Over the next few days, Chen Chuan stayed home studying the methods of the Dongxuan View. However, because he had not yet obtained the resources required to practice the art, he was merely pondering its core principles and had not actually begun training in it.
He did, however, take the opportunity to cultivate the technique known as "Pure Spiritual Light."
With his foundation of having mastered the two great postures, his progress was rapid. Within just a few days, he had already gotten the hang of it, estimating that he would achieve a basic mastery in roughly half a month.
Still, that was merely getting a grasp of it; increasing its power would require persistent, steady practice.
Like the two great postures, this esoteric art could be refined indefinitely. After all, the two great postures theoretically did not end once learned; rather, they grew stronger alongside the martial artist's own advancement.
Time flew by, quickly reaching mid-month. On the twelfth, word arrived from the Government Affairs Hall that officials appointed by the capital had arrived and requested him to return to the Administrative Building.
He set aside his current tasks, left the villa, and took his dedicated car to the Administrative Building.
No sooner had he entered the hall through the private passage than he saw Secretary Qiao Yang already waiting at the entrance to welcome him. "Section Chief Chen, Administrator Qi and the others are waiting for you. Please come with me."
Chen Chuan nodded. "Secretary Qiao, thank you for your trouble."
Qiao Yang led the way. This time, instead of heading to the previous government affairs hall, they took an elevator straight up to the sky terrace on the building's top floor, which offered a panoramic view overlooking the vast majority of Center City's architecture.
Qi Weizhao and the heads of several major departments from the Government Affairs Hall were already waiting here.
As Chen Chuan walked over, everyone nodded in greeting.
After shaking hands with Qi Weizhao and exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Chuan soon seemed to sense something and looked up toward the sky.
The others also received a transmission on their boundary credentials, prompting them all to look upward together.
They saw the clouds in the sky churned as if by an unseen force, dispersing toward the perimeter. At the same time, faint ripples appeared in the air directly above them. A moment later, an enormous gold-and-red airship materialized out of thin air.
Chen Chuan had already felt the airship's approach moments ago, which meant the vessel possessed cloaking capabilities.
The airship bore some resemblance to beast-class airships; both its envelope and hull were crafted from mutated biological tissue.
Its gigantic propeller blades did not seem to be made of metal either, resembling some sort of carapace instead. Along both sides of its hull were folded feathered wings. The entire vessel looked like a unified whole, like a living creature, giving the impression that it could take flight by its own power even without an envelope.
A line of text surfaced on Chen Chuan's boundary credential from Fumu's database. It indicated that this vessel was a Chongming-class dispatch airship developed by Great Shun. Equipped with high-speed cruising and biological cloaking technology, it was typically used to deliver and proclaim vital directives to various Center Cities or local officials.
This type of airship utilized extensive advanced biomaterials, and the vessel itself was an active conscious entity capable of localized domain communication within a city.
The airship slowly descended. When it hovered about twenty meters above, an oval aperture gradually dilated on its underbelly like an opening maw. A beam of light shone down, striking the open ground before the group.
Everyone present, including Qi Weizhao, received a message indicating that the superiors had only invited Chen Chuan to board the airship alone. The crowd accordingly stepped back a few paces.
Upon receiving the notice, Chen Chuan stepped forward and came to a halt beneath the beam of light. Soon, over a dozen long black tendrils lowered from the airship's belly and wrapped around him.
He did not resist, allowing the tendrils to wrap about him. After a moment, once they tightened their grip, they lifted him upward.
The leverage points of these tendrils were exquisitely calibrated; he felt not the slightest discomfort. Before long, he arrived inside the airship. The gap beneath him gradually closed, and he set his feet on solid ground.
The black tendrils loosened one by one and retreated into apertures lining the cabin walls.
The cabin hall was brightly lit. Commissioner Cheng, who had previously come to confer his commission, stood ahead with several aides behind him. Wearing a smile, the commissioner extended a hand. "Greetings, Section Chief Chen."
Chen Chuan reached out and shook his hand.
After the handshake and a few words of greeting, Commissioner Cheng stepped back two paces, took an appointment document from an aide, unfurled it, and read aloud the capital's new appointment for him on the spot.
Chen Chuan listened closely. In addition to a two-grade salary increase, the appointment primarily conferred upon him the post of Committee Member of the National Security Affairs Department.
The National Security Affairs Department was a superior body over the defense departments, responsible for formulating the national overall security strategy and coordinating and supervising the implementation of security departments across all Center Cities.
Although he was already a section chief, if extraordinary circumstances arose or if he made decisions contrary to the Security Affairs Department, the department held the authority to suspend his powers and assign someone of equivalent rank to take over his duties.
With this post, however, if the Security Affairs Department wished to override his authority, it would require a rather cumbersome set of procedures and, ultimately, the personal signature of the Chief Administrator.
Moreover, even if he went to other Center Cities, he would technically be considered the superior of their local defense department chiefs.
This position had a term limit, usually four years per term. After a term concluded, a competent holder could be reappointed. On the other hand, an "administrative commissioner" could serve for life, and it was that office that truly wielded the reins of power within the Security Affairs Department.
To hold such an office, however, one had to move to the capital and relinquish all local Center City positions.
Chen Chuan understood that given his age, no matter how great his merits were, it would be difficult to rise any higher in the short term. At most, they would grant him honorary and material rewards. His promotion to department committee member this time was likely also bolstered by efforts from within the Purist Faction.
As for himself, he had no intention of heading to the capital right now, so the current arrangement was actually much better.
Commissioner Cheng smiled and continued, "Section Chief Chen, by advancing the Skyline Project, slaying General of Eastern Subjugation Su Kuo of the former imperial household, and retrieving the banner of the First Expeditionary Army, you have brought immense satisfaction to the Chief Administrator. He has personally inscribed a piece of calligraphy for me to present to you."
With that, he brought out a rolled scroll of silk paper and unfurled it slowly. Upon it were inscribed the two characters: "Ever Victorious."
The heavy ink and vigorous brushstrokes possessed powerful rhythm and unmatched majesty.
Looking at it, Chen Chuan nodded inwardly. He could tell the writer was not a martial artist, yet the sheer vitality and spirit radiating from the calligraphy could be felt distinctly.
Commissioner Cheng solemnly presented it forward with both hands. Chen Chuan received it with both hands, admired it once more, and slowly rolled it up, returning it to its storage box.
Commissioner Cheng made another gesture, and an aide wheeled forward a cart carrying a suitcase and another chest about half the height of a man.
He said, "These are the commendations granted to you by the department. As they are internal to your department, Section Chief Chen, please take them back to examine at your leisure."
Without lifting a hand, Chen Chuan simply cast a glance. The two items gently floated up from the cart and settled to his left and right.
Commissioner Cheng smiled. "Committee Member Chen, we have conveyed our superiors' commission. As official duties still press upon us, we shall not linger here. We hope you will boldly shoulder your responsibilities and live up to the trust placed in you."
"Thank you, Commissioner Cheng."
The hatch beneath opened once more. Declining the aid of the airship's tendrils, Chen Chuan dropped directly from the vessel. As he neared the ground, his body buoyed slightly, stepping onto the surface as lightly as a feather, while the two cases hovered just above the ground behind him.
Above, the airship closed its hatch and ascended into the heights. Moments later, its hull once more faded into the air, and the hum of its propeller blades vanished without a trace.
Qi Weizhao had also seen the notification of Chen Chuan's change in rank—though only officials of his stature and members of the decision-making panels were privy to it. He said, "Section Chief Chen, congratulations."
Chen Chuan replied with his thanks.
Now that the airship from the capital had departed, there was no need for the group to remain, and they all made their way down from the roof.
Having nothing further to attend to here, Chen Chuan took his leave of Qi Weizhao, exited the Administrative Building, and returned home by car. After washing up briefly and changing his clothes, he carried the two cases into the spacious training room.
He first took the suitcase, set it on the table, unlatched the clasps, and lifted the lid. What met his eyes was a packaged full uniform of the National Security Affairs Department, complete with cap, boots, and gloves.
Beneath it lay another set of everyday martial attire.
He touched it with his hand and immediately knew this outfit was tailored specifically for martial artists, its quality visibly superior to what he currently wore. Beside the attire lay a ceremonial dress sword and a sidearm sword, both exquisitely crafted.
After examining them, he closed the lid and approached the large chest. Pulling out the sealing pin and unlocking the padlock, he opened the chest. Inside stood a humanoid figure roughly two point three or four meters tall.
It was an entire suit of armor resembling retro plate armor, complete with protection for every part of the body, a visor that revealed only the eyes, and a conical hat above draped with dangling strings of beads.
His heart stirred slightly. Moving behind the chest, he removed the back panel as well, revealing an opening like a slit on the back of the armor. Understanding dawned on him immediately: while this item appeared to be armor on the surface, it was actually a suit of protective external implants.
The Linakes Federation possessed the world's most advanced external implant technology, but he knew Great Shun had been conducting its own research as well. What stood before him was likely one of the fruits of that research, as it was steeped in Great Shun's distinct native style.
He found himself rather intrigued. Reaching into the opening, he stepped inside. As he entered, the entire suit of armor seemed to sense his presence and, like a living creature, wrapped itself around his body.
Chapter 1050