Second-Rank High Stage!

Xu Jie simply grabbed Chu Mingyue's jade-like leg and lifted her delicate body into his arms, startling Chu Mingyue into burying herself against his chest as she timidly whispered.

"Don't... don't do it here... okay?"

"???"

He had not been planning to devour Chu Mingyue. What was she even thinking?

He had merely been seized by a sudden impulse and acted on instinct. It was nowhere near as exaggerated as Chu Mingyue imagined.

"If... if it has to be here... then... shall we go over there?"

Following Chu Mingyue's gaze, Xu Jie looked toward a small grove not far away. His brows lifted in surprise.

This woman was truly bold!

Was this the defining trait of an M?

Xu Jie forced himself to calm down. He set down the bewildered and doubtful Chu Mingyue, then gently reassured her.

"No rush. We have plenty of time later!"

"Mm-hm~"

Hearing that, Chu Mingyue seemed to grow even more dependent on Xu Jie. She skillfully wrapped herself around his arm and stayed close by his side.

Usable Lifespan: 722

On the road back to Jincheng City, Xu Jie luckily encountered several First-Rank Demons.

This time, he did not let Chu Mingyue make a move. Instead, he acted himself, killing several demons and gaining several hundred more years of Lifespan.

It was different from when they had first left the city!

At that time, Chu Mingyue had not yet revealed the feelings in her heart. Her relationship with Xu Jie had merely been that of instructor and student.

But now, their relationship had undergone a tremendous change!

Chu Mingyue had become Xu Jie's woman. If Xu Jie said a word and told her not to act, she obediently would not act. Submission was her guiding principle.

"System, upgrade the Muscle-Tendon Changing Scripture!"

After saying this inwardly, Xu Jie paused before adding another sentence.

"Leave some Usable Lifespan to upgrade the Demonic Blade!"

Yi Jin Duan Gu Scripture · Muscle-Tendon Changing Scripture (Mastery): After fifty years of bitter cultivation, you successfully strengthened the Twelve Meridians to the realm of mastery. In the time that followed, you devoted everything to opening new Extraordinary Meridians.

A full four hundred and seventy years passed! At last, you cultivated the Muscle-Tendon Changing Scripture to true mastery and opened three more Extraordinary Meridians! Thus, your cultivation reached the Seventh Layer of Pulse Opening Realm, entering the Second-Rank High Stage.

Progress until next draw (1172/3000)!

Xu Jie had spent five hundred and twenty years of Usable Lifespan just to cultivate the Muscle-Tendon Changing Scripture to mastery. Such expenditure was simply unbelievable.

In truth, Xu Jie had also realized that what truly consumed enormous amounts of Lifespan was opening Extraordinary Meridians!

Opening merely three Extraordinary Meridians had actually cost him 470 years of Usable Lifespan!

If he had not opened Extraordinary Meridians, he would probably have already cultivated to the Pulse-Opening Peak Stage by now.

Was it worth it?

Of course it was!

Xu Jie had five more Extraordinary Meridians than ordinary martial artists. What kind of concept was that?

It meant that although he appeared to be merely at the high stage of the Pulse Opening Realm—

Because of those five extra Extraordinary Meridians, his true combat strength was enough to rival a Pulse-Opening Peak Stage martial artist who had opened five regular meridians!

Worth it! More than worth it!

No matter how much Usable Lifespan it cost, Xu Jie was willing!

After all, if he could truly open all Twelve Meridians and every Extraordinary Meridian while at the Pulse-Opening Peak Stage, then compared to ordinary prodigies, he would have cultivated nearly twice as many meridians!

Strong in one step, strong in every step!

This advantage in cultivation realms, compounded again and again, would make Xu Jie invincible among those of the same realm—and even allow him to fight above his level with ease!

Looking at the little over two hundred years of Usable Lifespan remaining, Xu Jie decisively spent it on the Demonic Blade.

The two Martial Arts and Techniques he had drawn from the system were each more heaven-defying than the last.

To be honest, Xu Jie was rather looking forward to seeing what even more heaven-defying Martial Arts and Techniques he would draw next time.

Nine Extremes Demonic Blade (Minor Mastery): One hundred and sixty years passed in the blink of an eye. After years of blade training, you successfully comprehended the Fourth Extreme of the Nine Extremes Demonic Blade.

Progress until next draw (1332/3000)!

Xu Jie's mastery of the Demonic Blade techniques had not changed, but he had comprehended the Fourth Extreme blade technique. His combat strength could be said to have surged by a great margin.

That was because the terrifying aspect of the Demonic Blade techniques was not the physical damage they inflicted, but their ability to invisibly cut apart an enemy's mind and soul.

That should be about enough!

Zhao Tianyu's father should only be an ordinary Third-Rank Mid Stage martial artist, right?

If he went all out and combined it with Little Black's scale armor defense, he would have a chance to behead that man!

Xu Jie's thoughts could be described as audacious to the extreme!

He was only at the Seventh Layer of Pulse Opening Realm, having just entered the Second-Rank High Stage, yet he already dared to challenge a Third-Rank Mid Stage martial artist.

And not an ordinary martial artist, either, but an elite martial artist from the Guard Army.

One had to know that every martial artist who could serve as a high-ranking general within a city had participated in wars in the Outer Regions. They were terrifying figures who had fought their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, surviving to return to Xia Country.

The level of danger in a place like the Outer Regions was far beyond anything within Xia Country could compare to. The casualty rate had never fallen below 90%!

Yet Xu Jie could no longer wait!

Unless he slaughtered Zhao Du, the mastermind behind the Beast Tide, he would be unable to eat or sleep in peace.

By afternoon.

Xu Jie and Chu Mingyue returned to the city gates.

Zhao Du, the Guard Army general who should have been stationed in the south of the city, had now come to the west side.

Clearly, he was waiting here for good news from his subordinates.

Unfortunately, Zhao Du's personal guards had yet to return. Instead, he spotted Xu Jie and Chu Mingyue in the distance.

This caused Zhao Du's expression to abruptly change, a trace of gloom flashing through his eyes.

The assassination had failed?

Or had Xu Jie simply never encountered the men Zhao Du had sent out in the wilderness?

And Qin Lie, that useless piece of trash—mercenary groups really could not be trusted at all!

On the city wall, Zhao Du clenched both fists, veins bulging on the backs of his hands. He stared fixedly at Xu Jie and Chu Mingyue as they entered the city gates below, his face filled with unwillingness.

Xu Jie had already returned to the city. Killing him now would be difficult!

At that moment, Xu Bin came up behind Zhao Du, pressed a hand to his shoulder, and softly advised him.

"Old Zhao, don't be in a hurry! There will be plenty of opportunities later!"

"Hmph!"

Zhao Du, who wished he could slaughter Xu Jie on the spot, could only let out a stifled snort to vent his frustration, forcibly suppressing the mad hatred in his heart.

Xu Bin was right!

There would be plenty of opportunities later!

So long as Xu Jie remained in Jincheng City for even one more day, Zhao Du would think of every possible way and stop at nothing to take revenge on him!

Just as Zhao Du gradually calmed down, believing Xu Jie had merely escaped disaster through good luck—

Perhaps he had not encountered the subordinates Zhao Du had sent at all, and Zhao Du was inwardly plotting the next assassination attempt—

Footsteps sounded from the stairs leading up the city wall behind them.

Zhao Du frowned and turned around. Then intense killing intent erupted from his eyes.

Because the person climbing onto the city wall was actually Xu Jie!

After coming up, Xu Jie swept a glance over the armored Zhao Du and the casually dressed Xu Bin, his eyes likewise brimming with undisguised Baleful Intent.