Contribution Points and Reward Items

"I'll cripple you!!!"

With a roar of anger, he ignored the dissuading shouts of the surrounding constables and drew his blade.

Although internal fighting was forbidden within the County Yamen, with his background as part of the Li family, one of the three major families in Qiulin County, he could easily smooth things over afterward.

Right now, he just wanted to cripple Shen Lin.

The opponent was unarmed, while he held a steel saber. The advantage was his!

With this thought, he charged directly at Shen Lin and swung his saber.

However, in the next moment, Shen Lin merely sidestepped lightly and completely evaded his strike.

Afterward, no matter how Li Bailin swung his saber, Shen Lin could easily dodge.

Although Li Bailin came from a prominent family, he clearly hadn't received any more formidable martial arts from home. He was still using the Blood Battle Saber Technique.

And the Blood Battle Saber Technique was something Shen Lin knew like the back of his hand.

He could dodge the opponent's attacks even with his eyes closed.

Not only that, but in Shen Lin's eyes, the Blood Battle Saber Technique wielded by the opponent was riddled with flaws.

In the next moment, Li Bailin swung his saber again.

But this time, Shen Lin didn't continue to dodge. Instead, he stepped forward, lowered his body, and charged.

Just as he narrowly avoided the blade's edge, he landed a punch on the opponent's abdomen.

Bang!

With a muffled thud, Li Bailin's entire body trembled. His eyes widened, and he instinctively opened his mouth, spitting out sour liquid.

Staggering back a few steps, he fell to the ground, his face contorted in pain.

"Overestimating yourself!"

Shen Lin slowly straightened up and sneered.

"You..."

Li Bailin, trembling, raised a finger to point at Shen Lin. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly seemed to see something, and his eyes slowly widened.

Although he had been knocked aside by Shen Lin, from this angle, he could finally see the side profile of the woman in the bath.

And with that glance, he was struck as if by lightning, freezing in place.

"Miss Zijing???"

Hearing his mumbled words, the many constables who had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines erupted.

"Miss Zijing? Miss Zijing???"

"Is it true?"

"Captain Li has been pursuing her for so many years without any success, but now... tsk tsk, Master Shen really has some skills!!!"

Hearing the constables' discussions, Li Bailin's face immediately turned ashen, and he went completely berserk.

"I'll kill you!!!!"

His eyes filled with killing intent, he charged at Shen Lin with a desperate look.

Just then, a furious roar echoed from the doorway.

"Stop everything!!!"

Sun Zhi, his face slightly pale and his injuries not yet healed, had rushed over.

However, Li Bailin seemed to completely ignore his voice, showing no intention of stopping.

At this moment, his bloodshot eyes were fixed solely on Shen Lin.

But the outcome was obvious.

Shen Lin easily dodged the opponent's wild slashes and drove his knee forcefully into his gut.

With a muffled groan, Li Bailin's body went limp.

Even so, he didn't give up, growling "I'll kill you!" as he tried to get up again.

But at this moment, Sun Zhi suddenly appeared behind him and knocked him unconscious with a chop to the back of his head.

Looking helplessly at the unconscious Li Bailin, Sun Zhi handed him over to the constables and said in a deep voice, "This was all a misunderstanding. I've encountered that flying thief before, and it was a man."

The constables quickly nodded, picked up Li Bailin, and carried him out.

"What happened to Captain Li?"

Steward Qian approached his confidant, looking at Li Bailin, who sat on the steps of the County Yamen with a vacant stare, muttering "Miss Zijing" repeatedly.

The confidant, suppressing a smile, whispered, "Captain Li was investigating that flying thief... he claimed to be investigating, but it's said he wanted to frame Master Shen. He never expected to see Miss Zijing from the Wonderful Sound Pavilion at Master Shen's place."

Upon hearing the word "frame," Steward Qian's heart initially flared with anger, but before he could react, his attention was diverted by the latter part of the sentence.

The Wonderful Sound Pavilion was the most famous entertainment establishment in Qiulin County, featuring many female performers who sold their art but not their bodies.

This Miss Zijing was among the best of them.

Skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she had earned the title of Qiulin County's most talented woman.

Steward Qian knew that Miss Zijing had countless admirers, the most famous among them being Li Bailin.

However...

Steward Qian asked in confusion, "He saw Miss Zijing, and with his personality, wouldn't he be so happy he'd be wagging his tail? Why is he like this now..."

"It's said that Master Shen and Miss Zijing were naked, bathing together at the time..."

Hearing this, Steward Qian couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

Within Qiulin County, everyone knew that this Miss Zijing was extremely proud. For seven years at the Wonderful Sound Pavilion, countless powerful and wealthy individuals had thrown down immense sums of gold, hoping to marry her.

But neither wealthy young masters like Li Bailin nor the powerful figures of the great families could win her heart.

Because of the vast influence behind the Wonderful Sound Pavilion, these people did not dare to force themselves upon a weak woman.

Now, it seemed, this most talented woman of Qiulin County had long been quietly taken by that fellow Shen Lin.

"I never imagined that the recently rising Captain Sun was merely your cover."

Miss Zijing, having finished dressing, looked at the scene before her with a chuckle.

Captain Sun, who was rumored to have broken through to the Meridian Opening Realm, was now humbly serving Shen Lin tea and water.

Shen Lin smiled and said, "I also didn't expect that the top courtesan of the Wonderful Sound Pavilion, the most talented woman in Qiulin County, Miss Zijing, would actually be a martial artist in the Meridian Opening Realm, and also the flying thief who has committed many major cases recently."

Although Sun Zhi had already guessed, hearing Shen Lin's words caused his arm to tremble, nearly making him drop the teapot.

This Miss Zijing was that flying thief???

Then who was it that stole his Meridian-Opening Pill?

As he pondered, he suddenly noticed the Precious Sword placed beside Shen Lin.

Just then, Shen Lin also looked over with a smile in his eyes.

In an instant, Sun Zhi seemed to understand something, and a surge of anger welled up in his heart, almost making him splash the scalding tea in his hand directly onto Shen Lin's face.

But then, he remembered Shen Lin's cultivation level and could only take a deep breath and lower his head helplessly.

Zijing covered her mouth and chuckled, about to say something, when she suddenly froze and murmured, "If what's rumored outside is true, then you should only be twenty years old this year, right?"

"A twenty-year-old in the Meridian Opening Realm..."

"And having opened at least four meridians..."

Her gaze towards Shen Lin became increasingly strange.

His talent was rare, not just in Qiulin County, but even in the provincial capital.

Meanwhile, Sun Zhi, who was bending his head to hold the teapot, was shouting inwardly.

Four meridians!!!

This Shen Lin had actually reached this point and was already preparing to break through to the Innate realm.

With four meridians, he could completely attempt a breakthrough.

But judging by his performance during this period, the other party seemed completely dissatisfied with this.

Martial artist cultivation only required opening three meridians within the body to attempt a breakthrough to the Innate realm.

However, doing so not only reduced the probability of a successful breakthrough but also affected the subsequent cultivation path.

As far as Sun Zhi knew, the geniuses with exceptional talent in the provincial capital would each open at least five meridians before attempting to break through to the Innate realm.

The Meridian Opening Realm was a stage where martial artists laid the foundation for their future cultivation path.

The more meridians opened, the stronger their combat power would be in the Innate realm, and the higher their future potential would be.

This Shen Lin had great ambitions...

"Miss Zijing, is there anything else?"

Shen Lin did not respond to Zijing's inquiry, instead issuing an invitation to leave.

He didn't want to get involved with the person in front of him.

After all, a martial artist in the Meridian Opening Realm hiding their identity in the Wonderful Sound Pavilion was definitely not for fun.

Zijing came back to her senses, looked at Shen Lin with a complex expression, and said softly, "Since that's the case, this humble woman will take her leave."

She stood up, her steps graceful as she walked to the door. Before leaving, she suddenly turned her head, looked at Shen Lin, and said with a soft smile, "We will meet again."

Shen Lin paid no attention to her words. After she left, he looked at Sun Zhi and said sternly, "When will I receive the reward for this time?"

After confirming his cultivation, Sun Zhi became even more respectful and quickly replied, "The County Yamen has already arranged for someone to send it to the Demon Suppression Division in the provincial capital. However, regarding the reward to be exchanged, I dared not make any decisions without your instructions."

Then, Sun Zhi explained the common knowledge regarding exchanging rewards from the Demon Suppression Division.

If they, as constables, killed demons and sent their corpses to the Demon Suppression Division, they could exchange them for Demon Suppression Division contribution points.

Demon Suppression Division contribution points could not only be directly exchanged for money but could also be used to exchange for many rare treasures, cultivation techniques, and martial arts from the Demon Suppression Division.

These items are generally not available to the public and can only be exchanged for with Demon Suppression Division contribution points.

Furthermore, any cultivation manuals or secret techniques obtained through exchange cannot be passed on. The Demon Suppression Division implants something within them, causing them to explode and die if the technique is leaked.

This is also why Shen Lin hadn't inquired about cultivation manuals from Sun Zhi before.

Fortunately, as officers, they wear this uniform, which signifies they are part of the court and can exchange for contribution points.

For demon hunters and sect disciples from the martial world, they can only exchange for money from the Demon Suppression Division.

Sun Zhi estimated that the demonic creatures Shen Lin had killed should be worth close to thirteen contribution points.

Don't scoff at the amount. Sun Zhi, after sacrificing countless colleagues and slaying so many demons and monsters over the past two years, had only accumulated seven contribution points.

Then, Sun Zhi took out a small booklet from his embrace and handed it to Shen Lin.

"This is a list I got from the Demon Suppression Division earlier. You can take a look."

Shen Lin took it and opened it, seeing a pill icon with the first glance.

[Meridian-Opening Pill: Can provide powerful medicinal effects to help Martial Artists break through meridians. Requires five contribution points for exchange.]

Tsk, five contribution points.

Shen Lin couldn't help but click his tongue.

Since transmigrating, he had slain eight demonic creatures, but he hadn't expected to only be able to exchange for two Meridian-Opening Pills.

And just now, that Miss Zijing had given him two Meridian-Opening Pills directly to escape...

What a sugar mama.