Golden Core of a Heavenly Gang Realm Great Buddha

Within the Imperial Guard Enforcement Agency's Hundred-Household Courtyard.

Beneath a lush, sprawling banyan tree, Su Changqing sat cross-legged. Before him lay a rubbing of the Indestructible Vajra Divine Art.

A faint golden glow emerged from Su Changqing's body, dazzling and brilliant, like protective qi.

The muscles at his temples continuously pulsed, as though some primordial beast were breathing.

The Indestructible Vajra Divine Art was a supreme True Inheritance Grade technique of the Daoist school.

If one possessed sufficient true qi, it could form a genuine layer of golden lacquer over the body, granting astonishing defense.

Fifth Level True Qi! Breakthrough!

Waves of qi surged from Su Changqing's body. Even the grass and trees seemed to sense his might, and the great banyan trembled without end.

Only after everything settled did he open his eyes.

If I can obtain the Profound Heaven True Qi, with that supreme treasure granting me inexhaustible true qi, then cultivate the Indestructible Vajra Divine Art and the Thirteen Revolutions Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill...

Su Changqing narrowed his eyes as he pondered.

This was the path he had chosen.

By then, once both his techniques and Tyrant Blade had reached great mastery, he would be able to go anywhere under heaven.

What he needed now was to raise his cultivation as quickly as possible and contend with Ye Tian.

Recent opportunity: Half a month from now, during the sweep of Rose Street in Chang'an City, obtain a relic condensed after the death of a Heavenly Gang Realm great Buddha within the City Smoke Shop at the street's southernmost corner.

Within the Suppression Bureau's administrative office, Su Changqing once again accepted the mission to sweep Rose Street.

Rose Street was a long avenue favored by dignitaries and the children of wealthy families.

Antiques, rouge, zithers, chess, calligraphy, and paintings could all be found there. It was a mixed bag of people, and disciples from many sects frequented the place.

It was also where the Imperial Guard made their fortunes.

Dozens of Imperial Guard spread out along the avenue in pairs, their bearing stern and murderous as they inspected shops one after another.

All idlers and suspicious persons were thrown into the iron cages of the carriages behind them to await later interrogation.

"No matter what sect they belong to, anyone who dares lurk within territory under the Imperial Guard's jurisdiction is courting death!" an Imperial Guard shouted coldly.

Su Changqing had no subordinates. Alone, he headed straight for the City Smoke Shop at the southernmost end.

It was a Rouge Shop, where many women were selecting cosmetics. They had bright eyes and white teeth, and some were exceptionally beautiful.

All of them were startled by Su Changqing, who wore a long blade at his waist.

Among them was a young woman of around seventeen or eighteen. She was as beautiful as a fairy descending into the mortal world, dressed in a white long gown embroidered with gold. Her features were exquisite and flawless, with bright eyes and pearly teeth.

Su Changqing frowned. He had not expected this place to be a Rouge Shop...

A woman entered from outside, dressed in an elegant red gauze dress. She retained all her mature charm, her figure graceful and full, carrying a poetic air.

She possessed an exceptional bearing and was clearly no ordinary woman. Her cold gaze swept over Su Changqing as she said, "Since when did the Imperial Guard begin entering women's Rouge Shops while sweeping the avenue?"

"Aunt Hong." The girl in white hurried forward.

One was mature and alluring, the other pure and lovely. They were the two most beautiful women present.

"Sir Imperial Guard, we are honest merchants." Li Taidong of the City Smoke Shop approached and spoke hurriedly.

"This honored guest is the Central King's Consort. You must not offend her."

A faint warning lay in his words. Su Changqing's badge only identified him as a hundred-household officer; how could he afford to provoke such an esteemed guest?

The Central King was the younger brother of the current emperor of the Great Shang Dynasty, and his consort held an even more exalted status.

"The Imperial Guard is sweeping the streets by imperial decree. No unrelated persons may remain inside."

"I, Chen Mo, receive the emperor's pay. I will not engage in sycophancy!"

Su Changqing watched him for a moment, then turned toward the Central King's Consort and the girl in white, saying coldly:

"Leave immediately. I need to inspect the account books. Otherwise, all of you will be taken to the Imperial Guard's prison!"

His hand rested on the hilt of his blade. His eyes were cold as lightning, his bearing handsome and refined, his black robes dark as ink. He showed not the slightest pity.

"What a devoted Chen Mo!" The consort's eyes were deep as she watched Su Changqing for a moment.

Then she took the white-clad girl's hand.

"Chan'er, let us go."

Her voice was icy, carrying a trace of rage.

"That Imperial Guard dared offend the consort. He is finished for sure."

Several women walked out the door, conversing softly.

"I think he was quite imposing. Even with power bearing down on him, he did not care. He even dared announce his own name."

"You little slut, are you feeling restless?"

A burst of soft laughter came from outside. They were all female relatives of Great Shang Dynasty officials. Though their status did not compare to the Central King's Consort's, none of them were ordinary.

Only Su Changqing and Li Taidong, the Rouge Shop's owner, remained inside.

"Sir, you are truly impressive. In one stroke, you offended nearly every female relative of Great Shang Dynasty officials of the third rank and above... and you even dared offend your own superior's daughter."

Li Taidong looked at Su Changqing in utter shock.

Hearing this, Su Changqing froze, startled inwardly.

Fortunately, he had not used his own name. There were probably daughters of Imperial Guard thousand-household officers or even Suppression Commissioners among them.

"I, Chen Mo, am never threatened. Bring out your account books so I can inspect them," Su Changqing said.

Li Taidong hesitated for a moment before turning to retrieve the Rouge Shop's purchase and sales ledgers.

"Have you recently acquired anything unusual here?"

As Su Changqing examined the records for clues about something like a great Buddha's golden core, he asked casually.

Li Taidong was stunned. He had thought Su Changqing had truly come as an upright and incorruptible officer, and he immediately sneered.

He brought over a small chest secured with several layers of locks, sealed extremely tightly.

It drew Su Changqing's attention.

"What is inside?"

"The unusual things you wanted, sir..." Li Taidong said with a strange smile in his eyes.

"What unusual things could a women's Rouge Shop possibly have? Women's clothing, embroidered breastbands, Western Region fragrances—we have everything... What color would you like, sir?"

The wooden chest was quickly opened. Red, purple, and every other color filled its interior, leaving Su Changqing standing there in a daze.

Smack!

Su Changqing abruptly shut the chest and stared at Li Taidong.

"Is this what I asked for? There are twenty-seven discrepancies in your accounts. Rouge purchased for sixty taels was sold for two hundred taels, yielding more than triple the profit!"

"Keep babbling, and I will shut this shop down immediately!"

Li Taidong panicked at once. Only then did he understand that the man before him was not joking.

If the shop were closed, his Rouge Shop, which brought in money by the bucketful every day, would be finished.

"These are the only unusual things in my Rouge Shop..."

As he spoke, Li Taidong suddenly recalled something and hurriedly said, "Come to think of it, someone sold me something strange a while ago. I had never seen such a strange pearl before."

"Bring it here." Su Changqing narrowed his eyes.

"Sir, it is in the chest..." Li Taidong said bitterly.

The chest was quickly opened again, and Li Taidong took out a pearl necklace.

The necklace shimmered with dazzling light and was clearly worth a fortune. At its center was the largest pearl, the size of a pigeon's egg, golden-yellow and radiant.

A Heavenly Gang Realm great Buddha's relic.

Su Changqing immediately confirmed it.