’This thing is very useful.’

’At least I can travel light wherever I go, without needing to carry a bunch of bags.’

Using the Storage Pouch was also very simple. Just open the drawstring mouth, and you could store things inside.

A low-grade Storage Pouch had a space ten zhang in size.

Although it wasn’t particularly large, it could still hold a lot of things.

Fang Xing put his Demon Suppression Treasure Saber into the Storage Pouch, then tucked the pouch securely against his body.

It was the size of a normal money pouch, very convenient.

Then, Fang Xing and the others also left.

After building a simple raft, Fang Xing’s group used their True Qi to propel it away from Lake Heart Island.

...

About an hour later, Fang Xing’s party returned to Jinhu Town.

The demon scourge incident was considered complete.

Fang Xing’s group didn’t linger in Jinhu Town and headed for Jinlin County Town.

At dusk, the three of them arrived at the Post Station in the County Town and checked in.

After eating, the three of them returned to their rooms.

They would return tomorrow.

Now that the mission was complete, there was no need to hurry.

In his room, Fang Xing looked at the Enhancement Points on his panel.

He had reaped a bountiful harvest from this mission against the Demons and Monsters.

It was his first-ever unprecedentedly large haul.

A full thirty-seven thousand six hundred points.

It was even more than he had expected.

Adding the few he had left and the Enhancement Points accumulated over the past few days...

The total came to around thirty-nine thousand one hundred points.

"This is the first time I’ve had so many. This should be enough to improve my Martial Arts by quite a bit."

Fang Xing was very satisfied.

’Once I get back this time, I can use these Enhancement Points to raise my strength by a fair margin.’

To advance the Dragon’s Roar Iron Cloth Shirt and the Red Fire Divine Skill, besides one’s own Root Bone and Comprehension, a significant amount of resources was also required for a breakthrough.

Having entered the Middle Red Flame stage, to advance the Red Fire Divine Skill further, one had to rely on the aid of external resources.

Otherwise, with bitter Cultivation alone, who knew how long it would take to break through to the Late-stage Cyan Flame.

After tidying up a bit, Fang Xing took out the Profound Flood Dragon Core.

A foul, fishy smell assaulted his nostrils.

’Ten thousand points... I’ll enhance it after I get back.’

Fang Xing thought to himself, then put the Profound Flood Dragon Core away.

...

「A few days later.」

Fang Xing’s group finally returned to the Jiang Province Observatory.

It had been an arduous journey.

This trip, while it had its complications, was ultimately a success.

They handed in the mission, so their quarterly evaluation should be fine.

Now that he had Merit, Fang Xing planned to repay the funds Shen Ye had previously advanced him.

"It’s fine. It wasn’t that much anyway. This time, it was all thanks to you. You should keep it. I have enough Merit."

Hearing this, Fang Xing didn’t press the issue and simply thanked him.

He had plenty of uses for Merit himself.

Right now, he had only these three thousand Merit points.

If he exchanged them for resources and the like, they would be depleted in no time.

The faster his strength grew, the faster he consumed resources!

"Come with me to the Marshal’s Mansion. This needs to be reported," Shen Ye said.

Fang Xing nodded, and the two of them headed for the Marshal’s Mansion.

...

In the main hall of the Marshal’s Mansion, Nangong Qing looked at Shen Ye and Fang Xing.

After listening to Shen Ye’s report, Nangong Qing’s gaze fell upon Fang Xing.

To have such strength right after entering the True Qi Realm—even Nangong Qing found it incredible.

This wasn’t strength from a Magical Treasure; to have cultivated his Martial Arts to this degree was truly shocking.

’This guy... does he really have this much potential...?’

Looking at Fang Xing, Nangong Qing couldn’t help but sigh with emotion internally.

The difference in strength between the True Qi First Layer and the True Qi Third Layer was not small.

To be able to achieve such a feat was definitely a rarity in the Jiang Province Observatory.

His mind was reeling, but Nangong Qing showed none of it, looking at Fang Xing with a calm and composed expression. "Well done. In the future, if you can step into the True Gang Realm, I will reserve a Vice Marshal position for you."

What?!

Hearing this, Shen Ye looked at Nangong Qing in disbelief.

A Vice Marshal position...

He was already being promised it in advance?

Looking at Nangong Qing, Shen Ye’s heart couldn’t help but twitch.

With the strength of the True Gang Realm, one was naturally qualified to hold the position of Vice Marshal.

It wasn’t that he thought it was impossible for Fang Xing to reach the True Gang Realm in the future.

What he hadn’t expected was this promise from Nangong Qing.

That was the crucial part!

Fang Xing was also surprised.

He hadn’t expected Nangong Qing to make him such a promise.

The position of Vice Marshal!

Although he was currently a million miles away from the True Gang Realm, receiving an advance promise like this was completely unexpected.

The hall fell into a brief silence.

Nangong Qing looked at him with a broad smile and a hint of teasing. "What, could it be you look down on the position of Vice Marshal? Or are you aiming for my seat?"

Fang Xing: "..."

Shen Ye: "..."

Fang Xing stood up, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Thank you for your high regard, Lord Nangong. This subordinate will certainly work hard."

Nangong Qing looked at him and smiled faintly. "No need to be so formal. When there are no outsiders around, you can be like Xiaoshen and just call me Uncle Qing."

"Uncle Qing!"

Fang Xing said it tactfully.

The smile on Nangong Qing’s face grew even brighter.

...

Half an hour later, Fang Xing and Shen Ye left the Marshal’s Mansion.

"In the future, when you break through to the True Gang Realm, you’ll be my superior," Shen Ye said with a laugh.

"..."

"Sir, I’ve only just reached the True Qi Realm."

Shen Ye patted his shoulder. "With your growth rate, I believe it won’t take more than a few years."

Fang Xing didn’t reply.

’The True Gang Realm...’

’The second major stage of the Extraordinary realm!’

’It’s still too early to think about that now.’

——

After parting ways with Shen Ye, Fang Xing returned to his residence.

Entering his room, he took out the Demon and Monster Core.

’I wonder what this will be like after enhancement...’

Looking at the Demon and Monster Core, Fang Xing was quite expectant.

With a thought, a crimson light instantly enveloped the Demon and Monster Core.

A brilliant crimson light flashed.

Fang Xing stared without blinking.