Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Promotion
The merged pieces of the drawing depicted a series of lines. These lines sketched out a mountain, inside of which was a winding path that ended at a cave.
Looking at a single piece, it wasn’t obvious. But with the two combined, Chen Ping’an could finally make sense of it.
’Is this in the Canglong Mountain Range?’
Chen Ping’an carefully studied the landmarks on the map.
’It looks like it’s near Weishui County City!’
Realizing this, Chen Ping’an’s spirits soared.
If the treasure shown on the Treasure Map was truly near Weishui County City, the time and effort it would take for him to find it would be significantly lower.
’I wonder what’s inside?’
Chen Ping’an wondered.
Who would have thought that two such lucky coincidences would lead to him piecing together a complete Treasure Map so haphazardly?
It sounded a bit like a joke.
Yet, it had actually happened.
Of course, he couldn’t take the matter of the Treasure Map too seriously. After all, it could just be a fake.
’I’ll put it away for now and wait for the right opportunity. A single visit will tell me if it’s real or fake!’
Chen Ping’an calmed himself and carefully put the two pieces of hide away.
...
Over the next few days, Chen Ping’an found himself extremely busy, primarily dealing with the aftermath at the South City Prison.
The South City Prison had suffered considerable losses during the Ten Thousand Demons Sect incident. Chen Ping’an had to handle the compensation for the families of the Prison Guards and constables who had died.
Furthermore, the damage from the battle within the South City Prison needed to be promptly repaired.
In the midst of his work, Chen Ping’an didn’t let his Cultivation fall behind.
On this day, a line of text indicating Cultivation Experience flashed before his eyes.
+1!
The Cultivation Experience for his Golden Bell Shield had finally reached its limit.
’Break through!’
Chen Ping’an thought to himself.
WHOOSH!
A familiar sensation washed over him once more. By the time Chen Ping’an opened his eyes, he had perfectly mastered the myriad applications and Killing Techniques of the Golden Bell Shield.
Name: Chen Ping’an
Realm: Inner Qi - Purification and Rejuvenation
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Perfection, Flying Locust Stone Perfection, Public Door Thirteen Blades Perfect, Thirteen Grand Protectors Cross Training Perfect, Golden Bell Shield Perfection, Gale Sword Technique Great Success (136/400), Eight Steps Chasing Cicada Great Success (87/400)
...
With the Perfection of his Golden Bell Shield, Chen Ping’an now had five Martial Arts that had reached the Perfection Level.
CLANG!
As his Inner Qi surged, Chen Ping’an’s skin took on a faint golden hue, and an invisible barrier of Qi seemed to form around him.
The Perfection Level Golden Bell Shield greatly increased Chen Ping’an’s defensive power. He had a feeling that he could withstand an attack even from a Martial Arts Master at the Third Stage of Inner Qi.
The changes weren’t limited to this; the Inner Qi within his Dantian Qi Sea had also transformed.
At this moment, his Martial Arts Realm had reached the Perfect Second Level of Inner Qi, placing him just half a step away from the Third Stage of Inner Qi!
If he could take that half-step, he would be considered the strongest of the younger generation in all of Weishui County City, second only to Liu Ziming of the Liu Family!
A true prodigy!
For others, this half-step was an insurmountable obstacle. For Chen Ping’an, however, he only needed to advance his Gale Sword Technique to the Perfection Realm to cross it with ease.
’The Rising Star Chart...’
A glint appeared in Chen Ping’an’s eyes.
...
Another seven or eight days passed after Chen Ping’an’s Golden Bell Shield entered the Perfection Realm.
The Outer City Garrison Command organized a large-scale memorial service in Weishui Outer City, mainly to commemorate the constables and citizens who had died during the chaos caused by the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.
Nearly every noteworthy power in Weishui Outer City sent representatives to pay their respects. Many representatives came to offer condolences, not just from the Outer City, but from the Inner City as well.
Chen Ping’an, of course, attended as well.
At the memorial service, Chen Ping’an ran into Mu Wanjun. Her serious injuries had yet to fully heal, and this was the first time she had left her seclusion to recover.
Her eyes lit up when she saw Chen Ping’an.
"Ping’an!"
"Lord Mu."
Chen Ping’an greeted her.
He saw an elderly man in fine silk robes standing beside Mu Wanjun. A crowd had gathered around them, treating the old man with extreme reverence, many wearing fawning expressions.
Mu Wanjun came forward, her face full of gratitude.
"Ping’an, I owe my life to you this time! If it weren’t for you, I would have been one of the people you’re here to mourn."
"You’re exaggerating, Lord Mu!"
Chen Ping’an smiled, not taking any credit.
In the past few days, even though Mu Wanjun was still recovering from her injuries, she had sent people to deliver him several gifts to express her gratitude.
"Why are you still calling me Lord Mu? You saved my life. Just call me Wan Jun!"
Mu Wanjun’s tone was warm and familiar.
Chen Ping’an hesitated. "My lord, we both serve in the South Town Garrison Command. I’m afraid such a familiar address would be inappropriate."
"Business is business, and personal is personal. You can call me that in private."
Faced with Mu Wanjun’s insistence, Chen Ping’an accepted it frankly and called her "Wan Jun."
How strange the world is!
Who would have thought that the person who once stood so high above him, with the power to decide his fate, would now stand before him and ask him to call her Wan Jun.
Chen Ping’an and Mu Wanjun’s conversation didn’t last long.
Besides her role as the Chief of the Patrol Office for the South Town Garrison Command, Mu Wanjun also held the status of a direct descendant of the Mu Family.
As a representative of the Inner City Noble Families attending the memorial with her Clan Elders, she naturally had many social obligations.
"Wan Jun, is that the Chen Ping’an you mentioned before?"
The old man in fine silk robes sized up Chen Ping’an with curiosity.
"Thirteenth Grand-Uncle, that’s him. Ping’an is exceptionally talented. I hadn’t seen him for just a few days, and he had already reached Qi Blood Six Layers Perfection. What’s more, he’s cultivated a Superior Light Body Technique to the Great Success Realm. He’s an absolute rarity, a true prodigy. With a little more time, he’s bound to make it onto the Rising Star Chart."
Mu Wanjun spared no effort in her praise of Chen Ping’an.
The old man glanced at Chen Ping’an a few times and nodded slightly.
’Qi Blood Six Layers Perfection! And a Superior Light Body Technique at the Great Success Realm!’
’Not bad at all!’
’Perhaps...’
...
Returning from the memorial, Chen Ping’an was struck by the clear levels of hierarchy.
The so-called faction bosses, who seemed so powerful to ordinary people, were nothing but small fry to the leadership of the Outer City Garrison Command. And yet, these same leaders from the Outer City Garrison Command had to grovel before the true representatives of the Inner City’s Noble Families.
However, these thoughts only lingered in Chen Ping’an’s mind for a moment before he dismissed them. His sole focus right now was on finding a way to advance the Cultivation of his Gale Sword Technique.
More than ten peaceful days passed in this manner.
Just as Chen Ping’an was minding his own turf at the South City Prison, an unexpected appointment was delivered to his office.
"South City Prison Chief Chen Ping’an, for his courage and loyalty, for slaying over ten criminals during the Ten Thousand Demons Sect uprising, and for his meritorious service in defending his post, upon evaluation by the Outer City Garrison Command, is hereby promoted to Candidate for Chief Constable of the South Town Garrison Command!"
