Zhang Qingshan spoke with a tone of exasperation, as if frustrated by someone's failure to meet expectations:

"When you first came up from the Third Circle, injured, being a frontline investigator was definitely unsuitable for you. I saw that you were a veteran investigator who had helped stabilize the Third Circle's situation, so I made an exception and selected you for the First Department, and your treatment was even higher than that of a regular review officer?"

"Do you think it was because you had talent!?"

"No!!!"

"That was because I respected you at the time!!"

"I thought you were a veteran investigator who had made many contributions to the Great Han."

"And now, you turn around and trip up another veteran investigator who has devoted his entire life to serving the Great Han!?"

"How can you have the nerve?"

Zhang Qingshan pointed at him while scolding: "You yourself enjoyed the conveniences of this position, and then you turn around and use the higher status you gained after enjoying those conveniences to make things difficult for another veteran investigator just like you."

"I must have been blind back then to have taken a liking to you!!"

"The First Department emphasizes fairness the most, yet we ended up with a rotten apple like you."

Zhang Qingshan slapped his own face, making loud *pa pa* sounds: "I feel utterly ashamed!!!"

With that, he called over a Review Office staff member.

"Take him away, bandage him up and treat his injuries. Notify everyone: those who can come, go to the main hall; those who can't, join the video conference. I'm holding a main hall review session, using him as a typical case!!"

Although the overall tone of the Review Office is to supervise investigators—to put it bluntly, strictly speaking, it's about finding investigators' loopholes.

But in the First Department.

The management philosophy of Zhang Qingshan, the head of the First Department, has always been:

If the target of the mistake is an investigator who has shed blood and sweat for the Great Han, who has served the people with merit, and if their mistake is not severe.

Turning a blind eye is acceptable.

After all, the law is not above human sentiment.

Zhang Qingshan's deceased father was a veteran investigator, and his stepfather, who later treated him very well, was also an investigator who had earned merit for the Great Han multiple times.

Although he later sacrificed his life as well.

But during the process of his sacrifice, he made a minor mistake.

Under normal circumstances, whether Zhang Qingshan's stepfather could receive the title of martyr was uncertain.

But the head of the First Department at the time chose to turn a blind eye, which allowed Zhang Qingshan's stepfather to receive the title of martyr.

It was from that moment that Zhang Qingshan developed the dream of joining the Review Office.

Even now, he still maintains the same work attitude as that former head of the First Department.

The law is not above human sentiment.

....

At this moment.

Outside the main gate of the First Department.

Lu Ding thanked Xue Kai: "Thank you for today's matter."

Xue Kai smiled: "So, do you want me to thank you for letting me off the hook before?"

Lu Ding: "That's not really what I meant."

Xue Kai started walking towards the direction of the Fourth Department: "Then don't say thank you, it's too formal."

"Call me if anything comes up. I'm heading back to work now. We'll see each other next time."

"Alright, take care. See you next time."

Fu Xinghe, who had been beside them, witnessed everything from beginning to end. Now it was just him and Lu Ding left.

Fu Xinghe spoke up: "I never expected that these two department heads would both be such passionate, principled people."

Lu Ding nodded: "That's why the saying 'the King of Hell is easy to deal with, but his little devils are troublesome' has been passed down."

"People at the bottom, we're all at the bottom, there's no need to make things difficult for each other. Most people at the top climbed up from the bottom, so they can empathize. It's only those stuck in the middle, neither high nor low, who cause the most trouble."

"Let's go, head back first. Later, you go organize the things we need to bring back to the new city. I'm going into seclusion. Once I come out, we'll set off back to the new city."

Having followed Lu Ding for so long, Fu Xinghe should have already developed strong nerves by now.

But hearing Lu Ding say he was going into seclusion again.

Fu Xinghe still couldn't help but look at Lu Ding in shock: "Brother Lu, are you about to break through again?"

Lu Ding waved his hand: "A small breakthrough, a small one. Mainly, the conditions are right now."

He had so many contribution points; he couldn't just let them sit there. They don't earn interest. Money is a bastard, you spend it and you can earn more.

Must spend!!!

He wanted to properly taste the flavor of these Second Circle rare natural treasures.

Fu Xinghe was already numb.

How is breaking through in cultivation so easy for Brother Lu?

One realm a day.

With your cultivation speed like this, how are others supposed to keep living?

A sense of urgency spread through Fu Xinghe's heart.

He needed to cultivate faster.

Otherwise, forget keeping up with Lu Ding's pace, he at least needed to see his back, right?

Otherwise, how could he provide good support?

Suddenly, Fu Xinghe felt that having a competitor like Yan Feifan was actually quite good.

At least the two of them could take shifts.

One person assists Brother Lu, while the other seizes the time to cultivate.

An Ning could also handle some matters within their jurisdiction.

Pretty good.

Otherwise, relying on just one person, he truly couldn't even see Lu Ding's back.

With the three of them dividing the work and cooperating.

Only then could Fu Xinghe say there was a glimmer of hope, a chance to see the path ahead.

At the moment.

The two of them split up to take action.

Fu Xinghe went to take inventory of things and, while he was at it, went to complete the procedures for his cheap master, Old Long, to accompany them to the new city.

Lu Ding, meanwhile, booked a private room in the secluded cultivation chamber.

He sat down on the sofa, opened the 749 internal APP, logged into his account.

Time to shop!

Got money!

Must spend!!!!!!

As soon as the page loaded, Lu Ding's eyes were dazzled.

【Tai Ming Jade Ginseng, ranked 16th among Earth Treasures】

【Price: 15,000 contribution points】

【Effect: Roam the Tai Ming Jade Complete Heaven, absorb immortal mist, intake immortal energy, witness the immortal realm, achieving clarity of one's original mind】

"Tai Ming Jade Complete Heaven, isn't that one of the Thirty-Six Heavens?"

Lu Ding thought for a moment.

Got money, bought it, let's taste how salty or bland it is, see what's up with this thing!!!

Continued scrolling down.

【Invite Immortal Tea, ranked 8th among Earth Treasures】

【Price: 27,000】

【Effect: Invite an immortal to savor tea, receive energy from the east, permeate energy in all eight directions】

"Invite an immortal to drink tea?"

"Kind of interesting."

Got money, bought it, let's taste how salty or bland it is, see what's up with this thing!!!

Finally, Lu Ding still had quite a bit left in his balance.

Now the baseline was sufficient.

He absolutely had to check out the higher-end stuff.

As a result, after flipping just a few pages, Lu Ding saw an old acquaintance.

【Ascending Mist White, also known as Hundred-Thousand-Year White, ranked 3rd among Earth Treasures】

【Price: 40,000】

【Effect: Ascend with the mist, greeted by the heavenly path, glimpse the myriad stars, absorb the energy of the vast sky】

Lu Ding: .......

"Playing nesting dolls here!?"

"Thousand-Year White, Ten-Thousand-Year White, and now Ascending Mist White. A big radish can have so many names, that's really something."

But since it's an old acquaintance.

It's just munching on a radish, right?

Lu Ding had munched on quite a few.

Got money, bought it, must taste how salty or bland it is, see what's up with this thing!!!

Alright.

With the successful payment, all the contribution points Lu Ding had accumulated, including those from this diplomatic mission to Great Jing, were cleared out.

His account still had some change left, a four-digit amount.

Although not enough for his own use, once Elder Deng comes up, it's completely enough to feed Elder Deng until he becomes a chubby old man, and there might even be leftovers.

While the rare natural treasures were on their way.

Lu Ding silently made plans in his heart for this breakthrough operation.

"At least I can break through from One Petal Bloom to Four Petals Bloom, God Ascension Fourth Layer, maybe even strive for higher!"

Breaking through at least three minor realms in one day, what kind of concept is that!?

A feeling of flying.

An ordinary person, even using this many rare natural treasures, couldn't achieve what Lu Ding does.

But Lu Ding is no ordinary person.

Because he never turns it off!!!

Lu Ding raised his hand and formed a seal, beginning to regulate his own state. It was like washing hands before a meal, unbuckling his belt—preparing to eat in the best possible condition!!!

This one, this one, and this one.

【Heaven-Man Unity】【Guarding Hai, Condensing Truth】【Refine Essence into Energy】 and 【Golden Ao Island】 ready to provide support at any time, activate activate activate!!!!

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