Depart!

"Hmm? It's Captain Wang's order," Shen Zhui lowered his head to look.

"You guys received it too?" Zhao Hu asked.

"Indeed," Han Mao and Yan You both nodded.

The four exchanged glances.

"Let's go to the Martial Arts Department Hall."

"Let's go."

In the main hall of the Martial Arts Department, when Shen Zhui and the other three arrived, about ten people had already gathered.

As Shen Zhui walked in, he immediately sensed something was off.

As far as Shen Zhui knew, the Martial Arts Department, including himself and Zhao Hu, the two newly promoted Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm experts, only had twelve people.

Yet, everyone here was a Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm expert!

"Rong Zimo, you, you actually reached the Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm so quickly?" Shen Zhui stared intently at a young man with a baby face.

He was very familiar with this person. They had entered the County Yamen together three years ago. Not long ago, Rong Zimo was only at the Fourth Stage of Acquired Realm and had been doing logistics work within the County Yamen, rarely going out on cases.

But in the blink of an eye, he had become a Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm expert?

"Shen Zhui, you think you're the only one who can reach the Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm? Don't look down on people!" Rong Zimo pretended to be displeased.

"Your brother here is a martial arts prodigy, jumping five stages in a single day. What do you say, are you convinced?"

Shen Zhui was speechless. Obviously, Rong Zimo was talking nonsense, but the person standing before him was undeniably a Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm expert.

"Zimo, stop bluffing," another person walked over from the side.

"Brother Ziyu, you've also reached the Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm?" Shen Zhui was startled. This person's name was Wang Ziyu. When Shen Zhui had last seen him a month ago, he was merely at the Third Stage of Acquired Realm, but now he was also a Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm expert!

Wang Ziyu smiled, "There's no need to hide it from you anymore. My progress has always been very fast. It's just that the County Magistrate has always ordered me to keep it a secret and help me conceal my cultivation. In reality, I reached the Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm long ago."

"So that's how it is," Shen Zhui immediately understood and sighed. "You've been hiding it quite deeply; not a single piece of news leaked out."

"Haha, but now you know," Rong Zimo said with a smile.

Others might not care, but Rong Zimo had truly held back for too long.

He had entered the County Yamen the same year as Shen Zhui, and was only a few years older than Shen Zhui, yet he had to keep suppressing himself. It was incredibly frustrating.

"It seems there's going to be a major move," Shen Zhui inwardly marveled.

There were twenty people present, and every single one of them was a Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm expert! There were even five Peak Houtian experts!

What did this mean? It meant that if each of these individuals could reach the level of the First Summon of Deity, they would be equivalent to Xiantian Masters in a short period!

A Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm expert could be used as an Early-stage Xiantian expert.

A Peak Houtian expert possessed the strength to kill an Early-stage Xiantian expert! Of course, this Early-stage Xiantian expert would have to stand still and not wear any heaven-defying treasures.

"Especially the five Peak Houtian experts, they probably each have the strength to kill an Early-stage Xiantian expert."

Ever since his visit to the City God Temple, Shen Zhui knew that the County Yamen's foundation lay in the power of Ninth Stage Houtian Martial Artists summoning deities, which could rival Xiantian Martial Artists.

But he hadn't expected there to be so many of them!

The various families in Heyuan County combined only had about thirty Xiantian Masters!

And the twenty people in the County Yamen were a unified force, unlike the cooperative nature of the various families, which prevented unified action.

Looking at it this way, the County Magistrate had almost instantly become the most powerful force in Heyuan County!

"To be able to suppress the various families for three years, it truly lives up to its reputation. Without some substantial backing, how could the County Magistrate have remained a passive observer for over twenty days?"

"Now that they're revealing themselves, it's likely they're preparing for a major move!" Shen Zhui felt a surge of excitement.

Clearly, revealing the strength they had hidden for three years wouldn't be for trivial matters. It was highly likely they were targeting those Xiantian Martial Artists.

"Look quickly, Captain Wang is here," someone suddenly shouted.

Wang Long walked out from the back and stood at the front of the hall.

"Greetings, Captain Wang."

"Captain Wang."

"The Captain is here."

"..."

Everyone bowed and greeted him. In daily life, Wang Long was a relaxed and easygoing superior, so everyone felt a sense of closeness towards him.

The Deputy Head of Department, He Tong, was responsible for the strict training, but He Tong's betrayal was now common knowledge. It had been a great blow to everyone.

"Quiet," Wang Long shouted, his usual easygoing demeanor gone, replaced by a solemn expression.

"Today, I have summoned you all here by the County Magistrate's Edict to handle a major affair!"

Wang Long said in a deep voice, "I'm sure you are all aware of the events that have transpired these past few days."

"The masterminds behind this are precisely the Li and Yang clans. They have caused panic within the city and oppressed the common people outside, leaving thousands displaced. Their crimes are heinous, and justice must be served to appease the public's grievances!"

"The twenty constables present are all highly trusted by the County Magistrate. I will now divide you into four groups of five to go out and clear out the wicked bandits."

"The purpose of this mission is to destroy the hidden branch shrines of Yin Gods scattered throughout the region. These places are guarded by at least one Xiantian Master!"

"The mission must be completed within ten days."

"I won't say any more. Let's begin the group assignments!"

"Lu Guangshan, Zhu Liang, Xu Wu..."

"Gu Changhua, Hua Liu..."

"Yan You, Han Mao, Shen Zhui..."

"..."

The grouping was quickly completed, with each group led by a Peak Houtian stage cultivator. Shen Zhui was assigned to Yan You's group.

His group members were Han Mao, Zhao Hu, and Rong Zimo.

Once the personnel for all five groups were assigned, Wang Long waved his hand, and streaks of cyan tokens flew into the hands of these twenty Ninth Stage Houtian Martial Artists.

"Whoosh~" It was as if a gentle breeze had passed.

Shen Zhui held the token in his hand and soon realized that only the five people in his group remained in the great hall. The auras and figures of the other fifteen had all vanished!

"This token has the effect of concealing your form and aura. As long as you don't circulate your Vital Energy, martial artists below the Spirit Bridge Realm will not be able to see through your disguise, apart from those in your own group!"

"Of course, it can only be used twice, each lasting for half an hour. It can ensure your safe entry and exit from the city."

"I have already ordered horses and ten days' worth of rations to be prepared for you ten miles outside the city. The mission locations and targets are also stored within the token; you will know upon exiting the city."

Wang Long scanned everyone and instructed, "Remember, once your Vital Energy is activated, the token's effect will disappear. Once the duration passes, the effect will also disappear. Do not waste any time! Do you understand?!"

"Your subordinate understands!" The voices of everyone echoed in the great hall.

"Depart!"

"Yes, sir!"

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