In the Royal City, within the towering Council Pavilion that reached into the clouds, the atmosphere was solemn and grave.
Ji Shengyue was seated at the head of the table. Dressed in magnificent robes, her expression held an unquestionable authority.
Beside her, Xiao Cangqing sat with a steady composure.
He had just returned from Dalang City after resolving the crisis there, and his face was now etched with contemplation.
A large screen in the Council Pavilion was playing a live feed from above the Demon Cave. The image of the rotting man on screen was shocking to behold.
Xiao Cangqing's eyes were fixed on the screen, his mind a swirl of thoughts.
'That's right. This rotting man is the one I encountered in Dalang City.'
Xiao Cangqing slowly began to speak, his voice steady and powerful. "I have crossed blades with him. He is no match for me; I can defeat him in an instant. The tricky part, however, is that he practically possesses an Undying Body."
He paused, then continued, "I say 'practically' possesses an Undying Body because I don't believe any life form in this world can be truly immortal and indestructible.
Back then, when Chu He was the National Guardian War God, he chose to drive all the Evil Spirits into the Demon Cave and suppress them with a seal using human methods in order to protect the Great Jing Empire.
It was a measure of last resort, not a long-term solution.
But if our Great Jing Empire can develop a way to completely annihilate the Evil Spirits, we can solve this problem once and for all, freeing ourselves from their scourge forever."
Ji Shengyue shook her head slightly and let out a soft sigh. "If this problem were so easy to solve, my father the king and those valiant warriors would not have had to resort to driving all the Evil Spirits into the Demon Cave to seal them away."
Xiao Cangqing's gaze slowly swept across the faces of the other council members. "I believe the answer to this problem may lie within ancient texts."
Hearing this, a flicker of curiosity appeared in Ji Shengyue's eyes. "What do you mean by a clue in ancient texts? Have you discovered something?"
Xiao Cangqing nodded and revealed, "I once read an ancient text that recorded when a human cultivates to a certain realm, they can give birth to a true Soul Spirit.
This Soul Spirit can exist independently of the physical body, a state known as Primordial Spirit Emergence.
My guess is that Evil Spirits are likely a type of existence similar to a Primordial Spirit.
As long as the Primordial Spirit is not destroyed, life can persist forever.
And the power of a Primordial Spirit is far beyond what an ordinary physical body can compare to."
Upon hearing this, a councilman spread his hands mockingly and questioned, "The path of Primordial Spirit cultivation seems far too long and mysterious.
Are we really supposed to wait decades, centuries, or even millennia before we can finally annihilate all the Evil Spirits?
By then, we'll all have turned to dust."
A sneer tugged at the corner of Xiao Cangqing's mouth.
He shot a glance at the councilman, as if he could see right through to his deepest secrets. "Councilman, you didn't return home last night. Instead, you were lingering in the tender embrace of your mistress, correct?"
As soon as he said this, the councilman's face turned beet red with embarrassment.
He stared at Xiao Cangqing in shock and confusion, his mind filled with questions.
'I've been so secretive... Even my wife at home hasn't noticed anything. So how does Xiao Cangqing know everything in such detail?'
"You... how could you possibly know? Her Majesty the Queen, what... what is going on?" The councilman suspected he had been followed.
Ji Shengyue remained silent at the head of the table, not answering the councilman.
She knew she hadn't sent anyone to follow him, so she was also curious as to how Xiao Cangqing knew.
Xiao Cangqing continued to explain, "This is the power of the Primordial Spirit.
It allows me to extend my Spiritual Power. Within the area it covers, nothing escapes my perception—not a speck of dust, not a pore on your skin, not even the clothes you are wearing today.
In my eyes, you have no secrets.
Cultivating the Primordial Spirit isn't some far-fetched fairy tale as you suggest. It is as real and achievable as cultivating Elemental Power."
His words were brimming with confidence. "The reason I was able to defeat the rotting man in Dalang City but not completely eliminate him is that I didn't use an attack with my Primordial Spirit's Spiritual Power.
Otherwise, he would have had no chance of escape."
At this declaration, every council member present was stunned.
This ability was practically equivalent to having God's perspective.
Ji Shengyue also frowned, an inexplicable feeling welling up inside her.
She suddenly realized that she, too, likely had no secrets before Xiao Cangqing.
This made her feel a little uneasy.
Xiao Cangqing seemed to notice the change in Ji Shengyue's mood and quickly added, "Her Majesty the Queen, please rest assured.
Spiritual Power cannot be extended outwards at will; it requires an immense amount of energy.
Therefore, the power of the Primordial Spirit can be used as a trump card.
If one can cultivate the Primordial Spirit to a certain level and use it in conjunction with Elemental Power, there might be a real chance to completely annihilate the Evil Spirits."
Only then did Ji Shengyue's heart relax a little.
The council members who were previously dismissive now began to re-examine this young man.
Their eyes no longer held just disdain and doubt, but also a new sense of awe and expectation.
After all, the name Chu He represented an ineffable authority and power across the entire globe.
Now, it seemed they were seeing a figure who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with, or even surpass, that legend.
"The matter above the Demon Cave is indeed urgent."
A councilman spoke cautiously, "I wonder, what solution does Mr. Xiao propose?"
Xiao Cangqing smiled faintly and said with arrogance, "I suggest that the Time Girl Group lead the other reporters in a temporary withdrawal from the Demon Cave. They should instead stand guard at the foot of the mountain.
With the strength of those ten King-level experts, as long as they choose to contain rather than confront head-on, they should be able to stall for some time.
Once I have finished my sweep of the entire Great Jing Empire, I will personally go to the Demon Cave and wipe out those Evil Spirits in one fell swoop.
I will usher in an era of true peace and prosperity for the Great Jing Empire, not the fleeting illusion that Chu He created in the past."
After hearing this, Ji Shengyue nodded in agreement. "Very well. We shall do as you say."
...
In Jinwan Town, the entrance to First Senior High School was now quiet.
Most of the students had already left campus, with only a few stragglers lingering about. The familiar street vendors at the school gate had also mostly packed up and departed.
A top-of-the-line Rolls-Royce was parked quietly at the school entrance.
Chu He sat inside the car, while his driver, Liu Yuzhu, was in the driver's seat.
The car door opened slowly, and his older sister walked out of the school, a trace of worry on her face.
After getting back into the car, she said softly, "Her teacher told me that my sister left school at noon.
And the teacher also mentioned she's been acting all secretive at school lately. I'm a little worried..."
Her words trailed off, but her anxiety was plain to see.
Seeing this, Liu Yuzhu turned back with concern and asked, "Should I arrange for someone to look into her whereabouts?"
Chu He waved his hand, his voice deep and firm. "No need."
In that instant, his eyes became profound, like black vortexes capable of devouring everything.
Immediately after, a powerful Spiritual Power surged from him like a tidal wave.
It spread out rapidly from his position, blanketing the entire town.