Rewards!

Leader Liu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the storm of shock churning in his chest.

He walked over to Lu Chen, looking at his frail appearance as if he might breathe his last at any moment. His calloused hand landed heavily on Lu Chen's shoulder, and his voice came out hoarse, carrying an unprecedented solemnity.

"Kid... you saved all our lives."

The other two Warriors snapped back to reality as well. The way they looked at Lu Chen had completely changed.

The disgust, contempt, and disdain from before were all gone.

In their place was a mix of awe, gratitude, and a strange emotion like they were looking at a monster.

"Chen... Brother Chen... awesome!" one of them stammered, the address shifting unconsciously.

Lu Chen waved his hand weakly, as if he didn't even have the strength to speak, and only gestured with his eyes toward the Boning Knife still stuck in the remains of the Corpse Vine Demon Tree.

Leader Liu understood. He stepped forward and pulled it out in one motion.

The blade was still sharp, but it was covered in dark green, foul-smelling sap, giving off a nauseating stench.

"Let's get out of here first!" Leader Liu decided on the spot. "The blood smell here is too strong. Even though the demon is dead, it'll attract other things soon!"

He helped Lu Chen, who could barely stand, while another Warrior carried him on his back.

The four of them fled that hellish death ground without looking back.

The journey back was eerily silent.

But the atmosphere was completely different from when they had set out.

Lu Chen was carried on the Warrior's back, eyes closed, seemingly asleep, but his mind had long since sunk into his consciousness.

That ancient Bronze Tome was undergoing earth-shaking changes!

It was no longer the archaic bronze color. Instead, it had transformed into a warm, silvery white, as if forged from moonlight. The edges of the tome were now adorned with intricate, mysterious silver patterns.

Code
[System upgrade complete.]

[Host: Lu Chen]

[Current remaining personal lifespan: 23 years]

[Remaining Demon Devil Lifespan: 150 years]

[Martial Arts:]

[Demon Suppressing Saber Technique (Mastery)]

[Turtle Breath Meditation Method (Beginner)]

[Body Evasion Steps (Minor Mastery)]

[Shadow Step (Minor Mastery)]

[Realm: Mortal Bone Mastery.]

[New functions added in this upgrade:]

[1. New martial arts realm unlocked: Perfection. The host may consume lifespan to further deduce martial arts that have reached 'Mastery' to the 'Perfection' realm. The Perfection realm approaches the Dao, allowing the birth of unique traits.]

[2. 'Deduction Furnace' function unlocked. The host may place two or more martial arts of the same type into the furnace, consume lifespan to deduce, and have a chance to fuse them, taking the best and discarding the rest to create a new technique.]

Lu Chen's heart nearly stopped beating at that moment!

Perfection realm! Deduction Furnace!

This wasn't just a simple upgrade—it was a qualitative leap!

It meant he would no longer be shackled by the limitations of predecessors' techniques, and he truly had the possibility of forging his own path!

Lu Chen forcibly suppressed the ecstasy in his heart and, without a moment's hesitation, issued the first command to the system.

"Repair personal lifespan deficit!"

Code
[Command confirmed. Consumed 22 years of Demon Devil Lifespan. Personal lifespan +22 years.]

[Current remaining personal lifespan: 45 years.]

[Remaining Demon Devil Lifespan: 128 years.]

Feeling his vitality surge back, full and vigorous, Lu Chen finally let out a long, relieved breath.

Security—this was the foundation of everything he did.

His gaze fell on the Shadow Step, which was only at Minor Mastery.

This Mystery Rank Movement Technique, even at the beginner level, had saved him more than once in the deadly situation just now.

If he could fuse it with Body Evasion Steps and then push it to a higher realm...

Lu Chen's heart burned with anticipation.

By the time this team, reduced by more than half, dragged their exhausted bodies back to the Demon Suppression Division, the sky was already growing light.

News had already been sent ahead, and Foreman Wang rushed out the moment he saw them.

When he saw the four living men—especially Lu Chen, who was being supported, his face pale but still breathing—the expression on his face was a spectacle to behold.

Shock, disbelief, disappointment, and finally, all of it coalesced into a barely concealed gloom and dread.

Not dead?

After all that, he wasn't dead?!

"Foreman Wang." Leader Liu stepped forward, his voice hoarse as he reported, "The Black Wind Gully scout squad is entirely lost. We encountered a Ranked Demon, a Corpse Vine Demon Tree. Unable to prevail after a hard fight, we lost two brothers. In the end... it was Lu Chen. He... he got lucky. After I gravely wounded the demon, he... by chance... found its weak point and killed it."

Leader Liu had ultimately chosen the safest, most conventional explanation.

He omitted Lu Chen's ghostly footwork, emphasizing only his "luck."

This was both to protect himself and, invisibly, to shield the young man who had saved their lives.

"Luck?" Foreman Wang's teeth ground audibly. He stared fixedly at Lu Chen, his gaze as if he wanted to devour him alive. "Luck again?!"

"Foreman Wang sees clearly!" the two surviving Warriors chimed in hastily. "At that critical moment, Leader Liu struck with all his might. We all thought we were done for. It was Brother Chen... Brother Chen stumbled onto it like a blind cat catching a dead mouse—one stab in, and the monster fell! Truly, our ancestors' graves must be smoking!"

Foreman Wang's face cycled through green and white, his chest heaving violently, but he couldn't utter a single word.

The death trap he had so meticulously designed—broken by an absurd stroke of luck?

It made him feel like a clown who had exhausted every trick, only to punch a wad of cotton, suffocating with frustration until he nearly spat blood.

Just then, a commanding voice came from not far away.

"Imperial Guard Liu, you did well."

Captain Li had appeared behind the group at some point. His face was stern, but his eyes held a trace of approval as he looked at Leader Liu.

"Though the losses were heavy, you uncovered the truth behind the scout squad's disappearance and even slew a Ranked Demon that had long been a scourge. This is a great merit!"

His gaze shifted, landing on the weakened Lu Chen, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

"You are Lu Chen? The Corpse Handler with such good luck?"

"R-Reporting to Your Lordship, this subordinate... this subordinate was merely fortunate..." Lu Chen quickly bowed, putting on a flustered and overwhelmed air.

Captain Li gave a noncommittal smile, then announced in a clear voice, "Merit must be rewarded! Imperial Guard Liu, promoted to Deputy Commander, awarded ten bottles of Qi and Blood Pill and a thousand taels of silver!"

"The other two, each awarded three bottles of Qi and Blood Pill and three hundred taels of silver!"

Finally, his gaze settled on Lu Chen. After a moment's deliberation, he said, "As for you... though it was luck, you still claim the primary credit. I hereby grant you special permission to enter the first floor of the Demon Suppression Division's armory and select one Yellow-grade cultivation technique! Additionally, you are awarded one bottle of Foundation Elixir and one specially crafted Hundred Refinements Saber of the Demon Suppression Division!"