Chapter 46
Spirit Cleansing Pool, Mission Tower
Upon entering the East Temple, all those coming and going wore black official robes embroidered with mythical beasts, and no one gave Gu Lin a second glance.
Upon arriving at the outermost government office, Gu Lin asked softly:
"Where is Commander Cao, the centurion?"
One person didn't even lift their eyelids:
"Which Commander Cao?"
Gu Lin: "Cao Baihu, who led the team to Chuwei County to host the selection competition."
The man nodded, tore off a piece of Xuan paper, and wrote the specific address on it.
Following the address, Gu Lin wandered among the various palaces and tall buildings, finally climbing the stairs to find the government office in the west.
Silence reigned outside the government office.
"Knock knock." Gu Lin knocked on the door.
"Come in." A familiar voice rang out.
Gu Lin pushed open the door and entered, and saw Cao Baihu bent over his desk dealing with documents.
Commander Cao stared at him for a long time, his attitude cold, unlike his enthusiasm during the selection competition.
"It's been a month, and I've finally arrived at the yamen."
Gu Lin respectfully clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute:
"I was delayed by some business."
Commander Cao stared at him for a long time, then said coldly:
"We're both new recruits, but others have already been meditating in the Spirit Cleansing Pool for over twenty days. Do you really know how precious the Spirit Cleansing Pool is? It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for each person. The purest spiritual liquid cleanses the meridians and bone marrow, fully stimulating a martial artist's potential and pushing their talents to the limit."
"More than a dozen newcomers have already broken through two levels in a row. After leaving the Spirit Cleansing Pool, who in the Cave Profound Realm can break through two levels in ten days?"
"Something's holding you back? Nothing's more important than the Cleansing Spirit Pool!!"
Cao Baihu's voice was filled with extreme disappointment, and he made no attempt to hide it:
"Don't think I can't see through your thoughts. After entering the Holy Land, you've lost your fighting spirit and completely given up. After all, as long as you don't make any big mistakes, you'll never be expelled from the Holy Land. You're superior to others outside, and the Holy Land provides you with cultivation resources. What's the point of you working hard? You're content to be a parasite that eats up the resources of the Divine Dynasty!"
After he finished speaking, he emphasized his words:
"To be honest, I really regret choosing you; you've completely wasted a spot at Toji Temple!"
Gu Lin lowered his head and remained silent.
He has a clear understanding of himself.
talent?
His talent lay in the Shiyang Academy, a school in the wilderness, and he would never leave Shiyang County in his entire life.
What's the point of going to the Cleansing Pool?
Can I break through to the Cave Profound Realm after three months in the Cleansing Spirit Pool?
Arabian Nights!
But at this moment, he was already at the Dongxuan level!
Commander Cao sighed:
"Whatever you want."
It was all for naught that I competed with the other three holy lands for this leader, only to find out that he was a person with no fighting spirit who was content with mediocrity.
Others have been working in prestigious companies for years without any hope of promotion, so they can only accept reality and slowly lose their will to strive.
How can someone start working like this right away? They even managed to delay the Cleansing Pool.
If word gets out, it'll be a laughing stock!
What a waste of Dongsi Temple's spots!
What's most annoying is that it's one of his direct subordinates.
Cao Baihu took out a key token from the drawer and threw it over, saying, "Your office information is on it."
Gu Lin accepted it, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed:
"This humble servant takes his leave."
After leaving the Hundred-Household Office, Gu Lin wandered around for the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn before finally finding his secluded office.
Upon opening the door, one finds a paulownia wood table and a rosewood chair inside. To the right is a clean and tidy meditation room, with spiritual energy emanating from the doors and windows.
I walked to the table, where a sheet of Xuan paper was being held down by a paperweight.
The Xuan paper depicts a map of the East Temple government office, indicating the names of each hall and building.
End of content:
"This month's salary."
There are three bags under the table.
The first bag contained twelve round, translucent objects, each the size of a pigeon egg, with no impurities inside and an exceptionally rich spiritual energy.
On the way here, the ghostwriter mentioned that this is the treatment newcomers receive in the Holy Land—
Mid-grade spirit stone.
There are ten newcomers.
As the head of the prefecture, he received a 20% higher salary.
The second heavy cloth bag contained medicinal herbs such as ginseng and lingzhi.
An average person weighs three jin, while I weigh three jin and six liang.
The last bag contained a jar of pills, which held twelve pills for calming the mind and nourishing the spirit.
Gu Lin smiled; this was the kind of treatment one would envy from a sacred place.
As for Lord Cao's accusation that he has lost his fighting spirit?
He never will.
The weak are like fish on a chopping block; they must keep moving forward and will never stop.
After carefully collecting his salary, Gu Lin meticulously reviewed the Xuan paper, making sure the rules were remembered.
Article 1: Those who collude with demons or are bewitched by demons shall be expelled from the East Temple;
They secretly massacred members of the Holy Land and were expelled from the East Temple.
Article 2: The East Temple will conduct a review every six months. Those who pass the review will have their benefits unchanged, while those who fail will have their benefits reduced. If they fail the review repeatedly, their benefits will be reduced again and again until they are gone.
Article 3: Except for newly hired employees and those on assignment, everyone else must go to the mission building to complete two tasks each month.
Gu Lin began browsing information about the mission building.
The mission building has a total of seventeen floors, and most of them are cases involving demons and monsters. These cases are sent from various parts of Chuzhou to the Holy Land. After accepting the missions, the members of the Holy Land will slay the demons and monsters and protect the peace and safety of the people.
This is the duty of the Holy Land!
In addition, completing tasks will earn you contribution points, which can be used to exchange for martial arts manuals and even magical artifacts at the East Temple Treasure Pavilion.
Once a certain number of contribution points have been accumulated, the Daoist Discipline Office, which is jointly managed by the four holy lands, will intervene and begin arranging the promotion.
Ordinary members are promoted to corporals.
As the name suggests, a squad leader is in charge of five members of the Holy Land.
After the squad leader comes the platoon leader, who has ten subordinates.
The squad leader was promoted again to sergeant.
After a junior officer, a senior officer directly commands fifty subordinates.
After the General Banner Commander comes the Trial Hundred-Household Commander, and then the Hundred-Household Commander.
Status represents power.
The higher one's rank, the more likely they are to be able to go to higher floors of the mission building, handle larger demon cases, and enjoy better treatment.
For example, the Hundred-Household Commander of Dongsi Temple directly commands more than 100 members of the Holy Land. He has the power to execute officials below the fifth rank in Chuzhou without prior approval and can directly intervene in the family affairs of aristocratic families below the sixth rank.
The Hundred Household Commander of Toji Temple, and also a storage ring specially bestowed by the Divine Dynasty!
"No wonder I saw a gold ring on Lord Cao's index finger." Gu Lin said with envy.
Storage rings are extremely rare and precious items, crafted by powerful array masters who understand the power of space. They are incredibly stable inside, and it is said that if someone dies suddenly after having their essence blood dripped into them, the storage ring will turn to dust.
"When will I be able to have a storage ring?" Gu Lin murmured to himself.
He longed for it so much; he would have to cultivate the art of Gu poison in the future, and there were too many things he couldn't carry with him.
But the position of centurion is far beyond my reach.
Gu Lin got up and paced around.
He doesn't need martial arts manuals.
He needs power.
A high position of power and influence means greater authority within the mission hall, leading to more access to hidden cases and a large number of subordinates to work for him. This, in turn, allows him to rapidly accumulate merit points, which ultimately benefit his own cultivation level!
This is a perfect cycle!
Gu Lin muttered to himself:
"Lord Cao said that winning the Holy Land Grand Competition will directly advance three levels, and the top three will be promoted two levels. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all newcomers."
"A promotion of three ranks, isn't that just becoming a junior officer?"
He began to ponder:
"The Holy Land Competition is in five months. If I become a squad leader or platoon leader before then, I'll be promoted three ranks..."
Gu Lin's gaze was intense, his emotions running high.
As long as he has a goal, no matter where the most outstanding talents in Chuzhou gather, he will definitely forge a bloody path, and no one can stop him.
Today I'll go to Luoxia City to visit my parents, and tomorrow I'll spend a few days at the Spirit Cleansing Pool before heading to the Mission Hall to pick up missions and focus on improving my cultivation level!
Just then, a flurry of footsteps sounded outside the government office.
Several people entered the government office without any courtesy.
Those who came were all dressed in official robes adorned with the sun, moon, and stars, wearing red official hats, and with a golden scythe symbolizing judgment at their waists.
The Daoist Discipline Department, a common department of the four holy lands!
The leader, exuding an imposing aura, stated his purpose directly:
"Gu Lin, someone has accused you of abusing your power to kill indiscriminately and cruelly slaughtering officials appointed by the Divine Dynasty. Is this true?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Lin remained calm and composed, producing a series of confessions and evidence, and said calmly:
"I was exercising my duties at the Eastern Temple to clean up the corrupt officials in Chuzhou. How could I be accused of indiscriminate killing?"
"When I left Chuwei County, I had already filed Zhao Hou's evidence with the county government. The county government should have already submitted it to the prefecture government. You can go to the prefecture government office to check it. Of course, you can also go to Shiyang County in person."
"If there is the slightest impropriety, I am willing to accept the punishment."
The officials from the Daoji Division nodded, saying that as long as it was reasonable and legal, it was fine. They took the evidence and confessions and then left.
Gu Lin watched them leave.
It must have been Zhao Can who reported it.
So what?
So what if they killed him?!
Upon arriving at the outermost government office, Gu Lin asked softly:
"Where is Commander Cao, the centurion?"
One person didn't even lift their eyelids:
"Which Commander Cao?"
Gu Lin: "Cao Baihu, who led the team to Chuwei County to host the selection competition."
The man nodded, tore off a piece of Xuan paper, and wrote the specific address on it.
Following the address, Gu Lin wandered among the various palaces and tall buildings, finally climbing the stairs to find the government office in the west.
Silence reigned outside the government office.
"Knock knock." Gu Lin knocked on the door.
"Come in." A familiar voice rang out.
Gu Lin pushed open the door and entered, and saw Cao Baihu bent over his desk dealing with documents.
Commander Cao stared at him for a long time, his attitude cold, unlike his enthusiasm during the selection competition.
"It's been a month, and I've finally arrived at the yamen."
Gu Lin respectfully clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute:
"I was delayed by some business."
Commander Cao stared at him for a long time, then said coldly:
"We're both new recruits, but others have already been meditating in the Spirit Cleansing Pool for over twenty days. Do you really know how precious the Spirit Cleansing Pool is? It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for each person. The purest spiritual liquid cleanses the meridians and bone marrow, fully stimulating a martial artist's potential and pushing their talents to the limit."
"More than a dozen newcomers have already broken through two levels in a row. After leaving the Spirit Cleansing Pool, who in the Cave Profound Realm can break through two levels in ten days?"
"Something's holding you back? Nothing's more important than the Cleansing Spirit Pool!!"
Cao Baihu's voice was filled with extreme disappointment, and he made no attempt to hide it:
"Don't think I can't see through your thoughts. After entering the Holy Land, you've lost your fighting spirit and completely given up. After all, as long as you don't make any big mistakes, you'll never be expelled from the Holy Land. You're superior to others outside, and the Holy Land provides you with cultivation resources. What's the point of you working hard? You're content to be a parasite that eats up the resources of the Divine Dynasty!"
After he finished speaking, he emphasized his words:
"To be honest, I really regret choosing you; you've completely wasted a spot at Toji Temple!"
Gu Lin lowered his head and remained silent.
He has a clear understanding of himself.
talent?
His talent lay in the Shiyang Academy, a school in the wilderness, and he would never leave Shiyang County in his entire life.
What's the point of going to the Cleansing Pool?
Can I break through to the Cave Profound Realm after three months in the Cleansing Spirit Pool?
Arabian Nights!
But at this moment, he was already at the Dongxuan level!
Commander Cao sighed:
"Whatever you want."
It was all for naught that I competed with the other three holy lands for this leader, only to find out that he was a person with no fighting spirit who was content with mediocrity.
Others have been working in prestigious companies for years without any hope of promotion, so they can only accept reality and slowly lose their will to strive.
How can someone start working like this right away? They even managed to delay the Cleansing Pool.
If word gets out, it'll be a laughing stock!
What a waste of Dongsi Temple's spots!
What's most annoying is that it's one of his direct subordinates.
Cao Baihu took out a key token from the drawer and threw it over, saying, "Your office information is on it."
Gu Lin accepted it, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed:
"This humble servant takes his leave."
After leaving the Hundred-Household Office, Gu Lin wandered around for the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn before finally finding his secluded office.
Upon opening the door, one finds a paulownia wood table and a rosewood chair inside. To the right is a clean and tidy meditation room, with spiritual energy emanating from the doors and windows.
I walked to the table, where a sheet of Xuan paper was being held down by a paperweight.
The Xuan paper depicts a map of the East Temple government office, indicating the names of each hall and building.
End of content:
"This month's salary."
There are three bags under the table.
The first bag contained twelve round, translucent objects, each the size of a pigeon egg, with no impurities inside and an exceptionally rich spiritual energy.
On the way here, the ghostwriter mentioned that this is the treatment newcomers receive in the Holy Land—
Mid-grade spirit stone.
There are ten newcomers.
As the head of the prefecture, he received a 20% higher salary.
The second heavy cloth bag contained medicinal herbs such as ginseng and lingzhi.
An average person weighs three jin, while I weigh three jin and six liang.
The last bag contained a jar of pills, which held twelve pills for calming the mind and nourishing the spirit.
Gu Lin smiled; this was the kind of treatment one would envy from a sacred place.
As for Lord Cao's accusation that he has lost his fighting spirit?
He never will.
The weak are like fish on a chopping block; they must keep moving forward and will never stop.
After carefully collecting his salary, Gu Lin meticulously reviewed the Xuan paper, making sure the rules were remembered.
Article 1: Those who collude with demons or are bewitched by demons shall be expelled from the East Temple;
They secretly massacred members of the Holy Land and were expelled from the East Temple.
Article 2: The East Temple will conduct a review every six months. Those who pass the review will have their benefits unchanged, while those who fail will have their benefits reduced. If they fail the review repeatedly, their benefits will be reduced again and again until they are gone.
Article 3: Except for newly hired employees and those on assignment, everyone else must go to the mission building to complete two tasks each month.
Gu Lin began browsing information about the mission building.
The mission building has a total of seventeen floors, and most of them are cases involving demons and monsters. These cases are sent from various parts of Chuzhou to the Holy Land. After accepting the missions, the members of the Holy Land will slay the demons and monsters and protect the peace and safety of the people.
This is the duty of the Holy Land!
In addition, completing tasks will earn you contribution points, which can be used to exchange for martial arts manuals and even magical artifacts at the East Temple Treasure Pavilion.
Once a certain number of contribution points have been accumulated, the Daoist Discipline Office, which is jointly managed by the four holy lands, will intervene and begin arranging the promotion.
Ordinary members are promoted to corporals.
As the name suggests, a squad leader is in charge of five members of the Holy Land.
After the squad leader comes the platoon leader, who has ten subordinates.
The squad leader was promoted again to sergeant.
After a junior officer, a senior officer directly commands fifty subordinates.
After the General Banner Commander comes the Trial Hundred-Household Commander, and then the Hundred-Household Commander.
Status represents power.
The higher one's rank, the more likely they are to be able to go to higher floors of the mission building, handle larger demon cases, and enjoy better treatment.
For example, the Hundred-Household Commander of Dongsi Temple directly commands more than 100 members of the Holy Land. He has the power to execute officials below the fifth rank in Chuzhou without prior approval and can directly intervene in the family affairs of aristocratic families below the sixth rank.
The Hundred Household Commander of Toji Temple, and also a storage ring specially bestowed by the Divine Dynasty!
"No wonder I saw a gold ring on Lord Cao's index finger." Gu Lin said with envy.
Storage rings are extremely rare and precious items, crafted by powerful array masters who understand the power of space. They are incredibly stable inside, and it is said that if someone dies suddenly after having their essence blood dripped into them, the storage ring will turn to dust.
"When will I be able to have a storage ring?" Gu Lin murmured to himself.
He longed for it so much; he would have to cultivate the art of Gu poison in the future, and there were too many things he couldn't carry with him.
But the position of centurion is far beyond my reach.
Gu Lin got up and paced around.
He doesn't need martial arts manuals.
He needs power.
A high position of power and influence means greater authority within the mission hall, leading to more access to hidden cases and a large number of subordinates to work for him. This, in turn, allows him to rapidly accumulate merit points, which ultimately benefit his own cultivation level!
This is a perfect cycle!
Gu Lin muttered to himself:
"Lord Cao said that winning the Holy Land Grand Competition will directly advance three levels, and the top three will be promoted two levels. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all newcomers."
"A promotion of three ranks, isn't that just becoming a junior officer?"
He began to ponder:
"The Holy Land Competition is in five months. If I become a squad leader or platoon leader before then, I'll be promoted three ranks..."
Gu Lin's gaze was intense, his emotions running high.
As long as he has a goal, no matter where the most outstanding talents in Chuzhou gather, he will definitely forge a bloody path, and no one can stop him.
Today I'll go to Luoxia City to visit my parents, and tomorrow I'll spend a few days at the Spirit Cleansing Pool before heading to the Mission Hall to pick up missions and focus on improving my cultivation level!
Just then, a flurry of footsteps sounded outside the government office.
Several people entered the government office without any courtesy.
Those who came were all dressed in official robes adorned with the sun, moon, and stars, wearing red official hats, and with a golden scythe symbolizing judgment at their waists.
The Daoist Discipline Department, a common department of the four holy lands!
The leader, exuding an imposing aura, stated his purpose directly:
"Gu Lin, someone has accused you of abusing your power to kill indiscriminately and cruelly slaughtering officials appointed by the Divine Dynasty. Is this true?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Lin remained calm and composed, producing a series of confessions and evidence, and said calmly:
"I was exercising my duties at the Eastern Temple to clean up the corrupt officials in Chuzhou. How could I be accused of indiscriminate killing?"
"When I left Chuwei County, I had already filed Zhao Hou's evidence with the county government. The county government should have already submitted it to the prefecture government. You can go to the prefecture government office to check it. Of course, you can also go to Shiyang County in person."
"If there is the slightest impropriety, I am willing to accept the punishment."
The officials from the Daoji Division nodded, saying that as long as it was reasonable and legal, it was fine. They took the evidence and confessions and then left.
Gu Lin watched them leave.
It must have been Zhao Can who reported it.
So what?
So what if they killed him?!