Cultivating in Different Professions

"But now that you’ve mastered the Kan Water Realm, what am I supposed to do with you?"

Luo Anning rested her chin in her hands, her brow furrowed in consternation.

She had originally come looking for Su Mu for another reason, but as soon as she arrived in South City, she witnessed him use the Kan Water Realm to repel Hu Guangshao.

She had been completely stunned at the time.

That was why it had taken her so long to finally seek him out.

She had taken a while to process it, and it still felt somewhat unbelievable.

’How could he have mastered a Realm?’

She also practiced martial arts of the Kan Water Lineage and had even mastered two different sword stances—one could say her talent was outstanding.

But as for the Kan Water Realm, she hadn’t even come close to grasping it.

And she even had a Kan Water Realm Map at home!

She knew all too well how difficult it was to comprehend a Realm.

For Su Mu to have comprehended the Kan Water Realm... his insight was far greater than hers.

Previously, she had been thinking that if Su Mu was eliminated from the Taiping Bureau, she would recruit him into the Luo Family as a Tributor.

But that was no longer an option.

Having mastered the Kan Water Realm while still in the Body Tempering Realm, any family Su Mu wished to join would now welcome him with open arms.

That wasn’t the issue, though.

The Luo Family was the number one family in Wuling City; no one could make a better offer than they could.

The problem was, Su Mu no longer needed to rely on any family.

By mastering the Kan Water Realm, even if he couldn’t reach the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering before turning twenty, the Taiping Bureau would absolutely not eliminate him.

With such incredible insight, his slightly lacking aptitude wasn’t a major issue for the Taiping Bureau.

As long as they provided enough resources, they could brute-force his way to the Blood Transformation Realm.

Once Su Mu reached the Blood Transformation Realm, combined with his mastery of the Kan Water Realm, he would definitely be considered a formidable fighter among the Taiping Captains.

With the Taiping Bureau as his backer, why would he ever need to join one of those families?

Everyone knew that the Taiping Bureau was independent of the imperial court system, its status transcendent and revered.

Even a Seventh-Grade Taiping Captain could meet the City Lord without needing to bow.

Outside of the Taiping Bureau’s internal hierarchy, they were subject to almost no external jurisdiction.

Thus, despite the dangers of the Taiping Bureau, people still clamored to join, wave after wave. Even someone of Luo Anning’s standing was dead set on officially joining.

Luo Anning had no doubt what Su Mu would choose.

But this meant her initial plans for him had all gone up in smoke.

"Ah, whatever. I’m not going to think about it anymore."

After a moment of frowning, Luo Anning shook her head and said, "You’ve already mastered a Realm. I have to work even harder now. I can’t let you surpass me in cultivation, too.

I’m leaving! The next time we meet, I’ll definitely have comprehended the Kan Water Realm, too!

And even if I can’t comprehend the Realm, I’ll at least break through to the Blood Transformation Realm."

Luo Anning was filled with fighting spirit.

"I originally came to find you to help you get a new post, but that’s not necessary anymore. Let’s work hard together to become Taiping Captains! I’ll definitely be your senior sister!"

As she spoke, she stood up, waved at Su Mu, and prepared to leap onto the wall.

"Wait."

Su Mu quickly stopped her. "What did you say you originally came to find me for?"

"To get you a new post."

Luo Anning paused and turned back to explain, "You might not know this, but a few days ago, the Hu Mansion was set on fire. The Hu Family used it as a pretext to force my father into making many concessions. I’m afraid South City is about to become the Hu Family’s domain.

You’re on bad terms with the Hu Family, so it’s not appropriate for you to remain in the South City Bureau. That’s why I pulled some strings for you."

’Luo Anning really is a good person!’

Su Mu silently gave Luo Anning a thumbs-up in his mind.

"But it’s not necessary now. You’ve comprehended the Kan Water Realm, so becoming a Taiping Captain in the future is a sure thing. There’s no need to waste your time in the Outer City anymore..."

"I believe,"

Su Mu mused for a moment, then said with a serious expression, "that positions aren’t inherently high or low. Before I officially become a Taiping Captain, I want to do more for the people of the Outer City.

So, Sister Ning, I’m open to it."

Luo Anning beamed when Su Mu called her "Sister Ning."

"Originally, I was thinking of getting you a post as a constable at the Xicheng Bureau."

Luo Anning’s smile was as bright as a flower as she said, "But I didn’t know you had already comprehended a Realm. Making you a constable now would be a waste of your talent.

Sima Xu Guang of the East City Bureau is getting old, and his old injuries have been acting up recently, so he’s about to retire.

By the way, how is your practice of the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique coming along?

If you’ve already stepped into the Tendon Tempering Realm, then I can recommend you for the position of Sima of the East City Bureau."

’Such a good opportunity exists?’

Su Mu was pleasantly surprised. He was at a loss for how to properly thank Luo Anning.

His expression turned solemn, and he suddenly whipped his arm through the air.

CRACK!

A crisp sound echoed, like the sharp crack of a whip.

Tendon Tempering!

An ’I knew it’ expression appeared on Luo Anning’s face.

"Wait for my news."

Tossing out that one sentence, she leaped onto the wall and hurried away.

’Such a polite girl. Why does she never use the door?’

Only after Luo Anning’s figure had completely vanished from sight did Su Mu sit back down.

With a thought, he summoned his system panel.

[Name: Su Mu]

[Identity: Ghostwriter / Taiping Bureau White Clothes (Ninth Grade)]

[Points: 2000]

[Realm: Third Stage of Body Tempering (Extreme Skin Tempering Realm, Extreme Flesh Tempering)]

[Cultivation Technique: Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique (Minor Accomplishment/+)...]

[Martial Arts: Mountain-Opening Saber Technique (Not Initiated/+), Kan Water Realm (Minor Accomplishment), Xun Wind Realm (Minor Accomplishment), Archery (Initiated/+)]

After today, he had finally saved up two thousand Points.

During his last few days in the Daxing Mountains, he had resisted the urge to spend his Points on cultivating his martial arts.