The Nancheng Suppression Office was extremely efficient; a few days after Chen Ping'an received his appointment notice, a promotion ceremony was held.
In addition to Chen Ping'an, many other promoted personnel were also awarded and registered at this ceremony.
The core high-level promotions this time primarily involved two individuals. One was a Deputy Total Affairs Office transferred from another urban area, and the other was Chen Ping'an.
The other individual, it must be said, had served as a Total Affairs Office Candidate in another urban area for a long time, and his cultivation had already entered the Inner Qi Realm. Coupled with some maneuvering, his transfer to Deputy Total Affairs Office was perfectly legitimate.
Conversely, Chen Ping'an's promotion to Total Affairs Office Candidate sparked much speculation.
He was first transferred from Nanquan Lane to serve as the warden of Nancheng Prison, and before his seat was even warm, he was directly promoted to Total Affairs Office Candidate. In just a few months, he had crossed a chasm that others found difficult to overcome.
The most crucial point was that Chen Ping'an's martial arts cultivation had not yet entered the Inner Qi Realm.
But no matter what others thought, Chen Ping'an's promotion was already set in stone.
He received a heavy Total Affairs Office Candidate waist token, two sets of custom-made fish-scale uniforms for the Total Affairs Office level, and two custom-made cloaks. Additionally, there was an exclusive saber of the sharp blade level.
However, Chen Ping'an was already accustomed to using his hundred pattern blade, and since the quality of both was similar, he exchanged this saber for a sharp blade level longsword.
Besides this, with his level increasing, the Zhenfu Division Treasury's access permissions for him also improved. Unfortunately, he had been there for a short time and had accumulated limited merits, so he couldn't exchange them for anything truly valuable.
After being promoted to Total Affairs Office Candidate, Chen Ping'an still oversaw Nancheng Prison. However, his authority and power were far beyond what they once were. In terms of rank, excluding the Internal Energy offerings not within the Zhenfu Division system, he ranked fifth in the Nancheng Suppression Office, being the first person in the Qi Blood Realm!
The Chief Warrant Officer, Deputy Total Affairs Office, and two Directors, followed by him, the Total Affairs Office Candidate.
Supervisors of the nine Errand Offices and similar positions were all beneath him.
Of course, this was only in name; in substance, apart from Nancheng Prison, Chen Ping'an did not have any Errand Offices or organizations that he could directly manage.
This was also good; he was happy to be at leisure.
In the following days, he diligently practiced Swift Wind Saber Technique and Eight Steps Catching Cicadas. The progress of these two martial arts steadily improved daily.
At the same time, he gradually added the martial arts he needed to cultivate next to his schedule.
For this, he specifically went to the Ruyi Treasure Pavilion in the Inner City again, and after careful selection, he settled on a swordplay and a palm technique.
Flying Star Swordplay! Great Vajra Palm!
With his Golden Finger panel, he wasn't worried about biting off more than he could chew. As long as the Cultivation Technique was suitable, he would practice it.
The reason for these two Cultivation Techniques was Chen Ping'an's own consideration.
He had basically determined that his future path would be a practical and fierce combat style. But fierceness aside, it didn't mean he had to appear clumsy.
With Eight Steps Catching Cicadas as his foundation for lightness skill, combined with a nimble and swift swordplay, there would be a qualitative change.
Flying Star Swordplay!
Its speed was like a meteor, making it impossible for people to dodge. However, from the power after Perfection, it was even superior to Swift Wind Saber Technique. It belonged to the most top-tier advanced Cultivation Techniques.
And the Great Vajra Palm followed a truly fierce and direct route. One palm strike would be devastating. Combined with Chen Ping'an's internal and external Golden Bell Cover, the two complemented each other perfectly.
These two Cultivation Techniques were extremely expensive, far exceeding the value of ordinary advanced Cultivation Techniques. The combined value of the two Cultivation Techniques actually required ten thousand taels of silver.
With Chen Ping'an's current wealth, this wasn't too big of a problem; he could accumulate enough silver after some time.
However, given his current situation, he couldn't just legitimately produce this amount of silver.
Therefore, Chen Ping'an planned that once he had enough silver, he would change his appearance and, under another identity, visit the Ruyi Treasure Pavilion to purchase these two Cultivation Techniques.
Currently, the silver was not enough, and with Swift Wind Saber Technique and Eight Steps Catching Cicadas not yet at Perfection, Chen Ping'an wasn't particularly anxious.
Chen Ping'an lived such a stable life for nearly half a month. During a daily meeting, Chen Ping'an heard something from Mu Wanjun. This matter also spread rapidly within the Zhenfu Division system.
The Deputy Commander of Baishi City Garrison Command died mysteriously at home! It was suspected that the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was behind it.
The Ten Thousand Demons Sect again?
Chen Ping'an's heart tightened.
Baishi City was a small city under the jurisdiction of Weishui County.
Within the city's Zhenfu Division system, the Deputy Commander was truly the second-in-command, already a formidable figure.
But for such a formidable figure to die mysteriously at home was truly incredible.
Was the Ten Thousand Demons Sect going to cause trouble again?
Not only did Chen Ping'an think this, but many people within the Outer Town Envoyship also thought the same.
It was said that when this incident occurred, the Commander of the Outer Town Envoyship was extremely enraged, and even the Inner City Zhenfu Division above was alarmed.
Baishi City was, after all, a small city. Even the Deputy Commander of the city's Zhenfu Division was essentially at the level of a Deputy Total Affairs Office. The reason this incident caused such a stir, even attracting the attention of the County City's Inner City Zhenfu Division, was primarily two-fold.
Firstly, a formidable figure dying mysteriously at home was a huge provocation to the entire Zhenfu Division.
Secondly, although Baishi City was just a small city, its location was special, being close to the Azure Dragon Mountain Range in the Wei River section.
Thinking of this, Chen Ping'an slightly narrowed his eyes.
"Azure Dragon Mountain Range!"
The treasure map he held indicated that the treasure's location, when compared to the map's contours, was in the Azure Dragon Mountain Range within the Wei River section!
Against the backdrop of the Long'an Trade Route's establishment, Baishi City was one of the few small cities under Weishui County's jurisdiction most adjacent to the Azure Dragon Mountain Range. The suspected involvement of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect in the death of its Deputy Commander made it hard not to imagine things.
Chen Ping'an had occasionally heard about the Long'an Trade Route.
South of the Azure Dragon Mountain Range was precisely the territory of Qingling Prefecture. The Long'an Trade Route was an attempt to open a safe and sustainable trade route through the Azure Dragon Mountain Range.
It had been over ten years since the concept of the Long'an Trade Route was proposed. Currently, the development of the Long'an Trade Route was nearing completion.
If the Long'an Trade Route was successfully opened and put into use, the trade costs between Canglong Prefecture and Qingling Prefecture would be greatly reduced, and trade exchanges would become increasingly frequent, leading to a boom in commerce.
If the Long'an Trade Route could be opened and operated, involving trade between prefectures, the profits contained within would be simply unimaginable.
At that time, Weishui County, being near the Long'an Trade Route, would also benefit from it.
The Long'an Trade Route concerned the interests of all sizes within Weishui County, so all related matters naturally held the highest priority.
Besides the Zhenfu Division, even the aristocratic families in the Inner City would likely maintain continuous attention to this matter.
Of course, Chen Ping'an only had a basic understanding of the Long'an Trade Route. After all, this matter was too far removed from him.
Even if he entered the Inner Qi Third Level, he still wouldn't be involved in the Long'an Trade Route. The overall will of Weishui County could only get a share of the Long'an Trade Route, not achieve absolute control.
The Long'an Trade Route was complex, with countless forces vying behind the scenes. Even the high and mighty central government of Canglong Prefecture paid close attention to the Long'an Trade Route.
"Ping'an, are you free tomorrow? Let's find a place to drink tea and have a taste."
Mu Wanjun invited with a smile.
Hmm?
Chen Ping'an's heart tightened, recalling what Mu Wanjun had said earlier.
Was she going to start matchmaking?