The Region territory was still filled with the familiar wind and sand.
But for some reason, as Jiang Yuechu rode on her horse and looked at the gray-yellow city before her, her heart felt strangely settled.
Perhaps she was just used to it... Thinking this silently, she led her horse into the city.
Once inside the city, she didn't rush to the yamen; instead, she first returned to her own small courtyard.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, she saw that the jar of water she had stored long ago was murky, but she couldn't be bothered to change it; it could still be used after boiling.
Boiled water, bathed.
She changed into clean, refreshing black clothes and casually tied up her hair.
Jiang Yuechu sat in front of the mirror, looking at the cold, clear face reflected there, calculating silently in her heart.
The round trip had taken more than half a month.
Although she had only killed one White Flood Dragon, it was, after all, a great demon at the Perfection stage of Core Formation, granting her over 1,600 years of Dao Cultivation.
Moreover, she had thoroughly disgusted Baosha Temple, and with the added seven hundred years of Dao Cultivation, it wasn't a loss.
Having tidied up, she slowly left the house and headed towards the Dusi yamen... Longyou Commandery, Main Hall.
Wei He was hunched over his desk, clutching an official document that had just arrived, his brow furrowed, and his expression truly marvelous.
It seemed to be shock, yet also expectation, finally turning into a helpless, wry smile.
"Sir."
The familiar voice came from the doorway.
Wei He raised his head and looked at the young woman stepping through the door.
"You're back?"
"This subordinate is fortunate not to have failed the mission and has come specifically to report back."
Wei He scrutinized her from head to toe.
Her vitality was vigorous, and her spirit was complete and Qi abundant.
Not only was she intact, but her overall vitality and spirit were actually stronger than before she left.
"Your ability is quite impressive... Chasing down a Core Formation aquatic great demon and slaying it beneath the river... I'm curious, is your swimming ability really that good?"
Jiang Yuechu's expression remained unchanged.
"I know a little."
"..."
"Know a little?"
That was the White Flood Dragon Clan! A great swamp demon!
Could it be that its swimming ability wasn't as good as yours, a member of the Human Race?
Although he had long known the girl was strange, this display truly exceeded his expectations.
And the extravagant praise from General Bureau Inspector Envoy Gu Changge in his letter—"Heaven-sent genius," "pillar of the nation," "peerless in this generation"... made Wei He's teeth ache.
He straightened his face, trying hard to maintain the dignity of a superior.
"You have accomplished a great deed this time, not only stabilizing the demonic threat on the Qiang River but also assisting General Bureau."
"However..."
Wei He changed the subject, staring intently at her.
"Now that the White Flood Dragon is dead and you have no lingering worries, stay properly in the Region for this period and stop running around. You are a member of the Demon Suppression Division, not a Jianghu rogue."
Hearing this, Jiang Yuechu's eyes flickered slightly, and she guiltily looked away.
She had originally planned to mention ahead of time that she would be going to Prefecture soon.
But now didn't seem like a good time to speak.
Forget it.
She would wait until she had entered the Ink Dot Realm.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yuechu raised her head and nodded obediently.
"Yes."
She replied, managing to temporarily gloss over the matter.
Wei He glanced at her suspiciously.
Why did she look a little guilty?
But he didn't dwell on it.
As long as she was in the Dusi, right under his nose, no major catastrophe could possibly occur.
"Alright, you must be tired. Go back and rest. There are no major issues requiring your presence these next few days, so you don't need to clock in."
Wei He waved his hand, indicating she could leave.
Jiang Yuechu, however, showed no intention of leaving and suddenly asked, "Sir, I wanted to ask... about the Martial Temple."
Wei He's hand, which was reaching for his teacup, paused.
"You want to go to the Martial Temple to seek a Spiritual Seal?"
"Exactly."
Once one reaches the Core Formation Realm, if they wish to advance further and step into the legendary Ink Dot Realm, arduous Cultivation alone is insufficient.
One must enter the Martial Temple, gain the recognition of Heaven and Earth, and be granted a Spiritual Seal. Only with this foundation can one step into the Hall Ascent stage.
Wei He pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Your slaying of the Qiang River Dragon King this time, plus the merits you accumulated previously, although you exchanged for three martial arts techniques, the remainder is still enough to trade for one Opportunity to visit the Martial Temple."
Speaking of this, he changed his tone.
"However..."
Wei He looked up at Jiang Yuechu and said earnestly, "I do not recommend you go right now."
Jiang Yuechu frowned slightly: "Why?"
Wei He sighed, "Although anyone in the Core Formation Realm can enter, whether you can obtain a Spiritual Seal depends first on Opportunity and second on foundation."
"Although you have now entered Core Formation and your combat power is considerable, the time you've spent there is still short."
"If your foundation is insufficient and you rush in, you are highly likely to return empty-handed."
Wei He paused, then continued, "In my opinion, you should wait until you reach Core Formation Perfection, cultivating your Martial Dao Golden Core to its peak before attempting this. That way, your chances will be much greater."
"You are a promising talent, and I don't want you to waste this Opportunity."
Jiang Yuechu fell silent.
Core Formation Perfection, huh... She sensed her internal state. Having consumed the essence of that White Flood Dragon, she was actually only a final step away from Perfection.
"Thank you for the General's advice."
Jiang Yuechu clasped her fist, "However, This subordinate is already in the Late Core Formation Realm."
"Pfft—"
The mouthful of tea Wei He had just taken immediately sprayed out.
He didn't bother wiping the tea from his mustache, his eyes wide. "You... reached the Late stage?!"
Wait... He remembered that back at Yumen Pass, the girl had only just entered Core Formation, hadn't she?
Even if her talent was Prodigious, allowing her to step from Hearing the String into Core Formation in a short time... the Martial Dao inherently becomes harder the further one trains, and the difficulty of Cultivation doubles in the later stages.
It was acceptable that she Cultivated quickly through Hearing the String and Bone Resonance, as the difficulty of Cultivation was not on the same level as Core Formation. Given the girl's Prodigious talent, being faster than ordinary people was understandable and still within the scope of human comprehension.
But... but this was Core Formation!
Did you eat an Immortal Pill or something?!
Don't tell me you're going to maintain this speed through the four Hall Ascent Realms too?
Wouldn't that mean the girl might reach Lamp Ignition in less than a year?
Jiang Yuechu's expression was calm. "I had a slight realization and managed a Breakthrough by chance."
"..."
...Seeing Wei He's contorted expression, Jiang Yuechu wisely took her leave first.
She exited the yamen.
The sun outside was intense, warming her body pleasantly.
Jiang Yuechu squinted, raising a hand to block the dazzling sunlight, but her mind was already busy calculating.
She was now in the Late Core Formation Realm.
Based on past experience, even if she didn't seek out great demons of noble Bloodline like the White Flood Dragon, simply slaying a common creature that had just entered Core Formation would provide enough vital essence to push herself forward.
It's just... Jiang Yuechu sighed, kicking a pebble on the roadside with a touch of helplessness.
In this era, Core Formation Realm demons are hard to find.
Which beast that managed to Cultivate to this Realm hasn't lived for hundreds or thousands of years?
To survive so long while harming an area, their life-saving abilities are naturally much stronger than those lesser demons.
"If only I could go to the Western Regions Demon Court..."
Jiang Yuechu looked toward the west, a flicker of longing in her eyes.
She heard that to the west of Great Tang, there was a kingdom belonging to demons.
Where demons roam everywhere, great demons are as numerous as dogs, and it can truly be called the demons' paradise.
Of course.
It also belonged to Jiang's paradise.
"Tsk, too bad. Going there with my current strength carries too great a risk..."
Jiang Yuechu withdrew her gaze, suppressing the restlessness in her heart.
Since she had nothing else to do and didn't want to cook for herself, she remembered that she had previously promised No Abstinence and the other two that she would treat them to a meal.
There's no time like the present.
Jiang Yuechu made up her mind, changed direction, and strolled toward the Xuan Battalion.