All Heavenly destiny reduced to ashes
Chapter 243 - 104: Official Rewards

Chapter 243: Chapter 104: Official Rewards

"Rowing upstream..." An Jing murmured, "If this is my Fate Pattern, then what about the Divine Skills I have already developed?"

"It’s the same," Mingguang Dust said. "If a Martial Artist does not fulfill their Fate Pattern, even their Divine Skills will decay... Their hearts can no longer support the power of the Fate Pattern."

"Why is it that Lifebound is considered genius, while Strange Mandate is deemed a seed of Heaven’s Chosen? Because a Lifebound can advance to a Strange Mandate, and if a Strange Mandate manages to achieve something that shocks the heavens, then it can become a Divine Mandate."

At this point, Mingguang Dust lowered his eyes, "This is why we, the Martial Artists bound by Fate Patterns, persistently follow our paths."

"Personal Fortune, Earthly Position, Heavenly Mandate. Everything complements each other. An Jing, don’t think you’re a Divine Mandate, but if you do nothing and only focus on isolated cultivation, you will find your Fate Pattern’s power continuously weakening until your cultivation stagnates and can no longer advance."

This is the ’bottleneck’ of Martial Arts.

Simply put, every Martial Arts cultivator must ’do great things.’ Otherwise, they will become mediocre, and their cultivation will be like rowing upstream, if not advancing then retreating.

Personal Fortune, Personal Fortune. It can either enable one to defy the heavens and change their Fate Pattern’s power or make one descend from nobility to beggary.

"Is there really such a theory?!"

At this moment, the most shocked was not An Jing, but Subdue Evil Sword Spirit, this Immortal Sword Sword Immortal (?) incredulously said, "Martial Arts even have such shackles? Without engaging with the world, one cannot improve their cultivation?"

"This is completely opposite to our Qi Refinement Immortal Path!"

Although shocked, after thinking for a while, Subdue Evil somewhat understood, "No wonder the Martial Artists of this era and my past Qi Cultivators are different, with Sects intensely involved in worldly activities."

"Immortal Path shuns the world, separating immortals from mortals, these are two completely different worlds... "

"It seems this is why all Martial Artists bound by Fate Patterns engage with the world," An Jing thoughtfully said. "It seems that in the middle stage of Martial Arts cultivation, one needs to explore more deeply into the power of the Fate Pattern."

"Gathering Personal Fortune, changing Earthly Position, altering Heavenly Mandate..."

He started to understand why the True Demon Sect’s Hanging Fate Manor deliberately tormented them, the youths... It turns out cultivation in seclusion would never awaken their Fate Patterns.

It must be great rises and falls, great fortune and great danger that can stimulate the power of the Fate Pattern!

—Demon Dao, must be exterminated!

Closing his eyes and then reopening them to restore calm, An Jing inquired, "So you’re saying, Lifebound also has the potential to advance to Divine Mandate?"

Mingguang Dust nodded slightly, "Historically, there are plenty of examples."

"What about Miscellaneous Fate?"

"It’s not impossible. But it’s extremely difficult. In history, except for other Divine Mandates, even... without the support of Heavenly Mandate, it has never been seen."

"However, there are numerous cases of Miscellaneous Fate elevating themselves to Lifebound Strange Mandates by constantly engaging with the world, always finding opportunities to elevate themselves."

"An Jing." Subdue Evil suggested from within the Divine Sea, "This person is very knowledgeable and deeply understands the current era of Embracing the Void. You should ask him more whenever you get the chance!"

—Ah, I have a friend who wants to know, right?

Conveniently, I actually have that friend!

An Jing also indeed understood that the An Family, once merely a town-level family on the borders of Hanbei, even with ancestral Martial Meridians, was hardly familiar with many matters of this world’s Martial Arts.

Not to mention those true Great Sects and major powers, even within Kanming City, there are many who know more than he does.

Since that is the case, with Mingguang Dust here—a future destined to advance to Manifesting Holy and grand genius—how could he not try to glean more knowledge.

But for now, he still has to deal with matters in Kanming City.

"True Master Mysterious Mirror! How come you..."

Seeing Mingguang Dust arriving with An Jing, Zheng Mo could hardly believe that a Divine Repository was actually coming to visit him. He quickly led his team out to meet them.

In doing so, he caught sight of another familiar figure, and couldn’t help but be slightly stunned, "Jing Xuan? Wait a moment..."

Zheng Mo was weary, but not dumb. Seeing the two approaching together, he instantly understood what the relation of the mysterious Dust Li talent, Jing Xuan, was with the Five Sects of Dust Li, and who the person behind him actually was.

The words from Mingguang Dust confirmed his speculation, "Magistrate Zheng, in the recent difficulty with surveying Ming City, my disciple Jing Xuan also contributed somewhat."

He said no more, for there was no need to say more. His Dharma Body then turned into light and vanished.

"With your talent, I presume you can make quite an impact."

Before leaving, Mingguang Dust transmitted a message to An Jing, instructing him, "Wait for my message after this is over. I know you have many questions. Rest assured, I won’t fail the name of mentor I bear for you. As long as it concerns doubts about Martial Arts, I will provide answers where I can."

"A significant impact? That’s simple."

An Jing smiled. If it was about conducting covert operations without leaving a trace, the only method he could think of involved stealth attacks, assassinations, and eliminating all witnesses cleanly.

But if it was about making a matter gain broad attention and stunning everyone, he was utterly confident!

"Ah, True Person... you’re leaving just like that?"

Meanwhile, seeing Mingguang Dust disappear so suddenly, Zheng Mo also felt somewhat at a loss—he had thought there was some instruction to be given, but now it seemed he was only there to bring Jing Xuan before him?

"Ah, Young Hero Jing, may I ask what brings you here? Is it for Da Chen’s reward and commendation?"

Bowing slightly, Zheng Mo looked towards An Jing, with his tone involuntarily softening—he naturally knew that An Jing had led a team out of surveying Ming City early in the morning and now he had returned unexpectedly with True Master Mysterious Mirror, surely for something important.

Nodding, Zheng Mo enthusiastically invited An Jing into the government office, "Come in, come in, have a cup of tea first!"

"Then I will not decline your kindness."

An Jing felt he had said this phrase many times, but if saying it brought good opportunities each time, he didn’t mind repeating it.

Once seated in the tea room at the back of the government office and having sipped some hot tea, An Jing slowly said, "My master sent me back here... indeed for the commendation from Da Chen’s government office."

"I have come to collect in person now to save you the trouble of having someone deliver it to my family’s residence, wasting manpower and resources."

"That’s simple."

Zheng Mo had already guessed this, and he immediately waved his hand genially, "We have prepared everything already."

As for the identity of Jing Xuan, aside from the secret mission of ’Singlehandedly annihilating Chongyi Building’, even the apparent accomplishments were not minor.

Firstly, Jing Xuan had assisted in capturing traffickers working for the True Demon Sect.

Secondly, Jing Xuan had slain seven elite Demon Soldiers, along with numerous guards of the Demon Sect warehouses.

Lastly, Jing Xuan had rescued countless victims captured in Ming City.

Moreover, there was a less essential deed of ’assisting the City Guards in fighting the Demon Sect when the True Demon Sect retaliated during the battle at the Earth Pulse Node’, precisely when An Jing launched a raid on Chongyi Building and the City Guard Army fought the Demon Sect.

Theoretically, An Jing definitely helped, because afterwards it was discovered that many martial artists at Chongyi Building met unclear fates, likely taken care of by unseen heroes; however, as the Ming City City Guards and officials also need their shares of merits and food, these achievements would fall to Zheng Mo’s people if unclaimed.

But since An Jing was brought by True Master Mysterious Mirror, Zheng Mo wasn’t a fool, he would definitely acknowledge An Jing’s share.

Considering these accomplishments, An Jing’s entitlement was entirely justified: the destruction of Chongyi Building was indeed his doing, hence rightfully his achievements to claim!

All these combined, the rewards for An Jing were quite generous.

"Reward silver five hundred taels, Sinking Gold fifteen taels, a banner of honor, a Grand Citizenship Certificate of Da Chen, and priority and toll-free passage through city gates!"