Shadow Demon Li Heng

Frost condensed on the withered grass, and his breath turned to mist. Time flowed, and nearly five months had quietly passed since that summer day when Li Yifan passed the stringent assessment and officially donned the standard black uniform of a captain in the Seventh Squad of the Qing ProvinceXuntian Guard. From his initial emergence in the Bone Refining Realm, to his current solidified aura at the mid-stage of Muscle Refining, standing like a mountain, nearly 150 days of battles, trials, and arduous cultivation had honed the young man's edges, making him more reserved. Only his eyes, deep as an ancient well when calm, became sharp enough to pierce the soul when a glint of light flashed.

It had been over ten days since he returned from the Liu Family Merchant Association, during which time he had successfully cultivated the Iron Bone Technique to perfection and his realm had also improved significantly. However, looking at his empty coin purse, he couldn't help but sigh. This day, as he returned to the familiar Xuntian Guard headquarters, exuding an imposing aura, a clerk in a servant's uniform hurried to meet him before he even entered his simply furnished courtyard, his expression respectful yet tinged with urgency.

"Captain Li, you've returned. Commander Wang has ordered that you report to the public office immediately upon your return."

Li Yifan didn't stop walking, merely nodded slightly, his voice steady and unreadable, "Thank you for leading the way."

Passing through the familiar bluestone training ground, the shouts of other squad members training and the sound of weapons cutting through the air reached his ears. Everything was orderly, yet there was a palpable tension, more than usual, befitting the approach of the year's end. Stepping into Commander Wang's simple yet majestic public office, a faint scent of ink and sandalwood mixed in the air.

"Your subordinate Li Yifan, pays respects to Commander." Li Yifan clasped his fists in a salute, standing as straight as a pine tree.

Commander Wang was poring over an urgent document at his desk. Hearing the voice, he looked up, his gaze sharp, falling upon Li Yifan. He didn't speak immediately, but scrutinized him for a moment. In his eyes, which had seen countless things, a hint of undisguised astonishment and relief flickered. In nearly five months, this young man had grown at a breathtaking pace. Not only had his cultivation reached the mid-stage of Muscle Refining, but more importantly, his demeanor was so steady it didn't seem like that of a young man, but rather an old hand who had weathered decades of storms. His foundation was solid, his true qi vigorous and condensed, far surpassing others of the same level. Such potential and character were rare in his many years. He checked Li Yifan's background, and found he had no connections, his parents long deceased. It could be said that he had reached this point entirely on his own.

"No need for formalities," Commander Wang put down his vermilion brush, his tone calm but carrying the inherent authority of a superior. "Just returned from outside?"

"Yes, sir. I was handling some personal matters," Li Yifan replied concisely.

Commander Wang didn't pry further. Instead, he retrieved a dark red scroll, its edges even slightly worn, from the top of his desk, his expression growing solemn. "Yifan, the year is drawing to a close, and as is customary, it is a time for settling old cases and deterring petty criminals. Recently, there has been a major fugitive who has repeatedly evaded our Xuntian Guard's pursuit, his actions becoming increasingly rampant, severely damaging the prestige of the guard. After much deliberation, I believe you are the most suitable person to carry out this mission alone."

To carry out the mission alone. Li Yifan's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained as calm as an ancient well. A mission that Commander Wang would solemnly assign on the eve of the new year, using a red scroll (usually indicating danger or significant impact), was far from an ordinary Grade C mission. He didn't rush to ask questions, but waited for him to continue.

Commander Wang slowly pushed the scroll towards Li Yifan, saying gravely, "Target: 'Shadow Demon' Li Heng."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, or perhaps emphasizing the danger of the individual. "This scoundrel's origins are mysterious, suspected to be from a long-destroyed unorthodox sect. His cultivation is bizarre and unpredictable, having reached the peak of the late Muscle Refining stage. His actions are utterly without principle. Coveting a family heirloom, he slaughtered the entire clan overnight, leaving no one alive, his methods horrifying. He then fled with the treasure, and despite years of pursuit, he has never been caught. Recently, he has appeared within our Qing Province."

"Li Heng cultivates a lost technique, the Phantom Demon Technique. This technique excels at stealth, illusion, and creating phantoms. When activated, his movements are erratic, like a ghost or a demon, capable of creating several indistinguishable illusory figures in a short time to confuse the opponent's senses. He can also harness the power of shadows to launch surprise attacks, making him impossible to defend against. His weapons are a pair of 'Shadowless Daggers', as thin as cicada wings and nearly transparent. His Netherworld Assassination Technique specifically targets vital points like acupoints and meridians, being vicious and deadly, often resulting in a fatal blow with wounds that are extremely difficult to detect. This individual's cunning is like a fox's, his cruelty like a wolf's. He is extremely skilled in disguise and assassination, making him a formidable opponent."

Commander Wang's sharp gaze fell on Li Yifan. "Previously, two elite squads from our guard were dispatched to pursue him. One squad, skilled in tracking and investigation, was led by Li Heng into a natural illusion formation during their pursuit. He used his phantom techniques to launch surprise attacks, causing the team members to kill each other in the chaos, resulting in heavy losses. The other squad set up an ambush, but he had already detected it. He turned the tables, using illusions to lure the enemy while he lurked in the shadows, defeating them one by one. Although it wasn't a complete annihilation, every member was wounded, allowing him to escape at his leisure. This scoundrel's unpredictable nature far surpasses that of ordinary criminals."

Peak late Muscle Refining, unorthodox successor, bizarre techniques, skilled in illusions and assassination. As these keywords entered his ears, Li Yifan's heart remained remarkably calm, becoming even more so. This type of opponent was precisely what he needed to test if his Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique's supreme yang energy could counter evil illusions, if his Spirit Fox Steps' agility could cope with his erratic movements, and if his Detection skill could see through his disguises. The opponent's strengths lay in his bizarre techniques, elusive movements, and mastery of assassination; his own strengths, however, were in his supreme yang cultivation method, keen senses (thanks to his cultivation and skills), and solid foundation.

Commander Wang saw Li Yifan's continued composure, his eyes filled with even greater admiration. He continued, "According to the latest intelligence we obtained at considerable cost, Li Heng was last seen in the 'Mist Canyon' area, bordering Qingzhou Prefecture and a neighboring province. That region is perpetually shrouded in mist, with dim light and complex terrain, filled with karst caves and underground rivers, making it extremely suitable for the Phantom Demon Technique's deployment. His choice of this location clearly means he is in his element, intending to use this treacherous place as his lair, or perhaps he is in a critical stage of cultivating some demonic technique."

"Therefore, the mission level, after joint deliberation by several commanders, has been classified as Grade C-plus, bordering on Grade B-minus. Mission objective: Apprehend or kill 'Shadow Demon' Li Heng. Mission reward: One thousand contribution points." Commander Wang's tone intensified, "Furthermore, given the target's unpredictable and extremely dangerous nature, you may use this token to collect double the standard supplies from the logistics department, and you may also apply for additional pills or talismans to clear the mind and sharpen the senses, to prevent being deceived by illusions."

The peak of Grade C-plus, a thousand contribution points. The reward was indeed extremely generous, but behind this generosity lay the unpredictable threat of death. Commander Wang's actions were clearly no longer just a routine mission assignment, but more akin to a final assessment of Li Yifan's strength, character, and perception.

A brief silence fell in the room. Li Yifan's gaze fell on the red scroll, his fingers lightly brushing its cold cover. His Xuntian Guard career of nearly five months had taught him the significance behind these thousand contribution points and the phrase "carry out the mission alone." This was trust, and also a heavy burden.

He raised his head, meeting Commander Wang's gaze, without any hesitation, his voice steady but carrying undeniable power, "Your subordinate accepts the order. I will do my utmost to bring this scoundrel to justice, as a warning to others."

There were no passionate oaths, no impetuous declarations, only a brief promise, yet it carried more weight.

"Good! This is the composure and responsibility I want!" Commander Wang finally showed a hint of a smile, but immediately cautioned sternly, "Yifan, remember, Li Heng is not ordinary. His Phantom Demon Technique's illusions are indistinguishable from reality, and his Shadowless Daggers are impossible to guard against. Moreover, this scoundrel is incredibly cunning, best at exploiting the environment and the weaknesses of people's hearts. Never be deceived by his outward appearance; you must hold fast to your original intention and respond to change with constancy. Your primary objective in all actions is to preserve yourself. If you discover his demonic cultivation has advanced further or he has set traps, you must transmit a message for reinforcements in a timely manner; do not act recklessly."

"Thank you for your reminder, sir. Your subordinate will bear it in mind and will plan meticulously, proceeding step by step." Li Yifan bowed, accepting the heavy scroll and a black iron token engraved with a special rune with both hands.

Exiting the public office, the biting cold wind hit him. Li Yifan did not return to his courtyard but headed directly to the logistics department, collecting double the supplies and the additionally requested Heart-Clearing Pills. The entire process was efficient and silent.

Returning to his quiet room, he closed his eyes to meditate. Once his mind was completely at peace, he unfolded the scroll and began to study it carefully. Information about "Shadow Demon" Li Heng's appearance (vague, skilled in disguise), cultivation characteristics, behavioral patterns, a map of Mist Canyon... All the information was calmly analyzed by him, deducing various countermeasures.

"Mist Canyon is conducive to his abilities. The Nine Yang True Qi might be able to dispel some of the evil mist illusions, and the Heart-Clearing Pills are key."

"Phantom clones require relying on the Detection skill and spiritual sense to differentiate, avoiding being misled and wasting energy. The Spirit Fox Steps need to focus more on burst speed and directional changes to counter surprise attacks."

"The Shadowless Daggers are venomous; one must maintain protective true qi at all times. The perfected Iron Bone Technique body is the last line of defense. The long-range and scorching heat of the Scorching Sun Finger might force him to reveal himself."

After deducing his plan, he meticulously packed his gear: a grey-black cloak, a long saber, crossbow bolts, pills... especially the Heart-Clearing Pills, which he placed within easy reach.

Before dawn the next day, in the darkest hour, Li Yifan quietly left the headquarters, melting into the night, heading towards Mist Canyon. His figure was solitary, his gaze as cold as ice.

This journey was extremely perilous, but also an excellent opportunity to hone his perception and his original heart. His mind was like a rock, his sword sheathed, waiting for the moment to cleave through the mist.