Cultivation: From Poor Peasant to Celestial Lord

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Mrs. Li held a freshly made hot flatbread, insisting on stuffing it into Chu Bai’s pack.

"Father, Mother, you should head back now."

Chu Bai shouldered his satchel and gave his parents a deep bow. "The county isn’t far. I’m much faster on my feet now, so I’ll come back to see you whenever I have free time."

"Alright, go on now," Mrs. Li couldn’t help but add. "A government job pays well, but yours involves slaying demons. You must take care of yourself!"

Chu Bai nodded firmly. Without further hesitation, he turned and set foot on the winding dirt path that led away from his home.

Several miles from the village entrance, once he was sure there were no other travelers around, Chu Bai took a deep breath and his Spiritual Power surged.

The crimson Fire Element Ring on his wrist emitted a clear, sonorous hum.

In the next instant, a blazing Spiritual Light enveloped him. Chu Bai kicked off the ground forcefully, shooting forward like a crimson arrow loosed from a bow, covering dozens of yards in a flash.

The wind roared in his ears as the scenery on either side blurred and flew backward into indistinct afterimages.

Fire Step Ascension at full power!

A few days ago, moving at this speed would have made his vision blur. He would have had to rely on instinct and a general sense of direction to travel.

But today was completely different.

Even as he sped along, everything around him remained perfectly clear.

This was thanks to his bitter, round-the-clock cultivation of the Guardian Scripture over the past few days.

Although he was still a long way from reaching Minor Achievement and could only extend his Divine Thought a little over ten feet, his perceptual acuity of his surroundings had already taken a qualitative leap.

Suddenly, Chu Bai twisted in mid-air, forcefully shifting three feet to the side.

SNAP!

In the patch of grass right where he would have landed, a rusty but still sharp bear trap snapped shut with a cringe-inducing crack.

If an ordinary Cultivator had stepped on that while moving at high speed, their Spiritual Power would have prevented a broken leg, but they would have definitely been left in a sorry state.

Chu Bai landed steadily dozens of feet away. He glanced back at the masterfully hidden trap, a smile playing on his lips.

’I didn’t see it with my naked eye. I ’sensed’ its faint metallic qi a step ahead of time.’

Such were the benefits of cultivating the Divine Soul.

While he had yet to cultivate a true Divine Sense scan, this keen intuition was often the line between life and death in a real fight.

’It seems this arduous training wasn’t a waste of time after all.’

In high spirits, Chu Bai once again activated his Fire Element Ring and shot off toward Anping County like a crimson rainbow.

...

In the center of Anping County, the area to the east of the old County Yamen had been completely transformed.

Two adjacent courtyards had been combined and expanded into a grand, imposing, vermilion-painted Government Office.

Two stone lions, each as tall as three men, glared from the entrance, exuding a stern and murderous aura. Above the main gate, the words "Evil Suppression Department" were written in powerful, golden calligraphy on a black plaque, seeming to faintly reek of blood.

This was the new face of the two merged departments.

The constables coming and going were no longer as lax as before. Each one wore a long saber at their waist, moved with purpose, and carried a faint trace of Evil Qi.

The occasional Cultivators in Daoist Robes who passed through also wore grim expressions.

Chu Bai met Hu Hao at the entrance. After announcing their names and presenting their credentials, they were led to the Martial Arts Arena in front of the main hall.

By this time, quite a few people were already standing in the arena.

There were veterans from the former Law Enforcement and Demon Slaying Departments, as well as newly recruited experts.

Before long, the sound of steady, powerful footsteps approached.

Zhang Cheng, dressed in the crimson robes of a Regular Seventh Grade official with an Official Seal at his waist, strode onto the Commander Platform.

Behind him followed several deputies with profound auras. One of them, a pale-faced man with a goatee and sinister eyes, was Li Gou, the Deputy Director who had belonged to the County Magistrate’s faction.

Zhang Cheng’s gaze swept across the arena, lingering on Chu Bai for a moment before he announced in a resonant voice:

"Demons are running rampant, and evil is spreading. The Imperial Court has merged the Law Enforcement and Demon Slaying Departments to establish the Evil Suppression Department, all for the sake of peace and security for our people! Today, the Evil Suppression Department welcomes new blood. I expect all of you to work together as one to slay these demons!"

With the formalities out of the way, it was time for the most important part: the appointments.

"Announcing Chu Bai, former student of the Dayuan Prefecture Daoist School and top-ranking Immortal Official candidate! Step forward to receive your appointment!"

As Zhang Cheng’s powerful voice rang out, all eyes in the crowd below fell upon Chu Bai, filled with curiosity, envy, and scrutiny.

With a calm expression, Chu Bai stepped out from the crowd, walked onto the Commander Platform, and bowed with clasped hands.

Zhang Cheng looked at the young man before him, his eyes filled with satisfaction. From a tray, he took a brand-new uniform and a heavy waist token, handing them over with great solemnity.

"Chu Bai, you possess the White Talisman and have distinguished yourself as the top student of the Daoist School. Upon my recommendation as Director, and with the approval of the County Magistrate, I hereby confer upon you the rank of Junior Ninth-Grade Patrol Banner Inspector!"

"This position is not subordinate to any squad. You will be responsible for patrolling the entire jurisdiction, acting as an inspector for any oversights. When you encounter demons, you will slay them; when you encounter evil, you will suppress it! I trust you will not fail to live up to your training!"

A low murmur of commotion immediately spread through the crowd below the platform.

A Patrol Banner Inspector!

It was a special position.

Although the rank was only Junior Ninth Grade—the same as a squad captain—its greatest feature was its independence.

They weren’t under any squad’s command, reported directly to the Director, and held the authority of an Inspector. It was a position that was both prestigious and held real power.

Chu Bai accepted the tray with both hands. It felt heavy.

The uniform was solid black, made of a tough, resilient material. A single-horned xiezhi, symbolizing the ability to distinguish right from wrong and punish evil, was embroidered on the chest in silver thread.

The Profound Iron Waist Token, meanwhile, pulsed with a faint Spiritual Power. It was clearly a miniature Dharma Artifact.