《Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies》


 Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Hunter

    The cold wind was biting.


    Large snowkes, like goose feathers, were steadily falling from the sky.


    After a night of umtion, the snow had already reached past the shins.


    Shen Qing was wrapped in a tattered yun coat, carrying a bow on his back, trudging through the snowy ground, his footsteps crunching.


    Snowkesnded on him and quickly melted from his body heat, seeping into his clothes.


    When the cold wind blew, they hardened and made him shiver uncontrobly.


    "I hope I''ll have some luck today, I pray to the heavens for a bite to eat; if it goes on like this, I really won''t survive."


    Shen Qing''s hands were tucked into his sleeves as his gaze fixed on a clear set of footprints.


    The footprints were deeply imprinted in the snow, forming a winding trail that extended towards the sunlit slope ahead.


    Based on his experience, this should be a young deer.


    Yo, yo...


    The sudden sound of a deer call interrupted Shen Qing''s thoughts.


    There''s game!


    Shen Qing immediately became fully alert, carefully taking down his bow and fitting a feathered arrow onto it.


    He crouched down, inching forward cautiously.


    As he got closer, a young deer appeared in Shen Qing''s line of sight, and his movements became even more careful.


    Suddenly, the deer, as if sensing something, jerked its head up.


    Shen Qing cursed silently at his misfortune.


    Deer are skittish and wary, with a keen sense of smell; they are frightened by any hint of "human scent" and will bolt at the slightest disturbance.


    Shen Qing rushed out hastily, firing an arrow in desperation.


    Swish!


    The arrow turned into a dark sh, piercing the white snow.


    And in the blink of an eye, the young deer in sight had vanished into the vast snow-coveredndscape.


    Another miss.


    Shen Qing''s face immediately turned a bit ugly.


    "Oh no, my arrow!"


    Shen Qing hurried into the snowfield, searching frantically.


    However, looking around the snowfield, all he could see was a nket of white, with no sign of the arrow.


    Time ticked away as Shen Qing searched everywhere he remembered the arrow could have fallen, but to no avail.


    Thest arrow, gone!


    ...


    At the foot of the mountain.


    A vige that lived off hunting was nestled there.


    The vige consisted of over thirty households, all made of earthen and thatched cottages.


    Among all these cottages, there was a dpidated earthen house that stood out starkly in the snowstorm.


    The walls were built from a mixture of mud and straw, their dark yellow color mottled with patches.


    The roof was covered with thick straw, now nketed by snow, making the already fragile structure seem as if it might copse at any moment.


    Knowing the way well, Shen Qing walked to the front door of the earthen house and with a push, entered.


    "Sister, I''m back."


    The furnishings inside the house were extremely simple: an old wooden table, a few chairs missing arms or legs, and a nk that barely qualified as a bed constituted all the furniture.


    Shen Qing closed the door behind him with his back hand, took off his hat, and hung the bow on his back along with some farming tools and worn clothing on the wall.


    In a corner of the room, a frail woman quickly stood up and said to Shen Qing, "Why have youe back sote today? I thought something had happened to you outside."


    This was Shen Qing''s elder sister, Shen Fang.


    Ever since he hade to this world, Shen Qing had always depended on her for survival.


    Shen Qing said, "Today was a bit rough. I lost an arrow on the way and got held up a bit."


    Shen Fang quickly walked to the door and brushed the snow off Shen Qing''s shoulders.


    Light from the crack of the door hit her face, revealing a delicate visage.


    But years of exposure had tanned her skin dark and rough, masking much of her natural beauty.


    "Losing it is losing it; as long as you''re safe, that''s what matters. If something happened to you, I''d have no way to exin it to ourte parents."


    After a while, Shen Fang suddenly said, "Chen Yuan came by again today."


    ```


    As she spoke, Shen Fang subconsciously pulled her sleeves over her wrists to hide the bruises.


    Shen Qing looked up and said, "Chen Yuan?"


    His eyebrows furrowed without conscious thought.


    Chen Yuan''s family had three brothers; their father was the leader of the vige and had considerable prestige, with some connections in the city.


    Riding on their father''s coattails, the brothers were ustomed to acting arrogantly; many in the vige either feared or fawned over their family.


    They were not easy to get along with.


    "What did theye over for?"


    "They said that someone like me could be worth five or six taels of silver as a maid to a wealthy family in the county city. They asked if I was willing. Qingzi, perhaps..."


    Shen Qing cut her off, saying, "Sister, our family doesn''t have any support; who knows where they would sell you off to. What if you end up in a brothel¡ªhow would you cope then? Don''t listen to their nonsense."


    "We only have one man in our family. Before our parents left, they told me to take good care of you, that I couldn''t let our family''s line end..." Shen Fang said softly.


    Shen Qing fell silent.


    As hunters who "drive mountains," they relied on the mountains for their livelihood and didn''t have any farnd.


    Apart from managing household chores, there wasn''t much else a woman could help with here.


    "By the way, Sister." Shen Qing changed the subject. "Do we still have any meat at home?"


    "It''s all gone," Shen Fang stammered. "Now we only have some bran cakes left."


    Shen Qing''s face fell: "¡­ Just take it out and let''s eat for now; I''ll think of other ways tomorrow."


    "Alright."


    Shen Fang stood up, took out two bran cakes from a broken jar, put them in Shen Qing''s hands, and said, "Qingzi, don''t worry too much. As long as I''m here, I won''t let you go hungry."


    "I know," Shen Qing took the grayish bran cakes.


    He looked down at the bran cakes in his hands, their rough and uneven surface covered with specks of bran, resembling a piece of earth eroded by time.


    Heavy.


    They didn''t look much different from other cakes.


    However, when you took a bite, the texture was indescribable.


    They were not soft and smooth like typical flour products; on the contrary, they were so coarse that they were difficult to swallow.


    Each bite came with a gritty sound, almost as if chewing on sand.


    The bran rolled around in the mouth, bringing an indescribable feeling of a foreign object.


    If there was any vor at all, it was a faint, slightly bitter taste of grass and wood¡ªeating them was more a challenge to the limit of one''s taste buds than enjoying food.


    For Shen Qing, who had lived a modern life before this, eating such cakes was undoubtedly a form of torture.


    But for families like Shen Qing''s, being able to fill their stomachs mattered more than whether the food tasted good or not.


    Shen Qing exhaled and swallowed it with snow water, bracing himself.


    The bran cakes were hard to eat, but when his stomach was full, Shen Qing still felt an unprecedented sense offort.


    Warmth began to return to his tired body, and his face showed a bit more vitality.


    At this moment, looking around the empty y house, Shen Qing couldn''t help but start thinking more actively.


    Having been in this world for over a month, he had figured out where he now stood.


    He was living in a vige named Hongshan Vige, with hunting as its primary upation¡ªthe vige consisted of around thirty households and belonged to Taiping County.


    Taiping Countyid to the north against the great mountains and to the south it touched upon a greatke; it was home to several tens of thousands of households making their living here.


    In the county, there were four markets located to the north, south, east, and west, dominated by the Four Great Eastern Families.


    The hunters from Hongshan Vige, along with other tenants, fishermen''s sons, and woodcutters, all depended on the Four Great Eastern Families to make a living.


    However, the Four Great Eastern Families in the county were far from benevolent.


    Each one was a ruthless character, unconcerned with the well-being of others.


    With the tax officials from the Great Zhou Government added to the mix, it was a challenge for themon folk just to achieve basic sustenance.


    If cmity or disaster struck, it often meantplete ruin for a family.


    This world could be summed up in one word: difficult!


    Fortunately, having been reborn in this world, Shen Qing was not without reliance.


    With a thought, a glint appeared in his eyes, and ayer of invisible ripples seemed to spread through his gaze.


    A string of ink-brushed characters unfurled before him like a scroll.


    [Skill: Bow Technique (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 98/100 points]


    [Status: Unable to improve]


    [Note: "As heaven''s movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive." Continuous practice can break through the skill''s progress.]


    ```

 Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Breakthrough!

    Tap, tap, tap!


    "Qingzi, are you home? Open the door!"


    Shen Qing set aside his thoughts.


    The scroll in his view was promptly put away and disappeared.


    "Coming,ing."


    He walked to the door, opened it, and a gust of cold wind rushed inside, "Uncle, what brings you here?"


    Although Shen Qing had no parents since his arrival, his father had a brother and a sister.


    The fact that he and his sister were still alive, not wiped out, owed much to his uncle''s support.


    Uncle Shen Er was silent for a moment before he took down a strip of meat from his waist, "This is some hunting crossbows I caught a few days ago, all smoked already. I don''t have much left now, you and your sister should eat it sparingly."


    "This..."


    "Enough talk," Shen Er tossed the meat to Shen Qing and without even pausing to brush off the snow on his clothes, he turned and left.


    Shen Qing had wanted to show some backbone, but looking at the meat in his hands, he subconsciously couldn''t let it go.


    When poor, even one''s spirits are diminished.


    Suddenly, as if he remembered something, Shen Qing hurriedly handed the hunting crossbows to Shen Fang, then braced himself against the wind and snow and rushed out.


    "Uncle, uncle, wait a minute, I need to ask you for something."


    Walking ahead, Shen Er stopped and turned back, "What is it, Qingzi?"


    Shen Qing, without any embarrassment, bowed his head and spoke humbly, "Uncle, I lost my arrow today, could I borrow one to use?"


    Shen Er looked at Shen Qing and sighed, "Come with me."


    Shen Qing hurriedly said, "Thank you, uncle."


    Uncle Shen Er''s house was not far from his, just front house to back house.


    His house was on the slope, Uncle Shen Er''s was downhill, just around a small path, a few steps away.


    In Uncle''s house lived two sons and one aunt, a total of four mouths to feed.


    As an old hunter in the vige, Uncle hunted in autumn and winter, collected medicinal herbs in spring and summer; even if the Boss from the county took a cut, they could still earn about 50 to 60 wen a day, roughly enough to buy five kilos of grain.


    It seemed alright, enough to scrape by a subsistence for the family.


    But in reality, it was far from enough.


    Salt, iron, and other necessities required money, as did cloth, oil, and tea, not to mention recing hunting gear and various kinds of harsh taxes.


    Though each expense was small, added together they could crush a person.


    Walking behind, Shen Qing saw his uncle, in his thirties, already looking as weary as a man of fifty or sixty, his back even starting to hunch.


    A momentter, the two arrived near a mud-brick house.


    Compared to Shen Qing''s house, his uncle''s was clearly bigger and much sturdier.


    "Hu Zi''s mom, open the door!"


    Aunt Wang, hearing the noise, opened the door.


    As a woman from the mountains, Wang was not good-looking, even somewhat ugly.


    Her dark skin andrge bone structure made her appear as robust as a man.


    "Wife, fetch an arrow for Qingzi," instructed Uncle as soon as he entered the house.


    Aunt Wang didn''t say much, just turned to get an arrow, quietlyining to Shen Er, "We don''t have many arrows left at home!"


    Wang took down a bamboo tube hanging on the wall, fetched a feathered arrow from it, thought for a moment, then added two more.


    She then handed them to Shen Qing, admonishing, "I''m not being stingy with these few arrows, Qingzi, you know your uncle''s household doesn''t have it easy either, don''t lose them carelessly."


    "Thank you, auntie," Shen Qing didn''t look closely but stuffed them into his coat, gratefully speaking as he stood at the door, looking inside by the dim light.


    His two cousins were sitting in the hall sharpening their hunting gear when they saw him; they smiled and called out to him.


    "Brother Qingzi, won''t youe in and sit?"


    "With such heavy snow, I better head back early. I need to go up the mountain early tomorrow. We''ll go to town together once the snow stops."


    "Alright then!"


    Shen Qing turned and said, "Uncle, aunt, you guys carry on with your work, I will head back now."


    Once Shen Qing had left, Wang closed the door and spoke to Shen Er, "I heard that our youngest sister is now a concubine at Linfeng Hall given by the Zhao family?"


    Shen Er hummed in affirmation, "It''s a recent development."


    Wang tentatively proposed, "Could our youngest sister be asked to speak to the Martial Arts Hall, to get Shanwa into the hall? If Shanwa bes a martial master, our days could improve a lot. After all, Shanwa is her biological nephew, and you are her own second brother."


    Shen Er scoffed, "Do you think the Martial Arts Hall belongs to your family? Just enter whenever you say? I''ve already inquired; even entering the outer gate costs ten taels silver. Asking our sister for help, to say the least, would cost five or six taels, it is not a small sum."


    Wang Family said, "Today, the son of Chen Family mentioned that families in town are buying wives, they are willing to offer five taels silver. Xiao Fang is not young anymore..."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Er unconsciously nced up and down at Wang Family and said, "Can Chen Family really be that kind-hearted? They almost wiped out my elder brother''s family. If it weren''t for my intervention, there would have likely not been a scrap of meat left for the siblings. They''re probably just fooling you, a woman without worldly experience."


    Wang Family did not speak again, but after a while, she said in a slightlyining tone, "The heavy snow keeps falling, don''t just think about those siblings, consider Shanwa and Hu Zi a bit more."


    "Got it. I am well aware."


    ...


    Behind Shen Qing''s house, there was a bamboo forest that had been ttened by the heavy snow.


    There was arge, bent bamboo with a wooden post attached to it; a part in the center had been ttened.


    It was covered with dense pits.


    This was where Shen Qing usually practiced bow shooting.


    Having gone home to retrieve his bow, Shen Qing skillfully nocked an arrow borrowed from his uncle onto the bowstring.


    Shen Qing drew the bow fully, maintaining a distance of three feet between the bow and his arm.


    Whoosh!


    Fifty steps away, the feathered arrow left the bow and struck near the edge of the wooden post, almost missing the target.


    Expressionlessly, Shen Qing re-nocked the arrow on the bow.


    This bow, left by his father, was made from elm wood and strung with deer tendons.


    Although it wasn''t a top-quality bow, it was certainly better than simple single-piece wooden or bamboo hunting bows.


    At least, it could be used to hunt mountain pigs and wolves, unlike thetter which were only suitable for pheasants and hares.


    This bow could be sold for one tael silver, representing one of the few assets he possessed.


    Whoosh!


    Another arrow was shot.


    It missed the target.


    Shen Qing continued his archery training, once, twice, three times...


    He didn''t know how many times he repeated until the sky had darkened, then he finally stopped.


    At that moment, Shen Qing''s nce fell upon the crude panel within his view, and a slight smile appeared on his face.


    [Skill: Bow Technique (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 100/100 points]


    [Status: Upgradable]


    [Note: Heaven rewards the diligent, and a gentleman strives ceaselessly for self-improvement! Continuous practice can break through skill level.]


    "Finally, it''s enough!"


    Without any hesitation, Shen Qing thought, "Break through for me!"


    A muffled sound echoed in his mind; in the crude panel, the numerical value of the progress was rapidly changing, resembling the screen on a gas pump in his previous life.


    When the progression numbers reset to zero, the panel in his view vibrated slightly.


    [Current Skill: Bow Technique (Skilled)]


    [Progress: 0/200]


    Shen Qing seemed to feel something, his eyes fixated on his own hands.


    Visibly, calluses bulged out on his hands while the muscles on his arms unbelievably strengthened at an incredible rate.


    This feeling was like... like he had truly been practicing archery for a long time...


    Various key points about Bow Technique emerged in his mind.


    Shen Qing''s eyes narrowed slightly as he reached for another feathered arrow and drew the bow.


    His arms stretchedfortably long, pulling the bow into a full moon.


    The movement sequence became incredibly skillful.


    Thump!


    The bow vibrated mysteriously.


    A hundred steps away, an arrow struck the target center; the feathers quivered!


    The snow on therge bamboo fell rustlingly.


    The bent bamboo straightened its body slowly.


    With an excited face, Shen Qing slowly lowered the bow in his hand, looking at the ink-like crude panel in his sight.


    He realized that this seemingly simple panel might just be the foundation for his existence in this world.

 Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Hunt

    Snowkes touched the ground, and rustling sounds filled the forest.


    Shen Qing looked up and saw that Shicheng Mountain, under the cover of night, was nothing but a blur.


    He gathered his thoughts and expressionlessly plucked all the arrows stuck in the wooden stake, then gathered them neatly into the Arrow Quiver hanging at his waist.


    In the snowstorm, he turned and left the bamboo forest.


    When he got home, his elder sister Shen Fang had already gone to bed.


    In such a season, the vigers would generally go to sleep at dusk if there were no pressing matters.


    Shen Qing removed the bow and arrow from his body, leaned it against the wall, grabbed a handful of straw, and plugged the three broken pot windows on the wall.


    Then, he took off his coat and directlyy down on the other side of Shen Fang''s bed.


    In this vige, many families couldn''t afford to build new houses, even if they got married they would still sleep on the same kang as their parents.


    Poor families didn''t have many scruples.


    Not to mention, Shen Qing and his sister had been sleeping together since they were little and were used to it.


    The quilts at home were filled with hemp and wadding, and the instion was very average.


    When Shen Qing curled up under the quilt, however, he felt waves of warmth.


    The bed had already been warmed up by Shen Fang.


    Shen Qingy t on the bed, his hands behind his head, his eyes gazing at the ink script in his line of sight.


    These hunters lived off the mountains and the waters, their regr means of livelihood were hunting animals, trading furs, gathering herbs, and chopping wood.


    But if he wanted to change his situation quickly, that wouldn''t be enough.


    He must hunt some big game.


    Preferably delicacies from the mountains.


    Such things had an excellent effect on conditioning the body, and consuming them could invigorate his Qi-Blood.


    The martial master in the county coveted them highly.


    It was said that some mountain delicacies could save months of arduous training and were worth several thousand coins.


    They were the dream of every mountain driver.


    In the past, he wouldn''t even dare to think about such things, but now, as his Bow Technique improved continuously, maybe he would have a chance to try for it in the future.


    "Tomorrow I''ll go to the mountains again, first solve the problem of food and clothing, then ask my uncle about the intricacies of mountain delicacies, and see if I can try my luck in the future."


    "Without unexpected wealth, a man does not get rich; without night grazing, a horse does not fatten. Just hunting some birds and beasts won''t make one wealthy."


    Winter was the season for winter hunting, free from prohibitions.


    Once spring arrived, the officials would ban hunting.


    Then, these hunters could only hunt birds and waterfowl.


    Even if they sneaked into the mountains, the animals, having depleted their energy over winter, were of poor quality and did not fetch high prices.


    Their daily haul would necessarily be much reduced; to live well, they had to depend on this period.


    He definitely couldn''t miss this opportunity.


    After thinking it through, Shen Qing''s eyes flickered, and the Panel that appeared in his line of sight rolled up like a scroll, and he fell asleep.


    The winter in Hongshan Vige generallysted until the fifth watch of the night.


    Shen Qing timed his biological clock and woke up on time.


    He rolled over to a pot hole in his bed, pulled out the stuffed straw, and took a nce outside.


    The snow in the mountains hadn''t stopped, but it had lessened considerably.


    Judging by this trend, the heavy snow would probably stop in a few days.


    Shen Qing crawled out of the warm quilt, and the sudden chill made him much more alert.


    Shen Qing casually grabbed a yun garment from the wall, wore it, went outside, scooped up a handful of snow, and rubbed it on his face as a way of washing.


    "Today I can take a turn in the forest behind the mountain; I probably won''te back empty-handed."


    Shen Qing was mentally nning his day''s work when his sister Shen Fang''s call from behind interrupted his thoughts: "Qingzi,e have some porridge."


    "Coming."


    Thanks to the Hunting crossbows his uncle broughtst night, there was a bit of meat to eat this morning.


    Shen Fang had torn off a part of the Hunting crossbow early in the morning and then scraped some rice grains from the near-empty rice container to cook a bowl of thin meat porridge.


    From afar, the fragrance of meat already wafted through the white water.


    Shen Qing epted the bowl passed by his elder sister, Shen Fang, and drank while blowing on it.


    The warm porridge flowed down his throat into his stomach, making him feel as if he were immersed in a hot spring, his whole body rxed.


    After gulping down tworge bowls and chewing a few slices of meat, Shen Qing put down the bowl and said, "Sister, you should have some too."


    Shen Fang smiled and said, "I already had some before you woke up."


    Shen Qing knew of Shen Fang''s stubborn temper but did not point out her intentions. After finishing, he smacked his lips and said, "I''m heading out now; let''s eat meat together in the evening."


    Shen Fang expressed her worries, "Be extra careful in the mountains, and it''s okay if you don''t catch any game, I can always go to Chen Yuan if needed."


    Shen Qing took the bow and arrows from the wall and strapped them onto himself, "Chen Yuan and his crew are no good either; you just stay at home and don''t wander about. Wait for me to return before making any decisions, and please don''t decide on your own."


    "I know," replied elder sister Shen Fang with a nod.


    "I''m leaving now."


    "Wait a moment," Shen Fang said as she tore off arge piece of dried meat from the wall, stuffed it into Shen Qing''s clothes, and cautioned, "Take it slow on the road, and don''t try to be brave if you encounter a ck Bear or other fierce animals."


    Shen Qing tucked the dried meat into his clothes and said, "I''ll be cautious and not recklessly take risks. Just wait for me at home with peace of mind."


    Having said that, he turned around and walked out the door.


    Elder sister Shen Fang stood at the doorway, watching the figure of Shen Qing disappear into the snow-covered ground, gradually moving further away.


    It was bitterly cold, and since Shen Qing left quite early, he encountered no vigers along the way.


    Shen Qing warmed his hands in his sleeves, sighing to himself, "In this cold weather, anyone with a bit of ability would stay indoors, notcking meat to eat."


    "Those less fortunate, like my cousin, even have an uncle to support them, and might even have the opportunity to learn martial arts in the county city."


    "Only someone like me, who has no one to depend on, would head to the mountain so early, relying solely on themselves."


    "Without any capability, one would only end up frozen to death."


    "What a terrible ce!"


    Shen Qing nced at the sky, tightened his hold on the hunting bow, and followed the path frequently used by hunters in the vige directly towards the back mountain.


    ...


    Following the route remembered in his mind, Shen Qing found the bark he had marked a few days earlier.


    Every time the hunters entered the mountain, they would chop off a section of bark about two-foot long from arge tree at the boundary of the area they had marked, roll it into a cylinder, and wedge it onto a tree beside the path leading deeper into the woods.


    Subsequent hunters entering would see the bark roll and know this was someone else''s territory, avoiding deeper intrusion to prevent idental injury.


    Shen Qing picked up the roll of bark from the ground and wedged it among tree branches, then proceeded along the mountain path into the woods, soon reaching the outskirts of Shicheng Mountain.


    The area was teeming with bushes and thorns and overrun with shrubs.


    The heavy snow also made movement quite challenging.


    Shen Qing trudged through the thick snow, his steps uneven as he navigated through the forest.


    Based on past memories, this area was rich in game; his father had frequented it, managing to secure some game more or less.


    An hourter.


    Shen Qing sat on the snow, took out the strip of meat Shen Fang had torn for him, and chewed on it to regain some strength.


    Suddenly, he stopped chewing and cautiously removed his bow, gently parting the bushes in front of him.


    A colorful pheasant flew down from the mountaintop andnded on an old tree nearby.


    Hey, there''s life!


    Shen Qing slowly drew an arrow from the Arrow Quiver, ced it on the bowstring; he held his breath, almost instinctively adjusting his breathing and posture.


    Previously, he wouldn''t dare attempt a shot from such a distance, but now¡­


    He slowly drew the longbow.


    The bowstring tightened, and the arrow pointed directly at the pheasant.


    Whoosh!


    The arrow shot out like a meteor, piercing through the silence of the mountain wood.


    The pheasant seemed to sense something but was toote.


    After Shen Qing''s breakthrough in Bow Technique, the arrow flew with unerring uracy, piercing through its body.

 Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Chen Yuan

    "Hahaha, hit!"


    The pheasant pped its wings continuously and, after a few wobbles, it copsed in the snow.


    Shen Qing was overjoyed.


    He dashed over, grabbed the still-pping pheasant, and looked it over carefully.


    People in the county liked to use these feathers to make craft feathers, feather fans, and feather headdresses.


    This pheasant''s feathers were as gorgeous as brocade, with a full tail and colorful plumes, and could fetch a pretty penny.


    Not only that, but pheasant meat, whether stir-fried, boiled, stewed, or roasted, was always delicious. It was a rare delicacy, enough to satisfy his and his sister''s hunger for a day.


    He finally had some rewards for his efforts.


    Shen Qing pinched the pheasant''s neck, twisted it with a flick of his wrist, and hung it on his waist.


    Then he looked up at the sky, where under the dark clouds a spot showed some brightness, indicating it was still before noon.


    There was still plenty of time; he could venture deeper.


    Now that his archery had improved, the bow and arrow felt like an extension of his arm,pletely free from the previous unfamiliar sensation.


    Just now, he had hit his target from a hundred steps away in one shot, something he wouldn''t even dare to imagine before.


    If a snow wolf were to appear in front of him now, he felt he could bring it down as well.


    With this thought, a rare smile appeared on Shen Qing''s face. Holding his bow, he trudged through the snow deeper into the wilderness.


    There were many viges like Hongshan Vige near Shicheng Mountain, all of which relied on hunting for a living and had been familiar with the mountain for generations.


    This mountain range spanned nearly a hundred miles and appearedrge, but in reality, there were only a few dozen areas suitable for hunting.


    The other areas were either too dangerous, with demons and ferocious beasts lurking, or were too barren, with very little game.


    If an inexperienced hunter from outside entered Shicheng Mountain, not to mention a day, even after ten days they mighte back empty-handed.


    Today, he had managed to catch a pheasant in half a day, which aside from the breakthrough in Bow Technique, he had to admit was partly due to luck.


    Indeed, for the rest of the day, he didn''t spot another single piece of game.


    The game in the mountains seemed to have made an agreement to suddenly be invisible.


    Standing in the snow, Shen Qing considered, "Perhaps I''ve been hunting too frequently here this past month; it might be time to find another ce."


    As he thought of the deer he saw the day before, the image surfaced in his mind.


    "I''ll try that side again tomorrow."


    Having made up his mind, Shen Qing turned and left.


    Since he left early, it was still bright when he returned to the vige.


    He happened to meet a few fellow vigers from Hongshan Vige.


    Seeing the pheasant hanging from Shen Qing''s waist, they showed interest.


    "Qingzi, lucky today, eh? You didn''te back empty-handed."


    "That pheasant is of good quality. How about it? Do you want to sell it to me? I''ll trade you five pounds of brown rice for it?"


    "Old Tian, do you think I don''t know the value? You expect to trade my pheasant for your five pounds of brown rice? Is your rice made of gold or silver?"


    Shen Qing said with augh, "Now on the market, a pound of brown rice is about twelve wen, so five pounds would be sixty wen. My pheasant could easily fetch 150 wen in the county. Don''t try to take advantage of me."


    After saying this, he squeezed through the group and left.


    From a ce of sheer cliffs and harsh waterse cunning folk.


    Having lived here over a month, Shen Qing had long realized that these people would take advantage of every opportunity.


    If you give them an inch, they will take a mile.


    The people behind him were not bothered by Shen Qing''s refusal and scattered on their own ord.


    Passing by several households, Shen Qing quickly made his way to his own front door and found it wide open.


    Inside sat a burly man, d in a set of gray cotton clothes, his face covered with horizontal flesh.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing''s return, a flicker of joy crossed Shen Fang''s face.


    The burly man seated on the chair turned his head and stared at Shen Qing, expressing his surprise, "Wow, Qingzi is back."


    The burly man stood up, towering a head taller than Shen Qing.


    He was strong and sturdy, clearly not someone to be trifled with.


    This man was none other than the eldest son of the mountain drivers from Hongshan Vige¡ªChen Yuan.


    It was rumored that Chen Youguang, who was well connected in town, had obtained a martial arts manual called Nine Skills and was training his three sons with it.


    Among the three brothers, it was the eldest who had the most talent for martial arts, grasping some of its essence, far beyond what someone like him, who survived on bran cakes, could defeat.


    However, Shen Qing was not the type to cower at the first sign of trouble, and he quickly regained hisposure, his expression unchanged, and with a beaming smile, he said, "What brings Brother Yuan to my humble abode today?"


    "It''s cold, just making a round of visits with nothing better to do," Chen Yuan nced at Shen Qing and walked toward the doorway. As he passed by Shen Qing, he looked down and said, "You''re lucky today, the pheasant you got is rather fine."


    Shen Qing caught on to what Chen Yuan meant and cleverly responded, "It''s all thanks to the heavens providing for us. Since Brother Yuan likes it, why don''t I give it to Brother Yuan as a gift?"


    "Ha ha, Boss Shen is quite straightforward, but I didn''t expect him to have such a clever son," Chen Yuan patted Shen Qing''s shoulder and continued, "I''ll pass on the pheasant, let''s talk about your sister after the heavy snow stops. The two of you should discuss this at home. It''s a good opportunity for both of you."


    After saying that, Chen Yuan turned and left.


    Shen Qing watched Chen Yuan walk away with an unpleasant look on his face.


    Even a fine pheasant wasn''t what he wanted; he probably desired much more from them, brother and sister.


    The two siblings had nothing of value, and their home was utterly poor.


    The only thing they could offer was their good looks.


    Shen Fang, who looked somewhat rustic, would turn into a beauty with only a slight touch of grooming.


    As for himself, there was no need to say more.


    In the vige, nobody could match him.


    However, beauty was a gift from heaven for the middle-ss family, but for people like them at the bottom, it was a disaster.


    Ever since the snow started, Chen Yuan had been eyeing Shen Fang, growing increasingly persistent.


    He definitely found some leverage outside and had set his sights on Shen Fang.


    Shen Qing estimated that once they were cornered with no way out, Chen Yuan was likely to bleed them dry.


    "Qingzi... it''s good that you''re back... he''s been persuading me, I really didn''t know what to do..."


    Shen Fang, who was hiding on the side, had a flickering look in her eyes.


    Seeing Shen Fang like this, Shen Qing knew that shecked a firm stance and might have been swayed by Chen Yuan.


    "Don''t pay him too much mind. You better not forget how his family left us high and dry when our parents passed away," he said.


    "I know," Shen Fang whispered back softly, almost inaudibly.


    Shen Qing looked outside the house.


    The snow fell gently.


    The silvery world was enveloped in a chill.


    The cold wind blew in gusts, as Shen Qing felt the bone-chilling cold surrounding him and his sister.


    "When I''m not home, sister, go stay with our aunt''s family. It might be a bit safer with my aunt and uncle there."


    Shen Qing returned to the house, took off the pheasant from his waist, threw it on the ground, and said, "Let''s ughter it!"

 Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Like a Human

    The Chen Family''s house was situated right at the center of Hongshan Vige.


    Compared to the ramshackle mud and straw huts of the surrounding vigers, the Chen Family''s house, primarily built of blue bricks, stood out conspicuously, mismatched with its surroundings.


    Chen Yuan, who had rushed back from Shen Qing''s house, pushed open the door and went inside.


    In the courtyard, the snow had already been swept clean.


    The second and third Chen brothers, Chen Tai and Chen An, were lifting stone locks, exerting their strength.


    "Big brother," Chen Tai, putting down the stone lock, asked, "Did everything go smoothly? Did Shen Fang agree?"


    "I almost persuaded her, but then Shen Qing came back and stirred things up," Chen Yuan said regretfully as he walked back to his room.


    The youngest brother, Chen An, interjected, "In my opinion, there''s no need for such trouble. Just tie her up and send her over."


    "The Song and Dong Family is short of girls for their brothel and is willing to pay a high price of thirty taels to collect beautiful women. If we miss this opportunity, there won''t be another like it."


    "Shen Fang is pretty good-looking; she should be worth that amount. Once we get the money, maybe all three of us could join a Martial Arts Hall and be martial masters, move to the county city, and not have to huddle in this mountain hole."


    Chen Yuan nced at his brother and said, "It''s a good fifty or sixty li from Hongshan Vige to the county city, and with the heavy snow and fierce winds, the roads are not easy to travel. Who''s going to carry her, you or me?"


    "Once the snow stops and if the Shen siblings still haven''t agreed, then we can make our move. By that time, traders from the city will be here, and we can conveniently rent a mule cart or horse cart to go to the city."


    "Before that, I''ll see if I can persuade them. If they both act foolish, we''ll save ourselves a lot of trouble."


    "As long as you have a n, big brother," Chen An suddenly remembered something and asked, "Big brother, do you still have the ''Nine Skills of Martial Arts'' father gave you?"


    "Still with me; what about it?" Chen Yuan replied.


    Chen An said, "I''ve had some insights in the past few days and want to ponder over them again. If you''re not using it, can you lend it to me for a couple of days?"


    "Sure, I''ll find it for youter. Lately, you''ve all started strength training, and our consumption of meat has increased. If there''s nothing else tomorrow, remember to go hunting in the mountains to supplement your diet. The key to Martial Arts lies in physical training."


    Chen An agreed, "Big brother, both I and the second brother know, we were nning to hunt in the mountains tomorrow."


    Chen Yuan looked around and, noticing only their brothers were at home, asked curiously, "Where''s father?"


    Chen Tai, who had started lifting the stone lock again, replied, "He said he had to make a trip out this morning to meet a friend. He probably won''t be back until tomorrow."


    "Oh."


    ...


    Shen Fang finished preparing the pheasant, picking up each feather carefully.


    Holding a potful of meat, she hesitated, "I don''t eat much and can''t finish it all. Should I save half to air-dry forter?"


    "Just half for the two of us, how could we possibly get full?" Shen Qing, sitting below the stove making fire, said, "We eat bran cakes every day and can''t even poop properly; we need some meat and broth to lubricate our intestines."


    At these words, Shen Fang''splexion turned awkward, as if recalling unpleasant memories.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll go up the mountain again tomorrow and won''te back empty-handed."


    In the end, Shen Fang couldn''t overrule Shen Qing.


    The siblings took care of the whole pheasant.


    Shen Fang gently ced a bowl of steaming chicken soup on the table.


    The golden-yellow chicken soup emitted a light meat fragrance, with a few slices of bright green onion floating on the surface.


    Even though it only contained some salt and no other seasonings, the innate deliciousness of the ingredients was enough to leave a memorable taste.


    The pheasant, stewed for a long time, was tender and juicy.


    With a gentle pull, one could feel the texture of the meat, and the aroma was overwhelming.


    Much better than the daily bran cakes they ate.


    Shen Qing took a bowl of chicken soup and drank it down, feeling warm all over, as though soaking in a hot spring, utterlyfortable.


    "Finally have a chance to treat these organs to a feast," he said.


    In the midst of winter, with meat and hot soup to eat,


    After more than a month in this world, Shen Qing felt like he was truly human again.


    He set down his bowl and refilled it with another serving of hot soup, asking, "Big sister, what did Chen Yuan say to you today?"


    Shen Fang took a sip of the chicken soup, cradling the bowl in her hands to warm them, and recalled, "The same things as before, asking if I would be willing to be sold to a well-off family in the city to work as a maid."


    "What do you think about it?"


    "I want to try. If I go, I could exchange it for some money, and it would be easier for you, little brother."


    Shen Qing knew that such thoughts were verymon in Da''an County.


    Many impoverished families would squeeze into the homes of the rich and powerful in the city, willingly bing ves just for a bite to eat.


    For people like them at the bottom of society, serving wealthy households seemed like a decent way out.


    If, by chance, they gained the favor of their master and received rewards, they could even stand out from among their peers.


    At the very least, they wouldn''t die of starvation.


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment before saying, "Sister, do you want to listen to me?"


    "You are the only male in the family; your sister will definitely listen to whatever you say."


    "If it were up to me, I''d say don''t go, not even to be a concubine."


    In present-day Great Zhou Country, people were divided into rankings.


    Emperor, nobles, officials, doctors, martial artists, farmers, craftsmen, merchants, ves.


    The so-called ''maids'' essentially signed a contract of servitude, bing part of the ve ss.


    Being hunters living by the mountains and obtaining what they needed for life through hunting, their status was a bit higher than that of wandering beggars but lower than farmers who ownednd.


    After all, they were officially registered as part of the agricultural ss.


    As for the ve ss, they were the lowest in Zhou Country, only slightly better off than disreputable prostitutes.


    Once they entered the ve ss, it meant they became the personal property of the master, who could beat or kill them at will.


    Their descendants would also be ves for generations, with no hope of turning their fates around.


    Being a maid for a wealthy family might seem morous, but in reality, their futures were never guaranteed.


    Of course, there was an even more important point that Shen Qing had not told Shen Fang.


    What Chen Yuan wanted was probably not as simple as having her be a maid.


    And to sell his own sister for money.


    Shen Qing asked himself, and knew he could not do such a thing that weighed on his conscience.


    Even holding that money would burn his hands.


    "Alright, I''ll listen to you. If Chen Yuanes again, I''ll reject him," Shen Fang said, seemingly touched by Shen Qing''s concern, though she showed little expression on her face, her heart was very delighted.


    "Drink your soup quickly, or it''ll get cold."


    They finished the entire pot of chicken soup.


    Their starving bodies were like parchednd receiving rain, nourished and revived.


    Theirplexions both turned much rosier.


    After a brief cleanup, Shen Qing did not dy, grabbing his bow and arrows and heading into the bamboo forest behind the house, intending to practice his Bow Technique while it was still light out.


    Time waits for no one, and he wasn''t willing to waste too much of it.


    Perhaps it was the effect of the chicken soup, but standing in the snow, Shen Qing didn''t feel as cold as before.


    Just as Shen Qing was drawing his bow, a startled cry came from the vige.


    "Murder! The Chen Family Brothers have killed someone!"


    The shout instantly spread throughout the whole vige.


    Shen Qing saw many peopleing out of their homes, heading toward the direction of the Chen Family''s house.

 Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Life is Cheap

    The Chen familymitted a murder?!


    Startled by this news, Shen Qing abruptly stopped what he was doing and ran out of the bamboo forest.


    He caught up with Chen Dahu, who had juste out from inside the house, and asked, "What''s happening outside?"


    Chen Dahu, who had been at home, had also just heard the news and was as confused as Shen Qing.


    After a while, Shen Qing saw his cousins, Shen Xiaohu and Shen Xiaoshan, and hurried over.


    "Xiao Hu, Shanwa, what''s going on?"


    Seeing that it was Shen Qing calling, Shen Xiaoshan and Shen Xiaohu didn''t hide anything.


    Xiao Hu said breathlessly, "Tian Chuan was beaten to death by the second and third sons of the Chen family."


    "I heard that Tian Chuan was caught climbing a wall by the second and third sons of the Chen family, who showed no mercy. Now he''s lying in the snow, with arge expanse stained red by his blood."


    "The Tian family members have all gone there, wanting to demand an exnation."


    "Brother Qingzi, do you want toe with us?"


    Shen Xiaoshan and Shen Xiaohu took turns speaking and finally gave Shen Qing a rough idea of what had happened.


    The Tian family were neers in Hongshan Vige and didn''t have a high status, leading somewhat twisted lives.


    This was especially true for Tian Chuan''s family.


    He was the only male in his family, and his parents were old and frail.


    It was extremely difficult for the entire family to manage even the basic necessities.


    To think that they had been beaten to death by the Chen family members.


    "Wait for me," Shen Qing said, and after giving Shen Fang a brief exnation and closing the door, he signaled, "Let''s go!"


    By the time Shen Qing and the others arrived, many vigers from Hongshan had also gathered from all directions, surrounding the scene and whispering among themselves.


    Tian Chuan''s bodyy stiffly there, the surrounding snow dyed scarlet with his blood¡ªa shocking and ghastly sight.


    The faces of the vigers were filled with astonishment and regret.


    Next to Tian Chuan''s body, the second son, Chen Tai, and the third son, Chen An, of the Chen family stood with grim expressions, each holding a stick stained with dark red blood, still dripping.


    Chen An''s face wore a murderous look, as if afraid that others wouldn''t know it was he who had done the deed.


    Just then, Tian Chuan''s parents, having heard the news, stumbled into the crowd.


    Seeing the body of their son, Mother Tian immediately copsed to the ground, while Lord Tian''s eyes were empty, tears streaming down his face.


    Mother Tian wailed, "My son, how could you leave us like this!"


    Lord Tian, trembling, pointed at the Chen Family Brothers and bellowed, "You''vemitted murder!"


    Their voices were piercing and despairing.


    Murmurs of sympathy continually arose from the mouths of the vigers of Hongshan Vige.


    "s, young Tian Chuan must have been driven to desperation, with the heavy snow sealing off the mountains and likely no more food reserves at home."


    "But sneaking into the Chen family to steal was still wrong, no matter what."


    "Even so, it was not necessary to beat a man to death, was it?" someone indignantly said.


    After a while, as the vigers discussed, the details of the incident became clearer.


    Tian Chuan, driven by hunger and having run out of food at home, had reluctantly chosen to steal cured meat from the Chen family.


    Regrettably, he was caught by the second and third sons of the Chen family, and after a verbal altercation and struggle, Chen An, in a fit of rage, beat him to death in the snow.


    By this time, the Tian family members from within Hongshan Vige had already hurried over after hearing the news, confronting the Chen Family Brothers and using the Chen family of being vicious and cruel.


    Everyone in the mountains lived a hard life and carried a degree of fierce energy.


    If it weren''t for others holding them back, the Tian family members would have grabbed the hunting knives they carried on their bodies, seemingly ready to hack the Chen Family Brothers to pieces.


    The second and third sons of the Chen family, however, stood to the side with expressionless faces, exuding arrogance and contempt.


    "If he''s dead, he''s dead. Just a thief." Chen San scoffed, "I didn''t know he couldn''t take a hit like that."


    The vigers looked at Tian Chuan''s body and then at the attitude of the Chen Family Brothers, a chill rising in their hearts.


    "Give me back my son, give me back my son!"


    Mother Tian suddenly became fierce and lunged at Chen An, only to be quickly knocked down by a kick from Chen Tai.


    The scene immediately became chaotic.


    The eldest son of the Chen family, Chen Yuan, squeezed through the crowd.


    He was tall and burly, with a face full of ferocity, easily overpowering even the vige''s old hunter.


    Chen Yuan looked around and shouted in a deep voice, "Everybody listen up!"


    "Tian Chuan climbed the wall to steal meat from my house. Although my family has some reserves, it''s not something just anyone can take. Furthermore, Tian Chuan was carrying a dagger and intended to attack my two brothers."


    Chen An used a stick to lift Tian Chuan''s arm and sure enough, they found a dagger.


    Seeing such a scene, the vigers were in an uproar.


    Shen Qing, in the crowd, furrowed his brow upon hearing Chen Yuan''s words.


    He had a bit of an impression of Tian Chuan.


    He believed Tian Chuan might have stolen the meat out of extreme hunger, but he did not believe he would have attacked the Chen brothers with a dagger.


    It was very likely that Tian Chuan, pushed to the brink, chose to fight back.


    But now, saying anything was useless.


    Tian Chuan was already dead.


    By bringing up this point now, Chen Yuan was clearly looking to capitalize on Tian Chuan''s death, with an underlying intention to establish his authority.


    Chen Yuan scanned the crowd and took a step forward, continuing loudly, "I have one fault¡ªI am protective of my own. If anyone touches a single hair on my brothers, not only would a beating be justified, but killing them on the spot would be their own fault. Don''t me me for not making this clear beforehand."


    As soon as these words were uttered, Chen Yuan''s presence suddenly changed.


    A formidable aura spread out, as if he were a wrathful deity.


    With this spectacle, plus Tian Chuan''s body on the ground, the vigers of Hongshan Vige were all somber, resembling frightened quails.


    Not one dared speak up for Tian Chuan, only able to offer silent sympathy in their hearts.


    In the crowd, Shen Qing looked at Chen Yuan, pondering, "Chen Yuan has some skill in martial arts, capable of taking on three men by himself. There are over a hundred people in this vige, and if everyone were to gang up on him, perhaps they could beat him to death."


    "It''s just a pity, no one is willing to stick their neck out to be one of those three."


    As if sensing Shen Qing''s thoughts, Chen Yuan subconsciously nced in Shen Qing''s direction.


    Shen Qing quickly lowered his head.


    Confronted with the Chen family''s dominance, the Tian Family members, who arrived in outrage, no longer had the momentum they had at the beginning.


    Chen An yelled, "In this snowstorm, what are you all crowding around my house for? Get lost, all of you!"


    At his shout, the many vigers who''d gathered dispersed.


    Tian Chuan''s parents, their hair white with grief, dragged their son''s body back to their house in the heavy snow, leaving behind a long trail of blood.


    Quickly, the snow covered the bloodstains, nketing the scene as if nothing had happened.


    Back at home, Shen Xiaohu and Shen Xiaoshan were both filled with righteous indignation.


    "The Chen Family Brothers are so overbearing, and the Tian family is too spineless. If the Chen family hadn''t colluded with the Boss in the city to suppress the prices of the game, Tian Chuan wouldn''t havecked even food to eat."


    "What good would it do not to be spineless? Tian Chuan had no brothers or sisters, and his parents are too old to do anything. Who would risk stepping forward for them? Even going to the government requires having connections."


    "Dead is dead."


    "In this world, nothing is cheaper than the lives of people like us."


    Shen Qing remained silent, listening quietly on the side without speaking further.

 Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Back to the Mountain

    In Hongshan Vige, most were hunters who survived by hunting.


    The mountains were full of venomous snakes and fierce beasts, and almost every year, someone from the vige would die from hunting.


    Death, for the people of Hongshan Vige, was all toomon.


    By the second day after Tian Chuan was beaten to death, no one in Hongshan Vige talked about it anymore.


    Everything had returned to calm.


    It was as if this person had never existed in the vige.


    Shen Qing woke up early in the morning with dark circles under his eyes.


    He stepped outside the house, caught a falling snowke with his hand, then fiercely grabbed a handful of snow from the ground and pressed it tightly to his face.


    The ice-cold chill, like countless needles piercing his skin, made him shiver instantly.


    This chill, as if it could prate his bone marrow, also cleared his muddled thoughts, bringing a surge of exhration and an unprecedented rity to his mind.


    "Little brother, the hot porridge is ready,e have a sip,"


    "Coming," Shen Qing gently exhaled.


    Shen Qing took the bowl of steaming meat porridge from Shen Fang''s hands, gently blew on it, and carefully sipped.


    The warm broth, carrying bits of meat, slid down his throat, bringing waves of warmth.


    This sense of warmth spread from his mouth throughout his body, seeming to dispel the chill that enveloped him during the winter.


    Combined with the chicken soup he had drunk the day before, his stomach was nourished, and Shen Qing felt much more spirited.


    "Little brother, do I feel like you''ve grown taller?"


    When Shen Qing stood up, Shen Fang felt, perhaps it was an illusion, that he seemed a bit sturdier.


    "Maybe I used to hunch over,"


    Shen Qing put aside the calligraphic characters in his view, set the bowl aside, and took up his bow and arrow quiver.


    "I''m heading up the mountain, I probably won''t be back by noon. You should stay at your aunt''s house. Remember to bring a bran cake with you, don''t make it difficult for your aunt and them."


    Shen Qing packed up while giving these instructions.


    "I got it."


    Shen Fang lowered her head in silence for a moment, then turned to clean up the dishes without making another sound.


    At that moment, she suddenly felt as if Shen Qing was the older brother, and she was the younger sister.


    Even though she was two years older than him.


    Shen Qing didn''t pay much attention to Shen Fang''s subtle feelings and, disregarding the harsh wind and snow, pushed the door open and left.


    A momentter, he arrived at the spot where he had peeled bark the day before and surveyed the surroundings.


    "The ce we went yesterday was too crowded with human activity, going there again today would likely yield little. ording to what was considered yesterday, today I''ll head to the forest where the deer appeared earlier."


    Generally speaking, deer do not stay long in one ce.


    Their instinct for wild survival drives them to constantly migrate and seek new food sources to avoid the depletion of resources and the threat of predators.


    Going there today, it was very likely that he wouldn''t see the deer he had encountered that day.


    But the presence of deer in that forest proved there were lichens, mosses, and unfrozen water sources¡ªit would definitely attract other animals.


    Shen Qing checked his direction, peeled some bark again to mark his path, and then headed straight into the depths of the mountains.


    The snow behind him bore a trail of deep footprints, as the figure of Shen Qing gradually disappeared into the snowstorm.


    Chen Family Mansion.


    Chen Tai and Chen An, both dressed in animal skins and carrying longbows and daggers, walked out of their house, facing the biting cold.


    Although the heavy snow had lessened considerably, it had not stopped and continued to fall sparsely.


    Looking out, Shicheng Mountain was dressed in silver, a sweep of pure white.


    Chen An tightened his coat andined to Chen Tai beside him, "This snow has been falling for so long, why do we have to climb the mountain? Wouldn''t it be better to stay at home and take care of our bodies?"


    Chen Tai smiled and responded, "The game is fat in winter, and it''s a good intention from older brother. Don''t talk too much, let''s go early and return early."


    Despite hisints, Chen An started walking, keeping up with his second brother''s pace.


    The two of them walked side by side, passing through the quiet vige, heading towards the back mountain.


    Soon, the two brothers, Chen An and Chen Tai, trudging through deep snow, arrived at the edge of the forest where Shen Qing was peeling bark.


    Chen Tai stopped, looked at the peeled bark Shen Qing made, and said, "Someone''s already here, let''s find another spot."


    "It''s good that someone''s here; it means there''s something inside, saving us from aimlessly searching."


    Chen An didn''t care who peeled the bark and went straight towards the hunting ground inside.


    "Isn''t it a bit inappropriate for us to just go in like this?" Chen Tai hesitantly said, his expression showing concern.


    Chen An turned his head and said, "Brother, the rules of hunters are rigid, but people are adaptable. Look at the footprints in the snow, only one person at most, what''s there to fear? He does his thing, we do ours¡ªthe mountain doesn''t belong to him alone."


    With that, he stretched out his hand and firmly grasped Chen Tai''s wrist, "We''re just going in to hunt, second brother, no need to be so pedantic, no one can do anything to us."


    Chen Tai nced at the silent, deserted forest, felt convinced by Chen An''s words, and finally nodded, "Alright, but let''s be careful."


    Chen An''s face showed a smug smile upon hearing that.


    He pulled on Chen Tai, and they followed Shen Qing into the woods one after another.


    ¡­


    Thwack!


    An arrow came flying from a distance and firmly pinned a rabbit to the ground.


    Blood slowly oozed from the arrow-pierced wound, staining the surrounding snow red.


    The rabbit''s eyes were filled with terror as it painfully writhed, trying to escape.


    Each struggle came with severe pain, yet the instinct to survive urged it to keep struggling.


    Shen Qing quickly approached from nearby, grabbed the rabbit by its long ears, and lifted it up, arrow and all.


    His eyes gleamed with joy as he skilfully pulled out the dagger from his waist and swiftly slit the rabbit''s jugr.


    Blood spurted out, staining the cuffs of his sleeve.


    The rabbit convulsed a few times, thenypletely still.


    Shen Qing picked up the dead rabbit, skillfully tied it up with a rope, and then hooked it onto his waist.


    He gently patted the game on his waist, a hint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes.


    "That makes the third one, it really wasn''t a wasted trip today, just a pity I didn''t encounter a big prize."


    Shen Qing ced his dagger on his elbow joint, wiped away the blood, and repositioned it at his waist.


    He then slowly crouched down, his gaze intently fixed on a trail of footprints on the snow.


    The footprints were clear and deep, obviously freshly made.


    He reached out, his fingertips lightly touching the edge of one footprint, feeling its delicate outline.


    He was sure it was a deer-like footprint.


    A glint of light shed across Shen Qing''s eyes, his heart secretly thrilled.


    To think, speaking of Cao Cao and Cao Cao appears, to actually stumble upon a big prize.


    By tracking these footprints, perhaps he could find that game, and this time, he wouldn''t let it escape.


    Suddenly, Shen Qing felt an intuition.


    His mind shifted, an expanse of ink unfolded in his sight, and a familiar interface emerged before his eyes, his expression turning to one of surprise.

 Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Small Success in Hunting Skills

    The ink in his vision began to diffuse.


    Under Shen Qing''s gaze, it transformed into line after line of text.


    [Skill: Bow Technique (Skillfully)]


    [Progress: 11/200 points]


    [Status: Unable to Improve]


    [Note: "As heaven''s movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive!" Continuous practice can lead to a breakthrough in skill progress.]


    ...


    [Skill: Hunting (Skillfully)]


    [Progress: 103/100 points]


    [Status: Can be Improved]


    [Note: The art of hunting is broad and profound, epassing Tracking, Tracking, Concealment, trap, Bait, ughtering, and other small skills, continuous practice can lead to a breakthrough.]


    Lately, Shen Qing had been hunting frequently, and his hunting skills had shown significant growth. Unknowingly, he had already met the conditions for a breakthrough.


    Without any hesitation, Shen Qing immediately said, "Breakthrough!"


    A familiar sensation suddenly struck him.


    A torrent of hunting techniques mercilessly flooded into his mind, surging like tumultuous waves.


    His head felt as if it had been struck by a blunt object, bing faintly swollen.


    Pit,sso trap, capture, Quench Poison, Tracking, Concealment...


    Key points in hunting flickered through his mind like a swift horse glimpsing the flowers.


    Suchplex information caused him to feel dizzy, and it took several deep breaths before he recovered.


    Once he steadied his mind, Shen Qing subconsciously nced at the inked text within his vision.


    [Skill: Hunting (Small Sess)]


    [Progress: 3/200 points]


    [Status: Unable to Improve]


    [Note: Continue practicing for aprehensive breakthrough. There is a certain probability that some of the hunting techniques will transform.]


    Shen Qing looked at the note and felt somewhat surprised.


    To think, the experiences now in his mind, without a knowledgeable old master to teach them, would be impossible for most people to know.


    With such abilities, he could now go much farther in the mountains.


    He hadn''t expected the hunting skills to continue to evolve.


    With this development, even if the heavens didn''t provide him with sustenance, he feared he could empty the mountain clean.


    Shen Qing''s spirits were greatly lifted.


    He lowered his head to look at the footprints below, and his expression became much moreposed.


    After carefully mulling it over for a while, several methods of tracking appeared in his mind.


    He didn''t dy any further and confidently followed the footprints.


    Whether it was due to the breakthrough, Shen Qing noticed several subtle changes in his body just as he set off.


    Though he was moving quickly through the snow, not a sound could be heard, and his figure was extraordinarily nimble.


    Additionally, he could hear every movement around him clearly, bing more alert and observant.


    Hunting techniques with Small Sess indeed had some tricks up their sleeve.


    Hard work pays off.


    After a round of tracking and concealing, Shen Qing spotted a dark shadow in the forest from afar.


    It was a robust roe deer, its brown fur shimmering with an attractive sheen.


    Shen Qing was overjoyed.


    Wild roe deer, which lived among the sparse forests on the small hills, not only had delicious, nutritious meat but also fetched a high price in the county town.


    Their fur was also a material for high-end leather goods.


    A unscathed wild roe deer could sell for as much as 1,200 wen.


    Even if there were injuries, diminishing the value of the fur, it could still fetch over 800 coins at least.


    For hunters like them, who made a living in the mountains, it was unquestionably valuable goods.


    Shen Qing did not dare to be careless.


    He knew that animals living in the wild were extremely vignt, and any negligence at this moment could startle the roe deer, causing it to escape.


    Shen Qing steadied his mind, held his breath, and silently approached.


    The stag was intently lowering its head to forage, oblivious to the impending danger.


    Without rming the roe deer, Shen Qing narrowed the distance between them to within a hundred steps, entering the effective killing range of his bow and arrow.


    Shen Qing sniffed the air, stretched out his hand to gauge the wind direction, then slowly drew the bow from behind his back, lightly resting a feathered arrow on it, and noiselessly pulled the bowstring taut.


    His gaze, breath, and heartbeat became one, and when the right moment came, he suddenly released his hold.


    Whoosh!


    The bowstring vibrated.


    Like a shooting star, the arrow cut through the sky, heading straight for the deer.


    After firing one arrow, Shen Qing didn''t hesitate to quickly swipe his quiver, hooked out another arrow with his little finger, notched it on the bow, and shot another arrow in quick session.


    After firing two arrows, Shen Qing sprinted forward.


    While running, he continued to notch arrows onto the bowstring.


    The deer seemed to sense something, but it was clearly toote for it to react.


    The arrow traveled an incredible distance in a blink of an eye.


    Under Shen Qing''s watchful eye, it pierced through the deer''s body with unerring uracy.


    The powerful follow-through made the animal''s body stagger and fall to the ground.


    The instinct to survivepelled it to scramble up regardless of everything.


    But it didn''t even have time to get up.


    Whoosh, whoosh.


    The subsequent arrows followed closely, piercing through its chest and thigh.


    Bright red, warm blood sttered everywhere.


    The deer that had just stood up was pinned to the ground by the arrows.


    It stared at its limbs, struggling to stand, but it was already at the end of its strength.


    A hundred steps'' distance could be covered in just a dozen or so breaths at a full sprint.


    Shen Qing had already caught up; he excitedly pulled a dagger from his waist and skillfully thrust it into the roe deer''s neck, beginning the ughter.


    "Puchi!"


    The deer''s sturdy skin was sliced open, the dark red flesh turned inside out, revealing a hole.


    Hot blood surged from the hole, sshing all over Shen Qing.


    Seeing the hot blood spray out, Shen Qing hurriedly grabbed his arrow quiver, dumped out the arrows, and collected the roe deer blood.


    Roe deer blood could be eaten or sold to apothecaries in town for some money.


    For a lowly hunter like him, not a drop could be wasted.


    Realizing it was trapped, the roe deer struggled more fiercely.


    But how could Shen Qing, having already seized his prey, let it do as it wished?


    Shen Qing pinned the inexperienced deer down with his full body weight until it ceased all movement.


    After a while, Shen Qing released his aching arms, unable to suppress the joy on his face.


    Such arge roe deer was hard to catch even for experienced hunters in the vige.


    He didn''t expect his luck today, having caught one.


    Although the pelt was damaged and the price was reduced, he was still content with the catch.


    Shen Qing estimated in his heart that as long as he continued to hunt like this, it wouldn''t be long before his days would visibly improve.


    Eventually, once he had saved enough money, he could even move to town with his older sister.


    Leaving behind this ce of petty vige conflicts.


    Just as Shen Qing was processing the roe deer, in high spirits, two figures emerged from the nearby forest.


    "Brother, look, it''s Shen Qing."


    Chen An had sharp eyes and recognized him at a nce.


    They had just been following tracks in the vicinity, not expecting it to be Shen Qing.


    Chen Tai remarked in surprise, "It''s actually a roe deer; this kid really hit the jackpot."


    At this moment, Chen An, looking at Shen Qing ahead, fell silent without responding.


    After a while, he suddenly said in a cold tone, "Second brother, I heard his sister is indecisive, and big brother has not been able to persuade her, it''s this kid who''s been blocking. Do you think if he were to die in the mountains, his sister might agree to big brother''s suggestion?"

 Chapter 9: Chapter 9: A Snowy Day is Good for Killing

    Snowkes drifted down, and the chilling wind was piercing.


    In the silver-d forest, a sudden aura of grim resolution filled the air.


    "We''re bound to make a move on those siblings sooner orter, better sooner thanter. After all, in the forest with its wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards, a person dying is nothing out of the ordinary. A snowy day is perfect for killing."


    Snowkesnded on Chen An''s expressionless face, his icy gaze daunting to behold.


    Listening to Chen An, the calm-faced Chen Tai nearby began to continuously weigh the pros and cons.


    Indeed, as his elder brother said, if the eldest sister of the Shen family was wise enough to sell herself into lowly status, it would indeed be safer.


    They, the Chen family, dominated in Hongshan Vige; killing someone was trivial to them, but the government office of Taiping County still carried some authority, and forcing a decent person to degrade herself was not a small matter.


    Avoiding it would be best if possible.


    After consideringprehensively, Chen Tai''s expression turned ruthless, and he nodded heavily, saying, "What the third brother said makes sense, a snowy day is good for killing!"


    Seeing Chen Tai agree, Chen An''s face rxed, revealing a hint of a smile, and said, "Then second brother, you go that way, I''ll go this way; surround him, let''s not let him escape."


    "Alright."


    The two brothers immediately split up and took action.


    In their eyes, Shen Qing in the snowy forest had already be their prey.


    Shen Qing, who was tying up a roe deer, frowned slightly and looked toward the nearby forest.


    Seeing nothing unusual, he withdrew his gaze and continued to secure the roe deer, slinging it over his shoulder.


    By then, he had pulled out all the arrows shot into the roe deer.


    Since the arrow quiver was used to hold roe deer blood, the arrows that had been in it were now attached to his belt, and the bow was in his hand.


    After roughly identifying the direction, Shen Qing started heading back the way he hade.


    The Chen brothers, lying low in the snow, nced at each other simultaneously as they hunted.


    Indeed very sharp.


    He almost detected them just now.


    Chen An gestured, and he and Chen Tai quietly headed in different directions, following the trail.


    They saw Shen Qing carrying the roe deer, his steps in the snow uneven.


    Behind him, the blood dripping from the roe deer left a twining red line in the snowy forest, conspicuously eye-catching.


    Momentster, Chen Tai, following behind, was suddenly surprised by the direction Shen Qing was headed.


    It did not seem to be the direction back to the vige.


    The path in the mountains was covered by heavy snow, and the original trail was no longer discernible.


    It seemed that Shen Qing had lost his way.


    This suited their intentions perfectly.


    Chen Tai held his breath, his hunting bow in hand, and carefully continued his pursuit.


    Gradually, the forest ahead became denser.


    The branches wereden with thick snow.


    A gust of cold wind stirred up a flurry of fine snow particles, blurring the vision.


    When the wind passed, Chen Tai unexpectedly discovered that Shen Qing''s figure had disappeared from his field of vision.


    Chen Tai narrowed his eyes, focusing on the red line of blood on the ground, extending into the depths of the forest. He signaled Chen An, and together they moved to encircle from both sides.


    Seeing Chen Tai''s signal, Chen An, knowing it was time to act, couldn''t help but lick his lips.


    "Once we''ve sold the eldest Shen sister and gotten the money, my hopes of entering the Martial Arts Hall will also increase. By then, I might have a chance to join the ranks of the gentry in the county town."


    While he was excited, he suddenly realized after walking a distance that the fresh red trail of blood in the forest had disappeared.


    And so had Shen Qing.


    "What''s going on?"


    Unable to contain himself, Chen An rushed over, searching around.


    Closely following after him, Chen Tai also dashed out.


    "Where is he?"


    The two eximed in unison.


    Chen Tai was the first to calm down and dashed along the original trail of blood, only to find the roe deer hanging high in a tree.


    And the blood trail broke off right at that spot.


    Chen An, frustrated, said, "Damn it, that kid is cunning; he managed to escape."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Qing, holding a bow and arrows, pointed at them from behind arge tree, about a dozen steps away.


    The Chen brothers were startled, a trace of panic appearing on their faces.


    Shen Qing instantly understood that they harbored malicious intent.


    Chen An shouted instinctively, "Attack!"


    Whoosh!


    Shen Qing''s expression turned serious, and he let go of the bowstring decisively, a step ahead of them.


    The deer tendon bowstring vibrated gently, apanied by a low and mellow humming sound, sending the arrow flying at a startling speed.


    The arrow hissed through the air, leaving a silver trail behind.


    Phut!


    The arrow struck Chen An squarely in the chest.


    At just over a dozen steps away, the force contained by the Elm Wood Bow and deer tendon string was enough to puncture Chen An''s chest cavity.


    Chen An looked down, his gaze fixated on the arrow shot by Shen Qing, the pain and the cold shaft causing him waves of dizziness.


    His eyes widened, his face showing an expression of disbelief, filled with astonishment and confusion.


    Chen An had not expected Shen Qing to be so decisive, even quicker to act than him.


    "Third brother!" Chen Tai saw this scene, his face turning pale with shock.


    Chen An broke the arrow in his chest fiercely, and roared, "Second brother, kill him!"


    The arrow had pierced the middle of his chest, but since it wasn''t where the heart was, it wasn''t immediately fatal.


    Chen An gasped in pain, his consciousness still intact, he knew he still had a slim chance of survival.


    However, no sooner had he spoken than Shen Qing had already shot another arrow.


    Shen Qing''s hands moved incredibly fast, the ck arrow shadow shooting toward Chen Tai. Unexpectedly, at the moment of life and death, Chen Tai disregarded brotherly loyalty and used Chen An as a shield.


    "Phut."


    Chen An''s form halted, and looking down, he saw fresh blood drenching his chest, the arrow shaft trembling.


    He covered the wound, but the bright red blood still seeped through his fingers, staining his palms.


    In an instant, his face turned pale, his breathing rapid, his eyes shining with a mingling of shock and pain as he copsed onto the snowy ground.


    Chen Tai had not expected Shen Qing''s archery skills to be so formidable, hitting the heart with a single arrow. If he hadn''t reacted swiftly, he would have been the one to fall.


    "Dammit!"


    Realizing something was off with Shen Qing, Chen Tai could not care less, he took cover behind a tree to use as a shield, and returned fire with his bow.


    But the hastily fired arrowscked uracy and hit a tree near Shen Qing.


    The umted snow on the tree fell rustling down.


    Seeing he had lost the opportunity, Shen Qing did not linger and quickly maneuvered to the side, not nning to let Chen Tai get away.


    The cold wind blew in gusts.


    Snow particles mixed with snowkes danced in the mountain forest.


    Shen Qing, tightly clutching his longbow, moved through the mountain forest like a nimble snow leopard, his figure elusive.


    Chen Tai repeatedly fired two arrows, both missing their target.


    In contrast, the arrows returned by Shen Qing were extremely urate.


    Every time Shen Qing''s arrow passed close by, Chen Tai felt a rush of relief.


    Chen Tai found it hard to believe that a man barely known in the vige, someone who almost couldn''t afford meals, could possess such exceptional archery and hunting skills.


    Unbelievably cunning.


    It suddenly made him feel as if he was the prey in this snowy forest.


    Being dominated by such a petty person, Chen Tai felt deeply humiliated at this moment.


    Shen Qing, with a sharp gaze in the mountain forest, noticed the change in Chen Tai''s expression, knowing he was pushed to his limit.


    He pulled back the longbow again, aiming at that figure.


    Suddenly, a cold arrow shot from Chen Tai''s direction. Shen Qing rolled swiftly to the side, narrowly avoiding the arrow.


    He quickly stood up, his eyes colder, and shot another arrow without hesitation, then reached toward his waist.


    Shen Qing''s expression faltered.


    His hand felt empty; he had used up all his arrows!

 Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Shooting Through a Willow at a Hundred Paces

    Shen Qing looked down at his empty arrow quiver and felt his heart lurch, his face suddenly changing.


    He had just killed Chen An, and now he was in a death feud with Chen Tai.


    The two of them were at a point of no return.


    Now, without any arrows, he had lost his most advantageous method against Chen Tai.


    Whiz!


    An arrow shot from the opposite side interrupted his thoughts.


    Damn it, Shen Qing cursed inwardly, quickly dodging to one side.


    After a moment, seeing that Shen Qing had not shot any arrows, Chen Tai, hidden in the woods, immediately realized Shen Qing''s predicament and sensed that Shen Qing was out of arrows.


    The perfect moment for a counterattack hade.


    A sly and ruthless look shed across his eyes, "Shen Qing, you''re dead."


    Chen Tai emerged from behind a tree, grabbed Chen An''s arrow quiver, and held the bow tightly in his hand, quickly drawing the bowstring and aiming at Shen Qing.


    The tremor in the arrow excited him like never before.


    With a whiz,


    the arrow was violently shot straight toward Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing hurriedly hid behind a tree.


    Bang!


    A muffled sound as the arrowhead buried itself into the old tree, stirring up a circle of snowkes.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and quickly thought through his strategies, trying to find a glimmer of hope.


    He knew that any panic at this time could lead to a situation from which he could not recover.


    Peeking out, Shen Qing caught a brief glimpse and saw that Chen Tai was making his way around to his side, locking onto most of his body.


    If he let Chen Tai get to the side or moved out of fear, he would expose himselfpletely to Chen Tai''s view.


    This was amon hunting technique used by the hunters.


    If he continued to stay put, he would only get himself killed.


    Shen Qing clenched his teeth and burst out from behind the old tree, sprinting randomly in any direction.


    Thanks to his breakthrough in hunting skills, he had a clear understanding of Chen Tai''s tactics and was notpletely forced into a passive situation.


    The two figures chased each other through the forest.


    In the vast snowy mountains, winter birds flew up in rm, making the snowy woods seem even more lively.


    Whiz, Whiz, Whiz!


    Chen Tai''s arrows kepting.


    Thud!


    An arrow grazed past Shen Qing, slicing through his arrow quiver.


    The roe deer blood within sttered out, scattering on the ground.


    Seeing this, Chen Tai, relentlessly in pursuit, mistakenly thought Shen Qing was wounded and his face lit up, hastening his steps.


    Unbeknownst to him, Shen Qing had been driven to a familiar hillside.


    There were few trees here, offering little cover.


    Shen Qing wanted to change direction and run towards another dense forest.


    But what he thought of, Chen Tai naturally had thought of too.


    Barely having driven him this far, Chen Tai was not about to let Shen Qing have his way; he shot several arrows in quick session to block Shen Qing''s escape, driving him up the hillside.


    Shen Qing''s expression was not good.


    With no other choice, he jumped down the hillside.


    Standing outside the forest, Chen Tai stopped, gave a coldugh, and pointed the arrow at Shen Qing from a distance.


    With few trees to obstruct the view, the visibility was excellent.


    Narrowing his eyes, Chen Tai gripped the bow tightly and drew the bowstring steadily and forcefully, cing an arrow on it.


    Suddenly, he released his finger, and the bowstring instantly rebounded, making a "twang" sound.


    The arrow tore through the air like a meteor, shooting directly towards Shen Qing at an astonishing speed.


    At that moment, Shen Qing''s scalp tingled.


    His instincts as an "old hunter" made him react subconsciously, diving to the side and rolling.


    He barely avoided Chen Tai''s deadly arrow.


    Chen Tai revealed a shocked expression and spit out a mouthful of phlegm in the snow, silently praising Shen Qing''s luck.


    Seeing Shen Qing fall to the ground, he calmly drew another arrow and notched it onto his bowstring.


    Among the three brothers, his Bow Technique was the best.


    When Shen Qing was running, the angles were tricky, and he could hardly perform.


    Now, without the trees to block his view and standing on high ground, he had a clear vision, facing a target that had already fallen to the ground, he couldn''t possibly miss again.


    This arrow was meant to take his life and avenge his younger brother!


    Lying in the snow, Shen Qing''s face turned pale; he had realized he was trapped.


    What should he do?


    Large beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his back went cold.


    Just then, his hand touched something hard in the snow.


    Shen Qing pulled it out to see; it was the very arrow Chen Tai had shot!


    His heart suddenly filled with ecstasy.


    With no time to hesitate, he quickly turned over, pulled the longbow to its full extent.


    Seeing Chen Tai standing still, he did not hesitate at all, released his fingers, and concentrated all his strength and hope into this one arrow.


    The arrow, like a bullet from a gun, whistled through the air straight toward Chen Tai.


    The hundred-step distance vanished in a blink, and the arrow reached Chen Tai first, piercing his throat precisely.


    Blood sprayed as Chen Tai''s body swayed and he fell heavily to the ground.


    Chen Tai touched his neck in disbelief.


    His fingers felt something slick; blood gushed out from his neck, flowing like a stream.


    Chen Tai''s eyes widened as he saw his hands covered in blood, realizing that his life was quickly slipping away. Panic and despair intertwined on his face, and his eyes filled with shock, "How is this possible..."


    After shooting the arrow, Shen Qing saw Chen Tai fall, and his mind rxed momentarily; he sighed, feeling as though all his strength had left him.


    Without dy, Shen Qing quickly sat up from the snow and walked over to Chen Tai.


    By now, Chen Tai had turned into a corpse, his eyes wide open, an arrow piercing his neck, protruding from the other side.


    The arrow had blood grooves, and bright red blood flowed out from them, spilling onto the pure white snow.


    The blood, still warm, melted the surrounding snow, forming a sinuous little river that extended seven steps away.


    The bright red and pure white formed a stark contrast against each other.


    Shen Qing raised his hands, looking at his own hands.


    "So it feels like this to kill someone..."


    At first, the situation was urgent, leaving no room for him to think.


    Now that he had killed both, he realized it was his first time killing someone.


    For some reason, Shen Qing didn''t feel much psychological difort.


    To him, the world simply worked this way.


    The tragic scene at Tian Chuan yesterday was still clear in his mind.


    If he hadn''t been ruthless or lucky, then he would be the one lying here now.


    "I don''t want to die, anyone trying to kill me, I just have to kill them!"


    "Hunting can be for beasts, or it can also be for men."


    Shen Qing''s eyes suddenly hardened, free from psychological burdens and adapted to his current situation.


    Shen Qing looked down at Chen Tai''s corpse, his eyes brimming with a slight smile.


    Having killed both men, the most important thing now was to loot the bodies!


    The Chen Family had quite a few valuables, not to be wasted.


    Shen Qing decided, squatted down, and moved quickly.


    To save trouble, he took a Dagger from his waist and pried open Chen Tai''s belt.


    He rummaged through his body and pulled out a purse, some hunting gear.


    Then in the heavy snow, he stripped Chen Tai clean, packing up his clothes and bow together.


    After handling everything neatly, he left behind Chen Tai''s naked body


    A slight smile appeared unconsciously on the corners of Shen Qing''s mouth as he turned and quickly left the scene.


    There was another corpse of Chen An in another part of the mountain forest, which probably also had many valuables, and he couldn''t miss out on those either.

 Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Returning Fully Loaded, The Opportunity of Martial Arts

    The forest was a nket of white snow.


    Shen Qing trudged through the thick snow, following the tracks he had been chasing, and approached near Chen An''s body.


    From a distance, he saw Chen An''s body lying silently on the silvery-white snow-covered ground,


    although it had been only a short while since he left, a thinyer of snow had already covered the body, seeming to merge with the icy, snowy environment.


    The thick beast skin he was wearing, originally meant to ward off the severe cold, was now mottled with dried blood, seeping into the snow beneath.


    Shen Qing walked over, crouched down, and found that the blood on the chest was no longer bright liquid but had be dull and congealed, sticking tightly to the rough beast skin on Chen An''s body.


    The cold wind passed, lifting up fine particles of snow and covering therge patches of deep red.


    Ignoring the bloodstains, Shen Qing pulled out aplete arrow from his chest, ced it into the empty Arrow Quiver, then used a Dagger to pry open his clothing and searched carefully.


    From Chen An''s body, he retrieved a pouch, some Beast Medicine Powder, a short knife simr to a Dagger, and othermon hunter items.


    "Huh?"


    Suddenly, Shen Qing felt a hard object on Chen An''s body, a square object wrapped in cloth with many fresh bloodstains on it.


    Shen Qing brought it in front of him and examined it; it appeared to be a small book.


    Without hesitation, he unfolded the cloth, and indeed, it was a small blue booklet.


    The cover of the book bore threerge characters.


    Shen Qing did not know many characters in this world, but he recognized the characters for "Nine" and "Skills."


    His expression changed involuntarily, and his heart thumped twice.


    Lately, everyone in the vige knew that Chen Youguang, a mountain driver from the vige, had acquired a Martial Arts manual in the county town for his son to practice.


    If he remembered correctly, that Martial Arts manual was called "Nine Skills," meant for foundational training and Qi-Blood cultivation for a martial master.


    Martial masters held a status above that of workers and farmers in the Great Zhou.


    Earlier, when he visited the county town, Shen Qing had specifically inquired about this information.


    In today''s world, the Great Zhou Court was confiscating all spiritual weapons and controlling Martial Mechanisms; learning Martial Arts was not a simple matter.


    They, as rural folks, could notpare to those noble sons born with a silver spoon.


    If one wished to learn Martial Arts, one could either join the court as an official, where many Magic Skills for cultivating Martial Arts were avable for selection with personal guidance, or one could join a Martial Arts Hall to learn some folk Martial Arts.


    But either option was difficult.


    The former required local fame for rmendation, whereas thetter required a lot of money.


    The saying ''poor in literary arts, rich in Martial Arts'' was not an empty phrase.


    Shen Qing estimated that, just in terms of silver, such Martial Arts would likely cost ten taels silver to purchase.


    And that was if one had the right connections.


    On the market, counterfeit Martial Arts manuals were prevalent, and it was easy to be deceived.


    If one was slightly fortunate, they would only lose some money.


    If one was less lucky, it was feared they might practice until they fell into madness and died from ruptured heart vessels¡ªa no joking matter.


    This "Nine Skills" had been practiced by the Chen Family Brothers for some time now, and Chen Yuan had already achieved some proficiency.


    It was undoubtedly a genuine Martial Arts manual.


    In this impoverished and remote area, such a Martial Arts manuscript was indeed considered extremely precious.


    Shen Qing let out a gentle breath, calmed his emotions, and carefully hid the blue booklet recording the Nine Skills close to his body.


    Gathering the items he had scavenged from the two brothers, Shen Qingid them out in front of him and began to inventory them.


    Two tattered animal skin coats and two bows.


    Shen Qing recognized that both animal skin coats were made of wolf skin, and the bows were fine Elm Wood Bows.


    All together, they were worth quite a bit of silver, but he, Shen Qing, knew he could not take these items with him.


    In the whole vige, only Chen Yuan''s family could afford such things.


    If he took them back, suddenly appearing wealthy in Hongshan Vige would be like a child unting gold in the market, inevitably bringing trouble upon himself.


    The remaining items included seventy-five wen inrge coins, a bag of poison powder, various hunting gear, and twenty-eight feathered arrows.


    These items weremon in almost every household in the vige, so taking them was no issue.


    After some consideration, Shen Qing found a hidden spot in the forest, where he concealed the animal skin coats and the two fine bows and marked the spot in a way that only he could understand, nning to retrieve themter when he had the opportunity.


    Having done all this, Shen Qing retrieved the wild roe deer he had hunted and, with it slung over his shoulder, he briskly walked down the mountain.


    Snowkes mixed with sporadic snowkes were gently falling from the sky.


    The forest was dressed in silvery white, with tree branchesden with sparkling snow beads.


    After Shen Qing left, the once lively forest quieted down again.


    A snow wolf, attracted by the scent of blood, found its way near Chen Tai''s corpse, cautiously approaching after looking around.


    Once it was sure there was no danger, it opened its maw wide and began to tear at Chen Tai''s body.


    Soon after, seven or eight more snow wolves gathered.


    In just a short while, they had cleanly devoured Chen Tai''s body.


    One snow wolf followed at the end, low in rank among the pack, it stuck out its tongue, licking its lips, exhaling bursts of warm breath, and sniffing as it walked to the other side...


    With his sessful hunt, Shen Qing''s mood was elevated, and he walked briskly through the forest.


    By the time he reached the entrance to the vige, for safety, he didn''t take the main road but chose a small path that led through the bamboo grove behind his house, avoiding the vigers.


    Just as Shen Qing rapidly approached his home, he happened to meet Chen Dahuing back from outside.


    Chen Dahu immediately noticed the wild roe deer on Shen Qing''s shoulder and the arrows at his waist, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.


    "Shen Qing, where did you go hunting?" Chen Dahu asked curiously.


    His voice was somewhat loud, which didn''t quite match his hunched appearance.


    Shen Qing paused, his usually expressionless face breaking into a smile, and pointed to the forest behind him, speaking in a normal tone, "Just in that forest. I was lucky today and caught this wild roe deer."


    Chen Dahu stepped forward, closely inspecting Shen Qing''s catch, and couldn''t help eximing, "Nice skill, this roe looks quite plump."


    "It took me quite an effort to get this roe deer. Would you like to buy some to feast on?" Shen Qing responded with a smile, "Besides this roe deer, I also got three Hunting crossbows, if you''re interested, twenty wen each."


    Chen Dahu waved his hand and said, "No, no, if I want to eat meat, I''ll just go into the mountains myself. Why spend the money?"


    "Hahaha... All right, my sister and I probably can''t finish this for a while, so if you change your mind, just let me know, I can sell it anytime. But once the snow stops, I''ll take it to the county town, and won''t sell to you then."


    Chen Dahu touched his t coin purse, sheepishly nodded, and with a look of envy, casually agreed before heading back home.


    Watching Chen Dahu enter his house, Shen Qing''s face quickly grew cold again. He kicked open the door and swiftly entered.


    Once back inside, after cing the Arrow Quiver and other items down and ensuring no one was outside, he closed the door and finally rxed.

 Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Learning the Nine Skills, Cultivating Qi-Blood

    ```


    Fortunately, Chen Dahu didn''t notice anything unusual.


    Seeing that Shen Fang was not in the house, Shen Qing guessed she must have gone to her aunt''s house.


    After thinking it over, Shen Qing took two hunting crossbows and pulled out a feathered arrow before walking out.


    Considering that there was already meat at home, he carefully locked the door before leaving.


    Shen Qing treaded through the snow to his uncle''s house and knocked, calling out, "Uncle, auntie, are you at home?"


    A momentter, rustling noises came from behind the door.


    With a creak,


    the old wooden door opened.


    Shen Xiaohu, seeing it was Shen Qing, turned and shouted into the house, "Brother Qingzi is here."


    Upon hearing it was Shen Qing visiting, the aunt''s face showed unexpected concern; she continued her needlework in her chair without even lifting her head.


    "Ah Di," Shen Fang, who was helping her aunt with the work, saw Shen Qing return safe and sound, her face rxed as usual with a sigh of relief.


    Shen Qing nced around the room and asked, "Where''s uncle?"


    Shen Xiaohu answered, "He went up the mountain with Shanwa a while ago, I reckon they should be back soon."


    Shen Qing hummed in acknowledgment and ced the two hares on the ground, saying, "Today I hunted a few crossbows on the mountain, I''ve brought them for you, Auntie."


    "Brother Qingzi, you should take them back. You and big sister don''t have it easy, we have Dad, and we still have food in our house," Shen Xiaohu quickly picked up the hares from the ground and stuffed them back into Shen Qing''s hands.


    Shen Qing protested, "I hunted quite a lot this time, and we still have more at home; it''s not that valuable."


    He was slightly stronger than Shen Xiaohu, who couldn''t refuse, so he had to give up.


    "At least you have some conscience," the aunt muttered coldly.


    "Mother," Shen Xiaohu eximed with a hint ofint in his tone.


    Auntie Wang gave him a nce but remained silent.


    Shen Qing neatly put the hares back down and then took some arrows from under his arm, handing them to his aunt, "Today I also found the arrows I had lost, and these are the ones I borrowed from you a while ago. It''s time to return them to you and uncle."


    Auntie Wang, without looking up from her needlework, said as she bit off the thread, "Just put them on the table, I''ll tell your uncleter."


    "Alright," Shen Qing replied and ced the arrows on the table, then added, "There''s nothing else now, I''ve bothered you for half a day, auntie. Big sister, you shoulde back with me."


    With that, Shen Qing was about to turn and leave when Auntie Wang stopped him, "Hold on."


    "What is it, Auntie?"


    Auntie Wang tested an old, patched jacket against Shen Qing''s frame and said, "Looks like it fits just right."


    "Auntie, what''s this?"


    Auntie Wang exined, "I saw that your yun robes have been worn for quite some time, and many parts are too short. I altered one using your brothers'' old clothes, here, put this on."


    "This¡­"


    "Don''t dawdle, get going."


    Auntie Wang promptly issued him to leave.


    Having interacted with his aunt over this period, Shen Qing knew her temperament well and did not say more, taking Shen Fang back home.


    On the way, Shen Fang quietlyined, "Qingzi, you should''ve just given one. Our family doesn''t have much to eat either. When we''re better off in the future, we can give more to Auntie''s family¡­"


    Shen Qing did not respond and, upon reaching home, he opened the door to let Shen Fang in.


    As soon as she entered, Shen Fang''s eyes immediately fell on the roe deer piled in the room, and her mumblingints stopped abruptly.


    Disbelief filled Shen Fang''s eyes, "Qingzi..."


    ```


    "Lucky me, bagged an extra dumb roe deer." Shen Qing turned his head to look at Shen Fang and said with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile, "Sis, do you know how to cook roe deer meat?"


    ...


    As it turned out, not only was Shen Fang beautiful, her cooking skills were indeed up to par.


    Under her hands, the roe deer meat, after being smoked over firewood, became firm and stic. Each bite allowed one to feel the toughness of the meat fibers and the chewiness.


    The smoked meat''s surface developed a slight char, and this smoky vorbined with the tender meat. Although somewhat primal, Shen Qing found it exceptionally delicious.


    The brother and sister hadn''t eaten so freely in a long time. They feasted voraciously, devouring the roasted roe deer meat until not a scrap was left.


    Even so, there was still a lot of roe deer meat left. Eating it all would only put a small dent in the amount.


    With the leftovers, and considering it was winter, there was no worry of spoge. Shen Qing nned to take half to the market in townter on to sell for some silver coins.


    After filling their stomachs, Shen Fang dutifully began to clean up the housework, while the rarely idle Shen Qing took the opportunity to pull out the "Nine Skills" Martial Arts book and scrutinized it carefully.


    This Martial Arts text was Entry Level, merely for refining Qi-Blood, toy the foundation for martial masters on their Martial Arts path.


    The entire text covered nine different stance trainings, without any fighting moves or killing techniques.


    It was somewhat simr to the Health Cultivation Martial Arts like the Eight Sections of Brocade from his previous life.


    Considering the cultivator''sprehension, the book mostly consisted of illustrated pages that were straightforward and easy to understand; one simply had to follow the pictures and practice.


    However, Shen Qing knew that the easier Martial Arts looked, the harder it was to master the basics.


    There were often numerous details that were difficult to notice and easy to overlook.


    And often, whether one learned sessfully or not depended on these details.


    After reading through it once and understanding the gist of the practices, Shen Qing started to practice the first four stances (Hunyuan Stance, Mao Dun Stance, Tuo Ying Zhuang, and Floating Cloud Stance) as depicted in the book.


    He ced the blue book on the table, flipped open a page, and with fists clenched, stood in the Hunyuan Stance as described.


    At first, there was no difort, but after just a dozen or so breaths, Shen Qing started to feel a throbbing soreness below his waist and knees, growing more and more acute.


    Shen Qing kept a stoic face, gritting his teeth as he endured.


    After a while, his body''s muscles began to tremble slightly with the rhythm of his breathing, as if an invisible force was circting within him.


    With deeper breaths, Shen Qing''s body began to shiver slightly, and the Qi-Blood under his skin started to surge.


    Suddenly, it was as if he sensed something.


    Shen Qing''s consciousness shifted.


    In his vision, a drop of water ink spread out, revealing a series of water ink characters.


    [Skill: Nine Skills (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 0/100 points]


    [Status: Cannot be improved]


    [Note: A technique for refining Qi-Blood. Continuous cultivation can increase progress, achieve Great Perfection of Qi-Blood, and gain strength like that of an ox.]


    Looking at the water ink characters that appeared in his vision, Shen Qing couldn''t help but smile, and a weight in his heart finally settled.


    It seemed his Water Ink Panel wasn''t only limited to improving Bow Technique and Hunting, Martial Arts could also have their progress increased.


    Now that the Nine Skills was disyed in his vision, as long as he continued to cultivate, it would be prove forever, enhancing the progress.


    Given some time, he would be able to master the Nine Skills to Great Perfection.


    With this thought, Shen Qing felt as though he was filled with enthusiasm.


    Even though his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, he seemedpletely unaware, focusing wholly on immersing himself in cultivation.

 Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Chen Family Members

    In the vige, the sky was gradually darkening, and plumes of cooking smoke were rising.


    The asional bark of a dog would shatter the quiet, only to quickly return to silence.


    Shen Qing noticed that at this time, both Chen Tai and Chen An showed no signs of returning, and he couldn''t help but feel somewhat uneasy.


    Even the stance training he had already mastered on normal days, he was unable to cultivate at this moment.


    "Both of them are experienced, having roamed the mountains since they were young, and even if my third brother is naturally yful, he shouldn''t be out after dark."


    Suddenly, Shen Qing had an ominous guess.


    He nced at the darkening sky, knowing that going up the mountain at this time was no different from courting death; he then put on an animal skin jacket, mmed the door behind him, and knocked on his neighbors'' doors.


    The one who opened the door was a member of the Chen family of the same generation, called Chen Lao Wu because he was the fifth in line: "What is it, Chen A Da?"


    Shen Qing asked directly, "Old fifth, did you see my two younger brothers when you went up the mountain today?"


    Chen Lao Wu, taken aback by the question, immediately answered, "No, I went up the mountain with a few others from the central room, and we didn''t see anyone else. What happened? Have your younger cousins not returned yet?"


    Shen Qing shook his head and said, "They have not returned."


    "Wait here for a moment, I will call out the men from the Chen family central room, and we will ask from house to house."


    With more than thirty households in Hongshan Vige, and ten of them belonging to the Chen family, they were quite influential in the vige.


    In such a remote and impoverished ce, blood rtions became a crucial bond.


    When one family had a problem, the whole family would lend a hand.


    Families like the Tian family, who were sparse in numbers, were often at a disadvantage in ces like Hongshan Vige.


    Saying this, Chen Lao Wu also put on a tattered jacket and followed Shen Qing out, calling all the men of the Chen family to action.


    In an instant, the quiet Hongshan Vige became chaotic and noisy.


    "Open up, open up."


    "Old Tian, are you at home? We need to talk to you."


    "..."


    The Chen family members inquired from door to door; even those who had already gone to bed were called up.


    Facing the formidable arrival of the Chen family, the vigers dared not oppose them.


    Inside a crude adobe house,


    Shen Fang was concentrating on cultivating the Nine Skills.


    As he continued to practice, his progress in mastering this cultivation technique visibly ticked upward before his eyes.


    With each breath Shen Fang took, it was as if he were absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, integrating it into his own Qi-Blood, causing his skin to gradually emit a faint red glow as if brimming with vitality.


    [Skill: Nine Skills (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 18/100 points]


    [Status: Non-improvable]


    [Note: A Refining Qi-Blood Technique that, with continuous practice, can improve progress, achieving the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, strengthparable to an ox.]


    "Based on this rate of cultivation, it will only take me one day to break through to the next realm in this martial art."


    After practicing for a while, Shen Fang''s waist and knees became numb and weak, and his legs ached like they were being pricked with needles.


    He copsed onto the ground, panting heavily.


    It might have been an illusion, but after only a short period of practice, he felt as if the food he had just eaten had already been half digested.


    His body was warm and steaming; he didn''t feel the cold at all, making Shen Fang feel quite extraordinary.


    Shen Fang looked at the blue booklet in front of him but felt somewhat regretful.


    Apart from the diagrams, there were also some text annotations.


    He guessed that they might be rted to the essentials of reaching certain realms, but unfortunately, he couldn''t read and didn''t fully understand their meanings.


    Having experienced the wonder of martial arts, Shen Qing felt he needed to make some time to learn to recognize characters and read.


    His life was improving day by day, and he could now afford to ask Zhang Shu Chi, the vige bookworm, to teach him some words.


    Just as Shen Qing made up his mind, he suddenly heard an uproar and noisymotion outside his house.


    For some reason, he immediately became alert and hastily asked Shen Fang to hide the items they had brought down from the mountain today under the bed.


    "Bang, bang, bang!"


    "Is Shen Qing home?"


    "I''m here, I''m here. A little gentle, please, don''t break my door."


    Shen Qing opened the door, and it was Chen Lao Wu.


    Before Shen Qing could even speak, Chen Lao Wu had already asked, "Did you see the Chen Family Brothers in the mountain today?"


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing''s heart skipped a beat.


    Fortunately, he was a very calm person, and his face showed no unusual expression as he calmly said, "No, I haven''t seen them. The vigers think my hunting skills are too immature, and no one wants to take me with them; I always go up the mountain to hunt alone."


    Chen Lao Wu sized up Shen Qing a couple of times, saw nothing out of the ordinary, and then instructed, "Chen Tai and the others haven''te back until now. If you go up the mountainter, keep an eye out."


    "I understand," Shen Qing bowed his head and said modestly, "If I see them, I will immediately inform you."


    "Alright."


    Chen Lao Wu didn''t think too much about it and moved on to knock on the neighbors'' doors.


    Shen Qing watched Chen Lao Wu''s departing figure and heaved a sigh of relief, then gently shut the door with a creak.


    That night, the Chen family members were restless until midnight.


    All the vigers living in the vige were angry, but dared not speak out.


    The next day, having been restless for half the night, the Chen family members collectively went up the mountain to search for Chen Yuan and Chen Tai''s whereabouts.


    Only then did the vigers realize that the brothers had gone hunting in the mountains and hadn''t returned all night, their whereabouts unknown.


    Most people in Hongshan Vige lived off the mountain and knew that under such circumstances, it was most likely that they had perished in the mountain wilderness.


    The dangers in the great mountains were abundant, with countless wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards.


    An ident could easily happen.


    It was just unexpected that Chen Tai and Chen An, who had been so imposing just the day before, disappeared in the blink of an eye.


    When Tian Chuan''s parents learned of this news, they stood at the doorway iming divine justice and cried tears of joy, stirring up emotions.


    Since the Chen family members had all gone deep into Shicheng Mountain, it was disorderly with too many people.


    Many hunters chose not to go into the mountain and instead spent the day resting at home.


    Shen Qing did the same.


    He dedicated all his energy at home to practicing the Nine Skills martial art.


    As for the bodies of Chen Tai and Chen An, Shen Qing was not worried the Chen family members would find them.


    Shicheng Mountain was too big, and it was snowing.


    Shen Qing had run about haphazardly that day, and now without a marker, he doubted he could find the spot himself, let alone them.


    Even if they were found, they would likely have been eaten clean by wild beasts by then.


    Shen Qing locked himself in his room and repeatedly practiced the first four stance trainings: Hunyuan Stance, Mao Dun Stance, Tuo Ying Zhuang, and Floating Cloud Stance.


    As he continued practicing, he felt a warm current as thin as a strand of hair start to circte within his body.


    And this warm current grew thicker as Shen Qing''s stance trainingsted longer and longer.


    Compared to the beginning of his practice yesterday, he found that the sense of fatigue and soreness was much less today.


    "After all, this is a legitimate Health Cultivation Martial Art, used for refining Qi-Blood. As long as one can endure and gain entry to its secrets, the practice will be easier and easier," he mused.


    Shen Qing knew that among the various martial arts halls in the county town, this martial art probably wasn''t considered good, but that didn''t prevent him from having high hopes for it to be the key that opened the door to the world of martial arts.

 Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Strengthening Qi-Blood, Learning to Read and Understand Text

    After practicing for a while, Shen Qing stopped and sat in the chair to rest for a brief moment,bining work and rxation.


    In this moment, utilizing the faint lighting through the jar-shaped window, Shen Qing picked up a small blue booklet containing the Nine Skills Brocade Technique, burying himself in flipping through it.


    He wanted to ponder the hidden meanings within it and understand the content rted to Martial Arts.


    Their ce was too remote and information was extremely blocked, to the extent that they didn''t even know whether the saint of today was a man or a woman.


    Shen Qing was unwilling to let go of any channels that might allow him to grasp information.


    Unfortunately...


    "The characters I recognize are still too few; the content recorded inside is barely understood, indecipherable."


    Having gone through the entire book, he could only recognize the illustrations of the figures within.


    As it was a "genuine" book, every figure was drawn vividly with exceedingly standard poses.


    Thanks to his knowledge from his previous life, he was able to grasp some essentials.


    If it were the Chen Family Brothers, without a Martial Arts Hall master''s guidance, merely relying on these would be but wishful thinking to master this Martial Arts skill.


    Seeing that he could notprehend the written content of the booklet, and unable to figure it out, Shen Qing chose to give up and continued to ponder the drawings'' movements several times more, imprinting them in his mind to continue his progress.


    Time trickled by, and after half a day had passed, Shen Qing watched as the ink numbers in his vision jumped continuously, his heart growing fervent.


    Until a certain moment.


    [Skill: Nine Skills Brocade (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 101/100 points]


    [Status: Can be promoted]


    [Note: A Cultivation Technique to refine Qi-Blood; continual cultivation can increase progress, achieve Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, and have the strength of an ox.]


    Shen Qing''s face brightened with joy. A day''s hard practice finally brought about a qualitative change.


    The Nine Skills Brocade, a Health Cultivation Martial Arts technique, had reached a breakthrough stage for Shen Qing.


    With a face calm as water and surrounded by an indescribable authority, Shen Qing decisively chose to upgrade.


    Just as he broke through, the muscles in Shen Qing''s body suddenly tensed, as if every fiber was infused with endless strength at this moment.


    The originally fine thread-like warmth inside Shen Qing''s body, at this moment, burst into mes like a spark hitting kindling, expanding from hair-thin to the thickness of a little finger.


    This warmth was not just the flow of blood, but represented the surging of Qi-Blood in his body and the umtion of strength.


    As the warmth expanded, Shen Qing''s Qi-Blood clearly grew much stronger, hisplexion changing from pallid to healthy, as if an invisible power was bursting forth from within him.


    Shen Qing''s breathing rhythm gradually elerated, each intake of breath seeming to expel impurities from within his body.


    After one deep breath, the restless anomaly finally settled down.


    [Skill: Nine Skills Brocade (Skilled)]


    [Progress: 1/200 points]


    [Status: Cannot be promoted]


    [Note: Continuous cultivation can increase progress. Once Qi-Blood reaches Great Perfection, one can have the strength of an ox and draw Qi as smoothly as silk.]


    Gazing at the ink-written text in his vision, Shen Qing''s eyes sparkled with sharpness.


    Chen Tai and Chen An racked their brains but couldn''t find the way; Chen Yuan exhausted great effort just to grasp a hint of the Nine Skills Brocade. In his hands, it was merely a technique that had already broken through another realm at the start of practice.


    He was clearly a "Martial Arts Genius".


    After breaking through the Martial Arts realm, his strength receded like the tide, and Shen Qing felt a sense of deficiency, followed by extreme exhaustion.


    The Qi-Blood cultivated by martial masters does not arise from nothing; it also requires the nourishment of external substances.


    Shen Qing caught a glimpse of a portion of roe deer meat sorted by Shen Fang beneath the bed today.


    He leaned over to take the meat out and immediately started a fire.


    As the mes grilled the meat, it gradually emitted a tempting aroma, with the dripping fat causing sparks and smoke to burst forth from the fire pit.


    When the roe deer meat was roasted to a golden brown and the skin turned crispy, Shen Qing called Shen Fang to eat together.


    Eagerly tearing off a piece, the steaming roe deer meat burst with rich vor in his mouth.


    The siblings thoroughly enjoyed themselves for a while.


    After eating most of the meat and filling their empty stomachs, he finally stopped.


    "Little brother,tely people in the vige have been saying that a fierce creature has appeared in the mountains. The Chen Family Brothers were just unlucky to have met with disaster. For the near future, don''t go to the back mountain.


    I''ve learned some needlework from auntie these past two days, so I can mend things for others and earn a bit for the household."


    Shen Fang''s face was full of concern, her almond eyes fixed on Shen Qing, almost as if she feared he wouldn''t agree, "Auntie is not a bad person, her words just aren''t pleasant to hear."


    "I know."


    Shen Qing squatted by the fire, carefully picked up a handful of dry nt ash, and sprinkled it evenly over the embers, which were faintly red.


    As the ash covered the embers, the light of the fire gradually weakened, leaving only strands of blue smoke drifting into the night sky.


    Shen Qing stood up, gently pped his hands, and after a moment''s gaze at the fire, said, "I''ve basically been wandering around familiar areas in the back mountain, trapping some hunting crossbows. As for ces deeper in, I don''t have the skills for that. Don''t worry about it."


    "Okay."


    Seeing her younger brother so decisive, Shen Fang did not try to persuade him further.


    "I''m going out for a bit, to bookworm Zhang''s house, I''ll be back soon."


    After some thought, Shen Qing felt that he needed to learn to recognize more characters.


    It wasn''t just to understand the content on the Nine Skills Brocade.


    As far as he knew, in the schools and gangs in the city, there was aplete difference in treatment between martial masters who could read and those who couldn''t.


    If he could learn to read, he would undoubtedly be more valued and have better prospects.


    Not to mention the officials at the government office, if you couldn''t read at all, you couldn''t even enter the door.


    In this world, despite the emphasis on martial arts, the tradition of literacy had not been severed.


    As he spoke, Shen Qing took the wild fatty rabbit he had caught the day before by the hand and strode out.


    Zhang Shu Chi''s house was not very far from his, roughly only fifty steps away.


    Shen Qing arrived at the door of an earth house and knocked lightly.


    A momentter, the wooden door opened.


    Greeting him was a man in histe forties or fifties, with graying hair.


    Carrying the wild rabbit, Shen Qing said with a smile, "I caught a wild rabbit yesterday and thought I couldn''t finish it myself, so I brought it to the teacher. I need to ask a favor."


    "Come in."


    Zhang Shu Chi, seeing Shen Qing bring something, let him in without any hesitation, stepping aside to let him pass.


    Once inside, looking around, Zhang Shu Chi''s home was starkly bare, described perfectly as ''walls unadorned'', save for the shelves of books that seemed somewhat out of ce in this vige, filling the air with a musty smell of damp pages.


    Zhang Shu Chi''s real name was Zhang Shuyuan, a native of Hongshan Vige.


    It was said that when he was young, he was frail and sickly, not fond of hunting. But since his family had some wealth at that time, he was able to attend a private school in the county for a few years, which endowed him with some talent.


    Later, looking down on the livelihoods in the vige, he wanted to settle in the county.


    But it wasn''t so easy to gain a foothold in the county city.


    After about ten years of struggle, he achieved nothing, ended up poor and destitute, and had no choice but to return to his hometown.


    By recognizing characters, he managed to make a living writing couplets, letters, and keeping ounts for others in his hometown.


    Because he was always seen with a book in hand, never going out the front door or stepping out the back, vigers called him bookworm.


    "What do you need me for? To write a letter or to do ounting?" After letting Shen Qing in, Zhang Shuyuan sat back in his chair, picking up a book as usual and asking.


    Shen Qing stepped forward, looked Zhang Shuyuan in the eyes, and said seriously, "I want to ask the teacher to teach me to recognize characters and read."

 Chapter 15: Chapter 15: New Skill

    In the thirty-some households of Hongshan Vige, most people''s minds were on hunting.


    Even those who didn''t wish to hunt were mostly thinking about practicing martial arts to facilitate their hunting.


    At most, some idle children would learn to write their names or study arithmetic.


    As for those who wanted to recognize characters and read, over the years, Zhang Shuyuan hadn''te across a single one.


    He was also aware of the young man before him¡ªthe dead son of the Shen family''s eldest son.


    Apart from being somewhat good-looking, there was nothing else remarkable about him, very ordinary.


    Perhaps due to some clumsiness, or poorprehension, his hunting skills were also quite mediocre, often needing his uncle''s help.


    So, when this person suddenly came over and told him he wanted to recognize characters and read, Zhang Shuyuan thought he had heard wrong.


    He asked in surprise, "Why do you suddenly want to recognize characters and read?"


    Shen Qing thought for a moment and sincerely said, "The snow will stop soon, and I have hunted some mountain goods recently. I n to sell them in the county city, where the people are very shrewd. I''m worried about being cheated, so I want to learn more characters to have more confidence."


    "My family members said before that knowing more characters is never a bad thing and that it will always be useful in the future."


    Hearing Shen Qing''s exnation, Zhang Shuyuan couldn''t help but understand.


    In this world, for hundreds of years, families in Wuwei have been umting virtue, and the best pursuits are still reading and practicing martial arts.


    Those who seek to progress and enter high society know that recognizing characters and reading is the foundation, even before practicing martial arts.


    It''s just a pity that the people in this vige are too busy with their livelihoods to pay attention to anything else.


    Since he was offered food in return, Zhang Shuyuan immediately agreed, "All right, I have some spare timetely. I can teach you a bit."


    "Take the book beside you, open it to the first page, and let''s see how many characters you recognize," he instructed.


    Shen Qing''s face lit up with joy, and he quickly thanked him, walking over to the bookshelf.


    The book Zhang Shuyuan wanted him to get was at the very bottom, looking somewhat worn, with mildew spots on it.


    Obviously, it hadn''t been looked at for a long time.


    Shen Qing opened the book and began to read slowly and with difficulty, as Zhang Shuyuan had asked.


    Indeed, the characters he knew were limited, and he stammered as he read.


    "Begin... open... the qi of... heaven..."


    "All right," Zhang Shuyuan continued, "Write your name for me, and then write the character ''eternal''."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing started to draw on the ground with a stick.


    Although the characters in this world were somewhat simr to those of his previous life, they were still different. Adding on the fact that the original body waspletely ignorant of these matters, Shen Qing''s writing was crooked and awkward, resembling the track of a turtle.


    Zhang Shuyuan nced over, saw how he read and the characters he wrote, and furrowed his brows, getting a rough idea of Shen Qing''s reading and writing ability.


    He then said to Shen Qing, "I have a copy of the Thousand Character ssic here. I will teach you, and you will learn sixteen characters a day. You can learn for as long as you wish to, but..."


    Pausing, Zhang Shuyuan added, "If you want to continue learningter, you will need to provide some tuition."


    Having been a person in two lifetimes, Shen Qing instantly understood what Zhang Shuyuan meant.


    He was down and out and needed some support.


    Fortunately, his hunting skills were improving each day, so he could afford this small tuition.


    Without hesitation, Shen Qing agreed on the spot.


    Seeing that Shen Qing was sopliant and did not haggle, Zhang Shuyuan heaved a sigh of relief and pulled out a book, cing it on the table.


    He had Shen Qing sit in his seat, stood up himself, and began teaching, pointing to the first character, "This is the character for ''heaven,'' written with four strokes, and it refers to space, the opposite of earth."


    "This is the character for ''earth''..."


    Zhang Shuyuan was very patient, teaching character by character.


    Shen Qing had the foundation from his previous life and could also sit still for a long time, so he learned quickly and absorbed all that Zhang Shuyuan taught.


    About a shi chenter, Shen Qing had a movement of thought.


    In his line of sight, a drop of ink fell from up high into the water, spreading out.


    ```


    Rows of ink characters began to emerge before his eyes.


    [Skill: Recognizing Characters and Reading (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 1/100 points]


    [Status: Unable to Improve]


    [Note: Acquiring this skill grants reading and writing ability, continuous practice can break through realms, with a certain probability of awakening the "Memorize" Sight.]


    Memorize?


    Shen Qing''s heart gave a jolt, filled with surprise.


    He hadn''t expected that recognizing characters and reading could be a skill, and that it could even awaken a talent.


    He suddenly felt thating here today was very worthwhile!


    Shen Qing hid the smile on his face and adopted an even more serious demeanor.


    Zhang Shuyuan, instructing him on the side, couldn''t help but slightly raise his estimation of him in his mind.


    After practicing for almost half a Shi Chen, Shen Qing saw that it was about time and proposed to leave.


    Before leaving, he borrowed the Thousand Character ssic under the guise of studying, nning to take it home to continue learning and to grind through the Progress.


    As it was only an ordinary text, Zhang Shuyuan did not stop him but merely asked him to remember to return the book and toe over to study for a Shi Chen during the daylight hours the next day.


    Shen Qing agreed repeatedly.


    ...


    Nearing evening, after spending an entire day, even though the Chen family members turned out in full force and searched all over the nearby hills, they still hadn''t found the two brothers, Chen Tai and Chen An.


    At this point, Chen Yuan, no longer holding onto any hope, knew that his two younger brothers were most likely already dead in the mountains.


    They had been hunting since a young age; the likelihood of them getting lost in the mountains was next to none.


    Only if they died there would so many people have been unable to find them.


    In the grand hall of the Chen Family, the Chen family members had gathered, whispering amongst each other, creating a bit of noise.


    Looking towards a middle-aged man, Chen Yuan said, "Everyone has worked hard today, when my father returns, I will visit and thank each of you personally."


    "Eh, we''re all one family, no need to be so courteous."


    "Maybe the two of them discovered a mountain delicacy and are still deep in the mountains; don''t overthink it."


    "..."


    Many Chen family members consoled him one after another, with Chen Yuan responding wearily.


    After sending off most of the Song Family, Chen Yuan called to Chen Lao Wu, who wasst to leave, saying, "Old fifth, wait a moment, I have something to ask you."


    Chen Lao Wu had just stepped out when he paused, then turned around and said, "What''s up?"


    Chen Yuan lifted his chin, signifying for him to close the door.


    Curiosity crossed Chen Lao Wu''s face, but he followed the instructions nheless.


    Once the door was closed, Chen Yuan walked forward, lowered his voice, and asked, "Today, as everyone went from house to house inquiring, who went up the mountain around the same time as Er Tai and Xiao An?"


    Chen Lao Wu thought carefully and replied, "Yesterday in the vige, there were over thirty households, and practically every household had someone going up the mountain."


    "Think again, those who went around the same time period."


    With furrowed brows, Chen Lao Wu thought for a while before saying, "Our Chen family had three, the Tian family had two, the Zhang family two, and the Shen family... should have three people; they all went up the mountain close to noon, the timing was quite close."


    "The Tian family, the Shen family..." Chen Yuan muttered to himself.


    "Do you think someone made a move on them in the mountains?"


    "These two good-for-nothing younger brothers of mine, not outstanding in Martial Arts, but as hunters, they were indeed adept; they would never just perish in the mountains. Shicheng Mountain might be vast, but it''s honest territory, without any evil creatures within it, and the officials from the government office have long since searched it."


    Chen Yuan nomittally said, "Thinking it over, it could only be someone who had harbored evil intentions in the mountains. My two brothers were always simple and honest, they might have been taken advantage of there. Searching for two dead in the vast mountains would be exceedingly difficult."


    With a sigh, Chen Lao Wu said, "Who could it be, to be so bold?"


    Chen Yuan, lost in thought, said, "We seldom deal with the Zhang family, the Shen family doesn''t have the nerve with their meager possessions, so that leaves only¡ªthe Tian family!"


    ```

 Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Catching Moles, Breakthrough

    "Tian Family?"


    "Yes," Chen Yuan quickly said with a very assertive tone, "The day before yesterday, Tian Chuan sneaked into our house to steal food and got into a conflict with my two younger brothers and was killed by them. They must hold a grudge and wait for an opportunity to retaliate in the mountains."


    "How bold!" Chen Lao grew more convinced, "We should go find those Tian Family members and demand an exnation!"


    "Don''t rush, let''s wait for Grandpa toe back home, and I will ask for his advice."


    "Alright, just call us when you need us."


    "Old Fifth has had a tough day today."


    "No need for that, we''re all family, no need for formalities. It''s gettingte, I''m heading back."


    "Take care."


    As soon as Chen Lao left, Chen Yuan''s expression quickly vanished, bing expressionless and even a bit resentful.


    "Foolish third brother¡ªto die in the mountains is one thing, but he also took the Nine Skills with him. There are still many techniques and magic skills that I haven''t fully learned, and now where am I to find this martial arts book."


    ...


    Hongshan Vige was draped in silver, and white snow covered the scattered houses.


    The heavy snow from the previous day showed signs of stopping, and the sun rarely made an appearance in the sky.


    Because of the incident at the Chen Family, many hunters in Hongshan Vige hadn''t gone hunting for a day and were restless.


    Early in the morning, numerous vigers, either leading hunting dogs or carrying various hunting tools, went up the mountain to hunt in pairs and groups.


    Hongshan Vige was unusually noisy.


    Children yed and frolicked, theirughter echoing through the alleys.


    Despite the freezing weather, the atmosphere enlivened and became more animated.


    As a child from a poor family, Shen Qing also got up early, filled his stomach with some meat, took some bran cakes and other hunting necessities, and headed up the mountain before anyone else.


    Still alone.


    Previously, Shen Er and other n members had taken him a few times, but his hunting skills were mediocre; not only did he have to share some of the game, but he was also somewhat of a burden.


    Gradually, no one was willing to take him anymore.


    So, he always went up the mountain to hunt alone.


    His hunting skills had progressively improved, and now he was able to handle it alone and wasn''t worried.


    With his remarkable hunting skills, it didn''t take long for Shen Qing to sessfully capture a pheasant and two mountain hares.


    "Eh? Is that a badger?"


    While hunting in the woods, Shen Qing was surprised to discover traces of a badger.


    The fur of a badger, unique in color and highly glossy, thick yet soft, is the preferred choice for making luxurious apparel in the county town.


    It could be used to make warm fur robes that also showcased one''s status, or as essories like shawls, scarves, and even for decoration, spread on thrones or hung on walls.


    It could fetch a high price during winter!


    Even a normal one could sell for six or seven silver taels, making it a prime target for winter hunting, second only to foxes and minks.


    It was indeed a great fortune.


    He noticed the badger''s tracks heading deeper into the mountain.


    Seeing that it was still early, Shen Qing hesitated for a moment but felt he could try to catch it.


    "My skills are sufficient to feed my elder sister and myself, and now that I have mastered the Nine Skills and my Qi-Blood has increased, I can also withstand some risks."


    "Might as well be a bit bolder and explore a few deeper parts of the mountain, and hunt this badger."


    "If I could catch one, although it might notpare to rare delicacies, I could still earn a few thousandrge coins."


    "We are all hunters, relying on the mountain for food, surviving on our skills. Even if I casually catch one or two, I can handle it, and no one would say anything."


    Shen Qing knew in his heart that for a rootless hunter like him, suddenly acquiring a fortune was not a good thing.


    Easy to obtain, hard to keep.


    But with the Water Ink Panel, the Nine Skills would continue to breakthrough sooner orter, reaching the Great Perfection of Qi-Blood.


    It won''t be long before he would surpass Chen Yuan.


    There was no longer anything to fear.


    "I can kill people, so what''s hunting a roon dog?"


    Shen Qing quickly made up his mind and followed the trail into the depths of the forest in the mountains.


    His hunting skills had already improved significantly. He could easily identify the traces left by the roon dogs on the ground and knew their directions and habits.


    After walking for almost half an hour, Shen Qing suddenly stopped, his gaze sharply fixed on a certain ce, his eyes shing with excitement.


    He found a hidden small hole, which was a roon dog''s den.


    Shen Qing cautiously took out some fine threads and began to carefully set up the trap.


    He used the surrounding branches and snow for camouge, ced some rodents near the entrance as bait, and gently sprinkled some specially made poison powder.


    After setting up the trap, Shen Qing hid behind arge tree and quietly waited.


    As time ticked by, suddenly, there was a rustling sound from the entrance, and a chubby, furry little roon dog peeked out its head.


    It blinked its watery big eyes, curiously surveying its surroundings.


    Seeing the little roon dog enter the trap, Shen Qing secretly rejoiced.


    Soon, the little roon dog was indeed overwhelmed by the poison powder and copsed softly into the snow.


    "Sess!"


    Shen Qing hadn''t expected the poison left by the Chen Family to be so formidable, allowing him to seed so smoothly.


    He ran over quickly, satisfied, and tucked the little roon dog into his clothes, grinning broadly.


    "This time I really stumbled upon a windfall! Although this roon dog is a bit small, it can still be sold for five to six thousandrge coins, equivalent to the earnings of uncle''s fellow hunters for five to six months. I''ve struck it rich!"


    ...


    When he returned home, it was still early.


    Shen Qing brought all of today''s game home, without showing off outside.


    And that roon dog, worth several thousand coins, he tied up well, took some ice blocks, and ced them at the bottom of the jar, without even telling Shen Fang.


    After handling things briefly, Shen Qing, with a book in hand and cheerfully carrying a pheasant, went to Zhang Shuyuan''s house.


    "Sir, I''m here to learn today''s characters."


    Walking into the house, Shen Qing behaved very respectfully, as if he truly regarded Zhang Shuyuan as a mentor.


    This respect was very gratifying to Zhang Shuyuan.


    Upon raising his eyelids and seeing Shen Qing holding arge pheasant, he was somewhat surprised.


    He was well aware of Shen Qing''s situation and now seeing him bring a whole one, he couldn''t help but pinch himself in secret.


    This child was already poor, and yet he was taking things from him like this.


    That was really dreadful.


    But since he had alreadye, it would be too much of a pity to refuse.


    Thus, in the following instruction, Zhang Shuyuan became extremely serious, a stark contrast to his casual attitude the previous day.


    "Read and write everything you learned yesterday."


    "Yes."


    Shen Qing did as Zhang Shuyuan instructed, one after the other.


    The result of Shen Qing''s performance exceeded Zhang Shuyuan''s expectations, so he immediately started teaching him the next sixteen characters.


    After studying for more than an hour, coupled with his fervent studying the night before and early morning, Shen Qing noticed a new change in the water-ink characters in his vision.


    [Skill: Recognize Characters and Read (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 101/100 points]


    [Status: Upgradable]


    [Note: Mastering this skill grants reading and writing capability, continued practice can break through to new realms, with a certain chance to awaken the "Memorize" Sight.]


    Shen Qing''s expression remained unchanged, but he felt a slight joy in his heart.


    "Breakthrough!"

 Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Mountain Drivers

    Just as Shen Qing decided to break through, a sense of rity struck him at the top of his head as if he had suddenly understood everything.


    In the gloomy and damp room, the characters that had seemed so awkward and unfamiliar now appeared friendly and approachable.


    After seriously studying them twice, the shapes and meanings of these characters became clearly etched in his mind.


    When Shen Qing looked down again, his fingers lightly slid across the page, and he felt an unprecedented smoothness.


    [Skill: To recognize characters and read (Skillfully)]


    [Progress: 1/200 points]


    [Status: Cannot be improved]


    Zhang Shuyuan did not notice anything unusual about Shen Qing. On ount of the wild pheasant, he patiently taught Shen Qing another round.


    "Now you have learned sixteen characters, plus the sixteen from yesterday, that''s a total of thirty-two characters. Close the book, recite them first, then write them out for me to see," Zhang Shuyuan said, stroking his shining goat''s beard as if he truly were a private tutor, with dignified utterance.


    Shen Qing nodded and replied, "Yes, Teacher."


    He closed the book as instructed, closed his eyes, and recited loudly, "Heaven is ck, Earth is yellow, the vast universe, the primal chaos. The sun rises and sets, the stars and constetion appear. Coldes and heat goes, autumn harvests and winter stores. With the leap year, the cycle of the seasonspletes, and the rhythm keeps the sun in tune."


    Seeing Shen Qing recited smoothly without any hesitation, Zhang Shuyuan queried further, "Do you know what they mean?"


    After thinking for a while, Shen Qing said, "Teacher taught me yesterday, these words mean that the sky is dark blue, and the earth is..."


    Listening to Shen Qing discuss with ease, Zhang Shuyuan felt that the poor family''s son in front of him was behaving somewhat unusually.


    When he first learned the Thousand Character ssic himself, he had to forcefully memorize the characters and their meanings; it was muchter that he gradually absorbed and understood them, nowhere near as smooth-flowing as Shen Qing described.


    Zhang Shuyuan put a dried tree branch in front of Shen Qing and said, "Write these thirty-two characters."


    Shen Qing nodded his consent, picked up the branch, and started writing on the ground.


    In just a short while, he had written out all thirty-two characters without missing a single one.


    If the writing from yesterday was like a crawling turtle, today it was indeed a proper turtle.


    Ugly, but standard.


    Zhang Shuyuan unconsciously took another look at Shen Qing.


    In just one day, this unremarkable young man had stepped from apletely illiterate person to someone on the threshold of literacy.


    Such an aptitude was something he had never seen in all his years.


    However, Zhang Shuyuan did not get excited or treat Shen Qing differently because of this.


    Talents were asmon as carps crossing the river; without the right background or connections, few of them would ever make a name for themselves.


    This little disy of talent was merely a moment of surprise in his eyes, nothing more.


    After Shen Qing finished writing, Zhang Shuyuanmented indifferently, "Not bad, you need to practice more when you''re free."


    Shen Qing nodded and said, "Thank you for the instruction, Teacher."


    After Zhang Shuyuan inspected his work, Shen Qing practiced for a while longer before ending today''s lesson on character recognition.


    Upon leaving the house, Shen Qing did not linger long and hurried back home early to take out the martial arts book and give it another look.


    There were still many characters he could not recognize, butpared to before, he understood a bit more.


    Indeed, some general knowledge about Martial Arts was recorded here.


    He needed to make more progress in earnest.


    Shen Qing became full of zeal.


    ...


    Outside Hongshan Vige, a decrepit horse pulled a cart slowly into the vige.


    As one of the mountain drivers of Hongshan Vige, Chen Youguang sat on the cart with a beaming smile, full of vitality.


    "Uncle, you''re back!" On the roadside, Chen Dajiang''s face wrinkled into a heap as he greeted with a sombre face.


    "Back," the vige chief answered, then nodded towards Aunt Zhang in the distance, "Aunt Zhang, how''s your health?"


    "Good, it''s good!" Aunt Zhang''s expression seemed a bit unnatural when she looked at Chen Youguang, as if she had something to say but stopped short.


    Chen Youguang found it strange.


    It has only been a few days since he had been out, yet the atmosphere in the vige had be rather gloomy.


    He was puzzled, as if someone''s son had died.


    Children gathered around, curiously looking at the cart. Chen Youguang waved his hands, shooing them away.


    With his smile fading, Chen Youguang hurried home at a brisk pace with the cart.


    As soon as he opened the door, he felt an unusual silence at home: "Elder, second, third,e out. Your father is back."


    After calling out for a while, only Chen Yuan came out.


    His face bore stubble and he seemed somewhat despondent as he said, "Dad!"


    "Where are your two brothers?" Chen Youguang took a wine sack off the cart and took a swig.


    "They... they were killed by the Tian Family members..."


    "Pfft..." Chen Youguang, who had just taken a drink, spat it out with a splutter: "What did you say, the second and the third are dead? Tell me exactly what happened."


    "It was like this..." Chen Yuan recounted everything that had happened in the past couple of days, bit by bit.


    After listening, Chen Youguang had a rather grim expression, his heart sinking deep down.


    "Dad, what are we going to do now? Shall we take down the Tian Family members..." Chen Yuan made a throat-slitting gesture.


    Chen Youguang interrupted, "No, killing them would be nothing more than a momentary satisfaction, useless otherwise."


    He paced back and forth, then looked up, "How is your martial arts practiceing along?"


    "I''ve just begun to sense Qi. Give me a few more months, and I can reach the Great Perfection of Qi-Blood."


    "Good, then there''s a chance," Chen Youguang said. "In town, I met with the Song and Dong Family, and I also visited the Shen Shou Sect. I''ve already made arrangements with them. Once spring arrives, if your Qi-Blood reaches Great Perfection and I gather sixty taels silver, I can send you directly into their inner sect."


    Shen Shou Sect!


    Chen Yuan''s eyes immediately lit up.


    This martial arts sect was famous in the county town, no less esteemed than those martial arts halls.


    More importantly, this sect had a connection to the government office; one could cultivate martial arts and gain other revenues as well.


    The only issue was the high cost of joining, which deterred many people.


    He did not expect that his father could establish such a connection.


    "A dead person isn''t worth much, but a living one can be quite valuable to brokers. Since you need the money, let the Tian Family pay. If they don''t agree, force them to!"


    "What about my two brothers'' vengeance..."


    Chen Youguang lifted his eyelids and said, "I''m still young, I can earn more money, take a few more concubines, and give you two more brothers."


    Chen Yuan: "..."


    "All right, let''s not talk about this anymore. In the next few days, when the snow stops, our family will start buying game to take into town."


    Chen Yuan said, "Dad, why are we doing the buying? Isn''t it usually the Song and Dong Families who send people over?"


    "With heavy snow on the roads, their broker died tumbling down a mountain. From now on, our family will do the buying. We''ll set the prices. In Hongshan Vige, anyone who doesn''t sell to us won''t be able to hitch a ride to town to sell their game."


    From their ce to the county town was not a short distance; if one walked, it would take a whole day there and back without return.


    If the goods didn''t sell, an extra night''s stay would be necessary.


    Chen Yuan knew that his father intended to turn Hongshan Vige into their own private hunting ground, a reserve exclusively for them.

 Chapter 18: Chapter 18: The Exploitation by the Chen Family

    Three days went by.


    As dawn broke, Shen Qing rose from his warm bed and habitually peered outside through the earthen window.


    The long-fallen snow had finally ceased, without a whisper of wind.


    The sun shone brightly in the sky, a rare spell of good weather.


    "Today, eight or nine out of ten, the traders from the town''s Boss will likelye over. With some money, we can hitch a ride on their cart to the county town and sell all the goods we''ve umted these past few days."


    Thanks to the harvest from the earlier days, Shen Qing had been able to limit his hunting to the mountains close to the house, securing enough wild rabbits and pheasants to fill his belly.


    With the remaining time, he devoted all his energy to practicing Martial Arts and learning to recognize characters and read, continuously improving his progress in both.


    The results were quite gratifying.


    He was now able to recognize nearly a hundred characters, and his Nine Brocade Technique was reaching the realm of Great Perfection.


    Everything was progressing smoothly and orderly.


    Shen Qing had the habit of washing his face with snow water in the morning; then, he would continue his stance training indoors, waiting for Shen Fang to prepare breakfast.


    Shen Fang, who shared the house with him, couldn''t help but worry about seeing her younger brother practicing in a bizarre posture from morning till night every day. She called out, "Qingzi? Are you okay these past two days?"


    "I''ve heard Auntie can draw some talismans, maybe she should have a look?"


    Hearing this, Shen Qing couldn''t help but give a wry smile.


    Obviously, these past few days he had been busy with both practicing the Nine Skills and studying; so much so that his feet scarcely touched the ground.


    Even his hunting had decreased, a stark change from before. Shen Fang thought he might have encountered something unclean in the mountains.


    Despite her good looks and fair features, his sister wasn''t very bright andcked assertiveness.


    Letting her know too much about certain matters wasn''t necessarily a good thing.


    Shen Qing didn''t provide much of an exnation. He came up with an excuse, saying, "This is an enlightenment I''ve had from reading these past days, and I learned it from the books. It''s for strengthening the body and improving health. Didn''t you notice I''ve grown tallertely? I thought it might have something to do with this, so I continued practicing."


    "Oh," Shen Fang, finding Shen Qing''s words quite reasonable and not like he was haunted, didn''t think any more of it.


    As usual, she handed the cooked porridge over to Shen Qing.


    The porridge was traded from another house and was far superior to the previous husk-filled meals.


    With the warm porridge in his hands, Shen Qing crouched at the threshold.


    He basked in the sun while skimming a circle of rice porridge along the rim of the bowl, savoring the sweetness of the rice juice.


    "We''ll see how things go. If it''s feasible today, we can take out the two fur coats left by Chen An to sell in the county town as well. If not, we''ll wait and see, looking for the next opportunity."


    As Shen Qing pondered how to deal with the items from the mountains, he looked up to see Shen Xiaohu running over from behind his house.


    He shouted loudly, "Brother Qingzi, something terrible has happened!"


    "What terrible thing has happened? Has someone been killed by the Chen family members again in the vige?" Shen Qing asked, lifting an eyelid.


    "No!"


    Shen Xiaohu, squatting beside Shen Qing, said with a worried face, "The traders from the town''s Boss won''te to our ce anymore."


    "The traders won''te anymore?"


    Shen Qing''s expression became noticeably more serious.


    Their Hongshan Vige was fifty or sixty miles from the county town. Normally, the hunters from these viges would sell their game to the traders from the Boss to save a trip to the county town.


    As a rule agreed upon by everyone, the price sold to the traders was slightly lower than that in the county town.


    If they caught valuable game and were unwilling to sell to the traders, they could pay to ride on the traders'' horse cart to sell the goods themselves in the county.


    In the county town, the big families, Martial Arts Halls, government offices, and restaurants all needed their game, the wild delicacies.


    If one wanted to make a move, it wasn''t difficult.


    Take more or less, all based on skill.


    If one encountered local bullies or tyrants and got robbed, just chalk it up to bad luck.


    "He''s noting anymore, I heard it loud and clear, my grandpa and the others were all talking about this. I guess I won''t be able to go to the county town in the future," Shen Xiaohu''s expression showed some disappointment and difort.


    Shen Qing knew he had always wanted to visit the county town. Now with this development, the chance of him visiting the county town had be even slimmer.


    He pondered for a while before asking, "The Chen Family is the most active in dealing with traders, what do they say? Are we going to be stuck with whatever we hunt in the future?"


    "Damn it, don''t even mention them, they''re the ones who stirred up this mess," Shen Xiaohu cursed loudly: "I heard my grandpa saying that all the hunting goods in the vige will have to be sold to their family, they will monopolize the purchasing and sell to the town. If you''re not willing, then you have to go sell it in town yourself."


    After listening, Shen Qing almost immediately thought of two words¡ªmonopoly!


    This Chen Youguang, they are treating the entire Hongshan Vige as their own "property."


    All the hunters living in this vige have to work for their family, to make money for them.


    Even the usually good-tempered Shen Qing couldn''t help but curse inwardly.


    On second thought, their family really hadn''t done many good deeds in the vige.


    "Brother Qingzi, my grandpa and a few others, although the Zhang Family members had their objections, they tended to agree. As for the other families, even if they are dissatisfied they can''t do anything about it. The Chen family is numerous and powerful, and it''s said that Chen Yuan has even learned some martial arts, we can''t fight against them."


    Shen Xiaohu was very downhearted.


    A lot of hunters don''t have much left after ounting for the daily necessities of their families from what they catch every few days.


    For such a small amount, making a trip to the county and possibly having to stay overnight hardly seemed worth it.


    After the start of spring, hunting goods were not easy to preserve, making the situation even worse.


    Under these circumstances, life must be even harder for his uncle''s family.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel somewhat troubled.


    After Shen Xiaohu left, he put down his bowl, and made up his mind not to consider retrieving the things left by the Chen family brothers in the mountains for the time being.


    To forge iron, one must be strong oneself.


    Since he couldn''t take a coach to the county town for the time being, he decided to continue training the "Nine Skills" martial arts.


    It was only a bit more.


    First, he needed to increase his strength.


    Two hourster.


    Shen Qing alternated practicing the Hunyuan Stance, Mao Dun Stance, Tuo Ying Zhuang, and Floating Cloud Stance. His legs were already sore, andrge beads of sweat seeped out on his forehead.


    Just when he could no longer endure, his mind suddenly vibrated, and the ink-like characters in his vision slowly materialized.


    [Skill: Nine Brocade Technique (Small Sess)]


    [Progress: 203/200 points]


    [Status: Can Be Enhanced]


    [Note: Continue training to increase progress. When Qi-Blood is perfected, you can have great strength and draw breath as smoothly as silk.]


    Great!


    Shen Qing was overjoyed.


    After several days of diligent practice, he had finally managed to advance this martial arts skill to the next realm.


    With another breakthrough, even without having reached the Great Perfection of Qi-Blood, it was probably close enough to swagger through the vige.


    Based on what he had been surreptitiously finding out these past few days, Chen Yuan of the Chen family had not trained to such a realm.

 Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Mastery of the Nine Skills

    "Breakthrough!"


    Boom!


    Shen Qing, holding his hands in a circr embrace, was suddenly invigorated.


    The moment he broke through, he felt a warm current rising from his Dantian, rushing through his meridians.


    Each time this warm currentpleted a Grand Cirction within his body, it grew stronger by a degree.


    In the blink of an eye, the warm current grew from the size of a thumb to a ceaselessly flowing stream.


    Shen Qing felt his Qi-Blood rapidly strengthening. His muscles swelled as if being inted, every inch of skin filled with explosive power.


    Until it reached a certain equilibrium, the phenomenon gradually subsided.


    [Skill: Nine Skills (Mastered)]


    [Progress: 3/300 points]


    [Status: Cannot be upgraded]


    Shen Qing found a stone bar in the room, grasped it with one hand, and with a sudden effort, the stone bar shattered into pieces that fell to the ground.


    He somewhat incredulously looked at his own right hand, a feeling of ecstasy surging in his heart.


    "I did it!"


    With such strength, even Chen Yuan could be easily handled.


    Although there was still a gap from true Martial Arts, he could not yet bepared to a real martial master.


    But now, having surpassed Chen Yuan, within Hongshan Vige, there was no one who could match him in terms of strength.


    In such a chaotic environment, possessing such power made him feel reassured.


    In the afternoon, Hongshan Vige was thrown into chaos.


    Outside the Chen Family''s home.


    Chen Youguang summoned many of the vige''s folks to his doorstep.


    Seeing that most had arrived, he no longer dyed. He and his son Chen Yuan stood to the left and right of a carriage and loudly announced, "Listen up, everyone!"


    "Starting today, all the hunters in Hongshan Vige will be trading with me on behalf of the Boss. This year, all the viges had excellent harvests. The Boss said the purchasing price would be thirty percent lower than before."


    As soon as these words were said, the crowd that had gathered erupted, their hearts ignited, causing a collective uproar.


    "What? Thirty percent lower? Isn''t this bullying!" a burly hunter said incredibly dissatisfied, his face full of hostility.


    "Exactly, the game has been selling well this winter! The Boss is trying to take advantage of us!"


    "Lowering it by thirty percent, wouldn''t we have worked for nothing all year, unable to even pay our taxes!" a hunter from the Zhang Family said, waving his fists indignantly.


    Shen Qing, hiding among the crowd, opened his mouth but ultimately chose not to speak.


    He looked toward his uncle Shen Er, who was frowning, clearly dissatisfied and surprised by this decision: "How could the Boss do this,st time the prices were fine, how can they suddenly drop them so much!"


    The vigers were all talking at once, filled with dissatisfaction andints, the atmosphere suddenly bing tense.


    Chen Youguang observed the vigers'' reactions expressionlessly, as if he had anticipated this uproar. He quietly waited for their voices to gradually subside.


    Then he slowly spoke, his voice steady and forceful: "Everyone, please listen to me. I understand your dissatisfaction, as this affects everyone''s personal interests, but please also understand the Boss''s predicament. With more people selling, the price will inevitably drop."


    He paused, looked around to make sure everyone was listening, sighed and said: "However, considering everyone''s hard work, I don''t n on profiting from you all. So altogether we need to decrease it by ten percent, which is the biggest concession I can offer."


    Chen Youguang''s words somewhat calmed the people in the vige.


    Although lowering the purchasing price was still displeasing, it seemed that Chen Youguang at least made somepromise.


    The hunters of Hongshan Vige began to whisper to each other, discussing the new proposal.


    "A ten percent decrease, though still somewhat disappointing, is much betterpared to thirty percent," Uncle Shen Er said with a sigh.


    "Yes, what we can do next is to try to hunt more game to increase our ie."


    Another hunter from the Zhang Family had no choice but to lower his head as well.


    In fact, facing the powerful Chen Youguang''s family, they had no other options.


    Shen Qing observed these people closely.


    Having lived through two lifetimes, he saw clearly the small schemes of Chen Youguang who yed the trick of lifting at first to knock downter.


    He could hear the calctions being made from a great distance away.


    If he was not mistaken, Boss in the city didn''t actually intend to lower the price for purchasing game, and it was Chen Youguang''s own initiative to reduce it by such a significant amount.


    The difference in margin went entirely into the pockets of him and his father.


    What was more terrifying was that two of their sons had just died by his own hand.


    These past few days, their family had acted as if nothing had happened and had briskly started the purchasing business.


    All they saw was money.


    Their family was indeed somewhat cold-hearted and frightening.


    "Right, there''s another thing I need to mention," Chen Youguang looked around at everyone, patted the pushcart beside him, and said, "My family''s cart is quite small, so it can''t carry people when hauling goods in the future, I hope everyone can bear with this."


    Compared to the issue of lowering purchase prices, not taking people into the city seemed trivial.


    However, some of the smart hunters in the vige had already figured out the implication.


    From now on, only valuable and easy-to-carry game like delicacies, foxes, or minks would be worth making a trip.


    The rest of the game, if just usual price, was not worth the half-day walk to the county town on their own anymore.


    Chen Youguang had indirectly increased the cost of selling on their own, thereby coercing the hunters to turn over their game for him to purchase.


    It was an outright tant scheme.


    At this time, Shen Qing couldn''t help but frown deeply.


    The way this father and son from the Chen Family ate was quite unsightly.


    "Alright, everyone knows now, right? If anyone has suitable game,e exchange it for money with me. If the weather is good tomorrow, I will make a trip to the city."


    Chen Youguang''s face bore a slight smile as he took a heavy bag ofrge coins from his sleeve, held it in his hand, and shook it in front of everyone, making the sound of copper coins clinking.


    "I''ll go."


    Chen Family''s fifth son, beaming with joy, carried a colorful pheasant, feathers and all, ced it on the cart, and happily took one hundred wen.


    After him, a few other Chen family members sold several pieces of game.


    "Anyone else?"


    "I didn''t bring it with me; I''ll fetch it from home."


    "I need to discuss with my wife back home."


    "¡­"


    All the men present, old and young alike, were not fools. This matter involved a family''s livelihood and was a significant issue, one that couldn''t be decided immediately.


    "Alright then, I''ll wait for you all until tomorrow morning. After tomorrow morning, when I''ll go to the county again is uncertain,"


    "Everyone in the vige knows now, right? Is there any family not yet informed?"


    "Not a single member from the Tian Family is here!"


    At that moment, Chen Yuan suddenly interjected.


    "Hmm?" Chen Youguang nced at the crowd, looking puzzled at Chen Yuan, "What''s the meaning of the Tian Family? Chen Yuan, go check it out."


    "Yes, Grandfather."


    After saying this, Chen Yuan, apanied by the Old fifth and several other Chen family members, squeezed through the crowd, and headed straight towards the Tian Family''s location.


    In the crowd, Shen Qing suddenly had a bad premonition.

 Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Armed with a Sharp Weapon, the Urge to Kill Arises

    The young and old gathered at the scene were very curious to see what Shen Fang and his son were up to.


    Shen Qing followed behind, exchanging nces with his uncle Shen Er, and also rushed over with the crowd.


    By the time they arrived, Old Tian''s house was already surrounded by people.


    They heard a loud bang, just in time to see Chen Yuan kick open Old Tian''s door.


    Shortly after, Chen Yuan and his men threw Old Tian and his two sons out of the house.


    Apart from Old Tian''s residence, three other Tian Family households had their doors kicked open by Chen family members.


    One of these households experienced a fierce conflict, with relentless smashing sounds.


    After a while, a blood-soaked Tian Family hunter was forcibly pushed out by three Chen family members.


    "Kneel down!"


    The three Chen Family members were injured in several ces, clearly indicating that the Tian Family hunter had fought back fiercely.


    Chen Yuan appeared to intentionally let the many vigers witness this scene, stepping forward to ask, "What happened?"


    "Tian Xiaohu and his family attacked us without a word as soon as they saw using; they must be guilty of something."


    Blood-covered Tian Xiaohu fiercely raised his head and yelled in defense, "You were the ones who started it!"


    Smack!


    As soon as his words fell, Chen Yuan pped him across the face.


    He had been cultivating his Qi-Blood and was on the verge of entering the level of martial master; his strength was far greater than that of an ordinary man.


    The p knocked out one of Tian Xiaohu''s teeth, making his already injured state even more pitiful.


    His face covered in blood, he tried several times to get up but couldn''t manage to rise from the ground.


    Shen Qing, upon seeing this scene, furrowed his brows intensely.


    He also recognized this Tian Xiaohu as one of the most capable young men in the Tian Family, a skilled hunter.


    When his father was alive, he often went hunting with their family.


    He hadn''t expected Chen Yuan to beat him so brutally.


    Even though he was an exceptional hunter, he was an ordinary man who stood no chance against martial artists.


    At that moment, Tian Chuan''s parents and others were also driven out of their homes.


    The Tian Family members living in Hongshan Vige were gathered together.


    Chen Yuan scanned the Tian family and coldly said, "You Tian Family members killed two of my brothers. Out of neighborly harmony, I didn''t trouble you, but you took our kindness for granted. Today, my grandfather called for a vige meeting, and none of you attended; it seems you are ready to sever ties with us, aren''t you?"


    "Nobody informed us at all!" a young Tian Family hunter exined in a panic. "And how could we possibly have killed your brothers?"


    "The day after my brother identally killed Tian Chuan, he went up the mountain and vanished; if it wasn''t you, do you expect me to believe I killed my own brother?"


    Chen Yuan''s eyes red with anger, his face murderous. He turned and asked Chen Lao, "Did you not inform the Tian family?"


    Bowing, Chen Lao replied, "I did inform them, but for some reason, they didn''t show up."


    "You... are lying!" Tian Xiaohu, lying on the ground, red fiercely at Chen Lao.


    If looks could kill, Chen Lao would have died dozens of times over.


    Chen Lao suddenly felt a chill all over his body.


    The onlookers were incredulous, finding it hard to believe that the weaker Tian Family would initiate a conflict in such a situation.


    Shen Qing in the crowd knew all too well.


    The Chen Family Brothers were actually killed by him.


    What Chen Yuan and his men were doing was framing the Tian Family.


    The Tian Family members felt wronged and tried to argue, but Chen Yuan didn''t give them a chance, kicking away the Tian Family member who tried to speak up.


    "All of you deny it, huh?"


    Chen Yuan lifted his chin andmanded, "Everyone, search their houses!"


    Hearing this, Chen family members surged into the Tian family''s house like a pack of wolves, wreaking havoc.


    The Tian family''smunal stove was toppled, and therge pot inside was smashed to pieces.


    Cabs,rge jars, and beds were turned over. They were thrown out of the house.


    With blood everywhere and the Tian family members, bruised and swollen-faced, crying intermittently, along with the sound of smashing from the house, the vigers suddenly felt a sense of sorrow shared by all.


    "Chen Da, look what I found?"


    A Chen family member turned up an elm wood bow from inside Tian Xiaohu''s room and handed it to Chen Yuan.


    Chen Yuan caught the bow and looked it over, "This is my brother''s bow. Why is it here with you?"


    As Tian Xiaohu stared at the unfamiliar bow, even he couldprehend, "Chen Yuan, you''re bloody framing me!!"


    Chen Yuan lifted his eyelid and said, "ording to thews of Great Zhou, anyone whomits murder pays ten strings of coins and serves three months if they aremoners; twenty strings of coins and demotion for officials; a hundred strings of coins and conscription for doctors and martial artists; craftsmen are executed and their families enved."


    "You killed my two brothers. All Tian family members shall be reduced to ves."


    At this moment, Chen Yuan revealed his dagger.


    Tian Xiaohu, like a sick tiger caged, began to struggle violently, "Chen Yuan, you will not die a good death, none of your Chen family will. You killed my cousin first, then harmed our entire Tian family, I won''t let you off even as a ghost."


    Despite Tian Xiaohu''s curses, Chen Yuan ignored him and pressed the Tian family members, "We''ve only found a bow. Do you have other aplices who harmed my brother?"


    The falsely used Tian family had no such aplices.


    Yet Chen Yuan was not satisfied: "Hmm? Speak up!"


    "Chen Da, I have something to say." Just then, Chen Dahu seemed to remember something.


    "What is it? Speak!"


    With the current situation, the Chen family had risen to prominence within Hongshan Vige.


    As someone on the periphery of the Chen family, Chen Dahu felt he had to cling to Chen Yuan and their influence by any means.


    He saw through Chen Yuan''s actions; their supposed quest for revenge was just a pretext to cause trouble.


    Others might not know, but he was aware that ording to Great Zhou''sws,borers involved in a killing must onlypensate with their lives and not involve their families.


    Chen Yuan and his family wanted to enve the Tian family to make money.


    Remembering Chen Yuan''s previous designs on Shen Fang, he stepped forward and said, "On the afternoon Chen Tai and Chen An went to the mountains, I saw Shen Qing returning from behind the mountains, carrying a wild roe deer, his chest bulging out, and he also had an extra bow and arrows."


    "Everyone knows Shen Qing''s hunting skills are poor. How could he have suchrge prey? These past couple of days, he''s also been sending rabbits and chickens to the bookworm. There''s definitely something fishy."


    "He must have colluded with the Tian family, killed Er Tai and Xiao An, and that''s how he got such a bounty."


    Chen Dahu spoke astonishingly.


    Upon these words, everyone was shocked, and all eyes turned toward Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing was utterly bewildered.


    He hadn''t expected that while casually enjoying the spectacle, he would suddenly be the spectacle himself.


    Chen Yuan, slightly surprised, nced at Chen Dahu, finding his usation quite suitable.


    He had been worried about not having a chance to drag Shen Qing into the mess to sell off his sister.


    It seemed like the solution came while he was merely hoping for it.


    Chen Yuan stared at Shen Qing and demanded sharply, "Shen Qing, what do you have to say for yourself?"


    Shen Er, present in the crowd, hurriedly defended, "Impossible. My nephew can''t even kill a rabbit properly, how could he kill a person?"


    "Is that so? Then a search of the house will tell!" said Chen Yuan ominously.


    Shen Qing knew without thinking that Chen Yuan was looking to nt evidence on him again.


    Regrettably, he didn''t need to frame him.


    Shen Qing stepped out from behind his uncle Shen Er and said with a smile, "No need for that, I am the one who killed him!"


    Already proficient in the Nine Brocade Technique, Shen Qing, seeing all that the Chen family had done, felt a surge of murderous intent.

 Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Murderer, Shen Qing!

    Whoosh!


    As soon as Shen Qing''s words came out, everyone present was stunned.


    They had never expected that facing the Chen family''s false usation and the miserable state of the Tian Family members, Shen Qing would... actually agree.


    "Qingzi, have you gone mad?" Uncle Shen Er said in a panic.


    After speaking, he hurriedly stepped forward to exin, "Chen Da, he''s young and doesn''t know any better. He''s talking nonsense."


    Standing by his side, Shen Qing nced over and saw that when Uncle Shen Er spoke these words, his hands were slightly trembling, obviously, he was very afraid.


    But Chen Yuan, who had finally seized the opportunity, would not give it up so easily.


    The chance to join the Shen Shou Sect was right in front of him.


    All itcked was paving the way with silver.


    He said coldly, "Just because he''s young, does that mean he can''t kill?"


    "Chen Da, my older brother only has this one son. If he dies, how can I face my brother? You are a man of great generosity. Please spare Qingzi. I... from now on, I will definitely sell my hunting goods to your family."


    Shen Er knew that from today onward, he had definitely offended Chen Yuan, but at this point, he had no choice but to stand up.


    The vigers all knew he had always protected this nephew of his, only to shrink back like a turtle when a crisis actually struck.


    This was something he could never ept.


    He did not want to live his life being pointed at the spine by others.


    The onlooking vigers, seeing this scene, all felt a pang in their hearts.


    Recently, Chen Yuan had been visiting Shen Qing''s house frequently; his intentions were as clear as day to everyone.


    Today, having seized the opportunity, Chen Yuan certainly would not let it go lightly.


    Shen Qing must have seen it too, which was why he had voluntarily confessed.


    How pitiable!


    But even though they knew this, the most they could do was sympathize in their hearts.


    They absolutely did not dare to stand up like Shen Er did.


    Facing the Chen family, they were all angry but did not dare to speak out.


    Shen Qing surveyed his surroundings, taking in everyone''s reactions.


    He smiled lightly, held down Shen Er''s trembling hands, and shook his head, "It''s useless; at this stage, how could Chen Yuan let me go?"


    Uncle Shen Er opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but saw that Shen Qing was already walking towards Chen Yuan.


    Although Shen Qing was only fifteen years old, thanks to his recent practice and nourishment from meat, he had grown quite tall and straight.


    He looked directly at Chen Yuan and said without changing his expression, "Do you want to know how your brother died?"


    Chen Yuan''s expression gradually faded, and he squinted to size up Shen Qing.


    Something seemed amiss.


    Shen Qing was too calm.


    There was no sign of fear.


    It simply defied logic.


    It was not just him; everyone else felt that Shen Qing seemed somewhat unfamiliar when they looked at him.


    However, Shen Qing did not care about these surprised looks.


    As he approached Chen Yuan, he continued, "Your third brother, Chen An, before he could react, I shot two arrows through his heart. When he died, his eyes were as wide as copper bells."


    "Your second brother, Chen Tai, had his throat sealed by my arrow, unable to even let out a scream. By the end, his breathing sounded like a broken bellows."


    As he said this, Shen Qing had walked right in front of Chen Yuan, looking him in the eye: "So... what will you do now?"


    The scene fell into a deathly silence.


    The next moment, Chen Yuan felt a surge of fury "boom" up his spine to the top of his head, and he roared like a volcanic eruption, "You''re asking for death!"


    The enraged Chen Yuan threw a punch at Shen Qing, fast and forceful as the wind.


    Shen Qing''s fingers loosely gripped, firmly grabbing onto Chen Yuan''s wrist.


    Chen Yuan tried to pull his wrist out only to find that Shen Qing''s five fingers were like a pair of pliers, and he could not pull free at all.


    Shen Qing''s eyelids lifted slightly, revealing a chilling intent.


    At that moment, in his eyes, Chen Yuan was almost no different from the prey he hunted every day.


    He kicked out fiercely toward the front.


    With a thud, his footnded squarely on Chen Yuan''s abdomen.


    All of his Qi-Blood surged up in the moment he made his move, all of it pouring into his right leg, causing the muscles on both sides of his thigh to tighten like iron, exploding with a terrifying strength.


    Chen Yuan was kicked so hard that his feet left the ground, his whole body soaring into the air.


    Just right, Shen Qing caught Chen Yuan''s hands and pulled forward with the momentum.


    Thud.


    The tall and burly Chen Yuan was brought down smoothly by Shen Qing, crashing heavily onto the ground.


    Shen Qing twisted his wrist.


    Crack crack crack...


    Chen Yuan''s wrist bones were crushed by Shen Qing, emitting a piercing scream.


    Shen Qing, however, was indifferent, sitting astride Chen Yuan''s back with an expressionless face, grabbing his hair and lifting his face.


    His sharp eyes caught sight of a broken arrow with an arrowhead among the pile of misceneous items thrown out during the raid on his house by Chen Yuan and the others.


    Shen Qing grabbed it and without any hesitation, stabbed Chen Yuan''s throat with it as if he were ughtering prey.


    The rusty arrowhead emerged from the other side of Chen Yuan''s neck, with blood spurting out like a fountain.


    "Huh huh... huh..."


    Chen Yuan tried to speak but couldn''t say a word, as blood froth continuously seeped from his mouth and nose.


    Shen Qing wiped the bloodstains off his face, feeling that this Chen Yuan was nothing special.


    He couldn''t understand why everyone was afraid of such a person.


    "Ah, you''ve killed someone, you''ve killed Chen Yuan!"


    Chen Dajiang, standing by the side, was shouting in panic, waking everyone from their stupor into an uproar.


    The Chen family members who were guarding the Tian Family members exchanged nces, and, faced with Shen Qing''s powerful aura, subconsciously loosened their grip on the Tian Family members and took two steps back.


    They hadn''t expected Shen Qing to actually dare to deliver a killing blow, to kill the oldest son of the mountain drivers'' family right in front of everyone.


    Clean and decisive!


    Almost without any hesitation.


    All of a sudden, they felt their scalps tingle, and their hearts were filled with dread.


    Some of the more cowardly ones'' legs were shaking so much they couldn''t even stand properly.


    "He actually took action!"


    "Never realized how ruthless Shen Qing, the eldest of the Shen family, could be."


    "Wasn''t Chen Yuan practicing Martial Arts? Howe he can''t even beat Shen Qing? If we had known he was this weak, we shouldn''t have held back that day and just fought back."


    All the onlookers were shocked.


    Shen Er, his uncle who was standing nearby, was so startled he couldn''t even speak properly.


    In his memory, Shen Qing had always been a very honest and obedient child.


    His skills were not refined, he was timid, and not very bright.


    For this reason, he always bowed and scraped before others, meekly agreeing with everything.


    But the Shen Qing in front of them now was exuding an evil aura, brimming with killing intent.


    That ferocious strength was iparable even to the old hunters in the vige, chilling to the bone.


    Shen Qing paid no attention to the crowd, his gaze shifting towards Chen Dajiang.


    Chen Dajiang felt his scalp go numb, chill from head to toe.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, his Qi-Blood surging, causing his face to flush red.


    The muscles in his legs swelled, and under the boost of Qi-Blood, a power far greater than usual was stirred up.


    He looked straight at Chen Dajiang and said, "I never thought, as a neighbor, you could be so shameless. But do you know, the ones who pop their heads up first usually die the fastest."


    "I didn''t do anything, you''re talking nonsense, let me go..."


    While Chen Dajiang was trying to argue, Shen Qing suddenly swept his leg around.


    Bang!


    The originally standing Chen Dajiang screamed as his legs werepletely broken, copsing onto the ground.


    Clearly, Shen Qing had no intention of letting him go.


    He had always been small-minded and held grudges.


    What could be done today, he would never put off until tomorrow.

 Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Fight the Tyrants, Wipe Out the Rich Families

    "Qingzi, that''s enough."


    Uncle Shen Er hurried forward to pull Shen Qing back, worried he might act rashly. He lowered his voice and said, "Qingzi, you''re being too impulsive. The Chen family has more than a dozen households, and today, in front of everyone, if you kill Chen Yuan, it means you''re thoroughly at irreconcble odds with them."


    "The Chen family has connections in the county town. If the Chen family members report this to the county government, it''s a case of a life for a life. You won''t be able to bear the consequences."


    "You should run first! We''ll hold them off here, and talk about it when this blows over."


    Shen Qing looked at his uncle Shen Er and said, "Run, why should I run? It''s not me who''s in the wrong. If I hadn''t killed him just now, it would have been my family who ended up broken and deceased. There''s no reason in the world for the victim to have to run."


    "Ah..."


    Shen Qing, having heard Uncle Shen Er''s words, nodded and said, "But Uncle, your words have awakened me. If the Chen family stir up trouble at the county government, I would definitely die. They won''t let me go, and I don''t want to live a life of hiding and skulking."


    "What are you nning to do?"


    "When you cut grass, you must remove the roots," Shen Qing''s lips lightly parted as he uttered a chilling and straightforward statement, "Chen Youguang has lost all three of his sons, it''s only fair that he join them down below."


    Seeing Shen Qing like this, Uncle Shen Er hurriedly tried to persuade him, "Qingzi, don''t be rash."


    But Shen Qing turned a deaf ear, his mind was very clear.


    The situation had developed to this point; he and Chen Youguang were irreconcble.


    The entire Chen family must die today.


    Today, nobody could stop it.


    Shen Qing returned to his house and took out all the bows and arrows, strapping them to his body.


    He walked up to Tian Xiaohu and lifted his chin, saying, "Are youing or not?"


    Tian Xiaohu, seeing Shen Qing''s face which was as calm as water, for some reason found it exceptionally attractive. He gritted his teeth, wiped the blood from his nose, and said, "Let''s go!"


    With that, he too picked up a bow and arrows from his home, holding a dagger and rope, and walked out.


    In front of everyone, he wiped his knife on the still warm body of Chen Yuan, cutting through his throat.


    Then he said to Shen Qing, "I had a part in killing Chen Yuan!"


    Shen Qing was slightly stunned, then quickly understood, "Good!"


    "I had a part in it too."


    "I''m in as well."


    "..."


    The Tian Family members who had been bullied by Chen Yuan, nearly driven to ruin and death, one by one stood up, some with knives, some with pitchforks, each stabbing Chen Yuan''s body.


    In the blink of an eye, five or six hunters from the Tian family were standing behind Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing''s face showed great joy as heughed loudly, "Since that''s the case, fellow vigers, follow me to the Chen family to fight the tyrants, to wipe them out."


    "Let''s go!"


    Shen Qing, along with five or six people from the Tian family, marched imposingly towards the vicinity of Chen Youguang''s family.


    The scenepletely spiraled out of control.


    Seeing this, Chen Lao Wu was scared out of his wits, trembling he muttered, "It''s over, it''s all gone wrong, this is a disaster!"


    He hurriedly ran toward the Chen family''s direction.


    "Hm?"


    Shen Qing''s gaze was sharp, and without a word, he released an arrow, striking Chen Lao Wu to the ground.


    The speed was so fast that even the Tian Family members beside him hadn''t even had time to react.


    Tian Xiaohu, witnessing this, was inwardly stunned, "Such fast, such urate bow technique!"


    He couldn''t help but admire Shen Qing even more.


    He knew very well that Chen Lao Wu was close to Chen Youguang and his family.


    As he passed Chen Lao Wu, he didn''t say a word, just casually delivered a final cut with his knife to send him to heaven.


    Seeing things getting out of control, other vigers from the surrounding viges all went back home to grab their weapons and followed behind Shen Qing to watch.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s departing figure, Uncle Shen Er was somewhat dazed.


    He stomped his foot and went home to call Xiao Hu and Shanwa, "Hurry up, grab your weapons, we''re heading to Chen Youguang''s house."


    "Grandpa, what happened?"


    "Don''t ask, hurry!"


    "Oh, oh!"


    Seeing that Shen Er had no intention of exining, Xiao Hu and Shanwa did not press him for answers and, upon hearing his words, hastened to follow him.


    ¡­


    Chen Family.


    Chen Youguang, the head of the Hongshan vige mountain drivers, sat on a cart, chatting with the Chen family''s elder from the previous generation.


    "This time, I have to trouble my uncle to speak with a few families first, to lead the way in purchasing goods. Our family hasn''t evenpleted the five mourning periods; we should be more united," Chen Youguang said with a smile. "As soon as I go to the county, I''ll return the part outstanding for my uncle''s family in full. Of the profits earned by the n, let''s split it seventy-thirty."


    "That''s eptable."


    "Then I''ll have to trouble my uncle with the rest."


    Just as Chen Youguang was beaming with joy, a junior member of the n dashed over frantically: "It''s terrible, it''s terrible, Grandpa, Second Uncle..."


    "Chen Jizai, what happened?"


    Gasping for breath, Chen Jizai said in a panicked tone, "Shen Qing... Shen Qing... he..."


    "What about Shen Qing?"


    "He killed Brother Yuan!" Chen Jizai blurted out the rest of his message in one breath.


    Boom!


    Suddenly, Chen Youguang felt as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt.


    "What did you say?"


    "Shen Qing killed Brother Yuan in front of everyone!"


    "How is it possible for my son, who''s already cultivated martial arts, to be killed by anyone in Hongshan Vige?! I can''t believe it, that Shen Qing, always with his head down and hardly skilled in hunting, could kill my son."


    Chen Jizai said urgently, "It''s true, everyone saw it. Brother Yuan couldn''t fight him at all. Just at one nce, Shen Qing knocked Brother Yuan to the ground, and now his body is still lying there."


    Chen Youguang''s eyes instantly filled with blood and turned bright red as he clenched his teeth and said fiercely, "Bastard!"


    He could still rationalize the deaths of Chen An and Chen Tai to himself, but the death of Chen Yuan was something he couldn''t ept.


    A son with a talent for martial arts meant somethingpletely different to him.


    The reason he had been actively amassing wealth and building connections in the county was all to pave the way for Chen Yuan.


    If his family could produce a martial master registered in the martial arts register, given time over two or three generations, there was no reason they couldn''t settle in the county town and establish a "Chen Family" of their own.


    Now with Chen Yuan dead, it was as if his very roots had been dug out.


    Everything he had done after that seemed meaningless.


    Chen Youguang''s normally rosy cheeks instantly turned as pale as paper.


    "Also, Second Uncle, you all need to get away quickly now. Shen Qing and the Tian Family members have joined forces and are heading this way; they want to kill us."


    Chen Youguang''s scalp went numb, and he jumped off the cart with a start.


    "Run quickly!"


    Before he could finish speaking, a feathered arrow shot through the air, reflecting a cold light in the sunlight, and struck Chen Jizai in the temple.


    Chen Jizai didn''t even have the chance to cry out before he copsed to the ground.


    "Ah!"


    The elder of the Chen family was so frightened he felt his soul leave his body.


    "Run!"


    Chen Youguang, after all, had some skill to have be the head of the Hongshan Vige mountain drivers, and seeing that the situation was dire, he immediately turned and ran.


    But he had underestimated Shen Qing''s archery.


    Just after Chen Jizai had fallen, another feathered arrow whistled through the air, leaving no time for Chen Youguang to react.


    The White Feather Arrow had already reached his chest just as his words fell.

 Chapter 23: Chapter 23 A Complete Family

    Chen Youguang turned his head and his eyes suddenly widened.


    A sh of cold light passed in his eyes.


    Pff!


    The sharp arrowhead instantly pierced through the clothing on his chest and prated his skin.


    Flesh was violently torn apart, fresh blood spurted out, scattering in the air like blossoming petals.


    The momentum of the arrow did not subside, embedding deeply into his chest, the strong recoil caused him to stagger back into the wall.


    Chen Youguang looked down at his chest, frantically covered it with his hands, crimson blood continuously seeping out between his fingers.


    The next moment, intense pain spread throughout his body, nearly rendering him unable to stand.


    Yet, a single arrow was not enough to take his life.


    This old hunter, who had battled the wilderness for years, quickly calmed down driven by a strong desire to survive.


    He hurriedly struggled, supporting his body with all his strength, and rushed into the courtyard, hoping to catch his breath behind the walls of the courtyard.


    Seeing his intention, Tian Xiaohu, who was at the forefront, suddenly elerated, reaching the Chen family''s gate before Shen Qing.


    With the full force of his body''s inertia, he violently burst open the gate of the Chen family.


    Behind the door, Chen Youguang, already severely weakened from blood loss, staggered.


    He was knocked down to the ground.


    Tian Xiaohu''s eyes were fierce as he pulled out a rope from his body, wrapped it around Chen Youguang''s neck, lifted him up, and then hung him from the door lintel.


    Desperation and struggle covered Chen Youguang''s face as his legs kicked wildly in the air.


    His hands tightly gripped the coarse rope, his fingertips turning white from the strain, and a faint moan could be heard from his throat, barely making out the words "save me."


    Unfortunately, there was no one to rescue him.


    Soon, Chen Youguang''s facial expression twisted, his lips tightly closed, veins on his forehead bulged, and hisplexion began to turn red and then purple.


    But Tian Xiaohu firmly gripped the rope, showing no signs of letting go.


    Gradually, Chen Youguang''s body grew weaker and eventually hung motionless in the air.


    Blood from his chest dripped down his cotton clothes and pants, trickling drop by drop from his heels.


    "Ah!"


    The previous generation''s patriarch of the Chen family, Chen Kaijun, was terrified at the sight, scrambling to escape from the ce.


    He had barely taken a few steps when he saw a pair of old leather shoes.


    Chen Kaijun slowly looked up, only to see a dark and handsome young man, with his bow drawn tight, the arrow aimed directly at him.


    His face turned pale as he was about to open his mouth.


    A muffled thud sounded.


    Shen Qing released his fingers.


    The arrow, like lightning, cut through the air and pierced through Chen Kaijun''s head.


    Chen Kaijun''s eyes quickly lost their light, and his body slumped to the ground.


    Shen Qing walked over Chen Kaijun''s body expressionlessly and headed towards the Chen family''s main gate.


    The Tian family members and several vigers who had followed stopped in their tracks.


    Seeing Chen Youguang, once amanding figure in Hongshan Vige, hanged at his own front gate moved everyone.


    They had not expected Shen Qing and Tian Xiaohu to act so swiftly and decisively, with hardly any hesitation.


    At that moment, Shen Er, along with Shen Xiaohu and Shen Xiaoshan, finally arrived near the Chen family''s residence.


    Seeing the three bodies ahead, his face drastically changed, and he abruptly stopped.


    "Dad, what exactly do you want us to do?"


    Shen Xiaohu, not paying attention, bumped into Shen Er''s back, stopping as well.


    He and his brother Shen Xiaoshan curiously passed by Shen Er and looked forward.


    Upon seeing the bloodstains on the ground and the three bodies of the Chen family, the faces of the two brothers simultaneously turned deathly pale.


    "Grandpa, what... what is going on... why is Brother Qingzi there..." It was the first time Shen Xiaohu had seen a killing, and suddenly he found himself stuttering and tongue-tied.


    However, Shen Er was equally shocked and did not respond.


    At the entrance of the Chen family, Tian Xiaohu secured the other end of the rope and fiercely spat a thick phlegm at the hanging body of Chen Youguang.


    "He cursed with relish, ''I didn''t expect you, old bastard, to have this day too, hahaha...''"


    Over the years, as neers, the Tian family had not had an easy time in Hongshan Vige.


    A major reason was the oppression and exclusion led by Chen Youguang of the Chen family.


    Tian Chuan of the Tian family said if someone died, they just died; there wasn''t even a ce to reason out the matter.


    Had it not been for Shen Qing standing up today, Tian Xiaohu would probably have been more unlucky than not.


    Thus, when he killed Chen Youguang, he felt no psychological burden.


    After cursing, Tian Xiaohu looked toward Shen Qing.


    In his eyes, the formerly gentle youth was now eerily calm after killing the Chen family members, without a trace of turmoil on his face.


    Although he was three years older than Shen Qing, he questioned himself and knew he definitely couldn''t achieve this level ofposure.


    In his heart, he couldn''t help but feel even more convinced.


    Shen Qing turned around to look back.


    Having just killed a man, his demeanor was incredibly fierce.


    His eyes carried a bit of ferocity, like a hungry tiger descending the mountain, freezing to the marrow in this winter cold.


    Everyone nced at by him involuntarily took a step back.


    "Brother Qingzi of the Shen family, why so fierce?"


    "Normally it doesn''t show, but his killing is just like hunting, too ruthless."


    "..."


    After many days of sideways investigation, Shen Qing understood that the costs of learning martial arts in the county far exceeded his expectations.


    It was not something an ordinary family could afford.


    Beside the entry fee and the bribe, there were also apprenticeship fees, medicine fees, and a host of supplemental expenses.


    Casually put, hundred of taels of silver could be spent without hearing a sound.


    Poor in literature but rich in the martial, it''s absolutely true.


    Thus, when he saw Chen Youguang trying to monopolize the mountain goods channels of Hongshan Vige, he was slightly tempted.


    Chen Youguang, in paving the way for Chen Yuan''s martial arts, must have established a steady channel in the county.


    If he could seize this channel for himself and secure a stable ie, then his martial arts training could receive better support.


    It so happened that Chen Yuan came to him, giving him an opportunity.


    He used this to provoke the other party sessfully and captured all these "mountain drivers" in one fell swoop.


    The whole family, neat and tidy.


    However, it was not enough.


    The Chen family had more than ten households in Hongshan Vige, and four of them were quite close to Chen Youguang and liked to stick together.


    Now that he had killed Chen Youguang and his entire family, he had, to some extent, harmed their interests.


    It''s possible that some of those households could still connect with people in the county.


    ording to thews of Great Zhou, a murderer must pay with his life.


    If he were to be judged ording to thew, he would not die but would be deeply wounded.


    He didn''t have the connections like the Chen family did.


    If left unchecked, it would definitely be a problemter.


    While he had every legitimate reason to kill Chen Youguang and his family, clearing out the other households of Chen family members could be troublesome.


    Definitely, the Tian Family would not make another move against him.


    However, with the stage set to this extent, Shen Qing would not miss this rare opportunity and nned to push further in this moment.


    He dived into the Chen family household and started searching.


    A momentter, he found a chest of money.


    Shen Qing opened it and saw, amongst a pile of copper coins, about twenty silver ingots were hidden.


    Shen Qing''s face lit up with joy, and he ced thergest few silver ingots entirely into his chest.


    Then, carrying the chest, he walked to the front gate and held it up high.

 Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Coercion

    Boom!


    Under everyone''s gaze, Shen Qing violently smashed the wooden chest onto the ground.


    The sturdy wooden chest, under his force, instantly shattered into pieces.


    Crash...


    Arge amount of copper coins and silver ingots scattered on the ground, shimmering under the sun.


    The Tian Family member, Shen Family member, and other hunters from Hongshan Vige gasped in astonishment.


    They were allmoners without any connections, always living life on the edge, when had they ever seen so much money?


    Now, a chest full of money wasid out in front of them, giving them a tremendous shock.


    Everyone stared intently, their hearts filled with greed.


    Seeing that the time was about right, Shen Qing bellowed with full breath, "The Chen Family has always had a saying that if a family loses a man and is left with only widows and orphans, they would offer to hold a banquet under the guise of arranging a funeral, and then eat up all the meat and grain of that family."


    "We always called this ''eating out the family'' in secret."


    "Now that Chen Yuan''s family is all dead, everything in this house has be unimed property, and should rightfully belong to whoever sees it. We should also ''eat out his family,''" Shen Qing said with a highly seductive voice, "Everyone is free to take."


    The onlooking crowd immediately became restless.


    Shen Er watched Shen Qing standing at the doorway, appearingpletelyposed.


    For some reason, he felt increasingly unfamiliar with him.


    Since when had the Shen Family produced such a character?


    Seeing that no one dared to make a move after a while,


    Shen Qing said with cold sarcasm, "What''s the matter, no one dares?"


    Shen Er couldn''t fathom Shen Qing''s purpose, but he knew that as a member of the Shen Family, especially as Shen Qing''s uncle, he could not detach himself from today''s events no matter what.


    Rather than let others gain from it, it was better to benefit his own family¡ªhe gritted his teeth and shouted, "I''ll take it!"


    Shen Er ran to Shen Qing and in front of everyone, began stuffing silver ingots into his pockets directly.


    Other Tian Family members looked at each other and quickly joined the fray, frantically grabbing money.


    At this point, those who were still watching could no longer hold back.


    "This money was all sucked from us by Chen Youguang and his people, it was originally ours," someone eximed.


    "Why not take it if it''s free!" others chimed in.


    Once someone took the lead, like a breached dam finding an outlet, they all rushed forward in droves.


    Seeing the people rushing forward, Shen Er, with the silver ingots, ran behind Shen Qing and stood protectively behind him.


    At this moment, those at the back, realizing they couldn''t squeeze in, looked up at the house. They bypassed the crowd grabbing money at the door and charged inside.


    Other people reacted and rushed in as well.


    Fearing they would miss out and end up with nothing, they started grabbing whatever they saw.


    Some even called over their families, took up hoes to dig at the walls, sparing not even the stone bricks from Chen Youguang''s family home.


    The vigers, usually so harmonious, now resembled locusts, leaving nothing in their wake.


    Although the year-end was still some time away, Hongshan Vige seemed to have plunged into a frenzied ocean, with everyone losing their senses.


    Rumble!


    After several days ofmunal effort, the walls of the Chen Youguang''s family home copsed.


    In just the time it took to brew a pot of tea, the seemingly decent Chen Family home had been reduced to a ruin.


    If not for Shen Qing standing at the doorway, these people likely would have disassembled the Chen Family''s front door as well.


    By this point, most of the vigers had been swept up in the affair.


    Seeing that the time was about right.


    Shen Qing shouted loudly, "Fellow vigers, today we eliminated Chen Youguang''s family and also divided the Chen family''s wealth. What if those Chen family members who were close to Chen Youguang be dissatisfied and go to the county town to cause us trouble?"


    "ording to thews of Great Zhou, we have no connections in the county town, I fear we will all be held ountable."


    The vigers, who had been basking in joy, exchanged nces and licked their dry lips.


    Suddenly, someone in the crowd yelled, "If we don''t do it all, let''s not stop halfway. Kill those few families as well, and then no one wille looking for trouble again."


    These hunters, ustomed to living in the mountains year-round, were not the forgiving type. With the lure of benefits, the intent to kill was also aroused.


    Seeing someone take the lead, Shen Qing took the opportunity to continue, "Fine, let''s not stop halfway then. Everyone, follow me to exterminate a few more households."


    Having said that, Shen Qing charged toward the households of the Chen family members with a fierce momentum.


    Shen Qing remembered that a few Chen family members were very close to Chen Youguang, and they had always been arrogant and domineering in Hongshan Vige, with a terrible reputation.


    There was some sort of grievance with each household.


    Bang!


    The crowd smashed open the door of one of the households and stormed in.


    Immediately, screams could be heard.


    In Hongshan Vige, almost every household had hunters, and when they really got into a fight, they were incredibly ruthless.


    Shen Qing stood outside the door without going in, looking on expressionlessly.


    "I haven''t yet truly practiced martial arts, and my Qi-Blood hasn''t even reached Great Perfection. If someone from the county town simply sent a real martial master, I wouldn''t stand a chance."


    "So, I must nip all dangers in the bud and unite the entire Hongshan Vige as one. Only then can I be truly safe."


    "Give me some time after this. When I control my Qi-Blood and find support in the county town, bing a real martial master, none of this will be a problem."


    "Now is not the time for womanly kindness."


    Shen Qing''s eyes were downcast, looking at everything before him, his heart clear, as he suppressed the hesitation that had just begun to emerge.


    With Shen Qing''s intentional and unintentional influence, the hunters of Hongshan Vige hadpletely let loose.


    Almost every family had gained some benefit or been tainted with blood.


    At this point, everyone was in the same boat; no one would betray Shen Qing anymore.


    As evening approached, the bodies of Chen Youguang and other Chen family members were buried in the back mountains, and all matters finally settled.


    After this event, Shen Qing''s reputation for ruthlessness spread throughout Hongshan Vige, and his status soared almost immediately.


    Everyone looked at him with a new sense of respect, unlike the disdain of the past.


    He returned home.


    Shen Qing put down his bow and his spirit finally rxed.


    Not long after arriving home, Shen Qing heard the sound of Shen Xiaoshan calling at the door.


    "Brother, are you home?"


    "Coming."


    Shen Qing walked over and opened the door.


    Seeing Shen Qing, Shen Xiaoshan felt as if a fierce aura was rushing toward him and instinctively stepped back, an unfamiliarity seeping through.


    Realizing his own reaction, he hurriedly said, "Grandfather is calling you over, he said he has something to ask you."


    Shen Qing knew it most likely concerned today''s events.


    He agreed without refusal, "Alright, I''ll go right over."


    As he was about to leave, Shen Qing remembered something.


    He took out the cotton-padded clothes his aunt had made from inside the house, put them on, and confidently stepped out after closing the door behind him.

 Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The New Leader of Hongshan Village

    Uncle Shen Er''s adobe house had its main door slightly ajar.


    Faint light drifted out through the crack in the doorway, casting ayer of pale orange glow on the white snow.


    Shanwa walked ahead of Shen Qing, pushed open the door, and shouted, "Grandpa, Brother Qingzi is here."


    Instantly, sounds of a chair scraping against the floor and someone getting up could be heard from inside the house.


    Shen Qing followed closely behind Shanwa and stepped in.


    When he entered the house, he discovered that Uncle Shen Er wasn''t the only one present.


    Several of the Shen Family elders from Hongshan Vige, Tian Xiaohu from the Tian Family, Zhang Baqing from the Zhang Family, and a few other respected hunters from the vige were all there.


    As Shen Qing walked in, they all turned to look at the entrance, focusing their gaze on him and stood up.


    In front of these people, Shen Qing did not show any sign of pressure; he walked in under their gaze with an unchanged expression.


    Shen Er looked at him with aplex expression and asked, "Qingzi, you''vee?"


    "Mm," Shen Qing replied curiously, "Today''s matters are pretty much settled. I''m not sure what Uncle called me over for?"


    "There are some things everyone thinks we need to discuss further. Take a seat first."


    Tian Xiaohu, quick to see the need, pulled out a chair and ced it in the chief''s position.


    This small detail, caught by Shen Er, left his heart filled with mixed feelings for a moment.


    Shen Qing, without any embarrassment, sat downfortably in the chief''s seat.


    Seeing him seated, the others took their seats as well, hinting at a sense of him being the leader.


    Yet strangely, no one found this inappropriate.


    Everything Shen Qing had done that day, they had all seen clearly.


    The ferocity he disyed was still fresh in their minds, leaving them somewhat apprehensive.


    It was precisely because of this ferocity that Shen Qing, who had just been apliant young hunter in the vige yesterday, had already be an important figure today, overshadowing everyone else.


    The light from the oilmp flickered from the disturbance of the air currents, bing hazy.


    The shadows of the people around, cast by the oilmp, also swayed, drifting from side to side.


    Once the shadows in the room stabilized, Shen Er spoke up, "Now that Qingzi has arrived, let''s get straight to the point."


    After his eyes swept over everyone and finally rested on Shen Qing''s face, he said, "Today is mainly about the matter of Hongshan Vige''s new leader. Everyone wants to hear your opinion, Qingzi."


    "The new leader of Hongshan Vige?" Shen Qing frowned.


    The so-called mountain driver is essentially the head of the hunters in a vige.


    This position is not considered vital, yet it''s indispensable.


    The mountains in this part of the world are not safe, and the mountain drivers who rely on the mountains for their livelihood often face various dangers.


    Each vige that lives off hunting selects a leader to take them hunting, to increase their chances of survival.


    Chen Youguang, in his younger days, was a well-known hunting expert far and wide, despite his bullying of the vigers in Hongshan Vige.


    He created many safe hunting zones for the vigers and led them to avoid numerous risks.


    A burly middle-aged man with thick eyebrows looked earnestly at Shen Qing and said, "Chen Youguang was the former mountain driver of Hongshan Vige. Now that he''s dead, the position is naturally vacant. There are many conflicts, big and small, within our vige, and we need someone to fill the role to prevent major oversights in the future."


    Shen Qing turned to look at him.


    He remembered the man.


    It was Zhang Baqing from the Zhang Family.


    His hunting skills were excellent, and he often spoke up for the Zhang Family members, also establishing himself as a respected hunter in Hongshan Vige.


    The Zhang Family had always avoided being targeted by Chen Youguang and his people, thanks in no small part to this man''s efforts.


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment and asked, "Then I wonder if anyone has a suitable candidate in mind?"


    From the few sentences exchanged and observing the reactions of those present, he had roughly guessed what was on everyone''s mind.


    The Chen Family was wiped out today, all because of him.


    The strength he disyed in the process had indeed shocked them, making them somewhat wary.


    Otherwise, with his experience and prestige in the vige, the matter of bing the mountain driver wouldn''t have been brought up for discussion with him.


    Moreover, after wiping out the Chen Family, each of these households had gained some benefits to an extent.


    Therefore, their views of him were not only one of fear but also contained a hint of "respect".


    That was why everyone was being so amicable around the table.


    Zhang Baqing revealed a friendly smile and sincerely said, "I think, Qingzi, you are strong enough to take on the role of the mountain driver."


    "What do you all think?" Shen Qing''s gaze shifted from Zhang Baqing to the others.


    "Baqing makes sense, I''m convinced by Qingzi, and I support him for the mountain driver position."


    "I support him too."


    "..."


    The other few, including Tian Xiaohu, also voiced their support.


    Shen Qingughed and declined, "I am still young, and I don''t hold much prestige in the vige; I''m afraid it might be difficult to win everyone''s eptance."


    Uncle Shen Er was quite surprised by Shen Qing''s decision and advised, "Age isn''t an issue, if you want to, I think everyone will definitely support you."


    "To speak frankly, I admit to some strength and killing is not a problem for me, but when ites to handling vige affairs, I genuinelyck the experience. I wouldn''t be able to manage being the mountain driver."


    Shen Qing sat in his chair and gently shook his head, his thoughts adrift.


    Right now, on one hand, he needed to practice archery, go hunting, recognize characters and read, and on the other hand, he was also nning to go into the city to study Martial Arts.


    All of these were enough for him to be preupied with.


    He alreadycked the energy to be distracted by the role of "mountain driver".


    Moreover, in his view, the "mountain driver" role came with a low cost-benefit ratio.


    Aside from having some benefits in terms of hunting goods, and increasing his prestige in the vige, there weren''t many tangible advantages.


    Instead of fussing over vige affairs, it was better to find ways to make money, study Martial Arts in the county town as soon as possible, and be a distinguished person.


    Why be short-sighted and remain trapped in this small valley, tethered by such small gains?


    Shen Qing''s face bore a smile as he observed for a while and then said, "I wonder if there are any other suitable candidates?"


    As he spoke, his gaze slowly fell upon Zhang Baqing.


    In his two lifetimes, Shen Qing had developed a keen sensibility in dealing with people.


    He vaguely sensed that Zhang Baqing was quite interested in the position of mountain driver.


    Since he himself was not interested, it would be good to extend a favor in return for something he currently needed.


    Everyone at the table looked at each other with surprise.


    Shen Qing''s refusal had disrupted their original n, and for a moment they did not know how to respond.


    Seeing that no one at the table had spoken, Shen Qing looked meaningfully at Zhang Baqing and said, "I think Uncle Zhang is very suitable, but what do you all think?"


    Indeed, as soon as Shen Qing mentioned it, waves of joy surfaced on Zhang Baqing''s calm face.


    Even though he thought he had hidden it well, Shen Qing had still caught it in his eyes.


    Shen Qing knew that the next move was almost certain to be his.

 Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Expanding and Strengthening

    Zhang Baqing, in terms of seniority in the family, was much the same as Shen Er, living in the same vige, so it was appropriate for Shen Qing to call him uncle.


    After Shen Qing spoke, everyone''s attention fell on Zhang Baqing, and they all looked toward him.


    At first, they didn''t think much of it, but after Shen Qing''s mention, they felt it was indeed quite fitting.


    Zhang Baqing had lived in the vige for many years and had never failed in hunting; he supported his entire family, and his hunting skills were solid.


    At the same time, the seven or eight households of the Zhang Family also respected him immensely.


    In the vige, he was always kind to others and had enough prestige.


    If Shen Qing didn''t take the role of the "mountain driver," letting Zhang Baqing do it could also win people''s approval.


    To tell the truth, Shen Qing was still a bit too young.


    Assuming the position of "mountain driver" indeed seemed a little premature.


    So after Shen Qing''s suggestion, a hunter nodded in agreement, saying, "Qingzi is right; I also think Baqing is suitable to be our Hongshan Vige''s ''mountain driver.''"


    Sitting to the side, Uncle Shen Er nced at Shen Qing, not understanding why Shen Qing had chosen Zhang Baqing, but he knew his nephew was somewhat extraordinary.


    As family, he found no reason to object and maintained his agreement, "I feel the same, that Baqing is suitable."


    With people expressing their stances one after another, the rest naturally had nothing to object to and sequentially agreed with Shen Qing''s opinion to let Zhang Baqing be the new mountain driver of Hongshan Vige.


    Zhang Baqing, seeing himself unexpectedly gain a big advantage, was suddenly beaming with joy, unable to hide the tion on his face, whichpletely overflowed.


    "Then I will humbly ept the position and will definitely fulfill my duties and live up to your trust, safeguarding the well-being of our Hongshan Vige. I promise never to exploit the vigers like Chen Youguang did."


    "You exploiting them wouldn''t be an issue. The day you really be like Chen Youguang, I''ll do to you and your family what I did today," Shen Qing casually added, causing Zhang Baqing''s happy expression to instantly stiffen.


    The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.


    Shen Qing let out a chuckle and said, "Alright, don''t be so serious; I was just joking."


    A joke?


    Thatst statement of yours must be the joke, right?


    Zhang Baqing forceughed twice to alleviate the awkwardness.


    Shen Qing tapped the table with his finger and said, "Now that we''ve settled the ''mountain driver'' matter here in the vige, I have something that requires everyone''s support."


    "May I ask what is it that Qingzi speaks of?" Uncle Shen Er asked.


    "Mountain produce to the city," Shen Qing spoke firmly, "There''s some time before the spring begins, and with the good weather we have now, we should sell the vige''s mountain produce in the city as quickly as possible to avoid any setbacks."


    "I''ve caught quite a lot of game recently and n to use Chen Youguang''s nag and cart to head to the city. There''s still plenty of space left in the cart. Would the ''mountain driver'' like to ask everyone if they want to sell their goods this time?"


    As he spoke, Shen Qing tossed the question to Zhang Baqing.


    Zhang Baqing, seeing the smile on Shen Qing''s face, understood.


    This was repaying a favor.


    Zhang Baqing pretended to ponder before speaking, "Selling is definitely the n, but how much are you going to pay?"


    "I''m not sure about the situation in the city. Let''s keep it the same as before for now; I won''t raise or lower the price, and if there''s a loss, I''ll bear it myself."


    "Then that should be easy. Chen Youguang and the others are greedy, saying they''ll cut prices that much, but since you''re not lowering yours at all, many households will probably agree. I''ll go around and ask tonight and give you an answer in the morning."


    "Good, then thank you for your troubles, Uncle Zhang."


    "It''s nothing."


    Shen Qing had already taken over Chen Youguang''s nag and cart, and the people present tactfully refrained from asking any more questions.


    After discussing the main matters, Zhang Baqing and the others declined Shen Er''s hospitality and left, each going their own way into the night.


    After everyone in the main room had left, Auntie Wang led her two sons and eldest daughter Shen Fang out from the side chambers.


    Auntie Wang asked, "Are they all gone?"


    "They''re gone," Uncle Shen Er instructed, "Wife, go and get the goat kid I caught a while ago and roast it. I''ll keep Qingzi here for a meal."


    Auntie Wang had obviously heard about the events in the vige today.


    When she looked at Shen Qing again, her eyes clearly changed, filled with a touch of fear and estrangement.


    However, Shen Qing didn''t mind; he grinned and said, "Auntie, what''s wrong? Don''t you recognize me anymore?"


    He scratched at the old cotton clothes he was wearing and said, "The clothes you made for me the other day, I''ve been wearing them."


    Auntie Wang nced at Shen Qing''s clothes, and the estrangement in her eyes suddenly melted away.


    Everyone outside was saying how Shen Qing would kill without batting an eye.


    Now it seemed that he was still the same nephew of hers.


    "Look at you, showing off. One of these days, I''m going to strip those clothes off you and take them back," Auntie scolded with a nce and went into the kitchen.


    Shen Qing chuckled.


    He pulled up a stool and sat down next to Uncle Shen Er, asking, "How much did we get today?"


    "Haven''t counted it all, but it''s all Silver Ingots, definitely six or seven taels at least, otherwise I''d never splurge on goat for you," he replied.


    After spending some time together, Shen Er also let go of the wariness in his heart and sighed, "You really went too far with the killing, kid."


    "I had no choice. If I hadn''t taken action, my sister would''ve definitely been sold off by them," Shen Qing said.


    "s... that''s just how it is in these times," Uncle Shen Er agreed.


    Shen Qing sobered up his expression and got to the point, "Uncle, I have a business proposition for you."


    "I''m nning to sell our mountain goods in the city. I can''t handle it all alone. Xiao Hu and Shanwa are not so young anymore, and it''s the time when they need to spend money. Their Hunting skills are not yet refined, and they''re idly at home anyway. It would be better for them toe help me out, and together we can make this business grow stronger."


    Shen Qing knew that since his father had died, his sister''s family had a lot of their belongings seized by the Chen Family.


    With cold weather and ack of clothing and food,


    had it not been for Uncle Shen Er''s regard for their old kinship, who shared some of his family''s grain with them,


    the whereabouts of him and his sister by now would be uncertain.


    He hadn''t forgotten this act of kindness.


    In the countryside, people were very nnish, emphasizing kinship and blood rtionships.


    In the county town, many trades were built up by the hands of rtives, brothers, and fellow vigers.


    Now that he had some capability, he did not trust outsiders with some affairs, so he thought it better to rely on Uncle''s family, which was more dependable.


    Once the trade of mountain goods stabilized, he could eventually transfer the operation to his two cousins.


    He would just take a share of the profits, maintain rtionships in the city, and no longer run back and forth.


    He could use the free time to concentrate on cultivating, make Progress, and enhance his own strength.


    Seizing this opportunity, he could be a martial master in one fell swoop and establish a firm foothold in the county town.


    "Uncle, what do you think? Can we do it?" he asked.


    Shen Er looked at his nephew, who spoke with clear logic, hardly resembling a hunter from the mountains begging for food, but rather like a city dweller.


    However, this kid had a ferocity that even surpassed these seasoned hunters...


    He didn''t immediately answer Shen Qing''s question, but pondered for a while before saying, "I''ll think it over."

 Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Finalized (Please follow)

    Xiao Hu and Shanwa, seeing Shen Er hesitate, couldn''t help but feel anxious.


    Shen Xiaohu had been eager to go to the city for a while, and now that a rare opportunity had arisen, he hurriedly said, "Grandpa, Brother Qingzi is going to the city tomorrow, why don''t I follow him and try it out? Making a trip won''t be a problem."


    After considering for a moment, Shen Er felt that there really was nothing bad about it and nodded, "Then go ahead and take a look this time. If you''re not cut out for it, juste back and hunt with me in peace."


    Seeing that Shen Er was not stopping him, Shen Xiaohu immediately beamed with joy and agreed again and again.


    Shen Xiaoshan, watching his older brother get a head start, couldn''t help feeling anxious and opened his mouth to speak.


    However, just as he was about to speak, Shen Er, as if seeing through his thoughts, said, "You''ll go next time."


    Immediately, Shen Xiaoshan deted, letting out a weak "oh."


    "By the way, uncle, I wanted to ask, besides the Chen Family, who else in our vige is familiar with Taiping County?"


    Shen Qing had never been to Taiping County and knew nothing about it, beingpletely in the dark.


    For this trip to Taiping County, it would be best if he had someone to apany him.


    Without even thinking, Shen Er replied, "Definitely the Zhang Family''s bookworm. He''s spent quite a few years in the county; even the Chen family members probably don''t know it as well as he does."


    Shen Qing suddenly realized.


    He had almost forgotten about this.


    Zhang Shuyuan had indeed studied in the county and lived there for a few years afterward.


    Eventually, he returned to the vige because he couldn''t make it there anymore.


    If anyone in the vige understood it, it was indeed him.


    "Then I''ll have to call him to join me when I leave."


    At this moment, Shen Er suddenly remembered something and instructed, "Qingzi, when you go to the city tomorrow, remember to stop by Linfeng Hall to see your little aunt. I''ll take some goods from the mountains at home for you to bring to her."


    "Is there any message you want to send?" Shen Qing asked casually.


    As if his thoughts had been pinpointed, Shen Er, a seasoned hunter living off the mountains, showed a rare hint of embarrassment, "Just ask her if the outer gate of Linfeng Hall might take disciples. If they do, I''d like to have Shanwa give it a try."


    Initially, when the family was in poor straits, he didn''t even dare to think about this.


    But now, having snatched six or seven silver taels from the Chen Family, he felt somewhat emboldened.


    The thought of having Shanwa learn martial arts began to stir vigorously in his mind.


    Without much thought, Shen Qing agreed on the spot, "Okay."


    Afterward, the uncle and nephew discussed the details casually, and the matter of selling goods from the mountains was settled as well.


    However, Shen Qing did not bring up the specifics of the profit-sharing.


    So far, Shen Qing waspletely in the dark about the situation in the county and didn''t dare to make wild promises.


    He decided to take it one step at a time.


    He would wait until he had a clear understanding of the situation in the county before speaking further.


    This matter was crucial to his future ns; he could not afford to neglect thinking about it.


    As far as he knew, most martial masters in the county either ran martial arts halls or lived off the imperial grain, each having their own stable way of earning money.


    Otherwise, worrying about the day-to-day needs without support, no martial master could concentrate on cultivating their qi-blood and refining their body and techniques.


    If it were him, even with a gift, he wouldn''t necessarily make great progress in the martial arts or find a foothold in the county.


    For someone of low birth like him without any backing, it wasn''t easy to secure a ce in the ss-conscious Taiping County just by talking.


    Seeking a master, showing respect, buying precious medicines, currying favor, begging for techniques...


    If he failed in any of these areas, his efforts could end in failure.


    Shen Qing was acutely aware of this.


    After discussing business, Shen Qing, Uncle Shen Er, Shen Xiaohu, and Shen Xiaoshan chatted casually about family matters and recent amusing incidents in and around the vige.


    The atmosphere gradually became much more lively.


    Sometimeter, Auntie Wang had finished roasting amb shank and brought it to the table.


    The goat roasted over the fire, its exterior had slowly turned to a golden brown, dripping with grease.


    There were bursts of aroma overflowing, exuding the enticing scent of cumin mixed withmb.


    Besides the roastedmb ribs, Auntie had also stir-fried a dish of bamboo shoots and wild vegetables from the mountains.


    Shen Qing knew that his aunt was usually reluctant to use much salt when cooking, but now she was actually generous with the seasonings.


    It was evident that Auntie Wang had put a lot of effort and determination into it.


    "Auntie''s cooking is really good. I''ve only ever had such delicious meals during the New Year," Shen Qing couldn''t help but let out a satisfied burp, drawingughter from everyone.


    After the meal, Shen Qing made small talk at his uncle''s house for a while, then got up to say goodbye.


    On the way home, Shen Fang quietly followed behind Shen Qing, bing silent and reserved.


    ...


    After a day of toil.


    That night, Shen Qing slept exceptionally soundly.


    By the time the sky was faintly light, he had woken up early as usual, began his stance training, and nned to improve the "Nine Skills" training progress.


    Ever since he had made a breakthrough to the level of mastery with the "Nine Skills," Shen Qing often felt his body warm as a furnace, not fearing the harsh winter in the slightest.


    In the past, during such winters, he could hardly muster the will to leave his bed.


    Shen Qing spread his legs wide, just as described in the books, with his energy sinking into his Dantian.


    Soon, his breathing became deep and even, his body seeming to merge with the surrounding air. A warm current arose spontaneously, flowing like trickling streams through his meridians.


    With the rhythm of his breathing, Shen Qing''s chest rose and fell slightly, his Qi-Blood circted within his body.


    Under his skin, there was a faint glow flowing, a sign of Qi-Blood growth.


    After practicing for almost half an hour, Shen Qing finally stopped.


    He exhaled a breath of stale air, clenched his fists, and faintly perceived that his strength seemed to have grown a bit more.


    A trace of joy appeared on Shen Qing''s face.


    Only after the heat in his body had mostly dissipated did he put on a cotton-padded jacket.


    But as soon as he opened the door, he saw a young man of about his age standing at the doorway, hands tucked in and feet tapping continuously.


    When the young man saw Shen Qinge out, he hurried over, grinning and saying, "Brother Qingzi,st night my dad already asked around, everyone says it''s fine, all the goods from the mountains are yours to sell."


    This young man was the son of Zhang Baqing¡ªZhang Fanglin.


    He must have been entrusted by Zhang Baqing to make the trip, standing outside for a while.


    "Good, my thanks to Uncle Zhang. I''ll pack up and then go door to door to collect them."


    "And there''s this..." Zhang Fanglin took out a few paper-wrapped packets from his chest and said, "Brother Qingzi, these are the medicines my grandpa got from the Chen family. He checked and they are all good for replenishing Qi-Blood. He thought you could use them, so he asked me to deliver them to you, please take them."


    Zhang Baqing''s action surprised Shen Qing a little.


    It seemed that stepping down from the role of mountain driver was a great favor in his eyes.


    Shen Qing did not refuse and epted them graciously, "Please thank your grandpa for me."


    "Eh! Nothing else, I''ll head back now." Zhang Fanglin bowed slightly, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, he turned and ran off.


    Shen Qing looked at the medicinal herbs he was holding in his hand, a smile unconsciously forming at the corner of his mouth.


    He hadn''t thought that one day, there would be people in the vige trying to curry favor with him.


    Shen Qing felt that he must go to the county town to find a backing and practice Martial Arts as soon as possible.


    In this world, strong power was the very foundation of one''s standing!

 Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Entering the County Town (Please Follow)

    "Sir, I am about to go to Taiping County, and I have never been inside the county town, so I am not very familiar with it. I''ve heard from others that you, sir, have lived in the county town for many years and know its customs like the back of your hand."


    "Thus, I would like to ask you to apany me to the county town and offer me some guidance."


    Shen Qing stood in front of Zhang Shuyuan, speaking with utmost humility.


    Zhang Shuyuan, while reading a book, replied indifferently, "I don''t want to go. It''s so cold, freezing cold, and I''ve always been in poor health, not able to withstand such troubles. Moreover, I haven''t been to the county town for a long time..."


    "I''ll pay you," Shen Qing said, smiling and looking earnestly at Zhang Shuyuan.


    Zhang Shuyuan thought to himself how such an enlightened child could be so worldly.


    "It''s not about money, mainly it''s..."


    "I''ll give you one hundred wen, with a horse-drawn cart for transportation."


    Zhang Shuyuan set down the book and sighed, "Alright, I''ll go with you once, but..."


    "Two hundred wen."


    "When do we leave?"


    "In half an hour," Shen Qing said.


    "Then, I''lle to find you in half an hour," Zhang Shuyuan agreed.


    "Thank you for your trouble, sir."


    After Shen Qing left, Zhang Shuyuan heaved a long sigh.


    He had heard about what happened in the vige yesterday.


    However, he wasn''t surprised at all.


    In the county town, factional strife often resulted in killings like this.


    He had long since be ustomed to it.


    So while facing Shen Qing, he felt calm enough to dare to ask for money.


    "It''s a disgrace to schrly honor. But after all, earning money isn''t shameful, and this old schr also needs to eat," he said to himself.


    ...


    After bing a mountain driver, Zhang Baqing seemed to be full of energy and managed the tasks entrusted by Shen Qing to perfection.


    With the assistance of Shen Family''s Cousin, Shen Qing barely needed to intervene, as everything was almost taken care of.


    Looking at the cart already piled up, Shen Qing couldn''t help but sigh.


    Indeed, when poor in a bustling ce, no one asks about you; rich in the mountains, you have distant rtivese seeking.


    He hade to see the cold reality of human rtionships.


    Back when he had nothing, borrowing even a bowl of rice from someone was difficult.


    And now, he had only achieved mastery of the basic Martial Arts Skill, "Nine Skills," and not yet reached the Great Perfection of Qi-Blood, yet he was already treated like this.


    He couldn''t help but wonder how incredibly powerful the martial masters who had truly stepped onto the Martial Path in the county town were.


    Shen Qing put aside his reflections, nced at the sky, took a bow in his hands, and ran straight towards the back mountain.


    He nned to retrieve the two bows and leather jackets belonging to brothers Chen Tai, taking them to sell in the town.


    Now that the Chen family members were no longer around, these items could be taken out in broad daylight without anyone raising objections.


    After all, they represented a source of ie.


    Following the memories of that day, Shen Qing found the ce where they had been Concealed.


    He brushed away the snow on top and took out the two bows and two leather jackets hidden underneath.


    After examining them briefly and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Shen Qing packed them up and took them with him.


    At that moment, from the vast mountains in the distance, there was a sudden flurry of birds taking flight.


    A deep, beastly roar carried through the air, causing Shen Qing''s heart to skip a beat.


    He didn''t dare to linger, moving swiftly and quickly down the mountain.


    Only when he reached the outskirts of the forest did he finally slow down his pace and look back.


    "If I didn''t hear wrong just now, that should have been a tiger''s roar," he thought to himself.


    "Since when has there been such a predator nearby?" Shen Qing found it hard to believe.


    ...


    At the entrance to the vige.


    A tired horse pulled a cart loaded with products from the mountains.


    Shen Qing sat in the central position, with Shen Xiaohu and Zhang Shuyuan sitting on his left and right, respectively.


    "Drive!"


    Shen Qing gripped the reins and, with a flick of the whip, headed along the mountain path towards Taiping County.


    Taiping County was about fifty to sixty li away from their Hongshan Vige.


    Riding in the "horse carriage" and with the weather being quite fair, they could reach their destination in just under an hour.


    On the road, it was Shen Qing''s first time driving a carriage, so he didn''t dare to go too fast.


    His face remained tense as he concentrated solely on the horses'' behinds, deeply concerned they might suddenly lose control.


    "The most important thing in driving a carriage is to make the horses feel your presence. Rx when you hold the reins, move them asionally, and when using the whip, do it lightly to avoid sudden eleration or deceleration, which could frighten the horses," the unusually neat Zhang Shuyuan said while sitting in Shen Qing''s cart, dressed in a clean long shirt and chatting away.


    "Also, don''t worry. This is a sluggish horse; it''s very docile," he added.


    Shen Qing looked at Zhang Shuyuan with some surprise.


    "You can drive too, Teacher?"


    Zhang Shuyuan closed his eyes slightly and did not respond.


    Knowing when to drop a subject, Shen Qing stopped asking and began to focus on driving, as Zhang Shuyuan had taught him.


    After a moment, Shen Qing''s heart stirred.


    In his vision, a drop of ink fell from above, spreading out into a mist.


    Lines of inked characters slowly emerged before Shen Qing''s eyes.


    [Skill: Driving Skill (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 4/100 points]


    [Status: Unable to Improve]


    [Note: The art of driving lies in practice makes perfect. Continuous practice can enhance your skill progress and mastery of driving essentials. In the future when driving, you''ll be able to drive steadily and swiftly, effortlessly guiding the carriage as if by an extension of your arm, leaving others in the dust.]


    Seeing the new notification in his vision, Shen Qing couldn''t help but stare nkly.


    He hadn''t expected that simply taking a trip could lead to the development of a new skill.


    One can never have too many skills.


    Having nothing better to do anyway, Shen Qing began to focus on driving with all his might, striving to improve his driving skill.


    Shicheng Mountain spanned a hundred li and was quite vast, but its scenery was rather ordinary.


    Both sides of the mountain path were lined with low hills, devoid of any grandeur.


    As Shen Qing and his twopanions continued their journey, after half an hour, carriage wheel tracks began to appear more frequently on the mountain path.


    Crossing each other, they turned the snow into water, making the path increasingly muddy.


    However, after half an hour of practice, Shen Qing had already grasped the essentials of driving, and his driving skill had improved.


    He held the reins tight, with an impassive face, guiding the small sluggish horse to choose the easier path.


    The sluggish horse seemed to understand Shen Qing''s intentions as it wiggled its behind cooperatively, earning a sideways nce of appreciation from Zhang Shuyuan.


    Involuntarily, his evaluation of Shen Qing rose another notch.


    Continuing for a while longer, they soon caught sight of the outline of Taiping County.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but whip his hand, driving the sluggish horse to quicken its pace.


    In no time, a city appeared before the trio.


    As thergest surrounding city, Taiping County covered an extensive area, with its back to the mountains and water, enjoying an advantageous terrain.


    Outside the city was a sturdy rammed earth wall, dividing Taiping County into the Outer City and the Inner City.


    Inside the walls was the Inner City, housing the Martial Arts Halls, markets, and government officepounds, frequented by nobility.


    Outside the walls was the Outer City, inhabited by all manner ofmoners.


    The scale of the Outer City was undoubtedly muchrger than that of the Inner City, but it was rtively more rundown.


    At a nce, one could see densely-packed shanties, filthy and chaotic.


    There were beggars everywhere, along with all kinds of lowly households.


    As soon as Shen Qing and hispanions entered the Outer City, they were immediately surrounded by all sorts of people begging for food and even trying to rob the goods from their carriage.


    Instantly, Shen Qing''s face turned fierce, and he knocked down a dirty-handed individual with a punch. Because of Shen Qing''s ruthlessness, the others stopped their harassment.


    "Why does Taiping County look like this?" Shen Qing furrowed his brow.


    Lifting his eyelids, Zhang Shuyuan said, "Otherwise, why do you think it''s called Taiping County? It''s named for what itcks and desires."


    Shen Qing was speechless.


    "Let''s go, we''re entering the city."

 Chapter 29: Chapter 29: East District, Making a Small Fortune

    After the snow melted, the roads in the Outer City were full of puddles, uneven and pitted.


    The old elm cart wheels rolled into the water-filled pits, sshing dirty water like a broken pearl curtain.


    The lowly residents of the Outer City, barefoot, stepped on the muddy water, circling around the carriage like vultures, slowly moving forward on the muddy streets.


    If it weren''t for Shen Qing''s intimidation, they would have probably swarmed up and looted the entire carriage of mountain goods.


    "Brother Qingzi, I''m a bit scared," said Shen Xiaohu, who was visiting the county town for the first time and had never seen such a scene before, seeking help from Shen Qing.


    "Take out your bow, and if anyonees close, shoot them dead," Shen Qing said expressionlessly, "Having a weapon in hand naturally makes you fearless."


    "Ah!"


    Seeing Shen Xiaohu hesitate, knowing he wasn''t mentally prepared for this, Shen Qing continued, "Just think of them as the game in the forest. See that one with the long ears, doesn''t he look like a wild rabbit from the mountains?"


    "He does!" In Shen Xiaohu''s mind, his cousin was very impressive; even the notable figures in the vige respected him.


    "Then treat him like a wild rabbit, and if he steps out of line, shoot him dead."


    Hearing this, Shen Xiaohu immediately took out the bow and arrows he had brought from home, cocked the bow fully, and revealed a fierce look.


    Sure enough, as soon as he did this, the encroaching lowly residents seemed to slow down, gradually increasing their distance from them.


    Zhang Shuyuan casually mentioned, "This is your first time here, and the local bosses in the Outer City haven''t figured you out yet. Once they get to know you after a few visits, you''ll need to be cautious."


    In truth, Shen Qing didn''t need a reminder from Zhang Shuyuan; with his hunting skills, he was extremely sensitive to external environments.


    He had already noticed several sharp gazes from within the shanty area of the Outer City, the figures tall and imposing, seemingly skilled fighters.


    "Prepare some money for me, we''ll need to bribe to enter the city," Zhang Shuyuan nodded toward the city gate and hinted.


    Shen Qing looked ahead.


    Under the city gate inscribed with "Taiping," the crowd hustled and bustled with many farmers lined up, carrying vegetables and firewood for sale.


    The city guards held inspection rods, their indifferent gazes scanning across each person''s face.


    The sounds of children crying, merchantsining, and livestock lowing mixed together, making it especially noisy.


    ...


    A few momentster, Shen Qing pulled the reins tight, stopping outside the city gate.


    A few guardszily leaned against the mottled city walls, their eyes carrying traces of disdain and indifference.


    Two of them, noticing Shen Qing''s cart loaded with goods, approachedzily, raising their hands to signify Shen Qing to dismount.


    "Entering the city?" One guard grunted, his lips curling up in a distinctly greedy sneer, "Know the rules? City Entrance Fee, one tael silver, not a wen less."


    Shen Qing''s gaze swept across the simple stalls and the raggedly dressed lowly residents around him, clearly seeing that the entrance fees they paid were nowhere near one tael silver.


    At that moment, Zhang Shuyuan jumped down from the cart, took the twenty wen in his hand, and heavily stuffed it into the guard''s hand, saying with a pleasing smile, "I work for Ruan Pottery Master, brothers, please make it easy."


    The guard weighed the coins, his lips finally squeezing out a semnce of satisfaction as hezily waved them through, even allowing them to skip the line.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but gain a new respect for the usually unsmiling bookworm from their vige; truly, he had seen the world.


    The money paid to him was indeed not wasted.


    They had already recovered the cost just by entering the city gate.


    The moment they crossed the city gate, Shen Qing felt as though he had stepped into another world.


    The streets within the city were broad, lined with shops, and filled with a mix of shouting andughter, bustling with activity, a stark contrast to the slums outside.


    Inside, many well-dressed young masters strolled the streets,ughing and talking.


    The poorly dressed farmers walking on the same street seemed somewhat absurd.


    Having seen the flourishing times of the contemporary era, Shen Qing remained unexcited, but Shen Xiaohu, witnessing this lively scene for the first time, couldn''t help but be amazed, his eyes filled with curiosity, truly a rural observer.


    The main streets of the Inner City were paved with bluestone and formed a crossroad at the center, dividing the entire county town into four districts: north, south, east, west.


    Shen Qing was not familiar with this and humbly sought guidance from Zhang Shuyuan.


    "I have done some ounting work for Chen Youguang, they are mostly selling to the Boss Song''s restaurant in the East District, turn right at that intersection," Zhang Shuyuan pointed in the direction based on his memory.


    Following Zhang Shuyuan''s directions, Shen Qing smoothly reached the East District.


    Inside, various types of restaurants, inns, and snack shops were densely packed.


    Various dressed residents of the county town bustled about.


    Soon, Shen Qing stopped in front of a restaurant named "Wanfeng Building," and after stating their purpose, a servant guided them to the back courtyard of the restaurant.


    When he arrived, he saw various farmers and huntersing in and out of the back door, and asionally, he could hear discussions on haggling.


    Shen Qing waited at the back door for a while before it was his turn.


    "Hunter from outside,e in,"


    Hearing the call, Shen Qing did not dy or show any disrespect, leaving Shen Xiaohu to watch the cart, and walked in with Zhang Shuyuan.


    Upon entering, a wave of noise hit him.


    The backyard was like a market for vegetables and meat, filled with various fruits, vegetables, poultry, livestock, and numerous mountain goodsid on the ground.

 Chapter 30: Chapter 29: East District, Making a Small Fortune_2

    A middle-aged man with sunken cheeks and a sharp chin held an abacus in his hand, frequently ncing up to check his calctions.


    He muttered quickly under his breath, his voice thin but strict, unforgiving of even the smallest mistake, even debiting half a wen more than due.


    Seeing Shen Qing and the others enter, the middle-aged man nced up and down at Shen Qing and asked, "Never seen you before, where are you from?"


    "Manager, Ie from Hongshan Vige," Shen Qing replied truthfully, "May I inquire the honorable surname of the manager?"


    "Hongshan Vige? My surname is Wang. Where is Chen Youguang?"


    "Manager Wang, he''s dead," Shen Qing said calmly as he looked up, "A mountain lord appeared in our vige, and his entire family perished."


    Manager Wang from Wanfeng Building set down the abacus, his expression stunned.


    Dead?


    Wouldn''t that mean all the arrangements he''d made before were now void?


    All of a sudden, Manager Wang''s mood from Wanfeng Building darkened.


    Shen Qing continued, "Our vige is an insignificant ce, not much to see. I''m a bit more daring, wanted to give it a shot. Manager, what do you think, can you give me a chance?"


    Regaining hisposure, the manager from Wanfeng Building said, "I want to see your goods first."


    Saying this, he walked outside to start examining and selecting from the mountain goods on Shen Qing''s cart.


    Shen Qing introduced them, saying, "These are freshly caught wild rabbits, and pheasants, and even a new catch of roe deer, all good products from the mountains, please take a good look, Manager Wang."


    "These are all quite ordinary items, do you have any rare mountain delicacies?" casually inquired Manager Wang of Wanfeng Building.


    Shen Qing responded, "Manager Wang, mountain delicacies aren''t that easy toe across. Our vige doesn''t encounter them but once a month."


    Manager Wang from Wanfeng Building said, "I already had an agreement with Chen Youguang, I need to find some mountain delicacies as nourishment for the Song and Dong Family. Can you find them? If you can, I''ll take the cartload you''ve brought."


    Shen Qing was momentarily taken aback, picking up on the unspoken implication.


    If he didn''t agree, he feared this deal wouldn''t go through today.


    "Manager Wang, please make your request," Shen Qing said.


    Dressed in ck boots and wearing a half-hearted smile, Manager Wang stared at Shen Qing and said slowly, "I want three things: Blood Bird''s Nest, Jade Deer Tendon, and Tiger King''s Penis."


    Upon hearing these three items, Shen Qing''s face immediately showed difficulty.


    "Manager Wang, I''ve never even heard of these, where am I supposed to find them for you?"


    "If you don''t have them, I won''t take the goods in your cart," was the blunt reply.


    Shen Qing turned to Zhang Shuyuan at his side and whispered, seeking advice, "In the county city, aside from his ce, can we sell to someone else?"


    Zhang Shuyuan replied, "Do you know what the Four Great Eastern Families in the county city are involved in?"


    "I''m unaware."


    "In the county city, there are the Zhou, Wang, Song, and Li families that run four major trades: silk garments and hats, pawnbroking and banking, restaurants and actors, and shipping. It''s no exaggeration to say that all aspects of life in Taiping County are dependent on these four families."


    Zhang Shuyuan continued, "Wanfeng Building is owned by the Song family; if they refuse to take your goods, you won''t be able to sell them anywhere else."


    After this exnation from Zhang Shuyuan, Shen Qing''s expression soured somewhat.


    He knew the people of the county and beyond relied on the Four Great Eastern Families for their livelihood, but he hadn''t expected they would be so overbearing.


    Manager Wang from Wanfeng Building spoke impatiently, "Have you finished discussing? If you''re not willing, don''t waste my time."


    Shen Qing hastily said, "Willing, very willing. I''ll let everyone in our vige know to look for them, I''ll definitely find them for you, Manager Wang. Please, examine the goods on my cart first."


    "Be sure to find them by the beginning of spring, or else pay thirty silver taels to honor the boss," he said.


    A jolt ran through Shen Qing''s heart, inwardly cursing these bloodsuckers.


    Thirty silver taels was certainly not a small amount.


    Even the entire Chen Family estate might not amount to that sum.


    But now he had no better options, and had to grit his teeth and ept it.


    With great difficulty, he''d found this opportunity and he couldn''t just give up so easily.


    Under someone else''s roof, one must bow their head.


    Before making a name for himself, he had no choice but to conceal his resentment.


    The manager of Wanfeng Building, who stands before me now, must have clung to the Song family''s influence to rise to his current position. He certainly has some tricks up his sleeve.


    In this county, killing a hunter from a vige would be as easy as turning his hand over, but he''s not someone I can kill on a whim now.


    But as for the future¡­


    "The goods in your cart are worth about ten taels silver in total. I''ll also take the mink and some pheasant feathers, and I''ll give you an extra five taels silver, making it fifteen taels in total," the manager of Wanfeng Building dered, swiftly manipting the abacus in his hands, and offered Shen Qing a price.


    "Can the price be raised a bit more? It''s too cheap," Shen Qing said.


    The manager of Wanfeng Building snapped the abacus shut, a displeased look on his face, and said firmly, "I''ll add half a tael of silver, don''t even think about any more. If Chen Youguang hadn''t pestered us so, the Song family would have sent their own merchants to collect, and this opportunity wouldn''t have fallen to you."


    Shen Qing suppressed the thoughts in his mind, quickly stering a smile on his face and said, "Thank you, Manager Wang, for your support. I hope you can overlook this small token of my respect."


    While speaking, Shen Qing discreetly slipped a string ofrge coins into the palm of Manager Wang of Wanfeng Building.


    With this, Manager Wang''s expression finally eased slightly, "I can tell you''re smart. I like dealing with clever people."


    "I''ll be straight with you. Seeking those delicacies from the mountains is not a deliberate action against you, but rather an opportunity given to you by the Boss. Some young masters in the Boss''s household have reached critical stages in their Martial Arts training and need these mountain treasures for nourishment. If you bring them in, the Boss will surely reward you."


    After hearing this, Shen Qing put on an immensely grateful facade and responded, "I see, thank you for letting me know, Manager."


    He wisely chose not to inquire further about the thirty taels silver from the Boss.


    As for the subtleties of the situation, he had already deduced a thing or two.


    Having put away the abacus, Manager Wang of Wanfeng Building motioned for his men to start unloading items from the cart and then had the ounts office give fifteen taels silver to Shen Qing, "What''s your name?"


    After counting the silver taels and ensuring there were no mistakes, Shen Qing replied, "Responding to Manager, my surname is Shen, with a given name of Qing."


    "Shen Qing, is it?" Manager Wang of Wanfeng Building nodded and said, "I''ll remember you. You can bring goods here in the future. If you do well, I can give you the business of mountain products from seven or eight viges around Shicheng Mountain."


    Faced with the tempting promiseid out by Manager Wang, Shen Qing verbally epted the offer, expressing his thanks repeatedly, "I will certainly do my best."


    Manager Wang of Wanfeng Building waved his hand dismissively and dismissed him, "There''s nothing else for you here."


    "Then I will take my leave," Shen Qing respectfully expressed his thanks a few more times before leaving the backyard.


    Watching Shen Qing''s departing figure, Manager Wang Qiyao of Wanfeng Building couldn''t help but take a few more nces, appearing to be deep in thought.


    An underling approached him and said, "Manager, should we give some instructions to the people outside the town?"


    "The Boss''s orders are paramount, and we cannot be short of mountain delicacies. Have you made it clear to the hunters from the other viges?"


    "Rest assured, Manager. Every hunter that came has received the instructions. We won''t fail you," the underling reported.


    Wang Qiyao''s expression turned serious as he ordered, "I don''t care by what means, but you must gather all three types of these mountain delicacies before spring arrives. That fellow named Cai is not on good terms with me and is surely looking for ways to sideline me. I absolutely can''t let him take over as the head shopkeeper of Wanfeng Building."


    "Manager Cai is certainly not as well-connected as you, Manager Wang. The head shopkeeper position will undoubtedly be yours in the future," a nearby underling quickly ttered.


    Wang Qiyao gestured for the underling to leave, then walked over to the spot where Shen Qing had unloaded his goods and picked up the mink.


    "This mink is of good quality and should fetch about six taels silver. I''ve earned an extra tael, haha."


    ...


    Upon exiting, Shen Qing carefully calcted his earnings for the day.


    In total, he had made fifteen taels silver.


    Of that, nearly five and a half taels were from the fur and other goods he had traded, especially the mink, which had earned him quite a lot.


    The remaining almost ten taels silver were from the mountain products from the entire vige.


    After deducting costs, he stood to make a profit of about five to six hundred wen.


    This sum was almost equivalent to twenty days of his uncle Shen Ershi''s earnings.


    Even if he ate fine grains every meal, he could now afford it.


    What''s important is that this venture wasn''t as reliant on luck as hunting; it was stable.


    No wonder Chen Youguang had set his sights on this trade.


    Including his total earnings, he had made almost six taels silver this time.


    It was enough to be considered a windfall, a small fortune.


    The days ahead were looking much brighter.


    He now had some confidence to pursue the practice of Martial Arts.

 Chapter 31: Chapter 30 Linfeng Hall

    "Brother Qingzi, my dad once sold a roon dog for six taels of silver, which was about the same size as yours, but the steward sold it for too cheap."


    Once the three had moved away from Wanfeng Building, Shen Xiaohu began to express his indignation on behalf of Shen Qing.


    "Hey, you guys are actually quite lucky. If they had started a fight and refused to pay you at all, you wouldn''t even have a ce to argue your case."


    Zhang Shuyuan leisurely sat in the cart, somehow flipping out a small booklet and reading it with relish.


    Shen Xiaohu eximed excitedly, "Doesn''t the government here care? We''ve never missed paying all sorts of taxes every year."


    "This ce is far from Dragon Court. The officials sent here all look to the Four Great Eastern Families; a strong dragon does not suppress the local tyrant. You''ll understand once you''ve struggled here for a while. The government here always takes the money but never gets things done."


    Zhang Shuyuan nced at Shen Xiaohu with a meaningful look and said, "If you cause trouble for the government, the first thing they do is take care of you, the troublemaker."


    Shen Xiaohu''s mouth fell open, and he was at a loss for words, speech choked in his throat.


    Although he had never traveled far from home, he had witnessed the situation when Tian Chuan was beaten to death.


    He understood all these principles.


    It''s just¡­ he felt somewhat unreconciled.


    At their side, Shen Qing listened to the conversation silently, without speaking.


    Why was it so hard for people at the bottom to prosper?


    Whenever they had some harvest and wanted to enter the county town, they couldn''t escape the exploitation of the Four Great Eastern Families and the government.


    They were exploited when entering the town, exploited in trade, and stripped yet again by various clever pretexts each year.


    For people at the bottom like them, having enough food was already a luxury, let alone having the energy and capital to prosper.


    Just like Zhang Shuyuan said, today he was rather lucky.


    After all, he was still too weak. He needed to practice martial arts and quickly find a backer to change his martial arts register.


    "Sir, do you know where Linfeng Hall is located?" Shen Qing asked, holding the reins in his hand.


    ...


    Shengshi Square.


    The majestic residence lined both sides of the street in neat rows, and looking down the street, the roads were paved with bluestone, clean and scarcely popted.


    The snow from above had already been cleaned away, piled up on both sides of the street.


    Shen Qing drove the cart and stopped in front of arge courtyard with a single-story house.


    A pair of stone lions squatted at the gate, one clutching a ball, the other shielding a cub, both majestic and imposing.


    Above the lion statues, a que hung on the gatehouse with the characters for "Linfeng Hall" inscribed in gold on a ck background.


    Standing at the entrance, Shen Qing and the others could faintly hear the sounds of shouting and traininging from inside.


    His younger aunt, Shen Xiu, was initially sold to a wealthy family in the county town, and because of her looks, she had had a reasonablyfortable life there.


    When her grandparents were still alive, she was able to visit home once every year.


    Even after her grandparents passed away, she continued to maintain contact, asionally sending things to the Shen Family via others.


    However, as the years passed without her getting pregnant, her life in the wealthy household became increasingly difficult, and her opportunities toe out and mingle decreased.


    Even when his parents died, she was unable to return to the Shen Family.


    His uncle had told him that not long ago, his younger aunt had been sold to the home of the master of Linfeng Hall and had be a concubine there.


    This time, havinge here with great difficulty, he should visit her and, following his uncle''s plea, inquire about Shanwa starting martial arts training.


    Shen Qing walked up the bluestone steps and grabbed the brass knocker on the vermilion door, knocking three times without haste.


    After a while, the vermilion door opened inward, revealing a face with prominent brow bones.


    "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"


    Shen Qing stepped forward and exined his purpose, "My aunt is Shen Xiu, the concubine of Master Li from inside. I happened to be in town for some business, and my family asked me to bring some mountain goods for her. Could you please pass the message along?"


    "A rtive of Miss Qi from her mother''s side? Wait at the door for a moment."


    As soon as the other party had finished speaking, they mmed the door shut with a bang.


    Shen Qing''s face remained calm as he patiently waited at the door.


    A momentter, the crimson door was reopened, "Come in."


    "Thank you for your trouble."


    Shen Qing, followed by Shen Xiaohu, strode in, handing the handcart and the tired horse to Zhang Shuyuan.


    Inside the courtyard, right past the door was a sight of about twenty topless, robust men, each hefting stone weights, their bodies steaming with heat.


    This caused the courtyard, despite being in the cold winter season, to feel as warm as early spring, astonishingly so.


    After pausing for a moment, Shen Qing, led by the gatekeeper, went into a room in the front courtyard to await his aunt, Shen Xiu.


    The Hall Master of Linfeng Hall, Li Linfeng, who had been running a Martial Arts Hall for many years, held some reputation in the town and had quite arge family.


    With arge family came many rules.


    Outsiders, even men, were not allowed into the inner courtyard to have contact with the women without permission.


    After waiting in the room for about fifteen minutes, a beautifuldy who bore a slight resemnce to Shen Qing opened the wooden door and walked in.


    It had to be said, no one in the Shen Family couldpare to others in terms of appearance and demeanor.


    His aunt''s skin was as delicate as cream, her lips thin, her nose high and defined, and her almond eyes brimmed with a lively spark.


    She was truly a beauty who bore no trace of her origins from a hunter''s family.


    "You''re Shen Qing? The eldest son from your big brother''s family? I didn''t expect you to have grown so much. Thest time I saw you, you were just a little boy."


    Aunt Shen Xiu slowly stepped into the room, her steps slightly cautious, with a hint of roundness barely noticeable in her waist.


    Recognizing her nephew, she spoke with a warm tone in her face and gentle eyes.


    Aunt Shen Xiu found a soft cushion and sat down in a chair to make small talk, "How are your second uncle and his wife doing?"


    "Thank you for your concern, Uncle and Aunt are doing well."


    "That''s good, I couldn''te back when your big uncle had an ident, don''t be upset with me. It wasn''t within my control." Aunt Shen Xiu''s face darkened slightly as if recalling many sad memories.


    Shen Qing quickly said, "How could I be upset with Auntie? Our family''s situation is not known to others, but our own family is well aware of it."


    "Ah¡­" Aunt Shen Fang sighed and asked, "Did youe to see me because something happened at home?"


    "Aunt, there''s nothing wrong at home," Shen Qing stood up and pulled Shen Xiaohu next to him, saying, "This is Xiao Hu. We rarelye to the town, Uncle thought I should bring some mountain goods over and visit Aunt."


    Aunt Shen Xiu''s face showed a hint of happiness as she smiled, "You really thought of everything."


    Shen Qing finished speaking and patted Shen Xiaohu on the back.


    Understanding the cue, Shen Xiaohu brought over a basket filled with mountain delicacies like Hericium erinaceus, bamboo mushrooms, andmb''s tripe, cing it at Shen Xiu''s feet.


    "They''re just some inexpensive Hericium erinaceus, bamboo mushrooms,mb''s tripe, and the like. You can ask the cook to prepare some hometown vors when you have time."


    Aunt Shen Xiu warmly smiled and said, "I haven''t eaten anything from home for a long time, now I can satisfy my craving."


    "I''m d you don''t mind," Shen Qing stood up and bowed slightly, saying, "Besides visiting Aunt, Uncle also mentioned that he indeed has something he needs Aunt''s help with."


    Aunt Shen Xiu''s face showed no change as she spoke warmly, "I don''t know what it is? Let me hear it first and see if I can help."


    Shen Qing looked even more respectful and showed a slight embarrassed expression as he sought help, "Uncle wants to ask Aunt if she could allow us brothers to enter Linfeng Hall to practice Martial Arts?"

 Chapter 32: Chapter 31 Striving for Progress

    Once these words were spoken, Shen Xiaohu gave Shen Qing a somewhat odd nce from the side.


    He wasn''t sure about everything, but some things he did remember.


    His father only wanted the younger Shenwa to try out Martial Arts, when had he ever said to let the three of them enter Linfeng Hall?


    That would cost a lot of silver.


    However, seeing Shen Qing''s "righteous and bold" demeanor, he felt uncertain, doubting whether his father had given some other instructions on the fly.


    With no confidence in his heart, he kept his head low, not daring to utter a sound.


    Shen Xiu''s expression turned serious as she sized up Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu, her gaze bing hesitant.


    She knew all too well what her own family was like.


    Otherwise, her own parents wouldn''t have sold her to rely on others and live life watching other people''s faces.


    She didn''t believe her nephews could amount to much.


    But in the back of the house, Hall Master Li Linfeng had more than one concubine, and each of their families had some sort of foundation, more or less.


    Even though she was pregnant, her status within the household was not high.


    Shen Xiu subconsciously touched her lower abdomen.


    She felt that even if she didn''t consider herself, she should think about the child in her womb.


    As an aunt, if she could give her nephews a hand and they managed to get into Linfeng Hall and hold their ground,


    they would surely remember her favor in the future and look after her unborn sibling.


    With this thought in mind, Shen Xiu looked towards Shen Qing.


    It was the first time in all these years that Shen Qing was able to speak so eloquently and logically when she saw him,


    different from the simple and honest Shen Family member she remembered in her mind.


    He didn''t seem like someone who came from the lower-ss backgrounds of a hunter.


    It was worth a try.


    Having been influenced by the ways of arge family, she also understood the principle that teaching someone to fish is better than giving them fish.


    Now that her nephews are seeking progress, whether they seed or not, as family, she ought to lend a hand.


    A family member with potential could help her out.


    After pondering for a while, Shen Fang said, "Master Li has indeed shown an interest in recruiting disciples recently."


    "Thank you, auntie," Shen Qing said excitedly, a glint of surprise shing in his eyes.


    "Don''t get too excited just yet, I''ll ask around first. Whether it works out or not is another matter," Shen Fang said with a lightugh, her almond-shaped eyes curling into crescents. "You guys don''t go anywhere, wait here for me."


    When Shen Fang stood up to cross the threshold, Shen Qing quickly went over and eagerly offered support.


    His cleverness made Shen Fang nce at him sideways, and she became more convinced that this nephew of hers was someone who knew how to handle things.


    Just with this quick-wittedness, even if he couldn''t get into Linfeng Hall, he would definitely not fare too badly elsewhere.


    After escorting her outside the side room, Shen Qing didn''t go any further, keeping to the propriety of a guest and watching Shen Fang leave.


    In just that brief moment, he judged that his aunt''s status in Linfeng Hall was probably mediocre; clearly pregnant, she didn''t even have a maid to attend to her.


    Whether he could seed in studying Martial Arts at Linfeng Hall was truly uncertain.


    "Brother Qingzi, can we really enter Linfeng Hall to practice Martial Arts?"


    As opposed to Shen Qing''s calmness, Shen Xiaohu was like someone with ants in his pants, getting restlessly impatient.


    "I don''t know, let''s see what auntie does about it. Let''s wait and see,"


    Shen Qing knew this was not something that could be rushed.


    Seeing that there was some time left, he decided to start his stance training right there in the side room, hoping to improve the progress of his Nine Brocade Technique.


    Time trickled by, and after about a pot of tea''s worth of time, Auntie Shen Xiu crossed the threshold with a smile on her face and came in.


    Shen Qing hastily finished his practice and suppressed the rising Qi-Blood, looking at Shen Xiu with anticipation.


    "The Hall Master wishes to meet with you," Shen Xiu said straightforwardly as she entered, not beating around the bush.


    A weight lifted from Shen Qing''s heart, and he hastily expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Auntie."


    "Come with me."


    With that, Shen Xiu led Shen Qing and Xiao Hu to another courtyard.


    As soon as he crossed the main gate of the courtyard, Shen Qing saw a burly man with a face full of horizontal flesh, instructing two young masters in martial arts attire, around the ages of twelve or thirteen, in an open area of the yard.


    "Stand firm, all of you! You''re already struggling after just standing for a short time; how can you achieve anything like this?"


    The burly man with the horizontal flesh seemed frustrated to the point of hating iron for not bing steel, his anger simmering like a dormant volcano, ready to erupt at any moment.


    Seeing Auntie leading him straight toward that stout man, Shen Qing thought that this must be the Hall Master of Linfeng Hall¡ªLi Linfeng.


    "Are you the nephews from Lady Qi''s house?" Li Linfeng nced at the two of them, his tone neutral, revealing no particr fondness or distaste.


    Shen Qing hastily saluted with a fist in palm, "I have seen Master Li. My name is Shen Qing, and this is Shen Xiaohu."


    "You two will practice for an additional period of time. If you can''t even do this, don''t think about leaving the house for the next three days." Hall Master Li Linfeng casually instructed, then walked towards a small pavilion, "Let''s talk over there."


    "Yes."


    As Shen Qing was leaving, he nced at the two young masters practicing and couldn''t help but notice one of them had unusually developed chest muscles, capturing his curiosity for an extra look.


    Sensing his gaze, the muscle-bound young master suddenly turned and red at him with a lethal stare.


    This face was clearly that of a female master.


    Shen Qing quickly averted his eyes and refrained from looking any further.


    Inside the small pavilion.


    As soon as Li Linfeng, the Hall Master of Linfeng Hall, stepped onto the tform, Auntie Shen Xiu dragged arge chair upholstered with tiger skin out from under the table, just in time for him to sit down.


    "Just now, Xiu Xiu mentioned to me that you wish to join Linfeng Hall to study martial arts?" Li Linfeng asked Shen Qing with a nce.


    "Replying to the Hall Master, yes, that is our intention."


    With a thump,


    Shen Qing knelt before Shen Xiu and Li Linfeng, gritted his teeth, and presented the entire fifteen taels of silver he had earned that day with both hands.


    "I implore uncle to grant your nephew this opportunity!"


    Shen Qing felt this opportunity was indeed precious.


    Outside, countless people were moring for a chance to find a way to learn martial arts.


    Being able to meet Li Linfeng today was a rare exception, and he had to seize the initiative, show his eagerness to advance, and also be willing to invest in order to leave a strong impression on the other party.


    Losing face was nothing of consequence.


    To expect rich rewards without any investment¡ªsuch a good deal did not exist in this world.


    In fact, Shen Qing aplished just that.


    His behavior left Xiao Hupletely dumbfounded, unsure what to do, while also surprising Li Linfeng and Shen Xiu.


    They had anticipated Shen Qing might beg without dignity, or be frantic and trembling with fear, but they had never expected him to act like this.


    Even when asking a favor, he actually seemed reasonable and did not provoke annoyance.


    However, Li Linfeng, having weathered many storms, quickly recovered and, examining Shen Qing, he said, "Linfeng Hall does indeed intend to recruit disciples recently, but not everyone is eligible for entry. Let''s do this¡ªboth of you step forward two steps so that I can assess your Bone Root.


    If the Bone Root is too poor and you''re not cut out for this discipline, then you may go back to where you came from."


    "Yes."


    A chill went through Shen Qing''s heart as he slowly stepped forward.

 Chapter 33: Chapter 32: Checking Bones to Assess Potential, Good Material for Martial Arts Practice

    With the physique of a tiger and the waist of a bear, Li Linfeng had already stood up, towering a full head taller than Shen Qing at nearly six feet three inches, looking down at him and putting immense pressure on him.


    Shen Qing even had the illusion that what stood before him was not a person, but a wall.


    Li Linfeng asked in a deep voice, "Have you practiced before?"


    "I''ve practiced some Nine Skills."


    "To what extent?"


    "I can already feel a warm flow of Qi Sensing in my Dantian."


    "Hmm? You''ve cultivated Qi-Blood?"


    Li Linfeng''s gaze shifted over Shen Qing''s body, and suddenly, the corners of his mouth curled up in an intriguing smile, as if his interest had sparked unexpectedly.


    He poised his hands like ws and, in an instant motion akin to catching the wind, he sped Shen Qing''s arms and jerked them outward.


    The movement was so fast, as swift as a gust of wind, that Shen Qing could not react in time.


    Shen Qing''s heart shook, but he saw Li Linfeng gently exerting strength with his hands, a warm yet irresistible force transmitted from his arms, seeming like a small stream entering his body, wandering through his veins and muscles.


    He involuntarily stood upright following Li Linfeng''s movements, his muscles exhibiting a subtle tension under the influence of that invisible force.


    Fear and excitement surged in Shen Qing''s heart.


    "Is this a true martial master? So powerful!"


    The air around seemed to solidify; Shen Qing could only hear his own slightly rapid breathing.


    He stared at Li Linfeng''s face, his thoughts whirling, worried about his Bone not being outstanding enough, yet longing for approval.


    Time stretched at that moment, anticipation and anxiety continuously interweaving in his heart.


    Seeing Li Linfeng''s brows slightly furrowed, Shen Qing''s heart felt as if it had been lifted to his throat.


    However, just as he was on tenterhooks, he suddenly felt lighter, his feet left the ground, and he turned around in an odd posture.


    When hended, he staggered forward two steps and nearly fell to the ground.


    In that brief moment, Shen Qing distinctly felt Li Linfeng had touched his spine, both sides of his waist, and shoulders.


    A tingling soreness surged within his bones, making Shen Qing involuntarily gasp in a cold breath.


    Li Linfeng''s gaze gradually softened, and then a glINT of satisfaction shed in his eyes, "You really have cultivated Qi-Blood, more vigorous than most people, and your Bone is good, a fine martial material."


    A simple sentence, yet it struck like a spring thunder, easing the heavy stone in Shen Qing''s heart, his joy overflowing.


    "Thank you, Uncle."


    With a poption of three hundred thousand in Taiping County, eight or nine out of ten aremoners who cannot eat their fill, let alone have abundant Qi-Blood; even if there are some good seeds, their foundations are too poor.


    Better martial talent usually belongs to the prominent families within the county.


    These peopleck no channels for practicing martial arts.


    They say entering into martial arts training is challenging, and choosing the right seeds in these martial arts halls is equally demanding.


    Li Linfeng regarded Shen Qing anew, his eyes carrying a hint of satisfaction.


    It''s just a pity he''s a bit older.


    Therefore, he could only say he was good martial material, not a perfect seedling.


    But the issue wasn''t too serious.


    Miss Qi''s rtive, with a clear background, plus such qualities and astuteness, had somewhat stirred his interest, so he asked, "Can you read?"


    "I can recognize some characters," Shen Qing turned and respectfully replied.


    "Good, if you want to practice martial arts here, you need to know how to read," Li Linfeng casually said.


    Shen Qing picked up on the implication in Li Linfeng''s words. He had agreed to let him train at Linfeng Hall, a glINT of excitement shing in his eyes, his joy unmistakable.


    He had found a patron!


    Without a second word, he bent his legs and his knees heavily fell to the ground.


    "Disciple pays respect to Master."


    Shen Qing extended his hands forward, palms up, his forehead touching the ground.


    "You''ve got nerve; I haven''t yet agreed to take you as my apprentice. You will stay in the inner sect, where a martial master will teach you," Li Linfeng stated as he epted the silver taels Shen Qing offered. "Consider this as your tuition for now."


    "I''ll listen to all Uncle''s arrangements."


    Shen Xiu, standing to the side, saw that Li Linfeng was pleased with Shen Qing and couldn''t help feeling overjoyed.


    If Shen Qing performed well, he could even be transferred to the martial arts register in the future.


    Her family could finally produce someone noteworthy, and could also lend her a helping hand.


    Li Linfeng turned to Shen Xiaohu and said, "And the other one; let me see."


    Unlike with Shen Qing,


    Li Linfeng didn''t make any significant movement but merely grasped Shen Xiaohu''s wrist to feel it.


    A momentter, he said, "The bone structure is not bad, but the Essence Qi inside is too weak, training in Martial Arts might be somewhat challenging. Considering that you are rtives of Miss Qi, give seven silver taels and start by tempering your Qi-Blood in the outer gate for three months. Let''s see if you can cultivate any Qi-Blood, and we can discuss further thereafter."


    Shen Xiaohu''s face brightened at first, but then quickly dimmed.


    Compared to Shen Qing, he was indeedcking a lot.


    However, his family had not originally nned for him to practice Martial Arts, but having this opportunity now was already quite fortunate.


    He didn''t dare to ask for too much, repeatedly giving awkward thanks.


    Shen Qing recalled something and asked, "Uncle, I''m registered as a hunter and need to go up the mountain to hunt and pay my taxes. I wanted to ask, when training in Martial Artster, is it necessary to be in the Martial Arts Hall every day?"


    Shen Xiu beside them answered for Li Linfeng, "Being in the Martial Arts Hall every day is the treatment for true disciples. Whether it''s the inner or outer sect, Linfeng Hall is free toe and go, it''s just that the martial masters are different. How much one trains depends entirely on oneself."


    "I see," understanding the gist, Shen Qing expressed his intent to leave: "It''s gettingte now; we should head back to the vige early and not bother Aunt and Uncle here any longer. I''ll return another day."


    "Alright, go ahead. Next time just find the martial master directly; I won''t see you out," Li Linfeng said calmly.


    Shen Qing bowed and turned to leave.


    After Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu had left, Shen Xiu, with lively eyes, hurriedly gave a deep bow and said, "Thank you, husband, for giving Qingzi this opportunity. He will certainly work hard in the future, not to fail the grace of your recognition."


    Li Linfeng waved his hand and said, "Just take care of yourself and don''t worry about these matters."


    He made a casual remark of concern and walked out of the pavilion.


    At that moment, he suddenly remembered something.


    "I forgot to ask that boy which Martial Arts Hall he had practiced the Nine Skills in; cultivating Qi-Blood must have taken a lot of effort."


    "Never mind, I''ll ask him next time."


    Martial Arts have many subtleties.


    The Nine Skills is a basic, general martial art, mainly aimed at nurturing Qi-Blood; it''s not difficult to practice.


    However, this doesn''t mean that blindly practicing it will lead to sess.


    Some of the subtleties involved, if not pointed out, can lead one on many detours.


    Li Linfeng thought, Shen Qing must have sought someone to train under.


    Li Linfeng walked down from the pavilion and had not gone far before gradually stopping.


    His face appeared as though he was quite troubled.


    Momentster, Li Linfeng leisurely turned and walked towards the entrance, murmuring to himself, "Today''s task should bepleted today. The boy hasn''t gone far; better to ask now, rather than waiting until next time."

 Chapter 34: Chapter 33 Picked up a Treasure

    Linfeng Hall, the front courtyard.


    Li Linfeng called out to Shen Qing, who had not yet left.


    Shen Qing did not know what Li Linfeng wanted and turned around, respectfully saying, "Uncle."


    Li Linfeng asked calmly, "I forgot to ask just now, where did you learn the Nine Skills from?"


    Shen Qing thought Li Linfeng was concerned about the difference in sects and felt a sudden pang of anxiety in his heart.


    After careful consideration, Shen Qing still decided to tell the truth, "Replying to uncle, I had no one to teach me, I just studied and practiced based on the illustrations in the manual, and unexpectedly I cultivated some Qi-Blood."


    Even Li Linfeng, who was usually unppable, showed a hint of emotion on his face, revealing a trace of skepticism.


    The Great Zhou Court controlled the Martial Mechanism, and the true greater paths of Martial Arts were all within the court.


    The cultivation methods they held were also closely guarded, not daring to be shown to others lightly.


    As a result, apart from the government and those Martial Arts Halls thatplied with official training, there wasn''t much knowledge about Martial Arts avable on the market.


    Even if some martial arts knowledge asionally leaked out, there would be many secret codes or keys known only to martial masters.


    The entry-level Nine Skills was neither difficult nor easy.


    Yet without someone to guide, it was not an easy task to train well.


    Li Linfeng looked Shen Qing up and down and continued, "So you''re saying the Nine Skills book you have was bought outside? When you bought this Cultivation Technique, didn''t the person who sold it to you teach you any tricks?"


    "The Nine Skills weren''t bought by me; I seized them from someone else," Shen Qing exined.


    Li Linfeng''s burly face paused with a flicker of surprise.


    To be able to cultivate Qi-Blood to this degree just by practicing with the manual, he found himself somewhat at a loss for words.


    This child''sprehension must be much higher than he had anticipated.


    Seeing Li Linfeng silent, Shen Qing feared he wouldn''t believe him and that the arranged martial training would fall through, so he quickly pointed to Shen Xiaohu and said, "I snatched the Nine Skills from the Chen Family Brothers. My cousin can also vouch for me; I definitely did not seek instruction from other Martial Arts Halls or have someone else''s teaching."


    Shen Xiaohu hastily assured, "Yes, yes, yes, that was eight days ago. The whole vige knows about it, everyone can testify."


    "Eight days! Self-taught?!""


    Even Li Linfeng, who was usuallyposed, couldn''t help but be emotionally stirred at this point.


    The hands hidden in his sleeves clenched tightly.


    He knew all too well the mediocrity of the Nine Skills.


    Some of the key points could lead one astray by a wide margin if not exined properly.


    Without guidance, any critical juncture could hold someone up for months, struggling and failing to understand.


    Thisprehension was monstrous.


    He had stumbled upon a treasure!


    "Good," Li Linfeng looked at Shen Qing and after a moment''s pause said, "Since you''re already cultivating your Qi-Blood, you should take some prescriptions to consolidate it. A Fu!"


    "Master!"


    In the front courtyard, the man with prominent brow bones who had initially opened the gate for them, heard the call and quickly ran out, standing before Li Linfeng with a bent waist and respectful posture.


    "He''s been epted into the inner courtyard; go get him some good medicine for nourishing the Qi-Blood to consolidate," Li Linfeng ordered.


    A Fu nodded repeatedly, "Yes, master."


    Having given these instructions, Li Linfeng left without saying more.


    A Fu turned to Shen Qing and said, "Young Master, please wait here for a while, I''ll go get the medicine for you."


    Being addressed as ''Young Master'' for the first time made Shen Qing feel somewhat ufortable.


    Unfamiliar with the specific protocols here, he humbly said, "I''m not any ''Young Master,'' my name is Shen Qing, just call me Qingzi."


    "Other than his direct disciples, our master has never treated anyone else like this. Those medicinal essences are expensive. You might not be a Young Master now, but you will definitely be one in the future," A Fu said with a smile, not exining further to Shen Qing as he tucked his hands into his sleeves and hurried to a small room in the front courtyard.


    Direct disciple?


    Shen Qing was taken aback.


    Shen Xiaohu, standing beside him, muttered softly, "I didn''t expect our uncle to seem fierce but actually be quite nice!"


    ...


    Shen Qing came out of Linfeng Hall with his mind full of the matter of bing a direct disciple.


    He had not expected to encounter such fortune.


    When he returned to the streets at this time, watching the young masters anddies dressed in silk, he no longer felt envious.


    Seeing that it was already noon, Shen Qing bought some steamed buns at the store, and the three of them made do for lunch.


    Then he went straight to the market selling sundries and sold the two beast fur coats he got from the Chen Family, earning one and a half taels of silver.


    Having done this, Shen Qing did not linger.


    With the money he had exchanged, he bought some rice, flour, grain, oil, and also picked out a new cotton garment for his elder sister to improve their living conditions a bit.


    With that, all the money was basically spent, even the money from selling goods back in the vige had been used up.


    But rtively speaking,


    today''s trip to the county town was a full harvest, securing the great matter of his future martial arts training.


    Just for that, no matter how much money was spent, it was worth it.


    As for the prices of the hunters'' goods in the vige, thanks to the Chen Family''s generosity, he still had six or seven silver taels, which could fill this gap nicely.


    After such a hustle, Shen Qing was "as poor as a church mouse" again, falling into a state ofcking money.


    After returning to the vige, he would have to find a way to go into the mountains to hunt more and increase some ie.


    Shen Qing''s thoughts shifted, and the water-ink characters concerning his skill slowly emerged and unfolded before his eyes.


    [Skill: Hunting (Small Sess)]


    [Progress: 89/200 points]


    [Status: Cannot be improved]


    [Note: Keep practicing forprehensive breakthrough. There is a certain chance that some hunting skills will undergo a transformation.]


    There''s still some progress to go.


    Next, he must hurry up and work hard on his ability to make a living.


    As the wheels collided with the rough stone road, Shen Qing, sitting on the bumpy cart, steadied his body and put these thoughts aside.


    In just the time it took for a pot of tea to brew, Shen Qing had already leisurely passed through the bustling street and arrived at the city gate.


    The city gates of Taiping County were scheduled to close around five periods before sunset, approximately a third quarter of Shen Hour, which is around five to six o''clock in the afternoon.


    The sky was still bright at this time, and it was clearly too early to close the city gates.


    But Shen Qing did not dare to leave the city toote.


    It would still take some time to return to Hongshan Vige from Taiping County.


    When he reached the city gate, Shen Qing stopped and looked at the dpidated shanties outside the city, his expression gradually bing serious and furrowed.


    After thinking for a while, he turned to Zhang Shuyuan and asked, "Can you drive the cart for me?"


    Zhang Shuyuan, who knew about the brothers'' entry into Linfeng Hall, had be much more subdued than before and wasn''t aszy, "What do you want to do?"


    "After we leave the city, you drive," Shen Qing handed the reins to Zhang Shuyuan.


    "What about you two?"


    Shen Qing took out the bow and arrows he had obtained from the Chen Family Brothers and felt their bnce in his hand, "Xiao Hu and I will each take a bow and keep watch. The area outside the city is a mess, and I don''t feel very reassured."


    Recalling the grim-faced group that had surrounded them when they first arrived, people who grew bolder to the point of making moves,


    if someone harbored bad intentions and they were outnumbered, it would be easy for them to be at a disadvantage.


    So, it would be better to take precautions in advance to feel more secure.


    Shen Qing tried the Elm Wood Bow and Arrow in his hand; the craftsmanship was simr to the one at home, and it was a bit better than the one Shen Xiaohu currently held.


    He did not hesitate nor feel pained about it, passing another bow to Shen Xiaohu, instructing, "Once we leave the city, whoever approaches us with ill intentions, you shoot, don''t hesitate."


    "You have to appear fierce."


    Having witnessed his cousin''s abilities first hand, Shen Xiaohu now respected Shen Qing immensely and nodded earnestly, "I understand."


    Shen Qing patted Zhang Shuyuan on the shoulder and said, "Drive well, sir. Later, when I go to the mountains to hunt some good things, I will reward the sir."


    After confirming everyone''s roles, Shen Qing hooked an arrow onto the bowstring, feeling more at ease.


    "Alright, let''s leave the city now."

 Chapter 35: Chapter 34 Outer City

    ```


    The ancient city gates of Taiping County towered majestically, with the weak winter sunlight piercing through the heavy clouds, casting dim shadows inside the gate.


    The cold wind surged from the open space outside the city gate, constantly seeping into the gate in wisps and strands.


    As Shen Qing stepped into the city gate, the winter chill hit him head-on, causing both Shen Xiaohu and Zhang Shuyuan to shrink their necks involuntarily.


    Once they had passed through the ancient city gate, the cold wind gradually ceased.


    The familiar scene once again appeared before the eyes of Shen Qing and his twopanions.


    The uneven ground was mixed with dark snow water soiled by mud...


    The surrounding shanty was put together using various materials, crowded and sprawling as far as the eye could see.


    The narrow, muddy paths between the shanties were interwoven with the figures of running children and the sporadic sounds of vendors, adding a few touches of life''s reality and noise to this bleak scene.


    It was already afternoon, and there were fewer people entering the city.


    The guards standing under the city gate were mostly idle since there was no fee for leaving the city.


    The guards'' gazes lingered briefly on Shen Qing before they retracted their attention, allowing him to leave.


    By the time they reached the shanty area, Shen Qing, who was sitting on the cart, immediately became vignt.


    ncing to the side, he saw that Shen Xiaohu had a stern look on his face, his eyes constantly sweeping the surroundings. Shen Qing warned, "Xiao Hu, don''t tense your face or else people will think we have something valuable. Just rx a bit and stay alert in your heart."


    "Okay," Shen Xiaohu, startled by the reminder, realized he was too tense and quickly let go of his worries, doing as he was told.


    Zhang Shuyuan, holding the reins, looked at Shen Qing and smiled, "You''re quite clever. Anyone in the Outer City who has their eye on you would be unlucky."


    "Better be safe than sorry," Shen Qing replied casually, "When you''re away from home, in unfamiliar ces, it''s always good to be cautious."


    Zhang Shuyuan chuckled and cracked his whip, "Giddy up!"


    The scrappy horse shook its rump and couldn''t help but quicken its pace.


    Pulled by the horse, the cart made of a few broken nks also sped up, passing by the entrance of each shanty home.


    The items Shen Qing had purchased, including some rice and grain tied securely with hemp rope, were covered with coarse bup but still drew the gaze of many passersby.


    Whether busy adults or idle children, everyone in the shanties couldn''t help but slow down as Shen Qing passed by, their eyes drawn involuntarily to the goods piled on the cart.


    The further they went into the depth of the Outer City, the more such people there were.


    They watched Shen Qing overtly and covertly, whispering to one another, curiosity and greed shing in their eyes, as if the goods were a bright spot in this chaotic world.


    A subtle atmosphere gradually permeated the air.


    A young man leaning against the doorway of a shanty, dressed in a short outfit with his arms crossed, watched Shen Qing and hispanions pass by.


    As they whisked by, the young man dropped his casual demeanor, turned, and entered the house to speak to a burly man inside, "A new face just passed by, Old Ba, are we doing it?"


    The burly man called Old Ba tossed aside the chicken leg he''d been gnawing on¡ªwhich was then hungrily fought over by the boys waiting nearby, like wild dogs.


    One of the taller boys grabbed the chicken leg bone and dashed out the back door in a sh, quickly disappearing from sight.


    The other teenagers chased after him wildly.


    "Hahaha." The burly man wiped his greasy lips, looking somewhat pleased with himself, and asked, "Did you get any details? Where are they from, and do they have any connection to the big shots in the city?"


    "This morning when that new guy went in, Old Dog was already asking around; he should be back soon."


    "Have someone keep an eye on them. As soon as they''re about to exit Seven Turns Alley, no matter if Old Dog got any news or not, take action."


    "Understood. If after all this time we still can''t figure it out, it must mean he''s a nobody."


    ```


    Old Ba Zi nodded and said, "That''s right, recently Boss has sent a message saying that the Song and Dong Family are looking for a few mountain delicacies, to help their young masters make a breakthrough in their Martial Pass. Tell your brothers to pay attention to the huntersing into the city recently, see if they have any of those items."


    "Boss said," Old Ba Zi''s face showed a hint of longing, "if anyone can find them, he could guarantee them wealth and entry into the Inner City."


    "Old Ba Zi, just tell me, what are the three items?" the youth eximed in surprise.


    Old Ba Zi spoke unhurriedly, "Blood Bird''s Nest, Jade Deer Tendon, and Tiger King''s Penis."


    "Ah... I only know of the penis, haven''t even heard of the others," the youth said. "I''ll pass this on to the brothers when I get back."


    "Mhm, arrange it as soon as possible."


    ...


    After his breakthrough in hunting skills, Shen Qing had long since be adept in details such as Tracking and hunting, and was very sensitive to his surrounding environment.


    Just as they had been advancing, passing through the shantytown, he felt as if there were fleeting gazes on them every so often.


    His hunter''s intuition told him that he was being watched.


    Shen Qing lowered his voice to Shen Xiaohu and Zhang Shuyuan and said, "Speed up, we''re being followed."


    "Ah!"


    Shen Xiaohu eximed.


    "Keep your voice down. Don''t startle the snake in the grass."


    "Oh, right."


    Shen Xiaohu quickly steadied his nerves.


    Zhang Shuyuan, who was usually nonchnt, also became serious for once.


    "Whack, whack, whack!"


    He didn''t mind hurting someone else''s horse as he ferociously whipped it three times, striking the small nag''s hindquarters and leaving three bloody marks.


    The nag, in pain, suddenly elerated and began to gallop forward.


    When Shen Qing and his twopanions whizzed by a bald man, the bald man summoned a teenager and instructed, "Quickly tell Old Ba they''re about to reach Seven Turns Alley."


    "Alright."


    In a shantytown in the Outer City, a teenager wearing straw sandals ran in panting and said, "Old Ba, they''re nearly at Seven Turns Alley, the bunch wants to know whether to do it or not."


    "Has there been any news from Old Dog?" Old Ba Zi asked the straw-sandaled youth at his side.


    "Not yet."


    "Then forget about it, tell the brothers to go ahead."


    "Got it. The cart they''re carrying doesn''t seem to have much on it, shall we cripple the three of them first and then sell them to the brokers? Make a hefty profit off them."


    "Just see to it," Old Ba Zi''s muscles suddenly tensed, his Qi-Blood surging throughout his body, pumping his muscles until they expanded like lumps of flesh, emanating a powerful aura.


    Great Perfection of Qi and Blood!


    The speaking teenager stepped back and hurriedly said, "Old Ba, the brothers all know the rules, they won''t short-change you."


    "Let the brothers be at ease, I will also stick up for them if they get into trouble," Old Ba Zi reigned in his aura, "Go now!"


    The teenager nodded vigorously and ran towards Seven Turns Alley, his figure gradually vanishing among the many shanties.

 Chapter 36: Chapter 35: Killing a Man, Once is Raw Twice is Familiar

    The heart of the slum, "Seven Turns Alley," was so narrow that only a single carriage could pass through alone.


    The low shacks stood shoulder to shoulder, vying for cramped space, with the sky relegated to a thin, elongated crack.


    Upon entering the alley, Zhang Shuyuan was forced to slow his pace as the once-wide streets narrowed.


    Suddenly, seated on the cart, Shen Qing tensed up, gripping the arrow tightly, his heart like the taut string on the bow, his expression solemn.


    He ducked to avoid a protruding eave and said, "Xiao Hu, draw the bow to the full, and hide well."


    "Okay."


    Seeing Shen Qing in such a serious state, Shen Xiaohu quickly ced an arrow on the bow, drew it fully, ready for battle.


    The quiet in the vicinity was unnerving.


    It gave Shen Qing a bad premonition.


    As they turned the first corner, the nag pulled the cart onto a short, straight section of the alley.


    Then, Shen Qing saw about six or seven young men leaning against doorways.


    Behind themy a few farm tools like hoes, more or less.


    When they heard the hoofbeats, they looked up in unison, exchanged nces and signals.


    Shen Qing reacted instantly, drawing the bow to a full crescent and releasing.


    Whoosh!


    An arrow shot through the air, like a meteor streaking through the night, leaving only its piercing whistle to echo in the air.


    The short-haired youth leaning against a door jolted; he had just received a signal to wait but had no time to react before his legs buckled and he copsed to the ground.


    The arrow was deeply embedded in his forehead, blood instantly seeping across and obscuring his face, as if the surrounding air froze in that moment.


    Shock and disbelief shed across everyone''s faces, but one of them quickly realized, "He''s onto us! Don''t wait, attack!"


    At the leader''smand, six or seven men each grabbed a tool and surged out.


    Without a second thought, Shen Qing shouted, "Xiao Hu, do it!"


    "Ah... Okay..."


    Shen Xiaohu, shooting a person for the first time, was flustered, and his first arrow was way off mark.


    Just as he was about to notch a new arrow, Shen Qing had already fired another.


    The arrow struck an opponent''s shoulder de, throwing him off bnce and to the ground, with blood rapidly soaking his clothes, immobilizing him.


    "Fuck your mother! They are hunters, tough bastards!"


    The scene descended into utter chaos.


    The other side came charging over, cursing.


    Luckily, there was some distance between them, and Shen Qing''s bow and arrow held a great advantage due to his excellent archery skills and precision.


    In just one confrontation, two or three of the opposition were downed.


    Zhang Shuyuan, seeing the situation, quickly crouched andshed the horse''s hindquarters with a whip.


    Neigh!


    The small nag neighed sharply and suddenly sped up.


    Shen Qing''s footing was incredibly stable, unaffected by the motion, and arrows kept flying from his hands.


    Unfortunately,cking experience with shooting from a moving horse, his uracy suffered as the small nag picked up speed.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Shen Qing, relying purely on instinct, fired three arrows before killing one.


    As they drew closer, one furious youth swung a hoe high, aiming to strike down Shen Xiaohu.


    Shen Xiaohu, pale with fright, almost subconsciously released his grip.


    The arrow turned into a sh of light, racing forth.


    It pierced straight through the man''s chest, causing him to drop the hoe slightly off target, missing Shen Xiaohu by an inch behind him, narrowly escaping death.


    If it weren''t for the arrow he had shot just now, there was no doubt that the hoe would have split his head open.


    Shen Xiaohu''s mind went nk in an instant, without further thought, he quickly shot two more arrows.


    At such a short distance, his arrows went right through the man.


    Thest remaining skinny young man, seeing how fierce Shen Qing and hispanions were, had already lost any thought of making a move, and watched helplessly as they disappeared from his sight.


    The surviving skinny young man looked at the messy scene with a gulp of saliva, his heart pounding with residual fear.


    Usually, they pretended to be ordinary people, and when these "fat sheep" got close, they would rx their guard and then strike unexpectedly.


    It had always been foolproof.


    They had done it so many times, and not once had it been like this.


    Before they even started, the other party seemed to have "foreseen" their move, striking them down first in a manner much more decisive than theirs.


    The surviving skinny young man steadied his spirit and went up to check the breath of each of hisrades.


    All dead.


    His expression changed, and without hesitation, he took the money pouches and some valuable items from his brothers'' bodies and quickly ran towards the core area of the shantytown.


    The matter had gotten a bit out of hand, and he must report to Old Ba Zi, asking him to avenge his brothers.


    After emerging from Seven Turns Alley, the shantytown began to thin out, and the roads became much wider.


    Zhang Shuyuan let gopletely, continuously whipping and racing the horse at a breakneck speed.


    After a short while, the three of them had left the Outer City of Taiping County.


    Only after the city walls of the county town were far out of sight did Zhang Shuyuan slow down somewhat.


    "We''re safe now, they won''t be able to catch up," he said.


    Shen Qing put away his longbow and sat cross-legged on the nk cart, showing a hint of relief.


    Seeing that Shen Xiaohu looked a bit pale, he patted his shoulder and said, "What''s the matter, not used to it?"


    Shen Xiaohu nodded vigorously.


    He hadn''t wanted to kill the man at first; he had been confused at the moment and shot several arrows instinctively.


    Shen Xiaohu clearly remembered that his arrows had struck vital spots, and the man was surely dead.


    He had killed someone.


    Shen Qing offered constion, "Killing someone is nothing. The first time is the hardest, the second easier. It''s no different from hunting in the mountains. If you hadn''t killed him, he would have killed you. That''s just the way the world works; don''t overthink it."


    Shen Xiaohu looked up at Shen Qing, who seemed to take it lightly, and couldn''t help feeling envious. He consoled himself by thinking, "My cousin is right. I didn''t really want to kill him. He brought it on himself by running into my arrow. He had iting."


    With that thought, he felt somewhat better inside.


    ...


    Outer City, shantytown area.


    A young man with a crewcut ran in flusteredly and gasped, "Old Ba, not good, the brothers at Seven Turns Alley are all dead."


    "What did you say?" Old Ba Zi, who was sitting in a chair and gnawing on chicken feet, rose abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief, "Say that again!"


    "They''re all dead. The fresh faces we encountered today were tough. Our brothers couldn''t handle them and got wiped out. Only Little Six managed to escape and bring us the news," the crewcut youth exined.


    Old Ba Zi''s face immediately turned very ugly.


    For all the years he had been operating, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.


    Just then, a young man wearing straw sandals walked in and reported, "Old Dog has sent word, the guy we were watching is a rootless hunter."


    As soon as he entered, he saw the crewcut youth with a face full of sweat and asked in surprise, "Hey, what are you doing here? Shouldn''t you be at Seven Turns Alley?"


    The crewcut youth wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "There''s been trouble at Seven Turns Alley. The brothers are all dead."


    "What?" The young man in straw sandals eximed in shock, staring nkly at Old Ba Zi.


    Old Ba Zi slowly sat back down in the chair, the folds on his face gathering into a somewhat fierce expression, "Since he''s a rootless, then I don''t have to worry about any consequences."


    "Let the brothers keep watch. Next time theye to Taiping County, I will personally take action and twist their heads off to hang from the roof beams. They will learn what happens when they cross Old Ba!"

 Chapter 37: Chapter 36: Killing should be enough, right?

    The rugged mountain road winding upwards outside the county town was covered with a thinyer of white snow.


    A seemingly weary nag, exhaling puffs of white breath, pulled an old cart, slowly advancing along the silent mountain road.


    The cartwheels rolled over the snow, emitting a dull creaking noise.


    Along the way, bare branches stretched with a tenacious posture. An asional cold wind passed by, causing the branches to tremble slightly and the snow on the twigs to fall rustlingly.


    "Brother Qingzi, how did you notice them just now?"


    After a moment of selffort, Shen Xiaohu had emerged from the initial guilt of killing someone, feeling much more at ease in his heart.


    Shen Qing nced at Shen Xiaohu and said truthfully, "I wasn''t very sure either, so I shot an arrow in advance to test it."


    "Ah? What if you had killed the wrong person?"


    "If it''s wrong, it''s wrong." Shen Qing had no psychological burden and said softly, "Sometimes, if you''re not ruthless enough, you can''t survive in such a harsh world. Don''t think too much."


    In this world, the death of a person was truly toomon.


    Even in their small vige, idents often urred with people getting eaten clean by wild beasts.


    Not to mention a county town with a poption of one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand, it''s feared that people die every day.


    One more or one less person wouldn''t make any difference at all.


    If Shen Qing didn''t want to be the one missing, then he couldn''t afford to be indecisive.


    Shen Xiaohu fell silent upon hearing this, not objecting.


    Because he knew that what Shen Qing said was the truth, the world was just like this.


    Zhang Shuyuan, who was leading the weary horse, overheard the conversation between the two brothers and chimed in, "You killed them today and avoided a cmity, but it might not be the same next time you enter the town."


    Shen Qing, sensing that Zhang Shuyuan might know something, cupped his hands and asked, "Is there some reasoning behind this? I hope the teacher would be generous with his guidance."


    Zhang Shuyuan, seemingly pleased with Shen Qing''s respect, continued, "These lowly households scraping a living in the Outer City don''t work alone. Today I saw their group had people tailing and others taking action; there definitely must be a leader among them."


    "These people care a lot about loyalty. If one of their brothers encounters trouble, these leaders are bound to step forward to settle things. Otherwise, it would lead to disunity. As long as you go to the county town, you won''t be able to escape."


    "However, the good news is that we live in Hongshan Vige. Those leaders can only take care of their own turf; they can''t reach out that far and have no control over us. As long as you don''t go to the county town, there shouldn''t be a big problem."


    After hearing Zhang Shuyuan''s words, Shen Qing, who was directly involved, furrowed his brow slightly.


    He had just obtained a precious opportunity to learn martial arts at Linfeng Hall''s inner courtyard, an opportunity far too rare to give up easily.


    He was definitely going to the county town.


    "Are these leaders very strong?" Shen Qing asked further.


    "Those who make a living in the Outer City definitely can''tpare to the true martial masters in the Inner City. Most of them are at the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood realm, half a step away from the gate of Martial Arts. They are more than enough to deal with us ordinary folks."


    Great Perfection of Qi and Blood?


    Shen Qing''s brow furrowed slightly again.


    Although his training in the Nine Skills had not yet reached the Great Perfection, he was not too far from it.


    If that''s the case, when the time came, as long as he killed that leader, that should suffice, right?


    Thinking this in his heart, Shen Qing let out a long sigh.


    ...


    Time trickled by.


    By dusk, when the sky was still bright,


    Zhang Shuyuan, relying on his superior driving skills, safely delivered Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu to the vige.


    "I must thank you for your efforts today, sir. Here is yourpensation for the day," Shen Qing took out the money he had prepared earlier and, as agreed, gave two hundred wen to Zhang Shuyuan. Not only that, but he added another twenty wen and said, "You''ve been a great help to me today, sir. Here is an extra twenty wen for your troubles."


    Zhang Shuyuan didn''t count the money in front of Shen Qing. He simply pocketed it and said, "Remember not to forget tomorrow. Come over to continue learning the Thousand Character ssic."


    "All right, I''ll go early tomorrow morning."


    After sending Zhang Shuyuan away, Shen Qing turned to look at the sky, feeling it was still early before dark. He hurried toward his home, tethered the nag, took down the items from the cart, kicked open the dpidated gate, and called out, "Sister, I''m back."


    ...


    At Shen Er''s household.


    Shen Xiaohu, who had returned to the vige with Shen Qing, dashed home as soon as he got off the carriage.


    As soon as he pushed the door open, he shouted, "Grandpa, Grandma, I can study at Linfeng Hall! I can study at Linfeng Hall!"


    The moment Shen Xiaohu burst into the house and saw what was happening inside, his voice caught in his throat and died down.


    Besides his father Shen Er, Tian Xiaohu and Zhang Baqing were also present, seemingly discussing some affairs.


    "Cough, cough..." Uncle Shen Er coughed twice to draw everyone''s attention back and red at Shen Xiaohu, saying, "What''s with all the fuss returning from the county town? Can''t you behave with some decorum? What did you say just now?"


    Shen Xiaohu''s excitement upon entering the house instantly dissipated, and his voice dropped several notches as he honestly said, "Grandpa, the Hall Master of Linfeng Hall said I have decent bone structure, and if I provide seven silver taels, he''s willing to let me study at the outer gate."


    Uncle Shen Er sprang up from his chair, and in disbelief, rushed over to Shen Xiaohu, saying, "You can study at Linfeng Hall?! Is what you''re saying true?"


    He had once wanted his child to study the martial arts and had not spared any effort for this, but learning martial arts was never easy, and he had long ago lost hope.


    Never did he expect it to actually happen, how could he not be thrilled?


    Shen Xiaohu nodded vigorously and said, "Uncle Li Linfeng personally promised, and he''s willing to let me start at the outer gate for three months first."


    "Three months is fine, three months will do," Uncle Shen Er said, examining Shen Xiaohu up and down with satisfaction.


    Tian Xiaohu and Zhang Baqing, who were in the room, exchanged nces before standing up to congratte him, "Congrattions Brother Shen, once your Hu Zi studies martial arts, perhaps he will soon change his martial arts register and be a cut above the rest."


    Uncle Shen Er, rarely so delighted, showed a gratified smile on his deeply wrinkled face, "It''s still early days, still early days."


    Though he said so, Tian Xiaohu and Zhang Baqing could still see the pride on Shen Er''s face.


    With Shen Qing before and Shen Xiaohu after.


    It seems that from now on, Hongshan Vige might well belong to the Shen Family.


    Shen Er patted Shen Xiaohu on the shoulder, saying happily, "How did you manage to enter Linfeng Hall so smoothly this time? I remember they are very strict about taking disciples. You''d better tell your grandpa how you did it?"


    Shen Xiaohu said excitedly, "It''s all thanks to Brother Qingzi. You have no idea how amazing he is. Uncle Li Linfeng tested his bone structure on the spot and directly epted him into the inner sect. When we left, he even gave him a medicine prescription. The gatekeeper said that''s the treatment for a direct disciple."


    Boom!


    As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent.


    Shen Er, Tian Xiaohu, and Zhang Baqing, each of them stood there, dumbfounded.

 Chapter 38: Chapter 37 Never Forget

    The county town, Linfeng Hall, inner sect disciples, direct disciples...


    Each term dropped like a thousand-pound boulder into the center of ake, stirring up waves.


    The most part of their lives had been spent in this rural vige, and martial masters from the county town were like towering figures to them.


    Even an ordinary outer disciple was not someone they could afford to provoke.


    The Chen Family''s eldest son¡ªChen Yuan, at that time, merely by virtue of a Martial Arts manual on cultivating Qi-Blood, was able to call the wind and summon the rain in their vige.


    Not to mention an inner sect disciple, or a direct disciple.


    The Shen Family was likely really going to rise to prosperity.


    Tian Xiaohu and Zhang Baqing couldn''t help swallowing their saliva, and when they looked at Shen Er, their eyes were filled with envy.


    If one were to say who had extended the greatest favors to Shen Qing in Hongshan Vige, it would undoubtedly be Shen Er here.


    As they had observed in recent times, Shen Qing, ever since the death of his parents, hade this far through steps steeped in blood and tears. He was someone who hated evil as if it were his enemy, with a somewhat heavy killing aura.


    But he was also clever, a person who remembered kindness and sought to return it.


    The family of Shen Er was certainly not going to fare badly in the future.


    At this moment, looking at Shen Er''s old face, they inwardly celebrated yet also regretted.


    They rejoiced that in the past, they had not made an enemy of Shen Qing; these days, their interactions with Shen Qing and other Shen Family members were frequent, and they were considered close in this vige.


    Regretting that they hadn''t lent a helping hand when he and his sister were at their lowest.


    Adding flowers to the brocade could neverpare with sending charcoal in snowy weather.


    Setting aside their chaotic thoughts, Tian Xiaohu and Zhang Baqing swiftly regained theirposure and began to show great interest in the experiences that Shen Qing and hispanions had encountered in the county town.


    Urged by them, Shen Xiaohu detailed everything that had happened to the trio in the county town that day.


    After listening, their faces turned to shock one by one.


    "Blood Bird''s Nest, Jade Deer Tendon, and Tiger King''s Penis, these delicacies had not been seen in our vige for many years. Though, if we really looked for them, we might find them. But you''ve offended those people from the Outer City upon returning. They''re tricky to deal with.


    Those folks have nothing but their miserable lives; if they decide to go all out against you, your oue would definitely not be good. What will you do now?"


    Zhang Baqing, who had received Shen Qing''s kindness and had also been to the county town, had a bit of insight and immediately grasped the severity of their problem.


    Caught off guard and like a bucket of cold water poured over him, Shen Er, who was initially on a high, calmed down and also became anxious.


    ...


    Shen Qing, who had just returned home, was unaware that the news of him bing an inner sect disciple of Linfeng Hall had already spread within Hongshan Vige and was known by most people.


    He also did not know that some vigers who were close to him had already be worried about his affairs in the Outer City and were thinking of ways to help.


    Sometimes, indeed, the eunuchs are more anxious than the emperor himself.


    Inside the dpidated hut.


    Shen Qing was busy putting away the things he had bought from the county town.


    After dealing with these chores, he eagerly took out a brand-new flower-patterned cotton-padded jacket and sneakily ced it in front of his elder sister Shen Fang, saying, "Big sister, you''ve always been mending the cotton jacket mother made for you, how can it keep you warm? I went to the county town today and bought you a new one, see if it fits?"


    Shen Fang was busily storing the grains Shen Qing had brought back into the rice bin. Turning her head, she suddenly saw that her little brother had bought her a new garment and was overjoyed.


    She looked like a little girl, sizing up the new cotton jacket from left to right, her almond-shaped eyes curving into crescents.


    After looking for a while, her expression turned stern, and she shoved the clothes back into Shen Qing''s hands, saying against her will, "I don''t like it. Next time you go to the county town, tell the shopkeeper. Say it doesn''t fit and return it. Save the money forter, for you to use when taking a wife."


    Shen Qing saw through his elder sister''s habit right away and forced the new garment onto her, saying, "It''s too much hassle to go back and forth from the county town. By the time I go again, how would the shopkeeper acknowledge the return?"


    Shen Fang bit her lip and stamped her foot. "Then why didn''t you consult me before you went ahead and bought it this morning?"


    "It was a spur-of-the-moment decision," Shen Qing said with a smile. "Besides, my uncle at Linfeng Hall has already agreed that I will be an inner sect disciple there. Once I''ve trained in martial arts, I''ll be able to afford to buy clothes, so sister, please keep it."


    "Alright then," Shen Fang agreed, though she didn''t quite understand the significance of being an inner disciple at Linfeng Hall. All she knew was that her younger brother was bing sessful.


    She carefully put away the new clothes that Shen Qing had given her, folding them neatly and storing them away.


    "Tonight, I bought quite a few things from the county town. Sister, please make a rich meal for us. Let''s, brother and sister, have a good feast," Shen Qing suggested.


    "Sure."


    In the evening, Shen Fang prepared two dishes and a soup, with both meat and vegetables.


    While cooking, she also added plenty of seasonings to satisfy Shen Qing''s appetite.


    The next day, Shen Qing took some silver taels that he had gathered from the Chen Family and sought out Zhang Baqing to settle the ounts with the households.


    He initially thought it would be troublesome but was surprised to find that the process went particrly smoothly.


    Zhang Baqing nearly took over everything, and in less than half a day, he settled everyone''s ounts right in front of Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing had the impression that the vigers were treating him with an unusual amount of respect that day, even showing a kind of fear and favor typical of how one might treat someone of higher status.


    He was somewhat puzzled by this.


    Fortunately, Shen Qing was not the type to dig into every detail, so he didn''t concern himself too much with this subtle change.


    After handling the vige''s financial matters and setting the next time to go into the city, he went straight to Zhang Shuyuan''s house to study and practice calligraphy.


    Five dayster.


    After practicing thest character required for the day, Shen Qing suddenly sensed something and his mind stirred.


    In his vision, a drop of water ink spread out, and segments of water ink characters appeared before his eyes.


    [Skill: To recognize characters and read (Skillfully)]


    [Progress: 203/200 points]


    [Status: Upgradable]


    Without any hesitation, Shen Qing chose "Upgrade".


    The next moment, an unprecedented sense of rity exploded in his mind, making him feel as though he had opened some sort of gateway in the unknown, and his perception of the things around him became much clearer.


    He subconsciously looked at the water ink panel in his line of sight.


    [Skill: To recognize characters and read (Small Sess)]


    [Progress: 3/300 points]


    [Status: Unupgradable]


    [Note: Awakening a new skill, memorize by hearing, never forget.]


    Shen Qing was overjoyed.


    He hadn''t expected that breaking through in this skill would awaken a new one, enabling him to memorize by hearing and never forget.


    This skill might seemmon at first nce, but digging deeper, it was incredibly valuable.


    At the very least, this skill would greatly elerate his progress in recognizing characters and reading.


    A slight smile appeared on the corner of Shen Qing''s mouth as he approached Zhang Shuyuan and said, "Teacher, I wish to learn more of the Thousand Character ssic. Could you teach me another part?"

 Chapter 39: Chapter 38: Ten Days East of the River, Ten Days West of the River

    Sitting in the wry-legged chair, Zhang Shuyuan looked up in surprise, furrowing his brow and said, "In the matter of learning to recognize characters and read, one must understand the principle that too much to chew is tough to digest. Even if I tell you the pronunciation, writing, and meaning of the remaining few hundred characters now, you may not be able to remember them.


    Instead of that, it is better to consolidate what you have learned today, head home early, ande back earlier tomorrow."


    Zhang Shuyuan noticed that Shen Qing was bing a bit anxious.


    After all, he was a young man. Five days in a row had worn down much of his patience, and he could no longer calm his mind, wanting to take shortcuts.


    He had seen many such people.


    But where were there shortcuts in reading and recognizing words?


    The knowledge in his belly was all umted bit by bit.


    It was because of these years of learning that,pared to others, he knew a little more about some principles of how the world works, and his frail body didn''t end up starving to death.


    If learning was that easy, then he would have starved to death long ago.


    Shen Qing heard some didactic tones in Zhang Shuyuan''s words. He smiled slightly and said, "These days, I have learned a total of eighty-four characters. After understanding their meanings, I couldn''t help but marvel at the wonders and vastness of the world, so I''ve been eager to understand the rest of the content.


    It''s purely a desire for knowledge in my heart, and not learning for the sake of learning."


    Zhang Shuyuan''s expression paused.


    He never expected Shen Qing to think like this.


    And those words struck right at his heart.


    Learning was indeed for the pursuit of knowledge, not for the sake of learning.


    In this short phrase, a significant principle was contained.


    Zhang Shuyuan couldn''t help but take a few more looks at Shen Qing.


    This handsome young man was brutal and merciless when killing, but was gentle and noble when learning to read.


    It was hard to imagine twopletely different temperaments in one person.


    Truly a peculiar flower in the deep mountain.


    Since the student wanted to gain knowledge, he certainly had no reason to refuse.


    Zhang Shuyuan coughed and said, "Bring the book here, and I will tell you the rest of the Thousand Character ssic. However, this is not teaching. I will only say it once briefly, and you just need to listen."


    "Much obliged."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing brought over the Thousand Character ssic, already old and yellowed, and ced it in front of Zhang Shuyuan.


    "Sit next to me, and I will teach you one by one," Zhang Shuyuan said, patting the space next to him.


    At that moment, Shen Qing''s heart sank.


    He didn''t know if it was because Zhang Shuyuan''s diet had improved recently, coupled with the poor sanitary conditions, but he had developed serious halitosis and had also taken to farting.


    And it was getting worse day by day.


    Recently, sitting next to him to learn to read had also be a rather painful affair.


    This was also one of the reasons why Shen Qing wanted to finish the Thousand Character ssic as quickly as possible.


    At the very least, after learning the Thousand Character ssic, he wouldn''t need Zhang Shuyuan to teach him by hand, so close up.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath and sat down beside Zhang Shuyuan. The familiar smell hit him immediately.


    At first whiff, the odor was like a fermented substance, carrying a musty undercurrent, and upon a second sniff, it intertwined with a faint sour stench that drilled persistently into his nose.


    Shen Qing''s heart surged with difort and the urge to flee, yet he struggled to maintain a calm appearance.


    "Just look here, I will exin to you sentence by sentence¡­"


    As Zhang Shuyuan spoke, waves of his breath continued to flow out.


    Shen Qing kept his face taut, trying to focus his attention on the Thousand Character ssic.


    With his attention highly concentrated, Shen Qing suddenly realized that the feeling of words going in one ear and out the other was gone.


    Instead, what reced it was a miraculous learning experience.


    ```


    Just by listening and looking once, the content on the paper had all be deeply etched memories in his mind.


    When he recalled them again, it was as if he carried an endless library with him, every detail, every piece of text, every hue was as clear as when he first saw them.


    Is this what it feels like to be a top student?


    It was simply too exhrating!


    This wonderful learning experience gradually made Shen Qing forget that he was in a harsh environment.


    Time flew by quickly.


    In about half an hour, Zhang Shuyuan finally finished exining thest part.


    "This sentence means that one should dress neatly and properly, act with ease, and look far into the future. These principles wouldn''t be understood by someone ignorant and narrow-minded, reduced to living their life in vain like a fool, bing aughingstock. As for the auxiliary words in the ancient texts, they are ''whence'', ''s'', ''indeed'', and ''is''."


    Zhang Shuyuan closed the yellowed book, the Thousand Character ssic and said, "Alright, that''s all the content of the Thousand Character ssic. If you can fully learn the Thousand Character ssic, in the future you will know the meaning of most books you read."


    "Thank you for the instruction, Teacher."


    Shen Qing closed his eyes and recalled for a moment, and with his "Never Forget" ability, he realized he had remembered the entire Thousand Character ssic.


    Combined with the knowledge and cognitive ability from his previous life, he understood the meaning of all the characters as well.


    This ability is truly useful.


    Shen Qing opened his eyes, a look of joy crossing his face.


    He nced at the sky through the window and stood up, saying, "It''s gettingte, I should go back. I''ll disturb you again, Teacher, when I have timeter."


    Zhang Shuyuan was slightly puzzled.


    During the past five days, every time Shen Qing left, he had said he woulde back the next day, but this time he mentioneding back when he had timeter.


    It sounded as if he had already learned everything and might not return.


    There was a subtle difference.


    Zhang Shuyuan thought he was possibly overthinking it.


    The Thousand Character ssic, with more than a thousand characters, would normally take at least a year or two to memorize. How could it be easy?


    It must just be Shen Qing''s way of speaking.


    Zhang Shuyuan waved his hand nonchntly, with no intention of keeping him any longer.


    Upon leaving Zhang Family''s home, Shen Qing couldn''t help but take a deep breath, feeling as if his entire body had be rxed, as though ayer of shackles had been lifted from him.


    He didn''t linger at the doorway but went straight home.


    Now, his Qi-Blood was vigorous throughout his body, and even in his thin cotton clothes with bare hands exposed, he didn''t feel cold.


    "Qingzi, been learning to read at the bookworm''s ce again? When are you free toe over to my ce? I''ll ask Auntie to cook you some mutton."


    On the way, he came across a n uncle from the same lineage, who greeted him enthusiastically.


    "No thank you, Uncle Seven, I should head back early. My sister has already prepared food at home," Shen Qing replied with a smile, politely declining.


    However, after only a few steps, a stout woman in the vige stuffed a wild rabbit into his hands: "Qingzi, this wild rabbit was caught by your nephew from the Zhang Family. He insisted on giving it to you; you take it."


    Before Shen Qing could refuse, the woman turned and walked away as if fleeing, as though she was worried he would not ept it.


    Witnessing this scene, Shen Qing couldn''t help butugh: "When I was in dire straits, everyone avoided me like a gue. Now the tables have turned, such is the fickleness of the world..."


    He shook his head, continually epting the kindness of his neighbors as he made his way home.


    All the vigers he met on the way were huddled in their sleeves, with their necks shrunken, aplete contrast to his ownfortable demeanor.


    This was the difference between someone who practiced Martial Arts and someone who didn''t.


    Shen Qing gave the wild rabbit to Shen Fang, then eagerly took out the "Nine Skills" booklet he had snatched from Chen An and turned to the first page.


    ```

 Chapter 40: Chapter 39: Cultivate Both Internal and External, Harmonize Qi-Blood

    Shen Qing came to understand that the martial arts practiced within the county city could almost be categorized into three levels: upper, middle, and lower.


    The lowest level martial arts were like the "Nine Skills," which could only nourish and train Qi and Blood.


    This kind of martial arts, aside from cultivating Qi-Blood, had no other forms ofbat, training methods, or killing techniques.


    It can only be described as the most fundamental of the fundamentals in martial arts.


    Even so, this martial art was still stronger than those inferior bluffs that were not considered orthodox.


    As long as one cultivated enough Qi-Blood, reaching the realm of Great Perfection, even those with a frail physique could knock down four or five strong men with a single punch.


    If it were not for this kind of power, martial arts would not be so valuable, and the court would not have such strict requirements for them.


    What those high above all feared most was that someone in the region would take up arms to assert their status and act against the prohibitions with martial prowess.


    For this reason, the court added arge amount of secret codes and hiddennguage to the martial arts disseminated to the public, increasing the cost of learning martial arts.


    Without a proper lineage, one simply cannot even begin the path to Entry Level.


    Shen Qing was fortunate enough to have the "Nine Skills" manual, which was low level enough and mostly consisted of diagrams; the textualponent wasn''t extensive, which allowed him to find an opportunity and enter the threshold of martial training.


    Otherwise, even with his Water Ink Panel, he might not have been sessful inmencing his training and achieving results.


    Now that he had mastered the Thousand Character ssic,bined with his previous knowledge, he no longer faced any reading difficulties.


    When he returned home, Shen Qing immediately started studying the "Nine Skills" manual without dy.


    Turning to the first page, he found an introduction to the Nine Skills.


    After reading it, Shen Qing learned that this martial art was called Nine Skills because itbined nine types of stance training for nourishing Qi and Blood, making it aption of the nine major stances, hence the name.


    Each stance documented here was the most effective stance practice verified through various practices within the major martial arts, and it was the best starting point for nourishing and training Qi and Blood.


    The nine stances progressed from one to nine, each one increasing in difficulty, and the more difficult the stance, the better the effect it had on nourishing Qi and Blood.


    Generally speaking, mastering the first four or five stances, or even just practicing one of them diligently, could lead to the realm of Great Perfection of Qi and Blood.


    As for how many stances to ultimately practice, it depended on the preferences of the practitioner.


    Initially, he thought the album was oneplete Training Method, so he practiced the first four stances indiscriminately, and even dabbled a bit in thetter five.


    Looking back now, he realized he had chosen the most difficult path.


    But that was not a big concern.


    The nine major stances within the Nine Skills all focused on nourishing and training Qi and Blood and were not in conflict with one another; they simply utilized different approaches.


    Ultimately, they all led to the same destination.


    As Shen Qing continued to read, the Nine Skills manual provided a description of Qi-Blood, which instantly opened up his thinking for cultivation.


    The so-called Qi-Blood did not refer to Qi and blood separately, but meant that the blood was perceived as Qi flowing through the body.


    The flow of blood within the human body is very subtle.


    It is only intermittently, in moments of stillness, that one might hear the throbbing of the pulse or be aware of the temple''s beating.


    this made it difficult to summon one''s full strength.


    The purpose of stance training was to detect this flow of blood as one would Qi, taking control of it, directing it wherever wanted.


    The warm current that Shen Qing experienced during his training was the detection of the flow of blood.


    Yet just sensing it was not enough.


    Nourishing and training Qi and Blood.


    Before training, there needs to be nourishment.


    Everyone has different quantities of blood and varying qualities of blood, all of which can be nourished and improved through medications and food supplements.


    In the process of nourishing while training, both internal and external cultivationbine to make a person look radiant and full of vigor.


    When a certain level is reached, and the body''s essence blood reaches the physical limit, merging the Qi-Blood with the intent in one''s mind, then one can cultivate Qi, reaching a new realm.


    Nine Skills, this process is referred to as¡ªcultivating both internally and externally, harmonizing Qi and blood.


    Shen Qing read through the content one by one and directly garnered a lot.


    No wonder that while cultivating now, he only felt that there was a breath he couldn''t summon, and the progress of his cultivation had slowed down considerably. He felt that something was missing.


    It turned out that he wascking the process of nourishing blood.


    In these past days, he had only relied on consuming flesh and blood, which was no longer keeping up with the refinement of Qi and blood within his body.


    Shen Qing secretly felt fortunate about his decision to recognize characters and read. If he hadn''t understood these things, he feared he might have taken a wrong path.


    He cleared his mind and continued reading.


    The remainder was all about the techniques and key points of various stance training practices.


    It involved quite a few codes, such as "running dragon," "An Xue," "Chong Tian Jiao," and other cryptic terms.


    Shen Qing had already mastered them in the course of his training.


    After reading the entire "Nine Skills" from beginning to end, he closed the booklet, still not fully satisfied.


    All in all, the Nine Skills Martial Arts seemed easy to learn but hard to master; achieving Great Perfection would be very difficult.


    At this time, Shen Qing suddenly remembered the medicine that Li Linfeng had given him on that day. ording to what A Fu said, that medicine was quite precious, likely used for nourishing and training Qi and Blood.


    He hadn''t taken it lightly upon receiving it.


    Now, having read the Nine Skills and understanding some of the keys to nourishing and training Qi and Blood, he decided to give it a try immediately.


    Shen Qing set aside the Martial Arts booklet and took out the medicine that Li Linfeng had given him, found an elixir pot, and started decocting it.


    Just as Shen Fang, who was bustling about in the kitchen, saw Shen Qing preparing to make the medicine, she hurried over and volunteered to take over, shooing him out of the kitchen.


    Shen Qing shook his head helplessly and ran to the doorway, focusing on practicing his stance training.


    Time quickly passed by.


    By nightfall, Shen Fang had already prepared the medicine and brought it to the table, "Qingzi, the medicine is ready, it has been cooled down, you should drink it early, so it doesn''t get cold."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing finished his practice and exhaled a breath of stale air, responding, "Okay, I got it."


    He walked back into the room, picked up the bowl of medicine soup from the table, and took a nce.


    The medicine soup was a deep brown color, with fine herbal residues floating on the surface, emitting a strong andplex smell.


    Mixed with the richness of ginseng and deer antler and other unknown medicinal fragrances, it direct hit his nostrils.


    Shen Qing didn''t hesitate at all and gulped it down. As soon as the medicine soup entered his mouth, it immediately filled him with bitterness, causing the muscles on his face to involuntarily twitch.


    It was damn terrible tasting.


    While Shen Qing was still enduring the bitterness, a strong medicinal power suddenly transformed into waves of warmth, instantaneously flowing from his belly to the Four Meridians and Eight Vessels.


    The muscle soreness and weakness caused by the prior cultivation were greatly alleviated in an instant.


    Not only that, momentster, the surplus medicinal power surged into his Dantian.


    Shen Qing felt his body heat up, his Qi and blood surged, and the originally gentle warm current grew slightly stronger.


    As expected, it was a powerful tonic, with immediate effects.


    No wonder A Fu said this kind of essence was expensive.


    Shen Qing went into the kitchen and said to Shen Fang, "Sis, you didn''t throw away the dregs, did you?"


    "Not yet, what''s up?"


    "Add some water and boil it again, then make those dregs into medicine cakes for me."


    Such good medicine might note by again any time soon, and Shen Qing wasn''t about to waste it.


    Martial Arts are so profound.


    He wanted topletely refine his Qi and Blood to Great Perfection as soon as possible and head to the county town.

 Chapter 41: Chapter 40 Breakthrough in Hunting Skills

    Taiping County, Outer City, Slums.


    "Lord Ba, spare my life, Lord Ba, please spare my life," a young man covered in blood knelt on the ground and repeatedly begged for mercy.


    "Spare your life? Do you even realize what you''ve done recently?" Old Ba Zi sneered coldly.


    "I, I, I¡­ I don''t know¡­" The young man was so panicked that he broke into a heavy sweat, his face twisted in a grimace worse than tears: "Recently, the game from the mountains has been scarce, so I became a woodcutter for a while, selling some firewood for a bit of food..."


    As if remembering something, the young man hastily added, "I didn''t know that was Lord Ba''s firewood. I deserve to die, I deserve to die."


    As he spoke, he pped his own face twice with a loud smack and then quickly pulled out a washed-white money pouch from his chest, fawning with a smile: "This is the money I earned from chopping wood, all in here. Lord Ba, please show mercy, let me go as if I were a fart, I swear I won''t dare to do it again."


    Old Ba Zi pped away the money pouch in the young man''s hand, throwing it on the ground: "Who wants your trash?"


    Old Ba Zi grabbed the young man''s cor, violently pulled him close, and asked in a chilling voice, "Who did you sell the Blood Bird''s Nest you got yesterday to?"


    Hearing the words "Blood Bird''s Nest", the young man''s face paled, he then put on a forced smile and feigned ignorance, "Lord Ba, you must be joking. The Blood Bird''s Nest is a mountain delicacy. I don''t have such a thing."


    Old Ba Zi narrowed his eyes and said, "Still ying dumb with me at this point?"


    He grabbed the young man''s wrist and activated his Qi-Blood, causing the veins on his arm to bulge and the muscles to tense up like tumorous lumps.


    "Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit, don''t me me for being impolite."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Old Ba Zi exerted force on his wrist and squeezed fiercely.


    "Ah!"


    A piercing scream erupted from the young man''s throat.


    Hisplexion turned deathly pale in an instant, his features knotted together in agony, his body convulsing uncontrobly.


    Looking down, the young man saw his left wrist twisted into a twisted shape,pletely destroyed.


    "Mercy, mercy¡­"


    The young man knelt on the ground, begging for life, his breathing suddenly bing extremelybored.


    "Have you thought of anything now?"


    Old Ba Zi released his grip, and the young man''s broken wrist drooped limply, the fingers on it twitching feebly.


    The young man gasped for cold air, a look of despair and terror appearing on his face, realizing he couldn''t escape today''s fate.


    Still, he gritted his teeth and said in pain, "I... really don''t have it..."


    However, before he could finish his sentence, Old Ba Zi had already grabbed his right hand, sneering, "You''d better think carefully before you speak."


    The young man shuddered violently as he stammered out, "I... I''ll tell you, I sold the Blood Bird''s Nest to Wang Ma."


    "You should have said so earlier." Old Ba Zi released his hand and patted him on the chest, "If you had spoken sooner, you wouldn''t have had to suffer like this."


    "Then... Lord Ba... may I leave now?"


    "Of course, you can, I wasn''t stopping you," said Old Ba Zi as he stepped slightly aside.


    "Thank you, Lord Ba, thank you, Lord Ba," the young man expressed his gratitude like someone who had survived a great disaster, hastily fleeing the ce.


    However, after only two steps, the sinister voice of Old Ba Zi came floating over, "But everyone in West City knows that Wang Ma and I are at odds; giving him the Blood Bird''s Nest, are you trying to defy me?"


    "Ah?"


    The young man turned in horror, looking back in confusion.


    Bang!


    A crisp sound of bones breaking echoed.


    His spine was smashed by a p from Old Ba Zi.


    The young man''s eyes bulged as his body copsed powerlessly, lifeless.


    Old Ba Zi snorted coldly and called out, "Little Six."


    "Lord Ba!"


    A teenager rushed in from outside, nced indifferently at the corpse on the ground, and then withdrew his gaze, saying, "What did you want to see me for?"


    "Clean this ce up, then go call some people; we are going to settle ounts with Wang Ma. Damn it, getting hold of a ''Nine Skills'' book, reaching Great Perfection of Qi-Blood, and thinking oneself invincible in this world, he even dared to reach out to us."


    "Alright," Little Six swiftly agreed.


    Just as he was about to leave, he was stopped by Old Ba Zi again, "Hold on, any news from Old Three about that guy who killed so many of our brothers a few days ago?"


    "Not yet, the brothers from the Outer City haven''te across him; he must not havee into town yet."


    "What about his background?"


    "The brothers in the city saw him heading to Wanfeng Building, but other than that, Old Three hasn''t found anything. He''s likely a local huntering into town for the first time."


    Old Ba Zi puffed up his chest and said viciously, "A mere vige hunter dares toy hands on us, they don''t regard us at all, it''s outrageous. Tell the brothers, I, Old Ba, have always practiced vengeance for grievances; let them be at ease. Just give me a little more time, I''ll definitely take revenge for the brothers."


    "The brothers all know the kind of person you are, Lord Ba, but there are someints privately, though most still support you," Little Six said.


    Many days have passed, and Old Ba hasn''t shown any sign of taking action for revenge, so it''s inevitable that there were some whispers and rumors among the people beneath him.


    Old Ba knew someone was coveting his position, secretly inciting trouble, looking for an opportunity to rece him.


    This being a matter of his future, he had to take it seriously.


    ¡­


    In the woods.


    "Crack!"


    A goat was caught in a trap, struggling furiously.


    "Got one!"


    Not far from the trap, Shen Qing in a gray robe with a split skirt emerged from the forest, approaching skillfully.


    He moved cautiously to avoid provoking even more relentless resistance from the goat.


    By the time he reached in front of the goat, he held a reinforced rope in one hand and swiftly brought out a resilient vine with the other, skillfully tying up the goat firmly, with neat and clean movements.


    The goat, now securely tied, gradually reduced its struggles, staring at Shen Qing with grievous eyes, asionally letting out stubborn snorts.


    "Goat, goat, don''t me me, you were born to be part of a dish. Go early this year,e back early next year."


    Shen Qing patted the goat''s head, seemingly in a good mood.


    "The progress of my hunting skills feels like it''s about enough for today."


    A gleam of light shed in Shen Qing''s eyes.


    In his vision, segments of calligraphy slowly emerged through the misty ink.


    [Skill: Hunting (Small Sess)]


    [Progress: 202/200 points]


    [Status: Upgradeable]


    [Note: Continuous practice can achieve aprehensive breakthrough. There''s a certain probability that some techniques in hunting will be transformed.]


    That''s enough.


    Shen Qing willed, "Upgrade!"


    Suddenly, a flurry ofplex memories surged into his mind, and a wild aura rapidly emanated from his body.


    His muscles underwent subtle movements, as if after endless tempering, the lines of his muscles became smoother and stronger,


    [Skill: Hunting (Mastery)]


    [Progress: 2/300 points]


    [Status: Not Upgradeable]


    [Note: The continuous breakthrough of hunting skills has transformed the Baiting and Concealment skills; awakening new skills: Skillful Baiting, Poison Shadow. Using these skills, one can greatly increase the sess rate of hunting.]

 Chapter 42: Chapter 41: Great Perfection of Qi and Blood (Request for Follow-up Reading)

    "Skillful Baiting, Poison Shadow? Can greatly increase the sess rate of hunting?"


    Shen Qing gazed at the scriptural exnation, lost in thought, then a surge of indescribable joy bubbled up in his heart.


    As the name suggests, this skill is an upgraded version of baiting and tracking.


    These two skills appear simple, but in reality, they are among the most demanding hunting skills, requiring intense hunter power.


    Usually, without ten or fifteen years of pondering, it is impossible to grasp the essence, leading only to a clumsy understanding.


    Shen Qing was surprised that he could master it directly.


    Now with this skill, he could either use baits or poison powder to overturn his prey or approach them silently, undetected.


    If he encountered cunning and agile prey such as foxes or minks in the future, he wouldn''t miss his shot.


    Perhaps even those rare mountain delicacies wouldn''t pose a problem.


    With nothing else to do, he secretly tried it out and found that whether arranging baits or stealthily taking down prey, he was doing it seamlessly, his skill was unnaturally seasoned.


    Prey without spiritual wisdom would hardly notice any human traces.


    Shen Qing''s mood was greatly uplifted.


    After several trials, Shen Qing gradually got the hang of the changes and felt reassured.


    Then, carrying the goat that was no longer struggling, his figure slowly vanished into the forest, leaving behind a trail of deep footprints in the snow.


    When he reached a three-way fork in the road, he stopped and stood still.


    Soon, two fairlyrge figures emerged from the forest.


    It was Shanwa and Hu Zi.


    Seeing the goat Shen Qing was carrying, their eyes lit up, "Brother Qingzi, we actually caught one, yeah!"


    "When have you evere back empty-handed with me on the mountain?" Shen Qing said with a smile.


    Unlike before, his prestige in the vige was now akin to being at its peak, with many people wanting to join groups with him to hunt on the mountain.


    But he noticed their intentions, recognizing they wanted to do him a favor by currying favor with him.


    All in all, it felt strange to him, as everyone seemed to have their own motives.


    To silence others, during this period every time he went hunting on the mountain, he deliberately took his cousins Shen Xiaohu and Shen Xiaoshan with him.


    This not only trained their hunting skills but also helped alleviate some of the burdens on their uncle and aunt''s family.


    It was a win-win situation.


    "Brother Qingzi, if this continues, I''m afraid the game in this mountain will be depleted by you, leaving nothing left to hunt."


    "You really worry too much. Our vige has been living at the foot of this Shicheng Mountain for many years now. Have you ever seen it hunted clean? As long as we take care after spring, making sure not to drain the resources, it shouldn''t be a problem."


    Shen Qing lifted his foot, "Let''s go, time to head back."


    The two cousins, each holding a sandalwood bow, followed behind Shen Qing, heading towards Hongshan Vige at the foot of the mountain.


    Along the way, Shen Xiaoshan suddenly asked, "Brother Qingzi, can I still join a Martial Arts Hall to practice martial arts?"


    "It might be difficult."


    Shen Qing knew his uncle''s family wasn''t very wealthy; it was already hard for them to support one person in a Martial Arts Hall, not to mention another.


    Now that Shen Xiaohu was fortunate enough to join Linfeng Hall, there was no chance for Shen Xiaoshan anymore.


    Shen Xiaoshan, knowing this might be the answer, reluctantly asked again only to face the same result, looking somewhat downcast.


    "Do you really want to learn?" Shen Qing asked, turning back.


    Shen Xiaoshan quickly replied without hesitation, "Yes!"


    "Then when I have time, I''ll teach you some stance training for nourishing and training Qi and Blood," Shen Qing said as he walked through the forest, "Initially going to a Martial Arts Hall involves nourishing and training Qi and Blood, you can practice just the same at home.


    Once you''ve developed your Qi and Blood and your uncle''s family is in a better position, going to a Martial Arts Hall won''t hold you back."


    Upon hearing Shen Qing''s words, Shen Xiaoshan''s face glowed with sudden happiness.


    "Thanks, Brother Qingzi. That goat must be heavy, let me help you carry it for a while."


    "No need, no need..."


    The three brothers frolicked as they walked toward Hongshan Vige at the foot of the mountain.


    The setting sun poured down like molten gold, covering the snowy forests of the mountain, as well as the three Shen Qing, bathing them in ayer of golden light.


    In the distance at the mountain''s foot, blue smoke from cooking rose gently from the vige houses, drifting slowly in the evening breeze like a light veil.


    It was a time of peace and tranquility.


    ...


    Four dayster.


    Shen Qing had consumed all the medicine Li Linfeng had given him, including some tonics he had previously scavenged from the Chen Family, leaving none behind.


    He secretly calcted that the cost of the medicine he had consumed was no less than five or six taels.


    Enough to cover the expenses of an ordinary family for nearly half a year.


    It is said that poverty breeds schrs and wealth breeds warriors.


    He had indeed gained some insight.


    But you get what you pay for.


    In recent days, after taking these tonics, Shen Qing''s progress in stance training and nourishing and training Qi and Blood surged as if he had activated a cheat code, increasing at least twice as fast as before.


    In less than ten days, he had once again met the conditions for a breakthrough.


    [Skill: Nine Skills (the level of mastery)]


    [Progress: 306/300 points]


    [Status: Can be elevated]


    Shen Qing licked his dry lips.


    If he were to break through to the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, he would undeniably be stronger than now.


    By then, he should be able to deal with one or two local tyrants of the Outer City.


    In the candlelit room, as the light flickered eerily, it illuminated Shen Qing''s resolute face. He hesitated no longer, "Break through for me!"


    Boom!


    Shen Qing felt a muffled sound, and the Qi and Blood within his body seemed to boil suddenly.


    Underneath his skin, the veins resembled ignited fuse, circting a fiery glow, and the sensation of Qi and Blood reached an unprecedented intensity.


    An invisible force erupted from Shen Qing''s Dantian, like a volcanic eruption, transforming into waves of warmth, flushing every inch of his body.


    As this warm flow washed over him, momentster, a slight yet soul-shaking crack was heard, causing Shen Qing''s eyes to suddenly open wide, shooting out beams of intense light, brightening the dim room momentarily.


    Never having seen such a phenomenon before, Shen Qing was momentarily astounded.


    As time slowly passed and all signs of the breakthrough had subsided, Shen Qing began to carefully sense the changes in his body.


    To his amazement, he discovered that the warm flow inside him had grown even thicker, almost twice its original size.


    It moved with his thoughts, continuously circting within his body.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, his energy boundless, feeling better than he ever had before.


    So this is what the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood feels like.


    With a thought from Shen Qing, the description of the Nine Skills appeared before his eyes.


    [Skill: Nine Skills (the Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 6/400 points]


    [Status: Cannot be elevated]


    [Note: As Heaven''s movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive to strengthen himself. Continuously practicing and advancing in this cultivation technique can help break limits of this skill.]

 Chapter 43: Chapter 42 Good news, Old Ba Zi is injured

    "Break limit?"


    Shen Qing looked at the water ink characters in his sight, showing a faint look of bewilderment.


    As far as he knew, the Martial Arts of the Nine Skills could essentially only be cultivated to the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood.


    Once reaching this step, the Qi-Blood within one''s body had already reached the physical limit it could endure, and no matter how much more one cultivated, it would not increase the Qi-Blood or produce any power.


    It was like a cup filled with water; if you kept adding water, it would overflow, but the total amount of water contained would not change.


    At this moment, the Water Ink Panel suddenly reminded him that the Nine Skills had a Limit Breaking Technique, which somewhat overturned the understanding of Martial Arts he had just established.


    In fact, through continuous exploration over these days, Shen Qing had already discovered the pattern of the Water Ink Panel.


    Generally speaking, as long as he had reached Entry Level in a skill, the Water Ink Panel would incorporate it.


    After being incorporated into the Panel, each time he practiced, he could continuously improve his Progress, deepening hisprehension.


    Upon reaching a bottleneck, he could subjectively Break Limit, integrating all the details he had practiced, and sometimes this would even bring about changes in some innate talents and skills.


    Just like learning to recognize characters and read, practicing every day would deepen one''s wisdom andprehension, and then when quantitative change caused qualitative change, one would break through.


    He also unexpectedly awakened the skill Never Forget.


    Currently, the various skills in the Water Ink Panel can be basically divided into several levels: "Entry Level," "Skillfully," "Small Sess," "Great Sess," and "Great Perfection."


    He had never encountered such a concept as breaking limits before.


    "However, this is not a bad thing. Having reached the realm of Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, I already possess Half Bull Strength. If I continue to break through and reach the Break Limit, my overall strength should further improve. Undoubtedly, I will be stronger than others who are also at the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood."


    A few threads of excitementced through Shen Qing''s eyes.


    "Since that''s the case, I shouldn''t ck off; I should practice with unwavering diligence."


    Shen Qing stood on the ground with his legs apart, steady as a rock.


    He slowly raised his hands, palms facing upwards, his breathposed around him as he began to guide and cultivate the Qi-Blood within his body.


    In the blink of an eye, three days passed.


    After learning that the Nine Skills could be limit broken, Shen Qing devoted most of his energy to cultivating this Martial Art every day.


    Through arduous cultivation, Shen Qing advanced the progress of the Nine Skills a bit further.


    At this time, there was no obvious change in the Qi-Blood within his body.


    But with consecutive cultivation of the Nine Skills, Shen Qing vaguely felt that he had be more robust, his muscles seemed fuller and filled with strength, and his mental status improved even more.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but anticipate what it would be like after breaking the limit of the Nine Skills.


    After ending three days of cultivation, he walked outside his house.


    After many days without snow, Hongshan Vige was bathed in radiant sunshine, all things basking in the glittering light.


    The snow in the vige had already melted, only the thick snow on the mountains remained.


    Counting the days, it was time to go to the county town.


    Now, having reached the realm of Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, his strength far surpassed that of ordinary people, and even if he passed through the shanty areas of the Outer City, he had the capability to protect himself.


    As he was thinking this, Tian Xiaohu came running over with a beaming face and called out, "Qingzi, Qingzi, there''s good news."


    With a puzzled face, Shen Qing walked out and asked in surprise, "What good news?"


    "One of my friends went to the county town yesterday," Tian Xiaohu said with augh. "He told me that Old Ba Zi was injured."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing''s brows furrowed slightly, a hint of confusion on his face, "Who is Old Ba Zi?"


    Tian Xiaohu pped his thigh and said, "Didn''t you kill quite a few people when you left the cityst time? I''ve looked into it, and those men were all under Old Ba Zi."


    A look of surprise briefly crossed Shen Qing''s face, followed by sudden realization.


    He hadn''t expected that Tian Xiaohu had been secretly gathering this information for him these past days, which took him quite by surprise.


    "What happened? Tell me more about it."


    "Right after you came backst time, Xiao Hu told us all about what happened on the road. I was thinking you''d have to go back to the city sooner orter, so I helped you keep an eye on the affairs of the Outer City. It''s only in the past few days that I''vee to understand some of it."


    "I''ve heard from a friend that Old Ba Zi got into a fierce fight with Wang Mazi a few days back, apparently vying for territory in the West City area. They killed quite a number of people. Old Ba Zi was also severely injured and hasn''t shown up for many days. You should be fine going into the county city for the time being."


    "So that''s the story." Shen Qing nodded earnestly, "Thank you for that. Without your mentioning it, I wouldn''t have known about these behind-the-scenes happenings."


    "My life was saved by you. If it weren''t for you, I might have been killed by Chen Yuan, this is no big deal," Tian Xiaohu waved his hand and continued, "Besides, you offered a fair pricest time; everyone still wants to sell mountain goods to you and keeps asking when you will go to the county. Helping you is helping everyone."


    "The regard of everyone is truly humbling," Shen Qing reflected for a moment, then continued, "I''ll let everyone know, I''m headed to the county tomorrow."


    "Then I''ll go and talk to Zhang Baziter; he''s the one who''s best at this. Just like before, tomorrow, I''ll have everyone bring their goods directly to you."


    "That works, sorry to trouble you to make the trip."


    "A trivial matter. I''ll head back now."


    After seeing Tian Xiaohu off, Shen Qing returned to the room and gazed at the bow and arrows hanging on the wall. A sharp glint shed in his eyes, and his expression was as calm as water.


    From killing the Chen Family Brothers to wiping out Chen Yuan''s family, and then those lowlifes in the Outer City...


    He had been a bit inexperienced at the beginning, but with each kill, he became more ustomed and adapted to it.


    Old Ba Zi needed to be killed.


    If he didn''t kill him, ording to what Zhang Shuyuan said, once Old Ba Zi recovered from his injuries, there might be conflicts anytime he entered the city.


    Open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are difficult to guard against.


    It''s uncertain whether Old Ba Zi had backers.


    "I am the only one capable of fighting here. If the other side has backing and sends a martial master, I''m afraid I won''t be able to handle it."


    If he wanted to continue his trade in mountain goods, Old Ba Zi had to be killed¡ªthere was no other way!


    Better to strike on the chosen day than to wait for the perfect one.


    Tomorrow, I will act!


    For the sake of caution, Shen Qing took out the poison powder he had gotten from the Chen Family Brothers and fetched a dagger as well, nning to take them with him when he left for the city the next day.


    The night passed without incident.


    The next morning, as dawn broke, many vigers had already registered their mountain goods under Zhang Baqing''s arrangements.


    By the time Shen Qing came out, the goods were already being loaded onto carts.


    Shen Qing had no money on hand and needed to buy on credit, but the vigers seemed to trust him implicitly and hardly questioned it.


    The pettiness from before had vanished without a trace, which filled Shen Qing with emotion.


    It wasn''t long before all the mountain goods in the vige were properly organized.


    Considering Shen Xiaohu''s youth andck of experience, plus the potential need for martial arts training, Shen Qing also called upon Tian Xiaohu to go with him to Taiping County, having an extra hand for help along the way.


    Tian Xiaohu dly agreed, sorted out his family affairs, and followed suit.

 Chapter 44: Chapter 43: Wang Mazi, may you meet a bad end!

    By now, the winter season had passed by more than half.


    Before long, as the weather warmed, the government officials of Taiping County would start making excuses to supervise the springtime hunting ban in every vige and stronghold.


    Once the hunting ban began, the mountains would be off-limits.


    So taking advantage of the period before the ban, vigers who were hunters put all their energy into hunting in the mountains.


    As a result, this time the mountain goods piled on Shen Qing''s cart were more than double the previous load.


    The winter morning sun pierced through the thin mist, slowly illuminating the endless stretch of green mountains.


    The snow-d peaks gradually revealed patches of greenery under the caress of the morning light.


    The golden radiance fell on the faces of Shen Qing and the others, making them feel warm andfortable.


    Seeing that Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu were feigning sleep to rest, and with nothing else to do, Shen Qing checked the items he carried on his person.


    A bow, fifteen arrows, a bag of poison powder, and a dagger, four items in total.


    His most familiar weapon now was the bow and arrows, but although useful, they could only be employed against distant foes.


    Should hee to closebat with an adversary, their effectiveness would be greatly reduced.


    Moreover, for someone at the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, ordinary bows and arrows were of little use.


    After all, the power of the arrows ultimately depended on the bow.


    The Elm Wood Bow was good, but its strength was limited, at most two shi, approximately a hundred kilograms.


    The one he had used for a long time had diminished in power, probably below two shi.


    "After reaching the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, I can mobilize my Qi-Blood to increase the toughness of my muscles; such a bow can no longer shoot through me. If I were to go and kill Old Ba, the bow and arrows would not be a good choice."


    "Therefore, the best approach would be to use poison and assassination."


    Shen Qing sat on the cart, listening to the chirping of the birds in the surrounding woods, silently weighing his options.


    From Hongshan Vige to Taiping County, there was a distance of fifty to sixty li. After the snow melted, the mountain roads became muddy and difficult to traverse.


    It took Shen Qing nearly half an hour to make just half the journey.


    By that time, more and more carts began to appear on the road.


    Upon closer inspection, it was evident that various carts, big and small, were loaded with more or less mountain goods, all making their way to the county.


    There were even some carts carrying boys and girls; some had red-rimmed eyes, clearly having just cried.


    If Shen Qing wasn''t mistaken, these were likely brokers involved in human trafficking.


    Every winter, many families couldn''t make ends meet and were reduced to selling their children.


    These kids were destined for sale to wealthy households.


    His own younger aunt was sold off in this way.


    After a while, two fine horses suddenly charged forward.


    Shen Qing quickly steered his cart to the side and looked intently at the approaching horses.


    The two horses had glossy coats and were plump and strong, clearly of excellent breed, and the two riders atop them were no ordinary people.


    They wore iron armor and sat erect on their steeds, with swords hanging at their waists and eyes as sharp as eagles, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.


    They were the government officers from the Guardian Martial Department of the county government!


    Apanied by a crisp whip crack, the horses'' hooves thundered, and two strong gusts of wind blew past with incredible speed as they dashed by their sides.


    Shen Qing and the others couldn''t help but watch those two figures until theypletely disappeared from view.


    After the two government officers had left, Shen Qing gradually began to hear the murmurs of the surrounding people.


    "I heard that traces of the Huang Tian Sect bandits were found outside the county town, and many from the Guardian Martial Department were dispatched to conduct searches."


    "There are people from the Huang Tian Sect in Taiping County too?"


    "Hard to say. Recently the Huang Tian Sect attacked Jinzhou, and the court''s several expeditions have been fruitless, with the bandits only growing in number. The Huang Tian Sect''s momentum is getting bigger. If this continues, it won''t be long before it affects the county town."


    "Taiping County is an important stronghold outside the county town, strategically located and hard to ess. If the Huang Tian Sect were to attack the county town, Taiping County would likely bear the brunt. There are signs that the county government''s Military Department is expanding recruitment, and many martial masters have already been drafted as officers."


    "Then I''ll let my fellow sect members know to avoid any involvement with the Guardian Martial Department at all costs. The Huang Tian Sect is not to be trifled with."


    The discussion of the crowd gradually faded away until it was no longer audible.


    Shen Qing, sitting on the cart, became increasingly silent.


    All this talk of the Huang Tian Sect, Jinzhou, and the court, he couldn''t understand.


    All he knew was that chaos seemed imminent.


    What a wretched world!


    "Drive!"


    Shen Qing cracked his whip and urged the tired horse into a jog.


    An hourter.


    Shen Qing and the others arrived at the Outer City of Taiping County.


    "We''re about to enter the slum area,ds. Stay sharp and keep an eye on the merchandise. I''ve got to relieve myself, wait here for me."


    Shen Qing leaped down from the cart, threw the reins to Tian Xiaohu, and headed towards a thicket nearby.


    Tian Xiaohu puzzled, "Why does your brother take a bow and arrow with him for a shit?"


    "Dunno, maybe for self-defense. This ce is pretty chaotic."


    "Makes some sense," Tian Xiaohu nodded but still felt something was off.


    ...


    The slum area.


    In a cramped small room that could barely fit a bed.


    Old Ba Ziy on the bed, his chest wrapped in white gauze, hisplexion somewhat pale.


    Little Six, holding a piece of ck ster, said, "Boss, sit up, and I''ll change your dressing for you."


    The fat on Old Ba Zi''s body quivered. He sat up at the mention, pped the bed nk hard, and growled, "I never thought that damned Wang Mazi would be so shameless as to get help, making us suffer such a big loss. Once I''m healed, I''ll kill him."


    "Fuck, take it easy," Old Ba Zi kicked Little Six away with one foot.


    Thetter quickly got up, put on a smiling face, and resumed changing the dressing.


    "Wait a second." Old Ba Zi suddenly perked up his ears and listened before asking, "Don''t you think something''s not right?"


    Little Six, puzzled, "What''s not right?"


    "Where are the brothers I stationed outside? Why is there no sound at all? Go check it out."


    "Oh." Little Six put down what he was doing and ran out quickly.


    After a while, there was no response from Little Six.


    "Little Six, Little Six." Old Ba Zi called out twice but got no answer.


    He immediately had a bad feeling, pulled a shiny long knife from under the bed, tucked it behind his back, and cautiously approached, then used the knife to poke open the door.


    There was nobody outside the door.


    Old Ba Zi took a few steps and saw some bloodstains on the ground. Following the direction, he looked and was immediately terrified.


    All his men had turned into corpses piled up together.


    Old Ba Zi turned to run but was suddenly blinded by a clump of white ash thrown in his eyes.


    "Ah!"


    Old Ba Zi let out a piercing scream, waving the long knife wildly, hitting everything around him before staggering through the door into the room.


    Just when he thought he was safe.


    A shadow slowly emerged behind him, holding a dagger, stabbing fiercely towards him.


    Thump.


    The dagger sank into flesh.


    Old Ba Zi cried out in pain, turning around to swing his knife.


    Bang!


    In a rush, Shen Qing ducked low, throwing a punch.


    Old Ba Zi sensed it, took the punch head-on, and countered with a punch of his own.


    Bang bang bang.


    All the furniture in the room was smashed to pieces from the force of their punches.


    "Stance training! Nine Skills! You fucking Wang Mazi?" Old Ba Zi quickly realized, his body trembling uncontrobly as he lunged over in extreme excitement, "I''m gonna kill you!"


    The room was too small; the bow was useless, and Old Ba Zi, also blinded, wasshing out in desperation.


    Shen Qing decided not to fight him head-on but silently moved behind Old Ba Zi.


    Picking up a piece of broken wood from the ground, he hit him with a dull thud.


    Thump!


    A muffled sound, Old Ba Zi was dazed.


    Just then, the poison powder began to take effect.


    Old Ba Zi started to stagger, unable to stand steadily.


    Seeing the opportunity, Shen Qing took the dagger and plunged it into Old Ba Zi''s body repeatedly, turning him into a bloodied mess.


    Old Ba Zi, unwilling to ept his fate, felt a surge of Qi-Blood, roaring, "Wang Mazi, you won''t die a good death!!! Boss won''t spare you!"


    The sound spread far and wide.


    Shen Qing didn''t bother to argue, channeling his Qi-Blood to cut Old Ba Zi''s throat with a knife, silencing him forever.


    Pocketing the dagger, he rummaged through the room and found some Silver Tael to stuff into his pocket.


    Then, crouching down, he climbed out through the rear window and left quickly, his figure vanishing in the alley.

 Chapter 45: Chapter 44 Aftermath

    The slum was densely packed and crisscrossed.


    In the uneven alleyways, Shen Qing quickly stepped through the mud and water.


    When he asionally encountered other strangers, he silently kept his head down, not letting anyone see his face clearly.


    Once he left the slum area, Shen Qing started to run withrge strides, and when he reached the suburban woods outside the city, he leaped and plunged into the jungle.


    He was already at the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, and with the breakthrough in his hunting skills, he had mastered the ability of Poison Shadow.


    Thebination of the two made Shen Qing almost like a fish in water in the jungle.


    He hopped and swooped, moving through the forest as quickly as a fleeting shadow, agilely navigating the trees.


    In less than the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, he had already returned to the bush he left earlier.


    Shen Qing hurriedly changed into the cotton clothing he had taken off earlier, covering up the bloodstains from the fight, and then, with the rxed expression of someone who had just lightened his load, he walked towards the cart by the roadside.


    At this time, Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu were leaning against the cart, vigntly scanning the passersby around them.


    "I''m ready, let''s go," Shen Qing called out as he walked by and quickly sat on the cart, grabbing the reins.


    Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu said nothing and got on the cart in session.


    "Giddy up!"


    Shen Qing cracked the whip.


    tter, tter...


    The old horse plodded forward, and the cart''s wheels slowly turned.


    On the cart, Tian Xiaohu couldn''t help but take several more nces at Shen Qing.


    In just the time it took to drink a pot of tea, he noticed that Shen Qing had returned with many fewer arrows than he had taken.


    More importantly, if he remembered correctly, Shen Qing didn''t take any toilet paper when he went to relieve himself.


    And the ce he went to relieve himself was a bush which was full of thorny branches,monly known as cat''s thorns¡ªit''s impossible to wipe oneself clean with them.


    He must not have gone to relieve himself, Tian Xiaohu was quite certain.


    As for what exactly he did, seeing that Shen Qing didn''t mention it, Tian Xiaohu also tactfully didn''t ask.


    One horse, one cart, three men were traveling on the thoroughfare outside of Taiping City, neither fast nor slow.


    This was already the second time Shen Qing entered the city, so he was well-acquainted with the route.


    A few momentster, the three men had already entered the slum area and arrived at the Seven Turns Alley they passed before.


    At this time, Shen Xiaohu couldn''t help but be nervous.


    "Brother Qingzi, people ambushed us herest time, are we still going this way?"


    Shen Qing showed no intention of slowing down the cart and said while looking straight ahead, "I asked the bookworms, this path is the closest to enter the city from our direction, if we don''t go here, we would have to take a long detour, which isn''t worth it."


    "Moreover, the people living here are all sly as ghosts; they won''t leave you so many options." Shen Qing abruptly whipped the horse, urging thezy animal, "Rx, there''s nothing to worry about, giddy up!"


    Shen Xiaohu, holding a bow and arrows, face dripping with cold sweat, scanned the surroundings with a fierce look, jittery the entire way.


    To his surprise, on the way, no one came up to talk to them; not even the group of beggar kids who had surrounded them during theirst visit were to be seen.


    Very strange indeed.


    After some time, they crossed Seven Turns Alley and suddenly heard a mor ahead; arge crowd was gathered in a nearby alley.


    Shen Xiaohu stretched his neck curiously and asked, "What''s happening up front?"


    Shen Qing nced over and said casually, "Don''t know."


    As they passed by, several bodies were being carried out.


    "Holy mother, a lot of people are dead," eximed Shen Xiaohu.


    Shen Qing looked back and recognized that this was the alley where he had just killed Old Ba Zi.


    He hadn''t expected his deed to be discovered so quickly, attracting so many onlookers.


    He secretly felt fortunate for his decisive departure; anyter and it really would have been difficult to escape.


    The cart passed two county officers with closely cropped hair.


    They were looking at the bodies being carried out and chatting leisurely, one sentence at a time.


    After leaving Seven Turns Alley, the road ahead was still not very spacious, with people on both sides; the cart was passing close by them.


    The officers'' conversation fell into the ears of Shen Qing and the others.


    "Didn''t expect Wang Mazi to be so ruthless. Not long ago he was challenged by Old Ba, and today he just directly took action and killed Old Ba. Old Ba had barely gotten into Boss'' good graces and established a foothold here before getting killed without enjoying much fortune."


    "Isn''t that the truth. He died rather miserably too; nearly every part of his body was ruined. He was almost turned into a porcupine, bleeding all over like ader. The helplessness and screams when he died could be heard for miles."


    "His men also went down on their bad luck, all dead, one arrow to the throat. Wang Mazi didn''t n to leave any room for them to survive."


    "With this kind of disturbance, Boss probably won''t let it lie; now there''ll be excitement to watch."


    "..."


    The idle chat of the two government officers had fallen into Tian Xiaohu''s ears, and he was immediately shocked to his core.


    A bolt of lightning shed through his mind, and an unbelievable suspicion surfaced.


    He looked at Shen Qing with incredulity, opened his mouth to speak, found that there were countless words he wanted to say, but he didn''t know how to begin.


    Just now he hadn''t gone to defecate; instead, he had gone to kill Old Ba Zi.


    That''s right, it must be so.


    What kind of normal person goes to relieve himself while still carrying a bow and arrows? The reason there were fewer arrows on him was that he had used them.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s indifferent expression, Tian Xiaohu''s words reached his throat, but being quite tactful, he swallowed hard and forced them back down.


    At this moment, waves of doubt washed over him.


    He couldn''t understand how in just that short span of time, Shen Qing could have suddenly killed so many people?


    He had heard from a friend that Old Ba Zi had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, just a step away from bing a martial master.


    His notorious reputation in the region was well-known to everyone.


    And yet, he had been killed so effortlessly?


    Tian Xiaohu found it unbelievable.


    He couldn''t help but look at Shen Qing again, seriously reevaluating him.


    Back in the vige, he had always thought of Shen Qing as a mediocre hunter with no real talent.


    Quiet, honest, and his hunting skills werecking.


    But the events thatter unfolded in the vige had made him reevaluate Shen Qing.


    A ruthless man.


    But now, he had a new understanding of Shen Qing''s ruthlessness.


    Just yesterday he had informed Shen Qing about Old Ba being injured; today, Shen Qing came to the county city, and after disappearing for a while, Old Ba Zi was dead.


    What was more frightening was that from the beginning to the end, no one except him would suspect Shen Qing.


    The tactic was too seasoned.


    Old Ba Zi''s death was undoubtedly a good thing for them; they wouldn''t have to fear when entering the county city anymore.


    If he had the capability, he would certainly have wanted to kill him himself, to remove this obstacle in their path.


    But he definitely couldn''t have done it as cleanly as Shen Qing had.


    Shen Qing, he was bound to achieve great things in the future!


    Tian Xiaohu decided to keep everything he had seen today and all the thoughts in his mind to himself, and not to mention them to anyone who asked.


    "Brother Qingzi, did you hear that? Old Ba is dead, no one wille looking for trouble with us anymore," said Shen Xiaohu, bubbling with excitement.


    Shen Qing let out a light chuckle and said, "Don''t be too happy just yet; without Old Ba, who''s to say there won''t be an Old Ninth or Old Tenth that pops up? Wouldn''t it be the same then?"


    "This¡­" Shen Xiaohu was at a loss for words.


    "Let''s talk about the future when ites."


    Shen Qing turned their attention back, spurred his horse towards the city gate, and silently picked up the pace a little.


    At this time, a middle-aged man dressed in a clean changshan walked past them, apanied by three or four followers.


    The middle-aged man had a robust physique, with arms that extended past his knees.


    Upon closer inspection, one could see that both of his palms, especially near the pinky fingers, had thick calluses¡ªa sign that he was a martial practitioner, not someone to be trifled with.


    As the middle-aged man reached the mouth of the alley, the two officers put away the casual expression on their faces and, with a smile, said, "Boss has arrived."


    The middle-aged man bowed slightly to the two officers and asked, "Have you two cleared up the matter?"


    "Everything''s clear; it was certainly done by Wang Mazi," one of the officers said calmly. "Many people heard it themselves, and we''ve verified it with each one."


    "I see, you two have worked hard."


    With that, the man known as Boss, took out two silver ingots from his bosom, and handed them to the officers, saying, "Here''s a little something for tea, please also present my regards to your lord."


    "Of course,e by the government office more when you''re free, we''ll have a small drink with Boss," they responded.


    "Next time, definitely," he said.


    "We''ll take our leave now, Boss, please go ahead," they said.


    Boss bowed politely and said, "Take care, I won''t see you out."


    Watching the officers leave, Boss''s smiling face suddenly turned cold, and he said icily, "Take care of Wang Mazi, he broke the rules; we can''t keep him around. Also, check to see if anyone has recently held a grudge against those two. We can''t simply listen to others, we need to verify things ourselves."


    "Yes, Boss," the two young men behind the middle-aged man nodded and hurried off.


    "These people really are a headache, causing trouble at a time like this; they all deserve to die."

 Chapter 46: Chapter 45 Song and Dong Family Bully the Market

    Shen Qing skillfully maneuvered the reins, blending seamlessly with the numerous caravans, and again slowly approached the gate of Taiping County.


    The arched gate was wide open, revealing the dry road beyond.


    Over the years, the gray brick-paved road had been worn shiny ck, with snowmelt umting in the cracks between the bricks.


    Upon closer inspection, there were also a few piles of horse dung scattered about.


    The guards, d in old-fashioned armor, stood inside the gate, either leaning against the walls or sitting on simple wooden stools, showing no intention of cleaning up.


    The horse dung was continually crushed by the passing carts'' wheels, turning into green manure water.


    The guards'' gazes drift nonchntly between the pedestrians and the goods passing by.


    They would asionally look upzily to ask a few questions, perfunctorily checking the luggage and waving through anyone who paid the city entrance fee.


    At this moment, it was the morning rush hour to enter the city, and the flow of people was considerable.


    Shen Qing and his twopanions had to wait for about a quarter of an hour before their turn came.


    "Whoa!"


    Shen Qing halted his cart and confidently pulled out the silver he had prepared in advance, proactively handing it over before the guard could speak, his movements smooth and natural.


    "Half a tael of silver, I know the rules," Shen Qing said with an indifferent smile, his voice seasoned and unconcerned: "I am a disciple from Linfeng Hall, brother, do me a favor."


    The guard took the twentyrge coins, quite pleased with Shen Qing''s understanding.


    He then habitually muttered "Go on in," andzily waved him through.


    After paying the city entrance fee, Shen Qing drove his horse slowly through the gate.


    Since he entered the city quite early this time, he managed to catch the morning market.


    Upon entering the gate, a wave of noise surged toward him like a tsunami.


    The cacophony of hawkers'' cries, shouts, andughter mingled together, making it especially noisy and chaotic.


    The air was also filled with the smell of various fried pancakes.


    On the main street, there were no nobles or young lords, mostly stall vendors, as well as some woodcutters carrying wood through the streets, and servants out shopping.


    Compared to his initial awkwardness and displeasure, having walked through once already, Shen Qing was now very familiar with the routes inside the city.


    He briefly checked the location, then led "two tigers" towards the direction of Wanfeng Building.


    On the way, Shen Qing casually bought three pancakes, which served as a quick breakfast for them.


    After walking for a while, they arrived at the entrance of Wanfeng Building, and after stating their purpose, they went directly to the backyard of Wanfeng Building.


    Now was the peak period for winter hunting, so there were no fewer than seven or eight hunters from other viges in the backyard of Wanfeng Building.


    However, they were mostly individuals. None, like Shen Qing who had brought a whole cart, were present.


    Even so, seeing this atmosphere, Shen Qing already had a bad feeling.


    He consulted briefly with the people around him, learning that the buying price for mountain goods had been lowered.


    After doing the math, Shen Qing realized that his earnings had nearly halved.


    Previously, he could make close to 700 cents; now, it was barely 200 cents, and he might not make any money at all.


    Wasn''t this outright bullying?


    "That''s a total of 120 wen!"


    In the backyard, Wang Qiyao was holding an abacus, tallying up the goods'' value.


    An ountant beside him was writing down the ounts with a brush, ready to pay out the silver for settlement.


    "These are a whole eighteen wild rabbits, how can it be only 120 wen?"


    The hunter was reluctant, trying to bargain for more.


    "So you won''t sell then?" Wang Qiyao nced at him, walked past, and called out: "Next."


    The overlooked hunter hurriedly rushed forward, clutching at Wang Qiyao''s sleeve and pleading, "Please, please, let it be 120 wen then."


    Wang Qiyao flicked his sleeve, shaking off the hunter''s hand, and nced sideways as he said, "It''s not that I intentionally want to pay less, but now is the season when you mountain drivers have the best yield. Everyone is rushing to sell to me, which naturally drives the price down. Once springes, the prices will naturally bounce back."


    The hunter''s face showed a trace of contempt.


    He knew Wang Qiyao was right, but by the time spring arrived next year, hunting would be prohibited in the mountains.


    By then, those who dared to go up the mountain were either well-connected or outright desperate, risking their lives for it.


    The county government of Taiping was adept at finding any pretext, without saying.


    If they got you in their grasp, they wouldn''t let go until they had squeezed you dry.


    By that time, for these rootless people going into the mountains, even if it didn''t ruin families, it would likely cost them heavily, barely leaving them alive.


    It seemed as though the hunter had resigned himself to his fate as he handed over the goods and, taking the 120 wen payout, left despondently.


    Wanfeng Building''s manager, Wang Qiyao, seemed quite ustomed to this, casually instructing about the delicacies just as the hunter was leaving and started selecting the next candidate.


    Shen Qing, with a keen eye, noticed that the hunter was carrying a splendidly feathered wild hen, which was in good condition. In the past, it could have sold for 150 wen, but Wang Qiyao offered only eighty wen.


    The hunter''s face turned from green to white.


    But he waspletely helpless.


    In the county, the only ones buying mountain goods were the Song family; if he didn''t want to sell, his only other options were to consume it himself or let it rot, without making a single penny.


    Ultimately, the hunter could only swallow his frustration and ept the deal.


    Just then, a hunter changed his mind and wanted to return to cancel the deal and take his goods back, but the servants of Wanfeng Building stopped him, and Wang Qiyao loudly scolded, "Once the money and goods have been exchanged, these goods belong to the boss and have nothing to do with you, throw him out."


    The servants of Wanfeng Building rushed up, punched him to the ground, lifted him directly, and threw him high, tossing him over the courtyard wall.


    "My arm, my arm..."


    Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu, hearing the continuing cries and screams outside the wall, couldn''t help but change their expressions.


    This ce truly showed no mercy at all.


    Shen Qing watched all this unfold, clear that Wanfeng Building was exploiting the change in supply and demand to force prices down.


    They surely had a specialized ice cer, buying uprge quantities of mountain goods at very low prices at this time, to then sell at high prices once shortages urred in the market after the spring.


    The money made in between came off the backs of these unconnected lower-ss hunters.


    In in terms, it was the Song and Dong families exploiting and bullying the market.


    As he was thinking this, it was his turn to sell to Wanfeng Building.


    Shen Qing tucked away his thoughts and walked forward with a beaming smile, "Manager Wang, long time no see, I''vee to bother you again."


    "You are..." Wang Qiyao found Shen Qing slightly familiar since he met many people daily inside and outside, and he didn''t quite remember him.


    Shen Qing introduced himself, "I''m Shen Qing, from Hongshan Vige."


    "Oh, it''s you," Wang Qiyao immediately recalled, showing a hint of recognition.


    "I didn''t expect Manager Wang to remember me. Please take a look, these are this season''s mountain goods from our vige. We have deer, rabbits, mountain goats, wild hens, and even rare items like mushrooms and Lingzhi mushrooms. It would be a great help if you could price them for me," Shen Qing said respectfully.


    Wang Qiyao picked and chose, his face showing no emotion.


    Clickety-ck.


    He moved his abacus quickly and then announced, "You''ve brought quite a lot of goods here, all together worth three taels and five maces."


    Shen Qing''s face darkened slightly.


    Previously, simr goods had brought in ten taels silver, but now they were only worth three taels and five maces; this was not just a small difference, it was practically a discount.


    "Manager Wang, could you possibly raise the price a bit? This price is too low," he said.


    "Low? Your cartload is allmon mountain goods, and our caravan has already collected plenty from various viges. I have even quoted a bit more for you," Wang Qiyao turned towards Shen Qing with a confident look and asked, "Are you going to sell?"

 Chapter 47: Chapter 46: Entering the Inner Courtyard

    Shen Qing nced at Wang Qiyao''s hands and noticed the absence of calluses, indicating that he had never practiced any fighting techniques and his cultivation must have reached at most the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood.


    This level of arrogance must be due to having powerful support, unafraid of offending anyone.


    After contemting for a moment, Shen Qing decisively said, "I''ll sell!"


    Upon hearing this, the expression on the face of Wang Qiyao from Wanfeng Building slightly cleared, feeling that Shen Qing finally understood the situation, but the next statement made hisplexion change.


    "But with this, the Tiger King''s Penis bes a problem."


    Wang Qiyao inquired, "What do you mean by that?"


    "Manager Wang, over the past couple of days, our vige discovered traces of the Tiger King while hunting in the mountains.


    Everyone is interested in this Tiger King, and they even nned to use the money from this sale to buy some hunting tools to prepare," Shen Qing nced at a stunned Wang Qiyao and sadly added, "But now with the price you''re setting so low it seems nobody will be in the mood."


    "..."


    Shen Qing continued, "Manager Wang, you know a tiger''s hunting range can be as vast as a hundred square miles, and Shicheng Mountain is so small. This is a rare opportunity, miss this chance, and I... I''ll just have to think of other ways."


    As Shen Qing spoke, his eyes intently fixed on Wang Qiyao''s face, observing his every expression.


    Just now, he saw Wang Qiyao mention the matter of mountain delicacies to every hunter, which showed how much Wang Qiyao cared about those three delicacies; it could even be connected to his future career prospects.


    He was now trying to link the topic of mountain delicacies with their mountain goods, hoping to loosen Wang Qiyao''s grip to squeeze out some more silver.


    Since I am to handle matters, surely there should be some token of gratitude, right?


    Shen Qing''s expression was extremely sincere, showing a "very disappointed" look, causing a flicker of hesitation in Wang Qiyao''s thoughts, as though he had made a significant decision and took several deep breaths before saying, "Seven taels, that''s the biggest concession I can make."


    Although it was still less than expected, it was obviously better than the initial three taels.


    Shen Qing smiled and respectfully said, "Thank you, Manager Wang."


    Leaning forward, Wang Qiyao lowered his voice and coldly warned, "I can give you more money, but you must bring me news about the mountain delicacies before spring starts, or it won''t just be a matter of thirty taels. You''re not stupid, you should understand what I mean."


    Shen Qing wiped the smile off his face and nced at Wang Qiyao.


    Threatening me?!


    A sudden alertness rose in his heart.


    Wang Qiyao was a man of the Song family from the county town, with both background and support, while he had just entered the Entry Level and wasn''t even a martial master.


    If he really wanted to deal with him, it would be all too easy, but...


    Shen Qing''s face broke into a smile, respectfully responding, "Understood, understood."


    "Good, A Wen, pay him with seven silver taels," Wang Qiyao casually called out and continued walking toward the next hunter.


    Shen Qing received the seven silver taels and after briefly verifying the amount, left the courtyard silently with Tian Xiaohu in tow.


    Once they reached a secluded spot, Shen Qing took out one tael silver and handed it to Tian Xiaohu, saying, "Xiao Hu and I are off to Linfeng Hall to practice martial arts, and being the first day, we don''t know when we will finish. Since the opportunity is rare, all three of us will stay in town tonight and not return home.


    Go find us an inn nearby, and with the rest of the money, see if there is anything you want to buy for the family."


    Tian Xiaohu looked at the one tael silver in Shen Qing''s hand, hesitating, he said, "This... doesn''t seem right."


    "I also have something else I need you to check on for me," Shen Qing waved him over, then whispered into his ear.


    Tian Xiaohu eximed in surprise, "Why do you need to look into this?"


    "Never mind that, just do as I said," Shen Qing replied.


    Recalling today''s incident with Old Ba Zi, Tian Xiaohu asked no further questions, "Okay, I understand. Later, I''lle find you at Linfeng Hall."


    "Be careful on your way," Shen Qing said.


    Tian Xiaohu jumped down from the cart and hurriedly parted ways with Shen Qing, each heading in opposite directions.


    ...


    Shen Qing wandered around the county town and reached Shengshi Square, where he skillfully found the main gate of Linfeng Hall.


    He stepped forward, grabbed the knocker, and gently tapped three times before announcing his name.


    "Come in."


    Soon, the thick wooden door opened inward, revealing behind it still the face of A Fu with his prominent brow bones.


    "Come in!"


    A Fu recognized Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu, said no more, let them in, and even took their horses to the stable.


    After securing the horses, A Fu hurried back and said, "Last time the master had already instructed that if youe, just go straight inside to train. You''ll have senior and junior brothers to guide you. Junior Brother Shen, you are to go to the inner courtyard, and the younger brother behind will go to the Outer Court. I''ll take you there."


    Following the direction of the stable, they walked straight for a while.


    Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu arrived at the front courtyard.


    They saw stone locks of various sizes ced on the ground of the courtyard, their surfaces smooth from long-term use.


    People continuously joined near the stone locks, lining up in rows.


    About a dozen robust men, under the watch of Shen Qing and others, each firmly grasped a heavy stone lock.


    At a deepmand, the men exerted force together, their muscles tensed, lifting the stone locks high.


    This was repeated over and over.


    Each action was apanied by dull breaths and the heavy thuds of the stone locks hitting the ground, instantly giving one the urge to join in.


    A Fu turned to Shen Xiaohu and asked aloud, "Did you bring the money?"


    "Brought it all." Shen Xiaohu quickly took out a patched-up purse from his body, poured out seven silver taels, and offered them to A Fu with both hands.


    A Fu, without any courtesy, took the silver and said, "I''ll go record this for youter; just go stand in thest row and start training."


    Shen Xiaohu was somewhat timid but still mustered his courage and walked to the very back.


    The stone locks in that position were the smallest.


    He struggled to grasp two of them and lifted them along with everyone else: "Hu, ha!"


    "Junior Brother Shen, youe this way, follow me." A Fu pointed to an Outer Gate beside him, led Shen Qing through it, and entered the second courtyard.


    The second courtyard was much more spacious than the front one, but it had far fewer people, only about six or seven.


    Various wooden dummies were ced inside.


    A Fu pointed to a tall man and said, "That''s the master''s direct disciple, our senior brother Ouyang Tiezhu. He will be teaching you for theing period. If you have any confusion about Martial Arts, just ask him. As for the other rules, you can figure them out yourself."


    "Thank you, senior brother."


    A Fu smiled, then left the second courtyard.


    Shen Qing knew that from today onward, he would truly begin his Martial Arts training and practice fighting techniques.


    He took a deep breath, walked slowly towards the location of Ouyang Tiezhu, and greeted him, "Hello Senior Brother, I am the newly arrived Shen Qing."


    Ouyang Tiezhu nced him up and down and said, "The master mentioned you to me, said you are good material for Martial Arts training. Let''s go talk over there."


    Shen Qing obeyed and honestly followed behind Ouyang Tiezhu.


    Finding a quiet ce, Ouyang Tiezhu asked Shen Qing, "Junior brother, do you know why we practice Martial Arts?"

 Chapter 48: Chapter 47 Wind Defying Finger

    Shen Qing said without hesitation, "To be stronger, and then to be able to beat others."


    Ouyang Tiezhu pped his hands andughed, "Right, exactly. We practice martial arts to be able to beat others. As long as you can beat others, your martial arts training wasn''t in vain."


    Ouyang Tiezhu then sobered up and asked, "Do you know what it means to be strong, junior brother?"


    Shen Qing frowned and involuntarily recalled every experience of killing he had, saying, "In my view, no matter what means you use, as long as you kill the other person before they can kill you, that''s being strong."


    Ouyang Tiezhu couldn''t help but take a second look at Shen Qing, thinking to himself that it was no wonder their master said he was a natural martial arts talent.


    His temperament was truly¡­


    "That''s right. As long as others can''t kill you and you can kill others, you are strong," he said, nodding and smiling in agreement. "Practicing martial arts is not child''s y; we train to master all sorts of killing abilities, using every method to make our bodies stronger, and then to beat and kill others."


    Shen Qing looked up and asked, "So how can I be stronger?"


    Ouyang Tiezhu, knowing everything, did not hide anything and replied, "Returning to what we said before, what is strong? Killing others, beating others, that''s strong. To beat and kill others, there are really just three points."


    Shen Qing grew serious, perked up his ears, and listened intently to Ouyang Tiezhu''s next words.


    At this moment, he was extremely curious.


    What was the martial arts of the Great Zhou Dynasty really like?


    Ouyang Tiezhu did not y coy and continued talking, "Those three points are speed, strength, and endurance. As long as you are faster than your opponent, stronger than your opponent, and can take more hits than your opponent, there''s no chance of losing."


    "All the major martial arts halls and gangs in this county revolve around these three points, trying by all means to make themselves faster, stronger, and tougher."


    Shen Qing had thought that the martial arts of the Great Zhou Dynasty might have some magical aspects, but never expected it to be such a simple truth.


    Shen Qing remembered that Great Zhou had its own armory, had seized the world''s martial mechanisms, and couldn''t possibly not involve martial arts.


    He heard Ouyang Tiezhu mention martial arts halls and gangs, seemingly deliberately avoiding the Great Zhou government. He asked curiously, "What about the government office?"


    "Them?" Ouyang Tiezhu shook his head, "They are different from us. The principle of bing stronger is simple, but it is very difficult to practice to that level. We ordinary people have limited energy and can''t cover all bases, we can only focus on one. Anyone who can excel in any one of these three points is doing well."


    "At Linfeng Hall, we pursue speed, to ''control all with one finger'', and to break the game with swiftness."


    "But the Great Zhou Court is different; ever since the Grand Ancestor consolidated the world''s martial mechanisms, anyone from the court can harness Essence Qi, practicing ''Refining Body and Returning to Truth.'' They strive for growth in all three areas; it''s hard for us topete."


    Shen Qing frowned, not expecting that there were such intricacies.


    Seeing Shen Qing like this, Ouyang Tiezhu thought he might be losing heart. He stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Don''t worry. Once you''ve mastered the skill of our master, you can take part in the county''s martial examinations. Once you rank, you''ll also be able to get a martial title, just like those gentlemen."


    Martial title?


    Shen Qing''s interest was piqued, and he said with a fist salute, "Thank you for the guidance, senior brother."


    "Let''s go, I''ll introduce you to the Wooden Dummy first." Ouyang Tiezhu led the way and took Shen Qing to a Wooden Dummy.


    He pped the Wooden Dummy and said, "I see that junior brother has trained well in Qi-Blood. Later on, it''s almost enough to maintain daily supplementation. Just like the other junior brothers, you can go straight to training movement technique."


    "Movement technique?"


    "Do you know what our master''s signature skill is?"


    Shen Qing shook his head.


    "Our master''s signature skill is a Finger Skill called ''Wind Defying Finger''," Ouyang Tiezhu puffed out his chest, a hint of pride on his face. "It is said that many martial masters in the city cannot stand against our master''s finger."


    As he spoke, Ouyang Tiezhu''s eyes changed, he joined his hands in a sword-finger gesture, and casually pointed out.


    Shen Qing only saw a ck shadow sh by, and with a thud, wood chips burst out from the Wooden Dummy.


    Ouyang Tiezhu had actually driven his fingers two inches deep into the dummy, both joints of his fingers fully embedded in the wood.


    Shen Qing''s eyelids twitched.


    If it had been flesh and bone, it probably would have been pierced straight through.


    Ouyang Tiezhu shook his head, feeling somewhat dissatisfied, "The move I used was Master''s Wind Defying Finger. It''s only that I haven''t mastered it well. If it were Master using it, even a stone in front would easily be perforated and shattered. The fingers are like sharp swords, indestructible."


    Shen Qing drew a sharp breath, finally gaining a more concrete understanding of the martial arts in this world.


    "However, before you train in Finger Skill, you need to first train your movement technique."


    Ouyang Tiezhu pped the Wooden Dummy''s protruding stick, and the Wooden Dummy attacked with two other sticks from behind.


    Ouyang Tiezhu acted as if he had eyes on the back of his head, smoothly catching them before the two iron sticks couldnd their blows.


    With a kick of his foot, he intercepted another attack from the opposite side, repeating the process again and again, his speed increasing all the while.


    The sticks on the Wooden Dummy almost turned into a series of afterimages, yet they still couldn''t touch Ouyang Tiezhu in the least.


    Bang!


    Ouyang Tiezhu stopped the Wooden Dummy he was facing forcefully, "Junior brother, you try."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing did as Ouyang Tiezhu instructed and pushed the long stick of the Wooden Dummy.


    Gurgle, gurgle.


    The Wooden Dummy began to rotate.


    Using his "Never Forget" skill, Shen Qing recalled the scenes he had just witnessed and then mimicked Ouyang Tiezhu''s movements.


    Thanks to his breakthrough in hunting skills earlier, he had some foundation in movement technique, so it wasn''t very difficult to learn.


    Bang!


    Ouyang Tiezhu saw that Shen Qing caught the dummy on his first try and his eyes couldn''t help but show a bit of surprise.


    He''s got something indeed.


    After catching the stick, Shen Qing''s face lit up with joy, and he began to speed up his movements, imitating Ouyang Tiezhu.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang bang, bang bang, bang-bang-bang...


    Ouyang Tiezhu, watching from the side, suddenly bulged his eyes, staring at Shen Qing intently, his expression bing tense in the blink of an eye.


    After reaching a certain speed, Shen Qing missed a move and got struck in the shoulder by the rapidly spinning Wooden Dummy, crying out in pain.


    Seeing this, Ouyang Tiezhu let out a heavy sigh of relief as if a stone had settled in his heart, feeling greatly relieved.


    He approached andforted, "It''s like this the first time you train. After you practice more, you''ll get used to it."


    "Mhm,"


    Shen Qing responded absently.


    At that moment, his attention was on the Water Ink Panel that had just appeared in his vision.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 1/100 points]


    [Status: Cannot improve]


    [Note: Practice diligently through the bitter cold of winter and the scorching heat of summer to master this skill and increase skill proficiency.]


    When he had been trying to hit the Wooden Dummy earlier, the sudden appearance of this Water Ink Panel had taken him by surprise.


    He had not expected he would enter the gates of Master Li Linfeng''s exclusive skill so quickly.


    From now on, all he had to do was to continue practicing.


    Suddenly, Shen Qing felt a vague sense of excitement.

 Chapter 49: Chapter 48 Progress Increase

    ```


    "Junior Brother, today you should just practice this movement technique," Ouyang Tiezhu said to Shen Qing with a smile. "When you can handle it as easily as I can, I''ll teach you an even moreplex technique. I have other matters to attend to now. If you have any questions, you can ask the other senior brothers."


    "Thank you for your hard work, Senior Brother."


    Ouyang Tiezhu waved his hand and took a few steps away, then as if he remembered something, he came back and said to Shen Qing, "Right, after you finish practicing today, have A Fu fetch you another set of Shiquan Dabu Decoction."


    Shen Qing was somewhat surprised.


    Ouyang Tiezhu continued, "Miss Qi bought it for you earlier. She''s already paid for it."


    "Alright."


    Watching Ouyang Tiezhu''s retreating figure, Shen Qing couldn''t help but sigh.


    He had not expected his aunt Shen Xiu to be so kind to him, and now he owed her a great deal of gratitude.


    After finishing today''s practice, he needed to visit his aunt and thank her in person.


    Shen Qing gathered his thoughts, became serious, and began to practice at the Wooden Dummy as if no one else was present.


    Without the distraction of the Water Ink Panel, his focus became extremely intense, and he struck the Wooden Dummy forcefully.


    Thump, thump, thump...


    His speed increased.


    It wasn''t until he reached a certain limit that he was interrupted.


    "Again."


    He kept practicing for nearly two Shi Chen.


    Shen Qing became more skillful, pushing the limit of his endurance higher and higher.


    "Phew!"


    After finishing thest sequence, Shen Qing instinctively protected his shoulder, taking one more hit before officially ending today''s session.


    With a thought, Shen Qing''s eyes sparkled, rippling with waves.


    The familiar Water Ink Interface appeared before him.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 18/100 points]


    [Status: Cannot Improve]


    The progress had increased.


    Shen Qing wiped the sweat off his face, feeling that it was all worth it.


    After an afternoon of training, his whole body was incredibly sore, especially his back and shoulders which had been struck and were now bruised.


    They burned and throbbed, and even a light touch would increase the pain.


    Fortunately, he was robust and resilient, so it didn''t affect him too much.


    Just then, A Fu came in and found him, saying, "Junior Brother, someone is looking for you outside."


    Shen Qing guessed that it might be Tian Xiaohu and replied, "I''ll be right there."


    When he reached A Fu, he paused and, with a gesture of respect, asked, "I heard from Senior Brother Ouyang that my aunt had prepared a Shiquan Dabu Decoction for me, may I know..."


    He was interrupted by A Fu before he could finish, "I''ve already packed it for you; just let me know when you are leaving, and I''ll get it for you."


    "Many thanks," Shen Qing repeatedly cupped his hands in gratitude. "I would like to see my aunt and thank her in person."


    "It''s unfortunate. The Hall Master has taken Miss Qi out, and they haven''t returned yet."


    "Where have my aunt and the others gone?"


    "They should be staying at Jifu Temple for a few days; they should be back the day after tomorrow."


    "Alright, I''ll find my aunt in person next time," Shen Qing said, deciding not to press further: "Thank you for your trouble, Brother A Fu. Please give me the medicine; it''s gettingte, and I need to leave."


    "Okay, let''s do it together."


    After speaking, Shen Qing and A Fu left the Second Court through the Outer Gate and went to the Outer Court where A Fu efficiently entered the pharmacy and handed the Shiquan Dabu Decoction to Shen Qing.


    "The tbed cart and horses are at the stable over there. You can go and collect them when you leave," A Fu said, pointing to a room in the Outer Court.


    Shen Qing nodded and quickly thanked him.


    After A Fu left, Shen Qing went to where Shen Xiaohu was training in the Outer Court.


    Shen Xiaohu looked like a drowned rat, his hair stered to his scalp, sitting copsed on the ground with an utterly despondent look on his face.


    ```


    Shen Xiaohu saw Shen Qing walking over and struggled to stand up, saying weakly, "Brother Qingzi..."


    "How''s the training going?"


    Shen Xiaohu said with some regret, "Can I get a refund for the silver I paid this morning?"


    "Can''t you be a little more ambitious, be brave like a man."


    "I''m not... It''s just... I feel..."


    "Do you still want to continue practicing martial arts?"


    "Yes!"


    "Then keep training, otherwise you''ll never get anywhere. I suspect with your temperament, you''ll start crying over every little thing that happens."


    "Impossible," Shen Xiaohu said, his neck stiff and his face flushed.


    "That''s enough," Shen Qing didn''t continue to scold Shen Xiaohu, turned around, and said, "Tian Xiaohu should be here to pick us up. Let''s go back and rest."


    Shen Xiaohu hurried to follow, saying defiantly, "I definitely won''t cry when I face problems. It''s just that I''m too tired today, and I''m not used to it yet."


    Shen Qing didn''t respond.


    This attitude unwittingly ignited a fire in Shen Xiaohu''s heart, vowing to train hard in the future and never let Shen Qing look down on him.


    They arrived at the gate outside Linfeng Hall.


    Shen Qing indeed saw Tian Xiaohu pacing at the entrance, waiting for them. When he saw the Shen brotherse out, his eyes brightened, and he hurried over to Shen Qing, lowering his voice to say, "That thing you had me look into..."


    Shen Qing said, "We''ll talk on the road."


    "Alright."


    "Did you find a good inn?"


    "Yes, I did," Tian Xiaohu said while pulling out a pouch, "The inn charges only two hundred wen a night, including meals and lodging. I spent some of the money you gave me on handling the matter, but there are still 500 wen left, all here."


    At this moment, Shen Qing realized Tian Xiaohu was a person with principles.


    Compared to the vigers of Hongshan Vige who only knew how to take advantage, he truly was an exception.


    However, he had already spoken his piece and couldn''t go back on his word.


    Shen Qing climbed onto the cart and said, "You keep it. We might need you to handle more things in the future."


    "But this is a lot."


    "It''s gettingte, let''s go. Stop dawdling," Shen Qing said impatiently.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s attitude, Tian Xiaohu gave up on insisting and boarded the cart with Shen Xiaohu, one after the other.


    "Go!"


    Shen Qing cracked the whip, and the old horse slowly began to walk down the street.


    Tian Xiaohu moved up behind Shen Qing, leaning in to speak in a lowered voice, sharing the information he had gathered.


    After listening, Shen Qing nodded and said, "Alright, I got it."


    Tian Xiaohu, seeing Shen Qing''s calm demeanor, couldn''t figure out what he was nning.


    After a while, Shen Qing and the others arrived at a t house district.


    Following Tian Xiaohu''s directions, they made their way to a ce called "Yui Inn."


    The doorkeeper recognized Tian Xiaohu, took the initiative to lead the horse, and ushered Shen Qing and the others inside.


    The inn was very ordinary, just some Octagon tables and chairs, with various guests scattered around.


    Linfeng Hall did not provide meals and lodging, and since Shen Qing and the others had barely eaten all day, especially after a day of training, they were extremely hungry.


    Upon entering the inn, Shen Qing immediately asked the waiter to serve all the house specials.


    Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu devoured the food voraciously, like starving ghosts reborn, and in a short while, they had finished all the dishes.


    After being sated with food and drink, Shen Qing called over the waiter and asked, "Can we prepare medicine in your inn?"


    The inn''s waiter replied, "Yes, we can. Would you like us to do it, or will you prepare it yourself? The former is ten wen, thetter five wen."


    Shen Qingid down fiverge coins on the table and said, "Take me there, I''ll do it myself."


    "Sure thing, this way please."


    Taking the medicine, Shen Qing told Tian Xiaohu and the others, "You eat up and rest first; I''lle upter."


    After giving instructions, Shen Qing followed the waiter toward the back yard.

 Chapter 50: Chapter 49 The best way to eliminate a threat is to kill it.

    Yui Inn, located on a street with two Martial Arts Halls, often amodated disciples from these halls, and preparing herbal medicines was amon urrence.


    There was a special shed in the backyard of Yui Inn reserved specifically for preparing medicines.


    The waiter pointed inside the shed and said, "Customer, all these medicine pots have been cleaned, and the firewood is piled up over there, you can just use it directly."


    "Okay."


    The waiter didn''t give up and tried to say, "Sir, our cook is very skilled at preparing medicines, and she does it quickly and well. If you pay an additional five cents, you couldfortably lie down in your room for an hour, and we''ll bring it to you then. Would you like to try it?"


    "No need, I''ll do it myself," Shen Qing still refused.


    Being away from home, he felt it was better to be cautious.


    Linfeng Hall for so many years, had no need and would not tamper with the medicinal materials.


    But he dared not casually drink something prepared by others; he felt safer preparing it himself.


    Seeing that Shen Qing was still firm, the waiter no longer urged and respectfully bowed before retreating.


    An hourter, it was already evening.


    The backyard of the inn was dyed golden by a touch of the setting sun''s afterglow.


    A cold breeze gently blew, mixing various medicinal fragrances in the yard, making it seem as if one were in a pharmacy.


    Shen Qing picked up an earthy yellow bowl, filled with the recently cooked and cooled Shiquan Dabu Decoction.


    Under the reflection of the setting sun, the medicinal soup glinted with a pale gold color, emitting bursts of refreshing herbal fragrance.


    Shen Qing tilted his head back and gulped down the medicinal soup in one go, a bitterness tinged with a hint of sweetness immediately spread through his mouth.


    As the soup went down, the familiar medicinal power began to slowly diffuse within his body, turning into warm currents that smoothly glided through every meridian like silk.


    The soreness produced in his muscles from practicing movement techniques earlier that day gradually became softer under this warm flow.


    In just the time of burning a stick of incense, and after digesting all the medicinal power, even thest trace of soreness vanished.


    Shen Qing had fully recovered, his Qi-Blood replenished, bing vigorous once again.


    The effects of the Shiquan Dabu Decoction impressed him.


    Thest time he took it, he hadn''t trained as much as today, and the soreness had been mostly in his lower body, not as deeply felt as today.


    Indeed, Linfeng Hall had its unique aspects.


    It was an unexpected pleasure.


    After taking the medicine, Shen Qing returned to his quarters with the waiter''s guidance.


    Tian Xiaohu was meticulous this time, specially booking two rooms.


    He had one to himself, while Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu shared the other.


    He didn''t let Shen Qing spend money in vain.


    Shen Qing greeted Tian Xiaohu, exchanged a few pleasantries, then returned to his room and shut the door tightly.


    When nightpletely fell, Shen Qing, who was feigning sleep in bed, sat up, walked over to the window.


    He opened the window, looking at the damp ground outside the inn, a cold wind blowing gently.


    Shen Qing picked up a dagger, tore a piece of cloth to wrap around his face, then leapt out the window with a single bound,nding as lightly as a cat.


    He looked around to make sure there were no other people outside the inn, then his figure surged forward and he dashed away, quickly disappearing into the alley.


    ...


    Inside Wanfeng Building.


    As one of the managers, Wang Qiyao had finished a day of trivial tasks, massaged his sore wrists, and closed the ledger.


    He picked up a cup of tea from the table and took a sip, "Today''s work is almost done; it''s time to head back."


    Wang Qiyao stood up, took out arge portion of the day''s unused purchasing funds from his pocket, and tucked it into his own pocket.


    Then he put the remaining portion and the ledger into a wooden box, secured it with a delicate small lock.


    After tugging at it to make sure it was locked, he left feeling reassured.


    Since the restaurant business endedte, by the time Wang Qiyao walked out of Wanfeng Building, the sky had already turnedpletely dark.


    At that time, there were far fewer people in the county.


    Many things that shunned the light of day began to emerge.


    Fortunately, his home was not far from Wanfeng Building; it wouldn''t take long for him to get home.


    Even though he carried some gold and silver items and had the backing of the Song family, no one dared to target him.


    His home was in a residential area of Pinghe Square, a small courtyard enclosed by a single gate.


    Standing at his own door, Wang Qiyao found the main gate tightly shut. He pounded on the door and shouted, "Open the door!"


    After a while, the door opened from the inside.


    A servant inside bowed his head respectfully and stepped aside.


    Wang Qiyao strode in,ining, "Why so slow?"


    The servant remained silent, closed the door again, and dropped thetch.


    "It''ste at night, why are the candles in the room still lit? Don''t they cost money?" Wang Qiyao entered the courtyard, turned his head, and was about to scold.


    Just as he turned his head...


    Bang!


    Wang Qiyao was struck on the top of his head and his head was covered in blood.


    "Ah?!" Wang Qiyao screamed in pain, feeling dizzy and unable to stand straight: "Such audacity! I belong to the Song and Dong Family, you..."


    However, the only response he got was a handful of white ash.


    The wound on his head, now mingled with the white ash, sizzled oddly, as if his scalp was being ripped off.


    Intense pain spread from the top of his head throughout his body.


    But Wang Qiyao, having trained in martial arts, quickly regained someposure.


    Wang Qiyao looked at the masked servant in front of him and pointed at him, saying, "Who are you exactly? Do you know who I am? If you touch me, the Song and Dong Family won''t let you off."


    He hadn''t noticed in the dark, but now he realized that the person who had opened the door was not his servant but a masked man.


    This was his home!


    He had never imagined that someone woulde into his home to attack him.


    This was incredibly bold!


    It made no sense at all!


    Shen Qing showed no intention of responding; hepletely ignored Wang Qiyao''s warnings.


    His eyes were cold and indifferent, looking at Wang Qiyao as if he were a cornered beast fighting desperately in itsst moments.


    Shen Qing timed his move perfectly and swiftly shifted his footing.


    Already adept with the Poison Shadow, and after practicing the Wind Defying Finger technique all day, his movements were sharp and swift, positioning himself behind Wang Qiyao in the blink of an eye.


    Wang Qiyao seemed to sense something and eximed, "Spare my life, noble man!"


    Unfortunately, it was already toote.


    Shen Qing hesitated not at all.


    A sh of cold light, and he slit Wang Qiyao''s throat with a knife.


    Then, he quickly stabbed a few times in his chest, ensuring Wang Qiyao was beyond dead.


    "Heh, heh..."


    Wang Qiyao''s eyes bulged, his mouth spewing blood, and his lower body discharged uncontrobly.


    Shen Qing quickly frisked his body, grabbed the package he had already looted, then sprinted and vaulted over another courtyard wall and dashed away.


    Landing in the alley, Shen Qing chose his path and ran as fast as he could.


    In his view, eliminating threats didn''t require superfluous fluff.


    The best method was to kill him!


    With the person dead, the threat naturally disappears.

 Chapter 51: Chapter 50: Windfall, Overnight Riches

    However, his decision to act was not impulsive.


    In fact, even before he made his move, he had Tian Xiaohu spend an entire day gathering clear information about Wang Qiyao''s background.


    A distant coteral of the Wang family, he had practiced martial arts butcked innate talent and had insufficient Qi-blood.


    His family had been in decline since his grandfather''s generation.


    When he was very young, he had managed to secure a job at the Song family''s restaurant through his family''s only remaining connections, and now, after twenty years, he had be the manager of Wanfeng Building.


    He was stingy and ungenerous, bullying the weak and fearing the strong.


    He wasn''t very influential in the county town either, though he did have some connections with local gangs.


    As for backing from above, at best he was supported by the Shopkeeper of Wanfeng Building, who had no real ties to the Song family.


    Lately, he had been collecting mountain delicacies in hopes of connecting with the Song family to further his career.


    There were six or seven managers at Wanfeng Building, each overseeing different matters.


    One more of him made no difference, one less of him the same.


    In the eyes of important figures, he was just a slightly capable beast of burden.


    Given such circumstances, he couldn''t really be med.


    Although insignificant in the eyes of influential figures, to these hunters, Wang Qiyao was a big-shot, his word could determine their life or death.


    If he couldn''t obtain the so-called mountain delicacies by spring, there was no telling what kind of trouble Wang Qiyao might stir up in his efforts to climb higher.


    The King of Hell is easy to meet, but a little ghost is troublesome.


    It was better to eliminate the problem once and for all.


    When he went to ambush his home, Shen Qing also took the opportunity to dispatch his servant and his wife and children along the way.


    "There''s no other way, killing Wang Qiyao there was only one chance.


    If they were alive, I wouldn''t have been able to act.


    Even if they don''t recognize me, but what if they do.


    I have killed the pir of their family, they would definitely try to track me down for revenge, and that would be another problem.


    It''s better to eliminate any future threats.


    After all, killing one is murder, killing an entire family is still murder, there''s no essential difference.


    Besides, with Wang Qiyao''s background, if he were to die, his family''s fate wouldn''t be much better anyway; they would be better off dead."


    Shen Qing muttered to himself as he sprinted.


    The neighborhood where the Wang family lived was a maze of alleyways, making it easy for Shen Qing to escape.


    Finding a deserted spot, Shen Qing quickly changed out of the cloth wrapped around his face and servant''s clothes, throwing them into a dried well.


    Afterward, before the curfew officially began, he hastened his pace and made a quick round through the town to cover his tracks before returning to the inn.


    In the guestroom of the inn,


    Shen Qing pulled out a fire stick and lit the wick of a candle.


    The dim candlelight slowly flickered and rose in the guestroom.


    Shen Qing put away the fire stick and took out the package he had pilfered from Wang Qiyao''s house, cing it on the table.


    Upon opening it, it contained silver bracelets, gold notes, jewelry, silver, and other valuables.


    He estimated that it was almost forty taels of silver.


    To know, in Hongshan Vige, an ordinary hunter would earn about fifty wen in a day.


    These forty taels were a substantial amount of money for Shen Qing.


    Adding what he had snagged from Old Ba Zi that morning, it amounted to a total of sixty taels.


    He had truly be rich overnight.


    "I never thought that the first windfall of my life woulde this way,"


    Shen Qing felt quite emotional.


    Earlier today, when I went to Wang Qiyao''s house, it was mainly tomit murder, and time was quite tight.


    Therefore, the items he had gathered were only a part of Wang Qiyao''s family wealth.


    There were still some leftovers he didn''t have time to gather, and he could only give up on them.


    Actually, Shen Qing was a bit perplexed.


    Initially, he had simply wanted to get rich through huntingbor, and he didn''t understand why it had turned into the current situation.


    "Sigh..."


    Shen Qing took a deep sigh, packed up everything, andy down on the bed to sleep with a nket over his head.


    Having been tossed around all day, his body and spirit were both very tired.


    He soon fell into a deep sleep, slept through until dawn, and felt very solid.


    Usually an early riser, he woke up to find it was already broad daylight.


    Shen Qingfortably stretched and tidied up a bit before walking out of the guest room.


    Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu had been waiting in the hall for a long time.


    The two of them subtly had started to see Shen Qing as their leader and both looked over together.


    Shen Xiaohu stood up and asked, "Brother Qingzi, what''s our n for today?"


    "Today, we''ll stay at Linfeng Hall until the afternoon Shen Hour, and then we''ll leave," Shen Qing finished speaking and turned to Tian Xiaohu, "When we go to train in martial arts, it''ll be tough for you to wander around the town alone. Wait for us afterward."


    Shen Qing had already given quite a lot of money to Tian Xiaohu, who wasn''t in a rush to return to the mountains to hunt, so he easily agreed.


    The group left the inn, checked out, and headed towards Linfeng Hall.


    Considering the bloodstains on his body, before entering Linfeng Hall, Shen Qing went alone to a tailor shop and had a new suit made to fit him.


    As the old saying goes, a Buddha depends on gold attire, a person depends on clothing.


    After changing into a new set of clothes, along with Shen Qing''s already pleasant appearance, it made him look like a transformed person.


    Both handsome and spirited.


    Today, with Ouyang Tiezhu not in the inner courtyard, Shen Qing practiced his movement techniques alone with the Wooden Dummy, quietly enhancing his skill in the cultivation technique.


    ...


    After Shen Qing and his brother went to Linfeng Hall to train in martial arts, Tian Xiaohu, somewhat bored, roamed around the town.


    Eventually, he found himself near Pinghe Square.


    At that moment, he saw many government officersing and going in Pinghe Square, and faintly heard the crying of many women.


    Curious, Tian Xiaohu approached and was immediately stunned.


    Was this not the Wang Qiyao house he had investigated yesterday? Why were so many government officers gathered here, even the Guardian Martial Department hade?


    Tian Xiaohu asked a nearby olddy, "Olddy, what''s happening here?"


    A nervous neighbordy said, "Didn''t you know? The manager of the Wanfeng Building''s family was victim to a feud yesterday, the whole family of five was killed, annihted."


    Tian Xiaohu felt his mind explode like a volcano, suddenly bursting.


    His throat felt dry, unable to speak.


    The neighbordy rambled on, "Now that his family''s all dead and no close rtives remain, his n cousins are popping up, hypocritically crying for half a day."


    "I saw the shopkeeper from Wanfeng Building came to take a look, said nothing, and just left. I don''t know how they will handle it afterward."


    "Now with such an incident in the neighborhood, everyone is very scared..."


    As for what was said afterward, Tian Xiaohu didn''t hear a word, a chill running from the base of his spine to the top of his head.


    Seeing those government officers, Tian Xiaohu couldn''t help but shrink his neck, feeling a bit guilty and wanting to leave immediately.


    But just as he took a step, he suddenly stopped, staring at the government officers in front of him, deep in thought.


    Maybe I can find out more, tell him to prepare in advance...


    I n to follow him in the future; maybe I can make something of myself too.

 Chapter 52: Chapter 51: Junior Brother, have you practiced Wind Defying Finger before?

    Linfeng Hall, inner courtyard.


    Apanied by the dull echoes of the wooden dummies, a dozen disciples stood in front of the scattered Wooden Dummies practicing the movement technique of Linfeng Hall.


    Shen Qing was also among them.


    After exterminating Wang Qiyao''s entire family, he bore no psychological burden at all, acting as if nothing had happened.


    At this moment, he had devoted himself wholeheartedly to Martial Arts training.


    In the dead of winter, heat steamed off Shen Qing''s entire body.


    To dissipate the heat, he had taken off his jacket, wearing only a newly bought cloth garment as he moved swiftly in front of the Wooden Dummy.


    The bruises that had been on his shoulders, nowpletely healed by the medicinal strength of the Shiquan Dabu Decoction, bore no marks, but they gradually reddened under the onught of a new round of strikes.


    Pa, pa, pa...


    The entire process of practicing the Lingfeng Body Technique was monotonous, simply a constant repetition of dodging and being struck, but Shen Qing did not find it arduous or boring.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 31/100 points]


    [Status: Unavable for improvement]


    Watching his proficiency increase in his line of sight, Shen Qing could feel himself growing stronger, and the more he practiced, the more energetic he became, even bingpletely immersed in a state of self-forgetfulness.


    Not knowing how long he had been practicing for, Shen Qing suddenly felt that this Wooden Dummy would soon no longer be able to stop him.


    "Junior Brother Shen, how''s your training going?"


    At this time, the eldest senior brother, Ouyang Tiezhu, had finished his errands and, seeing Shen Qing training in the inner courtyard, he walked over with interest.


    Shen Qing was a blood rtive of the Seventh Master, her own nephew.


    The master had also said that he had some Martial Arts talent and might one day be the master''s direct disciple and join their ranks.


    Knowing that his own background was rather ordinary and that it was only through his fists and kindness to others that he had gained some status, Ouyang Tiezhu had almost immediately taken on the task of instructing Shen Qing without much consideration.


    For one, he could make his presence felt in front of the master, and on the other hand, it gave him an opportunity to make a new friend and pave more paths for the future.


    It was a good deal for him.


    After their first encounter yesterday, he realized that Shen Qing indeed had some martial talent.


    What took others three to five days to just grasp the basics, Shen Qing had managed to get the hang of in just a short while.


    This reinforced his intention to befriend him even more, so he immediately noticed him upon entering the inner courtyard today.


    Shen Qing was currently focused on practicing his movement technique and did not hear Ouyang Tiezhu greeting him at all.


    His mind was highly concentrated at this moment, and everything around him seemed to have gone silent; all he could hear was the beating of his own heart.


    Suddenly, Shen Qing''s movements became faster, and his figure almost turned into an afterimage.


    Finally, at thest moment.


    He broke through a barrier in an instant.


    Boom!


    Shen Qing subconsciously pushed his hands forward and down, and the rapidly spinning Wooden Dummy came to an abrupt halt, emitting a dull thud.


    He had sessfully replicated the movement technique taught to him by Ouyang Tiezhu from beginning to end, with virtually no difference in speed.


    ```


    "Sess."


    Continuous practice had caused beads of sweat the size of soybeans to seep from his forehead, sliding down his chiseled face and dropping onto the dusty ground.


    A surge of joy rose from the depths of Shen Qing''s heart, involuntarily lifting the corners of his mouth upwards.


    This scene had just caught the eye of Ouyang Tiezhu, who was not far away.


    His expression froze in an instant, fists clenched, and the leg he had just stepped forward with stopped mid-air.


    A momentter, as if snapping back to reality, he woodenly continued to walk forward.


    If he remembered correctly, when he started from scratch, it had taken him nearly seven or eight days just to perform this movement technique with some fluency.


    To reach the level of today, he had spent a whole month''s worth of day and night practice.


    Shen Qing noticed Ouyang Tiezhu and was somewhat surprised. He quickly wiped the sweat from his face and walked over, greeting, "Senior Brother!"


    Ouyang Tiezhu, snapped out of his shocked state by Shen Qing''s call, regained hisposure.


    After mumbling a few words with difficulty, he asked with a taste of bitterness in his heart, "Junior Brother, have you practiced the Wind Defying Finger before?"


    He thought Shen Qing, being the nephew of Seventh Master, might have been taught some basics in advance.


    Under Ouyang Tiezhu''splicated gaze, Shen Qing shook his head and denied, "I''m just a small hunter from the mountains, where would I get the chance to learn such Martial Arts?"


    "Didn''t your aunt tell you some of Linfeng Hall''s training methods when she returned?"


    "Auntie married into the city, and it''s been many years since she has returned to her parental home," said Shen Qing, looking at Ouyang Tiezhu curiously, "Why does Senior Brother ask these questions?"


    Ouyang Tiezhu swallowed a bitter saliva and forced a smile, "You''ve learned this movement technique very fast, just casually asking."


    Shen Qing nced at the Water Ink Panel within his line of sight and saidplimentarily, "It''s all thanks to Senior Brother''s good teaching, actually I''m quite slow at learning other things."


    Ouyang Tiezhu''s heart seemed to feel a little better, and his facial expression rxed a lot.


    "Senior Brother, I have a question, which is, about how long do I need to practice this movement technique before I can consider it mastered?" Shen Qing asked earnestly.


    Ouyang Tiezhu set aside hisplex feelings and began exining, "What you are practicing now is the basic Two Stick Wooden Man Stakes, and there are still three sticks, and five sticks toe."


    "Once you can use five sticks without getting close, and your Qi and Blood reach Great Perfection and can circte freely, you''ll basically be able to start Strengthening Tendons and Bones."


    Shen Qing persisted, "So, you mean as long as I can handle the five sticks, it''s considered achieved? There aren''t any other Martial Arts Realms?"


    "There certainly are Martial Arts Realms, but you''re not quite there yet," said Ouyang Tiezhu, not withholding information despite Shen Qing''s eye-catching performance.


    Life is so long, who knows what will happen.


    However, do good deeds without asking about the future.


    Since he had decided to befriend him, he should follow through, not letting a touch of envy spoil their rtionship.


    Ouyang Tiezhu paused and then said, "For us martial masters, the realms aren''t divided so finely. In the early stages, it''s primarily about nourishing and training Qi and Blood; reaching Great Perfection of Qi and Blood is one realm. Afterwards, practicing basic skills to stimte blood energy, followed by stretching tendons and Bone Refining, constitutes the Second Realm.


    Then, after strengthening muscle and bone, you merge your Qi and Blood inward, develop strength, proceed with Skin Forging and Qi Cultivation, this is the Third Great Realm."


    "Each Great Realm consists of two stages, with a formertter rtionship, like the First Realm is first about nourishing the Qi and Blood, followed by achieving Great Perfection; the Second Realm is about stretching first and then refining the bones, and so on."


    "Each school''s focus within the three Great Realms leads to different results. For instance, our Linfeng Hall ces great emphasis on stretching in the Second Realm, for victory with speed. Whereas the Chen Martial Arts Hall focuses on Qi and Blood in the first phase, for outsmarting with power."


    "There are other realms beyond these but our master has told us not to pay too much attention to them for now. First, we should solidify our fundamentals step by step, and the subsequent knowledge will naturally follow."


    Ouyang Tiezhu hadid out the rough stages of Martial Arts, providing Shen Qing with a very clear understanding in an instant.


    By that ount, he was at the second phase of the First Realm ¨C Great Perfection of Qi and Blood.


    Curious, Shen Qing asked, "Senior Brother, which realm is our master currently in?"


    ```

 Chapter 53: Chapter 52: Calm Seas

    "He has reached the Qi Cultivation Realm," Ouyang Tiezhu said with a touch of longing.


    "What about you, senior brother?"


    "I..." Ouyang Tiezhu replied, "I just finished bone forging and am now rushing towards the realm of Skin Forging. Master said if I cannotplete Skin Forging before the age of thirty-five, it is highly unlikely that I would develop Qi after that."


    "Why?"


    "Master said that once a person turns thirty, their Qi-Blood begins to decline, and there''s at most a five-year window. Once this window has passed, it''s toote to turn back. If you cannot muster strength while the blood is vigorous, you certainly cannot do it when Qi-Blood is in decline." Ouyang Tiezhu sighed, "I am already twenty-five this year."


    Shen Qing inwardly agreed.


    In his previous life, he was aware of the saying "thirty is the age for establishing oneself," and the workce even had the notion of a "35-year-old threshold," which was not without reason.


    "Let''s not talk about this anymore," Ouyang Tiezhu said, patting Shen Qing''s shoulder, "By the way, I still don''t know how old are you today, junior brother?"


    Poor families weren''t so particr; most just muddled through life without paying much attention to birthdays and age.


    After recalling for a while, Shen Qing calcted his age, "After theing Li Chun, I should be fifteen."


    Fifteen?!


    The corners of Ouyang Tiezhu''s eyes revealed a hint of a smile, as if this age made him feel much better, "Junior brother, to be honest, you''re a bit old. In another year, your muscles and joints will be fixed, and the difficulty of cultivating the second Great Realm will increase not by a small margin. If you want to make progress in Martial Arts, you need to work much harder."


    Shen Qing was momentarily stunned.


    Did that mean he needed toplete the entire Second Realm within the next year?


    It seemed like there was still... enough time?


    Shen Qing was not entirely sure.


    "Thank you for the guidance, senior brother," Shen Qing looked at the sun hanging high in the sky, bowed with his hands sped and said, "Senior brother, I was wondering if you have some time now, could you teach me the movement techniques of the three and five stick Wooden Dummies?"


    Ouyang Tiezhu smiled and said, "Of course, I''ll perform each one, just watch."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Ouyang Tiezhu walked up to a three-stick Wooden Dummy, took a deep breath and shouted softly.


    He lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his foot, his hands weaving between the three protruding sticks of the dummy.


    Ouyang Tiezhu''s hands alternated between palms and fists, his movements smooth and powerful, each strike urately hitting different spots on the dummy, producing a thud.


    Throughout the process, his body was extremely agile, the three protruding sticks unable to even touch his upper arms.


    Ouyang Tiezhu abruptly stopped the Wooden Dummy and asked Shen Qing, "How about it? Did you remember everything?"


    Shen Qing, having the ability "Never Forget," had observed carefully. After briefly recalling and seeing that all the details were memorized, he replied, "Senior brother, I''ve got it all down."


    Ouyang Tiezhu furrowed his brows, but seeing how confident Shen Qing was, he didn''t have much to say.


    "Then I''ll perform the Five Stick method again."


    Ouyang Tiezhu walked up to a Wooden Dummy covered withplexly arranged long sticks, closed his eyes to concentrate and circted his breath.


    Then he suddenly opened his eyes, his body swiftly unfolding the movement technique.


    The movement technique Ouyang Tiezhu used now was even moreplex, involving hands, feet, waist, knees, and legs.


    It waspletely different from the techniques used in the two and three sticks.


    His movements were like those of a fish navigating through a coral reef, skillfully avoiding the long sticks attacking from both sides, and striking predetermined targets with precision using fists, elbows, knees, and feet. Each crisp hit was followed by the soft sound of the Wooden Dummy being shaken.


    Strong and profound.


    While striking, he exined the key points, benefiting Shen Qing greatly.


    Afterpleting the set of the Five Stick Piles technique, sweat droplets slid down his neck, gradually soaking the back of Ouyang Tiezhu''s shirt.


    "Junior brother, the movement technique for the Five Stick Piles is rtivelyplex. You don''t need to push yourself too much, just get to know the key points. When you practice the Three Pole Stakes, being conscious of those points during your training could also be beneficial."


    "Alright." Shen Qing sped his hands together in a salute, "You''ve worked hard today, elder brother."


    "It''s all part of the duty." Ouyang Tiezhu patted the Wooden Dummy and said, "We''ll stop here for today, I have other matters to deal with, and I''lle find you again when I''m freeter on."


    "Okay. Hongshan Vige is also a bit far from here, I will need to head back after practicing a bit more."


    "You''re still living in Hongshan Vige?"


    "Yes, my home is over there."


    Ouyang Tiezhu turned his head and suggested, "Once you master some techniques, I have some connections here. Later on, you can go to the Outer City and work as a guardian for some ''local tyrants,'' earning some money for fist-training. It might be better to save up some money and move to the city for convenience, to avoid such back and forth."


    "You have connections in Outer City too?"


    "Ah... I have a good-for-nothing younger brother who works with a local named Wang Mazi. There are indeed some connections." As he said this, Ouyang Tiezhu showed a sense of frustration akin to hating iron for not bing steel. He waved his hand and said, "I''m leaving now."


    "Take care, elder brother."


    Watching Ouyang Tiezhu''s figure disappearing into the inner courtyard, Shen Qing withdrew his gaze and walked to the Three Pole Stakes where Ouyang Tiezhu had demonstrated the movement technique. He struck out with a palm.


    The Three Pole Stakes started to spin rapidly.


    "Snap!"


    ...


    Shen Qing continued practicing in Linfeng Hall until the afternoon Shen Hour and then finally stopped.


    With his aunt not in the hall now, he didn''t n to stay long.


    After taking today''s portion of Shiquan Dabu Decoction, Shen Qing, along with Shen Xiaohu, left Linfeng Hall, bought some supplies, exchanged some money, and headed directly to the spot he had agreed to meet with Tian Xiaohu.


    As they had scheduled, the three of them met and sat in the cart, heading in the direction of West City Gate.


    As Shen Qing had anticipated, the journey was smooth and uneventful.


    The entire family of Wang Qiyao''s death had indeed stirred no waves in the vast Ping''an City.


    The three of them reached the West City Gate without incident, slowly making their way towards the shantytown area.


    Sitting in the cart, Tian Xiaohu felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart, and he took a long breath of relief.


    There were many people leaving the city in the afternoon. Shen Qing pulled the cart, blending into the crowd and delving deep into the shantytown.


    Tian Xiaohu shifted up close to Shen Qing and tugged at his sleeve.


    "What''s up? Is there something you need to tell me?"


    Tian Xiaohu lowered his voice and said, "I went for a stroll by Pinghe Square today and there''s something I need to discuss with you."


    "What''s the matter?" Shen Qing asked, his face unmoved.


    Tian Xiaohu continued in a hushed tone, "The entire family of Wang Qiyao has died. Since there are no descendants, their rtives are now fiercely disputing over the inheritance."


    "The shopkeeper from Fengwei Restaurant just came to look and left. As for the government office, it seems they have closed the case by dering it a robbery. Wang Qiyao''s father-inw didn''t agree and wanted to provide clues, but was instead used of causing trouble and was killed on the spot by the county government."


    Tian Xiaohu spat out everything he knew in one breath.


    "So, in the future, if we sell our mountain goods, we''ll have to deal with a new manager?"


    "It seems they have switched to someone with thest name Cai. I''ll find time to inquire more about it next time."


    Shen Qing tugged at the reins and responded, "Hmm."


    About the death of Wang Qiyao''s family, both kept an unspoken agreement not to bring it up again.


    "Giddyup!"

 Chapter 54: Chapter 53: The Death of Wang Mazi (Please Follow)

    Shen Qing was not worried that Tian Xiaohu would betray him to the government office.


    The county government was, frankly, even more ruthless than him.


    If there was money to be made, they would take it; if they could avoid a problem, they would avoid it.


    If they really couldn''t avoid it, they''d make money first and then deal with the issue, ensuring they never came out on the losing end.


    As for justice and integrity, the government office didn''t care at all.


    As long as they could pay the required taxes to the court on time and take care of those above them, they couldn''t care less whether themon people lived or died.


    If a problem arose, the Four Great Eastern Families would clean up after them.


    The Great Zhou Court was not co-governing the realm with these grassroots civilians.


    Beyond that, the rtionships within the vige were also very delicate.


    People liked to wield power within their own nests, but once they left the vige, they were extremely united.


    If one person was in trouble, the whole vige would lend a hand.


    Anyone from the vige who made a name for themselves in the county had family and fellow vigers by their side.


    Tian Xiaohu, being from the same vige as him, would be taught a lesson by the agreed-upon customs here if hemitted such an act of "utter disloyalty."


    His family had only him, without any notable figures in his n, and no connections in the county city.


    Tian Xiaohu was not a fool; he knew which side to choose.


    In the afternoon, the city was bustling with many people leaving.


    But as they moved away from the city gate, the departing crowds gradually thinned out a bit.


    After about forty minutes through the slum area, Shen Xiaohu suddenly cried out, "Look, over there!"


    At his words, Shen Qing and Tian Xiaohu looked up and followed Shen Xiaohu''s pointing finger, their faces registering shock.


    In the dim slums alley, shadows crisscrossed.


    A row of bodies was hung from the eaves, the ropes creaking as they swayed gently in the cold wind.


    The air seemed to solidify around them, and a stench of blood emanated from the alley.


    The most central corpse, beneath tattered clothing, bore the pockmarked face etched with thest moments of terror and unwillingness of life.


    Passers-by quickened their steps, not wanting to disturb the scene.


    Shen Qing nced and recognized the alley where he had killed Old Ba Zi earlier; he faintly felt that this might have something to do with him.


    People from the slum area walked by on the street. He reached out, grabbing someone at random to ask, "What happened here?"


    "None of your damn business¡­" The person grabbed was a surly teenager who replied impatiently.


    However, the boy abruptly stopped speaking.


    Shen Qing, who had killed many people, had a sharp gaze filled with an imperceptible murderous aura.


    The teenager felt as if breathing had suddenly be difficult.


    Shen Qing''s grip on his wrist tightened more and more, as if he was about to crush his bones, causing a sharp pain to shoot through the boy''s wrist, to the point where he didn''t dare to make any sudden moves.


    Under his watchful eye, Shen Qing slowly pulled out tworge coins from his bosom and jingled them.


    The teenager knew he was unlucky today, having encountered a formidable figure, and dared not offend further; he immediately lowered his head and said, "It was Boss, Boss enforced familyw and had Wang Mazi and his group killed."


    "Boss?" Shen Qing furrowed his brows.


    "He''s the local tyrant of this area; Old Ba Zi and Wang Mazi, all these tough guys, made their living under Boss."


    Shen Qing pressed on, "What familyw did Wang Mazi break to be executed by Boss?"


    "Wang Mazi caused in-fighting, killing Old Ba Zi and breaking a taboo. Now, those under Wang Mazi are either dead or have fled; almost all of them are here." The teenager nodded his chin towards a line of corpses, indicating Wang Mazi''s.


    "Sir¡­" The teenager looked pitifully at Shen Qing, pleading with his face.


    Shen Qing released his grip, tossing the tworge coins carelessly in his direction.


    Then, he whipped the reins and urged the horse cart forward, his eyes lingering thoughtfully on Wang Mazi''s body.


    This Boss was also a ruthless character, and he would have to be cautious when encountering him in the future.


    The half-grownd who had just regained his freedom red at Shen Qing with venom in his eyes.


    The superiority Shen Qing had exuded earlier had made him extremely ufortable, causing him to lose a great deal of face.


    "Damn it, I''ll go shake them down, and see if I don''t kill you all¡­"


    He spat a thick gob of phlegm onto the ground. After cursing a few times, he bent down to pick up the tworge coins from the ground.


    Whoosh!


    At that moment, an arrow whistled through the air, suddenly piercing through his palm and nailing it to the ground, causing him to let out an involuntary scream.


    "Ah!"


    Tian Xiaohu stepped down from the cart, walked over with an expressionless face, and coldly nced at thed, maintaining silence, subjecting the half-grown boy to immense pressure, almost causing a mental copse.


    With a thunk.


    Thed seemed unable to support himself any longer and sat down on the ground with a thud.


    Ignoring the wound on his hand, he pulled out the arrow and threw it to the ground, scrambling away quickly.


    Tian Xiaohu took the tworge coins from the ground and, with a flick, cleansed the blood-stained feathered arrow before handing it back to Shen Qing.


    "The people here are cheap, they fear might but not virtue, give them an inch and they''ll open a dye workshop. You have to make them fear you, that''s the only way.


    Shen Qing gave a soft grunt and loosened his grip on the bow.


    He had heard those words. If Tian Xiaohu hadn''t acted, he too was prepared to give thatd an arrow.


    But he wasn''t aiming for his hand¡­


    After walking out of the shantytown, there were already fewer pedestrians on the official road.


    Shen Qing no longer hesitated, raised his hand, and gave the reins a fiercesh.


    Crack!


    The crisp sound of the whip followed behind the nag.


    The nag, struck by the whip, immediately broke into a run.


    In the cold winter of the twelfth lunar month, the sky after the Shen Hour was a leaden gray, and the cold wind cut like a knife against the skin.


    The cart carrying the three of them bumped along the official road, the wheels crunched over the frozen ground with a dull creaking, racing toward the distant Hongshan Vige, looming faintly through the thin snow.


    When passing branches, specks of snow scattered, adorning their eyebrows and coats with quickly melting ice-cold droplets.


    Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu were both wearing bulky cotton-padded coats, their hands gripping the cart''s edge tightly, their knuckles turning white from the cold.


    They intermittently exhaled puffs of white breath that the cold wind shredded to tracelessness.


    As for Shen Qing, holding the reins, hisplexion was rosy, not feeling the cold at all.


    In his hands, the nag was as obedient as a docile maidservant, allowing him tomand and handle at will.


    After running for almost half an hour, the nag''s stamina seemed to be slowly depleting, and its speed inevitably began to decrease.


    Shen Qing appeared thoughtful, his pupils shing with a light as if a drop of ink had fallen into water, creating ripples.


    In his vision, a line of ink characters then emerged.


    [Skill: Driving Skill (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 101/100 points]


    [Status: Eligible for upgrade]


    [Note: Mastery of driving skillses with practice¡ªthe continuous exercise can improve skill progression, mastering the key points of driving. In the future, driving can be both stable and fast, natural as moving one''s own arm, leaving others behind in the dust.]


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but let out a wry smile.


    He hadn''t expected that driving these past few days would have filled his driving skill progression.


    Shen Qing''s mind stirred, and he chose to breakthrough.

 Chapter 55: Chapter 54 Hongshan Trading Company (Please Follow)

    In the moment he decided to make a breakthrough, Shen Qing felt as if he was in the torrent of time, countless fragments of driving memories surging into his mind like a tide.


    These memories epassed many driving skills from the past to present, from handling a regr horse-drawn carriage to racing ancient chariots, nothing was left out.


    Each image was so vivid and clear, as if he had experienced them firsthand.


    As these memories slowly merged and turned into a powerful stream of knowledge for Shen Qing to digest, his understanding of horses and carriages deepened, providing him with a sense of confidence that came from clearprehension.


    [Skill: Driving Skill (Skilled)]


    [Progress: 1/200 points]


    [Status: Unimprovable]


    [Note: The way of driving requires persistent effort, its essence lies in repetitive practice, where skillfulness is born from familiarity. Continue to break through, and you will handle it with even greater ease, control, and unity between driver and vehicle.]


    Shen Qing sat calmly on the cart, the reins in his hand seemed toe alive, each slight pull carrying a precise intention.


    As he gradually approached the vicinity of Hongshan Vige, he left the imperial road, and the mountain terrain started to beplex and varied.


    But whether it was a steep slope or a narrow bridge, the breakthrough Shen Qing managed it with ease.


    Every turn, every eleration was just right.


    Such performance made Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu, sitting on the cart, sense the difference.


    In the blink of an eye, the cart seemed even steadier.


    Looking at a section of water ink text in his line of sight, Shen Qing remembered something and asked Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu, "Do you two know how to drive?"


    Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu looked at each other, shook their heads, and said, "Not yet."


    "When there''s timeter on, I''ll teach you how to drive," Shen Qing said, gazing ahead, lost in thought.


    Currently, he had made two trips to Hongshan Vige and yed the role of a merchant twice.


    Calcting the profits carefully, if it weren''t for the boss and external thieves, it was quite considerable.


    In Hongshan Vige, hunting in winter, selling exotic nts in spring, and gathering fruits and chopping wood in summer and fall could all be considered ie.


    It''s not much for each household, but when added together, it''s still significant.


    Once things stabilize, if the opportunity is right, he could attempt to establish a stablemercial route from Hongshan Vige to Taiping County.


    As long as the route is established, the business couldst a long time.


    "I do have tens of taels of silver in my hands, but in the future, martial arts training, living expenses, and making friends will all involve significant expenditure.


    This money may seem like a lot, but it won''tst if I don''t manage it well. I can''t afford to consume without producing.


    Starting a business in Hongshan Vige is a good beginning."


    It might seem small at first, but looking into the future, even the Four Great Eastern Families in the county started from small and built up their businesses over generations.


    In the future, I might as well establish a business on the same scale and make a name for Hongshan Trading Company," Shen Qing was full of confidence.


    To make this business work, in addition to establishing a stablemercial route, he also needed to have sufficient martial strength.


    Having witnessed the murky environment of Taiping County, he knew that without strength, it would be difficult to gain a foothold amidst the interwoven rtionships and numerous factions within the city.


    Shen Qing knew that his current foundation was purely because he had fought for it with his own strengths and prowess.


    Rowing against the current, if you do not advance, you will fall back.


    If he did not actively strive for progress, it would be hard to make advancester; at best, he would only be a local notable limited to Hongshan, unable to step beyond the bounds of that substantial mountain.


    "Brother Qingzi, why are you suddenly teaching us to drive?" Shen Xiaohu sat up, asking Shen Qing with curiosity: "I think you drive just fine, even steadier than bookworm."


    "I previously promised your aunt and uncle that I would bring you and Shanwa into this business of selling mountain goods. Now that I''ve run the route a couple of times and am familiar with it, I thought I''d teach you both some."


    Shen Qing turned his head and nced at Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu, and said solemnly, "In the future, I will be spending more time and effort on Linfeng Hall, and I might not be able to take care of this side of things. When the time is right, I n to let you both help manage this mountain goods business; I don''t trust anyone else with it."


    After pondering for a while, Shen Qing said: "At that time, I can give you both a twenty percent share for each trip."


    "Ah, twenty percent? You''re entrusting such an important business to us?"


    Shen Xiaohu was somewhat incredulous; after following on a few trips, he had some understanding of the profits involved.


    In his eyes, it was no small amount¡ªat least four to five hundred wen.


    Even at twenty percent, each person would get forty to fifty wen, equivalent to the ie of an adultborer in the vige; for a single person, one trip could double that.


    If they moved quickly, it wouldn''t even take a day''s time.


    "You''re not willing? Is it too little?"


    "No, no, no, this business was started by you, Brother Qingzi. Just having a taste of it is already more than I deserve, how can I be so ungrateful. I actually feel like I''m taking advantage of you," said Shen Xiaohu quickly.


    Shen Qing looked at Tian Xiaohu and asked, "And you?"


    "I didn''t have much to do in the vige to begin with; if you, Qingzi, are willing to bring me along, of course, I couldn''t ask for more." As he spoke, Tian Xiaohu''s face showed a touch of happiness.


    Such opportunities to work outside of their vige were notmon for them.


    Having this additional ie during spare times would undoubtedly make his life much morefortable.


    Shen Qing turned to Shen Xiaohu and instructed, "Hu Zi, you keep an eye on this matter for now. Now that you''ve entered Linfeng Hall, focus primarily on practicing martial arts."


    "Understood," he acknowledged.


    "Let''s settle on this for now. Go back and exin everything to your aunt, uncle, and Shanwa," Shen Qing instructed. "Xiao Hu, you prepare too. I''ll take you with me on every trip to deliver the mountain goods from now on."


    "Understood."


    The journey from Hongshan Vige to Taiping County was about fifty to sixty li, taking just over an hour one way¡ªit really was a bit of a time-waster.


    Especially since before spring, the buying and selling of mountain goods only happened about once every ten days.


    If he went fewer times, it would inevitably reduce his training.


    Simply practicing blindly at home ran the risk of doing it wrong without anyone to correct him.


    He needed to practice in the city.


    After all, Shen Qing was only one person with limited energy; he couldn''t juggle everything at once.


    Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu had followed him on two trips, so they should be familiar with the process by now.


    Having them assist would not only increase their ie but also free up some of his energy¡ªa win-win situation.


    Shen Qing remembered Ouyang Tiezhu saying that it was best to do stretching and bone-strengthening before the age of sixteen; it wouldn''t be as effective once the muscles and bones had set.


    Though this seemed to leave plenty of time ording to the Progress on the Water Ink Panel,


    he didn''t dare let that cause him to ck off.


    Shen Qing nned to go to Linfeng Hall in Taiping County to practice martial arts whenever he had the chance, at the very least toplete all of the movement technique training.


    After another half-an-hour''s journey, Hongshan Vige''s silhouette gradually came into view for the trio.


    Shen Qing lifted his whip but hadn''t even brought it down on the nag,


    when the nag, as if anticipating, already picked up its pace and began to run faster.

 Chapter 56: Chapter 55: You need to help the adults more in the future

    Shen Qing and hispany hurried along and finally arrived at Hongshan Vige by evening.


    By this time, most of the vigers who had gone up the mountain to hunt hade down, and the vige was much livelier than during the day.


    The cart rumbled over the stone-paved path at the vige entrance, kicking up ayer of muddy soil as it passed through the entrance of Hongshan Vige.


    A viger d in dog skin poked his head out and, seeing Shen Qing and his group, said, "Yo, isn''t that Qingzi and his crew? They''ve finallye back!"


    With his call, other idle vigers also gathered around.


    "Qingzi, why didn''t youe back yesterday?" One viger said teasingly with a smile, "Everyone was joking that you had exchanged your mountain goods for money to enjoy yourself in the city and weren''t going toe back."


    Shen Qing let go of the rigid ropes, jumped down from the cart, and said, "Last night I practiced Martial Arts at Linfeng Hall untilte, so I stayed in the city overnight and was dyed."


    "That''s what I thought, Qingzi is a fair dealer. How could he run off? They just didn''t believe it. Heh heh..."


    Shen Qing, aware of the petty thoughts of the vigers, said with annoyance, "Stop babbling, your money hasn''t been shortchanged. Get Zhang Batou over here to see me."


    "Alright, alright."


    Not long after, Zhang Baqing, who was eating dinner when he heard of Shen Qing''s return, hastily wolfed down a couple of bites, put down his bowl, wiped his mouth, and ran out.


    When he arrived at the entrance of the vige and saw Shen Qing and the others, he immediately called out warmly, "Shen Family nephew, did you call for me?"


    "Zhang Batou, I do have something for you indeed."


    In front of everyone, Shen Qing took out more than six strings ofrge coins and handed them to Zhang Baqing saying, "Here is the money from this sale of goods. Take the ount book and tally it for the vigers, and settle their payments."


    The onlooking hunters eagerly watched therge coins in Shen Qing''s hands, rubbing their hands together, impatient to receive their share.


    What they busied themselves with every day, they were now counting on this.


    Zhang Baqing pped his chest in assurance and said, "Sure, leave it to me. I know exactly how much each family owes."


    Shen Qing then continued, "After that, tell everyone that once this payment is settled, I won''t run a tab next time. Cash for goods, to avoid any confusion in the middle."


    "Ah..." Zhang Baqing said in surprise, "There are so many families in the vige, that will require quite a sum of money."


    "That''s not for you to worry about," Shen Qing dismissed.


    As Shen Qing spoke, his tone neither warm nor cold, Zhang Baqing instantly felt a sense of distance.


    Zhang Baqing understood internally; now that the Shen Family''s eldest son had learned Martial Arts and was achieving something, he might even be a gentleman in the city one day, naturally not in the same ss as him.


    He silently reminded himself not to be carried away, "Okay, I''ll visit each family and tell them today."


    "I appreciate it, Uncle Zhang," Shen Qing said, and he took a candle from the cart and handed it to Zhang Baqing, "It''s dark and the roads in the vige are slippery. I have a candle on my cart for you, Uncle Zhang, to light your way."


    In the city, high-quality candles could sell for a hundred to four hundred wen each and were very expensive.


    Even the cheaper, ordinary candles used by themon folk were priced at ten to thirty wen each.


    For the vigers, these were rare items.


    Thus, those in the vige would typically light oilmps at night and rarely would anyone afford to use candles, such extravagant items.


    Shen Qing''s gesture was akin to giving Zhang Baqing a modest benefit, stimting his enthusiasm, ensuring he wasn''t working for nothing.


    Vigers, unencumbered by the borate courtesies and rules of city dwellers, Zhang Baqing simply expressed his thanks and gratefully epted the offer.


    After receiving the candle, his wrinkled old face blossomed into a wide grin, and he eagerly got to work for Shen Qing, filled with vigor.


    After dispersing the crowd of vigers, Shen Qing and Tian Xiaohu returned to their respective homes.


    After several turns, Shen Qing arrived at the mud-brick house with its pale yellow walls; therge doors were wide open.


    Shen Qing moved aside to tether his horse next to the house.


    Elder Sister Shen Fang, hearing the noise outside, hurriedly came out and, seeing Shen Qing in a new set of clothes, happily eximed, "Ah, Qingzi has returned!"


    She quickly went forward to help.


    Seeing a bundle on the handcart, Shen Fang, without a second thought, went up to it and lifted, only to find it remarkably heavy.


    "What''s inside this, Qingzi? It''s so heavy."


    "Let''s talk about it after we get back inside."


    Shen Qing removed the handcart from the horse,id it against the wall,


    and took down a sack of stuff, following Shen Fang into the house.


    After putting down the various items, Shen Qing sat on the edge of the bed and, upon noticing Shen Fang still eyeing the bundle, said, "If you want to look, just open it. What''s with the hesitation?"


    All mysterious.


    Muttering to herself, Shen Fang deftly unwrapped the bundle.


    Whoosh! A cascade of silver grains and blocks flowed out like a waterfall, spilling before her.


    She was immediately stunned.


    She had never seen so much money in her life.


    Feeling like a thief, Shen Fang quickly rewrapped the bundle and asked in a trembling whisper, "Where did you get all this money from?"


    "I helped some people in the city, and they, being kind-hearted, gave it to me," Shen Qing exined with an earnest look.


    Shen Fang was somewhat incredulous.


    With a smile, Shen Qing said, "Elder Sister, the lords in the city dine with chopsticks made of gold, so this is merely pocket change to them."


    Chopsticks made of gold?


    Shen Fang took in a sharp breath and said, "Then you should help those lords more in the future. Be careful though and don''t let them find any fault in your work. Understand?"


    Elder Sister Shen Fang now seemed like an old mother hen, constantly nagging with her endless chatter, "Once we''ve saved up enough money, we can buy a house in the city and you can marry a wife from there. Then you''ll have truly made something of yourself."


    Shen Qing shook his head helplessly, thinking that the idea of getting him a wife had turned into his elder sister''s obsession; she brought it up every few days.


    "We''re just making ends meet right now; it''s still too early for that. But from now on, we don''t have to skimp and save every day. Eat what you should, wear what you should, drink what you should. Our most difficult times as siblings are behind us."


    Seeing Shen Qing''s somewhat frivolous attitude, Shen Fang frowned and said, "Qingzi, it was thanks to Auntie and Uncle that you could learn martial arts and make something of yourself in the city. If you ever make it big one day, you can''t forget them; we must be grateful and repay their kindness."


    "I know."


    Shen Qing stood up from the bed, looked around and asked, "What are we having for dinner tonight?"


    Shen Fang secured the bundle tightly and handed it to Shen Qing; she dusted off her hands and said, "We still have somemb meat at home. I see you brought back some vermicelli, so I''ll cook that for you."


    "Alright then," Shen Qing replied with a smile, adding, "I''ve bought quite a few spices and salts from the city, remember to use them generously."


    In the few months he had been in this world, he felt that he was starting to live more like a human being.


    Life was finally bingfortable.

 Chapter 57: Chapter 56: Passing the Five Person Stance

    In the following days, Shen Qing went deep into the mountains, spending most of his time hunting and practicing the movement technique of Wind Facing Finger.


    As his Bow Technique and hunting skills progressed, his hunting ability improved significantly.


    He never returned from the mountain empty-handed, always bringing back small game like rabbits, pheasants, and badgers, and even a deer, which piled up at home.


    However, strangely, some of therger game he used to encounter frequently, such as wild boars, elk, and goats, were now seldom seen.


    It even made Shen Qing wonder if his hunting skills had improved so rapidly that he had almost depleted Shicheng Mountain.


    It was less than a month until the onset of spring.


    Shen Qing could only sincerely hope that the small animals in the mountains could endure a little longer.


    Hang in there, winter is almost over.


    ...


    In the bamboo forest behind the house, Shen Qing squatted down, picked up a stone from the ground, and easily grasped it in his palm.


    Dressed in short clothes, his arms were exposed, the veins faintly visible.


    Suddenly, Shen Qing exerted force, his muscles tensed on his arms, and the veins bulged.


    Cracks appeared on the surface of the stone, and then with a "crack," it shattered into several pieces in his palm, the fragments scattering on the ground.


    He dusted off his hands and stood up, his gaze calm.


    "Now that I have achieved Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, my arm strength has increased significantly, far surpassing ordinary people. Five or six men can''t stop me, and I can even crush a stone if I exert my full force. So why can''t I puncture a simple wooden board with my fingers?"


    Shen Qing looked towards the other side, at a broken wooden board full of marks.


    These days, he had been secretly pondering and trying a few times like Ouyang Tiezhu had, but he had not seeded.


    Li Linfeng''s hard skill, it seemed, did not depend solely on the strength.


    There was a self-consistent logic and training method involved.


    Shen Qing had asked around in Linfeng Hall, and Li Linfeng had once used this unique skill to counter-kill four Bone Refining Realm martial masters and became famous in the county town in one battle.


    These Bone Refining Realm martial masters, on the other hand, could easily subdue five or six individuals achieving Great Perfection of Qi and Blood like him, and eighteen or neen sturdy men couldn''t even get close to these martial masters.


    He dared not imagine how strong Li Linfeng, now in the Qi Cultivation Realm, might be.


    Indeed, the county town was a ce where crouching tigers and hidden dragonsy, not to be underestimated.


    I must continue to train hard.


    Shen Qing put aside these distracting thoughts and walked to an old oak tree, treating it as if it were a Wooden Dummy.


    He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and went over the actions of the Three Person Stance and the Five Person Stance, which he had replicated in his mind countless times.


    Once he was sure he had remembered all the details, he suddenly opened his eyes.


    Immediately, his figure became as agile as a darting rabbit,unching into a fluid series of movement techniques around the old tree, burying himself in practice.


    He darted and jumped, lightly tapping the ground with the tips of his toes, leaving almost no trace.


    One could almost hear the rustling of his clothes in the air, responding to the cold winds in the bamboo forest.


    Time slowly passed.


    Even though it was winter and he was dressed in short clothes, sweat gradually soaked the back of Shen Qing''s shirt.


    Gradually, his breathing became rapid and powerful, his movements more smooth and rapid.


    On the rough bark of the old oak tree, there were several spots that, after countless touches and leveraging, had be much smoother, appearing somewhat different from other areas.


    Shen Qing continued to practice tirelessly until he was nearly depleted of energy.


    In order not to waste time, he would continue to practice stance training and nourish and train his Qi and Blood from Nine Skills to recover his strength.


    As he constantly cultivated, Shen Qing''s understanding of martial arts increased day by day, and he found some of the martial artsmon sense on Nine Skills to be somewhat erroneous.


    For instance, the Nine Skills never mentioned stretching or Bone Strengthening, nor did it introduce concepts like Skin Forging and Qi Cultivation.


    It merely stated that once the essence blood throughout the body reached the physical limits it could contain and fused the Qi-Blood with one''s thoughts, one could cultivate Qi strength. This seemed rather exaggerated and unreliable.


    Up until now, he still hadn''t figured out what exactly the book meant by "thoughts in the heart."


    No wonder this Martial Arts wasn''t very famous.


    Shen Qing even suspected that when Chen Yuan and the others had purchased this Martial Arts book, they had been significantly overcharged.


    But it wasn''t as if this Martial Arts waspletely useless.


    At the very least, the nine major stance trainings recorded in it were truly beneficial, greatly aiding in the nourishing and training of his Qi-Blood.


    Shen Qing didn''t keep it to himself either; he also taught this Martial Arts to Tian Xiao Hu and Hu Zi, the brothers.


    The few of them were vigorous in practicing daily at home.


    The three weren''t as prodigious as Shen Qing; they were still struggling at the Entry Level.


    After a brief adjustment, Shen Qing felt his strength had almost recovered, so he plunged into practice again.


    Under the influence of the Water Ink Panel, each time Shen Qing practiced his movement technique, he became more agile and more precise than the previous time.


    In the blink of an eye, seven or eight days had passed, and the mountain goods of Hongshan Vige had umted quite a bit; it was time to head to the county town again.


    In the bamboo grove, Shen Qing pped his palm against a tree trunk,pleted thest move, and gently exhaled.


    He nced at the Water Ink Panel in his line of sight and his face couldn''t help but reveal a hint of joy.


    [Skill: Wind Facing Finger (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 92/100 points]


    [Status: Unable to Improve]


    Through continuous practice, along with the skill boosts from the Water Ink Panel.


    Shen Qing was already able to smoothly execute the Two Person Stance, Three Person Stance, and Five Person Stance in session, achieving a sort of breakthrough.


    Unfortunately, an old tree is ultimately not a Wooden Dummy; some movements still differed, and he hadn''t perfected them, making it difficult to increase his progress.


    He thought of taking this opportunity to visit Linfeng Hall, to fill up thisst bit of progress and see if he could break through this bottleneck.


    Shen Qing exhaled thest turbid breath, gathered his thoughts, and went back home.


    At this time, his elder sister, Shen Fang, had already prepared a barrel of hot water for washing up after training.


    After washing up, Shen Qing put on new clothes and went out, making a beeline to Zhang Shuyuan''s house to ask him to help with some ounting.


    With his current level of literacy, he could handle simple ounts and arithmetic himself. However, the ounts in the vige had mostly been done by Zhang Shuyuan for years, and the vigers recognized him.


    If he were to do it himself, the vigers might not actually recognize it, and it could instead cause unnecessaryplications.


    So it was better to be safe and stick with the old ways.


    Upon arriving at Zhang Shuyuan''s house and exining his purpose, Zhang Shuyuan, without any embarrassment or the arrogance of a schr, agreed immediately, as though afraid Shen Qing might change his mind.


    As for why Shen Qing hadn''te to study the Thousand Character ssic in such a long time, he didn''t even ask, acting as if he had forgotten all about it.


    In his view, learning was something entirely dependent on one''s self-discipline.


    With Zhang Shuyuan in tow, Shen Qing went to a t area in the center of Hongshan Vige.


    Tian Xiao Hu had already brought the cart over and was waiting early on; other vigers wanting to sell goods also gradually arrived.


    Shen Qing walked over and pped his hands.


    The crisp sound instantly attracted the attention of the vigers on the nd.


    Shen Qing shouted, "Let''s start collecting the mountain goods, folks, hurry up."

 Chapter 58: Chapter 57: The Business Begins to Take Shape

    ```


    Hearing Shen Qing''s call, many vigers carrying their own mountain goods squeezed in front of him.


    The scene became chaotic.


    Shen Qing patted the handcart and shouted, "Quiet down, everyone line up, one at a time."


    A straightforward viger pushed to the front and asked doubtfully, "Qingzi, everyone says you''re not doing credit this time and require cash payment, is that true or false?"


    "Of course it''s true." Shen Qing took out some silver and some pre-preparedrge coins from his bosom and piled them on the handcart, "Today is cash payment, I''ll buy whatever goods you have."


    Shen Qing''s voice was solid and resolute, spreading far and wide, reaching the ears of everyone around.


    Wow!


    The many vigers craned their necks to look forward.


    Seeing Shen Qing suddenly take out so much money, they looked at each other with surprised expressions.


    Some couldn''t understand.


    Just over a month ago, this was the same Shen Qing who was struggling to make ends meet and suffering the bullying of the Chen Family, so why did it seem like he had undergone aplete transformation overnight and had be so wealthy?


    Over this past month, Shen Qing''s first improvement was in his hunting skills, no longering back empty-handed, then he aggressively took down Chen Yuan and his entire family.


    After that he was learning to read and sell mountain goods, and even training in martial arts in the city...


    To them, it seemed as magical and unbelievable as reading scriptures or hearing a fairy tale.


    Having lived in Hongshan Vige for so long and grown up there, they had never heard of such a person emerging before.


    Shen Qing had truly "struck it rich."


    Most hunters who lived off the mountains year-round had tough temperaments and could be blunt in speech, but they also stood by a strict code of respect for strength and power.


    The ruthless ferocity of Shen Qing when he killed the Chen Family not long ago was still vivid in their minds.


    They knew that Shen Qing was a man not to be trifed with.


    Now that he had made money, no one dared to say anything, and at most some people felt a twinge of sour envy, thinking he was just lucky.


    Once Shen Qing had made his stance clear and the vigers were certain he did have the money and wasn''t just talking big, they brushed aside theirst doubts and began selling their mountain goods to him.


    One man came over with a bunch of freshly picked mushrooms and some coptis, cing them in front of Shen Qing.


    After Shen Qing weighed them, he purchased them at the normal price.


    Receiving the money made the man extremely happy, and seeing that Zhang Shuyuan was taking his job of keeping the ounts seriously, he left reassured.


    Seeing this man receive his money made the other hunters eager to step forward and sell their goods to Shen Qing.


    And one by one, as they got their money, they were grinning from ear to ear.


    Just because there was nowhere to spend money in Hongshan Vige didn''t mean the vigerscked the motivation to earn it.


    Spring wasing, and the government office would soon be collecting forest tax, household tax, leftover woman tax ... and by the time autumn arrived, there would bend tribute and a vast array of misceneous duties with money required at every turn.


    If they couldn''t pay up when the county government came to collect the taxes, they would be conscripted to dig rivers or build walls, forced intobor, and if they didn''t die from it, they would still lose ayer of skin.


    Besides, even without the taxes, people from the vige asionally needed to go to Taiping County to attend the major markets and purchase necessities for living.


    So money was very important.


    A vige woman who had traded for some money asked Shen Qing, "Qingzi, are you taking people with you to the county town this time? Can Ie along with you?"


    The speaker was an aunt from Linfeng Hall, someone Shen Qing vaguely remembered, although they didn''t interact much.


    "I am taking people with me, but I''m afraid Auntie can''te with me this time," Shen Qing replied truthfully, "I need to train in martial arts in the county town, and I likely won''t be back for seven, eight days, maybe even ten."


    The aunt from Linfeng Hall was somewhat disappointed and said, "¡­ I see, I was hoping to catch a ride and pay you some fare."


    ```


    ```


    She emphasized the word "money" heavily, trying to change Shen Qing''s mind.


    Of course, this didn''t deceive Shen Qing.


    Having lived in the vige for a while, he was already used to the little schemes of the vige women.


    This time, he definitely wouldn''t bring anyone else to Taiping County.


    First, there wasn''t enough room. The cart was only so big. After loading it with mountain goods, it would already be fully packed with him, Shen Xiaohu, and Tian Xiaohu. Adding one more person would make it too cramped.


    Second, it would be troublesome.


    He wasn''t going to the county town just for the trade of mountain goods, but more importantly, to train in martial arts at Linfeng Hall. Bringing another person would leave no room to spare.


    However, this aunt did give him an idea. It was impossible to take someone with him, but he could certainly make money.


    Shen Qing felt he could purchase the mountain goods himself and, once the vigers had the money in their hands, he could help them make a list and purchase other supplies for them in the county town.


    He could earn something on both the trip there and the way back.


    Money bes more valuable once it starts moving.


    Faintly, Shen Qing felt the beginnings of a business for Hongshan Trading Company.


    Shen Qing said with a smile, "Auntie, do you want to buy something? If so, I can bring some things back for you."


    "Really? That''s great," Aunt Shen eximed. "I just want to buy a pair of scissors and some needles and thread for the house. If you see them, please bring some back for me."


    "No problem. Please take note, Mister, and I''ll buy them when I head into the county town," Shen Qing instructed Zhang Shuyuan.


    Aunt Shen was immediately delighted.


    Seeing this, others who had a bit of extra cash also entrusted Shen Qing to purchase items for them in the county town, even paying a deposit.


    A portion of the money he had just spent immediately made its way back into Shen Qing''s hands.


    After being busy for nearly three to four shichen, the mountain goods from the vige had beenpletely collected and the cart was fully loaded.


    Taking the shopping list from Zhang Shuyuan, and seizing the good weather of the morning, Shen Qing set out for Taiping County with Tian Xiaohu.


    Because he let Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu take turns driving the cart, it dyed them a little. A journey that usually took one shichen took nearly one and a half this time.


    Fortunately, they had left early and arrived at the city gates of the county town before noon.


    The trip was uneventful.


    After paying the usual City Entrance Fee as always, Shen Qing headed straight to Wanfeng Building.


    The backyard of Wanfeng Building was still bustling with activity, with hunters, vegetable farmers, and portersing and going.


    Only the manager was a new face.


    He looked more respectable than Wang Qiyao and a bit younger.


    The abacus clicked quickly in his hands, showing efficiency.


    Since it was their first transaction, the new manager handled everything by the book, neither pressing too hard nor asking for too much.


    A cart full of goods was exchanged for thirteen silver taels.


    The mountain goods he brought were worth roughly 1,300 wen in silver, and he could make about two taels from this trip.


    Quite nice.


    Shen Qing took out two hundred wen inrge coins, weighed them thoughtfully for a moment, then walked over to the new manager with a smile and lowered his voice to ask, "What should I call you, manager?"


    Manager Cai nced down at the hard, crisp items Shen Qing had passed him. Without any trace, he skillfully pocketed them and said, "Cai Jia Sheng."


    ```

 Chapter 59: Chapter 58: Truly a Material for Martial Arts!

    "Manager Cai, it''s nice to meet you in person. My name is Shen Qing from Hongshan Vige. I hope for your continued support in the future."


    "Hmm." Cai Jia Sheng hummed softly, continuing to focus on his work.


    "Manager Cai is busy now, I''ll bother youter when you''re free. Goodbye."


    Shen Qing didn''t mind and decisively led his men to leave through the back courtyard.


    There would be other days.


    For their first interaction, Shen Qing decided to use a small amount of money to test the waters, to see if this manager was really usable.


    If they didn''t get along well, if he wasn''t very useful,


    then there would be no choice but to have the Song family rece him with someone new.


    "Xiao Hu,e here, this is what you''ve earned this time." Stepping outside the courtyard, Shen Qing pulled out seventyrge coins and handed them to Tian Xiaohu.


    After distributing the coins, Shen Qing instructed, "We''re going to stay in the county to practice Martial Arts for a few days. You''ll go with me to the marketter to buy the things for the vige, see if you can catch a ride with someone else to bring them back first, and I''ll settle the payment when I return."


    Tian Xiaohu, without any pretense, epted the seventyrge coins and nodded seriously, "I''ve got it down, I won''t mess up your affairs."


    "Hmm, if you''re not busy when you get back, you could go learn some arithmetic from Zhang Shuyuan."


    "Arithmetic?!" Tian Xiaohu''s brow furrowed, he hadn''t expected that handling a task would require learning such things: "That''s so troublesome¡­"


    "Don''t you want to advance yourself? If you do, you''ll need to know these things."


    "I''ll follow your advice."


    Having given these instructions, Shen Qing took Tian Xiaohu to the market. They purchased all the various items the vigers wanted and handed them over to Tian Xiaohu to take back.


    Luckily, the items bought by the vige this time weren''t too numerous, and Tian Xiaohu could carry them all by himself.


    After sending Tian Xiaohu off, Shen Qing also made a trip to the rouge shop and spent one tael of gold on some fine rouge.


    It was about time his aunt Shen Xiu should be back.


    Just as his eldest sister said, his aunt had helped him a lot and deserved to be thanked in person.


    A grand gift deepens the bonds of friendship.


    To give is to receive.


    Having visited Linfeng Hall many times, Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu had be much more familiar with the ce and no longer felt the restraint they had the first time.


    They didn''t need A Fu to escort them; they went into the courtyard, familiarly tied their dpidated horses in the stable, and each went to practice Martial Arts in the yard.


    Ouyang Tiezhu wasn''t seen in the inner courtyard, and Shen Qing wasn''t in a hurry to look for him.


    By now, he had skillfully increased his mastery of the Wind Defying Finger technique to ny-two, just eight points shy of breaking through the bottleneck.


    If he hadn''t miscalcted, practicing with the Wooden Dummy for one or two Shi Chen should be enough to achieve it.


    He would break through the Wind Defying Finger movement technique first.


    Shen Qing took off his coat and, dressed in a short outfit, he directly approached the Five Person Stance.


    Most of the seven or eight people in the inner courtyard had been practicing the movement technique for a long time and were mostly still at the Three Person Stance level.


    Only a sparse few were at the Five Person Stance.


    This individual, sporting arched brows and sharp eyes, was fairly handsome, though somewhat portly.


    If Shen Qing remembered correctly, this person should be Xiao Zhi, a cook who earned his living from the Song and Dong Family''s business.


    Their ages were simr, and he had been practicing body training here for nearly half a year.


    In the back courtyard, before Shen Qing arrived, he was the one with the most potential for learning Martial Arts.


    Seeing Shen Qing approach the Five Person Stance, Xiao Zhi greeted him with a smile, "Junior brother, are you also here to practice the Five Person Stance?"


    Shen Qing responded casually, "Hmm, just practicing casually."


    Standing in front of the Five Person Stance, Shen Qing''s expression turned serious; he subconsciously widened his stance slightly, rooted like an old pine to the ground.


    Without a prolonged preparation, Shen Qing suddenly moved.


    His gaze sharpened, and his form moved as swiftly as a darting rabbit.


    All the movement techniques Ouyang Tiezhu had taught him were deeply embedded in his mind, and he replicated them wlessly at this moment.


    Unlike Ouyang Tiezhu, however, Shen Qing''s movements were noticeably more ferocious.


    Bang, bang, bang.


    With swift actions like cascading rain, he continued dodging, kicking, pping, and weaving around the dummy...


    A pair of hands fell on different parts of the wooden dummy like raindrops, making a dull yet forceful sound.


    What was even more rare was that his stance was very stable.


    Even when he turned and dodged, it was as if he were walking on water, hardly causing a ripple.


    Inside Hongshan Vige, after spending about seven or eight days, Shen Qing had mastered thisplex movement technique to perfection.


    At the beginning, he had to asionally pause to adjust his breathing and think about the next move''s connection.


    But now, every one of his actions had be smooth and natural, as if these techniques were already integrated into his blood, bing a part of his instincts.


    Bang!


    At the final blow of the Five Person Stance, there was still a remnant stickiness, not quite perfect.


    Shen Qing stopped and started over from the beginning.


    Sweat slid down his forehead, dropping onto the floor tiles, making a crisp sound.


    Bang Bang Bang!


    The dull noises began again.


    The wooden dummy trembled slightly under Shen Qing''s onught, as if it was about to topple over at any moment.


    Xiao Zhi, having finished his practice, couldn''t help but curiously look towards Shen Qing, where he could only see streaks of residual images crisscrossing.


    There weren''t too many secrets within Linfeng Hall.


    Ever since Shen Qing entered the inner courtyard, word about him had spread, knowing he was Li Linfeng Lady Qi''s close nephew and also that his Martial Arts were highly gifted.


    They had always heard of him but never dealt with him directly.


    Today was his lucky day; he saw Shen Qing practicing the Five Person Stance, and it was truly an eye-opener.


    If he remembered correctly, it was hardly more than ten days since he entered Linfeng Hall, and he had already trained to this extent.


    True Martial Arts material indeed! Absolutely monstrous!


    All disciples in the inner courtyard paid to learn skills, with very straightforward purposes; how much they learned entirely depended on their skill without too many other concerns.


    Themotion from Shen Qing''s side was significant; as soon as he stepped into the inner courtyard, he had already attracted a crowd''s attention.


    At that moment, Shen Qing waspletely immersed in his self-forgetful practice, hardly paying any attention to the gazes of others.


    Breakthrough! Breakthrough! Breakthrough!


    A simple belief continuously ran through his mind.


    After practicing for about one more Shi Chen.


    "Bang!"


    Following the final forceful side kick, Shen Qing steadily caught the wooden dummy''s onught.


    A full sense of joy suddenly shone in his eyes.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 100/100 points]


    [Status: can be enhanced]


    [Note: Winter training on the ninth cycle of nine days, summer training in the hottest days, continuous practice can master the skill, increasing the skill proficiency.]


    Unknowingly, Shen Qing had already trained this Martial Art to the first checkpoint. He couldn''t help but lick his lips, his face full of anticipation.


    "Wind Defying Finger, break through for me!"


    A muffled boom sounded.


    Shen Qing felt his whole body shake.


    Suddenly, warm currents surged inside his body, like the melting snow in spring, roaming throughout his body.


    He felt the Qi-Blood inside him tumbling, muscles trembling slightly, as if trying to break free from some kind of restraint.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but slowly lift his foot and fiercely stepped forward.


    His muscles erupted with astonishing power at that moment, dust flew up from the ground, and fine cracks appeared on the thick floor tiles.


    That single step made Shen Qing feel a refreshing sense of liberation from bondage.


    All sorts of movement techniques thoroughly fused in his mind.


    The movement technique for Wind Defying Finger was aplished!

 Chapter 60: Chapter 59 Aunt encounters misfortune

    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Skillful)]


    [Progress: 0/200 points]


    [Status: Unable to Improve]


    For Shen Qing, the breakthrough process seemed to take a very long time, but to the disciples in the inner courtyard, it was no more than five or six breaths from start to finish.


    In such a short period of time, they were not aware of Shen Qing''s breakthrough.


    Most were there just to watch the excitement, but a few keen-eyed disciples vaguely noticed some subtle changes in Shen Qing.


    But that was as far as it went.


    These people more or less knew about Shen Qing''s background, and aside from a bit of surprise and envy, with some emotion on their faces, there were no so-called shocks.


    After Shen Qing finished his practice, the onlookers swiftly redirected their attention, focusing on the practice of their movement techniques.


    The sounds of pping and colliding with the Wooden Dummy once again filled the inner courtyard.


    Having mastered his movement technique, Shen Qing had no intention of showing off. He digested the physical and mental changes from the breakthrough, gathered his spirit, and briskly walked towards the pharmacy in the Outer Court.


    The so-called pharmacy of Linfeng Hall was nothing more than a small partition made from the living quarters of the servants.


    Upon entering, you could see a brick wall filled with medicine cabs, brimming with various medicinal ingredients, and emitting a strong aroma of medicine.


    In the center of the room, there were three furnaces, each with a medicine pot bubbling and steaming, the bitter scent of the medicine continuously entering Shen Qing''s nostrils.


    A Fu was standing in front of a medicine pot, asionally adding a bit of firewood. Noticing the movements at the door, he turned back and smiled, "Junior Brother Shen, did youe to find me for something?"


    Shen Qing gestured with a fist and palm salute and said, "Is eldest senior brother at the courtyard today?"


    Now that the movement technique of Wind Defying Finger had been mastered, it was definitely time to practice the following striking technique, stretching and bone strengthening.


    Since the master had entrusted him to Ouyang Tiezhu, he naturally had to seek him out to learn.


    A Fu picked up a thin branch from the side, snapped it into sections, and stuffed them into the fire to boost it before saying, "Eldest senior brother has gone out to deal with something concerning your Seventh Master."


    Seventh Master? Aunt?


    Shen Qing frowned with concern, "What happened to my aunt? She''s been feeling unwelltely, hasn''t she?"


    A Fu sighed and said, "She was ambushed by the Mi Gang on the way back from Jifu Templest time. She couldn''t save the fetus and lost it."


    "What?" Shen Qing was taken aback and quickly pressed on, "What exactly happened?"


    After A Fu finished stoking the fires in the other two stoves, he dusted off his hands, stood up, and said, "Do you know how many wives our master has?"


    "My aunt is Miss Qi, so there definitely are seven!" Shen Qing almost instinctively replied.


    "Now there are three."


    Shen Qing looked at A Fu with surprise, "Why are there only three?"


    A Fu enjoyed seeing Shen Qing''s expression, "The first wife died of illness before our master made a name for himself, the second and third wives were killed by enemies, along with a young master and miss."


    "Sixth wife died fromplications during childbirth, leaving only the fourth, fifth, and seventh wives."


    Hearing all this, Shen Qing did not know how to respond.


    "Your aunt encountered a simr incident," A Fu said with a matter-of-fact tone, "No help for it, our master came from humble origins and relied solely on fists and feet; having enemies in the county city is quite normal."


    Shen Qing asked, "What''s the deal with this Mi Gang?"


    "That''s a long story."


    "Get to the point."


    "..." A Fu''s face stiffened, as if someone had squeezed his neck, and all the words he was about to say were shoved back in with a hammer.


    He mumbled twice, then began speaking dejectedly, "The Mi Gang was originally just a small gang in the city, but after the old county magistrate diedst year and the court appointed a new county magistrate, they made connections with the government and now control a part of the grain business in the county, bing a big gang.


    They''re essentially a puppet gang propped up by the current government office."


    "They specialize in doing the dirty work for the government office. Our master had worked with the previous county government and his rtionship with the new administration is somewhat awkward. Moreover, our master has killed a son of the Boss of Mi Gang, so... hence, this incident urred."


    Shen Qing listened and got the gist of the situation, asking, "How strong is the Boss of Mi Gang, and can our master beat him?"


    "Previously, he was equal in strength to our master, but now that they''ve connected with the government, it''s hard to say," A Fu replied with a tone of concern, "The disciples and forces of the Mi Gang are much stronger than ours. Sigh... I''ve heard they''re going to take action against us, and this incident with your aunt is a sign."


    Shen Qing could tell that things were not looking good for Linfeng Hall.


    Otherwise, A Fu''s tone wouldn''t be so despondent.


    Shen Qing let out a helpless sigh.


    Whatever hase, then let it settle.


    In the county, the martial arts halls and gangs consider three things: money, connections, andstly, talent.


    If he wanted to learn martial arts, there weren''t many choices avable to him, and even if he got into one, the treatment wouldn''t be much better than here.


    First, he would earnestly learn all he could.


    At this moment, a maid walked in from outside, interrupting the two: "Is the medicine ready?"


    "It''s ready. I''ve been keeping it warm in the food box for Miss Dongxue," A Fu said while holding up a square food box.


    Dongxue, the maid, took the food box without lingering and turned to leave.


    Shen Qing hurriedly called out, "Wait a moment, good sister."


    The maid Dongxue turned back, looking Shen Qing up and down, and asked, "What is it?"


    "I am Qi Niang''s nephew; she''s my aunt. I just heard about her situation and would like to visit her in the inner courtyard. Would you be so kind as to let her know?"


    "You wait here; I''ll go ask," Dongxue replied, and then headed toward the direction of the Li Family''s inner courtyard.


    Once Dongxue had left, Shen Qing hurriedly went to the Outer Court to find Shen Xiaohu, gave him some silver, and sent him off without dy to buy nourishing items.


    A short whileter, Shen Xiaohu returned with items like red dates, longan, ck sesame, astragalus, and brown sugar that are good for women''s health and handed them to Shen Qing.


    Just then, Dongxue came back with a message: "The master allows you to visit Qi Niang. Follow me; I''ll take you there."


    "Thank you."


    Shen Qing, carrying the supplies, followed behind the maid Dongxue toward the inner courtyard.


    Linfeng Hall had a total of three courtyards.


    Li Linfeng and the female family members all lived in the third courtyard.


    After walking for a while, Shen Qing was led to the entrance of a side room.


    Dongxue stepped forward, knocked on the door, and said, "Qi Niang, your nephew is here and wishes to see you."


    "Come in!"


    A familiar female voice replied from inside, sounding drained and weak.


    Dongxue opened the side room''s wooden door for Shen Qing and stepped aside.


    Shen Qing nodded in gratitude, crossed the threshold, and quickly entered.

 Chapter 61: Chapter 60: Sparring with Li Linfeng, Learning Techniques

    Upon entering the door, Shen Qing saw a burly figure and his steps unconsciously paused, lowering his head respectfully and saying, "Uncle."


    The light in the side room was dim, with just a few weak rays of sunlight streaming through the partially open window, spottily casting onto the rough wooden furniture.


    It had been more than ten days since Aunt Shen Xiu had miscarried. Lying in bed, her face was as pale as paper, her eyes were empty, and she appeared extremely weak.


    Hall Master Li Linfeng of Linfeng Hall was sitting by the bed. He heard Shen Qing''s greeting, nodded in acknowledgment, and said nothing more.


    The air was filled with an indescribable sense of oppression.


    The room was so quiet that only the faint breathing of Aunt Shen Xiu could be heard.


    Li Linfengmanded the maid Dongxue, "The water in the copper basin has gotten cold, go change it for a hot one."


    "Yes, master."


    After maid Dongxue had left with the copper basin and a few blood-stained cloths, Shen Qing slowly approached.


    Aunt Shen Xiu saw Shen Qing and shifted her body slightly to ask, "Qingzi, when did youe to the city?"


    Shen Qing ced the items he brought beside the bed and replied, "I arrived earlier this morning and came over right after hearing about Aunt''s situation."


    "Qingzi, you are thoughtful."


    Carefully approaching the edge of the bed, concern filling his eyes, Shen Qing softly asked, "Aunt, how are you feeling? Do you want me to get you a ss of water?"


    As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, and seeing Shen Xiu struggling to sit up, he quickly moved forward to help her naturally.


    Aunt Shen Xiu sat up with Shen Qing''s assistance, her eyes full of fatigue and sorrow.


    She gently waved her hand, her voice hoarse and weak, "I am alright, Qingzi, no need to worry."


    Shen Qing inquired, "What exactly happened?"


    Aunt Shen Xiu opened her mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but ultimately just weakly shook her head, "It''s nothing."


    Seeing that his aunt showed no intention of speaking further, and with uncle Li Linfeng present, Shen Qing refrained from probing further.


    After a while, he tried to maintain a calm and gentle tone, "Aunt, I know you must be suffering, but dwelling on it is useless at this point. I was in a hurry when I came and did not bring much, just bought some things on a whim for you. Please take care of yourself from now on. There will be better days ahead."


    Receiving familial concern after so many years, Aunt Shen Xiu''s eyes turned red, and she managed a bitter smile, "Qingzi, thank you, I¡­ just need some time..."


    Shen Qing, sensing the heavy atmosphere in the room andcking experience in such matters, merely offered some simple words of understanding and care.


    As he was about to leave, Li Linfeng, who had been quiet throughout, looked at Shen Qing and asked, "Are you currently learning movement techniques?"


    Shen Qing bowed his head and responded, "Yes, sir."


    "How far have you gotten?"


    Without any concealment, Shen Qing truthfully responded, "I havepleted the Five Person Stance."


    "Hmm?" Li Linfeng''s expression turned sharply surprised, but he quicklyposed himself and calmly said, "Come with me."


    "Yes, sir."


    Uncle Li Linfeng, with his hands sped behind his back, walked out first, and Shen Qing nodded to Aunt Shen Xiu and hurriedly followed.


    Outside, the sun shone brightly.


    The courtyard of the side room was silent.


    After walking a while, Linfeng stopped and turned to face Shen Qing.


    Li Linfeng''s robes fluttered slightly with the wind, and he remained motionless.


    Suddenly, without any warning to Shen Qing, Li Linfeng''s expression became sharp, and with a fierce burst of speed, heunched himself toward Shen Qing like a ghost.


    His speed was incredibly fast.


    To Shen Qing, it seemed like a beast charging straight at him, leaving him no time to react.


    Li Linfeng''s palm swung fiercely, sending a sharp airstream instantly towards Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing''s pupils shrank as he felt the terrifying power contained within the airstream.


    He didn''t dare to be careless, immediately summoning all his strength to retreat swiftly, trying to dodge Li Linfeng''s attack.


    However, Li Linfeng''s attack was too fast and too strong. Despite Shen Qing''s full effort to evade, he was still grazed by the airstream.


    He felt an immense force strike him, instantly losing his bnce, staggering backward several steps, and barely managing to regain stability using the movement technique he had just learned.


    Shen Qing was shocked in his heart; he had not expected Li Linfeng''s casual strike to be so horrifying.


    He looked up at Li Linfeng, who stood there, calm andposed, as if the previous attack was just a casual gesture.


    Li Linfeng, seeing Shen Qing''s disheveled appearance, smiled pensively and said, "Your reaction speed is not bad; your lower stance is quite stable."


    Saying this, he swiftly moved and appeared in front of Shen Qing.


    Li Linfeng pressed his fingers together and pointed at Shen Qing''s face, then intentionally moved a few inches, changing his thrust into a sweep.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing was inwardly shaken and immediately understood Li Linfeng''s intention.


    With no time to think, countless movements were almost ingrained in his muscles, forming a memory-like instinct, he dodged just in time to block Li Linfeng''s sweep.


    That brought a more pleased expression to Li Linfeng''s eyes.


    He really had grasped it.


    Next, Li Linfeng deliberately held back most of his strength, constantlyunching attacks with just one arm and two fingers, leaving Shen Qing in a difficult situation.


    Even though Shen Qing used all the movement techniques he had just learned, he barely managed to cope with Li Linfeng''s attacks.


    As if intentionally, under Li Linfeng''s guidance, Shen Qing gradually adapted to the rhythm of the attacks, employing all the movement techniques from the Two Person Stance to the Five Person Stance.


    When using them, he was not just mimicking the moves; each maneuver was fully integrated and responsive.


    Each move was a muscle reaction made in virtually the blink of an eye.


    After trying everything, Li Linfeng stopped his attacks, and with an increasingly satisfied and approving look, he admired Shen Qing more and more.


    He really hadn''t been mistaken that day.


    Having trained in martial arts for barely over twenty days, and actually spent only a few days at the Martial Arts Hall, yet able to master this set of movement techniques and apply them, was enough to prove his exceptional natural talent.


    Truly a born martial talent.


    When he heard that his aunt had a miscarriage, he visited her immediately and brought arge amount of nourishing items.


    Though these items were trivial for his wealth, Li Linfeng knew that Shen Qing''s parents had passed away early, leaving him alone; how much could he save just by hunting in the mountains?


    For him, giving these gifts today cost him a significant amount.


    Giving ten yuan out of one hundred,pared to giving eight yuan out of ten, held distinctly different meanings in Li Linfeng''s eyes.


    This also showed from the side that Shen Qing was a person of character.


    Since that was the case, Li Linfeng felt he could personally mentor him a bit.


    It was the right time to add some more capital to Linfeng Hall amidst these turbulent times.


    He looked at Shen Qing and said, "Your practice is decent, but your strikes are a bit messy. Martial arts is all about the willingness to climb; starting tomorrow,e see me every morning, and I''ll teach you some techniques."


    Learn the techniques?


    He couldn''t ask for more.


    Shen Qing''s face lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed with his hands sped and said, "Thank you, Uncle."

 Chapter 62: Chapter 61: Direct Disciple?

    Li Linfeng, as the master of Linfeng Hall, was considered quite a figure in the whole of Taiping County.


    Although he had been given the opportunity partly due to his aunt and partly because he possessed some "Sight" for learning Martial Arts, there was a great chance he would receive special careter on.


    But he never imagined that day woulde so soon.


    As the saying goes, "An apprentice for three years, halfway through in five."


    To learn a master''s skill as an apprentice, one shouldn''t even think about it without at least three to five years of examination.


    It could only be said that those who find the path often find more help along the way.


    Today he was indeed in luck.


    "If you wish to visit your aunt in the future, just let Dongxue know and she will bring you here,"


    "Okay," Shen Qing nodded in agreement.


    "You may go now, remember toe find me early tomorrow morning."


    Once he was done speaking, Li Linfeng, with his hands sped behind his back, strode out of the courtyard.


    ...


    To learn Martial Arts, one aspect requires arge amount of meat and medicine to nourish the body and maintain a robust physique; the other aspect requires the guidance of a martial master to learn the specific Training Method.


    For the lower ss who cannot guarantee three meals a day, either of these two conditions is as difficult as reaching the heavens.


    Not to mention that after learning Martial Arts, if one does not have good talent and fails to make a name, the money spent in the early stages could very likely bepletely wasted.


    Therefore, most of those in Taiping County who truly be martial masters and obtain a ce in the martial arts register are from families with some resources. People like Shen Qing who purelye from the lower ss are not many.


    Shen Qing also knew that such an opportunity was very rare.


    The next day, very early in the morning, Shen Qing got up from the inn where he was staying and waited outside Li Linfeng''s residence.


    The courtyard wasid with green bricks and was rtively open.


    After about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea and the east grew light, Li Linfeng walked out of the house leisurely.


    He was dressed in a ck practice outfit, looking vibrant and not at all like a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.


    Li Linfeng looked at Shen Qing and spoke seriously, "Before you came in, I had already examined your Bone and Qi-Blood which are very good, but you are older andck the basic skills of Martial Arts. Originally, I was nning to have you start as an Inner Disciple and see how things went after a year or half a year of tempering."


    Shen Qing stood to the side with his head lowered, listening intently, and he deeply agreed with what Li Linfeng said.


    Real skills are not so easily learned.


    Even to be a carpenter in the county, you need someone to negotiate, post an apprenticeship notice, and establish a rule ofpleting the apprenticeship in three years.


    Once epted, the apprentice starts by doing rough chores.


    Carrying water, sweeping, sawing, sharpening des, filing saws, and after about a year, the master will start to teach them to use the ne, chisel and other assistant works.


    Gradually, they move on to using the adze, swinging the axe, marking lines, and preparing materials.


    Some apprenticeship notices even state that if the teacher injures the apprentice by ident, the incident cannot be held against the teacher.


    If learning the trade of carpentry is so, then learning the Martial Arts ofbat is bound to be even more strict.


    "Yesterday, I noticed that your talent for learning Martial Arts seemed better than I had imagined, and I suddenly felt an affection for talent. So, I changed my mind and decided to teach you personally,"


    Li Linfeng circled around Shen Qing, assessing him with his gaze and said, "You know that the Wind Defying Finger is my signature Martial Skill, and what the disciples in the Outer and Inner Courts learn is the foundation of Wind Defying Finger. However, what they learn is just the surface, the real skill is all in my hands. Do you want to learn it?"


    Shen Qing was by no means slow-witted and immediately understood Li Linfeng''s implication.


    It was not just about teaching him personally, but there was also a hint of taking him as a Direct Disciple.


    Shen Qing snapped back to reality and intended to kowtow to Li Linfeng to perform the ceremony of epting a teacher.


    However, before he could kneel down, Li Linfeng stopped him with a lift of his foot, "Don''t be in a rush to perform this ceremony now, we''ll pick an auspicious dayter. For now, I''ll teach you the techniques of Wind Defying Finger."


    The dawn was faintly breaking, and a cold wind was whistling.


    "Wind Defying Finger, as the name suggests, is like the formless wind, prevailing above the formless," Li Linfeng''s voice was deep and full of contained power as he continued to speak slowly, "This Martial Skill focuses on channeling the body''s strength to the fingertips, using the fingers to strike. It''s about catching the opponent off guard and striking where they least expect it."


    Li Linfeng spoke, gently raising his right hand, only to see faint frost-colored light swirling around his fingertips.


    With a flick of his finger,


    Shen Qing saw nothing but heard a series of crackling sounds and hurriedly looked toward the source.


    Underfoot, a piece of blue brick was covered in dense, spiderweb-like cracks that spread outward from a central point.


    Finally, with a "bang," the blue brickpletely shattered.


    All this happened in an instant, demonstrating Li Linfeng''s immense finger strength, and he clearly hadn''t used his full power.


    "Did you see me make a move just now?"


    Shen Qing shook his head.


    "That''s right. The Wind Defying Finger technique is all about speed," he emphasized, "At the level of stretching and strengthening, it has only two moves: flicking finger and pointing."


    "These two moves require unity of Qi-Blood and finger skill, embodying the principles of internal and external cultivation," Li Linfeng exined. "Next, I''ll teach you some flicking finger techniques, so you can find the path for unleashing the Wind Defying Finger''s power."


    Shen Qing was all ears, solemnly saying, "Okay."


    Li Linfeng''s instructions were clear and after speaking, he moved his hands from the sides of his body to in front of his chest, spread his legs, generated force from rxed shoulders through wrapped elbows, and assumed the stance for a double finger thrust of the Wind Defying Finger.


    He executed the movements slowly, as if intentionally teaching Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing watched intently.


    His eyes focused, etching every single one of Li Linfeng''s movements into his mind.


    The sequence wasn''t overlyplicated; he went through all the movements in the span of several dozen breaths.


    Li Linfeng finished the demonstration and, exhaling a murky breath, said to Shen Qing, "You copy my breathing and go through the sequence once."


    Without any hesitation, Shen Qing followed suit.


    Endowed with the "Never Forget" skill, Shen Qing only needed a brief recollection for Li Linfeng''s movements to reappear vividly in his mind.


    He began to arrange his stance, earnestly mimicking the movements, striving for uracy.


    Li Linfeng offered guidance from the side, "Feel the flow of Qi-Blood, and while moving, try to gather it at your fingertips."


    Shen Qing did as instructed, sensing the changes in the flow of Qi-Blood within his body.


    Gradually, he felt a warm current emerging from his Dantian.


    Under the guidance of Shen Qing''s actions, it followed the meridians towards the tips of his fingers.


    At that moment, ck-and-white characters appeared before his eyes, and the proficiency of the Wind Defying Finger skill jumped forward by 2 points.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Skilled)]


    [Progress: 2/200 points]


    [Status: Cannot be upgraded]


    [Note: Continuous practice could lead to mastery of the Extreme Speed Finger Technique, killing invisibly with a single move.]


    A smile appeared on Shen Qing''s face.


    Indeed, having guidance made a difference.


    Quickly, Shen Qing''s movements transformed from the initial awkward stiffness to a smooth fluidity.


    Li Linfeng, watching Shen Qing from the side, showed a sh of surprise: "So fast?"


    The technique he was teaching wasn''t highlyplicated, but even the brightest martial arts prodigies took about three to five days to grasp the basics.


    None of them learned it as fast as he did.


    Never! Before!


    This was his first encounter with such a freak of nature.


    Li Linfeng felt that this level ofprehension was truly defying the heavens!

 Chapter 63: Chapter 62: Bosss Invitation

    Shen Qing''s mind was entirely immersed in the Martial Arts moves taught by Li Linfeng, tirelessly practicing them over and over again.


    He didn''t know how much time had passed before Li Linfeng interrupted him, pulling him out of this immersive status.


    "That''ll be enough for today,"


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing ceased his movements and exhaled a breath of murky air, slowly dispersing the Qi-Blood that had gathered at his fingertips.


    At this moment, Li Linfeng took out a couple of papers, full of writing, and handed them to Shen Qing, saying, "Can you read?"


    Shen Qing took them and replied, "Yes, I can."


    "This is the rxing muscles and strengthening bones form, which can aid you in stretching and strengthening your muscle and bone. I''ve written some notes and instructions on it; go and find A Futer and have him prepare some for you to take a medicinal bath," Li Linfeng instructed earnestly.


    "Thank you, Uncle," Shen Qing said sincerely as he epted the prescription.


    Li Linfeng did not say much more and walked around Shen Qing, making his way out of the courtyard and leaving the backyard.


    Shen Qing maintained a respectful posture with his hands sped in a fist, remaining that way until Li Linfeng''s figure hadpletely disappeared before rxing.


    He looked at the rxing muscles and strengthening bones form in his hand.


    It listed specific medicinal ingredients, methods for taking the medicinal baths, and key points for breathing to refine the medicine''s efficacy, all outlined in detail.


    It was evident that Li Linfeng was not just fobbing him off.


    Just as Shen Qing was about to put away the prescription and leave, to his surprise, Li Linfeng returned.


    Shen Qing, who had just rxed, hastily resumed his respectful demeanor in the scramble.


    Li Linfeng looked at Shen Qing and seriously said, "I forgot to tell you, the medicinal bath costs two taels of silver per session; hand it over to A Futer. If you''re short of money, you can put it on a tab and find a way to make it upter."


    "Two taels!"


    Shen Qing was momentarily startled.


    This price was almost as much as an ordinary family''s spending for two months.


    "Did you get that?" Li Linfeng repeated once more.


    Shen Qing said, "I''ve got it."


    Seeing this, Li Linfeng finally left with a bit of reassurance, striding away.


    Shen Qing looked at the two thin pieces of paper in his hand, feeling as if they weighed a ton.


    People say that practicing Martial Arts consumes money; today, he had truly seen how.


    Luckily, he had brought several taels of silver with him this time, which would be enough to manage for a while.


    Thest time they had robbed Wang Qiyao and Old Ba Zi, and they had left thirty to forty taels at home. He had thought this sum was quite sizable, but it turned out to be nothing against such expenses.


    To make a name for himself in Martial Arts, he would have to find ways to make money.


    After leaving the backyard, Shen Qing did not dally and went straight to the pharmacy in the Outer Court. He gave A Fu two taels of silver to prepare the rxing muscles and strengthening bones form.


    A Fu was a bit surprised that Shen Qing could easilye up with two taels of silver.


    He had always thought that Shen Qing, a small hunter from deep within the mountains, would be quite cautious financially. It seemed the actual situation was not as such.


    However, A Fu did not pry; those who practiced Martial Arts often had their own concerns.


    Shortly after, A Fu gathered the necessary medicinal ingredients for the rxing muscles and strengthening bones form and got the hot water ready for Shen Qing''s medicinal bath.


    After practicing for a while, and upon receiving A Fu''s notice, Shen Qing, covered in sweat, followed A Fu''s direction into a servants'' room.


    Inside the room, arge cypress-wood bath barrel upied the center, with steam billowing from it.


    As the door opened, the scent of herbs mixed with the fragrance of cypress engulfed him.


    Without a word, Shen Qing stripped bare and sat in the dark brew of the medicinal barrel.


    As soon as he settled down, a wave of heat rushed into his chest, with countless tiny mes igniting inside his body, ring up all at once.


    Shen Qing hurriedly mobilized his Qi-Blood, attempting to guide the potency of the medicine into his meridians.


    Suddenly, patches of redness surfaced on his skin, as if he were a shrimp cooked to a bright redness.


    Shen Qing had not expected this form for rxing muscles and strengthening bones to be so overbearing and fierce.


    Taking a bath was akin to enduring a thousand cuts¡ªhis muscles felt as if they were tearing apart.


    He clenched his teeth and furrowed his brows, while sweat slithered down his forehead like raindrops, falling into the water and creating ripples.


    Suddenly, Shen Qing let out a muffled grunt; his face contorted in pain, as if he was enduring immense torment.


    The medicine''s power was too domineering, like violent fire dragons rampaging through his meridians, relentlessly assaulting his physical limits as if tearing and reconstituting his muscles and bones.


    After an unknown duration, the medicinal strength in the Medicine Bath Pool was gradually absorbed by Shen Qing, and the pitch-dark water became much paler.


    Shen Qing''splexion progressively regained its healthy glow, and his breathing steadied.


    He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint shed within them, as if he had undergone a transformation.


    Getting to his feet, he stretched his muscle and bone, feeling a surge of strength throughout his body. His Qi-Blood, seemingly enhanced, made him feel lighter.


    ¡­


    The area near the city wall was the best location in the Outer City.


    It was only a wall away from the Inner City, which made it convenient to travel between the two.


    Not far from the West City Gate, amidst dpidated shanties, stood a rice-white mansion that stood out like a crane among chickens.


    Its white walls and bright windows formed a stark contrast with the surrounding squalor.


    At the entrance, strong men in in cotton clothes constantly moved in and out of therge gate.


    A burly man threw a young man with a bruises all over his face into the main hall.


    "Boss, I''ve caught another runaway from Wang Mazi''s men; should we apply the familyw?" the burly man inquired.


    No sooner had the burly man spoken than the young man hurriedly begged for mercy, "Boss, spare my life, please! Old Ba Zi''s death wasn''t our doing¡ªWang Mazi was with a brothel girl that night; he couldn''t possibly have done it. Please, at least investigate further!"


    Seated at the center of the hall, arge man spoke up, "How many does this make now?"


    He appeared to be in his thirties or forties, standing nearly one meter ny tall, towering like a turret, with arms that extended past his knees, umon among ordinary men.


    "This is the fourth one. They all say Wang Mazi was with a brothel girl that day, so it seems likely true that he''s not the one who killed Old Ba."


    "The man''s already dead; whether it''s him or not doesn''t matter anymore," the Boss said nonchntly. "Did Old Ba Zi have any feuds with others before he died?"


    "Yes, but they''re likely unrted."


    "Who is this person?"


    "A hunter from Hongshan Vige," the burly man recounted. "Old Ba Zi once wanted to take him down, but ended up being killed by a few of our brothers. Since then, Old Ba Zi has been vengeful, wanting to kill that hunter until the day he died without finding him. Old Ba Zi''s death had nothing to do with him, but¡­"


    "But what?"


    "In my investigations, I stumbled upon something interesting. This hunter is a direct nephew of Mi Qi''s Seventh Aunt, who''s just joined Linfeng Hall and is about to start learning Martial Arts from Li Linfeng."


    The Boss, taken aback, said, "If I remember correctly, didn''t Mi Gang make a move against Li Linfeng a few days ago?"


    "Yes, they injured one of his direct disciples and caused his Qi Niang to miscarry."


    Tapping his hands on the chair, the Boss proposed, "We''ve always wanted a way to connect with the Boss of Mi Gang, but we never had the chance. This Li Linfeng might just be our opening. Go call someone to bring that hunter to meter. I want to see if there''s a chance to nt a mole beside Li Linfeng."


    "All right," the brawny man replied. He kicked the young man at his feet and asked, "What do we do with this one, Boss?"


    "Kill him."


    "Boss, please have mercy, I''ve done nothing, nothing at all. Ah¡­" the young man pleaded.


    The plea for mercy abruptly ceased.

 Chapter 64: Chapter 63: Storm Brewing, Break Limit! Free the Body

    Martial arts training emphasizes seven parts practice, three parts nourishment.


    After receiving guidance from Li Linfeng, Shen Qing skillfully practiced the Wind Defying Finger technique every morning for the next few days.


    In the afternoon, he would take medicine and bathe in medicinal baths to nourish his body, leading a very regr life.


    Additionally, with the hearty meat dishes provided by the inn at noon every day, Shen Qing''s spirit andplexion were worlds apart from when he lived in Hongshan Vige.


    In just three short days, he had already learned the Wind Defying Finger technique quite well.


    Even Li Linfeng, who seldom praised others, couldn''t help but acknowledge his talent.


    Overall, these days were good in every way except that silver was being spent too quickly.


    Shen Qing privately calcted his expenses and realized that to maintain such a lifestyle, he was using about three taels of silver daily, and the money he brought with him was almost gone.


    If things continued at this rate, he would either have to run a tab with Li Linfeng or go back to get more silver.


    The saying that practicing martial arts is a bottomless pit had be clear to him.


    No wonder Li Linfeng could maintain such a grand scale just by running a Martial Arts Hall without engaging in other trades.


    Shen Qing noticed that, for some reason, there were significantly fewer Outer Disciples and Inner Disciples practicing martial arts at Linfeng Hall than when he first arrived.


    On a typical day, there would be one or two fewer people around, making the courtyard seem much quieter.


    Shen Qing didn''t understand why.


    Being new to the town, he was not very familiar with its dynamics.


    Seeing Xiao Zhi practicing the Five Person Stance in the inner courtyard, Shen Qing took the initiative to approach him and asked, "Brother Xiao, what''s been happening recently? Why are there fewer people around?"


    "You don''t know yet?" said Xiao Zhi, ncing at Shen Qing.


    "Know what?"


    Xiao Zhi stopped his movements and said, "The day before yesterday, Senior Brother Ouyang went to deal with that previous matter by finding the Mi Gang, but he couldn''t win the fight and is now recuperating at home. I''ve heard that the Mi Gang is nning to make a move against Linfeng Hall.


    Everyone here pays to train in martial arts; there''s no need to risk our lives, so many areying low recently."


    "This..."


    Shen Qing was greatly surprised.


    Li Linfeng only had four direct disciples, and now two of them were injured; this wasn''t a good omen for Linfeng Hall.


    Shen Qing thought about a lot in that moment.


    No wonder Li Linfeng suddenly decided to teach him, lowered his standards, and even contemted taking him on as a direct disciple.


    It probably had to do with the incident, like preparing weapons right before the battle.


    There was a sense of an impending storm.


    After exchanging a few polite remarks with Xiao Zhi, Shen Qing didn''t inquire further and focused on his training.


    It was noon.


    In the pharmacy, Shen Qing took the Shiquan Dabu Decoction as usual and then proceeded with his daily medicinal bath.


    After several days of nourishment from the medicinal meal, Shen Qing felt that his Qi and Blood had reached the limit of his current physical state.


    Every time he called upon his Qi-Blood, it would swell tremendously, creating an urge to release it, but it felt as if it was blocked by ayer of film, making it difficult to break through.


    Shen Qing frowned and focused on refining the medicinal properties, not giving it much thought.


    To save effort, even during the medicinal baths these past days, he chose to stand in a stance for nourishing and training Qi-Blood, which was quitefortable for him.


    At this moment, Shen Qing, soaking in the medicinal bath, suddenly opened his eyes wide.


    He fixed his gaze on a certain void in his sightline, and the Water Ink Panel slowly emerged.


    [Skill: Nine Skills (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 401/400 points]


    [Status: Can be improved]


    [Note: Heaven treasures the diligent, and a gentleman should never cease to strengthen himself. Continue to cultivate and improving the progress of the technique can break the limit of this Cultivation Technique.]


    Unbeknownst to him, the Nine Skills had already reached the peak in skillfulness!


    A look of joy shed across Shen Qing''s face.


    Without any further hesitation, he entertained the thought of a breakthrough.


    The description rted to the Nine Skills behind [Great Perfection] disappeared instantly, and the words [Break Limit] gradually came into view.


    ```


    Shen Qing only felt the Qi-Blood within his body start to circte wildly, and his whole body inted like a balloon, his skin tight and hot.


    [Skill: Nine Skills (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 1/500 points]


    [Status: Cannot be promoted]


    [Note: Each effort brings its reward, you have mastered the essence of the Nine Skills through day and night of hard cultivation, breaking the limit of the Nine Skills. Now your physical body has been further liberated, possessing strength and endurance far exceeding that of ordinary people.]


    Shen Qing''s eyes widened, "Liberate the physical body?"


    This Nine Skills is considered a lower third-rate Martial Arts book, and much of its recorded content could well be incorrect.


    The so-called Break Limit, he had never heard of it outside of this Panel.


    Shen Qing felt as if everything was happening in a dream.


    At that moment, waves of Qi-Blood surged furiously throughout his body, making him grunt involuntarily and copse into the bathtub.


    His entire body''s Qi-Blood was circting and striking madly.


    "Crack!"


    Suddenly, Shen Qing heard a crisp sound by his ear, like ice breaking.


    Boom!


    The barrier obstructing him was shattered by the powerful surge of Qi-Blood.


    After almost half a quarter of an hour, the pain throughout Shen Qing''s body slowly subsided, and he noticed some changes to his physique.


    Compared to before, he had be more solid, stronger, and even his height had shot up a notch.


    Shen Qing raised his hand and clenched his fists, already feeling that his strength was more than just a notch above what it had been before.


    "Is this what it''s like after the liberation of the physical body?"


    Shen Qing touched his bulging muscles, his skin had be rough, as if it had gone through thousands of hammerings, leaving a thin callus behind.


    If one didn''t look closely, it would be entirely unnoticeable.


    Such changes were limited to his limbs only.


    Suddenly, Shen Qing felt an urge to test his new abilities.


    He decided to just do it.


    After refining most of the medicine''s effectiveness in the wooden tub, he quickly climbed out, dried his body, and changed into his own clothes.


    Fortunately, the clothes he had bought before were slightly bigger and not too tight to fit into.


    Back in the inner courtyard, he found arge stone for practicing, took a deep breath, and struck down with his palm.


    Crack!


    A crisp sound immediately came from the stone, breaking it into pieces.


    Shen Qing was startled.


    The strength was equivalent to that of an ox.


    If used against someone, it could definitely kill with one punch.


    Not only that but after striking that palm, he hardly felt any pain.


    If he really got into a fight, the advantage he would have over others of the same level was not just slight.


    Impressed, Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel ted.


    Shen Qing gathered his thoughts and turned to leave, taking advantage of the midday break to return to the inn.


    When he entered the inn and had barely warmed his seat, an unexpected visitor arrived at the door, specifically asking to see him.


    Shen Qing opened the inn''s door, sized up the two robust young men standing at the threshold, and frowned, "You are...?"


    "Boss has sent for you."


    "Boss?" Shen Qing''s face showed surprise, and the image of a middle-aged man surfaced in his mind. He asked in a deep voice, "Have you got the wrong person?"


    "It''s you we''re looking for,e with us."


    The people across him spoke very decisively, leaving no room for discussion.


    ```

 Chapter 65: Chapter 64: First Weaken the Opponents Strength Partially

    Shen Qing''s expression turned cold in an instant.


    He had long heard of the name Boss.


    In the Outer City''s East City, he was a tough leader who had reached the realm of strengthening.


    The Old Ba and Wang Ma he had killed before were his subordinates. Now that they hade to him, one could easily guess they harbored no good intentions.


    "Kid, I advise you to behave. Please," they said.


    Seeing that Shen Qing made no move, the two men gestured for him to follow with an arrogant look.


    Shen Qing intended to refuse.


    In his eyes, these two were just minor characters whose Qi and Blood were not yet at Great Perfection, not evenparable to Old Ba.


    Killing them wouldn''t be very difficult.


    But he was in the inn in the middle of the city, under the public eye; starting a fight would definitely cause trouble for himself.


    After all, the city was ultimately in the hands of the county government.


    If he broke the rules of the county government by acting rashly, they would not stand idly by.


    Shen Qing in the city had no connections and dared not expect anything from the county government.


    Besides, the two didn''t look like they were going to attack him.


    If they truly wanted to kill him, they would likely have ambushed him in a hidden spot and quietly dealt with him.


    After weighing his options, Shen Qing decided to wait and see for a bit longer.


    He sped his hands together and said, "I''ve long heard of Boss''s reputation. Since Boss has invited me, I wouldn''t dare to decline. Please wait a moment though, as I have a younger cousin here. I need to let him know, so he doesn''t worry about not finding me."


    "So much nonsense, hurry up," they cursed.


    The two grumbled and walked toward the inn''s lobby.


    Seeing that they had gone far, Shen Qing flipped out an old dagger from the room to carry on him, then took out all the broken silver he had and knocked on Shen Xiaohu''s door.


    "Brother Qing, what''s wrong?"


    These days, after continuously facing the sun to nourish and train his Qi-Blood, Shen Xiaohu''s already dark face had be even darker. Seeing Shen Qing knocking on his door with a serious expression made him a bit puzzled.


    "Let''s talk inside."


    Shen Qing stepped in, and Shen Xiaohu, very observant, promptly closed the door behind him.


    Shen Qing turned around and entrusted Shen Xiaohu, "People from Boss havee looking for me. You take this money and go to Linfeng Hall to find some people to join me. We''re headed to the outside of West City."


    While saying this, Shen Qing handed him some broken Silver Taels, "The senior brothers are not around, and in the inner courtyard, I only know Xiao Zhi. You might try asking him if he''s willing; otherwise, look in the Outer Court or outside Linfeng Hall."


    Seeing how serious Shen Qing was, Shen Xiaohu didn''t dare to be negligent and took careful note, "Okay."


    "Also, carry your bow and arrows when you leave, don''t forget."


    "Mmm."


    After roughly exining, Shen Qing pushed the door open, walked up to the two young men, and casually said, "Let''s go."


    The two young men looked Shen Qing up and down, somewhat annoyed, and with a snort, they led the way to the West City.


    Right after Shen Qing and the others left, Shen Xiaohu quickly followed out and entered Linfeng Hall.


    He originally nned to find people from the Outer Court.


    Unfortunately, being of low status and with the continuous Martial Arts training draining the resources, Shen Qing didn''t have much Silver Taels,


    and the Outer Court''s people looked down on the small sum, forcing Shen Xiaohu into a desperate scramble.


    Atst, by pleading from one side to the other, he managed to find Xiao Zhi.


    "Since it''s Junior Brother Shen asking, I happen not to be busy this afternoon, so I''ll go with you," said Xiao Zhi.


    Xiao Zhi was essentially a cook, used to serving others, and was quite perceptive.


    He recognized the extraordinary Martial potential of Shen Qing and saw interacting with him as forming a good rtionship and gaining a friend,


    which might be helpful in the future.


    After calling on Xiao Zhi, the two hastily rushed out of Linfeng Hall.


    By chance, they bumped into two young men.


    One of them bore a striking resemnce to Ouyang Tiezhu.


    Shen Xiaohu thought he had encountered Ouyang Tiezhu.


    Knowing that this senior brother had a decent rtionship with Shen Qing, he hurriedly stopped him and asked him to follow on a trip.


    The young man, who looked quite like Ouyang Tiezhu, indifferently said, "You''ve got the wrong person."


    Thinking that Ouyang Tiezhu didn''t want to get involved in this mess, Shen Xiaohu anxiously shouted, "Senior brother, we''ll pay you."


    At the mention of money, the young man''s steps halted suddenly, and he turned around to say, "How much?"


    "Two taels of Silver, paid afterwards," Shen Xiaohu gritted his teeth and blurted out a figure.


    The young man said joyfully, "Okay, both of us will go with you."


    Shen Xiaohu couldn''t help but sigh with relief in his heart.


    The young man looked at Shen Xiaohu and said, "Also, you really got the wrong person. My name is Ouyang Tie Niu, I''m the younger brother of Ouyang Tiezhu."


    Shen Xiaohu''s face showed surprise, and he opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.


    ...


    Outside the West City.


    Under the guidance of the two, Shen Qing smoothly walked out of the city gate and headed toward a district near the walls of the Outer City.


    The streets here,pared to the slums, were much wider and cleaner, even the number of lowly residents was fewer.


    The dirty snow on the roads in the alley had been swept clean, now linked together.


    Without close inspection, it could be mistaken for an ordinary district in the Inner City.


    After walking for a while, the number of pedestrians diminished, and the road became more secluded.


    Shen Qing frowned and asked, "Gentlemen, how much longer do we need to walk?"


    One of the young men in a worn cotton jacket lifted his chin and pointed, "We''re almost there. Do you see the house ahead? That''s where the Boss lives."


    "Oh," Shen Qing continued, "Why do I feel that there aren''t many people around here?"


    "Why do you have so many questions? Can''t the Boss enjoy some quiet?"


    Quiet? Quiet is good!


    Shen Qing pondered in his heart, as if brewing something.


    Not sure if it was because they were getting close to the Boss''s ce, but they seemed less strict with Shen Qing.


    What was originally a line formation with one leading and the other following now changed to the two leading the way for Shen Qing.


    The two were chatting andughing.


    This opportunity was truly rare.


    If that''s the case, then they can''t me me.


    Walking behind the two, Shen Qing suddenly had a sh of cold light in his eyes.


    He quickly pulled out the Dagger hidden on his body and pounced forward, plunging the knife into the back of one man''s neck.


    Shen Qing''s strength was immense, and he broke the man''s spinal cord with one stab.


    Blood spurted out.


    The stabbed young man hadn''t even realized what was happening when he felt a chill at the back of his neck and fell forward.


    The young man beside him was shocked and instinctively looked at Shen Qing, ready to block.


    After a sessful strike, Shen Qing swiftly pulled out the knife, twisted his body, and using his nimble movement technique, he maneuvered behind the young man, covered his mouth and nose, and slit his throat.


    Meanwhile he pulled his head down.


    This young man, like prey, was bloodlet by Shen Qing without even a chance to cry out.


    After a while, seeing that the two were no longer moving, Shen Qing finally let go, kicking the two to the side.


    These two were clearly working for the Boss.


    Killing them first would mean two fewer people to deal withter when things got rough, improving his chances of sess.


    No matter what the Boss had called him for this time, it was best to weaken the opposition first.


    "Since I''ve been sought out, there''s no avoiding it. It''s just the right time to meet this so-called Boss," Shen Qing muttered to himself.


    Shen Qing wiped the blood-stained Dagger on the bodies of the two, cleaned off the blood, sheathed it carefully, and his face hardened.

 Chapter 66: Chapter 65: Meeting

    Shen Qing often travelled between Hongshan Vige and the county town, and the mandatory route he had to take was exactly under the control of this "Boss".


    If he avoided meeting this "Boss", he might escape on the first day, but not on the fifteenth.


    Sooner orter, he was bound to encounter him.


    It was better to meet by chance rather than choosing a day.


    He could also take this opportunity to gauge the depth of his adversary.


    Otherwise, if he refused today and offended the other party, he would have no room to maneuver in the future.


    After killing two men, Shen Qing did not linger, but quickly got up and left, stealthily waiting in an alley nearby.


    Not long after, a flurry of footsteps sounded on the road; a group of people quickly passed by the alley.


    Shen Qing, keen-eyed, recognized Shen Xiaohu among them, and he stepped out of the alley and called, "Xiao Hu."


    Shen Xiaohu, holding a bow and arrows, suddenly halted.


    He turned to look behind him and, seeing Shen Qing, his face filled with confusion as he hurriedly approached and asked, "Brother Qingzi, what are you doing here?"


    Shen Qing did not exin much, merely saying, "Waiting for you all."


    Now, without the subordinates of the Boss to restrain him, the initiative was in his hands.


    Shen Qing felt slightly more confident, no longer so urgent.


    His gaze moved past Shen Xiaohu to the group behind him.


    Seeing the face of "Senior Brother Ouyang Tiezhu", he was somewhat surprised.


    If he remembered correctly, wasn''t the senior brother injured?


    Shen Qing was somewhat puzzled.


    Besides this senior brother, there was another person even more unfamiliar, not from Linfeng Hall.


    He looked to be in his early twenties, with dark skin and a resolute face, wearing a slightly whitened cotton garment that wrapped his lean yet robust frame.


    "And this is..." Shen Qing asked.


    "Yang Zhao Ping." The twenty-year-old youth greeted with a fist salute, introducing himself very efficiently.


    After he finished speaking, "Senior Brother Ouyang Tiezhu" scanned Shen Qing from head to toe and asked, "Are you the employer?"


    "Hmm?"


    As this "Senior Brother" spoke, Shen Qing immediately sensed something odd.


    The voice was simr to before, and he looked nearly the same, yet the tone waspletely different, exuding upbringing.


    He immediately thought of something Ouyang Tiezhu had mentioned¡ªthat he had a younger brother.


    "Are you... Ouyang Tie Niu?"


    As Shen Qing spoke, he nced subtly at Shen Xiaohu.


    Shen Xiaohu quickly exined, "We met him at the doorway when we were leaving."


    Seeing that Shen Qing had recognized him, Ouyang Tie Niu did not deny it.


    He seriously extended two fingers and shook them in front of Shen Qing''s eyes, emphasizing, "Initially agreed on, two Silver Taels, don''t forget!"


    Shen Qing was stunned for a moment, then, realizing, heughed and said, "Brother Ouyang is really straightforward. Not just two taels, if it''s well done, twenty taels are possible."


    "Really?" Ouyang Tie Niu was somewhat startled by the amount Shen Qing mentioned, as if it struck a chord in his heart.


    "Of course it''s true, I''m well-read and wouldn''t deceive you," Shen Qing said with a smile.


    If he initially went with the two subordinates of the boss, it would undoubtedly mean bowing down and acting submissive, a very passive situation where it was easy to be manipted.


    But now it was different.


    The two subordinates originally sent by the boss had been killed by him, and now Shen Xiaohu and four others had followed him.


    If they went over together, the momentum would be enough, and the confidence too.


    It concerned his safety; this was not a time to be stingy about money, so he made a bold promise.


    In his view, since Boss had been rampant in the Outer City for so long, he should have the money; it was just a matter of whether it could be essed.


    Shen Qing''s words struck a chord with Ouyang Tie Niu.


    What others didn''t know was that ever since Wang Ma''s death, he had been out of a livelihood, and what hecked the most was silver.


    He also went to Linfeng Hall today thinking about asking for help from his elder brother.


    If he could earn some money, even if it meant meeting his boss''s boss, he didn''t mind putting on a show; if things went south, he''d just run.


    He was familiar with this way.


    As the saying goes, know thyself, know thy enemy, and you will win a hundred battles.


    When Shen Qing met Ouyang Tiezhu, he recalled something and asked proactively, "I remember your brother once told me you were under Wang Ma, that is, under this Boss. How much do you know about him?"


    Ouyang Tie Niu pondered for a while before replying, "Boss''s real name is Zhao Ba. He came here from the county town to make a living. In his youth, he challenged many heroes in the eighteen districts of the Outer City, and finally stabilized his footing in this West City area."


    "He had five followers, but now two are dead, leaving only three."


    "What about Zhao Ba''s cultivation level?"


    Ouyang Tie Niu spoke openly, "He practices a Hard Qi Gong known as the Iron Pine Technique, possessing brute strength. Last year, he had just begun the stretching and bone strengthening, and now I guess he''s just reached the stretching level and hasn''t advanced to the bone strengthening stage yet."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing felt even more confident.


    After three to four days of intense training, he had consistently improved his skill in Wind Defying Finger, and he had also entered the stretching realm, perfecting his technique.


    He was not much behind this Zhao Ba.


    Shen Qing looked around at everyone and asked, "Does anyone here specialize in Bow Technique?"


    Seeing no one respond.


    Shen Qing grew helpless, he nced at Shen Xiaohu and said sternly, "Later, you follow us from behind and hide well, then act ordingly. Only a hidden arrow is hardest to defend against."


    Shen Xiaohu nodded vigorously and said, "Okay."


    After giving instructions, Shen Qing bowed slightly to Xiao Zhi and the others, saying, "Thank you all for following me for this visit."


    ...


    Outside the West City Gate in the Outer City area.


    In a low slum area, a distinctly eye-catching mansion stood.


    Its walls were smooth, with green bricks and ck tiles, shaded by green trees inside, stone paths leading to a half-open wood door.


    It sharply contrasted with the surrounding simple houses.


    Inside the mansion, Zhao Ba, the hero of West City area, was sitting in the main seat of the mansion''s hall.


    He was dressed in a ck robe, his face stern, continuously tapping on the table, producing a thudding sound.


    "What time is it already, why hasn''t the kid shown up?"


    After a while, some of his subordinates grew impatient and started to grumble.


    Zhao Ba picked up the teacup in front of him, took a light sip, then set it down, his voice low, "I have already sent people over, even if he doesn''t want toe, they will bring him here. In this Taiping County, aside from those officials and nobles, no one can disregard my authority."


    "No rush, good things take time. Just a mere hunter, he can''t stir up much trouble."


    Just then, a faint sound of footsteps came from outside, followed by a knock on the door.


    Zhao Ba waved his hand, signaling his men to be quiet.


    "Alright, the person I called is here."


    One of his subordinates took the initiative to step forward, went behind the door, and opened the big door.


    Shen Qing, dressed in a gray-green cotton outfit, stood outside the door.

 Chapter 67: Chapter 66 What if I dont agree?

    Shen Qing stepped into the room and the first thing that caught his eye was a stretch of blue-gray brick flooring,


    the surface of the bricks was somewhat worn and there were signs of undtion and twisting, clearly due to the passage of years.


    Beyond that, there were some simple wooden furnishings in the house, not luxurious, but each one exuded an ancient charm.


    They seemed somewhat out of ce in the room, as if they had been haphazardly put together by someone.


    Shen Qing withdrew his gaze and walked forward two steps before looking up.


    Zhao Ba was sitting on a tall wooden chair with a back covered by a wolf skin that emitted a faint glow. He was looking at him with a half-smile, exuding the unique oppressive aura of someone in a high position.


    Xiao Zhi, who was following behind him, felt like a rabbit that had stumbled into a tiger''s den, and a sense of unease and anxiety welled up within him.


    He took a deep breath trying to appear moreposed.


    Still, his demeanor didn''t escape the watchful eyes of others, promptingughter.


    Zhao Ba''s gaze swept over everyone behind Shen Qing, his eyes deep and sharp.


    Seeing that Shen Qing had brought more than just himself, his eyebrows knitted together.


    He had clearly sent for only Shen Qing; howe so many people had turned up?


    Wouldn''t that let too many people know, making it impossible to nt a spy?


    Just a small hunter, did he really need to win him over?


    "Two ipetent fools, can''t even invite someone properly."


    Zhao Ba was displeased, but fortunately, he was experienced in dealing with tough situations and quickly adjusted himself. His voice was loud and strong, "You are Shen Qing?"


    Shen Qing quickly stepped forward, cupped his fists respectfully, and replied, "Boss, it is indeed me. May I know why you have requested my presence?"


    In just that moment, he, with his Never Forget ability, noticed a slight emotional fluctuation in Zhao Ba when he saw Xiao Zhi and the others.


    Shen Qing knew that bringing more people with him was the right move.


    At the very least, the momentum was much stronger than if he had been alone, and it also disrupted the opponent''s original ns, giving himself a bit more of an initiative.


    Zhao Ba gestured for Shen Qing to sit down.


    Shen Qing looked at the high chair covered with wolf skin, and without demur or courtesy, carefully sat down in a wooden chair beside it.


    His followers like Xiao Zhi and Ouyang Tie Niu followed suit.


    At this moment, Ouyang Tie Niu sensed that something was off about the atmosphere.


    He had thought Zhao Ba simply wanted to ask Shen Qing some questions or extort something from him.


    It now seemed to be much more troublesome than he had thought.


    With so many people around, it would not be easy to escape.


    When he circled behind Shen Qing, he leaned in close to his ear and whispered emphatically, "You''ve really dragged me into this, you owe me extra now!"


    Shen Qing red at Ouyang Tie Niu, silently cursing him for making trouble and motioning for him to shut up.


    Ouyang Tie Niu, however, pretended not to see and nced around distractedly, nning his escape route in case of conflict.


    Zhao Ba picked up a cup of tea, gently blew on it, and then slowly sipped it.


    He set down the teacup and once again turned his gaze towards Shen Qing, "I hear you''re a hunter from Hongshan Vige and now practice Martial Arts at Linfeng Hall. Today, I''ve asked you here because I need your help with something."


    Shen Qing tensed up, knowing they were getting to the crux of the matter.


    Although his heart was turbulent, his face retained a calm demeanor as he said, "Boss, please speak. If it is within my capabilities, I will do my utmost to help."


    Zhao Ba then asked, "Have you heard about the matters between Mi Gang and Linfeng Hall?"


    Shen Qing replied without hesitation, "I have heard a little, but I am not very clear on the specifics. I don''t know much."


    "You don''t need to know too much. You just need to know that Mi Gang does not get along with Li Linfeng, and that Mi Gang is very strong. That''s all," Zhao Ba said earnestly. "In recent days, the first and fourth disciples of Li Linfeng have been injured by Mi Gang, and Li Linfeng has been too busy to care for the rear. Honestly, in my view, Linfeng Hall won''tst much longer."


    "So, what does this have to do with you finding me this time, Boss?" Shen Qing vaguely guessed Zhao Ba''s purpose, but he continued to y dumb and probe.


    Zhao Ba spoke in a lofty and somewhat patronizing tone, "Although my ce is not big, I have some connection with Mi Gang. The medical prescriptions, Martial Arts, and Training Methods that Linfeng Hall can give you, I can offer as well, and you only need to help me with a small favor in return."


    "Oh, not just you," Zhao Ba''s eyes gleamed with cunning as he continued, "Coincidentally, there are two managerial positions avable in my Yihe Square on the west side of the city. If you agree, I might just give you those two positions."


    Upon hearing this, Ouyang Tie Niu, standing behind Shen Qing, got excited, poked Shen Qing''s back, and said in a low voice full of envy, "Quickly agree to him. With two managerial positions, you could earn fifty or sixty taels in a year easily. This is Boss appreciating you."


    But Shen Qing remained unmoved.


    On the contrary, upon hearing these words, his heart tightened.


    If such an enticing offer was on the table, then the task Zhao Ba intended for him must be no small feat.


    Shen Qing pondered for a while before carefully asking, "Boss, let''s hear it. What exactly do you want us to do? I''m just amon little hunter, and I might not be up to this important task."


    Zhao Ba stood up, walked down from his high seat to the middle of the hall, and looked directly at Shen Qing and his group, saying, "What I need you to do is very simple. You just have to report everything that happens inside Linfeng Hall in great detail, keep a close eye on Li Linfeng. When the opportunity arises, either get him toe out or add a little something to his food.


    You see, very simple, right?"


    Simple?


    Simple your old mother!


    Shen Qing was not a fool, and neither was Li Linfeng.


    If Shen Qing showed any signs of doing such things, the first person Li Linfeng would want to kill would be him.


    It also indicated, indirectly, that Linfeng Hall was indeed in danger.


    Shen Qing inhaled a breath of the crisp air, with his heart surging like tumultuous waves.


    Zhao Ba watched Shen Qing and his group with a rxed andfortable expression on his face.


    If he remembered correctly, Shen Qing had been in Linfeng Hall for less than a month, just a greenhorn who had just stepped onto the path of Martial Arts.


    A little hunter like Shen Qing, popping up from some obscure ce, wouldn''t have many choices and could only be manipted by him.


    Just when Zhao Ba felt assured of his victory, Shen Qing, who was standing opposite him, suddenly stood up and met his gaze.


    After a long moment, the little hunter spoke resolutely, "What if I refuse?"


    Shen Qing''s words resounded like thunder in the modest hall.


    Refusal!


    He actually refused!


    Zhao Ba''s smile suddenly froze on his face, turning to uncontroble anger, "What did you say?"


    "I said, what if I refuse?" Shen Qing repeated, with his voice clearly reaching the ears of everyone present.


    Ouyang Tie Niu, standing behind Shen Qing, said anxiously, "Stop talking, Boss will kill you."


    Shen Qing remainedpletely unmoved.


    Ouyang Tie Niu, with a very unsightly expression, muttered, "Madman, he''s gone mad!"


    "Very well, very well," Zhao Ba, infuriated, said with mockery, "Then don''t me me for serving the punishment wine after you refuse the toast."


    At that moment, Shen Qing shouted to someone outside the room, "Uncle, take action!"


    No sooner had he finished speaking than an arrow whistled through the air, heading straight for Zhao Ba''s back.


    Zhao Ba was taken aback.

 Chapter 68: Chapter 67: What the Hell is the Background of this Damn Thing?

    Shen Qing''s uncle in the county town was none other than Li Linfeng. Could it be that his ns had been seen through by Li Linfeng? Was Li Linfeng here?


    The moment Shen Qing spoke, Zhao Ba''s mind raced with thoughts, and he felt a chill throughout his body.


    "Li Linfeng is a martial master who has achieved Great Perfection of Qi and Blood. In front of him, I am like a brothel girl stripped of her clothes,pletely at his mercy, and in no way his match. If he were to make a move, I would undoubtedly die," he thought to himself.


    In his haste, Zhao Ba instinctively activated his Qi-Blood, and his Tongbei Iron Pine Technique was stimted.


    Suddenly, every muscle in his body tensed, bulging like iron nodules and making his cotton clothes puff up.


    The originally agile body became even more imposing.


    When the arrow came shooting at him, it hit his back with a "thud," an unusual sound.


    His flesh was like wearing ayer of iron armor, far tougher than that of a normal person.


    The sharp arrowhead could not prate Zhao Ba''s flesh and fell to the ground, rendered powerless.


    "Hmm?"


    Having withstood that arrow, Zhao Ba immediately realized he''d been tricked.


    Li Linfeng couldn''t possibly be so weak. He hadn''te at all!


    Knowing he had been yed, Zhao Ba''s eyes zed with fire, and he couldn''t contain his anger. He shouted at Shen Qing, "Seeking death!"


    Thump!


    However, what responded was a cloud of white poison powder.


    Shen Qing had been deceiving him all along, attempting to divert Zhao Ba''s attention.


    In coordination with Shen Xiaohu, they had indeed fooled Zhao Ba, causing a brief moment of distraction.


    Seizing this brief opportunity, Shen Qing took out the poison powder he carried with him and scattered it.


    This poison was extremely toxic, something he had tested time and time again without fail.


    Even a person at the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood could be flipped by this drug.


    Zhao Ba, being a martial master at the Tendon Stretching Level, might not be poisoned to death by this drug, but it would certainly make him suffer.


    It had to be said, Shen Qing''s timing for throwing the poison powder was exquisitely perfect.


    He threw the poison precisely as Zhao Ba roared, with his mouth at its widest.


    Even though he subconsciously held his breath, the poison powder that enveloped him still got swallowed in arge gulp through his open mouth.


    It was astringent, dry, and a bit fishy.


    It made his throat burn painfully, and he couldn''t help coughing.


    And with that cough, he ended up inhaling two more mouthfuls.


    Zhao Ba quickly shut his eyes tightly and hastily retreated, escaping the cloud of poison.


    His speed was quick, but Shen Qing''s was even quicker.


    His hunting skills, constantly improving, gave him an ability like a Poison Shadow, closely sticking to Zhao Ba.


    Without any fancy techniques,


    Shen Qing simply flipped his wrist, drew out a dagger, and stabbed forward.


    In that moment, all the Qi-Blood in his body followed his intent and surged, pouring into his arm as he willed it.


    The veins in his arm popped out as the muscles expanded in loops, the skin taut as iron.


    The force technique of Wind Defying Finger was vividly applied to the dagger, concentrating all the power at the tip of the de.


    Thump!


    The great strength of his arm, along with the speed, easily drove the dagger through Zhao Ba''s skin, tearing apart the pink flesh underneath and plunging deep into his lower abdomen.


    "Ah!"


    Zhao Ba''s eyes bulged, in disbelief.


    He couldn''tprehend how Shen Qing, an unknown hunter, was able to wound him.


    Zhao Ba roared furiously, lifting one arm high and mming it down onto Shen Qing like a guillotine de.


    Shen Qing watched Zhao Ba''s hands at all times.


    The moment Zhao Ba moved to strike, without a moment''s hesitation, Shen Qing released the dagger and retreated explosively.


    Shen Qing''s nose detected a whiff of cold sharpness, narrowly avoiding the sh from Zhao Ba.


    The two had already exchanged blows several times within the span of four breaths, leaving everyone else in the hall astounded.


    They had not even had the chance to react.


    Zhao Ba''s face contorted ferociously as he clutched at his blood-drenched abdomen, and with a fierce p, he shattered the wooden table beside him, angrily eximing, "You wastes of space! Are you all eating shit? Why aren''t you attacking?"


    Zhao Ba''s roar, like that of a wild beast, echoed within the hall and frightened his men into trembling at the sudden outburst.


    As his voice faded, three of his subordinates and the younger brothers finally began to react, swarming toward Shen Qing and his threepanions like hungry wolves.


    The scene quickly descended into chaos.


    Standing behind Shen Qing, Ouyang Tie Niu''s mouth dropped open,pletely dumbfounded.


    He had initially thought he was taking on a job for just one tael silver, but then it seemed like it might be worth twenty.


    And now it was clear¡ªit was a job worth a whole 200 taels!


    To take down the local tyrant of the West City area!


    Ouyang Tie Niu had thought about recing Zhao Ba, but he couldn''t beat him.


    The first thought that crossed Ouyang Tie Niu''s mind was to run.


    Zhao Ba had reached the Tendon Stretching Level in martial arts, and no matter how they fought, these small fry could never hope to win against him.


    He was no longer interested in the money.


    No matter how good the money was, he needed to be alive to spend it.


    But those on the other side wouldn''t allow him that luxury.


    They had sealed off their escape route very early on.


    "Xiao Hu, fire the hidden arrows, kill as many as you can!" shouted Shen Qing, his voice carrying far and wide.


    As soon as he finished speaking, a hidden arrow was already whizzing through the air.


    Open attacks are easy to dodge, hidden arrows hard to defend against.


    The subordinates and younger brothers of Zhao Ba in the hall suddenly found themselves restricted and impeded.


    "Don''t worry about the outsiders, those broken arrows won''t kill you, just attack and kill them all," Zhao Ba called out as he drew out a dagger, twisted it cruelly into the wound on his belly, the muscles around a finger-thick blood hole writhing and tightening to stop the bleeding.


    At hismand, the three subordinates, as if making up their minds, rushed forward disregarding the hidden arrows from outside.


    Yang Zhao Ping, Xiao Zhi, and even Ouyang Tie Niu, who was keen on running away, were forced to face the situation and reluctantly join the fray.


    The two sides shed fiercely.


    Tables and chairs in the hall were overturned, cups and tes were smashed, and the ce was inplete disarray.


    "Shen Qing, very good," Zhao Ba, gritting his teeth, said, staring at Shen Qing. "I will surely twist your head off and use it as a piss pot."


    Bang!


    He had not finished speaking.


    A tall dark figure suddenly lunged forward and mmed a palm onto the wound on his abdomen.


    Before he could grasp what was happening, he felt a massive force beneath him, crashing him and his chair against the wall behind him beforeing to a stop.


    "Ugh!"


    The wound that had just stopped bleeding opened once more due to the strain, a fresh gush of blood spilling from it, bringing intense pain.


    Just in time, the poison powder had also begun to take effect.


    Zhao Ba felt as though the whole world was shaking uncontrobly.


    At that moment, panic started to set in his heart.


    He never expected Shen Qing to be so tenacious, each move following the next, one trap leading to another.


    And that power- it clearly surpassed the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood level.


    "Damn it, who the hell is this son of a bitch?" Zhao Ba cursed inwardly, blood spurting from his mouth as he roared at his men, "Quick, kill him for me."


    A subordinate of Zhao Ba took advantage of Shen Qing''s distraction to attack from behind.


    Shen Qing sensed a chill wind approaching and hastily dodged to the side, swinging his arm in the process, sending the man flying with the force transferred from his arm.


    Without dy, he charged toward Zhao Ba and threw a punch down.

 Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Massive Slaughter

    Zhao Ba felt the wind of the punch on his face.


    Even though his head was dizzy and heavy, he could sense a surging intent to kill within it.


    He could not care about the wounds on his body, forcing his spirit up, he urged all his Qi-Blood to rush towards the skin underneath.


    In an instant, Zhao Ba''s skin turned extremely red, like an iron block heated until it glowed, a faint red mist lingered around him, and the hardness of his skin and flesh increased by more than thirty percent.


    "Condense!"


    Facing the overwhelming punch from Shen Qing, Zhao Ba used his hands to block.


    With a dull ng.


    Shen Qing''s fist struck Zhao Ba''s forearm, making a muffled thud on impact.


    Zhao Ba felt a secret shock.


    This brute strength was simply terrifying, just this one hit already made his arms go numb and limp.


    One must know that his Iron Pine Technique was a Martial Arts that excelled in defense and strength, whether it was skin, flesh, muscle, or bone, its hardness was much stronger than that of the average Martial Arts practitioner.


    It was hard to imagine just how far this man''s brute strength went; it simply made no sense.


    Seeing that one punch didn''t break through, Shen Qing''s face showed dissatisfaction and he threw punches one after the other without hesitation.


    His fists didn''t have any special moves.


    He relied entirely on what Li Linfeng taught him, to make his strength follow his intent, to attack in whatever way feltfortable and fast.


    His punches, like a violent storm, called on Zhao Ba''s body with continuous attacks.


    "Hahaha, thrilling!" Shen Qingughed loudly in the midst of battle; his eyes flickered with an insane light as if he were enjoying the thrill of fighting for life and death.


    Each punch made him feel exhrated, his attacks growing more fierce.


    Bang bang bang bang...


    Sounds like a punching bag being struck echoed continuously from Zhao Ba''s body.


    As time went on, under the dual effects of the wounds and the poison powder, Zhao Ba gradually felt his strength leaving him.


    His wounds kept oozing fresh blood, and his physical strength rapidly depleted.


    This damned guy came for him today.


    "Damn it, this can''t go on!"


    Zhao Ba felt anxious in his heart; he knew he had to end this battle quickly, or once his physical strength was exhausted, both he and his subordinates would be hard-pressed to escape death.


    Seeing his strength nearly depleted, Zhao Ba quickly said, "I surrender, I surrender! I have a lot of money, lots of precious medicine, I''ll give them all to you, just spare my life, and from now on this territory will listen to you."


    Shen Qing stopped his punching, looking down from on high at Zhao Ba, he said softly, "Oh?"


    "Really?"


    Zhao Ba thought he had persuaded the other, and was about to speak again, "Of course..."


    Boom!


    A fist stained with blood suddenly smashed into his face.


    Zhao Ba''s head caved backward, embedding directly into the wall.


    A momentter, Zhao Ba''s hand raised then slowly fell, and his whole body, like a deted ball, drooped powerlessly against the wall.


    "If I kill you, your things will be mine, why would I still need you to give them to me."


    Shen Qing pulled back his blood-stained fist and turned around to look.


    The air in the hall seemed to have solidified.


    All those present stared at him intently, their eyes filled with shock.


    Only the sound of breathing and the dripping of blood echoed in the hall.


    Shen Qing looked down at his fist covered in fresh blood.


    He could no longer tell whether it was his blood or Zhao Ba''s.


    "So this is what fighting feels like?"


    In the past, he had relied on bows, assassinations, never really engaging in such realbat with anyone.


    This was the first time.


    He hadn''t thought that the strength released by his physical body could be so powerful, paired with the Wind Defying Finger''s movement technique and fighting style, so fierce.


    This feeling of overpowering his opponent.


    Only one word could describe it, truly exhrating!


    Speed and strength are everything!


    Shen Qing turned around to look at the subordinates of Zhao Ba who were still alive in the hall; most of them were unscathed, though asionally a few were injured.


    In contrast, there were only three on his side, all half-baked at best.


    Two of them had even been picked up along the way and did not pull their weight at all.


    Among the three, Xiao Zhi was the most seriously injured, Yang Zhao Ping was next, and Ouyang Tie Niu was the most cunning, with the least injuries.


    Some of Zhao Ba''s men and subordinates came to their senses and shouted loudly, "Brothers, let''s all go at him together. He has been fighting alone for so long, he must be exhausted. He''s no match for all of us!"


    Whir...


    Someone waved their cold weapon in hand, their face regaining a trace of calm amidst the initial panic.


    "Whoever kills him will get all of Boss'' territory for himself."


    "Brothers, whether we can make a fortune depends on today."


    Hm?


    There are still so many who are unwilling to give up?


    Well, think about it.


    Men die for wealth, as birds die for food.


    Now that Zhao Ba is dead, there''s a power vacuum.


    Arge swath of the West City is up for grabs.


    Such a juicy piece of the pie simplyid bare in front of them, no one was willing to let go.


    All having been in the game for so long, who among them didn''t have a few lives on their hands?


    Those who walk this path, if they aren''t on the road to killing others, they''re on the road to being killed themselves.


    They were well aware of this.


    Fine by me, it saves a lot of trouble.


    At this time, Shen Xiaohu, who was hiding outside the door in the dark, saw that his shooting was ineffective and, with everyone in the hall at a dead angle to his line of sight, he was unable to exert any force.


    He simply moved closer to the doorway, his figure just visible to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing took a couple more steps towards the doorway and shouted outside, "Xiao Hu, give me the bow and arrows!"


    Shen Xiaohu, who had not yet hidden himself, was slightly stunned, unsure of Shen Qing''s intentions.


    But without giving it much thought and almost instinctively, as soon as Shen Qing''s voice dropped, he threw both the bow and the arrows to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing caught the bow and arrows and began to nock an arrow to the bowstring.


    "I''ll give everyone three breaths'' time. Anyone who stays will end up like him," he said, surveying everyone and tilting his chin towards Zhao Ba.


    "One."


    "Don''t be afraid, everyone together, charge!"


    "Two."


    "Three."


    "Time''s almost up!"


    Shen Qing drew the bow fully, his eyes sharp as he locked onto an oing thug in the distance.


    Swish!


    Shen Qing suddenly released his fingers, the arrow flying swiftly like a bullet, slicing through the air.


    The arrow struck precisely through the man''s eye, blood sttering everywhere, causing him to fall to the ground, lifeless.


    "Spread out, scatter, use serpentine movements, charge!"


    Shen Qing, expressionless, continued to skillfully nock another arrow, let go, arrows flying in quick session!


    Pfft!


    Pfft!


    Pfft!


    The people present, whether ordinary folks or those who had practiced martial arts, were either taken out with an arrow to the throat or shot through the head.


    Even wearing thick clothing or practicing hard skills or using serpentine movements was to no avail.


    These people were desperately trying to approach, but none could even touch a corner of Shen Qing''s garment before falling midway.


    Shen Qing''s archery was unbelievably urate, chilling everyone to the bone.


    Having reached this point, the remaining courage of Zhao Ba''s men, already sparse, crumbledpletely.


    "Run!"


    Someone yelled out this word, attempting to escape.


    They knew staying here meant only death.


    But only a few words were spoken.


    Pfft¡ªseveral sounds indicated they were shot dead by Shen Qing, not even a chance to dodge.


    Looking at the bodies scattered haphazardly across the hall, Shen Qing sighed deeply in his heart, "I did give them a chance, what a pity..."

 Chapter 70: Chapter 69: Scavenging, Dividing the Spoils

    After themotion, the neatly arranged tables and chairs in the hall had scattered, as if swept by a violent storm, with fragments littering the floor in disarray.


    On the dusty floor tiles, corpsesy haphazardly strewn about.


    The blood that flowed from the bodies formed startling pools of red that flickered with an ominous light under the weakmp.


    The air was heavy with the thick scent of blood.


    Zhao Ba and his men were all dead.


    Shen Qing had acted decisively, without any sign of hesitation or procrastination.


    The once domineering gang of Zhao Ba in the west of the city was so easily eradicated.


    Too weak!


    Or to say, Shen Qing did not realize he was so strong, mistakenly thinking he was in for a fierce battle.


    But then again, Zhao Ba was getting old.


    Someone like Zhao Ba, who climbed up from the bottom, lived in hunger when young, suffering from chronic malnutrition.


    Even when conditions improvedter on, and he began to cultivate his Qi-Blood and learn Martial Arts, he had missed the best period to practice Martial Arts.


    His physical condition was far inferior to those young people who began their training early, not to mention those figures from the Inner City.


    He could only throw his weight around in these shanty areas.


    Additionally, with age, his Qi-Blood declined, andfort had led to his vulnerability.


    In the hall now, the gaze of Yang Zhao Ping and the others was tightly fixed on Shen Qing.


    The scene fell into a silence as still as death.


    Their faces were full of shock.


    They had never imagined that Shen Qing could single-handedly, and so effortlessly, kill Zhao Ba andpletely eradicate all his followers without leaving a single one behind.


    Shen Xiaohu was fine; he was already used to his cousin''s ways.


    But for Xiao Zhi and Ouyang Tie Niu, it was their first time witnessing this.


    In Xiao Zhi''s mind, Shen Qing was just a person with a talent for Martial Arts, usually silent and obedient.


    As for Ouyang Tie Niu, he was just a naive country fellow from the countryside, inexperienced in the ways of the world.


    This revtion thoroughly overturned their image of Shen Qing, as they couldn''t hide their feelings of deep awe.


    The seemingly harmless little hunter had suddenly shown such a ferocious side that it made them somewhat ufortable, momentarily unable to adjust.


    Shen Qing slowly turned around, his gaze once again sweeping over Ouyang Tie Niu and the others. He casually tossed the bow and arrow in his hand to Shen Xiaohu and said to Xiao Zhi with a sped fist,


    "Thank you all for today, for joining me in eliminating this local tyrant. Surely Zhao Ba must have left something in this house; why don''t we look around for ourselves?"


    Shen Qing''s sudden speech pulled their wandering minds back to reality, sobering them up a bit.


    Xiao Zhi hade to offer a favor and naturally had no objections.


    Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping were after money, so they had even less to say.


    Thus, everyone agreed and dispersed to rummage through the house.


    The mansion seemedrge and imposing, but it was actually all show and no substance.


    There weren''t many valuable items.


    Gold and silver treasures, quilts, and clothing could only be found in bits and pieces.


    It was nowhere near the wealth of the big families in the Inner City, but it was certainly better than the home of an average person.


    "Brother Qingzi,e over here and look at this?"


    Shen Qing was busily examining a body when he suddenly heard Shen Xiaohu''s call.


    He stopped what he was doing, went over, and upon clearly seeing the scene inside the room, he couldn''t help shaking his head.


    In a room, three women were chained like dogs to the side of a bed.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing and the others, they instinctively stripped off their clothes despite the cold, revealing their rough bodies.


    Everywhere was a patchwork of blue and purple.


    Theyy on the bed, then stuck their backsides in the air, like walking corpses, letting others manipte them.


    Long-term confinement had made them thin and emaciated, and since they ate, drank, and relieved themselves all in the room, they were far from anything beautiful and had no rtionship with the word at all.


    They could only be called women.


    In his previous life, he had grown ustomed to seeing many beautiful women undressed, whose figures and appearances were far superior to theirs.


    Shen Qing could not muster the slightest interest.


    Expressionless, he stepped forward and, amidst their dulled and vacant eyes, grabbed the iron cors around their necks and exerted his arms forcefully, prying them outward.


    Being mere unwelded, rusted iron, they could not withstand Shen Qing''s strength.


    After several tooth-grating sounds of metal scraping, there were constant clicking noises from the iron cors.


    In just a moment, Shen Qing had undone all the iron chains.


    Shen Qing nonchntly threw the chains on the ground, then rummaged through a cupboard nearby for some old clothes and tossed them over: "Put these on!"


    After doing all this, he didn''t linger in the room and left without a second nce.


    However, the young and hot-tempered Shen Xiaohu, seeing such a scene for the first time, found it hard to leave, constantly looking back with every step he took.


    He looked at those round backsides and couldn''t help but swallow his saliva.


    His eyes were glued to them.


    Shen Xiaohu nced at Shen Qing, and seeing that he was not watching this way, he rushed into the room boldly, reaching into the clothes of one of the women and fiercely pinched a breast before running off.


    Realizing no one had noticed, he rxed, stared at his own hand, and couldn''t help but grin foolishly.


    ...


    Many people might ck off when working, not pulling their weight.


    But when it came to looting, every person exerted themselves as if their lives depended on it, with exceptional efficiency.


    After about the time it took to drink a pot of tea, five men had searched everything inside and outside the house.


    They had found roughly seventy taels of silver, some scattered pearls, stones, and jade, along with other assorted weapons, tonics, cotton clothes, and quilts.


    All tallied up and converted into silver, it would probably amount to about 200 taels.


    What was more important, they hadn''t found a single word about the Martial Arts technique he was training in¡ªthe Tongbei Iron Pine Lean.


    Shen Qing found it strange: "This guy has been a tyrant in the slums for so long, why does he have only so little property?"


    Ouyang Tie Niu, who had been mixing it up in the streets for years, exined: "This ce is only where he used to gather with his minions, split the loot, and discuss business, so it definitely wouldn''t have too many valuable things. I''ve heard that Zhao Ba has a family outside, and all the money and other treasures he has amassed over the years must be at his home."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing looked startled and suddenly felt he had been hasty.


    He shouldn''t have killed Zhao Ba so quickly; he should have extracted some useful information before killing him.


    Sigh... Careless.


    But dead men can''t be brought back to life. Forget it, he would have to think of another way to find out where Zhao Ba''s wife and family were and rob themter.


    "Now that we''ve pretty much searched everything inside this house, and since Zhao Ba and his men are dead, all these items are ownerless, let''s divide them up right here," Shen Qing said, putting away his thoughts. "Since most of those men were killed by me, it''s only fair I get the most. I want seventy percent. Do any of you have objections?"

 Chapter 71: Chapter 70 Boss, I want to follow you!

    All present knew that it was Shen Qing who had killed Zhao Ba and wiped out his underlings.


    At most, they were just lending a hand.


    Let alone dividing thirty percent, if he were harsher, not giving them a single hair wouldn''t be a problem either.


    Shen Qing nodded and said, "If you have no objections, I will take it as your agreement."


    He looked down at the many items piled on the ground and said, "Roughly estimating, these things could be worth about two hundred taels. Let''s round it to two hundred; each of you three will get ten taels. The amount of silver is just right, so each of you take twenty taels and be off."


    As he spoke, Shen Qing looked at Ouyang Tie Niu with a smile that was not quite a smile, and said with profound meaning, "Brother Ouyang, the twenty taels I promised you have been given."


    Twenty taels, enough for an ordinary farming family to live on for a year.


    Even if living expenses in the city were higher, that twenty taels still amounted to a significant fortune for a ruffian scraping by outside, enough for him to swagger around for a while.


    Shen Qing''s eyes weren''t blind; of course, he noticed that Ouyang Tiezhu had been shirking his work and cking off.


    But in consideration of Ouyang Tiezhu, the eldest martial brother, he generously gave it anyway.


    After all, it was an unexpected windfall, and he didn''t care about this minor amount.


    The eldest brother had not held back when teaching him, and they might often deal with each other in the future, so why not create a good karma?


    In life, one should try to make more friends and fewer enemies, not create difort for oneself. When necessary, one should be willing to give.


    Ouyang Tie Niu stared nkly at the shiny silver on the ground, his face twisted with conflict as he uncontrobly reached out, grabbed a silver ingot, and slowly ced it against his chest.


    Shen Qing frowned slightly, wondering why Ouyang Tie Niu was behaving as if constipated when taking the silver, which was baffling.


    Suddenly, as if he had made a great decision, Ouyang Tie Niu put the silver back.


    Under everyone''s gaze, he knocked on his knee to the ground, bowed to Shen Qing with his fist, and said with a full voice, "Boss, I want to roll with you!"


    "Hmm?" Being called "Boss" by someone several years older than himself felt a bit odd to Shen Qing, "Roll with me for what?"


    "Now that Zhao Ba and his gang are dead, and there''s no local tyrant in West City, this spot is up for grabs. Boss, you can take this opportunity to bring this area under your wing, and making a fortune every day won''t be a problem," Ouyang Tie Niu said, puffing out his chest and speaking spiritedly. "What''s more important is that with this as a foundation, you can get on the boat of the big shots.


    Who knows, one day you might rise above others. I hope Boss will give me a chance to serve under you."


    He had been mulling over one thing all this time.


    And that was, after Zhao Ba''s death, who would take charge of this area.


    In the twelve districts of the Outer City, there were many hills and local tyrants.


    If things went as expected, they woulde to carve up the spoils as soon as they smelled blood.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t know any of them, nor did he have any connections.


    In the Outer City, there were many ruffians and scoundrels trying to make a name for themselves, and even the identity of a big brother didn''t carry much weight here.


    Everything depended on strength.


    Since Shen Qing was strong enough to kill Zhao Ba, it meant he had the strength to be a leader in this ce.


    Distant waters can''t quench immediate thirst, and a wise person knows how to adapt to the times.


    Rather than fight over illusory things, it was better to take this opportunity to pledge allegiance.


    Choice is greater than effort.


    As long as he followed the right person, he might yet make something of himself in the future.


    Standing beside Ouyang Tie Niu, Yang Zhao Ping saw him make such a decisive move, contemted for a moment, and then knelt down resolutely and said, "I hope to serve you as well."


    Shen Qing did not agree immediately, weighing the pros and cons in his mind, his brows furrowed in deep thought.


    Ouyang Tie Niu recalled something and continued, "Boss, there''s another delicacy I know of. If you''re interested, we can take it this time as well, it''s in this area."


    "Delicacy?"


    "Yes, it''s the Blood Bird''s Nest that Wang Mazi got from a hunter before. When Zhao Ba''s men came knocking, a ruffian took advantage of the chaos to steal the Blood Bird''s Nest. I happened to see it. The young master of the Song and Dong Family needs these delicacies to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    If the boss gets it and builds a good rtionship with the Song family, there will be great benefits."


    Shen Qing weighed the situation and shook his head, "The Outer City is a mess with dragons and snakes mixed together, too deep for me to get involved in. I''m just a small hunter from a remote ce; it''s better not to get involved. Let''s wait until I''m stronger. However, I''m a bit interested in this Blood Bird''s Nest."


    He wasn''t dazzled by the ttery of the moment.


    With Zhao Ba''s recent death, who knows what kind of ghost or serpent would emerge.


    If he identally provoked a big shot, that wasn''t something he could handle.


    Better to wait and see for now.


    Amass grain slowly, im kingship unhurriedly.


    Respond to myriad changes with constancy.


    Prioritize stability in everything.


    After some time, once he''s made further progress in his martial arts and grown stronger, it won''t be toote to go for it then.


    By that time, the benefits he could obtain, one after another, will be his for the taking.


    Ouyang Tie Niu was somewhat surprised by Shen Qing''s decision but didn''t give up, asserting firmly, "If you won''t be the boss here, I''ll follow you anyway. From now on, you''re my boss."


    "Me too."


    Shen Qing had no words to offer and let out a helpless sigh internally, resigning himself to their decision.


    "Do as you will," he said.


    Seeing Shen Qing ept them, Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping exchanged nces, delighted.


    Since Wang Mazi''s death, they had been aimlessly drifting; today, they finally had someone to cover for them.


    Ouyang Tie Niu saw Xiao Zhi, wrapped an arm around his shoulder, and said, "Brother, what do you think, want to join us too?"


    Xiao Zhi nced at Shen Qing then shook his head, "I''d rather not, I''m just a cook and n to open a restaurant in the future. I don''t intend to mix in your line of work."


    "That''s a pity," Ouyang Tie Niu said with regret. "You seem quite fierce when you fight; I was hoping to fight alongside you in the future."


    "Heh... We''ll talk about it if there''s a chance in the future, a chance in the future," Xiao Zhi said resignedly.


    "Are you guys still taking the money or not?" Shen Qing asked, nodding his head towards the group.


    After some thought, Xiao Zhi bowed and spoke, "I came to help originally for the sake of my junior brother; taking money on top of that wouldn''t be right. I won''t take the money."


    He had made up his mind that if he was to owe someone a favor, he shouldn''t be bashful; taking money would be inappropriate. Better to be straightforward; it would be more honorable.


    Ouyang Tiezhu stated, "As juniors helping our boss, it''s only natural for us. We won''t take it either."


    "Yes."


    Seeing their resolute attitude, Shen Qing no longer urged them, "Alright then, I''ll take you all for a good meal at a restaurantter to celebrate. These damaged weapons aren''t easy to sell. Take a look and if you need anything, pick one to take home."


    "Alright."


    These people were of not very high status to begin with, and there were only a few with weapons, all of which weremon goods, nothing good to choose from.


    The few of them casually picked out weapons suitable for them, tidied up the ce, leaving a field of corpses, and walked out of the house.


    Shen Qing stepped out of the house, looked at Ouyang Tie Niu and said, "Later at the restaurant, give me a good rundown on the delicacy."


    "Of course, Boss."

 Chapter 72: Chapter 71 Blood Birds Nest and the Song Family

    Taiping County, Inner City.


    Most of the people from outside the city who hade for the market had already left, but the streets were still bustling with passersby.


    Upon closer inspection, one could see quite a few young lords anddies dressed in fine silks and satins.


    This time was neither too early nor toote, and with fewer country folks around, it was the preferred time for many wealthy people to go out.


    A host of merchants, peddlers, and restaurant waiters were busily shouting out their wares.


    The aromas of fried snacks, pastries, and alcoholic dishes intertwined, wafting unrestrained through the streets.


    The Fengwei Restaurant, located in a bustling area of Taiping County, had an imposing red door that could be seen from afar.


    As one of the high-ss restaurants in the county, Fengwei was quite famous.


    Shen Qing had just returned to the inn when he was summoned by Zhao Ba''s men, and he hadn''t even had time to eat, so he was quite hungry.


    In the past, he would definitely not have considereding here, but after his visit to Zhao Ba, he hade into quite a bit of unexpected wealth, and suddenly he could afford it.


    With newfound confidence, after returning from the Outer City, Shen Qing chose to dine here.


    Shen Qing, apanied by Xiao Zhi and others, entered Fengwei Restaurant and was immediately enveloped by a gentle scent of sandalwood mixed with the fragrance of wine and meat.


    Looking around, the interior of Fengwei''s main hall was elegant and tasteful.


    Gold-carved screens, famous calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, ink scattered lively.


    The floor wasid with fine bluestone tiles, and above hung opulent brass chandeliers that dazzled the eye.


    It was the peak dining hour, and the ce was teeming with guests, filled with noise and mor.


    Almost every table in the hall was upied, and the diners seated there were all respectably dressed, enjoying themselves as they pushed their cups and raised their sses.


    In terms of demeanor, they were at least a ss above Shen Qing and hispanions.


    Shen Xiaohu had never seen such a scene from childhood to adulthood and was somewhat stunned for a moment.


    A young boy at the entrance saw Shen Qing and the others and hurried over to greet them, "Sirs, are you here for a meal?"


    There was none of the looking down upon them that one might have expected.


    On the contrary, the waiter of Fengwei Restaurant had an excellent attitude, treating Shen Qing and his party with equal respect, regardless of their attire.


    "I''ll take a private room," said Shen Qing indifferently, his every gesture exuding an inherentposure that instantly made Shen Xiaohu feel ashamed.


    He couldn''t understand why there was such a huge difference between him and his cousin, who had grown up in the same ce.


    "All right, sirs, this way, please," the waiter of Fengwei led the way.


    The waiter went ahead, clearing a path for Shen Qing and his group, leading them to a private room on the second floor.


    Inside the private room on the second floor, the wooden carved tables and chairs were arranged neatly, and sunlight streamed through the window grills, illuminating the interior with a bright and warm light.


    "Sirs, please have a seat," the waiter wiped the chairs thoroughly with a cloth, "What would you like to eat?"


    "Bring me one of each of your restaurant''s signature dishes. Make sure the portions are generous, and bring two jars of good wine," Shen Qing casually pped a few silver beans on the table, "Attend to it well. This is your tip."


    "All right, sirs, please take your time; I''ll arrange it right away," the waiter cleaned the table and chairs, poured tea for everyone, and then bowed and took the silver beans from the table before leaving.


    When the waiter was gone, Shen Xiaohu, who had been on edge, seemed to let out a sigh of relief and said, "I thought theds working in this ce would all be arrogant and overbearing, but they''re actually quite nice."


    Xiao Zhiughed as he exined, "Hahaha... Young brother, I guess this is your first time here, not knowing how fierce the toughs at Fengwei Restaurant can be. Anyone whoes for a free meal or to cause trouble either gets sold into the mines or is beaten to death, which is why they have such a notorious reputation.


    Now, most of those whoe here are legitimate diners who pay with silver, so naturally, they receive good service."


    By his side, Ouyang Tie Niu picked up the conversation, saying, "Nowadays, many desperadoes who have made a fortune overnighte to the city to enjoy themselves. The attendants here have seen a lot of it and are not so snobbish. It''s those average ces that, when they see the likes of us, might mumble something under their breath."


    The conversation between the two enlightened Shen Xiaohu quite a bit.


    The service at Fengwei Restaurant was very quick.


    Within a quarter of an hour, course after course had already been served sequentially.


    Ouyang Tie Niu was quite adept at currying favor, and before anyone else had reacted, he had already poured Shen Qing a full bowl of wine.


    Shen Qing didn''t say much, picked up the bowl, and said, "Fill ''em up, we''ve been busy till now, it''s time for drinks."


    "Cheers!"


    Shen Qing tilted his head back and drank.


    Compared to the baijiu of the previous generation, the alcohol here was much weaker, and all of it was rice wine, with a hint of sweetness, making it quite refreshing.


    After a few sses of wine, the atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly became much livelier, and besides Shen Xiaohu, who was burying his head in his meal, the rtionships between everyone else had also considerably warmed up.


    Shen Qing turned to Ouyang Tie Niu and asked, "Tell me about the Blood Bird''s Nest."


    As a hunter, Shen Qing knew a thing or two about the Blood Bird''s Nest.


    This type of bird''s nest had a deep red color like blood, clear and lustrous.


    It was made by a bird known as the Flying Sky Swallow on cliffs and steep rocks, using essence blood, saliva, and a rare red herb to construct the nest.


    For ordinary people, the Blood Bird''s Nest was a delicacy that nourished beauty and augmented Qi-Blood, and consuming it could strengthen the body and prolong life.


    For martial artists, the Blood Bird''s Nest was an even more precious treasure.


    Not only could it increase a martial master''s Qi-Blood, but it could also consolidate the internal foundation, making the body stronger. At the moment of breaking through bottlenecks, it provided extra confidence, making it a sought-after rarity by martial artists in their dreams.


    Such a rare delicacy could easily fetch hundreds of taels on the market.


    If hunters like them could get one, it would suffice for their family to livefortably for several years.


    Therefore, when Ouyang Tie Niu mentioned the Blood Bird''s Nest, Shen Qing immediately took interest.


    Ouyang Tie Niu pondered for a moment and said, "Do you know about the sons of the Song and Dong Family, Song Gongming? We need to start the story with them."


    "Go on!" Shen Qing picked up a slice of tender beef with his chopsticks, dipped it in some spicy sauce, and chewed it in his mouth.


    "Song Gongming has seven sons and five daughters, among them, the third and the youngest sons are the most promising. One is twenty, and the other is seventeen, both already at the Qi Cultivation Realm."


    "To help his two sons break through the Qi Cultivation Realm sooner so they can enter the court and prosper the family, Song Gongming wanted to obtain some rare delicacies to aid their breakthrough. It all started with them seeking the delicacies."


    Shen Qing was somewhat surprised to hear this.


    He swallowed the beef he had been chewing and took a sip of wine discreetly.


    If he remembered correctly, his own uncle, Li Linfeng, was also at the Qi Cultivation Realm, but for the two sons of the Song family to have reached such a level of cultivation at such a young age was truly terrifying.


    Shen Qing asked, "How strong exactly is the Song family?"


    "I''m not exactly sure about the specifics, but I''ve heard that in the Four Great Eastern Families within the county city, there are martial masters above the Qi Cultivation Realm, and many within their ns practice martial arts. Even the County Magistrate here has to give them some face and wouldn''t dare provoke them lightly."

 Chapter 73: Chapter 72: Pledge

    ```intext


    Shen Qing, with his head lowered, poured himself another bowl of wine. He stared at the bowl filled with wine in his hand, silent and wordless.


    It seemed to him that he now faintly understood why the Four Great Eastern Families had been able to monopolize business in the county for so many years,pelling tens of thousands of households, and over a hundred thousand people throughout Taiping County, to rely on them for a living.


    The foundations of the four great families of the county were profound; their rtionshipsplex and intricate, shielding one another, in addition to having powerful martial masters in ce.


    No one could challenge them.


    And those born into these families were like children with golden keys in their mouths, out of reach for the likes of him, brought up with muddy legs.


    Maybe even while they were in their mother''s wombs, they were already being nourished with various tonics to cultivate their Qi-Blood.


    After they were born, it goes without saying.


    The precious medicine and spiritual nts that were rarely seen by the likes of him were nothing but ordinary meals to them.


    For these noble offspring practicing Martial Arts, the path was undoubtedly smooth and wide.


    They, who had tumbled through gullies and ditches, couldn''t even match up to one of their toes.


    But Shen Qing wasn''t discouraged in the least.


    No matter how formidable they were, they couldn''t measure up to one who was "cheating".


    Shen Qing raised the bowl in his hand and drank all the wine in one gulp, saying, "Now, who has the Blood Bird''s Nest?"


    "It''s in the hands of a ruffian named Kong Tiantu, a peasantd who came over from Jinzhou. He''s strong and knows some farming techniques," Ouyang Tie Niu took a sip of wine, moistened his throat, and continued, "He''s a clever one, and Wang Mazi trusts him a lot. He was present when the hunter gave Wang Mazi the Blood Bird''s Nest.


    After that incident, he took advantage of the chaos to take the Blood Bird''s Nest, and I secretly saw him."


    "Where does he live?"


    "Right between the hovels of Wang Ma and Old Ba, and he hasn''t left."


    Shen Qing frowned and said, "So much time has passed, the Blood Bird''s Nest might not be in his hands anymore, right?"


    "It should still be," Ouyang Tie Niu said, looking down, "I still heard a few hints of news yesterday."


    "What kind of hints?"


    "The other Great Eastern Families, in order to prevent Song Gongming''s sons from advancing too smoothly, have also been secretly offering high prices to acquire any of those mountain delicacies, each one higher than thest. Kong Tiantu will surely wait for a good price and won''t sell hastily."


    Shen Qing nodded, not continuing the topic, and changed the subject, "Let''s eat and drink."


    The dishes at Fengwei Restaurant, without monosodium glutamate and modern seasoning, tasted mediocre in Shen Qing''s eyes.


    But it had to be said, this was the most satisfying meal Shen Qing had since his transmigration.


    Shen Xiaohu, Xiao Zhi, and the others all ate until their bellies were round.


    When it came to paying the bill, Shen Qing found that just this one meal cost him eleven taels silver, which took him aback.


    Indeed, it was not cheap.


    After leaving Fengwei Restaurant, Shen Qing did not linger, parting ways with Ouyang Tie Niu and the others, each going their separate ways.


    At that time, he had no real intention of taking Ouyang Tie Niu and the others as his subordinates.


    In his opinion, if he really wanted to take on followers, it was better to find someone reliable back in Hongshan Vige.


    They were from the same vige and could be trusted.


    People from outside were always unreliable.


    After leaving Fengwei Restaurant, Shen Qing did not wander around the Inner City. He took Shen Xiaohu and went straight back to Linfeng Hall.


    Previously, with not much silver on hand, he had nned to return to Hongshan Vige to fetch some money beforeing back.


    Now that he had gotten a sum from Zhao Ba, enough for his expenses for two or three months, there was no need to rush back.


    ...


    ```


    Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping left Fengwei Restaurant and headed towards the direction of the Outer City.


    After walking for a while, Ouyang Tie Niu''s face was filled with worry.


    He felt a bit of regret for being too concerned with his safety at noon and for not being more proactive, saying many things to Shen Qing that he shouldn''t have.


    During today''s noon meal, he could see that Shen Qing didn''t trust him at all.


    Although Shen Qing was very polite, he kept a controlled distance, which made him start to worry.


    After thinking for a moment, Ouyang Tie Niu turned to Yang Zhao Ping and said, "What do you think of Shen Qing?"


    "Very strong, with a sophistication that doesn''t match his age, quite decisive," Yang Zhao Ping replied without hesitation, then added, "Not someone easy to get close to."


    "I feel the same way," Ouyang Tie Niu continued, "What are your thoughts now?"


    Having spent a long time with Ouyang Tie Niu, Yang Zhao Ping knew what he was getting at.


    "We don''t have a better ce to go right now, I suggest we stick with him. Your brother seems to have a good rtionship with him; trust can be built gradually. You need to keep in mind that we are not like those lowlifes from the Outer City, we are ruffians with principles, we need to have some ambition, not flip-flop all the time."


    "What you said makes sense," Ouyang Tie Niu nodded, "Then shall we go and snatch the Blood Swallow''s Nest?"


    Yang Zhao Ping was stunned for a moment, then leaned in and said, "Are you talking about... a pledge?"


    Ouyang Tie Niu hooked his arm around Yang Zhao Ping''s shoulder, pulling him closer, and spoke in a lowered voice, "Shen Qing doesn''t have a good impression of us now. If we present a pledge, it will undoubtedly be better, the Blood Swallow''s Nest is an opportunity."


    After some thought, Yang Zhao Ping finally agreed, "Right, we can''t just think about reaping the rewards without effort. That won''t take us far. I''m with you on this one!"


    "Good brother,e with me, I know where Kong Tiantu lives."


    ...


    The shantytown of the Outer City mostly consisted of houses made of simple bricks, tiles, and wooden boards, dpidated fromck of repair.


    Kong Tiantu''s home was particrly inconspicuous amidst this decay.


    The roof tiles were uneven, some already broken, exposing the wooden beams within.


    In the house, besides a worn-out bed and a few chairs, there was hardly any furniture.


    At this moment, the slovenly Kong Tiantu came in from outside, fumbling under the bed and tightly holding a wooden box.


    The box didn''t look remarkable, just some wooden blocks cobbled together that barely formed the shape of a box.


    But seeing the box intact, Kong Tiantu seemed to let go of a huge weight on his heart.


    He stared at the wooden box, his eyes filled with hope and longing.


    Kong Tiantu carefully opened the box, revealing what was inside.


    A bright red, crystal clear Blood Swallow''s Nesty quietly inside, emanating an enticing fragrance.


    "I''m d I held back from selling it. The Zhou Family is already offering one hundred and twenty taels outside, and the Zhou Family''s steward has agreed to my terms. Whether I can be rich and live a superior life depends on this move."


    As he was lost in his thoughts, suddenly, arge stone was thrown through the window,nding on the bed, startling him.


    He quickly closed the wooden box and held it in his arms, shouting, "Who''s there?"


    Kong Tiantu leaned against the door, peeking outside through a three-inch gap in the doorway.


    There was nothing outside.


    It must have been the prank of some local kids.


    While he was thinking this, a sharpened stick suddenly thrust through the gap, stabbing into his eye.


    "Aah!"


    A piercing scream burst forth from Kong Tiantu''s throat.

 Chapter 74: Chapter 73 Turbulent Undercurrents

    Kong Tiantu sped his hands over his eyes, which were bleeding profusely, as he uncontrobly leaned backward; the pain almost rendered him unable to stand.


    He immediately realized these people hade for the Blood Bird''s Nest; they wanted to rob him of his Blood Bird''s Nest.


    A deep hatred erupted from within him, surging uncontrobly.


    Standing outside the door, Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping exchanged a look, knowing they had seeded.


    Ouyang Tie Niu lifted his foot and violently kicked the dpidated wooden door.


    With a loud "bang," the door copsed under the force of Ouyang Tie Niu''s kick,


    The two of them rushed in without hesitation amidst a cloud of dust.


    "It''s you!"


    Kong Tiantu recognized the two as Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping.


    "Kong Tiantu, we''ve been waiting for you!"


    Ouyang Tie Niu, wielding a knife he had pilfered from Zhao Ba, swung it viciously at Kong Tiantu.


    Kong Tiantu, true to his farmer''s roots, managed to react despite having lost an eye.


    In a moment of desperation, he rolled to the side, narrowly evading the vicious sh.


    "Get him together; kill him."


    A fierce look shed across Ouyang Tie Niu''s face as he pounced towards Kong Yutian, with Yang Zhao Ping following immediately at his side.


    The few pieces of furniture left in the room, none too sturdy to begin with,pletely copsed amid the chaotic struggle, turning into scrap wood.


    Kong Tiantu, outnumbered and outmatched, especially against those wielding des,


    Was quickly ovee. In the blink of an eye, he was reduced to a bloody mess and copsed to the ground with a grunt, dying with his eyes wide open.


    Blood flowed from his body, dripping down his arms, coating the grey wooden box he clutched in his arms with ayer of red, like a coat of paint.


    Kong Tiantu had held on to the wooden box tightly; Yang Zhao Ping also had to expend a fair amount of effort to pry it from his grasp.


    He excitedly opened the wooden box and saw the transparent Blood Bird''s Nest inside.


    Yang Zhao Ping closed the box and exchanged a knowing look with Ouyang Tie Niu,municating silently with their eyes.


    "Let''s go!"


    However, as they turned to leave and had not yet dashed out of the alley, they saw a man in a grey robe walking towards them, blocking their way.


    Ouyang Tie Niu, impatient and annoyed, said, "Good dogs don''t stand in the way; move aside."


    "I am not a dog; I have a name, a surname, I am a man."


    Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping, having justmitted murder and eager to flee, were seething with murderous aura and savagely said, "I don''t care what your surname is, get out of my way, or don''t me me for being rude!"


    "Very well then. With the heavens above and the Huang Tian Sect below, since you two are in such a hurry, I won''t dy you any further."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than the man in the grey robe''s hands, hidden in his sleeves, shot out like a dragon emerging from the sea, striking Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping in their chests with a couple of thuds.


    Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping''s bodies shook, a surge of power piercing through their skin, prating their flesh, and causing their bones to instantly crumble.


    The two of them mmed against the wall like kites with cut strings, coughing up blood.


    "A Skin Forging master..."


    Ouyang Tie Niu looked at the man in the grey robe, his eyes filled with disbelief.


    At this moment, his body felt as if it had fallen apart; his heart and lungs were pierced by his fractured ribs, breathing out more than in.


    Under the watchful eyes of Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping, the man in the grey robe slowly walked forward and took the Blood Bird''s Nest from Yang Zhao Ping''s embrace.


    The grey-robed man opened the box, looked inside, and, reasonably satisfied, said, "Not bad, the quality isn''t too poor."


    He closed the wooden box and bowed slightly, "Thank you for your efforts."


    With that, the grey-robed man left the alley, striding boldly away as Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping watched in despair.


    Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Pingy in a pool of blood, theirplexions pale as paper.


    They could feel the life force ebbing from their bodies, just like Kong Tiantu.


    All their years of effort, and their ambition to stand out, had vanished in that instant.


    With hisst bit of strength, Ouyang Tie Niu let out a low, indignant groan and, like Yang Zhao Ping, kicked his legs out and died, breathless.


    ...


    Linfeng Hall.


    Shen Qing, after returning from the restaurant, immediately threw himself into arduous training, practicing the fighting techniques he had learned from Li Linfeng without any shortcuts.


    Each movement, each technique, he practiced with utmost seriousness.


    Time ticked away, and before long, it was nearly evening.


    Shen Qing nced at the sky and thought to himself, "It''s about time, I better go early and return early."


    He went to the Outer Court and greeted Shen Xiaohu, telling him to return to the inn early, before setting out alone towards the outskirts of the city.


    Shen Qing intended to check out the Blood Bird''s Nest that Ouyang Tie Niu had mentioned.


    As evening approached, whether it was the Inner City or the Outer City, the number of people dwindled, with few pedestrians in sight.


    Shen Qing walked with his head down among the crowd, inconspicuous.


    The location described by Ouyang Tie Niu was not hard to recognize; Shen Qing asked around a bit and arrived in front of a dpidated shack.


    Standing not far from the entrance, Shen Qing looked at the wooden door that had been smashed open, and immediately had a bad feeling.


    He hurriedly stepped inside and found that the room was in disarray, with signs of a struggle everywhere, and blood sttered all over the ce.


    A naked corpsey silently on the ground.


    He had been hacked to death.


    After his death, his clothes were stripped clean.


    By then, Shen Qing knew he was toote.


    Someone had gotten to the Blood Bird''s Nest before him.


    Shen Qing didn''t appear too disappointed or anxious, "Ouyang Tie Niu and the others are more familiar with these parts of the Outer City. If there''s time tomorrow, I''ll ask them."


    The house was in ruins, almostpletely transparent at a nce.


    Furthermore, the nearby residents had already scavenged the ce once, leaving nothing worth searching for.


    Shen Qing didn''t linger at the entrance; he turned around, nning to leave from another direction.


    However, after only a couple of steps, he froze.


    Another naked corpsey right in front of him.


    This was... Yang Zhao Ping!


    He was actually dead!


    Shen Qing bent down for a closer look and noticed that Yang Zhao Ping''s chest had caved in, killed by a single blow; the perpetrator was at least an expert with the strength of Skin Forging.


    Looking behind at Kong Tiantu''s position, he connected the dots and roughly guessed that they were all silenced because of the Blood Bird''s Nest affair.


    People who had been alive and well in the afternoon were now just cold corpses.


    The sight unexpectedly filled Shen Qing with a sense ofmentation, akin to a rabbit mourning for a deceased fox.


    He remembered that Yang Zhao Ping and Ouyang Tie Niu often hung out together, as close as brothers.


    The matter of the Blood Bird''s Nest had also been brought up by Ouyang Tie Niu; now, with Yang Zhao Ping dead, he feared Ouyang Tie Niu''s fate was more likely dire than not.


    The sky gradually darkened, the evening glow filled the sky, and the setting sun dyed half of the heavens yellow.


    Shen Qing carefully recalled that, up to this point, he had not been involved in the affair of the Blood Bird''s Nest; he had merelye to take a brief look, which should mean no one would have a reason to target him.


    He breathed a sigh of relief, straightened his chest, and walked normally past the body of Yang Zhao Ping, leaving the alley.


    As he walked, Shen Qing suddenly heard a series of footsteps nearby moving toward him.


    There was arge group.


    Shen Qing quickly executed a movement technique and hid in a dark corner, curiously peering forward.


    Two groups of ordinary civilians, each with yellow cloth bands around their arms, followed behind a robust man, each holding a stick of incense and walking unhurriedly.


    As they walked, they murmured something under their breath, their faces showing extreme devotion.


    "With blue skies below, Huang Tian above, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, Taiping within sight."


    From beginning to end, these people kept muttering this phrase, the tone alternating between yin and yang, rhythmic, making Shen Qing at the side almost feel the urge to chant along.


    Shen Qing quickly closed his mouth tight; he recognized them.


    The yellow cloth bands, the chants.


    They were Huang Tian Sect''s people!


    What were people from Huang Tian Sect doing appearing in Taiping County, preaching in the Outer City?


    Weren''t they supposed to be in Jinzhou?


    Rustle rustle...


    These people passed one by one through the alley at Shen Qing''s location.


    When Shen Qing saw clearly who the leader was, his eyes widened in shock.


    He knew that person; it was Manager Cai from Wanfeng Building!

 Chapter 75: Chapter 74: Huang Tian Sect, Three Mountain Delicacies

    In the Song and Dong Family''s restaurant, the manager turned out to be a member of the Huang Tian Sect.


    Shen Qing was truly shocked by this scene.


    He would never have thought that the seemingly ordinary manager had such ayer of identity behind him.


    It was fortunate that he had made this trip, otherwise he would have remained in the dark, never knowing the secret.


    Regarding the Huang Tian Sect, ever since he identally heard about them on his way into the county townst time, he had paid special attention and inquired about them in the city.


    The result of his inquiries revealed that the Huang Tian Sect was not to be underestimated.


    In recent years, they had been attacking cities and taking fortresses in the southern parts of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and their momentum had gradually grown like wildfire. Lately, they had even managed to take over Jinzhou in the north, with their momentum growing strong.


    There were even rumors that the Huang Tian Sect had their secret methods of gathering the dispersed Martial Spirit from outside the Great Zhou Court, umting small gains to amass a fortune and gathering sand to build a tower.


    Slowly, they had the potential to rival the court of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and were considered by the court as a major concern.


    These days, the main task of the Guardian Martial Departments in various cities was to exterminate the Huang Tian Sect.


    Encounters with disciples of the Huangtian Sect resulted in immediate execution, without any room for negotiation.


    The Huang Tian Sect preached the doctrine "Huang Tian above, all beings are equal," aiming to lead their followers to transcendence, harness the great powers of heaven and earth, and pursue the ancient immortal path''s mighty powers and eternal life.


    Their main temple was established atop the mist-enshrouded "Huang Tian Sacred Mountain," presided over by a Huang Tian member whose strength was unfathomable.


    The evangelists of the Huang Tian Sect were called "Yellow Angels"; they wore yellow robes, donned yellow crowns, held yellow banners, and walked across the Great Zhou, spreading their doctrine and promoting good deeds. They were dubbed the Yellow Peril by the government offices of the Great Zhou.


    It appeared that so many people in the Outer City were now daring to risk their lives to join the Huang Tian Sect.


    It looked as though the Great Zhou Dynasty, having been established for nine hundred years, appeared mboyant and splendid, yet the reality was that its core had deteriorated, and it was starting to decline.


    The lower-ss people in the Outer City would rather risk death to join the Huang Tian Sect than continue to barely survive under the rule of the Great Zhou.


    Shen Qing craned his neck for a closer look and noticed that the disciples of the Huangtian Sect following Cai Jia Sheng were all emaciated, with few appearing robust.


    Yet even if their faces were pale, each one of them was immensely devout, asionally revealing brilliantly shining eyes.


    Shen Qing didn''t look any further and withdrew his gaze.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, this whole area must have already been absorbed by the Huang Tian Sect, bing an area for their covert expansion.


    That''s why they were conducting ceremonies so openly and brazenly under the broad daylight.


    He had barged into a nest of the Huang Tian.


    "In that case, that Cai Jia Sheng must be the Yellow Angel of this Outer City, and he seems to have quite some influence in this area," he thought.


    Just now, Shen Qing actually wanted to rush over and kill Cai Jia Sheng, just as he had killed Wang Qiyao.


    As a Yellow Angel, Cai Jia Sheng might have had the Blood Bird''s Nest on him.


    But he dared not make a move on Cai Jia Sheng.


    Although Cai Jia Sheng appeared ordinary, had a mild temperament, and showed no sign of martial prowess, Ouyang Tie Niu and Yang Zhao Ping might have been ovee by Cai Jia Sheng, who could not be excluded as a Martial Master of the Skin Forging Realm.


    Shen Qing himself had only just stepped into the level of strengthening, and there was still a considerable gap between him and the Skin Forging Realm.


    Not to mention, the waters of the Huang Tian Sect were very deep, and he had no idea how many people like Cai Jia Sheng were inside.


    If he were to make a move, whether he could obtain the Blood Bird''s Nest was uncertain, but he would definitely stir up the ho''s nest of the Huang Tian Sect.


    "If that''s the case, let''s leave it then. Delicacies from the mountains are rare, but not worth such risky ventures. If I were to face such a skilled opponent, I''m not confident I could kill him."


    Just as Shen Qing was preparing to leave, he suddenly sensed two more people approaching in his direction.


    He quickly held his breath and once again concealed himself in a dark corner.


    The two approaching individuals were also disciples of the Huang Tian Sect, but their physiques were visibly more robust than those of the ordinary disciples.


    Even their speech was full of vigor.


    "Who would have thought thest piece of mountain delicacy would be right here in our area; that person surnamed Kong hid it deeply. It''s only because those two made some noiseing here that we found out about it."


    "Isn''t that the truth? Lucky for us that a Yellow Angel is here, saving us a lot of effort. Those two were just unlucky."


    "Never mind them, those who aren''t from the Holy Sect aren''t our brothers or sisters; if they die, they die. Perhaps this was arranged by some unfathomable destiny of Huang Tian, bringing the mountain delicacies together for us."


    "Heaven below, Huang Tian above."


    At this point, the speakers paused to recite a phrase devoutly. After finishing, one of them continued.


    "With the Yellow Angel now having all three mountain delicacies, the Blood Bird''s Nest, the Jade Deer Tendon, and the Tiger King''s Penis, does that mean we can move on to the next step in our ns?"


    "Yes, I heard the Yellow Angel ns to exchange these three delicacies for a position of shopkeeper in a restaurant, securing a foothold for our Holy Sect in the Inner City. When Huang Tian descends, we will be able to save many of our brothers and sisters."


    "Ah... it''s just that the Song family gets the better deal."


    "Those young masters and misses of the Song family, even with the mountain delicacies, they won''t progress quickly enough; perhaps by the time we attack the county, they won''t have been able to use them yet."


    "Right, let''s think of it as temporarily stored with them..."


    The voices of the two conversing faded away.


    When the footsteps of the two finally disappeared into the alley, Shen Qing slowly stepped out from the dark corner.


    With his ability to move like a "Poison Shadow," Shen Qing concealed himself very well.


    Even the two groups of Huang Tian Sect members had not managed to detect him.


    Once out of the alley, Shen Qing didn''t linger. He made several turns to ensure no one was following before he felt safe enough to return to the main street.


    The conversation he had just overheard made Shen Qing realize that the development of the Huang Tian Sect in Taiping County had far exceeded anyone''s expectations.


    Before long, Taiping County was sure to be thrown into chaos; he must prepare ahead of time.


    What surprised him even more was that Cai Jia Sheng, without making a sound, already had three pieces of mountain delicacies.


    Especially thetter two, which were far more precious than the Blood Bird''s Nest.


    If it were just one Blood Bird''s Nest, it wouldn''t be worth the risk, but with the Jade Deer Tendon and the Tiger King''s Penis, it was definitely worth a try.


    From his experiences, robbing had proved much quicker for umting wealth than honestly selling mountain goods.


    Wealth does note without windfalls, just like horses don''t grow fat without night grazing.


    This windfall depended on whether he could catch it.


    Shen Qing walked fast, head down.


    As he arrived at the city gates, they were just about to close.


    With quick steps, Shen Qing entered, swiftly handed over severalrge coins as a gesture, and hurried into the city.

 Chapter 76: Chapter 75: Manager Cai, you dont want others to know, do you?

    After entering the Inner City, Shen Qing returned to the inn where he usually lodged as if nothing had happened.


    As usual, he called Shen Xiaohu to have a casual meal together.


    Since they had a hearty lunch at noon, neither of them was very hungry by evening.


    Seeing that there were fewer guests in the hall, Shen Xiaohu moved his stool closer to Shen Qing and said, "Brother Qingzi, something bad has happened."


    Shen Qing, holding a chopstick with a peanut between them, threw it into his mouth, clueless, and asked, "What happened?"


    "Ouyang Tie Niu is dead. Not long after you left, Senior Brother Ouyang came to our school in mourning to request the presence of our uncle, the Hall Master, to preside over the funeral."


    Shen Qing almost lost his grip on the chopsticks in his hand, eximing in surprise, "Ah, Ouyang Tie Niu is dead? We just ate lunch together, how could this have happened so suddenly?"


    "I know, I didn''t expect him to die so soon either," whispered Shen Xiaohu, continuing with regret, "You don''t know, our uncle, the Hall Master, looked terrible when he left. Now, everyone in the outer gate is saying that the Hall Master''s enemy hase knocking, and everybody is really scared. I reckon a few more people won''t show up tomorrow."


    Shen Qing fell silent for a moment, then said no more.


    Shen Xiaohu pondered, "Actually, Ouyang Tie Niu was rather fortunate to have a brother to im his body. Yang Zhao Ping is the one to pity, being the only one left in his family. If he died, there would be no one to im his corpse."


    Shen Qing changed the subject and asked, "Are there not many disciples left at the outer gate now?"


    "Not many," Shen Xiaohu said honestly, "You remember when we first went there, there were around thirty or more? Now only about a dozen show up each day, and even those dozen aren''t there every day. They all say the Hall Master is in danger and might not make it through this time."


    "You just focus on your training, don''t worry about the rest. With fewer people, you might be able to stay at the outer gate a bit longer and learn more."


    "I understand. We''re only staying because of auntie''s sake, leaving now would make things even harder for her. We''re all family; we can''t do something that would let our family down," said Shen Xiaohu earnestly, "A single chopstick is easily broken, but a bundle is much harder to break. We need to stand together."


    Shen Qing looked at Shen Xiaohu and said, "Where did you learn all this?"


    "My mother taught me," he replied.


    "Auntie taught you well,"mended Shen Qing.


    After dinner, Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu returned to their respective rooms.


    The inn here was very cheap, with a night''s stay costing just sixty to seventy wen per room.


    For Shen Qing, with his current financial status, this was a mere trifle.


    Shen Xiaohu might have been young, but when he slept, his snores were thunderous.


    With such lodging costs, Shen Qing decided not to share a room with Shen Xiaohu anymore.


    The sixty to seventy wen room in the inn was quite basic inside.


    There was a table, a bed, and a chair.


    The oilmp, the size of a soybean, flickered in the night wind as if it might go out at any moment.


    Shen Qing sat on the worn wooden chair, and with a shift in consciousness,


    a sh of sharpness gleamed in his eyes, a water ink vision unfolded before his sight, dyeing the air with lines of water ink text.


    [Skill: Hunting (Level of Mastery)]


    [Progress: 300/300 points]


    [Status: Upgradable]


    [Note: Having awakened Skillful Baiting and Poison Shadow, these new skills greatly increase the sess rate of hunting. Continuing to increase progress may grant a certain probability of inducing a transformation and advancement in the awakened skills.]


    During this period, Shen Qing certainly hadn''t forgotten his signature skill; he had been continuously practicing and making progress.


    With the constant use of his hunting skills today, he had unknowingly met the conditions for a breakthrough.


    Whenever there was a breakthrough in the past, his body showed some abnormalities, more or less.


    Now, when no one was around, it was a good opportunity to break through and adapt.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, willed his consciousness to move, and broke through.


    At that moment, on the Water Ink Panel, the skill level rting to hunting quickly jumped up, shifting from the level of mastery to Great Perfection.


    All the progress reset to zero again.


    Boom!


    When the realm information jumped, Shen Qing''s entire body shook, and the muscles and breath throughout his body underwent unbelievable changes.


    A surge of memories flooded into his mind.


    At a certain moment, Shen Qing seemed to have lived through decades, polishing his hunting skills over and over during this time.


    Finally, at one moment, heprehended a new skill¡ªTurtle Breathing Technique.


    [Skill: Hunting (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 0/400 points]


    [Status: Cannot be improved]


    [Note: Your continuous practice has allowed the hunting skill to break through consistently. Skillful Baiting, Poison Shadow, and other skills have undergone transformation and advancement, awakening the Turtle Breathing Technique. With this skill, you can conceal your figure to the utmost, generally undetected by your prey.]


    Shen Qing looked at the lines of water ink information in front of his eyes, so excited that he almost jumped out of bed.


    Turtle Breathing Technique! It was actually the Turtle Breathing Technique!


    That''s great.


    With this skill, his ability to save his life has greatly increased.


    No one would have an easy time discovering him.


    Late at night.


    Near the outer gate of Outer City, the corner of the gate emitted grinding sounds of bricks and stones.


    Crackling sounds echoed.


    A few bricks were skillfully removed from inside by a hand.


    After a short while, a doghole just big enough for one person to get through was gradually dug out beneath the city wall.


    Dressed in cotton clothes, Cai Jia Sheng squeezed out slowly from the doghole.


    When he was almost out, he suddenly sprang forward, much like meat being squeezed out of fingertips¡ªhis entire upper body emerged from the doghole.


    A gleam of joy appeared on Cai Jia Sheng''s face as he propped himself against the city wall with his muscr arms, and his lower body elegantly extricated itself from the doghole.


    Uponnding, he scanned his surroundings alertly, seeing no one else around.


    Cai Jia Sheng quickly turned around to rebuild the removed bricks.


    "This hole was dug too small, and it''s a bit of a struggle every time I use it. It''s alright for skinnier people, but someone bigger than me would probably be unable to squeeze through. I''ll have to find someone to fix it upter."


    After covering his tracks, Cai Jia Sheng nced left and right, avoided the night watchman''s patrol route, and skillfully navigated through several alleys before returning to his small courtyard home.


    Inside the house, candlelight rose once more.


    Cai Jia Sheng ced the wooden box he had acquired today on the table, and he also took out two other wooden boxes from under the bed, lining them up neatly.


    He opened them one by one, revealing three delicacies inside: Blood Bird''s Nest, Tiger King''s Penis, and Jade Deer Tendon.


    Looking at these three delicacies, a satisfied smile appeared on Cai Jia Sheng''s face: "Finally, all three are gathered. Truly the blessing of heaven, Wang Qiyao died out of the blue, and now my position as the Shopkeeper should be secure."


    "Knock, knock, knock!"


    Just then, a knocking sound came from outside the door.


    "Who is it?" Cai Jia Sheng quickly closed the three wooden boxes.


    "Who I am is not important, but who you are, is very important. Manager Cai, you wouldn''t want others to find out that you''re Huang Tian Sect''s Envoy, would you?"


    A deep voice came from outside, causing Cai Jia Sheng''s face to change drastically.

 Chapter 77: Chapter 1 Sir, I want to report!

    Hearing the words "Yellow Angel," Cai Jia Sheng could no longer keep hisposure.


    Now, in Jinzhou, the activities of the Huang Tian Sect were in full swing, almost alerting the neighboring jurisdictions.


    In Taiping County, the Guardian Martial Department was currently searching everywhere for clues about the Huang Tian Sect.


    Once his identity as a Yellow Angel was exposed and known by the city''s Guardian Martial Department, he would definitely face certain death.


    Although he was only responsible for a small part and there were other sect brothers and sisters in the city, his death would more or less affect the ns of the Holy Sect.


    This was something he absolutely could not tolerate.


    "It was probably when Huang Tian revealed themselves today. During the time our brothers and sisters were on the defense and trailing, someone took advantage of a gap and let some unrted peoplee into contact. This person is pretending to be mysterious and is probably not a very formidable figure."


    Having figured out the sequence of events, Cai Jia Sheng immediately had an idea in his mind, his face turned fierce as he shouted, "Courting death!"


    As soon as the words fell, he tensed the muscles in his legs and swung open the door with one hand, throwing a punch outside with force.


    Apanied by a whooshing sound, Cai Jia Sheng, however, punched the air.


    The small courtyard outside the door waspletely empty, with no one in sight.


    Cai Jia Sheng''s heart skipped a beat as he looked around.


    Even though he had already started to summon his Qi Force, making his senses sharp, he couldn''t detect any presence in the surroundings.


    It was as if the person outside had never appeared.


    This caused his facial expression to instantly turn ugly.


    Whoosh!


    A sound of cutting wind suddenly appeared.


    In the quiet night, it was exceptionally clear.


    Cai Jia Sheng only felt a sting at the center of his forehead, and his head involuntarily tilted.


    A sharp arrow barely grazed his cheek, slicing his hair at the temples into two.


    If he had dodged a momentter, that arrow would have done more than just cut his hair.


    It would have pierced his eyeball!


    Such precise archery.


    For someone like him in the Skin Forging Realm, whose skin was as tough as cowhide and impervious to ordinary weapons, only certain vulnerable spots such as the pores remained.


    This person was knowledgeable, not just anyone.


    It''s easy to dodge a direct attack but hard to guard against a hidden one.


    Cai Jia Sheng calmed down and shouted coldly in the direction from which the arrow hade, "I have no recent grudges or past grievances with you. You didn''te here tonight just for my identity as a Yellow Angel, did you?"


    "What do you want?"


    There was no response at all.


    Cai Jia Sheng''s expression suddenly became unpredictable.


    At this moment, in a dark corner of the courtyard facing a Skin Forging Realm martial master, Shen Qing was using the "Turtle Breathing Technique" skill, concealing all his Qi very well.


    Even though his Qi-Blood was boiling uncontrobly and his muscles were tight and swollen to their optimum condition, he still didn''t show the slightest trace.


    Even the nervous emotions inside his heart were concealed by this skill.


    Cai Jia Sheng found it extremely difficult to detect him.


    Shen Qing''s eyes turned stern as he shifted the direction of the arrow, his finger suddenly loosening.


    Pff.


    The candlelight in the room was extinguished on cue.


    Without dy, Shen Qing employed the "Wind Defying Finger" movement technique and entered the room as swiftly as a ghost.


    He had already secretly observed for a while before arriving and knew that the prized items were ced on the table.


    Shen Qing rushed to the eight immortals table, swept his hand across, and gathered the three wooden boxes into his arms, quickly taking the treasures out from them.


    Cai Jia Sheng suddenly turned his head, hearing the noise in the room and looked towards the sound.


    In the flickering moment when the light went out, he saw a figure holding a hard bow sh by.


    Cai Jia Sheng''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    He realized that if it weren''t for this person making a move, he would not have noticed at all.


    Even though this person was standing in front of him, it still gave him an unreal feeling.


    As if it wasn''t a person there, but rather some nts.


    Without any Qi presence.


    Seeing this, Cai Jia Sheng''s expression couldn''t help but turn serious, realizing that this person might be tough to deal with tonight.


    However, no matter how difficult it was to deal with him, he could not let this person go.


    The three treasures in the room were not easy for him to gather, how could he allow them to be taken away?


    Seeing that the person had already rushed into the room, without any hesitation, he surged forward with all his strength.


    "Die!"


    Bang!


    A series of strong winds followed behind Shen Qing.


    Now that the room was pitch ck, and since Shen Qing''s "Turtle Breathing Technique" had concealed his Qi, Cai Jia Sheng couldn''t sense Shen Qing''s presence at all.


    He was blindly swinging in frustration.


    Shen Qing, with his agile movements, had already moved aside as soon as Cai Jia Sheng took action.


    Crash!


    The furniture in the room was turned into debris under Cai Jia Sheng''s Qi Force.


    Shen Qing, holding the three treasures, used his hunter''s instincts to fire several arrows towards Cai Jia Sheng''s position.


    The arrows flew continuously with a whistling sound, heading straight for Cai Jia Sheng''s face.


    However, since Cai Jia Sheng had already summoned his Qi Force and intentionally closed his eyes, the arrows hit his eyelids and were blocked.


    Taking advantage of this brief moment, Shen Qing bolted out the door, quickly scaled the courtyard wall, and chose a direction to sprint madly.


    At this moment, Shen Qing''s heart pounded like a drum, thudding wildly.


    To steal and run was thrilling indeed.


    Especially stealing from a Skin Forging Realm martial master, it was even more exhrating.


    Cai Jia Sheng pinched his fingers, and the candlelight in the room brightened again.


    Seeing that the three delicacies on the Eight Immortals table had disappeared, leaving only three empty boxes on the floor, hisplexion turned exceedingly ugly.


    The person had clearlye for his three mountain delicacies.


    It was just that.


    After all, even if the delicacies were stolen, he could collect them againter.


    The most troubling part was that his identity had been revealed, which posed a massive risk, and the person couldn''t be allowed to live.


    He had to be killed.


    For some reason, although he hadn''t seen the intruder''s face clearly, Cai Jia Sheng felt a familiar sensation from the voice.


    It seemed like he had heard it somewhere before.


    His brows furrowed tightly, he simply couldn''t recall.


    He couldn''t match the voice to any known acquaintance either.


    "Regardless, I''ll capture him first. Treat him as a sacrifice to Huang Tian."


    Without dy, Cai Jia Sheng took a small sandalwood box from a cab in his house.


    He carefully opened it and took out a yellow talisman.


    Cai Jia Sheng bit the tip of his tongue, sprayed out a mouthful of essence blood, muttered some words, and shouted softly, "Rise!"


    An incredible scene unfolded.


    A golden light burst forth from the talisman in front of him, and it folded itself into a shining golden paper crane.


    Under Cai Jia Sheng''s gaze, the golden paper crane seemed toe to life, trembling its wings.


    Cai Jia Sheng''s face lit up with joy, and he thought to himself, "The Daoist''s talisman skills are truly miraculous."


    He didn''t dy. With his fingers together, he visualized the shadowy figure three times in his mind, then picked up the empty boxes from the floor.


    The yellow paper cranended on the empty wooden box, touching it a few times as if a butterfly drawing nectar.


    That should do it.


    Cai Jia Sheng pinched a technique with his fingers and shouted, "Quick!"


    A response came.


    The yellow paper crane transformed into a beam of yellow light and shot out from inside the house.


    Cai Jia Sheng quickly followed it.


    ...


    In the alleys, Shen Qing''s figure dashed through the streets as swiftly as a cheetah.


    He looked down at his bulging chest, where the three mountain delicacies were now secured.


    Shen Qing hadn''t expected his mission, assisted by "Turtle Breathing Technique" and the movement technique of "Wind Defying Finger," along with his wless archery, to be unexpectedly effective.


    It had gone incredibly smoothly.


    "I only spoke one sentence from beginning to end and didn''t show my face, so he probably doesn''t know who I am," Shen Qing muttered to himself. "However, nothing is absolute, and the Great Zhou Court regards Huang Tian Sect as a major threat for good reason."


    "The other party is also a Skin Forging Realm martial master; it''s better to be safe than sorry."


    Stealing Cai Jia Sheng''s three mountain delicacies was worth at least one to two thousand taels.


    There was no way the other party would just swallow this indignity.


    Especially since he revealed his identity as a Yellow Angel to make him hesitate earlier.


    If their roles were reversed, he certainly wouldn''t let himself off the hook.


    At any rate, in summary.


    "I must kill him tonight," Shen Qing dered with a serious expression.


    While that might be, Cai Jia Sheng possessed the cultivation of the Skin Forging Realm, and Shen Qing had just stepped into the phase of strengthening bones and stretching muscles without even securing a martial title.


    Even using assassination, poison, and many other methods might not guarantee his death.


    However, killing him didn''t necessarily require him to act directly.


    Shen Qing changed direction and sprinted toward another destination.


    That direction led to the Taiping County government office.


    He decided to report to the Guardian Martial Department!


    The Guardian Martial Department was gathering clues about the Huang Tian Sect everywhere, and wasn''t Cai Jia Sheng a ready-made clue of the Huang Tian Sect?


    His act of reporting was entirely legitimate!


    Just as Shen Qing left, a yellow paper crane had already closely followed.


    The paper crane paused briefly, then changed its direction, pursuing Shen Qing.


    "Huh, changed direction? I didn''t expect it to be not only fast but also quite clever," Cai Jia Sheng murmured while following behind the yellow paper crane, quickly catching up.


    The urge to kill grew stronger within him.


    ...


    The gates of the county government were tightly shut, with two mottled stone lions squatting quietly at the front.


    The faint light filtering through the cracks of the door fell on the te paving, casting a cold glimmer.


    Two officers, d in their uniforms and wielding long spears, stood rigidly on either side of the government entrance.


    The cold wind howled past, bringing waves of chill that made them involuntarily shrink their bodies.


    "This ghostly weather, it''s bone-chillingly cold,"ined the officer on the left, his voice echoing in the empty night, mixed with a hint of helplessness. He took out a hard biscuit from his chest and took a couple of bites.


    The officer on the right nodded, took a deep breath of the cold air, and responded, "Yes, this winter seems especially long. However, Li Chun is just over twenty days away, and the weather should start warming up."


    The officer on the left sighed and tightened the cloak around him, gazing into the distance. Suddenly, he saw a figure dashing towards the government office from the shadows ahead.


    He rubbed his eyes and poked his colleague with the spear, saying, "Lao Liu, do you see someone running this way in front of us?"


    "Who would bothering to the government office sote at night?"


    "No, there really is someone."


    "Hm?"


    At his colleague''s prompting, he took a closer look and indeed saw someone running towards the government office.


    Before the two government officials could speak, they heard the approaching person shout, "Officials, I have a report to make!"

 Chapter 78: Chapter 2: Slaying the Yellow Angel

    The deep silence of the night was shattered by this loud shout.


    The speaker was none other than Shen Qing, who had rushed over.


    He hurried to the front of the government office, gasping for breath as he shouted, "I have to report something! I have important information to tell the official!"


    Two government officers were startled by the sudden noise and looked displeasedly at the neer.


    The officer on the left frowned and waved his hand impatiently, "Go away, go, it''s the middle of the night, don''t cause trouble here, whatever it is can wait till tomorrow."


    "..."


    Shen Qing''s expression froze, the familiar demeanor was a bit too brusque.


    It was a matter of life and death, so Shen Qing did not leave but continued to exin urgently, "Honorable officers, this matter is truly very urgent! I saw it with my own eyes, someone is secretly colluding with the Huang Tian Sect, intending malicious deeds! It''s extremely urgent, officials!"


    The officer on the right red at Shen Qing and said coldly, "You say it''s the Huang Tian Sect just like that? How do we know if this is true or false? Besides, it''ste at night and the officials need their rest. Come back first thing in the morning if you have something, don''t disturb the officials'' rest."


    Seeing the attitude of the officers, Shen Qing knew that being courteous was ineffective, and he cursed angrily, "Such a serious matter, and you both don''t care at all, aren''t you afraid of a disaster?"


    The two officers looked at each other, angered, "Hey, you vite the curfew, and we don''t me you, yet you are ming us? It seems you are tired of living."


    "We can''t deal with the Huang Tian Sect, but can''t we deal with you?"


    The two officers brandished their spears, raising their voices, "If you don''t leave now, we will treat you as a disturber of public order and throw you into jail!"


    Seeing the officers like this, Shen Qing, furious at their indifference, decided to bypass them and rush into the Guardian Martial Department in the government office to inform the people there.


    Just then, a yellow glow shed outside the government office.


    A yellow paper crane, under the watchful eyes of the three men, quietlynded on Shen Qing''s shoulder.


    With a puff,


    the yellow paper crane turned into a nk yellow talisman, slowly drifting toward the ground.


    "What is this thing?"


    One of the government officials curiously bent over to pick it up.


    Suddenly, Shen Qing''s hair stood on end, and he almost instinctively moved to the side of the government office''s main gate.


    Just as he stabilized his stance, a figure suddenly hit the main gate of the government office.


    Bang!


    "Wow!"


    The body of one of the government officials at the gate fell to the ground like the pancake in his embrace, from the gate.


    He was bleeding from all orifices, continuously bubbling blood from his mouth, clearly beyond saving.


    Seeing this scene, the other government official was terrified, his mouth open as he shouted, "Enem¡ª"


    However, before he could utter the word, a punch had alreadynded on his face.


    Shen Qing saw it clearly.


    The officer''s face was smashed in like a dough, several teeth spattering out of the wound and hitting the gate with a thud.


    Bright red blood spread in a linear radiating pattern on the gate of the county government office, red and white sshing everywhere.


    The officer was indeed dead beyond doubt.


    "d I made it in time."


    Cai Jia Sheng secretly rejoiced, having caught up before Shen Qing could blow the whistle.


    He looked at Shen Qing beside the gate of the government office and sneered.


    All this was caused by this man today.


    Now, as long as he killed him and snatched back the three precious items from the mountain, there wouldn''t be much else to worry about.


    Pressed for time, he couldn''t overthink it.


    After killing the two officials, Cai Jia Sheng did not hesitate, his figure shifted and he threw a punch towards Shen Qing.


    A whistling sound arose, the punch fierce, bringing a gust of wind, straight towards Shen Qing''s face.


    What to do?


    What to do?


    Shen Qing''s mind went nk at that moment.


    Cai Jia Sheng''s fist magnified infinitely in his eyes.


    At that moment, the instinct to survive wildly stimted the Qi-Blood within Shen Qing''s body, his body subconsciously used the Nine Skills and various movement techniques he had learned these days, turning into a ck shadow, narrowly grazing Cai Jia Sheng''s fist at his chest.


    Both hands joined together, strength from intent, he pointed twice consecutively on Cai Jia Sheng''s abdomen.


    Wind Defying Finger!


    Bang!


    Cai Jia Sheng was shaken by the force of the finger, jolting his body as if he had been heavily struck, and he staggered back several steps, his face filled with disbelief.


    He had not expected Shen Qing to be able to dodge his punch and strike him.


    Cai Jia Sheng remembered seeing him in Wanfeng Building, just a hunter from Hongshan Vige.


    He hadn''t expected this obscure person to be able to withstand his strike.


    Luckily, the technique relied solely on strength andcked any real skill, otherwise it would have been more than just a sore abdomen.


    Cai Jia Sheng''s eyes glinted fiercely, as he rushed forward again with both fists.


    Just at this critical moment, the great doors of the government office burst open, and two off-duty Guardian Martial Artists rushed out, "Who is causing the disturbance?"


    Without asking further, one on each side, they struck at Cai Jia Sheng''s shoulders.


    Faced with their attack, Cai Jia Sheng had to withdraw his hands to parry, meeting their moves with his own.


    Boom!


    The two parties separated at the touch.


    Cai Jia Sheng saw that the people from the Guardian Martial Department had already entered the scene, unable to subdue Shen Qing, his eyes filled with hatred as he red at him once before withdrawing.


    Upon seeing this, Shen Qing hastily shouted toward the men from the Guardian Martial Department, "Sirs, he is the Yellow Angel of the Huang Tian Sect!"


    "What?" The two martial masters from the Guardian Martial Department, upon hearing this, hurriedly pursued him.


    These past days, they had been searching for clues about the Huang Tian Sect to no avail.


    This time, an achievement had been delivered right to their doorstep.


    The martial masters of the Guardian Martial Department moved extremely fast, with a push of their step they had already caught up to Cai Jia Sheng, and the two began to fight intensely.


    Cai Jia Sheng''s attacks were like a fierce storm, continuous and unrelenting, delivering punch after punch, not giving the two any chance to catch their breath.


    The two martial masters from the Guardian Martial Department could only exert all their strength to hold Cai Jia Sheng back.


    Cai Jia Sheng took a deep breath, gathering all the strength in his body, clenched his fists tightly, and swung them out violently, colliding harshly with the palms of the two martial masters from the Guardian Martial Department.


    As they collided, a deafening thunderous noise erupted, making the air around them seem to solidify.


    Shen Qing only felt a fierce gust of wind, as overwhelming as andslide and tsunami.


    While the two martial masters were struggling, a cold light descended from the sky.


    It flowed over Cai Jia Sheng''s body like a silver waterfall, then gathered at the feet of a figure.


    The once imposing Cai Jia Sheng stopped his movements, his arms drooping powerlessly.


    On his forehead, a bead of red blood appeared, stretching down to his chest.


    With a soft sound.


    Cai Jia Sheng''s eyes widened as he fell forward powerlessly.


    Blood continuously flowed out from beneath him, soon pooling into a puddle.


    "You''re all useless, unable to subdue even a martial artist without Qi cultivation," a figure in in clothing suddenly appeared at the entrance of the government office. She sheathed her sword, speaking discontentedly to the two men.


    The two looked at each other, then limped over, exining, "We came out in such a hurry, we didn''t have time to bring weapons."


    "Excuses, if you''re no match, then you''re no match."


    The female martial artist from the Guardian Martial Department flicked her ankle, swirled a sword flower, and carried the long sword into her embrace.


    She turned and walked toward the entrance of the government office, looked at Shen Qing and asked, "I heard you say he was the Yellow Angel, what is this about?"


    Shen Qing looked up.


    He saw a striking woman in in clothes standing before him, looking down on him from a high position.


    Dressed in light blue in clothes, her figure was graceful and curvy, especially with her poised and confident demeanor.


    Shen Qing calmed his emotions and ryed everything he had seen in the Outer City today, omitting none of the details.


    However, he changed the part about himing to steal rare mountain delicacies to being pursued by Cai Jia Sheng.


    "I had nowhere to go up in the heavens or down on the earth. Truly desperate, I fled all the way to the government office. The rest, sir, you already know¡­"


    Shen Qing''s words were half true, half false, and logically worthy of scrutiny.


    Upon hearing this, the face of the female martial artist in in clothes took on a rare seriousness.


    Her brows furrowed tightly as she quickly ordered, "Hurry and gather some people, we need to make a trip to the Outer City right away.


    "Yes."


    The two martial masters who had rushed out from the Guardian Martial Department pushed the doors of the government office wide open, immediately causing amotion inside.


    Seeing that the people of the Guardian Martial Department were all busy and not paying attention to him, Shen Qing prepared to leave quietly, not intending to linger at the entrance of the government office.


    Just as he turned to leave, the female martial artist suddenly asked Shen Qing, "Wait a moment."


    Shen Qing paused in his steps and quickly bowed with a fist, asking, "Sir, may I help you with anything?"


    The female martial artist looked him up and down and asked, "What is that bulging food in your chest? "


    "It''s pies, sir. We are all workers outside, provided meals by the Boss, I brought extra for my family." As he spoke, Shen Qing even reached into his bosom, revealing half a pie.


    "Alright, you may go."


    "Thank you, sir."


    Seeing that the people from the Guardian Martial Department had no intention of having him lead the way, Shen Qing did not stay any longer and hurried away.


    Once he reached a secluded spot, he pulled out all the pies from his bosom.


    They were already half-eaten and stained with blood.


    Shen Qing casually threw the pies into an alley full of beggars and gradually disappeared into the dark streets.


    By the time he returned to the inn, it was already midnight.


    When he left, he had exited through a window, and he returned the same way, not disturbing anyone.


    In the room, he lit an oilmp and took out the three rare mountain delicacies he had hidden in his bosom, lining them up.


    Each one, under themp light, was crystal clear with a lustrous sheen, giving them an extraordinary appearance.


    "These three rare mountain delicacies are serendipitous, not easily found in the market. Even hunters who linger in the mountains all year round may not encounter them. To obtain all three at once is truly lucky."


    "If I remember correctly, these three delicacies can be used in medicine and are greatly beneficial to cultivation."


    The flickering light cast shadows on Shen Qing''s face, making them short and long, elusive and shifting.


    Shen Qing exhaled lightly, carefully stored the three delicacies, and reviewed the evening''s events in his mind. Except for some details in front of the female martial artist that didn''t withstand scrutiny, the rest had few ws.


    As for these matters, he thought no further.


    The incident happened suddenly, and he could not consider everything thoroughly.


    Future matters would be dealt with in the future.


    Shen Qing blew out the oilmp,y down on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

 Chapter 79: Chapter 3: Lay Low After the Event

    This sleep was very deep.


    Because Shen Qing had been cultivating the Nine Skills, his Qi-Blood was abundant. Even if he asionally went without sleep all night, he wouldn''t feel tired.


    So, as usual, when the time was almost right, Shen Qing woke up with his biological clock, full of energy.


    Morning.


    Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu habitually squatted on the threshold in the inn''s backyard.


    Each holding arge bowl in their hands, they sipped porridge along the rim of their bowls.


    After taking arge sip of white porridge, Shen Qing said to Shen Xiaohu, "Pack up your stuff today, we''ll head back to the vige this afternoon."


    "Why are we leaving so soon? Why not stay a bit longer?"


    Shen Qing said, "I haven''t been back for quite a while, and I''m a bit worried about my sister. Besides, spring is around the corner. We need to go up the mountain to hunt early to avoid being without a n after spring begins."


    Shen Xiaohu teased, "Brother Qingzi, you already have so much money. Do you still care about those bits and pieces from hunting?"


    He had been directly involved in Zhao Ba''s affair and knew exactly how much money Shen Qing had taken¡ªhundreds of taels were not a small sum.


    "How long will this bit of moneyst for my practice? What if I run out of money in the future and my ability to earn a living through hunting gets rusty? By then, it''ll be toote for you to regret."


    "Oh."


    Shen Xiaohu, bowing his head, said no more.


    Shen Qing sipped some more porridge, his eyes flickering.


    In fact, his eagerness to return home was primarily to avoid the limelight.


    Having killed Zhao Ba, been tangled up with the Huang Tian Sect, and possessing three treasures of the mountains, he felt unsafe in any part of the city.


    It was better to lie low in Hongshan Vige for a while.


    Wait until things settled down a bit here before making any moves.


    Moreover, he wanted to take advantage of the period before the spring ban to practice hunting and Bow Technique more to improve his progress.


    These two skills mighte in handy in the future.


    Of course, these things could only be kept in his heart and not discussed with Shen Xiaohu.


    After breakfast, Shen Qing packed up the room, took Shen Xiaohu, and hurried to Linfeng Hall.


    When entering Linfeng Hall once more, whether it was Shen Qing''s sensitivity or not, he felt that the atmosphere in Linfeng Hall had be much heavier.


    But he couldn''t quite put his finger on it.


    Anyway, it didn''t feel good.


    The eldest senior brother and the Hall Master uncle had not yet returned.


    So Shen Qing kept his head down and continued to practice the techniques Li Linfeng had taught him before.


    After pondering overst night, practicing the technique today, Shen Qing suddenly felt more at ease, and his skill proficiency progressed much faster.


    Shen Qing recalled the pointing technique he usedst night and carefully pondered over it.


    Cai Jia Sheng was undoubtedly a martial master in the Skin Forging Realm, skilled in fist techniques.


    With his current sight, he could see that Cai Jia Sheng''s fist techniques were actually quite rough with many ws, definitely not as meticulous as the Wind Facing Finger.


    He was simply relying on his realm and the Qi of his whole body to fight.


    It was precisely because of this that Cai Jia Sheng''s slight movements had weaknesses that Shen Qing subconsciously caught, leading to what followed.


    Thinking of this, Shen Qing gradually understood why Li Linfeng emphasized foundation, speed, and strength.


    Because only with these could one reveal fewer ws, have a tight defense, and strike faster than the opponent, killing them with a single move.


    If he had had a bit more strength at the time or had developed his Qi, he definitely could have killed Cai Jia Sheng with a single point.


    Shen Qing put his thoughts away and continued to focus on his arduous training.


    It was then that Xiao Zhi, also in the inner courtyard, approached silently and said, "Shen Qing, did you hear about Tie Niu''s death yesterday?"


    "I heard," Shen Qing replied nomittally, "Sigh... just yesterday we were still eating together."


    "Sigh, no need for you to be sad. There''s no helping the chaos out there, especially in the Outer City." After saying this, Xiao Zhi continued mysteriously, "Do you know that Tie Niu''s death is connected to the Huang Tian Sect?"


    "Ah? That''s news to me," Shen Qing eximed in surprise, "I really had no idea."


    "I''m telling you,st night the Huang Tian Sect even attacked the county government. The Guardian Martial Department''s people took action overnight and went to the Outer City, causing utter chaos. Now, the whole city is filled with panic."


    Shen Qing casually asked with profound implications, "Has the county government dealt with the Huang Tian Sect?"


    "It won''t be long before the county will post a notice saying they''ve captured all the sect''s criminals. You know how the county government operates, don''t you? Who really knows to what extent they''ve handled it?"


    "Indeed."


    "We should still focus on our training and master our skills quickly."


    Shen Qing echoed a few words, and the two of them said no more.


    By the afternoon, when the time was about right,


    Shen Qing went to the backyard to take care of his aunt before nning to return to the vige.


    Coming out of his aunt''s room, Shen Qing once again encountered that young master with the exceptionally developed chest muscles.


    She had a square face, which actually bore some resemnce to the Hall Master''s uncle.


    In Great Zhou, there was no distinction between men and women; as long as one had the Sight, regardless of gender, they could learn Martial Arts and even hold positions in the court.


    However, women would marry eventually and naturally couldn''t match men physically,


    so there weren''t many females who gained renown through learning Martial Arts.


    Hearing from his aunt asionally, this was the Hall Master''s uncle''s fourth daughter, Li Lingchan, who had a bit of Martial Arts talent, hence she was also one of the children that the Hall Master''s uncle focused on nurturing.


    "What are you looking at?"


    Li Lingchan, who Shen Qing faced, red at him, clearly discontent with his gaze.


    Shen Qing didn''t intend to cause trouble for himself, so he lowered his head, shifted his gaze away, and passed by her without a second nce.


    His eyes flicked, and he noticed that this young female master had a sturdy figure from behind, with a broad back and a wide waist, much like a man.


    She truly had some talent for Martial Arts.


    "Coward."


    Shen Qing withdrew his gaze and ignored Li Lingchan''s words.


    By the afternoon, he took Shen Xiaohu and left Linfeng Hall.


    As usual,


    he bought some necessities from the street and then headed straight for the city gate.


    Perhaps because of the Huang Tian Sect, the security at the city gate had be much stricter.


    Fortunately, the guards had some impression of Shen Qing and did not trouble him. Besides, leaving the city was easier as there was nothing to be gained, so the guards briefly checked and let them pass.


    This time, with Zhao Ba dead and the Guardian Martial Department getting involved, the slums around the West City Gate were much more peaceful than before.


    Almost no one came to surround them, and even the beggars seen before were few and far between.


    Walking for a while, Shen Qing saw ck smoke rising from the shantytown in the distance.


    It appeared there had been a big fire there, and embers were still burning.


    "Make way, make way."


    Suddenly, five or six government officers emerged in the middle of the main street ahead, pushing the pedestrians to either side.


    Behind them, strung together with rope, about twenty people were being led into the city.


    These people were bound like prisoners, their hands tied with ropes, and their mouths gagged, being dragged forward by the officers.


    Whispers arose from the crowd as some recognized their nearby neighbors.


    "Aunt Wang was actually a member of the Huang Tian Sect. She usually speaks so little."


    "And that little tailor too, I''ve even had him sew pants for me."


    "..."


    One by one, familiar faces were recognized, causing the crowd to stir.


    As these people passed by Shen Qing, he noticed that their eyes were bright, showing no sign of fear. He could even faintly hear them murmuring, "The blue sky below, the yellow sky above..."


    It filled him with an inexplicable sense of irritation.


    Shen Qing watched these people move away, remaining silent. He then resumed driving his cart, heading in the direction of Hongshan Vige.

 Chapter 80: Chapter 4 Bone Refining Realm, Transformation of Cultivation Technique

    ```


    Time flew.


    In the blink of an eye, twenty days had passed, and it was the season of Li Chun.


    The umted snow in Hongshan Vige gradually melted away, and the asional sporadic snowkes mixed with rain could no longer umte.


    Despite this, the warm spring had not yet arrived, and the weather was still annoyingly cold.


    "Snap!"


    In the bamboo forest, Shen Qing joined his hands together, pointing his arms forward like a whip.


    With a crisp sound, Shen Qing''s two fingers actually pierced directly into the emerald bamboo.


    He withdrew his fingers, leaving two dark holes in the bamboo, as if they were punctures from the sharp teeth of a fierce beast.


    Shen Qing looked down at his own fingers, somewhat disbelieving.


    "So this is the strength of the Bone Refining Realm."


    Shen Qing muttered to himself, delighted.


    After returning to Hongshan Vigest time, Shen Qing had dealt with all the trivial matters and had not gone back to the county town for over twenty consecutive days.


    The task of hunting in the mountains had been handed over to Tian Xiaohu.


    He had devoted his entire heart and energy into the cultivation of Martial Arts.


    Through his days of relentless practice, he had finally achieved Small Sess in the Wind Defying Finger, mastering all the techniques and the stretching skills of the finger.


    In the process of continuous tempering, his muscles, bones, and flesh had been fully stretched.


    By now, he could exert his strength as he desired and move it freely.


    The moves of the Wind Defying Finger had begun to enter Entry Level.


    Having reached this step, he had achieved Great Perfection of the Tendon Stretching Realm and became a martial master of the Bone Refining Realm.


    Next was to continue increasing the strength of his bones throughout his body, reaching the so-called "Invincibility," and to enhance the lethal power of his moves.


    Otherwise, the hardness of the flesh and blood body would never match that of hard stone and iron.


    Besides that, another thing caught his attention was a new change in the Nine Skills he had been practicing.


    With a thought, the Water Ink Panel appeared before his eyes.


    [Skill: Nine Skills (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 501/500 points]


    [Status: Upgradable]


    [Note: Heaven rewards the diligent. Through continuous effort, your understanding of this Martial Arts has reached a new realm. Continue to break through, and you willprehend a new Martial Arts.]


    "A new Martial Arts."


    Of all his skills, Nine Skills was the first to reach a Break Limit level of cultivation.


    As it was a basic Martial Arts Skill with no thresholds, he practiced it frequently, and unexpectedly, it had produced such an effect.


    It led him to a new understanding of the Water Ink Panel.


    No one was around.


    Shen Qing licked his lips, without any hesitation.


    "Breakthrough!"


    The status of Nine Skills on the Water Ink Panel quickly changed.


    A brand-new Martial Arts name appeared before his eyes.


    [Skill: Blood Dominance Technique (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 1/600 points]


    [Status: Not Upgradable]


    [Note: You haveprehended a new Martial Arts from the Nine Skills and possess an enormous amount of Qi-Blood that has broken through the limits of your body. Therefore, you have immense strength, your wounds heal at a rate far beyond ordinary people, and your constitution is robust.]


    Hum!


    Shen Qing''s body suddenly shuddered, with various memories of cultivating the Blood Dominance Technique surfacing in his mind, causing him to sp his head and groan in pain.


    A multitude of memories converged, and in a certain fleeting moment, Shen Qing felt as though time had stopped for him, caught up in a loop of the memories linked to practicing the Nine Skills.


    After an unknown number of cycles, he finally broke through, gaining an understanding of how to further strengthen his body through the exercises.


    The nine stance training exercises he practiced merged into one, forging a single state.


    This technique could raise the body''s strength and the upper limit of Qi-Blood by eight or nine times, and was incredibly terrifying.


    ```


    ```


    After ten breaths, Shen Qing felt the pain throughout his body slowly diminishing.


    His muscles also began to twitch, and a sense of familiarity came from his legs.


    Shen Qing looked down and suddenly found that his legs had undergone tremendous change, bing exceptionally robust.


    Muscles bulged on them like blocks of iron, straining his clothes.


    Even his height had increased a notch.


    Shen Qing stretched out his legs and with a fierce kick, a tree thick enough to be embraced by a person was directly snapped by his foot, yet he felt no pain whatsoever.


    "Is this the power of the Blood Dominance Technique?"


    Shen Qing could hardly believe it.


    He extended two fingers, turning them into a sword gesture, and walked toward the direction of the tree.


    This tree was a solid pine tree, very hard, far fromparable to bamboo.


    Shen Qing exerted force in his fingers and pointed at the trunk of the pine tree.


    Pu-chi.


    A dull sound.


    Shen Qing found his fingers had prated the pine tree like nails, the jointspletely submerged.


    Then an overpowering pain drilled through from the tips of his fingers.


    Unperturbed, Shen Qing calmly pulled his fingers out.


    Under his gaze, the two swollen fingers quickly returned to normal, and in the blink of an eye, they were as good as ever.


    Shen Qing flexed his fingers without feeling any abnormalities.


    "Very good, I feel like I might be even stronger than the elder martial brother."


    Looking at his fingers which were now functioning normally without pain, Shen Qing showed a satisfied expression.


    He tidied up casually and left.


    Back at home, his older sister Shen Fang was busy with needlework, nning to make a few new pairs of shoes and clothes for Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing originally didn''t want her to do this, saying that she could buy whatever was needed with money.


    But upon careful thought, there was really not much else for the women in the vige to do, so he let her be.


    "Huh!"


    At this moment, the sound of wheels rolling suddenly appeared outside the house.


    Shen Qing, holding a bowl, poured himself a cup of coarse tea, drank it all down in one gulp, and then set the bowl down and walked out.


    Tian Xiaohu, whom he had sent to the city to sell mountain goods, happened to return at that moment.


    Shen Qing patted the horse''s back and asked, "How are things in the city nowadays?"


    "A bit chaotic. With that incident that happened, the Guardian Martial Department caught several members of the Huang Tian Sect in Wanfeng Building, and the Song family''s business has been unable to continue, they''ve closed their doors for reorganization. The government office won''t let it go easily if they don''t pay a heavy price."


    Tian Xiaohu stepped down from the cart, continuing, "Fortunately, we didn''t have too many mountain goods, and those that were in season all sold, but because of the Huang Tian Sect incident, the market isn''t good, and the mountain goods couldn''t fetch a high price."


    Shen Qing muttered to himself, wondering why, but it was getting harder and harder to hunt game in the mountains.


    He felt that his Hongshan Trading Company might end before it even began.


    Turns out he''s not cut out for business and should just focus on progressing in martial arts to make his fortune.


    "What about the government office?"


    "The same as always, they are everywhere trying to capture members of the Huang Tian Sect. It''s nearing its end and should be over soon."


    "Roar!"


    Just then, a beast''s roar came from behind the mountain, reverberating throughout the wilderness.


    ```

 Chapter 81: Chapter 5: Trace of the Demon Tiger

    Upon hearing this roar, Shen Qing and Tian Xiaohu exchanged nces.


    ustomed to dealing with various beasts in the deep mountains, Shen Qing and hispanion could tell, this was clearly the roar of a fierce tiger.


    A fierce tiger in Shicheng Mountain?


    "Let''s go, take a look outside."


    Shen Qing, apanied by Tian Xiaohu, stepped outside the house and looked toward the direction of the animal''s roar, only to be stunned.


    In the sky above Shicheng Mountain, a massive hole had been punctured through the thick dark clouds.


    From a distance, it resembled a celestial being casting a giant stone from the heavens.


    Blue sky and sunlight poured down through the hole, presenting an astonishing sight.


    Such a spectacle drew the rest of the vigers out of their homes.


    They huddled together in small groups, and the scene became somewhat noisy.


    Shen Qing knew that there were fierce tigers in Shicheng Mountain, as well as ck Bears, although they were rarely seen.


    However, he had never heard a tiger roar quite like this one.


    "I remember there are people out hunting on the mountain, right?" asked Shen Qing, turning to Tian Xiaohu.


    Although it was already Li Chun, the tax officials from the city had not yet arrived, so the vigers naturally ignored the hunting bans of Li Chun.


    Everyone wanted to take advantage of thisst opportunity to make some money.


    Tian Xiaohu replied without lifting his head, "Yes, they are. Every household''s harvest hasn''t been good, and now they''re desperately hunting in the mountains."


    "Good, we can ask themter what exactly is happening in the mountains."


    "Mhm."


    As they were speaking, amotion arose from the vige entrance, as though many people were frantically rushing into the vige.


    "The mountain drivers are back!"


    Someone eximed, drawing everyone''s attention.


    Shen Qing looked over and saw Zhang Baqing leading a group of hunters into the vige in a panic.


    Each of them looked as if they had just seen a ghost, with terror written all over their faces.


    Shen Qing stepped forward to intercept Zhang Baqing, clutched his shoulders, and shook him, asking, "Zhang Bazi, what happened on the mountain? Why are all of you running?"


    Zhang Baqing''s face was filled with fright, and he trembled all over as he stammered, "Demon... tiger!"


    Shen Qing frowned, "A tiger is just a tiger, what do you mean by demon tiger?"


    "We... we... saw that tiger speak... humannguage!"


    "What?!"


    At these words, everyone in Hongshan Vige was shocked.


    Exmations echoed one after another.


    "I''ve lived so long... never... have I seen such strange and eerie urrence..."


    Shen Qing was skeptical, "Are you sure you didn''t see it wrong?"


    "It wasn''t just me who saw it; everyone heard and saw it. Chen Dacong was even carried away by a gust of demonic wind," Zhang Baqing said with certainty.


    Shen Qing fell silent.


    Zhang Baqing was known in their vige for his integrity and would not fabricate such tales.


    There truly was a demon tiger in Shicheng Mountain.


    Shen Qing immediately said, "Zhang Batou, we don''t know what''s happening in the mountains right now. You need to calm down. Tonight, arrange for males over twelve years old to be grouped together, old with young, each to take a gong and patrol the outskirts of the vige."


    "We''ll keep watch and see what happens. In a day or two, I will go to the city and seek help from the government office," Shen Qing said methodically.


    His calm demeanor seemed to give Zhang Baqing a pir of support, and he quickly regained hisposure and hurriedly went to make arrangements.


    The hunters of Hongshan Vige, for generations, had at most heard of spirited foxes in the mountains but had never heard of demons in this part of the world.


    For a time, there was panic in their hearts.


    The entire vige was enveloped in an atmosphere of impending disaster, and every hunter living in Hongshan Vige was pushed by waves of tension. Each household ced their hunting bows and daggers beneath their pillows at night.


    Ready to respond to any sudden changes that might ur.


    At night, Shen Qingy in bed but did not fall asleep.


    His mind was preupied with the matter of the demon tiger.


    At this moment, he felt that the world he knew little about had vaguely revealed a mysterious corner to him.


    The night passed in silence.


    By early morning, Shen Qing had already woken up early.


    His older sister, Shen Fang, prepared breakfast for him as usual, her face betraying no emotion.


    Shen Qing brushed his teeth with a willow twig and green salt, washed his face with hot water, then put on a thick cotton coat and walked towards Zhang Shuyuan''s home.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    He knocked lightly and said, "Is the teacher at home? I have something to ask."


    "Come in,"


    camed Zhang Shuyuan''snguid voice from inside.


    Shen Qing didn''t think too much and walked in, seeing Zhang Shuyuan still curled up in his nkets; only upon seeing Shen Qing enter did he make an effort to sit up halfway.


    "Did youe over so early because of the demon tiger yesterday?"


    "I can''t hide it from the teacher, it''s about that," Shen Qing didn''t beat around the bush and directly asked, "I want to ask the teacher whether there really are demons in this world."


    "Demons? How could there be such things? You must have read too many stories. Anyway, I''ve grown up and read so many books, but I''ve never heard of any ce where demons have appeared," Zhang Shuyuan shook his head.


    "If you''re really serious, you can find a few mentions of demons in ancient times, but those years are too far back, and some are not very credible."


    Shen Qing held reservations about Zhang Shuyuan''s words.


    Zhang Baqing and the others had seen with their own eyes; the demon tiger that spoke was definitely not fake.


    "If there are no demons, then are there immortals?" Shen Qing pressed on.


    "There are, but since the establishment of the Great Zhou Dynasty, only one has appeared."


    "Who?"


    "The founding emperor of the Great Zhou, the Ji Family''s ancestor, who has now lived for nine hundred years."


    "He''s still alive?" Shen Qing was astonished; he had never imagined that someone could live until now.


    "Don''t look so unworldly; this is something well known among us schrs. The founding emperor of Great Zhou became an immortal through martial arts and has lived a second life. He is the only martial immortal of this era."


    "But because it involves the imperial family''s ethics, it has always been kept secret, just not publicized tomon folks like you. What did you think, that the Ji Family has been able to sit on the throne for nine hundred years and still stand unshaken?"


    Zhang Shuyuan''s words made Shen Qing''s scalp tingle.


    He didn''t remember much else very clearly, only one phrase stood out: "became an immortal through martial arts."


    There really were immortals in this world.


    Until now, he had just been ignorant.


    Shen Qing continued to ask some other trivial details and asked, "Teacher, do you have any historical and cultural records about this world? I''d like to take a look at some."


    "You haven''t mastered all the characters yet, you wouldn''t understand even if I told you."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing silently stepped forward and ced three silver beans on the table.


    The sound of each silver bean was extremely pleasant to the ear.


    Lying in bed, Zhang Shuyuan sighed leisurely and climbed out of the warm quilt.


    Then in front of Shen Qing, he took two books off the shelf and handed them to Shen Qing, saying, "Take a look at these, ande ask me if there''s anything you don''t understand."


    Shen Qing sped his fists in thanks and said, "I have disturbed the teacher. I will take my leave."


    "What''s the use of reading when you don''t even recognize all the characters? Forget it, the old master said ''education without ss distinction,'' letting him read more books won''t do any harm."


    Zhang Shuyuan swept the silver beans into his pocket and nestled back into his quilt.

 Chapter 82: Chapter 6: Tax Officials Enter the Village, Harsh Governance Fierce as a Tiger

    Shen Qing stepped out of the house and nced at the book Zhang Shuyuan had given him.


    The yellow cover was already worn, prominently featuring the words "Mountain and River Chronicles."


    Shen Qing flipped through it and roughly understood that it was a geographical record interspersed with many introductions to cultural and historical stories.


    Some records could be traced back to five thousand years ago.


    Although some were vague and exaggerated, for someone like Shen Qing, using them to broaden his horizons was unparalleled.


    It was a good book.


    Besides this book, Zhang Shuyuan had also given him a book of short stories and novels.


    Contained within were chapters involving many stories of supernatural creatures and martial masters eliminating evil.


    It gave off a bit of the impression of "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio."


    There were also many small illustrations.


    Shen Qing found himself inexplicably more interested in this type of story and novel.


    Just as he was about to start reading, the sound of a gong interrupted his thoughts.


    A piercing scream followed immediately.


    Shen Qing put away the two books and rushed toward the sound of the gong without a second thought.


    In the vige, figures darted about, and many vigers had already gathered where the gong was sounded.


    Shen Qing recognized that it was the home of Chen Yixiang, a hunter in the vige.


    At that moment, one side of his earthen house had copsed, and the ground was covered in blood. On closer inspection, half an intestine was trailing on the ground.


    "What happened?"


    The hunter holding the gong, with a pale face, said, "I just saw six or seven wolves burst in and snatch away Chen Yixiang''s entire family. One of the wolves was as big as a calf¡­ I''ve never seen such wolves before. They looked almost human¡­ I thought I was going to die¡­"


    ttering!


    Far off in the mountains a demonic wind arose, and the forest rustled loudly.


    The vigers, like startled birds, quickly drew their bows and ded weapons.


    The atmosphere turned solemn.


    After waiting a while and seeing no further disturbances, everyone slowly let out a sigh of relief.


    An experienced elder, still terrified, said, "A dragon follows the clouds, a tiger follows the wind. The tiger is the king of beasts; it must be that demon tiger causing trouble."


    "The demon tiger hase!"


    As soon as this statement was made, it stirred up a storm.


    The ominous news hung over Hongshan Vige like dark clouds.


    The hunters still living in Hongshan Vige became even more frightened.


    Seeing Shen Qing present, Zhang Baqing hurried over and asked, "Qingzi, what do you think about this? What should we do?"


    Shen Qing said, "I will go to the county town immediately to consult with the Hall Master of Linfeng Hall and the county government. They must make a decision, as this matter is obviously beyond our ability to handle."


    By now, he had entered the Bone Refining Realm, his Qi-Blood surging through him like rivers.


    Even if ten or twenty hunters from the vige came at him together, they were no match for him.


    Yet, faced with such bizarre urrences, he still felt uncertain and did not intend to risk it personally.


    "Alright," Zhang Baqing sighed and said, "That''s all we can do."


    Just then, the sound of hooves suddenly came from the direction of the vige entrance.


    Shen Qing looked up and saw two tax officials from the county riding into the vige on two big donkeys, their presence overwhelming.


    They wore official robes and headcloths, their faces disying an insufferable arrogance.


    The vigers stepped aside.


    "Woah..."


    The two tax officials charged towards the vigers, pulled on the reins, and looked down at everyone from a heightened position.


    One of the tax officials took a tiger head knife from the back of his donkey, cradled it in his arms, and called out loudly, "Where is leader Chen? Come out and speak."


    These two were tax officials.


    Familiar faces indeed; every year they had toe to collect taxes and loot.


    Upon seeing the two men, all the hunters in the vige realized that the spring prohibition was starting, and it was time to pay the spring tax.


    In the past, such matters were always handled by the Chen Yuan family.


    The vige was isted from information, and the two tax officials clearly did not yet know that the Chen Yuan family had all been killed.


    Under the indication of Shen Qing, Zhang Baqing reluctantly stepped forward, trying his best to be polite, and said, "Chen Bazi''s entire family met with disaster in the mountains."


    "They all died?" The two tax officials looked at each other and saw disbelief in each other''s eyes, "Who is in charge in Hongshan Vige now?"


    Zhang Baqing subconsciously nced at Shen Qing, who appropriately averted his gaze just in time.


    He conveyed, "This humble person, trusted by the elders and the young masters in the vige, takes responsibility."


    "Fine, then follow the old rules, lead the way."


    The two tax officials dismounted from their donkeys and walked forward, leading the reins.


    As they passed the vigers gathered nearby, they curiously asked, "What are you all looking at?"


    One hunter saw this as a good opportunity and quickly came forward, saying, "A demon tiger appeared in the mountains, and Chen Yixiang''s whole family was carried off. Esteemed officials, please think of something quickly. Otherwise, none of us in the vige can live in peace."


    "Hahaha..." The two tax officialsughed aloud, "It''s funny that you call yourselves hunters. If there''s a tiger in the mountains, shouldn''t you be happy? A tiger is a treasure from head to toe, enough for your whole vige to live luxuriously."


    "But... it''s a demon tiger, sir!"


    "Enough, stop that nonsense. Do you think you can avoid taxes with such tricks? A tiger is a tiger, even a demon tiger..."


    The two tax officials clearly did not believe what the vigers said.


    They were often on the road collecting taxes and had encountered various schemes.


    Some jumped into manure pits, pretending to be crazy or stupid.


    Some imed to have been hit by a gue.


    Some said that a possessed sow had climbed up a tree.


    Others had even castrated themselves or sold their wives.


    The list went on and on.


    They were no strangers to such oddities.


    They hardly came out for a trip, heavily relying on this time to scrape together a bit, so they would not believe such ghost stories.


    Zhang Baqing dared not say more, quickly inviting the two tax officials into his wooden house to make a fire and boil water.


    Then he informed the vige to prepare good wine and food to entertain them.


    Yet these two tax officials were not at all appreciative. They looked around with dissatisfaction in their eyes.


    "Is this your home?" one of the tax officials asked, pointing at the simple wooden house and scoffing disdainfully, "It''s truly shabby! It seems this year, your Hongshan Vige will have to pay more taxes."


    Zhang Baqing''s heart tightened; he knew these two tax officials had begun to make things difficult for him.


    Suppressing his anger, he tried to appease them with a smile, "Esteemed officials, our household cannotpare with the original Chen Bazi''s connections, and we have disappointed you."


    The two tax officials ignored him, chatting among themselves.


    Zhang Baqing did not dare to interject.


    As officials from the court, nourished by Martial Mechanism, all were martial masters of significant realms.


    They were not someone small households like his could afford to provoke.


    After a while, each household had contributed a bit, managing to prepare a table full of good wine and food.


    Shen Qing wasn''t stingy either, and specially took out some for them.


    The two tax officials, seeing the food and drinks on the table, frowned.


    Zhang Baqing, observing their reactions, exined, "This year''s harvest was not good, we have already done our best."


    However, the tax officials remained unmoved.


    They snorted coldly and started eating.


    Zhang Baqing, trying to lighten the atmosphere, ventured, "Sir, there is indeed a demon tiger in our vige, and the people are very fearful. I wonder if the county government has any way to address this. Otherwise, there''s hardly any hunting sess, with the spring prohibition starting soon, and taxes due, we will have no means to live."


    "That''s easy to handle, besides the forest maintenance tax, household tax, Leftover Woman Tax... just pay an additional tiger tax."


    "The tiger tax need not be much, just one tael silver is enough."

 Chapter 83: Chapter 7: One Hit Kill

    "Ah? Are you gentlemen jesting? One tael of silver... even in bountiful times, my entire family, old and youngbined, would not spend a single month without eating or drinking to save up one tael of silver."


    "Are you questioning us?" A tax official suddenly pulled out a tiger head knife, pressing it against Zhang Baqing''s neck, "I don''t care how you do it, but you must pay this one tael of silver. Besides that, you''ll also have to pay the Yellow Peril Tax."


    Zhang Baqing was utterly dumbfounded. "What tax is this now?"


    "Didn''t the County Magistrate spend recent days tirelessly eliminating the remnants of the Huang Tian Sect? To protect the safety ofmon people like you, we have been working from dawn till dusk without a moment''s rest. You should be considerate of our efforts."


    One of the tax officials put away the knife that had been pressed against Zhang Baqing''s neck.


    Zhang Baqing stuttered, "Sirs, then... how much is the total spring tax this time?"


    "Two and a half silver taels per household."


    "What..." Zhang Baqing was speechless upon hearing this, thinking he might have heard wrong.


    "Forest tax is 200 cents, household tax is 300 cents, Leftover Woman Tax is 100 cents, road tax is 100 cents, ditch tax is 200 cents,nd and property tax is 100 cents, broken windows tax is 50 cents, tiger tax is graciously 950 cents, and Yellow Peril Tax is 550 cents."


    "It''s all clear and obvious," the tax officials said impatiently. "Any issues? Go collect quickly. Otherwise, we''ll have to spend the night here and impose an overnight tax."


    Zhang Baqing was filled with indignation and astonishment.


    And this was merely the spring tax.


    It was already far beyond their ability to bear.


    But seeing the tiger head knives in the hands of the two government officers, Zhang Baqing dared not say more.


    The two officers stood there in their thin uniforms on this bitterly cold day, their faces flush with health.


    Their martial prowess must indeed be stronger than that of Chen Yuan, stronger than the likes of Shen Qing.


    Strength was power, and he was no match for them.


    He felt deeply aggrieved.


    Zhang Baqing took a deep breath and sighed, "I will go and urge them to pay."


    Watching Zhang Baqing''s receding figure, the two government officers spoke dismissively, "These stubborn people, they don''t know how to get moving unless beaten. Each one is as block-headed as the next."


    "Be satisfied. It''s good enough they have food and drink in the deep mountains and dense forests."


    "And who knows why the County Magistrate acts as if he''s gone mad, demanding so much all at once?"


    "Isn''t it because of the recurring demands from the Yellow Bandits? The whole country''s rates are rising, not just our county. Besides, regardless of how much is collected, we cannot miss even a single character in our reports, the old rule: one-third for the state treasury, one-third for the County Magistrate, and one-third for us. How much more or less we collect all depends on our skill."


    "Yeah, exactly."


    ...


    "Two and a half taels, that much?"


    Upon learning that the spring tax suddenly demanded two and a half silver taels, Shen Qing was somewhat incredulous.


    This tax was outrageously high.


    Zhang Baqing felt belittled and dared not speak.


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment and then said, "Zhang Bazi, wait for me a moment."


    With that, Shen Qing went back into the house and returned with eight taels of silver, cing it on the table and said, "Zhang Batou, here are eight taels of silver, consider it the spring tax for my and my uncle''s families, as well as Tian Xiaohu''s. There''s also five hundred coins, see who needs it, and help them out."


    Zhang Baqing was shocked speechless by Shen Qing''s swift and immense generosity, repeatedly nodding his head in approval and taking the money, he left.


    Shen Qing was not too distressed about the money; after all, if it could solve the problem, he wasn''t keen on making more trouble.


    Those two tax officials, if Shen Qing wasn''t mistaken, were both martial masters from Bone Refining Realm.


    Better to avoid making trouble.


    Because of the taxation, the vige was in turmoil.


    After much effort, Zhang Baqing finally collected some money from each household, which he handed over to the two tax officials.


    The tax officials counted the amount, frowning, "Why is it so little?"


    "Sirs, there are a few households left with only the old and weak, really struggling, I humbly ask you to spare them some consideration," Zhang Baqing pleaded earnestly.


    One tax official pulled out a register and said, "There are supposed to be thirty-six households in Hongshan Vige, which should bring in ny taels of cash, and what is this, less than sixty taels? Are you thinking I am blind?"


    "Sir, there are only twenty-nine households left in our vige, the Chen family members missing seven households."


    "Am I stupid or are you stupid? The register clearly lists thirty-six households. Have those missing households all died or what?"


    Zhang Baqing stuttered, "They are all dead!"


    Bang!


    As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a tremendous force in his lower abdomen.


    Under the foot of the tax official, the entire person wasunched into the air and smashed into the wall.


    He struggled to open his eyes, only to feel that the figures in front of him seemed to be swaying.


    "Let everyonee over, I want to check one by one. I don''t believe they are all dead," the tax official said viciously.


    Many people would hide to evade taxes, which would take some effort, but such tant tax evasion was, frankly, their first encounter.


    "Yes, yes," Zhang Baqing said, bowing and scraping.


    Thud, thud, thud!


    The sound of gongs rang out, gathering many vigers.


    Seeing that the time was about right.


    One of the tax officials, holding a roster, surveyed the crowd and said, "There are precisely thirty-six households in Hongshan Vige, yet now seven households im to be dead? I have never heard of such an absurd thing. Whoever rifies the whereabouts of these people, I will allow a deduction of three hundred cents from their taxes."


    "My lord, they indeed are all dead."


    "Yes, they died."


    The gathered vigers echoed one after another, having not seen much of the world living in the vige.


    The matter of killing the Chen family members, more or less, involved them; they were quite worried about being punished under thews of Great Zhou, so they only dared to tell half-truths.


    Hidden among the crowd, Shen Qing witnessed this scene, sensing that these people still understood the stakes and were not foolish.


    The tax official was growing impatient and did not want to borate. "If that''s the case, then the spring tax of these seven households will be distributed among each of you, adding six hundred cents to each household."


    "Whoosh..."


    The words of the tax official were like a drop of water in boiling oil, inciting public outrage.


    Their encounter with the arrogant tax officials made them extremely discontent.


    One elderly hunter angrily said, "To scrape together your tax money, we can''t even afford to eat. And now you''re increasing it?"


    Instead of easing back, the tax officials became even more arrogant.


    They drew their tiger head knives and coldly asked, "You have an objection?"


    "I do, and a big one at that!"


    The old hunter, who spent years in the mountains, exuded a wild nature from head to toe.


    "Good, very good, extremely good," one of the tax officials coldly walked forward, repeating the word ''good'' several times.


    Just as hisst word fell, a sh of cold light burst from his hand.


    Squish.


    The old hunter had not yet understood what was happening when his head was cleaved off with a knife.


    Blood sttered, staining the ground.


    The tax official turned and looked at the crowd, "Does anyone else have objections?"


    All the vigers of Hongshan Vige fell silent.


    Another tax official closed the roster and said, "If the tax money can''t be pooled together, look around to see if you have any siblings. The city is in need of forcedbor, which can also be offset against your taxes."


    Forcedbor?


    The word sent shivers down everyone''s spine.


    Hardly any forcedborers returned alive.


    "Good, since no one is speaking, it seems everyone agrees. So it''s settled then."


    "I have something to say?"


    Among the crowd, Shen Qing slowly stepped forward, walking towards the two tax officials.


    "What is it?"


    "How much is your life worth, sir?"


    "What? How audacious!"


    Spurt!


    The tax official hadn''t finished speaking.


    Shen Qing quickly positioned his fingers together, swiftly striking towards his throat, deeply puncturing it.


    Wind Defying Finger.


    A fatal blow.


    "Heh, heh, heh... you..."

 Chapter 84: Chapter 8: Kill them all, I am a tricky people too!

    Watching from the side, another tax official was dumbfounded by the scene.


    He had never imagined that someone from the viges below would dare toy hands on them, the tax officials.


    They were not mere officers, they were legitimate "officials," who ate the government''s food.


    Even the court''s Martial Arts training was something they could partake in, considering themselves to be minor officials of the ninth rank.


    At the very least, their cultivation was at the Bone Refining Realm.


    What they represented was the face of the government, and their backing came from the Great Zhou Court.


    That was the source of their arrogant and domineering behavior outside.


    Otherwise, how could they dare to be so ostentatious as meremoners?


    The tax official immediately reacted and roared, "How audacious, find¡­"


    Snort!


    Before he could finish his sentence, and his tiger head knife only half drawn, Shen Qing''s two fingers had already struck first.


    To the tax official''s astonishment, they prated his throat from under his jaw.


    After being empowered by the Blood Dominance Technique, Shen Qing''s arm strength was tremendously fearsome. Combined with the technique of the Wind Defying Finger, it achieved an effect greater than the sum of its parts.


    The tax official''s throat was as soft as tofu; his fingers prated it effortlessly.


    Without a hint of hesitation.


    The scene suddenly fell into a bizarre silence.


    "Heh heh heh¡­"


    Both tax officials'' windpipes were blocked by Shen Qing''s fingers, rendering them speechless.


    Blood followed their throats and surged upward.


    With a chill in his demeanor, Shen Qing stirred his fingers inside, hooked, and then pulled them out.


    From the throats of the two tax officials, he pulled out a segment of a red tubr object.


    Blood sma, like the opening of a faucet, sprayed incessantly.


    The two tax officials clutched their necks, staring at Shen Qing and retreating two steps in session.


    Under the watchful eyes of Shen Qing and the vigers of Hongshan Vige, they eventually fell to their knees and face-nted onto the ground.


    They writhed like worms, continually curling up until they ceased to move.


    The blood from the two mingled, forming a small pool of blood.


    The thick scent of blood spread continuously from it, filling everyone''s nostrils.


    Shen Qing''s expression was solemn as he nonchntly threw the two pieces of tubr objects to the ground, turning back to face the crowd.


    An elder of the Shen family from the vige, fearful and trembling, asked in a quavering voice, "Qingzi, how¡­ how could you do this? They were officials, not mere officers."


    The so-called officers were people hired from various Martial Arts Halls by the government office to work.


    They were paid by the day.


    Many of them were even secretly involved in gangs, a mixed bag of characters, and often did the hard and tiring work.


    Even if they died, it wasn''t particrly serious.


    But these "officials" were different.


    Killing them would indeed lead to trouble.


    Shen Qing nced at the elder from the Shen family and said in an even tone, "I''m just a troublemaker; why can''t I?"


    "Ah!"


    "Killing these two officials will only bring more officials; no one will escape, and we will all die!"


    Shen Qing''s expression turned cold as he said, "So we should let them exploit us, oppress us, kill us, and have our brothers and sisters vited by them? Now there is a tiger demon in the mountain, and if we pay this spring tax again, do you think we will have a way to live?"


    "Killing them we die, not killing we also die, wait to die? Better to kill them and take some with us when we die. What''s wrong with that?"


    The many vigers fell silent.


    Because what Shen Qing said was true.


    Just now in front of them, an old hunter was ughtered as a warning to others.


    Why could the tax officials kill, but they couldn''t?


    There was no such rule in the world.


    Expressions on everyone''s faces began to fluctuate between anger, fear, hatred, and a touch of schadenfreude.


    Shen Qing surveyed the crowd, capturing each person''s expression as the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.


    His killing of two officials was not a momentary impulse.


    Having just witnessed the tax officer kill an old hunter from the vige, he immediately realized it was an excellent opportunity to win over the hearts of the people.


    The county government didn''t intervene¡ªjust sending two tax officials was enough for the vigers of Hongshan Vige to be willing to hand over their money.


    Why?


    Out of fear!


    They feared that if they didn''t pay, these tax officials and the government office would not let them off, not allowing them a way to live.


    What else was there inside?


    Anger!


    Shen Qing took the lead precisely to draw out the anger in their hearts.


    To use it for his purposes.


    Shen Qing didn''t fear that these people would report him.


    Because of the county government''s behavior, even if they testified and exempted themselves from involvement, the government would not go easy on them, which would not be beneficial for them.


    They might even face harsher punishment.


    Moreover, with the vige''s tradition of collective enmity, such acts were purely harmful without any benefit.


    Evil officialsy ahead, and a tiger demon loomed in the mountains.


    The ones driven to desperation weren''t him.


    Just as Shen Qing had anticipated, many people resonated with his words.


    Two and a half silver taels was no small amount.


    After paying this batch of spring tax, what about the summer, autumn, and winter tax?


    The appetites of those in the government office could never be satisfied!


    If it hadn''t been for killing the Chen family members earlier and dividing their wealth,


    they feared they wouldn''t have been able to gather enough for this spring tax.


    "Qingzi speaks the truth! Kill and die today, or don''t kill and die anyway, why wait for death?"


    Among the many vigers, a young hunter with vigorous spirit excitedly said, "Now most of the prey in the mountains fills that demon tiger''s stomach. My father and I go hunting in the mountains, and a whole day''s effort doesn''t even earn us fifty wen."


    "After paying this spring tax, our family won''t have any grain left. These evil officials just want us dead!"


    Tian Xiaohu shouted loudly, "Well done killing them! I''m a troublemaker too. If the government wants to arrest someone, let theme. These two officials were killed by me! It has nothing to do with Qingzi!"


    "Count me in, it has nothing to do with Qingzi!" another person stood out and shouted indignantly.


    "Count me in!"


    "I..."


    The scene suddenly became fervent.


    Seeing that it was about enough, Shen Qing, with his hands behind his back, seriously said, "There''s no need to argue anymore. The dead are already dead; it doesn''t matter who killed them anymore. What we need to think about is what to do next?"


    The others quickly agreed, "Right, right, right, what should we do next?"


    Shen Qing paced back and forth, pondered for a moment, and then said, "As it stands, if we don''t remove the demon tiger from the mountains, there won''t be much harvest here, and living well will be difficult. The best option is to move elsewhere."


    Zhang Baqing asked, "Move to where?"


    "We''re undesired by the world; we must seek a way to live in the city!" Shen Qing revealed his final thought.


    "To the city?!"


    Everyone looked at each other.


    They had never imagined that Shen Qing would actually suggest such a solution.


    "But it''s not so easy to enter the city. What will we do for a living if we go there?"


    The Great Zhou Country strictly controlled the identity of its citizens.


    They wanted people from different ces to have their specific roles, each serving their purpose.


    They were all identified as hunters; if they went to the city and stayed long-term, they would eventually have no ce to settle or legitimate upation, and before long, they would be deregistered and be unemployed and homeless.


    For them, this was undoubtedly a risk.


    But Shen Qing didn''t see it that way.

 Chapter 85: Chapter 9 Enter the City! Enter the City! Demon Tiger Blocks the Way!

    Not long ago, Zhao Ba was killed by him.


    After that, there was the Huang Tian Sect incident, and the slum areas in West City were basically cleared out.


    Now that area in West City is like a dragon without a head, an excellent time for fishing in troubled waters.


    Take some people over, and you might be able to make your move very quickly.


    These people are all our fellow vigers and undoubtedly more trustworthy.


    What was then is not what is now.


    In the past, he didn''t have this idea, but now that the business with mountain goods is not viable, and with the demon tiger and evil official both assisting, he had no reason not to try.


    "Fellow vigers and neighbors, I must be frank with you. Recently, Taiping County has cleared out a batch of remnants from the Huang Tian Sect, and the Outer City shantytowns have emptied out arge block of streets, which is just right for us to settle down."


    "You heads of households are all in the hunting business. Why not broaden our horizons a bit? Prey is not only in the mountains; that Outer City can also be our hunting ground."


    "Qingzi... do you mean... to have us go and rob?" A straightforward young hunter asked.


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "Rob? We are hunting, fair and square. It''s just that the prey is different."


    Although Shen Qing''s words were a bit convoluted, they still understood.


    It was robbery!


    Robbery sounded good.


    It was much better than toiling away in the deep mountains and forests hunting rabbits.


    Some of the more wild-minded hunters licked their lips, suddenly feeling an urge to give it a try.


    Shen Qing continued, "I''ll also share something with everyone. The Hall Master of Linfeng Hall intends to take me as a direct disciple, so we have connections to rely on in the county city. Trusting in your faith in me, I will certainly enable you all to set down roots there."


    His gaze flickered, and he stooped to pick up the household register from the ground, saying, "Moreover, in the county city, the household register is only updated and checked every six months. By that time, if anyone feels like backing out and living in misery, it wouldn''t be toote to return and have a way out."


    "Anyway, whatever it is, is better than now. What do you all say? Are you willing or not?"


    Tian Xiaohu, a loner, had long been exposed to Shen Qing''s methods.


    He firmly believed in his judgment and was the first to agree, saying, "Of course I''m willing. I''ll join you."


    "I''m also willing," Shen Xiaohu said, immediately standing up.


    Shen Xiaoshan quickly followed suit.


    Uncle Shen Er on the side knew that the money for the spring tax came from Shen Qing.


    He didn''t know exactly what happened to his nephew recently.


    But being able toe up with so much money in a short time obviously meant some capability.


    Since life here was unbearable, and with trust in Shen Qing and an attitude of taking a chance, Shen Er also agreed to go along.


    Zhang Baqing thought the same.


    One after another, nearly twenty households from Hongshan Vige agreed to Shen Qing and were willing to follow him into the city.


    These households were mostly young people.


    The rest were the elderly, weak, or Chen family members who did not get along too well with Shen Qing.


    Everyone has their own aspirations, and Shen Qing did not force anyone.


    "Alright, everyone takes back however much tax you paid," Shen Qing said. "My share will go to Uncle Wang''s family."


    The Uncle Wang Shen Qing mentioned was the old hunter who had been killed by the tax officials.


    Two and a half silver taels were given as he said.


    Everyone immediately felt that Shen Qing was of high moral standing.


    Shen Qing announced, "We should not dy. Those of you who have agreed to go with me, pack up quickly, have an early lunch, and we''ll leave."


    "Alright."


    The many vigers in the vige started to get moving.


    Shen Qing approached Tian Xiaohu and Shen Er, reminding them, "Uncle, Xiao Hu, don''t forget to take back your tax money."


    Uncle Shen Er and Tian Xiaohu nced at each other spontaneously.


    Their tax money had all been given by Shen Qing.


    Asking them to take it back now, wasn''t that like gifting it to them?


    Shen Er was deeply moved in his heart, feeling all the more that his nephew was a man who remembered kindness and sought to repay it.


    Tian Xiaohu also felt that his choice was bing more and more correct.


    Returning to his home, Shen Qing didn''t dy and immediately summoned his elder sister to pack up all the valuable possessions in the house, nning to move to the Outer City.


    Shen Fang was quite reluctant, "Are we really moving away?"


    "A tree dies when it''s moved, but a person thrives. People migrate to where the living is good; these dpidated earthen houses aren''t worth clinging to."


    "Alright then."


    Shen Fang didn''t say much more and immediately started packing.


    In the twenty or so days since Shen Qing had brought things back from the city, they had almost run out of supplies.


    There wasn''t much left to pack.


    They packed up quickly.


    Just as Shen Qing was busying himself with packing, Zhang Shuyuan, who had heard about the move, came to his doorstep.


    "Teacher, what''s this about?" Shen Qing asked curiously.


    "I wish to use the family''s cart to move some books," Zhang Shuyuan said straightforwardly.


    Shen Qing hadn''t expected that Zhang Shuyuan, without any noise or fuss, was also nning to move. He chuckled, "Teacher, that''s a small matter. Feel free to move as you need."


    Zhang Shuyuan bowed in gratitude and said, "Thank you very much."


    Stepping outside, Zhang Shuyuan couldn''t help but let out a long sigh, "Most people here have already moved. If I don''t move, the remaining ones simply won''t care about my well-being¡ªI might as well starve to death."


    "If I starve to death, then one more person in the line of schrs left by the old master would be lost. That won''t do; I must go with them."


    ¡­


    By noon, many had already finished packing, and with families in tow, they stood at the entrance of the vige, ready to enter the city with Shen Qing.


    The few households that were unwilling to leave bade them farewell at the entrance of the vige.


    A hunter from the Chen Family said earnestly, "Qingzi, I''m sorry, but we won''t be going with you this time. However, rest assured, we won''t breathe a word about you killing the tax officials. If I hear even a whisper about it outside, I won''t die a good death."


    Shen Qing shook his head, speaking very seriously, "You''re all mistaken. We didn''t kill those two tax officials¡ªit was the demon tiger in the mountain that killed them!"


    "We discovered a demon tiger in our vige. The two officials were diligently tracking its movements when they unfortunately encountered the tiger and were killed... It has nothing to do with us, right, everyone?"


    The people present were not fools and quickly caught on.


    Shen Qing was framing the demon tiger.


    Now, the corpses of the two tax officials had been discarded in the deep mountains.


    It had to be said, it made perfect sense!


    "Exactly, exactly, Qingzi is right. It was the work of the demon tiger in the mountain, I saw it with my own eyes."


    "I saw it as well. That demon tiger''s body was reddish-yellow, and it could speak humannguage¡ªit must be a spirit tiger."


    "What''s more? That demon tiger was leading a few wolves; I believe it''s already iming kingship in the mountains."


    "¡­"


    One by one, the people there concocted a story out of nothing, illustrating it with vivid details.


    The atmosphere suddenly turned ridiculous and amusing.


    "Everyone, we''ll go ahead to scout the way. When things settle down, if you regret noting, it won''t be toote to join us then."


    "Good, we''ll await your good news, and wish you a smooth journey."


    "Farewell."


    Shen Qing waved his hand, and the horse carts and donkey carts gradually set in motion. Around twenty households, with familial responsibilities in tow, headed towards Taiping County amidst a mix of reluctance and anticipation.


    After they had gone far, the expressions of unwillingness and difficulty on the faces of the few remaining households were immediately reced with snickers.


    "The city isn''t so easy to live in; they''ll know once they''ve hit dead ends everywhere."


    "Besides, the killing of the tax officials was all Shen Qing''s doing; what''s it got to do with us? Those people are too easily deceived."


    "Let''s go back. Now that they''ve all left, we can choose to live in any of the vacant houses. It doesn''t matter anymore if we defecate in their cooking stoves, hahaha¡­"


    "Indeed, that''s the spirit."


    Just then, gusts of wind arose from the mountain.


    In a patch of woods, the leaves rustled and roared, as if driven by the wind.

 Chapter 86: Chapter 10: Assisting the Tiger, Slaughtering the Village

    It was noon.


    The early spring sun carried threads of warmth, dispelling the chill that had lingered for many days.


    Sunlight dappled through the dense forest of Shicheng Mountain.


    Amidst the intery of light and shadow, an undercurrent of a threatening aura quietly emerged.


    "Creak¡­"


    Deep in the dense forest, a faint sound of breaking branches arose, followed by arge tiger with bulging eyes stepping out slowly.


    Its fur was a deep yellow interspersed with ck stripes, its eyes twinkling with an intelligent light.


    Wherever it passed, the wind howled.


    "My lord, this way,"


    a faint voice rose beside the tiger with bulging eyes.


    It slightly turned its head and spoke in human tongue, "How far is it from your vige?"


    As soon as the tiger with bulging eyes had spoken, a figure quietly emerged behind it.


    It was a lean and pale Ghost.


    Dressed as a hunter, his eyes were hollow and lifeless, yet they emitted a strange red glow.


    The Ghost lowered his head and respectfully responded, "My lord, it''s just past this dense forest ahead."


    "Good, as long as you bring me a hundred people, I will let you go,"


    the tiger demon''s eyes sparkled sharply, and his voice was deep andmanding.


    "I am entirely at your disposal, my lord," the lean Ghost said expressionlessly.


    The tiger demon slightly nodded, then paced forward with firm tiger steps.


    Its tail swayed gently, creating a gust of wind that made the leaves rustle loudly.


    The Ghost closely followed the tiger demon, his ethereal figure tightly keeping up, asionally lifting his head to look at the imposing figure of the tiger demon, his eyes flickering with an indescribable emotion.


    Soon, they arrived at the entrance to Hongshan Vige.


    The tiger with bulging eyes slightly parted its lips, revealing a humanized smile.


    "You didn''t deceive me after all, ha-ha¡­ It''s just nice I can have a hearty meal here and enhance my cultivation. I never thought the flesh and blood of you humans could be so beneficial to me,"


    the tiger demon said.


    With an indifferent face, the Ghost responded, "If it serves you well, my lord."


    "Good,e with me into your vige for a visit, if it''s suitable, I might stay here for a while,"


    the tiger demon''s eyes shed with cruelty as it quickened its pace towards the heart of Hongshan Vige.


    It stood in front of the vige gate, paused briefly, stepped back a couple of steps, and then surged forward.


    The low vige gate, in front of therge tiger, was virtually irrelevant; with just a light leap, it elegantly jumped in.


    The tiger with bulging eyes entered Hongshan Vige with the Ghost.


    It opened its huge jaws and let out a thunderous roar, and within this roar, the figure of the Ghost became increasingly ethereal, as if at any moment it might dissipate into the wind.


    "Roar!"


    ¡­


    The Chen family had some disputes with Shen Qing, but Shen Qing didn''t trouble the rest of the Chen family members; in fact, he even took care of them somewhat.


    However, Chen Jinzhong and others did not appreciate Shen Qing''s kindness.


    After all, they were also surnamed Chen,ing from the same n lineage.


    It was impossible for them to remain indifferent when their nsmen were killed.


    Moreover, they did not trust Shen Qing''s words and even med him for being too impulsive.


    The tax officials had said to just give whatever was demanded.


    If the money had been enough, there wouldn''t have been these troublester on.


    In their eyes, it was all Shen Qing''s problem, unrted to them.


    So, as their paths diverged, they did not n together.


    When Shen Qing suggested that the vige people go to the county town together, they were certainly not going, as it would only bring them displeasure.


    Instead, it was best for each to mind their own business, without interfering with each other.


    Aside from the few Chen family members, there were also four households of people who were short-staffed that had stayed behind.


    After sending away Shen Qing and the other vigers, Chen Jinzhong and his group had made a round around the vige, gathering these people to discuss the trivial matters that woulde next.


    Whether to repair some of the vige walls, whether to continue clearing thend in the mountains, whether to share a cooking fire...


    All these were issues concerning their future livelihood, and they could not help but pay close attention to them.


    Just as they had gathered and before the first word had been spoken, they heard a tiger''s roar.


    "What''s going on?"


    All of Chen Jinzhong''s faces showed a moment of panic.


    "Grab your weapons and go out to have a look."


    "Okay."


    Leading the pack, Chen Jinzhong grabbed a hunting knife and walked out.


    The others, each carrying weapons of some kind, followed behind him.


    Pushing the door open, a group of men, who made their living in the mountains, cautiously stepped out and looked around carefully.


    After most of the hunters from Hongshan Vige had moved away, the vige seemed somewhat deste.


    It made everyone momentarily ufortable, feeling even more shiveringly uneasy.


    "The roar just now seemed to havee from the entrance of the vige; no matter what it is, with seven or eight of us together, even a mountain tiger could be killed," said Chen Jinzhong, as a call to boost morale.


    However, they had only walked a few steps when they saw the scene ahead, and each of them froze as if they had been struck by an immobilization spell, unable to move a step further.


    A tiger asrge as a bull casually strolled through the vige with a ghost trailing behind it, slowly approaching them.


    "Chen Dacong..."


    "Tiger..."


    Therge tiger with protruding eyes halted, looking at them oddly, "Didn''t you say there were more than ny people in your vige? Why are there so few?"


    "I... I don''t know," replied the ghost-like Chen Dacong, his already pale face turning even paler.


    Therge tiger with protruding eyes frowned in displeasure, "Humph, then just stay inside."


    It opened itsrge mouth and swallowed the fear-stricken ghost, Chen Dacong, staring menacingly at Chen Jinzhong and the others, "It''s fewer than expected, but I''ll make do."


    "Don''t be afraid..."


    Chen Jinzhong hadn''t finished speaking when he was swept up by a demon wind and, before he could understand what was happening, he was caught under the w of the white tiger with protruding eyes, which bit off his spine in one bite.


    Seeing this, the others panicked, their souls terrified, and they began running in all directions in a frenzy.


    Regrettably, in the face of this terrifying demon, all their actions proved futile.


    Therge tiger with protruding eyes lunged forward, easily biting one person''s shoulder and tearing it off.


    The living person was ripped in two.


    Their viscera and intestines spilled out.


    One of the hunters regained hisposure, rushed into a house in a panic, and grabbed a hunting bow to shoot an arrow.


    Arrows that had never failed in the past were now like child''s y, obstructed by a demon wind and hitting therge tiger with protruding eyes harmlessly.


    "Roar!"


    Therge tiger with protruding eyes roared, expelling a bloody wind that swept the hunter to the front of it.


    With a flick of its tail, it snapped off his head.


    The remaining people, facing such a fearsome tiger demon, were utterly demoralized, and the scene turned into a one-sided massacre.


    They held their farming tools, trying to resist this terrifying demon, but no matter how they tried to flee or defend themselves, it was all in vain.


    The power of the tiger demon was far beyond their imagination.


    Even the robust houses were easily knocked down by it.


    At that moment, they deeply regretted not having left with Shen Qing at noontime, as they now faced such a cmity.


    But there were no ifs.


    Apanied by the final scream, thest viger remaining in Hongshan Vige died at the tiger''s hands.


    All the vigers were dead.

 Chapter 87: Chapter 11: No Way Out, Settling in the Outer City

    "The physical bodies of the Human n are so weak, yet such a frail group holds the esteemed title as the leader of all spirits, which is truly unjust. Now, in this era of great strife, I have awakened my spiritual wisdom and should seize the opportunity to change the ruler of this world,"


    The tiger demon walked over to a viger lying on the ground; one of his legs was still intact.


    Its gaze was cold as it opened its bloodied mouth wide and tore off the entire leg, then slowly sat down and began licking the leg, savoring the delicious meal.


    With each lick, its tongue scraped off ayer of flesh, making a hissing sound.


    The vige was filled with a strong stench of blood and a sinister bloody aura.


    "Ah, truly satisfying... I''ve heard that the Human n even likes my whip, saying it''s a delicacy of the mountains. Someday, I''ll capture some and see if they really like it..."


    ...


    On the mountain path, numerous vigers from Hongshan Vige walked with bewildered expressions.


    Some vigers began to regret their decision as soon as they left.


    "My child''s father, should we not go? I''ve thought it over, and a golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as our own doghouse. The government officials haven''t evene yet; wait till theye and start ming, then we can escape to the mountains, it''s not toote," a woman in the crowd said to her husband.


    The head of the household, carrying heavy belongings, did not utter a word.


    "Would you say something?"


    "We''ve already left, we''re not going back."


    "..."


    With the external pressure gone, many people''s minds became more active, and the same question started arising among several other families.


    "Roar..."


    Just as people began to waver in their decision, a tiger roar came from afar.


    The roar shook the heavens and the earth, rolling like thunder and echoing like the growl of an ancient beast in everyone''s ears, causing palpitations.


    Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked back.


    "It seems like it''sing from our Hongshan Vige," someone recognized the direction of the roar, looking puzzled.


    Shen Qing, who was at the front of the group, called out to Tian Xiao Hu, "Take a few people and go back to the vige to check what''s happening. Be careful."


    "Alright, you twoe with me," said Tian Xiao Hu.


    Tian Xiao Hu put down the belongings his family had brought and, carrying only a bow, casually selected two young Tian Family members and hurried back towards Hongshan Vige.


    Shen Qing found a suitable spot and rested on the spot.


    They hadn''t left Hongshan Vige for long, having covered only about two or three li.


    With the pace of Tian Xiao Hu and his group, it only took less than a quarter of an hour to reach the entrance of Hongshan Vige again.


    "Such a strong smell of blood, something''s not right. We won''t enter the vige, let''s go around to the mountain and check out the situation in the vige from above," Tian Xiao Hu said, his nose very sensitive to the abnormality, immediately bing alert.


    A few followed Tian Xiao Hu to a high spot in the mountain forest.


    The view here was open and they could overlook the entirety of Hongshan Vige. They often rested here while hunting.


    Reaching the spot and parting the branches, Tian Xiao Hu saw the bloody scene in the vige and his face turned pale with shock.


    It wasn''t just him; the few young Tian Family members with him also felt waves of fear.


    They could see clearly, a tiger demon was holding a leg and was nibbling on it with gusto.


    The remaining vigers were all dead.


    Seeing a figure floating behind the tiger demon, they were even more scared out of their wits.


    My goodness! It really was a demon tiger!


    At that moment, they suddenly felt a wave of relief.


    If they hadn''t left earlier, they would have been the ones lying in the pool of blood.


    "Let''s go, hurry back and tell Qingzi and the others," Tian Xiao Hu said, pulling his gaze away and speaking in a panic.


    The Tian Family youngsters with him didn''t dare to stay long and quickly left.


    Fearing to disturb the demon tiger, Tian Xiao Hu took extra care to detour, staying far from the vige.


    It took them quite some effort, but they eventually rushed onto the mountain path and ran wildly.


    Tian Xiaohu said breathlessly, "The tiger demon hase; everyone left in the vige is dead!"


    The devastating news exploded in the ears of the Hongshan Vige vigers like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.


    They grew even more terrified and felt that their decision to leave the vige was both heroic and timely, confirming the suspicions Shen Qing had shared with them.


    The many vigers who had just been moring to return were now silent as quails, frozen like cicadas in the cold.


    Although they had luckily escaped a cmity, they all knew in their hearts that they couldn''t return; their way back waspletely cut off.


    Where the tiger demon haunted was no longer suitable for their hunter lives.


    The atmosphere on the mountain path suddenly became oppressive.


    Walking at the front of the group, Shen Qing didn''t say anyforting words; he maintained his calm demeanor, waiting for everyone to absorb the news, before he finally said, "Go to the city."


    His voice wasn''t loud, hardly raised at all.


    Even so, his words acted like a hook, drawing everyone together and leading them towards Taiping County.


    The wheels of the wagons and donkey carts started turning again, emitting squeaky noises.


    The people of Hongshan Vige walked forward as if their souls had left their bodies.


    The weather today was very good.


    There were no clouds in sight, and the sky was clear and blue.


    Normally, Shen Qing with his cart would take just over one "shi chen" to arrive.


    With people in tow, the journey was much slower than usual.


    Starting before noon, it took them almost three "shi chen" to finally reach the outskirts of Taiping County.


    Most of the vigers from Hongshan Vige had not traveled far from home before, and even visits to Taiping County were rare.


    They were very unfamiliar with the area.


    Instinctively, they all turned their eyes to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing, walking at the front, shouted: "Men and boys, take out your bows, arrows, and weapons, hold them in hand and stay on the outside. Women and children, stay inside the formation ¨C I''ll find us a spot."


    There were no objections or questions.


    Noise erupted from the group as each hunter turned their belongings inside out to find a suitable weapon.


    After a while, they barely managed to assemble as Shen Qing had arranged.


    Seeing that the preparations were almost done, Shen Qing, leading sixty or seventy people from Hongshan Vige, moved mightily toward the Outer City.


    Gathered together and armed, their formidable appearance made it clear they were not to be trifled with.


    Many passed by, filled with curiosity, but no one dared to approach and inquire.


    Passing through the familiar Seven Turns Alley, they stopped in front of a shanty area.


    Shen Qing recognized the ce and headed straight in.


    The others quickly followed.


    This area was formerly a stronghold of the Huang Tian Sect, previously housing many people.


    Due to issues with the Yellow Angel, the residents were disrupted by the government ¡ª some died, some fled, leaving many empty houses.


    It was just perfect for them to settle.


    Shen Qing entered and looked around; many houses were empty, the contents having been looted, leaving only the bare frames.


    More than twenty days had passed, and some of the houses were upied by homeless wanderers or neighbors, but most were still vacant.


    There was enough room for them all if they squeezed a bit.


    First to settle down, and as for the rest, it coulde slowly.


    This was no time to be picky.


    The vigers from Hongshan Vige were overjoyed; they hadn''t expected to find a ce to settle so soon.


    With no need for Shen Qing to worry, they busied themselves enthusiastically.


    This time, the arrival of the people from Hongshan Vige at the shanty area caused quite a stir, and Shen Qing guessed that trouble might follow soon.


    However, he hadn''t expected it toe so quickly.


    That very evening, just after they had settled in, a man iming to be Brother Biao kicked open his door.

 Chapter 88: Chapter 12 Killing the Chicken to Scare the Monkey, Hunting Time Begins

    The doors of the shanty town were made of wooden nks and were inherently fragile.


    Under this single kick, they directly copsed into several pieces, scattering on the ground.


    Inside the house, Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu had just finished setting up their bed and were tidying up when they saw a burly man standing at the doorway.


    "Neers, do you know the rules? Settling down here without Brother Biao''s permission, are you tired of living?"


    "Brother Biao?"


    Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu looked at each other, unfamiliar with the name.


    In the past twenty days, every time Tian Xiaohu went into the city to sell mountain goods, Shen Qing would ask him to find out the news in the city.


    He had also paid attention to West City.


    He knew that since Zhao Ba was killed by him, many new faces had emerged in West City, intending to form new gang powers.


    He had heard of a couple of fierce fights.


    But he had absolutely no impression of this so-called Brother Biao.


    He must be some minor leader not well known in West City.


    He trulycked vision.


    With so many of them carrying knives and sticks, one could tell they were not to be trifled with; yet they had stille knocking, looking for trouble. Weren''t they asking for death?


    Shen Qing touched the bow and arrow that had yet to be hung on the wall and sighed deeply, showing a look of regret.


    He really didn''t want to leave a bad impression on his neighbors right away.


    "I don''t know who Brother Biao is, and I don''t want to know."


    Shen Qing''s gaze locked on the burly man at the doorway, his wrist flicked, and the bow was instantly drawn taut.


    With a swish, the bowstring vibrated, and the arrow shot forth.


    Shen Qing moved as fast as lightning, his actions fluid and pleasing to the eye.


    There were no fancy moves, just a precise and correct strike.


    The arrow turned into a line, hitting the burly man directly in the throat.


    The burly man was pierced by the arrow, blood spurting out instantly.


    He widened his eyes in shock, trying to cover the wound with his hands, but it was futile.


    The burly man could never have imagined that the young man inside the house would be so decisive and resort to violence without a word.


    Under Shen Qing''s gaze, the burly man slumped sideways with a thud and fell to the ground.


    His neck caught on the threshold, blood continuously dripping down.


    The body of the burly man trembled a few times in the pool of blood, theny still.


    Shen Qing withdrew his gaze, looking at the bow in his hands.


    With his current strength, he could at least handle a heavy bow of twenty stones.


    This bow had at best the strength of five stones, to him it was like a child''s toy, far too weak.


    It could only deal with ordinary people.


    If he encountered any powerful martial masters, such a bow would be of no use at all.


    He needed to make a new bow.


    As he was thinking about the bow and arrows, Shen Qing suddenly heard amotion outside the house.


    He frowned and took several more arrows before stepping outside.


    Seeing that the area outside the house was swarming with people, he realized something.


    They hade in a group of nearly forty people.


    The one who had burst into his house was just an unlucky soul, and it wasn''t a targeted act against him.


    This time, it seemed like there were many of them, but in reality, excluding the women and the elderly, the actual number of hunters, including him, was only twenty-three.


    The other side was almost twice their number.


    No wonder they were so arrogant.


    No wonder they were so foolish to daree knocking for a fight.


    The night was as dark as ink.


    At this moment, the quiet shanty town streets had been broken by this sudden mor.


    The dim, flickering lights of the shanty area illuminated the ferocious faces of over forty gang members.


    They carried sticks and some had short knives hanging at their waists that gleamed with cold light, aggressively pouring into this newly settled area.


    The vigers of Hongshan Vige were busily packing their belongings, only to be interrupted by this sudden riot.


    Many women and children, terrified, started to scream in horror.


    The gang''s leader was a burly man, his face covered in horizontal scars, with a broad back and thick waist.


    He red viciously at the vigers and shouted loudly, "This ce is my Tang Biao''s turf. You all move in without saying a word, did you even say hello to me?"


    "These houses were empty to begin with, how can you say it''s your turf?"


    The hunters of Hongshan Vige weren''t the type to suffer losses easily, and they shed fiercely.


    "If I say it is, then it is."


    Tang Biao''s face, with its horizontal scars, twitched as his entire body''s Qi-Blood surged. He suddenly lunged forward, hitting a viger like a wild boar and sending him crashing into a shack.


    That viger, like a kite with a snapped string, flew backward, crashing into the shanty.


    The simple shack was instantaneously smashed to pieces.


    The viger rolled on the ground in agony.


    This was someone who had learned martial arts.


    These hunters were no match for him.


    A ferocious smile shed across Tang Biao''s face.


    Once trained in martial arts, merely relying on strength could overwhelm three to five men, allowing one to dominate the vige fiercely.


    His Great Perfection of Qi and Blood was anyhow stronger than those mere martial arts novices.


    In the past, under Zhao Ba, he had to bend over backwards and live like a subdued man.


    But now with Zhao Ba dead and without a leader, it was the perfect time for him to flex his muscles.


    He needed to im a spot in this chaotic shanty town, no matter what.


    The people before him dared to invade his turf without even a greeting.


    Even if he didn''t want to take action, his followers would keep pushing him.


    Otherwise, everyone would think him cowardly, and the recently risen group of forty would likely cut in half in no time.


    In this ce, everyone talks about loyalty, but no one really practices it.


    Whoever has the strongest fist can secure the best and richest parts of West City.


    Tang Biao wasn''t very clear about these people''s backgrounds.


    It was purely a gamble.


    If he won the bet, by keeping these people in check, he could strengthen his troop and consolidate their loyalty, thus securing his position even more.


    If he lost, it would be the end of him.


    If you want to be in a gang, you can''t be scared of these things, or you shouldn''t be in a gang at all.


    A glint of cold light shed in Tang Biao''s eyes. He shook the fat on his body and slowly pressed towards the viger in front of him.


    He intended to make an example by killing the chicken to scare the monkeys; this viger was that chicken.


    "Die!"


    Tang Biao clenched his fists together and swung downward.


    An arrow, from a sinister angle, sped directly toward his waist.


    His face changed color, his feet kicked out, shifting him an inch to the side.


    The arrow pierced right into his belly.


    Waves of piercing pain emanated from his lower abdomen.


    Tang Biao suddenly looked in the direction of the arrow, only to see a young man swiftly taking another arrow and notching it to his bow.


    His face twisted with ferocity as hemanded, "Kill him."


    Shen Qing looked at the surrounding roughnecks closing in, his face devoid of any panic; instead, there was a hint of excitement. He licked his lips and said, "Gentlemen, the time for hunting hase; let''s hunt!"


    Whoosh!


    Shen Qing suddenly released the bowstring, and arrows flew like a string of pearls.


    The charging ruffians were caught off guard in the night, each one reeling back, copsing to the ground, dead or alive unknown.


    As soon as Shen Qing finished speaking, Tang Biao suddenly felt the atmosphere around him turn strangely eerie.


    Sounds of rustling constantly emerged around him.


    The vigers, fearless of death, in the darkness, their eyes suddenly emitted bursts of red fierce light.


    Just like... just like a pack of hungry wolves!

 Chapter 89: Chapter 13 From Now On, We Call the Shots Here

    Tang Biao suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart.


    These people were more troublesome than he had thought.


    But, it had alreadye to this point.


    An arrow shot can''t be retracted once the bow has been drawn.


    Tang Biao viciously said, "Kill them all for me. These people are moving their whole family; there must be a lot of possessions on them. Whatever we get is a gain."


    No matter where these people came from, they were definitely not easy prey.


    On his own turf, a confrontation was inevitable sooner orter.


    After all, territory is static, it can''t be moved, and he didn''t want to spit out what he had already swallowed.


    Might as well take advantage of their current strong state and strike with all their might.


    Strike them down before they can gain a stable footing.


    "Kill, kill them fiercely!"


    The scene plunged into chaos.


    Shen Qing used up a dozen feathered arrows at his side in one breath. His archery in the dark was frighteningly urate.


    Almost with each arrow, he took down more than a dozen of the enemy, forcefully clearing out a swath of empty space.


    Tang Biao realized that Shen Qing was a master in archery and could not be allowed to continue at will.


    He forcefully pulled out the arrow stuck in his belly, bringing out some bits of yellow fat.


    Tang Biao broke the arrow and threw it to the ground, twisting his body and charging towards Shen Qing with a whistling wind.


    Shen Qing squinted, noticing the power embedded in the charge.


    Facing Tang Biao''s fierce charge, he immediately took a deep breath and tossed his now arrowless bow aside.


    The Blood Dominance Technique he had been practicing for days was running at its peak.


    Suddenly, his Qi-Blood surged inside him, and an invisible force began to flow through his meridians.


    Bang, bang, bang.


    A series of strange sounds continued to emerge from Shen Qing''s body.


    Apanied by these strange sounds, his body''s muscles instantly swelled, filled with endless strength.


    Empowered by this force, his body grew slightly in size, bing even more burly and formidable.


    Tang Biao was shocked, not expecting Shen Qing to exhibit such bizarre changes.


    "But the hard skill I practice is specialized in increasing strength. Even a martial master who has undergone stretching may not be stronger than me," he thought. "Watch me crush you. Kill!"


    All of Tang Biao''s strength was fully activated, and he believed he could send Shen Qing flying, but at that moment, he realized he waspletely wrong.


    Boom!


    With an unusual sound,


    Shen Qing held his arms together, firmly catching Tang Biao''s charge, his stance stable as a rock.


    His fists clenched; the veins on his arms bulging as if he could hear the roaring of the blood flowing within his body.


    Tang Biao was astoundingly surprised, unable to believe Shen Qing could muster such strength.


    His first strike having failed,


    he adjusted his breathing, trying to use his size advantage to press down.


    But in that instant, Shen Qing had already made his move.


    "You''ve got significant strength, but what about this!"


    "Ha!"


    With a light shout, Shen Qing''s arms suddenly exerted force.


    The veins on his arms swelled dramatically, and his muscles hardened like iron, adhering to his arms.


    In Tang Biao''s astonished gaze, Shen Qing tightly wrapped his arms around him, lifted him high, and mmed him to the ground.


    Bang!


    The ground seemed to tremble, faint cracks appearing.


    Shen Qing used tremendous force, smashing Tang Biao violently.


    "That''s all you''ve got."


    Shen Qing''s hands came together to form a point, stabbing down swiftly.


    Before Tang Biao could raise his arms to defend, Shen Qing''s fingers had alreadynded on his neck.


    Like a snake bite, Shen Qing''s fingers "pecked" at Tang Biao''s neck, leaving a hole from which blood oozed.


    Tang Biao only felt a chill spreading from his neck, his entire body stiffened as if someone had seized his lifeline.


    He touched his own neck, which was covered in blood.


    Tang Biao''s mind was a mess.


    At this moment, he realized that he had kicked an iron te today.


    He had be the chicken used to warn the monkeys.


    Shen Qing frowned, looking down at Tang Biao with dissatisfaction.


    He was too fat, all grease. A finger jab wasn''t deep enough to kill him.


    Then he would just have to jab a few more times.


    Shen Qing put his hands together, using the Wind Defying Finger technique, his hands turning into afterimages as they relentlessly struck Tang Biao, like a sudden violent storm.


    In the blink of an eye, Tang Biao was riddled with holes.


    Blood and fat mixed together, filling the holes that had been jabbed into him.


    And faced with Shen Qing''s rapid movements, Tang Biao waspletely unable to defend and could only watch helplessly as his body was pierced by Shen Qing.


    Pu-chi!


    With the final strike, Shen Qing''s fingernded deep in Tang Biao''s chest, piercing his heart and creating a bloody hole.


    Tang Biao coughed twice, spitting up the blood umted in his chest, then his head tilted, and he was motionless.


    The entire process waspletely one-sided, with him being beaten down.


    Shen Qing stood up and swept his fierce gaze around, making Tang Biao''s followers'' hearts tremble uncontrobly.


    In their eyes, in just a brief encounter, Shen Qing had poked their boss, someone they respected, to death with just a series of jabs, which was terrifying.


    "Cry out, cry out!"


    Shen Qing snorted coldly, "Thinking of leaving now? Isn''t it a bit toote for that?"


    He casually hooked his foot around a longbow on the ground, picking it up, then walked forward.


    Passing by the ruffian he had shot dead, Shen Qing pulled out the arrows sticking in the corpse, nocked his bow, and shot in rapid session.


    He shouted, "Spare no one. As long as we kill them and establish our dominance, then we will have secured our foothold here. From now on, this area is ours tomand."


    "Roar, roar!"


    The many vigers of Hongshan Vige, already filled with suppressed rage, saw that Shen Qing had killed the most troublesome martial master, and they had no more reservations about the rest.


    It must be said, these hunters were natural born killers.


    Once they truly engaged inbat, killing people, they were more agile than the next.


    Some were on watch, some blocked the road, some set traps, some specialized in shing and killing...


    This ce had fully turned into Hongshan Vige''s hunting ground.


    All the ruffians inside were their prey.


    The shrill screams of agony were continuous and unending.


    It only took a short period, two quarters of an hour, for all the intruding ruffians to be wiped clean.


    Blood hadpletely dyed the earth red.


    Shen Qing spat and said, "Chop off their heads and pile them up to create a Corpse Pile, set it at the alley''s entrance to deter the night prowlers. We don''t need any more trouble from those who can''t see the forest for the trees."


    "Alright."


    While cleaning up the scene, all the hunters'' faces were beaming with bright smiles.


    "Wow, I found sixty copper coins, that''s more than I make in a day back in the vige," one hunter eximed happily.


    "I found something too, this material can make a fur coat, also worth quite a bit."


    "This knife isn''t bad either..."


    "..."


    Joy at their windfall was heard here and there.


    The hunters were filled with energy, looting the corpses everywhere.


    Shen Qing walked over to Tang Biao and also searched, finding a purse.


    He poured it out, and out fell three golden leaves, his face lighting up with delight.


    When they had searched enough,


    The vigers of Hongshan Vige chopped down arge head as Shen Qing had ordered and piled it up at the entrance to the alley.


    Then each returned to their houses to sleep soundly, with no sign of difort whatsoever.

 Chapter 90: Chapter 14: Winning Hearts and Stabilizing Our Foothold

    ```


    After killing these short-sighted thugs, the alleyway returned to peace.


    The old hunters of Hongshan Vige went on with their eating and sleeping just the same.


    Since it wasn''t their first time killing someone, each of them seemed rather self-assured and justified.


    Inside the house.


    After handling all matters fairly well, Shen Qing called over Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu.


    "Brother Qingzi, what do you need us for thiste? Who else do we have to kill?" Tian Xiaohu said cheerily as he entered.


    He had gotten lucky in the recent scuffle, managing to pocket three to four hundred wen from a few bodies.


    Though this amount didn''tpare to what Shen Qing would usually haul in, the fact that he had earned it through his own efforts still made him quite happy.


    Shen Qing took out a knife and started cleaning it, saying, "We need to pay a visit to Tang Biao''s ce. He can practice Martial Arts, so he must have some savings. I didn''t find much on him. Probably left it all at home. Let''s go have a look."


    "Alright, Brother Qingzi, we''ll do as you say."


    "No time like the present, let''s go now."


    After finishing with his knife, Shen Qing tucked it into his waistband and left with the two tigers.


    Leaving the alley, Shen Qing approached a shack that looked quite sturdy, knocked on the door, and said, "Neighbor, we''re new here. I have a question for you."


    "We don''t know anything, we don''t know anything. We''re ignorant of it all."


    A voice filled with fear and trembling came from the house.


    Shen Qing''s brow furrowed, and his expression soured as he nced at Tian Xiaohu.


    Tian Xiaohu understood and kicked the door of the household wide open.


    "Ah!"


    A scream came from inside the house, where a family of four huddled in the corner.


    The man in the lead held a long wooden stick, looking fearfully at Shen Qing and the others.


    The noise of the earlier murder in the alley had truly terrified them.


    Shen Qing stood at the doorway without entering, his tone now milder, "Wee from Hongshan Vige. We have some grudges with Tang Biao, and I''m wondering where his house is. Just tell me the location, that''ll do."


    The man inside had no choice. Quivering, he said, "His ce is... at Liu Li Lane... behind therge stone... turn right from here until the end, then left, and you''ll see it... it''s thergest shack."


    "Alright."


    Shen Qing gave a fist and palm salute and took Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu with him to leave.


    He took only a few steps, then turned back. The man who had just begun to rx inside tensed up again.


    Under the family''s watchful eyes, Shen Qing took out tenrge coins, stacked them neatly, and ced them on their doorstep, "Thanks."


    Shen Qing smiled at them before turning to leave for real.


    "They''re really gone, right?"


    "I''ll go check."


    The man inside, still gripping the wooden stick tightly, cautiously made his way to the door, peeked outside, and saw no one there.


    "Really gone?"


    Looking down at the doorstep, he saw the tenrge coins shining coldly under the bright moonlight.


    ¡­


    "This should be the ce, right?"


    Following the neighbor''s directions, Shen Qing arrived in front of a shack.


    This house was clearly different from the others around it.


    Even though it was quite shabby, it started to take on the semnce of a proper residence.


    There was still light in the house.


    Shen Qing walked briskly towards it, knocked on the door, and called out urgently, "There''s trouble, something''s happened to Brother Biao."


    tter.


    There was a sound of panic within, followed by the door being pulled open.


    "What happened to him?" The woman who answered looked concerned.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing and the strangers without a trace of urgency, she sensed something wrong and tried to shut the door again.


    Shen Qing propped the door open with his hand.


    "Why the rush to close the door?"


    He pushed inside, nudging the woman aside.


    The house brightened as he entered, revealing only the woman, an ordinary person.


    Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu followed in after him.


    Shen Qing, sitting in a chair, demanded, "Tang Biao''s dead. Bring out whatever you have."


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about," the woman said through clenched teeth.


    Shen Qing pulled a golden leaf from his clothing, shed it in front of the woman, and spoke, "You recognize this, don''t you? He must have hidden some at home. I''m giving you a chance ¡ª don''t irritate me. If we start searching ourselves, you''ll have no part to y. You understand my meaning."


    The woman''s face turned pale at the sight of the golden leaf. She fell silent then, as if resigning herself to the inevitable, lifted up a floorboard and retrieved a box.


    "It''s all right here."


    Shen Qing caught the box and felt a pulling force.


    He red at the woman, who reluctantly let go.


    Upon opening the box, he found it filled with silver beans, silver fish, and somerge coins, but no more golden leaves.


    He weighed it in his hand. Roughly sixty taels or so.


    "That''ll do."


    Shen Qing closed the box and stood up.


    The woman stepped back in fear, pleading in a flustered voice, "Don''t kill me. I''ll do anything, I can sleep with you."


    Shen Qing looked her up and down.


    She wasn''t ugly, nor was she particrly attractive.


    ```


    Perhaps due to having decent meals on a regr basis, the body had some capital and appeared quite plump.


    Shen Qing didn''t engage in her conversation, but looked around the room and said, asking, "Tang Biao doesn''t have a son, does he?"


    "No."


    "What about a daughter, a son-inw?"


    "Neither. He came from somewhere else, and all his family went down with a sinking ship."


    "That saves quite a bit of trouble. You''re very sensible, I won''t make things hard for you. Let''s go."


    Shen Qing didn''t say much more, and signaled Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu to leave with him.


    As they were leaving, Shen Xiaohu couldn''t resist ncing at the breasts of the woman in the house.


    So big, so round.


    Shen Xiaohu hurriedly took a couple more nces before reluctantly catching up with the pace of Shen Qing and the others.


    On the way, Shen Qing took out four taels of silver and said to the two men, "Take this, then go back and call over the men from each household."


    "Okay."


    Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu were not courteous and readily agreed on the spot.


    "How have you two been practicing the Nine Skillstely?"


    Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu looked at each other and sighed, "Not so good, we haven''t figured out the right method until now."


    "Hmm, no rush. You''ve both been practicing for a rtively short time, first get your bodies well-conditioned. The world isn''t peaceful right now, and if we want to stand our ground outside, we need to start practicing martial arts as soon as possible."


    "We understand."


    Shen Qing didn''t say much more.


    Actually, he was clear in his mind.


    The Nine Skills Martial Arts was a basic nourishing and training technique, demanding in terms of talent, somewhat difficult to practice.


    It wasn''t easy to grasp the knack of it.


    If that was the case, it would be good to have more people in the vige practice it, maybe a change in quantity would lead to a change in quality, and someone would eventually make something out of it.


    Times had changed; cherishing one''s modest possessions was not a good strategy.


    Back in thene, his aunt was in his roomining to his eldest sister, Shen Fang.


    Seeing Shen Qing and the others return, the aunt didn''t stop her chatter and left, talking away.


    Shen Qing noticed that his aunt was afraid his eldest sister would be lonely in the room by herself, not familiar with life here, and hade to keep herpany.


    "Eldest sister, you go to auntie''s house for a while, I have some business to discuss here," Shen Qing ced the box on the table, watching his auntie''s retreating figure, and said to his eldest sister.


    "Hmm." Shen Fang didn''t think much of it, tidied up the room, and followed behind the auntie.


    After waiting a while in the room, the men from the households were called over.


    The shed that Shen Qing chose was not small, just enough to fit these twenty or so men inside.


    Uncle Shen Er sat beside Shen Qing, looking at his increasingly promising nephew, pride added to his face.


    The usually hunchbacked man couldn''t help but straighten his spine.


    The heads of the households who came in all looked at Shen Qing, waiting for him to speak.


    Shen Qing didn''t notice Uncle Shen Er''s thoughts and lightly tapped the wooden box on the table, saying, "When we were in the vige, if we hunted big game together, everyone could share some. I just went to Tang Biao''s house and collected some silver. I''m not one to keep secrets, so let''s divide it today."


    "However, even brothers should settle ounts clearly, I need to take half of what''s inside."


    Upon hearing that there was more silver to be divided, the men who hade into the house all immediately smiled brightly.


    Many people outside had been killed by Shen Qing, and he hadn''t asked them for a single coin; they all felt like they had picked up a bargain.


    Now, there was extra money to share, which was truly an unexpected joy.


    If Qingzi were to swallow it all alone, they wouldn''t have any objections.


    "We''re just country folks, haven''t seen much of the world, Qingzi, whatever you say goes."


    Someone took the lead and the rest of the people also expressed their agreement.


    "Then good, thanks for your trust. I''ll divide it like this, and those ''hunters'' who were injured this time will get a little more."


    Shen Qing immediately made up his mind and began to divide the money.


    In his view, the authority of a leader half came from his men''s fear of his power, and half from their pursuit of profit.


    Shen Qing didn''t expect that once they arrived at the county city and left their native soil, these people would still stick together as usual.


    People are very pragmatic.


    There are too many temptations outside.


    Shen Qing had also called over Zhang Shuyuan, the only schr in the vige, on the way to do the counting and bookkeeping.


    In a quarter of an hour, these hunters each proudly took one tael silver back home, and when they told their families about it, the atmosphere was even more festive than during holidays.


    They felt all the more that following Shen Qing had been the right choice.


    After sending off the vige hunters, Shen Qing quickly pulled Uncle Shen Er aside.


    "Uncle, wait for me a moment."


    "What? Does Qingzi have something else?"


    Shen Qing took out three more silver coins and stuffed them into Uncle Shen Er''s hand, saying, "Living in the Outer City is different from living in the vige, everything including clothing and fuel costs money, even firewood has to be bought. One tael silver might seem like a lot, but it really doesn''tst long. Take this, uncle, our own family should receive some special consideration."


    Shen Qing spoke with order and determination, very decisive.


    They were all rough men, without so much polite ceremony.


    Uncle Shen Er nced at the silver without much to say, pocketed it, and stated, "Okay, your two cousins don''t have much else but their strength. In the future, you can use them for whatever you need! Our family might be poor, but at least we''re not afraid of death."


    Although he said this, Shen Qing was a clever person and heard the concern in Uncle Shen Er''s voice.


    "Uncle, here''s what I''m thinking, Xiao Hu has gotten used to me these days, and I will have him follow me in the future. Xiao Shan is young, he''ll stay in the house for now, and when conditions are better, we''ll find him a wife. What do you think, uncle?"


    "Done!" Uncle Shen Er''s brows unconsciously rxed a bit, "I''ll head back now, if there''s anything we can discuss it tomorrow."


    Shen Qing didn''t keep him, and saw off Uncle Shen Er.


    After a day of hustle and bustle, where others might struggle to hold up, Shen Qing, on the other hand, was still brimming with energy.


    He took out a book borrowed from Zhang Shuyuan and read it with relish.

 Chapter 91: Chapter 15: The Rise of the Hongshan Gang, Becoming a Direct Disciple

    "So it turns out that this world is indeed filled with wonders. There''s even a Prefectural Governor who managed to punch out ake to create canals, benefiting the local popce."


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but exim after finishing reading Mountain and River Chronicles.


    At first, he thought this world was an ancient one where Martial Arts flourished, but after finishing Mountain and River Chronicles, he realized that was not entirely the case.


    Actually, this world was one where immortals and mortals coexisted, a magnificent universe that was far more formidable than he had imagined.


    ording to the records in the book, martial masters who cultivated to the extreme could live for hundreds of years, or even achieve eternal life, and be immortals through the power of Martial Arts, possessing the might to move mountains and overturn seas.


    Though there were some exaggerations, it was clear that Martial Arts in this world were not limited to mere physicalbat.


    In such an information-isted small ce, if he hadn''t read this book, he truly wouldn''t have had such a perspective and awareness.


    "Ordinary people who have trained their bodies well would try to obtain a ce on the martial arts register and join the court for an official position. Only by getting into the court can one gain ess to the mostprehensive cultivation methods and transcend the ordinary."


    "I''m different from them. Just by relying on the Water Ink Panel, I can break through all the way and practice a great magic skill, but this is not the method to achieve the path of Immortal Martial Arts."


    "In the future, if I want to go far, I''ll still need to join the court. Firstly, for safety and stability, and secondly, to gain control over the secrets of Immortal Martial Arts."


    "No wonder everyone is so eager to practice Martial Arts," Shen Qing murmured to himself as he closed the Mountain and River Chronicles.


    It was already midnight, and Shen Qing didn''t continue reading. He quenched his curiosity, blew out the oilmp, and fell asleep head first.


    Having moved to a new house, where there were two beds,


    Shen Qing could finally upy one by himself, no longer having to squeeze with his elder sister Shen Fang.


    A night without dreams.


    The next day.


    The Corpse Pile piled up at the entrance of the alley caused ripples through the shanty area of West City.


    Everyone knew that someone not to be trifiled with had arrived in the area.


    Some people with intentions inquired about their background and found out that they came from Hongshan Vige.


    The reputation of the Hongshan People, of the Hongshan Gang, spread quickly in West City.


    By noon, all the families that had followed from Hongshan Vige had finished their shopping and tidying up, and many people began to have free time on their hands.


    And with free time, trouble often brews.


    Shen Qing knew many ways to make money, but in such a world where power was vested in individuals, it was hard to say if those could be fully realized.


    After much thought, he decided to use the most reliable method, instructing these people to start collecting ''security fees'' everywhere.


    This task didn''t require much skill. It was something all big gangs did, and the rewards could be substantial.


    However, even in collecting protection fees, Shen Qing felt the need to add a unique twist.


    "Other gangs charge five hundredrge coins per household per month; we''ve just arrived, so let''s charge less, only two hundredrge coins per household per month," he said.


    "If we encounter a family that truly has difficulties, we won''t sell their children or force them, let it be for now."


    "Then, we can''t do nothing after taking the money. Like when we defended the vige from tigers back home, form groups mixing the old with the young, and take turns standing guard in our area. Anyone with ill intentions, treat them like prey and deal with them ordingly."


    "Can''t guarantee anything else, but the ''security fee'' must be earned with integrity." Shen Qing gave a series of instructions and looked around at everyone, asking, "What do you all think?"


    "How will the collected ''security fees'' be divided?" a hunter asked.


    Without a second thought, Shen Qing replied, "Like yesterday, I take half, the rest is divided evenly among everyone, and bookworm keeps the ounts. If there are no objections, then we''ll set down rules. Those who don''tply will be punished, those who contribute will be rewarded, with the reward moneying from me."


    "Okay, no objections from me."


    Having said that, Shen Qing took out the Nine Skills Martial Arts manual and handed it to Tian Xiaohu, saying, "We''vee here together. Those under fifteen with free time can practice it, Xiaohu, you start teaching them. If there''s anything unclear, they can ask me."


    The others didn''t expect Shen Qing to be so generous, willing to even teach them Martial Arts.


    Thinking that it was something both Chen Yuan and Shen Qing had practiced, everyone''s eyes lit up with eagerness, and they began to imagine themselves mastering the skills and walking with their heads held high, eager to try.


    Perhaps influenced by the Corpse Pile, the already chaotic no-man''snd of the shanty area mostly agreed to pay up.


    For those who really couldn''t pay, as Shen Qing had requested, the hunters didn''t insist on using force.


    After collecting the fees, under Shen Qing''s arrangement, they truly began patrolling the areas they had charged, looking quite official.


    The residents living in the shanty area felt as if a new order was quietly established.


    After living in the shanty area for a few days and seeing that everything was on the right track, Shen Qing tidied up and headed for Inner City Linfeng Hall, leaving the chores to Zhang Baqing.


    The residents in the nearby alleys seemed to realize that he held a different status among the people.


    As Shen Qing passed by them, they bowed and scraped, behaving extremely courteously.


    It made Shen Qing somewhat ufortable for a while.


    Linfeng Hall.


    Returning after nearly twenty days, Shen Qing found the ce just as it was before, neither hot nor cold.


    It was even showing slight signs of decline.


    Shen Qing wasn''t too concerned about these matters.


    He had already broken through to the Bone Refining Realm for several days now and thought to inform Li Linfeng to learn the killing technique of the Wind Defying Finger to elerate his cultivation progress.


    Shen Qing remembered that his eldest martial brother Ouyang Tiezhu had only reached the Great Perfection of the Bone Refining Realm at the age of twenty-five.


    And from when he started practicing the Wind Defying Finger to now, it had taken roughly two months to break through to the Bone Refining Realm.


    He didn''t need others to tell him that his pace of progress was indeed fast.


    He just wondered what sort of Sight the remaining direct disciples of Linfeng Hall''s master''s uncle possessed.


    Counting the time, at this point, Hall Master Uncle Li Linfeng should still be in his room.


    Shen Qing told a maidservant in the room that he was going to Li Linfeng''s study.


    At the time, not only was Li Linfeng inside, but his four direct disciples and his son and daughter were also in the study, seemingly discussing something.


    The door of the study was open.


    Through the doorway, Shen Qing caught a glimpse of Ouyang Tiezhu, whom he hadn''t seen for many days.


    In just one short month, Ouyang Tiezhu''s temples had gotten flecked with grey, and his entire demeanorcked vitality.


    Besides him, there was another who sat with one arm in a sling, head bowed without making a single sound.


    The atmosphere was somewhat somber.


    As soon as Shen Qing arrived, Li Linfeng noticed him. At that moment, Li Linfeng was feeling gloomy; two of his direct disciples had been injured in a sudden turn of events, while Mi Gang waited menacingly outside.


    He had been looking for connections higher up recently but to no avail; it was making his life difficult, hisplexion growing dull as if covered by ayer of dark clouds.


    He knew clearly that Linfeng Hall now faced a gap in session and was teetering on the brink of crisis.


    His eldest disciple, Ouyang Tiezhu, had just been defeated and then faced a tragedy at home, leading him to be despondent.


    Furthermore, being twenty-five years old and only just touching the threshold of the Skin Forging Realm, breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm seemed very challenging.


    Given the current situation of Linfeng Hall, there wasn''t much to help him.


    The youngest of the four disciples had decent talent and was already in the Skin Forging Realm at such a young age, but tragically, one of his arms had been rendered useless.


    Now thoroughly disheartened, it was uncertain when he would be able to recover.


    The second and third disciples were promising, one at Skin Forging Realm and the other at Bone Refining Realm, having worked their way up step by step.


    It wasn''t that theycked talent; it''s just that they both needed a bit more time.


    Finally, there were his daughter and son.


    Both had respectable talent, yet ultimately they were still too young.


    If he had ample time, he could surely develop their abilities.


    The problem now was theck of time.


    What he urgently needed at the moment was someone who could hold the fort.


    He didn''t aspire for someone who could match the children of the court and the four major families, but at least someone who could stand firm against groups like Mi Gang.


    Only then could he protect the fruits of his lifetime''s work.


    It had to be said, Mi Gang was truly ruthless.


    They were torturously and precisely tightening the noose around his neck step by step, and he felt powerless to stop it.


    Pushing aside all these troubling thoughts, Li Linfeng asked Shen Qing, standing at the door, "Did you need me?"


    Shen Qing greeted with a respectful fist and palm salute, "Yes. I have already¡­"


    The troubled Li Linfeng interrupted him, "Wait outside until I''m done with my business. We''ll talk afterward."


    Seeing that they were indeed discussing important matters, Shen Qing realized it was inappropriate to interject so abruptly.


    He ended up not continuing his speech and nodded in acknowledgment.


    Li Linfeng gazed at his four closest disciples and his two children, his mouth slightly open, about to speak, yet he wasn''t sure how to start.


    He sighed heavily in his heart and then turned to Shen Qing outside the door, "Never mind, go ahead and tell me what you wanted."


    Shen Qing was slightly startled, not understanding why Li Linfeng had suddenly changed his mind, but he answered honestly, "Uncle Hall Master, I have broken through to the Bone Refining Realm and would like for you to teach me the follow-up training method of the Wind Defying Finger."


    "Ah!" Upon hearing this, Li Linfeng sprang up, his emotions surging.


    He knew his niece from Lady Qi''s house had some cleverness and talent, and he was keen on cultivating him, but he never expected Shen Qing to advance so swiftly.


    Tallying it up, his niece from Lady Qi''s house had been practicing martial arts for just over two months.


    Just over two months! What did this signify?


    He recollected only the children of high officials could achieve such a feat.


    Born into the families of high-ranking officials, nurtured from a young age with various strengthening methods, such achievements were understandable.


    Yet, what could a vige youngster like Shen Qing rely on?


    Such talent was simply extraordinary.


    Li Linfeng felt both astonished and delighted.


    It was fortunate that he was moved to mentor him that day, otherwise who knew when such a genius would emerge.


    In an instant, all of Li Linfeng''s displeasures were swept away.


    Even a leaky boat has three thousand nails.


    He hadn''t fallen yet; Boss of Mi Gang, Hong Xingwen, was at the same realm but didn''t dare to act rashly against him.


    If Shen Qing was well-cultivated, with his rate of progress, he might be able to take up the mantle for him.


    "Well done,d." Li Linfeng''s face beamed, and he walked over from the desk, grabbed Shen Qing''s shoulders, and looked him up and down with growing satisfaction.


    "I said before that I wanted to pick a good day to take you as my direct disciple; today seems like the perfect day. What do you think?"


    "I defer to Uncle Hall Master''s decision," replied Shen Qing, nomittal.


    His experience had proven that under instruction, the progress on the Water Ink Panel could be much faster; he was here to learn killing techniques, naturally, he wouldn''t refuse.

 Chapter 92: Chapter 16 Fellow Disciples

    The other disciples and Li Linfeng''s son and daughter were all stunned at that moment, filled with shock.


    Shen Qing, the guy who came out of the ravines, actually managed to reach the Bone Refining Realm so quickly?


    The speed was a bit too fast.


    Li Linfeng circled around Shen Qing once more, his eyes growing increasingly satisfied.


    He had taught countless people, and he could generally tell someone''s specific cultivation realm with just a nce.


    Just now, when he felt Shen Qing''s muscle and bone, it confirmed that what Shen Qing said was true.


    "Alright. Tiezhu, go and fetch me a cup of tea," Li Linfeng casually called out to Ouyang Tiezhu behind him.


    Ouyang Tiezhu was still in shock but quickly came to his senses and replied, "Yes."


    After a little while, Ouyang Tiezhu walked over with a cup of tea.


    Shen Qing was good at seizing the moment; he quickly stepped forward to take the teacup and then knelt in front of Li Linfeng, respectfully saying, "Master, please ept your disciple''s bow."


    This clever act pleased Li Linfeng, a twinkle of satisfaction in his eyes.


    He didn''t put on airs and naturally took the teacup, sipped a bit, set it aside, and lifted Shen Qing up with one hand.


    "By rights, to show respect for the teacher-student rtionship, taking a disciple should involve an incense table, offerings, three kneels and nine bows, and many witnesses, but the current situation inside and outside Linfeng Hall is a bitplicated, so we''ll keep it simple."


    Shen Qing wasn''t interested in these borate formalities; the simpler, the better, so he found Li Linfeng''s arrangement perfectly eptable.


    Li Linfeng observed all this and couldn''t help but raise his assessment of Shen Qing by several notches.


    To tell the truth, he was now a bit afraid.


    The Mi Gang had been targeting people close to him one after another, nearly crippling two of his disciples.


    Having finally found a promising seed, if he were too conspicuous and caught their attention, there would be nowhere to cry when trouble came.


    So, it was better to keep a low profile, at least for a while during this transition period.


    Shen Qing''s untroublesome and steady character suited this arrangement very well.


    Li Linfeng grabbed Shen Qing''s arm and pulled him into his study.


    This ce was considered his private area, one that those not close to him had no chance of entering.


    Now by bringing Shen Qing into the room, it was clear that he had epted him.


    "Let me introduce you to your senior brothers," Li Linfeng gestured to the people in front of him and introduced one by one, "This is your eldest senior brother, Ouyang Tiezhu. This is your second senior brother, Niu Daping. This is your third senior brother, Dong Zizhuang. This is your fourth senior brother, Wushili. His family is in business."


    "And these two," Li Linfeng continued sternly, "are my second son and fourth daughter. They were also worried when something happened to Qi Niang." "Ling Chan, Hongyang,e and meet your junior brother."


    Li Lingchan and Li Hongyang both greeted with sped fists, "Greetings, Junior Brother Shen."


    "Young master, miss, greetings."


    "No need to be so formal; you are older than they are. From now on, you can just call them by their names."


    Li Linfeng returned to his seat and said to Ouyang Tiezhu and the others, "Now you all have a new junior brother. Look out for each other from now on. He''s new to the city and not familiar with many things here, so he''s prone to being taken advantage of."


    "Yes, we will take good care of our junior brother," Ouyang Tiezhu and the others replied in unison.


    "Alright, you may all leave. That''s enough for today''s matters," Li Linfeng instructed before his mood seemed to wane, "Shen Qing, I''ll teach you some more advanced techniques tomorrow."


    "Yes, Master."


    Li Linfeng waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave.


    The others didn''t linger either, bowing their heads to pay their respects before each took their leave from the room.


    As soon as he stepped out, Ouyang Tiezhu hooked Shen Qing''s neck, saying affectionately, "That''s really impressive, I never expected you, kiddo, to have such strong Sight. It hasn''t been long, and you''ve already trained to the Bone Refining Realm. At this rate, you might even have a chance to break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm."


    "Even if I can''t break through, I''ll definitely be able to be a martial master in the Skin Forging Realm, obtain a ce in the martial arts register, and be a minor official. If I can live off the official''s pay, I would be considered someone of status."


    Shen Qing was no longer Wu Xia A Meng, and he knew that to obtain a martial title in Great Zhou, the Skin Forging Realm was the minimum requirement.


    For those born at the bottom like them, it was extremely difficult to cultivate to this degree, and to have achieved it was already a significant aplishment locally.


    His second senior brother, Niu Daping, interjected, "Our master said, Junior Brother Shen, that you came from outside the city?"


    Shen Qing wasn''t embarrassed and said truthfully, "Yes, I used to live near Shicheng Mountain. Now I''m residing in the Outer City."


    "Shicheng Mountain? That''s really quite far. The Outer City is a mixed bag with many gangs often fighting; it''s unsafe. My house has two spare rooms. How about youe to stay with me?" Niu Daping offered.


    "No thanks, I''ve already settled in the Outer City. So far it''s alright, not too chaotic," Shen Qing declined, shaking his head.


    "Alright then, whenever you want toe and stay, just let me know," Niu Daping said.


    "Thank you, Second Senior Brother." Shen Qing expressed his gratitude with a cupped fist salute.


    After Second Senior Brother Niu Daping finished speaking, their third senior brother, Dong Zizhuang, said with a smile, "Junior Brother, now that you''ve be a Bone Refining expert, you could be a minor leader in many of the gangs. Even the Inner City Four Families are vying for you.


    Although you could only serve as a guard or instructor, you would be considered fairly influential, which is much better than the average person."


    "Us who practice martial arts, not to mention anything else, have great expenses. The herbs our master uses, and the elixirs for practicing¡ªthey all cost money, not given for free. Seeing that you''re not very well-off, Junior Brother, are you interested in helping me out? Although my ce can''tpare to those Bosses, we''re quite generous towards martial masters."


    "Third Junior Brother, the business of debt collection at your ce is too risky. Junior Brother just arrived and is unfamiliar with life here; if you let him go, he might inadvertently cause trouble," Ouyang Tiezhu chimed in from the side.


    Dong Zizhuangughed and said, "The bigger the waves, the pricier the fish! Besides, we''re fellow sect brothers. If Shen Junior Brotheres over, would I still allow him to risk his life?"


    His Dong Family lived off the Wang Family''s moneylending business, and the connections they had behind them were beyond what Ouyang Tiezhu could imagine.


    Seeing how much Li Linfeng valued it, it was clear that Shen Qing''s Sight was very promising.


    If he could win over such a talented individual early on, it would be very beneficial for his family.


    "In the end, it''s all up to Junior Brother''s decision."


    Outside the house, the sun hung high, casting a warm glow that filled the courtyard with a sense of warmth.


    Shen Qing paused in his steps, pondering.


    Having established himself in the Outer City, he probably wouldn''t be short on money in the future.


    So, with a smile, he declined, "Just as Eldest Senior Brother said, I''ve just arrived and don''t know the city well. I should get acquainted with it first so as not to inadvertently offend anyone. If I''m in need of moneyter, I''ll definitely trouble Third Senior Brother."


    His words were quite reasonable and well-founded.


    Dong Zizhuang felt it made sense and nodded, "Alright, my house''s door is always open for Junior Brother."


    "Thank you, Third Senior Brother."


    "I''m off."


    Dong Zizhuang bid the others farewell with cupped hands, not persuading any further, and walked straight out of the courtyard.


    As for Fourth Senior Brother Wushili, after leaving, he merely nodded at Shen Qing as a gesture and then strode away without looking back.


    As if he was holding a grudge.


    "What''s wrong with Fourth Senior Brother?" Shen Qing asked curiously.


    Ouyang Tiezhu couldn''t help but express regret, "Among us four, Junior Brother is the youngest and most promising, always having it smooth sailing. Not long ago, he was injured by a skilled member of the Mi Gang, and he''s struggled to get over it."

 Chapter 93: Chapter 17 Aftermath of the Tiger Demon

    "Oh," Shen Qing didn''t ask any further.


    Ouyang Tiezhu patted Shen Qing''s shoulder, his mood apparently much better, "Really don''t know how you practice, breaking through so fast. Now you''re officially my junior brother, shall we go out for a drink to celebrate?"


    He had initially heard about some of Shen Qing''s talents from Li Linfeng and thus volunteered to get close to him.


    Now, Shen Qing was soaring just as he had anticipated.


    Among the numerous junior brothers, he was the first to build a good rtionship, gaining the advantage of proximity, perhaps in the future, he could benefit from it.


    Shen Qing knew that it hadn''t been long since Ouyang Tie Niu had died, and the senior brother Ouyang Tiezhu must not havepletely gotten over it yet.


    Seeing him in such rare good spirits, he simply didn''t decline.


    "Then let''s go to Fengwei Restaurant," Ouyang Tiezhu said with a smile. "Junior brother might not know, Fengwei Restaurant is a high-ss restaurant in the Inner City, where the most expensive meal can easily cost hundreds of taels of silver, it''s one of the restaurants that sons of the Boss families like to frequent the most."


    "Today, to celebrate master taking you in as his disciple, let''s make an exception and go there."


    Fengwei Restaurant?


    Shen Qing remembered he had just eaten there not long ago, the taste was quite ordinary, and it was expensive, truly a bit unnecessary.


    "Senior brother, let''s just find a ce to have some drinks and eat some meat and vegetables. That ce doesn''t really offer anything special in taste, and there''s no rush to go now. We can goter after I''ve broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm."


    When Shen Qing spoke, his tone carried a bit of sincerity.


    Ouyang Tiezhu thought about his own purse and did not insist any further, "Alright, I''ll owe this meal to you, and we''ll make it upter."


    Seeing Ouyang Tiezhu acting in such a way, Shen Qing knew that this senior brother was indeed a little short on money.


    He didn''t know what to say to his senior brother''s insistence on keeping up appearances.


    Leaving Linfeng Hall, it was just mealtime, so the two found a clean and neat little restaurant nearby, ordered some food and wine, and sat down.


    At this time, the restaurant was filled withughter and conversation, atmosphere harmonious.


    Ouyang Tiezhu couldn''t help but sigh, "Indeed, only the Inner City of Taiping County looks proper, other ces are all in a mess. Sometimes I wonder if it''s just Taiping County like this, or if it''s the same in other parts of Great Zhou."


    Shen Qing asked, "Has senior brother been to other ces?"


    Ouyang Tiezhu shook his head, "Just around Taiping County. I was born in the Outer City, used to hang with people and go all over the ce, you wouldn''t know what life outside Taiping County has be. Every day there''s fighting and killing."


    "To even have an honest living, one needs connections, to find a gang to rely on, or else you won''tst long before being sucked dry by various powers."


    "In the end, in Taiping County, the word ''safety'' is too valuable."


    "With safety in the Inner City, businesses can thrive, the Boss families can make more money, then hire more martial masters for protection, government offices can be stable, so if you want to make something of yourself, you need to practice Martial Arts and can''t just get by."


    Ouyang Tiezhu spoke absently, "I''ve known this truth for a long time, but he just wouldn''t listen."


    Shen Qing, sensing that Ouyang Tiezhu was venting frustrations, tactfully yed along, "Senior brother is talking about who wouldn''t listen?"


    "My stupid brother," Ouyang Tiezhu sighed. "I''m sorry, junior brother. I originally nned to get you some work with a gang in the Outer City, but that''s not happening now."


    "I''ve heard about it, Senior Brother, take care," Shen Qing replied with a calm expression.


    "Let''s not talk about the past anymore, let''s drink,e on."


    "Okay, cheers."


    Both filled their cups with rice wine and drank it down.


    Ouyang Tiezhu wiped his mouth and said, "Refreshing!"


    He picked up his chopsticks, tapped on the table, then grabbed a peanut and tossed it into his mouth, chewing contentedly.


    "By the way, little brother, have you heard anything about the tiger demon recently?"


    "Tiger demon?" Shen Qing''s heart skipped a beat, and he casually replied with chopsticks in hand, "How could there be such nonsense in this world? Is there really such a thing as a demon?"


    Ouyang Tiezhu leaned in earnestly and said, "It''s true, right near your Shicheng Mountain. Haven''t you heard?"


    "No," Shen Qing tly denied, "However, I have heard that there are traces of a tiger in the mountains."


    "That''s right, it''s that tiger demon," Ouyang Tiezhu said mysteriously, "Some people have seen it talk. It''s truly be a spirit. The Guardian Martial Department has even urgently gone to capture it. I heard a lot of people got injured because of it, with tax officials dying at the hands of the tiger."


    "Is that so?"


    "It''s been in the past few days. Right now the county government is discussing with the Four Great Eastern Families about capturing the tiger demon. I reckon it won''t be long before things get serious."


    Shen Qing asked, "This doesn''t involve us, does it?"


    "Hard to say. To some extent, our Linfeng Hall is under the government office, and if theye to us for support, we can''t refuse."


    Shen Qing frowned and said, "We can''t refuse?"


    "There''s no helping it. It''s not so easy to enter the Inner City. If youe in, you have to follow their rules."


    "Is it only us who has to do this?"


    "Not necessarily. Basically, anyone studying Martial Arts in the Inner City has a certain chance of being called upon depending on how strong their connections are."


    "Well, that''s not too bad. If the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up; we don''t need to worry."


    "Exactly."


    After Shen Qing and he each had another bowl of wine, they picked up the roastedmb chops that had just been served and started to eat.


    After three rounds of wine.


    Shen Qing spoke up and asked, "Senior Brother Ouyang, now that I''ve be Master''s direct disciple, are there any benefits? Tell me about them."


    "Master teaching you personally isn''t a big enough benefit? Don''t be ungrateful; Master is like a father. Many people can''t even beg for such an opportunity."


    Ouyang Tiezhu continued, "Don''t think that just by holding a Martial Arts Secret Manual you can master it. How do you know if there''s a typo, or a mistake made during transcription and printing? Sometimes a single word can lead to apletely opposite meaning."


    "Having a revered and respected Master teach you is different; you can avoid many detours."


    Shen Qing nodded in agreement, "I understand. There are many terms in Martial Arts that I can''t even understand, let alone learn. I just want to know more when I have the time."


    "Ah... your timing isn''t great. A few years earlier, our Master was quite a figure in the Inner City, and everybody gave him some respect. Now that the government of the city has changed, Master''s connections have weakened quite a bit."


    "But Master''s foundation in Martial Arts is still there. Not to mention anything else, he has practiced numerous Martial Arts, and his vision is quite broad. You''ll know when he teaches you killing techniques. ''Wind Defying Finger'' can truly take a life with one point, it''s not a lie at all."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing''s eyes lit up.


    He hadn''t expected Li Linfeng to have such skills.


    Perhaps he could get some more Cultivation Techniques from him to practice.


    At the moment, thebination of Blood Dominance Technique and Wind Defying Finger already produced unexpected effects.


    What would he turn into if he broke through several more Martial Arts using the Water Ink Panel?

 Chapter 94: Chapter 18: Killing Technique? Slaying Mortal Bones

    After returning from the restaurant, Shen Qing told everyone about the tiger demon matter he had heard.


    When they learned that the government thought the tax officials were killed by the tiger demon, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Having tasted the sweetness of sess, they were now determined to stick with Shen Qing, and thest thing they wanted was for anything to happen to him.


    Now that the tiger demon had taken the me, thest of the dangers was eliminated.


    Those who knew that Shen Qing had killed the tax officials were all present.


    That evening, everyone in front of Shen Qing took a deadly oath, promising that if anyone gossiped about it outside, they would bear sons without assholes and meet grievous ends.


    ...


    The next morning.


    Another beautiful day.


    In the sky above the shantytown, the golden sun slowly rose from the east, casting a brilliant light that gradually brightened the entire horizon.


    From afar, clouds danced lightly and the sky was a vivid blue, like a flowing painting.


    When the golden rays spread into his room, Shen Qing, who was practicing the Blood Dominance Technique, slowly finished his exercise and walked toward Zhang Baqing''s house a momentter.


    As a key figure, he had to maintain basic control, with everyone in the vige now stationed in the Outer City.


    After a period of familiarity, the neighbors close by had all be aware of their presence and, adopting their posture, gradually blended into the neighborhood.


    Shen Qing immediately decided to have the disagreeable bodies and heads taken care of, restoring normalcy.


    Having received the first security fee payment that day, it was promptly distributed, and the hunters from Hongshan Vige who followed him reaped tangible benefits.


    Everyone felt that life was much better than before in the vige, bing progressively more stable.


    After making calctions, Shen Qing realized he had not been busy in vain. Sharing the profits, he earned a total of twenty taels a month, which was far more profitable than selling mountain goods.


    He felt somewhat wistful that the Hongshan Trading Company had not seeded, but this form of ie generation had taken its ce.


    "Now that everyone is patrolling day and night, they all know that this shantytown is awless area. Those with connections can invite government officers from the city to handle things, but those without connections can only rely on their fists."


    "So, we don''t need to be soft-hearted here. If we encounter some troublemakers who don''t know better, there''s no need for words, just kill them outright. You got it?"


    Shen Qing exined everything to the men in the house one by one.


    "We all know this. Killing some strangers we don''t know isn''t tough for us. Our ancestors experienced bloodshed fleeing into the deep forests, and we have also killed in the vige. We know the ropes."


    "That''s good. Start practicing the Martial Arts I''ve taught you even if you might not achieve much. But practicing more can''t hurt."


    "Alright."


    After discussing many issues, the shrewd and incisive Shen Qing went to buy living supplies while the old and young men patrolled. The women sewed, sharpened knives, and tidied up the house.


    Time passed peacefully.


    After sorting out most of the misceneous affairs, Shen Qing took Shen Xiaohu straight to Linfeng Hall.


    Benefiting from Shen Qing''s influence, even though Shen Xiaohu''s talents were mediocre, he was still retained.


    Probably knowing how difficult it was to be retained, Shen Xiaohu was especially serious when training in Martial Arts and put in great effort.


    Shen Qing had no spare attention to watch over Shen Xiaohu. After entering the inner courtyard, he did not stay long and went straight to Li Linfeng''s study.


    ording to what Li Linfeng had said the previous day, today he would teach him the killing technique of Wind Defying Finger, which was the specific Training Method of the Bone Refining Realm.


    Concerned with Martial Arts, he was very serious.


    When he found Li Linfeng, he coincidentally discovered his aunt Shen Xiu was also there.


    At that moment, the Hall Master and uncle were tenderly supporting Aunt Shen Xiu as they walked in the courtyard, showing a rare soft side.


    After one or two months of recuperation, Aunt Shen Xiu''splexion waspletely well, and she looked no different from a normal person.


    She seemed to have grown slightly plumper in appearance.


    Aunt Shen Xiu''s eyes brightened when she saw Shen Qing arriving and she hurriedly called out excitedly, "Qingzi,e over here."


    "Aunt, Master."


    Shen Qing approached her and greeted her proactively.


    Aunt Shen Xiu took Shen Qing''s hands, expressing her concern, "I heard that you''ve moved to the Outer City. It''s pretty chaotic there, are you getting ustomed to living there?"


    "It''s all fine, the ce I chose is quite safe, I''m getting used to it for now," Shen Qing honestly responded.


    Aunt Shen Xiu nodded and said, "That''s good, don''t go anywhere this afternoon, have lunch here with Xiao Hu and me."


    "Sure, Aunt,"


    After exchanging a few pleasantries, Aunt Shen Xiu let go of his hands and said, "You two, Master and disciple, chat. I won''t keep you."


    Speaking thus, Aunt Shen Xiu walked knowledgeably towards the courtyard exit.


    As she was leaving, she gave Shen Qing a meaningful look, her face bearing a hint of fortune.


    Shen Xiu herself hadn''t expected that her own nephew genuinely possessed some abilities, enough for her husband to take him as a direct disciple.


    Even without children of her own, this connection made her life in the inner courtyard much easier.


    Her husband, Li Linfeng, was usually good to her, but since yesterday, she felt that he had be even more attentive to her.


    She wasn''t foolish, she knew whaty behind this change.


    Once Shen Xiu waspletely out of sight, Hall Master Uncle Li Linfeng didn''t hold anything back. After a few simple formalities, he began to pass on the killing techniques of the Wind Defying Finger and the rted training methods of the Bone Refining Realm.


    "Bones are the scaffolding of the body, supporting our flesh and internal organs. In the early stages of Bone Refining, one should start with the flexibility and hardness of the bones."


    "But so-called Bone Refining involves not merely tempering the bones, but intensely cultivating every inch of the body''s muscle fibers."


    "Imagine this¡ªyour bones as hard as steel while your muscles as flexible as willow branches. In this way, you can dissipate impact with flexibility when receiving heavy blows and resist damage with hardness. This is the purpose of the Strengthening Tendons and Bones realm, allowing the body to be both strong and flexible, enabling strength at will."


    "At this stage, when your bones and muscles reach perfect harmony, you''ll be able to fully unlock your body''s potential and advance to the next realm," Li Linfeng exined.


    The exnation by Li Linfeng was simple and easy to grasp, allowing Shen Qing to understand it clearly.


    "To achieve the ideal progression, you''ll next need to switch herbal medicines and practice killing techniques," he continued.


    Shen Qing felt invigorated.


    He was already aware of the existence of fighting techniques and killing methods in Martial Arts.


    He knew they distinguished ordinary Martial Arts from other forms.


    "The term ''killing technique'' refers not only to the killing methods you are familiar with but also prominently includes ''Bone Killing.''"


    "Bone Killing?" Shen Qing heard this entirely new concept and immediately became fully alert.


    "Correct," Li Linfeng continued. "The bones are crucial for martial masters, and they can determine the ultimate limit of one''s Martial Arts potential. Ordinary mortal bones cannot withstand the inner force of Martial Arts. So, it is necessary to kill these mortal bones and rece them with Martial Bones."


    "I recall that you can read?"


    Shen Qing quickly replied, "Yes, I can."


    "That''s good."


    Li Linfeng took out a yellowing stack of thick paper and ced it in front of Shen Qing, "This contains details about the Bone Killing Technique of the Wind Defying Finger, including information on specific meridians and vital points, and it has some specialized terms you should memorize. Once you have memorized it,e to me, and I''ll teach you how to train."


    Shen Qing took the thick stack of papers and began reading intently.


    The documents detailed various human vital points and provided specific breathing techniques and annotations, making it easy to understand.


    Li Linfeng, seeing how absorbed Shen Qing was, could not help butugh silently, turned, and began to leave.


    However, just as he took a step away, a voice came from behind him, "Master, I''ve memorized it. Teach me how to train, please!"

 Chapter 95: Chapter 19 Intentional Matchmaking

    "Hmm?"


    Li Linfeng thought he must have misheard.


    Shen Qing neatly refolded the yellowed stack of pages and repeated, "Master, I have memorized them. Please teach me the killing technique."


    Li Linfeng gave Shen Qing a dubious look.


    He knew Shen Qing was not the frivolous type; on the contrary, in his impression, he was a man of few words and great steadiness.


    Now he suddenly imed to have memorized it all¡ªcould it be that he indeed had?


    Li Linfeng was not one to jump to conclusions. Without saying much more, he casually drew a yellowed page and asked, "What are the most important acupoints in the abdomen?"


    "The abdomen has four major acupoints: the Qi Hai Acupoint, located about an inch and a half below the navel on the midline; the Guan Yuan point, three inches below the navel; the Zhongji point, four inches below the navel on the front midline of the body; and the Shen Que point, in the center of the navel, with the Tianshu point positioned two inches to the side of the navel."


    Endowed with the ability to "Never Forget," Shen Qing needed only a brief recollection to visualize all the content recorded on those pages in his mind, clear and distinct.


    Li Linfeng was utterly astonished.


    He found it hard to believe and proceeded to quiz Shen Qing on several other key phrases and meanings used in Bone Refining.


    These phrases were all coined by him; no one in the entire world understood what they meant more clearly than he did, and it was impossible for Shen Qing to have known them in advance.


    Yet, Shen Qing recited them without a hitch, responding to each question without any hesitation.


    At this moment, Li Linfeng could not merely describe his feelings as astonishment.


    It was nothing short of miraculous!


    No wonder he was so perceptive¡ªthis was pure, natural intelligence!


    In such a brief time, Shen Qing had surprised him again and again, leaving Li Linfeng at a loss for words.


    Shen Qing handed the neatly folded pages back to Li Linfeng and said, "Master."


    The scene fell into a brief silence.


    After a long pause and a moment of distraction, Li Linfeng finally came to terms with the fact that Shen Qing had memorized everything.


    He calmly epted the yellowed pages from Shen Qing and said, "Since you have memorized them all, I will have A Fu prepare the medicinal bath and teach you the killing technique."


    "Very well, thank you, Master."


    ...


    The ingredients Li Linfeng used in this medicinal bath inflicted excruciating pain on Shen Qing.


    Soaking in the medicinal liquid was like being in boiling oil, with every inch of his body prated and tormented by the powerful medicine, reaching all the way to the marrow.


    Eventually, Shen Qing felt such unbearable pain that beads of cold sweat the size of soybeans began to fall from his body.


    Fortunately, Li Linfeng was by his side, pointing out some endurance methods that helped him absorb the medicinal power and refine his bones all over again.


    Otherwise, Shen Qing doubted he could have persevered.


    "Once you no longer feel any pain, and your bones are as firm and resilient as steel, your Bone Refining will beplete, and you will have cultivated the Martial Bone," Li Linfeng said leisurely, standing beside Shen Qing. "This training method isn''t cheap. Going forward, you''ll take two medicinal baths daily, costing two taels of silver each."


    Even as a direct disciple, practicing Martial Arts and consuming medicines came at a cost.


    For Li Linfeng to teach his special skills and ask for money was only natural, and the practice wasmon throughout Taiping County; there was nothing to fuss about.


    Shen Qing did notin much.


    In the following days, Shen Qing immersed himself in learning and practiced the Wind Defying Finger killing technique at Linfeng Hall.


    Li Linfeng did not hold back, teaching Shen Qing with all his heart, treating him as his own.


    In no time at all, Shen Qing''s progress in the Wind Defying Finger technique improved by leaps and bounds, increasing several times over.


    Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Small Sess)


    Progress: 201/300 points


    Note: Continuous practice may lead to the awakening of the "One Finger Seal Throat" skill¡ªkilling invisibly, taking lives in one strike.


    If it went at this rate, he would be able to master the Wind Defying Finger within a month.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel even more excited inside.


    After practicing until evening, just like always, Shen Qing said goodbye to his aunt Shen Xiu and Li Linfeng before leaving Linfeng Hall for the Outer City.


    After sending Shen Qing off, his aunt Shen Xiu saw Li Lingchaning over to discuss Martial Arts with Li Linfeng and suddenly thought of something.


    If she remembered correctly, Shen Qing was almost fifteen and Li Lingchan was fourteen.


    Their ages were quitepatible.


    Shen Qing, though of modest origin with no significant family wealth, was very capable.


    Li Lingchan came from a good background, her family was affluent, and she was quite presentable.


    It was a time of need for Linfeng Hall, and if the two could be united in marriage, it would indeed be a joyous affair.


    She suppressed the idea in her heart and, after Li Lingchan had left, seemed to casually ask Li Linfeng, "Master, you have many acquaintances outside; do you know of any youngdies of marriageable age thate from a good family?"


    Li Linfeng didn''t pay much mind and casually replied, "Why? Are you thinking of matchmaking for someone?"


    Shen Xiu walked up to the robust arm of Li Linfeng and said, "My nephew is not young anymore and there is no elder in the family to worry about this. I want to find someone for him so that he can focus and be more dedicated to his workter on."


    "I''ll take a good look at this when I''m freeter. I still have quite a few misceneous things to deal with right now." Li Linfeng nodded nomittally.


    Shen Xiu lowered her voice and asked, "Master, what do you think about Lingchan?"


    "Lingchan?" Li Linfeng suddenly raised his head, looking at Shen Xiu.


    Shen Xiu, unafraid, met Li Linfeng''s gaze and said, "Their ages are simr, and my nephew is your direct disciple. Wouldn''t their union be great happiness?"


    Li Linfeng thought for a moment and suddenly felt it was quite suitable.


    He was in need of people now, and Shen Qing was starting to show promise, having great natural talent.


    If he became his son-inw, without a doubt, he would cultivate him even more carefully, and in the future, he might even take over his position.


    This was something that could be done.


    But thinking of his daughter''s temperament, Li Linfeng frowned and said, "I''ll ask their opinions when theye tomorrow. If Lingchan does not agree, then let''s forget this, and I''ll find someone suitable for your nephew."


    "As you will, my lord," Shen Xiu said.


    "Hm."


    In fact, Shen Xiu''s words had opened up a new train of thought for Li Linfeng.


    He felt that even if his daughter didn''t agree, it was good if someone outside did. Marriage alliances were a good strategy.


    ...


    Late at night.


    Inside the shanty area, the hunters from Hongjiazhai patrolled ording to their established routes as usual.


    The two patrollers, one old and one young, each carried a small gong in their hands.


    "Niu Dan, how''s it going? Are you getting used to your first patrol?" asked the hunter walking behind, carrying a bow and arrow, with a smile.


    The boy named Niu Dan chuckled, "Of course, I''m used to it. Don''t underestimate me; back when I was in the vige, I also went hunting in the mountains following my father."


    "This is not the same as hunting in the mountains. The game is afraid of people, but here..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when a shadow suddenly charged out of the dark, plunging a knife straight into his heart, cutting his words short as his figure came to an abrupt halt.


    The young man who was walking in front heard something wrong behind him, turned his head, and his face drastically changed.


    He hurried to ring the gong, but quickly a gaunt hand reached out from the darkness, grabbed his neck, and hoisted him up high.


    "I heard there''s a new gang here from Hong Shan, very fierce, but is this all they amount to? Hang them up, then send a message to prepare a hundred taels by tomorrow noon and give up the spot. Otherwise, my Eagle will let them understand the meaning of ''blood flows into rivers.''"


    Crack!


    With a sharp twist, the man effortlessly broke the young man''s neck.

 Chapter 96: Chapter 20 I Just Want to Send Him to Heaven

    In the dead of night, screams had ended before they even began.


    After a rustling silence, the shantytown alleys once again returned to calm.


    Dawn was breaking.


    Wang Jia, a resident of the shantytown, left his home as usual to work as aborer in the city.


    He had been sleeping soundly these days.


    Ever since the Hongshan Gang came to their area, someone patrolled at night, and the petty thieves had vanished without a trace.


    He hadn''t fought with the thieves for days, and he truly hoped that every day could be like this in the future.


    Thinking thus, Wang Jia walked into the alley, and his face''s happy expression came to an abrupt halt.


    In front of him, dangling high up were the bodies of two individuals, big and small, swaying slowly in the cold wind, stiff as sticks.


    Two copper gongs hung on their chests, with a blood-red character "death" written on them.


    He recognized them, they were people from the Hongshan Gang.


    "It''s bad, it''s really bad, something''s happened!" Wang Jia stumbled backward, shouting loudly with a pale face.


    ...


    Shen Qing was absorbed in practicing the Wind de Finger Killing Technique.


    Under the guidance of Li Linfeng, his execution of the Wind Defying Finger moves was no longer rough but increasingly structured.


    The subtlety of Wind Defying Finger not onlyy in its astonishing power but also in its intangibility, its moves within no-moves.


    Every encounter was based on the opponent''s strength and characteristics, adjusting the angle and speed of the attack to go straight for the enemy''s life.


    The so-called killing techniques Li Linfeng taught him were to use different Martial Arts moves to continuously feed him attacks, to spar with him, and to deduce his own rules of killing techniques through real fights.


    After practicing these days, Shen Qing, with his Never Forget Skill, had repeatedly recalled and practiced the moves Li Linfeng used in actualbat, bing thoroughly familiar with them and making swift progress.


    Just after finishing a counter-move, Shen Qing exhaled a breath of foul air, and someone knocked on his door.


    "Who is it?"


    "Qingzi, something''s happened."


    The speaker was his uncle, Shen Er, and Shen Qing stopped his stance to go forward and open the door.


    At this moment, Uncle Shen Er''s face was taut, with ayer of dark clouds seemingly spread across his brows.


    "What happened?" Shen Qing asked.


    "You should see for yourself."


    Shen Qing frowned and waved his hand, "Let''s go."


    By the time he arrived, the ce was already crowded with people.


    "Qingzi is here, Qingzi has arrived."


    Upon seeing him, someone made way for him to enter.


    Inside were the big and small bodies, with two households encircling them, their faces mournful, crying silently.


    He knew the deceased, the bigger one was a hunter from the Zhang Family, and the smaller was a youngd from the Wang Family, with only a fuzz of mustache on his lips.


    "The people from the shantytown found them," said Zhang Baqing, producing a letter, "Qingzi, take a look at this."


    Shen Qing took it and saw that it was from a ruffian named Eagle, filled with tant threats.


    In summary, three demands:


    First, they must bow down and be submissive;


    Second, they must pay up a hundred taels of gold;


    Third, they must cede the territory of this part of the shantytown.


    If they failed to meet these three demands, a few of them would be killed every day.


    Today''s incident was just an appetizer.


    After reading, Shen Qing''s face did not betray joy or sorrow as he asked, "Who is this Eagle?"


    "These past few days, I had people scout the surrounding area. He''s a rowdy from the North City district, cozying up to the Zhou Family. Recently, he''s been showing up in West City, iming dominance. I''ve heard his Kung Fu is incredibly advanced and that he haspleted his stretching."


    Zhang Baqing hadn''t been idle these days either, often walking through the shantytowns to gather a good deal of intelligence, which now came in handy.


    "Qingzi, should we not contact our adversaries and probe their depths?"


    Shen Qing walked forward to close Niu Dan''s eyes and looked at him, "If someone''s already plunged a knife into your ass, do you still need to probe their depths?"


    "One thing about me, I always believe in a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye. Whoever kills mine must be ready to be killed," Shen Qing stood up and asked, "Tell me where he lives?"


    Zhang Baqing wanted to dissuade him further.


    But Shen Qing red at him, "Immediately, right now!"


    Zhang Baqing immediately swallowed the words he wanted to say and answered truthfully, "He should be staying in Yanwei Lane right now."


    "Fine! I''ll take care of this."


    Shen Qing went back inside the house, took out his bow and arrow and a long knife, and strapped them onto his body. Under everyone''s watchful eyes, he slowly vanished from their sight.


    He couldn''t believe that with the Turtle Breath Technique, Blood Dominance Technique, and Wind de Finger Killing Technique all reinforcing him, he couldn''t kill a Martial Master who hadpleted stretching.


    With sheer numbers of local tyrants unknown, and countless individuals beneath them, they could not all be killed.


    In such a situation, the best solution was to take care of the ones who stuck their heads out first.


    First, to kill off this Eagle, and send him to heaven.


    After Shen Qing left, the atmosphere became especially heavy and oppressive.


    Tian Xiaohu,ing to his sensester, also hurriedly grabbed his bow and knife and followed.


    Uncle Shen Er and Shen Xiaohu were close behind him.


    Meanwhile, the families of the two households that had been killed didn''t speak either, silently taking their knives and bows.


    As if a chain reaction had urred, other hunters in the neighborhood quietly took their hunting equipment and sharpened knives and followed in the direction Shen Qing had disappeared.


    In the alley, Shen Qing was like a lead wolf, his eyes gleaming with ferocity as he moved forward slowly.


    Behind him, the others were like a pack of wolves,ing one after another.


    Every ce they passed was filled with an atmosphere of impending death.


    People living in the alley quickly locked their doors, only daring to peek out cautiously through their windows, taking brief nces from a distance.


    Yanwei Lane was a bit of a walk from Shen Qing''s location, but at least it was within the same district.


    After about the time it takes to drink a pot of tea, Shen Qing had already arrived in the middle of Yanwei Lane.


    Argepound presented itself before him.


    The red doors were closed.


    Outside, two petty rowdies sat at the doorway, ying with dice,ughing heartily.


    Shen Qing stood outside the alley, running the Turtle Breath Technique, and approached the two silently.


    By the time the two men felt something amiss and looked up, they were startled to find Shen Qing had already appeared before them, without them knowing when he had arrived.


    Shen Qing spoke calmly, "Does the Eagle live here?"


    "What do you want?" One of the petty rowdies red at him and said, "You walk without a sound during broad daylight, scared the hell out of me."


    "Living here is enough."


    "Huh?"


    While the two men were still unclear about the meaning of Shen Qing''s words, they suddenly felt a gust of wind blowing in front of them.


    Shen Qing''s fingers on both hands inserted into their throats at almost an intricate angle.


    He precisely targeted their windpipes and vocal cords with his fingers, preventing them from making the slightest sound.


    Hearing footsteps from behind, Shen Qing nced back and saw that Tian Xiaohu and the others had arrived.


    Shen Qing nonchntly threw the two men aside.


    Tian Xiaohu and Uncle Shen Er got the message, covered the men''s mouths, and with a sh, sent them to their deaths.

 Chapter 97: Chapter 21: Out in the World, Its All About Being Ruthless

    ```


    The number of people arriving kept increasing.


    Before long, about twenty hunters had gathered, which somewhat surprised Shen Qing.


    Since that was the case, today would be a good day to make a big move.


    Shen Qing made a hand gesture, and the veteran hunters instantly understood.


    They spread out as if hunting in the mountains, adeptly splitting into groups and crouching down as they headed towards the perimeter of the courtyard.


    Especially near the entrance, many traps and snares had been set.


    Seeing that the preparations were nearlyplete, Shen Qing stimted his Turtle Breath Technique to the extreme, then bent his knees slightly and flipped over the courtyard wall with ease.


    Without making a sound.


    After entering the courtyard, Shen Qing didn''t see any other shadows.


    He could only faintly hear the teasingughter of women from inside the rooms, along with the sounds of people drinking, eating meat, ying cards, and carousing, which seemed very noisy.


    Shen Qing''s perception was quite sharp, and he could faintly make out several threads of panting amidst the sounds.


    These people were engaging in an orgy, which had been ongoing without a pause since the night before.


    Shen Qing walked to the gate and gently opened thetch, letting Tian Xiaohu and the others in.


    After sneaking into the courtyard with a few others, Shen Qing scanned the surroundings and spotted an inconspicuous window in a corner.


    Without hesitation, Shen Qing deftly slipped through it, agile as a cat.


    Inside the room.


    A group of underlings were taking turns with a few women who were kneeling on the ground.


    Many others were cheering them on.


    "Da Lei, can you handle it? The loser has to drink three cups!"


    "Of course, I can! If you''re a man, you must hold on for a Shi Chen, ah!"


    "Hahaha..."


    "Drink! Drink!"


    Eagle found his men''s heckling quite amusing.


    A bare-chested man sitting next to him said, "Going after Hongshan Gang like this tonight, could that cause trouble? I heard that the guy surnamed Tang brought five or six dozen men and all got wiped out by them. With just our few guys..."


    Eagle dismissed the concern, saying, "It''s all about being ruthless in our business. If you''re not tough, you won''t stand firm. Just because they''re strong, does that mean I can''t touch them? I just want to test them, to see what they''re really made of."


    The bare-chested man was still worried and asked, "These people came out of nowhere, and you just go after them without checking?"


    "You think I''m as dumb as Tang? I''ve already checked. They''re from Hongshan Vige, and the only two who''ve learned martial arts were the two who entered Linfeng Hall two months ago," Eagle replied with augh, turning his head. "You don''t think they could''ve made something of themselves in just two months, do you?"


    "Logically speaking, that should be case... but just to be safe..."


    Eagle cut him off: "I know what you mean. Come, take a look at this..."


    As he spoke, Eagle took out a long rectangr box from his chest.


    "What is this...?"


    Eagle spoke in a low voice, "This is a Martial Mechanism Bomb seized by the government office from the Huang Tian Sect. One bomb going off, and even a Martial Artist in the Bone Refining Realm would not be able to handle it, they''d be crippled if not dead, and it''s extremely easy to trigger. If I really can''t beat them, I''ll just hit them with this, and they won''t even know how they died."


    "That powerful?" A surprised voice appeared next to Eagle, inappropriately inquiring.


    "Of course, would I lie to you guys?"


    Eagle turned his head to look at the source of the voice and saw an unfamiliar face. Frowning in suspicion, he said, "Who are you, you look kind of familiar to me?"


    "Me? Don''t you know? Didn''t think it through when you made your move yesterday?"


    Eagle''s eyes widened as if he realized something, and his expression drastically changed. His hand suddenly lunged for the box.


    But Shen Qing was quicker.


    Just as Eagle reached out, Shen Qing''s two fingers, held together like a sword, had already pressed on his wrist.


    Eagle''s flesh was like tofu, easily prated by Shen Qing''s fingers.


    A scream rang out.


    ```


    Eagle''s wrist hurt and released its grip, and the Martial Mechanism Bomb fell, which Shen Qing caught steadily.


    "Attack!"


    After a sessful hit, Shen Qing shouted loudly.


    Tian Xiaohu and others, who had been ready to burst forth from outside the door, suddenly crashed through the entrance and rushed in.


    At such close distance, bows and arrows were no longer useful; it was all close-quartersbat.


    Fortunately, there were not many martial artists in the room, and most of them were ordinary people.


    Facing the hunters from the deep forests, they had no choice but to be overwhelmed and beaten.


    Seeing the tide turn against him, Eagle pulled back his wrist, his muscles bulged throughout his body as he threw a punch at Shen Qing.


    A head-on sh?


    Shen Qing''s movement technique was sharp; with just a slight sidestep, he dodged Eagle''s punch.


    Boom!


    Eagle''s fistnded on the Eight Immortals table, immediately shattering it to pieces.


    Bang, bang, bang...


    The sounds of Shen Qing and Eagle''s fight echoed ceaselessly within the building, like rolling thunder.


    Eagle, with his Kung Fu Training, had muscles that twisted like vines, seemingly forged from copper and iron, each of his punches apanied by a whistling that seemed to tear through the air.


    Despite the pain in his hand, his punches came in rapid session, akin to ovepping mountain ranges, continuously aimed at Shen Qing.


    The furniture inside the house was smashed and shattered into chaos under the impact of this force.


    In the end, Eagle still had some tricks up his sleeve; after a briefpse, he found an opening and sealed Shen Qing''s movement, punching out.


    "Die! No one in the West City can beat me at hard skill!" Eagle roared, his face filled with a brutish cruelty.


    Faced with an unavoidable attack, Shen Qing struck out with his palm, colliding with Eagle''s fist.


    "Bang!" a loud noise exploded.


    The airwave spread in all directions, as if the surrounding air had been torn apart by this force.


    Shen Qing''s arm swelled at an exaggerated rate, his clothes were stretched tight, revealing veins on his palm that emerged like wriggling earthworms, sinuous and powerful.


    A look of hesitation shed across Eagle''s face.


    His prized Hard Qi Martial Arts had been blocked by his opponent.


    "Is that all you''ve got, and you dare boast?" Shen Qing did not expect the other party to be so weak. He sneered yfully, pushing his Blood Dominance Technique to its limit.


    He spun around, his fingersing together, the tips gathering a sharp current of air, and stabbed fiercely towards Eagle.


    "Swish¡ª" The sound of his finger cutting through the air was sharp and piercing, as if it could prate any barrier.


    A trace of fear flickered in Eagle''s eyes; he had not expected Shen Qing to possess such a lethal move.


    But Eagle was still a hardened fighter; he reacted quickly, retreating sharply to avoid this deadly strike.


    Would Shen Qing give him that chance?


    The Hunting Physical Technique followed closely, aiming straight for Eagle''s throat.


    Eagle let out a furious roar and threw a punch in response.


    "Pfft!"


    Shen Qing, who had attained the Bone Refining Realm, was solid in his foundation, exceptional in his movement technique.


    With the strength from the Blood Dominance Technique, his two fingers easily bypassed Eagle''s fist.


    Like swords, his two fingers prated his throat.


    Blood gushed out like a fountain.


    Eagle''s figure swayed and then he copsed with a thunderous fall.


    "You''re right, in this world it alles down to ruthlessness. Unfortunately, you''re not as ruthless as I am."


    Shen Qing nced coldly around him and said in a chilling tone, "Not a single person in this room shall be spared!"

 Chapter 98: Chapter 22: Five Secret Manuals, Zhou Family Member

    After Shen Qing gave themand, the room instantly burst into chaos.


    Seeing their boss killed in the blink of an eye, Eagle''s subordinates used all their tricks to desperately flee.


    Unfortunately, the hunters waiting outside had already set a trap, and these men unwittingly ran straight into it.


    The sound of animal traps snapping shut continuously exploded both inside and outside the courtyard, mixing with screams of agony, one after another.


    Shen Qing shook the blood from his hands and strolled leisurely inside the room.


    Anyone foolish enough toe close was instantly killed by his touch.


    Shen Qing''s speed and ruthlessness in killing made the thugs inside tremble with fear.


    In their eyes, killing a person was just like ughtering a chicken.


    No, it was even simpler than killing a chicken.


    This massacre had no turning point, as Shen Qing and his group ughtered all of Eagle''s subordinates with overwhelming strength.


    Shen Xiaohu wiped the blood from his face and approached Shen Qing saying, "Brother Qingzi, it''s all done."


    "Hmm," Shen Qing nced at the much matured Shen Xiaohu, then shifted his gaze to the Martial Mechanism Bomb in front of him and examined it.


    One end of the Martial Mechanism Bomb box had a ring-like trigger mechanism, while the other end was wrapped in iron sheet.


    After looking carefully for a while and understanding its principle, Shen Qing couldn''t help butugh silently in amazement.


    He hadn''t expected that this world would have created something simr to a wooden-handled grenade.


    ording to them, a martial master below the Qi Cultivation Realm couldn''t withstand the power of this Martial Mechanism Bomb just with their flesh and blood.


    In other words, from the Qi Cultivation Realm and above, this Martial Mechanism Bomb would be of no concern.


    Martial Arts cultivation has its merits when developed deeply enough.


    Shen Qing tucked the Martial Mechanism Bomb into his bosom, seeing that all of Eagle''s gang had been executed, a smile surfaced on his face.


    It was time for the crowd-pleasing segment of searching the corpses.


    He wondered what they would find this time.


    Shen Qing signaled for everyone to start searching through the room.


    Since the room''s upants were already dead, they had no reservations; they smashed any boxes they saw and dismantled any chests they found.


    Eagle''s stronghold was turned upside down, nearly lifting the roof off.


    Indeed, there were quite a few treasures.


    Seven golden leaves, a short dagger, and countless silver and copper coins.


    As per the old rule, split fifty-fifty.


    Shen Qing alone took five parts, and the remaining five parts were shared among the others.


    Everyone was very satisfied, having made a killing.


    "Qingzi,e take a look at this."


    Just as everyone was about to leave, Tian Xiaohu squatted on Eagle''s bed, lifted the quilt, knocked on the bed board, and said to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing walked over, curious, "What''s up?"


    Tian Xiaohu seriously said, "It sounds hollow, and there are gaps around."


    "You mean there is something?"


    Tian Xiaohu nodded emphatically and said, "But it''s stuck tight; I can''t open it."


    Shen Qing looked down and pointed up with his finger.


    Pff!


    With a muffled sound, Shen Qing directly pointed out a hole and easily flipped over a small wooden board.


    Tian Xiaohu''s face twitched, momentarily speechless.


    He straightened his neck forward and looked inside.


    There, the cupboard ringly contained several Martial Arts Manuals.


    Upon closer inspection, there were as many as five.


    Illusion Breaking Fist, Netherworld Ghost Steps, Eight Extremities Copse, Wuji Tiangang Kick, Dragon Roar Armor.


    "This is¡­"


    Tian Xiaohu suddenly became excited.


    It was well known that any Martial Arts Manual on the market starts at tens of taels, and more profound Martial Arts could reach hundreds of taels.


    If there was an annotated version of profound Martial Arts, they were priceless.


    Never expected there would be five of them here.


    "Qingzi, look at this..."


    Shen Qing was very calm and did not get as excited as Tian Xiaohu.


    The truly good Martial Arts Skills were passed down through lineage, rarely leaked to the outside.


    Because they could not decipher the hidden codes within, they also could not ensure that the copied text was error-free.


    With Martial Arts Skills, a single wrong character could leadpletely astray, missing the mark by miles.


    Shen Qing calmly said, "This Martial Arts isn''t that great, otherwise the Eagle wouldn''t be so weak."


    His cold reality check quickly cooled Tian Xiaohu down.


    Right.


    If the Martial Arts here were so powerful, why would the Eagle be so weak?


    Great Zhou didn''tck clever individuals, diligently studying various Martial Arts.


    The better the Martial Arts, the easier it was practiced by many, the easier it was to deduce patterns, and the lower the requirement for Sight.


    Only low-level Martial Arts were difficult to practice, demanding this perception, that Sight.


    The reason everyone wanted to get into the government office was because there were plenty of opportunities to practice Martial Arts.


    Once you entered the government office, entered the court of Great Zhou, regardless of age or perception, everyone had the chance to soar to the heavens and seek enlightenment.


    Unlike them, miserably begging everywhere they went.


    Shen Qing took out the Martial Arts, saying, "However, we shouldn''t lose heart. My uncle, the Hall Master, is well-informed and knowledgeable about many Martial Arts. I''ll take these skills to him tomorrow for a check to see if they''re practicable, and how they should be practiced."


    "That settles it, I''ll listen to you," Tian Xiaohu nodded vigorously.


    "Let''s go."


    Shen Qing flipped off the bed and walked out of the hall with Tian Xiaohu.


    At this time, they saw Shen Xiaohu squatting on the ground, staring fixedly at several women.


    The women were motionless in the corner, and nobody paid attention to them when the fight broke out.


    A few young hunters did have some ideas, but when they saw others looting corpses for money, they temporarily dropped the subject.


    Shen Qing walked over and kicked Shen Xiaohu, saying, "I see you can''t even walk when you see women anywhere. Last time at the Tang''s house, you kept staring at the widow''s chest, and I''m going to tell Uncle this time that it''s time to find you a wife."


    Shen Xiaohu squatted down on his bottom,ining, "I didn''t do anything. Brother Qingzi, take a closer look, they seem a bit odd."


    "What''s odd?"


    "Their gaze is so dull, and their faces are still red until now."


    Shen Qing looked over and indeed, something was off.


    The women were like wooden figures, seemingly at the mercy of others,cking all vitality of living people.


    One of them was not very attractive, but her skin was soft, clearly different from the other three.


    Tian Xiaohu whispered, "They''ve been drugged."


    "Drugged?"


    "Just some despicable tricks," Tian Xiaohu said, "Like pping mud on them. Use some potion on their nose and mouth, and they lose consciousness. These women must have been abducted from somewhere."


    Shen Qing sighed, "Then there is no helping it, let''s go, get someone to take them to the government office."


    Although he was ruthless now, he hadn''t reached the point of killing everyone he saw.


    These women had done him no wrong, and he had no intention of going out of his way to kill them.


    Since they were neither rtives nor friends, sending them to the government office was Shen Qing doing his utmost duty.


    Shen Xiaohu reluctantly followed Shen Qing and Tian Xiaohu as they walked out.


    However, he had only walked a few steps when he suddenly paused and called out, "Wait a minute."


    Shen Qing and Tian Xiaohu stopped and turned back to look.


    Shen Xiaohu said seriously, "Did you hear any of them talking?"


    Shen Qing focused his attention, and with Shen Xiaohu''s reminder, he indeed heard faint murmuring.


    The sound was very soft.


    If one were not listening carefully, they wouldn''t hear it at all.


    If Shen Qing hadn''t deliberately listened, even with his keen senses he would have struggled to catch it.


    "Zhou Family... send me back to the Zhou Family... I am the Zhou Family... miss... my father... will not forgive... you..."

 Chapter 99: Chapter 23 Offering Huge Profits

    "The Zhou Family?"


    Upon hearing this term, Shen Qing''s face changed.


    In Taiping County, one of the Four Great Eastern Families was surnamed Zhou.


    Or rather, in Taiping County, aside from the Zhou Family, Shen Qing couldn''t think of another Zhou who would dare to call herself Miss.


    Had Eagle''s men actually kidnapped Miss Zhou, and then... assaulted her?


    Such audacity seemed almost too much to believe!


    Even Shen Qing found it hard to believe.


    But it wasn''t necessarily impossible.


    Shen Qing said to Tian Xiao Hu, "Is there a way to wake them up?"


    Tian Xiao Hu shook his head, "There''s no particrly good way, we can either wait here, or try feeding them golden liquid to induce vomiting. The drug''s effectsts just for a shi chen or two."


    Shen Qing turned his head towards Shen Xiao Hu and lifted his chin slightly to signal him twice, "Xiao Hu."


    "Ah?" Shen Xiao Hu: "I don''t have any right now."


    "I didn''t ask you to use your own, go fetch it from the outhouse at the back."


    "Oh, right." Shen Xiao Hu quickly reacted and scurried off.


    Shortly after, he returned with a bowl filled with golden liquid.


    The already dim and foul-smelling hall worsened with this bowl of turbid golden liquid, emitting an even more indescribable stench.


    Shen Qing held his breath andmanded, "Pour!"


    Shen Xiao Hu did as told.


    He gently lifted the head of the murmuring woman, pinched her mouth open, and without hesitation poured the golden liquid into her mouth.


    A strong stench immediately filled the air, suffocating.


    The golden liquid slowly flowed down the woman''s throat, provoking waves of nausea.


    The woman, caught in a stupor, seemed to sense an unusual stimtion. Her eyebrows knitted tightly, and her body began to tremble slightly.


    The taste of the golden liquid tingled her nerves, triggering her instinctive reaction.


    Soon afterward, the woman''s eyes snapped open, filled with shock and confusion.


    Then, ovee with an intense urge to vomit, she coughed violently, spitting out the golden liquid that had just been poured into her mouth.


    "Bleah!"


    "Bleah!"


    "Bleah!"


    The already foul-smelling room became even more unbearable, causing the woman to feel pain as if she wished for death.


    However, since she had been unconscious for too long, her physical strength and reaction capabilities were greatly reduced, and due to her dizziness and blurred vision, she couldn''t even avoid it.


    Seeing this, Shen Xiao Hu swiftly turned the woman''s head to one side to prevent her vomit from soiling himself.


    After a while, the woman, seemingly mustering all her strength, finally managed to spit out all the golden liquid, along with a series of violent coughs and dry heaves.


    After vomiting, the woman felt drained. She leaned weakly against the wall, gasping for air, with an expression full of pain and anger.


    "Give me water..."


    Shen Xiao Hu acted upon hearing this, bringing over a basin of water.


    Without saying a word, the woman rushed forward and repeatedly scooped water with her hands to rinse her mouth, then hurriedly wiped the golden liquid off her face, hands, and body without considering the cold.


    In the brief moment while waiting for the water, having seen her half-exposed body, she understood what had transpired.


    ncing around at the corpses in the room, and seeing Shen Qing and others standing patiently aside, she began to weigh her options.


    Even though she knew she had just been force-fed golden liquid and was nearly on the brink of another outburst, she suppressed it in the face of life and death.


    "Who are you?" the woman asked, wiping the yellow stains at the corner of her mouth, speaking for the first time.


    Shen Qing picked up a coat from the ground and threw it to her, saying, "It''s cold, put this on before we talk."


    The woman silently took the coat and draped it over herself, covering the many revealing sights of her body.


    "A member of the Zhou Family?"


    The woman nodded, her almond eyes fixed on Shen Qing, "A servant-born daughter from the fifth concubine''s quarters of the Zhou Family."


    "Raised by a concubine?"


    Shen Qing was stunned for a moment.


    Having lived in this world for so many days, he hade to understand some of its terms.


    Generally speaking, in the households of the wealthy, a daughter of the family whoes as part of a concubine''s dowry is called a Concubine Teng.


    If the legal wife passes away, they elevate the Concubine Teng to maintain the marital ties and protect the interests of her family.


    After the Concubine Teng, there are concubines, secondary wives, side chambers, noble concubines, and concubine maids, etc.


    In general, concubine maids are born to those of lowly status within Great Zhou, and their status is very low.


    To some extent, they are considered the property of their masters and can be transferred at will.


    The status of children born to concubine maids naturally wouldn''t be high either.


    As soon as Shen Qing heard that she was raised by a concubine maid, he surmised why the Eagle''s underlings dared to do such a thing.


    "How were you snatched and brought here?"


    The woman spoke calmly, "Last night, I went out of the courtyard to dispose of some waste, and after that, I don''t know what happened."


    "Alright, it seems there are many twists in your story that I am not interested in hearing about. Now that you''ve woken up, you should just go back on your own."


    Shen Qing said offhandedly, nning to leave with Shen Xiaohu and Tian Xiaohu.


    She was merely a girl raised by a concubine.


    In this chaotic county town, even if someone were killed on a whim, nobody would care.


    Disappointment.


    "Wait a moment." The woman stood up and spoke, "If you can escort me back, I can give you hundreds of gold taels. If you don''t want gold, I can still provide you with martial arts from a government office and an elixir."


    "Hmm?"


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing abruptly turned his gaze onto the woman, eyes gleaming intensely.


    "Are you joking with me? I don''t believe that a girl born to a Zhou Family concubine can give me all that."


    "That''s because you know nothing of the Zhou Family''s foundation." The woman met his gaze without a trace of fear, "What seems unreachable to people like you are but trifles to the Zhou Family. When the Zhou ranks first among the Four Great Eastern Families, it''s not just an empty im."


    Shen Qing hadn''te into contact with the Four Great Eastern Families, but he had vaguely heard people mention that each family within the Four Greats is exceedingly wealthy, possessing riches beyond his imagination.


    Shen Qing narrowed his eyes and said, "So, I just need to escort you to the Zhou residence?"


    "Yes, just take me back to the Fifth Room of the Zhou house," the woman said firmly, "I keep my word."


    After a brief consideration, Shen Qing agreed, saying, "Alright, I''ll escort you."


    "Good, then it''s settled. The Outer City is too chaotic these days; it would be very difficult for me to leave without protection," the woman said, sounding relieved.


    Shen Qing examined her from head to toe and said, "You haven''t fully recovered yet. Rest a little longer, and then we''ll leave."


    The woman didn''t make a sound, which Shen Qing took as agreement.


    Shen Qing went outside with Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaohu and said to them, "Xiao Hu, go tell the others to dispose of these bodies. From now on, this area is under our control. After you''ve done that, everyone can head back."


    "Got it," Shen Xiaohu nodded in agreement. "Piece of cake."


    Shen Qing then said, "Xiao Hu,e with meter to take the remaining three women to the government office. I will take that woman to the Zhou Family."


    "Are you really going to take her there? Do you want me toe with you?"


    "No need. If I haven''t returned by nightfall, take Xiao Hu to Linfeng Hall and ask Li Linfeng to go to the Zhou Family and find me."


    The martial arts from the government office, as far as he knew, generally involved realms above the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    They are not only easy to practice but also powerful.


    As for the elixirs from the government office, they are probably rare treasures.


    Even with some risk involved, it was worth making the trip.


    Having dealt with the surrounding affairs, it was two Shi Chenter.


    When Shen Qing returned to the house, the Zhou Family woman had found her clothes and gotten dressed again.


    Her expression was calm, showing neither joy nor sadness.


    "It''s about time, shall we go?" Shen Qing approached and asked.


    The Zhou Family woman nodded and said, "I haven''t been here before and don''t know the way; you lead the way."

 Chapter 100: Chapter 24 Above the Qi Cultivation Realm

    Shen Qing smiled at the woman and said, "You go ahead; I''ll just direct from behind."


    "..."


    Shen Qing wouldn''t make the foolish mistake of turning his back on a stranger.


    Shen Qing asked, "Is that not okay?"


    The Zhou Family woman took a deep breath and replied, "Then I appreciate your effort."


    Shen Qing signaled with his eyes, "Let''s go."


    The Zhou Family woman nodded, her hands hidden in her sleeves, and walked out beside Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing turned back to Tian Xiaohu and said, "I leave the rest to you."


    "Yes, rest easy." Tian Xiaohu stepped forward and whispered, "Qingzi, I feel that woman is always hiding something from you."


    "You feel that too? Seems I wasn''t overthinking it." Shen Qing nced at Tian Xiaohu and said, "Alright, I got it."


    "Hmm."


    Having said that, Shen Qing turned and followed the Zhou Family woman.


    "Turn left at the alley ahead, then turn right and go straight." Once out of the courtyard, Shen Qing spoke to remind her.


    Upon hearing this, the Zhou Family woman followed the direction Shen Qing indicated and walked on, head down.


    Standing behind, Shen Qing tilted his head and nced at the corpses piled in the corner, then looked again at this Zhou Family woman, his eyes narrowing into a long line.


    He increasingly felt this woman was extraordinary.


    An ordinary woman, seeing the ground littered with corpses and a bloody scene, would likely have copsed, unable to walk.


    But this woman seemed unaffected.


    This indicated, either she had an unusually strong demeanor unlike normal folk,


    or she was used to seeing such scenes and it had be customary for her.


    Otherwise, it wouldn''t be so.


    What was even more frightening was that, as a member of the Zhou Family and facing such a significant upheaval, she disyed no signs of emotional copse, just like someone unaffected.


    Such a reaction was all too ring.


    Shen Qing quietly increased the distance between them.


    The two walked on without saying a word, their clear footsteps resonating between them.


    After a while, the Zhou Family woman at the front, unable to stand the chilly silence, asked, "Sir, how may I address you?"


    "Li Feiyu."


    "Then what is Qingzi?"


    "That''s my nickname," Shen Qing deflected and asked, "What about you? What''s your name?"


    The Zhou Family woman said, "Zhou Qiaoji."


    Since the conversation had started, Shen Qing directly asked, "I heard that the Zhou Family started from the shoes and silk business, from the county town over there. Can you tell me about your family?"


    Zhou Qiaoji did not avoid the question but softly smiled and said, "Which aspect would you like to hear about?"


    "How many people are in the Zhou Family, and who has the highest cultivation?"


    These were not secrets and held no value in hiding; Zhou Qiaoji replied, "Definitely more than a hundred. I haven''t counted exactly. Just from the direct line of the Zhou Family, there are nine people, two legitimate sons, and three legitimate grandchildren. The eldest son married the County Magistrate''s legitimate daughter, and the second son married Miss Li. Recently, it came out that the eldest son would likely manage the Zhou Family''s properties in the future."


    "Regarding cultivation, of course, the strongest is Old Master Zhou, who already reached the Qi Hai Realm ten years ago. Next would be the second son, who broke through to the Qi Cultivation Realmst year. Inside the Zhou Family Mansion, there are also Martial Masters in the Qi Cultivation Realm slightly stronger than the second son, but they are practitioners invited by the old master, not surnamed Zhou."


    After listening, Shen Qing asked, "So above the Qi Cultivation Realm, there''s the Qi Hai Realm?"


    "Yes, and after that, there are the Yu Luo Realm, Dan Realm, and several levels up to the Innate Realm. However, in our small county town, such important figures don''te by. Our old master''s cultivation is pretty much the limit here."


    With one statement, Zhou Qiaoji instantly broadened Shen Qing''s horizons, causing his heart to pound.


    Shen Qing asked, "I''ve heard masters in the Martial Arts Hall say they all aim for the Qi Cultivation Realm; no one thinks of going further, why is that?"


    "Because the chasm between the Qi Cultivation Realm and the Qi Hai Realm requires the methods of the court to cross," Zhou Qiaoji said slowly. "Although Qi Cultivation Realm and Qi Hai Realm share a word, the difference between the two is immense. Crossing it makes one a cultivator, failing to cross leaves one a meremon martial master."


    Speaking, Zhou Qiaoji paused and turned back, "Our Zhou Family has been operating here for many years, naturally, we have ways to obtain this breakthrough from the court. As for you heroes... reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm is quite an achievement, and all the masters in the martial arts halls understand this."


    Zhou Qiaoji''s words had a somewhat condescending tone, which made Shen Qing somewhat ufortable.


    But he also knew that what Zhou Qiaoji said was the truth.


    It appeared that for those who weren''t part of Great Zhou''s system, no matter how hard these lower-ss people fought, breaking their socio-economic bounds was incredibly difficult.


    It might take the efforts of three generations to have a chance.


    One generation umtes wealth through business, the next generation strengthens its power through martial arts, and the third generation secures its position by entering officialdom.


    In this process, three generations must not produce any prodigals and must proceed methodically.


    "I just wonder, if I use the Water Ink Panel, could I cross that chasm she spoke of?"


    Shen Qing quietly pondered.


    Through his continuous practice, the Water Ink Panel had been increasing in proficiency, cultivating a myriad of skills.


    With a thousand hammerings, a skill nears art, and with a hundred refinings, art nears dao.


    He could try it outter.


    Shen Qing put aside these thoughts and continued asking, "What about the other Bosses?"


    "You mean the Wang Family, Song Family, and Li Family?"


    "Yes."


    "All more or less the same. Among the four, the Wang Family is the most low-key, the Li Family has the strongest power, and the Song Family is the weakest and also the most anxious."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    Zhou Qiaoji continued as he walked, "Didn''t you all hear recently? The Song family has been searching everywhere for rare treasures toy the foundation for their Third Young Master and Young Master."


    Upon hearing this, a grin almost escaped Shen Qing''s face.


    Could he not have heard?


    Those three rare treasures were currently in his possession.


    "That is indeed the case," Shen Qing said, restraining his emotions and speaking calmly.


    "They are in such a rush purely because their family''s old ancestor has died and theyck a Qi Hai Realm figure," Zhou Qiaoji said indifferently.


    At this, Shen Qing suddenly saw the light.


    "No wonder."


    The two chatted sporadically as they walked.


    In a blink, they reached the main road, passed through the city gate, and entered the Inner City.


    They walked in the Inner City for a while, spending nearly half an hour, and Zhou Qiaoji led Shen Qing to the vicinity of the Zhou Family Mansion.


    Looking from afar, the grand entrance of the Zhou Family was majestic and awe-inspiring.


    The beam over the gate was embedded with a golden que bearing the great letters of "Zhou Family," written with vigorous and extraordinary strength.


    On either side of the gate, two stone lions were intricately and beautifully decorated, quite unlike many others Shen Qing had seen, disying even greater grandeur.


    The Zhou Family Mansion covered a vast area, with deep courtyards and many buildings inside thepound.


    Shen Qing, who had never been here before, suddenly felt quite intrigued.


    Zhou Qiaoji exined, "The fifth chamber is in the West Entrance Courtyard, we need to walk this street around to another street."


    Shen Qing, unfamiliar with the ce, said, "Since you know the way, you lead. Once you deliver me there, just fulfill your promise."


    Zhou Qiaoji responded, "Don''t worry, our Zhou Family is known for keeping promises, we will not go back on our word. Let''s go."


    As he spoke, Zhou Qiaoji headed towards the other side of the Zhou Family Mansion.


    Shen Qing followed a few steps behind.

 Chapter 101: Chapter 25: Loss of Honor is Minor, Reputation is Major

    Zhou Qiaoji led Shen Qing to another street and entered an alley.


    On both sides of the alley, various vendors'' stalls were lined up densely, disying a dazzling array of goods.


    From fresh vegetables to exquisite handicrafts, tempting snacks..., everything was avable.


    Steaming buns, fragrant pancakes, crispy deep-fried dough sticks..., the air was filled with the aroma of various snacks, and the cries of vendors were incessant.


    Children were ying and frolicking in the alley, theirughter and yful shouts intertwined with the vendors'' calls, creating a lively atmosphere.


    After passing through this alley, they continued towards the Sezhou Family Mansion, the shadows of the trees on both sides growing deeper.


    The number of vendors abruptly decreased.


    It was like crossing a certain boundary; beyond that line, not a single vendor could be seen.


    Sunlight nted across the end of the alley. Soon, Zhou Qiaoji led Shen Qing to a vermilion wooden door.


    With no one around, Shen Qing''s steps were slightly hesitant, his Qi-Blood churning incessantly, tense on the inside yet rxed on the outside.


    Zhou Qiaoji appeared much moreposed, as she gently knocked on the wooden door, producing a low and rhythmic sound.


    After a short while, the wooden door creaked open, and a gatekeeper d in blue peeked out.


    The gatekeeper''s gaze lingered on Shen Qing just briefly; seeing Zhou Qiaoji, his expression changed and he quickly bowed respectfully, "Miss twelfth, have you returned?"


    Zhou Qiaoji nodded slightly, telling the gatekeeper, "Go and ask Chang Guanshi toe out; tell him I need to speak with him."


    The gatekeeper obeyed and went, while Shen Qing kept his eyes firmly fixed on the gatekeeper''s retreating figure and remained silent.


    The long-robed Chang Guanshi hurried over, his voice reaching them before he did, "Miss twelfth, where have you been? I''ve been terribly worried."


    When he saw Shen Qing, he paused for a moment, but quickly regained hisposure.


    "It''s a long story; I''ll exinter," said Zhou Qiaoji as she ascended a step and turned around to face Shen Qing, "What do you want? The Cultivation Technique and Elixir or a hundred gold taels?"


    Shen Qing hadn''t expected Zhou Qiaoji to act so decisively without any procrastination.


    On the way, he had heard of various Martial Arts Realms and learned some of their key aspects; after a brief reflection, he calmly replied, "The Cultivation Technique and Elixir."


    "Alright," Zhou Qiaojimanded, "Chang Guanshi, go get me the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill that I obtained from my second brother, and also bring the Qi Refining Pill."


    Chang Guanshi made a face and said, "The eldest young master took the Qi Refining Pill when he saw you weren''t here."


    Zhou Qiaoji''s chest tightened, but she maintained herposure and said, "Then bring one hundred silver notes instead."


    "Alright, Miss, I''ll be right back." Chang Guanshi nodded, bowed, and hurried back to fetch the items.


    Zhou Qiaoji turned to Shen Qing and said, "Lord Li, please be patient; I will soon bring you the items to fulfill my promise. However, the Zhou family is quiterge, and it takes some time to retrieve items. Wouldn''t you like toe with me to a quiet ce and wait for a moment?"


    Shen Qing refused, saying, "I am just a rustic countryman and not worthy of sullying the entrance to the Zhou family. Besides, I am here only for the items, not as a guest; I prefer not to go inside."


    "Lord Li is truly humble, very well then. It''s up to you." Zhou Qiaoji did not insist further.


    After about the time it takes to drink a pot of tea, Chang Guanshi came over with a wooden box and said, "Miss twelfth, it''s all here."


    Zhou Qiaoji opened the box, looked through it to confirm, and said, "It''s all here."


    Then, holding the small wooden box, she approached Shen Qing and said, "The Martial Arts Skills are inside, and since I promised you Elixirs are missing, I''ve converted them into one hundred silver notes."


    Shen Qing took the box, pulled out the skills inside it, and then started to flip through them page by page in front of Zhou Qiaoji.


    As he flipped, he exined, "I need to carefully check the skills to avoid any potential faults or nks that might cause me a loss."


    At this moment, Zhou Qiaoji''s expression showed a hint of impatience, but she quickly covered it up, "You make a good point, Lord Li. Take your time; there''s no rush."


    "Hmm."


    After half the duration of an incense stick had passed, Shen Qing finally finished and confirmed the content wasplete, saying, "There is no issue."


    "That''s good."


    "Miss Zhou truly acts with integrity," Shen Qing took out the silver notes from the box and said with a clenched fist, "With this, our transaction isplete. Farewell!"


    Zhou Qiaoji said, "Lord Li, safe travels."


    As Shen Qing''s figure disappeared down the alley, Zhou Qiaoji''s spirit abruptly rxed, and her face suddenly changed, her teeth clenching angrily.


    "Miss..." Chang Guanshi noticed something was amiss and stepped forward with concern, asking, "What is it...?"


    "Uncle Chang, I''ll need to trouble you with somethingter," Zhou Qiaoji said with a fierce look in her eyes.


    Chang Guanshi, puzzled, asked, "Miss, what do you need me to do?"


    "Kill that man from earlier!"


    "The young master has already ordered us not to kill people randomly, so as not to make it difficult for his father-inw. I need a reason."


    Zhou Qiaoji''s eyes reddened as she said, "I was deceived by that despicable person."


    "Hmm?"


    Choking back tears, Zhou Qiaoji recounted her continuous misfortunes.


    However, she omitted some details.


    "Ah... so there was such a thing? That damned eagle, luckily he died early. Otherwise, if the old master got angry, he would have made his life worse than death."


    Zhou Qiaoji became somewhat agitated.


    In fact, her name was not Zhou Qiaoji; she was Zhou Yu, one of the favored daughters of Old Master Zhou from the fifth concubine room, skilled in calctions and even in some martial arts.


    When facing Shen Qing, she dared not reveal her true identity out of fear of tarnishing it, hence she used an alias.


    After a while, Chang Guanshi said, solemn-faced, "If that''s the case, losing one''s virtue is a minor issue, but reputation is a major one. This man must not be left alive."


    "It''s not just him, but also the three women who were sent to the government office, and those people from the slum area. They all need to be killed. As long as they are all dead, no one will know about this, and the matter can be covered up."


    Zhou Yu spoke with growing agitation.


    At this moment, she harbored immense hatred toward Shen Qing, fervently wishing to mutte him thousands of times.


    The so-called golden liquid was actually sewage!


    She, a distinguished Miss Zhou, was forced to drink golden liquid, a torture worse than death for her.


    Nevertheless, that man must be killed!


    A mere vagabond living in the Outer City, if he died, no one would care.


    "Excuse me, gentlemen."


    Just then, an abrupt voice sounded in the ears of Zhou Yu and Chang Guanshi, startling them both.


    They looked around and saw Shen Qing, who had unexpectedly returned, moving soundlessly.


    Zhou Yu suppressed her thoughts and asked, "What is it?"


    "I''ve thought it over and decided not to take the Martial Arts Skills. Please exchange it for one hundred gold taels."


    As he spoke, Shen Qing presented the Martial Arts Skills with both hands.


    Zhou Yu and Chang Guanshi exchanged nces. She didn''t know why Shen Qing suddenly wanted to exchange the skills, but it seemed to make no difference, as he couldn''t have memorized much of it anyway.


    After all, a man who was going to die could have anything taken back.


    Zhou Yu said, "Chang Guanshi, go and get the gold notes."


    "Yes, Miss."


    This time Zhou Yu was cautious and said no more, fearing she might say too much.


    Soon Chang Guanshi brought the gold notes, "Count them, are they right?"


    Shen Qing grabbed the gold notes and didn''t count them, "I trust you."


    After saying this, he immediately handed back the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, "The cultivation technique is yours."


    Chang Guanshi nced at Zhou Yu, who signaled him to hold off on any actions and take it outside, to avoid making the issue public.


    Chang Guanshi understood and took the cultivation technique handed by Shen Qing.


    But as he touched it, there was a rectangr box underneath the cultivation technique.


    "Goodbye."


    Chang Guanshi was puzzled, but Shen Qing had already left swiftly.


    He frowned, took out the rectangr box, and wondered, "What is this?"


    As the words fell,


    Boom!


    A violent burst of me erupted from the box, with a thunderous sound, instantly engulfing Chang Guanshi and Zhou Yu in a massive fireball.

 Chapter 102: Chapter 26: With a Loud Bang, They All Died in the Explosion

    The dazzling fireball in the courtyard shot up into the sky, intermingled with yellow shes of lightning, as if a sleeping fire dragon had been awakened in an instant, furiously tearing at its surroundings, lunging in all directions.


    Immediately afterward, a thunderous boom exploded like thunder, deafening to those who heard it.


    The vermilion back gate was instantly shattered by the st, and even the courtyard walls did not escape unscathed.


    The sturdy cyan bricks copsed in one corner under the force of the explosion, the fragmented stones bursting forth along with the mes.


    When the light from the fire dissipated, countless pieces of stone showered down.


    The air was thick with the scent of scorched earth and gunpowder, pungent and intense.


    Having already stepped outside the gate, Shen Qing, upon witnessing the scene unfolding before him, was somewhat surprised, "This power is much greater than I anticipated."


    Shen Qing nced around swiftly, charged back inside, brushed off the dust in the air, and scanned his surroundings.


    A short whileter, he discovered the remains of Zhou Yu, Chang Guanshi, and a gatekeeper who had be charred beyond recognition amidst the rubble.


    The faces of the three bodies were beyond recognition, their features blurred from the st impact, contorted in a perverse state, limbs stretched abnormally, their shredded clothes caked with dust and blood.


    If it were not for Shen Qing having seen the two just now, anyone else arriving would have to spend a long time identifying them.


    "Quick, quick, quick, let''s see what happened at the fifth room!"


    Urgent footsteps echoed from all around.


    The Zhou Family members rushed here immediately upon hearing the explosion.


    Having confirmed the death of those inside with no need for further action, Shen Qing activated his Turtle Breath Technique, pushed off the ground, and dashed into the alley, leaving the scene before the Zhou Family members arrived.


    Only when he reached the bustling streets and merged with the crowd did he slow down his pace a bit.


    Upon escorting Zhou Yu back to the Zhou Family Mansion, Zhou Yu promised him a Cultivation Technique and Elixir plus a hundred gold taels.


    Both were valuable items.


    But you can''t have your cake and eat it too.


    Zhou Yu wanted him to choose one over the other.


    This left Shen Qing torn and troubled the whole way.


    It wasn''t until he stood at the gate of the Zhou Family''s backyard that he thought things through and finally made his decision.


    Only children make choices.


    He wanted the Cultivation Technique and Elixir, and he wanted those hundred gold taels as well.


    So he took the Cultivation Technique first, using his Never Forget ability to nce at it and memorize it, then pretended to have a change of heart and gave it back, taking the hundred gold taels instead.


    In this way, he obtained both the Cultivation Technique and the gold.


    He was able to keep both.


    To avoid being too obvious, Shen Qing only used his Turtle Breath Technique to return after they saw him leave, intending to give back the Martial Arts.


    He unexpectedly caught them off guard and overheard fragments of their conversation.


    They were plotting against him!


    All along the way, Shen Qing felt something was off about that woman, so he had been cautious from the start.


    The Martial Mechanism Bomb he had got from Eagle had been hidden in his sleeve all along, ready but unused.


    Hearing their words, Shen Qing simply decided to go all in, giving them the Martial Mechanism Bomb along with the Cultivation Technique.


    Then, with a loud boom, he blew both of them to pieces!


    The seed of enmity¡ªno, the enmity hadn''t even started before he avenged it.


    He didn''t hesitate for a moment.


    After a careful review, Shen Qing recalled that in the backyard, only the gatekeeper, Chang Guanshi, and Zhou Yu were present.


    When he returnedter, he was more careful to avoid being seen.


    Now, the people who had seen him were basically dead.


    With Zhou Yu intentionally concealing the information, even if the Zhou Family members wanted to investigate, it would be difficult for them to trace it back to him.


    Safe.


    It was still early.


    After today''s turmoil, his clothes had gotten quite bloody.


    Shen Qing found a clothing store to change into fresh garments and then hit the bathhouse for a soak, washing away the filth from his body.


    After wandering around the city and burning his old clothes in a secluded spot, he leisurely made his way towards Linfeng Hall.


    When Shen Qing returned to Linfeng Hall, he found Tian Xiaohu pacing at the entrance, looking hesitant to go in or stay out.


    Shen Qing approached and called out.


    Tian Xiaohu snapped his head up and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief upon seeing Shen Qing, his worries easing.


    "The Zhou Family members didn''t give you a hard time, did they?"


    "No," Shen Qing replied with a calm smile, "The Zhou Family members are quite righteous. They gave me everything that was due to me. We got along like a house on fire, quite familiar now."


    "That''s good. After all, the Zhou Family is a big boss. If you can establish a connection with them, it would be greatly beneficial to you."


    "That''s a matter forter. Let''s talk about it then," Shen Qing patted his shoulder and said, "You''ve worked hard. I''ll go in and check with my uncle, the Hall Master, to see how our five Martial Arts Secret Manuals areing along."


    "Okay, go ahead with your tasks. I''m heading back too," Tian Xiaohu said, cupping his fists without lingering and striding off.


    Inside Linfeng Hall.


    There were still quite a few people practicing martial arts in the courtyard.


    Most of them were unaware that Shen Qing had been taken as a direct disciple; they only knew that he was Miss Qi''s nephew who had benefited from her favor and was regarded differently by Li Linfeng who personally instructed him.


    After Shen Qing entered, most people looked at him with envy, while a few showed disdain and jealousy.


    Shen Qing didn''t care about this, greeted the familiar Xiao Zhi and others as usual when arriving in the courtyard, and went straight to the back courtyard.


    Now that he had been designated a direct disciple by Li Linfeng, he did not need the housemaids or servants to announce his presence anymore.


    Apart from the bedchambers and quarters of the female family members, which he couldn''t enter, he was free toe and go as he pleased in other areas.


    A lot freer than before.


    Entering the room, Shen Qing saw the three senior brothers, as well as Li Lingchan and Li Hongyang practicing together and sparring against each other.


    Li Lingchan was still dressed like a young nobleman, her chest padded.


    After all, training martial arts would be inconvenient if she wore skirts and hairpins.


    Ouyang Tiezhu was still indifferent, sparring with the third senior brother: "Third junior brother, have you been frequenting the brothels too muchtely? I feel like your waistcks strength and your reaction is much slower. I remember you invented a Finger Skill that even impressed thedies there. Heh heh..."


    "I''m slow in reaction? Big senior brother, you should be careful."


    Pfft!


    The third senior brother, Dong Zizhuang, pointed his fingers together and jabbed fiercely several times into the empty space in front of him.


    But the first senior brother, Ouyang Tiezhu, was agile in his movements, dodging left and right to avoid the attacks.


    Ouyang Tiezhu, seeing Shen Qing approaching, hastily retreated, getting out of the attack range of Dong Zizhuang: "Little junior brother''s here, stop training."


    Dong Zizhuang turned at the mention, noticing Shen Qing standing in the courtyard and pausing in his actions as he stopped.


    Ouyang Tiezhu walked up to Shen Qing, looked him up and down, andmented curiously, "Little junior brother, how is it that you seem to have grown even taller?"


    After changing into a new set of clothes that better fit his body, Shen Qing indeed appeared different from before.


    With months of martial arts training and nourishment from various foods and medicinal herbs, his body was growing rapidly, changing almost daily.


    Now he had shot up from a height of around 1.70 meters to nearly 1.80 meters, and his whole body had beefed up considerably.


    Shen Qing replied with a smile, "Ever since I started training in martial arts with Master, I''ve been eating well and sleeping well, so I''ve naturally been growing. Life was too hard before."

 Chapter 103: Chapter 27: Competition, Judging Martial Skills

    Ouyang Tiezhu felt there was some truth to it, he didn''t think too much, and asked, "Did youe here looking for Master?"


    "Yes, is Master here?" Shen Qing nodded.


    "He just went to the back room, he should be here soon."


    Shen Qing said, "Then alright, I''ll wait here for Master."


    "We still have some time, how about a little sparring, Junior Brother? At the stage of Practicing Killing Skill, actualbat is very important." Ouyang Tiezhu smiled and beckoned to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing nced at the study, the door was open, and Li Linfeng was indeed not inside.


    "Alright, let''s practice."


    No sooner had Shen Qing finished speaking than Ouyang Tiezhu rushed forward in a leaping step, aiming a jab at Shen Qing''s chest.


    This was amon initial move in Wind Defying Finger, aimed at breaking through the opponent''s ''gate''.


    Shen Qing was not sloppy either; he spun on his heels, turned around, and dodged this finger while also pointing out with his finger.


    His Qi-Blood was immensely robust, augmented by long-term stimtion of precious medicines as well as the conditioning of the Blood Dominance Technique.


    Even though his cultivation was at the Bone Refining Realm facing Ouyang Tiezhu, he did not fall behind in the slightest, and was even a bit faster than Ouyang Tiezhu.


    Ouyang Tiezhu was also experienced; he pped with one hand and blocked Shen Qing''s attack.


    He had alreadypleted Bone Refining and was attempting to break into the Skin Forging Realm.


    Theoretically, his power and speed should have been a notch above Shen Qing''s, but the reality made him doubt his own cultivation.


    Ouyang Tiezhu realized he couldn''t suppress this junior brother who was only at the Bone Refining Realm.


    The two continuously exchanged moves, stirring up the dust on the ground with each sh.


    In an instant, dozens of moves were exchanged.


    Ouyang Tiezhunded a flicking finger on Shen Qing''s shoulder, making Shen Qing''s body go numb, forcing him to retreat several steps.


    Both were holding back, not using their full strength.


    Otherwise, that one finger could have made Shen Qing bleed.


    Indeed, sparring with someone rich inbat experience was different from the ordinary person.


    "Again."


    Shen Qing calmed down, carefully observing Ouyang Tiezhu''s habits and movements.


    When Li Linfeng taught him, he often mentioned that the most important thing inbat against others was observation.


    To discern the opponent''s strength, find the opponent''s weakness, thus doubling the effort and achieving the effect of surprise.


    Ouyang Tiezhu "heh"ed, and charged straight forward.


    His movement looked familiar to Shen Qing.


    After breaking through to the Bone Refining Realm, Shen Qing''s senses had be extremely sharp, exceeding that of an ordinary person by a dimension.


    Combined with his Never Forget skill, he quickly dismantled Ouyang Tiezhu''s movements and found his habitual tendencies.


    There was a w.


    Shen Qing lowered his body, dodged to the right in a sidestep, easily avoiding Ouyang Tiezhu''s attack.


    Then he quickly moved behind Ouyang Tiezhu and lightly pressed on his back.


    Ouyang Tiezhu felt as if he was electrocuted, involuntarily staggering forward.


    If it weren''t for his stable movement technique, he might have fallen face first.


    The others looked on as if they had seen something marvelous, staring wide-eyed at Shen Qing.


    He had actually defeated the eldest senior brother.


    How long had he been practicing martial arts?


    Such talent was truly freakish.


    Shen Qing hastily stepped forward, grabbed Ouyang Tiezhu, and bowed, "Eldest senior brother, my apologies."


    Ouyang Tiezhu was very open-minded, pping his hands and saying, "No worries, it''s just that my skill isn''t as good as yours. Junior brother, your progress is really fast, worthy of Master''s praise that you are natural martial arts material, even several of mebined can''tpare to you."


    "It''s all thanks to Master''s good teaching," Shen Qing said modestly, bowing his head.


    Ouyang Tiezhu said, "Your ability now surpasses that of an ordinary martial master. An average person would stand no chance against you¡ªyou could easily handle any number, and being in charge of a household or guarding an estate, you could earn a good sum in just a month."


    "Let''s talk about making moneyter. Right now, I need to focus on improving my Martial Arts."


    While they were speaking, footsteps echoed through the corridor.


    "The master ising."


    Shen Qing bowed to Ouyang Tiezhu and said, "I''m going to see the Master first. We''ll chat moreter, elder brother."


    After he spoke, Shen Qing followed behind Li Linfeng and entered the study.


    Once Li Linfeng was seated, Shen Qing stepped forward and respectfully called out, "Master."


    "What brings you here?" Li Linfeng asked with a steady gaze towards Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing took out five Martial Arts Secret Manuals from his chest, which he had collected from the Eagle, and said, "Master, I found some basic Martial Arts elsewhere. I hope you can take a look and see the quality of these techniques."


    After finishing his words, Shen Qing reached into his chest and ced the five Martial Arts Secret Manuals on Li Linfeng''s desk.


    "Illusion Breaking Fist, Netherworld Ghost Steps, Eight Extremities Copse, Wuji Tiangang Kick, Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt."


    Li Linfeng spread out all five manuals and nced through them.


    He casually picked up one of the manuals and began reading it intently.


    After a while, having finished one, he proceeded to the next.


    While reading, he took a pen and made corrections and annotations.


    After spending several hours, Li Linfeng had read and corrected all five manuals.


    He stacked them together, pushed them towards Shen Qing without any hint of greed, and said, "These techniques are generally urate, with no major ws. I noticed some minor errors and have corrected them for you."


    Shen Qing''s face lit up with delight as he hurriedly said, "Thank you, Master."


    "Among these techniques, only the Eight Extremities Copse is somewhat interesting. It shares some unique simrities in power with my Wind Defying Finger technique. You might want to study that one more for inspiration. As for the others, don''t bother."


    Li Linfeng waved his hand and advised, "The biggest fear in learning Martial Arts is breadth without depth. At this stage, it''s better for you to concentrate on cultivating one technique. Engaging in too many could dissipate your energy and prove counterproductive."


    "I understand."


    Shen Qing nodded, pulled the corrected manuals towards him, and briefly scanned through them.


    Seeing the annotations, Shen Qing knew he had done right by consulting Li Linfeng.


    This saved him a great deal of trouble.


    With this thought, Shen Qing fetched some paper and, relying on his Never Forget memory, transcribed another manual before speaking in a hushed tone, "Master, please look at this one too."


    Shen Qing didn''t dare to practice the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill given to him by Zhou Yu directly.


    The best course was to have someone knowledgeable review it first to identify any potential issues.


    Li Linfeng looked oddly at his newly epted direct disciple.


    He couldn''t figure out how he had suddenly produced so many Martial Arts manuals.


    And even transcribed one on the spot.


    Did his family run a Martial Arts wholesale business?


    But he was well-cultured and knew this disciple was not ordinary, so he refrained frommenting further.


    Li Linfeng picked up the manual Shen Qing had ced on the desk and studied it carefully.


    Noting the fresh ink, Li Linfeng''s brows furrowed slightly.


    He patiently turned to the first page and began reading seriously, finding it somewhat reasonable.


    Turning to the second page, he thought, "Oh, so Qi-Blood can be trained like this."


    By the third page, he became restless.


    The technique was straightforward and even touched upon the essence of simplicity.


    Without a doubt, from his perspective, this was not only a technique but also a True Martial Arts manual¡ªa good technique indeed.


    Enthralled, Li Linfeng read until the veryst page before suddenly snapping out of it, feeling a sense of loss.


    He looked at Shen Qing and sternly asked, "Where did you get this Martial Arts technique from?"

 Chapter 104: Chapter 28: Get Stronger! Get Stronger!

    Shen Qing knew that if he sought advice from Li Linfeng, he couldn''t avoid this issue.


    He had killed three members of the Zhou Family in one go, creating such a big incident that it could easily lead to suspicion.


    If a hint of this got out from Li Linfeng, and they came looking for him, he wouldn''t be able to withstand their assault.


    One must not harbor ill intentions, yet one cannot be without a guard against others.


    It was absolutely imperative not to reveal that the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill came from the Zhou Family.


    Shen Qing began crafting his exnation internally.


    Having lived two lives, he was very clear that lying was the worst choice at this time.


    One lie often required countless other lies to cover it up.


    This was especially true in front of someone of higher social standing than oneself, where lying was even more difficult.


    Because you have no idea at which level the other''s knowledge lies.


    Perhaps even an unremarkable detail might be a w that allows the other to see through your petty schemes, thereby incurring losses unseen by you.


    Therefore, in front of such people, sincerity is the trump card; there''s no need for cover-ups, just speak the true thoughts in your heart.


    Of course, if you encounter people who are very jealous and suspicious, you can''t be so direct.


    After observing for these past days, he concluded that his hall master uncle was not a narrow-minded person, nor did one who likes to probe too deeply into matters.


    Having made up his mind, Shen Qing sped his hands together, bowed, and said, "Master, there are someplexities here... it''s not quite convenient to disclose..."


    As he had expected, Li Linfeng indeed did not pursue the matter further.


    In Li Linfeng''s perspective, the cultivation technique was probably acquired by Shen Qing through "murder and plunder", with somewhat dubious origins.


    However, in Taiping County, people fought over cultivation techniques every day, so Shen Qing''s situation was fairly normal.


    Rather than that, Li Linfeng found it more curious that Shen Qing could copy an entire cultivation technique from memory.


    Li Linfeng averted his gaze, lightly "hmm" and said, "Your writing is a bit ugly."


    Shen Qing looked surprised, embarrassed, he said, "My family was poor when I was young, it is embarrassing in front of Master."


    In his previous life, he had used pens, not often practicing with brush, and if it weren''t for learning the skill of reading and writing from the panel, he probably wouldn''t have been able to write these characters.


    "Practice more when you have free time." Li Linfeng closed the book and looked at Shen Qing with a half-smile, asking, "What do you want to ask me by showing me this cultivation technique?"


    Shen Qing sighed with relief, knowing he had managed to skirt around the issue of the origin of the cultivation technique, and said respectfully, "Master, I mainly want to know if this set of martial arts skills is genuine or not, whether it can be cultivated, and the quality of the technique?"


    Li Linfeng pondered for a while, "I have carefully examined it, and this set of martial arts establishes a foundation from nourishing and training Qi and Blood all the way to Qi Cultivation into sea. The reasoning is sound throughout, so it should be a genuine set of martial arts, and the quality is not low either."


    |em|p,yr


    "It is obviously much more refined than the cultivation techniques concocted by our rough methods, and many parts are easy to understand. As to whether it can be practiced, I''m not certain. The martial arts you''ve copied are somewhat iplete; there should be corresponding diagrams of techniques and training methods included."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing finally rxed; the cultivation technique given to him by the Zhou Family had no problems, and he could try practicing it.


    As for the diagrams of techniques mentioned by Li Linfeng, the original did have them.


    It was just that he couldn''t draw them, which was why he hadn''t copied them.


    A sh of joy crossed Shen Qing''s face as he said gratefully, "Thank you, Master, for your guidance."


    "It''s nothing to thank me for." Li Linfeng said frankly, "This cultivation technique is far superior to my Wind Defying Finger; if you have theplete technique, you indeed should practice it. However, there''s an old saying that one should not be greedy when learning martial arts. A person''s energy is limited; if you study this martial art more, you will definitely have to study less of the others. I''m not familiar with this technique, so there''s not much I can teach you, you need to make your own choices."


    "Disciple understands. Having be your direct disciple, I will naturally focus on learning the Wind Defying Finger and not be fickle," Shen Qing bowed his head and said.


    Seeing Shen Qing recognizing his own martial arts, Li Linfeng''s face showed an increase in satisfaction.


    But, thinking it over, he still said sternly, "A good bird chooses a tree to nest in, and people seek ces of suitable environments. If I were you, upon finding moreplete and advanced martial arts, I would not hesitate to learn them. Has your eldest senior brother told you why we practice martial arts?"


    Shen Qing recalled and said, "He has."


    "What did he say?"


    "We practice martial arts to be stronger and to defeat others," Shen Qing replied without hesitation.


    "Right. The philosophy of practicing martial arts here is nothing but to be stronger, stronger, and constantly stronger! To be stronger, you can''t be obstinate. To confine oneself in a small puddle is an act of a fool."


    Li Linfeng spoke sincerely, "I am the Hall Master of Linfeng Hall, and some things I say may be inappropriate, so use your discretion. No matter what, you are my direct disciple, and I will help if I can. But if it''s beyond my ability, there is nothing I can do."


    Shen Qing was genuinely surprised by Li Linfeng''s open-mindedness.


    He was no fool; naturally, he heard the implication in Li Linfeng''s words, and it vaguely seemed as if there was encouragement for him to study the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill.


    His face expressionless, he looked at Li Linfeng, unsure of how to respond.


    Li Linfeng stood up and tossed the copied Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to Shen Qing, saying, "Don''t leave after a while at noon; stay here for lunch."


    Owing to his aunt Shen Xiu, he often stayed here for meals after bing a direct disciple, so Shen Qing didn''t think much of it and agreed right away.


    Stepping out of the study, Shen Qing found his mood growing somewhatplex for some unknown reason.


    After half an hour, it was time for the Li family''s noon meal.


    In the private chambers of the back courtyard, the maid Dongxue approached Li Lingchan''s chamber and knocked on the door, saying, "Miss, the master calls for you to join him for the meal."


    Li Lingchan, having just finished her training, was surprised.


    Usually, aside from some special asions, only the mistresses and father dined together; those of the younger generation didn''t have the privilege to sit at the table.


    Today was just an ordinary day, neither a major holiday nor anyone''s birthday, so why would father ask her to dine together?


    Without much thought, Li Lingchan replied, "I''ll be right there."


    Dongxue continued, "The master also said, Miss, you shouldn''t wear your training attire anymore."


    "Hmm?" Li Lingchan expressed her surprise, "Did some important gueste to our house?"


    "No," Dongxue shook her head.


    Li Lingchan''s brows knit slightly as she said, "Okay, I understand."


    Having delivered the message, Dongxue executed a respectful curtsy and withdrew.


    The noon sun cast nted rays over the gray tiles and green bricks of the Li family''s back courtyard, seemingly coating the tiles with ayer of pale gold.


    The Li family''s main hall was located in the middle of the back courtyard, radiating an air of simple elegance.


    The interior of the hall was adorned with antiques, fine porcin, jade, paintings, and other works of art, all neatly arranged.


    At this moment in the center of the main hall, arge rosewood table wasid with an assortment of delicious dishes and fine wine, wafting tempting aromas.


    The first to enter was Shen Xiu.


    After days of recuperation, herplexion had be much rosier, and today she had especially dressed up, looking radiant and beautiful.


    Shen Xiu, with the help of the maid Dongxue, quietly took her seat.


    "Dongxue, check if my makeup is smeared," she said.


    Dongxue inspected carefully and said, "Miss Qi, it''s perfect."


    "Lingchan has somewhat of a proud nature; I must behave well and not upset her," Shen Xiu spoke with some anxiety.


    "That won''t happen. Miss Four isn''t someone who gets upset so easily. Besides, Miss Qi, you''re so beautiful, everyone in the courtyard likes you," Dongxue reassured her.


    Shen Xiu couldn''t help but cover her mouth and giggle, cheerfully.


    While they were talking andughing, Shen Qing stepped over the threshold and walked in.

 Chapter 105: Chapter 29: Matchmaking

    As he entered the hall, Shen Qing noticed that today''s arrangement was different from the usual, appearing somewhat morevish.


    He saw Shen Xiu sitting on the left, and puzzled, he asked, "Auntie, don''t we usually go to your side chambers? What''s this about today?"


    "The family is having a meal together." Shen Xiu patted the chair, signaling Shen Qing to sit next to her.


    On hearing this, Shen Qing went and sat down.


    Shen Xiu looked her own nephew up and down, a hint of satisfaction appearing in the corners of her eyes.


    One thing you couldn''t fault the Shen Family for was their bone structure.


    After these days of recuperation and having switched to a fitted new outfit, Shen Qing truly looked outstanding.


    Broad where he needed to be broad, slim where he should be slim, strong in the right ces.


    Shen Xiu asked in familial terms, "Have you been getting used to life in the Outer Citytely? Has anyone been bullying you?"


    Bullying me?


    Basically, those who tried to bully me are dead.


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "The Outer City is always a mess, there is some bullying, but they''re all trivial matters. I''ve learned some martial arts, and with my uncle backing me, they don''t dare do much."


    "If it''s too dangerous outside, think about saving some more money in the future and move to the Inner City," Shen Xiu suggested with a frown.


    Shen Qing calcted that he had just gotten a hundred gold taels from the Zhou Family, and now his wealth amounted to about one thousand five hundred taels of silver, which was nearly enough to buy a house in the Inner City.


    But renting rather than buying saved money that would be better spent on martial arts training.


    Shen Qing nomittally said, "Hmm, no rush on that, we''ll talk about itter."


    Soon, another person entered.


    It was Li Lingchan.


    Today, she wore a in white long dress with a hairpin, lookingpletely different from her usual self.


    Li Lingchan had inherited Li Linfeng''s wide frame.


    Usually, the tight clothing she wore while training made this quite noticeable, but in a long dress, she looked more like the girl next door.


    With some rouge on her face and her naturally fine skin, the already beautiful Li Lingchan was striking.


    She carried with her a breeze of fragrance, which gave off an aura of a well-bred youngdy.


    As Li Lingchan entered the main hall and saw Shen Qing sitting at the table, she paused slightly.


    This was the ce where the Li Family usually entertained guests, and even if Shen Qing had be a direct disciple, he had no right to sit there.


    A sh of puzzlement crossed her eyes, but she did not ask further and quietly took a seat on the right side for guests.


    A whileter, Li Linfeng walked in with a woman who was dressed borately.


    Shen Xiu and Shen Qing quickly stood up to greet them, "Lord, Fifth Madam."


    "Father, Mother!" The puzzlement in Li Lingchan''s eyes deepened, she opened her mouth to ask but was interrupted by Li Linfeng''s words.


    "We are all family here, please, have a seat," invited Li Linfeng.


    There were five people at the table, with Shen Qing being the only one not part of Li Linfeng''s immediate family.


    "Don''t just sit idle, start eating," Li Linfeng said, picking up his chopsticks and grabbing a piece of meat, which he dipped in sauce and stuffed into his mouth.


    After Li Linfeng started eating, the others also began to pick up their chopsticks and eat.


    The atmosphere at the table was still not warm, feeling somewhat chilly.


    Everyone seated at the table simply ate without speaking.


    Women often matured early in heart.


    Li Lingchan noticed her mother''s eyes asionally darting toward Shen Qing and then back to her as she ate.


    Her heart skipped a beat, guessing something unpleasant.


    After eating for a while, Li Linfeng picked up a bowl of strong liquor, took a few gulps with a gurgling sound, and ced it heavily on the table, producing a crisp sound.


    Everyone, who was focused on their meals, looked up at Li Linfeng simultaneously.


    stories


    Li Linfeng''s hands braced against the table and he scanned the faces of Shen Qing and Li Lingchan.


    A few momentster, he withdrew his hands, picked up his chopsticks again, and while picking at the food, he casually said, "Shen Qing, how old are you this year?"


    "Replying to master, fifteen," Shen Qing answered.


    "Fifteen, eh? That age is about right for marriage and starting a career," Li Linfeng nced at Shen Qing and said, "Do you have anyone in mind?"


    Shen Qing looked towards Li Lingchan.


    Even if he was slow to react, he now understood why Li Linfeng had invited him to this meal.


    This was to set him up with his fourth daughter.


    In the Great Zhou Dynasty, it was typical for boys to marry at fifteen, so it wasn''t as if he was being forced into it prematurely.


    Shen Qing honestly said, "Not yet."


    Li Linfeng continued, "What do you think of my daughter? She is a year older than you, has a grounded personality, and knows some Martial Arts. If you two were together, you would be well-matched."


    These words reached Li Lingchan''s ears, and even with her mental preparation, she was still embarrassed and annoyed, even feeling a rush of anger shooting up to her forehead.


    The originally rosyplexion on her face turned fiery red.


    "Father, I still want to serve you for a few more years," Li Lingchan hurriedly said.


    Li Linfeng nced at his daughter and said, "Getting married won''t prevent you from serving."


    Hearing this, Li Lingchan gritted her teeth and knelt on the ground, saying, "Father, I have always wanted to achieve something in Martial Arts. Now is a critical time for me to pursue progress in my training. If I get married and have children, my Martial Arts will surely be hindered. Furthermore,"


    Li Lingchan looked up at Shen Qing and said, "Even if I were to marry, I should marry someone with a career like father, and Junior Brother Shen is not the type I prefer."


    Sitting aside, Shen Qing, seeing Li Lingchan''s resolute attitude, analyzed the situation internally.


    He noticed a bit of pride in Li Lingchan''s character, and although it was not overt, her eyes carried a slight disdain for him.


    Even if he agreed now, it would be like forcing a ck melon, which would not be sweet and would only be a burden to his progress.


    More importantly, Li Lingchan was not his type.


    Her face was pretty, but her waist was a bit thick, her chest small, and her buttocks notrge.


    He preferred girls with slender waists,rge breasts, and big buttocks.


    Ideally, they should also be gentle, virtuous, and stable in mood.


    Li Lingchan, who jumped out at any disagreement, would be better suited to a more patient man.


    He calmly stood up, then followed by saying, "Thank you for the kindness of Master, Matron, and Aunt. However, I am dull ande from a humble background without even a tile or brick to call my own. If I were to marry sister now, I could not provide her a proper ce to live, and would only harm her. Besides, I have no romantic feelings toward sister and hope Master can rescind the order."


    "Hmm?" Seeing both of them so resolute, Li Linfeng felt somewhat disappointed.


    To tell the truth, he quite liked Shen Qing.


    He had the Sight, knew how to handle interpersonal rtions,


    and he knew when to yield and when to be bold.


    In his eyes, such a person, if he did not die, would certainly make a name for himself and establish a career in the future.


    If he could be his son-inw, it would indeed be a good thing.


    Li Linfeng red at Fifth Miss, as if toin that her well-taught daughter didn''t even understand the principle of keeping something valuable and let his nse to nothing.


    Fifth Miss shrank her neck and dared not make a sound.


    Realizing both were unwilling, Li Linfeng sighed deeply and gave up, saying, "Let''s eat."


    Li Lingchan stood up, nced sideways at Shen Qing, holding back an emotion in her heart.


    "Shen Xiu was a concubine purchased by another family andter given to my father to keep as a side chamber,ing from an extremely humble background. Shen Qing is his nephew and alsoes from such a background, and till now doesn''t even have an entry in the martial arts register."


    "If I married him, wouldn''t I be the same status as him? I''m not saying I want to marry into nobility or officialdom, but at least someone from the martial arts register, right? What was father thinking, deciding hastily just because he saw some talent in Martial Arts?"


    "In the Great Zhou, there are many with greater Martial Arts talent than him; it''s just that he stands out among us here. Fortunately, he has the self-awareness not to overreach."


    When Li Lingchan looked at Shen Qing and Shen Xiu again, she didn''t know why, but she felt increasingly annoyed.


    After this incident, the already somewhat cold atmosphere turned colder.


    Li Linfeng only ate a few bites before he stopped and, after making some polite remarks, left the table with Fifth Madam.


    Shen Qing voluntarily stood up to see them off, with no sign of dissatisfaction or annoyance on his face, appearing very calm.


    Seeing this, Li Lingchan inexplicably felt even more irritated.


    The face of Shen Qing that she had once found agreeable now seemed detestable to her.


    This emotion, once it arose, even made her feel somewhat baffled by her own reactions.


    "Getting a little achievement and walking around with his nose in the air, he really does not know the vastness of heaven and earth. My father is also getting senile. In these chaotic times, it''s uncertain whether he will survive into the future, and he''s so casual about his daughter''s major life events, letting me marry someone without even a little background."


    Already blinded by rage, Li Lingchan even started to resent Li Linfeng a bit.


    She stood up coldly and said, "Seventh Miss, take your time eating, I''m leaving first."


    Li Lingchan walked out of the main hall without turning back, her strides so firm that her hairpin jingled loudly.


    After everyone left, Shen Xiu lookedpletely dispirited, like an aubergine touched by frost.


    Shen Qing, on the other hand, carelessly filled a bowl with wine and then let go, continuing to heartily eat his food as if nothing had happened, belching...


    "Qingzi, are you okay?"


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "What could be wrong with me? I''m very well. All this good food, since we''re already here, it would be a shame not to eat it. Burp..."


    Shen Xiu looked even more dismayed.


    "Qingzi, don''t lose heart. If Fourth Miss doesn''t think much of us, we''ll look at other girls. I previously spoke to your uncle about this, and he said he would help look out for someone else for you."


    "Um..." Shen Qing suddenly felt that he might have given his aunt the wrong impression.

 Chapter 106: Chapter 30: Decision

    The morning''s events had left Shen Qing ravenous, and the spread prepared by Li Linfeng was particrly to his taste. Once the others had left, he let his guard down and ate with abandon, a departure from his usual manners.


    This prompted his aunt, Shen Xiu, to make some other associations.


    Shen Qing couldn''t be bothered to exin any further, fearing that it would only add to the confusion.


    After he had his fill of food and drink, Shen Qing patted his distended belly and said, "Aunt, I''m heading back now."


    "Alright," responded the disinterested Aunt Shen Xiu. "I wasn''t thorough enough with today''s arrangements, don''t let this affect your mindset and concentrate on your Martial Arts."


    "I understand."


    Shen Qing gave a slight smile and strode out of the main hall, a lingering sigh echoing behind him.


    Li Linfeng''s efforts to connect Shen Qing through Li Lingchan had been rtively secretive and hadn''t been publicized, so few were aware of it.


    Yet somehow, it hade to the attention of some interested parties.


    "Junior brother, I heard that the master introduced you to junior sister, but you turned her down?" Ouyang Tiezhu asked with curiosity after a sparring session with Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing frowned and said, "You all know about it?"


    "There aren''t many people in the courtyard. When the junior sister didn''te by this afternoon, a bit of inquiry was all it took. It''s not that hard to find out."


    Shen Qing didn''t deny it and said, "There was such an incident, but it''s more that the junior sister wasn''t impressed with me."


    "I see. The master''s junior sister has been spoiled by him since she was young. She sets her sights very high, indeed too high to take an interest in you."


    Ouyang Tiezhu pped Shen Qing on the shoulder and said, "I know a few girls around here; do you want to meet them? Rest assured, they alle from decent families. Some even belong to business families, and they are quite beautiful. You are now a martial master in the Bone Refining Realm, you should really start considering this."


    "Well..." Shen Qing waved his hand and said, "I''m not thinking of settling down just yet, we''ll talk about itter."


    "Alright, I''ll keep an eye out for you, and when you''re ready, just let me know. You''re young now, your potential is limitless, so it''s easier to find a suitor. Otherwise, if you wait too long, if you have made a name for yourself, fine, if not, it bes harder to find a good inw, so it''s better to act early."


    Shen Qing nodded and said, "Sure. If I change my mind, I''ll tell you right away."


    "Right, one more thing to remind you, the Zhou Family''spound was bombed by the Huang Tian Sect today, and the county government is currently hunting down the remnants of the sect. Be careful when you go out."


    Shen Qing guessed it was probably because of the Martial Mechanism Bomb, making the Huang Tian Sect take the fall for him.


    This was for the best, as taking on another burden from the Huang Tian Sect was something he didn''t mind.


    He might as well task them a bit more.


    "The Huang Tian Sect again?" Shen Qing said helplessly, "It never ends."


    "Just be careful."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Ouyang."


    ...


    The minor incident of Li Linfeng setting up Shen Qing with Li Lingchan caused quite a stir among the younger brothers in the backyard.


    But as quickly as it arose, it subsided.


    In Linfeng Hall, where men predominantly resided, such gossip didn''t capture much attention.


    They felt it was more beneficial to invest time in training and strengthening their capabilities than in prying into such trivial matters of rtionships.


    By the time Shen Hour arrived.


    After dozens of bouts with other martial brothers, Shen Qing returned to the Outer Court''s pharmacy sore all over. He peeled off his clothes only to findrge bruises all over his body.


    These were injuries from those instances during the sparring when his skills were slightly inferior to his brothers''.


    If it were a real battle and his martial brothers unleashed the full power of the Wind Defying Finger, the bruises would have been the least of his worries ¨C it could have been a matter of life and death.


    "In actualbat, I must consider defense as well. As long as an opponent''s strike doesn''t kill me, I have a chance to fight back. If someone''s strike is fatal, then everything ends there, and there''s nothing beyond that. My body''s resilience to physical blows is still not sufficient."


    Shen Qing collected his thoughts, soaking in the medicinal bath as usual, tempering his flesh and refining his muscle and bone.


    As evening approached, Shen Qing concluded his day of cultivation and was preparing to leave the city with Shen Xiaohu to return to their residence in the Outer City.


    On the left side near the road, a shop had its doors tightly shut, and faint sounds of smashing and screams could be intermittently heard from inside.


    As Shen Qing passed by, the door violently burst open.


    A middle-aged man, covered in blood, stumbled out from inside, trying to escape.


    However, he hadn''t gone far before a ruffian from behind grabbed his hair and forcefully dragged him back inside.


    The door mmed shut again, leaving only a trail of blood on the ground.


    Both Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu were somewhat startled by this scene.


    In his memory, the Inner City had always been stable, with gang conflicts generally confined to the Outer City, and few dared to openly engage in such fierce fights.


    "Who are they to be so brazen in the Inner City?"


    After a while.


    The screaming inside the house abruptly stopped.


    The door opened again.


    A burly man who looked not to be trifled with walked out.


    He loosened his muscle and bone, nced over the crowd that had gathered on the street, and bellowed, "Mi Gang is handling affairs, bystanders keep away."


    The burly man''s voice was mightily robust.


    Under his fierce shout, the onlookers who were craning their necks quickly scattered.


    "So it''s the Mi Gang?"


    Shen Qing narrowed his eyes slightly, stealing a nce at the man without leaving a trace.


    He knew that the Mi Gang had some conflicts with Li Linfeng and having recently attached themselves to the powerful government office, their aggressive style posed bad news for Linfeng Hall.


    "Let''s go."


    Without further dy, Shen Qing and Shen Xiaohu quietly left.


    Walking on the main street.


    He wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but Shen Qing noticed that there were far fewer people on the streets.


    Many storefronts were already empty and evacuated.


    The Inner City felt somewhat deste.


    Shen Qing returned to the slum area and inquired about the conditions of the newly managed area for that day.


    Seeing that there were no issues, he did not inquire further.


    Later that evening, after having a simple meal of coarse tea and light rice, Shen Qing set aside all other affairs andid out the Martial Arts Secret Manuals he had obtained that day on the table.


    "Li Linfeng told me today that a person''s energy is limited; one should not practice too many Martial Arts, mastering another discipline is already at the limit, and one should make careful selections. But with the Water Ink Panel, I don''t need to do this."


    After many days of practice, Shen Qing already knew that his Water Ink Panel was a permanent asset, ever advancing without regress, thereby learning multiple Martial Arts Skills wouldn''t drain too much of his energy.


    "I have twelve Shi Chen in a day, with two to three reserved for practicing the Wind Defying Finger, and two to three for rest; hence, I still have time left over. After calcting, I can learn two more Martial Arts Skills and one more skill outside of Martial Arts. For those I''ve already mastered, I can increase proficiency through application; there''s no need to practice them separately."


    "So, the question now is, which two Martial Arts should I practice next?"


    Shen Qing lowered his gaze to the several Martial Arts Skills Manuels lying in front of him.

 Chapter 107: Chapter 31 More is beautiful, big is good

    Although early spring nights were no longer as bitterly cold as those of winter, they still carried a slight chill.


    A gentle breeze slipped through the cracks of the door, causing the dim yellow oilmp on the table to flicker uncontrobly, casting patchy shadows over the simple furniture.


    Shen Qing''s face was intermittently lit by the changing light.


    The old wooden desk, its corners worn smooth, was covered with five yellowed books and a stack of freshly written papers.


    Shen Qing sat by the desk, his brows furrowed, his eyes shing withplex emotions.


    His fingers caressed the five Martial Arts Secret Manuals: "Illusion Breaking Fist, Netherworld Ghost Steps, Eight Extremities Copse, Wuji Tiangang Kick, Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt, Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill..."


    The smoke from the oilmp rose slowly, the crackling of its burning echoing in the empty room.


    "Illusion Breaking Fist, Netherworld Ghost Steps, Wuji Tiangang Kick, these three Martial Arts focus on one category each. Illusion Breaking Fist specializes in fist techniques and focuses on breaking illusions with punches, emphasizing inner cultivation to dispel inner falsehoods. ording to Li Linfeng''s notes, it is merely a third-rate Martial Art, with nothing noteworthy in actualbat and killing techniques. I could learn it, and the Water Ink Panel could facilitate continuous breakthroughs. However, for the current me, the output ratio is not high, and investing too much time and effort is not cost-effective," he mused.


    Shen Qing picked up Illusion Breaking Fist and ced it to his left.


    "Netherworld Ghost Steps and Wuji Tiangang Kick both focus on leg techniques, one enhancing speed by using the legs to lead the whole body, and the other using the legs as weapons to defeat enemies. At deeper levels of cultivation, one could tread on snow without a trace, and shatter stones with a kick. I possess hunting skills that involve footwork, and Wind Facing Finger involves movement techniques, making these two Martial Arts somewhat redundant. Moreover, these two Martial Arts are not profound and are difficult to master.


    After considering this, Shen Qing also ced Netherworld Ghost Steps and Wuji Tiangang Kick to his left.


    "That leaves these three: Eight Extremities Copse, Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt, and Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill."


    Shen Qing brought Eight Extremities Copse closer. "Eight Extremities Copse mainly focuses on inner training of strength. Its true power can be realized in the Qi Cultivation Realm, where one can cultivate the Eight Extremes Qi, enhancing the power of Qi, whichplements the Wind Facing Finger. Li Linfeng has also rmended that I study this Martial Art."


    He turned the pages of this yellowed book of Martial Arts Skills, which was filled with dense annotations.


    It was apparent that Li Linfeng had taken this Martial Art quite seriously.


    After skimming through the book, Shen Qing ced it to the right.


    Then, he picked up the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill.


    "This Martial Art leaked from the Great Zhou Court. I guess it isn''t considered very profound within the Great Zhou Dynasty; otherwise, it wouldn''t have ended up in the hands of a Zhou Family member. Even so, for independents like us, this Martial Art is precious."


    "The fundamental principle of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill is constantly reversing one''s own Qi-Blood channels, taking an umtive approach. With each transformation, a martial master can double their strength, and reaching the Perfect Realm allows them to stack nine times the power, making it immensely powerful."


    "The only w is that each activation of this technique exhausts the body''s functions, resulting in significant weakness. During this period, a martial master''s capabilities are at least thirty percent weaker than usual."


    "Even so, inbat, the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill can produce unexpectedly powerful effects, making it a technique worth practicing."


    Shen Qing ced Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill at the top.


    "Now, thest Martial Art remains."


    Shen Qing picked up the book on Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt.


    As the name suggests, this was a primarily defensive Martial Art.


    It abandons themon practices of Strengthening Tendons and Bones, focusing entirely on constantly training Qi-Blood and muscles, eventually hardening the entire body''s muscles and skin like iron, and the Qi-Blood as deep as mountains, achieving ultimate levels where one is immune to des and fire.


    Presently, Shen Qing considered his options; his Wind Facing Finger was focused on offensive killing, his hunting skills were focused on Concealment movements, and learning Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill would enhance his explosive power.


    What hecked now was a defensive Martial Art.


    Shen Qing opened this Martial Arts Skill manual, quickly scanned through it, and noticed a summary made by Li Linfeng.


    "More is beautiful, big is good."


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but pause in expression.


    He knew, indeed, that Li Linfeng hadn''t spoken wrongly.


    The martial arts skill of the Dragon Roar Armor throughout the book is a wild style, from beginning to end, it only increases the thickness of Qi-Blood and the strength of the flesh, making them grow in size and quantity, until it can emit a resonant dragon roar duringbat collision and withstand all impacts.


    It cares for nothing else.


    It must be said, this martial arts is indeed wild.


    Shen Qing put down this martial arts manual, his gaze then continuously shifted back and forth between the Eight Extremities Copse and the Dragon Roar Armor.


    Eight Extremities Copse is good, but it isn''t what I urgently need right now, the most suitable for my current situation is still the Dragon Roar Armor.


    After practicing the Blood Dominance Technique, my Qi-Blood is indeed abundant, now I am justcking the correct guidance on how to practice, and Dragon Roar Armor could solve this problem,plementing the Blood Dominance Technique to enhance my physical defense.


    Soon, Shen Qing made his choice.


    He decided to use the time to practice both the Dragon Roar Armor and the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill for the additional martial arts.


    Seeing that it was gettingte, he gathered the remaining techniques, locked them in a chest, and went straight to bed.


    Early the next morning, Shen Qing woke up early and began practicing the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill and the Dragon Roar Armor.


    The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, as expected, was a martial art that had been refined by the Great Zhou Court over the years and was very easy to master.


    Continuing to practice it felt just like driving on a highway, fast and smooth, easier to master than other martial arts.


    Within just a moment, a drop of water ink appeared in his field of vision, and lines of water ink text emerged.


    [Skill: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 1/100 points]


    [Status: Cannot be Improved]


    [Note: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, each transformation stronger than thest, continuous practice can increase cultivation progress.]


    Very fast.


    Indeed, official techniques are not the same as ordinary paths, no obstacles in practicing at all.


    At this rate, maybe in three to five days, he would be able to master the First Transformation and unleash twice the power.


    Shen Qing was delighted inside.


    After practicing for a while, Shen Qing ate a few tbreads prepared by his elder sister Shen Fang, and he and Shen Xiaohu walked briskly toward Linfeng Hall.


    In the back courtyard, Shen Qing did not see Li Lingchan again.


    Listening to his fellow students, she had gone to another yard to practice with the fourth senior brother Wushili.


    This suited Shen Qing''s intentions perfectly.


    Now, he just wanted to practice martial arts, the absence of Li Lingchan in the back courtyard made it seem all the more tranquil.


    After four days of hard practice, as Shen Qing predicted, he hadpletely maximized the proficiency of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill.


    [Skill: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 101/100 points]


    [Status: Can be Improved]


    With no hesitation, Shen Qing dered, "Breakthrough."

 Chapter 108: Chapter 32: The Power and the Glory

    Just as Shen Qing had this thought, the text on the Water Ink Panel before his eyes instantly changed.


    The Progress of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill jumped from Entry Level to [Skillfully/First Transformation].


    Sitting cross-legged, Shen Qing''s expression was solemn. This time, he only felt the Qi-Blood in his entire body circting rapidly in a special rhythm, causing his body to heat up.


    Soon, the attribute information on the Water Ink Panel waspletely updated.


    [Skill: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill (Skillfully/First Transformation)]


    [Progress: 1/200 points]


    [Status: Cannot be promoted]


    [Note: You reap what you sow, continuous practice can speed up cultivation progress, enhance the realm of the Cultivation Technique, and unleash the potential of Qi-Blood.]


    "It''s a pity that although this Imperial Martial Arts progressed quickly, it did not awaken any other skills."


    Just when Shen Qing thought the breakthrough had ended, he suddenly sensed faint ripples of energy erupting from deep within his body.


    The Qi-Blood in his body suddenly became like a runaway wild horse, violently charging and surging through his veins in reverse.


    Shen Qing could not help but cry out in pain, copsing onto the bed.


    "A reversal of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill for the first time?!"


    After the reversal of the Qi-Blood, Shen Qing felt waves of heat coursing through his body, like a torrential flood, each wave more violent than thest.


    His vessels vibrated faintly under the scouring of this power.


    Fine beads of sweat appeared on Shen Qing''s forehead.


    "Just endure a bit longer, and it should pass soon."


    Shen Qing immersed his mind, feeling the reverse flow of Qi-Blood and thebing of his vessels.


    Finally, at a certain moment, an unprecedented strength burst forth within Shen Qing''s body.


    This power, like a flood and fierce beast, assaulted his bodily limits. Shen Qing felt as if his meridians were about to tear apart, the pain was unbearable.


    "Ah! Fuck this..."


    Despite Shen Qing''s resilient nature, he couldn''t help letting out a cry of agony: "There really is no such thing as a free lunch in this world."


    Shen Qing clenched his teeth and fists, holding onto his mental focus to resist the impact of this force.


    Soon under the wash of this power, his meridians became more resilient after the first reversal, glowing with an unprecedented vitality.


    After a pot of tea''s time, the pain in his body gradually subsided.


    Shen Qing exhaled a breath of stale air softly, lowered his head to inspect his body, and found no changes to his physique.


    However, when he slightly circted the Mysterious Skill, he discovered that the flow of Qi-Blood inside his body was faster and more agile than before, with no major anomalies during the reversal.


    The pain from the first cirction had disappeared.


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment before slowly standing up, then suddenly pointed towards the void, and a faint boom sounded in the air.


    A flicker of excitement crossed his eyes.


    "It seems there is some change, different from when I practiced before."


    Shen Qing realized this must be the increase in strength brought about by the breakthrough of the First Transformation of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, but he was unsure to what extent this power could reach.


    He took a deep breath and pushed the First Transformation of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its limit; the Qi-Blood in his body started to reverse frantically again.


    Shen Qing felt his body, as the reversal of the Mysterious Skill was activated, had be a huge furnace, continuously melting away all his potential.


    A force much stronger than before was condensing within his body.


    When the power peaked, Shen Qing''s eyes zed with light, he let out a cry, flicking his finger, and a deafening st tore through the air, as if thunder had exploded.


    Where his finger touched, splinters flew from the wall, and wooden boards as thick as more than a dozen inches were effortlessly pierced with deep holes.


    Not only that, but the holes he created emitted wisps of smoke, as if scorched, and were covered with ayer of ck char.


    Shen Qing nced at his own unremarkable fingers, feeling somewhat incredulous.


    His fingers were at most three inches long, yet under the augmentation of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, they could prate even deeper wooden boards¡ªan impossibility in the past.


    Not only that, but there was even the effect of scorching.


    This was all without him having entered the energy to cultivate Power.


    If he did cultivate Power, with one finger he could turn a person to ashes.


    A satisfied gleam flickered in Shen Qing''s eyes as he silently assessed.


    Even though he was at the level of Bone Refining Realm in his cultivation, if he faced a martial master of the Skin Forging Realm who had entered the energy, he could end them with one finger.


    "Since I''ve made progress with the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, next I should practice the Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt more to increase the strength and defense of my muscles."


    Shen Qing put these thoughts aside.


    He grabbed a few strands of thatch from the kitchen, rolled them into a ball, and casually plugged the holes he punched.


    Feeling weak, Shen Qing hurriedly climbed into bed to rest.


    Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was already February.


    The weather in Taiping County grew warmer by the day, and the willow trees by the pond had sprouted green buds, filling the air with the essence of spring.


    During this time, Senior Brother Ouyang Tiezhu took special interest in Shen Qing''s matter of finding a wife.


    In the backyard, afterpleting a sparring session, Shen Qing sat on a bench to rest.


    Next to him, Ouyang Tiezhu eximed, "Junior Brother Shen, I''ve noticed you''re getting more and more formidable. At this rate, I won''t be able to be your match anymore. Are you about to finish refining your bones and start on Skin Forging?"


    "It will take some more time," Shen Qing shook his head and said, "Master said that only when bones turn as solid as iron and produce a clear, metallic sound when struck together is the Bone Refiningplete. I haven''t experienced such a change yet."


    As he said this, Shen Qing clenched his fists and bumped them together, only producing a dull, odd sound.


    Ouyang Tiezhu was momentarily at a loss for words.


    If his memory served right, it had taken him nearly a year to achieve that sound.


    The fact that Shen Qing had reached this status in just over a month was truly embarrassing for him.


    Ouyang Tiezhu didn''t dwell on these thoughts.


    In his view, of everyone in Linfeng Hall, Shen Qing was the most talented. It was quite normal for him not to be able to surpass Shen Qing.


    He took out several rolled-up sheets of rice paper from his chest and spread them out before Shen Qing, each bearing the lifelike image of a young woman.


    "Junior Brother Shen, what do you think of this girl? Her family owns a butcher''s shop, and they have a house in the Inner City, from a decent family."


    "And this one, her family works in shipping, and she looks very spirited."


    "And this one..."


    Shen Qing looked at the very proactive Ouyang Tiezhu and said with a wry smile, "Senior Brother, I haven''t considered settling down yet."


    Ouyang Tiezhu quickly rolled up the rice paper and said, "So you haven''t taken a fancy to any of them?"


    "It''s not that, I just..."


    Shen Qing opened his mouth to speak, but Ouyang Tiezhu interrupted him by raising his hand, "You haven''t been through the ways of the world, Junior Brother, and are still tender behind the ears. I understand. I was just like you back then, too shy to face it, until I visited a few more girls and then I got it."


    Ouyang Tiezhu rolled up the rice paper in his hand, "With your marvelous martial arts talent, surely you aren''t interested in these mundane beauties. I''ll go and inquire for you again."


    Shen Qing let out a helpless sigh, thinking that next time he would just pick any that seemed passable to appease him.

 Chapter 109: Chapter 33: Intensifying Tiger Plague, Customizing Heavy Bow

    The western city area had seen a noticeable improvement in security, thanks to the daily patrols by the multitude of hunters from Hongshan Vige.


    Combined with Shen Qing''s fierce way of handling affairs, no one dared to provoke trouble for the time being.


    After a month or two, the several dozen families from Hongshan Vige who had followed him had all made a good profit.


    Inside the house.


    Shen Qing, Zhang Baqing, and a few other households were sitting around an eight-immortal table, talking about recent happenings.


    "Uncle Zhang''s family moved to the Inner City?" Shen Qing picked up a ceramic bowl and took a sip of coarse tea before asking.


    Zhang Baqing did not prevaricate and directly replied, "They just moved there yesterday. These days, everyone has earned some money, and many have the idea of moving to the Inner City. It was my cousin''s wife who was urging him on, so they had to move in a hurry. However, I''ve already exined to not shirk the patrol duties here."


    While speaking, Zhang Baqing gave Shen Qing a furtive nce, as if worried about upsetting him.


    Shen Qing put down the ceramic bowl, his tone indifferent, "There''s nothing to it, everyone wants to move up in the world, and water flows downhill, I understand. The Inner City is safe and prosperous, so it''s not a bad ce to live in."


    After a few incidents, Shen Qing had already saved up quite a sum of Silver Tael, enough for his Martial Arts expenses.


    Money was no longer his most pressing concern.


    The protection fees from this shanty town were substantial but not exceedingly high.


    Shen Qing thus didn''t give it much thought.


    In his view, people''s hearts are prone to change.


    These people, unexposed to much of the world, might stick together and rely on him when they arrive at a strange ce initially.


    But as time goes on, each of them will start to have their own selfish desires once they get their footing.


    Unity would be impossible then, just like it was in the beginning.


    Shen Qing had anticipated this.


    So he had aimed to make quick money from the start.


    Once his cultivation improved, there would be many opportunities to make moneyter on, so he didn''t need to cling to a tree that was both old and decaying fast.


    Zhang Baqing noticed no displeasure on Shen Qing''s face and couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief, feeling more rxed.


    "I knew it, Qingzi, you have a benevolent heart. Following you, everyone is bound to prosper."


    "Recently, has anything big happened in Taiping County?" Shen Qing went on to ask.


    A hunter from the same vige, seated at the eight-immortal table, said, "Just yesterday there was indeed something significant, and it is somewhat rted to us."


    "What is it?"


    "Do you remember that demon tiger?"


    Tian Xiaohu was slightly taken aback, as no one was more familiar with the tiger demon than the people from Hongshan Vige. He asked, "I remember, what about it?"


    "I heard that all the officers from the government office who went to encircle and suppress it died, and even people from the Guardian Martial Department suffered casualties. Several viges near Shicheng Mountain werepletely wiped out."


    "Ah? Such a big incident, and we didn''t know anything about it?"


    Shen Qing was also puzzled.


    He hadn''t heard a whisper about this in Linfeng Hall.


    "With the troubles of the Huang Tian Sect not yet settled, and now there''s this tiger threat, the county government fears triggering impeachment and unrest, so they deliberately sealed the news. If it wasn''t for someone I know who happened toe across the scene, I''m afraid I wouldn''t know either."


    "Sigh¡­ When can this world ever be peaceful?"


    Shen Qing remained silent on the side.


    If this tiger nuisance continued, the county government would sooner orter have to recruit martial masters in the city.


    One must prepare for the future or face imminent worries. It''s time to get ready.


    Shen Qing nced at the bow and arrows hanging on the wall; the force of this old bow was too weak.


    In front of his constantly advancing cultivation, it was like a child''s toy.


    It was time to custom order a Heavy Bow for unforeseen circumstances.


    After some more idle chit-chat about household trifles, everyone dispersed.


    It was still early.


    Shen Qing, having always been one to act upon his words, headed straight towards the Inner City.


    In Taiping City, there were not many old masters capable of forging Heavy Bows.


    Ruan Pottery Master, who lived in the east of the city, was one of them, and he was the most skilled among the many craftsmen.


    The kiln of Ruan Pottery Master was somewhat remote and not easy to locate.


    Shen Qing asked around and guessed his way until he finally found the narrow path leading to Ruan Pottery Master''s residence.


    "Ruan Pottery Master of the east city, is the renowned craftsman within a hundred miles, his skill unmatched by anyone. With time pressing, I must have him make me a Heavy Bow as promptly as possible."


    "Should I encounter a tiger demon on the mountain, it would serve as protection for me."


    Shen Qing silently reiterated this in his mind, stepped onto the path, and the moist earth beneath his feet squished, emitting a subtle squeaking noise.


    Along the way, Shen Qing wound through sparse streets and alleys and noticed that they were filled with uncollected trash everywhere.


    This was unusual, considering it was still within the bounds of the Inner City.


    "Such disrepair..."


    Compared to the lively times, Taiping County was now exhibiting an unnerving aspect.


    Shen Qing didn''t give it much thought and hurriedly made his way until he arrived in front of Ruan Pottery Master''s kiln shop.


    The door of the kiln shop was half open, and the light from the furnace fire shone through the crack, illuminating Shen Qing''s face.


    He pushed the door open, and a wave of heat hit him, apanied by the crisp sound of a hammer striking metal.


    "Ruan Pottery Master, I am Shen Qing, here to pay you a visit."


    Shen Qing bowed his hands in greeting, his voice echoing in the spacious kiln shop.


    "Shen Qing?" A loud voice came from beside the me.


    The speaker had a burly figure and a face full of beard, a middle-aged man.


    He lifted his head, his eyes gleamed sharply, "What do you want from me?"


    Shen Qing got straight to the point, "I''d like to request the Master to forge a Heavy Bow for me."


    "A Heavy Bow? How heavy do you need it?"


    "I need a fifty shi bow."


    Ruan Pottery Master looked stunned.


    Fifty shi?


    One shi equals one hundred and twenty jin.


    Fifty shi is six thousand jin.


    A fifty shi bow would require six thousand jin of arm strength to draw.


    An ordinary person couldn''t possibly achieve this.


    Ruan Pottery Master nced him up and down and asked, "A Martial Arts practitioner?"


    Shen Qing nodded without any confirmation or denial.


    Ruan Pottery Master didn''t ask further and stated frankly, "To make a fifty shi bow, I don''t have any other special materials here; only an iron bow nk will meet your requirements. Such bow horns would need to be made from water buffalo horns, the string from the tendons of Mountain Treasures, the glue boiled from the swim dder of precious sea fish; only then can it be made. The bow nk needs to dry for two months, with refinement and adjustments for a month. Plus the time taken to procure these materials¡ªat the very least, I would need half a year toplete it... it''s troublesome."


    "Half a year?" Shen Qing''s eyebrows knitted together: "That won''t do, I need it in one month!"


    Ruan Pottery Master stopped the iron-forging in his hands and stared at Shen Qing, "Are you making fun of me?"


    "I''ll pay extra."


    "Ah..." Ruan Pottery Master''s expression immediately softened. He walked to the side, picked up a piece of dark iron, and looked at Shen Qing, "One and a half months, 200 taels. If you ept, I''ll do it; if not, forget it."


    200 taels?!


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but be astounded.


    Such a price could buy a fine house in the Inner City.


    But after a brief consideration, Shen Qing didn''t dawdle and agreed on the spot: "Alright."


    Ruan Pottery Master threw the dark iron into the furnace and said, "Leave fifty taels as a deposit here, ande to collect it in one and a half month."


    Shen Qing looked at Ruan Pottery Master with some suspicion.


    "Young man, I''ve been doing this for so many years; I''m not after that little bit of your money."


    Shen Qing didn''t think further, took out the prepared silver, and ced it on the table: "I hope Master Ruan will make it well."


    "Don''t worry, it won''t disappoint you."

 Chapter 110: Chapter 34: Dark Clouds Gather

    With the assurance from Ruan Pottery Master, Shen Qing finally felt at ease. He sped his hands and said, "I''lle back in a month and a half. It would be troublesome, but I''d like Master Ruan to make some more suitable arrows for me."


    Ruan Pottery Master nced at him and replied, "Fifty wen each."


    Quite expensive.


    That price was equivalent to the daily toil of an ordinary hunter.


    However, fortunately, this amount of money was not much for Shen Qing now.


    "Then I''ll trouble you to make twenty," Shen Qing said as he took out one tael of silver and ced it on the table, then left with his fists sped in a salute.


    When he left, Shen Qing encountered a girl wearing a blue long skirting head-on.


    Her hair was pinned up with a hairpin, her chest was just starting to rise slightly, like the hazy hills in the morning light, indicating she was of marriageable age.


    But in terms of looks, she was rather in, with some freckles on her face, and bore a resemnce to Ruan Pottery Master.


    The girl in the long skirt stepped aside slightly, making room for Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing nodded politely and left calmly.


    The girl in the long skirt looked at Shen Qing''s retreating figure a bit longer and then walked into the house.


    She carried a pot of rough tea to Ruan Pottery Master and quietly asked, "Dad, who was that just now?"


    Ruan Chengbao put down the iron hammer in his hand, took the tea pot, and said, "He came to have me make him a bow."


    "Oh, do you know where he lives, what his name is?" the girl inquired curiously. "I''ve never seen such a handsome person."


    "What, has this little girl developed a crush?" Ruan Chengbao asked with a teasing smile, looking at his daughter.


    The girl stayed silent, quietly taking back the tea pot passed to her by Ruan Chengbao.


    Ruan Chengbao smiled and said, "In a month and a half, he wille to pick up the arrows. I''ll ask for you then."


    "Okay, I''ll leave it all to you, Dad."


    Ruan Chengbao said no more and took the dark iron that had been thrown in and was now red-hot out onto the anvil. He swung therge hammer in his hand down upon it.


    With a ng, sparks flew in all directions.


    ...


    In a deste hill outside of Taiping County, Zhou Family Patriarch Zhou Dingwen stood near a new grave apanied by his eldest legitimate son Zhou Jishan, second son Zhou Congwu, and various servants.


    A paper model of a spirit house and other assorted paper offerings crafted for the deceased were being busily arranged by the servants.


    Each paper offering was intricately detailed.


    From houses to daily household items such as scissors, everything that might be needed was there.


    Even a dozen paper effigies of men and women, dressed as servants, stood outside the spirit house.


    A momentter, a man who looked like a steward approached Zhou Dingwen and respectfully said, "Old Master, everything''s ready."


    "Then burn them all for Little Jade," Zhou Dingwen said, his eyes welling with tears. "Since she was young, she spent most of her time at home and couldn''t bear to leave. Today marks the end of her mourning period, and she must embark on her journey. We can''t let her suffer in the afterlife."


    Eldest son Zhou Jishan stepped forward tofort him, "Father, don''t be too sad. The matter with Twelfth Sister has passed; the dead cannot be brought back to life."


    Zhou Dingwen exhaled sharply, calming the tumult in his heart. He spoke slowly, "Have you found out yet? Was it the work of the Huang Tian Sect?"


    Zhou Jishan replied softly, "I have thoroughly investigated, and Twelfth Sister had no ties to the Huang Tian Sect. We haven''t had conflicts with them either; it doesn''t seem like their doing."


    "Then who did it? Who dares to strike in broad daylight within the Zhou family courtyard?" Zhou Dingwen''s eyes were sharp. "Has our Zhou Family always been low-profile because everyone assumes we''re weak and can be bullied?"


    Zhou Jishan replied honestly, "I haven''t found out yet, but it seems to be somewhat rted to... the Seventh Branch¡­ Twelfth Sister didn''te home the night before she died; thest ce she went was to the Seventh Branch''s side¡­"


    Bang!


    Zhou Dingwen''s hand fiercely pped the tombstone in front of the new grave. The stone sank deep into the ground, three inches lower, with a dull sound.


    His face became enraged, "Investigate thoroughly. Better to wrongfully punish than to let one go."


    "Yes, I''ll definitely investigate carefully."


    At this moment, a me flickered into existence from a stack of paper offerings, spreading slowly outward.


    Zhou Dingwen watched the mes, his eyes filled with sorrow.


    The paper effigies of buildings, carriages, and people curled at the edges, ckened, and emitted a faint crackling sound as the mes licked them.


    Gradually, the fire grew more intense, the mes leaping and tumbling in the wind, resembling a dancing fire serpent.


    As the heat wave rose, the paper offerings quickly turned to ash in the mes, wafting up plumes of blue smoke.


    Until atst, all was burned to nothing.


    "Let''s go back," said Zhou Dingwen, dispiritedly waving his hand as he walked down the hill.


    His eldest son, Zhou Jishan, quickly followed. As he was stepping forward, Zhou Congwu pulled at his sleeve and said, "Big brother, didn''t you find out that someone else came back with our sister that night? This matter is almost certainly rted to him; why don''t you mention it to father?"


    "I''ve already checked that person. I only know he''s a young man, nothing else. To truly find him would be like searching for a needle in the ocean. It''s better to do something more certain. The seventh house has be increasingly arroganttely. We''ll talk about the restter."


    After a moment of stupor, Zhou Congwu fell silent and said no more.


    ...


    Returning from Ruan Pottery Master''s kiln.


    Shen Qing was as ever deeply immersed in his cultivation.


    During the day, he would rigorously practice the Wind Defying Finger at Linfeng Hall and asionally practice the Dragon Roar Armor; at night, he would train in the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, filling almost every moment of his day.


    In the backyard of Linfeng Hall, Shen Qing''s muscles were tense, and his skin had taken on a dark red hue.


    "Just a little bit more, the Dragon Roar Armor is harder to train in than I expected."


    Shen Qing''s thoughts shifted as he nced at the Water Ink Panel in his line of sight, and the information about the Dragon Roar Armor appeared before him.


    [Skill: Dragon Roar Armor (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 92/100 points]


    [Status: Cannot be improved]


    [Note: Heaveny a great responsibility on this man, must first suffer his mind and strain his muscle and bone. Continue to refine Qi-Blood and hone flesh, it will increase the progress of this martial skill significantly and greatly strengthen the physical body.]


    Compared with the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, a martial arts of the Great Zhou Dynasty court, the Dragon Roar Armor did not have a systematic methodology, and many parts of its cultivation were rough and unsophisticated.


    As a result, Shen Qing encountered many obstacles during training, and his progress was slow.


    This was even when augmented by the Blood Dominance Technique; otherwise, he would be even further behind.


    It was hard to imagine how difficult it would be for a person without any foundation to cultivate martial arts in the Great Zhou Dynasty after the martial mechanism had been centralized.


    "Hoo... Ha..."


    Shen Qing gently exhaled a hot breath and his tightly stretched muscles rxed, as his dark skin began to seep withyers of hot sweat.


    As usual, he sat down on a stone stool to rest for a while.


    At the same time, his gaze couldn''t help but drift outside.


    For some reason, the number of peopleing to Linfeng Hall for martial arts training had decreased by another twenty percent in recent times, making therge courtyard seem quite deserted.


    Moreover, the "security fee" he collected from the slum area of the Outer City also diminishedpared to before.


    The people living in the slums were decreasing.


    This was not good news.


    Shen Qing looked up to find the sky over Taiping County unexpectedly overcast with dense clouds.

 Chapter 111: Chapter 35 Matchmaking

    A gentle breeze drifted by.


    In the backyard, the bamboo leaves swayed softly, rustling in the wind.


    At that moment, Ouyang Tiezhu stepped through the courtyard door and, seeing Shen Qing, his face brightened with excitement as he hurried over and said, "Junior brother, you''re just in time. I''ve found out about a few more girls; do you want to take a look?"


    Shen Qing sighed helplessly.


    He didn''t know why Ouyang Tiezhu had suddenly taken such an interest in his personal affairs,ing up every so often with a selection of girls for him to consider.


    He had no idea where he got all this information from.


    Shen Qing was not opposed to marriage.


    Men should marry when theye of age, and so should women¡ªit has been an unobjectionable tradition since ancient times.


    However, marriage should not be entered into lightly; one must find someone truly agreeable.


    Otherwise, marrying an unworthy wife could lead to endless troublester, rather than remaining single.


    Ouyang Tiezhu sat down beside Shen Qing, deftly pulling out a stack of women''s portraits as he said, "Come on,e take a look at these."


    "This is a concubine-born daughter of a side branch of the Wang Family. Although her status is somewhat lower, she has ties to the Wang Family, so she''s from a reputable household. If you marry her, you''ll definitely struggle less for many years."


    Ouyang Tiezhu earnestly praised, pointing to a slightly plump girl.


    Shen Qing frowned; this girl really wasn''t to his taste.


    Seeing that Shen Qing seemed to care quite a bit about the appearance of the girls, Ouyang Tiezhu spread out all the portraits before Shen Qing and said, "Take a look. If you see one you like, I''ll go ask about her for you."


    Shen Qing, feeling helpless, carefully examined the portraits before him and finally pointed at random to a rather handsome-looking girl: "Her then."


    Ouyang Tiezhu took a look and joyfully said, "Junior brother, you really have a good eye. This girl is the daughter of the leader of the Taiping Escort Agency. She''s capable and clever, and she''s also attractive. I''ll go inquire about her for you right away."


    Shen Qing said indifferently, "Thank you, senior brother."


    The Taiping Escort Agency had been operating in the county for many years and had gradually built up a good reputation, no longer just one of those minor households.


    The leader of the escort agency was named Tang You, a forthright man who often came in contact with various martial arts halls while escorting valuables.


    Sometimes when the martial masters at the halls were short on money, they would go to him to earn a living.


    Because of this, Ouyang Tiezhu had also had contact with the Taiping Escort Agency and knew that there was a youngdy there waiting to be married off, which presented a good opportunity to introduce her to Shen Qing.


    Thedy he introduced was named Tang Wanrou.


    At the age of thirteen, she had followed Tang You on escort missions, braving all sorts of dangers along the way.


    Although her name suggested delicacy, she actually had a very spirited personality.


    The Taiping Escort Agency''s entrance was located rtively close to the center of the market, an area that was quite bustling.


    When Tang Wanrou received the message, she was practicing her martial arts in the courtyard of her home.


    "Miss, Young Master Ouyang from Linfeng Hall has sent word through a messenger, looking to propose a marriage for you,"


    the maid came rushing over, eximing with excitement.


    Next to her, Tang Wanrou punched a wooden post, resulting in a muffled, hollow sound.


    She withdrew her fist to reveal a punched-in imprint on the wooden post.


    Stopping her practice, Tang Wanrou turned her head in confusion and asked, "Ouyang from Linfeng Hall? Li Linfeng''s direct disciple?"


    The maid nodded vigorously: "Yes."


    Tang Wanrou frowned in recollection, seemingly recalling some memory.


    She took out the towel that had already been prepared beside her, scrubbed it in a basin, and wrung it dry, saying, "Tell me, what kind of person did you introduce to me?"


    "He introduced his junior apprentice, a direct disciple secretly taken by Li Linfeng. It is said that he is well-favored, a rare and handsome young man."


    "A handsome young man?" Tang Wanrou asked curiously, "How handsome?"


    "Young Master Ouyang even sent a portrait, Miss can take a look."


    The maidservant promptly unfurled a scroll.


    Tang Wanrou''s eyes brightened, "He really is quite good-looking."


    She stepped forward for a closer look, her phoenix eyes showing a hint of satisfaction as her hair, reaching her waist, seemed to flutter in excitement.


    "Since he is a direct disciple of Master Li, his Sight must be remarkable. Do you know what his cultivation realm is now?"


    Tang Wanrou herself was a martial artist, and with her family in the escort agency business, she was very concerned about Martial Arts.


    Looks were important, of course, but in these times and given the situation in the city, Martial Arts cultivation was a fundamental means to establish oneself, something that could not be taken lightly.


    "The messenger also inquired clearly for us. At fifteen, he is already in the Bone Refining Realm."


    "He''s slightly below me but still eptable. At this age, he can still climb higher, and he''s enough for our escort agency." Tang Wanrou nodded and then asked, "What about his family background and temperament?"


    "The person introduced by Young Master Ouyang is named Shen Qing, the nephew of Linfeng Hall Master''s Seventh Aunt, and has a rather mild temperament, currently of peasant status. Besides practicing Martial Arts in the Martial Arts Hall, he seems to be leading a gang in the Outer City."


    Hearing this, Tang Wanrou''s brows furrowed slightly.


    "I remember Linfeng Hall Master''s Seventh Aunt was originally a concubine,ter given away, wasn''t she?"


    "There was such an incident."


    "It seems he is of lowly birth. Mixing with gangs in the Outer City is nothing impressive, just trivial skirmishes, nothing prestigious. Now with Linfeng Hall in shaky circumstances, it might be difficult for him to obtain a ce in the martial arts register with his background."


    "So Miss, shall we decline?"


    Tang Wanrou nced at the scroll in her hand, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Ask if he is willing to marry into our family? If he is willing, I can take him as a husband. As for marrying out... I haven''t fallen so low as to marry just anyone. Even if his status is slightly lower, his cultivation must at least be stronger than mine."


    Recently, with the unstable situation, the business at the escort agency had declined drastically.


    Still, even a camel that has starved is bigger than a horse.


    Although this Shen Qing had some talent and his cultivation was not bad, he was still mismatched in terms of family background, which made it somewhat unsuitable.


    The maidservant nodded, "All right, Miss, I''ll tell Young Master Ouyang immediately."


    "Mm."


    After the maidservant left, the back courtyard once again filled with the sounds of whistling from practicing punches.


    The next day.


    When Ouyang Tiezhu informed Shen Qing of the marriage proposal, Shen Qing refused without hesitation.


    In Great Zhou, the status of a man who married into his wife''s family was only slightly better than that of a ve.


    Many kinds of forcedbor were first assigned to such men.


    Havinge this far on his own, he was not in a rush to degrade himself by marrying a woman for mere constion at this point.


    Ouyang Tiezhu thought the matter was indeed somewhat improper and did not persuade further, simply carrying the message back.


    On the other hand, Tang Wanrou, upon hearing the news of the rejection, did not take it to heart.


    To her, three-legged toads may be hard to find, but three-legged men were all toomon; she did notck for the likes of Shen Qing.


    With that, the matter was settled, and neither side mentioned it again, letting it rest.

 Chapter 112: Chapter 36 Double Breakthroughs, Impressive Enhancements

    Ouyang Tiezhu had a conflict with the Mi Gang, which resulted in his injury.


    Even though he has healed, there remain hiddenplications.


    Moreover, hisck of proper self-care during regr training has led to a condition wherein his limbs and joints ache whenever it rains.


    Ouyang Tiezhu knew that under these circumstances, it would be very difficult to make any advancements in Martial Arts.


    It is said that those without long-term concerns will soon find themselves with immediate worries.


    Now that his younger brother is dead and his parents are gone, his background is quite ordinary.


    If he cannot make a name for himself in Martial Arts, it would be nearly impossible to lead a good life in the chaotic Taiping County once he grows old and weak.


    Having been defeated by Shen Qing in theirst duel, he knew that as long as Shen Qing stayed alive, his future would certainly be brighter than his own.


    Thus, he intentionally tried to form a friendship with Shen Qing.


    He went out of his way to introduce potential marriage partners to him, aiming to deepen their bond.


    If he could sessfully y matchmaker, at the very least, he would be Shen Qing''s go-between and have some security for the future if he were to fall on hard times.


    Unfortunately, after introducing so many girls and considering the affairs of the Taiping Escort Agency, he realized that Shen Qing really had little intention of marrying.


    Gradually, he let go of this aspiration.


    In a blink, another three to five days passed.


    In a shabby courtyard in the slum area.


    Next to a rudimentary bed, Shen Qing stood in a horse stance, continuously throwing punches with both hands, sweating profusely.


    Shen Qing suddenly felt an epiphany: "After yesterday''s breakthrough in Blood Dominance Technique, my Qi-Blood robustness has greatly improved, making it much easier to practice Dragon Roar Armor. My progress now seems... sufficient."


    "I wonder to what degree this technique can enhance my physical body."


    After finishing his punches and taking a deep breath, Shen Qing sat down on a chair, his gaze bing vacant.


    As his consciousness stirred, rows of information appeared before his eyes on the Water Ink Panel.


    [Skill: Dragon Roar Armor (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 101/100 points]


    [Status: Ready for enhancement]


    "The progress is full. Since that''s the case, let''s break through!"


    The information on the Water Ink Panel rapidly changed, and Dragon Roar Armor swiftly updated from Entry Level to skillfully.


    Shen Qing steadied his mind, bracing for the impact that was about toe.


    However, even with his mental preparation, the breakthrough of the Dragon Roar Armor was more intense than he had anticipated.


    Shen Qing''s vision darkened, a severe sensation of dizziness assailed him.


    A feeling of weakness, depletion, and hunger washed over him like a tsunami, nearly causing him to fall off the chair, his vision seemingly bursting with stars.


    This was a condition he had never encountered with any previous breakthrough.


    Shen Qing knew this was due to the physical toll taken by practicing Dragon Roar Armor.


    Seeing that this Martial Art solely focused on the physical body, ever since he had started practicing it, his physique had been strengthening daily, leading to a significant increase in appetite.


    He needed to constantly absorb Essence Qi from the outside world to replenish the energy needed for his flesh and strength.


    The recent breakthrough had made his flesh cross a major threshold, and his body struggled to keep up, which caused his dizziness and blurred vision.


    Shen Qing didn''t have time to prepare anything and immediately grabbed a wooden box from under the bed.


    He twisted open the lock and flipped open the lid.


    The three delicacies he had obtained from Cai Jia Sheng of the Huang Tian Secty inside, honest and intact.


    He had originally nned to use these delicacies to consolidate his cultivation once he reached the Skin Forging Realm or the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    Now that his body wascking in Essence Qi energy, he couldn''t afford to care about anything else.


    Among the three delicacies, the Blood Bird''s Nest was rtively the least valuable, so Shen Qing directly grabbed the Blood Bird''s Nest from the wooden box and wolfed it down without a second word.


    Crunch, crunch, crunch!


    The crystal-clear Blood Bird''s Nest, resembling a jade bowl, was bitten off piece by piece by Shen Qing, making crisp sounds.


    The noises of chewing and swallowing echoed continuously in the room.


    Soon, the palm-sized Blood Bird''s Nest waspletely devoured by Shen Qing.


    Once the Blood Bird''s Nest reached Shen Qing''s stomach, the abundant Essence Qi it contained began to disperse rapidly, spreading through his body and infusing his flesh and blood.


    The mountain delicacy was indeed a great tonic.


    The Essence Qi contained within a single delicacy was far beyond what ordinary daily food couldpare to.


    Shen Qing, who was sitting on a chair, saw his somewhat paleplexion turn rosy at a speed visible to the naked eye, and even his body felt slightly warm.


    Every inch of flesh throughout his body, like parchednd weing sweet rain, greedily absorbed every strand of essence from the Blood Bird''s Nest.


    A momentter, that sense of weakness was alleviated until it disappearedpletely.


    Shen Qing stretched out his strong arms and noticed that the thick blue veins under his skin were pulsating, and his muscles began to swell with explosive strength.


    Not only that, Shen Qing also found that after the breakthrough of Dragon Roar Armor, his slightly dark skin had be even finer, with a nearly invisible transparent membrane covering the surface.


    Under the light, it shone with a crystalline luster.


    "Is this the status after mastering Dragon Roar Armor?"


    Shen Qing smirked and swung his right fist, creating a series of short, sharp breaking sounds in the air.


    "Very good. This feeling of being enveloped in muscle and thick Qi-Blood is really toofortable; it gives me an unprecedented sense of security."


    Shen Qing nced at the Water Ink Panel within his line of sight.


    [Skill: Dragon Roar Armor (Skillfully)]


    [Progress: 5/200 points]


    [Status: Cannot be advanced]


    [Note: Skillfully mastering this Martial Art will enhance the strength of your flesh and the thickness of your Qi-Blood. It also allows you to cultivate a tendon membrane, making your body as if wearing ayer of Iron Cloth Shirt, greatly enhancing your resistance to physical attacks. Ordinary weapons can no longer harm you.]


    Shen Qing looked at the Water Ink text that appeared in sight and tightly clenched his fists, feeling waves of powerful strengthing from his body.


    "Hm?" Shen Qing suddenly felt something unusual and eximed in his heart, "Could it be?"


    With a thought, the Water Ink Panel''s text information appeared before him again, but this time it disyed the progress information of the Wind Defying Finger.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Small Sess)]


    [Progress: 303/300 points]


    [Status: Can be advanced]


    [Note: Continued practice may give you a chance to awaken the ''One Finger Seal Throat'' Skill, killing invisibly with a single move.]


    "I didn''t expect that after breaking through Dragon Roar Armor, Wind Defying Finger''s progress also reached the standard for advancement."


    Shen Qing was genuinely surprised, "To breakthrough both at the same time is quite an impressive improvement."


    After Wind Defying Finger had been cultivated to Small Sess, advancement became rtively difficult, and considering he divided his attention each day to practice other Martial Arts, the progress slowed down.


    He thought it would take another two or three days to fill up the skill proficiency to the required level for advancement.


    Now, the progress was earlier than he expected.


    Shen Qing guessed in his heart that this might be due to the mountain delicacy.


    The Essence Qi contained within a mountain delicacy was a great supplement for martial masters, one delicacy could be equivalent to over a month of arduous cultivation for a martial master.


    Having just consumed the Blood Bird''s Nest, it caused changes to his muscles and bones, which were then reflected on Wind Defying Finger.

 Chapter 113: Chapter 37: Advancing to the Skin Forging Realm

    ```


    Indeed, that was the case.


    Not only had the progress of the Wind Defying Finger improved, but the progress of other Martial Arts such as the Blood Dominance Technique, Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, and Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt also increased to varying extents.


    It''s just that the Wind Defying Finger happened to be on the brink of a breakthrough, which was why such performance was observed.


    "Then let''s make the breakthrough now."


    Shen Qing licked his dry lips, showing no intention of taking a pause.


    In his past life, when reading novels, he often saw many protagonists take a break when they progressed too rapidly.


    The reasons given were that advancing too quickly in cultivation could lead to insufficient Qi and blood or an unstable foundation, which could affect future achievements, and so on.


    To him, these reasons were pure nonsense.


    Now that he was practicing multiple skills simultaneously, he found that these basic Martial Arts were all about digging into and enhancing the body''s potential. They used the same set of Qi and blood without conflict, and the argument about an unstable foundation didn''t apply.


    Even if it did, his Water Ink Panel could ovee it.


    At this moment, Shen Qing had firm belief in Li Linfeng''s note: more is beautiful, and bigger is stronger.


    As long as one was fast enough, powerful enough, and had solid defenses, they could still kill their opponent even if their realm was slightly inferior.


    Shen Qing gathered his thoughts and said seriously, "Water Ink Panel, break through for me!"


    The information on the panel refreshed quickly.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Mastery)]


    [Progress: 3/400 points]


    [Status: Unavable for improvement]


    [Note: You have used the Wind Defying Finger to thrust at throats and kill people multiple times, gaining enlightenment of the "One Finger Seal Throat" skill. With this skill, you can quicklytch onto your opponent''s vital points, killing invisibly and ending lives with a single move.]


    A buzzing sound.


    All of a sudden, Shen Qing clutched his head, feeling a surge of intense pain.


    A mixture of strange yet familiar memories and experiences began to surface in his mind out of nowhere.


    It seemed as though he had killed countless people with the Wind Defying Finger, until at a certain moment, he had an epiphany and mastered the killing technique "One Finger Seal Throat".


    It took a good while before the pain gradually subsided.


    Shen Qing put his two fingers together like a sword, and instantly felt a very familiar way to strike in his heart.


    "It seems I have yet another method of killing from now on."


    Shen Qing nced at the Water Ink Panel where the word Mastery under Wind Defying Finger now appeared.


    Only after he emerged from that mentally muddled state, without having time to rx his mind, did he suddenly feel a warm current slowly rising from his Dantian, traveling quickly along his meridians to the tips of his fingers.


    The warm current grew stronger and stronger, like mes leaping at the fingertips, hot yet full of power.


    Shen Qing knew it was the Qi and blood going wild, a sign that he was condensing Qi Sensing after Wind Defying Finger reached the level of Mastery.


    The Wind Defying Finger technique was exquisitely intricate, emphasizing the control of finger movements through Qi, with the finger wind sharp as a de.


    Once practiced to the level of Great Perfection, reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm, one could condense powerful Qi strength.


    With a single flick, it was like wind sweeping away the remnants of a storm, nothing would remain unbroken.


    Before reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm, the Skin Forging Realm was the beginning of cultivating strength and Qi.


    In other words...


    A look of incredulity filled Shen Qing''s eyes.


    He clenched his fists and brought them crashing into each other.


    ng!


    A crisp, metallic sound emanated from Shen Qing''s fists.


    He knew this was not a true metallic sound but rather a simrity to the sound of his bones, indicating his bones had grown strong enough to produce such a tone.


    "It''s Bone Refining! I''ve seeded in Bone Refining!!! I''ve now advanced to the Skin Forging Realm."


    Shen Qing was overjoyed in an instant.


    He had no idea what the process of cultivation was like for those nobles and high officials in the court, nor where he stood in terms of talent in front of them.


    But without a doubt,pared to the lower-level martial masters, his speed of cultivation was absolutely astounding.


    In just over a month, he had traversed a path that would take lower-level martial masters a year or even several years to walk, and to call it monstrous would not be an overstatement.


    The transformation within his body was still ongoing, and Shen Qing dared not cken one bit; he immediately adjusted his breathing and concentrated all his mental energy on the tips of his fingers.


    ```


    The warm current gathered at the fingertips, gradually forming a thread-like nascent Qi.


    This Qi was initially very weak, like a tiny spark on the grasnd, ready to extinguish at any moment.


    During his cultivation over the past month, he had consulted his fellow disciples about Qi and learned some of the key aspects.


    Shen Qing quickly focused his mind, not daring to be careless, striving to stabilize that change.


    Gradually, the nascent Qi became more solid and sharper.


    Until atst, Shen Qing could clearly feel the Qi jumping at his fingertips.


    "Stabilized."


    A glint of excitement shed in Shen Qing''s eyes as he stood up, pointed his fingers like a sword forward, and the Qi whistled out following his will, tracing a clear path through the air, emitting a faint sound as it broke the silence, hitting the wall and dispersing.


    A look of surprise appeared on his face.


    After trying repeatedly for a while, Shen Qing stopped his gestures and murmured to himself, "The current Qi Sensing is still quite weak, mainly relying on the power of the flesh to initiate, it''s not very useful when emitted from the body. It''s best to maintain the same way of confronting enemies as before."


    Shen Qing concentrated the Qi Sensing around his fingers and suddenly pointed it down towards the chair below him.


    "Bang!"


    A muffled sound.


    The wooden board on the chair instantly splintered.


    Right where Shen Qing''s finger had touched, a hole broke open, as wide as a wrist.


    "The power is much greater than before. Previously, one finger would only make a hole, but now it has burst open a gap."


    Shen Qing brought his fingers together in a sword-like gesture, examining them closely in front of him.


    "Then, what would happen if Ibined this with the might of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill?"


    [Skill: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill (Skilled/Second Transformation)]


    [Progress: 13/300 points]


    "Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Qi-Blood reversal."


    Shen Qing uttered softly and pointed a finger towards the chair in front of him.


    "Boom!"


    A booming sound echoed through the room.


    The chair, which was somewhat intact a moment ago, exploded into chunks of wood in an instant, scattering throughout the room.


    Upon closer inspection, one could see that the edges of each shattered piece of wood were charred, emitting smoke as if burned.


    "This..."


    Shen Qing stood stunned, looking at the scene before him with a surprised expression.


    If this move were tond on a body of flesh and blood, wouldn''t it directly st a person into pieces?


    He suddenly felt so powerful.


    After using this move, Shen Qing soon felt waves of weakness wash over him.


    This was the physical bacsh caused by the Qi-Blood reversal technique.


    At the beginning, during the First Transformation, it wasn''t very noticeable, but now, after advancing to the Second Transformation, it had be quite different.


    Shen Qing sat on the edge of the bed, silently regting his breathing.


    It took him over a dozen breaths to recover.


    "Now that I''ve broken through to the Skin Forging Realm, I should seek the Hall Master for the next step in the training method, and quickly advance to the Qi Cultivation Realm."


    After regaining his breath and ensuring there were no issues with his body, Shen Qing quickly left the room and headed towards the direction of the Inner City Linfeng Hall.


    It took nearly a quarter of an hour for Shen Qing to arrive at the entrance of Linfeng Hall.


    Without another word, as soon as A Fu opened the door, he headed straight for Li Linfeng''s study.


    Fortunately, Li Linfeng was still in his study and had not gone elsewhere.


    Shen Qing knocked on the door, "Disciple Shen Qing seeks an audience."


    "Come in," Li Linfeng replied from inside the study, closing an ount book, "What is it?"


    Shen Qing entered, bowed with his hands sped, and said, "Master, I wish to learn the training method for the Skin Forging Realm."


    "Hmm?" Li Linfeng, who had been frowning, suddenly looked up, his sharp eyes firmly fixed on Shen Qing.

 Chapter 114: Chapter 38: I Might Be Very Strong Now

    "You''ve already refined your bones?"


    Shen Qing heard this and didn''t hide anything; he clenched his fists in front of Li Linfeng and bumped them together, deliberately producing a crisp iron sound.


    "Iron bones," Li Linfeng''s expression changed slightly.


    Shen Qing respectfully sped his fists and said, "Replying to Master, with continual hard study these days, I''ve finally had some insights and, luckily, have managed to refine them."


    Li Linfeng had already known that Miss Qi''s nephew was somewhat out of the ordinary, but it still seemed inconceivable that he hadpleted Bone Refining in just over a month.


    It greatly exceeded his expectations.


    In his view, even if Shen Qing''s talent were exceptional, being a "wild" martial master, it would still take three to five months'' time.


    A month and a half''s time was rare even among some of therge and wealthy families.


    And those wealthy families,cking neither food nor medicinal herbs and having had renowned teachers from a young age, could achieve such progress through various means.


    Shen Qing had simply been practicing ording to his teachings and had reached this extent; he truly didn''t know how to describe it.


    Li Linfeng, sitting in his chair, looked at Shen Qing with aplex expression after a long silence.


    "It seems that in addition to your excellent insight and bone quality, your temperament and perseverance far surpass those of ordinary people."


    Shen Qing, upon hearing this, agreed wholeheartedly.


    He had reached his current state all through his own efforts.


    Although the Water Ink Panel was somewhat powerful, without his unique talent, exceptional aptitude, and incredible insight, it was just an inanimate object with no chance of breakthrough.


    You reap what you sow.


    If he werezy and mediocre, the Water Ink Panel would show no changes whatsoever.


    After all, the Water Ink Panel was just a skillfulness panel at the end of the day, and it intrinsically wouldn''t increase his cultivation.


    Seeing Shen Qing so calm, this temperament made Li Linfeng nod his head involuntarily, further confirming the thoughts in his heart.


    In Great Zhou, learning martial arts was a very difficult matter, and with the great investment required in the early stages, ordinary families, once they chose a Martial Arts Hall, would continue to train there.


    If they learned well, they became a part of the Martial Arts Hall; if they learned poorly and left, they would just be half-baked and couldn''t stir up much trouble. Therefore, besides setting a high threshold to test a disciple''s aptitude and character, there was no saying of "teach your apprentice and starve to death as a master" in martial arts halls.


    "Now that you''ve refined your iron bones, next you should proceed to Skin Forging." Li Linfeng stood up and, without any secrecy, asked, "Do you know why you should forge your skin?"


    "The disciple is slow-witted, please enlighten me, Master."


    Li Linfeng spoke generously, "You know that above the Skin Forging Realm lies the Qi Cultivation Realm, what''s cultivated is Qi. What is Qi? Qi is the fundamental essence that distinguishes martial artists from ordinary people, it is like the roots of a tree, deeply imnted within the body, born from the essence of flesh and blood."


    "Once you cultivate Qi, it can fill your punches and techniques with powerful explosive force, different from ordinary stances."


    "It is precisely because of the might of Qi, filled with violent destructive power, that the body, as a vessel, finds it difficult to bear it. Therefore, one must achieve Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, perform stretching, Bone Refining, and Skin Forging."


    "Qi originates from the bones, condenses in the flesh, and ultimately is released through the skin. Your tendons, flesh, and bones have already been tempered; you can withstand the force of Power andck only the finalyer of Skin Forging to perfect your physical body."


    Shen Qing inquired, "Then what should I do to forge my skin?"


    "Eat!" Li Linfeng said, uttering just one word.


    Shen Qing was puzzled, "Eat?"


    Li Linfeng continued, "The energy in a person''s fleshes from the intake of external substances. When a martial master reaches your stage, the physical body''s capacity for energy is nearly at its limit. One can only consume various essence-enriching substances, allowing the body''s energy to overflow through the skin, gradually transforming it bit by bit, until it bes as thick as cowhide and as hard as iron."


    Li Linfeng spoke in easy-to-understand terms, and Shen Qing could grasp the concept after brief contemtion, "Then aside from eating, are there no other auxiliary methods?"


    "There''s also grinding!" Li Linfeng said, "We martial masters whoe from humble beginnings have figured out a clumsy method for Skin Forging, which is to use potent medicines to stimte and grind the skin, causing the skin and the physical body to continuously undergo damage and repair during the overflow of Essence Qi, in order to elerate progress."


    "I see," Shen Qing suddenly had a question, "I''ve heard from my senior brothers before that at this stage it''s possible to condense Qi strength. If Skin Forging is notplete, does that mean it can''t be used?"


    "That''s correct. At this stage, you''re just beginning to condense Qi strength, barely sensing it, let alone controlling it, which is difficult. Even if you could use it, if the Skin Forging is iplete, just as the Qi strength surfaces, before it''s even emitted, the skin would feel the pain of tearing and swelling. Forcing its use would only harm oneself greatly, and the enemy partially."


    Shen Qing was stunned.


    His progress in the Skin Forging Realm seemed different from what Li Linfeng described.


    He had not only transported the Qi strength to the surface of his body but also activated it, and could even strike through the air.


    Shen Qing spected that this might have a lot to do with the Blood Dominance Technique and Dragon Roar Armor.


    The unintentionalbination of these two Martial Arts had already made his skin''s strength surpass that of normal people, even though he hadn''tpleted the Skin Forging.


    Now, he might be very strong!


    Far surpassing those of the same realm.


    Seeing Shen Qing''sposed demeanor, Li Linfeng was increasingly satisfied and couldn''t help feeling a growing fondness for talent.


    He stepped forward and said, "From now on, when you practice Martial Arts with me, you don''t need to pay the monthly fee for all the prescriptions and various supplements. Practice to your heart''s content."


    Shen Qing was moved and quickly expressed his gratitude.


    Li Linfeng, worried Shen Qing would be arrogant andcent from this, cautioned him, "However, don''t get too proud of yourself. My Wind Defying Finger Martial Arts is not very profound, and it''s not very difficult to learn. You must know there are skies beyond skies, and people beyond people. In Great Zhou, there are many talents like you, thick as carps crossing the river. You still have a long way to go."


    "Master''s lesson is well received," Shen Qing said without any hint of impatience, his expression even more respectful.


    Just then, A Fu hurried in and said, "Master, people from the Guardian Martial Department of the government office havee, saying there''s an important matter to discuss."


    "The Guardian Martial Department? What do they want?" Li Linfeng wondered.


    A Fu replied, "It seems to be about the demon tiger issue. They''vee not only to our Martial Arts Hall, but it seems they''ve also visited other major Martial Arts Halls and factions."


    "Oh?" Li Linfeng pondered for a while and then instructed, "Please ask them to wait in the main hall for a moment, I''ll be right there."


    "Yes, Master."


    Shen Qing watched A Fu''s retreating figure, contemtive.


    That demon tiger seems quite troublesome to deal with.


    Li Linfeng got up from the study and walked out, casually saying to Shen Qing, "Have your four senior brotherse along too."


    "Yes," Shen Qing agreed, then asked, "Should I also follow, Master?"


    "No need."


    After dropping these words, Li Linfeng''s figure swiftly vanished at the study''s doorway.


    Shen Qing narrowed his eyes, noting that this time Li Linfeng did not intend to involve him in the demon tiger incident.


    This perfectly suited his wishes; he could focus on cultivating in peace.


    Shen Qing had an inkling that the Skin Forging Realm might be virtually nonexistent for him, possibly the easiest realm for him to master.

 Chapter 115: Chapter 39: What Big Talk

    The main hall of Linfeng Hall was spacious and bright.


    In the most central position of the hall, there was arge chair. Behind therge chair, a piece of calligraphy was disyed, with a simple "Martial" character written in powerful and lively brushstrokes, filled with a stern and efficient aura.


    Beneath therge chair, swords, spears, sabers, halberds, and other weapons from the eighteen categories were lined up behind the four chairs on each side, radiating a cold light.


    At this moment, all four chairs were upied, and the one at the head was a woman.


    She was dressed in in white casual clothes, which made her especially eye-catching.


    "What wind has blown Team Leader Wang here today?" Li Linfeng''s heartyughter came from outside the door.


    Soon, he entered the main hall, nked by Ouyang Tiezhu and four other disciples.


    Everyone sitting on the chairs stood up, greeted him with their hands sped together in a fist.


    Wang Yanjun, who was at the forefront, spoke, "It concerns the peace of Taiping County; I had to bother Master Li."


    Li Linfeng nced at this female team leader from the Guardian Martial Department.


    Her stature was outstanding, her back straight, exuding a vigorous heroic spirit.


    The exquisite id card hanging at her waist highlighted her official status, and with the Treasure Sword and ropes she was carrying, she seemed like someone not to be trifled with.


    In the current times, Great Zhou did not forbid women from learning Martial Arts.


    However, inherently, women have weaker physical constitutions than men, and with childbirth and monthly menstruation, they are prone to Qi-Blood deficiency.


    It isn''t easy for them to excel.


    This Wang Yanjun was born into the Wang Family and belonged to the same main house as Boss Wang of the county town. At a young age, she had already developed impressive skills.


    Somehow she managed to enter the Guardian Martial Department of the imperial court.


    In just a few short years, using the court''s Martial Arts resources, she had cultivated to the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    In Taiping County, she was a remarkable figure.


    Li Linfeng retracted his gaze and sat in the master''s seat, saying, "May I know what exactly Team Leader Wang is referring to?"


    Wang Yanjun, with two big principles to her name, spoke indifferently, "Has Master Li heard about the tiger demon incident in Shicheng Mountain?"


    "I''ve heard a thing or two," Li Linfeng said as he picked up a cup of tea that the maids had brought in. "What''s the situation now?"


    Wang Yanjun''s eyes, deep and luminous, stated matter-of-factly, "Not to keep Master Li in the dark, ording to reports from below, about a dozen hunting viges near Shicheng Mountain have all fallen prey to it, with nearly a thousand dead or injured. Basically, the area around the base of Shicheng Mountain has be uninhabited."


    "This..." Li Linfeng knew the ferocious tiger was not easy to deal with, but he had not expected it to be this troublesome.


    Wang Yanjun looked at Li Linfeng with solemnity and said, "If we allow this demon tiger to keep growing unchecked, the entire Taiping County could be facing a great disaster. As we have suffered heavy losses in our multiple encirclements, we''vee specifically to ask for Master Li''s help in deploying some people to assist us in eliminating this cmity."


    Li Linfeng asked, "Is this the County Magistrate''s wish?"


    Wang Yanjun nodded and said, "We have already notified the Shen Shou Sect, Blood Gang, and Feiying Pavilion. Everyone is well aware of the urgency and is willing to lend a hand. Now, we are only waiting for Master Li to make a statement."


    Between her words, Wang Yanjun''s lips slightly turned up, with a subtle, barely noticeable smile.


    Li Linfeng gestured to the maids beside him and said, "Don''t just stand there; go and refill the tea for the officers."


    The two maids, nervous and fearful, quickly bowed their heads and cautiously went to refill the tea and pour water for Wang Yanjun and the other officials and officers of the Guardian Martial Department.


    The imposing aura Wang Yanjun had managed to gather was easily disrupted by the maids'' actions.


    Her brows furrowed, feeling somewhat dissatisfied within.


    However, this dissatisfaction quickly disappeared and wasn''t shown.


    Li Linfeng sincerely said, "Since the County Magistrate has spoken, we, as citizens under the rule of Great Zhou, should indeed support. But there is one thing I find quite strange, it''s just a fierce tiger, why has ite to this point?"


    Before Wang Yanjun could speak, an officer from the Guardian Martial Department standing beside her stood up, sped his hands and said, "Hall Master is unaware; we''re not exaggerating. This fierce tiger is not an ordinary one, but a true demon tiger."


    "This tiger can speak humannguage, understands human nature, and can evenmand ghosts and demons. It''s utterly inconceivable, I have never seen such a creature in all my years. It is precisely for this reason that we''ve been unable to defeat it and havee to seek assistance from everyone."


    "There''s such a thing?" Li Linfeng was quite astonished.


    Wang Yanjun nodded and said, "The matter is too peculiar, the County Magistrate is concerned about causing unnecessary disturbances and has sealed off the news, only saying it''s a fierce tiger. It''s normal that Master Li does not know."


    Li Linfeng''s face still wore a look of disbelief; the concept of a beast able to speak humannguage turned his understanding upside down.


    "If I hadn''t heard it from you, I would suspect this to be a tale from a storybook."


    An officer from the Guardian Martial Department sitting in a chair said solemnly, "Getting back to the point, how many people is Master Li willing to support us with this time?"


    Li Linfeng, realizing the serious matter at hand, instantly became fully alert.


    The Guardian Martial Department came this time with a formidable momentum, determined not to stop until they achieved their goal.


    Moreover, he didn''t have much of a rtionship with the current County Magistrate, so there was no possibility of any reward for doing this task for the officials.


    After pondering for a long time, he said, "I can offer three Disciples from the inner courtyard, ten from the Outer Court, plus one Direct Disciple to work with you, how about that?"


    Although there weren''t many Disciples in Linfeng Hall, years of operation had built up quite a foundation.


    If given enough benefits, they could still summon quite a number of people.


    It all depended on how much benefit was offered.


    "Not enough, too few," said Wang Yanjun with an indifferent expression.


    "Then how many does Team Leader Wang want?" Li Linfeng asked, his tone bing much colder and quite confrontational.


    "I want four of your Direct Disciples, ten from the Inner Court, and thirty from the Outer Court," she said.


    Whoosh!


    Li Linfeng suddenly stood up: "Team Leader Wang really has a big appetite, are you joking with me?"


    Currently, he had only four Direct Disciples announced to the public, and she wanted to conscript all of them.


    Not just that, but she also wanted ten Inner Court Disciples and thirty Outer Court Disciples.


    These Inner and Outer Court Disciples were those who paid to learn Martial Arts, and at most had a master-disciple rtion with him.


    If he needed to inconvenience them, he had to offer substantial benefits.


    Either waive tuition and medicine fees, or more directly, pay money.


    Based on the numbers Wang Yanjun mentioned, he would need at least one to two thousand taels of Silver as a base, and that''s not even the limit.


    If there were any idents, it would be his many years of umted resources that were depleted.


    Taiping County was not a ce of good will; if he appeared weak, other gangs and Martial Arts Halls would surely have designs on him.


    Wang Yanjun''s demands were nothing short of excessive.


    The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.


    Wang Yanjun from the Guardian Martial Department appeared to have anticipated this, she held her sword scabbard, pushing it with her thumb to reveal a section of the silver de, smiling as she said, "I am not joking with Master Li. If Master Li prefers not to do so, then perhaps Master Li himself would be willing to take action. With Master Li joining, our chances of defeating the tiger will surely increase. What does Master Li think?"

 Chapter 116: Chapter 40: Pushing People Too Far

    ```


    tter!


    In front of him, his direct disciples, Ouyang Tiezhu, Niu Daping, Dong Zizhuang, and Wushili took a synchronized step forward, glowering with anger.


    The already tense atmosphere became charged like a drawn bow.


    Wang Yanjun felt confident and without fear, her thumb pushing the hilt of her sword up slightly, "Master Li, a wise man submits to circumstances."


    Li Linfeng''s expression turned icy as a fiery rage began to rise from the depths of his heart.


    Just as this rage was about to erupt, Li Linfeng, seasoned by frequent dealings with the county government, managed to muster some rationality and suppress the rising fury.


    Li Linfeng was aware that Wang Yanjun was not merely a squad leader of the Guardian Martial Department. Behind her stood the Great Zhou Court, with County Magistrate Chu Yiwu, a martial master in the Qi Hai Realm, backing them up.


    They were not someone he could afford to provoke.


    Not to mention, Wang Yanjun''s cultivation was in the Qi Cultivation Realm, on par with his own.


    No matter how aggrieved he felt, he could only endure it.


    The ring eyes of Li Linfeng gradually softened, and his tone became more measured, "I can provide at most two direct disciples, five from the Inner Court, and fifteen from the Outer Court to your cause."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Li Linfeng''s gaze sharpened, and an imposing air of solemnity exuded from him.


    Seeing that she had pushed Li Linfeng far enough, Wang Yanjun suddenly sheathed her sword, her face breaking into a congenial smile. She gave a fist and palm salute, "Master Li is indeed righteous. I thank you on behalf of the people in the county. Now that we have an agreement, let''s meet outside the West City Gate tomorrow morning at the Mao Hour; together with the heroes of Linfeng Hall, we will ascend the mountain to hunt the tiger."


    Li Linfeng, his face expressionless, issued a dismissal, "Do you have any other business, squad leader? If not, then I shall see you out."


    Unperturbed, Wang Yanjun adjusted the sword at her waist, leading the other officials and officers from the Guardian Martial Department out with a stride, "I appreciate your effort, Master Li."


    "This is too much,"


    As soon as Wang Yanjun and the others left, the impetuous Dong Zizhuang couldn''t keep the frustration at bay and started to curse vehemently.


    But he also knew that under someone else''s roof, one must bow their head.


    Facing the formidable Zhou Dynasty Court, there was nothing they could do.


    An arm could never twist a thigh.


    After a while, when everyone''s emotions had steadied, Li Linfeng said to the group, "Ouyang and Xiao Wu were injured not long ago, so this time you two, Daping and Zizhuang, will take people there."


    "The road may be dangerous; both of you should bring handy weapons. Once this is over, you no longer have to give the usual tribute; no more needed."


    Niu Daping and Dong Zizhuang nced at each other and replied in unison, "Yes, Master."


    The next day.


    When Shen Qing returned to Linfeng Hall, he found the entire courtyard eerily silent, with only a sparrow at the door.


    There were only a few people listlessly practicing their moves inside the hall.


    After inquiring briefly, Shen Qing learned about the events of the previous day from Ouyang Tiezhu.


    "They didn''t take us seriously at all," Ouyang Tiezhuined angrily as he pointed at the wooden dummy, "Damn it!"


    Shen Qing said nothing, silently hanging his head.


    He knew thatining was useless.


    This world speaks through deeds and power.


    Wang Yanjun was skilled, and with the powerful county government behind her, she naturally stood tall.


    In contrast, Li Linfeng had no such backing, his cultivation realm was no match, leaving him with little confidence.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s mute frustration, Ouyang Tiezhu found it dull and ceased to say more, sighing deeply before leaving the inner courtyard.


    ```


    In the following days, even though Linfeng Hall faced substantial difficulties, Li Linfeng still fulfilled his promise to Shen Qing.


    Every day, Shen Qing could almost always enjoy a nutritious medicinal meal and soak in a pricey medicinal bath, his cultivation progress visibly speeding up.


    Before one knew it, over a month had passed.


    In this period, Shen Qing''s various martial arts cultivation proceeded in stride, with rapid progress.


    He had cultivated the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to the third transformation, which could be considered incredibly fast.


    Every time his Qi-Blood reversed, the moves he punched out burned even hotter, even showing hints of red light, as if leaving traces ofbustion.


    If controlled well, he could evenpress the side effects to within two breaths.


    Moreover, his cultivation of the Blood Dominance Technique, Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt, and Wind Defying Finger did notg behind, rendering his tendons and muscles as formidable as a mountain.


    There was a knock on the door.


    Shen Qing stopped his cultivation and called out, "Come in."


    Standing at the door, Tian Xiaohu, carrying a cloth bag, came in and said, "This is the monthly fee collected for this month."


    Taking it over, Shen Qing frowned and said, "This little?"


    He could feel that there were at most ten taels silver inside, more than half less than before, not to mention that the area they collected protection fees from had even expanded.


    Tian Xiaohu said helplessly, "For some reasontely, many people are either trying to move to the Inner City or leaving Taiping County. The poption in the shantytown has diminishedpared to a few months ago, so naturally, we couldn''t collect much money."


    The situation in Taiping County seemed to be getting worse.


    Shen Qing asked, "Those who came with us from Hongshan Vige, did many of them move to the Inner City?"


    "Almost half of them moved there," Tian Xiaohu replied truthfully.


    After pondering for a moment, Shen Qing said, "These next few days, take a good look around the city for a suitable residence. Let''s also move there. After all, the Inner City walls are high and thick, which is always safer. Remember we''re looking to rent, not buy. With the current instability in Taiping County, house prices are unreliable, and buying would not be worthwhile."


    "Okay, I''ll go inquire about it right away," Tian Xiaohu agreed without a second thought.


    "Go on, and after you''re done, focus on your cultivation."


    Tian Xiaohu nodded and withdrew.


    Shen Qing calcted the time in his head, and it had been almost a month and a half. The fifty shi bow he had Ruan Pottery Master forge should almost be ready.


    He took the already prepared silver taels and golden leaves from home and ced them in front of his chest before leaving the shantytown.


    Walking on the grand streets of the Inner City, Shen Qing noticed that the number of pedestrians was at least thirty percent less than usual, and the once lively atmosphere had dwindled considerably.


    The surrounding air was filled with foul odors like urine, sweat, and other unpleasant smells.


    ncing downward, Shen Qing spotted a fresh puddle of sewage on the road ahead, a yellowish stain running across the whole street.


    He had to leap over to avoid stepping into the mess.


    Some people failed to notice the puddle in time, stepping into it and leaving a long trail of footprints on the ground, which made the already foul stench even more pervasive.


    As Shen Qing held his breath and did his best to avoid these footprints, he was oblivious that others had set their sights on him.


    A man dressed inly brushed past him, and Shen Qing suddenly realized that his chest felt lighter.


    The silver that he had brought from home was now gone without a trace.


    Shen Qing immediately snapped out of his thoughts, reacting swiftly.


    Before the other could pull away, he grabbed the man''s wrist, his hand gripping like an iron mp.


    "Good sir, have you taken something of mine?"

 Chapter 117: Chapter 41 On the Road to Kill, Seize the Bow

    In the main street, Shen Qing was reluctant to start a conflict with others, always preferring fewer problems over more, so he still offered the other party a way out, hoping to downy the situation.


    As long as the Silver Tael was returned, he wouldn''t mind letting the other party off the hook.


    Unfortunately, the other party clearly misunderstood his intention, taking him for someone weak and easily bullied.


    The man Shen Qing caught tried to smooth things over with an oily smile, "Ah, I''m really sorry, I identally bumped into this big tree of yours. I promise to look where I''m going next time. Please don''t stoop to my low level, I''ll return your belongings right away."


    Shen Qing''s face was expressionless, as he was about to let go.


    A fierce look shed across the face of the man opposite him, and his other hand quietly reached for his waist, drawing a dagger and stabbing violently at Shen Qing.


    In Taiping County, those who made a living as pickpockets and engaged in other such underhanded trades were rarely of good sort.


    For them, money was more important than life.


    When pushed into a corner, without a second thought, they would kill on the spot, no questions asked.


    Their livelihood depended on their ruthless determination.


    Shen Qing had already keenly detected something amiss with the man before him. His Qi-Blood surged throughout his body, and the Dragon Roar Armor instinctively activated.


    His muscles suddenly tensed like iron, and a translucent membrane appeared on his skin.


    ng!


    A crisp sound emitted from Shen Qing''s skin.


    The pickpocket looked at the dagger, only to find its tip bent. He was dumbstruck for a moment.


    He felt that he had encountered a ruthless character today and hurriedly attempted to withdraw his hand, aiming to escape.


    Unfortunately, his arm was as if fixed by Shen Qing, unable to move in the slightest no matter how he struggled.


    The pickpocket''s heart instantly panicked, and he felt as if he could already smell death, his scalp tingling.


    Shen Qing stretched his mouth into a smile, "I clearly gave you a chance. Why force me?"


    "Ah?"


    Shen Qing gestured with his finger, instantly triggering the Wind Defying Finger.


    Bang!


    The back of the man''s clothes burst open, sending up a cloud of blood mist.


    Incredulous, the pickpocket lowered his head to see that his chest had burst open to the size of a bowl under Shen Qing''s finger.


    No blood gushed from the wound.


    Because it was already cauterized.


    The pink flesh inside curled up, with white and scorched yellow intermixed, sealing off the veinspletely.


    Just as the pickpocket was about to let out a piercing scream, Shen Qing moved swiftly to cover his mouth and nose, stifling the sound in his throat.


    Then, hooking the man''s neck, he dragged him into an alleyway.


    The pickpocket, gasping for air, breathed more out than he could take in, resembling a dead rat, and gradually went still.


    Seeing another life disappear before him, Shen Qing let out a heavy sigh, "Every time I see this, I always feel a sense of inexplicable sorrow."


    Shen Qing surveyed the surroundings to make sure no one nosy had followed or gone to report to the officials. After confirming it was clear, he quickly took the stolen goods with peace of mind and returned to the main road.


    Then, he walked down the street as if nothing had happened.


    Once he left the main street and reached a deserted ce, he opened his chest and looked down at where the pickpocket had stabbed him to find not even a mark.


    Unscathed.


    "That man seemed to be a martial master too, but he hadn''t mastered his craft yet, just reaching the stage where he had condensed a bit of Qi-Blood. Even so, he couldn''t hurt me in the slightest. Although the Dragon Roar Armor is difficult to train, the payoff is considerable."


    Shen Qing murmured to himself, "Combined with the power of Wind Defying Finger and the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, ying such a person is almost effortless for me. But I wonder how it would be against a martial master of the same level?"


    Somehow, he felt a stirring impulse to test his might.


    Shelving those whimsical thoughts, Shen Qing followed his memory along the route towards Ruan Pottery Master''s shop.


    Ruan Family Kiln.


    The old store front was half-open.


    Even before Shen Qing approached the Ruan Family Shop, he could clearly hear the "ng ng" of hammers striking the anvil, crisp and forceful.


    He quickened his pace, pushed open therge door, and entered. A wave of heat hit him, and the shop was filled with the strong scent of rust and the smell of burning charcoal.


    At that moment, the mes in the forge leaped, casting a red glow over the entire shop.


    A middle-aged craftsman was vigorously swinging hisrge hammer, every movement seeming effortless, as if he were one with the world of iron and fire.


    Several apprentices were pulling the bellows with difficulty, working as his assistants.


    Shen Qing stepped forward and greeted with a sped fist, "Master Ruan, is my fifty shi bow ready?"


    Upon hearing the sound, Ruan Chengbao nced at Shen Qing and shouted into the house, "Girl, bring out that bow from inside and the finished arrows as well."


    Soon, the girl with some freckles on her face that he had seen before came out, holding a bow and arrows in her arms.


    She walked in front of Shen Qing, looked him over carefully with her bright eyes, and said, "Here, your bow and arrows, they are a bit heavy."


    Shen Qing looked down.


    The young girl was holding a fifty shi heavy bow, thick and solid, with a lustrous ck sheen, entirely forged from dark iron.


    On both sides of the bow, iid ox horn as well as delicate patterns were visibly clear, exuding an air of masterful craftsmanship.


    Shen Qing took one look and felt exceedingly satisfied.


    He reached out to take it.


    The heavy bow made of dark iron in his hands seemed no different in weight from other bows and arrows.


    Shen Qing knew it wasn''t an issue with the bow, but rather the result of the continuous advancement in his cultivation over the past month, significantly increasing his strength.


    Excitedly, he grabbed the arrow handed to him by the young girl and asked Ruan Pottery Master, "Master Ruan, do you have a ce where I can practice shooting with a bow and arrow?"


    "Just go to the backyard and try it out."


    Shen Qing strode directly toward the backyard.


    An apprentice peeked out and asked, "Do you think he can actually draw that bow? That''s a fifty shi heavy bow, and several of us couldn''t even budge it."


    "Let''s go and see for ourselves."


    Some bold apprentices put down their work and followed along.


    "Master..."


    Ruan Chengbao set down the iron hammer in his hands and rotated his wrists, saying, "I''m tired from hammering till now; it''s just the right time to loosen my muscle and bone."


    Having said that, he also headed to the backyard.


    The other apprentices, who dared not act recklessly, excitedly flocked towards the courtyard.


    The young girl beside them bit her lip, moved her feet, and silently followed the crowd.


    The backyard of the Ruan Family Shop was arge open space, only about thirty meters from front to back.


    In front of the courtyard wall at the very front, there stood a crude wooden target, probably used by Ruan Chengbao and the others for bow casting tests on regr days.


    Shen Qing stood in front of the target, his tall and sturdy figure silent and immovable like a tranquil mountain peak.


    Adjacent to him, Ruan Chengbao with folded arms watched along with several apprentices for some heated action.


    "Quick, look, he''s going to pull the bow."


    Under everyone''s gaze, Shen Qing firmly gripped the fifty shi heavy bow, forged of dark iron, drew out a dark iron arrow, and ced it on the string.


    He took a deep breath, his arm muscles tensed up, and veins surfaced, appearing like countless little dragons moving between his muscles.


    Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!


    Shen Qing began to pull the bowstring, which made the sound of steel wire being tightened.


    "He''s pulled it back, he''s pulled it back!" eximed Ruan Chengbao and the apprentices around him.


    The fifty shi arm bow was effortlessly drawn by him.


    "His cultivation must be quite high."


    As the tension in the bowstring grew, the air around seemed to freeze, and a powerful aura emitted from Shen Qing''s body, sending chills down the spines of those who felt it.


    Finally, when the bowstring was pulled to its limit, Shen Qing abruptly released his fingers, and the bowstring shot out with a "hum" like an arrow leaving the string.


    The arrow cut through the air, emitting a piercing whistle, and headed straight for the distant target.


    With a "whoosh," the arrow precisely struck the center of the target, causing the wooden target to burst open and shatter into pieces.


    The arrow didn''t stop there, and amidst a roaring sound, hit the courtyard wall.


    Boom!


    A section of the courtyard wall was directly hit and copsed, with countless fragments flying everywhere, and dust filling the air.


    Themotion surprised everyone present.


    Silence fell over the scene.


    The potency of the fifty shi bow was beyond even Shen Qing''s expectations.


    He turned his head to see that Ruan Chengbao''s face had turned ashen.


    "You''re paying for the repairs to the courtyard wall," he stated.


    Then he shouted to the apprentices around him, "What are you all standing around for? Is there nothing to work on?"


    The apprentices who hade to spectate scattered in shock.


    The remaining young girl, looking at Shen Qing, had her eyes filled with a tender mist, her face flushed red, and she quietly left, head bowed.


    At that moment, Shen Qing sensed something and a trace of joy appeared on his face.


    [Skill: Bow Technique (Small Sess)]


    [Progress: 303/300 points]


    [Status: Can be upgraded]


    [Note: The strong are not deterred from striving for improvement! Continuous practice may break through the progress of the Skill, with a certain chance to awaken the Sight for Bow Technique.]

 Chapter 118: Chapter 42: One Senior Brother Died, One Was Crippled

    Shen Qing stared at the Water Ink Panel before his eyes, momentarily entranced.


    He had not expected that right after acquiring the fifty shi bow, he could now break through in Bow Technique.


    It was indeed like a pillow arriving as he dozed, perfectly timed.


    Shen Qing, without any hesitation, chose to break through.


    The information on the Water Ink Panel refreshed synchronously.


    [Skill: Bow Technique (Level of Mastery)]


    [Progress: 3/400 points]


    [Status: Cannot Be Enhanced]


    [Note: Through consistent practice, your Bow Technique has progressively improved. You''ve acquired the "Eagle Eye" ability, significantly enhancing your perception and spatial awareness, allowing you a bird''s-eye view like that of a sharp-sighted eagle.]


    "Eagle Eye?"


    Shen Qing had not yet snapped back to reality when his entire body shuddered sharply.


    Memories of practicing Bow Technique surged continually in his mind.


    He looked down at the Heavy Bow he was holding, now sensing a peculiar familiarity and muscle memory that grew increasingly clear.


    A momentter, after this strange sensation passed,


    Shen Qing''s arm muscles tensed, his little finger hooked, and he ced the dark iron Arrow on the string.


    He stretched his arms smoothly, drawing the bow fully.


    This sequence of movements was fluid like drifting clouds and flowing water, as if he had practiced it millions of times.


    "Incredible," Shen Qing set down the bow and arrows, a glint of brilliance passing through his eyes, "Earlier, I was still slightly unskilled in pulling this Heavy Bow. Yet in the blink of an eye, there''s no friction at all."


    "And this Eagle Eye..."


    Shen Qing closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them.


    The ''Eagle Eye'' ability activated.


    Instantly, various scenes from the eastern part of the city appeared in his mind.


    The mottled and ancient city walls, the scattered low buildings, the cluttered alleys and paths, chimneys of various heights...


    These scenes continuously assembled, gradually forming a bird''s-eye perspective.


    At Shen Qing''s will, the viewpoint moved downward.


    Part of the city''s east side erged continuously until it fixed on a small courtyard.


    In this courtyard, one wall had already copsed.


    In the middle of the courtyard, a small figure holding a bow and arrow stood.


    Snap!


    Quickly, the image that had appeared in his mind burst like a bubble.


    Shen Qing, as if awakened from a dream, looked incredulous.


    "This..."


    His experience with the ''Eagle Eye'' ability was so miraculous that it gave him a powerful sensation of overseeing everything.


    "Based on my earlier judgment, the effective range of this Heavy Bow in my hands can reach a thousand steps. If I use the ''Eagle Eye'' ability inbination with this Heavy Bow, I could strike preemptively. Wouldn''t that be as unstoppable as deities or buddhas blocking, and deities or buddhas falling?"


    Shen Qing, looking down at the Heavy Bow in his hands, soon dismissed this thought.


    "That''s not right, this world has the study of Immortal Martial Arts, and those skilled in martial arts have astonishing defense capabilities. For them, the killing power of a fifty shi bow may still not be enough, and the same goes for the demons that appear suddenly. However, for others... it''s sufficient."


    "If one arrow doesn''t do it, then I''ll shoot a few more to see. Later, when my arm strength increases, I''ll try the Hundred Shi Heavy Bow, Thousand Shi Bow, ten thousand shi bow... Eventually, I''ll be able to shoot them all dead."


    Shen Qingughed heartily, put away his thoughts, and then walked to where the wall had copsed, retrieving his shot arrows.


    The dark iron Arrow, incredibly hard.


    Despite being subjected to such tremendous force, it remained undamaged.


    "It''s clear that Master Ruan did not skimp on the work, the bows and arrows he made are very robust."


    After collecting his arrows, Shen Qing turned and walked towards the courtyard''s exit.


    People in the store had witnessed his astonishing arm strength. When he appeared in the shop, their gazes naturally fell on him.


    Shen Qing, feeling no difort, took it in stride.


    He walked up to Ruan Chengbao, pulled out a silver note and smiled, "Thank you, Ruan Pottery Master. I am quite satisfied with this Heavy Bow. Here is the remaining 150 taels bow money."


    Now in the Great Zhou, circting silver notes could be freely withdrawn from the money banks.


    However, different banks and different regions were not interchangeable, which limited them somewhat. Nheless, it saved one the trouble of carrying a heavy bag of Silver around. Read thetest stories on M-VL-em|p,yr


    Ruan Chengbao, with no thought of refusal, generously epted it. He pointed his thumb behind toward the courtyard and asked, "What about the rest?"


    Shen Qing was not annoyed and immediately pulled out a money bag, apparently carrying about fifteen taels of Silver, and said, "This is forpensating the courtyard wall and the casting of the arrows."


    Ruan Chengbao took the bag, peered inside to check, and found no issues.


    He pulled the strings of the bag tight, sealing it and said, "If you ever want to forge other items, juste to me. I deal fairly with everyone, young and old."


    "Master Ruan''s craftsmanship is superb. If I ever need to forge other items, I will definitelye here," Shen Qing promised.


    Ruan Chengbao stuffed the money bag into his tunic and, without further ado, picked up the hammer and seriously started forging other iron nks.


    Shen Qing tactfully turned to leave.


    The young girl who stood in the pottery shop, seeing Shen Qing departing, couldn''t help walking up to Ruan Chengbao and stomping her foot, "Dad... he''s gone."


    "I know," Ruan Chengbao said, lifting a nearly finished iron nk with tongs and plunging it into the water.


    With a sizzle, the surface of the water boiled, emitting a puff of white steam.


    The girl looked puzzled.


    Ruan Chengbao nced at his daughter and said, "You''re not suitable for him. I see that at such a young age he can easily draw a fifty shi Heavy Bow, so his strength alone is no ordinary martial master. At the least, he must be in the Skin Forging Realm, and possibly even in the Qi Cultivation Realm."


    "What kind of woman couldn''t a martial lord like him have? Although we have some family wealth, we are just a small household. They wouldn''t consider us. I''ll find you another handsome young manter."


    As the iron cooled, Ruan Chengbao knocked off the iron filings and tossed them back into the fire to continue forging.


    He watched the iron gradually turn red and mumbled to himself, "The most important thing for a person is to know oneself."


    The girl bit her lip, her eyes misted with ayer of water, speechless.


    ...


    Nowadays in Taiping County, inside and outside the city, people die almost every day. Shen Qing had moved to Taiping County and had fought several bouts.


    Having killed so many people, no one from the county government had bothered him.


    He gradually understood that the county government basically turned a blind eye to murder here.


    Thus, his courage grew substantially.


    Previously, Shen Qing, who had killed someone in the street, carried his bow and arrows, walking fearlessly on the street again.


    However, some people on the street, seeing his tall and imposing figure, carrying a dark longbow, knew he was not to be trifled with and made way for him.


    "Junior Brother Shen?"


    As Shen Qing passed by a tavern, he suddenly heard someone calling him.


    He quickly stopped and looked around for the voice, finally seeing Xiao Zhi at the entrance of a small tavern.


    "Brother Xiao?"


    Shen Qing looked up at the tavern, Xi Building.


    He knew Xiao Zhi was a cook, so this must be where he worked.


    Xiao Zhi said in surprise, "You''re still here?"


    "What''s wrong?"


    Shen Qing was somewhat puzzled.


    "I just got word that something happened to a direct disciple at Linfeng Hall. Many of our brothers have already headed over."


    Shen Qing was stunned for a moment, then sped his hands and said, "Thank you for letting me know, Brother Xiao. I''ll go check it out now."


    "If there''s any situation, tell me in time. I will head over after finishing today''s meals..."


    Xiao Zhi hadn''t finished speaking when he watched Shen Qing turn and run along the main street, quickly disappearing into the crowd,


    About the time it took to drink a pot of teater, Shen Qing arrived at Shengshi Square.


    At the entrance of Linfeng Hall, it was surrounded by many people making a lot of noise.


    People continuously gathered towards Linfeng Hall.


    Shen Qing approached Linfeng Hall and grabbed a person to ask, "What happened inside?"


    The man whose shoulder Shen Qing grabbed frowned and was about to get angry.


    But as he turned and saw Shen Qing''s towering figure, he hesitated and his frown smoothed out, smiling apologetically, "Not sure, but I heard two of Master Li''s direct disciples went to hunt a tiger demon and something serious happened."


    "Second Brother Niu Daping, Third Brother Dong Zizhuang? Did something happen to them?"


    Shen Qing''s heart stirred, and he quickly pushed through the crowd to the door, and knocked.


    A Fu squeezed half his head out and, seeing it was Shen Qing, immediately let him in.


    Bang.


    After Shen Qing entered, A Fu quickly shut the door as if he was worried about other people pushing their way in.


    "Is Master inside?"


    "Everyone is."


    "What exactly happened?"


    A Fu hesitated, then sighed deeply and said, "Ah... you better see for yourself."


    Without saying more, Shen Qing headed towards the main hall, hastening his steps.


    He arrived at the location of the Linfeng Hall''s main hall.


    Sobs echoed from inside, and outside, a crowd of new and old disciples of Linfeng Hall gathered, forming a considerable assembly.


    Shen Qing approached and saw a corpseid out in the center of the hall; it was Second Brother Niu Daping.


    Half of his body was missing, his face was a bloody mess, and the severed area faintly showed white bones and attached pink tendons.


    Second Brother Niu Daping''s family had already arrived,ying on his body, weeping bitterly.


    Standing aside, Third Brother Dong Zizhuang, who had also gone on the tiger hunt, was no better off.


    He was pale as paper, trembling uncontrobly, as if he had lost his soul.


    His right eye socket was empty, missing an eyeball.


    It seemed many family members of other brothers and disciples had also arrived, their cries of anguish continual.


    The entire Linfeng Hall seemed as if the sky had fallen.


    People like Li Lingchan, usually hard to see at Linfeng Hall, were now gathered in the hall, their expressions somber.


    p!


    Li Linfeng mmed the table and stood up, "You Guardian Martial Department owe me an exnation."


    In the hall, a clerk dressed in a sable robe quickly lowered his posture and said with respect, "Master Li, calm your anger. This time, it was truly because the tiger demon was too cunning and the Ghost apanying it too difficult to handle, which resulted in such heavy losses and the misfortune of the two disciples."


    Li Linfeng said angrily, "Not just those two, other external disciples and inner sect disciples from our sect, none survived. I have enquired with other bureaus, and none has suffered losses as severe as ours. Is the Guardian Martial Department deliberately targeting my disciples?"


    "Master Li has misunderstood; it was purely an ident. We divided into several teams, each with its own task. Unfortunately, this time, our Linfeng Hall brothers were unlucky to encounter the tiger demon. We were toote when we went to support," said the sable-clothed clerk, his attitude extremely sincere. After finishing his words, his posture became even more humble, "This time even the County Magistrate knows about the heavy losses you''ve suffered, so he''s made an exception for us. If we dispatch some disciples to eliminate the tiger demon again, all expenses will be borne by our office, and those who contribute will be granted a martial title."


    After finishing, the sable-clothed clerk raised his head, his eyes cautiously measuring Li Linfeng''s reaction, as if he was worried his words might offend him.

 Chapter 119: Chapter 43: The Bigger the Storm, the Pricier the Fish

    "Martial arts register?"


    As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly burst into an uproar.


    As everyone knew, changing one''s household registration in the Great Zhou was very difficult.


    The civilians of Great Zhou were generally born with a certain registration, and unless something unexpected urred, they would die with the same registration.


    To change registration, one would either need to join the military and distinguish themselves by killing enemies on the battlefield, or ascend through schrly or martial examinations to be an official or a general.


    But for most ordinary people without any backing, both options were almost impossible.


    There were many interpersonal subtleties involved; it wasn''t simply a matter of assessing one''s cultivation alone. Ordinary people had no advantage.


    Simrly, once changed to a martial arts register, it meant getting an opportunity to enter the Great Zhou Court, bing superior to others, securing a certain amount of fame and social status.


    It didn''t guarantee a lifetime of glory and wealth, but at the very least, it provided control over significant social resources, ensuring no worries about basic needs and blessings for three generations.


    Even someone as strong as Li Linfeng had never obtained a martial title in his entire life.


    Now that the clerk from the government office had brought up the martial arts register, it was no wonder everyone was quite surprised.


    After hearing what the clerk from the Guardian Martial Department had said, everyone in the venue felt that the County Magistrate was very sincere.


    However, unlike the others,


    The same words, when they reached Li Linfeng''s ears, suddenly made his heart sink; he sensed an ominous aura.


    He figured out that the clerk''s speech from the Guardian Martial Department was targeting him.


    The clerk put it beautifully, seemingly showing sufficient respect, but in fact, he had already cornered him.


    If he objected, on one hand, he would be defying the court, which was somewhat disrespectful and would not end well; on the other hand, he would be obstructing the path of other disciples who wished to advance, causing problems all around.


    But if he agreed, Linfeng Hall, which he had worked his entire life to build, would likely be halved in strength.


    Originally, he had nned to train four or five direct disciples and focus on cultivating three of them.


    One disciple to manage the hall, one disciple to y the role of the tactician, and one disciple to wield the pair of red flower clubs, with these to strengthen and erge Linfeng Hall.


    Even if he didn''t have a martial title, his sessors could benefit from it.


    Now, after the incident with the tiger demon, one of his five direct disciples had died, and another was crippled.


    Of the remaining three, two had hidden injuries due to conflicts with the Mi Gang.


    Thest one was fine, blessed with exceptional talent and had faced no issues, but his reputation was not prominent, and it was the time for him to umte strength.


    Under such circumstances, the government office still wanted him to send personnel; wasn''t this tantamount to digging up his roots?


    Did he have a way to refuse?


    No.


    The government office behind this seemed like a huge mountain standing in front of him, rendering him immobile and helpless.


    Li Linfeng''s hands, hidden in his sleeves, could not help but clench into fists, his knuckles turning white.


    The clerk, dressed in uniform and wearing his id card, nced at Li Linfeng and continued, "Our lord knows that Master Li cares for his disciples, a rare good master indeed, but we also hope that Master Li can consider the overall situation and show morepassion for the town''s people."


    Li Linfeng exhaled, took two steps forward, and stared directly at the official from the Guardian Martial Department, his mouth curling into a smile as he said, "I can send my disciples, but I demand that each disciple''s treatment be doubled, twenty taels each, and if they are injured or die as a consequence, apensation of eighty taels, and for direct disciples, double this amount."


    "If your lordship can agree to this, I will make the arrangements. If not, then we shall end this matter. I should consider my disciples more than the town''s people."


    Li Linfeng set a very high price, knowing the past stingy nature of the government office, confident they would not agree.


    He nned to use this to refuse the government''s draft, conserving strength while also bonding the people within the hall.


    However, to Li Linfeng''s surprise, the Guardian Martial Department unprecedently agreed!


    "Good, Master Li truly is a master who treats his disciples like his own children. Before I came here, the County Magistrate had already made it clear that as long as Master Li''s requests are not excessive, they can be granted. I find Master Li''s request to be very reasonable."


    Not only that, but the clerk of the Guardian Martial Department continued to up the ante, taking out a stack of silver notes from his bosom and cing it on the table next to him: "This is a little token prepared specially by the County Magistrate beforeing here, I hope you will kindly ept it."


    Following that, he took out a porcin bottle and said, "I also have here Qi Blood Pills issued by the court, totaling twenty. They can solidify Qi-blood and increase cultivation progress. I hope Master Li will also not make things difficult for a mere official like me."


    "This time, our county government''s determination to eradicate the tiger demon is as solid as a rock, and we hope Master Li can contribute his strength. We will be most grateful."


    Qi Blood Pill?


    Li Linfeng''s expression changed, knowing these were part of the martial benefits provided by the Great Zhou Dynasty Court,parable to a great tonic.


    Outside, one could be worth between one to five taels.


    The Guardian Martial Department was indeed making a huge investment.


    Now that things had reached this point, Li Linfeng already knew he had no room to maneuver.


    He could neither fight nor escape.


    What else could he do?


    The fists that Li Linfeng was clenching inside his sleeves slowly rxed.


    "How many do you need this time?"


    The clerk of the Guardian Martial Department shed a smile and hurriedly said, "Considering Master Li has suffered heavy losses, you only need to allocate one direct disciple, five inner courtyard disciples, and ten outer court disciples. Whoever manages to kill the tiger demon will earn a martial title."


    "Alright, I understand."


    The clerk of the Guardian Martial Department sped his hands and said, "Then we shall gather tomorrow morning at the West City Gate by Mao Hour. Since my task is done, I won''t disturb Master Li any further, I take my leave."


    "Take care, no need for formalities."


    The clerk of the Guardian Martial Department turned and walked towards the door, and the many disciples gathered at the doorway of Linfeng Hall stepped aside, creating a path.


    After he left the inner courtyard hall, Li Linfeng gestured to Ouyang Tiezhu and Wushili, saying, "You guys get some silver from A Fu and sort out the matters for our brothers. For the second one, I''ll handle it myself."


    "Yes, Master," Ouyang Tiezhu stepped forward and asked, "So who is going this time?"


    Li Linfeng stared at Ouyang Tiezhu, then nced at Wushili.


    The matter of the tiger demon was so critical that even Niu Daping and Dong Zizhuang, who were unharmed, had faced trouble. These two had only just recovered from injuries a few days ago; if they went, the chances of misfortune were high.


    At a loss, his gaze inadvertently swept over Shen Qing, who was standing outside the door, and with a resigned sigh, he said, "Let your junior brother go."


    Ouyang Tiezhu and Wushili exchanged looks, "The junior brother has only trained in martial arts for a short time? Even if his talent is exceptional, hisbat experience iscking. If we let him go, it might be a life and death situation."


    Li Linfeng helplessly said, "First ask your junior brother what he thinks."


    Saying this, he gestured to Shen Qing toe over.


    Understanding, Shen Qing approached and bowed with his fists, "Master, you called for me?"


    Li Linfeng said, "I want you to go this time, are you willing? If not, then forget about it."


    Shen Qing nced at everyone, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.


    With continuous cultivation, his true martial strength might approach the Qi Cultivation Realm, and with the advantage of the bow and arrow, it was even more unpredictable.


    Besides, equipped with skills like Turtle Breathing Technique and Eagle Eye, and wearing the Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt, even if he couldn''t defeat the enemy, he had more than enough to protect himself.


    The bigger the storm, the more precious the catch!


    The chance to earn a martial title didn''t alwayse.


    It was also an opportunity to see just how strong he had be after learning so many martial arts and skills.


    With that thought, Shen Qing agreed, "Disciple is willing!"

 Chapter 120: Chapter 44: The Ghost Descends the Mountain, No Taboos Whatsoever

    Linfeng Hall, the study.


    Wisps of faint green smoke slowly rose from a golden bronze incense burner, dispersing the lingering scent of sandalwood.


    Suddenly, the green smoke swirled.


    Shen Qing entered from the main door, "Master, did you call for me?"


    Li Linfeng turned around from his desk, presenting a neatly folded golden vest to Shen Qing.


    "This is?"


    "A Golden Silkworm Armor. It won''t soak in water or burn in fire. Take it and wear it to protect yourself."


    Shen Qing received the Golden Silkworm Armor. The garment was light and thin like gauze and cool to the touch.


    Intertwined golden threads were extremely delicate, emitting a golden luster, clearly indicating it was no ordinary item.


    The fact that his Hall Master uncle was willing to give him such a generous gift took him by surprise.


    Shen Qing did not show embarrassment but gratefully epted, saying, "Thank you, Master."


    Then, Li Linfeng handed over two porcin bottles to Shen Qing, "One contains Qi Blood Pills from the government office that can solidify Qi-Blood and increase cultivation, which is beneficial for your Skin Forging. There are twenty in total; I''ve saved five for you. The other bottle contains Heart Returning Pills, which can save your life in critical moments. Take them both."


    Shen Qing knew that Linfeng Hall wasn''t in a financiallyfortable position, so these gifts were not easy toe by.


    But good things are never too many.


    Shen Qing also epted everything one by one.


    Li Linfeng spoke, somewhat dispirited, "The hall is currently in turmoil, and my energy is limited. I can''t do much to assist you, so be mindful on your own."


    "I understand."


    Li Linfeng waved his hand, showing signs of fatigue, and sat back down.


    Shen Qing gave a fist and palm salute and left the study.


    Many things had happened in Linfeng Halltely, resulting in chaos from top to bottom.


    Unable to help here, Shen Qing decided to return to his dwelling to prepare for climbing the mountain early the next morning.


    As he walked to the inner courtyard, he happened to see Li Lingchan, whom he hadn''t seen for a long time.


    She was dressed in a martial outfit, busying herself with others, dealing with the aftermath for their fellow sect members.


    Li Lingchan seemed to notice something and nced at Shen Qing.


    But soon, she averted her eyes as if worried that looking any longer would give him the wrong idea.


    With no expression to spare, Li Lingchan buried herself in her work again.


    Shen Qing smiled wryly, not the least bit concerned.


    As the sun set gradually, the clouds shifted from golden to orange-red.


    Nightfall crept in quietly, enveloping the world in darkness.


    The day passed in the blink of an eye.


    His elder sister, Shen Fang, knowing that Shen Qing was heading out for a few days, prepared a lot of dried food. She even packed a bundle with clothes for changing and repeatedly went over many details.


    Shen Qing showed no impatience and agreed to everything.


    Before going to bed, he practiced the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill and the Dragon Roar Iron Cloth Shirt, among other Cultivation Techniques, to improve his progress.


    Late into the night, Shen Qing slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and then went to the living room''s Eight Immortals table.


    On it wereid fish, Lingzhi mushrooms, ginseng, and even a precious soup made from Tiger King''s Penis and Jade Deer Tendon.


    Ever since Li Linfeng told him that the Skin Forging Realm required "eating" for cultivation, Shen Qing constantly thought of ways to consume various strengthening substances uninterruptedly.


    He even had an extra supper.


    Because of this, his cultivation had been increasing at a visible rate.


    "Every time I finish my cultivation practices, I feel hungry; this indicates that my body''s strength grows faster than the speed at which I intake essence. The hungrier I am, the faster my strength increases."


    "But the money runs out so quickly, I''ve nearly spent a hundred taels just on food. In the future, I need to find ways to make more money, gain more power."


    Shen Qing grabbed an unknown beast leg and ferociously gnawed at it.


    A momentter, he finished everything on the table.


    Shen Qing felt his whole body as if immersed in a hot spring, warm and cozy, as essence seeped from inside out, causing his skin to flush red.


    He quickly practiced his Martial Arts again and, watching the increasing numbers on the Water Ink Panel, rested contentedly.


    ...


    Meanwhile, dozens of miles away in Shicheng Mountain.


    In an unknown dense forest, shadowy figures emitted blood-red glows.


    If one looked closely, those were pairs of eyes drifting through the woods.


    Among the shadows, a tiger with a striking patterny on the ground, breathing heavily.


    Its breathing was rhythmic, three long breaths followed by a short one, in a continuous cycle, and it was covered in a faint glow of moonlight.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, the tiger opened its eyes and spoke in human tongue, "After eating so many humans in session, my cultivation seems to have improved significantly. For a demon''s path, consuming humans truly is the essential method for cultivation."


    As it spoke, it tore a human arm from behind and threw it into its mouth.


    The sound of bone crushing and flesh tearing rang out continuously in the forest, causing an eerie shudder.


    Gulp.


    The mottled tiger swallowed once, green light flickering in its eyes; a human-like satisfaction appeared on its face, and its fur gleamed metallically under the moonlight.


    After a while, the tiger stood up, opened its bloody maw, and roared arrogantly. The roar exploded like thunder.


    An invisible wave of force emanated from it, rippling outward like water ripples.


    Wherever the shockwave passed, leaves rustled noisily and branches swayed violently as if hit by a sudden storm.


    In the forest, over a hundred ghosts covered their ears from the roar, their faces contorted in pain.


    Their faces were etched with fear, and their eyes flickered with terror.


    Under the impact of the air wave, their bodies swayed, ready to be dispersed at any moment.


    After a long while, the giant tiger finally satiated its roaring and headed down the mountain.


    "The foot of the mountain has been rather livelytely, good for a little feast. It would be best to encounter a woman with higher cultivation, for their flesh is tender and firm, delicious indeed."


    The tiger, mottled like a calf, surveyed the numerous ghosts andmanded in a deep and authoritative voice, "From today on, I want more rations, more, more! I now lift your restrictions, bring me humans, and anyone whoes back empty-handed will be used to fill my stomach."


    Its gaze swept over the ghosts, each one feeling a chill rise from the bottom of their hearts as its gaze touched them.


    "Yes, Mountain Lord!"


    All the ghosts drifting through the forest bowed to the mottled tiger, responding in terror.


    "Ghosts descending the mountain, without any taboo!"


    With a low growl from the mottled tiger, the red light in the eyes of the ghosts diminished a bit.


    In the wailing winds, the ghosts departed in vast numbers, like a torrent rushing down the mountain, disappearing into the night.


    At the foot of the mountain, a vige that had been destroyed by the tiger demon.


    Among the ruined walls, many martial masters tasked with hunting the tiger lit bonfires, forming a circle.


    The night wind howled, shaking the bonfires, casting flickering shadows on everyone''s faces.


    Martial master Bao Renliang poked at the bonfire with a stick, urging the mes to burn brighter.


    The others sat together, chatting casually.


    Though they called it small talk, in reality, it was mostlyints.


    "This vige must have had thirty or forty tiger families before, but now not a single one is left¡ªit has been thoroughly devoured by the tiger demon. I honestly don''t know what the County Magistrate is thinking; why haven''t they taken action yet?"


    Martial master Bao Renliang threw a half-damp log into the fire, muttering to himself.


    Another martial master with a mutton-chop beard gestured for silence with his finger to his lips, then tilted his chin towards the inside of the house signalling, "The officers from the Guardian Martial Department are inside, keep it down."


    "Afraid of them my ass."


    The martial master with the mutton-chop beard spoke in a hushed tone, "I heard that the Lord County Magistrate has encountered some trouble with his cultivationtely and wants to use this incident to diminish the strength of the various gangs and Martial Arts Halls among the people to prevent disturbances."


    A look of surprise shed in Bao Renliang''s eyes, "Really? Such a thing is happening?"


    The martial master with the mutton-chop beard continued, "It''s just something I heard, can''t be certain if it''s true or not. Just listen and let it be. I also heard that the County Magistrate spent a hefty price maneuvering, and as long as no issues arise in his two-year tenure, it''s almost a done deal that he''ll be transferred to a richer post."


    "Damn that cur."


    Just as the martial master with the mutton-chop beard was about to say more, several white shadows shed nearby, apanied by a howling cold wind, making him shiver.


    Turning his head, he suddenly felt the chill at the tip of his nose.


    A pale, twisted face was staring intently at him, almost within reach.


    His heart felt like it was being squeezed, and his feet were as if nailed to the ground, immobile.


    The martial master with the mutton-chop beard swung his hands wildly behind him, but it was to no avail, as he was quickly dragged into the darkness, screaming in agony.


    Only a chilling echo lingered, reverberating through the silent vige.


    Then, the noise abruptly ceased.


    The vige returned to its former tranquility.


    The rest of the martial masters, stunned by this sudden turn of events, drew their weapons, gingerly looking around.


    Yet apart from the howling night wind and flickering firelight, there was no other sign of disturbance.


    The ce where the martial master with the mutton-chop beard had vanished only bore the traces of where he had been dragged away.


    "What was that?"


    "Old Wang was among the best of us in terms of cultivation, how could he disappear in the blink of an eye?"


    Bao Renliang, among them, kept calm and walked to where the traces were.


    Crouching down, his expression was somber as he followed the marks on the ground toward the deep darkness.


    As he focused intently, a pale, bloodied face suddenly surged forth.


    "It''s a ghost... it''s one of the tiger demon''s ghosts!" Bao Renliang, terrified, plopped down on the ground eximing, "Quick, into the house!"


    He had not finished speaking.


    Another scream rang out from behind him.


    Another martial master was seized by the feet by a ghost and dragged into the darkness, vanishing in an instant.


    "Die for me!"


    A martial master stepped forward, flinging a punch at the dark figure.


    But the shadowy apparition passed through him as if it did not exist.


    And in his moment of distraction, a ghost floated behind him and reached into his chest.


    The martial master''s body seemed to be made of paper as a bright red heart was ripped out by the ghost.


    "Into the house, these ghosts can only be hurt by Qi. Let the government officers from the Guardian Martial Department deal with them," said one as the rest brandished their torches and filed towards the door.


    Thest one in line, with grim resolve, threw his torch far away.


    The light drove off the darkness.


    In a fleeting glimpse, the people clearly saw the two martial masters who had been dragged off¡ªnow with their organs ripped out, spilled across the ground.


    Surrounding them were no fewer than ten white figures, their eyes glowing with a bloody light, uniformly advancing towards them, causing their scalps to tingle with fear.


    "Ahh!"


    All the ghosts surged forward en masse.


    In the night, the vige quickly returned to silence.

 Chapter 121: Chapter 45 Distrust

    Mao Hour, below the West City Gate.


    Having made his preparations, Shen Qing, with his Heavy Bow and belongings, arrived at the appointed ce below the West City Gate as agreed.


    By the time he got there, a few officials from the Guardian Martial Department and some martial masters from other forces had already arrived.


    Amongst everyone present, Shen Qing noticed a familiar figure.


    This familiar figure was none other than Xiao Zhi, with whom he was quite acquainted.


    He walked over and said in surprise, "Senior Brother, you''re going as well?"


    Hearing Shen Qing''s greeting, Xiao Zhi also turned around in surprise and said, "This time, Master sent you?"


    Shen Qing nodded and replied, "Mmm, the eldest Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Brother both have hidden injuries, and you know about Second and Third Senior Brother; apart from me, there are no other suitable direct disciples."


    Knowing the situation at Linfeng Hall, all Xiao Zhi could do was sigh helplessly and say, "s... that''s true, there really is no one else suitable."


    "Howe you are going this time?"


    Xiao Zhi smiled and said, "Of course, it''s to fight for a future prospect. If I can sessfully kill the demon this time, I might be able to obtain the status of being listed in the martial arts register. Taking a chance can benefit my family for three generations; this business is worth it."


    Shen Qing nced at him from top to bottom, as if seeing him with new eyes.


    Unexpectedly, this unimpressive-looking cook had some "ambition."


    As the two chatted casually, the people from Linfeng Hall, including one direct disciple and Xiao Zhi, five Inner Disciples, and ten Outer Disciples, gradually arrived.


    As far as Shen Qing knew, every year, Linfeng Hall would have disciples with inadequate Sight or insufficient financial resources leave, but these people were notpletely out of touch with Linfeng Hall.


    As former disciples of Linfeng Hall, they could asionally take on tasks from Linfeng Hall to supplement their family ie.


    Therefore, among the people who came, some were known to Shen Qing, and some were old disciples who had already left the hall and were unrecognizable to him.


    Seeing that most people had arrived,


    The five officials from the Guardian Martial Department checked the roster, confirmed there were no issues, and then, raising their voices, announced, "It''s gettingte, let''s set out now."


    Shen Qing took a quick look at the crowd; aside from the sixteen of them from Linfeng Hall, other forces had also sent a simr number of people, with the entire team approaching fifty people.


    All of them were martial masters.


    And there were already several other such groups assembled.


    The tiger demon lurking in Shicheng Mountain might be tougher to deal with than he had imagined.


    On the official road, the five government officers from the Guardian Martial Department, in a two-one-two formation, led the group toward Shicheng Mountain.


    Different forces'' members naturally found their respective groups, formed alliances, and created their own small collectives.


    "May I ask, sir, how do we n to arrange so many people?"


    Along the way, a martial master around thirty approached an officer of the Guardian Martial Department to ask.


    Yu Xiaoruo, being an official of the Guardian Martial Department, looked back and saw that the martial master was tall and sturdy with a resolute face, one he had not seen before.


    He replied straightforwardly, "We will divide into five teams, each stationed in viges near Shicheng Mountain to track the tiger demon. Once we find it, we''ll coborate to kill and eliminate it."


    "Are there other people in the viges now?"


    "Of course, we''re going to supplement their reduced numbers."


    "I see," said the martial master, around thirty, as he cupped his hands and asked, "May I know how to address you, sir?"


    "Cut to the chase, if you have something to say, say it!"


    "Sir, my name is Chang Yinfa. I studied with Master Li for a year, the year beforest. This modest gift is not to pay respect."


    Yu Xiaoruo discreetly epted and asked, "So, what do you want to do?"


    Chang Yinfa said with a smile, "I wonder if you could transfer me to a stronger team?"


    "What? You don''t trust your Linfeng Hall?"


    "Ah... The direct disciples of Master Li have either died or been maimed, and although the direct disciple sent this time has some talent, he has only studied for half a year andcks actualbat experience; I have to consider my own safety, don''t I?"


    With a smile stered on his face, Chang Yinfa slid some more Silver over, "Please, sir, make an arrangement."


    Yu Xiaoruo from the Guardian Martial Department pointed to a side and instructed, "Go to that team."


    Following Chang Yinfa, many more of Linfeng Hall''s new and old disciples came forward, giving Silver to the Guardian Martial Department officers.


    Shen Qing''s eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked Xiao Zhi beside him, "What are they doing?"


    Xiao Zhi had interacted with these people before and knew what was going on, but after hesitating for a moment, still said, "They''re reorganizing their teams."


    "Reorganizing their teams?"


    Shen Qing immediately grasped the situation. The rewards offered by the county government for this tiger demon hunt were substantial, enough that some were tempted to muddy the waters and try their luck.


    These were people who did not trust him and were seeking a safer ce.


    "Should we stop them?"


    Shen Qing said, "No need, let them go."


    In his view, these kinds of people were useless even if they were persuaded to join; they wouldn''t be much help to him.


    Soon, under Shen Qing''s deliberate indifference, the number in Linfeng Hall''s original team of sixteen sharply dropped to seven.


    Aside from Xiao Zhi who trusted him, those who remained were partly those without money or too stingy to part with it, and partly those confident in their own strength who couldn''t be bothered to move. That''s why they stayed.


    People from other factions looked on with pity for Shen Qing.


    When the team reached a fork in the road, Yu Xiaoruo, a government officer from the Guardian Martial Department, had everyone stop and arranged, "There are two viges nearby, brothers of Linfeng Hall, your station will be at Shiqiao Vige here; brothers from Feiying Pavilion should take this road and head up to Heshan Vige. If you spot the tiger demon, set off fireworks to signal. Understood?"


    "Understood."


    The crowd answered in unison, and each group split off.


    Each team was apanied by someone from the Guardian Martial Department.


    The man paired with Shen Qing was a government officer from the Guardian Martial Department named Lian Bing, who looked honest and straightforward.


    As he passed by Shen Qing, he nced at him with an almost imperceptible look, his expression unfriendly.


    It was as if his assignment with Shen Qing was particrly unlucky.


    After a considerable walk, they finally arrived at the so-called Shiqiao Vige.


    The entire mountain vige was dpidated and rundown.


    A small stone bridgey across a mountain stream, overgrown with wild grass.


    Crossing the stone bridge, at the entrance of the vige, there were a few houses that looked as though they had been abandoned for many years, falling into disrepair.


    An old disciple from Linfeng Hall looked around and remarked, "This vige doesn''t seem to have been abandoned due to the impact of the tiger demon, it seems to have been deserted even earlier."


    "Life in the mountains is never easy; there are many such abandoned viges in Shicheng Mountain," Lian Bing said indifferently, "We have more than a dozen people stationed here, let''s go join them first."


    Under Lian Bing''s lead, they proceeded towards the depths of Shiqiao Vige.


    The entire vige was eerily empty and lifeless, and everyone felt that something was amiss.


    Lian Bing spoke in a deep voice, "Stay alert."


    Everyone''s expressions turned serious, and they followed Lian Bing to the front of a rtively intact house.


    A strong smell of blood wafted from inside the house.


    Lian Bing''s expression turned grim.


    "Kick open the door, let''s go in and take a look."


    A burly man didn''t hesitate and kicked hard against the door.


    "Charge!"


    Lian Bing took the lead and charged in, with the others filing in behind him.


    Shen Qing quietly followed after the others, confirming there was no danger before entering.


    When he saw the scene inside the house, his brow furrowed tightly.


    There was no one in the house, or rather, noplete person.


    Eyeballs sticking to tendons and chewed remains of skulls...


    The gnawed remains of human bodies were strewn haphazardly everywhere.


    Lian Bing moved close to the mutted corpses and examined them thoroughly.


    He touched the bloodstains with his hand, rolled it between his fingers, and discovered it had not yet dried. This meant that the incident had urred not long ago.


    "Now this poses a problem..."

 Chapter 122: Chapter 46: Our Hunt Begins

    The people inside the room stirred.


    All eight here had some bravado and did not show much fear or timidity.


    Some were here specifically to achieve meritorious deeds and were actually eager to try.


    A Linfeng Hall elder brother, unfamiliar to them, stood up. His face was square and exuded a resolute strength as he said, "Officer Lian, could this be the work of the tiger demon?"


    Lian Bing, serving as both an arrestor and Martial Artist for the Guardian Martial Department, stood up, looked around, and said, "Based on the intelligence we''ve gathered so far, the tiger demon in the mountains has a preference for eating humans. Although there are no traces of fierce animals here, it''s highly likely that it''s rted to it."


    The elder brother said, "So, you mean the tiger demon is nearby?"


    Lian Bing nodded and then shook his head, "Not necessarily. That tiger demon moves like the wind, its whereabouts uncertain. It may have already left for another ce."


    Having said that, he instructed sternly, "Search the surrounding area and see if there are any traces."


    "Yes."


    Including Shen Qing, the seven from Linfeng Hall scattered in all directions from the house, following Lian Bing''s order.


    Xiao Zhi, having witnessed Shen Qing''s capabilities and trusting him, instinctively moved closer to Shen Qing, "Junior brother, shall we go together?"


    "Alright."


    Relieved by Shen Qing''s agreement, Xiao Zhi came closer, lowered his voice, and said, "Junior brother, if the tiger demon appears, remember not to charge ahead. If we can join, take the chance to earn some merit, but if the situation turns bad, run immediately. Life is the most important thing."


    Shen Qing nced at Xiao Zhi, whose grease-slicked ears somehow gave off a ''sneaky'' aura, prompting him to take another long look at him.


    At that moment, he realized the cook had some wisdom.


    Good.


    If he couldn''t judge what was important, it would be a lot more trouble for Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "Thanks for the reminder, senior brother."


    Xiao Zhi waved a hand and began searching the area for clues around Shen Qing.


    But after searching for a long time, not a single tiger hair was found.


    "Junior brother, does this count as a clue?" Xiao Zhi pushed aside some bushes and pointed to a spot.


    On hearing this, Shen Qing went over and saw that behind the bushes was a small clearing.


    There was a piece of excrement on the ground.


    Human excrement.


    It had not yet started to dpose.


    Shen Qing was at a loss for words. He turned his head and said, "If this were tiger dung, it would be considered a clue. Unfortunately, it''s human, so it doesn''t prove anything."


    "Right..."


    Just then, someone shouted from not too far away, "Come over here, there''s someone here!"


    Shen Qing and Xiao Zhi looked at each other, "Let''s go take a look."


    The two made their way toward the voice.


    By the time Shen Qing and Xiao Zhi arrived, the surrounding area of the bushes waspletely sealed off.


    Someone on the periphery said they found an officer from the Guardian Martial Department in the bushes, still alive, barely hanging on to his breath.


    The people lifted the officer out, making room, and ced him on the ground.


    Lian Bing quickly took out a small blue pill and administered it to him with some water.


    Momentster, the rescued officer''s face turned rosy, and he began to cough vigorously. Slowly, he opened his eyes and regained some spirit.


    Seeing Lian Bing, he grabbed his cor, agitated, and said, "Quick, quick, there are others who are not dead, go save them, and we have found the tiger demon''s tracks..."


    The rescued officer said a lot in one breath.


    Lian Bing''s face changed dramatically, and he asked urgently, "A Lin, what exactly happened?"


    "No time now, save them first. After the rescue, I''ll exin slowly..." The rescued officer let out a breath, sat up straight, and hurriedly said, "You carry me, I''ll guide you all!"


    Lian Bing frowned, looked up, and randomly pointed at one of the crowd, "You,e over and carry him."


    "Me?" Shen Qing was slightly taken aback, and before he could ask, Lian Bing did not seem inclined to exin.


    He called out to the others loudly, "Get ready, let''s go save them, the tiger demon might be right there with them."


    Whoosh!


    Everyone geared up, full of alertness and readiness.


    Seeing that Shen Qing had not yet approached, Lian Bing shot a sharp nce his way, "Come over here, quickly."


    Shen Qing, realizing he could not avoid it, had a look of helplessness on his face.


    Reluctantly, he walked over to the rescued officer, crouched down, and motioned for him to get on his back.


    The rescued officer said apologetically, "Sorry for the trouble."


    Shen Qing looked the officer up and down surprisingly but said nothing more.


    The saved officer sprawled onto Shen Qing''s back, and Shen Qing barely felt any weight, easily standing up.


    "Go!"


    After the saved officer pointed in a direction, Lian Bing hurriedly led his men to rush there.


    Soon, under the guidance of the saved officer, they plunged into the dense forest.


    Within the forest, Lian Bing and others indeed found some bloodstains and viscera, which couldn''t help but make their expressions even more solemn.


    After making several turns in different directions, the group went deeper and deeper.


    "Little brother, why are you falling further behind?" the saved officer asked strangely, "How can I guide you like this?"


    "My training is all in finger techniques, I''m not good with leg techniques, naturally, I can''t match the other seniors," Shen Qing said without a blush or bated breath, "To guide us, you can just shout."


    "Alright then," the saved officer stopped quibbling and asked, "What''s your name, little brother?"


    "Shen Qing!"


    "Oh, you look quite young."


    "I''m only sixteen."


    "That is quite young."


    At the very front, Lian Bing, who hadn''t yet reached the destination, had his patience nearly worn thin, "How much farther to go?"


    "We''re already near, we''ve arrived!" the saved officer shouted, his voice spreading far and wide.


    "Huh?" Just after the officer had shouted, he saw that Shen Qing had already stopped in his tracks, and said in dismay, "Why have you stopped moving?"


    Shen Qing said, "You''re too heavy, my feet are sore, I can''t walk anymore."


    The saved officer was somewhat speechless.


    But seeing that they had alreadye this far, it didn''t matter to him anymore.


    At this moment, the saved officer''s face began to melt away like a burning candle, slowly transforming into another, unfamiliar face.


    With a ferocious smile, he suddenly reached out for Shen Qing''s heart.


    However, just as he raised his hand, Shen Qing had already grabbed his arm.


    "What are you trying to do?"


    The color drained from the saved officer''s face, clearly Shen Qing had taken him by surprise. Discover hidden content at m,v l''e-NovelBin


    He looked up and shouted loudly, "Brothers, our hunt begins now!"


    "The hunt?"


    Those at the front hadn''t yet processed what was happening when dark shadows emerged from the deep, shadowy forest, numerous and more than twenty strong, encircling Lian Bing and his men.


    Seeing the many shadows that suddenly appeared, Lian Bing''s scalp tingled, "Ghosts???"


    "Kill!"


    As if given amand, all the ghosts surged forward.


    Lian Bing shouted hurriedly, "Everyone, don''t be afraid at all! They can shift between tangible and intangible, and once you fear the ghosts, you won''t be able to catch their bodies, and death is certain!!!"


    Unfortunately, he was still a step behind, and some were so terrified by the sudden turn of events that their faces turned ghostly pale.


    A ghost dove straight into one of them, bursting out through his stomach.


    The screams of agony were incessant, with many martial masters sumbing and being no match at all.


    The saved officer sighed deeply and said, "You''re pretty sharp, not falling into the trap, but our mountain lord cherishes fine, tender flesh like yours, what a pity! Die!"


    After that, he wed down.


    Shen Qing watched as those sharp fingers aimed at his body.


    They drew closer and closer.


    He couldn''t help but inhale sharply.


    The ck nails looked cold and grim.


    If he were injured, who knew what the consequences would be.


    And facing a ghost for the first time, his pupils dted instantaneously, and the muscles on his face involuntarily twisted into a grimace.


    At that moment, Martial Arts such as Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Wind Defying Finger, and Blood Dominance Technique were activated to their utmost.


    Shen Qing''s body crackled, veins on his arms bulging as his muscles swelled markedly.


    He brought his fingers together and spun around abruptly, pointing a finger at the officer.


    Boom!


    A burning heat and an explosive force burst forth simultaneously.


    The ghost, bewildered by what had happened, still had its smile frozen on its face when it was instantly turned to dust and smoke.

 Chapter 123: Chapter 47: Such a Ghost is Wiped Out with a Single Finger

    Shen Qing was stunned.


    He hadn''t expected that a single jab from him could obliterate the ghost to the point where not even residue remained.


    In the dense forest ahead,


    the ghosts kept emerging from all directions, each with ferocious faces, blood-red eyes, and a cruel smile hanging at the corners of their mouth.


    Once human, they had been turned into evil ghosts after falling prey to the tiger demon, losing their humanity.


    At this moment, they were inching closer and weaving towards the location of Lian Bing and others with their ws bared and teeth shing.


    Lian Bing and the others werepletely encircled by the ghosts, with no avenue of escape.


    The ghosts moved erratically and at an unbelievably fast pace.


    The sudden chaos had instilled fear in many, whose punches and weapons could not harm the ghosts at all.


    Blood sttered everywhere as screams echoed through the deep woods, one after another.


    Those who were tackled down by the ghosts were instantly devoured by the darkness, leaving behind nothing but their piercing wails.


    Lian Bing seemed to have some experience dealing with ghosts, managing to injure them slightly with his strong power, but that was about as far as he could go.


    After joining forces with another martial master to take down one ghost, both appeared exhausted and their faces inevitably showed a color of despair.


    With just a single ghost being such a struggle, they had no chance of survival against so many more.


    Xiao Zhi, who had kept a watchful eye and realized that the situation was going south, took to his heels and ran.


    Seeing Shen Qing standing there in a daze, Xiao Zhi shouted, "Run! There are too many ghosts here, we''re no match for them!"


    The ghosts in the woods, hearing themotion, all looked up and began chasing after Xiao Zhi.


    One of the ghosts leered with a hideousugh as it lunged towards Xiao Zhi.


    Xiao Zhi felt a chill throughout his body.


    It''s over!


    In a panic, Xiao Zhi closed his eyes and iled blindly behind him.


    After a moment, when there was no movement and he sustained no injuries, he cautiously opened his eyes to unexpectedly find an arm, with a sword pointed outstretched in front of him.


    By that time, the ghost that had lunged at him had vanished without a trace.


    Turning his head around, Xiao Zhi saw Shen Qing looking at him with a smile.


    "Help me grab the bow and arrows."


    Shen Qing took off the bow and arrows strapped to his back and tossed them to Xiao Zhi.


    Xiao Zhi caught the heavy bow and dark iron arrows in a flurry of panic.


    With a look of astonishment and numbness, Xiao Zhi watched as Shen Qing rolled up his sleeves and strode forward.


    After killing two ghosts in a row, Shen Qing seemed to have gained some confidence in his strength.


    To such ghosts, he could obliterate one with a single finger!


    Shen Qing quietly advanced to an open space, where the sunlight, dappled through the dense foliage, fell upon him and dotted the damp ground beneath.


    From a distance, he appeared akin to a fearsome and majestic deity or demon.


    His sharp and murderous gaze was directed forward, faintly tinged with the madness of bloodthirst.


    The ghosts, possessing some spiritual wisdom, noticed that Shen Qing could y one of their kind with a single finger and realized that he was not to be trificked with.


    "So you do know fear! I thought you ghosts were devoid of emotions. Seems like you''re not so different from us after all."


    Shen Qing took one step after another forward, exerting an indescribable pressure.


    With every step he advanced, the ghosts retreated one step.


    The still-living Lian Bing and another square-faced martial master, witnessing this unbelievable scene, felt waves of shock stirring in their hearts.


    It was then that Shen Qing''smanding, cold voice resonated through the deep woods.


    "Well then, if that''s the case, I won''t hold back. If you don''t want to die, try stopping me with all your might!!"


    As soon as his words fell, Shen Qing suddenly sprinted toward the ghosts in front of him, plunging headfirst into their midst.


    The Wind Defying Finger was a martial arts technique known for its speed, and was greatlyplemented by the enhancement of movement technique in hunting skills.


    Shen Qing was upon them in the blink of an eye.


    "Die!"


    Thebination of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill and the Wind Defying Finger caused Shen Qing''s hands to blur into an afterimage as they pointed out, striking one of the ghosts.


    With a soft "puff", the ghost was struck by the finger wind, and instantly dissipated into a wisp of smoke in the air, unable to emit even a cry of agony.


    "Weak, weak, weak, too weak! Not even requiring a third of my power, pathetic!"


    Shen Qing''s expression was frantic.


    He struck out consecutively, each strike precisely hitting a ghost.


    In front of the wind from his fingers, these ghosts had no resistance¡ªthey turned into ck smoke and dissipated one after another.


    "Worthless, worthless, worthless!"


    The remaining ghosts, driven by resentment, screamed and howled, finding no escape, they pounced toward Shen Qing with bared teeth and ws.


    But it was all in vain.


    With a muffled ''pfft'' sound,


    Shen Qing''s finger connected with thest ghost in front of Lian Bing, its powerful qi turning the ghost to ashes.


    As Lian Bing watched in stunned silence, Shen Qing stopped moving and slowly withdrew his hand.


    The scene became quiet once again.


    Under the shadow of fear, breaths that had been held were now turning into heavy pants.


    "All worthless!" Shen Qing said with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, "Officer Lian, are you all alright?"


    Lian Bing couldn''t help but swallow hard, stuttering, "No... no... problems..."


    "Good to hear that you are fine."


    Shen Qing looked around and saw the four fallen disciples, not quite understanding.


    Why did they die to such pathetic ghosts?


    "Perhaps, it is not that they were too weak, but that I am too strong?"


    Shen Qing muttered to himself, somewhat uncertain.


    Meanwhile, in Nanshan Vige surrounding Shicheng Mountain,


    Chang Yinfa, along with a few senior disciples from Linfeng Hall, and Yu Xiaoruo from the Guardian Martial Department, walked in.


    They had been assigned to this location.


    "Mr. Yu, why is the vige so quiet, where are the people?" Chang Yinfa asked nervously.


    Yu Xiaoruo from the Guardian Martial Department nced at him, and said nonchntly, "During the day, everyone must be out hunting the tiger on the mountain, how could they stay at the base point? We''ll find out when we go in."


    Chang Yinfa suddenly realized, "Oh!"


    A group of people walked into the vige.


    Yu Xiaoruo from the Guardian Martial Department pped the door beside him and called out, "We''re here, may I ask where our brothers from the Martial Department are?"


    There was no response.


    Yu Xiaoruo from the Guardian Martial Department frowned, sensing something wrong.


    "Mr. Yu, listen, there seems to be a sound."


    "Shh, no one makes a sound." Yu Xiaoruo from the Guardian Martial Department tilted his head, listening carefully, and indeed, heard some noises.


    The sounds were a bit like that of pigs smacking their lips while eating.


    "Over here."


    Someone quickly followed the sound.


    Upon discovering the source of the noise, everyone''s face turned pale, and they could not utter another word.


    In front of them sat arge tiger with a variegated coat, gnawing on the corpse of a martial master from the Guardian Martial Department.


    Surrounding it, seven or eight ghosts stood guard, their pale faces uniformly turning toward them.


    Chang Yinfa felt something stuck in his throat as he managed to say with difficulty, "Tiger... tiger demon... "


    The calf-sized tiger lifted its head and stared at them, emitting a human-like smile, "Yo, more snacks have delivered themselves!"


    Without a word, Yu Xiaoruo from the Guardian Martial Department turned and ran.


    "Run!"


    The others, snapping to their senses, scattered as one.


    The tiger demon''s smile subsided, and it tossed aside the human leg in its paw, standing up.


    At that moment, the surrounding ghosts, as if understanding its intent, transformed into shadows and gave chase.


    "Rarely do mice stumble in; let''s have some fun with them, a nice way to digest."


    The tiger demon had just taken a step forward when it abruptly stopped.


    The huge tiger turned its head toward another part of the forest, looking puzzled, "What''s going on? Why have my little ghosts dwindled so rapidly?"


    It spun around, shaking its head, then suddenly darted into the woods, rushing toward the direction of its sense.

 Chapter 124: Chapter 48 Skin Forging Great Perfection, Qi Cultivation Realm

    In the gloomy forest.


    Four bodies were scattered haphazardly, like carelessly discarded dolls.


    Their faces were twisted, frozen in expressions of terror from just before they died.


    The blood, under the sunlight, disyed a sinister dark red, pooling into small streams on the ground, meandering along.


    The air was thick with the iron-like stench of blood mixed with the putrid smell of rotting leaves.


    asionally, a breeze would blow, but it couldn''t dispel the heavy scent of blood.


    The three surviving members of Lian Bing''s team had their gazes tightly locked on Shen Qing, filled with confusion and suspicion.


    They looked at him as if they were seeing some indescribable monster.


    Lian Bing opened his mouth to ask something, but in the deathly still forest, he found he had no words to begin with.


    He lowered his head to nce at Shen Qing, allowing the shock to spread through his heart.


    After a while, under the gazes of the men, Shen Qing bent down, methodically searched the corpses, and collected their Silver and Qi Blood Pills, unashamedly pocketing them.


    Lian Bing and his men did not stop him, finding it perfectly natural.


    After confirming he missed nothing, Shen Qing took out a bright red Qi Blood Pill and held it in his palm.


    He approached Lian Bing and asked, "Officer Lian, are these Qi Blood Pills actually of great use?"


    Lian Bing, snapping to attention, respectfully bowed and truthfully replied, "This is amon elixir provided as part of our official sry by the government office; one Qi Blood Pill contains more Essence Qi than a bowl of tonic soup. We usually take one before cultivation to speed up the process. We also take one after feeling exhausted from a battle outside to revive our spirits."


    "I see. I just went through a battle and used up quite a bit of energy; this will be good for replenishing."


    Shen Qing looked at the Qi Blood Pill with interest for a few moments, then tossed it into his mouth, crunching it up.


    It tasted a bit like a calcium tablet, with a hint of sweetness.


    Gurgle!


    Shen Qing swallowed it down and quietly felt the effects for a while.


    At first, there was no apparent effect, but after a moment, he suddenly felt invigorated.


    Here ites!


    Shen Qing sensed a faint herbal fragrance diffusing from his mouth as the Essence Qi from his bone marrow merged with that in the pill, spreading from inside out, continuously permeating and expanding,


    This immense Essence Qi, along with his Qi-Blood, ran wild like a runaway horse, rushing through his meridians and continuously cleansing his flesh and skin.


    Shen Qing noticed that the membrane created from refining the Dragon Roar Armor on his arm became even more crystalline and translucent, with the disseminating Essence Qi being locked within it.


    His skin began to turn a visible shade of red, from afar, resembling a boiled shrimp.


    Shen Qing knew this was the effect of the Qi Blood Pill.


    He was delighted, guiding the medicinal essence through his meridians, repeatedly cleansing his body.


    The effect of one Qi Blood Pillsted for the duration of half an incense stick beforepletely fading.


    Barely experiencing any sensation, it stopped. Shen Qing frowned slightly, feeling somewhat displeased.


    Without hesitation, he immediately took out another Qi Blood Pill and swallowed it.


    Shen Qing then felt his skin begin to tighten and harden, as if about to touch a separateyer, continually changing.


    He understood that this was the result of his cultivation advancing under the effect of the Qi Blood Pill.


    The first use of a Qi Blood Pill was extraordinarily beneficial for him.


    After consuming two pills, Shen Qing still felt a deep hunger in his muscle and bone, far from reaching his limit.


    "If that''s the case¡­"


    Shen Qing gulped down the remaining seven Qi Blood Pills in one go.


    On the side, Lian Bing, upon seeing this, couldn''t help but gape in astonishment.


    He had never seen such a ferocious method of consumption.


    Because he ate too many at once, arge amount of Essence Qi escaped from his orifices.


    Shen Qing hurriedly covered his mouth and nose, continuously transforming the energy.


    Time slowly passed, and at a certain moment¡ª


    Shen Qing suddenly heard a muffled sound by his ear, as if in an instant, he had violently broken through a barrier.


    In his muscles and skin, something seemed to burst and shatter.


    Following that, the muscles attached to Shen Qing''s bones started to wriggle and slowly expand.


    The flush on his skin faded like a receding tide, merging into the skin, and then everything abruptly stopped.


    Shen Qing raised his hand to touch it, feeling a series of cold, hard touches.


    "Did I just¡­plete the Skin Forging? Have I advanced to the Qi Cultivation Realm?"


    Shen Qing''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    He clenched his fists and moved his muscles and bones, finding that every action was filled with immense power.


    His entire skin was as thick as cowhide and as hard as iron.


    "As I suspected, the Skin Forging Realm was indeed the realm I was most likely to break through," Shen Qing murmured to himself, "With this strength and the Dragon Roar Armor, my defense must have reached a terrifying level."


    He unclenched his fists, stood with his hands by his sides, and looked around, his face filled with immense confidence.


    Lian Bing and Xiao Zhi and others did not know about the internal changes in Shen Qing at this moment. They only felt that his aura had subtly changed, seemingly bing more... powerful...


    Just then, a loud explosion sounded from the distant forest.


    Shen Qing and hispanions quickly looked towards the sound.


    Lian Bing stood and blurted out, "Someone has spotted a tiger demon."


    A sh of panic crossed his face.


    Previously, he did not realize how terrifying the tiger demon was, but having seen the difficulty they had with ghosts, and now hearing about the tiger demon, he was like a frightened bird.


    Shen Qing nced at Lian Bing but said nothing.


    He turned and looked at an old tree thick enough for two people to embrace, then kicked off the ground and rushed up the trunk to the canopy.


    He looked towards the direction of the explosion, his eyes intense, "Eagle Eye!"


    Whiz!


    Images from the forest flooded into Shen Qing''s mind. These images began toe together, forming an aerial view.


    He clearly saw birds scattering in the woods in one area.


    A tiger as big as a calf, with distinctive markings, was dashing through the woods, heading in his direction.


    Shen Qing licked his lips and shouted to Xiao Zhi, "Give me the bow and arrows!"


    Xiao Zhi beneath the tree heard him and hastily threw up the heavy bow with arrows.


    Shen Qing caught it with one hand.


    Hooking his foot around a branch, he steadied himself on the tree.


    Under the hot, brilliant sun amidst the lush green mountains, Shen Qing slowly raised the heavy bow in his hands.


    His arm stretched out, the muscles like tree burls swelling, their lines smooth, filled with explosive power.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, ced a heavy arrow on the bowstring, and pulled the string back.


    As the bowstring was pulled to a full circle, a brief silence fell over the woods.


    Shen Qing fiercely released his fingers, and the bowstring snapped with a thunderous sound.


    The dark iron arrow tore through the sky, carrying a whistling wind and fierce momentum, and shot towards a spot in the distant forest in a perfect arc.


    The striking tiger, focused on its path, suddenly sensed a chilling murderous intent, was shocked, and its fur bristled.


    It had not yet understood what was happening when it saw a ck light descending from the sky, heading straight for it.


    Boom!


    The moment the ck light hit it, it was as if the entire forest shook.

 Chapter 125: Chapter 49 The Tiger Demon Appears

    The powerful shock wave, with the tiger demon at its center, instantly spread out, shattering the surrounding trees and kicking up a great cloud of dust and debris.


    As the smoke gradually cleared, it revealed the tiger demon in an utterly disheveled state.


    It had been heavily smashed to the ground, its body forging a deep pit in the stiff soil below, and its originally golden fur was now matted with dust and shattered stone.


    Even more horrifying was the dark iron Arrow embedded in its massive hind, exposing a fierce wound.


    Waves of excruciating pain constantly emanated from its hind.


    The tiger demon''s eyes, like copper bells, were now filled with shock and reluctance.


    Ever since it had started devouring humans, its cultivation had rapidly improved.


    Its entire body had long be impervious to swords and spears.


    The arrows of the Hunters could not even scratch it.


    Recently, the Martial Artists who hade to the mountain to hunt it found that their swords and des felt no more threatening than tickles, merely cutting a few tiger hairs.


    Over time, its ambitions swelled, and it increasingly dismissed the humans here, indulging in excessive predation.


    In its eyes, the so-called Human n Martial Artists were nothing special.


    But now, it had been wounded by a seemingly insignificant iron arrow, how could it possibly ept this?


    The tiger demon struggled to lift its head, looking in the direction from which the dark glow had shot.


    Its eyes slightly narrowed, focusing their sharp gaze, gradually discerning the figure of a young man standing on a distant treetop with a longbow in hand.


    "Good, very good, extremely good! The flesh of such a powerful human is rich in Essence Qi, and consuming him would greatly enhance my cultivation," mused the mountain lord.


    The tiger demon turned its head and bit down on the dark iron Arrow lodged in its hind, ready to yank it out, all the while imagining the delightful scene of devouring its assant.


    Just then, another dark glow came shooting towards it.


    Tiger demon: "What the fuck..."


    Boom!


    Once again, a cloud of dust spread everywhere.


    Perched in the treetop, Shen Qing retracted his longbow, his eyes sharp as torches.


    Utilizing his eagle-like vision, he continuously tracked the tiger demon''s location.


    Confirming that the tiger demon had not moved, Shen Qing immediately shouted to Xiao Zhi below, "Pass me the rest of the arrows!"


    Xiao Zhi wasted no time, quickly tossing all of the remaining dark iron Heavy Arrows up to Shen Qing''s hands.


    Shen Qing caught them seamlessly, ready at once.


    Without any hesitation, Shen Qing fired arrows in rapid session, shooting them one after another from his hand.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    In that instant, arrows gleamed in the sunlight, whistling sharply as they raced towards the tiger demon.


    The fierce sound of tearing through the air materialized.


    The arrows wove into a dense in mid-flight, entrapping the tiger demon firmly within it.


    The tiger demon, already impaled by two arrows in its hind, barely came to its senses before it was bewildered by the barrage of arrows.


    Boom, boom, boom...


    One by one, the arrows pierced the tiger demon''s fur, sinking into its body, causing blood to stter in all directions.


    "I''ll fuck your mother... Roar!"


    The tiger demon let out a mournful roar that echoed in the distance.


    Hum!


    A bloody radiance burst forth from the body of the tiger demon.


    The subsequent arrows instantly prated the thick blood-colored radiance, creating invisible ripples.


    However, after piercing through the bloody glow, the arrows lost their momentum and failed to sink any further into the tiger demon''s body.


    By now, the tiger demon''s body had been prated by six or seven arrows, its blood drenching the ground.


    "Roar!"


    The tiger demon, frantic with rage, opened its huge, bloodied mouth and roared.


    It no longer cared about the arrows stuck in its body, and a bloody wind burst forth around it as it sprinted towards Shen Qing''s location.


    In the woods, Xiao Zhi and the others heard the continuous roar of the tiger, which grew progressively closer. Their faces drained of all color in an instant.


    Seeing that the tiger demon was on guard, Shen Qing knew that his Heavy Bow wouldn''t catch it off guard like at the start. He decided it wasn''t worth wasting his strength anymore.


    He put away the Heavy Bow and leaped down from the tree canopy,nding steadily on the ground.


    Shen Qing handed the Heavy Bow to Xiao Zhi and said, "The tiger demon ising, you should find somewhere to hide."


    "And what about you?" Xiao Zhi asked.


    Shen Qing smiled and responded, "I, of course, am going to try and kill it!"


    Xiao Zhi knew his abilities were limited and he wouldn''t be of help here. He sped his fists and moved away.


    Shen Qing then turned to Lian Bing and his senior with the square face, asking, "What about you two?"


    The senior with the square face gave a wry smile and said, "I''ve been injured fighting Ghosts, my Qi-Blood surged up and damaged my meridians. I can''t run far; I''ll stay here. Maybe I can still serve as bait for you."


    Lian Bing followed, "I''m in a simr state; I''ll stay here too, hoping not to be a hindrance."


    Seeing their resolve, Shen Qing said no more. Find your next read at m_v l|e-NovelBin


    He stood still, slowly regting his breath, gradually bringing his body to its optimal state.


    The mountains and forests were quiet, with only the asional disgruntled chirping of insects and birds.


    A faint scent of blood wafted through the woonds.


    In the distance, the noise from the tiger demon drew ever closer.


    Lian Bing and his senior with the square face felt their hearts rise to their throats, eyes fixated on the direction of the tiger demon.


    Deep and powerful, the rhythmic sound of the tiger''s footsteps echoed through the forest.


    Rustle rustle.


    Tree after tree, bramble after bramble, were pushed aside by a massive figure.


    A tremendous pressure rolled forth all at once.


    Lian Bing and the senior with the square face saw the true form of the tiger demon, their throats constricted as if gripped by an invisible hand, unable to utter a sound.


    Their hearts pounded like drums, echoing in their ears.


    It was enormous!


    The tiger''s size was akin to that of a bull, its eyes asrge as copper bells, filled with a wild and beastly ferocity.


    At that moment, Shen Qing had already brought the Dragon Roar Armor to its limit. The membrane covering his body became even more crystalline and lustrous.


    In the sunlight, it shimmered subtly, making him appear as though he were wearing ayer of transparent armor.


    Suddenly, a breeze swept swiftly through the forest.


    Shen Qing looked up and saw the tiger demon covered in arrows, his face betraying a trace of unnoticeable delight.


    "I didn''t expect the tiger demon to bring the arrows back. It''s not an easy task to find arrows in such a vast forest."


    The tiger demon''srge frame was also incredibly agile.


    It twisted its hind body a few times in the forest, effortlessly drawing out from the trees, standingpletely before Shen Qing.


    The tiger demon stared at Shen Qing, baring its teeth and speaking in human tongue, "You''re the first to injure me in many days, and your scent is delicious and strong. To specially thank you, I''ve decided to lick off your flesh, bit by bit."


    With that, the tiger demon opened its wide mouth, revealing its backward-curving tongue, and licked its own face.


    "Huh, a talking tiger¡ªthis is my first time seeing one," Shen Qing suddenly said.


    The tiger demon was momentarily stunned; the fearful, pleading scene it had anticipated did not ur.


    Shen Qing''s words seemed to have caught it off guard, unsure of how to respond.


    At that moment, Shen Qing looked at the tiger demon, his mouth curving steeply into a smile. A fierce joy spread across his otherwise calm and indifferent face as he took steps forward.


    Suddenly, his pace quickened, the muscles on his right arm swelling rapidly.


    Apanied by a fierce whistling sound, Shen Qing''s finger jabbed violently toward the tiger demon¡­

 Chapter 126: Chapter 50: Slaying

    The tiger demon, having been thwarted repeatedly, was clearly on guard.


    As Shen Qing made a sudden move, it let out a roar, and in front of it, a blood-red radiance quickly coalesced into a Blood Shield, like a sea of blood.


    Shen Qing''s fingers pierced deeply into the Blood Shield, as if stabbing into the warm flesh of a cavity.


    His Wind Defying Finger, a move in which he took pride, was halted.


    The sizzling sound continuously emanated from it.


    The Blood Shield actually possessed a corrosive power that was relentlessly eroding Shen Qing''s skin.


    If not for ayer of transparent film on the Dragon Roar Armor, his flesh would have undoubtedly been corroded away.


    But at this time, the corrosive power of the Blood Shield could only wear away at the film, leaving Shen Qing without any sensation of pain.


    He had never seen such a magic skill before, and his eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    The tiger demon sneered with a malevolent grin, suddenly opening its huge mouth wide and attempting to bite Shen Qing.


    "Die!"


    However, before its tiger head could reach Shen Qing, an explosive burst of scorching breath erupted from the tips of Shen Qing''s fingers.


    Boom!


    The intense Qi of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill coupled with the explosive power of the Wind Defying Finger, the twobined into one burst within the Blood Shield, rushing towards the face of the tiger demon.


    The tiger demon, having just stretched out its head and opened its mouth, had no time to understand what was happening before it was hit by the formidable force, causing its body to sway and crash into a tree.


    The tree, as thick as the mouth of a bowl, was snapped in two by its waist.


    Unfortunately, the trunk crashed right into the end of an arrow, the powerful inertia driving it further into the flesh.


    Causing the tiger demon to scream miserably, it leaped up violently again.


    Shen Qing, having reached the Great Perfection of the Skin Forging Realm and ascended to the Qi Cultivation Realm, now found that harnessing the Qi within his body caused him no difort whatsoever and he could fully unleash his inner power.


    Having tested out the extent of his capabilities, Shen Qing saw the tiger demon''s strength and no longer held back.


    His muscles tensed throughout his body, and he leapt towards the location of the tiger demon.


    The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill was pushed to the limit, carrying a terrifying scorching aura; Shen Qing kept thrusting his fingers forward, fiercely jabbing at the tiger demon''s body.


    Thud, thud, thud...


    The muffled sounds of impact kept arising from the tiger demon''s body.


    Man and demon shed in a fierce battle.


    Wherever they went, every tree and shrub was shattered by their powerful forces.


    Shen Qing, not only striking exceedingly quickly, also imbued each move with terrifying strength.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    The power within him surged along his fingertips and jetted out, repeatedly targeting the same spot on the Blood Shield.


    The tiger demon''s Blood Shield finally could not hold up and copsedpletely.


    "Roar!"


    The tiger demon roared furiously.


    At this moment, its body, once glossy, now bore the marks of being scorched, the whole tiger looking as if it had been fished out of a pit of fire.


    It suddenly wed at Shen Qing''s chest.


    Shen Qing couldn''t avoid it in time.


    With a tearing sound, that one w shredded all of Shen Qing''s outer garments, revealing the golden shine of his silkworm clothes underneath.


    The tiger demon''s expression stalled for a moment, and then it was sent flying by a p from Shen Qing, crashing down in a messy heap.


    Fear and shock were human-like expressions evident on the face of the tiger demon.


    This was just the first exchange, and it was already having a hard time coping.


    In that moment, it suddenly became afraid.


    The man in front of it was somewhat different from the martial artists it had encountered before.


    This man was too fearsome, far too strong¡ªit couldn''t win!


    Unfortunately, at this point, whether it could escape was no longer up to it.


    Shen Qing surged forward, ramming his shoulder into the tiger demon''s back and lifting it off the ground.


    Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Wind Defying Finger, Blood Dominance Technique, and other martial arts were pushed to the extreme by Shen Qing as he kept thrusting his fingers.


    Without the obstruction of the Blood Shield, not even the tiger demon''s copper skin and iron bones could stop Shen Qing in the slightest.


    Furthermore, having been hit by several arrows and sustaining some injuries, its strength was affected, and the tiger demon seemed even more unable to hold itself up.


    Its tiger skin was fiercely punctured by Shen Qing, leaving behind holes from which streams of steam emerged.


    Around the blood holes, the tiger fur was scorched clean under Shen Qing''s finger, leaving nothing but a burnt ck mark.


    Shen Qing''s eyes hardened, and he concentrated all the remaining strength and Qi in his body into the fingers of his right hand.


    The exhausted tiger demon watched as Shen Qing''s finger, glowing with a red light, plunged into its body with a massive force.


    The tiger demon felt a searing pain in its chest and came to its senses, its ws scratching frantically at Shen Qing.


    Blood-colored marks appeared on the transparent membrane on Shen Qing''s body, as he felt waves of pain.


    "Damn it!"


    Shen Qing''s expression turned grim as the intense heat of Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill''s Qi and thest of his power violently dispersed and erupted from his fingertips.


    Everywhere it passed turned scorched yellow and ruptured.


    A loud thud came from inside the tiger demon''s body.


    In the forest, Lian Bing and the square-faced senior brother, who hadn''t left, were filled with disbelief, staring fixedly at Shen Qing with his hand embedded in the tiger demon''s chest.


    "It seems the tiger demon is nothing special after all," said Shen Qing as he pulled out his hand, covered with blood clumps and steaming with heat, his face showing a touch of disappointment.


    The tiger demon gasped twice, emitting a sound akin to an old diesel engine starting up.


    The deep wound pierced in its chest was now gushing blood like a fountain.


    "Who are you... exactly..." the tiger demon asked.


    "Me?" Shen Qing said, "Hong Shan, Shen Qing!"


    Bang.


    The massive body of the tiger demon swayed for a few moments before crashing down to the ground, causing the earth to tremble.


    At this moment, the tiger demon''s mind involuntarily projected the experiences of its life.


    It recalled the days when, as a young tiger, it ran carefree in the jungle, chasing butterflies and ying in the streams.


    At that time, it knew nothing of demons or humans.


    It wasn''t until one night when a meteor streaked across the sky that it gradually began to realize that it was different from the others.


    Its strength was extraordinary, its intellect exceeded that of its peers, and eventually, it even devised its own magic skill.


    From then on, it embarked on the path of a demonic beast, reigning as king of the forest.


    Gradually, it was no longer content to be confined to its small mountainous territory; it began interacting with humans, attempting to understand their emotions and intelligence.


    Unfortunately, every human who saw it wanted to kill it.


    By chance, it killed a human and consumed him, opening up a new world, and it was no longer able to stop itself.


    Just when it thought it was about to reach the pinnacle of its demonic existence, everything came to an abrupt end.


    Now, lying in a pool of blood, as thest bit of life force drained away, the light gradually faded from the tiger demon''s eyes.


    Shen Qing, looking at the tiger demon that had breathed itsst, swept his gaze unmoved and a sense of satisfaction appeared on his face.


    Up to this point, this tiger demon was the most powerful being he had encountered.


    He had just enough strength to deal with it.


    "If I remember correctly, even a martial master at the Great Perfection of Qi Cultivation Realm would struggle against this tiger demon. My strength should have reached at least the Great Perfection of Qi Cultivation Realm," Shen Qing thought as he exhaled a breath of turbid air, and his tightly tensed muscles gradually rxed.


    As if noticing two unusual gazes behind him, Shen Qing turned to look, finding Lian Bing and the square-faced senior brother staring in shock.


    Realizing Shen Qing''s gaze was upon them, they became flustered, at a loss on how to approach Shen Qing at this moment.


    "Shen... Lord Shen..."

 Chapter 127: Chapter 51: Demon Core, Wind Defying Finger Great Perfection

    "Lord Shen?"


    Being suddenly addressed as ''lord,'' Shen Qing suddenly felt a little unustomed.


    After a battle, he was drenched with sweat, with hairs sticking to his scalp.


    His breathing had be somewhat rapid, and his face showed a tinge of fatigue.


    However, his posture remained as upright as a mountain.


    Having just killed the tiger demon, he emitted an indescribable and powerful aura, which even Shen Qing himself had not noticed.


    He didn''t pay too much attention to the change in how Lian Bing and the other addressed him, and lightly turned his head to focus on the body of the tiger demon.


    Having been born a hunter, he knew that a fierce tiger''s body was a treasure trove.


    Especially the tiger skin, tiger bone, and tiger penis were very valuable.


    Not to mention a tiger demon.


    A beast with awakened intelligence, the flesh and blood contained potent Essence Qi, which made these valuable parts even more precious.


    Shen Qing looked around and quickly found a knife on the ground.


    In front of his senior fellow apprentice and Lian Bing, he skillfully sliced open the tiger demon''s belly and rummaged inside for a while.


    Soon, Shen Qing felt a round and hard object in his hand and eximed with delight, "There really is one."


    He drew it out, revealing a Blood Pearl.


    The Blood Pearl was shrouded in a red glow, radiating threads of scorching heat.


    During the fight earlier, Shen Qing noticed that when the tiger demon used its Blood Shield, its abdomen glowed with bursts of red light, which was astonishing.


    Shen Qing guessed that this must be the ''Demon Core'' that the tiger demon formed after bing a demon, a tiger treasure.


    His luck was indeed good.


    "I''m not sure how to refine and use this Demon Core... I''ll ask the Hall Master or look it up once I get back," he mused.


    Shen Qing carefully stored the Demon Core close to him, feeling motivated, and called out the Water Ink Panel.


    A drop of water ink fell from his sight, slowly converging into lines of text.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (the level of mastery)]


    [Progress: 401/400 points]


    [Status: Upgradable]


    ''The progress is full?''


    ''I didn''t expect that during the fight with the tiger demon, I would unintentionally fill the progress of my Wind Defying Finger Martial Arts... Well, in that case...''


    ''Upgrade!''


    The status on the Water Ink Panel suddenly refreshed.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 1/500 points]


    [Status: Not upgradable]


    [Note: Bluees from indigo but surpasses indigo; through continuous and relentless cultivation, you''ve brought this Martial Arts to the Perfect Realm. Continue to cultivate and master the Wind Defying Force in order to Break Limit on this Martial Arts.]


    Shen Qing''s body shook, and a tearing pain echoed through his sea of consciousness.


    Fortunately, he was already ustomed to this sensation, calmed his mind, and suppressed the pain, feeling the various changes.


    For a brief moment, memories of the arduous practice of Wind Defying Finger continually emerged in his mind.


    He had practiced the Wind Defying Finger Martial Arts tens of thousands of times in his hands.


    Until finally, hepletelyprehended the essence of the Wind Defying Finger taught to him by Li Linfeng.


    A familiar sensation rippled through his fingers.


    The dullness in his mind swept away.


    Shen Qing felt incredibly pleased.


    ''Actualbat is indeed the best practice, absolutely no exaggeration there.''


    "Lord Shen, should we inform the others?"


    Behind him, Lian Bing disyed a very submissive attitude, which was a stark contrast from before.


    Having struggled in the Guardian Martial Department for a long time, Lian Bing was well aware even without being told.


    Shen Qing, who had in the tiger demon, would certainly rank among the notable figures in Taiping County from now on. Even the Lord County Magistrate would show him some courtesy upon meeting him. He was no longer someone a junior constable like him could afford to provoke.


    Shen Qing responded indifferently, "You decide for yourself."


    Lian Bing hesitated for a moment but ultimately pulled out the fireworks he carried on him, lifted them above his head, and yanked the string at the bottom. A plume of blue smoke shot out from the earth-colored cylinder in his hand, soaring into the sky.


    ...


    In an unnamed vige on Shicheng Mountain, Team Leader Wang Yanjun from the Guardian Martial Department, dispersed a ghost with a palm strike, her expression showing a hint of impatience.


    "Hurry up, we can''t miss the Lord''s important business!"


    Behind her, a few middle-aged men dressed as Jianghu martial artists, working together to punch a ghost to death, said, "Don''t worry, we won''t bete."


    Bang!


    Another ghost was killed.


    Wang Yanjun was somewhat agitated by these ghosts'' pestering at this time.


    Just as she was about to kill another ghost with a palm strike, the ghosts still wandering around suddenly stopped their motions and looked towards a certain spot in the forest as if by some agreement.


    Then, their faces shed with wild joy.


    Under the astonished gazes of Wang Yanjun and the others, the ghosts scattered in all directions andpletely disappeared, leaving them somewhat baffled.


    "Team Leader Wang, do we continue the pursuit?" a brawny martial artist, with iron hoops wrapped around his arms, asked with a grin.


    Without a second thought, Wang Yanjunmanded, "Let''s go up the mountain first and deal with the tiger demon."


    "Got it."


    As soon as she finished speaking, they all heard a loud "boom" from another direction.


    Without any hesitation, Wang Yanjun leaped up swiftly, hurrying towards the location where the fireworks had just appeared in the forest.


    After a month or two of encirclement and suppression, the Lord County Magistrate had weakened most of the big and small powers within Taiping County that were insubordinate or distant from the county government, using the tiger demon as a pretext.


    Even the Four Great Eastern Families had suffered some losses, albeit to varying degrees.


    Essentially, they were unable to stir up much trouble anymore.


    Next, as long as they represented the county government to kill the tiger demon, the prestige of the County Magistrate would rise another level.


    Even with their strength reduced, they could rest easy for a while.


    The individuals following her were also Qi Cultivation Stage experts gathered by the County Magistrate. No matter how strong that tiger demon was, it couldn''t withstand theirbined force.


    The only concern was if the tiger demon burrowed into the vast mountains, finding its trace again would be quite an effort.


    Wang Yanjun spread her arms wide, moving swiftly like a hawk and transferring positions continuously through the dense forest, rushing forward, afraid that the tiger demon might escape.


    After a time equivalent to burning two sticks of incense, Wang Yanjun suddenly smelled a strong scent of blood.


    She abruptly stopped, her right hand involuntarily reaching for the sword at her waist, a serious expression appearing on her face.


    "Get ready."


    Wang Yanjun disyed no fear on her face, leading the remaining few persons directly towards the direction where the fireworks had appeared.


    In just a moment, Wang Yanjun and her group charged past numerous trees to a clearing, the scene in front of themid bare.


    At that moment, in the clearing ahead, a young man sat cross-legged next to the corpse of the tiger demon.


    His clothes were ragged, and he was quietly regting his breathing. Both Lian Bing didn''t dare to let out a breath and stayed obediently to the side.


    Suddenly, she noticed the dead tiger demon, and her expression froze on her face.


    It was dead!


    The very tiger demon they were meant to kill was actually dead!


    Wang Yanjun walked over in a daze, her almond-shaped eyes wide with shock, and asked, "Did you kill it?"


    Shen Qing looked towards Wang Yanjun, his gaze briefly lingering on her chest before he replied with a smile, "I killed it. I wonder if the County Magistrate will honor the martial arts register as promised?"

 Chapter 128: Chapter 52: The Courteous Government Officers

    He actually did murder it!


    Wang Yanjun''s mind suddenly went nk.


    It seemed she couldn''t believe it as she turned to look at Lian Bing beside her.


    As a member of the Guardian Martial Department, Lian Bing, sensing Wang Yanjun''s gaze, nced at Shen Qing again.


    Thetter''s eyes were filled with a sharpness, unintentionally sweeping over him.


    Lian Bing steeled himself and nodded, "Boss, it was Lord Shen whobored to y the demon tiger, removing a menace from Taiping County. This matter was handled by Lord Shen from start to finish, his contribution is immense."


    Wang Yanjun fell silent.


    After observing for so many days, the tiger demon''s strength had ranged higher than the Qi Cultivation Realm but no lower.


    If she remembered correctly, none of the officers stationed in Shiqiao Vige were of the Qi Cultivation Realm; they couldn''t possibly be a match for the tiger demon.


    Now that the tiger demon was dead, it was very likely in by this young man whose name hadn''t been known before.


    Wang Yanjun stared at Shen Qing''s face, her elegant brows slightly furrowing, feeling that his face seemed somewhat familiar.


    She calmed the surprise in her heart and asked, "Lord Shen, have we met before?"


    Shen Qing remembered two things very clearly about Wang Yanjun.


    That day, it was she who had executed the Yellow Angel in front of the government office gate on his behalf.


    If she had not intervened at that time, he would definitely have suffered.


    After thinking it over, Shen Qing smiled wryly at Wang Yanjun and said, "No, we haven''t met."


    Wang Yanjun paused, a hint of suspicion shing across her beautiful face.


    But upon reflection, she had only seen that person three or four months ago.


    At that time, the aura the other possessed was distinctly different from what this person exhibited.


    It must have been her mistake.


    Wang Yanjun sped her hands in a salute and asked briskly, "How should I address this hero?"


    "Shen Qing!"


    "Since you have in the demon tiger, the Lord County Magistrate will naturally keep his promise, and the martial arts register will surely be assigned to you without fail," Wang Yanjun''s attitude became respectful, speaking gently and humbly.


    Truthfully, Wang Yanjun was well aware of her own limits.


    She asked herself, if it were her, she wouldn''t be capable of ying the tiger demon alone; even with several people, it would require significant effort.


    This Shen Qing, alone and with a single weapon, had in the tiger demon, hisbat power undoubtedly superior to theirs, leaving no room for their arrogance.


    Wang Yanjun''s purpose here was to eliminate the tiger demon.


    Although the tiger demon hadn''t died by their hands, it was still dead, merely requiring the County Magistrate to pay a bit more, which made no difference to them. Thus, there was no need to conflict with this man and make things ufortable for herself.


    Being abroad, it wasn''t necessary to make more friends, but at the very least, making more enemies should be avoided.


    Being a bit courteous didn''t mean losing face.


    Seeing the confident manner of Wang Yanjun, Shen Qing''sst bit of worry was also dispelled.


    He looked at the corpse of the tiger demon, as if thinking of something, then asked, "How will you deal with this tiger''s corpse?"


    "This tiger demon was in by Hero Shen, naturally, it''s for you to handle as you see fit," Wang Yanjun truthfully replied. "If Hero Shen wishes, you can certainly sell this tiger demon corpse to the Lord County Magistrate, he will surely buy it at a high price."


    "Good, the Lord County Magistrate is straightforward." Shen Qing patted the body of the tiger demon and stood up.


    This tiger demon sounded intimidating, but it was essentially no different from them, martial masters, all made of flesh and blood.


    If the strength is sufficient and sufficiently fast, even an arrow can kill it.


    The only major difference is that this tiger demon possessed a dark crimson murderous aura on its body, deadly upon contact with ordinary flesh and blood, and its thick skin and flesh were somewhat troublesome.


    But before strength, everything could be resolved smoothly, posing no problems.


    In other words, even in killing the tiger demon, his strength was not exaggerated to the point that anything needed to be hidden or masked.


    Shen Qing looked up and said generously, "Let''s pack up; the tiger demon has been dealt with. Let''s prepare to head back."


    Wang Yanjun nced at the sky and said, "It''s already past noon. If we go back now, we might find the city gates already closed. It might be better to rest here for the night. I''ll gather some people, and we can head back early tomorrow."


    Shen Qing thought about it for a moment. The city was indeed around seventy li away, which was not close.


    Returning from here would certainly take some time, and carrying the tiger demon would take even more time.


    Therefore, he nodded and agreed to Wang Yanjun''s suggestion.


    Wang Yanjun looked at Lian Bing and the t-faced senior brother and asked, "Can you both still walk?"


    Lian Bing quickly replied, "Chief, they''re just minor injuries, walking won''t be a problem."


    "Then let''s not dy anymore; let''s hurry down the mountain."


    It was clear that Wang Yanjun had a decisive and fiery disposition. He immediately made a decision and started implementing it.


    The t-faced senior brother from Linfeng Hall, after hesitating upon seeing the bodies scattered around, asked, "Guardian Martial Departmental Head, what should we do with these bodies?"


    Wang Yanjun nced at him, speaking in an indifferent tone, "They died here due to theirck of strength; no one else is to me. We don''t have the leisure to pick a geomantic spot for them, nor to build their graves. The mountains are notcking in beasts; nature will take its course here. If you want to bury them, then go dig the graves yourself."


    The senior brother from Linfeng Hall flinched, his face falling as he said, "I was just saying."


    Experience new stories on m v|l e''-NovelBin


    "Let''s go!" Shen Qing did not meddle further and yelled, "Someone, lend a hand to carry this tiger demon down."


    The martial masters who hade with Wang Yanjun exchanged nces, improvised with resources at hand, and snapped some arm-thick tree trunks to use as poles.


    Four of them carried the corpse of the tiger demon up and down.


    The t-faced brother looked around at the scattered corpses with a deep sigh and hurriedly followed the group.


    They walked along the road they hade on for a good while.


    In a patch of woods, the group noticed a figure hiding.


    Shen Qing, with sharp eyes, immediately recognized him as Xiao Zhi, who had walked away earlier.


    "Brother Xiao!" Shen Qing called out loudly.


    Xiao Zhi shivered all over, carefully poking his head out and looking forward.


    He saw Shen Qing and the others carrying the splendidly patternedrge tiger, slowly making their way through the woods, which startled him: "My goodness!"


    After quite some time, as the group got closer, and he could see clearly, he finally calmed down and boldly stepped out of the bushes.


    He rushed up to Shen Qing excitedly, "Are you alright?"


    "I''m fine!"


    Shen Qing had others take over the burden for him while he walked up to Xiao Zhi and took back his Heavy Bow and Arrow Quiver.


    Xiao Zhi kept his eyes fixed on the carried tiger demon, swallowing his saliva uncontrobly.


    When he had left, the tiger demon was almost about to pounce, leaving only Shen Qing intact and capable of moving in the woods.


    Now the tiger demon was dead, and Shen Qing was still unharmed.


    Either someone else had helped, or Shen Qing alone had fought and in it.


    Thetter, however, sounded unlikely no matter how you looked at it, with a very slim possibility.


    But recalling the invincible aura Shen Qing had when he killed the Ghost, he found himself oddly inclined to believe thetter possibility.


    Xiao Zhi cautiously confirmed in a low voice to Shen Qing, "You killed this tiger demon, right?"


    "Yes."


    Boom!


    In an instant, Xiao Zhi felt a rush of blood to his head. Looking at Shen Qing, it seemed as if he was glowing.


    After a long while, he seemed to return to his senses, slowly raised a thumb, and said, "You, are truly amazing!"

 Chapter 129: Chapter 53: A Tough Character Who Can Slay Even a Demon Tiger

    The mountain forest here is rarely trodden by humans, with towering ancient trees lush and verdant.


    The group followed the trail they had made on their way in, winding forward and finally emerging from the mountains.


    Soon, an ancient and dpidated vige gradually came into their view.


    Rundown houses were unevenly scattered on the hillside, their walls overgrown with vines and moss, and the roof tiles were iplete and damaged.


    Some houses had doors and windows tightly shut as if they had been unupied for a long time, while others were half-open, asionally revealing signs of beasts and humans moving inside.


    The group entered the vige, and Lian Bing stepped forward, pointing to one of the houses and said, "Team Leader, this vige has been tormented by a tiger demon and is no longer suitable for people to live in. Shall we choose this clean house?"


    As he spoke, Lian Bing nced at Wang Yanjun, assessing her expression.


    He knew that Wang Yanjun was a person with a penchant for cleanliness and would fuss for a long time if encountered a dirty ce.


    Now, with his Qi-Blood roiling and his body feeling weak, he just wanted to find a ce to rest well and wasn''t willing to trouble himself further.


    "Is this the only clean house?" Wang Yanjun''s face showed a hint of dissatisfaction, "Are there any other houses?"


    "In this wilderness, it''s good enough to have a ce to stay. Team Leader Wang, you should not be picky. Let''s gather some people to clean up for the night so we can leave early tomorrow," Shen Qing came over and said.


    Seeing Shen Qing speak up, Wang Yanjun thought about it and held back, saying nothing more, and pushed open the half-closed door in front of her.


    Dust and dirt rose in clouds.


    Wang Yanjun couldn''t help but wave her sleeve to sweep it away, holding her breath.


    Looking around, there was a thickyer of dust umted in the house.


    But, fortunately, other than the dust, there was nothing else messy.


    Wang Yanjun sighed reluctantly and said to everyone, "Let''s all rest here for tonight."


    "Lian Bing, gather the nearby people and let everyone know to assemble here, and we''ll head back together in the morning."


    "Yes!"


    ...


    Inside an unnamed mountain forest.


    Chang Yinfa and Yu Xiaoruo fled for their lives, almost to the point of running blindly in panic.


    Their clothes had been torn by various thorns during the run, making them look utterly disheveled.


    "Hurry, hurry, hurry!"


    Yu Xiaoruo kept urging, with a lingering expression of fear on his face.


    Chang Yinfa, gasping for breath, said, "Mr. Yu, it feels like the tiger demon and ghost haven''t followed us. We''re safe."


    Yu Xiaoruo nced back, saw no sign of pursuit, and only then did he start to feel a little reassured and stopped running around like a headless fly.


    Chang Yinfa sat down on the ground with a thud, breathing heavily, his face filled with the terror of having narrowly escaped death.


    They''re all dead.


    The strength of those ghosts was terrifying; each one of them was at least as strong as a martial master in the Bone Refining Realm, plus their elusive movement speed. Almost all of his fellow disciples who were with him met with misfortune.


    If he hadn''t been shrewd and followed Mr. Yu in a desperate escape, he probably would have ended up the same as them.


    This tiger demon was even more frightening than the rumors suggested.


    Both men sat on the ground without a word, disregarding their appearances.


    Yu Xiaoruo took out a Qi Blood Pill and threw it into his mouth, chewing crunchily as he recovered his energy. Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelBin


    Chang Yinfa, watching this scene, couldn''t help but swallow his saliva, his eyes showing envy.


    After a while, when both had regted their breath and recovered some energy, Chang Yinfa asked, "Mr. Yu, where shall we go next?"


    Yu Xiaoruo exhaled a breath of stale air and pondered for a moment before saying, "We''re going to..."


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    ```


    He had not yet finished speaking when suddenly, a series of explosions in the distance interrupted him.


    Yu Xiaoruo turned his head at the sound and saw three trails of blue smoke rising in the east, shooting straight into the sky. After reaching a certain height, they gradually began to disperse and blend into a cloud due to the wind.


    He suddenly sat up, his eyes full of surprise, "That''s Team Leader Wang''s signal to gather everyone!"


    After hesitating for a moment, Yu Xiaoruo said, "Let''s go, hurry over."


    Having said that, Yu Xiaoruo followed the direction of the signal.


    Chang Yinfa looked towards the distant mountains with reluctance and followed.


    The two of them pushed through brambles and thorns, crossing over a mountain, and finally rushed into Shiqiao Vige.


    The ancient stone bridge at the entrance of the vige was mottled with age, and its surface was covered with moss and weeds, clearly abandoned for a long time.


    However, before even entering the vige, they already heard amotion of surprise, as if the vige was abuzz with voices.


    Chang Yinfa and Yu Xiaoruo exchanged a nce, puzzled, and quickly rushed in.


    By this time, other people had also arrived in the vige, forming a circle with a constant buzz of discussion emanating from it.


    Full of curiosity, Chang Yinfa and Yu Xiaoruo squeezed into the crowd and craned their necks forward, only to gasp at the sight on the ground.


    "Hiss¡­"


    It was clearly the very tiger demon they had seen!


    The one they had been running from, afraid that it wasn''t easy to deal with¡­ was dead!


    Yu Xiaoruo looked at the bull-sized body of the tiger demon and the arrow wounds all over it, and he couldn''t help but urgently ask the person next to him, "Who killed this tiger demon!"


    A female martial artist with a face as sharp as a knife turned around, somewhat impatient.


    Seeing Yu Xiaoruo dressed like a government officer, her impatience subsided, and she respectfully said, "I just heard that a martial master named Shen Qing did it alone."


    Yu Xiaoruo pressed on, "Shen Qing? Why does that sound familiar? Who is he with?"


    "He''s from Linfeng Hall over there, a direct disciple newly taken in by Li Linfeng."


    "Everyone says he''s already reached the Qi Cultivation Realm, truly terrifying."


    Upon hearing this, Chang Yinfa, who was standing beside them, had a look of astonishment, his mouth slightly agape as if he could fit an egg.


    Yu Xiaoruo looked at Chang Yinfa with annoyance and red at him fiercely.


    If he remembered correctly, Chang Yinfa was the one who thought Shen Qing was unreliable and had led some of his disciples to bribe him and defect to his side.


    And yet, here was someone capable of ying a demon tiger.


    Incapable of even understanding the situation within his own Martial Arts Hall, truly a waste!


    He had missed a great opportunity to distinguish himself.


    Chang Yinfa also felt aggrieved.


    He didn''t know that his own sect had admitted such a monstrous prodigy.


    Now he felt like he was caught between a rock and a hard ce; whether it was sh*t inside his pants or not, he was still in a mess, full of grievance.


    He had clearly seen Shen Qing appearing utterly unremarkable, so how had everything changed by noon?


    The disciple his master had taken in was too good at biding his time; he had truly misjudged him.


    No, he had to suck up to him.


    Having in a demon and returning to the city, Shen Qing would certainly rise to fame.


    With the connection of being from the same sect, he might definitely reap some benefits.


    Chang Yinfa''s eyes rolled, and disregarding Yu Xiaoruo, he silently slipped out of the crowd. After finding out where Shen Qing lived, he rushed there nonstop.


    But when he arrived, the doorway was already crowded with people, and the main gate was shut tight.


    ```

 Chapter 130: Chapter 54: Triumphant Return to the City, The Crisis of Linfeng Hall

    "Junior brother, there are a lot of people outside, all moring to see you. Won''t you really meet with them?"


    Xiao Zhi leaned against the door, peeking through the crack and teasingly said.


    Shen Qing had already changed into clean clothes by then and was lyingzily on the freshly cleaned mud bed, indifferently saying, "They''re all a bunch of climbers, tterers. Seeing them would mean they''d bother you day and night; it''s better not to meet them at all."


    "True," Xiao Zhi agreed wholeheartedly, "I''ve seen plenty of such sycophants before in restaurants. They''re all fair-weather friends, useless as farts. Ask them to lend you money, and they''ll shrivel up immediately."


    As he spoke, he sat down naturally beside Shen Qing.


    Compared to those shriveled goods outside, he was able to get close to the ruthless man who had in the tiger demon.


    Such differential treatment brought a delighted expression to his face.


    As if recalling something, Xiao Zhi asked, "Junior brother, that ghost disguised as a human looked just like the real thing, even the officer Lian from the Military Department didn''t recognize it. How did you notice it?"


    Shen Qing nced at Xiao Zhi and said, "He said something to me, and just by his attitude, I immediately felt something was off."


    "What did he say to you?" Xiao Zhi asked curiously.


    Shen Qing said, "He actually said to me ''sorry to trouble you''."


    Xiao Zhi was slightly taken aback, his face twisting awkwardly, "That... doesn''t seem like much, does it?"


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "When have you ever seen someone from the government office be polite to us?"


    "Uh..." Xiao Zhi found himself at a loss for words, realizing that Shen Qing made a very good point.


    The government office in Taiping County was notoriously arrogant.


    Shen Qing continued, "Afterwards, when I saw how eager he was to point the way, it reminded me of how I used to guide prey into traps when I went hunting up in the mountains¡ªit was clear something was wrong."


    "Junior brother, I''ve realized that not only are you talented in martial arts, but your mind is also very sharp," Xiao Zhi gave a sincerepliment.


    ...


    By the next morning, as the sky was just beginning to brighten, Continue your journey on m|v-l''e -NovelBin


    Wang Yanjun and a group of people had already woken up.


    All being martial masters with vigorous Qi-Blood, even those who hadn''t slept the night before were brimming with energy, showing no signs of fatigue.


    After a brief period of tidying up and preparing, Wang Yanjun''s voice broke the silence, "Return to the city!"


    Under Wang Yanjun''s call to action, the many martial artists stepped forward. Some helped carry the corpse of the tiger demon, while others supported their injured peers. The group marched impressively toward the official road back to Taiping County.


    From the original fifty or more martial masters, now only half remained.


    Linfeng Hall, in particr, was pitiful; from over a dozen members, only a mere three remained.


    However, when they saw the Linfeng Hall disciple walking at the front, each person''s face showed more or less a hint of respect and reverence.


    Shen Qing was oblivious to the gazes behind him, just earnestly hurrying along.


    He ignored everyone trying to cozy up to him, and Chang Yinfa''s attempts to get close during the walk were all fruitless.


    When the first ray of dawn shone on the vastnd, Shen Qing and the others had already reached the official road.


    The sun was brightly shining, with not a cloud in the sky.


    In recent days, because of the scourge of the tiger demon, the surrounding viges had suffered greatly, and merchants were fearfully cautious, not daring to travel freely.


    As a result, the city gate, normally bustling in the morning, now appeared exceedingly quiet, virtually deserted.


    In the middle of the gate, the bored Taiping County guards were rubbing their sleepy eyes and yawning endlessly.


    Suddenly, a strong smell of blood hit their nostrils, instantly alerting them. They looked forward curiously at what wasing.


    The next moment, the corpse of a tiger demon asrge as an ox was shouldered by the crowd and entered their line of sight.


    Peoples'' intention of making the tiger demon''s gaping mouth appear alive by propping it with two sticks was quite sessful; ity over several logs, looking life-like, as if it were still alive.


    "Tiger... tiger demon..."


    The guards perked up, retreating a few steps in panic, drawing their daggers and closely watching the approaching crowd.


    Since the Mao Hour, they had walked for half an hour.


    ```


    By the time the sun was three poles high, Shen Qing and the rest of the troops had finally made their way under the gates of Taiping County.


    "It''s Team Leader Wang..."


    Someone recognized Wang Yanjun''s identity and eximed in astonishment.


    Standing beside her, walking shoulder to shoulder with her, Shen Qing''s eyes were calm as water, casting a nce at the guards. However, the sharp gleam and murderous aura in his gaze made them involuntarily shudder.


    Wang Yanjun stepped forward and said to the guards in a deep voice, "Go inform the County Magistrate right away. Tell him that the tiger demon has been in, and the one who slew it is Shen Qing from Linfeng Hall."


    Hearing this, the faces of the guards at the gate filled with shock, and they instinctively nced at the man standing next to Wang Yanjun, hurriedly responding, "Yes!"


    After speaking, one of them dashed into the city, unfastened the reins of an official horse, leapt onto its back, and sped away towards the government office.


    The remaining guards automatically stepped aside, allowing Wang Yanjun and the others to enter the city smoothly.


    At this time, the inner city was already bustling with activity, and the streets were crowded with people.


    Upon hearing that the tiger demon had been in, people came pouring in from all directions, eager to see the excitement.


    When they saw the fierce expression of the in tiger demon, all of them gasped with horror.


    In an instant, the street was abuzz with voices, gathering more and more people.


    Walking within the troop, Shen Qing slightly furrowed his brow, displeased with such a manner of entering the city.


    "Brother Qingzi, Brother Qingzi!"


    Just then, Shen Qing heard a familiar voice from within the crowd.


    He looked around.


    "Over here, over here!"


    "Xiao Hu?"


    Shen Xiaohu squeezed to the front of Shen Qing, panting with urgency, his face full of anxiousness.


    "What are you doing here?" Shen Qing asked in surprise.


    Shen Xiaohu quickly said, "There''s trouble, something''s happened at the hall. The Mi Gang came to challenge us and Senior Brother Wu was beaten to death right in front of Uncle Hall Master!"


    "What?" Shen Qing, upon hearing this, immediately realized the severity of the situation and, without even a goodbye to the others, hurriedly broke away from the group.


    Linfeng Hall.


    The usually quiet inner courtyard was now filled with a throng of people.


    A robust man in a short tunic sat grandly in a Taishi Chair, enjoying his tea with an air of contentment.


    In front of him, Senior Brother Wu of the fourth ranky on the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, lifeless, his eyes open in death.


    "Master, I didn''t expect Linfeng Hall''s direct disciple to be so frail. I hardly exerted any strength and he just died," said a burly man with a sneer, standing next to the robust man.


    As he spoke, he cast a mocking nce towards the people of Linfeng Hall standing in front.


    Even the usually mild-mannered Li Linfeng couldn''t suppress his anger and stepped forward, saying, "Sun Tiangai, if there''s a debt of vengeance, it should be directed at the one responsible. You''re wee to settle it with me!"


    "The sparring between disciples can sometimes lead to unfortunate injuries or even deaths. It''s hard to avoid," replied Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai, setting down his teacup on the table with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile, "Besides, you killed my son back in the day, and now I''ve killed your disciple. We''re even."


    "What exactly do you want?" asked Li Linfeng.


    Sun Tiangai said, "I''m here for a challenge at your hall, what''s so agitating about that, Master Li?"


    As soon as these words came out, Li Lingchan, Ouyang Tiezhu, and others hiding behind Li Linfeng turned pale.


    In the courtyard, just the disciples of Mi Gang in the Bone Refining Realm numbered no less than five, and there was one disciple with innate strength whose cultivation reached the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    And now, with many of Linfeng Hall''s disciples called away to hunt the tiger, the ineffective direct disciples left the hall severely weakened and utterly incapable of facing the aggressively approaching Mi Gang.


    This time, the Mi Gang had explicitlye to annihte Linfeng Hall.


    "Next one, who will it be?" said the burly martial master, scanning those present.


    ```

 Chapter 131: Chapter 55: Crisis of Annihilation, Decisive Action

    The hall fell silent, every person from Linfeng Hall hung their heads low, no one answered.


    Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai, took in the scene of Linfeng Hall''s dispirited people and couldn''t help feeling a bit of satisfaction.


    In truth, Li Linfeng probably didn''t know that the tiger demon disaster that was half-created was actually a man-made cmity.


    The reason it persisted for a month was because the county magistrate deliberately allowed it to.


    It was all to trim down those Martial Arts Forces that had gained a bit of power.


    It was a strategy to fatigue and weaken the popce.


    Under his leadership, Mi Gang had boarded the county magistrate''srge ship and escaped this disaster.


    The other Martial Arts Halls and gangs of the county towns weren''t so lucky.


    Basically, the strength of the sects was cut by half, let alone Linfeng Hall, with whom he had a poor rtionship.


    With both intentional and unintentional pushes from him, promising great rewards, he had worn down the foundation that Li Linfeng had umted over the years, leading to the current situation.


    It so happened that few years ago, he had taken a direct disciple, who was a natural martial talent.


    Even without cultivating the Qi-Blood and raw strength within, he was alreadyparable to a martial master with Great Perfection of Qi and Blood, and after a few years of cultivation, hisbat power was not inferior to his.


    This time, he had brought him over to use Li Linfeng and his people as a stepping stone, to make this direct disciple famous and establish Mi Gang as the number one gang in Taiping County.


    Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai, feigned anger and said, "Meng De, don''t be presumptuous. After all, this is someone else''s territory, you should be polite."


    The burly Meng De showed a joking expression and said, "Master, the key point is that these guys from Linfeng Hall are all cowards, it''s just no fun. In my opinion, Linfeng Hall is just all bark and no bite, should''ve closed down long ago."


    "You..."


    Hearing this, Li Lingchan, who stood behind Li Linfeng, went pale and then flushed, hardly able to restrain herself from charging out, but was held back by Ouyang Tiezhu next to her.


    Meng De nced at Li Lingchan and said, "I heard that Master Li''s family has a tomboy who''s got some Martial Arts talent. Must be this one right here, tsk tsk tsk... really is a coward, after all."


    "You''re looking for death!"


    Li Lingchan shouted furiously, breaking free from under Ouyang Tiezhu and charged toward Meng De, pointing a finger.


    With a smack,


    Li Lingchan''s finger touched Meng De''s chest.


    To her surprise, the flesh of the burly-faced man was as hard as real iron. Her finger didn''t even break the skin.


    Meng De''s face showed a sneer and said, "Too weak!"


    He swung a p over.


    With a smack,


    a loud p echoed in the inner courtyard.


    Li Lingchan didn''t understand what had happened when she felt the world spin, being thrown backward.


    Shepletely stopped only after crashing into Ouyang Tiezhu.


    Her hair was now disheveled, blood dripped from her mouth and nose, and her face showed utter bewilderment.


    After a few moments, feeling the swelling on her face, Li Lingchan realized what had happened, and her beautiful eyes wentpletely nk.


    Li Linfeng knew that Sun Tiangai hade for him this time.


    He suddenly stepped forward, "If that''s the case, why don''t I exchange a few moves with your junior, but don''t me me for taking advantage of the younger ones if he dies."


    The other party initiating a challenge was originally meant for peers to spar, and for him to intervene would be too embarrassing if word got out, but by now, there were no other options left.


    Linfeng Hall had been pushed to this extent; at this rate, they would inevitably meet with disaster.


    Pride was no longer important.


    "Where there is life, there is hope; better to survive first," he thought.


    Worst case scenario, if they couldn''t make it in Taiping County, they would just move somewhere else and start over.


    No sooner had his words fallen than Li Linfeng put his fingers together and fiercely jabbed forward.


    To his slight surprise, upon seeing him strike, Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai, showed no sign of panic or anger.


    Instead, he picked up a teacup, watching him as one would aedy.


    This sight made a foreboding intuition suddenly arise in his heart.


    Pop!


    He saw Meng De across from him let out a sinisterugh, his fan-like hand swiftly striking forward, and a crisp sound emerged out of the void.


    He had actually dispersed Li Linfeng''s qi with a single palm.


    Then, under Li Linfeng''s astonished gaze, Meng De suddenly took a leaping step and charged towards Li Linfeng.


    Not only was Meng De''s build considerable, but his speed in switching moves was also extremely fast.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang!


    The full-faced Meng De threw more than a dozen punches in one go, each punch steady in force and with plenty of follow-through strength.


    After over a dozen moves, even Li Linfeng felt his arms going numb.


    The Wind Defying Finger was not known for defense and strength, and the opponent''s skin was far thicker and harder than his.


    Watching the battle from the side, Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai, pped his hands andughed, "Master Li, over the years, has aged and declined, I didn''t expect your strength to have regressed so much. You can''t even defeat my closed-door disciple."


    Li Linfeng''s expression turned increasingly ugly, and at this moment, he remained silent, his mood growing more irritable.


    Now, he realized that this Meng De''s defensive ability was extremely exaggerated, a natural-born thickness of skin and flesh, gifted and unusual.


    After years of studying Martial Arts, it became even more terrifying.


    Techniques that could break steles and shatter rocks were utterly ineffective against him.


    Having thought this, Li Linfeng''s finger speed became incredibly swift, gradually only leaving trails of afterimages to be seen.


    Yet, even so, he could do nothing against Meng De.


    "Is this the famous Wind Defying Finger of Master Li?" Meng De provoked, "Master Li, you need to use your full strength. There is no need to hold back against a junior like me, I can take a beating."


    Meng De''s spirits rose as he fought, one punch following another, as if he never knew exhaustion, endlessly flowing.


    Bang!


    A metallic shing noise suddenly erupted from within the inner courtyard square, creating an invisible ripple that spread outwards in all directions.


    Li Linfeng actually staggered several steps backward before barely managing to stop, his face flushing red.


    He gulped down something in his throat as if forcibly swallowing down something.


    "It seems you''re not that great of a master either," Meng De said with a taunting smile through his split teeth.


    He looked towards everyone behind Linfeng Hall, and turning his head to Sun Tiangai, he said, "Master, I find a few of Li Linfeng''s wives and daughters to be quite nice. I am willing to take them as my concubines to honor Master Li. I hope you will show mercy and let Li Linfeng off the hook, Master."


    With that, he let out a lewd smirk, seemingly ncing at Li Linfeng both intentionally and unintentionally.


    The strange tones of the master and disciple made Li Linfeng, who had managed to suppress the surge of blood, sweeten in his throat uncontrobly and vomit a mouthful of filthy blood.


    "Father!"


    "Master!"


    "..."


    The people of Linfeng Hall were thrown into chaos, their faces turning pale as paper.


    As for those outer gate Disciples who hade to learn Martial Arts after paying upfront, they looked at each other, sharing a nce.


    They already knew that from today onwards, Linfeng Hall was utterly finished.


    Just as they were thinking of seeking another path, a figure suddenly appeared before everyone, leaping onto a Wooden Dummy.


    His towering figure was not inferior to that of Meng De.


    However, unlike Meng De, the muscles on his body seemed much more restrained.


    "Junior Brother Shen!"


    Ouyang Tiezhu recognized him immediately, not expecting Shen Qing to have returned so quickly.


    Shen Qing turned around to see the disheveled state of Li Linfeng and frowned, "Master, your disciple is back! Please rest for a while, I will handle this matter."


    Meng De looked him up and down and said, "You will handle it? Who are you, making such a bold im!"


    Shen Qing stepped forward, treading on the tiles of the inner courtyard without changing his expression, and said, "I am a direct disciple of Linfeng Hall, Shen Qing!"

 Chapter 132: Chapter 56: This is the Direct Disciple I took in not long ago

    After announcing his name, whispers spread among the people of the Mi Gang in the inner courtyard.


    "Shen Qing? Who is that?"


    "Never heard of him."


    "I remember Li Linfeng only had four direct disciples: Ouyang Tiezhu, Niu Daping, Dong Zizhuang, and Wushili. Ouyang Tiezhu is here, Niu Daping and Wushili are dead, and there''s Dong Zizhuang, the one-eyed. Where did this Shen Qinge from?"


    The inner courtyard suddenly became as noisy as a marketce.


    Facing the numerous voices of discussion, Shen Qing remainedposed, his expression extremely serene.


    Sitting on the Taishi Chair, Sun Tiangai silently set down his teacup, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    A few months ago, he had vaguely inquired about a direct disciple taken in by Li Linfeng.


    However, this disciple was a rtive of Lady Qi''s household, indicating some nepotism.


    Furthermore, Lady Qi came from a humble background with nothing in her family worth mentioning.


    What great martial talent could be cultivated from such circumstances?


    They couldn''t even get enough to eat.


    He hadn''t paid much attention to it.


    Knowing the details about Shen Qing, Sun Tiangai who had sat up, slowlyy back down, watching Shen Qing with an anticipatory look in his eyes.


    At that moment, Li Linfeng, who had regained his senses, looked around and knew the situation had turned dire.


    He sighed deeply and said to Shen Qing, "Step back, this is not something you can handle."


    Knowing that the opponent was a martial master of the Qi Cultivation Realm, even he was no match, let alone Shen Qing who had only recently achieved Skin Forging.


    The two were simply not on the same level.


    The recent death of Wushili was a bloody lesson.


    If Shen Qing went up now, facing Meng De, there were nine chances out of ten he would not escape death.


    Shen Qing, looking down at the ground where Wushiliy dead, eyes still open, did not intend to heed Li Linfeng''s words.


    He raised his head and, looking Meng De in the eye, asked, "You killed him?"


    "Indeed. I didn''t expect him to be so fragile. I used all my strength, and he just went down; I truly apologize. Next time, I will be more careful," Meng De said with a face full of bulging muscles, his expression jokingly shifting as he spoke.


    Although he was apologizing, his eyes and the muscles on his face were filled with disdain and mockery.


    "Do you think this is funny?"


    Shen Qing stood silently in the center of an open area, his figure bing even more upright under the sunlight.


    Meng De, dropping the smile from his face, asked, "What?"


    "I mean, I hope you can keep smiling like this," Shen Qing said, his lips curling into a smile, his mouth splitting with excitement, "I still don''t know whether your fleshy body is stronger than a demon tiger''s."


    Suddenly, a breeze began to rise quietly behind Shen Qing. The wind was not fierce, but as it gently blew, it seemed as though the surrounding air was solidifying.


    As the breeze spread, an invisible pressure centered on Shen Qing rippled outward like ripples on a pond.


    The previously bustling and noisy inner courtyard, now enveloped by this pressure, instantly became extremely silent.


    The members of the Mi Gang, who had been arguing and skeptical, seemed as if something invisible was gripping their throats, promptly shutting their mouths, not daring to make a sound.


    The inner courtyard fell into a deep silence.


    Even Li Linfeng closed his mouth, staring nkly at Shen Qing.


    He, along with the other disciples of the Linfeng Hall, also felt an unusual oppressive force.


    This silent pressure felt like a thousand-pound burden pressing on their chests, tightening their hearts, making it difficult to breathe.


    "Good, good, good! This is the feeling I want... Linfeng Hall is full of trash, but finally, there''s one who can stand tall. I hope you won''t disappoint me."


    Meng De stood in the inner courtyard. He felt the overpowering force emanating from Shen Qing, harboring not a trace of fear in his heart.


    On the contrary, his eyes sparkled with a frenzied glow.


    His chest heaved violently, his aura continuously rising. His muscles tensed abruptly as he threw a punch.


    "Die!" Meng De''s hoarse, deep voice echoed across the inner courtyard.


    He abruptly stepped forward, and the bluestone ground beneath his feet shattered instantly, with debris flying everywhere.


    Meng De clenched his fist, with a fierce whistling wind, and charged straight for Shen Qing''s chest.


    At that moment, Meng De hadpletely unleashed his power, holding nothing back; the only thought in his mind was to knock down this arrogant man with a punch!


    Make him kneel and beg for mercy in front of him.


    Just when he thought he had spared his rival, he would strike him dead with another punch!


    Ha ha ha!


    Meng De''s eyes were filled with red bloodshot as all his Qi-Blood concentrated into a single fist.


    At that moment, he suddenly felt immensely powerful.


    His fist seemed to carry an unprecedented strength and heat.


    Every inch of his muscles, every drop of his blood seemed extraordinarily active under this force.


    In the moment of the whistling fist wind, Meng De''s years of martial arts practice and power seemed to integrate and lead to new insights.


    But just as he thought his punch would nearly kill his opponent, he suddenly discovered that the young man standing opposite him had disappeared.


    Boom!


    His fist struck the air, producing a deafening st.


    A powerful wave of air spread out from the two men to the surrounding area, causing everything around to tremble under this force.


    But Meng De felt no joy, instead, he sensed an unprecedented sense of crisis, with a strong murderous intent enveloping him from behind.


    He turned his head to look.


    At some point, the young man named Shen Qing had moved behind him.


    Pfft!


    Suddenly, Meng De felt a sharp pain in his back.


    "What''s going on?"


    Shen Qing''s fingers, containing trails of firelight and a scorching aura, fiercely pressed against his back.


    The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Blood Dominance Technique, and Wind Force were all activated to their limit, drilling into Meng De''s flesh through Shen Qing''s two fingers.


    Bang!


    Two fierce and scorching, sharp and brutal gusts of Qi exploded inside Meng De''s body, leaving a hole as big as an arm through his chest.


    Meng De looked down, touched his hollow chest, and the hot blood staining it; he suddenly seemed to understand something.


    A look of terror appeared on his face, and he slowly turned to Sun Tiangai, his mouth trembling as he said, "Master¡­ save me¡­"


    Sun Tiangai suddenly rose from the Taishi Chair.


    Before he could remember what to say, he heard a loud bang, and Meng De''s burly body suddenly crashed to the ground.


    Shen Qing slowly withdrew his hands, smiled at Sun Tiangai, and said, "I''m truly sorry for not controlling my strength. In fighting, there are no certain oues, Leader Sun, please take heart."


    The inner courtyard fellpletely silent.


    It was just one move.


    Everyone was so stunned they could not close their mouths.


    They could hardly believe that Meng De, who seemed invincible, was in by Shen Qing in just one move.


    The emotions of everyone in Linfeng Hall were like a roller coaster, experiencing dramatic highs and lows.


    Li Linfeng was the first to react, excited and in disbelief, he asked, "Have you broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm?"


    "I was fortunate enough to break through!"


    Hiss¡­


    Li Linfeng took a sharp breath, shocked by the ferocity of his disciple.


    It took him a while to recover from the shock.


    After a moment, he burst outughing, as if relieving all his frustration, and looked around at the members of the Mi Gang, emphasizing, "I forgot to tell everyone, this is Shen Qing, the direct disciple I took on not long ago!"

 Chapter 133: Chapter 57 The Most Correct Thing Ive Done in My Life

    In the inner courtyard, Li Linfeng''s voice rang out strong and clear, deafening to those around.


    Following Shen Qing''s swift and decisive move, his heart once again zed with boundless pride, and he did not attempt to conceal the proud look on his face.


    At that moment, he felt that the most correct decision he had made in his life was not rejecting Shen Qing from his door on ount of his background, his foundation, or his various shorings.


    Instead, he had graciously given him the opportunity to learn martial arts.


    After taking him in as a disciple, he did not neglect Shen Qing, treating him no differently even when facing difficulties within the sect.


    Not only that, but he also went so far as to personally take him as his direct disciple, and even intended to marry his daughter to him...


    It was because of such past goodwill that today''s blessings hade.


    If he had been the slightest bit more snobbish back then, not taking Shen Qing seriously, perhaps today Linfeng Hall would havepletely fallen under the challenge of Mi Gang.


    In this moment, Li Linfeng wanted to throw back all the mocking words Sun Tiangai had thrown at him, but before he could open his mouth, his body wavered, his head spun, and he began to sway unsteadily.


    Ouyang Tiezhu, who was standing behind him, acted quickly upon noticing something was amiss with Li Linfeng. He hurriedly stepped forward to subtly support Li Linfeng at the waist, saving him from embarrassment in front of everyone.


    Li Linfeng shot Ouyang Tiezhu a grateful look and restrained the expression on his face, deciding then to quiet his thoughts and speak no further.


    Li Lingchan, standing behind Li Linfeng, was gently biting her lip, her gaze toward Shen Qing extremelyplex, her heart a mix of emotions.


    In contrast to the satisfaction and joy on Linfeng Hall''s side, the faces of the members of Mi Gang were all taut with tension.


    Especially Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai, whose face was an interesting picture of emotions.


    He had almostpletely crushed Linfeng Hall not long ago, only to have the situation suddenly reversepletely.


    He watched helplessly as his once-proud disciple was defeated with a single move, even causing a drop in his own morale.


    Sun Tiangai''s face, shadowed and pale, twisted in unspeakable rage and pain. He trembled slightly on the Taishi Chair, fists clenched so tightly that the knuckles began to whiten.


    Shen Qing surveyed the members of Mi Gang, slowly fixing his gaze upon Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai.


    "I presume this gentleman must be Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai. I am Shen Qing, a younger generation, and I have met the Gang Leader. I''ve heard there has been a misunderstanding between my master and you. Would it be possible, on my ount, to settle this matter today?" Shen Qing spoke evenly and with dignity.


    Sun Tiangai thought that Shen Qing, not wanting to be too presumptuous in the presence of his many supporters, was looking to quit while he was ahead, leading to a slight dissipation of his anger.


    But seeing such arrogance from a junior rekindled a deep dissatisfaction in his heart, which soon turned into waves of hatred, recing the umted anger.


    "Settle? I wonder, dear nephew, how do you propose we settle this?" Sun Tiangai said coldly.


    Shen Qing smiled and replied, "It''s quite simple. If Gang Leader Sun wouldpensate our Linfeng Hall with five thousand taels for mental anguish and promise to henceforth avoid our waters and retreat from Linfeng Hall''s sphere of influence, this matter can be put behind us."


    "You''re saying you killed my man, and I''m supposed to pay you?" Sun Tiangai felt as though he had just suffered a great insult as he stood up to look directly at Shen Qing, "That doesn''t seem logical, does it?"


    Shen Qing continued smiling, "Being stronger than you is the logic. What do you think, Gang Leader Sun? You all don''t seem as strong as I had imagined."


    This statementnded like a heavy hammer on the hearts of the Mi Gang members.


    At this moment, they all realized that this good-looking young man was not as harmless as he appeared, nor as humble and polite; beneath the surface, there was a fierce and ruthless air.


    The image of Linfeng Hall teetering on the brink of copse was instantly restored by him, and even elevated.


    "What arrogance. Do you think defeating Meng De proves anything? He defeated your master and your fellow disciples before you, exhausting a great deal of strength. You merely took advantage of a vulnerable moment," said a Bone Refining Realm martial master from Mi Gang named Jing Yuanzhong.


    He had watched closely.


    The finger Shen Qing used was as swift as the wind, and its power was extraordinary.


    When it struck Meng De''s back, the Qi Force that burst forth even contained an intense heat.


    The power required for such force was extremely exhausting, and Wind Defying Finger was a martial art that excelled in speed, with only average defense and stamina.


    He was certain that the man before him was definitely not as strong as he had imagined, and that the whole scene was just an act.


    With this thought in mind, Jing Yuanzhong no longer hesitated and said, "I am Jing Yuanzhong from the Mi Gang, and I would like to learn a thing or two from this young brother." Experience tales at m v|l e''-NovelBin


    Shen Qing nced at Jing Yuanzhong, who had already stepped forward, and with a slight lift of the corner of his mouth, he pointed at the two people beside him and said, "How about you alle at once, to save the trouble."


    Upon hearing this, Jing Yuanzhong''s heart skipped a beat.


    He realized that this direct disciple from Linfeng Hall might not be pretending, and a slight urge to retreat suddenly sprouted in his heart again.


    Then with due respect, I willply."


    The named members of the Mi Gang showed no fear on their faces, took a deep breath, stepped forward, and without any fancy maneuvers, threw a direct and strong punch.


    Following in his footsteps, another Mi Gang member threw his punch as well.


    These people were all in the Bone Refining Realm, with formidable punching power throughout their bodies.


    The muscles of the two men seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, swelling up rapidly, with bulging veins protruding on their skin, like dormant azure dragons roaming beneath the surface.


    Shen Qing lightly drew a line with his foot forward and assumed the starting position.


    This starting position, infused with movements from the Yin and Yang of the Eight Trigrams, appeared somewhat ethereal and unfathomable.


    He took a gentle breath, concentrating all his strength at his fingertips.


    The next moment, Shen Qing''s form shed, turning into an afterimage; Wind Defying Finger, trailing with it a red me, precisely aimed at the armpit of the gang member charging at him first.


    "Bang!" A muffled sound rang out as the charging gang member''s body seemed to be pierced through, his lungs inside the chest seared into cooked flesh by the scorching force.


    The entire person, like a cut-off kite, traced a parabolic arc in the air and fell heavily to the ground.


    He gripped his own neck tightly, his face turning bright red as though he was unable to catch his breath, and ultimately suffocated to death.


    After killing one person with a single move, the second person had already arrived.


    He too struck with both fists, following the same technique as the previous man.


    However, slightly different was that this person''s punches were steadier, indicating a more solid foundation.


    Shen Qing''s eyes sharp, he gave a carefree smile and, without any superfluous movements, his figure shifted and a powerful surge of Qi Force burst forth from within him, his two fingers sweeping like a fierce storm at the man.


    The opponent''s face changed slightly, evidently not expecting Shen Qing to possess such strong Inner Strength.


    Just as he was about to swing his fists again, a sudden intense pain shot through his neck.


    A dull bursting sound followed.


    His vision blurred, and his head involuntarily flew off.


    The scene fell deadly silent.


    Shen Qing''s eyes shifted, staring at Jing Yuanzhong, and with a sinister smile, he said, "Your turn!"


    "Ah!" Jing Yuanzhong was instantly terrified out of his wits.


    Where was there any sign of exhaustion?


    He had guessedpletely wrong.


    Thick fear enveloped his entire body, causing him to shiver uncontrobly.


    The Boss of Mi Gang, Sun Tiangai, could no longer stand by and shouted, "Enough! The money, I''ll pay!"

 Chapter 134: Chapter 58: Total Annihilation is the Best Respect for Him

    As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the inner courtyard was in an uproar.


    Especially the people of Linfeng Hall, who didn''t expect that Sun Tiangai, the previously invincible Boss of Mi Gang, had suddenly conceded.


    At this moment, Sun Tiangai tried hard to maintainposure on his face.


    Initially, he thought along the same lines as Jing Yuanzhong, assuming that Shen Qing had only pulled off a few tricks by capitalizing on Meng De''s weakened state, showing off a moment of bravery.


    He even nned to go down to the arena himself and kill him.


    Now it seemed that he had been hugely mistaken.


    The closed-door disciple of Linfeng Hall, where was the advantage? It was clear he hadn''t even used his full strength, yet still had plenty to spare!


    Thinking of this, Sun Tiangai couldn''t help but feel a chill.


    If he hadn''t recognized the situation just now and impulsively stepped into the arena, the consequences would have been unthinkable.


    His cultivation was only slightly higher than Meng De''s, with the bulk of it being actualbat skills.


    Facing someone like Shen Qing, he wasn''t sure he could gain any advantage.


    One misstep, and he might end up like Li Linfeng''s situation previously.


    Now, having aligned himself with the powerful county magistrate, he was on his career peak. If he were to be defeated publicly, his subordinates would surely turn disloyal.


    The favorable situation that the Mi Gang had painstakingly built might well copse.


    This was something he absolutely could not ept.


    A true man knows when to bow and when to stand tall.


    Rather than shing head-on, it was better to temporarily bow down and wait for ater opportunity for revenge.


    Shen Qing frowned and said, "Oh, has the Sun Gang Leadere to a realization?"


    "I have realized that disputes should be resolved, not prolonged. Since Brother Shen has shown such goodwill, how could I fail to appreciate it?" As he spoke, Sun Tiangai waved a big hand to his followers below, "Search yourselves, see how much money you have! Hurry and give it to Brother Shen, to thank him for sparing my life."


    Amid a rustling noise!


    Everyone turned out their pockets, spilling all their money onto the ground.


    Copper coins, broken silver, gold beans¡­ everything was there.


    The flurry of activity even made Shen Qing blink in surprise.


    Sun Tiangai took out a silver note from his bosom, with an extremely sincere attitude, "Here is one thousand taels of silver, my tribute to Brother Shen, and the remaining four thousand taels, I will repayter. Farewell!"


    As he spoke, Sun Tiangai maintained a calm expression, exuding a certain haughty charisma of a gang leader.


    Seeing the demeanor of the departing Mi Gang underlings, everyone in Linfeng Hall got to their feet, cheering and apuding, their voices echoing throughout Linfeng Hall.


    "Shen Qing! Shen Qing!" Amid the cheers, the name of Shen Qing was called out repeatedly.


    At this moment, Li Linfeng took a deep breath and looked towards Shen Qing, feeling a profound sense of honor and fortune.


    The emergence of Shen Qing might truly change the fate of Linfeng Hall in the future.


    Sun Tiangai, walking at the front, heard the cheers from behind. His face, which had been calm and slightly obsequious, suddenly chilled, and he thought bitterly, "Shen Qing, is it? Wait until I report back to the county magistrate, call some experts, and send you and your martial brothers to reunite."


    Amid the cheers in the inner courtyard, Shen Qing stared at Sun Tiangai''s retreating figure, his expression unchanged, and called out, "Xiao Hu!"


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    Pushing through the crowd at the back, Shen Xiaohu heard Shen Qing''s call and hurriedly ran out from the crowd, "Brother, did you call me?"


    Shen Qing said nothing but stretched out a hand.


    Shen Xiaohu recognized it, the gesture Shen Qing used when he needed an arrow.


    He quickly handed over the heavy bow and arrows that Shen Qing had entrusted to him before they arrived.


    Shen Qing took the heavy bow, drew it fully in front of everyone''s gaze, and an arrow, gleaming with dark light, rested on the heavy bow.


    Li Linfeng hurriedly asked, "What are you intending to do?"


    "Master, if you don''t remove the roots, the spring breeze will bring them back to life again!" Shen Qing''s lips moved, releasing a cold statement, "A thorough purge is the best respect for him!"


    "..."


    With Li Linfeng''s astonished gaze upon him, he suddenly released his hold.


    Whiz!


    The dark iron arrow, propelled by the force of the fifty shi heavy bow, shot out like a cannonball, its whistling sound fierce, and its force unstoppable.


    Just as Shen Qing made his move, Sun Tiangai''s entire body bristled with hair as he detected intense danger.


    The distance was too close, hardly giving him any time to react, so he hastily cobbled together a Qi defense.


    Regrettably, this Qi defense appeared fragile in the face of a fifty shi heavy bow.


    "Bang!"


    A loud noise ensued as the dark iron arrow harshly struck Sun Tiangai''s chest, effortlessly tearing through his defenses and piercing his flesh.


    Under the potent inertia, Sun Tiangai''s body was carried by the arrow, flying backwards and crashing heavily against the wall, where he was violently nailed in ce, unable to move.


    With disbelief etched across his face, Sun Tiangai gazed at the wound on his chest, his eyes filled with fear and despair.


    He struggled to stand, but the severe pain left himpletely unable to muster any strength.


    Even martial masters of their level were still of mortal flesh andcked the Imperial family''s undead, bone-crafted Immortal Martial techniques.


    Pierced through the heart, death was certain.


    "No... impossible..."


    Sun Tiangai, the Boss of Mi Gang, murmured incredulously as he looked at Shen Qing, "I had already... agreed to your terms..."


    "But I didn''t agree to yours!" Shen Qing said calmly and unflinchingly.


    "Heh... heh..."


    Dark red, steaming blood spilled from Sun Tiangai''s throat, choking him and preventing him from uttering another word.


    His movements grew fainter and fainter.


    Shen Qing ignored Sun Tiangai''s struggles and despair, standing quietly in ce, his gaze deep and impassive.


    After a moment, Sun Tiangai''s gaze lost focus, his limbs ckened, and he died hanging on the wall.


    "Ah!"


    The members of Mi Gang screamed in terror and began frantically rushing towards the exit, fearing that any dy might result in the same fate as Sun Tiangai''s.


    Shen Qing didn''t stop, arrows flying in rapid session.


    With each arrow shot, several lives were imed.


    In the blink of an eye, there were no more standing members of Mi Gang in the inner courtyard.


    Only a few insignificant shrimps managed to escape.


    Looking over the bodies littering the ground, Shen Qing put away his heavy bow and respectfully said to Li Linfeng, who waspletely shocked at his side, "With this, the Mi Gang should no longer trouble Master."


    Only now did Li Linfeng realize that his disciple was not only a natural martial talent but also a born killer.


    However, given what had transpired, Li Linfeng did not feel that Shen Qing had done anything wrong.


    He was the one who had aged, his edges worn down after starting a family, always cautious in his actions.


    If he remembered correctly, he had been just as fierce at Shen Qing''s age.


    Li Linfeng nodded his head in deep approval, "Nothing wrong! You did well, very right!"


    Behind him, the many disciples of Linfeng Hall, in addition to their previous admiration for Shen Qing, couldn''t help but also feel a new sense of awe, no longer daring to approach him as casually as before.


    "Don''t just stand there, clean up the courtyard," Li Linfeng waved his hand and instructed the disciples of Linfeng Hall standing behind him.


    The numerous disciples snapped to attention and promptly responded, "Yes!"


    They had barely started cleaning the inner courtyard when a government officer in uniform, sword hanging at his side, walked in.


    Seeing the courtyard full of bodies and the thick scent of blood, his expression faltered, and he quickly stepped back out to confirm the location again, realizing it indeed was Linfeng Hall, then stepped back in.


    "What brings you here, officer?" A Fu, the manager of Linfeng Hall, hurried forward to inquire.


    The government officer sped his hands in a polite gesture, "Is Hero Shen here?"


    "Are you looking for Shen Qing, Junior Brother Shen?" A Fu replied confused, "He''s right here in the courtyard, just call out to him."


    The officer nodded, took a step forward, and called out loudly, "Hero Shen, your deeds in ying the tiger demon have been recognized, and the Lord County Magistrate has prepared a celebratory feast in your honor, specially inviting Hero Shen to attend."


    ying the tiger demon!


    Upon hearing this, the disciples in the courtyard of Linfeng Hall all turned their gazes to Shen Qing, who was leisurely sipping tea not far away.


    Shen Qing tilted the spout of the teapot, his expression nonchnt as he said, "Understood, I''ll be right there."

 Chapter 135: Chapter 59: Everyones Shock! Keeping the Appointment!

    Gurgle!


    Shen Qing took a big gulp of cool tea and immediately felt refreshed.


    The government officer who hade to deliver the message listened for the source of the sound and spotted Shen Qing, his face revealing a touch of surprise.


    He had not expected the person who had in the tiger demon to be so young.


    He looked to be no more than twenty!


    He was bound to have a limitless future.


    A smile spread across the government officer''s face, and he hurried forward with a smile, saying, "Junior Brother Shen, the banquet will start around noon at the county government, and the county magistrate has invited the local bosses to attend. I hope Junior Brother Shen will arrive on time."


    Shen Qing nced at the government officer and noticed a hint of sycophancy in his eyes, which made him inwardly mock the harsh reality.


    It was merely a small sess in Martial Arts, and yet people had already started to curry favor with him.


    Indeed, a hero is not asked about his background; poor in a bustling market, no one cares, but rich in remote mountains, distant rtivese calling.


    Fortunately, Shen Qing was a clear-headed person; he did not let it go to his head and disregarded the officer.


    He knew that no matter what, the government officer before him wore the skin of the Great Zhou Court.


    They say it''s good to rest in the shade of a great tree, and this official was certainly "higher" than him, amoner, deserving a bit of courtesy in the city.


    Seeing that the other repeatedly reminded and instructed him, Shen Qing put down his teacup steadily, stood up, and bowed politely: "Thank you for informing me, sir. I will certainly be there on time."


    The government officer''s face brightened, finding Shen Qing easy to deal with, and thus he intended to foster a connection, taking the initiative to say: "I am Quan Helin, working in the service at the county government. Should Junior Brother Shen need assistance in the future, feel free to seek me out."


    Shen Qing noticed Quan Helin''s underlying motive, but did not resist or put on airs.


    In his view, having one more friend meant one more pathway, which wasn''t a bad thing, so he happily responded with folded hands: "Good."


    Quan Helin said, "Now that I have delivered the message, I will not bother you any longer, I take my leave."


    "Take care, no need to see me out!"


    Shen Qing watched Quan Helin leave, his smiling expression gradually fading from his face.


    At that moment, he suddenly felt that the bustling noise from the inner courtyard had vanished, leaving it eerily silent, which struck him as odd.


    Shen Qing turned around and saw that many disciples from Linfeng Hall were staring at him with expressions as if they were looking at a monster.


    After a long while, Ouyang Tiezhu stepped out from among the people, sounding a bit uncertain as he said, "Junior Brother Shen, that government officer said you were to attend a banquet at the County Magistrate''s invitation, what banquet is it?"


    "Oh, it must be because I killed the demon tiger, and the county magistrate wants to celebrate," Shen Qing replied casually without overthinking it.


    "You said... you killed... a tiger demon?!!"


    "Yes, I was lucky to kill it."


    Whoosh!


    As soon as these words were uttered, Linfeng Hall''s inner courtyard erupted like a drop of water in boiling oil, suddenly filled with morous noise.


    Many people began whispering to each other, and the courtyard buzzed with discussion.


    Upon hearing this news, Li Linfeng, who was still recuperating in the inner courtyard, felt a surge of Qi-Blood. Having just regained some color and vitality, he couldn''t help but sit up abruptly, staring intently at Shen Qing.


    He had not fully recovered from the shock of Shen Qing shooting the boss of the Mi Gang yet, and now he was hearing about Shen Qing ying the tiger demon, stormy waves arose in his heart.


    With these two significant events happening one after another, the image of his disciple Shen Qing grew immensely in his eyes.


    He subconsciously nced at Fifth Miss and Li Lingchan next to him, feeling even more pity and anger for theirck of struggle.


    If it were as the government officer had said, and Shen Qing had indeed killed the tiger demon, then his merits would surely be immense, and a ce in the martial arts register was guaranteed.


    From now on, within Great Zhou, he would be a man of true status and no longer be an outsider.


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    Even when he went out, someone would call out, "My Lord."


    It was all because his daughter was short-sighted that he lost an excellent son-inw.


    For a moment, Li Linfeng became dispirited and called out to Shen Xiu, "Miss Qi, help me back to my room to rest."


    "Yes, my lord," Shen Xiu stepped forward to support Li Linfeng, yet her gaze asionally wandered towards her nephew Shen Qing.


    Living in the inner courtyard, she knew little about outside affairs, so her understanding of her nephew Shen Qing was merely superficial.


    She only knew that her nephew possessed some talent in Martial Arts and had been taken as a direct disciple by her husband, which had pleased her for a long time.


    However, besides these, she waspletely unaware of the specific progress of Shen Qing''s martial training.


    It was not until today that she saw Shen Qing, with a simple gesture, defeat those insufferably arrogant opponents and even kill the Boss of Mi Gang with one arrow as easily as ughtering chickens and dogs.


    Only then did she fully realize that her nephew was far more than what he appeared to be.


    The power he contained far exceeded her imagination.


    Just now, she clearly heard that it was Shen Qing who ughtered the tiger demon!


    Seeing the respectful manner of the government officer before him, she was so excited that she could hardly speak.


    Finally, someone from the Shen Family had made a name for themselves.


    Never again would anyonement on her background.


    With that thought, as Shen Xiu passed by Fifth Miss and the others, she unconsciously straightened her back, her face filled with pride and arrogance.


    The others pursed their lips, said nothing further, and merely bowed their heads.


    Shen Qing did not notice the ulterior motives of these people and continued to sit by the railing, drinking cold tea.


    When he felt the timing was right, he straightened his appearance and strode out of Linfeng Hall.


    By then, outside Linfeng Hall, A Fu had prepared the carriage early under Li Linfeng''s instructions and was waiting.


    Shen Qing asked in surprise, "Brother A Fu, what is this?"


    A Fu replied, "The master instructed me, saying that it doesn''t suit Junior Brother Shen to go out without a carriage, so he specifically tasked me to give Junior Brother Shen a lift."


    Shen Qing smiled wryly and generously headed towards the carriage, "Then I am in your care, brother."


    Quick witted, A Fu actively assisted Shen Qing into the carriage.


    Once Shen Qing was seated, he whipped the reins, heading towards the government office.


    The carriage was lined with soft carpets emitting a faint fragrance, making Shen Qing feel veryfortable.


    The carriage traveled unhurriedly down the main streets.


    As the carriage passed through the bustling area, Shen Qing gradually heard numerous sounds of music and dance.


    Curious, he used the back of his hand to brush aside the curtains, peered through the small carriage window, and saw the townspeople celebrating the ying of the tiger demon with song and dance, full of joy and excitement.


    Shen Qing chuckled silently, let the curtain fall, and sat cross-legged inside the carriage, closing his eyes.


    He listened to the mor outside, the corners of his mouth bearing an almost imperceptible faint smile.


    After a while, as the carriage rocked gently, it suddenly stopped.


    "Whoa! Junior Brother Shen, we have arrived," A Fu pulled up the reins and stopped the carriage, announcing.


    Sitting inside the carriage, Shen Qing quietly opened his eyes, "Good."


    He responded and stepped out of the carriage, standing at the entrance of the government office.

 Chapter 136: Chapter 60: First Meeting with the Taiping County Magistrate

    The tall, vermillion gate tower stood towering in front, with a gilded que hanging above it, inscribed with the words "county government" in forceful and vigorous characters.


    At this time, the two thick wooden doors were tightly closed, with a pair of bronze beast heads with exposed fangs hanging on the door rings.


    At the gate, a pair of majestic stone lions stood guard.


    As if aware that Shen Qing had arrived at this moment, the doors slowly opened.


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    Behind the door stood a middle-aged man with a smile on his face, dressed in official robes.


    His face was resolute, exuding a calm and restrained air like jade, his eyes deep as pools, and his forehead conveyed a sense of majesty even without anger.


    This person was none other than the County Magistrate of Taiping County, Du Yuntong.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong had already been waiting inside the government office for a long time, and when he saw Shen Qing''s figure, his eyes revealed admiration for Shen Qing.


    He personally walked out from inside the door, descended the steps, swept his gaze over Shen Qing, and said with full praise, "Mr. Shen, truly a remarkable youth!"


    While Du Yuntong was sizing him up, Shen Qing was also continuously taking measure of Du Yuntong.


    Du Yuntong''s figure was tall and straight, making him appear particrly imposing.


    At this moment, he wore a deep blue official robe with exquisite patterns embroidered on it; golden threads adorned the cuffs and cor of the robe, and he wore a broad jade belt around his waist, set with several transparent jade stones.


    At first nce, he truly exuded a richness and nobility, and held a king-like demeanor.


    However, Shen Qing knew that the gorgeously dressed middle-aged man before him was not just for show; he was one of the few martial artists in Taiping County who had reached the Qi Hai Realm, his cultivation reaching to the heavens.


    Even ten Bosses of Mi Gang put together wouldn''t be able to touch a finger on this man.


    Shen Qing gathered his thoughts and humbly responded, "Lord County Magistrate is too kind. Ridding the people of evil is merely my duty as a man of the martial world."


    County Magistrate Du Yuntongughed heartily, patted Shen Qing''s shoulder, and said, "Mr. Shen is being modest. That demon tiger has brought disaster for months, and countlessmoners have suffered. Today, your ying of the tiger demon has lifted the siege of the county¡ªhow could I, as an official, not acknowledge this feat? I have ordered a banquet to be prepared. If Mr. Shen does not mind, perhaps you coulde in and share a few drinks?"


    "Then I shall respectfullyply," Shen Qing said.


    "After you!"


    "After you!"


    Shen Qing stepped aside to let County Magistrate Du Yuntong go first, and this disy of manners improved Du Yuntong''s impression of him by several degrees.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong led Shen Qing into a secluded and elegant rear hall.


    This ce was Du Yuntong''s special hall for entertaining guests, set aside specifically for distinguished visitors.


    Upon entering the hall, Shen Qing immediately smelled the faint fragrance of sandalwood permeating the air.


    The floor of the hall, paved with green bricks, was covered with a soft carpet, and a round table made of rosewood was ced in the center.


    At this time, the table was already set with delicate tea sets and pastries, and two guests sat at the seats, leisurely enjoying tea and conversation.


    They were dressed in finery and had an extraordinary demeanor, engaged in rxed chatter over tea.


    Behind them, two pretty maids dressed in simple and elegant gowns stood quietly, their behavior showing well-trained deference.


    Besides the slight sound of tea being poured into cups and the asional conversation of the guests, the hall was extremely quiet without other noise, giving it a peaceful atmosphere.


    When the two guests heard the noise and looked towards Shen Qing, they both got up and said, "Ah, herees the guest of honor,"


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong walked forward and unceremoniously took the main seat, gestured with his hand to tell the others to sit down.


    "Mr. Shen, please sit here."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing sat down in the seat of honor.


    His gaze wandered over the two middle-aged men opposite and found that the aura emanating from these two was actuallyparable to that of Du Yuntong.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but be awestruck and dared not act rashly.


    Du Yuntong pointed to the middle-aged man on the left dressed in brocade robes, with a plump figure, and said, "This is the Family Head of the Wang Family, Wang Sanbao."


    Is this the Wang Family from the Four Great Eastern Families?


    Shen Qing was somewhat surprised.


    The Wang Family in Taiping County was known for its pawn brokerage and owned several money shops.


    Furthermore, rumors suggested that this person had also reached the Qi Hai Realm of cultivation and dominated Taiping County single-handedly.


    Unexpectedly, today he was brought by County Magistrate Du Yuntong to keeppany.


    Wang Sanbao had a warm smile on his face that gave a sense of cordiality, with not the slightest hint of mercenariness.


    Dressed in brocade with intricate patterns embroidered on his clothing, he looked both luxurious and dignified. He cupped his hands towards Shen Qing and said, "Mr. Shen, it''s a pleasure to meet you."


    Du Yuntong then pointed to a middle-aged man on the far right, who was dressed in a blue robe, tall and with a majestic presence, and introduced, "This is the Family Head of the Li Family, Li Heqing."


    Li Heqing''s features were firm, and his eyebrows exuded an air of valiance, reminiscent of a general who had been through many battles.


    He greeted Shen Qing with a fist and palm salute and said in a resonant voice, "Mr. Shen, I have long admired your name. Seeing you today, truly a young hero!"


    The ship transportation business run by the Li and Dong Families?


    Shen Qing''s expression remained unchanged, but ripples of emotion were spreading through his heart.


    Another Martial Artist in the Qi Hai Realm.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong pointed to Shen Qing and said to the two middle-aged men, "Gentlemen, this is our hero who hunted the tiger demon today, Shen Qing, Shen Shaohua."


    Shen Qing returned the gesture modestly, neither overbearing nor servile, and said humbly, "I dare not im credit, it was all due to the Magistrate''s excellentmand."


    "Let''s dispense with the formalities, Team Leader Wang, bring the tiger demon up! Let''s see what kind of demon craft this tiger used," the County Magistrate Du Yuntong called out to those outside the door.


    As his words fell, Wang Yanjun and others from the Guardian Martial Department escorted the body of the tiger demon to the front of the living room amidst the surrounding crowd.


    Its massive body, even in death, still exuded an intimidating presence that sent a chill down the spine.


    The maids in the hall couldn''t help but cause a stir, stepping back, their faces pale with fear.


    Li Heqing of the Li Family rose from his seat and walked over to observe, saying, "Tsk tsk, I''ve seen countless tigers in my travels, but such arge one¡ªit''s my first time."


    Wang Sanbaoughed heartily, "Otherwise, how could it be called a demon tiger?"


    "Lord County Magistrate, what do you n to do with this tiger demon?" asked Li Heqing, patting the body of the tiger demon.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong nomittally responded, "This demon was hunted by Shen Shaohua, so its disposal should be decided by him."


    Shen Qing, having lived through two lifetimes, sensed County Magistrate Du Yuntong''s hint.


    Although his strength was no longer what it once was, it was still not enough to be considered significant in the eyes of these prominent figures.


    It was impossible for him to im the tiger demon for himself.


    Besides, he had already secured the most important part, the tiger treasure¡ªgiving the rest away wouldn''t be a loss.


    As the saying goes, "The wise adapt to circumstances."


    Shen Qing quickly bowed and respectfully said, "Taiping County is under the Lord County Magistrate''s jurisdiction, and all the natural treasures found here naturally belong to Lord County Magistrate."


    Seeing how tactful Shen Qing was, County Magistrate Du Yuntong smiled and said, "I did not expect someone of your young age to be so articte. Well, since this tiger is extraordinary and you were the one to y it, why don''t the two Family Heads see what they would like from this tiger and convert it into equivalent goods for Shen Shaohua."

 Chapter 137: Chapter 61: The Wonderful Uses of the Demon Core

    "Convert it to cash for me?"


    Shen Qing was genuinely surprised, having not expected County Magistrate Du Yuntong to be free of corrupt intentions.


    However, he quickly thought that this might just be Du Yuntong''s way of winning people over.


    Looking at Wang Sanbao and Li Heqing with their beaming smiles, Shen Qing grew even more certain of his thought.


    Although Du Yuntong had said that he would let Wang Sanbao and Li Heqing purchase the tiger demon and convert it to cash for him, with the cunning minds of these two old foxes, they definitely would not foolishly buy it and bring trouble upon Du Yuntong.


    After all, a tiger demon was a rare sight, and every bit of it was considered valuable treasure, enough to make anyone drool.


    Both were posing as bosses, yet in Great Zhou, they were merely minor merchants without much status; to survive in Taiping County, they definitely knew the importance of backing powerful allies.


    The most likely scenario was that they would buy it and then gift it back to County Magistrate Du Yuntong under various pretexts.


    At this moment, Wang Sanbao looked at Shen Qing and asked, "Does Shen Shaohua have a residence in the Inner City?"


    "I am temporarily stationed in the Outer City and do not have a residence inside the city," Shen Qing said truthfully, with a smile on his face.


    Wang Sanbao smiled and said, "My family has an idle small courtyard in the Inner City; if Shen Shaohua doesn''t mind, I would offer 300 taels in addition to a residence in exchange for the tiger bones from this tiger demon."


    The tiger bones are generally known for their efficacy in expelling wind and promoting blood cirction, as well as strengthening sinews and bones, and are considered rare delicacies which significantly boost a martial master''s cultivation.


    This tiger demon''s effects are likely even greater.


    Wang Sanbao knew his goods well. A property in the Inner City was worth roughly 300-400 taels, so together it was about 600-700 taels; it wasn''t arge amount to spend.


    Shen Qing knew that today he appeared to be the main character, but in reality, he was just supporting cast, so he didn''t haggle further and said, "Then I shall follow the boss''s arrangement."


    "Good," responded Wang Sanbao, as he immediately took out a property deed that had been prepared in advance and ced it on the table. "Shen Shaohua, you just need to sign your name and press your hand seal here, and this eastern city property is yours."


    Shen Qing, maintaining hisposure, nced at the property deed. Tactfully, he did not ask why Wang Sanbao brought the deed to the banquet or why even government seals were already arrayed...


    Seeing no issues, he directly signed his name and ced his hand seal, then tucked it into his chest before bowing and saying, "Thank you, Boss Wang."


    After Wang Sanbao finished his arrangements, Li Heqing came forward and said, "Since Brother Wang has taken the tiger bones, I will take the tiger skin and tiger penis. Seeing that Shen Shaohua doesn''t have a good horse, how about I give Shen Shaohua a precious steed, plus three hundred taels?"


    As his words fell, he pped his hands.


    Immediately, a servant led a magnificent horse forward from outside.


    Shen Qing looked over and saw a ck horse standing in the courtyard.


    It had a jet-ck coat as smooth as a mirror, and its mane fluttered while its limbs were muscr and strong.


    Even someone like Shen Qing who didn''t know much about horses could tell this ck horse was extraordinary, a true steed.


    Since a fine horse was precisely what he needed, Shen Qing''s face lit up with joy, and he said, "Then I shall not refuse."


    "Hahaha, Shen Shaohua is young and promising; it''s this horse''s honor to be your mount," Li Heqingughed and said.


    In a trice, the group had finished dividing up the entire tiger demon.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong said, "Zhang Zao Yi, call a few people to skin and bone this tiger demon and pack it up properly for our two bosses."


    "Yes, Lord County Magistrate."


    Outside, officials came forward to carry all the pieces of the tiger demon to the side chambers for ughter.


    After the tiger demon was carried away, the scent of blood in the hall slowly dissipated until itpletely vanished.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong motioned to everyone and said, "Alright, the chores are all done, everyonee and have a drink, Team Leader Wang, join us as well."


    Wang Yanjun''s face remained calm, without much to say. After sping her hands and bowing, she sat next to Shen Qing.


    Being a female martial artist, and with a good foundation, Wang Yanjun had an excellent physique.


    She straightened her back and sat on the chair, appearing somewhat graceful, and dressed in a martial outfit, which unavoidably drew several extra nces.


    "Come, everyone raise your sses. Eliminating a demon from Taiping County is indeed a joyous asion," County Magistrate Du Yuntong said loudly, holding up his wine ss.


    The rest of the people respectfully picked up their sses with both hands and happily said, "Cheers to that!"


    Putting down his ss, Du Yuntong began to pick up dishes with his chopsticks.


    As the parental official of Taiping County, he was akin to a powerful lord with the authority over life and death, and he had numerous talented subordinates.


    In this Taiping County, he could determine life and death with just a word.


    Therefore, even though he appeared approachable and casual, the others only dared to start eating after he made his first move, careful not to overstep.


    After three rounds of drinks, Du Yuntong sighed and said, "It''s a bit of a pity. This tiger demon was just a bit off in maturity; otherwise, if it had condensed an inner core, it would have been a top-notch treasure for us cultivators."


    An inner core?


    A light flickered in Shen Qing''s eyes.


    Pretending to be confused, he asked, "What do you mean by that?"


    Looking at Shen Qing, Du Yuntong said, "To tell you the truth, Taiping County is not the first ce where demons have appeared."


    "What?"


    Continuing, Du Yuntong said, "About thirty years ago, aet fell from the sky, and records of demons began to appear across Great Zhou. However, they were rtively weak and were subdued and executed locally without causing much trouble."


    "In this process, the court discovered that some of the demons with significant cultivation harbored inner cores. These cores could be boiled with medicinal soups and consumed, enhancing one''s Qi, consolidating one''s Qi Sea, and their effects wereparable to, if not better than, the spiritual elixirs refined in the court. Many people of power have already known about this and have been buying demon cores in secret. No matter the quality, the starting price for a single demon core is thousands of taels."


    "Starting at thousands of taels?" Shen Qing''s heart skipped a beat, feeling the red hot core in his pocket bing slightly warmer.


    This price was far more valuable than rare mountain delicacies.


    Wang Sanbao and the others were also hearing this for the first time and couldn''t help but be astonished internally.


    A momentter, Li Heqing followed up with a question, "Lord County Magistrate, do you know why such strange creatures are appearing in today''s world?"


    "I am notpletely sure, as this matter is being investigated by the Tian Ji Shu within the court. It''s said to be caused by celestial events, with our world potentially being tainted by demons from beyond our domain, though the truth of this is unknown. All I can say is that we should devote ourselves to cultivating, lest cmities descend and we find ourselves powerless," smiled County Magistrate Du Yuntong with a meaningful look at everyone.


    "Come, the sky won''t fall as long as the tall ones stand, let''s drink," he said.


    "As you wish, my lord, we''ll drink to that," they responded.


    After a few more drinks, the atmosphere heated up a bit.


    Just then, an officer from the officers'' squad had already dissected the tiger demon and came in to say, "Gentlemen, your items have been taken care of."


    Wang Sanbao stepped forward, took a wooden box, opened it to nce inside, then walked over to County Magistrate Du Yuntong with a smile, saying, "Lord County Magistrate, there are many tiger bones, why not take some for yourself?"

 Chapter 139: Chapter 63: Becoming Lord Shen, Theres a Tragic Thick Barrier

    At the county government office entrance, Shen Qing boarded the carriage, but it had barely started moving when A Fu stopped it.


    "Whoa!"


    "What''s the matter?" Shen Qing''s questioning voice came from inside the carriage.


    A Fu said in surprise, "There are people from the Wang Family here, and they want to take you, Disciple, to see the house."


    Shen Qing recalled the deed gifted to him by Wang Sanbao and replied, "Let him lead the way."


    A Fu was slightly taken aback; he had not expected Shen Qing to have made connections with the town''s elite so quickly.


    Suppressing his thoughts, he had a brief, quiet conversation with the other party before the carriage started moving again.


    Back in the bustling city center, the noise outside the carriage grew much louder.


    Perhaps it was because he had obtained his martial title that Shen Qing now found this cacophony somewhat pleasant to hear.


    After a journeysting the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, A Fu drove the carriage to a stop near a siheyuan.


    "Lord Shen, we''ve arrived."


    Outside, the voice of an unfamiliar servant reached Shen Qing''s ears, pulling him out of his leisurely state.


    Hearing the other party''s address, he couldn''t help but smile wryly.


    Unexpectedly, he had unconsciously been elevated to the status of a "Lord."


    Shen Qing collected his thoughts and stepped down from the carriage, standing in front of the residence and squinting slightly as he sized it up.


    The siheyuan appeared quite old, with ck paint peeling off in some areas of therge gate, revealing the underlying wood.


    But the lintel was carved with exquisite auspicious beasts and auspicious clouds, giving the siheyuan a bit of distinction.


    "Here is the key to the main gate."


    Wang Family''s servants offered up a set of keys with both hands.


    Shen Qing reached out to take them, aligning the key with the keyhole and inserting it.


    There was a clicking sound.


    The brass lock opened.


    Shen Qing pushed open the gates, and with Wang Family''s servants clustering around him, he stepped into the siheyuan.


    A wave of ancient air hit him as he did.


    Shen Qing looked around: the courtyard was spacious and meticulouslyid out with the main house, wing rooms, opposite rooms, and side rooms all properly aligned.


    In the center of the courtyard stood an old locust tree, lush and leafy, with several stone tables and benches under it, lending an air of charm and vibrancy.


    Wang Family''s servants said, "Lord Shen, this was originally the residence of a minor disciple of the Wang Family. They have since moved away, and no one lives here now. They didn''t tidy up properly when they left, leaving many belongings behind, most of which are still usable."


    Shen Qing leisurely strolled around the yard and after a few rounds found that despite its proximity to the city center, the environment was still very quiet; he was actually quite pleased.


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    "Lord Shen, what do you think?" Wang Family''s servants asked, reading his expression.


    Shen Qing replied, "Not bad."


    "That''s good to hear, I''m San''er, and I live just up the front alley. If you need anything in the future, Lord Shen, just give me a call, and I''ll be here at your service."


    "Is this the Wang Family''s intent?"


    San''er smiled and said, "This is my idea."


    Shen Qing looked down at this San''er, who, under his gaze, bowed respectfully and then retreated with a smile brimming with goodwill.


    He had not anticipated that people would start attaching themselves to him already.


    It was a stark contrast from the past.


    If he continued to climb and truly reach the top, who knew what that would be like?


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but look forward to it even more.


    After making a circuit of the yard and ensuring everything was in order, he relocked the gate and said to A Fu, "Brother A Fu, let''s go."


    As he was making adjustments to the carriage, A Fu''s face showed signs of relentlessness, and though he moved his lips, he remained silent. After a while, he finally spoke softly, "Lord Shen¡­"


    Lord Shen?


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but tug at the corner of his mouth, figuring that A Fu had seen how respectfully the Wang Family''s servants had acted and had understood some of the change in his status.


    He knew that a sorrowful barrier had now been ced between them.


    "Where are we going now?"


    Shen Qing sighed helplessly and said, "First to the Outer City, I''m nning to move the household."


    Early on, Shen Qing had already asked Tian Xiaohu to keep an eye on houses within the city, contemting moving, but he hadn''t found the right one until now.


    Now that Wang Sanbao had given him a residence, it seemed right to just move there.


    The steward A Fu didn''t say much but dutifully drove towards the Outer City.


    As the day wore on, thete spring and early summer heat was bing noticeable in Taiping County.


    The shanty areas of the Outer City were enveloped in golden sunlight, casting over the cramped, dim streets and adding a rare splendor to the dpidated area.


    Steward A Fu drove the carriage slowly, its wheels bumping rhythmically over the uneven cobblestone road with a ''clunking'' sound, soon steering deeper into the alleys of the shanty area.


    The shanty area where Shen Qing lived was not too remote, allowing carriage passage.


    As he passed by, many of the lower-ss residents turned to look.


    It wasn''t that the carriage was too luxurious to behold; rather, it was the dark steed tied behind the carriage, which in the sunlight almost shimmered with scales, that was truly dazzling.


    The carriage stopped in front of arge gate.


    Gathered in the shanty area and ying Liubo, Zhang Baqing, Shen Er, and others all paused, staring warily at the new arrival, subconsciously reaching for their bows and arrows at their sides.


    Just as they thought some important figure wasing to cause trouble, A Fu jumped down from the carriage and respectfully lifted the carriage curtain.


    Inside the carriage, Shen Qing slowly stepped down.


    "Qingzi?"


    Zhang Baqing and Shen Er were momentarily stunned.


    "What''s this?"


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "Wang Family''s boss gave me a house in the Inner City; I n to tidy up and move there."


    "Ah?"


    Everyone could hardly imagine that a big boss from the county city had given Shen Qing a house.


    "And this horse...?"


    "Oh, it was gifted by Boss Li."


    "Hiss..."


    Everyone inhaled sharply, realizing that Shen Qing might have made it big.


    Shen Qing''s gaze swept over familiar faces, their expressions ranging from surprise to joy.


    He did not exin further, withdrawing his gaze and walking calmly toward his residence.


    As soon as he left, Zhang Baqing and other hunters from Hongshan Vige gathered around A Fu, inquiring about the situation.


    A Fu didn''t conceal anything, sharing all that he knew.


    Hearing how Shen Qing had in the tiger demon, been received by the County Magistrate, and established connections with two prominent businessmen, securing a martial title...


    Detail by detail, all the hunters from Hongshan Vige were stunned beyond belief.


    They could never have imagined that the boy who once nearly faced the extinction of his family line after both his parents died, would one day achieve such feats.


    The crowd unanimously looked towards Shen Er, casting envious nces.


    The Shen Family truly had someone who had made a breakthrough.


    Inside the shanty district, a tightly closed old wooden door was opened.


    "Qingzi, you''re back!" a familiar and excited voice called out.


    Shen Qing looked up to see his older sister Shen Fang standing in the hall, her eyes slightly reddened as she watched him.


    Shen Fang had heard about the dangers of the tiger demon and had been restless these past days. Now, seeing her brother safe and sound before her...


    The weight in her heart finally settled.


    "Blessed by our parents, blessed by our parents."


    Shen Fang sped her hands together, continuously praying to the heavens, as if all of this was under the watchful eyes of their deceased parents.


    Shen Qing knew this was Shen Fang''s way of finding spiritual sce. Patiently waiting for her to finish her prayers, he then smiled and said, "Big sister, pack up your things. In a while, we''ll move to the Inner City. I''ve got us a house there, big enough for our whole family to live in."

 Chapter 140: Chapter 64: Moving into the Inner City, Li Lingchans Backbone

    "Ah?" Eldest Sister Shen Fang was somewhat incredulous, "Where did you get a residence in the Inner City?"


    Although her little brother had some abilities, having a residence in the city was still not an easy feat.


    In her mind, the Inner City was where officials and nobles lived, and a residence would cost hundreds of taels.


    It was far beyond what people like them, who came from the mountainous poor households, could aspire for.


    "It was gifted by the officials in the city, don''t worry about it," Shen Qing didn''t exin much and continued, "There''s plenty of room there. Tell auntie as well, let''s move together and live there."


    Seeing how certain her younger brother Shen Qing was, Shen Fang very tactfully didn''t ask further and nodded in agreement.


    After making a few arrangements, Shen Qing handled his valuables and some savings, leaving the rest of the trivial matters to his Eldest Sister Shen Fang to take care of.


    With nothing else to do, he walked out of the house.


    Upon stepping outside, Shen Qing noticed that the hunters from the vige at his doorstep, one by one, finally began to address him with respect, clearly calling out, "My lord!"


    No one dared to call him by name anymore.


    Uncle Shen Er looked at his nephew who had made a name for himself, his expression bingplex.


    Shen Qing had now gotten used to this change in status and epted it grandly.


    "Uncle, I just asked Eldest Sister to tidy up a bit and also informed auntie. In a while, let''s move to live in the Inner City together," Shen Qing spoke to Shen Er.


    Uncle Shen Er nodded woodenly, not saying a word, seeming to have some profound thoughts.


    Shen Qing didn''t say much more and began to look around.


    In the past few months, many hunters from Hongshan Vige had made a windfall and quietly rented houses in the Inner City, each harboring their own thoughts.


    Shen Qing didn''t have the energy to keep these people from Hongshan Vige always united as one.


    Moreover, he had now obtained his martial arts register and, after killing the tiger demon, had made a name for himself in Taiping County.


    With a reputation, money was naturally not too big of an issue anymore.


    He no longer cared for the meager protection fees from the shanty areas.


    So Shen Qing simply decided to take his rtives and move into the Inner City, leaving the rest for Zhang Baqing and the others to handle.


    With his current reputation, he believed that no one in the Outer City would dare to provoke them anymore.


    After a while, Eldest Sister Shen Fang, along with Auntie, had everything at home packed and ready.


    Zhang Baqing and the other hunters from Hongshan Vige were also keen, stepping forward to help and load the belongings into the carriage.


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    Once everything was loaded, Shen Qing left the address of his residence in the Inner City and led his family towards the Inner City.


    For the first time riding in such a carriage, Auntie Wang was tense, looking somewhat nervous.


    But her son beside her, Shanwa, saw clearly that his mother was beaming with joy inside.


    Just now, as they were leaving, she was as proud as a big white goose among the ttering voices of the neighboring women, her neck held high.


    Compared to Wang, Shen Er''s face was etched with wrinkles, yet to snap out of his daze.


    He hadn''t practiced martial arts and was unaware of the changes in Shen Qing, knowing only that he had grown stronger, without any other perception.


    Now, seeing that Shen Qing had unexpectedly killed the demon tiger and obtained his martial title, he truly understood how extraordinary and different his nephew was.


    Uncle Shen Er looked at Shen Qing, leaning against the carriage, and hesitated, "Qingzi... you..."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing looked at him and said, "Uncle, what about me?"


    "It''s nothing," Uncle Shen Er sighed deeply and said, "If your father and mother were still alive, knowing you''ve achieved so much would be great."


    For a long time, Shen Qing slowly said, "Yes, it would be good if he was still alive."


    A group of people quickly arrived at Shen Qing''s Siheyuan inside the city.


    Upon pushing open the door, Uncle Shen Er and Auntie Wang saw the appearance of the blue bricks and green tiles and were immediately so astonished that they were speechless, as if in a dream.


    They had never seen this courtyard before, and they were excited everywhere, finding it extraordinary.


    Poking around here, bumping into things there, they simply couldn''t stop themselves.


    Shen Qing just let them be.


    At the same time, at Linfeng Hall, in Li Lingchan''s boudoir.


    "Fifth Miss."


    The maid attending to Li Lingchan saw the Fifth Miss walk in from outside, quickly paid her respects, and withdrew.


    Fifth Miss looked at Li Lingchan lying on the bed resting and revealed a pained expression on her face, saying, "Lingling, are you feeling all right?"


    Having been pped by Meng De from the Mi Gang, Li Lingchan''s face had yet to reduce its swelling.


    Moreover, Meng De had secretly exerted some sneaky force, causing a violent shake in her meridians and leaving her with some internal injuries, which made her look somewhat listless.


    Li Lingchan sat up from the bed and said, "I''ve already drunk some medicinal soup prescribed by the doctor, and I''m much better now."


    "That''s good, you must not be impulsive in your actions in the future," the Fifth Miss said with concern on her face. "If something happens, your father will take care of it, but if your father can''t handle it, your involvement wouldn''t help matters."


    "I know, but I just couldn''t stand it..."


    "Sigh..." Fifth Miss sighed deeply.


    In fact, both of them knew well that the danger they faced today was such that they were narrowly spared from utter ruin.


    The mother and daughter fell silent, not speaking for a long time.


    After some time, Fifth Miss looked at Li Lingchan and tentatively asked, "Lingling, what do you think of Shen Qing?"


    "Him?" Li Lingchan feigned ignorance, keeping her head down and said, "Mother, why do you suddenly ask about him?"


    Fifth Miss rallied her spirits to persuade, "Back then, it was your father who wanted to match you with Shen Qing, and Shen Qing must have been aware of it. Hising here indicates that he must also have some thoughts about you. I have thought it over, and if I go and plead with your father again, maybe Shen Qing might still agree to the match."


    "I never expected him to be so powerful at such a young age. His talent is indeed extraordinary, and in the future, he''s sure to..."


    "Mother!" Li Lingchan, lying on the bed, annoyed and angry, cut off Fifth Miss''s words sharply, "Let''s drop this matter. A good horse doesn''t eat the grass that''s been past. I didn''t fancy him back then, and if I go back to him now, I''ll certainly face mockery. I can''t afford to lose that face. I believe that even if I don''t marry Shen Qing, I can still make my own way."


    Seeing Li Lingchan''s proud demeanor, Miss Wu''s face looked a bit displeased as she continued, "What''s the big deal about lowering your head a bit? We women have to read cues from others."


    "Mother, don''t talk about it anymore." Li Lingchan said with a cold snort, "He''s just a little faster in cultivation, but in the end, he''s just a lowly household without any fields, nothing special. Don''t think too highly of him, Mother."


    While they were talking, the maid standing outside ran in excitedly, shouting, "Miss, Madam, there''s great news for our Linfeng Hall."


    Fifth Miss and Li Lingchan stopped talking and asked, "What great news?"


    "Brother Shen Qing has been invited to a banquet by Lord County Magistrate and has now obtained the martial title. It''s already spreading throughout the hall. Our Hall Master has taught a person who became a martial titled official," the maid said jubntly.


    Upon hearing this, Li Lingchan''s face went stiff, turning pale and flushed in turns.


    Fifth Miss stood staring nkly at Li Lingchan.


    "Everyone, get out!"


    The maid was stunned, her face puzzled: "Miss..."


    "Get out!"

 Chapter 141: Chapter 65: The Ambitious Shanwa, The Forgotten Xiao Hu

    "Sellingrge buns, steamed buns!"


    "Sellingrge buns, steamed buns!"


    The following morning, the sky was clear, and the sunlight shone through the clouds onto the earth.


    Taiping County''s shops gradually became bustling, crowded with pedestrians, and filled with incessant cries of street vendors.


    The courtyard where Shen Qing lived was not far from the bustling district, and he was awakened early by the cries of vendors outside the courtyard.


    He sat up in bed, stretchedzily, and felt the long-missedfort and tranquility.


    Shen Qing casually grabbed his clothes from the foot of the bed and draped them over him before he walked out of the room.


    At this moment outside the house, Uncle Shen Er and his wife were already awake, busying themselves with chores.


    Compared to the excitement of their first visit the day before, both were much calmer now, even showing signs of boredom.


    There was no helping it; once settled in a new environment, this was bound to happen.


    Shen Qing pondered whether to find something for his uncle and aunt to do in the future, like selling pancakes, to make a living.


    "Qingzi, are you awake?" Uncle Shen Er was sitting on a stone chair, with an arrowhead stone on hisp, sharpening arrowheads.


    Shen Qing replied with a smile, "Uncle, did you sleep wellst night?"


    "Very well." Uncle Shen Er nced at his wife unconsciously, who looked particrly healthy, "We''ve grown so big, yet we''ve never lived in such a nice house. Shanwa even has his own bed now, no need to squeeze with us anymore. It''s veryfortable."


    "That''s great. Where''s Shanwa?" Shen Qing looked around and asked.


    "He fed your horse this morning. Now there are two horses in the house, and we''re running low on fodder. Do you think you should sell that old horse of yours?" Uncle Shen Er looked up and said.


    Shen Qing replied, "Let''s not sell it for now, it might still be usefulter."


    He wasn''tcking money at the moment, and he could afford to keep two horses.


    Shen Qing went to the stable and saw Shanwa grooming the horse''s mane, his small stature not as tall as the horse, yet he sat skillfully.


    He asked in surprise, "Shanwa, when did you learn to take care of horses?"


    Shanwa paused his movements and replied, "Brother, are you up?"


    "I learned this from an old master in the Outer City. I heard he used to be a stableman and was very good at tending to horses. I used to ask him a lot when I cared for the old weak horse."


    He walked outside the stable and said seriously to Shen Qing, "Brother Qing, this ck horse of yours is really a good horse. I bet it can run a thousand miles in a day. Such a horse can''t just eat fodder; it needs eggs, bean meal, salt, and about a stone of millet every day."


    "Huh, I didn''t expect you to know so much." Shen Qing looked at Shanwa, who was four years younger than him, quite surprisingly, "If you know all this, I''ll give Uncle some moneyter, and you can go to the market to buy some."


    "Sure, I''ll definitely fatten up Brother Qing''s horse."


    Back when they lived in Hongshan Vige, everyone didn''t have enough to eat, and Shanwa was malnourished, appearing rather frail.


    However, since Shen Qing had risen to prominence, his uncle''s living conditions visibly improved rapidly, and Shanwa''s physique also became stronger day by day, no longer looking like a skinny pole.


    Shen Qing smiled and asked, "How''s your martial arts training going?"


    "I''m not sure, but I feel a certain energy in my body, and my strength has increased a lot," Shanwa replied, feeling it as he looked down.


    "You''ve started to feel the Qi-Blood then. Keep practicing, eat well, drink well. Maybe soon you''ll reach the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood and be a true martial master."


    Shanwa''s eyes brightened as he said, "Really?"


    "Of course. And when you feed the horse, buy more fine grains and meat. You can eat as much as you like, I can still afford that," Shen Qing replied.


    Good horses are fed fine grains, sometimes eating better than people, making many wealthy families'' stablemen a cushy job.


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    Shen Xiaoshan was an ambitious man.


    It seemed he saw his elder brother, Shen Xiaohu, mingling around him with signs of wanting to stand out, and he too was unwilling to fall behind and also wished to make a name for himself.


    Early in the morning, he would run to feed the horses, probably intending to skillfully nourish himself while seeming to handle the horse feed.


    He even secretly pondered and delved into the knowledge of horse care, striving to develop a skill instead of always relying on Shen Qing.


    This mindset was quite rare in a poor, remote ce like Hongshan Vige.


    Shen Qing greatly admired it.


    Understanding Shanwa''s intentions, he naturally wouldn''t stop him.


    Not only did he not stop him, but he also gave him additional support.


    Right now, he also had some capital, and perhapster he could bring back some supplements to nourish Shanwa, speeding up his Qi-Blood cultivation progress.


    When the brothers grew up further, it would be a significant help to him.


    After all, they were rtives from the same household, and in this world, they were certainly more reliable than others.


    Realizing this, Shen Qing suddenly recognized a problem.


    What about Xiao Hu?


    It seemed they had forgotten to notify him when they moved house¡ªwhere did he restst night?


    Shen Qing''s face twisted in perplexity.


    He quickly washed up and stepped out of the room.


    Watching Shen Qing leave, Uncle Shen Er nced at Aunt Wang Family and said, "Wife, once the kids are asleep tonight and there''s no one else in the house, shall we chat?"


    Aunt Wang Family red at Uncle Shen Er, "Look at you, dare to give it to me now if you''re so capable."


    Uncle Shen Er carefully nced toward the stable then red at Aunt Wang Family.


    "Moving to a new house, I didn''t expect you''d be so cultured," Aunt Wang Family said, grabbing Uncle Shen Er''s arm, "Come on, let''s go inside."


    Bang!


    Under the bright daylight, the door to the side room mmed shut.


    Passing through several familiarnes, Shen Qing arrived at Linfeng Hall and strode in.


    As soon as he entered, he saw Shen Xiaohu standing in the Outer Court, in a horse stance, frowning, and asionally looking into the distance, clearly anxious about something.


    Seeing the person was safe, Shen Qing silently heaved a sigh of relief.


    He quickened his pace, approached Shen Xiaohu, and asked softly, "Xiao Hu, what''s wrong? You look worried."


    Upon hearing Shen Qing''s voice, Shen Xiaohu swiftly turned around, a flicker of joy in his eyes. He quickly grabbed Shen Qing''s arm, his voice trembling and his tears nearly falling, "Brother Qing, you''re finally here! A big problem has arisen!"


    Shen Qing was infected by Shen Xiaohu''s anxious demeanor, and he too started feeling tense.


    He patted Shen Xiaohu''s hand gently, signaling him to calm down, "Don''t worry, take it slow, what exactly happened?"


    Shen Xiaohu took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, then said in a low voice, "Last night when I got home, I found that dad, mom, Shanwa, and Sister Fang were all missing! The house was empty! They must have been harmed by some criminals."


    A smile of amusement couldn''t help but form on Shen Qing''s face; he suddenly felt the kid was somewhat pitiful.


    "Brother, what''s up with you? Speak!"


    Shen Qing said, "I''m saying, Xiao Hu, you''re not getting any younger, can you not cry at the drop of a hat in the future?"

 Chapter 142: Chapter 66 Medicine, Nourish Wind Force Qi

    "What?"


    Shen Xiaohu was a bit stunned.


    Shen Qing decided not to tease him any longer and said, "It''s alright, your aunt and uncle are doing well. I moved them and forgot to tell you. I''ll take you there tonight."


    "Really?"


    "Why would I lie to you? Wipe your nose."


    "Oh!" Shen Xiaohu stopped his tears, suddenly feeling quite pathetic. His expression changed, "Damn, why do my eyes always get sand in them?"


    Shen Qing helplessly shook his head.


    Suddenly, he felt that Shanwa and the two had entirely different personalities, like two extremes.


    "Keep practicing. I''m going to see Uncle, the Hall Master." Shen Qing patted his shoulder and walked toward the inner courtyard.


    On the way, he encountered many disciples of the Outer Court, all of whom were extremely respectful toward him.


    ''Brother'' from the left, ''brother'' from the right, all faces smiling.


    It seemed that the news of him killing the Boss of Mi Gang had spread, making him quite renowned among many people.


    Shen Qing went straight to the backyard and happened to meet Dongxue, to whom he asked, "Is Master here?"


    Seeing it was Shen Qing, Dongxue dared not dy and hurriedly said, "Lord Shen, the master is in the study. He said if Lord Shenes, to please seek him out."


    "Alright, I''ll go now."


    Maid Dongxue lifted her head to watch Shen Qing''s departing figure, feeling pity for Li Lingchan in her heart.


    "I heard that yesterday, when Miss Four heard that Lord Shen had obtained a martial title, her face swelled with regret. Ah... If only she hadn''t spoken so definitively that day, perhaps there would still be room to maneuver now. With Lord Shen in Qi Niang''s favor, the other branches probably can''tpete anymore."


    She shook her head, stopped thinking about it further, and left with her head held high and chest puffed out.


    In the backyard study, the door was tightly closed.


    Shen Qing knocked on the door.


    "Come in!"


    A robust voice came from inside the study.


    Shen Qing pushed open the door and walked in, seeing Li Linfeng sitting in a chair, smiling brightly at him.


    The sunlight streamed through the windows of Linfeng Hall, spreading across the smooth floor and casting mottled shadows on Shen Qing''s resolute face.


    This scene, in Li Linfeng''s eyes, made him inwardlymend, "What a fine piece of jade indeed, I never thought I''d encounter such a disciple in my lifetime."


    If it hadn''t been for Shen Qing''s intervention, Linfeng Hall would have nearly been destroyed by Mi Gang. Li Linfeng felt a sense of gratitude toward this disciple.


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    "Disciple Shen Qing, greets Master." Shen Qing bowed, his voice neither servile nor overbearing.


    Li Linfeng smiled slightly, emotionally saying, "Qingzi, the recent crisis in Linfeng Hall was nearly disastrous. Had you not acted timely, I fear my whole reputation would have been utterly destroyed, not to mention possibly bringing ruin upon our family and disciples."


    Shen Qing quickly waved his hands, "Master, you overstate it. I only did my duty, and besides, it was the unified effort of everyone in Linfeng Hall, not just my own doing."


    "You''re too modest." Li Linfeng nodded, admiringly watching Shen Qing, "The speed of your cultivation''s progress is truly rare in my lifetime. In just a few months, you''ve broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm. Honestly, I''ve never seen someone as exceptionally talented as you."


    Shen Qing opened his mouth to speak, but Li Linfeng stopped him, "Let''s skip the modesty and pleasantries."


    Li Linfeng changed the subject and continued, "Since you''ve now broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, I presume you''re interested in the training method for the Qi Cultivation Realm, right?"


    "Exactly, I humbly ask for your guidance, Master."


    "Can you now feel the surges of Qi from time to time?"


    "Master, I can feel it somewhat. This Qi is like what Master mentioned before, originating from the bones, condensing in the flesh, and emanating from the skin, but the sensation still seems somewhat weak."


    Li Linfeng nodded and said, "This is what it''s like to just step into the Qi Cultivation Realm. Shen Qing, do you know the realms above the Qi Cultivation Realm?"


    Shen Qing had already gotten a general idea from Zhou Yu before.


    But seeing that Li Linfeng apparently still had guidance to offer, he chose to hide this and said, "Disciple does not know, and looks forward to Master''s teachings."


    Li Linfeng said earnestly, "Above the Qi Cultivation Realm, there is the Qi Hai Realm, and beyond that the Yu Luo Realm, Dan Realm, Innate Realm, among many other realms. Can you glean some clues from these names of the realms?"


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment and said, "It seems that starting from the Qi Cultivation Realm, theter realms rarely involve the refinement of the physical body."


    "Correct." Li Linfeng approved, "In fact, from the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood to the Qi Cultivation Realm, the higher-ups like to collectively refer to them as the Body Refining Realm."


    "Body Refining?"


    Li Linfeng nodded, "Indeed, the heavens and earth contain the Spiritual Energy of the Great Dao, which can be utilized by us humans and transformed into the learning of Martial Arts."


    "However, the human body is too frail, and if one wants to cultivate and utilize this kind of Spiritual Energy, one must have a physique far superior to ordinary people, a vessel that can bear this strength."


    "The more robust andrger this vessel, the more power it can hold, until one grasps the great forces of heaven and earth, achieving many things ordinary people cannot. With ultimate cultivation, burning mountains and boiling seas, and even physical sanctification and longevity are possible."


    "Burning mountains and boiling seas, longevity!" Shen Qing''s expression grew solemn.


    "The Qi Cultivation Realm, as the final realm of Body Refining, may not require much effort for many children of official families and famous ns, possibly polished almost from birth," Li Lin said, "But for us at the lower levels of martial artists, it is also crucial."


    "If you want to go further, andter have the opportunity to enter the court to study higher realms of Martial Arts, you must cultivate enough Qi. The key to Qi Cultivation lies in the ''cultivation''."


    Saying this, Li Linfeng took out an aged piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Shen Qing: "Medicine and Martial Arts are inseparable. This is the fundamental Medicine form I''ve deduced over the years to cultivate Qi, consuming it daily will help you condense more Qi, enhancing your cultivation."


    "Thank you, Master, for your generous gift." Shen Qing took the paper, full of gratitude.


    "I will now teach you the guiding direction of the Wind riding Force, which you can learn as well," Li Linfeng''s voice was low and rhythmic.


    Having said that, he demonstrated the flow of the Force, slowly reciting the incantation: "The heart moves with the will, Qi moves with the heart, strength arises from the heart, power emanates from Qi. In guiding, like the wind passing through a bamboo forest leaving no trace; where the Force reaches, like breaking bamboo, unstoppable."


    Gradually, an invisible force seemed to be pushing the airflow around Li Linfeng; he suddenly pointed with both hands, and the airflow burst forth instantaneously, emitting a rustling sound.


    Seeing himself so depleted of energy, Li Linfeng felt somewhat disappointed and calmed his mind to say, "Have you remembered all that?"


    Shen Qing nodded, "I have remembered."


    Seeing this, a hint of relief shed in Li Linfeng''s eyes, "That''s good. While you cultivate Qi, you should also refine the usage of this Power. When your body''s strength increases to the utmost, it will be the Great Perfection of Qi Cultivation Realm, and you can begin to open your Qi Sea."


    Shen Qing thought for a moment, then still asked, "How can I begin to open the Qi Sea?"


    "To open the Qi Sea! Either ept the official supports from the Great Zhou Court and obtain the Wish Power Pearls distributed by the court, using Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to make a breakthrough; or ept the inheritance of certain holy ces... As for the other shortcuts and underhanded methods, having immense wealth can also do the trick."


    Shen Qing frowned; none of the options seemed feasible for someone from the lower levels of martial artists.


    Li Linfeng, as if knowing Shen Qing''s thoughts, said, "Now that you have a martial title, you need not panic. In the future, you can join the court to serve the Zhou Dynasty, which is the best way to break through to the Qi Hai Realm."


    "Disciple understands."


    "You may go now. If you don''t understand anything,e and ask me at any time."


    "Yes."


    Shen Qing bowed again and left the study.


    He looked up at the azure sky, muttering to himself, "It seems with a martial title, I''ll have to find a way to secure an official position in the future."

 Chapter 143: Chapter 67: Rising Reputation, Taiping Escort Agency Sends Invitation

    After exiting the study, Shen Qing''s gaze drifted across the familiar corridor and finally settled on the half-open wooden door. He strolled over, pushed it open, and walked in.


    This was the small courtyard where he and his senior brothers, such as Ouyang Tiezhu, practiced and exchanged their martial skills.


    Usually at this time, the senior brothers would have already gathered, starting to hone their martial skills with each other in the room, but today the courtyard was unusually quiet.


    After the incident involving the Mi Gang, his second senior brother, Niu Daping, third senior brother, Dong Zizhuang, and fourth senior brother, Wushili, all met with misfortune; some died, and others were crippled.


    The vibrant scenes of yelling during martial arts practice, the clear sounds of weapons shing, and the lively banter could no longer be recreated in the courtyard.


    Shen Qing stepped into the center of the courtyard, took a deep breath, and slowly assumed a stance as he closed his eyes.


    Thanks to his "Never Forget" ability, the moves that Li Linfeng had just taught him, along with each key point, continually surfaced in his mind.


    Whoosh¡­


    Shen Qing''s Qi surged throughout his body, his marrow condensed into flesh, and burst out along his fingers through his skin.


    Apanied by a whistling sound, this force erupted from his body and struck the floor tiles, causing a cracking sound as several fine cracks appeared on the surface.


    "In the past, when my Qi erupted from my body and hit the walls, it would instantly dissipate; now I am able to crack the floor tiles, which is a significant improvement, stronger than before. But this level is still far from enough," he thought.


    Shen Qing vividly remembered that Li Linfeng''s Wind Defying Finger could now create a hole in the floor tiles using Qi.


    He was nowhere near to achieving that.


    And forget about those martial artists whose bodies were as impregnable as metal fortresses; with just that level of power, wanting to injure them was simply impossible.


    To some extent, the Wind Riding Force concentrated in the flesh could harm some experts, while the Wind Riding Force that erupted from the body could at most injure ordinary people.


    "This still isn''t enough," Shen Qing mused.


    With his head bowed in contemtion, he subconsciously essed the Water Ink Panel, and information about the progress of the Wind Defying Finger technique appeared before him.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 16/500 points]


    [Status: Cannot be improved]


    [Note: "Blue is made out of indigo but is more vivid than it." Through continuous and uninterrupted practice, you have cultivated this martial arts technique to a state of Perfect Realm. Continue practicing, and mastering the Wind Riding Force may Break Limit of this martial arts technique.]


    "ording to the notes on the Water Ink Panel, the martial art of the Wind Defying Finger can still be perfected; it can Break Limit. Since advancing to the Qi Hai Realm doesn''t seem likely right now, I might as well dedicate all my energy to the cultivation of martial arts, and achieve Perfect Realm while cultivating my Qi," Shen Qing nned.


    Surveying his surroundings, Shen Qing looked at the deste courtyard: "In this chaotic world where life is as cheap as grass, having a bit more strength offers a bit more peace of mind."


    Determined, he made a decision in his heart and immediately resumed his focused cultivation, striving to master the methods of using his strength that Li Linfeng had taught him.


    Engrossed in his practice, Shen Qing barely noticed as the afternoon arrived.


    Seeing that the time was right, he went to the herbal pharmacy of Linfeng Hall, nning to gather some medicinal herbs.


    In a servant''s room of the Outer Court, A Fu was busy at work. Seeing Shen Qinging in, he hurriedly greeted him with respect, "Lord Shen, you''vee. Are you here for some herbs?"


    As the steward of Linfeng Hall, A Fu had willingly lowered his status after Shen Qing acquired his martial title and dared not address Shen Qing as a fellow disciple anymore.


    Shen Qing did not insist on any formalities and nodded, "Yes, I need to gather some."


    A Fu respectfully said, "The master has ordered that you, Lord Shen, can take any medicine from this room at will, without the need for silver."


    To Shen Qing, Li Linfeng seemed like a person who knew how to handle affairs, so such an arrangement was within his expectations.


    He smiled and said, "Then I won''t be polite and will help myself."


    "Lord Shen, please take your time. I''ll go attend to other matters," A Fu said, well aware that some prescriptions were top secret and not meant for others to know.


    With understanding, he left the servant''s room, leaving Shen Qing alone.


    After he had left, Shen Qing took out the foundation prescription that Li Linfeng had given him, and ording to the list, he gathered several sets of medicine. He also gathered some Shiquan Dabu Decoction to take back for strengthening the bodies of the children like Shanwa and Xiao Hu.


    Having handled these misceneous matters, Shen Qing, along with the already restless Shen Xiaohu, returned to the quadrangle.


    Shen Xiaohu, realizing that everyone in the family had moved to the mansion except for him, suddenly felt a bit gloomy.


    Shen Qing walked behind Shen Xiaohu and patted the back of his head, "What, you''re not happy to have your own room? Stop dilly-dallying like a woman and go inside."


    Saying this, Shen Qing pushed open the door and walked in.


    Shen Xiaohu followed behind in a daze.


    "Qingzi, you''re finally back." As soon as he entered, his uncle Shen Er came forward and said eagerly.


    "Uncle, what''s this all about?"


    Uncle Shen Er pulled Shen Qing over to the stone table and pointed to a stack of invitation cards and a wooden box, "Many people came looking for you after you left this morning, wanting to give you these... these... right, right, right, invitation cards, insisting on leaving them here. Each family who came brought some cash gifts, saying they wanted to congratte you on moving to the Inner City. I didn''t understand all of it, so I just left them here for you to check out."


    "Invitation cards?"


    Shen Qing guessed that these people from the city must have heard about his demon-ying and the skirmish with the Mi Gang, which is why they came to visit.


    Shen Qing put the medicine he carried on the table and opened one of the invitation cards to read closely.


    "Shen Shou Sect..."


    He skimmed through it and got the general idea: the Shen Shou Sect wanted to treat him at Wanfeng Building and promised him a hefty reward if he joined their sect.


    Shen Qing put down this invitation card and picked up another one.


    "Feiying Hall."


    "Kuai Dao Gang."


    "Hong men."


    "..."


    One by one, Shen Qing quickly went through the invitation cards; the content within was more or less the same, all essentially trying to court him to their side.


    "Hmm? Taiping Escort Agency."


    Among the many invitation cards, Shen Qing noticed a familiar name.


    He had some recollection of this Taiping Escort Agency.


    Before Linfeng Hall fell into trouble, his senior brother Ouyang Tiezhu had tried to find him a match for marriage, and to oblige, he had chosen a youngdy from the Taiping Escort Agency.


    If he remembered correctly, the youngdy''s name should be Tang Wanrou.


    Shen Qing looked down at the signature ¡ª Tang You.


    The Chief of the Taiping Escort Agency.


    It was definitely their family.


    Shen Qing opened the invitation card and looked at it; the content was simr to that of other sects and ns, inviting him to serve as an escort master with a promise of ten gold coins for a single trip.


    Right now, such an amount of money could not entice him anymore.


    Shen Qing shook his head, put aside the invitation card, and casually opened the wooden box.


    Inside, five or six dozen silver ingotsy neatly arranged.


    Shen Qing pushed the silver to his uncle Shen Er, saying, "Uncle, Shanwa said the horse feed at home isn''t good. Take him to the market to buy some."


    Seeing the box pushed over, Uncle Shen Er''s expression froze, and his breathing gradually became rapid.


    It was tens of taels of silver.


    In his old vige, it would have taken three to five years of hard work to amass such a sum, but Shen Qing gave it to him without even blinking.


    "Qingzi, this is too valuable... I... I..."


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "Uncle, you didn''t skimp on helping us siblings when we were in difficulty; it''s time I repaid you. You can take this money without worry; if it''s not enough, just tell me. If you feel bad about itter, call over Zhang Shu Chi and let him do the ounts for me, how''s that?"


    After a long moment, Uncle Shen Er''s old eyes shrank into two slits, and he began to smile, as if content, nodding fervently, "All right!"

 Chapter 144: Chapter 68: The Chaos Begins, Rapidly Rising Strength

    Taiping Escort Agency.


    Tang Wanrou''s fists and feet ceaselessly struck at the wooden post before her, leaning into it as if it were a vessel adrift on a storm-tossed sea, until finally with a muffled thud, it copsed thunderously.


    "Miss, have some lotus seed and white fungus soup to cool your temper," said a maid as she brought over a bowl of crystal-clear lotus seed soup.


    Tang Wanrou stopped her punches and kicks, staring seriously at the wooden post now lying on the ground, panting.


    Her face was flushed with exertion, and beads of sweat glistened on her skin.


    If one looked closely, they would see a deep worry and a sense of helplessness burning in her eyes.


    Since the demon tiger was killedst month, she had hoped that business at the escort agency would improve and Taiping Escort Agency would bounce back.


    But unexpectedly, while business did pick up, the situation outside worsened considerably.


    Add to that, the number of capable martial masters in Taiping County had greatly diminished due to the demon tiger incident, resulting in a mix of escort masters of varying abilities.


    The Taiping Escort Agency had lost several escorts in quick session and had suffered heavy losses. This added to the agency''s already struggling business, making an already bad situation worse.


    If things continued this way, they might not be able to keep doing business and would have to close their doors for good.


    Facing such a predicament, the always strong-willed Tang Wanrou simply could not find a solution, which made her increasingly frustrated and suffocated by her situation.


    After catching her breath, Tang Wanrou said, "Ping''er, what do you think we should do to change the current situation of our escort agency?"


    The maid Ping''er consoled her, saying, "Miss, there will always be a way. Aren''t the lord and the others actively seeking solutions outside? Maybe our fortunes will turn any day now."


    Actively seeking solutions?


    Tang Wanrou no longer held much hope for her father.


    If he were ten years younger, full of vigor and able to fight, maybe others would have shown him some respect.


    Now, many gangs and sects are struggling to survive, and with her father''s Qi-Blood declining, no longer as strong as before, who would lend a helping hand?


    Given the shaky state of the Taiping Escort Agency, not being kicked while down would be considered fortunate enough.


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    As if thinking of something, Tang Wanrou asked, "The greeting cards I asked you to deliver to Shen Qing, Master Shen,st month, have they been sent?"


    "They''ve been delivered. I went with Brother Yuan," the maid Ping''er confidently replied.


    "There''s been no news until now; I suppose they must not be interested," Tang Wanrou said with a sense of loss.


    Seeing Tang Wanrou like this, Ping''er ced the lotus seed and white fungus soup on the nearby table and hurriedly consoled her, "That''s not necessarily the case. Miss, think about it, Master Shen showed his interest when he sent someone to propose marriage. As long as you, miss, lower your pride a bit, Master Shen will surely still want to marry you."


    "Not receiving a reply now might mean our greeting card got buried under too many others, perhaps he didn''t see it. Let''s write another one and send itter. Maybe he will see it then."


    "This Master Shen, having in the tiger demon and secured a ce on the martial arts register, has connections with the Wang and Li families, even with the Lord County Magistrate himself. With such strength, if he is willing to help, all the problems of our escort agency could easily be resolved."


    Tang Wanrou let out a bitterugh and shook her head, "It''s not that simple. I never imagined that a man of such humble origins could one day achieve such aplishments. If it were a couple of monthster, I would have agreed no matter what. But now... it seems we''re not fated."


    "Why''s that?" Ping''er pressed.


    After a moment of silence, Tang Wanrou sat down and began, "You don''t know how strong Master Shen really is. I''ve inquired about it long ago. He achieved the Qi Cultivation Realm within four months of practicing martial arts, surpassing me significantly in strength."


    "What''s terrifying is that not only did he kill the tiger demon, but he also took down the Boss of Mi Gang with almost no effort. Even many martial masters in the Qi Cultivation Realm couldn''t achieve this feat."


    "Such a man has clearly risen to great heights; what sort of woman can''t he have? Why would he be interested in me? Now he associates with several influential bosses¡ªwhat are we in his eyespared to them?"


    "Not to mention that at the time, I was thinking of having him marry into our family, which seemed a bit presumptuous. If I were him, I wouldn''t even spare a nce."


    A trace of regret crossed Tang Wanrou''s face, "To be honest, I have some regrets. If only I had let go of my pride a bit back then."


    "Miss..." The maid Ping''er suddenly found herself at a loss for words offort.


    "Enough, let bygones be bygones; there''s no use dwelling on the past. Right now, we should focus on the escort agency."


    Tang Wanrou''s gaze involuntarily drifted towards the gateway of the courtyard, a look of determination in her eyes.


    "Miss, Miss!"


    Just then, an escort master dressed in grey rushed in, shouting excitedly.


    "Good news!"


    "What good news?"


    "We''vended a big deal," the escort master said with buzzing enthusiasm. "The boss has taken a job of escorting a shipment from the Inner City to the outskirts. There are twenty or thirty rounds in total."


    "Ah? Are you serious?" Tang Wanrou stood up and asked.


    "Would I lie to you? The boss has already made arrangements with the client."


    "That''s great!" Tang Wanrou said joyfully. "We''re familiar with the outskirts of Taiping County. There shouldn''t be any trouble. With this deal, we can finally take a breather."


    "Yes, indeed." The young escort master suddenly recalled something and said, "Oh right, something big happened in our city today."


    "What happened?"


    "Boss of the Song family is dead!"


    ...


    "The boss of the Song family is dead?" Shen Qing, who was practicing his martial arts, was quite surprised. "How did he die?"


    Ouyang Tiezhu said, "How would we know? Some say he died of illness, others say he was poisoned, and some say he was assassinated. Overall, his death is quite mysterious."


    Shen Qing fell silent.


    For some reason, over the past month, Taiping County seemed to have be increasingly unsettled.


    Previously, the county government and the various bosses in the Inner City were more or less able to maintain the status quo.


    But now, ever since the tiger demon incident, the rtionships among the big bosses seemed to have subtly changed,peting silently, and the order within the Inner City had be somewhat unstable.


    All sorts of bullies and contemptible characters in the city began making moves, and many gangs grew bolder.


    With the death of the weakest Boss Song, his businesses and industries would be of great interest to the other bosses and the government office, resulting in an inevitable scramble for them.


    The days in Taiping County were getting tougher.


    Shen Qing put his thoughts aside and said, "This matter has nothing to do with us. Let''s focus on our training. Brother, do you want to spar for a couple of rounds? I''ll take it easy on you."


    Ouyang Tiezhu''s expression stiffened, showing a hint of fear. "I just remembered I have something to take care of. You go on without me."


    With that, he left as if fleeing.


    Shen Qing felt a bit helpless. With his improvement in cultivation, there seemed to be fewer and fewer people who could beat him.


    His gaze shifted, and the Water Ink Panel appeared in his line of sight.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 490/500 points]


    ...


    [Skill: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill (Small Sess/Fourth Transformation)]


    [Skill: Blood Dominance Technique (Small Sess)]


    [Skill: Bow Technique (Great Perfection)]


    [Skill: Dragon Roar Armor (Small Sess)]


    ...


    "Wind Defying Finger is almost there, better keep up with the training in hopes of mastering this martial arts technique to the peak in the next few days," he thought.


    Shen Qing felt the vigorous Qi coursing through him, and with one finger, he struck, causing the air to explode.


    His strength was growing rapidly.

 Chapter 145: Chapter 69: Flicking Finger, Terrifying Qi

    ```


    In the blink of an eye, another three days had passed.


    In the small courtyard, Shen Qing wore a ck short jacket.


    In front of him, on the stone stove, a three-legged alchemy pot bubbled and steamed, the amber liquid inside rolling and emitting a strange medicinal fragrance.


    Up close, one could see a crimson demon core floating and sinking in the liquid, giving off a faint reddish glow, as if divine radiances were flowing from it and blending into the potion.


    As time went on, the liquid in the pot began to undergo a marvelous change, turning clearer, and the medicinal fragrance grew even more intense.


    "It''s about time."


    Shen Qing reached out to wipe the surface of the alchemy pot, using his Qi to draw the demon core into his hand.


    Although the demon core had be scalding hot, he felt no strangeness in his hand.


    After continuous refinement, the membrane that covered his muscles became even more translucent.


    Whenever he circted his Qi-Blood, thisyer would be clearly visible, as if he donned ayer of crystal armor, insting him from the heat.


    Holding the significantly smaller demon core in his hand, Shen Qing muttered to himself, "ording to what Du Yuntong and others said, this demon core can bepared to spiritual elixir and, when boiled with other medicine forms and consumed together, is very helpful in cultivating the Qi Sea. Over the past month, with daily consumption and the fundamental medicine prescribed by my uncle, the Hall Master, the enhancement of my inner Qi has been indeed significant."


    "My inner Qi seems to have an endless source; truly a priceless treasure."


    Shen Qing found a clean porcin bowl and poured the finished potion into it.


    After waiting for the potion to cool down, he tilted back his head and swallowed it.


    Instantly, a warm current slid down his throat and rapidly spread throughout his body.


    The potent medicinal strength surged into his limbs and bones like a torrent, as if countless mes were burning and bursting inside him.


    Shen Qing''s skin immediately turned an extreme shade of red as his Qi-Blood surged.


    A momentter, the explosive heat subsided, transforming into a mountain spring''s coolness, bringing an indescribablefort.


    The flush on his skin quickly faded, returning to normal.


    Shen Qing gently closed his eyes, feeling the medicine nourish his meridians and muscles.


    As the medicine spread and was absorbed, Shen Qing felt his Qi growing continuously stronger.


    The originally slow-moving streams of Qi inside him seemed to be infused with new vitality, bing turbulent and surging.


    They ran through his meridians like rivers, bringing an unprecedented sense of exhration.


    His Qi inadvertently grew stronger.


    Shen Qing slowly opened his eyes and looked at the Water Ink Panel in his line of sight, his lips curving into a slight smile.


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 510/500 points]


    [Status: Upgradeable]


    "Good, the progress is sufficient."


    "Come, Water Ink Panel, show me the extent of Wind Defying Finger after the Break Limit."


    "Upgrade!"


    The status of Wind Defying Finger on the Water Ink Panel refreshed rapidly, changing from the state of Great Perfection to [Break Limit].


    [Skill: Wind Defying Finger (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 10/600 points]


    [Status: Not upgradeable]


    [Note: With your relentless daily practice, you''ve eclipsed the master, grasping the Limit Breaking Technique ''Flicking Finger''. Within ten meters, your power can prate metal and split stone, turning all to dust.]


    "Flicking Finger, turning all to dust? What a in name..."


    ```


    Before Shen Qing could recover from his daze, a torrent of memories surged in like a mighty river, causing him to involuntarily clutch his head and groan in pain.


    Within this burst of memory, he trained day and night in the Wind Defying Finger, tirelessly honing the Martial Arts skill.


    Finally, during an ident, he broke through his own limits and sessfully contained the outward emission of power, achieving an ideal state and obtaining a Limit breaking Technique named ''Flicking Finger.''


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    This Limit breaking Technique could gather and emit power, which would then explode upon reaching the target, causing unexpected destructive effects, far exceeding the original Wind Defying Finger''s capability by at least fifty to sixty percent.


    After the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, the strangeness in his mind gradually faded, as did the pain.


    Shen Qing lifted his arm and found that the muscles on his arm had be even harder, and the two fingers on his right hand had be more nimble.


    With a slight operation of strength, waves of familiarity washed over him as if he had truly practiced this Martial Arts thousands of times.


    Shen Qing turned his head and gradually settled his gaze on an old locust tree in the courtyard.


    The distance to the old locust tree was just about ten meters.


    "There''s no one in the courtyard; I can try out this so-called Break Limit Technique."


    Shen Qing raised his hand and performed the Flicking Finger.


    An invisible and fierce Qi shot out from the tips of his fingers, slicing through the air and whistling as it hit the trunk of the old locust tree.


    With a ''pfft'' sound.


    Therge tree, fifty to sixty centimeters in diameter, was directly pierced through, leaving a hole the size of two fingers.


    "Hmm?"


    A hint of joy appeared in Shen Qing''s eyes.


    "All of Li Linfeng''s Wind Defying Finger strength is scattered in different directions, so the point of contact always results in a shattered state with limited range. By concentrating the force and refining it to a single point, my technique is strong in both distance and pration."


    "If that''s the case, what would happen if Ibined it with the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill?"


    Shen Qing''s gaze once again fell on the old locust tree in front of him, his mind stirring.


    He mobilized all his strength and thenyered it with the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill.


    "First Transformation, Second Transformation, Third Transformation... Fourth Transformation!"


    Shen Qing pushed the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its limit in one breath. His arm muscles were taut, and his veins stood out as he gathered all his strength between his two fingers.


    Around his body began to swirl powerful currents of air, enveloping and rotating around him.


    "Huh¡ª"


    With a fierce cry, the strength between his two fingers shot out.


    A powerful st, with red glimmers mixed in the invisible force, left a long trajectory through the air, roaring as it shot forth.


    Wherever it passed, the air itself was shredded apart, emitting piercing howling sounds.


    Boom!


    A muffled bang.


    The force struck the locust tree in an instant, a blinding sh burst from the trunk, followed by deafening explosion.


    This old locust tree, that had withstood the test of time and weather, was shot through and snapped in half by this powerful force.


    The trunk split down the middle, breaking into two pieces that copsed with a thunderous crash, shattered wood and broken branches scattering all around


    The severed surface was charred, emitting wisps of blue smoke.


    Shen Qing stood still, looking down at his fingers, his face showing a trace of emotion.


    Such fearsome strength.


    This time it was truly so; within ten meters, reduced to ash in the flick of a finger.


    None below the Qi Cultivation Realm, I''m afraid no martial master''s flesh and blood could withstand this terrifying finger of mine.

 Chapter 147: Chapter 71: The Taiping Escort Agency Meets Its Demise, Huang Tian Sect Emerges

    The sound of arrows cutting through the air was sharp and grating, and countless birds in the forest were startled, fluttering away in chaos.


    Faced with the sudden cmity, the people from Taiping Escort Agency were terrified, trying to scatter and flee, but the sheer number of arrows and their swiftness left them nowhere to escape.


    The escort masters who hade with them were mostly below the Skin Forging Realm, their flesh and skin still fragile, only slightly stronger than ordinary people, and werepletely unable to defend against the heavy crossbow arrows.


    Thud, thud...


    The dull sounds of arrowheads prating flesh kept urring.


    The heavy arrows, endowed with extreme speed and intense momentum, mercilessly pierced through the escort masters'' flesh.


    Screams of agony rose and fell in session.


    The escort masters fell to the ground like wheat, more than half of them killed or wounded in the blink of an eye,


    A thick scent of blood spread out towards the surroundings.


    Tang You''s entire body shook, swatting away the arrows; he turned back to see this scene, his eyes splitting with rage.


    These were their professional escort masters, the backbone of their escort agency.


    Far more valuable than those temporary martial masters they had hired.


    If they all died, their escort agency would effectively cease to exist.


    "You dare!" Tang You bellowed furiously, his eyes aze.


    The burly man stood outside the range of the arrows, quietly observing everything.


    Just one volley of arrow fire had left barely one in ten of these ordinary escort masters standing, an oue that brought a slight pleasure to his face.


    "Worthy of the heavy crossbow from the emperor''s arsenal, the power is even stronger than I had anticipated." The burly man looked up at the few people like Tang You and Tang Wanrou who were still alive, thinking gleefully.


    This time he had the Taiping Escort Agency transport these military contraband goods because they were on the brink of life and death, easy to manipte.


    He could use their service as a cover to secretly achieve his own goals, avoiding the city''s watchdogs. Beyond that, he could also use these young escorts to test their weapons and methods.


    A multitude of gains in one move. As for the payment?


    Dead men did not need payment.


    The burly man red at Tang You and his group, a vicious look shing across his face: "Since these people have seen our tracks, they definitely can''t be left alive. They must all be killed, otherwise, the leaked news would also be troublesome."


    "Only that your luck is poor."


    Tang You, who had spent years roaming around as an escort, quickly regained hisposure and nced at the two escort masters beside him.


    These two were also veteran escort masters of the Taiping Escort Agency, with many years of experience wandering the martial world, and their cultivation had reached the Skin Forging Realm, giving them some ability to protect themselves against the rain of arrows.


    "Old Huang, Old Gao, wait for mymandter. The three of us will rush him together, try to take out this man first, and after he''s down, we''ll scatter and run."


    "Okay."


    "Wanrou, when we make our move, don''t look back. Find an opportunity to run immediately, go back to the county and report this to the Lord County Magistrate, let him decide. This matter has already gone beyond what we can handle."


    Tang Wanrou''s expression was solemn, knowing the urgency of the situation, and immediately agreed.


    Outside Zhangzi Forest, a breeze passed through the treetops, rustling the leaves.


    Just as the people from the Taiping Escort Agency were discussing their strategy, the burly man''s figure suddenly dashed forward, fast as a cheetah pouncing on its prey, his speed leaving no chance for reaction.


    Bang!


    A muffled impact apanied by the sound of breaking bones resounded.


    Soon after, bright red blood sprayed like a fountain from the neck of an old escort master beside Tang You, staining the surrounding grass red.


    The body of the escort master was heavily mmed into the ground by the burly man, his skull shattered, blood and brain matter mixing together, spilling all over.


    The scene unfolded so swiftly that Tang You and those beside him could barely react.


    He stood in ce, dumbfounded, hastily turning his head as his eyes fixed intently on the burly man, his heart pounding wildly like a drum, a chill rising from his spine to the top of his head.


    Tang You and another seasoned escort master couldn''t believe they were so easily defeated.


    The opponent was a martial master from the Qi Cultivation Realm!


    "Who exactly are you?" Tang You, overwhelmed by the burly man''s presence, tried to stabilize his emotions, but his voice still trembled almost imperceptibly.


    "The dead needn''t know too much." The burly man nced at Tang You and the others with a hint of contempt on his face.


    "Big brother, you guys go. I''ll hold him off."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the escort master beside Tang You dashed out like lightning, his fist whistling through the air directly at the burly man''s face.


    The burly man had already noticed this, his eyes slightly narrowing, his whole body''s muscles tensing like steel, resembling two mountains merging into the center.


    "Bang!"


    When fist met palm, a deafening roar erupted.


    Formless Qi spread around, making the surrounding leaves tremble.


    The escort master from Taiping Escort Agency felt as if he had been struck by lightning in this hit, sensing an exceptionally fierce Power prate his arm, causing his meridians to shatter.


    His entire body swayed slightly, hisplexion instantly flushing red, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.


    "Old Gao!" A sh of horror crossed Tang You''s eyes, and he suddenly turned around to p Taiping Wanrou''s shoulder, "Run!"


    Tang Wanrou also reacted and leaped up, aided by the palm strike, and quickly vanished into the forest.


    Seeing this, the burly man shouted angrily, "You''re seeking death!"


    Before he could make a move, Tang You had already moved first and aimed straight for the burly man''s vital points.


    However, the burly man was not at all disordered, a hint of disdain shing through his eyes, and with a slight sweep of his hand in the air, he urately grabbed Tang You''s arm.


    "Ah!" Tang You''s muscles bulged as he tried to break free from the grasp, but the burly man''s strength was as immovable as a mountain, preventing him from budging even slightly.


    The burly man looked down indifferently at Tang You and quickly reached out another hand to grab another escort master''s ankle and ferociously pulled, suddenly swinging him down toward the ground.


    "Die!"


    Boom!


    The ground shook.


    Sounds of bones cracking like ice rang out through the forest.


    "Cough, cough!"


    Tang You bled from all orifices, his vision covered in red, his consciousness blurred.


    "Why... why..." he murmured, filled with reluctance.


    He couldn''t understand why, just by honestly delivering items, he had met such a fate.


    "Because you are weak!" The burly man stood over Tang You, looking down on him, a foot pressed against his chest: "In the world ruled by the dog emperor of Zhou Country, it''s survival of the fittest."


    "Go to hell... damn... world!" Tang You issued a desperate roar. As the burly man increased the pressure of his foot, the sound abruptly cut off, vanishingpletely.


    Just after the burly man killed Tang You and the others, over a hundred well-equipped men rushed out of the forest, gathering around the burly man.


    Each with a Yellow Cloth tied around their arms, expressionless.


    "Yellow Angel, what shall we do next?"


    "A rat managed to escape. I''ll chase him. You all continue with the Commander''s ns."


    "Yes."


    After dropping these words, the burly man directly chased into the forest.

 Chapter 148: Chapter 72: Encounter, A Fatal Blow!

    The trees in Zhangzi Forest were densely packed, and now at the cusp of spring and summer, they were even more lush and thriving.


    The sunlight from above could not pierce through to the ground, casting the forest in a dim and gloomy light.


    Within the forest, a nimble figure moved like a female leopard, constantly weaving through the woods.


    This person was none other than Tang Wanrou, who had just managed to escape death.


    Currently, her face was flush with panic, her heart weighed down by a heavy stone, still unadapted and unresponsive to the sudden disaster that had befallen her.


    "Damn it... This goddamn... world!"


    The voice of Tang You from outside the forest reached her ears and then abruptly stopped, causing her heart to skip a beat.


    Tang Wanrou looked back, realized something, and tears involuntarily spilled from the corners of her eyes.


    She hurriedly picked up her pace, daring not to stop for even a moment.


    Those people were too ruthless; they attacked without giving the chance for an exnation, killing as casually as one might crush an ant.


    If she were caught, her death would be certain.


    Tang Wanrou clenched her teeth and ran with all her strength, kicking up the soil and fallen leaves with her strides.


    At this moment, a single thought dominated her mind¡ªescape!


    Smuggling military supplies was a grave crime, and if only she could get out and return to the county town to report this incident to the government office, the government would surely seek justice for the escort agency.


    ...


    On a small path outside the forest, a ck horse galloped past like lightning.


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    The horse''s hooves struck the solid road, emitting a rhythmic "clip-clop" sound.


    Shen Qing sat astride the horse, his posture erect, the wind whistling past his cheeks and blowing his long hair to flutter in the breeze, the mountain scenery on both sides retreating rapidly from his view.


    "It sounds like arrows," he murmured, slightly furrowing his brow.


    Being an archer, he was very familiar with the sound.


    "And there seem to be a lot of arrows, at least a hundred," he mused.


    Shen Qing looked in one direction, his gaze reaching nothing but a vast expanse of forest.


    "Could it be bandits?" he wondered, shaking his head.


    He had traveled this mountain path countless times and never found signs of bandits.


    While he pondered, many screams followed, especially toward the end; even without trying to listen, they were audible, albeit faintly and vaguely.


    Something stirred in Shen Qing''s mind, and he immediately reined in his horse. The horse neighed loudly, rearing up on its front legs beforeing to a steady halt on the path.


    The horse, Zhuifeng, was visibly discontent at the abrupt interruption to its enjoyable run, snorting loudly.


    Shen Qing gently stroked the horse''s neck, signaling it to calm down.


    A momentter, he gazed intently ahead, slightly tilting his head to listen more carefully, attempting to pinpoint the source of the sounds.


    Unfortunately, the pitiful screams did not ur again.


    A strong curiosity welled up inside Shen Qing. After taking a deep breath to steady himself, he concentrated.


    "Eagle Eye!"


    As soon as this thought manifested, images from the surrounding forest began to appear in Shen Qing''s mind.


    Gradually, these fragmented images came together to form an aerial view, as if he were an eagle overlooking the ground from the sky.


    Shen Qing could clearly see that at the other end of the mountain, near the official road outside of Zhangzi Forest, numerous bodiesy haphazardly, their blood almost staining the ground red.


    But that was not the most important thing.


    The most crucial was the many people standing outside the forest, their arms tied with yellow cloth bands.


    Shen Qing''s eyes suddenly widened in disbelief, "People from the Huang Tian Sect! How could they be here?"


    Having previously inquired about the Huang Tian Sect, Shen Qing''s awareness of them was not insignificant.


    The Huang Tian Sect had ordinary disciples and those specialized forbat.


    The group Shen Qing had just seen, all wearing yellow bands on their arms, meant they were the Saints of the Huang Tian Sect.


    It had been these Saints who were responsible for the conquests of the Huang Tian Sect in various ces.


    The recentmotion must have been caused by these disciples.


    This was not a ce to linger.


    Currently alone in the wilderness, Shen Qing did not know how many of them there were.


    If they decided he had interfered with their affairs, it could lead to trouble.


    Shen Qing had only intended to take his horse out for a ride, not looking for any trouble.


    Taking a deep breath and gently stroking the horse''s mane to calm its nervousness, he then lightly turned the horse''s head towards the direction of the city to return.


    "Let''s go!"


    Zhuifeng seemed to sense Shen Qing''s intention, shaking its head with a hint of dissatisfaction.


    But seeing Shen Qing''s persistent urging, it shook off the dust from its body and, with a nimble gait, turned towards the city gate and galloped back.


    However, Shen Qing hadn''t gone far when he suddenly looked towards the forest to one side, as if sensing something.


    He saw a figure weaving through the woods, continually dodging the branches and vines.


    As the figure drew closer, Shen Qing could see more clearly¡ªit was a woman who was running.


    Tang Wanrou seemed to have sensed something in the forest and looked ahead, unable to contain her excitement.


    Someone, a horse!


    As long as the other party was willing to take her along, she would certainly escape the danger.


    With this thought, she nearly exhausted all her strength to speed up and rush out of the woods, panting heavily as she blocked the way, "Noble sir, wait a moment!"


    The narrow forest trail, now obstructed by Tang Wanrou''s interception, left practically no path but to enter the woods.


    Shen Qing hurriedly reined in his horse and called out, "What are you doing? Are you not afraid of death?"


    Tang Wanrou didn''t have time to exin and quickly said, "Noble sir, I am Tang Wanrou from the Taiping Escort Agency. I have urgent matters to report to the Lord County Magistrate in the county town, it''s extremely critical. I beg for your assistance to take me along, there will be a generous reward."


    The Taiping Escort Agency, Tang Wanrou?!


    Seated on horseback, Shen Qing was surprised as he scrutinized her. He found that aside from looking a bit disheveled, she was virtually identical to the portrait Ouyang Tiezhu had shown him. It really was her.


    A notable person indeed.


    Tang Wanrou was frantic, about to speak.


    At that moment, she suddenly felt a fierce killing intent emanating from the woods.


    She sharply raised her head to look and saw a burly man standing not far away, staring coldly at her.


    "I didn''t expect you, you little mouse, to be quite good at running."


    Tang Wanrou''s heart sank in an instant; she hadn''t anticipated her pursuer to catch up so quickly.


    Steeled, she blocked Shen Qing''s way and said, "Leave this to me. You hurry and tell the Lord County Magistrate that someone is smuggling military weapons outside the city, tell him to send people to search quickly."


    Tang Wanrou knew her chances of survival were slim today; the man before her was of the Qi Cultivation Realm and she was certainly no match for him.


    She only hoped she could dy slightly so the message could be sent back.


    Perhaps this way, she might also avenge her brothers in the escort agency.


    "Hahaha... Your father and the others were no match for me, do you think you can stop me?" the burly manughed as he stepped out from the forest.


    "Rest assured, none of you will escape today."


    The burly man turned to Shen Qing and sighed, "Looking at your clothes, you must be the young master of some wealthy family. What a shame, your luck isn''t good. You happen to pass by at this time, and for the sake of secrecy, I can only let you die."


    Shen Qing, seated high on his horse, looked down at the burly man and sensed the robust aura emanating from him, powerful Qi circting continuously, almost spilling out.


    He did not want anyplications and said, "I can assure you I won''t tell anyone, I don''t know anything. Can you let me go?"


    "What do you think?"


    The burly man''s body tensed like a bow, his muscr contours clearly defined in the sunlight, resembling a sculpture about to burst into action.


    "Die!"


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than the ground beneath the burly man''s feet burst with the surging power within him, turning into fine waves of dirt that dispersed in all directions.


    He shot forth like an arrow released from a bowstring, with a faint whistling of wind indicative of the air currents carried by his rapid movement.


    A mere ten meters separated the two, a distance the burly man could cover in a few breaths.


    Tang Wanrou urgently shouted, "Run, he is a martial master in the Qi Cultivation Realm, if he touches you you''ll be dead for sure!"


    A martial master in the Qi Cultivation Realm?!


    That''s damn dangerous.


    Shen Qing''s expression turned grave as he almost subconsciously pushed his Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its limit, the Power within his body circting crazily fast, concentrating at the tips of his fingers.


    Whoosh!


    A piercing sound erupted from between Shen Qing''s fingers, carrying a scorching Qi like lightning as it darted towards the burly man, striking his fist before he couldplete his own attack.


    "Bang!"


    A loud noise resounded.


    The burly man''s fist turned to dust under the impact, and his arm disintegrated under the rampage of that power, scattering in all directions.


    "What?!"


    A piercing scream burst from the burly man''s throat: "My hand, my arm! Ah..."


    He staggered and fell to the ground, fearful eyes locking onto Shen Qing.


    By then, he had realized that the "rich young master" before him was a monster far stronger than himself.


    Tang Wanrou stood by, mouth agape in shock, her gaze towards Shen Qingpletely transformed.


    Shen Qing silently withdrew his fingers and said with resignation, "Don''t me me for this, you forced my hand."


    The burly man''s scalp tingled as he desperately scuttled backward, retreating in haste.


    But no sooner had he risen to his feet than a zing wave of Qi was already hurtling towards him.


    Bang!


    His head exploded like a watermelon shot by a bullet, unequivocally dead.


    "Alright, he''s dead now, and you''re safe," Shen Qing said to Tang Wanrou from his horse.


    Regaining her senses, Tang Wanrou looked at Shen Qing, cupped her fists in gratitude, and said in a daze, "I do not know your esteemed name, sir, but I shall certainly repay the debt of saving my life."


    "You don''t know me?" Shen Qing asked, surprised.


    Tang Wanrou looked puzzled.


    Should I know you?


    "I am Shen Qing."


    Boom!


    Tang Wanrou''s mind erupted like a sudden volcanic explosion, obliterating all thoughts, leaving only nkness.

 Chapter 150: Chapter 74: In this eventful autumn, lets first deal with the present.

    After enduring several tribtions, Tang Wanrou appeared pale, but a hint of color finally returned to her cheeks after Shen Qing agreed to help her.


    She moved to Zhuifeng''s side and was steadily pulled onto the horse''s back by Shen Qing, sitting in front of his chest.


    "Go!"


    Zhuifeng, sensing his master''s urgency, started to stride vigorously without waiting for the whip, racing along the winding path toward Taiping County.


    The sound of horse hooves was crisp and forceful, echoing through the forest and startling the birds perched along the way, causing them to take flight and leave behind a trail of sharp chirping.


    Shen Qing, with Tang Wanrou, galloped all the way and managed to arrive smoothly at the majestic city gate of Taiping County within half an hour.


    As they approached the city gate, Shen Qing hastily pulled the reins to slow Zhuifeng down.


    He then habitually took out twenty wen from his bosom and threw it to the guard at the gate.


    The soldier, noticing Shen Qing riding a tall horse with a noble demeanor, recognized him as someone not to be trifled with and quickly stepped aside to let them pass.


    Shen Qing then spurred his horse and headed straight for the Taiping Escort Agency.


    He looked around and noted that the street''s former prosperity was no more; only scattered hawkers'' cries and some pedestrians haggling could be intermittently heard.


    With each preupied with their own concerns, neither Shen Qing nor Tang Wanrou had time to pay attention to others.


    "Go!"


    After entering the Inner City, Shen Qing cracked his whip forcefully.


    Zhuifeng, suddenly elerating, left a series of hurried shadows along the main street.


    In a moment''s time, Shen Qing and Tang Wanrou saw the solemn entrance of the Taiping Escort Agency.


    Tang Wanrou realized that Shen Qing had brought her to the entrance of the Taiping Escort Agency, not the government office, and knew what that implied.


    This powerful direct disciple of Linfeng Hall did not want to involve himself further in the disaster at the Taiping Escort Agency.


    Tang Wanrou did notin or say much.


    She dismounted with swift and agile movements, unlike a delicate young girl, but with the bold spiritmon among those familiar with the Jianghu.


    "Mr. Shen, wait for me a moment."


    With that, Tang Wanrou stepped up to the door''s staircase and knocked on the door.


    Suddenly, a gatekeeper opened the door, and upon seeing Tang Wanrou, he eximed in surprise, "Miss, aren''t you¡ª?"


    "Greet Mr. Shen; I need to retrieve something."


    "Yes, Miss."


    The gatekeeper stepped aside, and Tang Wanrou rushed in.


    After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Tang Wanrou returned, pulling out a stack of silver notes from her bosom and offering them with both hands: "Our Taiping Escort Agency has undergone such a change and our hands are tied. Take these five hundred taels for now, and once our agency recovers, we will repay you generously."


    Shen Qing looked at Tang Wanrou''s solemn face and calmly replied, "No need, I didn''t kill that man merely to save you; he wanted my life as well. These silver notes might be very important to your agency; it would be a shame to waste them on me. Keep them for now, and we can talk about itter."


    Upon hearing Shen Qing''s response, Tang Wanrou unexpectedly looked up at him.


    Shen Qing, not wishing to exin further, added, "Miss Tang, if there''s nothing else, I will take my leave now. Farewell!"


    After speaking, Shen Qing tugged forcefully at the reins in his hand.


    Zhuifeng neighed softly and galloped away under Tang Wanrou''splex gaze.


    Watching Shen Qing''s gradually disappearing figure, Tang Wanrou silently lowered her raised arm and let out a self-deprecatingugh: "Ha, I didn''t fancy him then, and he doesn''t fancy me now, such is fate."


    A deep sense of loss continually surged from within her.


    "However, relying on others alone will not aplish anything. I still have a blood feud to avenge; now is not the time for self-pity."


    "Without him, can I not avenge this wrong, shall I not avenge it? I don''t believe so."


    Tang Wanrou''s eyes became resolute as she regained herposure.


    She gathered her thoughts and called an old servant in the house, "Tell Housekeeper Chen toe here and bring some silver and golden leaves. Apany me to the government office."


    ...


    At the entrance of Taiping County government office.


    Tang Wanrou hastened towards the imposing doors of the county government, her furrowed brows exuding an undeniable determination.


    The old servant from the Taiping Escort Agency followed closely behind her.


    She approached the gatekeeper without preamble, saying, "Please announce that I am Tang Wanrou from the Taiping Escort Agency in the city, and I urgently need to meet with Lord County Magistrate on official business."


    The gatekeeper nced at her disdainfully, tilted his chin upward, and said, "Do you see the petition drum at the entrance? You should go and beat the drum; the Lord County Magistrate will summon you if he hears it."


    Tang Wanrou couldn''t wait.


    The petition drum was well known throughout the city, and whether the Lord County Magistrate would summon her after she beat it was still a question.


    It''s always easier to meet the king of hell than to deal with his little minions.


    Today, she had learned this firsthand.


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    The gatekeeper, responsible for opening and closing the entrance to the government office, controlled who was allowed in. His main duty was to inform the officials about visitors and decide whether they could enter.


    Though his position was lowly, his power was not trivial; the decision to report a visitor could significantly impact their fate.


    "A small token, no great honor. This matter concerns your master''s future, extremely urgent. I hope the sir will announce it."


    The gatekeeper epted the "Delivery Package" Tang Wanrou handed over, and his eyes dazzled at the sight of the silver. His attitude immediately turned obsequious, "Ah, Miss Tang, please wait a moment. I will announce you now."


    Shortly after, the gatekeeper came out and allowed Tang Wanrou inside, leading her to another room.


    Tang Wanrou had no choice but to use the same tactic again, another round of greasing palms.


    Thus, one gate after another, Tang Wanrou''s hundreds of taels of silver flowed away like water.


    Finally, after a series of "please waits" and "let''s amodate a little more," she was led to a modest but imposing study.


    The door was gently pushed open, and a stable aura came forward. County Magistrate Du Yuntong was sitting upright behind the desk, his eyes sharp.


    "I am Tang Wanrou, with urgent official business that needs to be reported to the magistrate!" Without waiting for theplete announcement, Tang Wanrou stepped in, her voice clear and striking to the heart.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong looked up, his eyes scrutinizing Tang Wanrou. Before she arrived, he had already received the ''announcement'' from below.


    "Oh? Miss Tang, what is so urgent that youe in such haste?" The voice of County Magistrate Du Yuntong was deep and powerful, revealing a hint of authority.


    "Sir, someone is smuggling military armory supplies!" Tang Wanrou enunciated each word heavily, her voice echoing in the study.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong''s expression immediately turned solemn. He stood up and slowly walked up to Tang Wanrou, "This matter is no trivial issue. Do you have conclusive evidence?"


    "The evidence is conclusive. Today my family was escorting..." Tang Wanrou straightened her back, her gaze firmly meeting the magistrate''s. Sheid out the day''s events, each word sounding like a vow, resounding with conviction, "I am willing to stake my family and life on it, please issue an order to thoroughly investigate! The criminals are currently in Zhangzi Forest, and if you dispatch troops now, you will catch them red-handed."


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong pondered for a moment and finally nodded, "Very well, I understand. I will immediately gather my men and verify with you. If it is true, they shall be severely punished!"


    Tang Wanrou, overwhelmed with relief, cried out, "Thank you, Lord County Magistrate!"


    "You stay in the back room and wait for a moment while I make arrangements." County Magistrate Du Yuntong called an officer, "Take Miss Tang to the back hall for a short rest."


    "Yes," an officer stepped forward and led Tang Wanrou away.


    After sending off Tang Wanrou, County Magistrate Du Yuntong paced back and forth in the study, contemting deeply.


    "Soon, officials from the County City Guard Martial Arts Department will arrive from the county town to deal with the tiger demon and the Huang Tian Sect. It is not suitable to foster any turmoil during this sensitive time. One wrong move, and I might not even be able to save my own position."


    "In these troubled times, it''s better first to get past this immediate situation," County Magistrate Du Yuntong decided resolutely, "After the officials from the County City Guard Martial Arts Department arrive, if this matter can be pushed onto them, then do so."


    "If that''s the case, the Taiping Escort Agency cannot be spared..."

 Chapter 151: Chapter 75 Song Familys Strategy, Colluding with Huang Tian Sect

    The following day.


    In the Song Family Mansion.


    A few withered vines wrapped around the crumbling rockery, where the once bloomden courtyard nowy overrun with weeds, presenting a sight of decay and destion. Explore stories at m,v l''e-NovelBin


    The eldest young master Song Chen and the third young master Song Yu sat in the living room, their gazes slowly shifting toward the center of the room.


    There, standing alone, was a spirit tablet inscribed with "In memory of ourte father, Song Gongming."


    Song Chen and Song Yu rose one after the other, each took out three sticks of incense and lit them over the white candles.


    Shoulder to shoulder, the brothers held the lit incense against their foreheads, then knelt down reverently and kowtowed three times.


    The incense sticks were then inserted into the incense burner in front of the spirit tablet.


    Wreaths of blue smoke began to curl upwards.


    The solitary great hall started to fill with the fragrance of sandalwood.


    "When father was alive, how illustrious the Song family was, and now it has fallen into decline so suddenly..." Song Yu''s voice was deep, tinged with a sense of unwillingness, "Big brother, with the family business continuously losing money and the other families closing in, how much longer can we... can we hold on?"


    He was met with the equally grave sigh of his brother Song Chen, "I don''t know. At this rate, by the end of the month, our Song family might no longer exist."


    "Are we really just going to sit here and wait for death?"


    Just then, a series of hurried footsteps broke the stillness of the courtyard.


    The youngest young master of the Song family, Song Xuan, rushed into the great hall, followed by a inly dressed yet imposing Taoist.


    At his words, both elder brothers were taken aback and then looked up at the Taoist.


    The man had a gaunt face and profound eyes, with strong shoulders.


    They could tell at a nce that he was a martial practitioner.


    "Who is this?"


    The Taoist stepped forward, his mouth curling into a smile, "I am Taoist Wei Yushan, serving under Commander Liu of the Huang Tian Sect. I''ve caused some disturbances at the Song family before. Today, having heard about the plight of the Song family, I wish to offer my humble assistance."


    Between the lines, there was an indescribable air of arrogance and the unique demeanor of someone in a position of authority.


    Upon hearing Taoist Wei''s introduction, Song Chen and Song Yu exchanged a nce, both seeing the shock in each other''s eyes.


    It was well known that the Huang Tian Sect was branded as traitors by the Great Zhou Court.


    What was their youngest brother Song Xuan thinking by bringing someone from the Huang Tian Sect into their home? Could it be that he wanted them to join with the Huang Tian Sect and be traitors as well?


    Song Chen and Song Yu were suddenly struck by a storm of emotions, feeling that their youngest brother had been far too bold in his actions.


    Seeing his brothers so disturbed, the young Song Xuan, with a hint of indignation on his somewhat childish face, quickly stepped forward and said, "Brothers, we''ve tried every solution we could think of to no avail, and now Taoist Wei from the Huang Tian Sect is willing to help us. Isn''t this a good thing?"


    The Huang Tian Sect, they were traitors.


    Song Chen and Song Yu fell abruptly silent, their faces tense, as it was inappropriate tosh out in Taoist Wei''s presence.


    Upon seeing this, Song Xuan''s youthful face carried ayer of anger.


    He had gone to great lengths to bring Taoist Wei Yushan here, yet Song Chen and Song Yu seemed ungrateful.


    Song Xuan''s expression changed, and he said resentfully, "Father died so mysteriously, are you just going to sit here like scared turtles waiting for death? Are we going to just hand over the family business that it took us twenty years to build? Are you content with that?"


    Eldest young master Song Chen and third young master Song Yu were berated furiously by Song Xuan, leaving them feeling quite ufortable.


    Song Yu was breathing heavily, his fists clenched till his knuckles cracked.


    Song Xuan continued, "Since that dog County Magistrate is withoutpassion or justice, he cannot me us for our actions. If he can make the first move, we can make the fifteenth. The county is bound to fall sooner orter, so why not gamble for a brighter future now?"


    "What do you mean by that?" Third young master Song Yu suddenly looked up at Taoist Wei Yushan and asked Song Xuan.


    Taoist Wei, smiling, responded, "Literally what it sounds like. Ourmander, under the orders of the Daoist, will soon lead an army of over a hundred thousand to attack Taiping County."


    "What?!" Song Chen and Song Yu were both taken aback, having heard this news for the first time.


    The Huang Tian Sect was about to attack Taiping County? Was there going to be a battle here?


    Song Chen and Song Yu''s faces were aghast.


    Song Yu nced at Wei Yushan and suddenly said, "You''re telling us such crucial information, are you not afraid that I will expose you?"


    "Hahaha." Wei Yushan, as if he heard something very amusing, burst outughing and said, "Should you choose to expose us, then go ahead. Now that Taiping County''s martial preparations arex, let alone our hundreds of thousands of followers, even just our tens of thousands could breach the county government''s defenses. Your early disclosure wouldn''t affect the oue. Moreover, our Commander has already reached the Innate Realm in cultivation, capable of quelling any petty criminals in this county town."


    Wei Yushan took a step forward, gazing directly at the Song brothers and seductively said, "Let''s be frank, there''s no need to beat around the bush. Your Song family is essentially the boss of the county town, having run businesses here for many years and knowing Taiping inside out."


    "After we take the city, we need someone to manage Taiping County for us, and there''s no one more suitable than the Song family. Could joining us possibly be worse than your current situation?"


    Song Xuan interjected anxiously, "To advance may not ensure life, but retreat will certainly bring death. Big brother, third brother, what is there to hesitate about?"


    The third Young Master Song Yu pondered for a while before asking, "If we join, what exactly would you need us to do?"


    "We don''t need the Song family to do much; just help us open the city gates when we attack and lend us a hand."


    "Is it that simple?"


    "Yes, just that simple."


    After a long while, Young Master Song Yu nced at Eldest Young Master Song Chen and saw a hint of intent in thetter''s eyes.


    Indeed, the Song family''s situation couldn''t get much worse.


    He made up his mind and nodded emphatically, "We will join you."


    Wei Yushan said joyfully, "Good, with the righteous Song family joining us, our attack on Taiping County is sure to seed and will spare many of our brothers and sisters. I thank the benevolent Song family on their behalf in advance."


    As he spoke, Wei Yushan bowed seriously, causing Song Yu, Song Chen, and Song Xuan to appear surprised and ttered.


    Song Yu asked in a lowered voice, "Commander, when do you n to rise up? I need to prepare."


    Wei Yushan replied, "The original n was for the fifteenth of next month, but there was a small change yesterday, so our Commander decided to move it forward to these few days. If it''s fast, we''ll act in three days; if slow, roughly within five days."


    "So soon?"


    "A swift sword is needed to cut through entanglement."


    "All right, we will await your message at any time."


    The Song family had been singled out by the government office as they uncovered the Huang Tian Sect, and Song Yu didn''t hold much affection for this sect adept at beguiling the popce.


    But unexpectedly, one day they would actively cooperate with the people from Huang Tian Sect¡ªhow temporality ys tricks on people.


    Song Yu didn''t know whether this would be good or bad for them.


    ...


    Meanwhile, outside Taiping County, the official road was shrouded in dust.


    Avishly decorated carriage raced from a distance, its wheels churning, kicking up clouds of dust.


    Atop the carriage, a triangr g pped loudly in the wind, drawing attention with the golden, dazzling "Zhou" character, shining like the rising sun and emanating magnificent light.


    As the carriage entered the Outer City''s shantytown, themon folk living there, seeing the extraordinary carriage, didn''t dare to make a disturbance and consciously cleared a wide path.


    "It''s the Zhou Family from the county town, make way quickly."


    Even the usually proud city gate guards recognized the carriage''s owners at first nce and were now humbly reverent, not daring to act rashly as they watched the carriage pass by.


    The carriage deftly turned several streets and came to a steady stop in front of the Zhou Family mansion.


    "Fifth Young Master, we have arrived."


    The carriage door opened with a light touch, and the clear sound of a bell jingled, followed by a faint fragrance wafting out.


    A male around twenty, dressed in cloud-patterned robes, slowly stepped out.


    With fair skin and handsome features,


    He wore a white jade crown and had fine jade hanging from his waist, exuding an indescribable aura of majesty and nobility.


    "The family has sent people, and that old Zhou Dingwen didn''te out to meet me?"

 Chapter 153: Chapter 77: Great Perfection of Qi Cultivation Realm!

    Zhou Dingwen''s heart skipped a beat.


    He had never expected that the Zhou Family in Yongzhou, thousands of miles away, would know about the incident of Zhou Yu being blown up.


    Was there a secret informant from the main Zhou family by his side?


    Zhou Dingwen suddenly felt a chill all over his body as he squinted and asked, "Where did the Third Young Master hear about this?"


    "So, it did happen then?" Zhou Xintong''s tone was indifferent. He stood up, stared at Zhou Dingwen, and emitted a vague, yet apparent, aura.


    Endowed with exceptional talent in Martial Arts since childhood, he had always been much favored and never opposed.


    Seeing Zhou Dingwen showing a hint of resistance now, he felt a surge of discontent.


    He thought of simply killing him with one strike, and then taking over the Zhou family''s business and bringing it back himself.


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    As per the main family''s usual practice, the branched Zhou families had little to do with them.


    For someone like Zhou Dingwen, a member of a coteral branch, even if he was the son of an elder and a senior rtive, Zhou Xintong wouldn''t normally offer him a second nce, let alone speak with him politely for so long.


    But, remembering the strict instructions of his great grandfather, he restrained himself.


    Simrly, Zhou Dingwen, despite being the head of the Taiping County Zhou family and an influential figure here, appeared utterly insignificant and low-status when facing the main household''s eldest lineage.


    He also felt immensely stifled.


    Both were looking at each other with considerable disfavor.


    After a long while, Zhou Dingwen gritted his teeth and said, "There is indeed such a matter."


    Zhou Xintong, with a hint of dissatisfaction, asked, "Have you found out who did it? Is it rted to the Huang Tian Sect?"


    "These are family disgraces not to be aired publicly."


    "Hm?" Zhou Xintong sternly said, "I think Lord Jiu should consider his answer more carefully before responding."


    Zhou Xintong stood tall and straight in front of Zhou Dingwen, his body radiating a cold and insurmountable aura, as if solidifying the air around them.


    His words, though soft, carried great weight, each word resounding profoundly.


    Zhou Dingwen, standing a few steps away, suddenly had a fluctuating expression on his face.


    He felt an unprecedented pressure, as if tightly bound by an invisible force.


    Sweat silently emerged from Zhou Dingwen''s forehead, trickled down his cheeks, and dropped onto the stone pavement, making a faint sound.


    He took a deep breath and said, "This matter is not rted to the Huang Tian Sect."


    "That''s good. I recall that it was Uncle who was investigating this from the beginning. Ask him toe here."


    Zhou Dingwen felt a sudden surge of horror.


    How did the main household in Yongzhou even know who was conducting the investigation? How could they possibly know?


    Could it be that¡­ these years¡­ someone by his side...


    Zhou Dingwen suddenly felt as if his heart was being tightly squeezed in someone''s fist before being released.


    Instantly, he lost all courage to face this junior member of the main family lineage and quickly nodded in agreement.


    Soon, Zhou Jishan was called by the servants.


    Zhou Xintong had no idle time to exchange pleasantries with this uncle.


    He slowly stepped forward, instantly closing the distance between them, his imposing manner almost suffocating Zhou Jishan.


    "I want to ask, concerning the affair of Aunt being blown up, who is responsible, and is it connected to the Huang Tian Sect?"


    Zhou Jishan hurriedly replied, "It has been confirmed that it has nothing to do with the Huang Tian Sect, it was¡­ it was¡­ a collusion from within our seventh house¡­"


    Zhou Xintong suddenly interjected, "Was the person who brought Aunt back also from the seventh house?"


    Zhou Jishan was also shocked, how could they know about this matter.


    "I¡­"


    "Not clear yet? Then investigate it properly again. This matter could be severe or minor; I need a detailed exnation in three days."


    Zhou Jishan looked at his already withered father and was at a loss for what to do.


    "Quickly prepare a courtyard for me, I''ve been rushing over by carriage and now I''m exhausted," Zhou Xintong casually remarked before retaking his seat at the head of the table.


    "Yes."


    Zhou Dingwen and his son dared not stay any longer in the front hall and hurriedly withdrew.


    Watching their retreating figures disappear outside the door, Zhou Xintong revealed a disdainful expression, "Even I, as Ninth Lord, am ipetent¡ªa mere family matter and yet I, an outsider, seem to understand it better than they do. I really do not know why the Old Master insisted that I muste and make this effort."


    "This old servant thinks that this might involve matters pertaining to the Huang Tian Sect, as the masters are strategizing to ascend to court and must be cautious."


    Zhou Xintong nodded in deep agreement.


    "Luckily over the years, our main family has never rxed its supervision over the branch families; otherwise, today we might not have managed to intimidate them. In the future, once I be the Family Head, I will not have such trouble; whoever disobeys will be killed outright."


    ...


    The quadrangle yard where Shen Qing resided in Taiping County city seemed somewhat empty.


    The old schr tree that had once been nted in the courtyard had already been chopped down, leaving only a stump about half a meter tall.


    Shen Qing picked up a bowl of medicinal soup and sat on the stump, drinking down the contents of the bowl in one go.


    As the medicinal soup entered his throat, it was initially bitter beyond words, but soon a warm current rose from his Dantian and swiftly flowed through his limbs and bones. Everywhere it passed, it felt as though countless tiny needles were gently stimting every inch of skin and every bone, bringing an indescribable tingling and exhration.


    Under Shen Qing''s guidance, the turbulent power, akin to rivers meeting the sea, gradually calmed down and transformed into a gentle yet powerful stream, slowly filling his body.


    After an unknown amount of time, Shen Qing could clearly feel that after so many days and nights of continuous meditation and taking medicine, the Qi inside his body had reached an unprecedented fullness at that moment.


    It seemed that he was no longer able to absorb the remaining medicinal power into Qi.


    As if he had reached some critical threshold of this physical body.


    "Great Perfection of Qi Cultivation Realm..." Shen Qing quietly mused to himself, a barely conceble joy shing in his eyes.


    He clearly remembered Li Linfeng telling him that the so-called Qi Cultivation Realm was about nurturing Qi through precious medicine.


    In this realm, the physical body was a vessel for Qi, and when Qi filled this vesselpletely, it signified the Great Perfection of the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    Shen Qing calcted that he had spent about a month and a half on this process, which could be considered exceptionally fast.


    As the medicinal power was fully absorbed, Shen Qing slowly stood up, his physique as straight as a pine, exuding an indescribable spirit with every motion.


    Over this month,bined with the refinement and supplementation of the Tiger Demon Pill, he secretly estimated that the Qi inside his body was now about five times that of amon Martial Artist in the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    Combined with the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill and several other Martial Arts, what level Shen Qing had reached was not even clear to him.


    Although he hadn''t broken through to the Qi Hai Realm, Shen Qing faintly felt that even Martial Artists in the Qi Hai Realm might not necessarily be his match.


    The precise estimation would only be known after a fight.


    "Qingzi, something seems off outside," his uncle Shen Er muttered, returning from outside.


    Shen Qing asked, "What seems off?"


    "I don''t know what''s going on today, but the Zhou Family has started frantically sellingnd, houses, and buildings. The other bosses are ecstatic, and even the county government is now epting the Zhou Family''s properties. Everyone is saying that the Zhou Family Boss has gone mad," Shen Er replied.


    Shen Qing furrowed his brows. Why would the Zhou Family suddenly decide to sell off their property?


    There must be a demon at work behind unusual urrences.


    He called over Shen Xiaohu and instructed, "Go and find Tian Xiaohu for me, I have some matters to inquire about."


    Seeing the serious expression on Shen Qing''s face, Shen Xiaohu quickly nodded in agreement and dashed out.


    A short whileter, Tian Xiaohu, who had been wandering the streets, was pulled back into the house by Shen Xiaohu.


    "Qingzi, did you want to see me?"


    Shen Qing nodded and said, "I feel something strange is happening in the Inner City. Help me find out what exactly the Zhou Family is up to, and if there''s anything else amiss in the city besides the Zhou Family."


    Suddenly, Shen Qing had an ominous premonition.


    It seemed Taiping County was no longer a ce to stay.

 Chapter 154: Chapter 78: The Gentleman Does Not Stand Under a Collapsing Wall

    In recent times, following Shen Qing''s ying of the tiger demon and his killing of the Boss of Mi Gang, Shen Qing has unknowingly developed a certain reputation within the county town.


    Utilizing the banner of Shen Qing, Tian Xiaohu made a fair number of questionable friends in the county town, which made gathering information quite convenient for him.


    After spending nearly half a day, Tian Xiaohu had already gathered a general understanding of many events urring in the Inner City.


    "You mean to say that the Zhou Family is not only liquidating its assets in the city but is also arranging carriages and horses as if they are preparing to evacuate Taiping County?"


    Shen Qing, seated at the eight immortals table in the living room, was listening to the news brought by Tian Xiaohu next to him.


    Tian Xiaohu nodded and said, "I have a friend who frequents the Zhou''s ce, and he says that the entire Zhou family is packing up, dismissing some servants who are unwilling to follow, which indeed suggests an intent to leave."


    "Where are they nning to go?"


    "Yongzhou County."


    Shen Qing fell into deep thought, his eyebrows tightly knitted, cing his hand on the table and rhythmically tapping the tabletop with his fingers.


    With a slight frown, he asked about the issue that concerned him most, "The Zhou Family was doing quite well, why would they suddenly move to the county town of Yong City? Did you manage to find out why?"


    "I''m not entirely sure about the specifics, but I heard that it might be due to people from Yongzhou''s Zhou Family demanding that they move," Tian Xiaohu spoke truthfully.


    "Yongzhou''s Zhou Family? What kind of immortals are they?"


    Tian Xiaohu asked, "Qingzi, do you know about the Thirteen Titans of Yongzhou?"


    "I don''t. What''s that?"


    "I''ve heard that over in Yongzhou County, there are thirteen high ranking families that dominate thirteen trades, and even the county government is hollowed out by their people. The Zhou Family is one of them and is said to be the most prosperous, with an Innate Ancestor presiding over the family," Tian Xiaohu leaned in toward Shen Qing as he continued.


    "The Zhou Family here in Taiping County is an offshoot of Yongzhou''s Zhou Family, and the Boss, Zhou Dingwen, is an illegitimate child of that aged ancestor."


    After listening, Shen Qing said, "So you mean to say that the main family has summoned Zhou Dingwen, the branch family, to return?"


    "That''s likely."


    Shen Qing stood up and began to pace, immersed in thought.


    After a while, he shook his head and eximed, "That doesn''t make sense, no, no. If I was Zhou Dingwen, I definitely wouldn''t agree to return to the main family. Here, I have everything I want, isn''t being a local tyrant enjoyable? To go there and lose everything, not to mention having to look at other people''s faces, it''s just asking for misery. Only someone with water in their brain would agree unless..."


    Tian Xiaohu replied, "Unless what? Does Zhou Dingwen really have water in his brain?"


    Shen Qing''s nce flicked to Tian Xiaohu as he said, "Unless staying in Taiping County is more terrifying than having nothing at all."


    "Ah?"


    What could be more terrifying than that?


    At that moment, Shen Qing''s thoughts involuntarily drifted to the matter of Tang Wanrou.


    In light of the current situation, with the arrival of the Fang Jun Saints of Huang Tian Sect outside the city, and further, they had obtained bows and crossbows from the county''s Military Armory.


    It was highly probable that the Huang Tian Sect was nning an assault on Taiping County.


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    Shen Qing felt a sudden jolt of rity, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed to be the case.


    Only the prospect of the Huang Tian Sectying siege to the city and the outbreak of hostilities in Taiping County would cause such panic in Zhou Dingwen.


    The Huang Tian Sect was a full-blown band of traitors,prised ofmon folk. If they were to capture Taiping County, they would surely target these affluent bosses.


    By that time, the question wouldn''t be about losing everything, but rather a threat to their very lives; with such a motivation, Zhou Dingwen would have reason to flee Taiping County.


    Shen Qing''s expression turned grave all of a sudden.


    "Besides the Zhou Family, have there been any other recent events in the county town?"


    Tian Xiaowen pondered and said, "Apart from the Zhou Family, the Song family has also been acting oddly."


    "What''s wrong with them?"


    "Previously, when Song Gongming died, the other families were eager to split the Song family''s assets, and the Song family was resisting fiercely. But these past few days, the Songs have been very quiet, showing no signs of resistance."


    "Have they resigned themselves to the situation, or have they found a powerful backer and are biding their time?"


    For some reason, Shen Qing couldn''t help but connect the Song family''s recent behavior to the Huang Tian Sect, feeling there might be some corrtion.


    "Also, the Taiping Escort Agency in the Inner City has gone bankrupt and disbanded; Tang and his family members are nowhere to be found, which suggests they might have left the county town," mentioned Tian Xiaohu offhandedly.


    Hearing this, Shen Qing was taken aback and couldn''t help feeling disgusted with County Magistrate Du Yuntong.


    If things didn''t go against his expectation, the incident with the Taiping Escort Agency must be his doing.


    Earlier, by taking advantage of the tiger demon incident, he eliminated dissenters and weakened the martial strength of the county town.


    When faced with problems, he only covered them up.


    If the Huang Tian Sect truly were to attack the county town, as he suspected, Shen Qing had no confidence whatsoever in such a County Magistrate.


    "That''s all I was able to find out," he said.


    Shen Qing stood at the doorway, and after a long while, as if he had made up his mind, he turned back and said, "Xiao Hu, do you have any intentions of going to the county town?"


    "To the county town?"


    "Yes," Shen Qing didn''t hide anything and said frankly, "I feel that it''s probably impossible to stay in this town any longer, and I want to move somewhere else."


    A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall.


    He saw that the Huang Tian Sect was not of good nature, and since he already knew that they intended to attack Taiping County, it would be unwise to stay here any longer.


    It just so happened he had an appointment letter from the Yongzhou Military Department, so going there would also be a good opportunity to seek higher Martial Arts within the court and thus strengthen himself.


    In these chaotic times, it''s like rowing upstream; if you don''t advance, you will fall back. He must keep climbing upwards.


    Otherwise, one could easily find themselves in mortal danger.


    You could die without even knowing how it happened.


    Tian Xiaohu, upon hearing Shen Qing''s words, had an expression full of surprise and seemed somewhat puzzled.


    They had only moved from Hongshan Vige to the Outer City, and then from there to the Inner City, all within less than half a year''s time.


    Now that they had just settled down, he couldn''t understand why Shen Qing wanted to move again.


    However, when Tian Xiaohu recalled all that Shen Qing had done before, nearly every choice he made was impably correct.


    Since he had decided to follow Shen Qing that day, he should also trust his own decision.


    After only a brief consideration, Tian Xiaohu agreed.


    "As for my family, I''m the only one who needs feeding, so there are no worries. Qingzi, wherever you say we should go, I''ll go."


    Shen Qing said, "Then you should go back and pack up. Also, keep a close watch on the Zhou Family; we''ll leave as soon as they do."


    "Alright."


    After Tian Xiaohu left, Shen Qing didn''t dy and went straight to Linfeng Hall.


    Naturally, many of his judgments were spections, but he felt seventy or eighty percent certain of them.


    Both emotionally and logically, he should inform his uncle and Hall Master.


    If he wished, he could leave with him; if not, then at least Shen Qing had fulfilled his duty as a disciple.


    Perhaps influenced by Shen Qing,


    now Linfeng Hall had once again seen an influx of neersing to practice Martial Arts, and the Outer Court was bustling once more.


    When Shen Qing found Li Linfeng, he was in the backyard having a small gathering with a few old friends.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing, Li Linfeng intentionally wrapped up the meeting early and then walked over to Shen Qing, saying, "Let''s go, to the study."


    "Alright."


    Li Linfeng knew he had some skills, and he could also tell that Shen Qing''s current strength had surpassed his own at a younger age, so his attitude had changed a bit and was no longer as standoffish as before.


    After reaching the study, he even offered Shen Qing a seat, allowing for a discussion on equal terms.


    Nevertheless, Shen Qing maintained the formality of a disciple, which made Li Linfeng think very highly of him.


    "What''s the matter? You wanted to see me for something?"


    Shen Qing got straight to the point and said, "Master, these past few days I have felt that the Inner City is not very peaceful. I''m thinking of going to Yongzhou County, and I wish to know your thoughts on this."


    "You''ve noticed it too?"


    What do you mean ''too''? Shen Qing was quite surprised.

 Chapter 155: Chapter 79: Breakthrough in Hunting Skills, Hunting Scripture! Sharp Eyesight

    "What do you mean, Master?"


    Li Linfeng said, "I have many old friends in town. In the past, when Linfeng Hall was in decline, I didn''t visit them often, but thanks to your reputation, Linfeng Hall has thrived again. These old friends have also be active again."


    "From their words, I learned about some changes in the city, and they all think that it won''t be long before something big happens in the Inner City. Coincidentally, my family at home has sent letters, asking for the ancestral tomb to be renovated. In a few days, I n to take my family back to Lu''an for a while."


    Shen Qing reassessed Li Linfeng, realizing that this Hall Master uncle understood the times better than he did.


    He smiled and asked, "Master, when do you n to leave?"


    "It''s not decided yet."


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "Then why don''t you leave town with us? It so happens that the journey to Yongzhou County and Lu''an is on the way."


    "That sounds good." Li Linfeng nodded without any refusal, "When do you n to leave?"


    "I''ll leave after the Zhou Family does. Seeing how they are selling off their property at such low prices, it will probably happen in the next few days."


    Li Linfeng looked Shen Qing up and down andughed, "That''s good, I will feel at ease traveling with you."


    Shen Qing couldn''t help butugh silently.


    "After you leave, Master, what are your ns for the Martial Arts Hall?"


    Li Linfeng smiled, "I''ll let your Senior Brother Ouyang handle it for a while. I expect to be back in about a month."


    In Shen Qing''s eyes,ing backter might not be an easy task.


    However, since Linfeng Hall was Li Linfeng''s property, Shen Qing had no ce toment and chose not to say more.


    "It''s good that Master has a n."


    Shen Qing exchanged a few more words with Li Linfeng, then walked out of the study.


    When he reached the inner courtyard, he happened to see several acquaintances practicing movement techniques, so he stopped to watch.


    When everyone noticed Shen Qing''s arrival, their attitudes changed drastically, bing extremely respectful, even more so than when facing Li Linfeng.


    Now, in the whole of Taiping County, who didn''t know of Shen Qing''s fearsome reputation.


    Killing the tiger demon, annihting Mi Gang.


    Both feats were beyond the capabilities of ordinary people, earning their immense admiration.


    Many of them hade to Linfeng Hall to study martial arts specifically because of him.


    Shen Qing saw the familiar Xiao Zhi, walked up to him, and slung an arm around his shoulder, "Come, let''s talk over there."


    "Ah?" Xiao Zhi was slightly overwhelmed by Shen Qing''s warmth.


    The two walked to a corner of the courtyard, and Shen Qing said, "I''m nning to go to the county town in a few days. Do you want toe with me?"


    "You''re leaving?" Xiao Zhi asked, "Aren''t you settled in nicely in the Inner City?"


    Shen Qing said, "Don''t you want to?"


    Xiao Zhi was silent for a while then said, "Let me think about it some more."


    Shen Qing released his shoulder and said, "Well, you''d better decide soon. I might leave in a few days."


    "So soon?" Xiao Zhi eximed in surprise.


    Shen Qing smiled, said nothing more, and strode away.


    ...


    In the courtyard.


    Uncle Shen Er, feeling guilty, returned to the house and ducked into the side room, startling Wang Family, who was sewing shoes with Shen Fang.


    She scolded irritably, "Old man, what are you doing? Sneaking around like a thief."


    Shen Er grinned and said, "Wife,e here a moment."


    Aunt Wang Family put down her needlework and followed Shen Er to the side, impatiently saying, "Out with it if you''ve got something to say."


    Uncle Shen Er, unbothered, magically pulled out a brand-new copper mirror from his bosom and presented it to Wang Family, "Here, wife, this is for you."


    "This!"


    Aunt Wang Family gasped in surprise and began examining it closely.


    As a poor farmer''s wife, it was her first time seeing a copper mirror, and she found it fascinating.


    The brand-new mirror boasted a smooth surface, with its edges carved with delicate water patterns, making it quite attractive.


    She carefully extended her hands, as if she were receiving the most precious treasure in the world, and gingerly epted the copper mirror. However, the coolness of the mirror through her palms only excited her more.


    Aunt Wang Family slowly raised the mirror to her face.


    That moment seemed to freeze time.


    It was the first time she saw such a clear reflection of herself.


    She saw her darkplexion, the numerous wrinkles on her face, and her in features.


    The initial excitement and joy quickly diminished by half.


    Aunt Wang tossed the copper mirror to Uncle Shen Er, "I don''t want this thing, take it away."


    Uncle Shen Er caught the copper mirror, his face filled with surprise.


    He had saved up money to buy it, so why was this happening.


    Looking at Wang, who had gone back to focusing on her shoemaking, Uncle Shen Er suddenly felt the copper mirror burning his hand, unsure of what to do next.


    By evening.


    During dinner with the family, Shen Qing announced his n to move to the county town.


    Both Uncle Shen Er and others, such as Shen Xiaohu, were surprised by the news.


    "Brother, we''ve just settled down in the Inner City, why are we moving again?" Shen Xiaoshan said in surprise.


    While serving himself some food, Shen Qing replied, "The city is no longer safe, we must leave. The Hall Master uncle will leave too."


    "But..."


    Shen Qing quickly finished his bowl of rice, then firmly said, "Start preparing. I''ve made up my mind about this. You all wille with me; Taiping County is about to be troubled."


    After finishing, Shen Qing put his bowl down on the table and quietly left the main seat without giving too much exnation.


    With their current understanding, knowing too much might not be a good thing.


    The living room quickly quieted down.


    However, influenced by Shen Qing''s strong will, Uncle Shen Er''s family, including Shen Fang, also agreed, and they began packing their belongings.


    The next day, Shen Qing approached people like Zhang Baqing to ask if they wanted to move to the county town with him.


    Unfortunately, these people, relying on his renown, had gotten used to life in Taiping County and showed no interest in leaving.


    They even continuously tried to persuade Shen Qing to stay.


    Eventually, Shen Qing gave up and stopped pushing the matter on them.


    Two more days passed.


    The anticipated trouble from the Huang Tian Sect showed no signs of urring, and contrary to expectations, the depression didn''t ur. Instead, as the Zhou Family sold off their property at very low prices scattering wealth, the Inner City became even livelier.


    Even so, Shen Qing still trusted his judgment and did not let his guard down, instructing Tian Xiaohu every day to keep a close watch on the Zhou Family''s actions.


    "Hmm?"


    At that moment, standing in the backyard, Shen Qing sensed something and quickly summoned the Water Ink Panel.


    Water ink dripped into his view, spreading into text of equal size.


    [Skill: Hunting (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 401/400 points]


    [Status: Can be elevated]


    [Note: Skill tempered a thousand times, approaching the art, art tested a hundred times, approaching the Way. Continuous progress can unlock new skills.]


    "New skills?"


    Shen Qing looked stunned.


    Being originally a hunter, hunting skills appeared too mundane to him.


    However, he hadn''t expected that this mundane skill could still be advanced, and it seemed quite remarkable.


    He wondered what this new breakthrough skill would be.


    Without hesitation, Shen Qing chose to upgrade.


    The water ink characters seemed to dissolve into water, turning into dots of ink.


    They quickly gathered again, disying a new set of water ink text properties before him.


    Once he clearly saw the text, Shen Qing''s eye expression changed.


    [Skill: Hunting Scripture (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 1/500 points]


    [Status: Cannot be elevated]


    [Note: The way of hunting is profound; if cultivated to the extreme, all things can be hunted. Through continuous practice, you have integrated all hunting skills, enhancing your senses further, awakening the ''Sharp Eyesight'' skill.]


    Before Shen Qing fully understood what was happening, a cool sensation merged into his eyes.


    As this coolness infused, he noticed that everything he saw became incredibly clear, as if the resolution was readjusted.


    Shen Qing looked towards the distance, seeing thendscape in his perception continuously magnify. He could even see the ants hundreds of meters away clearly.


    Your next journey awaits at mvl


    In an instant, his mind was profoundly shaken.


    Shen Qing quickly withdrew his gaze, his face showing bursts of ecstasy.


    This perception... it''s too strong.


    With Eagle Eye and his Heavy Bow, it was a perfect match!

 Chapter 156: Chapter 80: Harboring Ulterior Motives, Establishing Authority!

    "Be careful, be careful, this is the master''s favorite vase."


    "The box is too heavy,e give me a hand."


    "Someone, go fetch a horse quickly."


    At the entrance of the Zhou Family Mansion, the figures of the servants bustled tirelessly, either carrying heavy luggage on their shoulders and hands, or carefully moving delicate porcin and paintings, constantly loading onto the carriages at the entrance of the mansion.


    ...


    Among the many carriages, one made of sandalwood and iid with silver threads was particrly conspicuous.


    Zhou Xintong sat within, dressed in a finely-crafted brocade robe, his gaze intermittently passing through the half-open carriage curtains.


    "Is everything arranged properly?"


    The elderly servant outside the carriage smiled and said, "Back to Young Master Five, everything is now ready."


    "Then let''s not dy any longer, let''s go," Zhou Xintong said, pulling the curtains shut.


    The elderly servant stepped forward and eximed, "Order from Young Master Five, depart!"


    At hismand, the well-prepared Zhou family members, as if driven by an invisible force, majestically headed toward the city gate.


    The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a dull, rhythmic sound.


    Zhou Dingwen looked towards the mansion he had strived to build; his heart filled with mixed feelings.


    "Father, are we really leaving Taiping County?" Zhou Jishan, sitting beside Zhou Dingwen, said reluctantly.


    "Do you think I want to?" Zhou Dingwen replied, gently patting his son''s hand, "You do not know the power our Zhou family holds in Yongzhou. Your uncle, your second uncle, any one of them could squash our entire Zhou family with a p, and we dare not defy the order from the head of the family."


    "Besides, the Huang Tian Sect is about to attack the city soon. Staying here would mean losing everything. It''s better to preserve our lives in Yongzhou. Once things here settle down, we cane back."


    Zhou Jishan''s face still showed great discontent, his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the carriage frame ahead, appearing somewhat resentful.


    If it weren''t for this interference, in a few more years, he would have taken over the Zhou family of Taiping county, calling the shots in the Inner City.


    But now, with this situation, all of it had be an illusion.


    At home, assets were sold off, and servants dismissed, which caused a more than one-third decrease after this incident.


    Zhou Jishan was no fool; he understood that once their family moved to Yongzhou, it meant leaving their hometown behind to depend on others, and the future was bound to be extremely tough.


    As the caravan slowly moved farther away, the Zhou Family Mansion gradually disappeared from Zhou Dingwen''s sight.


    Taiping County was backed by mountains and facing the Yanshui River.


    The Yanshui River, like a jade belt, circled around the outside of Taiping County.


    The morning sun poured down on the not-so-wide river surface like molten gold, making it shimmer brilliantly.


    At that moment, a massive boathouse docked on an slightly aging ferry terminal by the bank of the Yanshui River.


    Its deck was wide, and with flying eaves curling upwards, it looked like a floating pce, forming a stark contrast with the simple fishing boats around.


    On the deck of the boathouse, Manager Zhou Hao, who was gazing into the distance, suddenly turned serious and instructed the nearby servants, "Hurry and prepare, the Young Master Five has arrived."


    At hismand, the uniformly dressed servants quickly disembarked from the boathouse, lined up neatly at the edge of the ferry terminal, each with a solemn expression.


    Manager Zhou Hao also disembarked and stood respectfully in front of the servants.


    The Zhou family''s departing caravan gradually approached and reached the boathouse in no time.


    Zhou Hao quickly walked to the front of that distinctive carriage and bowed, saying, "Everything is ready for the young master."


    "It was a great help from Manager Zhou to assist Lord Jiu. His family had quite the chaotic time relocating back to the county town."


    "Yes, Young Master Five, I will certainly give my utmost support."


    The carriage started moving again and under the escort of the servants, it was directly led into the tower ship.


    "The rest of you help Lord Zhou move the luggage onto the ship," someonemanded.


    Under Zhou Hao''s orders, the usually deserted ferry terminal bustled with unusual activity today.


    On the tower ship, Zhou Xintong familiarly walked into the elegant room on the third floor.


    This small chamber, no more than ten square meters, was fully equipped with fruits, pastries, books, ssics, stone weights, bows, arrows, and precious swords.


    Zhou Xintong sat behind the long desk, lit some incense, and said to the old servant, "Uncle Tai, I''m sorry to trouble you, but please ask Brother Jishan and Uncle Wu toe here."


    The old servant did not ask any questions. He directly leaped off the tower ship and found the Zhou brothers, saying, "My young master invites you both up."


    Zhou Congwu''s eyelid twitched, and he immediately had a bad premonition. He asked, "May I know why the young master has summoned us?"


    The old servant smiled and said, "How would I, a mere servant, know the master''s business?"


    "Thank you," Brother Jishan grasped his brother''s wrist, stepped forward, and said, "Let''s go."


    After Uncle Tai, the old servant, left, Zhou Jishan said to his brother Zhou Congwu, "I don''t know why the young master has summoned us, but when we get there, we should respond to all changes with constancy. Make sure not to speak carelessly."


    "Alright."


    The two went upstairs together, walked into the elegant room, and saw Zhou Xintong savoring his tea.


    Zhou Jishan stepped forward and asked, "Young master, you wanted to see us?"


    Zhou Xintong put down the tea cup and said to Zhou Jishan, "Uncle, three days have passed. Have you found out what I asked you to?"


    Zhou Jishan''s expression changed as he exined, "The matter with sister twelve has been long resolved. We had already investigated it at that time, and it was all covert interference from within our family."


    As the head of the main branch, Zhou Xintong looked directly at Zhou Jishan and said, "Didn''t you follow up on the leads I provided you?"


    "I¡­"


    Zhou Xintong sneered, "It seems my words do not carry much weight here, Uncle Tai."


    Before he had finished speaking, the old servant standing behind Zhou Congwu had already moved, striking with a speed that was astonishing.


    He extended his fingers, which mmed into the back of Zhou Congwu''s head like a pair of iron pliers.


    Thump.


    A crisp sound.


    Zhou Congwu''s eyes widened instantly, filled with confusion and shock, but these emotions vanished in an instant, reced by a vacant and bewildered expression.


    His body seemed to have had all its strength sapped away, and he copsed forward limply, his eyes vacant as he gradually lost his breath.


    He died right before Zhou Jishan, alive one moment and gone the next.


    Zhou Xintong picked up his teacup again, his gaze not lingering on Zhou Jishan even for a second, as if he was merely savoring the aroma of the tea, "Now, Uncle, do you remember what you found out?"


    The sudden change caused Zhou Jishan''s face to turn deathly pale, his lips quivering slightly.


    He clenched his fingers tightly, the knuckles prominent, as if struggling to control his emotions.


    Zhou Jishan realized that the man before him did not regard him as kin; he saw them as servants to be merged into his household.


    Not mentioning it earlier orter, but just after they got on the ship, this was clearly intentional, using his brother''s life to assert his authority!


    Investigating the murderer was just an excuse!


    Zhou Jishan had already inquired about the young master of the main branch, who was already of the Yu Luo Realm, capable of assimting nature''s spiritual energy, truly a martial artist on the path to transcendence.


    Read exclusive adventures at mvl


    He was no match for him.


    A glimmer of despair flickered in Zhou Jishan''s eyes.

 Chapter 157: Chapter 81: Leaving the City!

    "Uncle, think carefully again, and don''t say I didn''t give you a chance,"


    What does he want?


    Zhou Jishan''s sweat fell like rain, and he began to struggle internally.


    He looked up to see Zhou Xintong''s seemingly smiling expression, and his expression paused.


    That''s right.


    Attitude.


    The truth doesn''t matter.


    What he wanted was my attitude of subordination.


    Realizing this, Zhou Jishan moved his dry throat and said, "My little sister was previously abducted by the Eagle, and then I found out that the Eagle was killed by Shen Qing. Her death is probably linked to him."


    This was a fact he had established long ago, but whether Zhou Yu was killed by Shen Qing had no clues or evidence whatsoever.


    But at this moment, he could not care about that much, firstly pulling out a scapegoat would do.


    "What background does this Shen Qing have?"


    "A hunter from a vige who recently killed a tiger demon and gained the County Magistrate''s favor."


    That meant he was someone without a background.


    A corner of Zhou Xintong''s mouth lifted; his uncle was on the right track, knowing what he wanted.


    He gently set down the teacup, creating a faint sound, yet it struck Zhou Jishan''s heart like a heavy hammer.


    Zhou Xintong slowly stood up, walked over to Zhou Jishan, and said, "Uncle, I am very heartbroken about the death of Aunt Twelve. Although Lord Jiu and others are not from our main family, they still represent the face of our Zhou Family, and not everyone can touch them. Now, since we have found out the truth, it''s good. Uncle Tai, please take a trip for me."


    "Yes, young master." The old servant silently walked out of the private room and descended from the boat.


    The private room immediately became quiet.


    "From Uncle Wu''s sudden cardiac illness leading to his unfortunate death, I also feel deep sorrow. I hope, uncle, you will contain your grief. The Yongzhou''s Zhou Family has a great business, and I still look forward to forging achievements with you, uncle. Please do not disappoint me." Zhou Xintong patted Zhou Jishan on the shoulder and walked out of the private room.


    After Zhou Xintong left, Zhou Jishan''s strength seemed to be drained from his body, and he felt dazed.


    He looked at his brother who had now be a corpse, his face suddenly void of happiness or sorrow, showing no expression at all.


    In the Great Zhou, the main family often had a tilt in the distribution of Martial Arts cultivation resources; their cultivation was always much higher than that of the side branches.


    Martial power is authority.


    Unless someone from the side branches emerged with outstanding cultivation potential, attentively nurtured to uphold the family''s reputation,


    they, these side branch members, were inevitably seen as lesser in the face of the main family, with no possibility of turning the tables.


    After this fierce lesson from Zhou Xintong, Zhou Jishan resigned himself to fate.


    It was not just him resigning; his father Zhou Dingwen, and their entire branch would do so too.


    Zhou Jishan bent over to pick up his brother''s corpse, his expression wooden as he left the private room.


    ...


    In the courtyard.


    "Have the Zhou Family left yet?"


    "They''ve left. I saw them off personally, their carriages are gone."


    "We shouldn''t dy. Prepare yourself, we are also setting out," Shen Qing told Tian Xiaohu.


    Tian Xiaohu pointed at the packages by the door and said, "I have already brought the stuff over; I can leave immediately."


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "I didn''t expect you to be so quick. Xiao Hu, go to Linfeng Hall and notify our Hall Master, we''ll leave the city in a moment."


    "Alright, brother," Shen Xiaohu put down what he was working on and dashed out.


    Although Shen Qing had risen quickly during this period, he hadn''t actually umted much wealth apart from some money.


    And there was even less to say about his uncle''s family; apart from pots, pans, and bedding, there wasn''t much left.


    Shen Qing bought a horse carriage from the city, and together with a donkey cart, these two vehicles with people and possessions just fit.


    Under Shen Qing''s arrangements, Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaoshan led out a nag and a donkey, each hitching up their harnesses.


    Tian Xiaohu had learned to drive, so he eagerly took the front seat of the horse carriage.


    Uncle Shen Er was driving a donkey.


    The two men, one in front of the other, cracked their whips one after another.


    With a crisp crack of the whip, the sluggish horse began to trot, twisting its hindquarters.


    Shen Qing ced the heavy bow on the horse''s back and rode Zhuifeng at the very front.


    After passing through a street, he arrived at the agreed ce and sessfully met up with Li Linfeng.


    Li Linfeng had quite arge family; this trip back to his hometown included quite a few people, with three horse-drawn carriages in total.


    Among them, Shen Qing unexpectedly saw a familiar face.


    This familiar person was none other than Xiao Zhi.


    He spurred his horse forward and, smiling, approached Xiao Zhi, "Brother Xiao, have you made up your mind?"


    Xiao Zhi scratched his head and replied, "Lately, for some reason, the shopkeeper hasn''t been too fond of me. I figured there''s no point staying here, so why not join you to the county town? It''s going to be a long journey, and you''ll probably need a cook."


    "Hahahaha, we were just worrying about that. With you around, we''d certainly suffer less on the road."


    "As long as you don''t mind my terrible cooking."


    Xiao Zhi gave a naive smile and climbed onto Shen Qing''s donkey cart.


    After greeting Li Linfeng and his aunt, Shen Qing joined Li Linfeng''s caravan as they headed towards the city gate.


    "Lord Shen, where are you headed?"


    As he approached the city gate, Shen Qing heard a shout and looked in the direction of the voice.


    Recognizing the man by his appearance, he recalled that he was the official who had once delivered a message to him on behalf of County Magistrate Du Yuntong. They had met before, and he was very cordial.


    ncing at the caravan leading the way, not wanting toplicate matters, he hurriedly imed, "My master is returning to his hometown to repair the ancestral grave, and I am escorting them."


    Quan Helin suddenly understood, and as if recalling something, he advised, "Right, Lord Shen, it''s been a while since youst visited the government office to see the Lord County Magistrate. The Lord County Magistrate has expressed some displeasure towards you; you should make some time to see him."


    Shen Qing showed an embarrassed expression, "Thank you for the reminder, sir. I have been so engrossed in my training recently that I forgot about this. I will definitely visit the Lord County Magistrate after seeing off my master today."


    "It''s good that you remember, Lord Shen."


    "Then I''ll take my leave; I need to go, farewell."


    Meanwhile, Wang Family, sitting inside a carriage, was rummaging through the luggage.


    "Mom, what are you looking for?" Shen Xiaohu, also sitting in the carriage, asked curiously.


    "Looking for a mirror."


    "A mirror?"


    "Eh, I''m sure I brought it with me; could I have left it in the house?" Auntie frowned.


    Speaking of which, this was the first curious item Shen Er had given her over these years.


    Although she verbally expressed her dislike the other day, she was genuinely delighted inside.


    Now that it was lost, her face suddenly turned gloomy, and she felt greatly disappointed.


    Seeing everything, Shen Xiaohu said, "Mom, we haven''t gone far, how about I go back and get it for you?"


    "Never mind. Let''s not dy your brother''s journey; it''s just a mirror, a small item."


    Shen Xiaohu could tell from his mother''s tone that she meant the opposite, "It''s no problem.  I''ve been practicing martial arts for so long and have achieved some cultivation in Qi-Blood, making me a martial master. I can run very fast. Just tell brother and the others to slow down, and I''ll catch up after I get the mirror."


    Without waiting for Wang Family to say more, he jumped down from the back of the carriage and ran off like a flying bird.


    Wang Family poked her head out from the carriage and told Tian Xiaohu about Shen Xiaohu going to get the mirror.


    Tian Xiaohu then shouted to Shen Qing, which unwittingly slowed their pace.


    After quite some time, Li Linfeng''s caravan had already far outstripped them, yet there was still no sign of Shen Xiaohu.


    Even if he were walking, he should have made the round trip by now.


    Shen Qing flicked the reins of Zhuifeng and said to the others, "Catch up with my master; I''ll go check and return immediately."


    "Go!"


    Shen Qingshed the whip and turned back towards Taiping County.

 Chapter 158: Chapter 82: Huang Tian Sect Attacks the City, Chaos Ensues

    Taiping County, at the entrance of the county government office.


    Two gatekeepers were quietly discussing the day''s trivial and amusing matters, their faces disying a touch of rxation.


    Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps apanied by a frightened shout broke the calm.


    "Something serious has happened, I need to see Lord County Magistrate!"


    Not far away, a young man with slightly disheveled clothes and an anxious expression rushed to the front of the government office like a gust of wind.


    The smiles on the faces of the two gatekeepers gradually faded, and they exchanged a meaningful nce. Then, one of them stepped forward and asked sternly, "What happened to the Cang Long Gang that has you so flustered?"


    They recognized the wolf''s head embroidered on the young man''s chest.


    He was a member of the Cang Lang Gang.


    Not long ago, this gang had pledged allegiance to their Lord County Magistrate and had started working for him.


    In a sense, they were on the same side.


    The only difference was they were officials with a sry, while the gang members weremoners, earning their ce through sacrifice.


    Considering they were in the same camp, they showed them some respect.


    The disciple, still gasping for breath with eyes full of terror as if he had just escaped the brink of hell, stammered, "No, no... it''s from the county town...the officials from the County City Guard Martial Arts Department there, they... they''ve all been murdered!"


    At these words, the air around seemed to solidify.


    The faces of the two gatekeepers instantly changed.


    "Are you serious?"


    "I saw it with my own eyes..."


    The two gatekeepers had heard that recently, the county town would send officials from the Military Department to investigate the tiger demon and the Huang Tian Sect.


    They had not expected them to die on the way, and to die within the jurisdiction of Taiping County.


    This was a serious situation!


    Taiping County was under the administration of the county town. Now, with such mysterious deaths, if the county town were toy me, their Lord County Magistrate would not be able to talk his way out of it.


    If the Lord County Magistrate was in trouble, their days would undoubtedly be even more difficult.


    Realizing that this could affect the stability of the Taiping City government office, the gatekeepers set aside any notion of a delivery package, stepped aside to make way, and shouted loudly into the interior, "Quickly report to Lord County Magistrate, there''s an urgent matter!"


    As the announcement echoed, there was a flurry of activity inside the government office.


    In the rear hall of the government office.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong waszily lying on an exquisite soft couch, eyes closed, resting.


    A maid gently rested his legs on her smooth, jade-like thighs, meticulously massaging them as she gently fanned him with a hand fan.


    Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside, and the County Governor and Chief Clerk burst into the rear hall almost simultaneously, their expressions grave and anxious.


    The County Governor eximed in a panic, "Sir, bad news!"


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong, enjoying the ministrations of the maid, feelingfortable all over, lifted his eyelids and said, "Look at you all in a rush. What has happened to cause such a panic,cking any decorum?"


    "It''s a serious matter." The County Governor''s voice was hoarse with urgency as he took several steps towards Du Yuntong and eximed, "In broad daylight, the officials from the County City Guard Martial Arts Department were murdered outside the county town, none survived!"


    Startled, Du Yuntong sat up quickly, his eyes shing with shock, "What did you say?"


    "The County City Guard Martial Arts Department was attacked, no survivors," repeated the County Governor gravely. "It''s absolutely true, it has been confirmed."


    Momentster, Du Yuntong quickly regained hisposure and decisively ordered, "Lock down the county town, strengthen patrols, ensure safety. At the same time, gather personnel, and apany me outside the town to investigate the truth."


    "Yes."


    At the behest of County Magistrate Du Yuntong, the government office quickly became busy, with summoned officials rushing over.


    In no more than the time it took to make a pot of tea, even the officials who were on duty outside hurried back.


    Du Yuntong, now wearing his official robe and with a grave expression, stood in front of the desk, his gaze sharply sweeping over each official present.


    "Gentlemen..."


    "Boom!"


    Just as Du Yuntong began to speak, a loud bang erupted outside the government office, as though even the ground had shaken slightly.


    The people at the government office were stunned.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong''s expression changed as he said, "What happened? What exactly is going on outside?"


    The many officials in the main hall looked at each other, equally clueless.


    Amidst the crowd, Wang Yanjun quickly summoned a subordinate to investigate.


    Momentster, the subordinate returned, idently fell to the ground, and while rolling and crawling, he shouted, "It''s bad, it''s really bad, there are a lot of disciples of the Huangtian Sect inside and outside the city, they are attacking the city!"


    "Ah!"


    As his words released, the hall burst into uproar.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong''s face turned as pale as paper in an instant; his hands involuntarilynded on the case table, fingers curling and stretching, slightly whitening due to the force applied.


    "My lord, what should we do?"


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong said calmly, "Team Leader Wang, take the Guardian Martial Department to the city walls and gates, and hold the gates. County Governor, you go to the garrison and call Lord Wang to prepare for the military, and the rest of you go notify the Wang and Li Families, as well as the various gangs, to form defense teams. Hurry!"


    "Yes."


    As orders were issued one after another by Du Yuntong, the entire government office sprang into action.


    A fervent, tense atmosphere enveloped the government office.


    "My Lord, your body hasn''t fully recovered yet; should we find some more people to ensure your safety? After all, they''ve even killed members of the County City Guard Martial Arts Department, we must be on guard."


    Just then, the Chief Clerk seemed to remember something and reminded him.


    Coming to his senses, Du Yuntong called out to Quan Helin, "Go to Linfeng Hall and call Shen Qing here to the government office."


    Suddenly, Quan Helin''s expression turned strange, "My lord, I just saw Shen Qing and Li Linfeng leaving the city..."


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong immediately realized, they were fleeing.


    He mmed his hand on the case table, "I knew it! I knew this rascal was unreliable! After all the kindness I''ve shown him."


    "Not just them, I also saw the Zhou Family members departing today¡­"


    Du Yuntong''s expression tightened, and the next moment, he became furiously enraged, seething with a murderous aura.


    Did they all know that today the Huangtian Sect would attack Taiping City and he was the only one kept in the dark?


    "Traitors, traitors, they''re all in league with the Huangtian Sect."


    Du Yuntong tagged these people as traitors in his heart,pletely unaware of his own negligence of various signs.


    Before long, Taiping City was inplete chaos.


    Disciples of the Huangtian Sect  mysteriously emerged in all the streets, dragging people about, looting, and causing chaos.


    Song Family Mansion.


    Song Chen, Song Yu, and Song Xuan, the three Song brothers, stood in front of their father''s spiritual tablet, their facial expressions dark as water.


    Eldest brother Song Chen spoke, "The time hase; it''s time to act big."


    Song Yu and Song Xuan remained silent, each taking out a prepared Yellow Cloth and tying them around their foreheads.


    The three brothers in unison said, "Below the sky and above the Yellow, today we three brothers assist the Huang Tian Immortal in eliminating the wicked, seed or die trying."


    After speaking, the three took out the talisman given by Taoist Wei Yushan of the Huangtian Sect and chanted under their breath. Then, biting their fingertips, they smeared the talismans.


    An incredible scene unfolded.


    Yellow light shed brightly from the talisman in their hands and entered their chests.


    Suddenly, the three appeared as if they were possessed by Yellow Armor, their muscles swelling, transforming them into figures of Yellow Armored Warriors.


    "Let''s go, kill those unprincipled rich."


    "Yes!"


    The three brothers bent their knees slightly, then charged out of the rundown Song Family Mansion towards the city gates.


    Previously arranged disciples of the Huangtian Sect had already started to rallyrge crowds nearby, creating chaos, making the area near the city gate utterly disordered, so much so that even the arriving garrison couldn''t hold their position at the gate.


    They had no choice but to attack the people, prompting a series of screams.


    Without a word, the Song brothers, in tandem with the Huangtian Sect disciples, charged into the crowd and with one punch killed the guards at the city gate, then joined hands with the sect''s disciples to open the gate from the inside...

 Chapter 159: Chapter 83 You damned servant dog!

    "tter tter tter!"


    Shen Qing slung the heavy arrows over his back and, spurring his horse, charged into the city.


    The sound of the horse hooves echoed through the streets, appearing exceptionally urgent and loud.


    Shen Qing looked ahead to find that the originally bustling shops were now inplete disarray.


    The shopkeepers were panicking, some hurriedly rolling up their bedding, others frantically stuffing the goods from their shelves into carts.


    Everywhere were the anxious whispers of women and the heavy sounds of men hauling.


    The air was filled with an ominous premonition.


    "I heard that the Huang Tian Sect ising. They pige, kill, andmit all kinds of evil deeds. They''ve just ughtered all of the county town''s Guardian Martial Department officials clean. We better run for our lives now!"


    "Yes, yes, we must leave before it''s toote."


    ...


    A few well-dressed merchants gathered together, speaking in low voices.


    The street was noisy, and though their voices were not loud, Shen Qing, who was passing by, heard them clearly.


    He could not help but frown, his nerves tensing.


    Shen Qing knew that the Huang Tian Sect woulde, but he had not expected them to arrive so soon.


    He must find Xiao Hu early and take him away.


    Dy could lead to disaster.


    Not daring to dy even slightly, he clenched his legs tighter around the horse''s belly to hasten its pace and headed straight for the courtyard house.


    Along the way, Shen Qing encountered many ragged people, dragging their weary bodies through the crowd, begging for food or shelter.


    Unfortunately, the passersby were in a hurry, and no one paid them any heed.


    After turning several streets, Shen Qing finally approached the familiar courtyard house.


    The gate was half open, so he dismounted swiftly, casually tying the reins to an old locust tree outside, and rushed into the courtyard inrge strides.


    As soon as he entered the courtyard, Shen Qing''s steps halted abruptly, his gaze quickly locking onto the center of the yard.


    There stood an old man dressed in a gray short jacket, looking like a servant, with numerous bloodstains on his body.


    His eyes, hidden within wrinkles, flickered with a sinister light, indicating malice.


    "Is this Mr. Shen Qing in person?"


    "Who are you?" Shen Qing asked in a deep and alert voice, full of caution.


    He looked around and, finding no one else but this uninvited guest in the yard and no traces of Shen Xiaohu, his heart sank immediately.


    The old man slowly raised his head, his mouth curling into a calm smile, "I''m an old servant under the fifth young master of Yongzhou''s Zhou Family, ordered to im Mr. Shen''s life."


    Having obtained the ''Never Forget'' ability, Shen Qing had no recollection of this Zhou Family''s fifth young master. His face coldly expressed, "I have no acquaintance with your young master; no recent grudges nor past conflicts. I wonder, what offense have I given to your master that he seeks my life?"


    "No grudge is needed; my young master merely wishes to borrow Mr. Shen''s head for a while. If the gentleman agrees, this old servant can grant a swift end."


    As the words fell, the Zhou Family''s old servant''s clothes stirred without any wind.


    Shen Qing''s pupils shrank suddenly, reflecting the faint swirl of Qi surrounding the old servant.


    This servant, with Qi flowing freely inside his body, was able to form a protective barrier indicating his cultivation had reached the Qi Cultivation Realm, or at least, one foot into the Qi Hai Realm.


    In Taiping County, such strength was considered top-notch, yet he was willing to serve as a servant of the Zhou Family.


    What exactly was Yongzhou''s Zhou Family''s background?


    Shen Qing took a deep breath to calm the waves inside him and said indifferently, "I have a question for you?"


    "Oh? What is it? Let''s hear it," responded the servant.


    "Have you encountered my cousin and what have you done to him?"


    ncing down at the bloodstains on the ground, the old servant replied, "Just now, I indeed killed a few young men near your house, about your age. Now that I think about it, one of them did bear some resemnce to you..."


    "Then you damned servant, you really deserve to die!"


    Shen Qing''s entire body trembled, and heshed out instantly.


    Streams of Qi gathered at his fingertips and with a muffled ''thud'', they transformed into a fierce wave of Qi Force, shooting straight at the Zhou Family''s old servant.


    The Zhou Family''s old servant looked surprised.


    In his haste, he gathered his Qi into an invisible shield in front of him, causing even the air to warp.


    Bang!


    The Qi Force from Shen Qing struck the old servant, forcing him to stagger back repeatedly, his hastily conjured shield dissipated.


    A look of shock filled the face of the Zhou Family''s old servant.


    "Qi Cultivation Realm, are you also a martial master of the Qi Cultivation Realm?"


    His heart could no longer remain calm in an instant.


    To know that he had served the Zhou Family diligently all these years, it was only with many years of hard work that he obtained a top-notch Martial Arts manualplemented with some Elixirs to reach his current level.


    Even this, was already something many people envied but could not achieve.


    Yet, this young man in front of him came from a hunter''s background and practiced Martial Arts in a ce like Linfeng Hall, which certainly did not have his resources avable.


    Frankly speaking, the Cultivation Resources that leaked through the Zhou Family''s fingers were beyond Linfeng Hall''s reach even if it waited eight generations.


    How did he aplish this?


    Impossible, absolutely impossible, it must be an illusion.


    The Zhou Family''s old servant''s face turned fierce, and he no longer held back his strength.


    With a twist of his foot, his body swayed and he charged in front of Shen Qing, throwing punches at him.


    "Die!"


    Thump thump thump.


    Shen Qing turned his fingers into palms, shing with the old servant''s punches, emitting a dull collision sound.


    The servant''s fists were like the wind, and each punch seemed to carry the might of moving mountains, powerful enough to break through paper, and incredibly fast.


    Even for the Wind Defying Finger technique, which was known for its movement, this was somewhat difficult to handle.


    Shen Qing repeatedly took several punches.


    Fortunately, he had practiced the Dragon Roar Armor, and with the Golden Silkworm Armor on his body, the fierce power of the Zhou Family''s old servant seemed unable to break through even the outeryer of defense on his skin.


    The longer Zhou Ji''s old servant fought, the more apprehensive he became, noticing the opponent''s continuous, relentless Inner Strength and terrifying defense.


    He struck with all his might over several punches, yet the other party seemed unscathed.


    If this continued, he would deplete all his Qi Force.


    Is this guy even human?


    The two exchanged a series of blows in the courtyard, with the continuous dull explosions echoing in the yard.


    The Zhou Family''s old servant''s punches grew fiercer, but Shen Qing stood like an unbreakable wall, keeping his Qi Force out.


    "Is this all you''ve got, and you still want to kill me? Who gave you the courage?"


    "Hmm?" The Zhou Family''s old servant suddenly looked up and met Shen Qing''s eyes.


    Shen Qing''s eyes were filled with a beast-like ferocity, so bright they were blinding, making the servant shiver.


    "You..."


    Whoosh!


    In an instant, Shen Qing extended two fingers towards the Zhou Family servant''s chest.


    Apanied by a piercing whistling sound, they swiftly hit the old servant.


    "Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Fourth Transformation! Condense!"


    A scalding and burning breath burst forth from the two fingers of Shen Qing.


    The brutal Qi Force exploded at the chest of the Zhou Family''s old servant, centered at one point.


    Bang!


    The Zhou Family''s old servant screamed, as he got hit by the force like a kite with a broken string, flying back and crashing against the courtyard wall.


    His heart trembled violently.


    No good, I have to leave, or I will die here.


    The Zhou Family''s old servant gritted his teeth, leapt onto the rooftop, and with his Qinggong, he desperately fled.


    Shen Qing slightly narrowed his eyes.


    He took the Heavy Bow off his back and notched a dark iron Heavy Arrow.


    With sharpened eyesight, he activated his Skill.


    Shen Qing''s perception was immensely amplified as he locked his gaze on the fleeing Zhou Family old servant, grasping his trajectory in an instant.


    He gathered all his strength into his right hand, pulling the bow to its full extent.


    The next moment, Shen Qing suddenly released his hand.


    With a "whoosh," the dark iron Heavy Arrow flew like lightning from the bowstring, tearing through the sky with a whistling sound heading straight for the old servant.


    The Zhou Family''s old servant sensed the threat of the arrow, his face filled with shock and terror.


    He turned his head, only to see the heavy arrow growing rapidly in his pupils.


    In the end, with a "thud," it pierced through his chest.


    The Zhou Family''s old servant''s body stiffened mid-air, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, his eyes gradually losing their luster as he fell from the sky like a powerless bird.

 Chapter 161: Chapter 85: Guarding the Stump Waiting for Rabbits, Turmoil outside the City

    With the invasion from Huang Tian Sect, the government office''s military camp and the remaining families of Wang and Li became the main targets of the attack.


    Inside and outside the county city, chaos reigned.


    Faced with such a situation, County Magistrate Du Yuntong and his subordinates simply lost their will to resist. They charged haphazardly through the messy streets, bolted out of the east city gate, and fled directly.


    It caught everyone by surprise.


    Many guards who had the heart to resist watched as County Magistrate Du Yuntong and his men scurried away and immediately lost all morale, surrendering on the spot.


    One by one, locations throughout Taiping County quickly fell.


    Within the Inner City, mes soared into the sky; the air was filled with thick gunpowder smoke and the stench of blood, while cries and desperate pleas for help rose and fell in session.


    Shen Qing''s face grew sterner as he constantly whipped and struck Zhuifeng''s haunches.


    He noticed on the Water Ink Panel within his line of sight that the Progress of his Riding Skill was visibly jumping up a little bit at a time.


    Zhuifeng, as if sensing Shen Qing''s urgency and resolve, galloped as if on the wind, forging a path through the chaos.


    By the time they reached the bottom of the east city gate, Shen Qing fiercely mped his legs around the horse''s belly. Zhuifeng, like a wild horse freed from its reins, charged out of the gate, leaving the chaos and despair far behind.


    After running one tael straight through, leaving the mayhem behind him, Shen Qing finally slowly reined in, allowing the horse to catch its breath.


    He couldn''t help but turn his head back in the direction of Taiping County.


    At that moment, Taiping County seemed to be shrouded by a heavy pall, the sky no longer the usual blue, but turned into an unsettling shade of earthy yellow.


    That yellow light seemed to float over from the far southwest, withyers uponyers, carrying an oppressive aura.


    The yellow light continued to spread, with some of the edges already extending over Shen Qing''s head.


    Shen Qing gazed at the county engulfed in yellow light, his heart sinking heavily. Continue your adventure with mvl


    This was clearly not a Martial Arts technique; it was closer to Daoism.


    Huang Tian Sect might be stronger than he had imagined.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil inside him, patted Zhuifeng on the neck to signal it to keep going.


    Now, he must catch up with his master and aunt as quickly as possible.


    "Drive!"


    Zhuifeng raised its head proudly, let out a resounding neigh, and once again galloped away.


    ...


    Up ahead on the main road, considering Shen Qing''s need to find people, Li Linfeng and Uncle Shen Er, along with a convoy of nearly twenty people, travelled slowly.


    Tian Xiaohu, who was handling the carriage, asionally looked back at the road behind them, appearing preupied.


    They had walked so far that Taiping County was no longer in sight, but when they saw the sky above the county turn yellow, their expressions immediately soured.


    Something had happened in Taiping County.


    On their way, they had already heard that Huang Tian Sect was attacking the county, which had given them a scare.


    Tian Xiaohu knew clearly that with his meager abilities, it was a fool''s dream to survive unscathed in such chaos.


    Luckily, he had made the right choice once again.


    Boom, boom, boom.


    Suddenly, the sound of thunder echoed from the clear skies above, startling everyone in the convoy, who looked up.


    The sun still hung high, its golden light piercing the sparse cloud cover, intermingling with the asional shes of silver lightning, creating a bizarre and surreal scene.


    Shen Fang, sitting inside the carriage, was jolted awake by the sound of thunder. She gently lifted the curtain on the carriage and looked out.


    Faced with such strange weather, worry washed over Shen Fang''s face. She asked Xiao Zhi and Tian Xiaohu, "Has Qingzi returned yet?"


    Tian Xiaohu turned around and gazed down the road again, then shook his head and said, "Not yet, but he should be here soon."


    "Hiss..."


    The caravan led by Li Linfeng and the others suddenly stopped ahead, causing the distracted Tian Xiaohu to hurriedly pull on the reins.


    The mare immediately halted, avoiding a collision with the carriage in front.


    Under this inertia, Shen Fang, who was kneeling and stretching her head out, would have been thrown forward if not for Xiao Zhi''s quick reflexes, swiftly supporting her to prevent a fall from the carriage.


    "Why did they suddenly stop at the front?" Tian Xiaohu handed the reins to Xiao Zhi and said, "Don''t move, I''ll go up front and take a look."


    Tian Xiaohu trotted towards the very front of the caravan.


    As he moved forward, the smell of blood in the air became stronger.


    At the very front of Li Linfeng''s caravan, shadows flitted about. By the time Tian Xiaohu arrived, the area had already been surrounded by Li Linfeng and his people.


    Squeezing through, Tian Xiaohu''s gaze fell upon the scene before him, and he stood frozen, fear creeping over his face.


    Bodies were strewn haphazardly ahead: faces twisted in agony, some heads tilted to one side, staring nkly at the sky, while others had fists clenched tight, with fingertips deeply embedded in the mud.


    Most had gaping wounds as if pierced by arrows.


    The air was heavy with the smell of blood and rust.


    But that wasn''t what mattered; what did was their attire¡ªthey were all from the Guardian Martial Department!


    Rustle rustle.


    Suddenly, from the shadows of the bushes on both sides behind the caravan, came a series of footsteps and the sound of metal scraping.


    One after another, disciples of the Huang Tian Sect, dressed as such, emerged from the bushes.


    Armed with heavy crossbows, they aimed at Li Linfeng and his group, leaving everyone in the caravan aghast.


    Among these disciples of the Huang Tian Sect, a giant of a man, standing seven feet tall, walked out, and the surrounding disciples of the Huang Tian Sect automatically cleared a path for him.


    This man held a high position within the Huang Tian Sect.


    The uncles and aunts, who had not seen much of the world, were terrified and quickly gathered closer to Li Linfeng and the others.


    Li Linfeng realized that they might be facing big trouble today and quickly stepped forward. With both hands raised to the leading man, he said, "Esteemed hero, we are just ordinary folk passing through here. I hope you can show us mercy."


    The robust man looked Li Linfeng up and down and, with an unexpectedly delighted face, said, "The Commander ordered us to wait here like sitting ducks, to prevent those greedy officials from escaping and ruining our ns. I didn''t expect to be graced by you fat sheep first."


    Li Linfeng''s heart skipped a beat.


    From the sound of it, these people were not nning to let them go today.


    He was about to speak up to plead for mercy, hoping to buy their way out of disaster, when suddenly he saw someone from the opposite side rushing over, shouting, "General, the dog officials from the city areing this way with arge group of men. What should we do?"


    The stalwart man''s face showed a trace of displeasure, and without a second thought, he said, "Quick, get the brothers and sisters ready. We have to kill that bunch from the Ji Family."


    "And them?"


    "Kill them first!"


    "General, there''s no time. The officials from Taiping County are on fast horses; they''ll be here any minute now."


    The bearded giant nced at Li Linfeng and the others, cursed under his breath, "You''re lucky," and gave orders, "Have a few brothers keep an eye on them; the rest follow me to prepare an ambush for those dog officials. Today we must ensure no one escapes."


    "Yes."


    The thirty or forty disciples of the Huang Tian Sect behind the caravan, well-trained, quickly adjusted their crossbows and ran ahead to set up the ambush.


    Clip-clop, clip-clop...


    The sound of horse hooves drew closer and closer.


    The moment the ambush was set, County Magistrate Du Yuntong, together with Wang Yanjun and others, charged headlong into the Huang Tian Sect''s trap.


    "Kill!"

 Chapter 162: Chapter 86: Ambush, Attacked

    On the official road leading to Yongzhou County town, the sound of galloping horses was urgent and powerful.


    Having escaped a brush with death, County Magistrate Du Yuntong, upon hearing thunder from within the Inner City, rode his horse daring not to dy any further.


    Behind him, a group of disheveled officials closely followed.


    Riding by the side of County Magistrate Du Yuntong, Wang Yanjun shouted, "Lord County Magistrate, we have already broken out of the county town, what''s next? There''s a station forty miles ahead, shall we rest there for a while?"


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong slightly turned his head, his gaze resolute, "We cannot! Taiping County has fallen and is now in the hands of the enemy; this ce is no longer safe. We must reach the county town as soon as possible to report the situation here to the county government."


    His voice was not loud, yet every word nged decisively. His long-standing high position made him exude an aura of authority, significantly reassuring the numerous officials and subordinates who had followed him.


    In fact, despite his calm demeanor, County Magistrate Du Yuntong was already in turmoil.


    He knew in his heart that as a county head, he could not escape punishment for the loss of the town, and at the very least, losing his official hat would be the lighter consequence.


    A slight mishap might even lead to the severe punishment of skinning.


    Fortunately, over the years, he had discreetly provided support to the governor of the county town, amounting to no less than several tens of thousands of taels.


    If he could shift some of the me, the governor might consider the years he had served diligently, and grant him a way out.


    In time, when the right opportunity arose, he would surely emerge once again after improving hiswork of connections.


    Therefore, reaching the county town as quickly as possible was of paramount importance¡ªthe sooner, the better.


    Just as County Magistrate Du Yuntong was contemting this, a sudden shout erupted from ahead, "Kill!"


    There was no hesitation, nor any pleasantries.


    As soon as they entered the range, the disciples of the Huangtian Sect who were in ambush decisively made their move.


    "Protect the Lord County Magistrate!" Wang Yanjun, as the head of the Guardian Martial Department, roared and swiftly formed a defensive formation with his subordinates, tightly shielding Du Yuntong in the middle.


    Apanied by the rebel''s roar, a thick murderous aura permeated the air.


    Arrows flew like raindrops, arriving in the blink of an eye.


    The numerous martial masters from the government office around Du Yuntong circted their Qi-Blood, lying close to their horses'' backs, and dodged to the side to avoid the arrows.


    Unfortunately, the arrows were too densely packed to be avoided in time.


    "Whiz, whiz, whiz."


    Arrows scattered down relentlessly.


    Having achieved the Skin Forging Realm, martial masters had skin hard as cowhide, impervious to ordinary des and spears, yet the arrows shot by the Huangtian Sect still prated their flesh.


    "Crossbows! They are using crossbows!"


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    The regr officials and martial masters who had charged over were terrified.


    The numerous muscr horses, alreadyrge, found almost no escape from the imprable rainfall of arrows, with most of them being struck.


    "Neigh, neigh!"


    The war horses let out a series of dismal whinnies, tumbling down one after the other, kicking up dust, with the riders thrown off, their fate unknown.


    Grasping the reins tightly, Du Yuntong surveyed his surroundings, calmed down, and shouted to the remaining people, "Those who hesitate now will surely die! Follow me, let''s break through!"


    Although County Magistrate Du Yuntong had mainly focused on money throughout his tenure, he was not a useless figure, having been appointed to this position.


    Faced with the sudden ambush, he quickly made appropriate decisions.


    Wang Yanjun, as the head of the Guardian Martial Department, and second only to County Magistrate Du Yuntong in the Qi Cultivation Realm,


    pulled out her de and charged forward immediately after a brief gap in the enemy''s intense crossbow attack.


    "General?"


    The burly man leading the assault spread his arms across the path, "A Qi Cultivation Realm martial artist from the county town, and a woman to boot, quite rare, just right to test their mettle."


    He casually drew a de from a Holy Sect Disciple beside him and leapt forward.


    With a deep shout, the two almost drew their des at the same time.


    The des shone like dragons, shing ferociously with each other''s will.


    Bang!


    A deafening roar erupted in the void, scattering shockwaves that lifted the dust and fallen leaves from the ground.


    Wang Yanjun felt an indescribable gigantic force transmitted from the hilt, instantaneously spreading throughout her body, causing excruciating pain in her palms.


    Upon closer inspection, she saw several small cuts had formed in her palms, from which blood was slowly seeping out and dripping down the hilt.


    No matter how much she tried to stayposed, she could not hide the slight trembling of her wrists.


    "This power..." Wang Yanjun was secretly rmed in her heart, "Qi Hai Realm!"


    But her attack was not intended to result in a life or death battle with her opponent.


    After pushing the opponent back with one strike, Wang Yanjun immediately spurred her horse''s hind with the t of her de and dashed toward the disciples of the Huang Tian Sect, trying to break through.


    Seeing this, the burly man from the Huang Tian Sect hooked a faint smile on his lips and pulled out a talisman, sticking it to his body.


    A yellow light suddenly enveloped him.


    With a fierce stamp of his foot, he shot forward like an arrow released from the bow, reaching Wang Yanjun in no time.


    To Wang Yanjun''s surprise, he raised his long de again and chopped off the horse''s hooves.


    Boom.


    Thrown off by the strong inertia, Wang Yanjun was catapulted from the horse''s back, rolling over a few times.


    Before she could regain her stability and catch her breath, an extremely sharp killing intent suddenly surged behind her.


    Wang Yanjun''s heart tightened, and she instinctively wanted to turn around, but the long de was already swiftly following.


    A long de, shimmering with a cold light and cleaving the air with a whistling sound, chopped down right at her head with astonishing speed.


    Relying on her years ofbat instinct, Wang Yanjun abruptly lifted her long de to meet the attacking from behind, colliding harshly with it.


    The massive sound of metal shing filled the air, sending sparks flying everywhere.


    The opponent''s thousand-pound force was condensed in that single strike, its impact far exceeding Wang Yanjun''s expectations.


    She felt a unique force prate her body instantly, like a rock smashed by a giant wave, her organs seemed to have lost their original positions in that moment.


    The excruciating pain surged like a tide, nearly suffocating her to the point of fainting,pletely passing out.


    Li Linfeng watched this scene, deeply shaken.


    He knew that Wang Yanjun''s cultivation was simr to his own, both being Qi Cultivation martial masters, but facing this general from the Huang Tian Sect, they were nearly subdued without a chance to fight back.


    If it were him facing the opponent, he would also have no chance of victory.


    He clenched his teeth and quickly made a decision.


    Circting the Qi throughout his body with a rapid movement technique, he dashed toward the several Saints of the Huang Tian Sect and immediately shouted, "Go!"


    The others,ing to their senses, wasted no time and mbered onto the wagons, thenshed the horses.


    Crack!


    "Drive!"


    Li Linfeng led the two teams in a fierce charge.


    The remaining disciples of the Huang Tian Sect nned to surround them, only to find that the people from the government office they were encircling had also broken through.


    The Huang Tian Sect General coldly watched Wang Yanjun, and without a word, swung down his de.


    Wang Yanjun''s body, as fragile as a piece of tofu, was easily beheaded, her head crashing heavily to the ground.


    "Forget about these people for now. Finish off all these escaping officials, leave none alive."

 Chapter 163: Chapter 87: The Arrow that Fell from the Sky

    "Kill!"


    Taiping County Magistrate Du Yuntong and others understood that the traitors of the Huang Tian Sect would not spare them, each of them stirred up with fierce Qi, fighting to the death.


    The two sides engaged in closebat.


    On the official road, the war cries shook the heavens, deafening to the ear.


    The Huang Tian Sect General held a long saber, his face calm and collected.


    After killing Wang Yanjun, he nced at the many officials without any hesitation, his figure burst like a tiger descending the mountain, directly charging into the chaotic battlefield.


    Wherever he passed, no one could withstand his edge.


    The County Governors and others engaged in the hard fight could not defend against him.


    Normally dignified in the county government, Taiping County Magistrate Du Yuntong, now had an ashen face. He gathered all his Qi Force and roared, "Scoundrel, how dare you be so bold!"


    "Hmm?"


    The Huang Tian Sect General, twisting his step, swung his saber directly.


    The saber light, like a whirlwind, pierced the void, carrying with it the momentum to tear everything apart, heading straight for Du Yuntong.


    Du Yuntong''s expression changed, and he leaped down from the horse.


    Then, with fists clenched, a vast amount of Qi surged through his body, weaving in the air into an imprable of Qi, forcibly catching the saber light of the Huang Tian Sect General.


    The Huang Tian Sect General, unexpectedly calling out, "Hmm? The Qi Hai Realm! Are you Taiping County Magistrate Du Yuntong?!"


    He recognized the cultivation of the person before him at a nce, only achievable after opening the Qi Sea, capable of freely manifesting such vast Qi.


    And, as he knew, within the government office of Taiping, only County Magistrate Du Yuntong had reached such a level.


    He had truly caught a big fish!


    The Huang Tian Sect General, seeing Du Yuntong''s exhrated face, said, "I never expected to encounter such a great merit; taking you back, the Commander will surely grant a hefty reward. Since that is the case, I will not hold back."


    With those words, his figure burst forth, his Qi also releasing outward, concentrating around the de, continuously chopping down at Du Yuntong.


    Du Yuntong, in haste, countered with his fists against the saber.


    His skin, hardened like steel after years of tempering, aided by the Qi Force, was actually capable of resisting the opponent''s de with his flesh and blood.


    Thud, thud, thud, thud...


    The long saber and the invisible Qi continuously collided, both men exchanging blows in rapid session, bursting out deafening deep booms.


    At this moment, Du Yuntong inwardly groaned.


    A few months ago, in his anxious pursuit of advancement in cultivation, he didn''t expect to encounter a mishap injuring his meridians, causing his cultivation to regress instead of advance.


    Now, with his injuries unhealed, continuously making moves, his Qi was gradually bing unsustainable.


    He truly couldn''t understand why, after the Great Zhou Dynasty consolidated Martial Mechanisms, the Huang Tian Sect still had so many martial masters, including the Qi Hai Realm martial masters.


    Du Yuntong refused to give in to death and shouted, "Do you think you can rest easy after taking down the county city? Having in the officials of Yongzhou, the Prefectural Governors will not let you go; they will lead troops to punish you, making sure you have no ce for your burial."


    "If I die, I will surely ascend to the Yellow Heaven and achieve the fruit of immortality; there''s no need for your concern!"


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    The Huang Tian Sect General pounced again fiercely.


    Just when he thought he had victory in his grasp, Du Yuntong suddenly spotted a small w in his opponent.


    His eyes sharpened, the Qi within his body boiling to its peak, his fists suddenly swung, two brilliant Qi streaks like lightning tearing through the void, apanied by a howling sound, heading straight for the opponent''s chest.


    The Huang Tian Sect General, seeing this, his face greatly changed, attempted to use his saber to block with all his might.


    However, he was still a step toote, a streak of Qi piercing through his clothing, hitting his chest fiercely, sending his body flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.


    Du Yuntong stood in ce, gasping for breath, his eyes filled with surprise, "Did it, let''s go."


    However, to his surprise, before he could mount his horse, the opponent took out a golden-yellow Elixir and swallowed it.


    The next moment, he stood up as if nothing had happened and shouted, "You think you can leave? It''s not that easy; I haven''t had enough!"


    Qi force erupted from his entire body, gathered on his sword de, and then he lunged forward fiercely.


    The Huang Tian Sect General turned into a beam of yellow light, rushing in front of Du Yuntong and shing down, releasing a burst of Qi force.


    A dull thud sounded, apanied by a scream.


    Already nearly exhausted, Du Yuntong had an arm chopped off under the adversary''s strike, blood spraying wildly.


    Following this, the Huang Tian Sect General''srge hands suddenly transformed into a dark shadow, as quick as lightning, striking down upon his head.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong hadn''t reacted yet when he felt a tightness on the scalp, and then his entire body was swept up like leaves caught in a fierce wind, out of control.


    "Bang!"


    With a heavy thud, the county magistrate was violently mmed onto the ground by the Huang Tian Sect General.


    Dust rose up, and the air around seemed to tremble with it.


    Under this powerful impact, County Magistrate Du Yuntong''s Qi force instantly copsed, feeling his organs shifted out of ce, stars dancing before his eyes, and even breathing became extraordinarily difficult.


    He struggled to stand up but found he couldn''t move even a single finger, his mouth slightly open, managing only a faint groan, unable to utter aplete sentence.


    "Did you ever think of today when you were in high position?" the Huang Tian Sect General sternly said, gazing at County Magistrate Du Yuntong, "All you people are the same, carrying sins too numerous to count."


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong looked up, his eyes filled with terror.


    The Huang Tian Sect General sneered, "Rest assured, I won''t kill you yet; you have more value alive than dead."


    After saying this, he looked around and noticed that the officials were either dead or injured, unable to make any more trouble.


    Then, the Huang Tian Sect General looked towards the distance, "Some minor characters have fled; they looked like they had substantial wealth. We should chase them down."


    He grabbed County Magistrate Du Yuntong by the cor, threw out a talisman, and formed a spell with one hand.


    The talisman shed brightly with gold,nding at his feet and lifting him up.


    The next moment, he transformed into a beam of yellow light,nding directly in front of Li Linfeng and others'' fleeing convoy.


    Bang!


    The Huang Tian Sect General mmed his palm on the head of Li Linfeng''s leading carriage.


    The galloping horses suddenly halted as if a great force staunchly blocked their path, their hind parts lifting high, then crashing heavily to the ground, stopping dead in their tracks, unable to rise again.


    Sitting inside the carriage, everyone was thrown out, rolling and scrambling on the ground.


    Looking up and seeing the Huang Tian Sect General, who appeared like a golden war deity, and then at the wretched state of County Magistrate Du Yuntong, they were terrified.


    The Huang Tian Sect General casually threw County Magistrate Du Yuntong onto the ground and said expressionlessly, "Leaving without a word, don''t you think that''s a bit rude?"


    Li Linfeng, who had weathered many crises, was at a loss on how to respond to this scene.


    While they were dyed, many disciples of the Huangtian Sect gradually gathered.


    Although some were lost, nearly twenty blood-soaked and ferocious disciples remained.


    The Huang Tian Sect General looked down, sweeping his gaze over Li Linfeng and others, and coldly said, "You have two choices: die lying down or die standing!"


    Li Linfeng opened his mouth, attempting to speak, but found he could not utter aplete sentence.


    If he was struggling, there was no need to mention the others.


    In the carriage, Shen Fang, Aunt, and others curled up into a ball, trembling.


    "It seems you prefer to die lying down!" the Huang Tian Sect General said, hearing no response for a long while, making the choice for them.


    He stepped forward, lifting the long sword in his hand.


    Just then, a ck light descended from the sky at an incredibly fast speed, apanied by a roaring sound, heading straight for the Huang Tian Sect General...


    "Hmm? What''s this?"

 Chapter 164: Chapter 88: With a Herculean Effort, a Shot Fired by the Gods!

    The streak of dark light, wrapped with a piercing shriek as it ripped through the air, arrived in an instant, so fast that there was no time for any response.


    In the sh of lightning, the Huang Tian Sect General''s wrist turned.


    The long saber, glistening with a cold light under the sun, rose like a dragon soaring to the Nine Heavens, carrying an overwhelming force of Qi as it fiercely cleaved upward.


    Boom!


    The dark light fell, striking the long saber, producing a thunderous noise.


    The invisible force, like raging sea waves, wreaked havoc, with air waves surging and raising clouds of dust,pletely shrouding the Huang Tian General in chaos.


    Once the wind settled and the dust cleared, the sunlight pierced through the dust, revealing the disheveled Huang Tian Sect General.


    Now, he seemed slightly staggered, with his clothes in disarray and his face covered in dust.


    Before him was nted a dark iron arrow, like a divine weapon from the ancient past, thrust into the ground.


    The ground around it cracked and scattered, unable to withstand the force, resulting in a one-meter wide crater, powerful and prating.


    Li Linfeng and the others were shaken by the sight of the familiar arrow.


    Standing tall and unbending like a pine, the Huang Tian Sect General, with a stern expression, suddenly roared, "Who goes there! What sacred being dares to be so reckless here?!"


    His voice was deep and powerful, like thunder from the heavens spreading far and wide, carrying an air of imperious authority that pierced through the clouds and echoed around.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...


    In response to him came a series of sharp and urgent sounds of cutting through the air.


    Shadowy trajectories sprang from the distant ground, slicing through the sky and descending towards the many Huang Tian Divine Sect disciples behind the convoy.


    The Heavy Bow, with a strength of fifty shi, was not something those crossbows couldpare with; the arrows it fired were tremendously powerful.


    Within a range of two hundred steps, the mere flesh and blood of those below the Skin Forging Realm stood no chance against these arrows, as if they were made of paper.


    "Aah!"


    Screams rose and fell in session.


    More than half of the Holy Sect Disciples fell to the ground with arrows in them.


    Some with insufficient cultivation were ripped apart by the force of the heavy arrows, unable to even scream.


    The Huang Tian Sect disciples wore expressions of extreme terror and dread as they backed away.


    Looking ahead, they saw a young man holding a Heavy Bow, straightening his back on a fast horse, with the bow drawn full circle.


    The young man squinted his eyes, and with a sudden release of his finger, another dark iron Heavy Arrow shot out like lightning.


    Whoosh!


    The ck arrowhead twinkled with cold light under the sun as itnded near the Huang Tian Sect''s group.


    This arrow was incredibly urate and, to everyone''s disbelief, it went straight through five men before finally nailing thest person to the ground, where it barely came to a stop, touching it alone would cause injury.


    "Sharpshooter, a sharpshooter!"


    The remaining Huang Tian Sect disciples, having witnessed this, werepletely petrified and fled into the mountains without looking back.


    Instantly the road was swept clear as if by a sweeping wind, all obstacles vanquished by the might of Shen Qing''s arrows.


    Shen Qing did not stop his assault; he leaned close to the horse''s back, muscles tensed, urging the stallion Zhuifeng to sprint forward.


    The next moment, he charged straight up to the Huang Tian Sect General.


    Shen Qing, holding the Heavy Bow, used the bow as a weapon; with a powerful sweep emanating whistling winds and an imposing force, he struck out.


    The Huang Tian General''s face turned serious; his long saber moved like a dragon emerging from the sea, stretched across his chest, and immediately after, he swiftly cast a yellow talisman, which floated in front of him and formed a yellow Light Shield around his body.


    Bang!


    The moment the Heavy Bow collided with the Light Shield, it erupted with a deafening noise, stirring the air around and creating visible ripples.


    "Wow!"


    The Huang Tian Sect General was thrown backward like a kite with its string cut, trailing a gust of wind, and finally crashed heavily against an ancient tree.


    With a sound, the ancient tree snapped, its branches scattering and dust rising into the air.


    ```


    Shen Qing, fused with the strength of his steed, unleashed a power beyond imagination. He felt an overwhelming force surging down the de in front of him, one that not even the talisman-derived Light Shield could withstand.


    The Huang Tian Sect General barely managed to steady himself with all his might.


    Hiss...


    The talisman, floating in the air, ignited out of nowhere like a struck match, and turned into a wisp of ash, scattering in the wind.


    The blow from Shen Qing had hit the Huang Tian Sect General so hard that his guts felt twisted, and his whole body went numb.


    "I am Shen Qing from Hong Shan," said Shen Qing calmly while on horseback.


    As if hearing a familiar term, County Magistrate Du Yuntong, lying on the official road, strained to lift his eyelids and nced at Shen Qing. His eyes brightened, revealing an expression of surprise and joy.


    ''Good! I hope he can hold on for the duration of a stick of incense, or the time it takes to drink a half cup of tea, to give me enough time to recover some strength and escape into the mountains... Maybe then, I''ll have a chance at survival.''


    As for whether Shen Qing could handle the Huang Tian Sect General in front of him, that was not even within his considerations.


    His own cultivation at the Qi Hai Realm wasn''t enough to be a match.


    How could someone merely at the Qi Cultivation Realm pose any threat?


    Just as long as he doesn''t die too quickly, that would be an aplishment in itself.


    It would be enough if he could buy some time for escape.


    Shen Qing slid off his horse and walked to the front of Tian Xiaohu and Li Linfeng, frowning as he noticed bloodstains on Li Linfeng.


    "Shen Qing? The hero who slew the demon tiger?"


    Shen Qing remained silent.


    He hadn''t expected that the Huang Tian Sect traitor judge he was meeting for the first time would recognize him.


    With an admiring gaze, the Huang Tian Sect General spoke, "With your skills, I see you are still without affiliation. Why not join our Holy Sect, and share in the ultimate pleasures of heaven and earth?"


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing smiled wryly.


    From what he had seen recently, he figured that the methods of the Huang Tian Sect were somewhat extreme, as if they were willing to stop at nothing to achieve their goals.


    Had he not arrived just in time, his uncle, aunt, Hall Master, teacher, and Tian Xiaohu might have already be ghosts under that man''s de.


    Shen Qing had a very poor opinion of them.


    "No need, I have no interest in joining your so-called Holy Sect. I''m not one for religious belief." Experience new stories on mvl


    The Huang Tian Sect General was not angered, "Then what does interest you?"


    "I''m very interested in killing you. How about doing a kindness and ending yourself in my presence?"


    The Huang Tian Sect General was momentarily stunned, then burst into loudughter as if he heard the funniest thing, "Haha... I admit you have some ability, but you are still far from being able to kill me. It seems I must crush your arrogance."


    Up till now, the real powerhouse that Shen Qing had encountered was the Zhou family''s old servant, who had reached the Great Perfection of the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    And even that man had only forced Shen Qing to use forty percent of his strength.


    How much effort would this man in front of him require?


    "Theory is always shallow until put into practice. Some things, you just need to try to understand."


    "Since you seek death, then I shall not be med for your demise."


    The words had barely left his mouth when the Huang Tian Sect General lightly flicked his left hand, and an ancient talisman rose from his palm into the air, shining a brilliant light that enveloped him.


    Far from dissipating, the talisman turned into a stream of light and merged into the chest of the Huang Tian Sect General.


    Instantly, his aura transformed dramatically.


    His muscles swelled like mountains, and each inch of his flesh seemed to contain explosive strength, inting the Huang Tian Sect General into a colossal figure.


    An awe-inspiring presence emanated.


    Exhaling a scorching breath, the Huang Tian Sect General said ferociously, "There, now. Kill!"


    His eyes wide with rage, his sharp gaze fixed on Shen Qing as he suddenly swung his de.


    An ominous atmosphere enveloped the area.


    The long de, in the hands of the Huang Tian Sect Patriarch, brought with it a whistling wind, striking like a bolt of silver lightning, aimed at Shen Qing''s chest with the speed of thunderstorms.

 Chapter 165: Chapter 89: Kill, Talisman, Huang Tian Sect Spy Register

    Under this astounding transformation, the seemingly simple and unadorned long saber in the hands of the Huang Tian Sect General burst forth with a world-shocking and awe-inspiring might in an instant.


    Qi surged around the de like a dragon, coilingyer uponyer, raising goosebumps and emanating an oppressive aura that captured the soul.


    With what seemed like a casual slice, Shen Qing felt as though he was caught in the midst of a storm, with no means of escape.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, his muscles tensing up.


    He had pushed his Dragon Roar Armor to its limits.


    A warm current surged wildly from his Dantian, quickly spreading throughout his body.


    The next moment, theyer of film that had covered his skin due to the breakthrough of the Iron Cloth Shirt, upon his activation, became crystal clear and more substantial, wrapping him tightly like armor.


    "Bang!"


    The long saber struck the front of Shen Qing''s chest, emitting a metallic cutting noise.


    The originally invulnerable Golden Silkworm Armor was cleanly sliced open by this blow, with the dending on the transparent film over Shen Qing''s chest.


    A clear metallic scraping sound and a spray of scorching light burst forth.


    In the heat of battle, Shen Qing couldn''t help but step back two paces and sidestep to avoid the saber''s remaining force.


    After evading the follow-through, he quickly looked down to see a thick white mark left on his chest, resembling a deep scratch on a block of solid ice.


    Beyond that, there was no difort whatsoever.


    A look of surprise spread across Shen Qing''s face, and he saw the Dragon Roar Armor''s martial arts in a new light, gaining a clearer understanding of the crystalline film.


    "How is this possible?"


    In contrast to Shen Qing''sposure, the Huang Tian Sect General looked as if he had seen a ghost.


    Others might not know, but he was acutely aware of just how powerful hisst strike was.


    It wasn''t an overstatement to call it his strongest attack, enhanced by the talisman.


    Even a martial master of the Qi Hai Realm standing before him would have been severely injured.


    Yet here was this fellow Qi Cultivation martial master who hadn''t yet learned to project his Qi outside his body, nor form it into a solid mass, and he had blocked it with just his flesh and blood body; this overturned the general''s understanding.


    Realizing the terrifying defense of the Dragon Roar Armor, Shen Qing instantly felt a surge of confidence, and the corners of his mouth twitched upward slightly.


    "As a martial master of the Qi Hai Realm, is this the extent of your ability?" he asked, locking eyes with his opponent.


    The Huang Tian Sect General unconsciously met his gaze, only to see a pair of eyes like those of a wild beast awakening, flickering with a bloodthirsty light that made his heart skip a beat.


    "You..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a pair of fingers apanied by a sharp, piercing woosh, thrust violently into his chest.


    "Pugh!"


    A faint yellow, semi-transparent light shield and runes, which had appeared abruptly in front of the Huang Tian Sect General, held against the unexpected pair of fingers.


    No longer able to remain calm, the general swung his long saber in a broad arc, its sharp edge transforming into a streak of silver light as it chopped straight at Shen Qing''s neck, "Die!"


    "Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Fifth Transformation!"


    At that moment, the searing breath of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill merged with the fierce Qi, erupting violently between Shen Qing''s two fingers like a volcanic explosion, gushing forth.


    Boom!


    An ear-deafening explosion rang out, and heat waves and strong winds scattered in all directions. The Huang Tian Sect General''s massive body was thrown back violently by the force of the impact, emitting a heart-wrenching scream.


    Shen Qing''s expression twitched, as the might of the Fifth Transformation of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill far exceeded his expectations.


    Feeling dizzy, Shen Qing almost subconsciously began to practice the Blood Dominance Technique, replenishing the deficit caused by the reversal of Qi-Blood.


    He nced at the Huang Tian Sect General, his expression turning fierce.


    Strike while the enemy is sick, take his life.


    Shen Qing leaped forward, carrying a heart-shaking, scorching breath as he thrust out his finger, once againnding precisely on the Huang Tian Sect General''s chest.


    Boom!


    The Huang Tian Sect General had just managed to prop himself up and was struggling to rise when he was once again smashed back into the ground by the force of Shen Qing''s strike.


    The ground was forcefully indented, creating a deep crater two meters wide as dust flew around.


    The semi-transparent light shield formed by the talisman was shattered instantaneously.


    Once the power of the talisman was lost, his body shrank back to its original form at a visible rate.


    ```


    "Ah!!" In the eyes of the Huang Tian Sect General, there was nothing but disbelief and horror: "My strength."


    ```


    ```


    "It seems you are nothing special after all."


    ```


    ```


    Shen Qing looked down from on high at the Huang Tian Sect General, his face showing a touch of disappointment.


    ```


    ```


    He had thought that the person before him would at least bring him a little surprise, but it turned out he had only used eighty percent of his strength, still not reaching his limit.


    ```


    ```


    If that was the case... then die!


    ```


    ```


    Shen Qing once again activated the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill; he pointed his fingers together at the Huang Tian Sect General from afar.


    ```


    ```


    Apanied by an extremely scorching breath, the air around his fingers was distorted by the high temperature.


    ```


    ```


    Realizing the immense danger, the Huang Tian Sect General screamed: "Spare... spare my life..."


    ```


    ```


    But before he could finish speaking, he watched helplessly as a red glow burst forth from Shen Qing''s fingertips, striking his chest.


    ```


    ```


    A heart-wrenching, agonizing pain surged like a tide, instantly overwhelming his entire body.


    ```


    ```


    The zing Qi emitted by Shen Qing, with its terrifying strength,pletely burned through his heart.


    ```


    ```


    In that moment, the Huang Tian Sect General seemed to be suddenly imprisoned by an invisible force, turning into a statue, devoid of all movement.


    ```


    ```


    His eyes were hollow as he stared at the sky, faintly revealing a sense of despair.


    ```


    ```


    Suddenly, there was a deathly silence on the main road.


    ```


    ```


    Only the slight sound of the wind brushing through the mountains and forests could be heard.


    ```


    ```


    At this moment, Li Linfeng and the others were filled with disbelief, staring at Shen Qing with their mouths agape.


    ```


    ```


    Even County Magistrate Du Yuntong, who had been discarded on the ground, was stunned into immobility.


    ```


    ```


    Qi Hai Realm!


    ```


    ```


    That was a martial master of the Qi Hai Realm.


    ```


    ```


    Taiping County couldn''t produce more than a few such individuals, yet you killed him like he was nothing more than a dog!!!


    ```


    ```


    "Are you really Shen Qing?"


    ```


    ```


    As Shen Qing''s master, Li Linfeng had taken him as a disciple with astute discernment. Now, even his speech was trembling with a touch of nervousness.


    ```


    ```


    Hearing this, Shen Qing''s lips curved into a slight smile as he said, "Master, who else could I be besides Shen Qing? I''m hardly a big shot in Taiping County; who would pretend to be me?"


    ```


    ```


    With his rich experience and deep understanding of Martial Arts, Li Linfeng recognized the martial arts that Shen Qing had just used. Apart from the Wind Defying Finger, there was also the Dragon Roar Armor, the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, and some other martial arts he didn''t understand.


    ```


    ```


    Amazement was unmistakable in his eyes.


    ```


    ```


    It was hard to imagine how so many martial arts could converge in one person and be cultivated to such a level of proficiency.


    ```


    ```


    After a moment, the tension on Li Linfeng''s face was slowly reced by a look of excitement, and his body began to shake uncontrobly.


    ```


    ```


    The same martial arts performed by different people would yield different results.


    ```


    ```


    He never expected that in his lifetime he would train such a prodigy.


    ```


    ```


    Worth it!


    ```


    ```


    Absolutely worth it!


    ```


    ```


    Apart from Li Linfeng, the others were also lost in shock for a long time.


    ```


    ```


    Seeing the expressions of the crowd, Shen Qing couldn''t help but give a wry smile.


    ```


    ```


    Unconcerned with their gazes, he quickly walked over to the body of the Huang Tian Sect General and bent down.


    ```


    ```


    This man held a high position within the Huang Tian Sect; he had to be searched.


    ```


    ```


    Shen Qing''s fingers swiftly searched through the clothing of the corpse, and as his agile fingers flipped through, a stack of talismans emitting a faint spiritual light quietly appeared before his eyes.


    ```


    ```


    ncing briefly at them, there seemed to be seven or eight in total.


    ```


    ```


    Having seen the capabilities of the Huang Tian Sect General, he knew at once that these talismans were no ordinary items.


    ```


    ``` Find adventures on §Þ??


    Shen Qing joyfully epted them.


    ```


    ```


    In a moment, he also found a small triangr g, a money pouch, and a thin booklet.


    ```


    ```


    There was no text on the outside of the booklet. Shen Qing opened it to find it only contained some personal biographies and information, somewhat like a roster.


    ```


    ```


    There was also a letter tucked inside the booklet.


    ```


    ```


    Shen Qing didn''t look closely, quickly putting these items away along with the rest.


    ```

 Chapter 166: Chapter 90 He is an Unprecedented Martial Arts Genius

    After having thoroughly searched the body of the Huang Tian Sect General, Shen Qing made sure nothing was overlooked and returned to the caravan under everyone''s watchful gaze, leading his horse.


    As Shen Qing walked back, following a brief silence on the official road, whispers of conversation began to emerge from within the caravan.


    Shen Qing approached Li Linfeng and asked with concern, "Master, is everyone alright?"


    Li Linfeng cast aside his jumbled thoughts.


    As he looked at Shen Qing, his direct disciple, once again, his expression became extremelyplex upon regaining hisposure.


    In his eyes, it was already remarkable for someone to practice two types of Martial Arts, and those who could make a name for themselves in both were even rarer, let alone mastering more than that as an impossible feat.


    And yet, on Shen Qing''s person, he recognized three types of Martial Arts, not to mention there could be others he didn''t recognize.


    It would have been fine if it were just about learning, but the level to which Shen Qing had trained these Martial Arts was exceptionally high.


    Even the Wind Defying Finger had been mastered to the extent that Li Linfeng, its creator, was speechless, leaving him at a loss for words.


    If he absolutely had to make a judgement, the Martial Arts talent of the direct disciple before him was the strongest Taiping County had seen since its founding, bar none!


    An unprecedented Martial Arts genius, such talent was a rarity in his lifetime!


    Li Linfeng opened his mouth to say, "I... We are all fine..."


    "That''s good," Shen Qing replied calmly. "Now that the obstructions on the road have been mostly cleared, Master can let everyone start cleaning up and preparing to set off. I''ll take the lead on horseback when we head out."


    For some reason, Shen Qing''s words brought Li Linfeng a great sense of relief, and he couldn''t help but feel reassured, so he immediately agreed with a smile.


    After a few words with his master, Li Linfeng, Shen Qing walked step by step to where his uncle, Shen Er, and his aunt, Mrs. Wang, were standing, a look of guilt and hesitation suddenly appearing on his face.


    After a moment, he spoke, "Uncle, Aunt, I couldn''t bring Hu Zi back, I couldn''t find him."


    He spoke inly to his rtives, without any attempt at concealing the truth or finding an excuse.


    Uncle Shen Er and Aunt Mrs. Wang both inevitably showed a dim look on their faces, their eyes filled with inexpressible sorrow and sadness.


    Mrs. Wang''s eyes even began to redden involuntarily, filled with guilt.


    As a hunter from the mountains, Uncle Shen Er''s eyebrows were knotted tightly together, and he remained silent without uttering a word.


    People were dying every day in these times.


    For these lowly hunters, death was all too familiar.


    Uncle Shen Er sighed, patted Shen Qing on the shoulder, and said, "Let''s tidy up and prepare to set out in a bit."


    Looking at his uncle''s retreating back, Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel that he seemed much older all of a sudden.


    Without saying much more, Shen Qing called over Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi, among others, to clean up and organize the caravan.


    At this moment, when Tian Xiaohu and the others looked at Shen Qing, there was a clear increase in reverence, uncertain of how to act around him.


    They had seen quite clearly what had happened to the Huang Tian Sect General.


    The strongest county magistrate was no match for him, easily subdued.


    And yet such a powerful man, from beginning to end, could not gain the upper hand against Shen Qing and was instead suppressed throughout the fight.


    In the end, Shen Qing killed him with just two fingers, with relentless force.


    Without a doubt, Shen Qing was now the strongest martial master in Taiping County. Explore hidden tales at §Þ??


    Considering he had been practicing Martial Arts for less than a year to reach this level, if given more time, it was unthinkable how far he could go.


    The pair did not dare to think further on it.


    Suppressing a stomach full of questions and shock, Tian Xiaohu opened his mouth and in a low voice, motioned and said, "Qingzi, what about those items?"


    ```


    Shen Qing looked in the direction indicated by Tian Xiaohu and recognized what he was referring to, it was the crossbows scattered on the ground.


    To be honest, such objects were no longer worthy of his attention.


    However, for many ordinary people, they were lethal enough.


    If Tian Xiaohu used one of these crossbows, he could take on and even kill any Martial Artists below the Skin Forging Realm.


    Considering these items were unimed and strewn across the deste wilderness, it was truly a pity.


    Shen Qing said, "Let''s pick some out together and collect all the intact ones."


    Tian Xiaohu nodded, following Shen Qing into the pile of corpses.


    The bodies of the Huang Tian Sect leader and the city officials, along with those of the Yongzhou Guard Martial Arts Bureau, were sprawled across the official road.


    Dark red blood pooled in the uneven ground, forming vast patches of crimson.


    The air was thick with the stench of blood.


    Shen Qing and the others turned a blind eye to the bodies, bending over to pick up the crossbows and arrows scattered on the ground.


    Furthermore, Shen Qing didn''t intend to overlook the bodies, and while collecting the crossbows and arrows, he also casually searched them.


    Strangely, for Shen Qing, rummaging through the bodies felt as natural as foraging for mushrooms in the mountains after a sunny spell following rain.


    Every body he cleared gave him a sense of satisfaction, a subtle feeling that was hard to put into words.


    Along the way, Shen Qing''s face was lit up with a brilliant smile.


    The disciples of the Huang Tian Sect had much less on them, mostly things like Taiping Scripture and Copper Coins.


    On the other hand, searching the bodies of the Taiping Government Office officials lying on the road yielded quite a few Jade Pendants, Silver Ingots, golden leaves, and Wish Power Pearls, rewarding him for his efforts.


    As Shen Qing passed by the body of a woman with a prominent chest, he paused, recognizing it was Wang Yanjun''s body, which filled him with sorrow.


    ''Such a waste of great assets, Xiao Hu would have been so upset if he were here...''


    ''Sigh!''


    Shen Qing pped his hands, standing up from beside the body.


    Seeing that both parties'' caravans were ready, he gathered the items he had collected into his arms and walked towards his own caravan. He ced the crossbows and other items on the donkey cart and covered them with a bup sack.


    After all, these items were prohibited by the Great Zhou Dynasty, and couldn''t be tantly disyed. They needed to be concealed.


    After dealing with these, Shen Qing had his elder sister Shen Fangfort their aunt, then stepped forward to lead out Zhuifeng, heading to the front of the caravan.


    "Huh?"


    Standing near Li Linfeng''s carriage, Shen Qing noticed Li Linfeng and his family squeezed into one carriage, with a few people evencking room and forced to walk.


    Shen Qing clearly saw another carriage ahead with an uninjured horse.


    "Master, why do you all have to crowd into one carriage?"


    Li Linfeng said, resigned, "The Lord County Magistrate was somewhat injured and needed space to recuperate, so he took a liking to my carriage and requisitioned it. Being an official of the court, we had toply¡­"


    The Lord County Magistrate?


    Du Yuntong, that Dog County Magistrate?


    Shen Qing held an even lesser opinion of the arrogant County Magistrate.


    He couldn''t help remembering the Taiping Escort Agency, recalling Tang Wanrou, and his face instantly showed displeasure.


    Shen Qing turned on his heels and headed straight for the carriage at the front.


    ```

 Chapter 167: Chapter 91: Murdering an Official! You Seem to Hate Me a Lot

    Inside the carriage, County Magistrate Du Yuntong, having boarded the vehicle, sat upright on the meditation cushion, seizing the moment to close his eyes and regte his breath.


    Just now, the scene of Shen Qing''s fierce battle against the Huang Tian Sect General had left him unable to calm his heart for a long time.


    The shock he felt was no less than that of Li Linfeng and the others.


    In his eyes, Shen Qing had been nothing more than a country bumpkin, with a slight talent for martial arts and some fame due to luck.


    Deep down, Du Yuntong looked down on people of Shen Qing''s background.


    Typically, based on his past experience, with just a small favor, he couldmand martial masters of such background at will.


    However, what he had never expected was that thisd could actually kill such a high-ranking Huang Tian Sect officer, achieving a tremendous level of cultivation. Experience more content on §Þ??


    In terms ofbat ability, the man had already risen above him, making it impossible for him to ept this reality at the moment.


    "Lord County Magistrate?"


    Just then, the curtain of the carriage was pulled open.


    Du Yuntong, seeing Shen Qing''s face beaming with a smile, quivered the flesh on his face as if startled.


    He quickly forced a smile and said, "Mr. Shen, what''s the matter?"


    Now that he was injured, his cultivation had greatly diminished, and with no subordinates left to use, he was isted and vulnerable.


    Facing someone as formidable as Shen Qing, he had no chance of winning and had to lower himself a notch.


    Usually prideful and long ustomed to high position, Du Yuntong suddenly felt a sense of frustration in his heart.


    Du Yuntong''s hands, hidden up his sleeves, were already tightly gripping his knees, trembling slightly as if restraining something.


    Shen Qing bowed respectfully and said, "Lord County Magistrate, the carriage you''re upying belongs to my master''s family. By using it, you''re forcing them to travel on foot. I hope, Lord County Magistrate, you won''t do so and will let my master''s family have the carriage."


    "There''s still space on my donkey cart. Perhaps, Lord County Magistrate, you would consider riding in my donkey cart?"


    Du Yuntong was, after all, somewhat different from the officials he had encountered in the past; he was a proper ranked official.


    Although he couldn''t be absolved of the fall of Taiping County, his status was certainly high enough.


    Despite his discontent, he was not someone Shen Qing could just kill in broad daylight.


    Therefore, Shen Qing adjusted his attitude as well.


    He thought he had been sufficiently respectful, but in County Magistrate Du Yuntong''s ears, these words sounded like tant sarcasm.


    "Donkey cart? Does he really think a meremon person''s cart is befitting for an official such as myself? He actually believes I''m only fit to ride a donkey."


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong felt a surge of anger, and the thin smile on his face could no longer be maintained.


    Unfortunately, being under someone''s roof, he had to bow his head.


    He stiffened his face, and his clenched fists rxed, then he wordlessly stepped down from the horse carriage.


    "Mr. Shen, where is your donkey cart?"


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong didn''t realize that his tone of voice had be somewhatmanding, inadvertently revealing a sense of superiority unique to those in higher positions.


    This behavior did not sit well with Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing casually pointed and said, "It''s right there, in the back."


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong followed the direction Shen Qing pointed to and saw the rudimentary donkey cart, his face turning ashen.


    He said nothing else, nced at Shen Qing subconsciously, and limped toward the donkey cart.


    Shen Qing rode his horse beside Li Linfeng and spoke, "Master, you all should head back. After my persuasion, the county magistrate agreed to switch to the donkey cart. I see that you all have been quite frightened; it would be good to rest inside the carriage."


    "Shen Qing, antagonizing the County Magistrate like this is a bit unwise. Although he has lost power for now, officials within the Great Zhou Court protect one another, and it''s possible he has connections that could restore his position someday. It will be troublesome if hees after you then," said Li Linfeng, weighing his words carefully.


    "We have trained in some martial skills; traveling on foot is no big deal."


    "He''s heading to the county town, and you to Lu''an Prefecture. Once your paths diverge, he might requisition your carriage, and you''ll have to walk all the way back," continued Li Linfeng in silence. In fact, he had thought of this as well.


    But what could be done?


    "I haven''t really done anything to him; after all, I owe him a life-saving favor. Master, don''t worry about this matter," Shen Qing replied, narrowing his eyes and fixing his gaze on Du Yuntong.


    At that moment, Du Yuntong had just reached the donkey cart and was preparing to climb aboard.


    His hand reached out, and he happened to touch the crossbow, his expression stunned.


    Privately hoarding a crossbow?!


    ording to thew, the crossbow is a military supply of Great Zhou, strictly forbidden for civilians to possess.


    This matter could be trivial or serious.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong, looking at the crossbow, a bold idea suddenly emerged in his mind.


    If that''s the case, after I double back, you''re going to have a taste of your own medicine.


    He revealed a sly smile, just about to climb up when suddenly a figure stood behind him.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong hurriedly turned back, only to see Shen Qing who had, unbeknownst to him, approached with a cold face.


    "My lord, I just remembered something. My martial master and I are bound for Lu''an Prefecture, which is a different route from yours, so we cannot escort you to the county town. Why doesn''t my lord take a short rest here, and wait for the reinforcements toeter before deciding what to do?"


    "You..."


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong realized that Shen Qing was humiliating him.


    However, the beastly look in Shen Qing''s eyes made him lose his imposing aura all at once, and he could only do as he was told.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong red at Shen Qing fiercely, snorted coldly, and left the caravan, sitting alone by the side of the official road to recuperate.


    Shen Qing paid him no heed, raised his hand, and beckoned the entire caravan to get moving.


    He looked at County Magistrate Du Yuntong seated on the ground with a meaningful gaze, toyed with the reins, and spurred his horse to leave.


    Continuing straight to the front, Shen Qing showed no sign of stopping. Instead, he whipped his horse into greater speed, shouting aloud, "I''ll go ahead and scout the road. Giddy up!"


    The road ahead made an almost right-angled turn.


    Shen Qing spurred his horse along the bend at a breakneck speed, vanishing from everyone''s sight.


    The wagon convoy had just started moving at a slow pace and was left far behind by Shen Qing.


    After a stick of incense had passed, the wagon convoy finally followed Shen Qing into the turn.


    As soon as their figures hadpletely disappeared from the official road, County Magistrate Du Yuntong''s eyes flew open, his anger uncontroble as he eximed, "You rascal. To dare humiliate me like this today, I will not let you off."


    "My lord, it seems like you really hate me!"


    Just as County Magistrate Du Yuntong''s words fell, a familiar voice abruptly emerged from behind him, startling him.


    Ignoring his injuries, he rolled to the side and, on raising his head, saw Shen Qing staring at him with a teasing smile, sending shivers down his spine.


    At this moment, Shen Qing had alreadye back around.


    In fact, Shen Qing had already sensed County Magistrate Du Yuntong''s dissatisfaction with him and realized that keeping him was a hidden danger. Instantly, the thought of ying an official crossed his mind.


    Now, hearing the man''s own words, his determination was even further solidified.


    "Since that''s the case, I''ll give you a gift, my lord."


    Shen Qing took out a Martial Mechanism Bomb, triggered the mechanism, and tossed it towards Du Yuntong.


    In an instant, a deafening boom resounded.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong had not yet grasped what was happening.


    Sky-high mes engulfed him.


    "Ah!"


    Screams echoed from within the mes.


    The mes, red with streaks of purple, crisscrossed with shes of lightning, savagelyshing out in every direction.


    County Magistrate Du Yuntong''s body was torn to pieces in an instant.


    "Lord County Magistrate has been murdered by a traitor of the Huang Tian Sect..."


    Shen Qing smiled, leaped, and dived into the forest.


    Having broken through the Hunting Scripture, entering the woods was as natural for him as a fish in water. Utilizing his agile movement technique, he breezed through the forest with ease.


    Before the caravan could catch up, he was back on Zhuifeng''s saddle.


    Shen Qing looked back and said with a smile, "It''s improper to kill you in broad daylight, under the watchful eyes of the public. But that doesn''t mean I''m afraid to do it. Ha, tui~"

 Chapter 168: Chapter 92: Poor Xiao Hu, Forced to Join the Huang Tian Sect

    "These wealthy families, heartless in their affluence, deserve the wrath of the Heavens. Brothers and sisters, charge with me and y these dogndlords. Charge!"


    At the entrance of the Wang Family Mansion, a man dressed as a Huangtian Sect Envoy was continually waving a g and shouting.


    He wore a Yellow Crown on his head, donned a Yellow Robe, and held arge yellow g in his hand, his face exuding exhration.


    With his cries, the masses of peasants and disciples of the Huangtian Sect mixed together, as if they were drawing endless strength from somewhere.


    Under the yellow sky, everyone''s eyes were covered with a thinyer of yellow light.


    "Charge!"


    Suddenly someone shouted, manic in appearance, charging at the forefront and mming into the Wang Family Mansion''s gate! Continue reading on §Þ??


    The rest followed close behind.


    Bang!


    The gate was forced open by thebined strength of the crowd, revealing Wang Family''s servants armed with crossbows inside.


    The Wang Family''s servants were thrown into chaos.


    "Fire!" the manager yelled.


    Arrows, without a shred of mercy, shot from the bowstrings.


    Thud! Thud! Thud!


    The crowd that charged in fell like wheat before the wind, toppling backward.


    But this did not stop the crowd outside from continuing their surging advance.


    Seemingly unaware of what fear meant, they stepped over the bodies of their "brothers and sisters" and charged forward recklessly.


    The Wang Family''s servants, who had never seen such a scene, became utterly disorderly amidst the chaos, their hands and feet failing them.


    With their typicalck of training, they couldn''t even load new arrows properly, and in the blink of an eye, they were scattered by the charging crowd of sect disciples and peasants, losing all courage as they fled in all directions.


    Even the manager, who tried to make a stand, couldn''t achieve it.


    "They are no match for us, let us enter the mansion and y these wealthy households. The Heavens have descended; we are like gods helping us. Kill!"


    The shouting resumed.


    The disciples of the Huangtian Sect and the peasants who had charged in were now thoroughly enraged; their eyes were filled with yellow veins, charging into the Wang Family Mansion fearlessly.


    "How dare you! Does the Wang Family have no one left?"


    Just then, Family Head Wang Sanbao, with his corpulent body, rushed into the crowd from the back of the mansion, ughtering like a wolf among sheep.


    His hands moved in swift, connecting strikes, his Qi enveloping his body. All of the disciples of the Huangtian Sect and the ordinary peasants who touched him were injured and incapacitated.


    Yet, even as he ughtered mercilessly, there was no hint of fear in the eyes before him.


    Their faces, numb, all turned to look at him in unison, pressing on with their charge, causing his expression to darken.


    "Death to the heretics! Die!" Wang Sanbao roared furiously, his Qi surging around him like a raging dragon, the invisible Qi condensing in his palms.


    He drew his hands back under his arms and suddenly pped down from midair, invisible palm Qi sweeping towards the peasants and disciples of the Huangtian Sect.


    Suddenly, the sky changed dramatically; the hazy yellow heavens seemed torn asunder, and a dazzling sh of divine thunder, carrying the might of heaven, crashed down with a roaring sound right atop Wang Sanbao''s head.


    "Ah!"


    Wang Sanbao retreated explosively, the lightning strike rendering him charred, his Qipletely dissipated.


    Before he could recover, there was a sh of gold, and a golden figure rushed to his face.


    "You mere mortals dare to defy the heavens? Die," the Huangtian Sect Commander thundered.


    Wang Sanbao''s face turned to shock as he forced himself to stand, pushing his Inner Strength to its limit.


    "Kill!"


    The two collided, and a mighty aura exploded within the confines of the Wang Family Mansion.


    After an indeterminate time, blood flowed like fountains, staining the bluestone floors of the Wang Family Mansion red.


    Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the courtyard, Wang Sanbao''s figure slowly fell to the ground, turning into a corpse.


    Upon seeing this, the Wang Family''s servantspletely lost the will to resist and fled in total disarray.


    In the courtyard, Shen Xiaohu, holding a rock, pounced and smashed it onto the head of a servant,pletely crushing the servant''s skull with a heavy blow.


    Bright red blood sttered on his face, awakening him as if from a dream.


    Shen Xiaohu looked around in confusion,pletely unaware of why he was in this ce.


    "Didn''t I leave the city? Why am I here?"


    Shen Xiaohu tried to recall, but his mind was nk, unable to remember any impressions at all.


    He stood up and looked around, only to see, amidst the twilight glow, dust flying and the mes seemingly reddening half of the sky.


    The once bustling courtyard was now a sight of devastation, with the cries of the Wang Family members and the cheers of the Huang Tian Sect disciples intertwining into utter chaos.


    Staggering among the crowd, Shen Xiaohu''s clothes were in tatters, and his eyes were filled with bewilderment.


    "No, I need to leave the city, I have to find Brother Qingzi and the others." Shen Xiaohu felt a mirror hidden in his chest and suddenly seemed to think of something.


    He broke into a run.


    "Stop right there! Youd, you seem to have some skills," a voice called out.


    Shen Xiaohu shivered and looked towards the source of the voice, only to see a burly man draped in a Yellow Robe, a Yellow Angel of the Huang Tian Sect, blocking the path of a martial master.


    The martial master''s face tensed up, and he forced a bitter smile, "Sir, I''m just an ordinary civilian, how could I have any special skills?"


    "Humph, stop pretending, I''m not blind," the Huang Tian Sect angel approached themoner, circled around him to take a good look, and said.


    "Heaven descends upon the earth, and now my Huang Tian Sect is widely recruiting the talented. Would you like to join our Holy Sect?"


    In his words, the tone of the Huang Tian Sect Envoy carried an air of undeniable authority.


    "I... I am of low status and my words carry no weight, not fit to join the Sect."


    "So, you refuse?"


    The martial master''s face slightly stiffened as he pondered his words, just about to speak.


    Swish!


    A sh of silver streaked through the air.


    The Huang Tian Sect angel directly drew the Dagger strapped to his waist, a quick sh, and beheaded the man.


    "Ignorant fool."


    The Yellow Angel sheathed his de, turned his head, and happened to see Shen Xiaohu standing nearby.


    He gripped his long de tightly, and his expression undted unpredictably.


    Shen Xiaohu looked around, finding himself surrounded by disciples of the Huang Tian Sect.


    He simply copsed to one knee, fists in hand, and stammered, "Sir, I am a hunter from Hongshan Vige. I know a bit of fist and foot, and have long admired the Huang Tian Sect. I, I would like to join the Huang Tian Sect."


    The Huang Tian Sect Envoy was slightly stunned, took his hand off the Dagger, and looking at Shen Xiaohu said, "Fine, once this matter is over, follow me to receive our teachings, and join my Huang Tian Sect. How should I address you?"


    "Shen Hu!" Shen Xiaohu''s heart was bitter, knowing that he probably would not be able to leave the city today and meet up with his parents, Shen Qing and the others.


    Given the present circumstances, he could only swallow his pride and join the Huang Tian Sect to save his life.


    "Chaotic times are approaching, joining my Huang Tian Sect is your wisest choice, this is your good fortune, and you shall realize this in time."


    Though Shen Hu''s heart did not agree and even felt some sadness, his face was a picture of resolve, "I am willing to go through fire and water for the Huang Tian Sect, without hesitation."


    The Yellow Angel withdrew his gaze, his face betraying no emotion.


    He pulled off the Yellow Cloth from his body and threw it to Shen Hu, "Put this on."


    "Yes."


    Shen Hu nced at the other disciples and, without any hesitation, tied it to his arm.

 Chapter 169: Chapter 93 Farewell, The Green Mountains Remain Unchanged, The Ever-Flowing Waters

    Boom!


    On the official road, Li Linfeng and his caravan were gradually picking up speed, when suddenly they heard a huge explosion from behind, causing them to exchange worried nces.


    "What happened behind us?"


    "I don''t know, let''s hurry." Li Linfeng urged frantically.


    To tell the truth, he was already a bit scared now.


    He had encountered nothing but trouble today, and each incident posed a threat to his life, making him anxious and fearful.


    He simply had no desire to find out more.


    Up ahead at the foot of the mountain forest, Shen Qing sat astride a steed, deliberately slowing Zhuifeng''s pace to wait for Li Linfeng and the others.


    After a short while, Shen Qing heard the sound of wheels and horses'' hooves getting closer, signaling that Li Linfeng and his party would soon arrive.


    Shen Qing gently pulled on the reins, signaling Zhuifeng toe to a slow stop.


    As the caravan drew near, dust gently rose in the air.


    The caravan shed past him.


    Shen Qing tugged on the reins and, squeezing with his legs, urged Zhuifeng forward into a swift chase.


    Li Linfeng sat at the front of the carriage, his brow furrowed and a look of unease in his eyes.


    "Master," Shen Qing, noticing Li Linfeng''s unusual demeanor, asked, "It seems all is well on the road now, without the slightest anomaly. Are you rushing like this because something has happened?"


    Li Linfeng turned to Shen Qing, his worry apparent, "Not long after you left, I heard the sound of thunderous explosions behind us. I think the Huang Tian Sect is on our tail."


    Shen Qing''s face showed shock, "Ah, so soon?"


    "Let''s hurry."


    Following this, the journey continued without incident, and Li Linfeng breathed a sigh of relief, as did everyone else, their tense nerves finally rxed.


    As they moved away from Taiping County, the official road they traveled on became narrower and the terrain rougher.


    After another five or so miles, they hadpletely reached the wilderness.


    Ahead on the official road, it branched off into two paths, one winding eastward, the other quietly leading west.


    Yong City in the county town was on the east side of Taiping County, which is where Shen Qing needed to go.


    Lu''an Prefecture was on the west side of Taiping County, so Li Linfeng and the others would need to go westward.


    The sun was setting in the west, the surroundings enveloped by the gloom of twilight.


    The caravan involuntarily slowed down, with Li Linfeng sitting in the carriage, his gaze wandering between the two roads, his heart filled with mixed feelings.


    He knew that the time for parting hade.


    Shen Qing pulled on the reins to stop, and the silent caravan behind him stopped as well.


    The air was filled with an unspeakable heaviness.


    Shen Qing turned to face Li Linfeng and the others, breaking the silence, "Master, it''s time for us to take separate paths."


    Li Linfeng, unskilled in dealing with such scenes, could only let out a long sigh after a moment.


    He looked up at Shen Qing, his direct disciple, and his gaze grew moreplex.


    Shen Qing, now sitting on the back of a horse, had grown to a point where his master had to look up to him, which was both a fortune and misfortune for his master.


    Fortunate to have led such a prodigy into the world of Martial Arts, proving his excellent judgement; unfortunate because the disciple''s cultivation only served to highlight the master''s mediocrity and ipetence.


    Realizing that the moment of parting was upon them.


    Sitting in the carriage, Aunt Shen Xiu took the initiative to step out from the cabin, and Li Lingchan followed her.


    Compared to the former''s pure reluctance, thetter''s feelings were much moreplex.


    Even with a tough exterior, Li Lingchan could no longer deny a fact in the face of such irond reality: she had missed out on a young man with boundless potential.


    To say she wasn''t regretful would be impossible.


    And as for Shen Qing, he had long since be indifferent to it.


    ```


    Once his strength and vision had expanded, such minor episodes could no longer cause any emotional turmoil to him.


    After simply nodding to Li Lingchan, Shen Qing walked up to his aunt Shen Xiu and earnestly expressed his gratitude, "If it weren''t for aunt''s help, Shen Qing would not have reached this day. Aunt, this kindness, I shall engrave it in my heart forever."


    Aunt Shen Xiu pulled him close and said, "There''s no need for this. We are family after all. If I didn''t help you, I wouldn''t be able to face your parents down below after my demise. So, spare me these words of gratitude."


    Taiping County was almost a thousand li away from Yongzhou, and Taiping County to Lu''an Prefecture was also nearly a thousand li.


    If Shen Qing''s cultivation did not break through to the level of traveling with the wind in the future, it was foreseeable that it would be a long while before they would meet again.


    Shen Qing spent a long time exchanging pleasantries with his aunt Shen Xiu, his uncle Shen Er, and the rest of the family.


    Aunt Shen Xiu and Uncle Shen Er, the siblings, overwhelmed by deep emotion, could not help but burst into tears and embraced each other tightly.


    Seeing that it was about time, Li Linfeng lifted the corners of his mouth into a bitter yet resolute smile and said, "Let''s go."


    "Master, the green mountains will not change, the clear waters will flow forever. If fate allows, we will meet again," shouted Shen Qing from the horseback.


    With a heavy neigh, the carriage slowly set in motion.


    Shen Qing watched Li Linfeng and the others fade into the distance until theypletely disappeared from the official road.


    He stood in ce, motionless for a long time.


    After a while, Shen Qing mounted his horse and called out, "Let''s get going! Giddyup!"


    With the crack of a whip, Zhuifeng started to gallop, quickly picking up speed.


    Shen Qing faced eastward, only to see the world ahead gradually enveloped in darkness as the sun set.


    ¡­


    "Look ahead, there''s a vige," Tian Xiaohu, who was sitting on the carriage, pointed at a spot and eximed, "We can stay near that vige for the night."


    Shen Qing followed the direction Tian Xiaohu pointed to and saw a small vige of four to five households beside the official road straight ahead.


    One of the houses had two rednterns hanging, their crimson light seemingly bleeding into the night.


    "Eagle Eye!"


    Shen Qing''s expression was as calm as water as he activated his Eagle Eye skill.


    Scenes after scenes came to his mind, one after another.


    Shortly thereafter, these scenes began tobine, forming an overhead perspective.


    Shen Qing then used his "sharp eyesight" skill to closely observe the vige.


    The night fell, the evening wind whispered.


    Through Shen Qing''s eyes, a thinyer of mist gently shrouded the vige, making it difficult to see clearly.


    He looked carefully but did not find anything out of the ordinary.


    Tian Xiaohu said to Shen Qing, "Let''s go over and see if there are suitable dry goods and water. If so, it would be best to replenish. From here to Yongzhou, it''s more than a thousand li. We will likely need to travel for over ten days to get there, and we''ll require plenty of provisions along the way."


    Shen Qing withdrew his gaze and nodded, "Let''s go and have a look."


    The carriage rumbled on the deste official road, gradually approaching the isted vige.


    This vige was situated by the official road, and as Shen Qing and his party approached it, they felt an indescribable destion and loneliness emanating from it.


    "I''ll go knock on the door."


    Tian Xiaohu jumped down from the carriage, stood outside the wall and shouted, "Is anyone there? We''re passing by; may we stay in your vige for the night?"


    Walls surrounded the vige, a protection against beasts from outside.


    They seemed new and not as if they were long neglected.


    After calling for a while with no response, Tian Xiaohu felt puzzled.


    "Where is everyone?"


    Just as they thought the ce was deserted, the door with the rednterns flung open.


    A middle-aged farmer cautiously stepped out, looked Shen Qing and his party up and down a few times, his face not showing any goodwill, and shouted fiercely, "Who are you people, where are you from, and what do you want?"


    ```

 Chapter 170: Chapter 94 Monster! Monster! Monster!

    Tian Xiaohu clearly had not expected such an attitude from the other party, thinking instead that the old man was mistaking them for bad people.


    He stepped forward and hurriedly exined, "We''re not bad people. There''s been a conflict in Taiping County, and we are heading to the county town to seek refuge. Old man, could you please help us out? We won''t eat your food for free."


    The middle-aged old man impatiently yelled, "Go, go, go! I don''t care who you are. If you want to rest, go somewhere else. You''re not wee here. Scram!"


    "You old man, I''m speaking to you nicely. What kind of attitude is this! Do you think we''re easy to bully?"


    Even a y Buddha carries three points of anger, let alone a hunter like Tian Xiaohu, who came from humble origins and struggled for a living in the mountains.


    It was only because he was following Shen Qing that he restrained himself somewhat.


    Otherwise, faced with such rudeness, he would have long since leaped up to confront the man.


    "The household is celebrating a happy asion, why must you act this way, old man? Instead, you could invite these gentlemen in to share a drink of celebration. On such ate night, without viges in front or stores behind, driving us away like this is too inconsiderate," said another.


    Just as the farmhand was urging Shen Qing and his group to leave, a young girl dressed in new red clothes walked out from the main gate and warmly said, "Gentlemen, my grandpa has a bad temper, please excuse him."


    The girl showed a bright smile and opened the gate of the vige wall, "It''s already dark, pleasee inside first. I will discuss with a few people in the vige and arrange a room for you."


    Seeing how sensible and considerate the vige girl was, Tian Xiaohu''s face softened considerably. He nced at the sullen and stiff-faced old man; his attitude had be much more respectful, and he happily replied, "Thank you, miss."


    Tian Xiaohu turned back to Shen Qing and the others and shouted, "They have agreed, tonight we can stay in the vige."


    "That''s great, we don''t have to sleep outside tonight."


    Xiao Zhi and Shen Xiaoshan, among others, could not help but feel a bit lucky.


    "Let''s go. They''ve opened the gate, let''s go in."


    Tian Xiaohu led the cart, guiding everyone into the vige.


    Shen Qing dismounted,gging a step behind silently, holding the reins and following behind Tian Xiaohu.


    As they passed by the farmhand and the girl, he couldn''t help but take another look.


    The girl was not very pretty; her skin was dark and rough, her features slightly aged, resembling a vige girl living in the countryside.


    She was dressed in a bright red outfit which contrasted strikingly with the dim haze surrounding her under the night sky.


    The previously arrogant farmhand stood quietly by her side, silent, looking at Shen Qing and the others with aplicated gaze, as if he had something to say but hesitated.


    Shen Qing felt something was off.


    Once they had all entered the quiet little vige, the girl in red clothes loudly shut the gate of the wall.


    She led Shen Qing and his group to arge open space in the center of the vige and said, "This threshing floor is spacious; you can park your cart here. Come inside my house for a drink of celebration."


    "We have brought quite a few things; we need to leave some people to watch them." Shen Qing said with a slight smile, pointing at Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi, "How about this, we three will go in first, and after we have eaten, we can switch with the others."


    "That''s fine with us."


    The girl in red didn''t say anything, her face expressionless.


    "We have other things to attend to, please make yourselves at home. Grandpa, let''s go back," she said, pulling the farmhand by the hand as they lowered their heads and returned to the house.


    Once the girl and the farmhand''s figures had disappeared at the doorway, Shen Qing whispered to Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi, "You two prepare your weapons and stand behind meter."


    Tian Xiaohu paused and said, "Do you feel something is wrong here?"


    Shen Qing nodded.


    "Then we should leave quickly."


    "It seems we can''t," Shen Qing looked around and noticed the fog gathering near the vige had thickened, resembling a white beast crawling on the ground, slowly encircling them.


    Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi instantly felt a chill rise from their spines, shooting straight into their hearts.


    "Let''s go in and have a look."


    Without saying much, Tian Xiaohu walked over to the cart and pulled out a heavy crossbow, fully loaded with arrows, and held it in his hands.


    Xiao Zhi did as he heard.


    Once both were ready, Shen Qing casually walked to the doorway, and with a push, opened the door.


    The creaking sound of the wooden door was especially harsh in the silent night.


    As soon as Shen Qing opened the door, he saw a cramped, dark, damp thatched hut filled with a bizarre dark red.


    Upon closer inspection, it resembled the color of coagted blood and in some ces, was sttered all over the walls.


    The faint moonlight shone through the dpidated windowttices, making the inside of the hut even clearer.


    The living room table was piled with disassembled human flesh, strewn about haphazardly.


    Arms were arms, legs were legs, ribs were ribs.


    Various internal organs were strung up with straw, hanging beside the table, still dripping warm blood.


    Even though Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi had killed people and seen various bloody scenes, the sight before them was simply iparable.


    Shen Qing''s gaze skipped over these bloody details andnded on the edge of a bed in the room, his face changing instantly.


    In the bedroom, which was slightly festively decorated, he saw three dog demons that looked half human and half dog, sitting upright on the bed like humans,rge in stature.


    One Dog Demon, with fur as ck as ink, eyes flickering with a ghostly green glow.


    "You father and son did pretty well this time, I''ve decided... to grant you a quick end."


    The big ck dog reached out a paw and grabbed something from the shadows.


    A muffled pu-ch sound was heard, and it pulled out a fresh, red heart and liver.


    The young girl in red standing in the shadows stared wide-eyed, showing no pain or scream, looking just like a puppet, motionless.


    The peasant next to her looked ashen, trembling uncontrobly, daring not to act out.


    The big ck dog held the heart and liver in its paw, carefully licking and tearing it.


    Pieces kept falling from its mouth, making a soft "pat" sound as they hit the ground.


    "Demon! Demon! Demon!"


    Seeing this scene, Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi''s hearts began to beat wildly, their legs felt as if they were filled with lead, wishing to turn and flee, but they found themselves as if bound by an invisible force, unable to move.


    Fear overwhelmed them like a tide.


    What to do, what to do?


    The two instinctively looked toward Shen Qing and saw his expression was unusually calm, which considerably steadied their minds, and they each pulled out a crossbow targeting the dog demons.


    The corners of Shen Qing''s mouth slowly curled up, revealing his uniformly white teeth: "I thought there was something significant inside, just three mongrels!"


    The three old dogs sitting on the bed stopped all movement abruptly, like statues, their eyes wide open staring at Shen Qing.


    "You seem a bit ungrateful."


    The ck Dog Demon on the far end swallowed the juicy heart and liver, snarling as it spoke.


    From the corners of its mouth, transparent saliva continuously dripped, falling to the ground and making a sizzling noise.

 Chapter 171: Chapter 95: This Dog-Eat-Dog World

    The dog demon had just finished speaking when it sensed a strange wind in front of it.


    Shen Qing had somehow already appeared in front of it.


    It suddenly felt a chill in its chest.


    One of Shen Qing''s fingers had already pierced through its chest.


    The brutal Qi exploded at the chest area, spreading rapidly around, forcibly sting a hole.


    Only then did the ck dog demon react, starting to struggle violently, its ws wildly scratching at Shen Qing.


    Streaks of white scratch marks appeared on Shen Qing''s body, the membrane covered by the Dragon Roar Armor was like steel, rendering the dog demon''s sharp ws useless and merely tearing Shen Qing''s clothes into shreds.


    The dog demon immediately realized that the person in front of it was different from those it had encountered before!


    Shen Qing pulled out his finger, and pped with his hand!


    The ck dog demon, with its heart shattered, had no strength to resist. It was pped and sent flying backward, hitting the wall, like a lump of mud.


    "Third brother!" The remaining two dog demons shouted in unison, "How dare you, die!"


    Whoosh, whoosh!


    Two arrows shot from a distance, striking the two dog demons.


    Thwack, thwack!


    The thick fat and fur on the dog demons were prated by the arrows, causing them pain and making them even more furious.


    "Roar!"


    The two dog demons, with red eyes, opened their huge mouths and each bit down on Shen Qing''s arms like mad beasts.


    The sharp dog teeth, as they touched the membrane on Shen Qing''s skin, produced a sizzing noise, like nails scraping a ckboard, making one''s teeth sour.


    "Want to eat me?"


    Although the two dog demons appearedrge, to Shen Qing, who possessed enormous strength, they were no different from ordinary vicious dogs.


    A cold light shed in Shen Qing''s eyes, he lifted his arms and with a twist to the side, pinned the two dog demons against the wall.


    "You like to eat people, right? Here, I''ll feed you!"


    Shen Qing pressed his arms against the mouths of the two dog demons, continuously increasing the strength in his hands.


    Crunch, crunch, crunch!


    The brutal Qi overflowed, directly shattering their fangs.


    Shen Qing''s arms slid forward, pressing dead against the corners of the dog demons'' mouths.


    The dog demons sensed something wrong and began to struggle violently.


    A thick fog rose from behind the dog demons, the fog swirling, and from it stretched invisible threads,nding on Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing felt an involuntary resistance in his body.


    "Puppet Demon Technique?"


    Shen Qing''s Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill circted within his body, beginning from the First Transformation and continuing to increase.


    In a single breath, he ascended to the Third Transformation.


    Scalding hot breath burst forth from within his body, transforming into a tangible heatwave, invisible ripples spreading around Shen Qing as the center.


    Wherever it passed, even the space slightly distorted.


    The threads that were spiraling down instantly disintegrated under this wave of heat.


    The two dog demons showed a sh of shock in their eyes and began to whimper, begging for mercy.


    "You still want to eat, huh? I''ve brought it right to your mouths. Don''t be so ungrateful..."


    "Woo woo woo..."


    The two dog demons'' throats were blocked by Shen Qing, and they could only emit a whimpering sound.


    "Hmm? Do you think you''re too good for me, that my flesh doesn''t taste good? What if I cook it for you, how about that?"


    Shen Qing increased the force in his hands, while the scorching breath of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill gathered on his arms, gradually bing hot, emitting a sizzling steaming sound.


    The activity on his arms grew more intense, and the heads of the two dog demons began to deform under Shen Qing''s pressure.


    Finally, at a critical point, the scorching breath exploded.


    Bang!


    The two dog demons stopped struggling, their bodies going limp.


    Their heads werepletely blown open by the Qi.


    Blood and brain matter coated the wall, slowly trickling down.


    Shen Qing, expressionless, withdrew his hand and silently looked at the two dog demons.


    Initially, he had expected something more sinister but was disappointed to see it was only three dog demons.


    Before setting off, he had sensed that the aura of these three dog demons was much weaker than that of the tiger demon.


    At that time, with his cultivation in the Skin Forging Realm, he had been able to y the tiger demon; now, having umted multiple martial arts skills and broken through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, dealing with such dog demons was hardly a challenge.


    The main issue was deciding how they should die.


    Standing behind Shen Qing, Xiao Zhi and Tian Xiaohu exchanged looks.


    They had not anticipated that this "fierce battle" would end in such a manner.


    These dog demons had some intelligence, but not much.


    A beast is still a beast.


    "Excellent, excellent, what a good death! Hahaha¡­"


    In the darkness, the middle-aged peasant, seeing the three dog demons Shen Qing had killed, became extremely agitated and burst outughing.


    Shen Qing slightly furrowed his brows.


    He remembered the peasant had adamantly opposed their entering the vige, perhaps not out of unprovoked hostility or indifference, but because he knew about the dog demons inside and didn''t want them to needlessly lose their lives.


    Momentster, the peasantposed himself, walked up to Shen Qing, fell to his knees with a thud, and weeping with joy said, "Thank you, my lord, for avenging our entire vige. I have nothing with which to repay you, except to serve as your ox and horse in the next life."


    "Old man, there''s no need for this." Shen Qing helped the peasant to his feet and looked around as he spoke, "What exactly is going on here?"


    The peasant wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, his lips trembling, "Today was my son''s wedding, and we had invited neighbors. The three cmities burst out of the mist, attacking and eating anyone they saw. We have farmed here for generations, and I don''t know how we provoked these three cmities."


    "If I weren''t so old with tough meat, I probably wouldn''t have survived until now."


    Xiao Zhi and Tian Xiaohu couldn''t help but look shocked and asked, "Everyone in your vige is dead?"


    "Yes, now I am the only one left."


    Everyone fell silent.


    The old man asked, "Did all of you gentlemene from Taiping County?"


    "Indeed."


    "Speaking of which, I heard those three cmities mention that a formidable tiger demon appeared over there as well?"


    "That''s true." Shen Qing asked, "Did these dog demonse from Shicheng Mountain?"


    The peasant''s face showed numbness as he shook his head, "I don''t know."


    "Gentlemen, there''s no one left in this vige now, but there''s still some food left in every household. I can''t finish it myself; please feel free to take some as a token of my gratitude for your kindness."


    Looking around the room with a solemn expression, the peasant said, "The house is a bit of a mess right now, not fit to host distinguished guests. Perhaps the gentlemen would take a short rest outside while I tidy up a bit."


    Shen Qing, without giving it much thought, said to Tian Xiaohu and the others, "Let''s step outside."


    With that, he turned and led them out of the thatched cottage.


    Uncle Shen Er and the others approached Shen Qing as he emerged and asked, "What''s the situation inside, it seemed a bit noisy?"


    "It''s nothing." Shen Qing said, "We''ll sleep here in the rice yard tonight. We won''t go inside."


    Seeing that Shen Qing was disinclined to say more, Shen Er tactfully didn''t ask further, arranging for everyone to rest on the spot.


    After a while, Shen Qing, seeing no activity inside the house, suddenly had a bad premonition and walked toward the house.


    Upon entering, the first thing he saw was a leg dangling in midair.


    Shen Qing''s expression changed slightly as he looked up, his eyes bingplicated.


    The peasant of the vige was dead.


    After they had left, he had chosen to hang himself.


    With the vige folk ughtered by the demons, none of his family remaining, and his own advanced age, he indeed had no means to survive in these wilds.


    It seemed there was no better way to live than through suicide.


    "This really is a dog''s world!"


    For some reason, at that moment, Shen Qing felt a chokehold of emotions, a thought sprouting in his mind like a bamboo shoot after rain.


    From his time in Hongshan Vige until now, most of what he had done was for self-preservation, no other thoughts entertained.


    Whether it was killing the Chen Family Brothers, Old Ba Zi, Cai Doni, or Wang Qiyao, it had always been the same.


    Now that he evidently had some means of self-protection, the idea of doing something for ordinary people like the peasant suddenly came to him.


    Shen Qing took out the appointment letter from his chest, as if finding a direction, his eyes bing resolute, "If I wish to do so, then I must be stronger, stronger than everyone in this world! Only then will I be strong enough to suppress everything!"

 Chapter 172: Chapter 96 Blood Dominance Technique Mastery, Talisman and the List

    The following day.


    The firmament was dotted with stars, the eastern horizon showing a hint of dawn''s first light.


    Lying on the tbed cart, Shen Qing slowly opened his eyes. He sat up, looked around, and, through his initially blurry vision, rity gradually emerged.


    In the distance, the morning fields were delicately shrouded in a thin mist. The rice paddies swayed with the breeze, exuding vitality, while the continuous croaking of frogs and the chirping of cicadas ebbed and flowed.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of earth and vegetation in the air, which rxed him.


    After affirming his belief, the events of the previous night no longer distracted him; his thoughts became lucid.


    Knowing is not difficult; doing is what is difficult.


    The superior person is deliberate in speech but vigorous in action.


    In Shen Qing''s view, now that he had made a decision and had an ambition, the only thing left to do was to put it into action.


    He quietly alighted from the tbed cart, careful not to disturb Shen Er and others beside him, and walked over to speak to Tian Xiaohu, who was on guard duty, "I''ve had enough rest, you go take a break. We will set off after dawn."


    The incident fromst evening had left Tian Xiaohu and the others worried, and they volunteered to keep watch, ready to respond promptly to any emergency.


    After all, Tian Xiaohu was used to practicing martial arts. Even after a sleepless night, he was brimming with energy, not too much affected.


    Yet he also knew that along this journey, with mountains high and rivers far, conserving strength was crucial, and he shouldn''t unt temporary prowess.


    Tian Xiaohu nodded and said, "I''ll just lie down for a while; call me when you are ready to leave."


    He found a corner,id some straw down, and quickly fell into sleep with his clothes on, soon snoring away.


    Shen Qing''s aunt and uncle among others had not yet woken up, and Shen Qing had no intention of waking them. He silently walked aside and began to cultivate the Blood Dominance Technique.


    Without any medicated diet or elixirs, and no various means of exercise, practicing the Blood Dominance Technique was fitting.


    He stood with legs apart, as sturdy as an old pine tree, inhaling and exhaling the morning''s rosy clouds.


    He cultivated until the east brightened and the sunrise zed like fire before he finally ceased.


    Shen Qing''s consciousness stirred, summoning the Water Ink Panel.


    [Skill: Blood Dominance Technique (Small Sess)]


    [Progress: 801/800 points]


    [Status: Ready for advancement]


    [Note: You haveprehended a new martial art from the Nine Skills, and through continuous practice, aided by demon cores and medicinal recipes, the progress of this technique has been significant. Your strength is gradually increasing, your physique growing stronger and constantly breaking the limitations of your body.]


    "Huff... finally, I''ve reached the full level of practice."


    The Blood Dominance Technique, as a Limit Breaking Technique within the Nine Skills Realm, had no one to instruct him andcked other martial art skills to refer to, relying solely on exploration.


    That''s why the progress in cultivating this martial art was always slow, much slower than other martial art skills.


    Moreover, as a martial art that breaks limits, it required a higher umtion of progress points. Shen Qing could only incrementally grind it out, slowly advancing.


    Fortunately, after prior continuous cultivation, this martial art finally met the conditions for breakthrough.


    Shen Qing cast aside all distractions, unified his mind and spirit, and then, with a thought, chose to break through.


    At once, the progress information about the Blood Dominance Technique on the Water Ink Panel began to refresh.


    [Skill: Blood Dominance Technique (Mastery)]


    [Progress: 1/900 points]


    As the Panel updated, surges of new Qi-Blood suddenly permeated from the flesh throughout his body.


    It was as if a plethora of water was being squeezed out of a sponge, merging together to form streams, flowing into his Qi-Blood.


    This not only increased the already vast amount of Qi-Blood Shen Qing possessed, but his muscles also gained resilience, receiving further enhancement.


    "With the Mastery level of the Blood Dominance Technique, my physique has be even more robust. Before stepping into the Qi Hai Realm, if the Blood Dominance Technique continues to advance, I fear my Qi-Blood capacity will reach a terrifying level."


    "By then, with such a body, breaking through to the Qi Hai will surely be beyond imagination."


    Feeling stronger, Shen Qing was very satisfied. He returned to the center of the vige, invigorated.


    Daylight hade, and the people resting in the vige square had woken up one after another.


    Upon waking, none of them idled about.


    Shen Xiaoshan took a sickle and cut many green nts, carefully mixing them with some dry grass and grains to feed the two horses and the donkey.


    The cook, Xiao Zhi, set up the pot, cooking breakfast.


    Everyone had their tasks, adding a lively touch to the setting.


    After breakfast, Shen Qing led the others in searching each household, taking all the grain, meat, eggs, and salt they could carry.


    These supplies had be unimed property, and Shen Qing and his group did not feel embarrassed when taking them.


    Xiao Zhi even used the firewood from these homes to fry an entire bag of rice for dry provisions.


    Once all the chores were handled, Shen Qing skinned the three dog demons, retrieved their demon cores, and then lit the entire vige on fire.


    The thatched huts and wooden houses were quickly engulfed in mes.


    The many viger corpses inside were gradually swallowed by the fire.


    "Let''s go."


    Shen Qing said no more, and the others asked no questions.


    Amidst the vehement mes, Shen Qing led the group towards the direction of the rising sun.


    ...


    With the speed of Zhuifeng, the thousand-mile journey from Taiping County to Yongzhou could be covered in about two days.


    But Shen Qing, bringing his family along and bearing in mind the lessons learned, no longer approached viges to ept the goodwill of vigers, opting to rest in the mountains and forests, which slowed their journey considerably.


    In the blink of an eye, after seven days of travel, they finally reached the borders of Yongzhou in safety.


    As the signs of human activity gradually increased, Shen Qing and hispanions let out a sigh of relief.


    They continued to walk forward and, by the afternoon, they arrived at a dpidated temple.


    The temple had only a few decayed nks hanging askew from the doorframe, and the threshold was covered with moss and weeds, as if it had been abandoned for a long time.


    Fortunately, the temple''s overall structure remained intact enough to provide shelter from the wind and rain.


    Shen Qing went in for a look and noticed several piles of extinguished bonfires and a few pieces of charred food residue.


    The ashes of these fires varied in age.


    It was clear that people often used this temple as a temporary refuge.


    Having been on the run and resting outdoors, they all smelled foul, although the men did not care much about it; but Auntie and older sister Shen Fang were bing intolerable.


    Even when they lived in Hongshan Vige, they never reached such a squalid state.


    After Shen Qing confirmed there was no danger using his Eagle Eye ability, he decided to stop here for rest.


    This decision immediately brightened the spirits of Auntie and Shen Fang. Women always have those few inconvenient days, and traveling during such times is simply torture.


    There was a well in the temple, perfect for drawing water to freshen up.


    It was still early in the day.


    Shen Qing, who stood guard outside the temple for his older sister and others, took out a thin booklet and started to flip through it.


    It was something he had taken from the body of a Huang Tian Sect General.


    He had only nced at it briefly before, but now he had some free time and decided to inspect it carefully to see if there was any valuable information.


    The booklet appeared to be a roster, with no text on the outside cover.


    Shen Qing turned to the first page.


    "Yun Yinfeng, male, aged thirty-two, from Yanyu Town; orphaned at a young age, adopted by a martial master who taught him Martial Arts. In the third year of Tian Guang, joined our Holy Sect and served as a messenger. Skilled at hiding amongst themon folk, often using the identities of merchants, schrs, and beggars for cover..."


    This entire page was densely filled with the life story of Yun Yinfeng.


    Shen Qing had no recollection of this person, so he turned to the next page.


    "Qiao Lan, female, neen years old, from Taifeng County; born into a Martial Arts family, but the family was implicated in a sudden coup and subsequently joined the Holy Sect. Beautiful, highly skilled in Martial Arts, dependable."


    "Zhang Biao, male, twenty years old..."


    Shen Qing read through the entire booklet, which contained significant figures within the Huang Tian Sect with either detailed or rough descriptions of their abilities.


    There was also an open letter tucked inside the booklet.


    Shen Qing took out the paper and unfolded it, feeling somewhat surprised.


    It was a letter sent from the Yongzhou Government Office, noting the departure date, route, and personnel configuration of the Yongzhou Guard Martial Arts Bureau.


    There were people from the Huang Tian Sect inside the Yongzhou Government Office who were secretly revealing the movements of the government office''s military department to the sect.


    No wonder the Huang Tian Sect could sessfully set up an ambush andpletely wipe out the Yongzhou Guard Martial Arts Bureau en route; it seems this was due to having an informant within.


    The waters of Yongzhou''s government office are probably very deep.


    Shen Qing''s expression immediately turned serious, and he discreetly put away the booklet and papers.


    These materials could prove very useful to him in the future.


    After putting away the roster, he pulled out a stack of yellow talismans and a triangr Array g.


    This too was pilfered from the body of the Huang Tian Sect General.


    Shen Qing remembered clearly how exceptional these talismans had been in the General''s hands, being able to add numerous effects andparable to the versatile Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill.


    Additionally, these talismans seemed incredibly convenient to use.


    It seemed they did not require arduous cultivation; they only needed to be activated.


    Shen Qing looked down and inspected them closely.


    The talismans were about ten inches long and three fingers wide, edged with red lines.


    The surface of the talismans had ck ink of varied shades, outliningplex and intricate patterns.


    Within those were images of dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing, as well as clouds rolling and unfurling, diverse in representation but overall categorizable into three styles.


    These seven or eight yellowing talismans likely represented three types of talismans.


    However, Shen Qing was not versed in the art of talismans and did not understand their specific meanings.


    Shen Qing pinched one of the talismans in his hand and tried to shake it as he had seen done.


    After several attempts, the talismans showed no sign of activation, so he temporarily gave up and turned his attention to the triangr Array g.


    Given Shen Qing''s limited knowledge in this area, he was even less able to discern its mysteries.


    Just then, Shen Qing heard the sound of carriage wheels from a distance outside the temple, and he quickly stored the talismans and Array g, looking into the distance.


    He saw a group of people carrying arge g embroidered with a "Wu" character, slowly approaching the broken temple, numbering around ten.


    Shen Qing shouted back to the people inside, "Auntie, sister, hurry up, there are peopleing to the temple."


    "Ah..."


    A flurry of panicked noise came from inside the dpidated temple.


    Shen Qing did not wait for them and signaled to Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi.


    The two men smoothly pulled out their crossbows, sat atop their carriage, and vigntly watched the approaching group.


    The foremost man of the escort agency rode a tall horse and seemed somewhat surprised to see Shen Qing and the others by the temple gate.


    "Whoa!"


    He stopped his horse, considered momentarily before sliding off its back, instructed the others to halt, and then made his way step by step toward the entrance of the dpidated temple.

 Chapter 173: Chapter 97 Yongzhou Thirteen Lines, Wu Sheng

    "Gentlemen, we are a merchant convoy from the Wu Family of Yongzhou returning to the city. Each time, we have stopped here to rest; I wonder if it would be convenient for you to let us stay together in this dpidated temple for the night?"


    The man who stepped forward had a square face and looked to be in his twenties. He was well-dressed and seemed to hold some status, not appearing to be an ordinary person.


    Being away from home, Shen Qing had no intention of causing trouble, and he calmly responded, "This ce is just an abandoned temple; make yourselves at home."


    "Thank you," said the man in his twenties, ncing at Shen Qing with a smile. "Your ent doesn''t sound local to Yongzhou. Are you from outside?"


    "From Taiping County."


    "Oh!" The man''s face instantly showed a sh of realization, and he slowly said, "It''s not very peaceful over there recently."


    Shen Qing was startled; he hadn''t expected the man before him to know about Taiping County.


    They had traveled many days, not a thousand miles but certainly seven or eight hundred.


    In these times, thergest range of activities for ordinary people was just a few dozen miles, and their ess to information rtively limited, so most knew nothing of affairs a hundred miles away.


    The man before him was truly well-informed.


    He must possess some skills.


    At the very least, he was a martial master, and his cultivation realm was not low.


    Naturally, if he didn''t possess some skills, he wouldn''t be able to lead a group of people roaming around this wilderness.


    The man with the square face bowed his hands and signaled to hispanions behind him, indicating they coulde over normally.


    Upon receiving the man''s signal, these people hesitated no further, leading their carts toward the position of the temple one by one.


    Shen Qing scanned briefly; there were about ten people, all robust men.


    Each one of them was muscr and formidable at a nce.


    "Everything has its order. The temple is only so big and we outnumber you, so it seems we are at an advantage. If you have any troubles, you can ask us for help," the man said.


    Keeping his vignce, Shen Qing, seeing how polite the other party was, also exchanged a few courtesies and said, "All right, don''t mind us imposing on you then."


    "Hahaha... Brother Shen has a good nature," the square-faced manughed. "My surname is Wu, with a single name Sheng. How may I address you, brother?"


    "Shen Qing!"


    "Where are you all heading?"


    "We were nning to go to Yongzhou County."


    "That''s a coincidence, we''re preparing to return there too. From here to Yongzhou is just a day and a half''s journey. Why not travel together?"


    Shen Qing hesitated for a moment.


    Wu Sheng said, "Brother Shen needn''t worry, we are people from Wu Family of the Yongzhou Thirteen Lines. The Wu Family strictly abides by the principle of ''sincerity,'' ensuring all debts are repaid. Once you''re in the county town, you''ll understand after a little inquiry. We are not bad people."


    After pondering for a while, Shen Qing said, "Then thank you for the trouble."


    "Good, it''s settled then. We''ll set off together tomorrow morning."


    Wu Sheng called to hispanions, and with their luggage, they entered the temple. The already small temple quickly became crowded.


    Big Sister Shen Fang and Aunt had hurriedly washed up and, having dressed, came out of the temple. Seeing so many people inside all of a sudden, they hesitated and cautiously moved back behind Shen Qing and the others.


    "Qingzi, who are these people?" Big Sister Shen Fang asked quietly.


    Shen Qing signaled to Tian Xiao Hu and Xiao Zhi behind him to keep low profile, reassuringly saying, "They are people from the Wu Family of Yongzhou, staying with us in this derelict temple."


    "Oh."


    Big sister Shen Fang''s bright eyes sparkled, curiously sizing up the Wu Family ahead of them.


    After Shen Qing started learning martial arts, his life greatly improved.


    Not only did he be robust, but his once fragile elder sister, Shen Fang, had also grown plumper.


    With already good features, the proper care made her stand out even more.


    Her appearance, freshly bathed, caused them to take several more nces.


    "Hurry up and pack the goods properly, if anything is missing, Boss won''t spare you," Wu Sheng, with a meticulous mind, noticed this and kicked one of his men harshly, shouting to break everyone''s train of thought.


    The well-dressed men shifted their gazes and resumed working, not daring to look further.


    Shen Qing thought for a moment and said to Tian Xiaohu and the others, "Let me keep watch tonight, you guys should rest early."


    For many days now, it was mostly Xiao Zhi and Tian Xiaohu who took turns on guard duty. asionally, Shen Xiaoshan would also help out.


    Shen Qing, to maintain his energy, seldom performed patrols.


    But seeing that tonight''spany seemed rather extraordinary, Shen Qing decided it was better to take over for safety''s sake.


    The setting sun, like blood, painted the vast green mountains golden red, and eventually sank into the embrace of the mountains below the horizon.


    The night sky revealed a myriad of stars, and the sound of frogs began slowly to fill the air.


    Two bonfires gradually lit up in the old temple, where Shen Qing and Wu Sheng''s groups began preparing their respective meals and organizing their personal belongings.


    Compared to Shen Qing''s group eating stir-fried rice and hard cakes, Wu Sheng''s group had better food: dried meat, steamed buns, and even alcoholic drinks.


    Wu Sheng, seeing Shen Qing sitting at the doorway, walked over with a wineskin and offered, "Drink some?"


    Seeing Shen Qing hesitate, Wu Sheng uncorked it, took a few sips himself, andughed, "It''s not poisoned."


    Shen Qing, slightly apologetic, said, "I''ve never really drunk alcohol before, I''m afraid it might impair my ability to deal with things."


    "Never drunk before? Okay then."


    Wu Sheng sat next to Shen Qing and started a conversation, "Brother Shen, what are you nning to do in Yongzhou?"


    Shen Qing was not familiar with Wu Sheng; this was their first acquaintance.


    In his view, one should avoid profound conversations when the rtionship is shallow.


    "Not sure yet," Shen Qing, uninterested in revealing too much in response to Wu Sheng''s inquiry, sighed helplessly and said, "Brother Wu might already know about the situation in Taiping County. We are going to Yongzhou to see if we can find a way to make a living, but I''m not sure what''s next, or what we can do."


    "Facing natural and man-made disasters, we mere mortals truly have no means to respond. However, seeing Brother Shen''s magnificent young steed, you might be able to establish yourself in Yongzhou despite your youth."


    Wu Sheng offered, "If Brother Shen really faces difficulties in Yongzhou, feel free to look for me. My position in the Wu Family isn''t high, but I can still arrange some work. Getting food on the table won''t be a problem."


    Shen Qing detected the sincerity in Wu Sheng''s tone¡ªit did not seem like a recruitment pitch, but rather seemed genuine.


    "Thanks, Brother Wu. If things really don''t work out, I''ll definitelye to bother you," he said.


    "Hahaha, it''s no big deal," Wu Sheng took a sip of his drink and said, "It''s just a pity. It would have been good if you came earlier. If you hade sooner, Yongzhou might still have been promising, but now¡­ s..."


    "Oh, Brother Wu, is there something secretive going on inside the county town?"


    Shen Qing knew Wu Sheng was well-informed, surely aware of many matters.


    He didn''t let go of this rare opportunity to gather information, pressing further with his inquiries.

 Chapter 175: Chapter 1 Yongzhou County, Arrival!

    When the next day dawned, Shen Qing chose to join forces with the Wu Family''s trade caravan, merging their teams into one.


    Since the Wu Family''s caravan often traveled this route, they were very familiar with the roads and moved much quicker.


    What was originally a journey of a day and a half, took them almost just one day to reach Yongzhou County Town.


    Outside the West City Gate of Yongzhou County Town.


    Wu Sheng and Shen Qing''s caravans halted their steps outside the city gate.


    As Wu Sheng had to go back to handle the business of this trip and had other matters to attend to, he could no longer apany Shen Qing, so he chose to part ways at the city gate.


    "Brother Shen, I''ve felt a kindred spirit and enjoyed our conversation during this journey. Once you''ve settled down in Yongzhou City,e and find me at the Wu Family if you have the time. I''ll show you around the great Yongzhou," Wu Sheng said sincerely.


    If one didn''t know that he was also involved in other businesses, Shen Qing might have truly believed this person considered him a real friend, even more approachable than the most sessful real estate consultants he had met in his previous life.


    However, regardless of Wu Sheng''s purposes for making the acquaintance, Shen Qing still learned quite a bit about Yongzhou from him.


    Considering the value of this information, Shen Qing also showed a cheerful smile and said happily, "Absolutely, I hope Brother Wu won''t find me a bother when the timees."


    "Haha, how could that be. When we meet again, I will certainly set up a table full of good food and wine for Brother Shen," Wu Sheng said with sped hands, "I must leave now, till we meet again someday."


    "Until then."


    "Let''s go!"


    Wu Sheng mounted his horse and led his people into the city with heads held high.


    Watching Wu Sheng and hispany leave, Shen Qing lifted his head to take a good look at this city called Yongzhou.


    Yongzhou, as the county town of Yunlu County, had a poption of eight million. If we add the continuously arriving yet unregistered concealed poption, it might well have exceeded ten million.


    His cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Realm that seemed top-notch in Taiping County was now quite ordinary in Yongzhou City and nothing special.


    ording to Wu Sheng''s boast, in Yongzhou City, tossing a brick randomly could hit a martial master at the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    Although the statement was somewhat exaggerated, one could be certain of the fact that the overall level of martial masters'' cultivation in Yongzhou was far above that of Taiping County.


    There must be many who wished to stand out among the rest within.


    As the sky approached evening, thenterns were just beginning to glow in Yongzhou City, while the official road outside the city remained bustling with activity.


    With a casual nce, Shen Qing could see monks in robes, Daoist priests with an air of immortality, young masters and misses dressed in exquisite garments, and gangsters d in sword belts or carrying long des on their backs... the diversity was endless.


    Of course, there were even more small vendors carrying their wares on shoulders or pushing single-wheeled carts, along with ordinary people working in the city.


    Compared to Taiping County, life for people in Yongzhou seemed to be much better; at the very least, there was none of the heavy, numbing dreariness that pervaded Taiping.


    Seeing that nightfall was nearing, Shen Qing, riding atop a tall horse, took the lead at the front.


    The grey horse-drawn carriage followed behind him, its wheels rattling against the stone-paved road.


    Upon reaching the city gate, Shen Qing was stopped by the city guards for identity verification.


    Shen Qing didn''t make any rash moves; he retrieved his Registration Certificate and honestly handed it to them.


    To Shen Qing''s surprise, after merely flipping through and checking it, they allowed him to pass without extorting any so-called City Entrance Fee, unlike the situation in Taiping County.


    Indeed, every city has its own way of life.


    Once inside Yongzhou City, Shen Qing witnessed the prosperity of this world for the first time.


    In the past, Taiping County was merely a slightly more bustling ancient town in his eyes, with nothing to catch his eye.


    But the city of Yongzhou before him was different.


    The streets were all paved with blue stone bs, and tea houses and taverns were lined up one after another on both sides, crowded with people, a picture of prosperity.


    Even as night fell, it remained morous and extraordinarily lively.


    All kinds ofnterns were strung high along the street, making it bright as day.


    The cries of the vendors rose and fell in session, with all sorts of goods dazzling the eye, from the exquisite silks and satins to the rugged iron tools and farm implements, from sweet pastries to spicy street food¡ªeverything was readily avable.


    It truly opened the eyes of Shen Qing and hispanions.


    They heard that there were a total of twelve markets within the city of Yongzhou, each with its unique trait.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel some anticipation for what his life would be like next.


    He found an inn at random and had everyone stay there.


    Seeing their travel-worn and disheveled appearance, the innkeeper did not refuse them but quietly raised the room price by thirty percent before weing them in.


    Unfamiliar with the prices in Yongzhou City, Shen Qing found the cost of amodation unusually expensive.


    For just three rooms, his group was charged three taels of silver.


    It allowed Shen Qing to make a rough judgment about the cost of living in Yongzhou.


    Days of travelbined with constant tension had made Shen Qing somewhat weary, and after settling into the inn, he finally felt rxed and enjoyed an unprecedented sense of peace.


    After Shen Qing washed up, he went straight to bed.


    He slept without dreams.


    Shen Qing, having had a full night''s sleep, awoke feeling refreshed and vigorous.


    After breakfast, Shen Qing inquired about the location of the Military Department and eagerly set out for the government office.


    The Yongzhou Military Department''s office was imposing and majestic, exuding grandeur.


    Two gatekeepers stood on either side of the entrance, emanating authority.


    Shen Qing approached calmly, and after exining his intentions to the gatekeepers, and taking into consideration the cost of living in Yongzhou, he gave each of them a generous "Delivery Package."


    Thetter, seeing this, beamed with pleasure and graciously let Shen Qing into the Military Department office.


    Once inside the government office, Shen Qing, well-aware of the way things worked in the Great Zhou bureaucracy, used money to pave his way and in just the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, he found the officials'' room responsible for the assignment of Military Department officials.


    Shen Qing presented his official appointment document to the duty official and waited patiently on the side.


    Upon confirming the authenticity of the appointment document, the officials'' room clerk wasted no time and led him to a side chamber for a proper reception.


    "Your timing is perfect. There are a few vacancies for officers in our Military Department, and if everything goes smoothly and you meet the requirements, you should be able to start in a few days," the official said.


    Shen Qing found it somewhat incredible and always felt that it seemed too easy to enter the ranks of the Yongzhou Military Department. He maintained a cautious attitude and said with a hint of joy, "So soon?"


    "Ha, not so fast, not so fast. The key is to see how smoothly things go. I''ll take your appointment document and Registration Certificateter to the Chief Officer and exin your situation to see what the Lord of the General Supervisor''s Office will arrange for you," said the officials'' room clerk, emphasizing the word "smoothly" significantly.


    Shen Qing immediately got the hint; hearing this, he took out his Registration Certificate and subtly ced a golden leaf on top of it before handing it to the officials'' room clerk, "Then I am in your hands, my lord."


    The clerk''s eyes lit up, and he cheerfully pocketed the golden leaf, assuring, "I''ll head over first. You just wait here patiently for my message."

 Chapter 177: Chapter 3: Joining! Joining the Guardian Martial Department Dispatch Office

    For Huangfu Rou, if it was an officer from the Military Department, she might have considered meeting with him, but the Guardian Martial Department had its own Commander of the Military Guard to deal with it. There was no need for her to pay too much attention; she could just leave it to the staff of the Personnel Office.


    The affairs with the Prefectural Governor were also just "routine business," not worth her trouble.


    The small official of the Personnel Office, receiving the order and seeing that Huangfu Rou hadn''t taken away Shen Qing''s position, a sh of surprise and delight crossed his face as he struggled to maintain calm, "Yes, my Lord. I will make the official certificate for him right away and let him report to the Guardian Martial Department in three days."


    Huangfu Rou buried her head in the government affairs at hand without another word.


    The small official of the Personnel Office bowed with hands sped together and tactfully retreated.


    Once out of the government office, the official nced back cautiously and could no longer contain the wild joy in his heart.


    His luck this time was simply too good.


    He had just moved his lips and earned a thousand taels just like that.


    In the past, when high-ranking disciplespeted with their family backgrounds, he might not even have had the chance, and even if he got something in his hands, he would have had to give up arge part.


    Fortunately, Shen Qing was a foreigner, new to the ce and without connections or background, perfect for his maniption.


    On his way back to the Personnel Office, seeing Shen Qing standing straight in the courtyard, calm andposed, he couldn''t help but give him a sideways look.


    "This young man has a really good temperament; if I were him, having given so much money, I would have been anxious like an ant on a hot pan."


    The small official approached and grabbed Shen Qing''s arm, his eyes bing slits as he smiled happily, "Little brother, it''s done."


    "It''s done?" Shen Qing asked with a hint of skepticism, "Is what my Lord says true?"


    The official feigned indignation, "Would I deceive you? Our Lord Chief Officer has personally agreed and told me to make the official certificate."


    With that, he lowered his voice and spoke with a secretive tone, "Do you think the money you gave me is all for me alone? As long as it can be sent out, it means the matter is settled."


    Seeing the small official acting this way, as if afraid he might change his mind, Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel speechless.


    For him, as long as he could secure the officer''s position, spending some money was irrelevant.


    Once he had power, money would naturally be no problem.


    Shen Qing did not reveal his thoughts, ying along, "It is all thanks to the Lord''s efforts."


    "Dare not take the credit, dare not take the credit," the small officialughed, "We in the Personnel Office will make your official certificate, you just need toe back in three days to get it and report to the Guardian Martial Department."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing felt puzzled.


    He remembered that the position he was appointed to in his official document was as an officer of the Military Department¡ªhow did it change to the Guardian Martial Department?


    Shen Qing, confused, inquired, "My Lord, why must I report to the Guardian Martial Department? I recall that my appointment document ced me in the Military Department."


    "Hey, don''t worry. Whether it''s the Military Department or the Guardian Martial Department, they''re both under the supervision of the Lord Chief Officer. Thetter was specifically split off from the Military Department to deal specifically with demons and the Remnants of the Huang Tian Sect. They are one and the same. The Military Department had no vacancies, but the Guardian Martial Department did, so naturally you were assigned there."


    The small official exined haphazardly, reassuring, "Don''t overthink it."


    Shen Qing inwardly sneered, suspecting that due to the Guardian Martial Department in the county town having many vacancies because officers were killed by the Huang Tian Sect, he ended up, by some twisted fate, being transferred there from the Military Department.


    At this point, Shen Qing thought of an important question that he couldn''t help but ask, "May I dare to ask my Lord, is there any difference in treatment between the County City Guard Martial Arts Department and the Military Department at the moment?"


    "In theory, what the court sends is all the same, but..." the official trailed off, "You''ll understand once you report to the Guardian Martial Department, words alone won''t make you understand."


    Chapter Discover:


    Shen Qing''s gaze darkened, showing a maturity beyond his years as he pondered over the official''s words.


    "That''s enough for today. Remember toe back in three days."


    Shen Qing, snapping out of his thoughts, bowed with hands sped and asked, "May I know how to address my Lord?"


    "My surname is Zhao, Zhao Guanglu."


    "So it is Lord Zhao; I hope you will continue to take good care of my affairs."


    "Sure thing, sure thing."


    ```


    Shen Qing saw that Zhao Guanglu was hinting for him to leave, so he did not linger at the Yongzhou Military Department Office. After a respectful bow, he withdrew and left the office.


    After returning to the inn, Shen Qing informed his uncle and the others about his uing position at the Guardian Martial Department.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s position confirmed, they all finally feltpletely at ease.


    With a few days left before he had to report to the government office, and with nothing else to do, Shen Qing, apanied by Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi, sought out a broker and, after two days of negotiations, spent one thousand taels on a small courtyard located in the same market district as the Guardian Martial Department Office.


    The broker said that the original owner of the courtyard was also an officer of the Guardian Martial Department, but unfortunately, he had been killed by a demon, and his family, losing their livelihood, was thus forced to sell the property.


    This courtyard was much smallerpared to the one in Taiping County, but it was sufficient for the whole family to live together, an ideal ce to settle.


    It took another day for Shen Qing and the others to move out of the inn, buy household necessities, and settle into the courtyard before nightfall.


    Altogether, Shen Qing spent another 300 taels to properly furnish the house.


    After all these expenses, he had only about 200 taels left on hand.


    If there were no major expenses, this money would probably only be enough to cover half a year''s living expenses for hisrge family.


    Just the upkeep for his two horses would likely cost half of that.


    He would have to find a way to earn money in the future.


    Saying this, Shen Qing couldn''t help but let his gaze fall on Xiao Zhi, and an idea suddenly sprang to mind.


    But he quickly suppressed the thought.


    ''There''s no rush for this, I should first establish a firm foothold in the Guardian Martial Department. I can n for making moneyter.''


    The next day, having finally settled down, his aunt nned to take his elder sister, Shen Fang, out for shopping, and the whole family followed suit.


    Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi did not idle either, using shopping as a pretext to go out and gather intelligence, while Shen Qing, as Zhao Guanglu had asked, went to the Yongzhou Military Department Office to get his official certificate.


    Guardian Martial Department Office.


    Two stone lions stood imposingly on both sides of the gate.


    The crimson gate lintel shone with a golden que gleaming under the moonlight.


    Carved upon it were the three characters for "Guardian Martial Department," the brushstrokes strong and powerful, emanating a grandeur thatmanded respect without anger.


    The gatekeeper at the door, seeing Shen Qing with his official certificate, did not make things difficult for him and let him straight into the office.


    In contrast to the size andprehensiveness of the Yongzhou Military Department Office, the Guardian Martial Department Office appeared much more cramped.


    Looking ahead, the front courtyard paved with bluestone was only ten meters deep, with rows of disordered weapon racks ced in it, mostly empty except for a few wooden sticks scattered about.


    It had a certainxness to it.


    To the left and right of the courtyard were rows of buildings.


    At that moment, clusters of officers were seated in the buildings, each wearing long swords and sipping on bitter shattered tea from old bowls.


    Seeing Shen Qinge in, one of the middle-aged officers took the initiative toe forward, cupped his fist and said, "Are you Officer Shen Qing?"


    Shen Qing raised his eyebrows, "You know me?"


    "Officer Shen, your red decree arrived yesterday and is already in the hands of Chief Officer Zheng. The Chief Officer specially ordered me to wait for you here," the man replied.


    Shen Qing knew the Chief Officer he mentioned referred to the Chief Officer of Weiwu Division, who nominally was of equal rank to the General of the Military Department but in practice held a slightly lower status.


    "Please, lead the way," he said.


    The middle-aged officer, bowing his head in a busy manner, dered it was his duty and led Shen Qing through the front courtyard into the main hall.


    In the center of the main hall stood arge desk, piled high with scrolls and documents, yet there was no one behind it.


    The middle-aged officer called out loudly, "Lord Chief Officer, Officer Shen has arrived."


    ```

 Chapter 178: Chapter 4 Have your problems been solved now?

    The middle-aged officer''s voice rang out far and wide, resonating through the main hall.


    After a while, a man sauntered in from the back of the main hall, btedly arriving.


    Yawning as he walked, he sat down behind the desk, moved his neck, rxed his cervical spine, and said leisurely with his eyes closed, "So you are Shen Qing?"


    Shen Qing stepped forward and replied, "That''s me."


    "I have looked over your identity documents. From now on, you''ll be leading Lao Liu and the rest of the Sixth Group."


    The Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department stopped shaking his head, opened his eyes, and said, "Lao Liu, you''ve been with the Guardian Martial Department for a long time, and you''re quite experienced. Shen Chasi is new here and unfamiliar with many things; you should assist him, so he gets acquainted with our department''s affairs quickly."


    "Yes, Lord Chief Officer," replied Lao Liu.


    "Alright, go get acquainted with everything," said the Chief Officer with a big belly, gesturing dismissively.


    The officer Lao Liu respectfully bowed with his hands sped and withdrew.


    Shen Qing gave a nce at the desk before him, said nothing more, and followed suit, exiting the room.


    After leaving the main hall, Lao Liu led Shen Qing to a side chamber and said, "Lord Shen Chasi, please show your official certificate to get our duty token. From now on, you must swap the duty token every morning at the Mao Hour and return again in the evening at the Xi Hour."


    Isn''t this just clocking in and out for work every day?


    Shen Qing asked, "What happens if I forget to exchange the duty token?"


    "Forgetting once a month doesn''t matter much, but if you forget twice, your official sry for one day will start to be deducted; three times, and half will be deducted. If it''s four or five times, then the entire sry will be forfeited, and in severe cases, you could be dismissed."


    Shen Qing''s expression suddenly turned solemn; dismissal was equivalent to being fired.


    It seems being an official is not so easy after all.


    Seeing Shen Qing take the duty token, Lao Liu continued, "Here in the county town, there are a total of six groups within the Guardian Martial Department. Our main responsibilities are dealing with the evil spirits and demons in the city''s twelve districts and seventy-two viges. asionally, we also have to suppress traitors and help the Military Department maintain public order. In short, the work is diverse and plentiful; you just need to follow the orders of the Lord Chief Officer."


    "So for maintaining public order, does that mean we also have to patrol and stand watch at night?" asked Shen Qing.


    "That''s generally the responsibility of the Military Department; we don''t stand night duty."


    "I see," replied Shen Qing.


    "Lord Shen Chasi, let me introduce you to the people of the Sixth Group. We are all technically your subordinates. It just so happens everyone is here today, so it''s a good time to get to know them," said Lao Liu.


    "Alright," Shen Qing murmured thoughtfully before asking, "Lao Liu, there are six groups in our county''s Guardian Martial Department. Is there any difference between these groups?"


    "There is... well, there are differences..." Lao Liu began to hem and haw.


    "Speak freely," encouraged Shen Qing.


    Lao Liu sighed deeply and said, "The order of the groups within our Guardian Martial Department is actually determined by ranking ording to strength."


    Raising an eyebrow, Shen Qing asked, "Does that mean our Sixth Group is the weakest?"


    "Yes..." Lao Liu replied, his old face looking somewhat embarrassed. "Lord Shen Chasi, you may not know, but the officers of the other five groups are all from high-ranking families in the county town. Although they''re not closely rted to the direct lineage, they all have some abilities, and the officers they lead have been carefully selected and are rted to them, here to partake in the imperial grain."


    "And our group''s officers..." pursued Shen Qing.


    Lao Liu answered honestly, "They are those who were not wanted by the other groups, kicked out, ordinary martial masters."


    Shen Qing was left speechless: "Let''s meet them first, shall we?"


    Leading Shen Qing out of the side chamber, Lao Liu passed row upon row of houses and finally stopped outside a room at the corner: "Lord Shen Chasi, here we are."


    "Let''s go in."


    Lao Liu pushed the door open and led him straight in.


    "Everyone, be alert, the Lord officer is here."


    As Shen Qing entered, two men and a woman who were conversing with their heads down around a square table immediately ceased their conversation and stood up.


    Upon sizing up Shen Qing, they were surprised by his youth and appearance.


    Stepping forward, Lao Liu made the introductions: "Lord Shen Chasi, these are Jiang Dacong, Guan Yunjian, and Uncle Shu, the officers of our Sixth Group."


    "This is our new officer, Lord Shen Chasi Shen Qing."


    Simultaneously, the three sped their hands and greeted, "We''ve met Lord Shen Chasi."


    "No need for formalities," Shen Qing replied, advancing tomit their faces and names to memory.


    Jiang Dacong was a tall woman with somewhat yellowish skin and e marks on her face; she was far from what one would call attractive.


    Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu appeared no longer young either, both around thirty years old, with faces weathered by the elements.


    And these were to be his subordinates.


    An officer differs from an officer in charge.


    The dispatch office is a small ninth-rank official position, part of the bureaucracy, while the officers can only be regarded as "temporary workers" for the government office.


    If nothing unexpected happens, they will spend their lives as officers, biding their time at the bottom.


    Even if they didn''t speak of it, Shen Qing could sense it from their demeanor.


    Shen Qing, having lived twice as a human, did not have any stage fright. His gaze swept over the faces of the several men in turn and he said, "Gentlemen, I am new here and still have much to learn. I will need your guidance in the future¡­"


    Just then, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu exchanged a nce, and Guan Yunjian stepped forward to interrupt, "Lord Shen Chasi!"


    Suddenly, the gaze of everyone in the room converged on Guan Yunjian.


    Shen Qing frowned, somewhat displeased, "What is it?"


    With his head lowered and hands sped, Guan Yunjian said, "I''ve heard that Lord Shen Chasi hails from Taiping County and now possesses the cultivation of the Qi Cultivation Realm. I wonder if that is true or false?"


    Shen Qing detected a hint of malice in Guan Yunjian''s words.


    Narrowing his eyes, he replied, "What of it if it''s true?"


    "Not to conceal from Lord Shen Chasi, we three are also of the Qi Cultivation Realm, and we''ve managed the affairs of the Sixth Group well in the absence of a Chief Officer. You do note from a high-ranking family, and your cultivation is not higher than ours. If Lord Shen Chasi carelessly meddles in the future, causing trouble that leads to punishment for us all, it would be bad for the Sixth Group."


    Uncle Shu chimed in, "Lord Shen Chasi, at such a young age you have be an officer, you surely have your own means; how could you allow him to intrude here?"


    Standing by the door, Lao Liu''s face turned sour as he intended to step forward and reprimand, but was stopped by Shen Qing''s gesture.


    He could tell that these people were just not convinced by this outsider.


    And, seeing his youth, they also thought he was easy to manipte.


    They really take me for a sick cat, huh.


    Since that''s the case¡­


    Shen Qing was not angered at all, smiling and saying, "I''m just an ordinary person, what kind of means could I have? Yunjian makes sense. What do you think I should do then?"


    "This is not difficult. As long as Lord Shen Chasi doesn''tmand randomly in the future and follows our arrangements, that would be fine. I''m sure Lord Shen Chasi is a wise man, who knows how to make the right choice."


    After pondering for a while, Shen Qing shook his head and said, "Sorry, I''m rather slow, and I have never liked multiple-choice questions."


    "Usually, when I encounter a problem I can''t solve, I tend to deal with the person who posed the problem first."


    "Hmm?"


    Boom!


    In an instant, as Shen Qing''s robes fluttered, he rushed towards Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian, striking fiercely with both hands.


    Their pupils dted in shock, and in their haste, they waved their hands quickly, trying to block Shen Qing''s sudden onught.


    However, Shen Qing''s speed was far superior to theirs.


    The Wind Defying Finger, carrying an air of supremacy, thudded against their chests.


    The moment it touched their garments, the third transformation of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill activated


    A scorching breath and rampant Qi erupted between them, causing a deafening explosion.


    In the face of such terrifying force, Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian were struck as if by a heavy hammer, their bodies staggering backward until they finally hit the wall, barely managing to stop.


    Ultimately unable to hold on, they coughed up blood uncontrobly from their mouths, copsing onto one knee on the ground, their faces as pale as paper.


    Lao Liu and Jiang Dacong''s faces changed dramatically upon seeing this; they had not expected Shen Qing to be so ruthless, to strike without warning.


    "You¡­"


    Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian managed to tremble out.


    The earlier mockery and carelessness were gone, reced by unmistakable terror and unease.


    Shen Qing''s lips curled into a faint smile, "Have your issues been resolved now?"


    Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian''s bodies tensed up to the extreme, sweat pouring down like drizzle, yet they didn''t dare make a sound.


    After a moment, they could no longer keep up, lying t on the ground, they submitted to Shen Qing, saying, "We were blind to not recognize Taiping, we hope Lord Shen Chasi will forgive our petty offenses. From now on, we will follow your lead."


    "If you had known this, why bother in the first ce?" Shen Qing reined in his killing intent and settled into the main seat. He silently poured himself a cup of tea and said, "Stand up, the Sixth Group''s work still requires your effort."


    Chapter Stay:


    "Yes."


    At this moment, the way everyone in the room looked at Shen Qing had changed; there was no longer any frivolity.


    Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian couldn''t even withstand a single move from Shen Chasi; his strength was probably far from merely that of the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    Shen Qing knew that, being new here and with no one under hismand to rely on, these people couldn''t yet be killed; they had to be kept for the time being.


    He drank a bowl of tea, feeling somewhat displeased.


    Damn, this tea is bitter.

 Chapter 179: Chapter 5: Able to Enter the Martial Path, Condensing the Supreme Divine Skills!

    "I have always preferred to win people over with virtue, as I''m sure you all have witnessed," Shen Qing silently set down the teacup in his hand, looked up at everyone, and said slowly.


    "I don''t know how you got along with the previous Chief Officer, but this is my style of doing things. If you''re not used to it, you''d better start adapting now."


    At this moment, Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian''s faces were as pale as paper, devoid of any color. When Shen Qing''s gaze swept over them, they quickly lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.


    Struggles and reluctance shed in their eyes, but in the end, they resigned themselves to their fate and fell silent.


    They were martial masters who had climbed up from the lowest ranks, not just some decorative pillows without substance.


    With their cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Realm and their hard skill, they were confident they couldn''t be beaten, but with their skills, they could move freely.


    However, Shen Qing''s movements were too swift, almost instant, giving them no time to react.


    In just one encounter, they were forced to take a strike.


    The power that bore down on them was overwhelming, like an avnche. The fierce and hot breath it carried felt almost on par with a martial master of the Qi Hai Realm.


    The two of them couldn''t even take one strike.


    They even felt that the new Lord Officer Shen had held back when he struck, thinking they were useful and therefore didn''t kill them.


    This young Lord Officer Shen was far from the harmless appearance he presented.


    It was hard to tell where this freak had sprung from.


    If they kept opposing him, their fates were uncertain.


    Thinking of this, both Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian couldn''t help but feel a chill in their hearts.


    "Starting today, the affairs of the Sixth Group will officially be under my charge. Who agrees and who opposes?"


    "Your subordinates have seen the Lord Officer."


    Lao Liu was the first to speak up and immediately responded loudly.


    Following him, Jiang Dacong, Guan Yunjian, and Uncle Shu also called out one after another.


    Shen Qing was quite satisfied with everyone''s performance: "I am still familiarizing myself with the affairs. Everything will continue as usual for now. I don''t need to say more, as we will have plenty of time to adjust to each other."


    "Go on with your work. Lao Liu, stay behind for a moment."


    Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu limped out of the room after Jiang Dacong, even politely closing the door behind them for Shen Qing, as docile as sheep.


    Shen Qing took in this scene, satisfied with his own decisive action.


    Most martial artists have a certain proud and unruly air about them.


    If you don''t beat them into submission and show them your strength, they will never be convinced.


    Over time, they will only try to dominate you, bypassing your authority.


    This is why, since ancient times, the reason new officials set fires upon taking office, to intimidate and overawe, is a lesson learned by predecessors.


    Only by establishing authority can he freely get things done in the future.


    Fortunately, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu, these two greenhorns who didn''t know his background, came knocking on his door, giving him an opportunity to establish his authority.


    Otherwise, he really wouldn''t know how to assert himself.


    Having witnessed Shen Qing''s strength, Lao Liu, the old officer, became even more respectful. He waited quietly for Shen Qing to speak.


    "Lao Liu, what is your real name?"


    Officer Lao Liuughed and said, "It''s just a humble name, Shen Chasi can just call me Lao Liu."


    "You should still tell me your real name."


    "I''m the third child in my family, my full name is Liu Sangui." Officer Liu Sangui, seeing he couldn''t deflect Shen Qing''s question, reported his real name and then asked, "Does Shen Chasi keep me here to inquire about something?"


    Shen Qing nodded, "There is something I would like to ask you."


    "Please ask, my lord."


    "I want to know how one can advanced their cultivation within the court, and how this differs from training at an external Martial Arts Hall."


    Shen Qing asked a question that concerned him greatly.


    It was well known that the Great Zhou Court had consolidated all the Martial Mechanisms of the world. Profound Martial Arts and various efficient methods that could aid in cultivation were all in their hands.


    He had joined the court,rgely for the sake of these Martial mechanisms.


    Liu Sangui pondered for a moment and organized his thoughts, "My lord, we all receive our official sry every month, which, in addition to the standard Silver Tael, includes various spiritual elixirs like Qi-Blood Pills that aid in Martial Arts training. The elixirs distributed are adjusted based on your cultivation realm. For instance, those below the Qi Hai Realm receive mostly Qi-Blood Pills, while those at or above the Qi Hai Realm receive Gathering Spirit Pills."


    "These pills can all advanced your cultivation, but of course, the most important is the once-a-year Wish Power Pearl, which is an unparalleled tool for advancing one''s cultivation."


    Shen Qing''s eyes narrowed, "What exactly is the use of the Wish Power Pearl?"


    "It can help you condense the sparse Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth, assist you in using Martial Arts to enter the path and refine supreme Divine Skills!" Liu Sangui quickly exined.


    Using Martial Arts to enter the path, refining supreme Divine Skills?


    Shen Qing''s expression changed.


    "Of course, as an officer, I have not seen it myself. But, Shen Chasi, if you want to break through to the Qi Hai Realm, you will definitely need to use the Wish Power Pearl."


    "Why is that?"


    "Humans are nurtured by the heavens and earth, and the spirit contained within flesh and blood is ultimately finite. If one wishes to cultivate further, one must snatch Spiritual Energy from the heavens and earth to strengthen oneself, and the Wish Power Pearl is the best magic skill for doing so."


    Shen Qing felt like he had gained a significant amount of knowledge all at once and pressed on, "I''ve heard that using the Wish Power Pearl also requires the Refining Pearl Technique?"


    Liu Sangui nodded, "Indeed it does. But you don''t need to worry, Chasi. Generally, once you have been in the government office for three full months, and after you are registered and listed in the court''s Ministry of Personnel, the Lord Chief Officer will tell you the Refining Pearl Technique."


    Just three months'' time, that seemed manageable.


    "There''s one more thing," Shen Qing said, "There are many profound Martial Arts within the court, I wonder how I can obtain them?"


    "That''s simple. Our government office has a specialized Martial Arts Hall, which houses a collection of training magic skills. Lord officers can exchange Qi Blood Pills or Silver Taels for the opportunity to read them. Our county town''s collection only includes Martial Arts up to the Innate Realm; for anything more profound, one would have to go to the Imperial Armory in the Capital."


    Liu Sangui spoke respectfully, "Does Lord officers have any other questions?"


    "No, that will be all. You may go back to your duties."


    "If there is anything you need, Lord officers, you can call me at any time. Acquaint yourself with the environment of our Human Government Office, andter in the afternoon, I will take Lord officers to patrol the defense area of our Sixth Group. I shall take my leave now."


    Watching Liu Sangui leave the building, Shen Qing remembered something important and hastily said, "Wait a moment."


    Liu Sangui''s footsteps halted, and he asked, "What is it, my lord?"


    "I forgot to ask, what is the name of our Lord Chief Officer?" Shen Qing asked with a smile.


    It was important for him to learn about his immediate superior; it would be quite impolite not to even know the man''s name.


    Liu Sangui promptly responded, "Our Chief Officer''s surname is Zheng, Zheng Yuanqiu."


    A shock ran through Shen Qing, and suddenly, an image unbiddenly surfaced in his mind¡­

 Chapter 180: Chapter 6 Bow Technique Break Limit, Every Arrow Hits the Mark!

    Shen Qing, possessing the "Never Forget" Skill, remembered very clearly any book content he had seen, even if he had merely nced over it once.


    That day, he had perused the roster taken from the Huang Tian Sect General, and he remembered that on one page, the name "Zheng Yuanqiu" was conspicuously listed.


    "Zheng Yuanqiu, thirty-five, corpulent, fond of wealth, cultivation at the Dan Realm. He acts swiftly, urately, and ruthlessly, is suspicious, and does not make a move without a foolproof n. Joined the Holy Sect in the second year of Tian Guang, trustworthy," it read.


    Could it be that the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department was actually an angel of the Huang Tian Sect?


    This was too preposterous.


    However, if it was the Chief Officer, sitting in that position would indeed enable him to control the movements of his subordinates and secretlymunicate with Taiping County.


    Upon careful reflection, this possibility could not be eliminated.


    "Lord officers, what is the matter?"


    Shen Qing withdrew his thoughts and calmly said, "It''s nothing."


    "If there''s nothing, then I''ll get back to my duties."


    With that, Liu Sangui no longer lingered in the room and left.


    After sending Liu Sangui away, Shen Qing pondered in the room for a while but still couldn''t be certain.


    Having stayed for about the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, he walked out the door alone.


    As he walked into the courtyard, he detected several faint nces sweeping over him from the rooms on both sides of the courtyard.


    Shen Qing looked around and noticed that several rooms had their doors wide open, and the clerks of the Guardian Martial Department wearing the usual attire curiously nced at him a few times.


    But after a few nces, they withdrew their gaze and continued joking with their subordinates.


    There was neither disdain nor adtion, seemingly indifferent to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing didn''t mind and began to casually stroll around the office of the Guardian Martial Department, familiarizing himself with each department.


    The Guardian Martial Department did not have six offices; it only retained a few clerks responsible for misceneous clerical work such as documents and archives of the Guardian Martial Department.


    As Shen Qing passed by, he happened to see a clerk of the Guardian Martial Department organizing paperwork on the desk.


    With a thought, he entered unnoticeably, pretending to be browsing.


    Noticed by someone, he was dismissed as a new attendant getting familiar with the department.


    Shen Qing''s eyes darted around and finally, among the documents, he found what he wanted to see¡ªZheng Yuanqiu''s handwriting.


    Taking advantage of others not paying attention, he stepped forward, nced over it quickly, then immediately put it back and walked out leisurely with his hands behind his back.


    Upon stepping out of the clerk''s office, Shen Qing''splexion involuntarily darkened.


    It was confirmed.


    The handwriting in Zheng Yuanqiu''s notes matched the handwriting on the letter exactly.


    He was indeed a spy for the Huang Tian Sect!


    His immediate superior was actually a secret agent of the Huang Tian Sect; the waters of the Guardian Martial Department ran deep indeed.


    However, knowing Zheng Yuanqiu''s identity, Shen Qing did not n to act hastily.


    He had just joined the Guardian Martial Department and had not yet established a firm footing; exposing Zheng Yuanqiu''s identity would be disadvantageous and detrimental to himself.


    Even if he spoke out, no one would believe him.


    It was best to keep this matter to himself for now, be aware of it in his heart, and then look for an opportune moment to act.


    ...


    Time flies, and time passes like an arrow.


    In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.


    During this period, Shen Qing hadpletely adapted to life at the Guardian Martial Department.


    He wore the ck beast attire exclusive to the Guardian Martial Department, attending roll calls and patrols daily.


    Apart from catching a few petty thieves, all was peaceful.


    During this time, Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi had also gotten a clear picture of the situation in Yongzhou, and in general, among the Thirteen Lines'' bosses, some were strong like the Zhou Family, reaching upwards to the heavens.


    The weak, such as the Qian Family, had degenerate descendants, stirring up trouble daily, showing a declining trend.


    The overall situation was not as perilous as Wu Sheng had portrayed.


    In Xinyi Square, Shen Qing, carrying a heavy bow and wearing a long sword and an arrow quiver, walked down the street with Liu Sangui and four others, looking imposing.


    Ordinary people who saw him also stepped aside, not daring to act recklessly.


    As usual, after patrolling Xinyi Square, it was soon time to clock off at the Xi hour.


    Shen Qing refused Liu Sangui and the others'' proposal to have drinks, mounted his Zhui Feng Horse, and left the city before dark to an open area in the mountains.


    The sound of the spring water was distant from the hustle and bustle.


    Shen Qing slid down from the horse, patted Zhui Feng, and Zhui Feng snorted, lowering his head and wandering off on his own into the brook.


    With familiarity, Shen Qing took down his well-known Heavy Bow and walked to an open space with his Arrow Quiver.


    He took out an ordinary arrow and aimed at a rock wall ahead, his expression bing extremely focused.


    The city was too cramped to practice archery.


    Now that life had stabilized, he had found a quiet, suitable ce in the mountains outside the city where he came every day to train in Bow Technique or practice other Martial Arts.


    Shen Qing drew the bow, aimed, and released the arrow in one fluid motion.


    With a muffled bang, stone chips scattered, and the iron tipped arrow deeply embedded itself into the rock wall.


    Shen Qing was expressionless as he drew another arrow and repeated the practice.


    The whistling sounds of arrows cutting through the air continuously erupted throughout the forest.


    After numerous repetitions, when Shen Qing once again drew the Heavy Bow, his eyes changed.


    [Skill: Bow Technique (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 502/500]


    [Status: Ready for Advancement]


    [Note: After continuous and persistent harsh training, your Bow Technique has advanced once more, allowing you to break the limits of conventional Bow Technique andprehend the Limit Breaking Technique of the Bow.]


    Finally, it had arrived.


    After countless repetitions of drawing and shooting, Shen Qing had finally filled the progress of his Bow Technique, meeting the conditions for further advancement.


    He licked his lips without any hesitation and focused on the column for Bow Technique, thinking, "Advance."


    As this thought urred to him, the ink character descriptions for Bow Technique began to refresh and change.


    [Skill: Bow Technique (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 2/600]


    [Status: Not avable for upgrade]


    [Note: Heaven rewards the diligent. Through relentless practice, your Bow Technique has broken its limit,prehending the Break Limit Technique "every arrow hits the mark," ensuring every shot hits its target.]


    "Every arrow hits the mark?"


    Shen Qing looked at the information, his body shaking in realization.


    With his Heavy Bow fully drawn, it could pierce iron and stone at two hundred steps, and dislocate bones and tendons at five hundred steps.


    If he could achieve "every arrow hits the mark" even outside of his line of sight, that was indeed quite terrifying.


    As he thought about it, the familiar feeling came again, and countless foreign memories surged forth.


    Fortunately, after so long enduring hardship, both his body and his divine sense had be much more robust, and the previous symptoms of dizziness and blurred vision did not appear again.


    Enduring the difort, Shen Qing slowly digested the memories in his mind.


    After the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, he opened his eyes.


    At that moment, it was as if he had had an epiphany, suddenly feeling an indescribable tacit understanding with the bow as if the bow had be a part of his body, moving at his will.


    Shen Qing''s gaze shifted slightly, activating the skill [sharp eyesight], and spotted the trace of a wild mountain goat five hundred steps away.


    He notched an arrow to the bow without hesitation or aiming.


    Almost like breathing or eating, he instinctively shot an arrow.


    "Swoosh!"


    The arrow flew off the string, with a piercing whistle, turning into a ck light that ripped through the void, directly targeting the mountain goat five hundred steps away.


    "Crack!"


    As the mountain goat bowed its head to graze,pletely unguarded, the arrow arrived instantaneously, inserting itself urately into its heart; the powerful inertia knocked it to the ground.


    In the distance, dusk fell, and thest traces of sunset were gradually swallowed by the greedy darkness.


    Shen Qing sprinted forward, looking at the dying mountain goat with a trace of joy, "Tonight there will be an extra dish."

 Chapter 181: Chapter 7: Huang Tian Sects Plot, Spirit Mechanism Land

    "You take your team this way, and the rest of you head up that mountain."


    On the post roads outside Taiping County, a man wearing a yellow cloth on his head loudlymanded.


    Following his order, dozens of disciples of the Huangtian Sect in front of him split into two teams, entering the deep mountains.


    Among the many disciples of the Huangtian Sect searching the mountains, Shen Xiaohu, who had been forced to join the sect, was conspicuously present.


    The two teams quickly disappeared into the vastness of the mountains.


    The sun shone brightly overhead, casting dappled light through the forest.


    A team of disciples of the Huangtian Sect wove through the forest, searching around as they followed the terrain.


    As they ventured deeper, the surroundings gradually became more deste.


    After walking for who knows how long, with the sun growing more scorching, many werepletely exhausted, panting heavily.


    Even Shen Xiaohu, who had some training in Martial Arts, was now so tired his whole body ached.


    Sweat streamed down his dark face, falling to the ground where it was instantly absorbed by the earth, silent and traceless.


    "What in this damn weather are we even looking for?"


    A disciple of the Huangtian Sect couldn''t help butin, his voice echoing in the empty mountain valley.


    The oldest brother in the team halted, turned around, and cast a sharp nce at theining disciple, his expression suddenly stern as he asked, "Junior Brother, are you expressing dissatisfaction with the True Master of the Huang Tian? Are you dissatisfied with the sect?"


    Theining disciple''s face went pale, and seeing the other''s severe gaze, he quickly exined, "I... I''m just delirious from the heat, talking nonsense. I have no disrespect or irreverence towards the sect."


    "Hmph¡­" The older brother snorted coldly, "Being able to join the sect, understanding life and previous lives, breaking through delusion ¨C this is an immense blessing. You must not harbor ill intentions or cken your resolve."


    "If themanders sent us here, there must be a good reason. Perhaps this contains the opportunity for us to achieve longevity or ascend to Heavenly Qi. It''s your chance ¨C why not seize it properly?"


    Theining disciple nodded repeatedly like a pecking hen, "Thank you for the reminder, Elder Brother."


    The elder brother surveyed the surrounding disciples and noticed that after climbing over ridges and sweeping through the forest, fatigue was written all over everyone''s faces.


    He felt they needed to rest on the spot.


    Just as he was about to speak, a sharp-eyed member of the team suddenly discovered a spring and cried out, "Look, there''s a spring up ahead!"


    Hearing this, the others followed his pointing finger and indeed, they saw clear spring water bubbling up from several springs.


    With faces lit up with joy, they rushed over without waiting for anyone else to prompt them, greedily drinking the sweet bounty of nature.


    Shen Xiaohu was not to be outdone; he shouldered his way through the crowd, dropped to the ground, and scooped up the spring water, gulping it down thirstily.


    As the spring water hit his tongue, a wave of coolness instantly spread through his body, making him feel refreshed all over.


    "Is the spring water good?"


    "Yes, it''s sweet."


    A Huangtian Sect disciple with a yellow cloth bound around his arm looked up to see a hunter-dressed man looking at him with a half-smiling, half-menacing gaze that made his skin crawl.


    "Who are you? I don''t think I''ve seen you before?"


    "Hehe... you''ll find out who I am soon enough."


    As the disciple looked on puzzled, the hunter''s eyes turned blood-red, and tiger whiskers sprouted inexplicably on his face; then he pounced forward, plunging into the disciple''s body.


    There was a shimmer, and then the figure of light darted out again.


    The Huangtian Sect disciple trembled, his face drained of color, and his expression froze.


    A momentter, he copsed to the ground, startling those around him.


    "Hey, what''s wrong with you?"


    Suddenly, just as they finished speaking, they noticed a man standing beside them who hadn''t been there before, and they couldn''t help but look up.


    "You are..."


    "Aaah!"


    A scream rang out among the crowd.


    Shen Xiaohu, who was intently drinking from the spring, was drawn by the scream and hastily turned his head to look.


    Amidst the chaos, he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure and his face changed dramatically, "Chen Fu!"


    Shen Xiaohu remembered clearly, when they moved away from Hongshan Vige, many hunters had not left.


    In the end, all the hunters who had not left were killed by the tiger demon.


    Chen Fu was among these people.


    He was clearly already dead, so why was he appearing here in these deste mountains and forests?


    Shen Xiaohu saw that Chen Fu''s figure was erratic, like a ghost, and his face turned pale with fright, realizing what was happening, he shouted, "Run, there''s a Ghost!"


    No sooner had he spoken than he disregarded everyone else and started running for his life.


    "Huh?"


    Chen Fu had been very cautious and had not expected to be discovered.


    Seeing that he''d been exposed, and while others were still clueless, he no longer concealed his form and began a massacre, crudely devouring the Essence Qi of these people.


    Soon, these people also came to their senses and started to run away in all directions, screaming desperately.


    Leading the way, Shen Xiaohu frantically ran without choosing his path, rampaging through the forest.


    After braving through countless brambles, just as Shen Xiaohu waspletely distraught, the forest in front of him abruptly gave way.


    A sight he had never seen before suddenly unfolded before his eyes.


    Old trees, majestic and ancient, towered skyward; des of grass, exquisitely vibrant, danced with spirit; the air was filled with a faint fragrance that rejuvenated the mind upon a single whiff.


    Shen Xiaohu''s face lit up with joy. Could this be the ce of Spirit Essence that Commander had sent them to find?!


    "Who are you? How did youe to our ce?"


    Before him, an ethereal voice emerged out of nowhere, startling Shen Xiaohu.


    "Who, who''s talking?"


    "I asked you first, who are you?" A tiny squirrel climbed down from a tree, its eyes filled with curiosity, constantly turning to size up Shen Xiaohu.


    "A demon!"


    Shen Xiaohu was startled and quickly took out a Yellow Paper Crane from his bosom, which was fluttering about, trying to escape.


    The moment he let go, the Yellow Paper Crane transformed into a stream of light, streaking across the sky like a shooting star.


    The former government office of Taiping County had been upied by the high-ranking members of the Huang Tian Sect.


    A man with thick hair and beard sat in the high seat, saying, "Although we have blocked several onughts from the Ji Family''s dogs, they certainly will not give up easily, and I need to hold on for a while longer. At the very least, we must ensure that we find the Spirit Mechanism Land and collect the Heavenly Qi."


    "Commander, the rich in Taiping County have already been robbed by us, and the official warehouses and granaries have been distributed. Our morale is high, and no matter how many times their dogse, we will surely make them return without sess."


    "Hmm."


    Whoosh!


    Just at that moment, a Yellow Paper Crane came flying in,nding on the shoulder of the Huang Tian Sect Commander and whispered in his ear.


    The Huang Tian Sect Commander stood up excitedly and dered, "The Spirit Mechanism Land has been found, everyone follow me quickly."


    After speaking, he formed hand gestures, and the Yellow Paper Crane led the way with agility, flying out of the government office.


    With a thought, the Huang Tian Sect Commander was enveloped in surging True Qi, transforming into a ray of rainbow light that eagerly followed the paper crane, vanishing in a sh.


    The other members of the Huang Tian Sect in the government office were also excited and hurriedly followed.


    About the time it takes to drink a pot of tea had passed.


    Just as Shen Xiaohu was feeling uneasy, facing off against the squirrel demon and worried about the Ghost, the Huang Tian Sect Commander suddenly charged to his side.


    Thetter appeared as if out of thin air, startling him, and he plopped to the ground.


    Upon recognizing it was the Commander, Shen Xiaohu quickly steadied his emotions, pressed his wildly pounding heart, and knelt on the ground, "I''ve seen the Commander."


    The Huang Tian Sect Commander paid no attention to Shen Xiaohu''s words, his eyes were fixed on the spirited nts in front of him, excitedly saying, "Such vigorous Spiritual Energy, this is the Spirit Mechanism Land! I knew it, this demon couldn''t have appeared out of nowhere, there must be and graced with Spirit Mechanism nearby. Hahaha, with this, even giving up Taiping County would not be a loss."

 Chapter 182: Chapter 8 The Air of the Vast Sky, Traces of Demons Reappear

    The Huang Tian Sect Commander looked at Shen Xiaohu kneeling on the ground and said with delight,


    "You found it?"


    Shen Xiaohu, having never faced such an important figure before, became extremely nervous.


    At that moment, the image of Shen Qing couldn''t help but appear in his mind.


    In his memory, Shen Qing, no matter whom he faced or what he encountered, always remained calm, his emotions never showing, as if he had everything under control.


    Compared to him, he was far behind.


    However, having Shen Qing as a role model, Shen Xiaohu felt a surge of strength within him.


    He controlled the unease in his heart and replied,


    "I found it by chance."


    "Excellent, excellent. Others have searched for so long without sess, yet you managed to find it. This shows that you have great destiny," the Huang Tian Sect Commander said with augh after calcting with his fingers, "This is a good omen. You are fated with our Huang Tian Sect. From today onwards, you will be one of our Saints. After some time, follow me back to Huang Tian Sacred Mountain to cultivate our Holy Sect''s teachings."


    Shen Xiaohu''s expression changed to one of surprise; he had not expected the Huang Tian Sect Commander to hold him in such high regard.


    He had originally nned that, once he safely left the mountains, he would secretly leave Taiping County for Yongzhou to find his parents and siblings.


    If they took him to some Huang Tian Sacred Mountain, God knows where, it might be ages before he could see his parents again.


    Seeing Shen Xiaohu''s hesitant and unsure expression, the Huang Tian Sect Commander said,


    "What''s the matter, you''re not willing?"


    The awe-inspiring aura of an Innate Martial Master was immediately bestowed upon Shen Xiaohu, causing his limbs to touch the ground.


    Shen Xiaohu''s face turned deathly pale, knowing his hesitation had displeased the other party. He hurriedly spoke up,


    "I am willing, I ampletely willing. My nature is dull and I was shocked by the news, unsure of how to respond, hence my hesitation. I hope for the Commander''s forgiveness¡­"


    The Huang Tian Sect Commander withdrew his imposing pressure, his face brightening slightly.


    His gaze shifted andnded on the shivering squirrel demon.


    Thetter, realizing the Commander''s gaze was fixed on it, its fur bristling, quickly climbed up a tree to escape, muttering to itself in a low voice as it ran, "I''m going to die, I''m going to die, this person is terrifying."


    The Commander paid no attention to the insignificant demon, turning his gaze back to the front.


    Shortly after, the upper echelons of the Huang Tian Sect in Taiping County arrived one after another. Seeing the forest that was distinct from the rest, they couldn''t help but show excitement on their faces.


    The Huang Tian Sect Commander waved his hand and said,


    "We must not dy, let us quickly collect the Heavenly Qi of this ce to prevent any changes."


    "Agreed."


    The others didn''t hesitate either, moving as if they had rehearsed many times, each shing into position to form a seven-star formation.


    Each of them closed their eyes to focus, forming seals with both hands, quietly chantingplex and difficult spells, their bodies radiating bright yellow lights, resonating with the Heaven and Earth Essence around them.


    As the time was right, the Huang Tian Sect Commander took out a stack of talismans and tossed them upward.


    The dozens of talismans, as if guided by someone, spontaneously formed into a void sphere.


    "Heaven above, Huang Tian below, open!"


    With their unified shout,


    space seemed to be torn apart by an invisible force, a faint but clearly visible crack slowly appearing in front of them, congregating in the center of the talisman-formed sphere.


    From a distance, it looked like the eye of a deity, slowly opening.


    In that instant, a pure and immense aura overflowed from the crack, the "Heavenly Qi" transcending the mortal realm.


    A gleam passed through the eyes of the Huang Tian Sect members as they stared intently at the pure and immense aura.


    As this aura appeared, all nts within the area seemed to be reborn, growing at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    The squirrel hiding in the treetop, along with the other animals around, all instinctively absorbed this aura.


    Even Shen Xiaohu, standing outside the group, inadvertently inhaled a few breaths and felt impurities seeping out from his pores, making him feel lighter.


    The Commander of the Huang Tian Sect swiftly activated all his cultivation and brought out a jade talisman, employing the unique "Qiankun Storage Skill" of the Huang Tian Sect to slowly draw that wisp of precious Heavenly Qi into the specially crafted magical artifact.


    He stared intently at the jade talisman hovering in mid-air.


    Soon, as more and more Heavenly Qi was collected, the torn space began to close slowly.


    After the space rift closed, all talismans turned into ash with a dull poof sound.


    Everything returned to the way it was.


    Shen Xiaohu and all the other living beings, as if awakening from a dream.


    The Commander of the Huang Tian Sect reached out for the jade talisman and, feeling the powerful force contained within, was overwhelmed with indescribable excitement.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, the Heavenly Qi is key to our Holy Sect''s rise in the future. Now that we have gathered this wisp of Heavenly Qi, we have taken another step closer to longevity," he said.


    The tired high-ranking members of the Huang Tian Sect were ecstatic.


    "Now that Taiping County has been almostpletely scavenged by us and the Heavenly Qi has been secured, we should hold this ce if possible; if not, we''ll retreat and prepare to return to the Holy Mountain."


    "We will follow the Commander''s orders," they all replied.


    "Good, let''s go."


    The Commander of the Huang Tian Sect grabbed Shen Xiaohu by the cor and turned into a rainbow light, flying away into the sky.


    After his departure, momentster, the vibrant grasses on the ground began to tremble, pulling their roots out of the soil to form two legs and running wildly everywhere, disappearing in the blink of an eye.


    Following the grass, the towering ancient trees also started to move, shaking their branches as they traveled underground.


    In the blink of an eye, the Spirit Mechanism Land became deste, devoid of any life force or Spirit Essence.


    In the mountains and forests.


    With a scream, Chen Fu finished consuming the Essence Qi of an entire person and showed a look ofplete satisfaction.


    Ever since he freed himself from the tiger demon''s control, he inexplicably enjoyed devouring the Essence Qi of people. As the number of his victims increased, he felt an unprecedented sense of freedom, as if he were capable of anything.


    "I''ll go back to that forest and take a nap, digesting what I consumed today. When I wake up, my cultivation will surely have improved rapidly," he thought.


    Chen Fu, content and joyful, hurried back to his destination.


    As a ghost, his figure was ethereal and elusive, and he quickly returned to his familiar cultivation spot.


    However, when he arrived, he was stunned.


    The ground in front of him looked as though it had been plowed several times over, with the soil turned inside out and devoid of any life.


    Chen Fu, nowpletely baffled as a ghost, remained frozen.


    What had happened?


    "Chief Officer, demons have caused trouble," someone reported.


    In Yongzhou County, Shen Qing, who had recently improved in Bow Technique, was patrolling as usual with Guan Yunjian, Uncle Shu, and Jiang Dacong.


    Shortly after setting out, Liu Sangui hurried over to find Shen Qing and the others.


    "The Lord Chief Officer has ordered us to return immediately for furthermands," he reported.


    Shen Qing raised an eyebrow at the mention of demons, not daring to dy or dawdle.


    He quickly called out to the others, "Let''s go."


    Without dy, Shen Qing led the group at a faster pace.


    By the time he arrived back at the Guardian Martial Department Office, the first squad of officers and constables had already fully assembled.

 Chapter 183: Chapter 9: The Baili Village Tragedy

    Shen Qing nced at the first group of officers from the Guardian Martial Department gathered in the courtyard, his gaze settling on a young man.


    He was surrounded by many officers as if he were the moon encircled by a host of stars.


    This man was the group leader of the Guardian Martial Department''s first team, a concubine-born son from the high-ranking Dong Family of Yongzhou, Dong Jing.


    It was said that at the mere age of sixteen, he had already broken through to the Qi Hai Realm and, before long, was likely to condense his Yu Luo.


    With such cultivation talent, even among his peers in the Dong Family, he was considered one of the front-runners.


    However, due to his birth, no matter his cultivation level, he couldn''t inherit the family business or hold an official position elsewhere; instead, he turned to the Guardian Martial Department to be an officer and seek a way out.


    As if sensing Shen Qing''s eyes on him, he nced over indifferently, as casually as one would look at a stranger, and then looked away.


    Shen Qing lowered his head and led his subordinates over the threshold into the courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department Office, maintaining a low profile.


    Because of Sixth Group''s lower status and rtiveck of strength within the Guardian Martial Department, they weren''t well-regarded by the other patrol teams; Shen Qing and his men quietly took their ce at the very end of the queue ording to the team order.


    In this time, Shen Qing observed that within the Guardian Martial Department Office, the other five patrol teams each formed their own cliques, deliberately excluding the Sixth Group.


    Having joined the Guardian Martial Department for a month, Shen Qing had almost no interaction with them and was nearly invisible in their eyes, devoid of any presence.


    Fortunately, Shen Qing had a clear goal and maintained the right mindset, unaffected by the situation.


    Otherwise, such a working environment could indeed feel quite oppressive.


    After staying in the courtyard for a while, the other several patrol teams arrived one after another.


    The previously quiet courtyard became noisy.


    The courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department was notrge, and these people did not seem to be avoiding him in any way.


    The contents of their conversations were still clearly overheard by Shen Qing.


    "Something happened at Baili Vige outside the city, a lot of people died."


    "Was it the work of that demon?"


    "You guessed it?"


    "Tch,tely the most rampant demon around here is none other than that one."


    Listening to the discussions, Shen Qing frowned and asked Liu Sangui, "Baili Vige sounds very familiar, is it our area to patrol?"


    With a bitter face, Liu Sangui replied, "It''s the area outside the city that our Sixth Group is responsible for patrolling. We normally patrol once a month, and I didn''t expect such an incident to ur."


    No sooner had he finished speaking than the faces of Jiang Dacong, Guan Yunjian, and Uncle Shu also turned sour.


    For some reason, the demons were bing smarter.


    They had suffered quite a few defeats at the hands of these demons, usually returning without sess and with little to show.


    The thought of a troublesome demon appearing in their patrol area put everyone in a rather bad mood.


    After a while, the Lord Chief Officer, Zheng Yuanqiu with hisrge belly, came out.


    He nced over at the people in front of him and said, "Has everyone arrived?"


    The team leader of the first group, Dong Jing, sped his hands in salute and said with his head bowed, "Reporting to the Lord Chief Officer, all seven members of the first group are present."


    "Second group..."


    ...


    "Sixth group, five members present."


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s expression softened slightly, and without a desire for a long speech, he issued hismand tersely, "I''ve just received a report; a murder incident has urred at Baili Vige, the work of a demon. I remember this area falls under the jurisdiction of the Sixth Group. You are given three days to capture this demon, and if you fail, your official sry for this month will be halved."


    Upon hearing this order, Liu Sangui and the others appeared to have grown ustomed to such expectations, revealing expressions that seemed to say, "as expected."


    "The other teams will assist the Sixth Group in solving the case," Zheng Yuanqiu''s gaze suddenly sharpened, sweeping over the crowd with an invisible aura of authority emanating from him. His voice suddenly raised as he said, "Have you all heard me clearly?"


    "Yes, clear!" the people in the courtyard replied in a disordered chorus.


    Zheng Yuanqiu barked, "If it''s clear, then what are you all doing standing around here? Get moving and investigate for me!"


    Shen Qing felt somewhat displeased in his heart, but he did not stick his neck out to defy Zheng Yuanqiu, following the crowd he echoed, "Yes."


    There was a burst of chaos in the vast courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department, everyone pushing towards the main gate, scattering in all directions.


    Many officers dashed out of the entrance of the county government of the Guardian Martial Department, and upon looking back and seeing that the Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu had already departed, they rxed and left, hooking arms and chuckling amongst themselves.


    They did not take Zheng Yuanqiu''s orders to heart at all.


    In their view, since the demon appeared in the Sixth Group''s territory, it was only natural for the lowly skins of the Sixth Group to deal with it; it was their emergency.


    After all, it was not their defense area, nor was it their official sry at risk, so it had nothing to do with them.


    Walking behind them, Shen Qing watched their departing figures without any surprise in his heart.


    Since ancient times, everyone has only swept the snow from their own doorstep, never bothering about the frost on others'' roofs.


    He had no kinship or reason to associate with these high-ranking disciples; therefore, they naturally would not kindly help him out.


    After a moment of silence, Shen Qing said to Liu Sangui, "Has our chief officer always worked like this? Docking our sry at the drop of a hat?"


    Liu Sangui replied with a bitter smile, "Officer Shen is unaware, our Chief Officer has a well-known problem."


    "What problem?"


    "Greedy for wealth and lustful for beauty," said Liu Sangui, lowering his voice, "Now that the Chief Officer is older, his interest in women has waned quite a bit, leaving only his greed for wealth. If we do not perform well, the deducted official sries go right into his pocket. This is an unwritten rule within the Guardian Martial Department¡ªeveryone is long ustomed to it."


    "Sir, if you stay longer, you will naturally understand."


    After hearing this, Shen Qing formed a more concrete impression of the Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu.


    "Let''s go; let''s see what exactly is happening in Baili Vige," he said.


    Having said that, he entered the stable, leading out his prized steed, while Liu Sangui and his subordinates went to the stable toplete some procedures.


    Liu Sangui and the others did not have their own horses, and when they went out on official business, they generally used the horses of the Military Department.


    The horses they were given were aged and slow, but they sufficed.


    Once everyone was ready, Shen Qing, mounted on his steed, discerned the direction and led his subordinates to gallop towards Baili Vige.


    Dong Jing from the First Group was thest to leave the Guardian Martial Department, instructing his subordinates: "Notify the brothers to prepare; we''re heading to Baili Vige shortly."


    His apanying officers, confused, asked, "Officer Dong, are we going to help that new lowlife?"


    "Hmm? Just prepare when I tell you to. Why all the pointless chatter!" Dong Jing''s expression chilled as he spoke, "Are you waiting to take orders from me?"


    The officer he reprimanded quickly shrank his neck, not daring to say more and hurried with the other officers to prepare.


    Others may not be aware, but Dong Jing was very clear about the situation.


    He had already found out that this newly arrived Commander was not like the drunkards in the county government; he was a man of swift action and clear rewards and punishments, and especially abhorred demons intensely.


    If he knew the Chief Officer had failed to eliminate the demon, he would without a doubt fly into a rage, and the Chief Officer would not be able to walk away unscathed.


    This was his opportunity.


    If he could gain some achievements, he would be able to turn the tide in front of the Chief Officer and earn favor with both supervisors, which would greatly benefit his career advancement.


    He knew that as a child born to a concubine, despite the outward mor, he could not expect a penny of the Dong Family''s wealth due to his mother''s lowly status.


    If he wanted to avoid a miserable end in his old age, he needed to seek multiple ways forward and aspirations for progress.


    As a Martial Artist in the Innate Realm, if the Commander was willing to take him under his wing, it was undoubtedly a strong support.


    Shortly after Shen Qing, Dong Jing also led his group of officers toward Baili Vige at a breakneck pace.


    Outside Yongzhou City.


    A team of five riders galloped past.


    The leader, with a dark Heavy Bow and an Arrow Quiver on his horse, led boldly at the front.


    "Officer Shen, up ahead is Baili Vige¡ªwe''re almost there!"


    Far away, Shen Qing seemed to smell a strong scent of blood and became stern. He whipped his horse fiercely: "Go!"

 Chapter 184: Chapter 10 Punishment

    Baili Vige, by its name, implies that it is a town situated approximately a hundred Li from Yongzhou.


    However, this ''hundred Li'' is not precisely urate.


    If measured by the actual distance, it is roughly about seventy Li, which trantes today to approximately thirty kilometers.


    Shen Qing, urging his horse swiftly, had arrived in the vicinity within a matter of minutes.


    At that moment, the thick, almost indissipensible smell of blood overwhelmed the air.


    Shen Qing''s eyebrows twitched as he instinctively encouraged his men to quicken their pace.


    "Hush!"


    Shen Qing halted his horse and stared intently ahead, where a corpse was carelessly thrown by the roadside.


    The corpsey with its back up and face down, the center of its back appeared as though shed by sharp ws, sketching the silhouette of a wingless eagle.


    The flesh on both sides was sliced open, the rib bones were fractured, and the ribs were turned inside out along with the flesh, forming a pair of bone wings spread as if to fly.


    The blood-red bone wings, together with the earlier mark of the wingless eagle, resembled a gruesome "Blood Eagle."


    Upon seeing this corpse, Liu Sangui and the others'' faces paled, and almost instantly recognized it: "This is trouble; it really is it!"


    Shen Qing turned his head and asked, "This ''it'' you mention, who is it?"


    "A mature Eagle Demon."


    "Eagle Demon?"


    Jiang Dacong, Guan Yunjian, and Uncle Shu''s expressions turned even grimmer upon seeing the corpse.


    "Lord officer, you may not be aware, but this Eagle Demon hasmitted offenses here not once or twice. After each incident, it leaves behind a corpse like this. After consuming the person, it spreads its wings and flies deep into the mountains, which makes it extremely troublesome. Even the entire Guardian Martial Department has been unable to handle it."


    Shen Qing listened quietly, pondering in his heart.


    As described by Guan Yunjian and the others, if it was a demon that could fly, indeed, these men would be helpless.


    "Let''s go have a look first."


    With a solemn expression, Shen Qing tightened his grip on the horse, leading the way into Baili Vige.


    Baili Vige has roughly a few dozen households, which is somewhatrger than an ordinary vige, and contains many taverns and stands to cater to traveling merchants looking for rest.


    However, many rooftops were torn off now, walls copsed, beams broken, having turned into ruins.


    "Stay close, everyone be careful," Liu Sangui called out from behind.


    Jiang Dacong, Guan Yunjian, and Uncle Shu instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons, closely following behind.


    As Shen Qing entered Baili Vige, he was met with debris scattered everywhere.


    Demons consume humans.


    Shen Qing looked around; not a single intact body could be found, not even the internal organs were left untouched.


    The ground was covered in vast patches of dark red blood and signs of struggle.


    If one looked closely, they would notice many w marks and pecking traces on these remnants, even an infant with its skull cap lifted,pletely hollow inside.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but recall the scene he had witnessed in the vige, identical to this one.


    As Shen Qing and his men delved deeper, the scene underwent many changes.


    More fragments of bodies appeared.


    Upon careful observation, eyes, ears scattered on the ground, with patience, one could even piece together an entire body, though many vital areas remained uneaten.


    This suggested that the Eagle Demon initially killed only to feed, butter, having satiated its hunger, it killed these people merely for the pleasure of ughter.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but develop a profound hatred for this Eagle Demon.


    Guan Yunjian and others looked at the corpses scattered all over the ground, and scenes like this had bemonce to them, causing no great stir deep within their hearts.


    Only one thing made them somewhat worried.


    "If it''s the Eagle Demon, the Lord Chief Officer has ordered us to capture it within three days. If the Guardian Martial Department can''t handle it, where can we go to kill this Eagle Demon? This month''s official sry is bound to be half of what it usually is."


    "How about we stick to the old rules then?"


    "What old rules?" Shen Qing turned his head and asked.


    Uncle Shu spoke naturally, "What happened here, we don''t say it was the Eagle Demon. Who knows if it was the Eagle Demon''s doing? Fortunately, I know a few thugs. We could kill them and im they did it. Wouldn''t that solve the problem?"


    After hearing this, Shen Qing''s face remained impassive as he asked, "Is this what you''ve been doing before?"


    "Not always, but we do have experience with this kind of thing. When the timees, we''ll set the ce on fire, eliminating all evidence. No one will know. If the Eagle Demon strikes again, as long as it''s not in our area of responsibility, others will have to deal with the headache."


    After finishing, Uncle Shu still wore a smug look, as though he took great pride in this arrangement.


    "Killing innocents and taking credit, and you seem quite pleased?" Shen Qing''s nce made it more of a retort.


    "Huh?" Uncle Shu, seeing the look in Shen Qing''s eyes, shivered all over, involuntarily furrowing his brow.


    The next moment, before he could react, a sudden burst of Qi forcefully struck his lower abdomen.


    The overwhelming strength exploded in his belly, throwing Uncle Shu into the air like a battered sack caught in a fierce wind, heavily falling to the ground amid a cloud of dust, ending up in a sorry state.


    Guan Yunjian and Jiang Dacong, among others, witnessed this scene and cried out in shock.


    Shen Qing slowly withdrew his hand and coldly warned, "If you ever consider doing such a thing in front of me again, it won''t just result in an injury."


    Fire appeared in Uncle Shu''s eyes, and he became uncontrobly furious.


    I kindly suggested an idea, and you have the nerve to strike?


    What are you pretending to be so righteous for?


    Just as Uncle Shu was about to erupt, Guan Yunjian quickly stepped forward, helped him up, and pinched him hard on the arm.


    Catching Guan Yunjian''s eye, he instantly got the hint and suppressed his anger.


    Standing up, Uncle Shu together with several others chorused, "Yes, Lord Officer."


    Liu Sangui stepped forward and asked, "Lord, what should we do next?"


    Shen Qing mounted his horse and inquired, "Where does the Eagle Demon usually roam?"


    "I know a ce," Liu Sangui hurriedly said. "I''ll lead the way for the Lord right now."


    "Good."


    Liu Sangui hurriedly mounted his horse and spurred it forward.


    Shen Qing followed closely behind.


    Watching Shen Qing''s gradually receding figure, Jiang Dacong couldn''t help but blurt out, "Is he... really thinking about finding that Eagle Demon?"


    "With just him?"


    Rubbing his belly, Uncle Shu filled with disdain for Shen Qing: "Damn, what a pretender. Only he''s the good guy, and we''re all miserable officials. Bah, once he experiences the trouble of the Eagle Demon, he''ll understand what true despair is! Then I''d like to see if he can still be as arrogant."


    The Eagle Demon has always been Concealing between rugged mountains and ridges. Even if they find it, it will just fly off with a p of its wings, and they won''t catch up even on horseback, let alone capture it.


    Moreover, the Eagle Demon holds grudges. If it remembers them, they''re in for trouble.


    "Stop talking, let''s hurry up," Jiang Dacong urged.


    She mounted her horse and quickly caught up.


    Uncle Shu spat out a thick wad of phlegm, his face full of hatred as he mounted his horse: "I really want to see just how big of a wave you, Shen Chasi, can make, let''s go!"

 Chapter 185: Chapter 11: Bending the Bow to Shoot the Eagle Demon, the Heavy Arrow Decides the Fate!

    "Were those guys who just passed by from the Sixth Group?"


    On a government road outside the city, Dong Jing saw Shen Qing and the others sh by in the distance and couldn''t help but feel puzzled.


    "It''s those lowlifes," an officer following him replied obsequiously as he stepped forward.


    Dong Jing pondered for a moment and then instructed, "A few of you go check out the situation at Baili Vige, the rest wille with me."


    "Yes."


    With a flick of the reins, Dong Jing chased after Shen Qing in the distance.


    No matter what, the Sixth Group had gone to investigate the Baili Vige massacre and must have some leads by now.


    Following them might bring about some gains.


    ...


    Shen Qing rode swiftly and, guided by Liu Sangui, arrived near a dpidated and deserted Taoist temple.


    From the temple''s location, towering peaks could be seen piercing the sky all around. A raging river snaked through the valley below.


    "Lord officer, we''re here," Liu Sangui pointed toward a cliff behind the temple and said, "The locals often saw that Eagle Demon around here. Only, after several attacks by the demon, people stoppeding. Now, we don''t even know if it''s still here."


    Shen Qing remained silent, perched on his horseback with his eyes narrowed, gazing intently around.


    Under the azure sky, a few scattered clouds floated, empty of anything else.


    At that moment, the sound of horse hooves came from behind, and Jiang Dacong and the others had followed as well.


    Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu exchanged a nce when they saw Shen Qing looking around cluelessly, a schadenfreude smirk appearing on their faces.


    "The Eagle Demon is like seeing a dragon''s head but not its tail; what are the odds of encountering it? Do they really think Eagle Demons are so easy to find?"


    As they were thinking this, they saw a dark shadow streak across the sky and heard the cry of an eagle, immediately drawing everyone''s attention.


    Under the azure sky, a demon that was neither human nor eagle circled above their heads.


    This Eagle Demon, over ten feet tall, was covered in ck feathers that were close-knit andyered heavily.


    Its outstretched wings were even wider, spanning thirty feet, like dark clouds covering the sky.


    Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu''s faces tensed up.


    Could it be that they actually encountered the Eagle Demon here?


    Everyone looked up carefully upon hearing the sound, and spotted the sharp and curved beak, still dripping with fresh blood.


    This Eagle Demon had already spotted them, its avian features merging strangely with human-like contours on its face, forming a mocking smile as if toying with prey.


    Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu, unable to ept their fate, thought to themselves, "Even if we are lucky to run into this Eagle Demon, what can we do? We have not reached the Innate level, unable to wield the rainbow light, and we are still powerless against this bird. If the Prefectural Governor from the government office and other lords were to take action, perhaps there would be a chance."


    Compared to the tension of Guan Yunjian, Uncle Shu, and the others, Liu Sangui, who had seen many storms, appeared quite calm at this moment.


    He couldn''t help but look towards Shen Qing.


    This man, their newly appointed officer for barely more than a month, now wore an expression of excitement on his face.


    "As the saying goes, ''early arrival isn''t as good as timing.'' This really saves me a lot of effort," Shen Qing remarked.


    As he spoke, he took down the dark iron Heavy Bow and dark iron Arrow from the horseback and silently nocked it onto the bowstring.


    He flexed his arm, pulling the Heavy Bow to its full extent, aiming toward the heavens.


    The Eagle Demon circling in the sky had sharp eyesight; it saw Shen Qing below, drawing the bow and readying the arrow and gave a human-like sneer.


    "To think this broken bow and arrow could kill me is just wishful thinking."


    The Eagle Demon turned its body, folding its wings and conjuring a gust of ck wind as it plummeted toward the forest beneath the cliff. It vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.


    "It''s escaping!"


    Guan Yunjian, Uncle Shu, and the others saw the Eagle Demon take off and eximed, "Lord officer, the Eagle Demon has left. We should hurry and report to the Lord Chief Officer so he can make a decision. The Eagle Demon is not something we can handle."


    "Leaving?" Shen Qing scoffed, "Did I allow it to leave?"


    The Eagle Eye Skill was activated.


    Instantly, Shen Qing''s mind filled with the features of the surrounding peaks.


    Roaring rivers, trees thick enough to embrace, mottled rocks...


    A myriad of fractured images continually reassembled, gradually forming a bird''s-eye panoramic view.


    The gaze of Shen Qing plummeted as the sharp eyesight skill was activated.


    In the midst of obscurity, he seemed to have captured with uncanny uracy, a fleeting shadow hovering in the depths of the forest.


    A slight smile involuntarily crept up the corners of Shen Qing''s mouth.


    In an instant, his eyes suddenly condensed; his fingers abruptly released their hold.


    The bowstring, tense to its utmost limit, trembled and issued a clear and stirring explosive sound.


    A dark iron Heavy Arrow, like a bolt of lightning, shot forth with a piercing whiz, cutting across the sky, directly aiming at a certain point in the void.


    The Eagle Demon, wandering through the mountains, felt a sense of self-satisfaction at the time.


    Ever since it had relied on its innate ability to control the wind and roamed freely across the world, making its way near Yongzhou County, it had alwayse and gone as it pleased.


    The members of the Human n in the areas outside the city werepletely unable to do anything to it.


    In its eyes, the gatherings of the Human n outside the city were no different from granaries, ready to be used whenever it wished.


    "Once I devour enough flesh and blood, my cultivation will certainly progress. How can those Four-legged Demonspare to me? The throne of the King of Demons must surely be mine."


    Thinking of this, the Eagle Demon swelled with excitement and almost couldn''t help but let out a triumphant howl to the heavens.


    It shot up from the ground, suddenly bursting out from the depths of the forest with an unstoppable force.


    Thwack!


    Just as the Eagle Demon burst out of the forest, it abruptly heard the sharp, ear-piercing sound of an Arrow cleaving through the air.


    Turning its head to look, it saw a dark iron Heavy Arrow, carrying an air of invincibility, speeding directly toward it.


    Bow Technique''s Limit-Breaking Skill, every arrow hits the mark!


    The distance of three hundred meters was well within the maximum lethal range of a Heavy Bow.


    Without the slightest hesitation or obstruction, in the astonished gaze of the Eagle Demon, the heavy arrow pierced through its feathers as tough as iron, erupting with a muffled sound of flesh and blood ripping apart.


    The dark iron Heavy Arrow, with its unstoppable momentum, bored through the Eagle Demon''s body, leaving a trail of blood and shattered bones along its path, and made a ghastly gaping hole.


    A sh of disbelief swept through the Eagle Demon''s eyes; its massive body violently shook, releasing a painful scream that echoed to the heavens.


    "To think a mere human should die, I''ll eat you alive!"


    The Life Force of a demon is exceedingly robust.


    Even after being pierced by an Arrow, the Eagle Demon had not lost its life or the power to move.


    It pped its wings, swooping straight toward Shen Qing, intending to tear this diminutive human into shreds.


    But before it got far, several dark iron Heavy Arrows came flying from behind, as if anticipating the Eagle Demon''s movements, shooting toward it with precision.


    The Eagle Demon''s pupils contracted sharply as it suddenly realized it had guessed wrong, and a wave of terror overcame it instantly.


    Thwack, thwack, thwack...


    Numerous dark iron Heavy Arrows prated its demon body one after another, turning it into a sieve.


    The Eagle Demon looked down at the various bloody holes in its body in disbelief: "Mercy..."


    "Mercy? Now?" Shen Qing, without haste, notched another heavy arrow and cast a casual nce ahead: "Toote!"


    The heavy arrow shot forth, exploding the Eagle Demon''s head upon impact.


    Sshes of crimson blood sprayed continuously from the sky, like a rain of blood.


    The headless Eagle Demon''s massive body slid through the air before crashing heavily to the ground not far from Shen Qing, kicking up a ten-foot-high cloud of dust.


    All was silent.


    Shen Qing, with an indifferent expression, re-mounted the Heavy Bow on his horse and nonchntly said to Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu behind him, "Do I have to do the dirty work as well?"


    Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu, along with others startled from their shock, couldn''t believe it.


    They couldn''tprehend how Shen Qing had so effortlessly in the Eagle Demon, one of the most troublesome creatures dealt with by the Guardian Martial Department.


    At that moment, Dong Jing just happened to arrive nearby and witnessed the scene of Shen Qing shooting the Eagle Demon, his mouth agape in astonishment.


    They were all too familiar with this Eagle Demon; it had almost be a bane of their Military Department.


    But now, this bane had been so effortlessly dealt with by Shen Qing.


    That precise Archery even made him a bit frightened.


    Suddenly, he felt that this new Chief Officer was rather formidable...

 Chapter 186: Chapter 12 Return Fully Loaded

    Outside Yongzhou City, on an unnamed hill.


    Dong Jing, looking at everything before him, felt a bit parched and his tongue was dry.


    He had assumed Shen Qing only had some clues, but he had not expected to encounter such a scene.


    "If I remember correctly, this new officer from the dispatch office came from another county. What exactly is his background? I don''t recall any high ranking families with the surname Shen in the surrounding area."


    Dong Jing fell into deep thought but after a long while, he still had no answers.


    Some timeter, the officer he had sent to Shi li Vige galloped over, pulled up beside Dong Jing, and halted his horse, saying, "Dong Chasi, we just went to check Baili Vige and it''s still the work of that same Eagle Demon."


    "Lord Officer¡­" Seeing that Dong Jing did not respond, he was somewhat puzzled and followed Dong Jing''s gaze forward, his expression slightly frozen.


    He clearly saw that in front of them, the men from the Sixth Group were dragging a creature that looked neither human nor like an ordinary eagle, but rather some sort of demon, in front of a young man.


    This demon was all too familiar to them; it was unmistakably the Eagle Demon.


    As if realizing something, his heart trembled violently.


    No way!


    Had the men from the Sixth Group actually in the Eagle Demon?!


    Dong Jing immediately gave themand, "Let''s head back, and make it to the Guardian Martial Department before them."


    Now that the Eagle Demon had been killed by Shen Qing and the others, the case of the demon in Baili Vige could be considered closed, and they had little room for intervention.


    All they could do was to report the investigation finding¡ªthat it was the work of the Eagle Demon¡ªto the Lord Chief Officer before the Sixth Group did.


    To gain some credit in his eyes.


    It was better to show ambition and do something, rather than do nothing at all.


    The officer from the first group did not understand Dong Jing''s thoughts but followed closely behind him as they hurried towards the direction of the Guardian Martial Department.


    Shen Qing and the others had already noticed Dong Jing''s movement, but they did not pay it much attention.


    At this moment, Liu Sangui and the other officers were strenuously dragging the carcass of the Eagle Demon before Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing smoothly dismounted his horse, his gaze firmly locked on the towering figure before him.


    He had already noticed how immense the Eagle Demon was while it soared through the sky, but he had not expected it to be quite sorge.


    Even lying prostrate on the ground, the Eagle Demon was as tall as a man.


    The demon''s feathers were pitch ck as ink, its edges gleaming with a faint blue luster.


    Even in death, the body still exuded an extraordinary aura.


    There was even dense demon energy emanating from the Eagle Demon''s body.


    It was certain that, given more time, this Eagle Demon would have be a serious threat.


    Upon deeper consideration, Shen Qing realized this was his first encounter with such a demon.


    The tiger demon he had met before, although it had some spiritual wisdom, was essentially a beast, visible and tangible.


    In essence, it wasparable to a Martial Artist in the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    The Eagle Demon was different.


    With its wings span of three zhang wide once unfurled, a Martial Artist in the Qi Cultivation Realm had no way to counter it; they could only react passively on the ground.


    If caught unawares by the Eagle Demon''s dive from the sky, one might not escape from disaster.


    Even using a bow and arrow, to say nothing of the distance, it was wishful thinking to hit a demon like the Eagle Demon known for its speed.


    A mere Qi Cultivation Realm Eagle Demon was already this troublesome; there was no telling how many more demons lurked around Yongzhou, nor how many innocent lives would be lost because of them.


    Now, upon further reflection, Shen Qing felt that what Wu Sheng had said was not without basis.


    Yongzhou, he still had much to learn about it.


    Shen Qing put away his thoughts and turned his attention back to the carcass of the Eagle Demon.


    The skill ''sharp eyesight'' was activated.


    Every abnormality on the Eagle Demon''s body could not escape his keen eyes.


    As if he had discovered something, Shen Qing drew the long sword that hung at his waist and plunged it into the carcass of the Eagle Demon, shing fiercely.


    Bloody hot fresh blood sttered out.


    Shen Qing crouched down, ignoring the blood stains, and directly reached into the gaping wound, pulling out a demon core the size of a chicken egg.


    The color of the Eagle Demon''s core was somewhat different from the Tiger Demon''s.


    The Tiger Demon''s core was predominantly reddish, while the Eagle Demon''s core exhibited a dark cyan color.


    In this Eagle Demon''s core, Shen Qing sensed that the energy contained within was even stronger than that of the Tiger Demon''s.


    If used for enhancing one''s cultivation, it would definitely be more powerful!


    Shen Qing shook his wrist, flicking off the blood stained on the core, and without hesitation, he tucked it into his pocket.


    He then noticed that among the feathers all over the Eagle Demon''s body, a few were somewhat extraordinary, so he plucked them out as well and kept them in his pouch.


    Liu Sangui, standing by, reminded in a low voice, "Lord Shen Chasi, our Lord Chief Officer also likes to collect rare treasures on normal days, and he''s quite fond of demon cores. If you take it for yourself just like that, I''m afraid it might displease him."


    Shen Qing cast a nce at him and said, "I know what I''m doing."


    This time killing the Eagle Demon cost him quite a few dark iron Heavy Arrows.


    Each one of those was money.


    So what if he plucked some feathers and took a Demon Core?


    If it came down to it, he would just y it by ear. If he couldn''t keep it, then he''d deal with thatter.


    Shen Qing surveyed those around him and said, "That''s about enough. Clean up this corpse and head back."


    Guan Yunjian couldn''t help but step forward, asking Shen Qing, "This Eagle Demon is so big. We don''t have a cart, so how can we take it back?"


    "You''re asking me such a thing?" Shen Qing replied irritably, "Can''t you use the official horses you brought? Load it on your horses and take it back."


    Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian were both frustrated.


    If they used their official horses to carry the Eagle Demon, they would have to walk back to Yongzhou.


    This Shen Chasi was clearly treating them like coolies.


    "Why are you staring at me? Get to work!"


    Shen Qing sheathed his Dagger and slung it over his body.


    He then mounted his horse, his cold gaze fixed on Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian, causing thetter two to subconsciously lower their heads, resigning themselves to their tasks without uttering another word.


    With the help of Liu Sangui and Jiang Dacong, Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian managed to hoist the huge corpse of the Eagle Demon onto the backs of two official horses.


    A few sticks were used to bridge between them, creating a makeshift equine carriage.


    "Let''s go, back to the Guardian Martial Department Office," Shen Qing said, tightening the reins. "We''ve cleared up the case at Baili Vige, so let''s take this Eagle Demon''s corpse back and clear our names. It''s also a good time to tell those high-bornyabouts in the yard that we, the Sixth Group, are not weaklings and are no less than them. Drive!"


    Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian, reduced toborers, were not moved by Shen Qing''s impassioned words and even felt some disdain for them.


    However, these words,ing from Liu Sangui and Jiang Dacong who had no grudges with Shen Qing, stirred their excitement.


    They hurriedly followed closely behind Shen Qing.


    "The two at the very end, pick up the pace. We must make it back to the city before it gets dark!"


    Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian, leading the horses, gritted their teeth and said, "Yes, Lord officers!"


    Thest four words were uttered with a bit more force.


    ...


    Yongzhou City.


    d in a fitting uniform, Huang Furo and a bearded middle-aged man, each riding a tall and splendid horse, sped to the front of the Guardian Martial Department Office and came to a halt.


    "Whoa!"


    Huang Furo asked, "Lord Commander, this is the site of the Guardian Martial Department Office, shall we go in now?"


    "Let''s go. With the traces of demons appearing outside the city, we must resolve this rapidly. Great Zhou has internal strife and external threats; as long as I''m stationed here, receiving the ruler''s grace, serving the ruler''s cause, and sharing the ruler''s worries, I absolutely won''t allow any mishaps in the affairs under my jurisdiction."


    The middle-aged man, not hesitating at all, dismounted and briskly walked into the Guardian Martial Department Office, with Huang Furo following closely behind.

 Chapter 187: Chapter 13: Subordinate Shen Qing, Fortunately Fulfilled the Mission

    Outside the gates of Yongzhou City, the official road was bustling with pedestrians.


    Suddenly, a suffocating stench of blood swept over them.


    The pedestrians on the road quickly covered their noses, their faces showing disgust as they looked curiously toward the source of the foul smell.


    They saw a group of officers dressed in the attire of the Guardian Martial Department approaching the gate leisurely.


    Behind them, on the back of a horse, was something enormous¡ªit was the corpse of a massive demon.


    Not quite human, not quite eagle, it was ferocious and terrifying.


    All the bloody stench originated from this demon''s body.


    The spectators widened their eyes in horror at the sight.


    They scurried to the sides in panic, automatically clearing a path for Shen Qing and his group.


    Leading them, Shen Qing sat upright and proud on his steed, one hand on his sword, the other pulling on the reins, exuding bursts of an imposing aura.


    "Who is that? He looks so valiant and righteous."


    "Must be a disciple from a high-ranking family, right?"


    "Why are you all staring at that man? Look at that demon''s corpse, if I''m not mistaken, that''s an Eagle Demon!"


    "Ah? An Eagle Demon! Wasn''t it said that only an Innate-level individual could subdue such a demon? Was it an Innate Realm powerhouse who took action?"


    "What are you dreaming about, an Innate Realm powerhouse wouldn''t bother with such trivial matters!"


    "Pah, if demons are trivial, and rebels are trivial, then I really don''t know what counts as important to those lords! In my view, Yongzhou simply has no serious matters."


    "Nonsense, collecting taxes is a major affair!"


    "¡­"


    The Sixth Group, overhearing the crowd''sments, felt that Shen Qing was being overly conspicuous.


    However, even if there were always rumors of demons outside the city, no government office in Yongzhou had ever really eliminated one.


    This return of Shen Qing with a demon''s corpse was unprecedented.


    He couldn''t keep a low profile even if he wanted to.


    The expressions of the group members turnedplicated and indistinct.


    At the city gate, the duty guards, seeing Shen Qing and others returning from ying the demon, couldn''t help but show their respect and hurriedly cleared the way for them.


    After they entered Yongzhou, they attracted countless gazes, which was something the usually low-profile members of the Sixth Group were not ustomed to.


    Amidst such crowding, they made their way to the Guardian Martial Department Office.


    ¡­


    In the main hall of the Guardian Martial Department Office.


    "Lord Chief Officer, this is the situation."


    Dong Jing stood before Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu, earnestly making his report.


    Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu frowned and asked, "The case in Baili Vige, you''re sure it was the work of an Eagle Demon?"


    "No mistake about it. The method of killing and eating matches those from before exactly."


    Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu''s facial muscles twitched twice, as if he was suppressing a look of pleasure, he said anxiously, "This is troublesome."


    Trouble is good!


    The more troubling it is, the more chaotic Yongzhou County bes, advancing the cause of the Holy Sect.


    More importantly, if his subordinates fail their tasks, he could rightfully deduct their official sries, gaining more control over them.


    If the demons were too weak or his subordinates too capable, it would actually be less desirable.


    Dong Jing, unaware of Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu''s ulterior motives, also did not reveal that Shen Qing had already in the Eagle Demon.


    He made his point sinctly without showing off too much.


    Better to avoid troubles for himself.


    Just then, a high-ranking gatekeeper from the Military Department rushed in, panicked, and said, "Lord Chief Officer, Lord Huangfu has arrived."


    "Oh, she is here," said Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu, his face instantly brightening up.


    In the entire Yongzhou Government Office, it was Huang Furo, a woman whose figure was the most domineering.


    The parts that should protrude did so impressively, and those that should curve did likewise, quite simply captivating one''s soul.


    Moreover, what was even more remarkable was that not only did Huang Furo have an attractive figure, but her appearance, background, and abilities were also exceptional.


    He felt that if he married this woman, he would be willing to sacrifice decades of his life.


    "Hurry, hurry, check if my appearance has any ws?" Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu cheerfully eximed as he beckoned.


    Chang Sui wiped the sweat from his forehead and hurriedly continued, "Lord Chief Officer, I haven''t finished yet. Along with Lord Huangfu, there is another official."


    A man?


    Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu''s face darkened, and his cheerful expression faded, quickly reced by dissatisfaction, "Who is it?"


    "Lord Commander!"


    "Lord Commander?"


    Dong Jing quietly reminded, "Didn''t amander from the Innate Realm arrive in Yongzhou not long ago?"


    Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu eximed in surprise, "It''s him!"


    This was clearly the boss of his boss, an official from the court!


    "What does he want,ing here out of the blue?"


    "What, can''t Ie if there''s no specific matter?"


    As Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu''s voice fell, a deep male voice resounded from afar, causing him to involuntarily shiver.


    He quickly rose from his seat and walked to the doorway, respectfully saying, "This subordinate greets Lord Commander."


    "Hmph!" Commander Jia Zhiping snorted coldly, his face displeased as he brushed past him and boldly sat in the main seat.


    Following him, Huang Furo also crossed the threshold, deliberately keeping some distance from Zheng Yuanqiu, and moved to stand beside Commander Jia Zhiping.


    On Zheng Yuanqiu''s face there was no sign of dissatisfaction or anger, instead, he approached with a fawning smile and said, "May I know why Lord Commander hase this time?"


    Commander Jia Zhiping got straight to the point, "You''re aware of the situation at Baili Vige, aren''t you?"


    Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu nodded and replied, "Responding to Lord Commander, this subordinate is already aware and has sent people to handle it."


    As he spoke, he couldn''t help ncing at Dong Jing with an appreciative look, then said to Jia Zhiping, "Now, my men have already investigated. The incident at Baili Vige was the deed of the Eagle Demon."


    "The Eagle Demon?!" Commander Jia Zhiping frowned.


    Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiuined, "My lord is unaware, but this Eagle Demon is extremely troublesome to deal with. It is incredibly fast, and each time it ughters and consumes humans, it vanishes before our arrival. Although the demon''s cultivation isn''t deep, capturing it is harder than reaching the heavens, and it has severely troubled us too."


    "However, my lord, rest assured, we will not cken our efforts and will eradicate this evil!"


    Commander Jia Zhiping nced at Huang Furo and asked, "Lord Huangfu, is the Eagle Demon as troublesome as Mr. Zheng describes?"


    Although Huang Furo disliked Zheng Yuanqiu, she didn''t cause any hurdles in this matter, "Indeed it is as so, both our departments are aware of the trouble. Whether we should ask the Lord Governor''s involvement is even being considered."


    Commander Jia Zhiping ced his hands on the table and tapped it, then after thinking for a while, he decided, "If that''s the case, let me handle this Eagle Demon issue. We can''t afford to dy."


    "With you handling it, capturing the Eagle Demon will be guaranteed. Many will thank you for your grace," Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu ttered.


    Suddenly, outside the main hall, a flurry of disordered footsteps erupted.


    Apanied by intermittent exmations, the Guardian Martial Department Office became as noisy as a marketce.


    The noise grew louder and more intense.


    Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu rebuked discontentedly, "What is happening outside, who is creating a disturbance?!"


    The Chang Sui stumbled in, stammering, "Lord, demon, demon, demon..."


    "What demon?"


    "It''s the Eagle Demon." Following Chang Sui, Shen Qing confidently strode into the main hall.


    Seeing Zheng Yuanqiu standing beneath, and a middle-aged man with a beautiful woman sitting above, he was momentarily startled.


    Shen Qing quickly realized these must be other high officials from the county town, having coincidentally encountered them.


    He sped his hands together and forcefully said to everyone in the hall, "Subordinate Shen Qing, has sessfully in the Eagle Demon and resolved the Baili Vige demon case, awaiting your judgment!"


    As he spoke, the entire room fell silent, suddenly so quiet you could hear a pin drop.


    Aside from Dong Jing, everyone else on the dais turned their eyes sharply towards him.

 Chapter 188: Chapter 14 Very good! How can such a role model not be rewarded?

    Shen Qing?


    Huangfu Rou had some impression of the name.


    If she remembered correctly, it should have been the out-of-towner who came to seek a position at the Military Department a month ago.


    At that time, due to theck of positions in the Military Department, she had arranged for him to be ced in the Guardian Martial Department. She had not expected him to be so capable.


    Huangfu Rou unconsciously took a few more nces at Shen Qing.


    As it turned out, this was her first time meeting this out-of-towner.


    One had to say, he was indeed handsome.


    After a long while, sitting in the chief seat, Commander Jia Zhiping. His body subconsciously leaned forward, squinting his eyes, he asked, "You say you killed the Eagle Demon?"


    "Yes!" Shen Qing sped his hands and replied with even more respect, "The body of the Eagle Demon has already been brought here, and I hope for your examination, Lord."


    Commander Jia Zhiping nced at Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu and skeptically said, "Let''s take a look."


    He suddenly stood up and quickly walked toward the inner courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department Office.


    The inner courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department had already be bustling.


    As soon as the crowd approached the main courtyard, they could already smell the blood that permeated the air.


    Many officials who hadn''t gone out involuntarily gathered, forming small circles, pointing at a demon''s body and discussing in low tones.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, looking at this Eagle Demon''s size, its spread wings could probably cover half the sky! It''s much bigger than we imagined."


    "Indeed! With such a size, even if it didn''t run, just standing in front of me, I wouldn''t think I could be its opponent. No wonder we kept losing to this Eagle Demon before."


    "Who would have thought that it would ultimately fall into the hands of our Guardian Martial Department."


    "This new officer from the Sixth Group has some skills."


    ¡­


    While the officials were all bustling with discussion, a series of steady and powerful footsteps approached from afar, interrupting everyone''s conversation.


    The crowd looked toward the sound only to see Jia Zhiping, Huangfu Rou, and other important officials from the government office stepping steadily into the courtyard with grave expressions, quickly falling silent.


    They very consciously moved to the sides, automatically clearing a path.


    Through this path, a huge Eagle Demon''s body came into their view.


    The Eagle Demon''s bodyy quietly on the ground, motionless.


    The essence blood on its wounds had already dried, and its feathers had lost their luster, no longer vibrant.


    Yet, seeing its sharp beak, enormous body, and sharp talons, one could still imagine its impressive figure soaring through the skies while living.


    "Is this the Eagle Demon you mentioned?" Jia Zhiping''s voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone''s ears, carrying an undeniable authority.


    Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu looked at the Eagle Demon, his expression momentarily stunned, feeling somewhat at a loss.


    He had just mentioned how difficult the Eagle Demon was to deal with, and Huangfu Rou had confirmed it again, elevating the necessity to handle the Eagle Demon to the level where only an Innate Martial Master could contend with it.


    Now, just as he had finished speaking, his subordinate officer had already killed the Eagle Demon, which supposedly required an Innate Martial Master, and the body was now lying in front of the Commander.


    What did this mean?


    This demon disaster had appeared over and over again without resolution.


    Did my arrival as Commander instantly lead to its demise?


    Such a coincidence?


    Isn''t this person just making excuses for his own ipetence?


    Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu''s gaze swept over the Eagle Demon''s body, a hint of deep thought shing in his eyes. After a moment, he slowly said, "Lord Commander, this is indeed the Eagle Demon. This demon hasmitted many evils, and now that it has finally been executed, it truly pleases everyone''s heart."


    Commander Jia Zhiping questioned, "Didn''t you just say that this demon was difficult to deal with, requiring an Innate Martial Master to intervene?"


    "Haha," Zheng Yuanqiuughed heartily, "That was all thanks to Lord Huangfu''s efforts."


    "Me?" Huangfu Rou''s eyes were filled with bewilderment.


    "Lord Commander, unbeknownst to you. Shen Chasi was rmended by Lord Huangfu, and I could see his extraordinary ability at a nce. Today, when a demon-rted murder urred in Baili Vige, I immediately sent Shen Chasi there, and just as I expected. Shen Chasi has exceptional abilities; he managed to execute this troublesome Eagle Demon in just one day."


    "Honestly, I was also startled today by Shen Chasi''s efficiency in ying demons."


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s words caught Jia Zhiping and Huangfu Rou in their praise, making them impable.


    This Eagle Demon was difficult to deal with, but with my keen eye for talent, using the right person for the job, I didn''t expect to identally y the Eagle Demon.


    "This is also the first time I have learned of this, and I am quite surprised."


    "I have not said a single lie."


    After Zheng Yuanqiu''s exnation, Commander Jia Zhiping felt there was some sense in it, and he easily epted it without further thought.


    In his view, the process was not important, as long as there was a result.


    Jia Zhiping carefully looked Shen Qing up and down, recognizing that Shen Qing''s cultivation was only at the Qi Cultivation Realm and his Qi Sea had not even condensed. He asked with a smile, "How did you hunt this Eagle Demon?"


    Hearing the words "Lord Commander," Shen Qing had guessed the identity of the middle-aged man before him¡ªhe was the newly appointed Commander by the Great Zhou Court to Yongzhou.


    An Innate Realm Martial Master.


    One of the top few important figures in Yongzhou City.


    He dared not show any negligence and stepped forward with both hands sped in front of him, respectfully saying, "My cultivation is mediocre, but I excel in archery. I have a Heavy Bow that can pull fifty shi, which just happens to suppress these bird-transformed demons. Thus, I was fortunate to y the Eagle Demon."


    "Very good, very good!" Commander Jia Zhiping said joyfully, "How can I not reward such an example?"


    Shen Qing took a step back and said, "It is all due to the leaders'' excellentmand. I dare not take credit."


    "Rest assured, I always punish where due," Commander Jia Zhiping said with his hands behind his back, "and reward where merited."


    Shen Qing lowered his head and said nothing.


    Jia Zhiping looked towards Shen Qing and said, "You have not yet broken through to the Qi Hai Realm. As a reward for ying the demon, I specially grant you three days to observe at the Martial Arts Hall and learn a Martial Art, without the need for Elixirs or Silver Tael. Not only that, but your official sry this month is doubled."


    Shen Qing quickly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, my lord."


    Seeing that his subordinate was so efficient, Jia Zhiping couldn''t help but feel very pleased.


    The foundation of Great Zhou needs such capable officials.


    I must keep control over such capable officials.


    Jia Zhiping nced at Shen Qing, seriously memorizing his face and name, intending to promote him more in the future.


    "Lord Huangfu, take some people with me to Baili Vige to check something. I need to verify something and take care of the scene," he said.


    "Yes, Lord Commander."


    "Let''s go."


    Seeing Jia Zhiping and others about to leave, Shen Qing walked over to Zheng Yuanqiu and whispered, "Lord Chief Officer, the corpse of this Eagle Demon is also a rare treasure, shouldn''t we give some to the Lord Commander?"


    Zheng Yuanqiu immediately reacted.


    If it wasn''t for Shen Qing''s reminder, he would have almost forgotten about it.


    Zheng Yuanqiu hurriedly said, "Lord Commander, this Eagle Demon''s body is useless to me. You might as well take it."


    Jia Zhiping remained silent, not responding, and continued walking toward the door.


    Understanding, Zheng Yuanqiu, feeling the pinch, instructed his followers, "Prepare immediately and transport this Eagle Demon''s body to the Lord Commander''s residence."


    The many followers in the Military Department quicklyplied.


    Leading the way, Huang Furo nced back at Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing, feeling the gaze, met his eyes.


    Huang Furo silently withdrew his gaze and did not say more, swiftly departing the Guardian Martial Department.


    After these people had left, Zheng Yuanqiu let out a sigh of relief; this time he had finally managed to avert a crisis.


    He patted Shen Qing on the shoulder, happily saying, "Well done."


    Shen Qing humbly lowered his head and modestly declined any praise.


    This performance greatly pleased Zheng Yuanqiu.


    In fact, Shen Qing was also very pleased.


    Now that Zheng Yuanqiu had given the Eagle Demon''s body to the Lord Commander, the remaining matters like the Demon Core were no longer his concern.


    If Jia Zhiping discovered any issues, the me would fall on Zheng Yuanqiu''s shoulders.


    It would not be rted to him.


    He could now rightfully keep the items he obtained from the Eagle Demon.


    Perfect.

 Chapter 189: Chapter 15: The Small Path, Making Some Achievements

    After the departure of Huang Furo and the others, the matter of ying the Eagle Demon also came to a close.


    Shen Qing watched Zheng Yuanqiu, with a pained expression, instructing Chang Sui to clean up the demon''s corpse, and he did not linger long in the Guardian Martial Department Office.


    He bid farewell to Zheng Yuanqiu, swapped his duty token, and leisurely walked towards his own small residence he had purchased in Yongzhou.


    Today, there were still many demons around Yongzhou, but from Shen Qing''s observation, most of them were covertly concealed in the shadows, asionally devouring a few people, but they had not yet openly opposed the county government office.


    After all, standing behind the county town was the Great Zhou Court, with countless experts.


    Those demons with awakened intelligence could easily learn of the terrors involved just by inquiring outside.


    Demons like the Eagle Demon, who were tired of living high-profile and devoured humans, were actually umon.


    In the following period, if Huang Tian Sect did not cause trouble, it was foreseeable that it would be a time of peace and rxation.


    The sky gradually darkened.


    Shen Qing led his horse to the door of his house, just in time to see Shen Xiaoshan carrying a sack rushing home.


    "Brother! You''re back," Shen Xiaoshan called out loudly upon seeing Shen Qing nearby.


    As he greeted him, he set down the fullyden sack and carried it with one hand to the door.


    Shen Qing sized him up and said, "Has your cultivation progressed recently?"


    "Eating so well every day at your ce, how could it not progress?" Shen Xiaoshan said with a simple smile, "Now my strength is not small. I can carry a sack of soybeans with one hand without any problem."


    "It seems you do have some talent for martial arts."


    "Ah, I don''t have any talent at all, just blindly practicing. Brother, you don''t need to tter me," he replied.


    "What I said is the truth, not ttery. Keep practicing, and you will achieve something," Shen Qing advised.


    Shen Qing patted his shoulder and pushed open the door.


    Shen Xiaoshan tactfully took the reins from Shen Qing''s hand, and with the other hand carrying a sack of beans, followed Shen Qing into the house.


    In the small courtyard, a square table was set and the eldest sister, Shen Fang, wearing an apron, was serving a series of hot dishes. Upon seeing Shen Qing, a glint of joy shed across her face: "Qingzi is back. Brother Xiao just finished cooking; we won''t have to wait, let''s eat while it''s hot."


    Shen Qing removed the long saber hanging at his waist, took off the Guardian Martial Department''s ck official robe, ced it in the cab at the doorway, and walked over to the table, stretching his neck to examine it closely, "So many dishes?"


    "Brother Xiao came back early today and was not very busy, so he cooked some extra dishes. I''m not sure if they suit your taste," exined Elder Sister Shen Fang simply.


    "Chef Xiao''s skills are without question; he could support a tavern by himself," Shen Qing said, loosening his wrists, "It''s gettingte, call uncle and aunt over for dinner."


    "I''ll go call them."


    Shortly after, Uncle Shen Er and Aunt Wang Family and others came out from the kitchen.


    As usual, Shen Qing let them sit at the head of the table, and he took the secondary seat.


    The rest, including Shen Xiaoshan, Xiao Zhi, Tian Xiaohu, and Elder Sister remained unwilling to take the seat.


    Even though Shen Qing emphasized repeatedly that he did not mind, these people still adhered to the local customs, so Shen Qing no longer insisted.


    It must be said, Xiao Zhi''s cooking was excellent, and the meal was no less delicious than what one would find in a tavern.


    Shen Qing really enjoyed this meal.


    He even took a jug of wine and drank fleetingly with Uncle Shen Er.


    If this world were without demons and all sorts of chaotic troubles, Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel that life was actually quitefortable.


    After the third round of drinks, Shen Qing noticed Uncle Shen Er hesitating to speak on several asions and couldn''t help but ask, "Uncle, do you have something to tell me? We are all family here, no need to hold back."


    Uncle Shen Er sighed heavily and said, "It''s not anything significant, just that the entire family depends solely on you for all needs, which somehow doesn''t feel quite right."


    "Hahaha, I thought it was something serious," Shen Qing said with a smile as he poured a full cup of wine. "Back in Hongshan Vige, my family also relied on Uncle''s help. Now, without parents, it''s only right for me to take care of Uncle and Aunt."


    Although the amount of silver tael he possessed wasn''t much, he still had three dog demon skins, an Eagle Demon Pill, and several eagle feathers.


    Plus, there were other misceneous items that could be converted into money anytime, in addition to the official sry that was due.


    All in all, it was barely enough to manage the livelihood of his family.


    Uncle Shen Er looked at Shen Qing, his face filled with relief, but he still shook his head and said, "It''s not the same. Back then, the two of you siblings were young; without others'' help, you would have perished in the deep mountains. We now have the ability to work, and sitting around like this always feels uninspired."


    "Don''t mind my nagging, but our expenses aren''t small with so many mouths to feed. We really can''t rely solely on you forever."


    Shen Qing lifted his wine cup and took a sip.


    He gradually understood Shen Er''s point.


    This situation was simr to rural parents who were brought to live in the city by their children, finding themselves bored and unable to adapt to the environment.


    The best solution was to find them something to do.


    Of course, Uncle Shen Er did have a point¡ªrelying solely on him to support everyone wasn''t a long-term solution.


    Now that the family and business had grown, the expenses were not a small amount.


    If he wanted to keep progressing in cultivation, the expenditure would be even greater.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but look at Xiao Zhi, who stood not far off, and suddenly an idea struck him.


    He called over Xiao Zhi and asked, "Brother Xiao, if I teach you a few dishes, do you think we could open a restaurant?"


    "Junior Brother Shen knows how to cook?"


    "Not really, but I know some recipes," Shen Qing put down his wine cup and said, "I''ll write them down for you to see. If it works out, you all cane help, and you might even gather some useful information. It would be better for my work in the Guardian Martial Department than your current aimless busyness."


    Xiao Zhi neither agreed immediately nor rejected him outright, "Let me see what dishes you are talking about first. This ce isn''t like Taiping County; the restaurants here offer a variety of styles, and only good taste will make it work."


    "I''ll write them out for you to see tonight," Shen Qing said, nodding.


    That evening,


    Shen Qing picked up an oilmp and, taking into ount the local customs and carefully recalling his memories, he wrote down several ssic recipes from his past life and handed them to Xiao Zhi the next day.


    Xiao Zhi didn''t hesitate and prepared them in no time.


    After tasting the dishes, Xiao Zhi found the vors exquisitely delicious, featuring techniques and styles he had never seen before.


    To think that back in the day, he had gone through so much trouble, practically begging everyone in sight, to learn just a snippet of a recipe.


    Yet here at Shen Qing''s, these skills, which would be prized family secrets for others, were nonchntly shared for free.


    He was utterly amazed.


    "How is it?" Shen Qing asked.


    "These dishes you gave, the steamed pork with rice flour, Peking duck, stir-fried intestines, sweet and sour carp, and boiled meat slices," Xiao Zhi confidently dered, "They are enough to sustain a restaurant."


    Shen Qing pped his hands and eximed, "That''s great, let Xiao Hu find a good location in the next few days to start a small trial version, we''re free anyway."


    "Alright, I''ll go with Xiao Hu to take a look when the timees."


    "You two decide, just let me know. However, our funds are limited; we can''t start big."


    "We understand the stakes."


    Shen Qing nodded, not delving further into this issue.


    After all, this kind of business venture was a minor matter; leaving it to Xiao Hu and the others was best.

 Chapter 190: Chapter 16 Promoted to Boss, Shens Restaurant!

    "Why is this all there is?"


    In the blink of an eye, the day to distribute the official sry at the Guardian Martial Department had arrived. Shen Qing, as promised, rushed to the department''s government office. Looking at the six taels of patterned silver and a porcin bottle containing five Qi Blood Pills in his hand, his face was full of confusion.


    "Didn''t Lord Commander say that my sry would be doubled this month?"


    The official who was handling the matter turned his head, red at Shen Qing and ignored him.


    Liu Sangui, who was nearby, saw this and took the initiative to pull Shen Qing aside and exin, "Shen Chasi, you''re unaware of something. There''s always some loss when we collect our sries at the government office. It''smon to be short by about one tael."


    Shen Qing was taken aback when he heard this.


    He knew that there was a concept of shrinkage in tax and grain collections, but it was the first time he heard that even the officials'' sries were subject to this kind of loss. It was utterly outrageous.


    "Anyway, no one really counts on just this sry to live on," Liu Sangui said meaningfully.


    Shen Qing had no reply, seeing that the government office in the county town was actually just as corrupt as in Taiping County.


    He had hoped to rely on the sry to support his family, but now it seemed to be difficult indeed.


    The cost of living in the county town was much higher than in Taiping County, and there was a tendency for continuous small price increases.


    The matter of the tavern really had to be started to avoid future hardships without ie.


    "Shen Chasi, this is the Martial Arts Hall token. When you go to the Martial Arts Hall, you cane and go as you please with this token," one of the officials said to him at that moment.


    At this moment, the official took out a golden-red copper token and handed it to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing knew that the Commander was making good on his promise, allowing him a three-day visit to the Martial Arts Hall to observe Martial Arts.


    "Thank you."


    ...


    "This tavern''s location is quite good. Since the Shopkeeper''s poor management has led it to ruin, he''s nning to lease or sell it," Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi took Shen Qing to a tavern and introduced it. "The tables, chairs, and benches inside are all avable for us to use as the Shopkeeper is including them in the deal. What do you think?"


    Shen Qing observed carefully, noting the decent foot traffic around the ce. The tavern was neither too big nor too small¡ªa manageable size.


    Most importantly, this tavern was located in Xinyi Square, within his patrol zone, where he had some clout.


    "What''s the asking price for the lease?"


    "We''ve negotiated a deal. The rent for half a year is just about a hundred taels, which is reasonable enough," they replied.


    Shen Qing weighed his options, and since he had just enough money on hand, he nodded and said, "It sounds good to me. Let''s settle on this ce."


    "What shall we name it?"


    Shen Qing said without hesitation, "Keep it simple, let''s call it Shen''s Restaurant!"


    "Shen''s Restaurant?!" Tian Xiaohu nodded, took note of it, and then said, "So, shall we prepare and choose an auspicious day to open?"


    "There''s an auspicious day five days from now. Let''s clean up and open on that day. I''ll call some subordinates from the government office to support the opening," Shen Qing, not one to hesitate, immediately decided.


    "Sounds good."


    Five days is neither long nor short.


    Xiao Zhi, who had once been a chef at a tavern, was very knowledgeable about the workings of such an establishment, and the preparations for it were very well-organized.


    Thanks to the concerted efforts of everyone, Shen''s Restaurant was almost ready.


    On the auspicious day, the entire family of the household woke up early.


    Aunt and elder sister even boiled a pot of water so that everyone could wash up properly.


    These hunters, who hade from the mountains, were used to running around in the woods year-round and had no habit of washing regrly.


    Over time, they had developed a peculiar smell about them.


    Shen Qing was still okay.


    After his conditions improved, he gradually started to pay more attention to his hygiene. The others, however, were really not praiseworthy, turning a basin of clear water into ck water during washing.


    "Brother, today is the grand opening of Shen''s Restaurant. Will a lot of peoplee?" Shen Xiaoshan, having changed into a new set of clothes, asked with excitement and sparkling eyes.


    "Hard to say. I don''t have much of a foundation here in the county town, so it would probably just be a few of us making it lively. My main purpose is to show a presence, to lend our restaurant some support so as to avoid any trouble from those who are looking for it."


    After over a month of patrolling, Shen Qing hade to realize that there were indeed various Martial Arts Groups in the county town. Their means of livelihood usually involved using violent measures to monopolize small trades, engage in business that couldn''t be brought to light, or forcefully buy and sell goods, and collect protection fees by force.


    If his restaurant, new to the area, didn''t have any backing, these assorted demons and monsters would indeed not be easy to send off.


    Shen Xiaoshan lowered his head and said, "That''s true, this world judges right from might everywhere."


    "Since you know, you should practice more."


    Shen Qing pulled out a porcin bottle from his chest and said, "Take this. When you''re at the final stage of your practice, pop one of these to boost your Qi-Blood. It will help elerate your cultivation."


    Shen Xiaoshan asked, puzzled, "This is..."


    "A Qi Blood Pill."


    Shen Qing ced the porcin bottle in Shen Xiaoshan''s hand and strode out of the house.


    Himself nearing Great Perfection in the Qi Cultivation Realm, he had tried one of the Qi Blood Pills, but its effect was now negligible for him.


    Rather than let it go to waste in his own hands, it was better given to someone appropriate.


    Shen Xiaoshan didn''t say a word, silently tucking the Qi Blood Pill away close to his body.


    Outside Shen''s Restaurant.


    Dressed in the uniform of the Guardian Martial Department, Shen Qing stood at the doorway.


    At that moment, his belt was cinched, making his figure look tall and straight, radiant, with each step showing an extraordinaryposure.


    To his surprise, the entrance of Shen''s Restaurant was now bustling with a crowd that had gathered unanticipatedly.


    The numerous small merchants from Xinyi Square, theborers at work, and the idle citizens had all swarmed over to join the buzz.


    They had identally learned that this restaurant was opened by their district''s dispatch office, and that this very dispatch office was the one who had in a demon not long ago.


    Thus, word spread, multiplying until a sizeable crowd had gathered.


    Compared to these revelers, only two familiar subordinates, Liu Sangui and Jiang Dacong, hade over.


    Liu Sangui, with a strange expression, whispered into Shen Qing''s ear, "Guan Yunjian and others¡ªone says his wife is giving birth at home, another says he''s injured his leg and can''t make it."


    Shen Qing hummed in acknowledgment without speaking, clearly sensing that the two had some grievances towards him.


    Time to observe and see.


    If they continued to act against him, having subordinates who refused to obey was uneptable; he would have no choice but to dispose of them.


    Just then, there came a noisy sound of gongs and drums from afar.


    It was Dong Jing leading two lion dance teams,ing to offer his congrattions.


    "Congrattions to Lord Shen on the auspicious opening of your business."


    Shen Qing gazed at Dong Jing, genuinely surprised; he did not think of himself as well-acquainted with these high-ranking officials from the Military Department.


    He hadn''t expected Dong Jing to be so proactive.


    "Lord Shen, I''vee uninvited to your restaurant''s opening day. I hope I''m not being presumptuous."


    Dong Jing looked at Shen Qing and said with a bigugh.


    Lord Shen?


    Shen Qing noticed the subtle shift in how he was addressed, and with a brilliant smile, he said, "Not at all. For Dong Chasi toe, I couldn''t be happier. Please,e inside and have a seat. Please."


    "Please."


    Dong Jing, apanied by his followers and subordinates, walked into the restaurant with ease.


    The smile on Shen Qing''s face gradually faded a bit as he watched Dong Jing''s retreating figure, thoughtfully.


    Seeing that it was about the right time, Shen Qing turned to the crowd and spoke generously, "Fellow elders, neighbors from all directions, guests from afar; today, after much preparation, our humble establishment finally opens its doors. On this asion, we have prepared modest wine and simple dishes to express our gratitude. May all our guests drink to their hearts'' content and join in the celebration. We wee everyone to the opening!"

 Chapter 191: Chapter 17: The Heart of Making Friends, the Petty are Like Ghosts

    The front of the restaurant was instantly adorned with colorful banners, and the air buzzed with the mor of voices.


    Amid the deafening sound of firecrackers, Shen''s Restaurant officially opened its doors.


    With a creak, the grand entrance to Shen''s Restaurant slowly opened, and a waft of enticing aromas of dishes immediately spread, stirring the appetite of everyone present.


    Hidden in the crowd, an onlooker deliberately said, "I heard that the culinary skills at Shen''s Restaurant are exceptional, and they offer many fresh dishes you can''t find elsewhere."


    "Is that so? How could I miss such an event! Especially since Shen Chasi is in charge of Xinyi Square, if a demon appears here, we''ll be relying on him. I must go in to support the ce and try some delicacies."


    A gleam of anticipation shed in the eyes of the speaker, who then slowly moved forward with the crowd.


    In the blink of an eye, the restaurant was packed with distinguished guests, not a single seat remained unupied.


    Seeing that the crowd at the door was dispersing, Shen Qing also turned and walked into the restaurant.


    Spotting the prominent figure of Dong Jing amidst the crowd in the main hall, Shen Qing hesitated before stepping forward to exchange pleasantries, "I didn''t expect Dong Chasi to honor us with his presence today, it truly tters me."


    With a smile, Dong Jing turned and said, "Ha, I came uninvited today, I hope I haven''t disturbed Lord Shen."


    "Not at all, Dong Chasi''s visit brings glory to my humble establishments! Please, take a seat and try our restaurant''s signature dishes," Shen Qing quickly greeted him and personally led him to a private room that had been reserved in advance.


    "Then I shall ept the offer without reservation," Dong Jing, d in fine garments, followed Shen Qing into the private room, with several subordinates trailing behind.


    Inside the room, Dong Jing and his subordinates took their seats: "I''ve heard that Shen Chasi''s restaurant offers some special new dishes?"


    "There are a few. They are rustic dishes from the mountains of Taiping County, nothing suitable for high society," Shen Qing said with a modest smile. "I''m afraid they might amuse Dong Chasi."


    Before the opening, Shen Qing had already spread the news about some new dishes, and clearly, Dong Jing was also aware of them.


    Dong Jing said with a smile, "Today, we''ll have the pleasure of tasting these ''not fit for the table'' dishes. We have many people here, so Lord Shen, please serve us all of your specialties."


    "I''ll inform the kitchen immediately. I have other matters to attend to, so please enjoy your meal here," Shen Qing said.


    "Lord Shen, please do as you need to," they responded.


    Shen Qing sped his hands in a bow and left the private room.


    Once Shen Qing had departed, one of the officers voiced his confusion, "Boss, why do you hold this upstart Chasi in such regard? He''s just a lucky foreigner, isn''t he?"


    Dong Jing slowly spoke as he poured a cup of tea, "My eyes do not deceive me, our Lord Shen is no ordinary man. His use of the Heavy Bow¡ªothers simply cannot achieve the same effect. In the future, I don''t want to hear such derogatory terms again, especially not in front of Shen Chasi."


    "Is his... archery truly worthy of such high praise from you?"


    "It is," Dong Jing said decisively.


    A man who could relocate his family from the war-ravaged Taiping County to the county town, secure a respectable position, and even managed to subdue the Eagle Demon that had troubled the region for long.


    There must be something exceptional about this Shen Qing.


    In Dong Jing''s view, there was only benefit and no harm in maintaining good rtions with him.


    Dong Jing took a sip from his tea cup and savored it.


    Hmm, the tea was mediocre.


    After a while, dish after dish of signature cuisine was served by the waiter.


    Gazing at the artfully arranged tes, Dong Jing and hispanions were somewhat astonished.


    Having been born into a high-ranking family, he had eaten or seen manyvish meals, but the dishes served in Shen Qing''s restaurant were truly a first for him.


    Contrary to what Shen Qing had said about the dishes being unworthy of praise, that didn''t seem to be the case at all.


    "Let''s eat, and have a taste," he said.


    Picking up his chopsticks, Dong Jing started by sampling the sweet and sour carp. As soon as it touched his pte, his eyes lit up, and he eximed, "This dish is perfectly bnced between sweet and sour, and the meat is delicious. There really is something special about it."


    The other subordinates followed suit, taking bites of their own, and echoed, "It is indeed delicious."


    Dong Jing hurriedly picked up his chopsticks again and tasted the nine-turned intestines, and surprisingly, he discovered another delight.


    By the time an hour passed, the table of dishes had been cleaned out, and Dong Jing and his subordinates were all stuffed to the brim.


    He walked out of the private room and looked at the busy Shen Qing in the main hall with a serious expression.


    He was finding this person a bit unfathomable.


    Once lunchtime was over, Shen Qing had his people tally the day''s earnings and they reached close to ten taels, with profits amounting to six or seven taels.


    Looking at such a "fortune," Tian Xiaohu and the others were all thrilled.


    "Our restaurant is still too small. If it were bigger, if we could fit more tables, we would likely earn even more."


    Xiao Zhi, with a hint of happiness on his face, said, "Our business can be considered a sess now."


    "Don''t be too happy too soon. This is just the beginning. If someone bes jealous over time and steals our recipes, then we won''t be able to make this much money anymore," Shen Qing said calmly.


    "Ah?"


    Xiao Zhi''s eyes widened as he said, "Boss, you can rest assured. No one will manage to steal the recipes you''ve taught me. If anyone manages to learn even half, answer only to me."


    Shen Qing smiled and replied, "Starting tomorrow, let''s double the price of our signature dishes. Let''s focus on making the money at hand first. After we''ve made enough, I''ll think of ways to buy you all some useful items. Without some real skills in these times, it''s impossible to protect this wealth. Mere talk won''t do."


    ...


    In Yongzhou City, inside a residence.


    An ancient stone table with a tea kettle boiling atop it, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu sat across from each other at the table.


    Guan Yunjian picked up the teapot and poured a cup for Uncle Shu, "This tea was a gift from a tea merchant, a rare good tea. Give it a try."


    Uncle Shu took a sip of the tea and smacked his lips, "Indeed, it''s quite good. Today, that Shen opened a restaurant, wouldn''t it be too much if we didn''t go?"


    "When he first came, our offense was not considered excessive. What does it matter if we don''t grace the ce with our presence?" Guan Yunjian said indifferently, "On the day we killed the Eagle Demon, I realized that Mr. Shen was not one of us. If we continue under hismand, we will not end well."


    Uncle Shu sighed and said, "We really shouldn''t have been so impulsive that day."


    "It''s useless to talk about the past since it has already happened. Let''s think about what we should do next."


    Uncle Shu asked, "You didn''t call me here today just to have a simple cup of tea, did you? Do you already have some ideas?"


    "I do have some thoughts."


    "What are they?"


    "Changing allegiance."


    Uncle Shu said, "borate."


    Guan Yunjian said calmly, "Let''s find a way to switch to another dispatch office or secretly get their protection first andy low for a while. As the saying goes, men falter, horses stumble. Shen will make a mistake sooner orter. When the time is right, I''ll kill him. Yongzhou has plenty of capable people. He''s just a martial master in the Qi Cultivation Realm. What do you think?"


    After some contemtion, Guan Yunjian nodded and said, "Makes sense."


    "Uncle Shu, if we are to pledge allegiance to another dispatch office, do you have any preferences?" Guan Yunjian took a sip of his tea and said with a refreshing tone.


    "What preference could there be? They are all about the same."


    "Then, in your opinion, whom should we join?"


    "Of course, the strongest one. Dong Jing''s Dong Chasi group."


    "Great minds think alike," Guan Yunjian said as he raised his tea cup.


    Understanding the gesture, Uncle Shu also picked up his cup, and their cups lightly clinked together.


    Together, they burst into heartyughter.

 Chapter 192: Chapter 18: Never Forget, Taking All the Martial Arts with Me

    Time hurried by, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.


    The business of Shen''s Restaurant gradually got on the right track,ting about several taels of silver each day.


    Though this was but a trifle for many of the high-ranking families, in Shen Qing''s eyes, it was a promising start.


    In the future, slowly developing and adding another high-ranking Shen family in Yongzhou was certainly a possibility.


    Taking advantage of these few days, Shen Qing had also pawned some misceneous items that he no longer needed and exchanged them for tens of taels of silver to cover his living expenses.


    As for the Eagle Demon''s Demon Core, he still kept it in hand, nning to use itter to enhance his cultivation.


    ¡­


    County Office, Martial Arts Hall.


    Shen Qing, holding an ancient copper token, approached the entrance.


    The doorkeeper was a martial master instructor with white hair and beard.


    Even though his Qi-Blood had already declined, his gaze was still sharp as ever. Upon seeing Shen Qing, he scrutinized him and asked, "Who goes there?"


    Shen Qing bowed slightly, his voice steady and strong, "I am Shen Qing from the Guardian Martial Department. A short while ago, by the grace of Commander Lord Jia, I was specially allowed toe to the Martial Arts Hall to study martial arts and enhance my cultivation."


    "Do you have proof?"


    Shen Qing respectfully handed over the copper token and said, "Please, senior, have a look."


    The old coach took the copper token, examined it carefully for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes, then regained hisposure and returned the copper token to Shen Qing, his tone easing, "So, you are Shen Chasi. Commander Jia had already sent someone to inform me. You may enter the Martial Arts Hall for three days and review all the martial arts books. Please, follow me."


    With that, the old coach turned and led the way, winding through several twisting corridors before finally arriving at a spacious and bright study, and pushed the door open.


    "Pleasee in."


    The air in the Martial Arts Hall''s study was filled with the scent of ink and paper.


    As soon as Shen Qing stepped in, these two scents intertwined and entered his nostrils.


    Looking around, the study was lined with bookshelves filled with various books¡ªsome yellowed and aged, others beautifully bound, obviously freshly collected.


    The study wasn''t veryrge, roughly one hundred square feet. Shen Qing roughly estimated that there were nearly a thousand martial arts books stored here.


    Just choosing the appropriate cultivation techniques was likely to take a day or two.


    "Shen Chasi, this is where we, the county office, store the collected martial arts books. Each one can be said to have been refined by countless people. Many of them are masterpieces borrowed from the Imperial Armory. You may choose any to study, and if there''s anything unclear, feel free to ask me. But remember, the way of martial arts is about persistence; do not bite off more than you can chew," the old coach advised earnestly.


    Shen Qing nodded, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you for your guidance, senior."


    "By the way, senior, where do I find the martial arts thate after the Qi Cultivation Realm?"


    "From here, everything from the third row onward," the old coach pointed and exined.


    "Thank you."


    Following what the old coach had pointed out, Shen Qing walked to the third row of bookshelves, his eyes scanning over the dazzling array of martial arts secret manuals.


    He casually pulled out one of the volumes and looked at it.


    "Cloud Flipping Sword Technique."


    He opened the first page.


    The first thing that caught his eye was a series of sword move diagrams, each move dissected and vividly depicted.


    Even the direction of the True Qi flows for each move was meticulously noted down to detailed precision, making even someone like Shen Qing, who was inexperienced in the Sword Dao, feel their profoundness.


    "The sword moves lightly, like clouds changing shape unpredictably..." As Shen Qing softly read on, he increasingly recognized the ingenuity of the sword moves recorded, each embodying profound natural principles.


    This opportunity to view such a martial arts secret manual was rare, and Shen Qing becamepletely immersed, quickly flipping through the pages.


    Unbeknownst to him, Shen Qing had memorized these Martial Arts secret manuals using the "Never Forget" Skill.


    It took the time of burning a stick of incense, but Shen Qing had finished viewing the entire "Cloud Flipping Sword Technique" Martial Arts secret manual.


    "Good, next one."


    Shen Qing pulled out this Martial Arts book and immediately became curious upon seeing the name of the technique on it.


    "Joyous Zen Great Harmonious Flesh Lotus Technique."


    As he opened it, he discovered it was indeed a remarkable Buddhist Martial Arts Technique.


    As stated in the book, by studying Joyful Buddhist Dharma with a woman and daily harvesting the essence of the woman''s flesh lotus, one could rapidly increase one''s Qi-Blood and Qi, achieving a breakthrough.


    Moreover, once one began cultivating this technique, it would engender a strong craving in the opposite sex, while the body would emit a Buddhist fragrance.


    Any desired person of the opposite sex, upon smelling this Buddhist fragrance, would develop a devout longing, ready to give and receive.


    The only requirement was that one needed to have a foundation in Buddhist Dharma to cultivate it; otherwise, it would be difficult to train in.


    Shen Qing saw that this technique wasn''t at a high level and offered limited achievements in cultivation, making it not very suitable for his needs.


    But since he hade, Shen Qing still memorized this Martial Arts Technique.


    Just now, after finishing the first book''s sword technique, an audacious idea suddenly emerged in his heart, he decided to use the "Never Forget" Skill to memorize all the Martial Arts here, not missing a single word.


    Even if he did not practice these techniques in the future, copying them down could also be a way to make money.


    If each of the thousands of Martial Arts secret manuals here sold for ten taels of silver, he could make ten thousand taels.


    Shen Qing licked his lips, his mood suddenly bing excited.


    No sooner said than done.


    He collected his thoughts and busied himself with intense reading.


    "Mixed Element Profound Technique¡­"


    "Returning Different Aspects to Their Original State¡­"


    "Blood Piercing True Essence Scripture¡­"


    Shen Qing unexpectedly found that as he continually studied the magical manuals, his previously static skill "to recognize characters and read" began to visibly improve.


    Time trickled by.


    Shen Qing spent nearly half a day and had read nearly three to four hundred Martial Arts secret manuals.


    It must be said that the Great Zhou Court''s Martial Arts foundation was indeed profound.


    Any book here was more sophisticated than those he learned in the Martial Arts Hall.


    Many of the cultivation approaches were also ssic, nearly all providing results with half the effort.


    After spending the day reading, Shen Qing benefitted greatly. He understood the concept of transforming Qi Energy when breaching the Qi Hai Realm, allowing him to make some early preparations.


    Shen Qing looked at the sky, it was almost evening; he put down the book in his hand and walked out of the study.


    Outside the study, the old coach was poking at an anthill.


    Seeing Shen Qinge out, the old coach said without looking up, "Did you find any that caught your eye?"


    Shen Qing shook his head and replied, "Not yet, I n to look through them all before deciding."


    "That''s fine, you better decide by tomorrow so that I have a day to guide you," urged the old coach.


    "The Martial Arts of this Martial Arts Hall aren''t permitted to be taken out; otherwise, it would be a vition of courtly taboos and could cause big problems," the coach seriously instructed.


    Shen Qing nodded and said with a smile, "I understand."

 Chapter 193: Chapter 19 Annotations on Talismans, Sky Flipping Seal

    The next day.


    After inspecting the defense area and ensuring there were no errors, Shen Qing once again arrived at the Martial Arts Hall.


    Following a day''s struggle, there remained several hundred Martial Arts books in the study hall of the Martial Arts Hall. He intended to use the next couple of days to transcribe all of them into his mind.


    "Has Shen Chasi arrived?" The instructor at the door, seeing Shen Qing again, became much friendlier and even skipped the routine inspection, "You''re a bitte today."


    Shen Qing smiled, "Martial Arts are indeed important, but I still need to do my primary job well. Otherwise, if something goes wrong and demons cause trouble, that would be troublesome."


    "That makes sense," the old coach said as he nced at Shen Qing and stepped aside for him, "Go on in by yourself, I won''t lead the way."


    Shen Qing bowed and, following the route from the previous day, entered the study of the Martial Arts Hall, filled with a fighting spirit as he looked at the rows of bookshelves.


    "I finished the Martial Arts over here yesterday; might as well finish the rest today. Knowledge is power, time is money. Let''s get to work!"


    Shen Qing walked up to a bookshelf, pulled out the outermost Martial Arts book, and began flipping through it.


    As he continued to read, the progress of his skill in "recognizing characters and reading" kept increasing, and the speed at which his brain "imprinted" Martial Arts also increased.


    As time trickled by, Shen Qing had reviewed nearly all of the remaining Martial Arts books.


    Among these books, Shen Qing unexpectedly discovered two interesting ones.


    One was a long-neglected old book that had been forgotten for a long time; the other looked ordinary on the outside but contained great secrets and was deeply connected to him¡ªa Martial Arts Secret Manual.


    Shen Qing picked up the old book in front of him and examined it closely.


    When Shen Qing took out this book, he found it had be damp and stained, and many of its pages were moldy and stuck together.


    Had it not been for the four ancient characters on the cover, "Annotations on Talismans," clear and decisive, he might have thought it was a casual notebook written by some martial master.


    The reason this old book intrigued Shen Qing was not because of its ancientness, but because it recorded rarely seen content.


    It documented long-lost annotations on talismans, and Shen Qing even found several familiar talismans within.


    "If the record in this book is correct, then the three talismans I possess are respectively the Divine Power Talisman, the Featherweight Talisman, and the Revitalizing Talisman," he said.


    "Unfortunately, it only contains the methods of use andcks the method of making talismans. This tradition must have declined."


    Shen Qing''s expression grew solemn as he carefully memorized the content of the book and then returned it to its ce.


    He then turned his attention to the other Martial Arts Secret Manual.


    The cover of the manual was simply outlined with a rustic seal, and in the middle, "Sky Flipping Seal" was written in a mboyant style, carrying an extraordinary aura.


    Shen Qing picked it up, his expressionplex.


    This Martial Arts manual was considered fateful to him because he recognized traces of the Wind Defying Finger technique from a few moves described within.


    At first, he thought he had misread, but upon carefully reviewing it a second time, he truly found several moves that matched the style of the Wind Defying Finger exactly.


    He was almost certain that the Wind Defying Finger originated from this Imperial Martial Arts manual known as the Sky Flipping Seal.


    Why it was so could no longer be investigated.


    Perhaps, in the past, some martial master learned the Sky Flipping Seal and it inadvertently leaked outside, eventually evolving into Li Linfeng''s Wind Defying Finger under fortunate circumstances.


    Perhaps someone had surreptitiously learned it, and then transmitted it to Li Linfeng''s hands.


    Either scenario was possible.


    Shen Qing had no particr interest in researching the route of its transmission; rather, his interest in this martial art was profound.


    ording to this specific record of Sky Flipping Seal, when cultivated to its utmost limits, reaching the supreme realm, it was said to be able to shake heaven and earth, reverse the prity of the universe, and even, with a single thought, overturn mountains and rivers, plunging the sun and moon into darkness.


    Shen Qing was still somewhat skeptical of such ims, suspecting that the author had exaggerated, but he believed that reaching the highest level of practice could indeed achieve feats like shattering mountains and splitting the earth with a single palm strike, though perhaps not to the extent of darkening the sun and moon.


    It was without a doubt that this martial art was many times moreplex and sophisticated than Wind Defying Finger, which could at best be considered merely one of its techniques.


    If Wind Defying Finger were a child, then Sky Flipping Seal was a mighty adult in his prime.


    There was simply noparison.


    Another critical point was that Sky Flipping Seal included training methods beyond the Qi Hai Realm, which perfectly suited his situation.


    Shen Qing read through it several times more to ensure there were no omissions or errors, firmly memorizing it. After that, he set down the martial art book and proceeded to "imprint" all the remaining martial arts books before he stopped.


    After putting down thest book, he suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction akin to a person with OCD, observing a block fitting perfectly into a slot.


    Stepping out of the study, the old coach, who was upied with molding y, nced at him and smiled, "Shen Chasi, have you decided which martial arts book you want to pick?"


    Shen Qing thought for a moment and replied, "Sky Flipping Seal."


    The old coach paused, expressing surprise, "You want to study it?"


    "Is there something inappropriate?" Shen Qing asked.


    "Shen Chasi, listen to my advice, it would be better for you to choose another martial art," the old coach urged.


    Shen Qing questioned curiously, "Is this martial art by any chance a false one?"


    "It''s not fake, it''s just very difficult to practice," the old coach exined. "Sky Flipping Seal has immense power, but such strength is not easily attained. Cultivating this martial art requires exceptional talent, determination, and opportunity. Most who train in this martial art get stuck halfway, unable to progress or retreat, ultimately wasting their years. That''s why I suggest you choose another martial art."


    Shen Qing earnestly sought advice, "Could you suggest some better martial arts?"


    The old coach listed them like an inventory, "Burning Sky Technique, Three Elements Body Refining Technique, Mixed Element True Technique, are all decent martial arts."


    Shen Qing took careful note and expressed his thanks, "Thank you for your guidance. I still feel that Sky Flipping Seal suits me better."


    "Eh¡­ everyone to their own. If that''s what you like, then so be it," the old coach responded without any hint of sarcasm but felt that his previous words with Shen Qing were somewhat wasted.


    After all, he had only met Shen Qing twice, and they had no real friendship to speak of. As someone responsible only for guarding the doors, he was toozy to meddle in others'' affairs, and offering a few words of advice was all the duty he felt he owed.


    Shen Qing bowed slightly, "Sorry to have troubled you, I take my leave now."


    The old coach hummed softly in response, paying no further attention to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing strode out, leaving the Martial Arts Hall.


    Standing at the entrance of the Martial Arts Hall, he turned back for a nce.


    All the martial arts inside the hall had now been etched into his memory, eliminating the need to return the following day, freeing up time for other, more important tasks.


    Shen Qing withdrew his gaze, took arge stride forward, and suddenly felt a jolt in his mind as if realizing something urgent, and quickly summoned the Water Ink Panel.

 Chapter 195: Chapter 21: Demon Tracks, Secret Martial Arts Instruction

    "Have you heard, there are demons appearing in the Inner City now?"


    "I just came back from there, how could I not know?"


    "What? What happened?"


    "A whole family was devoured by a Cat Demon in their sleep. I heard it even started by carving out the heart from the inside... The scene was really... ah, no more, no more, I''ll lose my appetite if we keep talking about it."


    ...


    Shen Qing walked into the courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department and found that the usually bustling yard had taken on a different appearance today, filled with an unusual air of seriousness.


    The officers, who were typically scattered about doing menial tasks, were now huddled in groups, discussing in hushed tones.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow.


    "Shen Chasi, you''re here. Have some tea to moisten your throat and relieve your fatigue," Liu Sangui''s voice came from the middle of the yard.


    He was all smiles, tossing aside the shell of the seeds he was eating and refilling a bowl of bitter tea, waiting for Shen Qing with a weing grin.


    The gathered crowd consisted mostly of officers from the second and third groups, while those like Liu Sangui, who were not from these groups, naturally formed arge circle around the outside, stretching their necks to listen, without proper form.


    Shen Qing, expression unchanged, walked over and leisurely took a seat in front of Liu Sangui, his gaze sweeping over the crowd clustered together.


    Then, he lightly sipped the bitter tea from the bowl and lifted his chin to ask, "What''s going on, what is everyone talking about?"


    Seeing this, Liu Sangui spoke seriously, "The city is in chaos! There''s talk of a Cat Demon entering the city, it even devoured a whole family, young and old alike, and everyone''s discussing this matter."


    Hearing this news, Shen Qing was somewhat surprised.


    In the county town, there were both the Guardian Martial Department and Military Department at the county office, which had sufficient power to handle demons, traitors, gangs, and all sorts of characters.


    Even minor incidents such as gang fights or theft were quickly handled by the Military Department, a capability far beyond what Taiping County couldpare with.


    To say that the strength of these two departments was weak outside the city and thus overrun by demons was one thing, but how could it be the same within the city? From where had this Cat Demon emerged?


    Shen Qing pondered secretly, unable to figure it out.


    He asked, "What does the Lord Chief Officer say?"


    "Same as usual, he sent the fourth group to handle the scene," Liu Sangui said mysteriously. "Shen Chasi, you might not know this. Because of this incident, many high-ranking officials who own cats are finding ways to kill or abandon their cats. Today, when I stepped outside, I could see heaps of cats in the alleys. The fourth group is quite troubled by this, and it has made the citizens extremely anxious."


    After remaining silent for a moment, Shen Qing cautioned, "We''ll need to be more careful when going out in the future."


    After spending a while at the Guardian Martial Department, he noticed that, apart from Jiang Dacong who had already arrived, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu were still nowhere to be seen.


    "Where are Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu?"


    Liu Sangui replied, "Perhaps they have family matters, so they arrivedte today?"


    Noticing the displeasure in Shen Qing''s face, both Liu Sangui and Jiang Dacong remained silent.


    After waiting for a long time, Shen Qing looked at the sky, finished his bowl of bitter tea, ced it on the table, and said, "Let''s go, we''ll patrol without waiting for them."


    Just as Shen Qing was about to step out, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu emerged from the entrance of the Guardian Martial Department, hurriedly offering apologetic smiles, "Shen Chasi, we just received a message from our subordinates that traces of a Wolf Demon were found in our patrol area, so we were dyed a bit."


    Subordinates?


    Shen Qing raised an eyebrow.


    He nced at the two men and said, "Exin what happened."


    Uncle Shu stepped forward, cupped his hands together, and began exining, "Here''s what happened, early this morning, a woodcutter from Changqiao Town was reported missing to the county office. The locals said it was a Wolf Demon. The Military Department sent people to investigate, but there''s no conclusion yet."


    "Let''s wait for news from the Military Department then. Anything else?"


    "That''s all."


    "If there''s nothing else, don''t just stand around foolishly here."


    Shen Qing did not hide his displeasure as he strode off.


    Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian exchanged a nce, feeling quite helpless.


    They sensed that Shen Qing was increasingly unsatisfied with them, having developed some grievances.


    But in all fairness, they indeed had received some news about the Wolf Demon today, which caused their dy.


    Walking behind everyone, Uncle Shu and Guan Yunjian exchanged nces and whispered to each other.


    "What should we do?"


    "This might be an opportunity."


    "You mean..."


    Guan Yunjian nodded and said, "Get ready. His impression of us has worsened. If we dy further, I fear he will strike at us first. It would be better to deal with him using the Wolf Demon incident as a pretext, to avoidplicationster."


    Uncle Shu replied, "You make sense, let''s prepare then."


    "Mm."


    The two of them quieted down and silently followed.


    ...


    In the ensuing days, no Cat Demon incidents were discovered in the county town, but Shen Qing remained vignt.


    When night fell, Shen Xiaoshan and Tian Xiaohu, among others, finished their tasks in the restaurant, and he called the three of them to the main hall.


    "m!"


    Just after Xiao Zhi was thest to enter, Shen Qing silently stepped forward and shut the door.


    Only the three of them were left in the living room.


    Tian Xiaohu asked in confusion, "Boss, what do you need us for sote?"


    By now Tian Xiaohu and others no longer dared to call Shen Qing by his nickname in Hongjiazhai, but addressed him as ''Boss'' to show respect.


    Shen Qing said, "The situation in the county town is not as peaceful as we thought. The knowledge from the Taiping County Martial Arts Hall is no longer sufficient."


    "So... I n to teach you new martial arts."


    Upon hearing this, Tian Xiaohu and the others were visibly excited.


    They were not fools and knew that not long ago Shen Qing had learned the Imperial Martial Arts Skills from the Martial Arts Hall. Now that he mentioned teaching, it was clear he intended to teach them those.


    This was not at all the same as the few moves they had learned outside.


    Xiao Zhi, who had spent years mingling in the restaurant, had some insight.


    He knew well that those from the court were forbidden to teach Imperial Martial Arts outside, and if caught, ording to thews of Great Zhou, the punishment could range from exile to the bordends to threats to their lives.


    Xiao Zhi spoke up, "This might not be a good idea, what if someone finds out..."


    Shen Qing sternly said, "That''s why you shouldn''t tell anyone about today''s matter."


    "But what if someone identally discovers something?"


    Shen Qing replied without hesitation, "Just say you bought it from Wu Sheng of the Wu Family."


    Tian Xiaohu and the others looked at each other, bewildered.


    "Didn''t you hear me clearly?" Shen Qing stated, "A true man does not fret over minor details. Why worry so much? With such an opportunity before you, would you let it pass by?"


    "Right, we finally have such an opportunity, we must seize it. Even if the government office suspects and watches me, Boss, rest assured, I will not reveal anything about you," Tian Xiaohu said with determination.


    "Same here."


    "Me too."


    "Just be more cautious in your daily activities. If something eventually gets out, just say it was bought from Wu Sheng. They''ll understand," Shen Qing continued. "Eventually, when we are strong enough, even if the government office knows, it won''t matter. Ultimately, the skills you hold in your own hands are what provide true security."


    Shen Qing was well aware that the Thirteen Lines virtually treated the county office as their own home.


    He did not believe that these high-ranking families didn''t learn Imperial Martial Arts.


    It was probably just the Prefectural Governor turning a blind eye.


    Even Wu Sheng''sworks likely implicated many people.


    This matter of teaching martial arts privately could be blown out of proportion, depending on how craftily the individuals involved handled it.


    If only family members learned, the risk was controble, and it wouldn''t be a significant issue.

 Chapter 196: Chapter 22: Acquiring the Refining Pearl Technique

    Shen Qing''s gaze swept over the faces of Shen Xiaoshan and the other two as he spoke, "I have three Martial Arts here, each of you shall learn one."


    The Martial Arts Shen Qing nned to teach them were the three core Martial Arts techniques he had gleaned from the old coach''s lips, the essence of the Martial Arts Hall: Burning Sky Technique, Three Elements Body Refining Technique, and Mixed Element True Technique.


    After the old coach''s reminder, Shen Qing had scrutinized these three Martial Arts carefully several times and indeed found them extraordinary.


    The Burning Sky Technique was a mental method that, once cultivated to a deep level, could draw the fire element of heaven and earth into the body to form the Burning Sky Intense me Palm. With a single strike, all things could be turned to ashes, with astonishing power. However, this Cultivation Technique was notorious for its violent nature, and cultivators had to possess an indomitable will to control it.


    The Three Elements Body Refining Technique was a Body Refining Skill that merged the paths of heaven, earth, and man. It used Qi, Qi-Blood, and Bone as the foundation to temper the physical body until it reached the state of being indestructible like diamond. After cultivation, one would possess copper tendons and iron bones, with abundant Qi-Blood flowing like rivers surging ceaselessly. When Qi, Qi-Blood, and Bone were unified, they could form powerful Inner Strength, integrating offense and defense into one, creating a Martial Art with no shorings.


    Thest technique, Mixed Element True Technique, originated from the inner Cultivation Technique of Daoist schools. It emphasized the bnce of Yin and Yang and the harmony of the Five Elements, using heaven and earth as the furnace, and oneself as the elixir, merging with the Dao to condense the Mixed Element Qi. At advanced levels of cultivation, the True Qi inside the body would be pure and wless, epassing all things, able to replicate an opponent''s attack and neutralize all external forces, embodying the principle of ruling by inaction.


    Shen Qing introduced the general situation of the three Martial Arts to them, lighting up the eyes of the three individuals.


    "Which one do you all want to learn?"


    "I''ll learn the Burning Sky Technique. I''m a cook, so practising this Martial Art is perfect for me. Even if I''m cooking in the kitchen, I can practice on the side without neglecting my training," Xiao Zhiughed heartily as he spoke.


    Tian Xiaohu said, "I''ll learn the Mixed Element True Technique."


    Shen Xiaoshan looked around and then said, "I... I, then I''ll learn the Three Elements Body Refining Technique."


    "Once you get the Cultivation Technique, you can focus on cultivating without worrying about your Bone quality," Shen Qing said. "Certainly, Bone is very important, but we are backed by the court, and the Zhou Country Court has enough resources to transform a mediocre talentpletely. What you need to do is to train hard and wait for opportunities toeter."


    Upon hearing Shen Qing''s words, their faces flushed with excitement, and they each responded, waiting for what woulde next.


    "Next, listen carefully and remember with your minds, do not leave any traces."


    Sitting in the main seat, Shen Qing, possessing the ability to articte fluently, recited all three Cultivation Techniques in front of the three men.


    Such an astonishing memory left the three men gaping in awe and admiration.


    The three Martial Arts epassed extensive content; it was only after midnight, past the hour of Zi, that they roughly grasped the essentials.


    Shen Qing waved his hand and said, "You''ve remembered most of it already; go and practice the rest. If there''s anything you don''t understand,e and ask me."


    Still longing for more, the three men stood up, not lingering, and left one after another.


    As they departed, the respect in their eyes for Shen Qing grew noticeably.


    Shen Qing, who had been talking until he was dry-mouthed, picked up a cup and took a sip of water to moisten his throat.


    After many days of interaction and observation, he had realized that Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu were not on the same path as him, and keeping them around would only be a burden.


    Sooner orter, he would find the right opportunity to kick them out.


    For now, he had already established a foothold in the county town, but to secure a position among the thirteen high-ranking families of the county town, relying solely on himself was no longer sufficient; he needed reliable people by his side.


    Tian Xiaohu and the others, whom he had brought along all the way, could certainly be trusted.


    The only issue was theirck of strength.


    He hoped that the Martial Arts from the Martial Arts Hall would not disappoint him and could significantly enhance the strength of these three men.


    Outside a civilian house in Yongzhou.


    Uncle Shu walked to the door and knocked.


    After a moment, the door cracked open slightly.


    Uncle Shu whispered, "It''s me."


    The door was pulled open, and Guan Yunjian let him in, asking, "Is everything taken care of on your end?"


    Uncle Shu nodded and said, "Things are about ready. I''ve visited all twelve Martial Arts Halls in the Outer City, and a total of nine hall masters are willing to take action. How about you?"


    "I found three old immortals, and one of them is willing to get involved with our matter."


    Uncle Shu pped his hands with satisfaction, "That''s excellent, so we''ll have nine martial masters from the Qi Cultivation Realm and one from the Qi Hai Realm, ten people in total. Even if Shen Qing had three heads and six arms, he definitely won''t be able to escape death. When shall we make our move?"


    "Let''s do it tomorrow. There happens to be traces of a Wolf Demon in Changqiao Town. We can lure him there to make our move and pin the incident on the Wolf Demon. After that, we can go seek refuge with Dong Chasi, and no one will suspect a thing."


    Uncle Shu nodded, his excitement evident, "Although our current sacrifice is rather significant, and we''re paying a heavy price, as long as we kill that Shen, his taverns will fall into our hands, and it will all be worth it."


    "Haha, exactly, that''s what I''m thinking too."


    ¡­


    "Shen Chasi, a letter from the Capital has just arrived, stating that your registration has been recorded in the Ministry of Personnel. It''s not yet time to distribute Yuan Stones, but you can have the Linked Pearl Technique now."


    Just about to finish his shift, Shen Qing received a message from the Military Department Office and hurried over, excited to receive the Refining Pearl Technique, which even for someone as calm andposed as him, was an exciting moment.


    Zhao Guanglu smiled and handed over a wooden box, saying, "Inside is the Refining Pearl Technique, for your eyes only. Take it."


    Shen Qing took the wooden box, opened it, and found a jade token lying quietly inside.


    "May I ask, Mr. Zhao, how is this used?"


    Zhao Guanglu looked at Shen Qing with a smile, remaining silent.


    Shen Qing immediately understood, "Look at my memory, Mr. Zhao. You''ve lost your money pouch, and I found it but forgot to return it to you."


    With that, he pulled out his own money pouch and ced it in Zhao Guanglu''s palm.


    Zhao Guanglu felt the heavy weight in his hand, quite taken aback.


    He quickly changed his demeanor, smiling warmly, "This item is simple to use. Just paste it on your Dantian, and you will know the specific methods of the Linked Pearl. Whoever uses this jade token first will be the only one who can use it from then on. Try it when you refine your Wish Power Pearl and you''ll understand."


    "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Zhao."


    "It''s a small matter. If there''s nothing else, Shen Chasi, you may leave. That''s all I have for you."


    Shen Qing closed the wooden box and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Zhao. I take my leave."


    After saying that, he quickly left the Military Department, his expression bing somewhat impatient.


    He had been stuck at the Qi Cultivation Realm for a long time, like a balloon inted to its limit, just one step away from breakthrough.


    Fortunately, he had a Wish Power Pearl, which he had acquired from the Taiping County Magistrate, and had yet to use. Now that he had the Linked Pearl Technique, he could utilize it to break through to the Qi Hai Realm.


    At that moment, as Shen Qing arrived at the door, he saw a familiar, graceful silhouette and quickly stopped, bowing with folded hands, "I''ve seen Lord Huangfu."


    A beautiful woman had appeared in front of him, walking in from outside unexpectedly.


    She was none other than the Chief Officer of the Military Department, Huang Furo.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing, Huang Furo scanned him from head to toe, let out a faint hum and brushed past him without any pause.


    Shen Qing didn''t take it to heart.


    After all, she was the Chief Officer of the Military Department, from a high-ranking background with exceptional cultivation, while he was just a newly appointed Chasi from out of town¡ªit was a normal reaction.


    Watching Huang Furo''s enchanting figure disappear at the door, Shen Qing leapt onto his horse and galloped home.


    Filled with anticipation for his breakthrough to the Qi Hai Realm after umting Qi-Blood and Qi for so long, Shen Qing could hardly wait.

 Chapter 197: Chapter 23: Breaking Through the Qi Hai Realm

    In the tightly shut bedroom, Shen Qing sat still as a pine tree, his form upright on the bed. He gently pinched a white, round bead in front of him between his fingers.


    This was precisely the Wish Power Pearl he had obtained from Du Yuntong that day, which appeared utterly ordinary and inconspicuous.


    If one were not within the Imperial court system or a noble son from a high-ranking family, chances were they wouldn''t even know that such a bead was worth five hundred taels, enough to exchange for a small residence.


    For the ordinary people of Great Zhou, they''d likely never earn that sum in a lifetime.


    "It''s about time."


    Shen Qing furrowed his brows, opened the wooden box, took out the jade token housed within, and examined it for a few moments.


    "All I need to do is ce this type of jade token on the Dantian, right?"


    Shen Qing expressed some doubt but still silently ced the jade token on the skin of his Dantian.


    "Hiss... so cold."


    Besides the piercing cold touch, there was no other change.


    Just as Shen Qing was about to dismiss it, the jade token on his Dantian began to grow even colder, and this icy feeling spread rapidly from the Dantian to his entire body.


    The Wish Power Pearl held in Shen Qing''s hand seemed to be activated, bing crystal clear and softly radiating a gentle white light, slowly rising and hovering in front of his chest.


    Under Shen Qing''s gaze, the Wish Power Pearl began to slowly rotate, its light flickering like a heartbeat, brightening and dimming intermittently.


    In a trance, Shen Qing seemed to hear countless whispers near his ear, unsettling his mind and gradually making him more irritable.


    Just when Shen Qing thought he was losing his mind and wanted to stop his cultivation, the pervasive icy sensation seemed to transform into an invisible hand, pressing down all these whispering voices.


    Hum!


    The rotation speed of the Wish Power Pearl increased, and at a certain moment, as if reaching a critical threshold, it began releasing ripples one after another.


    These ripples quickly spread out, like a lighthouse in the deep sea guiding the way, pulling the thin and nearly imperceptible spiritual energy of the world towards it.


    In an instant, the spiritual energy that had been aimlessly lingering outside was pulled in by invisible ropes, converging around him, filling the entire room and enveloping his body.


    Shen Qing felt extremely amazed.


    "Is this... spiritual energy?"


    Guided by the Wish Power Pearl, these streams of spiritual energy became dense and pure, clinging to Shen Qing''s skin, permeating through his pores and along his breathing into his body, merging with his blood, nourishing every inch of his skin and each of his bones.


    Shen Qing felt as if his entire body was being pricked like needles, this difort prating even into his bones and flesh, omnipresent.


    After a moment, the Qi energy in his body that had been umted through many days of arduous cultivation burst forth with the infusion of this mighty spiritual energy, as if ignited by a fierce fire, expanding and boiling rapidly.


    They collided with each other, merging and emitting roaring sounds, as if thousands of horses were galloping ceaselessly within his body, growing more and more intense, shocking his spirit.


    "Here ites!"


    Shen Qingposed himself, ready for what was toe.


    Having practiced martial arts for half a year, along with the recent "learning" in the Martial Arts Hall, he had gained sufficient understanding of the ways of Martial Arts.


    Like his cultivation experience in Taiping County, from the Great Perfection of Qi and Blood to Strengthening Tendons and Bones, and from Strengthening Tendons and Bones to Skin Forging and Qi Cultivation, all were stages of flesh and bone conditioning, typical of the ways known in the Jianghu.


    In most parts of the world, most Jianghu martial masters without powerful backgrounds were also concentrated in this phase; reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm in a small ce would be considered significant.


    But for the powerful elites of Great Zhou, this was merely the beginning.


    After the Qi Cultivation Realm, there were six major realms: the Qi Hai Realm, Yu Luo Realm, Dan Realm, Innate Realm, Spirit Void Realm, and Primordial Spirit Realm.


    These six realms were the true essence of cultivation.


    Among them, the Qi Hai Realm was a significant watershed for martial masters, crossing it meant truly transcending the ordinary, at least extending one''s life by ten years.


    In Imperial Martial Arts, there was even a saying, "Only when one reaches the Qi Hai Realm, does one belong to our ranks."


    To step into the Qi Hai Realm, one needed Qi Energy to transform into True Qi, with the spiritual energy of nature aiding in transforming all the cultivated Qi energy in the body into True Qi, using it to forge the Spirit Sea and amodate all things of the world.


    Shen Qing was experiencing this very process.


    Thinking of this, his mind couldn''t help but ripple in waves, which grew more intense as time passed.


    He didn''t know how much time had eventually passed.


    Finally, at a certain moment, all the Qi seemed to find a breakthrough; it gathered into a torrent and fiercely struck the seemingly indestructible barrier within Shen Qing''s body.


    Apanied by a deep and prolonged rumble, that barrier shattered explosively, and the Qi instantly transformed into an even purer and more powerful True Qi!


    Shen Qing''s body was enveloped in a halo of rosy light, and strands of luminescence flowed to every corner of the room.


    Right after his transformation into True Qi, countless spiritual energies continuously poured into his body.


    A gleam of light shed in Shen Qing''s eyes, and his expression became exceedingly agitated.


    He vividly felt that with the continuous surging and gathering of True Qi in his body, an unprecedented sense of warmth and fulfillment arose at his Dantian.


    It seemed as if an immense and boundless ocean was quietly forming there.


    Shen Qing closed his eyes, his mind immersed in the Dantian.


    The True Qi flowed incessantly like rivers, vast and endless.


    He heard the sound of waves in his ears, as if seeing an ocean formed of condensed True Qi.


    Above this ocean, the True Qi began to spread like morning mist, lightly intertwining and merging with the meridians throughout his body.


    In a deep and prolonged rumble, this condensed Qi Sea thoroughly stabilized, and seemed endless at a nce.


    After a while, Shen Qing noticed that the strange pain throughout his body had also retreated like a tide, and True Qi gently roamed inside him, recing the Qi.


    "It worked!"


    Shen Qing opened his eyes and clenched his fists, feeling a surge of tremendous power throughout his body.


    With just a casual gesture, an overwhelming surge of True Qi rose within him, causing the surrounding space to tremble from its aura.


    Shen Qing looked at his palms, his face filled with ecstatic joy he could hardly contain.


    Considering some improprieties, he restrained himself, but his lips curled up and he couldn''t help butugh aloud.


    ncing out the window, Shen Qing saw the sun hadpletely set beyond the horizon and the night had quietly descended, with Yongzhou City already submerged in darkness. Yet he was like the only firefly in the night, his body radiating glimmers of light.


    Having officially broken through to the Qi Hai Realm, he now had the capital to continue climbing upwards.


    Shen Qing collected his thoughts, removed the Jade Token at the Dantian, and the chill on his body immediately dissipated.


    The Wish Power Pearl floating in front of him also fell.


    Shen Qing caught it and unexpectedly found that after his recent refining, the pearl had shrunk slightly in size.


    If so, it would almost bepletely exhausted after two or three more uses, which seemed to Shen Qing a rather substantial consumption.


    Ordinarily, a Wish Power Pearl was issued only once a year, so it shouldn''t be consumed this quickly.


    However, without anyone else for horizontalparison, Shen Qing didn''t know whether his situation was normal.


    He tucked the one-third refined Wish Power Pearl into his chest, pondering, "When I get my end-of-year Wish Power Pearl sry, I might try consulting the old instructor at the Martial Arts Hall to see if this is normal."


    This time, the Wish Power Pearl he used for his breakthrough was obtained from the County Magistrate of Taiping County and wasn''t acquired through the most proper means, which could spell trouble if known by the wrong people.


    The county town was filled with capable individuals; it was better to be cautious.


    It would be safer to wait until his own Wish Power Pearl was issued before seeking advice from others.


    Having made up his mind, Shen Qing decided not to think further and drifted into a deep sleep.

 Chapter 198: Chapter 24 Capturing Demons Outside the City, The Visitor Bodes Ill

    The next day.


    Shen Qing emerged from his room, full of energy, striding like a dragon and stepping like a tiger.


    As he passed Tian Xiaohu, Tian couldn''t help but nce sideways at Shen.


    Subconsciously, Tian nudged Xiao Zhi beside him with his arm and whispered, "Hey, do you feel like the Boss is somewhat different today?"


    Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhi, originally deep in thought, was pulled back to the present. He slowly lifted his head and his gaze fell on Shen Qing.


    Shen stood tall and straight, with a faint aura of light seeming to envelop him. It was a change in temperament, radiating from inside out,manding unwitting reverence.


    Xiao Zhi agreed, "Indeed, the Boss seems to possess an ethereal charm, as if overnight, his essence, vigour, and spirit reached Great Perfection. Even the aura he exudes has undergone a significant transformation. How peculiar and astounding."


    The two murmured among themselves, puzzled.


    Without any intention to exin, Shen Qing strode out and headed to the Guardian Martial Department, just as usual.


    When he arrived there, many officers were also arriving, changing their duty tokens just like him.


    After recing his duty token, Shen Qing habitually returned to the dispatch office''s resting room to wait for his subordinates like Liu Sangui.


    However, before long, a Chang Sui entered and conveyed, "Shen Chasi, the Lord Chief Officer summons you."


    Shen Qing sipped his tea, pondering, "Zheng Yuanqiu seeking me out at this time must be nine times out of ten rted to demons."


    After all, Zheng Yuanqiu was a true "rebel," and certainly wouldn''t be plotting against the remnants of the Huang Tian Sect. That left only the demon concern.


    Putting down his tea bowl and wiping his mouth, Shen Qing said, "I''ll be right there."


    Having finished speaking, and recalling the reaction of Tian Xiaohu and the others when he left, Shen Qing was cautious. He subtly used his hunting skills to conceal some of his aura before walking to the back hall and calling out, "Chief Officer, did you call for me?"


    In the main hall, Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu stood with his hands on a long table, looking stern, as if suppressing something.


    Seeing Shen Qing enter, he lifted his head and said, "The Military Department just sent a message. There appears to be a Wolf Demon in Changqiao Town. Take your people and check it out. If it is indeed a Wolf Demon, take care of it on the spot. I trust with your abilities, it shouldn''t be difficult."


    Shen Qing had heard about the Wolf Demon a few days earlier and wasn''t too surprised about being summoned for a demon hunt. He sped his hands and said, "Understood. I will take my men there immediately."


    "Go ahead."


    Hmm?


    Shen Qing noticed an urgency in Zheng Yuanqiu''s tone as if he was in a rush to send him off. His eyes couldn''t help but fall on the long table, where he noticed a rhythmic trembling.


    Impatient, Zheng Yuanqiu saw Shen Qing had not yet left and asked, "What is it, is there anything else?"


    As if realizing something and feeling a sense of disdain, Shen Qing bowed with sped hands, "No, I take my leave."


    Once Shen Qing left, the trembling of the table gripped by Zheng Yuanqiu''s hands grew more intense.


    With a red face, Zheng Yuanqiu looked down and cursed with a chuckle, "You little minx!"


    ...


    In the small courtyard house, Liu Sangui and Jiang Dacong had arrived.


    When they saw Shen Qinge in, they quickly stood up and bowed with clenched fists, saying, "Shen Chasi."


    Shen Qing instructed, "Get ready, both of you. We are going to make a trip to Changqiao Town shortly."


    Liu Sangui and Jiang Dacong were slightly startled, exchanged a nce, and then agreed.


    Continuing to wait, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu arrived fashionablyte.


    Shen Qing did not fuss over them, and as soon as everyone had arrived, he gave the order, "A demon has appeared in Changqiao Town, we''ll make a trip there today, to take a look."


    "Yes."


    "Let''s set out."


    Changqiao Town was located outside Yongzhou City, built along the mountain and surrounded by water.


    Overlooking the town, three sides were surrounded by mountains lush and green, as verdant as though dripping paint, with clear water circling one side, glistening like ripples, the scenery stunningly beautiful as if a jade belt gently caressed it.


    Because Changqiao Town was abundant with forests, many townspeople and those around the town made a living from logging.


    Over half the firewood in Yongzhou City was supplied by Changqiao Town, making it one of therger towns under Yongzhou''s jurisdiction.


    Shen Qing and his party approached Changqiao Town rapidly amid the urgent sounds of galloping hooves.


    In just two quarters of an hour, they had already arrived outside Changqiao Town, which was fifty miles away.


    They saw a stone bridge spanning a hundred meters across crystal clear waters, blocking the path of Shen Qing and his group.


    The bridge''s surface was mottled with bluestone, and the water flowed gently beneath.


    Fishing boats were moored at the riverside, lending an unexpected charm to the scene.


    The word "Changqiao" in Changqiao Town was indeed named after this bridge.


    At this moment, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu exchanged a look.


    Understanding the signal, Guan Yunjian suddenly reined in his horse and shouted to Shen Qing and the others, "Hold on!"


    "Whoa!" Shen Qing turned his head to look, asking, "What''s wrong?"


    Guan Yunjian said, "Something isn''t right, Shen Chasi. Uncle Shu and I will go ahead to scout the path."


    Shen Qing looked around and did not sense anything amiss, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched the two men.


    He did not trust them and was unsure what they were up to.


    Shen Qing had no intention of letting them go alone, "No need, let''s all have a look together!"


    "There''s no need, Shen Chasi, we''ll just go." Guan Yunjian said urgently.


    "Strange, very strange," Shen Qing stared at Guan Yunjian, a sharp light shing in his eyes as he questioned, "What''s the rush to leave? Are you nning to engage in some kind of skulduggery?"


    Guan Yunjian''splexion changed, and he exchanged a quick look with Uncle Shu.


    Without hesitation, Uncle Shu barked, "Damn it, Shen, don''t push your luck. Don''t force us to move!"


    "Hmm?"


    As soon as Uncle Shu''s voice fell, several dark figures emerged like ghosts from their hiding ces on the seemingly tranquil bridge, their speed astonishingly fast.


    Jiang Dacong, who was at the forefront of the group, had no time to react before he felt a pain in his chest. He was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily to the ground, his life or death unknown.


    "Dacong!" Liu Sangui cried out in rm from the group, hastily drawing his dagger.


    Shen Qing''s expression turned stern as he quickly scanned the surroundings, only to find they were encircled by ten martial masters.


    Guan Yunjian sped his hands and said, "Today we must trouble you all. Once this task ispleted, I assure you that your promised reward will be delivered in full to your residence."


    "Hahaha, good. Rest assured, for just one person, the ten of us will surely take care of your business cleanly," said an old man with youthful features among the ten, chuckling.


    Shen Qing''s expression darkened as he leaped from his horseback straight at Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu.


    "How dare you."


    Before the old man finished speaking, his figure swayed like an ancient pine, his sleeves billowed as if containing the force of mountains and rivers, and he struck out with two fierce palms.


    Two invisible bursts of strength surged forth like dragons, whistling towards Shen Qing.


    Bang!


    A deafening boom, like thunderps tearing the sky, erupted as their palm winds collided in mid-air, sending visible ripples of spiritual power spiraling out from them, shredding the surrounding air into tatters.


    Shen Qing''s figure swayed slightly as he lightly tapped his feet on the empty air, using the motion to dissipate the overwhelming force.


    "A Qi Hai Realm martial master!" Liu Sangui, standing to the side, turned ashen in an instant.


    "Go!"


    With the old man blocking in front, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu acted decisively, splitting to the left and right, swiftly breaking away from the group and silently blending into the surrounding shadows.


    Watching the two escape, Shen Qing was in no hurry. He slowly dismounted and swept his gaze across the crowd, calmly saying, "Who exactly are you, and why would you be tempted by mere officers? Do you think you''ll live after killing an officer if the county office finds out?"


    "That''s none of your concern. I don''t like to waste words on the dead," the old man said.


    "Do you really think you''ve got me cornered? Up until now, I still don''t know how strong I''ve be after my breakthrough! I''m afraid you might not be up to the task," Shen Qing said with a smirk, ncing at the clear river water beneath the bridge, "The scenery here is beautiful; how about I make it your final resting ce?"

 Chapter 200: Chapter 26 Despicable Outsider!

    Upon hearing Yun Yichen''s words, Shen Qing''s expression turned serious as well.


    He sensed an indescribable aura of authority radiating from the old man before him, different from those in the Qi Cultivation Realm martial masters, so he couldn''t help but be fully alert.


    Speaking of which, this was his first time facing off against a master of the Qi Hai Realm, and he dared not underestimate him.


    Old man Yun Yichen sneered coldly.


    As soon as his words fell, True Qi surged in the palm of his right hand, bursting forth with a dazzling brilliance akin to the first light of dawn, streams of golden light converged into a beam, with the force capable of destroying heaven and earth, he smashed it ferociously towards Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing''splexion changed.


    He felt Yun Yichen''s attack bearing down like a mountain, where a single misstep could mean eternal doom, and couldn''t help but experience aplex emotion woven of fear and excitement.


    Yun Yichen, who was rapidly closing in, saw the threads of fear on Shen Qing''s tense face and felt very satisfied with his reaction.


    Good!


    I hope you don''t disappoint me!


    The distance between the two rapidly diminished, and the wind from the strike hit them head-on.


    Shen Qing inhaled sharply, his pupils dting suddenly.


    He could already sense the terrifying power contained within that radiant force.


    So strong!


    So terrifying!


    If I were to be hit by this palm, I would surely be killed!


    I don''t want to die.


    "So, kill him!"


    In an instant, Shen Qing''s face twisted fiercely.


    At that moment, he cast aside all other thoughts, channeling the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill with all his might.


    The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, originating from the Great Zhou Court''s martial arts, was profound, capable of stacking the body''s strengthyer uponyer.


    Hum!


    The moment Shen Qing had the thought to activate it, the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill was driven to the extreme, with the Qi Sea above churning tumultuously, and True Qi inside him rushing like a river.


    It was as if countless real dragons were flipping over rivers and seas within him,pletely throwing everything into chaos.


    With each inversion of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, his power doubled.


    Under Shen Qing''s operation, the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill reversed five times in one breath, amplifying his body''s power fivefold.


    Shen Qing was like a war god between heaven and earth, surrounded by True Qi so dense it was nearly tangible, with a towering aura.


    With a roar that shook the skies, Shen Qing''s palms came together without any reservation, as he exerted all his force, suddenly flipping the Sky Flipping Seal.


    All worries and panic vanished in that moment, with a "Sky Flipping Seal" tearing through the air.


    The True Qi surged wildly like a dragon emerging from the sea, carrying the force that could move mountains and overturn seas, and collided head-on with Yun Yichen''s dazzling light palm.


    At the moment of impact, the sound of thunder and booming noise interwove, as though the heavens and earth themselves had changed color.


    Standing on the ground, Liu Sangui felt the squalls from the shockwave making it hard to keep his footing; had he not nted his knife into the ground, he would have been blown away.


    The calm water under the bridge suddenly surged with waves several feet high.


    A trace of incredulous horror shed across Yun Yichen''s eyes; he had never imagined that Shen Qing could unleash such a shocking and awe-inspiring force.


    "How could this be?! This power... Ah... you lowly... foreigner!"


    Bang!


    The unstoppable might of the Sky Flipping Seal pierced through the brilliance in Yun Yichen''s palm, enveloping himpletely.


    Momentster, as the dust settled, Yun Yichen was left shattered to pieces, with only half of his body remaining.


    Hey disheveled on the ground, blood continuously pouring from his mouth.


    Yun Yichen looked up at Shen Qing, wanting to use all of his remaining strength to curse out loud, but the blood welled up, blocking his throat, leaving him unable to utter a word.


    He stared at Shen Qing with eyes filled with unwillingness.


    Under Shen Qing''s gaze, he slowly fell down with eyes wide open, swallowing hisst breath.


    Ah?


    Dead?!


    Gasping for air, Shen Qing stared dumbfounded at the scene before him, and couldn''t help but lower his head to look at his own palm, feeling somewhat speechless.


    He had never expected that even Yun Yichen, at Great Perfection of the Qi Hai Realm, couldn''t withstand his full-powered strike.


    By such reckoning, even a martial master at the higher Yu Luo Realm, he could also give a fight.


    Now he had roughly assessed his ownbat strength.


    The corner of Shen Qing''s mouth lifted involuntarily, revealing a carefreeugh as he covered his face.


    At this moment, a strong sense of weakness and a wrenching pain in the Dantian washed over him like a tide.


    The aftereffects of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill had arrived.


    This time was somewhat different from the past.


    The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill had reversed his entire body''s True Qi, not one but five times, nearly wreaking havoc on his meridians and Qi Sea.


    There had not been much breakthrough and progress in the practice of the Blood Dominance Technique yet, it merely fortified Qi-Blood, and was somewhat insufficient in repairing the damage caused by the reversal of True Qi.


    So it required him to endure it forcefully.


    Fortunately, he hadid a solid foundation during his breakthrough to the Qi Hai Realm and possessed an extremely strong physical quality, ensuring that he wouldn''t lose his ability to move.


    Thus, Shen Qing stood in ce, quietly regting his breath as the faint Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth was absorbed by him.


    Behind him, Liu Sangui watched this scene, slightly stunned.


    At this moment Shen Qing appeared like a divine demon descending from the Nine Heavens, standing arrogantly amidst the scattered corpses, surrounded by a faint halo of light, exuding a transcendent aura that left Liu Sangui speechless for a long time.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, Shen Qing had recovered some strength. He turned around and quickly searched through the corpses on the ground, before mounting a horse.


    Awoken from a dream, Liu Sangui asked, "Lord officer, where are you heading to?"


    Even Liu Sangui hadn''t realized that his tone towards Shen Qing had be much more respectful than before.


    Shen Qing picked up the reins and instructed in an even tone, "I''m going to take care of a minor issue. You deal with this ce, then head to Changqiao Town to gather some information and see what the situation is exactly. I''ll be right back."


    "Let''s go!"


    Shen Qing gave a flick of the whip and galloped away.


    Havinge to thends of Yongzhou, considering the abundance of skilled individuals, he had restrained his temper, avoiding trouble.


    In addition, Guan Yunjian and another being of special identities, belonging to the house steward, he had let them be, nning to take care of them at ater date.


    But now it seemed they were more anxious than he was.


    In that case, don''t me me.


    He had always liked to repay grievances and seek revenge for wrongs.


    Sitting astride the horseback, Shen Qing''s mind moved, activating the Eagle Eye Technique.


    In an instant, the surroundings came alive in his mind.


    Shen Qing saw two figures, sprinting towards the city, leaving billows of dust in their wake.


    "Heading back to the city?!"


    With a cold expression, Shen Qing immediately followed in hot pursuit.


    Underneath the gate of Yongzhou City.


    Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu sped over, urging their horses on with the whip.


    "Whoa!"


    Stopping his horse, Guan Yunjian looked towards the city gate tower and said with an uplifted mood, "Considering the time, that Shen youngster''s body should have been thrown into the river to feed the fish by now, right?"


    "Even if he hasn''t been fed to the fish, he surely isn''t in much better shape. In front of so many martial masters, even if he had three heads and six arms, he would never stand a chance," Uncle Shu said with a smile, "But let''s not worry about that for now. We better hurry up to find Dong Jing, Dong Chasi, to see if he is willing to take us in."


    "Right, let''s go."


    After exchanging a few words, the two squeezed their horses'' nks and entered the city.

 Chapter 201: Chapter 27 Seeking Support

    In Changhe Square, a clear river flows through.


    The gentle waters, shimmering bright, reflect the adjacent, intricately ced pavilions and towers.


    Among these structures, the Dong Family''s estate from the Yongzhou Thirteen Lines is located here.


    The Dong Mansion is grand in scale, with its doors carved from ancient vermilion wood.


    Atop the doorframe, a gold-ted que glows, inscribed with the words "Dong Residence," exuding a noble air.


    Guan Yunjian descended the steps of the Dong family''s grand entrance and shook his head at Uncle Shu, "Dong Chasi is not at home."


    Uncle Shu asked, "Then where is he now?"


    Guan Yunjian nced at the zing sun high in the sky and said, "It''s midday, the mealtime. Dong Chasi hasn''t returned home; he should be at Zuihua Building outside the city, having a drink. Let''s go take a look there."


    The two immediately hurried towards Baihua Building.


    Going back and forth like this dyed them quite a bit.


    Arriving at Baihua Building, they entered the restaurant and saw pavilions and towers in harmonious disarray, rock gardens and reflecting poolsplementing each other, with all sorts of exotic flowers and ntspeting in splendor, ever-vibrant in all seasons.


    Meandering corridors led to elegant private rooms; through delicately carvedttice windows, one could glimpse the silhouettes of nobility inside¡ªsome ying the zither and reciting poetry, others enjoying tea or chess, or teasing women, toying with their tender hands.


    Everywhere was permeated with avish and wealthy atmosphere.


    Dong Jing was a regr patron at Baihua Building, and with a little inquiry to a waiter, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu soon found his private room.


    Standing at the door, a servant responsible for the private area gently knocked and said, "Dong Chasi, there are two officers here looking for you."


    Dong Jing, who was inside ying drinking games and entertaining beauties, furrowed his brow upon hearing this, puzzled as to why someone from the county office would seek him out at this time.


    He gestured for his subordinates to settle down a bit and said, "Let them in."


    The door to the private room creaked open.


    "We pay our respects to Dong Chasi," Uncle Zheng and Guan Yunjian said in unison as they bowed with sped fists.


    Dong Jing gave the two men a nce.


    He recognized them as officers from the Sixth Group, subordinates of Shen Qing.


    Why had theye to him?


    Dong Jing was momentarily perplexed.


    He straightened his posture and asked, "I remember you two apanied Shen Chasi to Changqiao Town, so why have you returned to the city and to me?"


    Guan Yunjian spoke with an extremely pained tone, "Dong Chasi may not know, that Wolf Demon of Changqiao Town has attained spiritual prowess, very difficult to deal with. Our Shen Chasi, unfortunately... unfortunately was harmed by the Wolf Demon..."


    Hearing Guan Yunjian mention Shen Qing being harmed by the Wolf Demon, a look of surprise appeared on Dong Jing''s face.


    Seeing Shen Qing as someone radiant in his eyes, had he really died so easily?


    Dong Jing found it hard to believe.


    However, he quickly calmed down and narrowed his eyes at Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu.


    Dong Jing noticed neither of the two had any signs ofbat or fatigue on them, which he found odd.


    He asked in a grave voice, "Then, why have the two of youe to find me?"


    Guan Yunjian smiled and said, "We havee to seek assistance from Dong Chasi."


    As he spoke, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Zheng exchanged meaningful nces with a group of officers sitting at the table.


    Dong Jing understood, realizing that the two had something else to discuss with him privately.


    So, he waved his subordinates away, saying, "You''ve had your meal, go on patrol."


    The group of officers red at Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu and reluctantly said, "Yes."


    They red at the two standing by the door, each getting up and leaving.


    Dong Jing also sent away the serving girls who had apanied him for drinks.


    In the blink of an eye, the spacious private room was left with only Dong Jing, Guan Yunjian, and Uncle Shu.


    "Now, can you two tell me what exactly you havee here for?" Dong Jing picked up his cup and drank deeply as he inquired.


    His hand rested on his waist, steadying the dispatch office''s Dagger.


    "The ancients say, ''He who knows the times is a wise man; a good bird chooses the tree it lodges in,''" Guan Yunjian said with a smile stered on his face, "Officer Dong, Officer Shen has died. We would like to offer our services to you, to toil for you like dogs and horses."


    Seeing their demeanor, Dong Jing withdrew his gaze and had a rough guess in his mind.


    He said with a half-smile, "Officer Shen didn''t die at the hands of a Wolf Demon but at your hands, right?"


    Neither Guan Yunjian nor Uncle Shu reacted angrily when this was pointed out; they remained unperturbed and calm.


    Having spent many years in the Guardian Martial Department, many officers and lower-level agents who came from humble beginnings ended up with poor oues, situations like that of Shen Qing were not unheard of.


    As long as the offered benefits were sufficient, even if the Chief Officer were to drown unexpectedly this very night, there would be someone willing to pinch their nose and ept it.


    However, it was necessary to have some semnce of a fig leaf.


    Feigning misunderstanding, Guan Yunjian shook his head and said, "Officer Dong must be joking. How could we have such gall? We merely wish to seek your protection to advance further."


    "Of course, we wouldn''t want to make things difficult for you, Lord Dong. Over the years, we have indeed umted some wealth. If you are willing, we''re prepared to pay one thousand taels of cash annually to show our respect."


    They knew Dong Jing was a son born to a concubine; despite his bravado in front of them, within the Dong Residence, he had to tread carefully and was not particrly well-off.


    A thousand taels might not be a lot for a legitimate son of a high-ranking family, but for Dong Jing, it was a substantial amount, enough to sway him, and this deal would not be to their disadvantage either.


    Shen Qing owned property in Yongzhou worth nearly a thousand taels just by itself.


    Amidst surrounding turmoil, Yongzhou alone remained unscathed.


    Many people wanted to move to the city to make a living, and the price of houses had been rising year on year; it was solid currency.


    Besides the house, Shen Qing had also taverns - if they could take over the recipes, they would be raking in gold daily.


    With these thoughts, Guan Yunjian almost couldn''t contain the smugness on his face.


    However, Dong Jing did not see it the same way.


    To Dong Jing, both Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu were veterans of the Military Department, and his past assessment of them could be summed up in four words: all ambition, no talent.


    Otherwise, they would not have spent so many years stuck in the Sixth Group, achieving nothing.


    In contrast, Dong Jing did not consider Shen Qing to be a mediocre person; he found him to be quite capable.


    It was more fitting to say that Shen Qing had been toying with the two men.


    A thousand taels a year was not an excessive amount to him, but it certainly was not insignificant either.


    However, he did not n to decide too early before the situation became clear.


    At that moment, outside the Baihua Building.


    Shen Qing had been tracking by horseback, and upon seeing the familiar official horses outside the entrance, he knew that Guan Yunjian and the other were inside.


    He dismounted and rushed into the Baihua Building.


    "Waiter, I''m looking for two officers."


    Shen Qing called over a servant and exined his purpose.


    After a description, the servant understood, inquired about their whereabouts, and then led Shen Qing to the door of the Dong Jing''s private room.


    The servant respectfully said, "My lord, shall I knock on the door?"


    "No need," Shen Qing stepped forward and kicked the door.


    Bang!


    The private room''s door was kicked open.

 Chapter 202: Chapter 28 Why Should the Dead Interfere in Shen Qings Actions?

    ```


    In the elegant private room of Baihua Building.


    After hearing Guan Yunjian''s terms, Dong Jing silently picked up his chopsticks, unhurriedly took a bite of the dish, sipped his wine, and showed an expression of enjoyment, as if he had left the two hanging.


    Watching Dong Jing''s behavior, both Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu cursed internally that Dong Jing was tooposed.


    Guan Yunjian stepped forward with a forced smile on his face, "We truly wish to follow Dong Chasi. I wonder if the price we''re offering is not satisfying to Dong Chasi?"


    Dong Jing put down his wine cup, continued to eat and said, "It''s not about the money. It''s just that words alone aren''t enough. Now you suddenly say you want to join me, and if Shen Chasi finds out, he might think I''m purposely stealing his people."


    "Haha!" Uncle Shuughed confidently, "I was wondering what Dong Chasi was worried about. It''s just this. Rest assured Dong Chasi, that Shen is certainly dead. We all saw it with our own eyes."


    This time, they had gathered nine Martial Arts Halls and an old martial master of the Qi Sea status. Shen Qing was merely a martial master of the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    Faced with such a situation, he really couldn''t see any possibility for Shen Qing to survive.


    Even if they had left a bit early and hadn''t actually seen the oue, it was foreseeable.


    In their view, it wasn''t wrong to say it in advance.


    However, just at that moment, a dull thud came from the door.


    Bang!


    "You''re saying I''m definitely dead?!"


    Upon hearing the familiar voice, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu turned their heads in a sh.


    There stood Shen Qing at the door, his figure as tall and straight as a pine.


    At that moment, both were like struck by lightning, their bodies shivering, as if they had seen a ghost.


    "How... how could you..."


    Guan Yunjian''s voice trembled, each word seeming to be squeezed out through clenched teeth, filled with disbelief and deeply hidden fear.


    Uncle Shu was the same, his face white as paper, his eyes wide open, almost unable to speak.


    Seeing both of them in the private room, Shen Qing hooked up the corner of his mouth in a faint smile, and, ncing at the attendant behind him, said, "Sorry to trouble you, young brother, but please close the door."


    After saying this, he strode over the threshold and entered, boldly standing in front of Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu.


    The attendant at the doorway, seeing everyone inside wearing official uniforms, hurried to close the door for Shen Qing without dy.


    Shen Qing, without looking back, took his dagger from his waist, shoved it backward, and tapped it on the door bolt.


    With a snap, the bolt fell into ce, securing the door shut.


    Dong Jing, sitting in the main seat, nced at Shen Qing then at the stunned Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu standing like petrified chickens, and his mouth curved upwards.


    Just as he had expected, Shen Qing wasn''t going to be that easily manipted by these two.


    Now there would be a good show to watch.


    While Dong Jing was sizing them up, Shen Qing also subtly took a moment to size up Dong Jing.


    Shortly after, he showed a hint of a smile and said, "I was wondering where you had gone. Turns out you came to see Dong Chasi. May I know what business you have with Dong Chasi?"


    In the face of Shen Qing''s questioning, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu realized they might have misjudged their Chief Officer.


    Suddenly, a storm of panic rose in their hearts, wild fear growing like weeds, unstoppable, with the sound of their rapid heartbeats echoing in their ears.


    "We..."


    Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu began to stammer, a stark contrast to their earlier confidence.


    Dong Jing wore an expression of someone who enjoys a good spectacle. He intervened, "They said you were dead and wanted to seek refuge with me, asking for my protection."


    Upon hearing this, Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu suddenly looked as if they were about to copse.


    They were in league.


    They were in league with each other.


    Guan Yunjian no longer tried to conceal the unsavory deeds in his heart, suppressing the fear within and said, "Shen, what did you do to those people?"


    Shen Qingughed, "What else could I have done? Of course, I killed them. Not to criticize, but the people you brought were honestly quitecking in the basics, too weak."


    ```


    Guan Yunjian''s face was pale.


    He never imagined that the heads of the Martial Arts Halls in the Outer City, when mentioned by Shen Qing, would all becking in basic skills and have been entirely silenced.


    "Impossible, impossible¡­"


    This time, taking action had pushed the two to a life and death situation; it was either his death or my survival.


    Now that Shen Qing was standing here, it also meant that they couldn''t escape their fate.


    In the face of the overwhelming desire to live, Guan Yunjian''s expression became increasingly crazed, almost hysterical.


    Suddenly, as if he had grasped a lifeline, he said coldly, "Although we are officers with low status, after all, we belong to the Guardian Martial Department. You cannot kill us. Otherwise, you won''t be able to exin to the Chief Officer, to Lord Huangfu. Why don''t we both take a step back and pretend nothing happened? How about that?"


    "Pretend nothing happened? You really have the nerve to say it. Didn''t you think of all the reasons for me to kill you?"


    "What?"


    "Nowadays, demons are rampant in Yongzhou City; a few officers dying is quite normal, isn''t it!"


    Shen Qing slightly turned his body and walked slowly towards Guan Yunjian and hispanion.


    As he walked, he drew the dagger from his waist.


    By the time the long sword was fully unsheathed, he had stopped in front of the two men, holding the long sword, and said with a smile, "Besides, since when do I, Shen Qing, need the dead to speak into my affairs? Today, I just want to kill you, and no one can stop me! I said so."


    As thest word left Shen Qing''s mouth, he suddenly drew his sword, moving so fast that it nearly surpassed the limits of what the eye could capture.


    And with that instant of drawing his sword, the True Qi around his body boiled, like a river bursting its banks, surging violently, forming visible ripples that spread out in all directions from him, causing the air to tremble wherever it passed.


    All that remained in Guan Yunjian''s eyes was that extremely dazzling white light.


    Wherever Shen Qing''s long sword went, space itself seemed to split apart, emitting a howling crack.


    Before he could react, Guan Yunjian''s body had beenpletely engulfed by the white light.


    A thud.


    Before Guan Yunjian could react, his body was cleaved open by Shen Qing''s de from head to chest, not even managing to let out a scream.


    Uncle Shu, who was nearby, watched everything, his body turning ice cold.


    His legs turned weak, his whole body trembling non-stop, and his chattering teeth intermittently let out a whimpering plea for mercy, "This¡­ was all¡­ Guan Yunjian''s idea¡­ it has nothing to do with me¡­ I even tried to dissuade¡­ him!"


    However, Shen Qing''s gaze remained utterly unfazed, and with augh full of scorn, he said, "Do you think I''d believe such ame excuse?"


    Uncle Shu grit his teeth and hurriedly drew his dagger, striking a sideways blow at Shen Qing.


    Yet Shen Qing had no intention of dodging.


    Covered by the Dragon Roar Armor, he caught Uncle Shu''s swinging de barehanded.


    "Hmm?"


    Uncle Shu''s eyes shed with bemusement.


    With a flick of Shen Qing''s arm, he swung his sword down once again, without any hesitation.


    The de''s light shed and was gone; apanied by Uncle Shu''sst muffled scream, crimson blood sprayed from his neck.


    He stared with wide eyes, clutching at his neck, stumbled backward several steps, then his body went limp, and he fell to his knees, face down.


    The most efficient killing is often done in the simplest of ways.


    To Shen Qing, disposing of Guan Yunjian and the other was merely a matter of two sideways shes.


    Shen Qing wiped the blood from his de on his arm, turned his head to Dong Jing, who remained unperturbed, and said, "Sorry for the disturbance, it seems I''ve disrupted Dong Chasi''s enjoyment today."


    "It''s fine," Dong Jing said with a smile. "Has Shen Chasi had lunch yet?"


    "Not yet."


    Dong Jing gestured with his chopsticks to the dishes and wine on the table and said, "Then, how about joining me?"


    "Great! I''ve been chasing demons all the way here and am quite hungry. I will dly ept your hospitality," Shen Qing replied.


    Seeing Dong Jing''s calmness, Shen Qing sheathed his sword and strode towards the table, taking a seat to Dong Jing''s right.

 Chapter 203: Chapter 29: Owe You a Favor

    Shen Qing, regardless of the bloodstains on his body, picked up the wine cup and drained it in one gulp.


    After eliminating the threats of Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu, a hint of relief and ease appeared on his face.


    "Good wine!"


    "Brother Shen, what a bold spirit! Since it''s good wine, should you not drink more?"


    Dong Jing watched Shen Qing''s unkempt appearance without any concern and even took the initiative to pour him another drink, the matter of the promised thousand taels from Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu long forgotten.


    Shen Qing stopped the wine cup and said, "It''s enough to drink the wine for its taste, too much can spoil the pleasure."


    "If not drinking, how about eating instead?" Dong Jing was not annoyed, "This Baihua Building has long enjoyed a renowned reputation in Yongzhou, and though the food can''tpare to your Shen Ji''s, it is still quite delicious. It''s just that you''ve arrived a bitte, so only leftovers remain."


    Shen Qingughed heartily, "With this table of leftovers, how many people in Great Zhou would have the chance to eat them? Besides, I came here tomit murder, not to attend a banquet."


    "Indeed, that''s true." Dong Jing alsoughed heartily with him.


    Shen Qing made no pretense of politeness and wolfed down the food on the table.


    The consecutive ordeals had indeed left him famished and with a ravenous appetite.


    Dong Jing took a sip from his wine cup and quietly nced at Shen Qing eating heartily, then cast a look towards the corpses beside them.


    The eyes of Guan Yunjian and Uncle Shu were fixed on Shen Qing in death, while Shen Qing, who had in them, ate as if nothing had happened, his appetite surprisingly hearty, which left Dong Jing marvelling.


    "I wonder what these two did to offend Shen Chasi today?" Dong Jing asked.


    Shen Qing recounted, "They found nine martial masters somewhere, attempting to take my life, which annoyed me, so I came over."


    "Nine martial masters?"


    "Merely mediocrities, their skills no match for mine."


    Shen Qing, believing he and Dong Jing were not close friends, thus had little trust in Dong Jing and held back when speaking, not revealing the details about the martial masters from the Qi Hai Realm.


    Furthermore, while speaking, he skillfully rested his hand on the hilt of his de, casually casting a few nces at Dong Jing.


    Should Dong Jing show any sign of odd behavior, he would not hesitate to strike and y him, letting him join Guan Yunjian and the others in death.


    In his view, killing two people was killing, killing three was no different.


    Dong Jing, surprised by the statement, said, "They must have really exhausted their resources this time. I had long heard that Guan Yunjian had made many connections using his position at the Guardian Martial Department over the years, and it seems it wasn''t just rumors. Now that you''ve killed them, what do you n to do next?"


    Shen Qing countered, "I wonder if Brother Dong has any wise insights?"


    Dong Jing hadn''t expected Shen Qing to throw the question back to him.


    After pondering for a while, he said, "No wise insights. I just think that Shen Chasi should just wait and watch. Dead men tell no tales, and nobody will want to stand up for a dead man. In my opinion, they are just using the Guardian Martial Department''s name in vain, and they are likely to die unavenged."


    Shen Qing strongly agreed.


    The status of two mere officers was indeed not high.


    Moreover, after observing for so many days, he knew that Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu only had eyes for women and wealth and was even less likely to care about this matter.


    Seeing Dong Jing''sposed demeanor, showing no intent of plotting against him, a judgement formed in Shen Qing''s heart.


    At the very least, they were not enemies for the time being.


    "Indeed, that''s what I think as well."


    Shen Qing ate quickly, swiftly clearing the table of its food as if a whirlwind had passed through.


    He found a towel and skillfully wiped his greasy hands, then said to Dong Jing, "Thank you for your hospitality, Brother Dong. I have another favor to ask of you."


    "What is it?"


    Shen Qing pointed to the two corpses not far away and said, "I need to investigate the Wolf Demon matter and am a bit pressed for time. I hope Brother Dong can help me deal with these two. I''ll owe you a favor."


    Friends ustomed to killing people all know that it''s easy to kill, but hard to dispose of the bodies.


    Even in these times when human life is as cheap as mustard, killing people in the street is still a grave crime, one that the Military Department does not overlook.


    Not to mention that the men Shen Qing had killed were officers, half belonging to the official estate, and that made the matter all the more serious.


    If anyone discovered anything amiss, it wouldn''t necessarily be life-threatening, but it would definitely be troublesome.


    Shen Qing had thought this would be a difficult request, but to Dong Jing, it seemed to be of no concern at all. He simply said, "It''s a trifling matter."


    Dong Jing pped his hands together.


    Before long, a servant from the Baihua Building came to the door and knocked, "Dong Chasi, did you call for me?"


    "There''s been a small incident here with some bloodshed. Call two handymen and have them clean it up in the backyard," Dong Jing said casually.


    "Understood."


    Shen Qing didn''t have to wait long before two sturdy handymen, each carrying a sack, came over.


    When they saw the two officers'' bodies on the ground, a flicker of surprise crossed their eyes.


    Without a word, they skillfully packed the bodies into the sacks, and even a servant came with a bucket of water and a cloth to clean the bloodstains from the floor, bowing his head and saying respectfully, "Dong Chasi, please take your time."


    After finishing, he silently closed the door, as if nothing had happened.


    The cooperation was so practiced that Shen Qing was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Dong Jing smiled and said, "This Baihua Building is the Dong Family''s property. Often enough, some who do not know their cemit offenses here, and we at the Baihua Building have ample experience in handling bodies. There''s no need for Shen Chasi to be so surprised. From today on, even if heaven and earth were turned upside down, no one could find these two again."


    It was only then that Shen Qing half woke to the realization.


    The Yongzhou Thirteen Lines were a colossal presence in the county town, each of them more formidable than the county government office.


    For them, killing people and disposing of bodies were asmon and routine as a daily meal.


    "Thank you, Dong Chasi," Shen Qing said, moving toward the window. "Now that we''ve eaten and drunk, I''lle find you to set a table of good food and drink once I''m less busy. Please don''t decline. I''ll take my leave now."


    "Take care."


    Shen Qing''s clothes were covered in blood, which wouldn''t have been appropriate for openly strutting around the Baihua Building.


    He leaped down from the window, used some hunting techniques to conceal his form, and vanished from the private room.


    Watching Shen Qing''s retreating figure, Dong Jing pondered thoughtfully.


    "Just now, his True Qi was manifest, clearly showing he has broken through to the Qi Hai Realm."


    "Hiss..."


    Dong Jing inhaled sharply.


    "A sixteen-year-old martial master of the Qi Hai Realm, this would be considered an extraordinary gift even among the noble families. Given time, his future might truly be boundless."


    "In light of this, why not owe him a bigger favor? Complete the kindness thoroughly by taking care of the entire matter for him. Who knows, there maye a time when I need his assistance."

 Chapter 204: Chapter 30: Wolf Demon Sighting

    Having leaped out the window of Baihua Building, Shen Qing gracefully spread his arms and, like a cat,nded softly and quietly on the ground.


    He turned back to look at Baihua Building.


    Now that the matter with Guan Yun Jian and hispanion had concluded, it was time to deal with the menace of the Wolf Demon.


    This was his duty as an officer of the Guardian Martial Department. Failing to perform well could lead to severe consequences.


    He had been dyed here for quite some time.


    After concealing the bloodstains, Shen Qing went straight to his prized steed and galloped away, heading directly for Changqiao Town.


    ...


    On the expressway outside Yong City.


    A shadow zoomed past, swift as a dark iron arrow cutting through the wind.


    Zhuifeng, a fine horse, had been well cared for by Xiao Shan, and its stamina seemed to have increased. It had traveled back and forth twice without any signs of fatigue or slowing down.


    About a quarter hourter, Shen Qing returned to the Qinghe River outside Changqiao Town.


    At the ce outside Changqiao where he had fought, one could only faintly see bloodstains on the ground; the bodies had vanished.


    They must have been dealt with by Liu Sangui.


    Shen Qing gently tugged on the reins, slowing the sleek Zhuifeng as they stepped onto the bridge of Changqiao Town.


    The horse''s hooves tapped lightly on the bridge, producing a sharp, clear sound.


    After a brisk ride, Zhuifeng''s chest heaved with heavy breaths, but the steps it took remained methodical and orderly.


    Amidst the rhythmic clopping, Shen Qing had unknowingly entered Changqiao Ancient Town.


    Outside the ancient town, threerge archways stood across the road, nking golden yellow rice fields on both sides.


    As Shen Qing appeared, many vigers bent over withbor straightened their backs and looked towards the officer from the Guardian Martial Department.


    They tied bunches of rice nts while they observed Shen Qing.


    There was a trace of fear on their numb faces.


    For them, the officials from Yongzhou City were no different from demons¡ªboth devoured humans.


    However, whereas a demon would devour a human in a few bites, the officials of Yongzhou City would do so over many decades, across generations.


    As Shen Qing walked on the road, many vigers sidestepped, avoiding sharing the path with him as if he were a viper.


    Even a woodcutter, carrying firewood, threw his bundle down and jumped into the fields with the others, trembling as he watched Shen Qing leave.


    After they could no longer see him, these people, as though relieved, returned to the main road.


    Witnessing this, Shen Qing couldn''t help but sigh inwardly.


    He had not realized that officials of Great Zhou were so unwee.


    He had not walked long before entering theplex residential area of Changqiao Town.


    Shacks made of simple thatch were scattered before Shen Qing.


    In the midst of these humble homes, an elegantly structured estate conspicuously stood out.


    On the outskirts of the residential area, a servant in in clothes suddenly caught Shen Qing''s eye.


    He looked around periodically, lingering at the doorway.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He hurried forward and took hold of Shen Qing''s reins.


    The servant said with a cating smile, "Officer, our master specifically instructed me to wait for you here."


    "And who is your master?"


    "The vige chief here."


    The vige chief was effectively the town mayor.


    Shen Qing said expressionlessly, "Lead the way!"


    "Yes, sir."


    Shen Qing had just killed a person not long ago and carried with him an air of faintly discernible malevolence that nearly made the servants shudder, daring not to dy.


    Led with respectful guidance by the servant, they crossed the gstone path, and Shen Qing was brought to the front of a manor.


    The manor''s main gate stood imposingly tall, nked by majestic stone lions.


    Even before Shen Qing could step over the threshold, a hearty and expectantugh pierced through the door, eagerly greeting his arrival.


    "Haha, Lord Officer, we''ve been eagerly waiting for you!"


    A middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes and exuding an extraordinary presence heard themotion and hastened to the door to wee him personally.


    Shen Qing dismounted and said, "I am Shen Qing from the Guardian Martial Department, sent by the Chief Officer to subdue demons."


    "So, it is Officer Shen himself." The vige chief quickly approached, sped his hands together, and gave a deep bow.


    "May I know the vige chief''s honored surname?"


    "Please, it''s Zhou."


    Shen Qing asked, "A member of the Zhou family from Yongzhou?"


    "My ancestors were, but by my generation, we have long since been disconnected, without much contact with the Jun City Zhou Family. Nevertheless, we still benefit somewhat from the family''s reputation."


    Vige chief Zhou Baoyin candidly said, "Pleasee inside and have a seat, sir. I have already prepared a feast."


    "Let''s skip the feast, dealing with the demon is more pressing." Shen Qing gazed at the distant mountains and said, "Where are my subordinates?"


    Zhou Baoyin was momentarily startled and responded, "They arrived not long ago and already went up the mountain to investigate the Wolf Demon''s traces."


    Shen Qing frowned. When had Liu Sangui ever been so responsible about demon-ying?


    In his eyes, although Liu Sangui appeared diligent on a normal day, he was actually quite slippery, one to drag his feet whenever possible, preferring fewer troubles over more.


    It wasn''t likely for him to rush into checking on the demon without waiting around.


    Strange.


    Shen Qing took another look at Zhou Baoyin and asked, "Tell me about this Wolf Demon."


    Observing Shen Qing''s tone, Zhou Baoyin''s expression grew serious.


    sping his hands together and slightly bowing, he respectfully said, "To report to you, sir, the problem originated about a month ago."


    "There was a woodcutter named Zhang in our town who, as usual, wanted to chop wood for charcoal, but unexpectedly¡­"


    Zhou Baoyin paused for a moment, a hint of barely noticeable fear shing in his eyes, and continued, "After hisst trip into the mountains, he didn''t return for several days. When I found him, he was reduced to a skeleton, gnawed beyond recognition."


    "Since then, the woodcutters entering the mountains often heard strange growling sounds that did not resemble typical beasts, with people asionally disappearing, causing widespread panic."


    "Some even saw a giant wolf with an enormous body. With more mysterious incidents urring in the woods, it''s said that this Wolf Demon is behind it all. We are truly at our wits'' end, which is why we sought your help, sir."


    "Awooo!"


    As they spoke, a wolf''s howl echoed.


    Shen Qing, as if sensing something, slowly directed his gaze toward a small hill outside of the town.


    He used his skill of sharp eyesight to focus intently on it.


    In the distance, a massive Wolf Demon, its eyes flickering with a ghostly green glow, bared its teeth and growled menacingly.


    Zhou Baoyin trembled, pointing and shouting, "Ah, the Wolf Demon, that''s the Wolf Demon!"


    "Sir, due to this Wolf Demon, many woodcutters in the town have not dared to go into the mountains for many days, putting them in dire straits. We hope you will intervene on our behalf."


    The arrival of the wolf was such a coincidence?


    Shen Qing was somewhat hesitant.


    But since it had shown itself, it spared them the trouble of a lengthy search in the vast mountains.


    Shen Qing immediately took down the Heavy Bow hanging on his horse, fetched a dark iron arrow, and ced it on the bowstring.


    He drew the bow fully, extending his arm length, aiming the arrow toward the verdant forest ahead.


    "What does the master n to do? Can he really subdue the Wolf Demon with just a bow and arrow?"


    A servant, standing next to the vige chief, stepped forward a few paces to the chief''s ear and whispered.


    Zhou Baoyin squinted and said, "Let''s wait and see first."

 Chapter 205: Chapter 31: The Heavy Arrow Kills the Wolf Demon, Too Fast!

    Shen Qing''s fingers suddenly rxed.


    In an instant, the tearing sound of air erupted.


    A streak of extremely cold light, swift like lightning, raced towards the Wolf Demon standing amidst the trees, following an almost imperceptible trajectory through the void.


    For a mere distance of four hundred meters, it arrived in a blink of an eye.


    The just-emerged Wolf Demon seemed to sense an immense danger. Its fur stood on end, and human-like emotions flickered through its eerily green eyes.


    Without any hesitation, it promptly dodged to the side without a second thought.


    The activation of the skill "every arrow hits the mark" in Bow Technique made everything feel as if it were predestined.


    Just as the Wolf Demon darted to the side, the whistling arrow struck its body unerringly.


    With a muffled thud,


    the sharp arrow hit its wolf body precisely, its powerful inertia tearing through the flesh and piercing through its abdomen.


    Apanied by a piercing howl, the massive body of the Wolf Demon crashed to the ground, the demon energy swirling around it suddenly in disarray.


    Like a scattered cloud blown by a gust of wind, it instantly lost the majesty of a Wolf Demon.


    A flicker of shock crossed its eyes, unable to understand how it could be wounded by a mere human arrow.


    In the past, the arrows of the Human n were like tickling, never causing any substantial harm, let alone dodging the arrow!


    Whiz, whiz, whiz!


    Three arrows descended from the sky, almost sealing off all its avenues of escape.


    Before it even had a chance to stand and defend itself, the three arrows, as though guided by sight, sessively buried into its skin and flesh.


    Nearly nailing it firmly to the ground.


    Blood trickled from the corner of the Wolf Demon''s mouth, its eyes fixed on Shen Qing, standing in the distance with his bow. It realized that everything waspletely different from what the Wolf King had told it.


    Gradually, the Wolf Demon felt its body bing heavier and heavier... Its raised fur slowly ttened down, and in just a few dozen breaths, itpletely lost consciousness, breathing itsst.


    The vige chief, Zhou Baoyin, and the servants standing at the mansion''s entrance widened their eyes in disbelief at the scene, slowly focusing their gaze on Shen Qing.


    Their hearts pounded nonstop, clearly not expecting Shen Qing to possess such astonishing methods.


    Especially vige chief Zhou Baoyin, whose face turned extremely unsightly, sweat beads forming, his heart pounding like a drum.


    Just a few arrows to kill a demon, that was too fast!


    Shen Qing, with a skeptical tone, lowered the bow and arrow in his hand and asked, "Is this the Wolf Demon that has been threatening your town for days?"


    He felt that this so-called Wolf Demon was almost no different from the Dog Demon he had encountered before.


    Too weak!


    Couldn''t a big town like Changqiao handle even such a weak demon?


    Not to mention the ordinary townsfolk, farmers, woodcutters, given the Zhou Family''s prestige, along with the treatment of the vige chief from the court, he didn''t believe Zhou Baoyin did not practice Martial Arts orcked the ability to y demons.


    Even if his talent and cultivation were poor, as a member of such arge family with many heirs, as long the resources were there, some would inevitably stand out.


    Such Little Demons should almost be easy to capture.


    Shen Qing''s nce subtly surveyed vige chief Zhou Baoyin, noticing that thetter''s Qi-Blood was abundant, clearly pointing to some level of training.


    This made him even more puzzled and felt very inconsistent.


    Shen Qing temporarily set aside the doubts in his heart and said, "This Wolf Demon has been in. I will go and take a look at the Wolf Demon''s body to see if there is anything else we missed."


    No sooner had he spoken than Shen Qing''s figure suddenly unfolded, turning into a streak of light, and in an instant, he had risen into the air, flying towards the woods hundreds of meters away.


    Along the way, the treetops swayed.


    All along the path, birds perched on the branches were startled by the sudden disturbance and took off in panic, their cries echoing loudly.


    The technique Shen Qing was using at the moment was not any profound martial art but merely a movement technique from his hunting skills. Propelled by instinct, he flew forward, but with the nourishment and enhancement of the Qi Sea Realm''s robust True Qi, this basic movement technique exhibited an astonishing speed and agility.


    After just a short while, Shen Qing leapt down from a height,nding near the Wolf Demon''s corpse, causing the surrounding leaves to tremble violently from the disturbance of his air current.


    Shen Qing narrowed his eyes, staring at the Wolf Demon corpse before him, his gaze bing deep and sharp.


    Into the sturdy hide of the Wolf Demon''s body, three arrows had deeply embedded themselves, the blood around them already congealing into dark traces, save for the massive wound in the abdomen which continued to ooze filthy blood.


    On closer inspection, this Wolf Demon, besides being muchrger than its kin, was no different from ordinary wolves.


    Shen Qing unsheathed the dagger at his waist, cut open the Wolf Demon''s belly, and examined its stomach.


    Inside, apart from a barely identifiable rabbit carcass, there were no human tissue fragments to be found.


    Shen Qing clearly remembered the vige chief Zhou Baoyin saying that people from their town would asionally disappear because of this Wolf Demon; it should have been eating humans.


    It now seemed either the Wolf Demon guing the town was another one, or Zhou Baoyin was lying.


    in was this Wolf Demon, but it did not necessarily mean the town''s misfortunes had been resolved.


    Shen Qing raised his eyebrows slightly, pulled the arrows out from the ground, returned them to the Arrow Quiver, and then carried the Wolf Demon corpse back the way he came with one hand.


    Bang!


    Shen Qing threw the sizable corpse of the Wolf Demon in front of Vige Chief Zhou Baoyin and the others, kicking up ayer of dust.


    Vige Chief Zhou Baoyin immediately reacted, raising his thumb and eximing in admiration, "Shen Chasi is truly a divine archer! Who would have thought that the Wolf Demon which has troubled us for so long would be in so easily by your Excellency!"


    "I will make sure to report this to the county office, so the Prefectural Governor and everyone else are aware of your grace."


    "Since your Excellency has expended so much effort, I must also show my gratitude."


    Having said that, he signaled with his eyes.


    Understanding the cue, a servant immediately brought a tray of Silver Ingots before Shen Qing.


    Vige Chief Zhou Baoyin bowed with hands sped and said, "The issue with the demons here is settled. This modest token is not worthy of your merit. I hope Shen Chasi will not refuse it."


    Shen Qing stepped forward, picked up a Silver Ingot, and weighed it in his hand for a moment. It had a substantial heft, "Vige Chief truly knows how to conduct affairs; please wrap it up for me."


    "Right away." Zhou Baoyin turned back to his servants and scolded, "Shen Chasi has spoken, why are you still standing there? Go quickly!"


    The servant hurriedly nodded and bowed, rushing to carry out the task.


    "Now that this matter is concluded, Shen Chasi, do you think..."


    "What''s the hurry?" Shen Qing nced at Zhou Baoyin and said, "Didn''t you just prepare a banquet? It would be a waste to leave it, so I might as well go now, especially since my subordinates will be arriving soon."


    Zhou Baoyin''s face changed slightly, and he quickly stered on a smile, saying, "My apologies for being presumptuous. Shen Chasi, this way, please."


    Shen Qing strode over the threshold and entered the estate.


    He hadn''t walked far when he suddenly remembered something andmanded Zhou Baoyin''s servant, "Oh, and remember to skin the Wolf Skin; it''s quite valuable in the city, and I need to take it back."

 Chapter 206 Chapter 32 Are you hiding something from me?

    Hearing this, Vige Chief Zhou Baoyin''s face turned pale.


    However, considering Shen Qing''s identity, he couldn''t afford to lose his temper and quickly gestured with his hands, signaling his people below to follow the instructions.


    Shen Qing didn''t pay any attention to these thoughts and, surrounded by Zhou Baoyin''s entourage, stepped into his grand courtyard.


    If killing the Wolf Demon had only aroused some suspicion,


    then Zhou Baoyin''s eagerness to send him off had almost convinced him that Zhou Baoyin must be hiding something from him.


    So far, Liu Sangui had not shown up, and not a single trace of him had been found, which gave Shen Qing an even worse premonition.


    It was very likely that Liu Sangui had met with foul y.


    Although he was thinking this way, Shen Qing did not show any emotion on his face and remained calm.


    Changqiao Town was located at the foot of the mountain and beside the river, with only a canal ess, which wasn''t very convenient for outside contact.


    In a sense, it was like gathering a dozen or so Hongshan Viges together.


    Shabby and old.


    Thatched cottages crowded together, oppressively small and cramped.


    But entering Zhou Baoyin''s home was a different scene altogether.


    As soon as he entered, the elegant yet luxurious ambiance characteristic of a high-ranking household hit him.


    The bluestone path was immactely clean, and flower beds on both sides were colorful and lush.


    Every time a gentle breeze passed by, the refreshing fragrance became more intense, making one feel rxed and happy.


    Above the main hall, the eaves soared upward; at first nce, the wall was adorned with famous paintings, the ink strokes vividly depicting the grandeur of mountains and rivers, as well as the delicate minutiae of flowers, birds, fish, and insects.


    Everything around created a strong contrast with the overall appearance of Changqiao Town.


    Shen Qing put away his thoughts and walked side by side with Zhou Baoyin into the main hall.


    The moment he entered the house, servants brought in steaming hot dishes and ced them on the table.


    The heat rose, and the aroma wafted through the air, mouthwatering.


    Zhou Baoyin, who was following, stepped forward quickly, his face beaming as he said, "Mr. Shen, your presence in my humble abode is an honor! The feast that the kitchen prepared, although not rare delicacies, is indeed the best my household has to offer. I hope you won''t find it wanting."


    At these words, Shen Qingughed and said, "Vige Chief, you''re too modest. I haven''t yet tasted the local dishes here, and today is a good opportunity for me to do so."


    "This way please, Shen Chasi!"


    Vige Chief Zhou Baoyin invited Shen Qing to take a seat in the guest seat of honor, while he himself sat in the master seat.


    By that time, it was past noon.


    Calcting carefully, it should be about the end of Wei Hour, early Shen Hour.


    Clearly this time was already past the traditional mealtime.


    Shen Qing wasn''t hungry, but as a martial master, he naturally had a high calorie expenditure.


    After nearly an hour had passed, his stomach had emptied quite a bit, and he could manage to eat something.


    The midday sun was fierce, and the intense sunlight poured in, making the walls shine.


    Zhou Baoyin personally filled a cup with fine wine for Shen Qing and raised his ss, saying, "Mr. Shen, this cup is to honor you, to thank you for ridding Changqiao Town of that vile Wolf Demon, preserving peace for us all. Please!"


    Shen Qing also raised his cup and said loudly, "Vige Chief, you tter me. It is our duty to exorcise demons and guard the way."


    After their sses lightly clinked, emitting a crisp sound, both men drank down the wine in one gulp.


    Shen Qing ate heartily, engaging in light conversation with Zhou Baoyin.


    He was originally a hunter, so he understood quite a bit about the affairs of the mountains and forests, and with his ability in "Academic Pursuit," he was full of witty remarks at the dinner table, which left Zhou Baoyin in continuous admiration.


    After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew warmer.


    Zhou Baoyin couldn''t help but rx his guard.


    At this moment, Shen Qing broached the main subject and suddenly asked, "Vige Chief, has only this one Wolf Demon appeared in your town?"


    Zhou Baoyin, slightly drunk, said, "In these deep mountains and forests of ours, how can we be so sure? For now, we have only seen that one Wolf Demon."


    Shen Qing asked, "So you''re saying, now that I''ve killed that Wolf Demon, the demons in your area are all gone?"


    "Naturally they''re gone."


    "I don''t think that''s right. Wolves are generally pack animals. If this Wolf Demon was strong within the pack, there would certainly be a group of wolves following it. But if it''s weak in the pack, that means there''s a stronger Wolf Demon out there. If it''s the former, I suppose with your capabilities, Vige Chief, it should be solvable. But if it''s thetter, that would be troublesome."


    Shen Qing spoke with profound meaning, "Could it be that the demons in this area haven''t beenpletely eradicated?"


    "What does Mr. Shen wish to do?" Zhou Baoyin thought that Shen Qing was trying to take advantage of the situation, and spoke with a probing tone.


    At this moment, all he wanted was to send Shen Qing away as quickly as possible, free of cost, and avoid any further trouble.


    Shen Qing picked up his cup, and with a smile that was not quite a smile, watched Zhou Baoyin''s eyes and said, "As an officer of the Guardian Martial Department, ying demons is my duty, is it not? I must rify these matters, am I right?"


    A chill rose in Zhou Baoyin''s heart.


    This officer was more troublesome than he had anticipated.


    "Haha, I understand," Zhou Baoyin said with a forcedugh. "How much does Mr. Shen want?"


    Shen Qing shook his head.


    Zhou Baoyin''s heart sank as he felt Shen Qing was being too greedy.


    Dare you, a mere officer, bite off more than you can chew?


    Under Zhou Baoyin''s watchful eye, Shen Qing lifted his cup and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "Money is secondary, I just feel that, Vige Chief, you might be hiding something from me?"


    Zhou Baoyin tensed up and feigned calmness, "Mr. Shen must be joking; I''m not hiding anything from you."


    "Liu Sangui was killed by you all, wasn''t he?"


    Zhou Baoyin''s eyes shed with panic, his wrist trembled, and he said in a strained voice, "What are you talking about, Mr. Shen? I don''t understand."


    "You didn''t, then what about the demon?"


    Zhou Baoyin said, "What exactly do you mean, Mr. Shen?"


    "I mean it in the literal sense," Shen Qing said, ncing at Zhou Baoyin. "You don''t want to talk?"


    Whoosh!


    Suddenly, Shen Qing drew his dagger.


    The cold light shed as the Guardian Martial Department''s dagger, with a whistling sound, urately bisected the air before Zhou Baoyin''s throat.


    The previously warm atmosphere in the main hall turned cold in an instant.


    "Mr. Shen, do you realize what you are doing? Killing officials is a capital offense."


    For some reason, facing Shen Qing''s aggression, Zhou Baoyin''s previously irritated demeanor dissipated, and he became calm and collected.


    Shen Qing''s gaze was as cold as ice as he said, "That''s something I should be asking you, Vige Chief. Are you hiding many things from me?"


    Zhou Baoyin''s tone suddenly turned sinister, "Mr. Shen, I kindly advised you to quit while you were ahead and to not stir up this mess. Since you failed to recognize the favor, you can''t me us now."


    "Hmm?"


    Boom!


    Just when Shen Qing was puzzled, a muffled noise came from the doorway, as if a heavy sack had been thrown down onto the ground.


    "Lord Zhou, how did my youngest son die in such an unclear manner? And now his skin is even stripped off and thrown in the yard. You''d better give me an exnation, or else, don''t me me for breaking our original agreement."


    A powerful male voice came from the doorway.


    Shen Qing turned his head to look, and there stood a muscr Werewolf holding the head of a servant, step by step, walking in.


    Zhou Baoyin lifted his cup and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "Mr. Shen, I told you to take the hint and back off. It seems you didn''t quite grasp my meaning." Enjoy more content from empire


    St!


    Shen Qing''s wrist flicked, and his strength reached the de.


    The cold light shed, grazing across Zhou Baoyin''s neck.


    Disbelief filled Zhou Baoyin''s eyes, his pupils contracted, manifesting utter shock.


    He clutched at his neck, from which blood oozed steadily through his fingers.


    His chest heaved like a broken bellows, gasping nonstop, making wheezing sounds.


    "Vige Chief, it seems you also didn''t quite grasp my meaning."


    Shen Qing, holding his dagger, stood up and slowly turned towards the Werewolf who hade in.


    On the tip of the dagger in his hand, bright red blood dropped one by one to the ground, making a rhythmic ''drip, drip'' sound.

 Chapter 207 Chapter 33 Is this your strength?

    p, p, p!


    "Interesting, really interesting." The werewolf standing at the door pped andughed, "He always kept me from acting, worrying about attracting the court''s attention. I didn''t expect you to kill him so cleanly."


    "Hey, you killed your court''s official. ording to your ownws, you are to be executed, aren''t you?"


    "Did anyone see me do it?" Shen Qing looked around and asked in confusion, "No, I don''t think so."


    The smirk on the werewolf''s face paused.


    Shen Qing slowly stepped forward, smiling slightly as he spoke, "As I see it, it clearly was you, the Wolf Demon, that killed Lord Zhou, wasn''t it?"


    The corners of the werewolf''s mouth twitched involuntarily; it had never seen someone as shamelessly brazen as Shen Qing.


    "Looks like you want to kill me?"


    "What else? A life for a life. Just because you are a demon doesn''t mean you''re an exception."


    "Very well, very well." The Wolf Demon''s face turned a ghastly hue, "Since you wish to die, I shall fulfill your wish. If you amuse me, perhaps I''ll leave your body to remain a half-corpse."


    The werewolf casually tossed the severed head he was holding in his hand.


    A fresh, blood-soaked head rolled limply towards Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing looked down and recognized the servant he had earlier sent to skin the wolf, who happened to encounter this Wolf Demon and was brutally killed on the spot.


    He withdrew his gaze and fearlessly stepped over the scattered head on the ground.


    Shen Qing held a knife in his right hand, standing in front of this half-human, half-demon Wolf Demon.


    "Shall we try?"


    This Wolf Demon wasrge, standing upright in human form, towering over Shen Qing by more than half a foot.


    Its body was covered with mottled grey fur, and its eyes were blood-red.


    The corners of its mouth split up to its ears, revealing two rows of sharp fangs gleaming with cold light. Drool dripped slowly from its fangs, emitting a nauseating stench.


    This Wolf Demon was starkly different from those Shen Qing had in before, giving him an exceedingly dangerous intuition.


    Shen Qing clenched the knife in his hand, no longer wasting words with the Wolf Demon. He suddenly stomped his feet, his figure burst forth, his muscles swelling and tensing like an inted balloon, charging straight towards the Wolf Demon.


    In the midst of the Werewolf''s surprised gaze, the tip of the long knife, amidst the howling wind, silently prated its chest.


    "Puff!"


    A light sound emerged abruptly between the man and the demon.


    A thick scent of blood suddenly permeated the air.


    It all happened so suddenly, so swiftly that it was almost impossible to react.


    It wasn''t until Shen Qing gently exhaled a turbid breath that the werewolf at the door was jolted awake by the sudden stench of blood.


    Its body violently trembled, then burst out in a deafening roar.


    The roar rolled out like thunder, instantly filling the entire vige, shaking the spirit of anyone who heard it.


    The Wolf Demon''s massive body shook violently with anger and unwillingness, its drooping eyelids revealing eyes full of fierce light from the shadows.


    "You''re courting death!"


    The werewolf''s deep growl rumbled in its throat.


    The next moment, the werewolf''s towering body seemed to be ignited by crimson mes, emitting a bright and eerie light. The originally ferocious wound on its chest incredibly contracted and healed under the bath of blood light, returning to wless condition.


    It suddenly leapt up, its massive body nearly blocking half the space of the hall, casting a dim shadow over the room''s light.


    Surging demonic energy emanated from the Wolf Demon. It swung its giant w, carrying a momentum that seemed to split mountains and cleave valleys, and viciouslyshed down at Shen Qing!


    Shen Qing''s expression tensed, and he hastily employed the movement technique from the "Hunting Scripture."


    With continuous support from the True Qi, Shen Qing exhibited the movement technique from the "Hunting Scripture" to its utmost, flipping and maneuvering in the air, ingeniously avoiding this seemingly fierce attack.


    From a distance, it looked as though a hunter was toying with his game.


    Having missed its strike, the werewolf''s earlier arrogance was instantly reced by raging fury, and it couldn''t help but howl skyward, its voice filled with unwilling anger.


    As the Wolf Demon howled, it threw a heavy punch wrapped in a towering crimson blood evil, like a raging tide surging out, blocking all Shen Qing''s paths of escape.


    With no way to avoid it, Shen Qing quickly grasped his long knife, positioning it horizontally in front of him.


    The de''s light shed fiercely with the blood-red specter, exploding into a deafening roar.


    Shen Qing''s figure seemed to be torn apart by an invisible, immense force.


    The long de in his hand could hardly withstand that terrible force, instantly shattering and scattering in all directions.


    Bang!


    Shen Qing''s figure was sent flying back by this force, like a kite with its string cut, skidding six or seven meters before he barely stabilized himself, his back footnding on a floor tile, breaking it and kicking up a cloud of dust.


    A cruel, yet unsatisfied smile hooked on the fierce face of the Wolf Demon.


    "I say, is this the extent of your strength?"


    The Wolf Demon''s face slightly startled, "What?"


    When the dust settled, Shen Qing''s straight figure was revealed.


    After the exchange just now, Shen Qing was already aware that the Wolf Demon in front of him had considerable cultivation, and mere bravery with fists and feet was no longer effective.


    His mind stirred as he rallied his Qi Sea.


    In an instant, the Qi Sea churned. True Qi surged like a river, tumultuously flowing through his meridians, quickly forming ayer of dazzling light membrane on his body''s surface, making him look crystal clear, radiating out multicolored brilliance.


    Shen Qing let go of the remaining half of the knife handle.


    "I say, is this all the strength you have?"


    As soon as his words fell, without the slightest hesitation, Shen Qing swiftly formed seals with his hands and charged towards the Wolf Demon.


    A Sky Flipping Seal containing the power to overturn rivers and seas strikingly took shape, carrying the might to destroy everything, and powerfully hit the massive body of the Wolf Demon!


    Boom!


    The main hall resounded with a thunderous crash, as if heaven and earth were splitting apart.


    The demon energy swirling around the Wolf Demon, along with the surrounding furniture and wood splinters, was torn into pieces.


    Explore new worlds at empire


    "Wow!"


    The Wolf Demon couldn''t help but spit out a mouthful of dirty blood.


    He had never expected to be pushed to this extent by a mere human, and true anger red in his heart.


    "Mere food, daring to act like this!"


    A ferocious smile curved the Wolf Demon''s lips, as his muscles bulged out like surging hills, a force far more intense and nearly tangible surged out from his body, instantly filling the entire main hall.


    "Hmm?"


    Shen Qing, being in the midst of it, felt a surge of bloodthirsty, self-destructive impulses.


    He knew this was the natural talent of this Wolf Demon.


    Immediately, he exerted his full power to drive the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill!


    True Qi reversed!


    First Transformation!


    Second Transformation!


    ¡­


    Fifth Transformation!


    "Break!"


    With a thunderous noise!


    A scorching aura, like the zing sun overhead, rippled between them like a massive wave!


    The Sky Flipping Seal, now amplified five-fold, reached a terrifying degree, making the defense of the Wolf Demon seem incredibly fragile.


    His internal organs werepletely shattered, and the Demon Core was severely damaged.


    "Come on! This is more like it! Let me see, just how many more surprises you can bring me!"


    Shen Qing''s True Qi surged wildly once again as he formed another Sky Flipping Seal¡­

 Chapter 208 Chapter 34 Next, I Ask and You Answer

    The Wolf Demon screamed in a shrill, agonizing voice as it was sent flying diagonally by Shen Qing''s powerful force, crashing into the courtyard, utterly powerless to counterattack.


    It waspletely dumbfounded!


    At this moment, its martial spirit had copsed under the onught of the seemingly unremarkable officer from the dispatch office, and its previous imposing momentum had vanished without a trace.


    Watching Shen Qing step out of the main hall, it panicked like a ghost, hurriedly flipping over.


    Ignoring its dignity and the injuries inside its body, it kept all fours on the ground and ran wildly towards the gate, throwing caution to the wind.


    After taking two hits of Sky Flipping Seal from Shen Qing, coupled with the quintupled strength, the internal condition of the Wolf Demon had be aplete mess.


    It was now solely relying on the physical strength of the Demon n and its own talent to hang onto a few breaths of life, preventing it from dying on the spot.


    Any more hits, and survival would be impossible.


    Flee!


    If it didn''t flee, it would die!


    "Hmm?"


    As he walked out of the main hall, Shen Qing suddenly felt a wave of dizziness emanating from within his body, leaving him feeling incredibly weak.


    Shen Qing knew that the side effects of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill had arrived.


    He nced at the fleeing Wolf Demon, steadied his mind, then gently exhaled, circting the Blood Dominance Technique to gradually recover the deficit caused by the reversal of True Qi.


    Once his Divine Sense had recovered, Shen Qing went back inside to grab his heavy bow and arrows, then walked towards the gate withrge strides.


    Themotion from Shen Qing''s fight with the Wolf Demon had rmed the people in Changqiao Town.


    By this time, many of the braver residents were poking their heads out, curiously looking in the direction of Shen Qing.


    All they saw was the young officer from the Guardian Martial Department, dressed in his official attire, holding a dark ck heavy bow in his hand, with an Arrow Quiver hung around his waist, walking out of the house calmly.


    His waist was ramrod straight, with only a few spots of blood on his sleeve.


    Overall, he looked no different from when he first arrived.


    In front of him, a Wolf Demon, asrge as a pig or ox, stumbled like an old dog along the ground, tripping and floundering, fleeing towards the mountain.


    The townsfolk, particrly those braver men, found such a scene somewhat inconceivable.


    In their eyes, the demons of the town were infinitely strong and powerful.


    If a demon attacked, they could only meet their end without resistance.


    When had they ever seen a demon in such a sorry state?


    It was clear that the Wolf Demon had some level of skill, but in just a short amount of time, it had already regained quite a bit of strength thanks to its natural talent.


    By the time Shen Qing reached the doorway, the Wolf Demon had unwittingly put a distance of hundreds of meters between them.


    "You really can run. I thought you had a bit more backbone," Shen Qing jeered.


    "That should be enough."


    Shen Qing took several deep breaths; a short period of breathing exercise hadrgely mitigated the effects brought on by the reversal of True Qi.


    His eyes narrowed as he gazed at the staggering Wolf Demon in the distance. He pulled out a dark iron heavy arrow from his quiver and ced it on the bowstring.


    Without any hesitation.


    Shen Qing''s fingers, which were hooked on the bowstring, suddenly released.


    Whoosh!


    The arrow shot out as soon as it left the string.


    Over the distance of just over a hundred meters, every arrow hits the mark.


    The dark iron Heavy Arrow, like a ck thunderbolt, tore through the void and struck the Wolf Demon''s hind leg.


    Boom!


    The force of the fifty shi heavy bow erupted upon contact with the Wolf Demon''s hind leg, sting it into a cloud of blood mist.


    The hind leg simply vanished into thin air.


    Already staggering and weak, the Wolf Demon could no longer support its weight and fell to the ground.


    At this moment, as the Wolf Demon looked back at Shen Qing approaching step by step, its face finally showed an expression of terror.


    Shen Qing, unhurried, nocked another arrow to his bow.


    Whoosh!


    A thunderous noise seemed to ring out between heaven and earth, while the Wolf Demon''s figure, still unsteady, was sent flying by the terrifying force contained within the arrow.


    Another hind leg exploded into a mist of blood and vanished into thin air.


    Desperation filled the wolf demon''s pupils as it watched Shen Qing approach its side, helplessly.


    Shen Qing made no pleasantries and promptly sat atop it.


    The intense pain from its lower body almost suffocated the creature, yet it dared not show any anger.


    "My lord... spare my life... I will never... dare again..."


    The wolf demon''s expression became obsequious, resembling that of a dog.


    Shen Qing turned a deaf ear to the wolf demon''s pleas and said, "I''m going to ask you a few questions. I ask, you answer."


    He didn''t wait for the wolf demon''s consent before asking, "What about the officers who arrived here before me?"


    The wolf demon''s body trembled.


    "Speak!"


    "They were... eaten by... my children."


    Shen Qing seemed to have anticipated this response, his heart sank, expressionless.


    "What about the wolf demon who showed its face before you?"


    "It''s my child... I sent it... to lure you... to consume... your flesh and blood... the flesh of martial artists is... highly nourishing to us..."


    "Zhou Baoyin doesn''t seem to allow it?"


    The wolf demon fell silent, as if regretting.


    Shen Qing ignored its emotions and continued, "Tell me, what''s the deal with you and Zhou Baoyin?"


    The wolf demon replied, "He approached me... allowed us to live in the town... we... eat humans very carefully, it was... someone... who leaked the information..."


    Shen Qing''s calm face involuntarily darkened, and he subconsciously applied more pressure.


    "Ah!"


    The wolf demon let out a ghastly wail.


    "Why?" Shen Qing asked.


    "It''s the Spirit Mechanism, he wants to find the Spirit Mechanism Land with us," the wolf demon said quickly.


    Shen Qing frowned and inquired, "Spirit Mechanism Land? What is that?"


    "It''s the reason for our Demon n''s existence. Every Spirit Mechanism Land contains the Supreme Spiritual Mechanism, which can enable beings to transcend the mundane and be extraordinary, even rumored to hold the secret of longevity."


    "Our Demon n can sense a profound connection to it, which is why Zhou Baoyin sought us out..."


    Shen Qing''s heart jolted. He had not anticipated such secrets to be hidden here.


    It had to do with longevity!


    Martial masters in this world could grasp tremendous powers of heaven and earth through cultivation, wielding extraordinary influence.


    They appeared immensely glorious, yet their cultivation was miserly in extending lifespan.


    Each cultivation and breakthrough added but a mere sliver to life.


    Even the strongest being of the current era, the ancient ancestor of the Ji Family who established Zhou Country and was known as a martial immortal, was said to have lived for nine hundred years, and now no one knows whether he is dead or alive.


    It is evident, then, that longevity is an unimaginable temptation to anyone in this era.


    Shen Qing''s expression grew increasingly somber.


    He gradually realized that this world might not be as simple as just Martial Arts.


    "My lord... I have told you everything I know... please let me go..."


    Shen Qing nced at the wolf demon beneath him and extended two fingers to press upon its head.


    True Qi as hot asva surged out from between Shen Qing''s two fingers.


    Spreading across every inch of skin touching the wolf demon, the True Qi burned its flesh red, as if even the air boiled at that instant.


    The wolf demon, snapping back to reality, let out heart-wrenching screams.


    Its voice was filled with despair and unwillingness, its head struggling violently, trying to break free from Shen Qing''s seemingly light touch.


    s, it was in vain.


    Boom!


    A dull explosive sound came from the wolf demon''s head, which burst into pieces, scattering in all directions.


    Shen Qing withdrew his fingers and stood up from the headless wolf corpse, looking down and saying, "When did I ever promise to spare you?"

 Chapter 209 Chapter 35 Uncontainable Anger

    ```


    In the distant mountains, birds and beasts scattered in rm.


    Outside the Zhou Family''s Manor, the head of the Wolf Demon exploded, fragments scattering in every direction, painting the ground in a radiating pattern of red and white.


    The crimson blood seeped into the dried earth, blossoming like roses in full bloom, vivid and striking.


    Shen Qing nced briefly towards the two dark iron arrows near the Wolf Demon''s corpse, reached out, and grasped one with a sudden exertion of force.


    The heavy dark iron Heavy Arrow seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, pulling free from the soil, as the arrowhead gleamed with a cold light under the zing sun.


    With an impassive expression, Shen Qing transformed the arrow into a de.


    A dark glint shed, and the sharp arrowhead sliced open the chest of the Wolf Demon.


    Suddenly, a faint scent of blood mingled with the peculiar fluctuations of demonic energy permeated the air.


    Shen Qing reached inside, pulling out a round, lustrous Demon Core imbued with potent demonic power.


    A gentle green glow emanated from its surface, resembling a piece of jade.


    This Demon Core was of even finer quality than the Eagle Demon''s Core he had previously vanquished, sufficient for Shen Xiaoshan and others to refine into medicinal prescriptions.


    Shen Qing gazed intently at the Demon Core, his eyes gleaming with a hint of joy as he discreetly tucked it away into his bosom.


    At this moment, the bolder vigers cautiously emerged from their homes, creeping towards Shen Qing after witnessing the silence there.


    Upon seeing the enormous Wolf Demon corpse and Shen Qing standing triumphantly beside it, their expressions turned solemn, regarding Shen Qing with a gaze of awe and reverence.


    The others, realizing the ce was safe, were driven by intense curiosity to flock there.


    When Shen Qing moved away from the Wolf Demon''s remains, the onlookers finally snapped out of their initial shock, their faces a mix of disbelief andplex emotions.


    Momentster, murmurs and whispers began to fill the air, the scene bing extraordinarily noisy.


    "Oh my, how did he do it?" a woodcutter d in coarse cotton clothing spoke first, his voice trembling with excitement: "So many of us were captured by it..."


    A middle-aged woman, part of the woodcutter''s family, wiped at her eyes with her sleeve, apparently reminded of many misfortunes, her heart aching with sadness.


    "Who would''ve thought this officer was even more formidable than the young Master Zhou of our town? If our town is guarded by this officer, we won''t fear those magical beasts'' invasions ever again."


    ...


    For a time, the popce of Changqiao Town was abuzz with discussion.


    Shen Qing didn''t engage much with them.


    He walked slowly back to the entrance of the Zhou Family''s manor, noticing that the servants who had fled in fear of the Wolf Demon had somehow resurfaced.


    Among them were a few familiar faces.


    Shen Qing looked at one of the highest-ranked servants and asked: "Do you know about your master''s collusion with the Wolf Demon?"


    The servant trembled all over, remaining silent.


    Shen Qing extended a finger towards him, saying: "I''m giving you one more chance. One, two..."


    With a thud, the servant named by Shen Qing fell to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly in pleas for mercy: "Spare me, officer, spare my life. I was forced by the master... If we didn''tply, he would have fed us to the demons, spare us, officer."


    Following his lead, the other servants also knelt to beg for mercy.


    Shen Qing retracted his fingers and said: "I heard your master raised several demons in town, there should be a few left, take me to them!"


    The kneeling servants all turned their gaze to a fair-skinned servant.


    Realizing he could not evade the situation, the servant reluctantly stood up, speaking with a trembling voice: "This way, sir, I''ll take you..."


    "Lead the way!"


    Shen Qing slung the Heavy Bow over his shoulder, his waist adorned with the Arrow Quiver, following the servant at a steady pace.


    The servant lowered his head, hurriedly darting towards a secluded corner outside the town.


    In no time, the servant from Vige Chief Zhou''s household had led him to an old house.


    "Sir, this is the ce." The servant spoke in a low voice, his face ghostly pale.


    Shen Qing noticed the mottled bloodstains on the ground and raised an eyebrow involuntarily, taking a few steps forward.


    The farther he went, the stronger the stench became.


    Standing before the rickety wooden door of the shack, the odor seemed almost tangible, a thick and vile presence.


    Suppressing the nausea and physical difort stirring within him, Shen Qing maintained aposed demeanor, slowly pushing open the wooden door.


    With a creak, the door opened.


    What Shen Qing saw inside made his expression turn iparably grim.


    The light in the room was dim, only allowing a few strands of weak illumination through the shattered window, revealing the room stained in a deep crimson.


    Blood had once sttered everywhere, leaving marks that had now dried.


    A closer look revealed scattered, gnawed human bones, vividly red.


    A small wolf emerged from the shadows of the room, gnawing on arge leg bone yfully.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing, it dropped the bone, baring its teeth and growling low.


    Just then, a gray-furred arm stretched out from the darkness, grabbing the small wolf by the neck and tossing it aside.


    "Why are you sote today? Where''s the promised fresh meat?"


    In the dim room, a massive Mother of Wolf Demon sat poised on the ground.


    Its eyes glowed with a ghostly green light, holding a bloody arm under its ws.


    As it spoke, it tore flesh from the limb without expression, its sharp gaze fixed on Shen Qing: "If you let my precious little ones starve, I won''t hesitate to devour you alive, regardless of your skin."


    Shen Qing''s gaze sharpened, the arm the Wolf Demon was gnawing on seemed familiar.


    Scanning the area revealed a Guardian Martial Department uniform lying on the ground, along with a fallen Dagger.


    "What is it, I''m speaking to you?" The Mother of Wolf Demon lifted its head, its dining interrupted, it growled at Shen Qing, baring its fangs in displeasure.


    Shen Qing could see the strips of flesh hanging from them, suppressing his contempt, he spoke impassively: "There won''t be any fresh meat today, perhaps you should consider a change of taste."


    With that, Shen Qing raised his right hand, extended two fingers.


    With a subtle motion, a faint True Qi began to form between his fingertips, suddenly shooting out.


    The Mother of Wolf Demon had no time to react, the condensed flick of a finger exploded upon the demon''s eye.


    "Ah!"


    Her eyeball was sted away by Shen Qing''s True Qi, leaving only empty sockets, silent streams of blood tears trickled from the hollow orbits.


    "I''ll kill you!"


    Maintaining a steely expression, Shen Qing swiftly formed a seal, True Qi surging, concentrated into his hands.


    With a low roar, the unmatchable True Qi imbued hand seal crashed down upon the Mother of Wolf Demon''s ash-gray fur.


    Radiating light surged from his palm, akin to the zing sun piercing through clouds and rocks, breaching her defenses to reach her flesh.


    The Mother of Wolf Demon''s body quivered violently, as if seared by invisible mes, pain and terror intermingling, a hint of undisguised fear flickering in her void, lifeless eyes.


    Shen Qing calmly withdrew his palm from the Mother of Wolf Demon''s fur, reaching down to pick up the fallen Dagger, slowly drawing the de from its sheath.


    His expression twisted into a vicious snarl, seething with rage.


    Abruptly, gathering all his strength at that moment into his right arm, he delivered a clean, decisive sh at the Mother of Wolf Demon''s neck, without a hint of hesitation.


    "Demons, all must die!"


    ```


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 210 - 36: The Hope of Living

    Chapter 210 -36: The Hope of Living


    The Mother of Wolf Demon''s head rolled to the ground,nding in front of Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing twisted his wrist, skillfully cutting open the abdomen of the Wolf Demon, extracting another Demon Core.


    This Demon Core was much smaller and of lower quality than thest one, but at least it was better than nothing.


    Shen Qing tucked the Demon Core into his chest and walked slowly towards the depths of the house.


    He nced around, his gaze involuntarily freezing.


    In front of him, among the dried bones, was a bone bed, upon which a group of wolf pups huddled together, numbering seven or eight.


    Some curled up, others warily scanned their surroundings.


    Sensing his movement, they began to bare their teeth, emitting low growls.


    In the corner among this group of Wolf Demon pups, three people were huddled together.


    Two adults and a child, a family of three.


    The three were in ragged clothing, their backs pressed tightly against the corner''s wall.


    The frail child in the middle clenched their chapped lips, striving to suppress their inner fear and unease, their small body trembling silently, tightly nestled in their parents'' embrace.


    Their faces appeared unusually pale in the dim light, their eyes vacant and numb, as if they had endured all the world''s suffering and despair, losing the proper response to any external stimulus.


    A suffocatingly oppressive atmosphere permeated the air.


    These people were probably sent here by Zhou Baoyin, only to coincidentally encounter the matter with Liu Sangui.


    The flesh filled with Essence Qi from the martial master had attracted the Wolf Demon, which was why they had luckily escaped bing the Wolf Demon''s feed.


    Shen Qing looked at the family, and asked the servant behind him in a deep voice, "What''s going on with them?"


    The servant behind responded fearfully, "They''re... tenants of Master''s family, unable to pay the rent, so... they were sent here by the Master."


    Shen Qing''s already gloomy face grew even darker.


    He stepped forward a few paces and halted.


    Looking at the pitch-ck family, the image of an old man he had seen in the vige resurfaced in Shen Qing''s mind, and suddenly mixed emotions churned in his heart.


    Seeing Shen Qing remain still, one of the adults holding the child cautiously asked, "Officer, have youe to save us?"


    Her eyes were as bright as the stars in the sky, sparkling with lively radiance in the dim room.


    Shen Qing leaned down, reaching out to pat her head, a hint of softness unconsciously appearing between his brows. "Yes, I''ve killed the Wolf Demon, you''re safe now."


    A look of surprise appeared on Little Ni''er''s face, she cheerily shook the two and eximed, "Dad, Mom, we''re alright now, we''re safe, the officer came to save us."


    The couple in the corner suddenly disyed a touch of emotion in their previously numb and scattered gaze, eyes gradually focusing as they stared at Shen Qing.


    Upon noticing the blood-spattered uniform of the Guardian Martial Department on Shen Qing, a trace of doubt appeared on their faces.


    "Awhoo!"


    One wolf pup bared its fangs and attempted to bite Shen Qing''s pant leg.


    Shen Qing nced down and waved his long saber, swiftly cutting through the wolf pup.


    A cold glint appeared suddenly.


    The wolf pup''s body was split into two.


    Shen Qing held his saber and said, "How long do you intend to stay here? Don''t you want to leave?"


    At this moment, the family in the room finally truly realized they had been rescued, a spark of hope for survival emerged on their faces.


    A surge of strength seemed to flood into the couple, as they slowly got up, supporting themselves against the wall.


    Then, under Shen Qing''s watchful gaze, their eyes turned red, their bodies stooped, and they limped out of the dark room while repeatedly bowing to express their gratitude.


    Shen Qing turned his attention to the wolf den beside him, his expression growing colder.


    These wolf pups obviously had not been born long ago, yet to develop much intelligence, not much different from ordinary wild wolves.


    But having eaten human flesh and developing a taste for it,bined with their demonic origins, it was possible they might grow into new demons.


    Shen Qing had no intention of sparing these wolf pups.


    He held his saber, walking slowly towards the wolf den, and mercilessly shed at them.


    After a while, Shen Qing wiped the blood off his saber, and when passing by the Mother of Wolf Demon''s body, his hand grabbed it, carrying it to the doorway. He instructed the servant, "Bring all the wolf pups from inside the house."


    Leaving behind these words, Shen Qing dragged the massive body of the Wolf Demon towards Changqiao Town in front of him.


    Dirty blood from the Wolf Demon''s corpse continued to drip as Shen Qing dragged it, leaving a long blood-red trail along the path.


    ...


    In Changqiao Town, at the Zhou Family Mansion,


    The death of Zhou Baoyin finally alerted many Zhou Family members.


    Especially Zhou Baoyin''s three sons, they knew well the underhanded deeds their father engaged in, and understood clearly that the Wolf Demon, at least at this stage, would not harm their father.


    Adding to that the bloody knife wound on his neck.


    It was obvious in one nce that this was a deed done by that officer of the Guardian Martial Department.


    "Intolerable, how dare that mere officer disregard thew, he cannot be let off," proimed Zhou Dazhi, the eldest legitimate son of Zhou Baoyin, stepping forward angrily.


    His voice rang out powerfully, echoing through the disorderly main hall.


    With Zhou Baoyin''s death, Zhou Dazhi nominally became the head of the household, obliged to shoulder the family''s responsibilities.


    Looking at the weeping family members, he swiftly regained hisposure.


    Zhou Dazhi earnestly instructed his brother, "Little brother, you must immediately travel to Jun City Zhou Family and inform the patriarch of what transpired here. Although we are a coteral branch, we are ultimately still members of the Zhou Family."


    "Officers of the Guardian Martial Department daring to do such things clearly are running roughshod over the Zhou Family. The family patriarch surely won''t tolerate it. We should at least inform them, if we encounter trouble due to this, we can''t let them sit by idly."


    "Okay. Big Brother, I will go now."


    Zhou Dazhi nodded and said, "The rest of you family members, follow me to confront that officer face-to-face, demand justice, and teach him a lesson. This Changqiao Town is not a ce where he can act recklessly as an officer. Let''s go!"


    After speaking, Zhou Dazhi marched out grandly with numerous Zhou Family members towards the entrance.


    He noticed his younger brother standing dumbfounded at the doorway, and asked, "What''s wrong, why are you standing there?"


    Zhou Family''s second son swallowed nervously and said, "Big Brother, that officer has returned."


    "Huh?"


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Dazhi looked forward, seeing a figure slowly walk into view.


    A man dressed in a blood-stained uniform of the Guardian Martial Department.


    He was dragging a headless Wolf Demon, striding step by step in their direction, his steps steady.


    When Zhou Dazhi met the beast-like gaze of the approaching man, his heart quivered involuntarily, his mind went nk, as if he had forgotten his next move.


    Not until Shen Qing tossed the Wolf Demon''s corpse at their feet did he return to his senses.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 211 - 37: Kill Them All and Have a Cup of Tea

    Chapter 211 -37: Kill Them All and Have a Cup of Tea


    Zhou Dazhi remained calm and said, "What an imposing figure you are, sir."


    He steadied his mind, exuding the authority befitting the head of a family, and stepped forward to question, "Just as well, I need to ask if you killed my father?"


    "Why would I kill the vige chief?" Shen Qing denied firmly and said with a hint of meaning, "Without evidence, do not speak recklessly. Otherwise, it might lead to trouble."


    "You still deny it. Who else but you?" Zhou Dazhi said harshly.


    Shen Qing asked, "I''m curious, why do you all suspect me? Couldn''t it have been a demon?"


    "Impossible. It must have been you who killed my father!" Zhou Dazhi asserted, "You, as a dispatcher, killed a court official, breaking thew, deserving of even greater punishment."


    Shen Qingughed.


    The bystanders, who had gathered out of curiosity, had not dispersed; they slowly gathered around, watching them with interest, whispering among themselves.


    Shen Qing looked around and then asked, "Are you so sure it was me because you are aware of the collusion with demons?"


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Dazhi and the others exchanged nces, their tone deepened as they spoke, "We don''t understand what you''re talking about. Aftermitting murder, do you now intend to throw mud on us?"


    Shen Qing''s lips curved into a slight smile, and he said, "I think you''ve misunderstood something."


    "What?"


    Shen Qing stepped over the Wolf Demon''s corpse while drawing the dagger from his waist.


    As the long de was fully unsheathed, he stood right in front of the Zhou Family members.


    Shen Qing grinned and said, "Your father was a court official, but you are not. I see your collusion with demons marks you as rebels, deserving of death!"


    Thest word fell, and Shen Qing''s body emanated a chilling killing intent.


    Without giving them a chance to react, Shen Qing moved abruptly.


    The de in his hand glinted coldly as he channeled True Qi, driving it toward Zhou Dazhi''s chest at an astonishing speed amidst the swooshing sound.


    Thud.


    The sharp de silently pierced Zhou Dazhi''s chest.


    Shen Qing expressionlessly withdrew the dagger, leaving a bloody hole from which blood gushed forth like a spring.


    Having now advanced to the Qi Sea Realm, his True Qi was vigorous. Zhou Dazhi had no chance to defend; even with copper skin and iron bones, he stood no chance against Shen Qing.


    Zhou Dazhi never imagined Shen Qing would act so swiftly and recklessly, even in public, without any scruples.


    He staggered back a few steps and copsed into the arms of the Zhou Family members, raising a trembling finger at Shen Qing and stammering, "You... you..."


    Bang!


    Shen Qing flicked his finger, sending a burst of zing True Qi that struck Zhou Dazhi''s throat, causing his neck to explode like a blooming rose.


    The hand pointing at him fell lifelessly.


    "Ah, murder! The dispatchermitted murder!"


    The Zhou Family members descended into chaos.


    Someone shouted, "You killed a Zhou Family member in front of so many people for no reason, do you think our Zhou Family in Jun City will let you off?"


    "Then let theme." Shen Qing quickly replied, "Do you think, if I were to wipe you all out, would the Zhou Family in Jun City stand up for you dead ones? If you''re secretly colluding with demons, endangering the Great Zhou, do you think the Zhou Family in Jun City would risk getting involved?"


    Shen Qing held up his de, chest high, and said, "Rest assured, I''ve got experience with wiping out entire families."


    The Zhou Family members were dumbstruck!


    Shen Qing turned his head to the throng of onlookers and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Shen Qing of the Guardian Martial Department, here to investigate the matter of the Wolf Demon in Changqiao Town. Upon investigation, the Changqiao Zhou Family secretly bred demons using the residents of the town in pursuit of longevity. ording to thews of the Great Zhou, such heinous acts warrant the extermination of three ns."


    Upon hearing this, the crowd gasped. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "What?! The Wolf Demon was brought here by the Zhou Family, and they even kept it in the town?!"


    The Zhou Family members turned pale as paper, "Nonsense! This is just an excuse for murder!"


    Shen Qing, unfazed, said, "If the crowd doesn''t believe me, I invite you to take a look at a small house on the mountain over there, and you''ll naturally see the truth. Otherwise, where do you think this Wolf Demon came from?"


    Shen Qing''s voice suddenly rose several pitches, "Do any of you Zhou Family members have the eyes for justice? Do thews even exist in your eyes?"


    The Zhou Family wanted to argue further, but suddenly a farmer in the crowd shouted, "Exactly them. Old Third Liang''s family returned, they were all forcibly taken by your Zhou Family to feed the demons, they told me!"


    The Zhou Family knew deep down if they had colluded with demons.


    With all the evidence presented, they couldn''t utter a word.


    Shen Qing nced at the trembling Zhou Family members, then looked at the angry yet hesitant townspeople of Changqiao.


    He knew he only needed to nudge a bit more.


    From his experience, as long as the current interests of these bystanders weren''t harmed,


    Whoever wins, they will support!


    With this in mind, Shen Qing raised the knife and shouted, "I am Shen Qing, ordered to eliminate demons! Today, with the Zhou Family in Changqiao colluding with demons, the entire family should be killed! Kill!"


    Shen Qing''s voice was strong, like a giant wave of the deep sea, filling the entire space.


    "Ah!"


    Screams echoed endlessly.


    Faced with Shen Qing, who had now risen to the Qi Sea Realm, those from a small town, even if trained in martial arts, couldn''tpare to him.


    The scene turned into a one-sided ughter.


    After Shen Qing killed the three Zhou Family young masters and a group of martial masters, the situation became clear.


    The onlookers began to stir, finally rushing towards the Zhou Family Mansion, iming justice, as if a dam had burst.


    Watching this, Shen Qing felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    After everyone had rushed into the estate, Shen Qinggged a step behind, walking in leisurely.


    Upon entering the Zhou Family estate, it had be chaotic, with its former grandeur gone.


    He consciously searched for Zhou Family members in the courtyard, intending to give them a proper ending.


    When Shen Qing reached a room, he unexpectedly found a delicate-skinned woman kneeling and begging for mercy upon seeing him.


    Seeing the woman''s submissive demeanor aroused Shen Qing''s suspicion.


    He thought she might intentionally be found to protect her child, so to be safe, he searched the room thoroughly.


    As expected, he found a bewildered boy in a cab.


    Filled withpassion and unable to bear such scenes of separation, Shen Qing reunited them.


    After bustling for over half a Shi Chen, and taking some silver notes and taels, ensuring no hidden threats remained, Shen Qing skinned two Wolf Demons and mounted his horse.


    He had already muddled the matter of Zhou Baoyin; barring unforeseen incidents, none would speak for these dead ones.


    In fact, from what he knew, their dispatch office often caused others to meet ruin, only this time, he went a bit further.


    Shen Qing nced back at the ming estate indifferently.


    He would leave the rest to his colleagues in the Military Department, they understood the rules.


    "Giddy up!"


    Shen Qing spurred his horse, riding out of Changqiao Town, heading home.


    Not far from town, he saw a frail little girl in tattered clothes joyfully running towards him, holding a chipped porcin bowl and looking bright, "Officer, have some tea."


    Shen Qing reined in his horse and asked, "You waited for me?"


    "Yes, my parents said you''re our family''s savior, sent me to see you off." The girl dug out two warm eggs from her pocket, "My mom cooked these, officer, take them for the road."


    Looking at the innocent, pure girl, Shen Qing, after a brief silence, suddenlyughed heartily, taking the bowl and drinking it all, "Great tea!"


    At this moment, he felt a sense of rity and joy.


    Returning the bowl to the girl, Shen Qing pocketed the eggs and galloped off.


    "Thank your parents for me, giddy up!"


    The little girl unexpectedly found two gold beans in her bowl, shining under the sunset.


    Looking up hurriedly, watching Shen Qing''s departing figure, she murmured, "This officer is really nice."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


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 Chapter 212 - 38: Reporting Back

    ```


    The mountains stretched endlessly, draped in the sky''s crimson sunset like a brocade, painting the horizon a vibrant orange.


    The setting sun, as red as blood, slowly sank among the undulating mountains.


    A steed, like a black streak of lightning, raced down the winding path, its hooves clattering sharply and breaking the mountain''s silence.


    Shen Qing dressed in a tight, muscular outfit, his clothes fluttering in the wind.


    He gripped the reins tightly with one hand, his face showing a touch of dusty ruggedness.


    At this moment Shen Qing''s gaze changed, he noticed a drop of ink falling from above in his vision, spreading into lines of text, popping up a skilled reminder.


    [Skill: Riding (Small Success)]


    [Progress: 301/300 points]


    [Status: Can be Improved]


    [Note: After continuous practice, your understanding of riding has been further enhanced. After mastering riding, your riding speed can increase by up to 100%, and you will learn the "technique of concealing oneself while stepping."]


    "Huh? Riding speed increases by 100%, the technique of concealing oneself while stepping?"


    "An increase in speed means I can travel further with less time, and the ''technique of concealing oneself while stepping'' could confuse the perception of ordinary people, not bad."


    Shen Qing murmured to himself.


    Seeing that the conditions for upgrading were met, he crouched on the horse''s back, without hesitation, he focused his consciousness on the Water Ink Panel, "Riding, Upgrade!"


    The familiar process occurred once more.


    As soon as Shen Qing had this thought, the information on the Water Ink Panel refreshed immediately.


    [Skill: Riding (the level of mastery)]


    [Progress: 1/400 points]


    [Status: Cannot be Improved]


    [Note: Your riding has reached the level of mastery. You can ride your steed more skillfully, with a maximum predicted speed increase of 100%, and proficiently perform the "technique of concealing oneself while stepping."]


    Riding reached the level of mastery.


    Shen Qing skillfully collected his thoughts, holding his breath.


    As usual, a vast amount of memories flooded into his brain, making his head instantly heavy.


    Shen Qing quickly took a deep breath, steadying his mind.


    In the additional memories, he practiced day after day, gradually gaining a deeper understanding of the horse''s capability and mastering more advanced riding techniques.


    Once all discomfort in his head vanished, Shen Qing slowly sat up, realizing that riding had become even smoother for him without knowing it.


    He turned back towards Changqiao Town, now out of sight, and took a warm egg from his bulging chest pocket.


    Sitting on horseback, he leisurely peeled the eggshell and took a bite.


    He stuffed the remaining egg white into his mouth and ate one more.


    Shen Qing''s face showed a hint of satisfaction, with a slight smile.


    "Giddy-up!"


    Unconsciously, Shen Qing tightened his grip on the horse''s belly, Zhuifeng shot like a black arrow released from a bow.


    After spending two moments, by the time the night fell and all was silent, Shen Qing finally arrived in front of Yongzhou''s majestic city gates.


    By this time, the entry hours to Yongzhou had passed, and the city gates were closed.


    A few lanterns hanging under the city gates swayed in the wind, casting fragmented and variegated shadows.


    The guards, who were carrying long spears, noticed the sound of horse hooves, immediately fell silent, and shouted, "Who goes there?"


    Shen Qing pulled the reins to slow down and approached the city gate.


    He retrieved a token from his chest and showed it to the city gate guards: "Guardian Martial Department dispatch office, Shen Qing. I am here under orders to investigate the demon havoc in Changqiao Town, delaying my entry time. I hope you brothers will do me a favor and open the gate."


    The guards quickly exchanged glances; then one of them stepped forward, respectfully took the token, carefully inspected it, and immediately signaled the others with a wave to let him through.


    The heavy city gate slowly opened with a low creaking sound.


    One had to admit, Yongzhou was indeed a county town; entering the city didn''t involve so many trifling rules.


    Shen Qing smiled slightly, nodded to the guards in thanks, and then rode into the city smoothly.


    At this hour, many offices in the county town had already finished duties for the day.


    Yet, as many demons liked to cause trouble late at night, the Guardian Martial Department, like the Military Department, had someone on duty even late at night.


    Shen Qing didn''t want to leave any excuse for talk, so he went directly to the Guardian Martial Department to report back, changing today''s duty token.


    County City Guard Martial Arts Department Office.


    Compared to the day''s busyness and noise, the Guardian Martial Department appeared much quieter at night.


    Only a dim candlelight glowed from the duty room, indicating there were still people on duty within the Guardian Martial Department.


    The night was like ink, all was silent.


    Shen Qing walked briskly through the empty courtyard, sounding rhythmic footsteps.


    He stepped into the side chambers, and the weak airflow he stirred made the candlelight flicker within, with the light and shadow scattered.


    A minor official inside was leaning against the table, engrossed in reading a yellowed magazine. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sensing someone entering, the minor official promptly put down the book and, seeing Shen Qing, complained: "Shen Chasi, why did you return so late today? The Chief Officer said he was waiting for your report."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing chuckled, pulling out his duty token and handing it over, saying: "When did our Lord Chief Officer become so diligent?"


    "Isn''t it all because of the Lord Commander?" The minor official took the duty token, saying, "Now, for some reason, the demons around Yongzhou seem to be increasing, and the Lord Commander gave our Lord quite a bit of pressure, leaving the Chief Officer no choice. But since it''s quite late, you can report back tomorrow. It won''t matter."


    Shen Qing lightly patted the minor official''s shoulder, smiled, and said, "I''ll handle it myself."


    After dealing with the duty token, Shen Qing hurried away from the side chambers, returned to his horse, picked up the three Wolf Skin sheets, and headed straight to the Chief Officer''s room.


    He knew his superior was quite suspicious, plus the superior''s affiliation with the Yellow Heaven Sect, he didn''t know what tricks might be at hand, so he had better not provoke them to avoid trouble later.


    He should just carry out his dispatch office duties step by step.


    If told to report back, he would report back without giving anyone any pretext.


    The inner chamber of the Chief Officer was brightly lit.


    Shen Qing stood at the door, planning to knock, but paused as he heard the sounds of female company inside, deciding to stand quietly outside.


    He heard the actions inside growing bolder.


    After about less than a stick of incense, following a climactic sound, everything abruptly ceased.


    Shen Qing frowned, feeling our Chief Officer seemed a bit weak.


    He stood outside for a while longer, confirming all was quiet, before stepping lightly forward and knocking on the carved wooden door, the clear sound ringing suddenly in the silent air.


    "Your subordinate Shen Qing, tasked with thoroughly investigating the Wolf Demon issue in Changqiao Town, has come to report."


    His voice was not loud, but clear enough to be heard inside the room, reaching the ears of those within.


    Inside, a slight and hurried movement arose, seemingly because the unexpected message caused some panic amongst the people inside.


    After a while, the rustling gradually subsided, and a low yet authoritative male voice floated out from inside: "Come in."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing gently pushed open the wooden door.


    Stepping over the threshold, Shen Qing''s gaze swiftly surveyed the room''s furnishings, finally settling on Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu in an azure robe, whose face showed dissatisfaction.


    At this moment, Zheng Yuanqiu was seated at the table before him, candlelight flickering, casting his plump silhouette long against the mottled wall.


    Shen Qing took a step forward, bowed, and said, "My lord, fortunately, I did not fail you; I have investigated the Wolf Demon matter of Changqiao Town."


    Zheng Yuanqiu looked up and asked, "Tell us, what exactly is the situation?"


    ```

 Chapter 213 - 39 Greedy and Insatiable

    ```


    "Yes."


    On the way back to report, Shen Qing had already pondered his wording carefully.


    He paused for a moment, then slowly began to recount the story of the Zhou Family in Changqiao Town colluding with demons.


    In his narration, he conveniently attributed the deaths of Guan Yunjian and others to the Wolf Demon, ensuring no one could dispute it.


    Shen Qing speculated in his mind that as a hidden member of the Huang Tian Sect, Zheng Yuanqiu probably wished for nothing more than the deaths of his subordinates, as chaos in Yongzhou would suit him just fine.


    After all, the officers were merely regular Martial Artists to the Guardian Martial Department, and losing a few was hardly a concern.


    Martial Artists were plentiful outside.


    Just as he had speculated, Zheng Yuanqiu showed no concern for the death of the officers.


    "Outrageous!" After hearing Shen Qing''s story, Zheng Yuanqiu slapped the table and stood up, "As a local village chief, to dare collude with demons and wreak havoc, death is too light a punishment."


    Seeing Zheng Yuanqiu''s righteous stance, if he hadn''t known his identity beforehand, Shen Qing would have thought he was a truly upright official.


    Now, Shen Qing merely thought his acting was excellent.


    He stepped forward and said, "My Lord, they''ve heard that the village chief of Changqiao Town is a branch of the Zhou Family. I wonder..."


    Zheng Yuanqiu waved his hand and said, "The Zhou Family is large and prosperous. Who knows how many branches they have? The Changqiao Zhou Family left the main family so many years ago. Our Great Zhou has its laws, and since they colluded with demons, this act is enough to conclude their case according to reason."


    With feigned delight on his face, Shen Qing said, "With your words, my Lord, I am relieved."


    Zheng Yuanqiu gave a cold snort and said, "Don''t be too happy just yet."


    Hearing this, a barely discernible vigilance flashed in Shen Qing''s eyes, as he quietly awaited the continuation.


    "I said ''according to reason''... There are so many trivial matters in this government office that sometimes even the temperature of a bowl of tea can affect the progress of a case, let alone matters involving prominent figures like the Thirteen Lines."


    Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu lightly caressed the intricately carved Jade Pendant at his waist. His gaze subtly lingered on Shen Qing, carrying a few hidden meanings: "This matter can be big or small; it all depends on whether the Zhou Family wants to make it a big deal. If they decide to pursue it, I can''t say whether you''ll live or die."


    Shen Qing had an inkling of Zheng Yuanqiu''s intentions, and with a somber expression, he asked, "What does my Lord think I should do?"


    Zheng Yuanqiu wasn''t very satisfied with Shen Qing''s performance. He had said so much, yet Shen Qing still didn''t get it.


    "We need to take preventative measures and make arrangements with the Zhou Family in advance, establishing good relations." He tapped the table, speaking with a worldly and sly tone: "Don''t you know the rules of our government office?" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His gaze intentionally or unintentionally skimmed over Shen Qing''s money pouch, the meaning in his eyes unmistakable.


    Shen Qing understood in his heart¡ªhe was asking for money!


    He had long heard from other colleagues that Zheng Yuanqiu had a special fondness for amassing wealth, as mentioned in the Huang Tian Sect''s secret ledger.


    Today, he witnessed it firsthand, openly asking for it without any pretense.


    Shen Qing, grasping the nuances, said, "The Chief Officer makes a valid point."


    Saying this, he took out a bundle of silver notes from his bosom and presented them with both hands: "To the Lord, these are the silver notes and gains I confiscated from the Zhou Family. I hope they bring you joy."


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s fingers formed a slight cup.


    Shen Qing only felt a force pulling the silver notes from his hands into Zheng Yuanqiu''s grasp with a rustling sound.


    "I recall you mentioned you also slew three Wolf Demons?" Zheng Yuanqiu asked with a hint of anger in his voice.


    Shen Qing nodded, "To the Chief Officer, there were indeed three Wolf Demons. I''ve stripped their pelts and left them outside."


    "What about the Demon Cores? Do you intend to keep them?"


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s voice wasn''t loud, but every word carried an undeniable authority.


    As he finished speaking, a mighty presence surged from within Zheng Yuanqiu, filling the space like an invisible wave.


    More accurately, it fell upon Shen Qing.


    Instantly, Shen Qing''s face changed dramatically.


    He felt an indescribable weight descend from the heavens, as if ten thousand mountains pressed down upon his shoulders, causing his spine to groan under the immense burden, bending slowly.


    Shen Qing''s feet sank deeply into the ground''s stone slabs, which couldn''t withstand the force and emitted faint, clear cracking sounds.


    He gritted his teeth, clenching his fists tightly as his nails dug into his palms, with all his True Qi involuntarily circulating to resist the mighty force.


    The candlelight on the long table flickered violently, as if it might extinguish at any moment, and a tense atmosphere of ready conflict pervaded the space.


    Shen Qing knew Zheng Yuanqiu''s strength was formidable. Already at the Dan Realm, his True Qi had taken form, becoming a True Elixir, far beyond what he could contend with.


    He hadn''t expected the man to turn hostile so suddenly.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, looking gravely at Zheng Yuanqiu, and after some deliberation, he tremblingly took out two Demon Cores, offering them in his hands: "To the Chief Officer, here are the Demon Cores."


    As he spoke, Shen Qing slowly opened his palm, where a faint glow gathered¡ªa Demon Core obtained from slaying two Wolf Demons.


    Zheng Yuanqiu saw this and finally looked satisfied.


    He nodded slightly, the oppressive force that enveloped Shen Qing dissipating as if it had never existed.


    "Shen Chasi indeed knows what''s important." Zheng Yuanqiu''s voice returned to its usual calmness: "You''re just an ordinary civilian, incomparable to those sons and daughters of nobles. You have only me to rely on. In the future, you must be more self-aware, understand the rules, and don''t force me to be so blatant with you. It makes things difficult for both you and me."


    "Yes, my Lord, I shall remember."


    Shen Qing carefully raised the Demon Cores with both hands, and Zheng Yuanqiu waved a sleeve to take them.


    "Rest assured, I won''t take your things for nothing. In the future, when facing these prominent figures, you need not be anxious; I will bear the burdens for you."


    Unable to bear it, Shen Qing inwardly mocked, that''s only if I survive, right?


    He had no real interest in Zheng Yuanqiu''s empty promises, but he maintained his subordinate''s instincts, appearing "grateful" and saying, "Thank you, my Lord."


    "It''s getting late. Do you have any other matters?"


    "No, I don''t."


    Zheng Yuanqiu said, "Then you may leave. I''ll compensate you for the matter of your officers another day. For now, manage on your own."


    "Yes, thank you, my Lord. I take my leave."


    "Leave the Wolf Demon pelts outside."


    Shen Qing nodded in agreement, bowing out the door with large steps.


    "Truly ungrateful," Zheng Yuanqiu grunted coldly at Shen Qing''s departing figure, "At least, he''s someone without a background and easy to handle. If he were one of those high-ranking family sons, I would have to waste more effort."


    ...


    Under the night sky, Shen Qing''s expression gradually turned cold, remaining silent.


    "Zheng Yuanqiu is truly insatiable. Other people have high-ranking family support to cope, but I have no one and must rely on myself. With such an appetite, I fear peace will elude me under him."


    "Moving forward, I must focus on progressing my Martial Arts cultivation. With strength to rely on, I will be secure."


    ```

 Chapter 214 - 40: Big officials embezzle much, small officials embezzle less

    Three days later at the Guardian Martial Department Office.


    At this time, it was noon, and many officers who had gone out for patrol had already returned to the Guardian Martial Department courtyard to rest.


    When Shen Qing walked in from outside, the other group officers lounging in their rooms glanced at him repeatedly.


    Recently, the news that all of his subordinates had been wiped out had spread throughout the Guardian Martial Department Office, unsurprisingly becoming a topic of gossip during meals among the department.


    The already weak Sixth Group was left with only a commanding officer, and Shen Qing had even earned the nickname "Lone Rider."


    However, these colleagues from the Guardian Martial Department merely discussed it in private, making jokes during idle time, without deliberately mocking or jeering at Shen Qing as novels might depict.


    After all, along with the nickname "Lone Rider," the news of him slaying the Wolf Demon and exterminating the whole Changqiao Zhou Family had also spread.


    They knew he was a ruthless and decisive character.


    Therefore, when they met with Shen Qing, they generally kept a certain distance from him, not wanting to get too close and bring trouble upon themselves in the future.


    Shen Qing was gradually becoming isolated by other officers of the Guardian Martial Department.


    "Officer Shen, are you free? Come over for a cup of tea?"


    Shen Qing hadn''t walked far into the courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department Office when he suddenly heard a familiar voice.


    He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Dong Jing sitting in a small room, raising a cup to invite him.


    Without much thought, Shen Qing turned around, walked over, and sat down facing Dong Jing.


    The officers of Group One felt somewhat dissatisfied as they saw their leader being so courteous to Shen Qing.


    In their view, Group One was the strongest, Dong Jing''s cultivation was the highest, so what merit did Shen Qing, a poor outsider, bring to be able to sit on equal footing with their leader?


    But Dong Jing held considerable authority among them, and since their boss behaved this way, they had no complaints.


    Once Dong Jing waved his hand, these officers sensibly dispersed.


    Shen Qing did not mind and unabashedly picked up a bowl, poured himself a bowl of tea, and drank in large gulps.


    The amber-colored tea overflowed from the corners of his mouth.


    Within a single breath, he emptied the big bowl of cool tea.


    "Now that I patrol so many squares alone, I''m a bit parched," Shen Qing said with a laugh, placing the empty bowl on the table. "I hope Officer Dong won''t mind."


    Unconcerned, Dong Jing refilled his bowl and said, "This is tea from home. Officer Shen, drink as much as you like, there''s plenty here."


    "I was wondering why the tea over here tasted different from the one in my room. It turns out Officer Dong brought his own stash," Shen Qing said, lifting the bowl again, drinking a bit more slowly this time.


    Dong Jing chuckled and said, "Was the Chief Officer extorting you heavily when you came back from Changqiao Town?"


    Shen Qing was surprised: "You all know?"


    "Fatty Zheng''s greed and lechery are well known in our office. Except for Officer Yang from the Fifth Group, whom he favors, who among us hasn''t been extorted by him?"


    With a hint of displeasure in his voice, Dong Jing complained, "The group of officers who died in Taiping County before us went through the same thing. He just had to give us some face due to our family backgrounds, so it wasn''t as outrageous."


    Shen Qing feigned ignorance: "I thought it was just me."


    Then, he pondered for a moment and said while calculating, "If I count it carefully, the Chief Officer took seven hundred taels of silver notes, two Demon Cores, and three pieces of Wolf Skin from me. That amounts to nearly all my spoils from Changqiao Town."


    "Hiss..." Even Dong Jing couldn''t help but wince on behalf of Shen Qing.


    A single Demon Core had a starting price of nearly one thousand taels, which was even more expensive than those treasures from Baoyu Mountain.


    And while treasures from Baoyu Mountain were common, Demon Cores were not.


    Rarity drives up the price.


    Judging by the market in Yongzhou now, the price could only be higher, not lower.


    Calculating it this way, Fatty Zheng extorted nearly three thousand taels from Shen Qing in a single swoop.


    Such an amount, even in the eyes of someone from a high-ranking background like him, was a large fortune.


    "It seems our Chief Officer took advantage of your lack of backing to extort you heavily. According to the rules, we''re supposed to turn over half," Dong Jing concluded. "Your future days might be tough."


    Shen Qing let out a long sigh and said with a tone of resignation, "That''s the way of the world, there''s nothing I can do about it. I''ll just have to take it one step at a time."


    Yesterday, he accidentally learned that Zheng Yuanqiu had secretly sent people along with the Military Department to wrap up the matter with the Wolf Demon in Changqiao Town, sorting everything out thoroughly.


    Upon knowing that Shen Qing hadn''t kept anything for himself, Zheng indeed handled the Zhou Family affair personally.


    It was somewhat unexpected for Shen Qing.


    This hidden agent from the Huang Tian Sect had managed to rise to the position of General of the Army, not purely by luck¡ªhe was somewhat capable.


    Yongzhou contained hidden talents, and Shen Qing, lacking strength, dared not act rashly for now.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s sentiment, Dong Jing said nothing more.


    The state of affairs in Great Zhou was such that everyone aspired to climb higher.


    Once someone ascended and gained control over Great Zhou''s Martial Mechanism, they wouldn''t have to worry about any spiritual elixirs or the Yuan Pearl Technique.


    Besides wealth and glory, their Martial Arts Cultivation would improve, and they''d gain rare longevity.


    Even the small Dragon Court of the Capital City was almost filled with aristocratic families.


    If they were like that, what more of the lower-level officials?


    High-ranking officials took much, and lower-ranking ones took little.


    There wasn''t much choice.


    Dong Jing remembered something and said, "Officer Shen, I remember the tavern in Xinyi Square, Shen Ji, is your business, right?"


    "That''s my property, what''s up?"


    "It''s just a coincidence. I heard your dishes are quite unique. Tonight there''s a gathering, and my friends and two colleagues from the office plan to host a table there." Dong Jing offered, "I wonder if Officer Shen could join us for a drink?"


    Facing Dong Jing''s invitation, Shen Qing sank into contemplation.


    His desire for such social engagements wasn''t strong.


    In his view, spending too much time on these ineffective social interactions was less worthwhile than spending effort to improve his cultivation.


    However, after thinking it over, he decided to accept. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dong Jing was from the Dong Family of the Thirteen Lines, and his friends were certainly either rich or noble.


    Such private gatherings weren''t open to just anyone in Yongzhou.


    With a bit of luck, he might overhear some information and intelligence that was otherwise difficult to learn about from outside.


    "Sure. I have heavy duties now, so I might finish late at night, and I could be a bit late when I come."


    "No worries. We''re starting late too. After the night shift, I''ll meet you, and we''ll go together."


    Shen Qing finished the remaining cool tea in one gulp, cupped his hands at Dong Jing and said, "Thank you for the hospitality, Officer Dong. We''ll talk later."


    "Busy yourself, Officer Shen."


    "By the way, the matter at Baihua Building has been taken care of already. No one will trace it back," Dong Jing added.


    Shen Qing''s expression turned serious; he cupped his hands solemnly in thanks and then turned to leave.

 Chapter 215 - 41 Thirteen Lines Rich Young Masters Circle

    As evening approached, Shen Qing, after completing his patrol of his section, returned to the government office.


    After handing over his duty token, he followed Dong Jing, and the two headed towards Xinyi Square.


    Dong Jing and Shen Qing rode side by side on their horses.


    "Brother Shen, do you know how we as officers can aim higher?"


    "I''m not quite sure," Shen Qing replied, shaking his head.


    In Yongzhou, with no backing or roots, no one guided him, and he acted solely on his instincts.


    Despite joining the Guardian Martial Department for three or four months and doing much work, he still felt restrained, with seemingly no progress.


    Currently, the Guardian Martial Department and the Military Department operated in parallel.


    One had the General of Military Department, the other the Commander of the Military Guard, each overseeing several officers, who in turn managed several patrol officers.


    Among them, the power of the General of Military Department was somewhat greater, compared to the Commander of the Military Guard, overseeing not just officers but also clerks, ledgers, and patrol officers.


    It was said that initially, both departments combined had over a thousand people.


    After personnel losses, they were never fully staffed again.


    In other words, there was still significant room for advancement.


    This was precisely what Dong Jing wanted to know.


    "Frankly speaking, our Guardian Martial Department doesn''t have so many twists and turns. The main thing is to look at each person''s cultivation progress, not just how many achievements they have."


    Shen Qing was taken aback, "Cultivation progress?"


    Dong Jing elaborated, "That''s right. In fact, it''s not just our Guardian Martial Department. Most of the Great Zhou Court operates this way. Consider this, if you achieve many merits and get promoted, gaining many Wish Power Pearls and spiritual elixirs, what if you are just a martial inept?"


    "If given so many resources for cultivation, yet you can''t even reach the Qi Cultivation Realm, wouldn''t that become a joke? If you don''t cultivate at all, and still get so many resources, what would happen?"


    Shen Qing thought of Wu Sheng''s business and frowned, "Would you sell it off or leave it for the next generation?"


    "Exactly. Regardless of whether it''s sold or left for descendants, both shake the foundation of the Ji Family and hinder their ancestral industries. So, advancement is still judged by the level of one''s Martial Arts cultivation."


    "The level of Martial Arts cultivation is the most direct measure. You either have it, or you don''t, and it''s clear at a glance."


    "So we must focus on Martial Arts first, achievements second; merely working hard won''t do," Dong Jing added with some depth, "You are just starting out; don''t seem too impatient, for rigidity easily breaks."


    Shen Qing frowned slightly, seemingly enlightened.


    He realized that Dong Jing was intentionally giving him pointers before he attended gatherings.


    "I appreciate the guidance," Shen Qing said with his hands cupped in respect.


    "We''ve arrived," Dong Jing remarked, looking at the crowded Shen''s Restaurant ahead, "Your business is booming. I had to book a spot three days in advance and even then had to raise the price."


    "Next time, if you folks come, just give me a heads-up. I can''t make decisions elsewhere, but here, my word carries some weight."


    The two arrived at the entrance, where a waiter, recognizing Shen Qing, respectfully came forward, "Boss, you''ve arrived."


    Shen Qing handed the reins to the waiter and led Dong Jing through the restaurant''s main entrance.


    Passing through the lobby, they went straight to a private room on the second floor.


    At this time, several figures were seated inside, chatting quietly.


    All dressed elegantly, even without engagement, it was evident they belonged to noble families.


    Shen Qing followed behind Dong Jing to the side of these people.


    Dong Jing stepped forward and introduced Shen Qing to the group one by one.


    In the room, there were a total of three men and two women who had arrived early.


    Among them, four were surprised to learn Shen Qing owned the restaurant and also worked at the Guardian Martial Department.


    A woman wearing a hairpin remarked, "If I remember correctly, there are no major Shen families in Yongzhou, right?"


    The man beside her nodded, "Perhaps there were long ago, but not anymore."


    At these words, Shen Qing immediately sensed that their interest in him waned significantly.


    In the Great Zhou, one''s status and family lineage had become ingrained prejudices.


    Despite holding a martial arts register and being an official, he was still deemed unworthy by these prominent family members.


    Like a nouveau riche lacking refinement, he remained looked down upon by other proprietors.


    Shen Qing''s expression remained calm as if he had somewhat anticipated this.


    After some casual chatter, three more individuals arrived shortly after.


    Among them was someone Shen Qing recognized: Xi Shaoqin from the fourth group.


    The latter showed slight surprise upon seeing him, then smiled and nodded.


    Dong Jing said, "Since everyone is here, why not take a seat and order? I''ve heard that Brother Shen''s restaurant serves dishes that can''t be found elsewhere, a rarity that we should definitely try today."


    "Haha, we came here today precisely for the unique dishes, so let''s find our seats quickly."


    These people were familiar with each other, and each took their seats in order of arrival.


    Shen Qing found himself silently placed at the end, with Xi Shaoqin from the fourth group similarly situated towards the back next to him.


    The man at the head of the table looked at Shen Qing, "Since it''s Lord Shen''s restaurant, why not let Lord Shen order for us, to see what''s special?"


    Shen Qing smiled, "I''m not particularly knowledgeable about the dishes; my family just uses my name. How about we go with the signature dishes for everyone to try? I find them quite good."


    "Then it''s decided; bring out each of the signature dishes."


    Shen Qing called a servant over and gave the order for the dishes.


    Before the dishes arrived, there was idle time, and the group began chatting in clusters.


    Sitting at the end for the first time, Shen Qing found no one intending to engage him.


    Once finished with other conversations, Xi Shaoqin noticed this.


    He asked Shen Qing, "Is this your first time attending such a gathering, Officer Shen?"


    Shen Qing had not expected Xi Shaoqin to initiate conversation.


    At the government office, they merely acknowledged each other, speaking perhaps only three sentences in total.


    Unsure of Xi Shaoqin''s intentions, he replied, "I haven''t attended before."


    "No wonder," Xi Shaoqin glanced surreptitiously at the man at the head of the table, "Do you know who he is?"


    "I don''t."


    "That''s the second in the Thirteen Lines, the legitimate young master of the Sun Family. At merely twenty, he has already reached the Yu Luo Realm, extraordinarily gifted. Everyone believes he might become a future innate of the Sun Family."


    A martial master at twenty and of the Yu Luo Realm?


    Shen Qing raised his eyes to scrutinize the young master of the Sun Family, noticing his sharp brows, eagle-like eyes, and graceful demeanor.


    He wore a deep blue Cloud Brocade Robe, a jade belt inlaid with gems at the waist, his hair tied up high with a jade hairpin.


    He indeed seemed extraordinary.


    "And then there are the Wu Family, Zhao Family, Qian Family, Dong Family... each one either a young master or a young lady, of noble birth, mostly hovering around the edges of the Yu Luo Realm, and at worst, at the Great Perfection of the Qi Sea Realm."


    Shen Qing suddenly realized he seemed to be the one with the lowest cultivation and the least privileged background among them.


    Xi Shaoqin keenly observed Shen Qing''s expression change, feeling slightly satisfied.


    This young officer, climbing from a small place to reach here, had indeed slain multiple demons and was quite remarkable, but compared to them, still fell short.


    He didn''t want Shen Qing to disrupt the atmosphere at the government office, causing trouble, and intended to use this to temper his arrogance.


    Not long after, the dishes were served, with the guests continuously toasting each other.


    "Oh, these dishes are really wonderful. I''ve never had such unique flavors. Lord Shen genuinely has something special."


    Shen Qing obliged with a smile, "As long as you all enjoy them."


    After a few more drinks, the atmosphere became more lively. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Knowing each other well, the group engaged in animated conversations in pairs and trios.


    Shen Qing noticed he seemed to be forgotten, left unnoticed.


    He increasingly found the gathering dull and a total waste of his time.


    Devoting this time to cultivation might have moved him along in his progress.


    Shen Qing griped to himself internally but chose not to disrupt the others'' enjoyment and ultimately decided to leave the gathering quietly.


    Xi Shaoqin, who was mingling cheerfully nearby, glanced at him but paid no mind and continued to joke with the others.

 Chapter 216 - 42 Refining the Blood Dominance Cultivation Technique

    Shen Qing had just left his seat when Dong Jing and Young Master Sun, after having their fill, suddenly remembered and looked toward the end of the table.


    The end of the table was empty, and Shen Qing''s trace had long disappeared.


    Dong Jing walked to Xi Shaoqin''s side, lowered his voice, and asked, "Where''s Shen Chasi?"


    "He, ah, left a while ago," Xi Shaoqin replied indifferently.


    Dong Jing''s intoxicated face sobered up a bit, "I was the one who invited him today. In our gathering, I should have involved him more. Ignoring him like this makes me appear somewhat rude."


    Xi Shaoqin raised his eyebrows slightly.


    He was born into the Xi family of Yongzhou, not of the direct lineage, but still from a high-ranking family. He had attended many such gatherings.


    In his eyes, such gatherings were not suited for someone like Shen Qing, from a humble background.


    He already had reservations about Dong Jing inviting Shen Qing, and being so attentive made him even more displeased.


    "Do you think highly of him, and secretly have a good relationship with him?" asked a young woman sitting nearby, taking the initiative to speak up as she noticed the subtle atmosphere.


    The young woman was in her early twenties, with shoulders as if carved, a waist as if it had been planned, and her legs as straight as chopsticks, revealing a well-trained elegant curve.


    "No, not really," Dong Jing shook his head and said, "I see him as someone without parents, an outsider who managed to settle in the county town and even squeezed into the government office. He''s got some skill, and I want to make his acquaintance."


    "What''s so good about associating with someone like that? Even if he becomes a Chasi, with that scant official salary, he can''t compare with us in cultivation resources. The gap in cultivation will only widen, and he''s not destined to be like us."


    "Exactly. If you ask me, why bother trying to associate with someone like that? When you advance in your cultivation and ascend to success, he will naturally come to fawn over you. There''s no need for you to be so attentive."


    Xi Shaoqin had long admired the two young ladies from the Wu family and the Qian family.


    Both were not lacking in martial arts skills and appearance. If he could deepen his connection, it could possibly lead to further development and significantly benefit his ascension.


    Seeing one of them speak, he chimed in, drawing the approval of many.


    Sitting at the head of the table, Young Master Sun spoke, "Xi Chasi makes a lot of sense. I used to know someone with good sight but a humble background. Initially, when interacting with him, he was very aloof, indifferent to me, and even sneered at my status. Later, upon seeing my cultivation continuously breaking through and surpassing his, he changed his attitude and wanted to get close to me."


    "From that point on, I realized that people from such origins fear power, not virtue, have small courtesies but lack righteousness. You must train them like training dogs. Never let them take an inch further."


    "That''s true," everyone nodded, "After all, our preferences and habits have been different from theirs since childhood. Forcing associations, surpassing them in cultivation, easily incites envy. Cultivation lower than theirs makes them secretly despise us. Difficult to please."


    "Yes, yes," another woman added, "I have a relative just like you, fond of associating with people of humble origins. At first, the two got along well, but later, due to neglect of cultivation, fell behind that acquaintance. As a result, during an outing, he was ridiculed. My relative couldn''t endure it and started a quarrel, eventually losing his life. Truly lamentable."


    "..."


    Seeing his friends bringing up real-life examples after another sobered Dong Jing greatly.


    Having climbed and crawled in the Guardian Martial Department for a while, he had seen many people and events and knew not everything they said was false.


    Many from humble beginnings had perspectives completely different from theirs and often became agitated over minor matters, not aligning with their worldviews.


    But from his observations, Dong Jing found Shen Qing slightly different from the bottom-level people they had met.


    If his guess was right, Shen Qing had quietly broken through to the Qi Hai Realm with some technique from somewhere, and his cultivation speed clearly was catching up with theirs.


    Such a relationship being abruptly severed would be too unfortunate.


    Seeing Dong Jing''s hesitant look, Young Master Sun laughed and said, "If Dong Cha doesn''t want to cut ties like that, just reduce interactions in the future, give him some benefits occasionally to maintain it. After some time, when your cultivation advances, he''ll naturally come to you. No need to burden yourself."


    Dong Jing glanced at everyone and then outside the private room.


    On one side were long-time friends, and on the other was a "Lone Rider Chasi" with a humble origin.


    There was almost no comparison between the two.


    In an instant, Dong Jing made his decision, poured himself a full glass, and laughed loudly, "Let''s not talk about that ''Lone Rider Chasi.'' Let''s drink."


    "Come on, cheers."


    When curfew time approached, the gathering wrapped up. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Waiter, come here to settle the bill," Dong Jing shouted with a big gesture.


    In a moment, a servant came running with a beaming smile and said, "Gentlemen, our boss is treating everyone for the sake of Dong Cha''s friendship."


    "Friendship?!" Dong Jing was slightly stunned.


    ...


    "Qingzi, you''re back?"


    After the gate of the small courtyard was opened, Shen Qing stepped in from outside.


    He turned around and closed the gate again, saying casually, "Sister, didn''t you go to the restaurant to help today?"


    "There''s uncle and aunt at the restaurant, they don''t need me. If there''s no one at home, there''s no one to look after you when you return, so they let me come back."


    Elder sister Shen Fang sat on a chair, embroidering by the light of a lantern. As she embroidered, she asked, "Have you eaten? If not, I''ll heat some food for you."


    "I ate at the restaurant, take a rest," Shen Qing walked over, lowered his head for a look, and found that Shen Fang was embroidering a pair of mandarin ducks, surprisingly lifelike, "Sister, when did you master this embroidery skill?"


    Shen Fang blushed, "Hey, don''t worry about that."


    Seeing Shen Fang''s blushing ears in the candlelight, Shen Qing stopped teasing.


    Counting the days, his elder sister was already twenty years old. In these parts, that''s considered an advanced age. Could this be a little romantic thought?


    Shen Qing refrained from asking more and turned to his own room.


    Tonight''s gathering hadn''t felt that pleasant, but it wasn''t entirely fruitless.


    "I still have to focus on advancing my cultivation to tread the right path."


    With a thought, a drop of ink fell from the top of Shen Qing''s vision, forming lines of text.


    [Skill: Blood Dominance Technique (Mastery)]


    [Progress: 403/900 points]


    [Status: Cannot be advanced]


    The Blood Dominance Technique was a cultivation method obtained by breaking the limit of nine kinds of stance training, primarily to strengthen Qi-Blood and restore physical strength.


    Before reaching the Qi Hai Realm, one must say this technique was quite good, as it offset the side effects of using the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill.


    But after breaking through to the Qi Hai Realm, it seemed somewhat lacking, unable to repair True Qi, making it a bit pointless.


    Perhaps it was time to find a related technique beneficial for True Qi, to reforge the points from the Blood Dominance Technique.


    Shen Qing began to ponder, considering and weighing his options.

 Chapter 217 - 43: Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique, True Qi Surges!

    ```


    Without much hesitation, Shen Qing quickly made a decision.


    To him, a useless cultivation technique was as good as nothing; keeping the points in it was a waste.


    It was better to cleanse these points and apply them where they could be useful.


    The Blood Dominance Technique originated from the Nine Skills, but even the Nine Skills were not considered mainstream in the Martial Arts of the Martial World. Reaching such a degree was already beyond his expectations; it was time for a change.


    "Huh..."


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and used the "Never Forget" ability to recall all the martial arts he had learned in the Martial Arts Hall that day.


    Then, using the "studying and inquiring, integrating and understanding" ability, he quickly made a choice, selecting three martial arts somewhat related to the Nine Skills.


    These three martial arts could significantly enhance True Qi and had some foundational links with the Nine Skills'' stance training, making them suitable for cleansing the Blood Dominance Technique.


    Shen Qing considered the three martial arts, ultimately choosing one called the "Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique."


    This martial art emphasized "True Qi swallowing like a whale, rapid refinement, recovery like tides, and perpetual life."


    Cultivating this technique enabled one to absorb nature''s spiritual energy from the surrounding environment like a whale swallowing the ocean, refining it at speeds several or even tens of times faster than ordinary people.


    It could greatly shorten the recovery time, allowing the cultivator to rapidly replenish True Qi during combat.


    Furthermore, thanks to its unique cultivation pathway, when cultivated to the extreme, it, combined with a robust ability to refine nature''s spiritual energy, allowed one to self-heal from both external and internal injuries at an astonishing speed. In life-and-death struggles, this was almost like having a second life.


    It was quite profound.


    The only significant drawback was its difficulty in practice.


    You must know that the martial arts of the Zhou Country Court were already the culmination of wisdom from countless martial masters, simplifying them for easier entry.


    If a martial art was said to be difficult in the court, it meant that it was truly difficult, and not just a little bit challenging.


    But then again, this martial art being part of the Zhou Country''s armory, becoming a part of the Martial Mechanism, meant it had genuine value, not like those Martial Arts of the Martial World, hard to practice and devoid of power.


    For Shen Qing, since he could learn the difficult Sky Flipping Seal, this martial art was naturally within his reach.


    Difficulty wasn''t a problem; with the Panel on his side, he just needed to allocate points.


    Shen Qing committed all the essentials of the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique to memory, then opened his eyes and began Entry Level training.


    He took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly in two long and one short breath.


    A solid stream of breath formed a white thread in the void.


    Time passed bit by bit, nearing midnight.


    Shen Qing sat cross-legged on the bed, gradually surrounded by a faint glow, a sign of gradual Entry Level in the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique.


    Shen Qing closed his eyes, concentrating as he silently recited the obscure incantation, trying to guide the surrounding nature''s spiritual energy into his body, slowly refining it according to the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique''s circulation route.


    However, this very first step was exceedingly difficult.


    Shen Qing only felt an invisible barrier across his flesh, obstructing this unique circulation route.


    As time passed, sweat gradually seeped from Shen Qing''s forehead, and his face paled.


    He could feel that the True Qi, which should have submitted gently to him, was now as hard as stubborn stones, ignoring him.


    Each attempt to guide it felt like trying to pry a giant rock with a fine needle, not only ineffective but also further exhausting his spirit.


    After an unknown period, relying on the vast amount of refined True Qi, Shen Qing forced a tiny shift, barely circulating it a complete cycle before dawn.


    Just this one circulation felt like running a marathon to Shen Qing, utterly exhausting, truly befitting a difficult technique.


    [Skill: Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 1/500 points]


    [Status: Cannot be improved]


    [Note: Difficult for those who cannot, easy for those who can. This is an extremely difficult martial art, but perseverance brings mastery, constant practice must yield results.]


    "Entry Level?"


    Just as Shen Qing let out a long breath, the Water Ink Panel immediately sent a Red Ink reminder: {Detected similar martial art "Blood Dominance Technique," cleanse, extract, and allocate these points to fill the new martial art?}


    "Yes!"


    {Blood Dominance Technique cleansing successful, extracted 100+200+300+400+500+600+700+800+403... totaling 4003 points.}


    {Allocate to the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique?}


    Without hesitation, Shen Qing chose {Allocate}.


    Boom!


    The instant Shen Qing made the decision, a peculiar wave came from deep within the Dantian.


    With a low rumble, like a giant machine awakening from sleep, it slowly began to operate.


    In his field of vision, the points related to the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique continuously climbed, the status jumping from Entry Level to skillfully, then to Small Success.


    [Skill: Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique (Small Success)]


    [Progress: 1003/2000 points]


    [Status: Cannot break through]


    [Note: Through relentless practice day and night, you finally reached Small Success with this technique. In the process, you comprehended the concept of "pouch," doubling your True Qi capacity without changing your body''s size.]


    "Pouch?"


    Shen Qing didn''t think much more, quickly calming his mind.


    Soon, countless memories of practice surged forth.


    This time, the memory was much more substantial than before, making Shen Qing feel as though he had practiced this technique for thirty to fifty years, leaving him mentally overwhelmed.


    As the memories surged, waterdrop-like blue marks appeared around Shen Qing''s Dantian, shining brightly, and his internal meridians underwent changes accordingly.


    A cold but pure True Qi surged out like a tide, directly rushing along the previously circulated pathway.


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    Suddenly, the invisible barrier across his flesh was shattered, allowing True Qi to flow unhindered, charging like an unbridled horse.


    Ignoring his mental fog, Shen Qing gritted his teeth, focusing all his energy, hurriedly grasping a trace of the True Qi''s rhythm and pace.


    Following this rhythm, he gently guided the rushing True Qi within his body.


    By dawn, Shen Qing quietly mastered this surging True Qi.


    At that moment, he seemed to hear the roaring sound of mighty True Qi flooding within him, experiencing an unprecedented power coursing through his body.


    The brilliance of dawn shone through the window onto Shen Qing''s face, making it appear translucent.


    After a night of relentless practice, he successfully mastered this martial art.


    A slight smile appeared on his lips as he suddenly activated the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique, instantly depleting the surrounding spiritual energy in a few breaths, causing a sudden surge of True Qi within.


    At this moment, Shen Qing discovered that the "pouch" around the Dantian began to shimmer with radiance, becoming ever more mystical, and his body started undergoing subtle changes...


    ```

 Chapter 218 - 44: Transformation in Body Size, Xi Shaoqin Dies

    ```


    After practicing the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique, Shen Qing''s muscles, which swelled like mountains, seemed to come alive and began to squirm under the stimulation of True Qi.


    His physique also underwent subtle changes amidst the squirming.


    This transformation was unlike the simple swelling and piling up he experienced when practicing the Blood Dominance Technique or the Wind Defying Finger. Instead, it began to refine and reshape.


    Shen Qing''s swollen muscles started to compress inward, becoming like cast bronze with smooth lines, and the power also seemed more restrained.


    After about ten breaths, this change finally ceased.


    Shen Qing looked down to examine himself, finding that his clothes had become loose and baggy.


    He knew that it was not the clothes that had grown larger, but that his physique had shrunk slightly and was no longer as robust and sturdy as before.


    Shen Qing sat up from the bed and raised his arm to clench his fist.


    He discovered that the explosive power hidden within his flesh and blood had not weakened in the slightest. Instead, it had been unprecedentedly strengthened during this transformation.


    Generally speaking, being more robust was not always better for a martial master, nor were bigger muscles preferable.


    Larger muscles meant more energy needed for daily maintenance, higher consumption, and therefore more difficulty improving one''s cultivation.


    Most people practicing Martial Arts did not rigidly train their muscles, aiming only for size.


    Some martial masters, upon reaching depths of their practice, would deliberately reduce their physique to conserve True Qi and energy.


    Shen Qing hadn''t expected that the Small Success of the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique would directly bring his body to such a status.


    It was an unexpected joy.


    A slight smile appeared on his face.


    At that time, the eastern sky brightened, and the courtyard was bustling with activity.


    Having not slept all night, Shen Qing did not feel the slightest bit tired. On the contrary, he felt better than ever, energetic, as if he had boundless strength.


    He pushed the door open and walked into the courtyard, as usual, to instruct Tian Xiaohu and the others in Martial Arts.


    During this period, after he provided them with Imperial Martial Arts, the three progressed swiftly in their cultivation.


    Xiao Zhi had begun Skin Forging, Tian Xiaohu was at Bone Refining, and even Shen Shan, who learned martial arts the latest, was at the Great Perfection of Qi-Blood and could stretch and strengthen his bones at any moment.


    In the serene courtyard bathed in the first light of dawn, the three rose early and practiced diligently facing the morning glow.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing, the three, as usual, began to take turns consulting him about their cultivation puzzles.


    "Boss, in my practice of the Mixed Element True Technique, which emphasizes the unity of the inner and outer, with True Qi circulating freely, I find an obstruction in my True Qi since Bone Refining. Do you know why?"


    Shen Qing''s figure stood as a gentle jade in the morning glow of the courtyard. Hearing this, he smiled faintly and said, "Xiaohu, the Mixed Element True Technique is profound, and True Qi obstruction might be due to an unsettled mind. Before practicing, you might try calming your mind in meditation, bringing your soul to peace, like a still lake, then True Qi can flow freely."


    Tian Xiaohu realized the truth upon hearing that.


    "Do you have anything else to ask?"


    "No." The three shook their heads in response.


    Shen Qing directed Tian Xiaohu, "Xiaohu, I''ve been patrolling several districts alone recently and am quite busy. Go into the city to see if you can find a reliable person to patrol the districts under my jurisdiction and inform me immediately of any signs of trouble."


    In recent days, he found that Zheng Yuanqiu had no intention of restructuring his subordinates, so he had to figure out a way during this gap period.


    Tian Xiaohu''s expression became stern as he replied, "Got it, I''ll take care of it today."


    Shen Qing reminded, "Money isn''t the issue, but the person must be reliable and not ruin things."


    Tian Xiaohu nodded heavily in agreement.


    ...


    In the following days, Shen Qing returned to his usual life of patrols and practice, living simply and steadily.


    However, beneath this serene life, Shen Qing keenly noticed that since that gathering, Dong Jing seemed to distance himself, intentionally or otherwise, from him and was no longer as enthusiastic as he had been.


    On ordinary occasions, when they met in the government office, it was always just polite nods and maybe a few formal exchanges at most.


    At first, he was puzzled, but upon hearing that Dong Jing now excluded him from gatherings with Xi Shaoqin and others, it became clear to him what was happening.


    He did not mind.


    People have their own aspirations, and relationships come and go¡ªit''s the norm.


    Different circles need not force integration.


    Instead of being caught up in the whirlpool of human warmth and coldness, he focused on enhancing his cultivation.


    Shen Qing quickly put the matter aside and devoted all his energy to practice.


    In no time, November arrived, and the weather grew colder.


    After completing his patrol, Shen Qing walked back to the Guardian Martial Department Office in warm cotton clothes and a large cloak, intending to hand over his duty token and leave.


    As he entered the office, he noticed a large group of people gathered in the courtyard, gesturing at something.


    Curious, he grabbed the arm of an officer and asked, "What''s going on?"


    The officer initially wanted to lose his temper, feeling a bit impatient, but upon seeing Shen Qing, he swallowed his complaints.


    "The officer of the fourth group died."


    Shen Qing''s expression changed: "You mean Xi Shaoqin, Officer Xi died? How did he just die like that?"


    "I''m not sure either. Everyone says it was the Cat Demon," the officer replied, pointing ahead. "The body is right here in the courtyard. Officer Shen can see for yourself. Do you have anything else, Officer Shen?" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing released his grip, his expression grave.


    The officer, released, cupped his hands and quickly departed.


    "Excuse me, let me through," Shen Qing said as he pushed forward, looking ahead, his face changing.


    The scene before him was startling and somewhat horrifying.


    The person who had recently sat beside him now lay on a makeshift wooden board in an indescribably gruesome posture.


    His innards had almost been entirely removed, leaving a hollow emptiness with only a large intestine hanging out.


    His entire body appeared to have been chewed up by something, with his face being almost unrecognizable, truly a pitiful sight.


    The assembled officers and colleagues of the Guardian Martial Department were all shocked by this tragic sight, filled with surprise, fear, conjecture, and bewilderment.


    For a time, discussions were rampant among the crowd.


    "How did Lord Xi end up this way?" an elderly officer asked in a trembling voice, disbelief filling his eyes.


    "Yes, I heard he was fine last night, so how did he end up like this overnight?" another colleague chimed in, his eyes wandering over Xi Shaoqin''s body. "Could it really be... that the Cat Demon harmed him?"


    "Nonsense! How can there be demons in this city? Besides, Officer Xi''s cultivation was strong; it must have been a person!"


    "... "


    Shen Qing stood among the crowd, saying nothing, observing coldly.


    Yongzhou no longer seemed as peaceful as before.


    "What do you think, now that the fourth group lacks an officer, what will happen? Will they promote from within or recruit someone from outside?"


    "That''s for the Chief Officer to decide; how would we know?"


    As they discussed, a underling came forward, found Shen Qing, and said, "The lord requests Officer Shen to come over."


    "The Chief Officer wants me?" Shen Qing recognized the underling as someone under the Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu. He did not slack off and directly cupped his hands, saying, "Lead the way."


    The underling nodded, "Officer Shen, please follow me."


    ```

 Chapter 219 - 45: I Became the Leader of Group Four

    Guardian Martial Department''s main hall, usually the office of Chief Officer Zheng Yuanqiu.


    Chang Sui walked in with Shen Qing one after the other.


    As Shen Qing stepped into the back hall of the Guardian Martial Department, the heavy wooden door slowly closed behind him.


    Chang Sui stepped forward and said, "Shen Chasi, please. The master has been waiting in the inner room for some time."


    "Thank you." Shen Qing cupped his hands.


    He adjusted his tunic and strode toward the quiet room.


    Upon entering the quiet room of the main hall, Shen Qing immediately saw the calm and dignified face of Zheng Yuanqiu.


    At this moment, he was sitting upright at the desk, with sharp eyesight and furrowed brows, deep in thought.


    Shen Qing stepped forward and said steadily, "Lord Chief Officer, Shen Qing of the Sixth Group reports as ordered."


    Zheng Yuanqiu slightly raised his head, his gaze lingering on Shen Qing for a moment before he spoke: "Shen Qing, do you know why I summoned you urgently?"


    Shen Qing met Zheng Yuanqiu''s eyes without any hesitation, "I am not very clever, but I suspect it is related to the death of Xi Shaoqin, Xi Chasi."


    "Yes, you are somewhat perceptive." Zheng Yuanqiu nodded lightly, his tone becoming more serious: "After all, Xi Chasi was one of our Guardian Martial Department''s people, a legitimate official of the court. The Military Department has already taken over this matter."


    "But I heard that Xi Chasi''s death was related to a demon. If so, we can''t remain uninvolved; we still need to investigate thoroughly. Exterminating demons is our Guardian Martial Department''s duty."


    "You are decisive and exceptional in your actions on ordinary days. I intend to entrust this heavy responsibility to you. How about the position of Chasi for the Fourth Group, are you interested?"


    Making me the head of the Fourth Group?


    Upon hearing this, waves of unrest surged in Shen Qing''s heart.


    His first reaction was not of fortune but of the suspicion that there was something dodgy in this matter.


    Since his Sixth Group was depleted, Zheng Yuanqiu had never replenished the establishment and let him act as a "Lone Rider."


    Coincidentally, now Xi Shaoqin of the Fourth Group died, leaving a Chasi position vacant, and he was to fill this gap.


    Wouldn''t that mean the establishment of the Sixth Group is just being removed?


    Shen Qing remembered that the Chief Officer in front of him was a member of the Huang Tian Sect, and a few months ago, the Guardian Martial Department''s people who went to Taiping County were betrayed and killed by him.


    Now reducing the establishment felt like Zheng Yuanqiu was deliberately or unintentionally weakening the Guardian Martial Department, making it a feeble government office.


    It was known that apart from exterminating demons, the newly established Guardian Martial Department was responsible for seeking out and destroying rebels like the Huang Tian Sect. Was the Huang Tian Sect planning new moves?


    This is not ruled out.


    Moreover, the Cat Demon had been hiding in the Inner City for some time. Xi Shaoqin and his Fourth Group investigated for so long without any clues. It was an extremely troublesome adversary.


    He wasn''t confident he could resolve this matter.


    It was evidently a mess, and woe to whoever accepted it.


    In an instant, Shen Qing thought of many things, yet his face remained as calm as water, showing no expression.


    After a while, Shen Qing bent down, cupped his fists, looked at the ground, and said, neither humble nor overbearing: "Sir, I believe I am inadequate for this weighty task; I hope you can choose another talent."


    "I think Dong Jing, Dong Chasi of the First Group, and Xie Zongyong, Xie Chasi of the Second Group, are quite impressive; they should be able to handle this..."


    As Shen Qing spoke, he suddenly felt a shadow before him. He stopped talking and looked up.


    Only to see Zheng Yuanqiu, at some point, stood up from the chair and walked in front of him.


    "Do you refuse to accept?" Zheng Yuanqiu''s eyes were like a cold pool, deep and icy, those four words squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a trace of questioning.


    Shen Qing looked up with unusually firm eyes; his Qi Sea within began to surge. The Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique activated automatically, driving a vast amount of True Qi. He took a deep breath and continued: "Mr. Zheng, it is not that I refuse intentionally, but I truly have limited capability..."


    Before the words were finished, there seemed to be a subtle fluctuation in the air.


    An overwhelming pressure surged from Zheng Yuanqiu, enveloping Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing only felt his whole body like trapped in a swamp, even his breath turning heavy. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You had better think carefully before answering," Zheng Yuanqiu said with a faint smile.


    Shen Qing squinted his eyes, itching to expose his secrets.


    But seeing that Zheng Yuanqiu hadn''t used his full strength, after a comprehensive consideration, he bowed his head and said: "Given your trust, sir, I ought to do my utmost to uncover the truth."


    The pressure surrounding him suddenly disappeared.


    Shen Qing immediately felt a lightness throughout his body.


    Zheng Yuanqiu smiled as he patted Shen Qing''s shoulder earnestly and said, "Good, I knew I hadn''t misjudged. As of today, you are now the Chasi of the Fourth Group of our Guardian Martial Department, leading all officers of the Fourth Group, and tasked with thoroughly investigating Xi Shaoqin''s related demon issues."


    Shen Qing took the command with a blank expression.


    "The rumor of the Cat Demon is increasingly rampant now. You have one month to clear up this demon, either slay it on the spot or capture it. Remember, no matter who is involved, investigate thoroughly without sparing. If you can''t manage it, you should resign voluntarily. Now get out and get busy!"


    Shen Qing opened his mouth, silently cupped his hands, and retreated.


    Once outside the main hall, the usually composed Shen Qing couldn''t help but show a trace of anger on his face.


    Fine, fine, fine, thinking that I have no background and am easy to bully, huh.


    Shen Qing took out from his pocket the incriminating letter Zheng Yuanqiu had written to the Huang Tian Sect, his face turning fierce.


    Hope you don''t blame me when the time comes.


    He kept the letter close, putting away those thoughts.


    ...


    In the courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department, Shen Qing sat at the main seat, summoning the former Fourth Group''s officers over.


    They had received the order and knew this young man before them was to be their next Chasi, whom they would work under.


    Shen Qing looked at these people, they mostly had indifferent expressions, with eyes somewhat disdainful, which he had anticipated.


    Although not from aristocratic families like the Thirteen Lines, they weren''t purely from the lower class, so naturally, they wouldn''t show any friendly faces to this outsider.


    Shen Qing did not care about this; he had no expectations from them.


    "Lord Chief Officer has ordered us to find the demon behind Xi Chasi''s murder within a month. If we fail to do so, all of us shall be dismissed. Henceforth, you must be extremely diligent and strive to investigate. Do you understand?"


    As these words fell, there was a slight reaction on everyone''s face, and they responded sparsely.


    "Haven''t eaten?" Shen Qing shouted, True Qi surged through him, revealing a sharp momentum.


    The Fourth Group officers in the room immediately felt a chill in their hearts.


    This cultivation level was the Qi Hai Realm!!!


    They suddenly realized that Shen Qing seemed different from the image of Chasi they had imagined.


    Some quick-thinking officers immediately changed their attitude, responding repeatedly, "Understood!"


    "Understood, now go investigate," Shen Qing said with a sharp gaze.


    The group exchanged glances, then successively left to investigate the demons in the city.

 Chapter 220 - 46: Investigation, Deadlocked

    ```


    "Boss, it''s here."


    Shen Qing stood in front of a residential building with an officer.


    "The first carpenter in the city to die at the hands of a demon died in this house," the officer said respectfully.


    This officer''s name was Ji Youwu, a small merchant''s son from Yongzhou City.


    Since childhood, he practiced martial arts and mingled with gangs, and he eventually paid a sum to secure a position in the Guardian Martial Department as an officer, which allowed him to eat official food.


    Among the many officers in the fourth group, his background was not impressive, nor was his cultivation high, but he was known for his cleverness.


    After Shen Qing became their Xi Chasi of the fourth group, Ji Youwu didn''t resist much and continued to energetically investigate cases as instructed.


    After several trials, Shen Qing found him handy and handed over many clues to him for tracking.


    "Let''s go in and take a look."


    Shen Qing took a step forward and lightly placed a hand on the door, giving it a gentle push.


    The door was unlocked, and as it creaked open to both sides, a layer of white dust fell off.


    Inside the house, it was deathly silent.


    At first glance, the interior was covered in a thick layer of dust, and the light from outside filtered through dense cobwebs, casting dappled shadows on the ground.


    It seemed as though it had been uninhabited for a long time, the air heavy with a damp, musty smell that made Shen Qing involuntarily wrinkle his nose.


    He held onto his long knife and entered first, Ji Youwu following closely behind.


    The clean official boots stepped on the ground, stirring up circles of dust that floated in the beams of light coming through the windows.


    "The carpenter died here about two months ago, right?" Shen Qing asked as he investigated the surroundings.


    Ji Youwu replied, "Specifically, seventy-eight days ago. This carpenter died after having his heart and liver removed. The demon must have cut open his belly while he was still alive, then ate from the inside out, until only half of his body remained."


    "So, this person watched himself being eaten alive?"


    "More or less."


    Shen Qing looked around.


    The room wasn''t large; a quick glance and everything came into view.


    Apart from the cobwebs and dust, there was nothing else¡ªabandoned for a long time.


    However, a dry bloodstain on the floor was quite conspicuous.


    Shen Qing walked towards the bloodstain, examining it closely. He saw that there was only one bloodstain and no large splatters, indicating that the carpenter was either hanging or standing while being eaten.


    There were no other footprints on the ground, which suggested that the demon either had high-level spiritual wisdom to cover its tracks or had the means to float.


    Either scenario indicated that this demon in the city was an extremely troublesome character.


    "Whose house is this?"


    "It''s the Zhou family''s."


    Shen Qing raised an eyebrow, immediately alert.


    "Specifically, this was a place under the main house''s steward of the Zhou family. After the steward died last year, the house has been vacant ever since," Ji Youwu explained in detail.


    Shen Qing asked, "Did this carpenter have any connection to the Zhou family?"


    "No," Ji Youwu replied. "The carpenter was just a lowly worker living in the Outer City, unlikely to have any ties to the Zhou family, who were at the top of the Thirteen Lines."


    "Have you investigated how the Cat Demon rumor started?"


    "During the recent demon cases in the city, we secretly found that each time a murder happened, people around heard an eerie cat sound. So everyone thinks the demon is a Cat Demon."


    Shen Qing remained silent, seriously observing the room again before saying, "Let''s go ask this carpenter''s family if there''s anything unusual."


    "Yes."


    ...


    In the Outer City.


    Shen Qing rode a tall horse, surveying the continuous view of the Outer City streets.


    Compared to Taiping County''s Outer City, Yongzhou''s was similarly rundown and cramped, but seemingly more orderly.


    He and Ji Youwu walked to a somewhat noisy street area, the air thick with the market smell of mixed cakes and rotten cabbage leaves.


    People were either wrapped in heavy coats or tucked their necks, moving hazily through the rising smoke.


    Shen Qing, in his official robe and cloak, stood out somewhat awkwardly in this market scene.


    Soon, they led their horse into a dining venue.


    "Boss lady, two bowls of noodle soup and a plate of offal, please."


    Shen Qing tossed the reins to Ji Youwu and chose an empty seat to sit down.


    After tying up the horse, Ji Youwu sat beside Shen Qing.


    After a while, a half-grown child followed a woman, both bringing the braised offal and noodle soup to Shen Qing. Smiling apologetically, the woman said, "Enjoy your meal, sirs."


    Shen Qing nodded slightly, drawing out his chopsticks to eat the hot soup noodles.


    Nowadays, he managed his energy consumption better, needing less food, and with the refinement of True Qi, his demand for common grains decreased greatly.


    Ordinarily, he preferred foods or medicinal soups containing vital essence to maintain or enhance his cultivation.


    However, occasionally he indulged in small eateries to satisfy his taste cravings.


    Shen Qing looked up and noticed the dining venue seemed rather somber.


    Not that there were no people¡ªit was noon, and many came to eat¡ªbut it was unusually quiet, distinct from the lively scene in Yongzhou Inner City.


    The people here just ate quietly, neither sad nor joyful, displaying an apathetic demeanor.


    With his presence and their knowledge of his Guardian Martial Department status, people were even more silent.


    Some timid ones hastily ate, left some copper coins on the table, and quickly departed.


    After finishing his meal, Shen Qing turned back and called to the woman, "Boss lady, come here, let me ask you something."


    The woman, busy behind the stall, looked at him with a start and, exchanging glances with the man beside her, walked over nervously and said, "Is there something we''re lacking, officer?"


    "Your food is good, that''s not what I''m asking," Shen Qing said, turning to her. "I want to ask about your former husband. Did anything seem unusual before he died?"


    "You are¡­" the woman said, surprised.


    "Investigating why your husband died."


    Before coming, Shen Qing had learned from Ji Youwu that the carpenter''s wife and children had remarried and were now the wife and son of the dining stall owner.


    In Great Zhou, those on the lower rungs lived precariously and did not hold chastity in high regard; remarriage was common. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing that Shen Qing wasn''t there to trouble her, the woman breathed an unspoken sigh of relief and considered before saying, "Nothing unusual happened the day my husband died. He left for the city as usual that morning to look for work. I waited all day, and when he didn''t return, I learned of his death the next day."


    Recalling this, the woman couldn''t help but redden her eyes.


    "Anything else?"


    "No, I''ve yet to see his body."


    "Alright, thank you."


    Shen Qing stood up, pulled out a few pieces of broken silver, and tossed them on the table. He said to Ji Youwu, "There''s no clue here. Let''s go check the scene at Xi Chasi."


    Ji Youwu rose and followed.


    Over the next ten days, Shen Qing visited various crime scenes in efforts to investigate the Inner City demon case, yet achieved no progress.


    There were hardly any clues, stalling the demon case entirely.


    The date Zheng Yuanqiu had set for him was already halfway past.


    ```

 Chapter 221 - 47: Breakthrough in Hunting Scripture, Tracking

    As the days passed, news that Zheng Yuanqiu had given Group Four a month to investigate the demon began to spread within the Guardian Martial Department.


    A tense atmosphere loomed over Group Four.


    Some officers, hoping to keep their jobs, began maneuvering secretly, looking for ways to transfer to other groups to ensure their safety.


    "Brother Li, I heard you''ve arranged everything on your end?" whispered an officer in a gray outfit, leaning close to his companion, his eyes filled with urgency and envy.


    The officer, called Brother Li, paused his hand slightly, a subtle trace of pride flashing in his eyes, then curled his lips into a helpless smile, saying, "Spent a lot of silver, just got it done."


    "Can you also show us a way? Over here with Shen, for so many days now, we haven''t even found a decent clue. If we, the subordinates, stay here, we''ll definitely be implicated by him, and we must find a way out."


    "Each pit fits only one radish; it''s not that easy. I had to spend this amount to get things sorted." Brother Li extended five fingers, signaling.


    The officer in gray was slightly stunned: "Five hundred taels?"


    Brother Li nodded with a grim expression.


    A brief silence descended between them.


    After a while, the officer in gray suddenly had a moment of insight and said, "Brother Li, our Lord Chief Officer is known to love money like life itself. What if we gather some from among our brothers to give to the Lord Chief Officer? Do you think he might spare us?"


    "Hard to say, but I think it should work. If Shen fails, we push all the blame onto him; the Lord Chief Officer probably won''t make things difficult for small fish like us."


    "Then I''ll go and ask the brothers, see who''s willing to join in."


    "If you decide, act quickly. Otherwise, a few days later, you might no longer appease the Lord Chief Officer, and you won''t even be able to give the silver."


    "I understand."


    ¡­


    Shen Qing was not deaf to these thoughts from his subordinates, but he had no intention to stop them.


    When the sky was about to rain and a mother wanted to remarry, let them be.


    Skill was more precious than quantity.


    He had more important things to do.


    "Alright, done with the search, let''s head to the next place," Shen Qing said to Ji Youwu.


    By this time, even someone as temperate as Ji Youwu couldn''t hold back, saying anxiously, "Lord officers, we''ve been looking for clues everywhere these days, for twenty-eight days now, and found nothing. The Lord Chief Officer ordered us to capture the demon within a month; we''re almost at the deadline!"


    Shen Qing stopped and asked, "Any good ideas?"


    "The Lord Chief Officer favors beauty and money. Lord officers, maybe think of a way to buy a beauty or prepare some money for the Lord Chief Officer; maybe there''s still a chance."


    "In short, just give money and women?"


    Ji Youwu hurriedly said, "Though it doesn''t sound good, it''s indeed a viable method."


    "No need, let''s just focus on investigating, we''re close."


    Ji Youwu looked at Shen Qing, who seemed calm and confident, feeling very confused: "What do you mean by ''close''?"


    Shen Qing didn''t explain much. At that moment, he seemed to have sensed something, a trace of joy appearing on his face.


    His mind stirred, and an ink droplet fell from the void, spreading in his sight.


    [Skill: Hunting Scripture (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 500/500 points]


    [Status: Can be upgraded]


    [Note: The path of hunting is vast and profound. Master it, and everything can be hunted. By applying and practicing the Hunting Scripture, this breakthrough can awaken the skill ''tracking,'' rendering all traces of prey visible to you.]


    Through these days of investigating, Shen Qing unexpectedly discovered that the slow progress of the [Hunting Scripture] skill was showing rapid improvement.


    At this point, he suddenly realized that catching demons was also a part of hunting for him.


    Upon realizing this, he no longer felt anxious, investigating and enhancing his hunting skill progress while practicing martial arts and cultivation daily.


    The days were extraordinarily fulfilling.


    Unintentionally, after raising the [Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill] to the Seventh Transformation, the [Hunting Scripture] skill had also met the breakthrough standard.


    Shen Qing wasted no time, choosing to breakthrough.


    [Skill: Hunting Scripture (skillfully)]


    [Progress: 0/600 points]


    [Status: Cannot be upgraded]


    [Note: Through prolonged practice and application, you''ve mastered the skill ''tracking.'' Every trace left behind will become visible to you when you use this skill, regardless of how long ago it was left, leaving nowhere to hide.]


    Shen Qing felt a surge of excitement, hurriedly steadying his mind.


    The next moment, massive hunting memories surged into his mind.


    Within moments, Shen Qing only felt as if he had been hunting for countless springs and autumns, his understanding of hunting reaching a profound depth.


    After a while, Shen Qing exhaled deeply, allowing his muddled mind to gradually regain clarity.


    A wave of confidence filled his face, and he mounted his horse, "Hyah!"


    Ji Youwu shouted, "Lord officers, where are you going?"


    "To the place where Xi Shaoqin perished."


    Upon hearing this, Ji Youwu nearly lost his mind.


    Returning to where Xi Shaoqin had died for the second time, Shen Qing was well-versed in the way.


    He quickly maneuvered his horse to an alley behind a tavern in Tian Dou Square.


    Xi Shaoqin met his end in this very alley. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sitting on horseback, Shen Qing looked down at the alley below.


    [Tracking] activated.


    With a thought in his mind, every inch of stone wall in the alley from his vantage seemed to come alive.


    On the walls, those tiny traces usually hidden among dust and shadows now lit up one by one like stars, creating a faint string of footprints with a hidden pattern.


    Some footprints were crystal clear, while others were so faint they seemed to disappear with a light touch.


    A surge of indescribable excitement welled up within Shen Qing.


    He could really see them.


    These footprints were small, extending from the walls to the rooftops, traversing the narrow, deep alley, not resembling human tracks.


    "It''s undoubtedly the demon, after so many days, finally a bit of progress."


    "Whoa!"


    Behind him, Ji Youwu rushed forward on horseback.


    Increasingly puzzled by Shen Qing''s action, Ji Youwu became even more pessimistic about his future.


    "Lord officers¡­"


    Suddenly, Shen Qing turned around and smiled, "You''re just in time, join me in catching the demon!"


    "Ah!" Ji Youwu looked even more distressed.


    Crazy, absolutely crazy.


    With no clue whatsoever, how could there be a demon to capture, and where to capture it?


    Shen Qing showed no intention of explaining.


    He gently tightened the reins, galloping swiftly in the direction the footprints pointed.


    Ji Youwu followed with a look of despair.


    In Shen Qing''s vision, as the tracking deepened, the footprints grew denser.


    Finally, they entered a private residence and abruptly stopped.


    "After so many days, finally caught you."


    Shen Qing''s heartbeat quickened, a mix of anticipation and tension bubbling within.


    Ignoring the puzzled looks from those around and Ji Youwu, he dismounted, walking forward while drawing the dagger from his waist, holding it in his hand, stopping at the main door.


    Suddenly, he kicked the door open with force.


    "Guardian Martial Department catching demons, bystanders move aside!"

 Chapter 222 - 48: The Demon Transforms, Slaying Demons and Exorcising Evil!

    The battered old wooden door burst into fragments under Shen Qing''s kick.


    Shen Qing, wielding his dagger, strode into the unassuming home.


    Inside the house, on a bed where light and shadows intertwined, lay an unusually large black cat, its fur as dark as the night, lazily curled up on an ancient wooden bed. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This black cat was as large as an adult wolfhound, its body shrouded in an indescribably thick demon energy, almost substantial.


    Shen Qing noticed that the visible footprints in his sight abruptly ended on this demonic creature''s body.


    It was undoubtedly the demon that had killed Xi Shaoqin.


    "Finally, I''ve found you."


    Ji Youwu, following behind Shen Qing, turned pale at the sight.


    He glanced at the demon on the bed, then at Shen Qing, his mind buzzing, tangled in chaos.


    He couldn''t comprehend how Shen Qing had managed to track down the demon''s whereabouts during his search.


    Yongzhou County had over a million households, with millions of people. Finding the hiding place of the demon without any clues was like searching for a needle in a haystack.


    Shen Qing seemed to have already known where this demon was hiding, heading straight for this location.


    How did he do it?


    This method overturned his understanding and knowledge of investigation.


    It was too miraculous!


    Since he couldn''t figure it out, Ji Youwu decided not to dwell on it any longer.


    Now that they had found the demon''s whereabouts, the next step was to either kill or capture it, and their task would be considered complete. Even the Lord Chief Officer couldn''t complain.


    His fighting spirit reignited as he cast aside his prior speculations.


    The peace in the room was shattered by Shen Qing''s intrusion.


    The black cat demon, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly opened its eyes, revealing narrow pupils.


    It stared at Shen Qing and Ji Youwu as an invisible aura of majesty surged from its body, creating ripples in the air.


    The hair of Shen Qing and Ji Youwu flew wildly in the gusts like dancing demons.


    Ji Youwu, standing behind Shen Qing, felt as though he was facing a formidable enemy. His muscles tensed like steel as he hastily drew the dagger from his waist.


    The feline demon on the bed arched its body, propping itself up on its front paws as if stretching.


    "It seems that the people of the Guardian Martial Department are not all useless. You''ve actually found me here."


    It recognized Shen Qing and Ji Youwu''s identities without any panic.


    Its voice carried a subtle yet undeniable sense of authority and confidence, echoing in the empty room.


    This scene made Ji Youwu, who had never witnessed such before, tense up, even revealing a hint of fear on his face.


    Shen Qing calmly retracted the "Tracking" skill, as the conspicuous traces gradually faded, leaving his vision much clearer.


    He looked up, gripping the dagger in his hand tightly, and met the demon''s gaze, speaking in a deep voice, "So you''re the one who killed our Xi Chasi?"


    "Xi Chasi? You''re talking about that martial master dressed like you." The demon, having finished its stretch on the bed, stepped down lightly, saying, "That was over a month ago. The only thing I remember is that his heart and liver tasted quite good, rich without being greasy, full of Essence Qi. It''s different when they''re trained in martial arts. Eating these people is as nourishing to me as you humans eating ginseng. Wonderful!"


    A human-like, indulgent expression appeared on the demon''s face.


    "Oh, it seems we''ve found the right one, then." Shen Qing''s expression was neither joyful nor sorrowful as he slowly raised his dagger.


    The large cat demon, sitting on the clean floor tiles, licked its paws to wash its face. "Haha, to be honest, I''ve been very careful. I didn''t expect you''d still find me, but since you''re here¡­"


    At this point, its paw paused. Its gaze and tone turned much colder, "Then letting you go would be a real waste of this heaven-sent opportunity. To be honest, I really don''t like that look in your eyes."


    With those words, the cat demon opened its large, mystical eyes, and under Shen Qing and the others'' watchful gaze, its body underwent an astonishing transformation.


    Its body gradually elongated, muscles subtly appearing under the light from outside the window, limbs growing long and sturdy, until it completely shed its feline form, transforming into a bizarre man with a grotesque face, covered in black fur.


    Cat head, human body.


    It had long, flowing black hair, eyes deep as pools, and a cold smile at the corner of its mouth. "In honor of your efforts, I''ve decided to savor your taste."


    Bang!


    An invisible force surged through the air.


    The cat demon acted on its words.


    With a flash, it charged at Shen Qing at incredible speed.


    Its sharp claws swept a glowing arc through the air, suddenly pouncing towards the two of them.


    Shen Qing and Ji Youwu, both seeing a demon shape-shift for the first time, couldn''t help feeling some astonishment.


    As the cat demon attacked, Shen Qing, with swift reflexes, grabbed Ji Youwu by the collar and pulled him aside.


    The cat demon''s claws struck the ground, instantly shattering the floor tiles into fragments, which, under the demon''s power, turned completely to powder, scattering in the air with a crackling noise.


    Seeing this, Ji Youwu''s pupils shrank. If those claws landed on his flesh, even if not fatal, it would be unbearable.


    At that moment, Ji Youwu noticed Shen Qing standing in front of him, dagger in hand, openly facing the shape-shifted cat demon.


    "Don''t get in the way here."


    Shen Qing threw these words to Ji Youwu with resolute firmness, then sprang into action. Dagger in hand, he charged forward, slashing towards the cat demon''s heart.


    The cat demon''s face turned cold. Like a ghost, at the critical moment, it twisted and dodged at an incredible angle, barely avoiding the deadly blow, though the residual wind from the dagger still made its fur tremble, revealing a hint of distress.


    "This officer is unusual."


    The cat demon was not a mindless beast. After exchanging blows with Shen Qing, it was shocked and couldn''t help but turn serious.


    It detected a hint of danger.


    This was something it hadn''t felt from the previous officer.


    Shen Qing twirled his dagger, calmly stating, "If you want to eat me, I feel like you don''t have the ability."


    The cat demon''s chest heaved violently as it bared its teeth in a hideous snarl, summoning all its demon energy.


    Suddenly, the demon energy around its body surged, forming nine whip-like shadows that crashed down on Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing showed no sign of panic.


    This cat demon seemed mighty, but to the old hunter''s eyes, it was uncoordinated and full of flaws.


    It was like it relied on its "cat" instinct, attacking randomly, all full of vulnerabilities.


    Bang bang bang!


    The two exchanged blows frequently in the void, Qi continually emanating.


    The cat demon clasped its hands, enveloping Shen Qing in the whip shadows formed by its condensed demon energy.


    "It''s done!"


    "Is that all you''re capable of?"


    Shen Qing''s cold voice penetrated the layers of whip shadows.


    In the cat demon''s puzzled gaze, a golden light burst forth from the demon energy enveloping him.


    Sky Flipping Seal!


    Boom!


    In an instant, all the demon energy vanished without a trace.

 Chapter 223 - 49: Cats Have Nine Lives? Good, Then Ill Kill You Nine Times!

    Facing this sudden anomaly, a trace of astonishment and terror flashed in the Cat Demon''s eyes.


    Before it could react, it found a palm gently landing on its chest.


    An immense golden radiance burst forth instantly, surging like a tide and thoroughly engulfing it.


    It let out a piercing and despairing roar.


    The wall plaster trembled and fell from the deafening roar.


    Not long after, when the brilliant golden radiance gradually dissipated, everything returned to calm.


    Under the power of the Sky Flipping Seal and the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, the Cat Demon before Shen Qing was no match.


    The once arrogant Cat Demon was now utterly silent.


    Shen Qing stood holding a knife in front of the Cat Demon and instructed Ji Youwu, who was behind him: "Get ready to pack up, let''s report back."


    "Ah? Okay!"


    Ji Youwu was startled out of his reverie and only then came to his senses.


    When he looked at Shen Qing again, his gaze was completely different.


    In the past, they all thought Shen Qing was nothing much, but now it seemed that they were dreadfully wrong.


    This Cat Demon, which he had seen clearly, had obviously taken form and was much stronger than the demons he knew, and such a demon was simply not his opponent.


    Their dispatch office was far stronger than anyone had imagined.


    He truly did not know how Shen Qing had trained to such a level.


    Putting away all sorts of thoughts, Ji Youwu hurriedly stepped forward, preparing to deal with the Cat Demon''s corpse.


    Suddenly, he paused, pointing in surprise at the Cat Demon''s body and said: "Lord officers, look!"


    Hearing this, Shen Qing looked over and saw that the Cat Demon, which had just been silent, stood up bizarrely, let out a sinister smile, and once again burst with life force.


    "You think... that you can kill me like this?"


    The Cat Demon slowly lifted its head, a gleam flickering in its eyes.


    In the astonished gaze of Shen Qing and Ji Youwu, its enormous form involuntarily shook.


    On closer look, they noticed nine shadows appearing behind it, one of which fell off, turning into a wisp of green smoke on the ground, forming a Cat Demon corpse.


    Along with the falling of this shadow, the Cat Demon instantly returned to its prime state.


    In their astonished eyes, the Cat Demon''s body suddenly expanded, and like an arrow released from a bowstring, it lunged at Shen Qing, its claws whistling as they fell with precision.


    Shen Qing''s reaction was swift. Relying on deep cultivation, he rapidly used his arms as a shield to block this deadly strike.


    Even so, the terrifying power contained in the Cat Demon''s claws still made Shen Qing feel a tsunami-like force, causing him to involuntarily fly backward and crash heavily into the furniture behind.


    The furniture shattered into pieces under Shen Qing''s tremendous impact, sawdust flying.


    Shen Qing steadied himself, looked down, and found his clothes torn with several gashes, exposing the taut muscles underneath and faintly visible white claw marks. This strike, though not fundamentally harmful, surely made him suffer.


    A sly expression appeared on the Cat Demon''s face: "Sorry, I forgot to tell you, I actually have nine lives. If you really want to kill me completely, you''ll have to do it nine times!"


    The expected fear did not appear on Shen Qing''s face.


    "Finished talking?"


    "Hmm?"


    The Cat Demon looked up at the sound, seeing nothing but determination in Shen Qing''s deep-clear eyes, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, only unwavering killing intent and a hint of mockery.


    "Cat has nine lives? Fine, then I''ll kill you nine times!"


    "Bang!"


    A loud bang.


    Before the Cat Demon could react, a golden palm shadow, carrying a scorching aura, crashed onto its chest.


    Muffled thuds continued to emit from the Cat Demon''s chest.


    The dense demon energy gathered at its chest, blocking Shen Qing''s palm firmly.


    Unprecedented fear appeared on the Cat Demon''s face as it grabbed Shen Qing''s arms with its claws, gnawing and even extending its neck in an extremely bizarre gesture to bite Shen Qing''s arm.


    But it only bit through a shimmering transparent film, leaving just a layer of white marks with its claws and teeth, unable to cause the slightest harm to Shen Qing.


    "Had enough biting?" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Die already!" the Cat Demon roared.


    Suddenly, a scorching aura burst forth from Shen Qing''s palm.


    After cultivating the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique, Shen Qing''s body held an immensely terrifying amount of True Qi.


    The vast amounts of True Qi reversed by the third transformation of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill were all unleashed by Shen Qing.


    The golden light, mixed with threads of crimson, reduced the pitiful demon energy on the Cat Demon''s chest to nothing.


    The Cat Demon let out another miserable cry, not understanding what happened before it crashed into the table behind, hitting the wall.


    Its body was left with a frail skeleton, sliding down against the wall.


    "You''ve lost your second life."


    Shen Qing quietly withdrew his palm.


    Ji Youwu, witnessing all of this from the side, was dumbstruck, involuntarily swallowing hard.


    Our Lord officers are terrifying.


    "Ahem, ahem!"


    The same scene quickly appeared on the Cat Demon again, the second shadow fell, revealing a new Cat Demon corpse.


    The Cat Demon''s look toward Shen Qing changed utterly, from the initial confidence to lacking assurance.


    It gritted its teeth, seemingly to bolster itself: "I don''t believe you won''t exhaust your energy, kill!"


    This time, the Cat Demon learned its lesson, no longer wasting words with Shen Qing and directly acted after recovery, fighting fiercely.


    It howled skyward, black energy encircling its body, growing larger, as bloodthirsty glints shone in its eyes, charging at Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing remained calm, invoking the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique serenely.


    Centered on him, countless Spiritual Energy in the void was drawn in, merging into his body, filling the previous True Qi depletion instantly.


    "Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Fourth Transformation! Kill!"


    Bang!


    The scorching aura and demon energy collided, causing waves that shook the entire space.


    "Wow!"


    The Cat Demon''s figure fell from midair like autumn leaves.


    Maintaining his striking posture, Shen Qing declared: "Good, now your third life is gone!"


    The newly revived Cat Demon, having lost four lives, was now desperate. Angry and anxious, it roared: "I must devour you, ah!"


    Bang!


    "Fourth life..."


    "Fifth life..."


    "Sixth life..."


    Having its seventh life taken consecutively, the Cat Demon was utterly stupefied.


    The man before it seemed to have inexhaustible True Qi, showing no signs of depletion.


    It saw no hope of victory.


    An unspeakable terror spread from deep within its heart, expanding.


    Escape!


    To flee with its remaining life at any cost.


    The survival instinct made it forget its earlier bold words entirely.


    It mobilized demon energy, compressing its demon body.


    In the blink of an eye, it shrank to the size of a regular house cat, transforming into a black flash, and dashed madly toward the exit.


    However, as if anticipating this, Shen Qing pointed a finger.


    Pfft.


    Intense Essence Qi shot out with precision, hitting the Cat Demon, flipping its small body onto the ground.


    Before it could react, a golden fingerprint silently landed on it.


    "There, you have one life left!"


    The newly revived Cat Demon hastily pleaded for its life: "My lord, spare me... if you kill me, the Goddess won''t let you off."


    "Goddess?" Shen Qing frowned.


    The Cat Demon anxiously said: "My Goddess is the Young Madam of the Zhou Family, with the Zhou Family''s power; she can kill you with just a word."


    "The Goddess you speak of is a demon, isn''t it?" Shen Qing suddenly questioned.


    The Cat Demon faltered, unsure why Shen Qing asked, but in the face of life and death, it couldn''t think much: "Our Goddess is a Great Demon who attained a human form."


    "So, the Zhou Family collaborates with you demons?" Shen Qing''s expression turned somber: "Do you know what I hate the most?"


    Without waiting for the Cat Demon''s answer, Shen Qing declared: "I hate demons like you the most, never satisfied with just eating humans, wanting to imitate them too!"


    Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Sixth Transformation.


    Bang!


    Shen Qing delivered a punch.


    The Cat Demon''s ninth life was gone!

 Chapter 224 - 50: Killing Nine Demons, Return to the Government Office

    Tian Dou Square, Main Street.


    Liu Yuan, an officer of the Guardian Martial Department''s fourth team, felt somewhat restless at the moment.


    Chief Officer Zheng had held the position of Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Division for some years, never missing a chance to exploit any opportunity that could benefit them.


    This had made the entire Guardian Martial Department dare not voice their grievances.


    Now, it was said that they had one month to capture the demon that killed Xi Chasi and bring it to justice; not an extra day was allowed.


    As the deadline given by the Chief Officer approached, he had lost all hope in Shen Qing.


    He had to save himself.


    Currently, there were seven people in their fourth team; three of them had already found new positions, leaving only four, including him, without any prospects.


    He reckoned he would have to bleed a little, and it had better be a lot, to get past this obstacle.


    As for resistance?


    Even though Chief Officer Zheng was lecherous and greedy, his cultivation was at the Dan Realm, a notable status in Yongzhou City.


    Moreover, all the government offices in the county town were in collusion, and small arms like theirs couldn''t twist big legs like theirs.


    His position as an officer had not come easily.


    He could only resign himself to fate.


    Lost in such chaotic thoughts, he suddenly saw a colleague from the same team ahead and said in surprise, "Shouyuan? What are you doing here?"


    Each officer of their fourth team had a designated patrol area, and unless there were exceptions, they wouldn''t cross patrols.


    Encountering another officer in Tian Dou Square certainly meant something was up.


    "I just got a message from a colleague in the Military Department saying there''s demon activity in Tian Dou Square; I''m going to check it out." Wang Shouyuan said quickly, out of breath.


    Upon hearing there was demon activity, Liu Yuan immediately perked up and followed behind Wang Shouyuan: "I''ll go with you."


    Since they discovered a demon, regardless of whether it was the one that killed Xi Chasi, they needed to account for it.


    Thinking of this, he became a bit impatient, worried the demon would escape.


    Seeing Wang Shouyuan''s slow-moving technique ahead, he wished he could give him a slap and urged, "Shouyuan, where exactly?"


    The officer named Wang Shouyuan casually pointed, "Over there."


    Following the direction Wang Shouyuan pointed, Liu Yuan immediately stopped waiting and used his movement technique to rush forward.


    Familiar with the streets in Tian Dou Square from patrolling, and due to his excellent movement technique, he left Wang Shouyuan behind in just a few breaths.


    Not long after, Liu Yuan arrived in front of a residential house.


    At this time, the house''s entrance was crowded with heads, and layers of people surrounded it inside and out.


    Wisps of faint blood scent wafted into his nose.


    Liu Yuan''s face changed, and he placed his hand on his dagger, gripping the hilt tightly, and shouted, "Guardian Martial Department handling a case! Move aside!"


    The ordinary people watching, hearing the shout, looked over and, seeing Liu Yuan in official attire, quickly made way to the sides.


    Liu Yuan felt a tightness in his chest, and his hand gripping the hilt started sweating coldly.


    Recently, the city had seen several demon-related human-eating cases, each scene extremely bloody and horrifying.


    Before charging in, the grisly scene of blood gushing had already replayed in his mind.


    Causing him considerable discomfort and fear.


    He had always been afraid of these scenes by nature.


    But knowing his officer position hadn''t come easily, the opportunity before him was not to be missed.


    So, he took a deep breath, gritting his teeth, and rushed straight into the house.


    As soon as he entered, his actions suddenly froze.


    In his line of sight, Liu Yuan saw cat demon corpses all over the floor, each with varying death poses, demon blood splattered everywhere, staining the house''s green bricks a dark red.


    A strong bloody smell permeated the entire house.


    Shen Qing was sitting with a knife, resting on a partially broken chair, eyes closed, while Ji Youwu was busy cleaning up the demon corpses on the ground.


    "Shen Chasi, you... you are here? Where''s the demon?"


    Shen Qing opened his eyes and looked around, "They''re all here."


    Liu Yuan stood silently in shock.


    There was no anticipated bloody scene, nor the expected fierce battle.


    The demon that had caused them so much anxiety for so long ended so absurdly.


    Shen Qing stood up and said, "Don''t just stand there; come give a hand. With so many demon corpses, Youwu can''t manage alone."


    Wang Shouyuan, a step behind Liu Yuan, also arrived then and was similarly speechless, dumbfounded at the scene in the house. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, just in time, another one. You three take the corpses and follow me back to the government office for the report."


    With help on hand, Shen Qing immediately strode forward out of the house with dragon and tiger-like steps.


    The three hurriedly cupped their hands respectfully, solemnly agreeing.


    Even they didn''t realize their attitude had unconsciously become much more respectful.


    As Shen Qing and the others carried and dragged the demon corpses out, a white cat on the roof quietly leaped down from the courtyard wall, quickly darting into an alley.


    ...


    Zhou Family Courtyard.


    Though it was early winter, the courtyard remained vibrant with flowers in bloom, birds singing, and fragrant air, creating a world of its own.


    A round table was meticulously placed beside a flower bush, filled with a variety of delicate pastries, irresistible to the eyes.


    A stove sat on the table, and a white-clothed young woman was brewing tea with a teapot.


    "Young Madam, the fifth young Master has arrived."


    The young woman''s eyes were full of laughter as she calmly said, "Invite the fifth young Master over; I just brewed a cup of hot tea, just right to warm him up."


    "Yes, Young Madam."


    "Hahaha, I''m coming over, no invitation needed." Zhou Xintong''s hearty laughter came from outside the courtyard, "It''s been a long time since I visited sister-in-law; today, I have nothing to do and came to sit with you."


    The young woman stood gracefully, giving a respectful salute: "Greetings to the fifth young Master."


    Zhou Xintong looked at this woman, his heart warming, feeling a bit dry in his mouth.


    "Sister-in-law is too polite." Zhou Xintong sat on the stone chair opposite the woman, face filled with infatuation.


    Truly, his elder brother was lucky.


    Behind him stood Zhou Jishan, who had returned to the main family from Taiping County, now just like a servant follower, standing behind Zhou Xintong, his face looking somewhat numb.


    "Fifth young Master, have some tea." The woman delicately brewed a cup of tea and handed it to Zhou Xintong.


    Zhou Xintong only felt an aroma envelop him, enjoyed immensely.


    He took the tea offered by the woman, momentarily dazed, secretly thinking his elder brother was indeed lucky.


    If he could marry such a woman, he''d happily give up ten years of his life.


    "Good tea, sister-in-law''s craftsmanship is amazing." Zhou Xintong lightly sipped, feeling all his pores relaxing, unusually comfortable.


    He put down the cup and said, "I just got word from my father; elder brother might be busy outside again and won''t be back for a while."


    "I''ve already gotten used to it."


    "Elder brother is often out; you two see each other so little it bothers even me as a brother. I recently vacated a room and filled it with all sorts of curios; if sister-in-law gets bored here, feel free to visit my courtyard more often."


    "Sure." The woman readily agreed, pleasing Zhou Xintong immensely.


    "Meow!"


    Just then, a white cat emerged from the courtyard flowers, jumping into the woman''s arms.

 Chapter 225 - 51: Turbulent Undercurrents, Intimidating the Crowd

    The woman''s eyes flashed with a strange light as she looked at the cat curled up on her body.


    "The fifth young Master, forgive me for a moment while I lock up the cat in the room," the woman said apologetically to Zhou Xintong.


    "As you wish, sister-in-law."


    The young woman stood up gracefully, bowed slightly, and returned to her boudoir with her maid.


    The maid opened the door, and the woman quickly entered. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once inside, the young woman turned her head, pink light flickering in her eyes, and coldly instructed, "Stand guard outside. Do not let anyone come in."


    The maid lifted her head, and pink light also appeared in her eyes as if she were a puppet, "Yes, Goddess."


    Creak.


    The door closed again.


    "Why seek me at this moment?"


    The woman''s cold voice echoed in the room.


    The white cat in her arms sprang to the ground, speaking human words in a panic, "Something''s wrong, Xiao Hei has been killed."


    "What happened?"


    "A month ago, Xiao Hei ate a dispatch officer from the Guardian Martial Department. We thought it was no issue, but just moments ago, the Guardian Martial Department somehow found Xiao Hei."


    "Are you sure you didn''t see it wrong?" the young woman said, "Xiao Hei was born with nine lives, not easy to kill."


    "I saw clearly, all nine of Xiao Hei''s lives are gone. When they left, I counted, there were nine Xiao Heis."


    The young woman was silent for a moment, then said, "Recently, you should stay out of trouble. If you want to eat blood food, just tell me, and I''ll have the Zhou Family provide you with some servants."


    "I understand, Goddess," the white cat raised its head and asked, "Goddess, what about Xiao Hei''s matter?"


    "What do you mean, what do we do?"


    "Should we avenge him?"


    "That''s human clan''s custom, but we demons don''t adhere to that. Right now, we should focus on the opportunity appearing in Yongzhou soon. I have a premonition, it won''t be long. This time the Spirit Mechanism eruption might be even more intense, possibly as strong as the one in Yun Meng County."


    "Ah, really?"


    "Don''t provoke the Guardian Martial Department anymore, and keep your mouth shut to prevent leaks. Dealing with the Ji Family is already enough for us. Anything else?"


    "No more."


    "If there''s nothing, stay in the room today. I''ll send someone over tonight, and we''ll eat together."


    "Great. I want a tender child."


    "Understood."


    The young woman turned calmly and opened the door with a casual wave of her right hand, and walked back into the courtyard.


    Gazing at Zhou Xintong''s overflowing Essence Qi, the young woman couldn''t help licking her lips.


    "If it weren''t for the agreement with your patriarch, I''d love to drain you dry. Alas, for now, I can only look."


    She displayed a helpless look of disappointment, once again smiling and approaching.


    ...


    Guardian Martial Department, the quiet room.


    Zheng Yuanqiu inquired, "How are things in Taiping County?"


    The fifth officer''s dispatch officer, Xu Changle, stood up and said, "The Ji Family has failed multiple castle attacks, and the Commander and his men have held the line."


    "That''s good. What are the True Master''s next instructions? Do we need to take Yongzhou?"


    The fifth officer''s dispatch officer, Xu Changle, said, "The True Master instructed not to rush Yongzhou, but there''s another matter that requires our attention."


    "What is it?"


    "The True Master observed the celestial phenomena at night and sensed a new Spirit Mechanism might arrive in Yongzhou."


    "A new Spirit Mechanism?" Zheng Yuanqiu responded with rare seriousness, "I understand. I''ll make arrangements."


    "Okay. We''ll exchange notes when the time comes."


    "Mm."


    At that moment, Xu Changle recalled something and said, "You previously told the fourth officer''s dispatch to investigate the demon matter within a month, there are two days left now, what do you plan to do?"


    Zheng Yuanqiu replied indifferently, "Of course, as per the old rule, grinding down to the bone, this time it''s not just their silver I want."


    Xu Changle curiously asked, "What else do you want?"


    "Heh, I want their concubines," Zheng Yuanqiu shamelessly said, "You don''t know, those women have a unique taste."


    "Be mindful of the limits," Xu Changle glanced at him and said, "Two officers from the fourth group came to me, and seeing they brought quite a bit of Silver Tael, I plan to take them into my group. Just letting you know in advance."


    "Do as you see fit."


    With that, he didn''t wait for Zheng Yuanqiu''s response and silently left the quiet room.


    Outside, having just left and before taking a couple of steps, he encountered Shen Qing, who was reporting back.


    The two exchanged glances, each averting their gaze as they passed by each other.


    Shen Qing''s eyebrow arched.


    He knew the fifth group''s defense area was peaceful recently, why did Xu Changle come?


    The dead fat man in the room, they couldn''t avoid enough.


    No clues.


    Shen Qing thought no more, adjusted his appearance, and approached the quiet room''s door, respectfully saying, "Subordinate Shen Qing seeks an audience with the Lord Chief Officer."


    "What is it?" Zheng Yuanqiu''s voice came from inside the room.


    "It''s about the killing of Xi Chasi by the demon," Shen Qing continued, "Sir, fortunately, I did not fail you. I''ve slain the demon and reported back to you, Lord Chief Officer."


    Zheng Yuanqiu, lounging on a chair in the quiet room, hearing yet again ''fortunately did not fail,'' instantly jumped from the table.


    He walked to the door, stared at Shen Qing, suppressing his voice, "What did you say?"


    Shen Qing raised his head, meeting Zheng Yuanqiu''s gaze, and replied, neither servile nor overbearing, "My lord, the demon that killed Xi Chasi has been apprehended."


    A shadow came over Zheng Yuanqiu''s face, feeling the silver and women he was to receive vanished into thin air, and an unprovoked anger arose, he asked irritably, "Where''s the demon''s body, take me to see it."


    Shen Qing calmly stepped aside, saying, "This way, my lord."


    Holding back dissatisfaction, Zheng Yuanqiu followed Shen Qing to the courtyard.


    They saw nine corpses of cat demons, as big as mastiffs, piled together, appearing as though they had been dead for some time, with dark red blood and fur matted together.


    The stench was overwhelming.


    Faced with indisputable evidence, Zheng Yuanqiu was momentarily speechless.


    Other officers, including those from the fourth group, arrived in the courtyard one after another upon hearing the news.


    When they saw the pile of demon bodies stacked like a hill, they gasped and were too shocked to speak.


    Especially those officers who had already arranged an escape route, regretted their choices deeply.


    They never thought Shen Qing would actually slay the demon within the deadline.


    With this, the fourth group of the Guardian Martial Department was secure.


    The effort spent on preparing an exit strategy and overpaying Silver Taels was in vain.


    Worse, they were at a loss whether they proceeded or not.


    Glaring at Shen Qing, they silently cursed, "Damn, that Shen bastard."

 Chapter 226 - 52 Breakthrough in Bow Technique, Heavenly Bow Technique

    ```


    "Hahaha. Well, I knew I didn''t misjudge the person. Shen Chasi, you truly are an expert at demon slaying."


    Facing the crowd of officers and dispatch office officials, Zheng Yuanqiu quickly regained his composure and spoke with a laugh.


    Having been in a high position for many years, he had long learned to pick things up and put them down.


    Although Shen Qing had dashed some of his plans, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.


    For now, he needed to protect his identity and avoid doing things that did not suit his status, lest he reveal his true colors.


    The position of Chief Officer of Weiwu Division still had its uses.


    Shen Qing was not aware of Zheng Yuanqiu''s specific thoughts, but he did sense some psychological changes in him.


    He clasped his hands together and complimented, "This was all due to Lord officers'' efforts."


    "Shen Chasi, you have worked hard. Take this demon to the forensic doctor and check if the traces left at past crime scenes match this demon. If they do, the case is considered solved," Zheng Yuanqiu concluded.


    Shen Qing quickly put on a surprised look, hesitated, and said, "Lord Chief Officer, there is one more thing I need to report."


    "What is it?"


    "Lord Chief Officer, this Cat Demon inexplicably appeared in the county town. I suspect someone in the city is colluding with demons."


    At this point, Shen Qing recalled the "Goddess" mentioned by the Cat Demon before its death and intentionally brought it up.


    Zheng Yuanqiu replied indifferently, "Alright, I know. Is there anything else?"


    Just knowing?


    Shen Qing glanced at Zheng Yuanqiu and saw that he had no intention of getting involved, and he realized the situation.


    The Guardian Martial Department was indeed unreliable; he had to rely on himself.


    Shen Qing collected his thoughts and calmly said, "No."


    "If there''s nothing else, let''s consider this case closed," Zheng Yuanqiu waved his sleeve and turned to leave.


    Shen Qing straightened up, his face turning cold.


    At that moment, after Zheng Yuanqiu''s departure, the courtyard suddenly became noisy.


    Everyone shifted their gaze to Shen Qing.


    They realized that since this Shen Chasi had come to the Guardian Martial Department, he alone had slain more demons than the entire division had in a year.


    If not for him, they would not have even known there were so many demons in Yongzhou.


    It made no sense.


    For a moment, everyone was astonished.


    Shen Qing''s image in the Guardian Martial Department naturally grew taller, his status rising by several levels, and no one dared to underestimate him.


    That day, under the forensic doctor''s confirmation, many features of the Cat Demon slain by Shen Qing matched the traces left at the crime scene, confirming it was indeed the demon responsible for the recent murders.


    Zheng Yuanqiu smoothly concluded this demon case, while the Demon Core was naturally taken by him.


    After this matter ended, the three officers who had originally prepared an escape route ultimately joined Xu Changle of the fifth group.


    Shen Qing did not block them at all and allowed them to leave.


    The remaining four officers, who had no way out at the time, were left behind. Worrying that Shen Qing might hold a grudge against them, each worked more diligently, much to Shen Qing''s satisfaction.


    Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed, and it was another frigid winter.


    During this month, Shen Qing, to be safe, had Tian Xiaohu spend money to hire many Jianghu Martial Artists to watch over the Zhou Family.


    He also strengthened the defense of Xinyi Square.


    What surprised him was that after he slew the Cat Demon, the so-called "Young Madam" of the Zhou Family made no moves, as if she had forgotten about him.


    This made Shen Qing''s heart sink.


    So far, most of the demons he had slain were not the type to be patient; they always acted on impulse, yet the so-called Young Madam of the Zhou Family was unexpectedly composed.


    This indicated that her motives were significant.


    Perhaps something was brewing secretly in Yongzhou City, and it was not a good thing.


    Shen Qing felt an increasing urgency to enhance his strength.


    ...


    Outside the city, in a deserted area.


    Shen Qing stood with a bow in hand, and with a thought, the Water Ink Panel appeared in his vision.


    [Skill: Bow Technique (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 601/600 points]


    [Status: Can be improved]


    [Note: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; a vast domain begins with a tiny mote." Through long-term diligent practice, the ordinary Archery Skill you have been training has reached its peak, and breaking through will transform it into a new skill.]


    Shen Qing looked at the information appearing in his vision, and his lips curled slightly.


    The days of diligent practice had finally paid off.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, "Improve!"


    As soon as he entertained this thought, the skill information about Bow Technique on the Water Ink Panel immediately refreshed.


    [Skill: Heavenly Bow Technique (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 1/700 points]


    [Status: Not improvable]


    [Note: "Art undergoes a hundred refinements, approaching the way." Your years of practicing archery have led you to combine Martial Arts insights, leading to the Heavenly Bow Technique. Having learned this technique, you can now draw the Hundred Shi Bow, releasing an arrow that can change the wind and clouds, causing thunder and rain to assist its might, with power shocking the heavens.]


    "Hundred Shi Bow, changing the wind and clouds?!"


    At the sight of these words, even the usually calm Shen Qing couldn''t help his facial change.


    He wasn''t sure what the "changing the wind and clouds" meant in the Heavenly Bow Technique, but he could calculate the Hundred Shi Bow.


    One Shi equals 120 jin, so a Hundred Shi is twelve thousand jin.


    With such tremendous power, what flesh and blood could withstand it? Even a martial master in the Yu Luo Realm would likely be shot dead by his arrow?!


    Shen Qing detected the anomaly in his mind and quickly regained his composure, ceasing further thoughts.


    A flood of new memories poured into his mind.


    Shen Qing grimly endured the throbbing headache and dizziness, gradually absorbing the newly emerged memories.


    After a while, he completely assimilated the newfound memories.


    The memories of specializing in archery for decades had merged with his current self.


    The bow technique he had developed, comparable to Martial Arts, was now completely under his mastery.


    Shen Qing opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.


    He suddenly drew the Heavenly Bow, the bowstring taut and emitting a "hum" that caused the surrounding air to tremble.


    Shen Qing''s entire True Qi concentrated on his right arm, passed through the bow, and ultimately focused on the arrow tip.


    In that moment, the arrow seemed to come alive, shimmering brightly, reflecting and merging with the surrounding wind and clouds. The surface of the dark iron Heavy Bow lit up with a scarlet-golden radiance. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Whoosh!


    With a deafening twang, the arrow shot forth like lightning across the sky, leaving the string in an instant, tearing through the air with a whistling sound, and soaring into the clouds.


    Its speed was astonishingly fast.


    Along its path, the previously calm sky suddenly stirred, with clouds rolling and the sky seeming to grow dimmer.


    The clouds were torn apart, forming a straight fissure that pointed into the distance.


    The power far exceeded Shen Qing''s expectations.


    Yet he hadn''t even had time to rejoice.


    Bang!


    Shen Qing unexpectedly discovered that the bowstring of his bow and the Xuantian Arrow in the sky couldn''t withstand the power in his hand and broke one after another.


    ```

 Chapter 227 - 53: Hundred Shi Bow: Cloud Splitter

    Shen Qing looked at the heavy bow in his hand.


    This bow was crafted from dark iron in the town of Taiping County. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To some extent, it was a fine bow, but only limited to that. Now that his bow technique had broken through, it was time to replace it with a new Hundred Shi Heavy Bow.


    Shen Qing hung the heavy bow with the broken string on his horse and turned back to the city.


    After handling his daily duties, Shen Qing did not delay and went straight to the most renowned Bai Bing Hall in Yongzhou City.


    Yongzhou City had always been a hub of transportation and prosperity, a place where people and goods gathered in abundance.


    Thus, unlike in Taiping County, Shen Qing did not need to find a specific blacksmith to customize a heavy bow but could purchase one directly.


    Among the various shops, Yongzhou''s Bai Bing Hall was the most famous, with a full array of weapons.


    It was said in Bai Bing Pavilion that as long as you had a court permit and sufficient silver, there was no weapon you couldn''t buy.


    After Shen Qing finished his duties, he headed straight to Bai Bing Hall.


    Upon entering Bai Bing Hall, the subtle scent of iron rust and pine resin wafted into his nostrils.


    Inside the shop, an array of various weapons shone coldly, dazzling to the eyes.


    Shen Qing glanced around and saw an elder with white hair and beard sitting behind the counter, carefully polishing a long sword, his eyes hinting at an obsession with weapons.


    "Senior, I am Shen Qing. I''ve come to Bai Bing Hall to find a heavy bow capable of bearing the strength of a Hundred Shi. Does your esteemed shop have such weapons?" Shen Qing stepped forward and asked respectfully.


    "A Hundred Shi Heavy Bow? That''s quite rare." The elder heard this, looked up at Shen Qing, a trace of surprise in his eyes: "To draw a Hundred Shi Bow, one would need to be at least a martial master of the Yu Luo Realm. Those with ordinary strength can''t even pull the bowstring. You look unfamiliar and young; are you sure you want to buy a Hundred Shi Bow?"


    "I have twenty shi, thirty shi, and fifty shi here. Would you like to try them?"


    Shen Qing caught the meaning behind his words, smiled, and said, "Thank you, senior, but I only want the Hundred Shi Bow. I wonder if you have it here?"


    "There is indeed one. Never mind, bring out your credential for me to check." The elder finished polishing the sword, sheathed it, and looked up.


    Shen Qing was not surprised.


    Although the Great Zhou Court did not prohibit weapons, not everyone could casually purchase them.


    According to the laws of the Great Zhou, court officials could wear swords and daggers, martial masters from registered martial arts halls could purchase them, but any other weapon purchases were considered illegal.


    However, this rule was largely ineffective in many places of the Great Zhou, where people found many ways to acquire various weapons.


    But Bai Bing Hall was conducting business and was not familiar with Shen Qing, so they naturally followed the rules.


    Shen Qing was not offended and took out his ID card from the Guardian Martial Department.


    The elder inspected the ID card and found that Shen Qing was indeed an officer of the Guardian Martial Department, and he was a bit surprised.


    Having resided in Yongzhou for many years, he hadn''t heard of an official with the surname Shen.


    He didn''t ask much. Seeing no issues with the process, he stood up and said, "Follow me, I happen to have a ready-made Hundred Shi Heavy Bow in Bai Bing Hall."


    Shen Qing said nothing more, took back his ID card, and honestly followed the elder.


    Bai Bing Hall was large.


    When Shen Qing entered the inner part of Bai Bing Hall, he felt an atmosphere that was both ancient and solemn.


    The weaponry within was dazzling, leaving him overwhelmed.


    The elder''s gaze quickly scanned across the rows of weapon racks, finally settling on a specially-made display.


    "There it is."


    A remarkable Hundred Shi Heavy Bow lay quietly, its body crafted from an unknown black metal, emanating a faint cold light. The taut bowstring, upon closer inspection, shimmered with rainbow-colored glows, appearing extraordinary.


    Shen Qing was delighted, stepped forward quickly, and carefully examined the heavy bow.


    He gently touched the bow and picked it up.


    He discovered that although the bow appeared cumbersome, it was heavy but not unwieldy, and holding it in his hand required no effort at all.


    Shen Qing carefully examined it, seeing two flying dragons etched upon the bow, the entire bow seemingly containing immense power, and he couldn''t help but nod in acknowledgment.


    Shen Qing turned to the shopkeeper of Bai Bing Hall standing beside him and said, "Is there anything special about this heavy bow?"


    The elder stroked his beard and smiled, "This bow is called ''Cloud Splitter,'' and it was acquired by Bai Bing Hall by chance many years ago. Who exactly forged it is unknown. If you want to buy it, Officer, you''re welcome to take it."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing withdrew his gaze and said, "May I try it?"


    "Of course, but do not dry-draw the bow, as it can damage the bow. I have an arrow here that you can try in the back courtyard of Bai Bing Hall."


    The elder then took out an ordinary bow and arrow and handed it to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing took the arrow and went to the backyard.


    The back courtyard of Bai Bing Hall had many wooden posts, bearing numerous marks left over from weapons testing.


    Shen Qing gently placed the arrow upon the taut bowstring, his eyelids slightly lowered, a sharp gleam flickering in his eyes.


    In the elder''s astonished eyes, Shen Qing took a deep breath, his shoulders slightly sank, and effortlessly drew the bow to its full moon form: "Such formidable arm strength."


    At that moment, Shen Qing suddenly released his grip.


    The arrow sliced through the air, producing a sharp whistle as it shot toward the wooden target.


    Bang!


    When the arrow struck the solid wood, instead of embedding deeply as expected, a deafening explosive sound rang out, and splinters flew.


    The arrow and the wood simultaneously shattered into fragments.


    The elder beside him had his mouth slightly open, showing an expression of disbelief.


    "This Hundred Shi bow named ''Cloud Splitter'' is nice, I''ll take it," Shen Qing said with a smile.


    Earlier, he hadn''t used the true Heavenly Bow Technique but merely wielded the bow with his inherent strength.


    For some reason, this bow felt incredibly comfortable to use and very much to his liking.


    "I wonder how much the shopkeeper wants?"


    The elder glanced at Shen Qing, pondered for a while, and said, "I see you are so fated with this bow; I won''t charge you much, just 1,200 taels."


    1,200 taels?


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but click his tongue.


    He knew bows weren''t cheap, but he didn''t expect them to be that expensive.


    Previously, the fifty shi heavy bow had cost him nearly two hundred taels, yet this Hundred Shi bow was more than six times that.


    This shopkeeper saw him as an easy mark.


    "Four hundred taels," Shen Qing named a price and said.


    "Are you teasing me?" The elder showed no leniency in price: "At most, a thousand taels."


    "Five hundred taels. If you want to sell it, sell it; otherwise, forget it. I can have a craftsman make such a bow; it would just take some time."


    "Eight hundred taels, not a bit less."


    "It seems you''re not sincere," Shen Qing feigned to leave.


    "Six hundred taels, no less, or I''ll not sell it. Go find a blacksmith to create one then."


    Shen Qing pretended to ponder, weighed it for a moment, and said, "Alright, six hundred taels then. Thank you, senior, for accommodating."


    For Shen Qing, six hundred taels was not a small amount, but he could afford it.


    After settling the transaction, Shen Qing also took seven Purple Gold Heavy Arrows from the shop before leaving contentedly.

 Chapter 228 - 54: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill Breaks Limit, Tenfold Strength Stacks

    ```


    As the year-end approached, Yongzhou experienced its first snowfall of the winter.


    The thick, goose-feather snowflakes drifted down gently.


    Everywhere in sight was wrapped in silver white.


    On the streets paved with bluestone, a layer of white snow had accumulated.


    In such cold weather, if there was no pressing matter, most people in the city preferred to stay indoors all day rather than go out.


    In the past, the bustling streets of the city now appeared much quieter.


    The workload of various government officials in the county also decreased significantly.


    In this way, Shen Qing found himself with a lot of free time after handling his official duties for the day.


    With nothing else to tend to, he unsurprisingly dedicated all this time to cultivation, becoming even more diligent than before.


    In the wild forests of Green Mountain, Shen Qing wore only a short garment as he stood firm between heaven and earth, practicing the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill.


    Not knowing how much time had passed, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at the emerging Water Ink Panel: "Almost there."


    [Skill: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill (Great Perfection/Nine Revolutions)]


    [Progress: 802/800 points]


    [Status: Can be upgraded]


    [Note: The key to martial arts cultivation lies in continuously breaking through one''s limits and defying conventions. After years of training, you have finally honed the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to the utmost. A further breakthrough will grant you the ''Heaven defying Style,'' capable of unleashing tenfold strength in an instant.]


    Tenfold strength!


    Shen Qing''s heart quickened as he looked at the reminder on the panel, and he couldn''t help but feel his throat dry.


    Such power was truly astonishing.


    He took a deep breath and chose to upgrade without hesitation. The information on the Water Ink Panel rapidly refreshed.


    [Skill: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill (Break Limit - Heaven defying Style)]


    [Progress: 2/900 points]


    Boom!


    The moment the status changed on the Water Ink Panel,


    Shen Qing felt a powerful force and a flood of memories pouring into his body.


    Suddenly, all his pores seemed to open up, frantically absorbing the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.


    This spiritual energy surged through him like a river, merging with the original true qi in his dantian, forming an unprecedented force that kept climbing. Soon, a dragon''s roar and a tiger''s roar echoed within him.


    Shen Qing even fell into an illusion as if the true qi flowing through his Qi Sea was no longer merely moving but circulating in a semi-gaseous, semi-liquid state within his meridians, with each cycle bringing indescribable comfort and strength.


    "What is this??"


    Shen Qing suddenly widened his eyes, clearly sensing that the quality of his true qi had reached a new height. His cultivation had undergone an unprecedented improvement.


    At this rate, it seemed that he was only one step away from the Yu Luo Realm.


    Shen Qing resisted the physical and mental discomfort, striving to digest the sudden change.


    After the time it took for a pot of tea, all the abnormalities on Shen Qing''s body faded away, and he exhaled heavily.


    At this moment, Shen Qing found that the true qi within him was surging, his skin slightly reddened, and despite the thin clothing, he felt no coldness at all.


    The next moment, he focused his mind, pushing the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its peak. A sharp light burst from his eyes, and an overwhelming aura erupted from him, soaring into the sky.


    Around him, the space seemed to warp with heat like flames, causing transparent distortions.


    "There''s no one around right now, just the right time to test how strong my power really is."


    Shen Qing locked his gaze on a towering small mountain not far away, suddenly urging the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its extreme while softly lowing and stacking the Mountain Embrace Seal.


    "Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Heaven defying Style! Tenfold overlay, open for me!"


    The true qi within Shen Qing surged like a dike-breaking river, gathering at his fist, and with one palm he struck!


    The already potent Mountain Embrace Seal, enhanced by the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, had its power increased tenfold in an instant!


    Accompanied by a thunderous boom, a blinding light erupted from his palm like a rising sun, illuminating half the sky.


    Wherever it passed, the air was torn, and the space seemed to distort, with all obstructing trees and barriers disintegrated into dust by this palm.


    When the light met the small mountain, there was no buffer or transition. The mountain''s surface was immediately enveloped in golden light.


    Then came an earsplitting collapse.


    Stones flew, dust filled the sky, and half the small mountain collapsed with a crash, turning into a ruin.


    Shen Qing stood in the void, looking at the scene he caused, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes.


    Tenfold strength was so formidable that even with this one palm strike, it was enough to rival a martial master of the Yu Luo Realm, even contending with a martial master of the Dan Realm.


    "Not bad, not bad." Shen Qing showed a few signs of satisfaction.


    Just as Shen Qing was feeling pleased, an unprecedented sense of weakness suddenly washed over him; however, to his surprise, this weakness lasted only for a fleeting moment.


    He seemed to have thought of something, looked down at his dantian, and found that the "nacelles" surrounding his dantian had all extinguished, becoming dim.


    "This is the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique. In this case, I can use the Heaven defying Style of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill at most twice."


    Shen Qing calculated inwardly: "That should be enough."


    "Tomorrow is the year-end, and the Guardian Martial Department Office will issue the annual salary. I will receive a Wish Power Pearl. With this pearl, I should be able to break through to Yu Luo. I imagine that in the Yu Luo Realm, using the Heaven defying Style should handle most situations."


    Shen Qing gradually gained confidence, smiled smugly.


    He glanced at the sky, took down the cloak from his horse, draped it over his shoulders, and mounted the horse to return to the city.


    After a while, three to five figures of varying builds gathered, standing in front of the collapsed small mountain.


    The remnants of the aura Shen Qing had just unleashed still lingered over the crumbled peak.


    All present felt a faint warmth from it as if it were springtime, each showing an unusual expression.


    A man with a pair of large bull horns asked a charming woman, "Lady Bai, you were the first to arrive here. Did you see who collapsed this mountain?"


    "No. As soon as I heard the commotion, I rushed over but saw nothing."


    "The one here just now was at least a Yu Luo Realm expert from the Human Clan, possibly even Dan Realm. At this point, has someone important in the city discovered something?"


    "I have a grasp of who''s at this cultivation level in Yongzhou City. This aura feels so unfamiliar, I''ve never encountered it."


    "Is it a martial master newly dispatched to Yongzhou from the Ji Family of the court?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon hearing this, everyone''s heart tightened.


    A middle-aged man with two protruding teeth and shifty eyes stepped forward: "It shouldn''t be. We have been very careful, and except for Lady Bai, none of us have left any trace in the city. No one would know."


    "But in any case, to be cautious, we ought to inform the mountain lord."


    ```

 Chapter 230 - 56: I Cant Take It Anymore, Im Laying My Cards on the Table!

    "He went to do what? He''s not going to confront Fatty Zheng, is he?"


    "Looks like it!"


    "Is he really that bold?"


    "The Wish Power Pearl got snatched. If it were me, I wouldn''t let it go that easily either."


    "But even a fool wouldn''t just confront him like that. Heh, this is going to be a good show, Fatty Zheng isn''t so easy to deal with."


    The people in the courtyard were already accustomed to Zheng Yuanqiu''s extortion and knew perfectly well why Shen Qing didn''t have the Wish Power Pearl.


    At this moment, they all held a sense of watching for entertainment, pointing and discussing Shen Qing''s back.


    The myriad tasks of distributing official salaries seemed unaffected by the event and continued to be distributed in an orderly manner as annual salaries.


    "Fourth group of officers, Ji Youwu."


    The named Ji Youwu hastily withdrew his gaze, glanced at Shen Qing, and walked towards the myriad task officer, blending into the discussion, his face complex.


    Dong Jing, standing nearby, also looked at Shen Qing with a complicated state of mind.


    He always thought Shen Qing was not someone impulsive, someone who wouldn''t put himself in danger, but now it seemed he was wrong.


    Fortunately, he had listened to his friends and hadn''t associated too closely with him.


    Otherwise, he surely would''ve been dragged down by him.


    Ignoring the discussions around him, Shen Qing walked towards the back hall, calm and composed without any joy or sorrow on his face.


    As it was the time for annual salary distribution, the back hall had no clerks around, with only a few Chang Sui passing by hastily.


    Shen Qing had been to this back hall many times, and he was familiar with the way.


    He walked to the door of the quiet room and, without any warning, pushed it open and walked in, closing the door behind him.


    Inside the quiet room, Zheng Yuanqiu was engrossed in his account books. Startled by the commotion, he felt like a thief with a guilty conscience and shivered slightly as if afraid of being caught.


    When he saw it was Shen Qing who barged in, he felt played with, becoming enraged and embarrassed: "Can''t you knock? Who taught you to enter like this?"


    Shen Qing stared at Zheng Yuanqiu, a smirk on his face, seven parts jest, three parts excitement.


    Ignoring Zheng Yuanqiu''s words, he gripped his sword and stepped toward him.


    Zheng Yuanqiu realized that the officer before him seemed different from usual.


    It was clear something was up.


    He snapped the book shut, feigning calmness.


    "What does Officer Shen intend to do?" Zheng Yuanqiu said coldly, like ice beneath the first snow of winter, crisp and resolute.


    With his words, an indescribable aura erupted from within him. Though unmoving, an invisible wind seemed to swirl around him, causing his clothes to flutter.


    A faint halo appeared around him, the unique aura of a strong practitioner in the Dan Realm pressing toward Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing paused, momentarily stunned.


    He felt as though a giant hand grasped his surroundings, the pressure bearing down upon him.


    Unfazed, Shen Qing''s mind stirred.


    The vast True Qi of the Qi Hai Realm surged through his meridians, counteracting the aura Zheng Yuanqiu exerted on him.


    Shen Qing resumed his steps, unhurriedly moving in front of Zheng Yuanqiu, the corners of his lips curving into a composed smile.


    Looking Zheng Yuanqiu in the eye, he calmly said, "The reason I''m here, Lord Chief Officer, you should know very well, right?"


    "¡­"


    Of course, Zheng Yuanqiu knew why Shen Qing was there.


    It was for the Wish Power Pearl he had embezzled.


    But to think Shen Qing dared to barge into the quiet room to confront him over this Pearl face to face; such bravery.


    He''d seen countless people, yet he''d never met someone so¡­ impulsive.


    Suddenly, he laughed.


    "Hahaha... Do you know what you''ve just said? Do you think just because you''re an officer I can''t touch you? I may not kill you, but don''t forget, I can make you wish you were dead."


    "I think it''s you who doesn''t understand the situation," Shen Qing continued to smile softly.


    He pulled a letter from his chest, waving it before Zheng Yuanqiu: "Doesn''t this letter look familiar to you, Lord Chief Officer?"


    "Lord Chief Officer, what do you think would happen if I handed this letter over?"


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s laughter abruptly stopped.


    Shen Qing grinned, every bit the rascal: "So, are you ready to talk about our matters now?"


    Feigning calm, Zheng Yuanqiu said, "Haha, I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    Shen Qing tucked the letter back, fearlessly reciting, "Zheng Yuanqiu, thirty-five, overweight, greedy, Dan Realm cultivation. Quick, precise, ruthless in actions, suspicious by nature, never acts unless absolutely certain. Joined the Holy Sect in the second year of Tian Guang, trustworthy..."


    He narrated while observing Zheng Yuanqiu.


    Shen Qing noticed with each sentence, Zheng Yuanqiu''s face grew paler until it was ashen like paper.


    Indeed, by now, he could no longer tolerate the spy from the Huang Tian Sect and decided to lay his cards on the table.


    It was time to deal with him decisively.


    After Shen Qing revealed all his cards, he even sensed deep fear in Zheng Yuanqiu''s trembling gaze.


    Zheng Yuanqiu struggled to maintain composure, his breathing heavy, his eyes on Shen Qing filled with killing intent.


    "He knows, he knows it all."


    "He knows I''m with the Huang Tian Sect, knows I secretly leaked the official movements to Taiping County¡­ This boy cannot be allowed to live! He''d be disastrous."


    "He must be killed."


    Presently, not considering the various family heads and masters from the Thirteen Lines, the Prefectural Governor and the newly appointed Commander were already beyond his handle, and should his identity be discovered, he''d have no way to survive.


    With this in mind, he didn''t hesitate to make a move, delivering a palm strike toward Shen Qing. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As a Dan Realm powerhouse, Zheng Yuanqiu''s True Qi was finely honed, shaping it and gathering it as he struck.


    Upon acting, mist-like True Qi enveloped him, flowing like a cascading river of stars.


    Facing Zheng Yuanqiu''s terrifying might, Shen Qing didn''t retreat but instead allowed his True Qi to boil.


    The Sky Flipping Seal combined with the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill''s Heaven Defying Style, launched instantly.


    Massive amounts of True Qi from within surged forth like a breached dam.


    With the Heaven Defying Style''s support, Shen Qing''s strength exponentially increased, reaching ten times its original magnitude.


    Like an awakened ancient beast, he clasped his palms into an imprint to meet Zheng Yuanqiu''s strike.


    Boom!


    The two forces clashed explosively in mid-air, akin to celestial bodies detonating, sending waves of heat surging.


    Everything around them was instantly ignited; the room''s tables, chairs, furniture, bricks, and wooden windows were swept up by the energy, compressed to one side, exposing bare ground.


    For the first time, Zheng Yuanqiu''s face showed surprise¡ªhe hadn''t expected a mere Qi Hai Realm Shen Qing to unleash such astonishing combat power, almost shaking his strike.


    His expression changed, with a light cry, he increased the force in his hand.


    Bang!


    In the next moment, Shen Qing flew backward under the lingering power of Zheng Yuanqiu''s palm.


    Flipping several times mid-air, adjusting his posture, he planted his feet heavily, his legs sinking deep into the ground, stones scattering.


    Using the legs'' reactive force to slow his backward flight, he finally came to a staggered but determined stop at the doorway.


    In front, two deep ravines marked the magnitude of the impact he had withstood.


    Unharmed, Shen Qing nonchalantly dusted himself off and smiled, "Lord Chief Officer, now can we properly discuss my matters?"

 Chapter 231 - 57: Not a single thing can be taken away from me

    Shen Qing''s chest heaved violently, each breath accompanied by sharp pain, but he had no time to worry about this. His gaze was firmly locked on Zheng Yuanqiu.


    At this moment, Shen Qing noticed that Zheng Yuanqiu''s face was extremely pale, alternating between blue and white. His mouth was slightly open, filled with shock.


    He couldn''t understand why Shen Qing had obtained his secret message, and even more so, why he couldn''t kill this person with a single palm strike.


    What the hell, is this a dispatch officer?


    What the hell, is this a Qi Cultivation Realm martial master?


    No, somehow this guy had gotten hold of a Wish Power Pearl and had already broken through to the Qi Hai Realm.


    But even so, it was still astonishing that he, a Dan Realm martial master, couldn''t take down a Qi Hai Realm dispatch officer.


    His hand slightly raised, and the murderous intent in his eyes did not diminish.


    Shen Qing, who had taken a palm strike from Zheng Yuanqiu, felt the True Qi inside him surge, nearly displacing all his internal organs.


    If it weren''t for the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique secretly repairing him, he would have already collapsed.


    The power of a Dan Realm martial master was no joke.


    With his current strength, if Zheng Yuanqiu struck again, death would be certain.


    However, with the situation this far revealed, there was no reason to retreat.


    Shen Qing frantically activated the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique, stabilizing his internal injuries, and feigned a calm demeanor, continuing to threaten: "Lord Chief Officer, the current situation is clear. If you can''t kill me with one strike, then you''ve lost. Think about it, what will happen if I escape from here?"


    "Are you threatening me?" Zheng Yuanqiu felt a sense of suffocation and gritted his teeth.


    Shen Qing replied, "What else? Do you think I''m joking with you for fun? You''re not a dog."


    "You...," Zheng Yuanqiu struggled to suppress his anger.


    He analyzed the situation and realized that it was indeed as Shen Qing said. If he couldn''t kill this bothersome thing with one blow and wasn''t sure of a critical strike, it would be him who lost.


    Pushing him into a corner and letting him escape would also have unimaginable consequences.


    From that earlier strike, he sensed that this person had some skill and couldn''t be easily killed.


    Now, he truly didn''t have many options.


    Zheng Yuanqiu sneered, "I misjudged. I didn''t expect in this small Guardian Martial Department Office, I would find a true dragon like you. Just say what you want."


    "My demands are simple." Shen Qing pulled his legs out of the ground earnestly, "I don''t want much, just return to me everything you took without missing a bit. I mean not a single coin should be lacking."


    Hearing this, Zheng Yuanqiu''s face showed immense pain.


    To him, losing anything was more painful than cutting his flesh. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But he also knew that if this matter wasn''t resolved, he wouldn''t have peace.


    Of two evils, choose the lesser.


    Suppressing his inner torment, Zheng Yuanqiu agreed, "Fine, I promise you. But how can you guarantee that you''ll keep your mouth shut?"


    "Do you really have a choice, my Lord Chief Officer?"


    "You..."


    Seeing Zheng Yuanqiu about to erupt, Shen Qing knew not to provoke him further and assured him, "Rest assured, I''m a person who keeps my word. I''m not interested in your affairs. Had you not provoked me, today''s incident wouldn''t have happened. Give me back my things, and I won''t speak out of turn."


    Zheng Yuanqiu remained expressionless after hearing this.


    He knew that now he was on the chopping block, and Shen Qing had the upper hand. He truly had no other choice and warned, "Fine, I''ll trust you this once."


    With that, Zheng Yuanqiu rummaged through the ruins, found a box intertwined with iron and jade, and after some selecting, placed items into a money pouch.


    "I took from you a total of three Demon Cores, seven hundred taels in silver notes, and a Wish Power Pearl. I''ve already used the Demon Core, so I''ll compensate with a Wish Power Pearl. Other consumables and losses amount, converted, to one thousand taels for you."


    "Master Zheng, did you get it wrong? You clearly took five Wish Power Pearls from me?"


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s eyes almost popped out in rage, "Fine, fine, fine."


    He suppressed his temper, added four more Wish Power Pearls, totaling six, into the money pouch, and threw it to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing took the money pouch, glanced inside, confirmed there were no issues and said, "Thank you, Lord Chief Officer, for your generosity. Now that our matters are settled, I won''t disturb you any longer. Goodbye."


    Saying this, Shen Qing clasped his hands in salute and withdrew.


    Zheng Yuanqiu watched Shen Qing silently, his face icy cold.


    After stepping out from the rear hall, Shen Qing couldn''t hold back a sweet taste in his throat, with a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth.


    A Dan Realm martial master.


    Stronger than he had imagined.


    For now, he couldn''t deal with him lightly.


    Shen Qing composed his mind, focusing on activating the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique to repair his internal injuries.


    This cultivation technique was one he had carefully chosen, exhibiting immense potential when he fully activated it.


    Every meridian began to bulge, and each inch of skin and flesh glowed with a crystalline sheen.


    His injuries healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    Shen Qing looked at the money pouch hanging from his waist and felt satisfied.


    As the saying goes, you must enter the tiger''s lair to catch the tiger cub.


    To gain more, you must take some risks.


    There''s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.


    Today''s venture seemed risky but was mostly within his plan, not too far gone.


    Everything in this pouch was rightfully his.


    "Look, Shen Chasi is coming out."


    When Shen Qing reached the backyard, all eyes instantly focused on him.


    As an officer of the fourth group, Ji Youwu hurried forward and asked anxiously, "Are you alright?"


    Shen Qing replied calmly, "What could possibly happen to me?"


    "The Lord Chief Officer didn''t make things difficult for you?"


    "It was merely a misunderstanding. I always rely on virtue to win people over. After my explanation, Mr. Zheng gave me the Wish Power Pearl, nothing too troublesome."


    "Ah... Did I hear that right?"


    Exclamations of disbelief echoed through the courtyard, full of incredulity.


    When had Fatty Zheng become so agreeable?


    Shen Qing didn''t bother to explain further to them.


    In his view, the situation had escalated to a point where it was him or Zheng Yuanqiu.


    Zheng Yuanqiu had to die; otherwise, he wouldn''t find peace.


    Since he couldn''t kill Zheng Yuanqiu himself, he would find someone who could.


    Shen Qing left the Guardian Martial Department Office unhurriedly, heading straight for the Military Department.


    He planned to report it!


    "Hyah!"


    After Shen Qing left, the already noisy backyard became abuzz, discussing the truth of Shen Qing''s words and speculating about what had happened between him and Zheng Yuanqiu.


    Amidst the crowd, Dong Jing found himself somewhat dumbfounded.


    He realized he was getting more and more perplexed by Shen Qing.


    At that moment, a Chang Sui rushed over and informed the officer in charge of the fifth group, Xu Changle, "Xu Chasi, the Lord Chief Officer requests your presence."


    "Alright, I''m on my way."


    Xu Changle cast a glance at the doorway, then followed the Chang Sui into the rear hall.


    Upon entering the quiet room and seeing the mess, Xu Changle''s expression changed drastically. Facing Zheng Yuanqiu, he asked, "What happened here?"


    "Our identities have been exposed."


    Buzz!


    In an instant, Xu Changle''s mind went blank.


    Realizing something, he blurted out, "Is it Shen Qing?"


    Zheng Yuanqiu nodded and remained silent.


    "How did he find out?"


    "There''s no point in chasing that now. The priority is to find an opportunity to kill Shen Qing immediately. We can''t delay even a moment, or we''ll be in big trouble," Zheng Yuanqiu said sternly.


    Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Xu Changle responded quickly, "I''ll handle it right away."


    "By the way,"


    Just as Xu Changle was about to leave, Zheng Yuanqiu recalled something and asked, "What is Shen Qing doing now?"


    "When I came, he had just left the government office."


    As soon as those words were spoken, the two exchanged a glance, detecting a trace of fear in each other''s eyes.


    "I''ll go after him right away."


    Without hesitation, Xu Changle dashed out of the quiet room.


    Zheng Yuanqiu angrily punched the wall and gritted his teeth, "That rascal! I will never forgive you."

 Chapter 232 - 58: Those Who Block Me Shall Die, Kill Them All!

    Xu Changle emerged from the quiet room, his mind already in turmoil.


    He and Zheng Yuanqiu had been lurking in Yongzhou for many years, using the Guardian Martial Department''s connections to secretly do many unsavory deeds for the Holy Sect.


    If their identities were exposed, there was no doubt they would die without a burial place.


    Thinking of this, his steps became more urgent, eager to catch up with Shen Qing immediately and nip the danger in the bud.


    As he reached the courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department, Xu Changle ignored the gazes around him and continued walking, heading straight to the stables to retrieve his horse, galloping toward the direction of the Military Department and the county government.


    Seated on horseback, Xu Changle took out five yellow paper talismans from his bosom and placed them in his palm, pressing his hands together and rubbing twice.


    Instantly, five lifelike paper cranes appeared in his palm.


    "Order all parties to surround and kill the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department''s fourth group, Shen Qing! Quickly! Go!"


    Xu Changle tossed his palm upward, and the five yellow paper cranes turned into five streaks of yellow light, vanishing into the void.


    ...


    Above Yongzhou City, the heavy snow fluttered down again like goose feathers.


    In such a large city, there were few pedestrians, the streets appearing empty.


    Shen Qing rode his horse toward the Military Department, one hand holding his dagger and the other the reins.


    The Military Department was quite a distance from the county office and the Guardian Martial Department, and with many alleys in between, it would take nearly a stick of incense''s time for him to reach, even on horseback.


    Zheng Yuanqiu had been operating within the Guardian Martial Department for many years, surely with many spies inside; his departure would be hard to conceal from Zheng Yuanqiu.


    As long as Zheng Yuanqiu wasn''t foolish, he would surely guess Shen Qing''s intentions were dishonorable.


    He didn''t have much time left.


    Shen Qing rode his horse, turning into a street.


    Suddenly, a flash of yellow light passed above his head and disappeared into a house ahead.


    Just as Shen Qing was puzzled, the previously fleeting yellow light returned and charged straight at him.


    He found the yellow glow strangely familiar, scrutinizing it closely.


    Wasn''t this a Yellow Paper Crane from the Huang Tian Sect?


    He instantly became vigilant, almost instinctively using the "Deng Li Cang Shen" from his Riding Skill, slipping to one side of his horse.


    At that very instant, a fierce arrow shot across the horse''s back, closely following the yellow paper crane.


    Shen Qing squinted, looking up. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He saw at the end of the street, a man in a cotton jacket crouched, aiming a bow at him.


    A member of the Huang Tian Sect.


    If Shen Qing hadn''t reacted quickly, even if he wasn''t injured, he would have at least suffered.


    Lying on the side of his horse, Shen Qing''s expression turned cold as he grabbed the reins with both hands, sat back on the saddle, and drew the bow hanging from the horse''s back.


    His eyes suddenly congealed into two cold stars, his movements fluid as he nocked an arrow and drew the bowstring.


    With subtle adjustments in his breathing, Shen Qing''s entire body''s strength swiftly gathered into his arms, then flowed to his fingertips, as he nocked the arrow, drew the bow, and activated the Heavenly Bow Technique.


    The whistling sound grew around him, swirling up snow and frost, shrouding Shen Qing within.


    In the instant the opponent''s arrow left the string, Shen Qing released his grip.


    The Purple Gold Heavy Arrow, made from solid material, thundered with an unstoppable force straight toward the opponent.


    The thick layer of snow on the ground was swept away by the arrow''s force, revealing the clean, straight blue brick beneath.


    Thud!


    An unimaginable scene unfolded.


    The arrow Shot by Shen Qing hit the opponent''s arrow squarely.


    The powerful snowstorm arrow shredded the opponent''s arrow to pieces.


    The momentum of Shen Qing''s arrow was undiminished, growing even stronger.


    With a howling snowstorm, it pierced through the opponent''s chest like a bamboo moving through the wind, leaving a large, bowl-sized blood hole.


    Blood splattered, nearly turning the white snow on the ground red.


    Shen Qing galloped past.


    As he passed the corpse of the Huang Tian Sect''s spy, he reached down, snatching back the Purple Gold Heavy Arrow without looking back.


    After not much distance, Shen Qing noticed more yellow paper cranes flying overhead and frowned slightly.


    "Zheng Yuanqiu and his crew respond quickly, already reacting in such a short time. But¡­ it''s too late."


    Shen Qing''s expression turned solemn, without hesitation, as he strung the previously used arrow once more.


    [Activate Eagle Eye!]


    Suddenly, countless images flooded his mind, composing an overhead map of the street.


    On the snow-covered street, a black steed galloped, spraying snow in all directions.


    Ahead of the horse, three figures converged toward his location.


    Shen Qing remembered their positions, wasted no words, and began firing arrows rapidly toward three positions.


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.


    Three arrows shot forth, the wind and clouds shifted.


    The snowstorm engulfing the area was cleared by the three arrows, whistling unimpeded toward the three Huang Tian Sect spies.


    The three Huang Tian Sect spies hadn''t realized what was happening before the arrows penetrated their hearts.


    The powerful momentum nearly split them in half, leaving them undeniably dead.


    The air was thick with the scent of blood and the chill of impending death.


    Shen Qing put away the Cloud Splitting Heavy Bow, his face expressionless: "Is there one more?"


    He saw another martial master emerging from a narrow alley, taking a shortcut.


    Now they were too close for the use of arrows to be convenient.


    Shen Qing simply drew his dagger from his waist, holding it horizontally before him.


    He tightened his grip around his horse''s belly, urging his horse to charge and slash.


    "Those who block me shall die!"


    Even an eagle gives its all when attacking a rabbit.


    [Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Ninth Transformation]


    Shen Qing''s eyes focused, channeling True Qi within him, concentrating it onto his dagger.


    Blade facing blade.


    With a crisp snap,


    under this shocking strike from Shen Qing, the opponent hadn''t even had time to react before the long sword he wielded was shattered by Shen Qing''s strike.


    Slosh!


    Shen Qing''s hand movements were relentless, severing the opponent''s head with one strike.


    Blood gushed, splattering Shen Qing''s clothes on one side.


    Thus, the temporary reinforcements sent by the Huang Tian Sect were all dead!


    Shen Qing wasted no time, casually flinging the blood from his dagger with a flick of his sleeve, then sheathing it calmly.


    The snow previously cleared by the force of his arrows began to flutter down once more.


    All was as usual.


    Not far ahead, Shen Qing saw the gates of the Military Department Office.


    Before the appearance of demons and the Huang Tian Sect, the Military Department was in charge of maintaining law and order with considerable power.


    Later, due to the emergence of the Huang Tian Sect and demons, the Guardian Martial Department split from the Military Department; in a sense, the Guardian Martial Department was part of the Military Department.


    Hence, their superior was naturally the Commander of the Military Department.


    With a spy appearing in the Guardian Martial Department, the Commander''s responsibility was undeniable, while Shen Qing, dealing with Zheng Yuanqiu, was already cultivated enough.


    "Who goes there?"


    When Shen Qing arrived at the military governor''s office, the guards were alarmed, seeing Shen Qing half-covered in blood, instinctively flashing their weapons.


    Shen Qing quickly said: "I am Shen Qing from the Guardian Martial Department''s dispatch office, I have urgent matters to report to Lord Commander. This matter is extremely urgent, please immediately inform him."

 Chapter 233 - 59: Breaking Through the Yu Luo Realm

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    Shen Qing wore the cotton uniform of the Guardian Martial Department. The hem was edged with fine blood-colored ice crystals, and even one side of his cheek bore a bloodstain.


    Anyone could see that he had just killed someone.


    The two gatekeepers standing at the entrance dared not let him in casually.


    "We ask that you show your identity card," one of the gatekeepers said, his hands tucked into his sleeves as he held his weapon, exposing only a red nose and a pair of wary eyes.


    Shen Qing retrieved a finely carved jade token from his pocket, with his name and official position engraved on it, and handed it over.


    The gatekeeper took the jade token and carefully examined it in the dim light by the door, his expression gradually becoming more respectful.


    "So it''s Lord Shen, Lord Officer Shen. My apologies."


    Shen Qing took back his identity card and tightened his cloak, asking, "May I ask, where are the Lord Military Commander and the Lord of the General Supervisor''s Office at the moment?"


    The gatekeeper stomped his feet and, with a troubled expression, explained, "Lord Shen, unfortunately, the Lord Military Commander and the Lord of the General Supervisor''s Office went out early this morning to inspect the city defenses. They said they wanted to personally check the fortifications outside the city and are expected to return in the afternoon. Would you like to leave a message, or wait a while until they return?"


    Hearing this, Shen Qing frowned slightly, knowing that his visit was of great importance and time was of the essence, yet he hadn''t expected the two main officials to be absent.


    "In that case, I''ll go inside and wait," he said.


    Currently, he had completely fallen out with Zheng Yuanqiu, and outside, it might not be as safe as the county office here.


    As long as Zheng Yuanqiu hadn''t figured out the situation here, he wouldn''t dare act recklessly.


    Otherwise, if something went wrong, everyone would assume the worst, and it would be hard to explain.


    The gatekeeper quickly put down his long spear, bowed, then swiftly stepped forward to push open the heavy county office doors for Shen Qing.


    As Shen Qing stepped into the county office, the warmth instantly provided a stark contrast to the bitter cold outside.


    Saying this, Shen Qing pulled out one ingot of silver from his pocket and slipped it into the gatekeeper''s hand, saying, "Please, brother, keep an eye out. Inform me immediately when they return."


    "Rest assured, Lord Shen, I''ll do my utmost," the gatekeeper promised quickly. He then led Shen Qing to a warm room nearby to wait and ordered someone to prepare hot tea and snacks to ward off the winter chill.


    Seated in the warm room, watching the snow fluttering outside, Shen Qing''s mind was filled with countless thoughts.


    It was nearing the end of the year; any necessary inspections should have been completed long ago. Why would there suddenly be so many inspections to do now? Why check now instead of earlier or later?


    If he wasn''t mistaken, nine times out of ten, they went out to socialize.


    They should be back around noon if things went as expected.


    In the prefectures and counties, Shen Qing could finally relax his tense mind a little. He took out the purse he had obtained from Zheng Yuanqiu.


    Shen Qing poured it into his hand.


    Six Wish Power Pearls rolled into his palm.


    They received just one Wish Power Pearl each per year, so if his position didn''t change, it would take him six years to earn these six pearls.


    Shen Qing estimated silently that among these six Wish Power Pearls, one was originally his, four were likely Zheng Yuanqiu''s original official salary, and one might have been taken from the deceased Xi Shaoqin''s allotted share.


    Now they all benefitted him.


    Confronting Zheng Yuanqiu face-to-face had been a risky move, but it was somewhat worth it in the end.


    He had been stuck in the Qi Hai Realm for four or five months.


    After continuous nourishment with medicinal meals and an increase in his panel abilities, he was now only a step away from advancing from the Qi Hai Realm to the Yu Luo Realm.


    The so-called Yu Luo Realm was when martial masters, through continuous cultivation, further compressed their True Qi into liquid that filled their entire body''s meridians, transforming the Qi Sea into a True Sea.


    Once reaching this realm, when martial masters circulated their True Qi, a crystal light would appear along their meridians, resembling real jade, hence the name Yu Luo Realm.


    In the Yu Luo Realm, True Qi throughout the body was refined and one could glide with Qi.


    Though not quite as advanced as the innate Rainbow Light control, it was still above the ordinary.


    Even within the entire Great Zhou Country, one would be considered a prominent figure within a city in a prefecture.


    Seeing it was still early with nothing to do, Shen Qing, having witnessed the terrifying power of the innate realm, didn''t want to waste this downtime opportunity and planned to use the Wish Power Pearls to break through the bottleneck of the Yu Luo Realm.


    He felt a bit insecure at the moment.


    Even a slight advancement could offer him some peace of mind.


    So, he decided to act.


    Shen Qing stored the extra Wish Power Pearls back in the purse, leaving only one out.


    Gazing at the milky white pearl in his hand, Shen Qing could faintly sense the immense Desire Power contained within.


    He took a deep breath, took out the Refining Pearl Technique he carried with him, placed it over his Dantian, and gently lifted the Wish Power Pearl with both hands.


    With a thought, the Refining Pearl Technique automatically activated, and his True Qi surged like a river, converging between his hands and resonating subtly with the Wish Power Pearl.


    The Wish Power Pearl''s surface gradually emitted a soft glow, intertwining and merging with Shen Qing''s True Qi to form a vast power.


    The Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth gathered towards where Shen Qing sat.


    His pores opened wide, greedily absorbing this energy.


    As the energy entered, the True Qi within his Qi Sea began to spin and compress madly, as if guided by an invisible force, condensing into a liquid form, exuding a warm, jade-like luster.


    ...


    On the street.


    Xu Changle hastily followed the location indicated by the paper crane. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His face grew increasingly grim as he came across one corpse after another.


    These people were experts in the Qi Cultivation Realm secretly cultivated by their Huang Tian Sect, following the martial path.


    Yet they didn''t even possess the capability to hold Shen Qing back!


    At that moment, Xu Changle realized that Shen Qing was somewhat out of the ordinary and challenging to deal with.


    But he was not without options.


    Up to now, his own identity remained undisclosed.


    This meant he could still get close to Shen Qing, and with his cultivation in the Qi Hai Realm, if he made a move at the right moment, he had a seventy percent chance of succeeding.


    Once he acted and killed him, he could fabricate any reason later on, resolving any crisis naturally.


    Judging from the situation with Chief Officer Zheng, this Shen was very skilled at manipulating human nature.


    At that time, he must not engage in any unnecessary interactions and should act decisively.


    Xu Changle quietly warned himself as he headed towards the county office.


    Soon, he arrived at the entrance, providing a reason unhurriedly, verified his identity, and proceeded inside without any obstructions.


    He asked, in a tone part casual, part deliberate, "I just saw Shen Chasi arrive before me, where is he now?"


    "Lord Shen? He is in the warm room," the gatekeeper replied without much thought.


    "Oh, that''s perfect. I have some business with him," Xu Changle said nonchalantly. "You can go about your work; I''ll find him on my own."


    "Alright, I won''t disturb you," the guard replied.


    Once he got the gatekeeper out of the way, Xu Changle''s face instantly turned cold as he quickly made his way toward the warm room.


    Inside the warm room.


    Shen Qing sat in the chair, enveloped by a vortex of Spiritual Energy around him, continuously entering his body.


    Boom!


    Finally, the True Qi within him reached a critical point.


    With a clear, resounding boom, Shen Qing''s Qi Sea underwent a complete transformation into a True Sea, vast and unfathomable.


    His meridians were also filled at that moment with the liquified True Qi, crystalline and translucent, seemingly carved from jade, shimmering with a radiant glow.


    Shen Qing slowly opened his eyes, radiating energy and exuding an indescribable aura.


    "Success!"


    Shen Qing''s face was filled with an incredible joy, he knew he was just a step away from the Yu Luo Realm, but he hadn''t expected, aided by the Wish Power Pearl, to break through to the Yu Luo Realm so effortlessly!!!


    He stood up, feeling the surge of new power within him, and his mouth curled into a confident smile, feeling much more at ease.


    "Very well. Now, I may not be able to kill Zheng Yuanqiu, but at least I won''t be in such a miserable state as before."


    At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the warm room, and someone pushed the door open, interrupting his thoughts.

 Chapter 234 - 60: Better to Kill by Mistake Than to Miss One

    ¿¤Ñà courtyard''s snow curtain was as dense as a woven fabric, but inside the warm room, the fire crackled warmly, like spring.


    Xu Changle wore a heavy brocade robe, stepping with a light snow sound, he walked up to the warm room and pushed open the carved wooden door.


    In an instant, the cold air from the courtyard found its outlet and rushed into the warm room.


    Snowflakes were carried by the cold wind into the warm room, falling to the ground and turning into ice water.


    Xu Changle stepped inside, his gaze as sharp as an eagle''s, scanning the surroundings.


    Soon, his sight landed on Shen Qing''s figure.


    At this moment, in the vast warm room, there was only Shen Qing. Xu Changle''s lips curled into an imperceptible cold smile.


    This was good.


    Xu Changle closed the door with a backward motion of his hand.


    The howling wind at the door abruptly stopped.


    With a hint of deliberate intimacy, he said, "Oh, I didn''t expect to find you here, Shen Chasi?"


    Shen Qing sat calmly on a chair, looking up at Xu Changle with a face full of surprise, he asked, "Xu Chasi? It''s a coincidence you came to the county office too. Is there something important?"


    Xu Changle''s smile grew brighter, a sly glint flickering in his eyes as he said, "In this heavy snow, what important matters could there be? I just happened to pass by, thinking the New Year is near, and came specifically to get acquainted with Lord Commander and Lord Chief Officer."


    Commander Jia Zhiping and Chief Officer Huang Furo''s positions could be considered as superiors of the Guardian Martial Department.


    To climb higher, one could not bypass these two people.


    Therefore, at the end or beginning of each year, the Military Department and Guardian Martial Department saw many ambitious officials trying various means to connect with the two.


    Simultaneously, the high-ranking families behind these officials often wanted a foot in the door.


    Although Shen Qing hadn''t experienced this, he had heard of the custom and understood another layer of meaning in Xu Changle''s words.


    This was undoubtedly one of the main reasons that Jia Zhiping and Huang Furo became increasingly busy as the year-end approached.


    "Oh, so that''s how it is..." Shen Qing slowly stood up, putting on a smile as he walked towards Xu Changle. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t seem distant or cold, but rather hooked Xu Changle''s shoulder with a smile: "Brother Xu, do you have any experience to share with me? I also want to advance but have no way."


    Seeing this, Xu Changle was delighted and did not resist.


    He was worrying about how to approach Shen Qing and didn''t expect him to deliver himself.


    Heh heh, there''s a path to heaven you don''t take, but you break into the doorless hell.


    Don''t blame me then.


    His hand moved towards the dagger at his waist as he said, "Haha, there''s no secret, just three words."


    "Oh, which three words?"


    Shen Qing showed a look of earnest listening, instinctively placing his other hand on Xu Changle''s chest, his eyes growing purer.


    There was a slightly more smile on Xu Changle''s face, scrutinizing Shen Qing, his heart filled with ecstasy.


    He was about to succeed.


    He twisted his wrist on the knife handle, about to speak, when he suddenly felt an intense heat in his chest.


    Boom!


    Abruptly, a volcano-like surge erupted from Shen Qing''s palm, and an unprecedented burning torrent burst forth.


    At this moment, the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill was running at its peak, with the scorching Qi it contained interwoven with the dominant might of the Sky Flipping Seal, exploding on Xu Changle''s chest.


    Xu Changle''s face changed drastically, emitting a sharp scream.


    He was thrown sideways by an irresistible force like a leaf caught in a hurricane, slamming hard against the warm room wall.


    The wall behind him cracked like a spider web rapidly spreading as he crashed against it.


    Xu Changle spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, looking extremely haggard and frail.


    He raised his head to see Shen Qing, noticing the jade-colored patterns emerging on his body, revealing a look of disbelief as a monstrous wave surged in his heart.


    Yu Luo Realm!


    He was actually a martial master of the Yu Luo Realm!


    He clearly remembered when this Shen Qing had just joined the Guardian Martial Department, his cultivation was only at the Qi Cultivation Realm, not even reaching the Qi Hai Realm.


    Had this Shen fellow broken through two Great Realms in just half a year?


    How could it be?


    The Guardian Martial Department, after so many years of establishment, how could such an individual emerge?


    In an instant, many thoughts ran through his mind.


    Xu Changle said, "Shen Chasi... you... what does this mean?"


    "Nothing, just that I want to kill you."


    Shen Qing''s tone was cold, without any emotional fluctuation.


    He had noticed this Xu Changle several times by chance, closely interacting with Zheng Yuanqiu, and even if not collaborating with Zheng, they must have some other connection.


    He had barely left the Guardian Martial Department for the county office when this person followed.


    Moreover, seeing the blood on him, this man wasn''t surprised, almost like he already knew he had killed someone.


    Ninety percent sure he was targeting him.


    Even though he didn''t have any evidence at hand now.


    But rather kill mistakenly than let go!!!


    At this moment, how could he show mercy?


    It''s better for someone else to die than himself.


    Xu Changle had never seen anyone as ruthless as Shen Qing, who acted so decisively that he had no defense at all.


    Seeing Shen Qing approaching step by step with no intention of sparing him, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his face gradually filled with fear.


    He started to struggle, trying to muster his entire True Qi to resist, but now almost all his meridians were shattered by Shen Qing''s palm, leaving him with no strength.


    The strong desire to survive drove him to ignore his injuries, painfully sticking to the wall and trying to get up, warning Shen Qing: "Shen Chasi... do you know... what you are... doing? Are you trying... to kill an official... this is the county..."


    Before Xu Changle could finish his words.


    There was a flash of cold light, and a shiny steel knife was plunged into his chest.


    "What official? You are clearly a traitor, a Huang Tian Sect traitor."


    "Huh! You... have... no proof... huh!"


    "Dead men don''t need proof."


    Xu Changle''s pupils suddenly widened.


    With a squelch.


    As soon as the words fell, Shen Qing''s blood-stained dagger, in Xu Changle''s despairing gaze, sliced across his throat.


    Hot blood splattered everywhere, the thick stench of blood rising in the warm room.


    "Huh... huh..."


    Xu Changle''s throat sounded like a bellows with leaks, continuously rasping.


    Shen Qing wiped his dagger on Xu Changle''s clothes, removing the blood from the blade, then sheathed it.


    He returned to the chair, placing the long knife across his legs, and took a sip of warm tea.


    Shen Qing replaced the tea cup onto the table with a clink.


    At the same time, the deceased Xu Changle slumped to sit before toppling over to the ground.


    The crimson blood slowly spread from beneath him.


    Inside the warm room, the fire continued to crackle.


    Shen Qing glanced at Xu Changle and withdrew his gaze, his expression calming as he regulated his breath silently.

 Chapter 235 - 61 Report!

    ```


    After a brief adjustment of his breath, Shen Qing calmed the side effects of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill.


    It suddenly occurred to Shen Qing that he hadn''t yet searched the corpse, so he hurried to Xu Changle''s body and began to search it carefully.


    Seeing that there was no one around, he searched meticulously and successfully found a bulging money pouch on the body.


    Shen Qing opened the pouch and counted the contents, discovering a Wish Power Pearl and several taels of Silver Tael.


    Xu Changle had just received his annual salary today and hadn''t had the chance to use it, leaving it on him.


    It was all to Shen Qing''s benefit now.


    Not to mention, that Wish Power Pearl was quite a rare find.


    Today''s gain utterly exceeded his expectations.


    Shen Qing unhesitatingly tucked the money pouch into his robe with practiced ease.


    He casually pushed open the window and glanced at the sky.


    It looked like it had just reached noon, and there was still some time before Huang Furo and the others would return.


    He had to keep waiting.


    Shen Qing settled back into the chair, patiently regulating his breath as he waited.


    Time passed slowly, and soon it was late noon.


    Shen Qing sat quietly in the chair, his eyes slightly closed, surrounded by a faint ripple of spiritual energy, engrossed in regulating his inner breath, oblivious to anything happening outside.


    Just then, the gatekeeper opened the door to the warm room and loudly said, "Shen Chasi, the Chief Officer and the others have returned..."


    He hadn''t finished speaking when his gaze involuntarily fixed on one side of the warm room, his pupils suddenly contracted.


    There lay a corpse quietly on the cold ground, its blood already dried.


    On closer inspection, he noticed the distorted face and disheveled clothing of the corpse, clearly indicating a fierce struggle.


    The gatekeeper was overcome by a sense of foreboding and became terribly frightened.


    His face turned pale, and he pointed at the corpse, his voice trembling as he asked, "Shen Chasi, this... this is..."


    The gatekeeper recognized it as the dispatch officer of the Guardian Martial Department who had entered earlier!


    Shen Qing had killed him?


    This Shen had blatantly killed an official of the Guardian Martial Department in the county office?


    Was this Shen Qing insane?


    Upon hearing the disturbance, Shen Qing slowly opened his eyes, which flashed with a sharp glint.


    He gently exhaled a deep breath, calming the surging energy within.


    "No need to worry too much. This person was a spy from the Huang Tian Sect. I discovered his identity and had no choice but to act. Quickly inform the Chief Officer and the others to come here. I need to report this in person. This matter is of critical importance! Hurry!"


    Shen Qing''s voice, though soft, carried an undeniable firmness.


    The gatekeeper''s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.


    He glanced at Shen Qing, then back at the corpse on the ground, realizing the gravity of the situation, promptly agreeing and rushing off to inform them.


    After the gatekeeper left, Shen Qing''s demeanor gradually became colder and much more serious.


    Shen Qing didn''t have to wait long.


    Soon, a series of steady and forceful footsteps echoed outside the warm room.


    Commander Jia Zhiping and Chief Officer Huang Furo pushed open the door and entered the room one after the other.


    As soon as they entered, their eyes were instantly drawn to the corpse on the ground, both stunned and speechless.


    Clearly, neither had expected someone would kill another official within the county office.


    Jia Zhiping''s voice carried a hint of irrefutable authority as he sternly asked, "What in the world happened here? You''d better have a good explanation for me."


    Jia Zhiping, thickly bearded and stout, exuded composure and strength with every step, resembling a triumphant general, fixing a severe gaze on Shen Qing.


    The aura of an Innate Martial Master was naturally evident in him.


    Under this aura, every hair on Shen Qing''s body stood on end, feeling immense pressure.


    He hurriedly activated the true qi from his True Spirit Sea, a faint jade radiance appearing over his body, covertly resisting this imposing force.


    Shen Qing had vaguely heard that this Commander of the Military Department had a character that abhorred evil, with a fiery temperament.


    Not daring to delay, Shen Qing took a stack of letters from his sleeve, stepped forward, and respectfully presented them before Jia Zhiping, saying in a deep voice, "These are correspondences between Zheng Yuanqiu and the Huang Tian Sect that I discovered during my investigation. I request your review, My Lord."


    Jia Zhiping gave them a sweeping glance, his eyes twitching twice before handing them over to Huang Furo next to him after reading.


    Huang Furo took the letters and began to read them quickly, her expression becoming increasingly gravely as she delved into the contents.


    Each word in the letters revealed the Huang Tian Sect''s schemes and ambition and the evidence of Zheng Yuanqiu''s collusion with them.


    A trace of cold light flashed in Huang Furo''s beautiful eyes. She asked, "Where did you get this letter?"


    Shen Qing replied half-truthfully, "I discovered it on my way to the prefectures and counties. I never dared to be sure until today when the annual salaries were distributed, and I accidentally witnessed Chief Officer Zheng''s handwriting. It was identical to that in the letter, which is why I rushed over to report it."


    After speaking, he casually pointed to Xu Changle''s corpse on the ground and continued, "This person and Zheng Yuanqiu were both spies sent by Huang Tian Sect. He discovered my purpose for coming here. In desperation, like a cornered beast, he chased me all the way here. But fortunately, my cultivation was slightly superior, and I killed him in return."


    "I ask the Lord to discern the truth!" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Huang Furo was not entirely convinced by Shen Qing''s unilateral account. She held the letter, pondered for a while, and immediately summoned Chang Sui to retrieve past official documents from Zheng Yuanqiu received at the county office.


    She carefully compared the handwriting on the documents with that in the letters.


    Finding the styles to be identical, she realized it was the work of the same person.


    Huang Furo''s expression suddenly changed, "Zheng Yuanqiu, so he really is with the Huang Tian Sect!"


    Jia Zhiping lowered his gaze, seemingly and imperceptibly glancing at Huang Furo.


    Huang Furo immediately realized her negligence in supervision, allowing such a huge oversight.


    She clasped her hands together and pleaded, "My Lord, this is entirely my failure in oversight. I request your punishment."


    Jia Zhiping''s face remained expressionless, but even the unfamiliar Shen Qing could sense the fury in his eyes.


    A prestigious Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department turned out to be the leader of the bandits.


    If this reached the court, reputations would be ruined, and there would be no end to the consequences for him.


    However, he knew now was not the time for punishment.


    Jia Zhiping quickly regained his composure, calmly issuing orders, "Close the city gates, place the entire city under curfew, and ensure that the remnants of the Huang Tian Sect are completely eradicated. I will personally go to capture this chief bandit."


    Huang Furo and Shen Qing immediately agreed.


    Under their gaze, Jia Zhiping''s entire body shone brilliantly, then transformed into a rainbow light soaring into the sky, swiftly heading toward the government office of the Guardian Martial Department, moving at an exceptionally fast pace.


    In the blink of an eye, he vanished into the horizon.


    Huang Furo returned to her senses and quickly said to Shen Qing, "You will follow me now to defend the entire city and capture the remnants of the Huang Tian Sect."


    "Yes!"


    Shen Qing promptly agreed.


    The two swiftly followed Jia Zhiping out the door.


    Huang Furo quickly issued commands, summoning all two to three hundred members of the Military Department to guard each town.


    Nearing the year''s end, the previously peaceful Yongzhou City suddenly erupted into chaos.


    ```

 Chapter 236 - 62 Missed by One Step

    ```


    Above the Guardian Martial Department, the dark clouds were as thick as ink.


    A sudden rainbow-colored light cut through the sky and descended, landing steadily in the rear hall of the Guardian Martial Department.


    As soon as this streak of light touched the ground, it dissipated like fireworks, revealing the stern face of Jia Zhiping.


    Unlike the usual bustle, Jia Zhiping found the rear hall to be unusually quiet at this moment.


    His heart tensed suddenly, as if realizing something, and he quickly surveyed his surroundings.


    The vast rear hall was empty, with not even a trace of many servants.


    Jia Zhiping strode quickly into the quiet room at the back hall, only to see chaos all around, with no sign of Zheng Yuanqiu.


    This person had realized something was amiss and fled ahead of him.


    Damn it!


    Jia Zhiping''s expression turned extremely grim.


    He angrily swept his sleeve and swiftly left the Guardian Martial Department in a hurry.


    Meanwhile,


    As Commander Jia Zhiping rushed to the Guardian Martial Department, Huang Furo, after issuing a few orders in succession, brought Shen Qing along and hurried toward Changhua Street.


    Changhua Street belonged to Anshan Square, located in the southeast part of Yongzhou City, a place of prosperity.


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s residence was here.


    The distance between Changhua Street and the government office of the Military Department was not far, and Huang Furo, bringing Shen Qing and a few subordinates, took only half a moment to reach the "Zheng Mansion."


    The majestic courtyard had its front gate tightly shut.


    Without hesitation, Huang Furo gracefully raised her hand, striking the door with the force of thunder.


    Accompanied by a deafening "bang," the wooden door exploded instantly, splintering apart with shards flying everywhere. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The air was filled with the mingling dusty scent of wood and earth.


    Huang Furo''s face was cold as frost, expressionlessly retracting her hand before propelling herself forward like an arrow released from a bowstring, entering without a moment''s hesitation.


    Shen Qing, witnessing this scene from the side, was momentarily stunned.


    Huang Furo''s actions were truly like those of a man, rudely forceful, without consideration.


    No time to ponder further, Shen Qing quickly collected his thoughts.


    Following Huang Furo, he and other officers from the Military Department rushed in one after another.


    The numerous servants in the courtyard, engrossed in their tasks, were startled by their forceful arrival.


    A steward stepped forward, shouting, "This is the residence of Lord Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department. What are you doing?"


    "Search!" Huang Furo''s voice was cold and powerful, echoing in the empty house, ignoring the steward.


    She knew that every second was crucial and that she must find Zheng Yuanqiu''s whereabouts quickly.


    Otherwise, delays could lead to unexpected changes.


    If this matter went unresolved, it would be impossible to account for it.


    "You!" The Zheng Mansion steward, seeing these people act so rudely, glared angrily.


    Huang Furo stepped forward and questioned, "Let me ask you, where is your master now?"


    The Zheng Mansion steward looked closely, seeing that this was none other than Huang Furo, the Commander of the Military Department, and eldest daughter of the Huangfu family, who had eyebrows like distant ink strokes and wore beige attire exuding the aura of a high-ranking person.


    Having spent years with Zheng Yuanqiu and seen much, he immediately recognized the incredibly beautiful woman before him. Even if his master were present, he would show due respect to someone like her.


    He dared not act rashly, and his arrogance quickly subsided.


    The Zheng Mansion steward, unable to grasp the situation, answered honestly to Huang Furo''s questioning, "The master is always busy with official duties and is elusive. How would we servants know?"


    "Then when was the last time you saw him today?"


    "Earlier today, it was around noon when the master returned briefly, took some things, and left in a hurry."


    Hearing this, Huang Furo''s heart skipped a beat, realizing that Zheng Yuanqiu might have already fled far away.


    "Sir, there''s no trace of Mr. Zheng in the house."


    "None here either."


    "..."


    The subordinates reported in succession.


    "Take these people back for questioning. You two, come with me."


    Huang Furo was not surprised by such a result. She pointed out Shen Qing and another officer from the Military Department, then hurried towards the door.


    "Yes."


    Shen Qing and the other officer responded in unison, ignoring the chaos behind and swiftly following.


    Once out of the Zheng Mansion, Huang Furo rushed straight to the nearest city gate without any hesitation.


    When the three of them arrived at the city gate, they found that Jia Zhiping was already waiting there for some time.


    Huang Furo stepped forward and spoke first: "Sir, how''s the situation?"


    Jia Zhiping said in a deep voice: "It seems Zheng Yuanqiu was well prepared. I''ve asked at all the city gates, and none have discovered any trace of his departure. It seems he''s been building back routes for himself during his time at the Guardian Martial Department."


    Huang Furo gritted her teeth, her expression turning grim.


    Jia Zhiping scanned the surroundings, his gaze firm, and said: "Immediately deploy the city''s forces to seal all the main exits, and at the same time strengthen the patrols within the city. We must find Zheng Yuanqiu''s trail."


    Hearing this, the assembled officers quickly followed orders and moved into action.


    Commander Jia Zhiping said calmly, "Now, Lord Huangfu, control the situation while I promptly meet the Prefectural Governor to report this matter."


    "Subordinate, at your command." Huang Furo clasped her hands, her expression becoming more solemn.


    As the seconds and minutes passed, to everyone''s surprise, Zheng Yuanqiu seemed to have vanished into thin air.


    Even if they searched every nook and cranny, they were unable to find any trace.


    Facing such a situation, Shen Qing''s heart sank. At this moment, he suddenly felt extremely insecure.


    Now that he had torn relations with Zheng Yuanqiu and had become mortal enemies, with a Dan Realm martial master hidden in the shadows, he could not rest easy if not killed.


    Jia Zhiping and his forces, contrary to what he had thought, were not omnipotent; their efforts had reached a stalemate.


    When he was clueless and troubled, he happened to walk past the street where he had previously shot down the disciples of the Huang Tian Sect.


    The image of a yellow paper crane flashed through his mind.


    Shen Qing paused, frowning slightly.


    In the "Annotations on Talismans," a method named the tracking talisman surfaced in his mind.


    He focused his mind, revealing a line of ink-washed text.


    [Skill: Talisman Making Skill (Skillfully)]


    [Progress: 115/200 points]


    [Status: Cannot be upgraded]


    [Note: Talismans are the divine skills of ancient immortals. Now that the great path has declined, it takes ten thousand efforts to achieve even a bit. With relentless practice, one can achieve the slightest success.]


    After learning the annotations on talismans, Shen Qing had practiced secretly out of curiosity for some time.


    During his practice, he found that this skill required great effort for little gain and was extremely difficult to train.


    Without the right techniques, it was hard to utilize and could only produce minor results.


    As a result, this skill was gradually sidelined, and he left its progress at a skillful level before setting it aside.


    Now, the matter of the yellow paper crane reminded him that among the many talismans, the tracking talisman was the most basic, conveniently within his range of creation.


    Perhaps he could try out this talisman.


    ```

 Chapter 237 - 63: Learn Now, Act Now, Catch Them Off Guard

    ```


    Once said, immediately done.


    Shen Qing didn''t hesitate at all. He whipped his horse and rushed home without stopping.


    "Qingzi, you''re back. What''s happening outside? It''s almost the New Year, why is it so chaotic?" Inside the house, his aunt was idly stitching a shoe with his elder sister Shen Fang, and casually asked when she saw Shen Qing suddenly rush back.


    Shen Qing didn''t have time to chat with them, so he casually replied, "It''s nothing major, just some thieves in the city. It''s better if you don''t go out for the next few days."


    "Ah, thieves?"


    His aunt and elder sister Shen Fang were both somewhat alarmed.


    They wanted to ask more, but saw Shen Qing had already slipped into his room, leaving them staring at each other.


    Inside his room, Shen Qing rummaged through his cabinets, finding a pile of scattered talisman materials.


    A Lang Brush, a stack of yellow lamination paper, and a handful of cinnabar.


    Shen Qing casually pulled out a sheet from the yellow lamination paper and spread it on the table.


    This type of talisman paper was usually made from processed mulberry bark, bamboo pulp, and other materials to form a resilient paper, tougher than regular white paper.


    According to the "Annotations on Talismans," to make higher-grade talismans, one would use silk, but this yellow lamination paper was only suitable as a base for lower-grade talismans.


    The Tracking Talisman''s quality was not high, and using this yellow lamination paper was more than adequate.


    Shen Qing exhaled a murky breath, closed his eyes, calmed his mind, slowly adjusted his breathing, and recalled some Meditation Techniques and rituals from the annotations.


    Once his breathing was steady, he meticulously repeated the complex ritual three times as described in the book, and prepared the cinnabar and other tools.


    When his mental state calmed completely and was as clear as an undisturbed lake, he took a deep breath, picked up the Lang Brush, lightly dipped it in the cinnabar, and began to draw on the yellow lamination paper.


    Shen Qing''s wrist turned lightly, and True Qi, like a fine thread, leaped out from the palm of his hand, falling on the tip of the Lang Brush.


    His movements were extraordinarily smooth, as if he had already repeated this process thousands of times, appearing highly proficient and natural.


    Just as he felt he was about to complete a Tracking Talisman, an unexpected event occurred!


    "Boom!"


    After a subtle explosion, a small flame unexpectedly leaped up from the center of the talisman paper.


    Shen Qing, accustomed to such occurrences, casually pinched his fingers to extinguish the rising flame.


    A wisp of blue smoke spiraled up from his fingers.


    Shen Qing then discarded the failed talisman and unemotionally began his second attempt.


    Having advanced his Talisman Making Skill to a skillful level, his success rate for crafting such simple Tracking Talismans was quite high.


    After the first failure, his success rate sharply increased, successfully crafting two in a row.


    Gazing at the two finished Tracking Talismans, Shen Qing fell into contemplation.


    After pondering for a moment, he placed the two Tracking Talismans in his bosom and hurriedly left.


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s cultivation was powerful, and it would be somewhat risky to go alone.


    It would be best to find some people to go along.


    After all, the affair had been stirred up to such a degree that capturing and killing Zheng Yuanqiu was no longer just his personal matter.


    With the stage set, he had to learn to leverage others'' strength.


    As he thought of this, Shen Qing didn''t delay, immediately mounted his horse, and headed straight for the Military Department''s meeting hall to explain his purpose to Huang Furo.


    "Are you saying you can find Zheng Yuanqiu''s whereabouts?" Huang Furo eyed Shen Qing up and down, somewhat skeptical.


    "Yes," Shen Qing nodded and replied, "Although I can''t directly locate Zheng Yuanqiu, I have two Tracking Talismans which might trace his movement. It''s worth a try."


    In the meeting hall, Huang Furo, with a few other officers, looked serious and said, "You also know the Talisman Making Skill?"


    "A little."


    After speaking, Shen Qing took a Tracking Talisman from his bosom and affixed it to the purse that Zheng Yuanqiu had once given him, lightly blowing on it.


    Under his gaze, the talisman seemed to come alive, floating up and emitting a faint glow.


    Huang Furo subconsciously glanced at Shen Qing.


    If she remembered correctly, this officer before her wasn''t local and his rank wasn''t high.


    She had heard about his feats in repeatedly slaying demons at the Guardian Martial Department.


    In her eyes, he was a capable official.


    Yet, she had never imagined he possessed such skill.


    "Sir, shall we perhaps give it a try to see if we can find something?" Shen Qing earnestly said.


    "Sure," Huang Furo nodded and said, "There''s no time to waste, activate the talisman."


    "Alright."


    Shen Qing quickly formed a seal with his fingers and muttered incantations.


    Moments later, the Tracking Talisman suddenly transformed into a streak of light, shooting through the window and disappearing from everyone''s sight.


    "Sir, let''s go."


    Seeing this, Huang Furo swiftly ordered, "You few accompany Shen Chasi and me. Chief Wang, you inform the Lord Commander. We will leave markers along the way for you and the Lord Commander to follow for assistance. Without delay, move out."


    "Understood!"


    They all replied in unison.


    Huang Furo''s figure flickered as she chased after Shen Qing''s silhouette. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although the others still had doubts in their hearts, seeing Shen Qing so confident, they hesitated but then followed under Huang Furo''s orders.


    ...


    Outside Yongzhou City.


    The wind and snow subsided gradually, and silence reigned.


    The world was a vast expanse of white, with nothing in sight except for the snow-covered ground and mountains, seemingly untouched by dust.


    Deep in the scenery, a seemingly ordinary forest hid a wooden house.


    Inside, the fireplace was blazing bright, and a slightly stout man sat cross-legged on the ground, leisurely sipping tea with a contented expression.


    This man was none other than Zheng Yuanqiu, who had escaped from Yongzhou City ahead of time.


    When Xu Changle had failed to report back for a long time, he acutely sensed a whiff of danger.


    Without any hesitation, he quickly returned to pack his valuables and, without alarming anyone, quietly left the city and came to this place.


    This small house was one of several bases he had prepared outside Yongzhou City.


    Though not large, it was equipped with all necessary living tools, enough to sustain him for a month or two.


    Judging by the information that had been returned from the True Master earlier, it seemed that Yongzhou would have significant Spirit Mechanism activity in the coming days.


    This was a rare opportunity for him.


    Although his identity was now exposed, he still had many cards hidden in the city, providing a chance to seize such an opportunity.


    The only loss was his identity as Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department, unable to live as freely as before.


    Thinking of this, Zheng Yuanqiu''s eyes turned fierce, and anger welled up in him.


    "It''s all Shen Qing''s fault. If it weren''t for him, how would I have ended up like this?"


    "Since you showed no mercy, don''t blame me for being ruthless."


    "I''m curious to see your expression when you watch your loved ones die one by one in front of you."


    Zheng Yuanqiu tightened his right fist, the knuckles turning pale from the force.


    Just then, there came a subtle yet strange sound of something breaking through the air outside the house.


    With a crack.


    It sounded like something had hit the door.


    Zheng Yuanqiu squinted suspiciously, sensing for any abnormalities, but found nothing amiss outside.


    He placed his teacup gently on the table, stood up, walked to the door, and cautiously opened a narrow crack.


    Peering through the gap, he saw nothing outside.


    Strange.


    Did I hear wrong?


    Just as Zheng Yuanqiu was about to close the door, his eyes inadvertently swept over the ground by the entrance, spotting an inexplicable yellow talisman.


    The talisman sparkled with radiant colors.


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s head suddenly snapped up, a flicker of surprise and alertness on his face.


    His eyes widened with determination, and he abruptly threw open the wooden door, with no hesitation, preparing to dash into the forest like an arrow released from a bowstring.


    But just as he turned, an unparalleled sharpness pierced the sky, tearing the air with a deafening roar and endless wind and snow, aiming directly at his back.


    Zheng Yuanqiu felt an overwhelming aura of destruction, blaring alarms in his mind.


    Spiritual Power within him surged instantly, forcing his body to twist in the air at an inconceivable angle, turning around.


    Then, gathering brilliant light in his palm, he unleashed it with a thunderous blow, directly confronting the incoming arrow head-on.


    "Boom!"


    A deafening explosion erupted, the arrow shattered in the air, scattering into bits of cold brilliance, stirring a circle of visible ripples in the snow.


    Riding the momentum, Zheng Yuanqiu''s figure soared higher, spotting a figure in the distance holding a bow, his complexion horrified.


    "So it''s you, brat!!!"


    ```

 Chapter 238 - 64: Driven into a Corner

    Zheng Yuanqiu''s eyes widened in disbelief when he saw Huangfu Rou and the others behind Shen Qing, an indescribable panic welling up in his heart.


    He was sure he had been cautious enough, leaving no traces behind, so why had he still been found?


    Zheng Yuanqiu couldn''t figure it out no matter how much he thought.


    But now was clearly not the time to ponder this.


    Shen Qing and Huangfu Rou had discovered his trail, and if they captured him, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    To pry open the secrets in his mouth, they would only make his life a living hell.


    He had to leave.


    Upon realizing his predicament, Zheng Yuanqiu''s eyes flashed with decisiveness as he intended to use the cover of the snowy forest to slip into the vast mountains.


    At that moment, Shen Qing already saw through his intentions, raising the Cloud Splitting Bow with his right hand, his eyes shining brightly.


    He secretly operated the Heavenly Bow Technique, channeling Supreme True Qi through his hands onto the arrows.


    The surrounding air seemed drawn by this power, coalescing into a barely visible vortex of Spiritual Power, swirling around the tip of the arrows he held.


    "Swish, swish, swish!"


    Three arrows with a chilling gleam released almost simultaneously, cutting through the air and leaving indelible scars in their wake.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Thundering explosions erupted continuously from the deep mountain, blasting open walls of snow several meters high, perfectly sealing all of Zheng Yuanqiu''s escape routes.


    The powerful force carried by the arrows compelled Zheng Yuanqiu to retreat backward continuously.


    Witnessing this, Huangfu Rou couldn''t help but feel a surge of astonishment.


    She had long heard of Shen Qing''s unparalleled archery skills, but seeing it firsthand, she was still left speechless; she had never seen anyone hone their bow technique to such an extent.


    "What a ''Heavenly Net and Earthly Web'' archery!"


    Huangfu Rou, filled with admiration, quickened her pace, employing Qinggong movement technique, sprinting towards Zheng Yuanqiu''s position.


    Zheng Yuanqiu, thwarted, found Huangfu Rou and the others already closing in on him, his expression turning grim.


    He fixed his eyes on Shen Qing, showing deep-seated hatred.


    "You caught my weakness, you reported me in secret, you found me, and finally, you blocked my retreat¡­" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Damn it! It''s never-ending."


    "I originally intended to let you live a few more days, but since you''re so eager to die, I''ll oblige!"


    Seeing that he had no time to escape, a vicious glint flashed in Zheng Yuanqiu''s eyes.


    Suddenly, the Spiritual Power within him surged wildly as he turned and charged towards Shen Qing.


    With undeniable killing intent, Zheng Yuanqiu''s figure moved like lightning, instantly crossing the distance between them, unleashing a fierce palm strike aimed at Shen Qing''s vital point.


    Shen Qing''s muscles instantly tensed, activating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its peak in a split second.


    The Zheng Yuanqiu before him, after all, had the cultivation of the Dan Realm, a whole Great Realm above him, unlike those he had faced before.


    He had to be cautious.


    However, at that moment, Huangfu Rou''s figure expanded, stepping in front of Shen Qing.


    "Zheng Yuanqiu, your opponent is me!"


    Huangfu Rou shouted coldly as Spiritual Power surged from within her, launching a palm strike.


    A cool, pale blue glow radiated from her palm, landing in front of Zheng Yuanqiu.


    The powerful Spiritual Power surged like a torrent, tearing through the surrounding space, causing it to tremble slightly under the impact.


    Huangfu Rou and Zheng Yuanqiu, both strong in the Dan Realm, had equivalent cultivation levels, matching each other strike for strike.


    Both were forced back several steps under the other''s moves before stabilizing themselves.


    "Huangfu Rou, you have remarkable courage. I didn''t expect you to stand up for a lowly dispatch officer," Zheng Yuanqiu sneered at Huangfu Rou with a grim smile.


    He had long been familiar with the nature of Yongzhou''s officials, who pursued results over the lives of their subordinates.


    Someone like Huangfu Rou was indeed unusual.


    "I, Huangfu Rou, do not need a traitor like you to comment on my actions." Huangfu Rou''s response was succinct and powerful.


    With that, her brows furrowed like swords, exuding a commanding presence, surrounded by a brilliant spiritual light, akin to dawn breaking.


    Then, Huangfu Rou summoned all her Spiritual Power, and with a soft chant, a blue brilliance materialized out of thin air.


    Instantly, the space seemed torn apart by an invisible hand, and Huang Fuqi''s form gradually blurred under the astonished gazes, ultimately transforming into a radiant blue light, darting towards Zheng Yuanqiu.


    This was the secret technique passed down through the Huangfu family ¡ª the Da Xu Technique.


    It allowed one to shift form and attack unexpectedly, catching the opponent off guard.


    Faced with this sudden change, Zheng Yuanqiu''s anger surged, yet it also sparked unprecedented fighting spirit.


    His form burst forth like a lone boat braving raging seas, directly meeting the blue light.


    As they clashed, the void trembled violently, light scattering in all directions.


    Each collision between them stirred destructive waves of power.


    The snow atop the surrounding forest was instantly melted under their pressure, revealing the grayish, decayed soil beneath.


    Countless trees were destroyed in an instant.


    After exchanging dozens of moves, at a certain moment, Zheng Yuanqiu''s actions subtly lagged.


    His entire Gang Qi finally showed signs of instability under Huangfu Rou''s fierce onslaught.


    In a moment of brilliance, Huangfu Rou seized the fleeting flaw, delivering a heavy strike, akin to a falling star, utterly destroying Zheng Yuanqiu''s defense.


    All the light dispersed, revealing Zheng Yuanqiu''s figure.


    His face flushed red, unable to stop a spurt of murky blood from escaping his lips.


    "This woman is tougher than I imagined. If this drags on, who knows what reinforcements will come next. I must go!"


    Zheng Yuanqiu shouted fiercely, lunging forward, unleashing a forceful punch.


    Huangfu Rou dared not take it lightly, meeting it with both palms.


    Boom!


    A tremendous explosive force erupted between them.


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s lips curled into a grin as he used the explosion to retreat violently, turning to flee.


    The punch was merely a feint, a ploy to retreat through advance.


    Just as he thought he had successfully escaped, a blazing aura suddenly emerged.


    During their battle, Shen Qing had silently maneuvered behind them in the forest using the Hunting Scripture technique.


    Seeing through Zheng Yuanqiu''s plan, Shen Qing decisively attacked.


    The Heaven Defying Style of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill and the Mountain Embrace Seal were launched in unison, sweeping towards Zheng Yuanqiu.


    The "Heaven Defying Style" and "Mountain Embrace Seal" interlaced, combining to unleash tenfold power.


    "Boom!"


    With a deafening roar, the Mountain Embrace Seal crashed onto Zheng Yuanqiu''s back like a towering mountain.


    The defensive Gang Qi Zheng Yuanqiu painstakingly maintained shattered like thin ice beneath a scorching sun, torn apart in an instant.


    The searing True Qi flooded into his internal organs.


    "Bleh!"


    Zheng Yuanqiu spat out a mouthful of foul blood mixed with fragments of his organs, his face turning deathly pale.


    His body, like a kite with a broken string, plummeted heavily to the forest''s rotten soil, splattering a wave of mud.

 Chapter 239 - 65 The Damn Ants

    ```


    "You..."


    Zheng Yuanqiu never expected Shen Qing to seize the opportunity so well.


    This strike hit precisely at his vulnerable point, dispersing a breath of his inner vitality, worsening his injuries.


    Staring at Huang Furo and the others, who were waiting in formation, Zheng Yuanqiu realized that today''s situation was a dead end.


    The surroundings fell into a deathly silence.


    After a moment, his laughter suddenly echoed through the open mountain forest.


    "Haha, what a twist of fate!"


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s sharp gaze fixated on Shen Qing, not far away, that unremarkable officer.


    "Shen Qing, oh Shen Qing, I never imagined I, Zheng Yuanqiu, would fall to a lowly officer like you. You''ve truly hidden your talents well."


    Shen Qing''s expression remained unchanged as he righteously stated, "Every action leaves traces. You, as an official of the Zhou Dynasty, had malicious intentions and were bound to be exposed sooner or later. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."


    Upon hearing this, Zheng Yuanqiu''s mouth curled into a faint smile, which contained endless hatred and unwillingness, "Didn''t expect you to be sharp-tongued, either. I truly misjudged, I misjudged..." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He gazed at the dark sky, sighed deeply with regret, and said, "I truly regret not having the determination to destroy everything back then, hoping for luck, and failing to eliminate you, this minor figure, only to create a great disaster."


    Huang Furo snorted coldly, her voice chill, "There is no cure for regret in this world. There''s still one chance left before you. If you confess, maybe I can give you a swift end."


    "Hehe!" Zheng Yuanqiu glanced at everyone and said, "At this point, no matter what is said, it is futile. But don''t underestimate me. I, Zheng Yuanqiu, am not ordinary, even in death, I can take you with me!"


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s maniacal laughter echoed through the forest.


    His eyes turned red, and he suddenly clasped his fingers together, thrusting them into his chest without hesitation, twisting to the right as if manipulating something.


    Blood spurted from between his fingers.


    Zheng Yuanqiu, face crazed, exclaimed, "Die with me!"


    Suddenly, a strange power surged around Zheng Yuanqiu, and rune-like patterns appeared incessantly over his chest.


    Shen Qing recognized the patterns, realizing suddenly they were from the Detonator.


    "Get out of the way!" Shen Qing shouted loudly.


    Unfortunately, the entire process was completed in a matter of one or two breaths, leaving no time for anyone to react.


    Zheng Yuanqiu''s fat figure suddenly shrank, becoming incredibly thin, with only a skeleton remaining in an instant.


    In the next moment, like a long-repressed volcano finally erupting at the last moment.


    "Die!..."


    Zheng Yuanqiu roared, the light before his chest suddenly intensified, and the destructive power exploded from his body with fierce intensity.


    Boom! Boom!


    The forest seemed like a sudden sunrise, engulfing everything around.


    The corrupted soil mixed with melted snow rapidly dried out, cracked, and was peeled away layer by layer by the formidable force, turning to dust, dissipating into the void.


    The immense power crushed everything around.


    The wind howled, the earth trembled, as if an apocalyptic scene unfolded.


    It was unknown how long it took before everything gradually returned to silence.


    Where Zheng Yuanqiu once stood, a pit ten feet in radius was left, like a scar on the earth.


    "Cough, cough!"


    There was a disturbance of dry mud within the pit, soon revealing a human face, followed by two hands.


    With both hands supporting, a figure sat up from the soil.


    He shook his head, quickly regaining clarity.


    "Are you alright?"


    Shen Qing turned to see the disheveled Huang Furo.


    Her hair was in disarray, her clothes torn, and there was a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth, clearly indicating a significant injury.


    "I''m fine, I won''t die."


    Shen Qing circulated the Eight Desolate Whale Swallowing Technique, illuminating streams around the Dantian.


    The previously stored True Qi flowed out continuously, repairing the injuries in his body.


    After resting for a dozen breaths, Shen Qing stood up from the soil, silently observing the chaotic scene around.


    It was unexpected how formidable Zheng Yuanqiu''s final "destroy everything" card was.


    In this unexpected disaster, only he and Huang Furo, with their exceptional wit and profound cultivation, barely found a sliver of life at the explosion''s edge. The others were not so fortunate; even their remains were never found.


    Shen Qing looked at the barren scene before him, feeling a sense of dread.


    Fortunately, years of easy living had dulled Zheng Yuanqiu''s resolve. Otherwise, such a deadly attack on Yongzhou City would have unimaginable consequences.


    A single misstep could have disastrous consequences for those around him.


    "What should we do now?" Shen Qing, in tattered clothing, asked Huang Furo after calming his breath.


    Huang Furo said, "Wait for Lord Commander and the others to arrive, let''s discuss... "


    Suddenly, her words were cut short, and the sudden ground tremor changed her expression dramatically.


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo quickly reacted, leaping out of the pit, and looked toward the source of the tremor.


    Boom! Boom!


    In front of them, a mountain peak collapsed, revealing a bottomless cavern.


    From the cavern, two massive, lantern-like objects swayed, glowing with red light.


    At first glance, the lanterns were as large as a person, appearing slender.


    Even a brief glance sent chills through their bodies.


    "What are those things?"


    "I don''t know."


    As they speculated wildly, a gigantic black snakehead emerged from the dust.


    They realized instantly that those two lanterns were the giant eyes of a massive snake.


    Under their gaze, a snake as thick as a vat and as huge as a mountain revealed its true form.


    The snake''s pink forked tongue flickered in the air, carrying a strong, stinking odor in the wind.


    "It''s a demon! Retreat quickly!" Shen Qing shouted decisively.


    "So you were the ones causing the commotion earlier." The big snake spoke in a human voice, "Daring to disturb my slumber, you ants shall face punishment!"


    The big snake demon''s voice was as cold as it was authoritative, filled with an undeniable force.


    Awakened from its hibernation, the demon snake was utterly furious.


    The big snake demon angrily swung its massive tail, aiming its destructive force at Shen Qing and Huang Furo.


    Wherever it passed, whether mountains or forests, everything was leveled.


    Neither Shen Qing nor Huang Furo had ever witnessed such terrifying power, and they dared not resist, turning to flee madly.


    However, the speed of the giant tail surpassed all expectations.


    In the blink of an eye, the giant tail had already caught up with them.


    Despite their best efforts, they could not avoid being swept up by that terrifying power.


    Huang Furo and Shen Qing''s vision went dark, feeling as if the bones in their bodies were being shattered by that force.


    In a daze, they lost control of their bodies, swept into the cavern by the irresistible force.


    ```

 Chapter 240 - 66 Demons Lair

    """


    The sky seemed to be stained with ink, leaving only darkness.


    The vast forest had been plowed flat, with pristine snowflakes intertwining with black rubble and mud, creating a striking black and white contrast.


    In between this world, the enormous body of a giant python slowly writhed, its lower half coiled together, raising its massive head high.


    Then, a jaw-dropping scene unfolded.


    A dark light burst from the Snake Demon, enveloping its entire body.


    In the blink of an eye, the dark light gradually shrank, and the enormous Snake Demon transformed into a handsome man dressed in a black robe.


    He stood tall, his eyes as deep as abysses, pupils vertically slit, gleaming with a soul-stirring light,


    an indescribable aura of majesty permeated the air.


    "Hmph, how annoying, being disturbed by mere ants," the black-robed man''s voice was deep and magnetic. He gently flicked his long, slender tongue, expressing his extreme dissatisfaction.


    "Since the hibernation is broken, and I can''t fall asleep for the moment, with idle time on my hands, I might as well enjoy hunting some blood food."


    A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of the black-robed man''s eyes, revealing a longing for prey, as he thought joyfully, "This will also help improve my cultivation, and increase my chances of seizing future opportunities."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the black-robed man pointed his toes lightly, instantly transforming into a wisp of dark light, slicing through the sky, his figure disappearing beyond the horizon.


    Winters darkened faster than other seasons. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It had only just reached the Xi hour, yet the night had already descended upon Yongzhou.


    Above, the sky was starless and moonless, everything was dead silent.


    Two marks after the black-robed man''s departure, Commander Jia Zhiping led forces from the Military Department and the Guardian Martial Department, following the traces left by Huang Furo and others, and pursued all the way here.


    When they saw the scene of devastation before them, everyone was struck dumb, unable to utter a word for a long time.


    ...


    In the dark underground cave.


    After being struck by the Snake Demon''s tail, Shen Qing felt his entire body collapse like a city disassembled, in excruciating pain, unable to muster much strength.


    He only felt a sharp wind in his ears, as his body fell uncontrollably downwards.


    Just when he thought he was about to be smashed into pieces, a sliver of fortune befell upon him.


    The bottom of the cave wasn''t as unfathomable as he imagined, nor was it solid rocks, but instead, it was a Clear Water Pool.


    With two muffled splashes.


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo fell into the Clear Water Pool one after the other, splashing up large amounts of water.


    Being winter, as soon as Shen Qing touched the pool water, he felt an icy chill seeping in.


    Strangely enough, even though he was at the Yu Luo Realm, with his Qi-blood vast as the sea, he couldn''t ward off the cold in the slightest, causing him to shiver involuntarily, instantly waking him up.


    For martial masters with True Qi and Spiritual Power within, holding their breath underwater was very easy, capable of lasting several marks of time at once.


    Dan Realm people, once underwater, were no different from fish, able to temporarily substitute breathing with surrounding Spiritual Power, capable of living underwater for even a month without issue.


    Shen Qing gathered all his focus to avoid panic, then used the natural buoyancy of the water to suspend himself in the pool, allowing his broken bones to relax.


    He held his breath, circulated his True Qi to stimulate the Whale Swallowing Technique, refining the Spirit Essence around him, to heal his injuries.


    Unaware whether it was the peculiarity of the pool water or some other reason,


    Shen Qing only felt that the concentration of Spiritual Energy in the pool was significantly higher than outside.


    After about half a mark, Shen Qing finally regained some strength and slowly opened his eyes.


    The pool water was unfathomably deep and pitch black, invisible beyond his fingers.


    Shen Qing gradually sensed the pool''s cold penetrating to his bones, actually eroding his True Qi.


    He dared not linger, instinctively swimming upwards.


    With a loud splash.


    He emerged from the water, taking deep breaths, and after calming his breath slightly, opened his heavy eyelids. Upon seeing the scene before him, he paused in disbelief.


    Shen Qing discovered he was in a confined and damp space, surrounded on three sides by rough rock walls, with the high cavern ceiling seemingly within reach.


    However, the only side without a rock wall was a flat cave space stretching far away, and sloping, the space gradually becoming extremely spacious.


    Amazingly, the seemingly ordinary cave ahead hung with peculiar stalactites, emitting a soft, cold light.


    The light was very faint, yet just enough to dispel the cave''s darkness, illuminating the entire space rather brightly.


    Shen Qing focused his eyes and saw a familiar figure on the cave''s shore ahead, causing him to pause slightly.


    At some point, Huang Furo had already swum out ahead of him.


    At this moment, she was entirely soaked, with her colorful embroidered robe clinging tightly to her graceful figure, outlining curves hard to avert one''s eyes from.


    Most likely also significantly injured, Huang Furo was sitting on a dry rock, her legs crossed, hands gently folded over her Dantian, eyes closed, focusing on regulating her breath.


    Her breathing was long and even, the fabric on her trembling chest rising and falling with her breaths.


    Shen Qing didn''t think much further, enduring the excruciating pain of his fractured bones, swimming forward.


    A subtle and sudden sound broke the surrounding silence, instantly putting Huang Furo on high alert.


    She suddenly opened her eyes, a gleam of vigilance and wariness in her eyes, hands instinctively formed in a defensive posture.


    The abrupt movement instantly aggravated her injuries, pain flooding her like a tide, draining her face of color, turning it paper white.


    "Who''s there..."


    Her voice was deep and tense. No sooner had she spoken than she saw a familiar figure swimming rapidly towards her.


    As that figure became clearer, her sudden tension and defensive stance dissipated instantly.


    Shen Qing swam near Huang Furo, not far away, causing a splash as he laboriously climbed from the pool into the cave.


    He sat on a rock beside Huang Furo without thinking, his garments moving with the motion, scattering water droplets.


    Shen Qing glanced at Huang Furo, and their gazes met in the air.


    Huang Furo''s wet hair clung to her scalp and cheeks, a few loose strands lightly hanging on her forehead, droplets sliding slowly down the tips, or dripping onto her fair neck, adding a touch of allure to her.


    "Lord Huangfu, it''s I." Shen Qing quickly diverted his gaze, surveying the surroundings as he asked, "My lord, do you know where we are?"


    "I''m not entirely sure, but this place is pungent and damp, I think it should be the Snake Demon''s lair," Huang Furo ventured her guess.


    "So, this should be the giant demon''s dwelling?"


    "More or less."


    Shen Qing inquired, "Lord Huangfu, do you know why we ended up here, and is there a way out? I remember we fell into a deep pool, why did we end up here after surfacing?"


    Huang Furo replied, "I observed when I arrived, the pool ahead connects with an Underground River, we were swept here by chance. As for a way out, let me recover first and then we''ll discuss it."


    """

 Chapter 241 - 67 Big Snake Shedding

    ```


    With those words, both of them in the cave fell silent instantly.


    In each of their minds, they couldn''t help but recall the terrifying presence of that shadow, revealing expressions of lingering fear.


    "And you? How are your injuries?" Huang Furo asked.


    Shen Qing heard this and felt helpless in his heart.


    Despite his True Qi exceeding that of others, Zheng Yuanqiu''s cultivation of the Dan Realm, combined with his terrifying final attack, had wearied him. After constant torment, all of his True Qi was nearly exhausted.


    When finally facing the Big Snake Demon, he relied almost solely on his physical body to hold on.


    Being able to survive relied heavily on his solid foundation.


    "All my True Qi is depleted, and my injuries are quite severe..." Shen Qing replied with a hint of a bitter smile. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Huang Furo was not surprised by this result.


    From her observations, Shen Qing''s entire body showed no signs of True Liquid condensation, indicating his cultivation was at the early Yu Luo Realm.


    As for the Big Snake Demon today, its cultivation was feared to press close to the Innate Realm. She struggled against it herself and nearly perished, not to mention the ordeal with Zheng Yuanqiu before.


    Shen Qing''s ability to withstand everything and stay alive had already surprised her greatly.


    "Lord Huangfu, how are your injuries?"


    Huang Furo shook her head and said, "I''ve broken ten ribs, and my meridians were damaged by the Snake Demon''s immense force. Without three to five days of rest, it''d be tough to recover."


    "Looking at it that way, we might be stuck here for a while," Shen Qing said with a self-deprecating laugh.


    "Not necessarily," Huang Furo encouraged him. "I left a mark when I came, and the Lord Commander should make his way over. If we''re lucky, they might find us earlier, and we can escape this trap."


    "Although the hope isn''t great, it''s not non-existent. Besides, even if they don''t find us, once we''re healed, breaking free won''t be a problem for us."


    In a desperate situation, you can lose everything, except hope.


    Huang Furo said earnestly, "So the urgent matter now is to heal our injuries quickly."


    Shen Qing nodded and replied, "Understood."


    After a brief exchange, they silently agreed not to speak further.


    They each found a place away from each other and began to silently regulate their breathing, repairing the injuries within their bodies.


    Time passed gradually.


    Sitting cross-legged on a stone platform alone, Shen Qing slowly activated the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique and discreetly took out a Wish Power Pearl to refine it.


    Suddenly, Shen Qing felt as though a giant whale had awoken inside him.


    Upon awakening, this giant whale opened its boundless mouth and greedily devoured every inch of Spiritual Power it could touch around him.


    Not only that, the Wish Power Pearl and the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique resonated together, seemingly drawing the purest Spiritual Energy of this world into his body.


    With the infusion of this power, whirlpools of delicate Spiritual Energy began to envelop Shen Qing, spinning gracefully as they refined and purified the surrounding thin spiritual energies, gently permeating into his damaged meridians and flesh, turning into pure True Qi.


    After a while, Shen Qing felt as if his entire body was soaking in a warm spring, each breath allowing him to absorb unprecedented Spiritual Power.


    The once exhausted True Qi within him began to slowly recover and even gradually exceeded previous levels, growing thick and liquid-like, continuously flowing through his body.


    Ultimately, the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique was truly profound.


    The powerful speed at which it refined nature''s spiritual energy made Shen Qing quickly rejuvenate.


    The injuries to his flesh and blood began to heal at a pace visible to the naked eye, and his broken bones started to regenerate.


    It was unclear how long had passed before Shen Qing slowly opened his eyes.


    When he opened them, he suddenly discovered that his injuries had mostly healed, and even his face had regained its blood color, becoming radiant again.


    While his injuries had not yet fully healed, they were far better than before.


    Shen Qing noticed his cold clothing, channeling the abundant True Qi within him to the surface of his body.


    In the next moment, a scorching aura emanated from his body.


    Instantly, the soaked clothes began to emit wisps of vapor, akin to the light mist drifting over a lake in the early morning.


    Before long, the clothes were dry again.


    "That''s much better."


    Shen Qing looked up and saw that not far in front of him, Huang Furo was similarly cultivating with a Wish Power Pearl, her entire body enveloped in a circle of blue light.


    Yet Huang Furo''s injury seemed to recover slower than his, as she still had her brows tightly knit.


    Shen Qing chose not to disturb her. He stood up and glanced toward the depths of the cave, feeling a sudden curiosity.


    He narrowed his eyes and said, "Eagle Eye!"


    Suddenly, countless scenes from the cave appeared in his mind, forming an three-dimensional image.


    The once vast cave appeared empty, with a huge shadow lurking in the depths, devoid of any signs of life.


    Shen Qing''s heart sank. Being unable to escape now, he needed to understand what lay inside to truly comprehend his predicament, and potentially make new discoveries.


    He took a deep breath and turned to walk into the cave, intending to investigate further.


    Initially, the narrow passage could barely allow six or seven people to walk side by side, but gradually, the space began to expand in a fantastic manner, vast and deep, naturally making one feel insignificant.


    Above, stalactites radiating gentle light suddenly became sparse, some even crudely severed, leaving jagged edges, indicating a mysterious event had occurred here.


    With the loss of the stalactites, light became increasingly scarce amidst the boundless darkness.


    Shen Qing had to tread even more cautiously.


    At that moment, he paused, seemingly drawn by an invisible force. His gaze pierced through the heavy darkness ahead, locking onto a daunting scene.


    A field of skeletal remains lay before him, the bones varying in size.


    Upon the bones rested an enormous snake skin, silently settled atop them.


    Its grand dimensions made it imposing, even when compared to Shen Qing''s not-so-small stature.


    The snake skin''s surface was covered with fine scales, which under the faint light, appeared to shimmer with a subtle glow.


    Shen Qing held his breath involuntarily, a sense of unspeakable awe surging in his heart.


    There was no doubt about it, this was the Big Snake Demon''s shedding!


    And not just one, but layers of shed skins, totaling two or three.


    This was likely not the snake''s lair, but a site dedicated to its molting.


    Shen Qing approached slowly and lightly touched the cold snake skin. The tactile sensation confirmed it was indeed the Big Snake''s shedding.


    It was widely known that snake shed could dispel wind and fright, detoxify and reduce swelling, acting as a medicinal material.


    In this world, the more rare the snake, the higher its value as a medicinal guide.


    The Great Demon''s snake skin, being this enormous, had inestimable value.


    Especially such a powerful demon, its snake skin...


    Shen Qing''s heart suddenly skipped a beat.


    ```

 Chapter 242 - 68 Three-Legged Furnace

    No doubt, the snake skins before his eyes were an invaluable treasure.


    However, when Shen Qing thought about his current predicament, it was as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, instantly dousing the fire that had just flared up.


    What use were so many snake skins?


    They couldn''t solve his problems, nor could they fill his stomach.


    Even if they wanted to exchange them for wealth, it would have to wait until they restored their cultivation and could escape from here.


    If they couldn''t escape, then no matter how many snake skins were before them, they would be nothing but worthless dead skin.


    With a sigh in his heart, Shen Qing continued to explore further inside.


    He placed his hands on the cold stone walls, feeling around but finding not a single crevice, leaving him extremely disappointed.


    "Is there really no other way out besides that green pond?"


    Shen Qing mused to himself.


    He carefully proceeded along the winding stone wall, his palms gently gliding over the icy surface.


    Suddenly, his steps halted.


    A strange sensation came from beneath his feet, as if he had stepped on something round and bulging.


    A faint glimmer of stalactite light happened to fall nearby.


    Using this dim light, Shen Qing slowly lowered his head and spotted a hint of metallic luster amid the scattered bones.


    Among the scattered remains, a small Ancient Cauldron, the size of two palms, was partially buried.


    He let out a slight exclamation and squatted down slowly, nudging it for a closer look.


    The cauldron had two ears and three legs, bearing an ancient and solemn form.


    Its surface was dull, covered in green rust, and intricate patterns were carved on the body.


    It resembled intertwining cloud motifs and racing mythical creatures.


    Shen Qing hesitated for a moment, then carefully reached out to touch the small cauldron.


    The moment Shen Qing''s fingers lightly touched the cauldron''s body, he felt an indescribable warmth from it.


    This warmth did not come from the outside, but emanated from within the cauldron.


    In disbelief, Shen Qing realized that this Ancient Cauldron was no ordinary artifact, perhaps harboring some incredible power, but having limited knowledge, he could not grasp its mysteries at the moment.


    He took a deep breath, trying to use True Qi to sense the world inside the cauldron, only to find his True Qi being blocked by an invisible force, unable to penetrate at all.


    After researching for a while without any leads,


    Shen Qing was not in a hurry and quietly pocketed the small cauldron before continuing to explore along the stone wall.


    Finding no other exit, Shen Qing did not linger and turned around to return to his original meditation spot.


    By the flat area beside the pond,


    Huang Furo gently parted her red lips, closed her eyes, and concentrated, as if surrounded by a gentle but vast Spiritual Power.


    As her thoughts flowed, the pure, unmatched Spiritual Power surged through her meridians, transforming into delicate, silky warm streams that gently traversed every inch of her skin.


    A faint mist gradually permeated the air.


    It was the water stains on her damp clothes rising and condensing under the effect of the Spiritual Power, then fading away into the void.


    As her garments lightly fluttered, the wet clothes clinging to her body seemed to be gently smoothed by an invisible hand, restoring Huang Furo''s attire to its original state.


    Huang Furo slowly opened her eyes, inadvertently meeting Shen Qing''s gaze, feeling waves of astonishment.


    She hadn''t expected Shen Qing to recover faster than herself.


    This little dispatch officer before her seemed to be enveloped in a mist, delicate as silk, appearing and disappearing, making him increasingly inscrutable to her.


    Seeing Huang Furo''s significant recovery, Shen Qing stepped forward and asked, "Sir, how do you feel now?"


    "Some strength is restored, a bit better," Huang Furo deflected the topic and asked, "I saw you wandering around earlier, did you find anything?"


    "This seems to be the snake demon''s shedding place; I saw many snake skins inside," Shen Qing truthfully said, choosing not to hide, "In addition, I also discovered this cauldron."


    "A cauldron?"


    Shen Qing took out the three-legged furnace from his arms and placed it between them.


    In Shen Qing''s view, this cave wasn''t that large, and since they would be spending several more days together, many things couldn''t be hidden well.


    Being open and honest rather than being guarded and defensive might yield better results.


    Perhaps given Huang Furo''s background and experience, she might recognize the origins of this small cauldron.


    Huang Furo took the small cauldron, glanced at it a few times, and then returned it.


    She noticed it was merely an ancient-style burial ritual cauldron, ordinary, without any peculiar features.


    "Sir, do you recognize the origin of this cauldron?" Shen Qing asked when he saw Huang Furo''s response.


    "It is just a common burial item, nothing extraordinary."


    A common burial item?


    "Sir, did you not feel any warmth when touching this cauldron?"


    "No, it felt like cold bronze," Huang Furo shook her head and replied.


    Shen Qing looked astonished.


    Now, when he touched the cauldron, it was warm to the touch, radiating layers of heat, leaving no room for mistake.


    Why did Huang Furo not detect it?


    He was puzzled.


    At that moment, Huang Furo interrupted and asked, "Besides the snake skins and this cauldron, did you find any other exits while checking inside?"


    Shen Qing returned to himself and pointed helplessly at the green pond before them, saying, "The cave''s end is a stone wall, a dead-end. If we want to get out, we still have to find a way through this pond."


    Huang Furo paused after hearing this, then nodded, saying, "It seems we still have to stay here for a few more days and talk about other things once we''ve recovered some cultivation."


    Shen Qing let out a long sigh and said, "Quite so."


    Huang Furo scanned Shen Qing up and down, asking, "Shen Chasi, is your family by any chance a Han Sect?"


    A Han Sect referred to a fallen ancestral clan with some legacy.


    Even when such clans fell, they often had some remnants of legacy.


    In her impression, there were no prominent Shen families in Yongzhou or the surrounding areas.


    Shen Qing''s quick recovery suggested he might be from a Han Sect, possessing some family inheritance.


    Unaware of Huang Furo''s thoughts, Shen Qing flatly denied it, "To my lord, before coming to Yongzhou, I lived at the foot of Shicheng Mountain in Taiping County, and my family has been hunters for generations, nothing like a so-called Han Sect."


    A hunter?!


    Huang Furo''s eyes flashed with extreme surprise.


    She guessed that this person likely relied on his own abilities, building up little by little, but never thought he was just a small hunter initially.


    However, with this new understanding, her doubts deepened. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since this boy was a hunter, why did he recover so quickly, even matching her pace, or perhaps even quicker?

 Chapter 243 - 69: Great Void Shifting Technique

    ```


    Huang Furo was not someone without experience.


    In her heart, she knew very well that her cultivation could be considered among the top of her peers in the entire Yongzhou, one of the best.


    When she was in her mother''s womb, her mother had already started taking various precious medicines to temper her muscles and bones.


    Even now, it had never stopped.


    After she was born, she received the guidance of various renowned martial masters, which was why her cultivation progressed rapidly and her physical body was strong enough.


    With all this, she wasn''t swept to death by that Snake Demon''s tail, and later, she had the capacity to recover from her injuries.


    And Shen Qing, despite his background, managed to reach such a level, how could she not be shocked?


    In her view, even if Shen Qing didn''t die, he should have been lying here for at least ten days to half a month.


    She was even prepared to help this "burden" leave, in case his injuries hadn''t recovered.


    Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, his recovery was better than hers, which struck a blow to her self-esteem.


    It was as if she had cultivated in vain for twenty-one years.


    "Sir, why are you asking this?" Shen Qing curiously asked.


    Huang Furo said casually, "Oh, nothing, just asking."


    Shen Qing was confused but didn''t ask further.


    He bowed and went to one side, and continued to bury himself in studying the small three-legged furnace in his hand.


    Huang Furo said this was just an ordinary burial artifact, but Shen Qing clearly disagreed, maintaining his own thoughts.


    He was seen sitting cross-legged under the glowing stalagmite, holding the furnace with both hands, his eyes sparkling.


    A warm sensation continually came from the furnace as if it were still sitting on fire, burning.


    An ordinary burial artifact wouldn''t have such wonder.


    Shen Qing''s mind stirred slightly, activating the skill "sharp eyesight."


    Instantly, beams of light flashed through his eyes.


    In his view, the details of the three-legged furnace were magnified, with even the smallest details appearing before him.


    On the body of the furnace, amid the cloud patterns, were carvings of birds and beasts, lifelike in their depiction.


    Each one had its wings slightly spread, hooves lifted, seemingly poised to break through the sky at any moment.


    Gradually, Shen Qing could vaguely decipher some bewildering inscriptions from these engraved patterns.


    These engraved characters were not the current script used today and, judging by their rhythms, should belong to the Ancient Era.


    Counting them in his mind, there were eighteen characters inside the furnace and thirty-six outside.


    Each character was ancient and profound, like the trajectory of stars, yet naturally formed.


    Before he knew it, Shen Qing was deeply attracted by these peculiar symbols.


    With his gaze fixed, these characters seemed to come alive, dancing in his eyes, making him suddenly feel a sense of ancient and enduring aura.


    The cave was quiet.


    The only sound Shen Qing heard was the beating of his own heart. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gradually, the rhythm of the ancient characters on the three-legged small furnace synchronized with his heartbeat.


    In that instant, Shen Qing felt as though he had established a subtle connection with the furnace.


    Shen Qing''s divine sense trembled.


    In his vision, a drop of ink fell from the void, forming a line of calligraphic text.


    "Skill: Great Void Shifting Skill (Beginner)"


    "Progress: 1/100 points"


    "Status: Cannot be improved"


    "Note: A family secret skill circulating during the Ancient Times. Nowadays, with the collapse of the great path, cultivation is extremely difficult. The higher one attains, the slower the progress becomes, but the more you sow, the more you reap. When this Martial Art is cultivated to the Perfect Realm, it can reverse the river of time, possessing the power to shatter the void with martial might."


    Upon seeing the note at the bottom, Shen Qing was suddenly stupefied.


    Reverse the river of time, is it really that powerful?


    Such Martial Arts Skills suddenly broke through his realm of understanding.


    He had never thought that Martial Arts Skills could reach such a level.


    Shen Qing''s breathing became somewhat rapid, his eyes widened.


    As if realizing something, he quickly glanced at Huang Furo, noticing she wasn''t paying him any attention.


    Shen Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    To her, this small three-legged furnace wasn''t anything unusual; he was overthinking it.


    Subduing his excitement, Shen Qing carefully observed the inscriptions on the three-legged small furnace.


    Since there was a response on the panel, and given he had nothing else to do, this opportunity couldn''t be missed to enhance his skill cultivation.


    In the mountain, there was no Sixty Years, unaware of the passing of time.


    In the dim cave, Shen Qing completely lost his sense of time.


    After who knew how long of cultivation, the points for the Great Void Shifting Skill finally reached 3 points.


    Shen Qing was at a loss for words.


    This divine skill from the Ancient Era was indeed harder to cultivate than he had anticipated.


    "I''ve seen you hold that furnace for three days. It''s just a burial artifact with Ancient Era patterns, even if you stare at it to death, you won''t understand anything,"


    Huang Furo''s voice suddenly emerged in the cave, interrupting Shen Qing''s thoughts.


    He lifted his eyes, looking at Huang Furo somewhat surprised and said, "How do you know it''s been three days?"


    Having spent these days together, the two had gradually become familiar, and unknowingly, Shen Qing dropped the formalities, which didn''t seem improper to Huang Furo.


    "I counted the heartbeat to calculate it."


    "..." Shen Qing was slightly stunned.


    Calculating time by heartbeat, he hadn''t thought of that.


    Shen Qing roughly calculated and said, "If it''s been three days, then it''s already the start of spring."


    "Yeah, how are you now? You''ve probably almost recovered, right?" Huang Furo asked.


    Shen Qing nodded, "Basically fine."


    "Then it''s about time we dive through the pond to leave," Huang Furo said seriously. "Although we martial masters have much better physical bodies than ordinary people, we''re still far from reaching the stage where we don''t need food. Three to five days without eating or drinking is fine, but if it drags on any longer, it won''t be good, so it''s better to leave early."


    Shen Qing deeply agreed.


    This pond in front, who knew why, had nothing in it.


    Even if they wanted to find some fish to eat, it wasn''t possible.


    If they stayed any longer, indeed, it might cause a big problem.


    Shen Qing asked, "Shall we leave now?"


    "If you''re ready, let''s go."


    Shen Qing thought of something and said, "Wait a moment; I need to pack some things."


    After speaking, Shen Qing ran into the depths of the cave.


    Huang Furo curiously followed to take a look.


    She saw Shen Qing rolling up a few snake skins inside and stuffing them into his chest.


    Because the snake skins were enormous, even when rolled up, they took up a lot of space.


    After rolling up just two snake skins, Shen Qing couldn''t fit any more in, so he had no choice but to give up.


    Watching this, Huang Furo laughed.


    Shen Qing, with his bulging chest, walked up to Huang Furo and said, "Alright. Let''s go."


    Huang Furo nodded, "Okay."


    The two walked side by side to the edge of the green pond.


    Huang Furo suddenly said, "I remember when I came, this water was unfathomably deep, coupled with an underground river. Just relying on some Water Techniques might not be enough. I''ll teach you some of our Huangfu family''s martial techniques so that when you get in the water, you can use them and follow me."


    Seeing Huang Furo so thoughtful, Shen Qing couldn''t help but be a bit surprised.


    He didn''t think much and nodded.


    "Next, I''ll speak and you remember."


    ```

 Chapter 244 - 70: Astonishing Aptitude, Escape from Trouble!

    ```


    "Our Huangfu family''s ultimate technique is called the Da Xu Technique, a high-grade martial art emphasizing movement technique. While I cannot teach you the deeper aspects of this knowledge, I can teach you some of the application techniques involved," Huang Furo said lightly, her tone carrying an undeniable gravity.


    Shen Qing, upon hearing this, showed a slight surprise and gratitude in his eyes.


    The Ji family of Dazhou and the various prestigious families have always been stingy with martial arts, and someone as generous as Huang Furo is indeed rare.


    Such an opportunity for martial arts guidance was hard to come by.


    Shen Qing bowed respectfully and sincerely said, "I am extremely grateful for your generosity, Chief Officer Huangfu."


    Huang Furo had a good impression of Shen Qing. She smiled slightly, thought nothing of it, and continued, "What I will teach you is the essence of applying force, hidden within eight key words. These words are ''Mind leads Qi, and strength arises from the heart.''"


    "These words sound simple, but they hold the highest realm in movement martial arts. By using the intention to lead the entire body and then following the movement of the heart, there is no place you cannot reach. Until strength emanates from the heart, born from the heart, you can release and retract freely, with the body moving as the mind directs."


    As she spoke, she began to demonstrate slowly, her figure moving subtly.


    A blue light appeared around her, merging with the surrounding void.


    Every move was executed perfectly.


    Shen Qing watched her every movement intently, pondering deeply in his heart.


    Thanks to the "Never Forget" skill, every move and style of Huang Furo was almost imprinted in his mind, easily recallable with a simple memory.


    After Huang Furo finished her demonstration.


    Shen Qing closed his eyes again, recalling Huang Furo''s detailed explanation.


    From breath control to True Qi perception, from movement adjustments to power usage, every detail replayed clearly and thoroughly in his mind.


    The "Academic Pursuit" skill was activated.


    Soon, Shen Qing had comprehended the key points.


    Until it was internalized in the heart, externalized in action.


    [Skill: Da Xu Technique (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 3/100 Points]


    [Status: Unable to Upgrade]


    [Note: There is no difficulty in the world that cannot be overcome by effort. You have gained initial insight into the Da Xu Technique through practicing some of its techniques. Further complete martial arts will accelerate the cultivation progress of this art.]


    "..."


    Shen Qing stared at the martial arts panel appearing in his vision, bewildered.


    Was this possible?


    He gave Huang Furo a peculiar look.


    The other party probably did not expect that her casual teaching would let an outsider like him gain initial insight into her family''s martial arts.


    It wasn''t over yet.


    Just as Shen Qing was at a loss for words, a line of red-ink text appeared, making his heart skip a beat.


    Red Ink Reminder: [Detected similar martial art "Great Void Shifting Technique," would you like to refine and extract points from this martial art to fill the new martial art?]


    "This..."


    Shen Qing instantly realized that the Great Void Shifting Technique and Da Xu Technique might have a special connection.


    He was vexed by the difficulty of practicing the "Great Void Shifting Technique," and the next moment, the similar martial art was detected.


    It really was a case of drowsiness leading to a pillow, coming just at the right time!


    Based on his past experiences, there was no difference in points between similar martial arts.


    This meant he could reverse refine points from the Da Xu Technique to fill the Great Void Shifting Technique.


    Observing Huang Furo, the Da Xu Technique should not be more difficult to practice than the Great Void Shifting Technique.


    This method was feasible.


    The only trouble was, obtaining the Da Xu Technique of the Huangfu family would be somewhat challenging.


    But as the note stated, there is no difficulty in the world that cannot be overcome by effort.


    With direction, solutions would eventually follow.


    Shen Qing collected his scattered thoughts and carefully pondered according to the key points taught by Huang Furo.


    As the points on the panel increased, his proficiency grew.


    Huang Furo observed all this, increasingly astonished by Shen Qing''s performance.


    The techniques she taught were not difficult, but mastering them wasn''t exactly easy either.


    Even she took a day to grasp the basics back then.


    And how long did Shen Qing take?


    Probably less than a quarter of an hour.


    She thought long and hard and concluded that there was only one possibility.


    That this subordinate of humble origin must possess a high cultivation talent with astonishing comprehension.


    Otherwise, it wouldn''t be possible to reach this level no matter how hard one tried.


    Huang Furo subconsciously placed more importance on Shen Qing, this subordinate.


    As the explanation delved deeper, an unspoken understanding grew between the two.


    After a while, Shen Qing stopped his actions, slowly exhaled a breath of impure air, "I''ve learned it."


    Huang Furo lightly said, "Are you ready?"


    Her soft voice was especially clear in the quiet air.


    Shen Qing nodded, took a deep breath, and adjusted his state.


    "Almost."


    "Alright, let''s go."


    "Okay."


    With two splashes.


    The two leapt into the water, surrounded by a piercing cold in an instant.


    The pool was not only unfathomably deep but also unusually cold, devoid of any fish, seeming strange.


    Upon entering the water, both didn''t dare to be careless, hurriedly circulating their Qi-blood throughout their bodies to stay warm, lest all their muscles froze and they lost mobility.


    Shen Qing clenched his teeth and, according to the martial arts techniques taught by Huang Furo, quickly adjusted his breathing, making his body gradually adapt to the cold environment, like a fish swimming, keeping up with Huang Furo ahead.


    In the deep pool, the light was dim.


    The two gradually felt an undercurrent surging underwater.


    Shen Qing guessed that this might be the underground river, the culprit leading them into the cavern.


    Right now, they needed to traverse the underground river upstream to find the exit.


    The pool was intensely cold, and if ordinary people were there, they might have long lost mobility, their blood even freezing.


    Fortunately, Shen Qing''s Qi-blood was vigorous, and with the Three-legged Small Furnace he carried releasing warmth, dispelling the cold surrounding him, he felt less chilly, more composed than when he first arrived.


    As the water depth increased, the light became even dimmer.


    Shen Qing could only rely on the faint glow emitted by Huang Furo to determine direction, but eventually even this light grew faint.


    At that moment, in the dimness, Shen Qing suddenly saw Huang Furo extend a hand toward him.


    Shen Qing didn''t hesitate, True Qi surged, and his legs propelled.


    Like walking in the void, he moved to Huang Furo''s side, grasping her cold, soft hand.


    The underwater world was silent, no sound of fish playing, only the bubbles from their breathing slowly rising, breaking the deathly silence.


    Huang Furo led the way, carefully recalling the direction from before as she moved forward lightly.


    At this moment, a current flowed between them.


    Holding each other, they avoided being swept away by the undercurrent.


    "Shen Qing, watch your step, the undercurrent might appear at any time," Huang Furo''s voice was transmitted clearly to Shen Qing underwater.


    Shen Qing nodded in understanding, carefully avoiding the undercurrents and whirlpools that might hide dangers.


    They didn''t know how much time had passed, but after stealthily navigating through the cold and silent waters for a quarter of an hour, they finally saw a glimmer of light ahead on the water''s surface. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without any hesitation, Shen Qing and Huang Furo leapt from the water, emerging out of the surface.


    ```

 Chapter 246 - 72: They are just remnants of the Huang Tian Sect, kill them!

    "Despicable!"


    The big man with a twisted beard was indifferent.


    He walked forward confidently, pinched Shen Xiu''s chin, and said, "You''re quite pretty too. How about this, spend a night with me, and I can let you all live."


    Shen Xiu brushed away the dirty hand of the big man with a twisted beard, her face resolute, remaining silent.


    "Hmm?"


    The big man with a twisted beard looked angry and slapped her.


    Suddenly, a shadow flashed by, and the big man looked down to see Tian Xiaohu coming from the side, holding his wrist.


    "So, are you determined to fight us to the death?" Tian Xiaohu asked solemnly, word by word.


    "Hmph, what if I am? Kill them!" the big man with a twisted beard ordered his subordinates.


    The four words were like icy blades, causing the already tense and oppressive atmosphere in the hall to shatter and fully erupt.


    The lackeys of the Hei Zhao Gang in the hall, under the order of the big man with a twisted beard, swarmed towards Xiao Zhi and the others.


    "Xiao Zhi! Protect Uncle and Aunt!" Tian Xiaohu shouted.


    At this moment, they all realized that the other side never intended to spare them.


    To survive, they had to fight to the death.


    As Tian Xiaohu''s voice fell, he moved forward like a dragon emerging from the sea.


    For the past few months, he had been cultivating the Mixed Element True Technique Shen Qing gave him.


    Through his diligent practice and the benefit of some elixirs and cultivation techniques, he had successfully stretched and become a martial master, vaguely showing signs of breaking through to the Bone Refining Realm.


    In such a situation, Tian Xiaohu hesitated not in the slightest, driving his inner qi-blood to the extreme.


    This ancient Taoist internal cultivation technique stimulated the qi-blood, surging through him vigorously, while the power of the Five Elements circulated endlessly around him.


    Facing the fierce and relentless offensive of the big man with a twisted beard, Tian Xiaohu was unafraid of death.


    Not only did he not dodge, but he also used the other''s tactics against him, either anticipating each hit or taking it head-on, then returning it in kind.


    The mystery of the Mixed Element True Technique lay in the harmony of the Five Elements, using the world as a furnace, the self as a pill, merging with the Dao to form the Mixed Element unity, simulating and countering the opponent''s attack, and dissolving all external forces.


    It was undoubtedly an excellent martial art, far superior to the Black Claw Skill of the big man with a twisted beard.


    However, the big man was at the Qi Cultivation Realm, with profound cultivation, much beyond what Tian Xiaohu could achieve.


    No matter how hard Tian Xiaohu struggled, he couldn''t change the final outcome.


    As time passed, despite his best efforts, Tian Xiaohu eventually grew tired, his once calm demeanor replaced by exhaustion and heavy breathing.


    During an attempt to imitate and counterattack, he revealed a flaw, and the big man''s heavy punch sent him staggering back. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he fell to the ground, gravely injured and unable to get up again.


    Immediately, the battle turned rapidly downhill.


    Although Xiao Zhi resisted courageously, under the big man''s and his men''s relentless assault, he too was forced to retreat, backed into a corner of the hall, with no room to fight back.


    The uncle, aunt, and others, facing the greedy and cruel gazes around them, felt despair.


    "We''re going to die..."


    Outside the small courtyard of the Shen Family, Shen Qing vaguely heard the commotion inside the house and frowned.


    "Strange, why is it so lively at home?"


    Being cautious as always, he didn''t impulsively rush in but used his Eagle Eye ability to survey the situation in the courtyard.


    When he saw Tian Xiaohu''s desperate attack being countered, sending him flying like a kite with a broken string to crash heavily on the ground, Shen Qing''s expression immediately darkened.


    He suddenly stepped forward, placing his hand on the door and pushing it open.


    Creak, bam!


    The gates swung hard against the walls, making a loud noise.


    In the courtyard, everyone turned to see Shen Qing appear beyond the threshold, stepping towards the courtyard one step at a time.


    His gaze was as sharp as a knife, emanating an aura that brooked no intrusion.


    "May I ask what business you have? Did I, Shen Qing, offend you in some way to cause this commotion?"


    Although Shen Qing''s voice was not loud, it carried undeniable authority, clearly reaching everyone''s ears and jolting them mentally.


    "Qingzi/Boss/Brother!"


    Uncle, aunt, Tian Xiaohu, and the others shouted in unison.


    They each bore their injuries, struggling to run behind Shen Qing.


    Eldest sister Shen Fang looked at Shen Qing, tears streaming down her face.


    "Qingzi, we all thought you..."


    "It''s okay, I''m back." Shen Qing wiped away the tears from the corner of Shen Fang''s eyes and patted her shoulder.


    After comforting his uncle and aunt, Shen Qing turned to the guest room, facing the uninvited guests directly.


    "Good men, you haven''t answered my question. What exactly is your purpose for coming here on this winter day?"


    With this, the Hei Zhao Gang''s previously arrogant demeanor seemed suppressed by an invisible hand, and even the big man with a twisted beard couldn''t help but be slightly startled.


    His expression turned uncertain as he asked in an unsure tone, "Are you Shen Qing?"


    "If there isn''t another Shen Qing here, then it should be me. May I know your names? Never mind, I don''t want to know the names of useless people like you, I might as well just kill you."


    "Stop pretending!"


    Most of the Hei Zhao Gang hadn''t seen Shen Qing''s true appearance and believed this person couldn''t be the Shen Chasi of the Guardian Martial Department, a demon slayer.


    One of the subordinates of the Hei Zhao Gang shouted and rushed towards Shen Qing to find out.


    "Your courage in the face of death is admirable," Shen Qing said calmly.


    Pfft!


    As the opponent rushed over, Shen Qing calmly raised his eyes and, with a grace that seemed detached from the mundane world, slowly extended two slender fingers.


    The powerful True Qi hidden within Shen Qing surged from his fingertips, transforming into a dazzling crimson ray, slicing through the air, directly targeting the opponent''s chest.


    The ray contained a scorching aura, leaving visible marks wherever it passed.


    When the intense true qi struck the opponent''s body, there was no imagined roar or struggle, only an indescribable shockwave suddenly exploded.


    Under this force, the opponent''s head shattered like fragile porcelain, instantly collapsing, blood and brains splattering everywhere.


    This scene, so sudden, so brutal, left everyone incredulous, their pupils dilating.


    The surroundings fell into a deathly silence.


    "Are you really Shen Qing? You''re not dead?"


    The big man with a twisted beard recalled Shen Qing''s exploits in the Guardian Martial Department and hurriedly pleaded, "Misunderstanding, this is a misunderstanding, we''ll leave now."


    Those who had seen Shen Qing''s power lost their fighting spirit, having no courage to continue the fight.


    "Leave? Who allowed you to leave?" Shen Qing''s lips moved, uttering the chilling words, "I see you are remnants of the Huang Tian Sect, you all deserve to die!"

 Chapter 247 - 73: Which hand did you touch with?

    Once these words were spoken, the entire venue fell silent.


    As soon as he finished speaking, an imposing aura burst forth from Shen Qing, his clothes fluttering without a breeze.


    He gently brought together two fingers, forming a sword with them.


    A crimson light gathered between the inconspicuous fingertips.


    Then, with a muffled sound, a brilliant beam of Qi pierced through the air and landed precisely on the chest of one of the Hei Zhao Gang members.


    A squelching sound followed.


    The Qi Shen Qing condensed contained intense strength and exploded as soon as it touched the henchman''s chest.


    The sound of Qi penetrating flesh, bursting, and tearing through came simultaneously.


    At the spot where the Qi fell, a gaping hole as wide as a bowl appeared on the chest of the Hei Zhao Gang member.


    The scorching energy passed through it, expanded outward along the blood hole, and burned through his internal organs in one fell swoop.


    Before the other Hei Zhao Gang members could react, another explosive sound cut through the air.


    Shen Qing, with his fingers forming a sword, unleashed red Qi beams consecutively.


    Before the many Hei Zhao Gang members could grasp what was happening, Shen Qing pierced them with a single finger blow, killing them instantly.


    Each beam of Qi that landed was accompanied by the death of a Hei Zhao Gang member.


    The strong scent of blood permeated the air.


    Those arrogant Hei Zhao Gang members, now in utter despair, sought to beg for mercy.


    However, before they could utter a word of plea, they were silenced by Shen Qing''s Qi beams, silently sent on their way.


    In no time, a deathly silence enveloped the surroundings.


    In the main hall, corpses of the Hei Zhao Gang lay scattered in disarray.


    Shen Qing stood towering, his gaze icy as he fixed his eyes on the lone big man with a twisted beard.


    A smile played on his lips as he politely said, "Well, it''s your turn."


    The big man with a twisted beard trembled like a leaf, utterly terrified.


    He stammered, "Spare me..."


    "Brother, he touched Elder Sister''s face just now," shouted Shen Xiaoshan loudly, filled with indignation.


    "I... I..." The big man with a twisted beard stuttered, his face bewildered.


    Shen Qing''s eyes narrowed as he asked, "Which hand did you use?"


    The big man''s heart trembled violently, and he instinctively shifted his gaze to his burly right hand.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing placed his hand on the hilt of his dagger, slowly drew it, and then lightly flicked his wrist.


    A cold gleam swiftly cut toward the big man''s right arm.


    Slash.


    "Ah!"


    With a scream, the big man''s right arm was severed, blood gushing out like a fountain, staining everything around it.


    A piercing scream erupted from his throat, his eyes filled with horror and... desperate hope.


    "Shen Chasi, can you spare me now?" he asked, clutching his severed wrist, inhaling sharply, and trembling.


    Shen Qing stood firm like a pine, his gaze lowered.


    In a cold voice, he said, "What do you think?"


    "If I hadn''t come in time, would you have spared the people in the courtyard?"


    "..." The big man''s face froze, barking, "You''re not keeping your word..."


    Shen Qing tightened his grip on the dagger hilt and with a decisive, clean slash, a silvery light mixed with a hint of red swept across the big man''s neck.


    Squelch!


    The big man''s eyes widened, filled with reluctance and shock.


    His head separated from his body with incredible speed, rolling to the ground with a dull thud.


    A pillar of blood sprayed from the severed neck of the big man.


    In the hall, the already thick scent of blood became even more intense, faintly carrying the taste of rust, wafting around.


    "I never promised you anything."


    Shen Qing swung his dagger, flicking the blood off the blade.


    He turned and surveyed the Shen Family members, his expression softening significantly.


    "It''s all over now."


    Elder Sister Shen Fang walked over, tears welling in her eyes. "Qingzi, what happened these days? Where have you been? They all said you died."


    "This is a long story, and I''ll explain it to you all later when there''s time."


    Uncle, Aunt, and Elder Sister were all ordinary citizens with limited insight. Some matters, if told, would only add to their worries.


    Tian Xiaohu and the others were similar in that regard.


    They still lacked sufficient strength and couldn''t contribute much, so it wasn''t advisable to disclose too much.


    Shen Qing glanced around at the bodies in the hall, curious. "Where did these people come from?"


    "They''re from the Hei Zhao Gang."


    Tian Xiaohu, dealing with various elements in the city, was somewhat familiar with the identities of these people.


    "The Hei Zhao Gang?"


    "They''re the gang overseeing Qinghe Square and have been eyeing Xinyi Square lately. They assumed you were dead and made bold moves targeting Shen''s Restaurant."


    Gang conflicts in Yongzhou City were as numerous as grains of sand.


    Sometimes, even two people claimed to form a gang, contesting with other forces.


    It was typical for an impulsive group like the Hei Zhao Gang to act in such a manner.


    Shen Qing pondered, asking, "Does the Hei Zhao Gang have any backing?"


    Generally, to gain a foothold in Yongzhou City, a gang would need some background, working under the radar for the high-ranking families.


    Otherwise, these gangs couldn''t survive in the Inner City.


    They fed on the Thirteen Lines'' leftovers, far from respectable.


    Xiao Zhi, recalling, interjected, "I vaguely remember them mentioning they are backed by the Zhou Family."


    "The Zhou Family? The leader of the Thirteen Lines, Zhou Family?" Shen Qing queried.


    "Seems like it."


    Tian Xiaohu stepped forward, asking, "Boss, what do we do next? Should we ask the Zhou Family''s steward to mediate? If you want a connection with the Zhou Family, I know a few people from the Jianghu who have some ties with them."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing laughed, "They''re gangsters, and I am an official. Have you ever seen a cat afraid of a mouse?"


    Tian Xiaohu was momentarily taken aback by these words.


    "So, you want to..."


    Shen Qing sheathed his long dagger, saying, "Naturally, we eliminate these vermin to prevent them from constantly causing trouble."


    "I am an official, so it''s only fitting to rid the populace of such threats."


    With that, Shen Qing walked toward the doorway, supporting himself with the dagger.


    Halfway there, he paused abruptly and turned back, saying, "Xiao Hu, I don''t know the Hei Zhao Gang''s hangouts; kindly lead the way." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Huh? Sure, sure." Tian Xiaohu snapped back to reality, nodded repeatedly, and clutched his chest, heading toward Shen Qing.


    "Boss, what about these bodies?"


    Reaching Shen Qing, Tian Xiaohu asked.


    Shen Qing nonchalantly replied, "I''ll visit the Military Department later to report this to Lord Huangfu and have them deal with these Huang Tian Sect remnants. They''re just riffraff, not worth sparing. Take that big man''s head!"


    Seeing how Shen Qing handled matters, Tian Xiaohu no longer questioned.


    He grabbed the big man''s head and led the way, saying, "This way."

 Chapter 248 - 74: One Step, One Person, I Want Blood to Flow Like a River Here

    During the day, the sky hung low and sullen, with heavy clouds that seemed ready to burst at any moment.


    Snowflakes fell sporadically into the old streets and alleys.


    "This is the place."


    Tian Xiaohu''s injury had not healed, and he walked with a noticeable limp.


    After winding through several alleys, he led Shen Qing to the entrance of a hall.


    Shen Qing looked around and saw a heavy black iron door partly ajar, with two dim lanterns hanging above the lintel.


    The sky had yet to darken, so the lanterns above the lintel remained unlit, quietly swaying in the wind.


    Compared to the old streets, the Hei Zhao Gang''s hall was exceptionally lively.


    Even standing outside, Shen Qing could hear the noise and commotion within.


    He pushed the door open, and the interior was brightly lit, with large red lanterns hanging high, filling the space with a sense of celebration and prosperity.


    Without hesitation, Shen Qing stepped inside.


    A stifling mix of cheap liquor and charcoal greeted him, causing him to frown unconsciously.


    Shen Qing glanced around at the scene within the Hei Zhao Hall.


    The hall wasn''t particularly spacious.


    At its center was a long wooden table polished smooth, with walls adorned with various knives and weapons¡ªfrom sharp daggers to ancient swords¡ªexuding a deadly aura.


    Members of the Hei Zhao Gang sat around the table, some speaking loudly, others whispering confidentially. Their faces bore bright smiles, making the hall incredibly noisy.


    When Shen Qing stepped inside, the clamor ceased abruptly as if a pause button had been pressed.


    Everyone''s eyes focused on Shen Qing.


    Someone broke the silence with a playful voice, "Officer, did you enter the wrong door?"


    The crowd in the hall sharpened their gazes, staring at Shen Qing intently.


    Some discreetly tightened their grips on nearby weapons.


    "Shouldn''t you be very clear about whether I entered the wrong door?"


    With that, Shen Qing took a bloodied head from Tian Xiaohu and tossed it forward, "Is it clearer now?"


    The head rolled to a stop before the members of the Hei Zhao Hall.


    The gang members were taken aback. "Old Hu Zi!"


    Shen Qing continued forward, drawing the dagger from his waist.


    He planted his feet firmly and smiled at the group, saying, "I am from the Guardian Martial Department, Fourth Division Dispatch Office, Shen Qing! Here today to slay demons and exorcise evils."


    In the dim light, Shen Qing''s black robe fluttered in the wind as he introduced himself.


    His eyes burned with determination, a gleam of unyielding resolve, as an icy chill engulfed his surroundings, making the already cold air even more frigid.


    The members of the Hei Zhao Gang, aware of their own deeds, were part of the same circle.


    Today, they planned to seize Shen''s Restaurant, assuming Shen Qing to be dead.


    Unexpectedly, Shen Qing survived!


    Their faces showed a hint of terror.


    Shen Qing refrained from any unnecessary words, lunging forward like a predatory leopard.


    In a moment''s lapse, he was among the members of the Hei Zhao Gang.


    The fight erupted instantly.


    In martial arts, speed was invincible.


    The same went for using a knife in combat.


    Killing did not involve excessive showy techniques.


    As long as you moved faster than your opponent, it meant your blade would cut into them, not theirs into you.


    A bit more strength meant you could kill an opponent with a single strike.


    Rushing into the crowd, Shen Qing wielded the dagger in both hands, executing simple swings and slashes with fluid movements, without a moment''s pause.


    Each swing was accompanied by a spray of blood.


    Soon, the walls, floor, tables, and benches were stained red, filling the Hei Zhao Hall with a heavy scent of blood.


    "You dare, I''ll fight you to the death!"


    Not all members of the Hei Zhao Hall were timid cowards.


    A burly figure leapt out, locking eyes with Shen Qing, determination and ferocity blazing within them.


    He roared like thunder, "Die!"


    Instantly, the profound Qi Cultivation Realm surged like a burst dam, transforming into an invisible tide, sweeping towards Shen Qing with destructive force, enveloping him completely.


    Faced with this sudden attack, Shen Qing remained calm, his gaze brightening.


    He lifted one hand leisurely, fingers subtly moving, gathering a powerful energy.


    "Sky Flipping Seal!"


    Shen Qing shouted lowly.


    A dazzling light erupted from his palm, forming a golden hand seal that flew forward.


    With supreme might, the Sky Flipping Seal expanded rapidly, tearing through the encircling force in the blink of an eye.


    "Boom!"


    With a deafening explosion.


    The golden Sky Flipping Seal struck the formidable Hei Zhao Gang member, erupting into a brilliant light and fierce energy waves.


    The gang member didn''t even have time to scream; he was torn apart in shock, exploding like fireworks.


    The sight stunned all the members of the Hei Zhao Gang.


    Shen Qing''s lips curled into a smile as he extended one finger, shooting a beam of light.


    Splash!


    A gang member''s head shattered, dying on the spot.


    Shen Qing advanced relentlessly, either pointing or slashing, killing one person with each step.


    "Run!"


    Hei Zhao Gang members fell under his attacks, wailing in despair.


    "Today, no one leaves. I want rivers of blood here!"


    Shen Qing spoke with indifference.


    In the previous life, a great leader once said, "Deliver a powerful punch to avoid a hundred blows."


    Only by striking fear and ruthlessness into these ruffians would they remember his ferocity and refrain from causing his family harm.


    A fearsome reputation was not given but earned through battle.


    Over time, fewer and fewer stood within the Hei Zhao Hall.


    Shen Qing''s robe was drenched in blood.


    The large hall, covered in a thick layer of blood, was a gruesome sight.


    Bearing the dagger, Shen Qing ceased the massacre, slowly approaching the main seat of the Hei Zhao Gang''s boss.


    He turned, using the dagger as a cane with both hands pressed on it, resting on the ground. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He asked the lone surviving Hei Zhao Hall member expressionlessly, "Where is your boss?"


    Up to this point, Shen Qing hadn''t found the leader among these people, suspecting the Hall Master was not present in the hall.


    "He... The fifth young master holds a banquet at Baihua Building today, and the boss went to give gifts to the Zhou Family''s fifth young master."


    A Hei Zhao Gang member replied nervously, with yellow fluid faintly seeping from his crotch.


    Shen Qing raised a brow, "One managed to slip away, a bit troublesome."


    He looked up and asked Tian Xiaohu, "I remember you once found many Jianghu Martial Artists to help me patrol. Can you find them again now?"


    "I should be able to, Boss. Are you planning to?" Tian Xiaohu asked, swallowing nervously as he looked at the corpses strewn about.


    "Have them help me find someone."

 Chapter 249 - 75: Perfect timing, let me eradicate the problem forever

    Yongzhou Inner City, Baihua Building.


    Inside the main hall, the noise was deafening, a cacophony filled the air.


    Waiters shuttled back and forth, holding menu books, busy recording orders; servants were occupied serving tea and water, welcoming guests, a scene bustling with activity.


    He Quan from the Hei Zhao Gang, accompanied by two subordinates, strode into the main hall of Baihua Building, heading straight toward a private room at the far end.


    He wore luxurious clothing, not made of brocade or silk, yet exuded an undeniable aura of significance.


    Whenever he passed by the waiters and servants, they all nodded and bowed, not daring to slacken.


    Arriving at the stairs leading to a private room, he paused and slightly bowed to an attendant dressed as a family servant.


    He cupped his hands and spoke with a respectful tone, "I am He Quan from the Hei Zhao Gang. Lately, I heard that the fifth young Master requires mountain delicacies to aid in his practice. I specially selected a Spiritual Jade Mushroom and an aged ginseng as tokens of my appreciation, hoping the fifth young Master would graciously accept."


    With that, he gave a signal with his eyes.


    The two followers behind him respectfully presented the exquisitely boxed Spiritual Jade Mushroom and aged ginseng, their actions natural.


    The servant seemed to recognize He Quan, silently accepting the two gift boxes with a slight movement of his eyes, "Wait here."


    Having said that, he turned, opened the door, and entered carefully to report.


    It wasn''t long before the servant returned.


    He spoke considerately, "The fifth young Master is aware of your gift and appreciates Boss He''s kindness, but tonight the Sun Family''s heir is hosting a banquet, leaving the fifth young Master unable to meet personally. Boss He should seek another opportunity to converse."


    Hearing this, He Quan''s mouth curled into an almost imperceptible smile; he retrieved a few heavy Copper Coins from his sleeve and lightly placed them in the servant''s hand, "Thank you, I hope for a few kind words from you in front of the fifth young Master in the future."


    Being a servant at the bottom of the Great Zhou, this particular servant was of low status.


    However, it is said to consider the owner even when reprimanding a dog; servants indeed had their ranks.


    Some servants of high-ranking families sometimes had a status not inferior to those in gangs.


    The Zhou Family''s servants were such.


    Sometimes, those in gangs had to look to them for favor and dared not underestimate these servants.


    He Quan lowered himself, very humble in posture.


    The Zhou Family servant seemed used to such scenarios; as he weighed the money bag He Quan handed over, a grin spread across his face, "Well said, well said, the fifth young Master has always valued Boss He. Knowing Boss He has sent such a valuable gift, he surely would be pleased."


    With a face full of smiles, He Quan turned to leave.


    As he prepared to leave, laughter inside the private room suddenly escalated.


    He suddenly stopped and turned to look at the dimly lit room, where shadows of young men and women seemed to be joyously conversing.


    He Quan withdrew his gaze, his smile slowly faded, as he walked out of Baihua Building.


    "People say dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes to phoenixes. Must I, He Quan, be born inferior? Someday, I will rise above them."


    He silently vowed, a resolute gleam flashing in his eyes.


    Soon, He Quan slightly lowered his eyelids, concealing that fervent longing, and briskly left Baihua Building, heading towards Hei Zhao Hall.


    From Baihua Building to the Hei Zhao Gang hall was a distance requiring one to pass through Qinghe Square.


    He Quan and his two subordinates walked on the street like a lion patrolling its territory, seemingly somewhat satisfied.


    After delivering the gifts, he neither regretted nor urgently sought results; his demeanor appeared relaxed, indifferent.


    Pointing to several shops on the street, he said, "This is Old Zheng''s storefront, heard his business is good lately; tomorrow his protection fee should go up by twenty percent."


    "As for Yang Sandao''s, I heard he has two daughters, raise his fee by thirty percent, help him sell his daughters."


    "And this one, loans released earlier this year, we need to recover them with interest."


    "..."


    Along the way, He Quan "commanded the landscape."


    His two subordinates behind him took notes continuously.


    When He Quan roughly estimated, he felt it was about right and said, "That should do; leave the other shops till middle of the year. Focus on who among them has sons or daughters and is living hard; we can lend some funds to help them through tough times."


    "Our boss is benevolent."


    "Haha."


    He Quan laughed heartily.


    The mountain treasures given to the Zhou Family''s fifth young Master were indeed valuable, but the money came from others.


    By working the city''s residents a bit harder, he would recover it.


    In this world, the one with the largest fist got to speak.


    As long as he didn''t push too far, forcing them into a dead end, chopping the roots, these people would just make do.


    To He Quan, calling them people was overestimating; they were no more than cattle or horses that could eat, poop, and speak human language.


    Lost in thought, He Quan approached near Hei Zhao Hall, and suddenly he felt something amiss.


    "Wait a moment." He reached out to block, a subtle hint of alertness flashing in his eyes, causing his pace to slow significantly, walking more cautiously.


    "Something''s wrong¡­" he murmured, gently lifting his hand, instructing the subordinates behind, "It''s getting dark, why is the hall still open? One of you, check if something has happened at the hall."


    Being from a gang background, He Quan had fought and struggled from the bottom; it was common for vendettas to result in bloodshed, so he was sensitive to such situations.


    Without a bit of wit, he wouldn''t have lived till now.


    Under his command, a skilled subordinate stepped forward. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Probably influenced by He Quan, this subordinate also became cautious, quietly approaching the large door.


    Before reaching the threshold, a strong smell of blood surged like a tide, overwhelming his senses, making his heart skip a beat.


    Stationed at the door, he glanced inside the hall, "Dear me!"


    Corpses were strewn across the hall like hell, terrifying him to the core.


    Directly ahead, a man dressed in Guardian Martial Department uniform sat quietly in the main seat, his stature upright, a unsettling aura continuously radiating from his body.


    "Rivals have come to settle scores."


    He Quan''s subordinate was terrified and intended to flee.


    Yet Shen Qing flicked his finger, an invisible Qi Force instantly sealed his throat, killing him without form.


    "What a coincidence, I was wondering how to find you, yet you delivered yourselves." Shen Qing''s voice was icy, tinged with a playful smile, "Perfect timing, allows me to end future troubles."


    He sprang up, leaping from the main hall, landing swiftly atop the roof.


    Shen Qing skillfully took down the Cloud Splitting Bow, drew an arrow, aiming at the dumbstruck He Quan below.


    He Quan felt an intense, penetrating chill surge from his spine, straight to the top of his head.

 Chapter 250 - 76 Lord Huangfu, Ive Caused You Trouble

    ```


    Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, He Quan abruptly turned to flee, unleashing the power of his Qi Cultivation Realm.


    Unfortunately, no matter how fast his speed was, it could never surpass the arrows shot from the Hundred Shi Heavy Bow.


    Thud!


    A black arrow, carrying an aura of tearing through everything, precisely pierced through He Quan''s chest, nailing him to the ground beneath his feet.


    The arrowhead penetrated three inches into the earth, the remaining force unspent, as the tail feathers continuously quivered.


    The powerful energy of the arrow burrowed into He Quan''s internal organs, shredding them to pieces, leaving him utterly dead.


    With just one arrow, Shen Qing declared He Quan''s fate.


    The opponent''s life and death seemed to hang on his mere thought.


    Standing on the rooftop, Shen Qing caught sight of a figure frantically fleeing ahead.


    The skills from the Hunting Scripture all activated, his form flickering like a phantom, moving swiftly like a rabbit.


    With a slight tremor in the air, Shen Qing quietly landed in front of a subordinate of He Quan, blocking his escape route.


    The air was filled with a suffocating sense of oppression.


    "Master, spare my life. I have the elderly and young to care for..." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The subordinate knelt on the ground, trembling all over, his voice tinged with a sob of despair.


    Tears blurred his vision, but he could still feel the cold murderous intent emanating from Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing''s gaze didn''t linger on the subordinate''s pleas but slowly turned to the side.


    He Quan''s body lay on the ground in an unnatural pose, eyes wide open, filled with unwillingness and shock.


    "What was his role in the Hei Zhao Gang?"


    Shen Qing''s voice was low, without obvious emotional fluctuation.


    But in the eyes of He Quan''s subordinate, there was an unavoidable sense of deep, unfathomable authority and scrutiny.


    "He... he was the leader of our Hei Zhao Gang..."


    "The leader?"


    A smile unconsciously appeared at the corners of Shen Qing''s mouth.


    Judging by He Quan''s well-dressed, luxurious appearance, he was undoubtedly a high-ranking member of the Hei Zhao Gang.


    The man''s words confirmed his thoughts, clearing his mind considerably.


    To eliminate the problem altogether, to prevent it from resurging when the spring wind blows again.


    Shen Qing never liked to leave hidden dangers when he acted.


    When he made his move, he left no one behind.


    This shortsighted gang of Hei Zhao Gang had provoked him, and regardless of what backing they had, Shen Qing would never spare them.


    He slaughtered the entire Hei Zhao Gang earlier, but the figure of their leader was absent.


    It was like a complete puzzle missing the last piece, always feeling like something was off.


    Now that he knew he had killed their leader, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place, giving him a sense of satisfaction.


    Shen Qing put away the Cloud Splitting Heavy Bow, slowly walking past the subordinate of He Quan.


    Just when this subordinate thought he had escaped a calamity, he suddenly felt a chill at the nape of his neck.


    Thwack!


    His whole body collapsed to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut, leaning to the side, blood continuously seeping from his mouth and nose.


    "Seeing how cooperative you are, I''ll give you a quick death."


    Shen Qing retracted his two fingers, murmuring to himself.


    These people from the Hei Zhao Gang were certainly not virtuous, their hands stained with untold amounts of blood, committing countless atrocities.


    Otherwise, how could such a small gang have so much wealth to squander without producing anything?


    They were simply sucking the lifeblood from the people, truly not worth pitying.


    Shen Qing returned to the Hei Zhao Hall and waited for a while.


    Tian Xiaohu, whom he had sent away, returned before dark with two unfamiliar men.


    Tian Xiaohu stepped forward and said: "Boss, these are Liu Youdao and Liu Youde, two brothers who used to practice martial arts at the Martial Arts Hall, but their family''s fortunes dwindled and now they work in the Outer City. They were in the last patrol. You see, there''s also..."


    Originally, Shen Qing sought them to inquire about He Quan''s movements and whereabouts, but it seemed they had already recognized He Quan''s corpse in the alley earlier.


    Shen Qing stepped forward and said: "I''ve already killed the leader of the Hei Zhao Gang, no need to search further. But... it''s quite messy here. You all clean up a bit. I have something else to do."


    "Yes." The three replied in unison.


    After speaking, Shen Qing left the door of Hei Zhao Hall in big strides.


    Although the scoundrels in the Hei Zhao Gang were not worth pitying, and he was a government officer, in the end, Shen Qing was still killing people on the streets in the Inner City.


    This matter was neither big nor small.


    To avoid unnecessary trouble later, he thought it best to go to the Huangfu family and seek Huang Furo''s assistance for safety''s sake.


    ...


    After crossing the old moat of the Inner City, in the core area of the ancient Yongzhou City stood the Huangfu Mansion.


    Shen Qing stood at the gate of the Huangfu Mansion, looking up.


    He saw the mansion''s gate hanging high, the brass rings carved with intricate dragon and phoenix patterns, and two large red lanterns hanging high, exuding grandeur.


    He took a deep breath, tidied his clothes, and stepped forward to lightly knock on the heavy door.


    The young gatekeeper slightly opened the door.


    "Kindly inform, Shen Qing requests to see Lady Huangfu." Shen Qing bowed slightly to the gatekeeper, his voice carrying a hint of respect.


    The gatekeeper sized up Shen Qing, seeing him dressed in official attire with an unusual demeanor, nodded, "Please wait outside for a moment, I will go and inform the lady."


    With a bang, the gatekeeper closed the door.


    Shen Qing patiently waited at the door.


    Not long after, the gatekeeper returned, with a subtle hint of respect in his tone: "Mr. Shen, please follow me."


    "Thank you."


    Shen Qing followed the gatekeeper around the shadow wall, heading towards a guest courtyard.


    The gatekeeper led Shen Qing to a pavilion building, saying, "Mr. Shen, please wait here, the lady will be here soon."


    After speaking, he bowed and retreated.


    After the gatekeeper left, Shen Qing looked around the pavilion building, seeing that every place within sight was intricately carved, exuding a sense of aristocracy.


    Thinking about it, this was his first time entering the high-ranking gate of the Thirteen Lines.


    "The Huangfu family, indeed a high ranking gate," Shen Qing couldn''t help but exclaim.


    "Mr. Shen, you flatter us. The family has declined, long past its prime." Huang Furo''s voice suddenly broke Shen Qing''s thoughts.


    Shen Qing quickly turned to look back, seeing Huang Furo standing at the end of the corridor, walking over with a calm expression.


    At this moment, Huang Furo had shed her official attire, wearing a simple and elegant long dress, her hair tied high, exuding a heroic spirit between her eyebrows, completely different from her usual appearance.


    Shen Qing collected his thoughts, clasped his hands, and responded: "Lord Huangfu is too modest. A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. The Huangfu family, being descendants of a prestigious family, has a heritage no other family can easily compare to."


    "Mr. Shen, visiting so late at night, surely must have important matters to discuss. Speak, what is it?" Huang Furo led Shen Qing and personally brewed him a cup of tea, pushing it in front of him, addressing the issue directly.


    Shen Qing didn''t expect Huang Furo to be so straightforward.


    He quickly adapted, and said directly: "Lord Huangfu, I''m afraid I''ve brought trouble upon you."


    Huang Furo lifted the teacup, looking at Shen Qing with focused eyes: "Explain, what happened?"


    Shen Qing took a deep breath and recounted the incident of the Hei Zhao Gang coming to cause trouble.


    Huang Furo frowned and said: "That''s all?"


    "That''s all."


    Huang Furo put down the teacup, indifferently said: "As Mr. Shen said, it should be the remnants of the Yellow Heaven Sect acting insolently. I will have my people deal with it, and this matter will be concluded."


    Shen Qing asked in surprise: "It''s over just like that?"


    "Why, what else do you want?" Huang Furo looked at Shen Qing, seemingly smiling, yet not.


    ```

 Chapter 251 - 77: Its Comfortable to Lean on a Big Tree for Shade

    Shen Qing then realized that in Huang Furo''s eyes, a gang was not worth mentioning at all.


    With the power of the Huangfu family and her military department''s influence, eliminating these lower-level forces was as easy as crushing a few ants.


    Martial arts indeed equaled authority, without a doubt.


    Noticing what Shen Qing was thinking, Huang Furo put away her jesting expression and said seriously, "All right, I''ll have someone from the military department take care of loose ends later, it''s a small matter. Also, if everything goes smoothly in the next couple of days, I will temporarily hand over the Guardian Martial Department to you for a period of time. Prepare yourself, and make sure nothing goes wrong."


    Shen Qing clasped his fists and replied, "Yes, Lord Huangfu, I will do my utmost."


    "Is there anything else?"


    "No. I take my leave."


    With that, Shen Qing slowly turned and left the pavilion, walking out of the gate.


    The gate of the Huangfu family slowly closed with a deep, prolonged sound.


    Shen Qing turned back and glanced at it, his mind pondering for a moment before he stopped lingering and strode away.


    When he returned to the courtyard, he found that the people from the military department had arrived before him, acting very swiftly.


    Leading them was a dispatcher from the military department, who looked upright.


    Shen Qing had some impression of the dispatchers from the military department. If he remembered correctly, this person seemed to be an illegitimate child from one of the Thirteen Noble Families.


    He probably received Huang Furo''s order, nodded at Shen Qing, and silently carried away the corpses of Hei Zhao Gang and others without asking any unnecessary questions, which made Shen Qing extremely relieved.


    He couldn''t help but sigh, having backing really made a difference. With Huang Furo covering for him, the issue with Hei Zhao Gang was resolved with no trace left.


    After the people from the military department left, the family gathered together, still feeling a lingering fear, comforting each other with words of intimacy.


    Shen Qing also recounted his recent experiences, and the atmosphere in the small courtyard gradually became warm, as the family enjoyed harmony and happiness.


    The earlier fear gradually dissipated.


    It was then Shen Qing suddenly remembered something, slapped his thigh, and said, "Oh no, these people might have had some things on them, I forgot to search."


    "Brother, are you talking about these?" Shen Xiaoshan, hearing this, went back inside and brought out a bundle, opening it in front of Shen Qing.


    Inside, there were scattered pieces of broken silver and golden leaves.


    Shen Qing even saw a few gold teeth, causing him to pause in surprise.


    Shen Xiaoshan sheepishly scratched his head, "I saw their mouths glittering, so I just took them off by hand. Dad is even better at it than me."


    Uncle Shen the Second, who was drinking water, choked and kept coughing.


    Shen Qing burst into hearty laughter.


    "Food''s ready." Xiao Zhi, sporting a panda eye, brought in a plate of pickled fish.


    Tian Xiaohu, who had finished cleaning up the mess, carried a big parcel and arrived just in time for the meal.


    Shen Qing pulled out a bottle of wine and put it on the table, "Come, friends bring good wine, wolves bring knives and arrows. Today we narrowly escaped death, we ought to celebrate a bit."


    "Yes, yes, we should celebrate," Uncle Shen the Second said in his usual honest manner.


    Shen Qing raised his glass high, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one go.


    The slightly bitter, burning wine spread in his throat, bringing a hint of warmth in this icy winter.


    After the downfall of Hei Zhao Gang, Shen Qing counted and found he had gained thousands of taels of silver, hundreds of taels of gold, and some other jewelry and elixirs. It could be said that Shen Qing wouldn''t need to worry about money for a while.


    This event also made Shen Qing realize that he couldn''t keep fighting alone; he must find ways to increase the strength around him.


    ...


    On a peak of Huang Tian Sacred Mountain, mist swirled around.


    Palaces stood among it, towering, appearing and disappearing within the clouds and fog.


    Though it was winter outside, with everything encased in white snow, making all silent, within these peaks, somehow it avoided the harsh cold and snow. It was like spring all year round, lush with vitality, astonishing to behold.


    Among the peaks, a young man in luxurious yellow robes stood in an open area behind a palace.


    He closed his eyes, gathered his thoughts, and gently rubbed his hands. A faint light danced on his fingertips.


    Suddenly, he uttered a deep spell, and a yellow talisman was conjured.


    A bright yellow thunder streaked across the sky, its deafening roar echoing.


    "It''s done!" Shen Xiaohu''s face lit up with uncontrollable joy, his bright eyes gleaming with excitement. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, a burly figure quietly appeared behind him, as stable as a mountain, exuding an indescribable majesty and pressure. Upon seeing this scene, he said approvingly, "Not bad."


    Hearing the voice, Shen Xiaohu quickly turned around, his eyes full of awe and respect. He bowed and said, "Commander."


    The Commander nodded slightly, his gaze deep, "Your progress surpassed my expectations. This Yellow Thunder Talisman, even in our sect, not many can cultivate it so quickly. Although you are not good in martial arts, you do have some talent in talismans."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Xiaohu was even more thrilled, "It''s all thanks to the teachings of the Commander and the envoys."


    "Just when you''ve grasped some basics, we are preparing to attack Dan Zhou and are short of hands," the Commander said flatly, "You go with others and prepare secretly."


    Shen Xiaohu''s heart tightened, not daring to refuse, and he agreed with his head bowed.


    Seeing Shen Xiaohu''s reluctance, the Commander spoke, "Do you know why we must first preach?"


    Shen Xiaohu shook his head.


    The Commander laughed and said, "Those who are educated and know the truth mostly serve as officials in the court. So, to counter the Ji Family Court, we must use people who are a bit foolish. To deal with those fools, we absolutely cannot tell them the truth; we must use religion to hypnotize them, making them feel all their actions are justified."


    "So, ''Heaven is Above'' is just a slogan, just like ''Amitabha.'' The Ji Family, for their martial arts, has always oppressed us and left us no way out, so we must rebel against them."


    "If we succeed, not only will there be countless silver and women, but also the unattainable path to longevity, allowing us to live as long as heaven."


    Shen Xiaohu''s eyes lit up as he asked, "So rebelling against the Ji Family Court is to take back our money and women, and pursue longevity, right?"


    "Are you willing to go?"


    "I am willing."


    The Commander of Huang Tian Sect chuckled, "This time, you will go down the mountain to take on the role of the Yellow Angel, prepare to go preach with other envoys."


    "Yes, Commander."


    A newfound excitement appeared on Shen Xiaohu''s face. Upon hearing this, he saluted and went back to prepare.


    He changed into ordinary clothes and packed his bag, ready to join the others.


    Among a pile of clothes, Shen Xiaohu saw a mirror and stared at it for a moment.


    After a long while, he sighed deeply.


    He wondered how his parents were doing.


    This place was several thousand miles from Yongzhou; with his current capabilities, he couldn''t travel that far.


    He could only hope for improvement in the future.


    Shen Xiaohu put away his bag and headed down the mountain.

 Chapter 252 - 78: Infamy Spreads Far, Taking Over the Guardian Martial Department

    The next morning, Shen Qing went to the Military Department Office to check in, just as he usually did.


    In the case involving Zheng Yuanqiu, the Zhuifeng steed under him was reduced to nothing but bones, forcing him to walk on foot for the time being.


    Fortunately, after learning the Da Xu Technique, a martial art of the Huangfu family, his Qinggong had greatly improved.


    With a push of his legs, he turned into a shadowy figure, weaving through the crowd on the street like a nimble fish, moving extraordinarily fast.


    In the time it took for one incense stick to burn, he arrived at the Guardian Martial Department Office, faster than if he had ridden on horseback.


    His appearance in front of many officers and dispatch officers caused quite a stir.


    Ji Youwu, Wang Shouyuan, Liu Yuan, and other officers from the fourth group looked at Shen Qing incredulously, as if seeing him return from the dead.


    Amid their astonished gazes, Shen Qing checked in with a calm demeanor and then returned to a small room in the courtyard to rest.


    As Shen Qing noticed Ji Youwu, Wang Shouyuan, and Liu Yuan still looking stunned, he couldn''t help but frown.


    "Why are you all staring at me?"


    Ji Youwu, being bolder, swallowed nervously and said, "Sir, you''re not dead?"


    "By the way you say it, do I have to be dead?" Shen Qing glanced at him and replied.


    Ji Youwu hastily explained, "No, no, it''s just that Lord Governor was defeated by the snake demon, so seeing you alive was unexpected. The people at the Military Department all said that both you and Lord Huangfu were hit by the snake demon''s tail and left without even bones, and the Huangfu family has already begun quietly preparing for funerals."


    "Even Lord Governor couldn''t defeat the snake demon?" Shen Qing''s expression suddenly turned grave.


    Lord Governor was at the Innate Realm in cultivation, undeniably among the top tier in Yongzhou.


    Shen Qing shifted the topic, asking, "What happened? Tell me."


    Ji Youwu pondered for a moment and slowly recounted, "On the day you had your incident, the snake demon awoke and rampaged, slithering to the nearby town."


    "The snake demon had a massive body and a terrifying aura, releasing poisonous fog with just an open mouth, consuming nearly two to three thousand of the town''s people."


    "Upon hearing the news, Lord Governor immediately led the city''s elite to personally go forth. He, with the cultivation of an Innate Martial Master, fought hard against the snake demon, attempting to slay the demon. However, the snake demon not only had thick skin and tough flesh but also wielded demon arts, making it hard to bear. There were even rumors that this demon was the ruler of various demons from the nearby mountains, with a tendency to transform into a dragon."


    Reaching this point, Ji Youwu couldn''t help but add a hint of admiration and regret in his voice: "In the battle, Lord Governor fought the snake demon for a long time. Amid fierce struggles, he managed to severely injure the snake demon with his exceptional martial arts, forcing it to retreat, but at an extremely heavy cost, suffering severe injuries, nearly losing his life."


    "Currently, Lord Governor is retreating to the government office to recover, becoming the most discussed matter within the county office recently."


    Ji Youwu glanced at Shen Qing and added another explanation: "Such a powerful demon, even Lord Governor was no match. Naturally, we assumed that you and Lord Huangfu were also unfortunately lost..."


    Hearing these words, Shen Qing fell into a brief silence.


    He hadn''t expected that there was such a backstory behind all this. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At the same time, in another room, Dong Jing, the first group''s dispatch officer, showed surprise upon learning of Shen Qing''s safe return.


    "Who would have thought that Shen Qing had such luck, surviving in front of such a demon, truly unexpected."


    "Seeing this, he must have some skills, should I lower myself and befriend him?"


    At this moment, Dong Jing experienced some internal conflict.


    Ultimately considering the difference in status, he chose to remain observant.


    Forget it, forget it.


    For now, instead of befriending Shen Qing, he had more important matters to attend to.


    And that was the position of the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department.


    According to his analysis, there truly weren''t many suitable candidates within the county office to take on this mess, so there was a significant likelihood of promotion within their group of dispatch officers.


    As the dispatch officer of the first group of the Guardian Martial Department, he had the strongest capabilities, the best background, and the best chance.


    He needed to seize the opportunity to make things work.


    The position of Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department might not mean much for the legitimate sons of many high-ranking families, but for them, it was a desirable post.


    He was well aware that although the Huangfu family wasn''t a prominent name within the Thirteen Lines, they still held considerable influence in the court.


    The position of Chief Officer had close ties with Huang Furo.


    If he secured this position, he might use it as a stepping stone in the future, rise to power, and achieve great things.


    Thinking about this made Dong Jing somewhat excited.


    And inside the Guardian Martial Department, he wasn''t alone in his thoughts among the dispatch officers.


    Five days flew by in the blink of an eye.


    The news of Hei Zhao Gang''s annihilation, after brewing over these days, caused quite a stir among Yongzhou''s various gangs.


    Coupled with Shen Qing''s fierce reputation and his demon-slaying actions, Shen Qing quietly earned the nickname "Yama Shen" among these gangs.


    Most gangs quietly retracted their claws in Shen Qing''s territory, not daring to make any unruly moves.


    Suddenly, the area patrolled by Shen Qing became extraordinarily peaceful.


    However, contrary to the malicious reputation among the gangs,


    Shen Qing''s demon-slaying and punishing of gang bullies brought applause from the people, leading to considerable prestige among many residents of Yongzhou.


    On this day, after finishing a day of patrol, Shen Qing returned to the Guardian Martial Department Office with his subordinate officers.


    To his surprise, Huang Furo was also unexpectedly present at the Guardian Martial Department Office.


    Upon seeing him, the latter showed no emotional fluctuation, maintaining a usual expression.


    The two nodded in acknowledgment.


    After most of the dispatch officers and officers returned, Huang Furo gathered them in the back hall.


    Seeing that everyone was present, Huang Furo began, "I''ve gathered everyone here today to announce an important matter."


    Her voice wasn''t loud but clearly reached everyone''s ears.


    Huang Furo looked around at everyone and said, "With the betrayal of Zheng Yuanqiu and the Military Department leaderless, such a state will give rise to chaos, so I am here today to temporarily appoint a Vice Director for the Military Department to act as an interim leader."


    These words caused everyone to straighten up with excitement.


    Especially those dispatch officers like Dong Jing, who eyed the General of the Army position in the Military Department with great ambition.


    Huang Furo''s gaze traveled across the faces of the various dispatch officers and stopped on Shen Qing.


    "I consider that the fourth group''s Shen Qing, Chief Officer Shen, is exceptionally capable and suitable for the role of Vice Director, and the Lord Commander agrees. Therefore, from now on, Chief Officer Shen will act as Vice Director of the Military Department, performing the duties of the General of the Army. I have brought the official document with me to formally announce it."


    Upon hearing this, all the dispatch officers and officers of the Guardian Martial Department were in shock.


    Shen Qing?


    How could it be?


    Based on what?


    In Dong Jing''s mind, it was as if a volcano erupted, and he blurted out, "I refuse!"

 Chapter 253 - 79: If thats the case, then you all go on up together!

    ```


    In the inner hall, the officers and officials of the Guardian Martial Department simultaneously cast their eyes on Dong Jing.


    The atmosphere froze.


    Sitting in the chief seat, Huang Furo exuded an orchid-like grace, facing this sudden change without the slightest panic.


    She calmly smiled and said, "Dong Chasi, what opinion do you have to share with everyone?"


    Her clear voice carried an undeniable authority.


    Facing Huang Furo, Dong Jing had calmed down by this point.


    The intense emotional turmoil in his heart was soothed by some invisible force, and he quickly adjusted his breath, his gaze lingering briefly on Shen Qing, then puffed out his chest.


    He pondered briefly, choosing his words carefully as he said, "Lord Huangfu, Shen Chasi has been with the Guardian Martial Department for a short time. What qualifications does he have to hold the position of Vice Director? Wouldn''t such a decision dishearten the veterans in the office?"


    Huang Furo smiled faintly and retorted, "Who told you that positions in the government office rely on qualifications?"


    Dong Jing''s expression froze.


    He detected in Huang Furo''s words a hint of her intention to firmly support Shen Qing, which made him feel somewhat discontented.


    In his view, how was he not better than Shen Qing?


    Whether in terms of background or cultivation, he surpassed Shen Qing by far.


    Dong Jing clasped his hands in a salute and looked up directly, "If not based on qualifications, then what does Lord Huangfu think it should be based on? Relationships?"


    With these words, Huang Furo''s face immediately turned cold. She stood and said, "Of course, it''s based on merit, based on cultivation."


    "Shen Chasi has only been with our Yongzhou Guardian Martial Department for just over half a year, indeed not long. But during this half a year, he has handled the Baili Village demon case, the Changqiao Town Wolf Demon case, the Inner City Cat Demon case, and most recently, the Zheng Yuanqiu traitor case..."


    "Frankly speaking, Shen Chasi has eliminated more demons in this half-year than you have in several years."


    Huang Furo surveyed the officers and officials of the Guardian Martial Department before her, "Isn''t such merit enough? Or are you the real incompetents sitting here?"


    After her speech, a supreme authority suddenly surged around Huang Furo.


    The momentum of the Dan Realm erupted at this moment.


    This power, seemingly tangible, stirred the void into invisible ripples, spreading slowly around, instantly filling the entire inner hall.


    In the inner hall, everyone felt an irresistible pressure sweeping over them, causing them to take a step back involuntarily. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As they looked up, they saw Huang Furo''s clothing fluttering without wind under the influence of this invisible power, her garments swirling, like a fairy in the wind, transcendent and otherworldly.


    "So what if the merits are enough? A person like that can at most be called a capable official. What really counts is Martial Arts cultivation. The Emperor of Great Zhou has long stated that the court positions now are for the capable. Shen Chasi, being so young and of humble origins, already missed the best time for cultivation advancement. How can he sit steadily in the position of Vice Director? This is a path to disorder."


    "Indeed, Lord Huangfu''s method is a path to disorder!"


    Other high-ranking children of officials also stepped forth, besides Dong Jing.


    They were unwilling to accept a martial master of humble hunter origins climbing above their heads.


    Even if there were those uninterested in the Chief Officer position, their scarce pride pushed them to make this choice in the face of this pressure.


    Huang Furo''s eyes revealed a hint of displeasure, and the atmosphere in the inner hall suddenly became tense and confrontational.


    Shen Qing, as an observer, saw this clearly.


    Undoubtedly, Huang Furo was on his side, but facing this group of high-ranking disciples, she evidently did not have a better way either.


    These people could neither be killed nor driven away; it was indeed a difficult matter.


    If it were him, even if he wanted to kill these people, he''d need to find a cover, secretly finding a way to quietly kill them.


    However, this didn''t mean he was entirely out of ideas.


    Shen Qing stepped forward, slightly approaching Huang Furo, then turned around and said to the three officers who had spoken, "How do you suggest we assess Martial Arts cultivation?"


    "If you can defeat us, your cultivation is higher."


    "Good, in that case, you can all come at me together!" Shen Qing said calmly.


    "What arrogance." Sun Ding from the second group was already angry, feeling deeply offended by Shen Qing''s disdain, and he replied angrily, "I don''t need the other two; I alone am enough to subdue you!"


    Saying that, Sun Ding lunged at Shen Qing swiftly and aggressively, throwing a punch that sounded like a dragon''s roar, directly targeting his opponent''s face.


    This was the Sun Family''s Dragon Roar Fist, Eight Forms.


    The essence of this martial art lay in imitating the sound of a dragon''s roar, borrowing the power of the wind and clouds, using the fist technique as a carrier to demonstrate the majestic momentum of the dragon soaring through the Ninth Heaven.


    Cultivating it to the level of mastery, this martial art could not only overpower the enemy with force but also pressure with momentum; it was a high-level martial art.


    The ancestor of the Sun Family had established a formidable enterprise in Yongzhou, relying on this fist technique.


    However, Sun Ding''s status in the Sun Family was not very high, and his mastery of this martial art was not very profound.


    Boom!


    As Sun Ding''s fist reached Shen Qing''s face, the air seemed to be suddenly torn apart, emitting a deafening explosion.


    "Did it work?"


    Dong Jing and others'' eyes brightened.


    Yet before they had a chance to rejoice, they saw Sun Ding''s figure, under an irresistible force, fly backward like a kite with a broken line, crashing heavily to the ground, dust flying.


    Shen Qing stood still, his clothes slightly rustling, his countenance calm, as if all that had just happened was merely a breeze blowing past.


    He looked around with sharp eyes, his tone carrying not the slightest fear, but rather an undeniable invincible dominance, "Alright, if you wish to come one by one, then come one by one."


    The surroundings fell silent, with only the sound of Sun Dong''s rapid breathing in response.


    "His meridians are like jade, he has reached the Yu Luo Realm, I was not mistaken, he has already broken through to the Yu Luo Realm!"


    Wu Xing from the third group of officers revealed a look of disbelief and exclaimed.


    The inner hall erupted into uproar.


    Dong Jing faced this scene with his mouth slightly open, unable to speak.


    Yu Luo Realm?


    How was that possible?


    If he remembered correctly, half a year ago, Shen Qing was at the Qi Hai Realm.


    That meant this person, after joining the Guardian Martial Department, broke through two major realms in just half a year.


    Was he still human?


    If it were before the Qi Hai Realm, he could understand it.


    It was merely the stage of honing the physical body, where one could quickly compensate for deficiencies through external force.


    But this was after the Qi Hai Realm.


    The Great Realm after becoming transcendent.


    The two weren''t in the same concept at all.


    "Is there no one?"


    Seeing Dong Jing and others silent and unresponsive, Shen Qing turned back to Huang Furo, bowing with his hands clasped, "Lord Huangfu, it seems my virtue and martial prowess have already convinced everyone."


    Huang Furo burst into laughter, quickly deciding, "Does anyone have any objections to Shen Chasi serving as Vice Director of the Guardian Martial Department? If there are no objections, let it be decided as such."


    Dong Jing''s lips quivered slightly, but he still weakly uttered a single word, "Yes."


    ```

 Chapter 254 - 80: Heaven Helps Those Who Help Themselves, Promotion and Advancement in Rank

    Huang Furo saw that none of the officers and officials in the back hall had any objections and said, "If you have no other matters, you may leave. Vice Chief Shen, please stay behind."


    The officers and officials in the back dared not act recklessly and retreated quietly.


    In a flash, the vast back hall was left with just Shen Qing and Huang Furo.


    At this moment, Shen Qing stepped forward earnestly and said, "Thank you for your favor, Lord Huangfu. I will fulfill my duties to repay your kindness in recognizing my potential."


    "I knew I didn''t misjudge you. You handled today''s matters very well."


    Huang Furo had thought it would take some effort to silence these wealthy young masters, but she didn''t expect Shen Qing to be so direct, swiftly silencing them.


    She looked Shen Qing up and down, increasingly satisfied with him.


    "If it wasn''t for the opportunity given by you, my lord, I would not have reached this point."


    Shen Qing, despite their shared experience in the underground, maintained his discretion without overstepping any boundaries.


    Huang Furo returned to her seat, smiling as she said, "Let''s skip the pleasantries and talk about serious matters."


    "Please speak, my lord."


    "You already know the situation in the Guardian Martial Department, so tell me your plan moving forward."


    Huang Furo poured a cup of tea from the table and said casually.


    Currently, various institutions in the government office were severely corrupted by high-ranking families, filled with incompetents.


    Outside Yongzhou City, demons were rising, the Lord Governor was injured and remained behind closed doors. If this continued, problems could easily arise.


    Therefore, bringing in capable people into the government office was an urgent matter.


    It just so happened that the Chief Officer position in the Guardian Martial Department was vacant, making Shen Qing, someone with no background, the perfect candidate.


    Commander Jia Zhiping also thought this.


    Even if Shen Qing hadn''t taken action today, she would have forced others to comply, albeit with some effort.


    As for the future, whether he could command the people and revive the Guardian Martial Department depended on Shen Qing''s abilities.


    As the saying goes, "Heaven helps those who help themselves."


    Only those who strive and refuse to give up will be favored and assisted by the heavens.


    Merely relying on others will lead nowhere.


    This was also why Shen Qing was appointed as Vice Chief and not Chief.


    If Shen Qing couldn''t organize the Guardian Martial Department and make the government office fulfill its responsibilities, they would find a way to replace him with someone more aligned with their interests.


    In short, Huang Furo was merely giving Shen Qing an opportunity, keeping the initiative in her hands.


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment and suggested, "Expand the recruitment!"


    "Go on."


    "I checked some records these days. In the past few years, there were records of demons around Yongzhou, but they were often vague, and few involved human deaths. However, since last year, inexplicably, the number of demons increased, even the Snake Demon emerged. With this trend, more demons might appear in Yongzhou, so the Guardian Martial Department must expand its manpower."


    "Otherwise, these demons cannot be guarded against," Shen Qing said seriously.


    "You''re right," Huang Furo agreed deeply, "The Guardian Martial Department needs to expand its recruitment."


    Shen Qing continued, "I boldly believe that currently, the scale of the Guardian Martial Department urgently needs expansion to nine groups, gathering two hundred martial masters to ensure the safety of Yongzhou. But this must be approached cautiously, steadily, avoiding haste. Otherwise, opportunistic individuals might exploit the situation, causing unnecessary trouble."


    Huang Furo nodded, "Rest assured, I''ll arrange for the officials room to cooperate with you."


    Shen Qing then said, "Besides the manpower issue, there''s another matter that caught my attention. But this is a deep matter, and I dare not decide recklessly."


    "What is it?" Huang Furo asked curiously, her eyebrows furrowing.


    Shen Qing began, "In the case of Changqiao Town, I discovered someone secretly colluding with demons. I now suspect this isn''t an isolated incident."


    As he spoke, Shen Qing glanced at Huang Furo, noticing she was as cautious as he expected.


    Huang Furo lifted her eyelids and said, "Do you have any clues?"


    Shen Qing nodded silently, lowering his voice, "Last time when I slew the Cat Demon, I found it had vague ties with the Zhou Family. But I have no evidence, merely suspicion. After all, the Zhou Family is a powerful high-ranking clan¡­"


    Shen Qing didn''t finish his thoughts, but Huang Furo evidently understood his meaning.


    After the incident with the Snake Demon, he realized the danger posed by demons.


    Even though the Cat Demon''s "Goddess" hadn''t troubled him yet, it remained a threat, persistently worrisome.


    Considering various events, Huang Furo seemed reliable, perhaps she could assist in investigating, possibly eliminating this hidden danger.


    Huang Furo picked up her tea cup, her expression serious, "You haven''t mentioned this to anyone else, have you?"


    "No."


    "Don''t mention this to anyone for now. The Zhou Family''s strength is deeper than it appears," Huang Furo warned, "I''ll investigate this matter."


    Shen Qing nodded heavily.


    After discussing some details, they didn''t leave until dusk began to fall.


    Leaving the Guardian Martial Department''s gates, Shen Qing took a deep breath, suddenly feeling refreshed. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having a patron made a difference.


    ...


    In the Shen Family courtyard.


    In the main hall, the light flickered.


    Before everyone, Shen Qing announced the news of his promotion, causing a stir of exclamations.


    "Brother, does this mean you''re officially an official?"


    "Once the official document is confirmed, I will be."


    Gasp...


    The people in the main hall couldn''t help but draw a sharp breath.


    In the Great Zhou, the ranks were: Emperor, noble, official, doctor, martial, farmer, craftsman...


    Being an official was second only to nobility.


    Uncle Shen the Second looked at the increasingly accomplished Shen Qing, unsure how to express himself.


    He felt as though the past one or two years were like a dream.


    He never imagined the Shen Family could produce such a remarkable person, suddenly reaching a high status.


    Shen Qing, with a smile on his face, addressed Shen Xiaoshan and Tian Xiaohu, saying, "Next, focus on your training. Soon, I''ll recruit a batch of martial masters into the Guardian Martial Department as officers. Although this position isn''t officially permanent, it''s a rare opportunity for you."


    Hearing this, Tian Xiaohu and the others were invigorated.


    Officers weren''t officials, merely martial masters hired under the government''s name, but still part of the Guardian Martial Department, bearing its title.


    Compared to regular Martial Arts Halls or gangs, this was far superior.


    Many people sought such opportunities in vain.


    Hearing Shen Qing''s offer, they couldn''t help feeling excited.


    Tian Xiaohu and Shen Xiaoshan both nodded and agreed firmly.

 Chapter 255 - 81: Co-optation, Power

    The lanterns lit up the night, and Yongzhou City was ablaze with lights.


    In a private room at Shen''s Restaurant, flower lamps were artfully arranged, casting brilliant light and making the entire room as bright as day.


    The square eight-immortal table was coated with a gleaming red lacquer and carved with patterns, exuding an aura of luxury.


    Shen Qing sat upright in the main seat on the left, full of vigor and exuding the calmness unique to a superior. He was surrounded by many small merchants.


    Among these merchants, a burly man with a beefy face stood out. He stood up and loudly declared, "Come, everyone, fill your glasses and let''s toast Vice Chief Shen!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before he finished speaking, the room was filled with enthusiastic responses, and the crisp clinking of glasses melded into a symphony.


    With the news spreading, merchants large and small from Xinyi Square gathered at Shen''s Restaurant to celebrate Shen Qing''s promotion.


    Everyone now knew that there was no Chief Officer position in the Guardian Martial Department, so Shen Qing, as the Vice Chief, was effectively the head of this office.


    The Guardian Martial Department''s authority was not as great as the Military Department''s, but one could never be sure if a few remnants of the Huang Tian Sect or demons would inexplicably appear in their own homes in the future.


    These traveling merchants were all sharp-minded. They came after hearing the news to greet and familiarize themselves.


    Shen Qing originally didn''t want to join in this excitement, but thinking that he was neither alone nor weak, and wanting to expand his influence, he agreed to this drinking session.


    "Brother Hong, you''re too kind. Thank you all for your favor."


    Shen Qing''s words were gentle, like a spring breeze that melted rain, making everyone feel waves of goodwill.


    Previously, the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department, Zheng Yuanqiu, was only concerned with extracting benefits, ignoring everything else, and was insatiably greedy, causing these people much suffering.


    Whenever there was a need to deal with demons, the dispatch office would randomly frame people, causing countless families to be destroyed.


    These people had long been full of resentment, and now that there was finally a change in leadership, they sighed in relief while also speculating on the temperament of this Vice Chief Shen.


    Now it seemed that the new Vice Chief was easy to get along with, which subtly put them at ease.


    Shen Qing raised his glass and stood up, his gaze sweeping across the seated people, and then he boldly drank it all in one go.


    "How forthright!" someone praised from among the crowd, with genuine admiration in their voice, "Vice Chief Shen truly has a good nature. Let''s toast the Vice Chief again!"


    "Very well."


    Unknowingly, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.


    In the Great Zhou Country, the status of merchants was not high, only above that of slaves, so without great martial strength, they were basically oppressed and exploited.


    On one hand, they had to cope with commercial competition from the Thirteen Lines, and on the other, they had to handle extortion from the government and local gangs, so life was not very good overall.


    Since joining the Guardian Martial Department, Shen Qing had mostly been on the road to slay demons or cultivating, and he rarely extorted these small merchants in his jurisdiction.


    Additionally, the merchants were well aware of Shen Qing''s massacre of the Hei Zhao Gang, so they held a very good impression of him.


    After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became even more congenial, prompting Hong Tao to bring up the recent demon affairs.


    "Speaking of which, Lord Shen, have you heard about Lord Governor''s recent injury? This matter has caused quite a stir in the city, and we are all a bit uneasy."


    Shen Qing pondered briefly, a barely noticeable trace of gravity flashing across his brows, "The Snake Demon incident?"


    Hong Jingtiao nodded and lowered his voice, "Lord Governor is a dignified Innate Martial Master. His cultivation is profound and possesses the power to move mountains and overturn seas. I heard he battled the Snake Demon and leveled several mountains, yet he was still not a match for that demon? If that demon comes into the city, wouldn''t we all be doomed?"


    Shen Qing remained silent, as no one present understood the terror of the Snake Demon better than he did.


    But...


    Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he picked up a wine cup and said leisurely, "I don''t think so."


    "What do you mean, Lord Shen?"


    Unbidden, Shen Qing''s mind recalled what Huang Furo had said, "What do you think of the strength of the Yongzhou Thirteen Lines?"


    Everyone exchanged glances, "Certainly strong."


    "Then that''s settled. Have you seen any indication that they''re planning to leave Yongzhou?" Shen Qing slowly guided, "A gentleman doesn''t stand under a precarious wall. They must understand such a simple truth."


    "If there are no private actions now, it means they''re not anxious and have something to lean on. I don''t think Yongzhou City will fall into chaos anytime soon, so you can rest assured. Only when you see the Thirteen Lines members unable to remain calm should you really start to worry."


    A merchant responded, "Yes, when the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Why should we worry? I heard that within the Yongzhou Thirteen Lines, many old Undyings are sustained by their family''s spiritual elixirs; each one has Innate Realm cultivation, and demons can''t yet wreak havoc in this city."


    "Well said," Hong Jingtiao agreed.


    "Soldiers come to block, water rises to cover; let''s drink and not talk about these troublesome matters!"


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing gladly raised his glass, and everyone else also got up.


    "Lord Shen, I''ve heard that your Guardian Martial Department is going to expand its personnel?"


    At this moment, a merchant suddenly said a bit nervously.


    Shen Qing did not intend to hide it and nodded, "There is indeed such a matter? Why, are you looking to join the Guardian Martial Department?"


    "No, no, I''m too old to endure such hardship."


    "Then you are?"


    "I have a son at home who has learned some martial arts. I wonder if it''s convenient for you to give him a chance? Even as an officer would do."


    Shen Qing touched the rim of his wine cup, showing a hesitant expression.


    "Lord, rest assured, I understand some of the rules."


    Shen Qing knew that most of these people were ordinary folks who might have originally been farmers but had been forced into business due to hardships at home.


    What level of martial arts training could such people achieve?


    Not everyone was "gifted" like him.


    However, those high-ranking disciples wouldn''t even spare him a glance, and currently, he really had no one available at hand.


    With just him, the large Guardian Martial Department was unmanageable.


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "Let him come and try. If he''s useless, then let him go back where he came from."


    "Alright, thank you, Lord Shen."


    Seeing someone take the initiative, several other merchants eagerly spoke up one after another.


    "Lord, there''s also my¡­"


    "I have a daughter at home¡­"


    "..."


    Shen Qing waved his hand, "Let them come and try. I''ll give suitable ones a chance."


    "Thank you, Lord Shen, thank you."


    Thus, the banquet continued for a full Shi Chen before it finally ended.


    Before leaving, these merchants, knowing Shen Qing''s mount had been damaged in battles, generously pooled money to buy him a fine horse.


    Shen Qing accepted it graciously.


    At that moment, he suddenly realized that, after reaching a certain position and gaining some power, there were many more things he could do.


    ...


    Previously, Zheng Yuanqiu had focused solely on scheming while in office, leaving the Guardian Martial Department with a mess of accounts.


    After taking over as Vice Chief of the Guardian Martial Department, Shen Qing found the various accounts and old cases to be utterly chaotic.


    Fortunately, having lived two lives, he knew a lot of methods, these matters only required effort on his part.


    Time passed little by little.


    After a month, Shen Qing finally sorted out the Guardian Martial Department''s income, expenses, and overall demon cases of recent years, making himself well-informed.


    In his view, if he wanted to fully control the Guardian Martial Department, this was an unavoidable step.


    Due to immersing himself in dealing with accounts and old cases during this period, the Guardian Martial Department saw no changes, making it seem that he was somewhat unaccomplished.


    Gradually, the rumor of his "incompetence" began to circulate within the Guardian Martial Department, and these voices grew louder by the day.

 Chapter 256 - 82: Worldly Affairs and Advancement in Cultivation

    ```


    "My lord, this is all slander from Sun Ding and his group. Ever since Sun Ding lost to you last time, he''s been speaking ill of you in front of the officers from Group Two. Shall we deal with him?"


    Officer Liu Yuan from Group Four stood by Shen Qing''s side, speaking with great indignation.


    Ji Youwu and Wang Shouyuan, who were beside them, also joined in with some righteous anger.


    Shen Qing glanced at them, feeling a sense of emotion in his heart. The change in people''s minds was truly subtle.


    He let out a slight laugh and countered, "How do you plan to ''deal with him''? As far as I know, Sun Ding''s cultivation is in the Qi Hai Realm, which is a whole Great Realm above yours."


    Liu Yuan couldn''t help but pause, his expression faltering.


    Weren''t subordinates supposed to show loyalty and superiors protect their subordinates in theatrical plays? How come the person in front didn''t follow the conventional rules?


    Shen Qing continued to ask, "What is it, no ideas? Or were you just saying it offhand to stir trouble between me and other subordinates?"


    Liu Yuan''s face changed immediately, and he hastily said, "Subordinate dares not, subordinate merely..." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Enough, you don''t need to say more. You should be clear about one thing: Sun Chasi and his team are my direct subordinates. There is a Chasi between you and me. However, I also value old relationships and naturally won''t shortchange my former brothers."


    After giving them the carrot and stick, Shen Qing continued, "For now, your task is to perform your duties diligently, make sure no issues arise in the defense area. Don''t meddle in other matters."


    Ji Youwu, Wang Shouyuan, and the other three officers immediately felt a surge of spirit, collecting their thoughts, and replied in unison, "We obey, my lord."


    Shen Qing waved his hand.


    The three wisely left the rear hall.


    Watching their backs, Shen Qing felt it was time to bring Tian Xiaohu and his men in.


    Not having reliable people around him left him uneasy.


    In the blink of an eye, it was time for the monthly salary to be distributed.


    The official who came to settle the salary was an acquaintance of Shen Qing''s¡ªa minor officer from the Military Department Office, Zhao Guanglu.


    Unlike past encounters, Zhao Guanglu was exceedingly respectful when he saw Shen Qing, unlike his former self.


    In the rear hall of the Guardian Martial Department, the warm spring light cascaded onto the cold stone steps.


    The steps of the minor officer, Zhao Guanglu, were hurried, and his face bore an unnatural ingratiating smile, "Lord Shen, it has indeed been a long time. Your mighty deeds have long spread across both departments. Your promotion is well-deserved."


    Zhao Guanglu''s voice carried a forced warmth, while his eyes darted over Shen Qing, as if trying to discern his thoughts.


    The person before him was once someone he looked down upon, but now, having latched onto Lord Huangfu, he was no longer someone a minor officer like him could handle.


    Shen Qing smiled slightly, with a hint of amusement and aloofness in his expression.


    He was well aware of Zhao Guanglu''s nature, knowing that the current respect was merely a result of being under the eaves, far from genuine esteem.


    Shen Qing clasped his fist and said, "Mr. Zhao, you''re too kind. We all work under Lord Governor and should support each other. Please!"


    "Dare not, dare not, please after you."


    Zhao Guanglu quickly bowed his head, following behind Shen Qing.


    Upon entering the study, the atmosphere turned subtle.


    "Is there any issue with this month''s salary for the Guardian Martial Department?" Upon entering the study, Shen Qing wasted no time with pleasantries and directly got to the point.


    Zhao Guanglu did not hesitate.


    As the saying goes, a new official applies three fires upon taking office; he had been in the officialdom long enough to understand this and did not wish to court trouble.


    "No issues, this Guardian Martial Department''s salary has been fully brought over. Here is the account, please take a look."


    Zhao Guanglu respectfully handed over the salary list, while discreetly observing Shen Qing''s reaction.


    Shen Qing took the salary list, inspected it carefully, and after confirming there were no problems, called for his Chang Sui.


    Unlike Zheng Yuanqiu, he didn''t pocket it for himself but instructed Chang Sui to distribute the full salary without docking any amount.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s actions, Zhao Guanglu inwardly plotted, pretending to mention the silver he had previously "received" from Shen Qing.


    "Lord Shen, about the past when I acted imprudently and took a bit from you, I hope you''re not too harsh and give me a chance to make amends."


    As he spoke, Zhao Guanglu presented a stack of silver notes, "I have not dared to use these silver taels. I return them today."


    Zhao Guanglu''s voice held a tinge of reluctance, but he knew keeping those silver taels could prove troublesome, so he preferred to return them.


    Such a gesture might possibly leave a retreat path for potential future troubles.


    After all, caution can always lead to safety.


    In the governor''s office, social niceties were everywhere, allowing no room for negligence.


    Shen Qing slightly raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering momentarily on the silver taels, eyes revealing a thoughtful glint, he ventured, "Mr. Zhao, there''s no need for such formality between us. Since you''ve accepted the silver taels, they are yours now. I''ve always been clear-cut in my dealings. Your help in the past, I remember it well."


    Hearing this, Zhao Guanglu dared not completely relax his guard, hurriedly bowing in thanks, "Thank you, Lord Shen, for your magnanimity. I will certainly strive to be more diligent in the future, solving your worries and troubles. But I truly feel unworthy of this money, and I hope you''ll take it back."


    "Mr. Zhao, you''re being too polite." Shen Qing sighed deeply, accepting the silver notes, "In that case, I''ll take them back graciously. I''ll still need the support of the officials room brothers over here in the future."


    "Please rest assured, my lord. I will certainly give you all-out support, and Lord Huangfu had instructed earlier that nothing will go wrong with your matters."


    Zhao Guanglu spoke lightly, smiling as he did, selling a favor to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing laughed heartily, picked up a pen, and completed some handover procedures with Zhao Guanglu.


    After the handover, Zhao Guanglu did not linger in the study and soon left the Guardian Martial Department.


    Shortly after Zhao Guanglu''s departure, the entire Guardian Martial Department was filled with a joyous atmosphere.


    For the first time, many officers and subordinates of the Guardian Martial Department received their full salaries and felt extremely satisfied.


    Unconsciously, Shen Qing''s reputation within the Guardian Martial Department underwent a reversal, gradually rising, and starting to gain some control.


    He heard the burst of cheers from the courtyard, looked at the stack of silver notes in his hand, and remarked with emotion, "Social relationships, indeed, a good start."


    Over the next period, Yongzhou City remained peaceful.


    The demons outside the city seemed to have gone dormant, with no movements.


    After a period of busyness, Shen Qing found some rare spare time.


    In the following days, he declined some unimportant banquets and less critical matters within the Guardian Martial Department, focusing all his energy on cultivation.


    After more than a month of diligent practice, the results did not disappoint Shen Qing. With the help of the Wish Power Pearl and various precious medicines, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.


    In a little over a month, he pushed his Yu Luo Realm to the late stage.


    ```

 Chapter 258 - 84 The Change Is Too Big

    ```


    "Boss Wu, did you learn anything interesting on your journey to the Capital that you''d like to share with everyone?"


    Inside the Furui Xiang Restaurant, Wu Sheng, dressed in luxurious clothes, sat surrounded by a group of brothers. He picked up a piece of beef and put it in his mouth, teasing them: "Insights? Of course, there are."


    These days, for most people, reaching the foot of the Emperor was no small feat. Wu Sheng''s experience naturally piqued everyone''s curiosity.


    "Don''t keep us in suspense, just spill it. I heard there''s a princess in the Capital who is strikingly beautiful and her martial skills are unparalleled. Is it true?"


    A man at the table hurriedly stood up and poured Wu Sheng a bowl of wine, speaking anxiously.


    "You''re talking about Princess Yuzhen?" Wu Sheng lifted his bowl and glanced at the man.


    "Yes, yes, exactly her."


    Wu Sheng took a large gulp of wine, savoring it as he said, "It''s quite a coincidence. When I was there, I happened to see Princess Yuzhen returning from her cultivation session at Tianshu Temple, and I caught a glimpse of her from afar. Truly... a beauty out of this world."


    "Just how unparalleled is she?"


    "Like a celestial being descended to the mortal realm. Words can''t describe it; if you see her one day, you''ll understand."


    "I also heard Princess Yuzhen is not married yet. It''s hard to imagine which noble son would be so fortunate. Damn, just thinking about it is exhilarating." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wu Sheng glanced at everyone at the table and laughed: "Look at you all, only thinking with your nether regions, how unambitious. Princess Yuzhen is a Great Grandmaster of the Spirit Void Realm, with extraordinary Sight. Her looks are the least remarkable thing about her. In my opinion, being guided by her in cultivation would be the real fortune."


    "Heh heh, Great Grandmasters of the Spirit Void Realm have a lifespan starting at three hundred years. We know our limits, how could we even think of such things?"


    "Drink, drink."


    After a few bowls of wine, Wu Sheng couldn''t help but sigh with emotion: "Oh, after this trip to the Capital, I realized we''re just frogs in a well... An Innate Martial Master is the pinnacle for us here, but such cultivation is nothing in the Capital. It''s frustrating comparing ourselves to others."


    Just as Wu Sheng was lamenting, a servant from the restaurant weaved through the bustling crowd and respectfully approached Wu Sheng''s table with a smile: "Sir, there is a distinguished guest in the private room claiming to be the Vice Director of the Guardian Martial Department. He has specifically invited you, saying he has important matters to discuss. Would you be willing to meet him?"


    The servant''s attitude was extremely sincere, bowing deeply.


    Hearing this, Wu Sheng frowned slightly, muttering to himself: "The Vice Director of the Guardian Martial Department? I''ve never had any dealings with such a big figure, why the sudden invitation? It''s really strange."


    He had heard a bit about the Guardian Martial Department after returning to Yongzhou.


    He knew that the former Chief Officer, Zheng Yuanqiu, was a Huang Tian Sect traitor and had been eliminated. The new Vice Director had been promoted internally from the dispatch office.


    But even so, the Guardian Martial Department was an office that dealt with demons and traitors, and Zheng Yuanqiu was notoriously greedy, keeping everything for himself. Wu Sheng had no memory of ever interacting with anyone from there.


    A trace of doubt and exasperation appeared on his brow.


    He gently put down his wine cup and glanced over the people at the table, noticing their puzzled expressions as well.


    After a moment, an idea occurred to him.


    "You can''t afford to offend officials, so it''s best to go and meet this Guardian Martial Department officer and avoid causing trouble for yourself."


    Wu Sheng stood up, adjusted his clothes, and left a word with his brothers: "You all keep eating, I''ll be back soon."


    With that, he followed the servant out of the bustling banquet hall.


    Passing through corridors adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, they arrived in front of a tranquil private room.


    "Sir, it''s here."


    "Alright."


    The servant gently knocked on the door.


    "Come in."


    A male voice came from inside the private room, familiar to Wu Sheng.


    Confused, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.


    There he saw a person standing with their back to the door, hands behind their back, with an upright posture and impressive presence.


    As that person slowly turned around, Wu Sheng was greatly astonished, his eyes full of disbelief.


    "It''s you?!" Wu Sheng blurted out, his voice filled with shock.


    He never expected that someone he only had a brief encounter with in the past, who came to Yongzhou looking for a livelihood, would now be the Vice Director of the Guardian Martial Department.


    Wu Sheng remembered clearly that at that time, he had bragged about introducing a job to this person.


    How long had it been?


    The change was too great!


    Truly, one shouldn''t judge a person by appearances, just as the sea cannot be measured by the pot.


    Shen Qing smiled slightly, a gentle glow in his eyes. He stepped forward slowly and cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Wu, it has been a while since we last met. I apologize for the impolite invitation today, but I hope you won''t take offense."


    Wu Sheng hastily returned the greeting, his confusion dissolved, replaced by a sense of discomfort from the shift in status and natural awe towards officials.


    "No, no, it''s my honor that such a busy official still remembers me."


    At that moment, he felt somewhat nervous, unsure of why Shen Qing was seeking him.


    Shen Qing looked at the timid man before him and smiled slightly.


    If he remembered correctly, when he first arrived in Yongzhou, Wu Sheng hadn''t behaved like this when they met.


    Life''s changes were indeed unpredictable.


    "Don''t just stand there, sit!" Shen Qing gestured to a seat and said.


    Wu Sheng didn''t stand on ceremony and sat back in the chair with his head down.


    Shen Qing got straight to the point and began slowly: "Brother Wu, I invited you here to ask for your help with something."


    Hearing this, Wu Sheng seemed flattered, flinching slightly as if shocked, and before he could settle into the chair, he stood up again: "Sir, please tell me, if there''s anything I can do, I will certainly do my best to help."


    Shen Qing didn''t beat around the bush, going directly to the matter: "I know you have quite a few resources at hand. The Guardian Martial Department has recently been burdened with many tasks, and the demand for cultivation resources is growing. Therefore..."


    At this point, Shen Qing intentionally paused, his eyes deep as he looked at Wu Sheng, seemingly waiting for his reaction.


    Upon hearing this, Wu Sheng, though he had some expectations, was still slightly taken aback.


    It was known that the items he had were procured through officials at the county office and sold outside the Great Zhou system.


    Typically, it was officials selling and commoners buying.


    For an official like Shen Qing to come as a buyer was quite uncommon.


    As Wu Sheng remained silent, Shen Qing gently smiled and took a stack of silver notes from his sleeve, lightly pushing it toward Wu Sheng.


    "Brother Wu, I am looking for some Wish Power Pearls and Elixirs. Could you, Brother Wu, manage to procure some in the coming period?" Shen Qing''s voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a hint of coldness and an undeniable tone.


    Wu Sheng looked up, seeing Shen Qing''s piercing gaze fixed on him, sending chills down his spine and causing sweat to pour down like rain.


    ```

 Chapter 259 - 85: Unsuccessful Patrol, Punish Accordingly!

    ```


    "What, unwilling?" Shen Qing saw Wu Sheng hesitating and said with a slight frown.


    "No, no. It''s just that the Wish Power Pearl and Elixir are forbidden items within the court, not easily obtainable. Sometimes it depends on opportunity too." Wu Sheng spoke cautiously yet sincerely, "If you truly need it, my lord, I am naturally willing to help. However, this transaction..."


    Shen Qing suddenly smiled and placed a stack of silver notes on the table, "How about this?"


    Wu Sheng picked up the silver notes from the table and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.


    He quickly scanned them and found there were as many as three thousand taels.


    It was hard to imagine that just a year ago, he had fled to Yongzhou like an entire family "escaping disaster," and now he could casually take out such a large sum.


    Officials made money too quickly!


    Compared to them, Wu Sheng suddenly felt that his risky way of making money seemed quite unseemly.


    Besides, seeing those who were once beneath him quickly surpass him, his heart was troubled.


    He took a deep breath and suppressed his thoughts, maintaining a humble and respectful attitude as he said, "Lord Chief Officer indeed has a grand gesture. In that case, I''ll stick to the previous price, willing to give you four Wish Power Pearls and three bottles of high-grade cultivation-enhancing Elixir."


    "When can I receive them?" Shen Qing asked with a satisfied smile upon hearing this.


    "I went to the Capital not long ago and luckily have some stock on hand. I''ll retrieve them at home and arrange for them to be delivered to your residence."


    "Then it''s settled, I await your message, Brother Wu." Shen Qing stood up and laughed.


    He walked up to Wu Sheng, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Don''t worry, this won''t be our last time. If you have other good items like the Wish Power Pearl during this period, keep them for me first."


    "Yes, my lord."


    Wu Sheng was a bit puzzled.


    The Wish Power Pearl was indeed a good thing, but for a martial master in the Qi Hai Realm, refining one Pearl could take nearly a year.


    Even two or three Pearls were enough for someone in the Yu Luo Realm to refine for half a year.


    An ordinary person wouldn''t need so many.


    Why did he want so much cultivation resources at once?


    Could it be for his family?


    Wu Sheng couldn''t figure it out.


    Seeing Shen Qing leave, he breathed a sigh of relief and followed him out of the elegant room.


    Returning from the elegant room, Wu Sheng sat back in his seat, his expression somewhat cold.


    "What happened, Boss Wu?"


    Wu Sheng snapped out of his thoughts, plastered a strong smile on his face, and said, "Nothing much. Come on, drink!"


    After several gulps of liquor, he asked with about seventy percent unintentional, thirty percent intentional, "Brothers, let me ask you something? Has anything major happened in the Guardian Martial Department recently?"


    "Boss Wu, what a coincidence. While you were in the Capital, quite a few significant events occurred in Yongzhou, especially in the Guardian Martial Department."


    "What happened?"


    The speaking man, imitating Wu Sheng, began to be cryptic.


    Wu Sheng, losing his temper, kicked the man''s stool aside.


    The man fell to the ground.


    "Speak quickly or hold your peace!"


    "..."


    The man crawled up sullenly and recounted the events in the Guardian Martial Department during that time. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When he heard about Shen Qing slaying the Eagle Demon, annihilating the Wolf Demon, capturing the Cat Demon, and even reporting and arresting Zheng Yuanqiu¡­


    Each incident presented left him somewhat dumbfounded, unable to react.


    Wu Sheng couldn''t help but twitch his face, pretended to drink several bowls of wine, and acted calm.


    This guy was terrifying!


    Why on earth did he get involved with such a formidable person back then?


    It seemed this gray business wouldn''t be easy to continue in the future.


    Being held by someone like this.


    Wu Sheng''s face showed bitterness.


    In the evening, Shen Qing returned home.


    Wu Sheng indeed kept his promise, delivering the agreed-upon Wish Power Pearls and Elixirs to Shen Qing.


    Opening the wooden box, Shen Qing carefully checked and found that the Wish Power Pearls and Elixirs were all genuine.


    "With this initial collaboration, Wu Sheng would probably not refuse future transactions."


    "In this way, part of the cultivation resources issue would be resolved, allowing me to focus on cultivation."


    Having resolved one issue, Shen Qing felt much relieved.


    As for Wu Sheng refusing or being unfaithful in the future, he wasn''t worried at all.


    People die for wealth, just as birds die for food.


    Nobody would avoid profits.


    Moreover, since the other party was inherently engaged in these shady activities, he, as an official, had even more leverage.


    ...


    A few days later.


    As evening approached.


    The early summer sunset turned into an orange-red fireball, slowly sinking below the horizon.


    Bathing the sky in a golden hue.


    In Xin''an Square, pedestrians hurriedly packed up their stalls and bags to go home, while children played and frolicked, creating a scene of peaceful times.


    Suddenly, a scream pierced the air.


    Immediately, the sounds of chaotic footsteps and terrified cries mingled.


    "Murder!"


    "Murder!"


    "Help!"


    A burly man, with a fanatical gleam in his eyes, wielding a sharp blade under broad daylight, committed murder in the streets, killing several people in succession.


    Blood stained the stone pavement red.


    After committing these heinous murders, the burly man not only didn''t flee but raised a Yellow Banner high and shouted, "Heaven below, Yellow Heaven above, the Land of Ultimate Bliss, Taiping is near!"


    His voice was like a great bell, and the flag flapped loudly in the wind.


    As soon as he finished speaking, he threw aside the Yellow Banner and vanished among the panicking crowd like a ghost, disappearing instantly at the alley''s end.


    Shen Qing, who was cultivating at the Guardian Martial Department Office, rushed to the scene with Ji Youwu and his subordinates upon hearing the news.


    When he arrived, he found the street already crowded with people.


    The crowd stepped aside to make way as Shen Qing approached.


    Gazing at the lifeless bodies on the ground, his expression turned as solemn as iron.


    At this moment, shoving sounds came from behind him.


    "Make way, make way."


    "It''s just a few dead bodies. There''s nothing new about death in the city, move aside."


    Sun Ding, responsible for patrolling Xin''an Square, arrived leisurely with two officers, hiccupping from alcohol as he walked.


    Under his official authority, the citizens quickly stepped aside, bowing their heads and avoiding the commotion, distancing themselves.


    When Sun Ding saw Shen Qing already standing at the crime scene, he was dumbfounded.


    "Lord Shen!"


    Shen Qing turned to glare at Sun Ding and said, "Sun Chasi, I recall Xin''an Square is your patrol zone, isn''t it?"


    Sun Ding''s face turned pale, and he replied shakily, "Yes."


    "It is not yet the end of your shift, and a traitor dared to commit murder in broad daylight, openly challenging the authority of the court. As the patrolling officer, you allowed the murderer to escape, don''t tell me this is your usual way of patrolling?"


    "I, I, I¡­"


    Facing the undeniable truth, Sun Ding was at a loss for words.


    "Ineffective patrol, therefore punished!"


    Bang!


    Shen Qing pointed a finger, and a red stream of energy struck Sun Ding''s chest.


    Before Sun Ding could react, he felt a burning sensation in his chest and fell backward, toppling along with his subordinates.


    "I give you three days to capture the murderer, or face dismissal! I mean what I say!"


    Shen Qing''s eyes narrowed, his tone carrying the unyielding authority of an official, his anger intimidating.


    Sun Ding, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, quickly scrambled up and kneeled, "Subordinate, subordinate obeys!"


    ```

 Chapter 260 - 86: Hidden Mystery, Rumors Abound

    Shen Qing looked at Sun Ding in front of him, showing some dissatisfaction.


    Previously, under Zheng Yuanqiu''s administration, there were too many people in the Guardian Martial Department who were just going through the motions, and most of them were of little use.


    People like Sun Ding were not an exception.


    "Now that most of the trivial matters have been handled, tomorrow I''ll recruit Tian Xiaohu into the Guardian Martial Department. With Wu Sheng as a channel, given time, I''ll have some foundation and won''t have to rely on these useless people anymore."


    Shen Qing waved his sleeve and strode away.


    When night came, Shen Qing returned to the room and informed Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi of his decision.


    Compared to Tian Xiaohu''s excitement, Xiao Zhi seemed a bit disappointed.


    Shen Qing asked, "Xiao Zhi, have you found a new chef these days?"


    During this period, he was busy with government affairs, so he had left the restaurant to his uncle and aunt, elder sister, and Xiao Zhi to manage. He would only review the accounts at the end of the month to draw funds for use.


    Although the restaurant was not big, its daily income was quite a lot, especially after his promotion to Vice Director, the business became incredibly good.


    If he could find a good location later and open a larger restaurant, the daily revenue could multiply several times over.


    Now that he needed a lot of funds to support his faster cultivation speed, this restaurant could provide it, so he couldn''t abandon it.


    As the head chef, Xiao Zhi naturally couldn''t go to the Guardian Martial Department.


    Xiao Zhi said, "I already found one last year. This person comes from a family of chefs, learning the trade since his great-grandfather''s time. However, the family''s fortune declined from his father''s generation, and they lost the boss they served, so he''s earning a living here now. I find him reliable and intend to cultivate him."


    "That''s good, you cultivate him first. If nothing else, you can also use my identity to deter now and then." Shen Qing advised, "This restaurant is quite important to me, and I temporarily need you to support it. Rest assured, even though you can''t enter the Guardian Martial Department, you''ll still receive as much as Tian Xiaohu does every month. I won''t shortchange the old hands around me."


    Seeing Shen Qing''s serious look, Xiao Zhi''s previously gloomy demeanor suddenly brightened, as if filled with motivation.


    To be honest, he felt a bit unbalanced hearing that Tian Xiaohu was soon to become an officer while he remained a chef.


    But Shen Qing''s words eased his feelings, at least showing that Shen Qing still had him in mind.


    Xiao Zhi vowed, "Boss, rest assured, I will certainly manage the restaurant well and not spoil your business."


    "You handling things puts me at ease."


    The next day, Shen Qing brought Tian Xiaohu to the Guardian Martial Department.


    Under his arrangement, Tian Xiaohu was directly registered and donned the attire of a Guardian Martial Department officer without any obstruction.


    In the back hall of the Guardian Martial Department,


    Shen Qing looked at the newly transformed Tian Xiaohu and teased, "Indeed, people rely on clothes as horses rely on saddles. A new outfit has changed your demeanor."


    Tian Xiaohu said nothing, just grinned foolishly.


    His ancestors had been hunters in the mountains and never imagined donning an official''s attire.


    Thinking about it now seemed somewhat unbelievable.


    "Your cultivation is still too low; it doesn''t stand out in the entire Guardian Martial Department. Next, you need to find ways to enhance your cultivation as much as possible. I still have some elixirs, which I''ll give you later. Train first, and try to break through to the late stage of the Skin Forging Realm before the end of the year, aiming for the Qi Cultivation Realm."


    "Huh? The Qi Cultivation Realm?" Tian Xiaohu was somewhat shocked.


    He knew that in Yongzhou, the Qi Cultivation Realm was nothing special, but thinking about it being achievable for him was somewhat hard to get used to.


    In his concept, the Qi Cultivation Realm was already an extraordinary realm, considered prominent in Taiping County.


    "You have elixir resources and cultivation techniques, no weaker than those rich family scions. To be blunt, I''ve paved the way for you. If you can''t even achieve Skin Tempering and Qi Cultivation, then you should seriously reflect on yourself. The foundation of Zhou Country''s court can''t be compared with those martial halls."


    "Why else do you think so many people are desperate to get into the court?" Shen Qing raised his eyelids and said. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tian Xiaohu''s expression immediately turned serious.


    As Shen Qing said, if his cultivation didn''t improve even with such a well-paved path, he indeed would have no face to meet Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing continued, "However, compared to your cultivation, there are two more urgent matters I''d like you to handle for me; I don''t trust anyone else with them."


    Hearing this, Tian Xiaohu''s body trembled, and he quickly folded his hands across his chest, bowing deeply and said solemnly, "I will fully commit to whatever orders you give, sir, and will not fail you."


    Shen Qing glanced at Tian Xiaohu in surprise, realizing his quick wit as he almost immediately adapted to his new identity and changed his tone.


    He was a smart person.


    Retracting his gaze, Shen Qing said, "The first thing is that the merchants from Xinyi Square and nearby want to send their children to me. Help me screen them first; those without vision aren''t needed, the unmotivated aren''t needed, and those with poor bones aren''t needed."


    "After these three tests, recommend the suitable ones to me, as I plan to recruit more officers."


    These people came from ordinary families, with family members engaged in businesses, living in good conditions, and all from respectable families.


    They were just right to bolster the team.


    Tian Xiaohu nodded and said, "Yes, I have noted it."


    "The second matter," Shen Qing crossed his hands and placed them on the long table, his expression slightly somber, "Investigate yesterday''s Huang Tian Sect traitor incident at Xin''an Square for me, I feel there''s something suspicious about it."

 Chapter 261 - 86: Mystery Lurks, Rumors Abound_2

    "Suspicious? What''s so suspicious about it?" Tian Xiaohu asked, pressing for more details.


    Shen Qing recalled, "That Huang Tian Sect member didn''t seem like someone from the Huang Tian Sect. It was too deliberate, like they were trying to make everyone know they were with the Huang Tian Sect."


    "Do you remember how the members of the Huang Tian Sect acted back in Taiping County?"


    Tian Xiaohu reminisced, "As far as I remember, they seemed enthusiastic about spreading their teachings."


    "So if that person was really from the Huang Tian Sect, instead of secretly preaching, they came out in the open killing people, as if afraid people wouldn''t know they''re a traitor from the Huang Tian Sect. That''s definitely strange. Sun Ding challenged me before and lost. He surely holds a grudge against me. I''m afraid some might exploit this in secret. Do a thorough investigation."


    Tian Xiaohu quickly realized the hidden risks and promptly agreed.


    Shen Qing waved his hand, "Get to it quickly, and give me the results as soon as possible."


    "At your service."


    Just as Shen Qing predicted.


    The next day, a rumor spread like wildfire, quickly stirring up within the Guardian Martial Department.


    "Have you heard? The Vice Director plans to make a move against our Old Sun."


    An officer in a Guardian Martial Department uniform whispered to another officer beside him.


    "Ah, what''s going on?" the other officer asked, curious.


    "What else? Back in the day, our Old Sun attacked the Vice Director right in front of Lord Huangfu. Do you think if you were in charge, you could just let Old Sun off the hook? So many days have passed, and the Vice Director has been secretly preparing. Now''s the time."


    "The Vice Director is using the Huang Tian Sect traitor incident to violently go after Old Sun, saying he must capture the fierce beasts in three days. How could he manage to find them? It''s as if he''s pushing Old Sun into a dead end!"


    The person next to him nodded heavily, "Not three days, even thirty days, I doubt they could manage. The Huang Tian Sect moves like shadows. How could you find them in the vast expanse of Yongzhou?"


    "That''s not even the most outrageous take."


    "Go ahead."


    "I also heard, the rebellion in Xin''an Square regarding the Huang Tian Sect was actually all a conspiracy orchestrated by the Vice Director! His goal is to use it as an opportunity to bring down Sun Ding and gradually clear out the veterans in the Guardian Martial Department to replace them with his own men."


    A member of the Second Group added mysteriously, with hints of disbelief in his voice.


    "This... can''t be, right?"


    "Hard to say. You saw yesterday he recruited a new officer who just refined his bones. Now he''s recruiting new officers openly, so this theory isn''t entirely baseless."


    Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.


    Quickly, these wild rumors became the favorite gossip among the officers over tea and meals, and for a while, a state of unease gripped the Guardian Martial Department.


    However, Shen Qing seemed exceptionally calm amid the murmurs.


    He stood before his study in the back hall, watching the vibrant peonies and roses competing to bloom outside the window.


    "It looks like whoever orchestrated the Xin''an Square case is targeting me."


    Shen Qing''s brows gradually furrowed.


    He pondered attentively, wondering if he had offended anyone recently.


    Did they think he was easy prey?


    ...


    In Xinyi Square.


    In front of the Chen Family''s vegetable stall, a burly man trotted over joyfully, shouting as he ran, "Dad, Dad, I made it, I made it!"


    Old Chen, busy tidying up the stalls, looked up at his son with puzzlement, "Made what?"


    "It''s about what you asked me to do, applying to be an officer for the Guardian Martial Department!"


    "Ah, are you saying that Lord Shen agreed to let you become an officer?"


    The burly man nodded emphatically.


    "You good lad, really pulled it off. It wasn''t in vain, your father didn''t work so hard for nothing."


    Old Chen gazed at his son, tears welled up suddenly in his eyes.


    "Once you join the Guardian Martial Department, you must do your job properly, sever ties with those gangs, don''t end up like your brother, losing your life to those gangs."


    The burly man, Chen Guang, stepped forward to comfort him, "If it weren''t for my elder brother teaching me martial arts, how could I have these skills? Don''t worry, Dad. I will surely bring glory to our family and achieve great things. Even if I can''t, my son, my grandson, they will succeed."


    "Let''s not talk about hypotheticals. From what I see, Lord Shen is a good official. You should follow him diligently and refrain from petty crimes."


    Chen Guang grinned, "Dad, I know what I''m doing."


    "Alright, I won''t go on. I have to go on a trip to deliver some vegetables out of the city, if it''s too late, we''ll miss the Shi Chen."


    Chen Guang asked curiously, "Dad, don''t you usually deliver only to the Dong Family and a few big houses? Why go out of the city today?"


    "The Dong Family''s young master requested it. He has a house outside the city that needs supplies as well."


    Looking at the overflowing baskets and the spread of vegetables in front of him, Chen Guang grabbed the carrying pole, "Dad, you lead the way. Today I''ll carry the load for you."


    Old Chen intended to reclaim it, but facing his martial-trained son, he had no chance and just let it go.


    "Dad, you go ahead."


    "You brat. Alright, let your father relax for once. If it gets too heavy, let me know."


    Chen Guang, having already refined his bones, had hardened and rough skin. Carrying a load wasn''t a challenge for him. Understanding that Old Chen was concerned, he didn''t explain more and simply set off ahead.


    "Dad, hurry up," Chen Guang said as he steadily carried the hefty load of vegetables.


    Old Chen smiled briefly, fetching an old cane from behind the door, and catching up to Chen Guang quickly.


    Together, they passed through the bustling streets, swiftly exiting the city.


    They walked along a spacious official road for a while before Old Chen led the way, "This way''s closer."


    With that, he veered off the official road onto a path through the fields.


    Chen Guang followed closely.


    Looking around, they saw lush green fields, distant mountains layered with clouds, a scene reminiscent of a tranquil ink wash painting.


    They forged ahead silently, focusing only on their journey.


    After a seemingly endless walk, an ancient house came into view. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We''re here."


    Old Chen stepped forward, pulling the door ring and knocked.


    Soon, a man dressed as a Jianghu martial artist opened the door. After glancing at Old Chen, he fixed his gaze on Chen Guang behind him.


    "Who is he?"


    "My son, helped carry the basket."


    The martial artist squinted and grumbled, "Bring fewer irrelevant people in the future."


    "Yes, yes."


    "Come in."


    Chen Guang felt a bit confused but refrained from asking, following Old Chen over the threshold.


    As they entered and passed through the courtyard, lively shouting caught his attention.


    "Leopard, take it all, hahaha... Hand it over, hand it over."


    Chen Guang realized instantly, it was a gambling den.


    He said nothing more and followed his father, Old Chen, to the kitchen area, arranging the vegetables.


    At that moment, the Jianghu martial artist approached, pulling out a string of large coins, "Here, deliver another fresh batch in three days."


    Old Chen accepted the string, bowing, "Sure, sure."


    Pocketing the money, Old Chen turned to leave.


    Suddenly, Chen Guang felt his stomach cramp and hastily asked, "Gentleman, is there an outhouse here? I need a quick relief."


    "Behind this house, find it yourself."


    Chen Guang turned and said, "Dad, wait for me."


    He then headed to the back, discovering a low-built outhouse, and entered without a second thought.


    No sooner had he squatted down than footsteps and disgruntled mutters echoed outside.


    "It''s almost been three days. I''m fed up with this lousy place. When is the young master letting me go?"


    "Soon, soon."


    "I''m telling you, I have done everything the young master asked, killed the man, disguised as the Huang Tian Sect, but the promised three hundred liang gold ended up as three little goldfish, all lost gambling with you guys. You have to give me something certain."


    "Don''t worry, our young master always keeps his word... come, let''s play a few more rounds."


    After the sound of rushing water ceased, their footsteps gradually faded away.


    Once confirming they had left, Chen Guang pondered for a moment, quickly stood, and discreetly slipped away.

 Chapter 262 - 87 Summoned to Report a Leak

    ```


    Chen Guang exited the latrine without changing expression and found his father waiting in the back kitchen. He whispered urgently, "Dad, we need to leave here immediately and go to the Guardian Martial Department."


    His voice was low, carrying an undeniable firmness.


    Chen''s father heard him and was puzzled, "What''s the matter?"


    "Don''t ask. Just go."


    Old Chen knew his son''s personality well; he wasn''t one to fabricate stories out of nothing. So, he didn''t ask more questions, his face calming as he picked up a pole and silently followed in Chen Guang''s footsteps.


    Old Chen had been here before; the gatekeepers in the yard were familiar with him, so they just glanced at the father and son and paid no further attention.


    With a blank expression, Chen Guang led Old Chen out of the courtyard unhurriedly, quickly heading toward the ridge.


    The silhouette of the father and son gradually faded until it completely vanished.


    Once they were far from the manor, and there was no one around, Old Chen finally opened his mouth in curiosity, "What''s really going on?"


    Chen Guang answered without hesitation, "Someone inside might be related to the case in Xin''an Square. I heard that Lord Shen is ordering a thorough investigation. This could be an opportunity for me."


    He knew about the Xin''an Square case.


    A disciple of the Huang Tian Sect killed someone in broad daylight and then disappeared without a trace.


    For the past few days, the Guardian Martial Department had been searching everywhere for this person.


    Unexpectedly, the real culprit was hiding here. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And it seemed to be related to the young master of the Dong Family.


    But none of that mattered anymore.


    For Chen Guang, this lead might be a chance to change his own destiny.


    He had to grasp it firmly.


    If he could make a name for himself in front of the Vice Director of the Guardian Martial Department and hold onto Lord Shen''s influence,


    then, without a doubt, his future days at the Guardian Martial Department would be much better.


    This could even let him turn his life around in the future.


    After all, the right choice is more important than effort, and being with the right people is far more crucial than working hard blindly.


    This was the life lesson he learned mixing in the gang and proved countless times.


    Why did some people with similar cultivation skills eventually make a name for themselves while he did not?


    It''s simply because they followed the right leader.


    Once the leader made it, they naturally rose up as well.


    Those who initially didn''t follow the right person made mistakes at every step, and finding another chance to stand out later was very difficult.


    In short, this opportunity was one he could not miss no matter what.


    Right now, Chen Guang was anxious to return, quickening his pace involuntarily.


    Seeing Old Chen gradually fall behind, he gritted his teeth and directly carried Old Chen on his back, speeding along the way.


    "I can walk... put me down."


    "No worries, my martial arts training makes carrying you no problem at all."


    Chen Guang spent some time persuading his father, Old Chen.


    Old Chen, reluctantly, stayed on his back and remained silent.


    With no constraints, his excellent physique as a martial master now showed itself.


    He flew along the path and reached Yongzhou City in half the time it took to come.


    ...


    At the entrance of the Guardian Martial Department.


    Chen Guang stepped forward, clasping his hands respectfully toward the gatekeepers at the door, "Sirs, I am Chen Guang. I met you both this morning. Now I have an urgent matter and need to meet Lord Shen. I hope you can do me this favor."


    The gatekeepers eyed them up and down, somewhat remembering Chen Guang, knowing he had become an officer and colleague with them. Naturally, they did not stop him for no reason.


    However, some procedures for Chen Guang were not yet completed, so he couldn''t be openly admitted into the government office.


    The two gatekeepers clasped their hands, "Please wait here for a moment. Let me report to him."


    After speaking, one turned and entered the premises.


    Before long, the gatekeeper returned, nodded toward Chen Guang, and said, "Lord Shen has invited you in; please follow me."


    Chen Guang clasped his hands, "Thank you."


    "Dad, please wait for me at the entrance."


    Chen Guang instructed once more at the door, then followed the gatekeeper into the office.


    Passing through a few exquisitely decorated corridors, they arrived in front of a spacious and bright study.


    Inside the study, Shen Qing was dressed in official attire, sitting upright behind a desk, focused on reviewing the documents laid out before him, an air of authority evident without anger.


    Upon seeing Chen Guang, Shen Qing''s gaze fell immediately upon them. He gently put down his pen and scrutinized them, "I heard from below you wish to speak with me. What''s the matter?"


    Chen Guang''s expression grew serious. He quickly stepped forward, bowed, and saluted, "Lord Shen, I apologize for any disturbance my unannounced visit may have caused."


    He paused briefly before continuing, "I have urgent matters to report."


    "Please, go ahead," Shen Qing nodded slightly, signaling for him to proceed.


    "Yes."


    Chen Guang took a deep breath and recounted the conversation he unexpectedly overheard in the latrine, word for word, to Shen Qing, sounding somewhat urgent.


    Shen Qing listened quietly, his expression growing more serious.


    When Chen Guang finished speaking, a barely noticeable shadow gathered at his brow.


    He gently tapped the tabletop, deep in thought.


    Chen Guang''s gaze remained firm as he continued, "Lord Shen, I understand the gravity of this matter. That''s why I came here, daring to inform you. I swear that every word I heard in the manor is true. Those two didn''t hide a thing during their discussion. If I have lied in any way, then I deserve a terrible fate."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing thought briefly and then stood up, clasping his hands behind his back. "I understand the situation. You may leave now. Keep this to yourself, and do not speak of it to anyone."


    "Yes, my lord; I understand."


    "You are Chen Guang, correct?" Shen Qing said, "After you report tomorrow, you don''t have to rush into joining a group. For now, follow Tian Xiaohu, the agricultural tax officer, and work under him."


    Chen Guang did not know the internal specifics of the Guardian Martial Department, but he was not foolish; he naturally perceived a tone of ''favor.''


    He hurriedly thanked him, "Thank you, my lord."


    "You may leave now."


    Once Chen Guang left the study, Shen Qing pondered, "I''ve hardly interacted with the Dong Family, so why are they targeting me with such actions? If not the Dong Family... then it''s..."


    Shen Qing''s eyebrows knit together, as he thought of someone.


    "Dong Jing!"


    When it came down to it, this person initially showed an intention to approach him, but later for unknown reasons, gradually distanced himself.


    The two didn''t have major conflicts.


    But as time passed, people''s feelings inevitably changed.


    At that moment, Shen Qing suddenly remembered, he was present at Dong Jing''s disposal of Guan Yunjian, and he was the one who handled the aftermath, even falling in debt to Dong Jing for it.


    If recent rumors and gossip combined with this matter and were exposed, his position...


    Pfft, things might not end well.


    The matter of killing an officer could be trivial or significant, and if used well, it could completely bring him down.


    A chill flashed across Shen Qing''s eyes, his mind already about seventy to eighty percent sure.


    With this in mind, Shen Qing urgently called for Chang Sui, instructing, "Get Dong Chasi here, now."


    "Yes."


    Seeing Shen Qing''s stern appearance, Chang Sui promptly followed the order and departed.


    ```

 Chapter 263 - 88: Better to Take the Initiative as an Actor

    ```


    Inside Baihua Building, laughter filled the air.


    Dong Jing, wearing an officer''s robe from the Guardian Martial Department, sat surrounded by friends during his patrol, endlessly talking and laughing.


    The table was laden with exquisite dishes and fine wine, their aroma diffusing everywhere.


    "Brother Dong, tell us, how does the newly introduced tribute tea, ''Yunding Cuilu,'' compare to the ''Tai Long He Jing'' we drank last year? Which is superior?"


    A man in a deep blue Cloud Brocade Robe raised his cup invitingly, his eyes full of anticipation.


    Dong Jing smiled slightly, took a sip from his cup, closed his eyes to savor it, then leisurely said, "Yunding Cuilu, with its jade-green color, enters the mouth crisp and leaves a lingering sweetness, truly exuding a transcendent feeling; whereas Tai Long He Jing resembles a gentle beauty in the misty rain of Jiangnan, delicate and elegant¡ªeach has its own merits, hard to distinguish superiority."


    As he finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement, their laughter even more exuberant.


    "Brother Dong, aren''t you afraid that your new superior will hold you accountable for running out to join our little gathering during your duty?"


    A woman with a high-tied hairpiece teased while holding a teacup.


    "Him?" Dong Jing chuckled: "It''s uncertain if he can even keep his position."


    "Is there a story behind this?"


    "I''m not at liberty to disclose, just you wait and see," Dong Jing declared confidently.


    Those at the table exchanged glances, showing a trace of curiosity.


    A nobleman smiled and said, "I remember you used to think highly of this person, how did your attitude change so dramatically?"


    "That was then, this is now. After our gathering last year, I figured it out. We have prestigious status, how can we lower ourselves to be in the company of someone of his sort? Trying deliberately to get close makes me seem like I''m currying favor. Though I''m not a direct heir of the Dong Family, I''m still a member. I can''t lose face like that."


    Dong Jing''s remarks resonated deeply with everyone present.


    In their view, family background was paramount.


    Making friends without the right social match was truly a loss of face.


    A man with a gem-embedded jade belt around his waist set down his teacup, sighed, and said, "To speak of it, I didn''t think much of him at first, never expected he had some competence, breaking through to the Yu Luo Realm in such a short time and now holding the position of Chief Officer. It''s extraordinary, he truly is something."


    "Indeed, except for his humble origins, he does possess some skills."


    A woman in a pale yellow long dress said to Dong Jing, "Pardon me for being blunt here, Brother Dong."


    "Sister Qian, speak."


    The woman in the pale yellow long dress covered her mouth and laughed, "Given Shen Qing''s current status and position, if you try to approach him now, he might not even pay attention to you."


    Hearing this, bursts of laughter erupted around the table.


    "Indeed, indeed, that''s exactly the case."


    Dong Jing felt his blood energy surge, his ears turned red.


    Feigning a drink of tea, a deep jealousy and resentment welled up inside him.


    He approached Shen Qing because he recognized Shen Qing''s potential and to enjoy the glory of having followers.


    Now Shen Qing had climbed above him. Even ignoring family background, befriending him would mean humbling himself, effectively becoming Shen Qing''s follower.


    Utterly unjust.


    The more he thought about it, the more indignant and unfair he felt.


    As everyone merrily conversed, a Chang Sui dressed in a Guardian Martial Department officer''s attire hurried in, scanning the crowd until his eyes settled on Dong Jing. He respectfully saluted and softly said, "Lord Dong, Lord Shen has summoned you. Please accompany me immediately."


    With those words, the room was abuzz with surprise, eyes casting curious glances.


    "How coincidental, just when he was the topic, a message comes."


    Dong Jing regained composure, stood up, and clasped his fists towards his friends: "Everyone, please stay calm, it seems there''s something needed from us at the government office. Though today''s gathering was brief, there''s always tomorrow. Let''s meet again next time."


    "Go ahead, we''ll call for you later."


    Having said that, Dong Jing rose to straighten his attire, nodded slightly at Chang Sui, signaling readiness to depart.


    As Dong Jing and Chang Sui''s figures gradually disappeared within Baihua Building, lively chatter filled the room once more.


    ...


    Guardian Martial Department, rear hall.


    Incense on the desk curled upward, the subtle sandalwood aroma pervading the study, creating a refreshing atmosphere.


    "Dong Chasi, Lord Shen has been waiting for some time, please enter." Chang Sui led Dong Jing to the study entrance and stopped.


    Dong Jing nodded, stepped into the study, letting his gaze swiftly survey the room, and finally settled on Shen Qing''s stern face.


    He bowed and said, "Lord Shen, subordinate Dong Jing, here by command."


    Standing before the long table, Dong Jing maintained his usual respectful and calm demeanor, though internally he speculated on Shen Qing''s intention for this summoning.


    Shen Qing''s gaze lifted from the documents, directly staring at Dong Jing, as he spoke in a deep, powerful voice, "Dong Chasi, do you know why I summoned you?"


    A knot tightened inside Dong Jing, but he maintained a calm exterior, slightly raising his head to meet Shen Qing''s gaze, "If my lord summons, it must be important. This humble one is not astute, please enlighten me."


    Shen Qing gave a small smile, though within it rested a trace of barely noticeable coldness: "Dong Chasi, to be honest, when I first joined this office, you were quite accommodating, and I thought you trustworthy. However, lately, I''ve discovered some things that have made me suspect you."


    He found out?


    Dong Jing felt his heart skip a beat, turmoil brewing within.


    He forced himself to remain composed, "My lord''s words make me anxious. What might have caused this misunderstanding? I wish to hear clearly, to prove my innocence."


    Shen Qing stood up, paced slowly towards Dong Jing, his gaze sharp as a blade, "The Guardian Martial Department has been unrestful lately, and behind every disturbance, your shadow appears. Dong Chasi, did you truly think I, Shen Qing, am blind and deaf?"


    Dong Jing''s heart pounded. Drawing a deep breath, he endeavored to make his voice more sincere and innocent, "My lord, my loyalty to you is evident as the sun and moon. If there''s any misconduct, it must be a misunderstanding by subordinates, or someone''s deliberate framing. I''m willing to bear the responsibility, but I ask for a chance to investigate and prove my innocence."


    Shen Qing fixed Dong Jing with his gaze, falling silent.


    In truth, Tian Xiaohu hadn''t truly clarified the origins of the rumors circulating in the government office these past days, and Shen Qing was merely feigning.


    But even so, Shen Qing gleaned the information he wanted.


    After a moment, he sighed softly, his tone gentler, "Seems I misunderstood you."


    "Humbled and fearful," Dong Jing bowed in flattery, "The Guardian Martial Department admits no secrets, and my lord must have his own difficulties. Rest assured, I will do my utmost to assist you."


    "Hmm, I trust Dong Chasi''s character." Shen Qing gestured dismissively, "You may go now. I need some solitude."


    "Yes."


    Watching Dong Jing''s retreating figure vanish from the study, Shen Qing''s mind whirled with thoughts.


    He closed his eyes, using the Never Forget skill to meticulously recall Dong Jing''s performance just moments before.


    He caught the momentary panic Dong Jing exhibited when he thought he''d been "discovered."


    Indeed, something was amiss.


    Unexpectedly, this Dong Chasi under his command turned out to be quite the actor.


    Planning against me?


    Better to strike preemptively.


    Shen Qing instructed towards the door, "Bring Tian Xiaohu over, tell him I have matters to attend to." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ```

 Chapter 264 - 89: I Have the Upper Hand, Whats There to Fear

    ```


    "Sir, you were looking for me?" Tian Xiaohu, brought in by Chang Sui, said respectfully with clasped fists.


    Shen Qing responded coldly, "Find a reliable person to keep an eye on Dong Jing. Inform me immediately of any suspicious movement."


    Tian Xiaohu didn''t ask further and agreed directly, "Alright."


    "Remember to be discreet in your actions."


    "Understood."


    Tian Xiaohu cupped his hands and retreated.


    Inside a house somewhere in the Inner City.


    Dong Jing, who had just left the Guardian Martial Department Office, wore a heavy expression.


    ''I didn''t expect Shen to be so vigilant. He discovered some clues and started to distrust me. It seems I can''t wait for him to deal with Sun Ding and then make a move.''


    ''I must act in advance!''


    ''The corpses of Guan Yunjian''s two people were handled by me that day. They''re still buried in a mass grave outside the city. Killing his own subordinates, added to some recent rumors, these two things combined should be enough to ruin his reputation, leaving him utterly without authority in the Guardian Martial Department.''


    ''If so, I''ll wait a while to see what expression he''ll have when his past is uncovered.''


    ''Hmph, having leverage over him, yet he still dares to shout at me. Truly a fool. No matter how formidable he claims to be, it amounts to nothing.''


    Dong Jing sneered inwardly, gradually coming to a decision.


    However, before that, he must bring in the leader of the Huang Tian Sect rebels to bolster his prestige and ensure the plan goes smoothly.


    He quickly found a servant of the Dong Family and said, "Go find the leader of the Iron Blood Alliance and tell him that the banquet is ready."


    The servant nodded in agreement and hurried out, running toward the Iron Blood Alliance.


    Just as this servant exited through the gate, in a certain dark corner, Tian Xiaohu, along with Liu Youdao and Liu Youde, witnessed everything.


    "You two brothers follow him and see where he''s heading. Report back to me immediately if there''s any news."


    "Alright, we understand."


    Liu Youdao and Liu Youde quietly pursued him.


    Tian Xiaohu glanced around, adjusted the dagger on his waist, and hurried back to the Guardian Martial Department, appearing calm yet tense.


    Upon returning to the Guardian Martial Department, he went straight to the back hall without a moment''s delay.


    "Sir, there''s movement from Dong Jing. He sent a household servant immediately after returning, sneakily up to something."


    "Alright, I understand."


    At this stage, from all the signs, there was no reason to hesitate.


    Shen Qing didn''t delay. He continued to order, "Gather Sun Chasi from Group Two, Dong Chasi from Group One, and several of their officers. Tell them we''ve discovered the traitor''s whereabouts and to come with me out of the city to capture them."


    "Do we need to call Dong Chasi?"


    Tian Xiaohu questioned.


    Wouldn''t bringing Dong Jing along alert the enemy?


    "Why not?" Shen Qing countered, "Isn''t he an official of the Guardian Martial Department? Isn''t capturing traitors part of his duty?"


    Stunned, Tian Xiaohu had no response.


    "Go inform them. I know what I''m doing," Shen Qing said confidently.


    Immediately, Tian Xiaohu said no more and quickly went to notify the others.


    Watching Tian Xiaohu leave, Shen Qing curled the corners of his mouth into a slight smile and said, "If he doesn''t go, I can''t get rid of him in the city."


    When Tian Xiaohu found Sun Ding, he was holding a portrait of the "Yellow Heaven Sect traitor" and was searching for the culprit with his subordinates, completely at a loss.


    Upon hearing about the mission to capture the traitor, Sun Ding was taken aback.


    "The Vice Director only said to capture the traitor. You''re to gather quickly, Sun Chasi. Don''t miss the Shi Chen."


    After delivering the message, Tian Xiaohu hurriedly rushed to the next location.


    Sun Ding, his expression fluctuating, was uncertain about how things would develop.


    He pondered for a moment before rolling up the portrait of the traitor and hurrying back to the Guardian Martial Department to assemble.


    Similarly notified, Dong Jing was equally perplexed but, like Sun Ding, returned to the Guardian Martial Department one after another.


    In the backyard of the Guardian Martial Department.


    Shen Qing donned an off-white outfit, equipped with a treasure saber and an arrow quiver, and carried a longbow. His gaze swept across the faces of the assembled individuals. "Everyone''s here. Let''s set off. Chen Guang, lead the way."


    Chen Guang, chosen by Shen Qing, couldn''t help his eyelids from twitching. His heart pounded like a drum constantly echoing in his ears.


    But knowing that after he secretly allied himself, there was no turning back.


    He swallowed to moisten his dry throat and responded solemnly, "Yes!"


    Without offering explanations to Sun Ding and the others, Shen Qing took the lead, following closely behind Chen Guang out of the Guardian Martial Department''s main gate.


    At this point, Tian Xiaohu approached Shen Qing and whispered, "The news just came in. The servant went to find the Iron Blood Alliance. Now, their leader is also preparing to leave the city."


    Iron Blood Alliance?


    Shen Qing had some knowledge about this gang. They mainly ran gambling businesses and had aligned with the Dong Family.


    It seemed that after being temporarily deceived, Dong Jing was ready to act.


    Time was of the essence.


    Shen Qing called out ahead, "Quickly, pick up the pace."


    Hearing the call, Chen Guang hurriedly started a brisk jog, a sense of urgency rising within him.


    Having been entangled in this matter, any misstep before these prominent figures in the city could lead to his utter downfall.


    With a vigorous push off the ground, his body gracefully leaped forward.


    Reaching the city gate, he didn''t pause, swiftly passing through the familiar archway and charging outside the city.


    It was early summer, with a clear sky and lush greenery outside the city.


    Chen Guang took a deep breath, his Qi-Blood surging as he performed the Qinggong he wasn''t quite adept at.


    His body curved slightly, his feet lightly tapping the ground, like an arrow released from its string, shooting forward instantly. Within moments, only fleeting shadows and receding scenery were left behind.


    Shen Qing and the others, not to be outdone, applied their skills, closely following Chen Guang.


    On the forest path, shadows swiftly passed by. The leaves swayed with the gusts from their rapid movement. Birds perching on treetops were startled by the sudden commotion, fluttering upwards, their calls echoing one after another.


    Among the crowd, Dong Jing, seeing the increasingly familiar route, suddenly harbored a bad premonition.


    ''No way, I must be overthinking.''


    Dong Jing blended in amidst the group, quietly falling to the rear.


    After nearly a pot of tea''s worth of time, Chen Guang pointed ahead to the courtyard and shouted, "There it is."


    "Okay, follow me quickly and ensure no bandits escape." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing commanded, leading the charge at the forefront.


    The others dared not delay and followed closely.


    Shen Qing made a series of dashes, his toes tapping lightly. Then, like a sparrow, he spread his arms and landed steadily in front of the manor''s gate.


    Closely after him, Sun Ding and the others arrived one after another.


    Shen Qing turned his head and gestured to Ji Youwu, who immediately understood and stepped forward, kicking directly at the gate.


    "Bang!"


    A loud crash.


    The gate shattered under Ji Youwu''s kick, as fragile as paper, splintering into pieces, with dust rising.


    "Guardian Martial Department at work, bystanders keep away!" Ji Youwu shouted.


    ```

 Chapter 265 - 90: I gave you the chance, but you didnt seize it!

    As soon as the words were out, Ji Youwu moved with agility, charging ahead into the manor without hesitation.


    Sun Ding and the other officers followed in single file.


    "Who are you?"


    Two gatekeeping ruffians stepped forward with a fierce shout to stop them.


    Their words had barely left their mouths when Ji Youwu and the others drew their knives and attacked.


    A flash of silver, and heads rolled.


    Scalding blood spilled all over the ground.


    Ji Youwu and the others carried their blood-stained knives, stepping over the corpses as they walked into the courtyard.


    Dong Jing alone remained motionless.


    Shen Qing turned his head, leisurely saying, "Dong Chasi, why is your face so pale?"


    Dong Jing, somewhat flustered at the moment, explained, "I ran all the way here in a rush, I''m just a bit tired."


    "Then you''re quite weak." Shen Qing casually laughed, "In this world, there''s no land that''s been overly tilled, only cows that are worked to death. If you continue like this, you''ll end up worse than your subordinates, the officers."


    Dong Jing responded in silence, lowering his head to hide the panic on his face.


    He knew?


    Impossible.


    I''ve done it so secretly, the entire Iron Blood Alliance is under the thumb of my Dong Family; there''s no way they''d betray me or leak information.


    It must be a coincidence.


    It can''t be what I''m thinking.


    "Don''t just stand there; let''s go in and take a look."


    Shen Qing set off, walking inside unhurriedly.


    Dong Jing collected his thoughts and hurriedly followed.


    Entering the manor, Shen Qing glanced around, seeing the place brightly lit, filled with a cacophony of voices. Various people at the gambling tables were either joyful or angry, completely immersed in their games, seemingly paying little attention to Ji Youwu and his group abruptly barging in.


    "Nobody move! The Guardian Martial Department is investigating a case. Violators will be killed without mercy!"


    Ji Youwu''s voice rang out in the gambling house like thunder, instantly silencing the previously boisterous scene.


    Everyone cast astonished glances, none daring to move lightly.


    At this moment, a burly man dressed in brocade and holding a string of jade beads hurried out upon hearing the commotion.


    Seeing Ji Youwu and the others, he paused for a moment, then quickly put on a smile and said, "Honorable officials, what brings you here today?"


    "Enough with the nonsense. We''re here on official business," Tian Xiaohu stepped forward fearlessly.


    As he spoke, he asked Sun Ding for the portrait of the Huang Tian Sect traitor, comparing it to the faces present, his sharp eyesight missing no detail.


    As he walked, he loudly inquired, "Has anyone seen this person?"


    The people in the gambling house exchanged looks, shaking their heads in denial.


    Some showed curiosity, while others were disdainful, clearly not buying into this sudden search.


    "Haven''t seen him, we''re all honest people here, where would a thief come from?"


    A gambler shouted loudly, his tone carrying a hint of provocation.


    The burly man, restraining his temper, smiled warmly, "We''re all about legitimate entertainment here, not traitors. Could it be there''s a mistake, sir?"


    Saying this, he gestured with his hand.


    A subordinate beside him immediately handed over a pouch of money.


    The burly man stuffed the pouch into Tian Xiaohu''s hand, saying, "You''ve come from afar, weary from travel. Here''s a little token of my appreciation. Rest assured, there''s absolutely no rebels here."


    Tian Xiaohu remained unmoved, his gaze still firm, continually scanning the crowd.


    The burly man''s hand froze in mid-air, the smile on his face quickly fading.


    His tone turned icy, "What do you mean by this, officer? Do you know this is Iron Blood Gang territory, the Dong Family''s territory? Don''t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. If you provoke us, turn hostile with us, there will be no good outcome for you."


    "If you won''t consider yourself, you''d better consider your family."


    "Are you threatening us?"


    Shen Qing, carrying a bow and with one hand on his sword, walked in.


    The burly man recognized Shen Qing''s attire at a glance, his pupils contracting slightly.


    "Lord Chief Officer!"


    Shen Qing didn''t even bother to look at him as he brushed past, "Perfect timing. I have a young lord from the Dong Family behind me, and your boss is also here. Why not ask his opinion?"


    Saying this, Shen Qing turned and looked at the burly man, "I''m giving you one more chance. Speak up, and I might spare you from death."


    The burly man felt a jump in his heart, unsure of the situation.


    He glanced at Dong Jing, finding no indication from him, then said, "Lord, there''s really nothing here..."


    His words had not finished. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a muffled thud.


    A nearby subordinate''s head suddenly exploded like a watermelon, as if hit by a punch.


    "It seems you have not understood my goodwill." Shen Qing lowered his hand and said, "Chen Guang, share what you witnessed here with everyone."


    Chen Guang, hiding among the crowd, having been called upon, composed himself, took a deep breath, and walked forward under everyone''s gaze, cupped his hands, saying, "Yes!"


    Immediately, Chen Guang detailed everything he had seen and heard here for everyone present.


    The burly man and Dong Jing both showed shock on their faces.


    The burly man shouted harshly, "Slander! This is slander!"


    Beads clenched in hand, he swung a fist toward Chen Guang.


    Chen Guang was scared out of his wits.


    At the critical moment, before he knew what was happening, he saw the burly man who had just struck letting out a chilling scream and being sent flying backward.


    Chen Guang glanced over, seeing that the burly man''s right hand had vanished, a bloody stump spraying blood.


    "I gave you a chance, but you didn''t seize it!"


    Shen Qing wielded his knife, loudly commanding, "Search the place thoroughly, even if it means digging three feet deep, find the person!"


    Just then, a faint sound came from a corner of the casino, immediately caught by Sun Ding''s keen ears.


    His gaze sharpened, and he swiftly rushed toward the source of the sound.


    At this point, he clearly realized that the Huang Tian Sect traitor was here.


    This involved his future, not allowing him any sloppiness.


    Seeing the situation, the others followed suit and dashed over.


    Shen Qing turned to look at Dong Jing, smiling coldly, "Dong Chasi, who do you think the young lord they mentioned is?"


    Facing Shen Qing''s dominance and cultivation, Dong Jing knew he had no chance of winning; his face had turned bloodless.


    But with things not yet reaching the final step, he still held onto a glimmer of hope, gritting his teeth, saying, "Perhaps a cousin within my clan. Rest assured, once I''m back, I''ll bring him to justice."


    "Oh?!" Shen Qing cast a glance at Dong Jing, detecting a hint of fear from his behavior.


    Bang, bang, bang...


    Sounds of fighting echoed from the back of the casino.


    It sounded like countless pieces of furniture shattering.


    After an indeterminate time, the noise abruptly ceased.


    A series of footsteps approached, Sun Ding, looking rather bedraggled, pulling a man with him, throwing him at Shen Qing''s feet like a puppy.


    He clasped his hands, saying, "The traitor has been captured. Please decide, my lord!"

 Chapter 266 - 91: There Are No Eternal Friends, The Debt of Gratitude Has Been Repaid Long Ago

    Shen Qing''s figure slightly turned as he looked down.


    The traitor of the Huang Tian Sect had his arms and legs broken, curling on the ground and groaning.


    Tian Xiaohu stepped forward timely, gently unfolded the scroll in his hand, and presented it in front of Shen Qing.


    This was an image drawn based on eyewitness descriptions from that day on the street, a standard for capturing criminals.


    Shen Qing''s gaze wandered back and forth between the scroll and the traitor on the ground, carefully comparing the depicted visage with the traitor''s face.


    After observing for several moments, he confirmed without a doubt that this was the person who had committed the crime in the street that day. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing said with a long, meaningful tone, "To commit murder in broad daylight without regard for law and order, the crime deserves death."


    The traitor turned pale instantly upon hearing this, despair and panic flashing in his eyes.


    He lifted his head, only to see Dong Jing behind Shen Qing. Grasping at a straw, he loudly begged for mercy, "Lord, spare me! It was all under the command of Lord Dong, Dong Jing. I was merely following orders, had no choice!"


    The traitor''s voice trembled with fear, struggling desperately to approach Shen Qing, trying to save his life.


    Hearing this, Shen Qing''s lips curled into an enigmatic smile.


    He slowly turned his head to look at Dong Jing, asking, "Dong Chasi, do you have anything to say?"


    Dong Jing loudly rebuked, "How can a man of a noble family like me collude with the Huang Tian Sect? This is a baseless accusation! Damnable!"


    Suddenly Dong Jing''s right hand swiftly reached toward his waist, grasped the dagger''s hilt, and with a forceful pull, drew the blade out with a piercing metallic scrape.


    In the air, silver light flickered, the dagger cut a fierce arc straight toward the traitor''s throat.


    The move was so swift, it happened almost within a breath, leaving no time for anyone to react.


    The traitor''s face was filled with shock and horror: "Save me, Lord!"


    In a critical moment, Shen Qing gently waved his right hand, as his sleeve fluttered, a spiritual power quietly gathered in his palm, transforming into an invisible golden hand seal, falling on Dong Jing''s dagger.


    Bang!


    A surging force, like mountains collapsing into the sea, swept from the dagger.


    Dong Jing could not resist at all, the dagger flew out of his hand, embedding into the ground beside him.


    Shen Qing sternly asked, "Dong Chasi, what do you mean by this?"


    Seeing the situation, Dong Jing''s face grew even more sullen, and he said without hesitation, "This person is spreading lies, daring to slander court officials; he should be executed on the spot!"


    Shen Qing glanced up and down at Dong Jing, realizing he was in a rush!


    Just now, it was evident he had decided to go all out to eliminate any hidden dangers.


    "If one is upright, there''s no need to fear a crooked shadow. If it''s really like this, before the truth is revealed, why is Dong Chasi in such a hurry?" Shen Qing said slowly and steadily.


    At this moment, the traitor suddenly thought of something and shouted, "Lord, I have physical evidence. Lord Dong gave me three ''golden fish'' when instructing me, all engraved with words from the Dong Family Bank. If the lord searches this room, you will surely find them."


    "And, Lord, the reason Dong made me pretend to be a traitor of the Huang Tian Sect was to make trouble for you, to bring you down..." In his desire to survive, the traitor wholly revealed Dong Jing''s plans.


    Dong Jing shouted, "Nonsense!"


    At this statement, Sun Ding and others drew their daggers in unison, warily pointing them at Dong Jing.


    "Dong Chasi, how do you explain this?"


    "Just the defamation of a mere wanderer; why take it seriously, Lord?"


    Hearing these words, Shen Qing held his dagger, sternly said, "Both eyewitness and material evidence exist, do you take us for fools? These past days, all the rumors inside the government office appeared to originate from you."


    In his words, Shen Qing linked the recent events, and the plot''s outline became increasingly clear.


    At this point, facts had already triumphed over argument.


    Dong Jing knew well that he had torn his cover with Shen Qing, thus he had few scruples.


    His face gradually calmed down, he said slowly, "By the way, didn''t the lord owe me a favor before? As we are friends, why not let this matter pass, and today we settle our scores."


    When speaking, Dong Jing deliberately emphasized the words "favor," as if reminding Shen Qing of something.


    Shen Qing chuckled, saying, "The favor I owed you was repaid when I met you today; you just didn''t accept it."


    Dong Jing''s face quickly turned cold, "So, Vice Director, do you really want to go against me? Don''t forget, I have the Dong Family backing me. If I reveal that thing, do you think you''ll come out unscathed?"


    "You''re threatening me?" Shen Qing took a step forward, "Have you considered that behind me stands the entire Great Zhou Court, allowing no room for your insolence?!"


    "Fine, if that''s the case, don''t blame me for this; on the day you killed..."


    Before Dong Jing could finish, he only saw a flash of cold light before his eyes.


    Accompanied by a dull noise, a sharp streak of cold light swept beneath his chin.


    Splat!


    A grim wound suddenly tore open on Dong Jing''s neck.


    Blood gushed out like an unrestrained flood, continuously scattering on the ground.


    The air quickly filled with a strong scent of blood.


    Under everyone''s gaze, the wound on Dong Jing''s neck gradually expanded, eventually severing completely.


    Dong Jing''s head retained a shocked expression as it rolled to the ground.


    Shen Qing flicked his wrist, gently waving, shaking the blood off the dagger, as naturally as brushing off dust, then sheathed the long blade.


    His face bore no emotion, deep eyes cold and determined.


    Shen Qing looked down at Dong Jing, muttering to himself with a sigh, "In this world, there''s no such thing as forever friends. If there are, you are certainly not one."


    "You killed the Dong Family''s young master, the Dong Family won''t forgive you," a burly man from the casino roared, "You are doomed!"


    Hearing this, Shen Qing looked and scoffed, "What Dong Family''s young master? Both eyewitness and material evidence are here; this is a traitor of the Huang Tian Sect, slaying him was warranted."


    He called, "Sun Chasi!"


    "This subordinate is here."


    "You''ve done well this time, not only catching the traitor and bringing them to justice, but also capturing an accomplice of the traitor, accomplishing a significant deed. When we return, I will report this to the Chief Officer and Lord Commander, to honor you and reward you."


    Sun Ding rapidly processed his thoughts, comprehending the deeper meaning in Shen Qing''s words.


    This was meant to let him claim the ''merit,'' elevating him with the intent to support.


    Simultaneously, it aimed to use the Sun Family''s power to withstand the Dong Family''s pressure.


    Dong Jing was only a concubine''s son, his status in the Dong Family not high, comparable to his own.


    Now with eyewitness and material evidence in hand, if reported to his father and others, they could potentially leverage this to take a piece from the Dong Family, enhancing his standing in his father''s eyes.


    Weighing the pros and cons, Sun Ding realized this deal not only could be done but profitably so!


    At that moment, he was wholly impressed by Shen Qing.


    Working under him in the future might indeed be a beneficial thing.


    Without further hesitation, Sun Ding excitedly said, "Thank you, Lord, this subordinate will certainly exhaust all efforts, not letting the Lord down."

 Chapter 267 - 92: Kill Them All!

    ```


    "My lord... I, I am innocent, truly, I am not a traitor of the Huang Tian Sect."


    The ''traitor'' on the ground, upon hearing their exchange, felt a sudden pang of dread, sensing something terrible was about to happen.


    Sun Ding let out a cold laugh.


    At this moment, whether he was a traitor was not for him to decide.


    Just then, a deep and powerful male voice suddenly boomed like thunder from outside the casino, surging powerfully through the front door, rolling like waves.


    "Who dares to intrude in my estate? Are you tired of living?"


    Everyone looked toward the voice instinctively, only to see a group of fierce men in gray uniforms pouring in like a tide through the entrance.


    On their chests was a uniform embroidered "Iron" character that gleamed chillingly in the sunlight.


    It was the Iron Blood Gang!


    At the forefront of the crowd, a gray-white figure stepped out.


    He wore a gray robe, the contours of his powerful arms faintly visible.


    The veins on the back of his hands snaked like dragons beneath his skin, his fingers curved like eagle claws, enveloped with thick calluses.


    Dry, hard.


    Shen Qing leaned on his sword, casting his gaze on the leader, continuously observing and scrutinizing him.


    As the leader of the Iron Blood Gang entered, he had a fierce and evil demeanor.


    As Shen Qing observed him, he also observed Shen Qing.


    When he saw Shen Qing''s outfit as a Chief Officer and recognized his identity, his face suddenly changed.


    The famous Shen Qing, Vice Director of the Guardian Martial Department, was renowned across the gangs of Yongzhou.


    It was rumored that he had now reached the Yu Luo Realm cultivation, beyond what these Martial Artists of Jianghu could contend with.


    His heart trembled, silently cursing his misfortune for encountering such a formidable opponent. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he thought about this, he inadvertently glanced down to see the bloody head on the ground, his expression freezing further.


    Ah, Lord Dong was dead?!


    The main figure was gone.


    The leader of the Iron Blood Gang was completely shocked.


    An immediate desire to retreat arose within his heart, and he quickly bowed his head, "A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, my lord, please continue, we will leave now."


    "Oh? A misunderstanding?" Shen Qing''s smile deepened a few degrees, "When did your Iron Blood Gang start acting so cautiously, coming without notice and leaving so easily? Moreover, such a momentum just now echoing through the clouds, and now you say you''re leaving, doesn''t it seem too trivial and impolite?"


    The leader of the Iron Blood Alliance felt a jolt in his heart, a slight sweat seeping from his forehead.


    He knew well that today he encountered a tough one, and he gritted his teeth, continuing to negotiate, "The lord''s reprimand is justified. We indeed acted out of line. Please rest assured, my lord. I will personally handle this matter and prepare generous gifts to personally apologize another day."


    With those words, he turned to leave, his steps hurried, clearly wanting to quickly escape this place of trouble.


    But how could Shen Qing let him leave so easily?


    These people came under the instruction of Dong Jing, intricately connected with the Dong Family.


    Letting them leave would spell unknown consequences.


    Moreover, this Iron Blood Gang operated casinos, secretly working with the Dong Family to make setups.


    Forcing people into huge debts, selling off their family assets, bolstering the Dong Family''s influence, they were no good either.


    Better to kill them, once and for all.


    Saves trouble!


    Shen Qing''s figure flickered, lightly leaping up, transforming into a swift white shadow landing a dozen feet in front of the Iron Blood leader.


    An invisible pressure descended, compelling the latter to halt.


    "Since you are here, why not leave something? No need to wait for later."


    "Puff!"


    Shen Qing formed a seal with one hand, fully mobilizing the Spiritual Power within him, and jade-colored veins surfaced on his exposed skin.


    In the next moment, his Spiritual Power boiled like a volcanic eruption, gathering at his palm, emitting a bright crimson-golden glow.


    "Sky Flipping Seal!"


    The terrifying power was restrained within his palm by Shen Qing''s astonishing control, forging a crimson-golden hand that shot forth.


    An indescribable strange energy emanated from this hand, creating ripples that spread circle upon circle.


    Wherever it passed, even the air seemed twisted by this force, creating bizarre and colorful visions.


    Faced with this sudden deadly strike, the leader of the Iron Blood Alliance looked horrified.


    Concerning life and death, he did not hesitate to push his inner Qi to the extreme, his double claws instantly wrapped in rich black True Qi, like ghost claws, bearing the momentum to tear through all heading towards that crimson-gold glow.


    The two forces collided in the air.


    The Sky Flipping Seal hand struck overwhelmingly, like a rushing river, quickly penetrating the Iron Blood leader''s defense, imprinting onto his chest.


    At that moment, it seemed as if the air was instantly sucked away, leaving only a loud "boom," and the Iron Blood leader''s chest was forcibly caved in underneath the crimson-gold hand.


    He let out a miserable scream, his whole body like a stringless kite drained of life, helplessly flying back, crashing through the wall, and landing on the open field outside the estate.


    "Ugh!"


    The leader of the Iron Blood Alliance spat out a mouthful of filthy blood, unable to rise.


    "You..."


    The leader of the Iron Blood Alliance''s legs kicked a few times symbolically, but finally he fell silent, breathing his last.


    Shen Qing killed the leader of the Iron Blood Alliance with one hand in just two or three breaths, so fast it caught people off guard.


    "Run!"


    Not knowing which member of the Iron Blood Alliance reacted, shouted loudly, bringing the people present back from their shock.


    The once intimidating crowd of gang members became panic-stricken, running in all directions as disaster fell upon them.


    Shen Qing waved his hand, commanding Tian Xiaohu and the others: "Kill them all! Don''t let anyone escape."


    "Yes!"


    Tian Xiaohu, Sun Ding, and others were invigorated, rushing like wolves and tigers into the fleeing crowd, eyes red with killing intent.


    The gamblers in the casino, seeing this scene, dared not linger, scattering in all directions.


    Shen Qing had no intention of letting these people go.


    Learn from mistakes.


    Some secrets can only be truly kept by the dead.


    Shen Qing took the bow and arrow from his back, nocking arrows rapidly stringing them, shooting in succession.


    Each arrow he shot carried the power of heaven and earth, forming a crescent-shaped blade of energy, reaping life.


    Wherever it passed, no grass grew.


    All died!


    The scene descended into chaos.


    No one knew how much time passed until the noise subsided, the chaotic scene turning quiet once more.


    Tian Xiaohu and others, drenched in blood, returned to Shen Qing to report.


    "My lord, the enemies have been executed!"


    Shen Qing used the [Eagle Eye] skill to survey the area, ensuring nothing was missed before relaxing: "Very well."


    "Ha, the Dong family won''t let you off with this."


    Shen Qing glanced back at the burly casino guards, saying nothing more, simply executing a One Finger Seal Throat, indifferent to the so-called high-ranking Dong family.


    In the past, when I had no official position, I was bullied and watched my face; now, having become an official, do I still have to watch others? What have I become an official for?


    This bunch of freeloaders has had a good life for too long, it''s time to let them bleed, give the people below some breathing room.


    ''Colluding with the unscrupulous'' was not his option.


    "Search inside and see if there''s anything good." Shen Qing beckoned his men as they headed inside the estate.


    ```

 Chapter 268 - 93 Enhancing the Petty Cash, Expanding Influence

    ```


    Manor Front Yard.


    Shen Qing gazed silently at the row of trembling women and young men before him.


    This manor wasn''t very large, but it was well-equipped despite its size.


    Besides the gambling hall, there were plenty of food and entertainment facilities, and even many dedicated prostitutes to serve the gamblers and provide them with leisure.


    Both men and women were available.


    The women and youths before him were all young ladies from the city, from ordinary families, with respectable reputations. They had been forced into captivity and sold here by the city''s gangs for various reasons, gradually becoming mere tools for others'' amusement.


    "Master, what should be done with these people?" Sun Ding stepped forward, drawing his hand across his neck to suggest murder and silence, "Or perhaps..."


    Shen Qing lifted his chin to signal, "Have them register their information and arrange for our brothers to escort them back home."


    Sun Ding was momentarily stunned, thinking he had misheard.


    To him, Shen Qing was known as a decisive and ruthless figure, so why the sudden change of heart?


    "Are all the things found inside here?" Shen Qing glanced at several large chests behind the prostitutes, changing the subject.


    Sun Ding came to his senses, saying, "Yes, everything found is here."


    Shen Qing stepped forward to open one half-human-height wooden chest, discovering neat rows of silver ingots inside.


    This large wooden chest was half-human-height, one meter in length and width.


    He roughly estimated that it would take nearly two thousand taels of silver to fill it, and there were five such chests in total.


    In other words, there were at least ten thousand taels of cash silver just here.


    It would take Shen''s Restaurant three to five years to earn such an amount.


    It could indeed be considered a huge sum.


    Besides these five chests filled with cash silver, there were also two slightly smaller wooden chests found at the same time.


    Shen Qing opened them one by one, finding one filled with various pearls and gemstones, and the other with a variety of gold ingots, worth no less than seven or eight thousand taels.


    In this little casino, there were twenty thousand taels of large silver.


    Even Shen Qing, accustomed to witnessing grand scenes, showed a hint of surprise on his face.


    No wonder many gangs were keen to open casinos.


    Such a place of indulgence, guarded by force, truly amassed gold daily, ensuring prosperity.


    Alas, these people lacked finesse and couldn''t safeguard their wealth.


    Now it all belonged to Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing bent down, searching through the gold chest, and soon retrieved the three "Little Yellow Fish" the traitor had spoken of.


    He scrutinized them, noticing indeed as the traitor had said, the inscription of the Dong family''s mark¡ªevidence of their "collusion" with Huang Tian Sect.


    Shen Qing weighed the three gold ingots in his hand and then tossed them to Sun Ding, "These are evidence. Here, catch."


    Sun Ding hurriedly reached out to catch them, examined them briefly, and then securely stowed them away.


    Shen Qing glanced down at the corpses strewn about the ground and suddenly asked his subordinates, "Have you searched all the bodies, leaving nothing behind?"


    "No...nothing." The subordinates, a bit nervous, thought Shen Qing might be like Zheng Yuanqiu, extracting some from them.


    Unexpectedly, Shen Qing had no interest in such petty gains. Instead, he selected some silver from the chest, distributed twenty taels of cash silver to each person under his watchful eyes, and then nonchalantly ordered, "Send these chests to my house."


    Everyone''s faces showed a glimmer of delight.


    Comparisons are odious among goods, but comparisons among people are worse.


    Compared to Zheng Yuanqiu''s stinginess, they suddenly felt that Shen Qing was exceptionally generous, unanimously accepting Shen Qing''s embezzlement, replying in unison, "Yes, Master."


    Seeing that everything here was settled, Shen Qing had no intention to linger and instructed, "Now that the matter here is concluded, everyone, return with me to report."


    "Master, what about this place? Are we just leaving it as is?"


    "Burn it to the ground!" Shen Qing replied without hesitation. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Supporting the sword at his waist with one hand, he was the first to walk out of the courtyard.


    Ji Youwu and the officers hurriedly moved into action, fetching a large amount of firewood from the kitchen, throwing the corpses into the hall, and setting them ablaze.


    In the roaring flames, the officers guided the bewildered prostitutes back towards Yongzhou City.


    There were no burdens on the way here, so they traveled quickly, but with silver and prostitutes on the return journey, they couldn''t possibly move fast.


    It took them over an hour to walk to the city gate.


    Shen Qing divided his men into two groups, one carrying silver and valuables back to his house, the other escorting the lost prostitutes back home.


    "Xiao Hu, you take these women home," Shen Qing said, taking out a package and casually tossing it to Tian Xiaohu.


    "These people have suffered humiliation, and they might not be welcomed back. There''s tens of taels of silver here, give each three taels when you send them home, better than nothing."


    Tian Xiaohu was evidently surprised by Shen Qing''s actions, quickly praising, "Master, you are righteous!"


    Shen Qing waved dismissively, not caring much.


    "Remember, don''t give too much, or else it''s like a child flaunting gold in the market, everyone becomes a demon."


    Tens of taels, compared to what Shen Qing gained this time, were but one-thousandth, insignificant, but for these ordinary folks, it might be a life-saver.


    Shen Qing didn''t see himself as an overly kind person, but neither was he an inhumane villain.


    He simply felt that this world shouldn''t be this way and acted according to his nature.


    Tian Xiaohu didn''t fully understand but still diligently noted it down.


    After dealing with the matter of the prostitutes, Shen Qing watched as his subordinates moved the chests back home.


    After giving a few more instructions to Sun Ding, he dismissed his subordinates.


    Gazing at the treasure chests filled with gold and silver, he unexpectedly felt a sense of stability in his heart.


    The day''s work had yielded fruitful results, and his small treasury was enriched.


    With these savings, in the foreseeable future, he could procure various cultivation resources from Wu Sheng, seeking to enhance his cultivation promptly and not worry about superficial gold and silver concerns.


    That night, under Shen Qing''s instructions, Sun Ding tortured the "traitor," using coercion and temptation to solidly confirm him as a Huang Tian Sect traitor.


    At the same time, various pieces of evidence also proved the collusion between the Huang Tian Sect traitor and Dong Jing.


    Coupled with Zheng Yuanqiu''s previous example, the Yongzhou Government Office became extremely sensitive to the matter, paying it great attention.


    Following the trail assiduously, continually pressuring the Dong Family.


    Seizing this opportunity, the Sun Family took the initiative, and with Dong Jing''s disappearance, the Dong Family became highly passive, retreating continuously.


    Until, finally, forced to spit out some benefits, this turmoil gradually subsided.


    The Sun Family and some other observing forces gained considerably.


    Yet this had nothing to do with Shen Qing.


    With abundant financial resources, Shen Qing acquired another restaurant in a flourishing area of Yongzhou City, becoming a legitimate boss.


    Four months passed in the blink of an eye.


    During these four months, Shen Qing recruited troops vigorously, gradually expanding the Guardian Martial Department''s officials from sixty or seventy people to more than one hundred and fifty, becoming powerful and strong.


    Everything proceeded in an orderly manner.


    ```

 Chapter 269 - 94: Removing the

    ```


    The officers and the dispatch office recruited by the Guardian Martial Department recently were mostly picked by Shen Qing from respectable families within the neighborhood, as well as fringe members connected to the Thirteen Lines.


    These individuals were very clean, without any background, and were easy to control.


    Moreover, these people were chosen by Shen Qing himself after careful selection, which was entirely different from those who had come in relying on personal connections in the past.


    To put it bluntly, Shen Qing was their common sponsor, and the path they took was all through Shen Qing.


    They had a relationship with Shen Qing where they prospered together or suffered together.


    Furthermore, Shen Qing did not have the undesirable habits of Zheng Yuanqiu, never withholding others'' official salaries, and occasionally offering rewards.


    For a while, the past undesirable atmosphere of the Guardian Martial Department was swept away, with everyone striving to excel.


    Inside and outside Yongzhou City, the demons that had been raising their heads were once again suppressed by Shen Qing, and outside Yongzhou City became calm and peaceful.


    Such achievements also caught the attention of many officials in the county office.


    Military Department.


    Summoned, Shen Qing, dressed in a neat official uniform, walked steadily into the main hall, bowed, and saluted, his voice clear and powerful, "Greetings, Lord Jia, Greetings, Lord Huangfu."


    In the main hall, Jia Zhiping sat at the head, his demeanor radiating an aura of natural authority without anger.


    Huang Furo, wearing a plain white attire, stood by Jia Zhiping''s side with her hands clasped.


    Commander Jia Zhiping examined Shen Qing, nodding with satisfaction. He gently raised his hand, signaling Shen Qing to dispense with formalities.


    "Vice Chief Shen, do you know why we summoned you here?"


    "Subordinate is dull and does not know."


    "Haha, Vice Chief Shen, your recent performance in governance has been clearly seen by both me and Lord Huangfu." Jia Zhiping''s voice was steady and powerful, revealing a high evaluation of Shen Qing, "Today, I have decided to officially promote you to the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department."


    The admiration in Commander Jia Zhiping''s eyes was undisguised.


    Standing by, Huang Furo also nodded in agreement and said, "Chief Officer Shen is both wise and courageous, repeatedly achieving great success. Today''s promotion to Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department is well deserved."


    The difference between Chief Officer and Deputy Chief Officer was only one character, but the nature was completely different.


    With the "Deputy" character removed from the position title, it was somewhat considered as entering the ranks of the Yongzhou elite.


    Even children from those high-ranking families could not speak loudly in front of him.


    Shen Qing realized that his actions in recent months had gained recognition from his superiors.


    But he did not become arrogant or insensible, speaking modestly and calmly, "Thank you, Commander Jia, and Lord Huangfu, for your favor. I, Shen, will certainly live up to expectations, continue to be diligent and responsible, and exert all efforts for the Military Department and the people."


    "Good, there''s no need for these polite words." Commander Jia Zhiping stood up from his high position and said, "Tomorrow marks the day when the Lord Governor recovers from his injuries and emerges from seclusion. It''s a good opportunity for you to also go with us to meet the Lord Governor."


    "Humbly obey the order." Shen Qing clasped his fists respectfully and said.


    Commander Jia Zhiping nodded. After explaining all matters, he quickly walked into the back hall.


    Huang Furo remained in place and did not leave.


    After Jia Zhiping''s figure disappeared in the main hall, she took two steps toward Shen Qing and reminded him, "The Lord Governor failed to slay the Snake Demon before and was injured, losing face. With his temperament, he certainly won''t swallow this humiliation easily. Tomorrow, besides our people from the county office, the Lord Governor has also summoned the heads of the Thirteen Lines to jointly discuss the grand plan to slay demons."


    "The things you did before did not escape the eyes of the Dong Family. They just turned a blind eye and did not dwell on them with you, so don''t provoke them when you see them tomorrow."


    Shen Qing''s heart tightened. He nodded and said, "Thank you, Lord Huangfu, for the reminder. This subordinate will remember."


    "Yes, besides this, there is one more thing."


    Huang Furo looked at Shen Qing with a serious expression and said, "Regarding your previous statement about the Zhou Family being in collusion with demons, I secretly investigated and found some suspicious elements."


    "What do you mean?" Shen Qing asked eagerly.


    The day he had slain the Cat Demon, there seemed to be a Great Demon standing behind it.


    Now the opponent was in the dark, while he was out in the open.


    The lack of clarity on this matter left a knot in his heart, difficult to untangle.


    Huang Furo explained gently, "I investigated and found that throughout the past year, the Zhou Family has taken in many servants, far more than in previous years. Among them, there were quite a few martial masters, but strangely, after recruiting so many, the Zhou Family Mansion remained as it was, with no changes in terms of food and clothing or living appearance."


    "Logically, with more people, food and expenses should increase, but they have not. These people seem to have disappeared into thin air." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing''s face darkened as he said, "So these people should have been eaten by demons, right?"


    Huang Furo silently nodded.


    It was well known that demons had a taste for humans.


    If the Zhou Family was in collusion with demons, they would certainly provide some people as food, and the disappearance of people would rightly confirm this point.


    Huang Furo said, "The Zhou Family should be in league with demons, and this demon''s cultivation is likely not low, possibly already transformed."


    Shen Qing''s expression froze.


    If transformed, it would at least be comparable to the Dan Realm or even Innate Realm existence.


    Such a demon, lurking in the shadows, would have little hope of defeating him if it came to kill him.


    "My Lord, what do you think?" Shen Qing gathered his thoughts and asked.


    Huang Furo said, "Such a transformed demon already possesses intelligence no different from humans, with its own preferences, and even if it eats people, it wouldn''t do so indiscriminately like other demons. The demon lurking in the Zhou Family only needs its desire suppressed to not reveal itself, making it hard for outsiders to detect."


    "So a transformed demon lurking in the busy city, within a prestigious family, wouldn''t do so just for some mere food supplies. The Zhou Family''s cooperation must have other purposes."


    "The urgent task is to find out what they are really after. Otherwise, we will forever guess blindly without an answer."


    After listening to Huang Furo''s analysis, Shen Qing was thoughtful.


    At this moment, he suddenly thought of the same Zhou Family in Changqiao Town and the same collusion with demons.


    Could this be a coincidence?!


    Shen Qing felt it was unlikely. His intuition told him there was some vague connection here.


    He thought for a moment and asked, "Lord Huangfu, do you know about the Spirit Mechanism Land?"


    "Spirit Mechanism Land?"


    Huang Furo frowned, pondering, "I''ve heard a bit about it. It is said that the Spirit Mechanism Land contains the Supreme Spiritual Mechanism, which can elevate beings beyond the ordinary, and there are even rumors of the Secret of Longevity."


    "But this is the heretical talk of the Huang Tian Sect, which is strictly banned for dissemination and discussion by the court. Where did you hear about it?"


    Shen Qing looked directly into Huang Furo''s eyes and said, "I suspect that the Zhou Family''s collusion with demons has something to do with the Spirit Mechanism Land!"


    ...


    Upon leaving the Military Department, Shen Qing felt a growing heaviness in his heart.


    After communicating with Huang Furo, he felt that a dark cloud was looming over Yongzhou''s sky, gradually spreading out without anyone noticing.


    This was not good news.


    People who do not plan for the future will be troubled by present worries.


    With a thought, Shen Qing brought the information on the Water Ink Panel to the surface...


    ```

 Chapter 270 - 95: Skills Break Through in Pairs

    "Just a little bit more."


    Shen Qing felt an urgency in his push for strength, unwilling to waste any time as he glanced at the information on the Water Ink Panel within his sight.


    He noticed that it was still early, and there wasn''t much pressing business at the Guardian Martial Department Office at the moment, so he left the Military Department Office and mounted his horse.


    With a crisp crack of the whip, the horse beneath him shot forward like an arrow from a bow, carrying him towards a valley outside the city amidst neighs and whinnies. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the past four or five months, he often patrolled the area, and after each patrol, he would hunt with a regular bow and arrow to hone his skill.


    After all these days, he had thoroughly explored the mountains outside the city.


    Among them, he found several places quite suitable for martial masters to train.


    Shen Qing rode out of the city, and before long, a tranquil and profound gorge appeared before his eyes.


    Here, ancient trees towered into the sky, mist curled around, and besides the occasional chirping of birds and roaring of beasts, it was incredibly peaceful.


    Shen Qing reined in his horse and stopped, gently stroking the smooth mane of his steed beneath him, then lightly leaped off the horse to stand on the ground.


    He took down the heavy bow from the horse''s back and casually tossed the reins.


    The horse, as if used to this routine, walked to the small stream and drank the valley water.


    With steady steps, Shen Qing strode into an open area with his bow and arrow.


    He stopped, looked around, and then deftly removed the arrow quiver from his back, planting it firmly in the ground with a precise and strong motion.


    Shen Qing slightly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and his expression suddenly became unusually serious.


    The surrounding scenery seemed to subtly change with his mood, becoming clearer and more vivid.


    Shen Qing slowly drew an arrow from the quiver and placed it steadily on the bowstring, gripping the bow tightly with both hands, muscles taut.


    With a deep, powerful exhale, Shen Qing suddenly pulled back the bowstring, and strength converged in an instant.


    He abruptly released it, and the arrow shot forth like lightning, tearing through the sky with an unstoppable force, aiming straight for the distance.


    The arrow streaked through the air with a whistling sound, leaving a long trail on the ground.


    Boom!


    In the distance, an ancient tree was shot in half by Shen Qing.


    Without pausing, he quickly nocked another arrow following that shot.


    Thud!


    The arrow left the string and pierced through the air.


    Thud, thud...


    His movements became faster, arrows as dense as raindrops, each shot perfectly precise and powerful as if sweeping away clouds and shocking the heavens.


    In one go, Shen Qing emptied the entire quiver of arrows.


    After doing so, he spread his arms and dashed forward, moving nimbly through the mountain forest while continuously launching the Sky Flipping Seal against various strange rocks and ancient trees.


    Golden rays erupted constantly, accompanied by roaring sounds.


    In this manner, he destructively made his way to the makeshift "shooting range" he had set up.


    He carefully gathered the arrows and returned to his original spot to repeat the process.


    Until the sun set, casting a glowing golden hue over the valley, Shen Qing finally stopped his arduous practice.


    By then, he felt waves of hunger fill his body, and his Qi Sea became calm and depleted.


    A sense of satisfaction welled up within Shen Qing.


    Feeling this way indicated he had exhausted all the power within his flesh and blood.


    The energy inside him craved the external world immensely.


    Shen Qing remained composed, operating the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique while taking out a Treasure Pill as white as jade.


    This pill was called Yuye Qionghua Dan, which he had procured from Wu Sheng.


    It was said that this Yuye Qionghua Dan was a common elixir used by the noble sons of the Capital City during cultivation, providing great assistance in recovery and improving cultivation.


    Each pill cost ten taels of gold, making it extremely precious.


    During this period of training, Shen Qing consistently used this pill and found it to be an excellent experience.


    He tossed the pill into his mouth, allowing it to dissolve into a thin stream as it slid down his throat.


    In an instant, an unprecedented warm current surged from his Dantian.


    Shen Qing felt as though countless spiritual powers converged into a sea within him, and the once dry and exhausted Qi Sea became filled with endless vitality and strength at that moment.


    Every inch of muscle, every bone, seemed to be reforged, bursting forth with vibrant vitality.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, savoring the abundant power within him, and could not help but form a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.


    "It seems about right."


    In his vision, a drop of water ink fell from the void and, after spreading out, condensed into lines of water ink text.


    [Skill: Heavenly Bow Technique (Mastery)]


    [Progress: 801/800 points]


    [Status: Can be improved]


    [Note: Learning diligently is like a seedling growing in spring; though not noticeable, it grows daily. Neglecting to study is like sharpening a knife; though not noticeable, it dulls daily. You have not slackened for a moment in your training of the Bow Technique; your ceaseless effort has met the conditions for a breakthrough in the Heavenly Bow Technique. After the breakthrough, there is a certain probability that the "Eagle Eye" skill will evolve, enabling you to awaken Divine Sense and perceive changes within a five hundred meter radius.]


    [Skill: Sky Flipping Seal (Small Success)]


    [Progress: 802/800 points]


    [Status: Can be improved]


    [Note: Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, there can be no rivers or seas. Your continuous practice has pushed the Sky Flipping Seal to a breakthrough state. Refining the Sky Flipping Seal to the level of mastery can harness the power of heaven and earth to evolve into the Sky Flipping Seal, crushing mercilessly, resulting in a shockingly tragic death for those struck, although it consumes a significant amount of spiritual power.]


    ...


    Seeing the two Water Ink Panels pop up in his field of vision, Shen Qing let out a long breath in his heart.


    "After so much cultivation, these two cultivation techniques can finally break through."


    Without delay, Shen Qing focused his mind: "Heavenly Bow Technique, breakthrough!"


    "Sky Flipping Seal, breakthrough!"


    As if sensing Shen Qing''s command, the information on the Water Ink Panel instantly refreshed.


    [Skill: Heavenly Bow Technique (Small Success)]


    [Progress: 1/900 points]


    [Skill: Sky Flipping Seal (the level of mastery)]


    [Progress: 2/900 points]


    At the moment the skills information on the panel refreshed, two enormous streams of memories distinctly surged into Shen Qing''s mind.


    He groaned quietly, enduring the discomfort while slowly processing these vast memories.


    Soon, the familiar feeling of day and night training in the Heavenly Bow Technique and Sky Flipping Seal surged back to his heart.


    Shen Qing slowly opened his eyes, scanned his surroundings, and concentrated with a calm mind.


    In the next moment, his expression showed surprise.


    Shen Qing realized that with just a little sensing, the wind''s rustling, the chirping of insects and birds within a five hundred-meter radius, and even the faint fluctuations of spiritual power further away were vividly imprinted in his mind, making him feel omniscient.


    This was precisely the "Eagle Eye" skill transformation brought about by the breakthrough of the Heavenly Bow Technique, allowing him to refine a trace of Divine Sense.


    Relying on this Divine Sense, his perception transcended the five senses, regardless of distance or visibility.


    "So this is how it feels to possess Divine Sense, truly amazing."


    "In the future, if I use this perception combined with every arrow hits the mark, I can kill invisibly, catching others off guard. Even if I can''t kill the opponent, I can withdraw in time, proving greatly useful to me!"

 Chapter 271 - 96 Yongzhou Elites

    ```


    "Since the Heavenly Bow Technique is like this, what about the Sky Flipping Seal?"


    Shen Qing licked his dry lips, unable to help but feel a bit of anticipation.


    He briefly recalled and mobilized the spiritual power within his body.


    Under his intentional movement, the Qi Sea turned turbulent, countless strands of spiritual power erupted as if about to break free from the body''s restraints.


    Shen Qing no longer hesitated; he formed the Sky Flipping Seal with his hands. Instantly, the spiritual power surrounding him boiled over, transforming into a vast force that converged in his palms.


    He pressed down with both hands, and the power of mastery of the Sky Flipping Seal exploded with a roar.


    The sky and earth changed color as the force of heaven and earth he invoked formed into a massive Sky Flipping Seal, bearing an apocalyptic momentum as it slammed down into the void.


    With one strike, it was as if the sky collapsed and the earth overturned, mountains and rivers reversed.


    A gigantic rock in the distance, the size of Xiao Shan, could not withstand such power and was directly shattered.


    Countless fragments tumbled down like rain.


    Shen Qing stared at the scene before him, eyes wide in disbelief.


    He looked down, dumbfounded, at his own palms.


    If this Sky Flipping Seal had hit a person''s flesh, the one struck would undoubtedly be shattered to pieces, dying a horrific death.


    "If I could add the power of Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, burst forth tenfold, now even facing that snake demon, I wouldn''t be entirely without a chance to retaliate."


    Shen Qing, slightly pale, had excitement and satisfaction flickering in his eyes.


    "It''s just a pity that behind this powerful attack, there''s also a high consumption of spiritual power. My current cultivation can''t support such moves. Using it once or twice would leave me exhausted."


    "I must breakthrough to the Dan Realm quickly."


    Shen Qing murmured to himself, having made some decisions in his heart.


    The setting sun was like blood, evening clouds filled the sky.


    Watching as the sun slowly sunk below the horizon, Shen Qing didn''t linger long in place before mounting his horse to return.


    Upon arriving home, as usual, he consumed nourishing items and after a medicinal bath, began to meditate, using the Wish Power Pearl to enhance his cultivation.


    At his current realm, he rarely slept as he once did, with the sleep of ordinary people occurring only occasionally.


    Most of the time, he meditated instead.


    Come the next morning, as dawn broke and the sky gradually turned gold,


    the gentle golden light of the morning sun filtered through the window slats onto Shen Qing''s handsome face, giving it a faint golden glow, adding a transcendent and rarefied aura.


    Shen Qing slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes, filled with an unprecedented strength and vitality.


    Every time he used the Wish Power Pearl to meditate, refining his spiritual power, it invigorated him, leaving him in an unprecedented good state after concluding his meditation.


    "Almost there, time to prepare to go to the county government."


    Currently, the Prefectural Governor spoke of leaving retreat, or more plainly, recovering from a major illness.


    Although he mentioned no grand banquet or elaborate event, as a subordinate, Shen Qing knew better than to show up empty-handed.


    Thus, he took a Yuye Qionghua Dan from home to bring along.


    This elixir wasn''t common in Yongzhou, but not extremely rare either.


    In a bustling place like the Capital City, it was still practical.


    In terms of value, it was just right for someone like Shen Qing, who stood as a rising power in the aristocracy.


    Bearing gifts, Shen Qing did not delay and headed straight for the county government.


    The Prefectural Governor''s residence was located at the very core of Yongzhou, occupying two streets, quite sizeable.


    When Shen Qing arrived, it was peak time and the area before the government was bustling, reminiscent of a market.


    Carriages from various households came and went incessantly, each carrying heavy gift boxes, handled with care by servants from these families, transported one by one into the deep gates of the county government.


    These were evidently vehicles of moguls like the Thirteen Lines and other commercial giants. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing stood outside this array of carriages, undisturbed by the scene before him.


    With a calm face, he stepped forward to announce himself to the guards at the gate, his voice clear and strong: "I am the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department, Shen Qing, here to pay respects to Lord Governor upon hearing of his exit from retreat."


    The guard, upon hearing this, sized up Shen Qing, noticing his extraordinary demeanor, dared not slight him, and promptly informed the Chang Sui.


    Shortly, a kindly-faced Chang Sui in blue robes hurried over, bowed slightly to Shen Qing, and politely said: "Lord Shen, please follow me."


    Shen Qing nodded, handing over his gift to the Prefectural Governor''s servant to register his name.


    Then he followed the Chang Sui, passing through complex courtyards and winding corridors, arriving before a spacious and bright hall.


    The Chang Sui stopped, speaking softly: "Lord Shen, please wait here while I go announce your presence."


    With that, the Chang Sui turned and entered the hall.


    Standing outside, Shen Qing faintly heard murmured conversations within the hall, indicating quite a few people were already present.


    Inside, these people should be the Family Heads of the Thirteen Noble Families and other prominent dignitaries of Yongzhou City.


    Here gathered what could be said to be the wealthiest and most powerful of Yongzhou''s cultivators.


    Shen Qing didn''t have to wait long.


    Shortly after, the Chang Sui reappeared, smiling, and gestured for Shen Qing to enter: "Mr. Shen, Lord Governor invites you in."


    Shen Qing tidied his attire, stepped over the hall threshold, and entered with a composed expression.


    Inside the county office, lights shone brightly.


    Bai Mu, the Prefectural Governor, was seated at the main seat, his black hair not yet frosted, his complexion slightly pale with a sickly appearance. Yet, his broad shoulders and long arms, even so, with his burly stature emanated an undeniable forcefulness.


    Below the main seat, two rows of chairs were meticulously arranged, seating the Family Heads of the Thirteen Noble Families and prominent county officials.


    Shen Qing scanned the area, noticing several seats were unfilled, indicating many had yet to arrive.


    Among the many seated figures, he caught sight of Huang Furo.


    Today, she wore official attire with a black belt at the waist, sitting quietly behind a middle-aged man with a stern face.


    Upon closer inspection, Huang Furo and this middle-aged man bore similarities in appearance.


    One could easily deduce that this middle-aged man was likely Huangfu Chuan, the Family Patriarch and Huang Furo''s father.


    Huangfu Chuan seemed to sense Shen Qing''s gaze and smiled slightly, nodding in greeting.


    Shen Qing nodded back in response.


    Withdrawing his gaze, he stepped forward, neither obsequious nor arrogant, and cupped his hands in salute: "Subordinate Chief Officer of Guardian Martial Department, Shen Qing, heard you exited retreat and came to pay his respects to you, my lord."


    Bai Mu, seated at the chief position, lowered his gaze and smiled: "I''ve heard of your deeds during my retreat, a paragon among the young in the county office."


    Shen Qing quickly bowed his head: "My lord flatters me, I am merely a martial artist, undeserving of such high praise. Grateful for the opportunity to be here today."


    "Haha, Chief Officer Shen is too modest. You truly are a young talent with a promising future."


    Shen Qing repeatedly humbly expressed unworthiness.


    Prefectural Governor Bai Mu laughed heartily and gestured for him to sit: "Take a seat."


    Shen Qing bowed, indicating to follow, and was led by a servant to a seat at the lower end.


    Once seated, Shen Qing, with curiosity, began to quietly observe the hall full of Yongzhou''s dignitaries.


    ```

 Chapter 272 - 97: Subduing Demons, Tit for Tat

    Looking across, the noble officials of Yongzhou were not as expected, fat and big-eared, differing greatly from the stereotypes of the secular world.


    On the contrary, each of them was very refined, with tall and upright postures, appearing with an ethereal and noble presence.


    Upon closer examination, their spiritual power was not leaking out flamboyantly but was instead cleverly withdrawn into every inch of their meridians, exuding an indescribable spiritual quality, at least at the Yu Luo Realm or even the Dan Realm of cultivation.


    The Ji family of Dazhou was said to control Martial Mechanism across the land, but it was clear that, for the nobility, their methods were nothing more than a formality.


    Whenever they desired, the nobles had various means to obtain the cultivation resources they wanted.


    While Shen Qing was observing the crowd, he keenly sensed a gaze sweeping over him from time to time.


    He glancingly looked over, released his Divine Sense to check, and found that the end of the gaze was a middle-aged man.


    The middle-aged man''s face was like it was carved from a blade, his aura steady, wearing a long, wide robe adorned with intricate cloud and water patterns, and the dark patterns at the collar shimmered with gold thread.


    From the discussions around this man, Shen Qing vaguely discerned his identity.


    It was the head of the Dong family¡ªDong Wentian.


    Shen Qing remembered Huang Furo''s warning, lowered his head silently, picked up a teacup, and pretended not to know.


    After a while, more people gradually arrived in the hall, and the empty seats were all filled.


    The hall, which had been somewhat quiet, gradually became lively.


    Shen Qing, whose status was not considered noble, became completely marginalized amidst these people, unnoticed and extremely inconspicuous.


    However, Shen Qing did not mind.


    He never liked to stand out.


    Coupled with the fact that he had recently killed one of Dong Wentian''s sons, this low profile was more to his liking.


    Lord Governor Bai Mu, seeing that most of the people had arrived, cheerfully said, "Esteemed scholars and gentlemen, it is rare to gather today under one roof. Since everyone is present, let us not have the delicacies wait too long, so as not to dampen everyone''s mood. Servants, let the dishes be served."


    As soon as he finished speaking, not long after,


    trained servants from the county government carried in the meticulously prepared delicacies one by one.


    During the banquet, glasses clinked, and the guests raised their cups, saying, "Congratulations to Lord Governor for being in good health and safely leaving seclusion. It is indeed the good fortune of the people of Yongzhou to have you once again at the helm!"


    "Haha, no need for courtesy, please."


    The guests raised glasses with each other, and the atmosphere gradually became warm and congenial.


    When the atmosphere at the banquet was fully lively, Lord Governor Bai Mu gently stroked the table and let out a long and deep sigh.


    Zhou Family Patriarch Zhou Xu was the first to ask, "May I know why the Lord sighs? Now that the wise and able of Yongzhou are gathered in this hall, please share so we may discuss together and relieve your worries."


    Bai Mu, with profound eyes, looked at Zhou Xu, and worriedly said, "Although I am pleased with successfully leaving seclusion, there is one matter that sticks in my throat and cannot go unspoken. Everyone knows that outside Yongzhou City, a snake demon is on the move, continually disturbing the common people, causing much suffering and unrest. If this continues, it will surely become a disaster, and you all will also suffer because of it. As the prefectural governor, I am anxious, hence I sigh."


    Saying this, Bai Mu scanned the room, paused, and continued, "To be honest, the main reason I invited everyone here today is to join forces with those present to eradicate this calamity to the human world, the snake demon, and restore peace to Yongzhou! How do you gentlemen feel about this?"


    As soon as these words were spoken, the banquet hall fell into contemplation.


    Before arriving, many had already heard of Bai Mu''s intention to make use of their help to eliminate demons.


    After some pleasantries, they finally got to the main point.


    The Thirteen Lines, being the most flourishing high-ranking families in Yongzhou, had accumulated considerable strength over the years.


    United, they were no less powerful than the county office.


    Now even the prefectural governor himself was not a match for the snake demon, and clearly, there was no one else in the county office capable of dealing with the snake demon.


    There was no other way but to rely on the strength of others.


    This was something foreseeable by everyone.


    "Mr. Bai speaks the truth, I''ve heard the snake demon runs rampant outside, always lurking in the dark, with unknown intentions. For the peace of Yongzhou, the extermination of the demon is imperative. Our Zhou Family is the first willing to come forth and join you in eliminating this demon."


    "Our Dong Family as well."


    "Our Sun Family¡­"


    "Our Wu Family¡­"


    One after another, the high-ranking families stepped forth, expressing their support.


    Lord Governor Bai Mu laughed heartily, "With your assistance, the snake demon is bound to meet its end. I wonder if the ancestral seniors of the Zhou Family and others are able to lend their hands in this occasion?"


    Zhou Family Patriarch Zhou Xu helplessly replied, "The elders of our Zhou Family are growing old, and their Qi-Blood is gradually declining. They are now only in seclusion for rest and have long since stopped concerning themselves with worldly matters. This time we can only send our older brothers to support."


    "Our family elders are in the same state, having already been over two hundred years old, merely lingering with the aid of elixirs. The task of demon extermination can only depend on the younger generation."


    "Our family elders as well."


    Bai Mu''s expression was momentarily stunned.


    The snake demon was akin to a presence at the Innate Realm. If only juniors or other ordinary martial masters went to fight it, what difference would there be from sending them to their end?


    The reason he asked for their assistance this time was not just for this.


    Bai Mu knew that this time he gathered many of the Thirteen Lines high-ranking families not only for their strength but more importantly to have the elders of a few families take action.


    Partly to ensure a higher probability of slaying the snake demon, and partly also to weaken the strength of these people and wear down their lifespan.


    These elders were all at the Innate Realm of cultivation.


    If it were before, it wouldn''t be an issue, as he could suppress them by his cultivation, with no fear.


    But now, injured by the snake demon, though he had recovered, his strength was still significantly diminished, making it hard to suppress these local tyrants.


    If he wanted to keep his official position, he had to come up with some strategies.


    What''s more, the snake demon had dealt him such a heavy blow that, if the grudge was not avenged, he would never be at ease.


    Thus, this setup came to be.


    Bai Mu, unwilling to give up, put on a stern face, pressuring them with authority and said, "Gentlemen, this is a major issue pertaining to the safety of Yongzhou. If anyone harbors doubts or believes this act is against justice, feel free to speak frankly. But I hope everyone understands that as long as this demon remains, we will not live in peace for a single day. I urge you all not to hold back at this moment."


    "Mr. Bai, the obliteration of demons inherently is your responsibility. We are merely assisting. We have already offered people and strength, fulfilling our utmost duty. What more do you want?"


    Zhou Family Patriarch Zhou Xu coldly retorted, challenging Bai Mu head-on, giving him no face at all.


    The nobles of the Thirteen Lines caught Zhou Xu''s subtle shift in demeanor, and the hall instantly became silent, with a tense atmosphere spreading within. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 273 - 98: Harboring Ulterior Motives, Zhou Familys Test

    ```


    The atmosphere in the main hall grew increasingly oppressive.


    Sitting at the head seat, Bai Mu gazed at the many patriarchs of the Thirteen Lines in front of him, his expression gradually turning somber.


    He had long heard that during his time secluded for healing, there were many small movements within the Thirteen Lines.


    Taking advantage of his absence, they slowly encroached on his power, his influence.


    In his eyes, these people were like wolves circling him, watching him closely.


    Once they saw his weakness, they all straightened up and approached him.


    For some reason, a sense of powerlessness suddenly arose in Bai Mu''s heart.


    Though the court of Great Zhou was strong, it spread thin, and when faced with the local tyrants entrenched for years, they could only bow their heads.


    Shen Qing, sitting at the far end, couldn''t help but sigh in his heart as he saw Bai Mu''s repressed expression.


    The Great Zhou officials seemed prestigious on the surface, but beneath they appeared far from worry-free and were even in constant crisis.


    No one spoke up.


    The patriarchs and nobles in the hall breathed in Spiritual Energy, their profound aura openly displayed, showing no concession to Bai Mu.


    Seeing Bai Mu almost pushed to his limit, Zhou Xu''s expression changed, displaying a smile, saying, "Lord Governor, rest assured, we are all citizens of Yongzhou, and it is our unshirkable duty to slay demons. Once you have devised a plan, we will surely fully support you."


    Seeing the other party offer him a way out, Bai Mu naturally accepted it, with a smile that didn''t reach his eyes, he dejectedly said, "Then in the future, I''ll be relying more on everyone."


    "Alright, now that we''ve eaten and discussed matters, why not have a little entertainment to liven things up?" At this time, the patriarch of the Dong Family stood up and said.


    Zhou Xu smiled and asked, "Brother Dong, what sort of entertainment do you have in mind?"


    Dong Family Patriarch, Dong Pengfei, raised his cup and looked around, saying, "Long have I heard of the court''s martial masters, all exceptional individuals with supreme martial skills, making us martial artists of the Jianghu look up to them as if gazing at the stars. With today''s grand gathering, why not take this opportunity for a martial contest to both enhance our enjoyment and foster exchange. What do you all think?"


    This remark, like a stone thrown into a lake, stirred waves of ripples.


    The nobles of Yongzhou whispered among themselves, each showing an expression of expectation.


    Governor Bai Mu frowned, saying, "Boxing and kicking are blind, if real hostility arises and hurts our harmony, it won''t be good. Let''s choose something else."


    Among the group, a middle-aged man with a resolute appearance and sharp eyes spoke, "The essence of Martial Arts lies in exchange and actual combat. How can everything in the world go as one wishes? Only through challenges can true strength be revealed. We will watch, stopping when necessary, ensuring nothing goes wrong."


    "Indeed, martial arts progress through competition."


    The others in the hall echoed in agreement.


    Seeing everyone''s enthusiasm, Governor Bai Mu, although unwilling in his heart, had no choice but to agree reluctantly.


    Dong Family Patriarch, Dong Pengfei, showed a meaningful smile, stood up slowly, turned his gaze to Shen Qing, and said with a smile, "I''ve heard that Shen Qing, Chief Officer Shen, possesses extraordinary skill, having slain countless demons in just a year, rising all the way from the dispatch office to Chief Officer of the Weiwu Division. Why not take this opportunity to spar for a bit?"


    As soon as these words fell, everyone''s gaze in the hall focused on Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing''s expression immediately darkened.


    He understood in his heart, that Dong Pengfei''s spar was a guise, his true intent was to use this chance to deal with him.


    Though Dong Jing was an illegitimate child of the Dong Family, he still represented a bit of the Dong Family''s face.


    For an "enemy" like him to stand openly before Dong Pengfei, it was impossible to ignore.


    If it came to sparring, Dong Pengfei was sure to aim to kill.


    However, Shen Qing was not afraid of him.


    From what he knew, Dong Pengfei was in the late stage of the Dan Realm.


    With his current cultivation, if he used the power of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to the fullest, he could kill him.


    The only trouble was that he was unsure how to handle the aftermath in front of everyone.


    As Shen Qing pondered his strategy, Huang Furo stood up to interrupt, "Patriarch Dong, hold on, the two of you are a generation apart. If you personally take the stage, it would be taking advantage of junior, which is somewhat inappropriate."


    After Huang Furo spoke, the Huangfu Family Patriarch, Huangfu Chuan, followed with, "Indeed."


    Dong Pengfei gave a meaningful glance at Shen Qing, then turned, displeased, to the Huangfu father and daughter, and said, "Since Huangfu Niece is so protective of your subordinate, let''s give you both some face. Chief Officer Shen, when there''s a chance in the future, we''ll spar properly."


    Saying that, Dong Pengfei sat down expressionlessly, giving Shen Qing another meaningful look.


    Shen Qing cast a grateful glance at Huang Furo as his eyes narrowed.


    At this time, Zhou Family Patriarch, Zhou Xu, immediately spoke, "Mr. Huangfu''s earlier comments were indeed reasonable. In my opinion, why not use this opportunity to let the juniors take the stage to spar? This way, it can both brighten the feast and avoid harming our harmony. What does everyone think?"


    After speaking, his gaze quickly skimmed over the seats, landing on the head seat.


    Bai Mu didn''t understand Zhou Xu''s intent, so he asked, "Patriarch Zhou speaks sensibly. In that case, let''s follow your words and let the younger generation showcase their talents so that we old folks can witness the extraordinary prowess of youth. However, I wonder which young talents among us you have in mind?"


    Hearing this, Zhou Xu''s eyes glinted, and he feigned casualness as he smiled, "It seems it''s all fate. My unworthy fifth son happens to be here with me at the county government, and it''s coincidental he can join this elegant affair. Though he usually indulges in play, he has quite the Sight in martial arts and has always admired your eldest son, Lord Governor. Why not let him join in for some fun, spar with the eldest, and let Lord Bai and the esteemed ones assess if he''s up to par?"


    Upon hearing this, Bai Mu couldn''t help but find it amusing.


    His eldest son was his prized offspring, already at the Dan Realm, and a leader among the younger generation.


    If he were to let his eldest son compete, he would rest assured.


    Bai Mu said meaningfully, "Oh? What a coincidence. Then please have your son join us, so we old folks can soak up some youthful spirit, and experience the remarkable Zhou Family''s style."


    Saying this, Bai Mu turned and instructed a servant, "Someone, go fetch An Long."


    "Yes!"


    A county government servant responded swiftly, hurrying out of the hall.


    Moments later, a series of footsteps echoed from outside.


    The doors swung open.


    A young figure stepped in from outside.


    On his head rested a white jade crown as gentle as jade, and the beautiful jade hanging from his waist swayed gently with his light steps, producing a delicate and pleasing sound.


    "Youngster Zhou Xintong greets the elders."


    Zhou Family Patriarch Zhou Xu laughed heartily, stepping forward to introduce, "This is my son Xintong, fifth in the family, lacking compared to his brothers. However, he has always seen Master An Long as a goal to strive after, and now he has the opportunity to spar and exchange skills."


    Those present weren''t fools; Zhou Xu''s arrangements were clearly planned.


    For a moment, they grew curious, unsure of Zhou Xu''s real motive.


    While everyone speculated, another young man, led by a servant, entered the hall from the back door. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everyone recognized him; he was Bai Mu''s eldest son, Bai Anlong.


    Bai Anlong walked beside the main seat, bowing respectfully, "Greetings, Father, what is the reason for your summons?"


    Bai Mu smiled slightly, raising his hand slightly to signal Bai Anlong to forgo formalities, and then turned to Zhou Xu, saying, "An Long, your Uncle Zhou has visited today, specially mentioning that your generation should exchange more and progress together. The fifth young Master of the Zhou family has always admired you as a role model, eager for a spar. What do you think?"


    Hearing this, Bai Anlong turned his gaze to Zhou Xintong, standing to the side. Though bewildered by the situation, he maintained a humble demeanor, "I, Bai Anlong, am just a playboy in the county, privileged by my father and the respected ones to have my current reputation. If the fifth young Master truly has this intention, Anlong would gladly accompany him. Let us use martial arts to make friends, stopping at the right moment?"


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Xu displayed a calm smile, patting Zhou Xintong''s shoulder, "Xintong, did you hear that? Young Master Bai has a magnanimous heart, make sure to seize this chance, understand?"


    Zhou Xintong nodded earnestly, stepped forward, and bowed to Bai Anlong, "Young Master Bai, I have long admired your name, and today I am committed to doing my best. I hope you will guide me unreservedly!"


    Bai Anlong returned the salute, and a confrontational spirit instantly filled the space between them.


    The surrounding family heads and nobles held their breath in anticipation.


    By now, they understood.


    This contest was not merely about the martial prowess of two young talents; it was also a subtle probe between local and courtly forces.


    "Well then, let''s begin." Bai Mu timely spoke, breaking the brief silence, "Let the match end with control; do not harm the harmony, nor find excuses to cause trouble."


    "Yes, Father (Sir)!"


    Bai Anlong and Zhou Xintong responded in unison, then each took a few steps back, assuming a stance.


    ```

 Chapter 274 - 99: Losing Face, the County Office as Precarious as a Pile of Eggs

    "I''m sorry."


    At that moment, a booming voice resounded through the hall.


    Bai Anlong''s entire body was suddenly enveloped in Spiritual Power, and an array of jade-colored radiance emerged on the surface of his skin.


    He looked as if he were carved from jade.


    With a forceful stomp on the bluestone floor, his feet produced a sharp sound of breaking stone.


    Using this rebound force, Bai Anlong''s figure transformed into a sharp light shadow, diving forward fiercely.


    He formed his five fingers into a palm and slapped toward Zhou Xintong''s face, his entire body shrouded in a faint Five Elements luster.


    Bai Anlong had cultivated the Five Elements Rejuvenation Technique from the Martial Arts Hall in Yongzhou, and the appearance of this five-colored radiance was a testament to his mastery.


    The Five Elements Unification, strength of a thousand catties.


    His aura was profound, and his Spiritual Power flowed continuously.


    With this cultivation technique, Bai Anlong''s endurance left countless martial masters in the dust.


    Even when facing three to five opponents of the same level simultaneously, he handled it with ease.


    This was the primary reason Bai Anlong was considered a standout among his peers.


    Others simply couldn''t outlast him.


    In a flash, Bai Anlong carried a landslide-like palm strike toward Zhou Xintong.


    A delicate yet powerful vortex of air swirled around his body, an awe-inspiring spectacle formed by the Five Elements Energy surging within him.


    His twin palms were like mountain-splitting axes, carrying a destructive force, pounding repeatedly on Zhou Xintong''s chest, echoing with two dull explosive sounds in the air, akin to thunder.


    Yet, in the face of this overwhelming strike, Zhou Xintong remained immovable, a meaningful smile playing at the corner of his mouth.


    The next moment, his right hand suddenly lashed out, as fast as a thunderbolt.


    He gathered all his Spiritual Power into a single punch and thrust it forward without hesitation.


    At that moment, powerful strength and extreme speed fused perfectly, and the resulting pressure caused the surrounding air to momentarily freeze.


    Boom!!!!


    A thunderous noise, resembling a thunderclap in the sky.


    The ferocious Spiritual Power met Bai Anlong''s unstoppable offensive head-on.


    The two forces collided fiercely in the air, with an invisible wave of air spreading outward from the two as the center.


    At the core of the clash between the two forces, even the void showed a hint of distortion and change.


    Bai Anlong realized something was amiss and immediately held nothing back, delivering a series of palm strikes.


    His palms came faster and faster, each strike overwhelmingly forceful, all his Spiritual Power surging, clearly giving his all.


    Remarkably, however, no matter how he attacked, Zhou Xintong was able to receive it without showing any signs of being overwhelmed.


    A sudden sense of foreboding arose in Bai Anlong''s heart.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    The two continued to exchange blows, going through dozens of moves.


    Even Bai Anlong, known for his endurance, began to breathe heavily, even feeling waves of strain.


    How could this be?


    A surge of overwhelming shock and disbelief rippled through Bai Anlong''s heart, causing his breathing to stumble. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Bang!"


    "Ah!"


    In the glow, a figure flew out like a kite with a broken string, tossed by tremendous force, colliding heavily with the main door.


    With a loud crash, the door shattered into pieces, and the figure lay lifelessly on the ground, their life or death unknown.


    The scene fell deathly silent.


    The government office officials, Thirteen Lines elite, and other dignitaries all bore expressions as if they had seen a ghost, stunned and unable to speak.


    This cultivation¡­ clearly it had already broken through the Yu Luo Realm, reaching the realm of the Dan People.


    How terrifyingly talented for the fifth son of the Zhou Family to have reached such a realm at such a young age!


    And this vigorous and robust Spiritual Power was truly remarkable.


    "Thank you for the fight," Zhou Xintong said, patting his hands lightly and revealing a relaxed expression.


    "Young Master!"


    The servants from the county government rushed to the door anxiously, busy pulling Bai Anlong out of his stupor and carrying him aside.


    They pried open Bai Anlong''s mouth and slipped a Heart Protecting Pill, using True Qi to send it down.


    Once the elixir reached his internal organs, Bai Anlong''s throat felt a sweetness, "Wah," and he spat out a mouthful of foul blood, regaining consciousness.


    His face had turned deathly pale as he slowly opened his eyes. A clear confusion was evident in his gaze, and after spitting out another mouthful of foul blood, he tilted his head back and fainted again.


    "My Lord, something is wrong. The young master has had one of his Dan veins broken!"


    "What?!" Prefectural Governor Bai Mu leapt to his feet, his face ashen, his hands gripping the armrests of his chair tightly.


    His grip was so intense that claw marks appeared on the ironwood-crafted armrests.


    The fracture of a Dan vein meant that further improvements in his cultivation were impossible; even maintaining his current level of cultivation would be considered fortunate.


    Zhou Xintong had clearly crippled Bai Anlong, crippled his son!


    He suddenly turned his head to look at Zhou Xu, only to see the old sly fox stroking his beard, giving him a faint smile.


    Prefectural Governor Bai Mu''s face turned extremely dark, acutely aware that this duel was a trap meticulously arranged by Zhou Xu.


    He wanted to use today''s opportunity to let his fifth son step over Bai Anlong to climb up, using his son as a stepping stone to carve out a generous path.


    Clearly, they came prepared.


    Zhou Xu was unafraid of Bai Mu''s gaze and stepped forward with an apologetic tone, "I am truly sorry, my lord. Xintong was heavy-handed. I will be sure to reprimand him thoroughly when we return."


    Prefectural Governor Bai Mu slowly swept his gaze over everyone in the hall.


    He noticed that the Thirteen Lines members were staring at him with bright eyes, while many of his government office subordinates were also from Thirteen Lines and maintained a detached, indifferent attitude.


    He suddenly felt the desolation of being utterly alone.


    "Zhou Xu, don''t bully people too much," Bai Mu ground his teeth, feeling suffocated and oppressed.


    "Accidents are inevitable in duels. How about Lord Governor exchanges a few moves with us?"


    Prefectural Governor Bai Mu fell silent, closing his eyes and suppressing his emotions. "Someone, take the young master for treatment."


    Upon his words, even Shen Qing, who usually preferred to stay out of things, couldn''t help but frown.


    Being bullied to this extent at home, and Bai Mu still showed no intention of resisting, was truly pathetic.


    To put it bluntly, from this day forward, Bai Mu would be utterly humiliated in Yongzhou, with zero authority or respect, even with the title of a court-appointed Prefectural Governor.


    Meanwhile, the intimidation of the Thirteen Lines, these Yongzhou nobles, had become public knowledge.


    With this rise and fall, the county office became even more precarious.


    Shen Qing''s gaze fell, and his expression grew heavy.


    In this situation, as government office officials, their futures became uncertain, especially for someone like him who had climbed up from the bottom; it was even more dangerous.


    "Let''s call it a day. Please see the guests out!"


    With that, Prefectural Governor Bai Mu turned and left the hall with his servants in disorderly fashion.


    After his departure, those officials without backgrounds were thoroughly disappointed in Prefectural Governor Bai Mu and hurriedly left one after another, filled with fear and anxiety.


    Just as Shen Qing was about to leave with them, Huang Furo stepped forward, pulled him back, and said, "You''re coming with us later."


    Shen Qing immediately realized that Huang Furo was intentionally looking out for him.


    He did not refuse, nodding slightly and retreating behind Huang Furo.

 Chapter 276 - 101: Undercurrents Surge, Responding to Endless Changes with the Unchanging

    ```


    When Shen Qing returned home and shut the door, he no longer maintained the calmness he had shown earlier. His expression immediately turned much more serious.


    From today''s gathering, he had already seen that the powerful families of Yongzhou and the Prefectural Governor were as incompatible as fire and water, teetering on the edge of collapse.


    However, considering the court''s influence, these people''s actions had not yet turned too ugly and had yet to reach a point of no return.


    Recently, he had noticed frequent personnel changes within the county office, with many high-ranking officials trying to extend their influence into his Guardian Martial Department.


    But he had managed to block them.


    Thus, the Thirteen Lines probably did not have a favorable attitude towards him.


    Although he had taken preemptive action by killing Dong Pengfei, it did not mean that the current danger was eliminated; it merely removed a hidden threat in advance.


    Dong Pengfei had formed a deadly feud with him, and it was just a matter of time before things escalated.


    The fundamental problem had not been resolved.


    Furthermore, over the years in Yongzhou, his repeated actions had shown that he was skilled with arrows, earning him some reputation.


    Even if he were cautious today, it wouldn''t remain hidden for long.


    The Dong Family also had an Innate Ancestor overseeing them, making their overall strength not weak.


    If the Dong Family Ancestor took action, Shen Qing feared he would find it difficult to resist.


    Yet, he did not panic; instead, he became even more composed.


    Shen Qing sat on a chair, lost in thought.


    After a long time, he slowly formed some conclusions in his mind.


    In his view, the current situation had not yet reached a point of deep crisis; it was merely a power struggle between both sides.


    With the court backing him, the Dong Family would not act rashly unless they wanted to become rebels.


    As the saying went, with the Ji Family Court as a backing, there was no need to fear those Jianghu scoundrels.


    Yet, to be safe, he quickly summoned his subordinates and secretly moved his uncle, aunt, and elder sister outside the city, planning to adapt to changes without doing anything rash.


    ...


    At the Dong Residence.


    Dressed in fine clothing, the servants began attending to the masters'' living arrangements, bustling around busily.


    In the study, the Dong Family''s eldest son, Dong Yunlai, sat upright on a carved wooden chair, his posture as straight as a pine tree.


    On the table was an ancient Dan Vase, emitting a faint medicinal aroma. Dong Yunlai gently opened the Dan Vase, pinched a bead-like Elixir between his fingers, and swallowed it to temper his body.


    Just then, a servant tumbled into the study.


    Dong Yunlai''s cultivation was abruptly interrupted. He was furious and slapped the servant.


    A gust of wind whistled.


    The servant who had rushed in screamed and flew sideways, crashing heavily against the wall and collapsing like a pile of mud.


    Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he was disoriented.


    After a moment, as if recalling something, he hurriedly crawled forward and painfully said, "Thank you, young master, for your slap!"


    "Speak, what''s the matter?" Dong Yunlai asked sternly.


    The servant, pale-faced and flustered, stammered, "Something terrible happened; the master... the master was killed!"


    "What!"


    Upon hearing this, Dong Yunlai nearly fell to the ground, losing his composure. He thought he had misheard and incredulously asked, "What, say that again?"


    "The master, he... he died!"


    Boom!


    Instantly, Dong Yunlai felt as though struck by lightning, turning ashen-faced.


    "No, go quickly find the uncles, I must see the Ancestor!"


    For a moment, all his previous composure was gone, and he became at a loss.


    "Yes."


    The servant, covering his face, dared not express any complaints and struggled to get up, rushing to find others.


    In the rear courtyard of the Dong Residence, there was a quiet house.


    Inside, an elderly man, with hair as white as snow, sat cross-legged on a cushion, his aura completely integrated with the surroundings.


    Without someone seeing him face to face, it would be hard to detect his existence.


    Tap, tap, tap.


    A few sharp knocks sounded at the door.


    "Ancestor, something happened!"


    Upon hearing the male voice at the door, the Dong Family Ancestor slowly opened his eyes, "What happened?!"


    "The Family Head is dead!"


    For the first time, a ripple of change appeared on the previously calm face of the Dong Family Ancestor, a flash of sharp light in his eyes.


    The originally closed door suddenly swung open.


    "Come in and speak!"


    Dong Yunlai and the others standing at the door, their expressions serious, quickly nodded and responded.


    Among them, a middle-aged man with a square face said seriously, "Ancestor, news just came from the servant below, Pengfei was killed in the city!"


    The Dong Family Ancestor remained silent for a moment and asked, "Who did it?"


    "The assailant was masked, making it hard to identify, but from his arrow techniques, it''s very likely to be Chief Officer Shen Qing of the Guardian Martial Department!"


    "The Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department? Meaning someone on the Prefectural Governor''s side?"


    "Yes!" The Dong Family''s eldest son, Dong Yunlai, said anxiously, "Ancestor, what should we do?"


    The Dong Family Ancestor gave him a glance and said calmly, "Seal the news and eliminate anyone who knows about this in secret!"


    "Ah?"


    Those standing at the door were bewildered. They couldn''t understand the Ancestor''s intentions and thought they had misheard.


    Dong Yunlai, agitated, said, "Ancestor, my father was killed by someone from the government office."


    "So what do you think should be done?" The Dong Family Ancestor, eyes half-closed, asked indifferently.


    Dong Yunlai said without hesitation, "Of course, kill that Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department to avenge him!"


    "And then?"


    "Then?" Dong Yunlai hesitated slightly.


    "You kill a registered court official, and the Prefectural Governor files a memorial in anger. Our Dong Family is seen as rebels by the Ji Family Court and is attacked by the court, allowing other high-ranking families to benefit?" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    An invisible pressure emanated from his body, making everyone present feel a tremendous weight.


    The Dong Family Ancestor opened his eyes, staring at Dong Yunlai, and asked, "So, what is your plan, to ruin the Dong Family''s scheme at this critical juncture?"


    "I... I..." Dong Yunlai''s throat went dry, unsure of what to say.


    The Dong Family Ancestor withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes again slowly, and said, "Lack of patience disrupts major plans. For now, the family affairs are temporarily entrusted to Xiuzheng until we pass this hurdle. Rest assured, that Chief Officer won''t last long."


    "Yes." Everyone responded in unison.


    "Is there anything else?"


    "No, Ancestor."


    "Then don''t disturb my cultivation."


    "Yes."


    The Dong Family members dared not linger, quietly leaving the room one after another.


    The large room became empty again, returning to its tranquility.


    Meanwhile, at the county government.


    Prefectural Governor Bai Mu glared angrily at the unconscious Bai Anlong.


    "Damn it, those old crooks have gone too far! Do they really think I''m made of mud?" Prefectural Governor Bai Mu summoned a servant and said, "Go, call the Lord Commander, I have important matters to discuss."


    The servant hurried away with the order.


    After a while, the servant returned and reported, "My lord, the Lord Commander said he is feeling unwell and is currently unable to come."


    The Prefectural Governor''s face grew despondent, losing its spark.


    "Damn it, that bastard wants to protect himself!"


    As the Commander of the troops, he controlled nearly ten thousand soldiers in Yongzhou, possessing absolute military power.


    Normally, he, as Prefectural Governor, had the authority to dispatch troops.


    But right now, with the Great Zhou Country under attack by the Yellow Heaven rebels, all regional Commanders were appointed by the court and not directly affiliated with the Prefectural Governor.


    They had the right to refuse to dispatch troops.


    Even if he were foolish, he''d know that "feeling unwell" was just an excuse.


    "No, I can''t sit idly by, must petition the Emperor. Yongzhou has demon rebels causing chaos, beseeching Heavenly Soldiers to clear out the evil!"


    ```

 Chapter 277 - 102: The Storm is Coming, Shen Qing is Truly a Monster

    Just as Shen Qing tensed his nerves and prepared for action, seven or eight days passed in the blink of an eye.


    During these days, Dong Pengfei''s death became eerily silent, with not a whisper of it leaking out, as if he had vanished from the world without a trace.


    In light of this situation, Shen Qing felt neither joy nor relief.


    On the contrary, he was rather unsettled.


    The absence of problems was the biggest problem!


    As one of the Yongzhou Thirteen Lines, the Dong Family had been entrenched in Yongzhou for over a century, with considerable strength among many businesses.


    Was it conceivable for the Dong Family not to react after their patriarch was slain in the street?


    Completely impossible.


    Shen Qing did not think his methods were particularly clever. For the Dong Family, locating the murderer and tracing it back to him would not be difficult.


    Therefore, after killing Dong Pengfei, he deliberately left trails, circling back to the county government, primarily to mislead them into thinking he was directed by the Prefectural Governor, thereby muddying the waters.


    Now it seemed the Dong Family was uninterested in such things.


    This indirectly suggested that their ambitions were significant.


    Shen Qing instantly had a premonition of an impending storm.


    In the future, it seemed likely that a dozen or more Yongzhou nobles would target the Prefectural Governor.


    When that day came, he obviously would not be in the same camp as these people. The Dong Family would probably settle new and old scores at once, and they certainly would not spare him.


    Shen Qing let out a cold breath, as if a boulder was lodged in his heart, suspended in mid-air, unable to be put down.


    At that moment, he felt a greater thirst for strength.


    If he had sufficiently strong power, he could instill fear in these people.


    Or, if by force, he could eliminate them physically, then these problems would cease to exist.


    At the end of the day, he was not strong enough.


    He had to seize the time to train further.


    ...


    Deep within the Zhou Mansion, a secluded and elegant courtyard lay concealed.


    Within the courtyard, flowers bloomed in profusion, vibrant and competing for glory, without a hint of early autumn''s desolation. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Amidst the flowerbed, a woman in a luxurious robe with a charming and captivating visage strolled leisurely, cuddling a sleek, glossy cat in her arms, a slight smile playing at her lips.


    The fifth young Master Zhou Xintong followed silently behind her.


    "Sister-in-law, the elixir you gave me, it''s truly miraculous!" Zhou Xintong''s voice carried excitement as he quickened his pace to walk beside her: "After taking it, I felt my spiritual power surge within, and my cultivation advanced rapidly in just a few days. This kind of wonder is unheard of! The prefect''s son even fell at my hands, all thanks to you."


    The enchanting woman chuckled softly: "As long as Master Zhou likes it, this elixir is extraordinary, yet it still requires your diligent cultivation. On the path of cultivation, one must avoid seeking quick success and instant gratification."


    Zhou Xintong replied respectfully, "Thank you for the reminder, sister-in-law. I will remember that."


    "Has anything interesting happened outside lately?" the charming woman inquired as they walked.


    "Indeed, there has been," Zhou Xintong replied with feigned mystery.


    "Oh, what is it?"


    "The Family Head of the Dong Family, Dong Pengfei, might be dead."


    "That''s significant. Now that the Dong Family is without a leader, aren''t you planning to take a bite out of them?"


    "This is just our speculation. These days when my father visited the Dong Family, it was his third brother Dong Xiu handling the receptions, with no sight of Dong Pengfei. The rumors in the streets say he was killed. But the Dong Family remains tight-lipped and denies it, so we are unsure and dare not act rashly. But certainly, there is turmoil within the Dong Family."


    "Interesting, Yongzhou is becoming livelier," the charming woman nodded, smiling slightly.


    Beside her, Zhou Xintong''s heart surged with emotion as he gazed upon her in a daze.


    Fortunately, his mind was resilient, and he quickly disentangled himself from his thoughts, hurriedly saying, "Sister-in-law, you may be busy now. I will visit another day when free."


    With that, he deeply saluted the enchanting woman and left the courtyard.


    Outside the courtyard, Zhou Jishan stood with his hands folded across his chest, waiting respectfully.


    Seeing Zhou Xintong walk out, he silently followed.


    As he watched their figures gradually vanish in the distance, the cat in the charming woman''s arms immediately tensed, spitting human words: "Why did you give the Blood Pill to him, Goddess? It was painstakingly condensed from several martial masters'' Qi-Blood."


    The tone carried a hint of complaint.


    "Vegetables in the field need watering; that''s how the flavor improves. A single crop isn''t good enough, so I gave it some fertilizer. Don''t you find it fascinating when people consume each other? Obtain power at a price."


    The cat in the enchanting woman''s embrace displayed a human-like bewilderment.


    "You wouldn''t understand even if I explained it, now go train yourself," the woman said as she pinched the cat''s neck and tossed it aside.


    The cat landed lightly and, without a word, slipped into the blooming plants.


    Zhou Xintong wandered aimlessly after stepping out of the courtyard, his demeanor carefree.


    Following him, Zhou Jishan suddenly spoke up: "Fifth young master, I''ve recently found out about something; I''m unsure if I should tell you?"


    "Cousin, do say," Zhou Xintong replied, in high spirits, sounding much friendlier.


    "I''ve heard rumors that the one who killed Dong Pengfei is the Chief Officer of Weiwu Division."


    Zhou Xintong made a light ''eh'' sound, looking surprised.


    If he recalled correctly, did this person not just kill Dong Pengfei''s son?


    And now, he had killed Dong Pengfei, reuniting father and son?


    Such a disposition...


    Zhou Xintong found himself at a loss for words.


    After thinking for a moment, he said, "Seems like the Prefectural Governor took action. Does my father know about this?"


    "Master likely knows."


    "That''s alright, let them fight among themselves."


    Zhou Jishan glanced at Zhou Xintong, lowered his voice, and said, "Master, doesn''t the name Shen Qing sound familiar to you?"


    Zhou Xintong frowned and fell into thought upon hearing this.


    "Taiping County, your old servant!" Zhou Jishan reminded.


    Zhou Xintong abruptly halted, his gaze fixed sharply on Zhou Jishan, recalling in a flash.


    "Is the Shen Qing from the Guardian Martial Department, him?!"


    "I investigated, and it''s undoubtedly him."


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Xintong''s eyes widened, and his pupils constricted,


    He slowly said, "If I''m not mistaken, he was an ordinary hunter who only trained for a while at the county''s Martial Arts Hall, right? That means in just over a year or two, he went from being a commoner to successively advancing and became a martial artist in the Yu Luo Realm. Not only that, but he also became the Chief Officer of Weiwu Division, now on par with my status?"


    "Yes," Zhou Jishan confirmed.


    Inside, Zhou Xintong felt waves of astonishment crashing, unable to settle.


    Could such a monstrous talent truly exist?


    Compared to him, the few achievements he made seemed like child''s play in comparison.


    Moreover, not just him, when Zhou Jishan confirmed this information, he too felt it was unrealistic, as if in a dream.


    Yet, faced with the irrefutable facts, they had to admit it.


    Shen Qing was truly a prodigy.


    Utterly terrifying.


    "You tell me this now; what are you trying to indicate?" Zhou Xintong''s tone began to turn cold.


    Zhou Jishan expressed his indignation: "Two from the Zhou Family have already fallen to this person, including the old servant who served you for years. I can''t swallow this grievance. I hope the young master doesn''t let him go, lest he grows stronger and it''s too late. This person is surely not benevolent to us."

 Chapter 278 - 103: Condensing Dan Ying, Breaking Through to Dan Realm

    "You make a good point," Zhou Xintong pondered before he spoke.


    Zhou Jishan was delighted to hear this.


    In his heart, he wished Zhou Xintong would immediately leap out, engaging in a life-and-death struggle with Shen Qing.


    Now that the Yongzhou County Office was in turmoil, as long as Zhou Xintong chose to make a move, he would definitely become the target of public criticism, and his end would be predictable.


    After all, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse.


    Huang Furo and Jia Zhiping might find it difficult to deal with the Family Head, but dealing with someone like Zhou Xintong was more than manageable.


    The Zhou Family of Taiping County had their wealth swallowed, and the death of his brother... he hadn''t forgotten all these things.


    If he could use this opportunity to eradicate Zhou Xintong, it would also comfort the spirit of his brother in heaven, making his and his father''s submission and forbearance worth it.


    Just as Zhou Jishan was plotting in his heart, Zhou Xintong continued, "But Father doesn''t allow me to stir up trouble right now. I can''t defy his orders."


    Zhou Jishan was taken aback and said, "Are we just going to let this matter be? That guy Shen has repeatedly humiliated our Zhou Family, clearly not taking us seriously."


    "Let it be? Since when is our Zhou Family so tolerant?" Zhou Xintong said leisurely, "Rest assured, I will take action. I have already broken through to the Dan Realm, and my cultivation will continue to advance. How can someone like Shen be my opponent?"


    "Is the Chief Officer of the Yu Luo Realm formidable? In my eyes, he''s already a dead man."


    Zhou Xintong couldn''t help but think of the Blood Pill his sister-in-law had given him, which was even fiercer than the Wish Power Pearl, making it probably the best supplement in the world.


    How could Shen Qing possibly compare to him?


    Zhou Xintong couldn''t help but lick his lips, suddenly feeling a slight itch in his gums and a craving for meat.


    He didn''t think much of it, assuming it was just a hallucination.


    Zhou Jishan, observing this, was somewhat frustrated, but ultimately suppressed it, not daring to show it and instead complimented Zhou Xintong obsequiously, "Master, you are wise." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Meanwhile, Bai Mu''s report reached the Capital with a fast horse.


    ...


    After sending off his uncle, aunt, and elder sister Shen Fang, Shen Qing considered the current situation and dedicated all his mind and heart to cultivation.


    During this time, with the aid of the Wish Power Pearl and various elixirs, his cultivation progressed rapidly.


    He made significant progress in the Sky Flipping Seal, Heavenly Bow Technique, and Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, and even the challenging Great Void Shifting Technique showed some progress.


    It was deep into the night, and stars dotted the sky.


    Shen Qing stood quietly in the courtyard, surrounded by a gentle halo of faint crimson-gold spiritual light.


    He closed his eyes and focused his mind, continually operating the now perfected Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, advancing his cultivation skillfully.


    Suddenly feeling a sensation, he opened his eyes and quickly summoned the Water Ink Panel.


    In his vision, lines of text emerged, exuding an ink-like aura.


    [Skill: Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique (Small Success)]


    [Progress: 2001/2000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough achievable]


    [Note: Constant chiseling breaks the wood, water droplets pierce the stone. Under your sustained cultivation, the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique has finally undergone a qualitative change. This breakthrough can awaken the ''Moluo''s Body,'' increasing spiritual power recovery speed by 30%, enhancing the recovery rate of blood and flesh intensity by 10%, and providing benefits for cultivation breakthroughs.]


    "Moluo''s Body?"


    It was the first time Shen Qing had heard of such a term, and he looked puzzled. But upon seeing the explanation, he could no longer contain his excitement.


    Currently, the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique already provided remarkable recovery for cultivation. If it increased by another 30%, his spiritual power recovery would be astonishingly fast.


    The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill would be used without any side effects.


    What was there to hesitate about?


    Breakthrough, breakthrough!


    He focused his mind on the Water Ink Panel.


    Buzz.


    Shen Qing felt a brief dazzle before his eyes.


    The information on the Water Ink Panel refreshed.


    [Skill: Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique (the level of mastery)]


    [Progress: 2001/3000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough unavailable]


    [Note: With this breakthrough, you successfully awakened ''Moluo''s Body.'' Spiritual power recovery speed has increased by 30%, and the recovery rate of blood and flesh intensity has increased by 10%.]


    Shen Qing felt great joy.


    At that moment, he suddenly thought of something and hastily restrained his exuberance, maintaining his focus.


    The next moment, a massive stream of memories surged into his mind, impacting his spirit.


    Fortunately, with his now powerful divine thought, such memory impact no longer posed any substantial negative effect on him.


    Soon, Shen Qing fully digested the entire memory stream.


    In the memories, he seemed to become a devoted monk, wholly absorbed in the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique.


    He cultivated it for decades, thoroughly understanding this technique and gaining new insights.


    The spells'' operation route within his body became incredibly skillful.


    Shen Qing realized that the timing was ripe for a breakthrough in cultivation.


    Without further hesitation, he activated the technique.


    As the spell circulated, it was as if rivers and seas surged within Shen Qing''s body and his Spirit Sea roiled. At this moment, the previously disparate and chaotic spiritual power seemed to be gathered by an invisible hand, forming a torrential stream that charged deep into his Qi Sea.


    The liquid state of Qi in the Qi Sea started to gradually coagulate.


    At that moment, Shen Qing found that all the spiritual power in his body had been exhausted, yet it was still not enough.


    His Qi Sea shook violently, and the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique was pushed to its limits.


    Suddenly, with every breath, he drew in the spiritual energy of the world, like an old whale in the abyss opening its gigantic mouth, greedily yet orderly devouring all the reachable spiritual energy, leaving nowhere untouched.


    Shen Qing felt as though a massive force was assailing him, compressing him to the point of crushing every inch of flesh and blood in his body into pieces.


    Large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, trickling down his chin to the ground.


    Shen Qing held his mind steady, enduring the changes.


    Time passed little by little until the spiritual energy of the world was swallowed to an extreme. Shen Qing heard a solidifying sound from his Qi Sea, reminiscent of ice forming on the water''s surface.


    He hurriedly entered a meditative state for internal viewing.


    The Qi Sea''s location had already dried up, with all the spiritual energy coalesced into the form of an infant, its hands forming seals, wearing garments of stars.


    It stood with closed eyes, surrounded by a faint crimson-gold light, exuding a majestic aura that transcended the mundane, embodying absolute sovereignty.


    "Dan Ying, this is Dan Ying! I have successfully broken through to the Dan Realm!" Shen Qing screamed inwardly.


    As the "Dan Ying" gradually took shape, the entire courtyard seemed affected by this newly born power; surrounding plants swayed gently, showing incredible growth, and even weeds sprouted from the cracks in the bricks on the ground.


    Shen Qing showed an expression of amazement.


    After the Yu Luo Realm, forming a "Dan Ying" symbolized entry into the Dan Realm.


    Every martial master''s "Dan Ying" was unique, reflecting their distinctive bone structure and circumstances.


    His "Dan Ying," with sealed hands and domineering eyes, was extraordinary.


    Shen Qing formed seals with his hands and cast the Sky Flipping Seal.


    Visible to the naked eye, the "Dan Ying" within gleamed with a tremor, releasing a rush of powerful spiritual energy without any obstruction.


    A Sky Flipping Seal condensed instantaneously before him.


    Shen Qing showed a slight flash of surprise.

 Chapter 279 - 104: The Death of the Prefectural Governor, The Beginning of Chaos

    ```


    Looking at the emerging Sky Flipping Seal, which shone with a golden-red light, slowly rotating in the void.


    It was ancient and majestic, full of awe.


    Shen Qing found that after he broke through to the Dan Realm, the speed at which he executed the Sky Flipping Seal far exceeded his expectations.


    Meanwhile, when he used this move, it consumed only about one-tenth of his Spiritual Power, a world of difference from before.


    Had the Spiritual Power consumption of the Sky Flipping Seal decreased?


    No, it hadn''t.


    The Spiritual Power consumption of this Martial Arts had not decreased, but rather his overall Spiritual Power capacity had increased, ten times larger than before.


    In this situation, if he added the Spiritual Power bonus from the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, the Sky Flipping Seal was no longer any burden to him.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but clench his fists, feeling much more at ease.


    With such strong martial power, he had greater confidence to face any future changes.


    "Although my realm is not comparable to those high-ranking Innate old folks, if I were to fight to the death, I could still have a slim chance of survival, not completely without hope." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing smiled a bit, feeling a weight lifted from his heart, allowing him to take a deep breath.


    He turned to look around, letting out a heavy sigh, then smiled as he turned back into the house, lying on the long-missed bed, letting go of all his distracting thoughts, and fell into a deep sleep.


    Even if he didn''t sleep or rest now, it would not cause any problems, as his spirit was still full.


    Therefore, these days, he had been cultivating day and night, without truly lying on the bed to rest.


    Now that he had broken through, he no longer wished to live like this; he wanted to once again enjoy the tranquility of deep sleep, as he had in the past.


    That night, he slept soundly without any disturbances.


    More than ten days passed, and everything in Yongzhou was as usual, without any sudden incidents, even the demons that often troubled the surroundings had disappeared.


    It was truly amazing.


    However, compared to other people''s optimism, Shen Qing felt that danger was lurking all around, unsure when it might suddenly erupt.


    In the back hall of the Guardian Martial Department Office,


    Shen Qing instructed his subordinates Tian Xiaohu, Ji Youwu, Chen Guang, and others with great care.


    "I don''t care about others'' mindsets, but I forbid any relaxation from you. In the coming period, you must not only patrol strictly but also practice diligently to prepare for the future."


    Tian Xiaohu and others did not understand why Shen Qing was so serious.


    Out of natural trust in him, they all agreed one by one.


    Especially after hearing Tian Xiaohu''s occasional talk about the various experiences of the Chief Officer, they were even more cautious and dared not neglect anything.


    Just then, a Chang Sui came in from outside, respectfully reporting: "Lord Chief Officer, Lord Huang Furo from the General of the Military Department is here, saying there is something urgent to see you."


    Huang Furo was here?


    Shen Qing glanced at Tian Xiaohu and the others.


    The latter understood.


    "Lord, your subordinates will withdraw first."


    After saying that, Tian Xiaohu and the others left the back hall one after another.


    After all had left, Shen Qing tidied his clothing and personally walked to the door. Upon seeing Huang Furo''s graceful figure, he bowed and invited her in: "Lord Huangfu, what brings you here today? Is there something important? Please, come inside."


    At this moment, Huang Furo stood tall, her eyebrows exuding a natural aura of might. She turned her head to meet Shen Qing''s gaze, a hint of unusual emotion flashing in her eyes.


    "Did you really reject all the recommended people from the high-ranking families of Yongzhou?"


    As she stepped forward, Huang Furo asked softly.


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing slightly collected his expression and, after a pause, said, "Yes, it''s true."


    Huang Furo stood tall, entered the room, turned to glance at Shen Qing, and sighed: "In these troubled times, doing so might put you in a predicament."


    "What you said is true, Lord. This move of mine may indeed put me in a difficult situation, but inviting trouble is easy. If I open this door now, letting these people in is easy, but getting them out later is hard."


    Shen Qing earnestly expressed his thoughts and continued, "In time, these people would listen only to their clans, running for the benefit of their families. How can I remain independent and avoid being despised?"


    "In my view, some things become valuable because of the insistence on bottom lines and maintaining one''s nature. Compromise without limits is no different from drinking poison to quench thirst."


    Shen Qing''s words resonated powerfully, and the air in the room seemed to condense because of them.


    Just when he expected Huang Furo to lecture him at length, she instead slightly raised her lips in appreciation, acknowledging his viewpoint: "You are quite right, some things are precious because of persistence."


    "Lord, you are¡­"


    Huang Furo said, "I don''t like those people either, but unfortunately, unlike you, I am helpless in the Jianghu¡­"


    Just as she spoke, they both suddenly felt a violent tremor in the ground, rippling like waves beneath their feet.


    Huang Furo and Shen Qing, caught off guard, shifted slightly, taking a few steps.


    They looked up at each other and detected a hint of astonishment in each other''s eyes.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Let''s go, quickly check it out."


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo rushed out from the back hall, looking toward the source of the disturbance in the distance.


    "That direction¡­ it''s the county government!" Shen Qing blurted out.


    He quickly called to his officers, commanding: "Hurry, go investigate what''s happening!"


    The officers hadn''t yet responded when a thunderous explosion rolled in.


    Along with this thunderous sound came a vigorous old man''s voice: "Bold demon, how dare you assault the county government and kill the Prefectural Governor? Prepare to die!"


    An alluring voice retorted defiantly: "Come and try to take me down if you can, ha ha ha¡­"


    "Kill!"


    In the distance, above the county government, beneath the majestic sky, two figures suddenly appeared.


    An old martial master, and a Female Demon.


    With a great shout, the Innate Realm old martial master burned with a fiery battle intent, swung his fist, enveloping an overwhelming force that tore through the void, leaving rips in its wake.


    The Female Demon was not to be outdone.


    Boom!


    The two figures crossed paths like meteors, erupting in a deafening, earth-shattering sound.


    The dazzling radiance engulfed the two, collapsing the buildings beneath them, which couldn''t withstand the force and rapidly disintegrated, flying outward, rolling, and shifting.


    The strong gale swept with sand and dust, swirling in all directions.


    Even Shen Qing couldn''t help but close his eyes, using only his Divine Sense to observe everything in the distance.


    "Old fool, take your time playing."


    As the two forces clashed intensely, the woman suddenly withdrew her sharpness, using the immense reactive force to expand her form, transforming into an elusive Rainbow Light phantom, effortlessly weaving through the dense killing intent, leaving a series of dizzying afterimages as she retreated far away.


    Seeing this, the man''s expression changed drastically, burning with rage.


    "Where do you think you''re going!"


    He roared skyward, his voice shaking the land, his aura instantly surging.


    Following this roar, he charged like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, pursuing recklessly.


    With every step the old martial master took, thunderous booming accompanied him.


    Even the clouds above fragmented under the force of this powerful aura.


    Witnessing this scene, Shen Qing felt a chill run through him.


    This was no coincidence.


    The enemy had begun their move; the chaos in Yongzhou had started!


    ```

 Chapter 280 - 105: Collusion, A Dance of a Group of Demons

    ```


    Shen Qing and the others didn''t have to wait long before an officer, covered in dust, hurriedly rushed in and said, "Lord Shen."


    Shen Qing asked in a deep voice, "Speak, what''s the situation?"


    "Lord Chief Officer, the entire family of the Prefectural Governor has been devoured by demons!"


    The officer took a breath and continued, "Just now, we don''t know when a Great Demon snuck into the county government. The demon''s power was overwhelming, and the Prefectural Governor''s family couldn''t resist at all. Now there are no remains left."


    At these words, a dead silence instantly fell all around, with only the occasional sound of wind whistling in the courtyard.


    Shen Qing''s gaze sharpened.


    Not long ago, the Prefectural Governor had sustained serious injuries in a fierce fight with a Snake Demon and had been in seclusion to heal.


    On that day, Shen Qing saw clearly that although the Prefectural Governor emerged from seclusion, he was far from fully recovered, and his power was greatly diminished.


    The demon that appeared now was feared to be comparable to the Snake Demon, and with the Prefectural Governor Bai Mu''s current state, he simply couldn''t resist. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With the Prefectural Governor''s death, their county office lost a significant force.


    What was more troublesome was that the county office fell into a state of leaderlessness, and if anyone chose to exploit it, it would surely descend into chaos.


    Shen Qing clenched his fists, veins bulging, but soon he regained his composure.


    "Lord Huangfu, we must go to the county government immediately to see what''s really happening."


    Huang Furo raised her delicate eyebrows, her face gaining an uncommon seriousness, "Okay."


    Before her words even faded, the two of them shot up to the rooftop like arrows loosed from a bow, propelling their spiritual power to perform Qinggong.


    Huang Furo''s figure was graceful, like a dragon swimming out to sea, each step covering several yards.


    Shen Qing followed closely behind.


    Seeing this scene, Huang Furo, ahead, was slightly taken aback.


    It must be understood that when she deployed her Da Xu Technique, her speed was exceptionally fast.


    Before, Shen Qing had been utterly unable to keep up with her.


    Now, even as she exerted the Da Xu Technique to its utmost, Shen Qing wasn''t trailing far behind, which was a stark contrast to before.


    She took a closer look at Shen Qing, suddenly thinking of a possibility.


    "Shen Qing, I noticed your aura is robust and your spiritual power unified. Could it be..." Huang Furo asked with surprise in her voice as they moved.


    Shen Qing didn''t hide it and directly admitted, "Lord Huangfu, your insights are sharp. Recently, I had a chance encounter, successfully breaking through to the Dan Realm, greatly enhancing my cultivation."


    Huang Furo involuntarily paused, the shock in her eyes becoming even harder to conceal.


    What?


    How long had it been?


    If she remembered correctly, from the time he joined the Guardian Martial Department and became a dispatch officer, to now had been all of a year and a half.


    At that time, he was just a Junior Martial Master in the Qi Hai Realm.


    This meant that in this year and a half, he consecutively broke through two Great Realms.


    Huang Furo was rocked to her core at the realization.


    As a martial artist herself, she understood the enormity of this.


    For most people, it was feasible to quickly break through before the Qi Hai Realm by using court resources, but after reaching the Qi Hai Realm, each breakthrough was nigh impossible, dependent on more than just resources.


    Many people were stuck at a bottleneck for years, even decades, and this was normal.


    She''d never heard of anyone breaking through so quickly as Shen Qing had, let alone seen it happen.


    How on earth did he train to achieve such progress?


    Huang Furo could no longer articulate her astonishment.


    However, the matter at hand was urgent; it was no time for idle musings. She quickly composed herself and pressed forward.


    The county government was three blocks away from the Guardian Martial Department''s office. Usually, it would take over a quarter of an hour to get there, but in their current haste, they reached the vicinity of the county government in just a few breaths'' time.


    The once-majestic and imposing county government had been reduced to ruins.


    Soaring walls collapsed into jagged remnants, scattered all around, the main gate lost, leaving only the archway standing forlornly.


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo exchanged glances, both shocked and discolored by the sight.


    Suddenly, as if struck by the same thought, they exclaimed in unison, "It''s the Zhou Family!"


    "It must be them! We had already discovered that the Zhou Family was colluding with demons. For demons to show up so brazenly in the county town and swallow the Prefectural Governor under our noses, only they could achieve such a thing!"


    "They''re putting on an act!"


    Shen Qing hurriedly released his Divine Sense, spreading it out in all directions.


    ...


    In a nearby corner,


    A flash of white light burst forth, condensing into a cluster.


    The white brilliance dispersed like a watery curtain, revealing a captivating and beautiful figure.


    Shortly after, another radiance descended from the sky.


    After twirling in the void, it revealed the figure of an old martial artist.


    His beard and hair were white, yet he was full of spirit.


    The old martial artist stabilized his form, then stepped down through the void, approaching the seductive woman.


    The seductive woman smiled broadly, licking her lips, unable to suppress a belch.


    The old martial artist asked, "Jiuli, our promise of an Innate Martial Master has been fulfilled; now you should honor yours, right?"


    "Thank you, Elder Zhou, for your hospitality," the seductive woman gracefully curtsied, covering her mouth with a laugh, "Don''t worry, the matter you''re concerned about won''t run away. Today, I''ve already sensed that force getting closer; it won''t be long."


    "Good, in that case, as per the original plan, you can let your little minions out now."


    "Who should we deal with first?"


    "The Qian Family!"


    "Oh, why the Qian Family? Weren''t we agreed to deal with the county office first?"


    "The Qian Family has already declined to such an extent, what rank do they hold to sit at the same table as us? It''s time they gave up some space."


    The seductive woman laughed coquettishly, hiding her mouth, "You''re such a heartless old thing. Dismissing them because they''re no longer useful, intent on wiping them all out. Pretty ruthless, I like it. What about the other four Innates in the county office?"


    Elder Zhou, hands clasped behind his back, said, "The county office has been infiltrated by us for quite some time. With the Prefectural Governor dead, the rest who don''t comply will be handled by us. If you''re not afraid of trouble, I can invite you for a hearty meal again."


    "Sure. I never imagined that the flavor of an Innate Martial Master would be so delicious," the seductive woman said, licking her lips, "Let my little ones handle the Qian Family snack then!"


    She clapped her hands.


    "Meow!"


    A white cat leapt onto the roof, letting out a cry.


    "Let everyone out; it''s time to feast on the Qian Family."


    "Wonderful, Goddess, everyone''s been holding back for so many days," the white cat said in human speech, excitement evident.


    With that, it jumped down and disappeared from the rooftop.


    Suddenly, a Divine Thought swept over the two.


    The naturally intuitive seductive woman frowned and said, "I think we''ve been discovered!"


    Elder Zhou''s expression slightly changed, "Hmm?"


    "Speaking of which, that young girl from the Huangfu family seemed to have someone investigate me. Should I handle it for you?" the seductive woman said gleefully.


    Elder Zhou pondered for a moment and said, "Much obliged."


    "Just a couple of youngsters, a trifling matter," the seductive woman turned into a white light, returning in the direction of the county government.


    Standing at the gate of the county government, Shen Qing''s face changed dramatically, and he shouted, "Run quickly!"


    ```

 Chapter 281 - 106: Slaying Demons and Evil, Kill Without Mercy!

    Huang Furo, standing nearby, hadn''t yet grasped the situation, but upon hearing Shen Qing''s shout, instinctively sidestepped and then exerted her utmost effort to execute the Da Xu Technique and swiftly dart away.


    In that delicate moment of escape, the sky suddenly split open with a fearsome rift, and a formidable force poured down from the void, emanating an unyielding aura of authority and destruction.


    Boom! S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A massive explosion echoed, akin to the primordial roar of the world''s creation, shattering everything around completely.


    The ground, seemingly unable to bear the immense pressure of this power, collapsed with a thunderous crash, forming a massive vortex-like crater, dust swirling, obscuring the sky and the sun.


    As the dust slowly settled, the alluring silhouette of a woman suddenly appeared atop the ruins.


    Her posture was graceful, her beauty mesmerizing, dressed in a shimmering, luxurious garment, stepping as if treading upon the stars with each delicate footfall.


    With a subtle smile that seemed almost teasing, she captivated anyone who glanced her way.


    "I didn''t expect you to be so clever!"


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo exchanged a glance, surprise flashing in their eyes.


    Standing before this woman, they felt as though they were lone boats adrift on a vast ocean, ready to capsize at any moment.


    "Split up!"


    "Okay." Huang Furo responded tersely yet forcefully.


    She expanded her posture, her spiritual power surging like tides, her robes fluttering with a sharp aura.


    Shen Qing did the same, taking a deep breath as his spiritual power surged through him like roaring rivers, enveloped by a faint golden glow.


    The two of them moved almost simultaneously, like meteors cutting through the night sky in opposite directions, moving at speeds nearly beyond the bounds of human perception, leaving only afterimages.


    "Smart trick."


    Behind the alluring woman, shadows flickered, and streams of light flowed out from her, gathering beside her.


    Soon, these streams of light slowly condensed into another woman identical to her.


    She crafted a double of herself.


    "Go!"


    The two figures each transformed into a beam of white light, chasing after them in separate directions.


    Shen Qing glanced back, his pupils shrinking, only to see a white light at the horizon approaching swiftly, emitting a dread-inducing energy wave.


    His expression turned solemn like still water; gritting his teeth, he activated "Dan Ying."


    Within him, the "Dan Ying" extended its arms, causing his internal spiritual power to flood out like a breached river, turbulent and overwhelming.


    Shen Qing swiftly formed a seal with his hands; instantly, brilliant light burst forth from his palms, coalescing into a formidable "Sky Flipping Seal."


    Runes swirled upon it, radiating dazzling brilliance.


    It was the ultimate power he honed with the Sky Flipping Seal.


    Still unsatisfied, Shen Qing pushed the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its limits, amplifying his strength tenfold.


    "Break for me!" Shen Qing growled lowly.


    With his command, the Sky Flipping Seal, imbued with ten times its usual terrifying power, collided fiercely with the alluring woman, accompanied by deafening thunder.


    In the mighty crash, the alluring woman''s lithe body trembled, staggered by the sudden impact, her footsteps faltering, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.


    Shen Qing seized this precious opportunity decisively, his body agile as a leopard, transforming into a stream of light, speeding away, frantically activating the Da Xu Technique and Great Void Shifting Technique.


    With each step, he traversed seemingly vast distances instantly, widening the gap between himself and the alluring woman.


    The enchanting woman steadied herself, smiling as she said, "Interesting."


    As she intended to pursue, a violent energy fluctuation suddenly erupted from somewhere behind her, turning to look.


    It was the other Innate Martial Masters of the county office making their move.


    The alluring woman glanced at Shen Qing, then at the distance, pondered for a moment, and couldn''t help but lick her lips as she said, "Innate Martial Masters are a rare delicacy for me not to be missed."


    She turned and rapidly charged toward the Innate Martial Masters in the distance.


    Shen Qing had no time to ponder why the alluring woman abandoned the chase midway; he dashed headlong into the courtyard of the Guardian Martial Department office, his footsteps reverberating rapidly on the ground.


    Upon landing, he headed straight for the back hall study.


    Upon entering the room, Shen Qing quickly scanned his surroundings, finally locking his gaze on the heavy bow and dagger leaning against the wall.


    With a motion of his hands, the heavy bow, dagger, and arrows flew into his grasp.


    Noticing his commotion, several officers and guards hurried to the back hall door.


    Shen Qing turned to face the rapidly gathering subordinates and declared loudly, "Brothers, demons are rampant, and the people are in peril. Now is the time for us to step forward!"


    Tian Xiaohu was the first to step out, solemnly clasping his fists, "I vow to follow you to the death!"


    Shen Qing nodded, spoke solemnly, "Good, everyone follows me to exorcise demons!"


    "Yes!"


    With those words, Shen Qing charged out of the room first.


    The others hurriedly followed.


    Currently, Yongzhou City was in constant turmoil; even if they were foolish, they knew there was a significant upheaval.


    Yet, none of them hesitated.


    Most of these officers in the Guardian Martial Department were personally promoted by Shen Qing from the ground up, lacking any substantial background, but following Shen Qing''s orders without question.


    Seeing Shen Qing charging ahead, they rushed in unison without complaint.


    Once outside the Guardian Martial Department office, they saw the streets ablaze, screams echoing continuously.


    A child ran out of a house, crying and calling for his parents as he ran.


    Before the child got far, a gigantic white cat demon sprang from an alley, snatched the child in its maw, and began chewing.


    The child''s cries abruptly ceased.


    Crimson blood poured from the white cat''s fangs like a waterfall.


    Suddenly, accompanied by a deafening roar, a flash of cold light appeared.


    An arrow brimming with unparalleled killing intent descended from the sky, exuding a chilling aura.


    A flicker of fear passed through the cat demon''s eyes, its cunning pupils momentarily frozen, time seemingly halted under the arrow''s reflection.


    The fierce arrow, with lightning speed, pierced through obstacles, penetrating the cat demon''s heart.


    With a piercing wail, the demon''s massive body stiffened instantly, before collapsing with a forceful crash, stirring up clouds of dust, the demon energy dissipating into stillness.


    The officers and guards fresh from the Guardian Martial Department office, witnessing this scene, subconsciously clenched their fists, nails digging into their palms without feeling any pain.


    As they looked around, the city seemed overrun with demons.


    Shen Qing coldly declared, "Execute any demon encountered on the spot!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    Shen Qing charged forward into the main street, extending threads of Divine Sense in all directions.


    Every detail of the surroundings was vividly etched into his mind.


    A Dog Demon had its way with a woman in front of her husband; a Stone Demon crushed a man into pulp for amusement; other demons tore open a pregnant woman''s belly, devouring the unborn child...


    "Demons deserve no forgiveness!"


    Shen Qing''s face was ashen with fury.


    With a gesture of his hand, the arrows in his quiver were drawn up by an unseen force, slowly hovering in the air.


    He swiftly pulled out an arrow, poised it on the bowstring.


    The taut bowstring unleashed an indescribable aura from within.


    Between self-preservation and aiding the world, he chose a middle path.


    That is, to do what was within his capacity within the extent of his abilities.


    Martial Masters or Great Demons, he could not overcome them, but the demons he could, so wherever his gaze landed, he showed no mercy!


    Shen Qing suddenly released his fingers.

 Chapter 282 - 107: When the Time is Right, Frame Up!

    In a low chant, the Heavenly Bow Technique operated, resonating with heaven and earth.


    Shen Qing''s arm swung up, the bowstring stretched to its limits trembled and suddenly snapped straight.


    Arrows shot out at an astonishing speed.


    "Whiz!"


    "Whiz!"


    "Whiz!"


    "..."


    They traced lines through the void, intertwining storm clouds, scattering like a celestial maiden''s flower shower, sweeping down in different directions.


    Arrows rained down, carrying with them a destructive force.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The ground was battered repeatedly by an invisible giant hammer, each roar accompanied by a palpable shock.


    In the formidable surge of arrows, one after another, the demons committing atrocities hadn''t time to react before being engulfed by the irresistible wave of arrows, letting out wretched screams.


    In the next moment, the arrows under the Heavenly Bow Technique pierced through the demons'' flesh and blood with a muffled pfft, blasting them into fragments.


    These screams began, only to vanish swiftly in a very short period.


    The air gradually filled with the smell of burning and blood.


    The demons'' severed limbs and bodies scattered with the dust, like autumn leaves swirling down, yet without any life.


    Many still-living demons around, watching this bloody scene, looked dumbfounded.


    As if they had seen something terrifying, their bodies trembled uncontrollably.


    They had lurked in the city eagerly for so long, suppressing their nature and waiting for this day of revelry, thinking that this place was heaven.


    Now it seemed, this was nowhere near heaven, rather just hell.


    Many demons wanted to flee this place in haste, but it was already too late.


    They had barely run away before being pierced in an instant by arriving arrows, their flesh exploding, turning them into fragments.


    The officers who charged out with Shen Qing were invigorated.


    In their roars, they joined forces with their colleagues to slay the demons.


    ...


    The sky was clear, with no clouds for thousands of miles.


    At a side courtyard of the Zhou Family, the brilliant sunshine poured over a quaint stone table, the glossy tabletop reflecting Zhou Xintong''s face, slightly twisted with excitement.


    He sat on a meticulously carved stone chair, listening to the rising and falling chaos from the Inner City, with a carefree laugh.


    A trace of cunning flickered in Zhou Xintong''s eyes as he turned to look at Zhou Jishan, who was standing silently to the side, with a meaningful smile: "What Brother Jishan said earlier, now can almost be done."


    At those words, Zhou Jishan''s face appeared calm, but a hint of imperceptible doubt flashed through his eyes.


    Being in the center of it all, he could already see that the chaos in Yongzhou was the result of high-ranking families colluding with demons.


    Many Great Demons and Innate Martial Masters were involved, with the help of Zhou Xintong against Shen Qing, undoubtedly increasing the chances of winning.


    Yet, this was not the outcome he desired, but it was better than none.


    He brewed his emotions and pretended to be delighted: "Very well, if so, the enmity against my sister and the master''s old servant can both be avenged. That guy surnamed Shen dared to disrespect my Zhou Family, he should pay an adequate price."


    "Brother Xintong was right, today I''ll let Shen Qing understand what it means to be a genius, what it means to be of a high-ranking family!"


    Zhou Xintong''s gaze changed, stood up, and strode outside the courtyard with confidence.


    He passed through the winding corridors, heading straight for the Zhou Family main hall, full of confidence.


    At the main hall, the Zhou Family Patriarch, Zhou Xu, sat upright in the main seat, exuding an unyielding aura of authority.


    "Father/Lord," Zhou Xintong and Zhou Jishan stepped into the hall, saluting in unison.


    Zhou Xu slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a torch, instantly noticing the unusual expressions of the two: "What is it?"


    Zhou Xintong stepped forward: "Father, there''s something I must report."


    "Speak!"


    "I''ve now clarified that last year, the old servant I took to Taiping County was killed by the Chief Officer of the Weiwu Division, Shen Qing. Not only that, but my Zhou Family''s cousin also lost her life at his hands."


    "This man doesn''t regard our Zhou Family at all. If we don''t respond with measures, where does the Zhou Family''s face stand? I hope that father would allow me to eliminate this villain!"


    As for Shen Qing, Zhou Xu still had some impression, heedless of warnings, even slaying Dong Pengfei, utterly refusing to ally with them.


    Such a person could not stay within the county office.


    However, he also knew Shen Qing''s reputation outside. If this matter was not handled properly, it would also affect the Zhou Family''s prestige.


    Currently, they were not yet at the point of turning against the court.


    As Zhou Xu was hesitating, a powerful male voice echoed from outside the door.


    "That person named Shen is going too far now, dispose of him!"


    Zhou Xu was invigorated: "Yes, Ancestor."


    Saying this, his gaze was piercing, staring directly at Zhou Xintong: "In that case, Xintong, on behalf of my Zhou Family, ask him why he''s colluding with demons, seek an explanation from Shen Qing, enforce justice. Remember, act prudently, demonstrate the Zhou Family''s might, yet don''t overstep."


    "Understood!" Zhou Xintong bowed deeply, his eyes shimmering with excitement.


    Upon finishing his words, he turned his body, spread his arms, and flew into a black shadow towards the outside of the door.


    Zhou Jishan bit his lip, bowed towards Zhou Xu, and exited the door.


    Reaching outside the main entrance, he felt somewhat unwilling, desiring to know the outcome immediately.


    Taking advantage of the absence of others around, he ran in the direction where Zhou Xintong vanished.


    However, his cultivation was not high, merely relying on his body''s brute strength and movement techniques, unable to keep up.


    "Damn it, may the fight between them not conclude by the time I arrive, better hope Shen Qing blasts that fool''s brains out for me."


    Never before had Zhou Jishan wished for Shen Qing to be stronger, stronger still.


    On the street.


    Shen Qing, with his men, fought fiercely, unaware of how many demons they had slain, virtually all covered in blood.


    His Divine Sense was keen, detecting a formidable aura rapidly approaching from a distance.


    It was an Innate Martial Master.


    An ancestor from one of the Thirteen Lines.


    Shen Qing''s expression changed slightly, shouting to the surrounding officers and dispatchers: "Scatter into the city, flee this place, an Innate Martial Master is coming."


    "Yes."


    Upon hearing this, the officers and dispatchers'' expressions changed, Innate Martial Masters were too distant for them, possibly being pulverized by just the aftermath.


    They didn''t dare to linger, scattering in all directions.


    Shen Qing gestured with a single hand.


    Arrows covered in mottled blood scattered throughout the street seemed to be drawn by invisible threads, whizzing and seamlessly returning to the arrow quiver at his waist.


    Now the Inner City was no longer safe, forces entangled together, allies and enemies indistinguishable.


    The water was thoroughly roiled.


    Staying here, peril lurked, deeply unwise.


    A wise man cherishes life.


    Once the arrows were retrieved, Shen Qing didn''t hesitate a moment, stepping forward, employing the Turtle Breath Technique and movement technique, sprinting towards the city outskirts.


    He had barely rushed out when a thunderous explosion rolled in.


    "The Chief Officer of Weiwu Division, Shen Qing, colluded with demons, intending to overthrow the court, guilty beyond doubt!"


    Shen Qing looked up, seeing the Zhou Family''s fifth young Master, Zhou Xintong, flying over from afar, blocking his path.


    A fist aimed directly at his head. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 283 - 108 Get lost, dont get in my way! Slap to death

    ```


    Zhou Xintong''s sudden attack interrupted Shen Qing''s path, preventing him from advancing.


    The fist wind howled, carrying the sound of breaking through the air as it rushed towards his face.


    In a hurry, Shen Qing did not retreat but swung his right palm with an astonishing response, meeting the seemingly unbeatable fist, and fiercely collided with the rampant energy.


    "Boom!"


    A deafening roar, like the mightiest thunder in the sky, suddenly tore through the air, swallowing all surrounding sounds in this earth-shattering strike.


    A dazzling light erupted between the two, an invisible wave expanding, kicking up dust around them. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Under the backlash of this powerful force, Shen Qing retreated a few steps before stabilizing his stance.


    Seeing Shen Qing in such a way, Zhou Xintong showed a proud expression, feeling smug.


    In his view, Shen Qing, the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department, was no more than this, somewhat overrated, unable to even withstand a punch from him, far inferior, hardly a match for him.


    A country bumpkin from the countryside is just a country bumpkin.


    How could he compare to those wealthy scions who had been cultivating since they were in their mothers'' wombs?


    He really could not understand how someone like that managed to ride over their heads, suppressing their peers.


    Looking around, there truly wasn''t anyone among his peers who could match him.


    But now it was different.


    He could already imagine the kind of prestige he would gain among his peers in Yongzhou if he killed Shen Qing.


    Achieving fame and establishing his name would be today.


    Thinking of this, Zhou Xintong''s face twisted into a grimace as he approached Shen Qing rapidly once more, constantly accusing, "Shen Qing, as the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department, how dare you collude with demons, causing such a disaster? Do you really think no one can deal with you? Die!"


    Facing Zhou Xintong''s accusations, Shen Qing''s heart remained calm and unruffled, not even producing a single ripple.


    He had cut through demons all the way here, his whole body covered in blood.


    Everyone still alive on this street had witnessed it all with their own eyes.


    This was purely Zhou Xintong making blind accusations; no one would believe him.


    But Shen Qing also knew what Zhou Xintong was after.


    In the opponent''s view, the dead would not speak for themselves.


    As long as he was killed, then under their intimidating might, no one would speak for him.


    In the end, this mess would naturally fall on his head.


    And the way to break Zhou Xintong''s plan was very simple.


    Before Zhou Xintong killed him, he had to kill Zhou Xintong!


    Seeing Shen Qing say nothing, Zhou Xintong thought he was intimidated by his presence, showing a bit of complacency on his face.


    Zhou Xintong''s figure became larger and closer in Shen Qing''s vision.


    Shen Qing released his Divine Sense and detected a strong aura approaching from behind, realizing he couldn''t stay here much longer.


    Damn it, if it weren''t for this person meddling, he would have left this place long ago and distanced himself from the Innate Martial Master behind him.


    Now not only had he failed to widen the distance, but due to the delay, he had also missed the best time to escape.


    It''s all this bastard''s fault!


    A wave of discontent surged in Shen Qing''s heart, erupting like a volcano.


    His eyebrows twisted together as he shouted discontentedly, "Get lost, don''t get in my way!"


    With a single thought, Shen Qing urged the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its fullest.


    In an instant, his Spiritual Power''s meridians reversed ten times, multiplying his strength tenfold.


    Spiritual Power surged wildly throughout his body, like floodwaters breaking through a dike, sweeping across his entire being.


    Shen Qing formed seals with both hands, and the Sky Flipping Seal was suddenly conjured by him.


    Streams of the purest Spiritual Power from heaven and earth gathered in front of him, condensing into a Sky Flipping Seal that seemed to descend from the Nine Heavens.


    The Sky Flipping Seal was enormous, possessing the steadiness and weight of a mountain, yet also containing the vast force of rivers and seas, carrying a world-destroying might as it roared towards Zhou Xintong''s forehead.


    Wherever the Sky Flipping Seal passed, it left a series of colorless marks.


    "Bang!"


    The immense power poured down unreservedly in front of Zhou Xintong.


    A trace of disbelief and astonishment flashed in Zhou Xintong''s eyes.


    He hurriedly turned around, raising his arms to fend off the attack.


    But Shen Qing, being already at the Dan Realm of cultivation, now with tenfold power added, was comparable to being half a step into the Innate realm.


    How could Zhou Xintong, only at the Dan Realm, be his opponent?


    When the Sky Flipping Seal landed on Zhou Xintong''s forehead, the formidable aura and Spiritual Power defense surrounding him crumbled like paper, instantly disintegrating into countless streams of light, dissipating into the void.


    "How is it possible?"


    Zhou Xintong''s pupils shrank slightly, filled with disbelief.


    The power of the Sky Flipping Seal poured onto Zhou Xintong, and despite his best efforts to resist, it was ultimately futile.


    When the light faded, it revealed Zhou Xintong''s wretched figure.


    Half of his head had completely collapsed, his clothes were in tatters, and blood flowed from his seven orifices.


    Shen Qing''s expression remained unchanged as he struck with his palm.


    The radiance in the void seemed to be captured by his gesture, regathering to form a colossal giant palm, carrying boundless pressure and destructive force, mercilessly descending upon Zhou Xintong.


    "Bang!"


    Already heavily injured, Zhou Xintong''s head was dazed, with no reaction at all.


    By the time he sensed the sharp killing intent, Shen Qing had already crushed him into pulp, splattered against the wall.


    After delivering a fatal blow, Shen Qing retracted his palm to his chest.


    Seeing that the obstacle ahead had been removed, he hesitated not for a moment, knowing there was no time to waste, turned and dashed towards the city gate with all his might, running desperately.


    Not far down the street, Zhou Jishan, who had just arrived, witnessed the previous scene in its entirety.


    His face froze completely, mouth slightly open, seemingly able to fit an egg inside.


    But the next moment, waves of joy erupted on his face.


    "He''s dead! He''s dead! Hahaha... served him right! Spat! Who did he think he was? If it weren''t for being born into a good family, there would be no reason for him to live in this world." Zhou Jishan couldn''t help but spit heavily, cursing furiously, his demeanor wild.


    "Heaven has eyes, my brother''s vengeance is finally avenged. The grievances of our Taiping Zhou Family have not gone unnoticed."


    "Only that Shen guy..."


    After a moment, the exhilaration following revenge released, Zhou Jishan gradually calmed down, his gaze involuntarily turning to the direction where Shen Qing disappeared, becoming contemplative, even a bit fearful.


    When Shen Qing''s figure combined with the rural environment of Taiping County, it made him feel a sense of unreality.


    "Such terrifying cultivation talent, I definitely mustn''t provoke, or it will undoubtedly cause trouble." The corners of Zhou Jishan''s mouth turned slightly upward, revealing a smile as he said, "But he killed my cousin before, is also our family''s enemy; I shouldn''t provoke him, but I can push others into the fire pit, heh..."


    Thinking of this, Zhou Jishan''s mind formed an idea, as his figure slipped into the alleyways, hurrying towards the Zhou Family''s direction.


    ```

 Chapter 284 - 109: Nine Bosses Hunt Me, Yet I Fear Not

    Zhou Family Mansion.


    "Trouble! Master, there''s big trouble!"


    Zhou Jishan barged into the main hall of the Zhou family, disregarding family etiquette, and knelt down with a plop.


    His face was pale, his eyes filled with panic, and his voice trembled with fear as he spoke.


    The family head, Zhou Xu, was seated in the hall, contemplating the current situation and future plans.


    Hearing Zhou Jishan''s exclamation, he felt a bit dissatisfied and focused his gaze on the trembling Zhou Jishan.


    He frowned slightly and said, "What has made you so flustered? Speak!"


    Zhou Jishan, still kneeling on the ground, spoke haltingly due to his fear, "Master... the fifth young Master went to carry out the order to kill the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department, that Shen fellow, but unexpectedly, who would have thought..."


    At this point, Zhou Jishan''s eyes turned incredibly red, and large tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes, showing his deep sorrow.


    "Unexpectedly, Shen Qing... he actually killed the young Master in broad daylight!"


    These words were like a bolt from the blue.


    Zhou Xu''s face turned a deep shade of blue-black, and an incredulous expression flashed in his eyes as he suddenly stood up.


    Zhou Xintong''s cultivation had been progressing rapidly, standing out among his many sons.


    For this reason, he intended to nurture him, even leveraging the Bai Mu affair to build him a reputation.


    Zhou Xintong''s performance did not disappoint him, showcasing impressive combat prowess.


    He might have even been able to inherit the legacy of the family''s ancestors in the future.


    And it was such a prodigy, a qilin child, who died just like that?!


    A surge of anger arose from his heart, rushing to the top of his head.


    He slammed the tea table beside him, producing a crisp cracking sound.


    Under the powerful force of the martial master, the seemingly sturdy tea table instantly shattered into pieces, sending splinters flying everywhere.


    The teacup placed on the table jumped into the air, then, with a "smash," broke into fragments that splattered along with scalding tea.


    "Shen Qing!" Zhou Xu gritted his teeth, each word squeezed out as if he were spitting fire.


    His fists clenched tight, emanating a compelling oppressive force.


    After a while, Zhou Xu''s tightly clenched fists suddenly relaxed, and he laughed in his extreme anger, "Well, well, well, I didn''t expect I misjudged, Lord Shen has hidden depths."


    "Changhe!"


    "This old servant is here."


    "Go and notify the family heads of the other clans, say that there is a faction at the county office beyond our control, and have them come over to resolve this matter."


    As he spoke, Zhou Xu''s eyes fell on the old servant.


    "Invite the other family heads? This will cost our family quite substantially..."


    "Are you questioning me?"


    The old servant trembled all over, sensing the strong killing intent emanating from Zhou Xu, he hurriedly said, "This old servant wouldn''t dare."


    "The falcon uses all its might to catch the rabbit¡ªjust do as I say. I do not believe this kid can remain unscathed!"


    The old servant dared not delay, quickly accepted the order, "This old servant obeys!"


    With that, he rushed out without any delay.


    After arranging these matters, Zhou Xu gradually regained his composure.


    He walked towards the door with his hands clasped behind his back, passing by Zhou Jishan.


    As Zhou Jishan looked up, a sideways kick sent Zhou Jishan flying.


    "Wow!"


    Before Zhou Jishan knew what happened, he flew across the room, crashing into the wall along with his chair.


    He tasted something sweet in his throat and spat out a mouthful of dirty blood.


    His chest felt soft and limp.


    Clearly, a few ribs had been broken.


    Waves of excruciating pain spread through his body, leaving him drenched in cold sweat and gasping for air.


    His painful cries were stuck in his throat, unable to escape.


    Zhou Xu calmly said, "For not protecting the master, you should have died with the master according to the family rules. Considering you are kin, I''ll spare you."


    Looking at Zhou Xu, Zhou Jishan felt a twinge of hatred.


    But he didn''t show it, putting on a sycophantic and panicked face, he said, "Thank... thank you, master, for not killing me."


    "Hmph." Zhou Xu snorted coldly, "Where is Shen Qing now?"


    "Re...reporting to the master, I saw him heading towards the West City Gate."


    Zhou Xu offered no further words, his figure flickered like a beam of light, dashing towards the West City Gate, "Have the family heads hurry over."


    ...


    On the west side of Yongzhou City, chaos reigned, with many demons bursting in from outside the city gates, the threat of demons growing ever more serious.


    Shen Qing wielded his dagger relentlessly.


    It was covered in blood, the blade had chipped in many places, looking quite worn.


    "This isn''t just a few demon incidents, it''s a demonic surge that requires a military force to completely eradicate¡ªit is far beyond what the Military Department and Guardian Martial Department can handle."


    Seeing the stream of demons pouring in, Shen Qing''s mood grew heavier.


    He kept swinging his blade with all his might, cutting down the demons in front of him as he pressed towards the gate, trying to exit the city.


    As for Tian Xiaohu and the others, with the chaotic situation at hand, he had no time to worry about them.


    Entering the city gates, Shen Qing unleashed the Sky Flipping Seal, using it to crush and subdue his foes.


    Each move he made resulted in swathes of demons being squashed into meat paste.


    Standing beneath the city gate, Shen Qing looked at the guard who had been gnawed by demons down to a pile of bones, but he had no time for sentiment.


    He gathered strength in his legs, crashing the ground beneath him, sending dust and debris flying wildly.


    Using the momentum, Shen Qing surged forward like an arrow shot from a bowstring, then executed the still not fully mastered Da Xu Technique, making his silhouette flicker and shift outside the city walls.


    Shen Qing now sensed the powerful momentum behind him within the Inner City, it was evident that multiple Innate Martial Masters were clashing violently inside.


    The faint aura leaking out was extremely dangerous.


    The situation had already spiraled beyond his control and expectations.


    Slaughter and chaos pervaded the city.


    Such a danger required intervention by the court or even more powerful forces.


    It was beyond what he, as the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Division, could resolve.


    Shen Qing collected his thoughts, charging ahead as fast as he could.


    However, after going a short distance, his temples throbbed, he felt many powerful auras locking onto him from behind.


    He quickly turned his head to see a man in a brocade robe approaching with malicious intent.


    The man seemed to deliberately slow down, not approaching closely, but keeping a distance while trailing him.


    Shen Qing, being from a hunter''s background, was well familiar with such a scene.


    This was clearly a tactic hunters used during hunts.


    With his sharp Divine Sense, Shen Qing noticed more figures gathering towards him from afar.


    "Old Zhou, you bring us all here for such a person, it seems you are determined to kill him. What kind of enmity do you have with him?" a middle-aged man in a purple robe spoke quickly, keeping pace with Zhou Xu.


    Zhou Xu, expressionless, said, "This person does not align with us, leaving him alive would bring disaster. Kill him without so many questions."


    The man in the purple robe paused.


    Following him, seven more arrived one after another, forming an encirclement around Shen Qing.


    Seeing these people, Shen Qing recognized a few familiar faces.


    Nine of the family heads from the Thirteen Lines had come!


    "It''s about time, everyone, join me in slaying this beast," Zhou Xu said loudly with his hands clasped in salute, "If we succeed, the Zhou family is willing to offer some benefits."


    "Alright." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The nine moved together, charging towards Shen Qing.


    Facing this scene, Shen Qing''s heart raced with alarm.


    These family heads were all in the Dan Realm in terms of cultivation, now they were all joining forces to pursue him.


    Nine Dan Realm martial masters against him, how could he stand a chance to survive?


    Doubt crept into Shen Qing''s heart.


    But as he saw the nine getting closer, he hardened his resolve, grabbing the Heavy Bow in his hand.


    "However many people there are, even if I die, I''ll take one down with me!"


    The combined force of the nine family heads coming to kill me, I fear not.

 Chapter 285 - 110: Shooting Arrows in Rapid Succession, the Right Time to Kill

    ```


    Shen Qing lightly brushed the arrow quiver with one hand and skillfully hooked out an arrow with his pinky finger, placing it deftly on the bowstring.


    He remembered clearly that on the day he used the heavy bow to kill Dong Pengfei, the first arrow didn''t kill him, and it took several more arrows to seriously injure Dong Pengfei.


    Each arrow was equivalent to a full-force strike at the Yu Luo Realm.


    Now that he had broken through to the Dan Realm, the spiritual power he could harness had increased severalfold, and thus, executing the Heavenly Bow Technique now was undoubtedly more powerful than before.


    However, these family heads had at least Dan Realm cultivation, and Shen Qing couldn''t guarantee this power would be enough to kill them.


    A distance of several hundred meters wouldn''t hold for long.


    If the arrow in his hand couldn''t ensure a kill in one shot, he would be in an unfavorable position facing the encirclement.


    So, he needed to take advantage of the distance and take down a few more before they got close.


    In other words, the power of his arrows needed to be elevated by several levels.


    Shen Qing gritted his teeth and pushed the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to its limit.


    The "Nascent Soul" in his Qi Sea formed a seal with its hands, stretched its body, and vast spiritual energy surged forth like a river, continuously reversing the flow of spiritual power.


    With each reversal of the spiritual power, Shen Qing''s aura soared until it reached its peak state.


    "The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill is a martial art that breaks limits, concentrating the body''s power to explode in an instant, and can be overlaid with other martial arts for unexpected effects."


    "The Heavenly Bow Technique is also a martial art; in theory, it can be combined with the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, which means the power of the arrows in my hand can be further enhanced."


    Shen Qing quickly deliberated, then decided without hesitation, taking a chance in a desperate situation, and shouted: "Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, Heavenly Bow Unite!"


    With a low, powerful roar, Shen Qing concentrated all his strength at one point, unleashing the Heavenly Bow Technique to its fullest extent at that moment.


    A power ten times stronger than usual accompanied the arrow as it shot through the sky, leaving a dazzling trail.


    Where it passed, winds rose, clouds surged, flames flickered, and layers of energy rippled.


    The purple-robed middle-aged man, well aware of Shen Qing''s feats in Yongzhou City, knew he was not an ordinary person.


    However, in his eyes, there were nine of them encircling Shen Qing together, leaving no room for defeat.


    Confident in their victory, he took the lead, charging forward among the nine, wanting to monopolize the benefits offered by the Zhou Family.


    At this moment, an inexplicable pressure swept over, rendering him immobile, as if his feet were glued to the ground.


    "What is this¡­"


    The purple-robed middle-aged man looked up.


    He saw the divine arrow in its majestic glory, with a golden light that blotted out the sun, its destructive power like the arrival of a Golden Crow.


    The smile on his face instantly froze.


    Bang!


    A tearing sound echoed as an invisible rift appeared in the void.


    An arrow, carrying an unstoppable might, pierced through the purple-robed middle-aged man''s chest.


    As a blood blossom bloomed reminiscent of a haunting flower, the arrow shot through and slammed into the hard ground with a roar.


    Boom!


    Under this sudden force, the ground completely shattered, stone fragments flew, and dust surged, resembling the apocalypse.


    The purple-robed middle-aged man fell from the void, staggered a few steps, disbelief filling his eyes.


    He couldn''t understand why an arrow could unleash such terrifying power.


    "You¡­ Ugh¡­"


    The purple-robed middle-aged man raised his head, trying to speak, but words choked in his throat were drowned by the blood welling up.


    Shen Qing''s archery was precise; his chest had already been completely pierced, and even the heart was lost, leaving him without a chance of survival.


    Blood continually gushed from his lips, and the next moment, as if all strength had been drained from his body, he tilted sideways and fell to the ground, breathless.


    Zhou Xu and the other family heads were stunned by this unexpected scene, their actions halting, surprise and confusion interweaving on their faces.


    Shen Qing''s actions shocked them.


    In fact, this scene not only shocked everyone present but also made Shen Qing himself tremble.


    He had not expected the Heavenly Bow Technique combined with the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill to be so terrifying.


    "Don''t panic, everyone! Such a move must consume much energy; now is when he''s most vulnerable," Zhou Xu gritted his teeth and said, "We have grievances with him now. If not eliminated today, he will become a scourge in the future!"


    The others looked grim, feeling they were dragged into this by Zhou Xu.


    "Damn, Old Zhou. Once this is over, your Zhou Family must give up thirty percent of the gains!" A boss from a high-ranking family demanded.


    Without a second''s hesitation, Zhou Xu agreed, deciding to deal with the immediate threat first.


    The purple-robed middle-aged man''s death didn''t deter them a step.


    The halted group once again charged at Shen Qing.


    Though the words of these people reached Shen Qing''s ears thanks to his strong divine sense.


    He realized his strategy could work, his mindset shifting, now filled with confidence, as he activated the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique.


    In an instant, the world''s spiritual energy crazily rushed to Shen Qing''s position, like ten thousand rivers returning to the sea, unstoppable.


    He seemed to transform into the greediest whale between heaven and earth, opening his invisible maw to devour all the surrounding spiritual energy.


    The consumed spiritual energy was instantly refined by the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, transformed into the purest, most refined spiritual power, nourishing every inch of his meridians and muscles.


    The physical body earlier depleted by the Nine Revolution Mysterious Skill seemed to be infused with endless vitality.


    His spiritual power surged in an instant.


    The arrow he had just shot gave him immense confidence.


    Having tasted success, Shen Qing quickly drew another arrow, placed it on the bowstring, and repeated the maneuver.


    The same scene played out again.


    Swoosh!


    A head of one family was shot off with a single arrow.


    The headless corpse, carried by momentum, traced a parabolic arc and fell from midair.


    Shen Qing''s confidence soared.


    He now realized just how strong he truly was.


    After releasing each arrow, Shen Qing didn''t stop, continuously drawing his bow and firing arrows.


    The Whale Swallowing Technique, Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill, and Heavenly Bow Technique achieved perfect harmony within him, making him akin to a tireless beast, unleashing endlessly.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    He fired three arrows in a rapid burst.


    Among the bosses of Yongzhou, someone managed to dodge the arrow in front with agile movement technique.


    His face showed the joy of survival.


    However, before he could rejoice, another arrow had already arrived ahead of schedule, sealing his throat with a single shot. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The arrow he had dodged, was instead heading straight at another person.


    Due to his obstruction, the person behind did not notice the arrow, so when he stepped aside, in that brief moment, he couldn''t react, getting shot in the head.


    The head burst like a ripe watermelon.


    No matter how these people dodged, Shen Qing''s arrows seemed to have eyes, killing one person with each shot.


    With each arrow released, Shen Qing grew increasingly confident.


    The bosses who were once high and mighty were now scurrying like stray dogs under his arrows, comically scampering around.


    Alas, it was all futile.


    "You forced me to this, you brought it on yourselves."


    "Whoosh!"


    "Whoosh!"


    "Whoosh!"


    Shen Qing fired his arrows like lightning, shooting a consecutive stream of arrows.


    The bosses charging in mid-air all fell from the sky one by one.


    ```

 Chapter 286 - 111: Slaying the Nine Bosses, Each Family in Mourning

    Under the boost of the "every arrow hits the mark" skill and the "Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill" martial arts, Shen Qing shot eight arrows in succession, each hitting its mark without fail.


    The eight people charging forward, regardless of their noble identities and high status in the past, were all equal in front of these arrows.


    There was no chance of luck.


    After experiencing brief pain, they began to enjoy the blissful afterlife.


    Eight of the nine bosses died in one go!


    From beginning to end, they hadn''t even touched Shen Qing''s clothes, dying in utmost frustration.


    Witnessing this scene, Zhou Xu was completely dumbfounded.


    He never imagined that in less than a stick of incense''s time, he would be the only one left.


    Shen Qing''s arrows defied logic, such bow technique overturned his understanding of archery!


    He had never seen such arrows, capable of killing Dan Realm martial artists with just one shot.


    Every arrow was a kill shot, making it impossible for them to evade.


    Looking at the bodies covering the ground, Zhou Xu felt chills down his spine.


    Run!


    He must run!


    As soon as he thought of this, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shen Qing taking another arrow from the arrow quiver, sensing a huge crisis, his entire body hair stood on end.


    Zhou Xu saw the arrows Shen Qing shot clearly, the terrifying accuracy and unsettling power left him with no confidence.


    Although his cultivation was slightly stronger than the heads of the other families, it was obviously not to an extreme degree.


    That one arrow, he might not be able to defend against it.


    Zhou Xu observed that after the initial skirmish, the distance between the two sides had been pulled to an incredibly small distance, less than two or three four meters.


    At such a distance, he only needed to rush a little to reach Shen Qing, while escaping would make him a living target instead.


    He had clearly fallen into a death trap.


    Gritting his teeth, Zhou Xu''s face twisted: "When enemies meet on a narrow path, the brave wins, one cannot hope for luck to survive!"


    Driven to a dead end, Zhou Xu chose to risk everything, intending to engage Shen Qing in hand-to-hand combat.


    Generally, archers were not skilled in hand-to-hand combat; he might still have a chance to grasp a sliver of hope.


    "Kill!"


    Zhou Xu mustered all his strength, using every ounce of effort, and swiftly approached Shen Qing, lunging forward.


    His temples were covered in disheveled white hair, his face showing a frenzied expression.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing''s gaze hardened slightly.


    He realized that the distance in front of him was too close to use an arrow, so he quickly put away his longbow, unfolding his stance like a beast ready to pounce for the kill.


    With a flicker of thought, Shen Qing''s "Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill" started circulating wildly within him.


    Spiritual power surged like torrents of water rushing backward again and again.


    Quickly, his aura multiplied tenfold, reaching an astonishing and horrifying realm.


    Almost simultaneously, Shen Qing clashed palms with Zhou Xu.


    "Boom!"


    A powerful energy surge exploded between the two.


    Zhou Xu''s face lit up with joy: "There''s hope."


    Once again, he lunged forward.


    Seeing Zhou Xu getting closer, Shen Qing, after a brief respite, regained his composure. He formed a seal with his hands, red-gold light filling the space between his arms.


    A force of world-destroying might burst forth from his palms, quickly forming a massive red-gold Sky Flipping Seal.


    This Sky Flipping Seal was enormous, like a star falling from the sky, carrying an unstoppable might, crashing down toward Zhou Xu.


    Seeing this, a fierce glint flashed in Zhou Xu''s eyes.


    His muscles tensed, roaring as he leaped towards the flipping sky seal like a giant beast.


    Shen Qing''s Sky Flipping Seal slammed into Zhou Xu''s head, making him see stars and his Qi-blood churned, almost fainting.


    If not for his solid foundation, he would likely have collapsed on the ground.


    "How is it possible?!" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Xu was horrified, never imagining that Shen Qing''s physical body was already so frighteningly strong.


    He couldn''t understand why the same Dan Realm had such a huge gap.


    In the face of life and death, there was no time for doubt. With no reservations, he resisted with all his spiritual power against the golden brilliance of the sky seal.


    However, under the tenfold power of the flipping sky seal, Zhou Xu''s physical body could not withstand it.


    His skull had already been crushed, blood streaming.


    Zhou Xu relied solely on his last ounce of spiritual power for support.


    Unfortunately, Shen Qing''s "Whale Swallowing Technique" had achieved some success, with spiritual power flowing endlessly, showing no signs of exhaustion.


    This filled Zhou Xu with despair.


    He was facing a monster without any flaws, whether in close combat or at a distance.


    Boom!


    The Sky Flipping Seal struck fiercely again, and Zhou Xu could not hold on any longer, being smashed onto the ground alive.


    "Ah!"


    Zhou Xu let out a miserable scream.


    The red-gold light completely engulfed his figure, dust flying, stones splintering.


    When the light dissipated, the ground was a mess.


    Zhou Xu lay quietly there, no longer breathing.


    The esteemed patriarch of the Zhou Family was dead!


    The world returned to deathly silence.


    On the ground, traces of blood were everywhere.


    Looking around, Shen Qing saw that the nine once-imposing bosses had all been slain, with nearly every family now in mourning.


    Shen Qing found it hard to believe that he had killed the heads of nine of the Thirteen Noble Families in Yongzhou in one go.


    At that moment, he felt an eerie sense of unreality about these people, as if in a dream.


    Unknowingly, he had acquired terrifying combat power, standing above these people.


    "Hahaha." Shen Qing felt an immense joy, his thoughts clear, full of confidence in his power: "This Yongzhou, seems to be just a puppet show, and those incompetent leaders will find it not so easy to seize power."


    Shen Qing collected his thoughts and walked forward.


    "These family heads might carry many valuable items, not to be missed."


    He walked to the corpse of the nearest middle-aged man, crouching down to search through his belongings.


    While searching, Shen Qing noticed the man''s clothes were luxurious and seemed extremely valuable.


    But they had been pierced by his arrows, rendered tattered and worthless.


    Shen Qing showed no interest.


    His hands kept searching, finding quite a few gold ingots, Wish Power Pearls, and silver notes.


    Moreover, Shen Qing also found the Refining Pearl Technique they carried with them.


    Shen Qing was not surprised.


    The Great Zhou Ji Family''s previously strict guard had long been riddled with holes by these people.


    "Hmm, what''s this?"


    Shen Qing unexpectedly found a Jade Token with no carvings.


    He carefully examined it in his hand, finding no clues or leads.


    Shen Qing didn''t think much of it and casually stored it.


    Subsequently, he did not miss checking the others, going through them all, and gained substantial rewards.


    To his surprise, each person had, without exception, left behind a trace-free Jade Token, leaving him puzzled.


    "These people are all family heads, with prominent status. Carrying these must have some significance, likely plotting something."


    Shen Qing speculated internally.


    Boom!


    Within Yongzhou City, a strong wave of demonic power surged outward.


    He stopped speculating, hurriedly stacked all the Jade Tokens, placed them in his chest, glanced around, and dashed towards the west.

 Chapter 287 - 112: Driven into a Corner

    Yongzhou City.


    Two figures blurred past in succession.


    Leading was Huang Furo, her hair disheveled and far from her former elegance, appearing somewhat haggard.


    Behind her, there was an alluring figure in relentless pursuit.


    "Lord Huangfu, why persist in fleeing? I mean no harm," Jiu Li''s voice was very gentle, making one feel a certain warmth.


    Her stance was graceful, her steps light, and her almond-shaped eyes bore a vague smile.


    Huang Furo glanced back, sweat trickling down her cheeks. She gritted her teeth and continuously urged on the Da Xu Technique, quickening her pace.


    "If you mean no harm, why insist on chasing me?"


    Jiu Li replied with a chuckle, "Sigh... there are some things you shouldn''t know. To be safe, we need to inconvenience you a bit. Sit for a while on our side; once matters in the city settle, you may leave. What do you think?"


    The words of Great Demon Jiu Li were filled with allure, and as she spoke, she silently quickened her pace, steadily closing the distance to Huang Furo.


    She suddenly thrust out a hand, releasing a beam of white light, producing a sharp whooshing sound as it rushed toward the back of Huang Furo''s head.


    Huang Furo''s temples throbbed with pain, and a chill ran down her spine.


    She hurriedly flashed her form, barely dodging the strike.


    Huang Furo''s face turned even paler.


    She knew the pursuer possessed Innate cultivation, far surpassing her own, and the words spoken were nothing but ghostly tales, unworthy of scrutiny.


    Falling into her opponent''s hands would mean certain doom.


    With this thought, Huang Furo became more determined to escape.


    The Da Xu Technique was pushed to its limits. Her figure continuously shifted, dodging and reappearing up ahead.


    Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried, Jiu Li seemed to draw ever closer, sinking her heart into despair, fueling her growing fear and unease.


    Her cultivation was only at the Dan Realm. After prolonged pursuit and resistance, the "Dan Ying" in her Qi Sea appeared wan and fatigued, with Spiritual Power nearly exhausted.


    In contrast, Jiu Li, with Innate cultivation, remained full of Spiritual Power. At this rate, she feared it would not be long before she was overtaken.


    As expected. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After passing through the city gates, Jiu Li was already close behind, maintaining a mere ten meters between them.


    Such distance was but a step for a martial master.


    Huang Furo''s face grew even more unsightly.


    "Since Lord Huangfu remains so oblivious, don''t blame me then!"


    Great Demon Jiu Li let out a bell-like laugh, her crimson lips opening slightly, releasing a white streak brimming with an imposing force.


    Huang Furo''s expression changed, hurriedly drawing the dagger from her waist.


    Her cultivation might not rival this Great Demon, but she, Huang Furo, was no lamb for the slaughter!


    With gritted teeth, she let out a furious roar, her blade flashing like a dragon.


    The silver-white dagger swept across, shattering the incoming white streak.


    Beneath the blue sky, a metallic clang resounded, erupting into invisible waves of air.


    Under the force of this strike, Huang Furo''s breath became ragged, causing her to halt and face Jiu Li.


    Great Demon Jiu Li felt assured of victory, covering her mouth with a smile, saying, "Lord Huangfu, since you''re not my match, why struggle so?"


    Huang Furo gripped the hilt tightly, sweat beading across her pale forehead, and remained silent.


    "Fine, for the sake of your Huangfu family showing some discernment, I''ll grant you a swift end, allowing you to become a part of me." Jiu Li licked her lips, "How about it? Do you feel honored?"


    Though a Dan Realm martial master was not greatly beneficial to her, it was better than nothing, serving as an appetizer before the main meal most satisfactorily.


    Jiu Li''s eyes sparkled with cold stars, her single hand moving like a blade, sending out streaks of white light, directly targeting Huang Furo''s face.


    Each streak was dazzling and contained an overwhelmingly fierce momentum.


    Huang Furo glanced around, finding nothing but emptiness, with no place to leverage.


    She gritted her teeth, grasping her dagger tightly, urging all remaining Spiritual Power within her, striking repeatedly.


    Her long blade, like a blooming lotus, continuously cut down the sudden white streaks.


    Caught off guard, as Huang Furo struggled to defend herself, Great Demon Jiu Li suddenly lunged forward, her figure like a fallen leaf in autumn, hovering before Huang Furo.


    Bang!


    Great Demon Jiu Li struck out with a palm.


    Under the activation of her entire Spiritual Power, her palm was surrounded by white light, exuding a tearing force.


    Huang Furo glimpsed from the corner of her eye, drawing out the last of her Spiritual Power, concentrating it before her, and met it with a palm of her own.


    Yet, as she prepared to counter with a palm strike, the clash she expected did not occur.


    Suddenly, when Jiu Li''s palm was on the verge of touching Huang Furo''s palm, an unforeseen change transpired.


    Her palm subtly shifted, brushing past Huang Furo''s hand, and then along her arm, landing heavily on her weighted chest.


    Boom!


    A heavy muffled sound echoed between the two.


    Great Demon Jiu Li, being an Innate martial master, was a Great Realm ahead of Huang Furo.


    Her palm, concentrated with more than half her Spiritual Power, packed a phenomenal force.


    Huang Furo only felt a dullness in her chest, seemingly losing all sensation.


    Seizing the slight clarity left in her mind, she utilized the recoil from Jiu Li''s move, pushed with her legs, executed the Da Xu Technique, and soared gracefully like a swallow, hastening her escape.


    Unfortunately, the previous palm strike had seriously injured her, and her body was drained of Spiritual Power.


    After covering a short distance, Huang Furo''s figure faltered, ultimately resembling a phoenix with broken wings, plummeting from mid-air with a tragic hue, crashing to the ground, stirring clouds of dust.


    Even though Huang Furo had a strong physical body, the fall was not light. Dizzy and dazed, she was far from clear-headed.


    In the face of a dire enemy, with an overwhelming desire to survive, she hesitated not, enduring the pain to rise and, without regard for her image, fled in desperation.


    But Great Demon Jiu Li''s speed was much faster.


    "Die!"


    Huang Furo heard a shout from behind, her face turning as pale as paper.


    She glanced back, seeing a rainbow light racing towards her.


    It was over!


    Huang Furo''s heart sank into despair, closing her eyes, preparing to meet her fate.


    "Whoosh..."


    Suddenly, the sky seemed to be cleaved by an invisible blade, as a brilliant golden light burst forth, akin to an ancient Golden Crow breaking free, diving from the Nine Heavens above.


    A single arrow, wrapped in red-gold light, traversed the void, bringing with it an unparalleled destructive force, heading straight for Great Demon Jiu Li''s face.


    The alluring woman sensed a massive killing intent, swiftly retreating.


    Unfortunately, her speed fell short against the arrow.


    Great Demon Jiu Li urgently crossed her arms in front of her chest, white mist surged from her body, forming a Fog Light Shield.


    The arrow, like a dragon, slammed fiercely against the Fog Light Shield.


    Boom!


    With an earth-shattering roar, the white mist shield before Great Demon Jiu Li shattered like fragile porcelain, disintegrating into countless fragments, vanishing into the void.


    Meanwhile, Great Demon Jiu Li''s arms, under this unexpected powerful impact, were entirely exposed, her sleeves destroyed, revealing skin underneath mottled with wounds, bleeding profusely.


    Her eyes flashed with a hint of pain, yet more so with unyielding and fury: "Who is it!"


    Great Demon Jiu Li shouted angrily, her voice echoing powerfully.


    "Whoosh..."


    "Whoosh..."


    "Whoosh..."


    Between heaven and earth, her only response was a continuous whistling of arrows.


    Great Demon Jiu Li looked at the array of arrows in the sky, appearing like rising suns, standing in place in shock.

 Chapter 288 - 113 Shooting the Great Demon

    As the light intertwined, the air seemed to ignite, emitting a slight crackling sound.


    Great Demon Jiuli felt waves of shock in her heart, her eyes widened in disbelief. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Reflected in the depths of her pupils were those arrows, like a golden net spreading out rapidly towards her position.


    Great Demon Jiuli had never witnessed such a scene nor such divine and mighty arrows.


    Her heart pounded like a drum, her blood boiling.


    Having already suffered from an arrow before, she dared not underestimate them.


    Jiuli gritted her teeth, her body beginning to undergo subtle changes, demon patterns faintly appearing beneath her skin, white whiskers growing on her face, transforming into a beguiling fox face, and an even more majestic power awakening within her.


    Her demon body trembled violently, the demon energy around her roared, transforming into white clouds to shield her, forming layers of defense.


    The next moment, the arrows soaring up struck the clouds condensed by Great Demon Jiuli.


    Boom!


    The sound of thunder erupted suddenly.


    Within the thunder''s roar, ripples of lightning spread from the contact point of the arrows and the clouds, rippling like water waves.


    These flashes and thunder were not naturally occurring but rather anomalies produced by the collision of the arrows'' power and her demonic power.


    Great Demon Jiuli''s brows furrowed, as she felt her demon power rapidly depleting.


    Having blocked this arrow, the remaining arrows surged forth one after another.


    One arrow!


    Two arrows!


    ...


    Nine arrows!


    Under the continuous impact of the arrows, Great Demon Jiuli''s defenses shattered layer by layer, like fragile glass incapable of bearing such pressure.


    With the collapse of the last line of defense, Jiuli''s body was fully exposed under the rain of arrows.


    She watched helplessly as those Golden Crow-like arrows pierced through her protective demon energy, deeply penetrating and piercing her body, making her experience unprecedented pain and despair.


    Great Demon Jiuli tried desperately to resist with all her strength, but it was ultimately in vain.


    Finally, when the last arrow pierced her chest, Great Demon Jiuli sensed her life force reaching its end, and after unleashing a heaven-shaking roar, she suddenly dissolved into layers of white sand, scattering in the wind.


    This was not Great Demon Jiuli''s true body but merely one of her clones!


    When everything settled, Huang Furo snapped out of her terror and turned her head, only to see a young figure flying towards her.


    That figure became increasingly familiar.


    Who could it be if not Shen Qing?


    Shen Qing walked up to Huang Furo, slung the heavy bow on his back, and asked with concern, "Lord Huangfu, are you all right?"


    Huang Furo looked at him, feeling both familiar and strange, opened her mouth, but didn''t know what to say.


    "Lord Huangfu?"


    "You are... Chief Officer Shen!" Huang Furo looked at Shen Qing again, licking her lips before speaking.


    Shen Qing smiled helplessly and said, "It is indeed I."


    "Are all these your arrows?"


    Shen Qing smiled indifferently and said, "It''s just a small trick."


    He beckoned with his hand, emitting waves of pulling force.


    The arrows scattered in front of him seemed to be pulled back by invisible threads, each returning into his Arrow Quiver.


    Huang Furo looked at her subordinate, her emotions extremely complicated.


    She knew Shen Qing was somewhat unusual, but she had never imagined it to such an extent.


    Shen Qing bent down to help Huang Furo up and said solemnly, "Lord Huangfu, it''s not safe to stay here for long; we should leave as soon as possible."


    Huang Furo nodded in agreement.


    She took a deep breath, discovering a burning pain in her lungs, clearly suffering severe internal injuries, and had to rely on Shen Qing''s strength to barely stand.


    At this moment, Shen Qing noticed something unusual.


    "Lord Huangfu, do you smell something?"


    Huang Furo wrinkled her nose in confusion, "What smell?"


    "Fishy!"


    Shen Qing, with his keen senses, detected a faint fishy odor, and it grew stronger.


    He hurriedly released his Divine Sense to investigate, and his expression changed.


    Two hundred meters away, in the mountains, a shadowy and massive figure stealthily moved.


    It was a giant python, its body as large as a small hill, its scales shining coldly in the sunlight.


    It moved swiftly towards Yongzhou, skimming along the path over century-old trees.


    The old trees groaned as if unable to bear the weight, then crashed down with a loud noise, branches and leaves flying, dust rising.


    Birds in the forest flew in shock, animals fled.


    Where the giant python passed, trees broke, chaos ensued, leaving furrows in the ground.


    "It''s that Snake Demon! It''s coming!" Shen Qing''s heart skipped a beat.


    This Snake Demon''s power was formidable, unmatched by the mere clone of Great Demon Jiuli.


    Having suffered at the hands of this Snake Demon before, neither Shen Qing nor Huang Furo dared to be careless.


    "Let''s go!"


    Shen Qing placed Huang Furo over his shoulder, wrapped his arm around her waist, and used the Da Xu Technique to sprint wildly in the opposite direction.


    In their vision, the scenery of the mountains and forests quickly receded.


    Shen Qing carried Huang Furo, constantly maneuvering between the mountains.


    Since childhood, Huang Furo had never been so closely contacted by any other male, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.


    Fortunately, she had practiced martial arts since she was a child and wasn''t as reserved or petite as young ladies, boldly letting Shen Qing take her away.


    They moved like the wind.


    Huang Furo discovered that the martial art Shen Qing used to escape was the Da Xu Technique she had taught him.


    She was surprised once again!


    If she remembered correctly, she only taught him the basics of the Da Xu Technique, which wasn''t even considered the basics.


    How could this man, with just that little information, master it to this extent?


    This Gift... was simply extraordinary.


    Huang Furo glanced at Shen Qing, not knowing how to describe such a prodigy.


    Shen Qing continued without stopping, his footsteps swift.


    Huang Furo noticed that Shen Qing''s use of the Da Xu Technique showed some stagnation, so much so that his speed lagged significantly behind hers.


    Huang Furo hesitated for a moment but eventually spoke, "The essence of the Da Xu Technique lies in the seamless transformation of ''void'' and ''reality,'' as well as the smooth and easy flow between thoughts and actions."


    "The void is immeasurable, merging with the light of the sky."


    With a casual wave, ripples appeared in the void.


    It was an impromptu demonstration after her deep understanding of the Da Xu Technique, so fast it surpassed the naked eye''s capture, perfectly illustrating "the boundless void, ever-changing in an instant."


    "Observe my journey, comprehend your path."


    Shen Qing was quite surprised; he didn''t expect Huang Furo to guide him in practicing the Da Xu Technique.


    One must know that every family treasured their martial arts, never revealing them to others, let alone teaching them.


    Huang Furo''s generosity indeed amazed him.


    Huang Furo glanced at him and said indifferently, "What are you looking at? I''m just trying to increase my chances of survival, don''t overthink it."


    Shen Qing said nothing, silently refining his technique according to Huang Furo''s guidance.


    The slow progress of the Da Xu Technique on the Water Ink Panel jumped up a few points.


    Shen Qing''s initially stagnant movement technique suddenly became smoother.


    He was overjoyed, diving into the deep forest.

 Chapter 289 - 113: Mountain God Temple, Huang Furos Decision

    ```


    "Chief Officer Shen, where are we headed?"


    Huang Furo watched Shen Qing walk deeper into the forest, away from the Inner City, leaving her somewhat puzzled. She suggested, "Given the current chaotic situation and the rising number of demons, it might be wiser for us to return. Although the Huangfu family has fallen somewhat from grace, we''re not to be trifled with by just anyone. We can at least wait out the storm; other family heads probably won''t trouble you because of your identity."


    "I''m not worried about the family heads," Shen Qing shook his head and said, "Apart from your Huangfu family and the Qian Family, the heads of other high-ranking families are already dead."


    "What?" Huang Furo was slightly stunned, "Did you kill them?"


    Shen Qing didn''t respond, opting to silently confirm instead.


    Huang Furo gave him a glance, her mouth slightly agape, rendered speechless.


    Hearing this made everything feel strangely unreal to her.


    She truly hadn''t expected Shen Qing to be so audacious, killing even the family heads of Thirteen Lines.


    And not just one or two but nearly wiping them all out, completely tearing apart any relations with Thirteen Lines.


    But considering how he could even slay demons at the Innate Realm, those family heads, with their mere Dan Realm cultivation, didn''t seem that difficult to kill.


    Huang Furo had no comment on Shen Qing''s actions.


    After a moment, seeing Shen Qing still heading towards the deep mountains, she continued, "I heard there are many poisonous insects and fierce beasts in these mountains, and the city''s unrest won''t likely settle anytime soon. We''re empty-handed now, with nothing to eat or drink in the wild; surviving in there seems tough."


    "No worries, we''ll figure something out," Shen Qing replied calmly, "We''ve arrived."


    "Arrived?"


    Just as Huang Furo still had doubts, Shen Qing, who had been racing forward, slowed his pace and stopped before a dilapidated temple.


    It was a Mountain God Temple, not large, with only one offering hall inside, filled with clay sculptures and wooden carvings.


    Shen Qing helped Huang Furo into the Mountain God Temple, "Let''s rest here for a few days. Once your injuries are healed, we''ll discuss the rest."


    Looking around, Huang Furo found the temple wasn''t as dilapidated as expected, neither filled with snakes and rats but rather quite clean, as if someone had tidied it in advance.


    There was even firewood neatly stacked in a corner that didn''t leak rain.


    "Sit here first." Shen Qing pulled out a stool from beneath a clay sculpture and set it down carefully for Huang Furo to sit.


    His movements were so skillful, almost like he was back home, leaving Huang Furo slightly dazed.


    After settling Huang Furo, Shen Qing jumped onto the clay platform and circled behind the sculpture.


    Under Huang Furo''s watchful gaze, he appeared like a squirrel, extracting a bag of dried food, two water flasks, salt, rice, and a heap of supplies, including a large iron pot and a thin cotton blanket, from the sculpture''s body.


    Huang Furo was astonished by the scene, "You... how do you have everything?"


    "I used to come around here to train frequently, and this was my temporary resting place. Over time, I left more and more stuff here."


    Shen Qing''s tone was somewhat dismissive.


    Back when he was a hunter, setting up checkpoints in the mountains was a common practice.


    The hunters of Hongshan Village would go up the mountain to hunt. If a big hunt took one or two days to complete, they would have to spend the night deep within the forest.


    Over time, many hunters would make use of the resources in the deep forest, setting up small huts and storing essential supplies for emergencies.


    This Mountain God Temple was something he stumbled upon by chance, not far from his training ground, and he had coincidently turned it into a temporary outpost, unexpectedly finding a use for it now.


    Shen Qing placed the retrieved items on the ground, then took several bricks from a corner, arranging them into a makeshift stove, setting the iron pot on top, and adding some dry firewood.


    He took out a fire stick, blew on it a few times swiftly, and a small flame jumped forth from it.


    Shen Qing grabbed a handful of dried grass, quickly ignited it, and tossed it under the stove, converting the grass and wood into a roaring flame, heating the iron pot.


    Shen Qing poured a little water inside and then tore the dried meat into pieces, threw them in, and finally added some rice and salt, cooking a pot of tender, lean meat porridge.


    His movements flowed like running water, akin to a master chef.


    Shen Qing''s glance fell upon a cooking reminder in his vision, then dismissed it.


    A moment later, Shen Qing served a bowl of hot porridge in front of Huang Furo, saying, "I only have one bowl and one pair of chopsticks. If you don''t mind, make do with it."


    Huang Furo didn''t make a fuss, accepting the bowl and chopsticks with a sincere "Thank you."


    Not long ago, she had been badly chased by the Great Demon Jiu Li, suffering internal injuries that still faintly ached, hindering her movements.


    With no immediate danger nearby, she slowly reached into her chest and took out a delicate porcelain gourd, pouring out several small red pills to place on the steaming porridge.


    And downed them with the porridge.


    To Huang Furo''s surprise, Shen Qing''s cooking skills weren''t bad.


    Even this ordinary bowl of white meat porridge tasted remarkable to her.


    When the porridge and pills settled in her stomach, Huang Furo felt an indescribable warmth rising within her body.


    The Elixir began to take effect.


    Gradually, the medicine''s power spread quietly through her body, nourishing her internal injuries like rain on a long-dry desert, soothing and repairing them. Her injuries showed significant improvement, and her pale cheeks gained a touch of rosy glow, making her look radiant.


    Huang Furo exhaled a slow, turbid breath.


    "You look much better."


    After the Prefectural Governor''s incident today, he fought his way through, depleting most of his body''s energy, leaving him famished and needing to fill his stomach.


    Shen Qing took back the bowl and chopsticks, paying no mind that Huang Furo had used them. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He served himself another bowl of meat porridge and began eating it heartily.


    Born into poverty, he never considered things like male-female differences.


    Huang Furo evidently didn''t mind either, nodding, "This Blood Restoration Pill is a precious medicine from the Capital City, highly effective for healing internal and external body injuries. After taking it, I''m already alright."


    Shen Qing let out an "Oh," nodding in response.


    Huang Furo watched him gobble down the food and couldn''t help but laugh.


    With nothing pressing at the moment, curiosity about a certain thing welled within her, prompting her to ask, "Chief Officer Shen, how did you manage to learn the Da Xu Technique? I remember not teaching you much of it?"


    Shen Qing, choosing his words carefully, responded calmly, "I had a good memory since childhood. After watching you perform it a few times, along with the small parts you taught me, I just figured it out on my own."


    He just figured it out on his own...


    Huang Furo found herself speechless.


    The Huangfu family''s Da Xu Technique was a martial art passed down from Ancient Times, extremely ancient and hard to learn. It had been a long time since anyone in the family mastered it.


    She was merely lucky to have comprehended some of it by chance.


    In her view, with the thinning of the Huangfu family over a generation or two, no one might be able to learn the martial art, ending its lineage.


    And yet, this martial art, he could learn by just figuring it out?


    This struck a blow to Huang Furo''s self-esteem.


    However, upon reflection, it wasn''t necessarily a bad thing.


    Martial arts were meant for people to train in.


    If someone excels at it, the Huangfu family should feel honored.


    Moreover, Shen Qing had saved her life.


    Huang Furo''s expression turned serious as she made a decision internally and asked Shen Qing, "Would you like to learn this martial art?"


    ```

 Chapter 290 - 114 Breakthrough in Da Xu Technique, Comprehending the Da Xu Hand

    ```


    Shen Qing thought he must have misheard.


    In the past, he had planned to enhance the Great Void Shifting Technique by refining points through the cultivation of the Da Xu Technique.


    He had coveted this Da Xu Technique for a long time.


    However, he had never had a good opportunity, and now, unexpectedly, he was given a pillow when he felt sleepy.


    Shen Qing felt somewhat uncertain: "The Da Xu Technique is a martial art of the Huangfu family, are you sure you want to teach me?"


    Huang Furo, with a stern face, said, "Don''t misunderstand. Yongzhou City is currently very unstable, with multiple forces in conflict. The Great Demon you just slew was merely a clone; it might come hunting for us at any time."


    "Right now, I''m no match for it. If you can learn it by the time the Great Demon catches up, it will give me a better chance to escape."


    "Really?" Shen Qing asked suspiciously. "Just because of that?"


    Seeing Shen Qing''s wary expression, Huang Furo said in frustration, "Why would I lie to you? Teaching you martial arts, do you think it could harm you?"


    Shen Qing saw Huang Furo''s earnest demeanor and realized he had been overthinking.


    He quickly clasped his hands and, with an apologetic look, said, "My apologies, my lord. I was abrupt."


    For some reason, seeing Shen Qing like this made Huang Furo even more annoyed.


    "Do you want to learn this or not?"


    "I do, I do, I hope my lord will be generous in teaching."


    Only then did Huang Furo feel somewhat better. She gathered her thoughts and, recalling earnestly, said, "The essence of the Da Xu Technique begins with ''emptiness like a valley.'' Within the emptiness, there is substance, and within the substance, there is emptiness. Lead the energy with intent, the energy follows the heart, the heart follows the intent, until it reaches infinity, only then does one achieve Great Freedom..."


    Huang Furo recited as she explained to Shen Qing, resolving many of his past confusions, allowing him a sudden enlightenment.


    After listening to Huang Furo''s explanation, Shen Qing found that the Da Xu Jing of the Huangfu family indeed had its unique aspects in terms of movement technique speed.


    Unfortunately, very few cultivated this martial art over time, so the Huangfu family lacked individuals to continuously innovate, causing its training methods to appear somewhat outdated, yet it still remained a fine martial art.


    "When the ''Dan Ying'' grows into a person, it purifies the martial master''s physical body to the state of Innate Purity. With an Innate Pure Body nourishing the spirit, the Valley God becomes immortal, existing unyieldingly, nurturing the Primordial Spirit, and ascends from martial to immortal, attaining Great Freedom."


    Certain parts of the Da Xu Technique involved descriptions of two significant realms, Spirit Void and Primordial Spirit. Although only a few words, they benefited Shen Qing immensely.


    After explaining everything in the Da Xu Technique, it was already near dusk.


    "That''s all. Comprehend it carefully. I am tired and will take a rest."


    "Thank you, Lord Huangfu." Shen Qing sincerely expressed his gratitude without further words.


    The setting sun cast its light from the sky, spreading golden brilliance everywhere.


    In the deep forest, many apes and beasts cried out, adding to the somber atmosphere.


    After a day of exertion, coupled with injuries, Huang Furo was both physically and mentally exhausted. She took out a thin cotton quilt and chose to sleep soundly like an ordinary person.


    Shen Qing, on the other hand, walked to the door, gazed up at the starry sky, and found a vacant spot, sat cross-legged, and reflected on the day''s gains, gradually entering into a state.


    In the following time, Shen Qing immersed himself entirely in cultivation. After fully digesting what Huang Furo had taught, he put it into practice and kept practicing.


    He remained sleepless all night.


    By dawn, Shen Qing unexpectedly realized that, without knowing it, he had cultivated the Da Xu Technique to a state ready for a breakthrough.


    Looking at the Water Ink Panel that appeared in his vision, Shen Qing couldn''t help but smile.


    [Skill: Da Xu Technique (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 101/100 points]


    [Status: Ready to Upgrade]


    [Note: Those who accomplish great things in ancient times not only have extraordinary talents but also possess unwavering determination. Through diligent study and hard practice, you have finally reached the threshold of a breakthrough in the Da Xu Technique. By breaking through this martial art, you can comprehend the ''Da Xu Hand'' skill, which allows for ghostly and unpredictable strikes.]


    ''Da Xu Hand?''


    Looking at the reminder on the Water Ink Panel, Shen Qing felt a burst of excitement.


    "I thought this Da Xu Technique was solely related to movement techniques, but it seems there are some other variations. To some extent, the Great Void Shifting Technique is even more mystical than this Da Xu Technique. If I could break through, I''m afraid the techniques mastered would be even more formidable."


    Shen Qing looked up, gazing far towards the east.


    There, on the horizon, a bright incandescent disc was slowly rising.


    Opposite it, a full moon hung in the sky.


    Sun and moon coexisted.


    Taking a deep breath, Shen Qing appeared serious, "Breakthrough!"


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    The Water Ink Panel in his vision vibrated, and the skill description for [Da Xu Technique] was swiftly updated.


    [Skill: Da Xu Technique (Skillfully)]


    [Progress: 1/200 points]


    [Status: Not Ready to Upgrade]


    [Note: You have comprehended the ''Da Xu Hand'' skill, allowing your hand to probe the void, attacking unexpectedly.]


    Shen Qing clenched his fists, a hint of joy on his face.


    He habitually held his breath and focused, ready to face the upcoming surge of memories.


    After gaining Divine Sense, Shen Qing found that the discomfort during breakthroughs had significantly diminished, only causing slight dizziness without becoming utterly confused.


    This newfound comfort pleased him greatly.


    After a moment, having fully absorbed all memories from the breakthrough, Shen Qing lowered his gaze and saw that his palms now emitted tiny golden glimmers, a symptom from years of using the Da Xu Hand, with residual spiritual power remaining.


    His heart couldn''t help but feel eager, wanting to test the power of this Da Xu Hand.


    Shen Qing looked to where a beautiful bird had landed in the distance, and he stood up.


    "This bird is quite fat, just right for some stew."


    Running the Da Xu Technique, Shen Qing reached out with one hand.


    Sensing danger, the bird spread its wings, attempting to fly away.


    Suddenly, a large golden hand appeared out of thin air before the bird, grabbing it and crushing its head.


    The bird dropped powerlessly from mid-air.


    "This Da Xu Hand is indeed something," Shen Qing thought to himself. "If used for a sneak attack, many martial masters would be caught off guard."


    "You... you learned the Da Xu Hand?"


    While Shen Qing was demonstrating the technique, the once soundly asleep Huang Furo awoke and happened to witness it.


    She stared with bright eyes, shifting her gaze between the bird''s corpse on the ground and Shen Qing, at a loss for words.


    It was just one night, and he had already reached such a level, which was simply beyond belief.


    If she hadn''t witnessed it herself, she would have thought it was someone else''s exaggeration.


    "Just had a bit of an epiphany."


    Shen Qing responded with a smile.


    He walked to pick up the fat bird from the ground and returned to the Mountain God Temple, jokingly saying, "Today, I can make some soup for you, my lord, to nourish you."


    Huang Furo tightened her expression, reverting to her usual aloof demeanor. "How long are we staying here?"


    "Let''s stay one more day. Once your injuries heal completely, we will head back to the city tomorrow to take a look." Using Spiritual Power, Shen Qing scattered the feathers from the bird with a shake and began gutting it with the dagger, dealing with it directly.


    "Alright," Huang Furo turned her face away, avoiding the unseemly sight.


    It has to be said, with the Da Xu Hand, hunting became much more convenient.


    By noon, Shen Qing had returned from the mountains with a good amount of game, allowing the two to enjoy a hearty meal.


    The forest''s hardship that Huang Furo expected never materialized, making her doubt whether she had come to the forest for refuge or merely for hunting and leisure.


    "I''ve always heard that the Huangfu family has some connections in the court. Is there more to that story?"


    After eating his fill, Shen Qing patted his round belly and curiously asked.


    ```

 Chapter 291 - 115: Huangfu Family, Jing Luan Assembly

    ```


    Hearing Shen Qing inquire about the Huangfu family, Huang Furo''s face darkened, as if recalling many unpleasant memories.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing raised an eyebrow and continued, "If it''s inconvenient for you, we can just forget it."


    With that, he urged his spiritual power, refining the essence of the meat he had just eaten, and exhaled a breath of turbid air. His swollen belly diminished slightly.


    "It''s nothing much to talk about, just some well-known facts. If you''re interested, you can find out about it," Huang Furo spoke softly.


    Shen Qing straightened his posture to indicate he was listening.


    "The Huangfu family entered the court during the reign of the Emperor of the Great Zhou. At that time, talents from our family emerged, quickly excelling in the court. We were valued by the Ji Family''s Emperor, who is now known as the Ji Family''s Patriarch. Later, under the Emperor''s guidance, we led the task of gathering the Martial Mechanisms across the world, serving him tirelessly for many years and achieving great merit."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing was slightly taken aback.


    He didn''t expect that the task of gathering the Martial Mechanisms of the world was the work of the Huangfu family.


    "Our Huangfu family was illustrious for a time, but after the great task was accomplished, the Emperor abdicated to focus on cultivation. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince died suddenly, implicating our ancestors, causing the Huangfu family to fall from grace."


    "Later, some talented members emerged within the Huangfu family, but unfortunately, they were caught in the Jing Luan Assembly, and only one in ten survived. With the court''s old acquaintances continually falling, our Huangfu family has been reduced to this state."


    After Huang Furo finished narrating, Shen Qing was not surprised at all.


    The cunning hare dies, and the hound is cooked.


    It had always been this way throughout history.


    Even in this world, it was no exception. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That''s about it. Do you have more questions?" Huang Furo looked at Shen Qing and said.


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment, grasping a key point, "Lord Huangfu, you mentioned the Jing Luan Assembly. What is it? I''ve never heard of it."


    "It''s normal if you haven''t heard of it. It''s a rule set by the Emperor, held once every sixty years."


    "Each time, the top one hundred survivors of the Jing Luan Assembly have the chance to enter the Ji Family Temple, becoming the backbone of the Ji family. It''s an opportunity to rise rapidly and enjoy endless wealth and honor."


    "If we calculate, it seems there aren''t many years left until the next Jing Luan Assembly," Huang Furo glanced at Shen Qing with a wry smile, "Perhaps you might encounter it."


    "The top one hundred survivors?" Shen Qing noticed something in Huang Furo''s expression and pressed, "Is there something more to this Jing Luan Assembly?"


    Huang Furo looked at Shen Qing and said, "You know that with each breakthrough in a martial master''s cultivation, their lifespan increases, correct?"


    Shen Qing nodded, "Of course, I know that. The Qi Hai Realm can extend lifespan by ten years, Yu Luo Realm by fifty years, and the Spirit Void Realm can extend it by three hundred years. These things are common knowledge."


    Huang Furo said, "Then have you considered, with unchanged cultivation resources, what happens when these old martial artists remain undying, and new ones keep emerging? Can the Ji Family Temple still sustain its resources for cultivation?"


    "Are you saying the Jing Luan Assembly is used to manage the martial masters?"


    Huang Furo gently nodded.


    At this time, for some reason, a scene appeared in Shen Qing''s mind about the Taiping County Magistrate gathering numerous martial masters to exterminate the tiger demon.


    The two seemed to be similar in strategy.


    Huang Furo said, "The Ji Family court limits the rapid growth of martial masters by collecting Martial Arts and screening talents across the world, holding a Jing Luan Assembly every sixty years to control their numbers."


    "Using the Qi Hai Realm as a threshold, up to the Innate Realm, no noble family member, official''s child, or Jianghu martial artist can avoid it. Each assembly involves no fewer than a hundred thousand participants, but only about one percent survive."


    Hearing this, a chill ran through Shen Qing, "Isn''t this, in essence, a slaughter among martial masters?"


    "Indeed," Huang Furo sighed deeply, "But it''s also a grand feast on the Great Zhou Temple where rights are redistributed."


    Shen Qing remained silent after hearing this.


    He understood Huang Furo''s implied meaning.


    Placing martial masters from the Qi Hai Realm to the Innate Realm in one place was inherently unfair competition; those with lower cultivation were basically sent to their death.


    Yet, for the wealthy families, sending Innate Realm Guardians to support their descendants virtually guaranteed effortless victory, securing temple privileges.


    The Jing Luan Assembly was a disaster and one-sided slaughter for powerless martial artists, while it was a rare opportunity for power and advantage for the powerful families.


    "Focus on cultivating and improving your strength," Huang Furo advised solemnly.


    "Thank you for enlightening me, my lord," Shen Qing clasped his hands respectfully.


    After talking for a while, he felt thirsty, stepped forward, and took out two water bags, finding them empty.


    Shen Qing lifted the two water bags, "I''ll fetch some water."


    He strode out, hanging the water bags at his waist, carrying a bow and a knife, heading towards the forest.


    The autumn breeze blew gently.


    In the distance, the layers of mountains, dyed by autumn, stood distinguishably, with shades of green, gold, and fiery red interwoven.


    Not far behind the Mountain God Temple, a spring trickled, clear to the bottom.


    A few fallen leaves floated on the water, drifting along the current.


    Occasionally, squirrels could be seen busily scurrying through the woods, gathering autumn fruits in preparation for the upcoming winter.


    Shen Qing brushed away the floating leaves, pulled the stopper from the waterskin, and submerged it in the spring.


    The spring gushed into the waterskin.


    After a moment, Shen Qing drank his fill from the water bag, then refilled both before preparing to return.


    While walking along the forest path, he suddenly felt the sky grow dim.


    Shen Qing let out a light exclamation and looked up into the sky.


    The sun, hanging in the sky, had already been largely obscured by a black veil without him knowing when, losing its light.


    In the sky, it seemed as if a great hand had torn a gash, revealing the black abyss within.


    "What is this..."


    Shen Qing''s face changed drastically, full of confusion.


    Not daring to linger, he activated the Da Xu Technique, and with a step, his figure flickered, appearing before the Mountain God Temple.


    Huang Furo was already aware of the unusual phenomenon and stood at the door, looking skyward.


    She asked Shen Qing, "What''s happening?"


    Shen Qing shook his head, about to speak when suddenly, an extremely dazzling radiant light erupted from the bottom of the enigmatic abyss, piercing the darkness, and descended directly.


    In an instant, the entire world seemed to be illuminated.


    Boom!


    The radiant light plummeted into a mountain peak not far away, emitting an earth-shattering roar.


    The ground trembled violently, stirring up infinite dust and airwaves.


    The surrounding air seemed distorted by this power.


    "Be careful!" Huang Furo shouted, instinctively shielding Shen Qing.


    ```

 Chapter 292 - 116: Spirit Mechanism Greatly Unleashed, Cultivation Skyrockets

    ```


    "Boom!"


    Huang Furo and Shen Qing were thrown by a cataclysmic force, rolling far away.


    A gust of wind followed, Shen Qing quickly shielded Huang Furo beneath him, his hands pinned to the ground like nails.


    "Do not move," Shen Qing shouted loudly, keeping his head low.


    Huang Furo''s body tensed immediately.


    The world suddenly fell into darkness, enveloped in blackness.


    Whistling sounds continuously filled their ears.


    Shen Qing felt layers of sand constantly piling onto them.


    Unknown how much time passed, the violent upheaval receded, and the whistling faded, everything returning to calm.


    Shen Qing vaguely heard the heavy breathing beneath him.


    "Are we good?"


    Huang Furo''s cool voice emerged from the darkness.


    Shen Qing, with a grave expression, did not respond immediately.


    He released his Divine Sense to scout around, confirming no significant danger remained outside, then affirmed, "It''s fine now."


    With that, he pushed himself up with force.


    Heavy sand cascaded off him.


    Huang Furo, who had her back to Shen Qing, also climbed out of the sand. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two, without prior agreement, gazed forward.


    Before them, all trees in the deep forest inclined outward in one direction.


    The ancient and abandoned Mountain God Temple now had one corner completely collapsed.


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo exchanged a glance, saying, "Let''s go have a look."


    They did not hesitate, swiftly climbing a high peak for a better view.


    There, the sky radiated with brilliant light, as if the air itself was boiling, the space undulating like waves.


    The sight left Shen Qing and Huang Furo astonished.


    "Look over there, something''s happening!"


    Huang Furo''s keen eyes spotted something unusual, and Shen Qing followed her gaze, looking intently, greatly shocked.


    It was a wild boar transforming towards the demon.


    Its strong, dark body wriggled and gradually transformed into a humanoid creature with a boar''s head.


    "It''s a demon! This is the Spirit Mechanism Land," Shen Qing recognized instantly.


    Huang Furo murmured, "I never thought the rumors were true."


    Rumors had long existed publicly, claiming demons emerged because of these Spirit Mechanism Lands.


    Yet, no one knew their underlying reason.


    The only certainty was that great opportunities laced these lands, immensely benefiting cultivation.


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo both realized the Spiritual Energy in this part of the world was far richer than elsewhere, making cultivation significantly more effective.


    They looked at each other knowingly, seeing a spark of eagerness in each other''s eyes.


    Opportunities unseized bring regret.


    Confronted by such a legendary opportunity, they couldn''t afford to miss it.


    Simultaneously, Shen Qing and Huang Furo activated their Spiritual Power, casting the "Da Xu Technique."


    Their figures became ethereal, leaving afterimages too fleeting for the naked eye, sprinting towards the land bathed in divine light, at speeds almost imperceptible.


    As Shen Qing sprinted, he took his Heavy Bow, nocking an arrow, pointing ahead.


    Numerous demons already surfaced in the Spirit Mechanism Land.


    Having just gained spiritual wisdom, they remained ignorant, making it the perfect chance to eliminate them.


    "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."


    Shen Qing''s arrows flew off the bowstring without pause.


    Each demon, unaware, was pierced and destroyed, leaving no remains.


    In the blink of an eye, demons in the Spirit Mechanism Land were completely wiped out.


    Their speed quickly brought them to the edge of the Spirit Mechanism Land in eight or nine breaths.


    "The richness of this Spiritual Energy is terrifying."


    "Indeed, such concentration in Spiritual Energy boosts cultivation hundreds of times beyond the ordinary, reminiscent only of Ancient Times," Huang Furo echoed in amazement.


    "Ancient Times?"


    "You haven''t heard of the Ancient Times?" Huang Furo asked, surprised.


    Shen Qing honestly replied, "I grew up a hunter, lacking exposure."


    Huang Furo patiently explained, "In Ancient Times, the Human Clan''s Immortal Path flourished, with lifespans over a thousand being common. However, three thousand years ago, a dark upheaval occurred, leading to the mysterious disappearance of many of our great powers, severing legacies and emeritus knowledge. It was then that Martial Arts began to flourish. It''s said that back then, Spiritual Energy was incredibly abundant, unlike today''s scarcity."


    "My god, there''s a sword blade in the center."


    Huang Furo cried out, pulling Shen Qing forward, where they discovered a blood-stained Ancient Sword Fragment floating in the air, exuding a sharp Sword Intent that repelled them.


    "This style looks like a relic weapon from Ancient Times!" Huang Furo, well-versed, recognized at once.


    Shen Qing sensed the excitement in Huang Furo''s voice.


    This Ancient Time''s relic weapon was daunting, unlike contemporary artifacts.


    Their limited power meant they could only gaze longingly from afar.


    Approaching recklessly would shred them with the chaotic Sword Qi.


    Shen Qing exhaled, calming himself, he said, "Let''s not concern ourselves with this fragment now. The Spiritual Energy remains abundant, showing no signs of fading, a perfect chance to cultivate earnestly and enhance our cultivation. If missed, such an opportunity rarely returns."


    "You speak sense. We must protect each other and seize this time to train! Absorb as much as we can."


    "Alright!"


    They spoke no more.


    Huang Furo channeled her family-taught Martial Arts, her whole being aglow with golden light, exuding ethereal grace as she absorbed the surrounding Spiritual Energy.


    Shen Qing, meanwhile, performed the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, transforming into a giant whale in the sea to devour.


    Instantly, a vortex of Spiritual Energy formed around him, greedily siphoning all nearby energy.


    It affected Huang Furo, forcing her to distance herself from Shen Qing to continue absorbing Spiritual Energy.


    "What Cultivation Technique is this, so domineering."


    Huang Furo recalled and recognized it after a while as the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique housed in the Martial Arts Hall at the county office.


    If memory served, this technique was a high-entry Martial Arts, seldom mastered by martial masters.


    Yet, not only had Shen Qing mastered it, he had elevated the technique to an advanced realm and level.


    Truly incredible!


    But now wasn''t the time for idle thought. Huang Furo hurriedly refocused her mind on cultivation, seizing every chance to boost her cultivation.


    Shen Qing found that cultivating in this Spirit Mechanism Land accelerated the Martial Arts Progress on his Water Ink Panel by at least a hundredfold.


    Cultivating here for merely a day equaled months of hard training, even surpassing the Wish Power Pearl, leaving him overjoyed!


    Observing the panel''s rapidly climbing figures, Shen Qing emptied his mind, immersing himself fully in cultivation.


    ...


    In Yongzhou City, demons ran rampant, consuming people, creating a hell on earth.


    Many lives were lost to these demons.


    The Qian Family, one of the Thirteen Lines, found themselves specifically targeted in the calamity, entirely slaughtered by the demons.


    Moreover, hostile officials from the government office opposed to Thirteen Lines were also selectively wiped out by the demons.


    With most targets eliminated, the Innate Realm ancestors of the Zhou Family, the Dong Family, the Sun Family, and the Xiao Family, along with representatives of other high ranks and county office Innate officials, convened to discuss their next move.


    ```

 Chapter 293 - 117 Shen Qing Must be Eliminated, The Four Directions Stir

    ```


    "Now that demons are running rampant in the city, we cannot sit idly by and remain indifferent. We need to come up with a plan."


    On the high platform, Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Yuguang stood majestically, his voice as resounding as a great bell.


    Someone agreed, "So, in Senior Zhou''s opinion, what should we do?"


    Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu said seriously, "I see that the invading demons are powerful, not inferior to our cultivation, and perhaps even stronger. Our families and the government office have suffered significant losses, and the matter of demons cannot be ignored."


    "But as far as I know, the situation in Yongzhou City is due to Shen Qing of the Military Department secretly colluding with the demons."


    Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu pondered and continued, "As the General of the Army, he knowingly broke the law and secretly conspired with the demons, causing chaos in the city. Therefore, we should first execute this villain, then form alliances to eliminate the demons in the city. Otherwise, this will always be a hidden danger that could lead to a major problem."


    Dong Family Ancestor Dong Changhui followed with agreement, "Indeed, with the Prefectural Governor in trouble and the Qian Family in distress, even when the Family Heads went to catch the culprit, they were all killed. This person is simply lawless and must be removed quickly."


    "Exactly so."


    After Dong Changhui spoke, others expressed their agreement.


    In their original plan, when the chaos of demons reached its peak and the city''s people fell into despair, they would step forward and, together with the government officials, slay the reckless demons, aiding the faltering power.


    This would establish their prestige in the city. By means of both grace and power, they would both undermine the authority of the government office and elevate their status in Yongzhou.


    However, when the news that all the Family Heads were killed by Shen Qing came back, everything changed.


    Shen Qing had already learned of their schemes and completely tore off all pretenses with them, making it impossible to recruit him.


    Keeping him would be a hidden danger, with no saying when it might explode.


    If he was not removed, the government officials they had allied with would likely have other thoughts.


    This might attract the attention of the court and the Ji Family, and the secret of Spirit Mechanism Land could not be kept.


    Undoubtedly, Shen Qing''s killing of the nine Family Heads had already stirred their fear and anger, making each family realize the seriousness of the issue.


    Shen Qing became their greatest worry so that they had to temporarily set aside the matter of the demons.


    As the most powerful among them, Zhou Guangyu nodded and said, "Since everyone thinks this way, we should next take Lord Jia Zhiping as the leader, assist him in eradicating the traitors, and then eliminate the demons. Internal stability must come before external threats! What do you think?"


    Jia Zhiping, sitting in the main hall, had a serious expression upon hearing this.


    He was clear that the chaos caused by the demons in Yongzhou City was inseparable from these people.


    Now they were placing this universally condemned crime onto Shen Qing''s head, absolving themselves.


    However, what did this have to do with him?


    If he wanted to achieve political success in Yongzhou, he had to learn to coexist with these powerful figures.


    This was an unavoidable step.


    Perhaps with the Prefectural Governor''s death, he could further himself by taking credit for suppressing the demons in Yongzhou and become a significant official in the Great Zhou Court.


    For him, going along with the flow was all benefits and no harm.


    It was just a pity for a good seed like Shen Qing.


    "Lord Jia, as the Commander of the Military, a significant official of the court, holds the military power of Yongzhou. Today, with the chaos in Yongzhou, we must take Lord Jia as the leader. Our Dong Family has no objection." Dong Family Ancestor Dong Changhui supported with clasped hands.


    "Our Sun Family has no objection either."


    "We Xiao Family are the same."


    "..."


    Soon, one Family Head after another expressed their support.


    "Good, since this is the case, I will gather the personnel now. Everyone, let''s go outside the West City Gate to eliminate the traitors and give everyone an explanation." Jia Zhiping stood up, clasping his hands, and said indignantly.


    In the face of absolute interest, the so-called love for talent was thrown aside by him.


    "Lord Jia is noble!"


    At this point, someone reminded, "Lord Jia should act swiftly; otherwise, with demons running rampant in the city, dragging on might incite a people''s uprising."


    Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Yuguang responded, "Hahaha, you worry too much. The demons entering the city merely wish to devour some people; how many can they eat with their stomachs? A few hundred people in the city would be enough for them to eat for decades. Relax, suffering the people a bit is harmless." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh, indeed, I overthought it."


    Commander Jia Zhiping laughed and said, "Everyone, there''s no time to lose. I''ll prepare first, gather outside the West City Gate after a pot of tea!"


    "Thank you, Lord Jia. We will also gather personnel to cooperate with Lord Jia."


    Commander Jia Zhiping cupped his hands and left the main hall in large strides.


    Following him, the others from the government office gradually took their leave, leaving with Jia Zhiping.


    In no time, a third of the people in the main hall were gone, with only a few high-ranking families in Yongzhou remaining.


    "Didn''t that old man Huangfu Chuan come?" Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu squinted his eyes, letting out a cold snort, "Even at this time, he is still immersed in the old dreams of the Huangfu family, not realizing that a fallen phoenix is incomparable to a chicken. Despising us now, after this matter concludes, we won''t let the Huangfu family stay in Yongzhou any longer."


    As his words fell, the sky suddenly darkened.


    The vast main hall plunged into darkness.


    Everyone was startled, "What happened?"


    Zhou Guangyu seemed to realize something, abruptly got up from his seat, and rushed outside.


    Moments later, his entire body trembled uncontrollably.


    "This is... Spirit Mechanism explosion!"


    Rumble!


    A deafening roar came from afar, shaking the ground and mountains.


    ...


    Deep in a mansion in Yongzhou City, a man dressed in black, with a face twisted to the extreme and eyes wide open.


    His mouth tore open at an angle beyond human limits, like a gaping abyss, slowly swallowing a live person, filled with primal wildness.


    The room reeked of an indescribable stench.


    Moments later, faint chewing sounds emerged in the damp and dark space, making one''s hair stand on end.


    The man opened his vertical eyes, glowing like two lanterns in the dark, with blood light surging.


    He mumbled, coughed twice, and spat out a heap of government official uniforms and bones, burping contentedly.


    "The taste of this Innate Realm martial master is quite good."


    Bang!


    The door was forcefully kicked open, revealing a charming silhouette.


    The man in black exposed two fangs, smiling as he said, "I wondered who it was, turns out to be the Mountain Lord Goddess. What brings you here?"


    The enchanting woman''s face was full of anger, coldly saying, "Chang Junzi, you and I have always minded our own business. This prey was mine; it''s too much for you to snatch it."


    "It''s just some rations, why care. Spirit Essence is descending soon, and its spiritual wealth is much stronger than these rations. How about I give you a share then?" The man in black said with a half-smile.


    ```

 Chapter 294 - 118: Cultivation Increase, Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal

    ```


    "Nicely said, but do you think I''ll believe it?" Demon Jiu Li said coldly.


    The man in black yawned, speaking lazily like a sly snake, "Then there''s no way around it. Who told you to be less skilled than me?"


    "You..." Demon Jiu Li was choked with anger.


    She had not expected her avatar to make a mistake, which weakened her strength and allowed the person in front of her to take advantage, stealing her prey.


    Saying she was less skilled was not incorrect.


    But this was precisely the most infuriating fact.


    Great Demon Jiu Li tried to calm herself, and after a moment, she snorted coldly, saying, "Do you know you''ve devoured an important figure from the government office? I''ve heard this person was one of the big figures sent by the Ji Family Court. Do you think the Ji Family Court will let you go after such rampant devouring?"


    "It sounds as if they''d let me go if I didn''t eat them. In any case, demons and humans don''t coexist, and they''d come to kill me sooner or later. Rather than waiting for them to kill me, I''d better kill them first, gaining strength in the process."


    The man in black continued, "Speaking of which, do you think behaving recklessly in Yongzhou City will make them let you go? Don''t let yourself be used as a tool without realizing it."


    "I didn''t expect this old snake like you to have some brains. My matters naturally don''t need your concern."


    "I belong to the Dragon Species, different from you foxy demons." The man in black held his head high, showing a trace of pride as he spoke.


    "Just because I praised you, you think you''re something." Great Demon Jiu Li said, "What you can think of, I can naturally think of as well. But riches and honor come from danger; they''re using me, but am I not using them? I''ve already notified the city''s demons to indulge for a day and then leave immediately; all will be well. If they covet the city''s temptations, then dying is their fate."


    "The things I''ve obtained in these days are much more than your trifles outside. Once they come to their senses, I''ll flee, seeking Spirit Mechanisms, and what can they do to me?"


    Great Demon Jiu Li spoke with a strong self-confidence, stunning the man in black for a moment. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You opportunistic snake-rat types will never understand such strategies."


    "You!"


    The man in black became infuriated, and black scales began to appear on his neck.


    Seeing him angry and humiliated, Great Demon Jiu Li felt satisfaction from within. She showed a broad demeanor and said, "I have an idea. Do you want to hear it?"


    "What idea? Speak!"


    "Here are just you and me as two great demons; this time, the Spirit Essence descending is enough for us to share. Instead of fighting each other, why not collaborate to eliminate those pesky humans and monopolize this Spirit Essence? Consider the Innate Body as my gesture of goodwill. How about it?"


    Upon hearing about the Spirit Essence, the man in black calmed down unexpectedly. He pondered for a while and said, "Alright!"


    Rumble!


    Suddenly, the earth shook.


    The two great demons hurriedly dashed out of the big house and looked westward, revealing a few traces of ecstasy upon seeing the glowing clouds filling the sky.


    "Time is of the essence, let''s go!"


    Unconsciously, the two demons each summoned and controlled a cloud, one black, one white, dashing away.


    ...


    Amidst the glowing clouds of the mountains and forests,


    Shen Qing was enveloped in countless halos.


    All around him, multicolored vortices appeared at each of his acupoints, with massive amounts of Spiritual Energy drilling into his body.


    Shen Qing opened his eyes, observing the rapidly changing numbers on the water ink panel, his eyes filled with an incredulous look.


    He knew this opportunity was extremely rare and decisively used the Wish Power Pearl. With the stacking power of the Wish Power Pearl, his cultivation speed soared like a rocket.


    [Skill: Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique (Level of Mastery)]


    [Progress: 2639/3000 points]


    [Progress: 2701/3000 points]


    [Progress: 2781/3000 points]


    ...


    In just a few dozen breaths, the progress of the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique had increased by over a hundred points, a hundred times more than usual.


    Furthermore, a similar change occurred within his Qi Sea.


    Shen Qing found that as he continued cultivating, refining the constantly incoming Spiritual Energy, the "Dan Ying" sitting cross-legged in his Qi Sea was visibly growing at an eye-popping speed.


    From a three-year-old toddler, it turned into a four-year-old, five-year-old, then a seven-year-old boy resembling Shen Qing.


    At this rate, it wouldn''t be long before he broke through to the Innate Realm.


    Shen Qing was excited and concentrated even harder on cultivating the Spiritual Energy.


    After the time of a stick of incense, Shen Qing''s consciousness moved as he called forth the water ink panel.


    [Skill: Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique (Level of Mastery)]


    [Progress: 3001/3000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough possible]


    [Note: Observing widely and carefully selecting, building a solid foundation before unleashing potential. Your dedicated cultivation has yielded new rewards. In this breakthrough, your ''Moluo''s Body'' will further strengthen; Spiritual Power absorption and conversion speed increased by 30%, and blood and flesh recovery speed increased by 10%.]


    Looking at the familiar status bar, Shen Qing did not hesitate and chose to breakthrough.


    With a low buzzing sound,


    The water ink panel trembled before quickly refreshing.


    [Skill: Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 1/4000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough impossible]


    [Note: Your awakened ''Moluo''s Body'' further strengthened; Spiritual Power absorption and conversion speed successfully increased by 30%, blood and flesh recovery speed successfully increased by 10%.]


    Success!


    Shen Qing clenched his fists in excitement.


    Familiar massive memories surged into his mind, his strong Divine Sense remaining composed, expelling all negative effects.


    After all the memories were absorbed, Shen Qing''s meridians became as smooth as jade, full of resilience, and nurtured a trace of golden blood, which amazed Shen Qing.


    But he had no time to study it carefully.


    Such a rare opportunity, he quickly concentrated his mind and eagerly continued with his diligent cultivation.


    "Now that the Whale Swallowing Technique has been cultivated to Great Perfection, the Sky Flipping Seal and Heavenly Bow Technique should also be quickly improved. These are the fundamental martial arts, and they should progress simultaneously."


    Shen Qing quickly made up his mind, using the Whale Swallowing Technique as a support, forming a seal with both hands and cultivating this martial art, the Sky Flipping Seal.


    He closed his eyes and focused, operating the Whale Swallowing Technique.


    Even when Shen Qing simply carried out the basic operation, with the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique reaching Great Perfection, the speed at which he absorbed Spiritual Energy was still much faster than before, advancing to a new level.


    Once the Spiritual Energy was steadily drawn into the Qi Sea, Shen Qing''s arms raised slowly as if lifting a thousand-pound burden, cultivating the Sky Flipping Seal.


    His hands formed an ancient, mysterious posture, linking finger to finger, creating an invisible "Sky" as Heaven and Earth Essence gathered quietly, embodying the martial essence of overturning the sky and commotion.


    Shen Qing seemed to transform into an ancient statue, standing immovably in the flow of time, with turbulent currents building strength within him like a volcano about to erupt.


    The same scene as with the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique occurred.


    The progress of the Sky Flipping Seal continued to advance on the water ink panel in his view.


    [Skill: Sky Flipping Seal (Level of Mastery)]


    [Progress: 89/900 points]


    [Progress: 138/900 points]


    [Progress: 275/900 points]


    ...


    After a dozen breaths, the points of the Sky Flipping Seal met the requirement.


    Shen Qing immediately chose to breakthrough, and since the points required for each realm of the Sky Flipping Seal were not many, he progressed from the Level of Mastery to Great Perfection, and immediately to the Break Limit level.


    [Skill: Sky Flipping Seal (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 18/2000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough impossible]


    [Note: Your Sky Flipping Seal has reached Break Limit. Comprehend the Break Limit skill, Shattering Mountains. Using this skill can increase the power of the Sky Flipping Seal by 10% in an instant.]


    Shen Qing ignored these reminders, a resolute heart driving him, "With such a divine opportunity, water ink panel, show me your true limit. Time waits for no one; continue advancing!"


    Buzz!


    The water ink panel shook.


    Under Shen Qing''s full cultivation effort, the points above soared.


    After the time of a stick of incense,


    The familiar sense of breakthrough made Shen Qing''s eyes shine brilliantly.


    [Skill: Sky Flipping Seal (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 2001/2000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough possible]


    [Note: After playing numerous melodies, you finally understand the sound; after viewing countless swords, you discern the blade. Your Sky Flipping Seal has been cultivated to the utmost limit, and by continuing to improve, you''ll comprehend ''Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal.''"]


    "Breakthrough!"


    The water ink panel in Shen Qing''s view quivered with intensity, the skill text for the Sky Flipping Seal blending into a mass of ink dots.


    Moments later, new information refreshed.


    [Skill: Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 1/5000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough impossible]


    [Note: Perceive the mysteries of the Eight Desolates and comprehend the Dao of birth and death in the universe. You''ve comprehended the ''Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal''; cultivate it to its peak, and with one seal, all things may live or perish at a whim.]


    "The Eight Desolates" refer to the distant eight directions, representing infinity; "Annihilation Dao," the way of life and death in all things.


    At the moment this panel information appeared, Shen Qing sensed a tremor from the depths of his soul.


    An extreme realization exploded in his heart, forcing countless massive memories into his mind, allowing no reaction time.


    Even with his powerful Divine Sense, this sudden onslaught left Shen Qing somewhat unprepared, rendering him holding his head with a groan of pain.


    After an indeterminate period, all memories fused into one, and as Shen Qing absorbed and comprehended them, the pain gradually subsided.


    Shen Qing returned to normal, his arms trembling as if breaking free from shackles, familiar sensations returned.


    Forming a seal with both hands, a mysterious rune abruptly took shape within his grasp, embracing yin and yang, charged with destructive force, as he slammed it forward with overwhelming might.


    A brilliant light cleaved the sky, tearing through the void as if creating heaven and earth anew.


    There was no anticipated violent commotion.


    Before him, a mountain vanished into nothingness under Shen Qing''s palm, leaving no trace.


    This was the opening move of the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal¡ªGenesis.


    Watching this scene, Shen Qing clicked his tongue in wonder.


    He did not expect such a technique to wield such terrifying power, akin to an ancient great power.


    Something he had never thought possible.


    Shen Qing pondered deeply, soon realizing the crux of the matter.


    It was due to this Spirit Mechanism Land!


    The Spirit Mechanism Land was rich with Spiritual Energy, replenishing rapidly after depletion.


    Leaving this range, utilizing such a technique could drain all his Spiritual Power, leaving him unable to stand.


    Shen Qing could hardly imagine, if in ancient times, when the world''s Spiritual Energy was this concentrated, what spectacle cultivators would present.


    He could not help but yearn for it.


    ```

 Chapter 296 - 120: Sweeping All Enemies, Slaying

    "Good!"


    To the Four Elders, Shen Qing had become a thorn in their eyes, a danger in their side that must be removed.


    Before they arrived, this decision had already been made. They were about to act but were delayed by the sudden eruption of Spirit Mechanism.


    Unexpectedly, by a twist of fate, they encountered Shen Qing, this fiend, again at this location.


    The four individuals present had crawled up from the depths, all ruthless and decisive, never hesitating to act when necessary.


    Even if they had no grudge against the Huangfu family, with Huang Furo present, they bore no scruples in disposing of him swiftly.


    As the words fell, the four Innate Elders of the Zhou, Dong, Sun, and Xiao families simultaneously took action.


    The four of them stood like towering mountains, with spiritual energy surging.


    In an instant, the winds stirred and clouds billowed between heaven and earth, an overwhelming pressure descended.


    Standing on the ground, Shen Qing''s clothes rustled in the wind. Facing the four ultimate beings of the same realm, his heart pounded, feeling immense pressure.


    Even Huang Furo, who was not the target, had her hair wildly swirling, as if each inch of flesh on her body bore immense weight. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    An Innate Martial Master was already extraordinary in her eyes, able to manipulate her effortlessly.


    Let alone four Innate Martial Masters striking simultaneously. What chance did they have of survival?


    Seeing Shen Qing repeatedly protect her safety, Huang Furo steeled her heart, "Shen Qing, quickly go! I''ll hold them off!"


    To Huang Furo, her confidence lay in the Huangfu family.


    Even a broken ship has three pounds of nails; their Huangfu family had not severed ties with other families, and relations were still acceptable.


    She was willing to gamble that these people wouldn''t do anything to her!


    "Go? No way."


    Shen Qing stood beneath the combined might of the Zhou, Dong, Sun, and Xiao families'' Innate Elders, showing not a trace of retreat.


    Shen Qing knew that his cultivation of the Da Xu Technique was still inadequate. Facing these Innate Martial Masters capable of wielding Rainbow Light, his hope of escaping was slim.


    Instead of being passive, he might as well take the initiative, maybe even find a slim chance of escape.


    So what if they were Innate Martial Masters?


    They were still living beings made of flesh and blood.


    People could die!


    "Kill!"


    With a clear whistle, the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique frantically operated, and the spiritual power accumulated in his body was completely unleashed.


    This spiritual power erupted abruptly, and a vast amount of spiritual energy surged out of Shen Qing, comparable to that of an Innate Martial Master.


    At this moment, the Da Xu Technique was pushed to its limit, and his form became an elusive shadow that immediately flitted away under the watchful eyes of all, creating a substantial distance from the Four Elders like a ghostly apparition.


    Immediately, Shen Qing reached out, and a phantom palm emerged silently from the void, sticking unnoticed to the back of the Xiao Family Ancestor.


    "Da Xu Hand?!"


    The Xiao Family Ancestor instantly detected a piercing killing intent that appeared out of nowhere, catching him off guard, forcing his figure to move instinctively to the side.


    Holding the Treasure Sword, a fatal flaw appeared in his defense.


    Shen Qing''s divine sense was acute, capturing that instant of change.


    His internal spiritual energy boiled, and his hands formed a seal.


    A destructive aura burst forth from his palms, transforming into an extremely dazzling mark that flowed with the vastness and desolation of the primeval creation of heaven and earth, containing supreme power capable of annihilating all.


    [Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal] took shape with a roar.


    The Heaven and Earth Creation Seal condensed in his hands, two yin-yang fish-like lights emerged.


    Shen Qing launched his palm forward.


    An ancient mark tore through the sky with an intent to obliterate everything, meeting the astonished eyes of the Xiao Family Ancestor.


    The moment it touched the Xiao Family Ancestor, it was as if a doomsday light brightened the world.


    The Xiao Family Ancestor''s expression drastically changed. He hadn''t expected Shen Qing to unleash such astounding power, hurriedly mobilizing his full cultivation to arrange layers of defense in a desperate attempt to block this fearsome seal.


    However, with the Spirit Mechanism Land''s enhancement, the [Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal] produced terrifying power, far exceeding his expectations.


    The surrounding space distorted into pieces under the seal''s might, eradicating the Xiao Family Ancestor''s defenses layer by layer until finally, the Xiao Family Ancestor was completely consumed.


    As the dust settled, there was no longer any trace of the Xiao Family Ancestor in the void.


    A dignified Innate Martial Master had been worn down to nothing, leaving only a ripple in the void, his bones vanished.


    This sight horrified the remaining three elders, as they looked at each other in fear.


    They widened their eyes, scarcely believing as they gazed at Shen Qing, as if seeing a monster, their hearts unable to calm.


    Shen Qing stood at the spot, his clothes somewhat disheveled, but his aura was even more fierce. His gaze was like electricity, sweeping the surroundings.


    Killing an Innate Martial Master in the initial exchange gave him immense confidence, birthing an internal sense of unrivaled arrogance.


    "Come, let me see the true quality of you Innate Martial Masters."


    "Arrogant brat, don''t be presumptuous!"


    Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu and Dong Family Ancestor Dong Changhui felt a sudden adrenaline rush, fury igniting within them.


    They hadn''t expected such an outcome.


    "This boy harbors something unusual, let''s not hold back anymore!" Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu shouted.


    At his reminder, the other two sharpened their focus, each wielding their Treasure Sabers as they charged at Shen Qing.


    "Very well! No matter how strong you are, I shall sweep away all enemies!"


    Shen Qing''s voice echoed across the heavens and earth, filled with confidence.


    In his view, occupying the advantageous Spirit Mechanism Land, he was not inferior to these elderly figures whose Qi-Blood was in decline, surely not destined to lose.


    The fierce battle spirit radiated from the three Innate Martial Masters as they tightly clenched their Treasure Sabers. The cold gleam shone like meteors cutting across the night sky, carrying an overwhelming force as they swept fiercely toward Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing''s eyes focused, a force beyond words seemed to surge around him.


    His internal True Qi roared like rivers and streams, furiously propelling the Da Xu Technique.


    The surrounding space seemed to have a rift torn by an invisible hand. In the stunned eyes of the crowd, Shen Qing, unbelievably, slipped through the gaps in the three Innate Martial Masters'' attacks, abruptly appearing dozens of meters away.


    There, near the fragmented sword, the spiritual energy was several times denser.


    Sharp Sword Qi continued to radiate from the fragments.


    Shen Qing steadied his form, a resolute expression flickering on his face.


    He swiftly drew a longbow from his back, its body shimmering with a faint dark cyan glow.


    Shen Qing had no hesitation, "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"


    Three arrows were fired simultaneously.


    While shooting these three arrows, Shen Qing intentionally harnessed the Spirit Mechanism Land''s natural and geographical advantages.


    The power of the Heavenly Bow Technique was further enhanced.


    The arrows seemed imbued with a fierce aura, tearing through the air with a deafening sound, shooting swiftly toward the three Innate Martial Masters.


    Where the arrows passed, they left behind visible white trails to the naked eye.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Heavenly Bow Arrow Technique, every arrow hit the mark.


    Each arrow struck before the other three, and the immense power contained in the arrows caused the defenses they had amassed to burst apart spectacularly.

 Chapter 297 - 121: Annihilating the Three Ancestors

    The arrows, under the blessing of the Heavenly Bow Technique, each matched the full strike of a Dan Realm warrior.


    In the eyes of others, such power was impressive, yet it meant nothing to the three Innate Martial Masters.


    It could merely barely break through their defense, failing to inflict any substantial harm on them.


    Shen Qing looked up at the three of them. Amidst the deafening roar, the three old ancestors were intimidated by the powerful energy imbued in the arrows, and, floating in the void with no external support, were forced back by this force.


    Unnoticed, they became three isolated islands, able to signal each other but unable to combine their strength, each left to fend for themselves.


    The corners of Shen Qing''s mouth curled slightly, revealing a bit of a triumphant smile.


    Facing these top experts of Yongzhou, he wasn''t planning on giving them the slightest chance to catch their breath.


    The Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique was activated, and colorful vortices appeared around Shen Qing, madly refining the spiritual energy from the heavens and earth.


    He unfolded his body, employing the Da Xu Technique, as if enveloped by endless void, making his figure appear illusory.


    With a step forward, he left behind dazzling afterimages, seeming as though he vanished into the void, becoming elusive.


    Without any hesitation, Shen Qing aimed precisely, using the Da Xu Technique to dart in front of the Sun Family Ancestor.


    "Mushy persimmons should be pinched first."


    With divine sense, Shen Qing observed that his cultivation was the weakest among them all.


    He should be the first to be eliminated.


    The Sun Family Ancestor only saw a blur before his eyes, as Shen Qing suddenly appeared in front of him, sporting a half-amused, half-smiling expression.


    Before he understood what was happening, a Yin Yang Fish Hand Seal landed on his chest.


    "Poof..."


    A dull, muffled sound emerged.


    A scorching aura erupted abruptly from the Sun Family Ancestor''s chest.


    It was the unique destructive force of the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal, resembling a blazing sun falling to the earth, everything turned silent.


    The Sun Family Ancestor''s eyes widened, trying in an instant to resist the terrifying power of the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal.


    However, against this immense and matchless force, he was like a candle in the wind, instantly devoured, his life force completely extinguished in several breaths.


    Even more disturbingly, throughout the entire process, the Sun Family Ancestor couldn''t even let out the most basic struggle or wail.


    Silently, his existence was erased by Shen Qing with a mere thought.


    Shen Qing stood calmly, landing steadily on the ground, showing an aura of composure throughout his body.


    Having consecutively slain the ancestors of the Sun Family and the Xiao Family, he felt not the slightest fatigue, and had a clearer understanding of his current power.


    His gaze lifted lightly, a glint flashed as he looked towards the Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu and the Dong Family Ancestor Dong Changhui, and fear was no longer in his eyes.


    "It seems you all have grown quite old. Even though you surpass me by a Great Realm, you still aren''t my opponents, truly incompetent."


    Shen Qing spoke lightly.


    The words fell into the ears of Zhou Guangyu and Dong Changhui, making their faces turn blue and white, extremely unsightly.


    At this moment, they also began to suspect whether their strength had regressed too much, unable to handle even a Dan Realm Martial Master.


    Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu reacted first, denying, "It''s not that we''re weak, but rather this Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department is too strong, disturbing our Dao hearts."


    "Damn it!"


    The Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu and the Dong Family Ancestor Dong Changhui exchanged glances and chose to attack simultaneously.


    "Such a move with great power must be his trump card, consuming a vast amount of spiritual power. With his current cultivation, he certainly can''t use it consecutively. We can boldly make a move!" Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu reasoned.


    While speaking, he fell back half a body behind Dong Changhui.


    Dong Changhui didn''t notice Zhou Guangyu''s cunning, charging at the forefront, approaching with an irresistible momentum, revealing soaring murderous intent.


    Hearing Zhou Guangyu''s words, Shen Qing suddenly felt like laughing for some reason. He snorted coldly and pushed the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique to its utmost limit, his entire body''s muscles tightened, swelling like iron blocks.


    Numerous acupoints in his flesh lit up, resembling stars.


    His physical body transformed into a vast sea, and whales surfaced in the acupoints around him, continuously swallowing all the spiritual energy contained within the world.


    In his Qi Sea, the youthful "Dan Ying" showed an intoxicated expression, even spreading open its arms, gathering all the spiritual energy together, quickly refining it, supplementing the deficient spiritual power.


    Seeing Dong Changhui draw ever closer, Shen Qing held back nothing.


    With the "Nine Revolutions Mysterious Skill" stacking, his spiritual power reversed rapidly.


    In the span of one breath, it completed nine revolutions, causing a surge in his aura.


    With a thought, Shen Qing pinched out the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal with both hands.


    An immeasurable crimson gold brilliance erupted suddenly from within him, dazzling to the extreme, like the rising sun on the horizon, akin to a pouring galaxy, instantly illuminating the entire realm.


    These gleams were not mere light but manifested attacks infused with myriad profound spiritual powers. They transformed into a rushing crimson gold river, spanning yin and yang, carrying heaven-destroying, earth-annihilating might, sweeping menacingly towards Dong Changhui.


    Within that river were dragon roars and tiger cries, stars falling¡ªeach gleam contained terror capable of piercing metal stone and tearing through voids.


    Dong Family Ancestor Dong Changhui stood at the forefront. Facing this sudden assault, there was no avoiding it. A trace of incredulity and despair finally flashed in Dong Changhui''s eyes.


    This person was clearly a monster, showing no signs of exhaustion.


    Cursed Zhou Family old man, you''ve deceived me! S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Dong Changhui regretted it and wanted to pull back, but it was too late; he bit the bullet and resisted.


    Regrettably, all struggle and resistance appeared so pale and weak at this moment. That merciless crimson gold river pierced through his defense and engulfed him entirely.


    With an ear-piercing explosion, as all light vanished and dust settled, Dong Changhui''s figure was no more¡ªonly emptiness and deathly silence remained.


    No miracle happened with this strike. Dong Changhui, like the others, perished on the spot, leaving not even a chance for struggle.


    Upon witnessing this scene, Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu abruptly halted his assault.


    Shen Qing''s successive killing of Innate Martial Masters completely extinguished his fantasies, conjuring fear in his heart.


    Zhou Guangyu looked at Shen Qing, meeting Shen Qing''s wild gaze.


    He couldn''t help but shiver, without hesitation, he turned and walked away.


    "Now you decide to leave? Too late!"


    Shen Qing lightly spun his hands, and that ancient, weighty Heavy Bow, as if pulled by invisible strings, landed precisely in his grip.


    His eyes instantly sharpened like an eagle''s, exuding unyielding determination and frigidity.


    Shen Qing''s spiritual power surged within, the surrounding air seemingly igniting, with concentric rings of visible spiritual ripples spreading outward from him.


    Arrows rose suspended from the Arrow Quiver, aligned in formation, gleaming coldly under the sunlight, poised for action.


    With a calm expression, Shen Qing extended his ape-like arm, drawing the bowstring to a full moon.


    The Heavenly Bow Technique was activated.


    The heavy bowstring vibrated, emitting a deep and lasting hum.


    Shen Qing locked his arrows on the Zhou Family Ancestor, his fingers released abruptly.


    "Whoosh!"


    An arrow shot forth, slicing through the sky, its speed astonishing.


    The arrow, like a dragon emerging from the sea, dashed towards the Zhou Family Ancestor.


    Clouds dissipated along its path, leaving streaks of white.


    Though the Zhou Family Ancestor was an Innate Martial Master, he was flustered now, unsure how to respond to this sudden assault.


    "Bang!"


    With a loud crash, the Zhou Family Ancestor''s defenses shattered like glass, light scattering, and the arrow precisely pierced through, striking the vital point.


    Innate Martial Masters had formidable flesh; after penetrating the defense, the arrow lost its momentum and was slapped away by the Zhou Family Ancestor.


    Just when Zhou Guangyu thought it was over, another volley of arrows followed.


    His face froze.


    Boom boom boom...


    Deafening roars resounded endlessly as Zhou Guangyu dealt with them, exhausting his entire cultivation to fend off each and every arrow.


    "Haha, you''re out of arrows!" Zhou Guangyu shouted, disheveled and in tatters.


    Suddenly, a golden hand materialized from the void, snatching his clothing and dragging him back before Shen Qing.


    Da Xu Hand!


    Bang.

 Chapter 298 - 122: As One Wave Subsides, Another Rises

    ```


    Zhou Family Ancestor Zhou Guangyu was dead.


    He died under Shen Qing''s Annihilation Seal, leaving only half his body.


    Thud.


    The sound of the corpse hitting the ground pulled Huang Furo back to reality.


    Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared blankly at Shen Qing.


    The man, once her subordinate, had just killed four Innate Martial Masters in a short time, leaving her with mixed feelings.


    Even thinking about it afterward seemed unbelievable.


    Huang Furo''s petal-like lips trembled slightly, hesitating to speak but ultimately failing to utter a word.


    Seeing the four formidable enemies slain, Shen Qing''s taut nerves finally relaxed.


    He looked at the bewildered Huang Furo and curiously asked, "Lord Huangfu, why are you staring at me like that?"


    "Huh? Nothing," Huang Furo snapped out of her daze and said, "I just didn''t expect you to be... so incredible..."


    "It''s not me who''s incredible, it''s the Spirit Mechanism Land. If we leave this Spirit Mechanism Land, I fear I''d be no match for those four Innate Martial Masters, only to be crushed."


    Shen Qing was not being humble.


    Without this dense Spiritual Energy, his Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique would be useless, and its effectiveness would be greatly reduced.


    The Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal would never achieve such an effect. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Facing the four family ancestors again, even if they were weakened, he would not fare well even if he were undying.


    Perhaps the transformation was so drastic that it made Huang Furo feel uncomfortable.


    The scene was silent.


    "Thank you."


    Shen Qing''s voice suddenly broke the silence like a spring breeze rippling across a lake.


    "What?"


    "I said thank you."


    Shen Qing repeated.


    He remembered clearly that when facing the four Innate Ancestors, Huang Furo had stepped forward.


    She clearly knew what she would face by doing so, yet she did it anyway.


    Although it didn''t make much difference, putting oneself in that situation, reaching this step was quite remarkable.


    "Oh."


    At this moment, Huang Furo''s gaze subtly shifted over him, her heart a mix of emotions.


    "You... have changed," Huang Furo spoke, her voice carrying a hint of caution.


    Shen Qing, sensitive to the emotional change in Huang Furo, suddenly smiled and said, "People change, it''s just about whether they change for the better or worse. Who can say what will happen in the future? At least for now, I am your subordinate, aren''t I, Lord Huangfu?"


    Huang Furo gave a sweet smile and replied, "You''re right, Chief Officer Shen."


    The autumn breeze carried a refreshing coolness, gently stirring between them.


    The corners of their clothes fluttered.


    They exchanged a look and both laughed.


    After a moment, Shen Qing looked away, turning back to the core area of the Spirit Mechanism Land.


    An ancient sword fragment stained with blood hovered in the void.


    He remembered clearly that when the four Innate Martial Masters first arrived, someone had set their sights on this sword fragment.


    This sword fragment was evidently unusual.


    He did not act rashly, glanced at the sky, and reminded Huang Furo, "I have found that the area of the Spirit Mechanism Land is shrinking, it might disappear, it''s still early, and no one''s around to disturb us, we should seize this rare opportunity to cultivate."


    Huang Furo had no objections, "You''re right. There''s a lot of commotion here, it won''t just be the four of them who noticed, others are likely on their way, any improvement we make is worth it."


    Shen Qing nodded in agreement.


    Seeing Huang Furo begin her cultivation, he also quickly immersed himself in his training.


    He wondered if it was a delusion, after the recent battle, Shen Qing suddenly noticed that the "Dan Ying" in his Qi Sea seemed to have grown significantly, becoming increasingly like his own appearance and age.


    His cultivation had advanced further.


    A smile appeared in his heart as he focused his attention, wholeheartedly dedicating himself to cultivation.


    ...


    In the distance, beneath the gates of Yongzhou City.


    Commander Jia Zhiping led many officers and soldiers from the Yongzhou Government Office, riding out toward the direction where the ancestral masters had vanished.


    Seeing the leisurely looks of the riders behind him, he frowned, showing some discontent.


    Jia Zhiping slapped the horse''s haunch then leapt up, "Dismount and climb the mountain, hurry up!"


    He realized that something significant must have happened outside Yongzhou City for the Thirteen Lines'' ancestors to rush over.


    It might be a great opportunity like the Spirit Mechanism Land.


    Thinking of this, his heart burned with excitement, eager to claim a share.


    But their slow pace made him anxious, wishing he could arrive there in the blink of an eye, extremely impatient with their speed.


    Going late might leave nothing but scraps.


    As for arresting Shen Qing, he had already put that thought aside, with no interest in it.


    It was all fake anyway, who would really bother?


    Jia Zhiping''s Rainbow Light flashed, passing over a hill, seeing the distant falling sunset glow, his face lit with excitement.


    "Hurry up, quick, there might be a secret to immortality inside."


    Jia Zhiping gritted his teeth, using all his strength, leaving his subordinates behind, sprinting alone.


    After not walking far, Commander Jia Zhiping suddenly smelled a foul stench, and it grew stronger as if something was rapidly approaching.


    He froze for a moment, gripping his sword hilt tightly, abruptly looking up, "Above!"


    Commander Jia Zhiping''s heartstrings trembled, he suddenly looked up to the sky, his gaze piercing through layers of clouds, reaching the heavens above.


    In an instant, the sky tore apart like a torn canvas, a black and a white beam of light, dazzling like stars, cut through the sky, hurtling toward Jia Zhiping with thunderous momentum.


    Jia Zhiping stood firm like a pine, gripping his treasure sword, symbolizing authority, loudly questioning, "Who goes there? State your name!"


    But the response came not in words, but in a shadowy whip lash.


    Boom!


    Jia Zhiping crossed his arms in front to block.


    Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming force emanating from his arms.


    Already gliding with the wind, there was little around to brace against.


    Under this immense force, he was helplessly slammed into the ground.


    The two beams of black and white fell to the ground, transforming into a man and a woman.


    The man was as black as ink, eyes like cold stars, exuding endless darkness; the woman was as white as snow, radiating a holy yet unapproachable brilliance.


    "Long time no see, Lord Commander," Jiuli said with a smile.


    "Cut the nonsense, let''s deal with him quickly and get over there to prevent those old guys from getting all the perks."


    "Alright, half each?"


    "Half each. Make it quick."


    Snake Demon Zhang Junzi sneered, licking his lips, a trace of greed in his eyes.


    His whole body surged with demonic power, revealing his true form, recklessly coiling towards Jia Zhiping.


    Jia Zhiping''s face changed drastically.


    ```

 Chapter 299 - 123: Twin Demons Join Forces, Quickly Destroy the Innate

    ```html


    The true form revealed by the Snake Demon Zhang Junzi was a giant black-backed, white-bellied python, its scales shimmering with kaleidoscopic brilliance.


    His entire body exuded demon energy, churning like a sea of ink. The overwhelming demonic power surged like a mountain flood, irresistibly wrapping and descending toward Jia Zhiping.


    Jia Zhiping''s face changed drastically. He hurriedly used the martial arts he had mastered throughout his life, and spiritual power surged from his entire body, forming dazzling curtains of light in front of him in an attempt to block.


    Such a massive body coupled with that great demonic power would certainly be uncomfortable if entangled, possibly even life-threatening.


    He couldn''t let it succeed.


    As he concentrated on laying down layers of defense, the Great Demon Jiuli, standing by, coyly smiled, spitting out a pink mist that spread with the wind, enveloping the front of Jia Zhiping.


    Before he could react, an invisible chill quietly infiltrated his mind, causing him to fall into brief confusion.


    In a trance, he seemed to see beauties of unparalleled human world elegance, barely clad, constantly flirting with him.


    Fragrant, gentle touches brushed through his fingers, making him want to immerse himself in this tender illusion.


    But the next moment, he sensed a fierce killing intent above his head, involuntarily shivered, and instantly came to his senses.


    The tender illusion before him shattered like a mirror.


    Jia Zhiping''s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly looked up, discovering that the Snake Demon Zhang Junzi had, in that moment of distraction, brought his immense python body down in front of him, wrapping around him tightly like iron chains.


    Before he could resist, the enormous snake body had already begun to slowly constrict.


    "Crack," "Crack."


    Jia Zhiping''s Innate Body appeared frail under the crushing constriction of the giant python. The sound of bones snapping was particularly piercing in the silent forest.


    Even though his flesh and blood had been tempered many times, it was still insignificant before such vast and mighty power.


    Nonetheless, as a Commander, Jia Zhiping had seen great storms and waves. He did not completely panic or lose composure.


    Faced with an intense survival instinct, a great thirst for life ignited in his heart.


    Jia Zhiping roared, and at that moment, his entire body''s spiritual power was thoroughly ignited, turning into a scorching flame.


    He risked everything, using spiritual power as fuel and flesh and blood as the catalyst.


    The Snake Demon Zhang Junzi felt waves of heat emanating from Jia Zhiping, as if about to erupt at any moment.


    "Die!" Jia Zhiping shouted, spiritual power surged out.


    Pale flames, tinged with green light, completely enveloped Jia Zhiping, filled with destructive power.


    Under this power, the Snake Demon Zhang Junzi could hardly bear it, compelled to temporarily loosen the constriction, retreating several steps back.


    Turning his head, he yelled at the Great Demon Jiuli, "Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and act!"


    "I''m coming, I''m coming."


    To the Snake Demon Zhang Junzi and the Great Demon Jiuli, the Innate Martial Master body in front of them was like a precious medicine.


    The flesh and blood contained a large amount of spiritual power essence, greatly beneficial to both of them.


    If they could devour it, their cultivation would undoubtedly advance significantly.


    Moreover, this Commander was also a competitor for the Spirit Mechanism, so removing him early was a plus.


    Now the Spirit Mechanism had appeared, time was pressing, and neither demon wanted to delay long here.


    They set aside their grudges, choosing to collaborate without any reservations.


    Commander Jia Zhiping, witnessing this scene, suddenly felt his heart sink to the bottom of the abyss.


    Dealing with either of the two great demons was strenuous for him, let alone both together; the power was beyond his ability to contend.


    He showed a look of despair.


    Unfortunately, the two great demons wouldn''t show any mercy because of this.


    They took turns attacking, using all their strength, gradually pushing Jia Zhiping to the brink of despair.


    Despite all his efforts, exhausting every means to resist and seek a chance for survival, ultimately, he was no match for four hands with just two fists, gradually exhausting his strength and losing the possibility to escape.


    The battle was extremely brutal, and the forest was utterly flattened by their struggle, with terrifying waves of energy continually spreading out from where they fought.


    The county officials and soldiers could not get close, unable to intervene in the battle of the three.


    "Ah!"


    As time passed, a miserable scream echoed from the ruins, with blood sprayed.


    "Boom!"


    A loud noise resounded in the world, like thunder from a clear sky, deafening.


    Everything seemed to pause for a moment.


    In the demon-energy-shrouded forest, Jia Zhiping''s eyes were filled with reluctance as his figure fell to the ground.


    "Agreed on splitting in half, I won''t be polite then."


    The Snake Demon Zhang Junzi stepped forward, grabbing Jia Zhiping''s body with brute force, tearing it in half.


    The essence blood spilled in the void was slurped into his mouth.


    "Here you go."


    The Snake Demon Zhang Junzi tossed the other half of Jia Zhiping''s corpse in front of Jiuli, raised his head, and opened his blood-red mouth, swallowing this half of the body in parts.


    Meanwhile, the Demon Jiuli, unwilling to be outdone, revealed the upper half of its true form and snatched the remaining half of the corpse, putting it in its mouth to chew.


    "Pugh!"


    The two great demons spat out indigestible debris like spitting phlegm, revealing expressions of indulgence.


    It seemed their strength had increased by a margin.


    "That''s almost it, let''s go."


    "Okay."


    In less than a quarter of an hour, everything was settled.


    Each of the two great demons transformed into a stream of light, rushing towards the Spirit Mechanism Land.


    Having devoured nearly two Innate Realm Martial Masters, their cultivation increased at least double; even if the four Innate Martial Masters of the Thirteen Lines stood before them, they would be difficult to shake.


    ¡­


    In the Spirit Mechanism Land, the air was filled with gorgeous, colorful clouds.


    Shen Qing resembled a tranquil statue, sitting cross-legged, surrounded by a faint spiritual light, which beautifully complemented the surrounding rainbow clouds.


    He held the Wish Power Pearl tightly, diligently cultivating without any slack or distraction.


    With each breath of Shen Qing, the Wish Power Pearl gently quivered, releasing strands of pure energy, continuously guiding more Spiritual Energy to gradually merge into his body, nourishing each meridian and flesh.


    Deep in his Qi Sea, the originally small, bean-sized and crystal-clear "Dan Ying," under the dual nourishment of the Wish Power Pearl and the colorful clouds, astonishingly began a remarkable transformation as if given life.


    It slowly rotated, absorbing the nature''s spiritual energy swirling around, gradually expanding in size and becoming even deeper and brighter in hue.


    From the youthful form just now, it grew to resemble an exact likeness of Shen Qing, as if another self, quietly suspended in his Qi Sea, exuding a breathtakingly vast power.


    At that moment, an unprecedented insight surged in Shen Qing''s heart.


    He seemed to sense the spiritual power in his body boiling, feeling every acupuncture point and every inch of blood and flesh under immense pressure, as if the spiritual power his physical body could bear was reaching an extreme limit. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing suddenly realized he was on the verge of breaking through to the Innate Realm!


    ```

 Chapter 300 - 124: Breakthrough to Innate Realm, Twin Monsters Invade

    """ sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Throughout the entire cultivation process of the Dan Realm, everything revolved around the "Dan Ying."


    The cultivation process of the Dan Realm was essentially a martial master using his own body as a blueprint, continuously absorbing the spiritual power from nature to grow the "Dan Ying," from a baby to a person.


    When the "Dan Ying" grew into a "Dan People," infinitely approaching the cultivator''s blueprint, it meant the achievement of Great Perfection in the Dan Realm.


    At this realm, the older martial masters in the Dan Realm needed to nurture the "Dan Ying" to match their blueprint, which required several to even dozens of times more time and effort than younger cultivators, so the advantage of reaching the Dan Realm at a young age was significant.


    If one failed to break through when young, it would be extremely difficult to do so when older.


    At the moment, Shen Qing was only seventeen years old. He nurtured the "Dan Ying" from a baby to a person, thus spending much less time and effort.


    However, he thought it would take at least two to three years, but unexpectedly, due to the Spirit Mechanism Land, the process was greatly accelerated, unexpectedly allowing him to break through already.


    Shen Qing felt an uncontrollable excitement, joyful and pleasantly surprised.


    In the Great Zhou Country, once someone reached the Innate Realm, even without holding an official position, one could dominate a region, establish a family line.


    Not to mention that upon achieving the Innate Realm, one could fly with the wind, perceiving a broader world, holding an indescribable allure for many martial masters, a dream realm for martial masters.


    Many martial masters cultivated for decades or even hundreds of years without reaching it.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, exhaling a few times to calm his heart and focus entirely, wanting to push through to the Innate Realm in one go.


    He slowly closed his eyes, observing the changes in his Qi Sea with inner sight, his mind clear and serene.


    With every breath, white air streamed out, colorful whirlpools surrounded him, the spiritual energy in the Spirit Mechanism Land refined by the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, converting into pure essence entering his body.


    With his eyes closed, Shen Qing saw that the "Dan Ying" inside him, after countless days and nights of tempering, was no longer as tiny and immature as before. It had transformed into a lifelike "Dan People," its appearance indistinguishable from his true self, containing extraordinarily pure spirit essence.


    Clearly, the time to break through to the Innate Realm had matured, and the next step was to merge the "Dan People" with his flesh, reshaping his physical body.


    At a single thought from Shen Qing, the majestic "Dan People" in his Qi Sea ascended slowly, being drawn upward by his divine sense, expanding.


    It seemed as if this "Dan People" was infinitely "approaching" his physical body from the void.


    As the "Dan People" gradually "approached" his physical body, his entire Qi Sea trembled, a powerful and ancient aura spread, his entire body''s spiritual power operated frantically.


    Shen Qing''s mind shivered violently, his spirit tightened like iron, his skin turned scorching hot.


    Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, evaporated instantly by the surface temperature.


    Shen Qing dared not get distracted, focusing entirely, gradually merging with the "Dan People."


    As time passed, the "Dan People" in his Qi Sea broke free from the void, touching Shen Qing''s flesh.


    At the moment of contact, the surrounding spiritual energy boiled with this incredible fusion, rushing into his body like rivers joining the sea, intertwining with the "Dan People."


    Under Shen Qing''s skin, light flowed faintly.


    At this moment, every drop of blood, every bone, and even every inch of skin on Shen Qing''s body underwent unprecedented transformation and rebirth.


    The process was not as grueling as imagined; instead, it held a hint of comfort, as if after reaching the extreme, all spiritual power found an outlet to vent.


    The fist-sized "Dan People" inflated rapidly to the size of Shen Qing''s true form, so much that a vestige of a phantom faintly appeared behind him.


    "Boom!"


    With a long and deep rumble, the phantom merged with the physical body, the pure spirit essence contained in the "Dan People" fully merged into the flesh.


    Shen Qing''s body was reshaped, leaping from a mortal coil to an Innate Body, shedding the shackles of the mundane, becoming crystal-clear and immaculate, pure and powerful, like a newborn baby, achieving a qualitative metamorphosis.


    Not only that, but due to the transformation into an Innate Body, internal life force greatly enhanced, increasing longevity by hundreds of years.


    Shen Qing overflowed with joy.


    He looked down and noticed the calluses on his hands from practicing archery had disappeared, becoming as smooth as jade, emitting a jade-like feel, leaving him somewhat incredulous.


    Curious, Shen Qing began practicing familiar martial arts.


    Boom!


    An explosive sound echoed in Shen Qing''s ears, abundant spiritual power surged out like a river merging into the sea, incessant and overwhelming.


    With an immaculate Innate Body, he realized his perception and absorption ability of the spiritual energy from nature had reached a new level.


    "I heard that the Innate Realm allows one to fly with the wind, riding the Rainbow Light, traveling a thousand miles in a day."


    Shen Qing was quite intrigued, eager to try.


    With a thought, golden-red light emerged around him, lifting him as if about to soar into the sky at any moment.


    "This power, how wondrous!"


    Shen Qing had never experienced such a sensation before, clicking his tongue in amazement.


    Huang Furo, disturbed by Shen Qing''s movements, turned to see Shen Qing enveloped in golden-red light, greatly surprised.


    She blurted out, "You¡­ did you break through to the Innate Realm?"


    "Yes." Shen Qing gently nodded, cheerful, "I just gave it a try, fortunately succeeding."


    "Gasp¡­"


    Huang Furo gasped, unable to express in words the innate gift Shen Qing possessed for such cultivation.


    Breaking through three Great Realms in two years, what kind of prodigy could achieve such a feat?


    Her throat dried, words faltering.


    Shen Qing explained nothing, glanced around, suppressing the urge to try, dissipating the glow around him, landing steadily on the ground.


    He thought for a moment and still felt he should cultivate further in the Spirit Mechanism Land to seize the rare opportunity.


    "Buzz!"


    At that moment, two beams of Rainbow Light flew over from the distant sky, descending near the Spirit Mechanism Land.


    Shen Qing''s divine sense sharply detected them immediately, looking afar.


    As the Rainbow Light faded in the distance, a man and a woman appeared.


    They were Chang Junzi and Jiuli, two Great Demons.


    The demon Chang Junzi licked his lips as if he sniffed a familiar scent, making a slight questioning noise.


    "Hmm?"


    "What is it?" The demon Jiuli frowned slightly, asking curiously.


    The demon Chang Junzi flew a few steps forward, on seeing Shen Qing and Huang Furo alert, eyes coldly fixed on him, showing a peculiar expression.


    "It really is them!"


    Jiuli inquired in curiosity, "Do you know these two?"


    "That day, these two woke me from hibernation; little did I expect they survived and even improved, appearing here," said the demon Chang Junzi as he recalled, "Well, such delicious food could become a snack."


    As he spoke, he took a step forward.


    """

 Chapter 301 - 125 The Strongest Innate Realm, Slaying the Great Demon

    ```


    The verdant mountains stretched endlessly, shrouded in mist and clouds.


    Demon Jiu Li stood atop the winding ridge, her sheer veil billowing in the wind. She slowly swept her gaze across the scene before her.


    "It seems those old foxes are absent from this gathering of Spirit Essence today."


    A sly smile played at the corners of Jiu Li''s lips, her voice tinged with a barely perceivable sense of relief, "That means the competition for this rare Spirit Essence is left to this little fellow here. I must say, our luck is extraordinarily good."


    Great Demon Chang Junzi''s black robe fluttered in the wind. Standing beside Jiu Li, his deep eyes flickered with a complicated light as he looked at her with a cryptic smile, "Since the situation is set, what are you hesitating for? Join me and make the move."


    Upon hearing this, Jiu Li took a light step forward but immediately, as if realizing something, she retracted.


    She turned, a brilliant smile blossoming at her lips, and said, "Oh? I''m curious, were you really just plotting to seize the Spirit Essence earlier, or... do you have other intentions, like towards me?"


    Her words seemed to freeze the air for a moment.


    Chang Junzi''s expression shifted slightly but soon returned to normal. He laughed softly, his voice deep and magnetic, "Your imagination is truly vivid. I merely wish to conclude this matter swiftly to avoid any unforeseen complications. As for anything else, you might be overthinking it."


    "Really? I don''t believe it," Jiu Li''s tone carried a hint of playfulness and provocation.


    Before her voice had faded, she had silently braced herself, Spiritual Power surging around her like a flood about to burst forth, ready for anything.


    Chang Junzi feigned nonchalance, "Stop talking, those two have already noticed us. They''ve taken quite a bit of Spirit Essence, gotta leave their flesh and blood, otherwise, it''d be a real waste."


    Seeing Jiu Li''s defensive posture, Chang Junzi ceased any further thoughts.


    His expression turned solemn, and he bolted forward like a blade of icy wind, charging directly towards Shen Qing''s location with such speed that not even a shadow was left.


    Nearby, Jiu Li''s sharp intuition sensed the change in his intent. With a slight smile, she followed closely, seeming to put aside the earlier discord.


    In the world of demons, strength reigned supreme, a realm without etiquette or shame, where everything spoke through might.


    While Chang Junzi harbored intentions toward her, she too wished to strike him down to monopolize this patch of Spirit Essence.


    But with the Human Clan present, now was not the time.


    Jiu Li looked ahead at Shen Qing, who stood ready and waiting. For some reason, his gaze unsettled her, as if something ominous was brewing.


    "I must be overthinking it. A nameless figure from Yongzhou City wouldn''t cause much of a stir."


    She was well-versed in the elders of Yongzhou City, but the man and woman before her did not match anyone noteworthy from memory.


    Judging by their attire and age, they seemed to be younger members from a government office.


    Such people were as insignificant as ants to them, easily crushed without a second thought.


    "That said, we demons have always been keenly aware of danger. Nothing is absolute. I should be cautious, let that foolish snake scout ahead, and if things go wrong, I''ll retreat. As for the Spirit Mechanism... it''s not more important than my life."


    Understanding the critical nature of every step taken in the outside world, especially in matters of opportunity where any oversight could result in total loss, she considered carefully.


    With this in mind, Jiu Li''s figure flickered like a swift swallow skimming the water, slowing her pace slightly to create a strategic distance from Chang Junzi, allowing her a position from which to either advance or retreat.


    From this vantage point, she could both react promptly to any threat and seize the advantage.


    As the two great demons, Jiu Li and Chang Junzi, advanced like a dark cloud hanging overhead, a formidable pressure enveloped the area.


    The fierce wind whipped past, rendering the very air heavy and viscous.


    Faced with an almost engulfing terror, Huang Fu Rou''s breath quickened.


    "Crack!"


    A faint yet distinct sound resonated through the air as the mountain began to fracture under the weight of the terrifying power exuded by the two great demons.


    Huang Fu Rou clenched her fists tightly, her face whitening with fear evident in her eyes, though it vanished swiftly as her expression hardened.


    Internally, her Spiritual Power boiled, resonating with the roars of dragons and tigers, readying herself for a desperate fight.


    Yet such actions appeared laughable in Chang Junzi''s eyes, akin to an ant trying to stop a chariot.


    "Hmph, mere ants. Do you really think this can stop me? Truly pathetic!"


    Chang Junzi''s voice was icy as if laced with chilling ice, his eyes glowed with a demonic red light.


    Behind him, Jiu Li remained silent, merely raising her hands slowly. Her fingertips danced lightly, gathering countless strands of pink demonic power.


    Shen Qing drew a deep breath, feeling the surging power within him, stepped forward to stand beside Huang Fu Rou.


    "Leave it to me!"


    "Let me see what these so-called demons are capable of, and test the worth of my Innate status. True gold needs to be forged in fire!"


    As his Spiritual Power surged, brilliant streams of light erupted around Shen Qing, propelling him straight towards Jiu Li and Chang Junzi.


    He unsheathed his dagger, slashing forward.


    "Kill!"


    Where the knife light passed, it left a clearly visible crack.


    Jiu Li and Chang Junzi''s faces changed slightly in shock at the sight.


    "This power... it''s an Innate!!!"


    Before they could think further, the light of the blade was upon them.


    Seasoned in countless battles, Chang Junzi quickly adjusted his status.


    He swung his arm, transforming into a sweeping black tail that collided with Shen Qing''s blade light.


    "Boom!"


    The forces clashed fiercely in mid-air, erupting in deafening roars.


    Shen Qing''s blade light was swept aside by Chang Junzi''s black tail, falling into the mountains, slicing half of a mountain top away in an instant.


    Boulders exploded, and the entire mountain seemed engulfed in chaos and destruction, with stones tumbling down continuously.


    Chang Junzi retracted his arm and looked down only to see a bloodied wound, flesh split open, and blood flowing freely.


    The intense pain sparked fury within him, making him erupt in rage.


    "How dare you, mere foodstuff!"


    Without any hesitation, Great Demon Chang Junzi''s body twisted, revealing its gruesome true form.


    His thick body like a massive vat pressed down on Shen Qing, boundless demon energy enveloping the heavens and earth.


    The Big Snake Demon lunged viciously at Shen Qing, "Die for me!"


    With a solemn expression, Shen Qing clasped his hands together, channeling all his Spiritual Power at this moment. Gathering it before him, it coalesced into a golden Sky Flipping Seal.


    In an instant, a dazzling brilliance erupted from his palms, as the Sky Flipping Seal descended like a hanging galaxy, akin to the first light of creation, pressing down on the Snake Demon.


    Its potent force seemed capable of moving mountains and seas, annihilating everything.


    Even with the strong physical body of Chang Junzi, he felt the terror of the Fan Seal beneath his scales as it peeled away his forceful aura piece by piece.


    "Ah!"


    Chang Junzi let out a wretched scream.


    The Sky Flipping Seal exploded, its radiance engulfing everything like the sun.


    The Big Snake Demon''s cries abruptly ceased.


    As the light faded, only a black Demon Core floated in the air, radiating with a dark brilliance.


    Once towering above other Innate beings, the Snake Demon was slain by Shen Qing in a single move, leaving it utterly powerless to resist.


    Seeing this, Jiu Li''s eyes narrowed to pinpoints, rendered speechless. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing stepped forward, seizing the Snake Demon''s Demon Core. He looked calmly at Jiu Li and smiled, "Alright, you''re next!"


    ```

 Chapter 302 - 126: Thoughts Become Clear, Dust Settles

    In Shen Qing''s every gesture and movement, there lay an aura of transcendent calm, as if nothing in the world could disturb the peace within his heart. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In truth, though, his inner turmoil was like a storm, turbulent and fierce, difficult to quell.


    He had never anticipated that once he crossed that seemingly insurmountable threshold to the Innate Realm, his own power would become so unbelievably strong.


    Such a transformation.


    He vaguely remembered last winter when he stood powerless against this formidable demon, nearly meeting his end in front of everyone.


    Not only him, but even the Prefectural Governor, who shared the same Innate Realm, had also been helpless against this demon. He was gravely injured and schemed against unto death.


    Yet now, with just one Sky Flipping Seal, he had easily shattered that mountain-like demon, reducing it to nothingness.


    To him, this scene felt like a lifetime ago, dreamlike and surreal.


    Through this event, Shen Qing gained a clearer understanding of his cultivation after breaking through to the Innate Realm.


    Powerful!


    Even if he left this Spirit Mechanism Land, his current cultivation surpassed any Innate Realm martial master he had ever seen, making him the strongest in Yongzhou.


    Thinking of this, Shen Qing''s thoughts flowed freely, filled with confidence.


    In this endlessly turbulent world, where survival depended on strength, he clearly now had his place, and no longer needed to walk on egg shells.


    Shen Qing slowly raised his head, fixing his gaze upon Demon Jiu Li not far away.


    He had some memory of this demon hidden within the Zhou Family.


    Huang Furo had conducted an investigation on her, which involved them somewhat.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, the Zhou Family''s elder learned of Spirit Mechanism Land''s arrival through her and made some preparations.


    They caused a demon calamity in Yongzhou, using it to eliminate dissenters, seizing land, and claiming the Spirit Mechanism Land.


    Speaking of it, the local high-ranking families were far more united than those useless officials of the county office; if it weren''t for Shen Qing''s sudden intervention, the Zhou Family''s scheme might have succeeded.


    But since he was already involved, he decided to take it to the end.


    Shen Qing exhaled a deep breath, infusing his Spiritual Power within.


    When he had just slain the Snake Demon, worried about being overpowered, he had used all his might, expending all his Spiritual Power.


    Previously, he might not have been able to stand, but now, having ascended to the Innate Realm with a pure Physical Body, every acupuncture point throughout his body brimmed with sparkling Spirit Mechanism energy.


    At present, it flowed out, continually nourishing his flesh and blood.


    Shen Qing activated the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, ravenously swallowing nature''s Spiritual Energy to replenish his Spiritual Power.


    With his powerful Innate Body combined with the skill attribute of the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, Shen Qing plundered the Spiritual Energy into his body like a whale swallowing water, recovering more than half in just a moment.


    It filled his heart with exhilaration.


    Across from him, Jiu Li watched Shen Qing appearing as calm as ever, feeling her scalp tingle, involuntarily taking two steps back as silver-white fur grew across her skin.


    Jiu Li couldn''t understand; she had thoroughly vetted Yongzhou long ago, how could such a person appear?


    Escape!


    If she didn''t escape, she would surely die!


    Driven by an intense survival instinct, Jiu Li resolved to escape, her form transforming into a Rainbow Light in her attempt to flee.


    However, just at the moment she intended to move, Shen Qing''s silhouette darted like a phantom, taking a leisurely step forward.


    His right arm extended, gathering Spiritual Power in an instant, conjuring the "Da Xu Hand" from the Huangfu family!


    The void trembled as a resplendent golden giant hand materialized out of nowhere, imbued with a suppressive majesty. It reached from the void and securely grasped Jiu Li''s streak of Rainbow Light.


    Unwilling to submit, Jiu Li''s demonic power surged, revealing her true demon form, struggling with all her might.


    A white fox with fur like snow roared and howled within the golden palm.


    Jiu Li exerted all her strength, even at the expense of her cultivation, spitting out a trickle of Lifeblood essence in a bid to escape.


    "Break!"


    The Lifeblood Essence Jiu Li spat landed on the golden hand, exploding violently, unexpectedly tearing apart the seemingly indestructible Da Xu Hand, reducing it to shimmering gold dust and dispersing in the void.


    Her face lit up with joy, her heart pounding with post-calamity ecstasy.


    Jiu Li reassembled her Rainbow Light, intending to ride the wind to escape.


    Yet, due to the brief delay caused by the Da Xu Hand, Shen Qing''s figure had already shadowed her, closing in until nearly touching distance, robbing her of her last chance to flee.


    Shen Qing gazed upon the snow-white demon fox before him, a cold smile curling at his lips.


    His hands formed seals as an ancient and powerful aura flowed from within him, a precious seal coalescing, pressing forward to crush.


    "Sky Flipping Seal! Kill!"


    With a thunderous boom, the Sky Flipping Seal descended with an apocalyptic force.


    Jiu Li had nowhere to retreat, forced to meet it head-on.


    She shielded herself with her long tail, summoning a pink barrier of light.


    The Sky Flipping Seal crashed fiercely upon it.


    Boom!!!


    At that moment, time seemed to freeze, and the heavens and earth changed colors.


    "Ah..."


    Amidst the light, a piercingly tragic scream echoed as Jiu Li''s form staggered, blood spurting from her mouth, the sound of her bones cracking filled with dread.


    At this moment, her demonic power overflowed yet couldn''t condense any longer.


    With a muffled thud.


    Her vibrant life force was swiftly ebbing away.


    Jiu Li, like a withered flower, tragically despairing under Shen Qing''s gaze, was thoroughly extinguished of life.


    When all settled, and the light faded, it revealed Jiu Li''s already dead demon form.


    Understanding his newfound strength, Shen Qing deliberately controlled his Spiritual Power, not allowing Jiu Li''s corpse to be completely obliterated, leaving her body intact.


    A hunter by birth, he knew that fox fur was truly rare and could fetch a good price.


    Not to mention such a demon fox as she was, it would be even more valuable.


    Utterly destroying it would be too much of a pity.


    Stripped of its support, the fox demon body began to fall.


    Shen Qing extended one hand, capturing the fox demon body.


    His expression remained calm, both hands like blades, split open the fox demon body, extracting her Demon Core.


    This Demon Core, with a deep azure hue, felt smooth and round on its surface.


    Shen Qing raised his hand, holding the peculiar bead aloft.


    As sunlight cascaded down, the Demon Core''s color gradually shed its deep black hue, transforming into a pink, translucent and glistening.


    Astonishingly, within the core, a faint purple light was faintly visible, shaped like a Spiritual Fox, exceptionally lively.


    At times it swirled coiling, at others it surged fiercely, impacting the outer part of the pill.


    Each time the purple light touched the pill''s outer part, that spot would ripple with pink radiance.


    From the Demon Cores he had acquired in the past, Shen Qing for the first time beheld such profound wonder, a trace of unabashed astonishment flashing in his eyes.

 Chapter 303 - 127: Gathering Spirit Essence, Gaining an Ancient Blade

    ```


    It truly was a high-grade Demon Core, greatly beneficial for cultivation.


    Outside, it would be a priceless treasure, worth far more than any riches.


    Shen Qing carefully placed this precious Demon Core into the Jade Box he carried, ensuring every strand of demonic power was properly sealed, allowing not a bit to escape.


    After completing this, he focused his mind to fall to the ground, then walked towards Huang Furo.


    Since today, Shen Qing''s performance had been increasingly unexpected.


    Huang Furo was already accustomed to it.


    For some reason, standing in front of Shen Qing at this moment, she suddenly felt a slight pressure, making her somewhat rueful.


    Shen Qing stepped forward and said with a smile, "Lord Huangfu, catch."


    "Hmm?"


    Before Huang Furo could react, she saw Shen Qing toss over the corpse of a white fox.


    She scrambled and caught it, staring in surprise.


    Jiuli''s demonic body was as large as a grown man, far beyond an ordinary fox, its fur capable of being crafted into a complete Fur Coat.


    In the world, there were countless Fur Coats, but none like this one.


    If it were circulated, who knew how many powerful dignitaries would go mad for it.


    Holding Jiuli''s demonic body, Huang Furo realized that Shen Qing didn''t care at all, as he headed towards the core of the Spirit Mechanism Land. That''s when she understood that Shen Qing had given her this invaluable Fox Skin.


    She called out uncertainly, "Chief Officer Shen, are you..."


    "It''s for you," Shen Qing waved his hand, unconcerned.


    In his view, the most important Demon Core was already obtained; it was just a good piece of fur, so he gave it without concern.


    Since he could hunt this one, surely in the future, he''d hunt two, three, or even more.


    Huang Furo found it unbelievable and after a moment of silence, suddenly asked, "Do you like me?"


    Shen Qing paused slightly at her words.


    He turned to look back, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Huang Furo''s graceful figure, her curves alluring.


    In the afternoon sunlight, amidst the vast green mountains, she appeared even more gentle and charming.


    For some reason, though he originally had no such thoughts, after Huang Furo hinted as she did, an odd emotion surged within him, and he quickly retracted his gaze, saying, "No."


    Huang Furo stepped closer, staring directly into Shen Qing''s eyes, measuring with thumb and forefinger, suspiciously asking, "Not even a little bit?"


    Unwilling to continue with this topic, Shen Qing changed the subject, saying, "The Spirit Essence here won''t last long. We should hurry and cultivate. Others might come to investigate soon; this intimacy won''t last."


    Speaking, Shen Qing quickened his pace forward.


    Huang Furo squinted her eyes, saying no more.


    The Spirit Mechanism Land, through the consecutive cultivation of Shen Qing and Huang Furo, had its shrouded area reduced significantly.


    Despite this, refining all the Spirit Essence here by themselves would still take ten days to a half month.


    Such commotion, even after killing the Four Great Eastern Families and demons, wouldn''t avoid the covetousness of others.


    Shen Qing slightly furrowed his brow with a trace of worry.


    Seeming to see Shen Qing''s concern, Huang Furo approached and asked, "Do you want to take all this Spirit Essence with you?"


    Shen Qing didn''t deny it, nodding, "With such a piece of Spirit Mechanism Land, how great it would be if we could take it all. Leaving it for others feels unsatisfying."


    "Actually, it''s not impossible to take it away," Huang Furo said.


    Shen Qing suddenly looked at Huang Furo: "You have a way?"


    Huang Furo smiled, revealing two shiny little tiger teeth, and said without much confidence, "There is a way, but it can only take part of it, just part of it."


    Huang Furo emphasized the last three words "part of it."


    After speaking, she took out a Jade Token from her bosom, glossy like a mirror, with no information on it: "You can use this."


    "This was brought back when my father went to the Zhou Mansion for a banquet. It can gather spiritual energy. I tried it several times; with this Jade Token''s capacity, it can take away about one-tenth of the Spirit Essence."


    "Though a small amount, gaining a bit is better than none; fortune can''t be monopolized..."


    Huang Furo''s voice grew quieter.


    Because she saw Shen Qing take out nine Jade Tokens and place them in front of her.


    "In this case, wouldn''t it be enough with yours?" Shen Qing said.


    Huang Furo was astonished: "How do you have so many?"


    "I killed several Family Heads and found them on their bodies."


    Huang Furo was speechless.


    "Lord Huangfu, how can we use these Jade Tokens?" Shen Qing focused on the Jade Tokens and asked.


    Huang Furo sighed and said, "I''ll teach you."


    She stepped forward, withholding nothing, teaching a segment of the spell and the method of channeling Spiritual Power.


    Shen Qing used the Water Ink Panel, certifying eternally, quickly becoming adept. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing lightly held a blank Jade Token, his fingertips glowing.


    His Divine Sense was agile, hands forming seals.


    As he channeled Spiritual Power, the Spirit Essence dormant in the surroundings seemed to awaken by an invisible force, like streams brushed by a spring breeze, leaping toward the floating Jade Token.


    A refreshing fragrance filled the air, clearing and brightening the mind.


    Within mere breaths, the blank Jade Token before Shen Qing began emitting light, becoming radiant and magnificent.


    More astonishing was a complex and exquisite Jade Talisman quietly emerging on the Jade Token.


    Shen Qing put away the Jade Token before him, repeated the process, and continued using a Jade Token to collect Spirit Essence.


    Time ticked away, and after a while, Shen Qing had collected all the Spirit Essence in the area, satisfied.


    "This Jade Talisman has already formed, representing that the stored spiritual energy is full. If you want to use it again in the future, just reverse the spell,"


    Huang Furo kindly reminded: "Remember not to let court-related people know about these. My father investigated; these Jade Tokens may be related to the Huang Tian Sect. It would not be good for you if people knew."


    "Good, thank you, Lord Huangfu," Shen Qing said with genuine gratitude.


    At this moment, only the core area of this Spirit Mechanism Land remained the Broken Blade, lingering. Shen Qing hesitated not and stepped forward.


    "Fool," Huang Furo muttered in her heart.


    Shen Qing achieved the Innate level, possessing an Innate Body, and the Sword Intent unleashed by the Broken Blade was no longer mortally dangerous to him.


    Approaching the Broken Blade, scrutinizing closely, he noticed it was covered in blood, yet not dried, with much vibrant life within.


    Suddenly, sensing something, Shen Qing hurriedly took out a Three legged Small Furnace, exuding a warm aura, as if alive.


    "Could there be some connection between these two?"


    Shen Qing speculated in his heart and directly activated the Great Void Shifting Technique as recorded on the furnace pattern.


    An unbelievable scene unfolded.


    The Three legged Small Furnace spun around, its mouth emitting strands of radiance enveloping the Broken Blade, drawing it inside the furnace.


    "Could this really work?"


    Shen Qing felt amazed.


    ```

 Chapter 304 - 128 Ancient Magic Treasure

    Amidst the mountains, many creatures instinctively approached the Spirit Mechanism Land, hoping to acquire spiritual wisdom by soaking in its spirit essence.


    However, by the time they arrived, all the spirit essence had dissipated, leaving only rampant sword qi behind.


    Amongst all the sword qi, three small furnaces hovered in the air, slowly rotating, their mouths emitting brilliant rays of light, thin as strands.


    All the fierce sword qi was gradually drawn into these lights, suppressed back into the broken blade.


    The bloodstains on the mottled broken blade seemed to come alive under the illumination, slowly wriggling.


    A buzzing sound arose.


    The broken blade seemed to be pulled by some mysterious force, sinking into the deep and boundless belly of the three-legged furnace.


    Shen Qing''s eyes narrowed, his mind racing, wanting to regain control of the three-legged furnace, and reclaim it.


    He operated the Great Void Shifting Technique as he had at the beginning, trying to guide it.


    However, to his surprise, the three-legged furnace showed no response, as if it had severed its connection with him.


    Shen Qing frowned, thinking it was due to a lack of spiritual power.


    He formed hand seals with both hands, exerting all his spiritual power, but his efforts were like a clay ox entering the sea, still not eliciting any reaction.


    Shen Qing was puzzled, somewhat perplexed.


    At this moment, an incredible scene unfolded.


    The three-legged furnace seemed to have gained self-awareness, standing upright autonomously, emitting radiant splendor, floating and rotating gracefully in the void.


    As Shen Qing stood in astonishment, an unforeseen change occurred within the furnace, where the once-silent broken blade spun furiously, each rotation accompanied by a deep buzzing sound, like ancient war drums, stirring one''s heart.


    Then, a streak of deep night-like black light suddenly burst forth from the body of the furnace, piercing through the long sky, unstoppably hurtling toward Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing felt an unprecedented force impacting his divine sense, his body trembling involuntarily.


    He could not resist this force at all, helplessly watching as the black light entered his physical body.


    The three-legged furnace followed right after the black light, merging into his forehead, eventually settling steadily in his Qi Sea.


    The Qi Sea, originally vast and boundless, was empty initially.


    At this moment, it now had a three-legged, two-eared furnace.


    The three-legged furnace loomed in the Qi Sea, exuding an indescribable aura of majesty. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Its presence caused the whole Spirit Sea to tremble.


    Shen Qing was greatly shocked, finding it utterly incomprehensible.


    He remembered that he had obtained this three-legged furnace from the cave of the underground river, supposedly an artifact from the Ancient Times, while the bloodstained broken blade found in the Spirit Mechanism Land was a remnant object from beyond, differing by tens of thousands of miles.


    Or were the two somehow from the same era, resulting in this reaction?


    No one could answer him this question.


    His starting position was too low, the levels he could access were not sufficient, and he knew very little about past matters.


    Now, he was utterly clueless.


    Shen Qing lifted his eyes and surveyed the surroundings.


    After the spirit essence had been absorbed, the area became empty, regaining its tranquility.


    In places nurtured by the spirit essence, many green plants now appeared, each one lush and vibrant, exuding a medicinal fragrance.


    Around were many creatures attracted by the spirit essence, forming a circle and looking around.


    There were wolves, insects, tigers, leopards, pheasants, wild rabbits, muntjacs, mice, deer, pigs, and more.


    With the Spirit Mechanism gone, they now seemed utterly bewildered.


    Shen Qing stepped forward cautiously, concerned that some creatures in the mountains might develop spiritual wisdom and become demons, posing a threat to them.


    But before he could take any action, these mountain creatures, especially the herbivores, reacted as if they had seen a ghost, making a few calls and scattering all at once.


    The carnivores, however, looked bewildered, then became extremely excited when they spotted the game around and rushed forth howling to hunt.


    The mountain suddenly turned into a great hunting ground.


    Shen Qing released his divine sense to scan carefully. Seeing that these creatures showed no sign of spiritual wisdom, he finally felt reassured.


    "Was that the three-legged furnace you discovered in the cave that day?" Huang Furo approached and asked curiously.


    She had examined the furnace carefully that day; it appeared ordinary.


    Little did she expect she had underestimated it.


    Shen Qing did not deny it, nodded, and said, "Yes."


    He touched his forehead, worriedly remarking, "This thing seems to have quite the history."


    Huang Furo said, "That furnace resembles a magic treasure from the Ancient Times."


    "Magic treasure?"


    Huang Furo continued, "My family elders once mentioned that in the Ancient Times, True Immortals would occasionally prove their Dao and emerge; the Immortal Martial path was prosperous, far beyond what it is today. During that era, the Human Clan did not have martial masters, but there were cultivators who used many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to forge various magic treasures to enhance their power and resist the Heavenly Dao."


    "Some could wield a treasure sword, commanding Nine Heavens Cloud and Thunder; others could use an axe to split mountains and seas..."


    "At the pinnacle of cultivation, rumors tell of humans who could annihilate worlds with a beam of light or cut through stars with a blade of grass. It was an era where heroes gathered, a time of great prosperity for the Human Clan."


    "The three-legged furnace in your possession seems reminiscent of relics from that era."


    The Huangfu family, which came close to becoming the family head of Zhou Country, still retained substantial heritage and considerable knowledge despite its decline.


    Huang Furo did not withhold from Shen Qing, explaining patiently, benefiting him greatly.


    Shen Qing curiously asked, "In the Ancient Times, the Human Clan was so flourishing; can''t people nowadays reach the same level? Such magic treasures I''ve never heard of."


    Huang Furo shook her head and said, "They cannot."


    "Near the end of the Ancient Times and the onset of the near-ancient period, a gap appeared. It seemed that during a certain time, all prominent known heritages and outstanding talents vanished completely."


    "Even the magic treasure in your hand is rarely unearthed, and it is scarcely found outside the Imperial family."


    "During that period, no one knew what exactly happened. In any case, afterward, Martial Arts began to emerge, evolving to its current state, still far from the level of the Ancient Times."


    After listening to Huang Furo''s words, Shen Qing fell into contemplation, no longer speaking.


    From her words, he sensed that there were many secrets in this world.


    Huang Furo, eyes wide, revealing two shining little tiger teeth, smiled and said, "The matters of the Ancient Times are too distant from us; you shouldn''t worry too much. Now that you have this magic treasure, it''s beneficial and harmless to you; you should be glad."


    Shen Qing looked at Huang Furo, also smiling, and said, "You''re right, thinking too much is pointless. We should focus on living well in the present."


    As he spoke, he glanced at the sky, seeing the sun setting in the west.


    The red and white sun turned to orange-red, dyeing the mountain golden.


    Shen Qing said, "It''s getting late; matters here are finished. We should return to Yongzhou City to discuss other things."


    "Now, with demons causing havoc in Yongzhou City, it must be a chaos." Shen Qing picked up the Heavy Bow slinging it on his back, looked at Huang Furo with a smile on his lips, and said, "As the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department, I can''t sit idly by; I need to return to slay demons and eliminate evil."

 Chapter 305 - 129: Return to Yongzhou City, Purge the Universe

    "Yongzhou City is now under siege by various families, including the Zhou Family, colluding with demons, leaving the government office in tatters. With the leadership gone, I would estimate the situation is a chaotic mess. What do you plan to do?" Huang Furo asked, her red lips slightly parted. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing answered decisively without much thought, "Kill them!"


    "Kill them?" Huang Furo was slightly taken aback by Shen Qing''s response.


    Shen Qing adjusted the dagger at his waist, speaking with unwavering righteousness, "Demons wreak havoc. These beings should never be spared, and they deserve to be killed! Those high-ranking families are merely merchants who have been operating in Yongzhou for years. With some influence, they''ve colluded with demons, killed the Prefectural Governor and other officials, and seek to overthrow the dynasty, they too deserve to be killed!"


    "But touching one aspect could affect everything. If you kill them, you might provoke some huge, powerful entities behind them. I know these high-ranking families have been channeling interests back to the Capital City," Huang Furo sincerely advised. "Why not strike a balance, kill some, and spare others, to set an example? This way, the situation might remain under control."


    "Why spare them? To me, they are nothing more than scoundrels requiring death to appease the public''s anger, death to comfort the people''s hearts," Shen Qing declared with righteous fervor. "As a government officer of the Guardian Martial Department tasked with slaying demons, there''s absolutely no reason for me to let them go. As for future consequences, we''ll deal with them when they come."


    A celestial unicorn once had a species, how can ants in holes escape!


    At this moment, Shen Qing clearly understood his own strength. Yongzhou''s pests were nothing to fear.


    If there was someone behind them, let them come boldly then.


    Seeing that Shen Qing had made up his mind, Huang Furo didn''t persuade him further.


    "Let''s go!"


    "Alright."


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo stood side by side.


    Huang Furo, with her light and agile figure, used the Da Xu Technique, constantly flickering and moving through the forest.


    Through cultivation in the Spirit Mechanism Land, although she hadn''t broken through to the Innate Realm, her cultivation had undoubtedly advanced compared to before.


    Her speed was much faster than before.


    Still, to Shen Qing, this speed was somewhat slow compared to the Rainbow Light he rode on the wind, incomparable.


    He urged his Spiritual Power, as an array of crimson-golden radiance ascended from his feet.


    With a focused mind, Shen Qing transformed into Rainbow Light, moving with the wind, flying beneath the sky.


    In moments, he caught up with Huang Furo.


    Shen Qing stood silently, slowly approaching Huang Furo, extending his hand, "Lord Huangfu, may I offer you a ride?"


    Huang Furo glanced up and down at him, hesitated for a moment, then took hold of Shen Qing''s wrist, agreeing, "Alright."


    With a strong pull from his right arm, Shen Qing brought her beside him, his Spiritual Power surging within, releasing strands of radiance wrapping around Huang Furo''s slender and flexible waist.


    A hint of oddness flickered across Huang Furo''s face, only to vanish in an instant.


    With a low hum from Shen Qing, the Rainbow Light suddenly burst forth, enveloping them both, slicing swiftly through the sky towards Yongzhou City.


    The wind howled.


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo raced along, reaching the city walls of Yongzhou City in mere moments.


    With a shift of his mind, Shen Qing dispersed the Rainbow Light, landing with Huang Furo atop the city walls.


    Looking out, the scene that greeted them made their hearts sink heavily.


    Within Yongzhou City, cries of despair rose and fell.


    Various demons now roamed the streets and alleys openly, their fierce roars turning the city into their playground, uninhibited, wantonly indulgent.


    With the Prefectural Governor already dead and leaderless, the news of the Commander being slain by demons returned, causing further panic in the Yongzhou Government Office.


    The government office, long since penetrated akin to a sieve by the Thirteen Lines, now only cared for its own domain, showing no attempt to cease this calamity.


    "It seems it''s time to execute some justice."


    This time, Huang Furo didn''t verbally stop him, standing quietly to the side.


    After breaking through the Innate Realm, Shen Qing''s Divine Sense strengthened.


    Closing his eyes, he concentrated, instantly releasing his vast and boundless Divine Sense, covering the entire range of the western city as if an invisible giant net.


    In the city, the silhouettes of those demons steadily appeared in Shen Qing''s mind.


    When he opened his eyes again, a sharp brilliance flickered within them.


    He took a deep breath, an empowering force swelling within his chest, shouted like rolling thunder, "Shen Qing is here, all demons shall perish!"


    The voice, rolling like clouds, cleaving gold and splitting stones, carried an indisputable majesty and power, spreading throughout every corner of Yongzhou City within breaths, shaking the entire city.


    Citizens looked up towards the towering figure on the city wall.


    Under their gaze, Shen Qing spread his form like a great roc spreading its wings, taking the Heavy Bow from his back.


    Dark light flowed across the bow''s body.


    With a thought, an arrow levitated, landing on the bowstring, pulled to the limit by him.


    "Shoo!"


    With a clear whistle, the arrow transformed into a streak of dark light, flying off the string with supreme majesty.


    Shen Qing''s hands didn''t stop, his arm moving like an illusion, setting another arrow, repeating, continuously shooting arrows.


    The arrows shot like a barrage of artillery, each arrow containing Shen Qing''s profound cultivation and endless killing intent.


    Arrows cut through the sky, carrying sharp whistling sounds, raining down like celestial beauties scattering flowers.


    Under the locking of Shen Qing''s Divine Sense, every arrow hit the mark accurately, striking each demon precisely.


    Those demons, under the baptism of the arrow rain, howled in succession, their solid flesh and blood reduced to pools of blood pulp under the heavy pressure of the arrows, dying without a burial place.


    After exhausting his arrows, Shen Qing didn''t stop.


    He stood atop the city tower, stepping out into the air.


    He stepped, spanning the entire city.


    Shen Qing''s feet hung mid-air, his Divine Sense spreading.


    With a single hand gesture, an arrow stained with demon blood flew up from the city, captured in his hand.


    Without any hesitation, he strung the arrow back on the bowstring, continuing to shoot.


    Shen Qing moved forward, continually recalling scattered arrows from the void, shooting anew, each shot aiming to decisively slay a demon.


    "Ah, he''s a fiend, even more demonic than us, flee!"


    Some demons, intimidated by Shen Qing''s aura, lost their courage, howling to escape.


    But to no avail.


    Under the Heavenly Bow Technique''s enhancement, Shen Qing''s arrows traveled swiftly, making escape impossible.


    With a muffled sound.


    The demon was instantly shattered by an arrow, turning into a shower of blood, cascading down.


    In Yongzhou City, blood flowers bloomed, perilous and brilliant.


    Unsure how long it went on, Shen Qing shot and killed all along the way.


    "Shoo!"


    Another arrow pierced through space, penetrating a demon''s heart.


    Shen Qing stepped forward, slowly landing atop the western city wall, stepping onto the solid bluestone ground.


    Looking back, he saw that from west to east, every demon in his path had been slaughtered.


    For the moment, the city was silent.


    Shen Qing gazed afar, eyeing several mansions within the city, murmured softly, "Next, it''s your turn!"

 Chapter 306 - 130: What are We Afraid of? Straighten Up Your Backs!

    It was clearly a sunny day, but inside Yongzhou City, a sense of oppression permeated the air, filled with tension.


    In a large mansion of the Zhou Family, the scions of high-ranking families, including those of the Zhou, Dong, and Sun families, gathered together, whispering.


    "Look quickly, isn''t that Shen Qing? He''s actually alive and returned!"


    Sun Qingshu, the second young master of the Sun Family, pointed at the familiar figure on the distant city wall, his voice suddenly rising with an incredulous tremor.


    At these words, everyone couldn''t help but focus all their attention on the city tower in the west.


    There, a tall figure stood against the wind, with a beauty by his side.


    "I heard that the Family Heads personally stepped in, how could it be possible?" Dong Wan''er, the lady of the Dong Family, lightly covered her vermilion lips, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.


    Suddenly, the surrounding area erupted with noise, the voices of discussion rising and falling like waves rolling in.


    "Hmph, even if he returned alive, what of it? It was mere luck. When the ancestors return, there won''t be any place for him to survive."


    A young man dressed in luxurious brocade snorted coldly; he was Li Muyun of the Li Family, known for his arrogance and disdain for Shen Qing.


    "Shen Qing''s life is really hard to end." He looked at the person beside Shen Qing and continued, "If I am not mistaken, isn''t the one standing next to Shen Qing Huang Furo? Associating with someone so lowly as Shen Qing is truly shameless. She has utterly disgraced her Huangfu family."


    In Li Muyun''s view, they were born with noble clothing and fine food, able to summon the wind and the rain at will.


    Along with never lacking cultivation resources from a young age and having some talent in martial arts cultivation, they looked down greatly upon someone of Shen Qing''s background.


    Just as they were deep in their discussions, they saw Shen Qing move.


    Under their watchful eyes, Shen Qing took a step forward, footsteps on emptiness, supported by Rainbow Light, suspended in mid-air.


    "Innate... Innate Realm!"


    In the mansion, numerous young lords and ladies were completely stunned upon witnessing this scene.


    Sun Qingshu, the second young master of the Sun Family, became especially dazed.


    Among the peers in Yongzhou, he was most hopeful of breaking through to the Innate Realm, often being labeled as a genius.


    Currently, his cultivation was at the Yu Luo Realm, and soon he would break through to the Dan Realm, with hopes of reaching the Innate Realm within ten years.


    However, at this very moment, someone younger than him had broken through to the Innate Realm and appeared before them, making the so-called title of genius seem like a joke.


    What pained him further was the memory from long ago when the now-deceased Dong Jing had invited Shen Qing to a banquet at Shen Ji.


    At that time, he sat at the chief seat, and in their eyes, Shen Qing didn''t even have the qualification to sit at the last seat.


    Now, in the blink of an eye, this person who didn''t even have the qualification to sit at the last seat had become an Innate Realm martial master, akin to their family''s ancestor, greatly wounding his pride.


    "How could this be? It''s fake, it must be fake."


    Sun Qingshu was greatly shaken, unwilling to believe the reality, continually denying it, deceiving himself.


    "So what if he returned alive? After all, he is merely a rustic civilian, hard to shake the foundations of our families."


    Li Muyun of the Li Family still maintained his arrogant stance, yet there was an unavoidable hint of trepidation regarding Shen Qing''s strength in his words.


    "Whizz, whizz, whizz!"


    In Yongzhou City, the sound of arrows tearing through the air continued non-stop. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They watched as Shen Qing, like a god of war, continuously released arrows.


    The city echoed with the anguished cries of demons, countless falling dead in response.


    Standing at the corner among the group, Zhou Jishan couldn''t help but draw a sharp breath, stunned speechless like the others.


    He knew Shen Qing had some abilities, but never expected it had reached such a degree, unable to relate it to the matters in Taiping County in his mind.


    At this moment, some of the young lords and ladies aware of the Family Heads'' schemes had a sudden ominous feeling in their hearts as Shen Qing went on his killing spree, relentlessly slaying demons.


    ''Weren''t these demons supposed to be exterminated by Father and the others? How did it fall to him? Could it be... impossible...''


    A terrifying conjecture appeared in their minds.


    These young lords and ladies suddenly thought of many things.


    ''If it truly is this way, then we have formed a mortal feud with this Shen Qing. Once he is done killing the demons in the city, then we are next!!!''


    ''What should we do now?''


    The young lords and ladies aware of the hidden details exchanged worried glances, all understanding that with Shen Qing''s return, he feared he wouldn''t let them off, placing them in extreme danger.


    Just then, a servant, dressed in a tidy long robe, quickly walked into the courtyard, urgent footsteps breaking everyone''s thoughts, the servant looking nervous: "Young lords and ladies, the noble ladies have arrived!"


    At these words, the previously noisy courtyard instantly fell silent.


    The numerous young lords and ladies swiftly adjusted their attire, standing respectfully to the side.


    Soon, the matriarchs of the Zhou, Wu, Zheng, and Sun families arrived together.


    Many of the Thirteen Noble Families had been operating in Yongzhou for many years with deep roots, enjoying intermarriage, and having intricate relationships.


    Today, in the tumultuous situation in Yongzhou City, the ancestors and Family Heads were handling major affairs, so these matriarchs brought their legitimate sons and daughters together to contribute to the grand event.


    They were not those traditional women who never stepped beyond their doors and were well aware of what their families needed to do.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing perfectly fine appearing in Yongzhou City and going on a killing spree, they immediately realized the precarious position of their high-ranking families.


    If not handled well, the foundations accumulated by their ancestors for generations might be destroyed.


    Lady Sun of the Zhou Family stepped forward with a stern face, casting a glance at the juniors in the courtyard, discerning their thoughts.


    She spoke loudly to a few of the obviously pale young lords and ladies, "Why the panic, allowing yourselves to be frightened by a bunch of rustic hunters, what disgraceful behavior?"


    These chastised young lords and ladies hurriedly bowed their heads, accepting the reprimand, not daring to make a sound.


    They also understood that the matriarchs of their various families were each martial masters, at least at the Qi Cultivation Realm, second only to the Family Head in their families.


    "Do you think that Shen would dare to do anything to us? Know that our families have been operating for so many years, even opening doors in the Capital; if he dares to act against us, we will surely show him the might of our families." Lady Sun of the Zhou Family said sternly: "So, why fear? Hold your heads high!"


    Indeed.


    Their dozen or so high-ranking families had been operating in the Capital for so many years, knowing numerous bigwigs, why fear this small Chief Officer?


    For some reason, following the reassurance by Lady Sun of the Zhou Family, these young lords and ladies felt much more relaxed, as if filled with great confidence.


    When they looked at Shen Qing again, they each became calm and composed.

 Chapter 307 - 131: Commanding with Gestures, Ill Handle What the Court Cant

    ```


    Shen Qing stood atop the eastern city tower, his black robe fluttering gently in the wind. The arrow quiver at his waist was soaked with blood, indistinguishable between demon blood and human blood.


    He had slaughtered demons along the way. Looking around, the entire Yongzhou City was now free of any demon presence.


    Ignoring the bodies strewn on the ground, Yongzhou City had reverted to its former tranquility and peace.


    A gentle breeze swept over, and at the distant alleyway entrance, a group of children burst out joyfully like wild horses unrestrained.


    Their laughter was crisp and melodious, breaking the solemn atmosphere in the city, bringing a bit of life back to the city.


    "Wow, wow, look! Those terrifying demons have really been wiped out by Lord Shen!" A little girl with pigtails, her face flushed with excitement, pointed at the demon-free street in the distance with delight.


    "Yes, yes! We don''t have to worry about being snatched away by demons anymore!" Another young boy cheered along, his voice full of excitement and relief, all the fear dissipating with the disappearance of the demons.


    The surrounding children echoed one another, their laughter intertwining.


    "No more demons! We can play freely now!"


    Some children continuously pushed at their parents leaning against the wall, naively shouting, "The demons are dead, the demons are dead, this is great, this is great. Mother, get up and see, get up and see. Father..."


    These scenes were all taken in by Shen Qing standing atop the city wall, stirring a complicated emotion within his heart.


    If not for those high-ranking clans acting for their own gain, this unnecessary disaster could have been avoided altogether.


    Now that the demons were vanquished, those responsible, the high-ranking clans who colluded with the demons, needed to be dealt with.


    Shen Qing gazed over the whole of Yongzhou City, his sharp eyesight penetrating the bustling streets, landing directly on a certain high-walled deep courtyard.


    A cold, sharp light flashed in his eyes, his breath like a chilling wind passing through.


    Expanding his figure, Shen Qing surrounded himself with brilliant crimson gold light, like a divine being descending, soaring into the sky, and then rushing with unstoppable force towards the Zhou Mansion.


    There, many descendants of the Family Head and Lady Zhou gathered together, saving him the effort of visiting each house.


    Among the Thirteen Lines, aside from the Huangfu family and the already exterminated Qian Family, the other eleven families, mostly with powerful Family Heads and patriarchs, had been sent to the underworld by Shen Qing.


    The remaining ones were insignificant in his eyes.


    Above the Zhou Family Mansion, a resplendent rainbow light split the sky, descending precisely into the courtyard center.


    As the light faded, Shen Qing''s tall and upright figure was revealed.


    Shen Qing cast a sharp gaze over the gathered family members in the courtyard.


    "Everyone, I heard that your family heads secretly colluded with demons, causing chaos in Yongzhou. Were you aware of this?" His voice was deep, like thunder resounding in everyone''s ears.


    As soon as he said this, there was an uproar in the courtyard.


    The family heads'' wives and young masters exchanged glances and then started denying it, each in their own fashion.


    "Lord Shen, my Zhou family has been innocent for generations. How could we associate with demons? What evidence do you have to dare to slander us, noble families like this?" Clad in luxurious attire and adorned with jewelry, Lady Zhou fanned herself with her fan, countering with a deliberate posture.


    Li Muyun agreed, "Exactly, what evidence do you have to slander us? Do you think we are easy to bully?"


    Sun Family''s second son, Sun Qingshu, also said in a deep voice, "Everything must be based on evidence, Lord Shen!"


    Saying the last three words, Sun Qingshu emphasized them heavily, hinting at resentment underneath.


    Shen Qing curled his lip in a cold smile, never sparing Sun Qingshu a direct glance.


    This blatant disregard infuriated him further. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Evidence?! If you''re not guilty, why deny so quickly? To be honest, I''ve long had the answer in my heart. Whether you admit it or not, the outcome is the same. I thought you were merely deceived by the family head, and believed you deserved a chance. Now it seems I was wrong!"


    With this, Shen Qing surged his spiritual power, a supreme authority exclusive to an Innate Martial Master emanating from him, enveloping the entire back courtyard.


    The family members from all sides saw this and their faces immediately changed colors, but they still barely held on.


    They were unwilling, pulling out their families'' prestigious backgrounds, attempting to pressure Shen Qing into retreating.


    "Shen Qing, do you know that our Zhou family is on good terms with the capital''s elite families? If you dare act recklessly, you''re opposing the entire court!"


    "Our Sun family, furthermore, has close ties with the Imperial family martial arts elite, experts abound. Have you thought of the consequences if you act?"


    "Then let them come. Some matters the court can''t handle, I will!"


    Faced with these commanding threats, Shen Qing laughed in anger.


    It was clear that these so-called innocent families were all the same, still so hard-mouthed at death''s door.


    Fine then, killing them bore no mental burden indeed.


    With that, Shen Qing''s spiritual power surged violently, like a raging sea, unstoppable.


    "How dare you!" Sun Family''s second son, Sun Qingshu, seeing Shen Qing about to strike, roared angrily.


    Turning silently, Shen Qing cast a disdainful look, as if viewing an ant, at Sun Qingshu.


    Sun Qingshu''s face flushed, his self-esteem deeply pricked by this gaze. In a moment of heated impulse, he tried to charge forward.


    However, just as he lifted his foot, not yet touching the ground, a dazzling crimson gold light suddenly shot out from between Shen Qing''s fingers, piercing through Sun Qingshu''s Protective Gang Qi and landed on his chest.


    At the moment of impact between the light and flesh, a muffled boom sounded.


    A hint of disbelief flashed in Sun Qingshu''s eyes. He tried to struggle, but the power was too overwhelming, far beyond what he could withstand.


    His heart was pierced by this beam of light, leaving bloody holes one after another.


    Shen Qing stood there, his fingers still maintaining the gesture of pointing together, his eyes deep and calm, as if what just happened was trivial, causing unprecedented pressure on everyone present.


    Retracting his fingers, Shen Qing smiled, "Well, now it''s your turn!"


    "No! Shen Qing, you cannot do this! We are innocent! If you proceed, the capital will not spare you!" Lady Zhou screamed, her voice filled with fear and despair.


    Everything before her was completely different from what she had anticipated.


    Had Shen Qing gone mad?


    Did he not care about his own life at all, or did he truly believe he could withstand the power from above?


    Lady Zhou couldn''t make sense of it at all.


    "Innocent? To be honest, the dog I saw on the roadside was more innocent than you!" Shen Qing''s voice was icy, devoid of any emotion.


    With raging spiritual power surging within, he formed a seal with his hands. A massive Sky Flipping Seal materialized out of thin air, exuding a powerful aura.


    Those once prestigious dignitaries, at this moment, turned pale as paper under the seal''s pressure.


    "Die!"


    Boom!


    The Sky Flipping Seal, with a world-destroying momentum, pressed down upon them.


    "Ah!"


    As the massive seal face made contact with their bodies, a spray of blood bloomed like roses.


    ```

 Chapter 308 - 132: Yongzhous Clear Skies, The Grace of Thousands

    ```


    "I don''t want to die!!"


    Someone didn''t dare to accept their fate, constantly resisting and struggling bitterly, hoping to find a ray of hope, but it proved futile.


    These descendants of Yongzhou''s great families, who weren''t even at the Dan Realm, couldn''t possibly withstand the might of Shen Qing in the Innate Realm.


    Puff, puff, puff...


    Blood flowers bloomed like roses, continuously unfolding.


    The Sky Flipping Seal crashed to the ground with a thunderous roar, causing the earth to sink, splattering blood all around.


    The screams abruptly ceased.


    The vast Zhou Family Mansion returned to its deathly silence.


    Shen Qing''s robes were stained red with the blood, but he remained indifferent, his gaze calm.


    With a wave of his hand, the massive crimson-gold seal before him slowly vanished, revealing the formless corpses scattered everywhere, a thick smell of blood permeating the air.


    "Every time I see so many lives disappear before me, it always saddens me. When will I be able to avoid such situations?" Shen Qing suddenly felt a little melancholic, murmuring to himself.


    "Next time, I should just shoot them dead from afar. Witnessing it firsthand is too distressing."


    Shen Qing let out a long sigh and walked alone out of the Zhou Family Mansion. He pushed open the main gate and stood at the entrance.


    Not far away, Huang Furo descended gracefully from the sky, her knees slightly bent, landing steadily like a cat.


    She walked towards Shen Qing and from afar caught a whiff of the strong stench of blood. Her brows slightly furrowed as she said, "You killed them all."


    "Yes!"


    Huang Furo didn''t blame him but asked calmly, "What are you planning to do next? These people have some connections in the Capital."


    "First, stabilize Yongzhou City," Shen Qing replied without hesitation.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s decisiveness, Huang Furo''s brows knitted slightly, feeling a bit worried for Shen Qing''s future.


    Those in power were not that easy to deal with.


    Shen Qing glanced at Huang Furo, knowing what she was thinking.


    So what if they were difficult to deal with?


    With the Panel at his disposal, he would be ashamed to fear those so-called Capital elites.


    A true man should not act so cautiously.


    Shen Qing suddenly raised his voice and shouted, "Citizens, listen carefully! The demon calamity in Yongzhou City today was due to the collusion between the high-ranking families and the demons! They intended to overthrow Yongzhou''s order and bring chaos to the world! Now, the demons are all dead, and those high-ranking families have been executed!"


    "Yongzhou is safe, the city is at peace!"


    Exerting his Inner Strength in secret, Shen Qing''s voice boomed like thunder, revealing the collusion between Yongzhou''s elites and the demons to the public.


    After a moment of silence, Yongzhou Inner City erupted, like water dripping into boiling oil, with people clamoring loudly.


    "Great, great, we are safe now."


    Residents of the city wept with joy, hugging their loved ones, while others cheered loudly, caught up in revelry; yet some remained calm, a trace of vitality restoring their once desolate eyes...


    "Mighty Lord Shen!"


    "Mighty Lord Shen!"


    "..."


    The rising shouts echoed from within the city, gathering into one and resounding to the heavens, unable to be quelled for a long time.


    Huang Furo, beside him, glanced at Shen Qing in a daze, noticing the sharpness exuding from him, stirring her emotions slightly.


    "Where are the officers of the Guardian Martial Department?"


    On one of Yongzhou City''s streets, Tian Xiaohu was busy picking up demon cores when he heard Shen Qing''s voice. Without hesitation, he stuffed the demon cores into his pocket, wiped the blood from his face, and sprinted towards the Zhou Family''s direction.


    Likewise, Ji Youwu, Wang Shouyuan, Chen Guang, and the other officers also paused their demon core collection upon hearing the voice and hurried towards the source.


    At the entrance of the Zhou Family Mansion.


    Shen Qing gazed at the officers of the Guardian Martial Department, flooding in like waves from all directions, their shadows lengthening under the setting sun, gathering together.


    In just a moment, these officers stood in formation before him, with an imposing presence, thundering a greeting, "Greetings, Lord Chief Officer, Lord Huangfu!"


    Shen Qing swept his gaze over the faces before him, secretly calculating in his heart, realizing their numbers had decreased by a third since the beginning.


    Those who remained in the Inner City had clearly suffered casualties.


    "You''ve all worked hard."


    "It was no trouble, all at your command."


    "Good. This is a time of many affairs, so I''ll cut to the chase." Shen Qing quickly ordered, "The Zhou, Wu, Sun, Xiao, and other high-ranking families colluded with the demons and have been slain by me. However, there might still be some who would stir trouble. You all immediately go to guard the areas near each of the family estates, and if anyone causes disturbances, execute them without mercy."


    "Yes, sir!"


    With Shen Qing setting a good example, the officers of the Guardian Martial Department were filled with morale, becoming fierce and formidable.


    Tian Xiaohu and others stepped forward voluntarily to start assigning posts: "Awu, you and your brothers go to the Sun Family; Chen Guang, you and several other brothers go to the Xiao Family..."


    The named officers swiftly began to act.


    Finally, Tian Xiaohu stayed behind voluntarily, leading others to guard the Zhou Family Mansion.


    Shen Qing turned to Huang Furo and said, "Lord Huangfu, gather some reliable people from your Military Department to maintain order throughout the city as well. The Inner City is without leadership, we''ll get through tonight first."


    "I''ll arrange it, let your men coordinate with ours."


    At this moment, stabilizing and restoring order was paramount. Huang Furo understood the priorities and supported him actively.


    "Thank you, my lord." Shen Qing said, clasping his hands.


    Huang Furo nodded, her figure flashing as she left with strides.


    At the entrance of the Zhou Family, only Shen Qing and Tian Xiaohu remained.


    Shen Qing gestured.


    Tian Xiaohu looked around and stepped forward, saying, "Boss."


    Lowering his voice, Shen Qing said, "Take some reliable people and search the estates, take whatever useful things you find."


    Tian Xiaohu cast a surprised glance at Shen Qing.


    "What are you spacing out for? We can''t just toil for nothing, can we?"


    Suddenly, Tian Xiaohu realized Shen Qing''s intent in placing guards at each estate, his expression becoming peculiar.


    Shen Qing''s rapid change made it difficult for him to keep up initially.


    Moments later, having processed his thoughts, he said, "I understand. Right, there are demon cores among the demon corpses in the city this time, what about those..."


    Shen Qing pondered, "How many are there?"


    "About eleven in total."


    Shen Qing contemplated, "Handle those as you see fit."


    Shen Qing already had two Great Demon cores in his possession, so he wasn''t too interested in those scattered around the city.


    Firstly, their quality wasn''t high, and collecting them one by one was time-consuming and laborious; secondly, if one is too meticulous, resentment will arise, and it''s better to be generous for gaining people''s hearts.


    It''s more beneficial to search for demon cores with that effort.


    "Get moving early," Shen Qing reminded, "And remember, don''t touch the Huangfu family''s property."


    Tian Xiaohu nodded and hurried away.


    "Ha ha ha, indeed talents emerge with each generation! Our Yongzhou Government Office is indeed a haven of hidden talents. To have such youthful talents is a blessing for the people of Yongzhou, a fortune for our county!"


    Just after Tian Xiaohu left, a middle-aged man''s voice was heard.


    Shen Qing squinted, seeing two middle-aged men, donned in county government office uniforms, approaching together.


    They wore the government office''s dark blue uniforms, shimmering under the setting sun, with steady steps.


    ``` sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 309 - 133 Testing Shen Qings Attitude, Spreading to the Capital City

    ```


    These two men are Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, the only remaining two Innate Martial Masters of the Yongzhou County Office, with high positions and power, second only to the Prefectural Governor.


    Now, both are over a hundred years old, and their cultivation has been stuck in the Innate Realm for seventy to eighty years, their ambition worn away, and they have little drive to advance in the Martial Arts.


    After being assigned to Yongzhou, they have always been in a laid-back state, getting by, without much presence.


    When such a big incident happened in Yongzhou City, both of them stood by and watched.


    Shen Qing had a rather ordinary impression of the two.


    As Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou approached, he was somewhat puzzled, not understanding their purpose for coming.


    After Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi finished speaking, County Supervisor Yan Xushou immediately followed, echoing Dou Wenxi: "What Lord Dou said is absolutely right. Chief Officer Shen, with your thunderous methods, just and selfless, eradicating harm for the people¡ªcalling you the righteous lord of Yongzhou is more than fitting."


    County Supervisor Yan Xushou''s words were filled with flattery.


    From their many words and actions, no malice was detected.


    Shen Qing couldn''t quite grasp their intentions, so he observed quietly and calmly: "Both lords give me too much credit. I am merely fulfilling my duty."


    "Ayy, Chief Officer Shen is still too modest." County Supervisor Yan Xushou''s face shook with feigned indignation.


    Shen Qing did not beat around the bush with them and directly asked: "I wonder what instructions you have for coming here today?"


    "It''s not really any instructions," Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi stroked his goatee, lowered his stance slightly, and said: "With such a major incident happening in Yongzhou, we have already reported it to the court. It won''t be unexpected if, in a few days, the court sends envoys to stabilize the situation. During the interim, it requires us to work as one, hence our visit to brief you."


    County Supervisor Yan Xushou also smiled and said: "Now the county office is in shambles; I wonder what Mr. Shen plans to do?"


    Through several exchanges, Shen Qing gradually understood their intentions.


    At present, Yongzhou is in turmoil, a time of trouble, and they are worried. They came to probe his attitude and seek self-preservation.


    Indeed, just as he suspected, both Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou were genuinely startled by Shen Qing''s decisive actions.


    With such cultivation, they might not even be his match.


    They worried that if Shen Qing acted impulsively for so-called justice, he might disrupt their peaceful life and endanger their lives.


    Therefore, they came specifically to negotiate with Shen Qing, to understand his real intentions.


    If it was merely a matter of just addressing the issue, then returning to normal would naturally be best, leaving everyone happy.


    If he wanted to cause trouble and extend the hand of the Suzheng Government over them, they couldn''t just sit idly by. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing gazed at the two, observing their warm smiles, like a pleasant spring breeze, treating him with an excellent attitude.


    This made him secretly wary and cautious inside.


    He contemplated silently; although they might not necessarily be his match, if they were willing to risk everything, they might make him pay a price.


    Moreover, they were still officials dispatched by the court, and he didn''t have any particularly good reasons to act against them.


    As long as they didn''t create chaos for him, it''s better to have fewer troubles than unnecessary enemies.


    With this in mind, Shen Qing understood and said naturally: "Since both of you have already reported to the court, then naturally this matter will be decided by the court. During this time, we shall unite with both of you, work through difficult times together, and maintain order in the city."


    Hearing this, Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou exchanged a glance and smiled, and their doubts vanished.


    They were quite pleased with such an outcome.


    It was evident that this Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department was not so unreasonable and domineering.


    "Hahaha, it turns out Mr. Shen understands the greater righteousness." Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi said gleefully: "After some time working together, Lord Shen will know our nature, and there won''t be any difficulties with you."


    County Supervisor Yan Xushou glanced around and then said: "Now that the city''s chaos is nearly settled, we still have many matters to attend to, and after a few busy days, we''ll drink to our hearts'' content with Mr. Shen. We shall take our leave first."


    "Take care, my lords."


    Watching the portly backs of Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, who lacked the aura of martial masters, he mused.


    "This world indeed speaks with force; with high martial power, one speaks louder. Two officials of the county office seemingly imply following my lead, truly... interesting."


    Shen Qing felt a bit more contemptuous toward Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou.


    ...


    In the vibrant heart of the Capital City, where one of the eight great families of the Great Zhou, the Xue Family, resided, the grand and majestic Xue Mansion stood quietly.


    At the gate of the Xue Mansion, a young man dressed in brocade with an imposing demeanor approached the vermilion gate with brisk steps.


    Bowing slightly before the gatekeeper, he said: "Zhou Su of the Zhou Family in Yongzhou, here to see Lord Xue, please announce me."


    Zhou Su''s voice was clear and sincere, with a heroic spirit showing between his brows.


    Hearing this, the gatekeeper dared not neglect, quickly bowing and hurried into the mansion.


    Soon, the gatekeeper returned and said: "Lord Zhou, please follow me."


    "Thank you."


    Zhou Su lightly waved his sleeve and followed behind the gatekeeper, passing through winding corridors, entering a tea room decorated with elegance and filled with the fragrance of books.


    After guiding him there, the gatekeeper quietly withdrew, leaving Zhou Su alone.


    He wasn''t in a hurry, waiting patiently in the tea room.


    After a moment, a nimble young man appeared at the door, his face lighting up upon seeing Zhou Su: "Brother Zhou, what brings you here today?"


    Zhou Su looked up, seeing a handsome young man.


    This person was none other than the first young master of the Xue Family, Xue Bai.


    The eldest young master of the Xue Family walked step by step to the highest seat, his figure elongated by the sunlight at the door. He grasped Zhou Su''s hand and said: "Sit down, sit down!"


    Zhou Su quickly lowered his head, and the two, Zhou Su and Xue Bai, took their respective seats.


    Inside, the aroma of tea filled the room.


    Zhou Su stood up and took the initiative to speak: "I came this time to inform the young master of an important matter, which might be an opportunity for him."


    Xue Bai, curious, asked: "Oh, what is it?"


    Zhou Su smiled and said: "Previously, Bai Mu, Prefectural Governor Bai, sent a report. Lord Xue must already know about the massive appearance of demons in Yongzhou, causing great suffering to the people. But in fact, there is one thing that Prefectural Governor Bai did not explicitly mention¡ªwhat is happening in Yongzhou far exceeds this."


    With a solemn expression, Zhou Su lowered his voice, saying: "There is Spirit Essence descending in Yongzhou, on a scale not less than Jinzhou, and there are even rumors of an Outer Domain Treasure appearing!"


    "Ah?"


    ```

 Chapter 310 - 134: Wind Rises in Capital City, with Urgent and Intensive Preparations

    "Is this really true?"


    "Absolutely!" Zhou Su said solemnly, "This is the latest news I got from home, and it''s correct."


    Lord Xue, Xue Bai, was excited.


    An absolute opportunity.


    Now, His Majesty was not only integrating the Martial Mechanism across the realm but also methodically collecting the Spirit Essence from beyond the domains.


    If this could be done well, it would be a great achievement for the Xue Family and would greatly aid Father''s Martial Arts advancement.


    Thinking of this, Xue Bai grew more excited. He made up his mind and grabbed Zhou Su''s wrist, saying, "Come, let''s go see my father and tell him about this so that he can decide."


    Zhou Su hurriedly said, "That''s not possible."


    Xue Bai was surprised.


    Zhou Su quickly thought and explained, "It would be impolite for me to see General Xue rashly. Besides, if Lord Xue learns about the matters between you and me, it may not be a good thing."


    Xue Bai hesitated slightly and said, "You make sense, but..."


    "You should tell the General directly, my lord," Zhou Su insisted. "I guarantee with my life that it''s absolutely true. If the General wants to advance in Martial Arts and win His Majesty''s favor, this matter cannot wait."


    "More importantly, if this information comes from you, my young lord, it will certainly earn you newfound respect from the General and solidify your position within the Young Master Mansion."


    Hearing this, Xue Bai was invigorated, finding Zhou Su''s words very reasonable.


    "Alright, then there''s no time to delay; I''ll go tell my father right now."


    Xue Bai hurried out.


    Watching Xue Bai''s retreating figure, Zhou Su''s expression turned solemn, his hands involuntarily clenching into fists, his thumbnails digging deeply into his flesh, even drawing blood from the force.


    Early today, he had received shocking and terrible news.


    The Yongzhou''s Zhou Family was obliterated because of the Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department!


    The Ancestors and the Family Head were all dead, and all the sons and daughters of the family were slain.


    The moment he heard this news, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice pit, his entire body chilled, nearly fainting.


    With the Zhou Family gone, and without support from his family, his life in the overpriced Capital City would undoubtedly become extremely difficult, perhaps even unsustainable.


    He knew he couldn''t just sit and wait for death; he had to act.


    Over the years, he had consistently delivered substantial sums of money to Xue Bai, solidifying his position as the Princely Heir within the Xue Mansion, thereby opening opportunities for himself.


    Now, without the support of his family and lacking real scholarship, this relationship would surely become untenable over time, and his influence in the Capital City would diminish. Thus, he must capitalize on these relations before they wore thin to accrue merits for himself and tighten their bonds.


    Even better would be to kill two birds with one stone, eliminating those responsible for the disaster at Zhou Family, potentially turning the crisis around.


    He might even have a chance to gather the remaining assets of the Zhou Family, revive and firmly attach himself to the Xue Family.


    In the Xue Mansion study.


    The vermilion-painted door creaked as it turned, its sound especially clear in the silent study.


    Xue Bai rushed into the study in haste, shouting anxiously as he entered, "Father! Something''s happened in Yongzhou! They say there are many demons."


    Before him sat a man over fifty but still vibrantly vigorous, a middle-aged man. He was sitting at the desk, fiddling with an ancient Jade Pendant, bearing a strong resemblance to Xue Bai.


    This man was none other than the Great General of Zhou Country, Xue Zhao.


    "What''s the rush?" Xue Zhao''s expression was composed; he looked up at Xue Bai and calmly said, "Demon affairs have always been occurring. A few days ago, the Yongzhou Governor also reported to the court, and His Majesty is already discussing countermeasures with the Qintian Bureau and Bailu Academy. The results should be out in a couple of days, and it won''t affect our proceedings."


    Xue Bai stepped forward a few paces, his determination unquestionable, and confidently declared, "But this time it''s different, Father! Over in Yongzhou, not only are there demons, but also a celestial Spirit Essence has appeared, triggering a Spirit Mechanism. It is said that the scene is spectacular, with the entire Yongzhou enveloped in an extraordinary Rainbow Light. This is a rare opportunity for your cultivation!"


    Hearing this, Xue Zhao''s Jade Pendant involuntarily slipped from his hand, and he stood up abruptly, a flash of shock in his eyes. He asked in a deep voice, "Where did you hear this news?"


    Just as Xue Bai was about to spill everything, he recalled Zhou Su''s words just now and paused before changing his response, "I am not just idling outside, Father. I have my own sources. In any case, this matter is absolutely true, I have checked it multiple times."


    Xue Zhao paced back and forth in his study, deep in thought.


    He held a high position and was privy to many secrets. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For some unknown reason, in recent years, Spirit Essences would occasionally fall from beyond this realm, triggering Spirit Mechanisms.


    These Spirit Mechanisms were immensely beneficial to cultivators, with some even breaking through bottlenecks because of them.


    Even he had fortuitously encountered one a few years ago. A Spirit Mechanism within a radius of three meters had transformed him entirely, advancing his cultivation significantly.


    No one understood the benefits of a Spirit Mechanism better than him.


    Now, having been stuck in the Primordial Spirit Realm for some years, and with the current Martial Mechanism of the court, it was impossible to break through to the Kongyou Realm, let alone achieve the Unity Realm cultivation of Your Majesty.


    As Spirit Mechanisms appeared more frequently, and demons proliferated, the Huang Tian Heresy also began to take shape. Signs of great chaos loomed, and the future was unpredictable.


    Like rowing upstream, if one didn''t advance, one would fall back. This opportunity could not be missed.


    "If this is true, it is indeed no trivial matter," Xue Zhao said gravely. "I must get involved."


    Seeing this, excitement sparkled in Xue Bai''s eyes, feeling he finally had a place to apply his martial skills and gaining his father''s acknowledgment.


    "Father, when do you plan to visit Yongzhou?"


    Xue Zhao replied, "Now that Jinzhou has fallen and the Huang Tian Sect has begun attacking Danzhou, I need to lead the troops there soon to quash the rebels. His Majesty will not allow me to leave the Capital City at this critical time."


    "But this opportunity for my father..." Xue Bai anxiously said.


    Xue Zhao smiled slightly and said, "Don''t worry. If I cannot go, I''ll let your third brother take the Spiritual Mechanism Jade and join the envoy. For now, I will go to the palace to discuss strategies with His Majesty and secure your third brother''s place in the delegation."


    Xue Bai''s expression soured, unprepared that his efforts might end up benefiting someone else.


    If his third brother gained from the Spirit Essence and his cultivation improved, he wouldn''t be able to catch up even at a gallop, and it was uncertain whether he would have any share in the great family business in the future.


    "Father, let me go please? I promise I won''t hoard anything for myself and will bring back the Spirit Essence intact for you."


    "Hmph!" Xue Zhao cast a stern glance at his eldest son and coldly chided, "Tuck away those crooked thoughts, focus on your training. What''s the rush? If I end up at a disadvantage in the battle, His Majesty will likely convene the Jingluan Assembly earlier next year. By then, I will find a way to send several Innate Martial Masters with you. There will be plenty of opportunities."


    Jingluan Assembly?!


    At those words, Xue Bai''s heart blossomed with joy.


    The Jingluan Assembly was a frightening prospect for many, but not for the sons of noble families like them.


    They were passionate about participating in the Jingluan Assembly.


    To them, entering the Jingluan Assembly was akin to a precursor to entering the temple hall, and most who participated in the Jingluan Assembly would likely survive and enter the temple hall.


    Now that his father promised to escort him into the Jingluan Assembly, how could he not be elated?


    "Thank you, Father."


    Xue Zhao said nothing further, rising to change his clothes in preparation to enter the palace.


    "Have someone prepare the sedan."


    "Yes, Father."


    Xue Bai hastily went to make arrangements, sending Xue Zhao off in the sedan and watching him enter the palace. His heart couldn''t help but fill with anticipation for the future, and he decided he really must thank Zhou Su.

 Chapter 311 - 135 Meeting Your Majesty and Dispatching an Imperial Envoy

    ```


    Qintian Bureau.


    Faint sounds of various instruments in operation could be heard.


    An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a plain long robe, sat upright on the edge of a rooftop.


    His hands were interlaced, fingers moving slightly, as if calculating the unresolved mysteries of the world, his brows occasionally furrowing.


    Suddenly, as if he had calculated something significant, disbelief crossed his brow.


    At that moment, the hurried footsteps interrupted his contemplation.


    The Chief Officer of the Qintian Bureau spoke in a slightly panicked voice, "Director, Your Majesty is coming here; you should come down quickly to meet him."


    Upon hearing this, a peculiar glint appeared in the old man''s eyes.


    "Alright, I understand."


    As soon as he finished speaking, he moved gracefully, showing no signs of age, but instead the agility of a young man.


    With a single step, he disappeared from the rooftop, leaving only a faint stardust afterglow in the air.


    At this moment, the Emperor of Great Zhou, dressed in a Dragon Robe, walked steadily into the courtyard of the Qintian Bureau.


    His expression was stern, and the imperious aura of an emperor was undeniable in his gaze as it scanned the surroundings sharply.


    Suddenly, as if sensing something, his eyes focused on an empty space in front of him.


    Under his scrutiny, starlight gathered little by little, revealing an elderly man with a white beard and hair.


    Upon seeing him, the latter hurriedly bowed and said respectfully, "Your humble servant Feng Daxun greets Your Majesty."


    Ji Zikong had no intention of idle chit-chat with the Qintian Bureau Director; he spoke with authoritative gravity, "Director, I observed the celestial phenomena by night and felt something amiss thousands of miles away. I came specifically to seek your advice."


    Director Feng Daxun slightly bowed and in a voice that was both aged and full of vigor, said, "Your Majesty is wise. A few days ago, I also sensed it. This is a sign of nature''s Spiritual Energy conglomeration, suggesting that foreign Spirit Essence has descended upon our Great Zhou territory, and its scale is not small." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon hearing this, Ji Zikong''s eyes flashed with urgency: "If that is the case, I shall go personally to seize this Spirit Essence and add supreme fortune to our Great Zhou!"


    Director Feng Daxun shook his head, a trace of helplessness and regret appearing on his face: "Your Majesty is unaware that nature''s Spirit Essence is always ethereal and elusive, beyond human force. Although I can glimpse heavenly secrets, I am not omnipotent. This Spirit Mechanism, I calculated carefully¡ªit vanished the very day it descended. It is too late now, which is why I did not report it to Your Majesty."


    Upon hearing this, Ji Zikong was momentarily stunned: "I see, let it be. Director, I require your attentive observation in the future. Should anomalies reappear, you must report them to me immediately."


    "I understand."


    "By the way, there''s another matter I wonder if the Director has considered?"


    Director Feng Daxun solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, demons are vastly different from our Human Clan. Although they can sense changes in foreign Spirit Essence early, colluding with demons is like seeking a tiger''s skin¡ªultimately, not a solution."


    "Let''s first get through the current situation. All the frequent Spirit Mechanisms present a rare opportunity for our Ji Clan; we must find a way to harness these Spirit Mechanisms for our own use."


    Director Feng Daxun pondered for a moment and then bowed in agreement: "I shall obey."


    "Alright, I will not disturb the Director any further. Remember to report to me anytime something arises."


    Director Feng Daxun stood solemnly as the current Emperor of Great Zhou flicked his long sleeves and left with his hands clasped behind his back.


    After leaving the Qintian Bureau, the Emperor of Great Zhou, Ji Zikong, appeared a bit displeased at not having captured this Spirit Mechanism, but he knew there was no helping it and that it was not the Qintian Bureau''s fault.


    Now, hidden threats abound in Great Zhou, and he increasingly felt that the doomsday warnings from the ancestors were not unfounded.


    Perhaps a great change was indeed imminent for the Human Clan.


    The increasing presence of demons seemed like undeniable proof.


    With these thoughts, as the ruler of the world, his expression grew grim.


    "Your Majesty, the Great General requests an audience; he says he has urgent matters to report." As Ji Zikong was lost in thought, the Chief Eunuch reported urgently, interrupting his pondering.


    Feeling inevitably irked, he asked, "What urgent matters?"


    "Your Majesty, the Great General did not specify, and I do not know."


    The Emperor of Great Zhou, Ji Zikong, demanded with an unangered authority, "Bring him in."


    "At once, Your Majesty."


    Soon, the armored Great General Xue Zhao was led before Ji Zikong by the Chief Eunuch.


    "Your humble servant Xue Zhao pays respects to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor."


    Ji Zikong''s face was as calm as water: "Rise, my dear subject. What urgent matters bring you here?"


    His tone was neither warm nor cold, but carried an undeniable authority.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Zhao straightened up, his eyes bright as he looked at Ji Zikong, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, it concerns the Spirit Mechanism in Yongzhou."


    "Oh?" Ji Zikong''s expression changed at the mention of Spirit Mechanism.


    Xue Zhao continued, "Recently, I received confidential information that in addition to rampant demons, there''s been unusual activity in the Spirit Mechanism in Yongzhou, potentially involving the security of the nation, which must be urgently reported to Your Majesty."


    Upon mentioning this, Ji Zikong recalled the report from Bai Mu, the governor of Yongzhou, about the demon infestation.


    He had discussed this with the Qintian Bureau and planned to send personnel there but had not expected the matter to include a Spirit Mechanism.


    Suddenly, as if realizing something, Ji Zikong looked back at the Qintian Bureau.


    ''The Director surely knows about this; he deliberately didn''t mention the Spirit Mechanism of Yongzhou. He is deceiving me!''


    Ji Zikong''s brows furrowed, and his gaze sharpened instantly.


    "What is he trying to do?"


    The Director was someone his ancestors appointed personally and had served three reigns; he wouldn''t harm the Ji family''s state affairs, which made it difficult to comprehend.


    After a swift mental calculation, Ji Zikong said to Xue Zhao, "Explain clearly what is happening."


    Xue Zhao took a deep breath and relayed the information obtained from Xue Bai meticulously and sincerely.


    "Your Majesty, we should dispatch an envoy promptly: firstly, to support the governor suppressing demons; secondly, to investigate the Spirit Mechanism matter¡ªneither should be overlooked."


    After Xue Zhao''s report, Ji Zikong remained silent for a moment, the space between them quiet enough for the occasional birdsong to be heard.


    He stared into the distance, deep in thought, seemingly weighing a significant decision.


    "What you say is right; the matter in Yongzhou cannot be underestimated. I shall immediately order an envoy to investigate this matter thoroughly." Ji Zikong quickly made a decision: "As for the selection, let Shi Wenbo go."


    Xue Zhao''s eyes lit up, as Shi Wenbo was one of his family''s men.


    "However, Your Majesty, sending only one person might not be enough."


    Ji Zikong''s gaze swept over Xue Zhao, as though seeing through his intentions.


    Seeing this, Xue Zhao was pleased but remained composed, waiting for Ji Zikong''s follow-up.


    "I recall your son, Minister Xue, being exceptionally intelligent and valiant. Let him accompany the envoy this time to gain experience and assist as needed."


    Hearing this, Xue Zhao smiled and quickly knelt to express gratitude: "Your Majesty is wise. I thank Your Majesty on behalf of my son. He will not fail Your Majesty''s trust and will assist the envoy."


    "Additionally, let Cui Jin and Ji He go as well."


    Xue Zhao''s expression faltered.


    One was their family''s arch-enemy, and the other was a loyalist of the royal family.


    "Yes, Your Majesty." Xue Zhao''s expression composed as he replied.


    ```

 Chapter 312 - 1 The First Person of Yongzhou

    ```


    Within the Great Zhou Court, there are three major martial departments.


    The Military Department, the Inner palace Eunuch Department, and the Mountain Sea Department.


    The Military Department focuses on attack and defense, maintaining peace throughout the land; the Inner palace Eunuch Department excels in cultivation, responsible for safeguarding the Imperial family; the last, the Mountain Sea Department, is renowned for intelligence, currently managing the royal arsenal and has close ties with Yunlu Academy.


    Shi Wenbo, Cui Jin, and Ji He hail from these three martial departments respectively.


    Ji Zikong''s arrangement for these three to go to Yongzhou clearly holds deeper meaning, giving Xue Zhao both a carrot and a stick, subtly withholding complete trust in this Great General of the Great Zhou Country.


    Ji Zikong reminded, "Great General, the situation in Jinzhou and Dan Zhou is becoming increasingly dire, you should not delay any longer. Tomorrow, take the army and set out, striving to expel the Thieves from Huang Tian from Jinzhou and Dan Zhou completely. I always feel that they have significant ambitions in those two regions."


    "As you command, Your Majesty," Xue Zhao replied solemnly.


    Ji Zikong waved indifferently and passed by Xue Zhao with his personal eunuch.


    Along the way, Ji Zikong suddenly spoke, "Chu Daban, I remember there are descendants of the Huangfu family in Yongzhou, aren''t there?"


    Standing next to Ji Zikong, the chief eunuch of the Inner palace Eunuch Department, Chu Yuanfu, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty has a good memory. Indeed, the direct descendants of Huangfu Fafa resided in Yongzhou. I also heard that currently, a descendant of Huangfu is serving as the Chief Officer in the local Military Department."


    Ji Zikong pondered for a while and said, "Convey my decree, instruct that this Chief Officer from the Huangfu family should come to the capital soon, to organize the world''s Spirit Mechanism for me in the Mountain Sea Department."


    Chu Yuanfu was somewhat surprised and said, "Is Your Majesty planning to reactivate the Huangfu family?"


    "The Huangfu family has been suppressed for so long, they must be eager to make meritorious achievements to change their situation. Plus, since the Huangfu family is not a prestigious clan, even if they rise to power, we do not need to fear losing control. The more I think about it, the more suitable they seem for this task, easy to handle," Ji Zikong replied casually.


    Chu Yuanfu nodded, "I understand, I will make the arrangements right away."


    Ji Zikong sensed that the Director of the Qintian Bureau was hiding something from him, and although he wasn''t sure of the other party''s intentions, he very much disliked this feeling.


    In contrast, he preferred to have everything under his control, so he could sleep soundly and proceed freely.


    Even matters as major as the ancestor''s cultivation were no exception.


    Yongzhou.


    Three days had passed since the demon incident, and thanks to the efforts of Shen Qing and others, the previously chaotic Yongzhou gradually returned to calm.


    Although it hadn''t restored its former prosperity, having defeated the demons filled them with confidence, and a sense of joy permeated both inside and outside the city.


    Through this event, Shen Qing''s reputation soared, becoming the foremost figure in Yongzhou, known as the Great Qingtian.


    For a time, his deeds became a topic of conversation during meals in the surrounding counties.


    Many even traveled from afar, just to witness his style.


    Shen Qing found it both amusing and exasperating.


    He hadn''t expected his actions would lead to such results.


    Yet despite these external accolades, he valued concrete gains more.


    The turmoil in Yongzhou brought him considerable benefits.


    Of Yongzhou Thirteen Lines, aside from the Huangfu family, the assets of the other eleven families almost entirely fell into his hands.


    Numerous taverns, porcelain kilns, money houses, pawn shops, etc., were renamed overnight, becoming properties of the Shen Family, giving rise to a new colossus.


    Moreover, the riches scavenged from various family backings were innumerable, overturning his understanding, making him extremely wealthy, and ensuring he would not worry about cultivation resources for a long time.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    Rhythmic knocking sounded at the door.


    "Come in," Shen Qing said without hesitation.


    At the back hall of the Guardian Martial Department Office, a familiar figure pushed the door open and walked in.


    Tian Xiaohu clasped his hands in salute and said, "My lord, Wu Sheng has arrived."


    "Let him come in."


    "Yes."


    Tian Xiaohu hurriedly stepped out, bringing in a somewhat haggard Wu Sheng, leading him before Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing looked at Wu Sheng and said with a smile, "Brother Wu, we meet again."


    As a Wu Family member, Wu Sheng stood before Shen Qing, with mixed emotions in his heart.


    He hadn''t expected that the unimpressive outsider from before could achieve such heights and sweep away the Wu Family he belonged to with just a wave of his hand.


    Had it not been for being away on business, evading disaster, and not being implicated, the outcome for him would have been uncertain.


    Wu Sheng bowed deeply, with anxiety and gratitude in his voice, "I am fortunate to see you again, Lord Shen, for I owe my life''s fortune to your grace."


    Shen Qing raised his hand slightly, indicating Wu Sheng not to bow, "Your Wu Family was involved in collusion with demons, according to the laws of the Great Zhou, the crime warrants the eradication of three clans, do you understand?"


    Wu Sheng had just straightened his body when he immediately collapsed to his knees, panic-stricken as he said, "My lord, save me."


    To be honest, he was merely a collateral member of the Wu Family, with a low status and having lost his mother early, he held little affection for the Wu Family.


    Whether the Wu Family lived or perished, as long as it did not involve him, he could care less.


    Now hearing Shen Qing possibly sentencing him to collective punishment, filled him with terror.


    His cultivation level was insignificant before Shen Qing; if captured, he had no means to resist. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah, don''t speak of saving," Shen Qing hurriedly helped Wu Sheng up and said, "Brother Wu, we have met through various fateful encounters and are old acquaintances. Even if others are to be punished, I cannot implicate you."


    ```

 Chapter 313 - 1 The First Person of Yongzhou_2

    ```


    Hearing this, Wu Sheng felt moved and knelt down again, saying, "Lord Shen, should you have any orders, Wu Sheng will go through fire and water, without hesitation. I am willing to be at your service."


    "Brother Wu, actually, there is something I would like to ask of you."


    "Please feel free to tell me, my lord."


    "I remember you have ways to obtain Wish Power Pearls and elixirs from other places, right?"


    Wu Sheng glanced at Tian Xiaohu beside him, who was subtly observing him.


    "Lord Shen..."


    Shen Qing said, "Speak freely, we are all on the same side."


    Wu Sheng let out a sigh of relief and said solemnly, "To not hide from Lord Shen, I do have some channels to acquire elixirs and Wish Power Pearls. What does my lord intend to do?"


    Shen Qing laughed, saying, "I wish to borrow your strength to establish a trade route, dedicated to gathering Wish Power Pearls and rare elixirs for me from not only the Capital but the whole world. Would you be willing to assist me in this matter?"


    He was currently consolidating the wealth accumulated by the twelve high-ranking families of Yongzhou, and possessed immense riches. To him, these were mere earthly possessions, far less reassuring than enhancing his cultivation in these chaotic times.


    In his view, rather than keeping wealth in hand, it would be better to convert it into cultivation resources to improve the skills of subordinates like Tian Xiaohu.


    With the aid of these cultivation resources, even if the Ji Family controls the Martial Mechanism, he could find alternative opportunities.


    Through the incident with Yongzhou demons, he had seen clearly. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In this world where great power belongs to individuals in Martial Arts, sometimes striving alone just won''t cut it.


    At necessary times, one requires help from others.


    If this time Tian Xiaohu and they were exceptionally capable, they might have discovered some clues early on, curbing danger in the bud rather than having to react passively.


    This time he was lucky, fortunately breaking through to the Innate stage. Otherwise, in the face of such a situation in Yongzhou, he really wouldn''t know how to resolve it.


    "Lord Shen, the elixirs and Wish Power Pearls I have come from the hands of those degenerate offspring of Capital families, as well as struggling officials in the court. Lord, how much of these Wish Power Pearls and elixirs do you want?" Wu Sheng asked.


    "There is no upper limit. First gather all the elixirs and Wish Power Pearls you can from Capital, then think of ways to recruit staff to search for these Martial Mechanisms across the world."


    Upon hearing this, Wu Sheng was astonished, as if hit by an invisible force.


    He speculated Shen Qing''s appetite might be large, but didn''t expect it to be to this extent.


    Shen Qing''s actions seemed like secretly creating a grassroots version of the Mountain Sea Department.


    What was he trying to do?


    Rebel?


    Wu Sheng''s heart pounded, throat dry, "But this would probably require immense resources."


    "Money?" Shen Qing seemed to see through Wu Sheng''s concern, chuckling slightly, "Don''t worry, the matter of Silver Taels, I will arrange properly. You just go all out, and find a way to make all the Martial Mechanisms that can emerge from this Capital be used by us."


    "Surely you''ve realized, the world is about to plunge into chaos. A wise man stays away from danger, and in the current situation, we must also plan ahead."


    Hearing this, Wu Sheng fell silent.


    He felt Shen Qing was not unreasonable.


    However, those unsavory businesses at hand now, their scale wasn''t large.


    If it were as Shen Qing said, it would require a great deal of effort.


    As Shen Qing spoke, he took out a jade token, tossing it casually.


    Wu Sheng instinctively caught it.


    Shen Qing formed a hand seal, activating it slightly.


    Immediately, Wu Sheng felt a surge of immense spiritual energy wash over him, refreshing his mind, and the cultivation bottleneck that had not budged for years began to loosen.


    Just as he was about to immerse himself, Shen Qing grasped with five fingers, retrieving the jade token to his hand.


    "Do you know what this is?"


    "What?"


    "The spiritual essence from the Spirit Mechanism Land outside the city not long ago."


    "Spirit Mechanism Land?" Wu Sheng was puzzled.


    "If you can perform well, this jade token will be yours. In the future, such opportunities might be more frequent, don''t you want to give it a try?"


    Hearing this, faced with Shen Qing''s resolute gaze, Wu Sheng faintly sensed that the world was indeed about to change, perhaps offering an opportunity as well.


    Knowing he had no retreat, he quickly made up his mind, declaring firmly, "Thank you, Lord Shen. I will not disgrace the mission!"


    ...


    Outside the majestic walls of the Capital, a broad and long official road stretched out.


    Travelers crowded the road.


    Under the city gate, a team of individuals wearing soft armor and equipped with treasured swords emerged from inside the city.


    Pedestrians on the official road quickly made way for this group.


    Leading this group was an extraordinary man, appearing to be in his thirties.


    This man was Shi Wenbo, the Commander of the Five City Army.


    He gently tightened the reins, looking deeply into the distance, speaking in a low voice, "The land of Yongzhou has always been a thriving place, who knew it would fall under the ravages of demons. This time, I fear the people will suffer greatly."


    "Back then, His Majesty carved out the Wei Wu Department from your Army specifically to deal with demons. Over these years, the Weiwusi''s manpower hasn''t dwindled, yet the demons are only increasing. What kind of logic is that?" said a young eunuch with a sharp voice following behind Shi Wenbo.


    Shi Wenbo coldly snorted, "Without the Weiwusi, there might be even more demons in this land, with Huang Tianjao rebels surely reaching the Capital''s gates long ago. And you, eunuch, meddling here?"


    "You..." Cui Jin was rendered speechless with anger.


    A refined and courteous young man walked out from between the two, attempting to mediate: "Enough, His Majesty sent us this time because he must have sensed something, and it''s not just about the demons. The two of you should remain calm and work together to get the job done properly."


    Shi Wenbo nodded slightly at these words, following up, "Indeed, from the memorials reported by Yongzhou recently, there''s a subtext implying a hidden agenda. As imperial emissaries, we should dispel the clouds and see the bright sky for His Majesty."


    "I won''t shirk His Majesty''s matters."


    Ji He smiled and said, "Both your arguments are sound. In that case, let''s hurry and be on our way."


    "We should. Who among us will take him first?"


    The three looked back at the young man behind them¡ªXue Yan, the third son of the Xue family.


    Seeing the three''s gaze fix on him, Xue Yan replied with trepidation, "Esteemed gentlemen, I apologize for being the one to slow you down."


    Among the four, three had cultivation at the Spirit Void stage, able to ride the arc of light to cover a thousand miles a day.


    Only he was at the Elixir Person stage, having to rely on foot power, delaying everyone''s journey.


    However, none of the three complained.


    Currently, as Xue Zhao leads the army outside, His Majesty''s intention of sending his third son along with them must contain deeper implications, unfit for them to speculate.


    "I''ll go first, five hundred miles per shift."


    Ji He made a seal with his hands, unleashing a dazzling arc of light, with strands of brilliance wrapping Xue Yan like ribbons.


    Then, spreading his body within the rainbow light, Ji He rose towards the vast sky: "Let''s go!"


    Saying this, the arc of light brightened was seen dashing across the sky.


    Shi Wenbo and Cui Jin exchanged a glance, promptly utilizing their inner spiritual energy, pressing their palms together.


    In an instant, two dazzling arcs of light, one green, one red, enveloped them, swiftly rising following Ji He and Xue Yan, soaring towards the sky.


    Their speed was extremely fast, heading straight to Yongzhou.


    On the way, the howling wind was kept at bay outside the halo.


    Leaving only the magnificent landscape ahead.


    In about half an hour, Ji He called out, "Catch!"


    With that, he tossed Xue Yan like a sack toward Shi Wenbo.


    During his airborne moment, Xue Yan screamed in fright. Just as he sensed a weightless feeling, a cerulean light caught him, guiding him steadily forward.


    "Commander Shi, you must hold me tightly," Xue Yan said, his face pale.


    Shi Wenbo didn''t respond, silently quickening his pace.


    The group continually utilized the rainbow light to travel.


    After a brief adjustment, they finally arrived at Yongzhou by the following evening.


    "We''ve arrived."


    The three looked at the city walls below, swiftly descended with the pale-faced Xue Yan, withdrew the rainbow light, and stood at Yongzhou''s gates.


    ```

 Chapter 314 - 2: The Capital City Imperial Envoy, Stirring Tremendous Shock

    ```


    Shi Wenbo, Cui Jin, and Ji He glanced at Xue Yan and didn''t say much, as if they had anticipated such a situation long ago.


    "The sky is getting dark. Let''s enter the city first to quietly understand the situation, gather intelligence, and get an overall picture." Ji He was the first to speak: "As for contacting the people in the county, we can do that a bit later. What do you all think?"


    "I have no objections."


    "The Za Family follows Lord Ji."


    "There''s no time to lose, let''s enter the city."


    The few nodded their heads and stepped onto the ancient road, heading towards Yongzhou City.


    Before long, the imposing outline of a city gate became clearer up ahead.


    On the avenue leading to the city gate, the crowd surged, bustling and lively, pedestrians bustling about, showing no signs of being overrun by demons.


    Everyone couldn''t help but pause, looking at each other, quite puzzled by it all.


    Where are the demons?


    A few merchants walked out of the city, carrying their goods on their shoulders, their faces filled with joy.


    Among them, two merchants seemed to sense the strange gaze from the side. Casually glancing over, they noticed Ji He and his group, their attire luxurious and solemn, clearly not ordinary people.


    These merchants became wary, lowered their heads, and subconsciously quickened their pace, keeping their distance, not wanting any trouble.


    As these merchants passed by Ji He and others, Ji He saw the goods they were carrying on their backs.


    It was a furry, thick human-shaped arm, with black skin, covered in bloodstains, with clotted blood among the fur, much larger than a human thigh.


    Evidently, this was the remnant of some powerful demon.


    The faces of Shi Wenbo, Ji He, and the group flashed a moment of shock.


    "There''s a change in Yongzhou City," Shi Wenbo stepped forward and directly stopped one of the merchants and shouted, "Stop!"


    The merchant''s muscles tensed, smiling ingratiatingly, "What do you gentlemen need?"


    Having been in external trade for years, he had developed the skill to identify people at a glance; these were clearly wealthy or noble individuals he couldn''t afford to upset.


    "Where did all these demonic remnants come from?" Shi Wenbo sternly questioned.


    The merchant trembled all over, saying, "Bought them from the city, sir. Everyone outside says these demonic remnants are great supplements, very beneficial for Martial Arts Cultivation, highly sought after. We bought them based on the news."


    "Bought? Do you take me for a three-year-old child? Where can one buy demon flesh and blood?"


    The merchant said with a bitter face, "I''m not lying to you gentlemen, sir, just go into the city and see. There are many demonic remnants in the city, and what I have here is human-shaped, so it''s not even the best quality. Those Pig Demon, Bull Demon, Sheep Demon remnants in the city are the real treasures!"


    "Apart from the flesh and blood remnants of demons, there are also various furs, Demon Cores, demon blood, lots of them."


    Hearing this, Shi Wenbo was totally confused, staring blankly at the merchant in front of him.


    Ji He and others on the side also couldn''t comprehend it; they were almost baffled.


    Wasn''t it that demons were rampant?


    Wasn''t the city on the brink of destruction?


    Why is everyone in high spirits and even started trading in demonic remnants?


    What on earth happened?


    Cui Jin said sharply, "We... we''re all from out of town, we heard there were many demons causing chaos here?"


    The merchants waved their hands and said directly, "No more!"


    "No more of what?"


    "The demons are all gone! Slain clean by our Great Qingtian of Yongzhou!" The merchants puffed their chests, saying proudly.


    "Great Qingtian of Yongzhou?"


    Shi Wenbo, Cui Jin, Ji He, and Xue Yan listened and became even more confused.


    Seeing Ji He and his group''s friendly attitude, not the kind of high and mighty that would kill over a disagreement, the merchant relaxed a lot and said in a light tone, "Forgot you were foreigners. The Great Qingtian of Yongzhou is our Lord Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department. Three days ago, he single-handedly, by his own power, slew all the demons in the city. Not one of those rampant demons was left."


    "There''s even a rumor among the public that two great demons with top cultivation were also slain and driven out by Lord Shen. He''s quite something."


    Wow, so formidable?


    After hearing this, everyone couldn''t help but look at Shi Wenbo.


    The Guardian Martial Department falls under the Military Department, so this Shen Qing, the Chief Officer of Weiwu Division, according to protocol, is also Shi Wenbo''s subordinate.


    Shi Wenbo shook his head and said, "I have no impression of this person."


    "Do any of you gentlemen have any other questions?" The merchant asked, tightening his hold on the demonic remnants behind him.


    Shi Wenbo waved his hand impatiently.


    The merchant, as if granted amnesty, hurriedly bowed, paying respects, and left without looking back.


    The four of them exchanged glances, seeing much confusion in each other''s eyes.


    From what they had understood so far, it seemed that the horror of the demons in Yongzhou City was resolved. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But what exactly had happened, they were at a complete loss.


    "Let''s go, enter the city and take a look," Shi Wenbo called, quickly showing their identities at the city gate, entering the city.


    Among them, Xue Yan lingered at the back, glanced back at the merchant, squinted his eyes, and silently followed the group.


    Entering the city, there were no corpses strewn everywhere as expected, nor the expected chaos and fierce battles.


    On either side of the streets, the stalls of merchants were set up together, colorful awnings flapping lightly in the wind.


    Each merchant was shouting enthusiastically, with a flavor almost like a festive celebration.


    All the shops sold demonic remnants, whether fur, meat, or bone.


    Some residents stood by the street, skillfully slicing up the massive bodies of demons.


    ```

 Chapter 315 - 2: The Capital City Imperial Envoy, All were Shocked _2

    ```


    Their movements were fluid and precise. Soon, the cutting board was piled with pieces of meat, plump and uniquely colored, showing no signs of spoilage.


    Even the children playing in the alleys held demonic fangs and strange bones in their hands.


    Shi Wenbo, Cui Jin, and several others were in disbelief.


    They had witnessed many demon massacres, where the human race was always on the weaker side.


    Yet here, the situation was completely reversed, forming a bizarre scene that left them all uneasy.


    Looking around, it was clear that the number of demons that invaded Yongzhou was not small.


    So many demons, all dead!


    Yongzhou was not like the Capital City, where the Eight Great Families were gathered, rich with talents.


    Here, even a martial master at the Innate Realm was considered remarkable.


    Faced with such a number of demons, it was incredible that Yongzhou managed to withstand it, no matter how one thought about it.


    In their hearts, Shi Wenbo and the others were more curious about this Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department, eager to uncover the secrets within.


    Ji He suggested, "I propose we split up, gather here after dark to exchange our findings, shall we?"


    "Agreed," the three of them said in unison.


    "Then let''s move out."


    The four of them dispersed in different directions.


    Seeing the figures of Shi Wenbo and the others fade into the distance, Xue Yan immediately turned and headed straight out of the city. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yongzhou Outer City Area.


    Various low-rise buildings rose and fell.


    Li Antai had been in exceptionally good spirits these past few days.


    After Lord Shen Qing had slain all the demons, he started a business dealing in the demon remnants, earning quite a sum. He bought snacks for his two children, some fabrics for the old woman and his elderly mother, and even a new set of clothes.


    He even bought a new quilt.


    Life visibly improved.


    It was all thanks to Lord Shen!


    With Lord Shen overseeing, he even hoped for a few more waves of demons.


    Yongzhou''s demon specialty, unmatched!


    As Li Antai happily contemplated the future, a figure inexplicably appeared ahead, blocking his path.


    He stopped, looked closely, and saw it was one of the lords who had just parted ways.


    This lord was the youngest among the four, and to his recollection, had not spoken a word.


    Li Antai felt puzzled and uncertain about the reason for his return.


    He put on a habitual smile and flattered, "I wonder why you personally came here, is there something I can do for you?"


    Xue Yan approached with a smile, "I just want to ask you a few things."


    "Feel free to ask, I''ll tell you everything I know," Li Antai said, not having much caution based on his impression of these lords.


    Xue Yan inquired, "Have there been any anomalies in Yongzhou in the past few days?"


    "There have!"


    "Oh?" Xue Yan perked up, "Tell me."


    "Just about three days ago, right when the demons were rushing into the city, a colorful light suddenly descended from the sky, almost blotting out the sun."


    Excited, Xue Yan asked, "Approximately where?"


    "In an abandoned mountain west of the city, my lord, you can still find it now. The surrounding mountains have been flattened, it''s easy to find."


    "Excellent," Xue Yan continued to delve.


    Noticing Xue Yan''s excitement, Li Antai poured cold water over the conversation, "But my lord, it''s just deserted land now, nothing remains. Many, like you, went hoping for luck, only to return disappointed and empty-handed."


    Xue Yan paused at these words.


    No, if the Spirit Mechanism appeared, it would linger for a long time, not vanish easily.


    If it disappeared, it could only mean one thing: it was taken.


    With that thought, Xue Yan''s heart sank, a bad premonition arising.


    "How long did this colorful anomaly last?"


    "A little more than half a day, I''d say."


    Half a day?


    "Did anyone explore it, encounter anything?"


    "Of course! How could they not?" Li Antai started talking, "I heard all the Bosses in the city went, not just them, even our Great Qingtian went. I heard his immense power came from obtaining something incredible inside."


    "The Great Qingtian you''re referring to is that Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department, Shen Qing?"


    "Exactly, Lord Shen!" Li Antai prattled on, "Lord Shen is truly blessed; I heard he even established ties with Lord Huangfu..."


    Xue Yan stopped listening to Li Antai''s chatter, an idea flickering across his mind as his lips curved slightly upwards.


    What a coincidence indeed.


    The name Shen Qing was mentioned by his elder brother before he left the Xue residence.


    His brother said this person ran rampant in Yongzhou, seizing much of the Zhou family''s properties.


    His brother was on good terms with the descendants of the Zhou family in Yongzhou and wanted him to assist the Zhou family.


    Unexpectedly, this person was involved with the Spirit Mechanism as well.


    This time, his father had sent him to Yongzhou primarily for the Spirit Mechanism.


    Initially, he planned to deal with this person casually, but now he realized he had to handle it seriously.


    "My lord, is there anything else you wish to know?" Li Antai placated.


    Xue Yan laughed, "You seem quite clever. You know a lot."


    Li Antai fawned, "As long as it''s useful to you, my lord, it''s good."


    Seeing through Li Antai''s thoughts, Xue Yan smiled, "You''ve been quite helpful, I should thank you properly. Come, I''ll give you something."


    "My lord, I couldn''t possibly..." Li Antai waved his hands in refusal.


    "Here, take it!"


    Swish!


    A silver light flickered, and something flashed by Li Antai''s neck.


    Li Antai looked horrified, "You... you..."


    His hand released, and the demon remnants on his shoulder fell to the ground with a thud, as his hands clutched his neck.


    Blood gushed out from his neck like a fountain.


    Li Antai felt his body grow heavier and heavier, his vision went dark as he fell to the ground, his breath weakening.


    Moments later, his eyes dimmed, losing all life.


    "You talk too much," Xue Yan flicked the blood off the sword blade, stepped over Li Antai''s corpse, and muttered to himself, "I can''t trust you."


    He sheathed the sword and departed briskly.


    Killing someone was as insignificant as squashing an ant.


    As night fell and the lights began to illuminate the city.


    Xue Yan returned to the city as agreed, patiently waiting.


    After a while, Shi Wenbo, Cui Jin, and Ji He returned one after another.


    They found an inn to stay in, exchanging the intelligence they each gathered.


    After sharing, Ji He couldn''t help but let out a long sigh, marveling, "This Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department is truly talented, at such an age, with such a background, achieving so much, a natural genius indeed."


    "Indeed. Such a person seems a bit wasted in a small place like Yongzhou," Cui Jin added, "When we return, we must speak well of him to the Emperor, to be of service to His Majesty."


    "Technically, this Chief Officer Shen is under my command, isn''t he? If anyone is to make a recommendation, it should probably be me, Cui Eunuch, aren''t you overstepping?" Shi Wenbo countered.


    Ji He hurried to interject, "Gentlemen, it seems the demon issue in Yongzhou is resolved, and everything has become much clearer. When do you all plan to return to the Capital?"


    Shi Wenbo replied, "Once we''ve reorganized and restored the local government structure, we can discuss leaving."


    Ji He nodded, this time he also bore the responsibility of seeking the celestial fate of the Spirit Mechanism, leaving too soon would be troublesome.


    This was for the best.


    "Then we''ll follow Lord Shi''s arrangements. Let''s stop here for today, tomorrow we can meet the rumored Great Qingtian of Yongzhou. Honestly, I can''t wait to meet such a young hero," Ji He laughed heartily.


    ```

 Chapter 316 - 3 First Contact

    Early morning, Guardian Martial Department Office.


    Shen Qing, as usual, crossed the threshold of the Guardian Martial Department Office, ready to start his duty.


    "Lord Shen!"


    A follower in the Guardian Martial Department Office, who seemed to have been waiting behind the door early, hurried over when he saw Shen Qing. He greeted with both hands folded in front of him and respectfully said, "There are several people claiming to be imperial envoys in the elegant room waiting, they say they want to see you."


    "Imperial envoys?"


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing felt a shiver in his heart.


    They had finally come.


    With such significant disturbances in Yongzhou, demons running rampant, the Prefectural Governor murdered, multiple aristocratic families slaughtered...


    Any single one of these incidents was a major event.


    It was impossible for the Capital City to be unaware; it was merely a matter of time.


    He just hadn''t expected them to arrive so quickly.


    However, come what may, Shen Qing had been mentally prepared for this situation and showed no signs of fear.


    He planned to play it by ear, adapting to the circumstances as they arose.


    Shen Qing regained his composure and slowly said, "Please tell them to wait in the main hall; I will be there shortly."


    "Yes." Chang Sui bowed in response and hurried out to make arrangements.


    After a while, Shen Qing checked the imperial envoy''s credentials, confirmed their identities, and saw that it was about time. He then nonchalantly walked into the main hall.


    Upon entering the main hall of the Guardian Martial Department, he saw several men dressed in splendid official robes.


    They each carried themselves with an imposing air, a natural demeanor of superiority manifesting itself invisibly.


    Among them, three individuals, each radiating Spiritual Power seamlessly integrated with their cultivation, were evidently beyond the Innate Realm.


    Shen Qing observed carefully and saw a middle-aged man sitting in the center, with others deferring to him, presumably he was the imperial envoy appointed by the Heaven this time¡ªShi Wenbo.


    The remaining two must be the Imperial Eunuch Cui Jin and the Chief Officer of the Mountain Sea Department, Ji He.


    And the young man beside them was likely the Great General''s third son, Xue Yan.


    Indeed, it was a powerful assembly.


    While Shen Qing was sizing them up, Shi Wenbo, Cui Jin, Ji He, and others also scrutinized Shen Qing.


    The morning light was soft, dappled on his resolute face, adding a touch of extraordinary charisma to him, who looked to be no more than eighteen or nineteen.


    Although they had anticipated Shen Qing''s youth, they were still slightly taken aback upon seeing just how young he was.


    Shen Qing stepped forward, performed a formal official salute, and spoke in a neither humble nor haughty tone, "My lords have honored us with your presence, and I, Shen, have failed to greet you from afar; please forgive me."


    Shi Wenbo set aside his thoughts, smiled slightly, and spoke, "Lord Shen need not be so formal. We also came here in a hurry due to the suddenness of the matter, it''s normal for you to be unprepared. Please do not mind it."


    After some investigation, Shi Wenbo found that Yongzhou had already stabilized, and many aspects of the situation were quite clear.


    It was predictable that this mission would be a relatively easy one, not requiring too much exertion.


    As a result, he was in a good mood, and he harbored no prejudice against Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing did not continue with the pleasantries, but proactively asked, "May I know if the lords have come for the matter of the demons, and if Your Majesty has other instructions?"


    "Chief Officer Shen has guessed correctly. Your Majesty is worried about the matter of the demons in Yongzhou, and immediately commanded us to come to Yongzhou to thoroughly investigate." Shi Wenbo''s tone became much more serious, "I heard that Lord Governor Bai also lost his life because of this? What exactly happened, could Chief Officer Shen enlighten us?"


    Hearing this, Shen Qing furrowed his brows, a trace of solemnity flickering in his eyes.


    These people seemed to already possess some intelligence and information.


    The energy that the temple and various aristocratic families in Great Zhou held exceeded his expectations; if he was not careful, it could result in many unpredictable consequences. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, there was no need to panic.


    From his experiences thus far, when faced with such situations, the best approach was to be honest and truthful.


    One must never play clever tricks, as they could easily be exposed.


    But there was an art to telling the truth.


    Not too much, not everything.


    The more he said, the more he would lose the initiative.


    With this in mind, Shen Qing thought over his wording and truthfully said, "Replying to your lordship, Lord Governor''s death was indeed caused by a demon. He had previously been gravely injured by a Snake Demon, a major Dao practitioner. The Lord Governor had not yet recovered when another demon targeted him, taking advantage of his weakness to devour him."


    Shi Wenbo, Cui Jin, and Ji He, upon hearing this, found Shen Qing''s account to match the information they had gathered; Shen Qing had not tried to deceive them.


    This improved their impression of Shen Qing somewhat.


    "Does Lord Shen know why the demon appeared in the city?" Shi Wenbo pursued, "I remember the Guardian Martial Department specifically handles such matters."


    Shen Qing said, "Based on various pieces of evidence, it seems to be related to the high-ranking families in the city."


    "Oh, what did these high-ranking families do?"


    Shen Qing shook his head and gave a vague response, "The Military Department is still investigating this matter; it will take some time to sort out the details."


    In fact, Shen Qing was well aware that the demon issue was linked to those high-ranking families'' secret plotting for Spirit Mechanism; they and others wanted to control the Yongzhou County Office by their actions.


    However, he could not outright state this.


    High-ranking families controlling the Yongzhou County Office was relatively manageable, not involving him personally.


    But involving the Spirit Mechanism Land was more problematic.


    He now held a considerable amount of Spirit Essence; if discovered, it could attract covetous attention, bringing trouble his own way.


    Especially considering the people before him, every word and action had to be cautious.


    Fortunately, most of the beings, human or demon, who saw him collecting the Spirit Essence had already been slain by him, turning to corpses.


    As everyone knows, the dead do not speak.


    Now, only some rumors remained in the city, lacking much referential value.


    In such a case, the best choice was to say little or let them investigate on their own.


    Following that, Ji He continued to ask several more questions.


    Shen Qing was honest in his responses.


    After a series of questions, Shi Wenbo, Cui Jin, and Ji He reviewed the recent events in Yongzhou from start to finish, matching the intelligence they had gathered without any discrepancies, aligning almost perfectly.


    "Truly, a hero from youth! Seeing you today, the fame is indeed well-deserved." After all the questions, Ji He spoke first.


    His voice was deep and magnetic, filled with gentleness, "We''ve just arrived and heard of Lord Shen''s exploits, which we thought might be exaggerated. Now, it seems they have understated them."


    Lord Ji gives too much credit; the results we have now are due to the unity of the Guardian Martial Department and the County Office, not my efforts alone."


    Shi Wenbo gently tapped the tabletop, producing a crisp sound, and spoke, "We will stop here for today''s matters, and we still have to make a thorough investigation."


    Shen Qing nodded and replied, "I, Shen, will do my utmost to cooperate with the lords."

 Chapter 317 - 4: Verification, Confrontation in Person is Most Effective

    Shi Wenbo, Cui Jin, Ji He, and others successively walked out from the main hall of the Guardian Martial Department.


    After walking for a while, Xue Yan, who was at the rear, suddenly halted his steps and said in a low voice to the few people in front of him, "Lords, what do you think of this man?"


    Shi Wenbo turned around and saw Xue Yan asking questions, his brow furrowed with some impatience in his heart.


    However, when he thought about how Xue Yan had reached his current position, it had much to do with the support from his father, Xue Zhao.


    When leaving the Capital City, his father had also instructed him to look after him, so he patiently asked, "I don''t know who my esteemed nephew is referring to?"


    Xue Yan said, "Naturally, it''s Shen Qing. I find his speech watertight, and it matches our investigations as well. But don''t you find it all too smooth?"


    Within his words, he implied something.


    The Spirit Mechanism matter in Yongzhou had initially started by his elder brother, Xue Bai, but in the end, his father handed over such a crucial matter to him.


    Clearly, his father favored him more, and the position of the Xue Family''s heir might well fall on his head in the future. Therefore, his trip to Yongzhou was purposeful¡ªhe had to achieve a result, not simply to tour.


    From the information gathered thus far, to achieve any result, bypassing Shen Qing was impossible, and they needed to take action on him.


    In his original idea, someone of Shen Qing''s age should have been more conspicuous.


    Contrary to expectations, Shen Qing managed to keep a low profile, demonstrating great shrewdness. He handled everything flawlessly and managed to deal with Shi Wenbo and the others, leaving Xue Yan no room to gain an advantage or maneuver.


    He was somewhat unwilling to let it go and wanted to guide the discussion again, drawing everyone''s attention back to Shen Qing to put pressure on him.


    Shi Wenbo had not considered this layer.


    For them, being appointed as imperial envoys to Yongzhou was merely a task¡ªless trouble is better than more.


    Shen Qing''s cooperation was in line with his wishes and saved him a lot of trouble.


    Shi Wenbo said earnestly, "What is bad about it going smoothly? It demonstrates that Great Zhou is full of talent and that Your Majesty''s fortune is flourishing. This is indeed a fortunate event."


    Ji He immediately followed, "Lord Shi speaks sensibly. Shen Qing is indeed a promising talent to foster."


    "I also think so."


    Xue Yan''s expression paused slightly, and he seemed to realize something. Understanding dawned in his heart, and he chose to remain silent forthwith, bowing slightly, "The lords speak sensibly; it was presumptuous of me."


    ...


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, two figures who usually wielded great influence in the county, now stood nervously like children outside the grand entrance of the Guardian Martial Department.


    Their robes fluttered gently with the wind, their eyes flickering with a subtle unease.


    "Lord Dou, how come the imperial envoy went straight to the Guardian Martial Department? Logically, he should have first visited the county office," Yan Xushou asked in a low voice, his brow furrowed, contemplating the deeper implications behind this turn of events. "Could it be that Your Majesty is dissatisfied with us?"


    Dou Wenxi, softly stroking his goatee, replied, "I am also unsure. However, since they chose to come here first, they must have their reasons. As local officials, we naturally must treat them with courtesy and assess the situation first. Let''s go inside and see."


    With that, he adjusted his official robes and strode into the Guardian Martial Department office, Yan Xushou following closely behind.


    Just as they crossed the threshold, they saw Shi Wenbo and others walking out from the rear hall.


    Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou exchanged glances, their minds swirling with questions, but they quickly put on smiley faces.


    "Junior officials Dou Wenxi (Yan Xushou), respectfully welcome the imperial envoy to Yongzhou!" Both greeted in unison, their voices filled with utmost respect.


    Shi Wenbo had often dealt with various local government offices and was very familiar with their ways.


    He stepped forward with a smile, "Lord Dou, Lord Yan, please pardon us. We did not intend to disturb you both."


    "Not at all, not at all," Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou, feeling honored by the words, hastily responded, "Being servants to His Majesty and coming from afar, it''s our duty as locals to fully cooperate. As it is now noon, I have prepared some modest wine, hoping you could take time out of your busy schedules to attend, so we can provide a feast to greet and refresh the imperial envoys."


    Shi Wenbo agreed, "Since both of you are so gracious, we shall respectfully comply and join the banquet to share in the camaraderie."


    "Gentlemen, please!"


    "Please!"


    At this moment, Xue Yan stepped forward, his face apologetic, "Gentlemen, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and still unwell from the journey. I think I will return to rest and skip this banquet."


    Everyone understood and did not feel his absence was abrupt.


    After some cordial conversation, Shi Wenbo and his party left Xue Yan alone and grandly departed the Guardian Martial Department, heading towards the best tavern in the prefecture.


    After parting with Shi Wenbo and the others, Xue Yan did not return to the inn to rest as he had said but instead rushed straight out of the city.


    Once he was outside the city and found no one around, he took a deep breath, and the spiritual energy within him surged.


    Touching the ground lightly with his toes, his figure became incredibly light, turning into a dark shadow that swiftly disappeared, heading straight for the wild outskirts of Yongzhou City.


    In just a moment, Xue Yan found himself amid towering mountains and ridges.


    "It should be here," he muttered.


    He stopped, looked around, and finally, his eyes settled on a barren spot; his face lit up with excitement as he hurried over.


    When he looked up to take in the scene before him, his breath caught.


    In the distance, the once towering mountains had been completely leveled by some unimaginable, great force.


    The ground had experienced violent upheavals like a dragon turning over, with trenches crisscrossing and fissures intersecting.


    At the center of the ruins, there were signs of a mysterious force having fiercely impacted the area.


    Xue Yan could imagine that at that moment, an indescribable powerful force had radiated outward.


    It was intangible yet profoundly real, giving him a sense of unprecedented pressure.


    Looking closely, between the cracks of the broken stones, countless plants stubbornly broke through the soil, lush and vibrant with life.


    The entire area covered a radius of six to seven hundred meters.


    A strong impulse surged in Xue Yan''s heart, "Yes, this is the place. The Spirit Essence from beyond this realm descended here. Father, big brother¡ªthey were telling the truth." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He cautiously approached and keenly felt the atmosphere. Finding that the residual Spirit Essence in the air had completely dissipated, his expression darkened.


    Xue Yan pondered, "Such a vast Spirit Mechanism Land must contain massive amounts of Spirit Essence, which should not have dissipated so quickly. The only explanation is that the Spirit Essence here was collected by someone using the Spiritual Mechanism Jade or a similar device."


    "That merchant''s statement could very likely be true; Shen Qing might indeed have obtained this Spirit Essence. Even if it wasn''t him, he must be closely associated with it."


    Having verified the information he received, Xue Yan felt more confident.


    "Since that is the case, instead of beating around the bush, confronting him directly would be most effective. However, before doing so, I need to prepare carefully and not act recklessly."

 Chapter 318 - 5 Cultivation Progress, The Five Great Realms After Innate

    ```


    Inside the Guardian Martial Department Office.


    Shen Qing sat upright at the head position of the back hall, his brow furrowed.


    Shi Wenbo and his party had already left.


    For now, there wasn''t much evidence to suggest that this group was targeting him.


    These imperial envoys had not yet decided to delve deeply into the demon case in Yongzhou and the anomalies outside the city.


    However, he didn''t believe he could pass this off so easily.


    All of this was just the beginning.


    No one could say for sure what would happen next, so it''s wise to prepare early.


    "Boss."


    At this moment, Tian Xiaohu''s voice, tinged with hesitation, sounded from outside the door, breaking the silence in the room.


    "Come in."


    "Yes."


    Tian Xiaohu pushed the door open and entered, walking steadily. He clasped his hands and said, "The arrangements are ready on Uncle and Aunt''s side, Boss, when do you think you will bring them back to the city? If not, I can do it this afternoon..."


    Shen Qing gently raised his hand, stopping Tian Xiaohu''s unfinished words, and slowly spoke, "Let''s wait for now."


    Previously, considering the chaos in Yongzhou City and for their safety, Shen Qing had moved Uncle, Aunt, and Big Sister outside the city to settle in a secured place.


    Now that the demon in the city had been subdued, Uncle and Aunt intended to return, but it still seemed inappropriate now.


    Shen Qing vaguely sensed that Shi Wenbo and others might have other actions soon. Bringing Uncle and Aunt back now would undoubtedly place them in danger and would also give him additional weaknesses and constraints.


    Tian Xiaohu hesitated upon hearing this, slightly puzzled.


    He still didn''t know about the court sending imperial envoys, nor did he understand the underlying power struggles; a trace of concern flashed across his face as he asked, "Boss, did something happen recently?"


    "Nothing much, just minor matters."


    Seeing Shen Qing''s unwillingness to say more, Tian Xiaohu wisely did not inquire further: "Got it, I''ll make arrangements now."


    Shen Qing watched Tian Xiaohu leave, and then sought out Chen Guang and others, instructing them to monitor the whereabouts of Shi Wenbo and his group.


    After handling many such trivial matters, it was already past noon.


    Seeing that the day was still early, the always disciplined Shen Qing habitually walked into the Cultivation Room for his daily practice.


    Within the offices of the Guardian Martial Department, there was a specially crafted Cultivation Room, very quiet, with only a meditation cushion placed at the center and nothing else, appearing extremely simple.


    Shen Qing opened the door and walked inside.


    He sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion in the center of the room with ease, surrounded by an indescribably calm aura.


    His gaze focused as a stream of Divine Thought spread out.


    With a sound, the door of the Cultivation Room slammed shut under an unseen force.


    Shen Qing closed his eyes to calm his mind, and only after all disturbances in his heart settled did he slowly open his eyes, retrieving from his clothes close to the skin a Jade Token, smooth as jade.


    Complex and exquisite Jade Talismans were inscribed on the token, shimmering under the faint light.


    Shen Qing noticed a warm sensation in his hand, without a trace of coldness, exuding an extraordinary aura. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ever since slaying the demon in Yongzhou a few days ago, the myriad affairs in the city had been a tangled mess, while the government office lacked manpower.


    He had been preoccupied with these affairs, leaving no time for much cultivation.


    This was the first time he took out the Jade Token for use.


    "I''m not sure of Shi Wenbo''s group''s intentions. Boosting my cultivation and enhancing our strength is certainly wise."


    The unexpected visit of the imperial envoys gave Shen Qing some foreboding feelings.


    He decided to set aside the burdensome administrative duties for the time being, intending to fully immerse himself in cultivation.


    Shen Qing''s hands moved nimbly, forming one mysterious spell after another.


    As he moved, the brilliance of the Jade Token suddenly flared up, like the brightest star in the night sky; dense Spiritual Energy, almost liquefied, surged forth from the token, enveloping him and forming a small sea of Spirit Energy.


    The Spiritual Energy density in the entire Cultivation Room rose to an unprecedented level in an instant.


    Immediately, Shen Qing took out a Wish Power Pearl emitting a gentle white glow from his sleeve.


    Seeing everything was ready, he did not delay further, initiating the Refining Pearl Technique.


    With a thought, the Wish Power Pearl floated upward, radiating light, complementing the glow of the Jade Token.


    Instantly, Shen Qing''s speed of condensing spirit energy multiplied, as if numerous streams converging into a river, continuously flowing into his being.


    Under the refining of the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, Shen Qing felt every inch of his skin and every pore greedily absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, his aura became increasingly stable.


    At this moment, Shen Qing seemed to merge with the entire world.


    Every breath, every heartbeat, resonated subtly with the surrounding Spirit Energy.


    In his Qi Sea, an identical phantom slowly emerged, becoming more solid with the nourishment of Spiritual Energy.


    At this time, Shen Qing''s mind had fully immersed into the mystical world of cultivation.


    Nature''s spiritual energy flowed through his body''s meridians like fine threads, nourishing his physical body and spiritual consciousness.


    The Spiritual Power within him, through countless cycles of refinement and accumulation, had gradually transformed from its initially rough and robust state to one light and agile, sensing the external Spiritual Energy.


    A faint glow flickered around Shen Qing as the Spirit Energy in the Cultivation Room seemed to be summoned and driven, surging toward him and forming a small vortex.


    His Divine Thought became exceptionally clear at this moment, able to perceive every trace of Spirit Energy''s flow within and even vaguely capture the subtle changes in the surrounding nature''s spiritual energy.


    ```

 Chapter 319 - 5 Cultivation Progress, The Five Great Realms After Innate_2

    Suddenly, an unprecedented power quietly surged within his body, causing his whole being to become much lighter.


    Shen Qing knew that this was not a sign of a breakthrough, but rather a precursor to a qualitative leap in his cultivation, based on his foundation in the Innate Realm.


    It was unknown how much time had passed, but the Wish Power Pearl in front of him had been completely refined.


    Sensing the speed at which the spiritual energy was being refined, Shen Qing slowly opened his eyes, stopped his cultivation, and put away the Jade Token.


    Shen Qing noticed that the Jade Token, after being refined, was now dimmer compared to before.


    It seemed the loss of spiritual energy was the reason for it.


    This was within reason.


    "Now the spiritual energy of nature is not even one percent of the Spirit Essence in this Jade Token, which is truly frustrating. Without this Spirit Essence, it would be nearly impossible to advance my cultivation with just these scraps at hand."


    "No wonder the Ji Family of Great Zhou wanted to collect all the Martial Mechanisms for their own use. Ultimately, it''s because the resources for cultivation are too scarce."


    Shen Qing sighed deeply, "I truly don''t know what kind of era the Ancient Times were."


    "Forget it, thinking too much about these things is useless. I cannot return to the past, so it''s better to focus on the present."


    Exhaling a deep breath, Shen Qing murmured to himself, "I remember that above the Innate Realm should be the Spirit Void Realm. I know very little about this realm, and there is not much information available. I should take a trip to the Martial Arts Hall to seek guidance."


    Yongzhou''s Martial Arts Hall contains many Divine Skills and numerous Martial Arts Techniques.


    During a previous visit, he utilized his Never Forget ability to memorize all the Martial Arts Skills in the Martial Arts Hall.


    Frankly speaking, even now, he is still well-acquainted with the Martial Arts within the Martial Arts Hall.


    But Yongzhou''s Martial Arts Hall is not just a place for housing martial arts.


    After such a long period of understanding, he gradually realized that Martial Arts Halls across various regions are also excellent venues for martial arts discussions.


    There are many people in the world whose Martial Arts Cultivation may not be high, and their cultivation may be ordinary, but their passion for the study of martial arts is unparalleled, and they have a profound understanding and expertise in martial arts.


    The Great Zhou Court places great importance on martial arts and would not leave these people wandering outside.


    Therefore, there are specific exams to gather these individuals.


    After passing the exams, these individuals can join either the Hanlin Academy or the Mountain Sea Department, gaining official status and receiving support from the court.


    Some of them are assigned to Martial Arts Halls across the world to serve as instructors.


    Shen Qing recalled that Yongzhou''s Martial Arts Hall had several old instructors within, individuals with sufficient knowledge and very good teaching targets.


    Exiting the Guardian Martial Department Office, Shen Qing went to the Military Department Office.


    Yongzhou''s Martial Arts Hall is not a place just anyone can enter; it requires certain protocols.


    Previously, Shen Qing was rewarded with an entry token after slaying a demon under the orders of Commander Jia Zhiping.


    To enter the Martial Arts Hall again now, he still needed proof with a token.


    However, currently, the Prefectural Governor is dead, Commander Jia Zhiping is dead too. Shen Qing''s reputation in Yongzhou is such that he is known by everyone, and even within the county office, his position is somewhat extraordinary.


    Obtaining this Martial Arts Hall token was very simple.


    The officials in the office offered little resistance, passing him through without obstruction, effectively making it a mere formality.


    Once again entering the Martial Arts Hall, Shen Qing noticed that compared to his last visit, there were now many more people present.


    They were like martial arts fanatics, each holding a book and reading with rapt attention, their eyes burning with passion.


    These people mostly dressed simply, likely ordinary disciples, who, due to their meritorious deeds during the recent demon invasion, had the opportunity to enter the Martial Arts Hall for further training.


    They knew how rare this opportunity was, so when they obtained martial arts texts, they cherished them dearly, becoming fully engrossed in their study.


    Many of them, while studying, instinctively used their fingers as swords to draw invisible trajectories in the air, silently deducing the intricacies of swordsmanship. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even when Shen Qing approached, it did not stir any ripple.


    They were completely absorbed, unaware of everything around them.


    Shen Qing ignored these people and went straight to an old instructor, the same person who had received him during his first visit to the Martial Arts Hall and who held the highest status within it.


    With hands clasped, Shen Qing said, "Old instructor, we meet again."


    The old instructor glanced at Shen Qing, somewhat surprised, not expecting Shen Qing to come to this place.


    He lived a secluded life within the Martial Arts Hall, with little knowledge of the affairs outside.


    But the recent upheavals in Yongzhou were too significant for him to remain unaffected, thereby learning about the changes.


    Without a doubt, in this upheaval, the most prominent figure in Yongzhou was the person standing before him, the chief of the Guardian Martial Department, Shen Qing, Lord Shen.


    The old instructor, Fang Shizhen, responded neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I wonder what brings Lord Shen here? Do you have the relevant token?"


    The old instructor, Fang Shizhen, was puzzled. As he knew, this chief of the Guardian Martial Department was already at the Innate Realm, and the martial arts collections of the county Martial Arts Hall only went up to the Innate Realm.


    What business did he have coming to the Martial Arts Hall again?


    "Of course," Shen Qing replied, smiling as he took out his token for verification.


    After the verification confirmed there were no issues, it was handed back to him.


    Shen Qing put away the token and said, "Old instructor, may we speak in private?"


    "This way, Lord Shen," although full of curiosity, Fang Shizhen showed no outward sign of it.


    He led Shen Qing through winding corridors and finally stopped before a carved wooden door, gently pushing it open to usher Shen Qing into a simple and elegant tea room.


    A fragrant aroma of tea lingered, the room quiet and serene.


    Shen Qing stepped in, scanned the room, and sat down directly at a simple round table.


    Fang Shizhen followed closely, skillfully poured two cups of hot tea, placed one in front of Shen Qing, and lifted the other for himself, but did not immediately drink it, waiting silently for Shen Qing to speak.


    After taking a small sip of tea, Shen Qing set the cup down and directly said, "Instructor Fang, I came this time to seek your advice on some cultivation questions."


    When Fang Shizhen heard this, his expression became serious, "Please feel free to speak, my lord."


    "I want to ask what realms come after the Innate Realm?" Shen Qing inquired, looking directly at Fang Shizhen.


    This... Is he on the verge of breaking through again?


    Fang Shizhen''s eyes flickered with surprise at Shen Qing''s words but soon calmed.


    In his view, with Shen Qing''s swift progression to the Innate Realm, he must be exceptionally talented.


    Such a person would not be content with the current state, and further breakthroughs were only a matter of time.


    Fang Shizhen sipped his tea and, after pondering for a while, said, "Above the Innate Realm, there exist four major realms."


    "What are these four major realms?"


    "Spirit Void Realm, Primordial Spirit Realm, Void Travel Realm, Unity Realm."


    Fang Shizhen continued, "Beyond the Innate Realm is the Spirit Void Realm. In this realm, the spiritual power within the body transforms from solid to void, resonating with the spiritual energy of nature. It is a critical period for entering the immortal path through martial arts and condensing the Primordial Spirit. When a warrior''s Primordial Spirit strengthens to the point it can separate from the body, it is the Primordial Spirit Realm. Cultivators at this realm can grasp magical abilities and perform spells."


    Shen Qing''s eyes grew increasingly fervent, and he took a deep breath, unable to resist asking further, "Then what is the Void Travel Realm like?"


    Fang Shizhen shook his head, "I don''t know."


    "Don''t know?"


    "The Void Travel Realm, Unity Realm, these are fields beyond our reach. Cultivators who enter these realms have transcended the category of warrior, nearing immortality. We know very little about them. I''ve heard that beyond the Unity Realm lies the pinnacle of martial arts, but this is only a legend. For hundreds of years, no one has truly reached this realm."


    Shen Qing''s heart was filled with a sense of foreboding.


    "What else does Lord Shen wish to ask?"


    Shen Qing pondered for a while before asking, "Could I trouble you to explain thoroughly about the Spirit Void Realm?"

 Chapter 320 - 6 I Advise You Not to Be Ignorant of the Rules

    Old Coach Fang Shizhen pondered for a while, brewing his words slowly, "In general, the Spirit Void Realm is a pivotal Great Realm, situated between the Innate Realm and the Kongyou Realm. Within this realm, the spiritual power in a cultivator''s body begins to transform from solid to ethereal, gradually resonating with nature''s spiritual energy."


    "Resonating?" Shen Qing furrowed his brow, clearly intrigued by the term.


    "Exactly," Fang Shizhen nodded. "The resonance of a martial master''s spiritual power with the weekly spiritual energy allows cultivators to perceive the subtle changes in the surrounding spiritual energy, as well as various fluctuations of aura. This resonance endows martial masters with the ability to manipulate spiritual energy. Although it is not as transformative as the Ancient Divine Power, it is nonetheless an indispensable foundation for mastering Divine Skills later."


    Shen Qing listened intently, his eyes gleaming with longing, "Then, what is unique about this ethereal spiritual power?"


    "Once the spiritual power within a martial master becomes ethereal, it means that the martial master''s spiritual power is no longer confined within the physical body," Fang Shizhen explained. "Instead, it can break through spatial limitations, establish connections with external spiritual energy, and thereby achieve long-range attacks and defense. Some highly cultivated martial masters can slay enemies thousands of miles away with a single sword stroke, which originates from this. It can be said that the Spirit Void Realm is a crucial step for every martial master transitioning from ''Martial'' to ''Immortal.''"


    Having heard this, Shen Qing felt suddenly enlightened.


    He stood up and bowed deeply to Fang Shizhen, "Thank you, Coach Fang, for illuminating the path. Shen Qing has greatly benefited from your guidance."


    Fang Shizhen smiled kindly in return, "My lord, you are too polite. It is my honor to resolve your doubts. May you step into the Spirit Void soon and achieve great things."


    In the teahouse, the fragrance of tea lingered.


    Shen Qing''s mind, involuntarily, turned tumultuous, filled with a burning passion.


    Although he had not yet truly entered the Spirit Void Realm, he believed that as long as he persistently exerted himself, with the "Panel''s" blessings, breakthrough was a certainty.


    "This Martial Arts Hall only has methods for cultivating up to the Innate Realm; to cultivate further, it is said that only the Imperial Armory of Great Zhou has them. It seems I must find a way to enter the Imperial Armory."


    After chatting idly with Old Coach Fang Shizhen for a while longer, and confirming there were no more insights to gain, Shen Qing left directly.


    On the way, he observed the cultivators in the Martial Arts Hall, tirelessly devoted to their training.


    These individuals were fully immersed in Martial Arts, oblivious and deaf to Shen Qing''s presence.


    Shen Qing felt a pang of sympathy; these talents might have potential, but with the cultivation resources firmly controlled by the Ji Family, each step forward in their cultivation was exceptionally difficult.


    For the majority, rising above their current status was almost impossible.


    Regrettably, this was not something he could change or influence at the moment.


    When Shen Qing returned to the Guardian Martial Department Office from the Martial Arts Hall, it was already evening, the sky turning dusky.


    As he entered the back hall, an unexpected person stood silently in the center of the hall.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing, the man silently turned around, corners of his lips slightly lifting, "Lord Shen, you''ve finally returned."


    This person was none other than Xue Yan, the Third Young Master Xue.


    With an impassive face, Shen Qing was unsure of Xue Yan''s intentions, internally on guard. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He kept his composure and, clasping his hands together, said respectfully yet firmly, "I see Third Young Master Xue. May I know the reason for your visit?"


    Xue Yan smiled gently, taking slow steps closer.


    His steps were deliberate, the crisp sound echoing in the air, causing the atmosphere to grow tense.


    Xue Yan stopped in his tracks and stared into Shen Qing''s eyes, his expression half-smiling, saying, "Lord Shen, let''s not beat around the bush. If I''m not mistaken, just a while ago outside Yongzhou City, a Spirit Mechanism descended, and part of its Spirit Essence is now in Lord Shen''s hands, right?"


    After he finished speaking that last word, Xue Yan''s gaze suddenly sharpened.


    Shen Qing''s heart sank, and he continuously calculated his next moves.


    He knew dealing with this group of imperial envoys would be tough, but he hadn''t expected that it would be this seemingly unassuming Third Young Master Xue who would pose the first challenge.


    Thinking it over, this Third Young Master Xue in the group of imperial envoys indeed seemed out of place, as if he had been forcibly inserted there.


    Seeing him speak so confidently, Shen Qing concluded that he must be in possession of considerable information about Yongzhou, likely aimed specifically at the Spirit Mechanism.


    Shen Qing maintained a calm expression and said lightly, "Mr. Xue is indeed well-informed. However, I must confess, this so-called Spirit Mechanism you mentioned is something I am hearing about for the first time."


    As he spoke, Shen Qing put on an innocent expression and feigned ignorance, "It must be a misunderstanding on Mr. Xue''s part."


    "A misunderstanding?"


    Xue Yan shook his head slightly, his tone carrying an undeniable threat, "Lord Shen, perhaps you are not aware. Concerning the many changes in Yongzhou, the Zhou Family in the capital has reported everything to my father in great detail. They have sought help from my Xue Family, wanting your life. I specifically came to Yongzhou to handle this matter."


    "As for the matter of the Spirit Mechanism, I have also investigated it thoroughly. It would be best if Lord Shen stops feigning ignorance."


    The Zhou Family?


    Shen Qing''s eyes darkened, not expecting this connection behind the scenes.


    Realizing he had been exposed, Shen Qing stopped pretending and, straightening his back, said coldly, "Lord Xue, what exactly do you want?"


    "I consider that you and I are both court officials and do not wish to escalate the situation. I will give you one day to consider handing over the Spirit Mechanism, and bygones will be bygones. Otherwise, you will have to face the consequences."


    Shen Qing''s expression instantly turned stern, and his eyes, deep and unfathomable, glared coldly, "Are you threatening me?"


    At these words, the air around them seemed to freeze at that instant.


    Shen Qing, a Martial Master of the Innate Realm, released an indescribable aura.


    Xue Yan''s face instantly paled, but he quickly stiffened his resolve, his eyes flashing with disdain, "Shen Qing, understand your situation. I am not threatening you but giving you a choice. You should be aware of the Xue Family''s power. Being our enemy benefits you in no way. I advise you to follow the rules."


    Shen Qing coldly watched Xue Yan, their impalpable power like a massive wave surging between them.


    Regarding the Xue Family, Shen Qing was aware.


    They were one of the Eight Great Families of the Great Zhou, their ancestors having followed the Ji Family in their campaigns conquering the world, and through centuries of accumulation, the Xue Family had produced many talented individuals.


    Today''s head of the Xue Family was the Great General of Great Zhou, a man of extraordinary status.


    They were not like the merchant families of Yongzhou.


    If the Xue Family really wanted to deal with him, even as an Innate, squashing him wouldn''t be much harder than killing an ant.


    Nevertheless, Shen Qing showed no intention of backing down.


    "Xue Yan, do you think the Xue Family''s reputation can make me submit? In this world, power is the ultimate truth. While the Xue Family is strong, it doesn''t mean you can do whatever you want here."

 Chapter 321 - 7 Lord Xue, are you more sober now?

    ```


    "Boom!"


    With the words just spoken, it was as if thunder exploded from Shen Qing''s body. A power several times stronger than before suddenly burst forth, like a storm sweeping across the entire hall.


    Caught off guard, Xue Yan felt a mountain-like pressure strike down abruptly. His knees weakened, and he almost fell to the ground.


    He was shocked and hurriedly activated an Inheritance Jade in his hand.


    The jade emitted a clear and dazzling light, quickly forming a semi-circular Shield in front of him, isolating that terrible pressure outside.


    With the Shield''s protection, the pressure on Xue Yan''s body lightened instantly, allowing him to catch his breath for a moment.


    He glared at Shen Qing, his eyes filled with both shock and anger: "Shen Qing, you are refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Do you realize you are challenging the dignity of my Xue family?"


    Shen Qing looked at Xue Yan coldly, with a disdainful smile at the corner of his mouth: "The dignity of the Xue family? Hmph, in my eyes, true dignity speaks with strength. You are merely a Martial master of the Dan Realm, yet you dare provoke me like this, truly thinking I am soft clay and won''t dare to kill you!!!"


    Upon hearing this, Xue Yan''s face turned deathly pale, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails almost embedded into his palm''s flesh.


    His plan had collapsed; he hadn''t expected Shen Qing to be so unyielding.


    Facing the formidable Xue family he brought up, there wasn''t a trace of fear in Shen Qing; instead, he was aggressively overbearing, completely reshaping Xue Yan''s understanding.


    "Shen Qing, don''t be too excessive! Do you think that with your strength alone, you can contend with the Xue family? Should a single hair on my body be harmed, do you believe my Xue family can render you without a place to be buried dead or alive?"


    Shen Qing''s eyes were firm, and he sneered: "Contend? No, I''ve never thought of contending against the Xue family, but sometimes, when something blind insists on oppressing me, there''s no other way. Some people simply can''t be provoked."


    Speaking, Shen Qing once again stirred the power within his body, that force surged once more, causing the hall to suddenly fill with roaring winds, as if the entire space was about to be torn apart.


    Under this terrible power, the Shield in front of Xue Yan started to tremble violently, emitting a "buzzing" sound, seemingly on the verge of shattering at any moment.


    Xue Yan''s heart was filled with boundless terror; he hadn''t imagined Shen Qing''s strength to be so formidable, even the Xue family''s Jade Shield was struggling to withstand it.


    Today''s decision was too rash.


    He steadied his mind and shouted: "Lord Shen, let''s talk about this..."


    Xue Yan''s words abruptly came to a halt.


    Shen Qing gave him no chance to catch his breath.


    He moved like a ghost, appearing before Xue Yan in a flash, and punched directly at the Shield.


    "Bang!"


    A loud noise echoed as the Shield shattered instantly. Xue Yan, as if struck hard, was sent flying backward, slamming into the hall''s wall, and spat blood, his face as pale as paper.


    "Lord Xue, are you a bit more clear-headed now?"


    Shen Qing knew that yielding would only bring about more coercion, and endless threats would follow.


    The person in front of him was somewhat oblivious to good and evil, unsure of the gravity of the situation, so it was necessary to jolt him awake.


    Xue Yan struggled to stand, spat out a mouthful of blood, and stared daggers at Shen Qing.


    He had never encountered someone like Shen Qing who defied convention in such a manner.


    However, he also knew that at this moment, a point of no return had been reached between them, and begging for mercy wouldn''t have the slightest effect.


    He viciously said: "Lord Shen, what an impressive show of might you have."


    "I, along with Lord Shi and others, was ordered by Your Majesty to investigate the demon case in Yongzhou. Ji He, Lord Ji, hails from the Mountain Sea Department, collecting Martial Mechanism information for the Ji Family, and they are still quietly gathering Spirit Mechanism matters throughout the world. Do you think Your Majesty has other intentions by having him come at this time?"


    "You dare to assault me, an imperial envoy¡ªwhat does this mean? Do you wish to rebel?"


    The final words exploded like thunder. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, Shen Qing remained expressionless, without a ripple in his demeanor.


    "Have you finished talking?" he coldly uttered one sentence.


    "Hmm?" Xue Yan was stunned, not having fully recovered from the previous threats, his expression confused.


    Slap!


    Shen Qing''s slap landed mercilessly on Xue Yan''s face with lightning speed.


    Xue Yan''s entire body was like a kite with a broken string, sent flying, crashing heavily against the wall, then sliding down, curling up into a ball in pain, unable to get up.


    The blood trickling from his mouth and the swelling on his face were a stark contrast to his current pathetic and terrified state.


    A madman, a complete madman!


    Shen Qing stepped toward him, gripping Xue Yan''s hair and dragging him up, saying: "Remember, I have never liked being threatened by others in my life. Besides, this is my territory; the strong dragon cannot or shouldn''t suppress the local snake. You ended up in such a state, I can only say you picked the wrong opponent."


    Xue Yan gasped heavily, fear filling his eyes; he had never met someone so terrifying.


    He stammered: "Do you know... you''ve offended... my Xue family... won''t let you... nor will Your Majesty..."


    "Who said I''ve offended you?" Shen Qing, with a look of surprise, leaned closer to Xue Yan''s ear and lowered his voice: "If I''m not mistaken, you came here alone, right? Did anyone see?"


    "You¡­"


    Xue Yan had never met someone so shameless.


    Just then, Shen Qing pulled out an exquisite Elixir from his bosom and forcefully stuffed it into Xue Yan''s mouth.


    The Elixir melted on his tongue, a warm current quickly coursing through Xue Yan''s body, repairing his damaged meridians and flesh.


    In just a moment, the bruises and injuries on Xue Yan''s body vanished without a trace.


    Xue Yan, struggling to speak, with a voice full of tremors, asked: "What did you make me eat?"


    "It''s a miraculous medicine that repairs external injuries." Shen Qing stood up and said: "Now that you walk out, no one will see any conflict between us. You are a smart person, you should know what to do."


    "If I hear a single word about today from outside, believe that I''ll make sure you don''t walk out of Yongzhou City alive? I might not deal with the Xue family, but can''t I handle you, Lord Xue the third son?!"


    Threats, blatant threats!


    Xue Yan never expected such an outcome when he arrived.


    He had intended to threaten Shen Qing, and now the tables were completely turned.


    He understood that today, he had wholly fallen into Shen Qing''s hands, and his plan had utterly collapsed.


    "Are you healed?" Shen Qing looked down on Xue Yan from above and said: "If you''re healed, then get lost!"


    Xue Yan shivered all over, fear and desperation flashing in his eyes.


    Under Shen Qing''s gaze, he unhesitatingly got up, and without a word, left the rear hall of the Sea Affairs Department.


    Shen Qing murmured to himself: "With Xue Yan keeping an eye on me, and such a big event happening today, the matter between us cannot end peacefully, so he must die."


    "But, as he said, he has the backing of the Xue family and came alongside the imperial envoy; he can''t openly die by my hands."


    With that in mind, Shen Qing''s mind stirred, and a passage of text from the ink panel floated before his eyes, displayed plainly.


    ```

 Chapter 322 - 8: Da Xu Technique Breakthrough, A Dark and Windy Night Perfect for Killing

    ```


    [Skill: Da Xu Technique (Skillfully)]


    [Progress: 195/200 points]


    [Status: Cannot be enhanced]


    [Note: "A steed''s leap cannot cover ten paces; a slow horse''s continuous steps achieve the goal." Continuous practice has made you more adept at the Da Xu Technique, mastering its high-speed execution. After this breakthrough, your understanding of the concept of ''Xu'' deepens¡ªthis martial art allows you to traverse space, appearing and disappearing tracelessly, elusive as the wind.]


    "Just a bit more practice with the Da Xu Technique, and it should break through tonight if all goes well."


    Shen Qing muttered to himself, a slight smile appearing on his face.


    Ever since Huang Furo had fully imparted the Da Xu Technique to him, his cultivation in this martial art had become increasingly smooth.


    With the added enhancement of Spirit Essence, in just a few days, this martial art was quietly nearing the conditions needed for a breakthrough.


    Shen Qing thought to himself, "Once this martial art breaks through, I can attempt to kill that Xue Yan."


    The events of the day came suddenly. Xue Yan''s abrupt arrival was unexpected, leaving unknown tactics behind, and in broad daylight at the Guardian Martial Department, who knew how many had seen him.


    Had he attacked earlier and killed him, within the Guardian Martial Department, there was no denying responsibility.


    In other words, letting this Third Young Master Xue die elsewhere without any connection to himself would be ideal.


    With this in mind, there was nothing more to say.


    Shen Qing quickly came to a decision and headed into the Cultivation Room, pulling out a piece of Jade Token, fully focused and immersed in cultivation.


    He practiced the Da Xu Technique, running continuously within the Cultivation Room, his form transforming into numerous fleeting shadows.


    Time passed by little by little, the night deepened, and the moon hung high in the sky.


    Shen Qing did not know how long he''d been running when he suddenly sensed something, abruptly stopping in the Cultivation Room, seeing floating ink-black characters appear in his vision.


    [Skill: Da Xu Technique (Skillfully)]


    [Progress: 201/200 points]


    [Status: Can be enhanced]


    Without hesitation, Shen Qing said, "Breakthrough!"


    Hum.


    Shortly after a moment of stillness, a massive influx of memories surged violently into his mind, making him dizzy and pained.


    Shen Qing, already prepared, used his strong Divine Sense to maintain his mind, suppressing the discomfort.


    Moments later, he had completely absorbed and digested this wave of memories.


    In his memory, Shen Qing repeatedly practiced the Da Xu Technique, and after continuous hard training, the technique''s essence finally became crystal clear in his heart.


    His understanding and insight into the Da Xu Technique became increasingly transparent.


    The next moment, a surge of Spiritual Energy erupted within the Cultivation Room.


    Shen Qing''s heart raced, every pore in his body seemed to open at that moment, greedily absorbing the surrounding nature''s spiritual energy that escaped from the Jade Token.


    With a dull, yet powerful roar, the force within Shen Qing''s body seemed to find a vent, exploding instantly.


    At this time, the structure of Spiritual Energy within him became completely consistent with his memories.


    After adapting for a bit, Shen Qing exhaled a long breath of turbid air.


    [Skill: Da Xu Technique (Small Success)]


    [Progress: 1/300 points]


    [Status: Cannot be elevated]


    [Note: "Heaven rewards diligence." After constant practice, you''ve broken through to Small Success in the Da Xu Technique, allowing you to touch on the realm of extreme speed. With this martial art, you can traverse space and master the ''Traceless'' skill.]


    Looking at the reminders appearing in his vision, Shen Qing let out a knowing smile.


    "Let''s see what extent this Huangfu family martial art reaches after achieving Small Success."


    Shen Qing mobilized all his Spiritual Energy, activating the Da Xu Technique.


    With a slight flicker, he vanished from the Cultivation Room, leaving only a faint trace of blue light in place, as if marking his passage through the void.


    Upon reappearing, he was on the opposite side of the Cultivation Room, his form nearly merging with the air, achieving true teleportation.


    Crossing distances, traceless.


    "This..."


    Shen Qing looked at the scene in shock.


    Although the ink-black text reminders had given him some mental preparation for the changes in the Da Xu Technique, the actual realization was still somewhat unbelievable.


    He sensed that the Da Xu Technique, upon reaching ''Small Success'' realm, vaguely surpassed the realm of ''Martial'' and started transitioning into the tier of ''Immortal.''


    This ancient martial art handed down from Ancient Times was unique.


    Shen Qing restrained his thoughts and did not delve further.


    He opened the door, looking up to see a bright moon hanging like a pearl in the ink-black sky.


    The silver glow poured down, casting a layer of faint, cold blue-white over the still Yongzhou City.


    "The night of a dark moon and high winds is the perfect time for killing."


    Shen Qing hesitated no longer, saying, "Third Young Master Xue, it''s just your bad luck to cross me."


    He left the Cultivation Room, summoned Chen Guang to find out Xue Yan''s whereabouts, and then silently departed the Guardian Martial Department Office.


    Once in a solitary place, he took a deep breath, Spiritual Energy surging wildly within him.


    Instantly, his figure blurred completely in the night, abruptly vanishing in place, leaving only a faint shadow perfectly merging with the surrounding darkness.


    ...


    In a room of a certain inn in Yongzhou City, candlelight flickered, casting mottled light and shadows.


    Xue Yan sat by the table, his figure elongated by the candlelight.


    After a series of blows today, his emotions were turbulent like a storm-swept sea, difficult to calm.


    His fists clenched tightly, teeth grinding, constantly recalling Shen Qing''s disdainful expression, stirring his anger.


    Suddenly, Xue Yan slammed his fist on the table, shattering it instantly into pieces.


    After venting his emotion, Xue Yan stood up and paced back and forth, pondering strategies.


    Given Shen Qing''s actions today, it''s evident he''s a ruthless person, intolerant of imperfection, and focused solely on the present.


    So using vague backgrounds to pressure him is pointless, making his schemes fall completely short.


    If things continued this way, he would return to Yongzhou empty-handed and would have no way to explain to his father.


    The hard-earned opportunity to prove himself was about to be wasted, leaving him extremely indignant.


    The best solution was still to find someone slightly stronger than Shen Qing to suppress him face-to-face, offering a glimmer of hope.


    Xue Yan immediately thought of the Imperial Envoy Shi Wenbo, who had also come to Yongzhou.


    This person was close to his Xue family and had cultivation superior to Shen Qing¡ªan innate ally.


    However, the matter of Spirit Essence was not easy to articulate.


    Xue Yan fell into deep thought, considering how to convince Shi Wenbo to press and act against Shen Qing.


    Just then, there was a knock at the door.


    Xue Yan paused and asked, "Who is it?"


    "It''s me," came Shi Wenbo''s voice from outside the door, continuing, "Nephew, what happened in your room just now? Are you in any trouble?"


    Xue Yan was taken aback, then laughed silently.


    Glancing at the shattered remnants of the table, he said, "Nothing serious, just broke some furniture in a foul mood. Sorry for troubling you, Sir."


    "Alright, if there''s anything you need, feel free to let me know."


    Xue Yan said respectfully, "Thank you, sir."


    Listening to the receding footsteps outside, Xue Yan felt reassured by Shi Wenbo''s attention and care.


    A glint of vicious determination flashed in his eyes, "Indeed, heaven helps me. Shen Qing, everything you did to me today will cost you dearly someday. My Xue family will not suffer humiliation in silence!"


    As night deepened and the candlelight dimmed, the flames of Xue Yan''s resolve burned even stronger, his eyes gleaming with firm determination.


    Seeing it was getting late, Xue Yan, without the habit of night training, prepared to sleep and rest.


    At that moment, the candle in the room wavered slightly.


    Xue Yan was puzzled, adrenaline surging as his body tensed with heightened vigilance.


    But before he could react, a gleaming light of extreme coldness silently sliced through the air.


    In the blink of an eye, it left a silvery mark on his neck.


    Xue Yan''s expression drastically changed, barely registering the attack before the cold gleam vanished without a trace, leaving only a whisper of chill and a faint pain on his neck.


    Horrified, he immediately realized a master was ambushing him in the shadows!


    Instinctively, Xue Yan''s Spirit powered up violently, Protective Gang Qi enveloping him like armor, while clutching his neck to channel Spirit Energy, hastily healing the wound.


    Having trained intensively since youth, regularly hardened by various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, his flesh was far stronger than common folk, making such injury not fatal to him.


    Urging his Spirit, signs of flesh mending could be discerned.


    "Killing me isn''t so easy! Only sneaky cowards must be weaker than me."


    Xue Yan thought maliciously, his face growing vicious.


    "Shi Wenbo surely hasn''t wandered far; I have to rally him to unearth this scoundrel, leaving them no burial place."


    Xue Yan opened his mouth to shout loudly.


    However, the moment he gathered strength to call out, he found his vocal cords suddenly, invisibly constricted, releasing only hoarse "Ha ha" sounds, incapable of forming words.


    Xue Yan''s eyes widened.


    His vocal cords had been severed.


    A nameless fear spread like ice through his heart¡ªhe must flee immediately.


    Xue Yan urgently scanned the surroundings, seeking the hidden enemy, trying to deduce an escape path.


    However, the room was so small and empty, apart from the swinging candlelight and his own shadow, there was no trace of a second person''s presence.


    In his panic, a resplendent golden seal, like a meteor from the sky, crashed down with overwhelming might, enveloping his entire body.


    Xue Yan felt an indescribable force bearing down on him, ripping through his Protective Gang Qi as if mere parchment, instantly shredded.


    "Boom!" With a deafening crash, Xue Yan''s entire body crumbled like clay under a sledgehammer, reduced to a mass of formless pulp, leaving not a hint of struggle.


    Under this force, the entire room quivered slightly.


    Moments passed, and everything settled.


    Candlelight flickered still, but the room''s atmosphere turned cold and deathly silent.


    Not far away, Shi Wenbo, noticing the commotion, shook his head in silence, feeling that, awfully late at night, Xue Yan''s actions were a bit excessive.


    Seeing no response from Xue Yan, he thought nothing of it and refrained from checking further.


    In a dark alley behind the inn, a flickering shadow revealed itself.


    As the shadow receded, Shen Qing''s figure emerged from hiding.


    Looking back toward the inn, a delighted smile spread across Shen Qing''s face.


    He hadn''t expected such smooth success tonight.


    After the Da Xu Technique''s breakthrough, he managed to infiltrate Xue Yan''s room unnoticed, killing him in just two moves, resolving a significant worry.


    This time, he''d done it discreetly, leaving no trace to lead back to him.


    Not lingering in the alley for long, Shen Qing continued to propel his Spirit, deploying the Da Xu Technique, vanishing from sight.


    Returning to his courtyard, he resumed calm and focused cultivation.


    The night passed without incident.


    Early the next morning, a Military Department officer rushed to his home, shouting anxiously, "Lord Shen, Lord Shen! Something''s wrong!"


    Shen Qing extricated himself from his meditative state.


    The abrupt interruption of his training left him somewhat displeased.


    With a flicker of his form, Shen Qing appeared behind the courtyard gate, swinging it open, disgruntledly asking, "What has happened that makes you so frantic?"


    The Military Officer swallowed nervously, saying, "Xue Yan, Young Master Xue, is dead! This is no small matter, our Lord Huangfu has summoned all the other lords."


    "What? Something like that happened?" Shen Qing feigned disbelief, saying, "Quick, take me there!"


    "Follow me this way, my lord."


    Leading the way, the Military Department officer moved swiftly, his pace brisk.


    After roughly an incense stick''s worth of time, Shen Qing was led before an inn.


    "Lord Shen, it''s inside here."


    Without hesitation, Shen Qing crossed the threshold, striding swiftly inside.


    Once inside, he saw the innkeeper kneeling before Shi Wenbo, crying out his innocence, "Sir, I''m innocent, I really don''t know who the killer is, this has nothing to do with me. Please see clearly, Sir!"


    "Humph, just because you say it doesn''t concern you doesn''t mean it doesn''t. The person died here, you can''t escape involvement."


    With that, Shi Wenbo casually swiped, delivering a blow to the innkeeper''s face.


    The innkeeper''s head burst like a watermelon, scattering its contents everywhere.


    Shi Wenbo casually flexed his wrist, unfazed.


    In the main hall, Huang Furo, Dou Wenxi, Yan Xushou, Ji He, and others were all present, each wearing deeply displeased expressions.


    Shen Qing tactfully stepped forward, cupping his fists and asking, "Sir, what exactly happened?"


    "Sigh...Lord Shen, see for yourself upstairs." Dou Wenxi sighed deeply.


    Shen Qing cupped his fists again, entering Xue Yan''s room to witness the scene of chaos.


    Xue Yan''s mangled remains were stuck to the floor.


    Shen Qing was taken aback.


    Perhaps he had gone too far last night.


    Third Young Master Xue died a horrific death. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Regaining his composure, Shen Qing returned quietly to the hall, standing silently beside Huang Furo.


    Shi Wenbo scanned the room, sternly stating, "In Yongzhou, for someone to attack our imperial envoy, what do you all make of this?"


    ```

 Chapter 323 - 9 Stirring the Water

    In the inn, a cold wind swept through, and no one spoke, making the atmosphere suddenly much more tense.


    Master Shi Wenbo''s face showed some impatience, and his gaze became as sharp as a knife, sweeping over every individual until it finally rested on Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, as he said in a cold voice, "Gentlemen, as the Prefecture Chief and County Supervisor of Yongzhou, do you have any clues or insights?"


    Hearing this, Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou looked at each other simultaneously, and fine beads of sweat involuntarily formed on their foreheads.


    They both knew their own limitations; with the current case, they had absolutely no direction to proceed.


    Dou Wenxi swallowed hard, his eyes flickering uncertainly as he weighed his words and pondered his response, "Lord Shi, this matter is too sudden. We have only just learned of it and are utterly clueless at the moment. However, General Xue didn''t attend the banquet yesterday, there could be other hidden details here, perhaps..."


    "Perhaps what?" Master Shi Wenbo sharply interrupted, his tone already tinged with anger, "Lord Dou, this is not the time for you to be vague!"


    Seeing this, Yan Xushou coughed softly, attempting to defuse the situation, "Lord Shi, please calm your anger, the incident indeed happened abruptly, and we haven''t had the chance to investigate thoroughly. Though what Lord Dou said was not comprehensive, it''s currently all we know. The fact that Third Young Master Xue did not attend the banquet yesterday wasn''t due to illness. If we are to investigate, we must start here, looking into where Third Young Master Xue has been recently, whom he has met, and what business he was attending to. Only then can we begin to find some clues."


    "Yes, yes, that''s exactly what I meant, we should start from here and investigate further," Dou Wenxi quickly nodded in agreement.


    Master Shi Wenbo fell into thought, falling silent. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Truth be told, he also felt that there was something odd about the situation.


    This trip to Yongzhou, the way General Xue Zhao inexplicably included his son in the team, indeed seemed to have ulterior motives.


    "You both speak sensibly, we should start from here and obtain results as quickly as possible. Otherwise, should this matter reach the Capital City and come to the attention of Great General Xue, I need not tell you what will become of you, right?"


    The fleshy faces of Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou trembled, and their hearts instantly soared.


    "Lord Shi, speaking of which, Mr. Xue came to the Guardian Martial Department to seek me out yesterday," Shen Qing suddenly stood out and spoke up at this time.


    Now that Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou were planning to investigate Xue Yan''s movements from the previous day, his visit to the Guardian Martial Department Office would certainly not go unnoticed.


    Rather than wait for their investigation to reveal it and be confronted with it passively, it was better to take the initiative to speak out now and keep control in his hands.


    Hearing this, Master Shi Wenbo was shocked and quickly asked, "What did Third Young Master Xue seek you for?"


    Shen Qing showed some difficulty in broaching the subject.


    Master Shi Wenbo slammed the table, angrily demanding, "Just speak, why are you avoiding the topic?"


    Shen Qing hardened his expression and decided to go for it, "Third Young Master Xue came to the Guardian Martial Department seeking me not just to inquire about the details of the demons rampant in Yongzhou on that day but also said..."


    "Said what?"


    Shen Qing lowered his head, "Third Young Master Xue also mentioned that several officials were only interested in indulging in pleasures, incapable of achieving much. He didn''t want to be associated with such corruption, wishing to quickly understand the changes in Yongzhou and reach out to ''Heaven''s Ear.''"


    "The impudent boy!" Standing to the side, Cui Jin''s eyes widened in rage, and his brows furrowed like drawn swords, evidently consumed with anger.


    The aura around him suddenly erupted, unique to a martial master of the Spirit Void Realm. It was as overpowering as a mountain flood, a surging torrent that instantly filled the entire inn.


    The air inside the inn seemed to solidify, and the tables and chairs trembled slightly, emitting a faint sound.


    The people standing in the inn''s main hall showed terrified expressions, retreating backward, fearing to be affected by the terrifying momentum.


    Shen Qing became the target of Cui Jin''s retaliation, with all the energy concentrated on him.


    He felt an indescribable heavy pressure like a massive boulder bearing down on him, his bones and flesh seemingly losing their original toughness at that moment, creaking in protest.


    It was the first time he sensed the strength of a martial master from the Spirit Void Realm; his expression turned grave, he clenched his teeth, and struggled to support himself with all his might, but his body still trembled uncontrollably.


    Just at this critical moment, Ji He''s figure swept by like a breeze and appeared next to Shen Qing instantaneously.


    He waved his hands lightly, and his own energy burst forth in sync, dissolving Cui Jin''s mountainous energy, lifting the heavy burden off Shen Qing.


    "Eunuch Cui, Shen Chasi is just stating the facts; why get so angry?" Ji He spoke with a calm demeanor.


    In reality, he understood why Cui Jin was so agitated.


    Your Majesty had specifically arranged for him to come here with Shi Wenbo, wanting him to act as the Emperor''s eyes, to fully understand the situation and uncover certain secrets.


    Yet, Xue Yan desired to overreach his station and go straight to the heavens with his complaint.


    This move made him seem useless, potentially worsening his impression before Your Majesty.


    For the Imperial Eunuch, such an act was tantamount to cutting off his future prospects, how could he not be angry?


    Cui Jin''s face remained grim, but his imposing aura had receded quite a bit; he let out a cold snort, "If it weren''t for Brother Ji''s sake, today I would have made him understand the severity of his situation!"


    Shen Qing, now awakened from the ordeal, looked towards Ji He with gratitude, his voice trembling slightly, "Thank you, Lord Ji, for your assistance."


    Cui Jin chuckled and said, "The Za Family has other matters to attend, so I''ll be leaving first. This issue can be handled by Lord Shi and the others."


    With that, Cui Jin departed from the inn leisurely, evidently not wishing to be involved in the matter any further.


    "Hmph, nothing but a dog eunuch pandering for the Sage''s favor," Shi Wenbo snorted coldly, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.


    He immediately ordered, "Send the command down, lock down the entire city this instant. Anyone even remotely related to last night''s incident must be brought in for questioning!"


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou busily placed their hands together in salute, acknowledging the order.


    "Don''t stand around idling, get moving quickly. Regardless of who the perpetrator is, bring me results as soon as possible!"


    "This subordinate obeys the command."


    Having said this, Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou strode out of the inn, with Shen Qing and others following closely behind them.


    Watching the others leave, Shi Wenbo turned to Ji He and said, "Lord Ji, what do you make of what Chief Officer Shen said?"


    "Sounds like something Third Young Master Xue might say," Ji He took a few steps towards the door, speaking to Shi Wenbo with his back turned, "As far as I know, right now Third Young Master Xue and his elder brother Xue Bai are vying for the Xue Family Heir position. If he doesn''t show some initiative, indeed he won''t make it."


    "Then what do you think about this matter...?"


    "Investigate it. We''ll take it as far as it goes. In any case, this matter doesn''t concern us; the ones who should be worried are those from the Yongzhou Government Office. If the Xue Family wants to vent their anger, they''ll direct it at them," Ji He continued, "What''s most important for us is to ensure we fulfill the task entrusted to us by Your Majesty."


    Shi Wenbo pondered for a moment, then agreed, "Lord Ji speaks sensibly."

 Chapter 324 - 10 Huang Furo

    ```


    Outside the inn, on the main street, Huang Furo and Shen Qing walked side by side.


    After parting ways with Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, Huang Furo finally couldn''t hold back her anxiety and whispered to Shen Qing, "You were a bit impulsive just now. Those words, there really was no need to say them, they do you no good."


    Her tone carried a slight hint of reproach, yet also subtly concealed a trace of unnoticeable care.


    This matter was something Shen Qing did intentionally, but it was a matter that could only be kept in his heart. He couldn''t tell anyone, or it would surely bring trouble upon himself.


    Naturally, Huang Furo would not know the reason behind it.


    Shen Qing sighed with a bitter smile and said, "I just spoke the truth, I didn''t expect Eunuch Cui to react so strongly."


    A gentle breeze brushed through Huang Furo''s hair as she gently shook her head, sighed, and said, "You, you''re too honest. In this ever-changing Jianghu and court, being too candid often harms both oneself and others."


    Hearing the word "honest," Shen Qing almost burst into laughter.


    If he hadn''t remembered incorrectly, Huang Furo was present when he killed several of the old relics of the Zhou Family and the two great demons.


    No matter how he thought about it, the word "honest" had nothing to do with him.


    Not to mention, it was indeed Xue Yan whom he killed, and he did it using the martial arts of the Huangfu family.


    He really didn''t know how the usually clear-headed Huang Furo could be a bit brainless at this moment.


    Shen Qing didn''t plan to explain unnecessarily. He remained silent for a moment and then nodded, saying, "Lord Huangfu is right; it was my lack of consideration."


    Seeing Shen Qing being so compliant made Huang Furo feel a bit proud, for some reason.


    She continued thinking deeply, "This matter, the imperial envoy has their eyes on Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou, so let''s leave them to handle it and not get too involved. In my opinion, they aren''t entirely united, and this matter might end up as a confused mess in the end."


    "I understand."


    "Hmm."


    They continued to walk shoulder to shoulder on Yongzhou''s main street, remaining silent all the way.


    ...


    Inside the Huangfu Mansion.


    The night was already deep, but the main hall was still brightly lit.


    Having been busy at the Military Department Office all day, Huang Furo returned home.


    She gently pushed open the door, and a warm and familiar scent greeted her.


    Suddenly, she frowned slightly, noticing that servants were coming and going in the main hall, and they were using whale oil candles that were rarely used, which puzzled her. Why were there still visitors at home?


    Entering the main hall, she saw her father, Huangfu Chuan, sitting upright, with a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious official robes beside him. It was none other than Eunuch Cui Jin.


    A serious yet slightly smiling expression was on Cui Jin''s face, indicating that he had important matters to discuss.


    "Daughter, you''re back." Huangfu Chuan''s voice held a slight, almost imperceptible ease upon seeing his daughter return.


    Huang Furo nodded, her eyes pausing on Cui Jin for a moment, and she asked perplexedly, "Eunuch Cui, visiting so late, is there something urgent?"


    Cui Jin smiled slightly, stood up, and after scanning Huang Furo up and down, said, "Miss Huangfu, His Majesty has an order, commanding you to head to the capital soon, to gather the world''s Spirit Mechanism for His Majesty at the Mountain Sea Department."


    Huang Furo was shocked upon hearing this.


    She knew all too well about the Mountain Sea Department.


    The Mountain Sea Department, which oversaw the Imperial Armory, gathered intelligence and was responsible for collecting Martial Mechanisms for His Majesty. Its predecessor had deep ties with the Huangfu family.


    Seeing this, Huangfu Chuan gently patted his daughter''s shoulder, signaling her to remain calm, then turned to Cui Jin, "Eunuch Cui, this matter is of great significance. Could you allow us father and daughter to discuss it for a moment?"


    Cui Jin nodded with a smile, "Of course, Huangfu Family Patriarch, please go ahead."


    Huang Furo and her father retreated to the side, speaking in low tones.


    "Father, our Huangfu family has been away from the temple for some years, and we know nothing about the happenings in the court. His Majesty suddenly summoning us to the capital at this time, I¡­" Huang Furo''s tone held some hesitation, unsure of her own footing.


    Huangfu Chuan sighed, his gaze profound, "Daughter, I understand your thoughts. But the Huangfu family is now in decline. The old people of the court are gradually fading away, and this opportunity is crucial for us. If we seize this chance, we might restore our family''s honor. Moreover, you''ve always been exceptionally intelligent and possess abilities beyond ordinary people. Joining the Mountain Sea Department might not be a bad thing."


    Huang Furo was silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in her heart.


    Indeed, the Huangfu family had been declining in recent years, and if they could turn things around with this opportunity, it would be a perfect chance for the family to rise again.


    Plus, deep down, she had always wanted to climb higher and was not content with stagnating in such a small county.


    If there was a chance to enter the Imperial Armory or receive some support from the Ji Family''s Martial Mechanisms, her cultivation might advance further.


    "Father, I understand." Weighing her options, Huang Furo finally nodded, her gaze turning firm.


    The two returned to stand before Cui Jin. Huangfu Chuan cupped his hands and said, "Eunuch Cui, my daughter and I have discussed this and are willing to obey His Majesty''s decree and let the young lady join the Mountain Sea Department." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon hearing this, Cui Jin showed a satisfied smile: "Good, Lord Huangfu is truly understanding of the greater good. His Majesty will surely be pleased. Miss Huangfu, once the matters in Yongzhou are settled, you shall follow me to the palace to meet His Majesty."


    Huang Furo slightly bowed, "Very well."


    As the night deepened, Cui Jin didn''t linger longer and promptly took his leave.


    Huang Furo watched her father''s aging face, noticing his gaze was fixed ahead, deep in thought, which left her with mixed emotions.


    She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn''t know what to say, ultimately returning to silence.


    Days went by, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.


    Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou had been investigating, tracing Xue Yan''s movements in Yongzhou City, even uncovering his secret murder of a merchant.


    However, they could not find out who killed Xue Yan.


    If truth be told, Shen Qing was highly suspicious of the murder, but he cooperated with communication and investigation proactively, leaving no evidence.


    Coupled with his prestige in Yongzhou, and being in the same camp as Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou.


    Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou dared not speak out or make any accusations; they could only continue investigating with gritted teeth.


    As they investigated and stalled, the time gradually dragged on until Shi Wenbo and others needed to return to the capital to report.


    Through their relentless efforts, Xue Yan''s death became like a stone cast into a lake, causing waves but eventually calming down.


    The Xue family in the capital, under Shi Wenbo and others'' deliberate control, only just learned about Xue Yan''s death and received his body.


    Immediately, the Xue residence was in upheaval.


    However, Xue Bai, upon hearing the news, showed no sorrow; instead, he was pleased to have lost a powerful competitor, and he quickly shared this news with Zhou Su.


    Zhou Su was dumbfounded.


    With an almost instinctive reaction, he said, "Young Master, it''s Shen Qing. This matter must be related to Shen Qing."


    ```

 Chapter 325 - 11: Promoted to Two Department Chief

    "You mean my third brother''s death was caused by Shen Qing?" Hearing Zhou Su''s response, Xue Bai was somewhat puzzled and frowned as he asked.


    Zhou Su replied with certainty, "Who else could it be if not him?"


    He paused and asked, "Young master, do you think your third brother went to Yongzhou this time to handle some matters?"


    Xue Bai nodded and said, "He did have some matters to handle. What''s the relevance?"


    Zhou Su extended a finger and said, "Young master, your third brother had two tasks to accomplish: one was to handle matters for the Zhou Family on my behalf, and the second was to deal with the affair of the Spirit Essence from outside the region. The first matter is known to the young master and is inseparable from Shen Qing. Although I am unaware of the specifics of the second matter, I know that Shen Qing''s cultivation has progressed rapidly, likely because he acquired the Spirit Essence."


    "Your third brother, young master, would have inevitably clashed with Shen Qing while seeking the Spirit Essence. Both matters point to Shen Qing; considering it all together, your third brother was very likely the one targeted by the Yongzhou Chief and killed by him!"


    "It must be him!"


    Zhou Su became increasingly agitated as he spoke, to the point of losing composure.


    Seeing Zhou Su''s behavior, Xue Bai felt a sense of doubt arise within his heart.


    He considered himself not particularly intelligent, but not a fool either. He could distinguish certain things.


    Over the past month, he had roughly gathered some intelligence on Yongzhou''s Zhou Family, knowing about their plight.


    In his view, Zhou Su seemed to be making wild guesses to incite the Xue Family to seek revenge on his behalf, ultimately benefiting himself. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Su hurriedly clasped his hands together and urged, "Young master, Shen Qing managed to achieve such results in such a short time. Clearly, he is no ordinary person. If the young master wants revenge, it needs to be swift, otherwise, things might change."


    No one likes being used as a tool by others.


    Xue Bai furrowed his brow. Seeing Zhou Su''s agitation further confirmed his suspicions, he felt displeasure.


    "Brother Zhou makes a fair point," Xue Bai waved his sleeve coldly and said, "However, this is a grave matter. I must inform Father and let him decide. I cannot make a conclusion easily on my own."


    Zhou Su suddenly sensed Xue Bai''s intention to distance himself, and his heart sank, realizing he had been too hasty.


    He quickly tried to remedy the situation, saying, "Young master, nine out of ten things I''ve said are true. You must believe me."


    "Hahaha, the friendship between us is here. How could I not believe you? Rest assured, I shall write to my father truthfully."


    With that, Xue Bai hurriedly turned to leave from Zhou Su''s residence.


    Zhou Su said anxiously, "Walk slowly, young master."


    Xue Bai turned back, smiled, and nodded in acknowledgment.


    However, as he stepped out of the room, the smile on his face vanished, and he muttered to himself, "It seems I should visit here less often in the future."


    Collecting his thoughts, he walked briskly away without looking back.


    Upon returning to the Xue Mansion, the third madam''s room was still filled with incessant wailing, leaving no peace.


    Regarding Xue Yan''s death, opinions in the Xue Mansion were divided, but they all shared one thing in common: unwillingness to let it rest.


    Xue Bai entered the study, and after Xue Yan''s death, his greatest rival was gone, making the position of Princely Heir basically within his grasp.


    Inwardly, he began to assume the identity of the Heir, meticulously detailing the situation he knew and Xue Yan''s death in a letter to Xue Zhao, waiting for him to handle it.


    A few days later, the Xue Mansion smoothly received Xue Zhao''s reply.


    As the legitimate eldest son in the family, he seized Xue Zhao''s letter and was the first to read it.


    After finishing, Xue Bai''s face turned red as he said, "Well, indeed, experience always triumphs over youth. Father''s methods are much more sophisticated than what we devised. Since the matter has occurred, let us maximize the benefits."


    In the letter, Xue Zhao wasn''t very angry but unexpectedly calm.


    Xue Zhao believed that Yongzhou, a thousand miles away, was beyond their reach, even with the Xue Family''s immense power. To thoroughly investigate the specifics would be too costly. It was better to go with the flow and later use the pretext of the Jing Luan Assembly to send all Yongzhou''s officials and martial masters inside.


    In this way, Xue Bai, the legitimate eldest son, could participate in the Jing Luan Assembly with the Guardian, ensuring these people meet their demise inside, allowing him to personally exact revenge on his foes.


    Thus, it would not only avenge his brother and accrue family prestige but also reshuffle the government offices of Yongzhou, allowing the Xue Family to extend their influence and open a new scene.


    The actual murderer of Xue Yan seemed to become less important instead.


    ...


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, two seasoned veterans of the officialdom, wielded the tactic of ''delaying'' masterfully.


    They advanced each day, always finding new leads in the investigation, but never reached a conclusion, leaving Shi Wenbo and others exasperated.


    Moreover, with the circles of the Capital''s nobility well-informed, Shi Wenbo had long been aware of the Xue Family''s plans, making him less inclined to delve deeper into these cases.


    Everything happened as Huang Furo foresaw; Xue Yan''s death began to fade away without resolution.


    And after more than a month of investigation, Shi Wenbo and the other envoys had cleared up the changes in Yongzhou, planning to return to the Capital to report the mission.


    Yongzhou Prefecture Courthouse, council hall.


    "Gentlemen," Shi Wenbo''s voice resonated with stability and strength, "After over a month, we have finally clarified the demonic upheavals in Yongzhou and restored order to the city. Now it''s time to report back to Your Majesty. However, before leaving, we must properly arrange the personnel in Yongzhou to ensure a smooth transition and prevent further disturbances."

 Chapter 326 - 11: Promoted to Two Department Chief_2

    Shi Wenbo''s gaze swept over everyone present and finally rested on Shen Qing.


    "Chief Officer Shen."


    "I am here," Shen Qing proactively stepped forward, cupping his hands.


    Shi Wenbo said, "Regarding the recent demonic turmoil in Yongzhou, your actions have been witnessed by all the citizens of the city. It could be said that without you, this calamity in Yongzhou would not have ended so swiftly. Within my authority, I hereby promote you to Chief Officer of both the Military Department and the Guardian Martial Department, commanding both forces in Yongzhou. I hope you will live up to this trust and safeguard Yongzhou''s peace and security."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing''s eyes flashed with surprise.


    If he was promoted to General of the Military Department, then where would Huang Furo go?


    He instinctively turned his gaze towards Huang Furo, standing to the side.


    She was looking at him with a smile, a gentle toughness in her eyes, without any hint of negative emotions.


    Shen Qing instantly speculated that she probably had a better opportunity elsewhere.


    He did not hesitate any longer and said in a firm voice, "Thank you, sir, for your guidance! I, Shen Qing, will do my utmost to fulfill your high expectations and ensure the peace of Yongzhou!"


    After settling matters with Shen Qing, Shi Wenbo stood up and said, "Alright, gentlemen, we still have to pack our things. We''ll depart for the Capital early tomorrow morning. We won''t stay any longer."


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou stepped forward ingratiatingly, "Imperial Envoy, since you''re leaving tomorrow, why not let us host a farewell banquet for you tonight at Baihua Building?"


    "No need, just do your duties well."


    Before he finished speaking, a surge of vigorous energy rippled through the assembly hall, causing everyone to pause and remain silent as they watched Shi Wenbo and his entourage leave.


    Once Shi Wenbo and his party departed, the others also gradually left the assembly hall.


    "Where are you planning to go?"


    "The Capital, Mountain Sea Department."


    "The Capital''s Mountain Sea Department is a critical area of the court. Lord Huangfu, you consider this a promotion, congratulations, congratulations!"


    In the prefecture, the sunlight slanted across the bluestone path, casting long shadows as Shen Qing and Huang Furo walked side by side, taking slow steps.


    A complex emotion flashed in Huang Furo''s eyes as she sighed, "It''s just a change of place to serve the court."


    Shen Qing said with a smile, "But after all, it''s under the feet of Heaven, it''s different. I heard the Capital''s Mountain Sea Department has access to the Imperial Armory. If Lord Huangfu enters, the prospects are limitless, and future Martial Arts cultivation will surely advance greatly."


    "How do you know that entering the Imperial Armory will necessarily enhance Martial Arts cultivation?" Huang Furo asked.


    Shen Qing found himself at a loss for words momentarily.


    "Alright," Huang Furo smiled, revealing two shining tiger teeth, "I just hope that when we meet again, my cultivation won''t lag too far behind yours."


    Shen Qing laughed along, half-jokingly saying, "That might be a bit tough. I''m one in a million, with very high cultivation talent."


    "How high?"


    "Already three, four floors high."


    Huang Furo was momentarily stunned, then her eyes curved into crescent moons.


    As they spoke, the two had reached the entrance of the prefecture. Shen Qing stopped and looked at Huang Furo with deep eyes, withdrawing his smile, "Lord Huangfu, this journey to the Capital is long and arduous, please take care."


    Huang Furo nodded, her eyes shining with a determined light, "I will do my utmost. You, too, be careful of everything in Yongzhou." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They exchanged a smile.


    Then they each turned around and walked in different directions from the entrance of Yongzhou County Office.


    ...


    The next day, Shi Wenbo and his party took the lead to leave in a radiant light, while Huang Furo, after a few days of transition with Shen Qing, soon followed with some attendants and several swift horses, heading eastward and northward.


    At this time, after experiencing such a grand upheaval and transformation, Yongzhou seemed to be reborn, revitalized, and restored to peace and prosperity.


    The past stagnation and ailments were swept away by the turmoil, replaced by peace and flourishing.


    Every day, travelers and merchants from all around flocked into the city, making both the inner and outer city vibrant and prosperous.


    Among this, the Shen family seemed to rise to fame overnight, with numerous enterprises under the Shen family emerging like bamboo shoots after the rain.


    As the head of the Shen family and also Chief Officer of the Two Departments, Shen Qing had undeniably become a newly rising power in Yongzhou, with countless people looking up to him.


    Shen Qing estimated that the daily income from his current businesses was already over a thousand taels, astonishingly enough to satisfy his cultivation needs.


    However, compared to these external possessions, he was more concerned with the actual power in his hands.


    After taking over the two departments, he quickly positioned reliable confidants, such as Xiao Zhi and others, into the Military Department.


    Thanks to his reputation, the process went smoothly, and with Huang Furo''s full support before she left, he quickly gained de facto control over the Military Department.


    Everything was developing positively.


    Seeing the city stable, Shen Qing immediately moved his uncle, aunt, elder sister, and others into the inner city.


    Given his significantly elevated status, Shen Qing acquired a Shen family residence in Yongzhou''s central area.


    Upon entering the residence, his Uncle Shen Er and others were served like a master and mistress by the maids and servants, which made them very uncomfortable and often resulted in amusing mishaps as they struggled to adapt to the change in status.


    Shen Qing let them have their fun.


    In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and winter arrived, with snowflakes drifting down.


    In the Shen family residence, amidst the silver-clad courtyard, servants occasionally passed by in haste, their breaths forming puffs of white mist that dissipated in the cold air.


    "Master, Wu Sheng is here to request an audience," a servant respectfully stood outside Shen Qing''s study and said.


    Shen Qing put down his pen and raised his head slightly.


    A few days ago, he had sent Wu Sheng out to acquire cultivation resources, and after such a long period, he must have some results.


    Shen Qing put away his writing brush, ignoring the ink''s reminder in his vision, and casually said, "Let him in."


    "Yes, Master."


    The servant responded and withdrew.


    Not long after, Wu Sheng entered the study.


    He wore a thick cotton coat, with traces of wind and frost on his face, but his eyes shone with excitement.


    "Greetings, Master."


    Shen Qing rose to meet Wu Sheng and motioned for him to sit while personally pouring him a cup of hot tea, saying calmly, "Brother Wu, how was your journey?"


    Wu Sheng took the teacup, holding it with both hands as warmth spread from his palms, filling his heart with a warm current.


    He happily said, "Master, this trip to the Capital yielded much. I followed your instructions and procured many rare pills and elixirs, hard to find in the market. Besides, I specifically acquired some wish beads."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing''s eyes flashed with delight.


    Pills and elixirs have great effects on enhancing cultivation and healing, while wish beads are extremely precious and beneficial for practice, the more the better.


    Shen Qing said with a smile, "You truly did not disappoint me."


    Wu Sheng put down the tea cup and quickly took out a small jade box from his pocket, gently opening it to reveal seven or eight white jade pearls emitting a faint glow.


    Surely, they were wish beads.


    Shen Qing took the jade box, carefully inspecting these precious pearls, and revealed a satisfied smile.


    "Wu Sheng, you''ve done well, these things are very useful to me indeed." Shen Qing''s words carried gratitude and praise: "Is there anything you wish for? Let me see if I have it here."


    "Thank you, Master, for nurturing me! It''s my honor to serve you, Master. I wouldn''t ask for any other reward." Wu Sheng immediately bowed in gratitude and said with a beaming smile.


    Shen Qing slightly frowned; in his view, what comes free is often the most costly.


    As a seasoned traveler, Wu Sheng quickly realized he had misspoken, hastily correcting himself, "If I must say, I hope Master can grant me an official martial arts manual to practice. I hope Master would fulfill this wish."

 Chapter 327 - 12: Coaxing, People from Taiping County Arrive

    A flash of surprise flickered through Shen Qing''s eyes, as he had not expected Wu Sheng to react so quickly and discern his thoughts.


    After pondering for a moment, he directly asked, "What kind of Martial Arts are you interested in?"


    Wu Sheng said, "The Wu Family once had a family Martial Arts called Tongming Fist, which is said to have come from the official Martial Arts. I never had the chance to cultivate it in the Wu Family. If possible, I would like to learn the relevant Martial Arts, but I am not sure if you have it?"


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but smile.


    It was indeed a coincidence. He recalled that the Martial Arts Hall in the county town did have such Martial Arts, and even the names were very similar.


    "There is a Martial Arts called Tongming Mountain Shifting Fist that primarily focuses on using inner strength to move mountains and shift peaks, condensing fist power to its utmost limit. Once executed, it''s like a mountain collapsing, unstoppable. Is it similar to the Tongming Fist you mentioned?"


    Wu Sheng''s expression slightly froze; he had just been trying his luck and hadn''t expected Shen Qing to actually have it and to mention it so readily.


    He said in surprise, "It''s similar, quite similar."


    Shen Qing was not someone who liked to procrastinate. He directly said, "That''s good, then. I''ll give you an Imprint copy later. You can study and ponder on it here first, and once you have learned it, return it to be destroyed."


    Wu Sheng knelt on one knee in gratitude and said, "Thank you, Lord, for your generosity."


    Why Shen Qing had this Martial Arts and why he was so familiar with it actually made Wu Sheng somewhat curious, but he only thought of Shen Qing as being somewhat divinely skilled, without considering the direction of Divine Sense or Never Forget.


    After all, as Martial Artists, they always focused on Qi Cultivation and physical training, not on training the mind.


    "You wait outside for a moment."


    "Yes." Wu Sheng didn''t know what Shen Qing was going to do. Thinking that there might be other valuable items in the study that weren''t to be shown, he didn''t give it much thought and immediately turned and walked out, closing the door behind him.


    He stood at the door, watching the snowflakes that fluttered down from the sky, his heart stirred with endless ripples; he felt both anticipation and worry about his fate in the future.


    The Martial Arts book he had received today was essentially intended for him by Shen Qing, and he could guess that Shen Qing did this to keep him close, to win his heart, and to have him serve.


    It seemed unlikely that he could easily leave in the future.


    In the study, after Wu Sheng had left, Shen Qing took down the four treasures of the study from the rosewood rack.


    He took out a piece of fine xuan paper from a stack, spread it out on the table, and held down one side with a paperweight like white jade made of sheep fat.


    Shen Qing slowly ground the ink, the ink on the inkstone gradually becoming dense.


    During the ink grinding process, he closed his eyes and concentrated, repeatedly recalling the details of the Tongming Mountain Shifting Fist.


    After a while, he opened his eyes, took a deep breath, poised his pen above the paper, his gaze exceptionally focused at that moment.


    He began to imprint the Tongming Mountain Shifting Fist.


    In the study, the soft sound of the pen-tip rubbing against the paper rose.


    Time passed bit by bit; when the final stroke was completed, Shen Qing flicked his sleeves lightly, a wave of intense Spiritual Power gushing from his palm enveloped those papers.


    In an instant, the ink was dried by the Spiritual Power.


    With a gesture of his hand, he aligned the papers, pinched them with his fingers, and used Spiritual Power to bind them into a volume.


    "Come in."


    Standing at the door, Wu Sheng felt that some time had passed, and he gently pushed open the door, his gaze landing on Shen Qing''s figure.


    Shen Qing did not hesitate; he gently picked up the bound Tongming Mountain Shifting Fist secret book from the table and handed it to Wu Sheng, instructing, "The Martial Arts are ready. From now on, practice within the mansion. Do not take this book outside the mansion, and certainly do not publicize it."


    Wu Sheng took the Martial Arts secret book, his eyes conveying unusual emotions.


    Those precious Martial Arts secrets that were once so hard to come by now appeared before him so easily, making him feel a sense of unreality.


    With these Martial Arts at hand, the spiritual elixirs and Wish Power Pearls also became useful to him, presenting opportunities to break through to the Qi Hai Realm and advance further.


    He spoke no more, but solemnly said, "Wu Sheng thanks Lord."


    After speaking, Wu Sheng, without any hesitation, found a quiet corner in the study, sat cross-legged, opened the secret book, and began to cultivate earnestly.


    Silence returned to the study, broken only occasionally by the low exhalations from Wu Sheng as he grasped a new move, and the faint sounds of spiritual power circulating within him.


    Shen Qing watched silently from the side, feeling a sense of expectation towards Wu Sheng.


    Amongst those he trusted most, there were none closer than Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi.


    Unfortunately, their foundations were too weak, and even with the support of official Martial Arts resources, they had only reached the level of strengthening, still one step away from the Qi Cultivation Realm.


    For them to further improve their cultivation would still take some time.


    There weren''t many he could rely on around him.


    Wu Sheng was worldly-wise and, upon his observation, seemed to possess a passable character, making him someone he could nurture and win over.


    With his assistance, the future looked promising for him and those around him with the addition of cultivation resources¡ªbe it for himself or for people around him.


    ...


    Outside the gates of Yongzhou City, a beggar holding a broken bowl and a well-worn bamboo staff approached the city.


    Despite the cold winter season, he was dressed thinly, his frail body shivering in the cold wind.


    The beggar''s steps were faltering; he struggled to stop at the city gate, looking up at the mottled city wall with a flash of unnoticeable light in his eyes, murmuring to himself, "Finally, I have reached Yongzhou..."


    Before he could finish speaking, two lines of tears had quietly fallen. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He wiped away the tears. Though his clothes were already tattered, he straightened them and walked towards the city gate along with other people.


    There was no city entrance fee in Yongzhou, and the old beggar entered the city unimpeded.


    Once inside, seeing the juxtaposed shops and bustling crowds, he couldn''t help but exclaim, "As expected of a county town, it''s nothing like the small place of Taiping County. I can certainly find a foothold here."


    He walked on, asking people he met, "Excuse me, does anyone here need someone to write letters or handle accounts?"


    His voice was hoarse and deep.


    However, passersby either hurried past or gave him disdainful looks, with no one responding.


    Some shops even boomed him out before he could enter, not to mention giving him a chance.


    Just as he was about to give up, he overheard a conversation between two passersby nearby.


    "Did you hear? Lord Shen''s mansion is hiring servants, and the requirements are not low. Do you want to give it a try?"


    "Of course, I''ll try. Who doesn''t know that the Shen Family is thriving? Lord Shen is young, and his future is boundless. If I can get in now, I could surely secure a livelihood and not starve in the future."


    "The Shen Family?"


    The old beggar''s mind stirred, and for some reason, he remembered a family from his old village.


    "Why not try my luck? Even if I can''t be an accountant, being an old servant and eating leftover meals is better than nothing. I''ve already fallen to this point; there''s no room to care about dignity."


    After reflecting for a moment, the old beggar tucked his broken bowl into his pocket and hurried toward the direction of the Shen Mansion, inquiring as he went.

 Chapter 328 - 13: Meeting Old Acquaintances, Mixed Feelings

    ```


    The old beggar inquired all the way and finally arrived in front of the Zhu red gates of the Shen Mansion.


    He looked up and saw two majestic stone lions at the gate and the tall gate tower behind them, exuding a solemn aura.


    "So this is the Shen Mansion? Truly extraordinary."


    Only after just inquiring did he learn that many of the industries in Yongzhou City belonged to the Shen Family.


    It could be said to be the only dominant family in Yongzhou.


    Compared to it, the so-called Four Great Eastern Families of the past in Taiping County were like child''s play.


    He also heard that the Shen family head was a Lord Chief Officer of the government office, who had recently executed many demons in Yongzhou, displaying unmatched power.


    To him, such a grand figure was akin to a deity.


    The old beggar saw a gatekeeper standing outside the gate and went forward to inquire.


    Although the gatekeeper showed disdain, he still informed him that the Shen Family was indeed recruiting new servants today, which gave him a glimmer of hope.


    The old beggar straightened up, tidied his clothes, and walked with a dignified poise towards the recruitment area.


    Upon entering the recruitment area, he found the interior, though not as luxurious as outside, was clean and tidy. Several people in servant attire were busy reviewing applicants.


    Cautiously, the old beggar joined the end of the line, silently praying for an opportunity.


    Finally, it was his turn.


    A steward-like person looked up, his gaze scrutinous, and dissatisfied, he said, "Where did this beggar come from? Go, go."


    "Sir, I am not a mere beggar but a teacher fallen on hard times. I heard your esteemed house is hiring servants, so I came to seek employment."


    The middle-aged steward asked suspiciously, "Name? Age? Any special skills?"


    The old beggar respectfully replied, "My name is Zhang Shuyuan, over forty years old, skilled in teaching and bookkeeping, hardworking and willing to serve the Shen Family."


    Hearing this, the steward frowned slightly, with a tone of disdain, "Our master requires servants who are nimble and skilled, the young, not bookkeepers. You''re too old; it''s not suitable."


    Zhang Shuyuan felt his heart sink, yet he did not give up, earnestly saying, "Please, sir, grant me some leniency. Though I''m aged, I am sincere and will serve wholeheartedly."


    At this moment, another steward, seemingly more experienced, interjected, "Our master is kind and always approachable to the common folk in the city. If you''re earnest, you could wait at the gate and try your luck by appealing directly to him. Just remember, don''t blame us if anything goes wrong."


    "No blame, no blame." Zhang Shuyuan felt a surge of indescribable strength, quickly bowing, "Thank you, sir, I will do my best. May I know the esteemed name of the Shen family master?"


    "Military Department, Guardian Martial Department Chief Officer, Shen Qing, Lord Shen!"


    Boom!


    Zhang Shuyuan''s body trembled fiercely, nearly dropping the broken bowl from his arms.


    He muttered this name repeatedly, his eyes flashing with disbelief, "Impossible¡­ Impossible¡­ It must be a name coincidence."


    Yet he vaguely remembered that a few years ago, Shen Qing and his family indeed headed in the direction of Yongzhou.


    He quickly asked, "Is your family master from Taiping County?"


    The steward, slightly impatient, said, "Old beggar, are you getting ahead of yourself? We show you the way and you go on and on; get lost now, don''t hold us up."


    Someone in the line behind also began to complain, dissatisfied with the old beggar''s actions.


    After a brief bow of gratitude, Zhang Shuyuan gritted his teeth and walked directly to the gate.


    At this moment, an indescribable emotion surged in his heart, filled with excitement, yet with much anxiety and unease.


    But having come this far, he decided to try no matter what.


    Suppressing his inner turmoil, Zhang Shuyuan found a good vantage point in a corner to crouch quietly, staring at the gate of the Shen Mansion.


    He kept rubbing his hands to build up some vigor.


    Time passed slowly, and soon it was evening. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The gates of the Shen Mansion stood grandly, lit up gloriously.


    At that moment, he saw a figure flash from a distance and land in front of the Shen Mansion gate.


    Standing in the corner, Zhang Shuyuan''s expression changed when he recognized the person, and his mind went completely blank.


    Who else could it be if not the Shen Qing of his memory?


    Suddenly, a mix of emotions overwhelmed him, shock attacking his very soul.


    After much hesitation, Zhang Shuyuan finally mustered the courage and dashed forward.


    "Qingzi¡­"


    The moment he spoke, he felt it inappropriate and quickly corrected himself, "Lord Shen."


    Upon hearing the shout, Shen Qing turned, scrutinizing the ragged beggar rushing over, and after a pause, recognized him.


    This beggar was none other than Zhang Shu Chi from Hongshan Village!


    This person had once taught him, and later helped him manage business in Taiping County.


    At that time, when departing, the other party seemed unwilling to leave, hence remained in Taiping County.


    He was visibly astonished, "Is it you? How come you''re here?"


    Seeing this familiar face, Zhang Shuyuan burst into tears, saying, "Didn''t expect it''s really you, so good, truly so good."


    Shen Qing responded serenely, "Let''s talk inside."


    "Yes, yes, okay." Zhang Shuyuan nodded repeatedly.


    With a gentle sweep of his sleeve, Shen Qing led Zhang Shuyuan into the mansion.


    Inside the mansion, carved beams and painted walls, splendid in gold and jade.


    Upon crossing the threshold, Zhang Shuyuan glanced around, his eyes flashing with surprise, marveling at Shen Qing''s transformation over the years.


    No matter how he tried, he couldn''t imagine in such a short span of one or two years, Shen Qing could become a city dignitary and reach such heights.


    Having read many books, he knew well how difficult it was for people of their lowly origin to rise up.


    Naturally, Shen Qing noticed Zhang Shuyuan''s thoughts, saying softly, "Having come all this way, you must be hungry. Freshen up first, then I''ll summon Uncle and Aunt, and we''ll dine together."


    Meeting Shen Qing, Zhang Shuyuan felt somewhat flattered, quickly agreeing, "Alright, alright."


    Very soon, Shen Qing summoned a servant to take Zhang Shuyuan to freshen up, and also called for uncle, aunt, and elder sister Shen Fang.


    Uncle Shen Er, upon learning Zhang Shuyuan had come to Yongzhou and found the mansion, was quite surprised, "How did he manage to come?"


    In these times, traveling such distances wasn''t easy.


    Shen Qing shook his head, also puzzled, "We''ll ask him later."


    In about two quarters of an hour, a newly refreshed Zhang Shuyuan was seated at an ornate round table.


    Shen Qing and the elders were all present.


    The table was laden with hot, fragrant dishes.


    Looking at this feast, Zhang Shu''s throat couldn''t help but move.


    He looked at Shen Er in his fine attire, filled with envy.


    Zhang Shuyuan wanted to maintain his dignity with some backbone.


    However, his stomach betrayed him, growling incessantly.


    "Teacher, would you like to eat first?"


    Zhang Shuyuan bowed slightly, ignoring the etiquette, and devoured a chicken leg.


    After a while, as Zhang Shuyuan slowed down his eating, Shen Qing picked up a cup of tea and curiously asked, "Teacher, why did you come to Yongzhou suddenly? How''s everyone in Taiping County?"


    ```

 Chapter 329 - 14 Recruiting an Accountant, The Current Situation in Taiping County

    Zhang Shuyuan was chewing on chicken, his cheeks puffed out, and he mumbled, "Ahem, this matter is a long story."


    Shen Qing''s tone was calm and amiable, "No rush, you can take your time to speak."


    "Um, um..." Zhang Shuyuan nodded like a little chicken pecking at grain.


    He swallowed the food in his mouth, and suddenly his face changed, frantically pounding his chest.


    In his haste, he grabbed the teacup on the table, gulped down a large mouthful of water, and seemed to feel a bit more comfortable, showing not the slightest decorum of a scholar.


    Zhang Shuyuan kept rubbing his chest, regulating his breathing, and couldn''t help but burp.


    He let out an embarrassed smile.


    After a while, once he calmed down, Zhang Shuyuan''s expression became grave, and as he recalled, he said, "Taiping County... ever since you all left two years ago, everyone''s days there have been getting harder and harder. Last month, for some unknown reason, many demons suddenly surged in, cutting off the trade routes outside the city. The current situation, in general, is not very good."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing frowned deeply, gently setting down the teacup in hand, which made a slight sound, "Demons? I remember Taiping County was taken over by the Huang Tian Sect, right? While in their hands, the government forces couldn''t breach it for a long time. Facing demons, do they not care?"


    Zhang Shuyuan sighed, "Sigh... don''t mention it. Huang Tian Sect left before the demons arrived, and they took many people with them when they left. Now, to put it bluntly, Taiping County is a no-man''s-land."


    Uncle Shen the Second, Aunt, Xiao Shan, and others felt fortunate hearing Zhang Shuyuan''s account.


    They were also lucky not to have stayed there; otherwise, who knows, they might have ended up like Zhang Shuyuan.


    The wrinkles on Uncle Shen the Second''s face furrowed together, and he couldn''t help but take out a smoking pipe, skillfully filling it with tobacco.


    The servants behind him, with a keen sense of propriety, handed over the fire.


    With a soft "click," the spark ignited the tobacco, and wisps of blue smoke rose slowly, swirling around Shen the Second''s face.


    Uncle Shen the Second took a deep breath, the smoke swirling in his chest, then slowly exhaled, asking, "What about the folks in the village?"


    Zhang Shuyuan glanced at Shen the Second, surprisingly seeing traces of dignity leaking through, quite different from the Shen the Second he remembered.


    He recalled that in Hongshan Village, this Shen the Second would split even a copper coin in half to spend, not even knowing what tobacco was.


    Now he had learned to smoke, which seemed unbelievable to him.


    Thinking of this, Zhang Shuyuan accidentally glanced at Shen Qing, feeling a secret envy in his heart.


    The Shen Family had produced someone formidable.


    This Old Shen er had some luck, having a good nephew.


    Back in the days at Hongshan Village, Shen Qing even sought him to learn reading and writing.


    When going to the county town later, he followed as an accountant, maintaining a close relationship.


    It''s just a pity that at the time, he was short-sighted, unable to foresee everything that happened later, making him miss all this.


    Regret.


    He truly regretted.


    But in this world, there is no medicine for regret.


    No use regretting.


    Zhang Shuyuan murmured in his heart, ''Repenting past wrongs, knowing what can be pursued in the future; perhaps I still have a chance now.''


    He quickly adjusted his mood and thoughts, trying his best to recall and speak out everything he knew, "Most Chen family members, Tian Family members went with Huang Tian Sect, and the remaining were partially eaten by demons, leaving the old, weak, sick, and disabled to struggle in the city."


    "What about the government? After all, Taiping County is still under the court, surely someone cares?" Uncle Shen the Second pursued.


    "Some of us contacted the court, but the court said they were busy quelling the Jinzhou and Dan Zhou traitors alongside the Huang Tian Sect and couldn''t spare any attention, only considering that small place of Taiping County after the rebel army there is exterminated."


    Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What Zhang Shuyuan said sounded like court behavior.


    Uncle Shen the Second couldn''t help but sigh, "Sigh... the world is getting more and more chaotic."


    A moment later, Shen Qing asked, "What thoughts do you have next, sir? Yongzhou, though slightly bigger than Taiping County, also isn''t necessarily any safer, with frequent demon invasions, many people unable to see past tomorrow, and without a reliable place to be, life won''t be easy."


    Zhang Shuyuan sighed, wiped the grease at the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, and said, "I originally planned to find a job in Yongzhou City, settle down first, and then talk about other things."


    "Sir, do you not plan to find someone in the county office and report the situation in Taiping County to save the folks there?"


    Facing Shen Qing''s questioning, Zhang Shuyuan felt no shame, and rightfully said, "A nobleman doesn''t save, and a saint doesn''t hesitate to help. When I''m reduced to such a state, unable to see beyond tomorrow, how can I still have the ability to care for others?"


    After hearing this, Shen Qing''s eyes flashed with an indescribable color, "I, Shen, have also settled down in Yongzhou, if sir does not mind, you can be a bookkeeper in my house. As for the Silver Tael, about one tael a month, though not much, it should be enough for sir to live on, what do you think?"


    The daily income of the Hongshan Gang he founded outside Taiping County was managed by Zhang Shuyuan.


    In his impression, Zhang Shuyuan''s bookkeeping was quite adequate.


    "No, no, no." Zhang Shuyuan waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "You see, I''m no more than a down-and-out scholar, coming to seek refuge with you is already shameless, how can I still take your Silver Tael? Just need you to give me a meal and a place to rest, that would be more than enough gratitude."


    "Then how about this, you handle some household accounts and help manage the city''s businesses for me, be an accountant. My house also temporarily lacks reliable people, handing over to others makes me feel somewhat uneasy. Sir, please don''t decline."

 Chapter 330 - 14: Hiring an Accountant, Current Situation in Taiping County_2

    "Ah..." Zhang Shuyuan heard, a trace of joy flashed in his eyes, he quickly stood up, and cupped his hands again.


    He deeply understood that such an opportunity was rare, and he bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Boss! I, Zhang, thank you in advance. I will register my residency here and serve you as a long-term worker."


    To register one''s residency meant placing one''s registration in the employer''s household.


    Though it did not mean becoming a slave, it established a master-servant relationship, which could not be easily reneged upon, and one must not do anything detrimental to the master''s household.


    Otherwise, it would be reasonable for the master''s household to punish or even kill at will.


    Shen Qing smiled and waved his hand: "You overstate it, sir. As fellow townspeople, it is only right to help each other."


    "Boss is so righteous!"


    After keeping Zhang Shuyuan for another meal, and once he was full with wine and food, Shen Qing arranged for the servants to register him and familiarize him with things at the residence.


    Zhang Shuyuan was extremely grateful, repeatedly thanked, and then withdrew.


    After Zhang Shuyuan left, Uncle Shen the Second tapped his pipe and said: "Qingzi, since you''re the Two Department Chief, can''t you dispatch some people to Taiping County to deal with those demons? It feels rather regretful that Taiping County has fallen to this state."


    Shen Qing shook his head and said, "That place is a great distance away from Yongzhou, and we don''t know the situation. It''s unwise to act hastily. I''ll send some people to investigate first, then make a decision."


    "Alright, these matters I don''t understand, Qingzi, you arrange it as you see fit."


    "Okay." Shen Qing turned to Shen Xiaoshan and asked, "What stage is your cultivation at now?"


    Shen Xiaoshan became very confident and earnestly said, "Brother Qingzi, I''ve started stretching now."


    "Not bad, that progress is catching up with Xiao Hu''s group. Later, I''ll have someone give you some elixir, practice hard, and show some results soon."


    "I know, brother."


    Hearing Zhang Shuyuan''s words, Shen Qing always felt that the Great Zhou seemed somewhat shaky, giving him a sense of crisis.


    After such a long period of training, along with exchanges with many knowledgeable instructors, he was no longer the bottom-tier hunter who knew nothing.


    Nowadays, many in the Great Zhou Temple are of Great Power.


    Even when the Great Zhou Court was first established, many small countries were swept away, and the veterans of sects and forces still exist in the world.


    These people, one of them could annihilate a city.


    If turmoil truly erupts one day, and such mighty beings appear,


    he does not wish to be a mere ant to be crushed under their hand.


    Therefore, he must diligently train, enhance his cultivation quickly with the aid of elixirs.


    In the following days, Zhang Shuyuan was full of energy and soon got into status.


    Shen Qing also quietly dispatched several people to Taiping County to ascertain the truth.


    After some time, they returned from Taiping County, bringing back a lot of news.


    At the county office, within the Two Departments Office.


    Shen Qing was buried in handling administrative matters within his own small pavilion.


    There was the sound of footsteps outside, and several people approached, stopping at the door.


    "Sir, we are back." Ji Youwu''s familiar sound came from outside.


    Shen Qing halted his work and said, "Come in and report."


    "Yes."


    The door was gently pushed open, and a few figures dressed in the Guardian Martial Department uniforms entered silently.


    Each of their faces bore the exhaustion of a long journey.


    Shen Qing looked up, his sharp eyesight scrutinizing as he asked, "What is the situation?" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ji Youwu stepped forward, lowered his voice, and said: "Sir, it''s not good. Taiping County has turned into a warehouse for demons, akin to a hell on earth. Demons run rampant everywhere, and the number of households remaining is not even one out of ten."


    Although Shen Qing was mentally prepared, by hearing it for real, his brow couldn''t help but knit together, though it quickly returned to normal.


    "Be more specific," Shen Qing continued to query, "Is it just Little Demons causing trouble?"


    If they were all ordinary demons, he wouldn''t mind going personally and killing them on the spot.


    It was not difficult for him.


    Ji Youwu''s expression turned solemn and he said: "Sir, the situation in Taiping County is more complicated. It''s said that a Great Demon has occupied the city as king, which caused the complete fall of Taiping County. Moreover, I heard that this demon has demonic power unmatched, once swallowed a martial master in the Spirit Void Realm, terrifying strength."


    A Demon King?


    This was an outcome Shen Qing had never anticipated.


    "What''s the origin of this demon, and why did they come to Taiping County?"


    Ji Youwu shook his head and replied, "According to our investigation, this Great Demon and its subordinates have been entrenched in Taiping County never leaving. It seems these demons believe there might be an Ancient Times cemetery near Taiping County, hiding a great opportunity, and have been waiting."


    "An Ancient Times cemetery?" Shen Qing was even more surprised.


    He had lived in Taiping County since youth, and never heard of such things.


    Ji Youwu hurried to ask, "Sir, do you need us to prepare to go to Taiping County and eliminate the demons?"


    He knew Shen Qing was from Taiping County, and suddenly inquired about the situation there.


    Ji Youwu speculated that maybe there were old connections in the city Shen Qing wanted to act for.


    Shen Qing lightly tapped the tabletop, making rhythmic sounds, and after a moment of silence said: "Let''s hold off for now."


    Ji Youwu was astonished.


    It was different from what he had speculated.


    Shen Qing instructed: "You''ve all worked hard, coming back, you can rest and take three days off, a good rest."


    "Yes, Sir."


    Ji Youwu put away his thoughts and stopped guessing Shen Qing''s intentions, then he left the room with the remaining officers from the Guardian Martial Department.


    Shen Qing stood up, looking through the window toward the distant blue sky and earth, suddenly recalling Zhang Shuyuan''s words¡ªA wise man does not rush into dangerous waters.


    "A Great Demon in Taiping County can devour martial masters of the Spirit Void Realm, its strength is perhaps formidable; it''s no wonder the court hasn''t deployed forces to reclaim Taiping County. Under these circumstances, I should not rashly act, putting myself in danger."


    "As for the Ancient Times cemetery, I am currently unable to explore it."


    "Power, it''s all about power. If I were stronger, perhaps I wouldn''t have to be so constrained."


    Shen Qing clenched his fists, his expression solemn.


    He waved his sleeve, and the documents on the desk behind him closed, then he took large strides into the training room.


    In the training room, Shen Qing sat cross-legged on a mat, focusing his mind, and summoned the inkstone panel.


    Lines of ink-like text appeared in his sight.


    [Skill: ??Heavenly Bow Method (Mastery)]


    [Progress: 921/2000 points]


    [Skill: Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal (Beginner)]


    [Progress: 3885/5000 points]


    [Skill: Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique (Mastery)]


    [Progress: 2247/4000 points]


    [Skill: Great Void Art (Accomplished)]


    [Progress: 377/500 points]


    ...


    During this time with the blessing of the wish-fulfilling pearl and spiritual essence, his martial arts progressed steadily and rapidly.


    And the bottleneck of the Innate Realm faintly showed a slight loosening.


    Following this progress, it shouldn''t take long for his level to break through once more.


    "The next step depends on whether the panel functions well."


    In the blink of an eye, a month passed, entering the depth of winter, when everything stilled.


    A disturbance occurred in the Great Zhou Court.


    General Xue Zhao''s military campaign was unfavorable, and the army of one hundred thousand lost a third, neither Jinzhou nor Dan Zhou was conquered.


    The current emperor, Ji Zikong, was greatly displeased and decided to advance the start of the Chaos Suppression Meeting, setting the venue in Dan Zhou.


    For a while, many noble families and dignitaries began rubbing their palms in anticipation of this feast, arranging for the clan''s younger generations and enemies to participate, hoping to distinguish themselves in life and death at the Chaos Suppression Meeting.


    Unlike the excitement of these prestigious families, the ordinary people being summoned were each like they lost their parents, with faces full of despair.


    To Shen Qing''s surprise, his name was also unexpectedly on the list for the Chaos Suppression Meeting.


    Not only that, but every official whose name resounded in Yongzhou was on the roster.

 Chapter 331 - 15 Jing Luan Assembly

    ```


    In the grand hall of the County Government Office, voices bubbled like a cauldron.


    Many officials and martial masters from Yongzhou were arriving one after another.


    Shen Qing followed behind the crowd, stepping into the grand hall.


    As he scanned the room, he saw officials dressed in their formal attire, some standing, some seated, all with varying expressions. However, they all struggled to conceal their unease and anxiety.


    At the forefront stood Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou.


    Their faces were somber as they looked at the numerous officials in front of them, as expressionless as dark clouds blanketing the sky.


    "Almost everyone is here now. Let''s begin," said Dou Wenxi, gesturing with his hand. The attendants standing outside the hall got the signal and quietly withdrew.


    With a bang, the doors closed.


    The discussions among those in the hall gradually subsided.


    Shen Qing moved forward and, thanks to his prestige in Yongzhou City, the nearby officials gave up their seats, obsequiously seeking his favor.


    He accepted without hesitation, seated himself, and turned his gaze toward Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, waiting for what would come next.


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi spoke in a clear voice, "I presume everyone here is already aware of why we have gathered?"


    "Is it because of the upcoming Jing Luan Assembly?" someone asked.


    Dou Wenxi nodded gravely, "Correct, it is due to this matter."


    Shen Qing''s brow furrowed slightly in the crowd.


    He vaguely remembered Huang Furo mentioning the Jing Luan Assembly. He had said that the court devised this event to exhaust the martial artists of the world by having them fight one another.


    However, he had only heard of it in passing and only knew half the story.


    Shen Qing stood up, swept his gaze across the audience, and finally it rested on Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou. He raised his fist to his chest and asked, "Regarding this so-called Jing Luan Assembly, there is much we do not understand. I wonder if the two of you could clarify our doubts. I''ve noticed some of our younger colleagues are also not very familiar with the matter."


    "Indeed, my knowledge of the Jing Luan Assembly is quite limited. I hope the lords will not hesitate to enlighten us and allow us to comprehend," he added.


    "We look to the lord for answers." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Some of the frailer officials hesitated to ask such a question that seemed to be ''common knowledge,'' not wanting to embarrass themselves.


    But seeing Shen Qing take the initiative, they echoed his request.


    Shen Qing''s question garnered a lot of support.


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi, with a composed countenance, said, "Lord Shen speaks truthfully. We should indeed explain this matter to everyone."


    He pondered for a moment before continuing, "The history of the Jing Luan Assembly actually goes back quite a ways."


    "As you all know, we martial artists, with each breakthrough in our realm, increase our lifespan. The Qi Hai Realm can add ten years, the Yu Luo Realm fifty years, and even the Spirit Void Realm can increase one''s lifespan by three hundred."


    "After the founding of Great Zhou, the court was stable, and myriad tasks awaited revival. There were no issues at first, but as time passed, these problems revealed themselves. Due to the longevity, the founding ministers continued to control the government, and the struggle for power among the high officials in the court became increasingly intense, almost shaking the very foundation of the nation."


    ```


    "The Ji Family ancestor thus proposed the establishment of the Jing Luan Assembly to resolve disputes."


    "At first, the Jing Luan Assembly was located in a place far from the mortal world, aiming to allow the various forces to determine the superior and inferior, to decide victory and defeat, without affecting the stability of the court''s administration. Initially, it was merely to resolve individual conflicts, but over time, it gradually formed the scale we see today. Each Jing Luan Assembly brings together martial masters from all over the world to discuss who is the true hero through real combat, and only the winner is able to receive the court''s rewards and promotion."


    "Those who die naturally have everything cease and have to give up their positions."


    Dou Wenxi continued somberly, "Although the Jing Luan Assembly is named ''Jing Luan,'' in reality, it is also one of the court''s strategies for selecting talents and balancing the power of various factions. Every 60 years, tens of thousands of martial masters gather, and in the end, only a hundred can survive. These hundred will be granted abundant rewards and high positions by the court according to their accomplishments in battle."


    A young official stood up proactively and said, "Then in this way, for us, the Jing Luan Assembly is an opportunity, right? Isn''t this a good thing?"


    "Hmph, a good thing?" Yan Xushou coldly snorted and added, "Think about it, tens of thousands of martial masters, and in the end, only a hundred survive. How cruel do you think it actually is? Do you think it will be you, or the likes of us with no background? Noble sons have guardians, Magical Treasures and Elixirs; what do we have besides our lives? Do you think we still stand a chance to fight for a spot among the top hundred?"


    "Isn''t entering just a death sentence?"


    Another older official sighed deeply and said, "In fact, everyone is well aware that this is the court''s strategy of wearing down the lower-level martial masters. It''s for this reason that each Jing Luan Assembly is convened, everyone is in a state of panic."


    After these words, a brief silence fell upon the great hall.


    They didn''t catch anything else, but one thing they did understand.


    That is, this so-called Jing Luan Assembly meant near-certain death for them.


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi surveyed the crowd before him and said, "I''ve already inquired clearly about this Jing Luan Assembly. The reason we have all been conscripted is inseparable from the Xue Family."


    "The Xue Family, what does that have to do with us?"


    County Supervisor Yan Xushou sighed and said, "Let''s not forget, not long ago, the Third Young Master of the Xue Family died in Yongzhou City! To this day, the murderer''s whereabouts are unknown. It''s likely that because of this, the Xue Family holds a grudge against us and has added us all to the list of participants for the Jing Luan Assembly."


    A martial master expressed his bewilderment and sorrow, "Ah, I was unaware of the death of Third Young Master Xue and had no involvement in it."


    County Supervisor Yan Xushou shook his head and said, "Whether we know or not is not important. What''s important is that we have been caught up in this turmoil, and I''m afraid it will be difficult to extricate ourselves."


    An official burst out in agitation and indignation, "Although we hold official positions and have some cultivation, in the Jing Luan Assembly we are nothing more than ants. We serve the court diligently and loyally, only to end up sent to die in the end, to become stepping stones for those in power!"


    "The Xue Family is truly lawless, seeking personal revenge under the guise of public interest!"


    "Sigh, saying they seek personal revenge under the guise of public interest isn''t the slightest bit false," Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi said. "I''ve also heard that this time at the Jing Luan Assembly, the Xue Family will send many guardians to participate, to lay the path for their eldest son, and it seems they will be targeting us."


    "..."


    Above the great hall, for a time, sighs of lamentation rose and fell.


    There were also those who said nothing, but if you looked closely, you would see their fists clenched tightly, with nails nearly embedded in their palms, revealing the turmoil within.


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou exchanged looks of bitter smiles, their eyes filled with helplessness and despair.


    They never thought that they too, one day, would become stepping stones for others.


    Shen Qing saw the expressions of all the people, and his eyes couldn''t help but flicker with a trace of peculiarity.


    Listening to this, it seemed that the people from Yongzhou were conscripted into the Jing Luan Assembly because of his killing of Xue Yan.


    Shen Qing was momentarily at a loss for words.


    The Xue Family really prefers to kill wrongly rather than let anyone go!


    Unable to find the murderer, they''ve decided to "kill" all the martial officials from Yongzhou.

 Chapter 332 - 16 Sense of Crisis, Hard Cultivation

    ```


    "Gentlemen, you''re not gathering us here today just to engage in idle chatter, undermine our confidence, and create anxiety, are you?"


    An official knowledgeable about the history of the Jingluan Assembly stepped forward and said, "I remember that the last Jingluan Assembly concluded less than 60 years ago, and now it''s suddenly come early. You officials in the Capital are well-informed; do you know anything more? If so, please share everything with us so we can think of countermeasures together."


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou exchanged a glance and said helplessly, "Speaking of it, this matter is indeed related to the Xue Family."


    "Recently, General Xue''s campaign against the Huang Tian Sect was unsuccessful, and because of this, His Majesty was displeased, which is why the Jingluan Assembly was called early to destroy the Huang Tian Sect."


    "Isn''t it about mutual slaughter? How did it involve the Huang Tian Sect?"


    County Supervisor Yan Xushou explained, "Nowadays, the Great Zhou Country has existed for nearly a millennium, and the Jingluan Assembly has gradually undergone many changes."


    "With the increasing scale, the Great Zhou Fourth Emperor Taiyuan Emperor found such pure slaughter too wasteful of manpower. Thus, starting with him, every Jingluan Assembly was done under the guise of crusading against barbarian tribes, used to expand borders. Later, for all rebellious, enemy suppressions, and other difficult, larger wars, the contemporary emperor would choose to initiate the Jingluan Assembly."


    "Constrained by the development speed of martial masters worldwide, the frequency of opening is still controlled around a full cycle, sometimes shorter, sometimes longer."


    An official questioned, clinging to a sliver of hope, asked, "Then if after quelling the rebellion, it ends in great victory, with minimal losses, what then?"


    "Then we continue to conquer and continue to kill. Once you enter the Jingluan Assembly, we are just expendables until completely exhausted. Additionally, don''t forget that many noble sons aim for meritorious service, and everyone is a competitor. So besides attacking enemies, you must also guard against colleagues. Surviving is not that easy."


    The atmosphere in the county office became increasingly oppressive.


    After listening, everyone remained silent.


    County Supervisor Yan Xushou clapped his hands and said, "After hearing so much bad news, let''s listen to some good news."


    "What good news?"


    "His Majesty has issued a decree. It is said that the one with the greatest merit in this Jingluan Assembly can be appointed as a general and made a marquis, which is akin to ascending to the heavens in a single step."


    After County Supervisor Yan Xushou finished speaking, a glimmer of light appeared in the eyes of some present.


    "If all goes well, the Jingluan Assembly will be initiated shortly before spring, which is in a month or two. We are to make our way to Dan Prefecture. Currently, we have sufficient time, which is perfect for us to discuss strategies. Everyone, if you have any insights, feel free to speak your minds."


    At this moment, a middle-aged official stepped forward and said, "There are thirty-six of us being conscripted this time; perhaps we could try forming a team to cooperate with each other and advance and retreat together."


    The officials present nodded in agreement, believing such words made sense.


    After all, in the chaotic domain of the Jingluan Assembly, an individual''s strength is ultimately limited. Coming from the same place, they could trust and cooperate with each other, which would, in turn, increase their survival chances.


    "What Lord Li said is absolutely right. I think among us, Lord Shen is the most outstanding. His achievements in slaying demons are well-known; we should take him as the leader."


    "Indeed, Lord Shen has extraordinary cultivation skills and should lead us."


    The officials present were discussing fervently, focusing their gaze on Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing looked around, gazing at everyone.


    He found that most of these people were officials from the county city, with almost none being his confidants or subordinates.


    Such a group seemed highly capable in appearance, but in reality, they only cared about their own survival, thus making it hard to coordinate.


    If he stood at the forefront, upon entering the battlefield, he might be used as a shield.


    This was certainly not a good thing.


    Shen Qing thought for a moment and still refused, saying, "I merely possess some martial skills and truly don''t understand the art of leading troops. I can fight, but I''m afraid leading men is not for me, unlike Lord Dou and Lord Yan. Today''s affair is hosted by the two lords, and they are also well-informed. Why not let them lead instead?"


    Shen Qing''s suggestion made Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou''s eyes light up. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even though they had never harbored any ambition, facing power so easily within reach tempted them.


    In reality, during this gathering of everyone, deep down they couldn''t help but have some thoughts.


    Dou Wenxi gently stroked the sparse beard on his chin, revealing a hint of longing in his eyes, and feigned humility, "Eh? Compared to Lord Shen''s bravery, our little skills are nothing."


    "Although we both have a heart, we fear we won''t have the strength. It''s still better for Lord Shen to lead us."


    Seeing this, Shen Qing guessed their intentions even more.


    He continued, sincerely saying, "Lord Dou, Lord Yan, it''s not that Shen Qing is shirking responsibility, but I know my limitations. With the two of you, we can truly exert strength. Colleagues, what do you think?"


    The officials present saw nothing wrong with this and found no difference for them, so they all agreed as well.


    After a moment of silence, Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou took a deep breath and said excitedly, "Since everyone trusts us so much, we will no longer be modest. Brother Yan, let us take up this responsibility for now, and we''ll discuss other matters when the time is ripe."


    "Alright."


    After shaking off the leadership responsibility, Shen Qing and everyone discussed the upcoming strategies.


    This continued until late evening when it finally ended.


    Upon returning to his residence from the county office, Shen Qing became increasingly worried.


    Having learned some details about the Jingluan Assembly, he felt a great sense of urgency.


    ''Time waits for no one, I must quickly improve my skills. There''s a month left, I must strive to break through to the Spiritual Void Realm. Additionally, the Great Evade Art for escaping and archery skills for long-range attacks both need to be strengthened.''


    Shen Qing secretly had a direction and decision in mind.


    In the following time, he delved deeply and emerged sparingly, investing all his energy into cultivation, and using the resources available to enhance his martial arts.


    Besides, he also sent Wu Sheng to the Capital to purchase two hundred of the finest bows, just in case.


    Time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.


    Inside the training room of the Shen residence.


    Shen Qing sat on an ancient meditation mat, eyes shut in concentration, breathing long and deep.


    In front of him, a Wish Power Pearl and a jade talisman floated, glowing brilliantly.


    The lines inscribed on the jade talisman continuously emitted radiance, with endless spirit energy gushing out.


    The Wish Power Pearl contained countless devotees'' sincere beliefs, like streams converging continuously, drawing the surrounding spirit energy into his body.


    With each breath Shen Qing took, the spirit energy around was drawn by an invisible force, transforming into strands entering his body through pores, circulating along meridians, nurturing every inch of flesh and bone.


    His aura began to climb incessantly.


    ```

 Chapter 333 - 17: Promotion to Spirit Void Realm, Sun Shooting Skill

    Shen Qing, as his breath steadily climbed, did not feel much comfort.


    Quite the opposite, he felt waves of pain.


    At this moment, Shen Qing''s breathing grew more rapid, his face contorted as if he were struggling to the death against some invisible force.


    He could sense the spiritual power within his body roaring like torrents, surging tumultuously, operating at its peak.


    But in the blink of an eye, the capacity of his flesh to absorb spiritual energy had reached its limit.


    Yet, the spiritual energy from the outside world continued to pour into his meridians, converging in the mysterious Spirit Sea, showing no signs of stopping.


    Shen Qing only felt an intense swelling sensation assaulting him, the rampaging aura as if wanting to tear his soul and his physical body to shreds.


    He endured, relentlessly suppressing this impulse, breaking through his own limits.


    Recently, he had often gone to the Martial Arts Hall to exchange cultivation experiences with the instructors, gaining a deeper understanding of the Spirit Void Realm and beyond.


    The spiritual energy between heaven and earth, transformed into spiritual power through the Cultivation Technique for martial masters to use, is by seizing the nature''s spiritual energy, mastering transcendent force.


    Every breakthrough is a qualitative change in power.


    But this power was too great; if not controlled well, it was easy to become possessed, lose oneself, and suffer backlash.


    It was like a commoner becoming rich overnight.


    Confronted with sudden wealth, many people squandered it recklessly, ending up poorer than before, or even worse off.


    The two scenarios followed the same principle.


    The greater the wealth, the easier it was to become possessed, and the more likely for martial masters to suffer backlash.


    What if the power was too great and prone to backlash, would a smaller amount suffice?


    That wouldn''t work either.


    The spiritual energy that martial masters cultivated was originally just a part of nature, but once it was transformed into spiritual power after cultivation, it showed it had become completely different from the external spiritual energy.


    Having something so different confined inside the martial master''s physical body was not a problem, but if it was used extensively outward, it would inevitably conflict and contend with the external world.


    If a martial master''s power was too small, once they encountered a bottleneck and faced the world, they would easily be dissipated and fall into confusion.


    Based on this, to safely breakthrough, in addition to grasping the balance of power, countless Great Powers thought of a compromise, which was to let their own spiritual power fall into a state of nothingness.


    To create presence in absence, and absence in presence.


    Hence, the realm above the Innate Realm was called the Spirit Void Realm.


    Shen Qing ceaselessly formed seals, pressing down on the spiritual power within his body, starting to assault the bottleneck of the Spirit Void Realm.


    Once he reached a certain limit, Shen Qing could clearly feel a thunderous rumbling sound, like the beating of a drum, continuing to emerge.


    At a certain moment, Shen Qing found his spiritual power becoming elusive and ethereal, as if wanting to break free from the physical constraints and merge with the heaven and earth.


    He had caught that sensation.


    Shen Qing''s eyes suddenly opened wide, a bright light burst forth, and he roared lowly, "Break for me!"


    He mobilized all his strength, including the faith force contained within the Wish Power Pearl and the abundant spiritual energy from the Jade Token, the three combined into a single force, charging towards the bottleneck of the Jade Void Realm.


    Just at that moment, within the Cultivation Room, winds surged and spiritual energy roared chaotically, as if the Void Realm itself had emerged with rippling tremors.


    Shen Qing''s body was enveloped in a layer of faint crimson-gold light.


    "Boom!"


    Shen Qing only felt an enormous sound from within, deafening.


    The bottleneck of the Spirit Void Realm was finally broken by this tremendous force.


    All the spiritual energy within his body turned into nothingness, yet this nothingness was closely connected to him.


    It was mysterious beyond mystery.


    With a wave of Shen Qing''s hands, he felt an unprecedented powerful force surging within him, merging seamlessly with the surrounding nature''s spiritual energy.


    "It''s the Spirit Void Realm! I''ve finally broken through to the Spirit Void Realm!"


    He couldn''t help but stand up, look up to the heavens, and let out a long howl, his face brimming with ecstatic joy.


    In all of Great Zhou, there were very few who could break through to the Spirit Void Realm before the age of twenty, and you could count them on one hand.


    Without a doubt, each one was a cultivation prodigy.


    Now, he, Shen Qing, was already a bit stronger than most of his peers from the prominent families.


    "With this in mind, if I enter the Jing Luan Assembly, I will also have some confidence, and perhaps I can contend for a spot in the top hundred."


    Shen Qing clenched his fists tightly, filled with self-assurance.


    The pressing feeling from just a short while ago had been greatly relieved.


    The timing was just right.


    Shen Qing exhaled a breath of stale air lightly, looking spirited.


    He didn''t give it another thought but continued to bury himself in tough cultivation, seriously preparing for the battle ahead.


    After his breakthrough in his cultivation realm, Shen Qing devoted all his energy to mastering skills, particularly the Heavenly Bow Technique that evolved from Bow Technique.


    Through his relentless effort, he finally filled the entire progress bar.


    [Skill: Heavenly Bow Technique (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 2001/2000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough possible]


    [Note: Diligence is life''s reward. Through continual and unyielding cultivation, you have finally brought the Heavenly Bow Technique to the brink of a Limit Break. With this breakthrough, you will master the Heavenly Bow Technique''s Limit Breaking Skill ''Sun Shooting Skill''.]


    Shen Qing didn''t hesitate at all and focused his consciousness on the Water Ink Panel to choose the breakthrough.


    The information on the Water Ink Panel rapidly refreshed.


    [Skill: Heavenly Bow Technique (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 1/3000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough not possible]


    [Note: With this breakthrough, you have mastered the Heavenly Bow Technique''s Limit Breaking Skill ''Sun Shooting Skill''. From the depth of your heart, a breath is drawn, which turns to an arrow, as fierce as the sun''s blaze; with one arrow, it shall be shattered!]


    Shen Qing, looking at that line of notes, became emotionally stirred. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A flood of familiar memories didn''t give him any chance to react, forcefully inserted into his mind, and stirred around a couple of times, causing his whole body to tremble.


    Relying on his ever-strengthening Divine Sense, Shen Qing suppressed the unease in his mind completely.


    Soon after, he digested the vast memories.


    In those memories, he was isolated from the world, immersed in endless cycles of cultivating the Heavenly Bow Technique.


    Day and night, he practiced the Heavenly Bow Technique, shot countless arrows, and finally, a flash of spiritual light sparked in his heart. He had an epiphany and achieved a breakthrough, mastering the Heavenly Bow Technique''s Limit Breaking Skill ''Sun Shooting Skill''.


    Shen Qing spread his hands open, and with one glance, a strong sense of familiarity struck him.


    Shen Qing casually summoned with his hand.


    The previous Hundred Shi Heavy Bow was drawn into his grasp.


    He pondered for a moment, then stood up with the bow in both hands, stretched his arms long like those of an ape, and started to operate the Heavenly Bow Technique.


    A crimson light began to gather on the bowstring, gradually taking the shape of an arrow.


    As this arrow took form, the atmosphere around it suddenly changed, filled with a deadly aura.


    Shen Qing was extremely satisfied, "From within my chest, I condense a breath, turning it into the force of a thousand jun, forging it into an arrow. Even if the blazing sun lies ahead, radiating brilliantly, nothing can withstand the power of my single arrow! All can be shattered! Hahaha..."


    He dispersed the Cultivation Technique and casually tossed the longbow.


    The Hundred Shi Heavy Bow landed perfectly on the wall mount.


    "This bow is a bit too weak, it seems it can''t withstand my power. Thinking about the time, Wu Sheng should be returning from the Capital by now; perhaps there will be news of a treasure bow."


    Shen Qing murmured to himself.

 Chapter 334 - 18: Acquiring the Treasure Bow, Troops Head to Dan Zhou

    Shen Mansion, in the study.


    After learning that he was forced to participate in the Jing Luan Assembly, Shen Qing recently reduced his involvement in the affairs of the two offices.


    During the free time, he would either cultivate or stay in the study.


    At this moment, the door of the study was gently pushed open, and a servant delivered a message.


    As Shen Qing had estimated, Wu Sheng, whom he had sent to the Capital to seek the treasure bow, had returned.


    "Let him in."


    "Yes, young master."


    With a creak, the wooden door opened.


    Covered in dust, Wu Sheng carried a long wooden box on his back and respectfully walked up to Shen Qing: "Greetings, Boss."


    Shen Qing gestured toward the doorway.


    The servant standing at the door understood the signal and closed the door for Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing glanced at Wu Sheng and asked, "How is it? Any results?"


    Wu Sheng untied the cloth rope at his chest and presented an ancient-looking wooden box with his hands, appearing quite heavy.


    He said with barely concealed excitement, "Boss, fortunately, I was not disgraced; I found a treasure bow in the Capital that should meet your requirements."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing''s eyes flashed with a sharp light. He took the wooden box, his fingers gently caressing the carvings on the lid.


    The bow he wanted now required at least two hundred shi, and asking a craftsman to forge it was simply impossible.


    And the heavy bows in the Hundred Treasure Tower in Yongzhou were unfortunately not much different from the heavy bows he currently had; even the larger ones were no more than iron embryo mortal bows, not what he desired.


    After much thought, it seemed only Wu Sheng could search the Capital Region.


    After all, the Capital City had the thousand-year foundation of the Great Zhou Country, which might satisfy his needs.


    Shen Qing unlocked and opened the wooden box.


    A glint of cold light appeared.


    Inside the wooden box, a treasure bow of ancient majesty lay quietly, emitting a faint aura of spiritual energy, appearing quite extraordinary.


    "This bow..." Shen Qing''s voice was filled with undisguised surprise.


    Wu Sheng stepped forward to explain, "This bow is said to be forged from a treasure embryo left over from the ancient era, not a mortal bow, and is quite remarkable."


    "This treasure embryo, through countless ages, was discovered by a forging master and crafted into a bow with supreme divine skills. According to his descendants, this treasure embryo is extraordinary, an unparalleled material for creating top-tier magic treasures, rarely found in the world. Although this treasure bow is not an ancient-era magic treasure, it gets pretty close and is unmatched by ordinary iron bows."


    Shen Qing gently stroked the bow''s body, feeling the power within, a surge of indescribable excitement rising in his heart.


    He took a deep breath, attempting to inject his own spiritual power into the bow, and the bowstring trembled slightly, quietly resonating with his heartbeat, maintaining the same rhythm, constantly echoing beside Shen Qing''s ears.


    Shen Qing casually pulled it and found there was a strong resistance.


    His expression changed, and he wielded his spiritual power, wrapping his hands around it.


    Under the stimulation of spiritual power, Shen Qing''s arms turned a dazzling gold, as if cast in gold.


    Shen Qing gave a light shout, his arms abruptly exerting force.


    The treasure bow in his hand flashed with light, gradually being drawn by Shen Qing.


    "Four hundred shi!"


    Shen Qing called out lowly, even with his cultivation, he couldn''t help but be shocked by the power of this treasure bow.


    To know that an ordinary heavy bow with a hundred shi is already rare, and this treasure bow actually had a force of four hundred shi.


    Such an arrow placed on the bow must have a fearsome power.


    Shen Qing stood up, his mind moved, and he suddenly disappeared from the place.


    He operated the Great Void Technique, constantly shifting, and appeared outside the city in the blink of an eye.


    With his sharp eyesight, he focused on the distant horizon.


    He slowly raised the treasure bow and operated the Heavenly Bow Technique.


    A brilliant light arrow gathered on the bowstring.


    With a low shout, the arrow flew off the string, carrying an overwhelming momentum, piercing straight through the sky.


    With a roar, a dazzling radiance exploded under the scorching sun, like fireworks at the ultimate of the sky, instantly covering the entire sky, swallowing all the surrounding light.


    At a glance, it seemed as if the sun exploded.


    "Sun Shooting Technique, Sun Shooting Technique, truly impressive."


    Shen Qing looked at the sun gradually restoring its light under the sky, a slight smirk on his lips, revealing a hint of satisfaction.


    After testing the bow, he did not linger.


    Shen Qing moved his foot, his figure transforming, flying back toward the Shen Mansion.


    In less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Shen Qing returned, back in the study, standing in front of Wu Sheng.


    Wu Sheng, seeing Shen Qing''s mysterious comings and goings, immediately stiffened, his expression growing even more respectful.


    Shen Qing''s gaze fell on the treasure bow in front of him and asked, "I''m very satisfied with the bow you found, does it have a name?"


    Wu Sheng respectfully replied, "That forging master''s descendant didn''t mention a name for the bow, it should be nameless."


    "Indeed, a bow is just a bow, doesn''t need a name, as long as it''s useful."


    Shen Qing returned the treasure bow to the wooden box, storing it away once more.


    He looked up and said to Wu Sheng, "You must be tired from the journey, take a good rest for a few days. There probably won''t be much need to trouble you for a long while on my end."


    Wu Sheng remarked in surprise, "Sir, you also have to participate in the Jing Luan Assembly?"


    "You heard about it too?"


    "I heard some nobles mention it in the Capital, the disciples of the Eight Great Families are all participating, about seventy people, each family has sent quite a few guardians to assist, it''s quite a commotion."


    Wu Sheng now understood why Shen Qing was anxious to find the treasure bow, there was this reason behind it.


    "Sir, you..."


    "It''s fine, give it a try, maybe there''s wealth for me." Shen Qing smiled.


    For some reason, he felt no fear, instead, he was faintly expected it.


    ...


    Winter passed into spring.


    Yongzhou''s winter had quietly gone, yet the air still carried a trace of chill.


    In such a season, the sound of horse hooves broke the usual tranquility outside the city.


    A team dressed in luxurious embroidered official attire rode into the city with an awe-inspiring presence.


    These people were officers from the Southern Region Troops Ministry.


    Without any hesitation, they headed straight for the Yongzhou County Official''s Mansion.


    The doorkeeper at the county mansion''s entrance shouted, "Who goes there? Report your name!"


    "We are special envoys from the Southern Region Troops Ministry, commanded by the court to execute important duties, report immediately."


    As he spoke, the leader raised his hand slightly, releasing the unique aura of a master, which unavoidably oppressed the doorkeeper at the mansion''s entrance.


    Not daring to delay, they hurriedly reported.


    Inside Yongzhou Mansion, having received the news, the Prefect Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, as the top officials of the county, hurried over, politely asking, "Esteemed lords have come from afar, what might it be for?"


    The leader of the Troops Ministry retrieved a yellow silk-bordered list from his bosom, saying, "Acting on the imperial decree, our mission is to escort the Yongzhou officials and martial artists participating in the Jing Luan Assembly to Dan Zhou to quell the rebels." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Prefect Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou glanced over the list quickly, finding it unchanged from prior confirmation.


    The leading envoy, in an unquestionable tone, said, "The rise and fall of the nation, every man bears responsibility. Serving the country is our martial artist''s honor. Please understand and support; don''t let personal feelings hinder state affairs. We give you a day to prepare, depart by noon tomorrow."


    "We comply!"


    Dou Wenxi and the others had no choice but to nod helplessly, instructing their subordinates to start preparing for the march to Dan Zhou.

 Chapter 335 - 19: Gathering Clouds over Every City, Converging in Dan Zhou

    The opening of the Jing Luan Assembly did not have a specific date, only a general time frame.


    The court merely required the summoned officials and martial masters to arrive in Dan Zhou after the rains and before the Start of Spring to complete the summoning.


    Spring had just begun, and there was still a period of time until the rains, leaving what seemed like ample time. However, it would still take a considerable amount of time to travel across the country.


    Even though those who were summoned were martial masters with exceptional physical strength and swiftness surpassing that of ordinary people, the Military Department responsible for leading the way would still issue orders to depart early in order to avoid missing the window.


    For those in Yongzhou, Dan Zhou was not too far away, so the departure date was actually not that early.


    Cities far from Dan Zhou had already commenced their journeys a month earlier.


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, upon receiving the orders, did not delay and promptly relayed the summons to all those in Yongzhou who were called.


    Many martial masters and officials of lesser renown felt a hint of despair upon hearing the news.


    Their survival on this journey was uncertain.


    But facing the summons of the Great Zhou Court, they were "listed" and utterly powerless to change their fate.


    There had been those in the past who resisted, and the outcomes were not good.


    Their entire families were executed.


    Now, they could only resign themselves to their fate.


    No one could withstand the suppression of the Great Powers of the Great Zhou Court.


    When Shen Qing received the order, he did not hesitate or feel anxious.


    The next morning, he took out the Crystal Silk Armor that Wu Sheng had been sent to purchase and wore it underneath his clothing, just in case.


    This Crystal Silk Armor was not cheap; a single piece was worth thousands of taels.


    Light as it appeared, it was extraordinarily sturdy, and martial masters below the Dan Realm would struggle to breach its defense.


    The assembly would have a complex mixture of individuals, and with the Crystal Silk Armor, Shen Qing could save much effort, freeing him to focus on confronting martial masters of higher cultivation.


    Beyond the Crystal Silk Armor, Shen Qing also carried many healing Elixirs, each costing a significant amount of money.


    But now was not the time to be frugal.


    Life was of the utmost importance.


    One only has one life, and when that is gone, no amount of wealth is of any use.


    After making thorough preparations, Shen Qing shouldered his treasure bow, hung his Dagger at his waist, and donned a grey-green silk robe, looking vibrant and spirited.


    With the coming of spring, according to the common reckoning in Great Zhou, Shen Qing had turned nineteen.


    Since leaving Hongshan Village, almost five years had passed in the blink of an eye.


    Reflecting upon these five years, time seemed to have flown like an arrow. Yet, fortunately, these years had not been wasted, with his stature having changed drastically from the beginning.


    Shen Qing knew that all of this stemmed from one word: "struggle."


    Struggle against heaven, struggle against earth, struggle against men, striving to rise above.


    And now, another struggle loomed ahead.


    Shen Qing strode forward.


    His aunt, uncle, and eldest sister stood outside the door, their eyes brimming with concern.


    They might lack worldly experience, but they were aware of the happenings outside.


    Uncle Shen the Second was a man of few words, and at this moment, he persistently puffed on his pipe, smoking non-stop.


    As for eldest sister Shen Fang and auntie, both were tearful and distressed.


    "Qingzi¡­"


    Shen Qing stepped forward and said, "Don''t worry about me. I''ll only be away from home for half a year and will return safely."


    "Alright, we''ll all be waiting for you."


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "Of course, if I don''t come back, you all should quickly take the savings I''ve prepared for you and leave Yongzhou. Find a quiet place to live."


    In this world, it''s a place where might makes right, and connections matter.


    Everything that my aunt and uncle have comes from me.


    I am their greatest support.


    If I fall, with their current capabilities, they can''t hold on to everything they have in Yongzhou. It would be better to just give up.


    What I''ve prepared for them should be enough for them to live a carefree life.


    Uncle Shen the Second, with a worried frown, said, "We understand. Just...sigh...be careful in everything you do."


    Shen Qing laughed heartily, "Don''t worry, I won''t die. If aunt and uncle have free time, could you find a good family for my sister? It has been so many years and she''s not yet married, becoming an old maid. Hahaha..."


    Saying that, Shen Qing didn''t look back as he walked towards the gate of the Shen Mansion.


    Outside the gate, many of the officials and martial masters from the two departments came to see him off.


    Tian Xiaohu, Xiao Zhi, Chen Guang, Ji Youwu, and others were all present.


    Shen Qing waved his hand and walked straight past them, with his head held high and chest out, without saying much.


    "I, and the others, will await your triumphant return!" Chen Guang was the first to raise his fist and say loudly.


    The rest followed in unison, "We await your triumphant return!"


    As their voices echoed, Shen Qing''s figure gradually disappeared into the streets.


    Many officials and martial masters from Yongzhou gathered in twos and threes at the entrance of the county government office.


    The soldiers from the Southern Domain Military Department who came to lead the way counted the numbers, and once they confirmed it was correct, without any hesitation, waved their hand and commanded, "Move out!"


    The people of Yongzhou set off in a grand procession towards Dan Zhou in the south.


    Most of them rode horses, but for Shen Qing, Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi, and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, riding horses wasn''t faster than walking.


    The three of them rode Rainbow Light, and traveled with the wind, side by side with the soldiers from the Southern Domain Military Department, even slightly ahead or above them, showing a sort of disregard for the rules.


    The soldiers of the Southern Domain Military Department were not annoyed.


    In past meetings of the Jing Luan Assembly, there were many with higher cultivation levels, far above them.


    They were no match for them.


    In their eyes, what they were doing now was just following orders, and there was no need to make trouble without reason or to act as if they owned the place.


    Perhaps these people wouldn''t even live as long as they would, so it wasn''t worth it.


    As Shen Qing and the others were on their way to Dan Zhou, many martial masters and officials summoned by the Great Zhou had begun moving, heading in unison towards Dan Zhou.


    For a moment, Great Zhou seemed buzzing with activity.


    Every 60 years, the grand scene of tens of thousands of martial masters acting together was slowly unfolding.


    Throughout history, the Great Zhou expanded vast territories through the Jing Luan Assembly and quelled numerous large and small rebellions.


    Some rose from the bottom to the top, achieving fame and establishing family legacies for generations.


    However, such people were after all the minority.


    One general achieves prominence, at the cost of countless lives.


    Most people perished in the continual bouts of slaughter, becoming stepping stones for those who achieved fame, turning into nothing more than a clod of earth.


    Zhou Country''s territory is vast, and Dan Zhou is an important city in the southern part of Great Zhou.


    Over the years, Huang Tian Sect has emerged from obscurity and become a force in the south, sweeping through the cities.


    Many cities in the southern parts of Great Zhou had fallen.


    Fortunately, the population of Great Zhou was concentrated in the north, and most of the south was wildlands. Losing some cities in the south was not yet crippling for Zhou Country.


    But if this trend were allowed to continue, it would not end well. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Therefore, the court continued to dispatch large armies to eradicate the traitors and to engage in a prolonged stand-off with Huang Tian Sect.


    Dan Zhou was the frontline city contested by both sides.

 Chapter 336 - 20 The Beginning of the Jing Luan Assembly Marks Their Doom

    µ¤ÖÝ is about two thousand li away from Yongzhou.


    At the pace Shen Qing and his group are traveling, journeying day and night, it would take just over ten days to get there.


    As time passed day by day, as they progressed, they neared Dan Zhou, encountering many people like themselves on the road.


    However, unlike them, the other cities had far fewer people than those from Yongzhou.


    At a glance, other cities seemed to have gathered about thirty to forty people, mostly comprised of Jianghu Martial Artists.


    In contrast, Yongzhou alone dispatched thirty-six officials, alongside martial masters, totaling over a hundred.


    Among the eight hundred and ten cities of the Great Zhou Country, apart from those clustered together by Shi families in the Capital City, where people go for opportunities, Yongzhou truly stands out.


    After another seven to eight days of journeying, Shen Qing and many martial masters finally arrived near Danzhou City.


    There were dedicated personnel and people from various Southern Domain Military Departments tallying the numbers, and once confirmed, they passed one by one to set up camp in a designated open space prepared for them.


    Entering the camp, Shen Qing looked around and saw the place bustling with martial masters.


    He had never seen so many martial masters, and his heart was filled with awe.


    It is said that such a martial masters'' army, if united, when combined with military formations, even a Primordial Spirit Realm Great Power cannot easily win.


    Unfortunately, for the Great Zhou Royal Family, stability is paramount.


    They prefer to let these martial masters deplete themselves internally rather than properly organizing them.


    They have always adhered to the principle of ensuring internal stability before external concerns.


    However, Shen Qing could understand that.


    What martial masters pursue is the supreme Martial Arts, the path to longevity.


    To mobilize so many martial masters is not something that can be fulfilled with ordinary rations but requires various cultivation resources.


    However, with so many martial masters, the daily requirement for cultivation resources is enormous.


    Not to mention with the continual growth of cultivation, the need for cultivation resources also gradually increases.


    So many martial masters form an insatiable void, which cannot be filled once activated.


    Ultimately, it is because the cultivation resources in this world are too scarce, and Spiritual Energy is too thin that it has come to this.


    "Are you guys from Yongzhou? Your resting area is in District D, just walk all the way from here," said a designated soldier pointing to Shen Qing and others as they entered the camp.


    While speaking, the soldier took out a piece of dark stone etched with the character "D" from a burlap sack and beckoned, "Come, before you go past, collect the Merit Stones from me. Remember, these record your military merits, so take care of them and absolutely don''t lose them."


    "Merit Stone?"


    Everyone felt a bit baffled.


    In their puzzlement, they stepped forward one by one to take the stone.


    "This is yours."


    Shen Qing walked up to the soldier.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s robust aura, the soldier realized that his cultivation might be not low.


    Hence, compared to others, his demeanor became much more respectful.


    Shen Qing accepted the Merit Stone and examined it closely. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Merit Stone was black, somewhat smooth, with a cool touch, and contained traces of thin Spiritual Energy.


    At its very center was engraved a large "D" character.


    The soldier casually explained, "This Merit Stone can absorb Evil Qi. The more people you kill, the heavier the Evil Qi in this Merit Stone becomes, and the more merits you have. The Jing Luan Assembly measures merits with these Merit Stones."


    The soldier chuckled suddenly, adding pointedly, "Of course, even if the Evil Qi in your Merit Stone isn''t heavy, having a lot of them is still acceptable."


    Having many?


    Shen Qing instantly grasped the implied meaning of the soldier''s words.


    Everyone is assigned one, but if you have many, you can only snatch them from others.


    As for how to snatch them?


    Shen Qing surmised that in this Jing Luan Assembly, it is likely that you kill the other party to seize their Merit Stones.


    Holding back his thoughts, he slightly bowed his hands and proceeded towards District "D" as indicated by the soldier.


    As Shen Qing passed by the center of the camp, he noticed a high platform built there, with a large chair placed on it, and a middle-aged man sitting in the chair.


    His gaze was condescending, intimidating without anger.


    As Shen Qing observed the middle-aged man above, the man inadvertently glanced at him.


    A powerful force enveloped his body, causing him to tremble all over.


    Just from that look, Shen Qing felt as if his consciousness was being torn apart.


    This cultivation, clearly, was that of a Great Power in the Void Wandering Realm!!!


    For the Jing Luan Assembly, the court even dispatched a Great Power in the Void Wandering Realm here!


    No wonder no one dared to act recklessly in the camp.


    With such a figure on guard, anyone with malicious intentions would be courting death.


    Shen Qing''s heart was pounding.


    Immediately, he quickly retracted his gaze, not daring to look any longer.


    He obediently proceeded to the "D" area of the camp, found an empty spot, and sat down to meditate.


    Soon, others from Yongzhou also gradually arrived, gathering together and sitting down cross-legged.


    After traveling a long distance, these people all appeared dusty and travel-worn, looking very disheveled.


    The conditions in the camp were far from good, essentially non-existent.


    Scattered tents and raised houses were mostly privately owned, occupied by some people with guards outside.


    The rest were all empty spaces.


    There wasn''t even a single blade of grass, trampled until it was clean.


    When it was noon, each person was given a bun, as hard as a rock, biting into it might knock out a tooth, leaving one speechless.


    As the camp became more crowded, most people had emotionless faces, taut expressions, looking like misfortunate souls.


    The many officials from Yongzhou felt pressured seeing so many martial masters.


    Gathering around County Chancellor Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou as initially discussed, they asked, "What should we do next, esteemed sirs?"


    County Chancellor Dou Wenxi responded with a somber face, "Just now, when everyone received their Merit Stones, you all heard; this thing can absorb Evil Qi; the more people you kill, the stronger the Evil Qi. However, the soldier never said who you are supposed to kill¡­"


    Upon hearing this, the officials from Yongzhou contemplated briefly and all looked disturbed.


    County Chancellor Dou Wenxi''s implication was clear: for battle merits, you could kill the Yellow Heaven Sect traitors, or you can kill our own people too; the key is a no-holds-barred approach.


    "If we can think of this point, so can others. Therefore, we must absolutely not fall into disarray at this time. Although we seem unfortunate, having many people here, is it not an advantage for us?"


    After hearing this, the others nodded in agreement.


    "That''s the logic; many hands make light work; a single chopstick breaks easily, but a bundle of chopsticks is not easily broken."


    County Supervisor Yan Xushou gestured to the surrounding martial masters, stating, "Look at those scattered groups from other cities, to put it bluntly, the opening of the Jing Luan Assembly marks their death day. In such chaotic circumstances, being alone is a grave mistake!"

 Chapter 337 - 21 Proactively Surrendering

    County Supervisor Yan Xushou''s words sent a shock through many, making their expressions turn more serious.


    The martial masters from Yongzhou on the outskirts, upon hearing Yan Xushou''s opinions, subconsciously wanted to draw closer.


    They feared being isolated and inevitably falling into danger, so everyone instinctively sought to band together.


    Seeing this, Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou revealed a knowing smile. This was the outcome they desired.


    At the moment, everyone was in unfamiliar territory. Although their cultivation was at the Innate Realm, standing out among the many martial masters from Yongzhou like a crane amongst chickens,


    in the grand scheme of the Jingluan Assembly, there were always higher heavens and higher mountains; many possessed cultivation far exceeding theirs.


    Furthermore, cultivation did not equate to everything.


    Some individuals were formidable fighters, skilled in killing and knowing many techniques to take life. With their ability to turn one part cultivation into two parts strength, slaughtering martial masters advanced than themselves was not impossible.


    If many joined them, their chances of survival in this Jingluan Assembly would undoubtedly increase.


    Shen Qing stood to one side, quietly observing all this without voicing an opinion and making an effort to reduce his presence.


    In recent days, he had made quite a name for himself in Yongzhou. If he wished, these people from Yongzhou would surely look to him for leadership.


    Before he had a clear understanding of the situation here, he did not wish to rashly stand out; otherwise, he might become a target of collective hostility and be targeted by other small groups.


    Though there is strength in numbers, it still depends on the timing.


    It was not too late to form a group once the situation here became clearer.


    While Shen Qing was weighing the pros and cons internally, someone next to him suggested, "My lords, I see many others from different cities who are still alone. Why don''t we communicate with them and persuade them to join our ranks? By increasing our allies, won''t we be safer?"


    "You make a good point," Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi, with eyes lighting up, said, "Now is the perfect time to invite these like-minded individuals since the Jingluan Assembly has not yet fully commenced."


    "Then let''s not delay. We have nothing else to do now, so let''s start moving. Let''s recruit as many as we can," an official quickly stood up and said.


    "Okay."


    After determining their course of action, the people of Yongzhou immediately got to work and began to actively recruit others.


    Many martial masters in the vicinity, while feeling at a loss, saw the forming group and did not hesitate to join upon invitation.


    The stir from Yongzhou set off a chain reaction; other cities also had the same idea, each forming their own group or organization.


    The camp suddenly became bustling with activity.


    Seeing the number of joiners increasing, Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou started setting two rules.


    First, do no harm to one another. Before the final stages of the Jingluan Assembly, they must not slay each other over Merit Stones;


    Second, obey unified commands and move in sync. The martial masters who joined must follow the directives of Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou without acting on their own.


    Many were at a loss in this newly formed team.


    They found these two rules reasonable and agreed upon them.


    "Chief Officer Shen, do you have any suggestions for our small group?"


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi, pleased with the growth of the group and feeling a sense of security, thought the Jingluan Assembly was not so frightening anymore.


    Looking at Shen Qing again, he no longer had the same reservations as before.


    However, considering Shen Qing''s formidable past achievements, he did not disregard his presence and took the initiative to ask for his opinions.


    Shen Qing preferred to keep a low profile and did not wish to stand out too much, so he gave a perfunctory response, "I''m just a rash man who knows only about fighting and killing. It''s better for you, my lords, to decide on such matters."


    Hearing this, Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi''s impression of Shen Qing improved further.


    He said with satisfaction, "If Chief Officer Shen has any thoughts, please feel free to share them with us."


    "Of course."


    Once Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi was sure that Shen Qing had no intention of intervening, he turned and began discussing the next moves within the Jingluan Assembly with County Supervisor Yan Xushou.


    Just then, a few people in the crowd witnessed the exchange between Dou Wenxi and Shen Qing.


    "Who is that man?"


    The speaker was a woman dressed in black practice clothes with a long sword at her waist, standing tall like a young leopardess, full of agility.


    Upon closer inspection, it was clear that her beautiful face carried an air of practicability and decisiveness.


    The young man she addressed replied, "Boss, just a moment; I''ll ask the people from Yongzhou."


    "Alright, make it thorough."


    Moments later, the young man returned and said, "Boss, I''ve found out. That man is the Chief Officer of both the Yongzhou Guard Martial Arts Bureau and the Military Department, a ruthlessly efficient man. It''s said he single-handedly slaughtered the demons from the west to the east of the city, without blinking an eye."


    "Without blinking, wouldn''t his eyes get dry?"


    "Uh..." The young man was somewhat perplexed.


    "Never mind, don''t fuss over such trivial matters; let''s go over and greet him. I see those two lords from Yongzhou treat this Chief Officer quite differently."


    "What''s different?"


    The woman thought for a while and said, "I see a hint of apprehension in their eyes."


    "Apprehension?"


    "Yes, apprehension." The woman''s eyebrows slightly knit as she said, "He must be very strong. It can''t be bad to make friends with him."


    "Boss, whatever you say goes. We''ll listen to you."


    The woman, leading two subordinates, made her way through the crowd to Shen Qing, clasped her hands and introduced herself, "I am Shao Hongling from the Chai Gang of Lu''an Prefecture. May I know how to address the lord?"


    The Chai Gang of Lu''an Prefecture?


    Shen Qing was somewhat taken aback by this woman who took the initiative to approach him. Unsure of her intentions, he casually replied, "From Yongzhou, Shen Qing."


    "So it''s Lord Shen in person," Shao Hongling said. "My apologies for the oversight."


    Shen Qing had a good memory. Hearing the name Lu''an Prefecture, he felt it was familiar; he recalled that Li Linfeng''s hometown was there.


    His aunt and Li Linfeng had gone to Lu''an Prefecture to take refuge years ago.


    Time had flown; it had already been three years, and he wondered how they were faring.


    He asked Shao Hongling, "Are you from Lu''an Prefecture?"


    "Indeed. Does the lord also know of Lu''an Prefecture?"


    Shao Hongling was somewhat surprised. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lu''an Prefecture was a small city, rather inconspicuous among the eight hundred and ten cities of the Great Zhou.


    Shen Qing continued, neither confirming nor denying, "Have you ever heard of a martial master named Li Linfeng there?"


    Shao Hongling shook her head, "Perhaps I am not well-informed, but I have not heard of such a person in Lu''an Prefecture."


    Li Linfeng must have changed his and his aunt''s surnames to stay hidden. This reply was within Shen Qing''s expectations.


    Shao Hongling cautiously probed, parting her red lips, "Lord Shen, life and death are unpredictable in the upcoming Jingluan Assembly. May I know if my few companions and I could follow your lead?"

 Chapter 338 - 22 Noble Son

    "With me, you''re either in or out?"


    "Yes."


    Shen Qing''s eyes flickered with an unusual light upon hearing this, "Haven''t you already joined the team? Why are you still seeking me out?"


    Shao Hongling smiled, revealing two adorable dimples as she spoke, "Lu''an Prefecture is a small place lacking capable people. Even if we join this team, no one is likely to take us seriously. We, who come from Jianghu, don''t understand many rules, but we know that to protect ourselves, we must find a powerful backer."


    Her statement was straightforward, without any hint of concealment.


    "So you''ve turned to me as your backer?"


    "Yes, of course. If you are unwilling, we will leave immediately and not bother you further."


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment, then asked, "What are your cultivation levels?"


    Seeing that Shen Qing did not have the intention of distancing herself, Shao Hongling felt delighted and joyfully said, "I am in the Qi Cultivation Realm. The two behind me are A Da and Xiao Man, who are still in the strengthening realm. I believe they too can be of help to you."


    Their cultivation levels here were quite lowly regarded.


    Shen Qing curiously inquired, "You are also quite beautiful. How did a woman like you end up in the Jing Luan Assembly?"


    Female martial artists were not absent in the Jing Luan Assembly, but given it involved warfare, men predominantly filled its ranks, making someone like Shao Hongling a rare sight.


    Shen Qing scrutinized Shao Hongling''s graceful figure and voluptuous curves; her bosom was particularly hefty, no less than that of a lactating woman.


    As for her beauty, it was stunning¡ªher brows as if painted, high nose bridge, and naturally red lips.


    Perhaps due to her practicing martial arts, her skin was not overly pale but still fairer than most.


    Her entire body exuded a sense of strength.


    If comparisons had to be made, she somewhat resembled the fitness women he had seen in his past life.


    Curvaceous.


    "This affair can only be blamed on myself," Shao Hongling commented with a hint of helplessness and a wry smile.


    Through her words, Shen Qing gradually learned that it was exactly because of her beauty that she found herself in the Jing Luan Assembly.


    The Shao Family in Lu''an Prefecture was part of the Chai Gang, a family of dozens of people¡ªthough not exceedingly wealthy, they managed a peaceful life with some fame locally.


    Had Shao Hongling been of average looks, perhaps no one would have bothered her. But her striking beauty was her downfall.


    The local County Magistrate coveted her beauty, repeatedly asking for her hand to make her a concubine.


    But Shao Hongling, pampered from childhood and stubborn by nature, refused to marry someone old enough to be her father.


    Therefore, she did not sway under the County Magistrate''s threats and temptations and chose to remain defiant to death.


    Over time, the annoyed County Magistrate made life difficult for the Shao family.


    Just then, a vacancy for a martial master opened in Lu''an Prefecture, and so the County Magistrate recommended her to Jing Luan Assembly, leading to her current predicament. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aren''t you afraid I''ll have the same intentions as that County Magistrate if you seek me out actively?" Shen Qing swept his gaze over Shao Hongling.


    Shao Hongling said frankly, "Actually, on my way to Danzhou, many showed their interest, mostly drawn by my looks, wishing to bed me, but I rejected them. If you wish for the same, I''m afraid I have no strength to resist; I might have to comply. After all, you are a handsome man, a talented individual, I wouldn''t consider it a loss even if it''s before my death."


    "¡­"


    The people from the old Shen Family, not to mention other qualities, certainly did not lack in looks.


    Moreover, now he had cultivated a certain dignity over the years that made him even more outstanding.


    After Shao Hongling put it that way, it made it seem as if Shen Qing was at a disadvantage, leaving him momentarily lost for words.


    "Look up! The sky!"


    Suddenly, an outburst of amazement came from the crowd.


    Shen Qing and the others looked up to the heavens.


    There, myriad dazzling rainbow lights streaked across the sky like divine signs under the firmament.


    Each ray of rainbow light enveloped a person.


    This was the Rainbow Light maneuvered by Innate Martial Masters!


    Every one of them was an Innate Martial Master.


    What was more shocking was that these powerhouses were not alone; they were collectively escorting an extravagant sedan chair.


    The sedan chair, ornately carved with intricate patterns and glowing radiantly, was supported by the Rainbow Light of these Innate Martial Masters as they moved forward together.


    A flag fluttered behind the sedan chair, embroidered with the vigorous character ''Bai''.


    "They''re from the Capital Family!"


    People who knew better instantly recognized the identity of the group.


    The one sitting inside the sedan was the Bai Family Heir, and those above the Rainbow Light were his guards, Innate Realm experts.


    The main characters of the Jingluan Assembly, the noble sons, had arrived.


    The people on the ground, looking at the trails of Rainbow Light, revealed expressions of envy on their faces.


    Every time the Jingluan Assembly took place, it was a moment for these individuals to shine.


    Just as everyone was astonished by the display of the Bai Family Heir, another series of whooshing sounds came from the sky.


    One after another, even grander presences arrived, with beautifully decorated sedans driving up one after the other.


    Each sedan bore a flag, respectively marked with the surnames of major families such as the Su Family, Wang Family, Zhao Family, and Xue Family.


    The sky became a stage for these great families to demonstrate their strength, with beams of Rainbow Light crisscrossing, competing covertly.


    Among the well-known families, it wasn''t just the Princely Heirs arriving; other talented young lords and ladies also came in groups.


    For instance, the Wang Family came in five sedans.


    That is to say, including the Wang Family Heir, five young masters arrived, representing the pinnacle of their family.


    The Cui Family and Xie Family also arrived in large numbers.


    Each of these young masters had four or five guards assisting them by their side.


    At first glance, all possessed cultivation not less than that of the Innate Realm.


    There were even a few families accompanied by experts from the Spirit Void Realm.


    The procession was formidable.


    They descended into the camp.


    Where they landed, without needing guards to clear the way, the martial artists on the ground naturally kept their distance, leaving a large open space.


    The young lords emerged from the sedans one by one.


    Dressed in splendid brocades, these noble family offspring had an extraordinary presence, followed by their respective guards.


    This sight made everyone present hold their breath in awe, with a surge of indescribable fear on their faces, not daring to provoke them.


    As many noble sons entered the camp, the guards, dressed in splendid armor, hastily moved about like hawks, busy registering their lords and ladies, collecting Merit Stones, and handling other formalities.


    Among the group from the Xue Family, Xue Bai wore an elegant long robe, with Ancient Jade hanging from his waist, his eyes looking disdainful.


    "Well, if it isn''t Xue Bai, the scholarly young man from the Xue Family? Why are you personally here this time to grab territory for your family?"


    Xue Bai looked up to see Wang Yichen, the fifth young master of the Wang Family, approaching slowly with a somewhat cynical smile.


    Wang Yichen, dressed in brocade and wearing a jade crown, every move he made displayed the extravagance of a noble son, his words carried a hint of mockery.


    Xue Bai was slightly displeased, "I come if I want to come, what''s it to you!"


    Wang Yichen was momentarily stunned, obviously not expecting Xue Bai to respond so bluntly, and he snorted and walked away.


    "Relying on the Wang Family''s numbers to act so arrogantly, you''ll suffer later on."


    "Big young master, I heard that after this Jingluan Assembly, Wang Family is aiming to take over forty percent of the positions in various states and counties, we can''t let our guard down."


    Every Jingluan Assembly, many officials die, leaving many vacancies.


    This represents a rare opportunity for the major families to reshuffle, and they approach it with strong purpose.


    "I know," Xue Bai said seriously, "tell me, have the people from Yongzhou arrived yet?"


    "Yes young master, they have arrived, right over there," a guard pointed.


    Xue Bai looked in the direction indicated by the guard, seeing many martial artists gathered together, numbering no less than four to five hundred, "Why are there more people than we expected?"


    "Big young master, the people from Yongzhou have formed a group, uniting with the nearby martial artists."


    Xue Bai''s expression darkened.


    His younger brother had died in Yongzhou.


    This time, the martial artists from Yongzhou were the prime target of the Xue Family''s attention.


    He said coldly, "The more they gather, the more trouble we''ll have dealing with them later. We must divide them, can''t let them be united."


    With that, he strode towards the direction of the people from Yongzhou.

 Chapter 339 - 23: Estrangement, Individual Choices

    The noble family heirs in the camp were as dazzling as stars.


    Their appearance was like a boulder dropping into a lake, stirring up waves.


    A thin layer of frost involuntarily settled on the hearts of the people from Yongzhou, with tense and complex expressions crossing their faces.


    Those present were well aware that in the upcoming Jing Luan Assembly, these heirs would be the main players, while they would merely serve as the backdrop.


    Once the Jing Luan Assembly commenced, these noble heirs would certainly attack them without hesitation.


    If they wished to survive, they would need to step over the bodies of these heirs.


    But how could that be possible?


    There wasn''t a single weakling surrounding the noble heirs.


    Most of them were Jianghu martial artists traveling the world, aiming for great achievements, or they were Protectors from their familial backgrounds.


    The momentum each person carried was like mountains in motion, making it difficult for others to keep up.


    Attempting to defeat these guards with their cultivation was merely wishful thinking.


    The atmosphere in the camp suddenly became much more oppressive.


    "Miss, what shall we do?" A Da, the young man behind Shao Hongling, said seriously.


    Shao Hongling glanced at Shen Qing with implied meaning and said, "With Lord Shen''s assistance, we won''t be in trouble."


    Shen Qing sensed Shao Hongling''s cautious probing of his attitude.


    Seeing Shao Hongling''s candidness, he replied calmly, "When the Jing Luan Assembly begins, stay close to me."


    In Shen Qing''s view, although the guards by these noble heirs'' sides had somewhat high cultivation, most were still at the Innate Realm, which was inferior to him.


    There were a few Spirit Void Realm experts, but he was confident he could protect himself.


    Taking one or two people with him posed no problem.


    Shao Hongling, seeing Shen Qing''s attitude, felt a weight lifted from her heart and said excitedly, "Thank you, sir. We are willing to serve you faithfully and follow you to the end."


    A Da and Xiao Man behind her couldn''t help but show some joy as well.


    Many people had gathered in the camp, and Shao Hongling''s actions were also noticed by several martial masters who had just joined from Yongzhou.


    They regretted not thinking of this earlier and falling behind.


    Seeing the arrival of the noble heirs, they worried about their own safety and also wanted to seek shelter from the strong.


    Some martial masters, having inquired about Shen Qing''s past, came to his side.


    "I, Zhang San, have long heard of your great name, sir. Today, I come to pledge my allegiance and wish to follow you through the thick and thin in this Jing Luan Assembly!" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We are the same, willing to serve you faithfully!"


    Shen Qing looked at the martial masters in front of him and furrowed his brow slightly.


    He hadn''t expected such a result.


    He maintained silence, neither agreeing nor making any promises.


    Some martial masters, being thick-skinned, assumed Shen Qing agreed and stood directly behind him, with others following suit.


    In a mere moment, there were five or six more people around him.


    Suddenly, a commotion arose among the Yongzhou crowd, and someone shouted, "Look, the young master of the Xue Family is coming toward us."


    With these words, Prefecture Governor Dou Wenxi, County Supervisor Yan Xushou, and others from Yongzhou looked up to see Xue Bai approaching slowly with two guards, and their expressions changed immediately.


    Some timid folks turned pale with fear, their hearts pounding like drums.


    Xue Bai stood before Yongzhou, looking at the hundreds of people there and more martial masters gathering continuously, feeling displeased.


    These were martial masters with cultivation; if they united, it would be quite troublesome to deal with them, impacting the Xue Family''s gains in the Jing Luan Assembly.


    Xue Bai focused, fixing his gaze on the Yongzhou crowd.


    He keenly spotted Shen Qing standing not far away.


    Participating in the Jing Luan Assembly this time, he hadn''t been arrogant or dismissive, but made ample preparations.


    Regarding the prominent figure from Yongzhou, he couldn''t possibly overlook him.


    In his eyes, Shen Qing, the Two Department Chief, was the greatest threat among the people from Yongzhou.


    His rapid rise was remarkably monstrous.


    This time at the Jing Luan Assembly, who knows what kind of ace Shen Qing might have up his sleeve? Leaving him in Yongzhou was not a good thing.


    However, he had already devised a brilliant plan for these people, his smile widening as he approached.


    Wherever he passed, people moved aside automatically, clearing a path.


    Xue Bai stopped in front of Shen Qing, speaking condescendingly, "You are Shen Qing, the Two Department Chief of the Guardian Martial Department, right?"


    Shen Qing replied calmly, "Yes."


    "I''ve long admired your great name." Xue Bai''s lips curled into a sneer and he said, "I''ve heard of your deeds in Yongzhou even from far in the Capital. If I''m not mistaken, was my third brother killed by you?"


    Shen Qing''s heart skipped a beat.


    Had the other party already found out?


    No, that''s impossible.


    I acted after breaking through with the Da Xu Technique, utilizing the Traceless Skill, and was very careful without leaving any traces.


    Yongzhou itself couldn''t uncover anything.


    It''s even more impossible for the Capital, thousands of miles away.


    This Xue Family young master is trying to test me!


    Shen Qing quickly made his judgment, vehemently denying, "The matter concerning your brother has absolutely nothing to do with me! Without evidence, young master, please don''t make baseless accusations!"


    "I''m making baseless accusations?" Xue Bai laughed, "Do you think I would have approached you if I weren''t fully confident?"


    Shen Qing snorted coldly, "I said there''s no connection, so there''s none. If your assurance is just mere talk, then you might as well say whatever you wish."

 Chapter 340 - 23 Division, Individual Choices_2

    "Truly a sharp tongue."


    Shen Qing didn''t know Xue Bai''s purpose, but at this moment, he was more certain that Xue Bai didn''t have a complete grasp of the situation.


    The Jing Luan Assembly hasn''t started yet, and with a Great Power presiding in the camp, no one dares to act recklessly.


    If Xue Bai were truly sure that he was the one who killed Xue Yan, he would wait until after the Jing Luan Assembly starts to mention it.


    At that time, they could act and seize the opportunity to take his life.


    Bringing it up now would only alert him and make him more prepared.


    And indeed, just as Shen Qing thought, Xue Bai didn''t actually know who killed Xue Yan.


    Nor did Xue Bai want to know.


    In his view, everyone from Yongzhou must die, and who killed whom was no longer important.


    He had another purpose in pointing it out now.


    Xue Bai straightened his back, stood tall, and turned to look at Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, among others, and said loudly, "I presume you all know the reason you''re here today. Today, I can show you a path to survival, how about it?"


    Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou''s eyes lit up as they asked, "What path to survival does Mr. Xue speak of?"


    "I have found out that the real murderer of my third brother is none other than Shen Qing. If today you are willing to take the initiative to cut ties with him, then after the Jing Luan Assembly begins, I will only kill Shen Qing. And you, I will spare."


    After saying this, Xue Bai''s gaze slowly swept over each person''s face, seeing their varied expressions, feeling somewhat smug.


    "The Jing Luan Assembly is about to commence, you don''t have much time. Consider carefully whether life is more important or so-called honor. When the time comes, after the Jing Luan Assembly begins, give me your answers."


    With that, Xue Bai turned sharply and walked away.


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou exchanged a glance, and like the others, couldn''t help but feel some hesitance.


    To them, their relationship with Shen Qing was not one of life-and-death solidarity.


    Even if there were difficulties in the future, Shen Qing might not definitely help them.


    If they could secure a way out, wouldn''t that be better?


    On the side, Shen Qing witnessed everything, and in his mind, the words "sow discord" immediately came to mind.


    So this was the purpose.


    This young master of the Xue family deliberately stirred trouble after seeing so many people gathered here in Yongzhou.


    On the one hand, it made the people of Yongzhou hesitate, and on the other hand, made those Jianghu martial artists and officials from other counties newly associated with Yongzhou aware of the grudge between Yongzhou and the Xue family, prompting them to reassess the pros and cons.


    With just a few words, he skillfully shifted the balance, saving them much trouble.


    A clever trick.


    Zhang San and the others who had just joined Shen Qing looked at each other. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They hadn''t expected Shen Qing to have such a history with the renowned Xue family, lamenting in their hearts.


    This was no reliable backing, but clearly a calamity.


    And this great calamity was something they sought out themselves.


    Martial artist Zhang San recalled how Shen Qing hadn''t accepted him when he pledged allegiance, and he hurriedly said, "My cultivation is lowly, and earlier when I sought refuge, the lord remained silent, surely thinking little of someone like me. In that case, I won''t impose myself. Farewell!"


    Zhang San clasped his fists and, with a look of loss, distanced himself from Shen Qing.


    With him taking the lead, other martial artists quickly followed suit, each finding similar excuses to leave.


    In the blink of an eye, Shen Qing was once again left with no one behind him, the rapid change leaving one stunned.


    A Da and Xiao Man exchanged a glance.


    Xiao Man couldn''t resist tugging on Shao Hongling''s sleeve, whispering, "Miss..."


    His meaning was clear, hoping Shao Hongling would leave and not court trouble.


    Shao Hongling remained unmoved, saying, "Sharing in good fortune, not in hardship, where in the world is such a good deal? Do you think these people can hide forever? It''s just a matter of time."


    "If we are all to die, why trouble ourselves? When I, Shao Hongling, say one thing, I mean one thing; I''ve pledged my life and won''t take it lightly. If you want to leave, then go."


    "Since I implicate you, I already feel guilty, and I''m not in a position to demand anything. If you can live a few more days, that''s good too."


    A Da and Xiao Man''s expressions became anxious, quickly saying, "The young lady saved our lives, how can we live on with our heads hung low? Wherever the young lady is, we are there."


    Shen Qing, hearing the conversation between Shao Hongling and her servants, couldn''t help but look at Shao Hongling with newfound respect.


    He thought Shao Hongling would be like the others, but she turned out to be of such temperament.


    But of course.


    If she weren''t of such a steadfast character, she wouldn''t have ended up in this plight.


    In contrast to Shao Hongling''s firmness, Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou were clearly wavering.


    Dou Wenxi coughed lightly, speaking with a calculating tone, "Shen Qing is no ordinary man, and to give him up easily might bring disaster upon us. Moreover, our small group is just forming, and if we hastily cut ties with him, it might make us appear disloyal."


    "So, what does Lord Dou think we should do?" Yan Xushou asked quietly, stepping forward.


    Dou Wenxi said, "Before the Jing Luan Assembly begins, we should first stabilize Shen Qing and the martial artists from the other cities, maneuvering in the middle. Once the assembly starts, we can play the good cop, then secretly find someone to play the bad cop. We can claim to ''follow the will of the people'' and cut ties with him. This way, we can stabilize the martial artists without making enemies with the Xue family."


    "Wonderful. This approach is indeed not to be rushed. A good strategy."


    "Then let''s go, we shall seek out Shen Qing and offer reassurances."


    Yan Xushou nodded, and with their plans set, he and Dou Wenxi walked over to Shen Qing together.


    "Lord Shen."


    Shen Qing lifted his eyes and said, "Are you two here to cut ties with me?"


    "How could that be?" Dou Wenxi quickly clasped his hands, saying, "Though we have no grand ambitions, neither are we such heartless and unscrupulous people."


    Yan Xushou followed closely, saying, "Xue Bai''s words are merely meant to break our trust. How could we, having traveled with Lord Shen, be shaken by mere rumors? We are determined to weather the storm with Lord Shen, through thick and thin."


    Shen Qing''s gaze drifted between the two men''s faces.


    During the demon incident in Yongzhou, both had taken a detached stance as if it didn''t concern them. He couldn''t believe they had changed their nature after joining the Jing Luan Assembly.


    "You two... truly won''t sever ties with me as the young master of the Xue family suggests?" Shen Qing asked with a half-smile, "After all, as he said, the Xue family is willing to offer you a way out."


    "Who can say if the Xue family''s words are true?" Dou Wenxi stepped forward, lightly placing his hands on Shen Qing''s shoulders, "We will not fall for their tricks. Rest assured."


    Shen Qing''s eyes flickered to Dou Wenxi''s hands on his shoulders as he played along with a smile, "Your generosity is commendable; this Jing Luan Assembly is perilous. Whatever happens, I, Shen Qing, will do my utmost."


    "Good." Dou Wenxi said, "Lord Shen, attend to your matters; I will console the others."


    "Do as you wish."


    Watching Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou leave, the smile on Shen Qing''s face gradually faded, not believing a word they said, treating it as nonsense.


    Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, another seven days went by.


    Martial artists from all around gradually stopped arriving.


    At this time, each person was given a simple map, inscribed with various routes leading directly to Danzhou and those cities seized by the Huangtian Sect.


    According to the soldiers distributing the maps, the people in the camp could choose different routes to advance and engage, until only a hundred remain as the final count.


    At that time, the record stones in the hands of the survivors will emit a pillar of light, signaling the imperial court to fetch them.


    Boom!


    The Great Power sitting in the middle of the camp leaped into the air, with a blinding light emerging in the sky.


    Everyone''s hearts surged; they knew the Jing Luan Assembly was about to begin.


    The oppressive atmosphere in the camp reached its peak.


    Out of tens of thousands of martial artists, only a hundred would remain; no one knew whether they''d survive.

 Chapter 341 - 24: Opening of the Jing Luan Assembly, One Arrow Slays the Innate

    ```


    Clang!


    On the other side of the camp, a large gate was suddenly pushed open, revealing a road wide enough to accommodate two carriages side by side.


    On both sides of the road, towering cliffs stretched far into the distance.


    Two soldiers in iron armor steadily carried a large incense burner and stood beside the gate.


    With a dull thud, the incense burner landed, raising layers of dust.


    Atop the incense burner was an enormous stick of incense, straight and nearly as tall as a person.


    The people in the camp looked on puzzled, exchanging confused glances.


    At that moment, a great power suspended in mid-air casually pointed a finger.


    A burst of intense heat erupted like a meteor streaking across the night sky, accurately igniting the giant stick of incense.


    Flames leaped up, slowly consuming each inch of incense, and the thick aroma began to pervade the camp.


    "The Jing Luan Assembly begins now!" Suddenly, a powerful voice thundered across the sky: "Leave the camp immediately; if anyone is still here when the incense burns out, they shall be slain without mercy!"


    These words shattered the oppressive atmosphere within the camp.


    "Look, the incense."


    Exclamations and panic erupted from among the crowd. They were astonished to see that the incense was burning at an astonishing speed.


    No one knew how long this stick of incense would burn.


    Thus, the camp became a tide of chaos, figures moving frantically.


    Like thousands of birds taking flight, everyone exerted all their strength, soaring up and rushing into the canyon road in a bid to seize the initiative in this trial.


    "Do not panic, join us on the journey. No one knows what might happen on the other end. It''s safer together," Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi shouted.


    The people of Yongzhou sobered up, quickly gathering together and advancing forward.


    Some were unwilling to lag behind and tried to soar into the air, hoping to quickly cross the gorge using the terrain.


    However, as soon as they ascended, they were struck by streams of Qi, coughing up blood and falling into the crowd, their fate unknown.


    "Who allowed you scoundrels to walk ahead of us?"


    Wang Family guards carried a sedan chair, arrogantly stepping through the void. Seeing someone blocking their way, they were displeased, showing disdain to those lacking courtesy.


    This single event made everyone who had rushed out of the camp cautious, no longer daring to charge forward recklessly, instead forming groups.


    "Follow me closely, let''s go."


    Shen Qing''s tone was light, with neither fear nor hesitation, carrying a touch of calm and confidence.


    Without much hesitation, he followed the Yongzhou people, transforming into a stream of light that merged into the surging crowd.


    Behind him, Shao Hongling and two others hurried to keep up.


    The trio had barely moved a few steps when they unexpectedly discovered three golden threads streaming towards them like silk, instantly lightening their bodies and significantly boosting their speed.


    This was Shen Qing assisting them with his cultivation to escape.


    All three were delighted.


    As time passed, the giant incense at the camp entrance finally burned completely.


    By then, the camp was deserted, leaving only emptiness and silence.


    The middle-aged man hovering in mid-air swept a glance below, realizing the time was right.


    He suddenly unleashed a punch, the force like a dragon, creating mirror-like cracks in the void, the booming sound deafening, the sky and earth changing color.


    Immediately, the mountains flanking the canyon seemed unable to withstand this force, collapsing thunderously.


    Boulders rolled and dust filled the sky, blocking out the sun.


    Buzz!


    The next moment, as the mountains collapsed, a dazzling golden barrier rose from the mountain peaks, piercing the clouds and completely sealing everyone''s retreat.


    Looking back, they saw no way to return, a surge of unprecedented urgency and crisis filling their hearts.


    Everyone realized the true battle was about to begin.


    With the Yongzhou group, Shen Qing swiftly rushed out of the deep canyon, the surroundings opening up.


    Instinctively alert, he inexplicably slowed his pace, looking ahead.


    At the end of the passage lay a hilly terrain, patches of plains melding with uneven hills, rising and falling, stretching into the distance.


    Ahead, an imposing group of martial masters blocked their path.


    These were none other than Xue Bai and his guards.


    Sunlight slanted down, casting a chilling gleam off the unsheathed weapons at their waists.


    Shen Qing keenly understood that although the Jing Luan Assembly was said to involve only one city, no one knew how much more area the event might affect.


    Once the crowd spread out due to unforeseen changes, it would be difficult to reunite the Yongzhou people. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xue Bai evidently grasped this point, thus choosing this moment to make his move, taking advantage of the assembled numbers.


    Among the onlookers, some martial masters wore expressions of glee, delighted at someone else confronting a familial power, an opportunity to lessen their own pressure and avoid danger or conflict.


    Xue Bai, the eldest son of the Xue Family, stepped out of his sedan and looked at the Yongzhou crowd with a relaxed smile.


    ```

 Chapter 342 - 24: Opening of the Jing Luan Assembly, One Arrow Slays the Innate_2

    """


    He looked directly at Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, asking assertively, "Lord Dou, Lord Yan, how have you both considered my proposal? My time is extremely tight right now."


    Currently, without a Prefectural Governor in Yongzhou, the two held the highest rank.


    In Xue Bai''s view, these two people should have a say, and others should follow their lead.


    Dou Wenxi stood tall, with a righteous look between his eyebrows, he said, "Mr. Xue, don''t delude yourself about this; if you want to kill or maim, just go ahead."


    Yan Xushou also expressed righteous indignation, echoing, "Indeed, even at the cost of our lives, we will not commit such acts of betrayal."


    "Huh?"


    Seeing the indignant expressions of the two, Xue Bai''s face showed a trace of surprise.


    The development of the situation was somewhat different from his prediction; he had not expected Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou to be so principled, completely beyond his expectations.


    In that case, he would have to use some effort to deal with these people who did not know their place.


    This made him inexplicably annoyed, generating dissatisfaction within him.


    At this moment, there was a commotion in the crowd, and a man in a gray short outfit stood out.


    He mustered his courage and shouted loudly, "My lords, don''t. I beg your pardon, if you insist on saving Shen Qing, what position will that leave the other brothers in the city? They come to you for safety, and if you can''t assure that, why should they endure hardships with us?"


    Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou showed difficulty: "Is this what you all think?"


    "Exactly, I hope my lords do not stray from the path and put us into danger for just one person."


    "My lords, let us cut ties with Shen Qing as Lord Xue said. If Lord Xue can be lenient and spare us, then everyone will have a better chance of survival. Why should we live or die with Shen Qing?"


    One martial master after another stood out to "advise," making Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou even more "troubled." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing that "the tide of sentiment could not be reversed," Dou Wenxi paused, eventually made a hard decision saying, "It is difficult to go against public opinion, it is difficult indeed. The current situation is beyond what we can reverse, and for the safety of more people, we have no choice but to compromise. Lord Shen, we are sorry."


    He raised his head, looked at Xue Bai, and said with a heavy, painful voice: "Things have come to this point, although we are unwilling, we must consider the greater good. Lord Xue, we are willing to cut ties with Shen Qing, just hoping you can keep your promise and spare us."


    At this moment, Xue Bai finally understood what game Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou were playing.


    They truly lived up to their reputation as seasoned officials; between their performance, they managed to clean their hands of him completely.


    Simultaneously, it also ruined much of the effectiveness of his plan to sow discord.


    In his plans, if Dou Wenxi, Yan Xushou, and others in Yongzhou confirmed to abandon Shen Qing, then with just a bit of his guidance, those in Yongzhou, as well as the martial masters newly joined here, would definitely turn against each other.


    Just imagine, if people like Shen Qing were abandoned even by Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou, would others dare say they wouldn''t be discarded by them either?


    This alone would make these people end up as a scattered mess.


    Unexpectedly, Dou Wenxi, Yan Xushou, and others from Yongzhou dissolved his plot between their back-and-forth.


    Forced by the safety of others, having no other choice but to abandon Shen Qing, it became a completely different matter.


    But better than nothing, eliminating Shen Qing is not bad either.


    Xue Bai''s mouth showed a satisfied smile, he nodded slowly and said, "I, as the young master, will keep my promise. As long as you don''t side with Shen Qing, I, as the young master, will ensure your safety."


    "That''s good."


    Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou looked at Shen Qing and said, "Lord Shen, we''re sorry, we don''t want this either but we have to sacrifice you to protect everyone."


    Shen Qing, standing among the crowd, found Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou''s poor acting amusing.


    He saw through this little trick very clearly.


    That was fine.


    Without these burdens, he could freely create havoc.


    Shen Qing chuckled, "Since we aren''t on the same path, I don''t mind. Choose whichever way makes you happy."


    As he spoke, Shen Qing silently removed the treasure bow from his back.


    When Dou Wenxi, Yan Xushou, and others from Yongzhou saw Shen Qing being so calm, they couldn''t help but feel surprised.


    They thought Shen Qing was being too arrogant.


    The Xue family had six innate martial masters, how could he counter them alone?


    Shao Hongling and the others exchanged glances, drawing their swords and standing by Shen Qing.


    "My lord..."


    Xue Bai glanced Shen Qing up and down, seeing him calm and collected, he clapped his hands, "Chief Inspector Shen''s reputation really precedes him. Seeing him today, truly extraordinary."


    "I didn''t expect the Xue family to be skilled in such divisive tactics either, but today I''ve witnessed it firsthand." Shen Qing said with a smile, holding up the bow.


    Xue Bai paused in his actions, sneering at Shen Qing holding the bow, "Send Lord Shen on his way, give him some dignity."


    "Yes, young master."


    Among the many guards of the Xue family, a middle-aged martial master stepped forward, declaring his name, "I am Guan Canghai, here to claim Lord Shen''s head. It might hurt a bit, I ask for your understanding, Lord Shen."


    After saying this, a brilliant light burst from his body, dazzling like the first light on the horizon.


    Then, with a sweep of his sleeve, a green, emerald-like treasure sword flew from his sleeve, which he grabbed.


    He leapt, riding the gale, rushing towards Shen Qing.


    The overwhelming pressure unique to innate experts spread out, rolling down towards the surroundings.


    The spectators around were all dumbfounded.


    Dou Wenxi, Yan Xushou, and others from Yongzhou thought it would be hard for Shen Qing to escape death this time.


    This Guan Canghai''s cultivation was not just at the innate level, he might well be at the peak of innate stage, possibly stepping into the Spiritual Void realm.


    The strength of the Xue family left them all in fear.


    However, facing the terrifying power of Guan Canghai, Shen Qing merely smiled calmly, without a trace of panic.


    After all, it was only the innate level and couldn''t be compared to the Spiritual Void realm.


    Shen Qing stretched his arms like a monkey climbing a branch, the spiritual power in his body surging, activating the ultimate limit-breaking Archery Technique of the Heaven Bow [Shooting the Sun].


    In an instant, the treasure bow shone brilliantly, like the awakening of an ancient deity.


    As Shen Qing slowly drew the bowstring, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered around him, gradually condensing into a red-gold arrow, radiantly dazzling.


    "Kill!"


    Shen Qing gave a low shout, releasing his fingers lightly.


    The red-gold arrow emitted a domineering power, shooting towards Guan Canghai.


    Guan Canghai''s face showed shock, his expression frozen.


    He felt like his entire body was locked by a powerful aura, unable to move, watching helplessly as the golden arrow got closer and closer to him.


    At the last moment, the brilliance intensified, completely engulfing him.


    Boom!


    A deafening explosion sounded in mid-air.


    The treasure sword broke.


    The arrow, unstoppable, pierced through Guan Canghai''s chest, exploding in his chest.


    Just a moment ago, a living person was shattered into pieces, leaving no remains.


    Silence.


    Deathly silence.


    Everyone present was stunned, unable to believe their eyes.


    This single arrow upended all their understanding and judgments.


    When did the world have such a terrifying archery technique that could kill an innate expert with one shot?


    No one could fathom it.


    Shen Qing stood holding the bow, "So weak, I thought you had a great ability, didn''t expect you couldn''t even withstand the strength of one arrow from me, still talking about taking my head, really boasting."


    Xue Bai panicked, overawed by Shen Qing''s aura, "You... how could this be?"


    "Maybe you''re not used to me shooting down one of your guards. Don''t worry, I''ll shoot a few more now, you''ll get used to it."


    Shen Qing rose into the air, stepping on the breeze, activating the Whale Devour Technique, spiritual energy surged, forming vortices of spiritual energy hovering in front of him.


    "This spiritual power... it''s the cultivation of the Spiritual Void realm!" someone shouted.


    """

 Chapter 343 - 25 Kill! The Young Master of the Xue Family is Dead!

    "How is this possible!"


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou were left in a daze, their minds blank, unable to process what they had just witnessed.


    In their memory, Shen Qing had only recently broken through to the Innate Realm.


    How could he have broken through again in such a short time?


    To know, a typical martial master would take at least a decade to break through from the Innate Realm to the Spirit Void Realm. Even for exceptionally talented noble sons, who grew up immersed in medicinal baths, breaking through to the Spirit Void Realm was exceedingly difficult.


    With the assistance of numerous external factors, they would still need at least two to three years.


    And this was a privilege only afforded to those from exceedingly influential backgrounds with outstanding gifts.


    What did Shen Qing have?


    Just a year ago, he was nothing more than a mere dispatch officer.


    Even in their presence, he was someone not worth noting.


    To have achieved such heights in such a short time was utterly unbelievable.


    Not only were they, even Xue Bai was shocked by the sudden turn of events.


    He looked at Shen Qing, suspended in midair, meeting eyes as fierce as a beast''s, causing alarm bells to ring in his mind, his hair standing on end.


    The intense killing intent permeated, causing the temperature of the world to plummet as if winter had suddenly descended.


    Feeling the immense danger, Xue Bai shouted harshly, "Kill him, quickly, kill him!"


    The guards at his side looked at Shen Qing and couldn''t help but feel a heavy weight in their hearts.


    In their eyes, the noble family protectors in the Jingluan Assembly were the greatest opponents; to make a name for themselves and be rewarded, all they had to do was defeat these noble sons.


    Never did they expect, at the commencement of the Jingluan Assembly, before they even encountered those noble sons, they''d run into solid ground.


    Shen Qing''s appearance had thoroughly disrupted their original expectations and plans for the Jingluan Assembly.


    "What are you waiting for? Kill him! Or do I have to wait for my father to come and twist off your heads before you come to your senses?"


    With a fierce determination on their faces, encouraged and spurred by Xue Bai''s roar, the guards charged towards Shen Qing together.


    They dared not be careless, each bringing out their most hidden skills.


    The sky was suddenly painted with brilliant colors, captivating the eye.


    The aura of the Innate Realm continuously reverberated from the sky. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A calm smile appeared on Shen Qing''s face, with no hint of fear. Holding the treasure bow in both hands, he drew it to a full moon.


    In an instant, a dazzling beam of light leapt from his fingertips, forming into an unparalleled arrow.


    Countless spiritual energies gathered around him, the light growing intensely bright, as if all the world''s radiance was gathered here, dimming the heavens and earth.


    Seeing the moment was right, Shen Qing''s gaze sharpened, and he decisively released the taut bowstring.


    The arrow, imbued with heavenly spiritual power, burst forth from the bowstring with a world-shattering force, descending upon the five charging Innate Martial Masters.


    The gust howled in the wind.


    Xue Bai''s guards hurriedly deployed Light Shields to defend against the fearsome arrow.


    However, the Light Shields crumbled under its impact, like fragile bubbles, utterly powerless.


    "Poof..."


    A distinct light sound echoed.


    The light arrow burst through the shield, continuing its path unimpeded, piercing the chest of the frontmost martial master.


    Scorching energy wreaked havoc within him.


    The next moment, the conceited Innate Martial Master outside let out a painful howl.


    The light arrow exploded, engulfing the entire body of the martial master in a radiant light.


    The remaining martial masters became aware of the terrifying power contained within Shen Qing''s arrow, realizing and shouting, "Run quickly, we are no match for him."


    "Hmph! Isn''t it a bit too late to flee now?"


    Shen Qing snorted coldly, his actions unceasing as he once again drew the treasure bow, firing shots consecutively.


    "Whizz whizz whizz!"


    Arrows formed from spiritual power shot continuously from the bowstring, transforming into a rain of arrows, each containing a force capable of shaking mountains and rivers.


    In this dense storm of arrows, the guards trying to flee had no place to hide.


    All four were simultaneously pierced through their vital points, their bodies erupting into vibrant blooms of blood, falling powerlessly and utterly lifeless.


    The scene fell into a deathly silence.


    Everyone stared at Shen Qing in stunned disbelief, mouths slightly agape.


    Especially those from Yongzhou, as if seeing again the domineering image of Shen Qing slaughtering demons.


    "Younger Master, let''s go quickly."


    Xue Bai''s face had turned deathly pale as he stood on the ground.


    He had brought six Innate Martial Masters, yet in a single encounter, five were dead.


    Only one guard remained by his side.


    It''s over!


    Xue Bai realized that his Jingluan Assembly had ended before it even began.


    Moreover, they had provoked a deity of slaughter, posing a grave threat to their lives.


    He dared not linger, gritting his teeth and turning to flee.


    The last remaining Innate Martial Master activated all his spiritual power, cascading rays of light erupting from around him, carrying Xue Bai as they dashed forward.


    "Earlier you promised to avenge your brother! Where are you going now?"


    Shen Qing activated the Da Xu Technique, stepping forward a hundred meters in a single bound.


    Within a few breaths, he reached Xue Bai''s back.


    "Stay here!"


    Shen Qing''s right hand shone with a brilliant gold, becoming supremely illusory as he extended it, unleashing the Da Xu Hand.


    In the distant void, a pair of golden hands appeared and seized Xue Bai and his companions firmly within their grasp.


    The guard, terrified, resisted with all his might.


    The spiritual power within him surged, rumbling like a mighty river in furious flow.

 Chapter 344 - 25 Kill! The young master of the Xue Family is dead!_2

    "Ah!"


    The guard shouted, his entire body glowing.


    Cracks appeared on the surface of the Da Xu Hand, until finally, it shattered with a boom.


    He broke free from the ground with Xue Bai.


    However, before he could rejoice, a crimson-gold arrow had already shot right in front of him, piercing through his forehead with precision, extinguishing his life force.


    His body instantly seemed to lose its support, falling powerlessly with Xue Bai from midair.


    Xue Bai''s cultivation was no more than the Jade Link Realm; he hadn''t even condensed a "Dan Ying," so he definitely couldn''t fly.


    But he was born into a noble family, and his physical foundation was very well established, so even falling from such a height to the ground didn''t harm him.


    He crawled up in a mess, disregarding everything else, and fled desperately through the mountain forest.


    Unfortunately, this was destined to be a futile struggle.


    Shen Qing released his Divine Sense, locking onto Xue Bai, and swiftly crossed over to land in front of him, blocking his path.


    Shen Qing looked him up and down and said, "Why are you running? Don''t you want to avenge your brother?"


    Xue Bai forced a smile that was uglier than crying and said, "I was just talking nonsense. How could it be you who killed my brother?"


    Shen Qing grinned and said, "Actually, you weren''t wrong. I did kill your brother."


    Xue Bai''s expression froze for a moment, clearly not expecting this outcome.


    For a moment, his throat went dry, not knowing what to say.


    "Forget it, talking more with you is pointless. Anyway, given the chaos of the Jing Luan Assembly now, I doubt you''d survive three days with that brain of yours. As they say, ''early death, early transcendence,'' dying sooner is better than later. I''ve always been one to help others, so I''ll send you to the afterlife today."


    With that, Shen Qing raised a finger, gathering Qi to form a sharp light that shot toward Xue Bai''s forehead.


    "No... my father is here... you..."


    Xue Bai shouted, trying to resist and evade.


    But at such a short distance, with his meager cultivation, he didn''t even have time to react.


    With a muffled sound.


    The crimson-gold light burst from the back of Xue Bai''s head, countless red and white things exploding out, splattering all over the ground, undeniably dead.


    With a thud.


    Xue Bai''s body fell straight backward.


    Shen Qing remained emotionless, pulling out his Merit Stone, discovering an indistinct blood-red glow surrounding it.


    This was something that hadn''t been there before.


    Indeed, killing seemed to tally merit.


    Shen Qing studied it for a while but found no secrets, so he put the Merit Stone back in his pouch, directing his gaze toward Xue Yan and others.


    He quickly rummaged through Xue Bai and his guard, then transformed into a Rainbow Light and swiftly vanished.


    Returning to the original gathering place, Shen Qing suddenly noticed that everyone''s attention was focused on him, the atmosphere subtly changing.


    Shao Hongling and others approached, a glimmer of surprise in their eyes, cautiously asking, "Lord Shen, they..."


    "As you can see," Shen Qing responded straightforwardly, "they''re all dead."


    "Ah..."


    A Da and Xiao Man behind Shao Hongling gasped in astonishment.


    They couldn''t have imagined that as soon as the Jing Luan Assembly began, a noble son died so arbitrarily.


    The lord before them was indeed formidable.


    Shen Qing dispassionately remarked, "It''s just a few kills, what''s the big deal? Everyone dies in the end."


    A Da signaled to the other Yongzhou group, saying, "Earlier those people came over wanting to apologize, Lord Shen, what do you think..."


    "Apologize for what?"


    "They wanted to cut ties with you earlier, now they want to apologize for it."


    "Oh." Shen Qing shook his head, "Tell them there''s no need, I never took it to heart."


    "Are you accepting them back then?"


    "Of course not." Shen Qing gave A Da and Xiao Man a glance, "I meant, from beginning to end, I didn''t care about them. Their life or death is irrelevant to me, let''s go!"


    As Shen Qing turned to leave, Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, along with the Yongzhou crowd, hurriedly ran over, calling out while running, "Lord Shen, Lord Shen."


    They stopped Shen Qing in his tracks.


    Shen Qing paused, calmly asking, "What do you mean by this, gentlemen?"


    Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi clasped his fists, speaking with extreme politeness, "Lord Shen, you see, with all the Xue Family members dead, no one to provoke matters anymore, why doesn''t Lord Shen rejoin our group so we can tackle the Jing Luan Assembly together? Surely more people mean better odds?"


    Shao Hongling couldn''t bear it any longer, stepping forward and sneering, "You really have no shame to say that. It was you who wanted to cut ties with Lord Shen initially, and now you''re shamelessly begging him back? What, do you treat Lord Shen like a subordinate to be summoned at will? Ridiculous. You''ve managed to outdo yourselves in both good and bad deeds."


    After Shen Qing had slain the Xue Family almost effortlessly, these people saw benefits and began to curry favor, their previously haughty and now humble attitude disgusted her.


    "We had no choice, it''s hard to go against public will." County Supervisor Yan Xushou quickly added, "Moreover, we didn''t do anything difficult to Lord Shen, in the end, he didn''t have any trouble killing the Xue family, right?"


    "So by this logic, you abandoning him should be something Lord Shen is grateful for?" Shao Hongling stared wide-eyed, "Honestly, I''ve never seen such shameless people!"


    Yan Xushou''s face reddened, too embarrassed to speak.


    Shen Qing calmly said, "I, Shen, prefer a little peace. For the sake of our colleagueship, I won''t make things difficult for you. Take care of yourselves."


    Seeing Shen Qing''s firm attitude, Yan Xushou and Dou Wenxi deflated like punctured balloons, returning dejectedly to their group.


    As soon as they returned, a middle-aged man stepped forward and asked, "What did he say? Did he agree?"


    Yan Xushou shook his head.


    Someone complained, "Sigh... we shouldn''t have acted so hastily."


    "Who could have guessed he had such hidden depths, reaching this level of cultivation in no time?"


    "What do we do next?"


    "Let''s leave this place first," Yan Xushou suggested, "I don''t think it''ll be long before the supervisory troops arrive; it''s not safe to stay here."


    "Supervisory troops as well?"


    Yan Xushou explained, "In a normal Jing Luan Assembly, we only need to fight; there wouldn''t be so many routes. But this year''s is focused on rebellion suppression, so there will be supervisory troops to enforce combat against the Huangtian Sect. In other words, right now, we''re no different from soldiers on the battlefield, just without military constraints."


    "Once the supervisory troops arrive, we might not risk our lives, but it won''t be pleasant. Look, the noble families'' teams have already left early."


    "Is it really like that?"


    Looking around, they saw it was indeed so.


    "This time, only by killing enough Huangtian Sect rebels will merit and achievements stand out; they must be well-informed."


    "Let''s leave quickly." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yan Xushou and others looked at Shen Qing and his group, who were looting the corpses, feeling regretful.


    They all knew they had missed a valuable opportunity.


    "They''ve gone," Xiao Man remarked.


    "Hmm." Shen Qing gathered all the spoils from the Xue family, including numerous Willpower Orbs and pills.


    He bundled them up and handed them to Shao Hongling, saying, "Let''s go as well."


    "Which way should we go?"


    "Any route will do."


    Shen Qing carefully recalled the contents of the map, realizing every route had noble sons choosing it, meaning they would inevitably encounter other noble sons regardless of their choice.


    "Let''s go."


    Shen Qing waved his large hand, leading Shao Hongling and the three swiftly away, heading toward the hills ahead.


    Once they left, several small martial masters without roots followed in Shen Qing''s direction, seemingly wanting to seek refuge.

 Chapter 345 - 26 Shen Xiaohu, Church Envoy Shen

    The Jing Luan Assembly had just begun when a noble son was lost!


    Had he not witnessed it with his own eyes, he would have certainly not believed it.


    Hanging high in the sky, the Martial Master Lan Gongliang from the Kongyou Realm looked toward the distant Shen Qing who was fleeing into the hills, his face revealing a trace of astonishment.


    It was known that in previous years, the heirs of noble families were surrounded by abundant talents and were akin to clouds of experts.


    Ordinary lower-tier martial masters couldn''t even begin to compare with them.


    For a noble son to suffer a loss at the beginning of an event like the Jing Luan Assembly was indeed unprecedented.


    After all, reaching the Spirit Void Realm in cultivation was considered exceptional in Great Zhou Country, ranking among the forefront.


    It was as difficult as scaling the heavens for a lower-tier martial master to achieve this level without relying on the court''s resources.


    Let alone, the age of the opponent appeared so young.


    Lan Gongliang''s eyes flashed, fixating on the direction Shen Qing had departed, seemingly deep in thought.


    Within the rolling hills, sensing the sharp gaze on his back, Shen Qing turned around to look, locking eyes with Lan Gongliang, who was suspended in the air at the Kongyou Realm level.


    Pfft!


    A stabbing pain, akin to that of a needle prick, surged through Shen Qing''s mind, causing a momentary dazedness to his spirit.


    Had his Divine Sense not been strong, he may well have fallen backwards.


    So powerful was the Kongyou Realm.


    Shen Qing averted his gaze, suppressing the shock in his heart, and quickly led Shao Hongling and the other two away.


    ...


    In Dan Zhou, within a mansion''s scripture hall.


    Incense smoke curled up from the burner, weaving through the intricately carved beams and painted rafters.


    It mingled with the intermittent chanting coming from deep within the hall.


    The chanting was uniform and resounding, spreading far and wide over the mansion.


    At that moment, the mansion''s door gently opened, and a figure dressed as a sect member hurried in, waiting outside the scripture hall for a short while before being granted permission to enter.


    He looked around and saw that the disciples sat on their cushions in meditation, all with closed eyes, deeply engrossed in their practices. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A powerful aura of Belief Energy circulated in the air.


    At the very center of the scripture hall, a young man, adorned with a Daoist crown and dressed in dark cyan Daoist robes, sat on an ancient cushion.


    In his hands, he gently held a slightly glowing copy of the "Huang Tian Dao Scripture," sometimes closing his eyes in contemplation, at others revealing a transcendent temperament as he opened them.


    The sect member, clad in coarse linen clothing, took a deep breath, mustered his courage, stepped forward, and spoke softly, "Sect Master Shen."


    The young man gave a small nod, gesturing for him to wait, and continued to immerse himself in the world of scripture until the waves in his heart gradually calmed. Then he slowly put down the scripture scroll and said, "Why such urgency to see me? There are numerous affairs in the church daily; unless it''s urgent, it can be discussed and resolved with other envoys."


    If Shen Qing were to see this young man, he would undoubtedly be astonished.


    This person was none other than Shen Xiaohu who, by a twist of fate, had joined the Huang Tian Sect.


    After several years of striving, he had quietly risen to become the Church Envoy of the Huang Tian Sect in the Dan Zhou region.


    Talented and promising.


    Compared to his past naivety and cluelessness.


    Several years of experience had clearly made him much more mature and composed.


    The Sect Member glanced at the many believers in front of Shen Xiaohu with a hesitant expression.


    Shen Xiaohu, upon seeing this, waved a hand.


    From his sleeve shot a yellow glow.


    That was a talisman inscribed with runes.


    With a single hand forming a spell, the yellow talisman spun in midair with a flicker and burst forth with strands of yellow light, enveloping both him and that disciple of the Huang Tian Sect.


    The chanting within the hall came to an abrupt halt.


    "This is a Silence Talisman I specially concocted," said Shen Xiaohu. "It can completely block sound from inside and out. Whatever is said within it won''t be heard outside. You may speak now."


    "Yes," replied the Sect Member with crossed hands, performing a greeting unique to the Huang Tian Sect, and continued, "Envoy Master Shen, I''ve just received an urgent oral message from the Commander. The Ji Family Emperor has ordered the inception of the Jing Luan Assembly, and his enormous army is rapidly advancing towards Dan Zhou, aiming to swiftly conquer this place. The Commander has specifically instructed in the letter that Envoy Master must hold Dan Zhou for at least one month because, according to secret reports, there may soon be a Spirit Mechanism descending here, which is of utmost importance to our Huang Tian Sect."


    Shen Xiaohu expressed his surprise, "A Spirit Mechanism is to descend here?"


    "The Commander has said so, although he was not certain, just that there was a very high probability. Hence, he only asked for you to hold for a month."


    Shen Xiaohu fell into deep thought.


    Over the years, the Huang Tian Sect had initially had great success in seizing lands of the Spirit Mechanism, but gradually, the Qintian Bureau and Mountain Sea Department of the Great Zhou Court also set their sights on these lands.


    Apart from battling demons, they had to be wary of the people from the Zhou Country Court when they wanted to collect Spirit Essence.


    If a Spirit Mechanism were to descend here, the Qintian Bureau and Mountain Sea Department of Great Zhou would certainly not stand idly by.


    Thinking this through, the possibility of a Spirit Mechanism land appearing seemed likely, yet the likelihood was probably not very high.


    "Did the Commander mention anything else?" Shen Xiaohu asked.


    "Yes, yes, yes," said the Huang Tian disciple, pulling out an object resembling a compass.


    The compass was studded with yellow flags, with streams of spiritual light continuously flickering from them, becoming dazzling with radiance.


    "The Commander has also bestowed upon you a mighty killing array," the disciple continued, "said to be powerful enough to refine tens of thousands of martial masters. Should Envoy Master face Great Zhou''s martial masters and find it impossible to resist, this array can be deployed to refine them."


    Hearing these words, a hint of pleasure flashed in Shen Xiaohu''s eyes.


    A killing array had been sent as well.


    That was excellent, as it saved him a great deal of trouble.


    He gently caressed the scripture scroll in his hand, pondering to himself, "The lands of the Spirit Mechanism are ethereal, something countless martial cultivators dream of. Should one truly appear here, demons would surely arise, and together with the Ji Family Dynasty''s Qintian Bureau and the tens of thousands of Jing Luan Assembly martial masters, my forces here would probably be incapable of defense, to say nothing of Xue Zhao waiting ominously at the sidelines."


    "But with the killing array, everything changes. Combined with my crafted Flying Charm Martial Mechanism Bombs, it should suffice to defend Dan Zhou for a while."


    "First, hold out for a month and then see. If it''s not possible, then abandon the city and retreat."


    After settling his thoughts, Shen Xiaohu instructed, "Issue an order, on the Commander''s command, all Sect Members and the Huang Tian messengers in Dan Zhou are to immediately prepare, strengthen defenses, and concurrently summon the Sect''s elite forces to prepare for the enemy and to set up the killing array in Yongzhou City."


    "Yes, Envoy Master," replied the disciple.


    Having received the order, the servitor of the Huang Tian Sect hurriedly left to carry out Shen Xiaohu''s arrangements.


    Seeing the disciple leave, Shen Xiaohu beckoned with one hand.


    The talisman hovering in midair and radiating splendor immediately began to rotate, drawn back into his hand.


    The silence barrier he had established slowly dissipated.


    Shen Xiaohu looked at the now slightly dimmed runes with a reluctant sigh, seemingly somewhat distressed.


    He stowed the talisman away in his sleeve and once again closed his eyes, silently reciting scripture in his mind.


    Within the grand hall, with Shen Xiaohu''s continuous recitations, an intangible power of will slowly gathered above the heads of everyone present.

 Chapter 346 - 27: Dividing the Spoils of War, Hidden Agendas

    The setting sun was like blood.


    The vast hills were tinted with a golden hue.


    Shen Qing and his companions kept moving forward without pause.


    "Lord Shen," A Da whispered, pointing behind them, "they are still following us."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing didn''t stop; he just slightly turned his head and saw the figures discreetly trailing them.


    These martial masters, in groups of twos and threes, maintained a distance as they followed.


    Every time Shen Qing glanced at them, their eyes carried a tinge of ingratiation.


    Shen Qing inwardly sneered, fully aware of their intentions.


    Just moments ago, he had slain Lord Xue with the force of thunder, drawing considerable attention.


    Having seen his cultivation and capabilities, these people were eager to pledge allegiance to him.


    Among them, there might be some trustworthy individuals, but Shen Qing had little interest in spending more time and energy to communicate and accept them, as it would only create unnecessary trouble for himself.


    "Don''t bother with them," said Shen Qing indifferently.


    A Da nodded silently and said nothing more as he quickened his pace to keep up with Shen Qing.


    With a thought, Shen Qing decided to shake off these followers.


    He activated the Da Xu Technique, stirring the spiritual power within his body.


    Streams of rosy light burst forth from him, weaving into ribbons around Shao Hongling and the other two.


    Shen Qing soared up with a leap, carrying Shao Hongling and the others as they flew forward with the wind, quickly disappearing into the wilderness.


    The martial masters trailing behind them looked at each other, their desire gradually replaced by a feeling of unease.


    "What do we do now?" someone asked in panic.


    A leader-like martial master''s eyes glittered with reluctance. He murmured, "Hmph, since we''ve come this far, there''s no turning back. We chase after them. Even if we can''t join them, following in his footsteps will certainly be safer."


    "When the opportunity arises later, we will definitely show him our resolve."


    "That makes sense. Let''s hurry, or we''ll never catch up."


    After a low discussion, they quickly pursued.


    The Jing Luan Assembly had prepared seven routes, all starting from the camp and converging at Dan Zhou.


    This effectively covered all the areas between the camp and Dan Zhou, a vast region.


    It provided plenty of geographical space for the numerous participating martial masters to avoid premature conflicts and also allowed the cleaning up of the Huang Tian Sect''s forces near Dan Zhou before converging and attacking the city.


    It was a strategy that killed two birds with one stone.


    The route chosen by Shen Qing was an ordinary, long road that required passing through several mountains and numerous towns and villages.


    These towns and villages were not linearly connected but were scattered along the route.


    This also reduced their chances of encountering noble sons.


    Within these towns and villages, there were likely many traces of the Huang Tian Sect, enough for them to establish merit.


    As the last ray of the setting sun was swallowed by the distant mountains, Shen Qing slowed down.


    He released his Divine Sense and found a cave.


    Besides that, he detected no signs of human activity.


    "We''ve traveled hard all day; let''s rest in this cave tonight," Shen Qing casually said.


    Shao Hongling and the others looked to Shen Qing for direction, naturally having no objections. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After Shen Qing confirmed the location, he spurred his spiritual power and landed at the entrance of the cave.


    The entrance to the cave was narrow and hidden, only wide enough for a person to stoop through, and appeared quite small.


    However, upon entering the cave, the scene before them suddenly opened up; the interior space expanded significantly.


    The high dome and naturally sculpted walls exuded an untamed beastly breath and wildness.


    Looking around, Shen Qing noticed weeds covering the ground, signifying that some beast had once inhabited the place, though it had since been abandoned.


    With a single gesture, Shen Qing pointed at the cave ceiling and used his Spiritual Power to form a small pit.


    He took out a Sunlight Stone and activated his Spiritual Power.


    In his palm, the ordinary stone emitted a faint white glow, dispelling the darkness within the cave.


    With a casual toss, the Sunlight Stone embedded itself precisely into the ceiling.


    "Now that there is no pressing matter, we might as well distribute the items we obtained from the Xue Family," said Shen Qing, echoing through the vast cave.


    His words were brief, but they resonated like a command, stirring ripples in the hearts of Shao Hongling and the others.


    "My lord, this¡­ might this be somewhat inappropriate?" Shao Hongling hesitated, clearly surprised by Shen Qing''s suggestion.


    They had indeed gained a substantial haul from the journey, but it was all thanks to Shen Qing''s efforts; they had no part in it.


    Even if they were given none, they could hardly complain.


    However, in Shen Qing''s view, since they had willingly followed him early on with resolute determination, they were his people.


    Honor given to me is returned tenfold.


    Offenses against me are repaid threefold.


    He always distinguished clearly between gratitude and grudges.


    Shen Qing raised his head and calmly surveyed the three individuals present before saying, "You didn''t come here to die. If there''s an opportunity, you might as well give it your all; you could wind up with riches and honors. I, Shen Qing, never mistreat those by my side."


    A Da and Xiao Man glanced at Shao Hongling, following his lead and eager to hear what he would say.


    After a moment of contemplation, Shao Hongling agreed, "Then, I thank you, my lord."


    Shen Qing opened the bundle on the ground, revealing the spoils from the Xue Family.


    The Merit Stones, distributed before the Jing Luan Assembly began, were items of utmost importance during the assembly.


    According to one of the soldiers, even if one''s own Merit Stone lacked sufficient Evil Qi, having enough stones would still be recognized.


    This meant that a Merit Stone was a sought-after item during the Jing Luan Assembly.


    There were seven people from the Xue Family, including servants, totaling seven Merit Stones.


    Shen Qing took four for himself, leaving one for Shao Hongling and the others to share.


    Since Shao Hongling and the others hadn''t earned any, they naturally had no objections.


    in addition to the Merit Stones, there were also numerous Desire Power Pearls, various Elixirs, treasure and other valuable items.


    There were more than forty Desire Power Pearls, over a dozen bottles of Elixirs, seven Refining Pearl Technique Jade Plates, protective treasure armor, and various weapons among other things.


    Shen Qing selected seventy percent for himself, leaving the rest to be evenly distributed among Shao Hongling and the others.


    Seeing these treasures, smiles nearly covered the faces of A Da and Xiao Man.


    Hailing from a humble background, acquiring any one of these items would normally be incredibly difficult for them.


    During the Jing Luan Assembly where strife was frequent, the Xue Family carried many valuable items for protection; now all those benefits fell into their hands.


    Even the usually stern Shao Hongling could hardly contain his joy upon seeing these items.


    A Da suddenly said, "Lord Shen, if we continue slaughtering our way through the Jing Luan Assembly and survive, could the accumulated spoils make us as wealthy as a nation?"


    Shen Qing smiled and replied, "Any martial master has some resources to their name, and none would hold back this time. If you survive, you can indeed become as wealthy as a nation. Moreover, don''t forget, surviving means you can enter the temple, access the Imperial Armory, obtain Martial Mechanisms, and prove longevity¡ªsuch a fortune is priceless."


    "Longevity¡­ that''s too distant for us."


    Shao Hongling stared at the two Merit Stones in her hands, suddenly contemplative.


    Lord Shen had shown her kindness, and just being under his protection was already a great favor.


    She felt that she couldn''t take advantage like this.


    After the Jing Luan Assembly ended, if she were still alive, she planned not to keep any Merit Stones, giving them all to Lord Shen.


    Perhaps with these Merit Stones, Lord Shen could rank among the top and be granted a marquisate in no time.

 Chapter 347 - 28: Accident in the Woods

    Deep in the mountains, the lingering twilight intertwined with the rising moonlight, accompanied by the chorus of insects and frogs.


    Shen Qing and the others each took out some dry provisions they had brought with them and made do with a few bites in the cave.


    Such were the conditions in the wild mountains and ridges, nothing more to be had.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help thinking that it would have been nice to have a Storage Bag, so he wouldn''t look so destitute while out in the countryside.


    Unfortunately, it appeared that the concept of a Storage Bag did not exist in this world, which he found somewhat regrettable.


    After taking a water bladder and guzzling a few mouthfuls, Shen Qing looked at Shao Hongling and the others and asked, "What are your thoughts on our next move?"


    A Da and Xiao Man shook their heads self-mockingly and said, "With our level of cultivation, it''s a bit of a stretch to say we can protect ourselves, let alone have any plans. We naturally listen to Lord Shen and the young lady."


    Shao Hongling pondered for a moment, then pointed to the endpoint on the map and said, "Lord Shen, why don''t we hurry along and reach the intersection of these routes as quickly as possible, then find a concealed place to hide and wait at ease."


    "The Jing Luan Assembly first looks for the hundred survivors, and only then does it determine ranking by military achievements. So, in my view, as long as we hide among the top hundred, it''s not a loss. And by the time of the final battle, those martial masters who survived will surely have accumulated considerable merits. If we seize the opportunities then, it would be like getting twice the results with half the effort."


    Shen Qing nodded, agreeing, "You make a lot of sense, and I have the same thought."


    In his eyes, this Jing Luan Assembly was not much different from his previous life''s "chicken eating" game; it was all a matter of strategy.


    Now his cultivation had broken through to the Spirit Void Realm.


    With such cultivation, he couldn''t necessarily do as he pleased in the Jing Luan Assembly, but there were indeed few who could threaten him.


    If he continued to play it safe, he would surely be in an impregnable position.


    For him, the Jing Luan Assembly could very well be an excellent opportunity to become a Marquis.


    "Rest well tonight, and we''ll hit the road tomorrow, heading west."


    "Yes, my lord."


    Shen Qing gave some more instructions about the journey, and then the conversation ceased.


    Shao Hongling and the others gradually drifted to sleep, while Shen Qing cultivated seriously, as usual, refining the Wish Power Pearls he had seized.


    Spiritual Energy surrounded him.


    A night passed without incident.


    When the next day dawned, a ray of golden light streamed into the cave.


    Shen Qing slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.


    After a night of cultivation, he felt refreshed and in a better state than ever before.


    Outside the cave, a large bird with colorful feathers perched on a branch, chirping away.


    The others awoke, and Xiao Man, surprised to see the bird, commented, "That bird is beautiful."


    No sooner had he spoken,


    Thwack!


    A searing beam of energy shot over his head and struck the fat bird.


    The bird''s head exploded with a dull sound, and its lifeless body fell to the ground.


    Shen Qing approached and picked up the bird, noticing it was indeed sizable, about half the size of a chicken.


    He said with satisfaction, "Not bad at all, you''re in for a treat. We''ll roast it and eat it in a bit."


    Xiao Man hadn''t expected such a casual remark from him to result in Shen Qing so swiftly killing the bird and was at a loss for words.


    Even after many years without entering the mountains to hunt, Shen Qing, with his hunter origins, found dealing with such birds almost effortless.


    Shen Qing quickly set up the fat bird on the skewer, sprinkled some salt, and roasted it.


    After a short wait, a wisp of smoke carrying a tempting aroma began to drift lazily through the air.


    The fat bird''s skin was roasted to a golden, crispy finish.


    Shen Qing tore off a piece, the meat inside still maintaining its tenderness.


    "Eat up," Shen Qing joked. "Consider yourselves lucky. With me here, you won''t go hungry in the deep mountains."


    Shao Hongling and company woke up and, without any hesitation, tore into the meat and began eating earnestly.


    It had to be said that Shen Qing''s cooking skills were indeed impressive.


    A large fat bird was quickly picked clean by them, leaving behind nothing but a skeletal frame.


    A Da brought some earth to douse the campfire, extinguishing the fire in the mountains.


    ...


    In the distant woods, a group of martial masters was desperately running for their lives.


    Their clothes had long been torn by tree branches, revealing streaks of blood, and their shoes had been lost at some point, forcing them to run barefoot over thorns and jagged stones.


    "Faster! Move faster!"


    A man''s shout suddenly erupted in the woods, his tone fraught with urgency.


    Shang Jin glanced back and saw shadows swarming behind him, relentlessly pursuing him.


    Continuous pained groans and the dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground came from their party.


    But Shang Jin showed not a moment''s hesitation or pause, leading the others in a desperate sprint forward.


    They were from Great Zhou''s Northern Moonlight City.


    Their original plan was to hide near the starting area, to lay low for a while.


    However, they had not anticipated the supervision team arriving just as it started to get light, pulling them from their hiding spot.


    After a fierce battle, their squad suffered heavy losses, with only a few surviving.


    To make matters worse, after being found by the supervision team, they encountered two more teams one after another.


    Shang Jin ran, drenched with sweat, completely exhausted from fighting all the way to this point.


    Despair took hold of his heart.


    Suddenly, footsteps approached from ahead, causing Shang Jin''s heart to tighten¡ª


    He stopped quickly and, using the sunlight filtering through the trees, saw three men and a woman blocking their path, their eyes glittering coldly.


    "Everyone, be careful!" Shang Jin whispered as a warning, while he drew the short knife from his waist, ready for combat.


    "What should we do next?" someone whispered.


    Shang Jin was silent for a moment, his mind in turmoil, unable to get a read on these people before him: "I don''t know."


    Shen Qing sized them up and down, noting their blood-soaked bodies as if they had just returned from a clash. He asked with a frown, "Is there someone else behind you?"


    Uncertain of Shen Qing''s capabilities, Shang Jin replied, "There are some people."


    As they spoke, five or six individuals charged over.


    The leader, upon seeing Shen Qing and his companions, paused briefly, then joyfully exclaimed, "Our luck today is really good; I didn''t expect to run into another group¡ª"


    Shang Jin quickly interjected, "Be careful. This group is mostly at the Qi Cultivation Realm, and the leader is at the Qi Hai Realm. They''re brutal, and many of our brothers have fallen at their hands."


    The leader took in Shen Qing''s and others'' attire as well as the bulges at each of their chests, recognizing that they possessed considerable wealth.


    If they could execute them, there would certainly be a great bounty to claim.


    Driven by desire, he signaled to his companions with a look.


    They understood.


    The leader licked his dry lips, turned silently, and lifted his axe high.


    The Jing Luan Assembly was a place of constant conflict, where all strangers encountered were walking merits.


    If they didn''t kill them, they would eventually be killed by them.


    Might as well take action now.


    Shen Qing smiled and asked, "Why are you holding your axes so high?"


    "Nothing much, just killing you, that''s all. Brothers, attack."


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 Chapter 348 - 29: Human Lives Are as Trifling as Grass

    Shen Qing remained impassive.


    Shang Jin had an ominous premonition and hurriedly shouted a warning, "Be careful!"


    But in the next moment, before he could grasp what was happening, his vision blurred and he saw Shen Qing had already charged to the front of those men, drawing his dagger at his waist.


    That dagger was so bright, so fast!


    There was a muffled thud.


    The martial master at the forefront felt the world spin suddenly, and in a daze, it seemed as though he saw his own headless corpse.


    Not just him, but several of his companions'' necks also squirted out columns of blood simultaneously, as three huge heads soared into the air.


    Before the blood could splatter, Shen Qing''s figure shifted, retreating in time.


    Gurgle, gurgle.


    Several huge heads tumbled and rolled on the ground in the forest. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Streams of blood-red Evil Qi rose from the bodies and seeped into the Merit Stone nestled in Shen Qing''s chest.


    The blood-red Evil Qi on the Merit Stone grew a few shades darker.


    Shen Qing flicked the blood off his dagger''s blade and said nonchalantly to A Da and the others, "Clean up quickly, we need to get ready to leave."


    A Da and his companion finally snapped to reality and hurriedly advanced to search the corpses.


    Shen Qing sheathed his long blade, his expression indifferent.


    He knew that once the Jing Luan Assembly began, human life would be as insignificant as weeds¡ªthere could be no mercy like that of a compassionate woman.


    If one could kill, they should kill; if one could not, they should flee.


    Only then could one better survive.


    Standing to the side, Shang Jin and the others couldn''t help but swallow hard, fixating their gaze on Shen Qing.


    They never imagined that the martial masters who had been chasing them would be killed by Shen Qing so effortlessly, with no chance to fight back.


    This man was too strong.


    His cultivation was likely already at the Innate Realm.


    An audacious thought arose in their minds.


    Shang Jin stepped forward, knelt before Shen Qing, and said, "I am Shang Jin, Colonel of the city gate of Moonlight City. If you do not disdain it, Sir, I wish to take you as my master, ready to go through fire and water for you, and to die without regret."


    The Jing Luan Assembly had not been going on for long, and he had already become so wretched.


    Having experienced the events of this day, Shang Jin knew that the Jing Luan Assembly was filled with formidable experts, and he was not their match.


    If more time passed, the thought was unbearable.


    This person had saved his life; it was better to pledge allegiance to him.


    Shen Qing had not expected the man before him to be a Colonel of the city gate.


    He looked at Shang Jin and the others with an expressionless face and said, "Do you know that I have killed the young master of the Xue Family, and made an enemy of the Xue Family? Even if I survive this Jing Luan Assembly and go back, life will not be easy. Do you still wish to follow me?"


    Shock appeared on the faces of those around Shang Jin.


    Moonlight City was not far from the Capital City, and the people there were well aware of the Xue Family in the Capital City.


    The head of the Xue Family, Xue Zhao, was the current Great General, commanding a hundred thousand troops.


    Having killed his son, was there still a way to live afterwards?


    Upon hearing this from Shen Qing, the people beside Shang Jin began to waver, fearful of being implicated.


    But to Shen Qing''s surprise, Shang Jin burst into hearty laughter upon hearing this, elated.


    "What are you so happy about?"


    He knelt on one knee, with his hands clasped in a fist before him and said, "Sir, you have saved my life. If it were not for you today, I fear I would have perished here. If because of you, the Xue Family seeks revenge, then I will have a chance to repay my debt. How can I not be happy about such a thing?"


    Hearing these words, the brothers following Shang Jin on either side all showed shame on their faces and lowered their heads one after another.


    Shen Qing''s face showed some emotion as he took a good look at Shang Jin.


    He appeared to have thick eyebrows and big eyes, a broad back and a bear-like waist, with a fierce air exuding from his entire body.


    "I still don''t know how to address you, my lord. I hope you won''t decline and give me a chance to repay your kindness," he said.


    Shen Qing thought briefly before replying, "Shen Qing from Yongzhou."


    Surprised, Shang Jin exclaimed, "You are the Chief Officer from Yongzhou who slaughtered all the demons in the city?"


    "You''ve heard of me?"


    Shen Qing didn''t expect the affairs of Yongzhou to have spread so far.


    There were still over a thousand miles between Moonlight City and Yongzhou City.


    Shang Jin said, "Heard of you? Your feats have become well-known. Not only do we know, but I fear the entire Yunlu County has heard."


    "Nowadays, the world is changing, and countless demons have emerged. Each of them possesses high cultivation, and we are unable to defend against them. My lord, you single-handedly killed all the demons in a city; aside from those in the temple capital, there are very few who can achieve this."


    At the time, Shen Qing felt it was nothing out of the ordinary, but to others, it was astonishing, and he found this quite novel.


    He didn''t delve deeper into the topic and changed the subject, pointing to the beheaded corpses on the ground, "These people don''t seem very strong. Even if you couldn''t defeat them with your cultivation, you shouldn''t be in such disarray, should you?"


    Shang Jin, with his head bowed and hesitantly said, "The supervision team arrived."


    "Supervision team?" This was the first time Shen Qing had heard this term.


    Shang Jin explained, "The purpose of the Jing Luan Assembly this time is to quell the rebellion of the Huang Tian Sect, and we are all considered to be on military campaign. Hence, there will be a supervision team among us, supervising from behind to prevent any of us from seeking shortcuts."


    "If we stay in one place for more than a day, we will be punished by the supervision team."


    Shen Qing was slightly taken aback¡ªit was like the ''safe zone'' in the game ''chicken''.


    The supervision team was constantly pushing their range towards Dan Zhou, forcing them to engage in battle with the Huang Tian Sect and their own martial masters.


    "I heard that there are important military figures coming to supervise the army this time, which is not good news for us," Shang Jin said candidly.


    Shen Qing turned back to Shao Hongling and others and said, "In that case, we should not stay here any longer. Let''s set off as soon as possible."


    Having said that, he turned his head and added, "You come as well."


    Shang Jin''s face brightened, and he changed his way of address, "Thank you, my lord."


    After a brief rest, Shang Jin and his group had regained a considerable amount of strength and were moving without hindrance.


    Before noon, their party of eight set out along the route toward Dan Zhou.


    Since Shao Hongling and Shang Jin and the others were not of high cultivation and had not yet reached the ability to ride the wind, the whole group, apart from Shen Qing, ran wildly along the way.


    ...


    In the camp where the Jingluan Assembly began, a Deputy General clad in armor burst into a tent with a fierce demeanor.


    Inside the tent, bodies were laid out, emitting bursts of the stench of death.


    In the center, one body positioned alone was particularly conspicuous.


    Looking at the corpse of Xue Bai, the Deputy General suddenly became emotional.


    He clenched his fists, with veins bulging on his arms, and gritted his teeth, "Who did this? Who killed him?"


    A Kongyou Realm martial master, Lan Gongliang, slightly raised his eyelids and said, "It was the Two Department Chief from Yongzhou, Shen Qing."


    "Shen Qing?" The Deputy General muttered a few times, then asked, "Which route did he take?"


    "The third one."


    Without any hesitation, the Deputy General immediately stood up and commanded, "Pass down my order for the supervision team to focus on the third route. If they encounter the Two Department Chief from Yongzhou, kill without mercy!"


    A deep male voice from outside the tent answered, "Yes, my lord."


    "Also, get ready. I, too, will enter the Jingluan Assembly to personally meet this bold individual, to see if they really have three heads and six arms. Otherwise, if the General learns his eldest son died in the Jingluan Assembly, he might command a bloodbath of everyone involved."

 Chapter 349 - 30 Accidental Encounter with Huang Tian Sect

    Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock¡­


    Rain threads cascaded off the ancient village''s eaves, turning into beads that rolled down the tiles and struck the bluestone pavement, emitting a crisp and melodious sound.


    Xiao Man carefully stacked the dry wood he had just gathered and kindled a bonfire. The flames leaped, illuminating his focused face, a glint of relief in his eyes.


    "The rain came so suddenly; it was clear just a moment ago, but then dark clouds gathered and it poured forth, almost turning us into drenched chickens."


    The brothers huddled close to Shang Jin, sitting beside the bonfire and chimed in, "Thank goodness Lord Shen was here, otherwise we really wouldn''t know what to do in the rain."


    Whenever Lord Shen''s name came up, their tones filled with gratitude.


    Had Shen Qing not noticed the change in the weather and used his spiritual power to carry them, finding timely shelter, they would probably still be on the muddy mountain paths, in utter disarray.


    Shen Qing stood at the doorway, silently listening to their conversation without interjecting.


    He surveyed the surroundings and realized that many of the big and broken items in the house were not very dusty, and many scattered belongings were left inside, indicating that the homeowners had not evacuated long ago.


    Shen Qing guessed that many villagers had already heard some news and sensed something amiss, choosing to leave early.


    Now, they had no idea where these people were taking refuge, perhaps in some deep mountain forest, leaving these houses readily available for them.


    However, Shen Qing felt that hiding was not very effective.


    With their abilities as martial masters, if they truly searched, they would definitely be able to find these people.


    If any martial master in the Jing Luan Assembly wanted to accumulate evil qi, these people wouldn''t be able to hide.


    Shen Qing looked outside the door, saw the dull weather, and rain curtains like drapes enveloping both distant mountains and nearby fields in a haze, feeling a pang of sympathy for these fellow mountain folk.


    In the past, when he lived in Hongshan Village, he often heard the elders talk about the past, saying, "Bandits comb through, soldiers rake through."


    In the villagers'' eyes, soldiers were even scarier than bandits.


    In reality, they, these cultivating martial masters, were far scarier than those soldiers.


    Soldiers could be resisted to some extent when they hurt people, but for them, killing these ordinary folks was as easy as slaughtering chickens and dogs.


    Indiscriminate killing was almost inevitable.


    Shen Qing did not delve deeper.


    Inside the house, Shao Hongling and Shang Jin each leaned against one side of the wooden hut, closing their eyes and regulating their breaths.


    After running around for two consecutive days, they had deeply entered the territory controlled by the Huang Tian Sect, and there might be several fierce battles ahead.


    They needed to conserve their energy in preparation for any surprises.


    As the sky gradually darkened, Shang Jin''s spirit recovered, and he voluntarily woke up to take over for Shen Qing.


    "Call us at once if there''s any rustle of wind or movement of grass." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Okay."


    Shang Jin had climbed up from being a city gate guard step by step to a colonel. Guarding was his professional duty; he was adept at such tasks.


    He knew the current environment was complex and could not be careless.


    Under Shen Qing''s reminder, he became even more diligent.


    After handing over, Shen Qing sat back by the bonfire, listening to the continuous outside rain sometimes mixed with thunder, and the cries of unknown beasts in the distant mountains, silently regulating his breath.


    Hearing the noise, Shao Hongling habitually opened her eyes and ended her meditation.


    Her cultivation might not be bad in their small place, but she knew very well, in this crouching tiger, hidden dragon Jingluan Assembly, she was not enough.


    Now, her only reliance was Shen Qing.


    Luckily, although she was a lady from a prominent family in Lu''an Prefecture, the small place was involved in low-level business, so she didn''t have the delicacy of a real prominent family; she could manage many household chores and miscellaneous tasks.


    Seeing Shen Qing resting, she took the initiative to prepare food for Shen Qing, doing as much as she could manage.


    Shen Qing was not resistant, and after back and forth, he also gradually became accustomed to her service, and their relationship grew much closer.


    Being the only woman among them, and an exceedingly beautiful one at that.


    Everyone saw the changes in Shao Hongling.


    Shang Jin and the others hence took careful note internally, avoided any reckless talk, and were very perceptive.


    The rain was heavy and sudden, lasting an entire night before it barely weakened.


    After the next day dawned, the rain had completely stopped.


    At this point, looking around, the distant mountains washed by the rain were lush and vibrant.


    Vapors hovered among the mountain and countryside.


    The droplets falling from the eaves struck clear sounds, and the village paths emitted a muddy, earthy smell.


    But the sky was still overcast, without a glimpse of sunlight.


    Shen Qing felt the moisture in the air, not likely to rain again soon.


    They were about two to three hundred miles away from Dan Zhou, and with their speed, it would take approximately two to three more days.


    He planned to lead everyone to continue on, hoping to reach their destination outside Dan Zhou as soon as possible.


    Shang Jin and the others naturally followed Shen Qing''s lead, moving forward with him.


    The group followed the guided route and trekked along a major road. The road after the rain was full of mud, full of footprints.


    Some of the footprints were even quite fresh.


    Shen Qing immediately realized that a large group of people had just passed on this road.


    And judging by the depth of the footprints, there were those among them with high cultivation levels.


    "Wait a moment."


    Shen Qing halted, gazing forward, and released his Divine Sense.


    With the continuous breakthroughs in his Heavenly Bow Technique, Shen Qing''s divine sense had become increasingly sharp and resilient.


    Within a hundred meters, nothing could escape his perception.


    Under this cover of divine sense, the surrounding mountain and forest environment was vividly detailed.


    Each tree, each leaf''s texture was fully detected by him.


    Shen Qing concentrated and focused his divine sense on the mountain path.


    Soon, on the muddy path, rows of footprints of varying depths and traces washed by rainwater all clearly appeared in his consciousness.


    Despite his detailed investigation, within a hundred meters, he found no trace of anyone.


    What was going on?


    Shen Qing slightly furrowed his brow.


    Undeterred, he continued to employ the Tracking Technique, and immediately, footprints of varying colors appeared in his sight.


    Many of them bore traces of spiritual power.


    This proved that someone had definitely passed by nearby recently.


    Something was amiss.


    "Lord Shen, what''s the matter?" Shang Jin stepped forward to ask.


    Shen Qing said, "Nothing much, we won''t take this road. Let''s go through the mountains."


    He had recently broken through to the Spirit Void Realm, and among the many martial masters involved in the Jingluan Assembly, his strength was enough to be ranked near the top.


    However, he didn''t become arrogant or act recklessly; instead, he was even more cautious.


    To his knowledge, families like the Cui and Wang had deep roots spanning nearly a thousand years, unlike the newly risen Xue Family which only had decades of history.


    These families certainly possessed many profound skills; the Xue Family''s weakness did not imply weakness in the others.


    Shen Qing had noticed signs of people here, but the inability to discern more made him feel uneasy.


    So, it was better to be more cautious.


    At Shen Qing''s beckoning, their group entered the forest trail.


    Raised as a hunter, Shen Qing had roamed these mountains and forests since childhood, not to mention he possessed the Hunting Scripture Martial Arts, making navigating the forest like walking on flat ground for him and leading Shang Jin and the others was effortless.


    Even more to say, with cultivation, he had become incomparably stronger.


    He continued to advance cautiously, his spiritual power surging, his figure constantly flashing through the woods.


    Nowadays, he mastered many martial arts; his primary techniques, the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal and the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, were progressing slowly.


    Both techniques were nearing the level of the Martial Arts path to the Great Power realm, requiring an understanding of the natural order of heaven and earth, continuously integrating the spiritual energy of the universe to form a primordial spirit in order to breakthrough.


    The process was rather difficult; in the Great Zhou, no one entering the Primordial Spirit Realm was below a hundred years old; most broke through only around two hundred.


    If he wanted to break through using these two arts, it would definitely require more dedication and time.


    On the other hand, Da Xu Technique and Heavenly Bow Technique, which he had been using more frequently recently, were progressing smoothly.


    These two techniques, one ancient martial art from the Huangfu family and the other a basic bow technique evolved from nothing that doesn''t entail the pathway of the primordial spirit.


    Once their progress was complete, both could smoothly break through to the next stage.


    Shen Qing planned to focus his main efforts on these two arts, wanting to see what changes would occur after a breakthrough from a lower-level martial art to its zenith, and also anticipating the potential of the Great Void Shifting Technique refined by the Da Xu Technique.


    This Jingluan Assembly presented a good opportunity to enhance these two arts.


    When the time was right, he could leverage the Water Ink Panel to help him break through his current bottleneck, potentially leading to unforeseen results.


    However, Shen Qing was not in a rush for success; with martial arts, especially, if one blindly seeks progress, it might backfire.


    After the rain, as Shen Qing led the group along the damp forest path using the Da Xu Technique...


    Suddenly, deep in the dense forest, a hazy yellow light flickered in and out of visibility like the flame of a candle appearing unusually in the midst of the mist.


    Shang Jin and others promptly stopped, hiding on the side and whispering curiously, "What is that?"


    Shen Qing''s expression tightened, and he hastily extended his divine sense to investigate.


    To his surprise, when his divine sense touched that hazy yellow light, it felt as if it had touched a black hole; all his divine sense was devoured, rendering the space void.


    Had he not seen it with his own eyes, it would seem as though such abnormality did not exist at all.


    This greatly astonished Shen Qing.


    This was, after all, the first time he had encountered such a phenomenon.


    Shen Qing did not give up; his eyes shone brightly, possessing sharp eyesight.


    The distant scene appeared to be magnified several times, presenting itself in front of him.


    Upon a closer look, that beam of light resembled an overturned yellow bowl.


    Just as he curiously stared, within the yellow light, a ripple emerged, and an individual walked out from the ambiguous yellow light.


    His arm was wrapped with a yellow cloth strip, and his head was covered with a Yellow Turban.


    Shen Qing''s expression changed.


    A Saint!


    It was someone from the Huang Tian Sect.


    This was a formation set up by the Huang Tian Sect.


    They were lying in ambush.


    Shen Qing''s heart chilled, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the figure emerging from the yellow light.


    The figure had a cold expression, profound eyes, and was enveloped in an indescribable aura.


    He took the treasure bow from his back, silently signaling his companions to remain vigilant.

 Chapter 350 - 31 Plan Before Action, Spare No One

    ```


    Shang Jin cautiously stepped forward, lowered his voice, and asked, "Lord Shen, what should we do? Should we circumvent them?"


    "Let''s observe first," Shen Qing fixed his gaze ahead. He did not expect to encounter members of the Huang Tian Sect so soon after approaching Dan Zhou''s borders, quite unexpected.


    This Jing Luan Assembly was originally intended to eradicate these rebels and quell the rebellion.


    These people before them were, in a way, potential merits for them.


    They were in the open now, while their side was hidden.


    If their opponents'' strength was mediocre, Shen Qing thought they might as well seize all the merits altogether.


    Just as Shen Qing was calculating in his heart, a ripple appeared beneath the pale yellow barrier of the Huang Tian Sect ahead.


    Another Saint emerged from the formation.


    He caught up to the person in front, the two hooked arms and walked to a concealed spot, then undid their belts and squatted, revealing their naked rears.


    A series of crackling sounds.


    One of the Saints muttered, "Do you think we can really encounter those dog thieves here?"


    "Commander and the others are incredibly wise, they won''t be wrong, just stay put."


    "Alright then. My stomach was killing me earlier, I dared not move, nearly soiled my pants."


    "Hey, all the farts must have been yours then? No wonder it smelled so bad."


    "Don''t blame me, don''t think I don''t know the smelliest one was yours, I even heard it."


    The two mocked each other, then after a while finished their business, tore off some flat leaves from the bushes to clean up, and, feeling refreshed, pulled up their pants.


    Just as they were about to return, suddenly someone circled behind them and covered their mouths and noses.


    They tried to struggle, their throats rolled with terrified growls, but their mouths were tightly covered, unable to make any sound, only faint whimpering.


    Despite their dullness, they realized they were in trouble.


    As they were about to plead for mercy, suddenly their bodies involuntarily lifted off the ground, as if pulled by an invisible rope, and swiftly and strangely dragged towards another hidden grove within the mountains.


    With a muffled clatter.


    They staggered and were thrown in front of Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing waved his hand, Shang Jin and one of his subordinates released the two Huang Tian Sect Saints.


    Shen Qing curled up a faint smile at the corner of his mouth and slowly said, "No rush, I just have a few questions for you."


    As his lips parted and closed, a cold aura spread, making the two''s scalp tingle, and their whole body feel like it was being pricked by needles.


    This cultivation, definitely that of a master!


    The two Huang Tian Sect Saints turned pale, realizing they might be in a deadly situation today.


    "Huang Tian above, thick earth below, you won''t extract any information from us."


    One of the Saints gritted his teeth, full of integrity, he tried to shout but just as his mouth opened.


    A scabbard rudely jammed into his mouth, suppressing his voice to his throat.


    Shen Qing held the scabbard, his face calm, and said, "I didn''t expect that in just a few years, you''ve changed your slogan, much better than before. Since you don''t want to talk now, then don''t."


    With a force of his wrist, spiritual power seeped through, churning within the scabbard.


    "Ah..."


    The Huang Tian Sect Saint roared like a beast, letting out a muffled painful howl.


    His teeth were all churned by Shen Qing, his mouth full of blood.


    The intense pain almost made him faint, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably, shaking like a sieve.


    Shen Qing turned his head to the other one, asking, "He doesn''t want to talk, what about you?"


    The questioned Huang Tian Sect Saint''s face instantly turned colorless, pale as paper.


    "How many of you are there in total, and what''s the highest cultivation?" Shen Qing interrogated.


    The Huang Tian Sect Saint bowed his head, not daring to look at Shen Qing.


    "Lift his head, pry his mouth."


    "Yes."


    A Da and Xiao Man stepped forward, restraining the Huang Tian Sect Saint.


    Shen Qing drew the sword closer to the opponent''s mouth. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The glittering tip slowly inserted into his mouth.


    The Huang Tian Sect Saint felt the blade''s chill on his tongue, hurriedly saying, "I''ll talk, I''ll talk."


    Shen Qing withdrew the sword, smiling, "If you''d done this earlier, it''d have saved a lot of trouble."


    He stood over the Huang Tian Sect Saint, looking down, "Next, answer what I ask, every three breaths without an answer, I''ll cut a finger off each of your hands."


    "Alright..." The Huang Tian Sect Saint answered weakly.


    Through a series of inquiries, Shen Qing finally understood that this was a small detachment sent by the Huang Tian Sect, of just over thirty people, led by a Commander of Qi Hai Realm cultivation.


    They specifically came to assassinate martial masters participating in the Jing Luan Assembly.


    From the Huang Tian Sect Saint''s mouth, it was learned that this time the "Huang Tian Sacred Mountain" had noticed movements in Dan Zhou and had sent many formations and magical devices.


    This group had some of them.


    Although their cultivation wasn''t high, their strength was indeed formidable.


    After clear interrogation, Shen Qing had a good grasp of this small detachment of Huang Tian Sect rebels.


    Time to act.


    "Lord Shen, what about these people?"


    Shen Qing glanced and nodded slightly.


    Shang Jin and the others understood.


    Without hesitation.


    Swish!


    With a swift strike, in the surprised gaze of the opponents, two heads were lopped off.


    ...


    In the Huang Tian Sect''s formation.


    Calmly seated at the center of the formation, as the Commander of this small detachment, Hu Yang coldly observed the passageway down the mountain.


    According to their judgment, many martial masters would pass through here, making it a good spot for an ambush.


    A Huang Tian Sect Saint came forward, "Commander, two people left the formation earlier and have yet to return."


    Hu Yang impatiently waved his hand, "They keep passing wind, must be slacking off and defecating, reluctant to return. Send someone over, whether they''re done or not, call them back, don''t let them delay our task."


    "As you command."


    The Huang Tian Sect Saint accepted the order and hurried into the formation.


    Outside the formation, a crunchy sound suddenly resounded.


    "What''s going on outside?"


    No one answered him.


    Hu Yang frowned, assigning two more Huang Tian Sect Saints to investigate.


    Crunch.


    The crunchy sound came once more, then nothing followed.


    An ominous feeling surged in Hu Yang''s heart, he suppressed the unease and stood up.


    Cautiously walking out from the formation, upon seeing the scene outside, his face changed.


    Several corpses lay scattered outside the formation, each with a bloody hole in their chest.


    Their mouths slightly ajar, eyes wide open, dead without peace.


    Hu Yang''s body hair stood on end, sensing immense danger.


    "Danger!"


    Before he could react, a gust of wind suddenly arose.


    Hu Yang looked towards it, quickly glimpsing a figure concealed under the shadow of trees, holding a bow and arrow.


    And the terrifying sound of the wind was from that released light arrow.


    Hu Yang''s heart clenched, instinctively wanting to turn and flee.


    But the golden light image already outpaced him, landing before him, aiming directly at his face.


    Hu Yang roared, "Dare!"


    In a hurry, he pulled out a self-defense talisman, casting it, yellow tunneling light manifested and protected before him.


    With a puff.


    The arrow easily pierced through the self-defense talisman he cast, then accurately skewered Hu Yang''s chest and exploded.


    Hu Yang felt a wave of pain assaulting, his vision went black, body powerless as it fell backward, eyes gradually losing focus, devoid of life.


    The myriad Huang Tian Sect Saints within the formation sensed something was wrong, immediately dismantling the concealed formation in preparation to deal with this unexpected change.


    Seeing that the Huang Tian Sect had completely revealed themselves.


    Shen Qing no longer hesitated, shouting to those beside him, "Leave none alive!"


    Upon hearing, Shang Jin, Shao Hongling, and others reacted almost instinctively, charging out.


    "Kill!"


    The Huang Tian Sect members, originally ambushing others, couldn''t have imagined they were ambushed by others, utterly incredulous.


    Without the command of Hu Yang, they were utterly fragmented, unable to form a concerted force.


    Added to the surprise of the occurrence, the result was a one-sided massacre.


    Shen Qing''s arrows shot incessantly, his Heavenly Bow Technique reaching mastery, every arrow claiming a life.


    Screams echoed repeatedly.


    One Huang Tian Sect Saint gritted his teeth, pulling out a wooden box from his arms, extracting a Martial Mechanism Bomb.


    But unlike what Shen Qing had seen before, this Martial Mechanism Bomb was covered with various runes.


    The Huang Tian Sect Saint hoisted the Martial Mechanism Bomb, face contorted fiercely, "All of you die."


    The rune-covered Martial Arts Thunder soared into the air, lunging towards Shen Qing''s position.


    Shen Qing''s face changed, hurriedly firing an arrow in hand.


    Boom!


    The Martial Arts Thunder exploded midair, an invisible shockwave rippling outward.


    Caught unprepared, A Da, and others were sent flying.


    Even Shang Jin staggered two steps.


    Its power was vastly greater than what Shen Qing had previously encountered.


    No wonder these people were so audacious, even with such cultivation dared to ambush others.


    Shen Qing''s face remained stern, hands unchecked.


    Arrows formed by spiritual power shot continuously.


    The Heavenly Bow Technique was unparalleled.


    Each spiritual arrow shone like a tiny sun.


    Anyone caught by these arrows was either dead or injured.


    Within just a dozen breaths, this group of Huang Tian Sect Saints was completely wiped out, leaving none alive.


    Shen Qing shouted to Shao Hongling and the others, "Quickly clean up the battlefield, we must leave immediately."


    The earlier explosion of the Martial Arts Thunder was quite loud.


    Shen Qing worried it would attract attention from others.


    Under his deliberate command, everyone ignored their injuries, swiftly stepping forward to scour the bodies of the many Huang Tian Sect Saints.


    Shen Qing focused on several triangle flags planted in the ground.


    Quickly gathering them into his arms, once ensuring nothing was left behind, he swiftly retreated.


    The forest returned to tranquility, only the cold corpses all over the ground and the lingering blood stains silently narrating the tragic fate of this Huang Tian Sect detachment.


    After a while, following Shen Qing and the others'' departure, a ray of rainbow light descended from the sky.


    The rainbow light faded, revealing a general clad in armor.


    He gazed at the devastation before him, thoughtful.


    ```

 Chapter 351 - 32 Mastering the Array Formation

    "Are they from the Huang Tian Sect or Saints?" Deputy General He Xiao''s gaze flickered, sweeping over the bodies scattered through the woods, his mind surprised, "It seems that the Huang Tian Sect has noticed something and has started to make their move."


    He picked a few bodies, briefly searched them.


    He found that they had been picked clean.


    And there were no other martial master''s bodies at the scene, indicating that the Jing Luan Assembly''s martial masters had completely won this battle.


    "This Jing Luan Assembly seems to be quite spectacular, I hope these martial masters who responded to the call can hold out longer and share some of the pressure with the general."


    Deputy General He Xiao didn''t stay any longer, he stimulated his spiritual power, his body burst into rainbow light, and the next moment he soared into the sky.


    So far, he still hadn''t found the whereabouts of the Yongzhou Chief, and needed to continue searching farther afield.


    He needed to find this person.


    If he''s alive, kill him and take his head to General Xue.


    If he''s dead, then take the head from his corpse to General Xue.


    In any case, alive or dead, they needed proof.


    ¡­


    In the woods, Shen Qing was unaware that someone was searching for him.


    He and Shang Jin and others rushed through the woods.


    Once they were far enough from the scene of the incident, Shen Qing used his Divine Sense to make sure there were no dangers or powerful enemies approaching, and then he finally stopped. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There''s a village up ahead, we''ll rest there."


    "Yes."


    At Shen Qing''s signal, they lightly touched the tips of their toes and flew forward.


    Before long, they reached a village.


    Unlike the last village they encountered, this one had been abandoned for a long time with scarcely any human traces around.


    Shen Qing and the others found a thatched cottage that was still somewhat intact and went inside.


    They had just entered the cottage when the gloomy weather began to drizzle.


    Inside the cottage, dust had accumulated, almost nowhere to step.


    Shen Qing''s mind moved, his body''s spiritual power surged, and from him as the center, an invisible wave of energy spread out.


    The debris scattered on the ground was pushed to one side, piling up together.


    The middle was left clean and tidy.


    Shen Qing sat down on the ground and said, "Everyone, take a seat and rest, let''s check what we''ve each gained."


    Hearing this, people gradually sat down beside Shen Qing.


    The unexpected encounter with the Huang Tian Sect members was almost a giveaway.


    They hadn''t spent much effort and had completely annihilated them, with no one on their side injured, a total victory.


    Shen Qing had killed most of the thirty-plus Huang Tian Sect Saints, and the leading Commander had died by his hand.


    Thus, the Merit Stone in his hand bore the heaviest Evil Qi, the dark stone now showing blood-colored lines, with a denser blood light than before.


    Apart from him, Shang Jin and Shao Hongling also had some changes in their Merit Stones to a greater or lesser extent.


    After Shen Qing finished speaking, without any doubt, everyone laid out the items they had taken from the bodies of the Huang Tian Sect, placing them in front of Shen Qing.


    These people from the Huang Tian Sect mostly came from the lower strata, not carrying much on them.


    Most of it was just bits and pieces of gold and silver, along with some volumes of the Huang Tian Sect doctrines.


    Shen Qing briefly glanced at them, having a good idea of their biggest gains this time, probably the twenty or thirty Martial Mechanism Bombs, and the Formation that could conceal their forms.


    Shao Hongling took out a nameless booklet and flipped through it briefly, then handed it to Shen Qing and said, "Lord Shen, take a look at this."


    Shen Qing received the nameless booklet, feeling its rough texture in his hands.


    He bowed his head to flip through it and was overjoyed when he clearly saw its contents.


    It was like being delivered a pillow just as he needed to sleep; whatever he thought was coming to him.


    The booklet recorded the cultivation techniques related to activating Array Formations and Martial Mechanism Bombs.


    No, to be precise, it was more like a "user manual" for Array Formations and Martial Mechanism Bombs.


    Shen Qing suppressed the thoughts in his mind and inventoried the "spoils of war," distributing them.


    Since the Huang Tian Sect didn''t have many good items, Shen Qing equally divided them without much fuss.


    There were exactly twenty-eight Martial Mechanism Bombs; with seven of them together, each person received four.


    As for the only set of Array Formations, Shen Qing kept it for himself, and nobody made any objections.


    Seeing there was nothing else around, Shen Qing delved into studying the Array Formations he held in his hands.


    He had previously studied the art of talismans, which shared many commonalities with this.


    So, for Shen Qing, learning this wasn''t very difficult.


    He studied meticulously.


    Shen Qing had perused all the Martial Arts in the Yongzhou Armory, dabbling in many unconventional methods and knew a bit about them.


    This method of Array Formation was quite superficial; even a Martial Artist from the Qi Hai Realm could manipulate it with ease, let alone Shen Qing, who was already at the Spirit Void Realm.


    In just a short time, Shen Qing felt he had achieved Entry Level.


    He activated his Spiritual Power, grasped two spells in his hand, and casually threw three Array Flags upward.


    The three Array Flags spun around in the air.


    The originally droopy banners unfurled stiffly with the wind.


    Shen Qing felt a connection with the Array Flags.


    He shaped his hands into sword fingers and pointed downwards; then, the three Array Flags pierced into the ground with a ''poof.''


    A pale yellow halo enveloped everyone''s heads.


    A faint smile graced Shen Qing''s face, showing his happiness.


    He had successfully activated the Array Formation.


    Shang Jin and the others couldn''t help but marvel at this sight.


    He had experienced firsthand how formidable and effective this Array Formation was.


    "This Array Formation is the Huang Tian Sect''s Concealment Array," Shen Qing said. "Later, when we get close to Dan Zhou, let''s find a better place to settle, use this Array Formation to conceal ourselves, and that might help us avoid detection by the noble sons. If we don''t wish to fight, hiding inside should be fine."


    Shao Hongling spoke up after a thought, "The Jing Luan Assembly is offering nearly a hundred spots this time. If we hide within the top hundred, wouldn''t it mean riding the east wind directly to advancement?"


    "You''re very smart, and that is indeed correct. To get through this Jing Luan Assembly, we don''t necessarily have to fight and kill," Shen Qing replied with a smile.


    After receiving Shen Qing''s affirmative response, Shang Jin and the others looked at each other, seeing hints of joy in their eyes.


    They felt incredibly lucky to have stumbled upon such a good opportunity.


    Seeing everyone relax, Shen Qing warned, "Nevertheless, you still can''t be careless. This Jing Luan Assembly is full of hidden threats."


    Shang Jin and the others responded earnestly, "We understand."


    Shen Qing nodded and refocused on the Array Formation.


    According to this "user manual," the Array Formation could advance further by concealing the yellow halo, making it even more undetectable.


    Outside, the rain continued to pour harder.


    The footprints Shen Qing and his group left behind in the forest were washed away completely.

 Chapter 352 - 33: Formation Breakthrough

    ```


    A few hundred meters above the abandoned village, a rainbow light flickered past.


    Deputy General He Xiao was enveloped in the rainbow light, his eyes scanning the mountains and forests. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As a martial master of the Spirit Void Realm, his five senses were sharp, constantly searching for traces of others.


    Seeing no signs of activity in this area and unable to sense the aura of any martial masters, he immediately abandoned the search in this region and swiftly moved to other locations.


    Unintentionally, Shen Qing activated a formation, sparing them from another ordeal.


    After resting in the dilapidated straw hut for a day, the rain finally ceased the next morning.


    The sky cleared up.


    Looking around, the sky was a wash of blue, without a cloud in sight.


    Shang Jin and his group emerged from the straw hut.


    Now that they had a way out, the burden in their hearts lifted, and each wore a smile, exhaling a breath of relief.


    "Let''s go."


    Shen Qing withdrew the formation and stepped in front of everyone.


    Shang Jin and the others became even more respectful, uniformly cupping their fists and bowing, "Yes."


    Shen Qing took the lead, activating the Da Xu Technique, his figure flashing as he leapt dozens of meters in a single step.


    The others dared not delay upon seeing this, each striding forward, exerting all their strength to keep up, not daring to lag behind.


    Once again, Shen Qing did not choose the main road but deliberately avoided areas where other martial masters were active, traversing through the mountain forests.


    It took them two days to reach the vicinity of Dan Zhou, with thrilling but safe encounters along the way.


    Shen Qing thought their pace was fast enough, but to his surprise, upon arriving near Dan Zhou with Shang Jin and the others, they found traces of noble sons already present.


    Moreover, other martial masters had also arrived one after another, encircling and attacking the saints of the Huang Tian Sect everywhere.


    The battle intent was strong.


    Concealing his aura, Shen Qing walked to the green hills outside Dan Zhou City, watching from afar the aerial palanquins flying in the sky, surrounded by Spirit Void Realm cultivators joining forces to attack the camp.


    He did not get involved and quietly withdrew.


    After half a day, Shen Qing found an abandoned village where he took Shang Jin and the others to settle.


    The village was completely deserted, devoid of any people.


    With no great expectations in the wilderness, they were content just to find a place to settle.


    But to Shen Qing''s surprise, upon entering, they found all kinds of household utensils still left inside the houses, even the bedding had not been taken.


    For a farming family, bedding was considered an important asset.


    It was not easy for a family to make a set of bedding.


    It seemed apparent that some reason had caused the villagers to leave the village in a hurry, leading to this situation.


    While Shen Qing was puzzled, Shang Jin returned from scouting the surrounding area, finally revealing what had happened.


    There was a broken temple in the northwest direction of the village.


    The Buddha statue in the main hall had long disappeared, leaving only the framework of a house, with half of the walls already collapsed.


    However, the two guest rooms at the back were relatively intact, the tiles on the roof slightly reorganized, similar to regular dwellings.


    Shen Qing saw an unbelievable sight in those two rooms.


    They were packed with corpses of various men, women, elderly, and children, many of the bodies bearing the marks of beasts'' gnawing, with a foul stench reaching the heavens, making one nauseous.


    Upon closer inspection, many women were holding children in their arms.


    The heads of the mothers and children had been smashed with a single punch, leaving them unrecognizable, with red and white matter exposed, continually attracting flies that traversed between the bodies.


    Judging by their attire, these were village folk.


    A sharp light flashed in Shen Qing''s eyes as he employed the Tracking skill.


    In his vision, he saw row upon row of footprints filled with spiritual energy, chaotic and varied.


    Shen Qing carefully observed and secretly deduced.


    It seemed the villagers noticed something amiss, hurriedly hid nearby, intending to wait out the storm before returning to the village.


    Yet unexpectedly, they were discovered by passing martial masters and were slaughtered as battle contributions.


    These people surely begged for their lives in their final moments, but it was of no avail.


    Looking at the bloodstains on the walls and ground, anyone with a compassionate heart couldn''t help but feel their scalp tingle.


    The expressions of those following Shen Qing became heavy, and they remained silent.


    The only female, Shao Hongling, paled, unable to resist turning away and covering her mouth to vomit.


    Never having seen such a scene before, she was profoundly shaken.


    "Let''s go back."


    Shen Qing turned and headed back, the others maintaining their silence as they gradually left.


    Shao Hongling glanced at the heap of corpses that resembled a mountain of flesh, feeling an unprecedented horror.


    She did not understand what had gone wrong in the world, why the powers above always demanded them to fight and kill relentlessly, without a moment''s peace.


    Human lives were so cheap.


    Shao Hongling swallowed her nausea and walked out of the broken shrine.


    Returning to the village, Shen Qing found a wealthy family''s house for them to stay.


    The house had two entrances and exits, just enough to accommodate them.


    Once the house was chosen, Shen Qing wasted no time, tossing the formation flag in his hand and activating the formation.


    Suddenly, a piece of information flashed in Shen Qing''s vision, stirring his heart, and the ink panel appeared before his eyes.


    [Skill: Formation (Beginner)]


    [Progress: 101/100 points]


    [Status: Upgrade Available]


    [Remark: Standing tall on a hundred-foot pole is not difficult, diligence makes everything possible, continuous practice can break through the skill progress.]


    Shen Qing did not expect this skill''s progress to advance so quickly.


    Without hesitation, he focused his mind, "Breakthrough."


    A familiar sensation overtook him.


    Countless strange and intense memories flooded his mind.


    However, compared to previous skills, the formation technique was relatively simple and did not cause him any discomfort in his current state.


    After assimilating the memories in his mind, Shen Qing gained a more profound understanding of this formation technique.


    He formed a seal with his hands, and the formation flag hovering mid-air swayed side to side before staking into three directions of the thatched house.


    With a clear buzz, an invisible ripple rose slowly from the three directions, encompassing and concealing the thatched house and its yard, expanding the range by twofold.


    At this moment, the noticeable yellow dazzle also disappeared, turning into a transparent color.


    Not only that, with the concealment of the formation flag, from the outside it appeared as if the house had become a level ground that seamlessly blended with the surrounding environment, with no trace of the original thatched house, creating an illusion.


    Shen Qing knew that this was the full capacity of this formation, and the breakthrough had allowed him to fully wield it.


    Unless someone accidentally stumbled into this place, none would discover their whereabouts.


    He felt his spirit settle.


    However, for safety''s assurance, Shen Qing still commanded Shang Jin and the others to rotate on guard duty daily to prevent any unexpected incidents.


    The group of seven settled down as such.


    Shang Jin and the others shared a room, Shen Qing occupied a room alone, while Shao Hongling stayed next to Shen Qing, with a small door between their rooms allowing passage.


    During the days that followed, she managed Shen Qing''s daily activities while cultivating, living a stable life.


    The sole exception was the haunting image of the "corpse mountain" she had witnessed that often resurfaced in her mind, disturbing her peace.


    ```

 Chapter 353 - 34: Essential Course for Becoming a Man

    In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.


    As the supervision team advanced, martial masters concealed in the mountains were driven out.


    More and more martial masters kept arriving near Danzhou, making the area increasingly bustling.


    At this time, some powerful martial masters specifically hunted solitary individuals to accumulate war merits.


    The scene became utterly chaotic.


    Every day, many people lost their lives.


    Just then, a noble son saw an opportunity and, under the guise of offering safety, rallied a group of ordinary martial masters to force them to attack Danzhou City. The sounds of battle cries were incessant.


    Gradually, a force consisting of twenty to thirty thousand martial masters formed, led by the four families of Wang, Cui, Xie, and Yang, continually assaulting the city to snatch war merits.


    However, though the Huang Tian Sect had little Martial Mechanism and the Disciples'' cultivation was often not high, they were very adept at using talismans and Array Formation.


    The martial masters of the Jing Luan Assembly, as attackers, hardly gained any advantage and even suffered severe casualties.


    Regardless of the external chaos, Shen Qing and others, enclosed and isolated by the Formation, remained safe and undisturbed, living a life resembling a utopia, starkly out of place in this turmoil.


    Even when the supervision team passed through this abandoned village, they could not discover any trace of Shen Qing and his group.


    Everything developed just as Shen Qing and the others had initially anticipated.


    A Da and others inadvertently relaxed their vigilance; as for accumulating war merits and competing with those noble sons for rankings, they had no such intentions.


    Boom!


    Being located further south, the weather in Danzhou was always changeable. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just a few days after clear skies, layers of dark clouds rolled in again.


    That night, heavy rain poured down loudly.


    Striking the eaves, it made a crackling sound.


    Boom!


    Another flash of lightning and thunder exploded in the sky.


    "Ah!"


    Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Shao Hongling was startled and let out a low cry. Images of corpses resurfaced in her mind, making her restless, unable to find peace for a long time.


    Hearing the sound of rain outside, she took a long breath, trying to calm her turbulent mind.


    Moments later, Shao Hongling stepped down from the bed and walked lightly towards the window.


    She gently pushed open the window, leaving just a small crack to prevent the rain from splashing in.


    Through this narrow opening, Shao Hongling gazed at the torrential downpour outside.


    The rain drizzled down densely, obscuring the distant night, making everything indistinct.


    Only the sound of the rain was torrential, hitting the window and the eaves, producing bursts of rapid and forceful sound.


    Shao Hongling''s gaze wandered in the rain curtain, drifting into a daze.


    At this moment, she thought of her parents and siblings far away in Lu''an Prefecture.


    She wondered if the county magistrate had made trouble for her family after her departure and if her whole family had been slaughtered like those villagers at the temple. She also wondered about her own fate, whether she could survive and leave this place.


    Idle, she couldn''t help but let her thoughts run wild, becoming heavy-hearted.


    Unbeknownst to her, Shen Qing, who had heard some noise from the next room, walked up behind Shao Hongling.


    Seeing her standing by the window, silent, Shen Qing couldn''t help but ask, "What are you thinking about?"


    Caught in a trance, Shao Hongling was startled again by the noise behind her, causing her chest to quiver slightly.


    Now unbound, she became somewhat unrestrained.


    "Lord Shen, it''s nothing¡­"


    Shen Qing disliked the pitch-black environment, so he raised his hand and shot out a sizzling breath that swept over the remaining red candles on the table.


    A faint glow rose up, driving out the darkness in the room.


    The soft candlelight shone on Shao Hongling''s face, revealing her delicate and appealing features to Shen Qing.


    At that moment, she looked pitiful, like a lamb with nowhere to lean, afraid to meet Shen Qing''s gaze directly, so she shifted her eyes away.


    Amidst her movements, there was a slight sway beneath her loose clothing.


    For some reason, this moment suddenly gave rise to an impulse in Shen Qing''s heart.


    After so many days of being together, they had grown familiar with each other.


    Shen Qing did not suppress his thoughts, walked straight up to her, and stretched out his hand to her chin, slightly tilting her face.


    As Shao Hongling looked confused, Shen Qing''s hands naturally caressed her fair cheeks.


    "Lord Shen¡­" Shao Hongling murmured softly, her voice almost inaudible, "What¡­ do you want to do¡­"


    Seeing that Shao Hongling did not resist, Shen Qing''s hand gradually slid down her face toward her fair neck.


    Shao Hongling seemed to realize something, her face alarmed, and she quickly stepped back two steps.


    Currently, a young man and woman were alone in a room, and both Shen Qing and Shao Hongling were at a vigorous age, some things were understood without saying.


    Shao Hongling had imagined this more than once, but now that it was happening, her eyes became inexplicably complex.


    She had never experienced this before and didn''t know how to handle such emotions.


    Shen Qing, having lived two lives, was not unfamiliar with such situations.


    He took another two steps forward, grasped Shao Hongling''s soft wrist and said, "You should know what I want to do, you seemed to have said it was worth it at the beginning of the Jing Luan Assembly."


    Shao Hongling remained silent, seemingly caught in an emotional struggle.


    "If you feel you''re not ready, then forget it, pretend I didn''t say anything," Shen Qing said patiently, showing no signs of hurry.


    He knew that the major couldn''t be dictated by the minor and needed to maintain constant clarity to avoid making wrong judgments that could bring trouble.


    Hearing Shen Qing''s words, Shao Hongling looked up and said, shifting her gaze, "Please extinguish the candle."


    "That would make it impossible to see anything."


    Shen Qing laughed and approached closer to Shao Hongling, encircling her waist.


    The rainy night was long.


    A moan echoed through the room.


    ¡­


    The next morning, just like usual, Shen Qing walked out of the house with an unchanged expression.


    Rarely, Shao Hongling was still in bed, not even getting up by noon, and did not perform her daily cultivation, which was very unusual.


    Walking in the courtyard, Shen Qing encountered Shang Jin who looked at him with a somewhat strange expression but did not say much more.


    To them, it was a matter of time.


    It was just a matter of happening sooner or later.


    For A Da and Xiao Man, this meant that their miss had truly been accepted by Shen Qing, which was a good thing for her and indeed a cause for joy.


    At this moment, when they looked at Shen Qing again, their attitude was somewhat different, treating him truly like a son-in-law, serving him from the heart.


    Shen Qing had nothing much to say.


    Shen Qing had not trained himself into an eunuch through martial arts, and meat delivered to his mouth was not to be missed.


    This was all part of the essential courses of becoming a man.


    According to last night, Shao Hongling was initially very reserved.


    But she couldn''t withstand his vigorous performance; by the later part of the night, she was screaming particularly loud, so much so that Shao Hongling, a martial master, eventually grew exhausted.


    It''s hard to imagine what a normal person would have turned into.

 Chapter 354 - 35: A Turn of Events, The Emergence of an Ancient Ruin

    In the days following the breaking of that thin barrier of awkwardness, interactions between Shen Qing and Shao Hongling became much more frequent, as they sparred and trained together every few days.


    For some reason, Shao Hongling always ended up returning defeated.


    She couldn''t comprehend how Shen Qing, who seemed so gentle and refined, could have such a myriad of techniques, some of which were simply unimaginable.


    If she hadn''t been practicing martial arts since childhood, possessing sufficient flexibility, she might not have been able to cope.


    Time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.


    During this period, Shen Qing did not just stay in the room, ignoring the world outside.


    He often sent Shang Jin and others to gather information.


    He himself would also, relying on his movement technique, conceal himself to observe the battle situation.


    Overall, the martial masters of the Jing Luan Assembly and the Huang Tian Sect in Dan Zhou fought fiercely enough to lose all sense, with corpses lying all over the countryside and the soil stained a dark red with blood.


    The city gates were repeatedly contested by both sides, with neither gaining the upper hand.


    Additionally, the sect members of the Huang Tian Sect infiltrated the mountains and forests, conducting assassinations from time to time, causing significant losses to the martial masters.


    Judging by this, it''s uncertain whether the tens of thousands of martial masters here will eventually get wiped out in Dan Zhou.


    Shen Qing also did not know why the Huang Tian Sect valued Dan Zhou so much, refusing to yield an inch.


    Even the main stronghold of the Huang Tian Sect kept sending strong reinforcements continually, with significant figures arriving one after another.


    Conversely, it seemed that Great General Xue Zhao was also preparing to muster a great army to surge toward Dan Zhou with great momentum.


    ...


    In a camp outside Dan Zhou.


    Deputy General He Xiao sat in the main seat, his face full of gloom. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Up to this moment, the Yongzhou Chief he had been tracking seemed to have vanished from the Jing Luan Assembly, even after ordering the supervision team to search thoroughly, still without any trace.


    Whether alive or dead, he had no idea at all.


    He had no idea how to explain this.


    So many days had passed, and Great General Xue Zhao had already learned about his beloved son''s murder, now enraged to the extreme.


    He was very pessimistic about his situation afterwards.


    Just as he was pondering, a small soldier rushed into the large tent and reported, "General He, people from the Qintian Bureau and the Mountain Sea Department have arrived."


    "The Qintian Bureau and the Mountain Sea Department? What are they doing here during the siege?" Deputy General He Xiao was somewhat puzzled.


    But these two government offices were direct to the heavens, so he couldn''t afford to be careless, provoking trouble for himself.


    Deputy General He Xiao instructed, "Quickly invite them in."


    "Yes, General."


    Moments later, under the guidance of soldiers, a young man in a white robe and a man wearing mountain sea embroidered clothes walked into the large tent one after another.


    The leading man in white first cupped his fist to greet, "I am Xie Rui from the Qintian Bureau, greetings to General He."


    The other, a man dressed in mountain sea embroidered clothes, followed up saying, "I am Li Wenze from the Mountain Sea Department, greetings to General He."


    Deputy General He Xiao''s gaze flickered, scanning over each of them before asking, "With the frontlines so tense, I wonder what brings you here at this moment?"


    Xie Rui of the Qintian Bureau stepped forward and said, "General, frankly speaking, Director observed celestial phenomena and detected potential changes here in Dan Zhou, thus personally ordered us to investigate."


    "Oh, changes? What kind of changes?" Deputy General He Xiao was puzzled.


    "It should be related to Spirit Essence."


    "Spirit Essence?"


    "Indeed, our Mountain Sea Department recently discovered demonic movements in the surroundings, vaguely sensing some demons secretly arriving here," Li Wenze from the Mountain Sea Department said gravely. "I suppose the Huang Tian Sect is aware of something, thus refusing to yield Dan Zhou, and our lord is uneasy, so he dispatched me here to investigate."


    After listening to their account, Deputy General He Xiao raised an eyebrow, never expecting such a change to intrude into the Jing Luan Assembly.


    "I heard Your Majesty is collecting Spirit Essence everywhere; with a significant change here, surely His Majesty wouldn''t want to miss out. I wonder if you''re here under His Majesty''s orders?"


    Li Wenze from the Mountain Sea Department shook his head and said, "It''s the order of the Supreme Emperor Ancestor."


    "Ji Family Ancestor?"


    Deputy General He Xiao was surprised, not expecting such esteemed attention here.


    The Ji Family Ancestor is the world-renowned first martial master, with unfathomable cultivation.


    Since establishing a century-long stable Zhou Country, he chose to abdicate, passing the throne to his descendants, dedicating himself to martial arts cultivation, ignoring worldly affairs for many years.


    Unexpectedly, such a great figure is concerned with this matter!


    Just as he was about to inquire further, a sudden loud bang resonated through heaven and earth, causing tremors.


    "Boom!"


    They exchanged glances inside the large tent.


    "What happened?"


    They hurriedly rushed out of the tent and witnessed an unbelievable scene in the distance.


    In the distance, among the towering mountains, a vast glow burst forth, dyeing the entire sky a boundless yellow.


    A corner of an ancient sect relic emerged quietly, gradually manifesting from the mountains.


    There, shrouded in mist, an ancient palace faintly appeared in the void.


    "Spirit Essence, Spirit Essence. Our Director calculated correctly, it is indeed here," Xie Rui from the Qintian Bureau said excitedly, taking out a pure jade-crafted compass and made several hand seals.


    He cast a spell that landed on the compass.


    Suddenly, the compass emitted dazzling light, with symbols floating on it.


    Xie Rui calculated repeatedly, saying, "This is an ancient relic sealed here by human hands. Within it may lie inheritances from the ancient times that could help us solve the reasons for the decline of sects thousands of years ago."


    "Not good, demons have already detected this beforehand and are lurking nearby, taking action. The Huang Tian Sect is also moving. Damn it!"


    Xie Rui from the Qintian Bureau couldn''t remain calm any longer, ignoring He Xiao and others behind him, and rushed out directly.


    At the location of the distant relic, various creatures seeking opportunity were gathering.


    Deputy General He Xiao knew the situation was urgent, hurriedly ordering, "Order the soldiers of the supervision team to follow me to the relic''s location, kill anyone who approaches without mercy."


    "As ordered."


    After giving orders, he and Li Wenze from the Mountain Sea Department didn''t delay, quickly pursuing Xie Rui.


    Upon approaching, they discovered the relic was extraordinary.


    The hall in front of the building was carved from pure white jade, inscribed with complex, indecipherable symbols, with colorful spirit light flowing, seemingly containing supreme vitality, with immense spiritual power surging within.


    As He Xiao and others neared, they felt unprecedented pressure.


    The next moment, from the depths of the ancient sect relic, a deafening roar erupted, with radiant spirit light shooting skyward, like an ancient volcano suddenly awakening, endless spiritual power like raging waves swept all around.


    Numerous martial masters nearby were flung like fallen leaves in the wind, easily lifted by this force, some caught were instantly torn into nothingness by an invisible power.

 Chapter 355 - 36: Formidable Enemy Strikes, Punch First

    ```


    This ancient relic is terrifying; even after thousands of years, the spiritual energy within has not diminished a bit under the erosion of time.


    Even though the power of the seal has greatly weakened, it still preserves it perfectly.


    It''s hard to imagine what kind of earth-shattering ability the supreme master who created this sect possessed back then!


    The existence of True Immortals in the Ancient Era may not just be idle talk.


    The roaring sound was incessant.


    A martial master looked horrified; even though he hid in a concealed rock cave far away, he could not escape the impact of this spiritual power storm. The surrounding trees snapped, and huge rocks rolled down.


    If he hadn''t run fast, he almost would have been buried alive.


    People around Dan Zhou, be they noble family members, the Huang Tian Sect, or the martial masters and soldiers of the Jing Luan Assembly, all went mad.


    "Opportunity, opportunity, this is my opportunity! The bottleneck I''ve been stuck at for years will break through today."


    A Guardian of a noble family member, holding a long sword, the tip slightly quivering.


    He appeared frantic, his voice unusually clear amid the clamor, yet quickly drowned out by the noise around.


    And he was not alone.


    Closely following these noble sons were swarms of Huang Tian believers, who mistook the yellow light in the sky for a divine manifestation, each with expressions of devotion.


    "This is the Huang Tian Relic. We must not let these outsiders touch it. Prove the Huang Tian Dao, be sacrificed, today, kill!"


    As time passed, more martial masters from the Jing Luan Assembly and soldiers from the supervision team joined this chaotic battle.


    The scene was extremely chaotic, with killing everywhere!


    "For power, for longevity!"


    A soldier shouted hoarsely, with eyes only for the ancient sect''s ruins ahead.


    Almost everyone around the relic lost their minds and could no longer distinguish friend from foe. Anything standing in their way would be mercilessly crushed by martial masters surging like a tide.


    The fight reached a fever pitch.


    Xie Rui from the Qintian Bureau and Li Wenze from the Mountain Sea Department were well prepared, each bringing a "Fake Magical Treasure" modeled after the Ancient Times, to pave the way and resist the strong aura emanating from the ancient relic. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Deputy General He Xiao also benefited by following behind them, approaching the relic.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze from the Qintian Bureau and Mountain Sea Department rushed to the front, reaching the entrance of the relic.


    They didn''t want to wait, fearing more powerful entities would attack and rob them of their chance.


    Without any delay, the two decisively used their "Fake Magical Treasure."


    A tattered Seal and a bronze ancient knife were refined by the two, launching toward the ancient sect relic ahead, attempting to open the entrance to the relic and enter early to seize the opportunities inside.


    Boom!


    A powerful wave spread rapidly from the relic as the center, extending all around.


    The momentum was no less than when the ancient relic first emerged.


    "No wonder it''s an ancient era with immortals; even a nameless sect had such terrible power."


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze stood firmly, undiscouraged, continuing to unleash, wielding the "Fake Magical Treasures" in their hands, confronting the Prohibition of the ancient relic.


    Endless spiritual light and the force of the ancient relic continuously spread around, stirring up waves.


    The two seemed to be constantly hurling massive stones into a lake, with each move raising massive spiritual energy waves, rolling backward.


    Immediately, under the firmament, chaos reigned everywhere, with brilliant light flickering, and boundless mana surging turbulently.


    The relic of this ancient sect seemed to be awakening, trembling incessantly.


    After a while, Xie Rui and Li Wenze urged their spiritual power repeatedly, finally barely blasting a subtle gap in one corner of the ancient relic.


    "Bang!"


    Once again working together, with all their might, the two "Fake Magical Treasures" burst into dazzling light, gathering Xie Rui and Li Wenze''s dedication and spiritual power, finally shattering a corner of the ancient relic entirely, revealing a golden crack.


    "It''s done!"


    Deputy General He Xiao, standing behind them, was also delighted, urging, "Hurry in!"


    Without any hesitation, the few rushed in directly.


    Those from the Huang Tian Sect who hadn''t yet reached the relic, as well as the rapidly approaching noble sons, changed their expressions drastically, using all their strength to dash forward.


    Xie Rui and the three entered the ancient sect relic through the formation crack, only to spot a plaque inscribed with the two ancient words "Tianxuan" before their eyes.


    They merely glanced at it, and the glazed brilliance on it flashed like the sun.


    The three screamed, "Ah, my eyes! My eyes!"


    Their figures flew backward, flung out from the fissure struck open.


    A mighty momentum descended, crazily spreading outward.


    The nearest mountain peak was directly leveled, countless ancient trees uprooted.


    The aura was overwhelming.


    Rumble...


    Massive commotion rolled like thunder.


    Shen Qing, in the courtyard, hadn''t understood what was happening before he saw the irresistible momentum crush his formation.


    Three array flags simultaneously emitted a crisp "click" sound, shattering completely.


    The house he was in also couldn''t bear the load, being overturned.


    With a thud.


    At this moment, a figure fell from the sky, crashing heavily into his courtyard, startling Shen Qing.


    He quickly looked down, seeing the person clad in silver armor, moaning in pain yet struggling to rise from the ground in a sorry state.


    This attire undoubtedly belonged to someone from the supervision team.


    Shen Qing never expected that after hiding for so long, he would meet someone from the supervision team in such a manner.


    He Xiao, clad in armor, shook his dizzy head and looked up, his vision blurred.


    To his surprise, as he raised his head, he saw a massive fist, glowing red-gold, punch him in the face.


    "Ah..."


    The armored He Xiao spewed blood and flew backward.


    He couldn''t comprehend why he was suddenly and irrationally punched.


    Moreover, the opponent clearly aimed to kill; he sensed a fiery breath rampaging through his body.


    "Lord Shen!" Shang Jin and the others rushed to Shen Qing''s side, puzzled by his sudden action.


    Shen Qing had no intention of explaining.


    He knew that the supervision team opposed their Jingluan Assembly martial masters, and if he didn''t attack, the other side would act first.


    Thus, it was better to strike first.


    Deputy General He Xiao, enduring the injuries, rose and concentrated all his spiritual power in his eyes.


    His vision cleared quickly, seeing Shen Qing''s appearance, which startled him slightly.


    Thinking of the others'' address to Shen Qing, he immediately realized that this was the Yongzhou Chief Shen Qing he had searched for so long!


    Great, truly searching everywhere, only to find him effortlessly.


    ```

 Chapter 356 - 37: Clearly you have a guilty conscience, kill first then talk about it

    ```


    Deputy General He Xiao''s face was grim. Considering his injuries, he did not act immediately.


    Shen Qing might not know yet that he was being pursued.


    If he could express a bit more kindness in his words, perhaps Shen Qing would lower his guard, giving He Xiao a chance and achieving twice the result with half the effort.


    He smiled and said, "This..."


    However, before he could finish his sentence, Shen Qing''s figure flickered. He crossed several yards in an instant, charging directly at him without any warning.


    A dazzling Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal formed in Shen Qing''s hand, carrying a world-destroying force as it crashed towards He Xiao!


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    A series of explosions followed one after another.


    Shen Qing''s attacks were like relentless waves, each strike containing terrifying power capable of shaking mountains and rivers, almost tearing the air apart.


    He Xiao staggered, dodging left and right, narrowly escaping Shen Qing''s continuous attacks several times.


    "Boom!"


    Finally, at a moment when they narrowly missed each other, Shen Qing''s Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal, with an irresistible force, brushed past the corner of He Xiao''s clothes and instantly pulverized a ruined house behind him into dust, with debris flying everywhere.


    At that moment, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, and all sounds came to an abrupt halt. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Xiao''s forehead was beaded with sweat, his chest heaving violently.


    Facing him, Shen Qing''s expression was cold, his eyes filled with determination and ferocity, as if he was set on ending He Xiao completely.


    "You... dare to do this!" He Xiao, still gasping for breath, said with disbelief and anger: "We have no enmity, why such deadly strikes!"


    He never expected that at their first meeting, Shen Qing would attack him so recklessly, with every move lethal and merciless.


    If he remembered correctly, this was indeed their first encounter.


    "Do you take me for a fool? I see your cultivation is not low, yet when I hit you, you weren''t angry, and even smiled at me. Clearly, you have other motives, with ghosts in your heart!" Shen Qing said firmly.


    Shen Qing snorted coldly and continued: "I''ve been in the government office long enough to know what kind of characters you officials in the temple are."


    He Xiao was taken aback, feeling that Shen Qing''s words were unexpectedly reasonable.


    Damn, he was careless.


    In fact, Shen Qing couldn''t be 100% sure of He Xiao''s malice.


    But he''d rather kill by mistake than let go; it''s better for the other party to die than himself.


    Shen Qing''s figure surged again, pushing the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique to the extreme, with spiritual power surging all around him.


    He once again formed the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal.


    A crimson-gold giant seal manifested, with mysterious runes swirling on it, emitting a heart-palpitating vibration.


    Realizing he was exposed, a resolute look flashed in He Xiao''s eyes. Knowing he had been discovered, he no longer held back.


    He gritted his teeth, his spiritual power surging like an unbridled horse.


    "You killed General Xue''s beloved son, do you think you can leave the Jingluan Assembly alive? Die!"


    As soon as he finished, He Xiao advanced aggressively.


    Every attack he made was lethal, with strikes drawing blood, punches hitting flesh, and the air thick with a bloody and murderous aura.


    Indeed!


    Shen Qing was secretly relieved.


    He noticed that this person''s spiritual power had materialized, indicating he was already a martial master of the Spirit Void Realm, perhaps even approaching the half step Primordial Spirit stage.


    With such a level of cultivation, if this person wasn''t injured and Shen Qing hadn''t struck first, the outcome would be hard to predict.


    Since that was the case, Shen Qing was also determined.


    Kill first, talk later!


    "Bang!"


    The two continued to exchange blows, each engagement accompanied by deafening roars, ripples of spiritual power colliding, and fierce winds howling.


    In the blink of an eye, the village, already teetering from the aura of the ruins, was completely leveled by the two.


    Shang Jin and the others dared not get close, watching from a distance.


    Terrifying fluctuations kept emanating from between the two.


    At this moment, star-like sparkles appeared from the acupuncture points all over Shen Qing''s body, spiritual power vortices manifesting one by one, becoming braver with each battle.


    This was the result of pushing the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique to the extreme, continuously absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy to strengthen himself, making Shen Qing''s spiritual power as vast as a mighty river, continuous and unending.


    As time passed, despite He Xiao''s all-out efforts, he gradually became overwhelmed by Shen Qing''s undiminished offensive.


    His figure began to sway, sweat pouring down like rain, his complexion pale as paper.


    He Xiao could no longer maintain his previous composure, fear slowly creeping across his face.


    Just at this critical juncture, two figures sped over from the distant sky, it''s Xie Rui from the Imperial Observatory and Li Wenze from the Mountain and Sea Division.


    They were rushing toward the ruins.


    He Xiao, as if grabbing a lifeline, shouted loudly: "Help me!"


    Hearing the commotion, Xie Rui and Li Wenze quickly looked back, shocked, and urgently shouted: "Stop!"


    However, Shen Qing seemed to ignore their voices, his eyes focused only on He Xiao.


    To kill halfway was something he absolutely couldn''t tolerate!


    Either don''t do it, or do it thoroughly!


    Shen Qing was fully concentrated, the spiritual power within him surging again to the extreme.


    He formed seals with his hands, converging into an unstoppable torrent, fiercely striking towards He Xiao''s chest.


    "No..."


    He Xiao''s scream was drowned by the overwhelming spiritual power.


    Shen Qing''s palm descended like a mountain, and under its unstoppable force, He Xiao''s body fell to the ground like a kite with a broken string.


    With a loud crash, he hit the ground heavily, raising clouds of dust.


    Blood trickled continuously from He Xiao''s mouth, struggling to lift his head to look at Shen Qing, lifting a blood-stained finger, he struggled to say: "You... General... will not..."


    With a plop.


    He Xiao''s body slumped powerlessly, taking his last breath, lifeless.


    Shen Qing stood coldly in place, surrounded by lingering waves of spiritual power, without any hint of regret or fear in his eyes.


    This time, he was also lucky.


    He encountered this person while he was injured, otherwise, it wouldn''t have been so easy.


    In the air, Xie Rui and Li Wenze looked at each other, disbelief in their eyes.


    Li Wenze from the Mountain and Sea Division shouted sternly: "You have some nerve, do you know who you just killed? He was Deputy General of General Xue, a high-ranking official of the court!"


    Shen Qing replied defiantly: "What deputy general, I don''t know. This is the Jingluan Assembly, anyone who breaks in, I can kill as I please!"


    As he spoke, he noticed the merit stone in his hand heating up slightly.


    The dense killing aura was absorbed by it.


    The red lines on the pitch-black stone became thicker and more vibrant.


    Killing He Xiao increased his merit significantly.


    "Enough talk, attack!"


    Xie Rui from the Imperial Observatory directly summoned a broken seal, hurling it towards Shen Qing.


    The power was overwhelming.


    Shen Qing''s expression changed, realizing the strength of these two was no less than that of He Xiao, and with the help of this "pseudo-treasure," they were even more formidable.


    ```

 Chapter 357 - 38: The Power of Fake Magical Treasure, Refinement Points

    ```


    Xie Rui suddenly summoned a Seal, which, despite its battered appearance, exuded an ancient and timeless aura, akin to a towering mountain striking directly toward the top of Shen Qing''s head.


    Before it even got close, it made him almost unable to breathe.


    At the same time, Li Wenze did not hesitate. With a flash of cold light, he summoned a silver long blade, slashing across Shen Qing''s front, intending to split him in half.


    Shen Qing clearly sensed the immense power contained within those two "Fake Magical Treasures," and his expression changed slightly.


    This power far exceeded what flesh and blood could withstand.


    Even though he practiced the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique, his mortal body might not withstand it.


    Shen Qing''s body shifted, the Da Xu Technique operating at its peak, allowing his entire being to veer away at an unbelievable speed and angle, successfully slipping out from between the two magic treasures, narrowly avoiding this terrifying strike.


    Without looking back, Shen Qing seized the opportunity to pick up an ancient treasure bow inside the room, his figure continuously flickering away.


    Every step he took spanned hundreds of meters, rapidly widening the distance between him and the two, his speed incredibly fast.


    Even Xie Rui and Li Wenze, despite their vast experiences, had never seen such a miraculous Martial Art and could not help but show surprise.


    Boom!


    The two "Fake Magical Treasures" crashed to the ground, shattering the surface and causing numerous land chunks to rise and spread.


    The center was smashed, collapsing nearly ten meters deep.


    Shen Qing steadied himself and turned around to see this scene, his eyelids twitching fiercely.


    If he hadn''t escaped quickly just now, the terrifying attack would''ve crushed him into a pulp.


    No flesh could stop it.


    Seeing the two retrieving their "Magic Treasures," Shen Qing knew it was a rare opportunity.


    He took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling to absorb all the Spiritual Energy from the surroundings into his chest. Then the muscles on his arms twisted and knotted like old roots, akin to ancient trees revived with abundant power.


    Shen Qing did not hesitate, taking up the treasure bow in his hand.


    The bowstring was slowly drawn open in his hand until it bent into a full moon, and the bow shone with a faint light. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a low growl, Shen Qing furiously operated the Heavenly Bow Technique.


    The Spiritual Power surged within him like a river bursting its banks, unstoppable as it gathered at his fingertips.


    Under his gaze, arrows formed purely from Spiritual Power manifested on the treasure bow.


    Shen Qing turned grim, and his fingers suddenly released.


    This time, he held nothing back, using all his Spiritual Power to condense the arrows, the power contained far surpassing the past, and the Sun Shooting Skill was simultaneously activated.


    A dazzling light appeared in the sky, like a sun under the firmament, tearing through the sky, pointing directly at Xie Rui and Li Wenze.


    Heavenly Bow Technique, every arrow hits the mark!


    In Shen Qing''s view, the bright arrows shot without any deviation to the front of Xie Rui and Li Wenze.


    Boom!


    A thunderous explosion roared, deafening.


    The light from the arrows engulfed Xie Rui and Li Wenze entirely, an invisible wave of light spreading outwards.


    ''Did it succeed?!''


    Shang Jin and Shao Hongling, thinking Shen Qing had slain the opponent, showed a trace of joy on their faces and cautiously looked forward. But Shen Qing to the side turned pale, looking very serious.


    With his sharp Divine Sense, even before the light dispersed, he had sensed the Life Force within.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze were not dead.


    The arrow did not harm them.


    Shen Qing''s face became unusually grim.


    Without hesitation, he frantically activated the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique to restore his Spiritual Power, while he swiftly condensed arrows, continuously shooting them out.


    Boom, boom, boom.


    Deafening booming sounds repeatedly appeared in front of him.


    "Hmph! Just relying on these?"


    From within the light, a cold snort echoed.


    The next moment, a blue light shot skyward, slicing the glowing mass into two.


    Within, Li Wenze held his long blade, smiling as he stared at Shen Qing.


    The blade in his hand was covered in strange runes.


    With a slight tremble of the blade tip, Li Wenze wielded the "Fake Magical Treasure," stirring a bone-chilling wind, slashing down.


    The incoming crimson-golden arrow was easily split in two by his blade, the fierce blade aura deflecting it to both sides, landing on the ground with an earth-shattering light.


    "Interesting, even this kind of bow you can play to such an extent, truly remarkable."


    Shen Qing''s whole body''s muscles could not help but tense.


    Primordial Spirit Realm!


    These two had the cultivation of the Primordial Spirit Realm!


    Since Shen Qing began cultivating Martial Arts, he had never encountered such high-level martial masters.


    He didn''t expect to face two at once this time, with each holding a "Fake Magical Treasure."


    Thinking of this, his heart sank.


    The situation was not looking good.


    "Why waste so many words with him, quickly resolve this person and swiftly enter the relic to seize the opportunity."


    Upon hearing Xie Rui''s words, Li Wenze looked up, noticing many martial masters taking the chance to rush into the relic gap they opened.


    Without further delay, he and Xie Rui moved forward to attack.


    Xie Rui''s summoned Seal, its surface covered with mottled stone patterns, faced with Shen Qing''s incessantly howling arrows, suddenly pushed forward.


    The Seal whirled in mid-air, growing larger in the wind, transforming into a towering mountain in no time, securely blocking every arrow outside.


    Shen Qing''s arrows struck against it, only sparking slightly, leaving no trace.


    The previously unparalleled Heavenly Bow Technique seemed utterly powerless today against these two "Fake Magical Treasures," easily bounced or slashed away, unable to harm Xie Rui and Li Wenze at all.


    ```

 Chapter 358 - 38: The Power of Fake Magical Treasure, Refinement Points_2

    Facing the relentless pressure from Xie Rui and Li Wenze, Shen Qing realized that if he couldn''t find a way to break the deadlock, he might not escape today''s calamity.


    Nearby, Shang Jin and Shao Hongling could clearly see this as well. The joy in their eyes gradually faded, replaced by panic.


    In this battle, Shen Qing was already on the brink of danger.


    Just at this moment, Shao Hongling bit her lip, showing a hint of determination.


    With a resolute heart, she faced neither fear nor hesitation, maneuvering all her movement techniques and charged towards the space between Shen Qing and Xie Rui and Li Wenze.


    "Villains, dare you fight me!" she shouted loudly while sprinting.


    Shang Jin was shocked upon seeing this.


    In his view, with Shao Hongling''s level of cultivation rushing forward, it was nothing short of suicide.


    But to his surprise, closely following Shao Hongling, A Da and Xiao Man also charged forward, determinedly shouting, "Miss!"


    "Crazy, crazy!" Shang Jin''s face went numb, unable to comprehend these scenes.


    "What do we do, my lord?" Seeing Shao Hongling and her servants recklessly charging forward, a few brothers beside Shang Jin couldn''t help but ask.


    Shang Jin spat on the ground and drew the dagger from his waist, saying, "What else can we do, charge! How can we, a group of big men, be inferior to her, a woman?!"


    Hearing this, Shang Jin''s brothers hesitated.


    They felt their acquaintanceship with Shen Qing wasn''t that deep, making this adventure seem unworthy.


    Shang Jin glanced at them, understood their thoughts, and charged forward alone without insisting on them following.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze, advancing swiftly, and Shen Qing, with a serious expression, all turned their heads upon hearing the exclamations beneath them.


    In the ruins, dressed in black tight clothing, Shao Hongling was constantly traversing and leaping, charging forward bravely to stand in front of Shen Qing.


    She drew her dagger, pointing it at Xie Rui and Li Wenze, and sternly shouted, "I am Shao Hongling, dare you fight me?!"


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze furrowed their brows. At a glance, they saw that this woman''s cultivation was merely at the Qi Cultivation Realm, not even crossing the Qi Hai Realm.


    To speak bluntly, killing her would be as simple as crushing an ant for them.


    Incredibly, this woman dared to provoke them, equal to courting death.


    Standing behind Shao Hongling, Shen Qing was equally astonished. His surprise wasn''t any less than that of Xie Rui and Li Wenze.


    He looked down to see Shao Hongling behind her back making gestures, signaling his departure, which made his expression change.


    Shen Qing gritted his teeth, focused his mind, and the Water Ink Panel appeared before his vision.


    [Skill: Great Void Shifting Skill (Beginner)]


    [Progress: 43/100 points]


    [Status: Cannot be improved]


    [Note: A secret skill passed down from ancient times within the Shi family. Now with the collapse of great paths, cultivation is extremely difficult. The higher the level reached, the slower the progress. But through hard work comes equal reward. Mastering this martial art to the Perfect Realm allows reversing the river of time, possessing the might of Void Shattering.]


    [Skill: Da Xu Technique (mastery)]


    [Progress: 477/500 points]


    Red Ink reminder: [Detecting similar martial art "Da Xu Technique," would you like to refine and extract its points to fill this martial art?]


    In Shen Qing''s original plan, he intended to continue cultivating the Da Xu Technique for a while, gathering enough points before refining.


    Thus, he could elevate the Great Void Shifting Skill to a sufficiently high realm, even to the degree of perfection, achieving the ability to traverse the void freely.


    However, in this critical moment, he couldn''t afford to worry about so much.


    Shen Qing did not hesitate: "Refine!"


    [Da Xu Technique refined successfully, extracting 100+200+300+400+477... totaling 1477 points.]


    [Would you like to infuse into the Great Void Shifting Skill?]


    "Yes!"


    Boom!


    At the moment Shen Qing made his decision, waves of unusual fluctuations emanated from the depths of the Qi Sea.


    [Skill: Great Void Shifting Skill (Beginner)]


    [Skill: Great Void Shifting Skill (Proficient)]


    [Skill: Great Void Shifting Skill (Minor Accomplishment)]


    [Progress: 120/1500 points]


    [Status: Cannot be improved]


    [Note: Diligence brings prosperity, idleness leads to defeat, such is the truth of a word. Through persistent effort, you have finally cultivated this martial art to the realm of minor accomplishment, with abundant inner spiritual power, capable of maneuvering and shifting within void space, crossing dozens of miles in a step, unimpeded.]


    Shen Qing looked at the reminder appearing in his vision, his expression exceptionally solemn, as familiar changes surfaced...


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze, looking into the distance, saw warriors constantly charging into the ruins, grew increasingly furious at Shao Hongling''s provocation, and had no intention of showing mercy.


    "Since you seek death, I shall fulfill your wish! Get lost!"


    Li Wenze, with a fierce expression, swung his long blade horizontally.


    Facing such an insignificant existence as Shao Hongling, he only used thirty percent of his spiritual power, not going all out.


    Nevertheless, the blade light spread out before him, enveloping the entire world in front of Shao Hongling.


    Shao Hongling, holding a dagger, found her body unable to move under the means of this Primordial Spirit Realm warrior, only staring helplessly as the blade light overwhelmed her.


    "Ah!"


    Two heartrending screams suddenly erupted.


    In front of Shao Hongling, two flowers of blood bloomed like roses.


    She never expected that A Da and Xiao Man, unbeknownst to her, had rushed in front of her, using their bodies as shields to block the strike for her.


    These two had almost frozen to death in the snow years ago and were saved by her from the roadside, now dying this way before her eyes.


    Even so, Shao Hongling retained the blade across her front, not yielding an inch, her face unchanged.


    Li Wenze saw this scene and was furious, unable to contain the discontent in his heart.


    Such insignificant ants were continually obstructing him?!


    He didn''t hold back anymore, fully mustering his spiritual power for a slash.


    At this critical juncture, Shen Qing had just finished internalizing all the memories of the Great Void Shifting Skill.


    He remained expressionless, reaching out with one hand.


    Shao Hongling, under the blade, inexplicably disappeared and the next moment reappeared beside Shen Qing.


    Boom!


    Li Wenze''s blade descended, accompanied by the explosive sound of tearing air, striking directly at the ground.


    The moment the blade light made contact with the ground, an indescribable wave instantly spread out, and the ground shuddered intensely.


    The ground, resembling a water puddle, was struck with a stick.


    Stones splattered, dust billowed, forming a magnificent ring-shaped wave, surging outward.


    Shen Qing did not hesitate, wrapping an arm around Shao Hongling''s waist: "Go!"


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze found it hard to accept that Shen Qing could escape under such combined effort.


    "Chase!"


    The two transformed into two streaks of rainbow light, flanking Shen Qing from the left and right.


    Shen Qing, stepping on seven stars, kept maneuvering in the void, crossing several miles in a step.


    Glancing back on both sides, he noticed the magic treasures in Xie Rui and Li Wenze''s hands shooting towards him unwaveringly, locked onto him.


    Shen Qing gritted his teeth, activated the Great Void Shifting Skill, a three-legged small cauldron manifested from the depths of the Qi Sea, shot out from his brow, and collided head-on.


    Boom!


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze hit what seemed like a wall, letting out a shout and abruptly stopping before being flung back.


    Shen Qing wasn''t spared either, feeling an unstoppable force from the three-legged cauldron assaulting him.


    He and Shao Hongling, out of control, charged into the ruins.


    Witnessing the terror outside the ruins, Shen Qing maintained a thread of clarity, exerting himself to change direction, accidentally rushing into the entrance of the ruins.


    Bang!


    After entering, he crashed against the steps of the ruins, unable to suppress the surge of vitality, his face flushed, while Shao Hongling, who rushed in with him, fainted.


    Shen Qing shook his head, looked around, revealing a peculiar expression.


    He found the ruins surprisingly vast, with mountains appearing in its depths, much larger than it appeared from outside.


    He only occupied a corner of the ruins.


    Not far away, sounds of fighting and killing reached him.


    Focusing, Shen Qing saw many warriors fighting fiercely at the entrance of the ruins, each striving to be the first to enter, with the door already slightly ajar.


    On the door''s plaque, the large characters "Tianxuan" stood out, catching his eye. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 359 - 39: Collecting Spirit Essence, Seizing the Treasure Blade

    "Tianxuan?"


    Shen Qing was very unfamiliar with this name. Despite having read many ancient texts in the Martial Arts Hall, he had never heard of such a sect.


    From afar, he watched as the jade tablet engraved with "Tianxuan" gradually dimmed, its murderous aura greatly diminished under the sacrifices of numerous martial masters.


    The majestic gate of the relic had opened a crack, and suddenly, an unstoppable surge of Spiritual Energy gushed out like a tide.


    "Spirit Essence, there''s a massive amount of Spirit Essence here!"


    Everyone went mad.


    They rushed forward recklessly, using all their might to bombard the relic''s gate, eager to break in.


    Under the relentless attacks of numerous martial masters, the crack in the gate gradually widened.


    Through the gap, Shen Qing saw a pure white jade-like palace inside. It was spectacular, almost comparable to the Immortal Realm.


    Shen Qing could hardly believe it. Despite thousands of years, it was extraordinarily well-preserved, undamaged, and radiating a crystal-clear, majestic aura that was truly awe-inspiring.


    Boom!


    The gap in the gate of the relic was finally opened wide enough for half a person to pass through, and people continuously streamed in.


    Disciples of the Huang Tian Sect shouted loudly, "This is a Huang Tian Relic. Those who have not devoted themselves to Huang Tian will surely die if they enter."


    But no one heeded their nonsense, and everyone continued to file through the gap in the gate.


    Some, not wanting to be left behind, directly killed the martial masters ahead of them.


    The fresh, crimson blood almost stained the gate of the relic a bloody red.


    Shen Qing noticed that the noble sons who had already rushed in did not act rashly.


    They stood outside the crowd, guarded by Guardians, craning their necks to watch from afar. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing looked down at Shao Hongling, who was still unconscious, and abandoned the idea of venturing deeper for the time being.


    This relic, only partially revealed, must have been glorious in Ancient Times, surely containing treasures hard to come by.


    But correspondingly, there might also be unimaginable dangers inside.


    Those who rushed in first might seize treasures, but were more likely to die inside.


    Faced with a world beyond his understanding, Shen Qing felt uncertain and was unwilling to act rashly.


    At the same time, he did not rashly leave the relic.


    Li Wenze and the others were still outside the relic, and rushing out might also put their lives at risk.


    Shen Qing decided to do as the other noble sons did and observe how things unfolded.


    At worst, he could simply seize the treasures from those who obtained them first.


    No big problem.


    With that thought, Shen Qing activated the Great Void Shifting Technique and retrieved the Three-Legged Small Furnace.


    The Three-Legged Small Furnace spun around, pulling along a trail of dark cyan traces, and floated back in front of him.


    Not sure if it was an illusion, he noticed that the previously antique bronze small furnace had become much "newer". On its engraved surface, the mottled cyan rust began to fall off, revealing a bright golden light anew.


    Shen Qing was quite astonished.


    However, he was very puzzled by this phenomenon.


    With too few clues at the moment, he could not discern the connections and decided not to continue his patient observation. He activated the Great Void Shifting Technique.


    A glow of rosy light sprayed from Shen Qing''s brow as the Three-Legged Small Furnace rapidly shrank within the glow, turning into a streak of light that rushed back into his brow.


    Inside the Qi Sea, the Three-Legged Small Furnace reappeared, returning to its former state.


    After completing these actions, Shen Qing lifted Shao Hongling horizontally and hid in an inconspicuous corner before sitting down cross-legged.


    Without hesitation, he took out several blank jade plates and placed them in front of him.


    These were all spent Spiritual Mechanism Jade plates, perfect for collecting the overflowing Spirit Essence.


    Although he did not rush in immediately, it didn''t mean he would do nothing.


    Shen Qing activated the secret method for collecting Spirit Essence, and an indescribable power quietly spread out.


    His Divine Sense focused on one of the Spiritual Mechanism Jade plates in front of him.


    Instantly, the plate trembled slightly as if endowed with life, hovering in midair, a faint fluorescence swirling on it.


    Under Shen Qing''s guidance, the Spiritual Mechanism Jade turned into an abyss-like entity, voraciously devouring the surging Spiritual Energy around it.


    The Spiritual Energy that emerged from the depths of the relic and aimlessly roamed the void was now drawn in by an invisible force, eagerly flowing into the Spiritual Mechanism Jade and enhancing its increasingly dazzling radiance.


    Many people wanted to rush in to seize the great opportunities, not realizing that these outflowing Spiritual Energies were also opportunities.


    Of course, Shen Qing knew well that without Spiritual Mechanism Jade, they could only refine limited amounts of Spiritual Energy with their Physical Bodies, and in this frenzied, chaotic atmosphere, it was already difficult to remain rational, calm down, and meditate.


    As the Spiritual Energy constantly flowed in, the Spiritual Mechanism Jade gained a layer of faint spiritual light, filled with spirituality.


    After one Spiritual Mechanism Jade was filled with Spirit Essence, Shen Qing calmly continued to refine the next one, repeating the process.


    Until he had filled all five pieces of Spiritual Mechanism Jade in his possession.


    "Uh..."


    Beside him, Shao Hongling woke up.


    After all, she was a Qi Cultivation Realm martial master, with a strong physical constitution, not completely unconscious due to the impact.


    Shao Hongling opened her eyes, looked around, and asked confusedly, "Where is this?"


    Shen Qing replied, "We''re inside the relic."


    "The relic?" Shao Hongling''s beautiful eyes widened, somewhat baffled.


    Shen Qing casually pointed and said, "That''s the entrance to this relic."


    Following the direction Shen Qing pointed, Shao Hongling looked and saw the vast interior of the relic, secretly astonished.

 Chapter 360 - 39: Gathering Spirit Essence, Seizing the Treasure Blade_2

    She raised her eyebrows and suddenly asked, "What is that?"


    "Hmm?"


    Just then, Shen Qing noticed strange fluctuations emanating from deep within the ruins.


    A flash of white light appeared, moving incredibly fast.


    Shen Qing focused intently, activating his "sharp eyesight" Skill.


    He clearly saw that wrapped within the white light was a silver spearhead, shooting out spiritedly.


    Someone shouted loudly, "It''s a Magic Treasure!"


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!


    Soon, streaks of white brilliance burst forth continuously, and more than a dozen could be seen.


    Those who had not yet entered the ruins were boiling with excitement.


    Countless martial masters recklessly fought to seize them.


    Even the noble sons who had been watching from the sidelines couldn''t stay calm and rushed in, joining the fierce battle for the treasures.


    However, these "Magic Treasures" were extremely elusive, darting about like fish.


    They simply couldn''t touch them.


    Usually composed, Shen Qing, faced with this scene, suddenly felt the urge to try his luck.


    His gaze locked onto one of the knife-shaped white lights, and he used the Da Xu Hand to grasp the light.


    He got it!!!


    Shen Qing''s face lit up with joy as he pulled the white light in front of him, holding it tightly.


    He felt the struggle of the long knife in his hand, trying to break free again.


    Shen Qing activated the Six Paths Whale Swallowing Technique, continuously suppressing it.


    Finally, the knife settled down and stopped struggling.


    Shao Hongling, who was nearby, couldn''t help but feel happy for Shen Qing, "That''s great."


    Shen Qing looked down and saw the knife lying quietly in his hand, resigned to its fate, docile like a lamb.


    Gradually, the white brilliance enveloping it dispersed, revealing the true form of the knife.


    The knife was over three feet long, meticulously forged from cold iron, with intricate and fine cloud and thunder patterns carved on it, displaying a style from the Ancient Times, distinct from the many other knives of the present.


    The handguard was an irregular polygon, and the blade itself was a deep, tranquil cyan.


    The spine of the blade was thick, and the edge was as thin as cicada wings, transitioning naturally between the two.


    Holding it, Shen Qing felt a stable yet violently brutal aura emerge naturally.


    He held the long knife in front of him and performed a flourish, and faint thunder seemed to rumble in the air, making him click his tongue in wonder. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the sunlight, Shen Qing also noticed a faint blue glow on the blade, as if a Spiritual Snake was moving on it, or like a galaxy pouring down, tremendously beautiful.


    The words "Thunder Abyss" were faintly visible.


    "What an excellent blade!" Shen Qing couldn''t help but exclaim sincerely.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    Roaring noises came from near the gates of the ruins.


    Unbeknownst to them, Xie Rui and Li Wenze had already rushed in, using the Seal and the Ancient Blade in their hands to continually capture the Spiritual Treasures.


    Although these two artifacts were labeled with "Fake" and not considered true Magic Treasures, they still contained astonishing power.


    As Xie Rui and Li Wenze activated them, ancient patterns on the Seal seemed to come alive.


    Each gentle tap accompanied a slight tremor in space, suppressing a cluster of Spiritual Treasure.


    The Ancient Blade, with its radiance fully revealed, did the same.


    Under the formidable might of these two "Fake Magical Treasures," the lively and fleeing Spiritual Treasures encountered their natural predators, emitting pitiful whimpers and a sense of unwillingness.


    Many of them failed to escape the capturing force of the two "Fake Magical Treasures."


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze, with one seal and one blade, coordinated flawlessly, gradually bringing this chaotic secret realm under their control.


    The ecstatic expressions on their faces said it all: "Hahaha!"


    Laughter continued to pour out.


    Just then, several people rushed out from deep within the ruins.


    They were in a pathetic state, with blood oozing from the corners of their mouths.


    Upon closer inspection, two of them were guards brought by the noble sons, each one a cultivator at the Innate Realm and the Spirit Void Realm respectively, both among the strongest of the Jing Luan Assembly.


    As soon as they burst out, they shouted, "Run!"


    The sound had barely faded when a figure burst forth from the depths of the ruins, like the first light of dawn piercing through the endless ages.


    It was a flawless woman, who strode forth confidently with a long sword in hand, surrounded by a faint spiritual light. Every movement she made seemed capable of shaking heaven and earth, her strength was to an extreme extent.


    Under everyone''s watchful eyes, the woman walked to the entrance of the ruins, her gaze sweeping across the people in front of her, one by one.


    Her face was as cold as frost, devoid of any worldly warmth, and her eyes seemed to hold the eternal ice of ages, inspiring awe with just one glance.


    Shen Qing had never seen such a perfect woman before.


    Her beauty transcended the mundane, making everything around her pale in comparison, even the endless treasures within these ancient ruins seemed insignificant under her brilliance.


    It gave Shen Qing an incredibly surreal feeling.


    "Ah!"


    The person who had burst forth let out a terrified scream upon seeing the woman, unable to hold back.


    Just when everyone was puzzled, the perfect woman moved.


    She gently lifted her wrist, and the ancient sword in her hand gathered a frigid chill before she brought it down with one slash.


    The entrance to the ruins immediately became the line between life and death.


    The sword light left an invisible mark in the void, fleeting, sweeping past many martial masters at the doorway.


    In the next moment, these martial masters hadn''t even had time to show any expression before they dissolved into nothingness, completely disappearing from time.


    Even the martial masters of the Spirit Void Realm and Innate Realm were like candles in the wind under this astonishing slash, utterly fragile.


    Their protective techniques were like thin paper, crumbling upon contact.


    Both their physical bodies and souls, under this destructive power, persisted for a few moments before completely eroding away into eternal nothingness.


    Seeing such a scene, everyone was terrified, their souls nearly escaping, and they scrambled to flee outward.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze''s expressions changed abruptly, and they hurriedly tried to summon back their "Fake Magical Treasures."


    But at that moment, they realized they had lost connection with their magic treasures.


    As they were filled with panic, the woman raised her hand and grabbed.


    The seal and the ancient blade circulating in mid-air burst apart, and the spiritual treasures they contained broke free, seemingly rejoicing as they circled above the ruins.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze turned pale with shock and turned to run.


    Suddenly, the ruins trembled incessantly.


    Shen Qing quickly said, "Quick, we need to leave this place now!"


    A heavy feeling in his heart, he activated the Great Void Shifting Technique, sparing no second, he channeled all his spiritual power and ran madly.


    At that moment, a powerful binding force appeared within the ruins, making the steps of many martial masters and disciples of the Huangtian Sect heavy and difficult.


    Shen Qing constantly maneuvered through using the Da Xu Technique.


    He glanced back at the woman behind him.


    He wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but upon seeing Shen Qing''s face, the perfect woman seemed momentarily stunned.


    A flicker of unusual expression crossed her cold, frost-like face.


    Boom boom boom!


    "The seal of the ruins is closing again, run!"


    The woman was too terrifying, nobody wanted to die here.


    Tens of thousands of martial masters continuously rushed out of the ruins.


    Shen Qing moved unhindered, making it to the gap in the seal in one breath, half a step out.


    Just then, a strange fluctuation came from within the ruins, and the strength of the seal suddenly increased.


    A force beyond resistance appeared on Shen Qing''s right arm, and Shao Hongling, whom he was holding, screamed in panic, being swept back by the binding force.


    He wanted to turn back and rescue her, but it was already too late.


    Boom!


    The seal suddenly closed.


    Shen Qing narrowly avoided it.


    Under everyone''s gaze, out of the corner of the ruins emerged a loud rumbling sound, reminiscent of a sinking, colossal ship slowly descending into the ocean depths.


    Severe energy fluctuations surged in every direction, and the ground, centered around the ruins, rose up high, forming a circular mountain range.


    At first glance, it appeared as if the earth''s veins had been pushed upward by some force.


    Everything finally settled down.


    All the surviving martial masters, seeing the transformed world, felt as if they had been dreaming.


    If not for the changed landscape before their eyes, they might have thought themselves in a hurried dream, coming in haste and leaving in haste.

 Chapter 361 - 40 Damn, enemies everywhere!

    Danzhou City.


    An ancient and quaint mansion.


    Inside the room, a young man, wearing a yellow cloth on his head, was seated in the center, closing his eyes to rest.


    There was no superfluous sound in the hall.


    "Report..."


    At this moment, a series of urgent footsteps broke the indoor silence.


    An ordinary sect member hurried in, looking solemn and said, "Church Envoy, something has changed outside."


    Shen Xiaohu, the Huang Tian Sect''s Church Envoy, lightly raised his hand at these words, gesturing for the other to continue.


    His voice was low and magnetic: "Speak."


    The young Church Envoy hastily reported: "Church Envoy, the dispute over the ancient relics opportunities just outside Danzhou City has heavily cost our Huang Tian Sect, with many brothers and sisters meeting with disaster. The martial masters from the Jing Luan Assembly have faced the same, and now they are all gathered around the relic site."


    Shen Xiaohu slowly opened his slightly squinted eyes: "What''s the current situation with the ancient relic?"


    The ordinary sect member of Huang Tian Sect hurriedly replied: "It''s already disappeared."


    "So fast!"


    Shen Xiaohu''s face showed surprise, as if he realized something, a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth: "Good, they are all gathered together; this is indeed a heaven-sent opportunity." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He withdrew his hand, slowly stood up, and his robe fluttered.


    Shen Xiaohu took two steps forward, quickly instructing the sect members in front of him: "Pass the order, secretly mobilize personnel, and arrange the ''Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array''. Let those dogs of the court see the power of our Huang Tian Sect, never to mistake the mere possession of martial machines for the peace of mind!"


    "Yes, Church Envoy!" The sect members, upon hearing this, flashed a trace of fervor in their eyes.


    He bowed to take orders, spread his hands, and devoutly said to the sky: "Huang Tian above, thick earth below."


    Shen Xiaohu also made the same gesture: "Huang Tian above, thick earth below! May Huang Tian bless us, all things go smoothly!"


    The sect members turned resolutely and left.


    Shen Xiaohu''s face couldn''t help but reveal a few traces of joy.


    The Huang Tian Sect is skilled in talisman and array formation, treading a unique path in the Martial Arts-dominated Great Zhou world.


    After so many years of development, it has vaguely grown into a massive force capable of rivaling the Ji family of Dazhou.


    And he has already established a firm foothold in the Huang Tian Sect.


    Because of this, the upper Commander gave him a killing array named ''Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array''.


    With this formation, killing ten thousand martial masters would be no problem.


    Another major achievement.


    His luck was indeed excellent.


    Shen Xiaohu''s face flashed with excitement, hurriedly walking towards the outside to preside over the formation.


    ...


    At the same time.


    At the place where the ancient relics appeared, countless martial masters and Huang Tian Sect Saints were mingled together.


    Originally, the numbers along with the Huang Tian Sect reached forty to fifty thousand, but now after mutual slaughter on the way and the mishaps behind the relics, less than half remain.


    Looking around, the martial masters participating from the Jing Luan Assembly are estimated to number less than ten thousand.


    Most have died within the relics.


    Now, even the corpses are nowhere to be found.


    The surviving martial masters of the Jing Luan Assembly are no longer as frenzied as before, having restored much of their rationality, they gathered naturally around each family''s noble sons, depending on each other and ceased their fighting.


    Meanwhile, the followers of the Huang Tian Sect each quickly searched for their own scattered teams to find their leaders.


    A clear line naturally divided them from the martial masters of the Jing Luan Assembly, forming two great camps, becoming clearly differentiated.


    Shen Qing silently walked forward, maintaining a low profile, with no intentions of initiating conflict with anyone.


    He took two steps forward and suddenly stopped.


    With the support of the [Hunting Scripture], his eyes were sharp and he spotted two familiar figures not far ahead¡ªXie Rui and Li Wenze.


    At this moment, the two looked pale, their breaths somewhat disordered, standing together with the still-living supervision team soldiers.


    When Shen Qing fixed his gaze on them, the two sensed his eyesight and turned to look back, their eyes meeting.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze were slightly surprised.


    So many people died, and with their pursuit, Shen Qing still appears in front of them safe and sound, surprising them inexplicably.


    They couldn''t understand why this person was so hard to kill.


    But soon, their gazes unintentionally fell on the dagger in Shen Qing''s hand flickering with a dark glow, and their faces changed subtly.


    Having collected spiritual treasures from the relics, they recognized the style of this knife, clearly a spiritual treasure from the relics!


    Why!


    Why is his luck so good?


    We consecutively damaged two priceless treasure weapons and got nothing?


    Why could he, with such cultivation, obtain a treasure from the relics?


    This is a relic from Ancient Times, rare and unattainable.


    Gradually, the frozen expressions on Xie Rui and Li Wenze''s faces slowly turned into anger, jealousy...


    Xie Rui even stepped out, pointing at Shen Qing from afar, shouting: "Look quickly, this person holds the ultimate treasure from the relics! He possesses the relics'' remnants!"


    His voice was slightly sharp due to excitement, suppressing the surrounding noise.


    These words were like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring layer upon layer of ripples.


    The crowd turned their gazes towards Shen Qing''s location, fixating on the dagger in his hand, eyes keen.


    "To the finder goes the share, leave the ultimate treasure behind, or you''ll not leave alive today!"


    In an instant, the emotions of both Jing Luan Assembly''s martial masters and Huang Tian Sect''s followers were ignited by an invisible force, intertwining, transforming into torrents that surged toward Shen Qing''s direction.


    The air was thick with an explosive tension.


    The martial master closest to Shen Qing, eyes bloodshot, flew towards Shen Qing.


    Like a leopard pouncing on prey, he extended sharp claws, attempting to snatch the dagger from Shen Qing''s waist.


    Shen Qing''s eyes were as calm as water, without any retreat, instead his chest welled up with a surge of defiance.


    He brandished the knife, the air erupted with thunderous roars and brilliant lightning.


    Boom!


    Amidst an extremely sharp wind sound, a splash of blood burst forth in the air like a rose, brilliantly and brutally dispersed.


    The air was filled with the dense smell of blood.


    The martial master who recklessly attempted to close in was now split in two, lying in a pool of blood.


    Facing the masses of martial masters charging towards him, Shen Qing held the knife and fiercely shouted: "If you aren''t afraid to die, just come on!"


    In that moment, he looked around and found enemies everywhere.

 Chapter 362 - 41 Fight! Huang Tian Sects Absolute Killing Array

    ```


    The sky was clear and blue.


    Shen Qing''s warning was powerful and resonant, spreading far and wide so that everyone present could hear it clearly.


    However, the sudden appearance of the Ancient Relics this time caught everyone unprepared.


    As a result, they had put in a tremendous amount of effort in the face of such a great opportunity, only to end up empty-handed, which was extremely frustrating.


    Now, seeing someone obtaining the great treasure made them feel even more imbalanced.


    Thus, Shen Qing''s warning failed to shake the martial masters of the Jing Luan Assembly and the Huang Tian Sect in the slightest.


    People die for wealth, just as birds die for food.


    They stared intently at the treasure in Shen Qing''s hand, which sparkled with a cold glow, and without hesitation, moved aggressively towards him.


    In their view, Shen Qing was alone, so no matter how formidable he was, how could he compare to a thousand troops and horses?


    If they could just seize it, maybe they could get a share of the spoils.


    Shen Qing''s expression was stern, his gaze locked on the two prime culprits in the distance, Xie Rui and Li Wenze.


    After escaping from the relics, he tried to keep a low profile, not wanting to clash with anyone.


    If not for those two talking too much, none of this would have happened.


    At the moment, the two were sitting back and watching the drama unfold, which infuriated him even more.


    A martial master from the Jing Luan Assembly holding a long sword could no longer hold back and shouted angrily, charging at Shen Qing like a tiger descending the mountain: "Leave the blade and you will live!"


    Behind him, the Huang Tian Sect members were also eager to make a move.


    A Yellow Robed Elder snorted coldly, brandishing Huang Tian Sect talismans upon himself before following suit, surging forth like a mountain flood.


    In the elder''s palm, a Fourth Grade Red Lotus flowered, accompanied by a whistling wind, aimed straight at Shen Qing''s vital points.


    Confronting the two who charged first, Shen Qing remained unfazed; his figure unmoving, an invisible pressure emanated from his body.


    He knew well that this battle was unavoidable.


    These people had set their sights on the supreme treasure in his hands; if he did not die, they would not let him go.


    And now they were all inside this Jingluan Assembly; the area around Dan Zhou felt like a Prison, and no one could leave.


    So, there was only one road left to take.


    Kill!


    The Yellow Robed Elder of Huang Tian Sect and the martial master wielding a long sword arrived simultaneously.


    Shen Qing''s eyes were like torches, and with a single slash of his treasured blade, lightning clashed with the martial master''s sword first. Meanwhile, he used his other hand to deftly unleash the Destruction Seal towards the elder''s vital points.


    Boom!


    A faint blue glow circulated from the martial master''s long sword, obviously not an ordinary weapon.


    He was confident in his high cultivation level, adept at maneuverability, trying to bypass Shen Qing''s assault, opting to seize the spiritual treasure first.


    Unexpectedly, when Shen Qing''s blade fell, a surge of lightning paralyzed his arm, causing him to lose the initiative in an instant.


    Moreover, the ''Lei Yuan'' treasured blade in Shen Qing''s hand was an Ancient spirit treasure, forged from unknown contemporary materials, incredibly sharp.


    With a metallic clash, the martial master''s long sword was severed into two sections instantly.


    In the martial master''s surprised gaze, the long blade, shimmering with a deep blue glow, did not stop, slicing diagonally down his neck.


    With a muffled slicing sound.


    The long blade cut effortlessly into the martial master''s chest, splitting his body into two halves.


    At the same time, Shen Qing exerted all his spiritual power, and from another palm, unleashed a seal containing apocalyptic might. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A scorching aura erupted like a furious volcano, wildly spreading, the golden-red brilliance dazzling to the eye.


    Where the Eight Desolations Destruction Seal passed, the talismans on the Yellow Robed Elder scattered like fragile paper, shattering into nothingness.


    With the advantage gained in one move, Shen Qing''s movements did not pause at all.


    He shifted his grasp, capturing the Yellow Robed Elder''s head.


    Shen Qing breathed lightly, his arm muscles taut as tumors.


    A searing aura burst from his palm, precisely striking the elder''s neck.


    With a muffled sound.


    Shen Qing, as easily as plucking a wildflower by the roadside, severed the elder''s head from his body.


    Blood spurted like dazzling fireworks, staining his lapel.


    Amidst everyone''s gaze, Shen Qing threw back the elder''s head, shouting, "My blade is here; if you''re not afraid of death, come get it!"


    With that, he soared into the air, activating the Six Paths Whale Swallow method, drawing all surrounding spiritual energy towards him.


    Golden glows emerged from the acupoints all over his body, radiant and dazzling.


    Under the relentless exertion of the Six Paths Whale Swallow method, Shen Qing''s aura surged; he channeled all his spiritual energy into the ''Lei Yuan'' treasured blade in one breath.


    Arcs of electricity leapt off the ''Lei Yuan'' blade.


    Shen Qing sensed an excited emotion from the blade.


    Just as he felt puzzled, the electric arcs burst violently into a ten-foot thunderbolt.


    Shen Qing''s expression momentarily changed as he grasped its meaning, quickly focusing his mind.


    He swept his gaze below, his eyes cold and sharp as knives.


    Shen Qing brandished the ''Lei Yuan'' treasured blade, wielding it like a bolt of lightning, commanding the majestic power of heaven to crash down.


    At this moment, someone recalled the day he decimated the Xue family members.


    "I remember! He''s the Yongzhou Lieutenant who destroyed the Xue family heir, that Lingxu realm expert!"


    "Ah!" The Jing Luan Assembly''s members gasped collectively, gazing at Shen Qing''s ruthless figure, a wave of unprecedented fear surged in their hearts.


    But it was too late!


    Shen Qing''s blade descended.


    A deafening roar erupted, the Lei Yuan treasured blade like heavenly punishment falling upon them.


    In one sweeping slash, where the bolt of lightning passed, the advancing martial masters fell like autumn leaves.


    Their bodies shattered under the lightning strikes, some even evaporated into nothingness by the electric force.


    The smell of blood and burnt flesh permeated the air.


    It was astonishing!


    All around, whether the followers of Huang Tian Sect or the martial masters of the Jing Luan Assembly, they involuntarily inhaled sharply.


    They found it unimaginable how Shen Qing had become so terrifying under the empowerment of the spiritual treasure.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze exchanged glances, greatly astonished.


    Feeling somewhat reluctant, they continued to incite, "Don''t panic, everyone, such a technique consumes a lot of energy, he can''t hold on for long."


    "He may not last, but it''s enough to kill a few more people." Shen Qing held the treasured blade, his face a half-smile: "Do you two want to try? Is the Yuan Shen realm that impressive? I''d like a spar."


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze''s hearts skipped a beat, sensing something ominous.


    Just then, the ground trembled.


    Shen Qing looked up to see a massive killing array suddenly erupting from the ground, like an ancient beast awakening, opening its colossal mouth to engulf all within it.


    "It''s the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array!"


    The Huang Tian Sect members turned ashen at this, recognizing it as their sect''s killing array.


    Once activated, heaven and earth lament, even those with high cultivation struggles to escape, inevitable death!


    ```

 Chapter 363 - 42 I Want to Kill, No One Can Save Him!

    ```


    Boom!


    The Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array continuously rose, with yellow radiance filling the sky.


    Within the array, everyone felt an icy serpent''s tongue slithering around their necks, sending shivers down their spines.


    An Innate Martial Master, sensing that all was not right, decisively acted before the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array fully closed, attempting to escape immediately.


    He rode on the Rainbow Light, soaring straight to the top of the Formation.


    This Innate Martial Master concentrated all his Spiritual Power into one punch and struck out.


    Bang!


    A yellow beam appeared on the Formation, completely covering the Innate Martial Master.


    "Ah..."


    A piercing scream echoed in midair.


    In an instant, this Innate Martial Master was devoured by the fierce killing intent within the Formation, and his aura extinguished instantly.


    Witnessing this scene, everyone shuddered, eager to escape this land of death.


    "Boom..."


    "Whoosh!"


    "Thud!"


    "This Formation is too terrifying!"


    Even Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel a chill in his heart.


    His pupils slightly contracted, detecting the myriad of hidden killing intents within the Formation.


    "We need to go quickly!" a martial master shouted anxiously, his voice filled with undeniable fear and trembling.


    The surviving martial masters turned into headless flies, desperately seeking a way to break the Formation.


    No one cared about the Merit Stones or Ancient Spiritual Treasures anymore.


    The desire to survive made everyone''s goals gradually align.


    Only Shen Qing, with sharp eyes, firmly targeted Xie Rui and Li Wenze, a strong killing intent quietly growing in his heart.


    These two had crossed him repeatedly, and he was determined to kill them no matter what!


    With a gloomy expression, Shen Qing activated the Great Void Shifting Technique, traversing sideways, step by step closing in on Xie Rui and Li Wenze.


    At this moment, the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array finally "woke up."


    Golden lights roamed like furious dragons, tearing the space apart, each light containing enough energy to destroy a Spirit Void Realm or even Primordial Spirit Realm.


    Many martial masters perished within these energies.


    Seeing Shen Qing approaching, Xie Rui and Li Wenze became intensely nervous.


    Having lost their "Fake Magical Treasure," injured, and dealing with the Formation''s energies, they couldn''t withstand Shen Qing''s assault.


    Once in Shen Qing''s hands, they were sure to die.


    Thus, the two combined their forces, channeling all their Spiritual Energy to break the Formation''s constraints.


    Suddenly, a thick beam of light descended from the sky, enveloping the area where they stood.


    As the light flickered, they were pushed back by the Formation''s powerful energies, even emitting a burnt smell from their bodies.


    They couldn''t shake off the assaults from the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array.


    Elsewhere, several noble sons and their guards and Guardians were desperately attacking the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array, seeking a slim chance to break free.


    However, how could the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array be easily shaken by ordinary people?


    In an instant, countless dense golden lights and flames poured down like a waterfall.


    Their flesh flew, revealing bones, suffering heavy losses.


    Among them, the princes and princesses of the Wang Family were the most powerful, with Guardians bringing powerful weapons.


    At this point, they held nothing back, directly deploying them.


    It was a Spirit Tower, with the tower door wide open, and the Spiritual Power within pouring out like a river from the Milky Way, blocking the golden energies, creating a stalemate.


    "We must cooperate if we want a slim chance!" someone shouted urgently. The situation was extremely dire, and only cooperation could avoid the fate of total annihilation.


    Upon hearing this, many martial masters immediately responded.


    They quickly gathered around these noble sons, jointly resisting the energies within the Formation.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze were no exceptions.


    Realizing the power of the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array, which they couldn''t withstand alone, they put aside their Primordial Spirit Realm pride and actively approached the princely heirs of each major family.


    At this moment, Shen Qing had already closed in on Xie Rui and Li Wenze.


    He shouted angrily, his figure rising, slashing out with his blade, the blade glow like a dragon,


    "Thunder Abyss" wrapped in thunder light, containing violent thunder force, roaring towards Xie Rui and Li Wenze''s vital points.


    Seeing this, Xie Rui and Li Wenze''s faces changed drastically, hurriedly using their movement technique to dodge the fearsome strike.


    Yet the previous setbacks had halved their power from its peak, and the ferocity of the "Thunder Abyss" Treasure Blade was too much, and they couldn''t completely dodge.


    "Boom!"


    A loud noise erupted as the Thunder Light clashed with their protective Spiritual Power, exploding into dazzling brilliance.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze felt a powerful force, involuntarily retreating several steps, their faces turning pale as paper, with blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.


    "Damn it, how is Shen Qing this strong!" Xie Rui gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with unwillingness and anger.


    Li Wenze also showed a solemn expression, knowing that unless they gave their all, they might fall to Shen Qing before even the Formation''s energies could finish them.


    "Brother Xie, don''t hold back, let''s go all out and fight him!"


    Li Wenze shouted, his figure rising again, channeling all his Spiritual Power into a sword glow, charging straight at Shen Qing''s face.


    Xie Rui did the same.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing remained serious.


    These two were Primordial Spirit Realm experts, full of Spiritual Power, and possessed many mysterious techniques.


    He dared not be careless.


    Relying on his movement technique, Shen Qing distanced himself, planning to wield the "Thunder Abyss" Spiritual Treasure again.


    This Spirit Treasure acquired from an Ancient ruin strangely suited him well.


    Though each move consumed significant Spiritual Power, with the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique''s support, it was manageable.


    Seeing him preparing to strike, Xie Rui and Li Wenze both suddenly opened their mouths, simultaneously uttering a word: "Zha!"


    Shen Qing suddenly felt his mind sink, as if a thorn had pierced his consciousness deeply.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze''s faces lit up with joy upon seeing this.


    This was their signature Soul Stab after breaking into the Primordial Spirit Realm, capable of affecting a martial master''s consciousness, causing confusion at best, and a stupor at worst.


    In duals, it often has unexpected effects.


    They had already noticed that Shen Qing was merely a Spirit Void Realm martial master, his cultivation just one Great Realm below theirs, unable to defend against their Soul Stab.


    But to their surprise, Shen Qing seemed unaffected, continuing his actions without any hesitation.


    His blade stance unchanged, the blade glow like lightning, enveloping Xie Rui and Li Wenze in an instant.


    "Boom!"


    Thunder and lightning flashed, striking directly at Xie Rui and Li Wenze.


    Their faces were filled with disbelief, unable to comprehend why their previously invincible Soul Stab had failed.


    In truth, Shen Qing had developed Divine Sense under the support of his panel.


    The Soul Stab was negligible on him, even less impactful than the memories surging at each breakthrough.


    With a mere thought, Shen Qing suppressed the discomfort.


    "Ah!"


    Already injured, the two were charred black under the "Thunder Abyss" Spiritual Treasure''s assault, with many parts of their bodies breaking and losing much vitality.


    Xie Rui and Li Wenze wavered, their last bit of strength nearly exhausted, on the verge of collapse.


    Just as Shen Qing was about to deal the finishing blow, a crisp feminine voice suddenly rang out: "Lord Shen, wait!"


    The young lady of the Wang Family, Wang Wan''er, wearing a flowing cloud brocade gown, stepped like a lotus flower, swiftly coming before Shen Qing to stop him.


    Shen Qing sized up this noble daughter.


    She stood tall and graceful, with smooth skin, and her almond-shaped eyes were captivating.


    The Wang Family was a leading clan in the Great Zhou Country, with ancestors who fought alongside the Ji Family''s patriarch, a nearly thousand-year-old family, not to be underestimated.


    Shen Qing coldly said, "Miss Wang, you wish to interfere in our grudge and protect these two?"


    Wang Wan''er shook her head and said, "I''m not doing it for them, but for ourselves. Look at the slaughter about to begin with the Huang Tian Sect''s Formation, our lives hang by a thread. These two are Primordial Spirit Realm experts; having their aid means more power, increasing our odds of breaking free."


    "I''m unaware of the deep grievances between you, but I hope you can set aside personal vendettas for the greater good."


    "I, Wang Wan''er, am willing to vouch with the Wang Family''s reputation. If you lay down your personal grievances and face the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array together, you can settle scores once we break free. Such killing benefits no one."


    Her words won many nods secretly, agreeing with her point.


    However, Shen Qing remained indifferent, his gaze showing only endless coldness and determination.


    "I refuse!"


    "You!" Wang Wan''er was infuriated.


    To her, it was clearly beneficial for everyone, but Shen Qing was unreasonably ungrateful.


    Shen Qing sneered, "Just one question: when martial masters came to kill me, why did none of you stand out? Do you really think I''m easy to bully?"


    Wang Wan''er didn''t hesitate to say, "That was then. Without this Kill Array, we couldn''t intervene."


    "So, can I take it to mean my life never mattered to any of you?"


    Wang Wan''er paused.


    In fact, initially, they hadn''t considered Shen Qing worth noticing.


    Though a Spirit Void Realm martial master is formidable, in a millennium-old family, it''s insignificant.


    Wang Wan''er bit her lip, "Don''t worry, if we manage to escape, the Wang Family will ensure your protection and elevate you highly."


    "Haha." Shen Qing laughed.


    Who could guarantee post-escape matters?


    To Shen Qing, she was merely talking nonsense.


    "I appreciate Miss Wang''s goodwill," he said, raising his Treasure Blade high, "Today, I intend to kill, and no one can stop me! That''s what I say!"


    As his words fell, Shen Qing''s "Thunder Abyss" Treasure Blade descended heavily, channeling all his Spiritual Power into one strike, imposing a tremendous force.


    A flash of cold light, as the blade glow like lightning, instantly engulfed Xie Rui and Li Wenze.


    Screams erupted abruptly and then ceased.


    When the blade glow dissipated, the silhouettes of Xie Rui and Li Wenze were gone.


    The air was saturated with a bloody scent.


    Wang Wan''er shrieked in terror, unable to believe Shen Qing would be so decisive, ruthlessly killing them before her, without considering her reputation.


    "You..."


    Shen Qing sheathed his blade, standing coldly as ice, S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "In this world, strength dictates everything. Those two were weaker than me, and their survival wouldn''t aid much; they died deservedly."


    His words were cold and unfeeling, stating an irrefutable fact.


    Wang Wan''er''s face turned pale, the blood draining, leaving her speechless.


    The surrounding crowd was abuzz, shocked at Shen Qing''s ruthless decisiveness.


    "Young Miss!"


    Wang Family''s guards rushed over, protecting Wang Wan''er, warily watching Shen Qing.


    "Young man, doing this won''t benefit you; show mercy where possible." An elder Guardian advised Shen Qing earnestly.


    Shen Qing scoffed, "The Formation''s energies grow stronger; you have time to preach, better focus on protecting your young miss."


    "Hmph! Hope when this Array drains you to death, you''re still this cocky! Ignorant fool, let''s go!"


    Wang Wan''er scornfully laughed, leaving directly.


    Returning to the other noble heirs, she cursed, "This damned hunter, what''s he so arrogant about?"


    The noble heirs shared information quickly; even before the Incident of Order began, they had insights on certain martial masters participating.


    They naturally knew of Shen Qing, a hunter by origin.


    The thought of someone of his background rejecting her made her infuriated.


    "Never mind this, let''s break the Formation together. Though powerful, if we give it our all, there''s still hope. Once we escape, that obstinate fool can die in the array!"


    A young man from the Xie Family spoke up.


    The Xie Family rivaled the Wang Family in stature, both families deeply rooted, now joining forces.


    "Alright!" Wang Wan''er nodded vigorously.


    With them at the core, others rallied, continually striking.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The Formation intensified.


    A powerful momentum released within the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array.


    A golden millstone appeared, pressing upon the martial masters within the Formation.


    Everyone felt an immense pressure, almost immobilizing them.


    Even Guardians and guards from noble families struggled to resist.


    A martial master, inadvertently touched, exploded in the millstone''s energy, turning to dust, perishing in the Formation.


    "Join forces to break the Array!"


    The Guardian wielding the Spirit Tower shouted sternly, his hair flowing, exuding overwhelming battle intent.


    Above his head, the Profound Spirit Tower rotated slowly, resisting the Formation''s energies.


    On his command, other martial masters swiftly joined in rallying the Spirit Tower.


    The Spirit Tower emitted a chilling aura.


    All exerted their utmost to break free from the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array.


    Unfortunately, the previously unstoppable magical artifact still couldn''t shake the Array''s foundation to open a path to survival.


    As time passed, the Formation strengthened, more people failing to withstand it, consumed by its terror, leaving their names here.


    Shen Qing also sensed the escalating threat, spreading his Divine Sense, constantly seeking weak points in the Formation.


    He had no way back.


    Outside the Formation.


    Shen Xiaohu, after setting up the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array, led his subordinates over.


    He moved to a vantage point outside the Formation, viewing everything inside clearly.


    Suddenly, Shen Xiaohu spotted a familiar figure, exclaiming, "Brother!"


    ```

 Chapter 364 - 43: Escaping the Trap, Slaying Them All

    ÉòС»¢ was dumbfounded, his eyes suddenly widened, and his face was full of disbelief.


    "How... how is this possible? Brother Qingzi, how could he appear in this place?!"


    He never expected to encounter Shen Qing in this place.


    Shen Xiaohu fixed his gaze, only to see Shen Qing struggling desperately within the formidable power of the formation, constantly searching for weaknesses in the array.


    But Shen Xiaohu knew that the Nine Heavens Absolute Heaven Array laid down by their sect was derived from ancient times, and even they hadn''t fully studied all the flaws, making it impossible to find any, let alone for Shen Qing and his group.


    With their cultivation, finding a flaw within it was virtually a pipe dream.


    Seeing the power of the formation growing stronger, the two streams of energy like grindstones constantly closing in, annihilating everything in their way.


    Shen Xiaohu couldn''t help but show a bit of nervousness on his face, his heart burning with anxiety, wishing he could directly open the formation and let Shen Qing out.


    But he also knew that this formation was a large-scale array, the result of everyone''s combined effort, and it couldn''t be stopped or opened just because he said so.


    To truly let Shen Qing out of the formation, there had to be a suitable reason, something to convince others.


    As time passed bit by bit, Shen Xiaohu''s expression gradually became serious.


    His gaze was fixed tightly on Shen Qing, continuously calculating a plan in his mind.


    When Shen Xiaohu saw Shen Qing approaching the group of Huang Tian Sect disciples, a thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly had a daring idea.


    He loudly called to his subordinates next to him, "Men, come here!"


    A Yellow Angel quickly ran up to Shen Xiaohu, "What orders do you have, Church Envoy, sir?"


    "Why have you trapped our brothers and sisters inside the formation? What exactly is your intention?" Shen Xiaohu suddenly pointed to a corner of the formation, questioning sternly.


    The Yellow Angel who was questioned smiled bitterly, "Church Envoy, sir, back then all the brothers and sisters were mixed up with other martial masters of the Jing Luan Assembly. We had no time to notify and distinguish, so we had no choice."


    The Yellow Angel continued, "Besides, now that we''ve joined the Holy Sect and attained transcendence, even if they die, it''s surely willingly."


    "Nonsense!" Shen Xiaohu pierced through his hidden thoughts and cursed, "If I told you to let me kill you now, would you damn well be happy and willing?"


    "Church Envoy, sir." The Yellow Angel became more terrified.


    "Don''t say these useless things. As a member of the Huang Tian Sect, all compatriots are considered as brothers and sisters, and we must not do such harmful things to each other. Now spread my order, we need to open a corner of the formation and let these brothers and sisters out to help them escape!" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Huh?! Absolutely not." The Yellow Angel hurriedly urged, with an anxious expression, "Once the formation is opened, the martial masters of the Jing Luan Assembly will surely notice, and they might escape through it as well. We would have worked for nothing!"


    Shen Xiaohu glanced at the Yellow Angel, displeased, and said, "Do you think I haven''t thought of what you''ve thought of?"


    The Yellow Angel was momentarily stunned and bowed his head, saying, "It is my ignorance..."


    Shen Xiaohu snorted coldly. He took out a few golden talismans from his bosom and said, "These are Sound Transmission Talismans I refined over the past two days. Later, I will give orders to our brothers and sisters in the Huang Tian Sect, letting them prepare in advance and giving them a moment to escape. In this way, those martial masters of the Jing Luan Assembly will definitely not react in time."


    Under the gaze of his subordinates, Shen Xiaohu began to refine the talismans in front of his chest.


    As he continuously activated them, these talismans floated up and hovered in front of Shen Xiaohu, shining brightly with streams of yellow light flowing on them.


    Shen Xiaohu formed a complex spell with his fingers and lightly drank, "Swift!"


    Swish...


    The talismans in front immediately moved with a spirituality, transforming into streaks of golden light, flying all over the sky, dashing into the formation and integrating into it.


    Under Shen Xiaohu''s deliberate control, all these talismans fell towards the Huang Tian Sect members.


    However, in an inconspicuous position, a Sound Transmission Talisman overlapped with an Invisibility Talisman, transforming into an invisible light and flew towards Shen Qing''s location.


    After doing all this, Shen Xiaohu quickly instructed, "Go prepare now, we''re going to open the formation for a brief moment and let our brothers and sisters out safely."


    He spoke these words with a great sense of righteousness.


    The many Saints of the Huang Tian Sect behind Shen Xiaohu were all touched upon hearing this.


    All hearts are flesh.


    Shen Xiaohu''s concern for their life and death seemed far better to them than other Church Envoys and Commanders.


    "Yes! Church Envoy, sir."


    Unknowingly, Shen Xiaohu gathered a large amount of people''s hearts.


    Under Shen Xiaohu''s orders, the disciples of the Huang Tian Sect became high-spirited and quickly took action.


    At the same time, Shen Qing in the formation moved around like a trapped beast.


    His sharp gaze took in all the various details within the formation, even seeing many interwoven runes.


    These runes were extremely complex, and regardless of how he meticulously observed, the formation appeared seamless, without a hint of flaws or weaknesses.


    Every attempt he made ended in failure.


    Watching the grindstones on the formation close in on each other and the energy within the formation growing sharper, Shen Qing''s heart sank into a deep abyss with a sense of ominous foreboding.


    Could it be that he would die in this formation today?


    Amidst this despair, an unusual "pop" sound suddenly rang in Shen Qing''s ears.


    This sudden sound was particularly abrupt in the otherwise silent formation.


    And following this "pop," a familiar voice clearly entered his ears: "Brother Qingzi, soon, a fleeting flaw will appear in this formation. That''s your chance!"


    Shen Qing abruptly looked up, a glimmer of disbelief flashing in his eyes.


    That was Shen Xiaohu''s voice!


    "Xiao Hu? You... why... are you here..."


    Shen Qing replied in his heart, filled with surprise and confusion.


    "Don''t ask too many questions, time is of the essence!" Shen Xiaohu interrupted Shen Qing''s inquiries with an authoritative tone, "Keep an eye on the Huang Tian Sect folks, leave with them."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing quickly calmed down, understanding it wasn''t the time for catching up.


    He immediately pressed down the doubts and gratitude in his heart and focused all his attention.


    Silently, Shen Qing operated the Great Void Shifting Technique, moving with an invisible movement technique to the vicinity of the Huang Tian Sect members, his expression becoming fully focused.


    Click, click, click!


    Moments later, after a light mechanical turning sound, the runes around a corner of the formation began to flicker slightly.


    Shen Qing''s heartbeat accelerated, his entire body tensed to the extreme.


    The next moment, he clearly caught sight of a subtle crack slowly opening in the formation.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing didn''t hesitate for a moment and acted according to Shen Xiaohu''s instructions.


    "Go!"


    Shen Qing urged his spiritual power, his figure flashing like a ghost, shuttling between the runes and rushing with the Huang Tian Sect people towards the only exit.


    In the blink of an eye, using the Great Void Shifting Technique, he passed through that crack, escaping the constraints of the formation and regaining freedom.


    Looking back, Shen Qing found himself standing outside the formation, easily escaping the predicament.


    "Look, they''ve broken out of the formation!"


    "What? Quickly, rush over there. Hurry!"


    The commotion caused by the Huang Tian Sect was massive, almost instantly attracting the attention of many martial masters from the Jing Luan Assembly.


    Roaring furiously, the belated martial masters of the Jing Luan Assembly charged towards the spot where Shen Qing and the others had escaped.


    However, the opening of the formation only lasted for a moment, fleeting.


    When they arrived, the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array had already returned to normal.


    Everyone began to become hysterical.


    Shen Qing transformed into a beam of rainbow light, soaring into the sky, reigning over the outside of the formation.


    The Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array was not a world of its own, the view inside was clear.


    Many noble sons who were struggling could see Shen Qing appearing outside the formation, their eyes filled with rage and fury.


    In particular, Wang Wan''er, seeing this scene, was filled with a complex emotions of shock and jealousy, "How is it possible, why did he appear outside the formation and escape?"


    Wang Wan''er''s mentality was thrown off balance.


    She found it hard to accept that a low-born hunter, with no backing or background, was living better than her.


    "Hurry up and give me some strength!" Wang Wan''er screamed almost hysterically, "If we die here, your entire family''s lives will accompany us to the grave!"


    Hearing this, all the Shi family''s guardians and guards suddenly tensed, sweating profusely.


    They never expected the usually secure Jing Luan Assembly to turn out like this.


    The changes in the world had exceeded their imagination.


    Outside the formation, Shen Qing smiled and made a clasping gesture towards the noble sons inside, further fueling their rage.


    He laughed heartily, indifferent.


    Shen Qing''s gaze inadvertently swept towards a certain direction, where he saw another familiar figure gazing at him excitedly.


    With his keen Divine Sense, he realized it truly was Shen Xiaohu.


    Unexpectedly, after so many years, he had infiltrated the Huang Tian Sect, and seemingly held a not-low position.


    Now, Shen Xiaohu had shed his former childlike demeanor, his figure had become much more upright.


    On him, the original wild aura of a mountain dweller had disappeared, replaced by a scholarly elegance unique to a scholar.


    In the distance, Shen Xiaohu also noticed Shen Qing. He suppressed his inner excitement, maintaining a calm demeanor as he instructed his subordinates, "Continue to host the formation, I have something to handle."


    "Yes, sir!"


    After saving many fellow disciples, Shen Xiaohu silently earned considerable respect from many sect members.


    There was naturally no doubt about his words.


    After leaving the multitude of sect members of the Huang Tian Sect, Shen Xiaohu headed to a secluded spot. Confirming there were no pursuers, he produced a Shapeshifting Talisman, transforming into a yellow light traveling swiftly through the mountain forest.


    Noticing Shen Xiaohu''s actions, Shen Qing didn''t hesitate either, knowing Shen Xiaohu likely wanted to meet him.


    Thus, Shen Qing also flashed towards Shen Xiaohu''s direction.


    In a secluded mountain forest, the two brothers finally met, halting their steps.


    "Brother Qingzi!" Shen Xiaohu called out, eyes brimming with tears.


    Shen Qing stood firmly, looking directly at Shen Xiaohu, moved, "Xiao Hu, is it really you?"


    "It''s me, it''s me." Shen Xiaohu nodded.


    "Why did you join the Huang Tian Sect?"


    "This is a long story. Brother Qingzi, why are you in the Jing Luan Assembly?"


    Shen Qing laughed, "That too is a long story."


    The two brothers exchanged a glance and simultaneously burst into laughter.


    "How has everyone been all these years?"


    "Not bad. I am now the Chief Constable of the two divisions of Yongzhou, and Uncle and Aunt live in Shen Mansion, becoming ''Master'' and ''Lady''."


    Shen Xiaohu widened his eyes, a comical image of his father wearing the long gowns of a ''Master'' flashing in his mind, and he couldn''t help but laugh.


    But soon, he seemed to notice something.


    "Wait a minute, brother, you say you are now the Chief Constable of two divisions?"


    "Yes!" Shen Qing nodded.


    "Isn''t that specifically against me?" Shen Xiaohu blinked, a bit stunned.


    Shen Qing replied, "In a certain sense, it is indeed!"


    "What about those martial masters in the formation, what does Brother Qingzi plan to do with them?"


    "Just kill them all!"


    Shen Xiaohu was taken aback.


    "What''s wrong, isn''t killing these martial masters what you guys were planning to do?"


    Shen Xiaohu rubbed his nose and said, "I thought Brother Qingzi wanted to save them."


    "No relation to me, why save them."


    Just then, tremors and rumblings began to emanate from the formation in the distance.


    Shen Xiaohu realized something. He took out a mirror and placed it in Shen Qing''s hands, saying, "This is a magic mirror I refined using Huang Tian Sect''s secret method. I''ll teach you a way to activate it, and then we can have a mirror talk."


    Oh, is there such an artifact?


    Holding the ordinary-looking mirror, Shen Qing felt a bit bewildered.


    After quickly teaching Shen Qing a series of manipulation methods, Shen Xiaohu hurriedly said, "I still have some matters to handle; once I''m done, I''ll come to chat with Brother Qingzi."


    "Okay."


    Shen Xiaohu once again harnessed talismans to leave.


    Shen Qing also didn''t stay, climbing a high mountain and watching the distant formation.


    In that vast Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array, Shen Qing saw two golden grindstones formed by the energy of the array drawing close to each other.


    Amid the grindstones, countless martial masters were wailing in despair.


    Their vitality was swept away like autumn leaves, turning into wisps of blue smoke, dissipating into the formation.


    Those sons of noble families kept struggling.


    However, as the grinding momentum surged, the brilliance of the spiritual tower protecting them dimmed immensely.


    More tragically, many innate martial masters among them were caught between the grinding stones, instantly turning into a mangled mass, then utterly disintegrating without leaving a trace.


    This formation, fully activated, was suffused with an overwhelming power that could smash everything.


    Click, click.


    As the two grindstones closed, the spirit tower refined by the Wang family guardians cracked open, unable to hold any longer.


    Ultimately, it shattered spectacularly, scattering fragments everywhere.


    Bereft of the shield of the spirit tower, those noble sons and their guards, despite putting in all their effort and utilizing every means, were powerless in the end.


    Their bodies, under the pressure of the formation, gradually cracked, with blood gushing like springs, splattering this deathly place and emitting harrowing cries.


    These martial masters ultimately perished.

 Chapter 365 - 44: Unprecedented, Only One Survives the Jing Luan Assembly

    ```


    Deep within the Ancient Relics, a breathtaking jade palace stood, its grand scale comparable to a human city, exuding a soft and gentle luster.


    Inside the palace, a misty fog swirled, obscuring the view and making it difficult to see clearly.


    Suddenly, a whisper shattered the silence within the palace.


    Shao Hongling woke up from this chaotic mist, slowly opening her eyes. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When she saw the surrounding scenes, her face immediately froze.


    She clearly remembered that in the final moment, a powerful force swept through the Ancient Relics, and she was caught up in it.


    She had no memory of what happened after that.


    Could it be that she had died, and this was the world after death?


    Shao Hongling couldn''t be sure.


    She tried to stand up and looked around, seeing only endless white, as if she was in another world.


    A wave of fear and helplessness surged from deep within her heart.


    She couldn''t help but cry for help: "Is there anyone? Is anyone here?"


    Yet, the only response was the empty echoes, reverberating endlessly from all directions in the mist.


    Shao Hongling bit her lip and, guided by her intuition, walked forward aimlessly.


    But all around her was an endless expanse of white, leaving her lost and without direction.


    She didn''t know how long she wandered, but she never managed to escape.


    However, as she continued forward, she seemed to sense a mysterious whisper.


    Shao Hongling''s spirit was jolted awake, and she followed the faint whispering sound.


    The sound gradually became clearer.


    Only then did she realize it wasn''t a whisper at all; it was the ringing of a sword.


    Just as she was perplexed, a graceful figure emerged from the mist.


    She seemed like a fairy walking out of the mist, each step appearing to align with some rhythm or law.


    This was a flawless woman, her beauty unparalleled, her temperament transcendent, and her every gesture radiating an indescribable sense of detachment, giving one an extremely unrealistic illusion.


    Upon clearly seeing the woman''s face, Shao Hongling''s heart tightened sharply.


    This was precisely the perfect woman who had just appeared among the relics.


    Shao Hongling couldn''t help but take a few steps back, the shocking scenes of this woman slaughtering all in her path previously in the relics surfacing involuntarily in her mind, leaving her in fear.


    The perfect woman seemed indifferent to the waves in Shao Hongling''s heart.


    Her gaze was calm and profound, as she spoke directly, her voice like heavenly music: "Shao Hongling. I have been entrusted to teach you the Ancient Secret Cultivation Method, are you willing?"


    Shao Hongling was more surprised and incredulous than anything upon hearing this, staring at the woman before her, asking tremblingly: "Who are you, why do you know me?"


    "Who am I?" A hint of a smile appeared on the perfect woman''s icy, frost-like face: "My name you have all seen, it''s engraved on the great door."


    Tianxuan?


    Shao Hongling almost instantly remembered.


    In the relics, she had a deep impression of the plaque on the door.


    The perfect woman Tianxuan smiled slightly and continued: "As for why I know your name, you don''t need to ask further. Just know that this is your opportunity, and it won''t do you any harm."


    With Tianxuan''s words, the chaotic mist within the palace seemed to still, an ancient and powerful force quietly diffusing in the air.


    Shao Hongling astonishingly found that the mist ahead automatically parted, revealing a passage.


    At the end of the passage, a sword was planted, white as jade, with a glaze-like glow constantly manifesting.


    ¡­


    Tragic.


    Extremely tragic.


    Inside the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array, the scene was heartbreaking, as if doomsday had arrived, filled with a thick, bloody aura.


    Inside, bone fragments and flesh flew everywhere, no complete existence to be seen.


    Those Innate Martial Masters brought by the noble sons, considered powerful in the Great Zhou, their physical bodies were fragile and shattered under this Absolute Kill Array.


    Not only these Innate realm martial masters, but even the Spirit Void realm martial masters fell within this ruthless array, leaving behind patches of mottled bloodstains.


    At this moment, within the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array, there were no victorious cheers, no cries of despair from the defeated, only deathly silence, deep and hopeless.


    Everyone was dead.


    Shen Qing witnessed all this, feeling a chill and fear.


    If he hadn''t been lucky enough to meet Xiao Hu, he would certainly be among the mud and blood stains in this array.


    And it was all due to the rules made by those who ruled this world.


    In their presence, someone like Shen Qing had no chance of resistance at all.


    Ultimately, it was because he himself was too weak, his cultivation insufficient.


    A desire to become stronger surged again from deep within Shen Qing''s heart.


    The last time he felt such an urge was when passing by a village along the road leaving Taiping County.


    However, that time he was influenced by the external environment rather than a personal experience, and the intensity was far less than this.


    Shen Qing gently exhaled a breath of foul air, suppressing the turbulent waves in his heart.


    Woo woo woo...


    Shen Qing suddenly noticed a trace of warmth and vibration at his chest.


    It was the Spirit Communication Mirror that Xiao Hu had given him.


    He hurriedly took it out, recalled the method Xiao Hu had taught him for refining it, and activated the Spirit Communication Mirror.


    Moments later, lines of characters appeared on the mirror''s surface, which was clean and smooth as ice.


    "Brother Qingzi, we are about to withdraw the array. At that time, I will lead my men to clean the battlefield. I will control the time spent cleaning the battlefield, and Brother Qingzi, you can enter the scene then."


    "The Merit Stones and these external things are useless to us; you can collect them all back."


    Shen Qing looked at the lines of text and found himself momentarily stunned for some reason.


    So this is how the Spirit Communication Mirror is used.


    He truly gained some knowledge.


    Indeed, the Huang Tian Sect couldn''t be underestimated.


    After some thought, Shen Qing activated his mental method and replied with two words: "Received."


    After replying, Shen Qing employed a movement technique to rush down from the mountaintop, continually crossing and traversing to reach near the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array.


    He sat cross-legged on one side, staring at the formation in front while adjusting his breath.


    In his sight, a group of sect members from Huang Tian Sect joyfully walked out from Dan Zhou and various places, heading towards the formation.


    Each of them had faces filled with ecstatic triumph, with Shen Xiaohu entering among the crowd''s embrace.


    It was evident that Shen Xiaohu''s status among these disciples of the Huang Tian Sect had risen, garnering respect and admiration from them.


    Standing before the formation, Shen Xiaohu gently waved his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.


    Thereafter, the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array was steadily withdrawn under his command.


    The light gradually dissipated into nothingness, revealing a devastated battlefield.


    Shen Xiaohu directed the sect members from Huang Tian Sect to begin the methodical cleanup of the battlefield.


    Amidst cheers, countless disciples of the Huang Tian Sect plunged into the area of the array, their actions both swift and efficient.


    Who knows how long it took, Shen Xiaohu took out a token from his bosom, shimmering with a strange light.


    After sensing it through his brow, his expression turned grave.


    Shen Xiaohu then conveyed a brief evacuation order to the numerous sect members cleaning the battlefield.


    Upon hearing this, although the sect members of Huang Tian Sect looked reluctant, they didn''t hesitate and quickly departed under Shen Xiaohu''s lead.


    As Shen Xiaohu was leaving, Shen Qing even saw Shen Xiaohu throw a knowing glance in his direction, which made him involuntarily chuckle.


    Soon, the vast battlefield became empty.


    Shen Qing released his Divine Sense, making sure there was no one else, then boldly walked in.


    The battlefield was thick with a bloody aura, and even after the cleanup by the sect members of Huang Tian Sect, traces still remained.


    Shen Qing took a few deep breaths, numbing his sense of smell, then focused on releasing his Divine Sense to search for remnants on the battlefield.


    With his Divine Sense, he discovered countless scattered items.


    Most valuables, such as wish-fulfilling pearls and gold and silver, treasures, were taken by the Huang Tian Sect.


    However, due to the hasty search, many items were left behind.


    These items naturally didn''t escape his Divine Sense''s detection.


    The corners of Shen Qing''s mouth curled into a faint smile, maintaining the sharpness of his Divine Sense while passionately mobilizing the spiritual energy within his body.


    Under his control, vast spiritual energy surged and boiled within him, ultimately converging in his palm, transforming into strands of spiritual energy tendrils.


    "Go!"


    Shen Qing, with his powerful Divine Sense manipulation, constantly maneuvered these spiritual energy tendrils across the battlefield, picking up the remnants and gathering them behind him.


    To outsiders, it would seem like countless treasures flying by themselves, quite mystical.


    Among them, one by one, dark practice stones leaped up, eventually piling into a small mountain behind Shen Qing.


    Besides the wish-fulfilling pearls, many treasure fragments, remnants of pills, peculiar minerals, fragments of secret manuals... all piled together.


    The sheer quantity of these items was such that even with Shen Qing''s extraordinary means, it was momentarily difficult to handle them all, so he scooped them up entirely.


    Just then, a tremendous soul-shaking aura from the sky surged towards Shen Qing, involuntarily pausing his actions.


    Alarm bells rang in his heart as he abruptly lifted his head to gaze at the vast sky.


    Beneath the blue sky, dazzling rosy light tore through it like the first break of dawn, yet more dazzling and brilliant than sunrise.


    Immediately after, a golden silhouette, moving at an incredible speed, streaked across the sky like a meteor chasing the moon, approaching the forefront of the battlefield in an instant.


    This golden silhouette''s mere appearance caused the surrounding air to tremble.


    Another Spirit Void Realm martial master!


    This was a strand of a Spirit Void Realm martial master''s divine soul.


    This individual''s cultivated divine soul could already leave his body and exist apart from it.


    His cultivation level was stronger than that of Xue Rui and the two others.


    Shen Qing had a premonition of bad things to come.


    Gradually, the golden silhouette solidified, transforming into an armor-clad general, surrounded by an unyielding battle intent.


    The general gazed downward from a high position, fixing his eyes on Shen Qing.


    Seeing the Merit Stone mound behind Shen Qing, he couldn''t help but pause in surprise.


    He furrowed his brows, his tone carrying a hint of interrogation: "Youngster, why are these Merit Stones here? Where are the martial masters who participated in the Jing Luan Assembly?"


    Although Shen Qing''s heart was in turmoil facing this sudden strong presence, he maintained his composure and calmness on the surface.


    He truthfully said: "As the master saw, they are all dead! With Huang Tian Sect''s interference, the martial masters from the Jing Luan Assembly couldn''t withstand their terrifying power, and now they''ve all fallen. I was fortunate to survive and am here to clean up the aftermath."


    The golden silhouette hadn''t expected such a result, so he asked: "What is your name?"


    "I¡­" Shen Qing was about to say his name, but with a thought for his own safety, he suddenly switched his words, cupped his fists earnestly, and declared: "Li Feiyu."


    "Do you recognize a martial master named Shen Qing?"


    Shen Qing?


    Was he looking for me?


    Shen Qing felt a chill in his heart.


    Judging by the opposing party''s intimidating demeanor, this couldn''t be anything good.


    Currently, he wasn''t a match for a Spirit Void Realm martial master.


    If they targeted him, he wouldn''t have the power to fight back and would surely die.


    Thinking that far, Shen Qing said decisively: "I don''t know him."


    The golden silhouette fell silent, contemplating his existence.


    "General Xue, this is the designated area for the Jing Luan Assembly, why are you here?"


    Suddenly, the sky split open with a fissure, and a vast ocean-like aura swept forth, accompanied by a deep, resonant male voice that stirred the surrounding clouds.


    Upon hearing this thunderous voice, Shen Qing couldn''t help but look up towards the firmament.


    A middle-aged man dressed in a gray-white robe soared through the air, his garments fluttering, appearing like an immortal descending.


    This was none other than the void-traversing powerhouse, Lan Gongliang.


    Lan Gongliang''s gaze flickered as he looked directly below, with a tone tinged with both reproach and confusion: "Court laws were long established. No external intervention is allowed in the Jing Luan Assembly. General Xue, are you intending to break the rules?"


    Xue? General?


    Currently, there was only one General Xue in the Great Zhou court''s temple.


    Shen Qing hurriedly looked at the golden silhouette in the sky, studying its appearance closely, noticing it resembled Xue Yan and Xue Bai somewhat.


    Who else could it be but the head of the Xue family, Xue Zhao?


    This Xue Zhao was here, likely because of Xue Bai!!!


    Shen Qing''s heart shook intensely. Immediately, he lowered his head, remained silent, striving to be as inconspicuous as possible.


    General Xue didn''t notice Shen Qing''s small actions. He looked at Lan Gongliang and said: "Master Lan, there''s no misunderstanding. I am merely passing by to take a look. Besides, the Jing Luan Assembly has only one person left, it is, to some extent, concluded already."


    As he spoke, the golden silhouette gently quivered, emitting a faint glow that rendered the surroundings harmonious, yet subtly sharp.


    Lan Gongliang neither approved nor disapproved.


    He moved slightly, glancing towards Shen Qing.


    "Young friend," Lan Gongliang appeared near Shen Qing from midair and asked: "From afar, I sensed a powerful energy fluctuation and a tremendous phenomenon, what happened here?"


    Shen Qing promptly cupped his fists and truthfully recounted the entire series of events.


    Lan Gongliang''s expression shifted significantly.


    He never expected such events to unfold.


    "If things are as calculated, you are the sole survivor of the Jing Luan Assembly. According to the rules, you are the most deserving of glory."


    Lan Gongliang scanned him up and down, recalling the scene of killing Xue family''s young master at the Jing Luan Assembly''s inception. He asked for confirmation: "If I recall correctly, your name is Shen Qing, right?"


    Boom!


    Shen Qing''s scalp tingled with shock¡­


    ```

 Chapter 366 - 45 Hanging by a Thread

    Seeing Lan Gongliang call out his name, Shen Qing''s mind went blank, and his blood surged within him.


    He had just realized the danger, having concealed his identity with great difficulty.


    He had thought it was foolproof, but unexpectedly, such a scenario had unfolded.


    Now, with Lan Gongliang''s slight hint, he felt as if he had been pushed to the forefront of a storm, tensing every muscle in his body.


    Xue Zhao was originally out to avenge his son''s murder, stifling a bellyful of fire for not finding the murderer.


    Finding that the murderer was right under his nose, and that he had almost been deceived, only added fuel to the fire.


    Shen Qing looked at Lan Gongliang, who seemed delighted by the trouble, "I really ''thank'' you!"


    "Are you Shen Qing?" Xue Zhao''s manifested Primordial Spirit appeared vividly alive, his face animated with an intense killing intent that surged palpably.


    "Very well, very well!" Xue Zhao laughed in extreme anger.


    Before Shen Qing could react, Xue Zhao decisively pressed his palm toward Shen Qing, initiating his attack.


    The immense pressure of the Primordial Spirit Realm, like mountains collapsing and rivers bursting their banks, surged out from him.


    In midair, a massive golden palm materialized and mercilessly crushed toward Shen Qing.


    Each ounce of pressure within this palm was immensely heavy, enough to shatter the physical body of an ordinary martial master.


    Shen Qing was horrified. Still not fully recovered from the terrifying aura of the Nine Heavens Absolute Kill Array and with his strength greatly diminished, he felt like an ant trying to shake a tree facing this Primordial Spirit powerhouse, completely unable to contend.


    But he did not just wait to die.


    Shen Qing clenched his teeth, his Spiritual Power boiling inside him as he exerted all his might to activate the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique and the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal.


    Instantly, spirals of Spiritual Power emerged at the acupoints around his body, gathering the surrounding Spirit Essence like twinkling stars.


    A simple, crimson golden seal formed in front of him, bursting forth with divine might.


    These two Martial Arts techniques, the most thoroughly mastered and mightiest in his arsenal, still left him uncertain against Xue Zhao, a powerhouse in the Primordial Spirit Realm.


    A booming sound erupted.


    Two completely different auras collided fiercely in the void, like stars falling and the heavens trembling, the aftermath overflowing and distorting the surrounding space.


    Shen Qing staggered several steps back before stabilizing his stance.


    His upper body clothing, under the onslaught of this destructive force, turned instantly to dust and scattered with the wind, revealing skin torn by the fierce aura, with corners of his mouth silently spilling out bursts of bright red blood.


    He looked like someone who had just walked out of a bloodbath, covered in blood.


    Even so, Shen Qing did not take a single step back, nor did he harbor a trace of desire to beg for mercy.


    He pushed out all his learned skills with all his might, desperately holding on, and his bent waist slowly straightened again.


    ''Is this the true power of the Primordial Spirit Realm? Just a strand of Primordial Spirit is so powerful.''


    Shen Qing''s eyes emitted a fierce light as he took this opportunity to grasp the aura of a Primordial Spirit Realm powerhouse, continuously resisting, unwilling to yield.


    Xue Zhao''s strand of Primordial Spirit noticed some changes in Shen Qing, "Hmm?"


    He snorted coldly and increased the force in his hand.


    Crack, crack, crack!


    Under the invisible pressure of the Primordial Spirit Realm, every inch of flesh in Shen Qing''s body suffered immense pressure, and fine cracks began to surface on his skin, sounding like porcelain breaking.


    Shen Qing ignored these injuries; his blood boiled as he continued to resist, his body seeming to thunder from within.


    Suddenly, a peculiar scene quietly emerged.


    Within the cracks appearing all over Shen Qing''s body, a strand of golden light faintly glimmered, ceaselessly roving through his meridians.


    The so-called Primordial Spirit Realm is the realm where a martial master integrates their own Spirit Essence, condenses the Primordial Spirit, and continuously merges with the heavens and earth.


    Once the Primordial Spirit merges with the heavens and earth to a certain critical point, it can achieve the level of mastery and roam freely between the heavens and earth.


    The key to this realm lies firstly in condensation and secondly in merging.


    Unknown amounts of time had passed when he perceived a layer of charm that subtly merged with the Spirit Essence of the heavens and earth from Xue Zhao''s Primordial Spirit. Light burst forth from his eyes.


    Immediately afterward, Shen Qing, completely disregarding his injuries, moved his body and grabbed the handle of the Thunder Abyss Blade hanging at his waist.


    He let out a light shout and swung the Treasure Blade in his hand.


    At this moment, with Shen Qing exerting all his strength, the blade unleashed an unprecedented, earth-shattering power.


    With one strike, the heavens and earth changed color! Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Boom!


    Blue lightning flickered, slashing toward that golden palm suspended in the void.


    This palm, manifested by Xue Zhao''s will, held astonishing power, but under the strike of the thunder from the Thunder Abyss, it shattered like fragile foam, splitting in two.


    The golden light scattered, eventually dissipating into nothingness.


    After the fierce attack poured out, Shen Qing''s figure trembled slightly, his chest heaving like a bellows, gasping continuously.


    Every breath he took was accompanied by a thunderous rumble between his bones and muscles; a giant dragon was tumbling inside him.


    The Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique was frantically circulating within his body.


    Shen Qing''s body seemed to transform into a black bottomless pit, devouring the Spiritual Power it could touch in this part of the heavens and earth.


    Under his deliberate control, the accumulated "pouch" burst forth like breached floodwaters, pouring out the immense Spiritual Power accumulated over countless days and nights, without reserve.


    Under the nourishment of Spiritual Power and the continuous repair by the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, the cracked wounds on his body rapidly healed at a visible speed. In the blink of an eye, Shen Qing had returned to his peak condition, radiating a glow of rebirth from fire.


    Xue Zhao stood not far away, witnessing this miraculous scene, a trace of incredulous surprise flashing across his eyes.


    A hint of surprise curled at his lips, "What Martial Arts are you practicing? Why have I never seen it before?"


    To be honest, such speed of injury repair was excessively fast, much faster than most Martial Arts he knew, even a bit faster than the injury repair of his own Primordial Spirit Realm.


    Shen Qing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, smiling as he asked, "If I tell you, will you let me go?"


    "I can make your death a little less painful." Xue Zhao''s Primordial Spirit stood with folded arms, snorting coldly.


    "Only a fool would tell you."


    "Hmm?!" Xue Zhao had never expected such a reply and, furious to the point of laughter, said, "I think you''d better just die."


    Seeing Shen Qing''s irreverent attitude, Xue Zhao felt an unnamed anger rising within him, quickly spreading through his chest. Coupled with his revenge for his beloved son, complex emotions tinted his eyes a shade of blood red.


    "Die!" Xue Zhao bellowed angrily, the skies flashing with golden light.


    His entire being, like an arrow released from its bow, transformed into a streak of light, speeding directly towards Shen Qing.


    His speed was so fast it almost surpassed the limits of what the naked eye could capture.


    Xue Zhao''s figure abruptly appeared in front of Shen Qing, his hands sweeping fiercely, bringing a sharp piercing sound through the air.


    Xue Zhao gathered all his strength and launched a punch.


    The powerful punch surged toward Shen Qing, the punch''s wind compressing and distorting the space it passed through.


    In an instant, a ferocious wind howled, its overwhelming power emitting a deafening roar.


    The enormous shadow of the fist continuously enlarged in Shen Qing''s pupils until it reached right before him.


    Shen Qing felt the terrifying force of this punch, his heart pounding fiercely.


    He couldn''t block this punch!

 Chapter 367 - 46: When Heaven is About to Perish, Monsters Will Arise

    ``` Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I''m going to die!


    Shen Qing gritted his teeth, determined to make a desperate effort with all his might, struggling to hold on, unleashing power far greater than usual.


    "Enough!"


    A sharp shout, like a thunderous roar, exploded in Shen Qing''s ears.


    Lan Gongliang, standing nearby, moved.


    He stepped forward, his eyes shining brightly, as if two rising suns were hanging high in the sky.


    In the face of this overwhelming aura, Xue Zhao''s fist momentum was pushed aside like a leaf in a storm.


    The fist wind he painstakingly gathered dissipated and turned into nothingness.


    Xue Zhao''s face changed drastically, he stared intently at Lan Gongliang, questioning: "Lan Gongliang, do you really intend to intervene in this matter?"


    Lan Gongliang reined in his aura and said lightly, "Indeed, I must ensure his safety today! What about it? Do you have any objections?"


    Every word he spoke echoed like thunder in the air, startling everyone.


    Upon hearing this, Xue Zhao took a step forward, once again gathering his fist wind: "Lord Lan, I know your cultivation is unfathomable. If you insist on this, then today I will have to experience your high skills!"


    Having said that, Xue Zhao''s spiritual power surged uncontrollably, like rivers breaching a dam.


    His hands quickly formed seals, and mysterious runes appeared in the void, shining brightly, illuminating the surroundings.


    At present, he had already reached the Great Perfection of the Primordial Spirit Realm, just a step away from the Kongyou Realm.


    A lifetime of battles, he had killed countless people, possessing a body full of evil Qi.


    Against a martial master of the Kongyou Realm, he might have been able to contend.


    Besides, it was only a wisp of his primordial spirit, and even if it were to perish, it wouldn''t harm his foundation.


    Seeing Xue Zhao''s relentless stance, Lan Gongliang snorted coldly, his eyes radiating even more brightly.


    He did not move, yet another wave of grand momentum surged forth like a tide.


    "Disperse!"


    With a low shout, Lan Gongliang unleashed an immense, boundless force from his mouth, transformed into a dazzling beam of light, directly striking Xue Zhao''s wisp of primordial spirit.


    Under the impact of this force, all the brilliance of Xue Zhao''s primordial spirit was dispersed and turned into nothingness.


    He tried to regroup and resist vigorously, but it was all in vain.


    Lan Gongliang''s power was too overwhelming, crushing in an utterly one-sided manner.


    Xue Zhao shouted angrily: "Lan Gongliang, do you really want to oppose my Xue family?"


    Lan Gongliang shook his head and said, "I am only doing my duty impartially."


    With that, he glanced at the distressed Shen Qing, and continued: "Now, there are less than a hundred martial masters left in the Jing Luan Assembly, with only him alone. According to the rules, he deserves the greatest credit and can enjoy the treatment of the temple. I need to bring him back to the capital to meet the Emperor, how can I let you kill him? If there is anyone to blame, blame the current Emperor and all the former kings."


    Xue Zhao''s expression was stunned, looking at Shen Qing in disbelief, showing a hint of unwillingness.


    Boom!


    In the next moment, Lan Gongliang''s aura enveloped Xue Zhao''s primordial spirit, bursting forth in dazzling glory.


    Under Lan Gongliang''s aura, Xue Zhao''s primordial spirit was continuously obliterated until it vanished completely, leaving no trace behind.


    "Well, I, Xue Zhao, will not forget your actions today."


    Lan Gongliang remained unmoved, his face expressionless.


    As Xue Zhao''s primordial spirit dissipated, the surrounding air returned to calm, as if nothing had ever happened.


    Lan Gongliang retracted his spiritual power and turned to look at Shen Qing.


    Gratefully, Shen Qing looked at Lan Gongliang, clasping his fists in thanks: "Thank you, my lord, for saving my life."


    Lan Gongliang looked Shen Qing up and down, quietly praising him in his heart.


    A beautiful jade, truly a beautiful jade!


    His eyes were sharp, able to see that Shen Qing''s actual bone age was only nineteen and that his entire body lacked the frivolity from excessive use of elixirs, surprising him.


    It meant that through sheer hard work, this person had managed to break through to the Spirit Void Realm before the age of nineteen, which was simply incredible.


    Throughout the over nine hundred years of the Great Zhou Country, such individuals were hardly more than ten.


    As far as he knew, those individuals all had extraordinary backgrounds, whereas none were like Shen Qing, who broke through purely relying on talent and diligence.


    Shen Qing''s cultivation talent was extremely outstanding, almost to the point of being monstrous.


    Nowadays, the world was in great upheaval, demons were rampant everywhere.


    Looking around, the south had the rebellion of the Huang Tian Sect, while internally demons were wreaking havoc, painting a picture of a world on the brink of collapse.


    As the world faces decline, a prodigy must emerge!


    Lan Gongliang spoke to Shen Qing: "When Xue Zhao suppressed you earlier, I noticed great changes in you. What happened?"


    Shen Qing lowered his head, clasping his fists respectfully: "Junior merely sensed a trace of ''Harmony'' from his Primordial Spirit Realm, gaining some insight."


    Lan Gongliang chuckled.


    Indeed, this young man was extraordinary, able to remain calm and perceptive even in life-and-death situations, possessing a truly remarkable mindset.


    "Gentlemen seek harmony but not uniformity, whereas petty men achieve uniformity without harmony," Lan Gongliang said meaningfully. "''Harmony'' is merely an expression, what''s more important is for you to find your own essence, otherwise, once you breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit Realm, you''ll be trapped, unable to escape your predicament."


    Shen Qing straightened up, thoughtfully appreciating: "Thank you, my lord, for your guidance."


    "I wouldn''t dare call it guidance," Lan Gongliang said. "In the future, your achievements may well surpass mine, at which point I may need your guidance instead. Hahaha..."


    With that, Lan Gongliang laughed heartily.


    Shen Qing hastily expressed modesty, saying he dared not.


    After a moment, Lan Gongliang ceased laughing, looking at the mound of merit stones piled like a small hill behind Shen Qing.


    He took out a precious pouch embedded with sparkling diamonds from his bosom and said: "This is my Hundred Treasures Pouch, it has a space of ten feet. It''s a magical treasure I acquired from elsewhere and it has accompanied me for many years. Now it''s of no use to me, so I am giving it to you, to store your spoils."


    With that, Lan Gongliang casually tossed the pouch into Shen Qing''s hand.


    "This is too precious, I can''t accept it!" Shen Qing wasn''t too familiar with Lan Gongliang''s character, and dared not accept rashly.


    Even if it was a half magical treasure, it still remained a magical treasure!


    Lan Gongliang dismissed it, saying, "Just hold on to it as you''re told. Stop with the nonsense."


    "Later, gather all the merit stones behind you and bring them with you. After we return to the camp, the merits will be assessed and calculated. After the assessment, I will report the events here to the Emperor. Then prepare yourself to accompany me into the capital to meet the Emperor."


    A hint of excitement flashed in Shen Qing''s eyes.


    After initially joining the Jing Luan Assembly, he had no great ambitions, merely seeking to protect himself, and if possible, attempt to make it into the top hundred.


    Unexpectedly, after many changes along the way, he became the sole individual at the Jing Luan Assembly, reaping all of the merit, making it all seem unreal upon reflection.


    Shen Qing nodded heavily, agreeing: "Thank you, senior."


    "Come over, I''ll tell you how to activate the pouch."


    "Yes."


    ```

 Chapter 368 - 47 Stay Awake, Return to Camp

    The Magic Skill passed down by Lan Gongliang wasn''t very complex, and with the enhancement from the panel, Shen Qing quickly mastered it completely.


    "You try it," Lan Gongliang lifted his chin to indicate.


    Without any hesitation, Shen Qing concentrated fully, stepped forward to activate the Magic Skill, and released a strand of Divine Thought that intertwined around the Hundred Treasure Pouch.


    Unlike any previous Martial Arts he''d encountered, this skill involved a strand of Divine Sense, which bore some similarities to his Great Void Shifting Technique and carried a hint of the flavor from the Ancient Times.


    With a thought, the Hundred Treasure Pouch in his palm suddenly burst into a dazzling light.


    Under the irrigation of Shen Qing''s Spiritual Power, the runes on the surface of the pouch lit up one by one, intertwining into a series of mysterious patterns, emitting waves of powerful fluctuations.


    "Go!"


    Shen Qing shouted lightly, tossing the Hundred Treasure Pouch into the void.


    The pouch swelled against the wind, quickly growing from the size of a palm to a three-foot cloth bag.


    Its mouth slowly opened, resembling the maw of a gigantic beast, exuding an aura of aggressive capture.


    The Merit Stones gathered by Shen Qing on the ground, each wrapped in a layer of bright red Evil Qi, were vibrant and dripping.


    At this moment, drawn by the Hundred Treasure Pouch, they rose into the air in an orderly fashion, as if pulled by invisible threads, converging toward the open mouth of the pouch.


    Following the Merit Stones, other scattered items were also successively drawn upwards.


    The Spiritual Energy hovering in the air around the pouch circled and danced, adding an extraordinary and transcendent charm to it.


    As the last piece was drawn into the Hundred Treasure Pouch, the mouth of the pouch slowly closed, and all the emitted light and fluctuations instantly converged, returning to calm.


    With a plop, the Hundred Treasure Pouch fell from the void into Shen Qing''s hand.


    Shen Qing weighed it in his hand and found no significant change in weight, which he found rather astonishing.


    The mechanism contained within this item involved not just any ordinary Martial Arts but perhaps tied to some aspects of the Tao Immortal Technique from ancient times, beyond his current understanding.


    Lan Gongliang''s willingness to gift him such a treasure was indeed generous.


    If it had been anyone else, they would probably already be moved to tears, willingly serving him, but Shen Qing, having experienced many great trials, saw things more clearly.


    Earlier, when he was contending against a strand of Xue Bai''s Primordial Spirit, Lan Gongliang didn''t step forward immediately; instead, he waited until Shen Qing had resisted twice and couldn''t hold out any longer before taking action.


    Lan Gongliang clearly had his calculations, wanting to be Shen Qing''s last lifesaver, yearning for him to owe a favor.


    The world bustles for profit.


    The reason Lan Gongliang was willing to give so much was that he also sought something from him.


    According to the rules of the Jing Luan Assembly, as the only survivor, Shen Qing already held a ticket to join the ranks of the top elite of Great Zhou, with a limitless future ahead.


    Building a good relationship now only had benefits, no drawbacks.


    Shen Qing had no objections to this kind of association.


    Having an extra friend was always better than having an extra enemy.


    However, he had to keep a clear head, always maintaining balance, not to be led by the nose by some moral shackles.


    Shen Qing secured the Hundred Treasure Pouch well, his expression filled with the joy of acquiring a treasure, and walked up to Lan Gongliang, cupping his hands and saying, "Mr. Zheng, it is done."


    Lan Gongliang, a smile on his face, nodded gently and said, "That''s mostly it, let''s return to the camp now to evaluate your contribution."


    As soon as his words fell, Lan Gongliang waved his hand grandly and disappeared from the spot, reappearing in the sky.


    His figure flickered continuously as he flew towards the camp.


    Shen Qing was not willing to fall behind, he stimulated his Spiritual Power, transforming into a burst of Rainbow Light that shot into the sky, closely following behind.


    Lan Gongliang, as a supremely powerful expert of the Kongyou Realm, had already quietly touched the mysterious threshold of the Tao Immortal Technique. His movement technique had reached a transformative state.


    He streaked across the sky like a dragon riding the wind, each step folding space in wondrous ways. Covering distances of dozens of miles in an instant; he left behind traces in the void.


    Shen Qing, riding the Rainbow Light, watched helplessly as Lan Gongliang''s figure disappeared from his sight, unable to keep up.


    With a grave expression, Shen Qing silently operated the Great Void Shifting Technique.


    Instantly, the Spiritual Power within his body surged like a raging river, all gathering in front of him.


    Suddenly, his figure also became misty and his speed increased several times over. He tightly followed Lan Gongliang''s trail, chasing ahead.


    Under the enhancement of his Cultivation Technique, Shen Qing''s entire body was resplendent and eye-catching, like a golden-bronze statue, emitting beams of radiance.


    Soon, he faintly spotted a small black dot in the distant horizon.


    Lan Gongliang, sensing the brilliance behind him, couldn''t help but show a hint of surprise in his eyes.


    He had not expected that Shen Qing, with just the cultivation of the Spirit Void Realm, could burst forth with such astonishing speed without falling behind.


    Even though he was currently only using three to four tenths of his cultivation, the speed and strength were enough to leave countless powerful beings far behind.


    Shen Qing''s status in his mind couldn''t help but rise, and his expectations for his future became even greater.


    The two, one after the other, returned to the camp nearby in less than the time it takes a stick of incense to burn.


    Lan Gongliang pressed down with a large hand, and the barriers he had previously set up were dismantled one by one.


    Following Lan Gongliang, Shen Qing crossed over the mountain and re-entered the camp.


    They had not been away from the camp for very long, so at this moment the camp still maintained the appearance they had left in without much difference.


    Patrolling soldiers in the camp saw Lan Gongliang''s figure and hurriedly came forward to salute with fisted hands, "Greetings, sir!"


    Lan Gongliang casually instructed, "The Jing Luan Assembly is already over, have your Leader Zheng come over to measure the merit and report the results to His Majesty."


    So soon?


    The patrolling soldier was somewhat surprised; he glanced at Lan Gongliang, said nothing further, and bowed his head to take his command, "Yes, sir."


    Having said that, he quickened his pace and left.


    Lan Gongliang called out to Shen Qing, "Come with me."


    Shen Qing bowed and followed Lan Gongliang''s steps, walking into the most luxurious tent within the camp.


    Shortly after, a man dressed as a general walked in briskly with a saber, looking at Lan Gongliang and asking, "I heard the Jing Luan Assembly has ended, has sir brought people back?"


    Lan Gongliang nudged his mouth and said, "Just him alone."


    The general looked at Shen Qing skeptically, "Has it really come down to just this one person from twenty to thirty thousand martial masters in such a short time? Are you joking with me, sir?"


    "Believe it or not," Lan Gongliang looked at Shen Qing and said, "Shen kid, take out all your Merit Stones, and let Mr. Zheng measure your merit."


    Shen Qing, still somewhat unfamiliar with this so-called merit measurement of the Jing Luan Assembly, but judging from the interaction between the two, it wasn''t something bad.


    "Yes." He clasped his hands, bowing his head in agreement. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, Shen Qing brought out the Hundred Treasure Pouch.


    A flash of brilliant light.


    A small mountain-like pile of Merit Stones was stacked in front of the general.


    The general''s eyes, following Shen Qing''s actions, gradually widened to the size of bronze bells, speechless for a long time.

 Chapter 369 - 48: Weighing Contributions, Shock Across the Court and Country

    The general''s expression showed a hint of confusion.


    He looked at the Merit Stone as large as a small mountain, his lips moved slightly, but he was at a loss for words.


    As an Innate Realm martial master, this was already his second time presiding over the Jing Luan Assembly.


    The result of the last Jing Luan Assembly was nothing this outrageous.


    Not just the last time, but even looking back over a dozen times before, there was never such a situation.


    Zheng Yuanqiao realized his lapse and quickly composed himself, curiously asking, "Lord Lan, what exactly happened here?"


    Lan Gongliang casually said, "Nothing much, just that the rebels from Dan Zhou pulled a big one. They somehow got hold of a Great Killing Array, and everyone was wiped out in the array, except for one survivor."


    "This..." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What, is this not admissible?"


    Zheng Yuanqiao clasped his hands in salute, "That''s not it."


    Lan Gongliang observed his dissatisfaction and conflict on his face and casually added, "I forgot to tell you. He was also within the formation and escaped purely by skill. Nineteen years old, Spirit Void Realm martial master!"


    Buzz!


    Zheng Yuanqiao''s spirit was shaken, and his gaze towards Shen Qing instantly changed.


    Tens of thousands of martial masters perished, yet only he escaped, and a nineteen-year-old Spirit Void Realm martial master at that!


    Each label thrown out caused a wave of shock in him.


    The young man before him was very unusual.


    To the side, Shen Qing could hear that Lan Gongliang was deliberately shaping his image, endorsing him.


    He couldn''t help but feel speechless.


    It seemed Lan Gongliang was heavily invested in him.


    "Can the merits be measured now?!"


    Zheng Yuanqiao nodded vigorously like a chicken pecking rice, "Yes, yes, I''ll measure right away."


    Finishing his words, he took out a small, ancient-looking scale from his chest and placed it in front of him, muttering some incantations.


    The small scale appeared ancient and mysterious, its carvings intricate, as if embodying the principles of heaven and earth.


    Zheng Yuanqiao closed his eyes lightly, merging his spirit, and as his muttering ceased, he uttered a deep and commanding order, instantly activating the small scale.


    Suddenly, brilliant light shot out, illuminating the entire tent in a dazzling display.


    In front of him, the Merit Stone piled as high as a towering hill suddenly clattered loudly, as if urged by some force, responding to a summons.


    The dense Evil Qi entwined on the surface surged madly like untamed steeds, finally congregating upon the scale''s disk, forming a brick of blood-red and crimson.


    As soon as this brick appeared, the tent''s temperature seemed to plummet by over a dozen degrees, filled with a daunting wave of aura.


    Zheng Yuanqiao''s face turned red from exerting his Cultivation Technique fully, sweat dripped like fine rain, soaking his garments.


    He gritted his teeth and grasped the scale bar tightly, continuously moving the heavy black weight on one end of the scale, each slight movement seemingly engaged in fierce struggle with an invisible force.


    "Hah!"


    Another deafening roar erupted, Zheng Yuanqiao''s muscles taut to the extreme, finally, at the instant when the weight steadied, the entire space seemed to fall into silence.


    "Thirty-five thousand catties of Killing Merit!" He announced with labored breath, his voice filled with inescapable exhaustion: "Ranked first in Jing Luan Assembly! No, it''s the first in history!"


    Upon hearing this figure, Lan Gongliang, unsurprised, nodded, "Then, please trouble Mr. Zheng to report truthfully to the court. When the time comes, I will sort out the incidents from this Jing Luan Assembly and draft a memorial to report to Ji Zikong."


    "Alright. I''ll report at once." Zheng Yuanqiao replied seriously, collecting the Evil Qi and the small scale before leaving hastily.


    Lan Gongliang turned to Shen Qing and said, "Stay in the camp for a day or two. Soon, there will be news from the court, and we will make further arrangements."


    "I comply with all your instructions, my lord," Shen Qing respectfully saluted.


    ...


    Capital City.


    Within the Mountain and Sea Department Mansion, the atmosphere was heavy and solemn.


    Suddenly, a burst of rapid footsteps shattered the tranquility.


    A dispatch official in a fitted suit darted through the corridor like a flying swallow, rushed straight to the hall, calling out loudly, "Report!"


    Mountain and Sea Department Chief Officer in the Capital City, Ji He, sat upright at his desk, clasping a teacup, emanating an aura of commanding presence.


    He looked up upon hearing the call and asked solemnly, "What is the cause of such urgency?"


    The dispatch official halted abruptly, then knelt on one knee, presenting a rolled secret missive with a slightly uncontrollable excitement in his voice, "Chief Officer, the results of the Jing Luan Assembly have arrived!"


    "I recall the Jing Luan Assembly wasn''t initiated long ago, the results are out so quickly?"


    Ji He received the missive, unfolded it with both hands, scanning through its contents.


    At first, a slight indifference hung on his face, as if everything was proceeding as expected.


    However, as his eyes fixed on a certain point, his pupils contracted suddenly, and he stood up abruptly.


    Displaying an incredulous expression, he murmured to himself, "Thirty-five thousand catties of Killing Merit? How... is this possible!"


    Ji He raised his head sharply, looking intensely at the dispatch official, his voice quivering slightly, "Have you¡­ confirmed the accuracy?"


    Seeing this, the dispatch official too was startled, hurriedly nodding with a firm expression, "Chief Officer, the information is perfectly accurate, directly from the frontline with comparison made, there is absolutely no falsity."


    Upon hearing, Ji He couldn''t help but draw a sharp breath, the missive in his hand trembling slightly.


    Since ancient times, the highest merit achieved in Jing Luan Assemblies was no more than two hundred catties of Evil Qi.


    This thirty-five thousand catties of Killing Merit was simply beyond belief.


    Ji He felt somewhat bewildered.


    Suddenly, he noticed the name atop seemed familiar.


    "This is... Shen Qing, Chief Officer of Yongzhou?"


    Inadvertently, the image of the Yongzhou Chief Officer surfaced in his mind.


    Quickly recollecting his thoughts, Ji He tightly grasped the missive, striding swiftly towards the palace.


    Along the way, those ordinarily steady guards of the dispatch office couldn''t help but cast side glances at his demeanor, silently speculating on what had occurred.


    Ji He sprinted all the way to the palace gates without a pause in his step, entering the palace directly and heading towards the imperial study.


    Arriving at the entrance of the imperial study, he took a deep breath to calm himself, then entered the room.


    Ji He found Ji Zikong sitting on the throne, and in front of him was Feng Daxun, the Director of the Imperial Observatory, standing by quietly, which caught him somewhat by surprise.


    However, he didn''t dwell on these details.


    Ji He knelt on both knees, raising the missive high and urgently said, "Your Majesty, the results of the Jing Luan Assembly are in. The leader records thirty-five thousand catties of Killing Merit!"


    Ji Zikong, upon hearing this, directed a sharp gaze like lightning towards Ji He, his tone deep, "Is this true?"


    A ruler long accustomed to power radiated an aura of authority, imposing great pressure on Ji He.


    Ji He nodded repeatedly, his voice firm, "It''s absolutely true. I have verified it repeatedly, and dare not deceive even slightly."


    Upon hearing this, Ji Zikong couldn''t help but exchange a glance with Feng Daxun, each seeing a hint of surprise in the other''s eyes.


    He stood up, eagerly declaring, "Present it!"

 Chapter 370 - 49: Breakthrough, Six Paths Reincarnation Technique

    Chief Eunuch He Yong, upon hearing the words, took over the urgent report and promptly presented it on the imperial desk.


    Ji Zikong unfolded the urgent report and started to review it in detail.


    His expression shifted from initial surprise to a solemn concentration, and finally to a profound shock, as if each character on the yellowed pages were heavy hammers striking upon the lake of his heart, stirring ripples layer upon layer.


    "I never expected such an outcome from the Jing Luan Assembly, that only one person survived," Ji Zikong muttered to himself, his tone laced with complex emotions, "It really surprises me."


    Chief Officer Ji He of the Mountain Sea Department stepped forward and asked, "Then, Your Majesty, should this Jing Luan Assembly be considered invalid and started over?"


    Upon hearing this, Ji Zikong glanced at Ji He askance, his ire not needing to assert itself.


    Ji He felt an invisible pressure mounting on him, making his breathing grow labored.


    Even with his cultivation in the Spirit Void Realm, he couldn''t withstand it in the slightest.


    Ji He quickly bowed his head and prostrated himself on the ground, silently awaiting judgment.


    After a moment, Ji Zikong coldly huffed, "Do you think the martial masters under the heavens can withstand the trials of two Jing Luan Assemblies? While the Jing Luan Assembly does exhaust the martial masters of the world, there must be limits¡ªtoo much, and not enough. If it exhausts too much, it could instead cause turmoil in the current situation."


    Ji He bowed and flattered, "Your Majesty displays clear insight; it is this servant''s foolishness."


    "Thirty-five thousand units of Killing Merit," Ji Zikong rose from the Dragon Throne, murmuring, "Ever since the Jing Luan Assembly was established, no one has ever reached this level. A nineteen-year-old martial master of the Spirit Void Realm, impressive indeed."


    "Transmit my decree, summon this person to the palace immediately. I want to meet this prodigy personally and bestow upon him the rewards he deserves!" Ji Zikong''s voice echoed in the Imperial Study Room, carrying an undeniable authority.


    "This servant obeys," replied Chief Eunuch He Yong, who was standing by. He quickly said, "I will send the message at once."


    With that, Chief Eunuch He Yong hurriedly left the Imperial Study Room.


    After He Yong had left, Director Feng Daxun of the Imperial Observatory spoke, "Your Majesty, I observed the celestial phenomena last night and noticed changes in Dan Zhou. This morning, my subordinates already sent back information, indeed an Ancient Relic has appeared near Dan Zhou. The results of this Jing Luan Assembly might partly be due to the strength of the Huang Tian Sect, but they are probably also not unrelated to this Ancient Relic."


    Ji Zikong nodded and responded, "Aside from Dan Zhou, I have also heard that an ancient tomb appeared in Taiping County, but it was looted by demons. Over the past few years, demons have been rising, and ancient remnants have been continuously appearing. It seems the day of great changes in the world is drawing nearer."


    Director Feng Daxun''s gaze was downcast, as if lost in thought.


    "Let it be, we''ll take it one step at a time. Who knows what the future may hold."


    The situation had not yet reached its utmost point; the Great Zhou Temple still needed to hold on for some time.


    ...


    In the camp, on a vast Martial Arts training ground,


    Shen Qing stood bathed in the blazing sunlight, standing tall and straight as a pine, grounded between heaven and earth.


    The sunlight pierced through the clouds like a golden waterfall, cascading over his face, draping him in a layer of faint glow.


    Shen Qing closed his eyes, assumed a stance training position, and refined the Spiritual Energy in his body.


    At this time, faint fluctuations of Spiritual Power surrounded him, resonating subtly with the surrounding Spiritual Energy. Each breath he took drove the movement of the surrounding Spiritual Energy, as if he were merging with the universe.


    As he delved deeper into his cultivation, the numbers on the Water Ink Panel suspended in front of him, indicating the progress in the "Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique," jumped at an astonishing rate.


    Each leap of the numbers made Shen Qing feel his cultivation advancing further.


    Swirls of Spiritual Power appeared above his acupoints, greedily devouring the surrounding Spiritual Energy, transforming it into nourishment for his cultivation.


    Shen Qing could only feel the Spiritual Energy inside him churning incessantly.


    He held a Wish Power Pearl in his hand, accelerating this process.


    With his cultivation progress inch by inch, Shen Qing experienced an indescribable sense of satisfaction, which increasingly engrossed him.


    He didn''t know how long had passed when he was finally enveloped by a delicate heat, as if he were standing in white fog, that he slowly ended his cultivation session for the day.


    After a session of intense cultivation, although he was covered in sweat, his eyes were exceptionally bright. Suddenly, Shen Qing felt something, a thought emerged, and he summoned the Water Ink Panel.


    The familiar interface appeared before his eyes.


    [Skill: Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique (Great Perfection)]


    [Progress: 4001/4000 points]


    [Status: Break Limit possible]


    [Note: The Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique is a Body Cultivation Technique without limit-breaking skill; continuous breakthroughs can transform it directly into the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique.]


    "Six Paths Reincarnation Technique?"


    Shen Qing was quite unfamiliar with such Martial Arts.


    He was somewhat puzzled.


    But having broken through so many times, Shen Qing knew there were only benefits and no disadvantages.


    Without any hesitation, Shen Qing chose to break through.


    Boom!


    As soon as Shen Qing initiated this thought, the information on the Water Ink Panel instantly refreshed, and a powerful, mysterious force bolstered him.


    Countless memories appeared in his mind out of nowhere, catching him entirely unprepared.


    Even with his Spirit Void Realm cultivation, facing such agony, Shen Qing couldn''t help but groan in pain.


    After a while, Shen Qing slowly woke as if from a deep and prolonged dream, his memory surged like a tide and eventually calmed down, completely digested and absorbed by him.


    In these memories, another Shen Qing from a different time and space was immersed in the cultivation of the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique, day and night, through all seasons. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After decades, through countless revisions and realizations, he finally comprehended and completely mastered the core of this Martial Arts, integrating all its essence.


    Furthermore, on this basis, he comprehended the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique.


    This technique not only inherited the path of the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique to devour surrounding Spiritual Energy and strengthen oneself but also integrated the supreme Martial Arts philosophy of endless cycles and perpetual life.


    When cultivated to the extreme, even if severely injured, one could recover rapidly within a very short period of time using the amazing Recovery Power contained in the technique, reborn like a phoenix rising from the ashes.


    Shen Qing looked up at the Water Ink Panel that had already refreshed, unable to hide the joy on his face.


    [Skill: Six Paths Reincarnation Technique (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 1/5000 points]


    [Status: Break Limit not possible]


    [Note: The Six Paths Reincarnation Technique is a supreme Cultivation Technique, which when mastered to the extreme, allows the cultivator''s physical body to be nearly immortal, possessing astonishing Recovery Power and the Power of Rebirth.]


    Shen Qing stared at the information on the panel for a long time without saying a word.


    He silently operated the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, suddenly realizing that each motion filled every muscle and drop of blood with supreme spiritual essence.


    The strand of golden blood in his veins, previously as thin as a strand of hair, had now thickened to the size of a little finger, roaring and rushing within Shen Qing''s body like a golden dragon.

 Chapter 371 - 50: An Audience with the Emperor in the Capital

    Shen Qing stood silently, eyes closed, concentrating entirely on the sensations within his body, as a feeling of unprecedented shock and surprise rippled through his heart, almost beyond belief.


    The Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, compared to the Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique he had practiced before, was like heaven and earth apart, its depth and mystery far surpassing that of the Whale Swallowing Technique.


    He faintly felt that, even if he should suffer unforeseen calamities in the future, his physical body shattered into pieces, with the power of this Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, he could still find a slim chance of survival and be reborn from the ashes.


    Not only that, under the tempering of this cultivation technique, Shen Qing also discovered that his physical body had undergone countless refinements, becoming unbreakable and so strong that it could withstand direct clashes with treasures.


    Shen Qing walked onto the practice field and casually executed a few moves. Water and fire circulated around him without harm; blades and spears struck him without penetrating¡ªhis strength was unparalleled.


    With this Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, he undoubtedly gained a powerful sense of security that could save his life.


    At this thought, a radiant smile gradually spread across Shen Qing''s face, his eyes sparkling with brilliance.


    He finished his practice and returned to the accountant''s office as usual.


    Stepping into the tent, Shen Qing heard the hearty laughter of Lan Gongliang, resounding like thunder, making even the furniture inside the tent tremble.


    Lan Gongliang glanced up at Shen Qing, with a meaningful smile on his face, he said, "Haha, you''ve arrived just in time. The court just sent a message¡ªHis Majesty intends to summon you!"


    "His Majesty wants to summon me?" Shen Qing felt a hint of surprise.


    He had not expected that his name could reach the ears of the supreme emperor.


    "That''s right," Lan Gongliang nodded lightly, his expression filled with a touch of admiration, "Although you took some shortcuts in your performance at the Jing Luan Assembly, the rules are established, and the one who made the greatest contribution deserves the appropriate rewards. In this Assembly, you were peerless; no one could compete with you for the spoils, all the rewards and benefits belong to you. Such substantial benefits, naturally, His Majesty will grant them to you personally."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing immediately understood.


    Even before his arrival, he knew that the ultimate survivors of the Jing Luan Assembly would not only gain the opportunity to enter the temple halls and rise in rank, but they would also receive a lot of good fortune and rewards.


    All are related to the secrets of the Martial Mechanism of the court.


    A rare opportunity indeed.


    Such rewards are something that even the sons of noble families would vie for, showing their significance.


    Shen Qing asked, "When do we depart?"


    "Now!"


    "Eh?"


    As soon as Lan Gongliang''s words fell, his strong hands suddenly grabbed Shen Qing''s shoulders, like an eagle seizing a rabbit, and propelled them both towards the vast horizon with immense speed.


    Two streaks of light cut through the sky, instantly piercing through layers of clouds.


    "Let''s go, young friend Shen Qing!" Lan Gongliang''s voice echoed in Shen Qing''s ear.


    Shen Qing, surprised, said, "We''re leaving so suddenly?"


    "It''s just a matter of one or two Shi Chen."


    Lan Gongliang''s fingers, clutching Shen Qing''s collar, exerted a slight force, speeding along the clouds with Shen Qing, heading towards the distant and bustling Capital City, riding the winds above the clouds.


    Shen Qing, feeling the howling wind whizzing by his ears, had a numb expression.


    He quickly mobilized the spiritual power within his body.


    A dazzling and eye-catching rainbow light instantly burst forth from within him, enveloping him tightly and forming a solid shield, keeping the fierce winds completely at bay.


    After a while, Lan Gongliang let go of him, and alone he sped forward across the sky.


    With his head down, Shen Qing silently operated the Great Void Shifting Technique and followed closely.


    Time flowed by hastily, like rushing water.


    In the blink of an eye, a Shi Chen had quietly passed. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "We''ve arrived! Follow me down!" Lord Lan''s voice rang out again as his figure leapt through the clouds like a spectral apparition.


    Shen Qing looked down and saw a majestic expanse of buildings had come into view.


    It was the Capital City of Great Zhou.


    The city walls of the Capital soared into the clouds, its palaces and pavilions artfully scattered, creating an imposing and magnificent aura like that of a fairyland on earth.


    Shen Qing did not delay, and in the blink of an eye, he landed steadily at the entrance of the palace.


    Standing before Shen Qing, Lord Lan stood erect at the palace gates, radiating an air of unignorable sternness, starkly different from what Shen Qing had seen in the encampment.


    In a flash, several guards quickly approached with long spears crossed, blocking the way, their expressions solemn.


    However, when one of the guards caught sight of Lord Lan''s face, a look of surprise flickered in his eyes, and he promptly bowed his head, his voice imbued with reverence, "So it''s Lord Lan!"


    Lord Lan spoke directly, "I must meet with Your Majesty, please allow me to pass."


    "Lord Lan, as the Commander of the Military Department, you have the privilege to directly seek an audience with His Majesty. Please proceed!"


    Lord Lan nodded slightly and without hesitation, he stepped forward, unhindered.


    Shen Qing hurriedly followed close behind.


    The two figures walked away, under the respectful gaze of the guards.


    Passing through the winding paths and by the glittering palaces, Lord Lan and Shen Qing finally arrived in front of the Imperial Study Room.


    "As per Your Majesty''s command, I have brought back Shen Qing, the sole victor of the Jing Luan Assembly."


    Outside the Imperial Study Room, two guards in splendid brocade robes stood watch.


    Upon seeing Lord Lan''s arrival, they quickly stepped forward, gently pushed open the vermilion doors, and reported in a low voice.


    "Your Majesty, Commander Lord Lan Gongliang of the Military Department seeks an audience."


    After a moment, a deep and authoritative voice sounded from within the study, bearing an unequivocal imperial command, "Admit him."


    Lord Lan, leading Shen Qing, entered the Imperial Study Room.


    The room was suffused with the scent of books, and in its center stood a dragon throne.


    Seated upon this throne was a middle-aged man in a dragon robe, his brows and eyes exuding a transcendent and extraordinary valor.


    None other than Ji Zikong, the Emperor of Great Zhou.


    He held an ancient scroll in his hands, his sword-like eyebrows and eagle eyes radiated an aura of decisiveness.


    Lord Lan took a step forward, bowed with folded hands, and declared firmly, "Your Majesty, your humble servant has fulfilled his duty and brought the person as instructed."


    "Ah, Lord Lan, is this the Shen Qing from the Jing Luan Assembly?" Emperor Ji Zikong''s voice resonated in the study.


    Shen Qing quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and tried to fathom what kind of person this Emperor of Great Zhou truly was.


    Emperor Ji Zikong''s gaze lingered on Shen Qing for a moment before he slightly smiled, as if seeing right through Shen Qing''s thoughts, "Oh? Shen Qing? Raise your head and let Us have a good look at you."


    Obediently, Shen Qing lifted his head to meet Emperor Ji Zikong''s gaze.


    A wave of imperial pressure descended on him.


    In a daze, Shen Qing felt as if he were stranded in a vast sea, with towering waves rising all around him, crashing down relentlessly.


    It was as though he was experiencing the ultimate terror of life and death.


    This cultivation was definitely beyond the Kongyou Realm.


    The man before him, the Emperor of Great Zhou, was an incomparably powerful being of the Unity Realm!

 Chapter 372 - 51: Ten Thousand Wish Power Pearls, Imperial Armory

    Atop the dragon chair in the Imperial Study Room, Emperor of Great Zhou, Ji Zikong, clad in his dragon robe, exuded authority tinged with a hint of unrestraint.


    The Emperor had reigned for over a hundred years and was at least a hundred or two hundred years old, yet Ji Zikong appeared very young, looking almost as if he were in his twenties or thirties.


    Only his eyes, which seemed to have weathered through ages, revealed a sense of twilight.


    As if he were making a joke with Shen Qing, Ji Zikong suddenly subdued his formidable aura, and with his deep, magnetic voice, he laughed heartily and said, "Indeed a talent."


    Shen Qing''s demeanor became even more humble, his expression even more submissive, too wary to make any sudden moves.


    Ji Zikong continued, "I am already aware of most of what transpired at the Jing Luan Assembly. According to the rules of the assembly, the achievements you''ve earned deserve great rewards! I ask you, do you desire anything else in your heart?"


    Shen Qing looked around at the people beside him, his gaze inadvertently falling on Lan Gongliang at his side.


    Lan Gongliang added, "This is an extra reward from His Majesty, if there''s something you want, just say it. As long as it''s not too excessive, His Majesty will fulfill it."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing fell into deep thought, recalling that he had heard about the Ji Clan owning the Imperial Armory while he was in Yongzhou.


    This armory, the Ji Clan had scoured the world for the essence of all Martial Mechanisms, confiscating them and investing a countless effort to build it. It was the ultimate place every martial master aspired to reach.


    Reportedly, the Martial Arts contained in the Imperial Armory were all of the highest techniques.


    Even the most inconspicuous one, when cultivated to the ultimate realm, could unleash overwhelming power enough to easily erase a city and cause mountains and rivers to change color.


    Such things inevitably captured one''s imagination.


    However, access to the Imperial Armory was extremely strict.


    According to the court''s regulations, only the noble sons of the Ji Family and high-ranking officials were allowed entry.


    All others were strictly forbidden.


    After considering for a while, Shen Qing tentatively said, "Your Majesty, when I practiced Martial Arts, I made a grand vow to one day peruse the finest Martial Techniques in the world, climb to the pinnacle of Martial Arts, and attain enlightenment. If Your Majesty permits, I wish to glimpse the Imperial Armory, to fulfill my long-cherished wish."


    Upon hearing this, Ji Zikong burst into hearty laughter, his voice booming so loudly it seemed to shake the roof tiles, "I did not expect you to be such a devotee of Martial Arts. I shall fulfill your wish! From today onwards, you may freely enter and exit the Imperial Armory."


    Shen Qing hadn''t expected Ji Zikong to agree so readily, "Thank you, Your Majesty."


    "Moreover, according to the rules of the Jing Luan Assembly, I will further grant you ten thousand Wish Power Pearls to aid your cultivation and appoint you as the Southern Chief Officer of the Military Department, hoping you will protect the peace and establish further merits!"


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing felt a surge of warmth in his heart.


    The Military Department of Great Zhou was divided into five regions: East, West, South, North, and Central.


    Yongzhou was part of the Southern region.


    He hadn''t expected that in just a few short years, he had already climbed to this position.


    The speed was startling.


    It was no wonder that those noble sons were so enthusiastic about the Jing Luan Assembly, striving to achieve results from it.


    And ten thousand Wish Power Pearls, at his current position, would require a hundred years of official salary to acquire.


    The thought alone was astonishing.


    Everything was going so smoothly that it felt almost unsettling.


    Yet, faced with the ironclad reality, Shen Qing knew this was not a dream.


    Shen Qing quickly knelt to express his gratitude, "Your Great Grace, Your Majesty, this humble servant shall do his utmost to meet Your Majesty''s expectations!"


    "Rise." Emperor Ji Zikong waved his hand and said, "Hereafter, you will serve in the Military Department''s government office in the Capital City, assisting Lord Lan with various affairs."


    "For the remaining handover matters, you can discuss them with Lord Lan. He is your direct superior and will surely settle you in well."


    "Yes, Your Majesty."


    Seeing Ji Zikong return to processing his decrees, Lan Gongliang and Shen Qing consciously exited the Imperial Study Room.


    Upon reaching the door of the Imperial Study Room, Shen Qing felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted, suddenly letting out a sigh of relief.


    In the Imperial Study Room just then, Ji Zikong''s presence was overwhelmingly strong.


    Just a slight display was enough to make him feel an immense pressure, as if he were carrying a mountain. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Let''s go," said Lan Gongliang, patting Shen Qing on the shoulder, "What are your plans now?"


    Shen Qing hadn''t expected the unremarkable middle-aged man before him to suddenly become his immediate superior, seemingly having known all along, as if he had preemptively won over people''s hearts for allegiance.


    Such deep and calculating schemes.


    He revealed his thoughts frankly, "I plan to take up my post first, settle down in the Capital, and then go back to Yongzhou to bring my family here."


    Lan Gongliang nodded, "That is indeed what should be done. The matters on the post are rather straightforward; should you have any uncertainties, you can always come to me. Your official appointment letter should be issued within three to five days; then you can take up your post directly with the document."


    Shen Qing clasped his hands together and said, "I understand."


    After speaking, Lan Gongliang did not linger in the palace, swiftly leaving with Shen Qing.


    The two exchanged pleasantries along the way, and after Lan Gongliang explained some of the unspoken rules of the Capital''s officialdom, they parted ways at the palace gates.


    As Lan Gongliang''s figure gradually disappeared at the end of his sight, Shen Qing paused slightly, his gaze lingering briefly on the palace gates behind him.


    Without further thought, he stepped directly into the bustling streets of the Capital.


    On both sides of the street, prosperity flourished like brocade, with the calls of various vendors rising and falling in succession.


    Children frolicked and played, the air filled with the enticing scent of wine and freshly baked bread.


    The street was full of life and festivity.


    The Capital had seventy-two districts in total, and each district''s main street was spacious enough to allow two carriages to drive side by side.


    Shen Qing wandered aimlessly along the street for a while, pondering inwardly. He vaguely remembered that Wu Sheng had a secret base in the Capital.


    The "Never Forget" skill activated.


    Soon, memories surged in his mind, and he quickly recalled the exact location of that base.


    Shen Qing weaved through the bustling crowd and arrived in front of an unremarkable-looking tavern.


    The tavern was doing brisk business, filled with guests.


    Shen Qing strode in and approached the shopkeeper, asking softly, "Do you have any wine and dishes from Yongzhou here?"


    The shopkeeper, who was tallying accounts, paused and replied, "We have donkey meat from Yongzhou, how much would you like?"


    "Three jin, six taels, and five qian."


    Hearing this, the shopkeeper''s eyes flickered slightly, then calmly led him towards the inner room, "This way, please."


    Inside the inner room, the lighting was dim.


    Light filtering through the window lattice fell on a familiar yet slightly weary face.


    It was Wu Sheng himself.


    He had just arrived from Yongzhou, his face still bearing the weariness of travel, appearing heavily burdened.


    Currently, Lord Shen was transferred to the Jing Luan Assembly, faced with great dangers, his life and death uncertain.


    Moreover, many restless individuals in the city sought to take over the Shen Family''s properties again.


    If Lord Shen were to fall in the Jing Luan, those from Yongzhou would surely swoop in to ravage their group into oblivion.


    Now, his fate tied with Shen Qing''s, his situation was honestly quite precarious.


    While he was lost in his thoughts, a knocking sound came from the door.


    "What is it?" Wu Sheng asked irritably.


    The shopkeeper at the door said, "Brother Wu, an acquaintance has come calling."


    The ''acquaintance'' mentioned by the shopkeeper referred to some of the noble sons in the Capital, exclusively dealing in businesses that couldn''t be exposed to daylight.


    Wu Sheng''s expression immediately turned serious, "Let him in."


    "Yes."


    With a creak,


    The mottled wooden door opened.

 Chapter 373 - 52 Yongzhou Incident

    Wu Sheng looked up and saw Shen Qing''s figure, his face full of astonishment as he stuttered, "Boss..."


    "You... weren''t you at the Jingluan Assembly?"


    Shen Qing strode in and casually said, "The Jingluan Assembly has already ended."


    "That means..." A trace of joy flashed in Wu Sheng''s eyes as he quickly got to his feet, excitedly saying, "Boss, you won at the Jingluan Assembly?"


    "Almost," Shen Qing replied calmly. "I should be staying in the Capital City from now on."


    Overjoyed, Wu Sheng''s eyes immediately lit up as he excitedly said, "Congratulations, Boss. Congratulations."


    "There''s nothing to congratulate, it was just good luck."


    Shen Qing walked up to the seat Wu Sheng had been sitting on and asked, "Has everything been alright in Yongzhou since I left?"


    He remembered that before he left, there were basically no threats left in Yongzhou.


    Whether it was the Zhou Family or the Sun Family, the big households had been mostly dealt with, leaving only those minor government officers and officials who couldn''t stir up much trouble.


    Wu Sheng became hesitant to speak.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing slightly furrowed his brow and asked, "What, did something happen?"


    Wu Sheng said, "Right after Boss left, a member of the Zhou Family arrived in Yongzhou City the next day."


    "A Zhou Family member? Who?" Shen Qing was puzzled.


    He remembered that the Zhou Family''s old ancestor had been killed by him, and most of the remaining members had not escaped. There shouldn''t be any survivors.


    How could there possibly be a Zhou Family member popping out from somewhere?


    "His name is Zhou Su," Wu Sheng explained. "He''s similar to me; he was sent by the Zhou Family to the Capital to establish connections. He has some roots in Capital City. It''s like he timed it perfectly; just after you left, he hurried back to Yongzhou."


    "Once back in Yongzhou, he joined forces with Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou''s men, trying to take back the Zhou Family''s properties. These days, they have been suppressing us, and our situation is not so good..."


    By the end of his speech, Wu Sheng''s gaze became somewhat evasive.


    Now that Shen Qing had passed the Jingluan Assembly, he had soared to a high position and entered the political arena; his future was boundless.


    Yet, with such a situation unfolding in Yongzhou, and him being far away in Capital City, it seemed somewhat "dishonorable."


    If it caused him to leave a poor impression in Shen Qing''s mind, it would truly be a loss.


    He felt annoyed within and couldn''t help but curse himself for why he hadn''t persevered a bit longer.


    Shen Qing glanced at him, fully aware of Wu Sheng''s thoughts, but he understood that nobody was perfect.


    Everyone has an instinct to seek fortune and avoid disaster, as long as there are no fundamental mistakes, the problem wasn''t too big.


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment and asked, "Does this Zhou Su have any substantial backing?"


    Wu Sheng thought and said, "It''s said that Zhou Su is quite close with Lord Xue of the Xue Family."


    "Lord Xue? Xue Bai?" Shen Qing expressed in surprise.


    Wu Sheng asked curiously, "Boss, you know him?"


    Shen Qing calmly stated, "Yes, I''ve met him. I''ve already killed him."


    "Ah? Killed!"


    Wu Sheng shrieked in surprise.


    He had never anticipated this outcome.


    Shen Qing killing even a member of the Shi family, the Xue Family?


    That''s fierce.


    "It''s no wonder I''ve been involved in so many issues with the Xue Family; it seems connected to this Zhou Su."


    Shen Qing didn''t believe in so many coincidences.


    Originally, he had planned to establish himself in Capital City before returning to Yongzhou, but now it seemed he needed to move up the timeline. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing rose from the bench and walked towards the door.


    "Boss, where are you going?"


    "Back to Yongzhou to handle some family matters," Shen Qing responded without looking back. "These next few days, find me a residence in Capital City."


    With that, Shen Qing stomped his foot, his body emitting a burst of rainbow light as he soared into the sky.


    He did not inquire about Zhou Su''s cultivation.


    In his view, if Zhou Su had high cultivation, he would not have waited until now.


    Zhou Family had been destroyed, and he had not appeared to the end, indicating that his cultivation would not be higher than the Innate Realm.


    Such a martial master was merely easy prey for Shen Qing at the moment.


    Some people are seeking death, so he couldn''t blame himself for their demise.


    Yongzhou.


    Zhou Family''s old courtyard.


    A group of officials in black robes and a group of men in various colorful brocades gathered together.


    The young man standing in front of them exuded an air of nobility.


    This person was none other than Zhou Su, a descendant of the Zhou Family.


    Having learned that he was listed on the Jing Luan Assembly by Shen Qing, he had prepared to return to Yongzhou to reclaim the Zhou Family''s properties.


    So, as soon as the Jing Luan Assembly began, Shen Qing had just left Yongzhou, and he entered right afterwards.


    Leveraging the reputation of the Xue Family and the remaining influence of his own family in Yongzhou, he easily gathered a group of supporters and took back the old Zhou courtyard on the same day.


    Subsequently, various other Zhou Family businesses fell into his hands smoothly.


    In the crowd, someone nervously said, "Zhou Family''s young master, are we really going to the Shen Mansion today?"


    "Otherwise?" Zhou Su snorted coldly, sounding annoyed.


    "But that''s the Shen Family after all, Shen Qing is too terrifying..." a young man stammered, "Do you think he will really die in the Jing Luan Assembly?"


    Zhou Su looked down on them contemptuously, "Look at the little spirit you guys have, no wonder you''re only branch family members. Let me tell you honestly, I''ve already secretly notified Lord Xue of the Xue Family. Their group includes several Innate Realm martial masters. Shen Qing won''t have a chance to escape."


    "Besides, do you think the Jing Luan Assembly is so easy to get through?" Zhou Su continued with a cold huff, "This time, the Capital Families have placed heavy bets, including Spirit Void Realm Guardians. Even if Shen Qing narrowly escapes the Xue Family''s kill, with his immense talent, he will still find it extremely difficult to survive the Jing Luan Assembly, he''s doomed for sure."


    The crowd''s expressions became excited as they heard this, many of them being branch members of various major families in Yongzhou. After their main families were destroyed by Shen Qing, they had been living cautiously, afraid to stir up trouble.


    Each of them felt frustrated and stifled inside.


    "I just want to ask you, are you really willing to do it?" Zhou Su swept his sharp gaze over them and said coldly.


    "Let''s do it! I don''t believe that Shen Qing can still turn the heaven! He won''t escape this Jing Luan Assembly!"


    "Yes, I''m in."


    "Count me in too!"


    ...


    Soon, many people continuously responded.


    Zhou Su finally felt satisfied upon seeing this scene.


    Alone, he was weak, but rallying these people might be beneficial.


    The glory of the Zhou Family might be re-established by his hands.


    "Good. With everyone''s help, that damned Shen Family will undoubtedly fall to us."


    Zhou Su shouted loudly, "For safety, gentlemen, I''ve specially invited an Innate Master from the Tie Gang of the Capital to guard us here. Senior Lin! Come out and meet everyone."


    As he finished speaking, a burly man as large as a mountain walked out from the side hall, exuding an immense sense of oppression.


    The attendees were all shocked and couldn''t help but step back.


    Senior Lin, the Tie Gang''s strong man, looked down at the crowd and said, "Let''s make it clear beforehand, the payment you offered is only enough for me to take action three times. If you want more from me, you''ll need to pay extra."


    "I, Zhou Family, always keep our promises; we''ll handle it according to the rules. With so many people here, even if I can''t afford it, everyone can chip in enough for Senior to act several more times."


    "Ha ha, that''s also true. Let''s not waste time then."


    Zhou Su nodded, "Over the years, we''ve managed to snatch some manageable properties, but the remaining ones are tough. Let''s deal with that Shen Family first. Have the city gates been secured to prevent them from escaping?"


    A few officials in black robes replied, "You can rest assured, I''ve already given a heads up to the brothers guarding the city gates."


    "Good, let''s not delay any further, let''s set off. Go!"

 Chapter 374 - 53: Someone Doesnt Know Good from Bad

    Shen Mansion was enshrouded in an invisible gloom, the air filled with an aura of stern killing.


    Every person in the mansion could not help but feel unease in their minds.


    Auntie Wang and elder sister Shen Fang sat side by side in the hall, with a lively maid standing next to them; the three frequently glanced at the solitary figure outside the door.


    Shen the Second was sitting on the threshold like a farmer at this moment.


    He held a dry tobacco pipe tightly in his hands, drawing on it with a clattering noise that sounded particularly grating, betraying an air of irritation.


    After a while, the mansion''s main gate opened.


    With a burst of hurried footsteps, Shen Xiaoshan, Tian Xiaohu, and Zhang Shuyuan rushed in quickly.


    Following that, they almost simultaneously turned around and shut the gate tightly, their movements extremely fast.


    With a "clack," the bolt was secured.


    Shen Xiaoshan and Tian Xiaoshu finally felt some sense of security.


    Shen the Second suddenly stood up, his pipe still dangling from his mouth, and hurried over, staring intently at the two and asked, "How is the situation?" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tian Xiaohu''s face was so somber it looked like it might drip water. He said in a low voice, "The city gates... have secretly been allowed passage, our people can''t get out at all. That Zhou fellow, I don''t know when, but he''s gathered quite a force. The situation... is not optimistic."


    Shen Xiaoshan chimed in, "Everyone outside is saying that Brother Qingzi is dead."


    "That can''t be, Qingzi has come so far, he won''t die so easily," Shen the Second firmly denied.


    Zhang Shuyuan spoke up, "We are certain that the Boss won''t die, but the people outside don''t believe it. The problem lies here now; many have turned and betrayed us."


    Upon hearing this, Shen the Second''s expression turned even uglier, and he fell silent.


    Before leaving, Shen Qing had instructed them to evacuate early.


    They had also been prepared to evacuate, but what they didn''t expect was that these people moved faster than they did.


    In the short time after Shen Qing''s departure, they began to act, which led to major changes in the situation within the city. They found themselves unable to cope, and even if they wanted to leave, they couldn''t.


    Their situation had suddenly taken a serious downturn.


    Seeing this, Tian Xiaohu hurriedly consoled, "However, everyone, don''t worry. I''ve already sent Xiao Zhi on a fast horse to contact Chen Guang and Ji Youwu. They''re all from the Guardian Martial Department; the Boss has been kind to them. With them by our side, we should be able to fight for a chance at survival."


    "Mhm."


    Shen the Second was just an ordinary hunter, and with his "bone" grown old, he had no way to deal with this situation; he could only hope that others would.


    Zhang Shuyuan advised, "At this time, we must keep our composure, there might still be a chance for survival. After all, there''s no firm news of the lord''s life or death; we can use this as a starting point to convince them not to act rashly."


    "Hard to say, looking at those people, I''m afraid it won''t end well today."


    Time ticked away bit by bit.


    Gradually, footsteps approached from outside, and someone knocked on the Shen Mansion''s gate.


    Tian Xiaohu and the others were jolted alert.


    "It''s me!"


    "Xiao Zhi?!"


    Tian Xiaohu lifted the bolt, opening just a crack in the gate and peered out.


    Apart from Xiao Zhi at the doorway, there were only Chen Guang, Ji Youwu, and a few others.


    He asked in astonishment, "Where are the others?"


    "They all say they''re busied with government affairs, that this doesn''t concern them, and are unwilling to come," Xiao Zhi sighed.


    Tian Xiaohu understood; this was just an excuse from those people.


    Seeing that Shen Qing''s situation was more perilous than lucky, they did not want to wade into these troubled waters and preferred to protect their own interests.


    At that moment, Tian Xiaohu truly realized what it meant when they say "out of sight, out of mind."


    "Come on in, all of you!"


    One by one, Xiao Zhi and the others nodded and stepped heavily into the mansion.


    Tian Xiaohu raised his hand to slide the heavy bolt back into its seat in the threshold with a "clang," fastening the door shut precisely and securely.


    "Ladies and gentlemen," Xiao Zhi took two steps, stopped, and solemnly said to Tian Xiaohu and the others, "I''ve just learned some information moments ago; I''m afraid our situation has become even more troublesome."


    "What''s going on?" Everyone clustered around in unison, their gaze filled with anxiety and unease.


    "I found out that Zhou Su has not only gathered a large group of people but has also secretly enlisted the aid of a martial master from the Innate Realm."


    "What?!" Tian Xiaohu and the others exclaimed almost in unison, their voices mixed with disbelief and terror. Their hearts felt as if they were being mercilessly clenched by an invisible hand, plummeting into the abyss.


    Xiao Zhi''s words were like ice, instantly freezing the atmosphere within the room.


    Now the place was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.


    To them, a martial master of the Innate Realm was a supremely exalted figure, someone of unfathomable strength, who could overturn life and death with a mere gesture.


    Facing such an entity, they felt as insignificant and powerless as ants trying to shake a tree.


    "Let''s go inside and talk," Zhang Shuyuan, not too familiar with martial arts matters, could see from everyone''s looks that things were not good; his deeply wrinkled face showed an added burden of concern.


    Without further words, they gathered in the main hall.


    One by one, they unconsciously gripped their dagger handles tighter, their knuckles whitening from the force.


    Auntie and others close to Shen Qing had their faces even more tightly drawn, as if they were standing at a crossroads of fate, with a vast uncertainty ahead and no way back.


    For a moment, the main hall fell into a deathly silence. The heavy atmosphere, like an invisible boulder, pressed upon everyone''s nerves, rendering them breathless.


    Only the occasional sound of wind passing through the windows offered a slight moment of respite for everyone''s tense minds.


    "Although the people we are facing are strong," Tian Xiaohu struggled to swallow, his voice hoarse, "we must not sit here and wait for death."


    "Indeed, even if we must die, we''ll take someone down with us."


    Just when the tension had peaked, a sudden disturbance came from the courtyard: footsteps, as if someone had unexpectedly appeared.


    "What''s happening?"


    Everyone''s nerves instantly tensed to the limit, their weapons nearly unsheathing on their own.


    Ji Youwu and Chen Guang, standing on the outskirts, exchanged glances, perplexed.


    "Let''s go. Let''s check it out."


    In a flash.


    The two, as if on cue, drew their daggers and cautiously made their way into the courtyard.


    When they reached the courtyard and saw the figure there, they stood stock-still, dumbfounded.


    Behind them, Tian Xiaohu and the others, seeing the abnormal reaction, rushed over hastily, thinking they faced grave danger.


    But when they saw the figure in the courtyard, they too were disbelieving, their eyes wide and filled with shock.


    It was none other than Shen Qing himself, who had traveled from the Capital City.


    Shen Qing, looking at the dumbstruck Tian Xiaohu and the others, asked, "Why are you all staring at me like that?"


    Shen Xiaoshan swallowed hard, blurting out, "Brother Qingzi, they all said you were dead!"


    "Not dead, very much alive," said Shen Qing with his hands behind his back, heading for the hall. He glanced at Zhang Shuyuan and commanded, "It''s time for a meal, prepare a banquet!"


    Zhang Shuyuan was puzzled.


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "I''ve heard already. It seems we''ll have quite a few people coming over soon to welcom me back, and we must play host, right?"


    "Yes, yes, yes, I will have the servants prepare immediately."


    Zhang Shuyuan hurriedly said and dashed towards the kitchen without a moment''s delay.


    However, no sooner had he left when footsteps and a pounding on the Mansion''s front gate could be heard.


    Boom, boom, boom!


    "Ah..." Shen Qing sighed helplessly, "It seems someone doesn''t appreciate the favor and doesn''t want to eat this meal."


    Bang!


    The front gate shattered into pieces under a tremendous force...

 Chapter 375 - 54 Who gave you the courage to be my enemy?

    Wood shavings flew in all directions, and dust billowed up.


    The sudden commotion drew everyone''s attention.


    Tian Xiaohu and his companions looked over to see a group of people dressed in brocade filing in through the gates.


    Their faces were filled with arrogance and haughtiness.


    Seeing the situation, Tian Xiaohu and the others quickly stepped forward, chastising, "Who dares to intrude into Shen Mansion so brazenly? Don''t you know what this place is?"


    The intruders acted as if deaf, naturally splitting into two sides like a tide to create a wide passage.


    Then, two figures walked out unhurriedly through this aisle.


    The one at the back was particularly burly, almost filling the path that the others had made, much like a small mountain.


    These two were none other than Zhou Su and Tie Gang Lin Heng.


    The leader, Zhou Su, slowly raised his hand and waved it slightly, and the people behind him immediately fell silent, "Of course, we know where we are, otherwise why do you think we would come here?"


    As he spoke, his hands resting behind his back, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, "When your lord killed people from our families, he should have anticipated this day. Be sensible, surrender without a fight, and you might keep your bodies intact. Otherwise, we will slaughter your entire family, leaving not even the chickens or dogs alive!"


    "You say you''re going to slaughter my entire family, not sparing even the chickens or dogs?"


    Shen Qing couldn''t stand still any longer upon hearing this. He strode out from the main hall, staring at Zhou Su with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    Upon his appearance, the complexion of some people present changed abruptly.


    The deeds Shen Qing had done in Yongzhou were well-known, and his appearance had spread far in Yongzhou, seen by many.


    Now, someone recognized him, and an involuntary gasp ripped through the crowd.


    Fear, confusion, and shock mixed, creating a noisy confusion of emotions.


    "Shen Qing... he''s actually still alive! Weren''t you saying he was doomed to die at the Jing Luan Assembly, destined for the netherworld?"


    A trembling voice rose from the crowd, filled with disbelief.


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Su''s gaze fiercely shifted toward Shen Qing.


    He had never personally witnessed this face before, and a bad premonition surged through his heart.


    In almost a whisper, he asked someone next to him in a low voice, "He... he is Shen Qing?"


    After receiving a confirming nod from his companion, Zhou Su felt as if his mind had exploded, as if the entire world were collapsing at that very instant.


    His heartbeat quickened, his thoughts were in disarray, and for a brief moment, he didn''t know what to do.


    How could this be?


    Zhou Su couldn''t understand why Shen Qing was alive.


    That was the Jing Luan Assembly, where barely one in ten could survive!


    What were all those guards from the Xue Family, and the noble sons from the Capital Families doing? Couldn''t the Chief Officer of one place take him down?


    The more Zhou Su thought, the more terrified he became.


    But the reality was right in front of him, undeniable.


    He couldn''t help but swallow, the arrogance with which he had entered now gone, his entire body deflating.


    If Shen Qing had indeed survived the Jing Luan Assembly, then one thing was beyond doubt¡ªhis strength must be unfathomable, far surpassing theirs.


    Had he come here seeking death?


    Anxiety prickled at Zhou Su''s heart, a foreboding feeling setting in. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What should we do?" someone nearby inquired in a low voice.


    What should we do?


    Who the hell knows what to do?


    Everything Zhou Su had done was based on the assumption that Shen Qing was dead following the Jing Luan Assembly.


    Now that he was alive and had walked out, all that Zhou Su had done had painted him into a corner.


    Faced with Shen Qing''s question, Zhou Su didn''t know whether to respond or to remain silent. Like a man suffering constipation, his face turned beet-red, his mouth moved continuously, yet he uttered not a single word.


    Lin Heng from Tie Gang glanced at Zhou Su, seeing his indecisive state and growing impatient, finding his actions far too irresolute.


    He knew very little about Shen Qing.


    In his eyes, Shen Qing was merely from a county town. Given that the Ji Family had monopolized the Martial Mechanisms, how powerful could someone from a place so far from the Capital City be?


    Tie Gang Lin Heng took the initiative and directly slapped Zhou Su aside. His towering figure squeezed to the front, and turning his head, he said to Zhou Su with a grin, "It doesn''t matter if he''s Zhang Qing or Li Qing, I can handle it for you. But... it''ll cost you more!"


    Zhou Su, as if clutching at his last lifeline, asked, "How much more?"


    "Half of what you''ve earned from behind the scenes in Yongzhou!"


    Zhou Su''s expression twitched.


    If he could eliminate Shen Qing and take control of Yongzhou''s industry, the profits would be substantial, comparable to that of a minor noble family. Lin Heng''s demand for half was truly exorbitant.


    Unfortunately, at this point, he didn''t have much choice.


    If today he made one misstep and lost everything, nothing would be left to him.


    Compared to this, retaining half could actually be considered a good outcome.


    Of the two evils, he chose the lesser.


    Zhou Su gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I agree!"


    "Deal!" Tie Gang Lin Heng tilted his neck and advanced step by step towards Shen Qing.


    He fixed his gaze on Shen Qing, scanned him from head to toe, and with a threatening smile said, "I am Tie Gang Lin Heng, here to take your life today. I hope in your next life you''ll be reborn into good fortune and avoid troublemakers like me."


    Before his words had even faded, Lin Heng charged towards Shen Qing with his colossal figure, like a wall, and threw a punch with the momentum of toppling mountains and overturning seas!


    However, the anticipated scene of Shen Qing being blown away and spitting blood did not happen.


    Shen Qing remained motionless, simply raising his hand gently, and firmly caught Lin Heng''s fist, strong enough to crush stones and split metal.


    Boom!


    A gust of wind exploded between the two of them.


    It spread outward in all directions, radiating from where they stood.


    The crowd in the courtyard couldn''t help but stagger backward several steps.


    Fine cracks appeared on the shadow wall and the roof tiles, making a crisp cracking sound.


    Tie Gang Lin Heng felt as though his hands were clamped down mercilessly, unable to move.


    His eyes showed a hint of shock and suddenly widened.


    He noticed that Shen Qing''s posture was as solid as a rock, without a hint of movement from beginning to end.


    Shen Qing''s lips curled into a smile, and with a bit of strength, he sent Lin Heng''s fist rebounding back.


    At the same time, his other hand formed seals with a single hand, and under everyone''s gaze, he rapidly struck, creating afterimages on Lin Heng''s body.


    Spiritual Power around him transformed into intense beams of energy, effortlessly penetrating through Lin Heng''s Protective Gang Qi and straight into his flesh and blood.


    "Your Qi-Blood is impure and chaotic, your strength is lax, your steps are disorderly, your perception slow ¨C your punch is like child''s play, utterly devoid of might. With such poor cultivation, you delude yourself into taking my life, Shen Qing? Who gave you the audacity to stand against me?!" Shen Qing spoke swiftly as he struck, each word hammering down on Lin Heng''s heart, turning his face instantly pale.


    He had never expected his full-force strike to be so easily neutralized by Shen Qing, nor had he anticipated Shen Qing''s strength to be so terrifying.


    "Die!"


    Shen Qing''s hand condensed with Spiritual Power.


    With a pfft sound!


    "Ah..."


    Tie Gang Lin Heng screamed, his chest exploded with a hole larg§Ö enough to fit an arm through, and his life force was continuously drained away by Shen Qing''s fingers.


    Tie Gang Lin Heng numbly looked down at the wound, realizing he had been careless today and provoked a force he should not have.


    Shen Qing''s hands formed a seal, and he pressed down with the Sky Flipping Seal.


    With a boom, all of Lin Heng''s vitality was extinguished.


    His body stiffened and then fell backward onto the ground, life completely extinguished.


    In an instant, the courtyard fell silent as a grave.

 Chapter 376 - 55: Since its here, settle it down

    Died?!


    An Innate Martial Master died just like that?!


    Just like a dog no less.


    The scene that unfolded in the courtyard shocked everyone.


    Those with some insight recognized that Shen Qing was even stronger than before.


    Under the intense visual stimulus, those who had rushed in with a menacing air now stood wilted, like frostbitten eggplants.


    Particularly, the leader Zhou Su''s face grew even uglier.


    Shen Qing glanced at the corpse of Tie Gang Lin Heng on the ground with a snort of disdain.


    This man had practiced "hard skill" and taken a wrong path in his training.


    Having developed such a bulky body at a great cost, his muscles appeared more of a burden than an asset.


    He must have used Elixirs to maintain his Qi-Blood and resorted to unusual methods to break through, resulting in a state that was "good-looking but useless."


    Otherwise, an Innate Martial Master wouldn''t have been killed by Shen Qing so easily.


    That''s good. The man had blundered in; using him as a scarecrow to intimidate others was suitable indeed.


    A faint smile hung on Shen Qing''s face as he stepped over Lin Heng''s body and stood before Zhou Su and the rest, saying, "What was it that you came for just now?"


    "Oh, right, you seemed to have come... to ''visit'' me? However, this manner of ''visiting'' is quite unique, isn''t it? Was it to kill my entire family, perhaps?"


    As he finished speaking, an indescribable oppressive aura burst forth from within him, causing everyone present to shiver uncontrollably.


    The cowards in the crowd grew weak in the knees, their eyes flickering, as they began to back away uncontrollably, the thought of escape growing wildly in their minds like weeds.


    Zhou Su''s face was pale, with beads of sweat on his forehead, as he tried to maintain composure, "Chief Officer Shen, this is a misunderstanding, a pure misunderstanding! We..."


    "Misunderstanding? I don''t think so. Had I not been here, would you really have wiped out my entire family?" said Shen Qing indifferently. "Since you''re here, settle in. I''ve prepared a feast today; I think it''s best if you all stay for the meal."


    "Ah!"


    Someone finally couldn''t bear the invisible pressure, and on the verge of collapsing, let out a hysterical scream, turning to flee.


    Shen Qing snorted coldly.


    His hand quickly stroked the Brocade Bag tied to his waist, and a flash of brilliance suddenly erupted.


    Instantly, a treasure bow quietly appeared in his palm.


    Shen Qing snorted again as he stretched out his arm and drew the bowstring.


    He channeled his Spiritual Power, using the Heavenly Bow Technique, to condense the power into an arrow.


    Whoosh!


    An arrow was launched.


    A bright and dazzling light burst forth momentarily, as if a sun had risen slowly in the courtyard, then dimmed to nothing.


    After the light had faded, everything returned to silence.


    Looking around, the ground was covered in fresh blood like blooming red spider lilies, staining every inch of soil, with corpses lying about in disarray.


    Zhou Su, who had seemed invincible just moments ago, had been utterly disintegrated by Shen Qing''s arrow.


    His large head, with eyes still wide, showed he had died with grievances.


    His ambitions had ended before they could even begin.


    After doing all this, Shen Qing slipped the treasure bow back into his Brocade Bag.


    The brilliant light showed again.


    The large treasure bow was stored back into his Hundred Treasure Pouch.


    "A rabble of nobodies."


    Shen Qing turned and no longer looked at the stained traces in the courtyard as he walked toward the main hall.


    As he brushed past Tian Xiaohu and others, he casually ordered, "Have someone clean up these useless things in the courtyard; having the entrance looking so dirty really isn''t proper."


    Tian Xiaohu and others, as if waking from a dream, rapidly agreed.


    Shen Qing strode in, heading straight for the main hall.


    The moment he stepped over the threshold of the main hall, Uncle Shen the Second, Big Sister, and the others, as if drawn by an invisible thread, crowded around with eyes flashing with anxiety and anticipation, asking in unison, "What''s happening outside?"


    Shen Qing let out a gentle breath and smiled, "Some uninvited guests came, but I took care of them."


    "Took care of them?" Hearing this, Uncle Shen the Second and the others could not help but show a trace of confusion on their faces. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They knew very little about the events outside and did not catch the implied meaning in Shen Qing''s words.


    Seeing their reaction, Shen Qing had no intention of explaining.


    He sat down in the main chair of the hall, casually took a teapot, drunk a few sips against his mouth, and put down the teapot, saying, "Speaking of which, I have some good news to tell uncle and aunt."


    "What good news?" His uncle and aunt were piqued by his words, casting curious glances at Shen Qing.


    "I''ve seen Xiao Hu."


    Shen Qing''s words struck Uncle and Aunt like a thunderclap.


    Huge waves surged instantly in their hearts, and their eyes shimmered with disbelief.


    Auntie from the Wang Family was so excited that her hands trembled slightly. Almost instinctively, she stepped forward, tightly grasped Shen Qing''s arm, and said with a voice tinged with eagerness and disbelief, "Is...is what you''re saying true?"


    Shen Qing gently patted the back of her hand and confirmed, "Of course it''s true, auntie. When we parted, he even gifted me a Spirit Mirror, which we can use to contact him. Wait a moment, and I''ll show you."


    As he spoke, Shen Qing activated his Spiritual Power, formed a Spell with his fingers and took out a plain-looking but faintly glowing mirror from his Hundred Treasure Pouch at his waist.


    Upon seeing the mirror, Uncle Shen the Second''s gaze froze, and he exclaimed in shock, "This... Isn''t this the mirror I gave auntie all those years ago?"


    An ordinary mirror?


    Was it just an ordinary mirror that Shen Xiaohu had managed to transform to such an extent?


    Was the Huang Tian Sect''s strength so formidable?


    Shen Qing was stunned, somewhat surprised.


    "May I take a look?"


    Shen Qing nodded and handed the mirror to Uncle Shen the Second.


    Uncle Shen the Second took the mirror, gently caressing its surface, examining it closely.


    Besides the newly added patterns that twinkled with strange light, the rest of the mirror was no different from the one he had given to auntie.


    Even the cracks and chips were identical.


    The familiar yet foreign touch brought a complex mix of flavors to his heart.


    At this moment, Uncle Shen the Second was somewhat convinced by what Shen Qing had said.


    Auntie from the Wang Family was, by then, teary-eyed and blurred.


    She covered her mouth tightly, for fear of crying out loud, but the tears still fell like broken pearls, rolling down continuously.


    She choked out, "Thank the heavens, Xiao Hu is alright, it''s really great."


    Uncle Shen the Second handed the mirror back to Shen Qing and asked, "Where is he now?"


    "At the Huang Tian Sect."


    "Ah... But doesn''t that make him a traitor?"


    Upon learning this, the joy in Uncle Shen the Second''s heart was immediately halved.


    Shen Qing reassured, "It''s not a problem. I saw that Xiao Hu is doing well there, and being alive is what matters most. There will always be a solution in the future."


    Uncle Shen the Second seemed to age many years all at once, sighing, "Ah..."


    "By the way, besides Xiao Hu''s matter, there''s something else I need to mention."


    "What''s that?" Big Sister Shen Fang asked curiously.


    Shen Qing said, "We''ll be heading to the Capital City soon. I''ll be taking up a post there."


    "Qingzi, you''re no longer the Chief Officer of Yongzhou?"


    "Yes, His Majesty has appointed me as the General of the Southern Military Department."


    "His Majesty?" Hearing this, Uncle Shen the Second was visibly surprised.


    In fact, not just him, Big Sister Shen Fang, Auntie from the Wang Family, and Shen Xiaoshan were all equally astonished.


    In their eyes, the current His Majesty was an exalted sovereign, and the fact that their nephew could be summoned by His Majesty was a sign of great promise, far beyond their expectations.

 Chapter 377 - 56: Jianghu is Not About Fighting and Killing

    Shen Mansion, in the main hall.


    Surrounded by his family members, including his uncle Shen the Second, Shen Qing discussed the events that had happened recently.


    In particular, his aunt from the Wang Family was incessantly inquiring about Shen Xiaohu''s experiences.


    When they heard that this once inexperienced Shen Xiaohu had vaguely become the leader of the traitors, everyone in the room felt a mix of emotions and didn''t know what to say.


    Shen Qing was not surprised by this.


    In fact, not just them, even Shen Qing was quite astonished when he learned about Shen Xiaohu''s experiences.


    Since the end of the Jing Luan Assembly, Shen Qing often communicated with this cousin in the Spirit Communication Realm and got to know about Shen Xiaohu''s experiences in the Huang Tian Sect.


    One could only say that looks can be deceiving, and the depth of the sea unfathomable.


    Shen Xiaohu''s fate was remarkable; they had misjudged him before.


    After a while, most of the traces in the courtyard had quietly been erased, leaving only faint dark-red marks on the ground.


    If it weren''t for the people inside, no one could tell that a bloody scene had just taken place here.


    Tian Xiaohu and Ji Youwu, among others, approached Shen Qing with serious expressions, "Boss, besides those we killed just now, there have been others in the city involved these days. They have ties with Zhou Su and are itching to make a move, attempting to take advantage of the situation. Should we also..."


    As he spoke, Tian Xiaohu made a throat-slitting gesture.


    Shen Qing gently stroked the teapot he was holding and said noncommittally, "There''s no rush, we''ll talk about this later."


    Seeing this, Tian Xiaohu and the others didn''t say much more.


    However, what they hadn''t expected was that as they were discussing this matter, a group of people had quietly gathered outside the Shen Family''s door.


    Moreover, from the end of the road, more figures were continuously arriving, flooding towards the Shen Mansion like a tide, the scene was spectacular.


    "Excuse me, is this Lord Shen Qing''s residence? We have come specially to visit, hearing of your reputation." A trembling elder with a cane stepped forward and asked the Shen Family''s servant at the door.


    "Yes, yes, us too. We heard that Lord Shen Qing has returned, so we came today to see him," added a young man in brocade clothes next to him.


    Seeing this, the Shen Family''s servants were visibly troubled and frantically tried to keep order, but they were somewhat overwhelmed by the number of people.


    Finally, a clever-looking servant hurried through the crowd, burst into the house, and while running, shouted, "Master, it''s terrible, many people have come outside saying they want to see you; we simply can''t stop them!"


    "You see, Jianghu isn''t just about fighting; it''s about human relations. Fighting is just a means; instilling fear is the outcome," Shen Qing said to Tian Xiaohu and the others with a smile inside the house.


    Tian Xiaohu and the others appeared contemplative.


    Shen Qing continued, "Are all these people saying they are here to visit me?"


    The servant gasped for breath and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Master, more and more people are gathering outside, and we really don''t know what to do."


    "Do you want me to go and drive them away?" asked Xiao Zhi.


    As a martial master close to Qi Cultivation, dealing with these common people would be incredibly easy for Xiao Zhi, practically effortless.


    "No need!" Shen Qing''s lips curled into a playful smile, "Let them in. I want to see what these people are really here for."


    With that, he stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked out of the house with long strides, ready to meet this sudden "visitation wave."


    Under his orders, a swarm of people crowded into the courtyard.


    Standing outside the main hall, Shen Qing looked around¡ªthese people were all unfamiliar faces.


    Whether dressed in splendid attire or with anxious expressions, they invariably carried heavy gift boxes, hustling along.


    "Lord Shen, we heard that you returned safely from the Jing Luan Assembly, and we were so happy that we took the liberty of coming here to congratulate you; I hope you don''t mind," said an elegantly dressed elder with a smile, his words revealing a hint of trepidation and curiosity.


    He continually gauged Shen Qing, trying to read his reactions.


    Shen Qing smiled and replied, "There''s nothing to blame; fellow villagers and elders remembering me is my honor."


    Upon hearing this, everyone felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted and they collectively breathed a sigh of relief.


    The elderly man continued sincerely, "Lord Shen, we are at fault."


    Saying this, he immediately knelt down, hands holding a heavy gift, "I must confess, we have had some dealings with Zhou Su recently. Today, hearing that he intended to commit misdeeds in Yongzhou, we were shocked. We have come today to apologize and ask for your forgiveness, hoping you will show mercy and not blame us."


    Shen Qing, with his sharp eyesight, scanned the guests in front of him, each harboring their own thoughts, and couldn''t help but smile knowingly, fully aware of what these people were really thinking.


    He chose not to point it out directly.


    It wouldn''t be long before he was to take up his post in the Capital City, so Yongzhou was just a temporary stopover for him.


    Killing too many people would not serve him well.


    After several upheavals, the population of Yongzhou had significantly decreased, hence it was also not suitable to continue a large-scale slaughter over there.


    To Shen Qing, it seemed that those who needed to be killed had mostly been dealt with.


    With a slight smile, Shen Qing said, "I''m relieved to see that you have this intention. Let bygones be bygones. In the future, I hope you will think carefully before acting, not letting short-term benefits blind your eyes and offending people you shouldn''t, drawing disasters upon yourselves."


    As he finished these words, everyone present felt the chilling intention to kill emanating from him.


    These people trembled inwardly, not daring to be presumptuous anymore; their attitudes became even more respectful.


    The leading elder hurriedly said, "Thank you for your mercy, Lord Shen. We will definitely serve you well in the future."


    With that, he turned his head to signal, and one by one, others promptly presented the gifts they had brought.


    Shen Qing raised his hand, gesturing for the servants to accept the gifts one by one.


    Seeing that Shen Qing didn''t refuse them, they all felt relieved and showed expressions of joy, bidding their farewells and leaving behind gifts as numerous as a small mountain.


    "Get these things sorted out and make sure to register them," Shen Qing instructed Zhang Shuyuan. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having said that, he no longer bothered with these details and went back inside the house.


    In his view, the people of Yongzhou were all very shrewd, well-understanding the benefits of seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster, aligning well with his wishes and saving him a lot of trouble.


    Having just arranged the evening banquet, Zhang Shuyuan immediately went on to register the gifts nonstop.


    Fortunately, according to Yongzhou''s traditions, the heavy gifts that came with their business seals attached spared Zhang Shuyuan a lot of trouble.


    After some inventory checking, Zhang Shuyuan found that the gifts received could match half a year''s income of the Shen Family''s property.


    Most of the notable people from Yongzhou had come.


    The influence of Shen Qing in Yongzhou was evident; he was in an unassailable position.

 Chapter 378 - 57 Cultivating the Ancient Spirit Essence, Frontline News

    ```


    After dealing with a pile of trivial matters, Shen Qing declined the invitations from his subordinates and conversed with a few confidants before starting his daily routine of intense cultivation.


    This was a habit he had maintained for a long time, even amidst the Jing Luan Assembly.


    Late at night, the moon was bright and stars sparse.


    Everything was silent in Yongzhou City. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the backyard of the Shen Mansion, Shen Qing sat cross-legged on his bed, hands gently open, facing the bright moonlight.


    He constantly practiced breathing techniques, involving a special rhythm, his breathing appearing deep and prolonged.


    With each breath, wisps of white mist emanated from Shen Qing''s nose and mouth, so dense they seemed almost tangible, flickering with a faint silver sheen under the weak moonlight, appearing quite unusual.


    As his cultivation progressed, gradually his body seemed to be enveloped by a layer of flowing radiance. Beneath this radiance, his body appeared as if it were cast from bronze, lending him an aura of transcendence.


    Through many years of training and study, Shen Qing had already developed a very clear understanding of Martial Arts.


    In today''s world, an ordinary person begins by refining Qi-Blood, moves on to stretching and strengthening, Skin Tempering and Qi Cultivation, before breaking through to the Transcendent, condensing a Qi Sea, reaching the Qi Hai Realm.


    From the Qi Hai Realm onwards, the cultivation journey becomes vastly different, focusing on spiritual energy cultivation, progressing through the Yu Luo Realm, Dan Realm, Spirit Void Realm, Primordial Spirit Realm, Kongyou Realm, until reaching the Unity Realm, achieving the highest state.


    Each step of cultivation here is as hard as climbing to the heavens for ordinary martial masters, lacking none of perseverance, opportunity, Sight, and enlightenment.


    Now, Shen Qing, relying on the Water Ink Panel, has barrelled forward all the way to the Spirit Void Realm.


    At this step, he is almost halfway onto the doorstep of the Immortal Martial path.


    If all goes well, he could then use his body''s spiritual power to condense a primordial spirit, thereby breaking free from the constraints of the flesh, casting a Primordial Spirit Avatar, truly making a name for his martial practice, shedding all vulgarity.


    Further ahead, he would become a Kongyou Great Power, merging with heaven and earth, traveling unimpeded, free from material bonds, nearly an Immortal.


    At Shen Qing''s current pace of cultivation, without external power aiding, reaching this stage would require at least ten years or even longer.


    As for the final stage of Martial Arts in this realm, the Unity Realm, it requires time measured in decades.


    Among the millions in the Great Zhou, only the ancestor of the Ji Family and the current Majesty Ji Zikong have achieved the Unity Realm.


    Aside from these two, no third person exists.


    Unfortunately, up to now, no one has ever witnessed either of them in action.


    To what extent the Unity Realm reaches, no one knows.


    But there''s no doubt, these two are much stronger than those in the Kongyou Realm and Primordial Spirit Realm.


    Thus, from another perspective, with the chaos in the south of Great Zhou, demons rampant, rebels rampant, it seems like Ji Zikong and others are intentionally indulging it, as if purposely wearing down the martial masters of the world.


    The Jingluan Assembly is likewise.


    But why they are doing this, the underlying reasons, Shen Qing knows very little and has yet no way to understand.


    Shen Qing exhaled a breath of turbid air and turned his attention to the brocade bag at his waist, taking it off and placing it in front of him.


    This brocade bag was a treasure given by Lan Gongliang, capable of holding many items, quite mystical.


    Shen Qing looked down to see the Hundred Treasure Pouch glimmering with a faint spiritual light, like the brightest star in the night sky.


    He gently raised his fingertip, a stream of pure spiritual energy trickled out from within him, wrapped like a fine thread around the intricate patterns on the bag''s mouth.


    Under the continuous permeation of spiritual energy, the surface of the Hundred Treasure Bag suddenly rippled in delicate waves, like light breezes brushing across a calm lake, forming an existence akin to a "gate."


    This "gate" seemed originally to have some form of restriction but had long lost its effect over time.


    Upon sensing Shen Qing''s spiritual energy aura, the gate opened wide, revealing a peculiar space, approximately several square meters in size, yet seemingly connected to another dimension, with light sparkling inside.


    Inside lay many sundry items¡ªWish Power Pearls, treasure bows, Weapons, secret books, and various precious Spiritual Materials and Elixirs.


    Shen Qing did not pick them one by one, rather focused on a few jade tokens among them, took them out one by one, placing them before him.


    These jade tokens were used by him in the Ancient Relics to absorb Spirit Essence; he looked down and saw each jade token shining brightly, full of spirituality, covered with special patterns, appearing quite extraordinary.


    Shen Qing took one out, placed it in front of him, and inspected it closely, subconsciously lost in thought.


    Was it an illusion, he wondered, as he felt that the Spirit Essence in the Ancient Relics was identical to that from the falling essence from beyond, both seemingly no different.


    Shen Qing sometimes was perplexed, as to why an inconspicuous relic of a sect from the Ancient Era was so formidable.


    At this moment, the image of the perfect woman surfaced in his mind.


    Her terrifying power, slaughtering them like ants.


    A faint worry arose within Shen Qing, doubting that such Ancient Relics were not isolated cases.


    If such existences appeared again in the future, he wouldn''t stand a chance.


    With demons continuously emerging everywhere, what the future holds is unpredictable and potentially extremely dangerous.


    The intense sense of crisis surged back to the forefront of his mind.


    Shen Qing dismissed these thoughts, avoiding further speculation about these useless concerns; thinking more was of no benefit.


    ```

 Chapter 379 - 57 Cultivating the Spirit Essence of the Ancients, Frontline News_2

    ```


    He silently recited a passage of the Calming Incantation, allowing the lake of his mind to return to tranquility, and then stimulated a trace of Spiritual Power to refine one of the jade tokens.


    Shen Qing carefully guided a trace of extremely pure Spiritual Power to fall upon the jade token.


    The ancient-looking jade token seemed to be activated, gently hovering in mid-air, lightly pulsating.


    In the next moment, the prohibition applied on the jade token showed some looseness.


    In an instant, like a horse off its reins, it surged out from the jade token, filling the entire room, the air thick with Spirit Essence, even carrying a faint fragrance.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, feeling the unprecedented abundance of Spiritual Energy, a flash of fervent light appearing in his eyes.


    He noticed a pot of orchids on the windowsill, under this Spirit Essence, flaunting their blooms, continuously stretching their bodies, visibly growing, flowering, turning lush and vivid, full of spirituality.


    No time to delay, Shen Qing quickly took out a Wish Power Pearl from the Brocade Bag, shimmering with faint luminescence, and similarly began refining it with the Refining Pearl Technique.


    After ensuring everything was prepared, Shen Qing formed a seal with both hands and began circulating the recently broken-through Six Paths Reincarnation Technique.


    This cultivation technique was extremely profound, several times more mystical than the earlier Six Path Whale Swallowing Technique.


    As Shen Qing cultivated, all the acupoints in his body lit up, sparkling like stars.


    Among them, several crucial acupoints shone most brightly, interlinked, forming a peculiar spoon shape, with a glow that fluctuated like his breathing.


    Under these glows, every trace of Spiritual Energy was meticulously guided by him, flowing along the unique path of the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique within his body, nourishing every inch of his flesh and blood, every thread of his Divine Sense, enhancing his cultivation.


    In this process, time seemed to lose its meaning, the clamor and changes of the outside world isolated.


    Time ticked away bit by bit.


    When the first ray of morning light pierced through the window, spilling over his body, Shen Qing suddenly withdrew from the training state.


    He raised his eyes and saw, unconsciously, the sky had already broken at dawn.


    Shen Qing felt the changes in his body, looked again at the Water Ink Panel in his vision; a night of cultivation hadn''t brought about a significant change in his cultivation, the road ahead still long and challenging.


    He stood up from the bed, slightly stretching his limbs, his spirit full.


    At this moment, he noticed a faint warmth spreading from his chest.


    Shen Qing frowned, taking a copper mirror from within his robes.


    With a thought, Spiritual Power circulated within him, entwined around the Spirit Void state.


    As he willed it, ripples spread across the mirror''s surface, emitting a faint, eerie light.


    Following that, lines of text leisurely emerged from the mirror.


    "Brother Qing, how have you been? Have you returned home safely?"


    Looking at the words appearing in the mirror, Shen Qing''s expression remained calm.


    All this time, he and Shen Xiaohu had been communicating with each other through the communication mirror every few days, already accustomed to it.


    After waiting a while, another message from Shen Xiaohu came from the other side: "After the emergence of the Ancient Relics, the Dao Master has sent a message, in one month, our sect will withdraw from Dan Province in batches, returning to the Holy Mountain. Perhaps we''ll enjoy a comfortable period afterward. Tell father and mother not to worry, I am well."


    Seeing this line of text, Shen Qing''s eyes narrowed slightly, a complex glow suddenly appearing across his face.


    From Xiaohu''s words, it sounded like the Dao Master of the Huangtian Sect had taken Dan Province solely for the Ancient Relics?


    If calculated this way, many cities might hold little significance to the Huangtian Sect and could be abandoned at any time, just like Taiping County back then.


    And once the Huangtian Sect abandoned many cities, the court would achieve their military objectives consequently.


    Would Xue Zhao still need to continue leading the army to fight?


    Not necessarily.


    By then, perhaps Xue Zhao would voluntarily lead the army back to the capital.


    There was a deadly feud between him and Xue Zhao, a point of nearly irreconcilable hostility.


    Once Xue Zhao returned to the capital, he would free his hands to deal with him.


    Now the Great Zhou under the Ji Family''s intentional indulgence, chaos was gradually emerging, a few officials'' deaths couldn''t stir up too much trouble.


    As a grand general in court, and a martial master at the late Primordial Spirit Realm, dealing with him really would leave no other choice but to surrender.


    Especially since he was in Yongzhou, far from the capital, making it more convenient for Xue Zhao''s operation.


    Yongzhou couldn''t be stayed.


    On the contrary, in the capital, under the Emperor''s watch, and he had been personally appointed by His Majesty as the Chief of the Southern Division of the Military Command, could make Xue Zhao cautious, not daring to act recklessly.


    Shen Qing looked at the copper mirror''s surface, contemplating deeply.


    Xiaohu and the others would leave Dan Province in a month, so Xue Zhao could return to the court in as soon as two months'' time.


    That meant when he went to the capital, he must find a way to stand firm in one or two months'' time.


    "I fear I might not be by father and mother''s side for a long time, later it''ll be hard on Brother Qing."


    The message from Shen Xiaohu interrupted Shen Qing''s train of thought.


    He silently replied: "It''s a duty that must be fulfilled. I will inform uncle and aunt, letting them be at ease, not to worry."


    Shen Qing cut off the message from the communication mirror and tossed it into the Hundred Treasure Bag, stepping out through the door.


    In the far east, thin strands of morning light continuously poured down from the horizon, dyeing the skyline a golden hue, full of burgeoning power.


    At this time, the servants and maids in the Shen Mansion had already begun bustling about preparing meals, dusting, tidying the courtyard. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing went straight to his uncle and aunt''s residence, planning to tell them about Shen Xiaohu''s situation to put them at ease.


    He crossed the mist-enshrouded bluestone path, entering a small courtyard.


    Pushing the half-closed wooden door open, Shen Qing''s gaze swept across the courtyard, finally fixing on his uncle and aunt.


    Morning light cast on their slightly aged faces, reflecting undeniable worry and unease.


    They had gotten up early, sitting quietly opposite each other, faces full of concern.


    Uncle Shen Er kept smoking his pipe, puffing incessantly.


    "Uncle, aunt, I''m here." Shen Qing walked closer, saying: "There''s news about Xiaohu just this morning."


    Aunt Wang raised her head at his words, pretending indifference as she said: "What news can there be? After all the things said, he still can''t come back, what''s the use?"


    "Can''t you make fewer complaints, listen to what Qing has to say." Uncle Shen Er said irritably from beside.


    Shen Qing''s eyes flickered slightly, catching sight of the handkerchief tightly clutched in his aunt''s hand, already wrung into a tight ball.


    He knew his aunt''s temperament; her words were entirely different from her true thoughts.


    Shen Qing smiled: "Uncle, aunt, you don''t need to worry too much. Xiaohu just told me, they are about to withdraw from the front line, leaving Dan Province, and should soon enjoy a peaceful period, at least free from danger."


    "Really?" Shen Er asked.


    Shen Qing nodded.


    Shen Er''s tense face finally relaxed, heaving a sigh of relief: "Shen family ancestors bless. The ancestors of the Shen family bless us."


    Aunt Wang''s eyes suddenly brightened upon hearing this, but quickly dimmed again, remaining silent.


    Shen Qing continued: "Uncle, aunt, you should prepare, we might need to prepare to enter the capital in these coming days, and you''ll all join me then."


    "Huh? So soon?" Aunt said surprised: "We''ve only just settled down here for a few years."


    "Man strives to ascend, water flows downward." Shen Qing advised: "Aspiring upward always does no harm."


    Uncle Shen Er said: "Qing, there''s something I forgot to mention to you."


    "What is it?"


    "A few people from Taiping County escaped and somehow found me and Zhang Shuyuan, I''ve settled them in the city."


    "Okay, such small matters uncle can handle as he sees fit. What''s the situation in Taiping County now?"


    "Taiping County is gone."


    "Gone?"


    Shen Qing was slightly puzzled.


    Uncle Shen Er explained: "I heard from those people that a tomb appeared deep in the mountains, with many demons emerging, the city inside out taken over by demons, leaving no space for people to live. What exactly happened there, I''m not sure."


    A tomb?


    Shen Qing instinctively felt that this might be the same event related to the Ancient Relics.


    Clearly, something was changing in this world.


    ```

 Chapter 380 - 58: Change in Taiping County, Entering the Capital

    The demons are becoming more numerous.


    A few years ago, people still didn''t know what demons were, but now demons have almost become something everyone is familiar with, almost coexisting with humans.


    But even so, the fall of Taiping County into the hands of the Demon Clan was something Shen Qing had never imagined.


    Yongzhou is a thousand miles away from Taiping County, which might be very far for ordinary people, but for demons, especially those that have gained power, this distance is nothing at all.


    In other words, Yongzhou is not very safe anymore either.


    Shen Qing said to his uncle Shen the Second, "Where are the people who came from Taiping County?"


    Uncle Shen the Second showed a difficult expression, his face becoming hesitant.


    Shen Qing noticed his uncle''s difficulty and thought he was going to trouble them, and he hurriedly explained, "Uncle, no need to worry. I just want to ask them some questions."


    Uncle let out a sigh and said, "I''ll send someone to call them over so that you don''t have to make a trip."


    "Alright, I''ll return to the study first," Shen Qing nodded and said, "When they arrive, they can come directly to see me."


    "Okay," replied Shen the Second.


    After courteously bowing, Shen Qing walked out of the courtyard, intending to return to his study to deal with trifles.


    As for the government office at the Yongzhou Guard Martial Arts Bureau, Shen Qing didn''t need to go there for the time being.


    Ji Zikong had already given him a new appointment, so presumably, there was also a suitable candidate here in Yongzhou, leaving him with no worries.


    In the courtyard of the mansion, the thin morning mist gradually dissipated in the sunlight.


    Walking on the bluestone path, Shen Qing unexpectedly encountered his elder sister Shen Fang.


    She and the maid at her side were holding hands, behaving very affectionately.


    When the elder sister saw Shen Qing, her face changed, and she hurriedly let go of the maid''s hand beside her, with a somewhat startled look.


    "Qingzi/Sir," the two said in unison.


    Shen Qing nodded in acknowledgment and brushed past them.


    After he passed, the elder sister Shen Fang hurriedly dragged the maid away with a guilty conscience.


    Shen Qing turned back to glance at them, lost in thought.


    The elder sister Shen Fang was not young anymore, and in this world, she was already considered a spinster, past the age of marriage.


    If the elder sister expressed the desire, with his current status, many men in Yongzhou would be easily available to her.


    However, until now, he had not heard anything about his sister wanting to find a good family.


    If he recalls correctly, that maid is called Huanhuan and is a hunter''s daughter, sold to his family to work as a maid.


    The previous duration was not long, only about half a year.


    Thinking back over these past six months, this maid called Huanhuan seemed to always be with the elder sister Shen Fang, inseparable.


    A possibility suddenly occurred to Shen Qing, leaving him speechless.


    Never mind, this matter is no longer within his consideration; let them be.


    Whether it''s his uncle and aunt or his elder sister, they have long passed the age of martial arts cultivation, with limited lifespan.


    He could only say that he will do his best to show concern while they are still in this world. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    At the study entrance.


    "Sir, according to Master Shen''s orders, I have brought the people you wanted to see," a servant respectfully reported.


    From inside the study, Shen Qing''s calm and authoritative voice came through, "Come in."


    "Yes."


    The servant answered and then gently pushed open the heavy wooden door.


    Amidst a somewhat ancient creaking sound, the doors slowly opened, and the servant respectfully said, "Please, all of you, come in."


    Three people came this time; it was their first time entering the depths of the Shen Mansion, and they had never seen such an imposing setting.


    Their eyes continuously revealed a trace of apprehension and curiosity as they nodded and bowed, walking in.


    Shen Qing looked up and immediately recognized one of the burly, slightly rugged-faced men as a familiar person from Hongshan Village.


    This person was the child of a hunter''s family, the same generation as him.


    Shen Qing directly called out, "Are you... Gousheng?!"


    The burly man, upon seeing Shen Qing, had a flash of delight in his eyes, but a moment later quickly became deferential, looking down at his feet.


    After staying in Yongzhou for a while, he had long realized that this peer from his hometown had soared high, incomparable to the past, and he must not be as casual as before.


    He made a bow, filled with gratitude and respect, and said, "I didn''t expect you still remember me, Sir."


    Shen Qing stood up and said, "How are your parents and family? Are they well?"


    "Thanks for your concern, Sir, but like others, they have all been eaten by demons," Gousheng said in a calm tone, as if narrating something exceedingly common.


    While speaking, he couldn''t help but glance at Shen Qing a couple of more times, filled with regret.


    When Shen Qing left back then, they chose to stay in Taiping County for the sake of stability.


    If they had been a bit braver and followed Shen Qing, maybe he could, like Tian Xiaohu and the others, get a position in the government office.


    But alas, there is no medicine for regret in the world.


    What''s missed is missed, with no second chances.


    Hearing these words, Shen Qing''s brows furrowed with concern, and he asked in a deep voice, "What exactly happened over in Taiping County? Tell me everything in detail."


    Now, with demons increasingly appearing and mysterious occurrences arising, it only made his heart more unsettled.


    He wanted to quickly gather more intelligence and information to feel more secure.


    Gousheng took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions. After exchanging a somber look with the two equally serious companions, he said, "About a month ago, outside Taiping County, in a place called Qingniu Mountain, an enormous ancient tomb unexpectedly appeared. It''s as if it emerged out of thin air, suddenly rising from the ground. It''s very strange."

 Chapter 381 - 58 Change in Taiping County, Entering the Capital_2

    "From what I heard, that ancient tomb is very strange, from the outside it looks like volcanic lava, turning the sky red."


    "When this strange tomb appeared, those demons gathered near Taiping County rushed over."


    "At first, only a few daring demons attempted to assault it. Later, after prolonged attacks failed, a large bird with nine heads led many powerful demons in a relentless assault, cracking open a fissure in the tomb, from which emerged many incredible treasures, significantly boosting the strength of several demons."


    "Since then, those demons have taken this as their stronghold, staying in Taiping County, acting recklessly."


    "Now, in the entire Taiping County, people like us have almost become prey in their eyes, like livestock being farmed, a few eaten today, a few more tomorrow. There are deaths daily in the county, and there are not many survivors left."


    "We also struggled quite a lot to escape from the city."


    Upon hearing Gousheng''s account, Shen Qing fell into deep thought and asked, "When this ancient tomb appeared, was there any presence of Spirit Essence?"


    "Spirit Essence?"


    Shen Qing explained, "Did any unusual phenomena occur around the tomb, such as rapid tree growth?"


    "Yes, yes." A common man beside Gousheng quickly nodded, "In the beginning, before the demons truly acted, people often went near the site where the tomb appeared to gather herbs. Many aging herbs indeed appeared there."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing''s heart stirred. It seemed similar to the ancient relics found in Dan Zhou, creations from the Ancient Era.


    Once could be a coincidence, but such events repeatedly occurring can''t be that simple.


    Perhaps inside that tomb lies an ancient corpse, like that perfect woman, possessing incomprehensible power.


    Shen Qing remembered carefully, the first demon he encountered was in the direction of Taiping County, which was a tiger demon. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Is this also a coincidence?


    And now, with so many demons in the world, what exactly are Ji Zikong and the others mulling over?


    Why haven''t they sent a large army to suppress them? Are they really going to sit idly by as these demons run rampant and become a disaster?


    Shen Qing did not understand but was deeply shaken.


    He believed that if things continued like this, it wouldn''t be long before a second, third, or even more cities were seized and overrun by demons.


    The Great Zhou State is already in a perilous situation.


    "Sir, do you have anything else to ask?" Seeing Shen Qing remain silent for a long time without saying a word, Gousheng asked.


    Shen Qing snapped out of it, gently shook his head, and said, "Nothing else to ask, you should head back for now. If you face any difficulties in life, you can come to the mansion to find us at that time."


    The three of them, Gousheng, expressed joy on their faces, "Alright, alright, thank you, Sir."


    Shen Qing returned to his seat, his hands resting on the table, fingers tapping rhythmically, a crisp sound resonating, while he muttered to himself: ''The matter of the Imperial Armory cannot be delayed.''


    ''No matter how I look at it, there seems to be a major change looming over the world. I heard the Ji family has conscripted martial machines from across the realm, with the Imperial Armory holding a third of it. The Imperial Armory not only has all kinds of supreme techniques but also many treasures and pills to aid Martial masters in their cultivation.''


    ''My current cultivation is reasonable down here, but if placed among the upper echelon, it''s far from enough; at least, I can''t contend with Xue Zhao as he stands now.''


    ''Perhaps I could use this as an opportunity to quickly enhance my cultivation.''


    After contemplating for a long time, Shen Qing decided to expedite his journey to the capital, both to seek martial arts opportunities and for the sake of his family''s safety.


    After all, a gentleman does not stand beneath a collapsing wall.


    Shen Qing was not a hesitant person; once he made up his mind, he acted swiftly.


    That very day, he instructed everyone in the mansion to pack up, preparing to move the entire family to the capital.


    Besides uncles and aunts and other family members, Shen Qing also sounded out the intentions of his associates.


    Tian Xiaohu, who was alone and had been following him, had nothing much to say, and besides him, Chen Guang, Ji Youwu, and a few others chose to accompany him to the capital.


    However, Xiao Zhi planned to stay in Yongzhou.


    A closer inquiry revealed that he secretly had a family and was unwilling to abandon his wife and children to pursue a future alone.


    Naturally, Shen Qing wouldn''t force it.


    Fortunately, they needed trusted people to guard and manage the considerable family estate in Yongzhou.


    After considering comprehensively, Shen Qing finally decided to leave Zhang Shuyuan and Xiao Zhi in Yongzhou to manage and safeguard his estate there.


    Generally speaking, as long as he didn''t fall from power, others in Yongzhou wouldn''t cause a big stir.


    Meanwhile, Wu Sheng facilitated exchanges, leaving them as a retreat route.


    After spending three to five days managing the mess left by Zhou Su, Shen Qing prepared to enter the capital with a few trusted followers and family.


    Considering the long journey, which would take over a month by foot, and the urgency of the appointment and Xue family''s matters in the capital which couldn''t be delayed for long.


    Thus, Shen Qing arranged to split his forces; he would travel alone first riding the wind to return to the capital.


    Tian Xiaohu and the others would escort the uncles and aunts along the official road at a slow pace.


    Now that Tian Xiaohu and the others were at the Nourishment Realm, and there was no shortage of martial artists at the Qi Sea Realm, they could easily handle small-time thieves and even some demons along the way, ensuring safety on the road.


    After sending the uncles and aunts off onto the official road and ensuring everything was in order, Shen Qing invoked the Six Paths of Reincarnation technique.


    He absorbed the purest spiritual energy around him, causing the spiritual power within his entire body to boil, becoming vast and abundant.


    Soon, this immense spiritual power was suddenly transformed into a brilliant rainbow of light enveloping him.


    Shen Qing controlled the rainbow light, his toes lightly tapping, instantly bursting forth at an astonishing speed, soaring into the sky, with the sound of breaking through the air deafening, resembling the roars of dragon and tiger.


    He rushed into the clouds, riding the wind beneath the blue sky.


    After rushing for over an hour, the rainbow light controlled by Shen Qing descended into the backyard of Wu Sheng''s restaurant in the capital.


    Wu Sheng happened to be in the courtyard, and upon hearing the commotion, he hurried over to greet.


    Shen Qing symbolically brushed the dust off himself and directly asked, "Is the residence I asked you to prepare ready?"


    Wu Sheng solemnly responded, "Sir, it''s ready, the house is on Pingkang Street just outside the palace, close to all government offices."


    "Take me to see it."


    "Sure, I''ll prepare horses and carriages immediately to go over."


    "Let''s walk directly."


    Shen Qing took the lead, employing the Great Space Shifting Technique, spanning dozens of meters swiftly, his form quickly vanishing before Wu Sheng''s eyes.


    Wu Sheng, momentarily bewildered, hurriedly brought a fast horse from the stable to chase after him.


    Pingkang Street, as Wu Sheng described, is right next to one side of the palace, just a short distance from the main gate of the palace.


    It''s also not far from the military administrative building.


    Shen Qing surveyed the surroundings and felt quite satisfied with the location.


    After standing and waiting for a while, Wu Sheng arrived hastily, leading him to a large mansion.


    The gate of the courtyard looked ordinary with no towering threshold, but upon entering, the space was ample, and the furniture was also fairly new.


    "This courtyard originally belonged to an official family, but due to offending His Majesty, the entire family was banished from the capital, leaving the house vacant and just right for me to purchase." Wu Sheng introduced, "The neighbors are all capital officials."


    Shen Qing used his spiritual sense to scan and perceive all the details of the house, finding nothing inappropriate.


    "Here will do."


    Wu Sheng relaxed and said, "Alright, I''ll finalize paperwork with the broker today."


    "You handle it, don''t bother me with such trivial matters." Shen Qing said casually, "If there isn''t enough money, just let me know."


    Now that he was wealthy, he no longer concerned himself with material wealth.


    "Alright."


    In the distance, a figure suddenly appeared, quickly rushing to Shen Qing''s side and stopping, laughing heartily, "Little friend Shen, I''ve finally found you."


    Shen Qing turned around in surprise, "Lord Lan."


    "Your appointment documents and the rewards promised by His Majesty are all ready. When you have time, come to the military administrative office to handle them."

 Chapter 382 - 1: Entering the Temple

    ```


    Capital City, Military Department.


    A dispatch officer dressed in brocade stood patiently at the entrance of the government office.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing, his face lit up with joy, and he quickly ran up to greet him, saying, "Subordinate Yu Hai Bei greets Lord Shen. Lord Lan has already conveyed the message to let me take Lord Shen to receive the Emperor''s reward and assist you with your official appointment."


    "Thank you for your assistance."


    "No need, no need, it is my duty."


    Shen Qing nodded and took the lead in stepping into the Military Department Office.


    Yu Hai Bei followed a step behind, trailing Shen Qing.


    The Military Department of the Great Zhou Country is divided into the Five City Military Departments, with five major regions, East, West, South, North, and Central, each with a Chief Officer position, managing the Military and Guardian Martial Departments of the Five Districts of Great Zhou, specifically responsible for national security.


    Generally speaking, from traitors and demons to thieves and petty thieves, all fall under the jurisdiction of the Military Department.


    However, there are slight differences between the Capital City''s Military Department and those in other regions.


    The regional Military Departments mostly focus on local affairs, whereas the Capital City''s Military Department primarily safeguards the Imperial family''s security.


    The emphasis, therefore, differs slightly based on the task at hand.


    It is precisely this difference in emphasis that elevates the status of the Capital City''s Military Department above other government offices.


    "This way, Lord Shen," Yu Hai Bei said with respect, guiding Shen Qing into the Military Department Office.


    The moment they stepped inside, an indescribable aura of prestige enveloped them.


    Shen Qing cast his eyes around, observing the curved eaves and painted beams, very impressive.


    Far incomparable to local government offices.


    The space was enormous, and the number of people was significant too.


    Shen Qing quickly estimated that in the short distance he walked, the number of officers he encountered already greatly exceeded that of a single office in Yongzhou.


    It appeared the scale of the Capital surpassed his previous impressions by a good margin.


    Following behind Shen Qing, Yu Hai Bei introduced each area one by one, "Our Military Department Office is a three-court compound; the first courtyard is where the officers in Kyoto conduct their daily patrols and office work. Since this area belongs to the Imperial City, patrols continue ceaselessly day and night, and thus there are quite a number of officers."


    Shen Qing thought of Tian Xiaohu and his group, asking, "Are there any requirements for becoming an officer here? What about the official salary?" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "One must be a Cultivator, at least at the Qi Cultivation Realm, and have a clean background, a home, and family within the Capital Region to be eligible."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel a touch of lament.


    In Taiping County, a cultivation level of Qi Cultivation would be enough to open a Martial Arts Hall, becoming a person of influence, yet in this Capital City, it''s only the threshold for becoming an ordinary officer.


    To know that officers are somewhat less than ''clerks'' speaks volumes.


    No wonder this is the heart of the Zhou Country, with experts everywhere.


    This requirement for family and home bars any fugitives from entering.


    Calculating like this, if he wanted to bring Tian Xiaohu and his peers in, it might pose some trouble.


    As if sensing Shen Qing''s thoughts, Yu Hai Bei lowered his voice and said, "If Lord Shen wants to have someone from your side get a position here, you just need to inform a few Chief Officers, and mention it to the constables below, and it should be no problem at all."


    Shen Qing glanced curiously at Yu Hai Bei, thinking this person was indeed perceptive and adept at reading people.


    He diverted the topic carelessly, "So, what about the second and third courtyards?"


    "The second courtyard is where the officers and constables work, and the third courtyard is the office for the five Chief Officers and Lord Commander," Yu Hai Bei guided the way, saying, "Lord, today we are headed to this third courtyard, this way, please."


    Shen Qing acknowledged with a nod and headed toward the second courtyard.


    As the surrounding officers noticed this unfamiliar face making his way toward the second courtyard, their attitudes immediately turned respectful, no longer ignoring him as before.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but laugh silently.


    Human hearts are indeed subtle.


    Passing through a shadow wall to enter the second courtyard, there were noticeably fewer people inside.


    He counted roughly a dozen or so individuals; some sat cross-legged on the ground cultivating, others stretched and gestured with their fists, while a few, with nothing better to do, sparred with each other.


    It was evident that these individuals were filled with Great Perfection in blood energy, their aura restrained, and were at the very least of the Qi Sea Realm of cultivation. Randomly setting one loose locally could see them dominate an area.


    When Shen Qing appeared in the backyard, these constables and officers were evidently perceptive enough to realize that someone with the ability to enter must have an extraordinary identity.


    A few paused their cultivation, glanced at Shen Qing, and whispered, "Whose son could this be, coming from the back? He looks so young."


    "I heard a Southern Chief was coming to our office, could it be him?"


    "How could it be? He looks so young; if he could become Chief, that would be too absurd."


    While they speculated, Shen Qing, following Yu Hai Bei''s guidance, walked into the third courtyard, leaving those in the second courtyard staring at each other in disbelief.


    The man who had just denied it lightly swallowed down his spit saying, "It really is him."


    They were each incredulous.


    Shen Qing''s Divine Sense was sharp, noticing every move these people made.


    He did not waste time explaining, quickly striding inside.


    Upon entering the third courtyard, the sight changed once more.


    The courtyard was filled with various artificial scenic rocks and flowing water, creating a tranquil environment.


    Additionally, the courtyard''s size compared to the first and second courtyards was only larger, not smaller.


    Yu Hai Bei guided Shen Qing to the front of a side chamber.


    "Lord Shen, we have arrived. The Emperor''s rewards and your official appointment documents are prepared, this way, please."


    "Alright."


    Shen Qing pushed open the door and strode inside.


    Upon entering the room, he saw an older middle-aged man sitting lazily in a chair, eyes closed, either resting or in cultivation.


    Before Shen Qing got close, he sensed a faint searing heat.


    It was evident that this middle-aged man''s cultivation was not low, at least at the Ling Xu Realm or higher, demonstrating profound cultivation.


    He hadn''t expected such an existence to be so unassuming within the Military Department, without any presumptuous airs.


    Yu Hai Bei stepped forward saying, "Lord Wang, this is Lord Shen Qing, who has come today to commence his service and receive the Emperor''s rewards, we hope you could assist."


    The middle-aged man on the chair lazily opened his eyes, letting out a long yawn, stretching before addressing Shen Qing, "You''re the new Chief, Shen Qing?"


    Having no knowledge of this middle-aged man''s background, Shen Qing maintained his composure and answered, "Yes."


    The middle-aged man said nothing but silently produced a Jade Token for Shen Qing, saying, "This is the Beautiful Pattern Jade Token personally bestowed by the Emperor. Holding this token allows you access to the Imperial Armory and to draw ten thousand Wish Power Pearls. It''s also proof of your position as Chief of Kyoto''s Military Department."


    Shen Qing received the jade token and closely examined it.


    This item was a translucent jade green, containing an elusive spiritual energy within.


    The entire jade token was intricately and mysteriously carved with beautiful patterns, under the sunlight outside the room, shimmering with a ghostly green glow.


    The small seal character ''Shen'' in the center was particularly dazzling.


    More remarkably, upon touching the object, he felt a faint warmth, quite extraordinary.


    The middle-aged man explained, "This Beautiful Pattern Jade Token has been imprinted with Divine Skills by a Great Power, equipped with an anti-counterfeiting feature. After taking it back, drip a drop of your essence blood on it, binding it to you. It would be useless in anyone else''s hands."


    "Thank you, senior."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing immediately adjusted his fingers, using his spiritual energy to puncture his fingertip, squeezing a drop of essence blood onto the Beautiful Pattern Jade Token.


    The jade token momentarily glowed, absorbing the drop of blood.


    Instantly, Shen Qing felt a bloodline connection to the jade token, clicking his tongue in amazement.


    Today, I have witnessed something indeed, no wonder Kyoto, the heart of the empire''s martial capacity, takes such efforts even with a mere token, making it like an artifact.


    The middle-aged man chuckled, "The last person holding this token insisted on biting his tongue and then spitting onto such a treasured item, making it reek. You''re pretty clever."


    ''Uh...'' Shen Qing hadn''t considered this either.


    The middle-aged man then handed a bundle of documents to Shen Qing, "These are your official documents. Now your registration is listed under ''officials,'' within them is also a description of your position, keep them safe."


    Accepting the official documents, Shen Qing eyed them with surprise.


    Never expected that upon entering the Capital City, his identity would change from ''martial'' registration to ''officials.''


    In Great Zhou Country, the hierarchy is Emperor, Aristocrats, Officials, Physicians, Martial, Farmers, Artisans, Merchants, and Servants.


    Official registration is only second to the Emperor and Aristocrats, signifying royalty and nobility.


    In a sense, starting from today, Shen Qing has officially entered the temple, becoming a part of the upper echelons of the Great Zhou Country.


    And this was just the matter of a decree from Ji Zikong.


    The middle-aged man remarked, "That''s all there is to it."


    The difference between what he anticipated about receiving rewards and commencing his service and what happened was stark, leaving Shen Qing somewhat surprised.


    On the way, he had thought about how he would manage to retrieve thousands of Wish Power Pearls, but it seemed that was a needless concern.


    Without further ado, he took his items, clasped his hands in a brief bow, and silently retreated.


    Shen Qing turned to Yu Hai Bei, "Is there anything else that needs completing?"


    Yu Hai Bei replied respectfully, "There are still some trivial matters remaining, such as official attire and casual clothes. I will collect them for you, Lord, and there''s not much else to worry about."


    "Alright, then I''ll trouble you to make a trip," Shen Qing said casually.


    "By the way, today, Lord Commander has specifically gone out to search for you, and he has called back the other Chief Officers as well. If you have no other engagements, you should meet with them. It seems Lord Commander''s intention is to hold a small gathering for you," Yu Hai Bei advised.


    "Where are they?"


    "In the hall of the third courtyard," Yu Hai Bei pointed to a location, "I am of low status and it is not convenient for me to go over there; you can proceed on your own, Lord."


    Shen Qing nodded and proceeded directly in the direction Yu Hai Bei indicated.


    Before even getting close, Shen Qing already heard laughter from the hall; without any sign of stage fright, he walked right in.


    All eyes, all four, swept simultaneously toward Shen Qing as soon as he entered.


    Shen Qing looked up and saw four people seated inside the hall, four men, one woman.


    Seated at the center was Lan Gongliang, Command of all Military Forces, surrounded on both sides by two men.


    "So, this is the new Southern Chief, Shen Qing, isn''t it? I heard you''re young, and seeing you today, your potential is indeed promising."


    The speaker was a man with sharp facial features.


    His voice was somewhat sharp, face very pale, and his physique differed from the typical warrior, appearing frail, as if a gust of wind could topple him.


    Lan Gongliang spoke, "There are no outsiders here; you needn''t be so formal. Please, come in."


    "Yes, my Lord."


    Shen Qing smiled subtly, walking calmly before the assembled individuals.


    Lan Gongliang rose, pointing to the individuals before him, introducing them one by one, "This is Wei Chengye, Chief of the Central Region. Amongst everyone, he has served in the Military Department the longest with the most experience. If you have any uncertainties in official duties, you may consult him."


    Shen Qing''s gaze followed Lan Gongliang''s gesture, noticing the Chief of the Central Region had thick eyebrows and big eyes, leaving an impression of considerable honesty.


    Acknowledging Shen Qing''s glance, he nodded slightly in acknowledgment.


    Lan Gongliang then pointed to an ordinary-looking man, "This is Zeng Weifeng, Chief of the Northern Region, a master at catching criminals, descended from Zeng Yaozi. His family''s renowned for numerous high forges. If you wish to forge weapons, he''s the one to seek."


    Next, he pointed to the only woman, "This is Zhao Lengyan, Chief of the Western Region, a noblewoman from the Zhao family and a descendant of a noble house."


    "As for the Chief of the Eastern Region, that''s Yang Henshan, the godson of Yang Changshi, the current eunuch officer."


    Hearing each introduction, Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel a bit amazed.


    In this room, except for himself, everyone else had significant backgrounds.


    Each had a backing; he couldn''t help but feel a silent sense of respect.


    After introducing them, Lan Gongliang said to the rest, "This young man is Shen Qing, the Southern Chief personally appointed by our Emperor. He is the sole survivor of the recent rebellion."


    Shen Qing stepped forward, neither overbearing nor servile, saying, "I''m Shen Qing from Yongzhou, greetings to my fellow colleagues."


    As the only female among the Chief Officers, Zhao Lengyan commented, "I heard this recent rebellion had many unexpected turns, even involving ancient relics. Is it true? Does the Huangtian Sect have such capabilities, wiping out so many people with just one formation?"


    Shen Qing glanced at Zhao Lengyan, his eyes discreetly sweeping over her.


    Perhaps due to martial practice, her physique appeared somewhat robust, muscles faintly visible.


    Clad in a black casual robe, she somewhat resembled a man.


    Often referred to as a tomboy.


    Shen Qing fabricated a story, "Indeed, there were ancient relics involved. Speaking of which, as these relics surfaced, the situation spiraled into chaos. The Huangtian Sect took advantage of this, setting up a lethal formation, eradicated many martial masters at once. I was simply fortunate to have not participated, barely escaping."


    In his view, since all the martial masters from the rebellion were mostly deceased, as long as the tale wasn''t too outrageous, no one could verify it.


    "I see," Zhao Lengyan laughed heartily, with no sign of sadness, "It seems my cousins weren''t lucky this time."


    Lan Gongliang surveyed the others, saying, "Chief Officer Shen here is a young talent. His joining our Military Department is a great benefit for our handling of demons nationwide. All of you must work together with solidarity."


    "Yes, my lord," everyone chorused.


    Speaking of demons, Shen Qing recalled something and approached to inquire, "Lord Lan, do you know that Taiping County has already been overrun by demons?"


    ```

 Chapter 383 - 2 Capital City Prosperity, Observations

    "Taiping County?" Lan Gongliang said calmly, "I''ve heard of it."


    Shen Qing was quite surprised and puzzled, "Then why don''t we go to exterminate those demons? Isn''t this our duty?"


    "Exterminate we must." Lan Gongliang looked Shen Qing up and down and said, "But right now, the demon issue is not urgent for the court. The crucial matter is Huang Tian the rebel. Besides, Taiping County is remote and desolate, a tiny place even if it rots won''t matter much, no harm done. We can always go to eliminate the demons later, no hurry."


    Shen Qing''s heart stirred slightly, showing an enlightened look, "So that''s how it is. Thank you, Lord, for the clarification."


    Lan Gongliang waved his hand nonchalantly.


    He glanced at the sky; the sun was dazzling, right at noon.


    "It''s getting late, and since no one went out today, how about a feast for lunch together."


    "Yes, Lord."


    The government office of the Military Department is located in the bustling center of the Capital, surrounded by lively areas. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Stepping out from the back door of the third courtyard, they were greeted by a dusty street.


    The street was paved with blue stone bricks, each the size of a washbasin, cut perfectly square and very smooth.


    The street was bustling with people.


    Many young people dressed in silk sashes and jade, accompanied by women, laughed openly as they strolled.


    Quickly, they only walked a few steps to reach the back door of a tavern.


    Shen Qing looked up and saw the black signboard above the tavern''s back door, with four large gilt characters elegantly written: "Ancient Charm, Wine Aroma."


    "Lord Lan, you''ve arrived! Quickly, please come in. The first-class private room is reserved for you today." A servant at the door greeted them with a knowing smile, as if he had known for a long time that Lan Gongliang and his party would come.


    Lan Gongliang walked into the tavern without a word, hands behind his back, familiar with the way.


    The tavern was divided into two floors, with a small pavilion in the middle where an elder and a young girl were performing.


    The elder held a pipa and sat in a chair; the young girl stood in green attire, her voice melodious, singing tunes Shen Qing had never heard before.


    From the spoken parts and lyrics, it seemed to be a love story of a destitute man meeting a wealthy girl before achieving success, somewhat similar to "The Romance of the Western Chamber."


    The grandparent-grandchild duo performed skillfully, with clear recitations and good singing, coupled with the fact that many people from the Outer City were in the Capital City, this underdog story was quite straightforward.


    Shen Qing glanced and noticed a lot of broken silver scattered on the ground in front of them, as tips for their performance.


    "Today''s performers at the Yuan Yang Pavilion are quite good."


    After entering the tavern, Lan Gongliang, led by the servant, entered a private room directly facing the central pavilion with a great view.


    After sitting down in an empty seat, he couldn''t help but comment casually.


    "If the Lord enjoys it, how about I invite them over to sing a couple of songs for you, just the two of them?" the servant said sycophantically.


    Shen Qing took in the scene beside him.


    It was evident that Lan Gongliang was a valued guest with high status at this tavern.


    Lan Gongliang waved his hand and said, "We''re just here for a meal, no need for trouble, let''s just have the usual three specialties."


    "Sure." The servant took the towel from his shoulder, swiftly wiped the table, and said with a smile, "Please wait a moment, honored guests."


    Lan Gongliang pointed at the vacant seats and said, "Feel free to sit wherever you like."


    The private room used a separate dining system, with each person having their individual table.


    The group didn''t stand on ceremony, each finding a seat.


    There was no particular arrangement or consideration for seating.


    However, Shen Qing was cautious and chose to sit at the lowest seat.


    After they all sat down, five beautiful women and one handsome man entered the private room.


    The group saluted respectfully, with the five women standing behind Shen Qing and the others, and the only man standing behind Zhao Lengyan.


    ''This is...''


    It was Shen Qing''s first time encountering such a setup, and he was slightly puzzled.


    But he wisely did not ask questions, only observed quietly.


    As Shen Qing still held some confusion in his heart, the young woman behind him knelt and began to massage his shoulders and back.


    "Sir, is this strength alright?" The woman behind Shen Qing, around eighteen years old, exhaled a fragrant breath at his ear.


    Only then did Shen Qing realize it was a thorough massage service.


    Fortunately, in his past life, he was quite familiar with such things.


    Sitting upright, Shen Qing said, "It''s acceptable."


    "If the strength isn''t comfortable, sir can tell me anytime," the woman said.


    Shen Qing slightly closed his eyes, choosing not to speak any further, and began to enjoy the gentle touch.


    "Mm~" Shen Qing hummed lightly.


    The Capital is truly different; even having a meal comes with so many fancies.


    Shen Qing quietly glanced at Zhao Lengyan and the others and saw they were entirely accustomed to it.


    Chief Officer Zeng Weifeng from the North had even quietly placed his hand on the maid''s backside, kneading forcefully.


    The maid continued to greet him with a smile.


    After the time it takes to drink a pot of tea, the redwood tables were quickly filled with plates of food and wine.


    The maid behind obediently served wine and distributed food to Shen Qing and the others.


    In fact, Shen Qing had never experienced such treatment since practicing Martial Arts. Growing up, it was indeed his first time.


    Lan Gongliang raised his wine glass and said, "This is the pear blossom white wine from this local tavern, made from the essence of pear blossoms blooming, with a color as white as snow and a pure taste. Such good wine can''t be found outside. Today, as Shen Chief Officer joins us, it''s the perfect occasion to enjoy such exquisite wine, thanks to Shen Chief Officer''s blessing."

 Chapter 384 - 2 Capital City Prosperity, Observations_2

    Shen Qing quickly said, "I dare not, I dare not."


    "Let''s drink, hahaha."


    Shen Qing raised the Lihuabai and drank it in one gulp.


    The rich floral fragrance and the clear taste, with a hint of sweetness, made Shen Qing''s eyes brighten.


    It turns out this world indeed has such wonderful things.


    The prosperity and luxury of the Capital City had truly opened his eyes today.


    Shen Qing even thought that it wouldn''t be bad to live such a decadent life every day in the future.


    However, this thought was soon extinguished by him.


    Though this world is indeed prosperous, it''s still essentially a world that devours people, and human life is as worthless as grass.


    In many places, it might be like Taiping County, left to live or die on its own.


    No one can guarantee that the Capital City won''t become like Taiping County in the future, turning into a hell on earth.


    At this thought, Shen Qing''s eyes quickly regained clarity, and he couldn''t help but glance at Lan Gongliang seated in the main position.


    From the beginning of their meeting, Lan Gongliang had been quite good to him, always trying to win him over.


    Who knows if there are other reasons behind this.


    As the saying goes, one should not harbor intentions to harm others, but one must be vigilant of others'' intentions.


    Suddenly, Shen Qing became more cautious, deciding to be more attentive in the future.


    Lan Gongliang picked up the chopsticks and said, "Don''t be formal. Let''s enjoy the music and eat."


    After Lan Gongliang started to eat, Shen Qing and the others also picked up their chopsticks and began drinking and eating.


    Occasionally, they would eat a shrimp or crab peeled by the maid, or a prepared piece of roasted meat.


    "This dish is jade deer meat, a mountain delicacy that can boost vitality and blood. Outside, it could cost dozens of taels of silver, yet here it''s just an appetizer." Shen Qing murmured to himself as he looked at the plate of meat in front of him.


    Coming from a hunter''s background, he was most familiar with such mountain delicacies and recognized it at a glance.


    Today''s meal constantly refreshed his understanding of things.


    Shen Qing took a piece of jade deer meat, placed it in his mouth, and it melted instantly, incredibly delicious.


    After eating, he quickly felt his whole body heat up, as the deer meat transformed into pure energy, replenishing his body''s vitality.


    No wonder.


    Those born in the Capital have high cultivation.


    If he were to eat such mountain and sea delicacies every few days, even without cultivating, just eating could bring his vitality to perfection.


    How could those outside the Capital City compare?


    After three rounds of drinking, the atmosphere among everyone became much livelier, as they each shared their experiences and stories.


    Shen Qing didn''t say much, only occasionally mentioning a few hunting experiences from his childhood living in the mountains, brushing off the conversation.


    His relationship with these people was not deep, so it was not appropriate to speak too much, lest he invite trouble for himself later.


    Once they had their fill, the servants in the private room removed the dishes from the table and replaced them with a set of new teacups, brewed the tea, and then quietly withdrew.


    At this moment, Shen Qing took the initiative to ask, "My lords, may I ask if there are many demons and rebels in the Capital? Will we be busy with official duties in the future?"


    Northern Chief Officer Zeng Weifeng replied, "Not many, after all, it''s the center of the Capital region, and experts are abundant. Even if they sneak in, they wouldn''t dare cause trouble."


    "So, does this mean we Chief Officers are quite free?"


    "Not exactly," said Central Chief Officer Wei Chengye. "Not many in the Capital doesn''t mean none, and besides, we have to manage not only the Capital but also deal with personnel arrangements in other cities, which requires some effort from us."


    "Moreover, the most troublesome in the Capital are not the demons or rebels, but the people living in places like Changle Square, Yongxing Square. You will understand later," said Eastern Chief Officer Yang Henshan.


    Seeing that the others were unwilling to say more, Shen Qing did not press further.


    "Everyone seems almost done. We should leave now to not delay official duties."


    Lan Gongliang was the first to stand, and the others followed suit.


    As Shen Qing stood up, he saw Lan Gongliang pause next to him and turn to whisper, "The war in Danzhou is nearing its end, and Xue Zhao is expected to return. He won''t let matters rest easily. You better think of a way to handle it soon."


    After saying this, Lan Gongliang said no more and left the tavern.


    Shen Qing stood there pondering Lan Gongliang''s intentions, puzzled about what this powerful figure in the Kongyou Realm was up to.


    Upon returning to the government office, Lan Gongliang called Wei Chengye, the Central Chief Officer, asking him to acquaint Shen Qing with the official duties. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wei Chengye naturally agreed without hesitation, promising on the spot, "Chief Officer Shen, what we do is not troublesome. You''ll understand after you accompany me for a day tomorrow."


    Shen Qing bowed and said, "I''ll have to trouble Chief Officer Wei then."


    "It''s all as it should be. Today, you should get to know the personnel and your subordinates in the government office. Take it slow."


    Shen Qing walked out from the third courtyard and found Yu Haibei.


    He heard from Wei Chengye and other Chief Officers that Yu Haibei was a sergeant under him, usually handling miscellaneous matters such as patrols.


    When Shen Qing found Yu Haibei, he was cultivating in the second courtyard.


    Judging from his cultivation, he seemed to be at the Yuluo Realm, and his bone age was no more than twenty-five.


    In Shen Qing''s view, such cultivation was already quite impressive, but unfortunately, it was only considered average in the Capital.


    Seeing Shen Qing, Yu Haibei quickly stopped cultivating, picked up a bundle, and said, "Lord Shen, this is your official and casual attire that I''ve obtained for you. Please check if the size fits."


    Shen Qing took the bundle and smiled, saying, "Thank you for your hard work. Besides you, who else do I have under me?"


    "In response, my lord, besides me, you have eighteen sergeants, one hundred and eight attendants, and one thousand five hundred thirty-two lower ranks under your command."


    "So many..."


    Shen Qing was surprised by this number.


    Calculating it all, the entire Military Department of the Capital had nearly four or five thousand people.


    And they all held the identity of martial artists, most of whom had reached the Nourishing Energy Realm.


    This scale made Shen Qing secretly click his tongue in amazement, broadening his horizons.


    Yu Haibei continued, "Would you like me to call the other sergeants to meet you together?"


    Seeing everyone would take too much time, Shen Qing shook his head, saying, "Let''s wait until we have time later."


    "Yes, my lord."


    "You can go ahead. I''ll walk around by myself."


    After sending Yu Haibei away, Shen Qing unleashed his entire divine sense, mapping the layout and each room within the Military Department''s premises into his mind.


    Then he left the Military Department alone, utilized the Great Teleportation Technique, and traversed the streets and alleys.


    At the same time, he used his divine sense to sense continuously as he moved.


    It only took half an hour, and he managed to take a quick tour of the entire Capital City. Thanks to his photographic memory, he gained a clear understanding of the city''s layout.


    Unknowingly, Shen Qing arrived at the entrance of the Shanhai Department''s government office.


    As one of the three departments in Da Zhou, he had heard a bit about it.


    The Shanhai Department gathered martial intelligence, spiritual insights, and monitored officials on behalf of the current Majesty¡ªa bit similar to the Jinyiwei from his previous life¡ªand wielded significant power.


    Not long ago, Huangfu Rou had also come to the Shanhai Department, somewhat stepping to success like him.


    Without hesitation, Shen Qing walked toward the entrance of the Shanhai Department.


    The two guards at the gate crossed their halberds to block Shen Qing, asking, "Who are you?"


    Shen Qing flicked his sleeve, revealing a jade-green token embroidered with patterns, and calmly said, "Shen Qing, Southern Chief Officer of the Military Department, here on important business to see Lord Huangfu. Please announce me."


    The two guards exchanged a quick glance before hastily withdrawing their assessing gazes.


    With cupped hands, they slightly bowed and said, "So it''s Chief Officer Shen visiting. We apologize for not welcoming you sooner. Please wait, we will immediately inform Lord Huangfu."


    One of them quickly turned and moved with a hint of urgency, clearly not daring to neglect Shen Qing, the Southern Chief Officer.

 Chapter 385 - 3: Seeing Huang Furo Again, The Secrets of the Ancients

    Inside the Mountain Sea Department office.


    Huang Furo sat upright at the desk piled with documents and scrolls, meticulously handling state affairs.


    "Lord Huangfu, outside there''s a person claiming to be Lord Chief Officer Shen Qing from the Military Department requesting to see you. Do you wish to meet him?"


    A servant dressed in blue at the door reported softly, his voice tinged with a bit of caution.


    Upon hearing this, Huang Furo paused slightly with the pen in hand, a drop of ink accidentally splattering on the rice paper, blossoming into an ink flower.


    He has come?


    A fleeting look of disbelief and surprise flashed in her eyes, quickly recovering to her usual calm: "Show him in, and don''t be negligent."


    "Yes, my lord." The servant accepted the order and left.


    Huang Furo quickly tidied her collar, rose, and stood by the window, gazing at the hurried figure in the courtyard, feeling a mysterious emotion well up inside.


    Before long, Shen Qing entered the Guardian Martial Department Office.


    Led by the servant, he arrived in front of a small room.


    Pushing the door open, Shen Qing stepped inside and saw Huang Furo already waiting.


    She was dressed in an ivory official robe embroidered with mountains and rivers, her figure graceful.


    She had already prepared a tea cup, placed on the long table, and upon seeing Shen Qing enter, she smiled slightly and said: "Lord Shen, long time no see."


    Huang Furo''s voice was as gentle as jade, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.


    Shen Qing looked up, noticing that Huang Furo''s brows carried a maturity and steadiness.


    A spontaneous smile appeared on his lips as he walked over leisurely, saying: "It hasn''t been that long, just a few months."


    Huang Furo was slightly startled; was it really that short? She thought a long time had passed.


    "Please, have a seat." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without standing on ceremony, Shen Qing sat opposite Huang Furo. With a wave of his hand, the door behind them closed with a sound.


    Huang Furo''s eyes shone with brilliance: "Lord Shen''s cultivation has improved again?"


    "You have a keen eye." Shen Qing did not hide it, using his thumb to pinch a small segment of his pinky, indicating as he said: "Previously, I was lucky and managed to break through a little, just a little."


    Huang Furo laughed immediately: "Your ''just a little'' might leave many in the dust."


    She could roughly see that when Shen Qing employed spiritual power, it was without the slightest hindrance, clearly indicating he had surpassed the Spirit Void Realm, which was not just a simple breakthrough but clearly above her level.


    What Shen Qing revealed confirmed her judgment.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s cultivation progressing so swiftly in such a short time, she felt genuinely happy for him without a trace of jealousy.


    With such cultivation and Sight, he wasn''t inferior compared to the noble sons of the Capital City.


    It was a good thing.


    Huang Furo put away her smile, personally poured a cup of tea, and pushed it in front of Shen Qing, saying: "Has the Jing Luan Assembly ended?"


    "You already knew?"


    Shen Qing took the tea, sniffed it, and took a small sip.


    Huang Furo also held up a cup of tea and said: "I deal with various kinds of intelligence every day in the Mountain River Bureau, how could I not know? Your selection into the Jing Luan Assembly was deliberately arranged by Xue Bai and Xue Zhao. Our department head had informed His Majesty of this discreetly."


    Shen Qing was slightly surprised, not expecting such matters behind the scenes.


    The Xue Family had repeatedly targeted him, treating him like a soft target.


    Huang Furo sincerely said: "Therefore, it really was not easy for you to come out smoothly this time; very impressive."


    "It was just good luck."


    Huang Furo knew that now in the Jing Luan Assembly, only one person survived and was honored by His Majesty, entering the Capital Military Department.


    Now it seemed to be Shen Qing.


    Although on the surface she seemed calm, deep inside her heart, a tidal wave surged.


    This time, they sent a Primordial Spirit Realm expert from the Mountain Sea Department, yet even they fell silent.


    And Shen Qing accomplished so much alone, which was simply incredible.


    Putting down her tea cup, Huang Furo asked: "The Qintian Bureau deduced that spirit essences appeared in Dan Zhou during the Jing Luan Assembly. Did you see any?"


    Shen Qing nodded: "There was indeed an Ancient relic that appeared, and many people died."


    "So it is." Huang Furo murmured to herself: "It seems those ancient records are true; much of what I found is also accurate."


    Shen Qing asked curiously: "Why? Is there some secret in the Ancient Era?"


    "Quite a few." Huang Furo nodded: "Since joining the Mountain Sea Department, I''ve mainly been collecting spirit essences for the Imperial family and have encountered many secrets. From the intelligence gathered so far, all the spirit essences that have appeared within Great Zhou''s borders are from the Ancient Era. Including that fallen object from the sky we encountered, it also originated from the Ancient times."


    Shen Qing asked in amazement: "But the Ancient Era is untraceable, I thought the records and legacies from that time had already been lost?"


    "Everything that remains leaves a trace. The events of the Ancient Era are indeed hard to verify due to their antiquity, but the Mountain Sea Department has found quite a few clues."


    Huang Furo earnestly said: "Recently, around Jinzhou, a spirit essence appeared, and we sent people to investigate. Surprisingly, they discovered an Ancient Cultivator sealed in a whole piece of spirit ore. It was said that when it emerged, you could still hear a heartbeat, which was astonishing. Unfortunately, it was later consumed by a demon, preventing further study."


    After hearing this, Shen Qing was quite shocked, his voice heavy: "So perhaps many Ancient Cultivators have survived until now."


    "Did you see any as well?" Huang Furo asked, surprised.


    "In the relic that appeared in Danzhou City, there was indeed a woman, her cultivation astonishing; I suspect she must also be an Ancient Cultivator," Shen Qing said with concern.

 Chapter 386 - 3: Seeing Huang Furo Again, The Secrets of the Ancients - Part 2

    He was most worried about something that had finally shown some signs.


    In this world, it seems that in ten out of ten chances, it''s going to be far from peaceful in the future.


    Shen Qing held a porcelain pot, pressed the lid, and poured a cup of tea for Huang Furo, also pouring himself one.


    He set the teapot down, picked up his teacup, and said, "You just mentioned that ancient cultivators were discovered being devoured by demons in Jinzhou. Now I''m seeing demons everywhere across Great Zhou. Are these demons related to the Ancient Period? Why is the temple so indifferent about it?"


    "Currently, there are records of demons from the Ancient Times, and nine out of ten chances, they are indeed related. As for the temple''s indifference to the demons, it''s somewhat complicated." A faint, almost imperceptible weariness showed in Huang Furo''s expression.


    "What do you mean?" Shen Qing pressed on.


    Huang Furo sighed and said, "You know that a demon''s Demon Core is greatly beneficial to cultivators in enhancing their cultivation, right?"


    Shen Qing nodded, "That''s indeed the case."


    Ever since he killed his first tiger demon, he had obtained a Demon Core and significantly advanced his cultivation because of it.


    "Are you aware that Your Majesty has been increasingly stringent in consolidating martial mechanisms over the past decade?"


    Shen Qing''s brow furrowed, sensing there was more to Huang Furo''s words.


    He looked directly at Huang Furo and said, "I''d like to hear the details."


    "This is something I only learned after joining the Mountain Sea Department," Huang Furo continued, organizing her thoughts. "Martial mechanism includes various martial arts techniques, elixirs, wish pearls, advancement methods, and other things related to martial arts. Any martial artist wanting to train wouldn''t have any future at all relying solely on their own efforts without martial mechanism."


    "Once the Imperial Family gathered the martial mechanism, it wasn''t simply collected and stored. From what I know, everything other than the martial arts is consumed by the Imperial Family, and there are rumors that the nation''s martial mechanism sustains one person within the royal family." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Who?"


    "The ancestors of the Ji family."


    Shen Qing felt as if he''d touched upon some secret, his eyes lighting up.


    "He wants to break into the Integration Realm, aiming for the pinnacle of the heavens, to become the only one in this world." Huang Furo said slowly.


    Achieving one''s success with the resources of the entire world, such ambition.


    After hearing this, Shen Qing felt a deep shock in his heart.


    "And how does this relate to the demons?" Shen Qing asked further.


    Huang Furo replied, "You must understand, it''s not just the Ji family''s ancestor who harbors ambitious goals; those old monsters within the Shi families, from his era, are still alive. They also wish to breach the heavens and attain prolonged lifespan."


    "But with just the Ji family ancestor blocking the way, naturally these people put their focus on Demon Cores."


    "If the court eradicates the demons, then the Demon Cores would naturally belong to the court, which is something many lords in the temple do not wish to see. Therefore, they obstruct in numerous ways, and the organization of Guardian Martial Departments across regions keeps getting reduced."


    Shen Qing, puzzled, asked, "Then does the temple just watch as demons rampage?"


    "How could that be? In fact, the cities with demons have long since been parceled out by the people in the temple. The demons appearing there are quietly dealt with by people from various families, forming an intricate network of underground dealings. It''s just that we weren''t aware before."


    Huang Furo, with a gloomy look in her eyes, said, "This time the Xue family targeted you and targeted Yongzhou, also because the Xue family saw the proliferation of demons there and had ideas of meddling. Do you know what they call these demon-infested cities once they take them?"


    "What?"


    "A vegetable city!" Huang Furo''s lips parted with cold words: "Turning a city into a vegetable garden, harvesting a batch every so often."


    Shen Qing was deeply shocked after Huang Furo''s explanation.


    At this moment, many confusing past events suddenly clarified for him.


    Why are there so many demons, and Ji Zikong doesn''t eradicate them?


    Why continuously expend martial artists, preferring to send them to their deaths rather than let them cultivate continuously?


    ...


    Shen Qing looked down at the teacup in his hand, and after a moment, he said, "So in some places, demons haven''t been exterminated because someone is raising them to accumulate large Demon Cores?"


    Huang Furo replied, "Yes, the higher the demon''s rank, the greater the benefit of the Demon Core for them."


    "So, currently, in the eyes of these people, Yongzhou and Taiping County are quite the goodies," Shen Qing said calmly as he looked up at Huang Furo.


    Huang Furo fell silent, saying nothing more.


    Shen Qing lifted his cup, saying, "Let''s drink tea, it''s getting cold."


    As he drained his cup, Shen Qing felt the bitterness become more apparent.


    At present, without power or influence, and being in the Military Department, if not for Huang Furo disclosing these things today, should he offend someone and end up fed to a great demon, he might remain oblivious, forever ignorant of these secrets.


    After all, the higher-ranking the martial artist, the more nourishing they are to demons, full of allure.


    Huang Furo asked, "What are you planning next?"


    "I don''t know, take it one step at a time."


    Huang Furo mused for a while before saying, "According to the information on my end, it won''t be long before Xue Zhao returns to the Capital. Given his vindictive nature, I doubt he''ll let you off. You''d better find someone to rely on in the Capital to avoid being too passive when the time comes, lest you find yourself losing your life confusedly."


    Shen Qing helplessly said, "Finding a protector like that isn''t so easy."


    Previously, Lan Gongliang did help him a lot and had the potential to become a protector.


    But he hasn''t clearly understood Lan Gongliang''s intentions yet, so he dares not take too much risk.


    Elsewhere, in the capital, he''s completely in the dark, with no connections at all.


    "Take it one step at a time."


    Shen Qing stood up and said, "I''ve drunk the tea and seen the person; I won''t delay Lord Huangfu from handling official duties any longer, I''ll head back first."


    Huang Furo''s eyes flickered subtly, and she got up as well, saying, "Let me see you off."


    "Lord Huangfu, no need, there''s always tomorrow; you''ll have plenty of opportunities to see me off in the future. Go ahead and take care of your duties, keep your health in check. From the looks of it, you haven''t worried less these days, worn yourself quite a bit."


    "I now live on Pingkang Street, you can come to find me if you have time."


    Finishing his words, Shen Qing waved his hand, turning to stride away.


    Suddenly, Huang Furo called to him, "By the way, I discovered something interesting lately."


    Shen Qing paused, turned back, and said, "What is it?"


    "In ancient times, there was a supreme being of humanity, called the Qing Emperor by the world, the same name as yours."


    Shen Qing chuckled and said, "Do you think I''m that Qing Emperor or something, hahaha... I didn''t even know I''ve been alive for ten thousand years."


    Huang Furo also laughed along, her mood considerably brightened.


    "I''m leaving."


    Shen Qing left directly.


    Huang Furo put away her smile, feeling much more cheerful.


    She sat back down at her long desk, her smile dissipating, and she instantly returned to her usual frosty demeanor.


    ...


    The night passed in a flash.


    The next day, neither early nor late, Shen Qing arrived at the Military Department Office.


    At this time, Wei Chengye had already arrived.


    Shen Qing stepped forward and cupped his fist, "I apologize for keeping you waiting, Lord Wei."


    "I just arrived myself." Wei Chengye led out two horses and said, "Let''s go, I''ll help you get acquainted with the Capital and the responsibilities you''ll need to oversee."


    "Alright."


    Shen Qing took the reins and mounted his horse.


    The two rode side by side down the street.


    While riding, Wei Chengye introduced, "There are seventy-two wards in the Capital, each with twenty of our people. The Outer City and the Capital''s surroundings have ninety-one wards and townships, and each area has between thirty to forty people."


    "You are responsible for fourteen neighborhoods in the southern gate section, sixteen wards and townships in the Outer City, as well as numerous affairs of the Military Department in the southern region of Great Zhou."


    Wei Chengye continued, "Generally, most of these tasks can be delegated to your subordinates, the bailiffs, and the patrols. If nothing major occurs, requiring our personal involvement is unnecessary, allowing you to focus on cultivation without issue."


    Shen Qing felt this was very much to his liking, understanding Wei Chengye''s words well.

 Chapter 387 - 4 The Eight Great Families

    On the bustling streets of the Capital City, the voices of peddlers were endless.


    Wei Chengye led Shen Qing to the area near the southern district of the city gate.


    "Chief Officer Shen, we have arrived."


    Shen Qing reined in his horse and stopped. He looked up and saw a low building at the street corner ahead, with a sign reading "Qinglong Square Military Department - Thirty-Seven."


    Wei Chengye dismounted and said, "This is the southern Qinglong Square, one of your patrol areas. Come, let''s go recognize the place."


    Shen Qing nodded and dismounted.


    Wei Chengye swaggered in, loudly declaring, "Is there anyone still breathing inside? Come out to meet me."


    Moments later, hurried footsteps emerged from the slightly cramped and dim interior of the house.


    Three minor officials dressed in black quickly rushed out.


    As soon as they saw Wei Chengye, their faces instantly filled with flattery and obsequiousness, groveling as they said, "Ah, isn''t this Lord Wei! Pardon our failure to greet you earlier!"


    "Please, my lord, have a seat."


    The three hastily brought out a few long benches, placed them beside Wei Chengye, and quickly served tea and water with a look of adulation.


    Meanwhile, Shen Qing surveyed the surroundings and found the space cramped and the furnishings simple, indicating that these officers'' living conditions were not that great.


    These officers were at least martial masters in the Qi Cultivation Realm and were influential figures back in Taiping County. Yet here in the Capital City, they were treated like lackeys, constantly ordered around, like heaven and earth apart.


    Witnessing this, Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel a bit rueful.


    Wei Chengye did not accept the tea or sit on the benches; instead, he stepped aside and introduced Shen Qing to everyone present.


    "Come, let me introduce you. This is Southern Chief Shen Qing, Lord Shen, who will be your new superior from now on. Get to know him."


    With these words, the room''s atmosphere froze; everyone''s gaze focused on Shen Qing, a mix of curiosity, awe, and anticipation.


    Shen Qing stood there, as immovable as a mountain, his expression solemn.


    One of the minor officials quickly responded, "Your humble servant, Ma Lingfei, greets you, my lord."


    "Your humble servant, Shi Yifei."


    "Your humble servant, Ge Wenbin."


    Wei Chengye directly commanded, "Bring out the files from the past few days."


    "Yes, my lord."


    One of the three quickly ran inside, producing a book resembling a ledger and presented it to both Wei Chengye and Shen Qing: "This, my lords, is the file from the past few days. Please review it, my lords."


    Wei Chengye skimmed through the records and then handed them to Shen Qing: "You take a look as well, to get a feel for it."


    Shen Qing opened the files and carefully read through them.


    By virtue of his Academic Pursuit ability, he quickly understood the cases documented in the files.


    Most were street fights, burglaries, and the like, with the only murder case being an accidental killing involving familial betrayal.


    Quite different from Yongzhou, where murder and rampant demon activity were common.


    In other words, life here was quite peaceful.


    "So, usually, we are not needed much; these officers and constables are more than capable of handling matters," Wei Chengye calmly explained. "You needn''t worry too much."


    Shen Qing closed the file and said, "I understand."


    "Your jurisdiction is from thirty to forty-four, all in this area. You can come familiarize yourself with the locations when you have time. Now, let''s head to another location."


    With that, Wei Chengye was already on his feet, heading outside.


    After returning the files, Shen Qing also stepped out.


    The three minor officials escorted them to the door, grinning, "My lords, take care."


    Outside, Shen Qing and Wei Chengye mounted their horses.


    Shen Qing inquired, "Are we heading to the next district office?" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Lord Shen, you can take your time meeting those under your jurisdiction later. I will take you to another place," Wei Chengye said, spurring his horse forward, "Let''s go!"


    Indeed, visiting so many neighborhoods, fourteen garrison points, one by one, would indeed be quite time-consuming.


    If conditions were largely the same everywhere, it would be unnecessary.


    Shen Qing did not question and simply followed.


    Having wandered around yesterday with nothing else to do, he was already quite familiar with the layout of this area.


    He noticed that Wei Chengye was heading further south.


    If he remembered correctly, that direction would lead near Qifu Gate.


    After riding for a while, they arrived at an establishment where Wei Chengye halted, handing the reins to a servant by the door before striding inside.


    The interior was bustling, with the first floor full of people.


    Wei Chengye led Shen Qing to the second floor, choosing a window seat.


    A servant approached, beaming with a smile, "What would you like to eat, sirs?"


    "Get a pot of Golden Osmanthus Wine, three taels of lamb, a roast chicken, and three side dishes for the wine," Wei Chengye skillfully ordered.


    The servant quickly noted on a bamboo slip, "All right, esteemed guests, please wait a moment."


    Shen Qing sat across from Wei Chengye, puzzled, "Lord Wei, is this the place you intended for me to see?"


    Wei Chengye smiled and pointed, "Look at the street below."


    Shen Qing leaned out to look at the street below, only seeing hurried pedestrians and rows of shops lining the street.


    Beyond that, he couldn''t notice any significant differences.


    "Forgive my lack of insight; I can''t discern anything special."


    Wei Chengye chuckled, "Do you know which influential families are in the Capital?"


    "Cui, Wang, Xue, Xie, Zhao, Li, Zhang, Su."


    "Correct. The stores below belong precisely to the Eight Great Families: the Su family''s gambling house, the Zhang family''s pleasure quarters, the Xie family''s pawnshop... Within your jurisdiction, this area has the most family establishments, so be cautious," Wei Chengye advised with a hint of warning.

 Chapter 388 - 4 Eight Great Families_2

    "Capital is swarming with nobility; if you throw a brick, whoever you hit will likely have connections to the court. Picking the wrong target could lead to unnecessary trouble for yourself."


    "But, as you know, in our line of work, it''s easiest to offend people, which is unavoidable. So, just remember to steer clear of those from the Eight Major Surnames."


    "You''d better turn a blind eye to some things. The most important area in your jurisdiction is here." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing calmly said, "So, even though we are officials of the court, do we still have to kneel before the Eight Great Families?"


    "Don''t make it sound so unpleasant," Wei Chengye said with a smile. "There are plenty of people who want to kneel and can''t even get the chance."


    Shen Qing asked, "Is there no way to stand?"


    "There is, if your surname were Ji, no one would dare make you kneel."


    "Excuse me, gentlemen, your food and drinks are here."


    At this moment, the servant of the inn came up with plates full of food and drinks, interrupting the two.


    Wei Chengye said, "Let''s have a drink first."


    He flipped his fingers, and the seal on the wine pot was effortlessly removed, releasing a strong scent of osmanthus mixed with the aroma of wine.


    "Lord Shen, try the osmanthus wine here; it''s much better than the overly sweet stuff outside."


    Shen Qing didn''t question further and raised his cup, saying, "Then I won''t stand on ceremony and will indulge."


    Glug glug.


    Shen Qing tossed back his head and swallowed a large gulp of the wine in a hearty manner.


    The amber liquid flowed down his throat like a torrent, bringing a sense of warmth and satisfaction, as a warm current spread from his stomach.


    After drinking, the unique fragrance of osmanthus and a hint of sweetness emanated from his tongue.


    Shen Qing immediately felt that this wine was indeed a bit different.


    "Brother Shen, how''s the wine?"


    "Good wine."


    "Hahaha," Wei Chengye said, "In the Capital, besides many other things, there''s an abundance of wine here. Almost every inn has its unique flower wine. The annual Hundred Flowers Brew competition for the King of Wines is quite lively. In some days, you''ll have the chance to see it."


    Shen Qing picked up the chopsticks and said, "Then I''ll definitely take a look when the time comes."


    After a few more sips, Shen Qing suddenly remembered something and asked, "By any chance, does Big Brother Wei know about the affairs between the families and the city of Vegetables?"


    Wei Chengye''s smile instantly faded, and he asked, "Where did Brother Shen hear about this?"


    "I overheard those noble brats mention it occasionally during the Rebellion Suppression Meeting," Shen Qing fabricated, pushing the matter onto someone deceased.


    Wei Chengye sighed, very apprehensively saying, "The waters here are deep, beyond what we can tread into. It''s best you don''t inquire."


    Seeing Wei Chengye''s evasive demeanor, Shen Qing promptly asked no more questions.


    Below the inn, an intricately carved carriage slowly stopped, the sound of hooves ceased abruptly, raising a faint cloud of dust.


    The carriage curtain was lifted gently, revealing first a hand etched with the marks of time, followed by a venerable gentleman with white hair and beard, who slowly disembarked.


    After alighting, he held the curtain aside and courteously said to someone inside, "Young Master, we have arrived."


    "Hmm," a youthful voice hummed from the carriage.


    A lively-eyed, delicate-featured youth emerged from the carriage.


    He leapt down lightly, landing steadily, appearing clean and agile.


    He was evidently a martial arts practitioner as well.


    The innkeeper, Li Fu, was already waiting at the entrance.


    He kept a keen eye on his surroundings and upon seeing the carriage pull up, hurriedly stepped over the threshold, with a face full of welcoming smiles, jogging forward to greet them, "Ah, Steward Li, Ninth Young Master, you''ve finally arrived; I''ve been waiting a long time!"


    "Have you prepared everything? Today, I happen to be here to check the accounts of the inn. I noticed that quite a few accounts don''t tally."


    The innkeeper, Li Fu, broke into a cold sweat and said, "Ninth Young Master, surely you jest. We wouldn''t dare falsify the accounts no matter what."


    "Let''s check first and talk later."


    "This way, Ninth Young Master."


    Under the innkeeper''s escort, the elder and young man slowly entered the inn.


    Though young, Ninth Young Master Li exuded an imposing presence not to be underestimated.


    As soon as he stepped into the inn, he drew curious glances from the guests at the sudden air of ceremony.


    Ninth Young Master Li appeared unflustered, showing no change of expression, composed as ever.


    They ascended the stairs, and upon reaching the wooden floor of the second level, they encountered two individuals dressed in Military Department official attire: Shen Qing and Wei Chengye.


    Ninth Young Master Li recognized one of them as the Chief Officer of the Military Department, Wei Chengye. But the other handsome gentleman was unfamiliar.


    He turned to the elder beside him and asked, "Grandpa Tong, who is the one beside Wei Chengye?"


    The elder servant gazed over, noticing Shen Qing''s sharp appearance and vibrant eyes, but he couldn''t recognize him either.


    "Ninth Young Master, this old servant does not know either. I''ll inquire a bit later."


    Ninth Young Master Li softly acknowledged, then was ushered into a private room by innkeeper Li Fu.


    Innkeeper Li Fu promptly had the servants prepare fruits and desserts and brought out the accounts, saying, "Ninth Young Master, here''s the inn''s turnover for nearly a year."


    "Place it on the table. I''ll review them one by one. Meanwhile, you and your men can leave."


    Innkeeper Li Fu hurriedly retreated.


    After a while, the elder servant tasked with gathering information returned to the side of the youth, waiting patiently.


    The youth''s brows knitted tightly as he reviewed the accounts.


    With a blank face, he closed the accounts and said, "Bring that innkeeper to me."


    "Yes, Young Master."


    Innkeeper Li Fu entered, trembling with fear, "Ninth Young Master, you called?"


    Ninth Young Master Li coldly said, "Grandpa Tong, detach his head."


    "Ah!" Innkeeper Li Fu was so terrified he nearly rolled over, pleading, "Ninth Young Master, I''ve worked here for so many years. Surely I deserve some credit despite hardships. I beg the Young Master to spare my life..."


    Splat!


    Blood spattered.


    Innkeeper Li Fu''s voice abruptly stopped.


    His head was forcibly twisted off by the elder servant.


    "After so many years, with accounts this poorly done, expecting to live?" Ninth Young Master Li snorted coldly, asking the elder servant, "Have you figured out the identity of the newcomer outside?"


    The elder servant casually tossed the head onto the ground, respectfully replying, "Young Master, the old servant has found out. His name is Shen Qing; he recently survived the Rebellion Suppression Meeting and was appointed as the Southern Chief of the Military Department by His Majesty."


    "I heard only one person survived the Rebellion Suppression Meeting, which is this man?" Ninth Young Master Li curiously asked.


    "Yes, indeed."


    "Coincidentally, he is nominally the chief of our market square." Glancing at the corpse on the floor, Ninth Young Master Li indifferently instructed, "Bring him here. I happen to want to inquire about Third Brother and the others."


    "The deaths of Third Brother and the others at the Rebellion Suppression Meeting remain unclear, making Father very displeased. If we can pry some information about the Rebellion Suppression Meeting from his mouth to bring back, perhaps Father will feel somewhat relieved."


    "Understood." The elder servant acknowledged and went straight to Shen Qing and Wei Chengye.


    At this time, Shen Qing was casually chatting with Wei Chengye when suddenly a stranger stood beside him.


    He eyed the elder servant, not understanding.


    The elder servant, in a condescending manner, said, "Chief Officer Shen, my Young Master has questions for you; come along."


    His tone was disrespectful, displeasing Shen Qing.


    Seeing Shen Qing so aloof, the elder servant furrowed his brows briefly but then softened his tone humbly, saying, "Chief Officer Shen, my Ninth Young Master is at this inn and wishes to meet Lord Shen. I hope Lord Shen will oblige."


    Wei Chengye, hearing the elder servant''s identification, was momentarily surprised and said, "Ninth Young Master of the Li Family?"


    "Exactly."


    "I have heard the Ninth Young Master of the Li Manor has impressive martial talent among the young generation in the Li family. A pleasure to meet today, truly an honor." Wei Chengye introduced, lowering his voice, "Brother Shen, you might not know, but Young Master Li''s father is the reigning Martial Marquis."


    The intention was clear for Shen Qing to "bow" and acknowledge the bigger picture.


    However, Shen Qing wasn''t inclined to comply.


    Shen Qing seriously put down his wine cup and stated, "Not going!"

 Chapter 389 - 5: Why Look at the Owner When You Beat the Dog?

    Shen Qing''s words took the old servant by surprise; he even thought he heard wrong.


    The old servant''s face instantly turned cold, as dark as if it could wring water out, and he said coldly, "Do you even know what you''re saying?"


    "I said, I am not familiar with your young master, and I will not go." Shen Qing repeated again, speaking with clear enunciation.


    To him, the other party was arrogant and disrespectful by coming here, and he really didn''t have the patience to cozy up to someone who''s being ungrateful, bending over backward to cater to this unwarranted arrogance.


    Upon hearing this, the old servant''s expression became even more ferocious, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, "Well, well, well, I see you choose to toast punishment instead of drinking respectfully. Within this Capital City, even your Lord Commander has to smile when meeting anyone from the Li Family. Who do you think you are, just a Chief Officer in a mere skin coat, thinking you''re great?"


    The atmosphere between the two suddenly became tense and confrontational.


    At this moment, Wei Chengye hurriedly stepped out in a timely manner, "Gentlemen, please refrain from getting angry. Chief Officer Shen may have his inconveniences. Why don''t we sit down and discuss this peacefully?"


    "Discuss? I see there''s no need for that."


    A trace of ruthlessness flashed in the eyes of the Li family''s old servant. His dry and skinny right hand suddenly stretched out like an eagle''s claw, reaching straight for Shen Qing''s shoulder, clearly unwilling to waste more words.


    "Die!"


    A strong wind rushed toward Shen Qing, causing his clothes to flutter loudly.


    Shen Qing''s body remained still, but waves of spiritual power surged around him, and deep spiritual power gushed out like a river, meeting the old servant''s claw.


    Boom!


    Their spiritual power collided in the air, exploding in a deafening roar.


    Around Shen Qing, whether it was the delicate carved window frames or the rustic redwood tables and chairs, they all turned to dust instantly under the force of this power.


    The air was filled with thick smoke and dust.


    The Li family servant retreated several steps before stabilizing himself.


    He squinted his eyes as he sized up Shen Qing, and he realized there was something unusual about this young man.


    Both being at the Spirit Void Realm, this person''s foundation was even stronger than his.


    Spiritual power surged continuously, endlessly deep, truly unbelievable.


    Wei Chengye, seeing the two had started to fight, was startled and quickly grabbed Shen Qing''s arm, apologizing to the Li family''s old servant with a smile, "My Brother Shen is ignorant; please don''t blame him, old steward."


    After speaking, he lowered his voice and leaned close to Shen Qing, whispering, "Brother Shen, are you crazy? Don''t just see that he''s a mere servant; he''s backed by the Li Family. You know, you don''t have to look at the owner when you beat the dog; if you do this, the Li Family might not let you go."


    Shen Qing smiled indifferently.


    Among the Eight Great Families now, he had already offended the Xue Family, not afraid of another one.


    A mere servant riding on his head to do as he pleased, did he really think he was a clay Bodhisattva without any temper?


    The old servant clearly did not take Wei Chengye seriously.


    "Now, wanting to bow your head is too late!"


    The old servant, having failed his first strike, stomped his foot, and yellow glimmers of light continuously gushed from his Qi Sea, transforming into a golden arrow heading straight toward Shen Qing.


    His claw, as if forged with golden light, filled with murderous intent, kept pressing towards Shen Qing like a ghost.


    Each move directly targeted Shen Qing''s vital points.


    Shen Qing''s mind remained focused, a Divine Sense spread out.


    The actions and patterns of each move of the old servant clearly manifested in Shen Qing''s mind.


    He employed the Great Void Shifting Technique, his form graceful, moving as if stepping on clouds like an Immortal, with each dodge perfectly timed.


    While avoiding Li Huai''s onslaught, he also continually depleted the spiritual power and stamina of the Li family''s old servant, making it seem effortless.


    Both were powerhouses at the Spirit Void Realm, wherever they passed, tables, screens, vases, all turned to powder under the impact of their spiritual power.


    This was still the result of both intentionally controlling; they didn''t want to tear the tavern apart and make a huge scene.


    The guests around the tavern, seeing the two fighting, scattered in all directions to avoid getting caught in the crossfire and losing their lives for nothing.


    Even the brave ones dared not stick around to watch the excitement.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    The two kept exchanging moves; Shen Qing used his physical body to withstand, his whole body glowed with a reddish-gold brilliance.


    The Li family old servant, the more he fought, the more horrified he became. He hadn''t expected Shen Qing''s cultivation to be so profound, as if playing child''s play in front of him with all his might.


    Moreover, seeing the opponent''s performance, he was clearly holding back some strength.


    He saw Shen Qing''s youthful appearance, feeling a huge sense of disparity.


    This sense quickly turned into supreme fury.


    After just exchanging dozens of moves, he felt like he was led by the nose.


    If it weren''t for his "battle-hardened experience," he might have already been defeated and lost his life.


    The Li family''s old servant, extremely unwilling in his heart.


    He roared, his whole body surged with spiritual power, fiercely clawing forward, pouring all his lifetime cultivation into this strike. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the void, a golden eagle claw suddenly appeared, clawing toward Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing showed no fear, waving both hands, facing the difficulty, his hands forming an imprint and throwing it forward.


    Before Shen Qing''s chest, gentle yet powerful spiritual power surged like a tide, transforming into an ancient great seal, colliding head-on with the golden eagle claw.


    Boom.


    In just an instant, he effortlessly resolved the Li family''s old servant''s offensive into nothingness.


    The golden eagle claw vanished with a bang.


    "It''s over."


    Shen Qing gently pointed a finger, a brilliant beam of spiritual power shot from his fingertip, hitting the Li family old servant''s chest accurately.


    The Li family old servant''s body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily into the tavern''s wall, then sliding down powerlessly, leaving a wall covered in bloodstains.

 Chapter 390 - 5 Do You Need to Look at the Owner When You Beat the Dog?_2

    """,


    As both were martial masters in the Spirit Void Realm, the Li family''s servant was no match.


    Shen Qing steadied the dagger by his waist and took one step after another, his thumb pressed against the hilt, revealing the silver blade.


    The dagger at his waist trembled slightly, seeming very spiritual.


    From the blade, Shen Qing felt a surge of excitement and exhilaration.


    Shen Qing stood before the old servant of the Li family, looking down at him just as before, his eyes as calm as water, showing no sign of joy or sorrow.


    The old servant of the Li family struggled to open his eyes caked with blood, breathing heavily.


    Shen Qing slowly drew the treasure blade from his waist, pointing at the Li family''s servant.


    "Hold on!"


    At that moment, a room on the second floor opened, letting out a dim yellow glow that silhouetted a tall and straight young man.


    He wore a cyan robe embroidered with intricate cloud patterns, stepping out of the room with an undeniable air of nobility in his stride.


    "Young master Nine..." the old servant struggled to rise.


    His face was full of grooves, kneeling trembling on the ground, his voice filled with strong self-reproach: "It was my incompetence that offended the esteemed guest. I am... truly undeserving..."


    The young man continued to step forward, locking eyes with Shen Qing who stood not far away.


    "Chief Officer Shen," the young man said in a cold tone, imbued with an inherent command as if viewing all from above: "Do you realize that the person before you is a servant of my Li family? Just now Chief Officer Wei said it well, you need to check with the owner before beating the dog. Did you ask my Li family''s opinion before acting?"


    "The Capital City is not your little county town, nor is it the obscure Taiping County. It''s filled with capable individuals, and not someone a mere Chief Officer can provoke. I advise you to be sensible and stop while you''re ahead."


    With these words, the young man slightly raised his chin, a touch of arrogance emanating from his very bones.


    Shen Qing, from afar, vaguely sensed the sense of authority that came from a top family, exuding from the young man.


    "You overestimate yourselves," Shen Qing''s eyes flickered, suddenly he laughed: "In my view, you don''t have to look at the owner when you beat the dog."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Qing activated his Spiritual Power, and the Spiritual Treasure Blade in his hand shone brightly.


    With one swing, the blade light sliced through the air like a dragon, rushing straight toward the old servant''s head with a howling wind.


    The old servant''s eyes filled with terror, he never thought Shen Qing would completely disregard the Li family''s power and truly aim to take his life.


    Already injured, he could not evade the sudden slash, only watching helplessly as the blade light approached, his heart flooded with unprecedented fear and despair.


    "Master, save me!"


    "Poof!"


    A soft sound, blood blossomed like a red lotus, instantly dyeing a corner of the inn red.


    The old servant''s head was swiftly and cleanly severed under the brilliant blade light.


    From the severed neck, Spiritual Power splattered, attempting to heal the wound, but ultimately could not change the outcome.


    The Li family''s ninth young master''s face turned pale as paper, filled with disbelief and shock.


    He never expected there could be someone in the Capital City who completely disregarded the Li family.


    Shen Qing sheathed his blade and stood, his expression calm, turning to look at the Li family''s ninth young master.


    The Li family''s ninth young master shivered immediately.


    Shen Qing glanced past the Li family''s ninth young master, seeing the already decapitated innkeeper inside.


    He said lightly: "In my jurisdiction, leaving innocent people in ruins, using private punishments indiscriminately, according to law, requires paying with one''s life. Now the murderer is punished, and it''s settled."


    "You... fine, today I concede." The Li family''s ninth young master, after a brief daze, regained his composure and threatened viciously: "I hope you can maintain this arrogance in the future."


    After speaking, he strode ahead and left.


    Shen Qing, however, stood crosswise with his blade, blocking Li Ninth Young Master.


    "What, you want to kill me?" Li Ninth Young Master said coldly.


    At this moment, he seemed calm, but inside he was already beating like drums.


    This Chief Officer before him really didn''t follow the usual way, hard to guarantee he wouldn''t act recklessly.


    Shen Qing laughed: "Killing you is not my intention, but you know, I don''t like being threatened, especially by a brat like you."


    "Hmm?"


    Shen Qing''s left hand formed a seal, connecting with the heavens and earth''s aura, condensing an ancient and mysterious rune seal.


    This great seal, carrying a thousand tons of force, crashed down, firmly suppressing Li Ninth Young Master in place, unable to move. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Ninth Young Master felt the air around him solidify, an indescribable pressure making it hard to breathe.


    He found himself unable to break free, panicking and shouted: "What do you intend to do?"


    "You''re young and learn bad manners, I''ll teach you a lesson for your parents."


    He grabbed Li Ninth Young Master''s fine collar, as if picking up a helpless cat or dog, and without allowing protest, pressed him onto his knee.


    At this moment, Li Ninth Young Master''s face flushed red, as if realizing something, with fear and disbelief in his eyes.


    When had he ever suffered such humiliation?


    "You... how dare you?!"


    Li Ninth Young Master''s voice trembled as he tried to resist, but it was ultimately futile.


    Shen Qing''s lips curled into a playful smile, raising his broad palm, the center of his palm exuding a light wave of Spiritual Power, the air seemed to tremble slightly under this palm.


    "Smack!"


    A crisp sound, Shen Qing''s palm landed squarely on Li Ninth Young Master''s buttocks, that sound echoing in the silent air, exceedingly piercing.


    Following that were several "smack" sounds, each landing with a strange rhythm.


    "Ah, I''ll kill you!"


    Wei Chengye, witnessing this scene from the side, his eyes widened in disbelief.


    He, indeed, was spanking Li Ninth Young Master?!!!


    No one knew how long it lasted, initially, Li Ninth Young Master was still shouting threats, claiming he would kill him.


    But for every shout, Shen Qing increased his force.


    Until the end, Li Ninth Young Master was completely terrified.


    With only Qi endurance realm cultivation, in Shen Qing''s hands, he was no different from a lamb.


    At this moment, he was truly feared of being beaten to death.


    What dignity, what face, he had thrown away everything.


    The Li family''s ninth young master cried bitterly, shouting: "I dare not, I will never dare again."


    Shen Qing slapped down with a palm.


    Smack!


    "Dare not what?"


    "I will never talk nonsense again, will never kill servants recklessly, will never wipe nose snot on father''s clothes again..."


    Under the threat of death, Li Ninth Young Master blurted out many things, even mixing in many strange ones.


    Wei Chengye watched from the side with a racing heart.


    He hurriedly stepped forward to persuade: "Chief Officer Shen, enough, going further might cause big trouble."


    Shen Qing glanced at the young man in front, for once showing a bit of obsequiousness on his usually fierce face.


    He lost interest, lifted the restraint, and casually tossed him out.


    Li Ninth Young Master went sprawling, due to Shen Qing''s heavy slap, his buttocks were not lightly injured, each movement brought piercing pain, taking a sharp breath.


    However, at this moment, he didn''t care about the pain and quickly climbed up, inhaling sharply while hobbling away downstairs, desperately distancing himself.


    Shen Qing patted the dust off himself, as if doing something insignificant.


    "Chief Officer Shen, now, now you''ve brought trouble for yourself," Wei Chengye said with worry: "Provoking the Li family like this, there''s no way you''ll have a good ending, might even risk your life."


    Shen Qing said flatly: "A remarkable person once said. Being a slave is unfortunate, but not frightening, because knowing to struggle, after all, there''s a hope of breaking free; if one finds ''beauty'' in slave life, praises and indulges in it, that''s the point of no return as a slave!"


    "I fought my way through the mountains of corpses and seas of blood to come to this Capital City as an official, not to kneel down and be someone''s slave."


    Before, I wasn''t powerful, if someone wanted to mess with me, I would endure it.


    But now my cultivation has reached the Spirit Void, still continue to endure?


    Endure my ass!


    Shen Qing steadied his blade and strode away.


    Wei Chengye, dazed by Shen Qing''s words, quickly followed and asked: "Chief Officer Shen, where are you going now?"


    "To find Lord Lan to save me."


    "..."


    """

 Chapter 391 - 6 Hurry up and apologize to me

    ```


    "Father, I was hit! I was hit!"


    The Ninth Young Master of the Li Family stumbled into the gates of Marquis Wu''s Mansion in a disheveled state, staggering as he moved.


    His hands tightly covered his backside, each step comically awkward as if a heavy stone hung from it.


    Tears and snot ran down his face.


    This strange yet comical sight drew the attention of the servants and maids, who looked on curiously.


    In the main hall of the Marquis Wu''s Mansion, a middle-aged man with a stern face sat at the head seat.


    He wore luxurious attire and was chatting amiably with a scholar in a green robe.


    This man was none other than the Military Marquis Li Zhen Tian, the current head of the Li Family.


    Hearing the commotion from outside, he exuded an aura of authority and disapproval without anger.


    When he saw Ninth Young Master Li bursting in without courtesy and interrupting his conversation with the guest, his expression turned grim and he bellowed, "What kind of conduct is this?!!"


    Ninth Young Master Li, having never seen his father so furious, couldn''t help but shudder.


    The guest, upon seeing Li''s tear-streaked and snot-covered face, wisely stood up, clasped his hands in respect, and said, "It seems the Marquis has family matters to attend to. I should take my leave and not intrude."


    "My apologies, we can convene at the palace tomorrow to summon the ministers for discussion and then decide."


    Li Zhen Tian cordially escorted the guest out and turned back to the hall.


    He stared intently at Ninth Young Master Li, scanning him from head to toe before asking angrily, "Speak, what on earth happened?"


    Seeing his father''s wrath, Ninth Young Master Li was frightened, but the burning pain from his buttocks reminded him of Shen Qing''s smug face, making it hard to focus on anything else.


    He fell to his knees with a thud, crying bitterly, "Father, you must seek justice for me!"


    While sobbing, Ninth Young Master Li narrated the grievances he had just suffered at the "Zuixian Building" in a choked voice.


    "Father, today I took Grandpa Tong to Zuixian Building to check the accounts and encountered two hooligans from the Military Department. At first, everything was fine, but who knew those two Chief Officers from the Military Department were so rude, shouting at us. I chose not to argue, but who would''ve thought my repeated tolerance would lead them to take advantage of us... Grandpa Tong stood up for me and was beheaded, and I couldn''t escape, ending up like this..."


    "Father, those Chief Officers of the Military Department truly have no regard for our Li Family, Father!"


    At this point, Ninth Young Master Li Yi couldn''t hold back his wails, seemingly venting all his grievances.


    However, after hearing everything, Li Zhen Tian did not react with the rage Li Yi expected, instead letting out a cold laugh.


    He looked down from above and said, "Little Nine, do you know why your grandfather chose me to inherit the title of Marquis among my uncles?"


    "What?"


    "Because I never blindly trust others'' words, especially one-sided stories like yours."


    Ninth Young Master Li Yi''s face froze, his sobs stuck in his throat.


    He stared at his father in disbelief.


    Li Zhen Tian continued, "Though those in the Military Department are often unreasonable and arrogant, they''re not brainless. Do you think your father blind, unable to discern truth from falsehood in what you''ve said today?"


    "I''ll say this: it''s always you bullying others, not the other way around without reason. Tell me, what really happened?"


    Li Zhen Tian''s aura of Spiritual Energy trembled, a sharp momentum rising from him, displaying his Primordial Spirit Realm power unmistakably.


    The color on Ninth Young Master Li Yi''s face shifted from red to white, then to blue.


    Swallowing, he quickly bowed his head and truthfully confessed, "I heard that the Chief Officer dining at Zuixian Building recently participated in the Jing Luan Assembly, so I sent Grandpa Tong to ask him for some information. Perhaps Grandpa Tong''s words were too harsh, causing offense, and ultimately led to the conflict."


    Li Zhen Tian pieced together a rough outline of the situation from the description.


    Surely, he relied on the family''s influence, becoming arrogant and reckless.


    This is what led to the confrontation, forcing the other to act in desperation.


    It was consistent with his son''s usual behavior. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Zhen Tian sighed, disappointment and helplessness evident in his tone.


    Thinking of the matter involving Jing Luan Assembly, Li Zhen Tian spoke, "Just now you mentioned the Chief Officer you encountered had participated in the recent Jing Luan Assembly?"


    "Yes, Father. I remember he should be named Shen Qing." Ninth Young Master Li Yi quickly nodded and said, "Many of our family''s brothers and sisters faced misfortune in this Jing Luan Assembly. I''ve seen you often troubled by it, Father, so I wanted to learn more about it to open your mind."


    Li Zhen Tian glanced at Li Yi, his heart filled with a mix of emotions, unsure of what to say.


    After pondering for a moment, he slowly responded, "If I recall correctly, only one person survived the recent Jing Luan Assembly. If you''re not mistaken, then the person you encountered today should be him."


    "This man came from humble beginnings, initially a hunter, with no ancestral privileges. The reason he could enter the power-holding government office like the Capital Military Department, aside from his own capabilities, was mainly because Your Majesty appointed him intentionally."


    "In other words, perhaps there are deeper intentions from Your Majesty, and you shouldn''t have provoked him."


    "Ah... Father, should we just let it go?" Ninth Young Master Li Yi asked, unwilling to accept.


    "Let it go?"


    With a "slap" sound, Li Zhen Tian slapped Li Yi''s face harshly.


    ```

 Chapter 392 - 6 Hurry and Go Apologize_2

    The fierce wind rose. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Yi only felt an irresistible force lift him whole, his body crashing heavily to the ground like a kite with a broken string.


    Amidst the swirling dust, he coughed up a mixture of blood and saliva, with a tooth knocked loose by the impact.


    "Cough... cough..."


    Li Yi propped himself up with his hands, struggling to get up from the ground.


    His cheek quickly swelled, the imprint of five fingers clearly visible, with traces of dried blood at the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of confusion.


    "How could it end like this, you hurry and go apologize!"


    Li Yi trembled as he lightly touched his burning cheek, his gaze turned towards Li Zhen Tian, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief: "Father? Why?"


    "Why? Do you think being a young master of the Li family allows you to do as you please? Do you think I''ve been indulging you just because of your high Martial Arts talent? Do you believe everyone outside is a fool like you? Hmm?"


    Li Zhen Tian looked at Li Yi with a disappointed glare, saying, "For our Li family to get where we are today, it''s nothing but the saying: ''Cautious and fearful, treading on thin ice.'' "


    "When you go out, make more friends and fewer enemies, only then can you thrive. That person surviving single-handedly in the Jing Luan Assembly is no ordinary person. If the Emperor has plans with him, do you realize the kind of disaster you could bring to our family?"


    The words baffled young master Li Yi, never having considered this angle before.


    He thought that as an outstanding member of the young generation in the family, blessed with extraordinary talent, even occasional mistakes would be overlooked by his father. He never expected his father to be so furious this time, even resorting to his cultivation to discipline him.


    "But, father, I..." Li Yi attempted to argue, but the words stuck in his throat.


    He understood that, at this moment, anything he said would seem powerless and pale.


    "There''s no ''but''!" Li Zhen Tian cut him off, his tone unyielding, "You go now. If you don''t want to go, I''ll take you with me."


    Facing Li Zhen Tian''s unarguable gaze, Li Yi finally lowered his head, silently accepting the order.


    He realized his father''s words were full of truth, that he had been too arrogant and full of himself.


    "Let''s go!"


    Li Zhen Tian immediately took a stride forward, walking ahead of Li Yi, ordering the servants to prepare a generous gift to be brought along.


    ...


    At the same time, Shen Qing and Wei Chengye also returned to the Military Department.


    Compared to Shen Qing''s calmness, Wei Chengye was filled with worry, regretting bringing Shen Qing to the Li family restaurant and starting a trouble with people they should not have provoked.


    "Chief Officer Shen, about today..." Wei Chengye said, "I''m afraid the Li family won''t let this go easily."


    Shen Qing gently patted Wei Chengye''s shoulder, smiling as he reassured him, "What''s done is done, let''s find Lord Lan and see what decision he makes."


    In Shen Qing''s view, this was an opportunity to test what exactly Lan Gongliang''s intentions were, whether towards him was good or ill.


    As the two walked towards the third courtyard, they found no sign of Lan Gongliang.


    Shen Qing scanned with his Sight but also found nothing.


    After hurriedly asking some government officials, he learned that Lan Gongliang was out on business and had not returned.


    "What to do now?" Wei Chengye said darkly: "Since I am with you, my end will probably not be great either."


    He paced anxiously back and forth in the government office, his heart filled with unease.


    "Chief Officer Wei, calm down." Shen Qing interrupted Wei Chengye''s anxiety and said calmly: "Even if the Li family is almighty, they can''t just kill us as they please."


    Wei Chengye shook his head, saying: "Brother Shen, you are still too young. The Li family has countless ways to deal with you. If they don''t harm you directly, can''t they go after your wife, children, or parents?"


    "I have no parents, nor have I started a family," Shen Qing stated truthfully.


    "..." Wei Chengye was momentarily stunned, saying: "Fine, even if you don''t have these family members, can''t they send you on a dangerous mission, using another''s hand to get rid of you?"


    "That is a possibility."


    However, Shen Qing was not afraid.


    With his current cultivation, given little time, his abilities were more than enough to protect his life.


    "Now that Lord Lan is not at the office, what are you planning to do next?"


    Shen Qing smiled, saying, "His Majesty granted me the Ribboned Green Jade Command allowing me to visit the Royal Arsenal. Since there''s nothing now, I''m planning to make a trip to the Imperial Palace."


    Hearing this, Wei Chengye thought to himself, ''Hiding in the Imperial Palace is indeed a good move. Even if the Li family is almighty, they wouldn''t dare create trouble inside the palace. But what about me? If he goes to the palace, won''t the Li family vent all their anger on me?''


    Thinking of this, Wei Chengye felt even worse.


    At this moment, a heavy and hurried set of footsteps approached. A long-accompanying official swiftly jogged up to Shen Qing and Wei Chengye, saying: "Lord Shen, Lord Wei, the Marquis and Ninth Young Master of the Li family are here to see you."


    Wei Chengye''s mind was a blank.


    He hadn''t expected their "retaliation" to come so quickly, with the family head personally visiting.


    A twinge of surprise and tension flashed in Wei Chengye''s eyes. In a low voice, he said to Shen Qing, "How about we leave through the back door and evade the trouble for a bit?"


    Shen Qing glanced at Wei Chengye and said, "Let''s meet them. In broad daylight, in the government office, they won''t dare try anything, or else they''d be making too much of themselves even under the Emperor''s nose."


    Shen Qing, resting his hand on his saber around his waist, shouted, "Lead the way."


    The attendant led in front, silently guiding Shen Qing towards the first courtyard.


    Watching Shen Qing''s back grow distant, Wei Chengye slapped his own face, remorsefully thinking, ''Damn it, I should have stayed out of this mess from the start.''


    He quickly caught up to him.


    A side room in the first courtyard.


    "Marquis, Lord Shen and his party have arrived." The attendant lightly knocked on the wooden door at the entrance, respectfully saying.


    "Come in." A deep, robust middle-aged man''s voice came from inside.


    As the hinges creaked, the door of the side room slowly opened.


    Shen Qing, dressed in the uniform of the Military Department, rested his hand on his saber as he stepped into the room.


    There, a middle-aged man in splendid attire sat in the main seat, exuding the unique authority of a superior.


    This must be the Marquis of the Li family.


    Shen Qing''s gaze swept over and caught sight of the Ninth Young Master of the Li family beside him. His expression shifted slightly, a hint of astonishment flickered.


    The opponent''s face was currently swollen, barely recognizable, worse than when he left the restaurant.


    After he entered the room, Wei Chengye followed closely behind.


    The moment he saw Li Zhen Tian, every muscle in his body tensed, the internal energy within surged like a river bursting from a dam, roiling uncontrollably through his body.


    This was trouble.


    Shen Qing might suffer even if he didn''t die.


    I''ll surely be dragged into it too.


    Rapidly, his mind filled with chaotic thoughts, his heart a mess.


    "You are Chief Officer Shen?" Li Zhen Tian''s gaze settled on Shen Qing, saying calmly.


    Shen Qing responded neither humbly nor arrogantly, "That would be me, may I ask for what purpose is the Marquis visiting the office?"


    "Nothing in particular." Li Zhen Tian stood up, picked up a sandalwood box beside him, and said plainly and candidly: "I heard about the matter between my son and you, and I came specifically to apologize. Xiao Jiu!"


    Called forth, Li Yi stepped forward with a pig-face expression, cupping the box in both hands, muffled speech: "Chief Officer Shen, I was too rude at the restaurant today, this is an old ginseng pill my father specially prepared for you, please... please accept it."


    Upon these words, the shock within Wei Chengye''s heart exploded instantly.


    His eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the scene before him, his mouth agape as if capable of fitting a whole egg.


    What on earth was going on?


    The Li family actually willing to lower themselves to apologize?


    Wei Chengye looked towards Shen Qing, unable to speak a word for a long time.


    Shen Qing said calmly, "Hmm, finally figured it out?!"


    Li Yi was infuriated to the point of grinding his teeth.


    But recalling his father''s prior teachings, he swallowed the grievance again...

 Chapter 393 - 7: Accepting Gifts, Imperial Armory

    ```


    "To not endure the small pains is to spoil the larger plans."


    "I am born into a noble family, how could I stoop to the level of a mere commoner? Let him have his moment of pride for now."


    Li Yi, the Ninth Young Master of the Li Family, kept comforting himself, searching for a reason in his heart.


    After taking a deep breath and adjusting his emotions, he slowly bowed his head and said, "Lord Shen, if I offended you earlier, please do not take it to heart."


    Li Yi thought he hid it well, but everyone around could see the subtle restraint in his words.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing chuckled lightly and didn''t pursue the matter further. He reached out to grab the wooden box raised by his opponent and, under the gaze of a few, gently opened it.


    Immediately, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out, invigorating the spirit. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing looked down into the box.


    Inside was an Old Ginseng Pill of a grayish soil color, unremarkable yet full of spiritual energy, not a common item.


    Wei Chengye, standing nearby, exclaimed in a low voice, "What a treasure, what a treasure!"


    His eyes shining, he continued to praise the Old Ginseng Pill while examining it, "I''ve heard that the Old Ginseng Pill is immensely beneficial for Martial Cultivators in condensing their Primordial Spirit, it truly is a rare precious medicine. Marquis''s sincerity this time is indeed generous."


    While speaking softly, Wei Chengye couldn''t help but glance at Shen Qing a few more times, thinking his luck was incredible.


    Killing someone''s people, yet still receiving an apology from them, was indeed unheard of.


    He couldn''t help but feel a bit jealous, even thinking that if he had been the one to act at that time, perhaps these treasures would have been his.


    The thought brought a deeper sense of regret.


    After hearing Wei Chengye''s words, Shen Qing had a good grasp of the value of the Old Ginseng Pill.


    He closed the wooden box and put it in his arms, his gaze falling on Li Yi again: "Since the Ninth Young Master is so sincere, let''s put this matter behind us. Marquis, having traveled from afar, why not enjoy a cup of tea at the government office before leaving?"


    The Marquis heard it, understanding Shen Qing was issuing an indirect invitation to leave. He stood up and said, "I have business to attend to today, so no need for tea. There will be other opportunities in the future."


    Li Zhen Tian seemed to remember something and said, "Oh, Lord Shen, you attended the Jing Luan Assembly not long ago, didn''t you?"


    "Indeed."


    It wasn''t a secret matter, one could find out easily, so Shen Qing had no reason to hide it and admitted openly.


    Li Zhen Tian continued to ask, "During this Jing Luan Assembly, quite a few of my Li family members participated, yet they died mysteriously. I want to ask, did they really die at the hands of the Huang Tian Sect as rumored?"


    "Yes," Shen Qing confirmed emphatically, "To be precise, within the Huang Tian Sect''s murderous formation."


    "Good, I trust you." Marquis Li Zhen Tian signaled to Li Yi and said, "Let''s go!"


    Li Yi quickly followed.


    Once their figures completely disappeared from the government office of the Military Department, Wei Chengye slumped into a chair, his heart pounding furiously.


    He felt today was the most terrifying day since he became the General of the Army, and recalling it felt like a dream.


    Wei Chengye looked at Shen Qing, lost in thought.


    If he wasn''t mistaken, Marquis Li Zhen Tian''s attention was entirely on Shen Qing earlier, his gaze examining Shen Qing as if trying to see completely through him.


    Could there be a background behind Shen Qing?


    For a moment, Wei Chengye''s heart clenched, thinking it was very possible.


    Lord Lan held him in high regard, and so did the Marquis.


    Surely, the big figures knew more than he did; this Shen Qing must have something unusual about him.


    He resolved to be more cautious in the future, never to offend, but to build a good relationship.


    Shen Qing, unaware of Wei Chengye''s thoughts, stood expressionless in place.


    He had sensed Marquis Li Zhen Tian''s secret probe with a wisp of Divine Sense, partly stopped by his own Divine Sense.


    From that single wisp of Primordial Spirit, it seemed Li Zhen Tian''s strength was likely on par with Xue Zhao, far surpassing Qintian Bureau''s Xie Rui and Mountain Sea Department''s Li Wenze.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel a chill in his heart.


    He knew well that today''s success was merely luck; although he didn''t know Marquis Li Zhen Tian''s exact thoughts, he surely wasn''t being ''courteous'' for his sake.


    Should he ever truly take himself seriously, the price would be terrible.


    Shen Qing quickly regained his clarity of mind, unblinded by this temporary success.


    He placed his hand on his chest, feeling the raised patterns of the Beautiful Pattern Jade Token, thinking to himself, "With my current strength insufficient, I must visit the Imperial Armory soon."


    ...


    Outside the Military Department''s government office.


    Marquis Li Zhen Tian walked out with Li Yi.


    Seeing Li Yi''s dejected look, with discontent and resentment not completely extinguished, rather burning like a suppressed flame in the dark, Li Zhen Tian asked, "What, are you discontent?"


    Li Yi, asked, responded, "Father, not discontent. Father''s decision surely has its reason. It''s just that there''s a pent-up frustration in me not yet released, feeling a bit uneasy."


    "Feeling uneasy is just right." Li Zhen Tian gazed forward, hands clasped behind his back, walking through the street said, "Currently, your cultivation is inferior to others, your position also inferior to others, without relying on the family, what do you have to compete with?"


    Li Yi''s complex gaze stirred a ripple in his heart.


    He understood Li Zhen Tian''s words were truthful.


    In Li Zhen Tian''s view, though he was born into nobility with outstanding talent, his son was always arrogant and dismissive of others.


    If he hadn''t suffered a setback this time, he would likely grow even more presumptuous.


    By then, should he hit a concrete wall, getting past wouldn''t be as easy.


    Marquis Li Zhen Tian advised sincerely, "A true strongman not only has exceptional strength but also a heart that embraces the world. You are far from it. This time, take Shen Qing as a stepping stone, a lesson. Learn from this mistake, and later resolve to surpass him."


    "You, a noble son, can''t even surpass a mere hunter? If you remain like this, blame my poor judgment."


    Marquis Li Zhen Tian''s words left Li Yi shaken, his heart in turmoil.


    Li Zhen Tian turned and left, leaving Li Yi to face his inner struggle and decisions alone.


    After a while, Li Yi clenched his fists and earnestly declared, "I will not fail my father''s expectations and, one day in the future, will take Shen Qing as a stepping stone to avenge today''s shame."


    Li Zhen Tian''s face showed a faint, nearly imperceptible smile.


    ...


    In some corner of the royal palace.


    Shen Qing stood before an unremarkable palace.


    This palace was low and ancient, even somewhat shabby and dilapidated, forming a stark contrast with the magnificent palace buildings around it.


    Without guidance from insiders, who would guess that this inconspicuous building was the renowned Imperial Armory.


    A place gathering the essence of martial arts from all over the world.


    Shen Qing walked forward with his knife, reaching the palace gate.


    The gate was slightly ajar, and two armored palace guards stood like sculptures, unmoving.


    When Shen Qing appeared before them, they each extended their spears to stop him.


    "Who goes there?"


    Shen Qing took out the Beautiful Pattern Jade Token, proving his identity, "I am Shen Qing from the Military Department, specially permitted by His Majesty to freely enter and exit the Imperial Armory. I hope you two will grant passage."


    The guards took the token, inspecting it carefully, and once confirmed, nodded respectfully.


    The doors were gently pushed open by the two, and Shen Qing strode in.


    Upon entering the armory, a potent smell of medicinal herbs mixed with ancient oils and inks greeted him, invigorating his spirit.


    Shen Qing looked up and surveyed the area, seeing rows of neatly arranged wooden shelves filled with various white porcelain bottles and miscellaneous books.


    As he approached to look, he saw that these bottles were labeled with names like Blood Replenishing Pill, Qi Recovery Pill, Foundation Building Pill... a plethora of choices.


    He mentally estimated that just on this floor, there must be thousands of kinds of pills stored, dazzling and overwhelming to behold.


    Merely ingesting these pills would take no less than three to five years to achieve.


    Besides these pills, there were also numerous martial arts manuals, all in vast quantity.


    While Shen Qing marveled at the sight, an elderly man in a splendid robe, with a kindly appearance, approached slowly.


    Seeing Shen Qing, he cupped his hands and asked, "How should I address Your Excellence?"


    Shen Qing''s Divine Sense scanned the elderly man, discovering him to be a mighty figure in an Empty Reality Realm, his heart skipped a beat.


    He didn''t expect such a significant person to willingly oversee affairs in the armory.


    But upon reflection, it made sense.


    The Imperial Armory had been painstakingly collected and built by the Zhou royal family over hundreds of years, expending countless efforts.


    It only made sense for it to be guarded by a notable figure.


    Shen Qing returned the gesture with cupped hands, "I am Shen Qing, the General of the Army."


    "Ah, it''s Lord Shen Qing in person, a pleasure to meet you." The elder smiled and introduced himself, "I am Ji Bochu, the governor of this Imperial Armory."


    "Governor Ji, an honor to meet you."


    The Armory Governor Ji Bochu smiled, gesturing around, introducing, "This armory holds weapons, magical treasures, techniques, pills, and willpower beads in abundance. What might Lord Shen need?"


    "I''ve just stepped into this Imperial Armory and am unfamiliar with the surroundings. Could I trouble you, Governor, for an introduction?" Shen Qing asked politely.


    "Of course." The Armory Governor Ji Bochu smiled, explaining, "The Imperial Armory is divided into five levels. The first and second floors house popular martial arts and pills for strengthening and consolidating cultivation. These pills are for the use of the Ji family. Though His Majesty allowed Lord Shen free access to the Imperial Armory, the removed pills and artifacts are prohibited."


    Shen Qing was prepared for this, nodding, "Got it."


    "By the way, you mentioned the Imperial Armory has five levels? It appeared only one story tall from the outside, how come?"


    "Is there a possibility it''s built underground!"


    Shen Qing stood stunned, realizing he hadn''t considered this.


    The Armory Governor Ji Bochu asked, "The first and second floors are all of these items. Is there anything Lord Shen wishes to see?"


    Shen Qing pondered, glancing at the martial arts shown on the ink panel.


    These martial arts he had cultivated and transcended, many though ordinary, were enhanced through the ink panel, vastly surpassing typical martial arts.


    Therefore, the so-called common martial arts on the first floor held no appeal to him.


    "What about the third and the lower levels?"


    "The third floor treasures martial art legacies from all schools, more profound and potent than the first two floors, with higher-tier pills targeting martial masters of the Qi Sea Realm and above."


    The elder spoke with a light-hearted tone as he led Shen Qing through the shelves, poised and leisurely.


    "Similarly, the fourth and fifth floors contain more profound techniques and higher quality pills, with some martial arts directly leading to the Unity Realm, akin to supreme immortal methods." The Armory Governor Ji Bochu smiled, saying, "Moreover, the fifth floor has a spirit eye, training in which for a day equals ten days outside."


    Shen Qing was awe-struck.


    He hadn''t expected such depths in the fifth floor of the Imperial Armory, his heart stirred with enthusiasm.


    The Armory Governor Ji Bochu turned, stating to Shen Qing, "Does Lord Shen plan to directly proceed to the third floor and below, or would you like to explore the first and second floors first?"


    Shen Qing''s gaze swept among the shelves.


    He was already at the Grand Void Realm, aiming to break into the Primordial Spirit Realm.


    Normally, with his ink panel capabilities, any low-tier martial art could continuously elevate to high-tier, benefiting him.


    However, an advanced martial art could save considerable effort when integrated with the ink panel.


    As known, the more profound a technique, the easier it is.


    Notably, the fifth floor has a spirit eye, greatly assisting his practice.


    However, Shen Qing did not decide immediately, smiling slightly, saying, "Governor Ji, currently, I''m at the Grand Void Realm. Where do you suggest I go? Incidentally, I still don''t know where Governor Ji''s residence is. His Majesty not long ago rewarded me with ten thousand willpower beads, which I ponder how to use, perhaps Governor Ji could assist in spending them?"


    Ji Bochu was momentarily stunned, swiftly catching Shen Qing''s meaning.


    He laughed heartily, "Lord Shen is not from the Ji family, hence the armory''s treasures and pills are out of reach. What you need most is a cultivation site, needing external aid, techniques are less crucial. Let''s head to the fifth floor."


    "Thank you, Governor Ji."


    "No trouble."


    Ji Bochu led Shen Qing through a routed staircase, descending continuously.


    As they delved deeper, the light dimmed, and the air filled with warmth.


    Through the levels, Shen Qing noticed many young heirs, surely successors of the Ji family.


    He occasionally encountered older martial masters donned in official attire, likely state-rewarded officers similar to himself.


    Ji Bochu guided Shen Qing all the way down to the deepest level.


    "Lord Shen, we''ve arrived."


    ```

 Chapter 394 - 8: Immortal Martial Technique

    "Arrived?"


    Shen Qing lifted his gaze and saw in the distance pillars completely forged from Wish Power Pearls standing tall before him, each thick enough to require two people to wrap their arms around. Scattered with twinkling jade that emitted luminous glows, they brightened the entire fifth floor.


    The space of the fifth floor was not large to begin with, and with the addition of these massive pillars, it felt even more cramped.


    In this confined space, numerous descendants of the Ji Family were seated cross-legged on them.


    Some held scrolls of yellowed Martial Arts, their minds and bodies fully immersed, having forsaken sleep and food, to the point where their fingers would unconsciously mimic the movements demonstrated within.


    Others sat still as statues, surrounded by rings of faintly visible Spiritual Energy undulations.


    Ji Bochu stretched out his hand, calling out, "Lord Shen, please."


    Shen Qing bowed slightly as a gesture of respect and took the lead in walking forward.


    As he entered the range of the pillars'' arch, he suddenly felt a sense of clarity and refreshment, as if every pore on his body was smoothly opening up.


    This was the result of Spiritual Energy gathering.


    Shen Qing carefully sensed his surroundings and found that the Spiritual Energy here was several times more concentrated than outside, which greatly surprised him.


    Ji Bochu seemed to sense Shen Qing''s astonishment and said with a smile, "Have you discovered what''s different about this place?"


    "Is this the Spirit Eye you were talking about?"


    Ji Bochu nodded and replied, "The entire fifth floor uses these stone pillars as boundaries to gather Spirit Essence and form a Spirit Eye. Cultivation here yields twice the result with half the effort. Many Ji Family descendants do not even have the opportunity to come here. You are lucky to have received His Majesty''s Beautiful Pattern Jade Token; otherwise, you would have been restricted to just the third floor at most."


    Shen Qing was secretly shocked. He remembered he had never shown the Beautiful Pattern Jade Token to Ji Bochu, yet the other party seemed to have sensed it directly.


    His Power of Primordial Spirit was very strong.


    Ji Bochu continued to point around the Spirit Eye and said, "Take a look at these."


    Shen Qing followed the direction he was pointing and saw several mahogany cabinets arranged in an orderly fashion.


    At the top of each cabinet, a treasure was displayed.


    There were jade boxes as smooth as water, weapons emitting a cold gleam, and small, exquisitely made jade bottles, just to name a few.


    "Inside these nine jade boxes are Immortal Martial Arts, many of which are relics from an Ancient era, profoundly inscrutable. The sealed Magic Treasures are those weapons. As for the jade bottles, they contain supreme precious medicines like Longyin Huxiao Pills, Creation Pills, and the like, showcased here to be nurtured by Spiritual Energy."


    "Without exaggeration, any one of these items, if leaked, would cause massive upheaval," Ji Bochu said proudly. "With the Beautiful Pattern Jade Token on you, according to the rules, you can peruse any of these Martial Arts. However, you cannot touch the rest."


    "I understand," Shen Qing said as he looked around at the jade boxes. "How are these Cultivation Techniques different from ordinary Martial Arts?" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ji Bochu earnestly said, "Each and every Technique here is a king-level Cultivation Technique. Any martial master with decent Sight who cultivates seriously will reap some benefits and may even glimpse the Path of Immortality."


    Immortality?


    Shen Qing''s expression changed.


    Anything related to immortality was never simple.


    He became excited.


    However, Shen Qing considered for a moment that Ji Bochu was perhaps exaggerating on purpose.


    If these Techniques were truly as powerful as he claimed, then the Ji Family would have long since been as mighty as dragons, not as they appeared today.


    Moreover, if such powerful Techniques were actually at their disposal, would they be so generous as to show them to others?


    Shen Qing asked himself if he could be as magnanimous as they were.


    Just to listen would suffice.


    He soon calmed down.


    However, although he thought so, Shen Qing didn''t show it. Pretending to be excited, he said, "The Path of Immortality? Is there really such Martial Arts for longevity in this world?"


    Ji Bochu enjoyed Shen Qing''s reaction. He smiled and said, "These Martial Arts do touch upon the realm of the ''Immortal'', and even if they don''t grant longevity, cultivating them to our realm could let one live for several hundred years, far surpassing others."


    Shen Qing bowed and said, "If that''s the case, I''m not very familiar with these Cultivation Techniques, could Lord Ji trouble himself to recommend a suitable Cultivation Technique based on my condition?"


    Ji Bochu waved his hand and said, "The choice of Cultivation Technique must ultimately fit one''s Bone and temperament. If I act on your behalf, I fear it may violate the principle of adhering to one''s Sight, potentially causing presumption. It would be better if I first outline the essence of these Cultivation Techniques, then you can decide for yourself."


    "Lord Ji is most considerate."


    Ji Bochu gave a slight smile, pointed, and said, "Lord Shen, take a look over here."


    Shen Qing followed his direction and looked closely.


    It was a Jade Box, its surface carved with small seal script, filled with ancient charm.


    Ji Bochu walked over, pressed his hand on it, and complex runes flowed across it.


    "This is the ''Nine Heavens Thunder God Technique'', which can harness the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder. Each strike contains the power to destroy heaven and earth. It''s a dream Cultivation Technique for Martial Artists who pursue ultimate strength. Once one embarks on the proper path of cultivation, there are no more bottlenecks, just a clear way forward."


    Shen Qing''s heart stirred, and he asked, "Are there any side effects?"


    Ji Bochu sighed and said, "Nowadays, the strength of the Physical Body cultivated by people is far less than that of the ancients. Therefore, it may not be possible to withstand the roaring divine thunders with this method. Very few in the Imperial Family have attempted it."


    "I recall the last elder who tried it was struck dead by a bolt of divine thunder."


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but be speechless. To think one could actually die from training was simply beyond words.


    "Lord Ji, let''s move to the next one."


    "Alright." Then, Ji Bochu''s finger moved to the second book.


    As his Spiritual Power touched it, a dragon''s roar echoed faintly: "This technique is called ''Azure Dragon Shouting Sky Technique''. It contains the divine charm of the Azure Dragon. Cultivators can borrow the power of the Azure Dragon to shake the heavens and are further protected by the Azure Dragon, impervious to all methods."


    "The downside is that this technique requires understanding the divine intent of the Azure Dragon, which is profoundly mysterious, making Entry Level extremely difficult."


    Seeing Shen Qing without a response, Ji Bochu continued to the side. The Jade Box there glowed with a faint golden light, and he gently waved his sleeve, saying: "This Martial Art is the ''Saint Body Great Achievement Technique'', which can forge a Sacred Body, making one''s physical strength comparable to a Magic Treasure. There is no defensive Martial Art in the whole world that can surpass it."


    "Then if one cultivates this Great Achievement Technique and also the Nine Heavens Thunder God Technique, can both be mastered?" Shen Qing curiously asked.


    Ji Bochu shook his head and said, "The might of heaven and earth is not something a Physical Body can withstand. No matter how strong your body is, when facing the majestic might of heaven, you can only surrender. After all, how can a human fight against nature?"


    Shen Qing nodded, showing he understood.


    Ji Bochu''s finger kept moving and landed on the fourth Jade Box, which blossomed with a bright pink lotus flower, exceptionally vivid.


    "This technique is the ''Sitting Lotus Longevity Skill''. The so-called Sitting Lotus Technique uses either a female or male as the ''meat lotus'', with daily immersion of the Demon-Subduing Pestle into the meat lotus to draw out its essence for strengthening one''s cultivation. The drawback is that as the skill progresses, one increasingly needs a meat lotus with a higher cultivation level than the cultivator to feed back in order to break through."


    Shen Qing understood clearly; this was a Dual Cultivation Method, taking an unusual path.


    If he wanted to cultivate it, he would have to find a woman at the Primordial Spirit Realm to be his ''meat lotus'', which would be hard to find throughout the whole Great Zhou.


    Ji Bochu was naturally aware of this and quickly moved on: "This is the ''Heaven Burning Technique'', which allows one to use oneself as a catalyst to draw in the fire of heaven and earth, incinerating all, and when cultivated to the extreme, unmatched."


    "The ''Wind and Thunder Escape Technique'', this technique allows one to command the wind and thunder, instantly covering thousands of miles..."


    "The ''Ten Thousand Soldiers Taoist Skill''..."


    After Ji Bochu finished introducing each one, he looked at Shen Qing and said, "I wonder, Lord Shen, which technique would you like to learn?"

 Chapter 395 - 9: Testing the Law, Spirit Eye Hard Cultivation

    After listening to Ji Bochu''s introduction, Shen Qing fell into deep thought.


    For some reason, he always felt that these Martial Arts Skills sounded not too different from the few techniques he was currently cultivating.


    In his view, the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique and Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal, which he had broken through via the panel, also carried a hint of the divine essence found in these Immortal Martial Techniques.


    Take the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, for instance¡ªevery time he used this technique to seize nature''s spiritual energy, he felt detached from life and death, in harmony with the world, and the spiritual energy he seized would merge within his body like countless rivers converging into the sea, gathering into streams of vitality, allowing him to grasp a supreme meaning of transcending Samsara and life and death of heaven and earth.


    The Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal, on the other hand, took the "Annihilate" concept to the extreme.


    Every time Shen Qing employed the Seal Technique, he felt he was exuding and inhaling the destructive aura of the heavens and the earth in every move, crushing and obliterating everything.


    These two techniques did not seem out of place here at all.


    With the panel''s enhancement, there was no doubt about future breakthroughs in realms with these techniques, and with time, success would inevitably come.


    Upon careful reflection, Shen Qing realized he didn''t hold an intense yearning for these Immortal Martial Techniques before him.


    As for the other Magic Treasures and Elixirs, he wasn''t very fond of them either.


    Rather, the Spirit Eye here was a pleasant surprise.


    Even though he thought such things, Shen Qing did not show it; he tentatively asked: "Lord Ji, may I know which Immortal Martial Technique the current Imperial family is practicing?"


    "Hahaha..." Ji Bochu laughed and said, "Do you wish to learn the technique of the current Majesty?"


    Feigning embarrassment, Shen Qing nodded slightly.


    Ji Bochu shook his head, explaining: "The technique His Majesty practices is the ''Sword Storage,'' one of the few complete lineages from ancient times, a Martial Art that the Imperial lineage primarily practices; it would not be placed in this Imperial Armory."


    "If it were researched thoroughly by someone, finding flaws in the technique would be detrimental to the Imperial family."


    Shen Qing caught the implication of his words.


    In the current Great Zhou Techniques, there might be several excellent Immortal Martial Techniques that have not been shown to others.


    The ones left here are somewhat flawed, only touted as Immortal Martial Techniques for better sound.


    If some extraordinarily talented individuals explore many aspects from these techniques, it would be beneficial for the Imperial family, a great thing indeed.


    Placing Immortal Martial Techniques here seems like a win-win for the Imperial family.


    Given his deductions, Shen Qing felt this notion even more compelling.


    Perhaps Ji Zikong noticed his "talent" and gave him the Beautiful Pattern Jade Token to let him "decipher" and perfect these top-tier techniques.


    Thinking this made him even less interested.


    However, having come all this way, it would be a pity not to take a copy.


    Shen Qing extended his hand, saying, "Please, Master, I would like to learn that ''Saint Body Great Achievement Technique.''"


    Ji Bochu was not surprised, smiling as he said, "Good choice, many Martial Masters who opt for Immortal Martial Arts choose this technique. In reality, apart from being difficult to practice, it has no other drawbacks. Even if practiced moderately, it could prolong life."


    Saying this, Ji Bochu stepped forward and with a gesture, a Jade Box containing the ''Saint Body Great Achievement Technique'' flew into his hand. He gently caressed the surface of the Jade Box, a fleeting nostalgic look in his eyes before solemnly handing it over to Shen Qing.


    Receiving it with both hands, Shen Qing felt a warm sensation.


    The Jade Box emitted a faint golden light, and when he touched it, it became even more vibrant.


    When he opened the Jade Box, he saw quietly lying inside was a yellowed Sheepskin Scroll, faintly showing the words ''Saint Body Great Achievement Technique.''


    Glancing at Ji Bochu as if realizing something, Shen Qing noticed he was too calm.


    Hurriedly focusing on the words on the Sheepskin Scroll, he forced out waves of excitement on his face.


    Under Ji Bochu''s gaze, Shen Qing took a deep breath, unfurled the Sheepskin Scroll, and began to study it carefully.


    Quietly watching Shen Qing read, Ji Bochu secretly thought, "To achieve this realm at such a young age, this person must have great talent in Martial Arts. The Emperor must have sent him to test the technique."


    "Throughout history, countless talents went insane practicing these Immortal Martial Techniques to their current state. I wonder if this lad can give us some surprise. I hope he can endure longer and not succumb to madness too soon."


    Using his "Never Forget" and "Erudite in Inquiry" abilities, Shen Qing quickly memorized and fully understood the Martial Arts in its entirety.


    "Lord Ji, I''ve memorized everything."


    Saying this, he packed the Sheepskin Scroll back into the Jade Box, intending to return it.


    Ji Bochu, however, waved it off, "Leave the technique here; no need to rush returning it, just don''t take it out. Conveniently, this fifth level has the Spirit Eye for you to study and enhance your skills."


    Shen Qing did not expect such thoughtful consideration, igniting suspicion in his heart.


    To his knowledge, the Great Zhou court kept a strict eye on Martial Arts, wanting to prevent anyone from seeing it.


    Something strange is always lurking.


    Is there an issue with the techniques here?


    Knowing the state of the Great Zhou instilled further skepticism in Shen Qing.


    Ji Bochu added, "Around that corner on the fifth level is a screen, behind which is a private Spirit Eye; you can study martial arts alone there. I''ll be around the Imperial Armory, so feel free to find me anytime if you need."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing feigned "delight," exclaiming, "Thank you, Master."


    "Mm."


    As Ji Bochu departed, the joy on Shen Qing''s face gradually faded away.


    He glanced at the position of the screen nearby and entered with the Jade Box in hand.


    The spot was a secluded and inconspicuous corner, very tranquil.


    Upon entering, Shen Qing noticed neatly arranged papers, ink, brushes, and inkstones. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He chuckled at himself, "Such thorough preparation."


    Stepping forward, Shen Qing casually tossed the Jade Box aside, seated himself cross-legged.


    "It''s a rare chance, perfect for cultivating the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique and the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal, not forgetting to hone the Great Void Technique a bit; cultivating one''s own techniques is safest."


    With this resolution, Shen Qing quickly entered a meditative state, his breathing steady, enveloped by a faint aurora.


    "First, practice the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique to fortify myself."


    With a thought, Shen Qing activated the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique.


    Instantly his acupoints awoke one by one, illuminating brilliantly, akin to the brightest stars in the sky.


    Under Shen Qing''s urging, these luminous acupoints gradually transformed into spinning whirlpools of vibrant energy, voraciously devouring the surrounding Spiritual Energy.


    Here, beneath the Spirit Eye''s protection, the density of Spiritual Energy was astonishing, utterly different from the outside world.


    Each thread of Spiritual Energy brimming with rich earthly essence relentlessly streamed into Shen Qing''s body.


    "Such an extraordinary training environment!"


    Initiating his practice, Shen Qing distinctly sensed the abundant purity of the Spiritual Energy here, enhancing his training efficacy multiple times, leading him to express his admiration.


    He vaguely felt that training here equaled, or even exceeded, the speed facilitated by wish beads.


    Coming here was undoubtedly worth it.

 Chapter 396 - 10 Entering Holiness with a Mortal Body, The Imperial Familys Test Subject

    ```


    Time seemed to lose its meaning at this moment, as Shen Qing was completely immersed in cultivation.


    He was within the Spirit Eye, and with every breath, every flow of Spiritual Energy, his cultivation advanced to a higher realm.


    His acupoints sparkled like stars, connecting into a constellation, giving him the appearance of being bathed in a galaxy from afar.


    No one knew how long had passed, but the radiant light from all of Shen Qing''s acupoints gradually dissipated, returning to normal.


    He opened his eyes, and a gleam flashed in his pupils.


    Shen Qing slightly circulated the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, feeling his entire cultivation advance, the Spiritual Power within him surging like the ocean, with every inch of his flesh brimming with vigorous Essence Qi.


    Even his long stagnant Divine Sense showed minute growth, bringing him joy.


    "This Spirit Eye is truly extraordinary! Cultivating here for such a short while is equivalent to over a month of work outside!"


    Shen Qing stood up, carefully experiencing the sensation.


    Under the blessing of the Spirit Eye, the concentration of Spiritual Energy around him skyrocketed, almost dozens of times that of the external world.


    These pure streams of Spiritual Energy continuously flooded into his body like tides through the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, each wave containing endless vitality and power.


    Using his Divine Sense to look inward, Shen Qing discovered that among the essence blood throughout his body, that thread of golden blood had grown even stronger.


    This thread of golden blood fused with his flesh, making his physical accomplishment increasingly distinct.


    Shen Qing ceased his introspection, and his gaze inadvertently fell on the Jade Box before him, a hint of doubt suddenly arising in his heart.


    He took out the sheepskin scroll inscribed with the Saint Body Great Achievement Technique, placed it before him, and examined it closely once more.


    Shen Qing clearly remembered that the scroll also spoke of golden blood.


    The Skill of "Academic Pursuit" activated once again.


    He began to delve continuously into its knowledge.


    After a moment, Shen Qing suddenly realized: "So that''s how it is."


    According to the Ancient Times'' description in this Saint Body Great Achievement Technique, every cultivator''s physique is different, but there is one physique that is innately superior at birth; its skin and flesh are impervious to blades and spears, innately able to suppress and resist all evil, known as the Saint King Body.


    Such physiques are born with pale gold blood, and the more they cultivate, the more it changes, the blood eventually transforming into dark gold.


    By then, every drop contains essence spiritual substances comparable to precious medicine.


    Invincible at the same level in combat strength, unstoppable and unmatched.


    This so-called Saint Body Great Achievement Technique was developed based on this type of physique.


    The golden blood appearing within Shen Qing''s body was exactly as described herein. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In his mind, under the deduction of "Academic Pursuit," words suddenly emerged: "From a mortal body to sacred."


    Aided by the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, Shen Qing did not expect to refine a trace of the Saint King Body''s characteristics.


    Shen Qing felt a surge of excitement.


    The Cultivation Technique deduced from the Water Ink Panel surpassed his imagination, perhaps even exceeding those Immortal Martial Techniques.


    The fifth floor was dimly lit, indistinguishable between day and night.


    Shen Qing, already full of energy, had no trace of fatigue.


    Taking advantage of this rare opportunity, he decided to continue concentrating on cultivating the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal, intending to improve the progress of this technique as well.


    ...


    At the same time, in Ningshou Palace.


    A Mystic Ice Jade Bed emitted a faint cold light.


    The Emperor of Great Zhou, Ji Zikong, was dressed in a Cloud Brocade Robe embroidered with Dragon Patterns, sitting upright on it, surrounded by faint wisps of ripples, silver frost-colored short swords constantly moving across these ripples, absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Energy.


    If listening carefully, one could hear the indistinct sound of sword auras.


    Beside him, the Chief Eunuch, He Yong, with a respectful demeanor and a posture erect as a pine, stood silently by his side.


    His gaze never left Ji Zikong, his mind a clear mirror observing Ji Zikong''s every move, always prepared to deal with any possible sudden situations.


    In an instant, Ji Zikong''s breath became steady and long, swords flashing in his eyes.


    He gently exhaled a turbid breath, a white strip of light flying out from his mouth, like a beam of light that illuminated the palace in an instant.


    The white strip hit the wall and naturally dispersed to the sides, causing the doors and windows to tremble.


    Upon seeing this, He Yong knew the Emperor had finished this session of cultivation, and quickly stepped forward, his voice low and respectful: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on your cultivation progress."


    The Emperor of Great Zhou, Ji Zikong, was immune to such daily flattery, his face calm and unruffled.


    He asked: "Has anything been reported recently?"


    The Chief Eunuch, He Yong, stepped forward and said: "Your servant indeed has something to report."


    "Speak."


    "Yes, Your Majesty." The Chief Eunuch, He Yong, respectfully bowed and continued: "Lord Ji from the Imperial Armory responded that the General of the Army who was bestowed the Cui Ying Order by Your Majesty, went to the Imperial Armory today."


    "Oh, it''s Shen Qing, right? How was it?" Ji Zikong replied as if he had anticipated it: "Did he go to the fifth floor to choose Immortal Martial Arts?"


    "Yes, Your Majesty, he did."


    "Which one did he choose?"


    "The Saint Body Great Achievement Technique."


    Hearing this, Ji Zikong''s eyebrows twitched slightly and he said: "The Saint Body Great Achievement Technique? I remember this technique; over time, many have chosen it. To what extent has it been perfected now?"


    "According to Lord Ji, seven or eight tenths have been perfected, only the last two or three tenths need continuous deduction and trials."


    "I see. Let things proceed as usual. Keep Uncle Ji in observation. If all goes well, after some more years, the Imperial family might have a third complete Immortal Path method."


    "Your Majesty, from this old servant''s perspective, it seems a pity for someone like Shen Qing, who climbed all the way from the bottom and possesses some aptitude, to serve as a trial worker for the Imperial family." He Yong hinted with a bowed head.


    "There are so many talented people in the world, what difference does it make with or without him? The main issue is that time left for us is limited. If that day truly arrives, what use is it even if all the world''s talents thrive? Better to utilize them fully now, seizing that shred of hope for us humans."


    With that, Ji Zikong stood up, hands behind his back, his gaze passing through the heavy curtains of the palace, seemingly penetrating time and space to see a much further future.


    The Chief Eunuch, He Yong, quickly apologized: "My ignorance."


    Ji Zikong, smiling, said: "This Shen Qing, to stand out from so many and attain a breakthrough into the Spiritual Void realm at such a young age without relying on our martial resources, his talent is truly impressive. With his understanding and ability, it won''t be long before he can grasp the Saint Body Great Achievement Technique."


    "When the time comes, watch over Uncle Ji and observe the changes in him. It''s good that he lacks those family backgrounds, making him perfect as a trial person for refining the technique. Let''s hope he can hold out longer and avoid going astray too soon, for even this contributes to the world''s human race."


    Ji Zikong''s voice resonated once again, carrying an indisputable authority.


    He secretly contemplated, should Shen Qing''s growth rate be as astonishing as predicted, this could be a significant turning point for them.


    Now that demons are increasing and the situation gets more uncontrollable, that anticipated day comes closer.


    The Chief Eunuch, He Yong, responded quickly: "Your servant obeys."


    "By the way, how are things with General Xue now? Has my decree reached him?" Ji Zikong asked as if remembering something.


    The Chief Eunuch, He Yong, bowed lowly and said: "Your Majesty, your decree has been sent to General Xue. It is expected he will return to the capital in a month. General Xue mentioned something unusual in his reply."


    Ji Zikong, curious, asked: "What''s that?"


    "General Xue noted that it''s not just the Yellow Heaven Cult rebels in Dan Prefecture; even rebels from other places in Jin Prefecture are returning to the Holy Mountain of Yellow Heaven. It seems something major is happening there."


    Ji Zikong''s eyes showed a touch of worry: "Have the people below keep a closer watch and report back to me at any sign of disturbance."


    ...


    After cultivating for two days and nights in a row, Shen Qing reluctantly stopped.


    To avoid raising suspicion, he also spent some time practicing the Saint Body Great Achievement Technique, randomly jotting down some of his insights on the paper and inkstone.


    For someone with the "Academic Pursuit" skill, this was a simple task.


    Shen Qing exited from the fifth floor of the Imperial Armory, spotting Ji Bochue basking in the sun, playing with a turtle by the entrance on the first floor.


    Approaching, he bowed and greeted: "Lord Ji."


    Ji Bochue, half-squinting his eyes, curved his lips into a calm smile and said: "Oh, it''s Lord Shen. How did your cultivation turn out this time, Lord Shen?"


    A gleam flashed in Shen Qing''s eyes, and after brewing his emotions, he displayed a hint of joy after breaking through his limitations, cheerfully saying: "Thanks to the support from Your Majesty and you, my lord, I have gained some insights into the mysteries of the Saint Body Great Achievement Technique, my cultivation has slightly succeeded."


    A nearly imperceptible hint of joy appeared in Ji Bochue''s eyes, and he praised: "The Saint Body Great Achievement Technique is one of the top martial arts in the Imperial Armory and renowned in the world. Countless people seek to uncover its secrets. Your achievement is indeed a rare opportunity. On the path of martial arts, one must advance or risk regression¡ªsince you have the Cui Ying Order, feel free to come to the Imperial Armory whenever you wish to progress further."


    Ji Bochue''s words were like a spring breeze turning rain; Shen Qing respectfully replied: "I will remember, and I am sure to trouble you more often, my lord."


    With that, Shen Qing bowed deeply again and turned to leave.


    Ji Bochue remained there, playing with the small turtle in his hands, undisturbed.


    However, after Shen Qing completely departed, he casually tossed the turtle aside, and went directly behind the fifth floor''s screen.


    He saw the manuscripts Shen Qing left, nodded approvingly, and said with a smile: "It seems he does have some talent. To grasp the essence of this technique in just two days is remarkable, truly remarkable."


    Ji Bochue could not help but grow more satisfied with Shen Qing''s performance.


    Yet, he was unaware that Shen Qing''s keen senses captured every detail of his expression.


    Leaving the palace, Shen Qing wore a somber expression, realizing something was definitely wrong with those Immortal Martial Techniques.


    Thinking of this, once he left the palace, Shen Qing went straight to the Yam and Hai Department''s office to find Huangfu Rou.


    "Lord Huangfu, do you have some time today? I have something I wish to ask for your help with."


    Huangfu Rou put down her pen, crossed her hands under her chin, and looked at Shen Qing with interest, saying: "Alright, let''s hear it, see if I can help."


    Shen Qing looked around, hesitation marking his face: "It''s not a suitable place to talk here."


    Sensing Shen Qing''s seriousness, Huangfu Rou got up and said, "Follow me."


    She led Shen Qing to an elegant room inside, furnished with a table and two chairs, a pot of tea still steaming atop.


    They sat across from each other.


    Huangfu Rou asked, "So, what''s happened?"


    Shen Qing casually set up a barrier formation, learned from the Yellow Heaven Cult, now perfected under the Water Ink Panel.


    An invisible ripple expanded from him, enveloping both in isolation from the outside.


    Shen Qing poured himself a cup of hot tea, unceremoniously saying: "Lord Huangfu, are you aware of any non-royal individuals who have entered the Imperial Armory and learned the Imperial family''s Immortal Martial Techniques?"


    Shen Qing continued: "I was allowed into the Imperial Armory these past two days and was curious, hence the inquiry. I suppose with your Yam and Hai Department''s capabilities, it shouldn''t be difficult, right?"


    "Give me a moment." Huangfu Rou pondered briefly, then hurried out, returning after a while, evidently having gone to gather intelligence.


    "Did you find anything?" Shen Qing looked up and asked.


    Huangfu Rou shook her head: "No, in recent years there are virtually no records."


    The Yam and Hai Department is specifically tasked with intelligence, and there is no agency under heaven who knows more.


    Especially in the capital, missing intelligence is impossible.


    However, they knew nothing about the people who cultivated the Imperial family''s Immortal Martial Techniques in the Imperial Armory.


    This could only mean someone deliberately erased this part of the information.


    Hearing this, Shen Qing nearly confirmed that something was indeed wrong with those Immortal Martial Techniques.


    "I see, thank you." Shen Qing stood to leave.


    Huangfu Rou regarded Shen Qing''s hurried and matter-of-fact departure with no spare consideration on her face but secretly cursed him a fool in her heart.


    Watching Shen Qing about to exit, she nonchalantly said: "Shen Qing, next month the chrysanthemums in Beihai will bloom, the Princess Yuzhen plans a Chrysanthemum Appreciation Gathering, do you want to attend?"


    "Most of the attendees will be from royal families and other high officials and noble families. There might be some gains concerning the Immortal Martial Techniques at the gathering."


    Shen Qing, not picking up on the subtle nuance in Huangfu Rou''s tone, was still lost in thoughts about the Immortal Martial Techniques.


    After a moment of contemplation, Shen Qing agreed: "Sure."


    A full smile conquered Huangfu Rou''s eyes, curving them like crescents, yet she quickly composed herself to appear serious.


    Time flew like water, quickly slipping away.


    Fifteen days passed in the blink of an eye.


    During this time, Shen Qing primarily lived a two-point line life, shuttling between the Imperial Armory and the office.


    Most days were spent in the Imperial Armory.


    Throughout this period of cultivation, the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique and Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal advanced at an astonishing speed.


    Shen Qing focused his mind and summoned the Water Ink Panel.


    The familiar interface reappeared in his vision, lines of water-ink text presented themselves.


    [Skill: Six Paths Reincarnation Technique (Entry level)]


    [Progress: 5004/5000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough possible]


    [Skill: Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal (Entry level)]


    [Progress: 5001/5000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough possible]


    Seeing the prominent reminders prominently reappear in his vision, a hint of relaxed satisfaction appeared on Shen Qing''s face.


    "Break through."


    ```

 Chapter 397 - 11: Nurturing a Wisp of Primordial Spirit, Overlooking Heaven and Earth

    ```


    The moment Shen Qing entertained this thought, the text on the Water Ink Panel immediately updated. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Skill: Six Paths Reincarnation Skill (Mastery)]


    [Progress: 4/10000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough Unavailable]


    [Note: A saw cuts through wood, and a drip wears away stone. Through years of relentless cultivation, you have gradually grasped the essence of the Six Paths Reincarnation Skill ¡ª the tenacity of the Mortal Path, the vastness of the Heavenly Dao, the combativeness of the Asura Path, the wildness of the Beast Path, the greed of the Hungry Ghost Realm (absorption), and the tribulations of the Hell Path (transformation and rebirth). After the breakthrough, you successfully mastered the Power of the Mortal Path, with both flesh and will further strengthened, and the Saint Blood vastly augmented.]


    [Skill: Eight Desolate Destruction Seal (Mastery)]


    [Progress: 1/10000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough Unavailable]


    [Note: The swift horse leaps but cannot maintain pace over ten steps; the slow horse trots relentlessly, its mastery lies in perseverance. Having mastered the Eight Desolate Destruction Seal, you have seized a sliver of the Eight Desolate Natural Energy, capable of manipulating at will the forces of nature such as mountains, earth, wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, incorporating them into your Seal Technique to form various unimaginable attacks and defenses.]


    Shen Qing''s eyes were firmly fixed on the water ink text that appeared in his sight, and his breathing became heavy.


    From the notes on these two skills, he felt as if he had vaguely touched the threshold of the "Great Dao."


    Waves of unfamiliar memories began to surface, not giving him a chance to react, forcefully inserting themselves into his mind.


    At the same time, a special energy rose from him.


    Shen Qing instinctively prepared himself, holding his breath and concentrating to handle the impact and changes that were to come.


    These two skills had taken him nearly a year to cultivate, requiring much more effort than other Martial Arts.


    Therefore, the memories associated with these two skills were also much more substantial than those of any other skill breakthroughs.


    Even for him, at the Spirit Void Realm, it was almost too much to bear, and it was extremely uncomfortable.


    Had it been before, he would have certainly passed out.


    After a full quarter of an hour, the current Shen Qing gradually came to his senses, regained clarity, and assimilated the vast memories.


    In those memories, it was as if Shen Qing had lived through a lifetime, spending four to five hundred years in the river of time, tirelessly studying and refining these two Martial Arts, finally achieving success and advancing them to the next realm, akin to Immortal Martial Techniques.


    Closing his eyes for internal observation, Shen Qing saw that the strand of golden Saint Blood within him was growing at a visible rate, expanding from the size of a strand of hair to the thickness of a little finger, transforming in a groundbreaking way.


    Whenever he practiced his cultivation, silver light blossomed from the acupoints all over his body, every inch of his flesh becoming crystalline and dazzling with golden light.


    The burning sensation he had initially cultivated was now thoroughly cleansed, leaving no trace of redness.


    The same was true for the Eight Desolate Destruction Seal.


    Merely by entertaining a thought, Shen Qing''s hands began to feel waves of familiarity as if he had practiced millions of times, effortlessly forming a strange yet familiar Seal Technique, causing thunder to roll and space to tremble.


    A dazzling Sky Flipping Seal slowly took shape before him, imbued with terrifying power.


    Shen Qing withdrew his gesture, and the visions he had conjured dispersed like scattered stars, vanishing into the void.


    Thanks to the benefit of the Spirit Eye, his cultivation progress was exceptionally smooth, and sensing the oceanic Spiritual Power within him, he felt content.


    In the blink of an eye, another three days had passed.


    On the fifth floor of the Imperial Armory, Shen Qing sat cross-legged, surrounded by twinkling stars, bathing in a galaxy.


    At this moment, in the Sea of Consciousness, it was as if a Spiritual Spring surged, a faint but intensely strong pulse quietly rose, resembling a dragon lurking in the abyss, accumulating energy to burst forth, eager to break free and soar to the skies.


    This was the sign of the imminent condensation of the Primordial Spirit, the Great Perfection of the Spirit Void Realm.


    Shen Qing suddenly realized something and decisively ended his cultivation in the Imperial Armory.


    Then, as usual, he left the Imperial Armory with a composed walk, his expression no different from any other day.


    He knew such breakthroughs would involve many external changes, and with the undercurrents of the Capital, where many capable individuals emerged, one careless move could easily attract unwanted attention.


    After some contemplation, Shen Qing discreetly left the Capital and found a dilapidated temple in a desolate suburb.


    Although the temple was worn by the years, its basic structure remained intact, rarely visited by people, and was most notably quiet.


    He entered without hesitation, and a scent of aged decay hit him.


    Inside the temple, dust was everywhere, the light was dim, giving off a sense of desolation and disarray due to years without inhabitants.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, raised his hands gently, and Spiritual Power flowed out like a trickling stream from his palms.


    Clapping his hands together, an invisible whirlwind arose within the temple. Wherever it passed, dust was swept away, and the musty air was cleansed.


    The temple was completely transformed.


    Shen Qing smiled satisfactorily, sat down, and enveloped himself in a circle of Spiritual Power.


    He then took out a few yellow triangular flags from his bosom.


    Ever since the Jing Luan Assembly ended, he had kept in touch with Shen Xiaohu, and with his understanding of Array Formation, he could now make simple Array Flags.


    After the last flags were damaged by the relic''s power, he forged a new set using his own knowledge and materials at hand.


    These flags before him were the result of his leisure-time experiments.


    Though they seemed rudimentary, they were basically capable of isolation. However, due to the crude materials and craftsmanship, they could only be used as a one-time item and not be reused.


    ```

 Chapter 398 - 11: Nurturing a Wisp of Primordial Spirit, Overlooking Heaven and Earth_2

    Cultivating his Primordial Spirit was of critical importance to Shen Qing. The formations he cast through incantation gestures were not stable enough, and he did not want to take the risk. Therefore, he decided to take out this Array Flag and use it for a more reliable solution.


    Shen Qing''s fingers flew with agility, the small flag in his hands moving dynamically. Following his directions, it traced mysterious trajectories in the air, finally settling firmly in every direction around the wilderness temple.


    As Shen Qing chanted a spell softly, the several small flags emitted a faint luminescence, gradually forming a barrier formation.


    Once the formation was complete, the entire wilderness temple seemed to be enveloped by an invisible barrier, completely isolated from the outside world.


    Even those with a high level of cultivation could hardly peek into its secrets unless they had cultivated a Primordial Spirit or Divine Thought.


    When all was assuredly safe, Shen Qing took out a stick of Guardian Spirit Fragrance.


    Guardian Spirit Fragrance was part of the official salary given by the Great Zhou Court to its formal officials.


    Each person was entitled to only one stick per month, which had the effect of calming the mind and stabilizing the soul.


    Most officials only used it as an aid during their daily cultivation practices.


    In truth, Guardian Spirit Fragrance could also serve as a focal point during a martial master''s cultivation of the Primordial Spirit or Divine Sense to prevent the artifacts from fluctuating unstably, thus avoiding irreversible damage to the cultivator.


    After becoming the Yongzhou Chief Officer, Shen Qing had saved some, and he had received another bunch when he left Taiping County. This was the perfect time to use them.


    Shen Qing took out all the sticks of Guardian Spirit Fragrance, mobilized his Spiritual Power, and planted them around him as the center.


    The whole wilderness temple inside and out was densely packed with them.


    Shen Qing snapped his fingers and lit them all without sparing any.


    In an instant, thin plumes of smoke rose from the incense like Spiritual Snakes, curling up into the air and emanating a fascinating fragrance that refreshed one''s heart and clarified the mind.


    With the smoke permeating the air, Shen Qing felt as if all the noise and chaos surrounding him were isolated by this mysterious force. His state of mind started to become tranquil and profound, as if he were in an endless sea of calm, undisturbed by any waves.


    He pondered carefully, allowing the power from the Guardian Spirit Fragrance to guide him in sweeping away all distractions and obsessions, leaving nothing but the purest essence of self.


    "It''s about time."


    Having made all the preparations, Shen Qing took out an Old Ginseng Pill.


    This was a gift from Military Marquis Li Zhen Tian of the Li Family, greatly beneficial in cultivating the Primordial Spirit.


    To be cautious, Shen Qing had once shaved off the outer layer to feed to cats and dogs; no negative effects appeared, confirming its authenticity.


    Now, it was also time to use it.


    There are varieties of strength within the Primordial Spirit realm, and a breakthrough at this moment would determine seventy to eighty percent of it.


    Seeing that everything was ready, Shen Qing didn''t delay any further. He swallowed the Old Ginseng Pill and entered a state of deep meditation amidst the boundless tranquility.


    As the Elixir reached his stomach, a warm and powerful force exploded instantly within his body.


    Shen Qing felt his body and mind enveloped by an endless tranquility, seizing the opportunity to delve wholly into his cultivation, unifying all thoughts into meditation.


    Under his mental guidance, the Spiritual Power around his body surged like awakened rivers, tumultuously flowing.


    Shen Qing''s body gradually became enveloped in a faint glow, brimming with vitality.


    For all the martial masters of this world, the Primordial Spirit realm was the ultimate realm they yearned for in their dreams. Once someone broke through to this realm, they could be called a Great Power.


    As the name suggests, the Primordial Spirit realm is associated with the Primordial Spirit.


    A martial master in the Spirit Void Realm is someone who continuously excavates their innate domain, integrating it extensively to integrate with and blend into the profound mysteries of nature and the universe.


    When a martial master''s Primordial Spirit harmonizes with the universe to a certain indescribable threshold, they could cultivate a strand of Primordial Spirit, achieving Spirit Void Perfection.


    And once this Primordial Spirit can leave the body, even just an inch, that is the genuine Primordial Spirit realm, detached from the mundane world.


    This realm''s breakthrough hinges on the concepts of "condensing" and "merging."


    To condense is to refine the Spiritual Power within the body to the utmost, so that it transitions from substance to void, reaching a state of resonance with the nature''s Spiritual Energy; to merge is to integrate the Primordial Spirit with all things in the universe, to grow stronger until it can fully manifest and not be dissipated by the stray Spiritual Energy in the world.


    Once someone breaks through to the Primordial Spirit realm, the cultivator can master all kinds of incredible Divine Powers, as if becoming a True Master themselves, capable of changing heaven and earth with endless transformations.


    Shen Qing formed a hand seal and guarded his Divine Sense.


    First was "condensing."


    Shen Qing gathered his entire body''s Spiritual Power like a trickle of streams, continuously refining it, constructing a framework based on the contours of his own form.


    In this process, he continuously filled the framework with his true self while also ceaselessly infusing it with Spirit Essence.


    Under the dual enhancement of the overwhelming power from the Old Ginseng Pill and the tranquil efficacy of the Guardian Spirit Fragrance, Shen Qing''s mind reached an unprecedented level of focus, not daring to slacken or show negligence for even a moment.


    Finally, after his unremitting efforts, an almost indistinct Primordial Spirit Embryo identical to his appearance quietly took shape and kept improving.


    When the stage of "solidifying" was achieved, what followed was the even more critical "fusion."


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, let go of his mind, and allowed that now refined Primordial Spirit Embryo to merge with the nature''s Spiritual Energy of the outside world.


    At that moment, the stray Spiritual Energy around him seemed to transform into bone-scraping knives, madly assaulting his newly condensed Primordial Spirit Embryo, attempting to tear and destroy it.


    Shen Qing immediately felt as if he were experiencing it himself.


    As each part of the Primordial Spirit Embryo was chipped away, he felt as if a piece of his own body was being carved off, enduring the torture of "death by a thousand cuts."


    It was an indescribably painful and excruciating ordeal.


    Large beads of sweat kept seeping out from Shen Qing''s forehead.


    Shen Qing had never thought that condensing the Primordial Spirit would be such a painful process.


    However, there was no thought of giving up, he kept clenching his teeth and persevering without retreat. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was the inevitable path of condensing the Primordial Spirit, one that could not be skipped.


    Shen Qing continually used his own Spiritual Power to repair and strengthen the Primordial Spirit. With each piece that was chipped away, he replenished it accordingly, persistently contending with the stray Spiritual Energy of the outside world.


    It felt like an eternity to him.


    He didn''t know how much time had passed when, just as Shen Qing felt he could no longer hold on, a thunderous boom echoed within his heart.


    It was as if some sort of shackle had been completely shattered; at that moment, that wisp of newly born Primordial Spirit burst forth with supreme divine splendor, becoming one with the nature''s Spiritual Energy of the outside world, with no more rejection between the two.


    All discomfort and pain disappeared without a trace, replaced by an unprecedented sense of power and serenity.


    "I did it!"


    Shen Qing felt ecstatic in his heart. He knew he had successfully condensed the Primordial Spirit, reaching the late phase of the Spirit Void Realm, just one step away from the Primordial Spirit Realm.


    He carefully examined his own Primordial Spirit, like a flawless work of art, feeling completely satisfied.


    "If that''s the case, why not try to take that step? To nurture a wisp of Primordial Spirit, and look down upon the world."


    If anyone were here, they would surely think Shen Qing was indulging in fantasy.


    To gather the Primordial Spirit was already very difficult, and now that the newly condensed Primordial Spirit was extremely fragile, to think of leaving the body was far too risky.


    But Shen Qing was always a decisive person, uninterested in procrastination.


    He stimulated the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, with the power of the Mortal path and his unwavering determination.


    In the Sea of Consciousness, he recalled the first time he climbed to the peak of Mount Tai, standing at the edge of a cliff.


    At that time, the sea of clouds churned wildly, and he could look up to see the horizon at sunrise, while looking down made the climbers seem as insignificant as ants.


    The howling cold wind made his legs go weak.


    At this moment, Shen Qing imagined himself standing on top of that high mountain, and then he leaped.


    A violent sense of weightlessness spread through him.


    Shen Qing felt his whole body lighten as his view suddenly elevated.


    He looked around, still within the broken temple, without any change.


    Only when looking down from above, he could see another self.


    Shen Qing''s expression slightly changed, a rush of elation surged across his face.


    He rose to the sky, standing between heaven and earth, looking down on all things, instantly feeling a surge of lofty aspirations.


    "This is, the leaving of Primordial Spirit from the body... I''ve broken through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, I''ve succeeded!!!"


    Ordinarily, leaving the body by an inch would signify success, but he had plunged from heaven to earth upon his first attempt of condensation.


    Even though Shen Qing didn''t know how others would manifest their breakthroughs to the Primordial Spirit Realm, he realized his method was too unconventional, likely "different from normal people."

 Chapter 399 - 12 Primordial Spirit Realm, Controlling Objects, Xue Zhao Returns to the Capital

    ```


    Before Shen Qing could rejoice for long, a heavy sense of weakness and dizziness quietly enveloped his Primordial Spirit, causing him to panic and feel a sense of foreboding in his heart.


    The dangers of the Primordial Spirit suddenly leaving the body were far beyond imagination.


    At this moment, he only felt his Primordial Spirit like a feather, drifting aimlessly in the endless void, free yet helpless.


    Any carelessness might lead to becoming completely lost in the boundless illusion.


    Whoosh...


    Suddenly, a breeze seeped through the cracks in the walls and windows of the abandoned temple.


    Even though it was a warm day, Shen Qing felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, chilled to the bone.


    The intense cold penetrated every fiber and inch of his body, freezing him so much that he shivered uncontrollably. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This coldness was even worse than when he, as a hunter, went out in a soaked, worn-out coat; it was enough to freeze him to death.


    Shen Qing''s feet left his body, hovering in mid-air, like falling into a vast ocean, with no support in sight.


    A sense of helplessness surged in his heart, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.


    Was this the end?


    Shen Qing desperately wanted to return to his physical shell, leaving only this thought among countless others.


    However, no matter how he willed it, his Divine Soul would not budge.


    The prolonged exposure of the Primordial Spirit to the void began to make it weak.


    Shen Qing hurried to steady his mind.


    The more critical the situation, the calmer one needs to be.


    Shen Qing did not give up and constantly reflected on the True Intent of the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, mastering the tenacity of the Mortal path and mobilizing everything available within him.


    As he exerted himself, the human nature within his Primordial Spirit was being continuously depleted.


    The whole process was extremely difficult, like a small boat struggling in a storm, ready to capsize at any moment.


    Finally, at a certain moment, he seemed to catch a special connection that allowed him to sense the presence of his physical shell.


    He quickly clung to that connection, drawing closer to his body.


    Shen Qing looked down to find that at this very moment, the Guardian Spirit Fragrance in the abandoned temple was burning at an extremely fast rate.


    Boom!


    After an unknown amount of time, Shen Qing''s Primordial Spirit finally returned slowly to his physical body.


    At the instant he returned, it was like coming back from a cold abyss to a warm embrace, all weakness and dizziness instantly dissipated.


    Shen Qing gasped heavily, his sweat-soaked collar, looking at the almost completely burnt Guardian Spirit Fragrance around him, unexpectedly finding that its aid to the Primordial Spirit was greater than he had imagined.


    Without these Guardian Spirit Fragrance, he would have struggled to return, filled with a mix of post-crisis relief and dread.


    Nevertheless, the rewards from this risky venture were immense, almost allowing him to leap through the late stage of the Spirit Void Realm, breaking through a Great Realm to reach the level of Primordial Spirit Realm.


    After a while, Shen Qing gradually calmed down.


    "Since I''ve already condensed the Primordial Spirit, I can now control external objects."


    Shen Qing''s gaze naturally fell on the dagger at his waist.


    This Treasure Blade was a weapon from the Ancient Relics, possessing a trace of spirituality, barely qualifying as a "Magic Treasure," suitable for practicing Controlling Objects.


    Shen Qing did not rush, instead sitting cross-legged to regulate his breath.


    He planned to continue practicing only after he felt his Primordial Spirit had fully recovered.


    Concentrating his mind, Shen Qing gently separated a pure strand of his Primordial Spirit.


    In an instant, a sensation never felt before coursed through his entire being, as if his existence had been wonderfully duplicated.


    At this moment, he had dual consciousness, dual vision, the two closely connected, sharing information, like twins with a linked mind.


    Under this peculiar dual perspective, Shen Qing intended to wield the dagger hanging at his waist.


    He thought of something and stepped forward to draw the dagger, placing it horizontally in front of him.


    Immediately, a clear clang, a flash of cold light, the Treasure Blade was lightly lifted, leisurely floating in front of Shen Qing''s body.


    The blade tip trembled slightly, emitting a faint cold glow that reflected his gaze.


    In the physical body''s perspective, the blade seemed to rise from nothing, without any external force.


    In the view of the Primordial Spirit, he was holding the Treasure Blade in front of him.


    The drastically different perspectives gave Shen Qing an incredibly unique sensory experience.


    Shen Qing thought again, wanting to have the blade circle around him.


    The blade''s light shifted, its trajectory lively, the Treasure Blade indeed adhering to his will, nimbly moving around him, skimming past his back or circling his neck, each motion precise and flawless, as if it were a living thing, an awe-inspiring sight.


    At this moment, Shen Qing suddenly realized, understanding that Controlling Objects involved using a strand of one''s Primordial Spirit to maneuver objects. The Primordial Spirit being light, consequently made the Controlling Objects swift.


    Furthermore, because when maneuvering objects with the Primordial Spirit, if not deliberately manifesting, its formless and intangible nature made it difficult for even adept cultivators to discern its mysteries; they could only witness the object seemingly lifted by an unseen force, moving on its own, assuming it to be artifact manipulation.


    "So, this is how it is."


    Experiencing once through the mysterious means perceived by others at the Primordial Spirit Realm, Shen Qing found it to be just as simple.


    Seeing there was still some strength left, Shen Qing continued with another round of attempts.


    He stretched out his hand, lightly touching the Treasure Blade that had accompanied him for years with his fingertip.


    With a thought, a flick of the finger, the Treasure Blade rose into the air, entwined by a strand of the Primordial Spirit, drawing away from its previous place.


    Initially, everything seemed under his control, the Treasure Blade darting lightly, traversing across the void.


    But as the distance gradually increased, Shen Qing''s expression grew solemn.


    He felt that the Treasure Blade in his hand seemed to be pulled by some invisible force, becoming increasingly heavy, until the blade felt as if pressed by a mountain, unbearably heavy, and he could no longer "hold" it.


    ```

 Chapter 400 - 12 Primordial Spirit Realm, Controlling Objects, Xue Zhao Returns to the Capital_2

    "Thud," a sound fell to the ground.


    Shen Qing frowned, as if realizing something.


    The blade was still the same one.


    It wasn''t that the blade had become heavier; it was just that the power of his Primordial Spirit weakened with the extension of the distance.


    He wasn''t discouraged and continued to try.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    ...


    After countless attempts, Shen Qing finally concluded that the current limit of his Primordial Spirit''s object-taming technique was within the five-meter radius.


    Within five meters, he could control the Treasure Blade; beyond five meters, he could only look on in despair.


    Shen Qing felt that this range was a bit small, somewhat dissatisfied, he couldn''t help but long for the Kongyou Realm where swords could slash enemies from a thousand miles away and travel freely in all directions.


    In reality, what he didn''t know was that other martial masters in the Primordial Spirit Realm would take at least three to five years to reach this five-meter distance, whereas he attained such a level on the first day after breaking through, which was already quite astonishing.


    Suddenly, Shen Qing noticed something unusual coming from his bosom.


    It was Xiao Hu sending a message.


    Shen Qing reached out and took the Spirit Communication Mirror, examining it in front of him.


    Under his gaze, a few words appeared on the mirror''s surface: "Xue Zhao returns to the capital today."


    Looking at these words, Shen Qing''s expression involuntarily became solemn.


    He didn''t expect Xue Zhao to return to the capital so soon.


    For certain reasons, he had killed two of Xue Zhao''s sons.


    People like Xue Zhao, experienced in battle and killing countless, at this moment, surely had an uncontrollable desire to kill him.


    Although there was the awe of imperial power in the capital, the Xue family was also a prestigious family there, with considerable influence.


    If they truly wanted to kill him, they would find a way.


    Considering it, it had already been more than a month; his aunt and them should have arrived near the capital.


    He needed to pick them up and avoid bringing them into the capital for the time being, lest the Xue family uses them to write an article, putting him on the defensive.


    Better wait until the situation stabilizes before taking action.


    Time was of the essence, after thinking it through, Shen Qing casually waved his hand, removing the formation.


    With a cracking sound around him, the disposable array flags he brought turned to dust under the Spiritual Power and dissipated with the wind.


    Shen Qing walked out of the abandoned temple, soared into the sky, transforming into a Rainbow Light and disappearing into the horizon.


    ...


    Under the Danzhou City Wall, as the smoke of gunpowder gradually dissipated, a scene of devastation remained.


    After capturing the city, Xue Zhao''s army, following ancient custom, allowed the soldiers to raid for three days, ending today.


    In the depth of the main tent, General Xue Zhao sat solemnly before the desk, surrounded by a strong Evil Qi.


    This was the result of his long experience in battle and excessive killing.


    At the moment, he was meticulously arranging the details of the garrison and withdrawal.


    No one knew how much time had passed, but Xue Zhao finally decided on the matter of returning to the capital.


    At this time, the tent''s curtain lightly lifted, and a young man silently entered, holding a heavy scroll in his hand as he quickly walked over.


    This person was Xue Manzi, a trusted confidant of Xue Zhao within the family, brought into the army by him and accumulated significant merit.


    "Sir, these are all the intelligence regarding Shen Qing."


    "Bring it over."


    "Yes."


    The detailed information about Shen Qing, meticulously sorted, was spread out in front of Xue Zhao by Xue Manzi.


    Xue Zhao''s gaze slowly swept over those words: Shen Qing, Southern Chief of the Capital Military Department, personally appointed by Your Majesty, with free access to the Imperial Armory, valued by Lan Gongliang...


    This information, like a cold wind, inadvertently rippled the calm lake in Xue Zhao''s heart.


    "Shen Qing...this boy..." Xue Zhao softly uttered the name, a complex expression appeared on his face, his eyes reflecting both scrutiny and contemplation: "To earn such trust from Your Majesty, he must not be spared."


    A scene of Lan Gongliang stopping him flashed in his mind, igniting a trace of anger in his heart.


    Now, Shen Qing had already gained some reputation, it would not be so easy to eradicate him.


    Especially with the attention of Ji Zikong, moving against him under the Capital''s presence would be even harder.


    He needed to find a way to lure him out, away from the Capital, and then deal with him quietly.


    Last time, Lan Gongliang intervened; this time, if the boy was alone, he could crush him effortlessly.


    Xue Manzi, hearing this, stood beside Xue Zhao awaiting the next instruction.


    "Besides matters in the capital, does Shen Qing have anything else?" After a while, Xue Zhao finally asked.


    "There is, General." As he spoke, Xue Manzi respectfully clutched his fists and said: "I have already investigated thoroughly. Shen Qing was born in Taiping County, a hunter, his parents passed one after another when he was about ten, relying on his elder sister for survival. With the aid of his uncle Shen Er, the siblings lived in the village, later moved to the city to learn martial arts, and somehow obtained appointment documents to enter Yongzhou as an officer. Along the way, he excelled in slaying demons, gaining recognition."


    "When eliminating a Huangtian Sect traitor, he rendered considerable service, thus being appointed as Chief Officer of both departments, until he participated in a rebel suppression meeting where he killed Young Master Xue Bai, by chance winning the top honor, and returned to the capital."


    Xue Manzi recited all the information he had gathered about Shen Qing in one breath.


    "He''s truly a talent; it would be a pity not to kill him," Xue Zhao sincerely remarked and asked: "You mentioned he has family, where are they now?"


    "I have also checked, General. They left Yongzhou heading to the capital and are now near the capital." S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing this, Xue Zhao''s eyes brightened, having found a breakthrough, he said: "Just what I needed, they have brought me a reason to draw him out of the capital."


    "In that case, I won''t hold back."


    Xue Zhao donned his armor and stood up, patting Xue Manzi on the shoulder, reminding: "The final wrap-up here is yours to oversee."


    "I obey, sir."


    After giving orders, Xue Zhao no longer lingered; he tapped his toe, Rainbow Light emerged, enveloping him as he shot out of the tent, racing towards the direction of the capital.


    ...


    Outside the capital, southwest direction, on the official road eighty miles from the city wall, a convoy of carriages leisurely advanced.


    At the front of the procession, a banner bearing the "Shen" character swayed in the breeze atop a simply decorated carriage.


    Inside the carriage, Aunt Wang gently lifted a corner of the carved wooden window, poked her head out, and tiredly asked: "Xiao Hu, can you estimate how far we are from the capital?"


    Tian Xiaohu, riding a horse, looked back, then rode the horse alongside the carriage, leaning over from the saddle, he said: "Aunt, I asked Yang just now, he said at this speed, we can reach in one or two days at most. Traveling with family and many belongings naturally slows us down. If we traveled light, we could arrive in a day."


    "Oh."


    Hearing this, Aunt Wang gently replied, then lowered the curtain, her hand rubbing her sore waist.


    The long journey had taken its toll on her aging body, her eyes reflecting a trace of helplessness.


    "Auntie, let me give you a massage."


    In the carriage, the considerate elder sister Shen Fang volunteered to help Wang with her back.


    Outside the carriage, Shen Er and Shen Shan, father and son, glanced inside silently.


    At this moment, someone in the convoy suddenly pointed to the sky, exclaiming excitedly: "Look! There''s a Rainbow Light!"


    Upon hearing this, everyone raised their heads, looking in the direction he pointed, towards the vast blue sky.


    They saw a brilliant streak of Rainbow Light cross the sky, rapidly approaching, its speed astonishing.


    "There seems to be someone in the Rainbow Light!" someone exclaimed, their voice tinged with disbelief.


    "That person... seems to be heading toward us!" another shouted in amazement.


    No sooner had the words left his mouth, that Rainbow Light landed right in front of their convoy.


    "Whoa!!!"


    Everyone reined their horses to a stop, their eyes locked on that Rainbow Light, filled with vigilance.


    They saw the Rainbow Light fade, revealing the figure of a middle-aged man fully armored.


    "Everyone, show your weapons."


    Clang.


    People in the convoy unhesitatingly drew their blades, ready for battle.

 Chapter 401 - 13: A Threat from the Primordial Spirit Realm, Fight!

    ```


    "I am Yang Feng. I wonder what you intend to do by blocking our path?" Yang Feng, the head of the caravan, rode to the front and said with hands cupped in respect.


    They were part of Wu Sheng''s trading caravan, traveling between the Capital City and Yongzhou frequently.


    This time, as the Shen Family was relocating collectively to the Capital City, their group of fifteen people received secret orders to participate in the escort.


    Yang Feng could see that the armored middle-aged man in front of him could control the rainbow light, indicating his cultivation was at least at the level of an Innate Martial Master.


    They were no match for him.


    Instantly, Yang Feng''s heart was in his throat, and he tightly gripped his sword, not daring to breathe.


    Even so, they did not retreat.


    They all knew that after Shen Qing entered the Capital City, he advanced rapidly, with unlimited prospects.


    If they could connect with him through this, it would be greatly beneficial to them.


    Therefore, they had been extremely diligent and serious throughout this journey.


    Xue Zhao glanced at Yang Feng without much concern.


    He looked beyond Yang Feng, his gaze landing on the Shen Character Flag behind him, and asked with a smile, "Are Shen Qing''s family among you?"


    Yang Feng''s eyebrows twitched, immediately feeling a bad premonition, and he opened his mouth to say something to mislead.


    However, before he could utter a single word, a powerful and unmatched aura erupted from the middle-aged man in front of him, like a mountain flood, unstoppable.


    Yang Feng''s clothes billowed in the wind, making a flapping sound like a flag snapping in the breeze.


    The horse under him sensed the terrifying pressure, its eyes showing fear as it nervously backed away, instinctively wishing to flee.


    Had Yang Feng not tightly pulled the reins, it would have already bolted.


    Witnessing this, Yang Feng looked at Xue Zhao again, his expression slightly shifting, his throat dry.


    He had seen the stature of an Innate Martial Master before, and the power displayed by this middle-aged man was much stronger than the Innate Realm; his cultivation was definitely above it.


    While Yang Feng and others were still speculating, Xue Zhao spoke to Yang Feng with a faint smile, saying, "I advise you to tell the truth, otherwise if you deceive me twice, I can''t guarantee I won''t lose my temper and go on a killing spree."


    Xue Zhao''s threat carried a chilling murderous intent, causing everyone, including Yang Feng, to shiver.


    "I''ll ask you again, are Shen Qing''s family among you?"


    Intense fear surged from the depths of Yang Feng''s heart, completely overwhelming his reason and sense of responsibility. He hesitantly uttered, "Yes..."


    "Very well." Xue Zhao was very satisfied with Yang Feng''s response. He walked forward, speaking as he went.


    Faced with the extremely powerful Xue Zhao, everyone in the caravan showed fear. This oppressive feeling was like a cloud hanging low, making it hard for anyone to breathe.


    Many subconsciously made way for Xue Zhao.


    A martial master from the caravan, unable to watch any longer, showed some disdain for Yang Feng and the others'' actions.


    He stepped forward without fear, standing in front of Xue Zhao and solemnly shouted, "Stop! We have no grievances with you. Leave at once, or else our employer will not spare you."


    Upon hearing this, Xue Zhao glanced forward. His face remained calm and collected, without a hint of anger.


    The martial master standing in front of Xue Zhao caught a glimpse of deep indifference in Xue Zhao''s eyes.


    His actions seemed laughable to Xue Zhao, like an ant trying to stop a carriage.


    The martial master felt a surge of hot blood rushing to his head. He drew his sword and shouted, "We are all raised by parents. Who the hell do you think you are? Lord Shen has been kind to us; how can we stand by and let his family fall into this villain''s hands? Attack!"


    Clamping his steed, he charged forward, sword in hand.


    Swish!


    As the martial master charged at Xue Zhao, his sword hadn''t even come down when a cold gleam flashed, and he, along with his mount, was bisected without a sound.


    Glancing at the unsightly corpses on either side, Xue Zhao coldly remarked, "The courage to seek death is commendable!"


    A faint smile finally appeared on Xue Zhao''s face.


    He continued forward, extending his hand to point.


    Instantly, a wagon in the caravan was torn apart, revealing its contents.


    "Ah!"


    Aunt Wang screamed in panic and disarray.


    Shen Fang and the others were equally terrified.


    Tian Xiaohu and others gritted their teeth and stood guard by the carriage, cold sweat seeping from their backs in layers.


    Xue Zhao, upon seeing the few people in the carriage resembling Shen Qing somewhat, knew he had found the right people and nodded in satisfaction.


    Uncle Shen the Second, steeling himself, looked at Xue Zhao and hesitantly asked, "This lord, we''re strangers. Where have we offended you? I hope you''ll speak clearly. There might be a misunderstanding?"


    Even if it''s a misunderstanding, so what? It''s just mistakenly killing a few ants, after all. Once they''re dead, they''re mistaken. Better to kill the wrong than to let go!


    As soon as the words fell, Xue Zhao gently flicked his sleeve.


    Instantly, the martial masters standing in his way were swept away like leaves in the wind, spewing blood, their bodies flying backward and crashing heavily to the ground.


    They struggled to stand, but it was in vain. Their bodies trembled, their breaths faint, as if even breathing became exceptionally arduous.


    Amidst all the astonished gazes, they finally gasped their last breaths, becoming nothing more than corpses.


    By then, no one in the caravan dared to make a sound.


    The gap was too great.


    They stood no chance whatsoever.


    Tian Xiaohu''s face was pale, beads of sweat uncontrollably streaming down his face, collecting at his chin before dripping to the ground with a faint plop.


    Closer, closer!


    Tian Xiaohu watched as Xue Zhao approached leisurely, feeling his heart sink to rock bottom.


    Was this the end?


    No, he couldn''t just surrender.


    How could he face Qingzi after all his guidance?


    Tian Xiaohu shouted, "Run!"


    With that, he charged forward, intending to use his body to delay Xue Zhao even a little. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Courting death!"


    At this critical moment, the sky suddenly cracked open with a brilliant fissure.


    A golden light streaked down like a meteor slicing through the night sky, transforming into a golden arrow that resembled a spear from the heavens, charging toward Xue Zhao''s position.


    Xue Zhao''s heart shivered as he sensed a terrifying pressure.


    Daring not to be careless, his figure instantly became a blur, retreating hundreds of meters, trying to evade the arrow''s lock.


    Unexpectedly, the golden arrow seemed to possess a spiritual essence, ignoring spatial distance, tightly locking onto Xue Zhao''s aura, closely following him.


    No matter how much effort he exerted, he could not shake off its pursuit.


    The arrow traversed the void, swift as lightning, appearing before Xue Zhao in an instant, bringing with it a gust of fierce wind that sent shivers through him.


    Xue Zhao''s expression changed as he hastily gathered all his spiritual power to form an indestructible blue shield, attempting to block it.


    A deafening boom resounded, shaking heaven and earth!


    The golden arrow and the spiritual shield collided, unleashing a dazzling light as bright as the noon sun, illuminating the entire area.


    The massive shock wave swept through the surrounding caravan like a hurricane, overturning people and horses, raising dust, creating a scene of chaos.


    "Who dares to launch a sneak attack?!"


    Xue Zhao''s face turned ashen, his angry shout echoing through the heavens and earth, sensing a terrifying pressure from the arrow, suspecting the opponent wasn''t lower than him in cultivation.


    No one on the scene answered.


    Just as he was about to ascend, the opponent responded.


    Xue Zhao''s eyes widened suddenly.


    In the distant sky, a dense rain of golden arrows appeared, covering the sky, completely enveloping the area where Xue Zhao stood.


    Each arrow was like falling stars from the heavens.


    Boom!


    The mountains and rivers trembled as the golden arrows rained down like drops.


    The world shook as the sun-like brilliance slowly rose from Xue Zhao''s position, rumbling.


    When the last trace of light faded, Xue Zhao''s figure gradually emerged.


    Having endured a wave of arrow rain, he appeared disheveled, his hair draping down, armor tattered, with numerous bloody wounds exposed.


    His sharp eyes remained fixated on the eastern sky, where a radiant rainbow light rapidly approached.


    That familiar figure, if not Shen Qing, who else could it be?


    A trace of disbelief flashed in Xue Zhao''s eyes, then he laughed, "Good, good, good. I originally planned to use these people to lure you out of the Capital City, but you came out yourself, saving me a lot of trouble."


    Xue Zhao suddenly soared up like a dragon out of the sea, majestic.


    His Primordial Spirit concentrated highly, resonating with the heavens and earth, as the scabbard at his waist gently flicked, a long sword containing infinite icy power appeared out of thin air, blue light shimmering, instantly extending to nearly a hundred meters.


    "Slash!"


    With a cry, the long sword in front of Xue Zhao cut down like a river of stars from the sky, with fierce murderous intent and ultimate pressure aimed at Shen Qing''s location, slashing down fiercely.


    Shen Qing''s complexion changed at the sight, a trace of gravity flashing in his eyes.


    The fierce wind rushed toward him, even before it reached him, he had already sensed the immense power contained within the strike.


    If hit, regardless of his Six Paths Reincarnation Technique''s powerful physique, it certainly wouldn''t end well.


    Shen Qing dared not be careless.


    Controlling the rainbow light, he employed the Great Void Shifting Technique, his figure twisting and folding in the void like a ghost, crossing dozens of meters in an instant, deftly avoiding the strike capable of splitting mountains.


    The long sword howled down with world-destroying momentum, crashing onto a towering mountain top.


    Boom...


    A flash of blue light, splitting the mountaintop with tremendous force, bisecting it, causing the peak to collapse loudly, turning into countless rocks tumbling down, stirring up dust, covering the sun.


    The entire mountain crumbled into ruins.


    Shen Qing stood silently, witnessing this.


    Is this the true power of the Primordial Spirit Realm?


    No wonder Xue Zhao could stand as an army''s general, his power probably matching thousands of troops.


    Truly a family with roots, unlike any local tyrant.


    "Hmm?"


    Seeing Shen Qing avoid his sword, a hint of surprise flashed in Xue Zhao''s eyes.


    But the surprise quickly vanished.


    He stepped forward, hands tightly grasping the long sword, rushing towards Shen Qing with a roar, "Boy, give my son back his life, pay your blood debt today!"


    A thousand-meter distance was but a step to him.


    Shen Qing, seeing this, unsheathed his treasured sword, holding it across his chest.


    Bang!


    The two swords collided.


    At that moment, their spiritual energies surged like raging waves, scattering waves that twisted and shattered the surrounding forest.


    Shen Qing felt a mountain-crushing force surging through his arm, threatening to shatter his bones and meridians.


    His gaze sharp, his sacred blood boiling, flowing like golden molten iron, granting him unprecedented resilience and power, fiercely resisting Xue Zhao''s terrifying attack.


    This scene amazed Xue Zhao.


    The sword in his hand was forged from blood-shadow steel discovered by the Xue Family, cutting iron like mud, perfectly harmonizing with the Primordial Spirit.


    Now, this supreme weapon was blocked by Shen Qing''s ancient long sword.


    Even more incredible was Shen Qing''s stand, bearing such immense pressure without yielding a step.


    In the last encounter, Shen Qing was merely a Void Martial Master, easily crushed under Xue Zhao.


    Could it be that... Shen Qing advanced to the Primordial Spirit Realm in this short span?!!


    For a moment, great waves surged in Xue Zhao''s heart.


    If true, it was too terrifying.


    Impossible, absolutely impossible.


    Xue Zhao refused to accept such a fact.


    Although his strike didn''t kill Shen Qing, his eyes burned fiercer, like two flames.


    Raising both arms high, he sent the long sword whistling forward like a dragon out of the sea, slashing in succession.


    Each strike carried mountain-splitting force, crazily chopping downward.


    "Boom, boom, boom!!"


    The air burst into deafening roars under the barrage, slicing the surrounding air into tatters with fierce murderous intent like a storm.


    Shen Qing''s embroidered robe shredded under the force, revealing his skin underneath.


    Swords clashed, and the battle between the two grew even fiercer, exchanging blows endlessly, each clash sending visible ripples of impact waves.


    Suddenly, a muffled "swish" sounded.


    Shen Qing couldn''t dodge, taking a blow.


    His skin, hard as iron, was easily cut like paper, blood spurting out, staining his clothes, the wound terribly gaping.


    Yet Shen Qing didn''t panic.


    Using the Great Void Shifting Technique, he distanced from Xue Zhao, taking a deep breath, closing his eyes, concentrating as the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique activated within him.


    Instantly, his wounds shimmered with lustrous light, golden radiance spreading, exuding sacred aura.


    Under the glow, the frightening wounds began healing visibly, new flesh sprouting, quickly restoring as if never harmed.


    Xue Zhao, being a prominent general, had sharp insight and recognized Shen Qing''s skill as an exceptional divine technique at a glance.


    Considering Shen Qing''s recent rumors of frequent royal armory visits, perhaps he gained considerable fortune from the armory.


    If such a skill was obtained by him, it would certainly augment the Xue family, offsetting the loss of his child.


    Xue Zhao''s heart burned with intent to claim this divine skill, looking down arrogantly, "Your technique is impressive. Hand it over, and I might grant you a dignified death. What say you?"


    ```

 Chapter 402 - 14 Are You Also in the Primordial Spirit Realm? Xue Zhao Falls

    ```


    "What if I''m not willing?" Shen Qing said calmly.


    "Then you will die!"


    As Xue Zhao''s words fell, a brilliant spiritual light suddenly erupted around him, dazzling like the rising sun.


    At this moment, a wave surged behind him, and a blue Dharma Image, forged by his Primordial Spirit, appeared, wielding the might of a tsunami, and struck towards Shen Qing with a thunderous punch.


    The fist shadow was enormous, like a bull, carrying immense power and sealing off all of Shen Qing''s escape routes.


    Facing this terrifying attack, Shen Qing did not retreat.


    A fierce cold light gathered in his eyes, and his hands moved rapidly, forming seals like phantoms.


    As he continuously formed seals with his hands, the spiritual energy in his vicinity boiled.


    The clear sky above suddenly lit up with lightning and thunder.


    Golden lightning bolts appeared out of nowhere under the sky, appearing extremely abrupt.


    Under Shen Qing''s gaze, these golden lightning bolts condensed into an ancient Thunder and Light Seal.


    Lightning danced across it, and the roaring sound was deafening, directly confronting Xue Zhao''s unstoppable Fist Seal.


    With a loud explosion, the world changed color, and an unprecedented energy storm swept in all directions, its radiance dazzling.


    The Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal was fully unleashed by Shen Qing at this moment.


    Rumble!


    Xue Zhao felt his Primordial Spirit tremble violently, as if struck by lightning.


    He was astonished to find that the arm of his Dharma Image, condensed from a wisp of Primordial Spirit, dissipated like dust under Shen Qing''s "Seal Technique," leaving only a shocking ruin.


    The Dharma Image''s arm fell into complete numbness, losing all sensation.


    "Hmm? What Martial Arts is this?"


    Xue Zhao''s face was filled with astonishment.


    Today, Shen Qing continuously gave him great surprises and shocks.


    He clearly saw that this seal technique was also a supreme Martial Art.


    Could such an achievement really be possible in such a short period in the Imperial Armory?


    Absolutely impossible.


    No matter how miraculous and easy to learn an Immortal Martial Technique is, it cannot be mastered overnight.


    Immortal Martial Techniques are not Demon Skills.


    Could it be that these techniques were learned before entering the Imperial Armory?


    The more Xue Zhao thought about it, the more alarmed he became.


    The reason for Shen Qing''s rapid cultivation advancement might be attributed to these techniques.


    But how could someone from a humble background, like a hunter, possess such Martial Arts?


    There''s definitely something peculiar about him, and he likely has some great fortune.


    When Xue Zhao looked at Shen Qing again, his eyes were filled with greed.


    He was eager to uncover all of Shen Qing''s secrets.


    Xue Zhao snorted coldly, closed his eyes to focus, and wisps of deep and pure blue light leisurely emanated from his body, like spiritual snakes exiting their holes, gathering into the towering Dharma Image behind him.


    Powerful Primordial Spirit waves spread out in layers of blue ripples.


    The Dharma Image, with one arm lost due to the Thunder Seal, miraculously revived under the nourishment of these Primordial Spirit wisps.


    At the broken section, a faint blue light emerged, and the obliterated Dharma Image arm actually regenerated at a speed visible to the naked eye, restored completely within just a few breaths.


    A faint pressure pervaded the air, causing Shen Qing''s expression to turn serious.


    With a sudden press of his hands, Xue Zhao''s several zhang-high Dharma Image, carrying an unstoppable momentum, descended upon Shen Qing like a collapsing sky.


    The Dharma Image held immense power, even the void crackled as it passed.


    Just as the Dharma Image reached Shen Qing''s doorstep, Xue Zhao clasped his hands suddenly: "Ha!"


    Poof.


    The blue Dharma Image Xue Zhao conjured shattered abruptly, as if a mother cradling her infant, tightly wrapping Shen Qing within it.


    The next moment, the Dharma Image began to shrink rapidly, its light converging, transforming into a round bead with a deep blue glow, imprisoning Shen Qing firmly within it. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This is my self-created Dharma Cage, no matter how vast your Divine Skills, don''t expect to escape from this absolute space..." Xue Zhao''s words carried undeniable confidence.


    However, before he could finish, an abrupt change occurred.


    On the blue orb, golden cracks suddenly appeared.


    The cracks spread quickly, their golden light dazzling, contrasting sharply with the orb''s glow.


    Bang!


    With a deafening roar, the Blue Orb shattered, turning into scattered blue light, vanishing without a trace.


    The golden light erupted like a volcanic eruption, ripping the surrounding space to shreds.


    Shen Qing''s silhouette, in this brilliant golden light, appeared as if reborn from flames, soaring into the Nine Heavens.


    Xue Zhao''s face changed drastically, as a surge of indescribable power struck back, overwhelming him like massive waves.


    His body staggered, as if hit by a heavy hammer, his mind dazed, he stumbled back, barely able to stand.


    The wisp of Primordial Spirit he had sent out was completely destroyed the moment the blue orb shattered, the intense pain connecting back to his own body, causing a backlash.


    His face instantly turned as pale as paper, a trickle of blood even seeped out from the corner of his mouth, severely injured.


    Xue Zhao stared intently at Shen Qing, disbelief flooding his eyes: "Primordial Spirit Realm, you''re also in the Primordial Spirit Realm?!"


    Standing before the Dharma Image, Shen Qing''s lips curled up, generously admitting: "Lucky me, I managed to break through one level."


    Xue Zhao muttered to himself: "Those two Cultivation Techniques reached such a level in such a short time, truly unheard of, never seen Divine Skills!"


    "I must obtain these techniques!"


    Unconsciously, greed flickered strongly in his gaze.


    ```

 Chapter 403 - 14 Are You Also in the Primordial Spirit Realm? Xue Zhao Falls_2

    "Alright, then let me face you, martial master of the Primordial Spirit Realm."


    At this moment, Xue Zhao had long since put the death of his son behind him.


    Years of brutal fights had steeped his heart with intense evil qi, gradually turning his expression manic.


    All he wanted was to kill Shen Qing and unearth the secrets within him.


    In his view, Shen Qing had made progress over about a month.


    Even if he broke through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, it would only be the initial stage and couldn''t possibly match him.


    In the distant sky, a streak of gold slowly emerged, like the rising sun, warm and dazzling.


    That golden Dharma Image gradually gathered and expanded in the void, finally forming a majestic figure a hundred meters tall, exuding a pressure that made one''s heart tremble.


    "It''s my turn."


    "Kill!"


    With a thought, Shen Qing''s hands formed Dharma Seals continuously striking towards Xue Zhao.


    The void roared, smoke and dust arose.


    Xue Zhao, without fear, charged forward.


    Both used their Primordial Spirits as a lead, and the sky-reaching Dharma Images they condensed were like ancient deities clashing fiercely.


    Fist against fist, palm against palm.


    Continuously exchanging blows.


    Each move brought deafening booms, sounding like heaven and earth splitting, almost rupturing the eardrums.


    The powerful aura swept across like a storm, engulfing everything around.


    The nearby mountain peaks appeared fragile in the face of this terrifying energy, crumbling under the aftershock of their Dharma Images, shattering into flying debris, dust filling the sky.


    The whole world seemed shrouded by this force, becoming dark and dim. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The confrontation between Xue Zhao and his opponent was like the collision of two stars.


    The power of a martial master in the Primordial Spirit Realm was too terrifying.


    In the blink of an eye, the entire battlefield was wrecked and devastated.


    The two were completely entangled in battle.


    On the ground, Yang Feng and others watched with pounding hearts.


    They hid in a corner, observing from afar, not daring to get too close for fear of collateral damage.


    By now, they had long realized Xue Zhao''s formidable background, unknowingly worrying for Shen Qing, continuously cheering for him.


    They also knew clearly, if Shen Qing died, their fate would be equally tragic.


    This had already been proven in Yongzhou.


    Boom, boom, boom...


    Under the blue sky, the thunderous sound was incessant.


    Anywhere the two passed, the mountains and rivers they encountered were shattered by their spiritual power and Primordial Spirit treasures.


    The more Xue Zhao fought, the more astonished he became.


    Shen Qing only defended without attacking, his spiritual power vast like the sea, terrifyingly monstrous.


    Not only was the spiritual power strong, but the Primordial Spirit he condensed was also immensely solid, his physical body unbelievably powerful.


    After dozens of exchanges, Xue Zhao felt his soul trembling and clarity waning, unable to withstand it.


    This despite years of stabilizing his breakthrough to the late Primordial Spirit Realm.


    If compared to an ordinary Primordial Spirit Realm master, Shen Qing would have already killed them by now.


    Where on earth did this monster Shen Qing come from?


    He had initially planned to capture alive, but now it seemed utterly unrealistic.


    Seeing Shen Qing growing braver in battle, momentum soaring, Xue Zhao gritted his teeth and unleashed his full Primordial Spirit without reservation.


    Instantly, an ancient and desolate aura surged from his brow.


    A rusted spear slowly emerged, stained with blood, emanating a chilling killing intent.


    "Condense!"


    Xue Zhao growled, pulling out the rusted spear completely.


    This spear was an ancient weapon he found in a cemetery during battles, stained with a trace of ancient power''s blood, exuding murderous intent.


    Xue Zhao''s spiritual power boiled, like a breached river, he lightly shouted: "Kill!"


    The rusted spear turned into a streak of light, aiming straight at Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing, with keen perception, sensed tremendous danger, his hair standing on end, enveloped by an unprecedented sense of crisis.


    His nascent Primordial Spirit couldn''t withstand such an attack.


    So, in an instant, he recalled his Primordial Spirit.


    Sacred blood surged.


    Golden light shimmered on Shen Qing''s skin, exuding a holy aura.


    Boom!


    The spear shot like lightning, piercing through Shen Qing''s chest effortlessly.


    Golden blood splattered out.


    "Haha, I did it!"


    Seeing this, Xue Zhao shouted excitedly, laughing aloud.


    But before he could celebrate for long, he saw Shen Qing''s golden holy blood boiling, suppressing the spear''s fierce killing qi, restoring calm.


    Shen Qing gripped the spear''s handle firmly, expression unchanged, pulling it out from his chest.


    The Six Paths Reincarnation Technique operated continuously, erasing the residual energy in the wound, replacing it with vibrant vitality, slowly repairing the injury.


    Soon, the wound healed completely.


    Shen Qing looked down at the spear in his hand.


    The spear was rusted, appearing to have weathered countless years, its ancient aura almost tangible.


    At that moment, the spear trembled, sensing something, trying to break free, full of spirituality.


    However, Shen Qing wouldn''t let it do as it pleased.


    Shen Qing snorted coldly, his sacred blood boiling, continuously repressed the spear with holy power, preventing it from escaping.


    Just then, a soft sound suddenly echoed.


    A small three-legged cauldron uncontrollably leapt from his brow.


    Ancient and mysterious patterns flowed on it, identical to those on the spear.


    The small three-legged cauldron lightly rotated, devouring all the bloodstains on the spear.


    Then, the cauldron shook sharply; with a crisp cracking sound, the spear was ground to dust under it.


    Such unexpected changes left Xue Zhao aghast.


    In Shen Qing''s eyes, a sharp light flashed, seemingly realizing something, hurriedly activating the Great Shift Void Technique.


    The three-legged cauldron exuded waves of excitement.


    It crossed the void directly, rushing in front of Xue Zhao.


    The cauldron opened wide, countless sword energies surged like flooding rivers.


    These were the absolute sword energies contained in countless sword fragments within the cauldron, each strand capable of slaying innate or even spiritual void realm experts.


    "Ah!"


    Xue Zhao screamed tragically.


    Under this immense sword energy, moving too quickly, he had no defenses.


    In just a moment, his Primordial Spirit and body were riddled with holes, barely holding on.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing didn''t hesitate.


    Taking advantage of his weakness, to claim his life.


    Shen Qing activated the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal within him, bombarding Xue Zhao continuously with thunderous seals.


    Each strike altered the world, thundering mightily.


    After an unknown period, the bombing gradually ceased.


    Xue Zhao''s screams halted suddenly as well.


    He was dead.


    The last trace of life was extinguished by Shen Qing''s Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal.


    Only silence remained in the world, along with the lingering metallic scent in the air.


    With a thought, the three-legged cauldron seemingly with its own spirit returned to Shen Qing''s brow.


    Everything settled.


    Stepping into the void, he secured a beige embroidered pouch.


    This was Xue Zhao''s multi-treasure pouch, which Shen Qing had keenly spotted earlier, reclaiming it for himself.


    "Boss!"


    "Qingzi!"


    Not far away, seeing Xue Zhao dead, Yang Feng and the others from the convoy confirmed the area was safe and all came out with Sister Shen Fang.


    Shen Qing smiled, quickly crossing over and caring, "Uncles, Aunt, Sister, are you all alright on the way?"


    "All good, all good." They looked at the messy surroundings, hearts lingering with fear.


    If not for Shen Qing''s presence.


    They would''ve surely faced doom today.


    Uncle Shen Er asked with concern, "Who was that big figure? Will you be alright for killing him?"


    Shen Qing''s face solemn for once, whispered, "This is not a place to talk, let''s go!"


    The battle just now was quite a commotion.


    Although it was in the outskirts of the capital, several miles away, you never know if some purposeful eyes had seen it.


    To avoid unnecessary trouble, it''s best to leave soon.


    After all, killing the ruling Grand General, head of the Xue family, wouldn''t be a trivial matter in any sense.

 Chapter 404 - 15: Winds Stir, Unrest in Huang Tian Sect

    ```


    After a moment.


    A dozen members of the Mountain Sea Department, the Military Department, and the Qintian Bureau rushed to the edge of the ruins.


    They stood on a hill and looked into the distance.


    The land was in chaos as if overturned, mountains collapsed, rivers stopped flowing, causing them all to gasp involuntarily.


    "What on earth happened here? Did any of you notice anything beforehand?" a dispatch officer of the Mountain Sea Department asked gravely, his brows furrowed, revealing a trace of solemnity.


    The others shook their heads and said, "We also just noticed the change here and came over immediately."


    "There''s no time to lose, let''s go take a look."


    Everyone quickly rushed towards the core of the ruins.


    What they didn''t expect was that before they even got close, they detected a powerful presence lingering in the ruins, with a faint trace of ancient killing intent.


    These auras mixed together, piercing through their Protective True Qi like ten thousand tiny needles, causing their skin to sting and their hearts to feel uneasy, like being pricked by needles.


    The Chief Officer of the Mountain Sea Department questioned, "Could it be that demons have attacked the Capital? Is this left by great demons?"


    "Impossible, we''ve been patrolling the Capital consistently, and nothing has been missed in the Capital Region. If there were demons, they couldn''t escape our patrols."


    "That''s strange."


    The official from the Qintian Bureau stepped forward, circulated his Spiritual Power, captured a wisp of the aura, and closed his eyes to carefully sense it.


    After a while, he immediately made a judgment and exclaimed, "Primordial Spirit Realm! This is the aura of the Primordial Spirit Realm."


    "A Great Power of the Primordial Spirit Realm engaged in a fierce battle here, and only beings of their caliber could leave an aura that wouldn''t dissipate in a short time."


    "This aura feels somewhat familiar..."


    These people had practiced martial arts for many years and already possessed keen senses.


    The Chief Officer of the Mountain Sea Department activated his Spiritual Power, a pale light falling onto the void, making a sizzling sound as it tangled and erased a lingering aura.


    He carefully comprehended it, and after a while, as if recalling something, he suddenly gasped.


    "It''s General Xue! His vitality was obliterated by someone else."


    "Quick, this matter is of great consequence, we must report to Your Majesty immediately!" a dispatch officer of the Military Department shouted loudly.


    After so many years, someone dared to commit murder near the Capital, and even killed the Great General of the court, making it unbelievable for them.


    They could foresee what kind of turbulence would follow.


    ...


    In the Capital.


    Shen Qing led his uncle and aunt around a small path and safely returned to his residence in the Capital.


    "Uncle, Aunt, please look." Shen Qing pointed to the magnificent mansion in front of them and said, "This is my house in the Capital City, and from now on, it will be your home. I will arrange all the servants and staff properly, so you can stay here with peace of mind."


    Uncle Shen the Second stepped forward, looking at the carved door and the large characters "Shen Mansion," with emotion he said, "The Capital, indeed extraordinary under Heaven''s feet. We, a family of hunters, actually have the fortune to enjoy our remaining years here; it''s like a dream to have such good fortune."


    "Wonderful, wonderful... Qingzi, you truly have achieved something!"


    Those who accompanied Shen Qing all the way felt a mix of emotions upon hearing these words.


    They recalled the days living in Hongshan Village, and thinking about the present, it all felt somewhat incredible.


    Yang Feng and others in the convoy stood aside and said respectfully, "Lord Shen, we have escorted you from Yongzhou to here as instructed by you, now we need to report to Brother Wu, farewell."


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "Everyone, you''ve worked hard. Once I''ve settled my family, there will be a generous reward. I will also make sure those brothers who met with misfortune are quickly compensated."


    "Thank you, my lord."


    Yang Feng and the others cupped their hands and did not linger in front of Shen Qing.


    Shortly after they left, a distant bell sound echoed from the sky above the Capital.


    "This is... the Imperial Bell!"


    Shen Qing''s expression changed slightly.


    The Imperial Bell is a Magic Treasure of The Ji Family of Dazhou, struck whenever a major event occurs.


    The bell''s sound would echo throughout the entire Capital.


    After tolling three times, any officials not returning to their government offices or respective positions would be executed without exception.


    Shen Qing did not know why the Imperial Bell was rung at this time.


    Could it be that his act of slaying Xue Zhao had been discovered?


    Shen Qing was uncertain.


    But given his cautiousness at the time, it shouldn''t have been that easily discovered.


    Moreover, his breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit Realm was outside the city, so no one would associate it with him.


    The second bell tolled.


    Shen Qing knew he couldn''t delay any longer.


    After settling his uncle and aunt, he changed into a clean official uniform and made his way towards the Military Department Office.


    Upon arriving at the Military Department Office, it was already bustling with people inside.


    Shen Qing did not linger at the first courtyard and went directly to the third courtyard.


    At this time, Wei Chengye, Zeng Weifeng, Zhao Lengyan, and Yang Henshan, the four Chief Officers, had all arrived.


    They sat around an old round table, whispering and discussing some major event.


    Shen Qing gently pushed the door open and entered the room.


    He glanced at everyone and said, "Gentlemen, I''m not late, am I?"


    "You came just in time, have a seat," Wei Chengye indicated the empty spot beside him.


    Shen Qing didn''t stand on ceremony, moved forward, and picked up a chair to sit down. Curiously, he asked, "May I know for what purpose the palace has urgently summoned us this time?" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zeng Weifeng raised his head and said with a heavy tone, "Today, Lord Xue Zhao''s body was found in the outskirts of the city, this matter has alarmed the court, and His Majesty is furious!"


    ```

 Chapter 405 - 15: Winds Stir, Unrest in Huang Tian Sect_2

    "Ah, is there really such a thing?!" Shen Qing''s face was filled with shock as he exclaimed, "I remember Lord Xue was a martial master of the Primordial Spirit Realm, didn''t he return victorious? How could he just die out of nowhere?"


    Yang Henshan took over the conversation, saying, "Who knows? Lord Xue''s cultivation was unfathomable, yet he was killed just like that, it''s truly baffling. It''s practically a slap to Your Majesty''s face."


    "Lord Lan has already entered the palace to meet with His Majesty. The days we have ahead will surely be tough."


    ...


    Wanshou Palace.


    The main door was wide open, sunshine streaming in, illuminating a solemn and grave scene.


    Officials from the Internal Affairs Department, Military Department, and Mountain Sea Department were urgently summoned here.


    Each of them bowed their heads in silence, intensifying the oppressive atmosphere in the grand hall.


    At the front, Ji Zikong, donned in a dragon robe, sat regally on the high dragon throne, an undeniable authority emanating from his brows.


    His gaze was sharp as he scanned the ministers below, and once everyone was present, he slowly spoke, his voice tinged with suppressed anger, "Beloved ministers, I''ve just received word that Xue Zhao, a key minister of the court, was viciously murdered just outside the Capital, right under my nose. What do you make of this?"


    "Military Department?" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lan Gongliang stepped forward and said, "Your humble servant is here!"


    "Any leads?"


    "Your humble servant... Your humble servant just found out."


    "Mountain Sea Department, Internal Affairs Department? You were responsible for General Xue''s return to the Capital."


    "Your humble servant deserves death ten thousand times, I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness!"


    As the head of the Internal Affairs Department, Chief Eunuch He Yong prostrated on the ground, trembling as he spoke.


    Following him, Mountain Sea Department Chief Ji Hong also knelt down and pleaded, "Your humble servant deserves death ten thousand times, I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness!"


    "Hmph! Forgiveness, forgiveness¡­ If everything could be forgiven, what use do I have for you ministers?" Ji Zikong''s face turned livid upon hearing this, his displeasure clear.


    Suddenly, his imposing aura as the foremost martial hero in the world erupted like a raging storm through the entire grand hall.


    His control over his power was astounding, not a hint leaked into the surroundings, it was all focused on Ji Hong, Lan Gongliang, and He Yong.


    This aura felt substantial, heavy as a thousand pounds.


    Under the pressure of this aura, Ji Hong and the others felt as if a giant mountain was crushing them, making it hard to breathe.


    He gritted his teeth, exerting all his strength to straighten his back, but his body trembled uncontrollably.


    Meanwhile, cracks and pops of bones breaking echoed throughout the grand hall.


    Overwhelmed by Ji Zikong''s aura, Ji Hong and the others felt their bones beginning to fracture.


    "Investigate for me, at all costs. I want you to provide me a satisfactory answer in the shortest time possible!"


    The three, drenched in sweat, kowtowed repeatedly, "Your humble servants obey."


    Ji Zikong withdrew his aura, allowing the three to feel relieved.


    They immediately adjusted their breathing to heal their internal injuries.


    In the following days, news of Xue Zhao''s death quickly spread throughout the Capital, causing an uproar.


    The Military Department, Mountain Sea Department, and the Internal Affairs Department, the three most powerful departments of the Great Zhou, launched a joint operation, turning the Capital Region and its surroundings upside down.


    As for Shen Qing, the instigator, he was also forced into this storm, leading a group of dispatch officers daily for patrol and catching the real culprit.


    However, it was destined to be fruitless.


    After a day of half-hearted efforts, Shen Qing returned to the government office as usual.


    He hadn''t even gotten comfortable in the Military Department Office when he saw Ji Bochu, the head of the Royal Armory, coming to find him.


    "Lord Shen."


    As soon as he entered, Ji Bochu greeted him with a smile, like a smiling Buddha.


    Shen Qing was somewhat surprised and quickly stood up, clasping his hands in salute, "What brings you here today, Lord Ji? Is there something you need from me?"


    "Can''t I just come to see you without any reason?" Ji Bochu chuckled.


    Shen Qing said, "You''re joking, sir. Please, have a seat."


    Ji Bochu glanced at Shen Qing, noticing his restrained aura and natural presence, clearly indicating an improvement in cultivation, leaving him astonished.


    He started a conversation box, saying, "Lord Shen, you haven''t visited the Royal Armory for some time, have you? Been busy lately?"


    Shen Qing let out a long sigh and said thoughtfully, "Lord Ji, you know about the recent events in the Capital. Since His Majesty has issued an edict, we cannot slack off."


    Ji Bochu nodded in agreement, saying, "It''s indeed a huge matter. There''s nothing you can do. However, I do have some good news for you."


    "Oh, what good news is that, my lord?"


    "Recently, His Majesty has gathered another batch of martial arts from across the world, and we are about to organize them. All departments are as busy as headless flies, and I couldn''t find manpower to assist, so I came to request your aid, Lord Shen."


    Shen Qing said, "Lord Ji, I also have numerous tasks at hand and might be hard-pressed to help."


    "Ah, Lord Shen, there''s no need to worry. You have the Cuilin Order from His Majesty. As long as you agree, I''ll mention it to His Majesty. At your age, it''s the perfect time for cultivation. If you keep burying yourself in these trivial matters, isn''t it a pity?"


    "If you come to my place, all you need to do is keep an eye on the fifth floor, and in your spare time, you can use the Spiritual Eye for cultivation."


    "Moreover, it''s a rare opportunity to make an appearance in front of His Majesty. Even if you gain just a little insight, it''ll benefit you for a lifetime. Don''t you think so?"


    Upon hearing Ji Bochu''s words, Shen Qing couldn''t help but feel wary for some reason.


    There are no free lunches in the world.


    Even if there were, he wouldn''t believe it would fall to him.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Shen Qing said, "Isn''t that a bit inappropriate?"


    "What''s inappropriate? If one doesn''t act for oneself, heaven and earth will destroy them."


    Shen Qing fell into silence.


    He subtly eyed Ji Bochu, unsure of what trick was up his sleeve.


    While Shen Qing was amidst his wild speculations, he sensed a slight warmth in front of his chest.


    It was the Spirit Communication Seal.


    A message came from Xiao Hu''s side.


    Shen Qing excused himself, "Lord Ji, please sit for a moment. I need to handle a personal matter, I''ll be right back."


    Ji Bochu, unperturbed, said, "Lord Shen, go ahead."


    Seeing Shen Qing leave, a sly glint flashed in Ji Bochu''s eyes.


    To him, when such a good opportunity falls in his lap, no one could refuse it.


    In the back hall.


    Shen Qing took out the Spirit Communication Seal, revealing lines of small text: "Xue Zhao is dead."


    A few moments later, more lines appeared on the Spirit Communication Seal: "The Dao Master is aware. He believes the Great Zhou''s destiny has ended and has hastened his subordinates'' actions. They''ll attack the Ji family in the Capital, potentially as soon as three to five months, or as long as a year or two."


    "The Dao Master''s power is boundless. Brother Qingzi, please make preparations."


    Seeing this message, Shen Qing''s expression changed, not expecting Huang Tian Sect to move so swiftly.


    In that case, the Capital, no, the entire Great Zhou''s situation was dire.


    Recalling the deadly formation encountered that day... a strong sense of crisis enveloped his heart.


    Now, he suddenly thought of Ji Bochu in the living room, contemplating, "Ji Bochu came this time for me, he''s baiting me to do something dangerous, what could it be?"


    "If the most direct connection to him is the selection of that Immortal Martial art."


    "Could the problem lie within that Immortal Martial art?"


    As Shen Qing continued reasoning, he could only think of one possibility.


    "In that case, I can use this to escape these mundane duties, avoiding capturing myself daily, focusing more on cultivation, and using the royal Spiritual Eye to hasten my training."


    He thought carefully and found nothing imprudent.


    Having made up his mind, Shen Qing exited the back hall.


    Ji Bochu looked at Shen Qing and said, "Lord Shen, what have you decided?"


    Feigning contemplation, Shen Qing hesitantly said, "Since you''re so gracious, my lord, it would be rude of me to refuse. I''ll be relying on you, Lord Ji."


    Seeing Shen Qing agree, a sly smile crept onto Ji Bochu''s face.

 Chapter 406 - 16: Gaining Treasure, Dome Splitting Void Absolute Slash

    The next day, an imperial edict from within the Imperial Palace reached the government office of the Military Department.


    Just as Ji Bochu had said, Heaven Ji Zikong had granted his request to summon him into the Imperial Armory; the task of finding the culprit no longer required his attention.


    Seeing how hastily Ji Bochu acted, Shen Qing vaguely felt that the other party seemed rather anxious, as if he couldn''t wait for him to enter the Imperial Armory.


    An abnormal situation surely sprouted from some evil cause.


    Shen Qing''s thoughts became even heavier.


    Night fell.


    Within the Shen Mansion, candlelight flickered, casting its light around the room.


    The master bedroom was brightly lit.


    Shen Qing''s silhouette stretched long under the candlelight, gently swaying and bobbing up and down.


    Before him, he waved his hand, and three small triangle flags silently flew out from his sleeve, planting themselves around the room.


    Shen Qing pinched a magic technique with his hand, and the triangle flags fluttered in the wind, emitting a dull yellow glow, forming an inverted bowl shape encompassing him within, completely isolating the inside of the room from the outside.


    After these days of continuous patrolling with his subordinates and using the abilities found in the "Hunting Scripture," he had cleverly erased all traces of his presence in and around the city on the day of Xue Zhao''s death, both overt and covert, leaving no flaws behind.


    Even the old hands in the city who had been around for years could not detect that he was the one who had slain Xue Zhao.


    Looking at the yellow isolation formation, a sense of indescribable peace finally surged in Shen Qing''s heart.


    At this moment, he took out a delicate and small Hundred Treasure Pouch from his bosom with confidence.


    This was precisely the spoils of war obtained from the body of Xue Zhao.


    With many in the Capital City watching closely after Xue Zhao''s death, he had been careful and had not inspected it until now.


    As the storm gradually settled and he had nothing urgent to attend to, it was a good time to meticulously check the spoils of war inside.


    Shen Qing inspected the small black Hundred Treasure Pouch in his hand, only the size of a palm, slightly larger than the one Lan Gongliang had given him.


    He relaxed his mind and touched the Hundred Treasure Pouch with his Divine Sense. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unexpectedly, just as his Divine Thought was about to penetrate the mouth of the pouch, a faint fluctuation blocked it from the outside.


    The Hundred Treasure Pouch still carried a prohibition left by Xue Zhao.


    Shen Qing was not in a hurry.


    For him, who had already broken through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, erasing this prohibition was not a difficult task.


    His mind moved, and his aura quickly retracted inside him.


    The next moment, a sharp and incomparable Divine Sense burst forth from his body, wrapping around the prohibition like fine silk threads, swiftly stripping it away.


    The process was not a simple act of violent destruction but a step-by-step guidance of the energy flow within the prohibition, causing it to lose its original form and dissipate into nothingness, restoring the Hundred Treasure Pouch to its original state.


    Puff.


    Shen Qing faintly heard a silent sound in his Divine Sense as the prohibition within the Hundred Treasure Pouch was effortlessly erased.


    At the instant the prohibition completely lost its effect, the Hundred Treasure Pouch trembled lightly, releasing a faint spiritual light, resonating subtly with the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi from the outside world. The pouch opened wide.


    Shen Qing''s eyes brightened, and after ensuring there were no other dangers, he immediately activated his Primordial Spirit to control the Hundred Treasure Pouch.


    Under his guidance, the mouth of the pouch gradually opened, and a brilliant light spilled out, making the entire room shine brightly.


    Had he not set up the formation in advance, such a spectacle would have been impossible to hide.


    There must be quite a few good items inside.


    Shen Qing explored with his Divine Sense and saw that the Hundred Treasure Pouch was filled with all kinds of treasures.


    There were elixirs that radiated a soft glow, each containing astonishing potency and with a fragrance that assailed the nostrils; there were various kinds of armor that flashed with precious light, circulating with a faint glimmer of bloodlight, revealing a sharp Evil Qi; and there were all kinds of Demon Cores, flickering with strange lights, bodies of demons, and so on.


    Besides these, there were also common items used for rewards, such as fine silk fabrics, gold and silver treasures, Wish Power Pearls, making Shen Qing marvel.


    Truly worthy of the Shi families of Great Zhou.


    Just the items Xue Zhao carried were enough to serve as the foundation of a high-ranking noble family, capable of forging anew a family clan.


    Even for a prestigious family, it was so, then to what extent had the Ji Family, which had been outstanding for nearly nine hundred years, reached?


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but draw in a breath of cold air, feeling that he still had a long way to go and dared not harbor the slightest complacency or arrogance.


    He put aside his thoughts and continued to search and pick through the pile of treasures.


    "Huh?"


    Suddenly, among the pile, Shen Qing spotted a simple and unadorned book.


    His Primordial Spirit stirred, and he took it out, placing it in the palm of his hand.


    The cover was engraved with four ancient seal characters ¡ª Dome Splitting Void Absolute Slash.


    Beyond that, there was no additional information.


    As Shen Qing flipped open the book, just a glance at the text inside sent a strong shock through him, as if countless sword shadows and sabers were intertwining and colliding in his mind.


    He calmed his mind and began to read seriously, gradually understanding that the book contained a Blade Technique of astonishing power.


    Cultivating it, one could cut through mountains and rivers, tearing the sky asunder.


    At that thought, the scene of Xue Zhao splitting a mountain with a single strike surfaced in Shen Qing''s mind.


    ''So, the name of that strike he used is this, and the technique he cultivated is this one.''


    Upon closer inspection, Shen Qing noticed that the book was very worn, as if it had been read many times over, and it contained many insights and understandings, showing how much Xue Zhao valued this Martial Art.


    He recalled carefully and realized that he had never seen this Martial Art in the Imperial Armory, and he had no idea where Xue Zhao had acquired it.


    Looking down, Shen Qing noticed both the style of the recorded text and the handwriting of the notes were from the same person, suggesting that this book was copied together and not an original.


    After reading through from beginning to end, he realized the uniqueness of this Cultivation Technique.


    Combined with Xue Zhao''s personal demonstration, the terrifying might of it was somewhat enticing to him, stronger than his current Bow Technique.


    It just so happened that he was also lacking a short-range combat technique.


    If he could master it, this "Dome Splitting Void Absolute Slash" might be of great use in the future.


    After all, having more skills would not be a burden, and having an extra Martial Art wouldn''t be a bad thing.


    With the Panel to assist, learning even a multitude of Martial Arts wouldn''t be too much of a burden for him.


    Without much hesitation, Shen Qing decided to cultivate this Martial Art.


    He immersed his entire mind into the book, carefully feeling every detail and nuance of the Blade Technique.


    The ''Academic Pursuit'' Skill activated, greatly speeding up his understanding of the technique.


    In just the time it took to drink a pot of tea, Shen Qing had almost fully grasped the Martial Art.


    Shen Qing set down the book and took out a Spirit Essence and a Wish Power Pearl from the Hundred Treasure Pouch. He drew the Thunder Abyss Treasure Saber and repeatedly pondered the True Intent, practicing the moves and the mental method.


    Time passed by bit by bit.


    The Martial Art was of a not-low Grade, progressing from simple to complex, and with many annotations, it wasn''t difficult for him to reach the Entry Level.


    With a thought from Shen Qing, the Water Ink Panel suddenly appeared in his line of sight.


    [Skill: Dome Splitting Void Absolute Slash (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 874/1000 points]


    [Status: Can be upgraded]


    [Note: Time is precious to the ambitious, while the sorrowful find nights intolerably long. You have cultivated a modified version of an Ancient-era Magic Skill, and with your Primordial Spirit Realm already condensed, you take to it like a fish to water, advancing rapidly and capable of continuous breakthroughs.]


    "A Martial Art from the Ancient period?"


    Shen Qing was astonished; he had not expected the Martial Art Xue Zhao studied to be a legacy of the Ancient Times.


    Till now, if he remembered correctly, the Immortal Martial Techniques in the Imperial Armory were basically related to the Ancient times.


    What exactly happened during the Ancient period that made the latter generations turn out like this?


    He grew ever more puzzled in his heart.

 Chapter 407 - 17: Harboring Evil Intentions, Fifth Level

    ```


    "Breakthrough!"


    A familiar feeling arrived as expected.


    Shen Qing was not surprised at all, remaining fully focused.


    In his vision, the information on the water ink panel jumped and refreshed rapidly.


    [Skill: Dome Splitting Void Absolute Slash (Small Success)]


    [Progress: 274/1000 points]


    [Status: Cannot be improved]


    Moments later, unfamiliar memories abruptly appeared in his mind.


    Fortunately, he had already broken through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, and was a different person now, so this amount of memory did not affect him in the slightest.


    Shen Qing carefully contemplated, digesting all the foreign memories.


    At this moment, when he grasped the Thunder Abyss Treasure Saber again, he felt as if he had held it millions of times, a strong sense of familiarity welling up within him.


    He twirled the saber, and suddenly, thunder and lightning flashed as blade light formed from lightning in the void and touched the formation.


    The fierce saber light instantly shredded the isolating formation into pieces. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing realized that it only took him a short time to grasp the essence of this martial art, and a trace of satisfaction appeared on his face.


    He glanced at the sky outside the window, immediately sheathed the saber, gently closed the book, and carefully hid it with Xue Zhao''s Hundred Treasure Pouch.


    Seeing that there was still some time before dawn, Shen Qing silently adjusted his breathing, and a stream of spiritual power like a clear spring flowed through his meridians, entering the extraordinary meridians and nourishing his muscle and bone that had been tempered all night.


    His breathing became long and deep, continuously refining nature''s spiritual energy during inhalation and exhalation to replenish himself.


    In the early morning, as the dawn light revealed itself, it was the time when spiritual energy was most abundant.


    Accompanied by the rising sun, a vigorous vitality was constantly gathering and sublimating within Shen Qing.


    Under his mental direction, stars appeared at the acupoints all over his body, transforming into whirlpools, and the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to be invisibly drawn, converging towards him and transforming into warm streams that penetrated his skin and merged into his bloodstream.


    Finally, it gathered within his Qi Sea, transforming into thick and pure spiritual power.


    This spiritual power circulated endlessly within him, like a rushing river, nourishing every inch of his muscle and bone and each piece of muscle, silently and steadily elevating his cultivation level.


    Time quietly passed as Shen Qing immersed himself in cultivation.


    When the first rays of morning light penetrated the crevice of the cultivation room, spilling onto his face, Shen Qing finally stopped.


    He exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, showing no fatigue on his face, on the contrary, he was energetic and filled with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.


    After finishing his breakfast, Shen Qing, following Ji Zikong''s instructions, headed to the Imperial Armory.


    When he arrived at the Imperial Armory, Ji Bochu was already waiting at the entrance, which surprised him.


    "Lord Shen." Ji Bochu spoke warmly, revealing his respect and expectation for Shen Qing, clasping his hands in salute: "I have arranged everything for you, just proceed directly to the fifth floor to handle only the martial masters there."


    As everyone knows, even members of the Imperial Family must have a unique talent to be allowed into the Imperial Armory, if not extraordinary, it is difficult to gain entry.


    Not to mention the martial masters who are not of the Ji surname, which is even more challenging.


    Hence, the fifth floor appeared particularly empty, with very few martial masters.


    Being there was equivalent to having nothing to do.


    Shen Qing was a bit puzzled, but he wisely didn''t ask more questions, merely nodding slightly and saying, "Thank you, Lord Ji, for taking such a trouble for me. If you have a moment, please visit my residence for a few drinks."


    "Lord Shen, you are too kind, please!"


    Ji Bochu gestured for Shen Qing to go ahead.


    Shen Qing showed an overwhelmed expression, repeatedly declining several times before stepping into the Imperial Armory.


    Under Ji Bochu''s guidance, Shen Qing proceeded to the fifth floor.


    Apart from the occasional sound of practice, he could hardly sense the presence of others, it was extremely quiet.


    Ji Bochu instructed: "Lord Shen, you just need to stay here, and arrange if someone comes. If no one visits, feel free to cultivate yourself as well."


    Ji Bochu seemed to have thought of something, hinting as he said, "Rest assured, I have made arrangements. There is a Spirit Eye here which is an excellent place for cultivation. Many have achieved success in cultivating Immortal Martial Techniques here. Perhaps you will greatly advance your cultivation too."


    "This... the kindness of my lord, I, Shen, will never forget." Shen Qing "trembled with excitement," and his speech was somewhat incoherent.


    Ji Bochu seemed quite pleased with this, patting Shen Qing on the shoulder before leaving confidently.


    After Ji Bochu left, the "subservient" expression on Shen Qing''s face gradually faded, and he turned around to survey his surroundings.


    When he looked at the others, the martial masters on the fifth floor hastily averted their gaze.


    That feeling was as if... they were monitoring him.


    Shen Qing furrowed his brow, his gaze fell on a screen, and he walked over, fixing his gaze on the Saint Body Great Achievement Technique, pondering.


    He reached out to pick it up, held it in front of him for a while, and thought to himself, "This technique appears quite remarkable overall, easy to get started with in the early stages, and its subsequent cultivation paths directly point to the Path of Immortality. Judging by various signs, Ji Bochu probably wants me to cultivate this Immortal Martial Technique."


    However, Shen Qing dared not risk recklessly cultivating it, fearing it might bring misfortune.


    On the floor of the Imperial Armory.


    Ji Bochu gave instructions to the attendants on both sides: "By the Emperor''s order, the fifth floor of the Armory shall remain closed for the time being, no one is allowed to enter."


    "Yes, my lord."


    After instructing, Ji Bochu nodded in satisfaction, and strode back to the Imperial Armory.


    Sitting behind the screen, Shen Qing connected the dots with the potential changes in the Capital, anticipating attacks from the Huangtian Sect, the impending storm; he couldn''t afford any lenience.


    As for what Ji Bochu and the others were really planning to do, he wasn''t very clear yet, so he decided to take one step at a time.


    Just as well, he took this opportunity to immerse himself in hard cultivation, continuously improving his cultivation, which was never wrong.


    In the following three days, Shen Qing occasionally found himself alone.


    He boldly retrieved the Spirit Essence obtained from the Ancient Relics and kept consuming Wish Power Pearls, piling them up to speed up his cultivation.


    In this constant cultivation, like water eroding stone, his progress was visibly rapid.


    Recently, Ji Bochu frequently asked about his progress in cultivating the Great Achievement Technique.


    Fortunately, having practiced the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique and condensed a trace of Saint Blood, which aligned with some descriptions in the Saint Body Great Achievement Technique, combined with his ''Academic Pursuit'' Skill, he was able to handle queries from Ji Bochu each time.


    Over time, seeing such performance from Shen Qing, Ji Bochu was quite satisfied and gradually let his guard down, visiting less frequently.


    One day, Shen Qing was seated on a mat, exhaled a turbid breath, ending his arduous practice.


    He opened his eyes and stretched his muscles, feeling quite comfortable, his Primordial Spirit also becoming more consolidated.


    Shen Qing thought about his uncle and aunt now in the Capital, realizing that he hadn''t been home for several days, it was time to visit, so he decided to go back.


    The Shen residence was aglow with lights, servants bustling around, each performing their duties, everything in perfect order.


    Under his arrangement, his home had gradually become formal and gained some grandeur.


    Beside him, senior followers like Tian Xiaohu and others rose alongside him.


    With abundant Wish Power Pearls and various elixirs'' support, their cultivation advanced rapidly.


    In a short while, each of them had reached the Qi Sea realm, now worthy of his attention.


    As Shen Qing stepped into the main hall, he saw Tian Xiaohu holding something, cheerfully approaching.


    In his hand was an exquisite card with gold-leaf edges, depicting dragons and phoenixes.


    Tian Xiaohu respectfully said in a manager''s demeanor: "Master, this is an invitation sent from Princess Yuzhen''s residence during the day, inviting you to the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival."


    ```

 Chapter 408 - 18: Attending the Meeting

    Shen Qing took the invitation and opened it to see the flowing, cloud-like calligraphy that read, "Recently, the chrysanthemums in Beihai are in full bloom; I sincerely invite Lord Chief Officer Shen Qing to the gathering to discuss the Path of Immortality. Signed¡ªPrincess Yuzhen."


    The writing on the invitation revealed a spirited elegance, pleasing to the eye and the heart.


    "Princess Yuzhen?"


    Shen Qing closed the invitation, contemplating internally,


    "Ever since my days in Yongzhou, I had heard of her reputation as ''The Most Beautiful of Great Zhou,'' and at not even thirty years old, she broke through to the cultivation of the Spirit Void Realm. Among the many princes and princesses of the Imperial Family, she is indeed extraordinary and has a good reputation among the elite of Great Zhou."


    "This Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival will surely have many disciples from notable families participating; they are well-informed, and my participation might lead to unexpected gains."


    Ji Bochu''s recent actions have left me restless, eager to understand what''s going on. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival might just be the rare opportunity I need.


    As for why Princess Yuzhen would invite me...


    "Though the Huangfu family has declined, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse. Plus, the Mountain Sea Department holds a somewhat special position in Great Zhou. This must be the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival that Huang Furo spoke of; she must have recommended me."


    Shen Qing quickly made up his mind; he would attend this Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival.


    He carefully stored the invitation next to his heart and ordered, "Prepare the carriage for tomorrow; I will be attending the banquet."


    "I understand, Boss."


    There were rules in the Capital City that forbade martial masters like them from roaming freely, with severe penalties for violators.


    Although many martial masters like him disregarded this rule, given the troublesome times, he did not wish to draw unnecessary attention to himself.


    The next morning.


    Tian Xiaohu, having meticulously prepared, a lavishly decorated carriage stood impressively in front of Shen Mansion''s gates, its presence magnified in the morning light.


    With the assistance of his servants, Shen Qing, dressed in brocade and fine garb with a Treasure Blade at his waist, walked up to the carriage and sat inside.


    The carriage was suffused with a light fragrance of sandalwood and incense, refreshing and pleasing to the senses.


    Shen Qing gently took his seat and immediately closed his eyes to feign sleep, entering a state of meditation to not waste a single moment.


    "Giddyap!"


    The carriage shook.


    The wooden wheels rolled with a rumble.


    In no time at all, the carriage entered the bustling street market.


    It was the early market, and the streets were filled with a cacophony of sound.


    The calls of the vendors were incessant, and the aroma of pancakes wafted into the carriage...


    The air was thick with the scent of earthly life.


    Shen Qing''s luxurious carriage passed through, and pedestrians on the street stepped aside.


    After the time it took to drink a pot of tea, the noisy sounds of the street came to an abrupt halt.


    Shen Qing felt a shift in his attention and looked outside to find no vendors on the street, with passersby hurrying past this area.


    He glanced at the appearance of the street and recognized this place belonged to the Xue Mansion.


    The carriage rolled swiftly past.


    As it inadvertently skimmed by the entrance of the Xue Family''s estate, a desolate scene quietly entered his view.


    Beneath the gate of the Xue Family''s mansion, the white silk still fluttered listlessly in the breeze, swaying gently with a desolate and melancholic air.


    Where once carriages and horses had thronged a bustling scene, now stood silent emptiness that hinted at decay, her gloomy silence a stark contrast to bygone liveliness.


    It made sense, after all.


    The Family Head of the Xue Family had perished not long ago, following the mysterious deaths of two young masters.


    Such consecutive blows had plunged the Xue Family into silence.


    However, Shen Qing didn''t believe that the Xue Family would collapse from this adversity.


    As a grand noble family, even if recently risen, their depths were unfathomable.


    In the eyes of a martial master, it was likely that many old members of the Xue Family, their longevity yet unspent, were hidden in the shadows.


    In the dragon''s den that was the Capital City, Shen Qing dared not be the slightest bit careless.


    He withdrew his gaze, no longer dwelling on it.


    Beihai was not a true sea, but a man-made lake located outside the Capital City.


    It was said to be a pit created by a punch from a Unity Realm Great Power during enlightenment, which, over the years, along with human intervention, turned into the vast lake now known as Beihai.


    Because of its stunning scenery and the stories of Martial Arts cultivation, it was a favored destination among the young masters and ladies of the Capital for discussing their cultivation experiences.


    By the bank of Beihai, a ship as magnificent as a true dragon was docked at the shore.


    This was Beihai''s largest boat, and the restaurant atop it, the Tianwai Lou, was renowned throughout the Great Zhou¡ªwhere spending a fortune was an everyday affair.


    Today, this Tianwai Lou had been reserved by Princess Yuzhen for hosting the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival, placing diverse chrysanthemums across the entire boat.


    Young nobles of note, from within and outside the Capital, gathered here, seizing the opportunity to exchange insights on cultivation.


    Such a high-profile gathering was off-limits to the common populace.


    Even so, numerous youths eager to cling to power congregated nearby, forming a sizable market in their wake.


    Some longed for a glimpse of Princess Yuzhen''s beauty, others hoped to catch the eye of the elite with their charms to change their fate, and some spent a small fortune, navigating through connections to board the boat under false pretenses.


    The atmosphere was lively and bustling.


    "The Princess loves bustle on regular days and enjoys making connections with the young talents of the land. Today''s Chrysanthemum Viewing is an annual grand event, highly valued by Her Highness¡ªit must not encounter any issues."


    On the spacious deck of the boat, Su Qiaoqiao, a lady of the Su Family tasked with preparing the event for Princess Yuzhen, was supervising the day''s readiness for the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival.


    From the arrangement of refreshments to the order of the main seats, from the staffing for receiving guests to the security patrols, not a single detail could afford to be amiss in external dealings.


    After all, today''s meeting included individuals from prominent families such as the Cui, Wang, Xie, Zhao, Li, Zhang, and Su, all of significant standing in the Great Zhou. Even Su Qiaoqiao wouldn''t dare offend them lightly.


    Let alone the fact that this was a grand event specially organized by Princess Yuzhen, gathering distinguished figures¡ªan oversight on any minutiae could lead to unpredictable consequences.


    Su Qiaoqiao was dressed in a light yellow dress, her porcelain-like arms exposed, and with the swaying of her skirt, a glimpse of shapely legs could intermittently be seen, exuding grace and allure.


    Her hair, black as a waterfall, cascaded down to her waist, adorned at the forehead with floral ornaments, enhancing her transcendent and beautiful visage.


    As she moved with light steps, the strings of colored beads dangling from her dress jingled, drawing many gazes.


    Su Qiaoqiao entered a room on the boat, where people were busy organizing the guest list and seating arrangements.


    A steward-like man was continuously directing the staff at work.


    "First, separate those who received the Princess''s invitation, and rank them by family background, reputation, status, and position."


    Upon noticing Su Qiaoqiao, he quickly paid his respects, "Su San pays respects to the young lady."


    "People will arrive shortly; how are the preparations coming along?"

 Chapter 409 - 19 Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival

    ```


    Su San respectfully said, "Everything is almost ready. We''re just verifying the seating names and arranging them."


    In such large gatherings, many detailed issues have to be considered.


    Particularly, the seating arrangement is of utmost importance.


    If, by any chance, a humble person is placed in a prominent position, they will surely feel like sitting on pins and needles, at a loss. Likewise, if a noble person is demoted to a humble position, they will inevitably feel resentful and indignant.


    Consequently, such a well-intentioned banquet would deviate from its purpose, adding countless rifts and unnecessary troubles.


    This Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival is organized in the name of Princess Yuzhen.


    Princess Yuzhen usually likes to make friends and values her reputation. If such an incident occurs, it will certainly anger her, and in severe cases, those responsible may even risk their lives.


    Su Qiaoqiao naturally understood this principle and raised her eyes slightly.


    Su San, being very observant, took the already drafted list and respectfully presented it with both hands, saying, "Miss, this is our initial draft of the list. Please have a look."


    Su Qiaoqiao took the list and carefully examined the seating arrangement for this Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival.


    "Cui Mingxuan''s position seems somewhat remote. He has recently received a proposal from the Wang Family and has also broken through to the Innate level in cultivation. His status is now different and should move forward by two seats," Su Qiaoqiao said softly, her fingers lightly sliding over the list.


    Su San quickly took out paper and pen, noting it carefully.


    "What about Xie Wanqing?" Su Qiaoqiao continued to ask, her eyes scanning the next name, "Her position should also be adjusted upward. After all, she is the legitimate daughter of the Xie Family and is extraordinarily talented. We cannot neglect her. Move her up by three seats."


    "Zhao Yuanlang''s position..." Su Qiaoqiao frowned slightly, "This person has some talent in cultivation but is too ostentatious. His status in the Zhao Family is not high and he hasn''t even secured a minor official position, so move him down by one seat."


    "As for Li Yi..." Su Qiaoqiao pondered for a moment, "Although he comes from a noble family, his recent reputation is not good, and there are rumors of a rift with Miss Zhang. To avoid embarrassment, place him farther away from the Zhang Family, moving him down two seats."


    "What about Miss Zhang, Zhang Qingying?" Su San interjected, "She was quite favored by the Princess last year. Should she be given a higher position?"


    "Of course," Su Qiaoqiao nodded, "Zhang Qingying''s cultivation is outstanding, and I heard she has made some breakthroughs recently. Her father even plans to secure a position for her in the Capital, so move her to the front row to speak with the Princess."


    Su San nodded in agreement, noting it carefully.


    Su Qiaoqiao continued reviewing the list, making slight adjustments from time to time.


    Suddenly, her gaze settled on a familiar name.


    "Huang Furo..." she murmured, frowning slightly, "I remember the Huangfu family has long ceased to exist. How come they''re on the list this time?"


    Su San explained, "There are still some descendants of the Huangfu family residing in Yongzhou. Some days ago, they were personally summoned back to the Capital by Your Majesty to join the Mountain Sea Department, responsible for Spirit Essence matters."


    "What is Huang Furo''s cultivation now?"


    "She is at the Dan Realm."


    "How old is she?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Twenty-two."


    "In that case, she still has potential, but most of the elders in the Huangfu family have either left or passed away. It''s difficult for her to make a comeback. Move her position down by five seats."


    This meant her position was second to last, and Shen san quickly noted it down.


    "Is there anything else to confirm?"


    "Indeed, there is." Su San quickly pointed to a name and said, "There''s also this Shen Qing."


    "Shen Qing?" Su Qiaoqiao felt unfamiliar with the name. According to reason, she should have some impression of the notable young people in the Capital, "What is his background? Is there a big family with the surname Shen in the Capital?"


    Su San promptly introduced respectfully, "This person entered the temple thanks to the Jing Luan Assembly. Originally, he was a hunter and has served as the Chief Officer in Yongzhou. His participation in Princess Yuzhen''s Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival this time was only made possible by Huang Furo pulling some strings and paying a price."


    "So, a connection, right?"


    Such situations happen every year and Su Qiaoqiao was long accustomed to them. She nonchalantly said, "Then lower his seat together with Huang Furo."


    "Understood."


    Su Qiaoqiao continued reviewing the list, making slight adjustments from time to time.


    Suddenly, her gaze settled on a familiar name.


    "Su Zimo..." she murmured, carrying a bit of personal sentiment, "Although he is a Su Family member, he has been low-profile recently, and his talents in cultivation are quite good. It''s his first participation so he should be encouraged. Move him up five seats, close to me."


    "I have also heard of Lord Su''s great reputation," Su San chimed in, using an appreciative tone, "He is modest and exceptionally talented. It''s fitting for him to sit in this position."


    Su Qiaoqiao smiled faintly, finding great satisfaction in Su San''s evaluation.


    She continued reviewing the list, swiftly confirming the seating for each name.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, Shen Qing''s carriage arrived at Beihai Pier, stopping beneath the lavish ship.


    "Boss, we have arrived."


    Shen Qing, seated inside, opened his eyes, grunted softly, and then stepped out of the carriage.


    Looking at the bustling pier, almost like a grand fair, Shen Qing was a bit surprised.


    He hadn''t expected the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival to be such a grand affair.


    At this moment, he spotted a familiar figure.


    It was Huang Furo.


    She was now dressed in her customary white garb, with a black silk belt adorned with a jade gem tightly fastened around her waist, outlining her willow-like waist and prominent bust, adding a touch of indescribable allure.


    After arranging his carriage with Tian Xiaohu, Shen Qing stepped forward and greeted, "Officer Huangfu."


    Upon seeing Shen Qing, Huang Furo smiled and said, "Officer Shen, what a coincidence."


    "Indeed, I didn''t expect to see you just as I arrived."


    A sly smile flicked across Huang Furo''s eyes, but she spoke as usual, "Let''s go in together. It''s still early, just in time to take a stroll."


    "Sure."


    The two walked side by side towards the enormous ship.


    At the entrance, armored guards stood by. Shen Qing and Huang Furo presented their invitations before being granted entry.


    Inside, rows of exquisite tea tables and carved wooden chairs were arranged neatly. Some seats were already occupied.


    Various pots of differently shaped chrysanthemums adorned the tables, interspersed with rolls of poetry and calligraphy. Attendees sat around, speaking in hushed tones, awaiting the start of the banquet.


    "Come, let''s head to the upper deck; the view is better there," Huang Furo suggested, pointing upward.


    They passed through winding corridors and exquisite cabin doors, reaching a more expansive open deck.


    This area had a unique charm, with larger and more luxurious tea tables and seats, surrounded by uniformly dressed servants standing by.


    Those with higher status appreciated the view from a pavilion on the deck.


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo walked to one side of the deck. Looking out, they saw Beihai Lake stretching endlessly, almost like the sea.


    It was hard to imagine such a sight was the result of a single punch.


    ```

 Chapter 410 - 20 Ancient Times, Princess Yuzhen

    The lake breeze gently caressed.


    The two stood side by side on the shimmering deck.


    Staring at the boundless lake surface, Shen Qing couldn''t help but doubt the truth behind the legend of Beihai.


    He couldn''t resist asking, "Regarding the origin of Beihai, there''s a rumor among the people that it was created by Ancient Cultivators. Do you think it''s true?"


    "Eight or nine times out of ten, it''s true," Huang Furo replied confidently.


    "Why?" Shen Qing asked curiously.


    Huang Furo''s gaze penetrated the layers of waves, as if she saw that glorious era that was beyond reach. Slowly she said, "I heard that in Ancient Times, the world was filled with Spiritual Energy. Cultivators could easily pluck stars and seize the moon, and a single technique could change the weather."


    "Back then, every path under the sun flourished, and a single beam of light could destroy the world, a single blade of grass could cut through stars. The Heavenly Dao was in the grasp of people, and longevity was not unattainable for many cultivators."


    Between her words, Huang Furo''s eyes shone with endless yearning for the Ancient Period.


    Shen Qing''s expression turned serious; this was the first time he''d heard of the Ancient Era, and it shocked him.


    Huang Furo''s recent experiences in the Mountain Sea Department must have unveiled many secrets unknown to those from lower echelons.


    He asked, somewhat puzzled, "Since the Ancient Times were so powerful, why has it become like this today?"


    "I don''t know."


    "You don''t know?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes," Huang Furo sighed deeply and said, "During the Ancient Period, just when the Human Clan was in a brilliant era, the Heavenly Dao suddenly collapsed. Countless sects vanished overnight, and those powers that once stood at the pinnacle of the Cultivation World silently broke their inheritances. Our current paths of cultivation are entirely built on that ruins."


    Shen Qing frowned slightly, turning his gaze toward the broad lake surface in the distance, and after a long while, he said, "Our ancestors were truly remarkable."


    "Look at this Beihai, stretching nearly a hundred miles; it''s the mark left by a single punch from Ancient Great Powers, allowing us to feel the might of our ancestors from that era. We are indeed so fortunate."


    Shen Qing gazed at the lake surface, remaining silent.


    After a short while, a gong sounded from behind the deck, like a startling cry of a wild goose in autumn, piercing through the tranquility of the lake.


    Huang Furo gently turned her head and said to Shen Qing, "The Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival is about to start; let''s go in."


    Saying that, she took the lead in stepping forward and heading inside.


    Shen Qing had already heard of Princess Yuzhen''s reputation, and deep down, he couldn''t help but feel a bit of anticipation.


    He closely followed Huang Furo''s steps, the two walking side by side as they headed into the building ship.


    In the hall of the building ship, the main seats for the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival were meticulously arranged in the center, surrounded by various chrysanthemums, appearing exceptionally enchanting. The air was filled with a faint scent of chrysanthemum, refreshing the senses.


    Not only that, besides the chrysanthemum floral arrangements, there was a stunning gown made entirely of assorted chrysanthemums placed prominently in the center.


    The chrysanthemum-accessorized gown extended more than ten meters and was adorned with many gold, silver, and coral ornaments, extremely luxurious.


    At this moment, many young gentlemen and ladies had already assembled at the entrance, creating a lively atmosphere.


    As Shen Qing and Huang Furo arrived at the entrance of the hall, a stunning woman with a hint of scrutiny in her gaze politely stopped them.


    "Distinguished guests, pardon the interruption. I am Su Qiaoqiao, and today I am organizing this event on behalf of Princess Yuzhen. May I have your names so I can arrange seats for you?"


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo exchanged a glance, Huang Furo lowered her voice and said, "The eldest miss of the Su Family."


    Shen Qing was inwardly alarmed; the person before him was indeed the daughter of a prestigious family.


    He took out an invitation, cupped his fists, and said, "I am Shen Qing, the Southern Chief Officer of the Military Department."


    "I am Huang Furo, the Chief Officer of the Mountain Sea Department."


    Huang Furo and Shen Qing took turns introducing themselves.


    Su Qiaoqiao immediately recalled their identities.


    She gently took the invitations they handed over, smiling slightly, her demeanor exuding the aura of a noble household.


    After carefully verifying them without error, she took two exquisite identity cards from the tray held by a maid beside her, handing them to them and said, "So it''s the two esteemed persons; welcome, dear guests. Please take these cards to enter. Please, both of you."


    Receiving the identity cards and invitations, Shen Qing and Huang Furo brushed past Su Qiaoqiao and stepped into the hall.


    Inside the hall, young gentlemen and ladies, people of celebrity and refinement had already gathered, laughing and chatting.


    They used chrysanthemums as a medium to discuss interesting events happening around them.


    "Forty-one..."


    Shen Qing, holding his identity card, found his seat in a relatively rear location.


    This spot was somewhat concealed, not too prominent, perfectly suiting his intention to secretly observe and gather information.


    Just as he sat down, unexpectedly, Huang Furo followed closely.


    Shen Qing said in surprise, "You''re sitting here too?"


    Huang Furo feigned anger and said, "Why, can''t I sit here?"


    "Haha... Miss Huangfu, although you usually like to put on a cold face, your act of feigned anger is truly unconvincing." Shen Qing''s words pierced through Huang Furo''s little pretense.


    She bit her silver teeth lightly, not knowing why she found this handsome man before her somewhat annoying.


    "Honestly," Shen Qing shifted silently inside the seat, smiled at Huang Furo, and said, "I''m honestly glad you''d sit here."


    The brief flicker of annoyance in Huang Furo''s heart vanished without a trace, and she sat next to Shen Qing with a calm expression, upright and poised.


    She glanced around, finding the surroundings quiet; only she and Shen Qing were there, perfectly matching her preference.


    "What are you looking at?" Not far away, Young Master Zhao Liu poked the person next to him, Li Yi, curiously and said, "Staring at someone like that, have you taken a liking to them?"

 Chapter 411 - 20 Ancient, Princess Yuzhen_2

    ÀîÒÝ shook his head and said, "I just saw a familiar figure and got a bit curious."


    The noble young master Zhao Liu chuckled and teased, "But if you ask me, Ninth Young Master, you have a good eye. Huang Furo''s looks and figure aren''t bad, considering the status of their Huangfu family nowadays, you might as well take her as a concubine. After all, you''ve grown up and need someone to teach you the arts of the bedroom. Haha..."


    "It''s just there''s an eyesore next to her. If you treat me to a drink, how about I get rid of him for you? Just by looking at that row, you know he has no background, taking care of him would be a breeze for me."


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo both had reached certain levels in their cultivation, with senses far sharper than ordinary people.


    The conversation of the noble young master was overheard by the two.


    To speak frankly, such words were indeed somewhat offensive.


    Shen Qing remained unmoved, while Huang Furo had already grabbed his arm, poured herself a cup of tea, and said calmly, "Let''s have a cup of tea first and talk later."


    He could sense a trace of displeasure on Huang Furo, but she suppressed it.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but look at Huang Furo with higher regard.


    In the center of the hall, Li Yi, who was seated, glanced at Shen Qing and Huang Furo. Seeing their calm demeanor, he couldn''t help but recall his father''s words.


    He had been told that as he was now, he was still no match for Shen Qing, and this had left a lingering frustration in his heart to this day. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For some reason, Zhao Liu''s words beside him were irking him.


    You say handling him is a breeze, doesn''t that imply I''m useless?


    Li Yi said coldly, "Shut your foul mouth, stop talking, no one mistakes you for a mute."


    The noble young master Zhao Liu thought he had misheard, causing his face to turn cold, "Li Laojiu, what do you mean by that?"


    "I said shut your foul mouth."


    Thinking he had misheard, a surge of anger erupted within Zhao Liu.


    You''re young, Li Yi, still not fully grown, often bullying others, putting on airs.


    As soon as he stood up, wanting to teach this naive youth a lesson.


    However, just as he stood up, a large fist had already smashed into his face, his vision darkened, and he flew backward, crashing hard against the wall.


    The intense pain forced him to hold his nose, letting out a scream.


    "Ah!"


    Li Yi, young and vigorous, was brimming with anger.


    A few days ago, he had suffered at the hands of Shen Qing, further aggravating his annoyance.


    He couldn''t beat Shen Qing, but this spendthrift he could certainly teach a lesson.


    He took the initiative and struck first, trying to vent his anger.


    Su Qiaoqiao, who was welcoming guests at the door, saw this and was momentarily stunned. She rushed over and asked, "What happened?"


    "Young Master Li suddenly hit Young Master Zhao Liu."


    Su Qiaoqiao''s scalp tingled instantly.


    No matter what she anticipated, she never thought that right before the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival was to start, such trouble would occur.


    No amount of caution could have prevented this mishap.


    This is a real problem now.


    Just as her thoughts raced, seeking a solution.


    Young Master Zhao Liu staggered to his feet, face covered in blood.


    He glared at Li Yi, eyes burning with rage, like an enraged beast, gritting his teeth, "Li Jiu, I''m going to kill you!"


    Boom!


    At this moment, an indescribable pressure erupted like a mountain flood from the mysterious cabin deep within, silently enveloping the entire hall.


    The air in the hall seemed to solidify, except for Shen Qing, everyone''s heart felt gripped by an invisible large hand, involuntarily tightening.


    "Ah!"


    Su Qiaoqiao gasped softly, her brows furrowed. Although she had been through many big scenes, the pressure at this moment was unprecedentedly unsettling for her.


    "Someone, throw this disrespectful Young Master Zhao into the lake, let him sober up."


    A clear female voice emerged from the cabin, as sweet as the sound of nature, yet carrying undeniable authority.


    Everyone turned towards the voice.


    A beautiful woman, adorned with pearls and jade, stepped out of the cabin, surrounded by several maids.


    Her beauty was unmatched, skin like snow, eyes like paintings, her every movement exuded an ethereal aura, like an earthly fairy.


    A beam of sunlight shone outside the cabin, falling on her face, making it appear translucent.


    Features carved like fine jade.


    Shen Qing was astonished at first sight.


    If he guessed correctly, this must be the most beautiful girl in Da Zhou, Princess Yuzhen!


    Li Yi showed a hint of joy upon hearing this, recognizing that Princess Yuzhen too disapproved of Zhao Liu''s rude words, "Her Highness, wise judgment."


    From a distance, Zhao Liu quivered like a leaf, speechless, devoid of any masculinity.


    Su Qiaoqiao was the first to react and gestured to the attendant behind her.


    Understanding her intent, they hurried forward and, without much care, dragged Zhao Liu out like a dead dog.


    After that, Su Qiaoqiao took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, swiftly stepped forward, and elegantly bowed to Princess Yuzhen, sensibly saying, "It''s due to my poor arrangements. Your Highness, please punish me."


    Princess Yuzhen gently waved her hand, "No matter, there are always unique birds in a big forest. Your arrangements for this Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival are well done, I''m quite satisfied."


    After speaking, she raised her hand slightly, signaling the maid beside her to bring out a gong.


    Princess Yuzhen, her red lips slightly parted, announced to everyone present, "This year''s Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival, let it begin!"


    As her words landed, the gong was sounded.


    Melodious music flowed from behind her, quickly permeating the entire hall.


    Many guests began to relax their tense faces.


    Huang Furo, who had been holding onto Shen Qing''s hand, finally let go, pretending nothing happened, and picked up her teacup to drink.


    Shen Qing smiled but said nothing.


    As Princess Yuzhen announced the start of the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival, everyone found their seats, gathered around the meticulously arranged and unique chrysanthemums, and began to discuss freely, continually expressing their opinions.


    At the seat closest to Princess Yuzhen, a lady in yellow stood up first, her gaze was intense as she stared at the ''Hua Fu'' piece, focusing on a prized chrysanthemum named ''Frosty Moon Chrysanthemum'' and evaluated it: "This chrysanthemum should be considered one of the finest among all. Its form stands like a fairy in the frost, its petals distinct. Upon careful observation, it''s clear the cultivator poured much dedication into it. It must be someone who understands and loves chrysanthemums, and with formidable skill, capable of nurturing such a masterpiece with spiritual power."


    "Miss Zhang''s insight is as sharp as ever. This is indeed a new chrysanthemum patiently cultivated by Her Highness this year," the maid standing beside Princess Yuzhen said with a smile.


    Zhang Qingying exclaimed in surprise, "No wonder. I was wondering why this chrysanthemum was so well-cultivated."


    Seated at the head, Princess Yuzhen was quite pleased with Zhang Qingying''s praise, her laughter blooming like flowers, captivating those present with fascination.


    Next, a young man sitting beside Su Qiaoqiao lightly touched a chrysanthemum named ''Nine Suns Fiery Chrysanthemum'' and appreciated it, "The petals of this chrysanthemum are as radiant as fire, I sense threads of spiritual power within. To me, this chrysanthemum, besides being ornamental, will definitely aid in cultivation if kept at home, it''s an exceptional piece."


    "If possible, Your Highness, I''ll pay a thousand gold taels for a single petal."


    Hiss...


    The crowd present gasped collectively at this.


    Even Shen Qing, seated in the corner, was secretly amazed.


    Truly the elite of Da Zhou.


    All wealthy individuals.


    Willing to spend a fortune for just a single petal.


    Though Shen Qing considered himself to have amassed some wealth by now, he was far from living with such luxury.


    Princess Yuzhen smiled and said, "Young Master Su has a keen eye. This ''Nine Suns Fiery Chrysanthemum'' indeed is special. If you can channel its spiritual essence into your body, it would truly aid your cultivation."


    What?


    There really is a chrysanthemum that can aid in cultivation?


    This statement left everyone in awe.

 Chapter 412 - 21 Discussing the Tao and Resolving Confusions

    Sitting in the corner, Shen Qing heard the words of Princess Yuzhen and felt a bit surprised, thinking to himself: "I didn''t expect that apart from mountain treasures and Demon Core wonders, there are also human-cultivated Spiritual Objects in the world. It''s truly an eye-opener. I''ve gained some knowledge today."


    A thought crossed his mind, and he discreetly released his Divine Sense, gently touching and sensing those exotic chrysanthemums.


    To his astonishment, he discovered that these chrysanthemums indeed contained strands of Spirit Essence, like dewdrops in the morning, refreshing and delightful, prompting him to quietly praise, "Amazing!"


    Not sure if it was a delusion, but Princess Yuzhen seemed to sense something, her gaze fleetingly sweeping around Shen Qing.


    She asked the maid beside her, "Who is sitting over there? They look somewhat unfamiliar."


    The maid apologized, "Your Highness, the ones sitting over there are Lord Huang Furo and Lord Shen Qing."


    Upon hearing the name Shen Qing, Princess Yuzhen seemed somewhat enlightened, "So it''s him, indeed quite handsome."


    She cast a casual glance and then withdrew her gaze, no longer interested.


    Inside the hall.


    The news of chrysanthemums containing Spiritual Energy spread like a stone thrown into a still lake, causing a ripple of excitement.


    Everyone present knew that this year''s chrysanthemums were extraordinary. For a while, following Su Zimo of the Su Family, one by one, they lavishly spent fortunes.


    "I offer one thousand taels for just one petal!"


    "Hmph, do you think a mere one thousand taels is enough? I bid two thousand taels!"


    "Three thousand taels, I''m determined to get this flower!"


    ¡­


    Amidst the cacophony of bids, the scene became lively like the buzzing of cicadas in summer.


    It was merely a chrysanthemum petal, seemingly imbued with supreme magic, that led everyone to compete fiercely. The price skyrocketed from the initial thousand taels to a staggering ten thousand taels.


    Watching this scene, Shen Qing couldn''t help but click his tongue and say, "Truly wealthy indeed, these noble sons, sparing no expense for a mere spiritual chrysanthemum petal."


    Huang Furo explained beside him, "To these noble families, gold and silver are useless items, but if they can exchange them for a portion of Spirit Essence, it''s worth it to enhance cultivation and break through bottlenecks. Moreover, establishing a connection with Princess Yuzhen through these flowers is a worthwhile endeavor."


    "The people here aren''t fools. Even if they don''t buy anything, making a bid and showing their face is still valuable."


    Shen Qing showed an understanding expression.


    After some fierce bidding, the twelve petals of the glowing Nine Sun Chrysanthemum each found a buyer among twelve people.


    Seeing her own brother make the first bid and truly show his face in front of Princess Yuzhen, Su Qiaoqiao was quite pleased, her face beaming with joy. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Afterwards, everyone began to continue commenting on the other chrysanthemums in the hall.


    Shen Qing didn''t have much interest as he was not here for the chrysanthemums today.


    He picked up the teacup and drank tea, no longer paying attention.


    Huang Furo curiously asked next to him, "Don''t you want to show your face in front of Princess Yuzhen? You might use this chance to climb the social ladder. It''s a rare opportunity today."


    "I don''t understand chrysanthemums, nor am I interested in them, so I prefer not to embarrass myself," Shen Qing said, looking at Huang Furo, as if he had thought of something, jokingly saying, "Speaking of which, chrysanthemums have another name where I come from."


    "What name? Tell me," Huang Furo asked curiously.


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "In my hometown, chrysanthemums are often used to describe a kind of quirky sparrow."


    "What kind of sparrow is that?"


    "Just a special kind of sparrow."


    Huang Furo wanted to ask more, but Shen Qing was unwilling to say more.


    Time slowly passed.


    After almost an hour, dishes began to be served, marking the start of today''s Chrysanthemum Viewing Feast.


    "Next, let''s all speak freely, discuss ancient and modern topics, and exchange what we have."


    Princess Yuzhen gently raised the jade cup in her hand, concealing her sleeve, she sipped a cup of Baihua wine, completely igniting the atmosphere in the hall.


    Guests whispered to each other, making the hall bustling with life and noise.


    "Your Highness, you''re well-versed; I have a question that I don''t understand and came to seek your wisdom," a young man in a blue robe stood up, cupping his hands, and asked first, "Why do these chrysanthemums contain such unique Spirit Essence this year? In previous years, they did not."


    "Indeed, they didn''t in previous years, so why this year?"


    The man clad in a blue robe voiced the doubt in many people''s hearts.


    Princess Yuzhen smiled gently, carrying a touch of dignified grace in her demeanor, "If I remember correctly, you''re Cui Mingxuan, the second son of the Cui Family?"


    Cui Mingxuan hurriedly bowed, with a hint of uncontainable tremor, "I didn''t expect Your Highness to remember me, truly an honor."


    Princess Yuzhen didn''t mind, she said harmoniously, "This matter indeed is a long story."


    "We all know that we are now at Beihai Lake, its waters vast and boundless. It''s said to have been created by a Great Power from the Ancient Times, who punched it into existence. When we think about it today, it''s indeed somewhat incredible."


    "But let me tell you, such phenomena were common in the Ancient Times and not surprising at all."


    Everyone present focused their attention, listening attentively.


    Even Shen Qing, who was not very interested in the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival, became rare in his seriousness.


    Princess Yuzhen continued, "In the Ancient Times, the Spirit Essence was ample, and everything had its spirituality. Those without sentient minds, we called them spirit plants or spirit beasts. Once they awakened their sentience, they transformed into demons; if one''s mind fell into imbalance, they might become demons that endanger the world."

 Chapter 413 - 21 Discussing the Tao and Resolving Confusions_2

    "Nowadays, demons are gradually appearing in the world, in other words, the Spirit Essence from Ancient Times is gradually revealing itself in the human world."


    "The chrysanthemums I cultivated have thrived on the Spirit Mechanism collected by the Imperial family over the years, thus becoming this extraordinary Spirit Plant, possessing a trace of Spirit Essence."


    As Princess Yuzhen finished speaking, the lively atmosphere in the hall gradually turned quiet.


    Everyone was processing the information revealed by Princess Yuzhen.


    The attendees, all noble family children, were aware of their family''s "vegetable city" harvesting demons and refining Demon Cores.


    They believed their families, acting discreetly, were ahead of the Imperial family.


    Little did they know that the Imperial family had actually kept a massive advantage hidden.


    The Demon Cores contained numerous violent impurities, which couldn''t compare to the purity of Spirit Essence.


    Sitting, Shen Qing observed everyone''s reactions and mused to himself: "The intelligence controlled by the Ji family of Great Zhou is significantly more than what others know."


    "Xiao Hu once confided in me that their Huangtian Sect was also secretly gathering Spirit Essence, which explains their rapid rise in recent years, even rivaling the Ji family."


    Cui Mingxuan, the second son of the Cui Family, quickly responded, "I see, thank you, Your Highness, for clearing up the confusion."


    Princess Yuzhen was quite pleased with everyone''s reaction, so she laughed quietly, covering her mouth, and said, "Does anyone else have questions? If they are shareable secrets, I am willing to share them with everyone."


    Before the words faded, an eager person stepped forward from the crowd, eyes filled with an insatiable desire for cultivation: "Your Highness, you mentioned that in the Ancient Times, Spirit Essence was abundant. So in the current world, how can we effectively cultivate, break through bottlenecks, and explore the mysteries of immortality?"


    Princess Yuzhen nodded slightly and replied, "The path of cultivation is long and arduous, with perseverance being key. To break through bottlenecks, one must first cultivate the heart; a clear heart mirrors all things. As for immortality... in the present world, it should not be possible."


    The crowd was in an uproar.


    To them, reaching the peak of cultivation would allow one to glimpse the mysteries of immortality, which was a consensus among martial artists.


    But Princess Yuzhen''s words overturned their understanding, causing a storm of turmoil in their hearts that was hard to calm.


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment and stood up respectfully, asking, "May I ask, Your Highness, I heard of many celestial martial arts techniques stored in the Imperial Armory. It is said that mastering these techniques deeply can reveal immortality; is this not true?"


    His words were startling, "Or are these techniques perhaps fake?"


    The other guests in the hall immediately grew unsettled.


    They looked at Shen Qing with incredulity.


    This was blatant disrespect.


    However, Huang Furo, sitting quietly beside him, simply watched Shen Qing without saying a word.


    Seeing Shen Qing so composed, her worries eased, her face remaining calm.


    When everyone thought Shen Qing would displease Princess Yuzhen, she spoke.


    Contrary to expectations, Princess Yuzhen didn''t mind and treated him with courtesy, smiling as she said, "Chief Shen has indeed pointed out a key aspect."


    "Celestial martial arts techniques mostly originate from Ancient methods. As mentioned earlier, the Ancient Spirit Essence is different from today, and the same principles manifest differently in different places. So, saying celestial martial arts can reveal immortality is both correct and incorrect."


    Shen Qing carefully contemplated Princess Yuzhen''s words, and with the aid of his "scholarly insight," he grasped the crucial point in an instant.


    Exactly. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    An unfitting environment would undoubtedly result in different outcomes from the same techniques.


    So what Princess Yuzhen knows, Ji Bofan could not be unaware of.


    Knowing this, why did he constantly "encourage" me to enter the fifth level of the Imperial Armory?


    It must have been to compel me to cultivate!


    Connecting the paper, ink, and brushes prepared on the scene, he continuously inquired about my cultivation insights and progress, coupled with the untraceable past practitioners of celestial martial arts, and a clear answer emerged.


    Ji Bofan was using him as a test subject for celestial martial arts experiments.


    And once cultivated, these unsuitable celestial martial arts would likely lead to undesirable outcomes.


    Thinking it through, such an action couldn''t be solely orchestrated by Ji Bofan.


    Perhaps from the beginning, when Ji Zikong gave him the Cuiying Order, this intention already existed.


    Shen Qing inwardly sighed in relief.


    Thankfully, he was clever and didn''t rashly engage in cultivation, otherwise, it would truly be unmanageable.


    He put away these thoughts and sincerely thanked, "Thank you, Your Highness, for enlightening me."


    A faint, indifferent smile appeared at the corner of Princess Yuzhen''s mouth as she surveyed the surroundings and asked, "Does anyone else have questions?"


    Seeing Princess Yuzhen''s broad-mindedness, the attendees felt relieved and began asking questions eagerly, exchanging ideas.


    "Chief Shen mentioned martial arts techniques earlier. I would like to ask Your Highness, given the multitude of martial arts techniques globally, how should one select the most suitable method for themselves, and how to avoid falling into a wrong path?"


    Princess Yuzhen replied, "Choosing a technique is like drinking water, only you know its warmth and coolness. The key is its alignment with one''s nature; if it fits, it''s a good method. As for wrong paths, they often stem from desire. If the heart is not greedy, all methods are correct."


    "I have learned a lot."


    "May I ask Your Highness..."


    ...


    Questions kept arising in the hall, making the previously silent atmosphere lively once more.


    Huang Furo observed covertly for a while longer, seeing Princess Yuzhen had no intent to trouble Shen Qing, she finally felt relieved.


    Once the free discussions concluded, it was time for contests of poetry, verses, and martial prowess.


    Shen Qing had no interest in this.


    Seeing that today''s purpose was mostly fulfilled, he didn''t wish to linger.


    So, while everyone was engrossed, he quietly stood up to leave when no one was watching.


    Huang Furo lowered her voice and asked, "Leaving now?"


    Shen Qing nodded slightly.


    "Shall we go together then?"


    "Alright."


    The two left together, trying not to disturb others.


    However, their movements caught Su Qiaoqiao''s attention, making her displeased.


    She had put considerable effort into organizing the gathering and wouldn''t tolerate anyone looking down on it.


    Adding this to the small incident before the gathering, Shen Qing''s "provocation"...


    With everything, Su Qiaoqiao wanted to make up for her shortcomings and show herself before Princess Yuzhen.


    She excused herself, claiming a need to use the restroom, and left to follow Shen Qing and Huang Furo.


    Outside the cabin, the sun was setting in the west.


    Radiant glows, like countless fragments of gold foil, scattered across the lake, with magnificent, shimmering golden waves.


    Upon exiting the lively hall, Shen Qing and Huang Furo immediately felt their spirits lighten.


    They hadn''t even had a chance to appreciate the scene when a sharp female voice called out from behind, stopping them.


    "Stop!"


    Shen Qing turned to see Su Qiaoqiao approaching briskly, full of energy.


    Her long white legs and the ornaments on her skirt clashed, creating a jingling noise.


    Her sharp phoenix eyes glanced Shen Qing up and down, speaking unfriendly, "Why are you two leaving without a word? It''s improper to come and go as you please, isn''t it?"


    Shen Qing responded casually, "It''s merely that I found the atmosphere too noisy and came out to get some air. Why, is that not allowed?"


    His relaxed tone made it seem like all this was trivial.


    But such an indifferent attitude ignited a fire in Su Qiaoqiao''s heart as if sparks had fallen into a pile of wood.


    She lost her usual calmness and composure, seething, "You just offended the Princess, and though the Princess was magnanimous not to reprimand you, I won''t let you off."


    Before finishing her sentence, Su Qiaoqiao''s figure flashed, closing in on Shen Qing, with a formidable energy gathered in her palm, striking fiercely.

 Chapter 414 - 22: Slap in the Face, Stunning Everyone

    ```


    Su Qiaoqiao''s palm gathered immense power, sweeping towards Shen Qing in the blink of an eye, closing in on Shen Qing''s vital point with astonishing speed.


    Yet, seeing Shen Qing remaining unfazed, Su Qiaoqiao''s lips curled into a smile.


    The so-called top fighter of the Jing Luan Assembly is just this much.


    The move she was using now was the Frost Shadow Palm, which she had cultivated for years.


    Though it wouldn''t take a life, it penetrates the bone, freezing the opponent''s spiritual power, leaving them at her mercy.


    It was just right to teach him a lesson, lest he doesn''t know the heights of heaven and the depths of earth.


    However, just as Su Qiaoqiao''s palm neared within an inch of Shen Qing''s chest, almost touching the warm skin, an unexpected turn of events occurred.


    Her palm seemed to collide with an invisible yet firm wall, unable to inch forward no matter how much force she applied.


    That barrier seemed to harbor immense power, completely isolating Su Qiaoqiao''s attack, not budging a bit.


    This sudden mishap caused a flicker of astonishment to pass through Su Qiaoqiao''s eyes.


    But being seasoned by countless battles, her shock lasted only for a moment.


    "Tricks!"


    Su Qiaoqiao snorted coldly, urging her whole body''s spiritual power into her palm.


    The palm, originally glistening with a frosty sheen, now shone with dazzling brilliance.


    Her palm was enveloped in a layer of frost-like hue.


    She exerted her strength once more, the brilliance flowing, trying to break through the barrier on Shen Qing with even greater force.


    The barrier remained unmoved, making her difficult to advance.


    Su Qiaoqiao was utterly bewildered.


    In fact, if she had summoned her primordial spirit, she would surely see another "Shen Qing" clasping her wrist firmly before her, rendering her immobile.


    Shen Qing, a head taller than Su Qiaoqiao, looked down at her and said calmly, "Miss Su, this is not how you treat a guest."


    "Hmm?"


    Before Shen Qing''s words fully dissipated, an unprecedentedly strong pressure suddenly descended on Su Qiaoqiao.


    The pressure was so immense that it made Su Qiaoqiao''s body tremble, even causing her legs to go weak.


    She felt as if a towering mountain was pressing on her shoulders, forcing them to sink, gradually bowing her head.


    The strength of this force exceeded her expectations.


    A surge of unprecedented horror welled up in Su Qiaoqiao''s heart, making her even doubt her own cultivation.


    She struggled to look up at Shen Qing.


    The latter was watching her with an unreadable smile, making her scalp tingle.


    Shen Qing''s fingers moved slightly, an invisible and sharp Soul Stab silently entered Su Qiaoqiao''s Sea of Consciousness.


    Bang!


    Su Qiaoqiao gave a muffled groan, as if an invisible sledgehammer had struck her mind, an intense pain exploded from the depths of her soul, sweeping through her body instantly, making everything before her blurred, as if the world was spinning uncontrollably, almost fainting.


    At this moment, Su Qiaoqiao truly realized how terrifying the man before her was.


    His cultivation far surpassed hers.


    Her heart was filled with shock.


    Su Qiaoqiao quickly bit her tongue, using the pain to regain some clarity, her eyes wide open, she shouted sternly, "How bold, I am a daughter of the Su Family, and you dare to touch me..."


    "So what, only officials are allowed to set fires while the common people can''t light lamps?"


    Shen Qing unhesitatingly punched her in the chest.


    Bang!


    Su Qiaoqiao''s figure flew back like a kite with a broken string, drawing a long arc, flying several zhang away before heavily crashing to the ground.


    A pained expression appeared on Su Qiaoqiao''s face.


    She felt her qi-blood churning in her chest, her throat tasted sweet, and with a loud "wa", a mouthful of fresh blood spewed forth, staining her dress, splattering onto the deck beside her.


    Su Qiaoqiao was completely stunned, her eyes full of shock and anger, staring at Shen Qing, unable to believe what had just happened.


    In her understanding, how could someone like Shen Qing, with no background, dare to act against her without considering identities?


    At that moment, the shock and anger in her heart intertwined, leaving her at a loss for what to do. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing paid no heed, turning away with Huang Furo.


    Just then, Su Qiaoqiao, who was lying on the ground, suddenly raised her head, glaring at Shen Qing.


    Her hair disheveled, she was in a pitiful state, snarling, "Shen, do you know who stands before you? You dare to touch me, do you believe I''ll make you wish for life, but unable to die?"


    Shen Qing paused, turned to look.


    Before he could do anything, a crisp slap suddenly echoed in the air between them.


    Unbeknownst to him, Princess Yuzhen had silently stood in front of him.


    The just risen Su Qiaoqiao was once again heavily slapped to the ground by Princess Yuzhen, her delicate face pressed tightly against the deck.


    Princess Yuzhen said coldly, "Today, this princess hosts the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival, how can you be so rude to my guest?"


    Su Qiaoqiao was full of astonishment, still in a daze from the sudden slap.


    Moments later, she quickly gathered herself, disregarding the injury on her face, she hurriedly sat up, explaining, "I... Princess, Shen Qing just tried to leave halfway, and was disrespectful to the princess at the gathering, clearly disregarding your presence."


    Smack!


    Another slap landed.


    With a bang, Su Qiaoqiao''s face slammed heavily against the deck, having an intimate encounter with it.


    The series of strikes left her completely bewildered, her mind blank, stunned like a wooden chicken.


    ```

 Chapter 415 - 22: A Slap in the Face, Shocking Everyone_2

    Even the burning pain on his face was completely ignored.


    The slap''s sound was extremely loud and noticeable, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall.


    When they saw Su Qiaoqiao lying on the ground like a pig''s head and Shen Qing standing with hands tied, they were momentarily confused and couldn''t grasp the situation.


    With Princess Yuzhen present, they didn''t dare ask directly, so they began whispering among themselves.


    At this moment, Princess Yuzhen stepped forward, gracefully bowing to Shen Qing and said, "I apologize, it was my poor control over my subordinates that disturbed you, Master Shen. I have brought you unnecessary trouble, and this is indeed my fault."


    "What happened? Why is Princess Yuzhen being so courteous to this person?"


    The people present discussed endlessly, not expecting to encounter such a situation and were left clueless.


    In front of everyone involved, Shen Qing narrowed his eyes slightly, as if detecting something. He cupped his hands respectfully and said, "Your Highness overestimates me. I am merely a minor official of the military department, unworthy of such honor from the Princess. Attending Her Highness''s banquet today has been an immense benefit."


    Princess Yuzhen said softly, "Considering this for my sake, how about we let this incident pass?"


    Shen Qing replied, "We didn''t have any grudges to begin with, so let bygones be bygones."


    "That''s good." Princess Yuzhen gave Su Qiaoqiao a sidelong glance, "Why aren''t you quickly coming over to thank Master Shen for his magnanimity? If it wasn''t for Master Shen holding back just now, with his cultivation at the Primordial Spirit stage, you would be long dead!"


    "Ah!"


    The crowd gasped, sucking in a cold breath.


    "Primordial Spirit stage, at his age, he''s already at the Primordial Spirit stage of cultivation?"


    Everyone found it unbelievable.


    The Great Zhou was a nation that valued martial prowess, and any martial artist who broke through to the Primordial Spirit stage was considered a prominent figure, holding a significant position in the imperial court.


    It was unimaginable that this young man had already broken through to such a realm at such a young age, truly a remarkable feat.


    Standing beside Shen Qing, Huang Furo was also extremely shocked, looking at Shen Qing. She knew of Shen Qing''s exceptional martial talent, and since entering the capital, his cultivation had progressed further, but she didn''t expect it to have reached such a level.


    For a moment, it was as if she was seeing Shen Qing in a new light and didn''t know what to do.


    Equally shocked was Su Qiaoqiao.


    Now with her hair disheveled and clothes in disarray.


    Her face was swollen like a pig''s head, and her eyes were squeezed into slits.


    Even so, the inexplicable shock in her eyes was still clearly visible.


    If Shen Qing really didn''t let her go just now, she truly wouldn''t have had any strength to retaliate.


    Su Qiaoqiao was filled with lingering fear, feeling a sense of having survived a calamity.


    Now it seemed, Princess Yuzhen''s actions had actually spared her.


    Su Qiaoqiao no longer felt any grievance in her heart, nor cared about any dignity, quickly crawling on the ground, sincerely saying, "Thank you, Master Shen, I was blind."


    Shen Qing remained noncommittal.


    He gazed at Princess Yuzhen''s flawless face and said, "The night is getting late, I still have plenty of duties tonight, so I will take my leave first, hoping for your Highness''s forgiveness."


    Princess Yuzhen smiled and said, "Master Shen, please proceed."


    Shen Qing clasped his hands once again, gave a respectful bow, and walked away briskly, no longer staying.


    On the side, Huang Furo also excused herself and quickly followed.


    Watching Shen Qing''s departing figure, Princess Yuzhen''s smile grew even more pronounced, thinking to herself, "This Master Shen truly has some courage, remarkable, truly remarkable."


    "In the family, many brothers and sisters, even with the support of countless spiritual resources, can''t reach his level."


    "As long as he doesn''t die, his future will be limitless. I can get closer to him, promote him a bit, making good relations in advance won''t be harmful."


    Seeing Shen Qing''s figure disappear completely from her sight, she withdrew her thoughts, glanced around at everyone, then returned to the hall and said, "Continue the songs and dances."


    In the evening, the sunset dyed the sky a splendid orange-red like blood, and the afterglow cast on the shimmering lake, draping the vast lake with a golden veil.


    Shen Qing and Huang Furo walked out of the cabin side by side, their shadows elongated by the sunset.


    Huang Furo appeared as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.


    Shen Qing smiled, "Master Huangfu, if you have something to say, just say it, no need to be formal with me."


    Huang Furo sighed long, "Master Shen, your cultivation progress can truly be described as advancing by leaps and bounds, making people both astonished and envious."


    Shen Qing gave a gentle smile, humbly saying, "This is just a coincidence, nothing much."


    Huang Furo did not take Shen Qing''s modest words seriously, she looked up, gazing at the sunset slowly sinking into the lake, remaining silent.


    Soon, the two reached their respective carriages.


    Shen Qing stopped and said, "During this Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival, I obtained quite some crucial intelligence, matters concerning my safety. Thanks a lot."


    Saying so, Shen Qing pulled out a crystal-clear jade pendant from his bosom.


    The jade pendant was crystal-clear, emitting a faint spiritual glow.


    Not allowing Huang Furo to refuse, he gently slipped it into her hands.


    Huang Furo felt the waves of spiritual power from the jade pendant and realized what it was.


    "This... this is too valuable. I can''t accept it."


    "Just keep it, this spiritual essence might be more important for you, and didn''t you say you want to be like me just now?"


    After speaking, Shen Qing strode towards his carriage, as he boarded, he said, "In the future, let''s meet more often. Goodbye!"


    Sitting in the carriage, Tian Xiaohu, an old acquaintance of Huang Furo, nodded in greeting, then waved the long whip.


    "Giddy-up!"


    The carriage wheels rolled, and sped away quickly.


    Huang Furo looked at the jade pendant in her hand, suddenly clenched it, murmuring to herself in a voice only she could hear, "If only I could be like you... at least I could help you in some way, not drifting further apart."


    ...


    That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.


    Inside the Royal Armory, the candlelight flickered, casting shadows on the mottled stone walls.


    A man, dressed in the attire of an armory official, hurriedly pushed open the door and walked inside.


    Upon entering the Royal Armory, he didn''t stop, proceeding straight to the fifth floor.


    There sat Ji Bochuban cross-legged, eyes closed, surrounded by a faint spiritual glow, using his spirit eyes to absorb spiritual energy, enhancing his cultivation.


    "Lord Ji, there is an urgent matter to report!" the official lowered his voice, but couldn''t hide the urgency in his tone.


    Ji Bochuban slowly opened his eyes, which gleamed brightly.


    He slightly tilted his head, signaling the official to come closer.


    "What is making you so anxious?" Ji Bochuban said, puzzled.


    The official leaned in close to his ear, whispering, "I just received news, Shen Qing, he... he has already broken through to the Primordial Spirit stage!"


    Upon hearing this, a look of disbelief flashed across Ji Bochuban''s face, "Is this true?"


    "This was personally confirmed by Princess Yuzhen, it shouldn''t be false."


    Ji Bochuban opened his mouth, immediately falling into thought.


    The Primordial Spirit stage, across the entire Great Zhou, was a rare existence.


    For Shen Qing to reach it so quickly was truly astonishing.


    "Could it be..."


    Ji Bochuban seemed to have thought of something, striding quickly to the screen, where there was a thick pile of cultivation insights and notes.


    Yes, it must be this.


    Otherwise, there would be no way to explain how Shen Qing''s cultivation could suddenly advance tremendously.


    This immortal martial arts method, after numerous trials by heaven''s chosen, had finally been refined to its current state. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Perhaps the path was truly opened.


    Shen Qing must have gained insight from this, greatly advancing his cultivation.


    After pondering in place for a while, a resolute look flashed in Ji Bochuban''s eyes, he quickly adjusted his attire, muttering to himself, "This matter is of great importance, I should immediately go meet His Majesty, report this to him, and let him decide."


    Having made up his mind, Ji Bochuban quickly left the Royal Armory.


    He flashed, turning into a streak of light, sprinting deep into the palace.

 Chapter 416 - 23: The Old Schemer, Promotion and Nobility

    ```


    Deep within the Imperial Palace, as night falls and silence prevails,


    Ji Bochu moves unobstructed, arriving before the Spirit Nourishing Hall.


    This palace is the place where Ji Zikong usually rests, works, and cultivates.


    At this late hour, he is usually present here.


    At present, the Spirit Nourishing Hall remains brightly lit, with two guards from the Eunuch Department standing sentinel at the entrance.


    The guards recognize Ji Bochu and step forward to greet him, "Chief Ji."


    Ji Bochu halts and hurriedly says, "I have some matters that are quite urgent and need to report them to His Highness personally. Please inform him."


    "Please wait a moment, Chief Ji."


    The guard replies with a smile and turns to enter the grand hall gently.


    Moments later, the guard emerges from the hall, clasping his hands politely, and says warmly, "Chief Ji, His Highness invites you in."


    Ji Bochu nods in gratitude, crosses without any hesitation, and steps into the grand hall.


    Within the grand hall, candles flicker, illuminating the magnificence of the richly decorated dome.


    A faint fragrance fills the air, calming one''s mind.


    Ji Bochu''s expression unconsciously becomes solemn.


    In the depths of the grand hall, there stands an ancient-looking table upon which lie several ordinary objects. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Beside the table, Ji Zikong sits poised on a golden-yellow meditation mat, sword light still encircling him like a predator yet to dissociate.


    His hair cascades freely, his eyes gleam like lightning, sharp and fierce.


    Chu Yuanfu, the Grand Eunuch, quietly stands by.


    As the foremost figure in Great Zhou Martial Arts, Ji Zikong''s Qi-Blood is abundant, his spiritual power vast as the sea, his energy vigorous.


    Ever since achieving his cultivation, he has almost ceased to sleep.


    His days are spent in matters of state and cultivation, his life anchored in the Spirit Nourishing Hall throughout the years.


    Upon seeing Ji Bochu enter, Ji Zikong ends his cultivation, exhaling a heavy breath, causing a sudden gust of wind.


    Under this breath, both Chu Yuanfu and Ji Bochu''s garments flutter noisily.


    They feel a sharp aura, stinging their skin.


    "Chief Ji visiting me at such a late hour," Ji Zikong says, radiating authority without anger, "is there pressing business to discuss?"


    Faced with the formidable presence of a Unity Realm martial master, Ji Bochu feels a bit apprehensive.


    He quickly steps forward a few paces, bows, and says, "Your Majesty, indeed there is an urgent matter. Recently..."


    Stopping deliberately, he glances at Chu Yuanfu.


    Seeing no reaction from Ji Zikong, he resumes speaking after a pause, carefully expressing himself, "I have just received a secret report; that Military Department''s Chief Officer Shen Qing has broken through to the Primordial Spirit Realm."


    At this, Ji Zikong''s brow remains unruffled, as if already in the know.


    He glances at Ji Bochu, noting his overjoyed expression, and calmly asks, "Are you implying that it''s because of the Immortal Martial Technique?"


    Ji Bochu''s eyes blaze with excitement as he nods enthusiastically, "Precisely, Your Majesty. The latest version of the Great Success Saint Body Technique seems to have proven successful."


    "For our Ji Family, this is indeed wonderful news. With this new Immortal Martial Technique, if the younger generation of the clan competes to cultivate, we might produce an outstanding martial master once more. In the future, when facing that great catastrophe, Your Majesty will stand a better chance."


    Ji Zikong gently caresses an exquisite teacup on the table, his thoughts seemingly drifting far away.


    After a while, he slowly asks, "This matter is not urgent, let it rest for now."


    Ji Bochu seems taken aback.


    "Has Chief Ji any other matters?"


    Ji Bochu attempts to argue further, "Your Majesty..."


    "Chief Ji." Ji Zikong interrupts him first, "Go back and carefully contemplate this matter, and if there are doubts later, come to me."


    Recognizing the dismissal in Ji Zikong''s words, Ji Bochu does not persist, clasping his hands, "I await your order, Your Majesty."


    With that, he retreats.


    Bang.


    The grand door shuts once more.


    The vast hall is left with only Ji Zikong and Chu Yuanfu.


    "Chu Banban!"


    Ji Zikong''s words break the silence of the hall.


    Chu Yuanfu bows his head, "This old servant is here."


    "That Shen Qing is somewhat peculiar."


    Chu Yuanfu''s brows furrow, Shen Qing''s youthful visage flashing across his mind.


    "Your Majesty, what''s peculiar about Chief Officer Shen?"


    Ji Zikong''s expression turns grave, "Do you think someone from a lowly background, lacking the slightest opportunity to temper their muscle and bone through spiritual power to assist cultivation, even with great talent, could break through to the Primordial Spirit Realm in mere years?"


    "This... Your Majesty, this old servant is poorly learned, truly does not know." Chu Yuanfu quickly apologizes.


    "Impossible!" Ji Zikong shakes his head, answering himself, "In nine hundred years since the Great Zhou was founded, no such person has emerged. If placed at the end of ancient times, perhaps such a prodigy existed, but in our current climate, absolutely not!"


    "After learning from Yu Zhen today that this individual has already broken through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, I''ve pondered this matter all day, and this remains my conclusion. Shen Qing must hold some secret I am unaware of, otherwise how could a huntsman have reached this point?"


    "So, if he has cultivated to the Primordial Spirit Realm, it won''t be due to the Immortal Martial Technique. Perhaps he only used the Spirit Eye within the Imperial Armory for cultivation, never touching that Immortal Martial Technique."


    Hearing this, Chu Yuanfu''s expression changes, "Wouldn''t this imply he''s guilty of deceiving the Emperor?"


    "At present, there''s no stipulation requiring someone to cultivate specific Immortal Martial Techniques upon entering the Imperial Armory."


    Puzzled, Chu Yuanfu asks, "Then what does Your Majesty mean?"


    Ji Zikong replies, "Given the current grand circumstances, the mediocre have their worth, and geniuses their uses. He is already a Unity Realm martial master; employing him merely as a trial subject is too wasteful. It happens I am in need of a sharp sword."


    ```

 Chapter 417 - 23: The Old Schemer, Promotion and Nobility_2

    Ji Zikong stood up, gazing out the window into the night sky, and said ethereally, "In today''s world, the potential of spiritual martial power is only sufficient for one person to transcend the limits of the heavens and achieve the highest. Even so, there is no certainty of victory against the celestial demons."


    "In the end, there are just too many martial masters in the world. You grab a little, I grab a little, and the remaining resources are divided up, leaving no one satisfied."


    "In my view, it would be better if there were half as many martial masters."


    Chu Yuanfu, standing by, shuddered at these cold words.


    He promptly said, "Your Majesty, we''ve just gone through a pacification meeting. To continue at this rate might incite a civil uprising, endangering the state."


    "I know," Ji Zikong said nonchalantly, "That''s why I need a knife to do this bit by bit for me."


    Chu Yuanfu said, "Your Majesty, in that case, wouldn''t this knife become the target of everyone? A few strikes, and it might already be nicked. Hit a hard stone, and the knife might break."


    "That''s just right! It becomes the half that''s gone." Ji Zikong indifferently uttered cold words between open and closing lips, "A knife is a consumable; if it breaks, just replace it, it''s no trouble."


    Chu Yuanfu wisely kept his head down, maintaining silence, not speaking further.


    After a moment, the Great Zhou Emperor Ji Zikong seemed to think of something and suddenly said, "Speaking of which, I remember that this time, in the pacification meeting, we stripped Shen Qing of the marquisate. Now that he is a martial master in the Primordial Spirit Realm, it''s time to give him some advantages to use him. Also, it''s just right to dig into his secrets, which might be more useful to the Great Dao than those Immortal Martial Techniques."


    After contemplating for a moment, Ji Zikong instructed, "Tomorrow, have Eunuch He draft a decree for me, conferring Shen Qing as the Marquis of Martial Peace."


    "Your servant... complies."


    "It''s late at night, I still need to cultivate and rest, do not disturb me before dawn."


    Returning to the Imperial Armory, Ji Bochu was filled with many doubts.


    No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn''t understand why, when Shen Qing had already proven the latest version of the [Great Success Saint Body Technique] was sound, His Majesty did not adopt its cultivation.


    That is, after all, an Immortal Martial Technique!


    Any Immortal Martial Technique has an extremely clear path of cultivation, progressing from shallow to deep. In terms of power and speed, its cultivation is far superior to other techniques, not to mention the faint possibility of attaining longevity.


    Ji Bochu was very puzzled.


    Since His Majesty did not permit cultivating it, he''d cultivate it himself.


    When Shen Qing comes over, he will scrutinize the pathways behind this [Great Success Saint Body Technique].


    ...


    Shen Qing knew nothing of what transpired in the palace.


    He walked into the Imperial Armory as usual, looking calm.


    After participating in the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Meeting, he had comprehended his situation and the potential issue with the Immortal Martial Techniques.


    Now entering the Imperial Armory again, his state of mind was entirely different; it was no longer a blur where he couldn''t see clearly.


    Shen Qing walked to the fifth level of the Imperial Armory, where at a glance he saw Ji Bochu practicing fist techniques on the fifth level.


    Ji Bochu appeared to be quite aged, Shen Qing guessed he was probably over a hundred years old.


    Yet despite his age, his punch wind still howled, each punch carried a formidable force akin to a mountain or sea, tearing the surrounding air to shreds, exuding a spirit of indomitable will.


    Shen Qing smiled, approaching to greet, "Chief Ji."


    Ji Bochu, sensing him, swept his sleeve and slowly collected his fists, turning to Shen Qing and saying, "Mr. Shen, you''re here so early today?"


    "Nothing much at home, so I just came straight over."


    "That''s good, the fifth floor here hosts many Immortal Martial Techniques, and with you absent, I really wouldn''t feel easy. Hahaha..."


    Shen Qing glanced around. This Imperial Armory was built underground, with no windows and guards above, making what he said just pleasantries.


    After some small talk, Ji Bochu suddenly said seriously, "Mr. Shen, I just happen to have a favor to ask of you. If convenient."


    Shen Qing fist in palm, courteously replied, "Chief Ji, you''re too polite. Feel free to speak. If it''s within my ability, I''ll certainly help."


    "The Great Success Saint Body Technique has been here for quite some time. It''s said that this technique can forge a supreme physique, transcending the mundane. I practiced it in my younger years but found it difficult to train, and it eventually came to nothing."


    "So I wanted to seek some guidance from Chief Officer Shen. How is this Immortal Martial Technique truly cultivated, is there a unique cultivation method?"


    He wants to ask me about the cultivation path of the Great Success Saint Body Technique?


    When it comes to Immortal Martial Techniques, Shen Qing instinctively became wary.


    He was already aware that Ji Bochu had seen him as a test subject for the Immortal Martial Techniques.


    It seems Ji Bochu has noticed his cultivation advancements and wants to verify some cultivation methods.


    That''s perfect, let it go as he wishes.


    Shen Qing activated the skill [Learning and Seeking the Dao], continuously recalling the cultivation paths within the [Great Success Saint Body Technique] Immortal Martial Technique.


    After a moment, he organized his words and said, "The Great Success Saint Body Technique is a martial study focusing on the body, and it stands unique in methods of tempering the physique."


    "Its essence lies in harmonizing the energy of heaven and earth, cultivating inside out, strengthening muscles and bones. Ultimately refining a trace of sacred blood with the body''s essence, which then nourishes the body in return, the other reciprocating, to reach the state of the Great Success Saint Body."


    Under the enhancement of the [Learning and Seeking the Dao] skill, Shen Qing depicted every detail, every nuance of the "Great Success Saint Body Technique" vividly, leaving nothing out, with self-consistent logic throughout.


    Three parts falsehood, seven parts truth.


    Ji Bochu listened intently, nodding at times, furrowing his brow at others, and smiling with delight at others, clearly gaining much.


    "Mr. Shen, would you be willing to demonstrate a bit? So I can grasp the true meaning." Ji Bochu''s tone held a hint of anticipation.


    "Naturally."


    Shen Qing, without hesitation, immediately activated the trace of golden sacred blood within him.


    Although the Six Paths Reincarnation Method and the Great Success Saint Body Technique have very different paths, they are yet akin, remarkably similar in the art of condensing sacred blood.


    With sacred blood surging, Shen Qing''s aura dramatically increased.


    Soon, his muscles gradually swelled, and beneath his skin, a golden sheen faintly emerged, a sign of having achieved a minor success in the Great Success Saint Body Technique by condensing sacred blood.


    Moments later, Shen Qing''s entire body seemed to become a furnace, waves of heat continually exuding from him, which even moved the onlooking Ji Bochu.


    It was indeed the Great Success Saint Body Technique.


    He truly mastered and traversed part of the path.


    Ji Bochu was euphoric inside.


    This technique''s enhancement on the body was extremely domineering. Once cultivation yields any achievement, the increase in longevity is also very apparent.


    "The Great Success Saint Body Technique is indeed extraordinary, my eyes have truly been opened today."


    "Chief Ji flatters me, I''m just fortunate to have attained minor success."


    Shen Qing continually displayed humility, not daring arrogance.


    After some more pleasantries, Shen Qing intended to return to cultivation within the Spirit Eye.


    Just then, footsteps resounded from upstairs.


    Shortly after, a steward hurried in, with a solemn expression, calling to Shen Qing, "Master Shen Qing, there is an imperial decree, please quickly receive the decree."


    "An imperial decree? Chief Ji, I''ll be off for a moment."


    Shen Qing quickly followed behind the steward, silently speculating about the sudden nature of this decree. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he emerged from the Imperial Armory, he immediately saw the head eunuch He Yong standing at the entrance, clad in a python robe, holding the imperial decree.


    He Yong''s demeanor was calm, wearing a smiling countenance.


    He took out the decree and called, "Master Shen Qing, receive the decree!"


    "At your service."


    Shen Qing knelt on one knee.


    He Yong''s expression did not change as he unfolded the decree to read aloud, "By His Majesty''s will, Emperor decrees thus: Shen Qing, with exceptional cultivation and merits in safeguarding regions, is specially conferred the title of Marquis of Martial Peace, rewarded with ten thousand wish beads, and a hundred acres of fertile land, to commend his service. So proclaimed!"


    What, conferred a marquisate?


    Shen Qing was truly surprised, for this matter was so sudden, he hadn''t caught any wind of it.


    Now wasn''t the time to dwell, he restrained his thoughts, accepting the decree: "Your humble servant Shen Qing, thanks His Majesty''s great grace!"

 Chapter 418 - 24: The Seventh Prince Steals Credit, Shen Qing Sets Up His Own Estate

    The golden silk shimmered with a liquid brilliance under the sunlight.


    After Shen Qing accepted the Imperial Decree, his gaze quickly scanned the flowing script, his eyes narrowed slightly, becoming all the more solemn.


    He closed the Imperial Decree and turned his gaze to He Yong, who was waiting by the side.


    The Chief Eunuch stood straight, his body radiating with vigorous Qi-Blood; just a slight approach would reveal the searing aura emanating from him.


    Clearly, he was a Martial Arts expert with not low cultivation.


    If it weren''t for the "One Lotus" official uniform he wore, one could hardly tell he was already castrated.


    Shen Qing collected his thoughts and approached sincerely, "Lord He, it''s truly laborious for you to personally come and deliver the decree."


    He Yong cupped his hands in return, with a gentle smile, "Marquis Shen is too kind; it is an honor for this old servant to serve such a pillar of the nation as yourself."


    Just as He Yong was about to turn and take his leave, Shen Qing seemed to have remembered something.


    He quickly advanced, slowly pulling out a delicate Jade Bottle from his sleeve, holding onto He Yong, "Lord He, this is the Old Ginseng Pill given to me by the Li Family. A small gift, a token of my respect."


    With that, he pressed the Jade Bottle into He Yong''s arms.


    Among the Elixir acquired from Xue Zhao earlier, there were a few Old Ginseng Pills that could be used to cultivate a relationship at this moment.


    He Yong had intended to refuse several times, but found that he couldn''t push it back regardless, so he had no choice but to relent.


    He looked down and saw the Jade Bottle, translucent and bright with intricate cloud patterns carved on it, appearing quite extraordinary. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He Yong discreetly pushed the cork of the bottle gently, revealing a slit; instantly a faint medicinal fragrance permeated, invigorating one''s spirit.


    He realized that this was indeed a superb precious medicine.


    Shen Qing smiled, "It is said that the Old Ginseng Pill has the effects of strengthening the foundation and nourishing the root, nourishing the Primordial Spirit. You toil for the state affairs day and night, inevitably damaging your health; this pill might be of some assistance to you."


    Noticing with his Divine Sense, he discerned that He Yong was at the late stage of the Jade Void Realm, just a step away from the Primordial Spirit Realm.


    Hence, the Old Ginseng Pill he offered would certainly hit the spot.


    Sure enough, a hint of delight flickered in He Yong''s eyes, and he hurriedly corked the Elixir Bottle once more, his smile widening.


    "Marquis Shen is truly too generous; such a precious item¡ªhow could I dare to accept it?"


    Though he said that, He Yong made no move to return it, clearly understanding the value of this Old Ginseng Pill.


    "Lord He, please do not refuse; we are both serving His Majesty and ought to look out for each other. Moreover, if you don''t accept it, it would make me, Shen, seem small-minded." Shen Qing laughed a hearty laugh, with a bit of easygoing nonchalance.


    Upon hearing this, He Yong no longer feigned otherwise, carefully pocketing the Jade Bottle, smiling, "Then I shall respectfully accept. Should Marquis Shen have any needs in the future, just mention them, and I, He, will be sure to help to the utmost."


    "Speaking of which, I do indeed have a matter to ask for your assistance, Lord He."


    He Yong was slightly surprised, evidently not expecting Shen Qing to be so forthright, and asked, "Oh? What does Marquis Shen wish this old servant to do?"


    Shen Qing leaned forward and softly inquired, "I wish to know why His Majesty suddenly conferred the Marquis title upon me; is there any particular reason?"


    Long before, he had already investigated and discovered that during this Jing Luan Assembly, Ji Zikong felt the rebel forces suffered minimal losses, essentially equating to their own defeat, and even with sufficient "Killing Merit," he was reluctant to fulfill the conferment of Marquis for his achievements.


    Moreover, he had secretly positioned him as a test subject for the Imperial Armory, essentially dismissing him.


    Now, suddenly "having a change of heart" seemed rather peculiar.


    He Yong replied in a sharp voice, "Actually, there''s nothing much; yesterday, didn''t Marquis Shen attend Princess Yuzhen''s Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival?"


    "You mean... Princess Yuzhen was the reason?"


    The Chief Eunuch He Yong nodded and said, "Regarding your cultivation, His Majesty has already heard bits from Princess Yuzhen. With Marquis Shen''s level of cultivation, not conferring a Marquis title would make His Majesty seem unimaginative in recognizing talent. After all, our Majesty is known as a seldom-seen wise ruler throughout history; how could he allow a person of your caliber to stagnate? This is merely fulfilling the external promise of the adult''s Jing Luan Assembly."


    "I see!" Shen Qing feigned enlightenment, speaking softly.


    In truth, his heart did not agree.


    Ji Zikong, possessing exceptionally high cultivation, if placed in that position, it would be that those who obey me thrive, and those who oppose me perish.


    What he says is right is right, what he says is wrong is also right.


    Initially, Ji Zikong hardly cared for him; how could he alter his decision merely to accommodate the opinions of others?


    This contradicted all the descriptions of Ji Zikong he recently heard.


    Unless, there were more important and beneficial factors that made him change his mind.


    Either the Marquis position comes with immense risks, or there''s something on him that the Emperor covets, seeking to mollify him before later seizing it.


    Whichever the case, for him, it was not a good thing.


    His eyes darkened, feeling a tinge of unease deep within.


    Shen Qing decided not to dwell on it further and wore a radiant smile, cupping his fists, "Thank you, Lord He."


    The Chief Eunuch He Yong bowed, "If the Marquis has nothing further, this old servant shall take his leave."


    He Yong cupped his hands, turned, and took his leave.


    "Safe travels, Lord He."


    Once He Yong''s figure gradually faded into the distance, Shen Qing''s gaze once again rested on the Imperial Decree in his hand, lost in thought.


    After standing still for a while, he immediately left the palace to return home.

 Chapter 419 - 24 The Seventh Prince Steals Credit, Shen Qing Establishes His Manor_2

    The news of being granted the title of Marquis cannot be concealed for long. I must return and make some preparations, lest the visit of nobility cause a breach of etiquette and unnecessary misunderstandings.


    On the fifth level of the Imperial Armory, Ji Bochu sat cross-legged in the Spirit Eye, his expression solemn, staring at the Saint Body Completion Jade Box in his hand, a contemplative look in his eyes.


    A Weapon Repository Manager hurriedly descended the stone steps, heading to Ji Bochu, the Chief of the Imperial Armory.


    "Chief," the manager reported in a low voice, "Just moments ago, there came an Imperial Decree that His Majesty intends to confer the title of Marquis Wu''an upon Shen Qing."


    Upon hearing this, Ji Bochu furrowed his brow slightly, and the jade box in his hand trembled lightly.


    He turned around and looked sharply at the manager, questioning doubtfully, "Is this true?"


    The manager nodded to affirm, "I saw it with my own eyes, absolutely true. It won''t be long before the news spreads throughout the entire Imperial City." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ji Bochu was silent for a moment, perplexed inwardly by this unfathomable decision of His Majesty.


    Clearly, Shen Qing was appointed as a test subject, so why the sudden change of mind?


    The Saint Body Completion Technique was just beginning to show promise.


    However, he knew that His Majesty never acts without reason.


    There must be a reason behind Shen Qing being conferred the title of Marquis.


    "His Majesty''s actions have become increasingly unfathomable these days," Ji Bochu muttered to himself.


    The manager, hearing this, dared not make presumptions, only standing quietly by, awaiting Ji Bochu''s instructions.


    After a moment of contemplation, Ji Bochu finally instructed, "Let''s not pursue Shen Qing any further; let''s drop this matter."


    The manager nodded firmly and withdrew.


    Just after the manager left, a deep sigh echoed in the empty fifth level.


    However, as soon as he finished sighing, the manager returned, leaving Ji Bochu slightly speechless.


    "What now? What else is there?"


    The manager said, "The Seventh Prince has arrived, wishing to see you, Chief."


    "The Seventh Prince?" Ji Bochu was slightly startled and somewhat puzzled, "What brings him here?"


    "I don''t know."


    Without further thought, Ji Bochu tidied up his appearance and said, "Please invite His Highness in."


    "Yes."


    The manager quickly turned away to inform, and moments later, a gentle voice came from the staircase doorway: "Chief Ji, it''s been a long time. I came specially to visit today; I hope you don''t mind."


    Wearing a yellow brocade robe, the Seventh Prince, with white jade hanging from his waist, approached Ji Bochu with a smile.


    Ji Bochu, looking at this middle-aged man, felt helpless and, with a gesture, indicated for the manager to leave.


    Through the vast fifth level, only Ji Bochu and the Seventh Prince remained.


    The Seventh Prince politely asked, "Chief Ji, I''ve heard that the Saint Body Completion Technique has shown promise. Is it true?"


    Ji Bochu was somewhat surprised; he hadn''t expected that yesterday, soon after informing His Majesty, the Seventh Prince had already found out.


    He nodded slightly, responding with a soft hum.


    "Old Ji, I''ve long yearned for the Saint Body Completion Technique. I wonder if I could study it?" the Seventh Prince asked frankly, without any pretense.


    Ji Bochu, with an official business demeanor, replied, "Seventh Prince, to learn such immortal martial arts, you must obtain His Majesty''s permission; otherwise, I''m afraid I can''t comply."


    The Seventh Prince seemed to anticipate this, smiled slightly, and took out a small, exquisite jade bottle from his sleeve, placing it gently on the table, "I know Chief Ji is dutiful, reluctant to pass on the technique easily. But I am willing to exchange with a drop of true Xuanwu blood, which I believe shows my sincerity to Chief Ji. Rest assured, I''ll only take a glance, ensuring no difficulty on your part."


    True Xuanwu blood?!


    Ji Bochu was moved.


    He had only heard that nowadays, demons and monsters abound, some being unusually powerful, having awakened a portion of celestial demon blood.


    This portion of true blood significantly aids in cultivation.


    If the Seventh Prince merely wanted a glance, it wouldn''t be problematic.


    Ji Bochu gazed complexly at the jade bottle, weighing the pros and cons in his heart.


    True blood is exceedingly rare worldwide, an unattainable treasure for them.


    "Your Highness, the Saint Body Completion Technique, being an immortal martial art, is extraordinary. According to protocol, it can only be practiced with His Majesty''s written permission," Ji Bochu''s voice conveyed hesitation but also a hint of loosening.


    Seeing this, the Seventh Prince curled his lips into a confident smile, "The Crown Prince has already passed away, and my second and third brothers are getting old. The Saint Body Completion Technique greatly benefits the physique. If we don''t strive upwards, following Father Emperor''s level of cultivation, we might not live to see the day we relieve Father of his burdens. Chief Ji, as a member of the Ji family, surely you can''t bear to see us brothers perish in the palace?"


    "Rest assured, Chief, I merely wish to take a glance; nothing more. After seeing it, not a word will leak."


    After a round of considerations, Ji Bochu finally nodded slowly, "Very well, since the Seventh Prince shows sincerity, I''ll make an exception, but I hope you''ll keep your promise."


    Hearing this, the Seventh Prince''s face blossomed into a satisfied smile, bowing in gratitude, "Thank you, Chief, for accommodating me. I will definitely keep my word."


    With that, Ji Bochu opened the jade box, taking out the Saint Body Completion Technique and handing it to the Seventh Prince.


    The Seventh Prince, overjoyed, took the white jade from his waist, placed it in his palm, and eagerly began to scrutinize it, word by word.


    Meanwhile, in the Spirit Cultivation Hall.


    Chief Eunuch He Yong stood beside Ji Zikong, reporting back.


    Ji Zikong toyed with a jade bottle in his hand, pouring out an Old Ginseng Pill with a smile, "Is that how you responded to him?"


    He Yong replied, "I dare not deceive His Majesty."


    Ji Zikong returned the Old Ginseng Pill to the jade bottle, tossed it casually to He Yong, and said, "Pretty clever."


    "Your Majesty, next up..."


    "We''ll worry about it after getting through this hurdle."


    "Understood."


    ...


    Pingkang Street.


    Shen Qing, holding the Imperial Decree, stepped into his home.


    His expression was calm, his steps steady.


    In the outer courtyard, craftsmen, gardeners, and servant boys busily worked in an orderly manner.


    Nearby, at the Martial Arts training ground, Shen Xiaoshan, Tian Xiaohu, and others were diligently cultivating with the resources Shen Qing provided, their voices occasionally echoing from inside.


    Shen Qing summoned a servant boy and instructed, "Go call Butler Tian and Master Shen to the grand hall; I have an announcement."


    "Yes."


    The servant boy put down the broom and quickly ran to convey the message.


    Without delay, Shen Qing proceeded directly to the inner residence.


    Amidst bustling servant women and various maids organizing chores, he summoned a young maid to notify his elder sister Shen Fang and Aunt Wang.


    After that, Shen Qing returned to the grand hall to wait quietly.


    Before long, uncles, aunts, and other family members gradually arrived.


    Uncle Shen Er curiously asked, "Qingzi, why did you call us here?"


    "To announce something," Shen Qing placed the yellow Imperial Decree on the table and softly spoke, "Uncle, Aunt, His Majesty has conferred upon me the title of Marquis Wu''an."


    "Ah!"


    Uncle and Aunt exclaimed, exchanging glances with shock apparent in their eyes.


    Uncle Shen Er opened his mouth slightly, eyes flickering with disbelief, his voice slightly trembling, yet striving to maintain composure, "Qing''er, is this... is this true?"


    Others exchanged looks, intensely focusing on Shen Qing, equally astonished.


    The grand hall was filled with a tremendously subtle atmosphere.


    Everyone present seemed to be waiting for Shen Qing''s answer during the moment of great joy.


    Shen Qing held the Imperial Decree in hand and declared, "With His Majesty''s decree here, how dare I deceive you?"


    Wow!


    Everyone present was overjoyed.


    Commotion erupted in the grand hall.


    For them, a business owner was already a colossal figure, let alone a lofty Marquis.


    At this moment, Shen Er felt that their Shen family must have some great fortune to experience such honor.


    The Shen family was genuinely on the path to prominence.


    "Good, good, good," he looked at Shen Er, saying "good" three times, moved his lips, yet unsure what more to say.


    When the excitement of the crowd gradually settled, Shen Qing remarked, "Don''t rejoice too soon; my title as a Marquis is nominal without actual fiefdom, far from those genuine Princes and Marquis."


    Others exchanged looks, unable to grasp the intricacies.


    Shen Qing gave no further explanation, continuing, "First, instruct the servants to clean the house thoroughly inside and out, and then order a plaque for the ''Marquis Wu''an Mansion'' to hang over the entrance. Once the news of my title spreads, many distinguished guests are bound to visit; the current condition inside is somewhat unsightly."

 Chapter 420 - 25: Marquis Wuan Mansion, Bestowed Marriage

    ```


    Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Two days later, the official edict from the court was issued, formally conferring the title of Duke Wu''an upon Shen Qing. In just these couple of days, the news of Shen Qing''s ennoblement had already spread throughout the Capital.


    At the same time, the fact of his breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit Realm became known to these people, causing quite a stir among the Capital''s nobles.


    At the entrance of the residence.


    Craftsmen carefully hung a plaque draped in red silk above the lintel, the golden words "Marquis Wu''an Mansion" appearing particularly solemn in the sunlight, drawing the attention and discussion of many passersby.


    "This is the newly conferred Marquis Wu''an Mansion? The house feels so small."


    "I heard that Shen Qing is promising at a young age. No wonder he was granted this honor and titled a Marquis by His Majesty at such a young age, having already reached the cultivation of the Primordial Spirit Realm."


    "A true prodigy, the Shen Family has truly brought honor to their ancestors this time."


    "¡­"


    Tian Xiaohu and others stood at the entrance, looking up at the brand new plaque overhead, waves of excitement surging in their hearts.


    They had never thought that they would one day be connected with a marquis of the Great Zhou, changing their status and position so drastically.


    After a while, Wei Chengye, Zeng Weifeng, Zhao Lengyan, Yang Henshan, and Yu Hai Bei, among other colleagues from the Military Department, arrived one after another.


    They were not surprised to hear that Shen Qing was made a marquis.


    After all, under the Great Zhou, there was no Primordial Spirit Realm Martial Artist who remained outside the court''s system.


    A Primordial Spirit Realm martial master, with tremendous martial prowess capable of commanding an army, had the capital to establish a noble family and posed an unstable factor if not utilized by the court.


    Thus, it was only a matter of time before Shen Qing, at his young age, was conferred the title of Marquis.


    Wei Chengye and the others, being government office colleagues with Shen Qing, naturally needed to come to congratulate him and deepen their connections.


    With Shen Qing at such an age, his future prospects were limitless.


    In this period, visiting frequently could do no harm.


    Actually, not just them.


    Many from the dispatch office in the southern part of the Military Department also came, thick-skinned, and the number was considerable.


    Seeing the crowd from the Military Department, Tian Xiaohu and others at the entrance very courteously ushered them into the residence one by one.


    This time, Shen Qing did not send out invitations, but upon learning about his change in status, each noble family had the intent of establishing ties, sending their members to congratulate him.


    Soon after, a few young disciples dressed in splendid attire with extraordinary demeanor approached the residence''s entrance.


    All of them hailed from eminent families, exuding an aristocratic aura in their every movement.


    Li Yi, who had previously had conflicts with Shen Qing, was surprisingly among them.


    Seeing this impressive lineup, Tian Xiaohu and others guarding the entrance were secretly astonished.


    They immediately adjusted their demeanor, putting on broad smiles, and bowed to show respect.


    During this period, Shen Qing had hired a ceremonial teacher to carefully instruct them for several days, ensuring they did not panic when faced with such a scene.


    The taught content now proved useful one by one.


    They did their utmost to welcome each esteemed guest, guiding them into the residence, diligently arranging everything to ensure the Shen Family''s propriety was upheld.


    While carefully checking, Tian Xiaohu and others found that apart from the Xue Family, members from the other seven major families all came with gifts, showing that these families were not arrogant or contemptuous.


    On the contrary, many families preferred having more friends rather than offending a Marquis in the Primordial Spirit Realm.


    Near noon, the number of people in the residence increased, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.


    As some were conversing in hushed tones or admiring the scenery within the residence, a series of orderly footsteps sounded quietly.


    Everyone''s attention was drawn to the source, and they saw rows of Imperial guards in splendid armor flooding the mansion''s gate, standing in two lines with overwhelming momentum.


    Following them, a grand procession slowly approached the center of the guards, finally halting in front of Shen Qing''s residence.


    In that moment, all eyes involuntarily gathered on the ornate carriage.


    "Is that... Princess Yuzhen?" someone in the crowd first recognized the carriage, exclaimed, breaking the silence.


    Everyone''s hearts were filled with surging waves of incredulity.


    Princess Yuzhen''s reputation in the Capital City was known to all.


    Some even spared no expense, seeking various rare treasures, just to catch a glimpse of her visage.


    Who would have expected such a person to visit Shen Qing''s residence, truly an unfathomable occurrence.


    Just as everyone was immersed in shock, the curtain of the carriage gently lifted, and Princess Yuzhen gracefully stepped out.


    Under the service of her palace maids, she walked step by step into the depths of the residence, her one gentle smile captivating countless hearts.


    Behind her, Huang Furo, with a treasure blade at her waist and dressed in off-white martial attire embroidered with golden threads, closely followed.


    Shen Qing, still sitting in inner meditation within the house, was quite surprised to hear of Princess Yuzhen''s arrival.


    He and Princess Yuzhen only had interactions during the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival, and their relationship was not deep.


    Shen Qing for a moment couldn''t grasp Princess Yuzhen''s intentions.


    "I understand."


    Shen Qing said lightly, concluding his cultivation, tidied up his attire, and quickly proceeded to the main gate.


    "The little Marquis respectfully welcomes Your Highness''s grand visit!" Shen Qing stood at the entrance and, upon seeing Princess Yuzhen, bowed and greeted her.


    "Marquis Shen, there''s no need for so much courtesy. I came uninvited today, hoping Marquis Shen won''t take offense." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Princess Yuzhen''s lips curled into a slight smile, a smile that felt like the gentle spring breeze, soothing the soul, her voice crisp and pleasant, naturally endearing.


    ```

 Chapter 421 - 25: Marquis Wuan Mansion, Granting a Marriage_2

    "While speaking, Princess Yuzhen''s gaze lightly swept over the plaque of "Marquis Wu''an Mansion" and then looked around, saying, "Marquis Shen''s residence seems a bit cramped and somewhat mismatched with Marquis Shen''s status."


    Before her voice had faded, the Princess gently raised her hand, signaling the attendant beside her to step forward.


    The maid behind understood Princess Yuzhen''s intention, respectfully presenting a thick stack of property deeds, saying, "Marquis Shen, the Princess has ordered us to buy all the surrounding courtyards for you, making this entire area your new residence."


    Shen Qing was shocked upon hearing this, but more so, he was puzzled.


    He didn''t understand Princess Yuzhen''s true motive today, preparing such a lavish gift.


    In the capital, land is extremely expensive.


    Pingkang Street, where he resided, was home to many prominent families with intricate ties to numerous officials in the court.


    Acquiring such residences was not merely a matter of money but required significant connections as well.


    Princess Yuzhen must have utilized her influence to achieve this.


    The houses she gifted carried significant meaning.


    Shen Qing solemnly said, "Your Highness, such a generous gift, how can Shen Qing deserve such great favor?"


    Everyone exchanged glances, the astonishment evident on their faces.


    Princess Yuzhen''s generosity towards Shen Qing seemed to exceed their expectations.


    Seeing this, Princess Yuzhen couldn''t help but chuckle softly, playfully saying, "Could it be that Marquis Shen finds this gift too sudden and won''t even let me in?"


    Hearing this, Shen Qing quickly apologized, "Your Highness, I dare not! Please, Princess, welcome."


    With that, Shen Qing personally led Princess Yuzhen and her entourage into the main hall of the residence.


    As they entered the hall, Princess Yuzhen''s powerful aura naturally spread, making those around instinctively take two steps back, clearing a path wide enough for two to pass.


    At this moment, superior martial tea was already prepared inside the hall.


    The fragrance of the tea lingered, calming the spirit.


    "Please, Your Highness, take the seat of honor."


    Shen Qing said as he skillfully picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for the Princess.


    Princess Yuzhen took the cup, sipped lightly, and with a hint of praise in her eyes said, "Good tea, Marquis Shen truly understands tea."


    Setting down the teacup, Princess Yuzhen''s eyes held a flicker of curiosity and admiration as she remarked, "Marquis Shen, I''ve heard of your exceptional martial prowess and incredible talent, rising significantly from a mere local hunter to the notable Duke Wu''an in just a few years. Truly admirable."


    With unwavering eyes, Shen Qing responded, "Your Highness exaggerates. It was merely fortune with the Emperor''s favor."


    Princess Yuzhen smiled slightly, "May I ask if Marquis Shen is married or has someone in mind?"


    Shen Qing vaguely guessed the purpose of the Princess''s visit, feeling a slight chill in his heart.


    He was now accomplished in martial arts, capable of self-defense, and was not opposed to matters of the heart.


    After some thought, he respectfully replied, "In response to Your Highness, I have been dedicated to training and have neither married nor met anyone I admire. Fate has yet to arrive."


    Satisfied, Princess Yuzhen''s eyes sparkled with a hint of playfulness as she said, "Oh? So it seems Marquis Shen''s red string of fate awaits Yue Lao''s intervention?"


    "Marriages are traditionally decided by one''s parents and matchmakers. Naturally, I follow the arrangements of my elders."


    Princess Yuzhen nodded lightly, seemingly pleased with Shen Qing''s answer.


    She changed the subject, suddenly glancing at Huang Furo: "Speaking of which, I have a fair lady here, not only outstanding in cultivation but also gentle, virtuous, graceful and poised. Would Marquis Shen like to hear her name?"


    With his keen senses, Shen Qing sensed whom Princess Yuzhen might be referring to.


    But he maintained his composure, respectfully asking, "Whom does the Princess mean?"


    Princess Yuzhen smiled faintly, "Naturally, it is Miss Huangfu. She has often praised Marquis Shen''s talents and character in front of me. I recall you two sharing life and death experiences together. Might you be willing?"


    Standing aside, Huang Furo reacted with surprise.


    While she had some affection for Shen Qing, she never imagined expressing it in such a manner.


    Hearing the Princess speak thus, she felt both unexpected and at a loss, with a touch of nervousness as she glanced at Shen Qing.


    Amidst scrutinizing eyes, Huang Furo struggled to maintain composure, yet if observed closely, one would notice her hand gripping the sword hilt tightly, her knuckles turning pale from exertion.


    Shen Qing''s confusion deepened.


    Huang Furo seemed unaware as well.


    Shen Qing''s mind worked rapidly.


    So far, his interactions with Princess Yuzhen had been few, never troubled, and even aided by her.


    He knew her reputation in the capital as very good.


    Such a person would surely cherish her reputation and refrain from any unscrupulous actions.


    Could Princess Yuzhen be trying to ally with him due to his promising potential?


    Weighing the pros and cons, Shen Qing realized with the current conditions and help, his cultivation was advancing rapidly. In perhaps two or three years, he might reach the so-called Fusion State.


    The main thing he needed now was time.


    Gaining the favor of Princess Yuzhen could save much trouble, allowing him to cultivate peacefully.


    Once his skills were elevated, he could handle any turmoil that might arise.


    Considering the benefits, Shen Qing spoke, "Your Highness, Miss Huangfu is immensely talented and beautiful, for whom I hold great admiration. However, marriage is not merely an individual matter and should be approached with careful consideration, not rushed. This should first be discussed with Miss Huangfu."


    Carefully weighing his words, Shen Qing tried expressing his thoughts.


    Princess Yuzhen, seemingly anticipating Shen Qing''s reaction, turned to Huang Furo, "Miss Huangfu, what do you think?" Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    Huang Furo kept a cold facade, nonchalantly responding, "It''s up to Your Highness."


    Princess Yuzhen laughed, "I find you two perfectly matched. Let''s settle this; tomorrow, I''ll have the Emperor grant the marriage!"


    "This..."


    Princess Yuzhen sipped her warm tea, placing the cup back on the table with a crisp sound.


    "So be it."


    Rising, her elegant gown swayed gently like a blossoming lotus in a celestial realm, untouched by earthly dust, moving towards the door to depart.


    "Marquis Shen, burdened with affairs, may remain."


    Shen Qing escorted Princess Yuzhen to the entrance, watching as her maids helped her into the palanquin.


    The maids quickly drew the curtains, concealing the Princess within.


    With a soft command from the driver, the wheels turned, and the carriage slowly departed.


    Shen Qing stood in place, watching until the carriage disappeared into the street before turning back.


    He suddenly remembered something, glanced around, but did not see Huang Furo. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sir, Miss Huangfu just left too," Tian Xiaohu whispered nearby.


    Extending his senses, Shen Qing spotted Huang Furo''s figure joyfully on a nearby street, her usually stern face holding a smile.


    Shen Qing chuckled in disbelief.


    In the carriage.


    Princess Yuzhen, lazily reclining on thick cushions after peering through a curtain slit, appeared relaxed.


    Her personal maid, curious beside her, asked, "Your Highness, why do you hold him in such regard?"


    "A hunter living in the mountains for years, reaching such martial heights upon contact. Frankly, I''ve found no one comparable in all my readings. With such potential, would one not befriend rather than oppose him?" Princess Yuzhen said indifferently, "Do good deeds without seeking the future. Who can predict what lies ahead?"

 Chapter 422 - 26: Various Motives, Sending a Concubine to the Door

    "From what I see, the two of them have had feelings for each other for a long time, but they''ve just never broken the ice. Today, I happened to bring Huang Furo here to give them a little push."


    Princess Yuzhen closed her eyes to pretend to nap, thoughts circling in her mind, murmuring to herself, "Judging by their behavior today, it should be almost certain. If this goes well, it will be a good marriage, and I''ll have to get Brother to grant them a marriage."


    Thinking of this, Princess Yuzhen felt her legs growing somewhat weak, so she ordered the servants, "Prepare to return to the palace, I need to see Brother."


    Unlike Ji Zikong, who relied on strength to dominate with an autocratic style, she preferred to "show kindness and make connections," to win people''s hearts.


    "Given Brother''s domineering nature, he never wakes up without profit. This time he''s changed his mind to grant him the title of Marquis. I wonder what he wants to gain from it. I hope he can grant me this small favor and help a little."


    After traveling for about a pot of tea''s time, the carriage entered the Imperial Palace.


    The sound of wheels rolling over the cobblestones echoed down the empty palace path, stopping near the Spirit Nourishing Hall.


    The carriage curtain was gently lifted, and Princess Yuzhen stepped down gracefully like a fairy, walking briskly towards the Spirit Nourishing Hall.


    Upon entering the hall, she saw Ji Zikong sitting upright on the dragon throne, meditating.


    Beside him, at another table, Chief Eunuch He Yong was buried in handling state affairs.


    "Greetings, Brother. Yuzhen has come to pay respects," Princess Yuzhen''s voice was as gentle as jade, carrying a sliver of imperceptible respect, softening Ji Zikong''s stern countenance ever so slightly.


    Looking at Princess Yuzhen, Ji Zikong smiled and asked, "Speaking of which, Yuzhen, you haven''t been here for some time. Is there something you''re requesting of me today?"


    Princess Yuzhen''s large eyes curved into crescent shapes as she covered her mouth and laughed, "I know that I can''t hide anything from Brother. I did indeed come today not only to pay respects but also to ask for a favor."


    Ji Zikong raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly quite interested in what Princess Yuzhen was asking for, "Oh? What matter makes my dear sister so serious?"


    Princess Yuzhen laughed, "It''s about the marriage between Shen Qing and Huang Furo. Recently, Shen Qing was granted the title of Marquis by Brother, becoming quite distinguished, and Huang Furo is well acquainted with me. Knowing their intentions, I dare to ask Brother to grant them a marriage and let their bond be recognized."


    Upon hearing this, Ji Zikong frowned slightly, evidently contemplating seriously.


    Huang Furo was from the Huangfu family, which under his suppression was already on the brink of survival, merely a casual tool at this point.


    As for Shen Qing, in his eyes, he was merely a hawk or blade used to weaken the martial master group and similar factions.


    The union of the two was indeed quite fitting.


    Now Shen Qing had achieved success and fame, and anyone could see that his future was limitless.


    The only weak part was his familial background.


    If he was not restricted, and other noble families intended to win him over through marriage, it would be troublesome for him.


    With the impending chaos, he did not wish to expend too much energy on court affairs.


    What Princess Yuzhen proposed was indeed in line with his ideas.


    After a while, Ji Zikong slowly spoke, "Marriage is a big matter and cannot be taken lightly. However, since Sister has requested it, I assume everything has been coordinated well. Then I shall agree and let the Empress handle this matter."


    Princess Yuzhen, upon hearing this, hurriedly saluted in gratitude, "Thank you, Brother, for making it possible! I thank you on their behalf."


    "Is there anything else, Sister?"


    "No, may Your Majesty have great fortune, I take my leave."


    After the feast arranged by Shen Qing concluded, the guests gradually departed with their own thoughts.


    However, the rumor about Princess Yuzhen matchmaking for Shen Qing quietly spread among the major noble families like a spring breeze.


    In the Li Family study.


    Li Yi, dressed in brocade, with a handsome face, stood before the desk, narrating the day''s events in detail to Li Zhen Tian.


    Li Zhen Tian sat on a Taishi Chair behind the desk, stroking his long beard with a profound gaze.


    After hearing Li Yi''s account, he furrowed his brows, falling into thought.


    After a brief silence, he said, "Little Nine, it seems like your stepping stone is getting higher and higher, it might be hard for you to catch up now. Luckily, you took the initiative earlier to make peace and put aside past grievances, otherwise our Li Family would have made a formidable enemy for nothing."


    Li Yi opened his mouth to defend himself, but the facts were starkly in front of him, and he swallowed his words.


    He bowed his head sincerely, "Father is wise."


    Looking at Li Yi, Li Zhen Tian asked sternly, "Do you remember the eight words I told you?"


    Li Yi solemnly replied, "Be cautious and walk on thin ice."


    "Correct, for this matter alone, you should engrave these eight words in your mind. Under no circumstances should you act arrogantly."


    "Your child has learned." Li Yi replied earnestly.


    Breaking through to the Primordial Spirit Realm under the age of twenty, he knew in his heart he could not do it.


    At this moment, Li Yi completely let go of his preconceived notions about Shen Qing, accepting the reality with calmness.


    Li Zhen Tian pondered continuously, muttering to himself, "Shen Qing, this young man, is promising, yet his family background is weak. If we could establish some relationship with him, it would be beneficial for him and our Li Family. However..."


    Li Zhen Tian paused, pondering over something.


    Seeing this, Li Yi''s heart stirred, knowing his father heard about Princess Yuzhen''s approach and considered sacrificing a sister from the same generation to win over Shen Qing. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I ask you, do you know what kind of woman Marquis Shen likes?"

 Chapter 423 - 26: Various Motives, Sending a Concubine to the Door_2

    ```


    Li Yi carefully recalled and vaguely discovered that when Shen Qing saw Princess Yuzhen and Huang Furo, his gaze would occasionally fall upon their chests and hips.


    He responded without hesitation, "Big breasts, big hips, good for bearing children, beautiful women."


    Li Zhen Tian nodded in understanding and instructed, "Find a clan woman closely related by blood and of a similar age to Shen Qing, and select her according to this standard. Ensure she willingly marries Shen Qing as a concubine."


    "Child will handle it right away."


    A few days later, an edict issued from the rear palace arrived at the Marquis Wu''an Mansion.


    Just as Princess Yuzhen had predicted, the Empress formally granted marriage, betrothing Huang Furo to him.


    Simultaneously, a woman named Li Yuyao from a remote branch of the Li family was also selected.


    She was as beautiful as a flower, gentle in personality, and well-versed in poetry and books from a young age, with outstanding talent.


    After carefully dressing up, she was escorted by a competent team to the Marquis Wu''an Mansion.


    Dusk fell, the moonlight like silk.


    The rear gate of the Marquis Wu''an Mansion appeared unusually quiet in the night.


    Li Yuyao, dressed in embroidered finery and adorned with pearls and jade, sat in a carriage surrounded by a group of black-clad, stern-faced guards.


    Her eyes were filled with unease and fear.


    Yet Shen Qing stood at the gate, frowning, his eyes full of surprise and confusion.


    He never expected that Li Yi, a Shi family son who had always had conflicts with him, would send his clan sister to his mansion in the dead of night with such pomp.


    "Marquis Shen, it''s been a while." Li Yi, approaching on a sturdy warhorse, said, "I apologize for the late-night visit; there is something I wish to ask of you."


    Shen Qing''s impression of this young man was mediocre, and he replied flatly, "What can''t Master Li say during the day that requires a midnight visit and such a large entourage?"


    Li Yi chuckled, his gaze shifting between Shen Qing and Li Yuyao, "Marquis Shen, previously I offended you due to my youthful ignorance, and I hope you won''t hold a grudge."


    "My clan sister is in her prime at twenty-nine, similar in age to you, blessed with a face that could captivate the moon, and has long admired Marquis Shen. My father heard that Master Shen lacks a companion by his side, learned of my clan sister''s feelings, and specially ordered me to bring her here to become your concubine."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing was somewhat surprised.


    Daughters of the Shi family are very sought-after in the Great Zhou, and many consider it an honor to marry a Shi family woman.


    How unimaginable that they were willing to offer a clan woman to him as a concubine.


    The recent series of changes truly made him understand what it meant by "when poor in a bustling city, no one cares; when wealthy in remote hills, distant relatives appear."


    When one becomes successful, those things previously out of reach become easily within grasp.


    However, Shen Qing did not become complacent or let it go to his head.


    With regards to the Li family''s actions, Shen Qing was wary and didn''t readily agree, continuously pondering their intentions.


    Before he could speak, Li Yi preempted him and said, "Since she''s already here, I won''t disturb the Marquis further, farewell, giddy-up!"


    After speaking, Li Yi and the family guards left one after another, leaving behind only two carriages and a little maid standing beside them.


    The scene became silent.


    Li Yuyao sat nervously in the carriage, clutching her sleeves, her face pale.


    "Miss, you must alight quickly, the Marquis is about to return to the mansion and leave us here."


    "Ah!"


    The sudden turn of events made Li Yuyao cry out, opening the curtain at once and frantically jumping out of the carriage.


    She saw Shen Qing indeed not giving her a glance, her heart sank, and hastily rushed over with a swift stride, kneeling before Shen Qing.


    Li Yuyao looked up, her eyes glistening with tears, gazing at Shen Qing with helplessness and pleading: "Marquis Shen, please don''t send Yao''er away. Yao''er knows this trip is abrupt, but it''s a family arrangement, and Yao''er has no choice."


    "If you turn me away, my parents will surely face death. I beg Marquis Shen to have great virtue, please accept Yao''er. Yao''er will serve you diligently."


    "Yes, yes, my parents also sent a cart of dowry, and I hope the Marquis will accept it."


    Shen Qing glanced at the carriage behind, indeed filled with crates of various sizes.


    The wealth inside was enough for an average family to live for a lifetime.


    However, for the current Shen Qing, it seemed somewhat unimpressive.


    As Shen Qing remained unresponsive, Li Yuyao grew increasingly anxious.


    She tentatively looked up at Shen Qing, and Shen Qing happened to be looking down at her, making her heart hang in suspense.


    Her big eyes were now red, round tears rolling inside, dropping quietly without a word.


    Shen Qing asked, "Why do you say your parents will surely die?"


    "This time I''m here to serve the Marquis as arranged by the clan, my parents disagreed, thus angering the clan, and my coming saved them." Li Yuyao cried, "If the Marquis sends me back, they will certainly kill my parents. I hope the Marquis will be kind and take me in, even as a maidservant."


    A nearby maid couldn''t hold back anymore, crying pear blossoms in the rain: "Miss..."


    Shen Qing frowned, having long heard of the strict rules in prominent families, but hadn''t expected it would lead to punishment by death.


    "Stand up!" Shen Qing said calmly, "I don''t like people kneeling."


    Li Yuyao was startled, quickly got up, only to see her chest heaving, as if two little white rabbits were bouncing inside, quite lively.


    Shen Qing looked her up and down; she was fair and clean, quite delightful.


    Her figure was graceful and slender, both her looks and body met his aesthetic.


    He asked, "What can you do?"


    "To answer the Marquis, I have some knowledge of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting."


    "And what else? Have you practiced martial arts?"


    Li Yuyao answered without confidence, "I''ve practiced... a little." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What is your cultivation?"


    "Only to the level of stretching muscles and exercising bones."


    Shen Qing said, "Alright, here, things like zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting won''t be of much use. If you wish to stay, find a way to train in martial arts. I don''t keep people around me who bring no benefit."


    "You all, find Manager Tian and arrange a room for them." Shen Qing casually instructed.


    Li Yuyao was momentarily stunned, then realized Shen Qing intended to take her in, immediately expressing her gratitude: "Thank you, Marquis."


    Shen Qing said no more and turned to return indoors.


    Time swiftly passed, a month gone, and it was year-end, with the cold wind rising.


    In a restaurant named "Drunken Immortals'' Abode" in the capital, the aroma of hot dishes and fine wine blended, intoxicating those present.


    A few foreign men dressed as traveling merchants sat around a corner table by the window, their gazes not resting on the delicious food before them, but frequently sweeping outside, closely observing the patrols of the city guards and the majestic Imperial Palace in the distance.


    "The capital''s defense, though seemingly tight, is actually full of flaws," one man whispered, "if our Sacred Sect were to launch a strong attack, we could surely break in."


    "Oh? Brother Zhang, what do you mean by that?" Another man raised an eyebrow slightly.


    The man named Zhang sipped his wine lightly, sharply analyzing, "Look at the city guard''s patrol routes. They seem erratic but actually repeat every night. As long as we grasp the pattern, we can easily evade them."


    "And what about the Imperial Palace?" another middle-aged man inquired, evidently more interested in the palace, "That is under the emperor''s feet, heavily guarded."


    The man surnamed Li smiled faintly, a hint of cunning flickering in his eyes: "Though the Imperial Palace is hard to attack, what business do we have there? This time, it is left to the commander and sect leader to assault the palace, we are not involved in that level of conflict."


    "For now, our task is to compile the intelligence here, ensuring no mistakes, and leave the rest to them."


    ```

 Chapter 424 - 27 A Pear Blossom Overpowers the Crabapple, The Death of Lan Gongliang

    ```


    Winter passed, and spring came.


    In the blink of an eye, March was over.


    The Marquis Wu''an Mansion was adorned with lanterns and decorations.


    After the imperial marriage decree, Huang Furo and Shen Qing naturally reached the stage of discussing marriage.


    After several rounds of discussion, Shen Qing set their wedding date on the thirtieth of the first month.


    Today was their joyous day.


    Shen Qing had a calm disposition, and with his shallow roots in the Capital City, he didn''t want to be too extravagant, nor did he want to entangle too many complex relations under the guise of a grand wedding, so he only invited some close friends and family.


    As a result, the scene with loud gongs and drums that the world expected did not appear, but all the necessary rituals were fully observed, making it more touching than any luxurious display.


    After many hardships, Shen Qing finally had some peaceful days.


    The wedding banquet lasted only one day and then ended.


    In the main hall of the Shen Mansion, Shen Qing was bidding farewell to guests, a smile on his face.


    Tian Xiaohu walked up to Shen Qing''s side, lowered his voice, and said, "Marquis, someone from the Li Family has come."


    "Oh? Why are they here?"


    Shen Qing was somewhat surprised.


    Under his intentional control, this wedding had no outside participants, and neither the Li Family nor many of the Capital City''s influential families were on the invitation list.


    Was it because of Li Yuyao?


    Shen Qing immediately thought of this woman.


    She was the young lady of the Li Family and must be connected to them.


    Now it seemed that only the Li Family knew, and they didn''t seem to have any animosity towards him. After suffering a loss once, they frequently showed goodwill, so it was not a big issue.


    "Let them in," Shen Qing instructed with authority.


    Tian Xiaohu nodded emphatically: "As you command, Marquis."


    Moments later, after a slight sound of footsteps, members of the Li Family quietly entered.


    The leading person was someone Shen Qing knew, the Li Family''s steward, Li Wenxu.


    He had clearly learned in advance of Shen Qing''s desire for discretion and came low-profile and secretly without attracting other people''s attention.


    Steward Li Wenxu respectfully presented a congratulatory gift, said a few congratulatory words, and didn''t engage in much small talk with Shen Qing.


    After handing over the gift to Shen Qing, Li Wenxu and his companions left as quietly as they had come, not disturbing Shen Qing in the slightest.


    This style of conduct changed Shen Qing''s impression of the Li Family.


    Late at night.


    Huang Furo sat on the edge of a newly made bed, with a red veil over her head.


    A spring breeze slipped through the gap in the window, causing the candlelight in the room to flicker gently, casting her shadow in a wavering pattern.


    When the spring breeze dissipated, and the candlelight ceased to sway, her shadow seemed to find support and settled down completely.


    Creak.


    The door opened.


    Hearing familiar footsteps, Huang Furo''s body tensed.


    After her family''s decline, she had been rigorously cultivating, continuously striving upwards.


    Even as a daughter, she wanted to revive the Huangfu family.


    She had never thought of the day she would marry.


    Much less, that the man she married would be her subordinate.


    Much less, that she would also have affections for this subordinate. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The footsteps grew nearer.


    Huang Furo''s small hands involuntarily clenched the wedding dress on her thighs.


    Her heart pounded rapidly, making her even more nervous.


    Shen Qing used a scale to lift the red veil.


    Even her usually cold, frosty face bore a flush.


    Even though she had met this man countless times before, she now dared not lift her head to look at him.


    Standing opposite Huang Furo, Shen Qing was momentarily dazed.


    So beautiful.


    Her exquisite features, crimson lips, high chest, and willow-like waist...became exceptionally enchanting under the wedding dress and candlelight.


    Even Shen Qing, having lived two lifetimes, found himself somewhat nervous about his first wedding.


    He picked up two cups of turbid wine from the table and brought them to Huang Furo, saying, "Let''s drink the cross-cupped wine together."


    "Hmm." Huang Furo bashfully accepted the wine cup.


    The two crossed their arms and drank in one gulp.


    "Rou''er... I think it''s late now, we should rest."


    "Husband."


    Shen Qing waved his large hand, and spirit power gushed from his palm.


    Whoosh...


    A strong wind blew through.


    The red candles placed in the room were extinguished all at once.


    ...


    The next morning, the sky was bright.


    Shen Qing rarely had a good sleep.


    At this time, he felt much more mature, gazing at Huang Furo, curled up in his arms, with surprise on his face.


    Shen Qing didn''t expect Huang Furo to be so gentle and tender, far from the aloof impression she gave.


    After marriage, with Huang Furo''s support by his side, Shen Qing felt much more at ease.


    In the days to come, Shen Qing delegated various trivial matters to Huang Furo and a few loyal subordinates like Tian Xiaohu.


    Tian Xiaohu was steady and capable, handling affairs in an orderly manner, and had followed him since the days at Hongshanzhai, a reliable person to be trusted.


    As for Huang Furo, there was no need to mention, in the Mountain Sea Department, her ability was outstanding.


    More importantly, she held quite a bit of intelligence, which informed him about some of the Capital City''s unknown complex relationships, giving him more confidence.


    With their support, Shen Qing was able to extract himself from mundane daily affairs and devote all his energy to martial arts training.


    Shen Qing knew well that in the Great Zhou world today, chaos was rife, and the possibility of future instability was increasing.


    In such circumstances, strength was fundamental.


    Only with strong cultivation could he protect himself and his family.


    So Shen Qing didn''t dare delay for a moment, practicing diligently with the help of the panel, improving his cultivation.


    ```

 Chapter 425 - 27 A Pear Flower Overpowers a Crabapple, The Death of Lan Gongliang_2

    ```


    ...


    Zhou Kingdom, outskirts of the Capital City.


    "Ah!"


    A shrill scream suddenly echoed from the mountain forest.


    Birds scattered in terror, flying away in all directions.


    In the dense forest, Lan Gongliang grabbed the hair of a burly man and twisted his head off alive.


    "This cult leader from the Huangtian Cult is nothing special."


    Lan Gongliang, clad in ancient armor, spoke with a tone of cold disdain.


    Behind him lay the broken bodies of numerous Huangtian Cult members, a scene of utter devastation.


    Lan Gongliang casually tossed aside the head in his hand.


    "Speaking of which, these Huangtian Cult members are really quite stupid, rushing in one after another. Who knows how many I''ve already killed, and yet they keep coming, heedless of death."


    Standing next to Lan Gongliang, Wei Chengye said, "Sir, perhaps it''s not that the members of the Huangtian Cult are stupid, but rather that we moved too swiftly¡ªor maybe Lord Lan is just too powerful."


    Lan Gongliang replied calmly, "The Huangtian Cult has come aggressively this time and certainly won''t give up easily. We''ve only dealt with some of the front-line soldiers for now, so we must not let our guard down, lest we suffer an unexpected defeat."


    Wei Chengye agreed, saying, "Understood, sir."


    His words had barely fallen when suddenly a rainbow light descended from the sky, breaking the tranquility of the forest.


    Boom!


    The spot where Wei Chengye was standing exploded with a bang, sending rubble flying.


    His figure moved like lightning, rolling to one side like a slithering snake, and in an instant, he was far away, shouting, "Who is it!?"


    The rainbow light faded, revealing the image of a burly man.


    His entire body was covered in mystical symbols, resembling a golden-armored war god.


    He frowned as he surveyed the scene of devastation and corpses sprawled everywhere before him.


    Wei Chengye sensed something amiss, and his figure rippled like water, vanishing without a trace.


    The burly man stared intently at a void, stomped his foot vigorously, and pointed a finger at a certain spot in the void.


    That finger, imbued with immense spiritual energy, shot a beam of clear light toward a certain point.


    Bang!


    Wei Chengye''s figure was forcibly jolted out from the void, staggering and almost falling to the ground.


    Witnessing this, Lan Gongliang squinted slightly.


    He looked up to see the burly man with disheveled hair, brimming with spiritual energy that emanated an imposing aura unique to a superior being.


    Yet, for some reason, even though he stood right there, he felt ethereal, as if he were not a human but an empty shell.


    Even Lan Gongliang''s cultivation at the ethereal travel realm had not detected that such a person was already there beside him.


    Something was amiss.


    Killing intent surged within Lan Gongliang, and he immediately gathered his spiritual energy, enveloping himself in radiant light.


    With a wave of his hand, a cyan lightning bolt rushed toward the burly man.


    Rumble!


    There was no anticipated scene of flesh and blood flying.


    The burly man merely waved his arm, casually dispersing the bolt of lightning with a single palm.


    His body remained unscathed, not even the slightest trace left behind. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lan Gongliang grew increasingly astonished.


    He had never seen such a physique before.


    "Interesting."


    "So, you must be Lord Lan, a name I''ve long admired. Since I''ve encountered you today, I must apologize¡ªI need to take your life," the burly man said, his voice scraping like two rusty iron plates, extremely grating.


    His words had barely ended when he charged at Lan Gongliang like a torrent.


    As they drew close, Lan Gongliang suddenly sensed an overwhelming pressure, like a violent storm, as if this burly man was not of flesh and blood but an ancient demonic deity, standing firmly before him.


    As a master of the ethereal travel realm, Lan Gongliang''s soul was consolidated, allowing him to perform various wondrous techniques through his soul.


    His fingers twitched slightly, and a jade talisman hidden in his sleeve transformed into a stream of light, slicing through the sky toward the burly man with immense oppressive force.


    This was a talisman comparable to a pseudo-artifact, inscribed with ancient glyphs, and its power was extraordinary.


    Clang!


    The jade talisman struck the burly man, producing an ear-piercing sound.


    Green and golden light surged.


    An invisible splendor and airwave erupted from the center of their clash, expanding outward.


    The forest ground appeared plowed by iron, trees toppled.


    However, the burly man remained steadfast, his muscles as solid as stone.


    The usually unstoppable jade talisman left not a single mark on his body.


    Lan Gongliang flickered like a phantom, instantly appearing beside the burly man, weaving to his flank with eerie dexterity.


    In a flash, he summoned back the jade talisman from mid-air, channeling a torrent of spiritual energy into it, transforming it into radiant green light, and drove it fiercely at the man''s underarm.


    This was his exclusive technique, "Spirit Snake Probes the Hole," targeting vital points, highly effective in close combat, now even more formidable under the talisman''s power.


    The burly man seemed to sense something, and his massive body tilted slightly like a falling leaf.


    Hiss!


    Yet, the jade talisman seemed to have eyes, striking like a rock, channels of green light piercing the man''s arm, slicing off half his shoulder.


    Blood gushed forth, forming a mist in the air.


    The burly man glanced at his wound, showing no pain but only mild surprise and a hint of irrepressible battle intent.


    He laughed thunderously, "Indeed worthy of a martial master at the ethereal travel realm, your skills can actually breach the body defense of this ancient martial practitioner''s form, truly formidable."


    The burly man opened his mouth and spat out a golden sheen.


    Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a talisman.


    Before Lan Gongliang understood what happened, a dazzling golden light engulfed him.


    A blaze like the sun burst forth.


    Boom!


    Lan Gongliang seemed somewhat battered.


    Disregarding the marks left by the talisman''s explosion all over him, he swung his right hand forcefully, mobilizing the surrounding spiritual aura like a tumultuous tide, its fierce momentum terrifying.


    Thunder rolled through the air.


    The thick layers of talismans on the burly man rustled like leaves.


    ÔÚÀ¶¹«Á¼»¹Î´ÄÜÓÐËù¶¯×÷ʱ, the burly man shouted lightly, transforming into a giant''s form, his hands striking directly at Lan Gongliang.


    Boom!


    With a thundering crash, Lan Gongliang was swept away like a leaf in a storm, smashing through mountain tops, collapsing them in ruins.


    He coughed out fresh blood violently, turning pale as frost, his soul nearly leaving his body.


    From a distance, the hidden observer Wei Chengye witnessed the scene aghast, his complexion instantly turning ashen.


    Even Lord Lan at the ethereal travel realm couldn''t defeat him.


    Could it be...


    This is the legendary Daoist Master of the Huangtian Cult?


    The more Wei Chengye thought about it, the more frightened he became, his heart sinking further into despair.


    "It seems the officials of this kingdom are nothing special after all!" he said, towering over Lan Gongliang as he spoke.


    Flicking his finger, a talisman stuck onto Lan Gongliang.


    The talisman shone brightly.


    With a muffled thud, it shattered Lan Gongliang''s sea of energy.


    Lan Gongliang''s face showed utter horror, trying to stabilize his injuries.


    Yet, his body had begun losing vitality, making recovery impossible.


    Resigning himself, he steeled his resolve, channeling all his spiritual power into his soul, attempting to escape with it.


    Having reached the ethereal travel realm, his soul could leave the body, traversing the heavens.


    As long as he found a suitable vessel, even if his body perished, it would be inconsequential, offering a second life.


    The burly man snorted coldly, raising his right hand, in his palm, lightning shimmered, capturing Lan Gongliang''s soul instantly.


    With a swift suck, the soul transformed into pure energy, wholly devoured by the man.


    "No!"


    Lan Gongliang''s scream ended abruptly.


    The burly man chewed continuously, then spat out a fresh talisman, hanging it conspicuously on himself.


    After completing these actions, the burly man turned back toward the distant Capital City, muttering with a grin, "The time should almost be right. This world is too crowded, not enough room for so many people, the Ji family will have to step down and vacate their position for us."


    "Ah!"


    Wei Chengye, hidden in the shadows, watched in panic, desperately seeking escape.


    The burly man did not pursue, merely sneering with disdain.


    Under his gaze, Wei Chengye''s figure gradually vanished from sight.


    ```

 Chapter 426 - 28: Sun Shooting Bow Technique, Seventh Prince Goes Berserk

    ```plaintext


    Marquis Wu''an Mansion.


    In the bedroom, the candlelight ceased flickering.


    Li Yuyao placed a pillow under her lower back.


    Shen Qing, accustomed to this sight, sat cross-legged to regulate his breath and cultivate the cultivation technique. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In just a moment, a night''s time swiftly passed.


    When it was by dawn, Shen Qing exhaled the turbid air lingering in his body, concluding his practice.


    After a night of refining and the nourishment of spiritual energy, he felt extremely refreshed, with a sense of comfort throughout his body.


    Shen Qing turned his head to glance at the still sleeping Li Yuyao, her long eyelashes lively, like a porcelain doll, very enchanting.


    During this period, whenever Huang Furo was unavailable, he would stay with Li Yuyao, enjoying a harmonious time akin to having a wife and concubine.


    Counting it up, this was the most leisurely period since he opened his eyes in Hongshan Village.


    No evildoers, no demons, no bloody battles.


    He only focused on cultivation, with a wife and concubine, working at sunrise and resting at sunset.


    Very enjoyable.


    Through months of diligent practice, his cultivation had once again advanced rapidly.


    Although far from out-of-body primordial spirit level and travelling the world, he was capable of self-defense against ordinary martial masters in the Kongyou Realm.


    Shen Qing withdrew his gaze from Li Yuyao''s graceful figure, silently leaving by wielding his spiritual power without waking her.


    Currently, the Capital is in peace, everything harmonious, and there were not many tasks within the Military Department, offering him a rare amount of free time.


    Thus, Shen Qing had the opportunity to devote much of his time to refining his bow technique.


    Leaving the mansion, he headed out of the city into the capital''s desolate outskirts.


    This was the area where he previously fought with Xue Zhao, filled with ravines and ruins.


    The original paths had been completely destroyed, preventing ordinary people from venturing into these parts, making it a rare humanless land.


    Here, he could practice his bow technique without attracting attention.


    Shen Qing''s figure moved, arriving at a tranquil mountain stream.


    Here, the stream babbled occasionally, the sound of birds chirping filled the air, bringing a refreshing sense of relaxation.


    Shen Qing stood amidst the landscape, eyes determined, posture erect.


    His mind stirred, summoning the Water Ink Panel.


    [Skill: Heavenly Bow Technique (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 2989/3000 points]


    [Status: Unbreakable]


    [Note: By persevering tirelessly, a seemingly ordinary archery skill was honed to the highest realm through relentless effort. Continue practicing for a breakthrough and your [Sun Shooting Skill] will evolve into the Sun shooting Technique.]


    He had read the note at the bottom many times.


    Each time he read it, he couldn''t help feeling sentimental.


    Six years passed like yesterday.


    Unbeknownst to him, the skill he first mastered was about to be cultivated to its peak, a nostalgic feeling indeed.


    Shen Qing exhaled a breath of turbid air, not dwelling on the thought any longer.


    His hand brushed over the Hundred Treasure Pouch, pulling out Wish Power Pearls, scattering them at his feet.


    The dark Wish Power Pearls were crystal-clear, emitting a faint glow, starkly contrasting with the ordinary stones around them.


    These Wish Power Pearls were forcibly gathered by the Great Zhou Court from the aspirations of common people nationwide, each containing pure, undefiled wish power and faith power; they were an excellent medium for augmenting spiritual power and understanding during cultivation.


    Using these Wish Power Pearls in practice gave twice the result with half the effort.


    Previously, due to the Jing Luan Assembly, he had acquired over ten thousand of these Wish Power Pearls, sufficient for extensive use in cultivation.


    After fetching the Wish Power Pearls, Shen Qing''s fingers continued to move, without ceasing his actions.


    Next, he produced a Jade Token.


    He had seized this Spirit Essence from the Ancient Ruins, which conveniently aided his cultivation.


    As he prepared everything, Shen Qing took a deep breath, Gathering Qi and Focusing the Mind, mobilizing all the spiritual power in his body, accumulating it in his palm.


    As his spiritual power surged, the Jade Token suddenly emitted a dazzling light, overflowing with an ocean-like spiritual power, enveloping him entirely in radiant halos.


    The intensity of the spiritual power stunned Shen Qing, causing countless weeds to grow wildly from the cracks in the stones around him, flourishing with vitality.


    Shen Qing remained unfazed by these changes; his finger lightly flicked, and a Wish Power Pearl floated in front of his chest, spinning continuously, attracting the surrounding nature''s spiritual energy, enhancing the spiritual power''s density and purity.


    With everything ready, Shen Qing''s eyes sparkled with determination.


    He pulled out the treasure bow from the Hundred Treasure Bag, gripping it tightly in his hand, drawing the heavy, weighted bowstring with his right hand.


    Crack-crack-crack...


    The bowstring gradually tightened, and the spiritual power in Shen Qing''s body began to surge wildly, like a breached river, converging at his fingertips into a radiant arrow under his mind''s guidance.


    Shen Qing''s fingers suddenly released: "Whoosh!"


    A crisp sound from the bowstring pierced through the sky.


    The arrow created by Shen Qing''s spiritual power roared with thunderous sound, tearing through the atmosphere.


    That arrow not only frightened birds and beasts in the mountain stream but even the distant clouds were shaken by its might, with flashes of lightning appearing, crumbling apart under the arrow''s power.


    Boom!


    A rocky mountain ahead shattered, exploding into a cloud of dust rolling outwards.


    Shen Qing glanced at the Water Ink Panel.


    [Skill: Heavenly Bow Technique (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 2990/3000 points]


    The progress showed a slight increase.


    Bang!


    The Wish Power Pearl in front of his chest rapidly diminished, eventually vanishing into nothingness with a dull sound.


    ```

 Chapter 427 - 28 Sun Shooting Bow Technique, Seventh Prince Goes Berserk_2

    He was startled, a brand new Wish Power Pearl reappeared, spinning rapidly in front of his chest.


    Shen Qing did not stop, and instead, seized the opportunity to continue drawing the bowstring, repeatedly shooting out arrows.


    With each shot, Shen Qing realized his understanding of the Heavenly Bow Technique grew deeper.


    Gradually, Shen Qing entered a state of selflessness.


    The arrows he shot became increasingly precise, and their power grew ever more immense, even leaving tiny spatial fissures in the void with each shot.


    It was unclear how much time had passed when Shen Qing suddenly had an epiphany.


    [Skill: Heavenly Bow Technique (Break Limit)]


    [Progress: 3001/3000 points]


    [Status: Can Breakthrough]


    Seeing the words popping up in his vision, Shen Qing''s face lit up with joy.


    "Alright, Water Ink Panel, then let me feel your limits again, breakthrough!"


    As his mind moved slightly, the Water Ink Panel quickly refreshed and changed.


    [Skill: Sun Shooting Bow Technique (Novice)]


    [Progress: 1/5000 points] sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Immediately following, unfamiliar memories forcibly entered his mind; it took him a stick of incense time to gradually digest them.


    In these memories, Shen Qing relentlessly practiced day and night, finally mastering the Heavenly Bow Technique martial art, and thereby comprehending the martial art of the Sun Shooting Bow Technique.


    Shen Qing, who had read extensively about martial arts, knew that martial arts focused on archery were few and far between in the world.


    It could be said that the Sun Shooting Technique he broke through is the only martial art in the world that has achieved mastery in bow art.


    Shen Qing eagerly picked up the treasure bow. The moment his fingers touched the bow, a strong sense of familiarity surged throughout his body, revealing the path of his internal energy movements directly.


    "Let''s test what this Sun Shooting Technique is capable of."


    Shen Qing used his entire Primordial Spirit as the guide, Spiritual Energy as the arrow, and shot an arrow.


    Whoosh!


    A golden light darted out as fast as thunder, shooting towards the sky.


    In an instant, the world changed color.


    It seemed as if a new sun appeared in the distant sky.


    The clouds below the sky evaporated and disintegrated in an instant.


    Shen Qing stood on the ground, watching as a "sun" fell from the horizon.


    The next moment, a deafening thunderous sound rolled in, causing the surrounding air to tremble ever so slightly due to the arrow, with the aftershocks spreading, as if the terrifying power of it shook even the space itself.


    He gazed into the distance at the spot where the arrow fell, and where scorched earth remained, that was the spot where the Sun Shooting Bow Technique''s arrow had landed.


    "This... is the power of the Sun Shooting Bow Technique?"


    Shen Qing clicked his tongue in amazement.


    The Sun Shooting Bow Technique, using spiritual energy as its foundation, achieved explosive power through the arrows, capable of destroying both the mortal body and the Primordial Spirit.


    Mastered to perfection, even martial masters of the Kongyou Realm might fall to a single arrow.


    Remarkable!


    Truly remarkable!


    Recalling the arrow just now, Shen Qing could still feel the overwhelming power that almost burned both his Primordial Spirit and body together to ashes.


    The Sun Shooting Bow Technique uses his Primordial Spirit as a guide and spiritual energy as the body, allowing the arrows to continually absorb the world''s spiritual energy while flying, multiplying until reaching a critical point, and explosively unleash a dazzling, sun-like light and destructive power.


    For ordinary people, this arrow would consume a lot of energy, and he already felt a bit exhausted.


    Shen Qing silently estimated if it were an ordinary martial master of the Primordial Spirit realm, they''d probably not be able to stand.


    Without delay, he took out the Jade Token and began operating the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique to refine spiritual power.


    Soon, his acupoints lit up like stars all over his body.


    Mild and pure spiritual power seeped in through his pores, nourishing every cell of his.


    Previously tired from using the Sun Shooting Bow Technique, his Primordial Spirit and physical body began to gradually recover at this moment.


    Seeing that he had almost recovered, Shen Qing deployed the Great Void Shuttle Technique, moving away from the place.


    Just as he left, a burly man covered in talismans appeared out of thin air.


    He looked around, frowning, muttering to himself, "Huh? I seemed to feel a powerful aura here just now, was it my imagination?"


    The burly man was puzzled, reaching into the void and catching a wisp of residual aura.


    "Why is the aura so unfamiliar, is there another strong warrior from the Kongyou Realm?" Puzzled after investigating for some time without any clues, he decided to give up, "Forget it, be it the Kongyou Realm or the Primordial Spirit realm, they are of no concern to me, hehe..."


    His figure flickered and disappeared from the spot.


    Having achieved a breakthrough, Shen Qing returned to the Military Department happily.


    Upon entering the department, he sensed something was amiss.


    The place was noisy, bustling with sound.


    Everyone''s face bore a shade of panic to some extent.


    Shen Qing felt puzzled and stopped a staff member from the Military Department, asking, "What''s going on?"


    The staff member, still in shock, said, "Lord Lan has been killed by the leader of the Huang Tian Sect!"


    "What?"


    Hearing this news, Shen Qing couldn''t believe it.


    "Are the other chief inspectors in the bureau?"


    "They''re all inside, my lord."


    Shen Qing hesitated no longer and quickly hurried towards the third courtyard.


    ...


    At the same time, in a training room within a royal mansion.


    Seated within was the Seventh Prince, Ji Bo.


    In the dimly lit room, candles flickered, reflecting his resolute face.


    His eyes were bloodshot, filled with an endless longing for power.


    Before Ji Bo lay a nameless booklet, densely filled with small characters.


    It was a copy he had transcribed from the royal library''s Divine Physique Dafa manuscript.


    If practiced to perfection, this technique could sanctify the body, extend life, and achieve the pinnacle.


    Over the past few months, Ji Bo had been diligently practicing it, advancing rapidly.


    As the technique circulated within him, the spiritual power coalesced into a powerful vortex, washing over his body, every inch of his flesh seemingly imbued with explosive power, becoming resilient, immensely strong.


    His cultivation thus took a swift leap forward.


    Having tasted the sweetness of rapid progress, Ji Bo had become enamored with this Divine Physique Dafa, training night and day, almost reaching a state of not resting, sleeping, eating, or drinking.


    Thunder rumbled, spring rain poured.


    In the training room, the wind rose.


    Ji Bo opened his eyes, preparing to break through to the next realm of the Divine Physique Dafa.


    His fingers glided through the air, and the booklet turned pages automatically.


    "I have learned the previous content by heart, many have practiced it. The real challenge lies in what''s next."


    The Divine Physique Dafa was incomplete, with many parts unsuitable to the current environment, a fact well known among the royals.


    To explore further, many gifted individuals were ruined.


    Fortunately, the outcome was positive.


    Finally, someone had tested and verified new, correct insights within it.


    Ji Bo was eager to try.


    He practiced diligently as per the technique''s records, smooth at first, but as time went on, an inexplicable fever rose within.


    Ji Bo, unaware of the anomaly or simply indifferent, continued following the records, pushing his spiritual power to its limits.


    Suddenly, an indescribable pain surged like a tide, as if thousands of pounds weighed down his spiritual veins, which started breaking inch by inch, emitting a chilling wail.


    "Ah!"


    A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the training room as Ji Bo''s body began to twist and deform, veins bulging beneath his skin, his eyes turning a fiery red.


    The power forged through the Divine Physique Dafa spiraled out of control, wreaking havoc within him.


    Panic flashed across Ji Bo''s face as he seemed to realize something.


    There was indeed an issue with this technique!!!


    The trial practitioner hadn''t cultivated it at all.


    Only he had foolishly practiced it!


    Regret washed over him intensely.


    But it was all too late.


    Ultimately, with a dull thud, he spewed a mouthful of foul blood, collapsing headlong onto the ground.


    The candles in the training room extinguished, and silence fell.


    When the guards hurriedly arrived, they found Ji Bo lying lifeless in a pool of blood, his spiritual veins utterly destroyed, devoid of life.


    They were in utter shock, "Quick, go to the palace and notify His Majesty, the Seventh Prince is dead!"

 Chapter 428 - 29: Dramatic Changes in the Capital, Intruders Enter the City

    ```


    Military Department Office, the third courtyard.


    Many people gathered together.


    Shen Qing squeezed in and saw Wei Chengye, who looked terrified.


    At this moment, he was in bad shape, his face pale, eyes lifeless, as if scared out of his wits.


    Zeng Weifeng, Zhao Lengyan, and Yang Henshan were all present. When they saw Shen Qing''s arrival, they nodded in acknowledgment.


    Shen Qing hastily asked, "What... happened here?"


    Zeng Weifeng, Zhao Lengyan, and Yang Henshan exchanged glances, and after a while, Zeng Weifeng spoke up, "Let me explain."


    With a solemn expression, he looked at Shen Qing and said, "Lord Zeng just returned, saying he encountered the leader of the Huang Tian Sect, Taoist Huangtian, and Lord Lan was no match for him, killed on the spot."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing''s face changed.


    Lan Gongliang was a martial master of the Kongyou Realm; how could he die just like that?


    What kind of joke is this?


    Shen Qing''s expression turned grim, "Is this true?"


    "Eighty to ninety percent chance it is," Zeng Weifeng continued, "Earlier, Lord Lan had already discovered tracks of numerous Huang Tian Sect disciples outside the city, and today he even eliminated a Qu Department. Now, it seems the people sent by the Huang Tian Sect are much more than we thought, with significant intentions."


    Shen Qing asked, "Has the palace been notified?"


    Zeng Weifeng nodded heavily, "We have already sent people over, and patrols have been dispatched outside the city. In any case, we must all remain on high alert; if things go wrong, we could be in big trouble."


    Shen Qing agreed, "Since that''s the case, we shouldn''t linger here. Let''s move quickly, everyone, patrol and set defenses. If something goes wrong in the Capital, we''ll all be in deep trouble."


    "You''re right, let''s go!" Zeng Weifeng, Zhao Lengyan, and Yang Henshan quickly responded and arranged everything.


    Shen Qing also promptly summoned Yu Hai Bei, called all the officers and dispatchers, both on duty and off, and sent them out to patrol the southern district of the Capital.


    It was then that Shen Qing suddenly felt warmth in his bosom.


    He hurried to a secluded corner and took out the Spirit Communication Mirror.


    A rare message from the long-missed Shen Xiaohu.


    "Leave swiftly! Our Holy Sect is attacking the Capital! The Daoist is coming personally!"


    Seeing these brief words, Shen Qing was shocked, a chill running down his spine.


    Without any hesitation, he tucked the Spirit Communication Mirror back into his chest and dashed home.


    The situation came suddenly; Shen Qing held nothing back, disregarding many taboos within the Capital.


    He directly used the Great Void Shifting Technique, crossing several steps to return home.


    His aunt and elder sister, Shen Fang, were in the back courtyard, working on shoes and doing needlework.


    Seeing Shen Qing appear abruptly at home, they were quite surprised.


    A maid beside them raised her head and said, "Oh, Marquis, why have you returned suddenly?"


    Without wasting any words, Shen Qing said directly, "Get ready, pack up immediately, and prepare to leave."


    A while ago, upon receiving a warning from Shen Xiaohu, he had already prepared a hidden estate outside the Capital, specifically for such emergencies.


    Now it was time to use it.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s serious demeanor, his aunt and the others asked no questions.


    Countless prior experiences had proven Shen Qing''s judgment.


    Thus, everyone obediently and swiftly packed their belongings without a single complaint, as if they were used to it.


    Moreover, they had already made some preparations before, so under Shen Qing''s orders, everyone in the residence quickly packed up.


    Three carriages were neatly lined up at the Marquis Wu''an Mansion''s entrance, and everyone boarded the carriages in an orderly manner.


    Standing in the residence, Li Yuyao was unclear why Shen Qing suddenly required everyone to leave the city.


    Her bright eyes roamed around thoughtfully.


    After a moment, she beckoned her maid, Xiao Hong, and whispered, "Go to the Li Residence, tell them what''s happening here, and then head to the city gates to catch up."


    Her close maid nodded heavily and hurried out when no one was watching.


    Li Yuyao followed behind everyone, quietly boarding a carriage.


    "Drive!"


    The wheels slowly rolled forward, heading toward the city gate.


    After handling matters at the mansion, Shen Qing hurried to the Mountain River Bureau to inform Huang Furo.


    As expected, Huang Furo was quite surprised.


    Being in the Mountain Sea Department, they dealt with various intelligence daily, yet had never heard any news about the Huang Tian Sect planning an attack.


    She wasn''t clear about many of the details.


    However, trusting Shen Qing, Huang Furo didn''t doubt him.


    "Husband, if it''s true, as you say, that the Huang Tian Sect plans to attack the city, you should seek refuge outside the city. The Outer City is under your patrol; going there might breach ethics, but no one can fault your duties."


    "Compared to establishing merits, your safety is what matters most to me," Huang Furo said tenderly, looking at Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing raised an eyebrow and asked, "What about you?"


    "Don''t worry, your wife is not a helpless woman; I do have some means of self-protection," Huang Furo reassured him solemnly. "You needn''t worry about me."


    Shen Qing squinted slightly, seeing through Huang Furo''s intent.


    She wanted to seize this opportunity to climb the ranks, to fight for a higher position. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing through Shen Qing''s thoughts, Huang Furo said, "Husband, were you just thinking of knocking me out and taking me with you?"


    Shen Qing hesitated a bit.


    Indeed, she had guessed right.


    He restrained his expression and said, "Leaving you alone here, I can''t help but worry."


    ```

 Chapter 429 - 29: Sudden Change in the Capital, Intruders Enter the City_2

    "Dear husband, you''re mistaken. If I stay here, it''s the safest. They won''t easily make a move on us."


    Huangfu Rou said seriously, "According to the intelligence gathered by the Mountain and Sea Division over the years, the Yellow Heaven Sect is not to be underestimated; they are suspected to have obtained ancient heritage."


    "If they truly concentrate all their efforts to attack the city, it''s hard to say what would happen to the Capital."


    "Do you think the court will lose?"


    "Not necessarily."


    Huangfu Rou continued, "The Ji family''s nine hundred years of accumulated heritage is extremely formidable. We do not know the extent of their power. Even if the Yellow Heaven Sect comes, they may not gain any benefit."


    "Then what do you mean..." Shen Qing was puzzled.


    Huangfu Rou said seriously, "My father taught me from a young age that eggs cannot all be placed in one basket. You and I, as husband and wife, are one. If we are both outside the city, and if the court wins in the future, we might have difficulty explaining ourselves. Conversely, if we are both in the city and the Yellow Heaven Sect wins, it would be extremely disadvantageous for us."


    "The best way is for you and I to each guard a place, so no matter the outcome between the two parties in the future, we will have more room to maneuver."


    Shen Qing said, "Isn''t this putting you in danger?"


    The usually unsmiling Huangfu Rou smiled sweetly and said, "If I truly am in danger, wouldn''t you, as my husband, be there?"


    Shen Qing, being a very decisive person, seeing Huangfu Rou''s resolute manner, did not persuade further.


    "Alright, if you see things going wrong, I''ll come to take you out of the city."


    "I understand what is important."


    Shen Qing turned and left the Mountain and Sea Division, directly finding Yu Haibei, and instructed, "We''re patrolling the Capital day and night, and there is nothing happening within. If there''s an issue, it''s definitely outside the city. Take some reliable brothers and follow me out of the city."


    Yu Haibei, without any hesitation, organized a group and quickly followed Shen Qing out of the city.


    Li Mansion.


    In a pavilion, Li Zhentian, with nothing to do, grabbed and threw handfuls of fish feed into the pond.


    Under the water, golden and red carp swarmed from all directions, scrambling for food, splashing water everywhere.


    "You''re saying, the Marquis of Wu''an and his family just left the city?"


    Li family''s steward, Li Wenxu, bowed and said, "Indeed, it was a maid by the Tenth Miss''s side who specifically came to inform us."


    Hearing this, Li Zhentian mused, "It shows she is a filial child. Release his parents and siblings. We won''t trouble them in the future."


    "Yes. Regarding the matter of the Marquis of Wu''an..." Li Wenxu asked with folded hands in a requesting manner.


    Li Zhentian pondered, "The Marquis of Wu''an is not one to seek trouble and show off. If he''s moving the whole family, he must have caught wind of some incredible news. People move and live by what is best for them. He must have known something unheard by me, indicating a change in the Capital perhaps."


    "I have a country estate outside the city; make preparations for the young masters and miss to pack up and leave the city, taking some elders and the family''s most valuable items to stay there for a few days."


    "Do we really need to make such a big fuss?"


    "It''s better to believe in its existence than its absence. I''d rather go through the trouble than make an error that harms the family." Li Zhentian said with a calm expression.


    Li Wenxu, having no further thoughts, directly took the order, "Yes, Master. I''ll handle it immediately."


    After more than half an hour, following the Marquis of Wu''an''s residence, the Li family also dispatched a series of carriages toward outside the city.


    The crowd on the streets was curious, wondering if today was some special day, seeing such a bustle.


    ...


    In the Imperial Palace, inside the Spirit Nourishing Hall.


    A grand eunuch without a long beard hurriedly rushed in from outside the hall, his face contorted as he said, "Your Majesty, something has happened."


    Sitting cross-legged on a yellow meditation cushion, Ji Zikong opened his eyes, which were bright as lightning.


    He said with a face as calm as still water, "What happened?" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The Seventh Prince was found dead at home."


    "What happened?" Ji Zikong''s face changed slightly as he asked.


    "The servants discovered that the Seventh Prince was practicing the Great Saint Physique Technique, suffered from Qi deviation, and died as his meridians got severed."


    Ji Zikong frowned, murmuring, "The Great Saint Physique Technique? The one Duke Shen practices?"


    "Exactly, Your Majesty."


    Almost immediately, Ji Zikong thought that Shen Qing perhaps bypassed them and hadn''t practiced that legendary Martial technique.


    He was able to resist the temptation of Martial Arts techniques.


    Ji Zikong couldn''t help but find this amusing and unconsciously held Shen Qing in higher regard.


    This young man really is interesting.


    "Your Majesty, should I summon Lord Shen to the palace for this matter?"


    Ji Zikong said indifferently, "How did the Seventh Prince get his hands on this Martial Arts technique? I seem to recall not permitting him to practice other Martial techniques?"


    "This..."


    The grand eunuch instinctively sensed the implication in Ji Zikong''s words; there wasn''t any intention to target Shen Qing.


    He brooded over his word choice and said, "As far as the old servant knows, the reason the Seventh Prince obtained this Martial Arts technique was due to Chief Steward Ji''s involvement."


    "Then summon him to the hall; I need to question how he is managing as Chief Steward."


    "At once, I will find Chief Steward Ji."


    Ji Zikong''s lips parted as he uttered chilling words, "Also, the guards around the Seventh Prince failed to protect him; execute them all."


    "Yes, Your Majesty."


    The grand eunuch exited the Spirit Nourishing Hall, and no sooner did he leave than an armored, weary-looking official from the Military Department rushed to the front of the Spirit Nourishing Hall.


    He fell to his knees outside the vermilion doors, alarmed, he said, "Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter of extreme importance that needs reporting!"


    Inside the Spirit Nourishing Hall, Ji Zikong, sitting on the dragon throne, his gaze as sharp as an eagle, penetrated through layers of obstacles, directly watching the trembling figure below.


    "What makes you so panicked?"


    Ji Zikong''s voice came from the depths of the hall, charged with an overwhelming sense of authority.


    "Reporting to Your Majesty," the official''s forehead was beaded with sweat as he hurriedly said, "Lord Lan of the Military Department... he... his lordship was killed outside the city by the Yellow Heaven Sect..."


    At these words, the entire hall plunged into a dead silence.


    Emperor Ji Zikong''s expression changed drastically, a flash of disbelief and shock glinted in those profound eyes.


    He abruptly stood up, as the golden dragon pattern on his robe seemed to leap.


    "What did you say? Lord Lan... was actually... killed by the Yellow Heaven Sect?"


    "Yes."


    In this moment, the entire palace seemed to feel the emperor''s turbulent emotions, with a strong aura held at bay yet surging forth.


    Even the death of the Seventh Prince hadn''t moved him so.


    After all, he had many children: even if all currently perished, he could still sow new seeds and father more heirs.


    But the loss of Lan Gongliang was different.


    He was truly a Kongyou Realm martial master.


    Looking across the entire Great Zhou, how many martial masters of his caliber could there be?


    Just mysteriously dying like this, how could he stay calm?


    "Pass my decree, summon General Zhao..."


    Boom!


    Before Ji Zikong could finish his sentence, a thunderous roar echoed from the sky.


    Following it, he felt as if the world spun, and the ground began to tremble.


    "What is going on?"


    Ji Zikong''s expression was extremely displeased; he strode out of the Spirit Nourishing Hall, and upon seeing the distant horizon, he was rendered speechless with astonishment.


    The entire world seemed thrown into turmoil by an invisible force, the rumble of roaring chaos crashing upon them like tidal waves.


    In the western skyline of the Capital, an eerie, unfathomable yellow eerily shimmered, bright as fiery flames.


    Continuous, thunderous roars echoed from within.


    This spectacle caused the grand eunuch and others nearby to involuntarily shiver, the hairs on the back of their neck standing on end as if a chill pierced their souls.


    Even Ji Zikong, the emperor, upon witnessing such a sight for the first time, was taken aback.


    Raising his gaze, he saw several airships of various shapes and styles, seemingly ancient treasures from time immemorial, floating in mid-air by mystical power, releasing a powerful pressure.


    Concentrated together, they would surely make mountains shake and extinguish the shining sun and moon.


    Above them, a flag with the words "Yellow Heaven" fluttered high.


    The Yellow Heaven rebels had truly invaded the Capital!

 Chapter 430 - 30: Siege, Great Powers Contest Each Other

    ```


    Endless yellow light emanated from those flying boats, enveloping the entire sky.


    The sky over the Capital completely transformed into yellow, resembling the true Yellow Sky.


    Flags fluttered, and shouts of battle pierced the heavens.


    "This is..."


    "The flying boats of the Huang Tian Sect?"


    People within the Capital City looked up in disbelief, finding it hard to accept the existence of ships that could fly.


    The foundation showcased by the Huang Tian Sect shocked each of them to their core.


    On the flying ships, the Holy Priests of the Huang Tian Sect stood solemnly with yellow cloth wrapped around their heads, holding long spears, appearing like Heavenly Soldiers.


    They stood in neat formations on the ship, exuding a formidable aura of battle.


    The evening gradually dimmed, and dark clouds gathered.


    The great army of the Huang Tian Sect had arrived, covering the land with a somber killing intent.


    The yellow light cast down on the city walls of the Capital, reflecting the bewildered faces of the court''s city guards.


    They had never witnessed such a formation before, and each couldn''t help but swallow nervously, caught off guard, instinctively gripping their weapons tightly, ready for battle.


    "Prepare for battle!"


    With a command from the many officers within the city, the Forbidden Army on the city walls dispersed swiftly, immediately taking combat stance.


    Outside the city, Shen Qing paused to look back.


    His gaze fell on the vast, surging army of the Huang Tian Sect, even from a distance, he could feel the unprecedented pressure.


    "So this is the full force of the Huang Tian Sect?"


    "What exactly did the Huang Tian Sect do over these years to gather such immense strength?"


    "Also, why has the Huang Tian Sect decided to bet everything now, focusing its entire strength against the Ji Family? What''s the explanation here?"


    As he watched the two sides engaging in fierce combat, Shen Qing felt puzzled, with question after question continuously emerging in his mind.


    He felt as if there was a layer of mist before his eyes, obscuring many truths. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking at the Huang Tian army in front of him, it seemed somewhat different from the evil cult organization he imagined.


    Rather than being controlled by some cult leader, it seemed more like a group of desperados gathered for a common goal, struggling to the death.


    "Not good, they are starting the siege!"


    Just as Shen Qing was lost in thought, a cry of alarm rang out by his side.


    It was Yu Hai Bei speaking.


    Following his gaze, Shen Qing saw one Holy Sect Disciple after another, clad in yellow armor, leaping down from the flying boats like war gods descending from the heavens, landing on the streets of the Capital City.


    Shen Qing released his Divine Sense, scanning the interior of the city.


    He saw countless Holy Priests of the Huang Tian Sect, wielding spears plastered with talismans, eyes filled with fanaticism and determination, rapidly advancing towards the Imperial Palace.


    The crowd surged like a tide, fierce and unrestrained.


    The Holy Priests of the Huang Tian Sect quickly engaged with the Forbidden Army of the Capital.


    The cries of battle and the clash of weapons intermingled, echoing high into the sky.


    The Huang Tian Sect was evidently well-prepared, not only large in number but also each a seasoned elite.


    The talismans affixed to their bodies were like treasure armor, difficult to penetrate, and the spears in their hands were incredibly formidable.


    Every one of them was intensely fervent, fearless in the face of death, and confronting the unprepared Forbidden Army of the Capital was like sheep being thrown to wolves, breaking through with unstoppable force.


    With the continuous joining of the Huang Tian Sect''s Saints from all over, the Forbidden Army began to weaken, their defense line gradually starting to crumble.


    Seeing this scene, Shen Qing couldn''t help but furrow his brows deeply.


    He knew well that although the Capital''s Forbidden Army was well-trained, they likely couldn''t hold for long against such fanatical believers.


    Wave after wave of the Holy Priests of the Huang Tian Sect charged towards the Forbidden Army''s defenses, and as expected, the Forbidden Army retreated step by step.


    Shen Qing noticed that there were plenty of powerful masters within the Huang Tian Sect.


    Once they took a position, they would skillfully arrange a defensive formation, securing their foothold, with array flags being deployed as if they cost nothing.


    This battle had lasted but a short while, and the streets of the Capital were already filled with bodies, blood everywhere.


    "My lord, what should we do? Just leave it be?" Yu Hai Bei looked towards the city where the sounds of battle reverberated, his expression bewildered.


    The current situation had already exceeded his expectations.


    Shen Qing''s face showed no change in expression, and he said softly, "The Military Department''s main duty is precaution, overseeing investigations and maintaining public order. Now that the two sides are at war, it is beyond our jurisdiction, something we cannot intervene in."


    Yu Hai Bei was taken aback, wanting to say more.


    But at that moment, he couldn''t help but recall that if he hadn''t left with Lord Shen earlier, perhaps they might already be in deadly clash with these crazed believers of the Huang Tian Sect, with their lives precarious.


    Finally, words filled his mind, only to condense into one word: "Alright..."


    Shen Qing glanced at him and said, "With Your Majesty, the greatest Martial Master in the world present, he can single-handedly oppose a nation. He surely has a way. If he can''t, there''s the Ji Family patriarch and other powerful forces from various noble families. As long as these remain undefeated, no matter how rampant the Huang Tian Sect gets, they won''t be able to shake the foundation of the court."


    Saying this, a cold light flashed in Shen Qing''s eyes, and he murmured in his heart: "If the Huang Tian Sect cannot take down the Ji Family this time, then their end will surely be fading into nothingness, naturally not needing our intervention. Once entangled in such a level of battle, the outcome really is hard to predict."


    Currently, the battle within the Imperial Palace was intense, affecting many noble families and ordinary residents.


    Withdrawing his Divine Sense from the city, Shen Qing looked in the direction outside the city, no longer lingering, focusing on urgently escorting his aunt and others to a safe haven.


    ```

 Chapter 431 - 30 Siege, The Clash of the Great Powers_2

    Approximately half a Shi Chen later, Shen Qing had already safely delivered his relatives.


    He then stood with Yu Hai Bei and his subordinates outside the city, constantly observing the changes within the Capital.


    The fierce battle between the Huang Tian Sect and the Forbidden Army of the court gradually intensified, with both sides unknowingly advancing their front line to the front of the Imperial Palace.


    Throughout the process, the major Shi family members did not take a stance, choosing to observe from the shadows.


    They each had their own calculations, intending to exploit the chaos for greater benefits.


    As time went on, the court appeared to be struggling against the frantic assault of the Huang Tian Sect.


    On the palace walls, arrows fell like rain, unable to halt the fervent steps of the Huang Tian Sect believers.


    Moreover, there were longbowmen and numerous Holy Sect disciples on the flying boats in the sky.


    They continuously threw down weapons known as machine thunder.


    Countless machine thunders descended like raindrops, crashing down from the sky.


    When they were about to hit the ground, they exploded with a loud bang, turning into spirals of fiery light shooting into the sky.


    Most of the Forbidden Army had cultivation that was not deep, finding it incredibly difficult to withstand such terrifying might.


    Each machine thunder claimed the lives of multiple Forbidden Army soldiers.


    Screams of agony were continuous.


    In just a moment, the Huang Tian Sect had already breached the Imperial Palace; the defense line was utterly lost.


    Looking out, the Capital appeared filled with small golden "mushroom" formations scattered throughout the city.


    The court of the Great Zhou Dynasty seemed to be on the verge of collapse.


    Shen Qing, stationed outside the Capital, maintained his calm demeanor.


    In his perception, at least five Void Wandering level and seven Essence Soul Realm martial masters had appeared inside the Imperial Palace.


    The Ji family had yet to truly act.


    The struggle had only just begun.


    Just as he thought this, a few astonishing and formidable auras suddenly erupted from within the palace¡ªmembers of the Ji family, who had been holding back, finally made their move.


    In the depths of the palace, they transformed into rainbow lights soaring skyward, directly charging at the elite of the Huang Tian Sect.


    Before the unmatched saints of the Huang Tian Sect on the battlefield, the Ji family''s experts were like autumn leaves swept by the wind, falling one by one.


    Shen Qing noticed that these individuals all appeared middle-aged, each with robust vitality showing no signs of decline.


    These people must be part of the Ji family''s retained strength.


    Over nine hundred years of massive tributary accumulation by the Ji family, there was presumably an unknown number of such individuals.


    At the thought, Shen Qing inexplicably felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.


    He very much doubted what courage Huang Tian Sect had to attack the Capital City of Great Zhou, to dare assault the Ji family.


    In facing the resistance of the Ji family, the Huang Tian Sect was equally unwilling to show weakness.


    Shen Qing saw from afar in the sky, nine figures leaping one after another down from the largest nine-story ships.


    Each of them adorned with yellow talismans, some wielding a simple long sword, some holding a giant hammer, others brandishing a blood-stained spear...


    Like golden armored war gods descending to the mortal realm, they charged toward the remaining experts of the Ji family.


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Boom!


    ...


    As these individuals clashed with the experts of the Ji family, a series of thunderous booms erupted one after another.


    Each impact accompanied by deafening roars seemed to rip the very fabric of space.


    Shen Qing watched the scene unfold before him, filled with disbelief.


    Under his Divine Sense''s scrutiny, he saw one figure from the Huang Tian Sect sever a martial master''s head in the Essence Soul Realm with a single blade, astounding him.


    Earlier, the once seemingly invincible Grand Powers of the Ji family were now all at a disadvantage.


    Even those martial masters at the Void Wandering level were no exception.


    The Huang Tian Sect was too formidable.


    Whether it was an illusion or not, Shen Qing discovered that these nine Huang Tian Sect figures appeared entirely lifeless, akin to corpses, with no signs of life detectable.


    Only their grand and boundless divine intent was comparable to his own.


    At this moment, the concept of puppetry, corpse control surfaced in Shen Qing''s mind.


    "Kill!"


    One of the Huang Tian Sect members let out a low chant, swinging his longsword forward.


    A clear and sharp sword light split the sky, akin to a galaxy pouring down, striking towards the vital points of the Ji family''s great powers.


    The battle''s aftermath engulfed the entire space above the Imperial City; space twisted, the clouds churned.


    Below, onlookers could only watch from afar, their hearts shocked beyond words.


    Puchi.


    A great power of the Ji family was simply no match, being decapitated with a single strike.


    The conflict between both sides intensified.


    Rage had reached an unyielding stage.


    Rumble!


    Countless houses surrounding the exchange between the two sides collapsed, many who had no time to escape were caught up and perished.


    In the end, the Ji family, sacrificing twelve great powers in a life-or-death struggle, managed to eliminate four from the Huang Tian Sect, considered a disastrous defeat.


    "I said, how could you have dared to attack the city; turns out you''ve already refined corpses from the ancient sacred grounds, no wonder you''re so arrogant."


    An authoritative voice of a robust man appeared above the palace, its tone filled with dignity: "However, since the Dao Master is present, isn''t it too lacking in courage to hide so?"


    Within the flying boat of the Huang Tian Sect, an ethereal voice emerged, stirring one''s heart: "So what if that''s the case? As long as we annihilate you, nothing else matters."


    "You think my Ji family''s centuries of accumulation amounts to just this? You will be soon disappointed. Ancestral forebears, lend me a hand!"


    With Ji Zi Kong''s words, bands of light gathered from all around the horizon.


    Mighty presences materialized out of thin air above the Imperial Palace.


    Shen Qing gazed at the array of figures in the sky, utterly stunned beyond measure.


    All were martial masters of the Void Wandering and Essence Soul Realm.


    He swept his gaze slightly, noting their number no less than sixty.


    The nine-hundred-year accumulation of the Ji family was wholly present here.


    Especially an elder with extremely white hair, radiating vigor.


    His aura alone overshadowed everyone present.


    The Ji family ancestor had emerged!


    "What rudimentary pests, daring to disturb our profound cultivation, you deserve death!"


    Speaking, he extended a hand, forming a hand that covered the skies, easily crushing the leading massive ship.


    Seeing this, the Taoist Lord of Huang Tian showed no anger but instead laughed heartily: "Well done, that''s precisely what we were waiting for."


    Buzz!


    With the Taoist Lord of Huang Tian''s words, the originally scattered small formations in the Capital suddenly blazed with light, linking together.


    A grand and towering formation suddenly surged, akin to an ancient beast awakened from the Nine Nethers, roaring as it tore through space, arising from the ground. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In just a few breaths, it had locked all of Ji family''s grand martial masters within its boundless might.


    "Absolute Killing Formation, activate!"


    Rumble!


    A deafening roar abruptly resonated through dusk and earth.


    Golden runes, like boiling magma, seethed and surged, rapidly condensing into two colossal grinding discs that obscured the sky, carrying terrifying power enough to crush everything, slowly pressing inward, mercilessly erasing all life within the formation.


    These martial masters, trapped by the formation, who had lived hundreds of years, were among the world''s elite.


    However, at this moment, faced with an Absolute Killing Formation akin to heaven''s retribution, they appeared so insignificant and helpless.


    "Ah!"


    Soon, under the crushing force of the grinding discs, someone''s body collapsed, with their Essence Soul escaping.


    Before they could feel any solace, the crushing force pursued relentlessly.


    Even the ethereal formless Essence Soul could not escape the fate of being utterly obliterated.


    It was ground into wisps of smoke in the void, evaporating into nothingness, completely vanished.


    Within the span of just a tea time, over half of the great powers of the Ji family had fallen.


    Witnessing his heirs fading away continuously, the Ji family ancestor instantly realized Huang Tian Sect''s intention.


    It was all a trap to lure them out.


    "What audacity!"


    "Ancestor, do not hold back!" shouted Ji Zi Kong from outside the formation.


    The Ji family ancestor steeled his heart, extracting a piece of broken blade, sacrificing the remaining blade in hand with a push forward.


    The fragmented blade, stained with dark red blood, burst outward with an overwhelming menacing aura, suffused with ancient unyielding killing intent, viciously slashing onto the indestructible formation barrier.


    "Clang!"


    Like the sound of divine ancient iron breaking, echoing to the heavens.


    Suddenly, an uprising sword aura soared skyward, brilliance splashing, energy rampant as if severing heavens and earth in two.


    "Break for me!"


    Holding the broken blade, the Ji family ancestor effectively hacked the formation apart.


    Rumble!


    Centering from the Ji family ancestor, a dazzling radiance extended outward.


    The complex of palaces and towers, amid this surprising upheaval, crumbled into ruins.

 Chapter 432 - 31: The World is Like a Prison, the Human Clan Will Perish!

    ```


    The formation that had left numerous ancestors of the Ji Family helpless was quietly split open with this one sword.


    The grinding disc above was directly cleaved into two, showing signs of collapse.


    Bang bang bang...


    Countless small formations within Capital City that were part of the Absolute Killing Array were also greatly affected at this moment.


    At this instant, the power bursting out from the Sword Qi crushed down along the formation.


    The cultivators of the Huang Tian Sect stationed in the small formations were unable to withstand it and were instantly crushed into mists of blood by an unstoppable force.


    The previously invincible Absolute Killing Array had completely lost control.


    The surviving great powers of the Ji Family all shouted at this time: "Charge out! Kill!"


    Among the sixty great powers of the Ji Family, only ten remained under the crushing force of the Huang Tian Sect''s Absolute Killing Array, representing a significant loss.


    Shen Qing saw this scene with his Divine Sense, and his heart unwittingly tightened.


    The Huang Tian Sect was too strong.


    Those were martial masters of the Primordial Spirit Realm, even the Kongyou Realm, yet dozens had just perished like that.


    With this formation, the Huang Tian Sect''s power rivaled that of the Unity Realm.


    No, it was stronger than the Unity Realm.


    "What is this..."


    "The Huang Tian Daoist?"


    As Shen Qing was lost in thought, his expression suddenly changed as he felt an extraordinarily powerful aura appear out of thin air, enveloping the entire heaven and earth.


    Shen Qing felt a slight impact on his Divine Sense, as if it were being squeezed, akin to a fish burrowing into the mud when brewing medicine underwater.


    He focused intently, discovering that beneath the sky, a middle-aged man in a golden Daoist robe stepped out from the first great boat.


    This middle-aged man had sharp brows and bright eyes, radiating a dazzling presence.


    Holding a Golden Bell, he stood at the bow of the ship, overlooking the Great Zhou Capital, his whole being exuding a divine aura.


    Unity Realm martial master!


    When the Ji Family saw this scene, their expressions changed drastically.


    "It''s the Huang Tian Daoist!"


    "Quickly join us in slaying him! We mustn''t let him succeed today!"


    "..."


    Above the Imperial Palace, the Ji Family patriarch urgently ordered.


    He had already sensed the terrifying aura emanating from the Huang Tian Daoist, not much weaker than his own.


    Without any hesitation, the Ji Family patriarch led the other great powers of the Ji Clan, turning into rainbow light, soaring towards the bow of the boat where the Huang Tian Daoist stood.


    The Huang Tian Daoist''s expression was as calm as water. He looked down with a cold smile, saying, "Old Man Ji, you and your offspring have dominated the martial mechanisms of the world for 900 years, but this is all you amount to. Even so, you still think you can break out of the Prison and face the Heavenly Demons?"


    "I say, why don''t you give all the martial mechanisms'' heritage to me? Perhaps, I''ll find a way and lead these people to a new path. What do you think?"


    The Ji Family patriarch''s face sank as he retorted, "Hmph, such boastful words. Things that couldn''t be achieved in Ancient Times, but you''d think just by chance lucking upon some ancient benefits, you can make it out? Foolish delusion!"


    Boom!


    As the words fell, the Ji Family patriarch moved like a meteor, arriving instantly above the bow of the Flying Boat.


    His body was surrounded by a tide-like surge of spiritual energy, like a war god awakened from Ancient Times.


    He let out a low chant, his fist carrying the force to shatter mountains and rivers, crashing down with a roar.


    At that moment, the air was torn apart by this punch, resounding with a deafening explosion, aiming to turn everything around into dust.


    The Huang Tian Daoist remained as calm as water, casually tapping his toe without haste.


    Instantly, the Flying Boat shone brilliantly as a complex golden rune appeared suddenly, its intricate patterns weaving a golden formation, overturning like a bowl on the Flying Boat, tightly enveloping it within.


    This formation faintly exuded an aura of suppressing all things.


    The punch of the Ji Family patriarch, upon touching this layer of formation, dissipated quietly as if sinking into the sea, unable to stir even a ripple.


    The Ji Family patriarch''s expression changed slightly, surprised by the strength of the formation, causing his figure to hesitate slightly.


    In the next moment, a hint of ferocity and decisiveness flashed in the Ji Family patriarch''s eyes.


    He once again summoned the Ancient Sword Fragment, its blade flickering uncertainly amid the dense evil Qi.


    He took a deep breath as all his spiritual power surged like an upheaving sea, unstoppable.


    The Ji Family patriarch once again wielded the fragment, the sword tip lightly grazing the void, and a streak of sword light thundered towards the formation.


    This fragment originated from the Ancient Times, and if complete, its grade would far surpass that of magic treasures.


    Previously breaking the Absolute Killing Array had consumed much of his spiritual power.


    Now, as he wielded this sword again, its power was significantly reduced.


    Yet, even so, the remaining might within the blade was still immense.


    The intense evil Qi weighed as heavily as mountains.


    The moment the sword light and the formation contacted, a violent surge of energy erupted.


    The Imperial Palace was affected, collapsing a large section of the buildings and houses instantly.


    Many palace maids and eunuchs who couldn''t escape in time were either crushed under the ruins, barely clinging to life, or directly killed by the aura of these two Unity Realm beings.


    Had these two been fighting fiercely within the Imperial Palace, it would have already turned into complete ruins.


    The golden formation trembled slightly under the powerful Sword Qi, ultimately collapsing entirely.


    Along with the dissipating formation was the dreadful sword light.


    Seeing this, the Ji Family patriarch resolved to use a third sword.


    Yet, unexpectedly, after the continuous use of two swords, his aging body became incredibly fragile, with some places already cracking and bleeding.


    It''s important to know that even martial masters who''ve broken through to the Unity Realm have bodies that should be indestructible.


    ``` sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 433 - 31 The World as a Prison, The Human Clan Will Perish!_2

    The appearance of such injuries is simply unbelievable.


    Old Man Ji realized it was due to this Broken Blade, consuming too much of his Spiritual Power and spirit.


    His body swayed slightly, his face pale as paper, and a trace of blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth.


    Clearly, wielding two consecutive strikes was already the limit of what he could currently perform.


    Old Man Ji made a decisive decision, put away the Broken Blade, and shouted, "The formation is broken, follow me to kill!"


    The face of HTaoist uangtian, which had been calm and unruffled, finally showed a slight movement. He gently shook the golden bell in his hand. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Surprisingly, the bell was silent.


    Only invisible ripples, like waves, spread around.


    Carrying an indescribable oppressiveness, it spread outwards.


    The five remaining Ancient Corpse Puppets of Huang Tian Sect, as if guided by invisible chains, all soared into the sky, standing in front of HTaoist uangtian.


    Then, without any fear, they charged toward the members of the Ji Family.


    "Huang Tian brat, apart from these old tricks, don''t you have any other methods?"


    Old Man Ji directly confronted, charging up to HTaoist uangtian and confronting him with the strength of his Physical Body.


    HTaoist uangtian couldn''t avoid it. His sleeve shook slightly, countless talismans flying out from within, continually merging into his body.


    Immediately, his entire body shone with golden light, glowing brightly, akin to a golden man forged by gold, facing with fists.


    Gold and yellow auras fiercely collided in the air, with electric arcs appearing out of nowhere.


    As the fist wind howled, it was as if the sound of mountains and rivers collapsing echoed. Wherever it passed, space seemed to be torn apart by the Fist Power, leaving shocking cracks.


    Their battle grew faster and more intense, directly soaring into the sky.


    The clash between the two had transcended the realm of mortal comprehension.


    To the naked eye, one could only see flashes of light like the sun continuously appearing.


    Subsequent to earth-shattering explosions also rolled out across the sky.


    The skies dimmed, and the sun and moon lost their shine.


    The earth seemed to have a slight tremor.


    Shen Qing sensed the terrifying aura transmitted from the sky, furrowed his brows, and hastily suppressed his own aura, reducing his presence to the lowest level.


    If it wasn''t within a hundred meters, it would be difficult to discover his existence.


    "Is this the power of a Unity Realm master?"


    Shen Qing''s Primordial Spirit vibrated, thoroughly feeling the terrifying aura constantly emanating above the Imperial Palace.


    There seemed to be two fierce beings there, with auras vast and majestic, terrifying to the extreme.


    Even his Primordial Spirit was faintly trembling.


    "Strong! So strong it''s suffocating!"


    "This power has exceeded my imagination!"


    "With my current self... I simply cannot contend with it!"


    Shen Qing rubbed his temples with a splitting headache, his eyes filled with shock.


    From this battle, he gained a clearer understanding of martial masters in the Unity Realm.


    It was a strength almost despairing, with no hope of victory visible from the Primordial Spirit Realm, struggling even seemed futile.


    Not to mention, he was standing outside the city, only feeling the afterwaves of the two Unity Realm beings.


    Above the Imperial Palace, the battle continued without any sign of stopping.


    His Marquis Wu''an Mansion, close to the Imperial Palace, had also been leveled.


    If his uncle and aunt were still inside, they would likely be in grave danger by now.


    Time ticked by.


    Shen Qing noticed that the previously invincible Huang Tian Sect was gradually falling into a disadvantage.


    "Huh, why is Ji Zikong still observing from the sidelines, never joining in?"


    Shen Qing remembered that Ji Zikong was also a martial master in the Unity Realm. With the Imperial Palace battle reaching this extent, countless foundations of the Ji Clan seemed to have been ruined, so how could he still sit back and watch without a care?


    Could it be that he intended to exhaust the martial masters?


    That seemed too absurd.


    Boom!


    A heavy gap was smashed into the thick clouds above.


    A figure was violently flung to the ground.


    It was Old Man Ji.


    He was defeated.


    Shen Qing activated his Primordial Spirit, looking down from above.


    He saw Old Man Ji with blood at the corners of his mouth, eyes unfocused.


    A golden Primordial Spirit emerged from his physical shell, looking skyward with a poorly expression.


    Similarly, HTaoist uangtian was not feeling well either.


    His entire body was in tatters, the glow dim.


    Countless broken talismans continually emerged from his body, turning to dust.


    HTaoist uangtian revealed a slight smile and said, "You are strong, but I seem to have the upper hand."


    With that, he looked toward the battlefield ahead, shaking the bell in his hand once more.


    The four previously suppressed and damaged Ancient Corpse Puppets transformed into large human-shaped pills, charging into the battlefield.


    HTaoist uangtian''s hand movements stopped.


    The previously deafening battle cries in the Capital City suddenly became solemn, even the wind fell silent.


    In the next moment, those human-shaped pills suddenly released extremely dazzling light, like myriad blazing suns exploding simultaneously, enveloping the entire world in blinding white.


    This abrupt self-destruction released devastating power, the violent energy waves raging like a furious sea storm.


    The Ji Family''s Great Powers, still in the heat of battle, hadn''t reacted to this sudden change before being ruthlessly devoured by the unstoppable explosion aftershock.


    Their figures flickered in the radiant light, like candles in the wind, instantly devastated by this power, their internal qi and blood surging, meridians severed.


    Even with their profound cultivation and strong Physical Bodies, they couldn''t withstand the divine power contained within the ancient martial cultivation''s flesh.


    One by one, they spewed blood, falling from the sky, losing all combat ability.


    After this, HTaoist uangtian finally showed a slight ease, directing all his attention to Ji Zikong in the distance.


    This current Emperor of the Zhou Kingdom made him somewhat inscrutable.


    But it didn''t matter, the Ji Clan without teeth now posed no threat.


    If he could kill one martial master in the Unity Realm, he could kill a second.


    The face of the leader of Huang Tian Sect grew solemn, his hands forming a seal, pressing toward the Primordial Spirit of Old Man Ji.


    But just then, a sword light flashed, embedding itself into Old Man Ji before him.


    Huang Tian Sect Master suddenly raised his head to look at Ji Zikong.


    Only to see Ji Zikong with a faint and ambiguous expression, step by step approaching him.


    Old Man Ji turned back, incredulous, asking, "Why..."


    "Why ask so many times? Naturally, for great freedom."


    Ji Zikong gestured with his hand, the flying sword embedded in Old Man Ji trembled, releasing a devouring force, gradually consuming Old Man Ji''s Primordial Spirit.


    "This world is like a great ocean already depleted, transforming into a small pond, and we are all fish living in the sea."


    "Now this small pond has too many fish crowded in."


    "I think, if we clear out the other fish, leaving only the strongest fish to leap out of the small pond into another sea, it might open a path for the Human Clan, not necessarily having all fish leap out."


    "You always said the Human Clan will inevitably not perish, will inevitably break this Prison. So why can''t it be me?"


    Ji Zikong said as such.


    He gestured with his hand, the devouring force on the flying sword suddenly intensifying.


    "Ah!"


    Old Man Ji''s Primordial Spirit let out a scream, being devoured.


    Afterward, Ji Zikong didn''t stop, devouring all the Primordial Spirits of the Ji Clan''s Great Powers, adding them to himself.


    Suddenly, Ji Zikong''s aura surged tremendously.


    "Marvelous. Hahaha, with the nine hundred-year foundation of the Ji Clan gathered upon me, let''s see how the Heavenly Demon Clan can triumph over me!"


    Ji Zikong took a step forward, an indescribable invisible oppression surged out like a tidal wave, engulfing the world, tinting the surrounding space with a faint white glow.


    Above the azure sky, the floating Huang Tian Sect''s Flying Boat seemed to encounter utter disaster, several of the closest shattered simultaneously, disintegrating into pieces falling from the sky.


    HTaoist uangtian, who seemed assured of victory a moment ago, now couldn''t help but change his expression drastically, his eyes flashing with disbelief.


    He discovered Ji Zikong''s momentum continued to rise, stronger within moments than even his Old Ancestor.

 Chapter 434 - 32: Huang Tian Sect Retreats, Shen Qing in Danger

    ```


    Far outside the Imperial Palace, Shen Qing captured every word of Ji Zikong through his powerful Primordial Spirit and Divine Thought, leaving him with a sense of sudden enlightenment, unable to speak for a long time.


    According to Ji Zikong''s explanation, in summary, the "ecological system" of Martial Arts in this world is on the brink of collapse and cannot withstand the consumption of too many martial masters.


    Controlling the number of martial masters is the means to maintain the integrity of this "ecological system."


    To save this "ecological system," one must break conventions, needing a leader to carve out a path, leading the Human Clan into another cultivation "ecological system" or connecting to another "ecological system."


    So why does the Ji Family resort to all means to gather all Martial Mechanisms in the world? Why do they ignore the mutual slaughter among martial masters? Why do they also turn a blind eye to the rampage of demons, even intentionally encouraging it?


    All these questions have been answered.


    In Shen Qing''s view, how sickly is this world.


    Facing Ji Zikong, whose aura had suddenly changed ahead, the Daoist''s expression turned serious.


    As he looked ahead, he saw Ji Zikong, who had been standing quietly over the Imperial Palace, reach out and hold the Flying Sword beside him.


    The sword''s tip was slightly raised, and Ji Zikong thrust forward quickly at the densely clouded Flying Boats of the Huang Tian Sect.


    This thrust was devoid of the thunderous magnitude generated by the Great Power, nor did it have the turning of the universe when the Ji Family''s ancestors struck, making the sun and moon lose their brilliance.


    It was merely a long sword, leaving an unobtrusive mark in the void of the air.


    Light as a feather, yet seemingly heavy as a mountain.


    However, it was precisely this seemingly casual touch that caused the Daoist''s heart to tense up suddenly.


    He seemed to see a divine sword that traversed eternal ages, roaring down from the Nine Heavens, severing all things!


    An unprecedented chill like icy cold pierced to the bone.


    The Daoist''s eyes instantly contracted into needles.


    He unhesitatingly activated the golden bell in his hand.


    Immediately, the golden bell in his hand shone brightly, instantly transforming into an indestructible golden light shield, enveloping him tightly within.


    "Crack!"


    It was as if cracks appeared on a frozen lake surface, with crisp shattering sounds arising.


    With a crisp sound, the golden bell in the Daoist''s hand was filled with cracks, trembling uncontrollably, as if about to break at any moment.


    He hurriedly activated countless talismans, forming a golden light shield across in front of him.


    "Boom!!!"


    Suddenly, an awe-inspiring sword light erupted with a thunderous roar, sweeping forward to drown his figure completely.


    The earth trembled, and dust filled the air.


    Majestic palace buildings toppled like fragile paper in the face of this earth-shattering force.


    Countless palace maids, Imperial Guards, were mercilessly buried under the rubble in this sudden catastrophe.


    More frightening still, the aftermath of this majestic Sword Qi, like a runaway dragon, spread from the Imperial Palace to every corner of the Capital City at a visibly insane speed, turning everything it passed into nothingness.


    When the dust settled, only devastation remained, the former splendor and riches now reduced to mere ruins.


    Outside the Imperial Palace, Shen Qing was shocked at this scene, unable to conceal his fear.


    He scanned with his Divine Thought and found the core zone of the explosion had become a living hell, with countless ordinary palace maids, eunuchs, guards, and Forbidden Army turning to ash in this calamity.


    It was evident that Ji Zikong was cold-hearted, utterly indifferent to the lives and deaths of those within the Imperial Palace.


    Otherwise, with his ability, he could completely control this Sword Intent.


    Inevitably, there would be casualties in the Capital City and the Imperial Palace, but it would certainly not have reached such an extent.


    He acted completely on impulse, with a reckless abandon.


    Shen Qing suddenly thought of Huang Furo still in the city.


    Now that the Huang Tian Sect had played their last cards, facing Ji Zikong''s aggressive advance, victory was no longer possible.


    The situation was becoming clear.


    He now had the power to protect himself in the Capital City.


    Perhaps, he could enter and protect her to some extent.


    After the explosive sword light in the sky faded, it revealed the Daoist''s desolate figure.


    Now, his entire body had no intact part, with many areas already deeply reaching the bone, blood continuously flowing.


    Seeing Ji Zikong so strong, the Daoist squinted his eyes.


    He stomped heavily, causing the Flying Boat beneath him to shake continuously, reaching the peak of eruption within moments, glowing with dazzling yellow light as it flew outside the city.


    "Retreat!"


    The forceful male voice resounded like thunder far away.


    Those surviving Disciple of the Huang Tian Sect in the city, hearing the command to retreat, hesitated no longer, decisively withdrawing from the city.


    At the moment when the Huang Tian Sect finally decided to retreat, the yellow glow that had enveloped the sky quietly dissipated, restoring its original colors.


    At this time, the area around the Shi family mansions in the Capital City suddenly became lively, with explosions and sounds of slaughter ringing ceaselessly.


    Many young members of the Shi family dispatched from their clans began to fight these disciples of the Huang Tian Sect.


    They did anything to hinder their retreat.


    The families in the Capital City had now perceived the direction the situation was heading, each like a bloodthirsty leopard, no longer waiting and hesitating, throwing themselves into this battle, continuously slaughtering the crumbling Huang Tian Sect believers.


    After all, their foundations were far less robust than the Ji Family''s, and facing the existence of the Daoist was like hitting a rock with an egg for them.


    However, they felt no pressure in killing these unprotected, fleeing sect members.


    ``` sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 435 - 32 Huang Tian Sect Retreats, The Peril of Shen Qing_2

    After the defeat of the Huang Tian Daoist, the defenses of the Huang Tian Sect were at their weakest point, making it the perfect time to strike at the fallen enemy.


    If this opportunity was missed, it would be difficult to clarify their stance later on, and they might risk being held accountable by Ji Zikong, which would not be worth it.


    Therefore, these families did not hesitate to take a side, directly joining in, seizing this chance to make amends and survive as a mere lapdog.


    Just moments ago, the Huang Tian Sect seemed to have the upper hand, but with the families joining in, they were quickly defeated like a collapsing mountain.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing also did not delay, urging his entire spiritual power, performing the Great Void Movement Technique to delve into the Capital City in search of Huang Furo''s whereabouts.


    He stepped across in one stride, transforming into a shadow, traversing several kilometers swiftly, making it hard to catch.


    A Huang Tian Sect believer blocked his path, and he simply slapped, turning the obstructing person into a bloody pulp.


    Even with a talisman in hand, it was to no avail.


    Boom!


    Shen Qing heard continuous rumbling from the skies afar, as one Flying Boat after another turned into fireballs, being blasted apart by Ji Zikong on the spot.


    The scene nearly turned into a one-sided massacre.


    Just as Ji Zikong was about to catch up with the Huang Tian Daoist, two ancient corpse puppets dormant in the city were awakened. They soared into the sky, tightly embracing Ji Zikong.


    In the latter''s surprised eyes, they suddenly transformed into a large yellow sphere, tightly enveloping Ji Zikong as if it were a sun forged in flames.


    The yellow sphere emitted ominous light, with every strand containing terrifying power capable of shaking mountains and rivers.


    With a deafening explosion, the large yellow sphere''s radiance burst forth, unleashing earth-shattering energy, tearing the surrounding void into pieces.


    "Ah..."


    In this destructive explosion, even Ji Zikong''s immensely powerful body was inevitably left with several ghastly wounds, bleeding profusely, revealing deep bones.


    When the smoke cleared, Ji Zikong''s figure appeared.


    A cold light flashed in his eyes as he surveyed the surroundings.


    However, the figure of the Huang Tian Daoist was nowhere to be seen.


    "Hm?"


    Suddenly, Ji Zikong unexpectedly saw Shen Qing''s figure and made a light sound of surprise.


    He noticed that Shen Qing''s Martial Arts were exceptionally unique, surprisingly hinting of the Great Void Dao.


    "This boy indeed has something peculiar about him."


    "If I''m not mistaken, he reached the Primordial Spirit realm in just a few short years, which is simply unbelievable."


    "Thanks to this opportunity with the Huang Tian Sect, I''ve gathered many of the Ji Family''s secrets that maintain the court, which I no longer need. Just as well, I can take a good look at what great secrets my Marquis Wu''an is hiding."


    With that thought, Ji Zikong pointed towards Shen Qing''s location midair.


    While still crossing the void, Shen Qing suddenly felt all his hairs stand on end, a strong sense of danger enveloping his heart.


    He instinctively rolled to the side.


    Swoosh!


    A Sword Qi nearly brushed past his cheek, flying by, penetrating the ground.


    Shen Qing''s heart pounded wildly.


    If he had been even a little slower just now, he would have been split in two by that Sword Qi.


    Looking up, Shen Qing saw Ji Zikong watching him from above, a trace of surprise flashing across his face.


    Calm and steady, he asked, "Your Majesty, what does this mean?"


    Ji Zikong stepped forward, each step causing invisible stairs to condense out of thin air beneath his feet.


    As he walked towards Shen Qing, Ji Zikong said, "Marquis Wu''an, tell me. The Saint Body Great Completion Method from the royal armory, have you not cultivated this celestial Martial technique from start to finish?"


    Shen Qing remained silent, his hand subconsciously gripping the hilt of his sword.


    Ji Zikong sighed deeply, saying, "My seventh prince, upon hearing that you cultivated the Great Completion Saint Body Method without harm, studied this celestial Martial technique as well, but he unexpectedly went berserk and died."


    "Because of you, I''ve lost a son," Ji Zikong said, counting on his fingers, "this is the first, the second, the third..."


    As he counted, he grew a bit impatient, "Forget it, anyway he''s dead, but he can''t die in vain. What do you think I should do?"


    At this point, Shen Qing finally realized that the monarch of the Great Zhou had turned the table and set his sights on him.


    "I think, Your Majesty, with your vigorous health, you could easily father another prince." Shen Qing involuntarily took two steps back.


    Ji Zikong shook his head, saying, "No need to trouble yourself, I have a way to exempt him from punishment."


    "What?"


    "Surrender your Primordial Spirit to me, and this matter will be written off."


    Primordial Spirit?!


    Shen Qing''s expression instantly darkened.


    The Primordial Spirit is profound and can be refined by others.


    Once his Primordial Spirit fell into Ji Zikong''s hands, it would be akin to being at his mercy. Ji Zikong sought to uncover all the secrets of his cultivation.


    "I''m afraid I cannot comply with Your Majesty''s request!"


    "Sigh, then I''ll have to do it myself!"


    Upon saying that, without moving his body, Ji Zikong raised a single finger.


    Instantly, a long sword imbued with a cold halo shot through the air, bearing immense majesty as it aimed directly at Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing''s expression hardened, a resolute gleam flashing in his eyes, as he pushed the Six Paths of Reincarnation technique to its utmost, causing the spiritual energy between heaven and earth to completely boil, madly pouring into his body, coalescing into immense power.


    He abruptly drew the "Thunder Abyss" treasure blade, infusing it with all his spiritual power.


    The blade emitted intense lightning, transforming into a hundred-zhang-long lightning edge, slashing at Ji Zikong''s long sword.


    Heaven''s Wrath Void Slash!


    In this moment of life and death, Shen Qing disregarded everything, directly unleashing the Martial technique he had learned from Xue Zhao.


    The blade and sword energies intersected in the air, bursting with a heart-wrenching energy fluctuation, resembling a falling star, overturning mountains and rivers.


    "Treasure!"


    Staring at the scene before him, Ji Zikong was momentarily stunned.


    He knew Shen Qing had many secrets; he didn''t expect to be surprised just at the first engagement.


    Seeing the familiar technique in the void, a playful smile emerged on his face.


    "Interesting, my Marquis Wu''an is becoming more interesting. Hahaha..."


    Ji Zikong laughed aloud in the void, his finger continued to point forward, increasing the force.


    The unmatched Heaven''s Wrath Void Slash, augmented by the Thunder Abyss treasure blade, was tremendously powerful.


    Yet when facing Ji Zikong''s cold light Flying Sword, it seemed lacking.


    At the moment of clash, the edge of Heaven''s Wrath Void Slash seemed to melt like ice under a scorching sun, swiftly dissipating, completely defeated in the blink of an eye.


    Ji Zikong''s spiritual power surged around him; he casually pointed forward, the white Sword Intent transformed into a crescent, sweeping past Shen Qing''s body.


    Shen Qing had no time to react, only sensing a sudden blur; the Sword Qi severed his body at the waist.


    Golden and crimson blood splattered out.


    Shen Qing''s eyes widened, filled with disbelief. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He sensed the life force within rapidly draining away, his Primordial Spirit trembling, seemingly compelled to burst out as if sensing the danger within his mortal shell, instinctively fleeing.


    Stay calm!


    At this moment, one must stay calm!


    Shen Qing did not give in, refusing to accept fate.


    He clenched his teeth and decisively retrieved a jade tablet, fully releasing the spiritual essence hidden within.


    Moreover, countless elixirs and pills were taken out, consumed in one go.


    The Six Paths of Reincarnation technique ran frantically.


    Around Shen Qing, crystalline and splendid vortices quietly emerged, like black holes in the deep cosmos, devouring all surrounding spiritual energy.


    In this life-and-death moment, he suddenly had a special insight into the Path of Hell.


    Rebirth through transformation, break before establishment!


    Serenely, Shen Qing seemed to cross a threshold, feeling a roaring in his ears as the Six Paths of Reincarnation technique was pushed to the limit.


    The golden blood strewn across the void suddenly linked into a sparkling chain of light, miraculously connecting Shen Qing''s severed upper and lower body.


    Amid the rumbling, his body, like shattered porcelain, began to be reassembled, astonishingly starting to repair and heal.


    In mid-air, seeing this scene, Ji Zikong''s eyes suddenly changed.

 Chapter 436 - 33: Desperate Fight! Dead End

    Ji Zikong saw Shen Qing, who was intact as if resurrected, and his spirit was completely exhilarated.


    Such a technique that could bring the dead back to life, he had never seen nor heard of before.


    "There is indeed something extraordinary about this child!"


    "Such a technique in his possession is simply a waste. If I could obtain this technique, then why should I fear the Heavenly Demon?"


    Ji Zikong eyed Shen Qing, his gaze turning fervent.


    He couldn''t wait to seize Shen Qing''s Primordial Spirit and extract all his secrets.


    "Today you have given me too many surprises; it''s time you did your part for the life and death of the Human Clan!"


    Ji Zikong laughed heartily as he wielded his Treasure Sword, swiftly advancing towards Shen Qing.


    His cultivation of the Unity Realm was fully unleashed at this moment, concentrating into his sharp sword.


    This sword was a Magic Treasure passed down in the Ji Family since ancient times, becoming highly spiritual after a millennium of refinement.


    Sensing Ji Zikong''s emotions and intentions, the sword trembled, its brilliance surged, and its cold glow was fully revealed, sweeping across like a mighty river, unhesitatingly towards Shen Qing.


    Even an eagle must exert full strength to seize a rabbit.


    Ji Zikong understood this truth and did not underestimate Shen Qing because of his lower cultivation.


    The oppressive might of the Unity Realm, tangible as substance, enveloped the skies of the Capital, descending upon Shen Qing along with the sword''s force.


    At that moment, Shen Qing was at a critical point in healing his injuries; the recently healed wounds instantly ruptured.


    His entire body was covered in cracks like a piece of porcelain.


    Bright red blood spurted out, exceedingly gruesome.


    With a thought, Shen Qing, in a critical moment, instantly activated the Great Void Shifting Technique.


    In front of him, the void twisted, enveloping him completely. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Boom!


    The Sword Qi struck the ground.


    Like the splitting of heaven and earth, a trench tens of meters deep appeared in the middle of the Capital, as if to split it in half.


    Shen Qing narrowly avoided it with the Great Void Shifting Technique.


    It was hard to imagine, had that strike hit him, he would have surely been reduced to dust.


    Unmatched power.


    Instantly, Shen Qing pushed the Great Void Shifting Technique to its limit, his figure flickering unpredictably to the left and right, back and forth, continuously moving towards the outskirts of the Capital, incomprehensible to onlookers.


    Ji Zikong''s gaze relentlessly pursued Shen Qing, pressing closely each step.


    His Sword Qi was relentless, allowing Shen Qing no chance to breathe.


    Their figures streaked across the sky like shooting stars, spanning great distances in the blink of an eye.


    "With this movement technique, even with my speed as a Sword Cultivator, I can''t take full advantage. Where in the world did Duke Wu''an learn such skills?"


    Ji Zikong''s eyes shone brilliantly, growing ever more eager about Shen Qing''s secrets.


    He had sustained significant injuries due to Taoist Huangtian, with many wounds ferociously bleeding, some even revealing glimpses of his internal organs, weakening his strength.


    Ji Zikong was blind to these injuries, disregarding them as he merged with his sword, dramatically increasing his speed.


    The sword light soared like a dragon ascending the Nine Heavens, with an unstoppable momentum covering the area where Shen Qing was.


    Everywhere it passed, the heavens and earth seemed to be split by this sword, the sky changed color, and the sun and moon darkened.


    Seeing this, Shen Qing''s eyes widened as Spiritual Power surged violently within him, knowing there was no room for hesitation.


    He exerted all his strength to wield his Magic Treasure "Thunder Abyss," using its formidable power to counter Ji Zikong''s fearsome strike.


    Lightning flashed, striking like a flood dragon towards the sword light.


    Crack.


    To Shen Qing''s disbelief, the "Thunder Abyss" Treasure Blade could not withstand Ji Zikong''s overpowering Sword Intent.


    A loud crash echoed, and Thunder Abyss shattered inch by inch under the sword light. Amidst its anguished cries, the power contained within the blade burst forth completely at that moment, transforming into a sea of thunder that filled the entire sky with blue lightning arcs.


    Intense energy waves spread far and wide.


    Even Ji Zikong, who was in the Unity Realm, could feel the terror emanating from it.


    He had no doubt that even if he were to fall into this sea of thunder right now, it would be unbearable.


    Shen Qing frantically activated the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, with dazzling vortexes slowly lighting up at each of his acupoints. They desperately drew in the spiritual energy from the surroundings, quickly healing his injuries substantially.


    He rapidly pulled out a treasure bow from the Hundred Treasure Pouch and drew the bow to its full extent without hesitation.


    The spiritual power he had condensed inside his body, every thread and strand, he channeled into the treasure bow, turning them into arrows.


    "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"


    The sounds of breaking the air exploded.


    Nine arrows almost simultaneously streaked across the sky; each one was like the scorching sun, wielding the might to scorch the heavens and boil the oceans, aiming straight for Ji Zikong.


    It seemed as if rounds of suns were summoned in the sky, radiating vast light.


    Even Ji Zikong, who had high expectations, could not help but reveal a hint of astonishment on his face at that moment.


    He could feel the terrifying power contained within these arrows; even though his body was injured, being struck by these arrows wouldn''t kill him, but it would be exceedingly painful.


    Ji Zikong instinctively dodged.


    However, to his surprise, even though he had dodged, the arrows, as if possessing eyes, landed precisely on his body without missing.


    Boom, boom, boom...


    The nine beams of arrow light burst one after another.


    Roaring suns lit up, only to extinguish in the blink of an eye.


    When the light from the nine "suns" gradually dissipated, Ji Zikong''s distressed expression was revealed.


    At this moment, he stood at the center of heaven and earth, his clothes tattered and his chest dyed mottled with crimson blood.


    "Good, good, good!"


    Ji Zikong laughed in rage, his eyes filled with bloodshot.


    He had never imagined that one day he would be pushed to this point by a martial master from the Primordial Spirit Realm.


    "Unexpectedly, amongst my subordinates there''s someone like you; I had underestimated you!"


    Ji''s Primordial Spirit quivered intensely inside him, stirring the surrounding natural spiritual energy to boil like a tide.


    Suddenly, a gigantic frost-colored sword Qi emerged behind him.


    The power of the long sword magic treasure, under the urging of his Primordial Spirit, fully manifested its might.


    "Your physical body shall be buried under my sword, and that shall be your honor."


    The frost on the blade twinkled, chilling to the bone, carrying an unmatched force as it chopped toward Shen Qing.


    Before the sword even arrived, the chilling intent had already frosted the ground.


    Shen Qing was greatly startled, his hands quickly forming a seal.


    A surge of spiritual power burst forth from within him, transforming into a colossal golden seal, dazzling with golden light, an overwhelming force.


    He activated the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal.


    Primordial Spirit enhanced.


    The golden seal soared into the sky, confronting the frost-colored sword Qi.


    The two collided violently in the air, causing deafening booms. Spiritual power overflowed, like terrifying waves sweeping across the surroundings.


    However, the might of the Unity Realm was tremendous; the frost-colored sword Qi, being pushed to its limits by Ji Zikong, held an incomparable power of the Primordial Spirit.


    The golden seal gradually cracked under the collision and finally, with a loud "bang", completely shattered, turning into specks of golden light that dissolved into the void.


    Shen Qing, struck heavily, was involuntarily flung backward, blood gushing from his mouth, his complexion turning as pale as paper in an instant.


    "Die!"


    Ji Zikong''s face twisted in ferocity; the sword image remained unchanged behind him as he thrust out with his sword towards Shen Qing.

 Chapter 437 - 34 The Power of Broken Blade, Ji Zikong is Shocked

    ```


    Behind Ji Zikong, the Sword Shadow solidified, as Sword Intent rampaged in all directions, incredibly cold.


    This Sword Intent, in an instant, resembled dragons in the raging waves, rushing to break through the sea surface.


    Countless sword lights enveloped Shen Qing, blocking out the sky and sun.


    Shen Qing saw this scene, his face, already pale as paper, lost its color completely, eyes flashing with an expression of disbelief and horror.


    Faced with the ocean-like sword light, he had no way out.


    At this life-and-death moment, he gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and directly conjured the Three-legged Furnace from his Qi Sea.


    A flash of black light shimmered between his brows, and an ancient and majestic aura spread out.


    A Three-legged Ancient Cauldron appeared out of thin air before Shen Qing.


    The Three-legged Cauldron was only the size of a palm, yet inside it contained overwhelming Sword Intent.


    This Sword Intent was not sourced from the Three-legged Cauldron, but existed within the Broken Blade inside the cauldron and the scarlet bloodstains.


    Shen Qing had previously researched that the Broken Blade inside was extremely terrifying, difficult to handle.


    Every attempt was a risky venture.


    More troubling was that the tainted blood on the Broken Blade contained a True Intent, and overuse would result in backlash from the Sword Qi within the Broken Blade, with the True Intent pollution damaging even the Primordial Spirit.


    However, given the current situation, he couldn''t care about those concerns.


    Shen Qing focused his mind, gritting his teeth, poured all his remaining Spiritual Power into the cauldron.


    His entire body''s acupoints trembled with light.


    Instantly, the Three-legged Cauldron soared into the sky, expanding to blot out the sky and sun, tilting forward, unleashing a torrent of overwhelming Sword Intent.


    The Broken Blade sealed within the cauldron shot out directly, transforming into streams of silver light, clashing head-on with Ji Zikong''s sword intention.


    Boom!


    The tainted blood on the Broken Blade shone with a glazed radiance, the Sword Intent becoming incredibly grand.


    The sound of porcelain shattering echoed between heaven and earth.


    "How is this possible?" Ji Zikong''s eyes widened in exclamation.


    He saw his Sword Apparition crumble inch by inch under this mighty Sword Intent.


    With a muffled bang,


    His Sword Apparition, condensed by his Primordial Spirit, completely shattered.


    Invisible spatial ripples spread in all directions.


    Ji Zikong staggered, retreating a few steps before stabilizing his body.


    A trickle of scarlet blood seeped from his mouth, his face going utterly colorless.


    Shen Qing wasn''t doing well either.


    Even with the formidable Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, he couldn''t completely withstand the Spiritual Power exhaustion from the Broken Blade.


    "Ugh..." Shen Qing felt a sweetness in his throat, a powerful will imprinted upon his Primordial Spirit.


    He made a decisive cut, slicing off a wisp of his Primordial Spirit.


    Seeing Ji Zikong unresponsive, Shen Qing''s eyes flashed determination, his hands moving without pause, activating the Great Void Shifting Technique to escape this place.


    The Three-legged Cauldron spun, striking at the void before him.


    Cracks appeared on the void, revealing a pitch-black hole.


    The Three-legged Cauldron ripped through the spatial barrier, wrapping around Shen Qing, swept him in.


    "Thinking of leaving? How dare you!"


    Ji Zikong, disregarding everything, attempted to block Shen Qing.


    But he was ultimately a step too slow.


    As he rushed to that hole, Shen Qing had already crossed the void, disappearing without a trace.


    Moments later, everything settled.


    Even with Ji Zikong''s exhaustive search, he couldn''t find any trace of Shen Qing, leaving him furious.


    Ji Zikong, long accustomed to high status, had never lost his composure like this, shedding all imperial dignity.


    "Ugh!"


    Ji Zikong suddenly felt Qi-Blood churning, unable to help but spit out a mouthful of tainted blood.


    He horrifyingly discovered that a will had stealthily integrated onto his Primordial Spirit at some point.


    "Damn it!"


    Ji Zikong''s face twisted in rage.


    To save his life, he directly severed a significant portion of his Primordial Spirit, sustaining severe injury.


    His uncontrolled body plummeted from mid-air, crashing to the ground.


    Sitting on the ground, panting, Ji Zikong gradually regained his composure.


    At this moment, his shock was beyond description.


    He never imagined that, with his current status, as the world''s foremost Martial Artist, he couldn''t subdue a Primordial Spirit Realm martial master!


    No one would believe it spread.


    The more Ji Zikong thought, the more terrified he became.


    Who on earth was Shen Qing!!!


    "No matter who he is, there can only be one supreme Martial Arts in the world. No matter what, that person must be me!"


    Ji Zikong fell into complete madness, eyes focused, wiping away the tainted blood at the corner of his mouth, soaring back into the sky, heading towards the ruins of the Capital City.


    At this point, might as well go all in, the Eight Great Families have been nurtured long enough, it''s time to reap, to forge oneself!


    "Let''s go, Your Majesty is mad, we must leave here immediately!"


    In the outskirts of the Capital City, Huang Furo, at some unknown time, found the resting place of the uncle and others, directly urging them to evacuate.


    The Emperor''s slaying of family, such treacherous acts already happened, she realized this empire was completely in chaos, staying in the Capital was ominously dangerous.


    The events to follow were unknown, if they didn''t leave now, it would be too late.


    Tian Xiaohu and others hid in the manor, only hearing much commotion from outside, but unaware of what precisely happened.


    At this point, seeing Huang Furo hurriedly urging them to evacuate also puzzled them.


    "What happened? Didn''t we just evacuate? Why evacuate again?"


    Huang Furo said, "After the Huang Tian Sect''s assault, His Majesty went mad, killing wantonly, staying here means death for everyone!"


    "What?!" Uncle Shen the Second and others were shocked.


    "What about Qingzi, what about him?" Uncle Shen the Second asked anxiously.


    Huang Furo paused slightly, then feigned calm, replying, "He has his own matters, rest assured, with his cultivation, few in the world could harm him." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No more questions, let''s hurry, it''s now or never."


    "Alright!"


    Uncle Shen the Second and others trusted Huang Furo implicitly, said no more, following her to leave immediately.


    They had only recently relocated, many things were ready-packed, moving was no trouble for Huang Furo.


    The convoy swiftly set off in a southwestern direction.


    In the carriage, Aunt Wang, feeling anxious, cautiously asked, "Niece, where are we going?" while eyeing Huang Furo''s sharp presence.


    Huang Furo, eyes narrowed, answered, "Back to Yongzhou!"


    Just then, she heard screams from the direction of the Capital behind, like thunderclaps repeatedly booming.


    "Ji family''s child dared such acts, I will not spare you, ah..."


    ...


    The screams were harrowing, chilling to the bone.


    The Shen family in the carriage, upon hearing, stayed utterly silent, trembling in fear.


    Only Huang Furo instinctively glanced in the direction where Shen Qing vanished, remaining silent.


    ```

 Chapter 438 - 35 Jinzhou

    In the endless chaos, Shen Qing felt everything around him becoming hazy and illusory.


    After a fierce battle with Ji Zikong, his Spiritual Power had nearly been exhausted, and using the Great Void Shifting Technique became extremely strenuous.


    Every minute and every second were exceptionally difficult; his body felt heavier and heavier.


    But he dared not slacken or pause for a moment.


    He worried that once he slowed down, Ji Zikong would catch up to him.


    Now extremely weak, he had no strength left to face Ji Zikong''s techniques.


    Shen Qing''s fingers trembled slightly as he lightly touched the Hundred Treasure Pouch and drew out a Jade Token rich with Spirit Essence.


    The Spirit Essence contained within was enough to drive many people mad, it was a precious Spirit Mechanism.


    But at that moment, without any hesitation, Shen Qing took it out, intending to use it.


    He formed a spell with his hands and began to refine the Jade Token.


    The smooth Jade Token burst into a gentle glow, like a bright star in this chaotic realm.


    Dense Spiritual Energy poured forth, infiltrating his body and through the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, transforming into pure and untainted Spiritual Power that infused his depleted physical body.


    Soon, one Jade Token was used up.


    Without hesitation, Shen Qing took out a second one.


    At this critical time, it was not the moment to cherish these external possessions.


    These precious Jade Tokens could not support his nearly extinguished body indefinitely.


    As the Spirit Essence of the last Jade Token was depleted, Shen Qing clearly perceived that he had reached his limit and could no longer continue recklessly.


    Otherwise, he would surely be devoured by the chaos.


    Shen Qing gathered all his concentration, mobilizing the last bit of strength in his body to activate the Three-legged Furnace.


    The Three-legged Furnace shuddered, violently breaking free from the confines of chaos.


    The sky was a clear azure, vast and boundless.


    Sunlight streamed down, making all things glisten.


    In this serene and peaceful scene, a stark black rift abruptly appeared in the sky.


    This rift grew larger and larger until it became as tall as a person.


    The next moment, a person and a furnace surged out from the crack.


    It was Shen Qing, who had crossed through the void.


    At this moment, he was completely drained, having lost all control, his body free-falling towards the earth; the ancient Three-legged Furnace also tumbled down through the air following Shen Qing''s descent.


    With a thud, Shen Qing crashed heavily onto the ground, rolling several times before finally coming to a stop.


    The impact shook his Qi-Blood violently, making him feel extremely uncomfortable, and he couldn''t help but spit out a mouthful of foul blood.


    This was still the result of his strong physical body.


    Otherwise, an ordinary person falling from such a height would have likely been smashed to pieces.


    Shen Qing took a deep breath, continuously regulating his breathing, trying to rapidly recover.


    His whole body was weak, he couldn''t even move a finger.


    But Shen Qing realized his injuries were too severe.


    His Primordial Spirit was damaged, and his meridians were also harmed by Sword Qi; regaining Essence Qi was not something that could be done in a short amount of time.


    This left him feeling quite helpless.


    Shen Qing turned his head to look around and saw that he was lying on yellow soil; an endless expanse of barren land and wheat fields dyed a ghostly green.


    "Where is this?"


    If he remembered correctly, the northwest region of Great Zhou was known for its yellow soil, with the locals mainly living on wheat and tobacco cultivation.


    The place was approximately three thousand miles away from the Capital City.


    That is to say, he had traveled three thousand miles in just a few moments by crossing through void space.


    Shen Qing thought about this and found it even more unbelievable.


    Time passed by slowly, and Shen Qing circulated the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, gradually recovering his cultivation.


    To his surprise, the spiritual energy here was terribly thin, merely one-tenth of that in the Capital City or even in Yongzhou.


    Such an environment made it very uncomfortable for him, a martial master of the Primordial Spirit Realm.


    After half an hour, Shen Qing finally regained a bit of mobility, enough to turn his body and move his fingers.


    At this rate, it looked like it would take a day or half a day of cultivation.


    Just then, Shen Qing heard the sound of wagon wheels turning in the distance.


    Following the sound, he saw a dark-skinned little boy driving a donkey cart coming his way.


    Upon sighting Shen Qing, the boy froze for a moment. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He hurriedly jumped down from the cart and grabbed the donkey.


    The boy looked at Shen Qing with wariness, his large, pitch-black eyes sizing him up continuously, then suddenly focused on the Three-legged Furnace next to him.


    His eyes lit up, he ran over hastily, grabbed one of the legs of the furnace, and took off running.


    The donkey behind him couldn''t even keep up with his pace.


    It left Shen Qing speechless.


    However, with his movement currently impaired, he couldn''t chase after the boy.


    He could only watch helplessly as the little boy ran into the distance and vanished from his sight, turning into a black dot.


    "Forget it, I''ll go find him after I''ve recovered my ability to move. With my Divine Sense and the power of my Primordial Spirit, it won''t be hard to find the boy."


    Shen Qing murmured to himself, making a plan in his heart, and focused on cultivating to restore his energy.


    What he hadn''t expected was that, after a while, the little boy returned, accompanied by a few peasant men.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s outfit, although it was largely torn and smeared with blood, those who had seen a bit of the world recognized it as high-quality golden silk¡ª


    a luxury not just anyone could afford.


    He realized Shen Qing''s identity was not ordinary.


    "What do we do?"


    "Erdan took his stuff, will he blame us? He can''t seem to move much, should we just finish him off?"


    "Don''t be rash! I think this man is extraordinary, like a martial artist. I''ve heard that martial masters in the cities can''t even be scratched with a hoe. If we can''t kill him, we''ll just make an irreversible enemy. The village might even get dragged into it."


    "Then Chen Gouzi, you always have the most ideas, what do you suggest?"


    After pondering for a moment, a man named Chen Gouzi said, "He looks immobile for now, let''s go and apologize first, see what kind of person he is. If he''s a good man, we''ll save him. If he''s ruthless, we''ll have to finish him off even if our hoes break."


    "Alright, let''s do as you say!"


    Chen Gouzi took a deep breath, attempting to stay calm.


    He called out to Erdan, "Come over here!"


    The little boy Erdan followed nervously.


    With Erdan beside him, Chen Gouzi approached Shen Qing and bowed deeply, saying humbly, "Esteemed sir, my child is ignorant and took your possession¡ªplease have a large heart and forgive this offense."


    With that, he signaled to Erdan.


    Erdan quickly returned the Three-legged Furnace.


    Shen Qing observed the group without concern and asked, "Where is this place?"


    Seeing that Shen Qing didn''t seem too upset, Chen Gouzi answered, "This is Shangao Village."


    "Jinzhou?"


    "It''s still a few hundred miles from Jinzhou; this is just a poor rural area."


    Shen Qing nodded to indicate he understood.


    Chen Gouzi, relieved to see that Shen Qing wasn''t a terrifying figure, cautiously asked, "Sir, have you run into some trouble? Do you need our help?"

 Chapter 439 - 36: Shangao Village

    The mottled and colorful yellow earth stretched out under the azure sky, tranquil and vast.


    Shen Qing lay on the simple wooden cart, gazing at the sky without speaking, his body swaying with the bumps of the donkey cart.


    Beside him, a group of farmers in coarse cloth surrounded him, walking alongside the donkey cart.


    The dry yellow earth rose in clouds under their feet, drifting away.


    "Sir, you look like you''re from the city; that''s rare here!" Li Dazhuang''s rough voice broke the surrounding silence first, and he asked curiously, "Where are you coming from, sir?"


    The others couldn''t help but perk up their ears, very curious about Shen Qing''s origins.


    Shen Qing glanced at these weather-beaten men and said sparingly, "The Capital City."


    "What''s the Capital City?"


    "A very far place, three thousand li away."


    "Wow, that''s really far."


    The others felt that Shen Qing was exaggerating, not quite believing him.


    In their understanding, walking over three thousand li would probably ruin one''s legs.


    Even Master Li from the neighboring village, despite practicing martial arts, wouldn''t dare to claim he could walk such a distance.


    Shen Qing showed no intention of explaining.


    With demons rampant in the Great Zhou nowadays, and his cultivation not fully restored, being alone in the wilderness was very dangerous.


    Thus, after careful consideration, he decided to return with these people, as it provided a bit of security.


    Once he had a stable place to rest for a night, his injuries could recover significantly, making it more prudent to leave afterward. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, with these people, it was just a casual acquaintance; there was no need for extensive communication.


    As the donkey cart moved on, the scenery on both sides gradually changed, with more trees appearing, showing traces left by various activities.


    Before long, they finally arrived at a village nestled in a mountain hollow.


    The village was small, with one or two dozen scattered households.


    The old houses built from yellow earth blended almost seamlessly into the hillside, hard to distinguish from a distance without the curling smoke rising.


    "Oh, look, it''s Chen Gouzi and Li Dazhuang coming back!"


    At the village entrance, a little girl with pigtails excitedly shouted, gripping a potato tightly, her eyes filled with joy.


    "Wow, it really is them! Coming back so early today?"


    An old woman nearby responded with a smile, her hands not pausing from her needlework, but her gaze involuntarily shifted toward the donkey cart.


    "Whoa~"


    The donkey cart stopped at the village entrance, and Chen Gouzi stepped out from among the people, calling out, "Aunt Li, I''m looking for the village chief to discuss something?"


    Aunt Li glanced at Shen Qing behind Chen Gouzi and asked softly, "What''s going on here?"


    "Picked up on the road. Is the village chief still at home?"


    "I just saw him come back from the fields and didn''t see him leave, should still be inside."


    "Alright, I''ll go see him." Chen Gouzi instructed the others, "You all wait here for me, I''ll be back in a while."


    With that, he left in a hurry without waiting for Li Dazhuang and the others to speak.


    After he left, Shen Qing, using some strength, sat up on the cart.


    "You can sit up now?" Li Dake remarked in surprise while looking at Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing replied calmly, "Yes."


    He looked around at Shangao Village.


    This village was, in some respects, very poor, even poorer than Hongshan Village where he once stayed.


    At least in Hongshan Village, they could rely on the surrounding mountains and waters for sustenance, which offered some prospects.


    But here, the mountainous land was barren, and even water sources were scarce.


    Shen Qing felt uncomfortable and struggled to adapt even after staying a short while.


    Li Dazhuang laughed heartily and said, "That''s great! Our village has many fun places; once you recover, you can experience them yourself."


    Shen Qing smiled in response, nodding in agreement.


    On the other side, inside a mud-brick house in Shangao Village.


    Chen Gouzi arrived at the door of the village chief''s house.


    The weathered wooden door creaked on its hinges.


    The village chief emerged from inside, calmly seated on the doorstep.


    The doorstep, worn smooth by years of use, was slightly indented in the middle, making it the perfect place to sit.


    When he saw Chen Gouzi approaching, the village chief acted as if he hadn''t noticed, looking down as he tamped his pipe.


    Then, holding his tobacco pipe in one hand, he pulled out strands of golden tobacco from a small pouch with the other hand, filling the pipe.


    After completing these tasks, the village chief gently took out a firestick from his pocket and gave it a gentle blow.


    A flame emerged.


    The village chief brought the pipe close to the flame, lighting the tobacco within.


    He took a couple of quick puffs, and once the tobacco was alight, he put away the firestick, took a deep draw, and slowly closed his eyes.


    After a while, he exhaled slowly.


    Shrouded in smoke, his face looked increasingly serene.


    The village chief said, "It''s Gouzi, come in and sit for a while; it''s windy outside."


    His voice was deep, like a cask of aged wine.


    Chen Gouzi took two quick steps forward, a hint of urgency in his expression, "No need, I came to tell you something. Today, we picked up an outsider, seems like he has a different identity, we brought him back, and I need your advice."


    Hearing this, the village chief frowned slightly, his expression turning serious. The tobacco pipe in his hand was temporarily put aside, and he said, "Gouzi, what''s going on? Tell me clearly."


    "Here''s what happened."


    Chen Gouzi gave a full account of how they incidentally picked up the three-legged cauldron from the outsider, how they apologized, and finally returned to the village together, without hiding anything.


    After listening, the village chief took another deep draw from his pipe, nodding in approval, saying, "You handled this well. I''ve heard things are chaotic outside, and us ordinary folks without skills can put the entire village at risk if we get involved with the wrong people."


    "What do you suggest we do..." Chen Gouzi pressed.


    "Since he''s already here, bring him in. It''s better to have an extra friend than an enemy." The village chief decisively concluded.


    "Alright. I''ll go over and let them in."


    "Yes, and bring him to me first for a look?"


    "Got it."


    Chen Gouzi turned to leave, and the village chief called out, "Tomorrow the old fox spirit wants to send someone to demand tribute again. This time, the lot fell on your daughter, be prepared."


    Chen Gouzi paused but continued towards the village gate as if he hadn''t heard.


    When he reached the village entrance, Li Dazhuang stepped forward and asked, "What did he say?"


    "The village chief said he wants to meet you first," Chen Gouzi nodded toward Shen Qing and said.


    Shen Qing straightened his back and said lightly, "Alright, please lead the way, gentlemen."

 Chapter 440 - 37: Hard Times

    The wagon wheel once again began to turn.


    Shen Qing, along with several others, entered the village.


    Shangao Village was secluded, seldom visited by outsiders, especially those who appeared to have a distinguished status.


    As he walked into the village, other villagers who had heard the news came to see what was going on.


    "Look how handsome he is! His eyes are truly beautiful."


    "What material is his clothing made of? It looks all shiny. It''s such a shame that such fine fabric is torn."


    "..."


    The villagers gathered together, pointing and discussing Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing lay on a broken plank, eyes closed, resting his spirit and paying no attention to the villagers.


    "Village chief, the guest has arrived."


    The village chief removed the smoking pipe from his lips. The glossy pipe shimmered lightly under the sunlight.


    He gently caressed the surface of the pipe, shook it under the doorway, and placed it on the stone threshold beside him.


    After completing these actions, the village chief slowly stood up and walked over to Shen Qing, examining him from head to toe.


    He had been to Jinzhou Province City and had seen the world a bit.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s attire and demeanor, he realized that this man was either wealthy or noble and was out of the ordinary.


    The village chief tentatively asked, "May I have the honor of knowing your distinguished family name?"


    Shen Qing leaned on the plank and his gaze fell on the old man before him, inspecting him in turn. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although he was slightly injured, his divine sense remained sharp, and he could see that the village chief before him was a common man, his Qi-Blood degenerating, and had never practiced martial arts.


    Shen Qing smiled slightly, with a mischievous curvature forming at his lips, "I am simply called Shen."


    "So it is Mr. Shen in person." The village chief was very polite and continued probing, "May I ask from where Mr. Shen has arrived to our modest place, and what brings you here? Is there anything we can assist you with?"


    Shen Qing, having emerged from a sea of blood on his journey, unintentionally exuded a dominative aura, which made this insightful village chief not take him lightly.


    The village chief felt the subtle but present aura of Shen Qing and his attitude became even more respectful.


    "I have come from the Capital City and would like to request a night''s lodging in your village."


    "Capital City?" The village chief was momentarily stunned; he knew of the place¡ªit was thousands of miles away: "Surely, sir, you jest."


    These villagers, living in isolation year-round, knew very little of the outside world and could not even recognize all localities.


    Let alone acknowledge the existence of martial masters with the capabilities of reaching the Primordial Spirit Realm or Kongyou Realm.


    Such beings were too few and seemed nearly immortal to them.


    Shen Qing did not elaborate further or enlighten them.


    Seeing Shen Qing''s composed demeanor, the village chief''s heart skipped a beat, wondering if it could be true?


    He became somewhat uncertain.


    The Capital City was a place where only high-ranking officials and nobles could reside.


    This young gentleman before him might be of high stature.


    Moreover, observing his movements, which resembled the martial master from the neighboring village, it was clear he had trained in martial arts.


    For these ordinary folks, he was not someone they could reckon with.


    Immediately, the village chief respectfully said, "As Mr. Shen has traveled from afar and desires to rest in our village, he is indeed a distinguished guest, and it is naturally our duty to offer hospitality."


    "Chen Gouzi."


    The called Chen Gouzi stood out from the crowd, his face blank, unsure of the village chief''s intentions.


    The village chief said, "Since Mr. Shen came with you, he will stay at your place today. Make sure to take good care of him."


    Chen Ergou was a bit stunned, about to object, but seeing the serious expression on the village chief''s face, he swallowed his words.


    "Alright, everyone disperse, go back to your homes," the village chief waved his hand to clear the crowd.


    The gathered villagers at his doorstep scattered.


    Following the instructions, a listless Chen Gouzi led the donkey cart, taking Shen Qing toward a direction in the village.


    Along the road, villagers cast curious glances, some approached to greet him while others stood at a distance and watched silently.


    Shen Qing ignored them all.


    After a while, Chen Gouzi brought Shen Qing in front of an old house.


    "Sir, this is my home."


    As Chen Gouzi spoke, he hopped off the donkey cart and reached out to assist Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing rose from the donkey cart and stepped down.


    Chen Gouzi then shouted into the house, "Old woman, tidy up a room."


    Upon hearing Chen Gouzi''s call, a dark-skinned village woman came out of the house, followed by a little girl with pigtails, looking to be only three or four years old.


    Seeing Shen Qing and noticing his gaze, the little girl timidly hid again.


    The village woman, having pulled him aside, spoke urgently, "That vermin is coming tomorrow, what are we going to do about Niuniu?"


    As she spoke, her eyes reddened and tears threatened to fall.


    Chen Gouzi said nothing further, glanced at the little girl behind the woman, and after a moment of silence, he replied, "We''ll talk about it tomorrow."


    Shen Qing, whose mind was entirely focused on cultivation, had little interest in prying into the domestic affairs of Chen Gouzi and his wife.


    During the journey here, he had continuously practiced the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique and secretly consumed a spiritual elixir to regain much of his strength, enough to move about, but still insufficient.


    He still needed some more time.


    Shen Qing walked toward the house, noticing that Chen Gouzi''s home furnishing was extremely simple; a table and several crooked legged stools made up all the furniture.


    At the center of the main room, a makeshift altar was built against the wall with yellow clay, atop which sat an incense burner honoring a small yellow flag.


    Aside from that, the vast space was left with only dim yellow walls, starkly displaying the poverty.


    It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say the home was practically bare.


    "Big brother, are you staying at our house?"


    The little girl in the main room, with her big dark eyes full of curiosity, asked Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing lightly nodded, without making a sound.


    Outside, the woman wiped her tears and returned inside, pulling the girl aside and said, "I''ll go make up a bed for you, sir."


    "No need, I''ll just sit here for the night."


    The woman seemed surprised, she continued to ask, "Would you like something to eat then?"


    "Not needed!"


    The woman was puzzled by Shen Qing''s behavior.


    Whenever government officers from the city visited in the past, they wouldn''t leave without having their fill and causing trouble.


    Sometimes, they''d even keep the prettier women to toy with.


    She thought Shen Qing would be the same, but he wanted nothing.


    This was indeed rare.


    Shen Qing didn''t elaborate further; he found a clean spot, sat down cross-legged, and focused on meditating.


    Seeing his actions, the woman did not disturb him any further.


    After a while, the little girl found a meditation cushion somewhere and brought it to Shen Qing, straining under its size. "Here!"


    The cushion, almost larger than her body, seemed to nearly topple her as she struggled with its weight.


    Shen Qing looked down at the somewhat tattered but clean cushion, accepted it, and spoke softly, "Thank you."


    The little girl asked curiously, "Big brother, they say you''re from Capital City. What place is that?"


    "It''s a very distant place," Shen Qing replied patiently.


    "Is it fun there?"


    Shen Qing said, "It''s not very fun, but there''s a lot to eat. If you went there, you could enjoy candied hawthorns, various cakes, and even meat."


    The little girl''s eyes lit up but dimmed quickly, "I can''t go, I''m going to die tomorrow."

 Chapter 441 - 38: The gentleman does not save, the sage is not reluctant to do what is right

    "Dead?" Shen Qing looked at the little girl, somewhat puzzled, and said, "You''re fine, why say you''ll be dead tomorrow?"


    The little girl blinked her bright eyes and said innocently, "I''m going to serve Huang Daxian tomorrow. All the children from the village who went there never came back, so I guess I won''t come back either, which means I''ll be dead."


    Shen Qing continued to ask, "Huang Daxian? A demon?"


    "Shh!" The little girl made a hushing gesture, worriedly looking around, and said cautiously, "Huang Daxian doesn''t allow others to talk about it like that."


    So, it was a demon.


    Shen Qing understood in his heart.


    "A Liang said that Huang Daxian likes children. If a village doesn''t send anyone, it gets very angry. Many villages have been completely eaten by it for not sending children. I don''t want my parents to die," the little girl said seriously.


    Shen Qing looked at the little girl''s innocent face and, after a moment, said, "Aren''t you afraid?"


    The little girl smiled brightly, her eyes curving into crescent moons, "Not afraid. A Liang said that when people die, it''s just like falling asleep; it doesn''t hurt."


    Shen Qing said, "So you want to die?" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The little girl shook her head, "I don''t want to."


    Shen Qing asked, "Do you want to live?"


    The little girl hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Hmm, I want to take care of my parents before dying."


    Shen Qing said solemnly, "Then don''t go out tomorrow. Stay by my side."


    The little girl waved her hand, nervously saying, "Tomorrow, Huang Daxian will send someone over. If you stop them, they''ll kill you."


    "No problem, let them come and kill me," Shen Qing said indifferently.


    The little girl glanced at Shen Qing, seeing his pale face and somewhat weak appearance, yet somehow feeling reassured by him.


    She hesitated for a moment, nodded firmly, "Okay. Big brother, you''re like A Liang."


    Shen Qing asked, "Who is A Liang?"


    "My big brother."


    "Where did he go?"


    "He went to Huang Daxian and died."


    Shen Qing fell silent.


    With a creak, the worn wooden door opened.


    A dark-skinned woman pushed the door open and walked in.


    She held a basket filled with freshly picked vegetables from the field, exuding an alluring fragrance.


    "Niuniu, come quickly, there''s your favorite sweet potato," the woman said gently, shaking the basket slightly.


    The little girl ran excitedly to the woman''s side, "Wow! Great, I want to eat, I want to eat."


    "Don''t worry, it''s all yours."


    A mist of tears covered the woman''s eyes, as if she was trying hard not to cry.


    After a while, the woman came out of the kitchen with a plate of freshly steamed sweet potatoes, steaming hot.


    The little girl grabbed one and took a big bite, very happy, as if eating a lavish feast.


    Chen Gouzi and the woman couldn''t bear to watch this scene and went outside.


    Shen Qing took it all in.


    A cold light flashed in his eyes, and he looked away, slowly closing his eyes, seriously cultivating to heal his injuries.


    Shen Qing gently touched his treasure pouch, taking out a golden yellow pill, its rich medicinal fragrance spreading.


    This was a Revitalizing Pill he had scavenged from Xue Zhao, greatly beneficial for healing and restoring spiritual power.


    Shen Qing pinched the Revitalizing Pill between two fingers and threw it into his mouth to chew.


    At that moment, a fresh and fragrant aroma wafted from his mouth.


    This was the unique medicinal fragrance of the Revitalizing Pill.


    Shen Qing couldn''t help but think of the chrysanthemums he saw at the Chrysanthemum Festival; amazingly, this pill was comparable, with traces of spiritual essence.


    As Shen Qing continued to chew, the pill gradually turned into a warm, spiritual liquid, sliding down his throat into his abdomen.


    Immediately, a warm and powerful force began to spread within him, like countless small streams converging into rivers, flowing ceaselessly.


    This force was full of vitality, nourishing every inch of his flesh, reviving it anew.


    Shen Qing closed his eyes, focused, guiding this force through the specific meridian routes of his cultivation technique, first rushing straight up the Governor Vessel, then slowly sinking via the Conception Vessel, permeating every acupuncture point, forming a perfect cycle.


    In this process, the damaged meridians, muscles, even bones, and primordial spirit within him were visibly recuperating under the nourishment and restoration of this spiritual power.


    Shen Qing felt his broken bones rejoining, his damaged meridians becoming unobstructed, even the ghastly wounds on his body rapidly scabbing over and falling off, revealing intact skin.


    When the last trace of spiritual power integrated into his Qi Sea, and the refinement was complete, Shen Qing exhaled heavily. He felt the previous weakness and powerlessness gradually dissipate, replaced by an unprecedented ease and comfort.


    This good medicine had been immensely helpful to him.


    However, the spiritual energy here was sparse. Relying solely on spiritual energy to heal injuries was extremely slow, not to mention the slow refinement of the medicinal power.


    Shen Qing slowly opened his eyes, seeing the light outside the window, realizing he had unknowingly practiced until late at night.


    The Chen Gouzi family had already gone to rest.


    He flexed his fingers, sensing the changes in his spiritual power within, about four to five-tenths of what it was in his peak state.


    Not enough.


    Shen Qing then consecutively took out two more pills from his treasure pouch, putting them into his mouth, continuing the refinement and healing process.


    Time ticked by.


    The east turned white, the village rooster crowed repeatedly, and many men in the village got up to work while the weather was cool.


    The household where Shen Qing stayed, Chen Gouzi''s family, also got up early.


    But unlike others, Chen Gouzi did not go out after getting up early. Instead, he sat dazed at his doorstep.


    That morning, the little girl wore new clothes, lively and vibrant, shedding much of her unique rustic aura.


    The woman specially cooked two eggs, peeling one and handing it to the little girl while saying, "Be good when you go to Huang Daxian today, understand?"


    The little girl nodded heavily, her eyes fixed on the white egg, her legs swinging under the chair, "I got it, mom."


    "Eat up."


    The woman handed the egg to the little girl, who sweetly ate it, then suddenly remembered something, picked up the last egg on the table, and offered it to Shen Qing, "Big brother, do you want an egg?"


    Shen Qing opened his eyes, looking at the lone egg in her hand, feeling a mix of emotions.


    He wasn''t someone who liked meddling in others'' affairs.


    But as the saying goes, a gentleman does not save the world, but a sage must act.


    Some things, he could take charge of.


    Shen Qing was about to say something when suddenly there was a commotion outside.

 Chapter 442 - 39: Outrage of Both Humans and Gods, Beaten to Death on the Spot

    ```


    Shangao Village, a commotion erupted at the village entrance.


    A group of disheveled ruffians appeared at the village entrance.


    A variety of weapons hung at their waists, the leader a brawny man in grey, his face full of menace, bursting with Qi-Blood, clearly a martial master cultivator, not someone to be trifled with.


    The village women standing at the entrance, frightened at the sight, turned around and ran, eliciting laughter from them.


    One of them couldn''t help but whistle like a rogue, behaving licentiously.


    The brawny leader adjusted his belt and walked grandly into the village, shouting, "We are here by the order of Huang Daxian, to demand a young girl or boy as ''practitioners.'' Have you prepared one?"


    Many in the village, hearing the name "Huang Daxian," were filled with fear.


    They all knew, Huang Daxian was a Weasel with spiritual wisdom, overflowing with demonic power, lurking nearby, with an insatiable appetite for human flesh and blood.


    Several villages had already been devoured by it.


    Now, every two months, a young boy or girl is randomly selected from nearby villages for a tasting feast.


    If they do not comply, the entire village is slaughtered.


    No village dared to defy them.


    This group of ruffians were the lackeys of "Huang Daxian," roaming street by street, collecting children.


    It is said that the leading ruffian was favored by "Huang Daxian," and, by a stroke of luck, obtained a Martial Arts cultivation technique, significantly advancing his cultivation.


    He is now a martial master of the Bone Refining Realm, with astonishing strength.


    No peasant could possibly rival him.


    Facing this group of ruffians, the villagers, though resentful, bottled their feelings, fearing that any misstep might provoke them, leading to greater disaster.


    Upon hearing the shout, they all instinctively hunched their shoulders.


    The village chief of Shangao Village rushed over, smiling amiably, he said, "Ah, it''s the envoys, sorry for the lack of welcome, please forgive us. This way, please..."


    "Did you prepare the ''practitioners''?" the brawny leader stared at the village chief.


    The village chief promptly replied, "It''s ready, it''s ready. This time it''s from Chen Gouzi''s family."


    "Again from his family? Alright, don''t try any tricks. Xia ao Village on the other side of the mountain didn''t provide the ''practitioners,'' angering ''Huang Daxian,'' and now... there''s no Xia ao Village anymore."


    The village chief said, "I understand, I understand. We won''t break the rules, I''ll take the envoys right over."


    "No rush."


    The group of ruffians appeared relaxed, evidently not in a hurry to complete their ''mission.''


    The leader of the ruffians stopped him, smirking, and said, "We''ve been traveling all the way here, and we''re starving, find us a place to rest."


    The village chief wore a difficult expression.


    Their village was far from the center of authority, free from oppressive taxes, but the land was barren and harvests were slim, leaving little grain throughout the year.


    Each household had little surplus, unwilling to give it to these ruffians.


    "What, reluctant?" The brawny leader raised his brow, dissatisfied, "Looks like you hold ''Huang Daxian'' in no regard, huh?"


    The village chief tightened his expression, quickly smiling apologetically, "You jest, envoys, how could we not host you when you''ve come such a distance! Please, this way."


    Reluctantly, the village chief led them to his home.


    Along the way, when they saw chickens or ducks in someone''s yard, they''d rush in and grab them as if it were their own home.


    The villagers, angered but silent, could only hide indoors, locking windows and doors, seething with resentment as they listened to the chaos outside.


    The leading ruffian twisted the chickens and ducks'' necks, killing them on the spot, tossing them to the village chief, instructing, "Quickly make some duck soup, fry a chicken, and get some wine."


    The village chief grimaced, "Our backwater place is poor, where would we get drinks for you?"


    "When I tell you to prepare, just prepare, no more nonsense!"


    "Yes, yes, yes..."


    The village chief took the chickens and ducks to the kitchen, handing them to the old woman at home to handle.


    The brawny leader, unrestrained, wandered around the living room for a while, found a long bench, sat down with the other ruffians, and said gleefully, "Speaking of which, two months ago, when I went to the village in the west, there was a family named Zhao, only a young woman at home, her husband died of illness years ago. She was left a widow."


    "You wouldn''t believe it, that widow was juicy. Splashed all over me."


    "Ah, really, never heard you mention that!" The other ruffians, curious, pressed for more.


    "Just a minor deal. The women in this village are no good, wait a couple of months, and if you come with me again, I''ll take you to that village, there''s a couple of savory ones."


    "Great, great. It''s settled then."


    "Rest assured, I mean what I say."


    After a while, hot duck soup and several plates of chicken and duck were brought out.


    Along with it, a pot of wine and a dish of peanuts were served.


    "Old man, you know your place," the brawny leader laughed.


    The ruffians, without a word, started eating, gobbling down with vigor, the scene was spectacular.


    They squinted, nudged, tussled, eating until they were drenched in sweat, locked in struggle with the chicken and duck bones.


    In a moment, the plates and cups were empty, a complete mess.


    After the chicken and duck feast, they all had a ruddy complexion.


    The brawny leader, half-full, patted his stomach contentedly and said, "Thanks for the meal. Let''s get to business. Lead the way!"


    ``` S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 443 - 39: Outrage Among Gods and Humans, Killed on the Spot_2

    A few ruffians gradually walked out of the village head''s house, with the village head hunched and expressionless leading them towards Chen Gouzi''s home.


    At this time, they were full from drink and food and in an extremely pleasant mood, humming all the way.


    One of the ruffians suddenly paused his steps, stopping in front of a simple earthen house.


    The wooden door was half-closed, making it hard to see inside.


    "Old Five, what''s up?"


    "I just saw a girl, she''s so pretty. Who said the girls in this village aren''t good-looking? Wait for me a moment."


    A brawny ruffian, with a malicious grin, walked towards the half-closed wooden door.


    Bang.


    The wooden door slammed shut.


    The ruffian, however, laughed instead of getting angry: "I knew there''s a lovely girl living in here."


    He suddenly crashed into the door, pushing it open and stormed inside with big strides.


    Inside the house, sunlight streamed through the door onto a young girl.


    She was so frightened by the sudden change that her face lost all color, terrified, and backed away, trembling: "What are... what do you want?"


    The ruffian who broke in, leered as he reached out to grab the girl''s wrist and said: "Little lady, don''t be afraid, come have some fun with us."


    The girl struggled desperately, tears bursting out: "Let go of me. Let go of me!"


    However, she was just a girl with no strength, being forcibly dragged into the room by the ruffian, towards the bed.


    "Help!"


    Her cries were sharp and desperate, carried far away.


    Unfortunately, the cries seemed to sink into the sea with no response.


    Although villagers rushed over upon hearing, they all hid at a distance, only daring to gather secretly to peek.


    Their eyes were filled with anger and helplessness, and no one dared to step forward to stop it.


    "This bunch of beasts, they''re completely lawless!"


    Someone in the crowd cursed under their breath, clenching their fists in anger, shaking all over.


    "Worse than animals!"


    Another villager replied bitterly: "But what can we do? Even if we could fight them, they have Huang Daxian backing them, and once provoked, none of us can escape, only to die."


    Meanwhile, Chen Gouzi heard the commotion in the village and knew those ruffians had come, sitting dejectedly at the doorway.


    Beside him, the woman behind him was heartbroken, holding the little girl tightly, tears streaming down.


    The little girl blinked her bright eyes, looking exceptionally calm, she comforted in a childish voice: "Dad, Mom, don''t be afraid, big brother will protect me."


    Chen Gouzi and his wife didn''t take the little girl''s words seriously.


    In their view, how could such a prestigious person be willing to stand up for them?


    Just as they were thinking this, Shen Qing, who was meditating on the ground, stood up.


    After a whole night and half a day''s recuperation, he was able to move freely, with his cultivation restored to about fifty percent.


    Shen Qing walked straight out the door.


    "Big brother, where are you going?" the little girl asked curiously.


    Shen Qing didn''t look back and said: "Going to take care of something, I''ll be back soon, you stay here, don''t go anywhere."


    The little girl didn''t understand but nodded and agreed: "Okay!"


    Inside the earthen house, the screams of the girl continued, causing surrounding villagers to feel unbearable.


    "Look, it''s that young master brought back yesterday, he''s coming over."


    "What is he trying to do? Is he going in there to rescue San Ni?" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Crazy, definitely crazy! Does this young man think he''s invincible?"


    "Even if he gets rid of this group of ruffians, what''s the use, with ''Huang Daxian'' behind them, he can wipe out our village with ease!"


    The villagers whispered, talking amongst themselves.


    Shen Qing ignored them, walking steadily towards the little earthen house under the villagers'' surprised gazes, step by step.


    He pushed open the door, and a stale and damp smell hit him in the face.


    Inside the house, a half-clothed girl was curled up in the corner, eyes full of despair and fear.


    The ruffian inside, still smirking, was closing in, playing with the girl like a cat and mouse.


    Noticing Shen Qing''s arrival, the ruffian was stunned for a moment, then sneered: "Where did this stinkin'' beggar come from, dare ruin my fun? Get lost, or else, don''t blame me for being impolite..."


    Before he finished the last word, Shen Qing expressionless, flashed and was in front of him immediately.


    Shen Qing reached out, directly grabbing the ruffian by the neck, easily lifting him up.


    The ruffian was shocked, his legs kicking wildly in the air, hands clawing at Shen Qing''s arm.


    Unfortunately, no matter how he struggled, it was futile.


    With a twist of his wrist, Shen Qing directly crushed the ruffian''s throat.


    The ruffian''s legs went limp, his life ended instantly, and everything returned to calm.


    "Ah!" The girl screamed in terror.


    Shen Qing paid no heed.


    He casually tore off the ruffian''s head and walked out grandly.


    When Shen Qing appeared in everyone''s sight again, the bloody head in his hand rendered everyone instantly silent.


    In the sunlight, his gaze was icy like frost, sending an indescribable chill down everyone''s spine present.


    It seemed like the temperature dropped a few degrees on the scene.


    Shen Qing tossed the bloody head casually, glanced at the other ruffians, and asked: "Are you the ones wanting to take Niuniu away?"


    His voice was not loud yet clearly heard by everyone, exuding an aura unique to someone in power.


    The leader snapped out of it, barking threateningly: "Audacious, do you know who we are?"


    Shen Qing let out a cold laugh, his eyes icy causing people to shiver with fear: "Of course I know who you are. Don''t doubt it, I came here for you."


    Now, having broken through to the Primordial Spirit level, his consciousness was sharp.


    He sensed them as soon as they entered the village.


    He never planned to let this group go.


    The leader''s heart sank instantly, with a bad premonition, yet didn''t show much fear, instead laughed heartily: "Coming for us? Look at yourself, we''re numerous and powerful, who do you think you are?"


    Shen Qing said no more, his figure flickered like a specter appearing before the ruffians.


    The ruffians were immediately shocked, they hadn''t even seen Shen Qing''s shadow just now.


    The speed was unexpectedly this fast?


    A ruffian quickly swung his fist to meet.


    However, his fist was like a child''s before Shen Qing, without any threat.


    "Is this all you''ve got?" Shen Qing sneered disdainfully, extending a finger.


    A golden energy beam flashed by, and the ruffian''s head fell off.


    The surrounding ruffians let out a scream, faces full of shock and fear, retreating a few steps quickly.


    He''d never seen such a powerful martial artist, unable to comprehend Shen Qing.


    "Who...who on earth are you?" the leading ruffian asked nervously.


    "Who I am doesn''t matter, the dead don''t need to know much." Shen Qing replied in a cold tone, using a finger again.


    This time, the golden energy beam pierced through another ruffian''s chest, his eyes flashed an unwillingness, desperately trying to save himself.


    However, his chest had been penetrated, gushing blood, totally unstoppable.


    With a thud.


    This ruffian powerlessly fell to the ground.


    The remaining few were terrified, fleeing in panic but were too late, no way to escape Shen Qing''s grasps.


    In a moment, most of these ruffians, usually perpetuating evil deeds, lay in pools of blood, leaving only the leader alone.


    The scene was deathly silent.


    Countless villagers looked at Shen Qing standing in front of the wooden house, at the corpses all around, emotions surging within their hearts.


    "My God, how did he do it?"


    "It''s over, it''s over, he killed those ruffians, ''Huang Daxian'' definitely won''t let us go, we''re doomed."


    ...


    Shen Qing didn''t mind these remarks, walking straight to the lone leader, asking: "Where does Huang Daxian live?"


    "What do you want to do?"


    "I want to kill him!"

 Chapter 444 - 40: Massacre

    The burly man, upon hearing such words, froze with a stunned expression, his mouth agape as if capable of swallowing an egg.


    He came to his senses and said harshly, "Do you think it''s impressive that you killed a few of us? Brother Huang knows ''Immortal Law,'' which is not something a mere mortal like you can handle."


    "You''ve provoked us today, which is akin to slapping Brother Huang in the face. He will not let you off easily. If you know what''s good for you, there''s still time to beg for mercy!"


    "Ah!"


    Before he could finish speaking, a sudden intense pain shot through his finger.


    The ruffian looked down to find that, somehow, his left hand had flown off, completely severed by a sharp force.


    Thick blood plasma gushed continuously from the wound, pooling on the ground.


    Shen Qing said indifferently, "You''re not the only one who knows where that demon resides. If you spout another word of nonsense, you might as well join your brothers."


    In his tone, there was a killing intent, barely perceivable yet undeniable.


    He was, after all, a martial master of the Bone Refining Realm, with exceptionally strong muscle and bone.


    Yet, he had his hand chopped off in an instant.


    At that moment, the ruffian felt the hair on his body stand on end.


    This young man was too terrifying.


    Severe pain caused his cold sweat to flow continuously; he gritted his teeth and grimaced, yet dared not make any sound.


    "Unwilling?" Shen Qing''s lips parted, and he said with a cold smile, "Since that is the case..."


    "I''ll take you there, I''ll take you there. Please don''t kill me!" The ruffian''s face drastically changed as he begged urgently, "Brother Huang has invited a few friends today and is hosting a banquet in a nearby valley."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing''s expression darkened, "Lead the way!"


    He grabbed the ruffian by the collar, transformed into a streak of rainbow light, and soared into the sky, flying towards the south.


    The villagers of Shangao Village who were watching this scene were petrified.


    "A God! He truly is a God!"


    They hadn''t expected Shen Qing to be so extraordinary, which shocked them.


    The village chief said solemnly, "No, not a God, but a martial master."


    He murmured to himself, "No wonder he could travel thousands of miles from the Capital City to our place; I thought he was bragging, but it seems he was telling the truth after all."


    The village chief, well-traveled and knowledgeable, had heard that some top martial masters moved as swiftly as the wind, almost like immortals.


    Perhaps this young master from the Shen Family was of such kind.


    His throat dry, he realized they might have encountered an extraordinary individual.


    Between the valleys, the wind howled, and the sun hung high.


    A group of demons sat around a bonfire, with a huge bronze furnace in the center, from which steam rose and a nauseating stench emitted.


    Sitting beside the furnace, a large black bear with its legs crossed said leisurely, "Brother Huang, I''m amazed that in this remote valley, you could still gather so many infants; that''s truly commendable."


    "Haha, the Human Clan has always been deceitful. Just show them a bit of cruelty, instill fear in them, and they will think of ways to please you. Your straightforward method is too harsh, and Dog Brother is too soft." Beside the big black bear, a weasel as tall as a man earnestly spoke.


    "Brother Huang indeed knows how to control humans."


    "Stop joking, everyone; the banquet is almost ready. You all must try my culinary skills later."


    The Weasel Demon, proudly showing off the "delicacies" in the furnace to the other demons, had an excited expression on its sharp-featured face and laughed aloud, "Hahaha, brothers, the flesh and blood of these infants will definitely advance our cultivation!"


    The group of demons echoed the laughter, filling the valley with chilling sounds.


    Just then, as if the sky suddenly tore open, a streak of rainbow light like a shooting meteor descended, landing steadily before them.


    The light dissipated, revealing a tall figure: it was Shen Qing.


    His eyes piercing, he immediately saw the horrifying scene inside the bronze furnace, his face turning extremely cold.


    The ruffian being held by him saw the Weasel and other demons, and desperately cried out, "Sir, he killed our brothers..."


    Pfft!


    The burly ruffian hadn''t finished his speech when he suddenly fell silent.


    The Weasel Demon''s expression faltered, then he angrily yelled, "Who are you to lay your hands on my men? Are you tired of living?"


    To it, those ruffians, though they were no different from mere food, were ultimately its possessions.


    The fact that Shen Qing killed this ruffian right in front of it was a blatant provocation.


    "Who am I? The one who kills you."


    Shen Qing said calmly, cutting straight to the point.


    He raised his right hand, fingers forming a seal, and a golden Spiritual Power Seal gathered in his palm.


    Shen Qing''s figure flashed, and he instantly appeared beside a demon, promptly smashing the demon''s head into pieces with his palm.


    "How dare you!"


    The demons present were enraged, each brandishing their Magic Treasures and Demon Arts, attacking Shen Qing.


    The Weasel Demon roared furiously, transformed into a yellow light, and charged directly at Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing snorted coldly, utterly unconcerned.


    The group of demons'' assault seemed like child''s play to him, utterly nonthreatening.


    "Bang, bang, bang!"


    Shen Qing''s punches roared like thunder.


    Golden Seal Techniques continued to smash down.


    The Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal was fully activated. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Each golden seal contained terrifying power.


    The rumbling sound was deafening.


    Many demons fell under his onslaught as if they were leaves swept away by an autumn breeze.


    The Bear Demon attempted to withstand the Golden Seal Dharma Form with its brute physical strength, but it was futile.


    The golden seal was as heavy as a mountain, crushing down on it with immense weight, as if it were bearing a mountain range.


    Before it could even unleash its demonic power, it was smashed into a pile of mush.


    Seeing this, the Weasel Demon was shocked.


    It hadn''t expected Shen Qing''s strength to be so formidable and hastily picked up a yellow, spike-covered wolf tooth club from the ground.


    "To arms!"


    The Weasel Demon roared, swinging the wolf tooth club in an airtight manner as it smashed toward Shen Qing.


    The club, forged from the Human Clan''s fine iron, was incredibly heavy, beyond the resistance of any ordinary mortals.


    It was with this that it had built a fearsome reputation.


    Following its lead, the other demons also roared angrily and pounced toward Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing snorted coldly.


    Spiritual Power surged around his body, phantom vortices appearing around him.


    He walked forward step by step, solely with the strength of his Physical Body, striking forcefully.


    Under Shen Qing''s fists, the demons were like fragile porcelain, shattering upon contact.


    In merely a moment, most of the demons had fallen dead or injured, the few remaining retreating continuously out of fear, daring not to approach again.


    Realizing the challenge before it, a glint of wariness and fierceness flashed in the Weasel Demon''s eyes.


    It knew well that if they couldn''t take down Shen Qing today, these demons would have no place to be buried.


    "Brothers, don''t fear him! We are many, and together we can surely kill him!"


    The Weasel Demon shouted loudly.


    The few remaining demons exchanged glances, their animal instincts erupting as they burst forth, rushing at Shen Qing.


    "Kill!"

 Chapter 445 - 41: Slaying the Yellow-Skinned Demon, A Bountiful Harvest

    The demons went mad, each resembling a beast.


    The Weasel Demon lay prostrate on the ground, took a deep breath, puffed up its cheeks, and blew fiercely.


    Instantly, a violent wind arose, and yellow sand filled the sky.


    A tornado swept towards Shen Qing, engulfing him in its embrace.


    Within the tornado, Shen Qing felt the sharpness of the wind. The sharp sand struck his skin, crackling loudly, and sparks even flew from many spots.


    Had an ordinary person been present, they would certainly have been flayed open, if not reduced to a skeleton.


    "Ha ha ha, once caught in my yellow wind, death is certain, even copper skin and iron bones would turn into a pile of scrap."


    "Oh? Is that so?"


    Shen Qing''s calm voice came from within the tornado.


    The next moment, a dazzling golden light, like the sun, slowly rose.


    A supreme golden seal formed.


    Boom!


    Golden ripples spread out.


    The tornado was dispersed with a single surge.


    The Weasel Demon hadn''t even had time to react before the golden seal appeared above its head and pressed down.


    "Ah!" The Weasel Demon screamed.


    The golden seal merged with the earth.


    The Weasel Demon''s voice came to an abrupt halt. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Its life force was completely extinguished by the Six Paths Reincarnation Seal, dying without leaving a trace.


    The other demons, upon seeing this, were terrified and attempted to flee.


    "Leaving now? Too late! Better to accept fate!"


    Shen Qing''s voice was bone-chilling, making the demons shudder without being cold.


    With a flash, he suddenly held a treasure bow in his hands.


    Shen Qing''s arms strained, and the bow was drawn fully.


    One after another, arrows made of condensed spiritual power shot out relentlessly from the bow.


    The arrows arrived in an instant, the fleeing demons were struck and shattered.


    The valley echoed with the screams of demons and the sound of Shen Qing''s arrows.


    The scene was chaotic.


    In just a moment, no living demon could be seen in the valley; all were killed by him.


    The valley was filled with the thick scent of blood.


    The noon sun still could not disperse it.


    Shen Qing walked on, his eyes cold and icy.


    Corpses littered the valley; demon bodies and human bones.


    Each step he took made a dull sound.


    Shen Qing surveyed his surroundings and saw chaos everywhere, with many human bones scattered in the depths.


    He noticed fresh bloodstains and vascular patterns on these bones, many of which showed signs of being gnawed, clearly they had not long been dead.


    The skeletons were all small, revealing that these individuals were young before they died.


    A hard-to-describe anger flashed in Shen Qing''s eyes.


    These demons, feeding on humans, especially children, were truly detestable.


    Even the usually steady Shen Qing felt a wave of unrest within him.


    Shen Qing closed his eyes, refusing to look further.


    He spread out his Divine Sense to search for the remains of the demons.


    Moments later, Shen Qing opened his eyes, having determined his course.


    He moved swiftly, his figure darting through the valley.


    Before long, his hands were filled with all manner of precious spiritual medicines, each emitting a faint glow.


    These demons were all born in a land rich with Spiritual Energy, possessing many precious medicines.


    Now, they had all fallen into his hands.


    Not only that, but Shen Qing also conveniently took out the Demon Cores of those slain demons one by one.


    These Demon Cores, round and crystalline, glowing with a strange light within, were greatly beneficial to martial masters like them.


    After examining his gains carefully, Shen Qing found himself in possession of as many as thirteen Demon Cores and over twenty different precious medicine plants¡ªa substantial bounty.


    Having taken care of this, Shen Qing grabbed the Weasel Demon and several intact demon corpses, soared into the air, and turned into a trail of Rainbow Light, descending toward Shangao Village.


    Inside Shangao Village,


    Most of the villagers had gathered at the village chief''s home, the noise was deafening, and the atmosphere was chaotic.


    "The village chief, it''s getting late, and that person hasn''t returned. What if he never comes back? When Huang Daxian seeks blame, what shall we do then?"


    "Indeed, Huang Daxian knows Immortal Law, if it comes here, our entire village will be doomed."


    "..."


    While everyone was discussing, Niuniu loudly voiced her dissent, "Nonsense! Big brother won''t abandon us!"


    The other villagers glanced at the little girl but did not take her words seriously.


    Seeing this, the little girl''s face turned red with urgency.


    "Village chief, won''t you say something?"


    Someone urged the village chief, who was puffing away at his pipe.


    The village chief blew out a puff of smoke and said, "No rush, let''s wait a little longer."


    "Wait more? If we wait any longer, disaster might befall us!"


    Just then, the sky suddenly darkened as if a huge cloud had covered the sun.


    The villagers looked up to see several dark shadows descending from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground.


    A billow of dust rose, revealing the gigantic head of a Weasel.


    The villagers were scared out of their wits.


    "Ah, no good, Huang Daxian is in the village!"


    Upon hearing this, the villagers became frantically panicked, running around like headless flies.


    Even the usually composed village chief stood up in fear, shuddering, considering to flee.


    "Big brother!"


    The little girl suddenly cried out, calling out excitedly.


    Following her shout, the other villagers looked and saw Shen Qing, with his upper body bare, stepping out from behind Huang Daxian.


    All the villagers were stunned.


    With all eyes on him, Shen Qing walked slowly to the little girl and, touching the top of her head, he said, "Today, tomorrow, and the days thereafter, you won''t have to die."


    The little girl was confused, not grasping the deeper meaning of Shen Qing''s words.


    Chen Gouzi, standing behind her, immediately understood and fell to his knees with a thud, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you, Lord, for your great kindness. I have no way to repay you, except to serve as your ox or horse in my next life."


    With a casual lift of his hand, Shen Qing raised Chen Gouzi as if an invisible force had gently lifted him.


    "Live this life well. Whether there''s a next life is another matter," Shen Qing said indifferently.


    The village chief squeezed through the crowd to approach Shen Qing, choking back his saliva, he asked in astonishment, "Lord, is Huang Daxian dead?"


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "It''s lying right in front of you."


    The village chief gasped.


    The braver villagers went forward to look and saw the Weasel Demon, the size of a man, and gasped in shock.


    Someone shouted, "It''s dead, it''s dead! The beast is truly dead!"


    Instantly, the villagers burst into cheers and swarmed over to examine the demon corpse.


    Shen Qing told the village chief, "Find a clean place, don''t disturb me, I need to rest."


    The village chief excitedly called out, "Sanlengzi, your house is the cleanest. Stay at your brother''s for a few days and let Lord Shen use it!"


    The named Sanlengzi happily responded, "Alright, alright, I''ll take my old woman out right away."


    With that, he ran off, his face brimming with a smile, as if he had done something immensely honorable.

 Chapter 446 - 42: Refining the Demon Core, Future Plans

    That evening, Shangao Village lit up with bonfires, and the villagers sang and danced around them. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In daylight, a furry, robust leg of "Huang Daxian" had been chopped off by the villagers, cut into pieces, and roasted by the fireside.


    Juices sizzled from the fatty meat.


    Many villagers gathered around the demon''s carcass, eagerly devouring it with smiles on their faces.


    The flesh of this demon was rich in essence. Many young people in the village felt their bodies become robust and their strength greatly increase after eating it.


    Even the village chief looked radiant and spirited.


    As he ate, the village chief suddenly remembered something and called a young man, "Hurry, take some of this roasted meat to Young Master Shen. We mustn''t hog this all to ourselves and forget our benefactor."


    "Hey, Sanlengzi has already taken it. But, you know, he''s an Immortal; he doesn''t care for such trifles and won''t eat them."


    The village chief was surprised and curiously looked in a particular direction of the village.


    In Shangao Village, inside a tidy earthen house.


    On a flat wooden bed, Shen Qing sat cross-legged, his body surrounded by a faint halo of Spiritual Energy.


    With his eyes closed and concentrating, his hands formed seals, beginning to refine the precious medicine and Demon Core in his hands.


    Generally, a Demon Core contains many impurities and violent energy, which would need to be neutralized with other medicinal herbs, but for Shen Qing, who had now reached the Primordial Spirit Realm, this was no longer necessary.


    He could remove these impurities and violent energies with his Primordial Spirit. After purging the impurities, he could directly consume the refined Demon Core to strengthen himself.


    After a day''s refining, Shen Qing had purified more than a dozen Demon Cores.


    With a thought, he circulated his Physical and Spiritual Power.


    The Spiritual Medicines and Demon Cores, one by one, were swallowed into his stomach, transforming into a gentle stream that slowly merged into his body.


    Each droplet was filled with mighty Life Force and pure energy.


    As these precious medicines and Demon Cores were refined, Shen Qing''s aura gradually became profound and powerful.


    Inside him, Spiritual Power continuously travelled through his blood and meridians, following a specific route mapped out by the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique.


    Bright lights lit up in his acupoints, connecting to form a mottled and complex pathway.


    Gradually, his skin became translucent, and the surrounding fluctuations of Spiritual Power grew stronger.


    Nourished by this power, every circulation of Spiritual Power enhanced his cultivation, eased his injuries, and even repaired his damaged Primordial Spirit.


    After an indeterminate period, Shen Qing emerged from his meditation, returning to lucidity and slowly exhaling a breath of stale air, stirring his Primordial Spirit.


    Suddenly, another Shen Qing, identical to him, burst from his body and floated in front of him.


    This Primordial Spirit had many fine cracks on one arm, and upon closer inspection, one could see that it was missing a piece the size of a thumb, a result of forcibly using the Ancient Blade.


    Repairing it would not be an overnight task.


    Under Shen Qing''s control, the dazzling golden Primordial Spirit stretched its body, distancing itself from its host.


    The Primordial Spirit then stood silently on an unnamed barren hill.


    After about a quarter of an hour there, Shen Qing felt the cold wind slashing at him like knives from the sky, making it difficult to endure.


    He silently estimated that this time his Primordial Spirit could fly two miles away and last for a quarter of an hour.


    Compared to before, there was significant Progress, but there was still a vast difference from the true Kongyou Realm, where the Primordial Spirit could become a second life, traversing the heavens and earth freely.


    At this moment, time and distance had reached the limits that his Primordial Spirit could endure.


    Shen Qing did not linger outside any longer and returned to his original self.


    He hurried along, but his mind was preoccupied with planning for the future.


    Right now, Ji Zikong, by slaughtering a clan member in front of everyone, clearly showed his hand, abandoning his identity as an emperor, wanting to monopolize all the spiritual martial mechanisms to vie for the Great Dao.


    In addition, various major families deliberately breeding demons had led to demons rampaging everywhere, devouring human lives.


    Shangao Village was just a part of this.


    The world had already lost order, and great chaos was imminent.


    In such chaotic times, being targeted by Ji Zikong, he might be retaliated against at any moment; the slightest carelessness could result in death and the annihilation of his path.


    "It seems I need to quickly enhance my strength," Shen Qing silently considered, "If I face Ji Zikong again, I should at least be at the Great Perfection of the Kongyou Realm to stand a fighting chance. The cultivation of the Unity Realm is too powerful; such martial masters are very hard to kill."


    "The spiritual power in Jinzhou is too sparse, unsuitable for cultivation. I''ll have to go somewhere else once my injuries have improved a bit more."


    Shen Qing thought for a moment and made his decision.


    Withdrawing his thoughts, Shen Qing continued to sit cross-legged, channeling the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique.


    The spiritual power inside his body began to surge, continuously moving in the Grand Circulation, making his internal spiritual power increasingly abundant.


    After an unknown amount of time, Shen Qing suddenly awoke from his cultivation.


    He opened his eyes, which flashed with sharp light.


    At this moment, he realized that his body''s injuries had mostly healed and were no longer a major concern. Even the skirmish with Ji Zikong had brought some insights that were beneficial to the advancement of his cultivation.


    "It''s about time to leave."


    Shen Qing stood up, feeling the surging spiritual energy within his body, in high spirits.


    He pushed the door open and saw the little girl Niuniu alone, playing hopscotch by the door.


    She saw Shen Qing and exclaimed joyously, "Big brother, you''ve finally come out."


    Shen Qing smiled and said, "You''ve been here this whole time?"


    Niuniu nodded, innocently saying, "Yeah. Everyone in the village says big brother is a ''True Immortal'' and doesn''t need to eat or drink, but I was worried, so I came to check on you."


    "Niuniu, have your dad come over, I have some things to ask him."


    "My dad went out to work; he won''t be back until noon."


    Shen Qing asked, "Is your village''s chief around then?"


    The little girl, Niuniu, nodded, "He is; he hasn''t gone out these past two days."


    "Good, I''ll go to him. You can go back now." Shen Qing took strides toward the village chief''s house.


    The little girl Niuniu called out to Shen Qing, "Big brother, are you leaving?"


    Shen Qing paused in his steps but did not answer.


    When Shen Qing arrived at the village chief''s house, the chief was, as usual, sitting on the threshold smoking his pipe.


    Upon seeing Shen Qing approaching, the chief quickly stood up, bowing and scraping, "Young Master Shen."


    "I need to ask you something," Shen Qing began.


    Shen Qing had killed that yellow skin and saved the entire Shangao Village, a great kindness to their village of dozens of people.


    Even though the chief might not be the clearest in other matters, he was very clear about such significant matters. He hurriedly said, "Young Master Shen, just ask. I definitely won''t conceal what I know."


    Shen Qing asked, "I want to ask you if you know about the Huang Tian Sect?"

 Chapter 447 - 43 The Blue Sky is Dead, Huang Tian Shall Rise

    "Huang Tian Sect?"


    The village chief carefully recalled, "Previously, there indeed was a group of Taoists carrying the Yellow Banner who came here, mentioning something about believing in Huang Tian. However, they didn''t stay here for long, and everyone later dismissed it as unimportant."


    "What''s the matter, Mr. Shen, why are you asking this all of a sudden?"


    Shen Qing replied, "Nothing much. I saw the symbol of the Huang Tian Sect in your village, and I was merely curious."


    When the HTaoist uangtian had attacked the Capital City, the power he demonstrated had astonished Shen Qing. He hadn''t expected that the unprepossessing Huang Tian Sect could be so formidable.


    Huang Furo had also mentioned to him that the sudden rise of the Huang Tian Sect and its development to this point were due to their inheritance from an Ancient Force.


    They possessed methods to detect and collect Spirit Essence, and their attacks on cities were largely aimed at acquiring Spirit Essence.


    This was the case with Taiping County as well.


    If he remembered correctly, Jinzhou City had once been conquered by the Huang Tian Sect.


    Maybe the symbols of the Huang Tian Sect appearing in Shangao Village were related to this matter, which was why he wanted to ask.


    However, the village chief of Shangao Village was just a slightly knowledgeable farmer, with limited understanding.


    He would hardly grasp the intricate reasons behind this, so there was no need to go into details with him.


    After pondering for a while, Shen Qing continued to ask, "You mentioned those Taoists appeared; did any abnormal phenomenon occur at that time?"


    "Indeed, there was," the village chief replied, energized. "About half a month before their arrival, one night, a star suddenly fell from the sky. I happened to be up at night and felt the ground shaking."


    Shen Qing''s mind tensed upon hearing this. It was undoubtedly celestial Spirit Essence!


    The Huang Tian Sect had come for that extraterrestrial Spirit Essence.


    "Since that day, have the number of demons in Yongzhou increased?"


    The village chief was slightly startled.


    He clearly hadn''t connected this event with the demons.


    After Shen Qing''s reminder, he realized that it was indeed the case.


    All incidents involving demons occurred after that day; there had been no mention of them in the past.


    He hesitantly said, "Mr. Shen, are you saying that the appearance of demons is related to that phenomenon?"


    Shen Qing neither confirmed nor denied.


    The village chief looked down at the ground, puffing on his pipe, his expression heavy with thoughts.


    "By the way, another thing I wanted to ask, apart from here, where else nearby have there been traces of demons?"


    The village chief sighed, feeling helpless, "Plenty. I''ve heard that many demons have settled down near Jinzhou City, though those demons aren''t conspicuous, and many people in Jinzhou City aren''t aware. Our situation here is relatively better, at least they only prey on the small ones; in other places, they don''t discriminate, devouring entire villages."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing couldn''t help feeling speechless.


    What a dreadful world this was.


    As they were speaking, Shen Qing suddenly felt an anomaly inside his Hundred Treasure Pouch. It was Shen Xiaohu.


    Over the recent period, he had tried to contact Shen Xiaohu via the Spirit Communication Mirror to understand the situation of the Huang Tian Sect, but every attempt had been met with silence, and he had received no response whatsoever.


    He had thought that Shen Xiaohu might have encountered some mishap, but it seemed that wasn''t the case¡ªXiao Hu was still alive.


    Shen Qing took out the Spirit Communication Mirror from the Hundred Treasure Pouch, and saw the words sent by Shen Xiaohu appearing on it.


    "The Daoist is dead!"


    What?


    The HTaoist uangtian is dead?


    Seeing these words, Shen Qing was shocked, and the memory of the HTaoist uangtian''s past awe-inspiring feats surfaced in his mind.


    He found it hard to believe that a being capable of contending with a martial master of the Unity Realm could just die like that.


    Shen Qing asked, "Was it Ji Zikong who chased after him?"


    "No, it was a true demon from beyond our realm, extremely terrifying."


    A true demon from beyond their realm?


    It was the first time Shen Qing had heard of it, and he was very puzzled. He asked, "How are you all faring?"


    "Our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land are safe for the moment, but as for the future, no one knows what might happen."


    Shen Qing put down the Spirit Communication Mirror, his expression growing ever more grave.


    The world was already chaotic enough, and now a true demon from another realm had emerged. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What might happen next was truly unpredictable.


    A thought struck Shen Qing, and he asked, "Has your Huang Tian Sect obtained a lot of Spirit Essence?"


    "Yes."


    "Is it still there?"


    "Some remains."


    "Have you also received the legacy of an Ancient Force?"


    "Our Holy Mountain is the site of an Ancient Force."


    An idea suddenly formed in Shen Qing''s mind, and he asked, "I want to join your Holy Sect, what does Xiao Hu think?"


    On the other side of the Spirit Communication Mirror, Shen Xiaohu saw this text and thought he had read it wrong.


    He had never expected that Brother Qingzi, who had become a dispatch officer, would one day want to join their Huang Tian Sect.


    Now the court of Great Zhou was completely paralyzed, and their Huang Tian Sect wasn''t much better off, being in a nearly lifeless state.


    Joining their Huang Tian Sect was not a wise decision now.


    Through the Spirit Communication Mirror, Shen Xiaohu asked, "Brother Qingzi, what is this¡­"


    "I am impressed by the foundation of your Huang Tian Sect," Shen Qing bluntly said, "I want to use the foundation of your Holy Land to enhance my cultivation."


    Generally, those in the Spirit Void Realm have a lifespan of three hundred years, while those in the Primordial Spirit Realm have five hundred. As a martial master, he had plenty of time to improve his cultivation.


    However, Shen Qing felt that five hundred years was too long. With the current unstable state of the world, enhancing his strength quickly was the main concern, and swiftly increasing his strength inevitably required the support of resources.


    The Huang Tian Sect, having lost its Daoist leader Huang Tian, was a good choice.


    For some reason, upon reading Shen Qing''s words, Shen Xiaohu at Huang Tian Sacred Mountain suddenly recalled something the Commander had once told him.


    For most members of the Huang Tian Sect, opposing the Ji Family and the court was about seizing money and women to pursue longevity.


    His Brother Qingzi indeed seemed to truly embody the ''True Meaning'' of the Huang Tian Sect.


    Seeing that Shen Xiaohu had not replied, Shen Qing added, "Since I''ve decided to join our Holy Sect, I have a prophetic saying to offer to the elders of the Huang Tian Sect, which you can convey for me."


    "What prophetic saying?"


    Shen Qing''s lips curled into a smile as he wrote, "Heaven is dead, and Huang Tian must rise. In the year of Jiazi, all under heaven will be auspicious!"


    Boom!


    For some reason, upon seeing this twelve-character prophecy, Shen Xiaohu''s mind buzzed and went blank.


    Having spent many years in the Huang Tian Sect, he knew the weight of these twelve words.


    Shen Xiaohu immediately replied, "Come quickly!"


    Looking at the two characters on the Spirit Communication Mirror, Shen Qing smiled. "All under heaven strive for profit, bustling for personal gain."


    He knew that his joining the Huang Tian Sect was settled.


    Shen Qing put away the Spirit Communication Mirror, murmuring to himself, "Come on, Huang Tian Sect! Let''s see what your foundation is truly like, and whether it can help me achieve Unity!"

 Chapter 448 - 44: Slaying Demons and Exorcising Evil Spirits Along the Way, Refining Bow Technique

    "Sir, are you leaving?" the village chief put down his smoking pipe and asked Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing put away his belongings from the Spirit Communication Realm and said indifferently, "My injuries have mostly healed now; it''s time for me to leave."


    The village chief looked at Shen Qing, his expression showing he had something to say but hesitating to speak.


    Shen Qing took the initiative to say, "Go ahead, is there something you''d like me to do?"


    The village chief bowed deeply and sincerely said, "Sir, you saved our entire village, you are our great benefactor. It is only right and proper for us to repay you accordingly. I dare not trouble you further, but there''s nothing much in this remote and barren place to entertain someone of your status, I hope you won''t hold it against us."


    "I do have an unusual request."


    "Let''s hear it."


    "Now that our area has been ravaged by demons and the population has dwindled, our village has many women, so I was wondering if it might be possible to ask you, sir, for your noble seed, to bless our descendants."


    The village chief boldly put forth what was on his mind.


    In his eyes, Shen Qing was so young yet possessed such power, his lineage was undoubtedly extraordinary.


    If they could have even a trace of him here, a talented individual born into this chaotic world could enhance their villagers'' chances to survive, which would be an immense blessing for their village.


    In Jinzhou, it was common practice for city folks or wandering martial masters to leave offspring in the villages they visited.


    It had even become a sort of tradition, with many villages taking pride in this.


    His request wasn''t excessive.


    At this moment, the village chief realized that Shen Qing was not an ordinary person and likely considered the village women beneath him, so he hurriedly added, "Sir, if there''s any woman or girl in the village you take a fancy to, you can choose. Their husbands won''t say a word about it."


    Whoosh~~~


    Suddenly, the village chief felt a gust of wind in front of him.


    When he looked up, he found that Shen Qing had already disappeared without a trace.


    ...


    Amidst the sea of clouds, Shen Qing was riding the wind.


    He was enveloped in Rainbow Light, and the cold high-altitude winds didn''t affect him at all.


    Shen Qing had an excellent memory and knew the exact location of Yellow Heaven Sacred Land.


    After confirming the direction, he sped off, flying towards the south where Yellow Heaven Sacred Land was located.


    "Hmm?"


    Just then, a powerful demon energy surged in the distant sky.


    The demon energy spread out like dark clouds that blotted out the sun, chilling the hearts of those who felt it.


    Shen Qing''s gaze sharpened, and his figure shot up in an instant, flying towards the source of the demon energy, soaring through the clouds like an eagle.


    The world suddenly opened up before his eyes.


    Below him, the land was scored with ravines that snaked like a mighty dragon, with patches of lush greenery scattered amidst them like stars dropped upon the vast loess plateau, forming a magnificent yet desolate tapestry.


    At the far end of his sight, a deep canyon was filled with thick demon energy rising to the sky.


    "Good, this saves me the effort of searching for Cultivation Techniques."


    As soon as Shen Qing had decided to go to Huang Tian Sacred Mountain, he had been determined to cut down demons along the way and push forward.


    On this journey, he would cross several counties and pass through many Shi family''s ''Cai City'' territories.


    This was an excellent opportunity for him to sharpen his bow skills.


    Speeding along, he soon arrived at a massive valley.


    The valley was filled with thick demon energy, which made breathing somewhat difficult.


    At the far end of the valley stood a figure in a black robe, its demonic aura so strong it seemed to consume everything around it like a black hole.


    Its eyes were like two blood-red pearls, flickering with a bloodthirsty gleam, as it sat on the ground gnawing on a large thigh bone.


    While eating, it was also continuously refining the Essence Qi from the human flesh and blood.


    "Who''s there?!" The demon shouted, sensing Shen Qing''s approach; its voice was like thunder, deafeningly loud.


    Shen Qing looked at the ghastly figure and a trace of disgust appeared on his face.


    He could tell that the demon was shrouded in a thick evil Qi, and had devoured countless people to have become what it was today.


    It must be slain!


    Shen Qing bellowed loudly as he charged at the demon like an arrow released from a bowstring.


    At the same time, with a thought to his Primordial Spirit, a treasure bow appeared in his hand.


    He held the bow and shot, fully activating the Sun Shooting Bow Technique.


    An arrow as dazzling as the sun condensed in his hand and shot towards the demon, carrying an overwhelming might,


    The demon snorted coldly and waved its hands, summoning two streams of black demon energy to fend off the attack.


    However, unexpectedly to it, its demon energy melted away upon contact with Shen Qing''s arrow, just as snow does in the blazing sun.


    To its astonishment, a beam of light arrow fell from the sky, striking its head with unerring accuracy.


    Body and spirit, both annihilated.


    Thump.


    The headless demon''s body fell to the ground.


    Shen Qing stepped down from the Rainbow Light, landing next to the demon''s body.


    This was a dog demon that had reached a significant level of cultivation with a large build and fur as glossy as black silk.


    Scattered around it lay countless bones, among them the innocent bones of infants.


    Shen Qing reached out and removed the Demon Core from the demon''s body, his face showing no sympathy whatsoever.


    After taking the Demon Core, he waved his hand and a powerful force disintegrated the demon''s body into a cloud of blood mist. He rubbed with his Divine Sense, extracting the demon''s essence blood, condensing it into a Blood Pill that he carried with him.


    Having done all this, Shen Qing leaped up and continued on his journey.


    Unaware, he was already flying above Jinzhou. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing looked down below him and spread out his Divine Sense, secretly detecting the traces of several more demons.


    He snorted coldly, his figure in the clouds, bow in hand as he shot again.


    Suddenly, round after round of sun-like arrows appeared in the sky, raining down upon various locations in Jinzhou.


    Outside a certain tavern in Jinzhou City,


    Several rat demons as large as humans were gnawing on solitary travelers in the kitchen.


    One rat demon lifted its bloodstained head, sniffing the air nervously as it circled around.


    A puzzled rat demon asked, "Second Brother, what are you doing?"


    The nervous rat demon replied, "I think I smell something dangerous."


    "Ha ha ha, Second Brother, don''t be such a coward..."


    Boom!


    Suddenly, a sun-like arrow descended upon their heads.


    Before they could understand what was happening, a powerful surge of Spiritual Power exploded, enveloping all the rat demons present.


    Sun Shooting Bow Technique, every arrow hits the mark!


    The same scene continued to play out around and even within Jinzhou City.


    Countless demons died under Shen Qing''s bow technique.


    He didn''t know how many arrows he had released until there were no more demons in his Divine Sense, and only then did Shen Qing finally stop.


    Shen Qing thought, and the information appeared on his Panel.


    [Skill: Sun Shooting Bow Technique (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 263/5000 points]


    [Status: Breakthrough Unavailable]


    [Note: Diligence is the mother of good fortune. Through continuous and uninterrupted practice, your bow technique has made substantial progress. Keep shooting arrows and utilizing the Sun Shooting Cultivation Technique to rapidly improve this skill.]


    Having taken note of the Panel''s reminder, Shen Qing''s form flickered. He moved from place to place, collecting Demon Cores, and then hurried to the next city to continue slaying demons and exorcising evil.

 Chapter 449 - 45 Sun shooting Bow Technique Breakthrough, Arrival

    ```


    The setting sun was as red as blood, and suddenly countless flocks of birds scattered, startled, from the vast mountain forest.


    A black bear demon, as massive as a mountain, fell to the ground with a loud crash, revealing a bloody hole in its chest. Warm blood gushed continuously from the gaping wound.


    Moments later, a rustling disturbed the underbrush, and a man with a bare chest and holding a treasured bow emerged. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was none other than Shen Qing himself, who had been traveling southward.


    He looked down at the corpse of the black bear demon and muttered to himself, "I didn''t expect such a remote place to hide a demon like this, devouring all nearby towns. I''ve never seen a sight like this before, where you could go ten miles without hearing a rooster crow or a hundred miles without any sign of life."


    Shen Qing reached out and retrieved a dark demon core from the corpse.


    He gazed at the demon core, sensing the violent energy contained within, and smiled faintly.


    Taking a deep breath, Shen Qing blew on the demon core.


    Gray impurities were blown away in an instant, and the once dark demon core became as pure as a black pearl.


    Without hesitation, Shen Qing tossed the demon core into his mouth and chewed it like candy.


    The familiar pure energy was absorbed into his abdomen, transforming into a gentle stream that coursed through every inch of his flesh and veins.


    Shen Qing let out a long breath and felt utterly comfortable.


    On this journey, he had slain countless demons, leaving practically no demon alive wherever he went.


    The so-called ''vegetable cities'' of various families were entirely reaped by him, benefiting him greatly.


    Several rounds of this had significantly advanced his cultivation.


    Shen Qing exhaled a mouthful of turbid air and relaxed his hand, noticing that his physical shell had become more robust, and his spirit had regained some vitality, able to last for two time periods amidst heaven and earth.


    Continuing like this, it was only a matter of time before he could breakthrough to the Void Roaming Realm.


    Shen Qing restrained his ocean-like aura and used his qi to cut off the bear''s paw and gall, storing them in his storage pouch.


    ''This black bear is a treasure from head to toe; it''s a pity I can''t take it all. I can only take away the most valuable items.''


    With a leap, he continued to speed southward.


    Shen Qing, perhaps due to a superstition, felt that the closer he got to the Huangtian Sacred Mountain, the fewer demons he encountered, a stark contrast to the scene under Great Zhou''s rule.


    Several days later, within five hundred miles of the Huangtian Sacred Mountain, a natural cave began to radiate light among steep mountains.


    Deep within the cave, Shen Qing sat cross-legged on a green rock, eyes closed, deeply meditative and immersed in cultivation.


    At that moment, gentle spiritual energy fluctuations surrounded him, making him appear like an ascetic exile.


    Outside the cave, dark clouds loomed.


    Silver lightning streaked across the sky, accompanied by deafening thunder, with torrential rain pouring down.


    At first glance, it seemed as if the Milky Way was hanging upside down, enveloping the entire mountain range in a hazy mist.


    At that moment, Shen Qing inexplicably felt a wave of agitation in his heart.


    He opened his eyes suddenly, with sharp light in his gaze, as if two blades pierced through the rain curtain. His aura underwent a dramatic change, and an indescribable power quietly surged out from within him.


    ''After such a long period of cultivating the Six Paths Reincarnation Technique, I feel myself mastering the profound transformation mystery of the Hell Path. Every time I train in this technique, I feel renewed.''


    Shen Qing stretched his body, emitting a crackling sound throughout, which was on par with the thunder outside, impressive and astonishing.


    ''After more than a month of demon hunting, it seems like the Sun Shooting Bow Technique is almost there as well.''


    With a thought, he summoned the Ink Panel.


    Before him, the martial arts information about the Sun Shooting Bow Technique was fully displayed.


    [Technique: Sun Shooting Bow Technique (Entry Level)]


    [Progress: 5015/5000 points]


    [State: Breakthrough available]


    The corners of Shen Qing''s mouth slightly lifted.


    ''Breakthrough!''


    A powerful force suddenly enveloped his body.


    The information about the martial arts technique on the Ink Panel simultaneously refreshed.


    [Technique: Sun Shooting Bow Technique (Skillfully)]


    [Progress: 15/7000 points]


    [State: Not available for breakthrough]


    [Remark: To retreat in adversity is to regress. In martial arts, perseverance is of utmost value. Through diligent practice, the bow technique you have mastered possesses an ever-changing capability, no longer limited by the state of the arrow, allowing for confident exploration during use.]


    ''Ever-changing capability?''


    Shen Qing''s heart tightened.


    About a quarter of an hour later, Shen Qing fully absorbed the memories of the breakthrough in the Sun Shooting Technique.


    Shen Qing suddenly stood up, with a flick of his wrist, retrieving his treasured bow from his storage pouch.


    Leaping up, he dashed out of the cave, poised in the midst of the rain curtain.


    The rain poured ruthlessly like columns.


    Shen Qing manipulated his spiritual power to isolate the rain, remaining serene and unmoved by external objects.


    His gaze naturally fell on a mountain peak not far away.


    Taking a deep breath, Shen Qing tensed his arm muscles, pulling the bowstring to its limit.


    The muscle-bound memory activated at this moment, making the motion feel exceedingly familiar.


    His vast and mighty spiritual power was infused entirely into the treasured bow.


    In an instant, the bow shimmered with radiant colors.


    From its front end, a dazzling golden light blade quietly formed, crescent-shaped, blazing brightly and exuding a menacing sharpness.


    Shen Qing''s eyes shone with a cold gleam. In a low murmur, he suddenly released his grip.


    The golden light blade, brimming with limitless spiritual power and before the bow, like the first ray of dawn, broke its constraints, slicing through the skies with destructive force, heading straight for a towering mountain in the distance.


    Boom!


    The light blade left a clearly visible fissure in the air as it passed.


    The once indestructible mountain peak before him, under this force, shattered like fragile porcelain, splitting apart, with boulders tumbling and dust flying, rendering all who witnessed it in awe.


    Not only that, the golden light blade, after severing the mountain, continued unabated.


    It pierced through layers of black clouds, scattering the gloom that obscured the sky, as if Shen Qing released a pent-up fury, dispelling long-held oppression.


    Rumbling...


    Behind the black clouds, a brilliant long ray appeared like the sun.


    With the black clouds fading, the downpour ceased abruptly.


    The long-awaited sunlight eagerly breached the clouds, spilling upon the earth.


    All things revived, bathed in warm and harmonious light, with golden gleams shimmering across the entire mountain range.


    Shen Qing watched the scene, a hint of astonishment flashing across his face.


    This strike was something an ordinary Martial Master in the Primordial Spirit Realm couldn''t easily withstand.


    He couldn''t help but look forward to the future potential of the Sun Shooting Bow Technique.


    Collecting his thoughts, Shen Qing flicked his hand.


    The treasured bow burst into a clear light and was reabsorbed into his storage pouch.


    After determining the direction, Shen Qing activated his rainbow light and leaped, soaring towards the Huangtian Sacred Mountain.


    For Shen Qing, the five hundred li distance was nothing more than half a day''s cultivation techniques.


    After a swift journey, Shen Qing found himself unknowingly standing at the foot of the Huangtian Sacred Mountain.


    ```

 Chapter 450 - 46: Welcome the Saint Heir Back to His Place

    ```


    Shen Qing lifted his head leisurely and saw the majestic mountain peaks standing tall amidst the clouds.


    At the peaks, yellow clouds swirled around like golden silk, with rays of light bursting from the gaps in the clouds, casting a brilliant golden sheen over each peak, dazzling and stunning.


    At the foot of the mountain, numerous believers with yellow cloths wrapped around their arms knelt devoutly. Each of them had a solemn expression, making the otherwise ordinary square appear particularly solemn.


    Incense smoke curled, reaching its peak.


    Wisps of smoke slowly rose towards the unreachable sky, intertwining with the light from the clouds and the yellow clouds atop the mountains, almost giving an impression of divine aura.


    Shen Qing gently stroked the Hundred Treasure Pouch at his waist and took out a seemingly ordinary mirror.


    With a light touch of his fingertip on the mirror''s surface, ripples of pale blue spiritual light spread out, gradually reflecting his figure in the mirror.


    These days, the Spirit Communication Mirror had been continually refined and modified by Shen Xiaohu, and now it possessed the ability for face-to-face communication.


    Concentrating his mind, Shen Qing followed the method Shen Xiaohu had taught him and said, "Xiao Hu, it''s me. I have successfully arrived at the Huang Tian Sacred Mountain!"


    His voice was deep and clear, seemingly carrying an irresistible force that traversed the barriers of many mountains and rivers to reach another place.


    After a moment of silence, the Spirit Communication Mirror displayed Shen Xiaohu''s slightly excited face: "Brother Qingzi?! You''ve arrived? Wait at the mountain foot for a moment; I''ll report to the elders."


    The image of Shen Xiaohu in the Spirit Communication Mirror suddenly vanished.


    Shen Qing put away the Spirit Communication Mirror and patiently waited.


    He noticed it was still early, so he moved through the bustling crowd, walking towards those devoutly kneeling believers.


    These Huang Tian Sect believers had dark complexions, small and thin bodies, with large knuckles of clasped hands, evidently used to manual labor, not much different from ordinary peasants.


    They were muttering blessings from Huang Tian, which piqued his curiosity momentarily.


    Shen Qing approached an old man who had just finished his prayers, stopped him, and earnestly asked, "Old sir, I am a traveler from afar, newly acquainted with the name of Huang Tian Sect, and my heart is filled with curiosity. Could you tell me why you chose to join Huang Tian Sect?" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The haggard-faced elder looked up, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes. He glanced around and said, "Ah, young man, you may not know. We are just refugees who couldn''t survive. Some can''t bear the heavy taxes from the government, some are displaced by demon attacks... We heard this place is the residence of the Huang Tian immortals, so we came here to seek a way of living."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing continued to ask, "Then, why choose this place among so many others?"


    The elder was surprised and said, "Haven''t you heard the prophecy?"


    Shen Qing had a premonition but still wasn''t sure. He asked, "What prophecy?"


    "Heaven has fallen, Huang Tian shall rise. In the year of Jiazi, great peace reigns under heaven."


    The elder sighed, "Look at the world, the government is corrupt, demons run rampant unopposed, the people suffer, and heaven can no longer shelter us. The emergence of Huang Tian Sect is to follow the divine will and replace heaven. Under Huang Tian Sect''s rule, it won''t be long before true peace comes to the world."


    "The word has spread completely, and everyone firmly believes it. If you don''t come now, it would be too late later."


    Shen Qing was slightly taken aback; he had anticipated some influence from those twelve words but hadn''t expected it to spread so quickly.


    At that moment, a young woman took over the conversation, her eyes shimmered with devout light as she said, "You might not know, I heard that after the Daoist''s fall, they have reincarnated and will soon return to their rightful place, and a Saint Heir will come back to lead. Our Huang Tian Sect will undoubtedly prosper."


    "Saint Heir?"


    Shen Qing was puzzled, calmly inquiring further: "What Saint Heir?"


    The woman shook her head, revealing a hint of confusion on her face: "We don''t really know the specifics."


    Shen Qing''s curiosity grew.


    As they were talking, the sky suddenly became extraordinarily heavy, as if an invisible force was brewing a dramatic change.


    Everyone''s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the distant Holy Mountain.


    The place long regarded as sacred and inviolable by the Huang Tian Sect was undergoing unbelievable changes.


    The originally lush green mountains were now shrouded by rolling yellow clouds. These weren''t ordinary clouds; they contained indescribable dynamic spiritual energy.


    Shen Qing''s keen awareness detected pure spiritual energy interspersed within the yellow clouds.


    As the yellow clouds surged, they descended from the sky like they were alive, spreading along the winding stone steps, painting the entire mountain path with a layer of gold.


    This sudden anomaly made everyone present hold their breath.


    Many devout believers couldn''t help but kneel, continuously pressing their palms together in silent prayers.


    Just then, from the other side of the Holy Mountain, a solemn and imposing drumbeat resounded, striking at the spirit of each person.


    Even someone like Shen Qing, at the Primordial Spirit realm, felt his heart thump intensely, pounding vigorously.


    As the drumbeat intensified, three middle-aged men dressed in yellow robes walked steadily from the mountain gate, stepping along the yellow clouds.


    Behind them were high-ranking officers of the Huang Tian Sect, holding weapons, expressions solemn, exuding a sense of dignity.


    Further back were countless followers, wearing uniform yellow garments, holding incense, chanting in whispers.


    When this grand procession reached Shen Qing, the entire scene fell silent instantly, leaving only the sound of the wind and the distant chirping of birds.


    ```

 Chapter 451 - 46 Welcoming the Saint Heir to His Position_2

    "Welcome, Saint Heir!" the three elders shouted in unison after exchanging glances.


    This shout seemed to stir countless emotions in people''s hearts.


    Behind them, the leaders and followers of the sect also fell to their knees, repeatedly echoing the elders'' shout, their voices reverberating through the valley.


    Shen Qing stood there, momentarily overwhelmed by the sudden spectacle.


    The elder and the woman who had been speaking with Shen Qing moments ago were also shocked before expressions of immense joy crossed their faces.


    They had never imagined that the young man before them was actually the reincarnation of the Holy Son of Huang Tian Dao Master.


    Many people looked at Shen Qing with curiosity, thinking that he indeed had an impressive and outstanding appearance.


    As Shen Qing gazed at the many members of Huang Tian Sect before him, the feeling of doubt in his heart deepened.


    He knew very well that he was not born a saint, nor was he any reincarnation of a Dao Master.


    The actions of Huang Tian Sect must have had other motives.


    Silently, Shen Qing took a step back. "I..."


    A kindly elder with deep eyes interrupted quickly, saying, "The Saint Heir has come guided by the heavens, surely tired from your journey. Please follow us back to the sect''s gate. You are destined by heaven, and everyone in Huang Tian Sect eagerly awaits your return."


    Noticing the profound meaning in the other''s eyes, Shen Qing understood that they had much to say.


    Just as well, he also wanted to see what they were really up to.


    Now that his injuries had mostly healed, he figured these people couldn''t trap him.


    Calming himself gradually, Shen Qing faced the members of Huang Tian Sect in front of him and nodded, accepting their welcome.


    "Saint Heir, please!"


    One of the elders gestured for Shen Qing to proceed.


    Shen Qing gave a slight smile, returned the courtesy, and then, amid the admiring and reverent gazes of countless followers, ascended the stone steps leading to the sect''s gate alongside the people of Huang Tian Sect.


    As he stepped onto the yellow cloud, he felt as though the cloud was solid beneath his feet, inching down slightly before gently lifting him up along the stone steps.


    There was a certain familiarity in this sensation that made Shen Qing smile to himself, "Huang Tian Sect is quite interesting."


    Following him, the three elders of Huang Tian Sect and other leaders ascended in succession.


    Moments later, after passing through the solemn sect gate, the view opened up, revealing the scene of Huang Tian Sect''s Taoist field.


    It appeared magnificent, shrouded in mist, resembling an earthly paradise.


    Rows of buildings stood in an orderly manner, their scale nearly matching that of the imperial palace in the capital.


    Shen Qing found it hard to believe that this was the handiwork of Huang Tian Sect.


    With sharp eyes, upon closer observation, he discovered these structures bore the marks of age, with many parts showing signs of wear, as if they had endured through time.


    As it was known, Huang Tian Sect had only emerged in the past ten years or so.


    Based on such indications, it was impossible for them to have erected it.


    In the center of the Taoist field, Shen Qing unexpectedly saw his long-lost cousin¡ªShen Xiao Hu.


    Dressed in the attire of Huang Tian Sect, Shen Xiao Hu had a resolute face, with eyes shining with excitement and reverence.


    He hurried forward, grabbing Shen Qing''s hand, and said excitedly, "Brother Qing, you finally came! You don''t know, how much I''ve missed you all these years!"


    Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar young man before him, Shen Qing couldn''t help but sigh with emotion.


    Only five or six years had passed, yet Shen Xiao Hu had changed so much.


    He had indeed inherited the outstanding looks of the Shen family, dignified and full of scholarly air.


    Such an aura, he had only sensed in Zhang Shuyuan, the bookworm.


    Taking advantage of the fact that no one around was paying attention, Shen Qing took a step forward and asked in a lowered voice, "Xiao Hu, do you know what''s going on?"


    "Are you referring to the matter of the Saint Heir?"


    Shen Qing nodded silently.


    "This actually relates to the prophecy you told me about. Huang Tian Sect can be said to have caught a breath because of this prophecy."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing was truly taken aback.


    In a solemn manner, Shen Xiao Hu said, "In any case, it''s not a bad thing." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing Shen Xiao Hu behaving so cautiously, Shen Qing began to understand that the position of Saint Heir might not be as he initially thought.


    While Shen Qing was lost in thought, the three elders of Huang Tian Sect approached.


    With kindly smiles, they addressed Shen Qing warmly, "Saint Heir, just upon returning to the holy sect, we invite you to Tianji Hall to discuss important matters."


    Raising his eyes, Shen Qing saw the three elders with semi-smiles.


    His heart stirred, realizing that the main business was upon them.


    "Alright."


    Recalling Shen Xiao Hu''s words, Shen Qing nodded in agreement, following the three elders towards Tianji Hall.


    He walked silently behind the three elders, spiritual power concealed.


    In the event of any unforeseen incident, he could react swiftly, relying on the tripod to make a swift escape.


    Although Shen Xiao Hu mentioned there''s nothing to worry about, it''s best to remain wary.


    People change over time.


    Even after so many years, whether Shen Xiao Hu was still the same person, Shen Qing didn''t dare assure himself fully.


    It''s wise to be cautious.


    The three elders seemed to notice Shen Qing''s careful intentions but didn''t pay much attention.


    Shen Qing followed the three elders to ''Tianji Hall,'' one of the core places of Huang Tian Sect.


    Inside Tianji Hall, the space was vast.


    In the center hung an exquisite stone wall.


    It had a large circle inscribed on it, with the middle filled with complex routes, with traces of stars faintly appearing.


    On the first glance, it could even make someone dizzy, emanating a mysterious aura that struck the heart with awe.


    Even with Shen Qing''s Primordial Spirit realm cultivation, he dared not look too long, fearing further injury to his barely recovered Primordial Spirit.


    He quickly averted his gaze, avoiding further looks.


    Below the stone wall, chairs were arranged in an orderly manner.


    In the center was one chair, with three on each flanking side.


    "Please!"


    The three elders led Shen Qing to a chair on the left side, as they each took a seat, facing each other.


    "Saint Heir, Heaven evolves in fours and nines, leaving a gap for escape. At the moment of life or death for our Huang Tian Sect, the prophecy you spoke of has brought us a glimmer of hope and change," said the elder with white hair occupying the central chair, beginning the conversation, "It just so happens that we heard from Leader Shen that you wish to join our holy sect, which is fate decreed by destiny."


    Hearing this, Shen Qing''s eyes flickered.


    Did what he said in twelve words really cause such a stir?


    Suspiciously believing, Shen Qing subtly replied, "What does the elder mean by this? Shen Qing is but an ordinary person, what virtue or ability does he possess to bear the name of Saint Heir?"


    The elder on the right side, with a kindly smile, said, "Saint Heir need not be humble. The prophecy you spoke of has been found to correspond in our sect''s ancient texts. The texts record that after the death of a Dao Master, a Saint Heir will be born, and you perfectly align with the heavenly mandate."


    "Is that true?"


    "Of course it''s true."


    Seeing the three elders'' eyes rapidly changing, Shen Qing decided to stop beating around the bush with them.


    He straightforwardly said, "Everyone, since there''s no one else here, let''s be frank with each other."


    "On my path, I, Shen, have never believed there''s a pie falling from the sky. If there ever is, it''s an equivalent exchange. To obtain some things, one must pay an equivalent price."


    With a pause in his tone, Shen Qing gradually said, "So, what exactly do you want to gain from me?"


    The three elders exchanged a look and laughed, "The Saint Heir is indeed someone who escaped from Ji Zikong''s hands, truly exceptional."


    Mobilizing the spiritual power within him, Shen Qing said, "What, do you also want to uncover the secrets in me like that Ji Zikong?"


    Three elders shook their heads and shifted the topic, "Saint Heir, do you know why Huang Tian Sect emerged suddenly and has reached its current status, even daring to contend with the Ji family?"


    "I am willing to listen attentively."


    "In fact, you''ve noticed that none of the buildings on this Holy Mountain were constructed by us at all. This site where the buildings stand was actually the sect place of Tai Xuan Sect from the ancient era, nearly two thousand years ago. Just a little over ten years ago, by a stroke of luck, we discovered it."

 Chapter 452 - 47 I Didnt Know I Was This Strong

    ```


    Shen Qing was not surprised.


    Long ago, he had already heard some rumors.


    The reason the Huang Tian Sect rose so rapidly in recent years was precisely because they obtained the Ancient Relics.


    Now, it''s been confirmed.


    But...


    Is the foundation of the Ancient Relics really that deep? Can it actually allow a new force that has only developed for a little over a decade to rival the Ji Family?


    Shen Qing felt a bit puzzled in his heart.


    The elder across seemed to have noticed the confusion in Shen Qing''s heart and said, "Saint Heir, you probably don''t know how glorious the Human Clan was during the Ancient Times."


    Shen Qing''s expression became serious, and he continued to ask, "I often hear many people mention the Ancient Era. I want to know what exactly is in that era that makes all of you yearn for it so much?"


    "In that era, there were Immortals and the Immortality Technique!"


    Upon hearing these words, Shen Qing''s expression slightly changed. To speak of it, this was the first time he had heard such resolute words from others.


    At this moment, the image of that perfect woman inevitably emerged in his mind.


    "Then why did such an era disappear?"


    "Because of demons," said the elders of the Huang Tian Sect, "Which is why we sought you."


    Seeing the virtuous demeanor of the Huang Tian Sect elders, Shen Qing felt even more perplexed.


    He had too little information, unable to reason out more content from it.


    One of the elders from the Huang Tian Sect further explained, "We have all heard of your deeds in Yongzhou, where you slew countless demons. Moreover, this time as you came all the way from Jinzhou, you even wiped out numerous places referred to as ''Cai City.'' It shows you have a heart for slaying demons, which aligns with our goals."


    "Besides, at such a young age, you have already reached the cultivation of the Primordial Spirit Realm. Your cultivation Sight can be described as monstrous, a height even the Daoist Master has not reached. If you were to join our sect, what reason would we have to refuse?"


    Shen Qing subconsciously felt a bit bewildered, unsure of himself, and said uncertainly, "So you want me to eliminate demons?"


    An elder gently shook his head and added, "Not to eliminate demons, but to save the Human Clan. Has the Saint Heir not noticed that the demons in the world today are increasingly more numerous?"


    Shen Qing carefully recalled and indeed felt this was true.


    When he lived in Hongshan Village, for generations, no one had ever heard of the term ''demon.''


    But since he entered the city, the demons became increasingly numerous, to the point of overflowing in the end.


    Perhaps the term ''Cai City'' existed in other places long ago, with many Shi families deliberately blocking the news, hence very little was known, which is understandable.


    But it would never be like this.


    Hearing the elder''s meaning from the Huang Tian Sect, there is a deeper reason here.


    Shen Qing grew curious and signaled to continue.


    One of the elders from the Huang Tian Sect spoke, "Saint Heir, you don''t know, beyond this world, there exist Heavenly Demons from other realms that practically feed on the Human Clan. Each of them is incredibly powerful; even a single wisp of their aura can crush a mountain and transform countless demons. Even humans find it hard to bear their weight."


    "Our ancestors of the Human Clan created a Protective Array against these demons. Within this Formation, the external Heavenly Demons cannot get in, and we cannot go out."


    "However, the nature''s spiritual energy in this world is nearly exhausted after operating the Formation for thousands of years, nearing the point of collapse. The external demon energy is constantly invading this place, thus creating rampant demons."


    Heavenly Demon Clan, just their demon energy invasion is enough to spawn so many demons?


    Shen Qing gasped, finding it somewhat unbelievable.


    Just how powerful would the real Heavenly Demon Clan be? He couldn''t imagine.


    At this moment, a thought suddenly flashed through Shen Qing''s mind, recalling something Ji Zikong had mentioned before.


    He asked, "Does the Emperor Ji Zikong of the Great Zhou also know about this matter?"


    "Yes," said an elder from the Huang Tian Sect, whose hair and beard were both white, "Not only does he know, but the entire Ji Clan knows, preparing for it for over nine hundred years to escape from such a ''Prison''."


    Another elder supplemented, "Unfortunately, despite all their calculations, they never expected a descendant like Ji Zikong to emerge, taking over the plots of the entire Ji Clan, attempting to achieve personal gain and prove his unique Dao."


    "As far as we know, Ji Zikong is refining the inheritance of the Ji Family and the major Shi families to break through to the Heaven''s End Realm and confront the Heavenly Demons. After our rigorous assessments, the Immortal Martial Mechanism he possesses is insufficient to support him reaching that point. So, once he breaks through and emerges, he will certainly have to seize the vitality of seventy percent of the people in the world to achieve it."


    "By that time, the meager foundation of the Human Clan will no longer be able to exit this world. The time left for us is not much." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After hearing this, Shen Qing couldn''t help but give them a few more looks, not expecting them to have such grand objectives.


    "So, what do you want me to do?"


    "To be honest, we are not temple officials; we are ordinary Jianghu Martial Artists. Given the Martial Mechanism has been taken by the Ji Family, it''s already extraordinary for us old immortals to break through to the Spirit Void Realm. To go further is simply impossible. Reaching our current level is purely due to some external techniques, but you are different."


    "The foundation of the Tianxuan Sect is vast, and we have only utilized two to three tenths of it. So, we want to entrust this foundation to you, hoping that you reach the peak before the sky collapses and carve a noble path for our Human Clan."


    ```

 Chapter 453 - 47 I Didnt Know I Was This Strong_2

    ```


    Shen Qing heard the specific mention of "them" in their words, indicating that there was more than one Saint Heir.


    However, is there really anyone in this world who regards the responsibility of the Human Clan so highly?


    Shen Qing was skeptical.


    At least from all his past experiences, there was none.


    Based on the experience from his previous life, the vision of a peasant uprising wouldn''t reach such heights.


    They still hadn''t told him the whole truth.


    But it was not important.


    As long as he could access the depths of the Huang Tian Sect, it would be mutually beneficial for his cultivation.


    This ''deal'' was one he could accept.


    Shen Qing pondered for a moment, then said with an "apologetic" face: "I didn''t expect you to have such a broad vision; I was judging a noble person with a petty heart. In that case, I am willing to humbly offer my strength for the Human Clan."


    "Very well, Saint Heir, please stay within the sect for a few days. Soon, we will open the deeper treasury of the Taixuan Gate, and let you enter."


    Shen Qing rose to clasp his fists and said: "Then I shall comply. Farewell!"


    After a few pleasantries, Shen Qing strode out of the hall.


    After he left, the elders of the Huang Tian Sect gathered together and sighed, "This young man is truly powerful, let''s hope he brings us some surprises."


    "The sects left over from Ancient Times are definitely not limited to this one, there must be a connection between different relics. If one of these seeds can stand out, our efforts won''t be in vain."


    "Never mind that, let''s get ready for tonight. We''re expecting another ''Saint Heir'' to arrive, let''s make sure everything is well-prepared, and remind the believers below not to slip up."


    One of the elders impatiently said, "Understood. We''ve done this many times without any mishaps."


    ...


    On the plaza of Huang Tian''s Sacred Mountain, Shen Xiaohu fiddled with a celestial crane, hearing some movement behind and turning his head.


    "Brother Qing, you''re done?" Shen Xiaohu said happily.


    "Yes." Shen Qing looked around and said, "Let''s find a place. We brothers haven''t seen each other for a long time and should sit down to catch up."


    "Come with me to where I live." Shen Xiaohu raised a hand slightly, summoning a triangular formation flag engraved with intricate totems: "Let''s go."


    In an instant, the flag blossomed with a hazy yellow light, like the first light of the sun, lifting his entire body to float in mid-air, moving forward slowly.


    Shen Qing uttered a soft "hmm," as he had never seen such a method before, intrigued by Shen Xiaohu''s formation flag.


    He moved with intent, following closely, his eyes constantly observing Shen Xiaohu.


    Unable to contain his curiosity, Shen Qing asked, "Xiaohu, what''s your current cultivation?"


    "Me?" Shen Xiaohu laughed, "I just reached the Sea of Qi Realm."


    "Can you perform formations and walk on the wind at just the Sea of Qi Realm?"


    Upon hearing this, Shen Xiaohu''s eyes showed a hint of pride, saying, "The formation beneath me is a newly mastered method in our Huang Tian Sect, called the ''Floating Light and Shadow Formation.'' This formation flag is merely the key to activate it. Once set, it can leverage Spiritual Energy to form a special field, allowing one to float in the air and even move short distances briefly."


    "Brother Qing, you don''t know, most people''s cultivation in our sect isn''t high. We''re mostly from humble backgrounds, already past the age for cultivation, so making progress in martial arts is tough. It''s the same even for the Daoist master."


    "Brother Qing, you have no idea, your cultivation is considered top-notch in our realm."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing was momentarily speechless.


    After a pause, he changed the topic and said, "I remember your Daoist master fell. Do you know what happened?"


    Upon mention of this, Shen Xiaohu sighed deeply, saying with regret: "On the day the Daoist master attacked the capital, he was severely injured and was attacked by a demon on the way back. As for the details, I''m not particularly sure. If you want to know, Brother Qing, you can ask the elders. Since you are the Saint Heir of our sect, they will surely tell you." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing nodded and asked, "Are there many Saint Heirs in your sect?"


    "There are both Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens, and quite a few of them."


    A chill ran down Shen Qing''s spine, an instinctive vigilance creeping up.


    In his view, while the elders of the Huang Tian Sect spoke grandly of altruism, they were likely thinking about various dealings in their hearts.


    Entering the depths of the Taixuan Gate should be approached with caution, lest he be caught off guard.


    The two continued to converse while advancing.


    Shen Xiaohu''s "Floating Light and Shadow Formation" carried him between the mountain peaks.


    From some observation, Shen Qing noticed the speed of this formation was not fast, no different from an ordinary donkey cart.


    But it was better than nothing.


    Soon, they reached a serene and secluded house.


    "Brother Qing, we''ve arrived." Shen Xiaohu retracted the formation flag, gracefully leaping from mid-air, and deftly stowing the flag away.


    Looking up, Shen Qing saw an apparently ordinary house standing ahead.


    Gray tiles and white walls, unremarkable amidst the surrounding scenery.


    "This is my residence within the Huang Tian Sect," Shen Xiaohu said with a smile.


    He gently opened the wooden door, which creaked as it swung open.


    Following closely behind, Shen Qing stepped over the threshold, and a strange smell suddenly wafted towards him.


    A mix of various oils and mineral scents, slightly discomforting.


    Inside, the walls were adorned with all kinds of talismans, emitting a faint glow.


    Various formation flags and a plethora of devices were scattered all over the floor, leaving little room to step.


    Looking around, Shen Qing couldn''t help but remark, "Xiaohu, your abode is truly unique."


    Shen Xiaohu chuckled foolishly but did not respond.


    Advancing to a long table, Shen Qing saw an antiquarian book beside a mirror-like object that exuded a faint blue glow.


    Shen Xiaohu stepped forward to explain: "This mirror is said to be an Ancient relic, capable of peering into one''s heart. However, due to its age, it has lost its function. I''m planning to modify it to see if it can be made useful again."


    "You deciphered the effects on the Spirit Mirror here?"


    Shen Xiaohu nodded: "I gleaned some insights from it."


    "It shows you have a deep understanding of formations and talismans, this path holds great potential," Shen Qing remarked, then turned to Shen Xiaohu and said, "By the way, Xiaohu, do you have any defensive formations or talismans?"


    "I do have some, but what do you need them for, Brother Qing?"


    "For self-defense."


    During the conflict with Ji Zikong, many of his weapons and methods were consumed, leaving him with a sense of insecurity due to his lack of possessions.


    It was fortunate that he had previously learned about talismanic arts and how to refine talismans.


    If Shen Xiaohu had suitable talismans, they could be used for self-defense against unforeseen situations.


    "Wait for me."


    Shen Xiaohu did not refuse, dashing to a corner and rummaging through a pile of ancient texts and miscellaneous items.


    "Found it!" Shen Xiaohu exclaimed, pulling out a stack of dazzling gold talismans from a pile of yellowed talisman papers.


    As they lightly swayed, Shen Qing felt a gentle fluctuation of Spiritual Energy.


    Carrying this stack of talismans, Shen Xiaohu walked swiftly towards Shen Qing and said: "In here are the Transference Talisman and the Sigh of Tai Talisman. If you encounter danger, Brother Qing, these can redirect an opponent''s attack."


    A glint of surprise flashed in Shen Qing''s eyes.


    He hadn''t expected Shen Xiaohu to possess such talismans.


    "Can the Transference Talisman redirect any kind of attack?"


    "That depends on the cultivation of the caster. If the opponent''s cultivation surpasses the caster''s, the talisman may only redirect part of the attack."


    Shen Qing understood that the strength of these talismans depended entirely on the user.


    This was indeed a remarkable talisman.


    Gently accepting the stack of talismans, Shen Qing''s curiosity about the depths of the Taixuan Gate grew.


    ```

 Chapter 454 - 48: Entering the Location of the Taoist Collection, Primordial Spirit Recovers

    ```


    In the following days, Shen Qing spent time with Shen Xiaohu, the two cousins chatting daily about the changes over the years.


    Time flies by, and in the blink of an eye, it has been over ten days since Shen Qing became the Saint Heir of the Huang Tian Sect.


    One day, while Shen Qing was cultivating alone in the courtyard, he finally received a notice from the Huang Tian Sect.


    "Saint Heir, the elders have sent word, asking you to prepare. Now the location of the Taoist collection in the Tai Xuan Sect, the Tai Xuan Treasure Vault, is ready to be opened. You are to head over there today."


    At the entrance of Shen Xiaohu''s residence, a woman in a yellow Taoist robe said respectfully. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Qing, who was still cultivating his cultivation technique, heard the sound, exhaled a mouthful of impure air, and looked over.


    After waiting for so long, there was finally some progress.


    Shen Qing said lightly, "I understand, I''ll head over right away."


    ...


    Amidst the majestic ancient buildings of the Huang Tian Sacred Mountain.


    The Taoist Treasure Vault lay dormant like a sleeping ancient dragon, silently nestled at the cloud-enshrouded mountain peak, its doors tightly shut, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.


    When Shen Qing arrived, riding on the Rainbow Light, three elders of the Huang Tian Sect were already standing steadfast in front of the vault.


    Their figures, cast long in the morning light, resembled three immortal stone tablets, unwavering and firm.


    One elder, with white beard and hair, sensed the commotion, turned around, nodded at Shen Qing after a glance, then slightly closed his eyes again, resuming his previous stillness.


    After a while, men and women arrived one after another.


    Their appearances were all like figures out of a painting, exceptionally elegant.


    It was obvious these people were the other Saint Heirs and Saintesses of the Huang Tian Sect.


    Shen Qing counted them briefly; besides himself, there were a total of eight others, all around his age.


    These people were not highly cultivated; Shen Qing slightly sensed with his Divine Sense and found that most of them were in the Qi Hai Realm.


    Among this group, Shen Qing was undoubtedly the outstanding one.


    The elder standing in the center glanced at everyone and said, "Everyone is here."


    "Fellow Saint Heirs and Saintesses, our Huang Tian Sect is opening the Taoist Treasure Vault this time with the aim of finding a method to break the Heavenly Tribulation, while also providing you an opportunity to enhance your cultivation. You must not waste this hard-won chance."


    "This time, with our methods, we can open the vault''s formation twice. We will use a year as a period, and by then, no matter what, you must come out."


    Everyone present, including Shen Qing, became serious, rare solemnity taking over their expressions.


    Another elder stepped forward and handed each of them a smooth copper mirror, saying, "This is our sect''s unique Spirit Communication Mirror. When you enter the vault, you can use it as a medium for communication. I will now teach you how to use it."


    After speaking, this elder seriously explained how to use the Spirit Communication Mirror, exactly as Shen Xiaohu had taught before.


    This made Shen Qing realize that the mirror was probably also crafted by his cousin''s handiwork.


    After explaining other details, the elder with white beard and hair said, "It''s about time. Let''s begin."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the three elders formed seals with their hands, Spiritual Power surged, converging upon the vault''s door.


    A flash of dazzling light passed, the ancient formation activated, revealing a radiant gateway.


    Immediately, a wave of Wilderness Energy rushed forth, causing everyone present to instinctively step back.


    "Remember, the vault is fraught with danger, where opportunities and trials coexist. Whether you gain anything depends entirely on your own fortune."


    The words of the Third Elders were like warning bells in the cold wind, evoking awe and respect.


    "Go!"


    At the elders'' signal, the remaining eight people stepped through the radiant gateway one after another.


    Shen Qing hesitated a little, then, seeing that the others entered without major issues, he finally felt relieved to walk in.


    After the last person entered, the three elders immediately closed the formation''s gateway, panting heavily.


    An elder stared at the vault location, murmuring to himself, "I hope this time there will be a result, someone who gains recognition and acquires the legacy within."


    Upon stepping into the portal, Shen Qing and the others seemed to enter a completely different world.


    They found themselves in a chamber, the Spiritual Energy so dense it was almost liquefied, ancient texts, Magic Treasures, Elixirs, even lost cultivation techniques, were all dazzlingly arrayed before them, overwhelming the senses.


    "Is this the true depth of the Tai Xuan Sect?"


    Shen Qing was astonished in his heart, his eyes sparkling with amazement at the scene before him.


    He hadn''t expected the Tai Xuan Sect''s treasury to reach such a level of grandeur.


    A Saint Heir eagerly went forward, opening one bottle of precious medicine, only to find a withered elixir remaining inside.


    The elixir inside, having weathered the passage of thousands of years, had long since lost its potency.


    A Saint Heir lamented, "How could this be? It''s too unfortunate."


    They continued to inspect the Magic Treasures, cultivation technique texts, and all found them in the same state, leaving them utterly disheartened.


    A woman in blue clothing spoke up to comfort, "Everyone, don''t lose heart. As you go deeper, there is bound to be something. This vault is not just this one place."


    Someone pushed open a door in the house, revealing an endless collection of buildings outside.


    The others deeply agreed.


    The woman in blue walked to Shen Qing and said, "I am Liu Chengyan. You must be Master Shen Qing, right?"


    "You know me?"


    The woman in blue, Liu Chengyan, smiled sweetly and replied, "I am from the neighboring prefecture. Master Shen''s esteemed name has long been heard like thunder in the ears."


    Shen Qing suddenly understood.


    The neighboring prefecture was adjacent to Yong Prefecture.


    The people there hearing about his deeds was indeed normal.


    ```

 Chapter 455 - 48 Entering the Location of the Taoist Collection, Primordial Spirit Recovery_2

    ```


    The young lady in blue, Liu Chengyan, gracefully said, "Lord Shen, your cultivation is the highest among us. Would it be possible for us to advance and retreat together with you?"


    Liu Ruyan had a cool demeanor and a hint of warmth hidden in her eyes, her words like a breath of spring wind.


    The other four saints and saintesses showed great interest upon hearing this, turning their gaze towards Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing smiled slightly and nodded, "Of course."


    "I have a solitary nature, not fond of company; I plan to explore alone, farewell." A saint suddenly interrupted, shattering the surrounding silence.


    He looked only seventeen or eighteen, somewhat rebellious.


    Shen Qing was slightly taken aback, then nodded and said, "That''s fine too; splitting into more teams will make exploration more efficient."


    "Then I wish to go alone as well."


    "Lord Shen, farewell."


    ...


    Before long, three more people expressed their intentions to leave separately to explore the treasure vault and seek opportunities.


    Shen Qing looked at the three women in front of him and asked, "What about you?"


    "We''ve all decided, we''ll stay with you, Lord Shen."


    Shen Qing said, "Since we agreed to stick together, then all actions should heed my commands."


    "Alright." The three women nodded earnestly in agreement.


    Shen Qing observed the three women; they each had exceptional beauty, impeccable figures, and delicate skin.


    Presumably, they came from wealthy families.


    "Let''s go!" Shen Qing chose a direction and led the three women swiftly into the depths of the treasure vault.


    In the end, their group of nine had three women accompanying Shen Qing, while the other four decided to operate independently, seeking their own fate.


    The nine split into six teams for exploration.


    Shen Qing and the three others followed a winding path deeper into the vault.


    Along the way, they discovered the place was dark and damp, seemingly quite dilapidated, with the air filled with a musty odor.


    Many areas were in disrepair, with the original formations losing stable spiritual energy supply and completely collapsing, with some places even showing signs of collapse.


    "Hmm? What''s this?"


    The young woman in blue, Liu Chengyan, suddenly stopped, pointing to a place not far away.


    Following her direction, Shen Qing and the others saw a pavilion shrouded in a faint barrier of spiritual power, difficult to discern unless closely examined.


    Everyone gazed at the spiritual power barrier with a strong surge of curiosity, gathering around it.


    "I''ll do it!"


    A petite woman stepped forward, mobilizing her spiritual power, conjuring a talisman resembling a pair of scissors.


    With a twist of her hands, the talisman transformed into a golden pair of scissors, cutting at the barrier.


    The barrier cracked open, releasing a surge of rich spiritual energy that revitalized the spirit.


    "There''s something there!" The other three women exchanged smiles and stepped into the cavern without hesitation.


    Shen Qing followed right after them.


    Inside, the cavern was dimly lit, but with the peculiar items in the women''s hands, they could still see their surroundings.


    The place was filled with various runes and patterns, exuding an ancient atmosphere.


    "This seems to be an altar!" Liu Ruyan pointed to a high platform ahead, her voice tinged with awe.


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing''s gaze fixed on the platform.


    On the platform, there was a vertical crystal-like object emitting a faint glow.


    More terrifyingly, there was a man sealed within the crystal, dressed identically to the puppet attire driven by the Huang Tian Dao Master.


    Shen Qing was shocked.


    Could it be that the ancient corpses refined by Huang Tian Dao Master originated from here?


    Just as they were about to investigate further,


    Suddenly, a powerful wave of spiritual power emanated from deeper within the cave.


    Then, the man sealed in the crystal opened his eyes.


    Shen Qing and the others were shocked.


    That thing is alive!


    Shen Qing''s eyes sharpened, immediately mobilizing spiritual power, and directly summoned a transference talisman.


    At the instant he cast the talisman, sword energy inexplicably arose, enveloping the four above. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clang clang clang!


    A rain of swords poured down.


    Two women, unable to react in time, were cut in half by the sword energy.


    However, Liu Chengyan reacted swiftly, quickly producing an oil-paper umbrella.


    The umbrella, inscribed with formations, formed an inverted triangular light shield, shielding her within.


    "Run!"


    Shen Qing shouted, transforming into a rainbow light to escape the sword rain.


    Nearby, Liu Chengyan''s face turned pale; she grit her teeth and followed behind Shen Qing.


    Seeing the sword rain pursuing, Shen Qing immediately activated the overturning seal, displaying astounding power.


    A massive, mountain-like golden seal collided ahead, suppressing all the sword rain.


    Standing at the pavilion entrance, Liu Chengyan was filled with the exhilaration of surviving a disaster.


    Had she stayed a moment longer, she might not have held on, being slain by the sword rain like the two saintesses.


    She instinctively exchanged a glance with Shen Qing, asking, "Could that be someone sealed by the Tai Xuan Sect thousands of years ago?"


    Liu Ruyan''s voice trembled slightly; she couldn''t believe someone could live until now.


    Shen Qing nodded gently, equally filled with awe.


    Fortunate to have the precedent of the ''Perfect Woman,'' he wasn''t particularly surprised, "Most likely, yes."


    Liu Chengyan blanched, saying, "We can''t stay here long; let''s head somewhere else quickly."


    "Alright."


    Without any delay, the two moved deeper.


    The further they went, the more astonished they were at the scope of the treasure vault; it was practically a world of its own, incredibly vast.


    Despite how far they traveled, pavilions and towers still surrounded them.


    Shen Qing led Liu Chengyan to the front of a grand hall.


    A vast hall, its plaque barely visible, only revealed one character "Medicine," with others too blurred to read.


    This time, Shen Qing didn''t act rashly; he sent a strand of primordial spirit inside and only entered confidently after confirming no danger.


    Unaware of Shen Qing''s methods, Liu Chengyan was slightly worried, whispering, "Lord Shen, this place..."


    "No need to worry; there''s no significant danger here."


    Choosing to trust him, Liu Chengyan followed Shen Qing inside.


    Upon entering the hall, what greeted them was a massive alchemy furnace.


    As Shen Qing approached, he could even sense a slight warmth from the furnace.


    The furnace fire had long expired, the warmth emanating from the furnace itself.


    Shen Qing circled the alchemy furnace, eyes settling on the furnace lid.


    He formed hand seals, summoning a golden hand to open the furnace.


    Instantly, a faint spiritual essence emanated from within.


    Shen Qing''s face lit up with joy as he lightly leaped, standing above the furnace.


    Inside, it was filled with medicine dregs.


    Preserved by the furnace''s seal, these dregs still emitted potent spiritual substance and fragrance.


    Taking a deep breath, Shen Qing felt refreshed, his primordial spirit showing slight signs of healing and enhancement, growing more adept.


    ''The dregs inside could actually enhance the primordial spirit?''


    Upon confirming no danger around, he sat atop the furnace, continuously extracting the residual essence and integrating it into his primordial spirit.


    With his relentless refining, strands of blue crystalline brilliance emerged from the dregs, continuously merging into his body.


    Gradually, soft blue light surrounded him.


    Shen Qing felt an icy coolness throughout his body, as if in an ice cellar, his primordial spirit becoming increasingly pure.


    He held his breath, focused, as the blue points of light multiplied.


    Unaware of the time passing, waves of warm, formidable power surged within him, healing his damaged primordial spirit, subtly expanding his spiritual perception, significantly advancing his primordial spirit.


    The ancient dregs wielded such formidable power.


    Opening his eyes, Shen Qing''s gaze was filled with incredulity.


    ```

 Chapter 456 - 49 Tai Xuan Sect Legacy

    ```plaintext


    Beside her, Liu Chengyan discovered a stone tablet in the grand hall. She gently brushed away the dust, revealing an inscription in seal script, which appeared very mysterious.


    She excitedly said, "Lord Shen, quickly look here."


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qing turned around and dismounted from the Alchemy Furnace.


    Unconsciously quickening his pace, he walked over to Liu Chengyan''s side.


    The moment his gaze landed on the mottled inscription, he was stunned.


    He was familiar with these characters.


    Quickly gathering his thoughts, he examined it carefully, discovering that it was a secret method for refining elixirs.


    Shen Qing said truthfully, "This is a piece of Alchemy, a foundational Magic Skill for refining medicine."


    Liu Chengyan said, "This secret method doesn''t seem that profound, otherwise it wouldn''t be placed openly in the main hall for people to read."


    Shen Qing nodded in agreement, "However, this secret method is not entirely useless; at least it benefits the strengthening of the Primordial Spirit."


    Without any hesitation, Shen Qing''s eyes became focused, carefully pondering the True Intent within.


    After an unknown amount of time, he glanced at the text appearing on the Water Ink Panel, confirming he had grasped this secret method, and finally felt a bit at ease.


    Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan searched around the grand hall for a while, but after confirming there were no findings, they didn''t waste any more time there and continued deeper into the treasure trove.


    The treasury was silent.


    Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan walked side by side, heading towards the depths of the treasury, the surrounding so quiet that only their heartbeats and breaths could be heard.


    Looking at the swath of buildings before them, they felt inexplicably eerie.


    The two of them moved forward swiftly, the houses on either side falling behind continuously.


    In the distance, at the core position, they saw a massive building extending ahead, heading towards that core land.


    Just then, in this unexplored mysterious area, a sudden and piercing scream abruptly shattered the silence, causing Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan to halt their steps.


    "Sounds like someone else''s voice, should we take a look?" Liu Chengyan frowned and asked.


    Shen Qing looked in the direction of the sound, glanced once, then replied, "No need, let''s move away from here."


    He had only briefly met those Saint Heirs, with no affections attached.


    He did not want to involve himself and put himself in danger.


    Liu Chengyan thought of Shen Qing''s initial request, and despite feeling uneasy, she said no more, following Shen Qing as they moved ahead.


    However, they had not walked far before a heavy scent of blood assailed them.


    Not far away, a Saint Heir was already lying in a pool of blood, only a terror-stricken head remaining.


    This scene made Liu Chengyan''s heart tighten, realizing the lurking danger here, full of ominous signs.


    Just as she was trying to retreat, a figure, no, more accurately, a grotesque non-human creature akin to a demon, leapt out from the shadows.


    Its mouth a deep abyss, it lunged fiercely toward Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan, intending to devour their essence.


    Shen Qing, already tense, saw this and did not panic; he soared into the sky controlling the Rainbow Light, already pulling out a treasure bow.


    Swish!


    A sharp sword light descended from the heavens, landing squarely on the non-human creature.


    A squelching sound.


    The strange creature was immediately severed into two parts.


    Liu Chengyan was so frightened her face turned pale, her heart pounding wildly, almost thinking she might perish.


    Shen Qing landed steadily on the ground, gazing at the inhuman monster before him, a look of puzzlement on his face.


    For some reason, he sensed a hint of demon aura and human smell from this monster.


    Shen Qing was puzzled but did not delve deeply for long.


    "Let''s go inside and see." Shen Qing said calmly.


    This time he learned a lesson, choosing to travel with the wind, staying away from the buildings, simultaneously spreading his Divine Sense, continually observing the conditions inside the various structures, seeking overlooked opportunities.


    Along the way, he found some of the building doors already open, with empty coffins inside and scattered crystals.


    The life or corpses hidden inside had disappeared.


    Shen Qing raised an eyebrow, pondering the reason behind this.


    After about a tea''s time, the two arrived at the core of the treasure trove.


    Without solving anything, Shen Qing ceased his pondering, slowing his steps, hovering in the void.


    Shen Qing looked down, his gaze landing on the grand bronze palace slumbering underground.


    The bronze palace, dazzling with golden light, shone brightly; even after thousands of years, its luster was unblemished, seemingly immortal.


    "We should be there." Shen Qing gently turned his head, saying to Liu Chengyan beside him. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu Chengyan''s beautiful eyes moved slightly, shocked by the sight before her, her voice trembling, "Is this... the heritage of the Tai Xuan Sect?"


    Shen Qing still replied flatly, "It should be. This treasury is large, but not endless. This place is at the core of the treasury, and if the Tai Xuan Sect left heritage, it would be only here."


    "What the elders want us to get should all be inside this grand hall."


    Saying that, Shen Qing took out his treasure bow from his bosom, drawing it to a full moon.


    He raised the treasure bow high, aiming at the palace door.


    With the surge of True Yuan within him, the glow on the treasure bow became even more dazzling.


    A brilliant beam of light suddenly appeared, like an invisible hand, pushing across, hitting the palace gate with precision.


    ```

 Chapter 457 - 49 Inheritance of the Tai Xuan Sect_2

    """


    Accompanied by a low and prolonged hum, the great bronze door of the palace was pushed open by the arrow beam.


    A thick and primal aura rushed over them, causing both to involuntarily hold their breaths.


    This kind of aura was incredibly dense. If they had been standing at the palace door, they might have been affected, possibly even injured.


    "Let''s go." Shen Qing tightened the treasure bow in his hand, took a deep breath, and was the first to step into the palace.


    Liu Chengyan followed closely behind.


    As Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan stepped into the ancient palace, an unusual luster appeared before their eyes, causing them both to gape in astonishment.


    In their sight, rows of sparkling crystals filled the great hall, extending into the depths.


    As they had pushed the door open moments ago, a faint and crisp sound echoed within the hall, as if the figures tightly sealed within the transparent crystals were awakening, emitting a faint and elusive glow.


    "These... are these ancient cultivators from a thousand years ago?"


    Shen Qing was shocked, his voice subconsciously lowered, eyes filled with disbelief.


    "Even in ancient books, they''re rarely mentioned, and yet here there''s such a vast number, with possibly more remaining hidden. What secret realm is this, and what does it conceal?"


    There was no answer.


    Shen Qing cautiously advanced and stopped before a crystal.


    Under the hazy crystal light, he saw a withered skeleton in a blue robe sealed within.


    It rested quietly in the crystal, its body cracked in multiple places, as if it might crumble into dust with a mere touch.


    Liu Chengyan swallowed and stepped forward for a closer look, saying, "This person must have had remarkable cultivation in life and held a significant position in the Tai Xuan Sect. This crystal is also unusual, but still could not withstand the erosion of time, leaving only the skeleton preserved under the crystal''s protection until now."


    Anyone able to retain a trace of themselves over such a long passage of time was undoubtedly a peerless powerhouse of the Tai Xuan Sect in that era. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Tai Xuan Sect must have been resplendently glorious in ancient times.


    Yet, why they were sealed within this crystal remains a mystery.


    Shen Qing continued forward and saw another body preserved more intact.


    It was shriveled, its vitality completely drained, resembling a mummy.


    But compared to the first one he saw, it was undeniably stronger; this powerhouse must have been a prodigy of the Tai Xuan Sect.


    He stared at the jade plaque hanging at the waist of this "mummy" within the white crystal, on which was inscribed in small characters: "Tai Xuan Sect, Li Muyun."


    "Let''s get out of here quickly. Standing here looking at these corpses gives me chills. It feels eerie," said Liu Chengyan, standing in the main hall, uneasy with the scene.


    Shen Qing radiated his divine sense, thoroughly probing, finding no clues, and promptly moved past these "crystals" to the end, entering a spacious hall.


    In the hall, many more "crystals" were present, each sealing a lifelike person.


    These individuals appeared in much better condition than those outside, their physical bodies had not decayed.


    Some even had skin that remained ruddy, as if they were about to revive in the next moment, which was astonishing.


    Beyond these ''crystals'' captivating them, the monumental jade scroll suspended at the center of the hall astonished Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan.


    Upon close inspection, Shen Qing found it etched with intricate runes, emitting a gentle glow that illuminated the whole hall as bright as day.


    His expression turned considerably serious, "Shall we go up and take a look?"


    "Could it be dangerous?"


    Shen Qing was resolute, directly creating a wisp of a divine soul avatar.


    Seeing two identical Shen Qings, a hint of peculiar color flickered in Liu Chengyan''s eyes.


    Shen Qing''s plan was simple: to have the divine soul avatar make contact.


    If danger arose, he could abandon the wisp of divine soul.


    Though there would be some damage, it would not be life-threatening.


    "Go!"


    The divine soul avatar, with a solemn expression, walked slowly toward the jade scroll, reaching out to touch it. A warm and powerful force surged instantly into his body, causing him to shudder.


    In that moment, it was as if Shen Qing''s mind established a spiritual connection with the Tai Xuan Sect, a transcendent connection beyond words silently formed.


    On the other end of this connection was the accumulated essence of the Tai Xuan Sect over the centuries, filled with the insights of many ancient forebears into the principles of heaven and earth and the path to immortality.


    Among the numerous methods, a profound martial arts technique emerged in his mind.


    "The Tai Xuan Dao Literature?"


    Upon learning the utility of this technique, Shen Qing was jolted internally.


    This was the core martial method of the Tai Xuan Sect, condensing the sect''s countless painstaking efforts.


    The great powers of the Tai Xuan Sect, worrying their legacy might end, had specially left this scripture behind.


    Shen Qing stood quietly at the main hall entrance, surrounded by gentle circles of pale purple spiritual energy.


    His eyes closed tightly, an ineffable seriousness between his brows as he diligently cultivated.


    Here, the concentration of spiritual energy was astoundingly dense.


    As soon as Shen Qing began to cultivate, the spiritual energy of this realm started forming into dazzling vortices, madly rushing into his body.


    These energies surged through his meridians like rivers into the sea, not only nourishing his physical body but also invisibly strengthening his divine soul.


    An invisible and grand power silently descended, nourishing every inch of Shen Qing''s flesh and bone like gentle rainwater, causing a pleasant hum throughout his body.


    Yet as he frantically absorbed the spiritual energy of this realm, the "people" hidden in the numerous crystals in the palace began to age little by little, with some even turning directly into piles of bones, the transformation stark.


    With the support of the ink wash panel, their productiveness determined their reward.


    After about the time of one incense stick, Shen Qing saw the records and information of the Tai Xuan Dao Literature appear before his vision.


    He had successfully mastered and internalized this cultivation method, making his divine soul stronger.


    At this moment, he seemed to have sensed subtle changes within the palace.


    Instinctively, he recalled the wisp of divine soul and said to Liu Chengyan, "This place is not safe for prolonged stay. Let''s leave first."


    Liu Chengyan did not know the reason but still followed Shen Qing out of trust.


    As they returned to the main hall, a cracking sound came from the crystals laid out on the hall.


    Shen Qing looked around and saw many of the well-preserved crystals beginning to collapse, revealing cultivators who opened their cold eyes, staring fixedly at Shen Qing, sending chills down his spine.


    Realizing he might have touched something extremely formidable, Shen Qing immediately activated the Grand Teleportation technique, taking Liu Chengyan through the void.


    Their presence vanished from the main hall.


    At the moment they disappeared, five crystals completely shattered, with five ancient beings emerging from within them.


    Each of them exuded an overwhelming aura, their entire being brimming with unique energy.


    After losing their target of Shen Qing, their expressions suddenly turned aloof and absent-minded, as if lost.


    They spun around vicuously like headless flies, then one by one rushed out of the hall.


    Meanwhile, Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan materialized out of thin air back in the original alchemy hall.


    "The risks present in there are even greater than I imagined. We need to find a place to hide," Shen Qing straightforwardly remarked.


    Having received the legacy of the Tai Xuan Sect, he had learned much.


    For instance, only cultivators or martial artists below the age of thirty-five were permitted to enter this treasure trove. Others who tried would be obstructed by the array formations within, unable to proceed.


    And, the Tai Xuan Sect did not perish by annihilation but preserved their bodies to await an opportunity, aiming to vindicate the Immortal Path.


    Moreover, it appeared that many sects shared similar fates during ancient times.


    They might all be revived someday.


    ''I must quickly enhance my cultivation,'' Shen Qing felt a deep sense of urgency.


    He and Liu Chengyan returned to the alchemy hall and said to Liu Chengyan, "Can you set up an array to ensure our safety?"


    """

 Chapter 458 - 50: Breaking Through the Kongyou Realm, Hou Yis Bow

    Liu Chengyan had also sensed those terrifying pieces of information just now, making her heart tremble.


    That power was almost unbearable for her.


    She didn''t dare to hesitate, acting swiftly to mobilize the spiritual power within her body.


    Between the movements of her fingers, yellow triangular Array Flags shot out from her sleeves, fixing themselves in various positions in the void, mystical runes flowing from them, intertwining to sketch out a yellow formation.


    Hum.


    As the final rune was placed, the entire formation seemed to activate, circles of ripples, invisible to the naked eye, spreading out from Liu Chengyan at the center.


    With the formation complete, Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan''s figures and breaths were completely concealed.


    The external clamor seemed to be completely isolated at this moment, imperceptible.


    "This is the Hidden Array. Once successfully constructed, even a cultivator of high cultivation would find it difficult to penetrate," said Liu Chengyan, taking a deep breath after setting up the formation, "We are safe here."


    Shen Qing glanced at the formation and nodded, "The concentration of spiritual energy in this vault far exceeds that of the outside world, making cultivation here much more efficient. I plan to meditate here to enhance my cultivation for the upcoming period. What about you?"


    Liu Chengyan pondered for a moment and said, "There are still many areas in this vault that remain unexplored. Once this danger has passed, I plan to venture out again in search of opportunities."


    This vault was extremely vast, with many areas still unexplored, harboring relics from ancient times.


    Compared to Shen Qing, she had gained little just now and was not quite willing to leave like this.


    Shen Qing could sense her thoughts and did not intend to stop her, agreeing, "That sounds good. The vault will be open for quite a long time; it would indeed be a waste for you to stay here the whole time."


    With that, he took out some talismans he had obtained from Shen Xiaohu.


    At present, these talismans still had some utility, although not very significant.


    Shen Qing placed the talismans in the slightly surprised hands of Liu Chengyan, saying, "These are the protective talismans I got before entering the vault. I don''t have much use for these right now; you take them."


    "Thank you," Liu Chengyan said, taking them graciously.


    She had seen Shen Qing use these talismans before, and their defensive effects were quite good.


    If she was going out exploring, having some extra protection was always good.


    Shen Qing flicked his sleeve, and a surge of spiritual power burst forth, sweeping away the dust in front of him, revealing a moderately-sized clean area.


    He elegantly sat down cross-legged, slowly closing his eyes, isolating the external noise, leaving only a faint, clear breath circulating leisurely within his body as he entered the meditation state.


    After a moment, when the aura around his body stabilized, he began to comprehend the Tai Xuan Taoist Collection with focus.


    The Tai Xuan Taoist Collection emphasized nurturing the spirit, containing cosmic truths that aided transcendence into sainthood and allowed one to traverse the Nine Heavens and ten lands, greatly benefiting his cultivation of the Primordial Spirit, matching his current situation and status perfectly.


    Shen Qing appeared like an Immortal, his body emanating sparkling stars, absorbing spiritual energy, exuding a mysterious charm that transcended the mundane.


    Liu Chengyan, witnessing this scene, was amazed.


    "Is this the power of a Martial Master of the Primordial Spirit Realm? So powerful." She clenched her fists with a competitive spirit, "If he can achieve this at his age, so can I."


    Time slipped away gradually.


    Sensing the calm outside, Liu Chengyan stood up, bowed to the still meditating Shen Qing, and then left without looking back.


    Above Shen Qing''s head, the alternating Primordial Spirit glanced at the gradually disappearing figure of Liu Chengyan without a word, dispelled all distractions, and continued to immerse himself in meditation.


    At this moment, time seemed to lose its meaning, with only the flowing spiritual light and the steadily ascendant cultivation filling this realm.


    Years passed swiftly, it was indeterminable how much time had actually elapsed.


    Shen Qing, who had been absorbed in meditation, was now covered in a thick layer of dust.


    With a flick of a finger on his left hand, the dust fell off, and he slowly opened his eyes, which flashed brightly.


    His eyes had become profound and luminous, as if capable of discerning the essence of all things.


    He took a moment to feel the sustained improvement in his cultivation, realizing that his Primordial Spirit had also quietly undergone a transformation.


    The once minute and fragile Primordial Spirit had now become like a brilliant star, continuously expanding until it filled the entire Sea of Consciousness.


    Driven by this power, Shen Qing''s Primordial Spirit had finally condensed into the so-called "Primordial Spirit Golden Physique," becoming almost tangible.


    "It''s about time."


    Shen Qing murmured to himself. Spiritual power surged, the dust on his body was completely shaken off, and his clothes fluttered without wind, surrounded by a faint spiritual light.


    Since starting his cultivation, he had transformed from a nameless hunter into a formidable Martial Master of the Primordial Spirit Realm, which was not an easy feat.


    But now he aimed to advance even further.


    Shen Qing stood up, his black hair spreading wildly behind him, each strand like a dragon.


    At that moment, the surrounding spiritual energy, as if finding an outlet, continuously converged towards Shen Qing.


    If someone were standing outside the Alchemy Room, they would see a dark cloud forming above the Alchemy Room, pouring down.


    This was the phenomenon created by Shen Qing''s frenzied absorption of nature''s spiritual energy. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Boom.


    Streaks of blue lightning appeared.


    Amidst the indistinct glimpses, Shen Qing seemed to grasp the barrier between the Primordial Spirit Realm and the Kongyou Realm, the bottleneck-wall.

 Chapter 459 - 50: Breaking Through the Kongyou Realm, Hou Yis Bow_2

    His eyes flashed with a sharp light as he immersed his spirit and concentrated all his power to break through the invisible barrier.


    "Boom!"


    With a deafening roar, the Spiritual Energy within Shen Qing finally reached a critical point. A power like never before exploded within him, instantly tearing apart the last shackles between his Primordial Spirit and Physical Body.


    In an instant, Shen Qing felt the world spinning, as if the entire world was collapsing and reforming before his eyes, and his Primordial Spirit, like a true dragon breaking free from its bonds, soared high into the skies.


    When he opened his eyes again, a completely different scene lay before him.


    No longer confined by his Physical Body, his consciousness seemed to merge with this world, allowing him to clearly sense every fluctuation in space and every flow of Spiritual Energy.


    He tried waving his hand lightly and saw ripples immediately spread through the void, even causing the space itself to tremble.


    This power was far beyond what the Primordial Spirit Realm could compare to.


    Shen Qing felt indescribable excitement and shock surge within him.


    He finally understood why the Kongyou Realm was revered as the supreme state¡ªit was not only because one could completely transcend the Physical Body but also because of this profound comprehension and control over the laws of the universe.


    He felt like a part of the universe, able to traverse the void at will.


    "Is this the Kongyou Realm?" Shen Qing muttered to himself, then burst into laughter.


    With a single thought, he encompassed the entire treasure vault within his Divine Sense.


    "Huh, I can''t sense Liu Chengyan and the others'' presence. Could it be that they have all perished?" Shen Qing''s brow furrowed slightly, a bad premonition rising in his heart.


    There were no celestial bodies in the treasury; he could not sense the passage of time and changes, but from the looks of it, even the Formation had grown dim, it seemed at least nearly a year had passed.


    "Never mind, everyone has their own fate. It looks like there''s something here suitable for me to go and take."


    Shen Qing activated the Great Void Shifting Technique, traversing hundreds of miles in a single step, arriving in front of a Golden Hall.


    He placed his hands on the massive doors and pushed them open.


    Accompanied by a dull booming sound, the interior of the Golden Hall gradually revealed itself.


    The Golden Hall was dim and filled with an aura of cold desolation and ancient times.


    Shen Qing stepped inside.


    Whoosh!


    The moment Shen Qing entered the hall, a series of dull, zombie-like gazes shot his way.


    In the hall stood two rows of differently shaped Ancient Cultivator corpses.


    These corpses were in tattered clothes, their eyes devoid of life, leaving only emptiness and silence.


    Their attire suggested they were all Cultivators from the Tai Xuan Sect.


    Only, after countless years, their vitality had been eroded away, leaving only a will lingering within them, turning them into walking corpses.


    Shen Qing''s gaze swept over these corpses, his curiosity deepening.


    He wondered what the Tai Xuan Sect had gone through during the Ancient Times to end up like this.


    Unfortunately, no one could answer this question.


    The corpses, baring their teeth and clawing, flew at Shen Qing.


    Shen Qing dared not be careless.


    These Ancient Cultivators had been strong before their life force was extinguished, their flesh as tough as iron.


    Even just their shells were not to be underestimated.


    Spiritual Power surged within Shen Qing, and his hands quickly formed a seal, executing the Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal.


    A golden light burst forth in front of him, condensing into an ancient large seal that filled the entire hall, a powerful force enveloping the Golden Hall.


    "Annihilate!" Shen Qing shouted lowly, and the golden seal shone brightly, pressing down like a mountain, obliterating the Ancient Cultivator corpses as it passed, leaving not even a trace behind.


    Shen Qing''s heart skipped a beat, not expecting his cultivation in the Kongyou Realm to be so strong. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Eight Desolate Annihilation Seal had become several times more powerful, and using it, he didn''t feel the slightest bit exhausted; he still appeared vibrant.


    "I really don''t know, if I were to break through to the Unity Realm or even the legendary Heaven''s End Realm, what kind of state would it be."


    Shen Qing''s lips curved slightly upwards, growing more expectant for the future.


    Having dealt with these obstructions, Shen Qing continued deeper, arriving in front of a massive crystal at the back of the Golden Hall.


    This crystal was as tall as a person, standing quietly there, radiating a soft and pure light.


    Shen Qing approached and saw a simple and ancient bow sealed within the crystal. Intricate totems were engraved on the bow body, exuding a sense of ancient vicissitude.


    This bow had shone like the sun within his Primordial Spirit''s perception, impossible to ignore.


    Now, standing before it, it felt even more so.


    This bow was extraordinary, likely a magic treasure from Ancient Times, or perhaps an even rarer treasure.


    Shen Qing held his breath and concentrated, carefully touching the crystal, then suddenly struck it with his palm.


    Crack, crack, crack!


    A series of soft cracking sounds continued.


    Under Shen Qing''s gaze, the crystal transformed into specks of light and dissipated into nothingness.


    Only the bow slowly floated in front of him.


    Shen Qing gently picked up the bow, and an indescribable connection was established within his Primordial Spirit.


    On the bow body, a line of ancient text slowly appeared: "Hou Yi''s divine shooting, shattering all things, stabilizing heaven and earth."


    "Is this¡­Hou Yi''s Bow?"


    Shen Qing held the bow before him and scrutinized it closely. An overwhelmingly dominant aura hit him, giving him the illusion of standing atop a high mountain under the Golden Crow.


    "Extraordinary, truly extraordinary." Shen Qing was delighted, "This Hou Yi''s Bow is definitely a divine weapon."


    While Shen Qing was immersed in the joy of obtaining Hou Yi''s Bow, a deep rumbling suddenly came from the depths of the Golden Hall, as if something was awakening.


    His heart tightened, and he looked around, only to see the originally calm Golden Hall beginning to shake. Ancient runes rose from the ground, converging into a massive seal, firmly trapping him.


    "Hmm?"


    Shen Qing pondered inwardly. Given the decorations of this ancient hall, its status within the Tai Xuan Sect must be high; it would unlikely lack prohibitions.


    Perhaps thousands of years had caused the hall''s prohibitions to lose their effect, but with such an extraordinary Hou Yi''s Bow, the Tai Xuan Sect definitely wouldn''t let it be taken easily¡ªlikely, a backup formation had activated.


    Just as he thought this, an overwhelming oppressive force descended from the sky.


    Shen Qing looked up and saw a colossal demon beast phantom condense, its eyes like two burning stars, locked onto Shen Qing as if intending to devour him.


    The palace suddenly darkened, thunder roared, and a lightning bolt as thick as a barrel tore through the sky, striking directly at Shen Qing with a formidable heavenly might falling upon him.


    "Hmph, trying to suppress me with this kind of heavenly might?" Shen Qing snorted coldly, his hand tightly gripping Hou Yi''s Bow, Spiritual Power surging within him fiercely.


    He fully executed the Great Void Shifting Technique, veering to the side and traversing through the void, skillfully avoiding the attack.


    At the same time, he tensed the bowstring in his hand and shot an arrow.


    The Sun Shooting Bow Technique surged.


    An arrow, forged from amassed Spiritual Power, streaked through the night sky like a meteor, colliding with the lightning, generating a deafening explosion, mutually annihilating.


    Immediately after, the surrounding space twisted, and countless demon beast phantoms converged again, lunging at Shen Qing from all around.


    Shen Qing''s eyes were resolute, showing no signs of backing down.


    He pulled the bowstring fully once again, arrows following one after another.


    Arrows, like a torrential downpour, poured out.


    Above, rounds of light that resembled the sun exploded continuously, all the demon beast phantoms shattered entirely, obliterated.


    But the next moment, these beasts reassembled.


    Shen Qing smirked, noticing that the aura of these newly appeared demon beast phantoms was much weaker than before.


    He did not hesitate, his movements unceasing.


    The combination of Hou Yi''s Bow and the Sun Shooting Bow Technique displayed a terrifying scene.


    The beast phantoms burst under the barrage of arrows, continually transforming into nothingness, breaking apart before they could even fully form.


    After all, with the erosion of many years, the measures left by the Tai Xuan Sect were hard to maintain.


    Soon, under Shen Qing''s continuous shooting, the formation casting over the Golden Hall began to crack, and then with a loud "crack", it completely shattered.


    When the formation broke, the demon beast phantoms also dissipated like bubbles, and the Golden Hall once again returned to calm.


    Shen Qing stood in place, silent.


    He placed Hou Yi''s Bow into the Hundred Treasure Pouch and, without looking back, walked out of the hall, heading to the next location.


    Having come here, how could he possibly leave empty-handed?