External Assignment

"Brother Xuan, they're all handing over money. Should you..."

Chen Shitou frowned deeply as he watched, lowering his voice.

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

Chen Xuan remained calm, his gaze sweeping over those disciples offering money without stirring the slightest ripple in his heart.

With the Zhaoxi Bizheng fate in his hands, he gained a year's worth of cultivation each day.

He had broken through to the sixth level of the Body Tempering Realm yesterday. When the sun set today, he would gain another point of Zhaoxi Value and break through to the seventh level. One realm a day—what was there to be anxious about?

Good positions or bad positions were only temporary to him.

With this cheat.

Let alone the Body Tempering Realm, reaching the Zhuqi Realm, or even higher realms... was merely a matter of time.

Before long.

Steward Qian put away the roster, cleared his throat, and called out, "Quiet down, everyone!"

The square immediately fell silent.

Steward Qian swept his gaze around before saying loudly, "Today is the day you are assigned away from the sect. The sect knows your cultivation has not come easily and has specially arranged placements for you. This is both a rule and an opportunity. Once you arrive, work diligently and serve the sect well. In the future, you may yet have a chance at promotion."

As he spoke, Steward Qian opened the roster and began reading names. "Zhao Yuan, Sun Li, Li Chengye... you twenty-two are assigned to the Constabulary of Pingyang City in Cangwu Prefecture. Your specific duties will be arranged by the local constable chief. You must fulfill your duties faithfully and safeguard the peace of the region."

"Many thanks, Steward!"

The twenty-two disciples whose names had been called beamed with joy, repeatedly cupping their hands in thanks.

Pingyang City of Cangwu Prefecture was a prosperous place, and the Constabulary was rich with profits. Clearly, the silver they had given had worked.

"Luo Fan, Pan Ning, Tang Shang... you eighteen will proceed to Balin Mine in Anyuan City, Cangwu Prefecture."

"Wei Zhan, Tian Mu, Yin Ping... proceed to Dingtao City in Yingshui Prefecture..."

As name after name was called, the disciples were either delighted or worried. Those who had given lavish gifts were assigned to decent places, while those who had offered little money were sent to remote and barren lands.

After all, there were only so many good posts to go around; it was impossible to assign everyone one. Those who had paid silver could at most avoid being sent somewhere excessively dangerous, but if they wanted those lucrative positions, they could forget it.

Chen Xuan listened without changing expression.

Soon, only the last few names remained on the roster.

Steward Qian closed the roster, raised his head, and let his gaze fall on Chen Xuan and Chen Shitou. He said blandly, "Chen Xuan, assigned to Lianshan City in Tiannan Prefecture. Your specific duties will be determined by the local steward."

"Lianshan City in Tiannan Prefecture? Isn't that at the border where the three sects meet?"

"It's nominally governed jointly by the three sects, but precisely because of that, disciples of the three sects refuse to yield to one another and often break out into bloody clashes."

"The death rate for disciples sent to Tiannan Prefecture is as high as ninety percent."

"This Chen Xuan must have offended Steward Qian!"

"..."

At once, low murmurs rose across the square.

"Tiannan Prefecture?"

Chen Shitou's expression changed upon hearing this.

Though he had never been to Tiannan Prefecture, after three years in the Guiyuan Sect, he had long heard of that place.

Tiannan Prefecture lay at the intersection of the Guiyuan Sect, the Blood Fiend Devil Sect, and Ten Thousand Sword Villa, and was jointly administered by all three powers.

But precisely because of this, disciples of the three sects frequently erupted into fierce conflicts over resources and territory. Bloody fights were as commonplace as daily meals.

The death rate for disciples dispatched to Tiannan Prefecture was alarmingly high.

Outer sect disciples were sent there every month, yet the place remained chronically short-handed.

"Brother Xuan, you..." Chen Shitou had barely opened his mouth when Chen Xuan interrupted, "Shitou, there's no need to worry. I have my own plans."

Chen Xuan's gaze was calm, without the slightest trace of panic, as though he had long expected this result.

"Brother Xuan, be extra careful once you reach Lianshan City."

Since things had come to this, Chen Shitou knew there was no use saying anything.

Positions assigned by the sect could not be changed.

At the very least, they would not be changed for a tiny outer sect disciple with no background whatsoever.

"Once you arrive at your assignments, no matter what post you hold, perform well. If you render merit, the sect will naturally reward you."

After saying that, Steward Qian waved his hand, indicating that they could leave.

The outer sect disciples scattered in all directions.

Chen Xuan did not delay and immediately returned to his residence to pack his things.

There was not much to pack, really—just a few changes of clothes and several dozen taels of silver, his entire worldly wealth.

The sect gave each person only a horse, along with a letter of recommendation.

When Chen Xuan led his horse out of the South Courtyard, Chen Shitou accompanied him all the way to the mountain gate.

"Brother Xuan, remember to send me word once you get there."

Chen Shitou's eyes were slightly red.

"Don't worry." Chen Xuan swung onto his horse and patted him on the shoulder. "Cultivate well. When it's your turn to be assigned away, your brother will come get you."

"Mm!"

Chen Shitou nodded hard.

Chen Xuan pressed his heels to the horse's flanks and rode down the mountain.

Behind him, the mountain gate of the Guiyuan Sect gradually vanished into the morning mist.

The journey from the Guiyuan Sect to Tiannan Prefecture was long, spanning several thousand li.

Chen Xuan traveled south alone along the official road.

Time passed.

Soon, the setting sun sank beneath the horizon.

[Zhaoxi Value +1]

At a thought, the panel appeared before his eyes.

Host: Chen Xuan

Fate: Zhaoxi Bizheng (Whenever the sun rises or sets, one point of energy can be accumulated. It can be used to accelerate martial arts cultivation, gaining a year's worth of cultivation each day.)

Realm: Sixth Level of the Body Tempering Realm (Anjin)

Martial Arts: Giant Whale Body Refining Technique / Sixth Layer, Mountain Crushing Fist / Proficient

Zhaoxi Value: 1

"Upgrade the Giant Whale Body Refining Technique."

Chen Xuan chose to allocate the point without hesitation.

Buzz—

Another year of arduous cultivation.

The Giant Whale Body Refining Technique broke through from the sixth layer to the seventh, and his cultivation also advanced to the seventh level of the Body Tempering Realm, the Yangzang Realm.

His five viscera and six bowels were tempered, his blood and qi brimmed, and his vitality surged.

Chen Xuan felt the changes within his body and nodded in satisfaction. Upon reaching the seventh level of the Body Tempering Realm, his internal organs had been strengthened and tempered, greatly improving his endurance and allowing him to sustain battle for longer.

Since coming to this world.

In merely two days, Chen Xuan had broken through from the fifth level of the Body Tempering Realm to the seventh. Yet even at top speed, it would take at least eight days to travel from the Guiyuan Sect to Lianshan City in Tiannan Prefecture.

Excluding today, there were still seven days left.

That meant seven more points of Zhaoxi Value and another seven years of cultivation.

"No rush. The road is still long. Take it slowly."

Chen Xuan withdrew his thoughts and focused on traveling.

On the evening of the third day of his journey to Tiannan Prefecture.

Chen Xuan spent two points of Zhaoxi Value to upgrade the Giant Whale Body Refining Technique, and his cultivation advanced from the seventh level of the Body Tempering Realm to the eighth.

The eighth level of the Body Tempering Realm, the Shenyong Realm, marked the completion of Body Tempering. The flesh became tough, breaking beyond ordinary human understanding and reaching four or five times the limits of normal people. With a swing of one arm, one could unleash a thousand jin of force and fight bears and tigers.

If such power struck a person, a casual blow could shatter bones and snap tendons, sending flesh and blood flying. Divine might was invincible.

In the eyes of ordinary people, one who reached the eighth level of the Body Tempering Realm was no longer mortal.

Chen Xuan felt the surging power within him, and heroic fervor rose in his heart. Though such strength was nothing within the Guiyuan Sect, in some small cities, it was already considered among the very best.