Breakthrough

"These twenty Ninth-Rank Merits are from the office. In addition, our Chief Banner has prepared a small gift for you."

As Nie Xiaoqi spoke, he took a small box from his sleeve.

Fu Shaoping froze for a moment.

He had not expected any other rewards besides the twenty Ninth-Rank Merits.

With a smile, Nie Xiaoqi pushed the box toward Fu Shaoping.

"Open it and see what's inside."

"Thank you for the reward, sir."

Fu Shaoping cupped his hands toward the Hundred Households Office.

Then, with a touch of excitement, he lifted the lid and found a house deed, a land deed, and a white pill bottle inside.

"Our Chief Banner heard that you're getting married next year, but this courtyard was only rented. So he sent me to buy the house for you, and it's already been transferred into your name. Ten mu of paddy fields in Endless Reach Village have also been registered under your name. There are six Origin Stone Pills as well."

The gift could not have been more thoughtful.

Although Fu Shaoping was delighted, he also felt somewhat burdened.

Nie Xiaoqi lowered his voice.

"Our Chief Banner Chen got the house and paddy fields from Chief Banner Cheng. If not for you, once the matter in Endless Reach Village came to light, their Intelligence Hall would have had more trouble than they could carry, and Chief Banner Cheng could have forgotten about enjoying a peaceful retirement. So don't feel burdened. Just accept them. You've earned them."

So that was it.

Fu Shaoping breathed a sigh of relief.

That meant the Origin Stone Pills were Chief Banner Chen's own gift.

"Also, our Chief Banner Chen asked me to pass along a message. The annual Hunting Competition will begin soon after the New Year. You need to make the most of your time to practice archery and improve your cultivation. Our Chief Banner sounded out the Hundred Households Commander, and the rewards for the top three in this year's Spring Hunt will be different from previous years."

"If you place in the top three, once your cultivation reaches the sixth layer of the body tempering realm, you'll receive priority for promotion to Commandant. Any merit points you're short of can be made up after you take office."

"Our office has nearly a thousand Martial Suppression Guards, but only a limited number of Commandant positions. So many people are waiting and hoping for one."

"Shaoping, don't miss this golden opportunity!"

Having finished speaking,

Nie Xiaoqi picked up his teacup and gulped down a bellyful.

With that,

their Hunting Hall could be considered to have repaid Fu Shaoping for his help in Endless Reach Village. Whether he could seize the opportunity would be up to him.

Of course,

they had revealed this momentous news to Fu Shaoping

with another intention as well.

They wanted Fu Shaoping to join their Hunting Hall.

After all, quite a few relatives and younger family members of the Hunting Hall's members were still ordinary Martial Suppression Guards. Before this hunt, those members would surely hold nothing back in teaching them hunting skills and experience. If Fu Shaoping wanted to overtake them and place in the top three, joining the Hunting Hall was undoubtedly his wisest choice.

"Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Fu Shaoping had never imagined such a wonderful opportunity would arise.

After giving it some thought,

he also understood the Hunting Hall's intentions.

Had he not possessed the Mystic Mandate Codex, he would naturally have joined the Hunting Hall without another word.

But now, he could only tactfully explain once more that his aspirations lay in rooting out traitors and evil.

However,

to his surprise,

after hearing Fu Shaoping's polite refusal, Nie Xiaoqi did not get angry or think him ungrateful. Instead, he spoke with considerable admiration.

"Good! Well said! Our Hundred Households Office needs talented people like you!"

Once upon a time,

his own original aspiration had also been to roam the world with a sword, championing justice and helping those in need!

Someone could still resist temptation and hold fast to that dream.

He found that deeply heartening.

From everything he had learned about Fu Shaoping, every deed the young man had performed since joining the Hundred Households Office had borne out those words of his. The more Nie Xiaoqi looked at him, the more he liked him, and he immediately said:

"Shaoping, if there's anything you don't understand about hunting, feel free to come to me. After the New Year, let's also find some time to go hunting in the mountains together."

Today had truly brought one happy event after another.

Fu Shaoping hurriedly thanked him.

As Nie Xiaoqi rose, he smacked his lips and said:

"Shaoping, next time we meet, your big brother will bring you a few bottles of Fiery Lips. The more tea I drink, the hungrier I get. It just doesn't hit the spot!"

After seeing him off,

Fu Shaoping took the house and land deeds into the main room.

Over the past six months and more, Madam Jiang's complexion had improved considerably thanks to the skilled physician Fu Shaoping had hired and the quality medicinal ingredients he had provided. She could even occasionally get out of bed and walk a little, and was already showing signs of recovery.

When she saw the house and land deeds in Fu Shaoping's hands, she grew excited as well.

"Good, good, good! Now, when you marry next year, at least people won't laugh at you for marrying in a rented house. But money and possessions are only worldly things. All your mother wants is for you to stay safe and sound. Don't chase merit recklessly, especially now that we no longer need to worry about food or clothing. In life, nothing matters more than keeping your feet firmly on the ground."

Fu Shaoping naturally agreed again and again.

Still, he felt a little regretful that he could not immediately share such good news with Sister Pan'er.

Sister Pan'er had already been gone for three days.

She should be back tomorrow.

Seeing his worried expression, Madam Jiang comforted him.

"Don't worry. You're already engaged. Surely a cooked duck can't fly away?"

After leaving the main room, Fu Shaoping went into the Alchemy Room next door.

Once he had shut the door tightly,

he put all his thoughts and emotions aside.

He focused his attention on the Treasure Mirror in his sea of consciousness.

The Treasure Mirror flickered faintly.

[Attribute: 4]

Fu Shaoping silently commanded:

Add 1 point to cultivation.

After that,

he felt somewhat apprehensive, unsure whether it would work.

Time ticked by, second after second.

Then,

the Treasure Mirror in his sea of consciousness flickered faintly.

[Body tempering realm, fourth layer: 40/100]

Astonishingly,

the value displayed had already soared from 20 to 40.

It worked!!

Fu Shaoping was delighted.

That meant the Treasure Mirror could now store the points he earned and assign them to any category he wished. This way, he no longer needed to fear a sudden surge in cultivation attracting other people's attention.

Moreover,

one attribute point could directly advance his progress through the fourth layer of the body tempering realm by twenty percent, and he currently had three points left.

In other words, he could raise his cultivation to the fifth layer of the body tempering realm entirely by allocating points.

Reaching the fifth layer of the body tempering realm meant he had perfected copper skin. Next, he would temper every bone in his body to achieve iron bone.

Fu Shaoping glanced at the Treasure Mirror in his sea of consciousness.

[Attribute: 3]

Clearly, one point had been spent.

In the past, killing a vicious ninth-layer body tempering realm expert might have raised him by two layers. Now, however, he realized that the further his cultivation progressed, the more points he needed to allocate. In other words, higher cultivation contained greater energy.

Keep adding points!

Fu Shaoping silently commanded.

Immediately afterward,

he felt an unseen force pour out of the Treasure Mirror and enter his body, tempering his skin. Yellow light flickered as his skin was enhanced inch by inch.

The Treasure Mirror flashed again.

[Body tempering realm, fourth layer: 60/100]

Clearly,

he had only added one point just now.