’Qiling Prefecture is also in the Northern Territory. A detour back to Baiyang County shouldn’t cause too much of a delay.’
But then he remembered the Court had given him only a month to assume his post. Yu Wanshao had also specifically warned him that if he ran into trouble on the road and didn’t have time to deal with it, the delay would be a major problem.
Besides, he’d been away for less than half a year, so he gave up the idea of returning for a visit.
To avoid any trouble, he decided to travel straight to Chaojiang City.
He aimed to arrive within twenty-five days.
Before leaving Qingzhou Prefecture, Chu Lingguang made a special visit to Liu Ziyun to thank him for putting in a good word for him.
Finally, as Liu Ziyun saw him off, Chu Lingguang rode Little Red Horse and headed north.
He was received at post stations along the way, and with the relevant personnel reporting his progress up the chain of command, Chu Lingguang was far from alone.
It took him three days to leave Qingzhou Prefecture, after which he entered the territory of the Chishui Governor’s Mansion. Liu Ziyun had already notified the person in charge of Chishui Prefecture ahead of time.
After entering Chishui Prefecture, Chu Lingguang was similarly received by officials along his route. At every post station they passed, he and his horse were able to get plenty of rest and replenish their supplies.
Both he and Little Red Horse had plenty of energy for the road each day.
「Five days later.」
While staying at a post station in Chishui Prefecture, Chu Lingguang checked his status panel.
Favors: 132
Mixed Element Skill (0/10000)
Great Cang Heart Method (120000/120000)
Underwater Breathing Technique (500/500)
Celestial Profound Technique (60000/60000)
Sky-splitting Hand (20000/20000)
Iron God Leg (25770/30000)
(Remaining Lifespan: 218 years)
Wiping out the Xiazigou pirates had brought Chu Lingguang an unimaginable amount of Favor Points.
It wasn’t just the residents of Black Bear Island who were grateful. The island’s soldiers no longer had to be on edge when they went to sea, and the merchant fleets on the shipping routes were especially thankful that he had restored military discipline, put a stop to extortion by soldiers, swept away the pirates, and ensured safe passage.
The gratitude from any single person wasn’t much.
The gifts he received were often just small trinkets, a bag of fruit, or even a bowl of water.
But their strength was in their numbers.
As it all accumulated over time, Chu Lingguang was finally able to max out the Great Cang Heart Method.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, this Heart Method’s Light of Divine Wisdom had condensed from a faint sheen into a single point of light.
Combined with the help of his Favor Points, his cultivation speed with any Mortal Cultivation and Martial Arts he practiced had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Now, only his Iron God Leg had yet to reach the Perfection realm.
With the help of his Favor Points and the Great Cang Heart Method, Chu Lingguang had cultivated all his other Cultivation and Martial Arts to Perfection, including a few ordinary techniques he had acquired recently.
He was now a master of all kinds of Martial Arts, proficient in everything from the saber, spear, sword, and Halberd to even Whip Techniques and the use of various Hidden Weapons.
In the mortal Martial Arts Realm, his power had nearly reached the absolute peak of the True Martial Realm.
Chu Lingguang had a feeling that he was now stronger than Yan Zhen, Qin Yu, and even Hu Yanlin.
Unless they, like him, had fully awakened the responsive power of the third layer of the Mental Realm and had also reached the state of Unity of Heart and Will.
But that was easier said than done.
Even with the aid of Favor Points, he had only reached this stage thanks to Eunuch Liu, who had sacrificed his life to help him.
"Excuse me, is the official inside available to speak?"
Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from the doorway.
Thanks to Liu Ziyun having put in a good word, and coupled with Chu Lingguang’s own rank as a Senior Fifth Grade official, the quarters he received at the post station was a private, quiet courtyard. Although it was just a single-entry residence, this was a privilege typically reserved for fourth-grade officials.
"Are you looking for me, miss?"
Sweeping the area with his Spiritual Sense, Chu Lingguang discovered a beautiful woman with a chaotic aura standing outside his courtyard.
"My lord, please forgive the intrusion. I am just passing through this place and have run into a difficult problem. I’ve asked around, and it seems you’re the only one in this entire post station who might be able to help. That’s why I’ve taken the liberty of disturbing you without your permission."
The woman said, her expression full of apology.
"In that case, miss, please come in."
With a mere thought, Chu Lingguang manipulated his Wind and Wave Power to open both the courtyard gate and the door to his room at the same time.
’Most people who can stay at this post station are either officials or have connections and a certain status,’ he thought. ’For her to come looking for me this late at night, it must be something truly urgent.’
’If she’s a member of the Court, or someone with a significant background, and I can actually help her, I wouldn’t mind earning a batch of Favor Points.’
’Of course, I’ll have to hear what she wants first.’