novelraw Chapter 534: You Dare Kill an Imperial Envoy? Cracking Down on Crime and Wiping Out Monsters
Chapter 534: You Dare Kill an Imperial Envoy? Cracking Down on Crime and Wiping Out Monsters
Secretary Qiu provided some background knowledge: "This is Spirit Marrow, produced from medium to large spiritual energy veins. Ordinary spiritual energy veins don't typically generate this substance."
"It only appears when a spiritual energy vein is nearing its natural end, similar to bamboo flowering."
"Its function is to nourish the user with pure spiritual energy. By cultivating it within your body, you can achieve automatic cultivation until the Spirit Marrow's energy is depleted."
"The cultivation speed is guaranteed to be at least five times your normal rate. The better your innate talent, the higher the multiplier."
"Based on your recorded Heavenly Perception First Layer cultivation level, one Spirit Marrow should at least allow you to cultivate up to the second realm of the Five Decays of Heaven-Man."
Hearing this, Lu Ding deeply realized that he truly came from a small county town.
A treasure that enables automatic cultivation while accelerating cultivation speed—one piece would be worth far more than just one or two hundred thousand contribution points in the Third Circle Great Han.
Before coming, he had pondered extensively about what rewards he might receive.
But he never truly anticipated receiving something like this.
And there were two pieces!Refusing would seem overly polite.
Lu Ding clenched his palm, absorbing both Spirit Marrows into his inner landscape.
As the Spirit Marrows entered his body.
He could instantly feel his realm automatically rising.
"Thank you, Elder Shui."
"Hahahaha, oh my, you're too polite. No need for formalities, we're all family here."
The old man laughed heartily.
After expressing his gratitude, Lu Ding turned to Secretary Qiu and voiced his confusion: "Leader, one Spirit Marrow can take me from Heavenly Perception First Layer to the second realm of the Five Decays of Heaven-Man."
Secretary Qiu: "Correct!"
"Then how far could two Spirit Marrows take me from the second realm of the Five Decays of Heaven-Man?"
Secretary Qiu answered without thinking: "The other Spirit Marrow could at least allow you to cultivate to..."
Wait!!!
He just realized something.
"How many? You said how many? Two? Isn't your realm Heavenly Perception First Layer???!"
Lu Ding shook his head: "That was before. I'm currently at the first realm of the Five Decays of Heaven-Man."
Before...
Was it that long ago? Could our time flow rates be different?
Secretary Qiu fell silent.
He somewhat uncertainly picked up the documents beside him and checked.
Five days ago, Heavenly Perception First Layer...
No way...
Is Third Circle 749's documentation so careless?
He flipped further back and saw Lu Ding's previous records. Each realm breakthrough, while occurring in frighteningly short timeframes.
Nothing this terrifying though!!!
Heavenly Perception First Layer to the first realm of the Five Decays of Heaven-Man in five days.
Although the documents recorded that Lu Ding had received compensation from Tai Island and other nations.
Common sense told Secretary Qiu that the combined medicinal effects wouldn't be enough for a 'person' to break through from Heavenly Perception First Layer to the first realm of the Five Decays of Heaven-Man.
Because when 'people' consume heavenly treasures, there's always medicinal efficacy loss—no one can achieve 100% absorption.
Secondly, common sense told him, 749's experimental data told him.
A Heavenly Perception First Layer 'person' couldn't possibly consume and digest so many heavenly treasures within five days!
Secretary Qiu was a very rigorous data-oriented person.
So he believed there must have been a documentation error from the Third Circle.
Lu Ding definitely wouldn't lie, and he wouldn't question it either—why would family need to lie or be doubted?
It must be the Third Circle document clerk's fault, probably slacking off!
He snapped the file shut.
"With two pieces, they should at least allow you to completely pass through the Five Decays of Heaven-Man."
This payday was huge!!!
Lu Ding felt thrilled. Automatic cultivation was automatic cultivation, but it didn't preclude taking medicines or consuming heavenly treasures.
His version update speed was about to accelerate again.
Rustle.
The sound of pages turning echoed in the room.
Secretary Qiu rotated the file and handed it to Lu Ding.
"Originally, considering your realm wasn't particularly high, we arranged a cost-effective mission as your first assignment—allowing you to earn contribution points while building your reputation."
"But now, your actual strength doesn't quite match my documentation, so take a look at this mission instead."
Lu Ding picked up the file.
【Case of the Murdered Special Investigator】
Killing an imperial envoy!!!
Lu Ding's spirits lifted—this was bandit suppression, a major operation!
【Received communication from Third Circle Great Han: Rabbit Head has been recovered. That same night, Hanjing 749 urgently contacted nearby provincial and municipal-level 749 bureaus, dispatching multiple investigators to New City to investigate the situation.】
【On the third day during reporting, special investigators Chen Feichen and Zhang Ying from Huolin City lost contact and went missing. Bodycam footage retrieval confirmed their disappearance location at White Ridge, New City.】
【Specific location: New City, White Ridge, Thousand Gold Hotel.】
【Currently confirmed information: Chen Feichen and Zhang Ying confirmed deceased. Perpetrators identified as demons, monsters, or spirits, species unknown......】
【In this special investigator murder case, the Luo Family of White Ridge bears major suspicion as accomplices........】
【Chen Feichen: Qi Refiner at first realm of Five Decays of Heaven-Man】
【Zhang Ying: Qi Refiner at Heavenly Perception Ninth Layer】
Many more pages followed.
Essentially describing how the White Ridge Luo Family was heavily suspected of smuggling, which Chen Feichen and Zhang Ying might have uncovered.
To eliminate witnesses, the Luo Family colluded with demons and monsters.
Had this occurred elsewhere or in other cities, the Luo Family wouldn't have dared such actions.
But this was New City!
The situation there was highly chaotic. To put it bluntly, New City has its own 749 bureau—why weren't they assigned to investigate?
Those who understand, understand.
In which location is investigators dying considered rare?
The 749 bureau inside doesn't even report externally. They recruit locally too, essentially self-contained.
The Great Han can't be bothered to manage it anyway—as long as it's not their own people dying. The land was acquired through trade, the forces are external, and even most residents aren't their citizens.
The few who are citizens hold first-generation IDs—making moves against them wouldn't be effective.
As for the rest, they can do as they please.
This place is practically abandoned anyway.
But this time, they killed investigators—not just their own people, but special envoys. Plus, with the Twelve Beast Heads now complete... that changes everything.
And... Lu Ding looked at Chen Feichen and Zhang Ying's profiles. Such cultivation levels assigned such a mission.
What difference was there between this and sending Benbo'erba to eliminate the Tang Monk pilgrimage?
Secretary Qiu said with a smile: "Yes, your thoughts are correct. Chen Feichen was critically ill—henceforth his entire family will be supported by our 749 bureau. Elderly members receive pensions and housing upgrades, his children receive free enrollment at local top public schools."
"College entrance exam bonuses, community support, full citizen benefits. If their scores meet requirements, they can enter 749 preparatory schools, graduating directly as 749 investigators."
"Zhang Ying's situation is similar."
Well then, Han Envoys.
Such familiar tactics.
No wonder even after imperial envoys died, this mission remained available until now...
Justified cause.
Everything becomes pretext.
Following this thread leads to an entire combo chain.
Cracking down on dark forces, exterminating demons and monsters, rectifying internal environments, rooting out bad apples.
Then comes establishing footholds, replacing old with new, completely overhauling upper leadership, dismantling and dispersing lower structures.
Eliminate some, punish some, warn some.
It's practically gold everywhere, opportunities filling the sky.
The winds were so strong that even before reaching the forefront, Lu Ding felt almost lifted up.
He snapped the file shut with a sharp smack!
"When can I go?"