Chapter 91
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Chapter 91: Title
Zhu Xin inquired curiously, “Communal spirit cultivators? I thought most preferred solitary lives?”
“Generally true.”
Tales of deities and monsters often depicted spirit cultivators effortlessly taking human forms, yet reality revealed this to be impossible.
Tier Two spirit cultivators could merely conjure temporary humanoid illusions, their duration varying wildly. These manifestations invariably retained traces of their true forms—scales, tails, ears, or even hybrid human-animal features.
The prime example was Hu Mei from Division 1, dubbed “Little Fox Fairy” by colleagues, who retained vulpine ears and a bushy tail.
Spirit cultivators explained that bloodline-awakened half-demons like her required at least Tier Three cultivation to fully retract such traits.
“What’s their estimated numbers?”
“Unknown.” The secretary’s answer dripped with foreboding.
“Unverified or uncountable?” Zhu Xin’s face tightened—both possibilities spelt trouble.
“The situation’s too tangled for precise assessment. A homicide occurred there two days back…”
……
Hanzhou City.
This historically rich metropolis blended modern infrastructure with preserved architecture of its ancient capital legacy. Beneath its streets sprawled a labyrinthine underworld—centuries-old dynastic sewers interwoven with modern drainage networks.
Locals jested that lifting any manhole cover could launch subterranean journeys across the city. Though development had stagnated in recent decades, newfound policy favor now revitalized Hanzhou, much to residents’ approval.
Amid this urban renewal, Zhang Ye of Hanzhou University became an accidental beneficiary. Inherited property brought demolition compensation and future housing, securing his financial freedom.
What does one do with sudden eight-figure wealth? While others might splurge, Zhang merely rented modest lodgings and took a part-time convenience store job. Freed from monetary pressures, he transformed tedious work into leisurely time-filler.
Without the Awakening of Spiritual Energy, he’d have followed society’s script—graduation, corporate grind, marriage, predictable oblivion. But witnessing Li Canghai’s swordflight and Chen Qingfeng’s prowess against Demonic Beasts, then grasping cultivation’s promise of longevity and power, Zhang realized even newfound millions meant little now.
Though national authority still dwarfed individual might, modern society prized stability. Lawbreakers drew scorn regardless of era—pre or post-Awakening.
At eleven p.m., Zhang Ye ambled home with convenience store oden and juice. His two weekly night shifts offered pocket money and breathing space between Spiritual Network cultivation sessions. With old districts under reconstruction, he’d relocated to an undemolished area—quieter, cleaner, better.
As Zhang Ye passed the dim alleyway near his rented apartment, his gaze lingered on the shadowy trash bins emitting faint rustling noises – the sound of something clawing at plastic bags within.
The recent surge in rodent activity weighed on his mind as he hurried home. Flipping on the news, he found ordinary channels regurgitating social affairs while the newly established Central Spiritual Network channels 1-10 and Hanzhou Spiritual Network TV exclusively covered developments regarding the Awakening of Spiritual Energy.
Since the Special Bureau’s public disclosure, authorities had stopped concealing supernatural crimes. Just days prior, Zhang Ye had watched reports of an extraordinary individual massacring seven family members – including a visiting three-year-old girl – in retribution.
Though unsolved, the case dominated online discourse with a three-million bounty already posted on the Spiritual Network. Investigators revealed the perpetrator had initially struck the victim’s child with his vehicle, then deliberately reversed to ensure the kill. The bereaved parents’ lack of influence allowed the well-connected driver to escape justice – a scenario that would’ve been buried pre-Awakening.
Fate proved ironic when the deceased child’s previously unknown elder brother emerged with formidable cultivation skills. Armed with lethal capability, he didn’t merely execute the perpetrator but subjected the entire household to unspeakable horrors – the censored crime scene footage still conveyed nightmarish brutality.
Post-Awakening, such vigilante justice persisted despite Special Bureau warnings. Watching the report, Zhang Ye wrestled with conflicting sympathies – the murderer’s motives versus his methods. Ultimately, no strength could defy Zhongxia’s laws without consequences.
The nation’s stringent supernatural recruitment policies earned public approval – none wished to risk nocturnal dismemberment over trivial slights against empowered individuals.
On Spiritual Network Channel Three’s legal program, commentators discussed imminent legislation specifically governing extraordinary individuals. The framework promised harsher penalties for superhuman crimes, which rarely involved petty offenses – most escalated to robbery or murder. Society expected the empowered to exercise restraint, even as Blue Star evolved toward eliminating "ordinary people" within decades.
Though Zhang Ye typically slept until afternoon, strident police sirens jolted him awake at 8 AM. "What’s happening?" He moved to the balcony, sliding open floor-to-ceiling windows to observe the commotion below.
Patrol cars and ambulances clustered around the alley entrance where uniformed officers maintained perimeter security. A masked forensic specialist in white coat disappeared into the gloom. Zhang Ye’s eyes narrowed at glimpses of black crystal wristbands beneath sleeves – exclusive gear for Special Bureau field agents.
Curious residents clustered beyond police tape, retreating en masse when shown IDs bearing the Special Bureau’s insignia. While ordinary police operations attracted gawkers, none dared linger near supernatural investigations. Today’s youth might intervene against common criminals, but Bureau tasks involved deranged extraordinary individuals far beyond amateur cultivators’ capabilities.
As authorities dispersed the crowd, Zhang Ye recognized the stern-faced young man commanding the scene – Zhang Wutong, leader of Hanzhou Special Bureau’s Special Operations Team.
"If even their captain’s involved…" Zhang Ye mused, stroking his chin. A month ago during the spirit cultivators’ emergence, he’d have cowered from such danger. Now, his tier-six cultivation rank sparked restless curiosity.
Within the squalid alley, Special Operations forensic examiner Han Jing knelt beside mutilated remains, gloved hands assessing the carnage while his assistant collected blood samples. Fifteen minutes later, he summoned help to bag the fragmented corpse for lab analysis.
The assistant paled at the grisly sight – scattered limbs, a skull oozing cerebral matter amid splintered bone and tissue. Han Jing approached Zhang Wutong, removing his mask. "Partial consumption evident. Eighty percent of missing flesh shows bite marks."
Since assisting Captain Zhang during the Red-Clad Senior haunting incident, Han Jing had transferred to the Bureau’s scarce forensic unit – one of few capable of analyzing spiritual energy residue at crime scenes.
"Consistent with previous cases?" Zhang Wutong inquired.
"Pending further tests," Han Jing replied, the alley’s shadows deepening around them.
