Latent Dragon Ranking 95th

Revival of all things.

Ice and snow melted.

Watching the ice and snow in the courtyard gradually melt, Luo Chen felt the circulation of that wisp of Aura of Years within him become a little smoother.

He changed into a Golden Patterned Cloud Robe, the three golden patterns on his chest representing his current status as a Third-Rank Demon Suppression Captain.

With a Golden Scale Long Blade slung at his waist, he cut a dashing figure, a youth full of high spirits.

He arrived at the Front Courtyard Hall.

Liu Xingsheng, seated upright in the Seat of Honor, saw Luo Chen enter the hall and even the tea cup he had raised paused slightly.

"Chen'er?"

He set down his Tea Cup and rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Luo Chen smiled and nodded. "Uncle Liu, I was promoted to Demon Suppression Captain yesterday. I had dinner with my colleagues and came back late, so I didn't wish to disturb you."

A complicated expression appeared on Liu Xingsheng's face, only to be replaced by joy in an instant.

"Good, good! You're far more capable than I ever was."

He stretched out his one arm and patted the youth's shoulder hard.

Looking at Luo Chen, so close at hand,

he still found it unbelievable.

Afterward, the Family happily ate breakfast together.

Aunt Madam Wang looked at the Siblings Across from her, her eyes narrowing into crescents.

"Chen'er's promotion is a joyous occasion. Shouldn't our family set a few tables for a Banquet and make things lively?"

Hearing this, Liu Xingsheng immediately made the decision.

"Set them. We absolutely must."

Ever since retiring from the Demon Suppression Bureau, Liu Xingsheng had appeared not to care.

But he had endured the attitudes of the Elders of the Clan and the ugly faces of those from Madam Wang's Lineage for a long time.

Now, Luo Chen had become a Demon Suppression Captain at the age of Seventeen Years Old.

Anyone could see that his future was bound to be extraordinary.

Forget the future—even now, Luo Chen's status as a Demon Suppression Captain could be said to Bring Glory to Ancestors.

As Luo Chen ate breakfast, he occasionally teased Yaoyao at his side. Faced with the elders' discussion, he merely smiled.

One hour later.

Luo Chen left Liu Manor and arrived at the Demon Suppression Bureau.

It was his first day in office, and there were still some procedures to go through.

He arrived at his Office Pavilion and looked at the Three Large Characters on its Plaque—"Listen to the Wind Tower"—nodding to himself.

This Listen to the Wind Tower had once been the Site of the Fallen Captain in this battle, but now it was his.

Inside the pavilion, a Book-Sorting Official saw him arrive and respectfully bowed.

"Colonel."

"No need for formalities." Luo Chen nodded and asked curiously.

"As a Demon Suppression Captain, how many people do I have under me?"

The official shook his head and explained, "Since Colonel does not need to carry out Patrol Duty, Ten to Twenty Demon Suppressing Envoys may be assigned under you to Assist the Lord."

"I see."

Luo Chen nodded lightly, paused mid-step, then turned and headed toward Yue Wuchang.

Half an Hour later.

Luo Chen emerged from the pavilion Beaming with Smiles.

Returning to Listen to the Wind Tower, he said to the Civil Official,

"There is a Demon Suppression Envoy named Wang Yue under Captain Yue Wuchang. Notify him to Report for Duty under me from now on."

"As for The Rest, assign them as you please."

Luo Chen hummed a tune as he wandered around Listen to the Wind Tower, Inspecting his Territory.

Wang Yue was a decent fellow. Just based on how he had used himself to Block in Front of Oneself against Old Ape's Iron Staff that day, Luo Chen was willing to give him a hand.

Noon.

Just as Luo Chen leisurely sat upstairs in the pavilion, Basking in the Sun,

a Demon Suppressing Guard on Pavilion Duty Jogged All the Way upstairs and reported,

"Lord, Xiao Xiuzhu, Captain Xiao, is here to Visit."

Luo Chen was startled. He did not know this man, but since the other party was a captain, they would inevitably have Interaction in the future, so he nodded.

Before long.

A handsome young man, nine feet tall, came up from downstairs.

The Youth wore a simple set of training clothes. Only the Demon Suppression Captain token at his waist made his identity impossible to ignore.

Luo Chen rose to greet him, clasped his fists, and smiled.

"Lord Xiao, I have long admired your name. Please, sit."

Xiao Xiuzhu laughed heartily, looking very forthright.

After taking his seat, he drew a wooden box from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and said with a smile,

"I came today only to congratulate Brother Luo Chen on his promotion. This is but a modest gift; please do not disdain it."

"Brother Xiao is far too courteous."

Hearing his meaning, Luo Chen naturally changed the way he addressed him as well.

The two chatted idly for a while.

Only then did Xiao Xiuzhu probe,

"Brother Luo Chen, do you know that King Zhenbei's Consort will soon arrive in Qingyuan City?"

Luo Chen gave a bitter smile.

"Brother Xiao, I've only just been promoted. My channels for information are nowhere near as broad as yours."

Xiao Xiuzhu smiled and did not beat around the bush before continuing,

"I heard that with the Consort's arrival this time, Qingyuan City is about to undergo a change of heaven and earth."

"Chief Director set off for King Zhenbei's Mansion this morning to escort the Consort."

Luo Chen's brows furrowed faintly, only to smooth out a moment later.

Looking at the friendly expression on Xiao Xiuzhu's face, Luo Chen raised his Tea Cup.

Xiao Xiuzhu smiled faintly, raised his own cup, and drained it in one gulp.

The two chatted a while longer.

Watching the other man depart, Luo Chen returned to the pavilion, his thoughts in turmoil.

Changyue is from King Zhenbei's Mansion, or perhaps she has already thrown in her lot with King Zhenbei's Mansion.

This Xiao Xiuzhu should be one of Changyue's trusted men. He came to build ties and remind me while he was at it.

Luo Chen scratched the back of his head, feeling as though his brain was about to grow.

It seemed that the Demon Suppression Bureau was not Shangguan Changyue's sole domain after all.

There were surely people from other factions below her.

Luo Chen shook his head, feeling a headache coming on.

Hurry up and let some Demonic Beast cause trouble. Then I can go out for a stroll.

Luo Chen felt that dealing with Demonic Beasts was still much simpler.

But Shangguan Changyue had personally promoted him.

In the eyes of others, he had already been branded with Shangguan Changyue's mark.

Time slipped silently away like fine sand held in one's palm.

One day later.

Wang Yue came before Luo Chen to Report for Duty, his face flushed red.

He thumped his chest until it boomed.

"Boss, from now on, you're my boss."

He did not feel awkward about the reversal in status. On the contrary, he was rather pleased with himself.

"From now on, anyone working under me is a brother who will brave life and death with me."

Luo Chen patted Wang Yue on the shoulder, then looked toward the other nine Demon Suppressing Envoys standing ahead.

Because manpower was scarce, only these people could currently be squeezed out to fill his ranks.

Luo Chen did not mind. After all, he would personally kill the Demonic Beast heads on missions.

He did not care what his subordinates were like.

As long as they did not cause him trouble or stir up incidents, he could tolerate them.

The other nine wore varying expressions, but all clasped their fists to show their obedience.

"Alright. There are no assignments for now. You are free to do as you please."

After giving his orders, Luo Chen ignored them.

He walked out of the Demon Suppression Bureau by himself.

Behind him, Wang Yue followed closely at Luo Chen's side.

The others looked at one another, then all dispersed.

"I don't trust those people. Keep an eye on them in your daily routine."

On the road, Luo Chen said softly to Wang Yue.

"Don't worry, Boss."

As if recalling something, Wang Yue took a ranking list from his clothes and handed it over.

"Boss, you made it onto the new Latent Dragon Ranking."

Luo Chen raised a brow, took it, and his gaze quickly fell on the very bottom entry.

Luo Chen, 95th on the Latent Dragon Ranking, Seventeen Years Old, Blood Circulation limit, Demon Suppression Captain; once killed a Blood Circulation Demonic Beast alone...

After reading the description of himself on the list, Luo Chen offered no comment.

He merely thought that although the Latent Dragon Ranking ranked prodigies, it did not reveal the martial techniques, cultivation methods, and the like of those listed, only setting out some of their battle records.