Yellow Court Daoist

Water Palace Inner Hall.

Lu Qingfeng sat cross-legged, cultivating.

In his sea of consciousness, boundless pure light was serene and illuminated everything, including his Divine Soul and the thoughts of the Twelve Demon Gods. Bathed in this light, his thoughts raced, making previously difficult and obscure cultivation problems clear and easily solvable.

Enlightenment came with Divine Speed.

Eight hundred and ninety-one Postnatal Scattered Characters scattered at the fringes of his Divine Soul. Normally, they would shine brilliantly, but under the illumination of the Merit Bright Light, they appeared rather ordinary.

And yet,

At the center of his Divine Soul, a more dazzling spirit light shone—it was the single Innate Scattered Character Lu Qingfeng had comprehended over the years.

"A hundred years in the Blood Sea, though bothered by Karma and unable to escape, my cultivation did not fall behind."

"Bolstered by Merit Bright Light."

"Comprehending Postnatal Scattered Characters became as easy as drinking water, similarly reducing the difficulty in understanding cultivation techniques and mastering Innate Scattered Characters."

Under the enhancement of Merit Bright Light and 'Derivation Technique - Enlightenment' during a century of secluded cultivation in the Blood Sea, Lu Qingfeng mastered eight hundred and ninety-one Postnatal Scattered Characters and one Innate Scattered Character.

His Dao ability was now comparable to the Divinity Transformation Realm.

Only his mana was slightly lacking.

With the achievement of his Blood Sea division, although Karma still surged violently, the Blood Sea stabilized and no longer leaked. To increase his mana, Lu Qingfeng could only refine Immortal Crystals.

Rushing through the century, his mana was still somewhat lacking in Fire Control and had not yet reached Perfection.

Whoooosh!

Mana surged violently, and the 'Twelve Heavenly Demon God Skill' continuously operated. The Postnatal and Innate Scattered Characters and cultivation technique subtly integrated, bringing about more insights, deepening Lu Qingfeng's understanding of this Supreme Level cultivation technique.

Outside the Divine Soul.

Three hundred sixty-five Divine Thoughts were arranged in the Celestial Cycle Number, each flowing with light. A single thought activated, and Divine Thoughts spread at will, managing minute details within thirty-six thousand five hundred li. With a single thought, he could break through space and instantaneously transport himself to any location within that range.

This was teleportation.

However, such an action consumed an enormous amount of Divine Thought.

But if combined with Divine Power Escape Techniques like Cloud Top Step or Light Splitting and Shadow Transformation's Void Condensed Sword, not only was the speed faster, but it also expended less Divine Thought.

Greatly superior to pure teleportation.

Cultivating in peace.

In Lu Qingfeng's Dantian, the Twelve Demon Gods' True Bodies surrounded a Golden Core. Outside the Golden Core, fairy crystals floated up and down, radiating halos.

The Ru Shou Demon God held a Heart Lamp, the flame flickering slightly, burning passing mana, refining the fairy crystals, continuously tempering the Golden Core.

The remaining Eleven Demon Gods each respired mana, also tempering the mana and the Golden Core.

Mana surged powerfully.

In the same Nourishing God Realm, Lu Qingfeng's mana, even without counting the Twelve Demon Gods, exceeded other practitioners by many times, a truly infinite mana.

His three zhang six chi tall Divine Soul, far within his sea of consciousness, seemed as if it was right inside the Dantian.

Outside the Divine Soul.

Three hundred sixty-five Divine Thoughts continuously circulated, at times diving into the Divine Soul, merging when they clashed. No matter how Lu Qingfeng managed them, the Divine Thoughts always struggled to gather in one spot inside the Divine Soul.

"Mana is not yet perfect; the Divine Soul cannot settle into the Golden Core."

An enlightenment sprang in Lu Qingfeng's heart.

There were two prerequisites for advancing from the Nourishing God Realm to the Divinity Transformation Realm.

The first,

Achieving three hundred sixty-five Divine Thoughts.

To have enlightened thoughts and focus on Dao ability enhancement. Understanding cultivation techniques, mastering Scattered Characters. With a decent aptitude, after spending hundreds, even thousands of years pondering, one might succeed in forming three hundred sixty-five Divine Thoughts.

Just mere understanding was not difficult for Lu Qingfeng.

Even simpler after creating the Merit Bright Light.

What was extremely challenging for other practitioners, Lu Qingfeng had already achieved first.

The second prerequisite.

Was perfection of mana.

Vigorous mana filled the Dantian, storms brewing. Then, dropping the Divine Soul into the Golden Core.

The moment it settles in, that is the Divinity Transformation Realm.

At the moment, Lu Qingfeng's mana was still slightly short, unable to insert the Divine Soul into the Golden Core, hence he still had to rigorously refine his mana.

However, enhancing Dao ability was the hardest part of cultivation, which Lu Qingfeng had already reached.

The remaining mana threshold was then comparably insignificant.

"With my current pace, in at most ten or twenty years, I can bring the Nourishing God Realm's mana to the Perfection Realm."

Afterwards, naturally progressing into the Divinity Transformation Realm.

Lu Qingfeng closed his eyes to refine the Immortal Crystals, unhurried.

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, three years.

…

On this day.

From within Yinchuan Water Palace, a surge of qi fluctuation awakened Lu Qingfeng from his cultivation. Looking up toward the inner hall, a smile instantly spread across his face.

He saw Ao Le walking leisurely toward him, her qi changing.

Lu Qingfeng recognized at a glance—

"The Golden Core Realm!"

His face filled with even greater joy.

After three years of cultivation, Ao Le finally integrated Gang Sha and refined her mana, breaking through to the Golden Core Realm in one fell swoop.

"Congratulations, my dear."

Lu Qingfeng warmly greeted her, smiling as he spoke.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," Ao Le replied, joy also evident in her eyes.

Promotion to the Golden Core Realm only requires one final step to advance to the Primordial Spirit Realm. Once advanced, given the long life span of the Dragon Clan, one could live for twenty to thirty thousand years, providing ample time for cultivation.

Ecstatic about his realm breakthrough, Ao Le is naturally delighted but also a bit anxious, "The Investigation Department has numerous affairs, and my husband is newly appointed. There's no need to wait for Le'er. Perhaps it would be better for Le'er to join my husband at the Investigation Department and then break through."

Lu Qingfeng sealed the Immortal Crystal within Ao Le, intending to return to the Investigation Department with her.

Unexpectedly, after the Immortal Crystal was integrated, Ao Le grasped the transformation of the Gang Sha and seized the opportunity to advance to the Golden Core. Ao Le persuaded Lu Qingfeng to return to the Department first. However, Lu Qingfeng, unwilling to part, waited in Yinchuan Water Palace, ultimately waiting for three years.

At this stage of breakthrough, Ao Le still worried that someone might accuse Lu Qingfeng of neglecting his duties.

"It doesn't matter."

"The former Investigation God Monarch was of low cultivation, clinging to our ancestral grace to handle the affairs of the Department, showing utmost respect even to the Three Armies Marshal. But I have a great Merit, which the Three Armies Marshal cannot command, and even the Three Armies Grand Marshal has to give me face," Lu Qingfeng said with a smile.

A mere three years of seclusion, no one would dare to trouble him over this affair.

"That's good then."

Heart settled by the reassuring words, Ao Le finally relaxed.

However, since Ao Le has already broken through, the couple no longer intended to stay in Yinchuan. Handing over Yinchuan Water Palace to Ao Jun, they, along with the Divine Generals Zhang Chi and Du Yuanqing, left Yinchuan River and headed straight for the Investigation Department.

As for Ao Zhan.

He was still taking up the position of a Second Grade Divine General and had yet to return; thus, they couldn't bid him farewell.

The journey back was quiet.

Returning to the Divine Office.

...

Bright dawn light mirrored the sky, and pale mist obscured the constellation openings.

Above the clouds.

The Investigation Department was located just beyond the Three Armies, with layers of resplendent Immortal Palaces arranged impressively. The majestic gateway, akin to the legendary South Heavenly Gate of the Heavenly Realm, was adorned with Divine Generals and Armored Soldiers, an imposing sight indeed.

Seeing Lu Qingfeng and his group approaching, they promptly bowed, shouting, "Welcome back, God Monarch!"

They then greeted Zhang Chi and Du Yuanqing.

Observing that the crowd didn't recognize Ao Le, Zhang Chi immediately declared, "This is Ao Le, the new officer of the 'Fire Book Golden Scripture Hall' from the Investigation Department, pay your respects quickly!"

The officers – Managing Five Prisons Evil Records, Examining Divine Officers – are known as 'Deputy Officers for Correcting the Good and Evil of the Three Armies and Exorcising Demons'.

Lu Qingfeng and Ao Le, having reunited, refused to part again.

Lu Qingfeng appointed Ao Le as the 'Officer of the Fire Book Golden Scripture Hall' among the Deputy Officers of the Investigation Department for Correcting Good and Evil of the Three Armies, a Third Grade position overseeing the "Fire Scripture Golden Scripture", monitoring all demons entering or leaving the Five Prisons.

This was to assist her in managing the Investigation Department and to ease the pain of separation from working together.

"Two birds with one stone," they say.

"Salute the Hall Officer God Monarch!"

At this declaration, the soldiers promptly bowed.

The group then moved past the gateway of the Investigation Department straight to the most central, prominent, and splendid palace—

The Exorcism Treasure Hall!

"The Investigation Department's mission to build prisons and save life spirits burdened by darkness, eradicate evils, punish demons, and specifically manage all malevolent beings, both tangible and mobile, on land and water—if unresponsive to Examination, let there be a prison building method. Let the Investigation Generals capture and bring them for Interrogation to uproot the source. Establish the prison accordingly for lawful proceeding."

Entering the 'Exorcism Treasure Hall', Lu Qingfeng broadly introduced the duties of the Investigation Department to Ao Le.

Listening, Ao Le nodded slightly, gaining a deeper understanding of the Investigation Department.

Inside the hall, golden nails and jade doors glistened, and colorful phoenixes danced at the vermilion gates. Corridors and platforms everywhere sparkled with exquisitely detailed designs; layered roofs were adorned with flying dragons and phoenixes.

Truly magnificent.

Inside were stationed Divine Generals and serving celestial maidens.

Lu Qingfeng, accompanied by Ao Le, ascended to the top seat of the grand hall, the throne of the Examination God Monarch.

Below stood Zhang Chi and Du Yuanqing.

Outside, a formidable figure approached striding powerfully with seven Daoists following behind. Entering the hall, the leader bowed deeply to Lu Qingfeng, saying, "Your subordinate Zhang Shu, welcomes the return of the God Monarch!"

Upon closer inspection.

With a scarred face, robust and determined, it was Zhang Shu, the newly appointed Correcting Good and Evil Messenger of the Investigation Department.

Following Zhang Shu.

The seven Daoists lined up and saluted towards the throne, their voices clear, "Daoists of the Seven Stars from Yu Mountain's Swallowing Star Mountain, greeting the God Monarch."

To Lu Qingfeng's amusement, it was the Swallowing Star Seven Ancestors from the Wuwang Sea.

"General Zhang, Seven Daoist Brothers, please, no need for such formalities. This Monarch was preoccupied with urgent duties earlier, making the Seven Daoist Brothers from Swallowing Star Mountain wait, which is truly regrettable."

Lu Qingfeng's voice resonated loudly within the Exorcism Treasure Hall.

Seeing the Swallowing Star Seven Ancestors, his heart mildly brightened.

Taking charge of the Investigation Department, he had removed the former three deputy officers and two Correcting Good and Evil Messengers, leaving only Zhang Chi and Du Yuanqing as significant generals.

Appointing Ao Le as a deputy officer of the Investigation Department was more to share his workload; her combat prowess was negligible.

The same went for Zhang Shu.

While Zhang Shu had promising cultivation potential, smart and fiercely loyal, he was worth nurturing for the future.

But for now, the merely Third Realm pinnacle Zhang Shu, even with three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers, could barely contend with low-tier Primordial Spirit Realm beings like the Soul Slaying elder.

Hardly reliable.

In an extensive Investigation Department, he needed resourceful people.

Thus.

Lu Qingfeng thought of the Swallowing Star Seven Ancestors.

Emerging from Yu Mountain Sect, they shared some connection with both his split persona Luo Fu and his true self.

When Chi Bai turned traitor to join the demons, Lu Qingfeng, with the persona as Yu Mountain Sect Leader, leveraged his influence to summon the Swallowing Star Seven Ancestors to execute Chi Bai, considerably alleviating Ao Zhan's culpability.

Better to employ the acquainted.

All seven were Primordial Spirit Practitioners, idly stationed at Swallowing Star Mountain, fitting perfectly for Lu Qingfeng's needs.