Governor Han Fu of Ji Province

Ding Ling was still very poor.

His knowledge was still stuck in the past.

So when he first saw the luxurious lifestyle of the ancients, he could not help clicking his tongue inwardly.

How corrupt!

Still, he rather liked it.

What man did not enjoy pleasure? Who did not want to sleep drunk on a beauty's lap and wake to rule the world?

Ding Ling was a man, and he was no exception.

But he also knew that now was not the time for indulgence. He had to press on while the iron was hot and clear every Game Plane. Once his strength reached the peak, status would naturally follow.

By then, what pleasures and joys would he lack?

If he indulged too early, there was a good chance that others who had obtained fortuitous encounters would overtake him around the bend!

Besides.

Who knew how many years this Game World would last? If one day it suddenly vanished as mysteriously as it had come to him, where would he find another sacred land for cultivation?

Ding Ling knew what mattered. Naturally, he would not be dazzled by the extravagance and beauty before him.

On the contrary.

His mind grew ever clearer.

Because he now had an exceedingly clear goal: conquer the Game Planes! Become the true number one in both the game and the Real World!

"Ding Ling, come over here."

Zhang He beckoned happily at Ding Ling, who stood by the entrance.

Not long ago.

Pan Feng had taken Zhang He and the other two to meet Han Fu ahead of him.

Judging from Zhang He's appearance, barring any surprise, he had definitely been promoted!

Although Han Fu was not particularly capable, he trusted Pan Feng immensely and had practically handed all of Ji Province's military affairs over to him.

With Pan Feng speaking for them, it would be hard for Zhang He and Gao Lan not to receive promotions.

Ding Ling had come here for the same reason—to gain rank and title.

There was no reason for Ding Ling to refuse such a thing.

After receiving a promotion.

The resources available to him would increase, and he would be able to meet more experts.

Otherwise, as a penniless commoner, how could he possibly come into contact with people of high status?

Ding Ling still planned to deal with Xu Chu, Dian Wei, Cao Mengde, Lu Bu, Zhao Zilong, Zhang Zhongjing, and the others. Naturally, he needed some standing, or getting close to them would be difficult.

Tap, tap!

Ding Ling strode forward quickly. Zhang He grabbed him and led him toward the Main Hall of the residence.

After walking for a while.

They arrived at the Main Hall. Zhang He indicated that the man seated in the place of honor was Han Fu and told him to pay his respects.

Ding Ling did so.

Han Fu nodded. He looked Ding Ling over from head to toe for a while before suddenly saying:

"Though General Pan Feng and the others say that you possess Innate talent and are a once-in-an-age genius, I still do not believe there can be someone in this world more gifted than General Pan Feng."

He was tall and broad, with refined features and three long strands of beard beneath his chin. He was quite an imposing figure.

But at this moment, he frowned as he scrutinized Ding Ling, as though looking at some shabby pauper or country bumpkin!

Clearly, he did not think highly of a mere soldier like Ding Ling.

If Pan Feng had not spoken on Ding Ling's behalf.

Ding Ling might not even have been qualified to stand before him.

Seeing this, Ding Ling said nothing. He finally understood why, later on, talented people had abandoned Han Fu one after another.

Compared to Zhang He and the others, Han Fu, the Governor of Ji Province, was far too arrogant and too accustomed to using his status to suppress others. He looked down on people with contempt!

That lofty gaze, as if he were looking at someone beneath him, made Ding Ling extremely uncomfortable!

And compared with Cao Mengde's willingness to recruit talent regardless of background.

Han Fu was clearly the traditional sort who cared about family pedigree. Ding Ling was a Player, an Outsider in the eyes of NPCs, with no background whatsoever. How could Han Fu possibly take him seriously?

Still.

Ding Ling did not care about it.

Ji Province was merely a stepping stone.

Earlier, he had wondered whether leaving Ji Province after receiving so many benefits would be somewhat ungrateful. But after seeing Han Fu's attitude, he felt relieved.

What he owed was Cheng Huan, Zhang He, and the others for their guidance and help. Even if he repaid those debts in the future, he would repay Cheng Huan and the others, not Han Fu.

"My lord."

Pan Feng grew somewhat anxious. He stepped forward and said solemnly:

"This is absolutely true. If you do not believe me, just watch Ding Ling perform a set of my signature axe technique."

"Very well."

Han Fu nodded somewhat unwillingly.

Ding Ling's eyelid twitched, and he nearly could not help turning and leaving with a flick of his sleeve.

Still, he endured it.

He reminded himself that Ji Province was only a stepping stone. Once his status rose, he would leave.

"Ding Ling, give it a try."

Pan Feng signaled to Ding Ling with his eyes.

Ding Ling was straightforward. Holding a sharp sixty-pound axe, he immediately performed the Thirty-Six Heavens Gang Axe Technique.

This Tiangang Axe Technique was fierce and sharp to the extreme.

The first three moves were none other than Cleave the Head, Ghost Picks the Teeth, and Dig the Ears!

Each of those three moves was deadly, and every one was exceedingly exquisite.

Yet they were the simplest three moves among the thirty-six axe forms!

The remaining thirty-three forms became progressively more powerful.

By the end, he resembled an axe god wielding Ganqi. Thunderous roars erupted as though he had cleaved wind and thunder from thin air!

"Hmm?!"

Han Fu could not help taking him seriously.

The slackness and arrogance on his face receded considerably, and his gaze at Ding Ling carried surprise.

When he saw that Ding Ling had completed the entire set without even flushing or breathing hard, he was even more shaken. He said directly:

"As far as I know, the Thirty-Six Heavens Gang Axe Technique requires its matching Breathing Method to be fully learned. How did Ding Ling learn it?"

Pan Feng stepped out and explained the matter.

But Han Fu only became more confused. He looked at Ding Ling again, stroking the three strands of beard beneath his chin. After a long while, he finally said:

"Just over half a day ago, you were merely a new recruit who had only just entered the camp. Promoting you rashly would be improper in sentiment, law, and reason."

"My lord!"

Pan Feng could not help wanting to persuade him.

Han Fu raised a hand, signaling Pan Feng not to say more.

"Zhang He and Gao Lan were promoted because their abilities were formidable and they had already proven themselves. Ding Ling, you must also prove your abilities to the world."

After considering it for a moment, he said:

"How about this? Not long ago, a group of bandits appeared near Zhongqiu of Zhao State. Bring back the bandit leader's head, and I will promote you at once."

Ding Ling was speechless.

He wanted him to kill the bandit leader alone?

Though he was not afraid, there was no need for him to take such a risk.

He still needed to preserve his useful life and learn more martial knowledge.

He did not know whether dying and losing a level would cause him to lose all his martial arts, so this was not something he could casually test.

Moreover, Ding Ling had a vague feeling that once he died, it might cause tremendous trouble in the future!

So if he could avoid dying, he should avoid it at all costs!

With that thought, Ding Ling made up his mind: once he left this government residence, he would leave Ji Province and make his way elsewhere.

He was now comparable to a First-Class Expert.

His martial strength was no trivial matter. Traveling alone through the wilderness, he had no fear of wild beasts, refugees, or bandits!

Some time later.

Pan Feng brought Ding Ling and the others back to the central army's command tent. He gathered the officers, publicly announced the appointments of Zhang He and the others, and appointed Ding Ling as Military Secretary...

First of all, thank you all very much for supporting this book!

Secondly, I would like to mention a few things.

1: Updates. From the 7th to the 11th, for these five days, I will update roughly four to five chapters per day. Whether there will be another burst of updates later will depend on the results.

2: Rankings. Although I rarely read the comment section, I occasionally check it during the new-book period. A few comments have put me in a rather bad mood. It is not that I am overly sensitive. It is just that some readers start attacking me without even understanding the situation, and I really cannot accept that.

Unlike some authors, I do not delete comments. I will not delete them; everyone is free to comment.

As for comments that were deleted, they must have involved promotional matters and were removed by Qidian's system. As for normal comments, no matter how harshly readers criticize me, I will not delete them.

Back to the ranking issue.

People say my ranking is very high, that I have connections behind the scenes, and that there are Pv transactions. I am speechless.

Anyone who looks through the new-book rankings in the Infinite Heavens category under "Contracted Authors" and "New Authors" will see that there are only around 110 new books in the entire category.

On the day I published this book, the total number of new books was even below 100. So as soon as I started, I was ranked around 100th.

Then people started criticizing me for it.

I hope some readers will look carefully and check the facts before criticizing me.

Sigh. Writing a book takes time, effort, and mental energy. It is not easy. Please try to understand each other. You can criticize the parts that are poorly written; I accept that.

But attacking me before even understanding the situation—is that not going too far?

I hope we can understand each other. I read novels often too, so I understand how readers feel. I will do my best to finish this book faster.

After it goes premium, I will definitely speed up the updates. That I can guarantee.

Thank you for your understanding!

Let us encourage one another!