The Temple Control Bureau’s Yamen differs from the Qintian Observatory’s Treasure Tower.
Its main gate has three entrances, each with two dark door panels. On either side of the gate, huge Chi dragons carved from stone stand imposingly, lifelike and imbued with overwhelming divinity. Under their fierce glare, onlookers feel their souls quiver.
Inside, pavilions and towers abound, with flying eaves and upturned corners. Yet they lack the eight-story towering structures of the Qintian Observatory Treasure Building, consisting mostly of two or three-story buildings, all exuding a sense of grandeur and stern coldness.
“Master Li, please,”
said the two Divine Envoys, their attitudes now much softened, as they spoke to Li Che.
Upon entering the Temple Control Bureau, the rich divinity was nearly tangible, naturally creating an oppressive atmosphere. Martial Artists who hadn’t cultivated divinity would likely find themselves unable to even circulate their life force here.
Li Che’s face turned unsightly as he slowly followed behind the two Divine Envoys.
After a short while, they arrived in front of a two-story pavilion.
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“The Head Divine Envoy is waiting for you inside.”
After opening the door, Li Che thanked the two Divine Envoys and stepped into the pavilion.
The Temple Control Bureau’s Head Divine Envoy holds a status akin to that of a Minor Supervisor in the Qintian Observatory, but with far greater authority. After all, a single Head Divine Envoy commands ten Divine Base Realm Head Divine Envoys, and each of these in turn has dozens of Divine Envoys under them.
Some particularly powerful Head Divine Envoys command as many as a hundred Divine Envoys.
How could a Minor Supervisor, often isolated and with few allies, compare to such might?
Of course, as both are independent departments with different functions, a direct comparison is not truly possible.
Once Li Che stepped inside the pavilion, the Divine Envoy silently closed the door behind him.
The thick fragrance of tea wafted through the air. Looking around, Li Che saw a rosewood desk, beside which there was a small tea table. A kettle boiled furiously, and bright green tea leaves tumbled in the bubbling water.
A figure wearing an embroidered red robe with tiger patterns sat stiffly in a chair, occupied with the preparation of tea.
The dense divinity in the air, almost solidified, made it difficult to breathe.
The flickering candlelight in the dim surroundings illuminated the pavilion brightly.
“I am Li Che, I’ve come to see the Head Divine Envoy,”
Li Che said with a salute.
The middle-aged man lifted his head, his face marked with a ferocious scar.
He cradled his teacup, took a sip of the tea, and then, with a slight lift of his eyelids, his gaze fell upon Li Che.
Boom—!
In an instant, the divinity within the entire pavilion was seemingly swallowed into a vortex under the terrifying control of Divine Sense, amassing directly above Li Che’s head.
“Bull Demon?”
The two emotionless words came coldly from the mouth of the Head Divine Envoy Zhang Lianhao.
Under the pressure of the Divine Majesty, Li Che began to put on a performance, his face incredibly pale and his legs shaking uncontrollably.
“The Head Divine Envoy speaks of… could it be the vicious Bull Demon of Fei Lei City?”
“I… Although I come from Fei Lei City, with a family to take care of, how could I be such a malicious criminal?”
Li Che gritted his teeth as if struggling enormously to withstand the Divine Majesty, taking heavy breaths.
The entire pavilion fell eerily silent, the only sound being the gurgling of the boiling water in the kettle.
Zhang Lianhao watched Li Che in silence for a long time before speaking indifferently, “Someone said you’re the Bull Demon.”
Li Che took a deep breath, his eyes nearly bursting, “That’s slanderous.”
“That Bull Demon killed Elder Master Yang of Fei Lei City, a Divine Base Cultivator. To say that I am the Bull Demon is to suggest I can kill a Divine Base—is that what you think, sir?”
“Do you think I could kill a Divine Base?”
Powerful Divine Sense scanned over Li Che’s body, probing repeatedly.
But Li Che’s life force was hidden by the “Slumbering Dragon Elephant” within the Dragon Elephant Vajra, and his divinity by the “Pure Heart” Dao Fruit of Breath Concealment, making it impossible to be detected.
After the scan by Divine Sense came up empty, it eventually dissipated, and the oppressive divinity receded, making the air in the pavilion seem suddenly fresher.
“Indeed, a Blood Exchange Warrior, Nurturing Nature like a Stream… you can’t kill a Divine Base,”
said Zhang Lianhao, retracting his Divine Sense and no longer intimidating and inquiring.
“Congratulations, you’ve become a Third-class Guest Official of the Qintian Observatory.”
Li Che was drenched in sweat. He saluted but said nothing more.
“Head Divine Envoy, I’ve just arrived at Golden Light Prefecture and wish to know who would slander and frame me in such a way?”
Zhang Lianhao poured a cup of tea and pushed it towards Li Che, “Drink the tea, don’t be upset; this is the procedure of the Temple Control Bureau in handling cases—intimidate first, then judge the matter.”
“As for the accusation that you’re the Bull Demon, you might know him. His name is Zhang Xiangyang, previously a Divine Catcher of Fei Lei City.”
“He joined the Spirit Infant Sect, and now he’s imprisoned within the dungeons of the Temple Control Bureau. He claimed that you are the Bull Demon, and also said that the death of Yuqing of the Qin Family was the work of the Bull Demon, trying to earn a reduction of his sentence.”
Zhang Xiangyang?!
Li Che’s eyes narrowed – the Zhang Xiangyang who had previously fled had unexpectedly appeared in Mansion City and was now caught and imprisoned.
That was one of the most secure places in Mansion City.
Inwardly, he reflected that his methods had not been ruthless enough; he should have found the opportunity to deal with Zhang Xiangyang sooner. If so, this complication wouldn’t have arisen today.
“So, it was Hunter Zhang…” Li Che exhaled slowly.
“The words of the evil doers from the Spirit Infant Sect cannot be trusted!” Li Che said through gritted teeth: “The Spirit Infant Sect committed countless murders in Fei Lei City, and City Lord Cao Guang, who joined the sect, sacrificed a thousand Spirit Children… utterly inhumane!”
Zhang Lianhao’s gaze remained indifferent, seemingly accustomed to such cruelty, and he nodded, “Indeed, quite inhumane.”
“Although I didn’t believe it, I still had you called in to ask about this—do you know about Xu Beihu? A figure from Fei Lei City, killed by Yuqing’s torment. She had her sights set on the An Family who moved to Mansion City and was about to strike when she herself died.”
Zhang Lianhao took a sip of tea, his eyes narrowing as he exhaled the hot steam.
“Alright, you may go now, but be cautious. The Spirit Infant Master of the Spirit Infant Sect has escaped and, I heard, your daughter… seems to have held a Spirit Infant Wood Carving? Once the ritual is complete, there’s a connection. That Spirit Infant Master might still covet your Supreme Spiritual Child daughter.”