Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division, Patrol Hall.
The usually empty hall was now filled with Martial Artists. Si Miaoyin, Ling Yan, and the other Inspectors who belonged to the Patrol Hall were naturally all present. Even Yang Zhiru sat to the side, silently sipping tea.
In the center of the hall, nearly ten stretchers wrapped in white cloth were laid out on the ground.
The Patrol Hall Master sat in the head seat, his expression somewhat gloomy.
Autopsy personnel from the Logistics Hall were currently examining the condition of each corpse carefully. The only surviving Inspector was also lying on a stretcher.
He was already delirious, his face contorted as if enduring immense pain. Suppressed groans of agony echoed through the hall.
He was attended by physicians from the Logistics Hall on both sides, but they could only transfer True Qi to him. This only slightly alleviated the pain and temporarily suppressed the worsening of his condition.
It was clear from their expressions that they were powerless to provide a real cure. Such a condition was truly too bizarre; they had never encountered it before. The corpses had no external injuries. It was as if these people's Souls had been struck, their life force drained from within.
The surrounding Martial Artists also frowned, shocked by the strange and terrifying Demonic Technique.
"According to intelligence from the Flying Eagle Hall, all of these fallen Inspectors lost contact after passing through Youpu City during their patrol. Later, a Martial Artist from the Flying Eagle Hall caught a distant glimpse of Youpu City while gathering intelligence."
"It is basically confirmed… Youpu City has completely fallen into the hands of demons. I'm afraid the commoners and Martial Artists in the city..."
He stopped there; what followed was self-evident.
"When the bodies of these Inspectors were found, they were hanging neatly on the gate tower of a nearby small town. After the soldiers in the town saw them, they immediately notified the county magistrate. A member of the Flying Eagle Hall passing by then transmitted the information back to the Demon Slaying Division..."
After the report, the surrounding Martial Artists began to whisper among themselves.
The Patrol Hall Master scanned the room: "Everyone, feel free to speak your mind. There's no need for hesitation."
"The demons are warning us!"
"Intentionally killing them without devouring the corpses, and instead hanging them on the city walls—this is clearly a provocation and a demonstration of power against us!"
"We should gather our forces and conduct a suppression campaign against Youpu City!"
The Patrol Hall Master listened silently to the Martial Artists' discussion.
"Then, have you all thought clearly about how to deal with such a bizarre method of attack? And who is willing to be the vanguard of this suppression?"
With one sentence, many people fell silent on the spot, stammering and afraid to take a stand.
They truly couldn't think of how to counter such a strange method of attack. The Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts of the Demon Slaying Division almost all focused on physical damage and physical defense.
In short, they prioritized attack power and armor.
Their research and foundation regarding Spells and magic resistance were quite shallow and lacking. They severely lacked means to deal with various strange Demonic Techniques.
Before this, the Martial Artists of the Demon Slaying Division almost always used the method of 'overpowering ten skills with one strength,' beating the masters to death with chaotic punches. If that failed, they could also use numbers to overwhelm and kill the demons.
But now that the demons were powerful, the Demon Slaying Division was already short-handed. How could they afford the luxury of mobilizing a large number of Martial Artists to fight in one place?
What about other places?
They couldn't afford to focus on the trivial and lose sight of the important!
Ling Yan hesitated slightly: "Could we consider sending Martial Artists of a higher Realm?"
Hearing this, the surrounding Martial Artists began to ponder.
Many nodded, seemingly feeling that this was a feasible method!
Si Miaoyin shook her head: "Among the fallen Inspectors, the one with the highest Realm was already at the Third Layer of the Xuan Realm. A Martial Artist at the Third Layer of the Xuan Realm had no ability to resist such an attack. Even if their Realm were a few layers higher, would they be able to withstand it?"
"We're already short-staffed; let's not throw away the lives of more Martial Artists for nothing! To be safe, the Martial Artists sent out would have to be at least Above the Xuan Realm!"
Above the Xuan Realm!
Hearing this, many Martial Artists fell silent again. Martial Artists Above the Xuan Realm would be at the level of the Masters of the eight halls of the Demon Slaying Division!
She might as well have said the Hall Master should act personally. But it was impossible to actually have a Hall Master go in person, right?
Sending higher-Realm Martial Artists might indeed solve the problem. But don't forget, the Demon Emperors among the demons aren't just for show!
It's a relationship of mutual restraint; if you move, will they just sit idly by?
This is difficult!
For a moment, the scene fell back into a deadlock, with no one knowing what to do.
Yang Zhiru took a small sip of tea. As the Master of the Purification Hall, the top combat hall of the Demon Slaying Division, he naturally had ways to solve the problem; even if it meant using brute force, his Martial Artists could do it!
But as mentioned before, it would be a huge loss; they might end up losing many Martial Artists. It's not easy to cultivate an outstanding Martial Artist; losing them like this would be truly not worth it!
...
In just one month, Li Xuanxiao set off on his return journey.
Three Xuan Realm Demon Kings, along with the many Extreme Realm Great Demons under them, had provided him with a considerable amount of Demon value Points. After completing those three missions, he didn't return immediately, but wandered around outside for a few more rounds, still craving more.
He actually found some unexpected surprises and killed several more Xuan Realm Demon Kings! There were even nearly a hundred Extreme Realm Great Demons!
His Demon value Points gradually grew abundant during this process.
Why even do missions? Just wandering around outside is enough!
Li Xuanxiao thought to himself, but then immediately dismissed the idea. After all, besides Demon value Points, he also needed contribution points to exchange for more Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts.
[Consumed 3,000 Demon value Points, Xuan - Ancient Subtle Life Lotus has reached the Transcendent level!]
The Demon value Points in his hands shrunk significantly in an instant, in exchange for his Realm rising once again.
From the profound realm eighth layer to the Peak of the Xuan Realm!
The True Qi in his body, which was like thick fog, actually began to transform into a denser liquid state!
Holy shit! (」゜O゜)」
Li Xuanxiao was startled. The last time such a strange change occurred... was the last time!
Bah!
It was when he was promoted from the Strength Realm to the Extreme Realm!
The reason for the qualitative leap between the Extreme Realm and the Strength Realm was that True Qi was a dimensional reduction strike against Internal Energy!
Now that this change was appearing again, it meant that the new form of power about to be transformed would also be a dimensional reduction strike against True Qi!
To put it bluntly, once he reached the next Realm… His strength would undergo another earth-shaking improvement!
What was this new form of power called?
And what was the next Realm?
Li Xuanxiao's heart surged with excitement, filled with anticipation!
He called up the System to continue adding points.
[Consumed 500 Demon value Points, Xuan - Buddha's Illuminating Lamp Seal has entered the Major Achievement stage!]
[Consumed 500 Demon value Points, Xuan - Pure Lotus Flower has entered the Major Achievement stage!]
He opened his personal panel again.
[Host: Li Xuanxiao]
[Realm: Peak of the Xuan Realm]
[Cultivation Techniques:
Strength - Evergreen Art (Transcendent)
Extreme - Myriad Manifestations Purple Extreme Art (Transcendent)
Xuan - Ancient Subtle Life Lotus (Transcendent)]
[Martial Arts:
Strength - Spirit Condensing Slash (Transcendent), Nine Steps of the Soaring Eagle (Transcendent), Ten Thousand Blades Annihilation Saber (Transcendent)
Extreme - Silent Heart Method (Transcendent), Riding the Wind (Transcendent)
Xuan - Buddha's Illuminating Lamp Seal (Major Achievement), Pure Lotus Flower (Major Achievement), Rainbow Light Movement (Major Achievement)]
[Demon value Points: 300]