Chapter 42: The Jianghu of Qingzhou
Chapter 42: The Jianghu of Qingzhou
Lying in bed, Shen Yi attempted to circulate his internal energy according to the profound trajectory.
Immediately, an overwhelming sense of depletion washed over him, as if he were a small pond trying to swallow the vast ocean... no, he was but a mere cup of water.
The sensation was too alarming, and Shen Yi quickly halted his breathing exercises.
He finally understood the helplessness his projection had experienced during the martial arts simulation.
A novice martial artist absorbs the energy of heaven and earth at a slow pace.
The internal energy within the twelve orifices is like a principal sum, and one only needs to utilize the interest to maintain the basic usage of martial arts.
Even an exceptional beginner's martial art like the Blood Slaughter Blade Technique consumes very little internal energy.
However, if there is significant depletion, equivalent to injuring the foundation, it will require a considerable amount of time to replenish.
During the previous simulation, each time he used the Four Combinations of True Hardness, he would waste several years' worth of cultivation, which would be torturous for an ordinary martial artist.
Shen Yi recalled his previous attempt at converting internal energy into jade dew.
No wonder it was necessary to condense the energy of heaven and earth into a liquid form; otherwise, how could one bear the cost?
"Could it be that I can only practice it without daring to use it, treating it as a desperate killing move, and accepting my fate after using it?"
Shen Yi's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and then he seemed to remember something.
He looked at the Wind and Thunder Subduing Demon True Solution in the panel.
This technique had always failed to produce any results during simulations, no matter how much demon lifespan energy he poured into it, it was like a bottomless pit.
All it did was stagnantly draw energy from the heavens and the earth.
Thinking of this, Shen Yi's furrowed brows smoothed out. What a coincidence that he could not only make up for his own consumption but also try to deduce a new technique, killing two birds with one stone.
Based on his previous experience, it would take about five years to replenish the twelve orifices once.
It would not be worth it to use his own lifespan, especially since he only had forty-six years left after breaking through the initial stage. However, using the lifespan energy of demons and monsters to tide him over while he continued to seek a way to advance was a viable option.
Remaining Demon Lifespan Energy: 391 years
Shen Yi suppressed the urge to go out and test his newfound power, forcing himself to close his eyes.
While it was important to know the full extent of his technique's power, there was no need to disturb others' peaceful sleep in the middle of the night. That would be downright rude.
Perhaps due to the previous night's sleeplessness, he fell asleep quickly.
Here, the baked buns were warm, the salted meat was chewy, the bed boards were hard, and the woman was soft. Everything felt so real.
His mind flashed with images of mutilated corpses, and demons devouring flesh and blood.
Unconsciously, Shen Yi clenched his fingers. With numerous martial arts at his disposal, he no longer had to numb his thoughts with the excuse of "this life was picked up." He now had the courage to draw his sword against demons.
Using the excuse of his impending death to act arrogantly and ruthlessly was convenient, but it was not a long-term solution.
Living a second life was like waking up from a long dream.
When the rooster crowed, Shen Yi opened his eyes punctually, stepped out to breathe the morning dew, and instantly felt refreshed and relaxed.
"You're up early today," Lin Baiwei said, stretching her body as she walked into the house from the backyard, curious as to what was happening outside.
"Yeah," Shen Yi replied, turning his head with a rare hint of a smile in his eyes.
"Did you strike it rich or something?" Lin Baiwei asked, shaking her head in suspicion.
"Something like that," Shen Yi answered, then retracted his gaze and returned to the house to change into clean clothes.
Counting the days, there were more than twenty days left until the Demon Suppression Bureau's inspection.
With this time, he could fix any remaining issues and secure a good position, which shouldn't be a problem with his current strength.
While his strength was sufficient for self-protection in Boyun County, one must always be prepared for the unexpected.
For example, Lin Baiwei, who could casually transcribe the Jade Liquid Realm martial arts. This was different from simply possessing a martial arts manual; it indicated that she had personally practiced it in the past.
Before her acupoints were sealed, she was probably much stronger than him.
Some people are just destined to be unlucky.
With this lesson constantly before his eyes, Shen Yi could not afford to be careless.
Shen Yi went out and bought two breakfasts to bring back.
After finishing it in a few bites, he made his way towards the office.
As he walked, Shen Yi's steps suddenly slowed, and he glanced towards the side of the road.
The young man with the sugar-coated hawker pole smiled politely and said, "Sir, do you have a sweet tooth too? Why not try a couple of these?"
Shen Yi shook his head and resumed his pace. "Sorry, I don't have any silver on me."
He dared not eat the sugar figurine sold by a Jianghu martial artist.
As for why this person appeared in Boyun County, Shen Yi didn't want to ask too many questions. He was just a lowly officer in charge of demons and monsters, not a city manager.
There were people coming and going all the time, and perhaps he would encounter a few strange people every day.
It was just that his eyesight wasn't good enough before, and he couldn't tell them apart.
Stepping into the office courtyard, Shen Yi saw Zhang the Butcher instructing a few people early in the morning. Zhang Dahhu, rubbing his waist, scrambled to pick up his knife and run, "I, I... I'm going on patrol..."
Zhang the Butcher didn't make it difficult for this slacker. "He's old, and there's not much of a future for him anyway. You three, don't slack off... And how dare you glare at me! You ungrateful brats, if you were to join the Demon Suppression Squad, your parents would have to bring cured meat to thank me."
As he spoke, he kicked the Niu brothers in the waist one after the other. "Raise your hands higher! A fine demon-subduing knife technique, ruined by you two, turning it into an opera performance."
"I'm fine being a regular officer," Niu Er complained, baring his teeth. "Dealing with demons is asking for trouble."
"You guys have gotten too comfortable," Zhang the Butcher coldly smiled. "Just last May, the Demon Suppression Squad took over San Shui County. They sent over a dozen officers to take charge, and in three days, they pushed through Demon Mountain, losing over two hundred soldiers and killing over eighty demons. Do you think it's like here, where civilians die before the officers?"
"The compensation for death is a mere forty taels of silver. But if you're under the Demon Suppression Squad, even as a reservist, this amount of silver is just two months' worth of your allowance."
Upon hearing this, the Niu brothers silently calculated in their hearts and gradually put more strength into their knife-wielding hands.
"Are they also recruiting regular officers?" Shen Yi walked into the courtyard, curious.
"Otherwise, why would they teach these three demon-subduing martial arts forms?" Zhang the Butcher saw that it was Shen Yi and smiled. "As long as you can cultivate all three to a minor achievement, or one to a major achievement, within the specified time, you'll have a chance to be selected. At most, it'll take them a decade or two to use medicinal baths to forcefully push this group into the Initial Stage."
"Do you know how terrifying it is that they can produce Initial Stage martial artists in batches, like growing rice?"
The more Zhang the Butcher spoke, the more agitated he became, seemingly resentful of the Demon Suppression Squad's extravagance.
"If they really have that many people, why do they still seem to be short-staffed?" Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, somewhat skeptical.
"Have you never cut rice? You cut one batch, and another batch grows. It's an endless cycle." Zhang the Butcher rolled his eyes and used his palm to gesture at his neck. Then he continued, "And if someone has exceptional talent, like that demon-catcher who was taken as a disciple by the Qingzhou General of the Demon Suppression Squad ten years ago, in just ten years! While I was still practicing my stances, punching, and carrying water, she was taking precious medicine like it was food. She perfected the Jade Liquid Realm, using her qi to transform her sword and slaughtering demons like pigs and dogs."
"Wow, a love child?" Even the usually calm Shen Yi couldn't help but be astonished.
"A love child would be better," Zhang the Butcher suddenly became much more dejected, waving his hand. "You don't understand demon-catchers. They eat the most filling meals and endure the most poisonous beatings. Not only are exceptional talent requirements high, but they also need a calm temperament, the ability to endure loneliness, and the fortitude to withstand hardship."
"They travel alone for thousands of miles to seek out demons and secrets, acting as the eyes and ears of the Demon Suppression Squad. Half of the Great Qian Dynasty's demon-catching warrants are accomplished by them."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
