Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 357: Chapter 357: Results

Sixth day of the second month.

All Xuanqing Guard garrisons within Fengri City’s jurisdiction were unusually lively, because the Black Banner Battalion’s distribution plan had been announced, along with the first quarter’s resource allotment arriving together.

The ones truly elated were the lowest-ranking soldiers. When packs of Peiyuan Pills were handed to them, it was as if dawn’s light illuminated their eyes.

Ordinary soldiers at the bottom had neither reliable family backgrounds to depend on, nor sturdy ladders to climb, only seeking cracks for upward mobility amid their meager existence.

Of course, compared to commoners, Black Banner soldiers certainly lived "full and flavorful" lives—their pay alone was enough to make ordinary folk envious, even call them well-off. But to think such "affluence" could grant a glimpse at the gate to being a cultivator was pure fantasy.

Those with excellent aptitude had it easy—the fortune heaven granted let them stand out, gaining the attention of sects, and naturally never worrying about cultivation resources. Those a step down could also thrive in the Xuanqing Guard. One more notch down, things weren’t so simple. Further still, survival was all they could hope for.

Now, a single Peiyuan Pill truly rekindled hope for those who might have entered the Cultivation Realm but for that one final push. They asked for nothing more than crossing the Cultivation Realm’s threshold.

An ordinary man’s strongest punch might be a few hundred jin^1 of force, but a cultivator—even just Qi Refining First Layer—could strike with nearly two thousand jin. And as cultivators, they could directly use low-grade talisman and magical artifact, without needing a general spirit stone for conversion; the efficiency is incomparable. This is the gap—and at critical moments, it could save lives or earn merit.

"One pack per person! This is this month’s share. Anyone who resells or hoards for later use will be punished for embezzlement and dereliction if discovered. Look after yourselves!"

The Black Banner Small Banner Officer shouted the rules in a loud voice. The goods were there to be given, but anyone playing tricks would be dealt with harshly.

Still, hardly anyone could resist taking the Peiyuan Pill for themselves. What’s more, one per month—that meant their chances of crossing into the cultivator’s gate soared dramatically. What if they succeeded?

Compared to the average soldiers overjoyed, low-tier cultivators who had already crossed the threshold wore just as wide a smile. They, too, had reason: one Small Nourishing Pill per person each quarter!

In the past, even Small Banner Officers got one or two Small Nourishing Pills only by luck over years, and ordinary low-tier cultivators didn’t hope for such treatment in a garrison—yet now, it was allotted to everyone directly.

Of course, the allocation of elixirs involves far more details. Age, cultivation, potential evaluation, official rank—there is a comprehensive consideration, with adjustments along the way. In short: if you have potential, you’ll be given a push; if you don’t, or it’s no longer obvious, you’ll be compensated differently—with silver or magic skills.

These were the visible benefits for all, and there were even more only the Black Banner Camp Commander and a handful of staff were aware of—the Black Banner Battalion now had its own dedicated resource warehouse, stocked not just with cultivation resources, but also talismans, magical artifacts, and other consumables. Distribution no longer went through the Hundred Households Garrison Alchemy Rooms and Arsenals.

This essentially raised the status of Black Banner Battalion within the Xuanqing Guard once more—this time toward greater independence.

Previously, if local Hundred Households Station Chief Officers disliked Black Banner Battalion, they could choke you at the two bottlenecks—arsenal and alchemy room. But now, they can’t do a thing.

Had this occurred more than half a year ago, all the Chief Officers would have raised a ruckus—nobody likes an untouchable troublemaker in their own backyard. But now, it was eerily quiet everywhere; no one protested, nor even voiced an objection.

At least not on the surface.

Who doesn’t know by now that within Fengri City’s domain, the Black Banner Battalion’s momentum is unstoppable?

Shen Shaxing enjoys Lord Jiang’s full support as Governor; whoever tangles with Shen Shaxing is asking for trouble. Previously, Wu Changhe—the former Fengri City Households Officer—clashed with Shen Shaxing, and openly tried to oppress him at the Sword Emperor’s Tomb incident. What happened? He’s said to be imprisoned—and likely his days are numbered.

By contrast, those scheming to squeeze into the Black Banner Battalion have grown legion. Great benefits, less oversight, and with raised status. So long as higher-ups’ policies remain, things will stay this way, or even get better.

Still, all Black Banner Camp Commanders in local Hundred Households Stations tacitly refrained from any personnel transfers. All eyes were on the Fengri City Thousand Households Station. If higher-ups didn’t shuffle posts despite these windfalls, they dared not either. Compared to petitioning for personal gain, keeping their seats was more precious—Lord Shen’s tolerance for lax discipline was famously non-existent.

On the same day, resources were distributed directly to individuals. Within just two days, subtle yet special True Qi fluctuations resonated from the Black Banner camps of all four Hundred Households Stations. All cultivators recognized this as the transformation when ordinary folk stepped into the Cultivation Realm: Breaking Mortality.

The effects arrived both swiftly and fiercely—surpassing all expectations.

Ninth day of the second month. As if coordinated, all four Black Banner camps submitted reports to Shen Hao, and all contained the same news.

"The four Black Banner Battalions in Hunded Households Stations each have a roster of six to seven hundred, with cultivators comprising thirty percent—so that’s over four hundred ordinary soldiers in all. Yet, within three days of issuing Peiyuan Pills, each Battalion saw an average of eleven men Breaking Mortality. Tsk tsk."

Does this count as results?

Shen Hao smiled, eyes squinting with pride—of course, these were results, outstanding ones at that!

In just three days after rolling out the pilot plan at four Hundred Households Stations, more than forty ordinary soldiers Broke Mortality and became cultivators. At this rate, more can certainly be expected in the near future.

Elevating a cultivator’s level is hard, but helping those with the potential to cross into the Cultivation Realm is far cheaper—and with far better cost-effectiveness.

Shen Hao immediately picked up his pen and sent orders to Black Banner Battalions at the four Hundred Households Stations, instructing them to report new cultivator numbers every three days. At month’s end, he would compile these figures to present as the first phase results of Fengri City’s pilot plan.

Besides these visible statistics, Shen Hao felt there was much more potential to delve into—things like Combined Attack Arrays, the effectiveness of coordinated magical artifacts, the collective rise in cultivators’ power, and even talisman teamwork—things not easily expressed in numbers.

As for how best to uncover these hidden results, Shen Hao already had several plans forming in his mind.

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^1 jin = traditional Chinese unit of weight, approx. 0.5 kg.