Enhanced Comprehension, Mastery of the Blade

The mist was completely different from the blood essence Cui Lang had absorbed before. It did not merge into his limbs and bones, and he did not even need to circulate his technique to refine it—it automatically fused into his mind.

In that instant, Cui Lang felt his mind become incomparably cool and comfortable. Even his mental fatigue was swept away.

"What exactly is this? My true essence hasn't changed at all, and my blood and qi haven't increased either. Could it be nourishing my soul?"

Xiao Yu was a special kind of demon. She had originally been the soul of a dead person that had accidentally taken refuge in a painting. Later, in order to grow stronger and escape that painting, she began devouring the blood essence and souls of others, continuously strengthening her demon spirit.

A demon spirit was a type of soul body, so Cui Lang guessed that after refinement, it should have nourished his soul.

Suddenly, Cui Lang realized that many things he had been unable to understand while practicing the blade now became clear.

He immediately carried his blade into the courtyard and rapidly performed the Eight Desolations Slash. His blade movements grew faster and faster, so dense that not even water could splash through.

At first, he followed the sequence exactly. Gradually, the moves remained those of the Eight Desolations Slash, but their order changed completely. Yet there was not the slightest hitch, as if the moves were meant to connect in this manner from the very beginning.

A quarter of an hour later, Cui Lang sheathed his blade, his face brimming with delight.

"The Eight Desolations Slash has reached mastery already?"

He had originally thought that by training bitterly for several hours every day, he might bring the Eight Desolations Slash into the realm of mastery within half a month.

Yet now, after only a quarter of an hour, the Eight Desolations Slash had already reached mastery. He even vaguely felt that he had touched upon the true martial meaning contained within the blade technique.

If he comprehended blade intent, he would enter the realm of perfection, and the power of the Eight Desolations Slash would rise to another level.

Moreover, he would be able to master other blade techniques more quickly afterward.

As far as he knew, not a single person in Cloud Mountain County had grasped true martial meaning.

"A stronger soul also improved my comprehension? Has this improved my martial aptitude?"

Constable Li had previously said that martial aptitude was extremely difficult to change, because the resources required were exceedingly precious. Cui Lang had also asked around. Let alone Cloud Mountain County, even Azure Cloud Prefecture might not have anyone who had seen a treasure capable of improving martial aptitude.

Yet now, by killing a demon spirit, he had actually improved his comprehension. This sent him into raptures.

If he could kill more demon spirits, could his comprehension continue improving until he became an unrivaled genius?

His blade technique's breakthrough to mastery was something no one would ever expect. It could become another one of his trump cards.

He felt even more confident about gradually rooting out the demons and monsters hidden within Cloud Mountain County.

"Little sister, you won't need to do needlework to help support the household anymore. Just practice your martial arts properly at home."

"If you get bored, you can go out and stroll around, but remember not to go to the eastern market. There are too many places of smoke and willow there, and too many drunkards. It isn't safe."

What he mainly wanted was to keep his little sister away from Dark Fragrance Pavilion. So far, no traces of demons or monsters had been discovered elsewhere in the city.

After straightening his clothes, Cui Lang opened the door and went out, continuing his street patrol with Zhao Changshan.

Toward evening, Constable Li once again came to Zheng Fengyun's office.

"Magistrate Zheng, this subordinate investigated carefully and thoroughly interrogated Wang Hanzong's old servant. He was simply knocked unconscious without warning. By the time he woke up, the house was already ablaze."

"The backyard was scorched by the fire, so it was impossible to tell whether there had been signs of a fight. Wang Hanzong's home was several dozen paces from the others, and no one heard or saw any outsiders entering."

"But the good news is that no one has come to report sightings of demons or monsters, nor has anyone come to the government office to claim the reward."

"This subordinate guesses that perhaps Xiao Yu suffered a deviation in her cultivation, causing the painting she inhabited to destroy itself. Or perhaps an expert happened to be passing through. Wang Hanzong targeted outsiders every time, and this time he may have kicked an iron plate."

"If an expert killed Xiao Yu, they would naturally disdain claiming the reward and would have gone off to handle their own affairs. We needn't worry."

Zheng Fengyun slammed his palm onto the table. "You investigated for an entire day, and all you have for me are a few guesses?"

"Tell me, who knows Xiao Yu was in Wang Hanzong's house?"

Constable Li lowered his head. "Other than this subordinate, Cui Lang knows as well. But this subordinate tested him. Cui Lang drank with Zhao Changshan last night and, after getting drunk, slept at Zhao Changshan's home. They came to roll call together this morning, and Zhao Changshan confirmed it."

"Besides, Cui Lang is only at the peak of the Essence Refinement Realm. Although this subordinate gave him a Blood Pill, it definitely wasn't enough to help him break through. He could not possibly be Xiao Yu's match."

"Furthermore, this subordinate has taken him to see those demons and monsters for nearly half a month now. He has always behaved obediently. It couldn't be him."

Zheng Fengyun stared at Constable Li. "I will personally find an opportunity to test Cui Lang again. There can be no mistakes in this matter."

"Fortunately, the County Magistrate does not know about this incident. Hurry and clean up the loose ends."

"If anything goes wrong again next time, I'll behead you first!"

"Get out!"

Constable Li lowered his head and withdrew from the County Commandant's office, a trace of venom surfacing in his eyes.

He did not want Xiao Yu to be suddenly killed either. He had not done this, so why was he the one getting cursed at?

They were grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Did Zheng Fengyun really think that if something happened to him, Zheng Fengyun could wash his hands of it?

Once his strength surpassed Zheng Fengyun's, he would repay all the humiliation of these years twofold!

The next morning, Cui Lang opened his eyes on the bed.

After returning home last night, he had practiced his blade technique for two hours as usual. Once he was tired, he returned to his room and meditated to cultivate the Blazing Sun Technique, continuing to increase his true essence.

With the Toad Demon's blood essence, he had broken through to the middle stage of the Essence Gathering Realm, but he was still quite far from the later stage.

He also suppressed the urge to take a Blood Pill to improve himself. Without demon or monster blood essence, he would cultivate and improve through his own efforts.

"My true essence can now be infused into a weapon, raising the power of my blade technique to another level. But the total amount is still too little, and my control isn't precise enough."

"Compared with people like Constable Li, the gap is still enormous. I need to temper myself day after day."

Cui Lang had no desire to become a useless man with only a realm but no ability to wield his true strength.

After breakfast, Cui Lang looked at his sister. "Cui Ling, have you sensed qi yet?"

Cui Ling shook her head. "Not yet. Brother, is my aptitude especially poor? Maybe I should stop practicing. It's just wasting money."

To cultivate martial arts, Cui Lang had also made Cui Ling eat more meat every day. Between the two of them, food alone cost more than ten taels of silver each month, far exceeding Cui Lang's salary.

"It's fine. Take it slowly. Your brother also took a long time to sense qi back then. And you don't need to worry about money. Once it's spent, we can earn more."

"Practice properly at home. Don't be lazy."

Cui Lang tidied himself up, picked up his waist saber, and headed toward the county yamen.

Just after roll call ended, as he was preparing to patrol the streets with Zhao Changshan, someone suddenly ran over to find him, saying that the County Commandant wanted to see him.

Zhao Changshan looked at Cui Lang curiously. "What does Magistrate Zheng want with you?"

Could it be that Magistrate Zheng had finally found his conscience and was preparing to give them the reward for killing the Toad Demon? Then why had he not called Zhao Changshan along?

"I don't know either. Brother Zhao, go patrol first. I'll come find you shortly."

Cui Lang arrived at the County Commandant's office and cupped his fists. "This subordinate, Cui Lang, greets Magistrate Zheng."

Zheng Fengyun turned around and beckoned Cui Lang over. When Cui Lang came before him, Zheng Fengyun suddenly stared into his eyes. "Cui Lang, I have heard that someone in the county has been colluding with demons and monsters. Do you know anything about this?"