Reward Claimed, Tianshui Prefecture's Geniuses

As Gu Cheng pondered this to himself.

On the other side, the conversation among the ink-clad officers continued.

"I heard that Dragon Turtle's defense was incredibly tough. Even many experts in the Innate Realm couldn't do anything about it. How did it suddenly get killed by a 'newcomer' this time?"

The big-bearded officer looked puzzled.

"What's the background of that newcomer? Is he a successor from the Famous Sword Villa, or a martial monk from Puzhao Temple?"

"Uh... I heard from people in the External Affairs Hall that the newcomer's surname is Gu. As for his background... I asked his teammates who were with him, but they all kept their mouths shut."

"So low-key? I suppose that young hero Gu must be a prodigy being secretly nurtured by some major power?"

Hearing this, the officers at the same table nodded in agreement. In their impressions, such a powerful "dark horse" could never be an ordinary person from humble beginnings.

But then, a dissenting voice came from the next table.

"I say, what outdated news are you guys sharing?"

A tall, sturdy officer put down his chopsticks and looked at the people at the neighboring table with disdain.

"Didn't you hear from our brothers at the Pharmacy? That Dragon Turtle was already heavily injured by Thunder Law more than half a month ago, its strength greatly reduced.

It probably couldn't even move at that time, which is how that kid surnamed Gu got such a huge advantage.

He seemingly accomplished an earth-shattering feat, but in reality, he was just a 'lucky guy' who stumbled into the credit."

"Ah???"

The ink-clad officers at the neighboring table were immediately in an uproar.

"If that's the case... that kid really had a stroke of incredible luck!"

"Exactly, I could do it too!"

"Sigh~ This luck is also part of strength, can't argue with it..."

The officers chattered amongst themselves, their words laced with a sourness that would make even dumplings taste bland without dipping sauce.

Gu Cheng, listening from the side, couldn't help but chuckle.

Although he had indeed gotten lucky this time.

But because he had been too low-key these days, and Fang Xu and the others hadn't revealed the identity of their savior, the rumors had become increasingly outlandish.

By now, Gu Cheng was practically seen as a pure stroke of luck by his colleagues.

A glance was enough to judge, and it was determined to be pure, unadulterated luck!

As Gu Cheng was silently complaining in his heart.

Wang Lin, the personal guard of Commander Xu, strode into the mess hall.

He looked around, his eyes lit up when he spotted Gu Cheng, and he hurried over.

"Lord Gu! I finally found you!"

Wang Lin's smile was humble yet carried a hint of fawning. He bowed slightly to Gu Cheng and said respectfully:

"The results of the final assessment have been approved. You have taken the top spot in this assessment with an absolute advantage!"

"The top five newcomers are now waiting in the Internal Affairs Office to receive their rewards. I heard that Spirit Sea Venerable will personally present the awards, so please come with me quickly!"

"Mhm, I understand."

Gu Cheng nodded slightly, his heart filled with excitement.

After waiting for so many days, the day to receive his reward had finally arrived!

He no longer hesitated, putting the half-eaten food on the table into a storage pouch. Then, he left with Wang Lin.

Watching their retreating backs.

The expressions of the ink-clad officers sitting nearby became strange.

"Lord Gu? Top spot?!"

"Wait... could he be that kid who got lucky?"

Upon realizing this, the officers collectively gasped.

Especially the tall, sturdy officer who had first spread the news, his face turned ashen.

"Hiss—This is bad! He was sitting nearby the whole time, he must have heard our private discussions!"

"If I gossip like this, will he hold a grudge and make things difficult for me in the future?"

Let's not dwell on how worried those passerby were.

Gu Cheng, led by Wang Lin, arrived at the Internal Affairs Office and entered a spacious room.

The room was decorated quite elaborately. A circle of rosewood armchairs was arranged around the center of the hall, resembling a place specifically for meetings.

At this moment, four people were already waiting in the room.

They were seated in the four directions of the room according to their ranking, leaving the seat of honor empty.

As Gu Cheng, the chief, arrived, several faint gazes immediately fell upon him.

"..."

Gu Cheng remained unfazed and walked directly to the chief's seat, taking his place.

He then looked around, quietly observing his other colleagues.

Ranked fifth was a handsome young monk with a shaved head bearing the marks of incense burns.

If his guess was correct, he should be a martial monk from Puzhao Temple.

It was just that this young monk's physique was far too slender, appearing weak and fragile, as if he'd fall with a single touch.

Upon sensing Gu Cheng's gaze, he offered a friendly nod, his attitude quite polite.

"I heard that Puzhao Temple's ultimate skill, the 'Diamond Glazed Body,' is hailed as the number one body refinement technique in Tianshui Prefecture.

But looking at this thin young monk, he doesn't seem like a normal body refinement cultivator at all..."

Gu Cheng nodded in return and then turned his attention to another person.

Ranked fourth was a stern young man with long, silver-white hair. The arrogance displayed between his brows was remarkably similar to Chen Xuejiao's.

It was evident that this silver-haired youth was also a successor from Famous Sword Villa.

At this moment, he was sizing up Gu Cheng with a half-smile, his expression quite displeased, as if he had strong opinions about Gu Cheng, the chief who "lacked the virtue for his position."

Ranked third was a dark-skinned man with a resolute expression.

He appeared to be in his early thirties. Though his appearance was unremarkable, his eyes were exceptionally bright, clearly indicating he was a Spirit Refinement Cultivator with powerful divine sense.

Regarding Gu Cheng's arrival, he merely glanced up once before looking away, exuding an air of disdainful arrogance.

The last person was a fair-skinned, beautiful, and spirited short-haired woman.

At this moment, she was sitting in her chair, eyes closed and resting, her internal true qi circulating, causing her black robe to ripple as if in a breeze.

"She's still cultivating at a time like this?"

Gu Cheng couldn't help but glance sideways.

Her diligent and focused demeanor reminded him of those female scholars who would review flashcards for vocabulary even while waiting for the bus.

What's more, Gu Cheng sensed a familiar, majestic aura from this short-haired woman, like the low growl of an azure dragon.

It was the renowned top-tier cultivation technique of the Demon Suppression Bureau – 'Hundred Refinements of the Azure Dragon'!

Clearly, this "female scholar" was not only extremely diligent but also possessed top-tier cultivation talent.

Including Gu Cheng, the chief.

These five men and women in the room were the five strongest newcomers selected by the Demon Suppression Bureau this year.

They were also the cream of the crop among the younger generation in Tianshui Prefecture!

"Among these five, besides myself and the short-haired woman, the other three are successors from other major powers..."

Gu Cheng sat upright in his mahogany chair, pondering silently.

First-rate powers like Famous Sword Villa and Puzhao Temple, which had maintained friendly relations with the Demon Suppression Bureau for generations.

Although they had survived the previous 'Great Purge,' they were also thoroughly intimidated by the Demon Suppression Bureau's overbearing and bloody methods.

To demonstrate their loyalty to the Demon Suppression Bureau, their elder brother, they proactively sent their own young talents.

On the surface, it was to deepen mutual ties and perhaps gain some benefits from the Demon Suppression Bureau, but in reality, it also served a function akin to "a prince entering the capital as a hostage."

At this moment, the wooden door of the room was pushed open again.

A female captain, wearing a golden crown and a black robe, strode in and stopped in the center of the room.

On her shoulder perched a small, snow-white bird. Its dark, beady eyes were exceptionally lively, making it look quite adorable.

Upon seeing the arrival of the person and the bird.

The other four people in the room immediately stood up, cupped their fists in salute, and said respectfully:

"Greetings, Venerable Ling Que!"