I Cultivate in a Government Office

That was just how it was. The legacy technique of the Donghai Province’s City Defense System was the True Yang Secret Technique. The three of them came from typical commoner families, talents who had been specially groomed after being discovered to possess superior aptitude.

The one on the far right had lively, spirited eyes and was dressed the most casually, looking like a rich young master. He cultivated an unorthodox Wood Spirit path and was named Jin Ming. He was also at the Second Transformation of the Marrow Cleansing Realm. Of the four, he was the only one born into a cultivation family, yet he practiced an unorthodox path—perhaps because he knew all too well how difficult Entry was for orthodox cultivators.

The four of them had clearly noticed the newcomer, Yang Wenqing, especially the magnificent Blue-feathered Night Owl on his shoulder. It was simply too eye-catching.

Zhao Yan’s gaze held obvious scrutiny and a hint of competitiveness. Sun Yan opened his eyes for a brief glance before closing them again. Han Xue merely swept a cold look over them, her eyes pausing for a moment on Lan Ying. Jin Ming’s eyes, however, lit up as he sized up Yang Wenqing and Lan Ying with unconcealed curiosity.

…

「Elsewhere.」

In the office of the Chief of the First Patrol Department, a water-mirror projection displayed a crystal-clear, live feed from the small auditorium on the third floor.

Watching the screen in silence was a middle-aged man, a Police Chief with three gold floral pips on his epaulets. He was Lu Jingming, Chief of the First Patrol Department. His department oversaw the Provincial Hall’s General Affairs and Archives divisions—a post of no small authority.

His gaze was fixed on Yang Wenqing, who had just entered the auditorium. Then, his powerful Divine Sense, like an intangible, formless breeze, swept silently across the entire hall, brushing past Yang Wenqing with particular focus.

Then Lu Jingming looked to his capable assistant, He Yun, who stood in attendance at his side. “Xiaohong,” he asked, “did you see him? This Director Yang.”

His assistant, He Yun, nodded with a wry smile. “I saw him, Lu Xun. I’m afraid this Director Yang is no simple man…”

“More than ‘no simple man’,” Lu Jingming cut him off. “The intelligence was completely wrong. Wasn’t he supposed to be at the Marrow Cleansing Second Transformation? But I just probed him. His current Cultivation has already far surpassed Zhao Yan and the other three. If this competition proceeds as planned, that Clear Heart Pill is as good as his. The other four probably aren’t even worthy of making him strike a second time.”

The wry smile on He Yun’s face deepened. “In the recorded history of Wanxuan, you could probably count on two hands the number of people who reached the Marrow Cleansing Fourth Transformation before the age of thirty-five. Who would have thought we’d actually find one here in Donghai Province.”

Lu Jingming rubbed the bridge of his nose. “That old fox Qin Huaiming really struck gold, finding a prized disciple like this.”

His tone was laced with envy.

“Lu Xun, what do we do now?” He Yun asked for instructions. “The competition’s procedures are set, the participants have been announced. Since Yang Wenqing showed up, he’s obviously after the Clear Heart Pill. Given his status as a true disciple of Xuanyue, not to mention the connections tied to that Blue-feathered Night Owl, we can’t just change the rules at the last minute or forcibly prevent him from competing, can we?”

Lu Jingming also found the situation tricky.

“Forcibly stopping him isn’t an option,” Lu Jingming mused. “But if we let him compete, the whole event becomes pointless. And the disciples from humble families who trained so hard will be resentful.”

He Yun thought for a moment, then suggested tentatively, “Since Yang Wenqing’s main goal is the Clear Heart Pill, could we perhaps speak with him privately? We could offer him another Clear Heart Pill as compensation, and then… find a suitable reason for him to be absent, like an urgent mission requiring the immediate attention of a local official like him.”

Lu Jingming shot He Yun an irritated glare. “Do you think Clear Heart Pills grow on trees? They’re rewards specially approved by the main bureau. Every single one is accounted for!”

He Yun shrank back, knowing his suggestion was outlandish. “My apologies,” he said helplessly. “It was the only thing I could come up with.”

Lu Jingming leaned back in his chair, watching the water-mirror as Yang Wenqing walked toward the empty fifth contestant’s seat, his expression perfectly calm and composed. After a moment of silence, he finally sighed. “Dammit. How could such a small affair have this kind of complication?”

He sat up straight and ordered He Yun, “Contact the Hall Director’s office. And inform the host of the drawing ceremony that we’re proceeding as planned.”

“Yes, Lu Xun!”

He Yun didn’t dare to delay, immediately turning to carry out the orders.