Chapter 306 - 174: Exiting Seclusion! Transformation
"I am Chen Sheng, Deputy Captain of G Camp of the Jingwu Bureau. My respects to the Lord Prefect, General Li, and Envoy Nie."
"Hahaha."
From his seat of honor, Xie Jingze stroked his beard and laughed.
"Just as I’d heard—heroic and dashing, with a remarkable aura. You are truly worthy of your title as head of the Ning’an Ten Heroes and a model for the younger generation in the Government Office. Excellent. Truly excellent!"
Meanwhile, Li Qianzhou, who was seated to the side, merely gave a slight nod, his expression calm.
But Chen Sheng keenly caught the flicker of a complex emotion in the man’s eyes—something like wistfulness, mixed with a hint of barely perceptible regret.
And Chen Sheng had a pretty good idea why.
Back in Changshan County, he had technically been part of the Military Preparation Army and should have fallen under Li Qianzhou’s command. In the end, however, Nie Xuanfeng had poached him with the offer of a precious Spirit Medicine.
The greater the potential he displayed now, the deeper General Li’s regret and remorse must be.
"You flatter me, Lord Prefect. I am unworthy of such high praise."
Chen Sheng returned the courtesy with a demeanor that was neither servile nor arrogant.
"Have a seat. We are all on the same side here today, so there’s no need to stand on ceremony."
Xie Jingze said with a warm smile, gesturing for Chen Sheng to sit.
"Lord Xie."
Chen Sheng gave another respectful bow, then walked over and sat in the seat beside Sun Yuzhi.
Xie Jingze’s gaze swept over everyone in the hall before finally landing on Chen Sheng. His expression grew solemn.
"I’ve called you all here today to discuss a single matter: the Battle of Wushan Mountain, which will take place in two days. This battle is of critical importance, as it has always determined the allocation of resources in Ning’an for the next several years.
In the past, the Government Office has relied on its status to secure the third-largest share. However, the gap between us and the top two has always been significant—a fact that I have long considered a source of shame."
Pausing here, Xie Jingze’s tone grew heavier, filled with profound expectation.
"However, things are different now. An extraordinary young man has emerged from the Jingwu Bureau!"
Xie Jingze looked directly at Chen Sheng and asked in a grave voice:
"Chen Sheng, I have only one question for you today. For this upcoming Battle of Wushan Mountain, are you confident you can seize... the number one spot for the Government Office?"
The hall fell silent in an instant, every gaze fixed on Chen Sheng.
Meeting Xie Jingze’s gaze, Chen Sheng slowly rose and clasped his hands in a salute. His voice was calm yet resolute, filled with an unseen confidence and power.
"I will not fail you."
"Good!"
Xie Jingze clapped his hands and laughed, the admiration in his eyes deepening.
"Now that is the spirit of a true son of Ning’an."
"I will make you a promise here and now. If you can best all contenders and take first place, the newly discovered ’Spirit Marrow’ from the Wushan Yuan Ore mine is yours! Furthermore, I will personally report your achievements to the Governor and request rewards on your behalf. I will not be stingy."
As his voice faded, Xie Jingze looked to the side and called out in a solemn tone:
"Someone, bring the armor."
A serving maid with delicate features emerged from a side chamber at the call. In her hands, she held a tray draped in red silk. She walked gracefully to Chen Sheng’s side and carefully placed the tray on the low table next to him.
Xie Jingze pointed to the tray and said to Chen Sheng:
"This is the Profound Qilin Spirit Armor. Its main component is the shed hide of a Fish-Lion Beast, supplemented with a variety of rare Spiritual Materials. It is a superior-grade Spirit Armor, painstakingly forged by an Artifact Refining Master.
It is as thin as a cicada’s wing and incredibly flexible. Worn as under-armor, it can protect its master automatically. If you use your Profound Gang Cultivation to activate and nurture it, even a full-force blow from an expert at the mid-stage of Profound Mastery would not be enough to claim your life."
"This armor is my gift to you, but it is also a symbol of my hopes. If you can bring glory to the Government Office in this battle, it will be yours to keep."
Chen Sheng reached out and gently lifted the red silk.
A piece of Soft Armor, gleaming with a dark crimson metallic luster and covered in a fine pattern as if woven from true scales, lay silently on the tray.
It was cool to the touch, yet he could faintly sense a restrained warmth from within. The armor was feather-light, but it exuded an indescribable toughness. Its spiritual light was contained, a sure sign that it was no ordinary item.
Lifting the Soft Armor with one hand, Chen Sheng looked at Xie Jingze.
"I thank you, My Lord, for this gift of armor. I will not fail. I will overwhelm all contenders."
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