Chapter 112: Hokkaido Contamination

The Witch Association’s big live-stream challenge had caused quite a stir, and with so many people involved, the Disaster Control Bureau wouldn’t be left completely in the dark.

As soon as the Witch Association launched their challenge, the Central Bureau had already started keeping an eye on the Azure Cloud Sect’s movements.

What surprised Susan was that Miss Jincha from the Central Bureau actually came in person.

After all, once the Witch Association witnessed the Azure Cloud Sect’s ruthless methods, many members began to give up. Those who couldn’t give up tried to muddle through, and the East China Azure Cloud Sect’s challenge had turned into a desperate bid for survival.

If there was really no threat, why would the Central Bureau send someone?

Jincha, nineteen years old, at the late Blooming stage — whether she had reached Perfection or not, Susan wasn’t sure. The records Susan could access only contained Jincha’s magical power readings and some magic-related data.

As the Azure Cloud Sect’s deepest undercover operative in recent years, she had successfully infiltrated the Central Bureau’s database and retrieved some Magical Girl profiles.

But she had to admit one benefit of the Central Bureau’s lethargy:

the database was updated so slowly that Susan couldn’t be sure whether the data still matched today’s Magical Girls.

After all, the database still listed people like Li Yi, and it hadn’t even deactivated Susan’s own records.

So Susan couldn’t confirm whether Jincha’s files were still accurate.

The Central Bureau’s data was divided into six categories: endurance, attack, defense, mana, magic control, and speed.

If the total attribute score exceeded six hundred, the girl would be classified as a Blooming Magical Girl.

Jincha’s stats were quite impressive: the six attributes were 108, 130, 95, 80, 85, and 102.

Of course Jincha had two forms; the second form’s stats read 108, 170, 115, 120, 95, 92.

To boost firepower she sacrificed speed, gaining even greater destructive power, but that slight drop in speed could affect spellcasting and attack dodging.

So it was hard to say if one form was strictly better than the other.

These data had once been shared with the Sect Master, but the Sect Master hated data-heavy approaches and ordered them to be abandoned.

The Azure Cloud Sect still practiced the Magical Girl Nine Revolutions Ascension Method.

In truth, the Central Bureau didn’t care much about these data-driven methods either.

The biggest issue with data-driven approaches was how to update the data.

Novels often made it sound like a system would automatically provide real-time scans,

but in the actual Magical Girl world there was nothing like that.

To update data you had to run tests in relevant areas and use precise instruments to get reasonably accurate results.

The problem was, who would pay for maintaining that equipment?

It wasn’t that the Disaster Control Bureau lacked funds in general; people just didn’t want to spend money on something they found pointless.

When they first promoted the system, only two or three big cities had the necessary precision instruments.

Every Magical Girl who wanted updated data had to squeeze in for time on those machines, and participation wasn’t mandatory. Most Magical Girls were busy with life and Disaster Control Bureau duties.

Isn’t it nicer to take a vacation? Why waste two or three days traveling to another city for data testing?

When demand was high, it could take half a month to complete.

So very few Magical Girls actively went to update their data, and the process fell into neglect.

Only the Central Bureau persisted, giving some Magical Girls six-dimension tests to ensure a baseline for Mental Landscape special training.

But except for those who had just reached the Mental Landscape, most Magical Girls’ data were outdated.

Jincha’s numbers, for example, were probably four years old.

Susan found in the files that Jincha had entered the Mental Landscape four years ago and hadn’t taken part in data testing since.

Although the Azure Cloud Sect members hadn’t tested either, Susan could roughly estimate based on her knowledge of Iris and data comparisons.

For Jincha specifically, though she lacked in endurance and attack, her other attributes were not low.

Endurance, defense, mana, magic control, speed, even number of spells — adding them up wouldn’t fall below 600 points.

With Azure Cloud Sect training, her six-dimension total could probably be compared against the girl who called herself the strongest Magical Girl.

But actually, Jincha was only Seedling...

a mid-stage Seedling with six transformations, not even at Peak Perfection.

Overall, Susan felt the Central Bureau’s classification was not as rigorously scientific as the Azure Cloud Sect’s.

So when Jincha arrived at the Beihai Disaster Control Bureau asking about the Azure Cloud Sect’s grading methods, Susan wasn’t surprised.

Anyone with some sense could see how limited the Central Bureau’s classifications were and how rigorous the Azure Cloud Sect’s system was.

Jincha’s arrival felt abrupt. Because of her ability, when she first came to the Beihai Disaster Control Bureau she appeared as a golden canary and circled high over the bureau for a long time.

It was one of the bureau’s veteran Incubators who discovered her.

When she came in, the newly reinstated bureau chief personally came out to welcome Miss Jincha.

Unfortunately, when they welcomed Camellia last time they had already used up Iris’s allocated funds for a performance troupe and honor guards, so Jincha’s welcome was rather modest.

Luckily the guest didn’t seem to mind.

......

Actually Jincha did care quite a bit.

When Camellia left last time she’d said the Beihai Disaster Control Bureau’s welcome had been quite lavish,

very face-saving, which made Jincha feel a little embarrassed.

But Jincha liked grand ceremonies — after all, Iris loved grand displays and that style had been passed on from her.

As a Magical Girl who had always fought for everyone, enjoying some pomp was normal, wasn’t it?

So when it was her turn and there was nothing, she felt a pinch of disappointment. Could it be they considered her status lower than Camellia’s?

She felt a little dejected, but comforted herself.

Her previous visit had been rushed; there must have been no time to prepare.

As a Central Bureau administrator, she imagined people would still respect her.

Then she glanced at Susan and heard her inner voice:

So troublesome. Why does the Central Bureau send people here every day? Are they idle? Can’t they deal with the Witch Association properly instead of just causing trouble? Everyone is busy, can’t they see that?!

Maybe they’re just too busy; not everyone thinks the same.

Led into the lobby, she looked at Peony next to her smiling so brightly.

So enthusiastic along the way—such a good kid must...

When will we get another paid vacation? Since an important person from the Central Bureau is here, maybe I can get time off with pay, but how should I phrase it?

I don’t have that authority, Susan replied silently.

She sighed slightly, but as someone used to hearing others’ inner thoughts, these modest wishes didn’t sting Jincha much — thoughts were just thoughts.

Whether filthy or malicious, as long as they weren’t acted upon, people were free to think them.

As a mind-reading Magical Girl, if she couldn’t understand that, trouble would eventually follow.

She had mastered the Miracle Seed early and become a Magical Girl, and her mind-reading ability had shown signs before she transformed.

Back then she could only hear vague murmurings, but after becoming a Magical Girl, people’s inner voices had become clearer.

At first the burden was painful.

She heard her parents’ undisguised malice and disgust when they were angry, the disguised dislike of teachers, her classmates’ mockery.

Warm and joyful voices existed too, but the harsh, piercing ones left deeper scars — like blades cutting into the heart — and no amount of sweet words could erase the pain.

When she was young and couldn’t hold back, she covertly transformed to exact revenge on kids who whispered about her.

There were times she heard people’s inner criminal desires and, shocked by how vile they were, she’d lash out and beat them before any act occurred, which left her looking at fault.

Being able to hear thoughts did not bring happiness.

That was why Jincha liked Magical Girls even more.

Magical Girls’ inner voices and motives tended to be purer; even when bad, they were not so dark.

They often made her smile...

Does older brother like Senior Kingfisher, and sister-in-law likes Senior Kingfisher, do they really like each other? Or are they using Senior Kingfisher as a substitute? Should I break them up...

Jincha glanced at the girl sitting in the lobby.

Susan frowned and asked, “What’s the matter, Miss Jincha?”

Can you stop wasting time? I’ve got a pile of documents waiting for approval.

Jincha came back to herself, inhaled, and said warmly, “Sorry. I was startled. Is this the child Kingfisher rescued back then?”

Keke, who had just returned from outside the city, tilted her head, recognized the keyword, and stood up from the chair, asking instinctively, “Do you know Senior Kingfisher?”

Peony hurriedly waved her hand, “Hey hey hey, don’t disturb Miss Jincha’s work!”

It will interfere with my rest time!

“It won’t take long.” Jincha answered, reading Peony’s thoughts, then turned to Keke. “Your name is Jiang Keke, right?”

“Yes, uh...”

“Senior Kingfisher is married now, so don’t worry, she’s very happy.”

“Huh?”

Jincha smiled gently, thinking she had saved a relationship and prevented a Magical Girl from going astray.

Oh no, she’s married already. If my two older brothers made a move against Kingfisher’s child, would that be illegal...

Elegant Jincha almost stumbled at that thought.

I don’t think so, Keke; most people wouldn’t lay hands on a child...

Susan steadied her, “Please be careful.”

Is this one a bit heavy?

Jincha straightened up at once and pushed Susan away.

Impossible; she’d been controlling her weight recently. She couldn’t be heavy...

When they neared the conference room she relaxed slightly.

Along the way the inner voices had normalized a lot.

Though surprising, everyone was still Magical Girls and nothing was excessively dramatic.

It all stayed within interpersonal and family issues; those who became Magical Girls didn’t harbor truly vicious intents...

How to make friends with the person who killed my sister sound natural?

Jincha stiffened and looked toward the little girl seated inside the meeting room.

She looked like a primary school student, small in stature, holding a record book and frowning over something.

Jincha’s pupils trembled. She inhaled and, sounding slightly flustered, asked, “Who is this?”

“She’s Li Yi, former captain of our Magical Girl Combat Team.”

Should I apologize? Ask her to forgive me for hating her because she killed my sister and wanting revenge? Wouldn’t that look too humble...

This is not about humility. What would your sister think?

Jincha’s normally gentle eyes grew confused. She pressed a hand to her chest and her breathing quickened.

She wanted to say something, but found she couldn’t utter a word.

The Beihai Disaster Control Bureau was terrifying.

“Could you help me contact people from the Azure Cloud Sect?”

Jincha forced a smile. “I’d like to discuss cooperation with the members of the Azure Cloud Sect.”

Susan was puzzled. “Stay as our guest at the bureau first. There are other Magical Girls who haven’t met you...”

“No, no! This is fine. We should hurry to the Azure Cloud Sect...”

.......

Jiang Si sat in the car, still feeling the filthy magic seeping into his organs.

Very dangerous.

Although blood and part of the body could coexist with corrupted magic, the internal organs were another matter.

Filthy magic would affect organ function and, if not careful, could even cause visceral disease.

That was why a Complete Witch’s potion was required for protection.

When Yinluo transformed she seemed to have taken a potion too.

Jiang Si guessed it must have been the witch’s Guardian Pill. Such a treasure should belong to the Azure Cloud Sect.

But Yinluo’s transformation was another story. She wasn’t a Complete Witch; she used another transformation method, leveraging a Central Bureau Blooming seed to perform a pseudo-transformation.

This pseudo-transformation intrigued Jiang Si. It looked like a fake holding—perhaps an unorthodox new path—but so far it seemed more complicated than the Complete Witch’s change technique.

To be safe, he decided to first master the Complete Witch transformation technique.

The Black Dragon growled low inside him.

Since it was suppressed after the Nascent Soul battle it hadn’t awakened for a long time. Today with abundant mana it was livelier.

“What are you messing with now, letting so much filthy magic into your body?”

Jiang Si sighed. After the attempt failed he gave up for the time being. “I was experimenting with demonic methods, looking for a path to ascend.”

“But didn’t you say earlier filthy magic is actually immortal power?”

“I didn’t expect you to be so hungry for the Great Dao as well.” Jiang Si smiled faintly. “This corrupted magic, in my hands, becomes celestial immortal force. But in the Witch Association’s hands, no matter how they use it, it’s demonic methods. The Dao changes with the person.”

“I see, makes sense. I completely understand.”

Although nothing blocked the way of corrupted mana, simply accumulating it won’t reach the heights of pure mana.

Novels once said the cultivation path values the ‘six essences.’

Essence, energy, spirit, body, nature, and mind — none can be ignored.

Among them, essence, energy, and spirit refer to the physical body, immortal power, and Nascent Soul.

A Nascent Soul must devour more Grief Seeds and Disaster Beasts to grow. As the Nascent Soul grows, immortal power increases, which in turn boosts the Nascent Soul’s devouring efficiency.

Thus Nascent Soul and immortal power support each other like a pair of mandarin ducks.

If an S-level Disaster Beast grows large enough, it could push immortal power over the threshold of Half-Step Immaculate Golden Core Foundation Building Peak Perfection and prompt entry into the Golden Core stage, then Nascent Soul maturation would soon follow.

“What about me, boss? Are you really going to keep me?”

And the body?

Relying purely on training to reach human limits in that world wasn’t something verified in eighty years; two lifetimes of suppressing four dragons and dragging coffins...

“Are you a proper nine-headed dragon?”

Using pure mana to strengthen the body’s limits could only reach the Sprout Venerate level.

Filthy magic refining flesh only yielded a major Seedling cultivation, an early first transformation.

Only when the false pill broke and the Black Dragon surged, the Nascent Soul emerged and thunder tribulation roared, then his body cultivation path had some success—without using corrupted magic he could fight early Blooming Magical Girls, but no further.

Without breakthroughs, corrupted magic ceased to further strengthen the essence.

“I see, I see. I don’t understand any of this, but I get the gist. We need another approach to keep getting stronger.”

If he couldn’t master the Complete Witch transformation and lead the Perfect Witch path back to the Taiyi Yin-Yang True Cultivation Way, he would have to first complete the Black Dragon Nascent Soul and then seek the “borrowed fake cultivation” to reach Chemist Stage...

“Is that acceptable? Isn’t that a bit unfair? If we’re doing it, do it with the best!”

Hearing the Black Dragon’s complaint, Jiang Si felt comforted, knowing his Nascent Soul and himself were aligning better.

Since he intended to walk two or three roads, he would perfect each one.

It wouldn’t help to heap qi and spirit to Golden Core Perfection through fake cultivation if the body remained a mediocre Foundation Building at best.

He must complete the Complete Witch path.

From Jiang Si’s experience transforming into a Magical Girl, after becoming a Complete Witch the sealed essence would likely be released.

“Then we need the Complete Witch to complete both of our paths. Complete Witches require witch laboratories. Without a lab you can’t get the Guardian Pill. Even with all my ability, I can’t become a Complete Witch without one.”

The Black Dragon immediately approved. Not wanting to be suppressed, it knew what to say. “Damn the Witch Association. Since they dared to block our immortal opportunities, we must hit them hard, boss!”

“So this is why we saved Xilan.” Jiang Si smiled leisurely, taking on an air of cultivated detachment. He reached to rub a beard that wasn’t there, pinching his chin instead. “Who would have thought the Witch Association still has a lab in East China? Restoring the Taiyi Yin-Yang True Cultivation Way is within reach!”

“Can the name be shorter? I can’t remember it...”

He shook his head, a bit disappointed by the Nascent Soul’s lack of insight.

No illumination.

He was about to give more instruction when the car suddenly stopped. Xilan turned and said,

“Boss Simo Tu! We’ve arrived!”

When Jiang Si stepped out, he found himself at a university.

He glanced up at a huge plaque bearing four large characters:

Yanzi University.

One of East China’s most famous universities, most notable for its Magical Girl Research Institute.

Most specific research materials currently available about the relationships between Magical Girls and Miracle Seeds, and the secrets behind Magical Girl births and power sources, came from Yanzi University.

It was also the elementary school Kong Bo planned to apply to.

It wasn’t vacation yet, so there were fewer students and teachers around, but still some traffic.

Who would have thought the most famous Magical Research Institute in East China would actually be infiltrated by the Witch Association?

Again lamenting the Disaster Control Bureau’s incompetence and the Witch Association’s infiltrative reach, they passed security with Xilan and reached a secluded path behind the university.

There they found the contact.

Raven-black hair, jet-black pupils, a face like a superstar.

“Hello.”

The girl smiled faintly and extended her hand.

“My name is Hyacinth.”