"The Vermilion Bird clan once thought highly of themselves, causing chaos in the Chiyuan and disrupting the balance among the clans. As a result, they were the first to perish and be wiped out." Xuan Ji lowered his eyes, and the lights in the reception room dimmed with his gaze.

The flickering light cast large shadows on his features, revealing the solemnity and detachment of the ancient spirits in his deep contours and slightly raised eyebrows.

Everyone in the reception room felt the invisible pressure from the pure-blooded demon, and for a moment, there was silence.

"As for those who want to use Chiyuan and control it, whether they are trying to become demons or become saints, their wishes will be in vain and they will disappear without a trace. I hope that all of you, including myself, can remember the lessons of the past. For the greater good, let's not mess with the laws of nature, okay?"

The translator dared not look up, while the nearby note-taker let out a quiet gasp and accidentally dropped their laptop onto the ground.

However, the laptop didn't hit the ground, as it was held up by some invisible force and floated back into its owner's hands.

"Be careful," Xuan Ji helped him set up the laptop, "As for me..."

With a gentle blink, he returned to his usual friendly and lively self, and the terrifying pressure dissipated without a trace.

"The Chiyuan has just ignited, and there were some scattered 'landmines' left behind in various places, such as curses in the witch people's tomb and broken magical tools discarded by some unethical predecessors. They may cause some minor trouble. I'll be helping the Bureau with this clean up for the past few years, so consider it after-sales service. But Chief Huang, my salary must still be paid on time!"

Chief Huang quickly assured him that even if they owed the headquarters' building's renovation fees, he would never dare to owe the salary of this great master.

The guests arrived with serious expressions, but after two hours, they left feeling at least a bit more optimistic than when they arrived.

No matter what, "stability" in the short term is always a good thing.

As for the long term... well, let the world slowly digest it.

Everyone would be dead by then, and it was time for the descendants to develop space migration. Who cares if this planet burns or not?

Xiao Zheng brought the people and busily arranged for them to leave.

Everything was in order, and the sun was already setting behind the West Mountain. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, feeling like he had forgotten something important. His mind was exhausted.

The Bureau had been in the midst of a crisis, and Director Xiao had been at his wit's end.

He looked thin and haggard, his hair unable to grow. He couldn't figure out why he was suffering so much, and why he hadn't gone home to inherit his family's fortune.

Suddenly, a clear and melodious whistle sounded behind him, carrying an indescribable sense of antiquity.

It was a tune from some unknown time and space, and it made his temples feel light.

Suddenly, a fluttering sound was heard and two rows of birds landed on the railing as if they had emerged from the ground.

Xiao Zheng was taken aback and turned around to see Xuan Ji strolling out of the house with his hands behind his back.

The setting sun shone on the small mole at the corner of his eye, which seemed to reflect off his face and dazzle anyone who looked at him.

He was nothing like the internet addict who used to munch on melon seeds while listening to heavy metal music in Xiao Zheng's memory.

He looked more like the guardian god of the Nanming that Xiao Zheng had imagined.

Then, the "guardian god" strutted over to him and squinted as he looked him up and down.

"Old Xiao, isn't your tie choking you? Even the noose on the hanging female ghost in that horror movie we watched yesterday was looser than your tie... Oh, you're wearing makeup? Your face and the back of your head have different skin tones, hahaha."

Xiao Zheng: "..."

What a ridiculous god!

"You guys are making it so formal, it's making me nervous." Xuan Ji rubbed his hands together and pulled out a cigarette from somewhere, glancing at the birds on the railing who were "pilgriming".

He then blew smoke at them in a very arrogant manner.

The birds were startled and flew away, rushing back to their nests to tell each other - the temporary worker that became the Nanming chief really had no manners. The divine birds were probably in trouble.

Xiao Zheng cleared his throat and asked somewhat awkwardly, "How is His Majesty?"

"He's not awake yet, probably afraid I'll hold him accountable." Xuan Ji muttered, clearing the railing with a puff of smoke.

He was satisfied and climbed up on it.

"In a few days, when he wakes up, I'll go back to the aftermath department and tell my little brothers not to miss me too much."

"Oh, by the way," said Xiao Zheng, "I was just about to tell you that Yang Chao in your department passed the exam and is preparing for the interview. If he gets in, he'll submit his resignation officially. It's said that he has a good chance, about 80-90%."

Xuan Ji: "..."

The Vermilion Bird clan chief didn't receive the recognition he deserved, and his subordinates had fired him.

"He said he doesn't really have any special abilities and prefers living an ordinary life," Xiao Zheng continued.

Xuan Ji asked with a world-weary expression, "Even with the burning of Chiyuan, he still didn't show any special abilities?"

"Oh, he said that after returning from Chiyuan, his memorization skills were particularly efficient," Xiao Zheng replied.

"That might not have anything to do with Chiyuan, but rather his own hard work," Xuan Ji speculated.

Xiao Zheng laughed for a moment before saying, "The investigation results for Dr. Han's case are out."

"Hmm?"

"We traced the account that Luo Cuicui used in the True Nature Sect, as well as evidence of his private contact with Gong Chenggong," Xiao Zheng said.

"Luo Cuicui was acting under the orders of Gong Chenggong. Now that both of them are dead and there are no witnesses, it is speculated that they were afraid the Chiyuan investigation team would uncover something."

Unfortunately, on that day, the Chiyuan altar opened its doors.

As someone who specialized in studying the earth's veins, Dr. Han should have been able to detect the secrets in the old earth vein during the most intense activity at Chiyuan.

"That night, Gong Chenggong suddenly notified Luo Cuicui to keep quiet," Xiao Zheng said. "The exact details are unknown. Dr. Han was not on guard against her colleagues and was led by Luo Cuicui, who had mixed an Echo Sound into the public address system, to the depths of Chiyuan. Hmm...Chief Huang hasn't had a chance to talk to you alone, he asked me to thank you."

"No," Xuan Ji was taken aback. "I feel ashamed of myself. If I hadn't gone out that day and opened the Chiyuan Altar, she wouldn't have..."

"If someone dies for the truth, the guilty party is the one who wants to cover it up, not the truth itself," Xiao Zheng said seriously. "You're an ancient demon, why do you talk like a hypocritical mortal?"

Xuan Ji: "..."

"There are too many people who died silently in the hands of the True Nature Sect, many without a trace. Even if we want to investigate now, there's nothing to find. Chief Huang wanted to thank you...this witness who looks a lot like a red safety helmet."