Chapter 73: Arrival at the East China Headquarters

Shanghai Spirit Suppression Bureau Headquarters, Logistics Department.

Jiang Qin politely knocked on the door.

"Knock knock—"

"Come in."

An aged voice called out.

Long Lao sat by the window drinking tea, just as he had the first time they met. Seeing it was Jiang Qin who entered, he couldn't help setting down his teacup and laughing:

"You brat sure know how to make a scene. This old man hasn't stepped a foot outside the Spirit Suppression Bureau, and I've already heard that the moment you came back, you went and crushed the top talents of the other three academies. One move nearly shattered their confidence. Well done — saves them from getting too arrogant and not knowing the height of the heavens."

"You're here for the Spirit Pool?"

Jiang Qin nodded and said: "Mm, I'm planning to set out tomorrow to report to the East China Headquarters."

"Heh, everyone else runs away from trouble, but you — you just can't wait to throw yourself right into it."

Long Lao shook his head and stood, waving his hand casually.

A wooden tub appeared in the room, and soon surging blue spirit liquid poured into it.

"Get in."

"The Spirit Pool… is this it?"

Facing Jiang Qin's gaze full of doubt, Long Lao shook his head with a rueful laugh: "The Spirit Pool sounds fancy, and it's a tremendous help to Spirit Sea Realm Martial Artists, but you're already at the Divine Image Realm Realm, so the boost to your strength is limited. However… the Spirit Pool's true importance lies in having an expert temper your meridians, not in raising your power."

"Get in and soak. This old man will personally perform the baptism for you."

Jiang Qin, half-believing, half-doubting, stripped off his clothes and climbed into the tub wearing nothing but a pair of shorts.

There was no strange sensation.

Long Lao sat cross-legged, rapidly jabbing several fingers at the acupoints on Jiang Qin's body, completely sealing off his Spirit Power. Then, relying on his precise control of Spirit Power, the power transformed into threads finer than hair, burrowing into Jiang Qin's body…

Jiang Qin closed his eyes, but with his Spirit Power sealed, he couldn't sense any changes within his body at all.

Instead, an agony like his meridians being torn apart swept through his entire body.

This pain couldn't be blocked — it bored deep into his nerves.

……

The baptism lasted five hours, and the temperature in the room kept climbing.

All of it was caused by the surging qi and blood within Jiang Qin's body.

Compared to before, his physical body had undergone a considerable boost. A faint golden glow radiated from his skin — the hallmark of the Ninefold Golden Body reaching its second layer.

He suddenly opened his eyes and broke through the acupoint seals on his own.

Spirit Power, surging like a tide, swept through his entire body.

Long Lao nodded in admiration, not forgetting to remind him: "The missions carried out by the East China Headquarters are all incomparably dangerous — nothing like the ones you've handled before. Remember — Inside the Circle is fertile soil where flowers may grow, but deadly crises are simply the norm at the Frontier."

Within the nation's borders is called Inside the Circle.

The Frontier is where true martial arts experts truly spread their wings.

Suddenly, the roar of an aircraft sounded.

Jiang Qin had just finished getting dressed.

The door was pushed open, and the East China Headquarters Investigators in charge of receiving him walked in expressionlessly. They first nodded to the old man beside them, then turned their gaze to Jiang Qin and produced their credentials.

"Yesterday, wave after wave of cultist attacks struck the cities. The East China Headquarters is currently short on manpower. Investigator Jiang Qin, orders from above require you to report to Headquarters immediately."

"Come with us now."

Jiang Qin scratched his head — they weren't even giving him a moment to catch his breath.

So be it.

He had to go sooner or later; it was just one day earlier, that's all.

"Then I'll trouble you two."

"Long Lao, I'll be off then. I'll have to trouble you to pass word along to the Academy."

"No trouble at all, a small matter."

After exchanging greetings, Jiang Qin followed the two of them out.

This time he hadn't brought Su Lingwei and Chen Xiaohu. Even if he wanted to, the East China Headquarters would never have agreed — because in the battles to come, Spirit Sea Realm strength was no different from delivering one's head.

A sword-shaped aircraft sat on the rooftop of the Shanghai Spirit Suppression Bureau.

Jiang Qin followed the two of them inside.

The aircraft slowly rose into the air, heading due east…

Inside the cabin.

The two Investigators were resting with their eyes closed, the chill about them showing no sign of fading — as if this untouchable air had already been etched into their bones.

At that moment, two fragrant Fierce Beast legs appeared before them.

They opened their eyes simultaneously, looking at Jiang Qin in confusion.

Jiang Qin chuckled: "Two seniors, I don't have much experience. I only joined the Academy less than a year ago, and I don't know much about the Headquarters. Could you fill me in?"

…

Outside the Zhenling Academy gatekeeper's office.

After hearing what the Spirit Suppression Bureau Investigator delivering the message had to say.

Su Lingwei's eyes went wide. She grabbed him by the collar and demanded in disbelief: "He just left like that? Then what about all the Fierce Beast meat I stockpiled at his place! That was everything I had — my entire savings went into buying it!"

"Tell me! What about my meat!"

"I spent half a month roasting that!!"

The Investigator, his head spinning from being shaken, was full of grievances.

I'm not the one who took your meat — why are you taking your anger out on me!

…

Inside the flying vessel, two Headquarters Investigators ate until their mouths were dripping with oil.

They didn't eat for free, and cheerfully began explaining some matters about Headquarters to this junior.

"The East China Headquarters has the same duties as the branch offices and outposts in various places. If you want to talk about the difference, it's that the missions we carry out are harder. Of the hundred or so people in my intake class when I joined Headquarters, now there's basically only me left."

"That's right! And you don't need to call us seniors either. Your position is Deputy Law Enforcement Officer, a rank one level higher than the two of us."

"This Deputy Law Enforcement Officer position isn't something just anyone can hold. You have to carry out missions alongside a Law Enforcement Officer, and you need at least Divine Image Realm Realm strength at minimum. Casualties are also very high. According to investigations, on average every Law Enforcement Officer has to replace one deputy every year, and if you run into the aggressive type, they might not even last a week."

"The deputy's duty is to follow the Law Enforcement Officer and carry out incidents that pose a major threat to the nation."

"You're asking how many Law Enforcement Officers Headquarters has roughly? Hmm… let me think. If you don't count the Titled Law Enforcement Officers, there are probably around thirty or so. They're constantly running around everywhere. I've been at Headquarters for three years and I haven't even seen them that many times."

During the casual chat, the two Investigators learned that Jiang Qin had actually earned first-class merit twice, and they finally understood why he was able to be promoted to deputy at such a young age.

One had to know that above the deputy was the Law Enforcement Officer.

Just as the Town Guardian Special Envoy was only responsible for the safety of a single city.

Whereas no matter which city a Law Enforcement Officer arrived at, they could directly take over military and political authority—their power was immense. Therefore, the screening starting from deputy was extremely strict, especially regarding character.

Better to lack than to have too many of the wrong sort—such was Headquarters' attitude.

An hour had already passed since departing from Modu. The city had long since vanished, replaced by a stretch of primeval forest.

Gradually, a lake-center island came into view.

The East China Headquarters was located at the center of the small island.

The base was made of special metal, a series of fortresses, and from time to time flying vessels would launch from the fortresses, heading off in different directions.

Jiang Qin looked down at the fortresses through the flying vessel's window.

"So this is… the Zhenling Bureau East China Headquarters."