Promotion to Patrol Angel

Chapter 48: Promotion to Patrol Officer

The door to the quiet room was gently pushed open, and Li Yifan walked out slowly. The morning sun cast dappled shadows through the ancient trees in the courtyard, falling upon him. He tilted his head slightly, feeling the nascent crimson-gold blood essence circulating within him, the surge of power it brought, and the entirely new perception from the leap in his life level.

He didn't rush to go out. Instead, he stood in the courtyard, closed his eyes, and concentrated, carefully savoring the profound mysteries of his new realm. His divine sense perception range had expanded severalfold. Within dozens of feet outside the courtyard, the chirping of insects and birds, the falling of leaves – all were clearly discernible. His physical body was filled with surging blood and qi, dense as lead, fluid as mercury. His bones and muscles resonated, containing explosive power. His sensitivity to the spiritual energy permeating the heavens and earth had also greatly increased. In the future, practicing the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique would significantly boost the efficiency of drawing qi into his body.

"My foundation is stable, my blood essence is refined. This breakthrough can be considered perfect," Li Yifan mused inwardly, quite satisfied with the results of his seclusion. A month of arduous cultivation and breakthroughs, the expenditure of all his contribution points for precious elixirs, had finally paid off.

After tidying his black martial attire and properly affixing the badge of a Xuntian Guard squad leader, Li Yifan, invigorated, walked out of the small courtyard and headed straight for Commander Wang's office.

As he walked, fellow Xuntian Guards he encountered, whether ordinary members or squad leaders, couldn't help but show a hint of surprise and curiosity in their eyes when they saw him. After a month of seclusion, Li Yifan's demeanor had changed significantly. Although he had deliberately restrained his aura, the self-confidence and composure radiating from him, along with the subtle pressure unique to Blood Refining Realm martial artists, could not be entirely hidden.

Arriving outside Commander Wang's office, after being announced by a guard, Li Yifan was invited in.

Commander Wang was poring over documents at his desk. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, and the moment his gaze fell upon Li Yifan, the hand holding his brush paused slightly. His eyes instantly blazed with unconcealed delight! As a master of the Meridian Opening Realm, he was intimately familiar with the aura of those in the same realm. The dense, refined blood essence fluctuations emanating from Li Yifan were undeniably real!

"Yifan! You've truly broken through to Blood Refining?!" Commander Wang abruptly stood up, circled his large desk, and strode to Li Yifan's side, his voice filled with excitement and disbelief.

Li Yifan cupped his hands, bowed respectfully, his voice calm yet firm: "Reporting to you, sir. Thanks to your great fortune, this subordinate was fortunate enough to succeed the day before yesterday, officially entering the Blood Refining Realm."

"Good! Good! Good!" Commander Wang exclaimed three times, clapping Li Yifan's shoulder with force, his face full of relief and pride. "Breaking through in a month, and with such a solid foundation! Yifan, you truly haven't disappointed this official!"

He carefully sensed Li Yifan's aura, nodding repeatedly: "Your blood essence is crimson with a hint of gold, condensed like silk, surging with power! It seems your Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique has reached perfection. Your future potential is limitless!"

"It is all thanks to your guidance and promises in the past, sir. This subordinate dares not slacken in the slightest," Li Yifan replied humbly, neither arrogant nor impatient.

"Haha, excellent! Not resting on your laurels and remaining humble is even rarer!" Commander Wang was overjoyed. He returned behind his desk, his expression turning serious, and took out a promotion document, sealed with wax, and a bronze seal placed in a brocade box.

"Li Yifan, receive your orders!"

"This subordinate is here!" Li Yifan responded solemnly, kneeling on one knee, hands clasped, ready to receive the command.

Commander Wang unfolded the document and spoke in a loud, solemn voice: "Hereby, Li Yifan, squad leader of the Qing Province Xuntian Guard, loyal, brave, diligent, and having achieved numerous remarkable feats, performed outstandingly in the recent demon-slaying operation, and whose cultivation has now advanced, successfully breaking through to the Blood Refining Realm. After thorough assessment by this official, he is confirmed to meet the criteria for promotion. In accordance with the laws of the Xuntian Guard, he is hereby promoted to the rank of seventh-grade Patrol Officer! He is granted the Patrol Officer's seal and badge, and will receive corresponding salary and authority! It is hoped that you will diligently fulfill your duties, protect Qing Province, and achieve new merits!"

"This subordinate accepts the order! Thank you for your cultivation and promotion, sir!" Li Yifan raised his hands high, receiving the bronze seal that symbolized power and responsibility, as well as a dark iron waist badge made of a more special material, engraved with intricate runes and the words "Xun Tian." The badge felt slightly heavy and cool to the touch, signifying a complete transformation of his status within the Xuntian Guard system.

From this moment on, he was an official seventh-grade Patrol Officer of the Great Xia Xuntian Guard! He was on par with Zhao Kuang and others, possessing independent authority to act and higher decision-making power.

Commander Wang smiled with satisfaction, gesturing for Li Yifan to rise: "Yifan, congratulations! The position of Patrol Officer is of great importance; they are the backbone of our Heavenly Patrol Bureau. Now that you have attained this position, there are three changes you must understand immediately, concerning the principles of your future actions."

"Please enlighten me, sir. This subordinate will listen attentively," Li Yifan said solemnly.

"Firstly, the change in authority," Commander Wang said, raising one finger. "You are now qualified to independently accept and execute Grade B missions. In the core area of the garrison, there is the 'Hub Operations Hall,' within which the 'Merit Award Hall' is responsible for the release, verification, and assessment of Grade B and above missions. You may enter and exit freely with your waist badge, selecting missions based on your own strength and judgment, without needing my assignment. Of course, in cases of urgent military intelligence or special missions, I and the Thousand-Household Commander still have the authority to dispatch you directly."

Independently accepting Grade B missions! Li Yifan understood. This meant great autonomy, allowing him to more flexibly plan his cultivation and mission routes.

"Secondly, the change in resources," Commander Wang said, raising his second finger, his tone tinged with seriousness. "Upon promotion to Patrol Officer, your monthly salary will increase significantly, including fixed contribution points, elixir quotas, and spirit stone supplies. Furthermore, as per the custom of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, each newly promoted Patrol Officer will receive an additional reward to enhance their foundation. You may use this waist badge to claim a standard Grade Two, Low-Rank weapon and a set of Grade Two, Low-Rank spirit-patterned armor from the 'Armaments Repository'! You may also enter the third level of the 'Skill Repository' and freely choose one peak Yellow Grade cultivation technique or martial skill!"

Grade Two, Low-Rank weapon and armor! Peak Yellow Grade cultivation technique and martial skill! Li Yifan's heart trembled. These were all genuinely valuable items! Grade Two, Low-Rank corresponded to Meridian Opening Realm cultivators and was far more powerful than his previous mortal weapons. Peak Yellow Grade cultivation techniques and martial skills were exceptionally rare, enough to be the treasured legacy of a major power, and now he could claim one for free! The treatment of a Patrol Officer was indeed far beyond what it used to be.

"Thirdly, the change in responsibilities," Commander Wang's expression turned grave as he raised his third finger. "Patrol Officers bear heavy responsibilities. Not only must you apprehend dangerous criminals and resolve local disputes, but you must also deal with various 'supernatural incidents' that may occur within your jurisdiction." He deliberately emphasized the words "supernatural incidents."

"Supernatural incidents?" Li Yifan's gaze sharpened.

"Indeed," Commander Wang said gravely. "The territory of our Great Xia is vast, with mountains and rivers imbued with unusual energies. Besides humans, there are also demons, spirits, monsters, and ghosts coexisting. There may be Monster Beasts wreaking havoc in villages, or vengeful spirits causing disturbances, or mountain spirits and tree sprites misleading travelers, and even occasional demonic cultivators who practice evil arts, controlling ghosts and corpses. Ordinary constables and bailiffs are powerless to handle these incidents, so our Xuntian Guard must act. Dealing with such incidents is often more perilous than confronting martial artists of the same level, as their methods are bizarre and unpredictable. You must be fully prepared."

Li Yifan recalled his experience of killing the Corpse Demon Old Monster Nie Wuya and deeply agreed. Such sinister and bizarre occurrences were indeed chilling.

Commander Wang continued: "Furthermore, you must begin to gradually interact with and understand the power structures within Qingzhou Prefecture City…" He then reiterated the details of the Zhao, Liu, Wang, and Sun families, how they each controlled the four auxiliary paths of alchemy, artifact refining, formations, and talismans, with each having a third-grade family head, backed by peak Innate old ancestors and the Kai Yang Prefecture.

The Zhao family, established through the path of alchemy. The family head, Zhao Yuanqing, is a third-grade alchemist, controlling nearly half of Qing Province's elixir circulation and maintaining good relations with various parties.

The Liu family, renowned for artifact refining. The family head, Liu Mingfeng, is a third-grade artifact refiner, skilled in forging various weapons and armor. Some of the special weapons for the Qing Province garrison and our Xuntian Guard are supplied by him.

The Wang family, specializing in formations. The family head, Wang Tianyuan, is a third-grade formation master. The family is adept at setting up various defensive, spirit-gathering, and trapping formations. Some of the city defense formations of Qingzhou Prefecture City were created by the Wang family.

The Sun family, focusing on talismans. The family head, Sun Miaobi, is a third-grade talisman master. The various offensive, defensive, and auxiliary talismans they produce are highly popular among low to mid-level cultivators and are important strategic consumable resources.

"When dealing with these forces, you must maintain the transcendent status of the Xuntian Guard, uphold justice, and also understand how to balance interests. When dealing with supernatural incidents, you may sometimes need to borrow their professional expertise, such as asking an alchemist to refine detoxification and miasma-breaking elixirs, an artifact refiner to repair weapons that counter evil, a formation master to set up sealing formations, or a talisman master to create talismans to ward off evil. You must grasp the nuances of this yourself," Commander Wang said earnestly.

Li Yifan couldn't help but recall the Xianxia novels he read before his transmigration. Wasn't this the standard setup for Xianxia novels? Wasn't this a high-martial world? However, the martial arts in this world were very strong, and reaching high realms could even lead to longevity, so it wasn't surprising.

Li Yifan firmly remembered this information, gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the responsibilities of a Patrol Officer. He would not only face ferocious criminals but also deal with bizarre demons and spirits, and navigate complex factions. Challenges and opportunities coexisted. "This subordinate understands and will certainly keep your teachings in mind, acting cautiously and not disgracing the reputation of our Xuntian Guard."

"Very good," Commander Wang nodded with satisfaction. "I will immediately report your promotion document to the Thousand-Household Commander for filing. Your new official residence has been prepared; it is adjacent to Patrol Officer Zhao Kuang's residence in the 'Listening to Bamboo Courtyard.' I will have someone guide you there shortly. For the original position of Seventh Squad Leader, do you have any recommended successors?"

Li Yifan pondered for a moment and said, "Squad member Qian Xiaoliu. He acts with composure, and his cultivation has reached the peak of late Bone Refining. He can temporarily assume the role of captain, and we can observe his performance."

"Agreed," Commander Wang assented. "In that case, you should first go to the Armaments Repository and Skill Repository to claim your rewards, and then settle in. Three days from now, the Merit Award Hall of the Hub Operations Hall will be on duty; you can go there yourself to familiarize yourself with it. If you have any unclear points, consult Zhao Kuang often."

"Yes! Thank you, sir!"

Leaving Commander Wang's office, Li Yifan did not return directly to his new residence but first went to a vital area of the garrison – the Armaments Repository.

After presenting his Patrol Officer waist badge and stating his purpose, the attendant of the Armaments Repository respectfully led him into the inner chamber. The inner chamber displayed various weapons gleaming coldly and armor exuding spiritual energy. According to regulations, Li Yifan chose a standard Grade Two, Low-Rank "Wind Breaking Saber." The blade was slender and extremely sharp. When infused with blood essence, faint green wind patterns flowed, enhancing the speed and sharpness of his slashes. For armor, he selected a set of Grade Two, Low-Rank "Black Iron Chainmail." It had a soft inner lining and was inlaid with dark iron plates at key areas, making it lightweight yet offering substantial defense, with a certain resistance to true qi and even some sinister energies.

After collecting his weapon and armor, Li Yifan proceeded to the third level of the Skill Repository. The cultivation techniques and martial skills collected here were far beyond those on the first and second levels. Under the guidance of the elder on duty, he carefully browsed the peak Yellow Grade secret manuals available for selection.

Among the cultivation techniques were the Yin-leaning "Mysterious Ice Technique," the heavy defensive "Earthen True Essence," and the swift explosive "Thunder Shakes the Nine Heavens." Among the martial skills were the elusive "Phantom Sword Technique," the overbearing "Mountain Splitting Palm," and the agile "Swimming Dragon Movement Technique." Li Yifan already possessed the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique, a main cultivation method with boundless potential, so he did not need to replace it. He focused his attention on martial skills.

His gaze swept across numerous peak martial skills, finally resting on a hard external training technique called "Golden Bell Cover." This technique was not offensive but focused on defense. Once mastered, it could form a tangible golden bell-like qi shield on the body's surface, capable of withstanding blades, water, and fire, offering astonishing defensive power.

"I already have the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique providing supreme Yang offense and some exorcising effects. The Scorching Sun Finger and Netherworld Ghost Shadow Steps cover offense and movement respectively, which are sufficient for now. My defensive means are relatively limited. The Iron Bone Technique I practiced before is no longer adequate, and I now rely mainly on evasion and armor. If I can master the Golden Bell Cover, it will perfectly compensate for my defensive shortcomings and greatly enhance my survivability. In the future, when facing Monster Beast charges, sneak attacks with evil arts, or chaotic arrow volleys in group combat, I will have an additional layer of protection," Li Yifan weighed the pros and cons in his mind and quickly made his decision.

"Elder, I choose this Golden Bell Cover," Li Yifan said to the elder on duty.

The elder glanced at the manual and nodded: "Golden Bell Cover? Not bad. A peak Yellow Grade external training technique. Although cultivation is arduous, once mastered, its life-saving ability is extremely strong. A very practical choice." Saying this, he copied the jade slip containing the Golden Bell Cover and handed it to Li Yifan.

After completing these matters, Li Yifan, with excitement in his heart, took his newly acquired weapons, armor, and secret manual to his new official residence – the Listening to Bamboo Courtyard. This courtyard was much more spacious and elegant than his previous squad leader's dwelling. Several clumps of green bamboo were nestled within, featuring a private quiet room, a study, a reception hall, and a small training ground paved with bluestone. The environment was serene, and the facilities were complete.

After settling in, Li Yifan first familiarized himself with his new surroundings. Then, he went to visit Zhao Kuangfeng in the neighboring courtyard.

Upon seeing him, Zhao Kuangfeng offered a hearty round of congratulations. He also approved of Li Yifan's choice of the Golden Bell Cover: "Golden Bell Cover? Haha, good! Brother, you know how to protect yourself! We patrol envoys are always on the road, dealing with all sorts of strange things. A strong body is more important than anything! This skill, once mastered, will be incredibly useful in critical moments!"

He then enthusiastically shared more experiences and precautions for dealing with supernatural events, especially emphasizing how bizarre and unpredictable many demonic attacks were, making strong defense crucial. This further convinced Li Yifan that his choice was correct.

For the next two days, Li Yifan remained indoors. He first spent time refining his new Wind Breaking Saber and Xuan Iron Armor, ensuring they were initially compatible with his true qi. Then, he began to diligently study the Golden Bell Cover manual. The Yellow Grade top-tier body-tempering technique was indeed profound. The methods for circulating qi and blood, vibrating acupoints, and synergistically strengthening muscles, bones, skin, and membranes were extremely complex and arduous. However, after an initial understanding, he could already feel the powerful defensive principles it contained.

Concurrently, he continued to consolidate his cultivation realm and reread the case files on the various factions in Qing Province and common types of supernatural events, fully preparing himself for his upcoming career as a patrol envoy.

Three days later, Li Yifan, for the first time as a patrol envoy, stepped into the Merit Hall of the Administration Office.

The atmosphere in the Merit Hall was solemn, with spiritual light flowing across the massive task jade tablet. As Commander Wang had said, the contribution point rewards for Class B missions fluctuated between one thousand and five thousand points, with clear differences based on difficulty and danger.

Li Yifan walked straight up to browse the tasks. Finally, his gaze fell upon a Class B mission again:

[Mission Level]: Class B- (Lower)

[Mission Content]: Investigate the recent frequent mysterious comas among residents in "Black Water Town," under the jurisdiction of Qingzhou Prefecture. Ascertain the root cause and resolve it.

[Recommended Personnel]: 1-2 people

[Mission Deadline]: Fifteen days

[Mission Reward]: 1,200 contribution points

[Remarks]: The incident is bizarre. The comatose individuals show no physical abnormalities, their souls seemingly disturbed. Suspected involvement of Yin-evil arts or special drugs. Handle with caution.

"Souls disturbed... Yin-evil arts..." Li Yifan felt this mission was very suitable. It would allow him to practice independent problem-solving skills, and the contribution points were decent. The Nine Yang True Fire was a nemesis to Yin-evil entities.

He walked towards the duty officer and presented his waist token.

"I wish to accept the Class B- mission, the Black Water Town coma incident."

"Confirmed. Here is the mission dossier. Wishing Patrol Envoy Li success."

Taking the dossier, Li Yifan walked out of the Administration Office. Sunlight streamed down as he took a deep breath, his gaze resolute. A brand-new challenge had begun.