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"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The seven coffins shook violently, as if struck by an invisible force, the wood colliding with dull, eerie sounds.

Chen Bin's expression was cold and stern. From the long blade in his hand, a thick, black, foul-smelling liquid dripped slowly.

The crimson blade patterns shimmered with light.

He shook the blade forcefully, flinging the viscous liquid to the ground.

Dragging the knife, Chen Bin approached the coffins with slow but steady steps.

Each step landed, splashing with a thick, muffled sound.

At that moment, a translucent status panel slowly materialized before his eyes:

[Name]: Chen Bin

[Cultivation]: Body Tempering Realm (Blood Change: 0/100)

[Merit]: 871

[Martial Arts]:

Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique (Proficient: 0/50)

Demon Suppression Blade Technique (Proficient: 0/50)

Chen Bin's eyes flickered. He thought to himself, Since that's the case, let's add points!

"Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique, max it out!"

[You consume 50 Merit points to enhance your comprehension of the Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique. Your physique is greatly improved.]

[Remaining Merit: 821]

[Your Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique has been fully integrated into your martial arts.]

[Martial Arts]: Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique (Mastery: 0/100)

In an instant, it felt as if an invisible force in the world had paused for a moment.

Immediately after, countless strands of yang energy, as if summoned, surged madly toward Chen Bin's body.

They entered through his pores, skin, mouth, and nose.

At the same time, wisps of blood mist seeped from his pores, gradually soaking his body and draping him in a thin, blood-red veil.

Chen Bin felt his physical strength continuously increasing, but he sensed this was far from enough!

After all, the five stages of Body Tempering were Bronze Skin, Iron Bones, Organ Tempering, Blood Refining, and Jade Marrow.

And the beings in the coffins were all Ghost Servants, likely on par with his own combat power.

Without any hesitation, Chen Bin continued moving forward.

[Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique Mastery achieved.]

[You consume 100 Merit points to enhance your comprehension of the Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique. Your physique is greatly improved.]

[Remaining Merit: 721]

[Your Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique has reached Return to Simplicity, becoming part of your daily life.]

[Martial Arts]: Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique (Supreme)

As the words faded, the blood mist seeping from his pores grew even denser, like a blood cloud enveloping him.

The abundant yang energy of the world surged like a raging tide, madly rushing toward this spot.

Under the onslaught of yang energy, the puddle of black liquid on the ground rapidly dried up, and the originally moist leathery skin quickly shriveled, as if all life had been drained from it.

[You consume 50 Merit points to upgrade your comprehension of the Demon Suppression Blade Technique. The blade technique has been deduced to Mastery.]

[Remaining Merit: 671]

[Your Demon Suppression Blade Technique has been fully integrated into your martial arts.]

[Martial Arts]: Demon Suppression Blade Technique (Mastery: 0/100)

As this notification appeared before his eyes.

The Demon Suppression Blade moved in his hand as if it were an extension of his arm, held with a confidence that came from total control.

So this is what it feels like to master a blade technique and integrate it fully into one's martial arts?

With the advancement of his martial arts, Chen Bin's physique had also been greatly enhanced.

Both martial arts and physique had improved in tandem, but it still wasn't enough.

His gaze shifted to the [Cultivation] column.

[You consume 100 Merit points. Your realm has been elevated. Blood Change Stage is now complete.]

As this message appeared, the blood mist around Chen Bin suddenly burst outward, spreading instantly to shroud him completely.

Chen Bin narrowed his eyes, scanning his new attribute panel:

[Name]: Chen Bin

[Cultivation]: Body Tempering Realm (Jade Marrow: 0/100)

[Merit]: 571

[Martial Arts]:

Golden Sun Body Tempering Technique (Perfection)

Demon Suppression Blade Technique (Mastery: 0/100)

Just then, seven coffins burst open with a loud bang, as if struck by a powerful force simultaneously, hurtling toward Chen Bin.

The corners of Chen Bin's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a confident smile. He swept his perfected Demon Suppression Blade out calmly.

Yet, unexpectedly, the coffins did not split in two as he had anticipated.

A claw wreathed in black qi shot out from one coffin with incredible speed, aiming straight for his face.

Chen Bin's brow furrowed instantly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Without hesitation, he thrust the pitch-black blade along the claw's path.

With a sharp shriek, Chen Bin twisted his wrist rapidly, sweeping the blade sideways.

With a bang, the coffin exploded, along with the Ghost Servant possessing the corpse inside, both blasted into pieces.

Behind the shattered coffin, another Ghost Servant emerged.

Her eyes were blood-red, her claws like roasted chicken feet—withered and twisted.

Using the coffin's shadow, she crept silently and swiftly closer.

Chen Bin had already sensed the danger. The moment the Ghost Servant appeared, he raised his blade high.

The ferocious Ghost Servant's gaze faltered, as if feeling the overwhelming pressure radiating from Chen Bin, and abruptly tried to change direction to flee.

This wasn't thought—it was instinct.

As if the Ghost Servant had already overcome its urge to devour.

"Ah..."

The Demon Suppression Blade descended with fierce momentum, like lightning, cleaving the Ghost Servant in two as easily as cutting tofu.

With Chen Bin slaying two Ghost Servants, the savage aura of the others was fully provoked.

The Ghost Servants that had been hiding in their coffins, relying on the wood to block the sun, abandoned their shelters one after another, charging at Chen Bin like starving wolves, claws bared.

Chen Bin gripped the black blade, standing calmly amidst the surging tide of Ghost Servants.

Each swing of his blade carried a sharp wind, as if it could tear the very air apart.

[Slain Ghost Servant, gained 10 Merit. Remaining Merit: 641.]

As the last Ghost Servant fell, the battle finally ended.

Seventy Merit in hand.

Chen Bin slowly sheathed his blade, sweeping his gaze over the battlefield littered with debris. His brow furrowed deeply as he sank into thought.

"Chen Bin, how is it?" Chen Chong hurried over, looking at Chen Bin, whose hair was stained red by the earlier blood mist, as if he had returned from hell.

At this hour, it should have been the heat of the afternoon, with waves of scorching air.

Yet as Chen Chong walked across the ground soaked in black ichor, he inexplicably felt a chill creeping up from his feet, straight to his heart.

"Something's off." Chen Bin said gravely.

"What's off?"

Chen Chong asked in confusion. In his view, Chen Bin had fought brilliantly, and the outcome was perfect—how could anything be wrong?

"No children." Chen Bin said in a low voice.

Chen Chong froze. No children?

He quickly scanned the surroundings, then closed his eyes, carefully recalling the battle just now.

Sure enough, in his memory, there was no trace of any child.

How could a village have not a single child?

It defied all reason.

"Go. Return to the county and tell the Demon Suppression Division to send someone important."

Chen Bin ordered with a serious expression. "There's a big case here."