Return of the King!

There was nothing much to say. With 7000 Demon Points left, he could continue leveling up!

[Demon Points insufficient, unable to continue upgrading!]

???

Li Xuanxiao's face was a question mark.jpg

7000 Demon Points weren't even enough to advance another realm?

The entry-level cost was 3000 Demon Points, which he already found quite expensive. He hadn't expected further upgrades to be significantly pricier!

After all, entry-level Profound Realm techniques and martial arts like "Ancient Rose Lotus Bloom" only cost 100 Demon Points!

A thirty-fold difference, that's too much.

Immediately, Li Xuanxiao remembered how he'd sent a mountain trembling with a single palm strike from a distance, and his mood finally balanced out.

Mystic Realm techniques were indeed expensive, but they were also incredibly powerful!

Worth the price!

It was just a shame that if he wanted to improve his realm in the future, he'd be constantly busy.

This month had completely worn him out, more so than working 996!

It was the most desperate period of demon slaying since he'd transmigrated.

He really didn't want to experience such "blessings" again!

"Since I can't upgrade my techniques, I'll upgrade other martial arts."

Li Xuanxiao continued to allocate points.

[Consumed 300 Demon Points, Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash has entered Lesser Mastery!]

[Consumed 500 Demon Points, Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash has entered Greater Mastery!]

[Consumed 1000 Demon Points, Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash has entered Perfection!]

[Consumed 3000 Demon Points, Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash has reached Sublimity Realm!]

[Consumed 300 Demon Points, Bone-Clinging Shadow has entered Lesser Mastery!]

[Consumed 500 Demon Points, Bone-Clinging Shadow has entered Greater Mastery!]

[Consumed 1000 Demon Points, Bone-Clinging Shadow has entered Perfection!]

6600 Demon Points were instantly consumed. "Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash" reached Sublimity Realm, and "Bone-Clinging Shadow" entered Perfection.

His Demon Points dwindled back down to 400.

Li Xuanxiao gave a wry smile. He always spent faster than he earned.

It had been over a month, nearly two, since he'd left.

It was time to head back. Li Xuanxiao made up his mind and immediately set off on his return journey.

As his True Essence surged, he cast "Rainbow Light Travel" again, but this time his speed was nearly three times faster!

This was the improvement brought about purely by True Essence, how astonishing!

With this speed, he could reach the Demon Slayer Division in at most three days.

Li Xuanxiao calculated silently, his speed unwavering.

A brilliant rainbow streaked across the sky, rapidly heading towards the Demon Slayer Division.

Pei Province, Demon Slayer Division, General's Residence.

The eight Hall Masters were gathered, their expressions grave.

Yang Zhiru sat beside the main seat, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a hint of seriousness in his brows.

Outside the door, a burly man strode into the hall.

It was Si Yiwu, the General of the Pei Province Demon Slayer Division!

Si Yiwu was tall and powerfully built, like a majestic peak rising from a forest, making him particularly striking among the crowd.

"Hall Masters, first report the losses from your respective halls."

Several Hall Masters nodded, and one immediately stood up to report.

"In my Patrol Hall, out of 73 patrolling envoys, 48 have been confirmed to have died in the line of duty..."

"In my Flying Eagle Hall, out of 127 martial artists scattered to relay information, 76 have now been confirmed dead."

"My Demon Slaying Hall..."

The Hall Masters reported in turn. When it was the Purification Hall's turn, Yang Zhiru slowly stood up.

"In my Purification Hall, all three martial artist squads on special missions outside have been confirmed to have perished entirely, a total of thirty people!"

As soon as he said this, before the General could even speak, the other Hall Masters stirred.

"Even the Purification Hall lost so many people?"

"Those sent on special missions are all experts in the late Profound Realm!"

"The losses this time are greater than any before; the Purification Hall has suffered a major blow."

"Damn these demons, what's gotten into them all of a sudden? We can't possibly manage so many cities at once!"

"Damn it, the demon emperors have been watching us closely these past few days. We can't make a move, and can only watch as those demons wreak havoc in Pei Province."

Listening to everyone's discussion, Si Yiwu clasped his fingers into fists, propped his elbows on the table, and rested his thumbs against his jaw, deep in thought.

After the discussion subsided, he slowly spoke, "Has that young fellow, who's at the peak of the Profound Realm and about the same age as Miao Yin, not returned yet?"

Everyone was taken aback, wondering why the General would ask about this now.

The Hall Master of the Mission Hall immediately stood up, "Reporting to General, Li Xuanxiao has not yet returned. Over a month ago, after receiving his record Jade Token, there has been no further news."

Several Hall Masters, who only knew of Li Xuanxiao's realm but not much about him, immediately frowned.

"Did this kid run off?"

"With the enemy at our doorstep, he specifically took on an open-ended mission. How could there be such a coincidence!"

"Don't say it, but you're actually right! This kid might very well have taken this opportunity to escape and find a place to hide!"

Before they could finish, a Hall Master immediately retorted.

Liu Gelin, the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, snorted, "I refuse to believe that someone who dared to fight a Profound Realm Third Layer demon when he was only at Profound Realm First Layer could be a coward!"

The Hall Master of the Patrol Hall nodded in agreement, recounting how Li Xuanxiao had saved his colleagues, voluntarily accepted a demon-slaying mission, and killed eight demons single-handedly.

Not only that, but even Yang Zhiru, who was usually taciturn, spoke up, "That kid is indeed quite something!"

"When he first arrived, I gave him a little 'welcome' because of the incident with Shangguan."

Yang Zhiru chuckled as he spoke, "I thought this kid, like Ling Yan and the others, would be so suppressed by me that he wouldn't be able to speak."

"But guess what he did?"

The several Hall Masters leaned in to listen, and even Liu Gelin and the Hall Master of the Patrol Hall, who had interacted with Li Xuanxiao, wore expressions of curiosity.

"This kid, he actually tried to draw his sword on me!"

The Hall Masters looked astonished. Liu Gelin laughed heartily, "I never would have guessed he's such a rascal!"

The Hall Master of the Patrol Hall also chuckled, "Tsk tsk, to even think of resisting under Vice General Yang's pressure."

"Just on this point alone, Li Xuanxiao is definitely not a coward who flees from battle!"

As they were discussing, they sensed a powerful aura.

Mystic Realm!

The Hall Masters exchanged glances, seeing the solemnity in each other's eyes.

With the current demon rampages and manpower shortages everywhere, reinforcements were unlikely to arrive.

Such a Mystic Realm expert appearing out of nowhere was most likely a demon!

The General also raised an eyebrow, "We'll know if it's friend or foe once we go out to see!"

The group immediately walked out of the hall.

Then, they saw a dazzling rainbow rapidly approaching...

"Is that..."

"Li Xuanxiao!?"

The Hall Masters were utterly shocked!