...
Chen Yifei committed the name "Lord Aurora" to memory.
"But how is it possible that a domain exists solely because of one person?" Chen Yifei still found it incredible.
Han Meng countered, "What do you think lies beyond the Aurora Domain?"
Chen Yifei pondered for a moment.
"The Gray Realm?"
"Strictly speaking, what lies beyond the domains is also our real world... Only, it has been polluted by the Gray Realm." Han Meng replied calmly, "And the only 'weapon' humanity has to resist this intersection is our 'domain'."
"Domain?" Chen Yifei was taken aback, "Is it the 'domain' on the path to divinity?"
"Mm-hmm. For any path to divinity, the first three stages are just the beginning. The real qualitative change occurs after reaching the fourth stage and mastering a domain...
"For example, my 'Court of Judgment', when unfolded, can encompass a space of about a hundred meters around me. Within this domain, I have the authority to destroy or reconstruct the basic structure of any matter. However, for those at the fourth stage, achieving structural destruction within a small scope is already the limit.
"As the subsequent stages get higher, the abilities of this domain will become more refined, and the coverage will also expand."
After listening, Chen Yifei nodded thoughtfully.
"So the Aurora Domain has actually been protected by Lord Aurora's domain and has not been infiltrated by the Gray Realm..."
Chen Yifei thought of the ever-flowing Aurora Sea above the Aurora Domain, which was always there, quiet and mysterious, regardless of day or night.
He initially thought this was a unique phenomenon of this world, but now he realized that the Aurora Sea must be the symbol of Lord Aurora's domain.
"Isn't it said that the Aurora Domain has existed for hundreds of years?" Chen Yifei's eyes were filled with confusion, "If the entire Aurora Domain exists because of Lord Aurora, then hasn't he been alive for so many years?"
"That's right, Lord Aurora is already over three hundred years old."
Chen Yifei was extremely shocked.
Over three hundred years old? Is he still considered human?
"However, there have been two consecutive intersections with the Gray Realm recently," Chen Yifei spoke again, "Is this normal?"
Han Meng paused for a long time, then shook his head.
"No, it's not normal."
He slowly raised his head and gazed at the glassy dome of the headquarters. Beyond the glass-colored panes, the Aurora Sea was still flowing silently...
"Normally, no intersections with the Gray Realm should occur under this aurora. Even if there are exceptions, they are extremely rare... Two incidents occurring within half a month is definitely not normal. The only explanation can be...
"There's a problem with Lord Aurora."
Han Meng's tone was unprecedentedly solemn.
"If there's a problem... what will happen?"
"I don't know." Han Meng shook his head, "Ultimately, we are just ants living under the shade of a tree. Even if we know that this ancient tree that has sheltered us for hundreds of years is troubled, we are powerless to do anything."
Chen Yifei fell silent.
"These matters are too far from you... Just focus on your duties first," Han Meng changed the subject.
"So, what's my job?"
"There are no specific tasks, mostly routine inspections, managing law enforcers, and coordinating with the Aurora City magistrates," Han Meng seemed to recall something, "However, there is indeed a place you need to visit."
"Where?"
"The factory district."
Upon hearing these words, Chen Yifei pondered, "Is it about the shutdown?"
"Right, the shutdown at the factory district was too sudden. Go investigate it," after saying this, Han Meng hesitated for a moment, then took out a small plastic packet from the drawer and handed it to Chen Yifei.
"What's this?"
"Jasmine tea."
"Jasmine tea? Why are you giving it to me?"
Han Meng glanced at the several large bags of hearts and looked at Chen Yifei with a strange expression, "Drink it often... It can calm you down."
Chen Yifei: ???
...
Aurora City.
Law Enforcer Headquarters.
A figure pushed open the headquarters' door and walked straight inside like the cold wind of a severe winter. It was a man with graying temples, wearing a gray-white fur coat resembling wolf fur that swayed slightly with his gait. His slightly aged face was as gloomy as water.
The law enforcers guarding both sides were startled. A young law enforcer was about to step forward to stop him but was held back by his companion, who silently shook his head.
"[Tan Xin]!!" the man roared a name, resembling a lion restraining its anger.
His voice echoed like thunder inside the headquarters, causing all the law enforcers to stop their work and look over. Only the endless echo remained in the silence.
"[Tan Xin], come out here!"
Upon the second shout, a six-stripe magistrate sitting nearby subconsciously frowned and rose to approach, but a hand pressed him back into place.
He looked up in surprise and saw a figure in a black windbreaker approaching the man. On the hem of his windbreaker, eight silver stripes faintly glinted.
"President Yan Shang," he spoke calmly, "Is there something you need?"
Seeing the person in front of him, the man with graying temples narrowed his eyes, emitting a dangerous aura.
"Tan Xin, I need an explanation for Xi Cai's death."
Upon hearing this, the eight-stripe magistrate sighed deeply. He waved at the many law enforcers around, who immediately understood and quietly left the place.
In the empty hall, only the two of them stood facing each other.
"We're already tracking the movements of the Fire Tamperers, but it will take time," Tan Xin patiently spoke.
"That's not what I'm talking about," Yan Shang's voice was extremely cold, "I sent someone to bring Chen Yifei into Aurora City. Why did you stop him?"
"I didn't stop him."
"Han Meng went there."
Tan Xin's brows furrowed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Han Meng isn't my subordinate. What does it matter to me if he went to save Chen Yifei?"
"He's a magistrate from the seven districts and originally under your jurisdiction," Yan Shang stared at him intently, "And it was you who brought him away from the Soul-Crushing Platform back then..."
"Soul-Crushing interrogation once is enough, but you did it to him three times consecutively, intending to erase his consciousness and cause complete brain death," Tan Xin paused for a moment, "How can I not intervene when you're blatantly murdering a magistrate in Aurora City?"
They stared at each other, and the temperature around them dropped rapidly!
Just then, the door of the headquarters was suddenly pushed open, and a figure rushed in.
"Officer Tanxin!"
Tanxin glanced at him with a gloomy face and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Someone at Lingdong Port has salvaged a survivor suspected to be from the Ancient Troop Path Treasure!"
"What?!"
Tanxin and Yan Shang were both stunned.
"Where is he?"
With the gesture of the enforcer, two people carried a body covered in ice fragments and quickly walked in from outside, placing it gently on the ground.
It was a figure covered in blood, his face was pale, and his eyes were tightly closed, as if he had been drowned into unconsciousness. The residual water stains on his body were frozen into ice, like a corpse just dug out from an ice pile.
"Is it him?" Yan Shang's anger crazily climbed up to his eyes!
Yan Shang had seen this person before, who always followed Yan Xicai and was a cripple... According to Chen Yifei, this Jian Changsheng was the ingrate who killed Yan Xicai.
"Good, he's still alive..." Yan Shang gritted his teeth and spoke in an extremely sinister tone.
Tanxin also frowned and looked at him, thoughtful.
"Don't worry first." Tanxin suddenly spoke up,
"What happened in the Ancient Troop Path Treasure is still a mystery... It's better to use your chamber of commerce's Soul Fragment Search to find out what exactly happened before making any disposition."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shang sneered at him.
Tanxin knew what Yan Shang was thinking. After a moment of silence, he added,
"In the enforcer's files, his information has been deleted as deceased... This time, I won't interfere with how you want to deal with him."