Chapter 104: Gaining and Losing Office, The Original Fate of Qi

“Hah!”
“Now you’re even demanding an official title!”

Chuckling lightly, Lu Chunyuan said,
“You’re only eighteen years old; what use do you have for these official ranks?”
“If it weren’t to facilitate your passage within the Martial Academy, you wouldn’t even have been granted the position of Seventh Rank Supervisor—”
“And yet you still complain that the rank is too low?”

The position of Seventh Rank Supervisor—or even lower-ranking supervisors—was one of the most coveted posts among many talented young martial artists who had attained the rank of Martial Master but had not yet left the Martial Academy.

The position itself wasn’t especially significant, but it had one crucial advantage—prestige.

For those under thirty, still honing their skills with vigor and determination, a role that was relatively undemanding, carried some status, and allowed one to intervene in various matters when necessary, was perfectly suited.

Almost every young Martial Master within the academy aspired to obtain this position.

Although Lu Chunyuan directly bestowed this rank upon Lu Sheng, sparing him from immense pressure, it was still a considerable favor.

The higher the rank, the greater the responsibilities Lu Sheng would have to bear!

Thus, upon hearing Lu Sheng’s desire for an official post, Lu Chunyuan scoffed and explained the pros and cons to him.

However, Lu Sheng cared little for responsibility. What he needed now was to elevate his official rank, using the fortune that came with it to convert into merit points and thereby enhance his power.

In fact, even if he were granted the post today and dismissed tomorrow, it would not really trouble him.

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“Granted today, dismissed tomorrow!”

With this thought, a sudden inspiration struck Lu Sheng. He no longer demanded a higher position but instead asked Lu Chunyuan,
“Could you remove my rank for now, and then grant it to me again later?”

While speaking, he converted the 122 points of fortune gained from his official title into 12,200 merit points.

Immediately, the fortune attached to his rank vanished completely, while his merit points rose to 410.

“This is much faster!”

Feeling pleased, Lu Sheng thought of Lu Hongjin’s over 30,000 points of fortune and grew even more envious:
“If only I could possess his fortune—”
“Over three million merit points would help me cultivate countless divine abilities!”

Since arriving in this world, he had been diligently accumulating merit points, but from the first point to now, he had gathered fewer than 500,000.

That amount had already granted him his current strength. If he could obtain three million merit points, his power would undoubtedly leap forward!

“If I can gain over a hundred points of fortune daily and convert it to over ten thousand merit points, a steady, slow accumulation would also yield good results!”

Considering his plan, Lu Sheng mused to himself.

“Keep dreaming!”

Before he could finish his hopeful calculations, a sharp pain suddenly struck his head. Lu Chunyuan had taken the token, knocked him lightly, and said,

“Since you don’t want this supervisor position, then give it to Yun Fei—”
“This post was originally reserved for him!”

After reclaiming the token and erasing the mark, Lu Chunyuan made no move to reinstate Lu Sheng as Seventh Rank Supervisor.

“Ah!”

Somewhat stunned, Lu Sheng hurriedly said to Lu Chunyuan,
“Teacher, please grant it to me again; I was only joking earlier!”
“I promise I will serve well and won’t disappoint you!”

“Joking?” Lu Chunyuan sneered. “Imperial ranks are no laughing matter.”
“If you don’t want it, I’ll give it to someone who does—”
“There are plenty within the Martial Academy eager to be Seventh Rank Supervisors!”

Though he admired Lu Sheng greatly, Lu Chunyuan’s temper flared at his apparent indifference toward the official rank.

No matter how much Lu Sheng begged, the Seventh Rank Supervisor position would not be returned to him.

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“It’s over!”
“Now I have no official rank at all!”
“So once the fortune from the rank is consumed—”
“It really does affect one’s official luck!”

Though it was only a little over a hundred points of fortune, Lu Sheng did not care much.

But he had yet to test all the effects related to the fortune brought by official titles.

Losing it entirely left him with a lingering dissatisfaction.

With that thought, Lu Sheng looked at Lu Hongjin and shifted his strategy, asking him,
“Senior Brother, you’re the Deputy Director of the Martial Academy; can you confer some official rank on me? Any one will do!”
“I will certainly repay you handsomely in the future!”

He reasoned that since Lu Chunyuan, the academy’s head, could casually grant a proper Seventh Rank supervisor position, Lu Hongjin, as Deputy Director, should be able to confer a few ranks as well.

However, Lu Hongjin shook his head and said,
“The Deputy Director is an auxiliary official. Without permission from the principal officer, he cannot appoint official positions.”
“If you want an official title, you must petition the teacher.”

Not to mention the fact that Lu Hongjin lacked the authority, even if he did, given Lu Chunyuan’s clear stance, Lu Hongjin could not simply grant Lu Sheng any title—

Imperial ranks are never a matter of trifling play!

“Sigh.”

Hearing this, Lu Sheng sighed and said,
“I was hoping to experiment with whether I could use secret methods to cleanse the bloodstained aura on you—”

“Well, forget it for now!”

He shook his head regretfully.

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“What?”
“Cleanse the bloodstained aura on me?”

Hearing Lu Sheng’s words, Lu Hongjin grabbed him eagerly and exclaimed,
“What secret method do you have that can remove the bloodstained aura on me?”
“Tell me quickly!”
“As long as you can, not just a Seventh Rank official, even the Deputy Director of the Martial Academy, I would gladly give to you!”

For Lu Hongjin, who was already over fifty and approaching sixty, becoming a Martial Ancestor was the most urgent matter.

After all, beyond sixty, the body weakens and vitality wanes, making further breakthroughs difficult for most.

Thus, upon hearing that Lu Sheng had a secret method to eliminate his bloodstained aura, Lu Hongjin became so excited that he even promised to hand over the Deputy Director’s position.

“Deputy Director of the Martial Academy!”
“Would you really give it to me?”

Eyes brightening, Lu Sheng replied.

With over 30,000 points of fortune and more than three million merit points, even if only temporarily, Lu Sheng was more than willing.

Yet such a high-ranking third-class official position clearly could not be privately bestowed.

“Keep dreaming!”

“No one can grant a rank above Fourth Class without the Emperor’s decree—”
“If you want to become Deputy Director, you’ll have to wait decades more!”

Hearing that Lu Sheng might seriously want to become Deputy Director, Lu Chunyuan sneered.

However, he was extremely curious about Lu Sheng’s secret method to cleanse Lu Hongjin’s bloodstained aura:

“Blood aura, killing intent, can be suppressed by fortune—”
“Could it be that you can manipulate fortune to dispel the bloodstained aura from Hongjin?”

The concept of fortune was known in this world as well.

The dragon soul within the Mountain and River Seal was nourished by the imperial fortune and the collective will of the people.

Even noble titles and official ranks were tied to the law of fortune.

Martial Masters and Great Martial Masters who pledged allegiance to the imperial court were granted ranks of Ninth and Seventh Class, not only due to their strength but because their innate fortune matched these ranks—

If they weren’t granted, their rebellion could deplete the imperial fortune!