Chapter 7 Ning City

Qingyang County, Ning City.

Tiandu was roughly twelve hundred li away from Ning City. Gu Chen spent a day and a night following the directives on Jing Tian Department's order, arriving here.

As a martial artist in the Great Perfection of the Breath Realm, a day and night without sleep wouldn't have much effect.

At this moment, it was nearing noon. The streets of Ning City were bustling with people, and various vendors were hawking their wares, making it very lively.

In Qingyang County, Ning City was not considered small, with a population of 150,000.

Gu Chen, dressed in black attire with a long sword at his waist, found a tavern upon arriving in Ning City. After setting down his luggage, he meditated briefly to restore his state to its peak.

Name: Gu Chen

Martial Skills: Iron Robe Technique (perfection), Thirteen Grand Protectors' Horizontal Skill (perfection), Red Flame Palm (perfection), Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bone Fist (beginner)

Internal Energy: Pure Yang Skill

Cultivation: Sixty years

Realm: Great Perfection of the Breath Realm

Skill Points: 11

Previously, by exchanging the achievements of the original owner for two Soul Crystals and absorbing them, his skill points increased by ten.

Feeling the former "fullness" of his physical body ease up a bit, Gu Chen's thought moved, and the ten skill points on the panel disappeared, converting into ten years of cultivation, which was injected into his body.

Whoosh—

Instantly, as the skill points disappeared, Gu Chen's internal energy increased again, reaching seventy years.

Gu Chen clenched his fist, feeling the surging internal energy within his body. He believed that with his current strength, competing with a martial artist in the Penetrating Veins Realm would not be impossible.

Gu Chen then left his room and, downstairs, ordered a few of Ning City's specialties as breakfast to reward his stomach.

After eating his fill, Gu Chen went to the prefectural office of Ning City.

Ning City's yamen faced south. At the entrance stood two stone lions as tall as a person, and two constables guarded the red-brown main gate.

"No idlers allowed!"

Just as Gu Chen reached the door, the two constables, with solemn expressions, blocked his way.

"I am Gu Chen, a Metropolitan Procurator of the Jing Tian Department from Tiandu."

Gu Chen took out his identity token, a bronze token with elegant lines. The front had a large "Jing" character inscribed in dragon and phoenix calligraphy, and the back was engraved with Gu Chen's name and position in smaller characters.

Upon hearing that Gu Chen was from the Jing Tian Department in Tiandu, the constables' expressions instantly changed. They cupped their fists and respectfully said, "Greetings, Lord Gu."

"It's alright."

Gu Chen signaled them to rise. Under their guidance, he entered the yamen of Ning City.

Following the two constables through the corridor, Gu Chen arrived at a side hall, where he met Wu Qian, the constable of Ning City.

"Chief, the person sent from above has arrived. This is the Metropolitan Procurator from the Jing Tian Department in Tiandu, Lord Gu Chen." The two constables escorted Gu Chen to Wu Qian.

Wu Qian, of average height with a stern appearance, quickly rose upon hearing this and cupped his fists, "I am Wu Qian. Greetings, Lord Gu."

"No need to be so formal, Constable Wu. Just call me by my name," Gu Chen said with a smile. Coming from the modern era, he was not too concerned about these old-fashioned rules and formalities.

"I dare not!" Wu Qian shook his head quickly.

Seeing this, Gu Chen understood the heavy sense of hierarchy in the feudal society and did not force him. He then said, "Then just call me Master Gu."

"Yes," Wu Qian nodded. He then said seriously, "Master Gu, please follow me. The county magistrate has been waiting for some time."

"Alright, please lead the way, Constable Wu," said Gu Chen. Following Wu Qian, the two walked into the yamen.

After Gu Chen and Wu Qian left the side hall, some constables under Wu Qian started discussing, "Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, what did you just say? This Lord Gu is a Metropolitan Procurator?"

Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, who had brought Gu Chen here, replied, "Yes, we saw Lord Gu's token. He is a first-rank Metropolitan Procurator of the Jing Tian Department."

"What's the matter? Is there a problem?" a new constable asked, puzzled.

"A first-rank Metropolitan Procurator means Lord Gu's cultivation is in the third realm of martial arts, the Breath Realm, just like our chief."

Due to the rampant demons and strange creatures in Da Xia for many years, the veteran constables of Ning City had many encounters with the Jing Tian Department and were somewhat familiar with the internal ranks of the department.

With Ning City's population of 150,000, its yamen had many constables, numbering in the dozens. Their chief, Wu Qian, had the Breath Realm cultivation, while most of the others were in the Body Refining Realm and a few in the Blood Refining Realm.

Hearing this, the new constable was still puzzled and asked, "What's the issue if he's like our chief?"

The first constable who spoke cursed, "You fool, use your pig brain to think. The demon appearing in Ning City this time isn't some ordinary monster we've faced before. It is likely a Panic Level Demon or even stronger. Even our chief is apprehensive and doesn't dare to act recklessly. Now the Jing Tian Department only sent a first-rank Metropolitan Procurator. Do you think he can handle the situation?"

"Yes, yes."

The other constables nodded in agreement, thinking that what he said made sense. Being in the Breath Realm, no matter how strong he was, he couldn't be much stronger than Wu Qian.

It's known that even the weakest Panic Level Demon has the cultivation of the Breath Realm, and the stronger ones might have reached the Penetrating Veins Realm. A first-rank Metropolitan Procurator wouldn't be able to contend with that.

This was why Wu Qian didn't act rashly and chose to report after consulting Ning City's county magistrate.

Typically, ordinary strange creatures wouldn't require a report from the county's yamen as they could handle them. Only when the situation exceeded their capabilities and the local constables couldn't cope would they report it, prompting the Jing Tian Department to send reinforcements.

Gu Chen, having the Great Perfection of the Breath Realm cultivation and seventy years of internal energy, naturally had extremely sharp senses and clearly heard the constables' discussions.

Wu Qian, also in the Breath Realm, overheard as well. He frowned and glanced at Gu Chen with an apologetic expression, "Master Gu, I apologize for my inadequate discipline. They dared to speak ill of the Metropolitan Procurator behind his back. I will punish them harshly later to give you a satisfactory explanation."

Hearing this, Gu Chen waved his hand and smiled, "No need, Constable Wu, you're overthinking. It's just some casual remarks. I won't take them to heart."

With his broad mind and status, Gu Chen naturally wouldn't bother with the constables' comments.

Wu Qian, seeing this, looked deeply at Gu Chen and bowed, "Thank you for your generosity, Lord Gu. I thank you on their behalf."

Wu Qian had been in Ning City for years, he was thirty-five and had been a constable for several years. During this time, he had seen many Jing Tian Department personnel. Given Qingyang County's direct jurisdiction by Tiandu, those who came were from Tiandu, who often had prestigious backgrounds and deep-rooted arrogance.

Most of them wouldn't take such remarks kindly, while a few, bound by their status, would usually scold or ignore them with a cold expression.

But someone like Gu Chen, who didn't mind at all, was rare in Wu Qian's experience.

Of course, it wasn't entirely the constables' fault. Even Wu Qian himself was puzzled why Jing Tian Department only sent Gu Chen.

When reporting, he specifically highlighted the danger, indicating it was likely a Panic Level Demon, possibly even beyond that level. Upon receiving such a message, the Jing Tian Department ought to dispatch a Metropolitan Procurator.

Even if they sent a Metropolitan Procurator, there should have been several, not just Gu Chen alone.

This was why Wu Qian couldn't understand, explaining the constables' discussions.

But now that Gu Chen had arrived in Ning City, Wu Qian couldn't say much more. He led Gu Chen into the inner hall to meet the county magistrate of Ning City.