him all this way.
"Thank you for escorting me, Judge."
Li De’an was slightly taken aback. He quickly returned the bow and said with a wry smile, "It is my duty, but also... I personally wanted to see you off. I only regret that my words carry so little weight. I was unable to help you at all in the main hall."
"You are too kind, sir. Keeping my Official Status is already the best possible outcome."
Chu Bai’s expression was carefree. Then, as if remembering something, a hint of apology flashed in his eyes.
"I am heading to the Extreme North, and my return is uncertain. My roots in Dayuan Prefecture are shallow; there are only a couple of old acquaintances I am concerned about."
"If it’s convenient, Judge, could you please inform my senior brother, Lü Qing?"
"I promised him that after the Celestial Examination, we would drink our fill at the best tavern in the Prefecture City and then return to the Daoist School to visit our masters. It seems I must now break that promise."
Chu Bai sighed softly and clasped his hands in salute to Li De’an again.
"I must trouble you to relay a message for me. Tell him that when I, Chu Bai, return from exile, I will bring a jug of fine wine and apologize to him in person."
Hearing this, Li De’an looked at the young man before him, who so clearly valued friendship and honor, and nodded solemnly.
"Rest assured. I will deliver your message."
"If Lord Zhang Cheng from your County knew you’ve already forged your Dao Foundation, even if it is for exile, he’d probably laugh and scold you for ’finally making something of yourself’ before waiting for your return."
"Go now. Don’t look back."
"The Extreme North may be far, but the sky is high and the sea is vast there."
"Thank you for your auspicious words, sir!"
Chu Bai laughed heartily, with no further hesitation.
He turned, and with a great sweep of his sleeves, strode forward like a shooting star into the blood-red sunset and the biting evening wind.
After leaving the north gate of Dayuan Prefecture and walking some distance along the official road, he reached the Ten-Li Farewell Pavilion.

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