Chapter 42: The Qingzhou Martial World
Chapter 42: The Qingzhou Martial World
Lying on the bed, Shen Yi attempted to manipulate his inner breath according to the profound trajectory.
Instantly, a powerful sensation of separation, as if the world was being emptied, overwhelmed him, like a whale swallowing the ocean while he was merely a small pond... no, just a cup of water.
The feeling was so terrifying that Shen Yi hurriedly stopped his breathing exercise.
He finally experienced the helplessness he had felt during his martial arts deduction.
A First Rank Martial Artist's absorption of heavenly qi was incredibly slow.
The inner breath within the Twelve Great Acupoints was like a principal deposit, and one only needed to use the interest to maintain the basic martial arts techniques in daily life.
Even for a decent First Rank martial art like the Blood Fiend Blade Technique, the consumption of inner breath was minimal.
But once the depletion was too great, equivalent to damaging the foundation, it would require a significant amount of time to replenish.
During the previous deduction, each time he used the Quad Harmony True Aura, he had to waste several years to accumulate it again, which was an unbearable torture for an ordinary martial artist.
Shen Yi recalled his previous experience of converting inner breath into Jade Dew.
No wonder it was necessary to condense heavenly qi into a liquid form; otherwise, who could bear the cost?
"Could it be that I can only dare not use it, and it can only be used as a life-risking killing move, leaving me helpless after using it?"
Shen Yi's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and then he seemed to remember something.
He looked at the Wind Thunder Demon Subduing True Explanation on the panel.
This technique had always failed to yield any results during deductions, and no matter how many demon lifespans he poured into it, there was no reaction, as if it were a bottomless pit.
It only knew how to dully extract qi from heaven and earth.
Thinking of this, Shen Yi's eyebrows relaxed, and he thought, "What a coincidence! Not only can I replenish my own consumption, but I can also try to deduce new techniques, getting two for the price of one."
Based on his previous experience, it would take approximately five years to replenish the Twelve Great Acupoints once.
It would definitely not be worth it to use his own lifespan, after all, he only had forty-six years left after breaking through the First Realm. However, using demon lifespans to resolve immediate needs and then searching for promotion methods was still feasible.
[Remaining Demon Lifespan: 391 years]
Shen Yi suppressed the urge to go out and test it, forcing himself to close his eyes.
Knowing the power of a technique was undoubtedly important, but there was no need to disturb the peace of the night, acting like a scoundrel.
Perhaps due to not sleeping the night before, he fell asleep quickly today.
The baked buns here were warm, the salted meat was chewy, the bed was hard, and the woman was soft and warm; everything felt so real.
Images of mutilated corpses being devoured by demons flashed through his mind.
Unconsciously, Shen Yi clenched his fingers. With numerous martial arts at his disposal, he finally didn't have to numb his thoughts with the idea that "this life was picked up." He also gained the courage to draw his sword against demons.
Using the excuse of his impending death to act recklessly was indeed useful, but it wasn't a long-term solution.
Living a second life was like waking up from a deep slumber.
When the rooster crowed, Shen Yi opened his eyes on time, stepped out of the door, and breathed in the morning dew, instantly feeling refreshed and relaxed.
"Why are you up so early today?"
Lin Baiwei stretched her body and walked into the house from the backyard, curiously looking outside.
"Good morning," Shen Yi replied, turning his head, a rare hint of a smile in his eyes.
"Did you find some money or something?" Lin Baiwei asked, shaking her head in suspicion.
"Something like that," Shen Yi said, withdrawing his gaze and returning to the room to change into clean clothes.
Counting the days, there were still over twenty days left until the Demon Suppressing Bureau's inspection.
With this time, he could fix any shortcomings and secure a good position without any issues.
His current strength was more than sufficient for self-protection in Baiyun County, but one could never be too careful.
For example, Lin Baiwei, who could casually transcribe Jade Dew Realm martial arts; this was different from simply producing a martial arts manual. It indicated that she had personally cultivated it before.
Before her acupoints were sealed, she was probably much stronger than him.
It was inevitable that bad luck would strike.
With this lesson before him, Shen Yi had no choice but to be cautious.
To survive in a chaotic world, joining a decent power is undoubtedly the best choice, ensuring access to both Martial Arts and resources.
Even if one is caught by a Demonic Being, the background of the power might give you a chance to turn the situation around.
Shen Yi went out and bought two breakfasts to bring back.
After a few bites, he headed towards the Office Hall.
On his way, Shen Yi's steps suddenly slowed down, and he glanced towards the side of the road.
A young man holding a candy-selling pole smiled politely and said, "Sir, do you have a sweet tooth? Why not try a couple of these?"
Shen Yi shook his head and resumed his stride. "Sorry, I don't have any silver on me."
He dared not eat candy sold by a wandering Martial Artist.
As for why this person was in Baiyun County, Shen Yi didn't want to ask. He was just a Law Enforcement Officer responsible for Demonic Beings, not a city manager.
There were countless people coming and going, and perhaps he would encounter a few strange ones every day.
It was just that his eyesight wasn't good enough to notice them.
Stepping into the courtyard of the Office Hall, Shen Yi saw Zhang Butcher already training a few people early in the morning. Zhang Dahu rubbed his waist and, in a panic, picked up a blade and ran, "I... I... I'm going on patrol..."
Zhang Butcher didn't make things difficult for this good-for-nothing, "He's old, and there's not much of a future for him. You three, don't slack off... And don't dare glare at me! You ungrateful lot, if you get into the Demon Suppressing Bureau, your parents will have to come and thank me with salted meat."
As he spoke, he kicked the Niu brothers twice on their waists, "Lift your hands higher. You're messing up the Demon Subjugation Blade Technique, making it look like a theatrical performance."
"I'm content being a Law Enforcement Officer. I don't want to climb higher. Dealing with Demonic Beings is a life-threatening business," Niu Er complained, baring his teeth.
"You guys have it too easy," Zhang Butcher said with a cold smile. "Just last May, the Demon Suppressing Bureau took over San Shui County. Over a dozen Captains were stationed there, and within three days, they pushed through the Demon Mountain. Over two hundred soldiers died, and more than eighty Demonic Beings were slain. Do you think it's like here, where commoners die before Law Enforcement Officers?"
"The compensation for the dead is only forty taels of silver. But if you're affiliated with the Demon Suppressing Bureau, even as a reserve, this amount is just a two-month allowance for you."
Upon hearing this, the Niu brothers silently calculated in their minds, and their hands holding the blades gradually grew stronger.
"Are they recruiting ordinary Law Enforcement Officers too?" Shen Yi asked curiously as he entered the courtyard.
"Why else would they pass down three Demon Subjugation Martial Arts?" Zhang Butcher smiled when he saw it was Shen Yi. "As long as you can cultivate all three to a small level or one to a great level within the specified time, you'll have a chance to be selected. At most, in a decade or two, they can use medicinal baths to force these people into the Initial Realm."
"Do you know how terrifying it is to have First Rank Martial Artists growing in batches, like rice plants?"
Zhang Butcher's eyes grew redder as he spoke, seemingly resentful of the Demon Suppressing Bureau's extravagance.
"If there are really so many people, why do they still seem short-staffed?" Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
"Have you never harvested rice? It grows in batches, and then they fall in batches." Zhang Butcher rolled his eyes and gestured with his palm on his neck, then continued, "If someone has even better talent, like the Demon Catcher who was taken as a disciple by the Qingzhou Commander of the Demon Suppressing Bureau ten years ago, ten years! I'm still standing here punching and fetching water, while she takes precious medicine like meals, reaching the perfection of the Jade Dew Realm, and slaying Demonic Beings like slaughtering pigs and dogs."
"Wow, a bastard?" Even the calm Shen Yi couldn't help but be amazed.
"Being a bastard is the least of it," Zhang Butcher suddenly became much more dejected, waving his hand. "You don't understand Demon Catchers. They eat the most and get beaten the hardest. Not only are the talent requirements extremely high, but they also need a calm temperament, able to endure loneliness and hardship."
"They travel alone for thousands of miles to seek out Demonic Beings and serve as the eyes and ears of the Demon Suppressing Bureau. Half of the Demon Capture Decrees in the Great Qian Dynasty were obtained through their efforts."
(End of Chapter)
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