The Important Figure Appears

The two of them left, and Cheng Ran could not help clicking his tongue softly.

"Senior Brother Zhou Xing certainly knows how to win people over, tossing out small favors and minor benefits!"

Jiang Ning smiled without comment. Zhou Xing was a clever man, and someone with plenty of ideas as well. Jiang Ning had seen that much too.

But he did not dislike Zhou Xing.

Being able to buy Wild Ginseng at a price lower than the market's lowest, and even receive three additional stalks of Wild Ginseng for free, was equivalent to earning several dozen taels of silver for nothing. Why would anyone hate such a person?

Cheng Ran then opened the invitation in his hand, glanced at it, and handed it to Jiang Ning.

"Junior Brother Jiang, take a look. Senior Brother Zhou certainly has bold spirit."

Jiang Ning accepted the invitation. Once he opened it, his gaze fell upon the contents.

His eyes swept across it, and he could not help clicking his tongue in amazement.

The invitation contained some polite words from Zhou Xing, followed by an expression of confidence in Cheng Ran's future prospects of entering the Patrol Office. Thus, he wished to invest in Cheng Ran and have him owe him a favor.

It also recorded Zhou Xing's conditions.

One thousand taels of silver, ten boxes of Superior Skin Refining Ointment, and three stalks of century-old Earth Ganoderma.

These investments did not place any excessive demands on Cheng Ran. They merely exchanged goods for a favor—a favor whose future was filled with uncertainty.

Jiang Ning's gaze moved downward.

Three Days Later, at Xu Hour, Fourth Quarter, I shall await Junior Brother Cheng's attendance at Fenghua Pavilion.

"What does Junior Brother Jiang think?" Cheng Ran asked.

Jiang Ning said, "It's very generous. For merely an uncertain favor and an unpredictable future, Senior Brother Zhou is willing to pay so much."

Jiang Ning's Heart Like a Mirror made it clear to him why Zhou Xing was being so generous.

Personnel of the Patrol Office possessed the authority to Execute First Report Later. Their power could be called immense.

Cheng Ran had entered the Martial Path at such a young age. Once he joined the Patrol Office, who could say where he would reach in ten or twenty years?

Once he entered Martial Arts Eighth Rank and received a promotion, that favor would be worth a thousand gold pieces, far exceeding this investment worth two or three thousand taels of silver.

Cheng Ran said, "It certainly looks generous, and it would help me quite a bit! Although my Cheng Family's assets are nothing compared to Senior Brother Zhou Xing's, I'm not someone who becomes blinded by money."

"I'm in no hurry. Besides Senior Brother Zhou, there should be others in Luoshui County who believe in me, Cheng Ran!"

By the end, Cheng Ran's face carried a look of confidence.

Jiang Ning returned Zhou Xing's invitation to Cheng Ran, then said, "Senior Brother Cheng has bold spirit."

Cheng Ran laughed. "In everything, one must compare goods from three different sellers. What's more, I'm currently competing with Xiao Peng for that spot, and I have at least a fifty-percent chance of winning. Naturally, I have confidence."

He then looked toward Jiang Ning again, an indignant expression appearing on his face. "Speaking of which, Zhou Xing is blind as a bat. Junior Brother Jiang has such high Martial Talent, and is currently short on resources. Yet he didn't even know to send an invitation to Junior Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Ning said, "Senior Brother Cheng, stop teasing me! Senior Brother Zhou clearly understands the importance of the Patrol Office."

As he spoke, he pointed toward Zhou Xing, who was conversing with Xiao Peng in the distance.

"That's true!" Cheng Ran sighed softly when he heard this. "It's just a pity that Junior Brother Jiang started learning martial arts a year or two late, leaving him without fate with the Patrol Office!"

"The Patrol Office means that upon entering, one gains the backing of Great Xia and an official status. One holds the power to Execute First Report Later, to decide life and death. From then on, one's Martial Path proceeds smoothly, without lacking methods or resources for martial advancement."

Jiang Ning also nodded slightly in agreement. "Yes."

He too felt regret at not receiving Zhou Xing's recognition.

What he lacked now was only time and resources.

Zhou Xing's recognition and investment could undoubtedly resolve his current shortage of resources.

With the supplies worth several thousand taels of silver listed in the invitation, not only could his fist technique advance more quickly, allowing him to grind more resources each day, but the Source Energy Points he obtained daily could also increase.

By now, Firewood Chopping Blade Technique had long since reached the Perfected Realm, and the 1,000 Experience Points required for First Breakthrough had long since been filled.

The only thing restricting his Firewood Chopping Blade Technique from achieving a Breakthrough was Source Energy Points. The acquisition of Source Energy Points, in turn, was closely tied to the energy he consumed each day.

On the day he had previously obtained the most Source Energy Points, he had gained 0.6 Source Energy Points in a single day because he had eaten three-tenths of a stalk of Wild Ginseng that day.

For him now, if resources were sufficient, then within a reasonable range of absorbing precious medicines, it was possible to obtain more than one Source Energy Point in a day.

But at present, his daily increase was only 0.4 Source Energy Points. The difference between the two could be clearly seen.

With sufficient resources and enough energy intake, the Source Energy Point harvest of one day could equal two days' worth.

The backyard of the Martial Arts Hall.

Li Qing brushed past a disciple guarding the entrance to the Martial Arts Hall.

Then she arrived before Wang Jin.

"Greetings, Master!" She respectfully saluted Wang Jin.

"Greetings, Pavilion Master Shen!" She then respectfully saluted Pavilion Master Shen.

At that moment, Li Qing's hands and feet were somewhat awkward.

Ever since she had seen Shen Congyun, her heart had been filled with nervousness.

She naturally understood Shen Congyun's identity.

Almost everyone in Luoshui County with some status and a decent background had some understanding of Shen Congyun.

He was the Deputy Pavilion Master stationed by Myriad Blossom Pavilion in Luoshui County, while Myriad Blossom Pavilion was a supreme faction spread throughout the Nine Provinces of Great Xia.

Thus, to all of Luoshui County, Shen Congyun was a truly Important Figure.

Although above Shen Congyun, the Deputy Pavilion Master, there was still a true Pavilion Master, as well as another Deputy Pavilion Master of equal rank to him,

with Shen Congyun's status, who throughout all of Luoshui County would dare not give him, Shen Congyun, some face?

Li Qing also knew very well that Myriad Blossom Pavilion occasionally invested in Martial Dao Prodigies.

Any Martial Dao Prodigy who was favored and invested in by a wealthy and powerful organization like Myriad Blossom Pavilion would receive a chance to defy the heavens and change their fate.

Even she, whose family background was no weaker than Zhou Xing's, would transform into a dragon if she were favored by Myriad Blossom Pavilion. Her future destiny would become completely different.

At that point, her future would no longer be confined to the small county of Luoshui County. Instead, she would have the chance to become a dazzling Martial Dao Prodigy in Guangning Prefecture.

It was precisely because she understood all this that she was so nervous.

She both hoped to be valued by Shen Congyun and knew that she was probably unworthy of his regard.

"Her Blood Qi is abundant throughout her body, and she has already formed a Skin Membrane. This girl is quite good!" Shen Congyun watched Li Qing and praised her.

Hearing these words of praise, Li Qing's emotions rose and fell, her heart filled with anticipation and nervousness.

"Pavilion Master Shen truly has an eye for detail. You saw through this junior's Martial Path realm at a glance."

Shen Congyun smiled faintly at Li Qing.

Seeing that smile, Li Qing immediately understood.

A sorrowful sense of disappointment suddenly arose in her heart.

"Li Qing, everyone has arrived, haven't they?" Wang Jin asked at that moment.

Li Qing abruptly returned from her dejected thoughts. She respectfully said to Wang Jin, "All the senior and junior disciples have arrived!"

"Good!" Wang Jin nodded slightly.

He then said to Shen Congyun, "Brother Shen, would you be interested in going out with me to look at those unworthy disciples of mine?"

Shen Congyun could not help smiling when he heard this. "Old Wang, are you still hoping I'll take a look and offer my judgment?"

Wang Jin chuckled. "Looks like nothing can be hidden from Brother Shen!"

Shen Congyun wore a smile. "Since Old Wang has asked, I must give him this face. As it happens, I have nothing to do, so I'll go out and take a look!"

"Brother Shen, please!" Wang Jin raised a hand in invitation.

"Please!"