Chapter 455: Chapter 377: Requirements for Direct Promotion to Official Fifth Grade!

"County Magistrate Su, the Spirit Beast Meat of our Dragon City County has recently been in short supply due to your massive procurement."

"I suppose this batch of Spirit Beast Meat must have been used for very important matters."

"As for the specific use, please report it thoroughly to Transport Envoy Fan without any omissions."

Patriarch Lin, Lin Yonghua, spoke with a smile, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

A group of constables behind Su Yuan glared at Lin Yonghua with anger.

By this point, everyone understood who had brought the Vice Transport Envoy and who had leaked the secret of the soaring county government office’s meal expenses!

At the same time, they also felt a strong sense of concern for their superior’s predicament.

They worried both about County Magistrate Su being held accountable by higher-ups and about themselves being punished and losing the large bonuses they had received before.

However, Su Yuan’s answer that followed shocked all the county magistrates and constables.

They heard Su Yuan say decisively:

"Indeed, the county government office has recently procured one hundred thousand jin of Spirit Beast Meat."

"Where did this batch of meat go?"

Transport Envoy Fan asked with a smile that hid his anger.

Su Yuan: "I ate it all."

These words left the county magistrates and constables with tears in their eyes!

County Magistrate Su... To protect us from punishment, he shouldered all the responsibility.

Having served here for so many years, almost every county magistrate and constable understood one principle.

—The credit of the subordinates belongs to the superior, and the superior’s guilt must be borne by the subordinates!

As a result, County Magistrate Su was willing to bear all to protect us!

At this moment, they felt as if standing before them was not an Immortal Official but a scorching and bright sun that brought tears to their eyes.

However, just as the county magistrates and constables were moved, Lin Yonghua laughed directly:

"County Magistrate Su, you sure know how to talk big without thinking —that’s one hundred thousand jin of Spirit Beast Meat, one jin of meat is worth ten jin of common meat!"

"Not to mention you’re just at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage; even if you were Master Golden Core, how could you digest so much meat in ten days? Do you think you’re the reincarnation of a Taotie?"

He turned to look at Transport Envoy Fan:

"Lord Fan, you see, this person Su Youlin is full of deceptive words, disregarding immortal rules and laws, a disgrace among Immortal Officials!"

"Such an Immortal Official should be thoroughly investigated, in my humble opinion!"

With that said, Lin Yonghua no longer spoke, simply waiting quietly for Lord Fan’s judgment of Su Youlin.

In his eagerly anticipated wait, Lord Fan finally spoke.

However, the words were not directed at Su Yuan but at him.

"Young Lin, what nonsense are you babbling about? Isn’t eating one hundred thousand jin of Spirit Beast Meat in ten days quite normal?"

Transport Envoy Fan squinted his cold triangular eyes and turned his head to Lin Yonghua:

"As it is often said, having a good appetite is a blessing. County Magistrate Su is so hearty, and yet you don’t congratulate, and even make wild guesses —what’s your motive?"

"Ah! Ah?"

Lin Yonghua almost couldn’t react until Lord Fan finished speaking, his smile froze, and his mouth gradually opened wide.

"A mere commoner dares to rashly discuss official business, someone come, drag him out for a mouth-beating!"

Transport Envoy Fan’s tone suddenly turned cold.

In the next second, two Warriors at Foundation Establishment Peak appeared behind him, one on either side, grabbing Lin Yonghua’s arms, and dragged him out with a bewildered look on his face.

As a Golden Core Cultivator, he could easily break free, but evidently, he dared not.

Shortly after being dragged out, the sound of heavy blows hitting flesh echoed through the county government office.

Ying Ding, Qi Junxiang, Chief Clerk Liu, and all constables stood dumbfounded, almost unable to believe their eyes.

The next moment, something even more shocking occurred.

Just after unleashing a thunderous fury, Lord Fan suddenly changed from stormy to sunny, kindly looking at Su Yuan, and approached him voluntarily, saying:

"Su Xiaoyou, I knew early on you were being plotted against by certain small-time villains, so I came specifically to clear your name."

"How do you feel? Still aggrieved, little friend?"

Su Yuan replied with a faint smile:

"I am the paternal official of Dragon City County; for a son’s mistake, a minor punishment is enough, how could I be angry?"

Transport Envoy Fan nodded with satisfaction:

"Indeed, heroism emerges in youth. For a young Immortal Official of your age, few have your level of awareness."

Qi Junxiang and the others, listening to this dialogue, couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of their mouths.

Comparing the Master Golden Core Lin Yonghua to a son?

This was more insulting than directly beating the person.

[Host, in order not to be exposed for many evil deeds, colluded with partisan, framed loyal officials, the way of the treacherous minister has been grasped by you in essence.]

[Number of times rules broken +2]

Su Yuan glanced at the task progress.

Hmm, the task progress bar has already exceeded two-thirds.

Transport Envoy Fan shook hands with Su Yuan, laughingly said:

"We truly have met too late! The meals at Drunken Immortal Tower are famous throughout Shengyang Mansion; shall we have a drink together?"

Su Yuan responded understandingly:

"Since Lord Fan has traveled far, I will host, and we won’t leave until we’re drunk." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

As they spoke, the figures of the two gradually moved further away.

Behind them, County Magistrate Ying Ding revealed a contemplative expression.

Taking into account Su Youlin’s extraordinary performance in the Immortal Official examination and his unimaginable background, he quickly understood the cause and effect of the situation.

Perhaps it was an Immortal Official dressed in purple and gold, who had spoken to Transport Envoy Fan Zhiyun.

He vaguely remembered that the chief examiner of this year’s Immortal Official exam was also from the East Continent.

Ying Ding guessed correctly; Lin Yonghua had sent a message to the East Continent Vice Transport Envoy, reporting Su Yuan’s situation, which had been intercepted early on by the force under the command of that chief examiner in purple robes.

In addition to greeting Transport Envoy Fan Zhiyun, they also informed Su Yuan of the whole story.

In the most exclusive private room of the Drunken Immortal Tower, Su Yuan and Lord Fan sat down as host and guest.

Regarding the mediation role played by the chief examiner in purple robes, both reached a tacit understanding not to bring it up openly, merely eating and drinking, as if they were familiar uncle and nephew who hadn’t seen each other for years.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Transport Envoy Fan Zhiyun casually remarked:

"Nephew Su, I heard your ambition is to become a Fourth Grade official. How do you plan for the future?"

Upon hearing this, Su Yuan’s spirit also lifted.

He was not surprised by this question, as this was the purpose of Lord Fan’s visit.

If he didn’t want to help Lin Yonghua, he could have simply refused outright; there was no need to put on such a show.

Lord Fan’s purposes here had already been mentioned by the purple-robed official named Tao through a messenger, which was to assess the value of Su Yuan, supposedly a person with an extraordinary background.

If he had sufficient value, as one of the rulers of the East Continent, his help to Su Yuan would far exceed that of Lord Tao at the Central Hub.

Put simply, this was an interview by Lord Fan for Su Yuan.

"Uncle Fan, my goal is straightforward."

Su Yuan unabashedly revealed his ambition, saying in a deep voice:

"I aim to leap multiple levels within a year, to be promoted to a genuine Fifth Grade official, then consolidate myself and directly ascend to Junior Fourth Grade, gaining the opportunity to ascend to the Immortal Realm!"

"Oh? Nephew, your ambition is greater than I imagined!"

Transport Envoy Fan was slightly taken aback.

Leaping four levels in a year, directly reaching Fifth Grade?

Even the offspring of Nascent Soul True Monarchs, who stand high in the halls of power, do not dare set their sights this high!

Transport Envoy Fan pondered for a moment before slowly saying:

"Nephew, our Celestial Law Court has a rigorous yet free promotion system."

"Rigor lies in the strict assessment standards for each Immortal Official’s promotion, freedom in the fact that, as long as you make sufficient contributions, jumping several levels within a year is not a strange occurrence."

Su Yuan responded immediately:

"As long as Uncle Fan tells me a specific standard, I think with my capabilities, meeting all requirements within a certain time frame should not be an issue."

Lord Fan was highly pleased with Su Yuan’s attitude and thought for a while before saying:

"Let me summarize for you; there are roughly three criteria for direct promotion to Fifth Grade."

"First: Make indisputable meritorious achievements."

"The plan you’ve been considering to exterminate pirates is a very good choice. As long as you can take down one or two pirate groups with Golden Core powerhouses, protect the land and people, the merits should be enough."

Su Yuan nodded slightly, this was not unexpected.

"Second: Achieve a popularity rate of over eighty percent among your governed people."

"This criterion is the easiest; you simply have someone print a pile of questionnaires, have the citizens filling them all choose ’very satisfied.’ With me covering for you, no one will dare report you."

Su Yuan’s mouth twitched, recalling some rather unpleasant memories from his past life.

"Third: Prepare three million Spirit Coins."

"This criterion is also the hardest... even heroes can be stumped by money!"

Su Yuan rolled his eyes, once again deeply appreciating the unique promotion method of the Celestial Law World.

Finally, Lord Fan said with a slightly solemn tone:

"Once you gather merits, public support, and wealth, these three advancement conditions, you can submit the extermination report, the public satisfaction surveys, and the three million Spirit Coins to me, and I will operate on your behalf."

Su Yuan: "..."

Alright, alright, after laying the groundwork for so long, this is where it catches me, right!

Submitting these things to you, who knows how much you’d skim off the top; estimating a thirty percent cut is still considered decent!

Su Yuan understood why this Old Deng named Fan ran all this way to see him, clearly it was for resource exchange, to grab a wave of benefits.

However, despite being speechless, all of this was within Su Yuan’s expectations.

After a brief contemplation, he seriously answered:

"These three promotion standards, although I can rapidly achieve them relying on the forces behind me, I believe I can accomplish them independently as well; it will be both a trial and a test for me."

Upon hearing this, Lord Fan did not suspect anything, as many great noble families cultivate their younger generation this way.

He curiously asked:

"The first two criteria I won’t mention, how do you plan to gather the three million Spirit Coins?"

Su Yuan smiled slightly, saying:

"Naturally, by leveraging the forces within Dragon City County."

Lord Fan said in surprise:

"By collecting taxes? But the taxes in Dragon City have already been levied for a hundred years ahead."

Su Yuan shook his head laughing, saying:

"What is there to squeeze from the pockets of the people?"

"My idea is simple — whoever has money, I’ll raise funds from them!"