Merin stands by the window of his office, gazing out in silence.

He is now in one of the countless small worlds that together form the Human World.

The Human World is a middle-world level existence, yet unlike others, it is not a single realm.

When the three Supremes opened it, they did not create one vast middle world.

They forged more than a thousand small worlds instead.

This is one of them.

He comes here for healing and for Dao.

The Nine Nether Corpse Poison makes comprehension in the Supreme World too violent, too resistant.

Following Silent Thunder Lord’s method, Merin sends his soul to be reborn here, letting time and limitation grind his Dao naturally.

Seventeen years ago, he was born into a marquis family of the Song Kingdom.

His mother died fifteen years ago, during the birth of his younger brother.

His father died five years ago, fallen in a war.

Because his father died while commanding an army in war, Merin is granted compensation—the captain post of Divine Guard.

Yesterday was his seventeenth birthday.

Today, a few hours ago, he officially took his post.

After meeting his assigned team, he is led into this office.

Outside the window, civilians walk through the street, ordinary lives flowing forward without pause.

The level of civilisation here mirrors the Supreme World closely.

But the cultivation system is entirely different.

This world’s path begins divided and only converges at the end.

One path is the Blood Refining Warrior.

Blood Line, nine stages.

Blood Seal, nine stages.

Five Inner Element Seal, five stages.

Four Outer Element Seal, four stages.

Origin Seal, nine stages.

Soul Awakening.

The second path is the Spirit Refining Cultivator.

First Stage.

Second Stage.

Third Stage.

Fourth Stage.

Sublimation.

Soul Awakening.

Any healthy human can become a Blood Refining Warrior through physical training and awakening blood power.

To become a Spirit Refining Cultivator, two things are required.

A first-grade spiritual weapon of any quality.

And a cultivation scripture.

Most civilians choose the Blood Refining Warrior path.

The wealthy and the powerful choose Spirit Refining.

Blood refining is brutal.

In battle, vitality is burned directly.

Lifespan barely increases with cultivation.

It is a combat profession paid for with years of life.

Thus, warriors fill the streets.

Cultivators fill the courts.

Merin chooses the warrior path.

His body is new, but his soul is ancient.

Traces of poison remain embedded deep within his spirit.

He cultivates Blood Refining and is currently a First Stage Blood Seal Warrior.

He has already comprehended the entire Blood Refining path to Soul Awakening.

Yet he remains at the first stage.

Stolen novel; please report.

Resources bind him.

Before Soul Awakening, or without a spiritual weapon, humans cannot absorb free spiritual energy.

Early cultivation depends entirely on material resources.

Without them, progress crawls.

A knock sounds at the door.

Merin turns calmly.

“Come in.”

The door opens, and a woman steps inside wearing the black uniform of the Divine Guards.

Her posture is straight, her movements disciplined, her eyes sharp with the alertness of someone used to danger.

She bows slightly.

“Lord Merin.”

When he was born, his spirit subtly influenced his parents to give him this name.

He does not want another identity, not even in rebirth.

Thus, in this world, he is known as *Duan Merin*.

Merin looks at her and asks simply, “What is it?”

“Lord,” Mei Ji says, lifting her head, “the lieutenant has assigned us a case.”

Merin nods once.

The Divine Guard is the investigative arm of the Song Kingdom.

Not soldiers.

Not ordinary law enforcers.

They handle matters that threaten order itself.

The hierarchy is clear and rigid.

Guard.

Captain.

Lieutenant.

Commander.

Left or Right Commanders.

Central Commander.

Merin holds the rank of Captain.

Under a captain, there can be five to ten guards, depending on the region and importance.

He asks, “What case?”

“A man was found dead inside the Blood Spring Pavilion.”

Merin’s expression does not change, but information rises instantly in his mind.

Blood Spring Pavilion.

A brothel.

One of the most famous in this district.

Merin asks, “Did he die during the nightly exercises?”

Mei Ji shakes her head.

“If that were the case, it wouldn’t have been passed to us.”

Merin agrees.

Deaths from excess pleasure are common enough to be handled by city guards.

They are recorded, cleaned up, and forgotten.

If the Divine Guard is involved, it means something is wrong.

“Prepare the team,” Merin says.

“We’re going out.”

“Yes, Lord.”

Mei Ji turns and leaves without another word.

Five minutes later, Merin exits the Divine Guard building.

His team is already assembled on the stone steps outside.

Five people.

Mei Ji stands to his left, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her short blade.

To the right stands Gong Qiu.

Middle-aged.

Broad-shouldered.

A scar across his jaw.

A veteran Divine Guard.

Gong Qiu has served for over a decade.

His cultivation remains at the fifth stage of the Blood Line realm.

It is not enough.

To become a captain, one needs either a court recommendation—usually through noble lineage—or five years of service combined with cultivation at the seventh stage of Blood Line.

Gong Qiu has the years.

But not the realm.

Thus, he remains a guard.

The others are younger.

All of them glance at Merin from time to time, cautious, observant.

This is his first assignment.

Merin walks a few steps forward, then stops.

He turns back to face them.

“Gong Qiu,” he says.

Gong Qiu straightens.

“Yes, Lord.”

“This case will be led by you.”

The street seems to pause.

The five team members stare at Merin.

Surprise flickers across every face.

This is Merin’s first case.

A captain’s first case is not just about solving a crime—it is about authority.

Establishing dominance.

Setting tone.

Letting subordinates understand who stands above them.

By all standards, Merin should have taken the lead.

Instead, he hands it to another.

For a moment, the team does not understand.

Then something shifts.

This is not a weakness.

It is judgment.

Merin is not afraid of losing authority.

He knows his limits.

And he knows theirs.

Gong Qiu’s experience in investigations surpasses all of them combined.

Merin recognises that.

Gong Qiu’s lips curve into a genuine smile.

“Yes, Lord,” he says.

“I won’t disappoint.”

Merin nods.

“Proceed.”

He turns and continues walking, falling into step with the group as if nothing unusual had happened.

No speech.

No justification.

Just action.

The team follows.

Behind them, high above, on the fourth floor of the Divine Guard building, a man with silver hair stands by the window.

His robes are dark blue, trimmed with subtle patterns.

His cultivation is deep—far beyond the Blood Seal realm.

He has heard everything.

With a faint smile, he murmurs to himself, “Looks like he’s not arrogant.”

The man watches as Merin’s team disappears into the street.

For a long moment, he does not move.

Then he turns back into the room.

Across the desk stands Lieutenant Tan, posture straight, eyes sharp.

“Commander Di,” Tan says, “according to the information we gathered on Duan Merin, it states that he is not arrogant, treats his subordinates well, and shows exceptional talent in both cultivation and business.”

Commander Di lowers himself into his chair, fingers interlaced, expression calm.

“We will see,” he replies.

“Whether he is acting… or whether he truly is what the reports claim.”

Lieutenant Tan inclines his head slightly.

“Or whether he can be used.”

Commander Di nods once.

Silence lingers briefly before Tan continues, his tone more cautious.

“However, the man murdered in the Blood Spring Pavilion is… suspicious.”

“We should have assigned the case to a veteran captain and given Merin an easier task for his first assignment.”

Commander Di’s lips curve into a faint smile.

“That is precisely why Gong Qiu is in his team,” he says.

“Gong Qiu’s investigative ability is no less than that of a captain.”

Lieutenant Tan pauses, then nods in agreement.

“Understood.”

“I shall take my leave.”

Commander Di nods.

“Go,” he says.

“And deal with the Green Mountain Bandits as quickly as possible.”

Lieutenant Tan bows deeply and leaves the room, his footsteps fading down the corridor.

Commander Di turns back to the documents on his desk.

The city is restless.

Cases are piling up.

Something unseen is stirring beneath the surface.

—

Merin and his team arrive at the street where the Blood Spring Pavilion is located.

The atmosphere shifts immediately.

The lively chatter of the entertainment district dims as they approach, replaced by a subtle tension that hangs in the air like mist.

Outside the pavilion, two city guards stand at attention, halberds crossed before the entrance.

Their expressions are wary.

Gong Qiu steps forward, flashing the Divine Guard emblem.

The city guards straighten instantly.

“Divine Guard,” Gong Qiu says.

“We are here to investigate the death.”

The guards step aside without protest, pulling the halberds back to clear the entrance.

Merin pauses just outside the threshold.

He studies the building.

The red lanterns sway gently, yet the shadows beneath them seem thicker than they should be.

The scent of incense lingers, but beneath it is something faint and wrong—

not rot,

not blood,

but disturbance.

Mei Ji glances at Merin.

“Lord?”

Merin nods once.

“Proceed.”

They enter.

Inside, the Blood Spring Pavilion is unnaturally quiet.

Courtesans stand along the corridors, heads lowered, eyes flicking nervously toward the Divine Guard uniforms.

A few clients linger, but none speak.

They are led upstairs.

The room where the man died remains sealed.

Gong Qiu takes control immediately, directing the team with practised ease.

“Mei Ji, inspect the door and window,” he says.

“Check for forced entry.”

“Yes.”

“To the rest of you,” he continues, “speak with the staff. I want timelines.”

The team moves.

Merin remains by the doorway, watching.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep