Let Me See What's Going On

After quite a bit of self-persuasion, Zhang Shan finally calmed down and began to explain.

"These Merit Points are like currency within the Imperial Guards. We can't rely on getting only a tiny reward from every mission to cultivate. If that were the case, we might as well be caravan guards."

"We earn Merit Points for every mission we complete. Merit Points can be exchanged for various weapons, precious fruits, elixirs, and other treasures in the Merit Hall."

"For example, that Crimson Jade Fruit from last time was worth sixty Merit Points."

"But how could you not know about Merit Points? Someone should have told you after you were promoted to Commander..."

Suddenly, Zhang Shan seemed to remember something, and a resentful expression reappeared on his face.

"That's right, you were promoted too quickly. You only became a Commander not long ago before being directly promoted to Centurion. The Pacification Bureau didn't even have time to send someone to brief you."

Shen Qing's eyes lit up. The Crimson Jade Fruit was only sixty? I got three hundred for capturing Sun Yun?

Unexpected fortune!

"Where is the Merit Hall?"

"It's on the right side after entering the Pacification Bureau."

After getting the exact location, Shen Qing exchanged a few brief pleasantries before heading straight for the Merit Hall.

Zhang Shan stood rooted to the spot for a long time. After a while, he turned and walked towards the exit of the Pacification Bureau.

The Commander hurried to catch up. "Sir, where are you going?"

"Where am I going? To solve cases! I want opportunities too!"

The duty Colonel at the Merit Hall immediately stood up and saluted upon seeing Shen Qing.

"Greetings, Sir."

"May I ask what you wish to exchange for?"

Shen Qing tossed his Centurion token over.

"Help me check how many points I have. My name is Shen Qing."

The Colonel, who had just sat down, looked at the token and immediately stood up again. "Greetings, Centurion Shen."

He then quickly began to flip through the records and soon found Shen Qing's entry.

"Lord Shen, according to the records, you have six hundred and thirty Merit Points remaining."

"One hundred Merit Points for capturing the White Dragon Cult remnant Liu Chengle, thirty Merit Points for eliminating the traitorous Commander Sun Yan in Baiyun Town, twenty Merit Points for the Ping An Town massacre case, one hundred Merit Points for eradicating the blood cultivator family in Chaoyang County, three hundred and fifty Merit Points for capturing Cloud-Piercing Hand Sun Yun, oh, and here are thirty Merit Points from Qiushui City."

"A total of six hundred and thirty points."

The more the Colonel read, the more astonished his expression became.

Is this truly the resume of an Acting Centurion? So impressive?

"Lord Shen, what would you like to exchange for?"

"Do you have any precious fruits or elixirs that can be used for cultivating True Qi in the Xiantian Realm?"

The Colonel quickly bent down and picked up two scrolls.

"Yes, yes."

"This white scroll contains precious fruits and elixirs available in our Luoshui City, which can be obtained quickly."

"This green scroll contains precious fruits from the Pacification Bureaus of other provinces. We can also apply to have them transferred."

Without a second thought, Shen Qing tossed the green scroll aside.

Transferring from other provinces? That would require an application first, then approval from a Centurion in the Merit Hall, followed by approval from a Battalion Commander of the Pacification Bureau, and finally from the Pacification Commissioner, before being sent to the other Pacification Bureau. In the end, after waiting for a long time, you'd be told that the precious fruit from there was gone!

Then the application would be rejected, and you'd have to choose another precious fruit and reapply.

By the time the precious fruit finally arrived, it would be too late.

Shen Qing quickly flipped through the scroll. It had over a hundred pages, each recording a precious fruit or elixir that could aid in breaking through to the Xiantian Realm.

This was the power of the state apparatus. Ordinary sects would consider themselves well-resourced if they had even one item with a stable output, but the Wu Dynasty directly provided over a hundred varieties.

Shen Qing didn't hesitate and immediately looked at the most expensive pages.

[Snow Jade Butterfly Flower]

[Merit: One Hundred Ninety]

[Mild medicinal properties, used for breaking through to the Xiantian Realm, accelerating True Qi condensation, purifying True Qi, refreshing taste, with a faint mint flavor.]

Mint flavor? Good stuff, buy it!

[Bitter Lotus Fruit]

[Bitter taste, cannot be removed for three days.]

Bitter taste? Go find somewhere cool to stay!

[Ten Blood Pill]

[Merit Points: 200]

[Potent medicinal properties, excellent for purifying True Qi, and can also enhance strength. Remark: Tastes great, similar to braised beef.]

Shen Qing licked his lips. Tastes great? Similar to braised beef? Buy! I want to see what this is all about.

[Purple Dew Nectar]

Cannot find the book title, you can try searching for the author, maybe the title has been changed!

[Merit Points: 220]

[The best Xiantian Realm treasure medicine developed by the Divine Medicine Pavilion, tastes no different from orange juice.]

The best Xiantian Realm treasure medicine? One bottle costs 220 Merit Points?

But after buying it, I'll only have 20 Merit Points left.

But it tastes like orange juice.

Let me see what this is all about!

All in!

The Colonel took the ledger, recorded Shen Qing's request, and respectfully said, "Lord Shen, the treasure medicine is expected to arrive within three days. Do you wish to have it stored at the Pacification Bureau or delivered elsewhere?"

"Huh? Isn't the treasure medicine stored at the Pacification Bureau? Can't I get it immediately?"

The Colonel shook his head. "Reporting to Lord, it's not like that. Our Merit Hall is just a record-keeping point. The treasure medicine is actually stored in a mysterious location in Yongning Commandery. It is said to be guarded by the army. We just send the request to them, and they are responsible for the allocation."

Shen Qing nodded, indicating his understanding. Storing it at the Pacification Bureau was indeed not appropriate.

In Yongning Commandery, the Pacification Bureau was the safest place, but also the most dangerous. Safe because there were over a dozen Xiantian Realm experts, and the Battalion Commander was a Grandmaster realm martial artist. Dangerous because they dealt with serious offenders daily, and it was inevitable that lunatics would attack the Pacification Bureau. People dying was not a big deal, but damaging the treasure medicine would be heartbreaking.

"Deliver it directly to the West City Hundred Households Office."

Shen Qing waved his hand and walked out of the Merit Hall.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw the Scholar striding towards him.

"Boss, boss, I finally found you."

"I was walking on the road just now, and people from the Pan family handed me an invitation, saying they want to invite you for a drink."

Shen Qing took the invitation and looked at it for a few moments. "The Pan family?"

The Scholar quickly said.

"I've also learned about this Pan family these past two days."

"Their old family head, Pan Honghu, is a veteran Centurion of the Luoshui Town Pacification Department, who retired a few years ago."

"It's worth noting his three children. His two sons, Pan Ruhai and Pan Ruyuan, are both Centurions in the Pacification Department, and his daughter, Pan Xiaoping, married into the Ning Shui Count's Mansion."

"They are quite influential in Luoshui City. In recent years, they might want to take the family to the next level."

"The invitation is politely worded, saying 'to drink and sing joyfully,' but I'm afraid it's hiding a knife. Pan Ruhai wants to move up further, and Pan Ruyuan is forming alliances to build momentum for his brother, wanting you to take a side?"

Shen Qing frowned. Another banquet? Another drinking culture?

On Earth, Shen Qing hated drinking culture the most.

Shen Qing waved his hand. "No, no, I don't know them, why would they invite me for a drink?"

Drinking, drinking, always drinking, I can't drink anymore.

He casually threw the invitation to the Scholar. "Just find an excuse to decline it for me."

"Let's go, isn't there a famous snack street in Luoshui City?"

"Add Black Dog and the others, let's go eat and drink."

Time came to the afternoon of the third day.

A group of soldiers delivered three treasures to the Hundred Households Office.

Shen Qing opened the boxes in the room. Inside were three small wooden boxes.

He opened them one by one. The first was a snow-white Snow Jade Butterfly Flower, emitting a faint fragrance, about the size of a palm. Approaching it with a finger, one could feel a faint chill.

The Ten Blood Pill looked like ordinary pills, but the aroma it emitted was enough to make one's mouth water.

As for the Purple Dew Nectar, it was interesting. It was contained in a pale white porcelain bottle, but a faint purple light emanated through the bottle.

Shen Qing chuckled. It's finally here.

Without overthinking, Shen Qing directly threw the Ten Blood Pill into his mouth.

Shen Qing's eyes widened. It really tasted like braised beef!

Delicious!

He picked up the Snow Jade Butterfly Flower in his left hand and took a bite. A minty flavor spread through his mouth!

Refreshing!

He then picked up the Purple Dew Nectar and took a sip. It was cool and refreshing.

A blissful smile spread across Shen Qing's lips. This was what cultivation was all about.

The immense medicinal power surged through his body instantly as the Overbearing True Qi Art operated at full power.

Most cultivators, when practicing, would first increase their total True Qi and then refine it to improve its quality.

But Shen Qing was different.

His left brain controlled the absorption of medicinal power, causing his total True Qi to grow wildly, while his right brain circulated the Overbearing True Qi Art, violently refining the quality of his True Qi.

With both hands working together, he improved at an astonishing rate.

What about bottlenecks in cultivation?

That was something that simply didn't exist for him.

By popular demand from our readers, we are now introducing the VIP member ad-free feature.

Click to view.