Promotion

The Golden Bell Guard surnamed Lu found Zhao Hong and Zhou Baishan's fascinated expressions rather amusing.

"Yang Ling had only recently entered the Innate realm. Among the many Crimson-Robed Inspectors, his strength was not particularly outstanding."

"That tiger demon had originally been assigned to another Crimson-Robed Inspector for suppression. But the tiger demon's entire body was treasure, and Innate-level ones were rare even in the vast Azure Cloud Mountains."

"So Yang Ling had been extremely eager for it. I heard he paid quite a price to snatch the task of suppressing the tiger demon. The Crimson-Robed Inspector who lost the task cursed for quite a while afterward; everyone knew about it. But the Yang Family was formidable, after all."

"Later, when people asked him about it, Yang Ling said he had already suppressed and hunted down the tiger demon."

"But then the tiger demon suddenly appeared here, and its cultivation had even advanced. Once word gets back to the Judge's Office, it'll simply be..."

He kept shaking his head, his eyes full of ridicule.

Yang Feng, walking ahead, heard this and forcibly suppressed the grievance and indignation in his heart, nearly burying his head in his chest.

It was simply humiliating.

Zhao Hong and Zhou Baishan exchanged looks, both speechless.

It truly left them speechless.

The dignified third young master of the Yang Family, an Innate martial artist.

What the hell had he been doing?

And in a place like the Judge's Office, no less.

Good news never left the house, but bad news traveled a thousand miles.

Yang Ling's reputation was finished.

Zhao Hong was naturally delighted to see it.

Though he also found it a pity.

Why hadn't that tiger demon killed the bastard?

That Crimson-Robed Inspector whose task of "suppressing the tiger demon" had been stolen...

Zhao Hong's heart stirred.

"Brother Lu, what was the name of that other Crimson-Robed Inspector?"

"That one? His name is Wei Tianhe."

Wei Tianhe.

Zhao Hong committed the name to memory.

With his task stolen, Wei Tianhe surely had no goodwill toward Yang Ling or the Yang Family.

If they crossed paths in the future, perhaps he could rely on him a little.

The enemy of an enemy was a friend, wasn't he?

"Brother Lu, do you happen to know a Crimson-Robed Inspector named Hu Yingying?" Zhao Hong asked again, somewhat embarrassed.

"Hu Yingying?"

The Golden Bell Guard surnamed Lu did not mind. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I have heard of her. She seemed to have originally been the commander of a certain region under the Inspection Bureau, and she had a grudge against the Yang Family."

"She fought Yang Ling as soon as she entered the Judge's Office."

"As for anything else, I don't know."

"Thank you, Brother Lu."

Zhao Hong clasped his fists in gratitude, then withdrew his gaze and sighed inwardly.

It seemed he would have to wait until he was inside the Judge's Office to find another chance to look for Senior Sister Hu.

Still, Hu Yingying's identity surprised him greatly.

Like Zhou Baishan, she had been transferred from the Inspection Bureau, and had even been a regional commander.

They continued onward.

Zhou Baishan walked up beside Zhao Hong and asked quietly, "You have some connection to the Eight Desolations Six Directions Martial Hall, don't you?"

Zhao Hong did not deny it and nodded with a bitter smile.

From the information he had asked Li Tai for earlier, as well as his reaction, people could hardly avoid making certain guesses.

"Once we're in the Judge's Office, I'll keep an eye out for Hu Yingying for you. If I hear anything, I'll let you know."

Zhou Baishan patted Zhao Hong's shoulder.

After all, unlike Zhao Hong, he had come from the Inspection Bureau.

He knew some Silver Bell Guards and Golden Bell Guards at the Judge's Office as well.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou."

Zhao Hong did not stand on ceremony with Zhou Baishan.

Their relationship had been tempered through life and death.

He could not say they could completely entrust their backs to one another, but at least when no interests were involved, they were highly reliable.

Zhao Hong did not idle away his time on the road.

He walked and cultivated at the same time.

Half a day later.

At the end of the Clawfang Mountain region, atop a towering ridge.

Looking ahead.

He could vaguely see vast mountain ranges winding into the distance.

Even just the outer reaches looked like the coiled body of a gigantic python.

Calling it Stone Python Coil was indeed fitting.

A day later.

By the time they reached the Judge's Office, Zhao Hong had completely absorbed all four bottles of the tiger demon's precious blood.

He felt that he was only one step away from the late Blood Aura stage.

With another two Profound Earth Pills to push himself, it would come naturally.

A vast complex of enormous buildings came into view, built against the mountains.

At a glance, it sprawled over the high ground of the region like a majestic mountain range.

Before the Judge's Office stood, just as at the Clawfang Mountain garrison, a Judge's banner towering into the heavens. It fluttered in the wind, its cold edge glinting beneath the sunlight with a chilling sharpness.

A single banner resembled a divine weapon.

The instant Zhao Hong's gaze touched the words "Judge's Brush" branded upon it, a chill ran down his spine. They contained terrifying mysteries.

They had arrived at the Judge's Office.

The solemn and imposing complex matched Zhao Hong's expectations, even surpassing them.

This was what a powerful institution under the Great Li imperial court should look like.

"Let's first see how many people are waiting to be promoted. If there aren't many, we may have to wait a few days."

Zhou Baishan knew the way well and led Zhao Hong and the other two to a courtyard.

After asking around, they learned that nearly twenty Silver Bell Guards were still waiting.

Once they registered, the assessment would begin two days later.

"Good news. There's no assessment mission this time. As long as your strength is sufficient, you can be directly promoted to Golden Bell Guard."

Zhou Baishan looked delighted.

Waiting two days was nothing at all.

Afterward.

The group of four split up.

Zhao Hong still followed Zhou Baishan.

Most of the residences for Golden Bell Guards and Silver Bell Guards here had no restrictions.

As long as a place was empty, one could hang up a plaque and stay there.

When leaving, one only needed to take down the plaque, making it convenient for others to return and lodge there.

Only those at the Inspector level had fixed residences and towers.

Zhao Hong had no particular requirements for lodging. Anywhere he could rest was fine.

"After becoming a Golden Bell Guard, you can choose one cultivation method from the Judge's Office for free. It is closely related to your own Mystic Embryo cultivation. Most people exchange their merits for the preliminary method before their promotion, then choose a related Mystic Embryo method after advancing. The strength of the Mystic Embryo has a fundamental connection to combat power and even your later breakthrough into the Innate realm, so you must think it through."

"Besides that, there's no need to rush to exchange merits for cultivation methods or resources. Wait until after your promotion."

"You stay here for now. I'll go ask around among some acquaintances."

After Zhou Baishan left, Zhao Hong returned to the room and pondered Old Zhou's words.

Mystic Embryo cultivation methods.

Golden Bell Guards were all in the Mystic Embryo realm.

Yet his cultivation was still at the Blood Aura realm.

For him, that was actually a good thing. He could prepare in advance.

"Mystic Embryo methods are crucial. Uncle Yang never taught me any of this. He only said the Six Harmonies Saber Art could help with the Mystic Embryo, and the Martial Hall should have further methods."

"The help provided by the Six Harmonies Saber Art should be that state I experienced when I reached major mastery."

That scene remained deeply etched in his memory.

Although it had come from grasping saber intent, its foundation was the complete Six Harmonies—a breath, a state in which his flesh, organs, and spirit were in perfect coordination.

Embryo stirring?

Zhao Hong's heart moved. Thinking carefully, it really was somewhat fitting.

Moreover, the Six Harmonies Saber Art was a saber art, but the fusion and harmony of the Six Harmonies originated from the foundation itself. It contained no attributes or categories, being pure and untainted. No matter which Mystic Embryo method he cultivated, it could assist him.

"Impressive."

Zhao Hong suddenly felt as though the clouds had parted and the sun had emerged.

"Still, I have Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bones. The Martial Hall's Mystic Embryo methods may not necessarily suit me."

His was a special set of bones.

Zhao Yang did not know about it.

More importantly, as an authoritative government office established by the Great Li imperial court, the Judge's Office surely possessed far more cultivation methods than the Martial Hall.

The Eight Desolations Six Directions Martial Hall might not be weak, but Zhao Yang's injuries involved a powerful family from the prefectural city, enough to make the Martial Hall unable to contend with them. Could a powerful family compare to the Judge's Office?

Zhao Yang had not taught him more... Zhao Hong suddenly slapped his forehead. "Uncle Yang probably never imagined that my progress after leaving would be so astonishing."

Who in their right mind could reach this point within just a few months?

"Methods related to dragons and tigers would undoubtedly suit me best."

"I just wonder whether the Judge's Office has any."

"And Senior Sister Hu—if she's in the Judge's Office, it would be best to ask her about the Martial Hall's methods and compare them."

His thoughts churned for a long while before Zhao Hong slowly calmed himself. There was no need to rush.

Hopefully Old Zhou could find out something.

More than an hour later.

Zhou Baishan returned.

The information he brought left Zhao Hong quite helpless.

He had found out Hu Yingying's fixed residence within the Judge's Office.

But she was not there.

He heard that she had gone out several days ago.

No one knew when she would return. As an Innate-level Crimson-Robed Inspector, given the current situation in the Azure Cloud Mountains, whether she had gone out on personal business or a mission, she likely would not return anytime soon.

This completely crushed his thoughts of seeking her guidance.

He could only cultivate honestly and wait wholeheartedly for the day of promotion.

Two days later.

Zhao Hong's cultivation broke through to the late Blood Aura stage.