The vast vision of purple qi sweeping in from the east for three thousand miles had slowly faded above Anping County, but its lingering resonance still filled the plants within hundreds of miles with vitality and left spiritual energy hanging in the air.
The people of Anping County were still caught up in shock and wild joy that their "upright magistrate had attained the Dao and become an immortal." Meanwhile, outside the county magistrate's old residence, a meeting that could determine the future balance of power across Qingzhou, and even the Great Zhou Immortal Dynasty, was quietly beginning.
Rumble—
At the edge of the sky, seas of cloud churned.
Three enormous official ships blotted out the sun. Like iron beasts patrolling their territory, they parted wave after wave of cloud and descended over Anping County with an overwhelming air of authority.
Each ship was built to the highest specifications. On their hulls gleamed three sets of gilded characters representing the supreme powers of the Great Zhou Immortal Dynasty's Qingzhou Prefecture: Heavenly Patrol, Merit, and Grand Commander!
The Great Zhou Immortal Dynasty was founded on law and held the world in check through force.
In this patch of Qingzhou, apart from the exalted Qingzhou Prefect, the ones who truly held the vast territory's lifelines were these three powerful offices.
The Heavenly Patrol Office inspected the realm on heaven's behalf. It controlled surveillance, intelligence, and punishment. Wherever its blade pointed, aristocratic clans and sects trembled.
The Merit Office controlled resource allocation, Spirit Vein surveys, formation infrastructure, and performance reviews for official promotions. It was both the keeper of the purse and the arbiter of careers. The Grand Commander's Office commanded Qingzhou's million-strong standing army, suppressed demons, and had military might to spare.
Today, the heads of these three mighty offices had not