Chapter 75 - 73: The Nine Realms of Martial Tao
The heavy chains wrapped around them made the fog beasts very uncomfortable, but with Lu Zheng holding the mist gold right in front of them, they didn’t dare to act out. They all obediently allowed themselves to be tied up and bound, ready for the slaughter.
This shows how strong the restraint of the mist gold is on them.
Not long after the team returned to the General Department, Director Xie Shihuan hurriedly arrived.
"Where are the fog beasts?" Xie Shihuan immediately asked when he saw Lu Zheng.
In the open space outside the prison, four fog beasts were locked inside a large iron cage. When they saw Xie Shihuan and the others, they bared their teeth and struggled, growling.
The heavy iron chains clashed against the cage, making a loud clanging sound.
Xie Shihuan wasn’t scared; instead, he got closer to observe the fog beasts.
"Fortunately, they are just three early-stage fog beasts and one middle-level fog beast, with the highest strength around the Fifth Realm."
Xie Shihuan slightly sighed in relief.
On the side, Zhou Sixin, perhaps noticing Song Changming’s lack of understanding, gently explained.
"Fog beasts, like us martial artists, have strengths and weaknesses. Generally, they are classified according to our Ninth Realm of Body Refining, and these fog beasts are divided into three danger levels: early, middle, and high..."
Song Changming suddenly understood.
Having practiced martial arts for many years, he knew the Ninth Realm of Body Refining for martial artists.
For instance, his Great Strength Bull Demon Skill was a body refining skill that reached straight to the Ninth Realm of Bone Forging.
Currently, he was at the level of the Third Realm of Bone Forging.
When he practiced this skill, attaining the Nine Bull Power, his entire skeleton would reach the theoretical extreme strength of the Ninth Realm, that is, a Ninth Realm martial artist!
Similarly, aside from bone forging, the other three main focuses in body refining—skin grinding, muscle training, and washing marrow—also had their own Ninth Realm classification.
According to Zhou Sixin’s explanation, to compare the varying strengths of each fog beast, they correspond to the strength levels of martial artists’ Ninth Realms.
The danger level of early-stage fog beasts is equivalent to the strength of martial artists in the First to Third Realms, middle-level is akin to Fourth to Sixth Realm body refining martial artists, and high-level corresponds to Seventh to Ninth Realm martial artists.
"There are rumors that extremely powerful top-level fog beasts have appeared, with danger levels exceeding that of ordinary Ninth Realm body refining martial artists! Quite terrifying!" Zhou Sixin added at the end.
"Top level." Song Changming shook his head inwardly.
Currently, his body refining cultivation hadn’t even reached the Ninth Realm, let alone anything beyond.
Among the martial arts experts he had seen, he really couldn’t determine who was the most formidable.
However, he could still count on his fingers the ones with extremely strong powers.
Back when Great Knight Liu Xiangnan was imprisoned, he was definitely one of them; peak strength must have been exceedingly strong, at least he estimated, above the Fifth or Sixth Realm.
Lu Zheng from the General Department, he estimated, was also a martial artist above the Fifth Realm.
He also heard Zhou Sixin mention the current Director of the General Department, Xie Shihuan, was also very strong, though he hadn’t made a move for many years and was a deeply hidden figure.
Moreover, he heard many experts resided in the Governor’s Mansion, though he hadn’t seen them in person.
Previously, when he visited the Xiao Mansion, he noticed several extremely formidable presences inside the mansion; their strength was immeasurable, but he quietly memorized their appearances, to be on guard whether they turned out to be friends or foes.
Lastly, besides the Governor’s Mansion, the forces of the government also included military strength.
It goes without saying that the military surely had many fierce soldiers and strong generals, including top experts in charge of storming battles.
However, experts in the military rarely reveal themselves publicly; Song Changming didn’t have any ties with the military, so he didn’t know their depth.
In the Public Security Bureau alone, Song Changming’s own strength wasn’t considered weak.
Among over ten Chief Patrol Guards in the General Department, though not as advanced as the likes of Lu Zheng and others, he was at least somewhere in the middle, not lacking compared to Zhou Sixin beside him.
As a newly appointed Chief Patrol Guard to the General Department, Song Changming’s display of strength was already remarkable.
Not to mention, Song Changming was still young, with limitless potential for the future.
"Continue investigating, deploy more Patrol Guards into this matter, turn the Incense Burning Gang upside down, investigate everything thoroughly, I want to know where their mist gold came from, if there’s more of it!"
Xie Shihuan, clutching the blood-stained mist gold in his hand, told Lu Zheng and several officials from the General Department.
"Tsk, things have really blown up this time." Zhou Sixin murmured quietly to himself after hearing this.
After that, a large-scale crackdown centered around the Incense Burning Gang unfolded.
Even though the Incense Burning Gang had hidden well and escaped last year’s major purge,
if the Public Security Bureau operated its massive machine, deploying its forces specifically targeting the Incense Burning Gang for investigation.
On the surface, there were Patrol Guards; undercover, many informants spread throughout the city, aided by the City Patrol Defense Bureau, no matter how well the Incense Burning Gang hid, they would eventually have nowhere to hide.
People involved with the Incense Burning Gang in any way were all dragged out.
There were ordinary people who had been influenced as well as genuine members of the Incense Burning Gang.
One after another, they were sent into the prison; after a series of severe interrogations, the many activities of the Incense Burning Gang were no longer secret.
"So what exactly is this incense that supposedly cures all ailments?" A Patrol Captain eyed the stacks of red incense collected and couldn’t help but ask.
"The ingredients are complex, containing various mixed narcotics that can cause mental confusion, numbness, and even hallucinations. This gang uses the incense to beguile others.
As for curing all ailments, that’s naturally impossible," several old physicians invited by the General Department stroked their beards and shook their heads.
Even if there were a miraculous cure-all under the heavens, it couldn’t be distributed so freely in bulk.
"It seems it’s just another evil cult that specializes in deceiving the people." Zhou Sixin said while sitting at the table, redefining the Incense Burning Gang.
This is not your ordinary Jianghu gang formed by street thugs banding together.
The Incense Burning Gang doesn’t run gambling dens, doesn’t occupy territories, nor engage in other activities, but is solely focused on beguiling the populace and expanding its influence.
In the hands of those beguiled people, large amounts of money and silver have all flowed into the Incense Burning Gang, with no trace of where they went.
"No wonder there have been so many disappearances in the past two years. We used to think it was all due to the Bandit Army taking people, but now it seems, this Incense Burning Gang quietly bewitched many citizens away, truly hateful!"
A Patrol Captain angrily slammed the table and exclaimed.
"Where is the leader of this Incense Burning Gang; is there a possibility of capturing them?" Another Patrol Captain asked.
The other Patrol Captains exchanged glances and looked toward Lu Zheng.
He was the main person in charge of this mission, and he knew the most about the current intelligence on the Incense Burning Gang.
Lu Zheng shook his head and said, "This gang doesn’t have a leader in the true sense. If we talk about the founder, it was initially established by an old physician from Baiyi Street. The initial intention was just a good-hearted effort to aid and shelter poor children.
After the old physician passed away, a few of the children, driven by ulterior motives, used some of the physician’s prescriptions to create the red incense out of greed. Later, some ambitious Jianghu villains got involved, which gradually led to the current state of the Incense Burning Gang.
Now, the core members of the gang have all been captured, and the Incense Burning Gang is no more.
As for that piece of mist gold, it was accidentally obtained by a member of the Incense Burning Gang..."
Song Changming remained silent throughout, only listening quietly.
He initially thought that hidden behind the Incense Burning Gang was a great secret of tremendous magnitude.
However, he didn’t expect the gang’s history to be so mundane, without deeply hidden schemes behind it.
The starting point was even an act of kindness, but it gradually degraded, manipulated by human greed, becoming darker and more out of control until reaching today’s conclusion.
Subsequently, due to their heinous crimes, the gang members of the Incense Burning Gang were publicly executed one batch after another.
As for the beguiled people, those who could still be saved were sent back home, monitored closely by the City Patrol Defense Bureau until they fully recovered.
Another group, beyond saving, was imprisoned to prevent them from causing chaos in the city.
Regarding that piece of mist gold, after being submitted, there was no further news, and it, along with several mist beasts, was sent to the Governor’s Mansion.
Shortly after the Incense Burning Gang incident ended, Song Yu, the third sister, was formally and honorably married into the Zhao Family as Zhao Huaiming’s legitimate wife.
Recalling back then, Song Yu’s marriage was a simple affair, handled in haste.
Even Zhao Dezhi, as the patriarch, did not show up at that time.
Now, Song Changming intends to make up for all the regrets concerning his third sister.
After the previous confrontation, Zhao Dezhi sat properly on his seat during this wedding, smiling broadly without daring to have any other thoughts.
With Song Changming now present, the Song family is not someone he can provoke.
Afterwards, Song Changming fulfilled his promise by recommending Zhao Huaiming to Liang Chuan Mountain, allowing him to take over Song Changming’s former role, becoming the new Patrol Captain of the Patrol Armor Bureau.
Hence, the Zhao Family now has two Guard Captains in one household.
This made Zhao Dezhi deeply realize that the power Song Changming now holds far exceeds his Zhao Family.
Even with the Zhao Family having two Patrol Captains in the city, they can’t compare to one Song Changming of the Song Family.
After finishing the matter of the third sister, Song Changming gradually integrated into the General Department’s work environment and content, organizing everything methodically.
Until June’s annual evaluation, nothing as significant as the Incense Burning Gang had happened.
That night, just past midnight, the panel information arrived as scheduled.
[Annual Evaluation: Quite an accomplished year.]
[In terms of martial arts, the Soul-breaking Saber was practiced to the Perfection Realm this year, body refining cultivation reached the Third Realm, and high-level martial arts achieved some success...
Regarding achievements, the Nine Bends Association was eradicated, Cao Fushan was slain, and an enmity with the Tengya Mountain Bandit Army was established...
In terms of power, transferred to the position of Chief Patrol Guard of the Public Security Bureau, developed a connection with Xiao Shuyun...
Regarding family, the reputation of the Song Family improved, third sister Song Yu completed her marriage, forming an alliance with the Zhao Family...]
[Please choose your annual reward.]
[1, +2500 lifespan, 2, -1000 lifespan, gain the related constitution ’Sword Practitioner,’ 3, -200 lifespan, +2 attribute points]