Seeing Chen Xia's attitude and the look in his eyes, Jiang Xinglan knew her actions had worked quite well. She said, "Mm. Remember, you're not strong enough yet. Just investigate, and don't get into a confrontation with the Evil Cult."
"Their methods are extremely sinister, and the Gathering of Heroes may only be a front. It won't be easy to find the Evil Cult's base of operations. If you do find it, don't act on your own. Just report back to me."
"Here's my Feixun Number. Add me."
Jiang Xinglan opened her Electronic watch and scanned Chen Xia's via Bluetooth. The two of them added each other on Feixun, so they could contact each other directly from then on.
Chen Xia found it a little unbelievable. The other party was the Chief Director. Was she really being this generous?
"Don't contact me directly unless it's something important. When you successfully forge Silver Bones, I can give you some pointers and help you reach greater heights."
"Also, I've already told the South City Branch Office to look after you. If you manage to forge Silver Bones within two years, I may consider transferring you to the Chief Office. You may go."
"Thank you for your promotion, Chief Director!" A thousand words welled up inside him, but as he looked at the stunningly beautiful, heroic woman before him, Chen Xia couldn't bring himself to say anything else.
He truly hadn't expected to get the opportunity he wanted so easily—and to receive special attention from the Chief Office, no less.
That was exactly what he needed most.
Jiang Xinglan waved her hand, dismissing Chen Xia.
As she watched Chen Xia leave, a figure suddenly appeared beside her in the otherwise empty office, materializing like a shadow. She was another woman in uniform.
The woman asked in confusion, "Chief Director, do you really think that highly of him? He's only a Grade 1 martial artist. Although he got lucky and killed Hu Biao, he's nothing special within the Patrol Inspection Office."
Hearing this, Jiang Xinglan smiled. "I haven't been with the Patrol Inspection Office long, and I need a team of my own. They'll be useful in the future. Don't underestimate Chen Xia, either. He comes from humble beginnings and was stuck at the Seventh Stage of Ningyuan for years without making progress. But that's precisely what makes him frightening!"
"Xiao Lin, have you ever heard of an ordinary person suddenly advancing two stages in a matter of months at a bottleneck like that, then killing an Eighth Stage Grade 1 martial artist?"
Xiao Lin replied, "People who practice Evil Techniques or take special potions can make rapid progress in a short time, but their potential is capped. Someone like Chen Xia is rare."
"Exactly. His talent has incredible explosive potential! It just hasn't emerged yet. It's a pity he's already a little old."
"The earlier a martial artist awakens their talent, the stronger it tends to be. He's a Grade 1 martial artist now, and it may take him a while to reach Grade 3 and forge Silver Bones."
"Chief Director, what's his talent?" Xiao Lin asked softly, blinking.
"I'm not sure. It might be a talent for comprehension, something related to the mind."
"Something related to the mind? Couldn't he develop in inscription, crafting, or even sorcery?"
"That would take too much effort. If someone can cultivate martial arts well, they're already formidable. There's no need to pursue other fields." Jiang Xinglan shook her head.
Xiao Lin nodded, then seemed to think of something. "You asked him to investigate the Night God Sect... Even Captain Liu Jun, the head of the South City team, wouldn't dare confront those people head-on. Could Chen Xia end up dying at the hands of the Evil Cult?"
"I only asked him to investigate. I didn't ask him to eliminate the Night God Sect."
"Oh, right. Go tell the Finance Department to send him his bonus."...
After leaving the Patrol Inspection Chief Office, Chen Xia felt as if he were dreaming. Not only had he met the Chief Director, he'd also gotten her contact information and received special attention.
He knew what that meant. An ordinary man with no connections who received the Chief Office's backing would have a much smoother path to promotion.
In this era, a lone wolf could never command as many resources as someone in a high position with power. So Chen Xia intended to keep walking this path.
Of course, it all still came down to his own strength. If he hadn't killed Hu Biao and shown his potential, he never would have gotten this opportunity.
Ding! Not long after Chen Xia stepped outside, a bonus of one hundred thousand yuan arrived in his account. It was an unexpected windfall, and seemed to be forty thousand more than he'd anticipated.
But Hu Biao had been a traitor, so one hundred thousand wasn't unreasonable.
As Chen Xia left the Patrol Inspection Office, the Patrol Squad Leader from earlier hurried over again and personally saw him off.
The whole process had gone smoothly, and it made Chen Xia feel just how much his increased Martial Force had changed things.
What's more, Jiang Xinglan had taken special care of him this time, putting in a word for him at the South City Branch Office and getting him promoted to squad leader. He wouldn't be an ordinary patrol officer there anymore.
Looking at the money in his account, he now had nearly two hundred thousand yuan, enough to ease his family's financial troubles at once. It had come through legitimate channels, so he could use it openly.
Of course, the most valuable thing he'd gotten this time was the white book in his hands: the Vajra Bone Tempering Technique. Chen Xia looked it up on his phone. It was a mid-grade bone-tempering technique worth two hundred and thirty thousand yuan.
Bone-tempering techniques were relatively expensive, and Jiang Xinglan's generosity saved him the trouble of buying one.
Chen Xia skimmed the book. It contained thirty-six diagrams of bone-tempering movements, to be used with breathing exercises, Silver Dust Powder, and a set of Inner Method circulation routes to temper the bones throughout the body. It was complete once all his bones had been replaced with Silver Bones.
The technique required a foundation as a Grade 2 martial artist. It was more complete than the low-grade methods, but fell a little short of Superior Grade techniques, with gaps in the bone-tempering process.
But Chen Xia could reverse even this minor flaw, so it wasn't a concern.
Once reversed, the technique would automatically be perfected, forming a new variation in Chen Xia's mind. For now, though, he still needed to advance to Grade 2 and build a solid foundation. There was no need to cultivate it just yet.
Chen Xia hailed a car and returned to the South City Branch Office.
As soon as he got back, Captain Liu summoned him to the office.
Captain Liu seemed to be smiling more than usual this time.
Liu Jun looked at Chen Xia, took a document from his desk, and said, "This is your appointment letter and enlistment form. Captain Liao of Team Five has retired, leaving his position vacant. I just got a call from the higher-ups. They're planning to promote you."
"Thank you for supporting me, Captain Liu..."
"Heh, you earned it through your own performance. It has nothing to do with me. You know the Patrol Inspection Office values strength above all else. You earned the Chief Office's approval through your own ability."
After a pause, Liu Jun smiled. "Oh, right... Captain Chen, I never told you what happened with your nomination for deputy captain. There really was an unexpected complication."
"Captain Liu, I don't mind about the deputy captain position. Yang Hua is stronger than me, so he deserved the promotion. Besides, I still haven't properly thanked you for helping my cousin last time." Chen Xia quickly replied, his thoughts racing.
Hearing this, Liu Jun smiled. "Good. You're a rising star at the Chief Office now. If anything comes up, you can contact me right away. Here's my phone number and Feixun Number."
"Also, your cousin's situation should be fine now. I'll call them over there. I'm sure he'll be released in a few days."
"Then thank you, Captain Liu."
After speaking with Liu Jun for a while, Chen Xia filled out the enlistment form on the desk.
It was the paperwork for his official enlistment and promotion to squad leader. It would be filed in the Archives and entered into the system later.
It meant that Chen Xia had become an official employee and been promoted to squad leader. He would receive a new uniform and communication equipment, as well as a raise in his monthly salary and benefits.
He would also take over Team Five's online group, becoming its new group admin and taking charge of communication and command.
Once he had finished filling out the form, Liu Jun told Chen Xia that he didn't need his help with the next steps. He told Chen Xia to get ready to take over Team Five's quarters.
Before you continue