The battle soon came to an end.
More than a dozen people had died, and over a dozen more had lost arms or legs. Years of bitter cultivation had vanished in a single day.
"Enough." Jin Yichuan rose to his feet with a smile.
"Every Imperial Guard selection is bound to involve bloodshed. A few deaths mean nothing, and a few injuries mean nothing either. The Suppression Bureau can afford to support you! So long as you have talent and destiny, you may even take the God-Marquis as your adoptive father!"
"First place, Su Changqing!"
"Second place, Jiang Xing!"
"Su Changqing, from this day onward, you are a Deputy Centurion. This Frost Snow Saber is yours. It was bestowed by the God-Marquis, so do not tarnish its reputation."
Everyone looked toward Su Changqing in silent thought.
Li Kongxiang's heart churned even more fiercely. He still had not found out who had pinned that enormous blame on him, and now he had offended another Deputy Centurion.
Just as Su Changqing was about to accept the Frost Snow Saber—
A voice rang out from afar, filled with killing intent.
"Wait!"
The newcomer had hooked eagle-like arms, two flying claws strapped to his body, and wore black clothes. He strode forward like a dragon and tiger, tall and imposing.
"Iron Claw Flying Eagle?" Jin Yichuan frowned.
"Commander Jin, this man cannot join the Imperial Guard, much less become a Deputy Centurion and wield authority within our Suppression Bureau." Iron Claw Flying Eagle cupped his hands slightly.
"Back then, I crushed this brat to death with one claw. Yet he came back to life. There must be a reason for it! He might even be an East Factory Mole."
Iron Claw Flying Eagle was only at the first level of the True Qi Realm and had only recently become a Centurion. If Su Changqing, a mere menial disciple, leapt straight into the position of Deputy Centurion—
Would that not make them mortal enemies?
Iron Claw Flying Eagle was deeply interested in how Su Changqing had come back to life. He served under Zuo Qianhu.
And among all the commanders, Zuo Qianhu could rank in the top three!
His saber technique was incredibly fast, and he excelled at wielding six long sabers. Ordinary people could not last ten exchanges against him!
Jin Yichuan fell silent, seemingly weighing his decision.
By rights, since Su Changqing had taken first place and become a Deputy Centurion, he should have joined Jin Yichuan's command.
"I will kill him at once." Iron Claw Flying Eagle showed faint delight.
"Get lost!" Jin Yichuan's eyes narrowed as he suddenly barked coldly.
His voice boomed like thunder, echoing throughout the entire training ground.
Iron Claw Flying Eagle's expression changed at once. After hesitating for a moment, he did not dare provoke Jin Yichuan. His gaze turned cold as it fell upon Su Changqing.
This man had been killed by his Eagle Claw Technique. He should have breathed his last long ago that day. Now that he had returned from the dead, he must be hiding an earth-shattering secret.
"Brat, just you wait. I'll remember you."
Su Changqing immediately chuckled.
He had already become a Deputy Centurion of the Imperial Guard, wearing a Flying Fish Robe with a Spring Embroidered Saber at his waist. Could Iron Claw Flying Eagle kill him within the Suppression Bureau?
If they went outside, who killed whom was far from certain.
"The rules of our Suppression Bureau cannot be broken by anyone!" Jin Yichuan swept his gaze across the crowd and said coldly.
"Su Changqing, take the saber!"
He abruptly flung the Frost Snow Saber forward. It rang sharply through the air as Su Changqing leaped up and caught it in his hand.
The entire blade was ice-cold, like autumn frost and winter snow, as crystalline as ice. A chill seeped into his palm, gripping the soul.
If the Spring Embroidered Saber had evolved from the Tang saber, then the Frost Snow Saber was a true Tang saber!
"Thank you, Commander Jin." Su Changqing cupped his hands.
The youth held the Frost Snow Saber, tall and slender, with handsome features. His black robes were as dark as ink, drifting in the wind, and he cut an unmatched figure.
Even Jin Yichuan could not help sighing softly at the sight.
Only now had Su Changqing truly gained a foothold in the Imperial Guard Enforcement Agency!
In the blink of an eye, three days passed. Since Su Changqing had offended Iron Claw Flying Eagle, no one dared join his command.
Chen Mo broke through into the True Qi Realm and became an Imperial Guard Centurion. He declared that anyone who joined Su Changqing would become his mortal enemy!
Su Changqing had slaughtered the Zhang brothers on the arena. Those two had followed Chen Mo for a long time, and everyone knew it.
Su Changqing had only just become a Deputy Centurion of the Imperial Guard, yet he had immediately offended two full Centurions.
The Imperial Guard ranks were divided into menials, ordinary Imperial Guards, Banner Officers, Chief Banners, Deputy Centurions, full Centurions, deputy commanders, full commanders, Suppression Commissioners...
A full Centurion commanded nearly a hundred Imperial Guards, a hundred Body Refinement Ninth Layer cultivators. How formidable was such a force?
At the Imperial Guard infirmary, Li Kongxiang's arm had long since been reattached and was wrapped in bandages. Every day, he lived in fear that Su Changqing would come looking to settle accounts.
He usually loved bullying those menial disciples and making them sweep the floors for him.
Su Changqing had often been ordered around as well. Though he had offended Chen Mo and Iron Claw Flying Eagle, he could still crush Li Kongxiang's life with ease.
That day's events remained vivid in his mind. Su Changqing had been too ruthless, and his saber techniques were both swift and vicious.
Now that he was seriously injured, he would probably be killed by a single slash.
"Centurion Su has already gone to the administration office to accept missions."
He asked other Imperial Guards and learned this news, leaving him stunned.
Li Kongxiang stood there blankly. After a moment, he gave a bitter laugh. He had worried himself sick, even placing his saber beside him before sleeping every night.
It turned out Su Changqing had long stopped caring about him.
Imperial Guard Enforcement Agency, administration office.
All official Imperial Guards could come here to accept missions.
The Imperial Guard intimidated the martial world through its commanders and Centurions, but even more so through its endless stream of subordinates.
The Imperial Guard excelled in assassination, investigations, swift movement, and delivering intelligence.
Iron Guts God-Marquis had established the Twelve Divisions, the Heaven, Earth, Black Suppression Commissioners, the Thirty-six Heavenly Gang, and the Seventy-two Earth Fiends. His methods were seasoned, his plans far-reaching, and he was utterly loyal to the nation.
The martial world respectfully called him the Protector of the Nation Divine Monkey.
Su Changqing arrived in a gold-embroidered Flying Fish Robe, Frost Snow at his waist. Having broken through to the Body Refinement Ninth Layer, he selected another secret manual, called Acupoint Resonance.
This technique used Silver Needles to pierce the qi sea. Once activated, it would cause the qi sea to surge, temporarily doubling one's combat strength.
However, after using it for half a quarter-hour, the qi sea would become turbulent, leaving one unable to wield any strength at all. One could not even regulate one's inner breath.
This was a life-risking technique, and afterward, one had to recuperate for three days.
Su Changqing had no choice. He had no subordinates, so if he wanted to seize opportunities, he needed sufficient strength.
For the third secret manual, he had originally planned to choose the supreme body-protecting divine art of the Western Region's Esoteric Sect.
The Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill.
This art had thirteen transformations in total. The first transformation merely added the strength of one fist, not even matching the power of the third level of Body Refinement.
But once one reached the sixth transformation, there would be a reversal, granting the strength of one dragon and one elephant.
At the seventh transformation, three dragons and three elephants.
At the eighth transformation, five dragons and five elephants.
And so on.
If one truly reached the thirteenth transformation, one would possess the power to move mountains and fill seas, pluck stars and seize the moon, split mountains, and sever rivers.
This art was a Heaven Grade technique known to all, but cultivation was extremely slow. Every Imperial Guard had considered it, but it required too much time.
It was still sitting inside the Great Shang Dynasty Armory.
A person's life was no more than a hundred years. By the time one reached merely the Three-Turn stage, one could likely have mastered other secret manuals long ago.
Thus, Su Changqing gave it up as well.
At this moment, quite a few Imperial Guards had gathered throughout the mission hall. All of them raised their eyes toward him, their gazes cold.
Although Su Changqing was a Deputy Centurion, he had offended two full Centurions.
No one had joined his command. Everyone knew of this matter.
"I'd like to see how he completes missions alone," someone said with a cold, mocking gaze.
Su Changqing remained calm as he looked at everyone. One light screen after another appeared.
Recent opportunity: In two days, while pursuing Scarlet Blood Scholar, discover a Muscle Tendon Pill that the Dali Zhennan King accidentally dropped after spending a night with a woman beneath a Great Buddha Temple where Scarlet Blood Scholar was hiding.
Recent opportunity: In five days, raid the home of Minister of Personnel Chen Yuanfeng alongside the East Factory and discover Invincible Brat's True Inheritance Grade technique, "Indestructible Vajra Divine Art," atop a beam in the main hall.
Recent opportunity: In half a month, sweep Rose Street in Chang'an City and obtain a Golden Body Sarira condensed after the death of a Heavenly Gang Realm great Buddha from Chen's Pawnshop at the southernmost end of the street corner...
Before you continue