I Cultivate in a Government Office

Yang Wenqing brought Lan Ying back to the branch office. The first thing he did was have a habitat for the Night Owl built in his office. Outside of his desk job, he spent his days playing with the little one.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Over the past month, the follow-up investigation and operation to close the net on the Lingshan New District bombing continued.

Led by the City Bureau, a deeply entrenched network was gradually uncovered. The Bureau's operations department, working with elite units from the various branches, launched several rounds of targeted arrests in Coral City and its surrounding counties. They dismantled several transit hubs that supplied intelligence to foreign powers, apprehending dozens of suspects.

Simultaneously, a crackdown on rogue Cultivators and illegal organizations was launched. Over a dozen rogue Cultivator dens hidden in remote mountain forests were completely eradicated, and a large quantity of contraband was seized.

The Provincial Government also dispatched a joint investigation team to Coral City. They reviewed the relevant case files and interrogation records, clearly placing great importance on the leads uncovered by the case.

Meanwhile, Supervisor Wang Yanzhi quietly returned to the Provincial Government to claim credit for completing his 'fundraising' mission. He would most likely hold a new title the next time he came.

Out on the vast expanse of the East Sea, however, the situation was far more direct and intense. Clashes between the Jade Whale Sect's patrol fleets and the Wanxuan Southern Navy's patrol squadrons became increasingly frequent. Over control of several disputed bodies of water and resource points, what began as mere standoffs had escalated into small-scale duels with Rune Cannons.

「The fifth day of the fourth month.」

It was an ordinary day in the northeastern sea, with clear skies stretching over endless azure waves.

The silhouettes of two small fleets appeared on the horizon. One flew the azure whale banner of the Jade Whale Sect; the other, the crimson Profound Bird banner of Wanxuan. The instant they spotted each other, both fleets tacitly began to adjust their formations and accelerate.

There were no superfluous hails or warnings. The long-simmering hostility instantly transformed into the most direct intent to attack.

BOOM—

The Jade Whale Sect's fleet opened fire first. Several thick beams of energy tore through the air, blasting toward the Wanxuan fleet with a bone-chilling cold.

The protective barrier around the Wanxuan fleet instantly flared with a crimson-gold light. It rippled violently, deflecting most of the attack's energy, but the impact of the blasts still sent a slight tremor through the ships' hulls.

"Counterattack! Target the enemy flagship's starboard side!"

The Wanxuan fleet commander's calm voice echoed across every ship via the Communication Array.

The next second, a denser barrage of crimson Rune Cannon shells poured forth like a torrential downpour, carving fiery trails through the air.

The Jade Whale Sect's defensive barrier also activated. Icy blue and crimson light clashed violently over the sea, exploding into raging clouds of steam.

The battle rapidly escalated. Amid the roar of the cannons, Cultivators from both sides began to muster on deck, the gleam of flying swords and Magical Artifacts flashing in the chaos. A more intense boarding action was imminent.

What had started as minor skirmishes had now erupted into true combat. If the leaders on both sides didn't intervene, the conflict would escalate into a vendetta. At that point, even the Central Hub would be forced to grit its teeth and declare war.

…

「Lingshan New District, Coral City.」

The increasingly fierce battles at the front had not affected this place—at least, not yet.

The back courtyard of the Yang family compound. Dawn was breaking.

Yang Wenqing held a longsword that flowed with a cyan-gold brilliance. The blade was three inches longer than his original 'Qingfeng', its lines more fluid and elegant. The hilt was etched with a fine, scale-like pattern, and it felt warm in his hand, as if connected to his very thoughts.

This was the new flying sword he had forged over the past month. Aided by his Golden Core World, he had successfully fused the ore given to him by his master with his 'Qingfeng' short sword. He still called it 'Qingfeng', but its quality and Spiritual Attribute were now in a league of their own.

The sword moved with his thoughts. Qingfeng transformed into a streak of cyan-gold light, nearly invisible to the naked eye, as it traced a path across the backyard. At times, its movements were like a soaring dragon; at others, as silent as a fine drizzle.

On a branch of a nearby old tree, a blue Night Owl—now noticeably larger and with fuller plumage—tilted its head, its round eyes fixed unblinkingly on Yang Wenqing's movements.

This was none other than Lan Ying. A faint Spiritual Light shimmered around her. Her growth rate was astonishing, fueled by her continuous absorption of the pure Spiritual Qi produced by Yang Wenqing's Golden Core World. She was already on the verge of advancing to the Qi Cultivation realm.

At that moment, she was mimicking Yang Wenqing's Sword Control posture. She was actually manipulating a small, withered twig, making it hover shakily in front of her. It spun clumsily according to her will. Though her control was far from refined, her focused expression and developing form were enough to make one marvel at the extraordinary talent of a Spirit Beast.

Once Yang Wenqing finished his set of Sword Formulas, Qingfeng let out a joyful, clear hum and flew back into the sheath at his waist. He then tucked it away into his Storage Bag.

CHIRP!

Seeing Yang Wenqing stop, Lan Ying gave up on controlling the unruly twig. She spread her wings, glided down, and landed precisely on his shoulder, affectionately nuzzling his cheek. At the same time, a clear thought entered his mind: 'Over there... the smell of meat... It smells so good!'

Her wing was pointing directly toward the dining room in the main residence.

Yang Wenqing couldn't help but chuckle. He reached out and gently stroked the soft, smooth down on Lan Ying's head. He then performed the Dust Clearing Skill. A soft light enveloped both him and Lan Ying on his shoulder, washing away the dust and sweat.

Then, he headed for the dining room.

The aroma of breakfast already filled the dining room.

Lan Ying had her own special, high-legged little table. On it were carefully sliced strips of roasted meat and a small dish of clear dew that contained a faint amount of Spiritual Qi. She let out a happy cry upon seeing it and eagerly flew over.