Jade Belt Silver Token Great Steward; Expectations for Nine Thunders Surrounding Body

A moment later, Gao Yunchao, a man in his thirties with a small mole between his brows and an air of elegant ease, spoke:

"Reporting to Manager Jiang, these two should be the Tao Brothers. Several years ago, they offended the Zheng Family Head by stealing the Zheng Family Martial Arts School's dart manual. But in recent years, the two have hidden their names and identities. Their exact cultivation and what they usually do are unknown!"

Jiang Yurán's gaze shifted. "They stole a dart manual years ago? That does match the two Flying Thieves being skilled with throwing knives! Steward Xu, Steward Ma, what about your side?"

Upon hearing Jiang Yurán's question, Xu Bei and Ma Rusong exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with unwillingness.

According to their earlier plans, they had intended to rely on Zhao Yufei's Dragon Blood Treasure Hounds to find clues to the Flying Thieves, thus escaping the punishment hanging over them. What that punishment cost was far more than their monthly salaries—it was their pride.

Yet just now, while inspecting the supplies, they had discovered to their astonishment that the items in the wooden chests were indeed completely identical to the stolen goods.

Manager Jiang had reported the quantities of the two hundred and ten Essence Blood Beads and two hundred Forehead Scales. Although the quantities of the other supplies had not been reported, they matched the goods listed on the invoice exactly. This proved that these truly were stolen goods. Lin Xuankong had not faked anything!

At this moment, Ma Rusong was naturally the most vexed. He was sick to death of Lin Xuankong, who had repeatedly caused him humiliation, yet now he had to personally inventory the supplies and personally admit that the other man had rendered a great service that dozens of managers and stewards, along with thousands of disciples, had never accomplished!

His hands, hidden within his sleeves, slowly clenched into fists. He nearly wanted to turn and leave on the spot, but how could he dare ignore Manager Jiang's question?

Xu Bei remained silent, leaving Ma Rusong no choice but to respectfully cup his hands and speak with immense difficulty. "The items in the chests do indeed match the stolen goods."

Jiang Yurán's eyes lit up, and a smile immediately bloomed across her face. By now, all her doubts had vanished. Turning toward Ma Jiang and Lin Xuankong, she said repeatedly, "Good, good, good!"

"Since the storehouse was robbed, heaven knows how many Martial Cultivators have been discussing outside how incompetent our Yin Talisman Sect is!

"Yet Steward Lin has slain the Flying Thieves and recovered the supplies within two days. He has truly vented the fury in my heart and shown those petty villains what fate awaits those who offend the Yin Talisman Sect!"

She turned back behind the sandalwood table and shouted, "Ma Jiang, heed my order!"

"This subordinate is here!" Ma Jiang cupped his hands.

"Immediately send people to spread the news that our Yin Talisman Sect captured the Flying Thieves within two days!"

"Yes!" Ma Jiang beamed with delight and turned to leave.

"Gao Yunchao, heed my order!"

"This subordinate is here!" Gao Yunchao cupped his hands.

"Immediately go to the Thousand Treasures Pavilion and bring back a bright silver token and an emerald jade belt. I will personally put them on Lin Xuankong, the Silver Jade Manager who has rendered great service!" Jiang Yurán said decisively.

"Yes!" Gao Yunchao turned and departed.

After issuing those two orders,

Jiang Yurán stared fixedly at Lin Xuankong. A moment later, she suddenly smiled. "Once Steward Lin returns to the Barracks, be sure to write down the entire process of how you captured the Flying Thieves. I want to read it carefully!"

Lin Xuankong cupped his hands. "As ordered!"

"Sit. Wait a moment for Great Steward Gao to return!" Jiang Yurán said with a smile.

Lin Xuankong turned and walked toward his seat at the very end.

But Jiang Yurán's laughter came from behind him. "A Silver Jade Manager should naturally sit ahead of all the other managers. How can you still sit in the last seat?"

Lin Xuankong paused and looked toward the manager who had originally occupied the first seat.

That manager stood and cupped his hands, smiling broadly. "Silver Jade Manager, please don't look at my seat! A Silver Jade Manager who has rendered such extraordinary merit to our Yin Talisman Sect sits beside the eight stewards, not here with me. If you sit here, I'll have no choice but to stand!"

The many managers and stewards around them immediately burst into laughter.

Everyone smiled as they watched Lin Xuankong sit beside Steward Hu. At this moment, they felt not only immense envy but also deep astonishment. Before this, they had all imagined who might receive this Silver Jade Position.

Most had guessed Zhao Yufei, aided by her Dragon Blood Treasure Hounds. Quite a few had fantasized about encountering a stroke of luck themselves.

Some had thought the Flying Thieves, already hidden away, might never be captured. Yet no matter who they imagined, none had expected that white-haired Lin Xuankong would receive the position!

A moment later,

Gao Yunchao brought back the silver token and jade belt.

Jiang Yurán accepted the silver token and jade belt, then walked before Lin Xuankong.

This lovely manager, whose status in the Yin Talisman Sect was second only to the Sect Master and equal to the Hall Masters, truly wrapped the jade belt around Lin Xuankong herself and personally hung the silver token upon him!

This lovely manager had always stood high above all others. When had she ever done such a thing for anyone else? Even her Yin Talisman Sect Master father, who doted on her immensely, had never received such treatment!

Yet Lin Xuankong, feeling Jiang Yurán carefully fastening his token and belt, suddenly thought of the Young Lady and felt a little embarrassed.

Yang Shan and Li Er, standing beside the wooden chests, could not help embracing each other in excitement at this sight.

By this point,

As they watched Lin Xuankong receive such noble honor and treatment,

The many stewards and managers sighed again and again, feeling that the affairs of this world were truly unfathomable and mysterious.

Amid their sighs, someone secretly glanced toward Zhao Yufei's seat, only to discover that Steward Zhao Yufei, who had still looked utterly composed just a few cups of tea ago, had somehow already left the Council Hall!

Jiang Yurán had naturally noticed Zhao Yufei's departure long ago.

After flashing Lin Xuankong a radiant smile, she turned and walked toward the sandalwood table, secretly thinking:

That talented, pampered daughter of the Zhao Family had always looked so cold and proud. She must be devastated now! Hmph, this could count as a tempering of her character! If she could not even endure such a setback, how could she possibly achieve anything in the martial path in the future!

The martial path was difficult—difficult as climbing to the blue heavens. Her old man recited that phrase every day!

Mm, speaking of her old man, news of capturing the Flying Thieves today should be sent to him as well. An old man she had appointed as a manager had actually rendered such great merit. She wondered whether her old man would look utterly astonished when he learned of it. That scene would surely be amusing!

Zhao Family residence,

Zhao Yufei looked at the three Dragon Blood Treasure Hounds lying nearby and wagging their tails. Her left hand tightened around an iron whip, while her right hand, which held several Vile Lizard Essence Blood Beads, suddenly exerted force.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Six Vile Lizard Essence Blood Beads, worth several hundred taels altogether, burst into a cloud of blood mist.

The three Dragon Blood Treasure Hounds immediately rose to their feet and uneasily backed away. As treasure hounds with considerable spiritual intelligence, they could clearly sense their master's rage.

Besides, their master had raised her whip.

Zhao Yufei looked at the three listless treasure hounds cowering against the wall, their gazes darting away. Sensing the grievance they conveyed to her mind, her left hand, which had raised the whip, dropped weakly.

A deep helplessness appeared on her stubborn, icy face.

How had she lost!

How had she lost?

And lost to white-haired Lin Xuankong, whom she had never even regarded as an opponent!

Even if Lin Xuankong had once achieved decent results with Ma Jiang's Evil-Dispelling Hand, so what? Compared to her, what aspect of him could compare? Family background, age, strength, status. Even his Four Seals Talent—at his age, even Five or Six Seals or Seven Seal Talent would be useless!

In the blink of an eye, a trace of hatred surfaced in her cold eyes.

Lin Xuankong, did you think taking my Silver Jade Position was something worth celebrating?

The greater your glory today, the more miserable you will be one day! I, Zhao Yufei, swear that I will make you clearly understand just how vast the gap between you and me will become!

The appointment of a Silver Jade Manager was naturally a major matter for Great Marsh Hall.

This was the dignified foremost manager, second only to the stewards! Moreover, even a steward's salary could only equal that of a Silver Jade Manager. And if Lin Xuankong had the chance to become a steward in the future, he would become a Silver Jade Steward, with a salary comparable to a Great Steward's!

Thus, the granting of such an honorary position naturally called for a grand celebratory banquet of several hundred people!

As countless disciples, deputy managers, and managers repeatedly toasted Lin Xuankong, he naturally leaped from being someone only managers in the Yin Talisman Sect vaguely knew to someone known by everyone in the sect!

After the banquet ended,

Slightly drunk, Lin Xuankong carried the wooden chest full of "stolen goods" home, then accompanied the delighted Young Lady as she finished more than ten dishes.

Afterward, the Young Lady accompanied him as they carefully inventoried the "stolen goods." Once they were done, Li Xiaolan tapped her chin with a finger.

"Only two hundred remain before we have eight hundred Forehead Scales. Of course that is worth being happy about, worth eating a few extra dishes!

"But once the materials are complete, it will definitely cost a great deal to ask that Artifact Refiner in Great Marsh Prefecture to forge it. We still can't spend recklessly lately!"

"Besides, the other supplies are easy enough to deal with, but these Vile Lizard Essence Blood Beads are said to be even more valuable than Forehead Scales. They are important materials for nurturing spiritual creatures!

"As for how to nurture them, I need to find time to visit the Huang Family and properly ask the young miss for advice. The Huang Family once cultivated a Thousand Thunder Willow, so they should have experience!"

Seeing her looking like a housekeeper wife, Lin Xuankong could not help laughing.

"Leaving everything else aside, you can drink Nine Revolutions Qi Nourishing Soup to your heart's content from now on! We already have more than three hundred portions on hand, and we can receive six more every day!"

Li Xiaolan shot him a glare. "Do you take me for some glutton, drinking it to my heart's content?

"Forget these messy matters. Leave them all to me. Rest well today, then go seriously cultivate Yin Talisman Lightning tomorrow!

"You can finally cultivate this refined martial art. Are you happy, Lord Lin Belt Token?"

"One title is still missing: husband." Lin Xuankong wore a solemn expression.

Li Xiaolan lightly bit her lip. "In your dreams. Hurry up and sleep!"

With that, she ran off like a wisp of smoke!

Anticipation rose in Lin Xuankong's eyes. The medicinal supplies provided by the Silver Jade Position were now in hand, he was nearly done saving up eight hundred Forehead Scales, and tomorrow he could finally learn Yin Talisman Lightning!

He thought of the lightning winding around Gu Beicheng's longsword.

He thought of the several finger-thick bolts of lightning Han Lu had activated.

Then he thought of the Lightning God Incarnate from the illusion, standing with heaven and earth beneath his feet. Lin Xuankong could not help yearning for it!

This lightning martial art, passed down by the Yin Talisman Sect for over a thousand years, rivaled the immortal arts of gods!

Yet compared to the martial arts of other sects, this martial art was far more profound and mysterious, with extremely high requirements for talent. It should be rather difficult to learn!

He wondered, with the aid of his [Old and Vigorous] Destiny and his considerable compatibility with Yin Talisman Lightning, how long it would take him to reach Entry Level and activate his first bolt of lightning!

He had heard that Gu Beicheng, a Four Seals genius, had taken two and a half years to cultivate nine bolts of lightning around his body, already entering the Initial Glimpse realm.

How long would he need before Nine Thunders Surrounding Body? A year? Half a year? Three months? Two months? Or even less? Hopefully less—hopefully faster!

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