What Are You Even Pretending To Be?

Someone had died?

Their internal organs were all gone?

What kind of person could be so cruel?

He knew Boss Zhang's family from the blacksmith shop. They usually got along well with everyone and were not the stingy sort.

Many people were willing to have ironware forged at his shop.

They should not have offended anyone.

How could they all have been killed in the blink of an eye?

What was more, their internal organs had been cruelly ripped out.

At this moment, Uncle Liu cautiously glanced around before leaning close to Xu Ye and saying, "You might not know this, kid, but it could be demons causing trouble!"

"Their internal organs were eaten clean by demons."

What?

Xu Ye's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this.

Demons causing trouble?

What demon had the nerve to come cause trouble in White Cloud County's county seat?

The cat demon Xu Ye had encountered last time had been personally enshrined by the Clear Spring Gang's leader.

Even if demons existed, they would not dare show themselves openly and harm the common people.

With the Demon-Suppression Bureau guarding a county town like this, were demons not courting death by acting so recklessly?

With that in mind, Xu Ye asked, "Did the authorities say that?"

Uncle Liu shook his head slightly. "Of course not. But everyone is saying so, and it is not without reason. Other than demons, who would kill people for no reason and then hollow out their internal organs?"

Xu Ye nodded slightly at those words. That was indeed true.

Still, any demon that dared wreak havoc among the people in a county seat truly had some nerve.

At this point, Uncle Liu did not want to say much more to Xu Ye. He immediately said, "All right, I have things to do, so I'll be leaving first. You and Zhizhi should be careful. Things haven't been peaceful these past few days."

Xu Ye nodded slightly. By the sound of it, things truly had become somewhat unsettled.

After Uncle Liu left, Xu Ye looked at the constables still working in the distance, but he had no intention of going over.

Even if demons were causing trouble, the Demon-Suppression Bureau would arrange for someone to deal with it.

Although he was now a Demon-Suppression Guard, he had not yet reported for duty. He first had to go register at the Demon-Suppression Bureau.

Thinking this, Xu Ye hurried toward the Demon-Suppression Bureau.

When Xu Ye arrived at the Demon-Suppression Bureau, he entered without obstruction with his Demon-Suppression Bureau waist token.

It was not yet time to report for duty, so he still had some time.

Xu Ye changed into the black robes of a Demon-Suppression Guard, picked up his Demon-Slaying Saber, and headed straight to the training ground specially prepared for them by the Demon-Suppression Bureau.

Du Yuanxiu had arranged for them to gather there.

Since there was still some time, he intended to practice the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique.

After all, only this place had enough room.

"As expected, martial techniques are still extremely important to cultivators." After carefully studying the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique, Xu Ye could not help sighing.

Martial techniques were essentially methods of using all kinds of techniques and exerting force to increase one's combat strength.

They were truly far too important for cultivators.

And this Demon-Subduing Saber Technique was exceptionally profound.

The saber technique consisted of two forms. The first was Demon-Slaying!

It meant that with one slash, all demons could be cut down.

Though there was quite a bit of bragging mixed into it.

Once mastered, however, it could indeed greatly increase one's combat strength and achieve a one-strike kill.

The second form was Soul-Extinguishing. Simply put, it could destroy the opponent's soul with a single slash.

That had an even greater element of bragging to it.

But bragging was bragging; it still had its abilities.

Xu Ye felt that after cultivating it, his combat strength would definitely rise by several times.

Good stuff!

[Realm: Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening]

[Technique: Demon-Subduing Scripture [Not Initiated] (50/300)]

[Martial Technique: Demon-Subduing Saber Technique [Not Initiated] (0/200)]

After committing all the information about the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique to memory, the panel changed as well.

The proficiency for the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique had appeared.

Compared to cultivation techniques, the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique actually required even less proficiency.

"Let's do this!" Xu Ye laughed. Without another word, he raised a hand and drew the Demon-Slaying Saber.

With a hiss, the Demon-Slaying Saber left its sheath. Its blade was smooth and gleaming, while its edge gave off an intensely sharp feeling.

Cutting iron like mud and severing hairs blown against it were no empty boasts.

"Demon-Slaying!"

Xu Ye gave a low shout and began repeatedly swinging the Demon-Slaying Saber according to the cultivation method for the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique in his mind.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

At once, saber light flashed across the training ground as gusts of wind whistled through the air.

As though no one else existed, Xu Ye freely slashed about in every direction.

Time slipped away quietly amid Xu Ye's repeated slashes and chops.

"Damn!"

"Is this guy a demon?"

"He's practicing saber techniques even at a time like this?"

The Demon-Suppression Guards who had come today to report for duty for the first time also arrived one after another.

When they saw Xu Ye had arrived so early and, rather than slacking off, was still practicing his saber technique, quite a few secretly admired him.

Most of them had been so excited after joining the Demon-Suppression Bureau that they had not slept a wink all night, and cultivation had been completely cast aside.

Who would have thought this guy would be so ruthlessly competitive?

Damn it!

No wonder he was so strong!

Working this hard, competing this fiercely—if he still was not strong, then heaven truly had no justice!

Quite a few of them even felt somewhat ashamed.

Look at him—strong and hardworking.

Comparing oneself to others was enough to make one furious.

Lin Yuyan and Zhao Heng had arrived as well.

When they saw Xu Ye cultivating his saber technique with such diligence, the two had entirely different thoughts.

Lin Yuyan sighed inwardly. No wonder he was someone who could slay one hundred and twenty demons in an hour.

With such effort, what reason would he have not to be strong?

He's far better than some spoiled young master like Zhao Heng, Lin Yuyan thought.

"Putting on airs. What are you pretending to be?" Zhao Heng, meanwhile, looked at him with utter disdain.

Once again, Xu Ye had stolen the spotlight from him, and he was thoroughly displeased.

He secretly wondered whether he should come earlier next time and put on a show like this too.

After all, it was just swinging a saber. Who could not do that?

Under the gazes of everyone around him, Xu Ye finally stopped.

He returned from that absorbed, selfless state.

[Realm: Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening]

[Technique: Demon-Subduing Scripture [Not Initiated] (50/300)]

[Martial Technique: Demon-Subduing Saber Technique [Initiated] (0/400)

"I've initiated it!" Xu Ye took a deep breath, secretly delighted as he looked at the proficiency on the panel.

At the same time, he felt that his mastery of the Demon-Subduing Saber Technique had changed.

His mind held a few more profound insights.

"This saber technique is much easier to practice than cultivation techniques." Xu Ye sheathed his saber and muttered to himself.

A saber technique only needed to be performed once to gain one point of proficiency.

A cultivation technique, however, needed to circulate through an entire cycle.

By comparison, saber techniques were easier to cultivate.

"As expected of someone who can slay one hundred and twenty demons in an hour. Xu Ye, your martial heart truly commands respect!"

Just as Xu Ye was thinking this, Lin Yuyan's voice suddenly rang out.

Xu Ye raised his head and only then saw that, at some point, everyone had already arrived.

At this moment, everyone, including Lin Yuyan, was looking at him with admiration.

Only Zhao Heng still wore a look of disdain, seemingly unconvinced.

Xu Ye did not care. He merely smiled politely and said, "I have no talent, so I can only make up for it with hard work."

He was telling the truth. He truly had no talent.

He relied entirely on hard work to raise his proficiency.

Yet his words sounded exceedingly grating to the others.

Zhao Heng snorted coldly. "I really don't know what you're pretending to be?"