Luoi Yangyi flipped through the report Chen Xin had submitted regarding the operations over the past few days, falling into a brief silence.
In truth, he didn’t need to read the document to know what had transpired over the last five days. It had started on the day of the Changfeng Escort Agency murder case. He had ordered Chen Xin to take two Senior Commanders to investigate, giving them a seven-day deadline.
Surprisingly, Chen Xin cracked the case that very morning. That night, he conveniently took down the Celestial Fragrance Sect’s fasting assembly, slaying the sect’s Venerable Zhenyan and capturing a large number of Association Leaders, Preachers, and most importantly, the Sect Leader, Wang Sen. Not only did Chen Xin confiscate a massive amount of wealth the Celestial Fragrance Sect had amassed in the Capital City, but he also extracted intelligence by interrogating the captured Association Leaders and Preachers. The very next day, he led his men to strike all over the city, destroying the sect’s strongholds, both large and small.
In just four days, he completely eradicated the Celestial Fragrance Sect that had been ravaging the Capital City for over two months.
This swift and decisive style was truly even more formidable than his father’s. Who could have imagined that his initial order was merely for Chen Xin to solve a murder case suspected to be linked to the Celestial Fragrance Sect?
With the annihilation of the Capital City’s Celestial Fragrance Sect, Wang Sen was drained of all intelligence in the Imperial Prison and pushed out to the public market intersection to be publicly beheaded. This farce had finally come to an end.
Luoi Yangyi quickly skimmed through the document. When he finished, he felt a bit troubled. Chen Xin had just been promoted to Copper Order and had already caused such a massive stir; it wouldn’t be easy to appropriately reward him for his merits. Rubbing his temples, Luoi Yangyi came up with an idea and ordered a Junior Commander under his command to summon the three men involved.
Before long, Chen Xin, Jiangg Hengchuan, and Yan Chong arrived in the Inner Hall. Luoi Yangyi first gave Jiangg Hengchuan and Yan Chong a round of encouraging bureaucratic praise. Then, with a wave of his hand, he allowed the two of them to pick any two Martial Arts manuals from the upper three levels of the Secret Vault and granted them five rest days.
Thrilled, the two men hurriedly bowed in gratitude. Luoi Yangyi gave a brief word of dismissal, telling them to leave first.
Soon, Chen Xin was the only one left in the Inner Hall.
"Chen Copper Order, you led the team to annihilate the Capital City’s Celestial Fragrance Sect and captured the Sect Leader. You deserve the highest merit, which is more than enough for a promotion. However, since you have just assumed the rank of Copper Order, your qualifications are still thin and your Realm is still shallow. Therefore, I will take it upon myself to convert your merits into an alternative reward.
"You may choose one Cultivation Skill from the upper five levels of the Secret Vault and any one item from the lower four levels. Whether it be Divine Armor or a Miracle Pill, the choice is yours. How about it?" Luoi Yangyi asked with a smile, looking at Chen Xin.
Hearing these words, Chen Xin was utterly astonished. He had estimated that no matter how great this merit was, it would only grant access to the upper and lower four levels. One had to know that only a Gold and Silver Order could enter the fifth and sixth levels, while the seventh, eighth, and ninth levels required one to achieve a Celestial Merit to receive a bestowal from the Holy Emperor. He never expected Luoi Purple Gold to directly offer him a chance to select a Cultivation Skill from the upper five levels of the Secret Vault.
No wonder he had sent Old Jiangg and Old Yan away first. The Divine Robe Guard had never had a rule allowing merits to be converted into such rewards. Luoi Purple Gold was blatantly giving him backdoor access.
"Well?" Luoi Yangyi asked again.
Seeing Luoi Purple Gold looking at him with a smile, Chen Xin stopped overthinking it. Being given backdoor access wasn’t a bad thing. He cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, sir."
Luoi Yangyi nodded and continued, "There is still a slight surplus of merit. Practicing martial arts and cultivating the Dao both rely on wealth, companions, methods, and a proper environment, with wealth taking the foremost position. If you need gold or silver, just say the word."
"Thank you, sir. I do not seek gold or silver. Please just record the merit in the ledger."
Chen Xin lacked no worldly wealth. His father had left behind a sum of silver, and though it wasn’t a massive fortune, it was enough for his daily life. Moreover, according to the rules of the Divine Robe Guard, aside from confiscating properties and seizing stolen goods, one could skim a little off the top. When he confiscated the Celestial Fragrance Sect’s assets this time, he had taken a few pieces of jewelry.
Ordinary Martial Artists craved gold and silver merely to exchange them for weapons, treasures, or Pills, or to trade for Treasures of Heaven and Earth to use as resources for Qi Cultivation. As a member of the Divine Robe Guard, Chen Xin could exchange for the former in the Secret Vault. As for the latter... he had no need for ordinary medicinal herbs. With his Full-level Talent and completely unblocked meridians, Chen Xin could automatically perform Circulation even while eating or sleeping. As for the herbs that could rapidly elevate one’s power, those were rare commodities that money couldn’t buy.
"Alright, we’ll keep it on record for now," Luoi Yangyi nodded, glancing at Chen Xin. "I heard you like running to the Library when you have free time."
Chen Xin looked embarrassed, wondering how Luoi Yangyi had even heard about that. He only had himself to blame. Every time he raided a Celestial Fragrance Sect stronghold, the very first thing he did upon returning to the Northern Department was head to the Library. It would be strange if he hadn’t been noticed.
"Hahaha, Chen Copper Order," Luoi Yangyi laughed. "I’m not criticizing you. Enjoying learning, thinking deeply, and practicing what you learn will take you far. There is nothing wrong with reading more in your spare time. The latest Jianghu Manual is about to be distributed. Chen Copper Order, for the next ten days, you will be assigned to guard the printing workshop."
Chen Xin’s eyes lit up. Guarding the printing workshop was a fantastic assignment.
The Jianghu Manual was a collection of various rankings compiled by a mysterious organization known as the "Master of All Knowledge." Not only did it rank the Ten Grandmasters, the Ten Great Celestial Prodigies, and the top ten weapons—rankings that tugged at the heartstrings of everyone in the Martial World—but it also included the top ten beauties, the top ten renowned physicians, the top ten Divine Artisans, and so on. It was all-encompassing; there was nothing it couldn’t rank.
In the Martial World, everyone was curious about the true identity of this "Master of All Knowledge" who possessed such immense capabilities. Of course, to a select few, this was no secret at all. The reason the "Master of All Knowledge" could grasp so much information was largely due to the backing of the Court’s Wind-Catching Secret Agents.
That’s right. The rankings that Jianghu people flocked to were actually orchestrated behind the scenes by the Court. Therefore, the debut of every issue of the Jianghu Manual always took place in the Capital City, and the printing work was also completed there. By convention, the Divine Robe Guard would dispatch personnel to guard it. Under the Emperor’s Feet, naturally no one dared to plot against the Jianghu Manual. Since one could just buy a copy to read after it was printed, why would anyone risk angering the Divine Robe Guard?
Consequently, guarding the printing workshop for ten days was practically the equivalent of a ten-day rest. It was double the vacation time given to Old Jiangg and Old Yan. Moreover, guarding the workshop came with a hidden perk—the chance to read the Jianghu Manual before anyone else, and for free at that.
"Thank you, sir," Chen Xin said with righteous earnestness. "I will certainly do my utmost to ensure the printing work is completed smoothly."
"You’re just itching for something to happen at the workshop, aren’t you?" Luoi Yangyi waved his hand dismissively. "Go on. You can head to the Secret Vault right now. I’ve already made the arrangements."
Chen Xin excused himself and turned to leave the Inner Hall. A faint voice floated over from behind him.
"Your Inner Realm Level is still a bit too low. Remember to diligently practice your Cultivation during your free time on duty."
It sounded just like a close elder admonishing a younger relative.
...
Meanwhile, in Luanzhou of the Yongping Prefecture.
At Shifokou, the Sect Capital of the Celestial Fragrance Sect, bad news from the Capital City arrived one after another: the deaths of the two great Venerables, the Celestial Fragrance Sect being uprooted, and the public beheading of Sect Leader Wang Sen at the public market intersection.
An enraged Wang Haoxian smashed the stone table in front of him to pieces. "Damn the Divine Robe Guard! Damn Chen Xin!" The news from the Capital City made it abundantly clear that this man surnamed Chen was the chief culprit behind it all.
"Young Sect Leader, what should we do?"
The surrounding Celestial Fragrance Sect disciples were terrified out of their wits by the news from the Capital City and Wang Haoxian’s frantic state. With Wang Sen dead, the position of Sect Leader naturally fell to his son, Wang Haoxian.
"Is that... all you can ask me?"
Wang Haoxian’s cruel gaze swept over the disciple who had just asked the question. He lashed out with a claw-like grip. The disciple spat blood and was sent flying backward, his fate unknown.
"A bunch of useless trash! All of you are useless!" Wang Haoxian cursed incessantly. The thought of the Divine Robe Guard infuriated him further. "That damn Chen Xin ruined the grand plans of our Celestial Fragrance!"
While his father was alive, the Wang Clan could securely sit in Luanzhou and remotely control the Celestial Fragrance Sect nationwide. Now that his father was dead, the previously excellent situation was completely wiped out. The only thing he could still control was the sect branch in Luanzhou, while the various factions across the country were getting restless and ready to make a move. How could such a drastic reversal of fortunes not drive Wang Haoxian mad?
"Young Sect Leader, a letter has arrived from Yanzhou. It’s from the Venerable of the Lunar Mansions," a disciple said, running over in a hurry.
"Xu Hongru still has the nerve to send a letter?! If it weren’t for his schemes, how could my father have lost his life in the Capital City?" Wang Haoxian was boiling with rage, but he took the letter anyway.
Among the three great Venerables of the Celestial Fragrance Sect, Xu Hongru, the Venerable of the Lunar Mansions, was the most unique. This was because he possessed another identity: an Eight Wind Envoy of the White Lotus Sect! The reason Wang Sen had been able to spread the Celestial Fragrance Sect across so many prefectures was inextricably linked to the covert support of the White Lotus Sect.
Wang Haoxian unfolded the letter and read it carefully. The further he read, the deeper the cold sneer at the corner of his mouth became.
"The Court’s discipline is corrupted, state affairs are congested, the people are full of grievances, and natural disasters are frequent... What a clever Xu Hongru. He wants to use my name to rally the entire Celestial Fragrance Sect across the nation in an uprising, all so he can remotely honor me as Emperor.
"Truly loyal and devoted, leaving the biggest charge of treason entirely to me.
"You want an uprising, right? You want to use the Sect Leader’s name, right? Very well. Someone, write a reply for me."
Wang Sen was originally a cobbler by trade and was entirely unlettered. Wang Haoxian was the same, so he could only have a disciple write on his behalf.
"Write back and tell him that an uprising is fine. I can give him the title and authorize him to mobilize the forces of the Shandong Celestial Fragrance Sect. However, he must help me kill a certain person..."