Chapter 406: Ji Kongliu

After leaving that small courtyard, Xu Wenjun departed on his own.

Zhao Xun and Lu Yunchen had originally planned to follow along to the First Division to watch the excitement, but the Fourth Division had an urgent matter come up, so Zhao Xun had no choice but to rush off with Lu Yunchen.

Along the way, Yun Buchuan had been introducing Yang Ling to the basic information about the Capital Ironclad Department.

"Our Capital Ironclad Department is configured differently from the local branches."

"The Strategy Division, Command Division, and Decapitation Division form the core."

"Below them are the Bandit Apprehension Division, Public Security Division, and Inspection Division."

"The Inspection Division has three Directors, but the Bandit Apprehension Division and Public Security Division each have nine Directors."

It suddenly clicked in Yang Ling's mind. No wonder Zhao Xun was the Director of the Fourth Division, Public Security Department.

It seemed the Capital Ironclad Department's establishment was extremely high-grade.

"The reason there are so many Directors isn't because the Capital has more cases, but because the local branches have more work."

"Most of the time, these Directors travel to various regions like Zhao Xun does, to guide the work."

"Ordinary cases are their responsibility, but if something like the Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital case comes up, then the Command Division steps in."

About a quarter of an hour later, Yang Ling had already obtained basic information about the Capital Ironclad Department from Yun Buchuan.

The Strategy Division, Command Division, and Decapitation Division had nine Directors in total, and there were nine courtyards for them here.

Their office environments were completely separated from one another, with no interference between them.

Then came the Bandit Apprehension Division and Public Security Division.

The First Division of Bandit Apprehension had its own courtyard alone.

The First Division of Public Security also had its own courtyard alone.

The remaining Directors all worked in the same large compound, which was several times bigger than the First Division's courtyard.

"Among them, the most uniquely positioned is the Inspection Division.

Unlike the local Inspection Divisions, the three Directors of the Capital Ironclad Department's Inspection Division are uniformly appointed from civil officials.

All of them are directly assigned by the Ministry of Personnel.

In the past, when local Inspection Division Directors wrote letters to the Capital, it was these three who reviewed them first before they could be delivered to the Department Head."

When Yun Buchuan said this, a trace of wariness clearly flashed through his eyes:

"When you serve in the Capital, you need to pay special attention to this. Don't let them catch any leverage on you, otherwise they'll file accusations against you to the death!"

Yang Ling secretly clicked his tongue in amazement.

Even a department like the Ironclad Department, which was directly under the Emperor's jurisdiction, had three civil officials supervising it.

This showed that these fellows truly had their fingers in every pie throughout Zhao State.

"A sharp mind really is something formidable."

Before long, the two arrived before a quiet courtyard.

Yun Buchuan was somewhat surprised and asked the Ironclad agent at the gate:

"Why is it so quiet?"

The Ironclad agent on guard duty hurried forward to salute:

"Director Yun, Director Ji is currently conducting assessments on the Ironclad agents below."

Yang Ling looked inside and saw several hundred Ironclad agents standing in formation.

A young man who looked to be about thirty-five or thirty-six, wearing the same Fifth-Rank Ironclad uniform as Yun Buchuan, was speaking with a stern expression.

Character: Ji Kongliu

Class: Martial Artist

Strength: 399

Agility: 399

Spirit: 140

Martial Arts: Pure Yang Ironclad Heart Sutra (First-Rate, Skilled)

Dragon-Capturing Saber Technique (Transcendent)

Bone-Melting Palm (Transcendent)

Wandering Dragon Transformation (Transcendent)

Faction: Ironclad Department

Yang Ling's pupils contracted slightly. So this was the Director of the First Division, Public Security Department of the Capital Ironclad Department?

How were his attributes so much more formidable than Xu Wenjun's?

Not only did he have 30 more points in Spirit than Xu Wenjun,

he had also cultivated a First-Rate internal technique!

The only thing was that his internal technique realm wasn't as high as Xu Wenjun's, not yet reaching the Transcendent stage.

But this man looked at least ten years younger than Xu Wenjun...

"In Zhao State, I've encountered very few people capable of cultivating a First-Rate internal technique, only people like the Fourth Prince and Third Prince..."

"This man's background and origins probably have some story behind them. The Pure Yang Ironclad Heart Sutra... this seems like an upgraded version of the Ironclad Divine Armor Sutra..."

"In other words... the Ironclad Department actually possesses its own First-Rate internal technique?"

Yang Ling was somewhat delighted. He had always thought the strongest internal technique the Ironclad Department had was the Ironclad Divine Armor Sutra.

He had clearly underestimated the Ironclad Department's foundations.

Now that he was a member of the Ironclad Department, the stronger its foundations were, the greater the benefit to him!

"I wonder what level this Pure Yang Ironclad Heart Sutra is among First-Rate techniques."

"If calculated according to the Heavenly Will Hundred Battles Diagram, Skilled mastery should give this Director Ji about 200 attribute points.

Assuming all 200 points are added to Strength, his Strength attribute could reach 599 points."

"The Transcendent realm of Dragon-Capturing Saber Technique can boost dual attributes by 30 points, with an attached skill: Dragon-Slaying."

"Bone-Melting Palm and Wandering Dragon Transformation are both Second-Rate martial techniques. I don't know their Transcendent attribute boosts, but I can reference Dragon-Capturing Saber Technique; the total attribute boost averages around 60 points."

"If this Director Ji goes all out, his Strength and Agility attributes combined should reach around 1,200 points..."

Yang Ling breathed a sigh of relief. Even at full power, his own attributes were no weaker than this man's.

The Swallowing Heaven Golden Sword could boost both attributes by 150 points each.

The Centenary Refined Kylin Pickaxe could increase Strength by 50 points.

The Fire Crocodile Set could increase Strength by 60 points and Agility by 20 points.

The Vajra Bright King Technique gave 60 points to dual attributes.

The Great-Grade Azure Dragon Force boosted Strength by 120 points.

The Wind God Vajra Legs could also boost both attributes by 50 points each.

The Ethereal Steps could boost Agility by another 80 points.

His Strength could reach 640 points.

His Agility could reach 509 points.

His dual attributes added up to 1,149 points as well!

In terms of attributes, he wouldn't be too far behind this Ji Kongliu.

He also had various exclusive skills.

In terms of skills, he was definitely ahead of this man.

"But my Vital Qi is absolutely inferior to his. If we really fought, the longer it went on, the one who'd lose should still be me..."

"The recovery ability of an Upper Fifth-Rank should be far stronger than the likes of Kong Xinghu."

Yang Ling's heart tensed slightly. Just by comparing through this panel, he concluded that he had no ability to take this man out of the fight in a short period of time.

"If I could run three internal techniques simultaneously, my attributes could increase by another 65 points each in Strength and Agility.

At that time, I could also simultaneously unleash Azure Dragon Force, Resolute Heart, plus the Two-Times Critical Hit of Wind God Vajra Legs..."

"Probably still wouldn't win."

Whenever Yang Ling thought about how an Upper Fifth-Rank might possess recovery abilities beyond his imagination, he had no confidence in defeating such a monster at this stage.

Fortunately, as long as he broke through to Lower Fifth-Rank and completed his gene mutation, the power dynamic between the two would reverse.

After all, he still had over a hundred free attribute points he hadn't allocated yet.

"What is Director Ji assessing today?"

Yun Buchuan didn't rush inside.

The Ironclad agent standing guard at the gate said sheepishly:

"Today Director Ji isn't testing martial arts, but rather testing the observation skills of the men below, as well as their ability to solve cases and conduct investigations."

Yun Buchuan showed a look of understanding, then led Yang Ling straight into the courtyard of the First Division, Public Security Department.

Ji Kongliu swept a glance in their direction, gave Yun Buchuan a slight nod, then paused his gaze on Yang Ling for a moment before continuing to speak coldly to the group of subordinates in front of him:

"What the Ironclad Department needs isn't martial artists with nothing but brute force. I need you all to have sufficient case-solving ability.

Only then can you uphold the Ironclad Department's reputation.

Only then can you rely on the smallest clues to track down the spies that the Heavenly Wolf Guard has planted throughout our Zhao State!"

His voice paused, and he gently waved his hand:

"Bring them up."

Over a dozen figures were brought before the assembled Ironclad agents.

Ji Kongliu looked at the group of Ironclad agents closest to him.

Among them were two Sixth-Ranks and over a dozen Seventh-Ranks.

"Among these people, only one has actually committed a crime. The rest will also tell you what crimes they've committed, but all of theirs are false."

"I'll give you half an hour to question them, observe them, and then tell me which one is the real criminal."

"During this time, you are not allowed to communicate with each other privately. You only need to know the answer in your own hearts."

"If no one guesses correctly, this criminal will be released without charge."

The two Sixth-Ranks and the dozen-plus Seventh-Ranks exchanged glances, their expressions turning extremely grave.

Only then did Ji Kongliu turn to Yun Buchuan's side, cupping his fists with a smile:

"Director Yun, what business brings you here?"

[Sixth update!! Still begging for more update requests and five-star reviews, love you all!!!]