Chapter 140: Promoted to Deputy Hall Master! Taking Office!

One month later.

Early morning, the morning sun just rising.

Near the city gate of Changping County.

A dense crowd of people stood there, and at the very front were Lu Zhangsheng and several other Deputy Hall Masters, including Qin Ruobing.

The gazes the group cast toward Lu Zhangsheng were full of awe.

Everyone in the city had long since received the news: people from the Prefecture City were arriving today, not only regarding Lu Zhangsheng's appointment, but also the arrival of a new County Lord.

Therefore, everyone had been waiting here since early morning.

"Creeeak..."

In the distance, at the end of the official road, two magnificent carriages were driving rapidly toward the city gate, facing the morning sun.

The drivers were two gray-robed old men with quite fierce auras; they were clearly martial arts experts.

Before long.

The carriages arrived before Lu Zhangsheng and the others and came to a stop.

At this moment, several men jumped down from the carriages.

The leader, wearing a scarlet official robe and sporting a goatee, had a face full of majesty; he was the newly arrived County Lord.

Behind him was a tall, middle-aged man with eyes like lightning, an expert sent from the Prefecture City to announce the appointments.

"Haha... I have kept you colleagues waiting for a long time."

County Lord Yan Jinfeng gave a hearty laugh.

He was quite satisfied that everyone was able to wait here for him.

"County Lord, you are too polite."

The group bowed repeatedly, wearing smiles.

They did not dare to be arrogant in the face of the County Lord's polite words.

"Let Officer Yu read the appointment first."

Yan Jinfeng then stepped aside.

As he spoke, he also looked at Lu Zhangsheng, his eyes showing a hint of something unusual.

He had long heard of this genius figure in Changping County back in the Prefecture City.

The middle-aged man nodded to the County Lord with a smile and slowly stepped forward.

He unfolded the appointment document in his hand.

And began to read aloud.

"Lu Zhangsheng of Changping County has extraordinary talent and distinguished merits; he is hereby transferred to the Prefecture City to be appointed to the position of Deputy Hall Master..."

Signature: Liang Jinghui.

As soon as the words fell, everyone around was shocked.

They cast their gazes toward Lu Zhangsheng in front, their eyes full of disbelief.

No one had expected that Lu Zhangsheng would be transferred directly to the Prefecture City.

They had assumed he would spend a few years transitioning in Changping County.

This was a direct promotion of two ranks, a leap to the heavens in one step.

Even Lu Zhangsheng was stunned.

One must know that a County Deputy Hall Master is only a minor seventh-rank official, while in the Prefecture City, it is a full seventh-rank, equal in status to the County Lord.

He had not expected to be transferred directly to the Prefecture City either; there were quite a few pseudo-Xiantian experts in the Prefecture City. When did he catch the eye of Hall Master Liang? This left him quite puzzled.

Only Qin Ruobing, standing to the side, remained indifferent, as if she had known about this long ago.

"This official congratulates Hall Master Lu."

Yan Jinfeng smiled and bowed.

He did not want to offend this "dragon crossing the river" who was about to leave.

"We pay our respects to Hall Master Lu."

The crowd quickly reacted and immediately offered their congratulations, their loud voices resounding through the clouds.

"You are all too polite."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled faintly and returned the bow.

His white robe fluttered in the breeze, appearing extremely free and easy.

On the outskirts, Fang Qing and her mother Yue Wanting saw this, their eyes full of excitement.

In less than a few short years, Lu Zhangsheng had attained a high position; from now on, he would be in a different world from ordinary Demon Suppression Officers.

Everyone on the scene was extremely envious.

Afterward, the group exchanged a few words and then turned and left.

Night, dotted with stars.

Inside a magnificent hall of the DemonSubduingOffice.

Lu Zhangsheng and Qin Ruobing sat on chairs.

"The newly arrived County Magistrate has a very good relationship with the Prefecture City's noble families."

Qin Ruobing said softly.

"No matter, when I transfer away, I will give proper instructions to my subordinates."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled faintly.

He naturally understood what she meant.

After he left, the Shark Gang and other affiliated forces would likely be suppressed by him; this was unavoidable.

No County Magistrate would allow a single gang to dominate the city.

"Did Sister Qin know about today's transfer order long ago?"

Lu Zhangsheng turned his head to look at Qin Ruobing, his eyes quite puzzled.

"I will be heading to the Prefecture City with you. Tomorrow, I will trouble you to protect me..."

Qin Ruobing smiled sweetly, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

She tacitly acknowledged the matter.

"Sister Qin is going to break through?"

Lu Zhangsheng's expression shifted, his heart filled with worry.

He guessed that she might have been stimulated by Zhao Yuanjing's siege and intended to force a breakthrough in her realm.

"It is just a physical breakthrough, don't worry."

Qin Ruobing answered with a smile.

She had accumulated contribution points for many years and could just exchange them for a thousand-year snow lotus to allow her physical body to break through.

For a martial artist to break their physical body through to Xiantian, there are only two paths.

One is to break through to Xiantian directly and be cleansed by the heaven and earth Qi; even if the breakthrough fails, the physical strength will skyrocket.

This is also considered a pseudo-Xiantian expert.

The other is to use spirit medicine over a thousand years old to nourish the physical body and allow it to break through to the Xiantian level.

This is the path chosen by most geniuses and Heavenly Prides.

As a daughter of the royal clan, she still had the privilege of exchanging for spiritual items.

"Then I congratulate Sister Qin in advance."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled.

He was no longer worried.

Breaking through to Xiantian is quite dangerous, and with Qin Ruobing's strength, it is hard to succeed in one go.

However, if it is just using spirit medicine to break through the physical body, there is no danger.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Lu Zhangsheng stood guard at the entrance of Qin Ruobing's hall.

And there were quite a few Demon Suppression Officers guarding in front.

Such a stance made many martial artists in the city quite surprised.

They were all secretly guessing.

Only three days later, Qin Ruobing emerged from seclusion.

When Qin Ruobing, in a long purple dress, stepped out of the hall, Lu Zhangsheng's eyes shifted.

A powerful sense of oppression radiated from her physical body.

Clearly, the breakthrough was successful.

"Thank you."

Qin Ruobing smiled sweetly, full of charm.

After her strength broke through, her demeanor became even more compelling.

"Let us head to the Prefecture City in three days. In the future, Sister Qin might have to 'work' under you."

She looked at Lu Zhangsheng somewhat mysteriously.

Lu Zhangsheng also felt a bit strange; he hadn't expected Qin Ruobing to also be transferred to the Prefecture City, though he didn't know what her position would be.

Afterward, the two exchanged a few more words, and Lu Zhangsheng turned and left.

When Lu Zhangsheng left the DemonSubduingOffice and was walking on the street, a man in black approached him with a respectful face.

"Officer Lu, Gang Leader Yue invites you to visit."

He did not dare to be negligent toward his gang leader's great backer.

"Lead the way."

Lu Zhangsheng carried his hands behind his back and nodded faintly.

Afterward, the two walked all the way to the Shark Gang's station, in front of a magnificent hall.

Lu Zhangsheng pushed open the door and stepped inside.

He saw Yue Wanting in a white dress standing in the room, her expression somewhat anxious.

"Young Master, you are being transferred away. How should we act? I heard the newly arrived County Lord is not easy to deal with..."

Seeing Lu Zhangsheng arrive, Yue Wanting seemed to have found her backbone.

"No matter, you should not expand further for now. I will return when I have time, and the other party will also have some misgivings."

Lu Zhangsheng's expression was as calm as water.

He naturally understood Yue Wanting's subtext; it was nothing more than fear of the County Lord's suppression.

This was also inevitable.

As long as he could continue to rise in the Prefecture City, the other party would naturally not dare to go too far.

"Young Master is still missing a maid. Let Shulan go and take care of you."

Yue Wanting smiled gracefully.

The two were far apart, so she naturally had to plan ahead.

If they didn't keep in touch for a long time, their friendship would likely fade; sending Yue Shulan to the Prefecture City was something the mother and daughter had already discussed.

"Hmm."

Lu Zhangsheng's expression was a bit strange, but he did not refuse the other party's "good intentions."

Afterward, the two exchanged a few more words, and Lu Zhangsheng turned and left the hall.

Three days later.

Early morning.

East of Changping County, on an open space.

More than a dozen carriages of various sizes were parked near the city gate, and there were quite a few people around to see them off.

Even the two Deputy Hall Masters, Xiao Tiansi and another, were present.

"Take care, everyone."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled and bowed to the crowd, then rode a tall horse and galloped forward.

"We respectfully send off Officer Lu."

The crowd bowed repeatedly, their faces full of awe.

Qin Ruobing rode side-by-side with Lu Zhangsheng, and the two gradually drifted further away.

A large number of carriages followed behind.

The crowd watched Lu Zhangsheng's receding back in silence, unable to help but feel moved.

"This departure is likely a dragon entering the vast sea."

Someone who could rise in just a few short years was definitely no ordinary person.

Just as Lu Zhangsheng and the others were rushing to the Prefecture City, outside Qingning Prefecture City, in a certain underground space.

In the center of the hall was a large blood pool, emitting a nauseating odor.

An old man in black robes sat on the blood pool. His body was rolling with baleful energy, and the sense of oppression was extremely astonishing.

Kneeling in front of the old man was a woman in red; it was Zhao Yuanjing.

"Reporting to Guardian Jiu, this subordinate has failed."

Zhao Yuanjing was full of unwillingness, clenching her fists tightly.

"A genius martial artist appeared in Changping County, which caused this subordinate to fail to break through the county city."

She did not beat around the bush and stated the reason directly.

"A genius? Hmph... There are quite a few geniuses in Qingzhou, but they are nothing more than ants. This seat will send experts..."

Jiu Chen looked disdainful.

"Go down and accept your punishment yourself."

He had killed quite a few so-called geniuses; as an expert who had been Xiantian for a hundred years, he naturally would not take them to heart.

"This subordinate obeys."

Zhao Yuanjing gritted her teeth and slowly stood up to walk backward.

She did not dare to disobey the orders of Jiu Chen, this Xiantian expert.

She had been punished several times because of this person Lu Zhangsheng, which made her heart increasingly twisted.

Three days later.

Lu Zhangsheng, Qin Ruobing, and the others arrived at the Prefecture City DemonSubduingOffice.

And settled down in the family quarters.

Fang Qing and her younger brother also followed to the Prefecture City.

"What a large courtyard."

Looking at their new home, Fang Qing was full of surprise.

Inside, there were not only gardens and small hills, but also various bonsai, ponds, and everything one could wish for, as if it were a fairyland on earth.

Many birds were flying in the courtyard, presenting a scene full of vitality.

"The treatment of a Prefecture City Deputy Hall Master is indeed extraordinary."

Fang Tao was also full of admiration.

Just looking at the living conditions, it was many times better than the county city.

Lu Zhangsheng smiled faintly.

He did not care too much about external things.

After settling all their belongings, they officially moved in.

Over the next few days, Lu Zhangsheng practiced martial arts in the courtyard, and the news of Lu Zhangsheng succeeding as one of the ten Deputy Hall Masters of the Prefecture City spread throughout the entire Prefecture City in an instant.

It caused an uproar within the DemonSubduingOffice.

One must know that every Deputy Hall Master in the Prefecture City was a top-tier expert who had broken through to Xiantian with their physical body, and their martial arts intent was unfathomable.

There were even several genius-level figures.

Many people questioned one after another why a county-level martial artist was qualified to hold such a high position.

In everyone's view, giving him the position of Patrol Envoy would have been the limit.

Some martial artists even ran to the Hall Master and knelt for a long time, seemingly demanding an explanation.

However, Liang Jinghui did not offer any explanation.

This made many martial artists within the DemonSubduingOffice even more "restless," seemingly wanting to pull Lu Zhangsheng down immediately.

The benefits brought by a Deputy Hall Master were still too astonishing.

Inside his own courtyard.

Lu Zhangsheng sat on a chair, quietly sipping spirit wine, looking very content.

He did not care at all about the chaos outside.

Besides practicing martial arts at home, he was busy mining.

This had already become a portrait of his daily life.

In the past few days, Lu Zhangsheng also received information from Qin Ruobing.

Her position was to be a Patrol Envoy under him.

This made Lu Zhangsheng feel extremely strange.

He hadn't expected that after arriving in the Prefecture City, the two of them would have swapped positions.

He couldn't help but guess that it might have been her request.

With Qin Ruobing's strength, she was not yet enough to become a Prefecture City Deputy Hall Master.

Inside a magnificent hall of the DemonSubduingOffice.

Liang Jinghui, the Hall Master, sat at the head, and Qin Ruobing sat below.

"Niece Qin, I have already given him the opportunity. If he cannot hold this position, no one else can be blamed."

"This is already an exceptional promotion. If it weren't for his talent, it would have been impossible for me to relent..."

Liang Jinghui waved his hand with a smile.

He naturally knew about the rumors outside, but he chose not to come forward.

This was also the first test he gave Lu Zhangsheng.

If he couldn't even suppress his subordinate Demon Suppression Officers, how could he convince the masses? If he was pulled down by others, he could only blame his own lack of strength.

Qin Ruobing bit her lip and said nothing more.

She knew she had done her best, and what the other party said was true.

Countless people in the Prefecture City were eyeing this position.

Many pseudo-Xiantian experts were Patrol Envoys, so they naturally would not submit to Lu Zhangsheng, this "parachuted" official.

The ten Deputy Hall Masters held a very transcendent status in the Prefecture City; apart from some Xiantian experts and the Hall Master, these were the people.

Naturally, it caused countless people to compete for it.

The next day.

Noon.

Lu Zhangsheng was practicing martial arts at home when a man in black suddenly arrived, holding a large tray in his hand.

It was filled with various spiritual items.

"Officer Lu, these spiritual items are the offerings for this month."

The man smiled, placed the tray on the stone table, and then turned and left.

Looking at the items in front of him, Lu Zhangsheng's expression shifted slightly.

These spiritual items were worth at least two thousand Source Energy Points.

And this was only for the tenth Deputy Hall Master; if he were ranked first, it would likely be even more astonishing.

With so many resources, it was more than double what he had in the county city.

"The Prefecture City's resources are indeed abundant."

He couldn't help but think to himself.

Then, Lu Zhangsheng collected all the spiritual items in front of him, and after absorbing them, his Source Energy Points increased by two thousand one hundred.

Just at this moment.

Footsteps were heard at the door.

A woman in a white dress walked gracefully toward the courtyard; it was Qin Ruobing.

"This subordinate pays respects to Officer Lu."

Qin Ruobing bowed gracefully and joked with a smile.

With their identities swapped, she also felt it was quite amusing.

"Sister Qin, please don't mock me."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled.

The two had always had a very close relationship, so he didn't put on any airs.

Qin Ruobing put away her smile: "Regarding your becoming a Deputy Hall Master, I fear many people have ulterior motives and want to pull you down."

"Especially the people from the three great families; you must be very careful."

Her tone was quite solemn.

The Shentu, Ouyang, and Nangong families were deeply rooted in the Prefecture City.

They also had many connections with the families in the county city.

"I understand, thank you, Sister Qin."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled faintly, feeling quite grateful in his heart.

When he arrived in the Prefecture City, he had also learned a lot about the current situation.

The entire Prefecture City's top-tier forces were composed of the three great families, the six great sects, the DemonSubduingOffice, and the Xuanjia Army.

In the shadows, the Heavenly Demon Gate was also hidden.

These forces had been entrenched in the Prefecture City for hundreds of years and had deep foundations.

Experts were emerging one after another.

"These six great sects seem a bit restless?"

Lu Zhangsheng asked again.

"Hmph... These fence-sitters naturally obey when the imperial court is strong. In the last ten years or so, some of the things the Heavenly Demon Gate has done have faintly shown their shadows..."

Qin Ruobing's tone was grim.

She had also received internal intelligence and was naturally quite clear about these things.

Both of them understood the intentions of the six great sects; it was nothing more than wanting to take advantage of the chaos in the world to fish for some benefits.

Hearing this, Lu Zhangsheng also felt a bit of vigilance.

The entire Prefecture City's situation could be described as intricate and complicated.

A moment of carelessness, and it would likely mean death.

He prepared to lie low for a while before doing anything else.

Afterward, the two exchanged a few more words, and Qin Ruobing stood up and took her leave.

Over the next few months.

Although Lu Zhangsheng had officially taken office as the tenth Deputy Hall Master of Qingning Prefecture, he appeared to be ignoring all affairs.

He focused on practicing martial arts in his courtyard and went to the Ten Thousand Mountains to mine at night.

His days were very simple.

Even the rumors outside were intensifying.

In the Tenth Hall, there were rumors that Lu Zhangsheng, this Hall Master, could not suppress his subordinates and let the three Patrol Envoys handle daily affairs.

Even Yue Shulan and Tong Yuhua were getting a bit anxious.

Lu Zhangsheng, however, was as steady as Mount Tai, still ignoring the rumors outside.

For him, strength was the foundation.

He needed to mine enough spiritual items in a short time to let his strength undergo another metamorphosis.

By then, a pair of iron fists would be enough to shatter all doubts.

To argue now would only be an insult to his status as a Deputy Hall Master.

This day, at noon.

Tenth Sub-Hall, inside a hall.

Two young men sat at the head of the chairs, looking quite smug.

"The newly appointed tenth Deputy Hall Master is nothing more than this; he hasn't made a move in months."

Shentu Hong mocked.

As a direct descendant of the Shentu family, the position of Deputy Hall Master should have been his.

He hadn't expected someone to be parachuted in.

"This is good. We will handle everything, and then we will pull him down."

A cold glint flashed in Ouyang Xiao's eyes.

This person had killed his affiliated forces in Changping County, which had long made him dissatisfied.

The two had long been prepared to make trouble for him.

They didn't believe the other party could keep hiding at home and never take office.

Even many martial artists in the Prefecture City were secretly waiting.

They all wanted to see when Lu Zhangsheng, this Deputy Hall Master, would make a move to establish his authority.

A storm seemed to be approaching.

(End of chapter)