Shen Yi hadn't expected the plan to progress so smoothly.

Originally, he had planned to use a month's time to reach the Initial Realm before the Demon-suppression Bureau conducted its inspection, to resolve the troubles left by his predecessor and incidentally clear his bad reputation.

Now, only a little more than ten days had passed, and he not only attained Initial Realm Perfection but also slayed the majority of the significantly involved demons.

As for his reputation…

Even for minor matters like losing a purse, the commoners dared to block his door seeking help.

It must not be too bad.

Joining the Demon-suppression Bureau should be almost a certainty now.

Shen Yi looked at the panel.

[Remaining Lifespan: Forty-six years]

The continuous increases in lifespan came respectively from Mortal Fetal Perfection and the breakthrough to the Initial Realm.

If he lived to die a natural death, he would be seventy-two years old.

Given his previous life's terrible habits, smoking and drinking incessantly, if Shen Yi lived to that age, he would truly have to thank his ancestors for their blessings and his exceptionally strong genes.

He wasn't an ungrateful person either.

But dying a natural death was not so simple.

In just a short period, he had encountered so many life-threatening issues, and he hadn't even truly left Baiyun County, with the farthest he had gone being just the wastelands outside Shilin Village.

If it weren't for his martial arts, he would have died a long time ago, with not even his bones left.

Shen Yi had not considered simply taking off his clothes and becoming an offering for some wealthy dog owner, taking the heavy silver, marrying a plump and tender beauty, closing the door, wrapping himself tightly in blankets, and contributing to the population here.

But... who could guarantee that once he slept, he wouldn't become the next Liu Qi.

Indeed, his own realm was much higher than that of Liu Qi, but what was Yin La Qi compared to the many demons out there?

"..."

Shen Yi stared at the panel, feeling a few degrees hotter in his desire for the demon's lifespan at the thought of soon having the chance to leave Baiyun County.

[Remaining Demon Lifespan: Six hundred fifty-two years]

The Blood Fiend Blade Technique was only one step away, he would undoubtedly kick through it tonight.

As the lifespan poured into it.

Lines of text emerged before his eyes.

[In the first year, following your previous idea, you continued to try using Qi to turn into Gang to temper the Blood Fiend attached to the blade]

[In the seventh year, as you saw the red mist on the Black Blade gradually solidify, you felt greatly relieved, realizing the truth in the phrase 'when one method is mastered, all others follow']

[In the twelfth year, due to being too hasty, the Blood Gang shattered, and your meridians were damaged, you came to believe that all talk of 'one method mastering all' is bullshit, missing by a fraction leads to error by a mile; there are no two identical leaves in the world]

...

Shen Yi felt the stinging sensation throughout his body and was somewhat speechless.

How could he, after so many years of deduction, still act like a brute, rashly risking his body as if it were a joke?

Poor in planning but willing to take risks?

Could he not have a little more patience?

He slightly hastened the speed of injecting the lifespan.

[In the thirty-third year, you repaired the hidden injuries in your body, stabilized your mind, first allowed the Blood Fiend and the True Gang to merge, getting to know each other]

[In the fifty-ninth year, after many years of trials, your Gang Qi underwent a strange transformation, and you faintly felt your temperament becoming increasingly irritable]

[Lost: Jade Liquid. Four Harmonies True Gang (Perfection)]

[Comprehension: Jade Liquid. Celestial Gang Blood Fiend (Perfection)]

[In the ninety-seventh year, you fully suppressed the restlessness and urge to kill within you, feeling the power of this transformed martial technique far exceeding the past, you couldn't help but sigh, your original idea was indeed correct]

[In the one hundred and twentieth year, after many years of suppressing the demon nature, your control over this technique became even more profound. By removing the demonic aura and emphasizing the killing intent, with a slight stir of your mind, an invisible layer of Gang Blood Fiend rapidly enveloped the blade]

[Comprehension: Jade Liquid. Greed Wolf Banishes Evil]

[Remaining Demon Lifespan: Four hundred thirty-two years]

...

If not for the last few lines of text that appeared.

Shen Yi almost thought he had deduced the martial technique incorrectly.

The Four Harmonies True Gang, which Shen Yi had just learned, had suddenly become something entirely different. Tainted by Blood Fiend, one could sense the ominous malice from the name alone, a sharp contrast to the previous dominating and upright nature.

On the other hand, the Blood Fiend Blade Technique, which initially carried a heavy sense of demonic evil, had unexpectedly returned to its purest form, completely eradicating any trace of demons.

Greed Wolf Banishes Evil.

Shen Yi casually picked up his Black Blade, and the dark long blade flashed out of the sheath in an instant.

As the breath circulated within his major cavities, the entire blade seemingly grew darker in Shen Yi's eyes... It was an indescribable feeling, as though it had merged with the night, completely unnoticeable.

"..."

Shen Yi hesitated for a moment, then reached out with his index finger to touch it.

The blade edge sank into flesh without any resistance, and instead of the blood droplets falling, they eerily merged into the blade, forming an almost imperceptible line of blood that faintly traversed above the long blade.

Shen Yi silently stared at his fingertip.

It was the first time he had been injured since reaching the perfection of the Golden Yang Eight Treasures Mystical Body.

And what alarmed him most was that... until the skin was cut open, if he had not been looking right at it, he wouldn't have felt it at all based solely on touch.

The Ceremonial Blade, emitting a black glow, seemed as if it was born for slaughter.

Shen Yi slowly returned the blade into its sheath.

Beyond his surprise, he couldn't help but feel cautious.

Within the Jade Liquid Realm, such a fierce and ruthless blade technique existed, and for a moment, he could think of no counterstrategy.

If there were another him, brandishing a blade and attacking.

If it were a head-on fight, it would be better. He would create distance, and unleash the Four Harmonies True Gang a hundred times over if needed. Even a small hill would crumble under its force.

If the opponent disregarded martial ethics and launched a sneak attack...

First, wrap an arm around his own neck, pretend to have a familiar chat with a smile, and then draw the blade and stab!

"..."

Shen Yi shook his head, channeling the demon's longevity into the Golden Yang Eight Treasures Mystical Body.

It had to be said, the practices of Vajra Gate were slow.

But they really suited him.

Though the Eight Treasures Mystic Body was perfected, the strength of the physical body has no limit.

Without deriving the second half yet, even if the enhancement becomes increasingly slow, even a mosquito's meat is still meat.

[In the first year, with the continuous refinement of the qi within your apertures, your body has slightly strengthened.]

[In the second year…]

When the morning light was faint.

Shen Yi kept three hundred years of demon longevity for emergencies.

He got up and stretched his body; the resilience of his skin was hard to gauge, but his strength had indeed increased by about twenty percent.

After changing clothes, he headed to his usual spot at the market stall: "One pancake, with two eggs."

"Master Shen, you usually get two servings, what's up today, not hungry?"

The familiar vendor started making the pancake while asking with a smile.

"Not too hungry, just not used to an empty stomach."

Shen Yi put the money on the table, gave a smile, his eyes calm without a hint of dejection.

With his current status, he wasn't really meant to have any interaction with those delicate and pretty young ladies, let alone being from the Demon-suppression Bureau.

"We're not deaf either."

The vendor glanced around, then whispered: "Last night, they arrested a lot of people, all were lords from the government office... You're not a lord, what are you worrying for?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi took the pancake and looked sideways down the long street.

They were quick to act.

According to the memories left by his predecessor, such actions indicated that the Demon-suppression Bureau was about to take complete control of Baiyun County.

And at the same time...

It was time to pick people.

Whether he could land a good position depended on today.