Sage of Humanity

"Disciple Xiao Xinghe, pays respects to the sect master!"

The beefy guy made a grand gesture, bowing his head to the ground, kneeling and not getting up.

The sect master helped him up, a look of guilt on his face: "This old man is useless, has made you suffer over the years."

Xiao Xinghe shook his head, "It is I, your disciple, who is useless, disgracing the sect master and nearly implicating Junior Brother."

The sect master said, "You are brothers, don't mind such things. Your Junior Brother Yiye has potential, though his cultivation time has been short, his actions have been somewhat lacking. In the future, work with him and guide him more."

"Yes," Xiao Xinghe replied respectfully.

While the sect master was conversing with Xiao Xinghe, Lu Ye stood in place, eyes fixed, unable to focus on his own thoughts, as a sharp gaze was constantly fixed on him, making him feel uncomfortable.

And this gaze was evidently from his superior.

Qian Wudang probably wanted to ask him something, but he refrained due to the sect master's presence, and could only hold back, though he was quite displeased with Lu Ye, who had only joined the Justice Department two days ago, yet involved Lin Yinxiu in such a dangerous place and affair.

"Let's go, back to Haotian City," Qian Wudang called out.

Shortly after, two strong cultivators of the Divine Sea Realm, with three True Lake Realm cultivators, soared into the sky towards Haotian City.

The journey was peaceful.

In less than four hours, they returned to Haotian City.

Lu Ye, enveloped in a golden light, naturally attracted the attention of many passing cultivators, making them click their tongues in wonder. Those who recognized this as the golden light granted by the Golden Body Token were even more amazed.

After all, most people had only heard of, but never seen such a thing as the Golden Body Token, let alone used it, inevitably finding it novel.

"Lu Yiye, follow me." Qian Wudang, with hands behind his back, called Lu Ye without turning his head, and flew straight to the main hall of the Justice Department.

Lu Ye bid farewell to the sect master and hurriedly followed.

Soon, in the main hall of the Justice Department, Qian Wudang angrily slapped the table, roaring in Lu Ye's ear: "Do you know who is in charge at Jinglan Lake Pass, and do you know who Liew Yuemei is? Hmm? You know? You knew and still dared to go! It would be fine if you went alone, but you even brought Yinxiu along, you are simply audacious beyond belief, ridiculous!"

Lu Ye stood before the desk, not countering, nor talking back.

Qian Wudang roared for a while before his anger slightly subsided, glaring at Lu Ye with indignation, spoke wearily, "Tell me, who else do you need to requisition from the frontline pass? Report all the names, and I'll personally figure something out for you."

Indeed, the fear had grown, this time an oversight, and this young man had already gone to provoke Liew Yuemei. If left unchecked, he might provoke Yu Huajin next time.

It was also his carelessness when Lu Ye had him sign the permit for the free requisition of personnel, he didn't think much of it. After all, who wouldn't give face to the Justice Department Chief?

Who knew it would lead to today's situation.

Not to mention, Lu Ye indeed was bold enough to go to a place like Jinglan Lake Pass with just his True Lake cultivation.

"Thank you for your favor, sir, at present, I have no one to dispatch," Lu Ye replied.

Among the squad of six, three remained, and he was planning to reserve the remaining three spots for his Fourth Senior Brother and others.

The situation of Fourth Senior Brother was not much better than Third Senior Brother, and it would be more appropriate to join the Justice Department together once they entered the provincial guard.

Hearing this, Qian Wudang's heart finally calmed a bit, raising his hand to point outside the door, "Stay away from me for the next few days, don't let me see you."

"Then I'll take my leave!" Lu Ye clasped his fists, turned and left.

Leaving the main hall of the Justice Department, Lu Ye headed straight for the nearest Heaven's Augury Hall.

A moment later, within the Hall of Battle Merits, Lu Ye stood before the stone platform for exchanging Golden Body Tokens, sighed heavily, and reluctantly exchanged for a Golden Body Token.

An item to save one's life must always be kept on hand, no matter how great the cost.

Upon inspecting his battle merits, only over thirty thousand remained...

Lu Ye remembered that not long ago his battle merits were astonishingly over five hundred twenty thousand, yet in less than ten days, only thirty thousand were left.

Battle merits, after all, are never enough.

Fortunately, he had exchanged quite a few gold-hued spirit fortune sticks previously, so temporarily he was not lacking in cultivation resources, and there was a fixed source of battle merits every month. After a few days, when the monthly payment and Explosive Fire Spirit Stone transactions were settled, his cash flow would become abundant.

Just as he was about to return to the small courtyard, a message came via the battlefield marking.

Lu Ye checked and found it was a message from Warlord Geng, asking to meet at the Hundred Fragrance House.

Lu Ye naturally agreed, remembering how last time he contacted Warlord Geng, A-3 squad was on task, they should have completed their task and returned by now.

The Hundred Fragrance House was the place where Lu Ye drank with A-3 squad last time; he was familiar with it.

Upon arriving, led by someone, he directly walked past the hall into a small courtyard at the back.

The courtyard featured flowing water over small bridges, winding streams, and a verdant environment, making it a pleasant setting.

In the center of the courtyard was a pavilion, within it was a long table, several individuals sat on either side, it was Warlord Geng and several members of A-3 squad.

The table was filled with exquisite food, accompanied by fragrant aromas.

When Lu Ye arrived, the five-member squad was drinking and making merry, the atmosphere cheerful.

Basically every time they returned from a mission, the A-3 squad would gather here, one to celebrate the mission's completion and two to support the business here.

Last time Lu Ye noticed that Warlord Geng seemed to have an unusual relationship with the proprietress of Hundred Fragrance House.

Although everything in Haotian City belonged to the Haotian Alliance, like those houses where people could stay and rest, any provincial guard coming to Haotian City could reside within, as long as they did not disturb others, no fees would be charged.

However, some places were rented out, cultivators with certain connections could rent venues from the Haotian Alliance to run businesses.

The Heaven's Augury Mercantile Union rented many places in Haotian City to do business, bringing substantial revenue to the Bingzhou guard every year.

Lu Ye wasn't clear about the background of the proprietress of the Hundred Fragrance House; their encounter was brief last time with little interaction, and Lu Ye wasn't particularly concerned about this, but to operate an inn in a place like Haotian City, one must have some backing or be supported by Warlord Geng.

Seeing Lu Ye arrived, the A-3 squad warmly welcomed him, seating him next to Warlord Geng.

Without much talk, they filled three bowls of wine first, claiming he was late and needed to be penalized and such.

Then, everyone looked at him with a smile.

Lu Ye had no choice but to accept the punishment, causing everyone to cheer loudly.

The atmosphere heated up, although they had only fought together once, Lu Ye left a very deep impression on the A-3 squad during that battle, who wouldn't want such a teammate?

This time Warlord Geng summoned Lu Ye for precisely this matter.

"I heard from Lord Department Chief that Junior Brother has joined the Justice Department." Warlord Geng asked, as everyone else also looked over.

"Yes, I joined a few days ago." Lu Ye nodded.

Xiao Ruyun hollered: "Now that Junior Brother Lu has joined the Justice Department, why not join our A-3 squad? Our squad is just one member short." Turning to Warlord Geng: "Captain might as well talk to the Department Chief and have him assign Junior Brother Lu to our team."

Warlord Geng shook his head: "Too late, Junior Brother Lu himself is now a squad captain."

Everyone was astonished.

Lu Ye was astonished too: "Senior Brother's squad is still one person short?"

Warlord Geng nodded: "It has never been supplemented."

"That liar!" Lu Ye gritted his teeth, Qian Wudang explicitly told him last time that the A-3 squad was already full, and said there were no spots in the other Justice Department teams, so he made him take up the captain role and start another team.

Now it seems that's not the case at all.

Qian Wudang just wanted him to be a captain and start a new squad.

For Lin Yinxiu? But why? Lin Yinxiu is at True Lake Level 7 cultivation, if she truly wanted to work in the Justice Department, she could be placed in any team, her looks are notable, surely any squad would welcome her.

Warlord Geng understood perfectly, grinning widely: "Did Lord Department Chief say something to you?"

Lu Ye sulked: "Initially, Lord Department Chief said he would assign me to the A-3 squad, it was all arranged, but for some unknown reason, he had me start a new team and take up the captain role."

Warlord Geng nodded: "Lord Department Chief values you, that's a good thing."

Lu Ye always felt it wasn't that simple, but he couldn't figure out the reason.

"But Junior Brother Lu is only at True Lake Level 1 cultivation, our Law Enforcement Hall doesn't have captains with such low cultivation, is Lord Department Chief being overly biased?" Xiao Ruyun frowned, realizing it wasn't appropriate: "Junior Brother Lu don't mind, I speak without thinking, I didn't mean that your cultivation is low."

Lu Ye understood Xiao Ruyun's character and naturally wouldn't take offense.

"True Lake Level 1?" Warlord Geng slowly shook his head, "I fear Junior Brother Lu is beyond True Lake Level 1 now."

Lu Ye hadn't used spirit force, so he couldn't gauge the depth, but he felt Lu Ye's cultivation wasn't what it used to be.

Muk Zheng curiously asked: "Junior Brother, what level is your cultivation now?"

"True Lake Level 3." Lu Ye did not hide it.

"Level 3…" Kang Yuanqiao and Shangguan Qiu were all shocked, how long has it been, and he already advanced two levels, is True Lake Realm cultivation this rapid?

Lu Ye laughed: "Thanks to everyone last time for the care, the last mission brought me quite a lot of battle merit, which I exchanged for some gold-hued spirit fortune sticks for cultivation."

"That was too fast…" Muk Zheng still found it hard to believe, even with enough cultivation resources, such speed of improvement is unheard of.

"Junior Brother Lu has exceptional talent, what you all can't do, others can naturally achieve." Warlord Geng raised his cup, "Come, celebrate Junior Brother Lu joining the Justice Department, celebrate Junior Brother Lu's rapid cultivation progress, and thirdly celebrate our mission's successful completion."

Everyone drank together.

Muk Zheng was clearly somewhat overwhelmed by the alcohol, his face glowing red, extremely cute.

It was at this moment when someone gracefully arrived, a buxom and beautiful woman, Lu Ye glanced over, it was indeed the proprietress of Hundred Fragrance House.

"Hello sister!"

Seeing her arrive, everybody in the A-3 squad hastily greeted her.