"Whoa whoa..."
Wu Yong then came to his senses and secretly clicked his tongue in amazement.
Damn it, it really feels like three autumns have passed since I last saw you.
He and Lu Guan had only been apart for a few days, how come the other party had already increased the intensity of their training?
This is completely unreasonable!
The path of Martial Dao is fraught with peril, each step incredibly difficult. What others might take three to five years to overcome, this person seems to be doing as casually as drinking water or eating, simply lifting his foot and gliding over it.
Moreover, he had heard everything the two of them said clearly.
The remnant soul of a demon from the Inner Landscape Realm!
The sound, falling into my ears, was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.
Compared to the guess of that Lord Xing, Wu Yong knew Lu Guan's background very well.
It was completely clean... there was no one behind him.
So, Lu Guan killed this demon in the Inner Landscape Realm himself?
Using the condensed energy to reverse the Inner Landscape?
Wu Yong suddenly felt a toothache.
He found himself increasingly unable to understand Lu Guan.
A few days ago, he could still see the other person's back; although it was just a back view, at least it had some shape.
A few days later, they couldn't even catch a whiff of the other person's exhaust fumes anymore; their silhouette had become a blurry black dot on the horizon.
In the blink of an eye, even the black spots were gone!
'Damn it, how can the difference between people be greater than the difference between people and pigs?'
If this isn't nerfed, how can we even play?
The Lord Xing's attitude towards Lu Guan was very positive:
"Lord Lu, the merit of slaying an Inner Landscape Realm demon can naturally be exchanged for an Inner Landscape Realm technique."
"... However, matters concerning the Inner Landscape are beyond my authority."
"It is personally overseen by Elder Jiang of the Heaven-Character Secret Vault. You may go directly to the Heaven-Character Secret Vault to find Elder Jiang."
This is the real reason why he dared to neglect Lu Guan.
Because those who come to him are all demon Demon-Slaying Envoys at the Gang Condensation Realm.
We're of similar standing, and we're not even in the same department. Plus, I'm a senior official; why would I be afraid of you?
Even if you, the Demon-Slaying Envoys Slayer, are arrogant, you can't just chop me up as the head of the Merit Bureau over some trivial matter, can you?
Of course, if it were a Demon-Slaying Envoys at the Inner Landscape Realm, you can imagine how well he would serve the esteemed demon Demon-Slaying Envoys!
Everything depends on one's level and strength.
In his eyes, the young man before him, even if he wasn't at the Inner Landscape Realm yet, would soon be.
'It's all because of that hothead Wu Yong; he didn't even ask clearly before bringing people here on his own.'
'They're all young people, how can the difference between them be so huge?'
He glanced at Wu Yong, then at Lu Guan, and sighed inwardly.
Upon hearing this, Lu Guan nodded, and then, following the instructions of Lord Xing, headed to the Heaven-Character Secret Vault.
Wu Yong remained inside the hall, watching Lu Guan's figure gradually disappear into the distance.
The Heaven-Character Secret Vault is a top-tier, highly secure location, and it's not something he can accompany anyone there.
"Little Wu..."
Lord Xing stood with his hands behind his back, sizing up Wu Yong:
"I'm still short of a clerk, so you'll be my assistant from now on, and get familiar with the daily work of the Merit Bureau."
He paused, then added, "Young people need to be given more responsibility."
In short, a clerk is a secretary.
Working alongside a big shot involves serving tea and water, organizing documents, and arranging schedules.
It may seem trivial, but it's the easiest way to get involved in core matters and build connections.
'See, there are so many opportunities in big cities, and this is where the fortuitous opportunity comes from!'
Upon hearing this, Wu Yong's face lit up with excitement. "Thank you so much for your guidance, Director!"
Lord Xing nodded gently, then waved his hand, indicating that the other party could leave.
After all, he was doing it out of respect for Lu Guan.
It's just a clerk; he can move around as he pleases, and if he's not satisfied later, he can transfer her away again.
This is using an official position to curry favor with others.
Either way, you're not at a disadvantage.
The Heaven-Character Secret Vault
The palace was empty, surrounded by four dragon-carved pillars. The dragons on the pillars were lifelike, with their heads raised high, as if they might burst out of the pillars at any moment.
All that could be seen was an old man dozing off against the base of the dragon-carved pillar.
The old man was wearing a hempen jacket, his head tilted to the side, his breathing long and even, and the rise and fall of his chest had a strange rhythm, as if he were one with the breath of the palace.
" Elder Jiang?"
Lu Guan narrowed his eyes slightly and tried to call out.
Although the old man in front of me looked harmless, like any ordinary old man you'd see anywhere.
However, the moment Lu Guan saw the old man, his brow twitched violently, as if he had sensed something extremely ominous.
Inner Landscape Realm!
This old man in hemp robes is a cultivator at the Inner Landscape Realm!
If it were an ordinary martial artist at the Gang Condensation Realm, they would naturally not be able to discern the depth of the old man before them.
In their eyes, he was just an old man taking a nap.
However, since Lu Guan had grasped the workings of heaven and earth beforehand, he was naturally able to perceive it.
With each breath the old man took, the very energy of heaven and earth seemed to resonate with him.
It was as if it were a bodily instinct.
To achieve this, one would naturally not rely on flawed methods like those of Lu Guan, but rather on a genuine master of the Inner Landscape Realm.
"Hmm? Little friend, you have a keen eye."
The old man in hemp clothing looked up and his gaze fell on Lu Guan.
His face was full of a kind smile.
"Young friend, you cultivate both internal and external strength, reaching the Perfected Gang Condensation Realm. You must have accumulated enough merits to exchange for the Inner Landscape Realm technique."
As soon as Elder Jiang opened his mouth, he completely exposed Lu Guan's underwear.
Lu Guan's eyes narrowed slightly.
This feeling of being completely seen through is so insecure.
Fortunately, he still had the Celestial Person One Saber Slash as a trump card that hadn't been seen through, which was his last and most important fig leaf.
If even this trump card is revealed, then he will truly be left with nothing, having come into this world naked and having nothing left to lose.
"Alas?"
Elder Jiang suddenly let out a soft exclamation, a glint of light appearing in his cloudy old eyes.
"You once emitted fluctuations of the energy of heaven and earth. Let me guess, young friend, did you, with your cultivation at the Gang Condensation Realm, preemptively master the means of manipulating the energy of heaven and earth?"
Although it was a question, the old man's voice was very firm.
"Using incense? Unlikely, you don't have that scent of incense on you."
Elder Jiang squinted, his nostrils flaring slightly, as if he were sniffing something.
"It's Divine Ability? You've mastered the Divine Ability of the Inner Landscape Realm ahead of time."
Elder Jiang's eyes lit up as he looked the Lu Guan up and down, as if he had discovered some rare treasure.
He immediately clapped his hands and laughed, "Excellent! Excellent! Another promising talent. The last one as monstrous as you was the Lord Wang."
Lu Guan: "..."
He wanted to report it, and someone gave him free rein.
Admittedly, the old man's guess was extremely accurate, but did you consider my feelings?
Even though I'm wearing clothes, I always feel like I'm completely naked, and it's chilly.
"Give me the waist tag."
Upon hearing this, Lu Guan handed over the silver medal.
"Wow, a Silver-Token Demon-Slaying Envoys! Quite promising for his age!"
Elder Jiang flipped over the silver plaque and lightly ran his fingertip across its surface.
"Let me see if we've gathered all five demons at the Perfected Gang Condensation Realm. We can't afford to be shortchanged."
"Hmm, one, two... Eh? Inner Landscape Realm?"
Elder Jiang shifted his gaze from the silver plaque and returned it to Lu Guan.
A moment of silence:
"Young friend, are you currently married or in a relationship?"
"I have a granddaughter who is eighteen years old this year and has already reached the Perfected True Qi Realm. She is as beautiful as a flower, just like me."
"The key is her good temperament! She's like me, unassuming and gentle, virtuous and kind. If you marry her, you'll truly be..."
The old man gave a thumbs-up and waved it in front of Lu Guan.
A match made in heaven!