The Fate Artifact Raises One's Rank

"The Middle Way? I've heard of it in books, but they don't explain it in detail," Li Qingxian said.

Han Anbo said helplessly, "They dare not go into details. The more you talk about this kind of thing, the more likely you are to fall for it again."

"Is it that scary? Then what is a 'middle ghost'? Can you explain it simply?"

Han Anbo pondered for a long time before saying, "Being possessed by a ghost is similar to being cursed or poisoned, but it is far more potent and sinister than a curse, making it extremely difficult to cure."

"How exactly do we solve the mystery?"

Han Anbo said helplessly, "Although I've tried to break free from ghosts before, the whole process was confusing, and I still don't have a foolproof method. If I had to give some advice, I could only share some basic experience. For example, once you're caught in a ghost's trap, you must strictly follow certain rules. If you break the rules, you'll be injured at best, and die at worst. As for how to break free, there are many different opinions, but you need to find the right opportunity. If you choose the wrong time, it will definitely be a dead end."

"Horrible..."

"Also, you need to be more careful."

"What does this have to do with me?" Li Qingxian asked.

"Fate Arts Master are good at deciphering the supernatural, but they are also easily deceived." Han Anbo's eyes were deep and unfathomable.

"Really? Then I'll have to stay away from Eerie Demon from now on," Li Qingxian said.

Han Anbo said, "On such a joyous occasion, let's not talk about those demonic creatures. Just wait, once it's confirmed that you've been promoted to Fate Arts Master, the Commander of the Guards may personally receive you."

"Is that so?" Li Qingxian said.

"Just wait for the news. You'll understand the status of Fate Arts Master then," Han Anbo said with a smile.

Just then, a knock came at the door. "Is Captain Li Qingxian home?"

"They're here," Han Anbo said.

Upon opening the door, a guard from Chunfeng Residence greeted Li Qingxian with a bow and said, "Lord Daren said that you are invited to Chunfeng Residence tomorrow morning to attend the Directors' Assembly Hall."

"Okay, thank you," Li Qingxian said.

After the guards left, Li Qingxian curled his lip and said, "What's so great about going to the Directors' Assembly Hall? You'll just be standing there anyway."

Han Anbo opened his mouth to say something, but smiled and closed it.

Having successfully forged his Fate Artifact, Li Qingxian rested and slept soundly that night instead of cultivating.

Early the next morning, Li Qingxian went to Chunfeng Residence.

In the spring Chunfeng Residence summer, the morning light illuminates a hundred flowers, making them bloom in vibrant colors.

The study was packed with officials from the Divine Capital Office, and many were still standing outside.

Several acquaintances, such as He Lei, the head of the Street Patrol Office, and Cao Ming, the chief clerk, were present.

When they saw Li Qingxian, they all greeted him and stood up from their seats.

It was even more lively than the last time outside the Directors' Hall.

When the time came, Zhou Chunfeng led the way, with Li Qingxian beside him, and the group of more than twenty people set off together.

Along the way, I kept seeing colleagues dressed in fine clothes.

Upon arriving outside the Directors' Hall, Li Qingxian glanced around. The low platform at the deepest part was empty. The four rosewood armchairs inside remained unchanged, but there were many more rosewood round-back chairs and willow folding chairs, some of which were even placed behind the pillars.

Just as Li Qingxian was about to walk in, he noticed Zhou Chunfeng stop and look ahead.

A group of Night Guard in brocade robes approached.

The leader wore Fourth Rank leopard-head bronze breastplate, with skin as white as snow, bright red lips, and large, clear eyes. Like Zhou Chunfeng, he had a feminine appearance, but was taller and more imposing, with an even more commanding presence. In terms of looks alone, he was not much less handsome than Zhou Chunfeng. The two together were like a pair of jade beauties, a perfect match.

However, this person's face was very cold, as if frozen, unlike Zhou Chunfeng's approachable demeanor... Wait a minute!

Li Qingxian glanced at the woman's throat and saw that she didn't have an Adam's apple. Then he looked at the hairpin in her hair and suddenly realized that she was a spirited female official. This was probably Song Yanxue, the Left Commander and Demon-Hunting Office.

The two teams stopped, and the officials from both sides bowed to each other.

"Greetings, Daren Song."

"Greetings, Daren Zhou."

Li Qingxian glanced around and spotted a familiar face.

Ye Han stood not far from Song Yanxue, separated by several Middle Rank officials.

Ye Han also looked over.

The two nodded slightly.

Li Qingxian sensed something in Ye Han's gaze, but couldn't quite understand it.

"Yan Xue," Zhou Chunfeng greeted with a smile.

To everyone's surprise, Song Yanxue ignored him completely. Her tall figure stood as straight as a mountain, and she looked Li Qingxian up and down with her cold eyes.

"Li Qingxian?" Song Yanxue's voice was like ice striking, crystal clear.

Li Qingxian immediately bowed and said, "It is indeed I, your humble servant."

"Well done! Don't follow Zhou Chunfeng's bad example. The Demon-Hunting Office welcomes you anytime." After saying that, she didn't even look at Zhou Chunfeng and walked straight into the Directors' Hall.

Ye Han glanced at Li Qingxian, his gaze growing increasingly complex.

Li Qingxian stood there, completely bewildered, not understanding what was going on. Weren't the Middle Rank officials supposed to be all smiles and harmony?

Can Zhou Chunfeng tolerate this person slapping him in the face on the spot?

Li Qingxian looked at Zhou Chunfeng, who still maintained a faint smile.

Li Qingxian looked at the other officials, all of whom remained calm.

Li Qingxian winked at Zhou Hen.

Zhou Hen glanced at Zhou Chunfeng and secretly transmitted his voice.

"Song Yanxue's mother, who was unable to marry Daren Zhou, fell ill from grief and regretted it for the rest of her life."

Li Qingxian suddenly realized, and countless stories came to mind.

Got it!

Li Qingxian gave Zhou Chunfeng a thumbs up.

Zhou Chunfeng glared at Li Qingxian, bowed, and entered the Directors' Hall.

Inside the Directors' Hall, the morning light and candlelight mingled, but in Li Qingxian's eyes, it was still somewhat dark and cold.

As Li Qingxian stepped over the threshold, he saw that the walls on both sides of the main hall were lined with hundreds Tenth Rank low-ranking officials in brocade robes.

A large number of military officers wore white horse insignia, interspersed with a few civil officials wearing magpie insignia.

Li Qingxian glanced down at his white horse-patterned badge, then walked towards the corner of the wall. This time there were many people, so he could lean against the wall without being discovered.

Seeing Li Qingxian walk towards the corner, He Lei couldn't help but ask, "Li Qingxian, what are you doing?"

Everyone in the hall turned their heads at once, glanced at He Lei, and then looked at Li Qingxian, who looked completely bewildered.

"Huh?" Li Qingxian didn't understand.

He Lei pointed to the last rosewood armchair, the seat for a Middle Three Ranks official.

"Should I sit there?" Li Qingxian noticed everyone was looking at him and lowered his voice, but the hall was too quiet and everyone could hear him.

He Lei nodded.

Li Qingxian lowered his voice even further and said, "Stop fooling around. This is a white horse patch, not a bear, elephant, or leopard patch."

As he spoke, Li Qingxian tugged at the rank badge on his chest.

After a brief silence, everyone burst into laughter.

Li Qingxian. He glanced at the officials and realized that there was no malice in their smiles; they simply found it amusing.

Even Song Yanxue, the Left Commander, had a much gentler expression, with the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.

He Lei was both amused and exasperated, and looked at Zhou Chunfeng, saying, "Daren Zhou, didn't you tell him?"

"Why tell him?" Zhou Chunfeng asked calmly.

He Lei said helplessly, "Li Qingxian, haven't you heard of 'holding the Fate Artifact, one's official rank increases by one level'?"

"I've heard of it, but even if I'm a year older, I'm only Ninth Rank official, so at most I can only sit on a willow wood chair."

He Lei laughed and scolded, "You really are a fake scholar! The full sentence is 'Holding the Fate Artifact, one is one rank higher than the official!' In the Night Guard, Lower Rank Fate Arts Master is equivalent to Middle Rank, while Middle Rank one sits directly in a rosewood armchair."

Li Qingxian suddenly realized why Han Anbo was so happy yesterday but hesitated to speak; he wanted to surprise him. The other officials assumed he knew about it, or thought Zhou Chunfeng had already told them.

Li Qingxian glanced helplessly at the smiling Zhou Chunfeng, thinking it was definitely done on purpose.

"I was unaware of this; I have been presumptuous."

Li Qingxian cupped his hands in greeting, walked to the last rosewood armchair, sat down, rested his arms on the armrests, twisted his back slightly, and murmured, "It's quite comfortable."

The officials smiled, and some of the older officials were all smiles, finding the child increasingly pleasing to the eye.

Wei Yong glanced at Li Qingxian expressionlessly, then looked at Ye Han.

In the corner, Ye Han stood with the other Tenth Rank. He glanced at Li Qingxian's seated back, then lowered his head, his face obscured by the shadow of the pillar.