I Can Extract Divine Power

After he finished speaking, Eunuch Chen turned his gaze to another woman dressed in white.

"Dean, is this the woman, Qin Shuang? The one you were willing to offend the Head of the General Department to snatch as your successor?" Eunuch Chen asked.

The middle-aged man who had been waving a folded fan snapped it shut. "That's right. Qin Shuang's talent far surpasses my own. After starting her cultivation anew, her power has soared. It's truly terrifying."

When these words were spoken, Prime Minister Cao snorted, his eyes filled with disapproval.

"For such a fine talent to not enter the Court and serve as an official is a true pity."

The Dean chuckled. "A Scholar's path doesn't have to lead to officialdom. What's wrong with pursuing the ultimate truths found in books? Prime Minister, you're taking this too far."

Prime Minister Cao flicked his sleeve. "Nonsense. Possessing the ability to bring order to the world but refusing to serve it is nothing but empty talk."

The Dean sneered, preparing to continue.

Both men were among the finest Scholars in the Great Zhou Country, yet their philosophies were completely different.

Prime Minister Cao championed serving the world as an official, while the Dean believed one should dedicate themselves to exploring the ultimate truths within books.

Back when they had all followed the Saint Martial Emperor to conquer the land, the two had never seen eye to eye.

The Head of the General Department, seeing they were about to come to blows, coughed and said, "Are you two really going to fight? Is your situation worse than mine?"

The others turned to him, their expressions puzzled.

The Head of the General Department straightened his slightly disheveled hair. "Zhou Qing was snatched away, and people are coveting Shen Bai. Damn it, they're all my people, and you all just take them by force."

He had completely disregarded his status and sworn.

Marshal Yang looked a little sheepish.

Eunuch Chen, feeling no embarrassment whatsoever, said, "I'm merely borrowing him. What are you getting so worked up about? I'm not even worked up."

"Hah," the Head of the General Department simply sneered.

These few individuals represented the pinnacle of the Great Zhou Country's power, yet right now, they seemed like squabbling children.

Even though they had once shielded each other from blades and spears, they still got on each other's nerves.

Just as they were bickering, a sudden uproar broke the silence of the plaza.

They all looked up at the sky.

From high in the sky, a blurry figure descended, landing steadily on the ground.

Shen Bai stood with a sword in one hand and his other hand behind his back.

A light breeze swept past, making Shen Bai's black robes flutter.

Many of the young prodigies from other nations turned to look at Shen Bai, their eyes burning with a deep desire for battle.

Not long ago on the street, their guardians had prevented them from stepping forward, and Shen Bai had made them lose face. But things were different now. Once inside the Celestial Pride Hall, life and death would be left to fate.

Shen Bai raised an eyebrow, ignoring the stares, and walked over to Zhou Qing and the others.

Ouyang Sword approached with a few old friends.

Shen Bai introduced the two groups to each other, then asked, "How much longer until the Celestial Pride Hall opens?"

Shen Bai was the last to arrive, as he had been waiting for Red Makeup to finish evolving.

Qin Shuang leaned in and whispered, "Probably in about half an hour."

As they spoke, many of the prodigies from the Great Zhou Country gathered around.

They formed a circle with Shen Bai at its center, as if to protect him.

Shen Bai glanced around at them and frowned.

One of the young men stepped forward. "Lord Shen, don't worry. You won back our pride for the Great Zhou Country on the street that day. This time, inside the Celestial Pride Hall, if they gang up on you, we'll help you."

"That's right! They're bullying us right to our faces! Do they think the Great Zhou Country has no one left to fight?" another young man added.

"Don't worry, Lord Shen. We may not be the strongest, but we can still do our part."

"The weaker prodigies... with three of us to one of them, we can clear out a lot of the obstacles for you, Lord Shen."

Everyone chimed in one after another, their voices filled with excitement.

Shen Bai rubbed his chin. "I appreciate the sentiment from all of you. But once we're inside, it's life and death. Your own survival is what matters most. You are all the future pillars of the Great Zhou Country."

He spoke with the tone of someone from an older generation.

But hearing it from him, no one felt it was out of place.

After all, given Shen Bai's strength, it was perfectly normal for him to speak that way.

Zhou Qing gripped the long saber at his waist. "Lao Shen, I can finally fight alongside you."

Back in Shengyun County, Shen Bai had often looked out for him. Now, Zhou Qing had matured and was far more composed than before.

Shen Bai nodded.

Just then, a different voice cut in.

"Hah. You all look so united. But in the face of absolute power, all of this is just empty talk."

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw a young man with a mocking look in his eyes.

"That's Li Ruofeng from the Great Yue Country. They say he's already reached the Void Realm. He's a master of the Soul-Extinction Hand, a technique that attacks a person's Divine Soul," Ouyang Sword explained.

Li Ruofeng sneered. "Your information is good, but information alone isn't enough. Shen Bai, once we're inside, let's see what you're really made of."

Shen Bai rubbed his chin. "Who left their gate open and let this dog out?"

At these words, someone couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Li Ruofeng's expression faltered. "All talk."

Shen Bai said calmly, "You'd better pray for one thing."

Li Ruofeng frowned. "What are you trying to say?"

Shen Bai smiled without a word, but the killing intent radiating from him was almost tangible.

When Li Ruofeng felt Shen Bai's killing intent, it was as if a mountain was crushing him, and his entire body went numb.

Just then, a voice rang out.

Eunuch Chen cleared his throat. "The time has come. Open the Celestial Pride Hall."

As his voice faded, Eunuch Chen took out a tablet.

The tablet looked ordinary, as black as ink, but a special energy was circulating across its surface.

Once the tablet was out, Eunuch Chen infused a stream of Qi into it.