Half an hour later, a carriage from the Demon Suppressing Division arrived.
Everyone loaded the Blood-Eyed Ape Spirit's corpse, along with the corpses of the Demon Suppressing Division members who had died, onto the carriage, and the group returned to the Demon Suppressing Division.
Since several of their comrades had fallen this time, everyone was rather subdued on the way back. Not a word was spoken.
"Take the bodies to the rear courtyard first," Ye Yinyue instructed several Division Servants driving the carriage at the entrance of the Demon Suppressing Division.
"Yes, my lady." The Division Servants bowed and cupped their hands.
Then Ye Yinyue turned to Lin Guanhuo and the others who had accompanied her this time. "Come with me to collect your rewards."
They entered the Demon Suppressing Division and headed forward along a wide Stone Path.
Just then, they saw a carriage approaching from ahead. It was pitch-black all over, with gold-thread patterns inlaid along the edges of its cabin.
A dozen or so sword-bearing Guards accompanied it on either side. They wore black, and every one of them had an expressionless face.
Lin Guanhuo sensed their strength and immediately realized that every one of the Guards was a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist or higher. The two leading Guards had even reached the Muscle-Tendon Realm!
One had to know that anyone who reached this realm was a renowned expert within hundreds of miles of Blackwater City.
"Black Armored Guards?" Lin Guanhuo furrowed his brow. He had heard before that a mysterious guard unit existed within the Demon Suppressing Division. They rarely went out to slay demons and exterminate monsters, accompanying only the Division's great figures.
In other words... there had to be some important figure inside that carriage.
'A Black Gold Carriage, Muscle-Tendon Realm Guards, dozens of people in tow... What a grand procession.'
As Lin Guanhuo pondered this, he suddenly noticed that Ye Yinyue, the Silver Badge Agent beside him, seemed a little different after seeing the carriage.
Her jade hand gripped the longsword tightly, her whole body tense.
"Stop."
At that moment, a cool female voice came from inside the approaching carriage, ordering it to halt.
At once, all the nearby Division Servants, and even some of the badge holders, bowed slightly and addressed the carriage respectfully. "Greetings, my lady."
"Greetings, my lady."
"Greetings, my lady."
They bowed and spoke with reverence, all calling out, "My lady."
But they weren't addressing Ye Yinyue, who stood beside them.
They were addressing the mysterious woman inside the black-and-gold carriage.
"S-sister..." Only after a long moment did Ye Yinyue speak, gritting her teeth.
In her voice, Lin Guanhuo could hear respect, admiration...
And even a hint of... fear.
"Brother Lin." Seeing Lin Guanhuo make no move, Chen Jianxing quietly reminded him, "That's Ye Yinxue, my lady. The Number One Gold Badge Holder! One of the two geniuses our entire Demon Suppressing Division is currently raising! A Bone Forging Realm Martial Master at only twenty!"
"When the old Commander retires, she'll be the one to hold up the sky for our Demon Suppressing Division!"
Chen Jianxing's voice was full of admiration for her as well.
The Demon Suppressing Division's Number One Gold Badge Holder wasn't just its pride; she was the pride of all Blackwater City, representing the city's most outstanding younger generation.
If she could advance another step and reach the 'Blood Tempering' realm, becoming a Martial Arts Master, the status of all Blackwater City would rise with her.
Hearing that, Lin Guanhuo cupped his hands along with those around him.
The second realm of Martial Masters was divided into Muscle-Tendon and Bone Forging.
Muscle-Tendon experts were already rare throughout Blackwater City. Someone in the Bone Forging Realm could establish a sect and become a major figure in the city, known to every household.
To reach the Bone Forging Realm at just twenty years old truly meant a future without limits.
No wonder the Demon Suppressing Division was raising her with everything it had.
After the carriage stopped, the gauzy curtain was lifted.
Revealed was a face of exquisite beauty. The woman's skin was fair, her features cool and stunning. Though her facial features bore some resemblance to her younger sister, Ye Yinyue, she carried an added air of cool, celestial grace.
"I heard you've been pursuing the Blood-Eyed Ape Spirit lately, and even asked for a Restriction?" Ye Yinxue asked coolly. But when she saw that Ye Yinyue seemed weak, as though injured, Ye Yinxue's brows furrowed slightly.
Ye Yinyue was silent for a moment, then said, "I was hurt a little... Fortunately, an expert came to help and killed that beast... It's just a pity about the brothers we lost..."
"Reckless."
But as soon as Ye Yinyue finished speaking, Ye Yinxue's eyes turned icy, and she rebuked her. "To be absolutely certain of killing a demon like that, you need a fifth-rank or higher Muscle-Tendon Realm Martial Master. By being so reckless, you put both yourself and others in danger."
Hearing this, Ye Yinyue suddenly felt a little wronged. She had been hoping her sister would comfort her.
Instead, all she got was another scolding.
The two sisters had relied on each other since childhood. Ye Yinyue suddenly felt that the gentle older sister she remembered had become a little unfamiliar.
"I was wrong... Sister." Ye Yinyue lowered her head, like a child who had done something wrong.
Ye Yinxue's expression remained as cool as ever. She let the curtain fall, leaving behind one final sentence. "Perhaps the Demon Suppressing Division was never the right place for you. I advise you to give it up soon."
With that, the procession continued on, slowly leaving the Demon Suppressing Division.
Only...
No one noticed.
The instant the carriage left the Demon Suppressing Division, the curtain was gently lifted once more, and a pair of beautiful eyes gazed at Ye Yinyue, who was still standing where she had been.
After Ye Yinxue's procession left,
Lin Guanhuo and the others followed Ye Yinyue to the Front Hall, where they registered their names.
Then they collected their rewards.
For slaying an Eighth-Rank Great Demon, they were awarded a total of 1,200 Silver Ingots.
Ye Yinyue felt she was at fault, so she didn't keep a single ingot and divided all the silver among Lin Guanhuo and the others.
Lin Guanhuo received three hundred taels.
After dividing up the silver, Ye Yinyue left by herself.
Watching her somewhat dejected back, Lin Guanhuo suddenly thought:
Perhaps this woman's greatest goal was to earn her sister's approval.
Living your whole life for someone else was exhausting.
After collecting the silver, Lin Guanhuo returned to his small courtyard. By then, night had fallen.
He sat cross-legged on his bed and sent his divine sense into his mind.
He had now completely memorized the cultivation method for the Blood Flow Art.
[Comprehend the Blood Flow Art, consume 2000 Draw Sword count]
As Lin Guanhuo's thoughts stirred, the system's prompt appeared before him.
But seeing the number three thousand left him speechless...
'Comprehending the second-grade Mountain Piercing Art only took 1,000 Draw Sword counts.'
'This Blood Flow Art needs 2,000...'
'Another life-devouring black hole...'
That said, Lin Guanhuo had seen the terrifying power of the Blood Flow Art with his own eyes.
If he could master this divine ability, the surge of Blood Qi would greatly increase his speed when drawing his sword. Whether he was pursuing someone, launching a sneak attack, or making a quick escape when things went wrong—
He would have the initiative in any situation.
He glanced at his remaining lifespan: [40] years.
Without hesitation,
"Exchange 20 years of lifespan!" Lin Guanhuo said in his mind.
He then saw the lifespan on his personal status panel drop from 40 to 20.
Then came a flood of knowledge, insights, and mastery, surging into every inch of his body!
For a whole day, Lin Guanhuo sat motionless where he was. Wisps of white smoke rose around his body.
Another day passed, and the white smoke around Lin Guanhuo slowly began to turn blood-red.
Three more days passed. By now, Lin Guanhuo was completely enveloped in a scarlet haze, as if he were a man made of blood.
[Successfully comprehended the Blood Flow Art]
As a prompt sounded in his mind, Lin Guanhuo suddenly opened his eyes.
The Blood Flow Art was complete!
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