I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 231: Chapter 133: A Formal Conversation

Deep within Coral Island’s Wanghai Cliff.

This was a vast, undeveloped region in the northern part of Coral City’s main island. The concentration of Spiritual Qi here was slightly higher than in the outside world, supporting a landscape of towering ancient trees. However, this environment also bred miasma, harbored Low-tier Demon Beasts, and possessed a highly unstable Spiritual Attribute.

During the annual cleanup operations, the Municipal Bureau was responsible for this region, though their involvement was limited to a routine sweep. The Municipal Bureau’s standard procedure for this sweep was to conduct ten rounds of saturation bombardment with their Flying Ships’ Energy Cannons, annihilating the entire forest.

Yet within three months, the chaotic and dense Spiritual Qi would fuel the regrowth of colossal, sky-high trees across the region.

At this moment, a battalion of Government Soldiers had assembled on the main approach into the forest. They formed three staggered blockade lines, organized into five-man squads and supported by temporarily deployed Array Plates.

In the sky, three hundred-meter-long armed Flying Ships hovered in a triangular formation beneath the clouds. The armored plates on their broadsides slid open to reveal honeycomb-like launch ports: multi-barrel Energy Cannons.

Near the three Flying Ships, hundreds of reconnaissance Flying Shuttles patrolled the perimeter at extreme speeds, projecting real-time scans of the Spiritual Qi and life-sign spectrums from the forest below onto the screens of the Flying Ships and the ground command post.

In a temporary camp on high ground, five of the Municipal Bureau’s Entry-level Cultivators were reviewing the battle projections provided by the various departments.

The standoff had lasted for three days. Reconnaissance squads occasionally exchanged fire with the evil cultivators’ hidden sentries or patrol puppets, but no large-scale conflict had yet erupted.

On the fourth day, as the sun rose, the order for a full-scale assault arrived.

The main cannons of the three Flying Ships were the first to charge. Their muzzles gathered terrifying, blinding spheres of light. The next moment, three massive beams of pure white energy tore through the air, carrying an aura of both purification and destruction as they slammed into the three core areas marked on the tactical map!

BOOOOM!!!

The ground trembled and the mountains shook. In the impact zones, ancient trees, boulders, and even hidden protective Arrays were vaporized by the extreme heat and energy, sending massive mushroom clouds billowing into the sky.

Immediately after, the multi-barrel Energy Cannons opened fire. A torrential rain of energy blasts blanketed the area, mopping up the remaining fortifications and exposed enemies left after the main cannon strikes.

At the same time, several uniquely designed Flying Shuttles streaked across the sky. They moved at incredible speeds, the multi-barrel, rapid-fire Spiritual Energy machine guns under their fuselages spitting fire as they strafed individual Cultivators attempting to use nimble Body Techniques to evade the bombardment.

On the ground, the Government Soldiers’ artillery positions let out muffled roars. They launched special projectiles that traced arcs through the sky, exploding on impact into Spirit-Devouring Flames that corroded Spiritual Power.

...

Yang Wenqing was not on the front lines. He was commanding from the Qianjiao County Division, responsible for stabilizing the rear, ensuring the county’s security was airtight, and preparing to counter any attacks from enemies who slipped through the front lines or had infiltrated the area beforehand.

For several days, all of Qianjiao County was under a state of partial lockdown. Checkpoints at all major entry and exit points were reinforced, Flying Shuttle takeoffs and landings were strictly regulated, patrol routes and frequencies were doubled, and plainclothes officers monitored sensitive areas and critical infrastructure around the clock.

The atmosphere inside the Division headquarters was just as tense. The Communication Array remained active twenty-four hours a day, maintaining an unbroken link with the Municipal Bureau’s command center, the forward camp, and the county’s various precincts.

Yang Wenqing spent most of his time in the command room, processing a constant stream of intelligence and collating it for his reports to Zhou Mu and Vice Director Gao.

The actual battle lasted only twelve hours, and the deafening roar of ordnance continued for just as long.

After the battle, the county’s lockdown continued for another two days, only gradually being lifted after an explicit order from the Municipal Bureau. By then, Yang Wenqing no longer felt any regret about not participating in the operation. He was only relieved. According to reports from the front, the operation had resulted in thirty-two casualties, while over two hundred evil cultivators and more than three thousand Demon Beasts had been eliminated.

But it wasn’t over...

On the seas farther north of Coral Island, an even fiercer battle was about to begin.

However, these were matters Yang Wenqing was not privy to. The day after the Wanghai Cliff cleanup operation concluded, Deputy Director Qi Yue from the Municipal Bureau arrived in person at the Qianjiao County Division.

It was a perfectly ordinary afternoon, and the Division’s main auditorium was packed to capacity.

All active-duty officers who were not on patrol or assigned to a case were in attendance. On the stage, Deputy Director Qi Yue was seated in the center, flanked by Zhou Mu, Gao Zhen, Wang Ren, and Deputy Director Zhou. Yang Wenqing had been given a seat to one side of the stage.

The only sound in the auditorium was Deputy Director Qi’s steady, powerful voice, which echoed clearly through an amplification Array:

”...The Lingshan Town series of cases was of a heinous nature and had far-reaching consequences, the likes of which our city has rarely seen in recent years. Throughout the investigation, all our comrades at the Qianjiao County Division showed no fear in the face of hardship. In particular, frontline personnel, as exemplified by Yang Wenqing, demonstrated great courage and initiative, and were instrumental in achieving a breakthrough in the case...”

”...In the subsequent wrapping up of the case, finalization of evidence, and coordination with the city-wide major operation to eradicate the ’Yellow Springs Guide’ strongholds, the Municipal Bureau task force led by Zhou Mu worked in close collaboration with their colleagues at the Division. They efficiently completed numerous complex and arduous tasks, demonstrating the highest levels of professionalism and a remarkable spirit of cooperation.”

”To recognize these outstanding achievements, upon review by the Municipal Bureau and with the approval of higher authorities...” Deputy Director Qi paused, his gaze sweeping over the audience before finally resting on Zhou Mu and Yang Wenqing on the stage.

”Zhou Mu and Yang Wenqing are hereby awarded the First-Class Individual Medal of Merit!”

”The Qianjiao County Division’s Major Case Team and Internal Affairs Inspection Division are awarded the Second-Class Collective Medal of Merit!”