Cultivation System: Stronger with Age
Chapter 56 - 49: The Grand Steward with the Jade Belt Silver Token, Anticipating the Nine Thunders Surrounding Body

Chapter 56: Chapter 49: The Grand Steward with the Jade Belt Silver Token, Anticipating the Nine Thunders Surrounding Body

Moments later, Gao Yunchao, a man in his thirties with a small mole between his eyebrows and exuding a certain grace, spoke:

"Replying to the Chief Steward, these two should be the Tao Brothers. Several years ago, they offended Hall Master Zheng by stealing the Darts Manual from the Zheng Martial Arts Hall. However, they have been hiding their identities in recent years, so their exact cultivation and daily activities are unknown!"

Jiang Yuran’s eyes flickered. "Stealing the Darts Manual several years ago? That does match the two Flying Thieves skilled with Flying Sabers! Steward Xua, Steward Ma, what about your side?"

Upon hearing Jiang Yuran’s question, Xu Bei and Ma Rusong exchanged a glance, their eyes full of unwillingness.

According to their previous plan, they intended to rely on Zhao Yufei’s Dragon Blood Treasure Dog to find clues about the Flying Thieves and thus avoid the punishment hanging over their heads. That punishment entailed much more than the loss of a month’s salary; it was also a matter of their reputation...

Yet, just now, when the two were checking the materials, they shockingly discovered that the items in the wooden box were indeed completely identical to the stolen goods. Chief Steward Jiang had reported the quantities of two hundred ten Essence Blood Pearls and two hundred Forehead Scales. Although the other items weren’t reported in quantity, they matched the list completely. This indicated that these were indeed stolen goods, and Lin Xuankong wasn’t faking it!

At this moment, Ma Rusong was naturally the most frustrated. He was utterly fed up with Lin Xuankong, who had repeatedly caused him humiliation. Now, however, he had to personally verify the goods and grudgingly acknowledge that Lin Xuankong had accomplished a feat that dozens of Stewards of various ranks and thousands of disciples had never achieved!

His hands clenched tightly within his robe sleeves. He almost wished he could turn and leave on the spot. But alas, how could he dare not answer Chief Steward Jiang’s question!

Xu Bei remained silent. Ma Rusong, however, had no choice but to offer a respectful bow and, with great difficulty, reluctantly said, "The items in the box indeed match the stolen items."

Jiang Yuran’s eyes brightened, and a smile instantly appeared on her face. She no longer had any doubts. Turning to Ma Jiang and Lin Xuankong, she repeatedly exclaimed, "Good, good, good!"

"Since the moment the warehouse was robbed, countless Martial Cultivators have been ridiculing our Yin Talisman Sect’s incompetence!" she declared. "Now, Steward Lin has managed to kill the Flying Thieves and recover the stolen goods within two days. This has greatly vented my anger and let those petty people know the consequences of offending our Yin Talisman Sect!"

She turned back to the sandalwood table and shouted, "Ma Jiang, receive your orders!"

"Present!" Ma Jiang cupped his hands.

"Immediately spread the news that our Yin Talisman Sect captured the Flying Thieves within two days!"

"Yes!" Ma Jiang’s face lit with joy as he turned to leave.

"Gao Yunchao, receive your orders!"

"Present!" Gao Yunchao cupped his hands.

"Go to the Thousand Treasures Pavilion to fetch the Silver Token and Jade Belt. I will personally award them to Silver Jade Steward Lin Xuankong for his great accomplishment!" Jiang Yuran said decisively.

"Yes!" Gao Yunchao turned and left.

After issuing the two orders, Jiang Yuran fixed her gaze on Lin Xuankong. Moments later, she suddenly smiled. "When you return to your station, Steward Lin, you must write down in detail how you captured the Flying Thieves. I want to read it carefully!"

Lin Xuankong cupped his hands. "As you command!"

"Sit and wait for a while until Chief Steward Gao returns!" Jiang Yuran smiled.

Lin Xuankong turned to walk toward the last seat, but Jiang Yuran’s laughter rang out behind him. "As Silver Jade Steward, you should naturally sit in the foremost seat among all the Stewards, not the last one!"

Lin Xuankong paused, looking at the Steward originally seated in the first position. That Steward rose with a smiling face. "Silver Jade Steward, please don’t eye my seat! A Silver Jade Steward who has achieved such a remarkable feat for our Yin Talisman Sect should sit beside the eight Stewards, not here. If you sit here, I’ll have to stand!"

All the surrounding Stewards burst into laughter.

They all smiled as they watched Lin Xuankong take the seat next to Steward Hu. At this moment, their hearts were filled not only with envy but also with astonishment. They had speculated before about who would receive this Silver Jade position. Most guessed it would be Zhao Yufei, aided by her Dragon Blood Treasure Dog. Others fantasized that they might get lucky, while some believed the Flying Thieves would evade capture altogether. Yet, no one had expected that the white-haired Lin Xuankong would get the position! Moments later, Gao Yunchao returned with the Silver Token and Jade Belt.

Jiang Yuran took the Silver Token and Jade Belt and walked up to Lin Xuankong. This Charming Chief Steward, whose status was second only to the Sect Leader and equal to the Hall Masters, personally helped Lin Xuankong put on the Jade Belt and hang the Silver Token!

This Charming Chief Steward had always been aloof and had never done such a thing for anyone else—not even her extremely doting father, the Yin Talisman Sect Leader, had ever enjoyed such treatment!

Lin Xuankong, on the other hand, felt Jiang Yuran personally helping him with the Token and Belt. He suddenly thought of the Young Lady and felt somewhat embarrassed.

Standing by the wooden box, Yang Mountain and Li Er saw this and couldn’t help but embrace each other excitedly.

Seeing Lin Xuankong enjoying such prestigious honor and treatment, the numerous Stewards sighed repeatedly, feeling that the affairs of this world were truly mystifying.

While marveling, some glanced toward Zhao Yufei’s position, only to find that the Steward, who had been so composed just a short while ago—the time it takes to drink a few cups of tea—had left the council hall without anyone noticing!

Jiang Yuran had noticed Zhao Yufei’s departure long ago. After smiling at Lin Xuankong, she turned back to the sandalwood table, thinking to herself: That talented and proud young lady of the Zhao Family must be feeling extremely disappointed right now! Hmph, this also counts as a refinement of her Heart Nature! If she can’t even bear such a small setback, how could she hope to truly achieve anything in the Martial Dao in the future!

The Martial Dao is difficult, as hard as ascending to heaven... My old father chants that every day! Hmm, speaking of my father, I should send news about catching the Flying Thief today. It was actually an old man I appointed as a Steward who accomplished this great feat. I wonder if Father will be surprised when he hears about this; that scene will definitely be interesting!

「Zhao Family Mansion.」

Zhao Yufei looked at the three Dragon Blood Treasure Dogs lying beside her, wagging their tails. She tightened her grip on the iron whip in her left hand, while her right hand, holding several Evil Lizard Essence Blood Pearls, suddenly exerted force.

CRACK, CRACK, CRACK.

Six Evil Lizard Essence Blood Pearls, worth hundreds of taels, shattered into a cloud of blood mist. The three Dragon Blood Treasure Dogs immediately stood up and retreated uneasily. As treasure dogs with keen spirituality, they could clearly feel their master’s anger at this moment.

Moreover, their master was raising the whip...

Zhao Yufei looked at the three dejected treasure dogs that had retreated to the wall, their eyes evading hers. She sensed the grievance they were transmitting to her Heart Spirit. Her left hand, which had raised the whip, now hung weakly at her side.

Her resolute, cold, and beautiful face showed deep helplessness.

How did I lose! How could I lose? And to that white-haired Lin Xuankong, whom I never even considered a rival!

Even if Lin Xuankong once had good achievements with Ma Jiang’s Exorcism Hand, so what? Compared to me—in family background, age, strength, status—how could he compare in any aspect? Even his Four-Seal Talent... at his age, what use was it? A Five-Seal, Six-Seal, or even Seven-Seal Talent wouldn’t matter at that age!

In a flash, a trace of hatred appeared in her cold eyes. Lin Xuankong, do you think taking away my Silver Jade position is worth celebrating? The more glorious you are today, the more miserable you’ll be in the future! I, Zhao Yufei, swear I will make you clearly see how wide the gap between us will become!

「The appointment of the Silver Jade Steward was, of course, a major event for the Great Marsh Hall.」

After all, it was the most prestigious Steward position, second only to a Grand Chief Steward. Furthermore, even a Grand Chief Steward’s salary only matched that of the Silver Jade Steward. And if Lin Xuankong had the opportunity to become a Steward in the future, he would be a Silver Jade Steward, with a salary comparable to that of a Grand Chief Steward!

The bestowing of such an honorary title naturally warranted a grand celebration banquet with hundreds of attendees!

Repeatedly toasted by numerous disciples, Deputy Stewards, and Stewards, Lin Xuankong transformed from someone only vaguely known within the Yin Talisman Sect to a figure known by all!

「After the banquet ended.」

A slightly tipsy Lin Xuankong returned home carrying a wooden box full of ’recovered goods.’ He enjoyed an elaborate meal with the joyful Young Lady. Then, the Young Lady accompanied him to carefully tally the "recovered goods." Afterward, she tapped her chin with her finger.

"We’re only two hundred Forehead Scales short of the Eight Hundred Forehead Scales. This is certainly worth celebrating and having a feast for!" she said. "But once we gather all the materials and ask the Artifact Refiner from the Great Marsh Prefecture to craft it, it will definitely cost a lot of money, so we mustn’t splurge for now!"

"As for the other supplies, they’re manageable. The Evil Lizard Essence Blood Pearls, however, are said to be even more valuable than Forehead Scales; they’re crucial for cultivating spiritual creatures! I need to find some time to visit the Huang Family and seek advice from their young lady. They once cultivated a Thousand Thunder Willow, so they should have experience!"

Looking at her ’little housekeeper’ demeanor, Lin Xuankong couldn’t help but laugh and said:

"Besides that, you can drink the Nine Revolutions Qi Replenishing Soup freely now. We have over three hundred portions on hand, and from now on, we can receive six portions every day!"

Lii Xiaolan shot him a look. "As if I’m a glutton, drinking it freely! Forget it; leave all these trivial matters to me. You should rest well today and diligently cultivate Yin Talisman Thunder tomorrow! You can finally cultivate this refined Martial Dao. Are you happy, Lord Lin, our Steward of the Jade Belt and Silver Token!"

"You’re still missing the title of ’husband’!" Lin Xuankong said earnestly.

Lii Xiaolan bit her lip slightly. "Dream on! Go to sleep now!" With that, she darted off!

Anticipation rose in Lin Xuankong’s eyes. The medicinal supply from the Silver Jade position is in hand, the Eight Hundred Forehead Scales are nearly gathered, and tomorrow, I can finally learn Yin Talisman Thunder!

Thinking of Gu Beicheng’s longsword wreathed in lightning, the several pinky-sized lightning bolts Han Lu had summoned, and recalling the Thunder God in his vision who straddled heaven and earth... Lin Xuankong couldn’t help but be filled with longing.

This Thunder Martial Dao of the Yin Talisman Sect, passed down for over a millennium, is as profound as an Immortal Technique! However, compared to the Martial Dao of other sects, it’s much more esoteric and demands high Talent, likely making it challenging to cultivate! I wonder how long it will take me to reach the Entry Level and summon the first bolt of lightning, with the [Vigorous in Old Age] Life Plate aiding me and my high compatibility with Yin Talisman Thunder. They say that the Four-Seal Genius, Gu Beicheng, spent two and a half years cultivating nine bolts of lightning to surround his body, already achieving Initial Glimpse. How long will it take for me to achieve Nine Thunders Surrounding Body? A year? Half a year? Three months? Two months? Or even shorter? Hopefully, it will be shorter, much faster!