Chapter 326 - 183: Peak of Profound Gang
Jingwu Bureau, inside the Governor’s Office Hall.
Nie Xuanfeng, dressed in a deep cyan official robe, sat in the seat of honor behind a large rosewood desk. He stroked his long beard, a smile as pleasant as a spring breeze on his face. His eyes held a hint of amazement and unconcealed praise:
"Chen Sheng, oh, Chen Sheng. This time, you’ve truly given me a massive surprise!"
He now fully understood the detailed battle report from Wushan Mountain.
He couldn’t hide his astonishment.
He had long known that Chen Sheng possessed outstanding talent and extraordinary strength. Both he and Lord Xie Jingze held high hopes for him, expecting him to win tangible benefits for the Government Office.
But they had never expected that the young man would still manage to give them such a huge surprise.
One against seven, overpowering all his rivals!
He had swept aside all the most dazzling young prodigies of Ning’an Prefecture’s current generation. With undisputed dominance, he had forcefully seized a thirty-percent share of the Wushan Yuan Ore for the Government Office!
Such a battle record... Forget the last few competitions; tracing back to the very establishment of the "Wushan Pact," the Government Office had never achieved such a glorious victory.
Combined with the ten-percent share they were already guaranteed, the Government Office now controlled a total of forty percent—nearly half!
This forty percent was not to be underestimated.
Although the Wushan Yuan Ore was only a miniature Spiritual Vein, its annual output of Elemental Crystals still exceeded two thousand.
Over the ten-year term, that amounted to more than twenty thousand Elemental Crystals.
A forty-percent share meant that over the next decade, the Government Office would reap the massive benefit of over ten thousand Elemental Crystals.
What did that even mean?
Consider this: even a dignified Seventh Grade Peacekeeper Envoy within the Jingwu Bureau had an annual salary of merely four Elemental Crystals.
And the value of Elemental Crystals was far beyond what worldly gold and silver could compare to.
Furthermore, the impact of this battle was also extraordinary.
The prestige of the Government Office had soared to unprecedented heights because of this single battle.
Meanwhile, major Jianghu factions like the Golden Spring Temple and the Iron Sword Sect had their momentum blunted. The sharp edge of their younger generation had been suppressed by Chen Sheng alone, indirectly damaging their future potential.
This hefty political achievement didn’t just belong to Chen Sheng. It would also add a brilliant stroke to the performance reviews of Nie Xuanfeng, Lord Xie Jingze, and even General Ning’an Li Qianzhou.
Once word of this reached the State City, they would all be commended.
Just a moment ago, Lord Xie had sent a confidant with a message, lavishing praise on Chen Sheng’s accomplishment and making it explicitly clear.
The Fish Scale Spirit Armor that had been temporarily lent to Chen Sheng for his protection was now being permanently bestowed upon him.
A reward of this magnitude showed just how much the Lord valued him.
After all, a high-grade Spirit Armor was a rare sight in the entire Ning’an Prefecture.
It could be considered priceless.
More importantly, this battle had thoroughly highlighted the potential and value Chen Sheng possessed.
Nie Xuanfeng felt a surge of shared glory, but his mind was already turning to deeper calculations.
Upon hearing the news, he had once again written a letter to the Nie Clan’s main family, his words earnest and sincere.
He urged his family to finalize the marriage contract with Chen Sheng as soon as possible.
Although he trusted Chen Sheng to honor his word, a verbal agreement was not set in stone. If they lost such an outstanding potential son-in-law over trivial delays, not only he, but the entire Nie Family would regret it immensely.
At this moment, Nie Xuanfeng looked at the tall, distinguished, and composed figure of Chen Sheng standing in the hall below, his gaze growing ever more satisfied.
"As long as the Governor does not blame me for acting on my own initiative, I am content."
Chen Sheng bowed slightly, his expression serene.
"Hah, what’s that to speak of!"
Nie Xuanfeng waved his hand dismissively. "The rules were forcefully established by them in the first place. Now that they’ve been hoisted by their own petard, who can they possibly blame?
Besides, you acted with great tact. You didn’t monopolize all the benefits, but shared them with Qingfeng Temple, the Danxia Sect, and the Ning’an Wang Clan. As long as these factions don’t ally completely with the other three to oppose the Government Office, there won’t be any major trouble.
A little bit of resentment won’t make any waves."
"Your judgment is clear, Governor. I am relieved."
Chen Sheng nodded.
"Furthermore, regarding the official record of your merits, I have already conferred with Lord Xie and General Li. We will soon submit a joint petition, sent by express horse to the State City, to request a commendation for you."
Nie Xuanfeng’s tone turned solemn:
"Additionally, I promised before that I would promote you to Standard Sixth Grade Captain of Jing’an after the battle at Wushan Mountain. The relevant documents have already been prepared and sent to the State City for approval. You just need to wait for the good news."
"Thank you for your guidance, Governor."
Chen Sheng clasped his fist in a salute, then hesitated for a moment before speaking again:
"Forgive my presumption, but for this achievement, would it be possible to request a ’Profound Mastery Pill’ as a reward from the state bureau?"
Upon hearing this, Nie Xuanfeng’s eyebrow twitched slightly, but then he broke into a broad smile.
"Your Cultivation has already reached the Profound Gang realm, and with the help of the Wushan Spirit Marrow, reaching the Peak of Profound Gang is only a matter of time. It is indeed time to plan for your breakthrough to Profound Mastery. Rest assured, I’ve made a note of it.
A Profound Mastery Pill is precious, but with the great merit you’ve earned this time, and with Vice Envoy Sun and I pleading your case, the State City should not be stingy."
As he spoke, Nie Xuanfeng gestured toward a Cold Jade Treasure Box resting on the side of his desk:
"This is the ’Wushan Spirit Marrow’ that Qingfeng Temple just sent over. Those old Daoists didn’t get the short end of the stick this time, so they were punctual and kept their word."
As his voice fell, he flicked a finger, and a gentle Force lifted the jade box, sending it flying smoothly toward Chen Sheng.
Chen Sheng reached out and caught it. The box was cool and smooth to the touch.
Lifting the lid, he saw a fist-sized, cyan-colored stone resting quietly inside. It was translucent and smooth, glowing with a faint, hazy cyan light.
A pure, gentle, and invigorating Pure Spirit Qi immediately diffused from it, revitalizing one’s senses.
"Thank you, Governor."
Closing the jade box, a sense of calm settled over Chen Sheng.
’With this Spirit Marrow, the Peak of Profound Gang is within my grasp.’
The topic then shifted to the matter of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance.
Nie Xuanfeng briefly recounted the details of yesterday’s ambush, a flicker of regret crossing his face as he mentioned the outcome: