In the blink of an eye, three more days passed.
During these days, Li Xuan used his spare ti in the barracks to practice the "Evergreen Unwithering Skill."
With each cycle of cultivation, Li Xuan felt hardly any power increase, because his Constitution Attribute had already reached as much as 25 points. Now practicing this technique was rely a reverse cultivation.
The technique that might have taken decades to master was forced by him to near completion within just a few months.
...
On this day, Li Xuan was ditating under a lush green tree.
From afar, the sound of the cowbells jingling ca through.
The sound neared, accompanied by the creaking of cart wheels; the supply convoy from the city had arrived.
Nearly three thousand troops stationed outside the city naturally consud a great deal, and being close to the city, direct supply from the city was adopted.
Dozens of troops greeted them and started coordinating with the supply convoy from the city.
Just then, the sky suddenly darkened.
Li Xuan looked up, seeing a gloomy view, thick clouds pressing down over the mountains seized by fire, quickly pouring heavy rain.
The rain pattered down on the flas in the mountains, which began to diminish over ti...
Commonly, it is said "mountains often rain," yet no proper rain had been seen these days. Perhaps in "compensation," this heavy rain lasted over two hours before it stopped, during which everyone had already finished their lunch.
"The fire’s out!"
"The fire on the mountain is out!"
So troops cheered.
Li Xuan sought out the troop commander.
The commander dispatched five hundred soldiers to create a path for Li Xuan to explore the mountain.
As they neared, Li Xuan could fully sense that the demonic aura from before had entirely vanished.
However, he dared not be careless and still had the soldiers lead the way while he followed behind.
Soon, they arrived at a barren mountain burned bare.
On the top, there lay a large, charred black mass, indistinguishable from what it once was—perhaps a lump of flesh or sothing else—but now it was pure charcoal.
And bright, poisonous, molten-like demonic blood was contained within that charred mass, like a grotesque large black cup holding ruby-like liquid.
Li Xuan ordered the soldiers to return; when they were out of sight, he walked up step by step.
As he approached, he could see more clearly that the mass of charred substance seed to be growing on sothing, which was rooted deeply in the ground. It didn’t appear to be roots but rather like the decaying body of so giant beast.
Yet which kind of beast was entirely indistinguishable, not only because it was charred but also because the corpse was so twisted, completely irregularly bent in a very peculiar manner.
’What exactly is it?’
Li Xuan was confused, but... he still wanted to quickly absorb the demonic blood.
He was secretly eager.
No matter what this mysterious demon was, he would soon know the answer.
Because... the power of this demon would belong to him.
Li Xuan drew closer to that charred substance.
Ten steps, nine steps, eight steps...
Suddenly, his next step couldn’t be taken, his neck felt gripped by an icy cold large hand.
The demonic charred corpse before him suddenly began moving, gradually rising as if being pulled from the ground.
A terrifying force accompanied the rise of the soil, pressing closer.
The uplift grew larger, Li Xuan felt his eyes burn, his heart racing wildly.
He wanted to instinctively retreat, but found his limbs unresponsive, his mind frozen.
And the suppression of higher-ranking demons over lower-ranking ones was transmitting from nearby.
From under the soil!
’Wrong!’
’This is not right!’
’Clearly this demon is already dead, the demonic blood exposed! Clearly the demonic aura had completely vanished before!’
’Wrong!’
’Wrong!!’
Li Xuan felt like he had beco food, a primal fear filling his every thought, cold airflow sliding down his spine like a fish on a chopping board brushed by a knife handle, or like a rabbit not completely dead yet after its neck was bitten, being licked by a tiger’s tongue...
Boundless fear nearly made him give up, then wait to die.
However, amidst life and death, there is great terror!
’Withdraw... retreat!’
Li Xuan suddenly extracted the demonic blood of the "mutant demon monkey."
Without the demon blood, he could no longer sense the demon, also losing the fear of low-ranking demon for higher-ranking demon.
He imdiately turned, yet his knees buckled, falling forward.
But as a practitioner of Secret Martial Arts, his vitality quickly replenished, courage swiftly restored.
The fall was not full, he used the montum to take a step, white aura surging as he transford into an arrow off a string, shooting away.
Li Xuan dared not look back, fled rapidly, only when nearing the five hundred soldiers did he reinfuse the demonic blood of the "mutant demon monkey," transforming into Mr. Su’s appearance, returning to the midst of the five hundred soldiers.
Perhaps because of the distance, the sensation disappeared.
The lieutenant leading the group saw him return and hurriedly asked, "What happened, Mr. Su?"
Li Xuan replied, "Nothing, heading down the mountain."
He cautiously descended the mountain, but the demon did not pursue.
His emotions cald, thoughts started forming.
While descending halfway, the departing group was compelled to stop because two figures were approaching from the other side of the mountain path.
One was Cao Shuda, and the other was a seven-foot-tall, disheveled-haired, chiselled-featured, sowhat brash blue-clad swordsman.
As Cao Shuda arrived, he forced a smile towards Li Xuan, saying, "Mr. Su, let introduce you to Master Liu Yingyi from the State City, whose status is noble and is also a practitioner of Secret Martial Arts... You two should get acquainted."
Seeing his smile, Li Xuan sensed sothing was not quite right.
Liu Yingyi scrutinized Li Xuan, finding him calm and unfaltering, suddenly remarked, "Judging by your appearance, you must be a successful Dual Cultivator in Secret Martial Arts. But do you know that you need to be a Triple Cultivator to break into the next realm?"
Li Xuan honestly shook his head, "Mr. Su is unaware."
Liu Yingyi glanced at his grey hair and said, "Once you reach the next realm, your lifespan can increase by sixty years. You, old man, may be able to live a few more years."
Yet, which techniques can balance is a great secret... You follow , and there will be opportunities."
Li Xuan’s heart stirred.
This was the Secret Martial Arts force.
It really existed?
He cupped his hands respectfully, asking, "May I ask who you represent?"
Liu Yingyi replied with slight pride, "No need to hide, I serve the Pri Minister."
Li Xuan knew of the Pri Minister, that naturally referred to the current pri minister. But the situation in the capital was unclear, and he didn’t know the pri minister’s position...
But now it seed, the pri minister might also be a practitioner of Secret Martial Arts and possibly one who mastered balancing secret arts, which was intriguing, since he recalled "the emperor believes in superstitions, dislikes the ergence of demons."
Li Xuan thought internally, naturally saying out loud, "My apologies, my apologies."
Liu Yingyi smirked and said proudly, "Since that’s the case, the Pri Minister ordered us to inspect various states and bring back demon corpses. I am taking the demon on the mountain back.
Once back, I will ntion to the Pri Minister, even though you are a Loose Cultivator, practicing wild thods, the Pri Minister might still be willing to recruit you."
Finished speaking, he disregarded Li Xuan’s reaction, heading swiftly up the mountain, instructing the five hundred troops and soldiers who arrived later, "All of you, follow closely!"
Soon, only Li Xuan and Cao Shuda were left, standing in the cold wind.
Cao Shuda helplessly smiled and explained, "I am a disciple of the Pri Minister."
Li Xuan said, "But from what I perceive, the demon might not be fully dead, which is why I hurried down the mountain."
Cao Shuda laughed, "No need to worry about him, he knows since you returned empty-handed."
Li Xuan nodded, "That’s true."
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