The Personally Taught Core, Investigating the Case Beyond the City! Di Yao's First Step Toward Real Power!

Chapter Twenty:

Inside Pope Palace, the candlelight burned brightly.

Bibi Dong sat in the seat of honor, her expression indifferent.

When she saw Di Yao enter, her gaze paused briefly on his pale face and the wound on his chest.

"Does it still hurt?"

Di Yao said, "It does."

Bibi Dong said coolly, "Then why are you still standing?"

Di Yao said, "Sitting would make it inconvenient to receive orders."

Bibi Dong looked at him.

A moment later, she gave a soft laugh.

"You do know how to talk."

Di Yao did not respond.

Bibi Dong placed a case file on the table.

"After the Newcomer Ranking, Pope Palace has officially designated you as a personally taught core disciple."

"Your treatment will be equivalent to the highest tier of the Golden Generation."

"Your Library Pavilion access will remain open."

"Your cultivation resources will be doubled."

"You will be given a private Mimicry Training Room."

After listening, Di Yao showed no obvious joy.

"Is there more?"

Bibi Dong's eyes shifted slightly.

"Is that not enough?"

Di Yao said, "Those are training resources earned through potential."

"I also want real power."

Yue Guan laughed in the hall.

"Little fellow, you really never accept a loss."

Gui Mei stood in the shadows and said quietly, "He knows what he wants."

Bibi Dong looked at Di Yao.

"You want the Resource Case?"

Di Yao nodded.

"The Fasnuo Province Branch Resource Loss Case."

"I want command authority."

"I want authority to inspect the accounts."

"I want temporary authority to mobilize low-ranking Law Enforcement Teams."

"I want interrogation authority."

"The resources recovered in the case will be distributed according to merit."

Bibi Dong lightly tapped her scepter with her fingertips.

"You are injured like this, yet you are still in such a hurry to leave the city?"

Di Yao said, "The Newcomer Ranking only proves that I have potential."

"Potential earns training."

"Investigating cases lets me gain real power."

"Real power earns resources."

Satisfaction finally appeared in Bibi Dong's eyes.

She liked those words.

Because Di Yao was not the kind of genius who only waited to be fed.

He understood that Spirit Hall's true value was not the magnificent Pope Palace, nor the glory outsiders saw.

It was the flow of resources.

It was the system of power.

It was a vast machine capable of mobilizing Soul Masters, Gold Soul Coins, intelligence, medicines, and soul beast routes.

If a genius wanted to become a true powerhouse, he had to learn how to use that machine.

Bibi Dong said coolly, "You want to investigate Yu Xiaogang?"

Di Yao said, "I want to inspect the accounts."

"If Yu Xiaogang is clean, then he will be fine."

"If he is not clean, then he is the thread to follow."

Bibi Dong's gaze turned faintly cold.

"He was once entangled with me."

Di Yao raised his head.

"That is why he should be investigated even more."

Yue Guan's eyelid twitched.

He dared to say that?

Bibi Dong did not get angry.

"Your reason."

Di Yao's tone was calm.

"When ordinary people take Spirit Hall's resources, it is greed."

"When people with old ties take Spirit Hall's resources, it is leveraging influence."

"The former is easy to investigate."

"The latter is troublesome."

"Trouble means there is more behind it."

The hall fell silent.

Bibi Dong looked at him, then suddenly asked, "What if I do not want it investigated?"

Di Yao said, "Then I will not investigate it."

Bibi Dong's brow lifted slightly.

"So obedient?"

Di Yao said, "If Teacher does not want it investigated, it means this line cannot be touched yet."

"I will switch to a line that can be touched."

"But as long as resources are still leaking, it will have to be investigated sooner or later."

Bibi Dong smiled.

This child was not some reckless fool.

He dared to speak, and he also dared to retreat.

But retreating was not fear.

It was waiting to claim it later.

"Di Yao."

"Here."

"I will give you this case."

"But remember, the evidence must be solid."

"Pope Palace can protect you."

"But it cannot fabricate the outcome for you."

Di Yao nodded.

"I do not need false evidence."

"The truth is more useful."

Bibi Dong tossed him a token.

The token was entirely purple-gold, engraved with the crest of Pope Palace.

"Temporary Enforcement Token."

"You may mobilize a Law Enforcement Team of ten."

"One Soul Emperor, two Spirit Kings, and the rest Soul Ancestors and Soul Elders."

"Hu Liena will accompany you."

"Chrysanthemum Douluo will protect you in secret."

"If necessary, Ghost Douluo will act."

Yue Guan smiled. "Her Holiness is truly generous."

Gui Mei said, "Tang Hao is not dead."

As those words fell, the atmosphere in the hall sank slightly.

Bibi Dong looked toward Di Yao.

"You were too dazzling on the Newcomer Ranking."

"Some within Spirit Hall want to suppress you."

"And outside it, there will be those who want to kill you."

"Especially the Clear Sky Sect Remnants."

Di Yao's gaze shifted.

"Tang Hao?"

Bibi Dong said coolly, "The Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao."

"He once severely wounded Spirit Hall."

"His current whereabouts are unknown."

"If Yu Xiaogang's trail leads to Tang San, it may lead to Tang Hao."

Di Yao committed that name to memory.

Clear Sky Douluo.

Title Douluo.

A top-tier Tool Spirit.

He could not afford to face such an enemy yet.

But being unable to face him did not mean he could not put him on the ledger first.

Di Yao said, "Understood."

Bibi Dong looked at him.

"Are you afraid?"

Di Yao said, "Fear is useless."

"But I will not deliberately throw my life away."

"This investigation is about resources and evidence."

"Not confronting a Title Douluo head-on."

Bibi Dong was even more satisfied.

She did not like fools.

She liked fools who treated hot-bloodedness as a substitute for brains even less.

Di Yao was arrogant enough.

But he knew when to borrow power and when to avoid an edge.

That was what made him most valuable.

Bibi Dong added, "You will receive thirty percent of the resources recovered through the investigation, according to your contribution."

Di Yao looked up.

"Fifty percent."

Yue Guan's smile froze.

Hu Liena had just entered the hall and nearly thought she had misheard.

Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes.

"You are bargaining with me?"

Di Yao said, "I lead the team, bear the risks, and investigate the trail."

"Pope Palace provides the people, the token, and protection."

"So we split it evenly."

Gui Mei said quietly, "What nerve."

Yue Guan chuckled. "I think he makes a fair point."

Bibi Dong looked at Di Yao.

"If you take fifty percent, what does Pope Palace get?"

Di Yao said, "Evidence."

"The justification to clean out the Branch Hall's hidden network."

"The chance to strike at the Elder Palace's resource loopholes."

"A personally taught core disciple who can get things done."

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment.

"Alright."

"Fifty percent."

Hu Liena could not help glancing at Di Yao.

He had actually negotiated it?

Di Yao put away the token.

"When do we leave?"

Bibi Dong said, "After your injuries heal."

Di Yao said, "Tomorrow."

Hu Liena immediately said, "Are you insane?"

Di Yao looked at her.

"You've been saying that a lot lately."

Hu Liena snapped, "Because you really are insane!"

"The wound on your chest hasn't healed, and you still can't put force through your left arm."

"Leaving the city tomorrow? Are you tired of living?"

Di Yao calmly said, "I can travel."

Hu Liena gritted her teeth.

"Being able to travel doesn't mean you can fight!"

Di Yao said, "That's why I'm bringing the Law Enforcement Team."

Hu Liena choked on her words.

He truly did not force himself to act tough.

Whenever it was time to borrow strength, he did so more naturally than anyone.

Bibi Dong watched the two of them and said lightly, "Approved."

Hu Liena grew anxious.

"Teacher!"

Bibi Dong looked at her.

"Nana."

"You're going with him."

"Not to take care of him."

"To learn."

Hu Liena froze.

Bibi Dong continued, "You need to learn how to see where resources flow."

"How people hide."

"How enemies grow desperate."

"And how Di Yao turns a single mission into a stepping stone for himself."

Hu Liena fell silent.

After a moment, she lowered her head.

"Yes, Teacher."

Di Yao said nothing.

He put away the case file and turned to leave.

When he reached the hall entrance, Bibi Dong suddenly spoke.

"Di Yao."

Di Yao stopped.

"Remember."

"Yu Xiaogang himself isn't important."

"What matters is who he is connected to."

Di Yao nodded.

"I know."

"The smaller the loose thread, the easier it is to pull outward."

A flicker of amusement passed through Bibi Dong's eyes.

"Go."

The following morning.

Outside Spirit City's gates.

A ten-man Law Enforcement Team stood ready to depart.

The team was not large, but its lineup was elite.

A Soul Emperor led the formation.

Two Spirit Kings handled assault and control.

The remaining Soul Ancestors and Soul Elders were responsible for sealing off areas, searching, and escorting prisoners.

Hu Liena had changed into light, fitted attire and stood at the front of the team.

When she saw Di Yao approaching, her brows furrowed.

His face was still pale.

But his steps were steady.

His left arm was wrapped in bandages.

The injury on his chest was concealed beneath his robes, its severity impossible to tell.

Hu Liena said coldly, "You'd better not push yourself."

Di Yao said, "You'd better not go soft."

Hu Liena was taken aback.

Di Yao looked into the distance.

"This isn't a training ground."

"When investigating a case, there will be those who plead poverty, feign misery, cry injustice, or appeal to old ties."

"If your Charm only focuses on making people talk, they'll lead you by the nose."

Hu Liena's gaze sharpened.

"I know."

Di Yao said, "Good."

The Soul Emperor enforcement officer stepped forward and bowed.

"Lord Di Yao."

"The personnel are assembled."

"We can depart at any time."

The moment that "Lord" fell, the expressions of many in the team turned complicated.

Di Yao was too young.

Six years old.

Yet his accomplishments were already there for all to see.

Ten consecutive victories on the Newcomer Ranking.

Tiger King Soul Venerable kneeling on one knee.

Wounding a Soul Ancestor across ranks.

And the Pope Palace token.

No one dared defy him.

At least, no one dared do so openly.

Di Yao climbed into the carriage.

"Move out."

The wheels began to turn.

Spirit City gradually receded behind them.

Hu Liena sat opposite him, looking at the Account Ledger in his hands.

"How do you plan to investigate?"

Di Yao did not look up.

"We won't interrogate anyone first."

"We seal the accounts first."

Hu Liena asked, "Why?"

Di Yao said, "People lie."

"Accounts don't alter themselves."

"Seal the Warehouse, the Accounting Department, the archives, and the Potion Vault first."

"Whoever panics is the loose thread."

Hu Liena seemed thoughtful.

"What about Yu Xiaogang?"

Di Yao turned a page.

"He can't run."

"Someone who has relied on special approval privileges to obtain resources for so long won't readily give up his channels."

"We don't need to arrest him yet."

"Cut off his supplies first."

Hu Liena's heart stirred.

She suddenly understood.

Di Yao was not investigating one person.

He was investigating an entire chain of resource flow.

Once the Branch Hall's Account Ledger was sealed, someone in Nuoding City would surely panic.

Whoever panicked would act.

Whoever acted would expose themselves.

Di Yao closed the Account Ledger and looked toward Fasnuo.

That was where he had awakened.

It was also where this hidden thread had first surfaced.

Back then, he had left that place.

Now, he was returning with the Pope Palace token.

His status was completely different now.

Hu Liena looked at him and suddenly asked, "Will you go easy on them because that's where you awakened?"

Di Yao glanced at her.

"No."

"Why?"

Di Yao's tone was flat.

"The past can't give me resources."

"The present can."

Hu Liena fell silent for a moment.

"You're frighteningly cold."

Di Yao looked out the window.

"Only by being colder can you see clearly."

The carriage continued onward.

Meanwhile, in the direction of Nuoding City.

A gray carrier pigeon landed in the academy's rear courtyard.

Yu Xiaogang opened the secret letter.

There was only one line on it.

People from Spirit City are coming to inspect the accounts.

The leader is Di Yao.

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed instantly.

The fingers clutching the letter slowly tightened.

After a long while, he spoke in a low voice.

"Xiao San."

Outside the door, a blue-haired youth slowly entered.

His gaze was steady, but a cold glint was hidden in his sleeve.

"Teacher."

Yu Xiaogang looked at him.

"Trouble has arrived."

Tang San's eyes turned cold.

"Spirit Hall?"

Yu Xiaogang nodded.

"Yes."

Tang San said softly, "Don't worry, Teacher."

"Anyone who wants to touch you will have to get past me first."

The wind rose outside the window.

Di Yao's convoy was speeding toward Fasnuo.

And the first thread behind the Resource Case had finally begun to tighten.