Life-Draining Deduction, Swordplay Perfection

"Ugh..."

The Bride finally noticed that the sheathed Steel Saber, which should have been hanging by the bedside, had disappeared at some point.

Across from her, the infatuation in Shen Lin's eyes had completely vanished. His face was now contorted, filled with killing intent.

Clang!

He pulled his arm back, and Shen Lin drew out the Steel Saber.

Almost simultaneously, the Bride's grotesque Mouthparts snapped shut, instantly crushing the scabbard made of Ebony Wood to pieces.

A flash of cold light, and amidst the flying wood chips, the Steel Saber swung horizontally.

The vicious slash aimed directly at the Bride's neck, as if intending to Behead her in one strike.

Facing this attack, the Bride reacted with extreme speed, her slender right arm shooting up.

Clang!

The saber struck her flesh and blood, emitting a sound like metal clashing against metal.

The powerful force sent the Bride staggering back several steps, knocking over a table.

At this moment, the skin on her right arm began to peel off in flakes, revealing a blade of emerald green.

Grotesque Mouthparts, sharp blades...

The Bride, who had been so delicate moments ago, now had her Wedding Dress torn open, her skin splitting to reveal a glistening green body.

This was a Mantis Demon.

Just before she entered the room, Shen Lin's memories finally fell into place.

He remembered why his predecessor had ended up here.

What a load of crap, a wedding night!

His predecessor had come here investigating the case of missing men in Li Family Village. The accompanying Constables had all been turned into crippled husks before his eyes by this Mantis Demon.

Only he and another colleague, due to their handsome appearances, were captured alive by the Mantis Demon.

The room was now deathly silent.

Shen Lin's sudden outburst had, after all, given him some advantage.

It was strange, really. Shen Lin had grown up in modern society, with no combat experience whatsoever.

But the moment the Steel Saber was in his hand, he calmed down completely. The combat experience of his predecessor allowed him, a modern man, to steady his mind and deliver that strike.

Even so, the Mantis Demon still appeared unhurried.

As its Mouthparts opened and closed, a voice of enchanting charm, completely at odds with its current appearance, sounded.

"My dear husband, you are clearly not in good condition, yet you can still deliver such a strike. As expected of a martial arts prodigy with some renown in Qiulin County."

Although Shen Lin had only joined the County Office for less than two years, he had cultivated the Blood Battle Saber Technique to the minor accomplishment stage.

Keep in mind that the older Constables who had started practicing the Blood Battle Saber Technique before him had only barely reached the introductory level after several years.

However... this situation was known even within the County Office only to those who practiced the Blood Battle Saber Technique.

How had this demon heard of it?

Shen Lin narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the Mantis Demon, not daring to divert his attention for a moment.

Having fully absorbed his predecessor's memories, Shen Lin was now clear-headed.

Even if he could use the minor accomplishment stage of the Blood Battle Saber Technique by relying on his predecessor's experience, he still stood no chance against the Mantis Demon before him.

This was because the Mantis Demon had already cultivated Demon Power.

This was equivalent to a Martial Artist who had developed Qi and Blood Force.

Although Shen Lin had trained the Blood Battle Saber Technique to minor accomplishment, he was still a considerable distance away from developing Qi and Blood Force and achieving Marrow Cleansing and Bone Forging.

This distance was the gap between a mortal and a Martial Artist, the distance between life and death.

According to records in Qiulin County, the fastest person to cross this stage took five years.

More commonly, ordinary people never developed Qi and Blood Force in their entire lives.

Even if Shen Lin had slightly better aptitude, he certainly couldn't achieve a breakthrough in the heat of battle under the current circumstances.

Therefore, although the Mantis Demon was surprised that Shen Lin, who had lost his breath, had suddenly awakened, it showed no signs of caution.

"My dear husband~"

The Mantis Demon covered its Mouthparts with its Sickle, saying softly, "Be good, don't struggle anymore."

In reality, Shen Lin wished he could just put down the saber and rest.

After unleashing that strike just now, countless muscles throughout his body were torn, and waves of burning pain assaulted his mind.

But the moment he thought of the skeletons of the missing men, laid out in the courtyard in his predecessor's memories, he had to force himself to stay alert and ready.

He didn't want to be gnawed down to bone.

However, the gap between them was simply too vast.

It seems there's no other way.

Shen Lin sighed and slowly closed his eyes.

Seeing this, the Mantis Demon chuckled, "That's more like it. Just behave yourself..."

Ignoring its words, Shen Lin's entire focus was now on his consciousness.

He looked at the rapidly unfolding System panel, a thought flashing through his mind.

"System! Consume ten years... no!"

Shen Lin, who had initially intended to test the waters with ten years, suddenly remembered his current predicament. Gritting his teeth, he directly declared, "Forty-two years!"

"Consume forty-two years of lifespan to empower the Blood Battle Saber Technique!!!"

Either go all out or don't do it at all!

His current situation didn't allow Shen Lin to test the waters.

Even though his life was a second chance, he wanted to survive!

The panel flickered, and the number in the remaining lifespan column began to plummet, dropping to one year in the blink of an eye.

Then, Shen Lin felt a sense of dizziness. Everything in the outside world began to blur, the Mantis Demon's voice abruptly cut off, and everything seemed to freeze.

And within his consciousness, lines of text began to appear on the panel.

[With unwavering focus, you began to diligently practice the Blood Battle Saber Technique. You mastered it in the tenth year, giving birth to Qi and Blood Force, officially becoming a Martial Artist.]

[You were not content with your current state and continued to wield your saber day and night. In the twenty-eighth year, you broke through your first meridian, and the Blood Battle Saber Technique reached perfection!]

[In the forty-second year, you continued to relentlessly swing the Steel Saber, cultivating the Blood Battle Saber Technique. However, due to your limited aptitude, you were ultimately unable to advance further.]

Blood Battle Saber Technique, Perfection!