I Can Extract Divine Power

"Director-General, I’ll be taking my leave," Shen Bai said.

The Director-General nodded. "Go on. If you have time, feel free to stop by for a visit."

Shen Bai didn’t linger and turned to leave.

...

As for a place to stay, Shen Bai didn’t find it to be a problem.

He simply found an inn to stay at, not bothering anyone else.

After Shen Bai sat down, Amber and Red Makeup both emerged.

One began massaging his shoulders, the other his legs.

Shen Bai was long used to this by now.

He rested for a moment, then opened the space of his Life and Death Storage Skill and took out the four Deceitful Objects he had obtained from Master Wuxin.

He hadn’t appraised them when he arrived because of the ambush by the Demonic Forces.

Now that he had the time, he could finally get to it.

’I still have seven wisps of Evil Qi. That should be enough,’ Shen Bai thought.

He currently had seven wisps of Evil Qi. Appraising these Deceitful Objects would cost four wisps at most, leaving him with three.

Although the remaining three weren’t of much use.

With this in mind, Shen Bai took out the first Deceitful Object and began to appraise it.

...

Time trickled by, and in the blink of an eye, the night was over.

When morning came the next day, Shen Bai stretched.

A line of smoke materialized before him, gradually condensing into words that floated in mid-air.

[Spirit Casting Technique Lv. 4 (Casting +8, Fault Tolerance +8, Commander +8, Soul Absorption +8): 8,000/10,000]

[Void-breaking Cyan Eye Lv. 4 (Investigation +8, Tracking +8, Deterrence +8, Weakness +8): 8,000/10,000]

One of the four Deceitful Objects was converted into Skill Level for Spirit Casting Technique. The technique itself had already undergone three conversions, leaving it with an excess of 4,000 Skill Points. After a fourth conversion, its total reached 8,000 Skill Points.

As for Void-breaking Cyan Eye, it had gained 6,000 Skill Points through three conversions. Shen Bai had then ground out another 2,000 points on his way here, also bringing it to the 8,000 mark.

’So, my biggest headache right now should be Evil Qi,’ Shen Bai thought to himself.

Both Divine Powers were Level 4, which meant they had both reached the brink of their second qualitative transformation.

Each Divine Power required ten wisps of Evil Qi for this second transformation, but Shen Bai only had three wisps left—not nearly enough.

’I wonder if there are any oddities in this Xuanjing City.’

Shen Bai thought, ’It’s a shame. According to the rules, I can’t accept missions at the Observatory headquarters. Otherwise, I’d definitely find a way to get some Evil Qi.’

That was the thought, but Shen Bai knew full well that, for now, he had no way to obtain more Evil Qi.

’Whatever. I’ll go get something to eat first. After that, I still have to go to the Imperial Palace to see the Emperor,’ Shen Bai decided, not dwelling on it further.

He would deal with the matter at hand first. The Evil Qi was a problem for later.

With this in mind, Shen Bai called for Amber and Red Makeup, and they went out together.

...

As the foremost of all Capital Cities, Xuanjing City’s prosperity was plain for all to see.

After finding a random place to eat, Shen Bai headed toward the Imperial Palace alone.

Many Jianghu People who saw Shen Bai couldn’t help but turn their gazes toward him.

Their looks were a mixture of curiosity, awe, and an eagerness to test his skills.

Shen Bai was indifferent to this.

He was long used to it.

When he reached the gates of the Imperial Palace, the soldiers on guard radiated a terrifying aura.

Even a common soldier displayed extraordinary strength.

This was Xuanjing City, where even the smallest details reflected its profound heritage and power.

’I wonder why Marquis Fengjiang dared to rebel.’

Shen Bai mused to himself before presenting his token and entering the Imperial Palace.

The token worked surprisingly well. The soldiers didn’t even give it a second glance before letting Shen Bai into the Imperial Palace.

However, once inside, Shen Bai ran into a problem.

The place was enormous.

The Imperial Palace was no ordinary place, after all. The size of a single courtyard was enough to leave one disoriented.

He needed to get to the Imperial Study where the Emperor was, but as for where the Imperial Study actually was... that was an awkward problem.

Just then, a little eunuch happened to walk by, so Shen Bai stopped him to ask for directions.

"The Imperial Study is over there. You can head straight there, my lord. With Eunuch Chen’s token, you won’t be stopped," the little eunuch explained quietly, his eyes lowered respectfully.

Shen Bai nodded and, without another word, headed in the direction the little eunuch had pointed.

Nothing unusual happened along the way.

In truth, it was likely impossible to encounter danger within the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Study was located in the very center of the Imperial Palace and had always been the place where the Emperor handled official business.

When Shen Bai arrived before the classical building, the two Sword-Carrying Guards at the entrance bowed.

"My lord, please wait a moment. His Majesty is currently handling a family matter."

A family matter?

This was the first time Shen Bai had heard such a thing.

But since the guards had said so, he couldn’t just force his way in.

Thinking this, Shen Bai found a spot and began to wait patiently.

After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, an angry voice erupted from within the room.

Although the voice sounded furious, it maintained a certain rationality amidst the anger.

"Second Son, We sent you to the Academy to study, yet you neglect your duties there to learn the arts of the Daoist School! Do you find this amusing?"

"Regarding the position of Crown Prince, We believe in fairness. We sent your eldest brother to learn military command, you to study the classics and histories, and your third brother to learn the ways of commerce."

"Though unrelated, these were all in your respective areas of talent. And now you tell Us you want to study the Daoist Sect’s teachings simply because you ’like’ them, and that you no longer want the position of Crown Prince?"

"Come here. Hold out your hand!"