Youthful spirit grows year by year, why waste it in shock and panic?

"I naturally won't shy away from this responsibility!"

"Who else but me for the position of Zongqi Officer?"

Chen Fan said loudly, raising his head and meeting Cao De's gaze.

"Youthful spirits grow year by year, why waste time on shock and panic?"

"Alas!"

"Fine!"

"Since your conditions are met, and Old Huang vouches for you, I shall officially appoint you as the Zongqi Officer of the Ping'an County Jinyiwei Baihu Office today!"

"I will send a pigeon to the Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei Commander's Office, and your waist token will arrive soon. At the end of the year, you can visit the Longyuan Prefecture Jinyiwei Commander's Office to establish your records, and perhaps use your merits to exchange for anything you need at the Commander's Office."

Cao De sighed and spoke earnestly.

Chen Fan understood the underlying meaning of his words – a warning against impatience, laced with a hint of threat.

However, Chen Fan paid it no mind, letting it go in one ear and out the other.

"Thank you, Baihu Master!"

Chen Fan replied solemnly, accepting the appointment with a pleased expression.

Cao De appraised the young man before him once more. In just one year of joining the Jinyiwei, he had quietly cultivated to the fifth stage of the Spirit Concealment Realm with a single Body Tempering Fist.

Yet, he had been concealing his strength. If Cao De hadn't suddenly challenged him, he might never have revealed his true power.

As for the incident where he was poisoned and nearly died recently, Cao De didn't believe a word of it, thinking Chen Fan was merely acting to draw him out.

"This little brat, how could he hide so deeply?"

"If you had shown such talent earlier, I would have spared no effort in nurturing you."

"But now, by chance, I've pushed you to become my adversary. At this point, I cannot let you live!"

Cao De mused internally. Since he had already made Chen Fan an enemy, the more terrifying Chen Fan's talent, the more worried he became. As long as Chen Fan lived, he would be unable to rest easy!

"From today onwards, the ten squads of the Jinyiwei will be jointly managed by you and Commander Li. Commander Li will be responsible for patrolling Ping'an County city, ensuring no Demons and Devils infiltrate the city."

"As for Commander Chen, you will be responsible for patrolling outside the city, ensuring that the towns and villages under Ping'an County's jurisdiction are no longer harassed by Demons and Devils."

"The towns and villages under our Ping'an County have suffered from Demons and Devils for too long. Now, with the ten-year supervision period of the Jinyiwei approaching, and with the addition of a powerful and promising young Zongqi Officer to our Baihu Office, it is time to declare war on the Demons and Devils of Ping'an County!"

"The eradication of Demon threats begins today!"

Cao De stood up and declared in front of everyone.

" Baihu Master, I believe we must first pacify the internal situation before dealing with external threats. Currently, Demons and Devils are rampant within Ping'an County city. Should we not first thoroughly cleanse the Demons and Devils within the county town before going to slay those outside?"

Chen Fan immediately voiced a dissenting opinion, speaking loudly.

"Commander Chen, do you know what you are saying?"

"Our Ping'an County city is flourishing; where are these rampant Demons and Devils you speak of?"

"Oh, right. I heard about the incident at the Wangchun Tower some time ago. Honestly, I never expected the owner behind Wangchun Tower to be a Demon and Devil."

"But that was just an isolated incident. You shouldn't generalize from a single case; it will lead you astray!"

Cao De said with a smile.

" Baihu Master..."

"Enough, my decision is made. There's no need for further discussion!"

"Commander Chen, are you already planning to defy your superior officer right after taking office?"

Chen Fan attempted to retort, but Cao De interrupted him before he could finish, his tone hardening slightly, his gaze towards Chen Fan turning grim.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Hearing this, Chen Fan could only cup his fists in acknowledgment and step aside.

"Since the mission is set, let's get to work!"

Cao De waved his hand, and everyone dispersed. Chen Fan also left the Training Ground with a sense of unwillingness.

"Don't be so dejected. The fact that he appointed you as Jinyiwei Zongqi Officer in public must have already pained him immensely. You insist on rubbing salt in his wounds at this moment; you're practically forcing him to lose his temper!"

Huang Chengyue patted Chen Fan's shoulder and chuckled.

"I know my suggestion wouldn't be accepted, but I just wanted to annoy him a bit. After all, what he's doing is as obvious as a louse on a bald man's head to many, yet he still wants to pretend everything is fine."

Chen Fan said with disdain.

"Hahaha."

"Old man, I truly didn't misjudge you."

"Here, take this thousand-forged Embroidered Spring Blade made of Xuan iron."

"Our Baihu Office isn't short of Zongqi Officer uniforms. If the stock is insufficient, you can find a tailor in town to make one. But this Xuan iron Embroidered Spring Blade, our Jinyiwei Baihu Office only has two equipped. Commander Li has one, and I have one. Now that you've become a Zongqi Officer, take this blade for your use!"

Huang Chengyue laughed heartily, removed his own saber, and handed it to Chen Fan.

"Old Huang, this won't do."

"Even if you step back, you are still the honorary Jinyiwei Zongqi Officer. How could I possibly take what you cherish?"

Chen Fan refused.

"That day, when I saw you sparring with Sun Jian, the Hundred Refinements Embroidered Spring Blade in your hand was full of nicks, with even some chipped edges."

"This Thousand-Refinement Embroidered Spring Blade forged from profound iron has been with me for over twenty years. Yet, in these twenty years, it has rarely been drawn. It has simply stayed with me, decaying together."

"If you refuse again, do you expect it to be buried with me in my coffin?"

"Such a fine blade should be used to slay Demon and Devil, and to right the world's injustices. With me, it's like casting pearls before swine. Do you want it to gather dust in my hands, its body rusting?"

"Listen to me, take it!"

"I'll be happy if you wield this blade. It will be a good home for my old companion of over twenty years!"

Huang Chengyue directly handed the Thousand-Refinement Embroidered Spring Blade forged from profound iron to Chen Fan.

"Thank you, Elder Huang, for bestowing this blade!"

Chen Fan clasped his fists and bowed, expressing his sincere gratitude.

The standard weapon of the Jinyiwei, the Hundred Refinements Embroidered Spring Blade, was made of fine iron and was considered a sharp weapon. However, with Chen Fan's growing strength, it had become quite useless.

The sabers carried by Jinyiwei Xiaoqi Officer were also Hundred Refinements Embroidered Spring Blade, no different from those of ordinary Jinyiwei members like Chen Fan. However, officers at the Zongqi Officer rank could use Thousand-Refinement Embroidered Spring Blade forged from profound iron.

As for Centurion and Chiliarch, they were firmly in the middle ranks of the Jinyiwei. Most of their sabers were treasured artifacts exchanged from the Jinyiwei armory using merit points, and they did not use these standard weapons.

Chen Fan examined the Thousand-Refinement Embroidered Spring Blade forged from profound iron. Although it was a standard weapon, it was no less inferior than a lower-grade treasured artifact. Furthermore, it was sturdy and durable; slaying Demons and Devils of the Spirit Concealment Realm would absolutely not result in nicks or chipped edges.

Moreover, this blade was extremely heavy, estimated to be over a hundred catties. It felt substantial in his hand. Without a certain level of martial cultivation, one could not wield it. However, such weight was nothing to the current Chen Fan.

"A fine blade!"

"With this treasure blade, slaying Demons and Devils will surely be more effortless!"

Chen Fan couldn't help but exclaim.

"Cao De has instructed you to lead men to patrol the towns and villages under Ping'an County. He will surely incite the Black Mountain Demons and Devils to attack you, so you must be extremely cautious."

"The strength of the Black Mountain Demons and Devils should not be underestimated. You absolutely cannot confront them head-on now. If you encounter the three top-tier Demons – Mountain Lord, Xiaoyue, and Three Eyes – retreat immediately."

"With your talent, given time, you will surpass Cao De, and surpass these three great Demons. We have waited for so many years; a year or half a year won't make a difference!"

Huang Chengyue said earnestly.