Breaking Through to the Xiantian Realm

Two days later.

A troop of Imperial Guards entered Baiyun County from the east gate and headed straight for the General's Office.

The Scholar gently knocked on Shen Qing's room door.

"Sir, Centurion Zhang Shan is here."

Shen Qing tidied his clothes slightly and walked out of the room.

Zhang Shan had also come for Shen Qing; Shen Qing's successful apprehension of a malevolent cultivator was no small feat.

Of course, the other two matters were the main reasons.

The first was Shen Qing's Blood-Swallowing Wood Crystal Core. As soon as the Luoshui Town Pacification Department heard about the crystal core's appearance, there was an undercurrent of activity.

The Pacification Bureau had even offered two Crimson Jade Fruits at a high price to exchange with Shen Qing for the crystal core.

This was beyond Shen Qing's expectations.

The second matter was to take away that traitorous Lieutenant Official.

The previous appearance of a traitorous Commander Official could be considered an accident.

But not long after, another mole was discovered, and this one was sent from Luoshui City.

This meant the problem was significant.

It was said that the Pacification Commissioner of the commandery was enraged, and the news had even reached the capital.

The Imperial Guards of Yongning Commandery were about to undergo a major purge.

Shen Qing walked out into the courtyard and saw Zhang Shan at a glance.

Zhang Shan looked at Shen Qing with a beaming smile.

But suddenly, Zhang Shan's expression froze. He felt that Shen Qing's aura seemed to have undergone a qualitative change.

"Did he break through?"

Although shocked, it was still within Zhang Shan's acceptable range, so he quickly resumed his smile and cupped his hands.

"We meet again, Commander Shen."

The two exchanged pleasantries again.

Then they got down to business.

"Commander Shen, the order from Luoshui City this time is very urgent. They've asked me to retrieve something from you and take that internal spy back."

"Centurion Qin will also arrive in Baiyun County at noon, and we will escort it together."

Zhang Shan's gaze was filled with curiosity.

"What exactly is it?"

"It's nothing much. I happened to kill a Houtian Realm blood cultivator, and the harvest wasn't significant, just a Blood-Swallowing Wood Crystal Core," Shen Qing said calmly.

Zhang Shan was stunned. What the hell did he mean by "nothing much"?

Was that even human language?

A single Blood-Swallowing Wood Crystal Core was enough to keep him busy for a long time.

He had apprehended many blood cultivators, even a few Xiantian Realm ones, but he had never obtained such a treasure.

And here he was, getting one just by killing a Houtian Realm blood cultivator.

In an instant, the air was filled with the scent of sourness.

"Commander Shen has such good fortune!"

Afterward, Zhang Shan stared at the Blood-Swallowing Wood Crystal Core for a few more moments, regretting why he hadn't encountered such an opportunity himself.

However, despite his sourness, there wasn't too much jealousy.

He had encountered many opportunities himself, but most of them had slipped through his fingers, falling into the hands of his colleagues.

Take this Blood-Swallowing Wood Crystal Core, for example. A few days ago, when he came to Baiyun County to deliver Crimson Jade Fruits, he had encountered a blood cultivator.

He had apprehended them casually but couldn't pursue further due to urgent duties.

He had planned to deal with this group of blood cultivators after finishing his current tasks.

As a result, Shen Qing had gotten there first.

Zhang Shan took it in stride, believing it was just a matter of accumulation. Once luck accumulated, he would soar to the heavens and meet a benefactor.

It was fate!

If you can't find the book by its title, you can try searching for the author. Perhaps the name has changed!

Zhang Shan withdrew his gaze, adjusted himself slightly, and brought up the second matter of his visit to Baiyun County, his expression becoming more serious.

"I heard you've found another internal spy?"

Shen Qing nodded. "He's in the prison right now. Arranged by the White Dragon Cult. I haven't interrogated him much yet."

"I'll trouble you to take him away with you later, Centurion Zhang. He's not in good condition, so don't let him die on the way."

Last night during the torture, because he came back too late, Old Li personally prepared the minced chili peppers for the punishment.

This night was filled with screams of agony.

Centurion Zhang frowned, "The White Dragon Cult again? They're really troublesome, always stirring up trouble for us."

"This incident is quite serious. I heard even the Supervisory Yuan will send people to conduct a 'heart-questioning' test on our Imperial Guards in Yongning Commandery."

Shen Qing raised an eyebrow.

The Supervisory Yuan's members were personally selected by the Emperor to oversee officials and identify disloyal individuals.

Most of them were at the Xiantian Realm or above and mastered special techniques for the heart-questioning.

The Supervisory Yuan was actually involved this time? It seemed the matter had truly alarmed the capital.

However, if they wanted to question, let them question. It would be good to clarify things.

It would prevent having a mole here and a traitor there, only to be stabbed in the back later.

It wasn't until noon that another Centurion arrived at Baiyun County. The two then left with the Blood-Swallowing Wood Crystal Core.

Inside the General's Office, Shen Qing contentedly gazed at the two Crimson Jade Fruits before him.

With these two Crimson Jade Fruits, Shen Qing had enough to make another breakthrough.

Shen Qing adjusted his breathing slightly, bringing his condition to its peak, then directly grabbed a Crimson Jade Fruit and stuffed it into his mouth, taking large bites.

A massive surge of energy immediately opened several acupoints, like a flood, and its momentum did not wane as it continued to rush towards subsequent acupoints.

With the "Enlightened Dao Heart" state's blessing, meridian damage? That was simply not a possibility.

There was only one thing Master Shen Qing intended to do, and that was to push with all his might for a miracle!

Master Shen would just push hard; the rest would be left to miracles.

Acupoint after acupoint was rapidly connected. In less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Shen Qing's realm broke through to Houtian Realm seventh grade.

Then came Houtian Realm eighth grade.

Soon, the energy from the first Crimson Jade Fruit was perfectly absorbed by Shen Qing, but one Crimson Jade Fruit was still far from Shen Qing's limit.

The second Crimson Jade Fruit was quickly consumed. Shen Qing opened his eyes, and even a sharp glint of energy emanated from them.

"Meridians, let me see your limit!"

The Crimson Jade Fruit seemed to hear Master Shen's words, becoming even more ferocious than the previous one.

The last acupoint of Houtian Realm eighth grade was connected, breaking through to the final realm of Houtian, ninth grade.

Once the last acupoint was connected.

Then came the Xiantian Realm.

The Shen family's cultivation techniques were a complete set.

The Houtian Realm technique was the Overbearing Meridian Opening Art, and the Xiantian Realm technique was the Overbearing True Qi Art.

They cultivated Overbearing True Qi.

Shen Qing quietly sensed, and the Internal Energy surging through his meridians gradually calmed down.

After about the time it takes a cup of tea to steep.

All the Internal Energy in his body was instantly activated and began to surge madly towards his Dantian.

The previously dim and lightless Dantian, as if Pangu had separated heaven and earth, saw its first ray of light.

This was the Xiantian Realm.

Refining Internal Energy into True Qi and opening the Yin and Yang of the Dantian.

Within the territory of Yongning Commandery, the Xiantian Realm was already an extraordinary figure.

But Shen Qing came from a prominent clan, and his vision was naturally not comparable to people from remote areas like Baiyun County.

Stepping into the Xiantian Realm was merely the beginning of the cultivation path.

If cultivation were compared to building a house, then the Xiantian Realm was laying the foundation.

Cultivating True Qi and expanding the Dantian to increase the quantity of True Qi was like expanding the foundation.

And refining True Qi to improve its purity was like reinforcing the foundation.

Only when the foundation is stable can tall buildings be erected.