The Patrol Hall Master was utterly stunned.
With such generous terms, he could hardly think of any reason to refuse.
Yet Li Xuanxiao had refused.
Why did martial artists slay demons and eradicate fiends?
Setting aside their generations-deep blood feud with demons and fiends.
Most martial artists risked their lives to slay demons and eradicate fiends—wasn't it ultimately to gain more resources and improve their cultivation and strength?
So they could live longer and go farther in this damned world.
So they would not one day be slaughtered by demons and fiends.
And he had promised to provide Li Xuanxiao with every resource he needed for cultivation!
Even that could not move him?
The Patrol Hall Master drew a deep breath. "Why?"
Li Xuanxiao sighed softly. "A towering tree cannot grow in a greenhouse."
"Calm seas cannot forge exceptional sailors."
"The strength I have today was tempered through one life-and-death battle after another against demons and fiends."
"If I had been born in a place of comfort, perhaps my talent would have remained undiscovered for my entire life, and I would never have developed any further."
"So let flowers be flowers, and trees be trees."
"Let me become myself!"
The Patrol Hall Master raised his brows and regarded Li Xuanxiao more highly than before.
At such a young age, he could actually speak such words!
If he had previously only been shocked by Li Xuanxiao's talent, now he was moved by Li Xuanxiao's breadth of vision.
This kid...
He would surely become someone extraordinary in the future!
The Patrol Hall Master gave Li Xuanxiao a long, deep look. "Very well. Since you have put it this way, I will not force the matter."
"Many things have happened in quick succession recently. I have a faintly bad feeling about it."
"If you go out to slay demons, you must be even more careful."
Li Xuanxiao nodded. The Patrol Hall Master's words had reminded him of something.
He had yet to report to the Demon Slayer Division that the New Demon Emperor would descend upon Pei Province.
"Hall Master, there is something else I need to report to you."
"Go on."
"On this trip to eliminate demons, when one demon was on the brink of death, it revealed a piece of information."
"A new Demon Emperor will descend upon Pei Province!"
"The tragedy in Youpu City was actually meant to welcome this New Demon Emperor."
At those words, the Patrol Hall Master's expression immediately grew grave.
He glanced at Li Xuanxiao. "This is your mission reward."
A Jade Token flew toward Li Xuanxiao, and he caught it with an outstretched hand.
"There are 1,000 Contribution Points inside. The additional compensation has been converted and included as well."
"The intelligence you provided is highly valuable. I must report it to the Commander-in-Chief at once!"
With that, the Patrol Hall Master immediately departed.
Li Xuanxiao looked at the Jade Token in his hand, and a smile unconsciously rose to his face.
He could exchange for several Profound Realm cultivation techniques and martial arts now!
He immediately set off for the Technique Tower.
As he passed one type of cultivation technique after another, Li Xuanxiao silently pondered.
All the cultivation techniques and martial arts he had learned so far came from the Buddhist Sect.
Though powerful, they always felt somewhat out of place when used.
He was a martial artist, after all, and carried a blade at his side.
At the very least, he needed a martial art suited to his weapon.
Right, he also needed a movement technique!
At present, he only had "Rainbow Light Travel," but that was a flying technique for long-distance travel.
When it came to evasive movement and repositioning during close combat, this technique was of rather limited use.
Every profession had its specialty. He needed to choose a proper movement technique.
After some selection, he chose a mid-grade Profound Realm blade technique and a mid-grade Profound Realm movement technique.
"Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash" and "Bone-Clinging Shadow."
Martial art recorded—"Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash"! Martial art recorded—"Bone-Clinging Shadow"! 100 Demon Points consumed. Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash had reached Basic Understanding! 100 Demon Points consumed. Bone-Clinging Shadow had reached Basic Understanding!
After bringing both mid-grade Profound Realm martial arts to the entry level, his Demon Points had fallen from 330 to 130.
Li Xuanxiao gave a bitter smile. The Demon Points in his hands never seemed to be enough.
Whether he was upgrading martial arts and cultivation techniques or using them for deduction in the future,
he would need to invest vast amounts of Demon Points.
Slay demons, slay demons—he had to slay demons!
Li Xuanxiao headed straight for the Mission Hall.
He did not rush to accept a mission. Instead, he asked the staff whether there was a mission type with no fixed target, where Contribution Points were awarded solely based on the number and realms of the demons he killed.
After asking around, there really was!
He only needed to carry a specially made recording Jade Token, which could record exactly how many demons he had slain and roughly what realms they had been in.
Then, upon returning to the Demon Slayer Division, he would be awarded Contribution Points according to the information in the Jade Token.
Li Xuanxiao was delighted. This was exactly what he wanted!
This was far more efficient than those fixed missions from before!
He no longer had to seek out a specific demon. He could act as he pleased.
He only needed to return later and exchange his kills for Contribution Points.
It was practically tailored for him!
Li Xuanxiao immediately received a recording Jade Token as required.
With the New Demon Emperor approaching, this relatively peaceful and tranquil period would inevitably be shattered.
He had to raise his strength as quickly as possible to deal with anything that might happen.
Li Xuanxiao transformed into a rainbow streak and began an open-ended journey of slaying demons and eradicating fiends.
News that the New Demon Emperor would descend upon Pei Province was soon announced within the Demon Slayer Division.
For a time, the matter caused an uproar. Countless martial artists wore grave expressions, clearly understanding what it signified.
The Pei Province Demon Slayer Division had nine Wonder Realm martial artists in total, including the Commander-in-Chief.
Yet among the demons and fiends, there were as many as twelve Demon Emperors!
If not for the Commander-in-Chief's formidable strength, Pei Province would have long been unable to preserve this peace.
But now, another New Demon Emperor was descending. No matter how powerful the Commander-in-Chief was, he likely could no longer maintain the balance.
If only the Demon Slayer Division could gain another Wonder Realm martial artist.
A pall of gloom gradually settled over everyone's hearts.
Pei Province was about to see its skies change...
The eight Hall Masters each implemented a series of measures within their halls, ensuring that everyone recognized the gravity of the situation.
They even brought out plentiful resources and raised the base Contribution Point rewards to bolster morale.
The effects were limited, but they did indeed curb the spread of negative emotions.
Si Miaoyin read the letter in her hand, her lovely brows faintly furrowing.
This letter from her Lineage also mentioned that a New Demon Emperor would descend upon Pei Province.
The information within was far more detailed than what Li Xuanxiao had brought back.
From the letter, she learned that it was not only Pei Province. The demons and fiends in the other eight provinces were also making unusual moves.
Either new Demon Emperors were descending there as well, or demons and fiends had suddenly begun invading cities with increasing frequency.
More seriously still, they had already begun hunting Demon Slayer Division martial artists in organized, planned groups.
This demon activity was not confined merely to Pei Province, but encompassed the entire Great Yu Dynasty!
It was foreseeable that demons and fiends would make even more frequent moves from here on.
At the end of the letter, it stated that her Lineage had already dispatched martial artists to Pei Province to escort her back to the royal capital ahead of time, back to the Lineage.
Staying in the royal capital was clearly far safer than remaining in Pei Province.
After all, the Great Yu royal capital had the greatest number of high-realm martial artists. There were even... supposedly those above the Wonder Realm!
Si Miaoyin silently finished reading the letter, yet Li Xuanxiao's figure surfaced in her mind.
Ever since that kid had joined the Demon Slayer Division, it seemed he had not properly stayed here for even a single day.
Every day, he was either running around outside or running around outside.
And now, she had no idea where he had run off to again.
In such a situation, he was still wandering everywhere. He really was...
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