Chapter 89

"Li Yi, come in. Stop staring—just now we were discussing how to reward you, so come see if you're satisfied with the investigation bureau's reward."

Zhang Lei smiled and waved his hand, signaling Li Yi to come over.

Hearing the word “reward,” Li Yi’s eyes lit up; he immediately entered the conference room and greeted everyone: “Hello, everyone.”

Then he walked up to Zhang Lei and asked: “Captain, what reward is the investigation bureau giving me this time?”

Zhang Lei smiled and said: “According to the statistics, you eliminated fifteen ferocious beasts during this mission. For this, the investigation bureau is awarding you forty million in cash. Of course, this sum is far less than the beasts’ actual value—but Li Yi, you must understand: as an external operations officer, you’re only entitled to thirty percent of the beasts’ total value; the rest must be surrendered to the bureau and distributed among your teammates.”

“I understand. Getting this much money already surprises me—thank you, Captain, for your consideration.” Li Yi knew full well: most of the beasts had been killed by his sniper rifle, and the operation had benefited from the investigation bureau’s resources.

Besides, the investigation bureau had handled all the cleanup—thirty percent was already generous. He had no complaints.

Zhang Lei nodded: “This is only the first reward. The second concerns the incomplete artifact. Before you came here, Wang Jian should’ve already told you: since our Tianchang City investigation bureau recovered this incomplete artifact, after deliberation by headquarters, it will remain at the training base, and a meditation chamber will be built around it.”

“Staff have conducted rigorous calculations: we can construct up to twenty-two meditation chambers. As the primary contributor in recovering this artifact, the investigation bureau grants you two permanent access slots—you’ll have the right to use the incomplete artifact for cultivation as long as it remains in Tianchang City.”

“Really? That’s amazing!” Li Yi’s face lit up with delight.

He hadn’t expected to get a share after recovering that white bone mural.

And now he had two slots—how precious! Even if he never used them himself, he could lend them to others—or rent them out. There were surely plenty of cultivators in Tianchang City interested in the artifact.

Compared to forty million, these two artifact meditation slots were far more valuable.

“Li Yi, don’t just stand there in shock—you’ve got a third reward.” Nearby, investigator Zhang Zhixiong smiled and pointed at the screen in the conference room: “See those three buildings? Pick one as your reward.”

“A building as my reward? Seriously?” Li Yi felt like he was dreaming, staring at everyone in disbelief.

A senior official chuckled: “You saved twenty investigators, including our Captain. Your merit far outweighs recovering a single artifact. We couldn’t think of anything else worthy enough to give you. We heard you still live in an old district apartment—so we discussed it and decided to reward you with a building, to give you a safer place to live. Are you dissatisfied?”

“No, no, not at all—I’m extremely satisfied, even overwhelmed.” Li Yi waved his hands quickly, his heart pounding with excitement.

He hadn’t expected the investigation bureau’s reward to be this heavy—he’d thought he’d get maybe a bonus.

“Since you like it, pick a building.” Zhang Lei smiled: “It’s a pity we have no assets in Anding District—if we did, we’d have given you one there.”

“Captain, you’re too kind—I’m already more than satisfied. Then I’ll take the liberty of choosing one?” Li Yi’s eyes gleamed as he swiftly scanned the basic details of the three buildings.

Each of the three buildings had pros and cons.

The Heping Financial Tower had the highest base value, but its location was mediocre, it had been vacant for years, and if he wanted to use it, he’d need to spend a fortune on renovation and preparation. After the Tianqing Incident, tall buildings carried high risk—they were vulnerable to attacks by supernatural beings.

The Liunian Club had an average location but excellent infrastructure, luxurious interior finishes, and was ideal for living in—yet its only use was residential, with no other value.

The Xiangpiao Restaurant had the best location, but the building was old. Still, if he moved in, he could take over the restaurant and run a business, gaining a steady income stream.

Li Yi, who had spent his whole life poor and had known wealth for barely a few days, now found himself truly torn.

Choosing one from three—how difficult.

Couldn’t he just take all three?

Li Yi thought this in his mind.

But it was only a thought—taking all three was impossible. He had to choose one.

“Since choosing is hard, I’ll use elimination.” Li Yi immediately began thinking—he first crossed out the Liunian Club.

The club was great, comfortable to live in—if he added a few beautiful women, it would be pure bliss.

But Li Yi was a naturally wicked, deeply demonic young man—how could he indulge in comfort? He had to eliminate it decisively.

“The Xiangpiao Restaurant is good—prime location, and I can run a business. But since I’ve decided to change my life, I won’t go back to living a quiet, ordinary life. The times have changed—honest people have no future. I don’t want to waste time being a boss. This path of cultivation and evolution demands only fighting, only the resolve to die without regret—how can you ever see the view from the summit if you’re afraid to climb?”

Li Yi made his decision and said at once: “Captain, I want the Heping Financial Tower.”

This choice wasn’t just about a residence—it felt like a choice about his entire life.

“The Heping Financial Tower? Fine, no problem.” Zhang Lei nodded, though he was slightly surprised by Li Yi’s choice.

The tower had no interior finishes—beyond its shiny exterior and height, it held little practical value for Li Yi.

But he didn’t press further. Li Yi had the right to choose—no matter which building he picked, the investigation bureau would approve it.

Li Yi felt like he was dreaming.

Just saying one sentence in this small conference room—and he now owned all this? Forty million in cash, two permanent artifact meditation slots, a tower. For an ordinary person, that would take decades of struggle.

And he’d earned it all after just one mission since joining the investigation bureau.

Indeed, Li Yi was made for this kind of life.

Only by living this way did he feel he hadn’t come into this world for nothing.

He never wanted to return to that cramped, dark, sunless old district—even if this choice meant facing greater dangers in the future, Li Yi felt no regret. He understood deeply: danger and opportunity always coexist. Without countless battles, there would be no such rewards today.

After calming his emotions, Li Yi’s heart grew resolute, and an unfamiliar aura began to rise from him.

It was the boldness of someone who had shed the mindset of a petty townsman, ready to fight this cruel world.

“Has your mindset changed?” As a master of spiritual perception, Zhang Lei sensed this subtle shift.

He smiled slightly.

That’s more like it.

If Li Yi had been the type to take a few rewards and then hide away to cultivate slowly, Zhang Lei would’ve looked down on him.

The world was changing too fast.

The second Tianqing Event was nearly upon them.

To rise from adversity, you couldn’t cower in fear.

“So Li Yi chose the Heping Financial Tower not for the money—the tower is merely a symbol of his inner desire: to stand tall among the clouds, overlook the earth, and become a figure of Fengyun .” Zhang Lei understood, roughly.

After making his choice, Li Yi didn’t linger in the conference room. Though he’d earned great merit, he was still an external operations officer—internal investigation bureau affairs had nothing to do with him.

So after thanking the investigation bureau staff, he excused himself under the pretense of needing rest.

“Rest well these next few days—you won’t be assigned any missions.” Zhang Lei said, intentionally giving Li Yi a few days off.

Li Yi took the opportunity to finish his remaining training at the practice ground, then return home to arrange his personal affairs.

As he stepped out of the conference room.

Wang Jian, Chen Hao, and Zheng Gong, who had been waiting outside, immediately surrounded him.

“Li Yi, how was it? What reward did the investigation bureau give you?” All three were eager to know.

Li Yi smiled: “Forty million in cash, a tower, and two permanent slots for artifact meditation chambers.”

He had no reason to hide it—after all, the investigation bureau would publicize this anyway.

“Holy shit, that much? Damn, you’ve hit the jackpot!” Wang Jian’s eyes widened with envy.

Though envious, he understood Li Yi deserved it.

After all, he’d single-handedly saved twenty investigators, including Zhang Lei—failing to reward him heavily would’ve been unthinkable.

“Just lucky,” Li Yi replied modestly with a smile.

“Lucky? You earned this through strength. I might have to follow you from now on.” Wang Jian shook his head—he’d been right all along, just as He Xiong had predicted.

He’d have to rely on Li Yi now.

He just never expected it to happen so soon.