Yet Shen Bai was refined and humble, his demeanor composed.

This demeanor not only earned everyone’s admiration but also made them feel a great sense of affinity for him.

Many members of the Observatory knew that after this battle, Shen Bai’s rise would be as unstoppable as a surging ocean.

With his humble and gentle nature, coupled with his ruthlessness toward his enemies, the Shen Bai of the future was destined to reach the pinnacle of the world.

Feng Zheng said, "The incident is over, but does anyone know how we get out of here?"

The Netherworld was still a desolate wasteland.

"It’s actually just a fragment," Shen Bai said slowly. "And it’s on the verge of shattering."

As soon as he said this, terrifying fractures began to appear in the distant scenery.

As the fractures manifested, everything around them blurred.

In a mere moment, their surroundings looked as though they had been covered by a thick layer of pixelation.

The scene before them vanished completely, and Shen Bai found himself back at the site of the internal exam.

The very first thing Feng Zheng said upon returning to the exam site was to order two Observatory members to go out and check on the civilians.

You leave a place like the Netherworld the same way you entered.

But he had to be absolutely certain.

Only after the Observatory members had left did Feng Zheng look around and let out a long sigh of relief.

The whole ordeal had been so perilous that it had left him drenched in a cold sweat that still hadn’t dried.

"Everyone," Feng Zheng said, "we made it through that peril without any casualties, all thanks to Lord Shen. For now, go and get some rest. We still have to follow up with the proper procedures."

Now that the internal exam was over, the subsequent administrative steps still had to be taken.

Rewards had to be given and reports had to be filed.

Everyone had sustained injuries this time, but fortunately, as Cultivators, they would recover after a few days of rest.

So, without lingering, they all turned and returned to their respective rooms.

A flash of light flickered from Shen Bai’s robes.

Amber leaped onto Shen Bai’s arm, gently nuzzling his palm.

Feng Zheng looked at Shen Bai and said, "Lord Shen, you should get some rest as well. In a few days, we will issue the first-place prize. I will also report this incident truthfully, without any concealment. I’m sure the higher-ups will have an even greater reward for you."

Feng Zheng wasn’t one to covet another’s merits.

Credit should be given where credit is due. Besides, this time, it was all thanks to Shen Bai’s intervention.

Shen Bai nodded. "In that case, I’ll take my leave."

Holding Amber, he said nothing more and walked quickly toward his room.

His haste was understandable; Shen Bai was eager to examine his gains from this venture.

Ten Deceitful Objects. Although he hadn’t obtained a new Divine Power, the various conversions stacked up to a terrifying total.

This time, Shen Bai needed to go back and properly sort through his gains. This would help him decide how to "grind" next.

As he watched Shen Bai’s figure disappear, a hint of envy appeared in Feng Zheng’s eyes.

The Third Prince spoke up, "Lord Feng, you’re envious of Lord Liu, aren’t you?"

Feng Zheng turned back. "I am. As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. Lord Shen now has a real chance of reaching the summit; he’s the kind of talent our Great Zhou Country might not see for a hundred, or even a thousand, years. As the one who discovered him, Liu Wufeng’s own status will soar."

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t envious. If he had been the one to discover Shen Bai, others would be envying him right now.

The Third Prince just smiled and said nothing.

Feng Zheng suddenly asked, "Does Your Highness have any thoughts of changing your mind?"

The question was veiled, but the Third Prince understood its meaning perfectly.

The Third Prince shook his head slightly. "Shen Bai’s final destination does not lie with me. The day I decided to befriend him without trying to bind him, I had already made my resolution. Even now, with his star shining so brightly, I will not go back on my word. Moreover, for someone as brilliant as Shen Bai, he will only climb higher. I am merely his starting point, not his final stop."

Feng Zheng replied, "I am glad to hear Your Highness thinks this way. After all, according to His Majesty’s wishes, it is likely you will have many dealings with the Observatory in the future."

The Third Prince clapped Feng Zheng on the shoulder. "Rest assured, Lord Feng. I am no pedant. I look forward to our future cooperation."

Feng Zheng nodded. Without another word, he began arranging the subsequent tasks.

Soon, the trial grounds fell quiet again, with only the various members of the Observatory bustling about, handling the remaining administrative details.

...

Shen Bai was unaware of what transpired afterward, as he had already returned to his room.

After lighting the oil lamp on his desk, Shen Bai let Amber go off to play while he began to contemplate his next steps.

’The gains from this trip were immense, almost overwhelmingly so.’

’So, I should first organize my gains before deciding on my next grinding strategy.’

Before his eyes, a plume of smoke began to coalesce.

Just as it was about to form into his latest Attributes, Shen Bai’s brow suddenly furrowed.

With a wave of his sleeve, the smoke before him vanished without a trace.

Then, Shen Bai turned his head to look at a corner of the room.

"Who’s there?"

Just a moment ago, he had sensed a faint trace of Qi.

The Qi was faint, but its appearance was sudden.

’This is my room. I should be the only one here. Why would another’s Qi suddenly appear?’

The instant he turned, Cold Moon was unsheathed and in his hand, its blade shimmering faintly with blood-red Sword Qi.

But when he looked, the spot where he had sensed the faint Qi was perfectly still.

The faint trace of Qi had vanished.

"What’s going on?" Shen Bai stroked his chin, thinking, ’That definitely wasn’t an illusion, but it’s gone now.’

He searched the area carefully but still found nothing out of the ordinary.

Once he confirmed that the Qi had not reappeared, Shen Bai’s furrowed brow relaxed slightly, and he sheathed Cold Moon back at his waist.

’Forget it. I need to focus on sorting out my Divine Powers.’

’Whatever it was, it appeared as mysteriously as it vanished.’

Since he couldn’t find it, Shen Bai decided it was better to focus on the task at hand.

With that thought, the smoke before Shen Bai’s eyes condensed into text.

All of his Divine Powers appeared before him.