After gaining a basic grasp of the 扫帚 star power, Mazao first attempted to remove the misfortune caused by the 扫帚 star power from Zhu Shi.

The result was very successful. As someone who spent a long time with Mazao, Zhu Shi, like me, originally had a constitution that easily attracted abnormal entities and their events. However, based on Little Bowl's observations as the Divine Son, Zhu Shi now no longer shows any related signs on the level of fate. This is why when I previously asked if Zhu Shi following Fa Zheng and Jian Feixian into the Post-mortem World would prompt an early attack from the Evangelical Institute's forces, Little Bowl gave a negative answer.

However, Mazao could not use the same method on herself that she used on Zhu Shi.

The reason she was able to gain mastery over the 扫帚 star power ultimately lies in the fact that she is at the center of the destiny vortex. Trying to free herself from the influence of the destiny vortex is like trying to strangle herself with her own hands. This is similar to how Little Bowl, although able to attempt severing my link with the Divine Seal Fragment, cannot sever their own.

To be honest, hearing this from Mazao startled me a bit.

Because this means that Mazao could remove the 扫帚 star power from me if she wanted to. Although she knows clearly that the reason I fell for her was due to the 扫帚 star power, and she has voiced positive views on this before, judging from past experiences, she still sees the 扫帚 star power as something evil. I'm not quite sure what decision she will make regarding this in the future.

Fortunately, I immediately received some relieving news—Mazao can't use this method to remove the influence of the 扫帚 star power over me either.

The reason is not complex. Gua Tianshi once said that my existence is like a huge shadow over Mazao on the level of fate, and any abnormal entities or events that try to approach Mazao would more likely go through me first. So, many misfortunes attributed to the 扫帚 star power often affect me first rather than Mazao.

Given my current level of entanglement in the abnormal world, removing the 扫帚 star power won't immediately plunge me into a degradation process. As long as I maintain a firm will of "keeping Mazao by my side no matter what," my fate shadow will continue to cover Mazao. Because Mazao cannot remove her state of attracting the abnormal, when I was in the Post-mortem World it might have been out of reach, but as long as I can be with Mazao, the various demons and monsters attracted by the destiny vortex are bound not to bypass me.

Then there is the issue of the destiny vortex augmenting Mazao's power.

"I can now demonstrate power beyond the Great Success Rank, but to reach the Great Impermanence Domain... I still feel insufficient." Mazao looked at her hands, "better than some, worse than others... something like that. To compare, it's probably like the Xuanwu you described using the 'Golden Core'."

Xuanwu is one of the few who can interfere with the Impermanence while at the Great Success Rank, and under well-prepared conditions, can even injure Xuanming with Great Success power. Honestly, I still can't imagine how he managed that. Weichi, reportedly, could also inflict damage and disruption on the Impermanence to some degree using arrays in field battles.

Internally, I call this "Surpassing Great Success Rank," and Mazao seems to be at this level now.

"Not reached the Great Impermanence Domain?" I attempted to observe the enormous destiny vortex enveloping Mazao again.

If Mazao could convert all of that into her combat power, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if she pushed open the third door like Shan Liangyi. However, considering that Mazao isn't truly a Divine Son and merely simulates the operation of the Human Dao Divine Weapon through Little Bowl's blessing, she should only be able to harness a part of it. Even so, reaching the Great Impermanence Domain shouldn't be exceedingly difficult.

Little Bowl explained beside me: "It might be related to Sister Mazao's proficiency, but, more importantly, it's likely a matter of timing."

"Timing?" I asked.

"This power exists to allow Sister Mazao to use the Power of Return to settle the abnormal world and restore the world to a healthy state of operation; it's the power of restoration. So, in just a training scenario, it can't be fully converted into practical, usable power," said Little Bowl.

I understood, saying, "If it were in a combat scenario... specifically, against an extremely powerful or numerous abnormal entity..."

"Sister Mazao could unleash power far surpassing that in practice scenarios, aligning with our calculations," Little Bowl nodded.

In the view of the planet's natural will, both demon hunters and the Impermanence, mastering abnormal powers, are akin to abnormal entities and need settling. Thus, if Mazao encounters adversarial Impermanence, she should be able to display Great Impermanence level of strength.

This is a power that strengthens when facing strong opponents. Of course, there is a ceiling, and it depends on Mazao's capacity to withstand it.

In Mazao and Little Bowl's anticipation, it would at least easily surpass the period when I barely became Impermanence, and there's a good chance she could surpass Ming Zhuo, as well as Huang Quan, our former mentor.

Mazao lifted her face, looking at me as if seeking praise.

The once alert, timid her was now increasingly showing a childlike innocence more readily. I hugged her tightly, stroking her hair. She laughed softly, shyly.

Once Mazao and I join the front-line battlefield of the Post-mortem World, the apparent power disparity with the Evangelical Institute would also significantly surpass it.

That is, excluding Shan Liangyi.

"Zhuang Cheng, if Shan Liangyi attacks, I will help you too," Mazao said, "though I'm unsure how much help I can be... but I want to fight alongside you until the last moment."

"If you die with me, you won't be able to save the world," I said.

Mazao looked into my eyes and once again firmly stated that vow: "I will save both the world and you."

Afterward, Little Bowl asked Mazao to use the Power of Return to restore their Spirit and then entered the latter stages of healing, intending to repair all the residual dark injuries on my True Spirit. Mazao stayed by my side throughout, and the healing took an entire night.

These dark injuries wouldn't hinder the pursuit of powerful battles but would be an eyesore if attempting to get stronger. This is similar to how Mazao can't continue to strengthen before fully repairing her soul.

The sun rose the next day, and at last, the dark injuries were fully healed. Little Bowl seemed somewhat tired; although they have Mazao's Power of Return, allowing their Spirit to be restored time and again, being constantly vigorous despite doing many exhausting tasks somewhat goes against instinct. Theoretically, I could never sleep, yet I still take a nap occasionally.

Such instincts, like habits, can be forcibly reversed, though doing so likely isn't without a price. However, unless necessary, excessively forcing oneself is not beneficial for spiritual well-being. Little Bowl went to rest first, with Mazao accompanying them.

Lu Chan came by the mansion; I heard he visits every day recently to see if I've returned. After seeing me, he handed me the recent report data and temporarily withdrew, saying to call him anytime if I have questions. From the report, I learned about the people I sent back from the Southern City.

Xiaoqiao has recently returned to normal life, and the situation for other survivors is much the same, while Dong Che has been busy tackling various abnormal incidents again, taking on tasks. Those followers who violated Lu Chan's prohibition by going to the Southern City on their own received some punishment, yet due to their merits in assisting me, they also gained considerable rewards.

The local demon hunters who survived there were reassigned to other positions, while the Xuanming believers, including Jiaoshu, were all imprisoned in Luo Mountain's jails, with their specific judgments still pending. Recently, Luo Mountain has been overwhelmed with affairs, and matters related to the Evangelical Institute have spread across the headquarters and various branches, so the priority of addressing Xuanming believers has been pushed back.

After reading through the report, I went to the empty ground of the mansion. All these matters are currently hard to firmly grip in my mind; occupying most of my thoughts still is Shan Liangyi, this unprecedentedly strong enemy.

He is the source of the Vermilion Bird Seed and also the source of my power. I tried comparing him with the abnormal silhouette that appeared in my dream right before my Power Awakening.

Perhaps, the abnormal silhouette that asked me in the dream if I desired power was Shan Liangyi.

Unfortunately, the abnormal silhouette in the dream was as unclear as the dream itself, making it hard to determine if it was or wasn't. I could only temporarily turn my attention to other directions, pondering how next to enhance my power.

I first focused on Xuanming's experiences.

Through the battle with Meng Zhang, I absorbed quite a bit of Xuanming's experiences. In the past, Xuanming had cast "flames inescapable by body and soul reborn anew" on Ming Zhuo, and I can now wield similar power.

This should be a special flame developed by Xuanming based on research into True Spirit Power.

Historically, countless people have followed in the path of self-verifying True Spirit, though failures are countless, yet there are very few who made gains. Most long-lived Impermanence entities, pursuing stronger power, have researched True Spirit Power, and Xuanming was one of them.