Chapter 6: Gaining Good Deeds

Shen Zhui informed the local officials of Liu Bin's death, leaving the funeral arrangements to them.

He also quietly found the young girl.

With the help of officials, the adoption of the orphaned girl went smoothly. They settled her registry, and Shen Zhui left her with fifty taels of silver before surreptitiously departing.

The release of the Decapitation Order signifies that after divine confirmation, the crime is established and the offender is usually executed on the spot.

Imprisoning someone and scheduling their execution provides a buffer period to prevent wrongful convictions.

But in this world, once a crime is confirmed by divine law, there is no possibility of wrongful convictions, and there is no need for the spectacle of public execution to demonstrate the power of the law.

Of course, if a person surrenders willingly, they are given time to bid farewell to their families. But how many fugitives would surrender knowing they were bound to die?

This battle, although Shen Zhui killed a Postnatal Level Nine, was not easy.

If he hadn't worn the Silver Scale Soft Armor, which blocked Liu Bin's deadly strike, the outcome might have been mutual destruction.

Particularly, his internal essence was exhausted. It would require at least half a month's rest to recover.

This served as a wake-up call to Shen Zhui. Going up against experienced, cunning fugitives and trying to slay those beyond his level was too risky.

He relied on the Great Achievement of his ruler technique, thinking it would be easy, but he underestimated the Ninth Rank Postnatal Martial Artists.

After all, he had just broken through to the Eighth Rank. His strength had suddenly increased, but his physical strength and control over his ruler technique were actually inferior to when he was at the Seventh Rank.

"In the future, I must be even more cautious."

Returning the Decapitation Order to the county government, Shen Zhui ignored the astonishment of Secretary Liu and his colleagues. He exchanged the reward money for Small Replenishing Pills and hurried home to rest.

......

"What? You say Shen Zhui, who just advanced to the Postnatal Eighth Rank, accepted a Decapitation Order and killed a Postnatal Ninth Rank martial artist?"

In a tavern in the city, Yang Wu and several others were drinking. When someone mentioned this news, they were shocked.

"Brother Wu, this is absolutely true. Li and I were at the Enforcement Hall and saw Shen Zhui return the order to Secretary Liu with our own eyes. This news has already spread. How could I lie about it?"

"Bang!" Yang Wu slammed his cup on the table, his face clouded.

As another Eighth Rank postnatal, practicing the same "Blood-Burning" technique, although this technique gave a three-point advantage at the same rank, Yang Wu knew he couldn't kill a Ninth Rank postnatal martial artist.

Postnatal Ninth Rank martial artists who have been fugitives for many years are all desperate, with their own set of skills.

Yet Shen Zhui, a young lad, managed to kill one!

"He joined the martial ranks three years ago and made rapid progress, often remarkable in overcoming those of higher rank. I can't believe he's still so formidable at the Eighth Rank. How did he train?"

Yang Wu couldn't figure out how a normal martial artist could master their weapon skills to the Great Achievement Realm in only three years, when it usually takes ten.

"This man, he has repeatedly arrested the disciples of the Li family and is favored by the county lord. There's no chance the Li family can sway him. If he grows to the Postnatal Ninth Rank, who among the postnatal martial artists can match him? I told the family head long ago to eliminate Shen Zhui, but they didn't take it seriously! Now that Shen Zhui can kill Postnatal Ninth Rank, should they still keep him around?"

Yang Wu plotted in his heart, a vicious light flashing in his eyes.

The county lord and the city's major families are at odds. Powerful Innate Masters won't take action lightly, Postnatal martial artists are the main force.

If the county lord can train Shen Zhui to the Postnatal Ninth Rank, his power might increase substantially.

"You continue drinking, I'm leaving first." With a decision made, Yang Wu quickly rose from his seat and headed towards the city.

...

The county government, main hall.

Secretary Liu is reporting to a figure dressed in a blue official's robe.

"...My Lord, the tax evasion on the land properties concealed by the Li and Yang families has been initially clarified. Excluding forests, there are 13,482 acres of prime land alone. There are 42,571 acres of medium and low-grade farmland, and 8,700 households evading taxes."

"Two years of secret investigation only turned up this much?" The figure in the blue official's robe was clearly unsatisfied.

"My Lord....." Secretary Liu trembled in fear. He felt increasingly respectful towards the county lord, who had an intimidating reputation.

"It is not due to my incompetence, but the Li and Yang families have temples on their land that obstruct our efforts with mystic shields, guarded by Innate Masters. They have hundreds, even thousands of servants… unless the county lord personally visits the City God Temple…"

"Enough, I know." The county lord interrupted Secretary Liu's words. "It's not time for either us or them to completely fall out... just keep sending people to investigate other places."

"Yes."

"My Lord, there's another matter, do you remember Shen Zhui from the martial department?"

"Him? Of course, I remember. Coincidentally, he joined the martial ranks in the same year I took office. I remember he had already reached the Postnatal Seventh Rank at the beginning of the year, and I promoted him to the Ninth Level Crime Fighter not long ago. Is there criticism about this?"

Secretary Liu shook his head. "Nobody dares to criticize your orders, my lord. But Shen Zhui took a Decapitation Order for a Postnatal Ninth Rank martial artist yesterday, and he successfully returned today."

"Hmm?" The county lord seemed surprised. "He, at the Seventh Rank, was able to kill a Ninth Rank?"

"Lord of the County, Shen Zhui has reached the Postnatal Eighth Rank, likely due to Your Lordship's generous gift of the large replenishing pills which assisted his advancement,"

"I see, the Postnatal Eighth Rank already, I thought..."

After pondering for a moment, the Lord of the County said, "Such performance is not half bad, but it is still lacking, and of little use in the grand scheme. Go fetch him ten more of the large replenishing pills from the Treasury. The rest is no longer of concern, the priority is to investigate the Li and Yang families."

"Yes."

......…

At this moment, Shen Zhui, who was resting at home, had no idea of the ripples his slaying of the Postnatal Ninth Rank martial arts practitioner had caused and was busy replenishing his energy at home.

The final stroke from Liu Bin before his death broke through Shen Zhui's Iron Ruler defense. The residual force even managed to leave a mark on his silver scale soft armour. However, the impact to his body was relatively minimal.

The actual major toll was the sixteen streams of vital energy he had to exert in a desperate situation.

Just like a person who has lost too much blood may look fine on the surface, but is actually very weak internally.

"Looking back, during that last move, I only needed to stimulate eight streams of vital energy, and with the defense of my Iron Ruler in my left hand and the silver scale soft armour, I could have defended against his killer move. But in the heat of the moment, I panicked," Shen Zhui reflected while gazing at the crackling charcoal fire in the stove.

The dual wielding of the Iron Rulers, one for offense and one for defense, was specifically designed for bladed weapons.

Especially given that he had already reached the seventh level of Shadow Ruler of Iron Ruler Ninefold. His technique had already developed considerable power!

When attacking, it was relentless, and when defending, it was impervious.

There was absolutely no need for such caution.

"Had I fully mastered my body techniques, I wouldn't have had to meet that blade head-on. I could have simply evaded. Unfortunately, despite having mastered Ruler techniques, I still cannot break through in the Flowing Cloud Step," Shen Zhui lamented.

"If I could reach the Great Achievement Realm, my body would be as fluid as a passing cloud within a small range, allowing free movement regardless of offense or defense. Yet, I don't know where the problem lies…" Shen Zhui wondered in frustration.

"Could it be that my control over the strength of my legs is not up to par?"

Shen Zhui thought this to be likely.

The hands are naturally more often used and flexible compared to the legs.

As the proverb goes, 'Three years to learn Ruler techniques, a decade to master body techniques,' this speaks to the difficulty of learning body techniques compared to Ruler techniques.

How significant are body techniques?

In fights within the same realm, it is always the martial artist with superior body techniques that would win!

The ranking of body technique realms is rather straightforward!

Within the premise of not exceeding two minor realms, if a martial artist can evade twenty-five attacks from another whose body technique realm is at the same level, after a hundred attempts within a confined space, they are considered as having entered the door of body techniques.

If they can evade fifty moves from a practitioner at the minor success realm of body techniques, then they have achieved minor success.

If they can evade seventy-five attacks from a practitioner at the Great Achievement Realm of body techniques, then their body techniques are considered as having reached the Great Achievement Realm.

If they can evade all attacks, regardless of the realm, then their body techniques are considered as having reached the Perfect Realm.

However, there are limits to these. For instance, a martial artist at the highest level of the Postnatal Realm who has trained his body techniques to the Perfect Realm can only remain unbeaten at the Postnatal Realm.

Against an Innate practitioner, it would be difficult to evade their attacks since the speed between the two is simply in different leagues.

Other factors such as a small or crowded battlefield, or being surrounded by enemies would also limit their ability to utilize their body techniques.

The realm of one's body techniques represents the success rate of evasion.

The realm of one's Ruler techniques, on the other hand, represents the strength they can exert on the basis of their control over their physical strength.

Fundamental energy essence, is an explosive killing move.

These three are the foundation of a Postnatal martial artist.

"If I could use my comprehension time to elevate my body techniques to the Great Achievement Realm, taking on a Postnatal Ninth Rank assignment would be a lot easier." Suddenly, Shen Zhui had a thought and his data appeared before his eyes:

Shen Zhui: Postnatal Eighth Rank

Internal Energy Art: Blood Ignition – Third Layer

Martial Technique: Iron Ruler Ninefold – Great Achievement Realm

Movement Technique: Flowing Cloud Step – Minor Success Realm

Good Deeds: 7600