Chief Cao

After a few pleasantries, Chief Cao finally turned his gaze to the young woman beside Xu Ming.

"Brother Xu, who might this be?"

Chief Cao narrowed his eyes slightly as he studied Jiang Yuechu.

Xu Ming's smile faded, and his expression grew solemn. "Brother Cao, this is my young friend Jiang. I haven't come to your Merit Evaluation Immortal Office merely to catch up. I'm here about her entry into the Heavenly Court."

"Oh?"

Chief Cao raised an eyebrow.

Anyone personally escorted through the Merit Evaluation process by an official of the Heavenly Patrol Division could hardly have an ordinary background.

He was about to ask where she came from when Xu Ming leaned in and murmured a few words beside his ear.

Her voice was so low that no one else could make out a word.

But everyone could see the expression of this Subordinate Seventh Rank chief of the Merit Evaluation Division change several times in the space of a few breaths.

First came puzzlement, then shock. Finally, his eyes flew wide.

"This... this..."

Chief Cao struggled for words. After stammering for a while, he finally managed, "This... how is this possible? How could anyone possess such..."

Xu Ming drew back, satisfied. Watching her old friend lose his composure, she could not help sounding a little smug. "Well? I was stunned when I first saw it too. You've presided over this Merit Evaluation Immortal Office for years, Brother Cao. Across the Nine Provinces, have you ever heard of talent this terrifying?"

Chief Cao swallowed hard.

He had never heard of it. He would not even have dared dream of it.

A single Heaven-Grade Dao Chess Piece would have been enough to alarm the great figures.

Sixteen of them...

A long while passed.

Chief Cao drew a deep breath