After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the gates of Baima Temple slowly opened, and a figure stepped out.

"He’s here!"

Feng Xiu’s spirits lifted, but in the next instant, he froze.

The person who came out was none other than Fang Xing.

’Where are the others?’

’What about the stragglers who were supposed to escape?’

’Why can’t I see a single one?’

’Don’t tell me he slaughtered them all by himself?!’ The thought sprang into Feng Xiu’s mind, sending a shock through him.

"Come on out," Fang Xing said from the entrance of Baima Temple, looking toward Feng Xiu’s hiding spot.

The call snapped Feng Xiu back to his senses. He immediately stood up and hurried forward.

As he approached Fang Xing, he saw that his superior was holding a sack.

The strong stench of blood wafted from it.

"Sir, this is..." Feng Xiu stared blankly at Fang Xing.

Fang Xing casually tossed the sack to Feng Xiu.

"Hold this. We need it to turn in the mission."

Feng Xiu took a closer look in the moonlight, and his pupils contracted sharply.

Inside the sack was a mountain cat the size of a jackal.

’Isn’t this the Demon Cat from the mission?!’

’He’s already dealt with it?’

Feng Xiu was stunned.

’That was unbelievably fast!’

"Go get Xu Yao and bring her here," Fang Xing said.

Feng Xiu snapped out of his daze, nodded immediately, and headed toward the back courtyard of Baima Temple.

Watching Feng Xiu leave, Fang Xing focused his thoughts and summoned his status panel.

Name: Fang Xing

Cultivation: Peak of Neutralizing Force!

Enhancement Level: Three-Star (6%)

Enhancement Points: 11,688

’I broke ten thousand...’

’Not bad.’

Fang Xing was very satisfied as he looked at his Enhancement Points on the panel.

He had gained several thousand Enhancement Points from this mission.

With this influx of Enhancement Points, breaking through to the True Qi Realm wouldn’t be a major issue.

In one or two months, he could attempt to pass through the Dragon Gate of the True Qi Realm!

...

A short while later, Xu Yao and Feng Xiu arrived.

"Sir, is it really over?" Xu Yao asked in disbelief.

She had been hoping to show off her skills for once. After all, on the last mission with Fang Xing, she was completely carried to victory.

And this time, it was the same story.

Although it was nice, they hadn’t been needed at all, and she felt a little ashamed to accept the Merit for it.

"It’s over. You two, search Baima Temple first. Tomorrow morning, notify the local Government Office to make an official report."

Fang Xing ordered. The two nodded and entered Baima Temple to begin their search.

Evil Cult strongholds were never short on cash.

This time, they found over ten thousand taels of silver.

Gold leaves, silver notes.

The three of them didn’t stand on ceremony and pocketed it all.

They left a little behind for the Government Office to report.

No one would dare say a word.

...

After dawn, personnel from the Government Office arrived at Baima Temple.

The County Magistrate led the team himself.

He also met with Fang Xing.

After receiving the official registration certificate from the Government Office, Fang Xing’s group left with the demon’s corpse.

A few days later, they returned to the Observatory and were the first to turn in their mission.

They also received their Merit.

Of the eight hundred Merit points, Fang Xing took the lion’s share, receiving a full six hundred points for himself.

This time, Fang Xing didn’t try to be modest.

He needed Merit to exchange for Body Refining Pills for enhancement. With enough Yellow Dragon Pills, he could quickly break through to the third layer of the Dragon’s Roar Iron Cloth Shirt.

The third layer of the Dragon’s Roar Iron Cloth Shirt represented the Great Success of its first stage.

His strength would also take a qualitative leap.

With the Red Dragon Battle Armor protecting his body, he could even block a single strike from a True Qi Realm expert.

"Fang Xing?"

Just as Fang Xing was leaving the Merit Hall, preparing to return to his residence to enhance the Elixirs, a voice suddenly called out.

Fang Xing looked up and saw a man and a woman appear in his line of sight.

The man was dressed in green robes, with a fair complexion, a tall and straight posture, and a powerful aura.

The woman was none other than the other person from the Observatory he had met back in Qingshan County.

Baili Yanran!

Like Shen Ye, Baili Yanran had also stepped into the True Qi Realm and become a Commander.

However, they weren’t in the same unit; Baili Yanran served as the Commander of Team B.

Baili Yanran’s background was equally formidable, as Shen Ye had once mentioned.

Her family was a major clan in the Great Jing.

And the general of the Profound Armor Army he had met before, Baili Qingtian, was Baili Yanran’s third uncle.

"It really is you! I didn’t expect you to get in so quickly." Seeing Fang Xing, Baili Yanran walked forward with a smile.

"Greetings, Lord Baili."

Fang Xing greeted her with clasped hands.

"When did you arrive at the Observatory?"

Baili Yanran looked at him with curiosity.

"Hmm, almost a month ago, I think," Fang Xing replied.

"And this gentleman is...?" Fang Xing asked, looking at the man in green robes beside her.

The man had a cold expression, but when he saw the purple token at Fang Xing’s waist, a strange light flashed in his eyes, and his coldness softened slightly.

"Commander of Team A-10, Xu Ziye," the man in green said.

"Commander of Team A-10..."

Hearing Xu Ziye’s identity, Fang Xing quickly collected himself.

"Vice Commander of Team A-5, Fang Xing." He stated his own identity.

Upon hearing this, Baili Yanran finally noticed the purple token at Fang Xing’s waist.

Her pupils couldn’t help but shrink.

"You became Shen Ye’s second-in-command as soon as you joined?" Baili Yanran stared at him in surprise, her face a mask of disbelief.

Fang Xing smiled faintly. "Lord Shen saw something in me, so I’m just barely managing."

"..."

’Bullshit!’

’You can "barely manage" somewhere else, but in the Observatory?’

’Without the cultivation of the Peak of Neutralizing Force, there’s no "barely managing" it, no matter what.’

’Even if you were forcibly appointed, you wouldn’t be able to keep your subordinates in line. The lowest-ranking Official Captains are all Neutralizing Force Martial Artists.’

’Every team has at least a few at the Peak of Neutralizing Force.’

’How long has it been?!’

’The last time I saw him, he had just reached Dark Force.’

’And now, he’s already at the Peak of Neutralizing Force?’

’Is this what Shen Ye called "Lower Grade Root Bone" talent?’

’Who with a Lower Grade Root Bone could break through to the Peak of Neutralizing Force in such a short time?!’

"You... What’s your cultivation level?" Although she had already accepted it in her heart, Baili Yanran still found it hard to believe.

"I just recently reached the Peak of Neutralizing Force."

Fang Xing replied.

Baili Yanran: "..."

"That damned Shen Ye... he actually hid this from me..." Baili Yanran gritted her teeth, her cheeks puffed with anger.

Lower Grade Root Bone.

Lower Grade Root Bone, my ass.

Shen Ye definitely hid the truth.

If I had known, I should have tried to snatch him up back then.

Seeing Baili Yanran’s dark, pouting face, Fang Xing was taken aback. "...Lord Baili, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing. Cramps," Baili Yanran snorted coldly.

Fang Xing: "..."

Xu Ziye: "..."

Seeing her expression, both men winced internally.

"Ahem... Well, you two, I’ll be taking my leave now." With a cough, Fang Xing tossed out the words and left.

"Hmph... That damned Shen Ye, he actually tricked me!"

Watching Fang Xing leave, Baili Yanran let out a dissatisfied snort.

Hearing Baili Yanran’s grumbling, Xu Ziye looked surprised. "Yanran, what’s going on?"

"What do you think of him?"

Baili Yanran asked in return.

Xu Ziye glanced in the direction Fang Xing had disappeared, pondering for a moment. "I can’t say for sure, but his vital energy is astounding, and his aura is very powerful. He feels a bit stronger than a typical expert at the Peak of Neutralizing Force. But for a Vice Commander to be a little stronger than average is normal. What’s the problem?"

"Do you know what his cultivation was half a year ago?" Baili Yanran asked.

Xu Ziye: "?"

"What was it?"

"Peak of Dark Force," Baili Yanran said.

"What?"

Hearing her words, Xu Ziye couldn’t help but be startled.

Going from the Peak of Dark Force to the Peak of Neutralizing Force in half a year... that kind of talent made one a genius among geniuses, even in the Observatory.

Even an outstanding Official Captain who could reach the Peak of Neutralizing Force within a year would already be considered a genius.

To cross a major realm in half a year—such talent was truly extraordinary.

"No wonder he became a Vice Commander as soon as he joined..."

Hearing Baili Yanran’s explanation, Xu Ziye instantly understood.

Talent like that was indeed astonishing enough.

His chances of stepping into the True Qi Realm in the future were extremely high!

Xu Ziye came to his senses and looked at Baili Yanran. "He’s a genius, that’s all. It’s not that unusual. Why are you so worked up?"

Baili Yanran stared for a moment, sighed, and then stepped into the Merit Hall.