Chapter 106: Warehouse Bureau: Are You Using This to Test the Cadres?

Slicked-back hair, receding at the temples.
The standard-issue administrative jacket common among the subordinate units of the Martial Authority Bureau.
A prominent belly.
Just over forty years old.
In terms of ability, a two-star Dual-Force Warrior.
Jin Shilong, as director of the Binzhou Storage Bureau, held a rank equivalent to that of Fan Dayong within the Martial Authority Bureau—a deputy division head.
But among martial practitioners on the official roster in Binzhou, there was a popular saying: even if Jin Shilong were offered a full division head position at the Martial Authority Bureau, he wouldn’t trade his current job for it.
This spoke volumes
about just how lucrative the Storage Bureau was.

When Zhang Chu stepped out of the car, Jin Shilong greeted him warmly with a handshake. “Just now, Committee Member Qin Zaiye called to say that Professor Zhang Chu, handpicked by the Martial God Academy, would be coming to the Storage Bureau to collect materials. I, Shilong, have been waiting here especially for you.”

“Director Jin, you’re too kind. I’m just running an errand.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jin Shilong led Zhang Chu through the gates of the Storage Bureau.

As per protocol,
Jin Shilong first summoned all mid- and upper-level staff to the conference room for a formal introduction of Zhang Chu.

When Zhang Chu presented his identification badge,
everyone present couldn’t hide their envy.
Here was an alchemist personally appointed by the Martial God Academy—a background even more esteemed than Jin Shilong’s as director of the bureau.

And with the recent posts on the Martial Arts Forum,
Zhang Chu was also a visiting professor at the Martial Arts Research Institute,
and a senior partner at the Covey Research Institute.
With these three prestigious titles combined, he commanded instant respect—some even started flattering him on the spot.

“Professor Zhang, let me show you around the Storage Bureau, help you get familiar with the place,”
Jin Shilong offered, once the introductions were done.

“I’ll have to trouble you then, Uncle Jin,”
Zhang Chu replied, just as he intended.
From now on, he would be the officially appointed special alchemist of the Martial God Academy,
free to come and go from the Storage Bureau, and to sign for materials within his authority as he pleased.
In other words,
Zhang Chu could take what he wanted without cost.

So he treated Jin Shilong with a measure of respect as well.

“Professor Zhang, you honor me, Old Jin. Since you’re willing to call me Uncle Jin, if there’s ever anything you need, just let me know.”

Being called “Uncle Jin” had Jin Shilong soaring with pride, as if he’d just secured a powerful backer in the Martial God Academy.

The Storage Bureau wasn’t large, covering an area about the size of eight football fields.
Aside from the office area and staff dormitories, the remaining five massive warehouses were all protected by arrays set up by spiritual practitioners.
To enter, one needed a Storage Bureau badge.
Any forced entry would trigger a thunderous counterattack from the array.

Furthermore, the warehouses were built with titanium alloy, incredibly sturdy, with secure locks that would make them nearly impregnable.

Next,
Jin Shilong gave Zhang Chu a tour of all five warehouses.
Warehouses 1 through 5 were designated for equipment, martial arts manuals, medicinal pills, cores, and other beast materials, respectively.

Each warehouse had three levels.
The third level was off-limits to Zhang Chu—even Jin Shilong couldn’t enter freely. That was where equipment and medicinal ingredients for spiritual practitioners were kept.

The first two levels catered to martial practitioners and Dual-Force Warriors.

The scale was jaw-dropping. Zhang Chu couldn’t help but gasp, “No wonder this place is called the granary of Binzhou’s martial artists—it’s like the Martial Artists’ House, where equipment worth millions is piled up like mountains!”

He truly broadened his horizons here.

Back in Jin Shilong’s office, Zhang Chu sipped his tea, exhilarated.
As a special alchemist, there were some things he couldn’t just take, but pills and raw ingredients were his for the asking,
as much as he wanted!

“Professor Zhang.”
Just then, Jin Shilong returned to the office, having gone out briefly. He locked the door behind him, looking rather conspiratorial.

“Uncle Jin, what’s this about…?”
Having worked in offices in his previous life, Zhang Chu saw through Jin Shilong’s intentions immediately,
but he had to play along.

“These are the raw materials Covey Research Institute requested. Everything on the list has been checked and is inside this storage ring. Please verify.”

Jin Shilong handed him a storage ring.
Without even looking, Zhang Chu slipped it into his pocket. “Uncle Jin, you’ve been in the Storage Bureau for years. If you prepared the materials yourself, I have no need to double-check.”

This made Jin Shilong beam—
Zhang Chu was treating him as one of his own.
If he could later become an elder at the Martial God Academy’s Alchemy Center Storage Bureau, this was a big step forward.

“Uncle Jin, I won’t keep you any longer, then.”
Seeing that Jin Shilong didn’t make any other moves, Zhang Chu pretended to get up to leave.
No first move, no future opportunities to make himself at home in the Storage Bureau.

“Please wait, Professor Zhang.”
Jin Shilong hurriedly produced a palm-sized wooden box from the storage ring and pressed it into Zhang Chu’s hand. “Professor Zhang, you represent the Alchemy Center of the Martial God Academy. I’ll be relying on your support in the future. This is just a token of my respect—please don’t refuse it.”

Finally!
Zhang Chu’s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, settled.
This was what he’d been waiting for.
If you don’t take it, it’s a waste.
He wasn’t some paragon of virtue.
As long as it helped him improve his cultivation and didn’t harm anyone, nothing else mattered.

Jin Shilong quickly opened the box. A rich fragrance burst forth.

“Good heavens!”
Zhang Chu glanced inside and nearly exclaimed aloud.

Inside lay ten medicinal pills, each about the size of a marble, radiating pure, invigorating energy.

“Professor Zhang, here are five Martial Power Pills and five Focus Pills, all top-grade eight-star.”

To give away eight-star top-grade pills as a gift—
Just one of these pills sold for eight million in the Dual-Force Warriors’ marketplace.

Jin Shilong was being extremely generous, handing over pills worth eighty million in total.

“Uncle Jin, I called you uncle because I felt a connection, and now you test me with this? You’re putting me in a tough spot!”

Zhang Chu’s eyes never left the pills, though he feigned retreat.
He’d already calculated:
One eight-star top-grade pill could boost his martial power by at least eight hundred points.
That meant
Jin Shilong had just gifted him four thousand martial power points and four thousand spirit points.
A truly grand gesture.

Without the status of a special alchemist from the Martial God Academy, Jin Shilong would never have been so lavish.

But one must play the game to the end.
Otherwise, if Jin Shilong saw through his intentions, wouldn’t he be under his thumb forever?

“Little Chu, don’t feel burdened. This is just a greeting gift for calling me Uncle Jin.
It’s definitely not a bribe!”

One pushed, one insisted.
Zhang Chu pretended to be overwhelmed by Jin Shilong’s generosity, finally accepting the box and tucking it into the storage ring. “Uncle Jin, we’re both serving the Martial God Academy—don’t do this again in the future.”

Jin Shilong finally relaxed.
With this gift accepted, if he wanted to get into the Martial God Academy in the future, Zhang Chu would have to look out for him.
Eighty million well spent—and it wasn’t even out of his own pocket.

After a few final words, Zhang Chu took a phone call and prepared to leave.
If he stayed any longer, his home might be torn down.

Jin Shilong personally escorted him to the door, only turning back satisfied after seeing Zhang Chu drive away. “If I take good care of this little ancestor, I won’t have to stay stuck in this backwater like Binzhou forever!”

Meanwhile,
Zhang Chu sped back to Xisha Garden.

As soon as he parked, he saw Zhang Xueying pacing at the entrance.
When she spotted him, she pointed to the rocking chair by the door, where Guan Zifang was dozing off. “Teacher Zhang, I brought this living Buddha back for you. She refused to stay at the villa provided by the Martial Authority Bureau or the Martial Arts Research Institute—insisted on coming here to rely on you.”

Rely on me?
Glancing at the snoring Guan Zifang, Zhang Chu’s mind buzzed.
He had a bad feeling.
It felt as if he’d invited a deity into his home...