Inside the Jingwu Bureau, Chen Sheng sat quietly in his Government Office, holding a thin booklet. Its pages were a faded, dark yellow, and on the cover, four archaic words were written in a dark red ink.

Blood Slaughter Floating Light Body.

This was the prize he had recovered from the corpse of the Blood River Sect’s Profound Gang expert—a top-tier, secret Body Technique of the Blood River Sect.

As Chen Sheng carefully leafed through it, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes from time to time. The manual not only recorded the cultivation essentials for the "Blood Slaughter Floating Light Body" but also included a Secret Technique called "Blood Shadow Escape." In a critical moment, one could burn their own qi and blood to instantly gain an explosive burst of speed. It was truly a Supreme Skill for preserving one’s life and breaking through encirclements.

Of course, the price for using this technique was steep. After execution, one’s qi and blood would be severely depleted, requiring a great deal of time and careful recuperation.

After reading the entire manual, Chen Sheng was extremely satisfied with this Body Technique.

According to the manual, at Minor Achievement, one’s movement speed would double. If one could cultivate it to Great Success, the speed would triple. And if by some chance one reached the Perfection realm, their speed would be more than three times their normal state.

’And if I supplement that with the Blood Shadow Escape Secret Technique...’ Chen Sheng was confident that at that point, forget Martial Masters of the same rank, even an existence one realm higher in Cultivation wouldn’t be able to dream of matching his speed.

However, this Cultivation Technique also had strict limitations.

The Blood Slaughter Floating Light Body, as its name implied, required Blood Evil Power as a catalyst. If one’s foundation had not reached the Earth Fiend realm, they would be unable to draw upon Innate Evil Qi, making it impossible to even get started.

But Chen Sheng wasn’t worried about this. His Cultivation was already at the peak of the Chaoyuan realm, and he was just one step away from condensing an Earth Fiend. For him, the Earth Fiend realm was not a distant dream.

It was the second piece of loot found along with the Body Technique that Chen Sheng found somewhat baffling.

It was a strange Token, made of a material that was neither gold nor jade. It was cool to the touch, its composition unknown, and it was engraved with twisted, indecipherable patterns. He had turned it over and over, infused it with True Qi, and tried various other methods, but all his attempts were like a stone sinking into the ocean; there was no reaction at all.

But since the "Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil" Celestial Book in his mind had clearly indicated this item would be of great use in the future, Chen Sheng carefully put it away, waiting for the right opportunity to arise.

"Sir, Vice Envoy Sun has returned to the Jingwu Bureau."

Yan Ming’s voice came from outside the door, interrupting his thoughts.

"Understood."

Chen Sheng responded, carefully put the two items away, straightened the Jingwu Bureau official robes he was wearing, took a deep breath, and strode out, heading straight for Sun Yuzhi’s Government Office.

When he had returned earlier, Sun Yuzhi had not yet been back. Now that she had returned, it was time to collect his promised reward—the Blood Spirit Jade Marrow. At this thought, Chen Sheng’s steps couldn’t help but quicken.

...

After being announced by the guards, Chen Sheng stepped into Sun Yuzhi’s Government Office.

However, the sight before him made him pause for a moment.

Governor Sun, who in his memory was almost never seen out of her official robes, had now changed out of her stately uniform and was wearing a long, azure dress with a water-ripple pattern.

She stood sideways by the window, the well-fitted dress perfectly outlining the curves of her full, graceful figure. She had shed some of her usual sternness, replaced by a rare, gentle beauty.

At this moment, she was looking down, gazing at a small Jade Puppet in her hand, her eyes distant as if lost in some memory.

Chen Sheng didn’t make a sound to disturb her, standing quietly to one side, but his gaze was involuntarily drawn to Sun Yuzhi.

’I have to admit,’ he thought, ’this sudden change of attire is truly a refreshing sight. It even makes her entire demeanor seem much softer, as if she were a completely different person from the usual decisive and ruthless Governor.’

"What are you looking at?"

Suddenly, a clear, cold voice broke the silence in the room.

Sun Yuzhi had come back to her senses. She glanced at Chen Sheng, her elegant brows furrowing slightly.

"I am looking at Governor Sun," Chen Sheng replied.

His expression didn’t change as he answered frankly.

The corner of Sun Yuzhi’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. She clearly hadn’t expected Chen Sheng to be so direct, answering exactly what was asked without any attempt at pretense.

’If any other man had dared to stare at her so openly, she would have already disciplined him.’

But Chen Sheng was competent, had repeatedly rendered meritorious service, and possessed a character and methods she admired. As such, she couldn’t muster much anger, merely feeling that the situation was somewhat... strange.

"I’m past my prime. What’s there to look at?"

For some reason, as if moved by a strange impulse, Sun Yuzhi found herself saying this.

"The Governor is at the age when a woman’s charm is at its peak. How could you be considered old?"

Chen Sheng’s tone was sincere, his gaze clear. "To be precise, you have a richer charm now. It’s a rare and captivating sight."

Hearing this, Sun Yuzhi’s gaze froze. It rested on Chen Sheng’s face for a moment before she abruptly turned away, no longer looking at him. Subconsciously, a faint trace of regret bloomed in her heart.

’What I just said... it was hardly appropriate for a superior to say to a subordinate. We’re not even friends.’

After a moment’s reflection, she suppressed the strange feeling in her heart. Sun Yuzhi raised her hand, took an exquisite jade box from her sleeve, and tossed it to Chen Sheng without looking, steering the conversation back to business:

"Since the job is done, this is the Blood Spirit Jade Marrow I promised you."

The jade box was smooth and warm in his hand, yet carried a faint, almost imperceptible coolness.

Chen Sheng caught it, opened a small crack to confirm its contents, and then solemnly put it away.

"Many thanks, Governor!"

’With the Blood Spirit Jade Marrow in hand,’ he thought, ’the greatest obstacle to visiting the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool and collecting the Profound Yin Blood Fiend has been removed.’

All that remained was to smelt and fuse the "Profound Yin Blood Fiend" with his existing "Red Lotus Evil Qi." Once done, he would form the Nine Nether Yin Fiend—a top-tier Evil Qi ranked twenty-sixth on the Earth Fiend list.

"After the battle at the Iron Sword Sect, the fact that you cultivate the Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique is no longer a secret."