"Now that I've cultivated the Blood Fiend Art too, I wonder whether I'll also be branded as someone who cultivates a demonic art."
Chen Fan took a sip of wine, gazed at the bright moon overhead, and spoke in a distant voice.
Truthfully, he did not care all that much.
It had not been easy for him to secure an imperial salary, and now that he had rendered such great merit, his promotion to Brocade Guard Precinct Commander was as certain as a nail driven into a board.
As the saying went, with a great tree at one's back, one could enjoy its shade; the Brocade Guard was a fine place to cultivate.
He truly did not want to be kicked out of the Brocade Guard over this matter.
"I have already made it clear to Master that you turned the tide all by yourself and saved the tens of thousands of people in Ping An County. Left with no other choice, you relied on the Blood Fiend Art to break through into the Divine Aperture Realm. I think he will understand."
"If he reports this matter and has it placed on record, then you can continue as you always have in the Brocade Guard."
"I also asked Master to use his connections to help you find a cultivation method from the same source as the Blood Fiend Art, one with fewer side effects that can be cultivated to the completion of the Divine Aperture Realm."
"Even if the Brocade Guard arsenal in Dragon Abyss Prefecture does not have such a method, the Brocade Guard Myriad Household Garrison arsenal in Cloud Prefecture surely will."
"And even if the Brocade Guard Myriad Household Garrison arsenal does not have one, then the arsenal at Brocade Guard headquarters in the imperial capital must have a cultivation method suitable for you to switch to."
"Do not worry. As long as I live, I will keep looking out for suitable martial cultivation methods for you."
Lu Xuening looked at Chen Fan and spoke with firm resolve.
She felt that, as a Chief Squad Leader of the Brocade Guard specially dispatched from Dragon Abyss Prefecture, as well as a member of the Dark Guard, she should have shouldered the responsibility. Yet Chen Fan had borne every burden alone, even cutting off his own martial path. She owed him for that.
"Thank you."
"Actually, you do not need to feel so bad about it. At worst, I can cripple my Divine Aperture Realm cultivation and start over. It will only cost me some effort."
Chen Fan spoke as though it did not matter.
In truth, he was more inclined to deduce the Blood Fiend Art to perfection and use it to reach the peak of the Divine Aperture Realm.
But he could not say that. After all, the last person to improve the Blood Fiend Art into the Blood Fiend Demonic Art had reached the peak of the Divine Aperture Realm and wreaked havoc across Cloud Prefecture for over ten years—the Blood Demon.
Remembering past events was the teacher of future ones.
If he dared mention improving it, Lu Xuening would probably put righteousness before family and destroy him!
"Unless there is absolutely no other choice, never attempt that path. If you are even slightly careless while dispersing your cultivation and starting anew, you could destroy your own foundation. By then, you may not even be able to keep your Divine Aperture Realm cultivation."
"And even if you succeed, it will damage your apertures, dantian, and meridians. Your future achievements will be limited. There must be a better way."
Lu Xuening tried to persuade him.
"Mm-hm."
"Let's hope so."
Chen Fan nodded slightly and replied.
With the Attribute Panel, he could use Demonkin Lifespan to deduce martial arts. So long as he had enough Demonkin Lifespan, he would always be able to find a broad road leading to his own future.
The Blood Demon had spent his entire life improving the Blood Fiend Art into the Blood Fiend Demonic Art. Could he, Chen Fan, not spend thousands or even tens of thousands of years of lifespan to improve the Blood Fiend Art into a Blood Fiend Divine Art?
If comprehension was not enough, lifespan would make up the difference!
Day after day passed.
About half a month later, the envoys from Dragon Abyss Prefecture finally arrived fashionably late. This time, people from both the Dragon Abyss Prefecture yamen and the Brocade Guard Chiliarch Garrison had come together.
"Ping An County Magistrate Li Shouyi colluded with demonkin, slaughtered the people, and kept demonkin. The evidence is conclusive. Strip him of his office and escort him back to Dragon Abyss Prefecture to await judgment."
"Ping An County Commandant Liu Xuan colluded with demonkin and joined them in their evil deeds. However, in consideration of his repentance afterward, he shall receive lenient punishment. Strip him of his office and reduce him to a commoner!"
"Ping An County Assistant Magistrate Ye Jichuan feared no demonkin and stepped forward in the face of great calamity. He is truly an official who serves both country and people. Promote him to Ping An County Magistrate to govern Ping An County. The rewards and punishments for all other county yamen officials shall be decided by Magistrate Ye and reported to Dragon Abyss Prefecture."
The envoy from the Dragon Abyss Prefecture yamen had come bearing an official document stamped with the great seal of Cloud Prefecture to reward merit and mete out punishment.
At the same time.
Within the already battered and ruined Brocade Guard Precinct of Ping An County.
Vice Chiliarch Wang Teng of the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Chiliarch Garrison arrived to reward merit and mete out punishment.
"Cao De, Precinct Commander of the Ping An County Brocade Guard Precinct, colluded with demonkin and slaughtered the people. His crimes were unforgivable, and he has already been executed!"
"Li Mo, Chief Squad Leader of the Ping An County Brocade Guard Precinct, colluded with demonkin and slaughtered the people. His crimes were unforgivable, and he has already been executed!"
"Squad Leader Zhang Meng and others of the Ping An County Brocade Guard Precinct aided evil in its tyranny, colluded with demonkin, and slaughtered the people. Their crimes were unforgivable, and they have already been executed!"
"Chen Fan, Chief Squad Leader of the Ping An County Brocade Guard Precinct, joined forces with Lu Xuening of the Brocade Guard Dark Guard to eliminate the demonkin calamity in Ping An County, execute the scum within the Brocade Guard, sweep away the demonkin of Black Mountain, turn the tide, and save the people of Ping An County from fire and water. He is promoted to Precinct Commander of the Ping An County Brocade Guard Precinct."
Wang Teng silently read from the Brocade Guard document in his hand.
"Senior Brother, why are you only making Chen Fan a Precinct Commander in Ping An County? That is far too unfair, isn't it?"
Lu Xuening spoke indignantly upon hearing this.
"Cough, cough."
"You certainly have a lot to say. Listen properly. I am not done reading yet!"
Wang Teng shot Lu Xuening a glance, cleared his throat, and continued reading:
"Chen Fan, Precinct Commander of the Ping An County Brocade Guard Precinct, has taken demon-slaying and devil-exorcising as his duty. He is promoted to Vice Chiliarch of the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Chiliarch Garrison and placed in charge of its logistics affairs. By order, Chen Fan shall command the Tenth Brigade of the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard!"
"Huang Chengyue, former Chief Squad Leader of Ping An County, shall temporarily assume the position of Brocade Guard Precinct Commander. Once a new Precinct Commander arrives, he may step down, retire, and return home. All his benefits shall be issued according to the rank of Precinct Commander."
"Congratulations, Vice Chiliarch Chen and Precinct Commander Huang!"
Wang Teng looked at Chen Fan and Huang Chengyue with a smile.
The power structure of the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Chiliarch Garrison consisted of one Chiliarch and three Vice Chiliarchs.
Of those three Vice Chiliarchs, one managed logistics, while the other two assisted the Chiliarch in slaying demonkin and exterminating devils.
As the eldest disciple of Zuo Qianqiu, the Left Chiliarch of the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Chiliarch Garrison, Wang Teng had already reached the seventh level of the Divine Aperture Realm. He was one of the two Vice Chiliarchs who assisted Zuo Qianqiu in slaying demonkin and exterminating devils.
Chen Fan's position, however, was somewhat subtle. He had directly filled the vacancy left by Vice Chiliarch Zhao Mu, who had managed logistics at the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Chiliarch Garrison.
Because Zhao Mu was advanced in years, he had already submitted a request to the Cloud Prefecture Myriad Household Garrison to retire and return home. It had now been approved.
Logically speaking, a Vice Chiliarch in charge of logistics did not undertake external demon-slaying missions, making it a relatively safe and leisurely post. It was especially suited for elderly Brocade Guard Vice Chiliarchs or for Brocade Guard Precinct Commanders being promoted.
Yet it had now been given to Chen Fan, such a young man in the prime of life. Even more remarkable, Left Chiliarch Zuo had assigned him a team of one hundred men, equivalent to the personnel of a county Brocade Guard Precinct.
This meant Chen Fan held two positions at once, spanning both field operations and logistics. Within the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Chiliarch Garrison, this was truly unprecedented—the first of its kind!
"Oh my!"
"Many thanks, Vice Chiliarch. Many thanks, Left Chiliarch. Now this old man's retirement stipend will increase by a great deal."
Huang Chengyue spoke cheerfully upon hearing this.
"Uncle Huang, there is no need for such formality. You are Xue Ning's elder, and I am Xue Ning's senior brother. Before you, I am a junior."
Wang Teng said with a smile, putting on none of the airs of a Brocade Guard Vice Chiliarch.
"Eldest Senior Brother, what about me?"
"How did I do in this mission? I have already comprehended Swordheart Clarity, entered the Divine Aperture Realm, and opened thirty-six apertures in one go."
Lu Xuening could not help asking.
"Lu Xuening, Chief Squad Leader of the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Chiliarch Garrison, rendered merit by assisting Chen Fan in slaying demonkin and exterminating devils. She is promoted to Precinct Commander of the Dragon Abyss Prefecture Brocade Guard Chiliarch Garrison, temporarily commanding the Tenth Brigade and serving under Vice Chiliarch Chen Fan."
Wang Teng glanced at Lu Xuening, shook his head helplessly, and replied.
Before you continue