Boom!
From Qin Zheng's body, it seemed as if thunderous roars echoed out.
A massive force, like a breaking dam's river, surged crazily within him.
After another enhancement, Qin Zheng now possessed the strength of 3000 jin!
This was a substantial power, enough to rival that of a Martial Artist of the Bone Refining Realm!
But at the same time, the muscles, bones, and internal organs within him were now emitting cries of being overburdened.
Such a tremendous force had already surpassed the limits Qin Zheng's body could handle!
He could feel that under the force's immense pressure and flushing, his organs began experiencing severe pain.
But, this severe pain, amid the rage in his heart and the exhilarating feeling following the strength increase, was temporarily suppressed.
Qin Zheng took a quick step forward and instantly arrived in front of Shi Dian.
At this moment, Shi Dian was swiftly getting up.
Qin Zheng's punch earlier, not yet enhanced again, was only of 2000 jin strength, and it didn't cause too serious damage to Shi Dian.
The reason he was blown away by the punch was mainly due to being taken aback by Qin Zheng's strength and momentarily losing focus.
Thus, when Qin Zheng approached again, Shi Dian bellowed, "Good, good, good! Who would have thought that Black Goose City's humble Executioner was indeed a hidden Martial Arts master!"
"Today Shi wants to see just how high your mastery is!"
Shi Dian let out a long howl, his whole body shining brightly like a glowing Cicada.
He hurled another punch towards Qin Zheng.
However, this punch hadn't even reached halfway when it was again seized by a hand.
"You?... Ah!!!"
This time, he could feel an even more potent force within the palm of his opponent.
Under this force, his fist was instantly crushed into a mass, his tendons and bones shattered!
Shi Dian suddenly let out a painful scream.
He then tried to break free from Qin Zheng, but under the overwhelmingly superior strength, he couldn't move an inch!
Qin Zheng's expression was cold as he controlled the roaring massive force surging within him.
His body couldn't handle a punch from Shi Dian.
Thus, in such a situation, if he wanted to kill his opponent, he would have to crush him with an even greater force!
This was also why Qin Zheng once again risked enhancing the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique!
"Tell me, what do you consider as something unworthy and despicable?!!"
Qin Zheng shouted at Shi Dian.
Then, he exerted more force with his hands, instantly squashing Shi Dian's right hand's flesh and bones into a mass of bloody debris, which burst apart!
As the fingers are connected to the heart, this immediately made Shi Dian scream even more miserably.
However, Qin Zheng didn't continue to give him a chance to struggle. He clamped down on Shi Dian's shoulders, then repeatly punched him in the chest.
Thump!
"Tell me! What is despicable?!"
Thump!
"Tell me! Talk you bastard!!"
Thump! Thump! Thump!...
Qin Zheng only felt his body burning hot, his blood boiling, his fists continually pounding Shi Dian's chest.
Thump!
Splat!
As he swung another punch, his entire arm suddenly pierced through Shi Dian's chest, blood immediately gushing onto the ground like a fountain.
Qin Zheng, breathing heavily, stopped and pulled his hand out.
By now, Shi Dian, already lifeless, his eyes wide open in unwillingness and struggle.
Qin Zheng threw his corpse onto the ground.
His entire arm was covered in muddy, sticky blood-plasma.
He extended his other hand, flicking off the pieces of the heart clinging to his arm.
He then squatted down, searching through Shi Dian's belongings.
It wasn't long before he found two silver notes, each valued at one thousand taels.
He then pulled out a mutton fat jade vase containing several pills that emitted a strong scent of blood.
Finally, Qin Zheng felt something akin to leather, inscribed with some text, with several bold characters at the top.
Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique!
This was the cultivation technique practiced by that old fellow Shi Dian!
A light flashed in Qin Zheng's eyes, and he quickly tucked it into his bosom.
Along with the mutton fat jade vase and the two thousand taels in silver notes.
He then stood up, turned, and looked back.
Ji Changyin had fled, leaving three people lying on the ground at this moment.
Aside from Shi Dian, who had been beaten to death, and Fa Cai, there was the unconscious government office inspector Xu Sanwei.
Qin Zheng walked forward to check on Inspector Xu and realized that he had been struck with force, injuring his internal organs, but not fatally.
After pondering awhile, Qin Zheng picked up Inspector Xu's saber, went over to the corpse of Shi Dian, and plunged it into the chest, proceeding to twist and turn it.
Until the wound caused by his own fist appeared more like it had been stirred and pierced by a long saber.
Qin Zheng then used the long saber to inflict several deep, bone-visible wounds on the weaker spots of Shi Dian's body.
After he had done all this, he placed the long saber back into Inspector Xu's hand.
He arranged the corpses to appear as though they had killed each other.
Qin Zheng turned, wrapped the Ghost Head Greatsword in coarse cloth again, and slung it over his shoulder.
Then he walked over to Fa Cai, sighed quietly, bent down, and picked up his corpse.
Using his qinggong, he quickly leaped into the mountains, leaving this place of trouble behind.
Ji Changyin might or might not come back, and staying here would make it difficult for him to explain things clearly.
He did not want his strength to be exposed so soon.
After all, just a few days ago, he was a very ordinary, minor executioner.
Even if he was highly talented and perceptive, mastering the Ghost Head Saber Technique was already the limit.
If others knew that within a few days, he had increased his strength to the 3000 jin typical of the Bone Refining Realm
It wouldn't be something he could simply brush off as talent.
By then, he would undoubtedly face the greed of the entire martial arts world!
Currently lacking inner strength, he couldn't quickly advance to match the rapid enhancement dictated by the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique.
So, he decided to keep a low profile and wait until his realm had risen before acting more openly.
As for whether this approach would raise suspicions, Qin Zheng could no longer worry too much about that.
His very survival was already questionable.
However, in the face of such a significant achievement as the purification of the remnants of Cicada Gang like Shi Dian, Inspector Xu would likely not expose him.
As long as Inspector Xu claimed credit for this deed, Qin Zheng had many excuses to dispel any suspicions.
For example, he could plausibly claim he had quietly escaped during their fight, or something similar.
Qin Zheng hadn't considered emulating Shi Dian's methods and killing the unconscious Inspector Xu.
If both were dead, then, with no one to witness the fight, he could describe the scenario however he wished.
But when Qin Zheng focused his attention on the other, no information about him appeared on the Merit Scroll.
Clearly, Inspector Xu wasn't someone who deserved to be killed.
Therefore, Qin Zheng chose this course of action.
With his qinggong, he swiftly moved and soon reached a deep, deserted mountain area.
Qin Zheng pulled out the Ghost Head Greatsword, quickly dug a pit, and buried Fa Cai.
He breathed a slight sigh of relief and sat down on the spot.
Forcefully enhancing the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique had already pushed his body to its limits.
Now that he had a moment to relax, he hadn't yet had time to check how much merit he had accumulated.
An unbearable, agonizing pain burst forth from all over his body like a flood, overwhelming him.
Before he passed out, Qin Zheng faintly heard a Buddhist chant from afar.
Amitabha!