Eight Treasures Golden Body

Sifang Martial Arts Hall was sealed immediately, but Meng Wei and his people had not been caught. Naturally, they understood the gravity of the situation. Meng Wei knew that breaking this impasse was impossible if they remained in Songyang County, so he headed for the prefectural capital without delay. They could only approach the problem from the prefectural level. Songyang County's magistrate wasn't naive enough to think they would walk right into a trap, so as soon as day broke, he dispatched his own men to the prefectural capital. The reason he was so proactive was also tied to the matter of the monk Yuanxiang. Had Shen Qianjun not intervened, the lion's share of the credit would have gone to the Songyang County Six Doors. And since the county's Six Doors fell under the magistrate's jurisdiction, he would have shared in that merit as well. In fact, he would have reaped it without lifting a finger. Instead, not only had someone swept in and snatched it from right under their noses, but he was also at risk of being branded incompetent. After all, the Buddha statue inscribed with the Eight Treasures Golden Body martial art had been destroyed within Songyang County. That could genuinely derail his official career. Tian Muchuan was a local powerhouse in Songyang County, but he might not have high-ranking connections above him. The county magistrate, however, was different. He had entered officialdom through the imperial examinations fair and square; he had mentors and a political faction, deeply entrenched with complex ties. If this matter hadn't implicated him, he would have simply turned a blind eye and waited for the clash in the prefectural capital to settle. Now, if he didn't strike first, rival officials would seize on the incident once word reached them, and he might not be able to fend them off. That was why he moved with such burning urgency. Meanwhile, Wei Yuefu, who had ignited this massive turmoil, acted as though nothing had happened. Tucked away in his room, he silently memorized the Eight Treasures Golden Body while practicing its techniques firsthand. To this, Wei Yuefu could only admit that he had underestimated his own Earth Grade aptitude. In just half a day, he had enabled the proxy identity of "Ding Shoucheng" to acquire a new skill. [Eight Treasures Golden Body (Rudimentary)] Before reaching the rudimentary level, a skill could not appear on the proxy identity's skill panel. This also led Wei Yuefu to discover that a proxy's skills possessed a solidification effect: once an art reached the rudimentary stage, there was no danger of forgetting it. However, if neglected for a prolonged period, the level would still drop rather than remain fixed. This was likely bound to the principle that practicing martial arts was like rowing upstream—to not advance was to drop back. Though acquired, it did not grant eternal mastery upon attainment; at best, the panel functioned as a storage vessel. Once the recording was complete, he burned his transcribed copy and buried the ashes. [Mission Complete] After finishing these tasks, a notification flashed before Wei Yuefu's eyes. The Descent Mission's description then vanished, yet the countdown remained. It appeared completing the mission did not grant an immediate return. Even without active objectives, one still had to wait until the countdown reached zero before returning. As for the reward, he had not received it yet. It would probably only be granted after he returned. This was his first Descent Mission, so how could he know the details? Not to mention he was among the very first batch of World Proxies, which meant there were no precedents to reference; he had to figure everything out on his own. The only thing that left Wei Yuefu feeling helpless was Ding Shoucheng's lingering wish. Reasonably speaking, the lingering wish should have been fulfilled by now, yet there wasn't the slightest reaction. Hadn't he already chosen a different way to live? Or was this new way of living not what the lingering wish called for? Or perhaps it simply wasn't enough? The main issue was that the lingering wish was too vague, leaving Wei Yuefu at a loss for what to do. If he truly couldn't complete it, then so be it. Either way, Wei Yuefu wouldn't walk away empty-handed; his little brother could help him take a skill back. Taking back the Layered Tower Art at minor mastery would already be enough for this run. Reading between the lines, he could tell he would likely have another chance to visit this world and continue executing Descent Missions under Ding Shoucheng's identity. Otherwise, the description of Effect 1 of his Destiny: Transmigrator would not have included the prerequisite phrasing "before descending to each world for the first time." With matters settled, he headed straight for the canteen to eat. After being busy for a day and a night, buoyed by his Dragon Vitality and Tiger Vigor talent, he didn't feel the least bit tired. The trade-off, however, was that he was starving, so he had to eat his fill. He figured this affair was far from over. If things moved quickly, he might have to head to the prefectural capital within a day or two. Once in the dining hall, he shifted into feeding mode, shoving into his mouth anything edible without discrimination. As he was eating, a yamen runner jogged over and said, "Lord Ding, Eldest Young Master Fang Zeyan of the Fang Family requests an audience with you." "He's waiting outside the Six Doors." Without someone to receive him, he naturally couldn't enter Six Doors. When Wei Yuefu had joined Six Doors, he had likewise needed the gate guards to notify Tian Muchuan before Tian Muchuan came out to bring him in. "Well informed, isn't he." Wei Yuefu shoved a steamed bun into his mouth, swallowed it after barely two bites, and stood up. "Help me carry the rest of this food to my room." With that, he strode out toward the entrance. The moment Fang Zeyan saw Wei Yuefu, he hurried over. "Lord Ding, I've finally managed to see you!" "I know what you want to ask," Wei Yuefu said, leading him toward his quarters. "And all I can tell you is: no comment." Fang Zeyan had anticipated this. Once they entered Wei Yuefu's courtyard, he hurriedly drew a banknote from his sleeve and offered it to Wei Yuefu. "Lord Ding, please grant me some guidance," Fang Zeyan said obsequiously. The reality was that he had run out of options. Tian Muchuan and the others had gone to the prefectural capital, and the county magistrate refused to see him entirely. "Shen Qianjun has become a Six Doors Patrol Envoy," Wei Yuefu said as he accepted the banknote without the slightest hesitation. Fang Zeyan was a clever man; Wei Yuefu was confident he would understand what this implied. Hearing this, Fang Zeyan froze. He knew Shen Qianjun had returned, but he had no idea he had leaped to the rank of Patrol Envoy. Fang Zeyan knew the state of affairs in Songyang County all too well—it couldn't withstand even the slightest scrutiny. So last night had been a clash between Shen Qianjun and Songyang County's vested interests, but judging by the current outcome, Shen Qianjun had lost. That was why the county magistrate had sealed Sifang Martial Arts Hall early this morning. In the end, they were forced to shift the arena to the prefectural capital in hopes of turning the tables, only to have pursuers hot on their trail. Next, it would all depend on how much Shen Qianjun's backers in the prefectural capital valued him. If they could suppress the issue, fine. If they couldn't, he would have to find other ways to protect himself. He had shared business interests with Shen Qianjun, but he had no wish to see the Fang Family dragged down by this mess. If things went awry, the Fang Family would face the combined wrath of the bronze badge constable chief and the county magistrate—a catastrophe that could easily lead to ruin and death. "Thank you, Lord Ding," Fang Zeyan continued. "Some other day, allow me to treat your lordship to Drunken Flower House to show my gratitude." "No need," Wei Yuefu replied lazily. "I haven't helped you with anything. "Though from the look of things, this friend of yours never considered you a true friend either. You've been sold out without even knowing it." At the very end, Wei Yuefu couldn't resist driving a wedge between them.