Rewards

The Qi Gathering Pill was one of the most renowned and potent medicinal pills of the lower three ranks. Once a martial artist who had perfected the three changes of qi and blood consumed it, they could sense and draw spiritual qi into their body. Under the pill's effects, the spiritual qi became less violent and far easier to absorb. However! It was expensive! Its value was not in the least inferior to the golden snow ginseng Huang Xunjiu had previously gifted to Xia Hong. Ordinary martial artists could never afford it; only a family like the Huang clan could barely shoulder the cost, and even they would feel the sting deep in their pockets for a long time. More critically, it merely rendered the spiritual qi relatively less violent, rather than completely gentle. Therefore, even after taking a Qi Gathering Pill, cases still occurred from time to time where martial artists failed to absorb the spiritual qi, resulting in light or even severe internal injuries. In the past, Huang Qian had been unwilling to take the pill. First, he did not want to add to the Huang family's financial burden. Second, he felt the Qi Gathering Pill was not sufficiently reliable, as it could not guarantee that everyone would succeed in guiding qi into their body. Third, he was confident that by spending more time tempering his skin, flesh, sinews, and bones, he could successfully draw in spiritual qi all the same. Now, however, he no longer had that kind of time to wait. Starting as an ordinary mortal who lacked the strength to truss a chicken, Huang Tian had caught up to him in a mere month. How much longer would it take for him to surpass him? He refused to wait passively and watch himself be overtaken. After all, he too was a genius praised by countless relatives, friends, superiors, and subordinates! The pride in his heart simply would not allow him to accept the outcome of being surpassed by Huang Tian... While Huang Qian hardened his resolve to take the pill and guide qi, Xia Hong and Huang Tian had already arrived at Pacification Commissioner Bai's office. "What? You say you broke through to the seventh rank?!" Clad in a broad red brocade robe, Bai Yuanfu, who was typically cultured and composed, lost his composure the moment he learned Huang Tian had entered the seventh rank. He sprang up from his divan, took two strides forward to stand before Huang Tian, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. Huang Tian nodded slightly. Without hesitation, he mobilized his qi and blood; an instant later, a faint red halo surfaced across his outstretched hands. Bai Yuanfu drew a soft breath and said repeatedly, "Too fast! Too fast! Let me think..." For a moment, he did not even know how best to arrange matters for Huang Tian. Seeing the Pacification Commissioner lose his composure was a rare sight, which Xia Hong found amusing, yet he understood completely. Anyone who encountered a genius like Huang Tian would lose their calm. After a long pause, Bai Yuanfu waved his hand and said, "Here is what we'll do. Have a seat and wait for a moment. I will go consult with the others and see what the other two Pacification Commissioners think. What a pity that Assistant Commissioner Yu is in seclusion; otherwise, we could simply have him make the decision..." Assistant Commissioner Yu, Yu Jingcheng, was the sole third-rank Grandmaster in the Kunyun Commandery Martial Restraint Guard! Formidably powerful and held in immense prestige, he unfortunately entered seclusion frequently, often for months at a time, so Huang Tian had yet to meet him even once. After Bai Yuanfu departed, Xia Hong and Huang Tian found chairs, sat down, and waited quietly. They waited for a full half-shichen before Bai Yuanfu walked back in with a solemn expression. "Pacification Commissioner!" The two stood up. "Sit, both of you. Don't be formal." Bai Yuanfu waved them down, his gentle gaze resting on Huang Tian. "After deliberating with the other two Pacification Commissioners, we have decided to give you two choices." Huang Tian straightened his posture and listened attentively. Bai Yuanfu explained in detail, "The first is to send you to the Provincial Martial Restraint Guard. There, all kinds of martial resources are far more abundant, experts are numerous, and opportunities abound. You might even catch the eye of a Grandmaster, who could take you under their wing and instruct you personally. But the problem is that the situation in the provincial capital is exceptionally complex. For someone like you, who possesses extraordinary talent yet lacks any background or backing, arriving in the provincial capital would mean facing far too many risks. Based on my many years of experience serving in the Provincial Martial Restraint Guard, I would advise against going there now. You should at least break through to the middle three ranks before heading there." Hailing from a prominent clan in Qin Province, he had served in the Provincial Martial Restraint Guard for decades and was only dispatched down to Kunyun Commandery after breaking through to the fourth rank. He naturally knew just how tangled and treacherous the provincial capital was. Officials from various government offices, noble lineages, powerful clans, prominent sects, peerless prodigies, demonic cult villains, imperial shadow guards... all were packed together in the provincial capital. If Huang Tian went there all by himself, it would truly be walking into a tiger's den, practically offering himself up on a platter. As someone willing to listen to good advice, Huang Tian rejected the first choice in his mind right away. And for good reason: going to the provincial capital held little benefit for him at present. The commandery could easily supply the cultivation resources he needed on a daily basis, such as Blood Condensation Pills, so he had no pressing need for materials. As a result, the Provincial Martial Restraint Guard's greatest advantage was moot. Second, he had no real need for a Grandmaster to instruct him in cultivation anyway. He had long since embarked on a distinct path of fusing the martial and mystic arts. The only thing in the Provincial Martial Restraint Guard that held any appeal for him was the collection of ancient manuals and martial techniques housed in their Book Pavilion. Yet there was no rush for those; he hadn't even finished reading the martial arts manuals on the second floor of the Commandery Martial Restraint Guard's Book Pavilion. Secretly observing Huang Tian's expression, Bai Yuanfu continued, "The second choice is to remain in the commandery and take up an official post. Having stepped into the seventh rank, your strength is not weak, and it is time for you to take on a substantive post to gain practical experience. Following our discussion, we intend to appoint you as a patrol Probationary Company Commander in Baoqing Ward. The duty is not heavy. So long as no one causes major trouble in Baoqing Ward, you only need to patrol the streets and alleys every once in a while, which will not impede your cultivation progress." Baoqing Ward was the stronghold of the Martial Restraint Guard. Serving as a Probationary Company Commander there was not only extraordinarily safe, but also remarkably easy, as practically no one dared make trouble in the Martial Restraint Guard's home territory. Thus, rather than practical experience, this appointment was virtually a reward in another guise—padding Huang Tian's track record so he could be swiftly promoted in the future. In truth, there was another point Bai Yuanfu did not mention: while Huang Tian would hold the post, Bai Yuanfu would secretly dispatch people to protect him. After all, Huang Tian was a once-in-decades prodigy for the Martial Restraint Guard, and he would never allow him to face real danger. Of course, this could not be stated openly, or it would defeat the purpose of tempering him. "What do you think?" Bai Yuanfu asked. Huang Tian answered without hesitation, "I choose to remain in the commandery and take up a post." Hearing this, Bai Yuanfu could not help but smile. It was plain that he was very pleased with Huang Tian's choice, for it demonstrated that the young man was not overly arrogant and could heed good advice—a sterling quality for any genius. "Good. In that case, you will officially assume office the day after tomorrow." Bai Yuanfu added, "Furthermore, you have made consecutive breakthroughs and shown such keen ambition that we cannot leave you without some reward. Speak—what do you need? Spirit pills, divine armaments, martial arts manuals, fine estates, beauties, fertile land..." Huang Tian's eyes lit up. He had finally reached what he actually wanted! "Pacification Commissioner, I would like to enter the second floor of the Book Pavilion and read through all the martial techniques inside." "Martial techniques?" Bai Yuanfu nodded slightly, not appearing surprised by Huang Tian's choice. He had long known that Huang Tian possessed superhuman comprehension and enjoyed learning diverse martial techniques, and had already anticipated such a request. "Done. I grant it." Bai Yuanfu raised a hand, flicking out a silver token carved with three patterns. "Take this. Not only may you read all the martial techniques on the second floor, but you may also ascend to the third floor to peruse all the martial notes and secret records." Techniques on the second floor! Notes on the third floor! With everything he needed most now in hand, Huang Tian felt genuine joy in his heart. "Thank you, Pacification Commissioner!" he said sincerely. Bai Yuanfu laughed heartily. "The greater your talent, the more valued you will be. So cultivate well, display your gifts boldly, and harbor no doubts—I, and the entire Commandery Martial Restraint Guard, stand firmly behind you!"