At dawn, Shen Qing and the others returned to Baiyun County.
The Imperial Guards were all yawning incessantly. After all, they were merely Body Tempering Realm martial artists.
Shen Qing gave them a day off and told them to go back and catch up on sleep.
He himself returned to the General's Office and had Lin Zikai arrange a tub of bathwater, then enjoyed a nice long soak.
Lin Zikai thoughtfully brought over a jug of fine wine and several plates of snacks to go with it.
Shen Qing leisurely enjoyed life.
"My lord, my lord, someone has arrived from Luoshui City."
Lin Zikai's delighted voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Reclining at an angle, Shen Qing slowly opened his eyes.
After three or four days, it had finally arrived.
The merit he had earned last time was no small thing.
He had uncovered a traitorous General, recovered the silver, and interrogated a White Dragon Cult stronghold out of them.
Especially that White Dragon Cult stronghold. The Great Wu Dynasty had never shown the White Dragon Cult the slightest tolerance.
Missions involving the White Dragon Cult also came with generous rewards.
Thus, Shen Qing was somewhat expectant, wondering what reward those above would give him.
Of course, if it was too poor, then Shen Qing could not be blamed for cursing their mothers.
Shen Qing dressed and walked out of his room. The courtyard was silent, with all the Imperial Guards standing quietly along both sides.
At the center of the courtyard stood a middle-aged Hundred Commander wearing a silver Flying Fish Robe.
Shen Qing raised his brows. A Hundred Commander had escorted the reward here; it seemed the reward would not be bad.
When the middle-aged Hundred Commander saw Shen Qing emerge from the room, his eyes lit up. He cupped his hands in greeting.
"I am Zhang Shan, Hundred Commander of the Northern Pacification Bureau in Luoshui City."
"I presume you are General Shen Qing."
"Truly a talented and handsome young man. To have attained the position of General at such a young age, your future is boundless."
Zhang Shan did not put on the airs of a Hundred Commander. Though he did not know Shen Qing's background, Shen Qing's age was plain for all to see.
Moreover, Shen Qing had rendered great merit, and Zhang Shan had heard within the Luoshui Town Pacification Department that those above were extremely satisfied with Shen Qing.
Great merit on one side and the favor of those above on the other—Shen Qing's future promotion was as certain as nails driven into a board.
Rather than putting on useless airs now, it was better to lower himself and make a friend.
The two exchanged a few casual pleasantries. Zhang Shan waved a hand, and an Imperial Guard behind him stepped forward carrying a redwood box trimmed in gold.
"I imagine General Shen has been waiting quite some time for this reward."
The Imperial Guard carefully opened the wooden box. A refreshing fragrance immediately spread through the air, accompanied by faint flashes of red light.
Inside the box was a crimson fruit the size of an infant's fist, crystal-clear and translucent.
Shen Qing narrowed his eyes and recognized it. "A Crimson Jade Fruit?"
"General Shen has a keen eye."
There were countless heavenly treasures in the world, and quite a few were suitable for the Houtian Realm. But if one spoke of the most suitable, it had to be the Crimson Jade Fruit.
The Crimson Jade Fruit grew on Crimson Jade Island, at the southernmost edge of the Great Wu Dynasty.
Crimson Jade Island was named after this fruit. It was the only place in the entire dynasty where Crimson Jade Fruits were cultivated. Its annual yield was limited, and because of its excellent effects, supply had always been tight. The Imperial Guards, however, were given priority.
Its effect was to assist in opening the meridians of those in the Houtian Realm, and its efficacy was remarkable.
Yet what truly made it precious was another effect: after consuming a Crimson Jade Fruit, one's meridians could be widened and their resilience enhanced.
Zhang Shan laughed heartily. "To be honest, this reward truly makes one green with envy."
"But treasures are meant for heroes. This Crimson Jade Fruit ought to belong to you, General Shen."
Shen Qing waved a hand, and Lin Zikai immediately stepped forward to take the wooden box.
"Hundred Commander Zhang has traveled a long way. Would you like to have a meal before leaving?"
Hundred Commander Zhang waved his hand.
"Zhang has business to attend to and must return to Luoshui City to report."
"Besides, General Shen has just obtained a precious fruit. I shall not disturb you any longer."
"If General Shen comes to Luoshui City someday, Zhang will certainly lay out a grand banquet."
"Certainly."
With that, Zhang Shan cupped his hands, then led his men out of the General's Office.
After Zhang Shan had gone far away, Shen Qing took the Crimson Jade Fruit back to his room. At the same time, he instructed Lin Zikai not to let anyone disturb him.
He was currently at the Houtian Realm Second Layer.
He had already connected eight acupoints.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he took out the Crimson Jade Fruit and swallowed it in three bites, then fully circulated the Overbearing Meridian Opening Art.
The Crimson Jade Fruit rapidly dissolved, and a vast, pure, gentle energy surged into his limbs and bones.
Shen Qing swiftly opened his meridians and connected his acupoints.
Like drifting clouds and flowing water, Shen Qing broke through eight acupoints in succession, successfully advancing to the Houtian Realm Third Layer.
Moreover, Shen Qing became increasingly extraordinary. Not only did the speed at which he connected acupoints not decrease, it instead grew faster.
There was no other reason.
The effect of the red trait Clear Mind was that the clearer his mind, the stronger the effect of a lucid Dao heart.
And Shen Qing's current state was this: the faster he broke through, the clearer his mind became.
And the clearer his mind became, the faster his realm advanced.
It was like stepping on his own left foot to fly upward.
In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he opened another meridian and connected eight acupoints, breaking through to the Houtian Realm Fourth Layer.
In the time it took for an incense stick to burn, he reached the Houtian Realm Fifth Layer.
Half an hour later, he reached the Houtian Realm Sixth Layer.
Only then did the final trace of medicinal power from the Crimson Jade Fruit completely vanish.
Shen Qing had made the utmost use of the Crimson Jade Fruit's meridian-widening effect. Every single meridian had been widened by a full forty percent.
Slowly opening his eyes, Shen Qing felt his strength swelling to a terrifying degree.
He raised a finger and lightly pointed. A strand of Overbearing Internal Energy appeared at his fingertip.
This was the unique ability of the Houtian Realm Third Layer and above: releasing internal energy beyond the body, its nature depending on the cultivation art practiced.
And it was precisely at this moment that the true tyranny of the Overbearing Meridian Opening Art became apparent.
The Overbearing Internal Energy cultivated through the Overbearing Meridian Opening Art was incomparably tyrannical, its destructive power fully maxed out, capable of forcibly shattering an opponent's internal energy.
The incomparably tyrannical internal energy provided incomparably powerful destructive force; the meridians widened by forty percent provided greater circulation speed; the lucid Dao heart state provided a greater degree of control over his internal energy.
Shen Qing felt that he was terrifyingly strong now.
He should have forcibly kept Zhang Shan for a meal earlier. Now that he had broken through, Zhang Shan would have been perfect for testing the waters.
Shen Qing rose, stretched his limbs, and walked out of the room.
At this moment, Lin Zikai and the others were idly playing chess in the courtyard.
First, they were guarding Shen Qing's door. Second, the Imperial Guards in a small place were not truly that busy. Minor cases did not require them; the local yamen would handle those themselves.
Only major cases would trouble the Imperial Guards, but such cases did not happen every day.
Lin Zikai noticed Shen Qing and hurriedly rose. "My lord, have you already refined the Crimson Jade Fruit?"
Shen Qing nodded and waved his hand. "Go call Black Dog and the others. We'll meet at Emerald Pine Pavilion."
"When we entered the city earlier, I saw that Emerald Pine Pavilion had new dishes."
Since he had a cheat, naturally he could not wrong his own stomach.
Clear broth and plain water while cultivating bitterly?
Be good. We do not do things like forcing ourselves to endure hardship when there is no need.
If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you do not lose it next time.
Before you continue