Once, I wanted to be a good person

At that instant, she was startled.

It was an official document from the Security Bureau. The document praised Fang Ze for his accomplishments and, coming from both the State Council Executive Councilor and the State Security Bureau, suggested a promotion for him within the Emerald City Security Bureau.

There wasn't much content in the document, so the female officer swiftly finished reading it. She couldn't help but look towards Jiang Cheng in astonishment and said, "Your Excellency, this... "

While putting aside a document he had just signed, Jiang Cheng let out a disdainful chuckle, "This is the Bai Family hinting at me."

"Telling me that Fang Ze has caught their eye and truly counts as one of the noble faction now."@@novelbin@@

The female officer knew all too well about the nearly irreconcilable conflict between Jiang Cheng and Fang Ze, and upon hearing this, she couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Then, should we... "

"We?" Jiang Cheng replied.

"What does this have to do with us?"

"We've never intended to harm Fang Ze. He's an official, a member recognized by the noble faction, linked to the Bai Family by a thousand ties."

"He's powerful and has unlimited potential."

"He is one of our own, an ally for the future."

"We were always supposed to be on good terms with him."

The female officer blinked, almost thinking she had heard wrong.

Then she heard Jiang Cheng say, "As for what Shang Quan did, that was his own doing. What does it have to do with us?"

Saying this, he looked over coldly, "Tell Shang Quan. His grudge with Fang Ze is personal."

"He willingly used the powers of Yang Transformation in the Real World, and he is willing to bear the consequences. Even his willingness to guard East Spirit Mountain is by his own volition."

"As for... Fang Ze not coming out of the Security Bureau..."

"Then let him wait." Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

"The Bai Family must have sensed something amiss, thus they hinted to Fang Ze, perhaps suspecting that I would send a powerful figure after him. Advising him to be cautious."

"But the Bai Family doesn't know about my determination, nor are they aware that I would send Shang Quan."

"So... the outcome of the situation will not change."

"Of course... Since the Bai Family wishes for me to reconcile with Fang Ze, I shall fulfill their wishes and make amends with him."

At this point, Jiang Cheng instructed, "Select an Extraordinary Artifact from my treasury that is of no use to me but still holds considerable value, and send it to Fang Ze."

"Say it's my gift to celebrate his promotion."

Hearing Jiang Cheng's words, the female officer promptly responded with a smile, "Yes."

Having said that, she left with several tasks at hand.

After she left, Jiang Cheng's expression darkened.

"A rising star favored by three powers...?"

"Heh... Fang Ze, you have no idea that the more outstanding you are, the more uneasy I get..."

"I hope that tomorrow, I will receive the bad news about you."

"Rest assured. Even if the Bai Family doesn't pay up, I will make sure to give you a grand and public farewell, so the whole city can partake in your funeral feast..."

......

Late at night.

At the Security Bureau's training center, in Fang Ze's office.

After spending a night with Qing Ya, Fang Ze had barely learned the method of Marrow Tempering.

Marrow Tempering didn't just refer to the bone marrow; it referred to the essence of the entire body.

According to the Xida Body Refining Method, bone marrow, spinal marrow, and brain marrow are the essence of the human body. Marrow governs the bones and reaches up to the brain, which is formed from the gathering of marrow.

The method of Marrow Tempering was simple, similar to Organ Tempering. It involved using a Power of Laws that resonated with the body to deeply transform and solidify the essence throughout the body.

Of course... these are things ordinary Martial Artists do step by step, but for Fang Ze...

It was merely a matter of spending 2 million Lini...

After learning the entire Marrow Tempering stage of the Body Tempering Method from Qing Ya, Fang Ze estimated that with his 'cash crops,' accumulating 2 million Lini within a month wouldn't be an issue, so he proceeded to use it.

Subtracting his previously saved 700,000 Lini and the 200,000 Lini he earned over the past two days, he was now 1,100,000 Lini in resource debt.

After reaching the Marrow Tempering stage, Fang Ze could clearly feel that he was different than before.

He felt as if his Martial Arts Cultivation had penetrated his entire body, with his spirit, will, and energy converging inside him, giving him the sensation of securely locking away all vitality and essence.

Qing Ya confirmed his speculation.

According to her, Marrow Tempering — the tempering of the body's essence — meant that at this stage, vitality and essence would no longer dissipate, and it wouldn't be a problem for a human to live up to 140 or 150 years.

However... although Marrow Tempering was successful, Fang Ze was faced with an even greater issue.

That was... he had reached the limit of his Body Tempering Method.

The Xida Body Refining Method, a foundational discipline in Xida State, only extended to the Marrow Tempering stage. Beyond this, there was nothing more.

In fact, for ordinary Martial Artists and Awakeners, reaching the Marrow Tempering stage was already enough to undergo Fusion and Spirit Ascension.

But for Fang Ze... he had just become a Fuser.

So, besides the threat of Ascend to Yang practitioners and the behind-the-scenes mastermind of the 23 students, Fang Ze was now faced with another problem: finding a new Body Tempering Method.

This only served to worsen Fang Ze's already sour mood.

Although beset by numerous troubles, they still had to be addressed one by one.

And his most important task tonight was: to find out the behind-the-scenes mastermind of the 23 students from Jie, and to understand what the opposition's ultimate goal was.

Patting his face to rouse himself from these troubling thoughts, Fang Ze checked the time. It was already past 11 p.m.