Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 129 Extraordinary promotion
Xuanwu Department.

Since Lin Xuan completed his bloodline baptism, the high priest's attitude towards him has improved considerably.

She has gathered all the high-level spirit pattern masters of the Xuanwu Department to help him create spirit pattern mirrors to pass through those checkpoints.

The alchemists in the tribe have also begun to refine antidote pills and exorcism pills.

Inside Lin Xuan's wooden house, Youmeng was teaching Lin Xuan how to control the spiritual patterns at those checkpoints.

He now has the blood of the Jiuli tribe flowing through his veins, just like her, and can be taught all the Jiuli secret techniques.

Standing behind Lin Xuan, Aya stared wide-eyed and couldn't help but exclaim, "Big brother, you're so smart! I've been trying to learn these spirit runes for so long and I still haven't mastered them!"

Youmeng looked up at Lin Xuan, her beautiful eyes also showing shock.

The art of spirit runes is the most difficult secret technique of the Jiuli tribe.

The process of inscribing spirit patterns requires a high degree of concentration of mental energy. There can be no mistakes or omissions, and even the slightest tremor of the fingers may lead to failure.

Almost every spirit rune master goes through hundreds or even thousands of failures when they first start learning spirit runes.

He succeeded in inscribing spirit patterns on the silver mirror after only a few failures.

He is simply a genius in the art of spirit patterns!

Lin Xuan smiled modestly and said, "Perhaps it's because of my strong mental power."

All the knowledge about spirit runes was stored in his mind and could be accessed at any time. After the bloodline baptism, he gained the qualification to learn these secret techniques, so he no longer needed to hide them.

With the help of many high-level spirit pattern masters from the Xuanwu Department, all one hundred spirit pattern mirrors that allow passage were completed in three days.

With this mirror, one can successfully pass through the four passes at the front of Longya Mountain.

Lin Xuan has also found a way to break the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Formation in the fifth level and the Stone Puppet in the sixth level.

Poison-avoiding pills and anti-poison pills will allow you to safely pass the next two trials.

The final Longya Pass was left to the imperial court.

The Xuanwu tribe, located outside the main tribe.

Lin Xuan was carrying a huge bundle. Youmeng looked at him and asked, "Should I have someone take you to Bozhou?"

Aya stood beside him, somewhat eager to try.

Lin Xuan knew what Aya was thinking, so he gently patted her head and said, "It's too chaotic outside right now, so I'll go by myself. I'll come back to see you after I'm done with this, and I'll take you out to play next time..."

Aya was initially a little disappointed, but upon hearing Lin Xuan's promise for the next time, she immediately perked up: "Then let's pinky swear!"

Lin Xuan made a pinky promise with her, looked at Youmeng, and said, "Then I'm leaving..."

Youmeng said softly, "Be careful when you're out there alone. If you encounter any difficulties, don't force yourself. Go back to the tribe and discuss it together."

Lin Xuan nodded, shouldered the heavy bundle, and soared into the air, quickly disappearing into the mountains.

Youmeng watched him leave.

This time, her feelings were completely different from the last time they parted.

Because she knew he would come back.

She couldn't quite explain her feelings. In the month since he left, she often dreamed of him, and when she tried to visualize him, she was often restless.

These past few days, she has felt incredibly at ease.

She breathed a soft sigh of relief, already looking forward to his next return. She still had many secret techniques she could teach him...

……

Banshu.

The city gate.

Unlike its usual bustling state, only a few scattered figures were queuing to enter the city today.

The Yang family has not had a peaceful time lately. They have been attacked from both sides by the An and Song families and have suffered repeated defeats. Many minor chieftains who have been loyal to the Yang family for generations have also switched their allegiance to the An and Song families.

Some wealthy people in Bozhou City had already fled and left.

Ordinary people, having nowhere else to go, were forced to remain in the city, their future uncertain.

A man wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a Miao sword had just reached the city gate when a guard stepped forward and said, "Sir, would you be interested in joining the Yang family? The Yang family's Dragon Cliff Army is recruiting, and the benefits are extremely generous. Would you like to learn more?"

"Being not."

The man paid the entrance fee, said nothing, and turned to walk into the city.

It seems the Yang family has really been driven to desperation. In the past, it was extremely difficult to join the Longya Army, but now they have been reduced to recruiting soldiers at the city gate.

However, joining the Longya Army at this time would probably only serve to fill the gaps for the Yang family.

Lin Xuan had only been gone for a few days, and the once bustling main street in Bozhou City had become unusually deserted.

There are many martial artists dressed like him. In chaotic times, there are also more opportunities, and there are quite a few people who want to take advantage of the chaos.

He went straight into an inn in the city.

A moment later, Lu Feng had just entered the room when he looked at Lin Xuan eagerly and asked, "How is it?"

Lin Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Reporting to Commander Lu, I have not failed in my mission."

Lu Feng was overjoyed and asked, "They agreed?"

Lin Xuan nodded slightly and said, "I've hidden the key to unlocking the Dragon Cliff Mountain Pass in a secret location outside the city, but there's only enough for a hundred people..."

Lu Feng sat down in the chair and said, "One hundred people are enough."

The army surrounded Longya Mountain, gathering a hundred powerful warriors from the imperial court and the An and Song families. They broke through the passes one by one, leaving the Yang family with no way to escape.

He suddenly realized something, looked at Lin Xuan, and exclaimed in surprise, "Your strength..."

He then realized that Lin Xuan was actually emanating the aura of a sixth-grade cultivator.

When he first met Lin Xuan, he was only an eighth-rank official.

By the second time they met, he had already reached the seventh rank.

When we last parted, he had just entered the seventh rank; a few days later, he had already reached the sixth rank...

This speed of advancement is simply astonishing.

Lin Xuan sighed and said, "This is a long story..."

A moment later, Lu Feng looked astonished and murmured, "You mean, they wanted you to undergo the bloodline baptism of the Jiuli tribe and become a member of the Jiuli tribe before they would help you. After you passed the bloodline baptism, they used marrow cleansing fluid to help you improve your cultivation and even taught you the Jiuli tribe's method of cultivating spiritual power..."

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "The high priest of the Jiuli tribe said that my spiritual talent is quite good and suitable for cultivating their techniques. The Jiuli tribe doesn't concern themselves with the affairs of the imperial court, and they will only help me if I become a member of the Jiuli tribe. Moreover, they require me to stay in their tribe for three months every year..."

Lin Xuan's words were nine parts true and one part false.

In this way, he will no longer need to hide his cultivation level, and he can also lay the groundwork for the fact that he is skilled in both martial arts and magic, and he will no longer need to conceal his cultivation speed.

Lu Feng glanced at Lin Xuan a few times.

He seemed to be listening to a bizarre story.

Such things only happen in those fantasy stories.

However, Lin Xuan's aura and cultivation level were undeniable.

He realized something crucial, and looking at Lin Xuan, he asked, "Tell me honestly, what exactly is your relationship with that Holy Maiden of the Xuanwu Clan?"

Lin Xuan was taken aback and didn't know how to answer.

Lu Feng's gaze swept back and forth over Lin Xuan.

When I first met him in Sizhou, he was still virgin.

But at this moment, he was no longer a virgin, clearly having tasted some kind of pleasure.

Lu Feng asked directly, "Did you sleep with the Holy Maiden of the Xuanwu Tribe?"

This was the only possibility he could think of.

Lin Xuan's lips moved slightly, and finally she nodded.

He didn't sleep with Youmeng; rather, Youmeng slept with him.

But the result is the same.

Lu Feng was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses and said with some admiration, "Good, good, good, good..."

He never imagined that he would make contact with the most isolated tribe of Jiuli in this way.

If I told you, probably no one would believe me.

After regaining his senses, he gently patted Lin Xuan's shoulder and said, "The court will not forget the sacrifices you have made for it. Once that thing is verified, I will send a message to the commander to recommend you for merit..."

Lin Xuan said, "By the way, sir, they have other conditions as well."

Lu Feng nodded and said, "Go ahead."

Lin Xuan said, "The materials used to break the spirit pattern array at Longya Mountain Pass usually require a large amount of silver. They ask for 1,000 taels of silver for one spirit pattern mirror, and 100 spirit pattern mirrors would cost 100,000 taels of silver."

In reality, the cost of a spirit-patterned mirror is less than ten taels of silver, and the high priest never mentioned payment. But now that he is considered part of the Xuanwu tribe, he naturally wants to fight for more benefits for the tribe.

Life in the Xuanwu tribe is too hard; this amount of silver could buy countless supplies.

Lu Feng did not hesitate and said, "I agree on behalf of the imperial court."

One hundred thousand taels of silver is not a small amount, but if the Yang family's property is confiscated, the gains will be more than ten or a hundred times greater.

At worst, the Jingye Division could easily raise the amount by confiscating the property from a few corrupt officials.

Lu Feng then asked, "Are there any other conditions?"

Lin Xuan said, "The methods to break through two of the barriers involve the secrets of the Jiuli tribe and should not be revealed to outsiders. The Xuanwu tribe can be made an exception this time, but the imperial court must build a village outside Sizhou to provide housing for some members of the Xuanwu tribe..."

The Xuanwu tribe is too isolated; the vast majority of its members never leave the mountains in their entire lives.

Even just letting them come out every now and then to experience the outside world would be good.

This is a good opportunity to make more demands on the imperial court.

This time, Lu Feng remained silent for a long time before speaking: "The imperial court can agree to this condition, but the number of Jiuli people living in the village cannot exceed one hundred..."

Although the Jiuli tribe lived in seclusion, the imperial court never dared to underestimate them.

Once the Jiuli tribe becomes an enemy of the imperial court, they will be more troublesome than the Yang family, or even the Nanzhao.

The imperial court would never allow a large number of Jiuli people to leave the Ten Thousand Mountains.

He looked at Lin Xuan and asked, "Do they have any other requests?"

Lin Xuan shook his head and said, "No, that's all."

He then asked, "Longya Mountain is heavily guarded. At each pass, one must be searched. I wonder how the imperial court will verify this?"

Lu Feng asked, "What size is that spirit pattern mirror you mentioned?"

Lin Xuandao said, "It's about the size of an adult's palm."

Lu Feng said, "Then there's no problem. One of the Jingye Division's spies has successfully infiltrated the fourth checkpoint. When he arrives, we'll hide this item inside his stomach, and he'll find out when he comes up the mountain..."

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "I will retrieve a spirit pattern mirror as soon as possible."

Then, he looked at Lu Feng and asked, "Commander Lu, I have broken through to the sixth rank. Where should I apply for the Zhenyue Gong technique?"

Lu Feng thought for a moment and said, "I don't have the fourth level of the Zhenyue Gong technique with me. I need to get it from the Thousand Household Office. For this operation, the commanders of several major Thousand Household Offices in the Southwest will be here. I will send a message to Zhou Tai to tell him to take it with him..."

A moment later, Lin Xuan left the inn and exited the city through another gate.

After confirming that no one was following him, he went to the cave where the item was hidden, took out a spirit-patterned mirror, and returned to Bozhou City to give it to Lu Feng.

All that's left to do is wait.

During this period, the Yang family suffered heavy losses, and infiltrating the Longya Army became much easier than before.

Lin Xuan had nothing to do for the time being, so he went back to the alley he had been in before and took a look.

His courtyard house had a "For Rent" sign posted outside, so it probably hadn't been rented out yet.

Qingluan and Wenren Yue have not moved away yet.

Lin Xuan glanced at them twice from a distance before returning to the Jingye Division's stronghold.

Now is not the time for him to reveal his identity.

Three days later, at night.

A figure quietly walked in through the back door of the inn.

Inside a room on the second floor of the inn, Lu Feng looked intently at him and asked, "How is it?"

The figure said in a low voice, "Commander Lu, when I passed through the first three passes, I did not feel the pressure I felt before..."

Lu Feng took a deep breath, barely able to contain his joy.

Once it's confirmed that the first three levels are effective, then the solutions for the later levels are almost certainly not fake.

He patted the man on the shoulder and said, "You've worked hard. From now on, you don't need to return to the Dragon Cliff Army. I will arrange for someone to send you back to the capital to recuperate immediately. The Commandery will arrange a residence for you, and once you have recovered, we will fill the vacancy of a centurion in the capital region..."

The man knelt on one knee, overjoyed, and said, "Thank you, Commander Lu!"

Although this undercover mission risked his life and even involved the pain of being disemboweled, he gained everything he wanted in return.

A mansion in the capital, a vacancy for a hundred households in the capital region... this is something he could never obtain even if he spent his entire life in the southwest.

After that person left, Lu Feng looked at the other figure in the room and said, "The Jingye Division never mistreats its meritorious officials. Don't worry, you will receive more than him in the end. I will send a message to the commander now..."

Lin Xuan clasped his hands slightly and said, "Serving the country loyally is our duty."

Lu Feng took out a telescope, dipped a brush in cinnabar, and quickly wrote on it.

……

Beijing.

Jingye Division Commandery.

Chen Bing looked at the urgent report Lu Feng sent back from the southwest and suddenly stood up.

"Good, good, good!"

He paced back and forth in the hall, a rare look of great joy appearing on his usually stern face. He then vanished from the hall in a blur.

After a while.

Wanshou Palace.

From within the curtain, the sound of chimes could be heard.

Chen Bing knelt on one knee, holding a secret report in both hands, and said, "Good news from the Southwest, presented to Your Majesty for your perusal!"

The chime behind the curtain gradually stopped, and the curtain in front was lifted. The Emperor of Dayong walked out barefoot, took the secret report from Chen Bing, and said in a calm voice, "Get up."

Chen Bing slowly rose and stood respectfully to the side.

Emperor Dayong flipped through the secret reports page by page, the wrinkles on his forehead unconsciously smoothing out a bit. He gently waved his wide sleeves and spoke in a low voice: "The rebellion in the southwest started because of him, and it will end because of him. Is this fate?"

Chen Bing smiled and said, "I didn't believe in fate before, but now I'm starting to believe it. Your Majesty may not know, but the Yang family of Bozhou and Lin Xuan have a long-standing karmic connection..."

"Oh?"

When the topic of fate and karma came up, the Emperor of Dayong's tone became noticeably more elevated.

Chen Bing explained, "Several years ago, Lin Xuan's father was killed in an attack during an escort mission. Later, the Jingye Division found out that the Yang family of Bozhou was the ones who robbed the imperial goods, but for the sake of stability in the southwest, they never made it public..."

The Emperor of Dayong pondered for a moment, then turned and walked back behind the curtain. After a few clear chimes, his voice rang out again: "The cycle of Heaven, cause and effect, retribution and punishment—every sip and every bite is ordained by Heaven..."

After a few more chimes, he slowly said, "He previously made contributions to the new salt administration, and this time he risked his life to solve this problem for the court. You should reward him on my behalf first. It is too much of a waste for such a talent to stay in the southwest. After the matter in the southwest is settled, I will transfer him back to the capital and reward him further..."

Chen Bing clasped his hands and said, "As you command!"

……

Banshu.

early morning.

Lin Xuan woke up at the inn. He had just gotten out of bed and finished washing up when there was a knock on the door.

He opened the door and saw Lu Feng with a big smile on his face.

Lu Feng clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lin Xuan and said, "Congratulations, Lin Xuan. From this day forward, you are one of the Sixteen Guards of Jingye..."

Lin Xuan was somewhat bewildered; he had never heard of the Sixteen Guards of Jingye.

Lu Feng anticipated his reaction and explained with a smile, "It's normal that you haven't heard of the Sixteen Guards of Jingye since you've been in the Jingbian Division all this time. You just need to know that the Sixteen Guards of Jingye are the commander's personal guards, and their status is even higher than that of the commanders of the various garrisons. The next time you see Zhou Tai, it will be him bowing to you..."

It was from Lu Feng that Lin Xuan learned about the ranks within the Jingye Division.

The system he knew before, from ordinary guards to banner officers, then to generals, centurions, chiliarchs, then to the governors of the southeast, northwest and northeast garrisons, and finally to the capital city command, was a system that was on the surface.

Besides the overt system, the Jingye Division also has another system operating covertly.

Such as the Seven Sons of Jingye, the Sixteen Guards, the Thirty-Six Heavenly Generals, and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends.

Lu Feng was one of the Seven Sons of Jingye. Although his strength was not as good as that of the Commander of the Prefecture, his position in the Jingye Division was half a rank higher than that of the Commander of the Prefecture.

After he came to the Southwest, he came under the command of the entire Southwest Pacification Division.

Although the Sixteen Guards were below the Seven Sons of Jingye, they were still above ordinary commanders and could directly command local commanders.

Lu Feng encouraged him, saying, "Originally, with your strength, it would have been difficult to enter the Sixteen Guards. Among the Sixteen Guards, no one's cultivation level is lower than the fifth rank. However, the merits you have made these two times are too great, and the commander has made an exception and promoted you to the Sixteen Guards. If you continue to cultivate diligently and strive for excellence, perhaps one day, you will also have a place among the Seven Sons of Jingye..."

Lin Xuan said solemnly, "Your subordinate will remember this!"

Lu Feng nodded and said, "The Sixteen Guards and the Seven Sons of Jingye are not subordinate to each other, so you don't need to call them your subordinates. For the time being, you will stay by my side. Once the Southwest matter is settled, the Commandery should make other arrangements for you..."

Lin Xuan nodded, then asked, "What are our plans next?"

Lu Feng said, "The imperial court's spirit-patterned weapons are already on their way, and the elite troops from various garrisons in the southwest are also converging here. This operation will be led by the Song family, with us assisting from the sidelines. However, before that, we need to meet with the people of Nanzhao. The Yang family and the Western Barbarians pose a greater threat to them. We can't let them hide in the back and reap the benefits..."

(End of this chapter)