The Day of Entry, the Day of Advancement!

Hearing this, Xu Ye smiled and patted Xu Zhizhi. "Don't worry. That won't happen. I promise you, I'll never put myself in danger."

Only then did Xu Zhizhi nod, gradually accepting the fact.

It was not that she feared Xu Ye joining the Demon-Suppression Bureau.

She was simply terrified of losing Xu Ye, her only family.

"Don't cry. Look, joining the Demon-Suppression Bureau even comes with silver! Zhizhi will be able to buy lots of meat from now on." Seeing Xu Zhizhi gradually calm down, Xu Ye took out the money pouch, set it on the table, and smiled at her.

At that, Xu Zhizhi glanced at the money pouch but did not touch it. Instead, she said, "I don't need lots of money, and I don't need lots of meat. I only hope that you and I can both stay safe and sound."

"I promise you, we will," Xu Ye said solemnly.

Only then did Xu Zhizhi nod, finally calming down.

The siblings then had a simple dinner. After Xu Zhizhi cleaned up, Xu Ye sent her off to rest.

Xu Ye, meanwhile, returned to his room.

Once back in his room, Xu Ye did not hesitate. He hurriedly took out the first-grade cultivation manual, the Demon-Subduing Scripture.

Ever since the Qi Refining Formula had reached perfection, he had not cultivated again.

Now that he held a first-grade cultivation manual in his hands, he could no longer suppress the restless heart within him.

With the Demon-Subduing Scripture in hand, Xu Ye hurriedly opened it and carefully read everything written inside.

He analyzed every part one by one, from how to cultivate to every minute detail.

Though this Demon-Subduing Scripture was merely a copied edition rather than the original, its records were exceptionally detailed. It even contained cultivation annotations and the insights of other cultivators.

For Xu Ye, it could not have been more accommodating.

"As expected of a first-grade cultivation manual. It truly is exquisite." After committing the cultivation method of the Demon-Subduing Scripture to memory, Xu Ye could not help but sigh in admiration.

Cultivation manuals with a grade and those without one were indeed worlds apart.

The Qi Refining Formula he had cultivated before had been immensely useful to someone like him who had only just begun.

But before the Demon-Subduing Scripture, it was like heaven and earth.

The two simply could not be mentioned in the same breath.

The Qi Refining Formula was trash.

[Realm: Ninth Level of Meridian Opening]

[ Cultivation Manual: Demon-Subduing Scripture [Not Yet Begun] (0/300)]

[Martial Skill: None]

After Xu Ye finished marveling, the system panel changed as well.

The original Qi Refining Formula progress bar had already been replaced by the Demon-Subduing Scripture.

Clearly, the system displayed the cultivation manual better suited to him on the panel.

However, the Demon-Subduing Scripture had yet to be begun.

"I hope to enter the Qi Manipulation Realm soon." Seeing this, Xu Ye wasted no words. He took a deep breath and began cultivating the Demon-Subduing Scripture.

Following the cultivation method and circulation principles of the Demon-Subduing Scripture, he began practicing without pause.

Streams of spiritual power surged through his nine martial meridians.

His spiritual power also grew stronger and more vigorous bit by bit.

Cultivation knew neither the passage of years nor the flow of time.

In the blink of an eye, the entire night had passed.

[Realm: Ninth Level of Meridian Opening]

[Cultivation Manual: Demon-Subduing Scripture [Not Yet Begun] (50/300)]

[Martial Skill: None]

Xu Ye slowly opened his eyes, and a sharp gleam flashed through them.

"The Demon-Subduing Scripture truly is a first-grade cultivation manual. Cultivating it is difficult as well," Xu Ye murmured to himself.

After cultivating through the night, he had only circulated the Demon-Subduing Scripture for fifty cycles, gaining fifty points of proficiency.

Had it been the Qi Refining Formula, he would likely have completed several hundred cycles already.

The gap in difficulty was indeed enormous.

However, none of those difficulties were a problem for Xu Ye.

All he needed was time. Sooner or later, he would cultivate it to the entry level.

"I believe that the day the Demon-Subduing Scripture reaches the entry level will be the day I step into the Qi Manipulation Realm." Feeling the spiritual power circulating within him, Xu Ye thought to himself.

Though the Demon-Subduing Scripture had not yet reached the entry level, his night of cultivation had not been without gains.

His spiritual power had already grown somewhat more robust.

His strength and combat power had risen another level compared to before.

If he faced that cat demon again now, Xu Ye felt that he could kill it even more easily.

He believed that once the Demon-Subduing Scripture reached the entry level, he would be able to step into the Qi Manipulation Realm.

"I need to report to the Demon-Suppression Bureau today. Looks like I can only practice the saber technique there." With that thought, Xu Ye took a deep breath, stood up, and put away the Demon-Subduing Scripture.

He still had a copy of the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique, also a first-grade martial skill.

He very much wanted to cultivate it, but he had no time now. He needed to report to the Demon-Suppression Bureau.

Besides, his place was far too small to properly move around.

Let alone practice a saber technique.

It seemed he could only cultivate it at the Demon-Suppression Bureau.

"Looks like I need to move into a bigger house." Xu Ye smiled.

This house was still too small.

It was indeed cramped with his sister and him living together.

Moreover, he needed space to cultivate.

In that case, he needed to set a goal first: earn merit and trade for a larger house as soon as possible.

Just as Xu Ye was thinking this, Xu Zhizhi came out carrying two bowls of noodles.

"Brother, breakfast is ready!" Xu Zhizhi said with a smile.

She had already accepted the fact that Xu Ye had become a Demon Suppression Guard.

Everything her brother did was for her sake, so naturally she would not remain trapped in her worries forever.

Besides, her personality would not allow her to do so.

Breakfast was simple: two bowls of plain noodles, with two eggs added.

It was satisfying!

After Xu Ye devoured his meal like a whirlwind, he prepared to head to the Demon-Suppression Bureau Office.

"Brother! You must be careful. I'll have food ready and wait for you to come home."

Seeing Xu Ye preparing to leave, Xu Zhizhi did not stop him, but her face was full of worry.

Xu Ye smiled. "Don't worry. I promise you, I'll return safely every day."

"Mhm!" Xu Zhizhi nodded fiercely.

Her brother had never lied to her.

Xu Ye said nothing more and turned to leave.

After yesterday's test, he knew that Xu Zhizhi would not be in danger for the time being.

That was why he could rest assured leaving her home alone.

White Cloud County had a sizable population, so it was divided into an inner city and an outer city. The inner city was home to the wealthy and influential figures of White Cloud County.

The outer city, on the other hand, was mostly inhabited by commoners. Xu Ye and his sister lived there.

As for the Demon-Suppression Bureau Office, it was located in the inner city.

Thus, Xu Ye still had quite a distance to travel before reaching the Demon-Suppression Bureau Office.

Not long after Xu Ye stepped out of his home, he noticed that on the street where they lived, a large number of county yamen officers had sealed off a residence.

Xu Ye was startled. What had happened?

Just then, a rough-looking middle-aged man approached him. Upon seeing Xu Ye, the man was briefly surprised before speaking first. "Kid from the Xu Family, heading out?"

Hearing this, Xu Ye looked at the man. He was their neighbor, someone Xu Ye knew. Xu Ye usually called him Uncle Liu.

Xu Ye immediately smiled. "Yes."

As he spoke, he looked at the constables in the distance and asked, "Uncle Liu, what happened up ahead?"

"Why are there so many constables here?"

Uncle Liu took a deep breath and said, "You don't know yet? Someone died here last night."

"Boss Zhang the blacksmith and his entire family are dead. And they died horribly. They say all their internal organs were gone, leaving behind nothing but empty shells."

"Tut, tut. Just imagining that scene is terrifying enough to make one's blood run cold."