Starting as a prodigy wanting milk? A world-destroying deception in the opposite direction.

Early the next morning.

Inside the main hall of the Exorcism Bureau, dark pillars cast imposing shadows.

The members of the Purification Division stood on both sides, their expressions solemn.

Jin Wanquan was held in the hall with his hands tied behind his back. His usually shrewd eyes darted around nervously as he glanced at the rows of people standing on either side, but he tried to appear calm.

Shen Zhen stood near the front of the hall, his blue uniform making his face appear even more gloomy.

The mother's old case, the shady dealings with the Nianchen Liquid, the heretical conspiracy...

All the clues seemed to be tied to this short, thin man, and he desperately wanted to pry even the slightest bit of the truth about his mother's sacrifice out of him.

Beside him, Lei Lie stood with his arms crossed, while Ren Fei, Miao Erhu, and the others stood behind him, their eyes fixed on Jin Wanquan, guarding against any unusual movements.

From the head of the table, Ling Buyu's voice was calm yet extremely penetrating:

"Jin Wanquan, you are colluding with heretics."

"By stealing the divine treasury's essence, strengthening mutants, and harming the people, do you know your crime?"

Jin Wanquan almost collapsed, crying out:

"Lord Ling, please see the truth! I've been wronged!"

I'm just a lowly warehouse supervisor; I'm a victim too!

"Still dare to argue!" Iron Instructor's voice boomed like a bell, his burly figure radiating anger. He hated traitors the most.

Amidst the somber atmosphere, Shen Zhenglan sat to one side, his white robe as white as snow. It was a rare occasion for him to visit the Temple of Cleansing Evil today.

This sixth-level Divine Master simply lowered his eyes and remained silent, but the restrained fluctuations of mental power around him made the air in the entire hall become somewhat heavy.

He occasionally glanced at Jin Wanquan, his gaze seemingly able to pierce through one's heart.

On the right stood a middle-aged man in a brocade robe, his face ashen. His name was Qian Hengzhi. As the deputy director of the Divine Grace Treasury, he was deeply responsible for this incident involving his direct subordinates and quickly tried to distance himself from the blame.

"What Coach Tie said is absolutely right!"

"Jin Wanquan, I warned you long ago that the supplies from the Divine Grace Treasury are of paramount importance, yet you dared to disobey my orders!"

Under pressure, Jin Wanquan resorted to dodging the issue again:

"Lord Qian! You can't discard someone after they've served their purpose!"

You also signed the mixing records for those Nianchen liquids!

"Nonsense!" Qian Hengzhi's face darkened further.

"When did I sign this? You must have forged the record!"

The two men passed the buck to each other, causing a commotion in the hall.

In a corner, the rookie team watched the confrontation intently, holding their breath.

Li Qingyan's gaze was calm, Zhao Huaijin crossed his arms, a hint of mockery on his lips; Qi Xuejian's eyes widened, her gaze shifting back and forth between Shen Zhen and Jin Wanquan, full of curiosity.

The other newcomers, including Chen Xi, Zhou Shi, Lu Renjia, and Wu Xian, also had different expressions.

Lei Lie couldn't help but sneer:

"Still being stubborn at a time like this? Do you really think the Pure Evil Division is just for show?"

Han Yan stood on the other side, her blue uniform sharp and capable. She spoke coldly:

"Jin Wanquan, you've been caught red-handed, and we've also found tokens of your dealings with heretics in your residence."

The evidence is irrefutable, and you still want to deny it?

Jin Wanquan's face paled, and his eyes flickered:

"That...that was just me pretending to cooperate in order to lure out the heretics!"

I've wanted to inform the temple for a long time, but I haven't found the right opportunity!

"Feigned cooperation?" Shen Zhen finally couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward.

"Was the theft of Nianchen Liquid in the neighboring county four years ago also your doing? Was my mother Lin Wanru's sacrifice back then related to you?"

His words were blunt and sharp, like a dagger piercing straight into Jin Wanquan's heart.

The hall fell silent instantly.

All eyes were on him, and Shen Zhenglan's usually lowered eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

He looked up at his son with a complex expression, a complex mix of deep pain and an indescribable caution.

Jin Wanquan was taken aback by the question, and then quickly waved his hand:

"I don't know anything about Lin Wanru. The case from four years ago has nothing to do with me!"

"I'm just a warehouse supervisor, how dare I get involved in such important matters!"

"You dare say it's alright?" Shen Zhen took half a step forward, her mental power surging unconsciously, and a faint, almost imperceptible gray-black aura emanated from her body.

"Four years ago, my mother sacrificed herself to suppress the disaster caused by the mutants!"

"Xiao Shen, calm down." Lei Lie reached out and pulled him back.

"Trial proceedings must be based on evidence; don't let emotions cloud your judgment."

Shen Zhen took a deep breath, suppressing her surging emotions. The gray-black halo gradually dissipated, but the urgency in her eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

He knew he was being too radical, but the thought that his mother's death might be related to this person in front of him made him unable to control the turmoil in his heart.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the hall, accompanied by an announcement:

"His Highness the Crown Prince of the Fengyun Empire has arrived!"

Everyone was taken aback. Why would the royal family suddenly interfere in the temple's affairs?

Ling Buyu frowned and stood up to greet him.

Shen Zhen was also somewhat surprised. Why would Feng Xun come here?

Feng Xun, dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe, stood tall and straight, with a gentle face and a perfectly measured smile on his lips. He was followed by two guards as he slowly walked into the main hall.

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Ling Buyu, and he bowed respectfully.

"Director Ling, I apologize for disturbing you."

"Your Highness, I am deeply sorry for not greeting you sooner." Ling Buyu nodded slightly.

"May I ask what brings Your Highness here today?"

Feng Xun smiled, turned his gaze to Jin Wanquan in the hall, and spoke in a calm tone:

"I heard that the Purification Division is currently investigating Jin Wanquan, the Supervisor of the Divine Grace Treasury. This matter is somewhat related to me, so I've come to explain."

These words caused an uproar in the hall.

Qian Hengzhi's eyes lit up, and he quickly said:

"Your Highness, what do you mean?"

"Jin Wanquan did indeed make deals with heretics, but he was acting on my orders," Feng Xun said slowly, his tone frank.

"Recently, heretical activities have been frequent. I secretly sent Jin Wanquan to feign defection and trade with them for Nianchen Liquid in order to lure out the core members of the heretics and wipe them out in one fell swoop."

This matter is of great importance, and I did not inform the temple beforehand for fear of a leak.

Jin Wanquan, as if grasping at a straw, immediately prostrated himself on the ground and cried out:

"Your Highness, please see the truth!"

Everything I, a lowly person, have done is for the sake of the empire and the temple!

Shen Zhen was shocked. How could this be?

He stared at Feng Xun, trying to find a flaw in his gentle expression, but the other's face remained calm and composed, revealing no clue whatsoever.

Shen Zhen subconsciously turned to her father, only to see Shen Zhenglan still sitting quietly, the concentrated mental energy fluctuations around him even more obscure than before.

Coach Tie frowned:

"Your Highness, the temple has its own rules for judging heretics. Isn't the royal family's interference in this matter against the rules?"

"Instructor Tie, you flatter me." Feng Xun's tone remained gentle.

"I do not intend to interfere in temple affairs, but I do not want meritorious officials to be wronged."

Jin Wanquan risked his life to infiltrate the heretics' ranks. If he is treated as a traitor, who will dare to serve the Empire and the Temple in the future?

He paused, then said:

"Of course, it was inappropriate that I did not communicate this matter in advance."

I am willing to vouch for Jin Wanquan, and after the heresy is completely eradicated, he will be at the mercy of the temple.

"Now is the time when we need manpower. Why not hand him over to me and let him continue to cooperate in drawing out the core of the heresy, so that he can make amends for his past mistakes."

Ling Buyu's expression turned solemn as he fell into deep thought.

The royal family and the temple are inherently in a state of mutual checks and balances. Feng Xun's words were eloquent and gave the temple a way out while also highlighting Jin Wanquan's value. If they were to refuse outright, it would likely escalate the conflict.

At that moment, a voice rang out, its tone playful yet subtly sharp:

"His Highness the Crown Prince is indeed far-sighted."

As everyone looked over, they saw Ye Zhi Qiu, dressed in white, holding a folding fan, a smile on his lips, but a sharp glint in his eyes.

His interruption was not entirely random.

The Palace Master of Qitian Palace, Mu Qingfeng, who is also his master, has always disliked the royal family interfering too much in the specific affairs of the temple.

Prince Fengxun's actions today are essentially using royal authority to casually cover up a major case in the temple, which is not a good sign.

He spoke at this moment partly to show off his importance in front of this cold beauty, and partly to give the royal family a heads-up and to support the temple.

He continued:

"However, it is a fact that Jin Wanquan stole the Mind Dust Liquid. Even if he was acting under orders, he should still be punished."

Otherwise, it would be difficult to convince the public, wouldn't it?

After speaking, his gaze seemed to casually sweep over Han Yan.

Han Yan's face remained aloof. Her eyes swept quickly over the Crown Prince, and her eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly before she looked back at the hall.

Ye Zhi Qiu used the excuse of helping to capture Jin Wan Quan to come to the Jing Xie Division. Unexpectedly, Han Yan was indifferent to him, as if yesterday's events had never happened.

Feng Xun smiled and nodded, saying:

"Brother Ye is right."

Although Jin Wanquan had his reasons, his unauthorized use of the divine grace treasury's resources did indeed violate the temple's rules.

I think it would be better to spare him the death penalty, but not escape punishment. Exile him to the western frontier, and recall him after the heresy has been eradicated, depending on the circumstances.

"Exiled to the western frontier?" Ling Buyu's tone was flat, and he exchanged a glance with the Iron Instructor beside him.

In the end, Coach Tie just snorted coldly and turned his head away.

Many of the elders from the Jingxie Division in the hall lowered their eyes slightly, and the atmosphere became somewhat stagnant for a moment.

Everyone could tell that this "exile" meant removing people from the temple's jurisdiction and placing them on the frontier where the royal family could have easier control.

Just then, Shen Zhenglan spoke.