The Fish-Head Man was only at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm, yet the Hundred Households Office had dispatched an Earth Origin Realm powerhouse. That alone showed how seriously the dynasty took half-beasts—it would not tolerate even a single one!
Meanwhile.
Old Zhan hurriedly bowed his head in salute as well.
"Reporting to you, sir! That half-beast is hiding near Yellow Creek Village downstream of the Longflow River, in seclusion to attempt a breakthrough!"
Before his words had faded.
A gust of wind swept up before them.
Chief Banner Chen vanished from sight. He was so fast that even if Fu Shaoping used Ethereal Steps with all his strength, he could not have caught up on a galloping horse.
At the same time.
Boom, boom, boom!
Three drumbeats echoed from Azure Sun Town's drum tower, resounding through the clouds.
The Junior Banners of the Hundred Households Office turned out in full force, while the Commandants patrolling the various villages rushed toward Yellow Creek Village upon hearing the news.
Downstream of the Longflow River.
Chief Banner Chen arrived first.
Without the slightest hesitation, he tapped the ground with his toes and leaped high into the air. His right palm thrust out with explosive force, conjuring three palm arrows. With sharp whistles, they tore through the air toward the riverbed, swift, vicious, and precise.
Clang, clang, clang!
The instant the arrows reached the river's surface, a fish scale blocked them all.
There in the water.
The half-beast with a fish's head and a human body glanced at Hundred Households Mo. Rather than linger to fight, he retrieved his fish scale, rolled like a carp, and plunged into the depths of the riverbed. The current reversed as he sped upstream.
"Hmph! Trying to run? Dream on!"
Chief Banner Chen swept his sleeve.
A massive net glittering with golden light descended from the sky.
The fleeing half-beast was instantly trapped. Opening his fish mouth, he spat out a mouthful of mystic ice. The ice struck the golden net, which shattered with a series of cracks. Delight flashed in the half-beast's eyes as he broke free, and he thought he had escaped death once again.
Suddenly.
An aura of death locked onto him.
Without thinking, he raised the fish scale to shield his face.
Clang!
This time, however, the fish scale held for only an instant before a flying sword shattered it. Without losing momentum, the sword pierced straight through the half-beast's brow with a metallic ring.
Bitter unwillingness flashed in the Fish-Head Man's eyes.
With a heavy splash, he crashed into the water.
Chief Banner Chen tapped the water's surface with his toes and landed steadily on the ground.
Although the Fish-Head Man had been only one step away from the Earth Origin Realm, he was ultimately helpless before a true Earth Origin Realm powerhouse. Clearly, an impassable gulf separated the Body Tempering Realm from the Earth Origin Realm.
Fu Shaoping, hiding at home.
He heard one furious roar after another coming from the Longflow River.
At first, those roars had been powerful and full-throated, but as time passed, the cries, half-human and half-beast, turned into screams.
Just then.
The Treasure Mirror in his sea of consciousness flickered faintly.
Wisps of red energy raced over from the direction of the Longflow River, descending into his little courtyard.
Although he had not killed the Fish-Head Man himself, he had provided the lead. Thus, when the Fish-Head Man was hunted down and killed, he still received a reward.
Fu Shaoping stared at the Mystic Mandate Codex.
With his entire attention focused on it, he silently repeated something.
Then he saw.
The words "Tiger Roar Fist," which had been flashing within the Treasure Mirror, flickered once and were replaced by:
Body Tempering Realm: Third level (42/100)
Powerful blood and qi surged through his flesh.
Fu Shaoping felt his strength climbing steadily.
However.
What delighted him even more was.
This time, the Treasure Mirror had not allocated points in sequence. Instead, it had changed according to his wishes.
"It actually worked!"
Fu Shaoping was both astonished and delighted.
He had merely acted on a sudden inspiration and tried an experiment. He had never expected that the point allocation really could follow his will.
What an unexpected windfall!
Just then.
Boom, boom, boom! Boom, boom, boom!
The drums sounded from the drum tower once more.
Six drumbeats meant the danger had passed.
Fu Shaoping opened the door and stepped outside.
The townspeople who had shut themselves inside their homes emerged one after another, lining both sides of the street. In little groups, they celebrated the victory with their household gongs and spatulas.
In the distance, a fine horse came galloping toward them.
He looked closely.
The rider was none other than Chief Banner Chen. His graying hair fluttered in the wind, lending him something of an immortal's bearing.
Fu Shaoping watched with envy written all over his face.
He, too, hoped to break through to the Earth Origin Realm someday. That would double his lifespan!
Chief Banner Chen was merely an Earth Origin Realm powerhouse, yet he was already so formidable. Fu Shaoping wondered what cultivation the elusive Hundred Households possessed, a divine dragon whose head appeared but whose tail was never seen.
The horse did not pause at all, galloping straight into the Hundred Households Office.
Another hour passed.
Several Martial Suppression Guards brought back the Fish-Head Man's corpse on a stretcher.
Fu Shaoping stood watching for a while.
A carriage stopped beside him. Its curtain lifted, and Old Zhan called out.
"Shaoping, get in."
"Yes, sir."
Fu Shaoping pushed off the ground and lightly leaped onto the carriage. After ducking inside, he found Old Zhan staring at him with an intense, burning gaze. Bewildered, Fu Shaoping touched his cheek and blinked.
"Sir, what's wrong?"
"Shaoping, your big opportunity has arrived!"
An opportunity? What opportunity?!
Fu Shaoping looked puzzled.
Old Zhan spoke with pride, as though sharing in his glory.
"Chief Banner Chen just asked who had discovered the Fish-Head Man's whereabouts, and I reported the truth! He said that once we reach the Hundred Households Office and you've collected your reward, you should go straight to the rear offices to see him. If I'm not mistaken, Chief Banner Chen wants you to join his hunting reserve team!"
Within the Hundred Households Office.
Aside from the most mysterious Hundred Households Mo, Chief Banner Chen held the greatest authority.
Their Green Ox Town lay at the foot of the Qilian Mountain Range, which bordered the Million Mountains. Demonic beasts ran rampant in the Million Mountains, so lesser demons would sometimes lose their way and wander into the Qilian Mountain Range. The hunting team led by Chief Banner Chen was specifically responsible for clearing out the demonic beasts there.
Throughout the entire Hundred Households Office.
If asked which department they most wanted to join, everyone's first choice would clearly have been Chief Banner Chen's hunting team.
However.
The Hundred Households Office had nearly a thousand personnel, yet those who could enter the hunting team could be counted on one's fingers. Even now, it had only ten members, and the reserve team had only twenty.
Fu Shaoping shook his head with a smile.
"Sir, you think too highly of me. Anyone who joins Chief Banner Chen's hunting team must be at least at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm. My strength is meager, and I wouldn't dare rush ahead recklessly. Besides, I feel that working alongside you is my greatest honor."
Fu Shaoping spoke with heartfelt sincerity.
His fate trait was [hates evil like an enemy]. Going into the mountains to hunt was hardly a wise choice.
Although Old Zhan was pleased that Fu Shaoping was willing to follow a Commandant with a crippled leg like him, joining the hunting team meant a steady stream of resources, and future promotions would be much easier. He genuinely wanted Fu Shaoping to go further, so he could not help offering a round of earnest, well-intentioned persuasion.
Yet Fu Shaoping held firm and would not budge.
For a moment.
Old Zhan felt both happy and helpless.
"If you don't want to join the hunting team, you'll still have to prepare a good explanation. Whatever you do, you mustn't make Chief Banner Chen lose face."
"Thank you for the advice, sir."
"From now on, just call me Uncle Zhan again. Last time, I heard you were choosing a date to deliver the betrothal gifts. Have you settled on one? Let me know when you do. I'll come by for a cup of celebratory wine."
"Uncle Zhan, it's the fifteenth of this month-the day after tomorrow."
Before you continue