I stood in the grand hall of the Xuanmen Bureau's headquarters, palms faintly damp with sweat. The hall blazed with light, spiritual energy swirling through the air like mist. Senior Xuanmen figures filled the space on all sides, their gazes converging on me — appraising, curious, and carrying a thread of reverence they couldn't quite conceal.

"Ethan Lu." Director Honry Ho sat at the head seat, his voice measured and commanding. "For breaking the Ten-Thousand Sha Soul-Devouring Formation and eliminating the remnant forces of the Baizhen Pavilion, your merits are outstanding. By resolution of the Xuanmen Council of Elders, you are hereby promoted to Deputy Director of the Demon-Demon Demon Suppression Bureau, to assist Division Director Zhang Yuanshan in reorganising the Division."

The moment he finished speaking, applause rang through the hall. My heart surged with excitement. I stepped forward at once, cupped my fists, and bowed. "Thank you, Chief. Thank you, honoured Elders!"

"Everett Li, Marcus Su." Director Honry Ho shifted his gaze to the two standing behind me. "You rendered distinguished service assisting Ethan Lu in breaking the formation. You are hereby appointed Xuanmen Chief Enforcement Officer and Xuanmen Deputy Enforcement Officer respectively, with authority over all Xuanmen enforcement matters. I trust you will each fulfil your duties faithfully and uphold the righteousness of Xuanmen."

"Furthermore — one Nine-Revolution Golden Elixir for each of you." The Chief actually tipped his gourd-shaped vessel and poured out two gleaming golden pills.

Everett Li and Marcus Su couldn't suppress the grins tugging at the corners of their mouths. These were rare elixirs capable of helping a Core Formation cultivator break through to Nascent Soul!

Old man, what do you make of this? I asked inwardly.

"What is there to make of it," the little elder replied with undisguised contempt. "Watch from where you're standing, that's what. Henry Ho is cultivating his own inner circle. As for you, boy — the fact that a little Foundation Establishment nobody like you managed to help him restore his physical body already told him you're no ordinary talent. Giving you a title is generous enough. Inferior-grade Nine-Revolution Golden Elixirs? He could hand them to me and I still wouldn't want them."

I rolled my eyes and said nothing more.

After bestowing rewards upon the remaining cultivators one by one, the Chief announced the victory banquet. Everyone moved to the side hall, where wine cups clinked and laughter filled the air. I held my cup, feeling somewhat out of my element in a scene like this, and was just looking for a quiet corner to retreat to when Director Honry Ho beckoned me with a wave.

"Ethan Lu. Come, sit here."

I hurried over and took the seat beside him. He passed me a cup of spiritual wine and smiled. "You were the linchpin of breaking the formation this time. However, I've heard that you didn't merely destroy the Ten-Thousand Sha Soul-Devouring Formation — you also obtained the third fragment of the meteorite iron?"

My heart gave a start. I hadn't expected Director Honry Ho to be so well-informed. I nodded and reached into my Qiankun pouch, carefully placing the third fragment on the table.

"That's correct, Chief. The third fragment was indeed hidden at the very core of the formation eye."

Director Honry Ho picked up the fragment and examined it closely. A flash of astonishment crossed his eyes. "It truly is a fragment of the Dao Ancestor's immortal sword. Yet the malevolent energy saturating this fragment is so dense — how did you purify it?"

I gave him a brief account of the process of fusing the three fragments, emphasising the guidance of the Dao Ancestor's remnant soul. When he finished listening, a sharp light flickered in his eyes. "The Dao Ancestor's remnant soul? What an extraordinary stroke of fortune!"

He paused, then drew a black jade bead from within his robe and held it out to me. "Take a look at this."

I took the jade bead. Carved into its surface was an archaic character: Zhen — Suppress. It was unmistakably identical to the character on Old Man Wang's counterweight. Something stirred in my chest, and I suddenly recalled Old Man Wang's true identity.

"Chief, this jade bead — what is it?"

Director Honry Ho let out a quiet sigh. "Are you familiar," he said slowly, "with the ancient Sea-Suppressing Lineage?"

I nodded. "I've heard a little. Old Man Wang once mentioned that he is a descendant of the ancient Sea-Suppressing Lineage."

"That's right." A look of wistful remembrance surfaced in Director Honry Ho's eyes. "The ancient Sea-Suppressing Lineage was once the cornerstone of Xuanmen. They lived for generations along the shores of the Eastern Sea, their purpose to suppress the great demons lurking in its depths. And this Sea-Suppressing Jade Bead is one of the Lineage's tokens of identity."

He gestured toward the fragment in my hand and continued. "The immortal sword fragment you carry is no ordinary object. It was the personal sword of the ancient Sea-Suppressing Lineage's leader — named the Sea-Suppressing Sword."

"The Sea-Suppressing Sword?" I asked in surprise. "Does that mean the sword is connected to the Dao Ancestor?"

Director Honry Ho gave a slow nod, his eyes glinting with a deep light. "Indeed. The leader of the ancient Sea-Suppressing Lineage — the Sea-Suppressing Sword Venerable — was a direct descendant of the Dao Ancestor's own disciple. The Sea-Suppressing Sword itself is a supreme treasure passed down through the Dao Ancestor's direct lineage."

I hadn't been without my suspicions, yet having it confirmed from the Chief's own lips still made me draw a sharp, cold breath.

The Chief continued. "After the Sea-Suppressing Sword Venerable, no new God Transformation–stage cultivator has ever emerged — because Blue Star's resources are scarce and its total spiritual energy too limited to sustain the cultivation needs of such a stage. Many old Nascent Soul monsters have simply chosen to settle at the late Nascent Soul realm and live out their days in peace."

He paused, and when he spoke again his tone grew heavy. "In those ancient days, the Sea-Suppressing Sword Venerable launched a battle to suppress a colossal demon from the deep sea. The clash shook the heavens and the earth. In the end, the Sword Venerable suffered wounds beyond recovery and dissolved his form. The Sea-Suppressing Sword, being his life-bound treasure, shattered into three fragments as a result, scattering across the mortal world."

I connected what he was saying to the scenes of memory transmitted through the Sea-Sea-Suppressing Jade Pendant. So that was how it had all happened.

Just then, a familiar voice drifted in from beyond the hall. "Henry Ho, you old codger — yarning to the youngsters again about the old days?"

I turned to look. It was Old Man Wang! He shuffled in wearing plain cloth garments, a pipe clamped leisurely between his teeth.

At the sight of Old Man Wang, surprise rippled across the faces of everyone in the hall. Director Honry Ho rose to his feet with a laugh. "Old Wang, what brings you here?"

Old Man Wang ambled up to the table, glanced at the fragment and the jade bead lying there, then looked at me, and smiled. "Heard Ethan Lu pulled off something remarkable. This old fellow thought he'd come along and join in the fun."

End of Chapter 83: The Rewards Ceremony