Chapter 86 The Time Isn't Right?

After the inquiry in the secret room ended, Yun Bai was kept behind by Supervisor Zhou Shengtai.

The heavy stone door closed slowly after Elder Yin Xin and Great Elder Xu Antong left. Only the two of them remained in the room, and the atmosphere was less murderous than before, but more solemn.

Supervisor Zhou Shengtai did not return to the main seat but paced over to Yun Bai. His face, which usually looked quite forthright, was now filled with worry and a hint of imperceptible resentment.

"Yun Bai," Supervisor Zhou Shengtai's voice was very low, carrying a tone of heartfelt sincerity, "What the Grand Elder said just now, while difficult, is the truth. In your heart... do not take it too much to heart."

Yun Bai looked up at the managing Elder who had personally piloted the flying boat to rescue him and shook his head gently: "Elder Zhou, you speak too seriously. This Disciple understands the position of the State Religion and understands the complications involved."

"It is good that you understand." Supervisor Zhou Shengtai sighed and sat on the cushion next to Yun Bai. He had lost some of his official authority and looked more like a worried Elder. "There are some things that were inconvenient to say openly just now. The upper echelons of the State Religion have long been dissatisfied with the local noble Families in Chu Prefecture, led by the Chen Family, and the entrenched old forces in the military! The malpractice has been deep-seated for a long time!"

A flash of sharpness crossed his eyes: "These Families, relying on their ancestors' merits or their duty to guard the territory in the past, occupy the region, act arrogantly, swallow resources, and even... collude with some unsavory forces in secret! They have long become a malignant tumor in the development of Chu Prefecture! The promotion of the State Religion's teachings and the implementation of government decrees are hindered by them at every turn!"

Yun Bai's heart stirred; this was exactly what he wanted to understand. "Then why..."

"Why not take action to clean it up?" Supervisor Zhou Shengtai gave a wry smile and continued, "It is difficult! When the Northwest was first stabilized, everything was waiting to be rebuilt, and demons were lurking all around. It was Marquis Gu who had the foresight to overcome all dissenting views and lead the many warlord forces in the Northwest to accept the teachings of the State Religion and submit to the imperial court, which is how we obtained the relatively stable situation today."

"The garrison in Chu Prefecture, although nominally reorganized and commanded by General Lin Jian sent from the capital, has many mid-to-lower-level officers and even some high-ranking generals who come from local Families. They are inextricably linked with the Chen Family, and moving one affects the whole!"

He stretched out his finger and traced it in the cold stone floor: "Moving the Chen Family means shaking the military morale of Chu Prefecture, and it could even trigger a chain reaction from other similar forces in the Northwest. Without ironclad evidence and absolute certainty, both the imperial court and the State Religion are afraid to act rashly. This is politics, Yun Bai. Sometimes, power is not the only way to solve all problems."

Yun Bai was silent. Supervisor Zhou Shengtai's words outlined a more complex and cruel power landscape in Chu Prefecture and even the entire Northwest for him. The Chen Family was just a prominent piece on this chessboard, or rather... a coiled poisonous snake.

"Then... the State Religion will just let them continue like this?" Yun Bai's voice carried a hint of unwillingness.

"Of course not!" Supervisor Zhou Shengtai said decisively, his eyes flashing with brilliance, "The secret investigation has never stopped! We are just waiting for the right moment! And right now, there is a key opportunity!" He leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming eager and solemn.

"The spirit connection platform!" Yun Bai realized instantly.

"Correct!" Supervisor Zhou Shengtai nodded emphatically, "This item is a treasure of the nation, capable of gathering and regulating the heaven and earth spiritual power and the spiritual energy of the earth veins within a thousand miles. Chu Prefecture and its surrounding areas currently rely mainly on the free-roaming spiritual power between heaven and earth and the natural supply of the Bange Spiritual Vein south of the city. Every major Family and military garrison has its own means of gathering and locking spiritual energy, forming their own systems, which the State Religion finds difficult to fully control."

His eyes shone with the light of a strategist: "Once the spirit connection platform is built and operated under the leadership of the State Religion, we can fundamentally control the lifeline of spiritual power in this region! By then, the distribution, flow, and even... the blockade of spiritual power! All will be at the discretion of the State Religion."

"This is the Foundation for truly controlling Chu Prefecture and restraining local forces! With this Foundation, combined with the evidence collected in secret, we can eradicate the malignant tumor that is the Chen Family, reorganize Chu Prefecture, and only then will success be a matter of course, and the Foundation be solid!"

He patted Yun Bai's shoulder, speaking earnestly: "Therefore, Yun Bai, the top priority of the State Religion in Chu Prefecture is to ensure the smooth construction of the spirit connection platform! Any factor that might interfere with or destroy this matter must be eliminated! This is also one of the reasons why the Grand Elder chose to temporarily endure the doubts surrounding Chen Yuan and Yang Mo in the Niwa Village incident. If we startle the snake, and if the Chen Family is forced into a corner and obstructs the spirit connection platform, or even colludes with the Demon Race to destroy it, the consequences would be unimaginable!"

Yun Bai understood completely.

The State Religion did not want to avoid moving against the Chen Family; they were playing a much larger game.

The spirit connection platform was the key piece to breaking the situation. And he, Yun Bai, and his encounter in Niwa Village, were just an episode in this big game that was infuriating but had to be endured for the time being.

"This Disciple understands." Yun Bai's voice was unusually calm; the previous anger and powerlessness seemed to have settled down, transforming into a deeper calmness. "The spirit connection platform concerns the overall situation, and this Disciple will naturally prioritize the overall situation."

Supervisor Zhou Shengtai nodded with satisfaction: "It is good that you can think this way. Your talent, especially this Divine Sense, is extremely precious to the State Religion and to the Human Race. Rest well and improve your strength. The water in Chu Prefecture is very deep; in the future... perhaps there will be a time when your power is needed."

He stood up, preparing to leave, but paused, turned back, and looked deeply at Yun Bai: "As for the Chen Family... those who commit many injustices are doomed to self-destruction. Be patient. The justice that belongs to you will eventually come. It is just that the time has not yet arrived."

Then Supervisor Zhou Shengtai changed the subject and returned to Yun Bai: "Kid Yun, you are talented, and your performance this time was excellent. The inquiry just now was just a routine, so just rest in Chu Prefecture with peace of mind. I think there will be a new appointment issued soon. Kid, an Earth-Grade or even Heaven-Grade contract..."

Supervisor Zhou Shengtai patted Yun Bai with satisfaction.

Yun Bai was stunned upon hearing this.

A Heaven-Grade special contract? Does this mean he might be able to go to the Holy City for further study?

Does becoming a Heaven-Grade talent mean he is one step closer to buying the Materials for the soul-stabilizing pill?

The stone door opened and closed again, leaving only Yun Bai in the secret room.

Sandalwood incense curled, and the light was dim. Yun Bai sat alone on the cushion, motionless for a long time.

Supervisor Zhou Shengtai's words echoed repeatedly in his mind. The overall situation... the spirit connection platform... the time... patience... Heaven-Grade.

He slowly opened his clenched palm, deep fingerprints left on his palm from the force.

His belief had never been so clear: Chu Prefecture had become a den of tigers and wolves, fraught with crises.

The Chen Family was like a sword hanging over his head, and the shadow of collusion with the Demon Race was imminent. Relying on the State Religion's slow layout and waiting for the so-called "time" was too passive! His sister Yun Qian and Shen Qi were still in the city; he did not know when the next assassination would come!

Power! Only absolute power was the fundamental way to break all shackles, protect everything, and claim justice!

The Holy City!

That was the core of the Human Race, a place where the strong gathered, with the top-tier Legacy and the richest resources! Only by going there could he grow at the fastest speed! Only then could he possess the strength to ignore the muddy waters of Chu Prefecture, to crush the Chen Family, and to investigate the conspiracy of the Demon Race!

"The Chen Family... perhaps the day the spirit connection platform is completed will be the time for the State Religion to settle the score?" A cold light flashed in Yun Bai's eyes, "But before that, I must possess the power to protect myself, and even... the power to influence the chessboard!"