Chapter 168 - 123: Speaking of Taiping in the Taiping Bureau

Chapter 168: Chapter 123: Speaking of Taiping in the Taiping Bureau

Su Mu had been to the Taiping Government Office many times, but he never expected such a formidable figure to be hidden within its walls.

No wonder only a few constables were ever seen on duty at the Taiping Bureau on normal days.

So the Taiping Bureau had a master like this in its midst; they had no reason to fear anyone causing trouble here.

If someone actually did come looking for trouble, this seemingly senile Taiping Captain would probably show them just how harsh reality can be.

"Senior, Luo Anning and Su Mu are here to apply for the Taiping Captain assessment."

Luo Anning took two steps forward, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a low voice.

The old man lifted his eyelids, his cloudy gaze sweeping over Luo Anning and Su Mu.

But when his eyes fell on Su Mu, his turbid gaze instantly sharpened.

Like the stare of a hawk, it made the hairs on the back of Su Mu’s neck stand on end.

A moment ago, he was an old man with one foot in the grave; in the blink of an eye, he had transformed into a ferocious beast ready to devour someone at any moment.

’As expected of a veteran Taiping Captain. With an aura like that, a single glance would probably be enough to make an ordinary person piss their pants.’

"The Body Tempering Limit... It’s been many years since one of those came through."

The old man’s gaze scanned Su Mu up and down several times, as if trying to see right through him.

After a long moment, he clicked his tongue in wonder. "To think that our Wuling City Taiping Bureau would produce such a heaven-sent talent. Heh heh."

He chuckled twice, his powerful aura receding, and he reverted to the sleepy-looking old man he was before.

The old man fumbled under his desk and pulled out a token. Without any discernible movement, a small knife appeared in his hand.

He wielded the knife with blurring speed. After a series of soft sounds, he casually tossed the token over.

The token traced an arc through the air, falling toward Su Mu.

Su Mu raised his hand and caught it deftly. Looking closely, he saw the words "Taiping Captain Su Mu" carved on it.

"Body Tempering Limit. You don’t need to take the assessment. This is your token. Turn in your White Clothes token, go to the back to get your uniform and equipment. You’ve passed. Welcome to a new world."

The old man forced a somewhat stiff smile onto his face.

Su Mu held the new token, a little stunned. ’The Body Tempering Limit comes with this kind of perk? I got in just from the interview?’

"Little girl, use your full strength, your strongest martial technique, and attack it."

The old man turned to look at Luo Anning, the smile immediately vanishing from his face. It was just like the attitude of a misogynistic old man at home treating his grandson versus his granddaughter.

Su Mu found this amusing. ’Outside, people’s attitudes toward him and Luo Anning were the complete opposite.’

’Luo Anning is beautiful and kind-hearted, with a good background and great strength. Who wouldn’t treat her with a smiling face?’

’As for Su Mu, just another stinking pretty boy. Heh!’

’But in the Taiping Bureau, only strength matters. So what if you’re good-looking? Is that as useful as reaching the Body Tempering Limit?’

Following the old man’s finger, Su Mu saw a two-meter-tall stone stele standing in a corner of the Hall Office.

The stele also had the two characters for "Taiping" carved on it, the strokes sunk deep into its surface. Other than the beautiful calligraphy, the stele looked completely ordinary.

Luo Anning walked forward and, with a serious expression, drew a longsword of blue steel from the weapon rack beside the stele.

The weapons on the rack were all common, ordinary ones, meant to ensure that the candidates displayed their true abilities, rather than relying on Divine Weapons.

Luo Anning stretched her limbs, and the faint sound of flowing water could be heard from within her body. It was the sound of "True Blood" coursing through her veins.

After Blood Transformation, mortal blood becomes True Blood. A single drop is several times heavier than before, and its flow is audible—this is the hallmark of the Blood Transformation Realm.

Then, Luo Anning swung the blue steel longsword in her hand.

Luo Anning specialized in the Sword Technique of the Kan Water Lineage and had mastered two of its sword forms.

Su Mu had also cultivated martial techniques from the Kan Water Lineage, and his mastery was far greater than Luo Anning’s. He could tell at a glance that her command of these two sword forms was highly proficient.

Moreover, she was likely on the verge of mastering a third sword form. With a little guidance, it wouldn’t be long before she grasped the Kan Water Realm.

’Is this the true worth of the number one talent of Wuling City’s younger generation?’

’At twenty years old, she’s already close to comprehending a Realm.’

Su Mu was filled with admiration. He knew his own situation; his mastery of two Realms was won through sweat and hard work, incomparable to a natural talent like Luo Anning.

CRACK!

Luo Anning’s attack landed on the stone stele.

The blue steel longsword couldn’t withstand her power and shattered with a SNAP.

It was a heavy blow that could shatter monuments, and it had even broken the blue steel longsword.

Yet the seemingly ordinary stone stele was left without a single mark.

Just then, the two large characters on the stele began to slowly light up.

The light filled the strokes of the two characters, rising from bottom to top.

In the blink of an eye, eighty percent of the two characters were filled with light.

The old man, sitting in his chair, watched this scene with a hint of approval on his face.

"First-level Blood Transformation, eightfold weight. Not bad, you."

The old man commented casually, then pulled out another token from under his desk and began to carve it on the spot.

Su Mu glanced at the stele, then at Luo Anning.

The light on the stele gradually faded, and Luo Anning’s face was filled with delight.

Su Mu didn’t understand what the stele’s reaction meant, but he understood the old man’s comment.

Ten percent of Luo Anning’s blood had been transformed. The effect of her Blood Exchange Technique was an eightfold weight, meaning one drop of her True Blood was as heavy as eight drops of mortal blood.

’That’s almost as good as the ninefold weight of the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique.’

’As expected of Miss Luo. The Blood Exchange Technique she cultivates is truly top-tier.’

The old man finished carving the name on the token and tossed it to Luo Anning.

"Go to the back and get your official uniform," he added nonchalantly.

"Thank you, Senior."

Luo Anning took the token, her face beaming with joy, and didn’t forget to thank him politely.

"We’re all on the same side, no need for formalities. My surname is Wan. From now on, you can call me Master Wan."

The old man said faintly.

The rules within the Taiping Bureau were relatively casual; members rarely addressed each other as "Lord" or "Sir."

Those of the same rank called each other Senior Brother and Junior Brother.

Superiors and subordinates addressed each other as Martial Uncle or Master.

Of course, some of the more unconventional ones would call their direct superior "Boss."

Needless ceremony and red tape didn’t exist in the Taiping Bureau. Efficiency was prioritized above all else.

"Master Wan, can I also take the assessment once?"

Just as the old man was about to doze off again, Su Mu suddenly spoke up.

"Hmm?"

The old man looked up at Su Mu but didn’t speak, waiting for an explanation.

"Master Wan, this stele can measure a person’s power, right? I’d also like to see how my current strength compares to a true Blood Transformation Realm martial artist."

Su Mu said earnestly.

"At the Body Tempering Limit, without factoring in Physical Divine Techniques, you’re roughly equivalent to someone who has completed ten percent of their Blood Transformation. Including Physical Divine Techniques, you can compare to twenty percent. If your Physical Divine Techniques are powerful enough, you could even match thirty percent."

The old man said slowly, "And I’m talking about a Blood Exchange Martial Artist with a sixfold weight. That’s a fair comparison. Most martial artists who practice Blood Exchange Techniques can’t even achieve a sixfold weight effect. Sevenfold or eightfold... those can be called geniuses.

"At the Body Tempering Limit, even if you cultivate the most ordinary Blood Exchange Technique, you will still achieve a sixfold weight effect. This test is meaningless for you."

"I still want to understand my own true strength. As they say, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

Su Mu said.

"’Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated...’"

The old man mulled over the phrase, giving Su Mu a strange look.

’For a young man to have such a calm and rational mind... no wonder he was able to reach the Body Tempering Limit.’

"Very well. Since you insist, go ahead."

The old man said slowly.

Su Mu nodded, stepped forward lightly, and chose a steel saber from the weapon rack.

He gave it a few perfunctory flourishes to get used to the saber’s weight.

SWOOSH!

The steel saber cut through the air, letting out a sharp whistle.

A brilliant flash of saber light, like a great river flowing from the heavens, transformed into a Water Dragon and struck the stone stele with immense force.

The old man’s expression changed. He shot to his feet so abruptly that his chair was knocked over, clattering to the floor with a LOUD CRASH.

"The Kan Water Realm?!"

The old man couldn’t help but exclaim.