Mission

"System, merge the Thirteen Shadowless Swords into the Sword Drawing Technique."

With a thought, the panel began to flicker faintly. The Thirteen Shadowless Swords, which had been flashing with a red warning, disappeared, and the balance became 29,000.

The brand-new Sword Drawing Technique continuously poured into his mind.

"The changes in the Sword Drawing Technique have become even more unfathomable, and its power has increased by a full twenty percent. The senior who created the Sword Drawing Technique truly possessed peerless talent."

Ye Xiaofan glanced at the panel and found that the Sword Drawing Technique's proficiency had returned to Proficient (0/4000).

"After merging a crippled mid-grade cultivation technique, I wonder if its proficiency can break through to Minor Mastery."

"I hope Uncle Luo doesn't get sent on a mission so soon."

Ye Xiaofan took out a Blood Qi Pill, swallowed it, and began cultivating.

Based on their talent and aptitude, others could cultivate for at most three to five hours a day before mental exhaustion forced them to stop.

But he had no such limitations. As long as he had enough Blood Qi Pills, as long as he could breathe, he could cultivate every moment of every day.

Black Tiger Gang headquarters.

Zhang Dahu and the Black Tiger Gang's upper ranks had not slept.

A day had passed.

Although they had arrested many people, there was still not the slightest clue about the killer.

"Send the people captured today to the Sun Family first. Starting tomorrow, stop making arrests and recall everyone. Send the Dark Hall to continue searching for the killer in secret."

"Yes, Gang Leader."

Zhang Dahu waved his hand, signaling that everyone could leave.

At that moment, Tian Guyi walked in.

The Black Tiger Gang higher-ups who had been preparing to leave stopped.

"Gang Leader, Sihai Pavilion sent word. The person who sold our cultivation technique last time went to Sihai Pavilion tonight and spent 2,600 taels on a sword technique and ten Blood Qi Pills."

"Oh?"

Zhang Dahu leaned forward. This news had caught his interest.

"How strong is this person?"

Tian Guyi shook his head. "Even Qian Panghai of Sihai Pavilion could not tell, but his movement technique should be quite accomplished."

At the mention of an accomplished movement technique, Zhang Dahu's eyes lit up.

That person from last night had possessed an exceptionally formidable movement technique. By his estimation, it was not much inferior to his own. Otherwise, how could that person have escaped right beneath his nose?

"Send several people skilled in tracking to keep watch in the black market. Once there is news, do not startle the snake in the grass. Notify me immediately."

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

During this time, the Black Tiger Gang seemed to have already caught the killer, and Qingyang County City returned to peace.

Only a few top-tier forces knew that the Black Tiger Gang's purpose seemed to go beyond merely hunting the killer.

On the surface, the Black Tiger Gang had already furled its banners and silenced its drums, but its secret search grew more and more intense.

These top-tier forces did not care what the Black Tiger Gang was after. If it was something good, they naturally wanted a bite for themselves; if it was something else, they were equally happy to throw a wrench in the works behind the scenes.

Among them, the Iron Hand Gang in the southern part of the city was the most active.

Zhang Dahu was so furious that he wished he could lead men to wipe out the Iron Hand Gang, but when he thought of the Iron Hand Gang Leader Tie Wuqing's cultivation—

He could only rage helplessly.

If the Sun Family had not been secretly backing him, his Black Tiger Gang would have long since been destroyed by the Iron Hand Gang.

Over the past three days, Ye Xiaofan had turned a deaf ear to everything happening in Qingyang County and focused wholeheartedly on cultivation.

As expected, the Sword Drawing Technique successfully broke through to Minor Mastery.

Sword Drawing Technique (Minor Mastery 6000/6000)

"To break through to the Subtle level, I need to merge at least two complete mid-grade sword techniques. Sigh, now that I have money, how am I supposed to get cultivation techniques?"

Ye Xiaofan lay in the courtyard, staring blankly at the sky.

"In another two days, I can break through to the Body Refinement Fourth Layer. I hope the second Marrow Cleansing and Tendon Washing of my body can clear out all the remaining poison."

"Damn it, if I ever find out who poisoned me, I'll castrate you and send you to Spring Breeze House."

Thinking of the unknown, stubbornly persistent mysterious poison within his body, Ye Xiaofan could not help but curse again.

At this moment, on the official road outside Qingyang County City.

"Ah-choo!"

"Ah-choo!"

"Ah-choo!"

Ying Yi, who had just finished delivering a letter for Sun Wude, suddenly sneezed three times in succession.

Ying Yi rubbed his slightly sore, itchy nose, confusion appearing on his face.

"That shouldn't be possible. My cultivation has reached the Body Refinement Sixth Layer, and I've long been immune to all diseases. Why would I sneeze? Could demonic energy have eroded me?"

Thinking of that terrifying Mountain Lord demon, Ying Yi shuddered and hurriedly took a Blood Qi Pill from his robes and swallowed it.

After cursing, Ye Xiaofan felt somewhat better. Just as he was about to take a sip of tea to moisten his throat, urgent knocking sounded outside the courtyard.

"Brother Ye, Captain Luo Ming summons you."

Seeing the visitor, a trace of surprise appeared on Ye Xiaofan's face. It was Zhu Youzhi, who had entered the Demon Suppression Division with him.

At this moment, Zhu Youzhi looked somewhat reserved. His gaze toward Ye Xiaofan contained envy, disappointment, and unwillingness.

By his reckoning, half a month had already passed since he had transmigrated here.

It seemed Zhu Youzhi had failed to get the Basic Breathing Technique started within ten days and had now been transferred to logistics.

"I understand. Wait a moment."

Ye Xiaofan turned back, took his treasure sword, and came out again.

"Let's go."

Before long, following Zhu Youzhi, he arrived at a small hall in a courtyard that resembled a shared office.

When Ye Xiaofan arrived, the room was already full.

Luo Ming and Zhang Tianhong, whom he had met once before, sat separately in the seats of honor, while four ordinary Demon Suppressing Guards sat on each side.

"Xiaofan, sit down. We were waiting for you."

After Ye Xiaofan sat down, Luo Ming began introducing everyone present to him.

The eight Demon Suppressing Guards below curiously sized up Ye Xiaofan.

They had all just returned from missions recently. Over the past few days, they had heard from their colleagues that the Demon Suppression Division had produced a genius even more monstrous than the Left Thousand Households Officer.

Now that they saw him, aside from his exceptionally bright and handsome eyes, he looked entirely ordinary. There was nothing remarkable about him.

He even looked somewhat thin and weak, not at all like a cultivator.

When Luo Ming introduced Zhang Tianhong—

"Haha, Little Brother Ye, I was worried about you that day. I never expected you to defeat Sun Zhigao while only at the Body Refinement First Layer. I had wanted to make your acquaintance, but in the blink of an eye, you had already left."

"I never had the chance that day to thank Captain Zhang for stepping in so righteously."

Zhang Tianhong repeatedly waved his hand. That day, he had been blocked by someone and had done nothing at all.

"Alright, now that everyone is here, I'll explain the upcoming mission."

Luo Ming's smile faded as he spoke with a grave expression.

"The Blood Copper Mine Area in the Jiaolong Mountain Range, three hundred li away, has sent an urgent request for aid. A group of demons of unknown number has appeared in the mountain range. Deputy Commander Sun has ordered Captain Zhang and me to lead the vanguard there to provide support."

"The other colleagues outside will also rush over with all their strength to assist."

"The situation is urgent. Go back and make preparations. Gather at the square before the main gate in one hour."

Blood Copper Mine was an indispensable strategic resource for forging weapons. Only weapons mixed with Blood Copper Mine could better bear a cultivator's blood qi.

The Hundred-Forged Treasure Sword in Ye Xiaofan's hand had not been mixed with Blood Copper Mine. Once he broke through to the Body Refinement Fourth Layer, he would need to replace it with a treasure sword containing tungsten copper.

Otherwise, it would shatter from the force of his blood qi after only a few uses.

"Yes!"

Everyone accepted the order and departed.

"Xiaofan, stay behind."

Just as Ye Xiaofan was about to leave, Luo Ming called out to him.

"Uncle Luo, is there anything else?"

"This is your first mission. When the time comes, stay behind me. Put staying alive above all else."

"I understand, Uncle Luo."

Seeing Ye Xiaofan agree, Luo Ming smiled faintly and took two small porcelain bottles from his robes.

"There are three Blood Qi Pills and three Detoxification Pills in each. Demonic energy can erode the body without one noticing. Blood Qi Pills and Detoxification Pills can be of some use. Take them."

"Uncle Luo, I can't accept these. I already have Blood Qi Pills and Detoxification Pills."

Ye Xiaofan shook his head repeatedly in refusal.

"I said take them, so take them."

Luo Ming glared and forcibly stuffed the two bottles of pills into Ye Xiaofan's hands.

"Thank you, Uncle Luo."

Looking at the two bottles of pills, something soft deep in Ye Xiaofan's heart was touched.

"Your father and I were brothers who had shared life and death for more than twenty years. Just treat me as your real uncle."

"Mm."

Ye Xiaofan nodded heavily.

"Go back and prepare. Don't waste time."

Luo Ming patted Ye Xiaofan's shoulder and left.