Chapter 73: A Public Announcement to All! (Part Three)

Perhaps sensing Qin Ye’s gaze, Director Li turned his head and managed a smile.

It was a strained smile, his aged eyes crimson with unshed tears, and his voice was choked with emotion.

Yet his smile shone with a certain radiance.

“When I first joined the Special Investigation Division, my superior told me that one day, we would finally see the clouds part and the sun shine through.” He sighed softly, as if explaining to Qin Ye, yet also murmuring to himself: “I never imagined… My son didn’t live to see it, but my grandson and I have witnessed it…”

The atmosphere was heavy with stifled voices and muffled sobs. Qin Ye bit his lip lightly but said nothing.

Not only could he not feel the same as them now—he never would.

He was not one who partook in the affairs of the living.

Yet, why did his heart feel so choked and unsettled?

He sought to ignore this feeling, but found it impossible.

This was supposed to be the duty of the Underworld.

If the Underworld had fulfilled its responsibility—if it were as grand as it once was, with the six Ghost Kings roaming and slaying malevolent spirits, countless soul-reaping envoys surging forth from the Gates of the Dead like a flood, and the mighty Judges of the Underworld presiding above—would any spirit dare to rampage in the mortal realm as Cao Youdao had done?

But the Underworld had turned to ashes with Kṣitigarbha’s ascension to Buddhahood.

Yet—

Meng Po had entrusted him with a fragment of the Seal of Yama! In all the land, only he held the hope of restoring the Underworld!

These sobs had nothing to do with him, yet he found them impossible to shake from his heart.

Withdrawing his gaze, he fell silent. Then, the voice of Arthas sounded in his mind, low and lingering: “Perhaps that old crone Meng Po… picked you precisely for this sliver of conscience you possess…”

“You know, you were born at the nation’s darkest hour, amidst the flames of war, and have witnessed the rise of a great country. You’ve seen too much, experienced too much—grown slick and cautious, always dodging trouble unless cornered. But you also have the quality of being unkillable. Of all, you are the one most likely to revive the Underworld.”

“After seeing so much, you still keep a trace of conscience, and your heart remains young. I think I understand why Meng Po chose you…”

Qin Ye murmured an acknowledgment through his nose, but still did not speak. He hadn’t absorbed a single word from the governor’s speech.

After a pause, Arthas continued, “What’s the point of lamenting fate? Your temperament isn’t all bad. Call you timid, but you can be stubborn when it matters. Say you’re naive, but you see things more clearly than most. It isn’t just blind action that gets things done—that was Xiang Yu. The ones who truly accomplish things…”

“Are the timorous ones like Liu Bang.”

“If your conscience truly bothers you, if every day you hold the Seal of Yama you feel yourself carrying the silent censure of all those soldiers and cultivators who gave everything for the mortal realm, then… restore the Underworld as soon as you can…”

Qin Ye let out a sardonic laugh, lowered his head, and said in a hoarse voice, “I am a soul envoy… And you, a Judge, are encouraging me to shoulder the responsibilities of the living? Isn’t that absurd?”

Arthas replied solemnly, “You’re mistaken. Retribution and justice, aiding the mortal realm—that is the true purpose of the Underworld. Without the living, what need is there for the dead?”

The governor’s voice rang out, grave and commanding, transmitted to every home, to every screen and radio: “…Until a few days ago, when the sudden large-scale uprising of spirits in Bao’an City could no longer be concealed, we finally made up our minds… Now, I will announce the central government’s decision.”

Qin Ye’s eyes sharpened and he straightened in his seat. Every cultivator in the hall fixed their gaze on the main stage.

This was the main event of the day!

The declaration of the mortal realm’s stance—the new strategy for the future!

Without preamble, Zhou Xianlong spoke in a deep, resounding voice: “Order Number One: Within three days, all citizens of Bao’an City and its subordinate districts must sign confidentiality agreements. Anyone who refuses will be prosecuted for treason. Anyone who breaks the agreement will also be prosecuted for treason.”

“After signing, you may choose to leave Bao’an City or to stay. Because… Bao’an City is about to enter an entirely new era!”

He drew a deep breath. “We call it… the Era of Cultivation!”

These four words, transmitted by television and radio, spread to all corners of the land.

An era of universal cultivation was about to begin!

“One week from now, Bao’an City will enter a five-year lockdown. All entry and exit will be strictly forbidden,” the governor continued. “At the same time, Bao’an City will become a directly governed city, under the immediate command of the central government. Furthermore, 350 hectares of land around the city government will be demolished and rebuilt.”

“What!?” “Everything to be rebuilt? If we don’t want to leave, where will we live?” “What’s going on?”

The city, which had just quieted, erupted into chaos once more.

But there was no room for negotiation. Zhou Xianlong had no intention of entertaining any.

“This is an order.” He cast a cold glance at the projection screen. “As citizens of this nation, you have your responsibilities. There is no home without a country. When the nation’s interests are at stake, all lesser interests must give way!”

“As for housing, rest assured—this order will be implemented in a year’s time. During the coming year, the China State Construction Group will build twenty-five high-quality residential communities around the 350-hectare area. No citizen will be left homeless.”

“Third,” Zhou Xianlong continued, well aware that televisions everywhere must already be in an uproar, but what mattered was execution, not debate.

Because… the next order was even more explosive!

He paused. “Starting in one week, Bao’an City will pilot a citizen classification system.”

“Cultivation… is not mere words.” His gaze swept over the crowd. “Cultivators and ordinary people are fundamentally different. They are the shield of the people, the first—and last—line of defense against outbreaks of spirits! In one week, after aptitude assessments, classification will begin. Those with cultivation potential will be Level Two, ordinary citizens Level Three, and official cultivators Level One.”

“All Level One and Level Two members—from cultivation to death—the state will guarantee all their needs, all their consumption, every resource!”

“Moreover, after a year, when the relocation is complete, the current city center will become the site of the National First Cultivation Academy! All students will be selected preferentially from Level One and Level Two citizens of Bao’an City!”

Order after order echoed throughout the hall, and Qin Ye let out a long, emotional breath.

What a grand undertaking.

Millions of people, a prefecture-level city—at a single command, build or evacuate at will. It was clear just how seriously the state viewed this pilot program!

Need policies? Granted!

Need manpower? Granted!

Need resources or construction? Granted!

All that’s required is a sacred ground for cultivation at the end!

What he realized, others realized as well. As everyone’s breathing quickened, Zhou Xianlong continued, “This academy is the nation’s first pilot institution. It will occupy a vast area, and all supporting facilities will be related to cultivation. Every instructor will be a battle-hardened cultivator experienced in dealing with spirits. And this school… will begin recruiting nationwide after the winter break this year!”

“Let me reiterate—this is not a novel. You may not take it seriously, but the most powerful weapons against spirits, the nation’s top cultivators, the latest intelligence on spirits, the most accurate locations of outbreaks and missions—all will be concentrated here! Enter, and your life will be forever changed.”

“I dare say now—if you can graduate from this academy, your future… your children’s future… will be limitless!”

Down below, Qin Ye’s heart was surging with excitement, and the eyes of every cultivator around him shone with anticipation.

They were truly getting serious now…

The massive supernatural outbreak in Bao’an City had made it clear to the living realm that things could not continue as they had.

If you want war, I’ll give you war!

“What a bold move,” Su Feng sighed in admiration. “Flattening a city and rebuilding it, mobilizing millions—only our nation could do such a thing.”

Qin Ye nodded as well. “I didn’t expect the government to show such resolve this time. A cultivation university… I’m honestly more and more interested.”

Su Feng glanced at him and leaned in to whisper, “Brother, let me tell you—this university won’t be easy.”

“Every S-class talent, every master at the Soul Reaper level—almost all of them will be teaching. These people are brutes, unruly and competitive. And…” he narrowed his eyes, “the youngest among them is twenty-five…”

!!!

Qin Ye stared wide-eyed at Su Feng, whose gloating was written all over his face.

“…No room for negotiation?”

Su Feng grinned. “Of course… not. Who wouldn’t want to size up the youngest Soul Reaper? Four or five people in the group are already set on coming, and none of them are looking forward to you joining—quite the opposite, actually…”

Everyone was used to competing with others in their twenties, then suddenly an eighteen-year-old Soul Reaper appears—who could be happy about that?

The governor’s voice continued: “…Eighth: From today, Bao’an City will be exempt from all taxes for three years. Any companies, factories, employees, or self-employed individuals facing shutdown will receive unified subsidies from the city government, increased by 500 yuan over previous amounts. Moreover, anyone founding a company related to cultivation will receive a ten-year tax exemption!”

“Ninth…”

Qin Ye half-listened. By now, the bombshells had all been dropped; the rest were just supplemental measures. He was chatting with Su Feng when, all of a sudden, a jolt like electricity shot up his spine!

“What’s wrong?” Su Feng asked, startled by the sudden change in Qin Ye’s expression.

Qin Ye didn’t answer. Instead, he hunched over silently, cold sweat dripping from his brow. It was terrifying… Just now, a bone-deep chill had assaulted his entire being!

There were at least four Judges in Bao’an City now—one guarding the whole city, three present here, and… he was carrying one in his arms!

Even so, none of them had sensed how this sinister aura had appeared. No abruptness, no warning—just now, it was as if an icy hand had caressed his back, making every hair on his body stand on end!

There was a ghost.

There was a ghost here.

Such a dreadful aura—this spirit was no ordinary entity. Not only that, but he could even hear Arthas’s teeth chattering from within the Soul-Sealing Sphere!

“Stronger than you…” he said through clenched teeth, the statement leaving no room for doubt.

Arthas’s voice trembled: “Such terrifying energy… This is definitely above the ten-million level! This is what that kid at your side detected… it must be! But who is it? Are there spirits of this class still in the mortal realm?”