Immortal Industry Department Store

Pingjiang City

Pingjiang Police Department Precinct 3.

"Chief, Jiang Ran's report is out."

Yang Ping, chief of Precinct 3, took the thick stack of papers and examined them carefully. His furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

[Name: Jiang Ran, Gender: Male, Age: 16...]

[Spiritual Root: Low-grade Water, Spiritual Root Affinity: 32]

[Spiritual Power Purity: 99% (No tendency toward demonic qi infection)]

[Mind Test Rating: Second Class A (Stable mental state, no tendency toward demonic cultivation corrosion)]

...

The thick stack of reports all belonged to Jiang Ran.

During his visit to the police station several days ago, after only a few hours of questioning, the police had not only conducted a lie detector test but had also secretly employed several high-grade magical artifacts.

There was no helping it. Jiang Ran was the sole survivor to escape from the hands of demonic cultivators.

The Pingjiang Police Bureau had no choice but to keep a close eye on him, afraid that the demonic cultivators might secretly trip him up.

"Shouldn't be a problem..." Everything Yang Ping saw indicated that Jiang Ran was a good citizen, yet he always felt that something was off, though he could not put his finger on it.

But things had come to this. Jiang Ran truly was innocent, and he could not keep making things difficult for a high school student.

Besides, those aunties from the Pingjiang Women's Federation had already come by several times. If they imposed any more restrictions on Jiang Ran, they might stir up a huge mess.

"Su Xue, go to Jiang Ran on behalf of the police bureau and offer him some condolences."

"Understood, Chief."

"Oh, right..." Yang Ping thought for a moment.

"Help me pass along a message to him."

Elsewhere.

Pingjiang No. 1 High School, Senior Year Student Affairs Office, Grade Director's Office.

"Jiang Ran, you've gone too far!"

The slightly plump middle-aged man before him was Ji Linchun, the senior year grade director. His face was stern as he flew into a small rage.

Pingjiang No. 1 High School had consistently ranked among Pingjiang's top three high schools, and its discipline was strict.

As the grade director, Ji Linchun had not seen a student like this in a long time.

Being at the bottom of the class was one thing. Being late for class was another. Being late was bad enough... but this brat had actually skipped school, and for several days at that!

Unbearable. Absolutely unbearable!

Director Ji had already thought up how to teach this disobedient bad student a lesson on his way here.

"Teacher, I didn't do it on purpose." Jiang Ran widened his eyes, his face full of innocence. Every trip to the Grand Ruins Realm required seven days before he could return. Even if he wanted to come back for class, it was impossible.

"Didn't do it on purpose? You skipped school for so long—tell me, what exactly were you doing?" Ji Linchun slammed the desk, showing no mercy.

Yet faced with the grade director's questioning, Jiang Ran appeared exceptionally calm. There was even something... strange in that calmness.

"Teacher, I've often been in a daze lately. It feels like I can see lots of little birds flying in the sky."

Jiang Ran looked utterly dazed, just like a patient who had just walked out of Wuji Mountain Psychiatric Hospital.

"Teacher, I even saw my father yesterday. He said he wanted to take me away..."

"Jiang Ran, you..." Ji Linchun's momentum immediately wilted.

Clearly, his eyes had cleared, filled with disbelief.

This kid... couldn't he really have been so traumatized that his brain had broken?

Although the Pingjiang Police Bureau had sealed off all information and news of the demonic cultivator's crimes had not spread.

As one of Pingjiang No. 1 High School's higher-ups, Ji Linchun still knew some of the inside details.

Jiang Ran had once been caught up in a demonic cultivator case and had narrowly survived. The higher-ups had repeatedly instructed them that they had to treat him like an ordinary student, preferably as if nothing had ever happened.

"Student Jiang..." A little sweat appeared on Ji Linchun's forehead.

Jiang Ran had returned to school only after being examined by the Pingjiang Police Bureau. There was absolutely nothing wrong with his body.

Not only had the higher-ups repeatedly reminded him, but the city Women's Federation had also emphasized it time and again.

If... if Jiang Ran developed some kind of mental problem under his watch, then the fun would really begin.

"Student Jiang, your father has been gone for many years."

"You must miss him too much. You probably dreamed about him last night."

"Is that so? But I..." Jiang Ran looked somewhat confused.

Ji Linchun hurriedly cut him off. "No buts. You were dreaming!"

"Jiang Ran, you've been too tired lately. Maybe you're not suited for such high-pressure studying."

"How about this? I'll write you a leave slip. Go home and rest properly for a while, all right?"

If the other students saw that Director Ji, who was always known for his iron-faced strictness, could be so "kind and approachable," their eyes would probably pop out of their heads.

"Teacher, isn't this inappropriate..." Jiang Ran looked rather naïve.

What a good child. He did not even know that something had gone wrong with his mind.

Ji Linchun even felt a little heartache. "There's nothing inappropriate about it, child."

"Come with me to the school infirmary first. I'll have Doctor Gao get you some calming supplements."

"Studying is important, but your health is even more important. Jiang Ran, you must nurse your body back to health. If it really doesn't work out, then at worst you can repeat a year. If one year isn't enough, then repeat two. If two isn't enough, then three. Teacher Ji will make the decision for you..."

Jiang Ran was also quite surprised.

He had only intended to pretend to be sick so that the grade director would not pursue the matter of his skipping school.

Who would have thought that Director Ji would directly give him an "immunity token"—a long-term leave slip! For a high school student, this was practically impossible.

"Teacher Ji really is a good person..." Jiang Ran could not help sighing as he looked at the full bag of "calming brain tonic" in his hand.

However, he had no intention of stopping school from now on.

If he wanted to get into a good cultivation university, the college entrance examination was indispensable. So he still had to attend school.

When Jiang Ran said that he would return to class after resting up, Director Ji was even more moved.

What a good child. Even at a time like this, he was still thinking about school.

Director Ji had made up his mind. If Jiang Ran really suffered severe brain damage from the trauma, the school would take responsibility for him to the end!

Today had truly turned misfortune into fortune—an unexpected delight.

With Director Ji's leave slip, going to the Taixu Realm would be much more convenient in the future.

Even if he stayed there for ten days or half a month at a time, no one would notice.

Next time, I'll stay a few more days and come back when the monthly exams arrive. Jiang Ran silently planned.

"Alright, let's head into the city first."

An hour later.

Pingjiang City Financial Center.

Jiang Ran appeared punctually at the Xianye Department Store Building in downtown Pingjiang City.

The Xianye Department Store Building covered five hundred thousand square meters. It was said to have been established a thousand years ago and was one of the core industries of the legendary cultivation Lineage, the Ye Lineage.

A thousand years later, Immortal Industry Department Store had become Pingjiang City's largest trading center for spiritual items.

Jiang Ran did not waste any time and walked straight into the largest shop at Entrance No. 3.

—"Lin's Ore Language."

"Boss, help me take a look at this piece of iron ore."

The dark red ore landed on the counter with a clang.

The clerk beside him, dressed in a leather apron, hurried over.

"This is..."

He took one look at the ore, and his eyes immediately lit up.

"Brother, where did you get this ore?"

"What?" Jiang Ran revealed an unhappy expression.

"I came to your store to sell something, and you still want to ask where it came from?"

He had already done his research before coming.

The Heavenly Lu Kingdom did not place many restrictions on ordinary spiritual item transactions. As long as they were not demonic cultivator artifacts, they could basically circulate freely.

Mineral spiritual items were even less likely to have their origins questioned.

Only ores with a transaction rating above level forty needed to be registered and reported.

"No, no, I was presumptuous!" The clerk immediately apologized repeatedly. Then he brought over an instrument and placed the ore on it. "Please wait a moment. I'll test its quality."

Only a moment later, the clerk's envious voice rang out.

"Level eighteen Spiritual Source..."

"Brother, are you selling all of it?"