Chapter 65: The Demon Beast Crystal
Chapter 65: The Demon Beast Crystal
The usually bustling fish market in Shuiyun Village was unusually empty.
Li Xiaodi and Liu Xiujie borrowed another horse-drawn carriage and placed Li Xinhan and Ma Tao, who were wrapped up like rice dumplings, inside.
Even after consuming the Elixir pills, Li Mujin still felt weak, so she could only sit outside the carriage, her legs crossed, casually acting as their guide.
Shen Yi had only ever ridden the yamen donkey from Boyun County, and now, suddenly sitting atop a tall and sturdy half-demon beast, she felt somewhat uneasy.
The usually stubborn demon horse was unusually docile today, even trembling slightly all over.
Shen Yi glanced at the dark red, dried demon blood on her clothes, her thoughts not as carefree as they seemed.
The river demon's dying words resurfaced in her mind.
Yangchun River Dragon Consort.
It was for this identity that the demon had dared to turn against the Demon Suppression Division.
Shen Yi didn't believe there was a real dragon in the river; the demon's identity was clearly marked on its panel—it was a Flood Demon.
With a total lifespan of 1,400 years, it had only lived for about a hundred.
In human terms, that would be equivalent to about ten years old.
Despite its young age, it had already attained the early stages of the Jade Liquid Realm.
Shen Yi had once killed a demon with a similar background in Boyun County, but at that time, she had Lin Baiwei's banner to fall back on, and the fox demon's revenge had been directed at the Qingzhou Commander instead.
This time was different. Shouldering this blame might be beyond Li Xinhan's capabilities.
"...” Shen Yi pondered, her gaze lowered.
Fortunately, the Flood Demon was covered in wounds, indicating that it had been hiding in the fishing village, seeking refuge and promising the river god a bunch of empty promises.
As the saying goes, "A tiger falling to the plain will be bullied by dogs."
Peh!
The saying goes, "A flood dragon out of water is like a withered branch." If it truly possessed overwhelming power, why would it be fleeing in such a panic?
There was no need for Shen Yi to worry unnecessarily. Moreover, as an owner of a panel, it was inevitable that she would come into conflict with demons and beasts unless she chose to never use it. No matter how cautious she was, this enmity was unavoidable.
However, necessary precautions were still needed, and it all boiled down to a matter of strength.
If her strength was sufficient, even if a few ancient flood dragons came seeking revenge, she might sleep soundly through it all.
The panel appeared before her eyes.
【Kill the late-stage Jade Liquid fish demon. Total lifespan: 1,020 years. Remaining lifespan: 70 years. Absorption complete.】
【Remaining demon lifespan: 1,500 years. Can be refined.】
Excluding the five years of lifespan she had consumed the previous day to supplement her Great Cave's breath, the demon lifespan she now possessed had reached a terrifying number.
The fish demon only had seventy years left to live.
Shen Yi was not surprised. If the demon had no hope, it wouldn't have risked its life on a desperate gamble.
Everything had its pros and cons.
Demons nearing the end of their lifespan usually had higher realms, their demon pills contained more essence, and they had a higher chance of granting talents.
Shen Yi now had a better understanding of the value of talents.
Just the Fist and Palm Proficiency talent had saved her over a hundred years of lifespan when practicing the Sever Meridians and Capture Dragon technique.
The Blood Sha she obtained from the early realm Yellow Pith child demon was even more remarkable, allowing her Jade Liquid realm martial art to evolve into the sinister and deadly Heaven Piercing Blood Sha technique.
The more, the merrier.
As for young demons, it went without saying that their lengthy lifespans were enough to make humans green with envy. The downside was that they weren't fools either; at such a young age, they wouldn't be wandering around aimlessly, waiting for their parents to feed them.
As for those who were both young and of high realm, like the Flood Demon… they usually had some background and were more likely to cause a string of troubles. Not to mention, they were also difficult to deal with.
If it hadn't been for its underestimation of her and its collaboration with the river demon to ambush her, she wouldn't have consumed forty years of lifespan. In fact, four hundred years might not have even been enough.
"...”
Shen Yi directed her gaze towards the newly appeared words below the remaining lifespan.
If she remembered correctly, this option only appeared after surpassing a thousand years of lifespan.
As she focused on it, a line of text gradually appeared.
【Refine a thousand years of lifespan into a Demon Beast Crystal】
【Demon Beast Crystal: An object that gathers the residual resentment and memories of a demon beast. It can be used when infusing martial arts, allowing one to deduce through the demon beast's memories. Consuming it grants the effect of prolonging one's lifespan.】
Now, when it came to the Jade Liquid Realm martial arts, it had been even longer since he had experienced a moment of sudden insight.
On one hand, it was due to his lack of knowledge in martial arts theory, and on the other... his brain just wasn't cutting it.
Those who could found their own sects and spread their martial teachings were all extraordinary geniuses.
As an ordinary person, being able to master a fraction of their art was enough to protect oneself; one shouldn't be greedy for more.
However, with the aid of demons' power, he could break through the constraints and assist in martial arts deduction.
"It might not be that useful anyway."
Shen Yi's expression remained neutral as he scoffed inwardly, a hint of sourness in his thoughts.
A thousand years... they really dared to ask for that much.
It was a good item, no doubt.
Expensive! That was an undeniable drawback!
Without hesitation, he closed the panel.
Shen Yi calmed his mind. Given his current situation, the right path was to first obtain something tangible from the Demon Suppression Division and quickly increase his strength.
He had already submitted his proof of allegiance, and it was time to see if this so-called top power in Qingzhou was as luxurious as Zhang Tuohu had described.
At that moment, the horse carriage suddenly slowed down.
Shen Yi lifted his gaze.
A sea of people had gathered on the road leading out of the city. There were peddlers carrying goods, fishmongers in short gowns reeking of fish, and all sorts of folks with gloomy expressions on their faces.
They remained silent, merely standing by the roadside and observing.
Countless yamen officers with swords at their belts spread their arms and gritted their teeth as they pushed the crowd back, sweat even forming on their foreheads.
"Don't look, just keep going."
Li Mujin stopped swaying her leg slightly and leaned towards the young man.
And so, another pair of cold eyes were added to the villagers' chilly gaze.
"Don't look, don't look."
Li Mujin forced a casual laugh, her palms secretly sweating.
She was afraid that Shen Yi would be angered.
A martial artist capable of slaying a late-stage Jade Liquid Realm river demon, even in its weakened state, was proof enough of his formidable strength.
If he could kill ten villagers, he could just as easily kill a thousand.
Once he got carried away with killing, a thousand and seven thousand would make no difference in his eyes.
This was why the Demon Suppression Division in Qingzhou produced many talented individuals, with no shortage of those possessing high cultivation. Yet, none dared to provoke that river demon.
They were all figures of influence, and their reputations were of utmost importance.
To slaughter common folk in this place would tarnish their names. When the news reached Qingzhou, how could they still hold their heads high in front of their friends and family?
"Trust me, things will get better soon."
Li Mujin reached out and gripped his sleeve.
Earlier, that short ruler had not measured an ordinary person, but a deity.
The villagers' minds were in chaos, and they desperately needed another temple to worship.
Obviously, the tall and proud figure who had stepped on the offering table to slay the river god had left an indelible mark in their hearts.
It would only take a few more days.
A new name would soon spread through the mouths of storytellers and be heard in tea shops and eateries, until the story was modified beyond recognition.
This was also why Li Mujin praised him for his decisiveness in her heart. If it had been anyone else, they might never have been able to wash away the filth from such an act.
"Huh?"
Shen Yi turned his head slightly, confusion in his eyes.
"Er, aren't you angry?"
Seeing the young man's calm expression, Li Mujin was taken aback.
Shen Yi rolled his eyes and tightened his grip on the reins.
Back in Boyun County, those people had cursed them far worse in private.
With over a thousand years of demon lifespan and two Jade Liquid Realm demon pills in his possession, why would he still care about such trivial matters of reputation?
Sentimental nonsense.
(End of Chapter)
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