The Imperial Guards, like Yama, slaughtered until the Empress cried out for help.

Two days later.

A group of Imperial Guards entered from the east gate of Baiyun County and headed straight for the General Banner Office.

The scholar gently knocked on the door of Shen Qing's room.

"Sir, Commander Zhang of Zhangshan has arrived."

Shen Qing tidied her clothes and walked out of the room.

This Zhangshan also came for Shen Qing. Shen Qing's cracking down on the evil cultivator who was harming people is a considerable achievement.

Of course, the two other things are the most important.

First, there's Shen Qing's Blood-Devouring Wood Crystal Core. When the Fusi of Luoshui Town heard that a crystal core had appeared, there was also a surge of undercurrents.

The Zhenfu Division also offered two Crimson Jade Fruits to exchange for the crystal core with Shen Qing.

This was beyond Shen Qing's expectations.

The second reason was to come and take away the traitorous junior officer.

The last time a traitorous flag officer appeared was quite an accident.

But not long after, another traitor was exposed, sent by Luoshui City.

That would be a big problem.

It is said that the garrison commander of the prefecture was furious, and the news even reached the capital.

The Imperial Guards of Yongning County are about to undergo a major purge.

Shen Qing stepped out of the courtyard and immediately saw Zhang Shan.

Zhang Shan also looked at Shen Qing with a smile.

Suddenly, Zhang Shan's expression froze for a moment. He sensed that Shen Qing's aura seemed to have undergone a qualitative change.

"Is this a breakthrough?"

Although shocked, it was still within Zhang Shan's acceptable range, so he quickly regained his smile and cupped his hands in greeting.

"We meet again, Commander Shen."

The two exchanged pleasantries once more.

Then we got down to business.

"Commander Shen, this time the order from Luoshui City is very urgent. They told me to come here to pick up something and take that traitor back with me."

"At noon, Commander Qin will also arrive in Baiyun County to escort us together."

Zhang Shan also looked on with curiosity.

"What exactly is it?"

"It's nothing much. I just happened to kill a Blood Cultivator at the Acquired Realm. The gains weren't great, just a Blood Devouring Wood Crystal Core," Shen Qing said casually.

Zhang Shan was stunned. What the hell is this?

Is this human talk?

One Blood-Devouring Wood Crystal Core would keep him busy for quite some time.

He had captured quite a few blood cultivators, including several at the Innate Realm, but he had never obtained such a treasure.

That's good, they killed a Blood Cultivator in the Acquired Realm and got one.

In an instant, the air was filled with a sour smell.

"Commander Shen is so lucky!"

Afterwards, Zhang Shan stared at the Blood-Devouring Wood Crystal Core for a few moments, lamenting why he couldn't encounter such an opportunity.

But despite feeling a bit sour, there wasn't much jealousy.

He encountered many opportunities, but most of them slipped through his fingers and were taken by his colleagues.

For example, when he came to Baiyun County a few days ago to deliver the Crimson Jade Fruit, he encountered a Blood Cultivator who was delivering the Blood Devouring Wood Crystal Core.

They arrested him without hesitation, but because he was on official business, they didn't pursue the matter further.

I plan to deal with this batch of blood cultivators after I finish my current work.

As a result, Shen Qing beat her to it.

Zhang Shan was quite open-minded, believing that he was just accumulating experience, and that with enough luck, he would eventually soar to great heights and meet a benefactor.

It's all about timing and fate!

Zhang Shan withdrew his gaze, adjusted himself slightly, and began to talk about the second matter he had come to Baiyun County, his expression becoming more serious.

"I heard you've uncovered another mole?"

Shen Qing nodded: "He's in jail. The White Dragon Sect arranged for him to come in. We haven't found out much else yet."

"I'll trouble Commander Zhang to take him with him later. He's not in good condition, so I hope he doesn't die on the way."

Last night, because he returned too late, Old Li personally pounded millet peppers to administer the torture.

That night was filled with cries of despair.

Commander Zhang frowned: "It's the White Dragon Cult again. They're so annoying, always giving us trouble."

"This matter has caused quite a stir this time. I heard that the Censorate is sending people to conduct a moral test on the Imperial Guards of Yongning Prefecture."

Shen Qing raised an eyebrow.

The Censorate was staffed by people personally selected by the emperor, with the aim of monitoring officials and finding those with ulterior motives.

The people inside are mostly at or above the Innate Realm, and they possess special techniques for questioning the mind.

The Censorate has been mobilized this time? It seems the matter has indeed alarmed the capital.

But if you're going to ask, then ask. It's good to get to the bottom of it.

To avoid having an internal traitor here and a traitor there, who might stab you in the back later.

......

It wasn't until noon that another centurion arrived in Baiyun County, and the two of them left with the Blood-Swallowing Wood Crystal Core.

Inside the headquarters, Shen Qing looked at the two crimson jade fruits in front of him with satisfaction.

With two Crimson Jade Fruits, Shen Qing could make another breakthrough.

Shen Qing adjusted his breathing to his best condition, then grabbed a red jade fruit and stuffed it into his mouth in large gulps.

The immense energy immediately opened up several acupoints, flowing like a flood with undiminished momentum, continuing to surge towards subsequent acupoints.

With the blessing of a state of clear and enlightened mind, meridian damage? That's simply not true.

There's only one thing Mr. Shen Qing needs to do: pull off a miracle!

Master Shen just focused on putting in the effort; the rest was up to the miracle.

One by one, the acupoints were quickly connected, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Shen Qing's cultivation level broke through to the seventh rank of the Acquired Realm.

Next comes the eighth rank of the Acquired Realm.

Soon, Shen Qing perfectly absorbed the energy of the first Crimson Jade Fruit, but one Crimson Jade Fruit was far from Shen Qing's limit.

The second crimson jade fruit was immediately swallowed. Shen Qing opened his eyes, and even his eyes seemed to overflow with essence.

"Meridian system, let me see where your limits are!"

The Crimson Jade Fruit seemed to have heard Master Shen's words, and became even more ferocious than the previous one.

With the last acupoint of the eighth rank of the Acquired Realm connected, he broke through to the final realm of the Acquired Realm, the ninth rank.

Until the last acupoint is connected.

So the final stage is the Innate Realm.

The Shen family's martial arts techniques are all complete sets.

The Acquired Realm's cultivation method is the Overbearing Meridian Opening Technique, while the Innate Realm's cultivation method is the Overbearing True Qi Technique.

He cultivates domineering true energy.

Shen Qing quietly comprehended the internal energy surging within his meridians, which gradually subsided.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The internal energy throughout his body was activated in an instant, and began to surge wildly towards his dantian.

The originally dark and lightless dantian, as if Pangu had created the world, produced its first ray of light.

This is the Innate Realm.

Refine your internal strength into true qi, and open the yin and yang of your dantian.

In the Yongning County, those at the Innate Realm are already quite remarkable.

However, Shen Qing came from a prominent family, and his vision was naturally far superior to that of people from remote areas like Baiyun County.

Reaching the Innate Realm is merely the beginning of the path of cultivation.

If we compare spiritual practice to building a house, then the Innate Realm is like laying the foundation.

Cultivating true qi, expanding the dantian, and increasing the amount of true qi is like expanding the foundation.

Refining one's true qi and increasing its purity is like laying a solid foundation.

Only with a solid foundation can skyscrapers be built.