Do You Crave Power?

Xuan Shi's dark face did not reveal much expression, but he still smiled.

"The Dao Supervision Palace has applied for Special Licensed Constable Status for Fellow Daoist Xiao. This is also the Dao Alliance's recognition of exceptional talent. Please, this way."

Though unwilling, Xiao Bai still cupped his hands in thanks.

He then followed Supervisor Xuan with Zhang Yufeng to the Registration Room on the first floor.

After the registration was completed and the official documents handed over, Xuan Shi took the two of them to the storeroom on the second floor, where he issued Xiao Bai a full set of constable storage rings, a sword, and clothes.

"I can handle the rest from here. Zhang, Enforcer of Discipline, please return."

Zhang Yufeng frowned, feeling that the handover process had been far too brief. He asked doubtfully,

"Why are we handing him over before the internal examination?"

Xuan Shi said,

"When the Sect Overseer questioned his heart during the Sect Tour Ceremony, he was present in person. The Dao Supervision Palace trusts Xiao Bai completely. He only needs to go through the internal examination procedure afterward."

Zhang Yufeng sensed that something was off.

"You mean to send me away for the internal examination? Martial Uncle Xiao is still a member of the Snow Flame Sect, after all. Isn't it inappropriate for the Dao Supervision Palace to do this?"

An internal examination was a physical examination, a necessary procedure for taking office.

Xiao Bai finally saw clearly that Zhang, Enforcer of Discipline, had not been in league with Qi Shan, the Sect Overseer. The Discipline Hall was not entirely the Dao Alliance's lapdog either.

He had misunderstood him before.

It seemed the Dao Alliance wanted to uncover the reason he could practice Qi Refining through the internal examination.

Xiao Bai was not afraid. Even Yu Hu, who was proficient in soul arts, had failed to detect his Modifier.

As long as they could not find the Modifier, he had nothing to fear.

Seeing Zhang Yufeng's doubts, Xuan Shi's face suddenly darkened.

"This is the Sect Overseer's decision. The Sect Overseer is currently on the eighth floor. Starting today, Fellow Daoist Xiao is an official Dao Alliance constable. The Snow Flame Sect need not worry about Constable Xiao's safety."

Zhang Yufeng had nothing more to say. He could hardly seek out the Sect Overseer and argue with him.

Indeed, he was somewhat worried about Xiao Bai.

Yet for some reason, judging from Xiao Bai's reactions along the way, he was also a little worried about something else...

For instance, the safety of the Daoist doctors conducting the internal examination.

"Then I shall trouble Supervisor Xuan."

Zhang Yufeng cupped his fists, turned, and left the Dao Supervision Palace, eager to return and treat his injuries.

Watching Zhang Yufeng's departing figure, Xiao Bai suddenly realized that he was fighting alone now.

"The Internal Examination Room is on the fifth floor. We must take the Connecting Heaven Well."

Xuan Shi led Xiao Bai to the five-sided stone pillar at the center of the second floor.

Before the stone pillar stood a pair of double doors.

Xuan Shi pressed his palm against the Black Obsidian beside the door. The stone doors opened automatically, and the two entered the pillar.

The pillar was hollow, running straight from top to bottom. Floating Stones within carried people up and down to whichever floor they wished to reach. It was essentially an elevator.

Xiao Bai could not help wondering whether one of the big shots who had founded the Dao Alliance back then had also been a transmigrator.

The two then stepped onto a Floating Stone and slowly rose through the well.

Upon closer inspection, the inner walls of the Connecting Heaven Well were etched with densely packed dharma seals, forming an array that ensured the Floating Stones operated properly.

Runes also described the purpose of every floor.

For instance, the top floor was the residence of the Dao Supervision Envoy, as well as the highest-level reception area and the location of the Heavenly Judgment Court.

The Sect Overseer Team and State Supervisor Team occupied the eighth and seventh floors respectively.

The Constable Quarters were on the third floor.

The Internal Examination Room was on the fifth floor.

Beyond that, beneath the Dao Supervision Palace lay an Underground Prison a hundred zhang deep.

The Underground Prison had eighteen levels and held the Cambrian Kingdom's most vicious criminals.

It was said that most of them were political prisoners...

Xiao Bai raised his head toward the top of the well.

Five enormous swords revolving around one another formed a purple Teleportation Array, carrying the solemn majesty of something that could pierce the vault of heaven.

Then he lowered his gaze.

The pitch-black Great Prison underground was bottomless, as though tentacles might suddenly reach out from within.

In a daze, Xiao Bai actually heard an old, deep cry for help—

"Save me... save me..."

"Young man... do you crave power?"

"Let your spiritual pressure resonate with this old man's divine sense, and you can obtain the power you have dreamed of..."

Xiao Bai obviously did not do so.

Yet that divine sense still sent chills down his spine, fine sweat beading on his forehead...

Seeing that Xiao Bai's resolve was decent, Xuan Shi smiled.

"There is no need to pay them heed. These criminals can only howl day after day."

Only then did Xiao Bai breathe a sigh of relief. So the Dao Supervision Palace knew about those divine senses.

"Since you know these people can project their divine senses, why not block or stop them?"

Xuan Shi said,

"Since ancient times, excessive pursuit of personal power has been the root of great disasters. Leaving these divine senses intact tempers our character and ensures that Dao Alliance members will not be bewitched at any time."

Xiao Bai still felt lingering fear.

"What if I had really adjusted my spiritual pressure to match that divine sense?"

Xuan Shi said,

"These criminals want to borrow strength to escape prison, but ordinary matching of spiritual pressure will not trigger resonance—unless... you are naturally connected with Demons, Monsters, Ghosts, and Goblins."

Xiao Bai was not so easily frightened. He walked upright and sat straight; even if he colluded with Demons, Monsters, Ghosts, and Goblins, it would only be to subdue them and contribute to a harmonious cultivation society.

"Has anyone been bewitched and caused a great disaster?"

Xuan Shi stared at Xiao Bai, his voice like a muffled bell.

"Never."

The fifth floor was the Medical Dao Hall.

The Internal Examination Room was inside it.

They entered the Internal Examination Room.

The enormous five-sided Internal Examination Room was empty, as if it had been prepared for Xiao Bai alone.

Inside were a Black Stone Bed for measuring spiritual power, high-level arrays for examining sinews, bones, and bloodlines, and three Dao Alliance physicians who had followed them in to conduct a deeper and more comprehensive examination of his body.

Of the three Daoist doctors, two were men and one was a woman. All wore ancient gray Dao Alliance robes embroidered with auspicious clouds.

At their head was an elderly Daoist doctor carrying a short blade. The other man and woman were very young, like intern Daoist doctors.

All three had various blades and small medicine jars hanging from their waists. At a glance, they were clearly surgical Daoist doctors.

For no reason, Xiao Bai became nervous, feeling as though he was about to be dissected again...

Just in case, Xiao Bai set the residual medicinal power of the Alcohol-filled Chocolate outside his dantian outer wall to activate automatically if his dantian came under attack.

Only then did he discover that any pills given by the Female Lead—including the Heart-Returning Powder, Spine Gu Pill, and Alcohol-filled Chocolate pills—could automatically activate when their host was in danger after being swallowed and broken down.

Even if Xiao Bai were unconscious, as long as his dantian was in danger, their medicinal power would still activate automatically.

Xiao Bai recalled that when he had written the Modifier, he had indeed added a fully automatic pill-taking function...

"Don't be nervous. We're merely going through the motions."

With that said, Supervisor Xuan turned and left the Internal Examination Room.

The Female Daoist Doctor then undressed Xiao Bai.

She covered his lower body with a large black towel and helped him lie upon the icy Black Obsidian bed.

Throughout the process, she did not touch a single inch of Xiao Bai's body. Her technique was so practiced that she could be called considerate and attentive.

Unfortunately, though she was a good woman, both her looks and cultivation were ordinary, and she was exceedingly cold toward Xiao Bai.

Her gaze was like that of someone looking at a lamb awaiting slaughter.

The young male Daoist doctor brought over a cup of clear water and handed it to Xiao Bai. Its smell was clearly wrong.

Xiao Bai did not drink it and asked,

"Is this anesthetic?"

The elderly Daoist doctor said,

"More or less."

Xiao Bai did not like falling unconscious and leaving himself at others' mercy.

"Can I go without the anesthetic? I'm not afraid of pain."

"No."

The elderly Daoist doctor answered coldly.

Immediately afterward, the anesthetic evaporated and slipped into Xiao Bai's nostrils of its own accord, penetrating straight into his five viscera and six bowels.

"This is for your own good too."

Next to the Internal Examination Room was a Surveillance Room.

From within the Surveillance Room, one could clearly see a Stereoscopic Projection of the Internal Examination Room. Not only was every detail visible, it could also analyze fluctuations in the room's spiritual pressure.

At this moment, the tall man standing in the Surveillance Room and monitoring every movement within the Internal Examination Room was—

Qi Shan, the Sect Overseer.

The door creaked open.

Xuan Shi entered with his head lowered, his expression complicated and shifting between light and shadow.

"For some reason, this subordinate has always had an ominous premonition concerning Xiao Bai..."

Qi Shan stood with his hands behind his back. His slightly plump face was utterly calm, almost bloodless.

"Did you hear that divine sense just now?"

Xuan Shi was startled.

"The Sect Overseer heard it too?"

Qi Shan's gaze was sharp as torches, his voice low.

"That was the divine sense of Qu Yangzi from the Heavenly Demon Sect on the eighteenth level... If I remember correctly, this was the first time he had sent out a divine sense calling for help."

Xuan Shi furrowed his brow, the ominous feeling in his heart growing stronger.

"Why would this boy draw the Devil Race's attention?"

Qi Shan shook his head.

"Who knows? The internal examination can begin."