Chapter 238: Three-Hundred-Year Crimson Blood Vermilion Fruit

"The Arhat Salvation Sutra is a second-rate internal technique of Arhat Temple."

"The Mighty Vajra Palm and the Gecko Climbing Wall Technique are second-rate martial arts techniques of Arhat Temple."

"This man's mastery of both Arhat Temple and Bitter Awareness Temple's internal techniques and martial arts indicates he's highly valued over at Arhat Temple too."

"If he can circulate both internal technique methods simultaneously, he's Lower Sixth-Rank. If not, he's barely a Newly Promoted Sixth-Rank."

In a short span, Yang Ling had already assessed Juewang's strength level.

Given the other party's status as Hall Master of the Martial Monk Hall at Bitter Awareness Temple, he most likely already knew how to use Vital Qi to circulate both internal technique methods.

Then Yang Ling tossed an Insight Technique at him.

The Insight Technique showed that this man had no illegal or disciplinary violations within the past three days.

For now, he couldn't tell whether this guy was a Silver Generation member of the Heavenly Wolf Guard.

"Master Juewang, I am Yang Ling, Director of the First Division, Public Security Department, Changhe Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department."

Yang Ling cupped his hands and smiled.

Wen Kongxuan, Liang Yue, and the others also bowed in greeting one after another.

Wei Ran and Cao Yifei, the two players, exchanged glances, both seeing the excitement in each other's eyes.

This was a revered monk from Bitter Awareness Temple!

And the Hall Master of the Martial Monk Hall at that!

This was definitely a supreme expert!

They never imagined they'd get to see a master from a second-rate sect today—it was truly an eye-opener!

Unlike the two men's delight, Wang Shichang and Sun Tiejun's hearts had already tensed to the breaking point.

After the Shen Shuyan incident in Tingjiang City, they now looked at everyone as if they might be Rong Tribe spies sent to silence them.

Juewang said with a beaming smile, "Director Yang's reputation precedes you; this humble monk has long heard of it.

I am heading to Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital on this trip. Passing through here, I heard that Director Yang was on official business, so I made a point of paying a visit."

Lin Qin and Liang Yue's expressions shifted.

So this was the expert the Mining Guild Master had summoned from Bitter Awareness Temple—the one meant to sit guard over the Blazing Gold Mine in Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital?

"The Hall Master of Bitter Awareness Temple's Martial Monk Hall is definitely Sixth-Rank without a doubt."

"The question is whether it's Lower Sixth-Rank or Middle Sixth-Rank..."

Similar thoughts surfaced in both their minds.

"Elder Lin and Sect Master Liang are here too. This humble monk didn't expect Tingjiang City to be so lively."

"May I ask what has happened here?"

Juewang asked casually, his gaze deliberately sweeping over the elite soldiers nearby who were holding crossbows.

Lin Qin and the others had no authority to answer this question, so they remained silent.

Wen Kongxuan also didn't answer him, his eyes showing a scrutinizing look.

Sun Tiejun and Wang Shichang slowly gripped the hilts of their waist-mounted blades.

Just then, Yang Ling smiled and said:

"Master Juewang, speaking of this matter is rather embarrassing. Our Tingjiang City's City Magistrate, Magistrate Xu, turned out to be an imposter—the Rong Tribe spy Shen Shuyan in disguise.

This case has far-reaching implications, so I had no choice but to personally take command here, waiting for experts from Yunwen Provincial Capital to arrive and make the arrest."

His perception had already attached itself to Juewang.

Upon hearing these words, the other party's emotions didn't fluctuate much.

"No fluctuation—it's not because of excellent inner cultivation, but because he already knew about this."

"Did Bitter Awareness Temple get wind of it, or did a Rong tribe informant tip them off?"

Thinking this, Yang Ling invited Juewang inside to sit down and talk.

Juewang didn't stand on ceremony. After taking his seat, he got straight to the point:

"Director Yang, to be honest, this humble monk also has some personal motives for coming here."

Everyone's expressions stirred.

Yang Ling said, "Master, please speak frankly."

Juewang let out a sigh: "It's about my senior brother Jue Ming. He's been detained in Changhe Prefectural Capital for some time now. I wonder if the Ironclad Department has reached any conclusion yet?

Senior Brother Jue Ming is a few years older than me, and I've known him well since childhood.

If he were a Rong Tribe spy, there's no way I wouldn't have noticed."

Yang Ling smiled. "The Ironclad Department is still conducting a thorough investigation. If there's a result, we'll naturally notify Bitter Awareness Temple at the earliest opportunity.

Master Juewang, you worry too much. The Ironclad Department will not wrong a good person, nor will we let a guilty one go free."

Wang Shichang felt a bit awkward inwardly—he had said those exact words not long ago, back when Director Yang had been arrested by his men as an Immortal God Sect heretic cultist.

"This humble monk naturally trusts the Ironclad Department's code of conduct."

Juewang nodded. "This senior brother of mine has too violent a temper and tends to offend people easily. The master says he still needs to recite Buddhist sutras and cultivate his disposition."

Having said that, he suddenly smiled:

"I've heard that Director Yang has recently been promoted to Sixth-Rank. At your age, you can be considered the number one among the younger generation in Changhe Prefectural Capital.

This humble monk possesses nothing of value, only a rare exotic herb and flower I happened to acquire. I intend to offer it to Director Yang as a token of appreciation."

With that, he took a wooden box from his sleeve, roughly a foot in length.

Slowly, he opened it in front of everyone.

Inside the box lay a round, crimson fruit.

"This is a three-hundred-year Crimson Blood Vermilion Fruit. I've heard that consuming it can increase one's cultivation."

A three-hundred-year Crimson Blood Vermilion Fruit?

A glimmer of shock flashed in everyone's eyes.

Any exotic herb or flower that surpassed a hundred years of age was an extremely rare and precious delicacy!

Even if you had the money, you might not be able to buy it—you'd need a solid relationship with the Pharmacy Guild or a sufficiently deep personal background.

As for the Crimson Blood Vermilion Fruit, they had heard of it before. Its most powerful effect wasn't boosting cultivation, but enhancing Vital Qi!

Eighth-Rank experts could begin nurturing Vital Qi.

Vital Qi would increase as one's martial arts cultivation improved.

It could also be enhanced through various methods, such as consuming exotic herbs and flowers like the one before them.

For experts like them at Seventh-Rank, their Vital Qi had long been cultivated to its current peak. As age increased, their Vital Qi would also continuously decline.

"Three-hundred-year Crimson Blood Vermilion Fruit: consuming it can increase cultivation, adding 300 points of Vital Qi."

Yang Ling looked at the item and said thoughtfully:

"Master Juewang, as the saying goes, 'One does not accept rewards without deserving them.' Please take this back."

Wen Kongxuan's expression shifted slightly.

Wang Shichang and Sun Tiejun exchanged glances.

Lin Qin and Liang Yue were also somewhat surprised.

Cao Yifei swallowed his saliva. He suspected that if he consumed this Crimson Blood Vermilion Fruit, his strength would definitely skyrocket!

As if he had long anticipated Yang Ling's reaction, Juewang smiled and shook his head:

"Director Yang, this humble monk is not trying to bribe you. This is a congratulatory gift for your improvement in strength.

In the three Princely Capitals, and even in the Capital itself, there are similar customs.

If Director Yang were currently in one of the three Princely Capitals, you would probably have received over a dozen such gifts by now."

Yang Ling glanced at Wen Kongxuan.

Wen Kongxuan nodded. "Director Yang, the higher-ups do have such a rule.

If it's just a congratulatory gift, the Inspection Department won't have anything to say about it either."

Juewang continued, "Additionally, this humble monk has one more request."

"Don't bring up Jue Ming's matter again. Everything will be handled according to the law."

Yang Ling refused.

Juewang smiled. "It's not about Senior Brother Jue Ming. It's about the Blazing Gold Mine in Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital."

A strange look appeared in everyone's eyes.

"I've long heard that Director Yang has considerable expertise in mine veins."

He glanced at the Centenary Refined Vermilion Gold Pickaxe at Yang Ling's waist:

"This humble monk has learned that the mining process for this Blazing Gold Mine is extremely difficult. I hope to invite Director Yang to visit the site and offer some guidance when you have time."

"Oh... In that case, I can think about it. Once I'm done with matters here, I'll make a trip over."

Yang Ling thoughtfully closed the wooden box, then tucked it into his bosom. The whole series of movements was fluid and natural.