Sage of Humanity
Chapter 987 - 985 Team Ding 9

Leading Li Baxian and others to the Recruitment Department, they registered, recorded their previous battle merits, determined their military ranks, and received their guard tokens—completing the entire set of processes familiar and swiftly.

The battle merits that the few had previously gained were not much, so all of them only obtained the rank of Major.

This is also the rank that most newcomers at the True Lake Realm entering the provincial guard can receive.

The rank influences the monthly pay significantly. With the rank of Major, the monthly salary is only 10,000 battle merits, incomparable to Lu Ye's rank of Capital Commandant.

The monthly salary for a Capital Commandant is 30,000, and Lu Ye receives double the monthly salary, equating to 60,000 battle merits each month.

This was the condition Qian Wudang negotiated when he appointed him as the team leader.

Lu Ye initially thought that every team leader was treated the same. However, in a recent conversation with Warlord Geng, he learned that it's not the case; it seemed that he was the only one in the entire Law Enforcement Hall who received double the monthly pay!

Moreover, he was the only one to have his own residence in Haotian City, whereas other team leaders had no fixed place of residence at all.

Only a strong cultivator in the Divine Sea Realm is qualified to have a residence in Haotian City.

Lu Ye realized then that the conditions Qian Wudang gave were not the rules of the Justice Department but ones he had set himself.

The purpose was nothing but to tempt him to take up the leader's position, giving him the opportunity to embed Lin Yinxiu into his team; truly an elaborate plan.

Having reported in to the Recruitment Department, as per the normal process, within three days, new guards would be dispatched to various mountain passes needing reinforcement.

Thus, Lu Ye had Xiao Xinghe take the fourth senior brother and others to tour around Haotian City, while he hurried to the hall of the Justice Department to meet Qian Wudang.

He requested Qian Wudang to transfer Li Baxian and the other two into the Justice Department and further into his own team.

Inside the hall, Lu Ye met with Qian Wudang and explained his purpose.

Qian Wudang chuckled and said, "Indulging in nepotism, aren't you!"

Lu Ye's team had been missing three members, and he showed no signs of recruiting, so Qian Wudang knew he was waiting for someone. Who exactly he was waiting for, Qian Wudang wasn't sure until now.

"Sir, though my fourth senior brother and others have just advanced to True Lake, they possess profound foundations and can fight beyond their level. Although their current cultivation is on the lower side, with a little time, it certainly won't be a problem. Besides, as we are familiar with each other, working together on tasks is more coordinated."

Qian Wudang nodded, "I've heard of the names of Loyal Heart Sect's Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan and know about their foundation... what about this Giant Armor, what's so special about him? What makes you value him so highly?"

"Giant Armor is exceptionally talented, and I dare say, among his peers, no physique cultivator has a stronger physique than he does!"

Qian Wudang was moved, "Really?"

"Absolutely!" Lu Ye nodded solemnly, "I've witnessed it with my own eyes. Even those physique cultivators from 1st grade sects pale in comparison to Giant Armor."

"With physique cultivator, magic cultivator, sword cultivator, combat cultivator, and ghost cultivator all accounted for, the setup is quite reasonable; you've thought this through. In that case, I'll grant your request."

"Thank you, Sir!" Lu Ye cupped his fist. Although he knew Qian Wudang wouldn't oppose his request, hearing him agree personally allowed Lu Ye to relax.

"With your team now complete, it will be assigned as Team D-9."

"Yes." The teams in the Law Enforcement Hall are numbered for easy tracking of task completions and handovers. Since Lu Ye's team was incomplete before, it hadn't been assigned a number, something he had asked Warlord Geng about and naturally understood.

Team numbers don't signify importance or power, and Lu Ye had no objections to the D-9 designation.

Qian Wudang then signed and handed Lu Ye a command, "Take this to the Military Supplies Department, where you can collect a set of specialized artifacts for the Law Enforcement Hall, but remember these artifacts are very difficult to refine, try not to lose them."

"Yes!" Lu Ye answered.

The so-called Law Enforcement Hall specialized artifacts are nothing more than the Six-Element Spirit-Sealing Lock.

Lu Ye had used it once before, requiring a squad of six to coordinate. When activated, it can prohibit the flow of spirit force within a certain range, specifically for capturing targets.

However, Lu Ye always felt it was a bit redundant.

Because everyone in the Law Enforcement Hall's teams is at True Lake, ordinary targets can't rival them, hence there's no need to use the Six-Element Spirit-Sealing Lock.

Anyone who could defeat an entire squad would undoubtedly be a strong cultivator in the Divine Sea Realm!

And the Six-Element Spirit-Sealing Lock has no effect on the mental consciousness of those in the Divine Sea Realm... they suffered from this at Xianxia Mountain last time.

Under the activation of Ning Hu's mental consciousness, the Six-Element Spirit-Sealing Lock was broken in an instant.

But since it's a part of the Law Enforcement Hall team's equipment, it's better to have it than not, just in case there's an opportunity to use it.

Leaving the Justice Department's hall, he headed towards the Military Supplies Department. Upon reaching there, he presented Qian Wudang's signed command and successfully obtained a set of six Six-Element Spirit-Sealing Locks.

He returned to his courtyard and began distributing the Six-Element Spirit-Sealing Locks. During the distribution, he suddenly noticed there was one extra.

"Where is Lin Yinxiu?" It was then that Lu Ye realized Lin Yinxiu had not shown up.

Yiyi shook her head, indicating she had no idea where Lin Yinxiu had gone.

While he was searching around, Lin Yinxiu suddenly swiftly approached from a distance, landing directly in the courtyard. Delightfully, she said, "Captain, I heard our team has new members?"

She had evidently heard this from Qian Wudang. She was previously busy with something but had hurried back upon hearing the news.

Lu Ye introduced both sides briefly. Since they would be in the same team from now on, it was naturally better to get familiar as soon as possible.

Among everyone present, Lin Yinxiu had the highest cultivation, with a True Lake Level 7, which was quite impressive anywhere.

Li Baxian and the others all addressed her as Senior Sister Lin. Lin Yinxiu's eyelashes fluttered with joy.

Usually, Lu Ye just called her by her name, so it was rare for her to enjoy such an honor of being called Senior Sister.

Feeling happy, Lin Yinxiu suggested, "Captain, why don't we have a welcome feast for Junior Brother Li and the rest? It would also be a celebration of our team finally being fully assembled."

"Great suggestion!" Lu Ye nodded.

"Shall we go to Hundred Fragrance House?"

"Sure!"

Lin Yinxiu cheered and led the way enthusiastically, and those who had just met her for the first time, like Li Baxian, were taken aback by her childlike demeanor, thinking perhaps they called her Senior Sister a bit too early.

Soon, everyone arrived in front of Hundred Fragrance House.

But to Lu Ye's astonishment, today, Hundred Fragrance House was not open; its doors were tightly closed.

Recalling the incident of the brawl last time, Lu Ye frowned and contacted Warlord Geng to inquire about the situation.

He quickly received a response; according to Warlord Geng, since the last incident, Shen Manzi intended to transfer the management of Hundred Fragrance House, which is why it hadn't been open for the past few days.

"Don't misunderstand, it's not because we've implicated her. That event was nothing major; it's just that Manzi doesn't want to work so hard any longer, and now she plans to join my team and work with me in the Law Enforcement Hall."

Warlord Geng's team has always been understaffed, so Shen Manzi joining was indeed suitable.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, are you hosting a feast?" Warlord Geng asked.

"My fourth senior brother and the others have arrived. I planned to host them at Hundred Fragrance House... Do you have any good recommendations, Warlord?"

"White Cloud Chamber is a nice place."

After finding out the location of White Cloud Chamber, Lu Ye led everyone there.

Just as they reached the entrance, a rotund person, dressed in luxurious clothes, greeted them with cupped hands, "May I ask if you are Fellow Daoist Lu Yiye?"

"Yes, that's me." Lu Ye was curious about how this person knew him.

"I am Qien Julai, the manager of White Cloud Chamber!"

Lin Yinxiu chuckled softly, finding this person's name amusing; Qien Julai sounded a lot like 'money comes', openly greedy for wealth.

"Please come in. Fellow Daoist Geng has informed us in advance and also reserved an elegant room for all of you."

Lu Ye then realized. He hadn't met this person before, so it was Fellow Daoist Geng who had given them a heads-up.

It seemed Warlord Geng indeed had some reputation in Haotian City.

"Thank you very much." Lu Ye called to everyone, following behind Qien Julai as they went inside.

The main hall was lively, every table occupied with many cultivators engaged in enthusiastic conversations, toasting and exchanging cups of wine.

"Is White Cloud Chamber under Heaven's Augury Mercantile Union?" Lu Ye asked, pondering.

Mainly because businessman Qien didn't seem like someone capable of fighting. Although he had some cultivation, his indulgent physique suggested he was used to a life of luxury and would unlikely be able to exert his cultivation-level strength in combat.

Usually, only cultivators from Heaven's Augury Mercantile Union would be like this.

Qien Julai smiled faintly, "Fellow Daoist Lu, you have keen insight. White Cloud Chamber indeed belongs to Heaven's Augury Mercantile Union. In the future, if you have any banquets, please consider our establishment."

"Since it's recommended by the Warlord, there's no problem at all," Lu Ye readily agreed. Since he'd be working in Haotian City, there would inevitably be some occasions to host feasts, and having a preferred and familiar place was quite nice.

Led by Qien Julai, they passed through the main hall and arrived at the rear private rooms.

Everyone took their seats, and soon, exquisitely prepared dishes were served.

There was wine, and they drank together, becoming slightly tipsy, and the atmosphere gradually became lively.

This feast made everyone happily exhausted. Even Lin Yinxiu and Feng Yuechan drank a few more cups, and Amber also ended up having too much.

Initially, it wanted to try because it saw Giant Armor drinking joyously. Turned out, after a few cups, it felt nothing, thinking its tolerance was extraordinary, but as the alcohol kicked in, it was already dizzy and lay flat on its back.

Not until the stars filled the night sky did everyone leave White Cloud Chamber. The cold wind blew, dispersing much of the drunkenness.

Back at the courtyard, they each found an empty room and went inside to rest.

When Lu Ye initially chose this courtyard as a residence, he had considered this situation; there were quite a few rooms here, enough to accommodate all six members of the team.

In his room, Lu Ye sat cross-legged, dispelling the alcohol's effects, and continued refining Explosive Fire Spirit Stones, quietly perfecting plans for the future.

Now the team was complete, and once his fourth senior brother and the others took a couple of days to rest, they could go to the Hunting Pavilion to accept tasks. This way, they could quickly earn battle merits and enhance their cultivation. During the day, Lu Ye noticed one thing that was Xiao Xinghe's cultivation had already advanced to True Lake Level 4, which evidently was the result of his recent cultivation with spirit fortune sticks.