Name: Lin Baichuan Identity: Junior Demon Slayer, Demon Suppression Division Cultivation: Ninth Rank Cultivation Art: Golden Bell Shield (Sixth Layer, 100%) Martial Art: Seven Kill Saber Art (Mastery) Intent: Saber Intent (1%+) Merit: 91 ...
"Only 91 points of merit left..."
Lin Baichuan quickly scanned the Attribute Panel, his brow furrowing slightly. Sure enough, merit was simply not enough. The further he went, the more merit he needed.
Raising the Golden Bell Shield from the third layer to the sixth had consumed a full 202 points of merit.
Most importantly, his Golden Bell Shield had already reached 100% at the sixth layer, yet the remaining 91 points of merit were somehow insufficient to raise it to the seventh layer. This was fucking absurd. Even raising Saber Intent had not been this outrageous!
"Could it be because my physical strength has reached the Ten Thousand Jin Limit, while the seventh layer of the Golden Bell Shield breaks through that limit? A transformation from quantitative change to qualitative change."
Lin Baichuan muttered, "That must be why the merit required to advance from the sixth to the seventh layer has skyrocketed—a hundredfold increase. If that's really the case, advancing from the sixth to the seventh layer probably requires 100 merit."
As he thought about it, gleams flashed in Lin Baichuan's eyes. The more he considered it, the more likely it seemed.
After one last glance at the Attribute Panel, he simply stopped dwelling on it.
With 91 points of merit remaining, he could not improve the Golden Bell Shield. He could add points to Saber Intent, but one point of merit only gave 0.1%, making it far too uneconomical. He decided to save those 91 points for emergencies.
"It's time to head back. If I stay away too long, Li Da and the others may grow suspicious."
Lin Baichuan thought to himself. After giving Yin Kuisheng's mangled corpse one final look, he immediately turned and sprinted out of Qili Slope. He moved like a tiger or leopard, several times faster than before.
Reaching the peak of the sixth layer of the Golden Bell Shield had not only brought his physical strength to the Ten Thousand Jin Limit, but also strengthened his physique and vastly improved his physical condition. Naturally, his speed had soared as well.
With every step carrying him a zhang, Lin Baichuan soon rushed out of Qili Slope and returned to the town.
By the time he reached the inn, there was not a living soul in sight. Only ruins and corpses carpeted the ground, while a thick stench of blood filled the air.
"Where did everyone go?"
Lin Baichuan frowned slightly and muttered, "Don't tell me they all died! Impossible... That explosion couldn't have killed everyone. At the very least, Li Da and the others definitely couldn't have died. They may have been seriously injured, though.
They must have left. I'll ask around."
With that thought, Lin Baichuan turned and approached a shop not far from the inn. He beckoned to the shopkeeper, who was poking his head outside, tossed him a piece of broken silver, and asked, "Shopkeeper, where did the survivors from the inn go?"
"Sir, are you asking where the other Demon Slayer Guards went?"
The shopkeeper caught the silver, his face immediately splitting into a grin. With a chuckle, he said, "Just follow this road inward. At the very end, there's a courtyard. They should be there."
"You actually recognize Demon Slayer Guards." Lin Baichuan raised his brows, somewhat surprised.
"You jest, sir. Who in all Great Xia wouldn't recognize the Demon Slayer Guard uniform?" The shopkeeper immediately cupped his hands in salute, offering the silver back to Lin Baichuan with a flattering smile. "Sir, please take your silver back. This commoner wouldn't dare accept it."
"Keep it."
Lin Baichuan waved a hand and did not take the silver. How could he possibly take back a reward he had given? That would be too degrading. He was, after all, a dignified Demon Slayer Guard now. He could not afford to lose face.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir..."
The shopkeeper instinctively accepted the silver, then immediately bowed respectfully toward Lin Baichuan's departing back.
At this moment!
Lin Baichuan had already quickened his pace toward the far end of the street the shopkeeper had indicated. The street was not long to begin with, and Lin Baichuan was fast. In less than a quarter of an hour, he arrived at its end and stopped before an old courtyard.
The courtyard gate stood wide open, and the faint scent of blood drifted out from within.
Lin Baichuan's brow immediately creased. Taking one step forward, he dashed into the courtyard.
Clang...
The moment he entered, a flash of saber light slashed straight down at his head. Lin Baichuan remained calm in the face of danger, leaning back slightly and effortlessly evading the blow. Then the saber light swept sideways, intending to cut him in two at the waist.
"Hmph!"
Lin Baichuan snorted coldly and raised a hand, extending two fingers to forcibly clamp the cold, gleaming saber blade. He then said icily, "It's me, Lin Baichuan... What is it, Niu Zhenye? Are you trying to take my life?"
"Stop!"
At the same time, a stern rebuke came from a room within the courtyard. "Zhenye, it's Baichuan..."
Niu Zhenye's expression changed drastically. Lin Baichuan had effortlessly evaded his two consecutive strikes and had even caught his saber between two fingers. It practically blinded his 24k titanium alloy dog eyes.
"Damn it, isn't this kid a newcomer? He only just entered the Ninth Rank—how could he be this strong?"
Niu Zhenye cursed inwardly, though he gave an awkward smile and said, "Hehe... Well, Brother Lin, I'm truly sorry. It was a misunderstanding... All a misunderstanding. I didn't see clearly that it was you."
"Hmph!"
Lin Baichuan snorted. As his fingers loosened, the saber he had clamped trembled with a faint muffled hum.
He said nothing more, merely giving Niu Zhenye a meaningful glance as killing intent faintly gathered in his heart. Niu Zhenye claimed it was a misunderstanding, that he had not seen clearly who had entered. Lin Baichuan did not believe a word of it.
If Niu Zhenye had failed to see him clearly with the first strike, that was still understandable. But if he had not seen clearly by the second strike, that was utter bullshit.
Lin Baichuan was certain that Niu Zhenye had most likely wanted to seize the opportunity to eliminate him.
He even suspected that, aside from Qin Qing, the other four members of the team had all accepted favors from the Lu Family and wanted him dead. If Niu Zhenye had truly succeeded just now, he could have easily claimed that he had mistaken Lin Baichuan for a thief or a criminal and accidentally killed him.
With the Lu Family's influence, and a little greasing of palms afterward, the Demon Suppression Division would likely not stand up for a dead man like him.
"Very well. Since that's the case, let's take this slowly."
Lin Baichuan seethed inwardly, concealing his killing intent. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, yet not a trace of emotion showed on his face as he looked toward Li Da and the others, who had emerged from the room.
The power of Yin Kuisheng's final attack must have been formidable. With the Demon Core self-destructing, the situation inside the inn could not have been good. Li Da and the others were clearly injured. The sole exception was Qin Qing, who was completely unharmed and breathing steadily. She should not have suffered any injuries.
But that made sense. This woman's background was far from ordinary, so it was only natural that she possessed some life-saving means.
"Captain, you're injured. Are you all right?" Lin Baichuan immediately walked over to Li Da and asked with concern.
"It's nothing. Where did you go just now? None of us saw you." Li Da shook his head slightly and asked in a deep voice.
"Where else could he have gone? He most likely hid somewhere."
At that moment, Niu Zhenye's voice sounded from behind him, sneering disdainfully. "Still, you do have some self-awareness. You knew to hide, so at least you didn't hold us back. But as a Demon Slayer Guard of the Demon Suppression Division, all you know is how to cower and hide. You've truly disgraced the Demon Suppression Division!"
"Whether it's disgraceful or not, why don't you try me..."
Lin Baichuan's gaze turned icy as he swept a glance over Niu Zhenye, sneering.
That immediately shut Niu Zhenye up. What a joke—he was only talking big. If he truly had to compete with Lin Baichuan, he would rather forget it. He was afraid Lin Baichuan would beat him to death.
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