Cultivation: From Poor Peasant to Celestial Lord

"But who would have thought that fellow would be so incorruptible! Not only did he reject my gifts to my face, he even noted it down with a cold look. He must have taken a disliking to me. My ’Good’ rating is probably going down the drain."

Hearing this, Chu Bai sighed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

’It seems this year’s Merit Envoy is truly different from the usual greedy types. He’s a man of principle who follows the rules.’

However, for someone like him who had risen through the ranks on a record of solid battlefield achievements, a Merit Envoy who couldn’t be bribed was actually a very good thing.

"Rest easy, Brother Pang. As long as you have a clear conscience, the Merit Department will handle things impartially."

Chu Bai offered a word of comfort, then brushed off his sleeves, adjusted his official robe, and strode toward the quiet chamber where the audit was taking place.

As he stepped into the quiet chamber, a cool, solemn aura washed over him.

Chu Bai looked up and saw an ancient Bronze Treasure Mirror hanging in the center of the room. Its surface shimmered like water, and faint runes could be seen flowing within it—this was the famous Heart-Inquiry Mirror of the Immortal Dynasty.

If the person being audited uttered a single false word while recounting their accomplishments, the mirror’s surface would glow red as a warning. At that point, not only would all their merits be nullified, but a negative report would also be filed against them.

Beneath the mirror sat two Merit Envoys in black official robes, a primary and a vice.

Chu Bai took a step forward, about to salute and state his rank, but when his eyes fell on the face of the main envoy in the primary seat, he couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.

And the young senior official, who had been stern-faced while reviewing a scroll, showed a look of extreme astonishment the moment he looked up and saw who had arrived.

"Senior Brother Lü?" Chu Bai exclaimed in surprise.

"Junior Brother Chu!"

The young senior official shot to his feet, the icy, unapproachable expression on his face instantly melting away.

This was none other than Lü Qing, who had graduated from the Daoist School with Chu Bai.

Meeting again after more than half a year, at this time and place, and in these roles—the surprise was mutual.

Lü Qing looked at Chu Bai, dressed in a dark cyan official robe with an aura as deep and calm as still water, and felt a considerable stir in his heart.

When they had both secured positions as Immortal Officials, Lü Qing had been selected for the Merit Department due to his talent with his Divine Soul. Now, as a Junior Ninth Grade Merit Envoy, he traveled between counties to judge merits and faults. He held a certain degree of power over life and death, and in the eyes of others, his career was already soaring, his future boundless.

But what about Chu Bai?

A Regular Ninth Grade Demon Slaying Officer!

Not only was his rank a full step higher than Lü Qing’s, but he also held real power, commanding troops as a team leader. This was far beyond what a traveling auditor like him could compare to.

Lü Qing had just been reading through the submitted files and was already amazed at his former classmate’s promotion speed.

Seeing him in person now, he found Chu Bai’s condensed aura even more absurd. This monstrous growth made him give a wry smile inwardly. ’The prodigy from our Daoist School days is still a force to be reckoned with out in the provinces.’

However, this was an official occasion. The two exchanged a look, nodded slightly, and refrained from catching up just then.

"Demon Slaying Officer Chu Bai, the records state that during your tenure, you eliminated the Sanmu River Demon, purged the parasites of the Luu Family, reorganized the County Yamen’s forces, and brought stability to the region under your jurisdiction, allowing the people’s livelihood to recover. Your achievements have been classified as ’Excellent’."

The middle-aged Vice Envoy sitting beside Lü Qing began to speak.

This man was around forty, with a stern, old-fashioned face. He was not an Immortal Official by background like Lü Qing, but an ordinary Official who had only been granted a White Talisman after many years of service. His future potential was limited.

Since Lü Qing and Chu Bai knew each other, the formal inquiry was being led by this Vice Envoy to avoid any appearance of favoritism.

The middle-aged man’s gaze was like a hawk’s, fixed on Chu Bai and the Heart-Inquiry Mirror hanging above him. He asked in a deep voice, "Is all of this true?"

Chu Bai’s expression was calm. Neither obsequious nor arrogant, he cupped his hands and said, "It was merely my duty. These are but minor accomplishments."

BANG!

The middle-aged Vice Envoy slammed his hand on the table. His tone suddenly turned sharp, his official authority flaring. "Minor accomplishments? The records state that when you slew the Water Monkey under the command of the Pseudo-God ’Sanmu Fairy’, your Cultivation was only at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer."

"Even with assistance from the Water Department, for someone at your level to kill a Long-Established Demon with Late-stage Qi Cultivation is, by the logic of the Law, utterly preposterous!"

He leaned forward, questioning sharply, each word deliberate, "Lord Chu, there are no lies under the Heart-Inquiry Mirror. Tell me the truth: have the merits for this case been exaggerated or falsely reported in any way?"

The sharp question landed like a clap of thunder, and the air in the quiet chamber instantly grew taut to the breaking point.

Lü Qing sat to the side. Although he knew this was a standard interrogation tactic of the Merit Department—the "Fiercely Inquiring the Heart," which used verbal pressure to expose flaws in the subject’s testimony—he couldn’t help but frown upon hearing the man question Chu Bai’s combat prowess.

’Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer killing a Late Stage?’

’Even if he didn’t defeat it alone, to get the final credit for the kill is still absolutely extraordinary.’

If he weren’t Chu Bai’s former classmate and didn’t know that the man’s combat ability defied common sense, he too would have probably thought the report was nonsense.

’If it were anyone else, I probably wouldn’t believe it either. But since it’s Junior Brother Chu...’

Yet, under such pressure, Chu Bai’s expression remained completely unfazed.

He stood quietly under the light of the Heart-Inquiry Mirror, meeting the middle-aged Vice Envoy’s gaze without flinching. His tone was as steady as ever. "It is true.

That day on the Sanmu Riverbank, all my brothers from the Demon-slaying Guard, the Inspector from the Water Department, and the surviving local citizens were all there to witness it.

If the Senior Envoy has doubts, you are free to question them one by one.

And if you still doubt the report, I suggest you go to the Sanmu River Beach and see the demon’s boneyard for yourself."

As he spoke, the Heart-Inquiry Mirror suspended in mid-air remained as calm as a lake, without the slightest flicker of red light.

The middle-aged Vice Envoy stared at Chu Bai for a long time, then glanced at the motionless Treasure Mirror. The sharpness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a look of deep reverence.

He had been in charge of Merit Examinations for years and had seen countless officials grow flustered and evasive at this stage, but he had never seen a young man with such rock-solid composure.

The judgment of merits and faults determined one’s future path of promotion, so naturally, some had tried to falsify their records.

The middle-aged Vice Envoy let out a long breath, his tense posture relaxing. He actually stood up and cupped his hands toward Chu Bai. "A clear conscience confirms your Merit. Lord Chu, you are a prodigy of our generation, with world-shocking combat prowess. This is truly a blessing for our Great Zhou."

A hint of apology appeared on his face as he said with a wry smile, "I was out of line just now. It is my duty to conduct a strict review according to regulations. I hope Lord Chu can be magnanimous and not take offense."

Chu Bai returned the gesture. "The Senior Envoy was merely performing his official duties. I understand."

With the inquiry concluded, the solemn atmosphere in the quiet chamber finally melted away like ice and snow.

Lü Qing set down his vermilion brush, his gaze toward Chu Bai filled with undisguised gratification.

He stood up, walked to Chu Bai’s side, and said softly, "Junior Brother Chu, although the final rating is decided by the senior Deputy Officials of the Merit Department, the record from our review is the most critical part.

Now that the Heart-Inquiry Mirror has verified the truth, no one can erase these solid achievements of yours."

He paused, then cupped his hands with a confident tone. "In my opinion, your ’Excellent’ rating for this year is set in stone. Allow me to be the first to congratulate you!"

Chu Bai returned the salute and smiled calmly. "I appreciate the kind words, Senior Brother Lü."

"They’re not just kind words; they’re well-deserved."

Lü Qing lowered his voice, sharing some inside information. "The Great Zhou is clear in its rewards and punishments, especially for top talents like us who came from the Immortal Official track.

When the official evaluation is issued after the new year, in addition to the standard rewards, there should also be secret Skills and Spiritual Objects as incentives.

Junior Brother Chu, with these accomplishments, your future record will be dazzlingly brilliant. Here in Anping County, or even in the entire Dayuan Prefecture, your career is truly set to soar!"

The two used the brief lull to catch up on what had happened since they left the Daoist School.

Lü Qing lamented the tedious internal affairs of the Merit Virtue Bureau, while Chu Bai briefly mentioned the hardships of Demon Slaying in the provinces.

In this mix of public duty and private conversation, the bond between the former classmates grew even closer than it had been at the Daoist School.

A moment later, Chu Bai took his leave and exited the quiet chamber.

As the door closed softly behind him, the chamber returned to silence.

The middle-aged Vice Envoy, who had been silent all this time, slowly rose from behind the table. He gazed in the direction Chu Bai had left, the earlier sharpness in his eyes now replaced with deep admiration.

"Lord Lü, the Daoist School is truly full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons."

The middle-aged Vice Envoy stroked his beard, his tone a complex mix of emotions as he sighed. "This Junior Brother Chu of yours... he is anything but ordinary!

In my years serving in the Merit Department, I’ve seen eighty if not a hundred young geniuses. But someone like him, who possesses such a towering, blood-soaked aura yet can remain as steady as a rock, and who can achieve such a clean political record amidst all that slaughter... that is truly a rare sight."

Hearing this, Lü Qing also looked out at the swirling snow beyond the door and murmured to himself, "Of course. After all, back at the Daoist School, he was the monster that no one could even hope to catch..."