Rewards: Thirty Years of Internal Cultivation, Breaking Through Two Realms in Succession

Hearing Huang Shaojie's arrogant yet righteous words, a glimmer of hope could not help rising in Wu Zhen's heart.

He cupped his hands and bowed to Huang Shaojie. "If you are willing to help this commoner seek justice and punish Cao Renqi, then I will die without regrets!"

Huang Shaojie said blandly, "I'll lock you in the dungeon first. Once I've investigated this matter, I'll come interrogate you."

With that, he brought Wu Zhen to the dungeon.

"Greetings, Battalion Commander Huang."

A jailer hurriedly led several prison guards in bowing to Huang Shaojie.

Pointing at Wu Zhen, Huang Shaojie said, "This man is a serious criminal. Keep close watch over him. However, do not use harsh torture on him. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

The jailer cupped his hands, then had two prison guards shackle Wu Zhen's hands and feet before locking him in a cell.

After leaving the dungeon, a system reward notification sounded in Huang Shaojie's mind:

Congratulations, Host, for capturing the assassin. You have received a reward of thirty years of Internal Cultivation.

Along with the system's reward notification, a vast surge of true qi poured into Huang Shaojie's Dantian, increasing his Internal Cultivation by thirty years.

Boom~

A barrier within his body was smashed open, and Huang Shaojie's cultivation broke through to the Eighth Level of the Xiantian Realm.

Boom~

Another barrier was broken through, and Huang Shaojie's cultivation advanced once more, reaching the Ninth Level of Innate Realm.

Now, he was only one step away from the Grandmaster Stage.

For ordinary people, breaking through from the Ninth Level of Innate Realm to become a First Rank Grandmaster was harder than ascending to heaven.

The vast majority of martial artists could not even enter the Xiantian Realm in their entire lives.

Those who could enter the Xiantian Realm were undoubtedly the cream of the crop.

Yet more than ninety-nine percent of these Xiantian Realm martial artists would still find it difficult to break through to the Grandmaster Stage in their lifetimes.

To reach the Grandmaster Stage, a martial artist had to possess at least one of the following conditions.

First: exceptional bones and extraordinary talent.

Second: mastery of top-tier martial arts, or even peerless martial arts and Mythical Level Martial Arts.

Third: having consumed pills, rare fruits, spiritual medicines, and the like that increased cultivation.

Fourth: having someone directly infuse them with power, allowing them to break through to the Grandmaster Stage or higher.

Fulfilling one of these four conditions made it possible to break through to the Grandmaster Stage.

If two or more were fulfilled, one would be highly likely to reach at least the Fifth Rank Grandmaster Stage.

If three or more were fulfilled, one could at least reach the peak of the Grandmaster Stage.

If all four were fulfilled, one could step into the realm of Great Grandmasters.

As for Huang Shaojie, who possessed the system, breaking through to the Great Grandmaster realm was only a matter of time.

With thirty years of Internal Cultivation added in one go and two realms broken through in succession, Huang Shaojie felt greatly refreshed.

The further one advanced, the more cultivation was required.

Though he had now reached the Ninth Level of Innate Realm, he would still need at least another thirty years of Internal Cultivation to break through into the Grandmaster Stage.

In truth, he only needed to sign in for another thirty days. After the New Year, he would be able to break through to the Grandmaster Stage.

Although he was only at the Ninth Level of Innate Realm, with three Peerless Divine Skills in his possession, he was more than capable of defeating Grandmasters below the Third Rank.

It could be said that, with Huang Shaojie's current strength, throughout the entire Suzhou Imperial Guard, he was second only to Commander Niu Ren.

Niu Ren had reached the Fifth Rank Grandmaster Stage not only because of his exceptional martial talent, but also because he had mastered two top-tier martial arts: the Innate Limitless Divine Skill and the Great Strength Vajra Palm.

Martial arts were ranked as follows: third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, top-tier, peerless, and mythical.

The Wind God Leg, Indestructible Vajra Technique, and Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms were all peerless martial arts.

Huang Shaojie then came to the Imperial Guard's main hall to meet Niu Ren.

"Greetings, Commander." Huang Shaojie cupped his hands and bowed to Niu Ren, who sat at the head of the hall.

Niu Ren took a sip of tea, looked at Huang Shaojie, and asked blandly, "How is your investigation into Commander Cao's assassination case progressing?"

Huang Shaojie said, "Reporting to you, sir, this subordinate has already captured the assassin and locked him in the Imperial Guard dungeon."

"Oh, you captured the assassin... How did you capture him?"

Niu Ren was somewhat surprised. Only three days had passed, yet Huang Shaojie had already caught the assassin. It was truly unexpected.

Huang Shaojie roughly recounted how he had lured the assassin over disguised as a physician, then captured him.

After listening, Niu Ren revealed a look of approval. "Not bad. Not only are your martial arts formidable, but your mind is also meticulous. No wonder you caught the assassin in three days."

Huang Shaojie humbly bowed. "Thank you for your praise, sir!"

Niu Ren lifted his teacup and scraped away the floating tea leaves with the lid as he said, "This time, you helped Commander Cao capture the assassin. Of the gold Commander Cao sent over, I'll reward you with one hundred taels!"

Having said that, he had a guard take his command token to the treasury and bring back one hundred taels of gold.

"Thank you for the reward, sir!"

Huang Shaojie clasped his fists and bowed. Without standing on ceremony, he stepped forward and accepted the small brocade box containing one hundred taels of gold.

Though he had just received ten thousand taels in banknotes from Cao Renqi, who would ever complain about having too much money?

Niu Ren took a sip of tea. "Who is this assassin, and why did he attempt to assassinate Commander Cao? Interrogate him thoroughly about all of that, then send him to the Ministry of Justice to be convicted and beheaded."

Huang Shaojie said, "Reporting to you, sir, the assassin is named Wu Zhen. He was formerly a centurion in the Suzhou military camp. At that time, Cao Renqi was still a commander. According to Wu Zhen, ten years ago Cao Renqi violated his wife, then falsely accused him of colluding with the Japanese and killed his parents..."

Huang Shaojie recounted everything Wu Zhen had said to Niu Ren exactly as it had happened.

After hearing this, Niu Ren was also stunned!

A look of anger appeared on his face as he snorted. "If what Wu Zhen said is true, then Cao Renqi is worse than a beast!"

Huang Shaojie said, "Based on this subordinate's observations of Wu Zhen, he should not have been lying or fabricating things. On the other hand, Cao Renqi was eager to kill Wu Zhen with one palm at the time. Only because I stopped him did he fail to get the chance to kill Wu Zhen."

Niu Ren slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Cao Renqi has some nerve! He actually dared to silence someone in front of the Imperial Guard. He truly does not know whether he lives or dies! From this, it can be seen that Wu Zhen's words must be true. Cao Renqi seized his subordinate's wife, then feared Wu Zhen's retaliation, so he falsely accused Wu Zhen of colluding with the Japanese, intending to murder him and silence him."

Huang Shaojie said, "Your insight is keen, sir. This subordinate thinks the same."

Niu Ren rose to his feet and paced over to Huang Shaojie. "Go investigate Cao Renqi in secret and see whether you can find evidence of any of his illegal deeds. If you find any, immediately arrest him and bring him to the Imperial Guard for interrogation. Make him confess to the crimes he committed ten years ago—violating his subordinate's wife and falsely accusing his subordinate of colluding with the Japanese."

Naturally, it would be difficult to uncover evidence from ten years ago now. However, investigating Cao Renqi's other current crimes was no difficult matter.

To say nothing else, embezzlement, bribery, and extorting wealth were certainly unavoidable.

Otherwise, how could Cao Renqi, relying only on an annual salary of several hundred taels of silver, possibly afford such a grand residence or casually hand over banknotes worth ten thousand taels?

Niu Ren's order was exactly what Huang Shaojie wanted.

If Niu Ren had shielded Cao Renqi simply because they were both officials and refused to let him investigate Cao Renqi's crimes, then Huang Shaojie could only have resorted to extraordinary measures.

Fortunately, Niu Ren, this Imperial Guard Commander, was still an upright man.

Huang Shaojie immediately cupped his hands and said, "This subordinate obeys!"

Not long after Huang Shaojie left, a captain entered to report, "Reporting to Commander, Commander Cao requests an audience!"

"Oh." A cold smile curled at Niu Ren's lips. Naturally, he understood why Cao Renqi had come.

"Bring Commander Cao in!"

Niu Ren waved his hand, returned to the Grand Tutor's chair at the head of the hall, and began drinking tea.

Before long, the captain led Cao Renqi into the main hall.