I Can Extract Divine Power

Chapter 182 - 116: The Eve of the Prefecture Celebration

The morning in Fenglin State was as bustling and lively as ever.

Both sides of the streets were lined with all sorts of stalls, and a constant stream of commoners milled about in front of them.

The stall owners haggled with one another, each busy with their own affairs.

Shen Bai strolled through the streets, his right hand resting on the hilt of Cold Moon, his left carrying the straw clothes as he walked.

Passersby brushed past him, but upon seeing the official uniform of the Observatory he wore, they would reveal a hint of awe and keep their distance.

Shen Bai, however, quite enjoyed this clamorous, worldly atmosphere. It was just like his days back in Shengyun County. He walked along, taking in the lively scenes around him.

Before long, Shen Bai arrived at the entrance to the Observatory.

At the entrance, two members of the Ding Division were on guard duty.

When they saw Shen Bai, they immediately clasped their hands in salute. "Greetings, Lord Shen."

Before he became the Ding Shou, they could call him Brother Shen. But after his promotion, according to the strict hierarchy of the Observatory, all members of the Ding Division were required to address him as "Lord."

Shen Bai nodded. "I’m heading in for Dianmao."

The two Observatory members saluted again, stepping slightly aside to clear a path.

Shen Bai walked inside.

The courtyard was the same busy scene as always, with personnel from all divisions coming and going, their steps hurried.

Shen Bai’s leisurely demeanor stood in stark contrast to his surrounding colleagues.

As Shen Bai entered, many gazes fell upon him before quietly turning away.

By now, everyone in the Observatory knew of Shen Bai’s renown. The recent battle with the Upper Evil Sect had only increased their admiration for him.

Even members of the Yi Division looked at Shen Bai with a measure of respect.

It wasn’t just for his strength, but for the courage he showed by facing the battle alone.

Shen Bai, quite used to these glances, arrived at Long Yan’s registration room to begin the Dianmao process.

Inside the registration room, Long Yan was observing the Observatory members coming and going with her soft, beautiful eyes.

When she saw Shen Bai, her eyes lit up. Swaying her supple waist and striding forward on her long legs, she came to stand before him.

She even tried to lift his chin with her finger, but Shen Bai dodged it.

Long Yan covered her mouth and chuckled. "Our dear Ding Shou is so shy."

Shen Bai felt helpless against this still-charming woman. "Landlord Long, I’m here for Dianmao. After I’m done, I’m going to pay Elder Mu a visit."

Long Yan ran a fair finger past her eyes, then returned to her seat and propped her elbows on the desk. "Come on, then. Get your Dianmao done. You’re just as uninteresting as Landlord Mu."

Shen Bai shook his head. After a bit of back-and-forth with Long Yan, he completed the registration.

Just then, Long Yan’s eyes fixed on Shen Bai’s left hand.

In his left hand, he was carrying the straw clothes.

Long Yan’s brow furrowed slightly, and she let out a soft sound of surprise.

Shen Bai had been about to leave, but seeing Long Yan’s strange reaction, he asked, "Landlord Long, do you recognize this thing?"

His original intention was to ask Elder Mu about it, but seeing as Long Yan seemed to know something, he asked her on the spot.

Long Yan nodded lightly and held out a fair hand to Shen Bai. "Let me see those clothes."

Without hesitation, Shen Bai handed the straw clothes over.

Long Yan took them and examined them carefully, her delicate brows knitting even tighter. "It is indeed that kind of abomination. Did you encounter something like a shadow?"

Shen Bai nodded. "I did. The abomination was very weak."

Long Yan handed the straw clothes back. "This is ’Shadow’s Raiment’."

’Shadow’s Raiment?’

Shen Bai rubbed his chin. "I’ve never heard of this. I’ll have to ask Landlord Long to enlighten me."

Long Yan pointed to the side. "Have a seat first. I can explain it in detail. For this thing to appear in Fenglin State is not a good sign."

Shen Bai sat down on a chair, assuming a listening posture, and waited for Long Yan to continue.

Long Yan organized her thoughts for a moment before speaking. "Shadow’s Raiment comes from a folk legend that has been passed down for a very long time. It’s said that long ago, before the Great Zhou Country was founded, the people went through a time of extreme hardship."

"With no food to eat and no clothes to wear, the common folk were plagued by hunger and cold."

"As time went on, life became more and more difficult, and the number of deaths grew. In that environment, the people sought a form of spiritual solace."

"The legend of Shadow’s Raiment began to spread during that time. They believed their shadow was a part of themselves, and that by dressing the shadow, it symbolized a future where they would have plenty of food and clothing. It sounds ridiculous, but in those desperate times, it was a belief that helped them survive."

Hearing this, Shen Bai had a general understanding of the story’s meaning.

Many secular stories have been passed down through various eras, and these stories often represent a kind of conviction for the common people, or perhaps even a faith.

Shen Bai found this to be quite normal.

"Then why did it turn into an abomination?" Shen Bai asked.

Long Yan thought for a moment and said, "It originated as a form of spiritual solace from an age of suffering and chaos. Wouldn’t you say it’s full of resentment?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Bai had a moment of realization. "I see."

A form of solace born from a time of suffering would naturally be steeped in resentment. When combined with the act of creating a Shadow’s Raiment, that resentment would accumulate on the shadow and the straw clothes.

Thinking about it that way, it seemed quite natural that it would become an abomination.

But there was still one thing Shen Bai didn’t quite understand.

"The abomination is weak, but why did you say its appearance is a major issue?" Shen Bai continued to ask.

"That’s because this abomination cannot be killed." Long Yan revealed a hint of helplessness. "As long as there are people suffering in this world, the resentment will never cease. Because of this, the abomination will continually emerge. Once it appears, it will take root in the local area and only disappear on its own after a certain period of time."