Chapter 307: Acting Chief!

Five purple soul-jade pieces acquired, plus the three purple soul-jades and one gray soul-jade Chen Mu originally possessed, totaling nine soul-jades that continuously nourished and increased his spiritual power day and night.

Chen Mu could clearly sense that within his mind-sea, the silver threads representing spiritual power were constantly sprouting, spreading, and growing stronger; this visible rate of enhancement finally calmed and eased his previously anxious mood driven by haste to break through.

……

The transaction with Taiyin Star proceeded smoothly; after the other party took the "Medicine King Cauldron," Chen Mu waited a moment longer inside the Starlit Hall.

Finally, a faint fluctuation came from the examination platform, signaling that his review for eliminating the Money Gang had been approved.

Without further delay, Chen Mu immediately left the Starlit Hall, used the Star Talisman to sense the location of the Wu Quxing Hall, and then soared upward toward it.

The Wu Quxing Hall also sat atop a floating island.

Unlike the grand and magnificent Starlit Hall, his star-hall's exterior was not particularly tall, yet appeared exceptionally broad and steady, its entire surface glowing with a dark-gold metallic luster.

Around the hall, numerous low but flat mountains spread out; within these mountains, green trees cast shade and flower clusters dotted the landscape, with birds singing.

Yet upon closer sensing, these life forms were false, part of an illusionary technique.

Chen Mu had not noticed at first, but only realized the mountains' oddity when he drew near—though he paid it no further attention.

He pulled out the Star Talisman, walked slowly toward the gate, and the heavy door silently slid open without a sound.

Huh~

A swirling wind spiraled and circled at the entrance.

Chen Mu stepped inside; the hall's interior was vast and silent, and an indescribable sense of joy and peace—seemingly rising from the depths of his soul—immediately enveloped him.

This feeling was like a wanderer who, after years of drifting, finally returned to his own home.

The sensation came suddenly and faded quickly, yet that sense of belonging had quietly imprinted itself upon his heart.

"Interesting."

Chen Mu's lips slightly curled upward as he walked slowly through the hall, becoming familiar with this space that now belonged to him.

Eventually, Chen Mu arrived at the meditation chamber dedicated to cultivation.

He sat cross-legged, and the moment he initiated his practice, he immediately sensed the difference.

The surrounding heavenly qi was not only extraordinarily dense, but also exceptionally gentle and harmonious—as if filtered and refined—and a pure, vast force of heavenly power was automatically drawn by the star-hall and reinforced his body.

With this force aiding him, the speed of his true qi circulation and the efficiency of his comprehension of the cultivation technique both increased by more than several times compared to outside!

"So this is how it is—each star hall can actively gather heavenly power…"

Chen Mu understood inwardly; no wonder the Star Gods advanced in cultivation so rapidly.

……

After diligently cultivating for three days within the Wu Quxing Hall and slightly consolidating his newly gained spiritual power, Chen Mu voluntarily left the Star Palace.

Chen Mu knew well: he was currently stuck at a spiritual power bottleneck; pure seated meditation, relying solely on true qi or physical reinforcement to stimulate spiritual growth, was far too inefficient—remaining in the Star Palace held little value.

Upon returning to the outside world, a piece of heart bamboo in his chest vibrated gently.

Chen Mu took out the bamboo piece and recognized it as the one given to him by Zhao Wencen, Deputy Commander of the Southeast Dao Garrison Office.

Xiu~

He activated it to read the message—it had been sent by Zhao Wencen two days prior, concise in content, instructing Chen Mu to return to headquarters immediately upon receiving it.

Without delay, Chen Mu immediately identified the direction, leapt into the air, and shot forward like a streak of light toward the headquarters of the Southeast Dao Garrison Office.

Upon arriving at headquarters, Chen Mu went straight to the hall where Zhao Wencen handled official duties and requested an audience.

"Wait a moment." Zhao Wencen's voice came from inside, without looking up.

Chen Mu did not rush; he stood quietly at the door, awaiting his turn.

After roughly the time of one incense stick, a call came from within.

"Come in."

Chen Mu straightened his robes, stepped inside, and bowed deeply.

"Your servant pays respects, my lord."

Zhao Wencen set down the Juan Sect document, raised his hand in a light gesture of dismissal, fixed his gaze on Chen Mu with a faint, barely noticeable smile, and asked gently, "No need for formalities. Have things been going smoothly lately?"

"All is well, my lord, thank you for your concern," Chen Mu replied respectfully.

Zhao Wencen nodded, then shifted topic: "Have you chosen your next inspection location?"

"Not yet."

Chen Mu answered truthfully, then added, "Might I ask, my lord, do you have any recommendations?"

"That's precisely why I called you."

Zhao Wencen smiled slightly: "I wish for you, as Inspector, to go to Weizhou and temporarily assume the role of Garrison Office Chief. The original chief has been promoted and transferred recently."

Hearing this, Chen Mu's heart stirred slightly; he asked, "May I inquire, my lord, how long will this temporary chiefship last? Your servant must reach the Qilin Weapon Vault by December—"

"I know."

Zhao Wencen interrupted, his tone calm: "Your assignment to Weizhou is only temporary—no more than three to four months, and it will not delay your journey to the Weapon Vault."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu no longer hesitated; he immediately clasped his fists and spoke firmly: "Your servant accepts the order!"

Wherever he went was the same—as long as it wasn't too dangerous.

Besides, when Chen Mu was "dead," Zhao Wencen mobilized the Garrison Office to search for Gao Xingde.

This favor, Chen Mu would repay in passing.

"Good!"

Zhao Wencen's smile widened: "Weizhou lies at the southernmost tip of our Southeast Dao, a coastal region with no top-tier sects or clans; with your current strength, you can suppress all factions and maintain stability."

"The only thing requiring extra caution are pirates from the sea. These sea bandits occasionally land in small groups to raid. But you need not overly worry—our Great Zhou maintains naval patrols; sea bandits rarely dare large-scale invasions."

"Yes!"

Chen Mu committed these words to memory, clasped his fists again, and spoke with resounding clarity.

"Your servant will remember your lordship's teachings!"

……

Before heading to Weizhou to assume office, Chen Mu deliberately spent some time investigating the region he would soon govern.

Weizhou, among the prefectures under the Southeast Circuit, was not large in area, governing only five prefectures.

Its territory was rich in mountains and hills, with relatively scarce farmland, giving rise to a notably fierce local character.

The distribution of power was also quite clear.

The largest force was the Jiuxuan Sect, which had long been entrenched and was guarded by a late Earth Altar Realm cultivator.

Next came the Divine Eagle Gate, with a mid Earth Altar Realm cultivator.

Below them was the Cao Gang's branch in Weizhou, a complex organization spread across all waterways.

However, compared to the Cao Gang's strength in the core regions of the Southeast, Jiangnan, and Jiannan Circuits, the Weizhou branch was only of average caliber.

After gaining a general understanding of the situation, Chen Mu no longer delayed; he set out for Weizhou with his official transfer order.

Upon arriving in Weizhoucheng, Chen Mu did not immediately present himself at the Zhenwu Office; instead, he changed into a plain blue robe and wandered the city like a traveling outsider.