Nothing much to say. I still had 7,000 Demon Points, so I'd keep upgrading!
Insufficient Demon Points. Unable to continue upgrading!
???
Li Xuanxiao wore a black-person-question-mark.jpg expression.
Even 7,000 Demon Points weren't enough to raise another realm?
It had taken 3,000 Demon Points just to get started, and I'd already thought that was expensive. Who knew further upgrades would cost so much more!
For Profound Realm cultivation methods and martial arts like "Ancient Rose Lotus Bloom," getting started only required 100 Demon Points!
A thirtyfold difference—wasn't that far too outrageous?
Then Li Xuanxiao suddenly remembered how a palm strike from afar had made an entire small mountain tremble without end, and he finally felt much more balanced.
Sublimity Realm cultivation methods were indeed expensive, but they were also damn powerful!
They were worth the price!
It was just a pity that if he wanted to raise his realm in the future, he would have to keep himself busy without a moment's rest.
This past month had truly worked him to the bone—making 996 look mild by comparison!
It had been the period since his transmigration when he had slaughtered demons most desperately.
He definitely did not want another round of this kind of "blessing"!
"Since I can't upgrade the cultivation method, I'll upgrade my other martial arts."
Li Xuanxiao continued adding 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 1,000 Demon Points. Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash has entered the Perfected Realm! Consumed 3,000 Demon Points. Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash has reached the 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 1,000 Demon Points. Bone-Clinging Shadow has entered the Perfected Realm!
In an instant, 6,600 Demon Points were spent. "Law-Breaking Qi-Extinguishing Slash" reached the Sublimity Realm, while "Bone-Clinging Shadow" entered the Perfected Realm.
His Demon Points, meanwhile, had shrunk back down to 400.
Li Xuanxiao gave a bitter smile. Money always vanished faster than it came in.
He had been away for over a month now, nearly two.
It was time to go back. Having made up his mind, Li Xuanxiao immediately set out on the return journey.
As True Essence surged through him, he used "Rainbow Light Travel" once more, but his speed was now nearly more than three times faster!
This was a boost brought purely by True Essence. How utterly astonishing!
With this speed, he could reach the Demon Slayer Division in three days at most.
Li Xuanxiao calculated silently, without slowing down in the slightest.
A dazzling rainbow streaked through the sky, speeding toward the Demon Slayer Division.
Pei Province, Demon Slayer Division, General's Residence.
The eight Hall Masters had gathered together, their expressions extremely grave.
Yang Zhiru sat beside the seat of honor, no longer wearing his usual calm expression. A trace of sternness had appeared between his brows.
Outside, a burly man slowly entered the hall.
He was none other than the General of the Pei Province Demon Slayer Division, Si Yiwu!
Si Yiwu was tall and powerfully built, like a towering mountain peak rising amid the forest, making him especially eye-catching among the crowd.
"Hall Masters, first report the losses suffered by your respective halls."
Several Hall Masters nodded, and someone immediately rose to deliver a report.
"My Patrol Hall had a total of seventy-three patrol envoys deployed outside. Forty-eight have been confirmed killed in the line of duty..."
"My Flying Eagle Hall had one hundred and twenty-seven martial artists scattered outside to relay information. Seventy-six have now been confirmed dead."
"My Demon Slaying Hall..."
The Hall Masters reported in turn. When it came to the Purification Hall, Yang Zhiru slowly rose to his feet.
"My Purification Hall had three teams of martial artists carrying out special missions outside. All have been confirmed killed in action. Thirty in total!"
As soon as those words fell, before the General could say anything, the other Hall Masters erupted into commotion.
"Even the Purification Hall lost so many people?"
"Those sent out on special missions were all experts at the Profound Realm Late Stage!"
"This time, the losses are greater than in any previous incident. The Purification Hall has truly bled heavily."
"Damn demons, why did they suddenly go collectively mad? There are so many cities that we simply can't cover them all!"
"Damn it! Several Demon Emperors have been keeping their eyes on us these past few days. We can't move at all—we can only watch helplessly as those demons run rampant across Pei Province."
Listening to their discussion, Si Yiwu interlaced his fingers into a fist, propped his elbows on the table, and pressed the knuckle of his thumb beneath his jaw, seemingly lost in thought.
Only after the discussion subsided did he slowly speak. "That young fellow at the Profound Realm Peak, about the same age as Miaoyin—has he still not returned?"
Everyone was taken aback, unsure why the General would ask about this now.
The Mission Hall Master immediately stood. "Reporting to General, Li Xuanxiao has yet to return. More than a month ago, after receiving a recording Jade Token, there has been no further news from him."
Several Hall Masters who knew only Li Xuanxiao's realm, but did not know much about him, immediately frowned.
"Did that kid run away?"
"With a great enemy at hand, he just happened to accept a mission with no time limit. How could that be such a coincidence?"
"Now that you mention it, it really is possible! That kid might have taken the chance to run away and hide somewhere!"
Before they could finish, a Hall Master immediately refuted them.
Liu Gelin, the Law Enforcement Hall Master, gave a cold snort. "I refuse to believe that someone who dared fight a Profound Realm Third Layer demon while only at the Profound Realm First Layer could be a coward!"
The Patrol Hall Master nodded in agreement and recounted how Li Xuanxiao had treated his colleagues, voluntarily accepted demon-slaying missions, and personally killed eight demons.
Not only that, even the usually taciturn Yang Zhiru spoke up. "That kid is indeed not bad!"
"When he first arrived, I gave him a show of force because he killed his superior."
At this point, Yang Zhiru gave a soft laugh. "I thought that, like Ling Yan and the others, he would be so suppressed by me that he couldn't even speak."
"But guess what he did?"
The Hall Masters listened attentively. Even Liu Gelin and the Patrol Hall Master, who had met Li Xuanxiao before, wore curious expressions.
"That kid actually wanted to draw his blade against me!"
Several Hall Masters showed looks of surprise, while Liu Gelin burst into laughter. "Who would've thought? So he really is that kind of muddleheaded brat!"
The Patrol Hall Master also laughed. "Tsk, tsk. Under Deputy General Yang's pressure, he still dared to entertain thoughts of resistance."
"On that point alone, Li Xuanxiao could never be a coward who fled before battle!"
As they were discussing this, they suddenly sensed a powerful aura.
Sublimity Realm!
They exchanged glances, and each saw the gravity in the others' eyes.
With demons causing chaos everywhere and manpower desperately short in all directions, no reinforcements could possibly be arriving.
Such a Sublimity Realm expert appearing out of nowhere was most likely a demon!
The General raised his brows as well. "Enemy or friend, we'll know once we go out and take a look!"
The group immediately walked out of the hall.
Then they saw a brilliant rainbow rapidly approaching...
"That is..."
"Li Xuanxiao!?"
Several Hall Masters were struck dumb with shock!
Before you continue