185: Chapter 186 Merit Points Received, Grand Banquet Held

The jade pendant that Commander Zhuge Yuan had given him earlier was heating up.

"Oh no, I forgot to return it."

Back in Qishan Village, Commander Zhuge Yuan had stuffed this jade pendant into his hand, saying that he should use it to find the Zhuge Family in the prefecture city to report the news later on.

Later, after the matter was resolved, he had forgotten about this.

However, now that the jade pendant was suddenly heating up, it was likely that Commander Zhuge Yuan was trying to contact him.

He tried to probe the jade pendant with his Mental Energy.

The next second, a string of information appeared in his mind.

"I have already reported the Qishan Village incident. Once the review is approved, the merit points will be issued.

Additionally, I have already exchanged a marrow cleansing pill for you from the Demon Suppression Division. Once I receive the Medicinal Pill, I will send someone to deliver it to you."

After reading this, Lin Ye wanted to reply with a thank you, but he discovered that he was unable to operate it at all.

Apparently, although this thing had similar effects to the demon suppression token, it possessed an independent messaging System.

Commander Zhuge Yuan was able to send him messages because this jade pendant was originally an item of the Zhuge Family, and it carried Commander Zhuge Yuan's Mental Energy imprint.

As for him, he was merely a temporary holder who could only receive but not send.

"Fine, this thing even has facial recognition." Lin Ye muttered, tucking the jade pendant back into his chest pocket.

Forget it, since he couldn't send messages, he would just thank him in person when he went to the county town later.

Sure enough, early the next morning, the merit points arrived as scheduled.

A full two hundred thousand, not a single point less.

This actually surprised Lin Ye a little; shouldn't the 100,000 merit points for exchanging the marrow cleansing pill have been deducted?

After thinking about it, Lin Ye roughly understood the reason.

It seemed that Commander Zhuge Yuan had paid for it out of his own pocket.

100,000 merit points was not a small amount; even with Commander Zhuge Yuan's status as a Demon Suppression Division Commandant, it must have hurt his wallet.

Regarding this, Lin Ye could only say: "The Commander is truly benevolent."

However, since the merit points had arrived, it was time to consider the matter of promotion.

After all, keeping two hundred thousand merit points unused was a waste; exchanging them for Cultivate resources was the Righteous Path.

But he was currently only a Ninth-Grade Demon Suppression Guard, and his exchange authority was too low.

The things a Ninth-Grade could exchange for were basically just some low-grade Medicinal Pills and ordinary equipment, which were of no use to him now.

If he wanted to exchange for good things, he had to get promoted first.

Lin Ye opened his demon suppression token, found the promotion interface, and submitted an application to be promoted from a Ninth-Grade Demon Suppression Guard to an Rank 8 Demon Suppressor.

The promotion requirements were simple: the first was 1,000 merit points, and the second was passing a strength assessment.

Lin Ye met all of them.

After submitting the application, Lin Ye originally thought he would have to wait a few days for a reply.

He didn't expect to receive a response that very evening.

"Promotion application has been reviewed."

"The applicant is requested to proceed to the Qingfeng County branch of the Demon Suppression Division within thirty days for a strength assessment. Those who fail to attend by the deadline will have this promotion application voided."

Thirty days, that was enough.

Putting away the demon suppression token, Lin Ye looked up at the night sky outside the window.

"It seems I have to leave again." Lin Ye whispered softly.

To be honest, he really felt a bit reluctant; there were too many acquaintances of his here.

However, as the saying goes, people climb to higher places, and water flows to lower places.

Black Stone Town was too small to contain such great ambition.

He was also destined not to stay here for his whole life as a Ninth-Grade Demon Suppression Guard.

The county town, the prefecture city, the capital, and even further places were the directions he should head towards.

But there was no rush; regardless of anything else, he had to properly say goodbye to Second Uncle and the others.

Besides, the marrow cleansing pill hadn't been delivered yet, so at most, it was just a matter of waiting a few more days.

...

Early the next morning, Lin Ye began to organize a banquet at the Demon Suppression Division station.

He specially invited a Master from the Qingfeng Restaurant to come and take charge of the cooking.

Captain Zhao brought over a few jars of fine wine he had brewed himself, and Wang Gang helped arrange the tables and chairs for the banquet.

Time quickly reached the evening; two tables had already been set up in the courtyard, filled with steaming hot food.

The main dishes among them were all exotic beasts that Lin Ye had personally hunted in Heifeng Mountain.

These two tables of food alone were worth at least a thousand taels, which ordinary people could simply not afford.

Soon, the guests invited by Lin Ye arrived.

The first to arrive was Hall Master Han Lin of Chijin Hall, followed by two attendants, each holding a box.

As soon as Hall Master Han Lin entered the door, he cupped his fists with a smile, "Brother Lin, I heard you are about to be promoted; congratulations."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the attendants opened the two boxes. One was neatly stacked with a pile of silver notes, and the other contained a stone the size of a fist.

"Brother Han, what is the meaning of this? I just invited you over for a meal; doing all this is meaningless." Lin Ye waved his hand to refuse.

"Brother Lin, listen to me."

"These ten thousand taels of silver notes are, firstly, a farewell gift for you. After all, you are a Guest Elder of our Chijin Hall, and as the Hall Master, I cannot have no gesture.

Furthermore, I previously promised you a share of the profits from the Beishan Mine every month. Since you are leaving now, I might as well settle it all at once."

"As for this piece of refined gold, consider it a small token of my personal sincerity.

When you go to the county town, you can use this item to forge a heart-protecting mirror; it will definitely be impervious to ordinary weapons. You really shouldn't decline."

Hall Master Han Lin spoke with genuine sincerity.

Lin Ye looked at the ten thousand taels of silver notes, and then looked at the piece of refined gold.

"Hall Master Han Lin, I accept your personal token of sincerity, but as for these silver notes, you should take them back."

Lin Ye accepted the box containing the refined gold and pushed the other box back.

"Brother Lin, please don't decline."

"Our Chijin Hall was able to take the Beishan Mine, and you, Brother Lin, deserve much of the credit.

These ten thousand taels are what you deserve."

Hall Master Han Lin's attitude was quite firm, with the posture of 'if you don't accept it, you are not giving me Face'.

Lin Ye was silent upon hearing this.

After thinking about it, he casually pulled out a thousand-tael silver note from the box and said with a smile:

"I will accept this one thousand taels; as for the rest, just consider it payment for Brother Han looking after the villagers of Wang Family Village for me."

Hall Master Han Lin was slightly stunned, then nodded.

"Brother Lin, rest assured; I, Han, will definitely do my utmost."

Just at this moment, Lei Hu also arrived.

Lei Hu was dressed very plainly today, in a black martial outfit, completely different from the grand entourage he usually had when going out.

Lei Hu walked straight to Lin Ye, cupped his fists in a salute, and then took out a wooden box from his chest and handed it over.

"Brother Lin, a small token of my sincerity, please do not take offense at its modesty."

Lin Ye reached out and took it without opening it.

Judging by the weight, it should also be silver notes inside.

Seeing that Lin Ye had accepted it, Lei Hu smiled, turned around, and went to find an empty seat to sit down.

The last to arrive was Deacon Zhou of the Qingfeng Chamber of Commerce.

He didn't send money directly but instead gifted a set of high-quality cloud brocade robes.

The gift was not too expensive, but it was very decent.

Come to think of it, ever since Lin Ye entered the martial domain game, he really hadn't bought a few decent pieces of clothing; mainly, he hadn't had the opportunity to wear them.

For a Martial Artist, ordinary clothes could not withstand their destruction.

However, cloud brocade was different; this material had extremely strong flexibility, so as long as he wasn't engaged in high-intensity combat, it was perfectly fine for daily Cultivate.

The only drawback was that it was expensive; ordinary Martial Artists could simply not afford it.

"Brother Lin, I heard you are about to be promoted; it just so happens that I need to return to the county town to report on my duties in a few days, so we can travel together then."

Lin Ye felt a stir in his heart upon hearing this.

He was just worrying about being unfamiliar with the place upon arriving at Qingfeng County; now that there was someone to lead the way, it was naturally for the best.

"Then that will be troublesome for you, Deacon Zhou."

"Not troublesome, not troublesome at all." Deacon Zhou waved his hand.

"It's just good to have a companion on the road."

In fact, the reason he invited Lin Ye to travel together also stemmed from a bit of selfish motive.