Nine Yang First Success, Sky Patrol First Assignment

Chapter 14: Nine Yang First Success, Xuntian First Duty

The clamor of the Qingzhou Prefecture City selection had settled. Li Yifan, placing second, had officially become a Qingzhou Xuntian Guard, bearing two Yellow Grade Upper techniques—Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique and Scorching Sun Finger—along with a Burning Wood Saber Technique at Major Accomplishment. Yet his fierce battles with Lei Zhen and Zhao Song had left him severely wounded, with internal injuries and damaged meridians that urgently required quiet recuperation.

He was assigned to a secluded courtyard near Xuntian Guard headquarters, a tranquil setting suited for healing and cultivation. Before going into seclusion, he received the Xuntian Guard regulations booklet, which detailed the rank structure and promotion mechanisms. This gave him a clearer picture of the path ahead.

Xuntian Guard Ranks (Low to High):

Probationary Xuntian Guard: The lowest rank, typically held by Skin Refining or Body Refining martial artists. Duties include patrols, alerts, and escorting prisoners—basic tasks to accumulate experience. Strength requirement: Skin Refining or Body Refining.

Xuntian Guard: Full members and core strength, typically held by Bone Refining or Tendon Refining martial artists. They may lead small squads on missions, handle public security cases, and pursue wanted criminals. Strength requirement: Bone Refining or above, with merit accumulation.

Xuntian Envoy: Elite officers, typically held by Blood Refining experts. They serve as squad cores or undertake specialized missions. Strength requirement: Blood Refining, with merit and assessment.

Commander: Mid-level officer commanding a hundred men, typically held by Meridian Opening experts. Responsible for district security or important missions, with authority to deploy multiple squads. Strength requirement: Meridian Opening, with outstanding merit.

Chief Commander: Senior officer commanding a thousand men, guarding a region or executing major missions, typically held by Innate Realm experts. Strength requirement: Innate Realm, with distinguished service.

Prefecture Commander / Deputy Prefecture Commander: The highest Xuntian Guard authority in a prefecture, wielding great power. At minimum, True Essence Realm or higher. Strength requirement: True Essence Realm or above.

Promotion depended not only on strength but also on merit, mission completion rate, and loyalty. Strength was the foundation; merit was the ladder.

"The top ten in this selection can be directly appointed as Xuntian Guards. I'm already at Bone Forging Initial, a full Xuntian Guard. But I need to accumulate merit to gain real authority—first advance to Xuntian Envoy, then aim for Commander." Li Yifan understood clearly that his immediate priority was to heal his injuries and raise his strength.

He declined visits from Zhao Song and Lei Zhen, immediately entering seclusion to heal. Sitting cross-legged in the quiet room, he took medicine pills and circulated the Basic Breathing Technique. But the Yellow Grade technique's healing efficiency was poor, progress slow.

[Severe injuries. Basic Breathing Technique healing efficiency low. Recovery slow.]

"I must switch to Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique as soon as possible!" Li Yifan took out the jade slip recording the technique and immersed his mind. The technique's information flooded in: Yellow Grade Upper, supreme yang and extreme hardness, blazing and overbearing! The Nine Yang True Qi cultivated was thick and enduring, with explosive power that repelled evil, but the cultivation process felt like being burned by raging fire, easily damaging meridians.

He gritted his teeth and began dispersing his energy to convert, drawing in yang energy. Instantly, his body felt like a furnace had been lit—his five viscera burned with pain, his meridians stabbed like needles! The process was excruciating.

[Beginning conversion to Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique. Scattered energy conversion painful. Drawing yang energy scorches meridians. Progress slow.]

[Skill: Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique (Yellow Grade Upper) - Beginner (0/2000).]

With tenacious will, he cycled the mental method again and again. Seven days later, the quiet room's temperature rose sharply. Li Yifan's body emitted a crimson glow. A wisp of pure, scorching pale golden airflow finally took shape in his meridians—the first thread of Nine Yang True Qi!

[Successfully converted first thread of Nine Yang True Qi! Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique raised to: Beginner (5/2000)!]

[Nine Yang True Qi's supreme yang nature suppresses and repairs yin-cold injuries. Internal injuries begin accelerating recovery.]

The nascent true qi was far superior in quality to anything before! Li Yifan's spirits soared. He continued consolidating his cultivation and used the Nine Yang True Qi to heal. At the same time, he began practicing Scorching Sun Finger. The finger technique matched his internal energy's nature, progress rapid.

[Skill: Scorching Sun Finger (Yellow Grade Upper) - Beginner (0/1000). Compatible with Nine Yang True Qi. Cultivation yields twice the result with half the effort.]

[Injuries healing speed greatly increased under Nine Yang True Qi nourishment.]

Half a month later, his internal injuries were fully healed, his cultivation stable at Bone Forging Initial peak. The first layer of Nine Yang True Qi had taken initial form, his strength greatly enhanced.

At this point, his formal appointment arrived: Granted the substantive post of Xuntian Guard, assigned to Qingzhou Prefecture Xuntian Guard headquarters, under Battalion C, commanded by Commander Wang (Meridian Opening Initial). Battalion C was primarily responsible for city public security patrols, handling martial artist disputes, and low-level wanted missions. What surprised Li Yifan even more was that, due to his outstanding performance in the selection, he was specially permitted to have two Probationary Xuntian Guards as direct subordinates to assist with affairs.

Li Yifan changed into the black Xuntian Guard uniform, belted the standard waist saber, and reported to Battalion C. Commander Wang, his expression stern, inspected the documents and said in a deep voice, "Li Yifan, you ranked second among the Xuntian Guard newcomers. The Deputy Commander places great importance on your batch, so the top three are all under my command. The other newcomers are led by Xuntian Envoys. Now that you've joined, though you hold the substantive post of Xuntian Guard, you must still start with basic missions to accumulate merit. Battalion C is responsible for the Eastern District's public security. Xuntian Guards act according to law. If met with resistance, kill without exception! These two are the Probationary Xuntian Guards assigned to you. Lead them well."

"This subordinate understands!" Li Yifan accepted the order. He looked at the two young martial artists behind him. One was lean and sharp-eyed, named Chen Feng, at Body Refining Mid. The other was steadier, named Zhang Tie, at Body Refining Initial. Both looked at Li Yifan with awe and curiosity.

"Greetings, Lord Li!" Chen Feng and Zhang Tie saluted in unison.

Li Yifan nodded. He understood clearly—these were his first direct subordinates, the beginning of building his own foundation. Strength was the root, merit was the step, and leading a team well was equally important.

He was assigned to Zhang Meng's squad as temporary deputy to familiarize himself with operations. Squad leader Zhang Meng was a senior Xuntian Envoy (Blood Refining Initial), an old hand with a hearty personality. The squad members were Sun Xiao Yi (Skin Refining Perfection, sharp) and Zhou Tie (Body Refining Mid, taciturn). Zhang Meng welcomed him warmly: "Brother Li! I've heard a lot about you! And you've brought two newbies? Come on, I'll take you to the Eastern District to get familiar!"

Over the next few days, Li Yifan led Chen Feng and Zhang Tie, patrolling the Eastern District with Zhang Meng's squad. The area was a mix of all sorts, with shops lining the streets and gangs entrenched. Zhang Meng, rich in experience, explained the points to note. Li Yifan learned while teaching, guiding Chen Feng and Zhang Tie on how to observe, assess situations, and circulate the Detection skill to notice details. He sensed hidden lines watching the new faces.

[Skill: Detection Proficiency +8. Familiar with jurisdiction. Observant. Preliminary awareness of leading a squad.]

That day, a mission came in: At the "Fortune Gambling Den" (a Four Seas Gang property) in the Eastern District, martial artists were brawling and causing trouble. The Four Seas Gang's leader, Liu Sihai, was a Meridian Opening expert with considerable influence.

The squad arrived quickly. The gambling den was in shambles. Two Body Refining martial artists were locked in fierce combat, fists whistling through the air. The den's thugs dared not intervene. Zhang Meng barked, "Xuntian Guard! Stop!"

The brawlers ignored him. One, seeing he was losing, pulled out a poisoned dagger and stabbed at his opponent's heart!

Zhang Meng was about to act, but Li Yifan moved faster! Spirit Fox Steps activated, his form cutting in like lightning. His left hand, fingers glowing crimson with Scorching Sun Finger, pointed at the dagger-wielding wrist. His right palm, carrying the force of Burning Wood Saber Technique, chopped toward the other's fist!

"Clang!" "Thud!"

The dagger flew from the hand. The puncher staggered back! Both were subdued in an instant! Chen Feng and Zhang Tie reacted quickly, stepping forward to assist in the arrest.

[Scorching Sun Finger Proficiency +10! Spirit Fox Steps Proficiency +5! Detection Proficiency +5! On-the-spot response. Combat experience improved. Preliminary authority established.]

Zhang Meng praised, "Brother Li, good moves! Fast reactions, precise strikes!" The admiration in Chen Feng and Zhang Tie's eyes deepened.

Li Yifan responded modestly. The matter was handled according to regulations. The gambling den paid compensation and was ordered to rectify.

Through this incident, Li Yifan initially established himself in Battalion C. He gained a clearer understanding of his own strength: Nine Yang True Qi paired with a Major Accomplishment saber technique, Minor Accomplishment finger and footwork—he was quite combat-capable within the Bone Refining Realm. He had also initially earned his subordinates' trust. But he knew this was only the starting point. The Xuntian Guard was full of hidden talents, and Qingzhou Prefecture was as deep as the ocean. He needed to raise his strength quickly, accumulate merit, first advance to Xuntian Envoy, then aim for the higher Commander post, and forge a reliable team.

Night fell. Li Yifan returned to his small courtyard and continued his arduous cultivation. Nine Yang True Qi surged like a scorching stream, never ceasing. The road ahead was long. Only strength, merit, and trustworthy companions could help him rise step by step in this vast and turbulent world, until he stood above all.