Evolution, A Brand New Martial Art

To see what changes could be made to Primordial Yang Fist, Ning Xiu immediately chose to evolve it.

In just a few blinks of an eye, the Primordial Yang Fist on his proficiency panel had changed.

Pure Yang Extreme Fist: Level 8 (31/4000)

In an instant, Ning Xiu's understanding of the Primordial Yang Fist technique surged, as if a peerless master had performed a direct impartation.

After being evolved by the panel, Primordial Yang Fist had transformed into a brand new technique based on its foundation – Pure Yang Extreme Fist!

If the original Primordial Yang Fist was 70% quality, then after the panel's evolution, this brand new Pure Yang Extreme Fist had improved by 30%, its power completely rising a tier.

Ning Xiu extended his right palm. When he attempted to unleash Pure Yang Extreme Fist, the back and palm of his hand instantly turned crimson, and the temperature of his palm began to rise.

The primary effect of cultivating Primordial Yang Fist was to strengthen the Blood Energy within a martial artist, preventing Evil Qi from invading and keeping Malevolent Spirits at bay.

It was said that some martial artists who primarily cultivated Blood Energy could have their Blood Energy so vigorous it was like a furnace. With a single move, their entire body temperature would rise, their Blood Energy burning as fiercely as a raging fire.

In front of such martial artists, weaker Malevolent Spirits couldn't even resist; they would be directly boiled and evaporated by the potent, yang-infused Blood Energy just by getting close.

Ning Xiu found it amusing. Could Pure Yang Extreme Fist cultivation eventually allow his Blood Energy to reach that level? That would be truly formidable.

With the thought of testing what other changes Pure Yang Extreme Fist could undergo, Ning Xiu added another 4000 points of Universal Proficiency to it.

[Pure Yang Extreme Fist: Level 8 (31/4000)]→[Pure Yang Extreme Fist: Level 9 (31/5000)]

Instantly, Ning Xiu's right palm was no longer limited to just his palm and the back of his hand; his entire right hand up to his wrist turned crimson and felt intensely hot.

"If I were to attack Malevolent Spirits with this fist, the power would surely be much greater than usual," Ning Xiu nodded with satisfaction. These few thousand points of Universal Proficiency were not wasted; they were precisely used where they mattered most.

After consecutively raising Pure Yang Extreme Fist by two levels, Ning Xiu had 7110 points of Universal Proficiency remaining.

If he were to use them to further improve Pure Yang Extreme Fist, the cost-effectiveness would be less significant, as his other techniques were still at relatively low levels.

No matter how sharp a spear was, it needed a sturdy shield; only by combining the two could weaknesses be minimized.

Ning Xiu had been bothered by the fact that the Three-Faced Demon had managed to break through his Golden Bell Shield cultivation.

If a person is killed, they die.

To avoid dying, one could only ensure that Malevolent Spirits and Demons could not kill them.

Therefore, the level of his Golden Bell Shield was still insufficient; it needed to be improved to ensure his safety.

Consuming 1600 points of Universal Proficiency, Golden Bell Shield Level 5 → Level 6.

Consuming 2000 points of Universal Proficiency, Golden Bell Shield Level 6 → Level 7.

Consuming 3000 points of Universal Proficiency, Golden Bell Shield Level 7 → Level 8.

As Golden Bell Shield reached the eighth level, Ning Xiu felt his entire skeleton creak, and a pain originating from his bones spread wildly throughout his body, causing him to involuntarily grimace in agony.

"Could this be the true effect of Golden Bell Shield that Martial Instructor mentioned before, Bone Forging!" Ning Xiu leaned against the prison wall to support himself, preventing himself from falling to the ground.

Last year, when Martial Instructor publicly taught the cultivation method of Golden Bell Shield in the Champion Camp, he had mentioned that Golden Bell Shield was not an ordinary Hardening Skill.

The first three levels of Golden Bell Shield could enhance a martial artist's resistance to blows. Levels four to seven allowed a martial artist to disregard weapons; when tensing their qi, their body would become as hard as bronze or iron.

The effects of the first seven levels were not significantly different from ordinary Hardening Skills.

Only by cultivating to the eighth level did one truly touch upon the profound mystery of Golden Bell Shield – Bone Forging.

The reason Golden Bell Shield was named as such was that when cultivated to a profound level, it not only made a martial artist's entire skeleton tougher.

It also allowed a martial artist's sternum and ribs to completely merge, with no gaps between each rib, thus enclosing and protecting the heart and lungs like a bell shield, forming an extremely strong defense.

Ning Xiu had previously overlooked this matter. Only now, as Golden Bell Shield reached the eighth level, did he suddenly recall what Martial Instructor had said from his memory.

As expected, Ning Xiu soon clearly felt new bone growing between his ribs, eliminating any gaps.

After enduring the pain emanating from his bones, he felt as if he had undergone a sublimation, clearly sensing the immense changes occurring within him.

Although Ning Xiu had not yet tested the defensive power of Golden Bell Shield at the eighth level, he was very confident that if he were to face the Three-Faced Demon again, the opponent would no longer be able to break through his Golden Bell Shield.

"My current strength should be considered as having entered the Eighth Rank," Ning Xiu mused.

[Pure Yang Extreme Fist: Level 9 (31/5000)](+)

[Golden Bell Shield: Level 8 (12/4000)](+)

[Spiritual Eye Qi Observation Technique: Level 1 (21/200)](+)

[Great Sun Profound Scripture: Level 5 (310/2000)](+)

Universal Proficiency: 510

Both Pure Yang Extreme Fist and Golden Bell Shield had undergone a qualitative leap, but this also instantly depleted Ning Xiu's original more than 13,000 points of Universal Proficiency.

However, this was not a problem, as he could still spend another two days in the Demon Subduing Prison. Time was ample, enough for Ning Xiu to harvest a few more waves of Universal Proficiency.

Just as Ning Xiu was enjoying himself in the Demon Subduing Prison, executing Malevolent Spirits, a major event occurred within the Demon Subduing Bureau.

Outside the Heavenly Eye Tower, a man with a broad back, burly build, wolf-like eyes, and a square face strode in. Behind him followed ten Demon Subduing Captains, all of Bronze Leopard rank.

The fact that these ten Demon Subduing Captains maintained a three-step distance from the man, not daring to overtake him by even an inch, indicated that only Demon Subduing Captains with higher authority would receive such treatment.

"Sir, this was found this morning while I was organizing. The sender left no name." A clerk, seeing the man arrive, quickly stepped forward with a letter held in both hands, his face full of longing.

Qin Daorong, a Silver Tiger Demon Subduing Captain of the Demon Subduing Bureau!

This sir was a well-known figure within the Demon Subduing Bureau.

Opening the envelope and seeing the dog-scrawled handwriting on the letter, Qin Daorong's expression shifted from surprise to anger.

It was a great irony that the Demon Subduing Bureau's base in Chaotian Capital had Malevolent Spirits using a brothel as a shell to gather and hide a crowd.

Moreover, they had never discovered this matter before. If not for the revelation by the letter writer, who knew how much longer the Spring Full Pavilion would have continued to exist peacefully in Chaotian Capital.

"Zuo Yuanhao." Qin Daorong shouted.

"Your subordinate is here." A Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captain immediately stepped out from the ranks and responded with a cupped-hand salute.

"Go and notify all available Demon Subduing Captains in the Bureau. Everyone is to immediately rush to Marquis Wuyi's mansion and surround all entrances and exits. No one inside Marquis Wuyi's mansion is to leave without my permission."

Zuo Yuanhao's expression showed some hesitation: "Sir, we don't yet know the authenticity of this letter. Isn't it a bit too hasty to surround a marquis's mansion without any investigation?"

"Intelligence appearing in the Heavenly Eye Tower, it's better to believe it than not. Stop the nonsense and do as I say."

"As you command."

"The rest of you, follow me to the Spring Full Pavilion now."

Qin Daorong's style of action could be summarized in four words:

Swift and decisive!

When he arrived at the Spring Full Pavilion with nine Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captains, there was no sign of anything amiss from the outside.

However, after breaking down the door, they discovered that, just as the letter stated, there was indeed Evil Qi within the Spring Full Pavilion. Several small figures with rat heads and human bodies were sitting at a table in the corner of the main hall, sharing a dead sheep.

The moment they saw people intruding into the Spring Full Pavilion, these Rat Demons froze in their actions.

"Sir, some unknown person has set up a formation here to contain the Evil Qi, preventing it from leaking out even a trace. Furthermore, this is Marquis Wuyi's property, so no one would normally think to inspect it here," said one of the Demon Subduing Captains, who followed the Immortal Path, speaking up.

Evil Qi, demonic creatures—all evidence was conclusive.

Qin Daorong stood still and waved his hand, "Kill. Except for the Demon that needs to be kept alive for questioning, leave no other demonic creatures or Malevolent Spirits."

The nine Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captains immediately attacked. Within the Spring Full Pavilion, known as the number one brothel in Chaotian Capital, an unprecedented massacre unfolded.

At the same time, Marquis Wuyi's mansion.

In a dimly lit underground chamber, Steward Chu of the Spring Full Pavilion stood motionless before a table. Her face, covered in a dense network of scar tissue like a spiderweb, looked particularly ferocious under the candlelight.

In front of Steward Chu sat a man in a python robe. He had a full head of white hair and melancholic eyes. Although his figure was a bit plump, it did not conceal the noble aura he exuded.

This was Marquis Wuyi, Wu Huannian, one of the thirty-six Marquises of the Great Shang Dynasty.

"I trusted you so much, entrusting this matter to you. I spared no expense in providing money and treasures, and now you tell me that the Demon Subduing Bureau has discovered the secret of the Spring Full Pavilion?" Wu Huannian crushed the wine cup in his hand, staring fiercely at Steward Chu with bloodshot eyes, his killing intent erupting instantly.

Steward Chu lowered her head: "We have portraits and records of everyone in the Demon Subduing Bureau. Anyone disguised as they come to the Spring Full Pavilion will immediately draw our attention. However, we didn't expect those who came to the Spring Full Pavilion last night to be newly recruited members of the Demon Subduing Bureau, according to the investigation I later conducted. We didn't have time to gather their identities, which led to this oversight."

Wu Huannian said angrily, "Why didn't you find an opportunity to kill them? And you let the person who discovered the secret leave the Spring Full Pavilion alive and return to the Demon Subduing Bureau."

"It is my fault. I thought that with Sanmian personally taking action, it would be enough to deal with a newcomer who had just joined the Demon Subduing Bureau. I didn't expect that Sanmian would end up dying at the hands of that Demon Subduing Captain."

Wu Huannian smashed the table directly and simultaneously grabbed Steward Chu by the neck, roaring like a beast, "I colluded with your Black Heaven Gate at the risk of betraying Great Shang, not for you to admit your mistakes here! My beloved consort, I just want my beloved consort to come back to life. Speak! What stage has your ritual reached, and how much longer until it is successful!"

Facing Wu Huannian's grasp, Steward Chu dared not resist and could only calmly reply, "One thousand people. Only the vital energy of the last thousand people is needed for success. Your Highness, please rest assured. I have already arranged for fellow disciples from the sect to carry out this task in the villages and counties around Chaotian Capital. I believe it will be completed in the near future."

"Good, then I will do my best to help you stall until these thousand people are gathered. This is the last chance. Don't disappoint me again, otherwise, even if I am arrested and punished, I will find a way to make your Black Heaven Gate bury my beloved consort with me." Wu Huannian released his hand and said coldly.

Just then, a knock sounded from outside the secret chamber door, and a low, hoarse voice said, "Your Highness, the Demon Subduing Bureau has suddenly sent people to surround the entire mansion."

Hearing this news, Steward Chu's face turned grim. The thing she feared most had happened.

The young man who killed Sanmian and returned to the Demon Subduing Bureau alive had already exposed the secret of the Spring Full Pavilion.

"Your Highness, the Spring Full Pavilion is likely already occupied by people from the Demon Subduing Bureau. The consort's body is still hidden there. Before the vital energy of the last thousand people is gathered, you must stall the Demon Subduing Bureau and prevent them from discovering the consort's body," Steward Chu said with her head bowed.