The world is called Da Li. On the surface, it is ruled by the imperial court and divided into provinces and prefectures. In truth, it is a world long beset by the "Rifts of Demonic Calamity."
Three hundred years ago, the heavens split open, and nine "Calamity Star Fragments" fell from above. From that day on, mountains and rivers changed, the balance of blood energy was upset, and demons, wraiths, baleful entities, and aberrant species began to appear in the world. Humanity was not inherently weak. On the contrary, in the midst of the cataclysm, people developed a cultivation system centered on **blood energy, true astral force, divine intent, and life-flame. To suppress the world's upheavals, the imperial court established three major coercive institutions:
1. Demon Suppression Bureau: Investigates demons, hunts wraiths, patrols the borders, and executes enemies, handling high-intensity external purges.
2. Tribunal of Justice: Interrogates demon criminals, aberrant cultivators, rebels, and cultists, and is responsible for intelligence and upholding the law.
3. Prison Administration: Imprisons major criminals, guards secret prisons, and handles corpse wraiths and their remains. It is the dirtiest post and the one most likely to incur karmic repercussions.
The "Demon Suppression Bureau Prison" where the protagonist works is the darkest branch of the Bureau's system. He is neither a celebrated demon-slaying officer nor a master strategist managing cases, but a prison guard who deals day and night with bloodstains, lingering souls, torture instruments, and demon corpses.
- New demon prisoners, resources, and hidden circumstances arrive every day.
- Something can go wrong during any escort, interrogation, execution, or corpse cleanup.
- The protagonist naturally stands at the intersection of information, danger, and resources.
- Climbing the ranks from prison guard is, in itself, a path to rising in status.
