New Clues in the Sinking Corpse Case

Yang Wenqing suppressed his excitement and examined the projection's blood, qi, and viscera. He found that his progress in those areas had also reached the introductory stage. This was the result of the Golden Core World absorbing surplus spiritual energy to nourish him whenever he cultivated with the Spirit-Gathering Formation.

A thought struck him, and he turned his attention to the later methods of the Ninefold Refinement Method.

He tried guiding spiritual energy along the circulation route for the third refinement, "Blood and Qi Like Quicksilver," in an attempt to further temper his blood and qi. But the instant the spiritual energy touched the depths of his blood vessels, it encountered resistance and a faint swelling pain. The area representing blood in the projection only reddened slightly, and progress was exceedingly slow.

He immediately understood that his physical body was not yet strong enough—especially his viscera—to support such deep refinement. Forcing it could instead damage the foundation of his bloodline.

He then attempted the fourth refinement, "Viscera Containing Essence," with even more obvious results. When the spiritual energy flowed into his five viscera and six bowels, it was as though an invisible barrier stood in its way, making it difficult to penetrate. The effect was negligible.

"Sure enough, you have to eat one bite at a time."

Yang Wenqing was not discouraged. Instead, his path ahead became even clearer. The improvement brought by completing the first refinement was tremendous, but his subsequent cultivation still needed to proceed steadily. He could not aim too high.

He composed himself and stopped attempting higher-level refinements. Instead, he focused on consolidating the results of the first refinement while steadily advancing the second refinement through the "Skin Membranes Like Drums" method.

However, the second refinement required a new stabilizing formation, which had yet to be set up. For now, he could only perform the most basic Qi Refining, allowing his Golden Core to silently draw in spiritual energy and nourish his body in return.

When he emerged from meditation again and glanced at the clock on the wall, it was already two in the morning.

He immediately stopped cultivating for the day, repaired the damage cultivation had caused to his skin membranes, then shut down the Spirit-Gathering Formation. Taking out the Azure Edge shortsword, he continued nurturing it with his own spiritual energy while resting with his eyes closed.

By the time he completed his daily nurturing routine, the fatigue in his mind had also dissipated. Dawn was already breaking outside the window.

Yang Wenqing rose and walked to his desk, spreading out talisman paper to inscribe the "Golden Light Bodyguard Spell." He could now feel more clearly that both his control over spiritual energy and his mental focus had improved significantly. When he sensed that the Qi Sea within him was running low, twenty-five talisman papers, each glimmering faintly, lay neatly arranged across the desk!

That was five more than before, meaning both his talisman-making efficiency and success rate had improved. His daily income would rise accordingly.

Looking at the talismans, Yang Wenqing smiled in satisfaction. After storing them in his storage bag, he looked up at the sky outside. It was fully light now, and the clock on the wall had reached eight. But he was in no hurry. The Major Crimes Unit did not need to clock in on time, and if anything came up, Liu Qin would notify him through the communication formation.

Only then did he carefully consider the job transfers Deputy Director Gao had discussed the previous night. He now understood the unspoken rule behind promotion to a white shirt at the precinct: a position had to open up first. Otherwise, he would most likely be transferred elsewhere. Precinct Director Zhang Qiming was clearly in just such a situation. Although he had passed the senior police commissioner examination, there was no local opening, so he could only be transferred to Thousand Reef County.

In Thousand Reef County, Zhang Qiming was like a decorative mascot. He had originally won over the West City Public Security Station, yet for some reason had been stripped of his authority. He could not even manage to transfer a sergeant into the Major Crimes Unit.

Deputy Director Gao, on the other hand, was obviously more pragmatic. He had clearly broken through to the Marrow Cleansing Realm and had even reached its second stage, yet he had not rushed to take the promotion examination. He was evidently waiting to squeeze Zhang Qiming out before considering it.

It was nearly nine in the morning when Yang Wenqing finally arrived at the precinct. As he walked down the second-floor corridor where the Major Crimes Unit was located, Ding Lang, who had been waiting outside the forensic examination room, called out to him, "Captain Yang, hold on!"

Ding Lang still wore that smiling expression. When Yang Wenqing reached him, he lowered his voice and said, "After more than a month of continuous refinement through the Purification Formation, Chen Dayong's body has yielded a new discovery."

Yang Wenqing's spirits lifted.

"What discovery?"

"Come with me, Captain Yang."

With that, Ding Lang headed into the forensic examination room.

Yang Wenqing immediately followed.

The room was brightly lit, and the air carried the faint mingled scent of disinfectant and some kind of purifying incense.

They passed through two sealed metal doors and entered an enclosed chamber. The most eye-catching feature was the circular formation in the center, where a ball of gentle white light floated above its core.

"We obtained Chen Dayong's wife's consent and used this refinement formation to refine his body. It took over a month."

Ding Lang pointed to a specially made glazed dish at the edge of the formation. At its bottom lay a small amount of fine crystalline particles that shimmered with a weak blue light. They were blue, with an unnatural, unsettlingly cold gleam.

"This is it."

Ding Lang carefully picked up one particle with tweezers and examined it beneath the light. "It isn't any known common mineral or remnant left behind by a demon beast. Its structure is extremely stable. Even the refinement formation cannot break it down; it can only barely separate it from the flesh and blood."

He looked at Yang Wenqing, his tone grave. "This may very well be the culprit behind the rapid draining of Chen Dayong's life force after his heart was pierced—or at least the vessel for it. It contains an extremely concealed energy, but it does not feel evil."

Yang Wenqing stared at the blue crystal, his brow tightly furrowed.

"Can we trace its origin?"

he asked.

Ding Lang shook his head. "It should be an artificial magical artifact with neutral properties. You might let Director Gao take a look at it. He has served in the Major Crimes Unit for forty years; the cases he has seen are beyond anything you can imagine."

Yang Wenqing carefully placed the small amount of blue crystal into a special evidence bag. The lead was still faint, but at least they had found a new direction for the investigation!

"Alright. I'll go see Deputy Director Gao right away."

After saying that, he looked at Ding Lang and said, "Thank you, Forensic Doctor Ding."

Forensic Doctor Ding shook his head. "Just doing my job."

After exchanging a few more polite words with Ding Lang, Yang Wenqing turned and left. He did not even go to the Third Squad office. Instead, he headed straight for Deputy Director Gao's office. With a possible new lead involved, reporting it to a superior was standard procedure.

He knocked on the office door. After receiving permission, he pushed it open and entered. Deputy Director Gao was seated behind his desk reviewing documents. Seeing Yang Wenqing, he gestured for him to sit.

"Director Gao, Forensic Doctor Ding has made a new discovery regarding Chen Dayong's body." Yang Wenqing did not waste words. He placed the special evidence bag directly on the desk. "After the body was processed by the refinement formation, this blue crystal remained."

Deputy Director Gao set down his pen and picked up the evidence bag, holding it to the light for a careful look. The moment he saw the crystal glimmering with faint blue light, his brows immediately drew together. The relaxed look on his face vanished, replaced by rare solemnity.

"A Soul-Absorbing Crystal. It is also Forbidden Item No. 329 of the City Defense Bureau."

"A Soul-Absorbing Crystal?" This was the first time Yang Wenqing had heard the name.

"Yes." Deputy Director Gao set the evidence bag back on the desk and leaned against his chair. "This is a crystal whose refining and use have been strictly prohibited. Refining one requires at least Foundation Establishment cultivation."

Pointing to the blue crystal, he explained, "It appears structurally stable, energetically neutral, and harmless to people and animals. But once implanted into a living creature, it silently draws away the host's flesh-and-blood spirituality and life essence until its vitality is completely drained!"

"It has already been prohibited? So it used to appear on a widespread scale?" Yang Wenqing caught the key point.

"That's right. As early as eighty years ago, headquarters explicitly prohibited refining and using this kind of magical artifact, because it was too sinister. It was often used in evil sacrifices or heretical life-extending techniques." Deputy Director Gao tapped the desk with his fingers. "I never expected it to be used on an ordinary fisherman."

He looked at Yang Wenqing, his tone stern. "This case appears to be more complicated than it seemed. Go back to your office first. I'll pull up the relevant files shortly. Don't spread word of this yet."