As spiritual energy revived, I, having acquired certain attributes, gradually ascended to immortalit

Chapter 133 The Seventh Rank Among the Common People

"I knew you were outrageous from the start, but I never imagined it would go this far. By the way, shouldn't I be calling you 'Chief' now?"

As Ding Hang spoke, he suddenly stood up straight and saluted, "Greetings, Commander!"

The team members behind him also saluted in unison, which attracted the attention of many people around.

Two months ago, Shen Qing was just an ordinary person. He suddenly felt uncomfortable being addressed as "commander" by a group of real soldiers.

It was just an instinctive return gift.

Before he could say anything, another familiar voice came, "Captain, no, it should be Deputy Director Shen, long time no see."

A person dressed in a dark blue research department field uniform walked over, surprisingly Yang Xu, who hadn't been heard from for a while.

"Please take good care of me in the future."

He came up and saluted, saying, "Deputy Director."

"Yang Xu?"

Seeing Shen Qing's surprised expression, Yang Xu pushed up his glasses and explained, "I'm going to be transferred to the research department in Binhai."

Because of the portal to the realm of evil thoughts, Binhai City may become a focus of attention for various forces in the future, so it needs to be strengthened with vigilance. My ability is just right.

While the two were talking, some of Wang Beishan's acquaintances came over.

Although the conversation eventually turned to Shen Qing, the young deputy director, who was only 22 years old and held real power as a deputy brigade commander.

Not far away.

Seeing that Shen Qing and his group were catching up, Liu Lin, the military representative who did not come up to greet them immediately, was not present.

Also present was Batu, the director of the Hanhai branch; the two were talking about something.

"So those are the contestants from the grassroots level?"

Liu Lin frowned slightly as he watched a group of people get out of another military pickup truck, dressed in various styles, some in suits and some in casual clothes.

The combination of power and disorder is not a good thing.

"Why did you suddenly change the competition rules and come here? That grassy forest is quite dangerous, and it restricts spiritual energy."

Director Batu followed his gaze and nodded.

"We are certainly aware of that, but shouldn't we explore the other side as well?"

Rather, now is the perfect time to gather a group of top-tier fighters and embark on an exploration.

Neither side knows the details inside, which avoids the other side feeling it's unfair. A simple competition with all the haggling is too time-consuming.

Liu Lin paused for a few seconds, then looked at the contestants. "What about their situation—"

As a military expert, he was naturally able to detect it.

Those four people were all seventh-rank officials. If there was even one of them among the civilian forces, they could accept it.

But so many—putting aside the possibility that ordinary people could cultivate so many Rank 7 cultivators who could hide them from being discovered, are they sure they don't have some ulterior motive?

His voice turned serious.

"There are no surveillance cameras in the Spirit-Slaying Grassland. If they want to do something—"

Even if it's not said aloud, the meaning is self-evident.

Batu shook his head, his tone indifferent, "If they have this idea, then we can naturally have it too. Anyway, if we die inside, there will be no way to prove it."

Neither unilateral concessions nor violent suppression are appropriate; a two-pronged approach is necessary.

A moment of silence.

"Forget it, let's not discuss this anymore."

Liu Lin shook his head. "Go and see that youngest Deputy Director Shen."

Batu nodded, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, and the two of them walked together toward Shen Qing and his group, who were surrounded.

"Make way, the brigade commander and his men are here!"

The crowd finally dispersed when representatives from the Foreign Affairs Bureau and the military approached.

"brigadier?"

Shen Qing then noticed the two middle-aged men approaching. They were dark-skinned, both holding the rank of colonel, and knew Wang Beishan and Chen Ting.

After a brief greeting, my gaze naturally fell on him.

"Deputy Director Shen, I've heard so much about you. Now that I've met you, you are indeed a man of great talent."

Liu Lin spoke first, and although it was just polite talk, it was also from the bottom of his heart.

Although I knew Shen Qing was not very old, seeing it with my own eyes still surprised me greatly, and it exceeded my expectations.

Such a young lieutenant colonel, at the deputy brigade level, and promoted through meritorious service, must be of the same rank as him if he is not in an "acting" position.

A brigade commander in his twenties, and with special command authority at critical moments. Even if he has a higher rank, he may be commanded by the other side in the future.

Thinking back to when I was this age, I was still struggling at the grassroots level.

After a brief introduction to Shen Qing, Liu Lin's gaze fell on Huo Xiu beside him, since they were both young people.

However, their attitudes are clearly different now.

If the interaction with Shen Qing was that of equals, then the interaction with Huo Xiu was that of a senior encouraging a junior.

Although the two were about the same age, Huo Xiu was only a major and did not have enough merits; he was a standard battalion commander.

He may seem to be only one rank lower than Shen Qing, but in reality, they are quite different.

While the officials were receiving Shen Qing and his group, the civilian forces were also guided to their own area.

They appear to be one group, but in reality they are divided into two sides.

The major sects and factions, led by the Dragon Tiger Sect, had many representatives, but their contestant was a lone individual, and even that was only an eighth-rank contestant.

"Seventh-grade supernatural power practitioners? Where did they come from?"

Looking at the teams from the company and the private legal system on the other side, they were all puzzled. If it weren't for the official explanation, they wouldn't even have been able to tell.

The selection of personnel among civilian forces is not actually determined by strength, but by capital.

In their view, no matter how they compete, they are unlikely to win against the authorities, but with the intervention of capital, they can at least have some bargaining power with the authorities.

Although they can be considered as having capital, their scale is far from sufficient.

Unexpectedly, after those companies got involved, they and those folk lineages actually found four seventh-rank supernatural beings.

In this situation, after the negotiations with the authorities are over, it will probably be time to negotiate with them, and then there's the question of who should be chosen.

"Are you sure their selection is correct?"

"Who knows? Anyway, Director Sun guarantees there won't be any problems, and his abilities are top-notch."

The expressions of the representatives from the Dragon Tiger Sect and others changed.

Knowing they had essentially let the wolf into their house, they knew they wouldn't have an easy time, regardless of how the competition with the authorities went.

In contrast to the gloomy atmosphere on the bulk commodity side, the company side was relaxed, seemingly very confident about the upcoming competition.

At noon, when the sun is at its highest point, the competition is about to begin.

Li Jianghan was responsible for announcing the rules; his voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the room.

"————You can think of the grassland over there as the outer edge of a secret realm. The demons inside do not have extraordinary powers; they are all skilled in physical combat."

The highest rank is no higher than the seventh grade, but it's not absolute. Although they are issued aid talismans, whether they are effective is another matter.

So if you're scared, you can leave now.

His gaze swept over the contestants from the civilian faction, and he sensed something was amiss. He said coldly, "There is only one rule: internal strife is not allowed, but you can steal the other side's prey and materials. The winner will be determined by the total score of both sides."

Grade 9: 1 point; Grade 8: 10 points; Grade 7: 50 points; and higher... hehe.

Li Jianghan just smiled and didn't say anything. Before his talent and abilities were limited, how could a seventh-rank kill a sixth-rank?

It's not much better than dreaming.

"The supplies are provided by the Bureau of Other Affairs and have been jointly tested and approved by both parties. Before entering that secret realm, the talismans and equipment brought in will also need to be tested."

"In addition, the assessment period is three days. If it exceeds three days, this secret realm may be at risk of disappearing."

After Li Jianghan finished giving his instructions, the group, led by Liu Lin, the military representative, finally arrived in front of the huge grassy forest.