Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 12 Police Station

"Would you like to join the police force?"

Li Xiangru's words caught Li Xiangming somewhat off guard.

The Police Department is a newly established institution by the Li family, but it's not entirely accurate to say it's new, because its predecessor was the well-known Demon Extermination Department.

That's right, the Demon Extermination Hall has disbanded.

When the Li family moved, monsters ran rampant. In order to ensure the safety of Dangui Mountain, the Demon Extermination Hall was established.

Over the course of two years, the Demon Extermination Hall achieved remarkable results, not only eliminating and driving away countless demons, but also indirectly supporting the general stores in Pushui Market.

However, precisely because the Demon Extermination Hall performed so well, its effectiveness diminished significantly.

The Li family no longer needs this bloated organization that brings together 80% of the family's elite members.

So Li Qianxiong began to dismantle the Demon Extermination Hall, and then completely abolished it half a year ago, turning it into the Police Affairs Hall.

The duties of the Police Department are to collect and grasp intelligence information about the entire Dangui Mountain. When necessary, they must also take action to eliminate monsters or people that threaten the safety of Dangui Mountain. Their importance is no less than that of the Demon Extermination Department.

Even the selection criteria for members of the Police Department are much stricter than those for the Demon Extermination Department.

Li Xiangming knew this, so he shook his head and said, "I heard that the lowest cultivation level in the police station is the late stage of Qi Refining. I obviously do not meet the requirements."

"That was before. The standards have been relaxed now, and with what you just did, you could have joined the police force six months ago without any problem."

Li Xiangru smiled slightly.

"Can I know why you're looking for me?"

Li Xiangming couldn't understand why he had attracted the attention of the police station.

"Haha, the reason is simple. Our Li family is famous for the 'Flying Flame Wheel'. More than 70% of the cultivators in the clan practice fire techniques, and most of the rest practice metal and earth techniques. It's rare to find a water cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining, so we naturally don't want to let him go."

"Don't be surprised. Although the Police Department doesn't fight as frequently as the Demon Extermination Department, when the Police Department encounters an emergency, its priority is much higher than the Demon Extermination Department's battles. We can only win, or at least stall for time, so we need more elite cultivators. Your cultivation level is a bit low, but water-based magic can make up for our shortcomings and increase the diversity of our battles. That's our goal."

"Is Fourth Brother also a member of the Police Department?"

"You do not know?"

Li Xiangming shook his head. He really didn't know. At home, he basically went between his own courtyard and the Qingmiao Courtyard, and at most went to the Merit Hall in the outer courtyard to exchange for some cultivation resources.

My understanding of the police station comes half from the prevailing news and the other half from Lee Sang-sung—Lee Sang-hwa, who is on good terms with Lee Sang-chung, is currently at the police station.

"I joined the police force six months ago and am currently serving as the deputy head of the force."

Li Xiangru saw that Li Xiangming truly did not know, so he did not hide anything from him.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming clicked his tongue in amazement. He was not even thirty years old yet, and he had already become a deputy head of a hall. No wonder he had served as the head of the family's scribe.

"I'm nothing special. Our hall master is also of the Xiang generation."

Li Xiangru smiled mysteriously.

"Big brother?"

Li Xiangming blurted out that, apart from his eldest brother Li Xiangren, he couldn't think of anyone else in the Xiang generation who was qualified to be ranked above Li Xiangru.

"You're quite clever. Let me tell you, all the current members of the Police Department are of the Xiang generation, and it's the only organization in the family where the Xiang generation is in charge. You've been at the Green Seedling Academy for so long, you should know that with your seniority, even if you work for thirty or forty years, you can't possibly displace your uncles and great-uncles. Even if you survive until they leave, there will still be uncles and great-uncles of the Qian generation to take over. You'll always be a junior instructor."

“But the police station is different. If you do a good job, we will recommend you to be the head of the station. At the very least, you can easily become a deputy head like me.”

Li Xiangru spoke eloquently, but Li Xiangming was not stupid. He knew that some of what he said was best taken with a grain of salt. If he actually entered the police station to compete for the position of head of the station, he would just make a fool of himself.

The duties of the police station are important. The reason why Li Qianxiong entrusted it to the Xiang generation was because of Li Xiangren, who was about to establish his foundation. Li Xiangming even suspected that the police station was established for Li Xiangren. This move was intended to enhance Li Xiangren's reputation and pave the way for him to succeed as the head of the family in the future. Otherwise, why would such a large police station only recruit people of the Xiang generation?

The deputy hall master title is nonsense. Only those who have been close to Li Qianxiong for many years have become deputy hall masters. He is a newcomer with low cultivation level. What can he use to compete?
Seeing that Li Xiangming remained unmoved, Li Xiangru said helplessly, "You kid won't act until you see the benefit. Join the police department, take on patrol duties, and you can accumulate 20 merit points every day."

Merit is an incentive mechanism set up by the Li family for its members. It has a wide range of uses, including borrowing various collections and spells from the family, and exchanging them for precious items such as elixirs, spiritual materials, talismans, and magical artifacts.

The only regret is that merits cannot be exchanged for spirit stones. When it comes to cultivation, spirit stones are the biggest expense for cultivators.

However, since there are spiritual veins on Dangui Mountain, the Li family members don't have a particularly high demand for spirit stones.

With 20 merit points per day, that's 600 in 30 days, double what he earned at the Green Seedling Institute. Li Xiangming was immediately tempted.

But he still had a concern: "Is this the head of the family's intention?"

"No, it's our police station that's looking for you. If you agree, we'll submit an application to the head of the family; otherwise, we won't waste our time."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming became even more hesitant.

"Xiangcheng, you go back first."

Li Xiangru glanced to the side.

Li Xiangcheng, who was listening with great interest, was stunned and said with a bitter face, "Fourth Brother."

"hurry up."

Li Xiangru waved his hand like he was swatting a fly: "Children shouldn't listen to this."

Li Xiangcheng was unconvinced and muttered, "I'm already fifteen, and I'm also doing things for the family."

Besides cultivating, Li Xiangcheng is currently helping out with odd jobs in the talisman room.

"Are you going?"

Li Xiangru pretended to hit him, which startled Li Xiangcheng, who ran away in a flash.

After Li Xiangcheng had walked away, Li Xiangru spoke up: "You don't need to worry. The patriarch sent you to Qingmiao Academy to test the direct line of the fourth branch. You have been teaching for half a year, so you have naturally achieved the patriarch's goal. Even if you leave, it won't have any impact."

"Moreover, several elders have some reservations about your position at the Green Seedling Institute. Even if you don't go to the police station, you won't stay in the institute for long."

Clan elder?
Li Xiangming seemed to be deep in thought, and cupped his hands in greeting: "I haven't been home for long, and I don't know what the Qingmiao Academy has that has attracted the attention of the clan elders. Fourth Brother, could you enlighten me?"

Li Xiangru frowned, looked around, and said in a low voice, "Qingmiao Academy is complicated. There used to be eight instructors, then it became four, and now you are five. In short, some people don't want Qingmiao Academy to return to what it used to be. That's enough for you to know. I can't say more."

Li Xiangming had long suspected that the Green Seedling Academy was involved in the struggle between the main and branch lines. Now, confirming it with Li Xiangru, he couldn't help but sigh. At the same time, he made up his mind and said, "I understand. I am willing to go to the police station. I will trouble you, Fourth Brother."

"It's alright, we're all brothers."

Li Xiangru received the reply, gave a few instructions, and left in a hurry, leaving Li Xiangming alone in the courtyard.

The Green Seedling Academy is comfortable but offers no future prospects. In comparison, the Police Academy, where one can earn more merits, is clearly a better fit.

I feel a bit sorry for Li Jihu and the others. Changing teachers twice has had a significant impact on them.

In addition, one must inform one's father and the fourth branch of the family before joining the police force—family cultivators have the convenience that independent cultivators can only dream of, but also the shackles, or responsibilities, that independent cultivators cannot experience.

After thinking it over, Li Xiangming immediately set off for Qingmiao Academy.

In his last moments, he wanted to teach as much as possible.

(End of this chapter)