Starting with The Eagle Shooting Heroes: I gain a year's worth of skill every day.

The Imperial Palace of Lin'an, Funing Hall.

Snapped!

A Ding kiln white porcelain cup shattered on a gold brick.

Fragments flew, slicing across the old eunuch's cheek, and beads of blood rolled down.

The old eunuch knelt stiffly on the ground, not even daring to wipe himself.

Zhao Kuo walked briskly inside the hall, the hem of his dragon robe sweeping across the floor with a rustling sound.

His chest heaved violently, his fingers gripping a roll of silk tightly.

On the silk, charcoal pencil sketches depict the tragic state of the Sun family mansion—

The mansion gate collapsed, and eighteen private soldiers lay dead at the entrance, their chests riddled with bloody holes.

The guards in the courtyard were lying haphazardly, their foreheads covered with tiny penetrating wounds.

The most shocking thing is the picture in the inner hall.

Sun Zhidong remained in the position of crawling towards the secret passage when a blue sword aura pierced through his skull, pinning him and Jin Yin to the floor.

Blood soaked the scattered gold leaves.

"What kind of tactic is this...?"

Zhao Kuo muttered to himself, his fingers trembling.

He had witnessed assassinations and bloodshed.

But the picture before him was completely beyond his comprehension.

"Your Majesty."

Gu Zhen, an official from the Imperial City Guard, who was kneeling on the ground, said in a low voice, "I have already questioned the Imperial Guard instructors and the constables from the Six Doors at the scene."

"explain."

Zhao Kuo's voice was hoarse.

"That sorcerer used rainwater to kill people."

Gu Zhen pressed his forehead to the ground, his clothes soaked with cold sweat.

"At that time, a light rain was falling. The evil Taoist simply raised his hand and flicked it, and the raindrops turned into sword energy, swirling upwards."

"The archers on the high walls and the guards in the courtyard all died with raindrops piercing their throats."

"The assassins in the mansion didn't even have a chance to make a move."

"The final streak of blue light pinned Minister Sun to the floor."

"By the time our people arrived, the evil Taoist priest had already vanished without a trace."

Zhao Kuo swayed and slumped onto the dragon throne.

The information from three days ago flashed through his mind—the sword energy from Zhongnan Mountain had lingered on the stone for three days.

At the time, he thought he could be recruited and used.

They had even drafted an imperial edict, preparing to bestow upon that mysterious Taoist priest the title of "Guardian of the Nation True Lord".

But now, the sword has truly fallen.

Decisive and straightforward, utterly unreasonable.

They killed people and left without lingering for even a moment.

"How long did it take from the time he started the fight until he left?"

Zhao Kuo suddenly asked.

Gu Zhen was taken aback: "Your Majesty, according to the local people... it's less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea."

"A cup of tea..."

Zhao Kuo murmured repeatedly.

The Sun family mansion has more than 300 bodyguards and over 20 crossbowmen.

Although these men were not as elite as the Imperial Guards, they were all skilled fighters who had seen bloodshed.

As a result, the entire army was wiped out in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The mysterious Taoist priest was not even injured.

Zhao Kuo suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the hall.

His breathing became increasingly rapid, and his temples throbbed.

"Your Majesty, there is one more matter."

Gu Zhen's voice trembled even more: "I sent people to investigate the whereabouts of that sorcerer in the past few days."

"He...he has killed seventeen people in the past three days."

Zhao Kuo stopped in his tracks.

"Who are these people?"

"There are corrupt officials, gangsters, and a few death row inmates."

Gu Zhen took out a list from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

Zhao Kuo took the list and glanced at it.

Each name is followed by a description of its crime.

Embezzlement and bribery, disregard for human life, and oppression of the people...

These people truly deserve to die.

But the problem is-

"These people are all officials appointed by the imperial court!"

Zhao Kuo's voice was shrill: "What right did he have to kill?"

"Who does he think he is? A righteous official?"

"In this world, only I can decide who deserves to die!"

He slammed the list to the ground.

If they can kill the Minister of War today, will they storm into the Fu Ning Palace tomorrow and nail the emperor to the dragon throne as well?

"madman……"

Zhao Kuo muttered to himself.

Fear surged in his eyes, gradually turning into ruthlessness.

What a joke! What a patriotic lord! What a national hero!

A "deity" who is above the imperial power is neither needed nor allowed to exist in the Song Dynasty!

"deliver an imperial order!"

Zhao Kuo suddenly stood up, his face contorted in pain.

"Xuanmo of the Quanzhen Sect, in collusion with the Jurchens, assassinated a high-ranking official of the imperial court, intending to rebel!"

"All officials of the Imperial City Guard, Imperial Bodyguards, and the Four Great Constables of the Six Doors are to be apprehended immediately!"

"Any resistance will be met with death!"

Gu Zhen looked up, a flash of shock crossing his eyes.

"Your Majesty, that sorcerer's martial arts are unparalleled; relying solely on the Imperial City Guard might be..."

"Then we'll deploy troops!"

Zhao Kuo grabbed the tiger tally and smashed it in front of Gu Zhen.

"Dispatch the Imperial Guards! Dispatch the Palace Guards! Draw all the crossbows!"

"If three thousand isn't enough, then thirty thousand! If thirty thousand isn't enough, then one hundred thousand!"

"No matter how strong he is, he's still just a mortal. I refuse to believe he can stop an army of thousands!"

He was panting heavily, his murderous intent growing stronger.

"And the Quanzhen Sect."

Zhao Kuo sneered: "Order Han Tuozhou to mobilize the troops stationed in Xiangyang to surround Zhongnan Mountain!"

"Surround Chongyang Palace completely!"

"Tell the world that the Quanzhen Sect is colluding with the Mongols and selling military secrets; they are traitors and national villains!"

"If Xuanmo does not surrender, I will burn down Zhongnan Mountain and make thousands of Taoist priests of the Quanzhen Sect pay with their lives!"

Gu Zhen picked up the tiger tally, his fingers trembling.

This is going to force the entire martial arts world to rebel.

But he dared not say more.

The officials have gone mad.

The Changxin Palace Lantern inside the hall flickered, casting Zhao Kuo's shadow on the wall, twisting it into a hideous monster.

"Your subject...accepts the decree."

……

A teahouse in Lin'an City.

Shen Mo sat by the window, holding a cup of tea in his hand.

The tea had gone cold, but he didn't drink it.

Outside the window, the streets began to throng.

The footsteps of the Imperial Guards, the sound of horses' hooves, and the clatter of crossbow wheels blended together.

A murderous aura emanated from them.

People on the street fled in panic, and shops closed their doors and windows tightly.

The entire city of Lin'an was shrouded in a somber atmosphere.

"Shen Mo, the imperial court is serious."

In his mind, the mirror rippled, and Yang Yuhuan's voice came through, filled with worry.

"I saw at least three thousand Imperial Guards, and also crossbows."

"These things, even for a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm..." She paused. Although she didn't really understand what a "Grandmaster of the Innate Realm" meant, in the past few days, when she observed Shen Mo through the mirror, almost everyone she heard—martial arts practitioners, imperial guard instructors, and court officials—used this title when referring to Shen Mo, their tone full of awe. So she remembered the term.

"Even someone like you, a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm, couldn't withstand these things, could you?"

Shen Mo put down his teacup, his gaze calm.

"I can't hold on."

He said calmly, "But I don't need to carry it."

Yang Yuhuan was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

"They can't find me."

Shen Mo smiled slightly.

"and……"

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked towards the distant palace.

"I don't plan to hide."

Yang Yuhuan's voice was urgent: "Are you crazy? That's an army of thousands!"

"Not crazy."

Shen Mo's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness.

"It's time to let them know what it means to be... the best in the world."

He turned and walked towards the back door of the teahouse, his steps unhurried.

As he passed the shopkeeper, he casually tossed a piece of silver to him.

"Tea fee."

The words fell.

Suddenly, the mirror in my mind vibrated.

【Ding! 】

[Host detected killing villain: Sun Zhidong (Minister of War, a first-rank official)]

[Crimes: Colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, resulting in the deaths of 30,000 border residents, embezzling 800,000 taels of military funds, and persecuting 17 loyal and virtuous individuals]

[Evil Value: 23700 points]

[Reward: 20000 Good/Evil Points]

Current Good/Evil Points: 43700

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Shen Mo's eyes.

The seventeen villains, plus the big fish Sun Zhidong, amassed a total of over 43,000 good and evil points.

enough.

"System, add points."

He silently recited it in his heart.

【Innate Skill (Current: Beginner Level)】

"Add some innate skill."

Shen Mo did not hesitate.

[Consumes 40000 Good/Evil Points]

[Innate Skill: Beginner → Mastery]

boom!

An indescribable surge of true energy erupted from his dantian.

The innate true energy within Shen Mo's body surged and roared like the Yangtze River bursting its banks, engulfing his entire body.

Profound, pure, and continuous.

But this is not the end.

That vital energy surged through the meridians, scouring and tempering.

The innate true energy accumulated over 134 years began to reorganize and condense.

Shen Mo could clearly feel that the true energy that was originally scattered throughout his meridians was now being unified by a higher-level force.

Although the Quanzhen Principles of Internal Cultivation are exquisite, they are ultimately just basic internal skills.

The Innate Skill is a supreme Taoist art created by Wang Chongyang through his own efforts.

The next base is not in the world.

As the Innate Skill circulated, the True Qi within Shen Mo's body began to undergo an unprecedented qualitative change!