Cultivating in Different Professions

Chapter 255: Chapter 166: Taiping Captain

”I can understand your desire to advance, but now really isn’t the right opportunity.”

Wan Qing said with some hesitation.

In fact, based on Su Mu’s merits during the last defense against the Tier Five Demon Tide, he was already more than qualified for a promotion to Taiping Captain.

To be honest, Wan Qing had never seen a Taiping Capital Captain’s Official Uniform embroidered with cloud patterns.

Generally speaking, anyone whose uniform was embroidered with cloud patterns was at least a Taiping Captain.

Some Taiping Captains were even promoted to Governor for special merits.

As long as one’s uniform was embroidered with cloud patterns, even if they were originally a Taiping Capital Captain, they would soon be promoted to Taiping Captain.

Su Mu was just a bit lacking in seniority, but in terms of both strength and merit, he was more than qualified to become a Taiping Captain.

The problem was, Su Mu’s aptitude and comprehension were too outstanding—so outstanding that even the Marquises wanted to protect him.

The Taiping Bureau was currently facing internal and external troubles. If he became too conspicuous, he could easily be targeted by all sorts of malicious characters.

That was why several Marquises had deliberately suppressed his promotion last time, wanting him to settle in the position of Taiping Capital Captain for another two years.

Although this seemed like a slower path, it might actually be more beneficial for Su Mu’s future.

But the Marquises likely never expected that in just a few short months, Su Mu would master the Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique and become a Rebirth Realm Martial Artist.

According to the Taiping Bureau’s rules, reaching the Rebirth Realm was grounds for promotion to Taiping Captain.

Under these circumstances, to continue deliberately suppressing Su Mu’s promotion would be rather unjustifiable.

”Theoretically, you are fully qualified to serve as a Taiping Captain. But as I’ve told you before, Headquarters rejected your promotion proposal not to target you, but to protect you.”

Wan Qing said thoughtfully, ”You’re a smart man. You should be able to see that the establishment of the Inspection Bureau is aimed directly at our Taiping Bureau. If you get promoted to Taiping Captain at a time like this, you’ll be the youngest Taiping Captain in the Bureau. When that happens, you’ll inevitably be targeted by the Inspection Bureau.”

”If I don’t get promoted, will they just stop targeting me?”

Su Mu said calmly, ”Dai Jin was hounding me before, and even though he’s dead now, I’m sure his successor will continue to keep an eye on me.

”Whether I’m a Taiping Capital Captain or a Taiping Captain, the Inspection Bureau won’t let me off the hook.

”Since that’s the case, why shouldn’t I get promoted?”

”Master Wan, I’m not trying to boast, but if I become a Taiping Captain, I can draw some of the fire for the Taiping Bureau. The Inspection Bureau will be so busy watching me that everyone else will have an easier time.”

Su Mu said.

He was determined to get the position of Taiping Captain.

Wan Qing looked at Su Mu’s serious expression and fell silent.

’He suddenly realized something. They thought they were acting in Su Mu’s best interest, but when all was said and done, they were still the ones obstructing his promotion.

’How was a young man who wanted to advance supposed to feel when his path upward was blocked by a bunch of old guys for his ”own good”?

’With Su Mu’s talent and comprehension, the gates of any faction would open to him if he were willing.

’Not to mention, the Inspection Bureau even recruited wanted criminals. If Su Mu were willing to switch sides, the Inspection Bureau absolutely wouldn’t hesitate to offer him the position of a Fifth-Grade Inspection Envoy.

’If he were in Su Mu’s shoes, he would also find it hard to refuse such a temptation.’

”I also think it’s time to add a bit more weight to your shoulders.”

Wan Qing said thoughtfully.

”Since you’re already in the Rebirth Realm, there’s no problem with you being promoted to Sixth-Grade Captain.”

Wan Qing said, ”After we return to the city, I’ll arrange for your promotion immediately.

”But you must also be mentally prepared. The tree that stands tallest in the forest will be the first to be blown down by the wind. As the youngest Taiping Captain in the Taiping Bureau, you will likely run into some trouble.”

”Master Wan, if I was afraid of trouble, I wouldn’t have chosen to join the Taiping Bureau in the first place.”

Su Mu said with a smile, ”If you want to get things done, trouble is always part of the package.

”I’m confident I can do a good job as a Taiping Captain!”

There are two ranks of Taiping Captain: Sixth-Grade Captain and Fifth-Grade Captain.

To be promoted from Sixth-Grade to Fifth-Grade, there is only one condition: merit.

One advances to Fifth-Grade by accumulating merits.

If one breaks through to the True Essence Realm before being promoted to Fifth-Grade Captain, they can be directly promoted to Governor.

If they cannot break through to the True Essence Realm, they can still accumulate merits, advance to Fifth-Grade Captain step by step, and then be promoted to Fourth-Grade Governor.

The True Essence Realm is a major threshold. Many Rebirth Realm Martial Artists get stuck at this step, unable to break through for the rest of their lives.

Breaking through to the True Essence Realm means stepping into a whole new world.

It’s the same with official positions. Fourth-Grade and above are considered high-ranking officials. In the words of Su Mu’s previous life, only Fourth-Grade and above truly counted as high officials.

The jump from Fifth-Grade to Fourth-Grade is one threshold, just as the one from the Rebirth Realm to the True Essence Realm is another.

’That was still a distant goal for Su Mu. For now, he was satisfied with being promoted to Sixth-Grade Taiping Captain.

’The next step was to accumulate merits and work his way toward Fifth-Grade.

’After becoming a Sixth-Grade Captain, my speed of earning Points should increase significantly.

’But when he thought about the 172,000 Points needed to bring the Four Symbols Rebirth Technique to Perfection, Su Mu felt he had a long way to go.

’Even at a thousand Points a day, it would take over 170 days to save up 172,000 Points—at least half a year.

’And that was assuming his martial techniques didn’t advance at all during that half-year.

’If he wanted to improve his artistic conception as well, the required Points would only be greater.

’Still, a rise in status was always a good thing. If Sixth-Grade wasn’t fast enough, then he’d aim for Fifth-Grade. If Fifth-Grade wasn’t fast enough, then he’d aim for Fourth.’

Just as Su Mu was lost in his thoughts, Wan Qing and the others rallied their remaining strength and slaughtered all the men Qi Wuyong had brought with him.