125: Ling Feng's intelligence and awarding of medals

On the third day after returning to Jiuqu Prefecture City from Qinglin Road, at dusk.

Chen Linsheng was meditating and regulating his breath in the small courtyard of Yuqian Lane. He had exchanged the eighty points of martial hall contribution from the escort mission for half a bottle of "Bone-Strengthening and Foundation-Nourishing Pills." At this moment, the medicinal efficacy was dissolving within his body, working in conjunction with the Jade Marrow Guiding Technique to gently nurture the major tendons throughout his body.

Two hundred and forty-three muscles had been perfectly tempered, bringing him one step closer to the full-body Perfection of three hundred and sixty. What pleased him even more was that after the real combat with the frenzied bandits on Qinglin Road and days of arduous cultivation, his comprehension of the Annihilation Spear Intent had deepened another layer—it was a concept that discarded all flashiness, pursuing only extreme penetration and annihilation, perfectly aligning with his robust Foundation and concentrated strength.

An extremely light knocking sound came from the courtyard gate, three long and two short, carrying a specific rhythm.

Chen Linsheng opened his eyes, his gaze as calm as deep pond water.

This was the emergency contact signal he had agreed upon with Ling Feng.

He stood up and opened the door. Outside stood a middle-aged man dressed as an ordinary peddler, with a simple, honest face and a restrained aura.

The peddler said nothing more, merely handing over a bluish-grey pebble the size of a thumb. On its surface was carved an extremely shallow mark resembling the character for 'wind' ( wind).

"Qingyuan Teahouse, the usual place, half an hour from now," the peddler whispered, then turned and left, quickly disappearing into the twilight at the lane's entrance.

Chen Linsheng gripped the pebble tightly, his fingertips able to feel a slight warmth emanating from within—this was Envoy Ling Feng's unique "Wind Pattern Stone," refined using a special method. It would grow warm briefly after True Qi was infused and was difficult to counterfeit.

He returned to his room, briefly informed Su Wan, changed into an inconspicuous set of dark grey cloth clothes, put on a bamboo hat, and quietly left.

Qingyuan Teahouse was located in the western district of the prefectural city. Its storefront was not large, a quiet spot amidst the bustle. Chen Linsheng, familiar with the route, circled to the back alley, entered through a side door, and went straight up to the innermost private room on the second floor, the "Wind Listening Pavilion."

Pushing open the door to the private room, Ling Feng was already seated by the window.

He was not wearing his official robes today, only a set of black everyday clothes. His face looked slightly weary, but his eyes remained as sharp as an eagle's.

Seeing Chen Linsheng enter, he gave a slight nod and waved his hand, releasing an invisible Qi barrier to isolate the sound from outside.

"Sit," Ling Feng indicated the seat opposite him. Two cups of clear tea were already placed on the table.

Chen Linsheng removed his bamboo hat, bowed, and took his seat. "Envoy."

Ling Feng dispensed with pleasantries and got straight to the point. "Tell me about the incident on Qinglin Road in detail. Especially those two items you discovered."

Chen Linsheng recounted the ambush that day, the frenzied state of the bandits, the course of the battle, and the wooden token and greyish-white powder he found on the bandit leader's person. He described everything meticulously, not omitting even the vacant look in the bandits' eyes, their twisted posture when charging, or their abnormal reactions after being injured.

Ling Feng listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table. Only after Chen Linsheng finished did he slowly speak, his voice low. "Your guess was correct. It is the White Lotus Sect."

He picked up his teacup but did not drink, his gaze falling on the steam rising from the tea. "That wooden token is the credential of their 'Outer Altar Fragrant Assembly' members. As for that greyish-white powder... our people have conducted a preliminary analysis. It is an evil drug mixed with several hallucinogenic herbs and a special Ore powder. We are temporarily calling it 'heart-bewitching powder.'"

"heart-bewitching powder?" Chen Linsheng's brows furrowed slightly.

"Mn," Ling Feng put down his teacup, his eyes turning cold. "After being burned or inhaled directly, this substance causes mental confusion, agitated Qi and blood, dulled pain sensation, and induces a strong desire to attack along with a suggestion of obedience. With prolonged exposure, or when combined with certain Mind-Bewildering Secret Arts of the White Lotus Sect, it can even reduce a person to a walking corpse that only knows how to follow simple commands."

He paused, then added, "The bandits you encountered were likely displaced people or down-and-out Martial Artists who were administered this drug and then crudely controlled. The White Lotus Sect uses such methods to create low-level chaos, plunder goods and medicinal materials, and at the same time... test the drug's efficacy and control techniques."

A chill ran through Chen Linsheng's heart. "Do they want to mass-produce these 'mad soldiers'?"

"It's entirely possible," Ling Feng said gravely. "The White Lotus Sect has always been unscrupulous in their methods. If they can control large numbers of displaced people, beggars, and marginal Martial Artists at low cost to form a frenzied army that fears no death and feels no pain, even if their combat power isn't high, sheer numbers would become a significant problem. What's more terrifying is that such chaos would quickly deplete the strength of local authorities, create panic, and provide cover for their true designs."

"What are their true designs?" Chen Linsheng asked.

Ling Feng was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Not yet fully ascertained. But based on recent anomalies in the prefectural city and surrounding counties—several small merchant caravans being robbed, reports of 'madmen' harassing remote villages, and unusually active black market trading of certain medicinal herbs and Ores—it can be inferred that the White Lotus Sect is operating within the scope of Jiuqu Prefecture, using small-scale chaos as a smokescreen while secretly gathering specific resources."

He looked at Chen Linsheng, his gaze carrying approval. "Your mission this time not only protected Huichun Hall's medicinal supplies but also brought back crucial physical evidence. The sample of 'heart-bewitching powder' and the details of the patterns on the wooden token have provided us with important leads. The Army Breaker Manor and the Prefectural Governor's Mansion have jointly established a special task force to secretly investigate the source and flow of this drug."

Chen Linsheng cupped his hands respectfully. "It was my duty. However... this Disciple has one thing he doesn't understand. If the White Lotus Sect acts so brazenly, aren't they afraid of attracting a large-scale military suppression?"

"They are afraid, which is precisely why they use this method of breaking into small units, disguising themselves as bandits and marauders," Ling Feng said with a cold laugh. "Moreover, Jiuqu Prefecture's geographical position is special—a hub for water transport with many merchants and travelers. There are already plenty of displaced people and beggars, making it difficult to distinguish infiltrators. Added to that, the forces within the prefecture are complex and intertwined. Certain local magnates, even minor officials, may not be clean. The White Lotus Sect is like a leech, always looking for cracks to slip into."

He suddenly changed the subject. "However, their good days are almost over."

Ling Feng took out a flat wooden box, about the size of a palm, from his robes and pushed it towards Chen Linsheng.

The wooden box was dark brown, with no patterns on its surface, but it felt solid and heavy to the touch, emitting a faint mixed scent of sandalwood and metal.

"Open it and see," Ling Feng said.

Chen Linsheng did as instructed and opened the box.

Inside, lined with deep blue velvet, lay quietly a waist token about the size of a palm.

The waist token was bronze-colored, but its luster was restrained. Its texture was neither copper nor iron, cool to the touch. On the front was embossed a simple pattern of a long spear piercing through cloud motifs—the emblem of the Army Breaker Manor. On the back were carved two small ancient seal script characters: " substitute" (Candidate/Reserve). The edges of the token bore fine anti-counterfeiting cloud patterns, and at its center was a small indentation, seemingly meant for something to be embedded.

"This is..." Chen Linsheng looked up at Ling Feng.

"The Army Breaker Manor 'Candidate Disciple' waist token," Ling Feng said solemnly. "With this token, you may freely enter and exit most official venues within the prefectural city, such as the first level of the Martial Repository, the outer areas of the Archives, and certain official post stations. In emergencies, you can seek help from any city defense outpost or government office, and they must prioritize your request. When purchasing weapons, Medicinal Pills, or Cultivation Techniques within the prefectural city, you are entitled to a five percent discount with this token. Of course, the most important thing—"

He paused, lowered his voice, but each word was clear. "—is that this means you have entered the Army Breaker Manor's observation sequence. After the Martial Examination concludes, if your results meet the standard and you pass subsequent reviews, you can be formally inducted as a 'Pojun Guard,' gaining access to the subsequent stages of the Hunyuan True Body Cultivation Technique, as well as resource allocation and mission opportunities from the Army Breaker Manor."

Chen Linsheng gripped the waist token, a ripple of emotion stirring within him.

This token represented not only privileges and convenience but also a layer of protection. With the identity of an "Army Breaker Manor Candidate," ordinary forces would think twice before moving against him. More importantly, it was about the subsequent Legacy of the Hunyuan True Body—the ancient origins of the Hunyuan Martial Dao mentioned by White Feather had deepened his anticipation for this technique.

"Thank you for your cultivation, Envoy!" Chen Linsheng stood up and bowed solemnly.

Ling Feng waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit back down. "You've earned this. Establishing your prestige at the Hidden Dragon Banquet, bringing back key clues from the Qinglin Road mission, and more importantly, your steady Heart-Nature and solid Foundation show you are promising material. The Army Breaker Manor needs fresh blood like you."

He changed the subject again, his tone turning serious. "However, giving you this token also means responsibility. For the Martial Examination, you must exert your full effort and strive for the highest rank."

"Does the Martial Examination ranking have to do with the Army Breaker Manor?" Chen Linsheng asked.

"Naturally it does," Ling Feng nodded. "The Martial Examination is an important avenue for the imperial court to select military talent. The ranking directly affects the allocation of subsequent training resources. Although the Army Breaker Manor operates independently from the local military and administrative system, it also has quotas to select from among the Martial Examination's top performers. If you can achieve a top rank, especially first place, the Army Breaker Manor can justifiably allocate more resources to you and assign more important, core missions. This relates to your future development within the Manor and... whether you can access higher-level secrets and power more quickly."

He gave Chen Linsheng a deep look. "Yan Chen is in seclusion at the Earth Fire Cave, attempting to break through to the Middle Stage of the Jiaojin Realm, determined to wash away his shame at the Martial Examination. Do you understand the threat he poses?"

"This Disciple understands," Chen Linsheng said firmly. "This Disciple will certainly exert his utmost effort."

"Not only utmost effort, but also strategy," Ling Feng said, dipping his finger in some tea and drawing a few strokes on the table. "The Martial Examination is not like the Hidden Dragon Banquet's arena matches. It consists of two major parts: the written test and the martial test. The written test examines military strategy, geography, and general martial knowledge. The martial test is divided into three rounds: mounted archery, infantry combat, and actual combat. Your Foundation is solid, and you need not fear actual combat, but you must not neglect mounted archery or the written test. Especially the written test—often overlooked by many Martial Artists—it is key to creating a gap in scores."

He paused, then added, "Furthermore, during the Martial Examination, with many people and prying eyes, the White Lotus Sect might well take the opportunity to cause trouble. Now that you bear the identity of an 'Army Breaker Candidate,' you must be even more cautious, guarding against both overt and covert attacks. Keep this token close to your person. Do not show it unless necessary, but in an emergency, you can use it to mobilize some official forces."

Chen Linsheng carefully stored the waist token in a hidden pocket inside his robes against his chest. He felt its cool, solid weight against his heart.

"The Martial Examination is less than a month away," Ling Feng said finally. "During this time, you can use this token to access the first level of the prefectural city's 'Martial Repository' to read military strategy and geography texts, or apply to practice mounted archery at the 'Training Hall.' If you face difficulties with cultivation resources, you can also contact me through the usual method. Remember, the Martial Examination is the most important step for you right now. Do well, and the world will be your oyster."

"Yes!" Chen Linsheng responded solemnly.

By the time he left Qingyuan Teahouse, lanterns were already being lit.

The night in the prefectural city was still bustling and noisy. Wineshops and teahouses were brightly lit, street vendors' cries filled the air, carriages rumbled, and the flow of people was constant.

Chen Linsheng walked among the crowd, his bamboo hat pulled low, his aura restrained like an ordinary person.

Yet the presence of that bronze waist token against his chest was unmistakably clear.

Army Breaker Candidate.

These four words were not just an identity, but also a responsibility, a broader yet more perilous path.

The shadow of the White Lotus Sect writhed in the darkness, Yan Chen's threat loomed imminent, and the challenge of the Martial Examination was close at hand.

There was also White Feather's mysterious background and intentions, the ancient Karma the Hunyuan Martial Dao might involve... The road ahead was shrouded in mist, surrounded by powerful enemies.

But in Chen Linsheng's heart, there was not a trace of fear. Instead, a flame burned quietly.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging Qi and blood within his body, his perfectly tempered muscles, the major tendons being nurtured, and the gradually coalescing Annihilation Spear Intent.

Strength was the fundamental answer to everything.

He looked up, gazing at the night sky.

A crescent moon hung like a hook, dotted with stars.

The night sky over the prefectural city was no different from that over Qinghe County, yet it seemed deeper, holding more secrets and possibilities.

"First place in the Martial Examination..." Chen Linsheng murmured to himself, a brilliant light shining in his eyes.

He would not just compete for it; he would seize it.

Not just for the Army Breaker Manor's resources, nor just for the subsequent Legacy of the Hunyuan True Body.

But to walk farther and see higher on this Martial Dao path.

Let the mist obscure the road ahead; I shall pierce the very gates of heaven with a single spear.

The youth turned, his figure disappearing into the dazzling lights and the deep night.

His steps were firm, his back straight as a spear.