Chapter 13: On Duty at the Spirit Field Bureau!

“Senior Brother! Disaster, disaster! Yesterday I only thought about drinking with you, and forgot to hand in the mission!”

A night without dreams. Yang Yu woke early the next morning.

Seeing Lu Qingyang still sound asleep beside him, he couldn't help but jump up and run toward the courtyard gate.

But when he reached the gate, he was blocked by a spiritual mechanism...

"Shua!"

Lu Qingyang rubbed his eyes, waved his identity jade token, dispelled the restriction, and let Yang Yu leave.

"Goodbye, Senior Brother. When I get promoted to the Outer Gate in the future, I'll come find you again!"

As he hurried down the mountain toward the Menial Bureau, the departing Yang Yu straightened his robes.

Lu Qingyang watched Yang Yu's disappearing figure, a smile appearing on his face.

Junior Brother, live well.

He murmured in his heart, his eyes full of blessing.

Afterward, he waved his sleeve to tidy up the courtyard, then left his small residence.

Since yesterday, he had already been an Outer Gate disciple.

From now on, he no longer needed to labor every day, but he still had to earn contribution points himself.

So today, he planned to go to the Spirit Field Bureau on duty!

After all, the earlier he went on duty, the earlier he could get contribution points.

The Spirit Field Bureau was located halfway between the mountainside and the foot of the Chaotian Sect.

A massive wooden pavilion sat there, looking majestic and spectacular.

At the very top of the wooden pavilion, three golden characters were written: Spirit Field Bureau!

"Why hasn't the steward of the Spirit Rice Field arrived yet! Doesn't he know today is the sowing day?"

"The Medicine Hall's steward was apparently poached by the Spirit Pill Bureau. The Medicine Hall has been in complete chaos lately. Someone needs to go take a look!"

"Steward, sir, the Spirit Beast Bureau is holding up our fertilizer again. This is already the third time this month!"

"..."

The moment Lu Qingyang stepped into the main hall of the Spirit Field Bureau, he heard all kinds of complaints and discussions around him.

That's not right... Weren't they saying the Spirit Field Bureau was pretty relaxed?

Why is it so different from what I imagined?

Lu Qingyang stood somewhat dazed at the entrance.

He suddenly really wanted to go back and find that Vice Bureau Chief of the Menial Bureau.

He wanted to ask whether the conditions the man had promised still counted...

"Hey, which Junior Brother are you? Why are you blocking the entrance of my Spirit Field Bureau?"

"If you have no business here, please move aside quickly, would you?"

Just as Lu Qingyang was dazed, a familiar voice came from behind him.

When he stepped aside with an apologetic look, he discovered that the person behind him was none other than the Spirit Field Bureau steward who had measured his Spirit Field that day — Zhang Luanfeng!

"Senior Brother Zhang!"

Seeing who it was, Lu Qingyang quickly bowed and greeted him.

"Huh, it's you!"

"You actually got promoted to the Outer Gate so quickly!"

Looking at Lu Qingyang in his white robe, and his cultivation already at mid-stage Qi Refining, Zhang Luanfeng was also extremely surprised.

He had thought Lu Qingyang might come find him after being promoted to the Outer Gate.

But he had never imagined Lu Qingyang would be promoted to the Outer Gate so quickly.

"I must thank you for your care, Senior Brother."

Lu Qingyang said respectfully.

"Haha, you can't blame me for this. Blame your own extraordinary talent. Without that, I would never have thought to take you into the Spirit Field Bureau."

Zhang Luanfeng waved his hand, not taking credit.

"Come, come, you came at just the right time today. A good thing happens to have fallen right onto you!"

Looking at Lu Qingyang's refined appearance, Zhang Luanfeng seemed to think of something.

He quickly pulled Lu Qingyang toward the upper floor of the Spirit Field Bureau.

"What exactly is the matter Senior Brother mentioned?"

Lu Qingyang was puzzled.

"Just follow me!"

Zhang Luanfeng brought Lu Qingyang to the third floor of the Spirit Field Bureau.

It was also the floor just below the highest one.

"When we go in later, watch my eyes and act accordingly. Don't say much. Just be respectful."

After the two stood before an intricately carved door, Zhang Luanfeng lowered his voice and said to Lu Qingyang.

Lu Qingyang nodded, his heart growing more puzzled.

It seemed he was about to meet a cultivator of an even higher rank than Zhang Luanfeng!

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Zhang Luanfeng reached out and knocked on the door.

A moment later, a hoarse voice came from inside. "Who is it?"

"Vice Director Sun, it's me, Zhang Luanfeng!"

Hearing that voice, Zhang Luanfeng revealed a respectful expression and quickly answered.

"Oh... come in!"

"Click..."

As the wooden door opened, Zhang Luanfeng led Lu Qingyang into the room.

"Hm?"

The moment he stepped inside, Lu Qingyang was astonished by the scene.

The room was incomparably empty. An old man in a green robe sat upright on a chair.

A pair of murky old eyes was fixed intently on the tender sprout of an unknown plant.

The sprout's leaves were extremely verdant, dripping with green, giving off a faint fragrance.

And within the leaves, there was actually a trace of thunder power.

Thunder-attribute spirit herb!

Lu Qingyang's pupils constricted sharply, his heart pounding!

His monstrous control over spiritual power allowed him to clearly sense the attribute of this spirit herb.

"Hm?"

The old man sitting on the chair slowly shifted his eyes, looking at the surprised Lu Qingyang behind Zhang Luanfeng.

"You have some insight after all."

The old man spoke slowly, his voice deep and hoarse.

"Steward Zhang, what business do you have with me, and who is this person? How come I've never seen him in the Bureau?"

Before Lu Qingyang could answer, the old man went back to fiddling with the spirit herb.

At the same time, he asked without even raising his head.

"He is a new disciple of the Spirit Field Bureau, named Lu Qingyang."

"He was just promoted to Outer Gate disciple not long ago."

Zhang Luanfeng quickly introduced.

"Hm?!"

The old man's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

"Why bring a newly promoted disciple to me?"

"What, don't tell me the people in your Spirit Rice Field are so idle that they like bringing people over to pay respects for no reason?"

"..."

Hearing this, cold sweat immediately broke out on Zhang Luanfeng's forehead.

"I dare not, this disciple dares not!"

"This disciple merely heard that because the Medicine Hall steward recently defected to the Spirit Pill Bureau, the Bureau couldn't find anyone to take over for a while, so..."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, the old man turned to look at Lu Qingyang, his eyes full of mockery.

"You mean this little fellow at the fourth level of Qi Refining, fresh off the boat, can take up the post of Medicine Hall steward of my Spirit Field Bureau?"

"What, do you really think there's no one in the Bureau?"

"This disciple dares not, this disciple absolutely has no such intention!"

Seeing this, Zhang Luanfeng quickly bowed, but still steeled himself and said.

"Vice Director, this person is not simple. Do you remember our Spirit Rice Field's record this year?"

"That record was set by him! And for the sake of the Spirit Field Bureau, this disciple specially recommended him up!"

At these words, the old man finally stopped fiddling with the spirit herb in his hand and began to seriously regard Lu Qingyang.

"The record of four hundred and twenty catties per mu was set by you?"

The old man slowly rose, looking at Lu Qingyang with burning eyes.

"Yes."

"You were born with an affinity for spirit plants?"

"No. This disciple merely cultivated the Minor Rain-Cloud Art to the advanced level."

"No wonder. It seems you do have some skill, but..."

The old man's tone shifted, a calm expression appearing on his face.

"But just this alone is not enough to take up the post of steward. It doesn't conform to the rules."

"You should know that within the Nine Bureaus, whether it's a steward of the Spirit Field Bureau or the Menial Bureau, or a Squad Leader of the Law Enforcement Bureau or the War Execution Bureau."

"Or a Chief Steward of the Spirit Pill or Spirit Artifact Bureaus... such mid-level posts all require late-stage Qi Refining to hold."

"And you... are not qualified enough."

Hearing this, Zhang Luanfeng also felt he had been a bit too hasty.

The Spirit Field Bureau governed three enterprises: the Medicine Hall, the Spirit Orchard, and the Spirit Rice Field.

Each of the three enterprises was managed by a steward, with a Director and Vice Director leading above them.

He had originally thought that if he took the post of Spirit Rice Field steward, and could rope in another steward, then after breaking through to Foundation Establishment in the future, he could contend for the position of Vice Director.

It just so happened that Lu Qingyang's appearance today sparked an idea in him!

If he could push Lu Qingyang into the post of Medicine Hall steward, the man would surely be deeply grateful in the future.

Then his position as Vice Director would be secure.

But it seemed he really had been too hasty...

However, just when Zhang Luanfeng thought his plan had fallen through, the old man's voice suddenly rang out again.

"However, since you can cultivate the Minor Rain-Cloud Art to the advanced level, then this Director will give you a chance to temporarily hold the post of Medicine Hall steward."

"As long as the Medicine Hall's output meets the standard at the next harvest, the steward position..."

"It's not impossible to make an exception."

Hearing this, Zhang Luanfeng was overjoyed.

As for Lu Qingyang, he was somewhat dazed...