76: Chapter 76 Arming Wang Meng, Redeeming Military Merits!

What a classic case of using someone when needed and discarding them when done.

However, Shen Yi was already used to it.

Chu Sheng slowly stepped forward and said with some apology.

"Lord Shen, please do not blame me... The Great Black Heaven Mother Buddha Sect is truly audacious, causing the pressure on the Taiping County Ministry of War to rise sharply."

"My uncle, a member of my clan, is involved in this, and I cannot distance myself from it."

"Lord Shen, please forgive me."

"How could I dare... How could I dare!"

Chu Sheng led Shen Yi and said softly.

"Regarding the Ministry of War's evaluation, this head of a Level 9 Qi Refining Cultivator is enough for Lord Shen to be rated as 'Good'."

"Lord Shen, you will be able to enter the ranks in a few days; this is a joyous and congratulatory occasion."

"As for the military merit, Lord Shen can exchange it now or save it for future use."

"Since it has already been reported to the Imperial Court, regardless of which city's Ministry of War Lord Shen goes to, you can exchange battle merits for items... or even hire the Border Army to take action!"

"Hire the Border Army to take action?"

Shen Yi was puzzled.

Chu Sheng nodded and said.

"In this current world, the Imperial Court can no longer afford to support millions of Border Army soldiers... The Border Army in various regions all have their own businesses."

"The Imperial Court even encourages the Border Army to do so..."

As the two walked and talked, Shen Yi asked upon hearing this.

"Aren't they afraid that this will lead to trouble over time?"

Unexpectedly, Chu Sheng just chuckled.

"Corruption needs to be investigated, but rebellion... only requires coordinates!"

"Every unit of the Border Army is a blade, but to other units of the Border Army, they are also fat meat!"

"The Border Army keeps each other in check... It is difficult for them to form an alliance unless the Imperial Court personally issues an order!"

"Moreover, with a single word, the Imperial Court can cut off the Evil Qi supply to the Border Army and use the Luck of Heaven and Earth to suppress the life fire of the Border Army!"

"How would the Border Army dare to rebel?"

While speaking, the two walked to the far back of the barracks.

There was a large tent here.

Inside the tent... sat an official wearing a ninth-rank official robe, engraved with the marks of swords and blades!

This person was the quartermaster of Taiping County.

He did not report directly to the Taiping County Ministry of War... but to the prefecture-level Ministry of War!

He was responsible for coordinating supplies and the movement of treasury grain and provisions.

A typical case of low rank but high power!

However, when this person saw Chu Sheng, he couldn't help but reveal a smile.

"Brother Chu is here?"

"Sit down, sit down... How do you have time to come to your brother's place today?"

Chu Sheng exchanged pleasantries for a moment, then said with a smile.

"I am here to introduce a prodigy to Brother Han!"

The quartermaster looked over, his eyes filled with curiosity.

In his view, Shen Yi was just a pretty boy.

There was no prominent aura on his body either.

Even his official robe was not of any rank.

Besides this face being good-looking, what else was outstanding about him?

How could he be considered a prodigy?

However, since Chu Sheng said so, there must be a reason for it!

Men cannot appreciate the beauty of other men... In his view, Shen Yi was just a pretty boy.

But then he saw Chu Sheng say with a smile.

"Brother Han, a true master does not show his true colors..."

"This Brother Shen here has arrived by seizing merit."

"Three Great Merits..."

"Do you know who he killed?"

"Who?"

"The Great Black Heaven Mother Buddha Sect... a Level 9 Qi Refining heretical Cultivator!"

The quartermaster was suddenly shocked, and the slight contempt and hostility in his eyes instantly vanished without a trace. He quickly cupped his hands.

"Brother Shen is truly both talented and handsome... It seems your strength is even more heaven-defying."

"You flatter me, you flatter me."

Still exchanging pleasantries... This was also an indispensable social etiquette!

Now that he had secured the Ministry of War and had established connections... in the Ministry of Rites, Shen Yi had also smoothed things over with Feng Yong.

And outside the official establishment, he also had connections with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

In this way, he could be considered to be well-connected in Taiping County.

He could speak to both the black and white sides.

This was very important.

Promotion is never a one-man affair; it requires collective effort... No aspect can be left behind.

That is why Shen Yi placed Wang Teng here, allowing him to indulge in debauchery without cutting off his supplies.

Wasn't it just to get to know more drinking buddies?

Maybe they would come in handy sometime?

After talking for a long while, Han Sui slapped his forehead.

"Look at my brain, I almost delayed the important business."

"Brother Shen came here, wanting to exchange for some Materials... or perhaps treasures, right?"

Shen Yi nodded and smiled.

"Exactly... I apologize for the trouble, Lord Han."

"Easy to say, easy to say..."

Han Sui took out a scroll, spread it open, and said in a deep voice.

"First, regarding the Minor Merits, what does Brother Shen want to buy?"

Shen Yi frowned and said slowly.

"Before exchanging, I, Shen Yi, have a question regarding Dao Soldiers."

Chu Sheng chuckled.

"Brother Shen, you have come to the right place. Our Lord Han here specialized in the cultivation of Dao Soldiers in his early years... and has even cultivated Second-Rank Dao Soldiers."

Shen Yi looked surprised, and Han Sui smiled slightly.

Shen Yi did not hesitate any longer and spoke about Wang Meng's Breakthrough.

The two looked at each other upon hearing this, their eyes filled with a strange look.

Shen Yi's heart drummed, and he asked with confusion.

"This, is there something significant about this?"

Han Sui looked at Shen Yi with some envy.

"Brother Shen is truly deeply blessed..."

"How could such a good thing happen to you?"

"This... how so?"

Han Sui slowly explained.

"Dao Soldiers generally have an upper limit... For example, the Rakshasa Dao Soldiers in Brother Shen's hands, the First-Rank rakshasa statue of the Zhenwu Immortal Sect, the Dao Soldier Origin contained within it can only be converted into First-Rank Rakshasa Dao Soldiers!"

"If you want to break through to the Second-Rank, you need to consult the Ministry of War, use Great Merits, and ask the Ministry of War to deduce the Second-Rank path."

"Then, infuse it with Luck and Evil Qi to nurture it."

"If you want a Dao Soldier with special attributes, you also need special Materials and deduction!"

"And there are always some strange people in the world, whom we call prodigies."

"Their own Aptitude is extraordinary, and their compatibility with Dao Soldiers is just right."

"At a certain critical node, they intuitively opened up the path to promotion!"

"Your subordinate was likely under the techniques of the Demonic Path remnants of the Blood River Sect, which caused his Bloodline to go berserk."

"The Evil Qi also went berserk with it..."

"But by activating the One Against a Thousand battle technique, he forcibly contained the Evil Qi. The Evil Qi flowed towards his limbs and bones, and by coincidence, he successfully broke through!"

"And thus stepped into the Second-Rank!"

"This situation cannot be replicated."

"Brother Shen... you had better not think of using this as a reason to continue catalyzing Second-Rank Dao Soldiers."

"Otherwise, the backlash will turn him into an Evil Demon... that would be a huge disaster!"

Shen Yi nodded and said with a wry smile.

"Then isn't my path to promotion cut off?"

Han Sui stroked his chin.

"To promote a wonder, from First-Rank to Second-Rank, it requires at least fifty Great Merits."

"So many?"

"That is already considered few; this is a treasure that can be passed down as a Legacy."

"The Luck consumed by the Imperial Court will only be more."

"It seems I cannot think about it for the short term?"

"That is the logic."

Shen Yi shook his head, did not continue to ask, and took a deep breath.

"I want... weapons, armor, special pills! Martial arts manuals of the Ministry of War!"

"And even... warhorses!"