[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-can-extract-divine-power":3,"chapter-i-can-extract-divine-power-i-can-extract-divine-power-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Can Extract Divine Power",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1209662,1570,"Chapter 21: The Locust Tree and the Scholar","i-can-extract-divine-power-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>Shen Bai’s gaze shifted to a spot not far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a nearby table, a thin man was just sitting down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was dressed in white robes with a folded fan hanging from his waist, the very picture of a refined scholar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Great Zhou Country, despite the current turmoil, the nation could still barely maintain control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Examinations were held every year, so scholars were, of course, a common sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was an academy right here in the county town, where many aspiring scholars studied to achieve official honors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai could tell at a glance that this man was a Scholar from Shengyun County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Scholar’s current state didn’t seem right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes were ringed with dark circles, and though his hair was tied up, it was as dry and withered as a patch of weeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most notably, the young man was clutching a piece of wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The piece of wood was as thick as an arm and about the length of a ruler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the young Scholar held it tightly, as if it were a priceless treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The restaurant waiter spotted the white-robed Scholar and walked over with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What would you like to eat, sir?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scholar glanced around before ordering a few dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The waiter’s brows furrowed, but he said nothing and quickly turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Braised pork knuckle, soy-braised beef, and strong spirits... A scholar is eating this kind of food?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai stroked his chin, feeling that something was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai knew a thing or two about the scholars of Shengyun County; destitute ones often came to his pawn shop to hock their family’s possessions, all for a chance at passing the exams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Shen Bai’s view, having ambitions was a good thing, but bankrupting your family for unrealistic dreams was just foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From those destitute scholars, Shen Bai had learned that these men of letters usually prized elegance, and even their meals were quite plain and simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this one had ordered such heavy, greasy meats and strong spirits. Shen Bai felt something was definitely wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he was just curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was none of his business, and he had no intention of meddling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating for a short while, the Scholar called the waiter over to pack up the leftovers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene was even stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scholar had only taken a bite or two of the food on the table, and had barely sipped the liquor. He clearly didn’t enjoy the meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’But why order it then?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai’s curiosity grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this time, the waiter had finished packing up all the food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai had also more or less finished his meal. He paid his bill, ready to head back to the pawn shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scholar tipped some money out of his withered coin purse, which was immediately empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Scholar paid without hesitation, then picked up the packed food and left his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai yawned. He planned to stop by the apothecary to get some more Qi Blood Medicine and ask the physician if they had anything stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the current Qi Blood Medicine didn’t seem to be potent enough for him anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as he was about to leave, his eyes subconsciously fell on the Scholar’s back, and his brow furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this angle, a tree branch was protruding from the Scholar’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Scholar had hung all the packed food on that branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai saw a trace of cold, sinister Qi flowing along the branch before seeping into the food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’This Qi feels so familiar... Where have I encountered it before?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai watched the Scholar’s retreating figure, stroked his chin, and fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few figures flashed through his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, Shen Bai finally remembered where he had encountered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eerie Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So cold and sinister, with a hint of terror... It’s exactly the same as the Qi from an eerie entity.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Shen Bai had Qi in his body, he was much more sensitive to such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of thought, Shen Bai quietly began to follow the Scholar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was a person, one could still distinguish good from evil. But if it was an eerie entity, there was only evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These things held an endless loathing and hatred for the living. There was nothing wrong with drawing your sword and cutting one down on sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai didn’t know why this Scholar had gotten involved with an eerie entity, but he was in desperate need of the Evil Qi they provided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the transformation of both the ancient True Scripture and his Bright Jade body required Evil Qi to supplement them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「...」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai followed him through the bustling streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The streets went from bustling to quiet, and before long, they arrived at a secluded alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scholar was very cautious, looking back from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Shen Bai was a Cultivator, so this posed no difficulty for him. He easily avoided the Scholar’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, the Scholar walked into the alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the alley was a small, dilapidated courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scholar went straight in, opened the old wooden door, and disappeared behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai looked at the low earthen walls around him, thought for a moment, then vaulted up, using the wall to conceal himself as he peered into the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t be blamed for getting involved; he was truly desperate for Evil Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard was simply laid out, with a dirt path indicating that its owner didn’t have much money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in a corner of the yard grew a tall Locust Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he was on the wall, Shen Bai saw the Scholar place the branch at the base of the Locust Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the branch and the tree, Shen Bai finally understood where the branch had come from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So it’s a branch from the Locust Tree. What is this guy up to?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Bai didn’t move, but continued to observe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After putting down the branch, the Scholar took the food out from the takeaway containers and placed it at the base of the Locust Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he had done all this, the Scholar, not minding the dirt, knelt directly before the Locust Tree and began to kowtow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lady, I beg you, please help me. Please grant me that photographic memory again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scholar kowtowed repeatedly, muttering to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Scholar had kowtowed loudly several times, a terrifying scene unfolded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Locust Tree actually began to tremble slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet there was no trace of wind in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the tree’s branches shook, the branch on the ground once again emitted a cold, sinister stream of Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as this stream of Qi appeared, the temperature in the entire courtyard dropped significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scholar subconsciously hugged his arms and shivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The food placed on the ground rapidly withered and rotted, turning into a pile of ash in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that same moment, the dark circles under the Scholar’s eyes grew even heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he jumped up and began to dance for joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My photographic memory is back! I’ll definitely pass the exams and earn a title this time!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scholar shouted as he danced, as if he had obtained the most precious thing in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Scholar was shouting, a branch suddenly shot out and, with lightning speed, wrapped itself around his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overjoyed Scholar was choked, his tongue lolling out as he began to struggle desperately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes, ringed with black, began to bulge from their sockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eerie Qi grew even thicker.\u003C\u002Fp>",1296,"2026-06-03T14:13:26.865Z","2026-06-03T14:13:33.156Z",1,"novelbin.me","b9f9cb29a6a7b6e5fa2b13c296b96da3b9013d5fe6e8040b4b6a5aa441db406c","i-can-extract-divine-power-chapter-138","i-can-extract-divine-power-chapter-137",322,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-can-extract-divine-power-cover.jpg"]