Ruling Martial World by Infinite Insect Swarms

Chapter 166 -158: Bountiful Rewards, the Qin Family’s Hope

“Qin Family, receive the State Governor’s Order!”

The people in the hall turned solemn and bowed respectfully.

In the Great Wei Thirteen States, a State Governor was at least a Primordial Spirit Realm True Monarch.

For the Qin Family’s reward to be issued directly by the Governor was truly extraordinary.

Under the watchful eyes of the Qin Family, Cao Zhenxiong took out a glowing cyan silk scroll. His voice rang out loud and solemn. “The Ling State Governor’s Order:

“Recently, the Blood Demon Sect colluded with the Bishui River Demon Dragon, attempting a blood sacrifice to plunge the region into chaos.

“Qin Yu, a disciple of the Qin Family, was the first to see through this wicked plot. He fought fiercely against the Demon Fiends outside the city, broke through his cultivation amid danger, triggered a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon, and turned the tide. His contributions are paramount.

“The entire Qin Family united to defend the city, saving hundreds of thousands of lives.

“Therefore, Qin Yu is specially promoted to Ling State Demon Suppression Bureau Inspector General, ranked Junior Sixth Grade, with the authority to inspect and arrest.

“He is awarded the Beta-level Upper Grade cultivation method, the Wind and Thunder Tribulation Destruction Scripture!

“He is also granted a Beta-level Upper Grade Magical Treasure, the Dragon-slaying Saber, and a Beta-level Upper Grade Wind and Thunder Armor.

“Furthermore, he is awarded one hundred thousand Demon Suppression Bureau Merit Points.

“These may be exchanged for treasures from the Demon Suppression Bureau Arsenal, or resources and intelligence of equal value!

“The Qin Family is specially elevated to a ‘Loyal and Brave Family’. They shall receive offerings within the commandery and a fifty-percent tax reduction for the next three hundred years! They are also granted an Exorcism Golden Plaque to hang above their gates, ensuring all evil entities retreat!

“Additional rewards include:

“Eighty thousand Low Grade Primordial Stones.

“Eight thousand Middle Grade Primordial Stones.

“Eight hundred Upper Grade Primordial Stones.

“One hundred bottles of the Beta-level Upper Grade Elixir, the Cloud Dragon Pill.

“…

“Ten thousand catties of various Spiritual Materials, including Thousand-Year Cold Iron, Crimson Flame Copper Essence, and Void Nether Ore!

“Cyan Peak County and its surrounding thousand miles are designated as the direct fiefdom of the Qin Family, to be governed by them independently, requiring only the timely payment of a fixed tax.”

As the proclamation concluded, pin-drop silence filled the hall.

Even though Qin Tianfeng was accustomed to weathering storms, and Qin Wenyuan and the others had mentally prepared themselves, they were still stunned by the sheer wealth of the rewards.

A golden precedent to attract others!

This thought instantly sprang into everyone’s minds.

The title of Loyal and Brave Family, the local offerings, the three-hundred-year tax halving, and the Exorcism Golden Plaque symbolizing their special honor—all of these would allow the Qin Family to thrive effortlessly in Yunlong County, laying the foundation for their rise.

But the personal rewards for Qin Yu were downright breathtaking.

A Beta-level Upper Grade cultivation method!

The Qin Family’s Core Technique, the Celestial Wind Illusion-Breaking Technique, was merely Beta-level Low Grade.

While the Junior Sixth Grade Demon Suppression Bureau Inspector title wasn’t particularly high, it granted Qin Yu the right to exchange for treasures from within the bureau.

One hundred thousand Merit Points were vastly more precious than one hundred thousand Primordial Stones.

They could be used to purchase things that were simply unobtainable in the outside world.

This was the real prize!

This was no longer just nurturing a genius; it was an early investment in a future top-tier powerhouse.

“Congratulations, Inspector Qin!”

Zhang Han and Chen Jianqiu cupped their hands in congratulation.

Cao Zhenxiong softened his expression and handed several Storage Pouches to Qin Yu. “Young Friend Qin, the Lord Governor has high hopes for you.

“The role of Inspector General is no empty title. It carries the responsibility of patrolling for illegal activities and investigating major cases within the Ling State. It grants considerable power, but also demands accountability.

“I hope you will conduct yourself well and not let down the good intentions of the Lord Governor and General Li’s recommendation.

“In the future, if there is an emergency within the Ling State, you may use this token to request aid from the Demon Suppression Bureau branches or state outposts in various commanderies.”

“Thank you, Lord Cao, General Zhang, and General Chen. I will certainly fulfill my duties and live up to your trust,” Qin Yu replied with a respectful attitude, though his heart remained calm.

He knew to take these words with a grain of salt.

He wasn’t stupid. This so-called Demon Suppression Bureau Inspector General role had neither troops nor real authority.

It was merely the Demon Suppression Bureau’s way of wooing him.

Discovering the Blood Demon Sect’s crisis early and killing the Bishui River Dragon King was undoubtedly a massive achievement for the Demon Suppression Bureau’s Chen Jianqiu and Zhang Han. Their rewards wouldn’t be any less than his own.

And the reason for that, naturally, was him.

But if he actually went around patrolling for illegal activities and investigating major cases, he would be hopelessly naive.

Furthermore, it sounded like Li Xuanting had arranged this.

For him, this was indeed the best possible reward.

This official identity served as an excellent talisman and a fantastic channel for expansion.

If he killed more Demon Fiends in the future or took action against the Blood Demon Sect, he might be able to double-dip on the benefits. At certain times, this status could play an unexpectedly useful role.

Moreover, as long as he had enough Merit Points, he could exchange them for top-tier Cultivation Techniques.

For Qin Yu, this was vastly superior to joining a Sect!

After finishing his conversation with Qin Yu, Cao Zhenxiong turned to Qin Tianfeng. “Fellow Daoist Qin, with such a promising son, the Qin Family is bound for a revival.

“I have official business to attend to, so I won’t intrude any longer. The Commandery Governor’s Mansion will cooperate with the State Governor’s Order to make all the appropriate arrangements.”

Gongsun Ming, Zhang Han, and the others explained a few more details before bidding their farewells and leaving.

They knew the Qin Family needed time to digest all of this.

After seeing the guests off, they returned to the inner hall.

“These rewards are much greater than expected! It seems the fact that the other families fled during the blood sacrifice, leaving only our Qin Family to step up, greatly angered those at the top.

“Of course, it mainly boils down to your outstanding talent, Yu. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such a lavish bestowal,” Qin Tianfeng sighed with emotion as he sat in the main seat.

Just moments ago, Qin Yu had been worrying about Primordial Stones, but with these rewards, he lacked for nothing.

Normally, when they discussed Primordial Stones, they defaulted to Low Grade Primordial Stones. Although the Court only rewarded eighty thousand Low Grade Primordial Stones, there were also Middle and Upper Grade ones!

Middle and Upper Grade Primordial Stones contained much more Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, and it was significantly purer.

One Middle Grade Primordial Stone could be exchanged for ten Low Grade ones.

Similarly, one Upper Grade Primordial Stone could be exchanged for ten Middle Grade ones.

And that was just the official exchange rate. In reality, it was impossible to trade them at that rate. Even if they were exchanged, it would amount to the equivalent of two hundred and forty thousand Low Grade Primordial Stones!

This was roughly equivalent to more than half of the Qin Family’s entire estate.

Not to mention the Beta-level Upper Grade cultivation method, the Magical Treasures, and the astonishing one hundred thousand Merit Points.

These one hundred thousand Merit Points were the real windfall!

Qin Tianfeng sighed inwardly. If he had hesitated and failed to give Qin Yu sufficient support, Qin Yu might have harbored a grudge.

The Qin Family’s centuries of accumulation were nothing in the eyes of those big shots.

“With this, our Qin Family is now tied to the Demon Suppression Bureau and the Great Wei.

“There are pros and cons to this.

“While we reap the benefits, it will also make the Blood Demon Sect far more hostile toward us.

“It will also cause other families and factions to distance themselves from our Qin Family.

“Even the gift of the Beta-level Upper Grade Dragon-slaying Saber holds deep implications.

“Naturally, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

“As long as your strength continues to advance, these so-called drawbacks won’t matter.”

Qin Yu nodded slightly. It was two sides of the same coin.

How could they simply reap the benefits without any downsides?

The only thing that made him sigh was that he had never intended to join the Demon Suppression Bureau, yet he had ultimately ended up with the identity of an Inspector.

Qin Tianfeng’s gaze swept over Qin Wenyuan, Qin Zhengyuan, and the others, finally landing on Qin Yu with an open-minded smile. “I am four hundred and fifty-seven years old, at the Middle Stage Primordial Mansion Realm. It might seem like I still have decades of lifespan left.

“But I know my own body best. My early years of battle left me with countless hidden injuries, damaging my foundation. Maintaining my current combat prowess is already a struggle. Breaking through to Myriad Phenomena is hopeless in this lifetime.

“At most… I have three to five years left to live.

“If I have to fight, it will be even shorter.”

“Ancestor!”

Qin Wenyuan and the others cried out, their faces pale with grief.

They knew their Ancestor’s lifespan was waning, but they hadn’t expected him to be so blunt about it, nor had they realized his remaining time was even shorter than they thought.

“Ancestor, is there any treasure that can extend your lifespan or help you break through? Perhaps the Demon Suppression Bureau’s Treasure Vault contains something that can heal your injuries,” Qin Yu said, his brow furrowing slightly.

Three to five years was a very short time for Celestial Wind Ancestor, but for Qin Yu, it was a long time. During this period, he might just obtain a treasure that would allow the old man to break through.

Even if he couldn’t break through, nursing his health and healing his injuries could buy him several more decades.

That might just give him the hope needed to reach the Myriad Phenomena Realm.

Qin Wenyuan and the others had planned to desperately seize the Five Poison Sect Inheritance Token precisely with this idea in mind.

Having an experienced Primordial Mansion Realm cultivator holding the fort in the family would give him a lot more peace of mind.

“No! You absolutely must not waste your Merit Points!” Qin Tianfeng’s expression changed as he rebuked sharply.

“Your intentions are good, but it’s completely unnecessary!

“My greatest wish was originally to see the Qin Family produce another Primordial Mansion expert to stabilize our foundation before I pass away.

“To think that the heavens would treat the Qin Family so kindly, blessing us with a promising son like you.”

With that, Qin Tianfeng stood up and walked over to Qin Yu, his expression softening.

His gaunt yet powerful hand patted Qin Yu’s shoulder, his eyes shining with unprecedented brightness and expectation. “Don’t feel pressured, and don’t feel obligated to follow the path I or anyone else envisions for you.

“You have your own encounters, your own secrets, your own path.

“The family will always be your backbone and your home.

“In my final years, I will do everything in my power to clear the obstacles inside and outside the family for you, so that you can forge ahead and grow stronger with undivided attention!”

“Thank you, Ancestor! I will not disappoint you.”

Qin Yu cupped his hands respectfully and didn’t insist further.

He could sense a hint of wooing and currying favor in Qin Tianfeng’s words, but there was also the genuine affection of their shared bloodline. He understood what the old man was thinking.

He was indeed lacking in resources right now.

However, he had already made up his mind. The endless wilderness within Yunlong County and the Ling State was teeming with Celestial and Earthly Treasures.

The Insect Swarm’s first pot of gold had come from exactly there.

He refused to believe there were no suitable Spiritual Medicines or treasures to be found. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

As long as he expanded the Insect Swarm, there was a high probability of finding something.

A smile appeared on Qin Tianfeng’s face before his expression turned serious again. “Take the one hundred thousand Primordial Stones as soon as possible. The family will handle consolidating the resources and dealing with the reactions of various factions; Wenyuan and the others will take care of it.

“As for you… go do what you need to do.

“Once everything is settled, we’ll head to the County City together.

“Let this old man see what kind of storm you can stir up in the Great Wei Thirteen States!”

“Then we shall return to Cyan Peak County first to arrange things properly. The Court granting Cyan Peak County to me as a fief is a good thing,” Qin Yu said with a smile.

Almost everyone guessed that the Qin Family’s tens of thousands of War Beasts came from the Wilderness Mountain Range.

The Demon Suppression Bureau higher-ups clearly thought the same.

Rewarding him with Cyan Peak County was a subtle reminder, but it would also allow him to better cultivate his War Beasts.

Though, regardless of the reward, the Wilderness Mountain Range was already firmly controlled by the Insect Swarm.

Still, securing official recognition was naturally for the best.

“Cyan Peak County? I’d also like to see what kind of place it is, and what kind of figures your parents are to have raised such a promising son for our Qin Family.”