Starting with The Eagle Shooting Heroes: I gain a year's worth of skill every day.

On the second floor of the teahouse, the air seemed to have been sucked out for a moment.

Shen Mo remained seated at the jujube wood table, his posture unchanged, and even his breathing remained perfectly steady.

But inside, things were in turmoil.

compression!

Extreme compression!

If the previous True Qi was like water, then the current True Qi is like mercury!

Each drop is as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Click.

A thin crack suddenly appeared in the teacup in Shen Mo's hand.

It wasn't crushed, but rather shattered by a wisp of breath that inadvertently escaped from his pores.

[Innate Skill: Great Success]

A mysterious feeling welled up in Shen Mo's heart.

He closed his eyes.

Even though he wasn't looking out the window, he could clearly "see" everything within a hundred feet.

The splashing of raindrops on the bluestone slabs, the subtle rustling of the imperial guards' armor, even the heartbeat of a stray cat shivering under the eaves.

The world changed in his eyes.

It is no longer a piling up of colors and shapes, but a flow of air.

Heaven and earth possess vital energy, which is called the innate energy.

Previously, when he used his true energy, he relied on his own reserves to forcefully confront external objects. Killing people with raindrops was merely relying on his abundant true energy to control objects with force, like a giant hammer smashing a mosquito—effective, but crude.

And now...

Shen Mo slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of blue light seemed to appear deep in his pupils, disappearing in an instant.

He can sense the trajectory of every raindrop, hear the breath of every gust of wind, and feel the vital energy flowing in the air.

The feeling is like suddenly putting on a perfect pair of lenses from a blurry world.

The world has never been so clear.

He raised his hand and gently grasped at the empty space outside the window.

hum.

The rain outside the teahouse seemed to freeze for half a breath as he moved.

But this time is different.

The suspended raindrops did not explode or transform into sword energy; instead, they remained quietly suspended in the air, like time frozen in amber.

Silence can clearly perceive the internal structure of every raindrop and precisely control the flow of every strand of true energy.

This is the innate skill after mastery.

It's no longer about brute force, but about exquisite and meticulous control.

"So this is the Innate Skill after its mastery..."

Shen Mo looked at his palm.

The total amount of true qi in the body did not increase, but its quality underwent a qualitative change.

Life is endless and inexhaustible.

As long as he retains a single thought, he can use the primordial energy of heaven and earth.

More importantly, he can now integrate this power with ease, controlling it as if it were his own arm.

But what surprised Shen Mo the most was the depth of his internal energy.

The original 135 years of innate true energy, after being refined by the Innate Skill, although the total amount seemed unchanged, the quality of each strand of true energy increased several times over.

It's like forging an iron hammer into refined steel, and then forging that refined steel into a divine weapon.

Shen Mo could clearly feel that the true energy in his dantian had solidified to an incredible degree.

If activated at full power, it could probably fight continuously for three days and three nights without exhaustion.

This profound reserve of true qi, combined with his exquisite mastery of the Innate Skill, gave him a feeling of near invincibility.

"Silence..."

In her mind, Yang Yuhuan's voice trembled slightly. Through the ancient mirror, she saw a scene she couldn't understand: "Why...why is the light around your body distorted?"

In her view, silence was like a black hole.

The surrounding light, dust, and even the air seemed to involuntarily collapse towards him, only to be gently smoothed out by some force.

"Because I'm too heavy."

Shen Mo stood up, straightened his clothes, and said calmly.

"Heavy?" Yang Yuhuan asked, puzzled.

"The aura is too overwhelming; this place can hardly bear it."

Shen Mo offered a casual explanation and stepped towards the stairs.

With each step he took, the terrifying oppressive aura emanating from him lessened a little.

By the time he reached the entrance of the teahouse, he had become completely ordinary, just like any other young Taoist priest.

Returning to simplicity.

……

Outside the teahouse, the long street was quiet.

The rain is getting heavier.

The rain in Lin'an started early in the morning and has been falling for half an hour now.

Rainwater washed over the bluestone slabs, and the accumulated water flowed slowly down the street, gathering into small streams.

The entire city of Lin'an was shrouded in a gray, misty rain.

All the shops on both sides of the street had their doors and windows tightly closed.

Through the crack in the door, one could see the shopkeeper and his assistant inside, all looking terrified and hiding behind the counter, too afraid to make a sound.

The once bustling street is now deserted.

The only sounds were the rain pattering on the eaves and the clanging of the Imperial Guards' armor in the distance.

The people of Lin'an had long sensed that something was amiss.

Starting last night, the Imperial Guards began mobilizing throughout the city, with squads of soldiers fully armed and looking grim.

This morning, three thousand imperial guards blocked off this long street.

The sound of the crossbow's axle was particularly jarring in the rain.

The people didn't know what was happening, but they knew that such a scene was definitely not a trivial matter.

Some of the bolder ones peered out the window and saw only a dark mass of imperial guards and crossbow bolts aimed at the teahouse.

Then his family pulled him back, closed the window, and he hid in the innermost part of the house.

"Stop looking! This is a matter for the imperial court; we common folk shouldn't get involved!"

"I heard that a sorcerer killed the Minister of War, and the Emperor is furious and wants to arrest him!"

"A heretical Taoist priest? The one who killed people at the Sun residence?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Don't let the Imperial Guards hear you!"

The entire city of Lin'an became oppressive and heavy in the rain.

Three thousand imperial guards formed a dense, dark mass blocking both ends of the street, preventing even a fly from getting out.

At the very front were rows of crossbows, already cocked.

This deadly weapon, developed by the Song Dynasty's Armory Department, could pierce through heavy armor from 300 paces away. It was a nightmare specifically designed to deal with cavalry and martial arts masters.

At this moment, all 150 crossbows were aimed at the teahouse entrance.

Gu Zhen, an official of the Imperial City Bureau, sat on his horse, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

Beside him stood a general clad in golden armor, Han Tuo, the Commander of the Palace Guard.

"Lord Gu, is that sorcerer inside?" Han Tuo asked, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes fierce.

"He's inside." Gu Zhen gritted his teeth. "The scouts just reported that he's drinking tea."

"Want some tea?"

Han Tuo laughed angrily, "You killed the Minister of War and you still have the mind to drink tea? Do you really think Lin'an is your backyard?!"

He suddenly raised the command flag in his hand.

"All generals, heed my command!"

"Crossbows, prepare!"

crunch--

The sound of the winch turning was teeth-grinding.

On the other side of the street, in a private room on the second floor of a teahouse.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong stood by the window, peering nervously through the cracks in the windowpane at the teahouse across the street, which was surrounded by the Imperial Guards.

"Rong'er, are we really not going to help?" Guo Jing clenched his fists, his eyes filled with worry.

"Brother Jing, wait a little longer." Huang Rong grabbed his hand, her voice tinged with nervousness. "My father and Senior Hong Qigong are here. If things really don't work, they will step in."

Guo Jing turned his head to look into the depths of the private room.

There, Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong stood side by side, both gazing at the teahouse across the street.

When Guo Jing and Huang Rong wanted to help Shen Mo, they happened to run into Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong.

The two elders told him to wait and see, and Guo Jing naturally obeyed.

So he calmed down and waited there.

Huang Yaoshi, dressed in a blue robe, gently waved a folding fan in his hand, his expression indifferent.

Hong Qigong was dressed in shabby beggar's clothes, holding a chicken leg in his hand, but his eyes were extremely solemn.

"Brother Yao, do you think that Taoist priest can hold him off?" Hong Qigong asked, taking a bite of his chicken leg and speaking indistinctly.

Huang Yaoshi didn't speak, but kept his eyes fixed on the person opposite him.

After learning that the imperial court was going to take action against Shen Mo, the two of them hid here to observe.

While wanting to help Shen Mo, they also wanted to see just how strong this uncrowned "Number One in the World" really was.

"Three thousand Imperial Guards, one hundred and fifty Divine Arm Crossbows, and dozens of experts from the Imperial City Guard," Huang Yaoshi said slowly. "Even I would have to put in some effort to prepare for such a force."

"That young Taoist priest is powerful, but he's still only made of flesh and blood." Hong Qigong finished his chicken leg and tossed the bone aside. "The Divine Arm Crossbow is no joke."

"So..." Huang Rong interjected, "If it really doesn't work, Father and Senior Hong Qigong will step in to save them."

Guo Jing nodded, but the worry in his eyes did not lessen.

He had witnessed the power of Shen Mo's sword strike when they were at Zhongnan Mountain.

That sword energy lingered on the stone for three days.

Such methods were beyond his comprehension.

But can they really survive against three thousand imperial guards and the divine crossbow?

Just then, the half-closed wooden door of the teahouse was pushed open from the inside.

A figure in cyan stepped out.

No umbrella was used.

But when the heavy rain reached three feet above his head, it automatically slid to the sides, without even wetting the hem of his clothes.

"They're out!" Guo Jing whispered.

Huang Rong gripped the window frame tightly, her eyes fixed on the opposite side without blinking.

She was incredibly curious about Shen Mo, this Taoist priest who was shrouded in mystery.

Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong also stood up straight at the same time, their expressions becoming extremely solemn.

Shen Mo stood on the steps, his gaze sweeping over the impenetrable formation before him.

Three thousand people.

One hundred and fifty crossbows.

There are also dozens of Imperial City Guard experts hidden in the shadows.

That's definitely a big investment.

He glanced down at the teacup in his hand; it was half full.

Pity.

Shen Mo casually placed the teacup on the edge of the steps, and the tea rippled in the cup.

"The Quanzhen Sect's profound silence!"

Gu Zhen shouted sternly, his voice amplified by his internal energy and echoing throughout the entire street, "You colluded with the Jurchens and assassinated a court official; your crime is tantamount to treason! Surrender now!"

Shen Mo looked at him as if he were watching a clown jumping around.

"Lord Gu."

He spoke, his voice not loud, but clear enough to reach the ears of everyone present, drowning out the sound of the pouring rain, "Last time at Chongyang Palace, I gave the imperial court face."

Gu Zhen was taken aback.

Shen Mo stepped down the stairs, his toes touching the water-filled bluestone slabs, creating ripples.

"I left a wisp of sword energy on the mountain to tell you not to mess with me."

"Unfortunately, that emperor surnamed Zhao seems to be unable to understand human language."

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Insulting officials in the street!

This is a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!

Han Tuo's face turned ashen. "You...you have such audacity!"

"Courage?" Shen Mo laughed. "I've always been quite courageous."

He continued walking forward, each step landing on the puddles without splashing a single drop.

"But you all, do you really think these pieces of junk can hold me here?"

"presumptuous!"

Han Tuo flew into a rage, slamming his command flag down, "Shoot! Shoot him into a pincushion!"

collapse!collapse!collapse!

One hundred and fifty thick crossbow bolts shot out, accompanied by a shrill whistling sound that tore through the air, like a black rainstorm, instantly covering all of Shen Mo's space to dodge.

With such a density of projectiles, not to mention a person, even an elephant would be torn to shreds instantly.

Yang Yuhuan screamed in fright when she saw herself in the mirror and instinctively covered her eyes.

"Brother Jing!" Huang Rong exclaimed, startled by the scene.

Guo Jing held her tightly, his eyes also filled with shock.

With so many crossbow bolts, if it were him, he would be shot into a pincushion in an instant, with absolutely no other possibility!

Shen Mo didn't even lift his eyelids.

He simply sighed softly.

"Too slow."

next moment.

He raised his right hand and pressed it into the air in front of the incoming crossbow bolts.

boom!

Time stood still at that moment.

The 150 crossbow bolts, each carrying immense force, suddenly stopped a foot away from Shen Mo.

It was like shooting into an invisible wall.

The arrow's fletching was still trembling violently, emitting a mournful buzzing sound, but it could no longer advance even an inch.

"This...how is this possible?!"

Han Tuo's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and his hand holding the command flag trembled violently.

That's a crossbow!

The Divine Arm Crossbow can even pierce the iron armor of heavy cavalry!

He actually managed to stop it with just one hand?

Is this even human?!

Inside the private room, Huang Rong stared wide-eyed at the scene in disbelief.

Guo Jing's mouth gaped open, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

"What... what kind of martial art is this?" Guo Jing muttered to himself.

"It's not martial arts," Huang Yaoshi said slowly, his voice carrying a hint of shock, "it's internal energy."

"Internal energy?" Guo Jing asked, puzzled.

"To be able to stop 150 crossbow bolts in mid-air, what kind of profound internal strength would that require?" A hint of amazement flashed in Huang Yaoshi's eyes. "Moreover, he can precisely control the position of each arrow, keeping them suspended in mid-air. This level of control..."

He paused, then took a deep breath.

"This is beyond my comprehension."

Hong Qigong also looked solemn, and the chicken leg in his hand had fallen to the ground at some point.

"I've roamed the martial world for decades, and I've never seen such terrifying internal energy," he said in a deep voice. "Even the legendary Wang Chongyang back then would probably be..."

He didn't finish speaking, but the meaning was already quite clear.

Shen Mo's internal strength has surpassed that of Wang Chongyang.

Shen Mo remained indifferent, his five fingers slowly closing.

One hundred and fifty crossbow bolts spun slowly in the air, their tips turning in different directions, all aimed precisely at the Imperial Guard's formation.

The angle of each arrow was incredibly precise, as if someone had meticulously adjusted every single detail.

Shen Mo could sense the center of gravity of each arrow and calculate the trajectory of each burst of true energy.

This is the true control one gains after mastering the Innate Skill.

Moreover, the immense inner strength within him made controlling these crossbow bolts as easy as breathing.

He didn't even use one-tenth of his true energy.

"Since you want to kill me," Shen Mo said, a cold glint in his eyes, his voice icy, "then don't blame me for being impolite."

He flicked his fingers lightly.

Whoosh whoosh!

One hundred and fifty crossbow bolts, like swallows returning to their nests, shot with unparalleled precision towards the Imperial Guard's formation.

Each arrow pierced a soldier's throat, splattering blood.

Screams rose and fell, and 150 imperial guards fell to the ground, dying instantly.

A deathly silence.

The three thousand imperial guards were all deathly pale, as if they had seen a ghost.

Inside the private room, Guo Jing and Huang Rong were so shocked by the scene that they were speechless.

"The rumors... are indeed true." Huang Rong murmured to herself, her voice trembling slightly, "In the capital of Jin, thousands of Jin soldiers... he really killed them all by himself."

She had some doubts before, thinking the rumors were too exaggerated and there might be another reason.

But now, seeing Shen Mo's methods, she finally understood that those rumors might still be conservative.

Guo Jing clenched his fists, his eyes filled with shock.

He originally thought that with his hard work during this period, he had caught up with Shen Mo's pace.

But now it seems that the gap between the two has not only not narrowed, but has widened.

"Brother Jing, we... don't need your help anymore." Huang Rong breathed a sigh of relief, her voice tinged with a bitter smile.

Guo Jing nodded, his expression complex.

He had originally planned to rush out and help Shen Mo if Shen Mo really couldn't hold on.

But now it seems that it's not necessary at all.

With Shen Mo's strength, let alone three thousand Imperial Guards, even thirty thousand would probably be no match for him.

Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

"Brother Yao, what level do you think his strength has reached?" Hong Qigong asked in a deep voice.

Huang Yaoshi was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Nearly a celestial being."

"Celestial beings..." Hong Qigong murmured repeatedly, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

"I still have some doubts about the battle against the Jin Kingdom," Huang Yaoshi continued, "but after that battle, he firmly holds the title of the world's number one."

"Not only is he the best in the world," Hong Qigong shook his head, "I'm afraid from now on, no one in the martial arts world will dare to compete with him."

He paused, then sighed.

"This young Taoist priest is no longer a member of the martial arts world."

"He is... an immortal."