Chapter 13 The So-Called Cultivation!

"A low-tier movement technique?"

"Not enough to learn for a day?"

"Is this even worthy?"

Xu Changze was so angry that his beard trembled slightly, his Face flashing between pale and livid.

Chen Mu did not repeat himself, merely taking a step forward, light as if strolling on the clouds.

Everyone saw his movement, but in an instant, only a faint afterimage remained in place, while his true body had already appeared beside the entrance of the county office, three zhang away.

Immediately after, before the afterimage had dissipated, his true body moved again.

This time, Chen Mu's form seemed to split, starting to divide into two!

If that were all, it wouldn't be considered miraculous, but in the blink of an eye, the two Chen Mus split again...

Two divided into four!

Four divided into eight!

Inside the entire county office hall, Chen Mu's figure appeared in eight directions simultaneously!

The eight figures had different postures; some stood with hands behind their backs, some glared angrily, others were drawing their swords sideways.

All were lifelike and exceptionally clear, to the point where one could even see the embroidered patterns on their fluttering sleeves!

"This...!"

A constable was stunned, instinctively reaching out to touch one, but his hand passed straight through Chen Mu's body, grasping at nothing.

It was merely a phantom!

Xu Changze stood in place, his complexion having shifted from pale and livid to deathly white.

He knew his stuff.

He had spent three whole years Cultivating this Divine Void Step, yet he was still a hair's breadth away from Perfection. And yet, this seemingly frail youth before him had merely flipped through it once and had already comprehended its Realm of Perfection—the Eight Steps of the Heavenly Demon!

"No!"

Xu Changze's lips trembled, his Adam's apple bobbing several times, and he only managed to squeeze out a few words with great difficulty, his voice sounding as rough and hoarse as if it had been polished by sandpaper.

"This... how is this possible!"

He hadn't ruled out the possibility that Chen Mu might truly be extraordinarily gifted, but there should at least be a limit!

Cultivating Taibao Horizontal Training in a single day was already shocking, and now, right before his eyes, he had Cultivated a movement technique he had never encountered before to Perfection?!

This could no longer be explained by mere talent.

Either this child possessed an earth-shattering Opportunity, or he was simply not an ordinary person at all!

At this moment, the eight figures inside the office gradually dissipated, everything like a dream or a bubble, until finally, only he remained, still standing in place as if he had never moved.

Chen Mu's expression was indifferent.

Showing his hand today was not to show off, but truly a last resort.

He was gambling, gambling on an Opportunity.

This was the county office; the more astonishing the talent he displayed in public, the more likely it was to attract the attention of the Demon Suppression Division above.

A County Magistrate of Yunmeng City was only a ninth-rank official, the lowest level of officialdom. Above him were the Prefecture city, the Province city, and even the General Division in the capital.

It was in the hands of those big shots that the truly good things were held.

High-tier Cultivation Techniques, rare Medicinal Pills, and Sharp Weapons.

Of course, the risks were also not to be underestimated.

A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

He was gambling on the balancing act of an old fox in the bureaucracy like Xu Changze, gambling that once they saw his talent, they would be inclined to recruit him rather than stifle him.

Although people's hearts are treacherous and one should be on guard, he truly had no choice.

He only had eleven years of Lifespan left; if he just Cultivated step-by-step and accumulated strength, it would never be enough in time.

He needed everything that could rapidly increase his strength, and displaying his abilities was undoubtedly the fastest shortcut to obtain them.

Even if this ability would make him a target.

Xu Changze's expression shifted repeatedly; shock, wariness, and greed intertwined on his Face, eventually twisting into a hypocritical smile.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"This official has truly had his eyes opened today. To think that our Yunmeng City has produced such a brilliant and talented person as Brother Chen!"

"This is Heaven blessing our Great Wu! It is truly the good fortune of the common people, the good fortune of the masses!"

Xu Changze's voice was loud, resounding through the hall, each of the three "good"s delivered with more force than the last.

His words were high-sounding and grandiose; no one could possibly associate him with the furious County Magistrate from just a moment ago.

Chen Mu felt slightly relieved, bowing slightly, his tone remaining indifferent.

"My Lord overpraises me. These are merely trivial skills; I am unworthy of such praise."

"You are worthy, completely worthy!"

Xu Changze smiled even more warmly, actually stepping forward two paces to pat Chen Mu on the shoulder.

It looked intimate, but it was actually a test.

As his palm landed, he secretly applied thirty percent of his power.

Unexpectedly, the moment he touched his shoulder, it felt as if he had struck black iron, with a faint sense of counter-shock. His heart jolted; this child had truly reached the Realm of Perfection in Taibao Horizontal Training!

Xu Changze hurriedly withdrew his hand, saying with a genial Face: "Brother Chen, today's affair was my impetuousness. Someone with your talent truly cannot be judged by common sense. This level of achievement... I have wasted half my life and have never even heard of such a thing!"

Having said this, Xu Changze paused, looked around, and suddenly raised his voice.

"The fifth of next month is the day the Demon Suppression Division distributes resources every month. At that time, a Special Envoy from the Prefecture will come to inspect, and I will personally recommend you to the Special Envoy!"

"With your talent, you will surely receive key cultivation!"

"By then, you will be able to ascend to the heavens in a single step!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall erupted in an uproar.

Resource allocation from the Demon Suppression Division—those were tangible benefits, an Opportunity many dreamed of!

The colleagues in the hall who had been resentful just moments ago now looked at Chen Mu with eyes full of admiration and envy.

People are just like that; their tolerance for peers who aren't much different from them is terribly low, but for unreachable peaks, only pure admiration for the strong remains.

A Genius, so what if he gets some special treatment?

Chen Mu, however, was not very happy; instead, he was extremely vigilant in his heart.

In his past life as a corporate slave, he had experienced things like this so many times!

Cultivation Technique rewards, Medicinal Pill resources—they wouldn't give him a single hair, it was all just empty talk!

Without a doubt, this was clearly a pie in the sky!

However.

Chen Mu did not intend to expose it.

He needed this pie; at the very least, it meant that Xu Changze would not move against him on the surface for the time being and had to treat him as a Genius.

"Many thanks, My Lord. Then, I wonder about today's matter..."

Chen Mu bowed, seeking an explanation from the other party.

"Today's matter was purely a misunderstanding. Head Constable Wang!"

Xu Changze waved his hand, and Head Constable Wang hurriedly stepped forward, squeezing out a smile that looked uglier than crying. "As a Squad Leader, you absolutely should not have attacked a subordinate in a fit of anger. You should have been severely punished, but considering this is your first offense, I will fine you three months' salary as a warning to others!"

What a classic case of raising high and letting fall lightly.

The punishment was excessively light.

Chen Mu remained silent, knowing this was Xu Changze making a gesture to him.

I give you Face, so don't keep holding onto it; you and I will each take a step back, and it will look good on the surface.

Seeing this, Xu Changze felt slightly relieved, then changed the subject.

"However, since Brother Chen is such a heaven-sent talent, wouldn't it be a pity to let it go to waste? Right now, there is a task in Yunmeng City that no one else but a Genius like you can handle!"

He paced back to his main seat step by step, turned, and sat down, stroking his beard, resuming his imposing official demeanor.

"In Sangye Village, south of the city, the demon plague has been causing havoc for three months. Over a hundred villagers have been killed or injured, and even the Demon Suppression Division constables who went to investigate have... lost five men."

He then paused, observing Chen Mu's reaction.

"This official originally wanted to go there himself, but now it seems that Brother Chen might be more suited for this experience to forge achievements! By then, when I recommend you to the Special Envoy, I will have more confidence, right?"