Breakthrough, Secret History

Deep in the night, a faint light flickered amidst the towering mountains, stubbornly dispelling the endless darkness.

The Blood Copper Mine Area.

A roaring bonfire blazed in the center, and in front of it, a mine entrance like a gaping abyss saw miners coming and going, hauling out cartloads of unrefined Blood Copper Ore.

Rows of stone houses stood in neat formation, guarding the mine.

Patrol teams continuously circled the perimeter of the mining area.

Everyone wore a grave expression, their eyes betraying a hint of fear.

The sound of horseshoes echoed sharply in the silent night. The patrolmen's expressions shifted, and they quickly looked towards the source of the sound.

An alarm bell jolted them awake, and the entire mining area descended into chaos.

Miners scrambled into the stone houses, while guards, weapons in hand, rushed towards the entrance with terrified looks.

For the past two days, they had been under constant attack by demonic creatures.

Exhausted physically and mentally, even the slightest disturbance made them jumpy.

In the largest stone house, Bai Tianhei's eyes snapped open. His pale face was etched with solemnity as he flashed out the door and rushed outside.

Seeing Bai Tianhei arrive, the mine guards parted, clearing a path.

No one spoke, they simply watched in silence in the direction of the approaching horseshoes.

The sound of hooves grew closer.

A fiery dragon slowly ascended the mountaintop.

Bai Tianhei's gaze sharpened. He breathed a sigh of relief when he recognized the person leading the group, riding a Fire Scale Horse.

"It's Captain Luo and Captain Zhang! Our reinforcements have arrived."

Jia Yun, standing beside Bai Tianhei, pointed excitedly at Ye Xiaofan and his group, shouting.

Instantly, everyone relaxed and began to whisper amongst themselves.

"Quiet!"

Bai Tianhei's voice, though not loud, reached everyone clearly.

Seeing the reinforcements, Bai Tianhei wasn't overjoyed.

This was because he saw that Luo Ming and his companions were all bloodied, with many wounded.

It was clear their journey had not been peaceful.

A moment later, Ye Xiaofan and his group arrived at the main gate of the mining area.

"Elder Bai!"

Luo Ming and Zhang Tianhong dismounted and stepped forward, cupping their fists in greeting.

"Good, good. It's good you're here."

Bai Tianhei, without putting on airs, stepped forward and helped them up.

"This time, we have to thank Gang Leader Tie for encountering us on the way. Otherwise, we would have all become food for the demonic creatures."

Luo Ming briefly recounted what had happened on the journey. Bai Tianhei's brows furrowed as he listened, his mood growing heavier.

At this moment, Tie Wuqing also walked over, his wine gourd never ceasing its journey to his lips.

Ye Xiaofan had been wondering all along if Tie Wuqing was just pretending, otherwise, how could such a small gourd hold so much wine.

"Gang Leader Tie, thank you for your assistance this time."

Bai Tianhei forced a smile onto his pale face and cupped his fists in thanks to Tie Wuqing.

With another Body Refinement Ninth Level cultivator at the mine, his pressure would be significantly reduced.

Tie Wuqing shook his head and said, "Don't forget my ten Blood Qi Pills and hundred jin of Blood Copper."

"Gang Leader Tie, rest assured. The hundred jin of refined Blood Copper will be delivered shortly. As for the Blood Qi Pills, they will have to wait until we return to the Demon Suppression Division. Please forgive us." Bai Tianhei said in a hurry.

Tie Wuqing nodded and said no more.

"This is not the place to talk. Let's go inside and settle the injured first."

"Alright, we'll do as Elder Bai says."

Luo Ming replied.

Bai Tianhei nodded and turned to Jia Yun, saying, "Captain Jia, have someone arrange for the injured, and also make arrangements for the brothers of the Iron Hand Gang."

"Gang Leader Tie, please!"

Luo Ming, Zhang Tianhong, and Tie Wuqing followed Bai Tianhei towards the largest stone house.

"Ye Xiaofan, you come along too."

Just as Ye Xiaofan was about to leave with Jia Yun, Tie Wuqing suddenly turned back and said.

"Oh, you are Ye Tianhe's son, Ye Xiaofan? As expected, a tiger father begets a tiger son. A hero emerges from youth. It is a blessing for Qingyang County to have a genius like you in our Demon Suppression Division. Since Gang Leader Tie has spoken, you may come along."

Bai Tianhei's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. As if seeing Ye Xiaofan for the first time, he warmly stepped forward and patted Ye Xiaofan's shoulder, saying.

They walked into the largest stone house, where wine and delicacies were already laid out.

The group took their seats, eating and drinking while discussing the current situation in the mining area.

Luo Ming once again recounted in detail the incident of being attacked by two humanoid demonic creatures on the road, but he omitted the part where the Horned Demon wanted to capture Ye Xiaofan.

Ye Xiaofan, like a transparent little figure, lowered his head and ate ravenously.

Tie Wuqing, as if uninvolved, merely drank his wine.

The banquet dispersed. Due to Tie Wuqing's intervention, Ye Xiaofan was not assigned any tasks and was given a separate stone house, located right next to Tie Wuqing's.

The night grew darker, and the entire mining area continued to operate.

The Demon Suppression Division was preparing to abandon this Blood Copper Mine, waiting only to refine the already excavated Blood Copper and escort it back to Qingyang County.

Inside the stone house, Ye Xiaofan sat cross-legged on the bed.

A visible stream of hot air puffed from his mouth and nose.

The sounds of roaring tigers and dragons within his body grew louder, his internal organs trembled more violently, and strands of Qi and Blood, as thick as six strands of hair, were continuously refined. They circulated with his breathing rhythm and blood flow throughout his limbs and bones.

Every inch of his flesh, blood, tendons, and bones vibrated rhythmically.

Ye Xiaofan's aura grew stronger, his skin gradually turning red like a cooked shrimp.

Wisps of white smoke rose from the top of his head, and gradually, white smoke also began to emerge from his pores.

Breaking through to the Body Refinement Fourth Layer, The second Marrow Cleansing and Tendon Washing!

After more than ten breaths, dense white smoke enveloped Ye Xiaofan.

Upon closer inspection, faint traces of black smoke were hidden within the dense white smoke.

Time passed, and it was unclear how long it had been, yet it felt like only an instant.

The white smoke enveloping Ye Xiaofan showed a hint of light red.

His aura grew stronger, and the light red color intensified.

The next moment, Ye Xiaofan's body trembled, his aura reached its peak, and the light red mist completely replaced the white smoke.

It was like a veil of blood.

This was the phenomenon of Qi and Blood Manifestation—Qi and Blood Gauze—which ordinary cultivators could only achieve at the Body Refinement Sixth Layer.

The sounds of tigers and dragons within his body gradually subsided, and the Qi and Blood Gauze retracted into his body.

A faint bloody glow still circulated on his skin.

Ye Xiaofan suddenly opened his eyes, and two startling beams of light flashed in his pupils.

The next moment, his throat rolled, and he opened his mouth, spitting out a mouthful of foul-smelling black blood.

The black blood landed on the bluestone floor with a sizzling sound, and wisps of black smoke rose.

At this moment, Ye Xiaofan felt an unparalleled sense of comfort throughout his body.

The unknown strange poison that had plagued him was completely cleared at this moment, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

[Name: Ye Xiaofan] [Lifespan: 100 Years] [Realm: Body Refinement Fourth Layer (0/500)] [Techniques: Withered Wood Meets Spring Art (Perfection), Sword Drawing Technique (Minor Accomplishment 6000/6000), Wind God Steps (Perfection)] [Balance: 29,000 taels of Silver]

Ye Xiaofan got up from the bed and circulated his Qi and Blood.

A potent force of Qi and Blood appeared on his fist.

This was the mark of a cultivator after breaking through to the Body Refinement Fourth Layer—Qi and Blood Projection.

Ye Xiaofan suddenly threw a punch, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, with surging airwaves.

"The strength of three tigers, comparable to the Body Refinement Sixth Layer."

Ye Xiaofan grinned, continuously familiarizing himself with the strength of the Body Refinement Fourth Layer.

The stone house echoed with bursts of terrifying sonic booms, releasing the pent-up frustration from this period.

Only when his forehead was covered in sweat did Ye Xiaofan stop.

"Coupled with the perfected Wind God Steps and the Minor Accomplishment Sword Drawing Technique, I am now terrifyingly strong. I should be able to contend with someone at the Body Refinement Seventh Layer."

With his cultivation breakthrough, Ye Xiaofan had no desire for sleep and walked out of the stone house.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw a familiar figure leaning against the stone house wall, drinking from a flask.

"Gang Leader Tie hasn't rested yet."

Tie Wuqing turned his head to look at Ye Xiaofan, his eyes shifting with a strange glint, clearly having noticed Ye Xiaofan's cultivation breakthrough.

"Come over and chat with me."

Ye Xiaofan leaned against the stone wall like Tie Wuqing and sat down, his gaze following Tie Wuqing's line of sight.

It was pitch black.

After Tie Wuqing spoke, he fell silent again, and Ye Xiaofan didn't know what to say.

The atmosphere became awkward.

Just as Ye Xiaofan was about to find a topic, Tie Wuqing seemed to remember that someone else was beside him. He turned his head, his deep and captivating eyes seriously appraising Ye Xiaofan.

After a moment, as if making a decision.

"Do you know how demonic creatures come to be?"

Ye Xiaofan shook his head, looking at Tie Wuqing in confusion.

"Actually, demonic creatures are just transformed normal humans, demons, or even wild beasts."

Ye Xiaofan's eyes widened. Tie Wuqing's words were a shock to his understanding.

All this time, Ye Xiaofan had thought that this world inherently had three major races: humans, demons, and demonic creatures.

Now, Tie Wuqing was telling him that demonic creatures were transformed humans, demons, or unintelligent wild beasts.

This completely refreshed his worldview.

"Normal living beings can transform into demonic creatures as long as they can withstand the evil energy entering their bodies," Tie Wuqing said to himself.

"Evil?"

Ye Xiaofan exclaimed in surprise. This was the first time he had heard the name 'Evil'.

"Evil is very powerful. The weakest Evil are beings at the first layer of Qi Condensation. I don't know how Evil appears; perhaps only those high above in the Immortal Sects know."

Ye Xiaofan's heart trembled. This world was more complex than he had imagined.

Tie Wuqing took another drink and continued, "Do you know the reason why demonic creatures have suddenly increased in Qingyang County?"

"Because of Evil?"

Ye Xiaofan blurted out.

"That's right. Qingyang County must be hiding an Evil, and..."

Tie Wuqing turned his head and stared intently at Ye Xiaofan, speaking word by word, "It seems you've been targeted by an Evil."

A hint of fear flashed across Ye Xiaofan's face, but he quickly suppressed it.

Hearing Tie Wuqing say this, he finally understood why the Horned Demon had wanted to capture him. However, he couldn't understand why he, who had never left Qingyang County and hadn't been cultivating for long, would be targeted by an Evil. Could it be because of Ye Tianhe?

"Does Gang Leader Tie know why Evil targeted me?"

Tie Wuqing saw that Ye Xiaofan's expression was normal, and finding it uninteresting, he took a sip of wine and turned his head to continue staring into the darkness ahead.

"I don't know."

The atmosphere fell into silence once more.

Ye Xiaofan's eyes flickered.

"Still not strong enough."

Knowing he was targeted by an Evil, the joy of his breakthrough vanished.

"You're right. In the end, it's still a lack of strength."