Xiao Yunting's Verdict, Body Tempering Perfection

In the early morning several days later, the Fengtian Division's great courtyard was packed with people.

All the constables, whether official or temporary, stood in neat formation. The morning sun slanted in from beyond the east wall, casting long shadows from the two stone lions in the courtyard.

At this time on any other day, the courtyard would have been filled with noise as everyone checked their equipment and prepared for patrol. Today, however, you could hear a pin drop.

This was because a man in a dark blue silk robe with a hidden floral pattern stood on the stone steps.

The man appeared to be around forty years old, with a face like polished jade and a long, thin beard. He wore no official uniform, yet he exuded an aura of authority. He simply stood there, and the hundreds of men in the courtyard didn't dare to even breathe loudly.

This man was the second-in-command of the Linyuan Prefecture branch of the Fengtian Division, the Deputy Commander, Xiao Yunting.

Xiao Yunting's gaze swept over the faces of the crowd below, finally resting on the center of the courtyard. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached every person's ears.

"The case of the Green Fish Gang remnants, the 'Mottled Fish,' has now concluded."

As he spoke, a slight stir rippled through the crowd below.

"Upon investigation, the primary credit for this case belongs to the temporary constable, Zhang Lingxiao."

At these words, Zhang Lingxiao, standing at the front of the formation, straightened his chest abruptly and lifted his chin slightly.

A smile of approval touched the corners of Xiao Yunting's mouth as he continued, "Zhang Lingxiao remained calm in the face of danger, battling the assailant in the ruined tile yard west of the city. He seized an opening and struck a fatal blow, displaying commendable bravery. Record: one medium merit."

He then looked towards Tan Zhenglong on another side of the formation.

"Official constable Tan Zhenglong, reacted swiftly upon receiving the report and led the charge, creating an excellent opportunity to eliminate the assailant. Record: two minor merits."

Tan Zhenglong's burly frame bowed slightly as he cupped his fist in acknowledgment, his expression unperturbed.

Finally, Xiao Yunting's gaze passed over the crowd and landed on a slender figure at the very end of the formation.

"Temporary constable Ye Qingxuan, commended for providing valuable clues. Record: one minor merit, awarded five taels of silver."

The pronouncements were complete.

Xiao Yunting descended the stone steps and personally patted Zhang Lingxiao's shoulder, his voice filled with anticipation. "The younger generation is formidable. Our Great Yan Fengtian Division needs young men like you, who possess courage and boldness. Continue to do well, and your future is limitless."

"Thank you for your guidance, Deputy Commander!" Zhang Lingxiao's voice wavered slightly with excitement. His arrogant face was filled with barely suppressed elation. His gaze swept across the entire assembly, lingering for a moment in Ye Qingxuan's direction, his triumph unconcealed.

Ye Qingxuan stood in place, having listened quietly from beginning to end. When Xiao Yunting's gaze fell upon him, he slightly lowered his head and cupped his fist. "Thank you, Deputy Commander."

Beyond that, there were no other words, nor any superfluous expressions.

The five taels of silver, along with the document recording the merit, were soon delivered by a scribe. It was a small silver ingot, quite heavy in the hand.

As the crowd dispersed, Wei Datong and Xiong Tiezhu immediately surrounded him.

"Qingxuan!" Wei Datong snatched the silver ingot and tossed it in his hand, his face beaming with joy. "Five taels! I've been serving in the Fengtian Division for five years, and I've never seen such a reward! You're something else, kid!"

Xiong Tiezhu also chuckled heartily, happy for him.

Ye Qingxuan took the silver ingot back from Wei Datong, scraped it with his finger, and broke off two small pieces, about one tael in total, handing them to each of them.

"Brother Wei, Brother Tiezhu, take this."

"Hey, what are you doing!" Wei Datong quickly pushed back. "This is your accomplishment, your money!"

"Without the care and support you two brothers have shown me, I wouldn't be here today. Take it, consider it a treat from your little brother." Ye Qingxuan's tone was calm, yet left no room for refusal.

Wei Datong was about to protest again when Ye Qingxuan shoved the remaining three-plus taels of silver into his arms. "Brother Wei, please hold onto it for me. My courtyard isn't safe for hiding things."

Upon hearing this, Wei Datong no longer refused. He solemnly tucked the silver close to his body and clapped Ye Qingxuan firmly on the shoulder. "Good brother! Come on, I'll treat you to noodles! Let's go to Li's, double the minced meat!"

The three of them sat down at a noodle stall on the street corner. The steaming bowls of minced meat noodles were served, their aroma filling the air.

Wei Datong ate with loud slurps, Xiong Tiezhu buried his head in his bowl, and Ye Qingxuan slowly picked through the noodles in his own bowl.

In this chaotic world, official merits could be stolen, and names on documents could be replaced, but the camaraderie of this bowl of noodles was real.

Two days later, Zhang Lingxiao was officially registered.

He changed into the black uniform worn only by official constables, a brand-new standard-issue saber hanging at his waist, and a black iron waist token engraved with his name on the other side.

He was assigned to patrol duty in the Southern District, the same patrol area as Ye Qingxuan and the others.

One day, Zhang Lingxiao walked leisurely through the alleyways, hands behind his back, like a young master inspecting his territory. He walked past Ye Qingxuan and deliberately, or perhaps unintentionally, bumped his shoulder heavily.

Ye Qingxuan's body merely swayed slightly, his feet shifting half a step to absorb the force. He turned sideways, clearing the path, and continued forward without looking back, as if he had merely been brushed by the wind.

Zhang Lingxiao had expected to see a look of panic or anger on Ye Qingxuan's face, but all he saw was a calm back. Feeling as though he had punched cotton, he snorted and walked away on his own.

Night fell.

In Ye Qingxuan's courtyard.

He no longer used the sharp stone to inflict pain upon himself. Instead, he stood shirtless under the moonlight, slowly practicing a set of movements.

This martial art was the body-tempering technique from the Indestructible Vajra Body. Each move, though seemingly slow, tensed every muscle and tendon in his body to the extreme. Sweat dripped down his increasingly firm physique, and in the moonlight, his bronze skin seemed to gleam with a faint metallic luster.

After completing the set of movements, he stood still, eyes closed, regulating his breath.

A scroll in his mind quietly unfurled.

[Mysterious Stone Refines Body, Skin and Flesh Harden, Merit Points +2.]

[Fist Technique Polished, Sinews and Bones Resonate, Merit Points +2.]

In these past days, he patrolled the streets by day and cultivated diligently by night, never slacking for a single moment. The stolen merit, the twisted logic that turned black into white, all became fuel for the furnace, forging his body and will day and night.

Finally, tonight.

As he finished the last stance of his fist technique, the scroll in his mind erupted in golden light.

The markings on the small golden figure filled up inch by inch.

[Indestructible Vajra Body Merit Complete!]

[Heavenly Mechanism Activated, Realm Connected!]

A torrent of heat, far more potent than during his last breakthrough, surged from the scroll, instantly flowing through his limbs and bones.

This time, the heat didn't just stay on his skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, but permeated inward, scouring his internal organs. His body, like fine iron repeatedly hammered and quenched, was undergoing its final tempering.

The qi and blood within him surged like a mighty river.

After a long while, the heat dissipated, fully integrating into every part of his body.

Ye Qingxuan slowly opened his eyes.

He clenched his fist; not a sound was made, yet the air around his fist was compressed, causing a faint distortion.

An unprecedented sense of power filled his body and mind. This was no longer mere toughness of skin and bone, but a strength that was complete and perfect, radiating from within.

He brought up the scroll.

[Name: Ye Qingxuan]

[Realm: Body Tempering Second Layer (Completion)]

[Martial Art: Indestructible Vajra Body (Realm: Completion, Markings: Six Inches, Merit: 0/500)]

Body Tempering Second Layer, Completion!

He had actually cultivated the Indestructible Vajra Body, a hard-qigong specialized for the Body Tempering realm, to its absolute limit. Beyond this lay the Body Tempering Third Layer, a completely new world.

But he also knew that the Indestructible Vajra Body alone would not be enough to support him in breaking through that threshold. This martial art excelled at defense but was clumsy at offense. He needed a new cultivation technique, one that could transform this strength into a thunderous strike.

Ye Qingxuan stood under the cold moonlight, the night breeze ruffling his bare chest, yet unable to carry away even a trace of the warmth within him.

His gaze turned towards the west of the city, the most chaotic and lawless place in Linyuan Prefecture.

"After delaying for a few days, Body Tempering Second Layer Completion... it's time to go to the black market."