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

Ma Kui's eyes widened in disbelief, and his head began to buzz.

His face was deathly pale.

Wasn't the information that Fang Ming was escorting death row inmates?

How did it become Shen Qing?

Was I set up?

A fist-shaped shadow rapidly magnified in Ma Kui's pupils.

Ma Kui twisted his body with difficulty, quickly gathering a single-handled hammer with his inner energy to protect his chest.

You are born with innate qualities, and so am I. What do I have to fear from you?

Even if I can't beat you, can't I at least run away?

But the next moment, the hammer in his hand shattered without even hindering Shen Qing; it simply broke into several pieces like tofu in an instant.

Furthermore, Shen Qing's punch continued its momentum, piercing directly through Ma Kui's right chest.

Ma Kui's pupils suddenly bulged, and blood vessels quickly filled the white part of his pupils.

Shen Qing withdrew his fist, and Ma Kui suddenly lost his footing, staggering back two steps and falling to the ground.

"This...how is this possible?"

This hammer of mine is made of steel specially made by the Heavenly Craft Workshop. Even a peak expert of the Innate Realm would not find it easy to break it.

But he couldn't even hold on for a moment in front of Shen Qing. Was he a ferocious beast?

Shen Qing turned around and gently tapped his hand, sending a stream of true energy into the scholar's chest. The scholar suddenly woke up, sat up abruptly, and rubbed his temples.

"Strange, how did I faint?"

The moment Ma Kui threw the steel ball, Shen Qing used his true energy to protect the back of the four people's necks, so Ma Kui couldn't harm them at all.

But why did they faint? Of course, Shen Qing used his true energy to knock them unconscious.

If you're going to put on a show, you have to go all the way.

Shen Qing's expression was indifferent, and her voice was equally cold.

"Ma Kui, you hijacked the prison cart with weapons, attacked a centurion, and assassinated a Jinyiwei captain. Your crimes are doubled. I hereby sentence you to be executed on the spot."

Upon hearing Shen Qing's words, the scholar glanced at Ma Kui on the ground and immediately realized what was happening. He quickly stood up, took out the Book of Impermanence from his robes, and began to record.

Ma Kui struggled to cover the wound on his chest with his hand, but it was no use. He would surely die if the bleeding didn't stop within an hour.

He looked up at Shen Qing.

"I was wrong... Please, I beg you, let me go. I didn't mean to attack... I thought Fang Ming was the leader..."

The scholar pondered for a moment before beginning to write.

"Ma Kui confessed to his crimes without reservation and even boasted that he would kill Captain Fang Ming."

Shen Qing: "I heard you even got a centurion position in Qiushui Town's garrison. Why didn't you just sneak away? Wouldn't being a centurion have been better?"

Tears streamed down Ma Kui's face, his regret barely concealed.

Yeah, wouldn't it be better to just leave?

Even if he was recruited to become a centurion in Qiushui City, he still broke through to the Innate Realm and became a centurion, so his life wouldn't be bad. Why be so blinded by greed?

"I was wrong... Lord Shen, I was really wrong. I beg you, please spare my life. I'll go to Qiushui City right away, and I promise I'll never show my face in front of you again... I'm willing to give you all my money..."

The scholar then wrote in the Book of Impermanence, "Ma Kui said the magistrate of Qiushui Town is good, and he can't wait to take up his post."

"Life doesn't offer many opportunities to choose; if you choose wrong, you have to bear the consequences."

Ma Kui wanted to continue begging for mercy, but Shen Qing was too lazy to listen. With a flick of his finger, a burst of true energy pierced through Ma Kui's heart. With another light stroke, Ma Kui's head and body were separated.

......

Zhenfu Division.

Shen Qing personally escorted Sun Yun to the execution ground; it was the black dog who drew the knife.

The entire process was completed smoothly and efficiently, taking less than half an hour.

According to normal procedures, this important prisoner would be handed over to the yamen for execution and public display after being interrogated by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

However, the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill is of great importance, so Shen Qing naturally could not let someone else take over.

It was only after repeated requests from the government that Sun Yun was brought in to be beheaded and displayed to the public; otherwise, he would never have been able to walk out of the Zhenfu Division's prison alive.

Shen Qing stood quietly in the crowd, watching Sun Yun's head fall to the ground.

[Your subordinate has killed a cultivator at the Innate Realm. Congratulations on successfully stealing the entry: Master Thief (Blue)]

Just then, a slightly surprised voice rang out from behind.

"Shen Qing? What are you doing here?"

It was Zhang Shan, a centurion. Shen Qing had a decent impression of him; at least he wasn't pretentious or arrogant. The night before, Shen Qing had even sent Silver Crow to help him.

"Aren't you here too?"

Zhang Shan laughed heartily: "I just came to watch the show. I heard that the Cloud-Piercing Hand has been captured, and I also wanted to see the newly appointed centurion in the west of the city. He just took office and already captured the Cloud-Piercing Hand; he's really something!"

As he spoke, Zhang Shan looked around and said, "Hey, have you seen that centurion? I heard he's quite handsome."

Upon hearing this, both the squad leader and Shen Qing, who were standing beside Zhang Shan, could no longer hold back.

The banner was close to Zhangshan.

"My lord, Lord Shen Qing is the newly appointed centurion of the western city."

Zhang Shan was immediately startled. He looked at Shen Qing, then at the commander, and raised his voice a few decibels.

"No, you knew the newly appointed centurion was Shen Qing, why didn't you tell me?"

The captain immediately looked aggrieved: "Sir, what I was going to say was that you said no matter who it is, you should still help them out. I thought you didn't care."

Zhang Shan gently tapped the flag officer on the head: "Nonsense."

Then he looked at Shen Qing, his eyes full of curiosity: "Look at the mess this has made, I never expected you to get promoted so quickly!"

"Is there some secret?"

"You can't keep anything from me, teach me quickly, I really want to improve..."

Shen Qing smiled calmly: "It was just a coincidence."

Zhang Shan looked up at the sky, his expression full of resentment: "Opportunity? It really is opportunity. I just obtained the Blood-Devouring Wood Crystal Core not long ago, and now I've just taken office and I've already captured Sun Yun. Why don't I have that kind of luck?"

"It's all about luck. You captured Sun Yun, and the Zhenfu Division should give you at least three hundred merit points. You can use those three hundred merit points to exchange for some precious fruits, which will allow you to advance another step in the Innate Realm. It's all about fate. Hmm... wait a minute..."

"Innate...innate..."

Zhang Shan jumped up abruptly: "Innate Realm!!!? How did you break through to the Innate Realm?"

Shen Qing narrowed his eyes and immediately found the key point in the language: meritorious service? What is meritorious service?

How did you break through to the Innate Realm? That's not important.

Shen Qing waved his hand: "It was just luck, but that's not important. First, tell me, what is merit?"

Zhang Shan's eyes widened like saucers. Isn't this important?

It's been less than ten days since I last saw you, hasn't it?

Zhang Shan couldn't help but ask himself the same question.

How long did it take me to cultivate from the Acquired Realm to the Innate Realm?

Not to mention the first level of the Acquired Realm, it took him several years to break through from the ninth level of the Acquired Realm to the Innate Realm.

So you used it for several days?

How am I supposed to live like this?