You're Xu Ye?

The Meridian Opening Realm opened the martial meridians to store spiritual power.

But that spiritual power gathered within the body and could only be wielded through the body.

One's strength was greatly limited.

The Qi Manipulation Realm, however, was different. He could release spiritual power beyond his body, control it with qi, and kill from afar.

The gap between them was enormous!

If Xu Ye had previously needed a blade to kill a ninth-level Meridian Opening demon...

Then now, he no longer needed a blade. By releasing his spiritual power, he could slay one through the air.

This was a qualitative transformation.

Xu Ye rose to his feet and made a grasping motion through the air. A stream of spiritual power surged forth, lifting a distant chair directly into the air.

Manipulating objects from afar!

"Just as I thought! The Qi Manipulation Realm and the Meridian Opening Realm are worlds apart—a chasm between heaven and earth." Xu Ye spoke in delight.

If his ninth-level Meridian Opening strength had previously only given him the ability to protect himself...

Then as a Qi Manipulation Realm cultivator, he now had the capital to fight back.

Still delighted, Xu Ye set the chair down and withdrew his spiritual power. He changed into the Demon-Suppression Bureau's black badge, greeted Xu Zhizhi, and prepared to head to the Demon-Suppression Bureau.

After cultivating through the night and breaking through to the Qi Manipulation Realm, Xu Ye did not feel the slightest bit tired.

"Have you heard?"

"The Demon-Suppression Bureau recently got a really powerful newcomer?"

"How powerful?"

"He killed a ninth-level Meridian Opening demon all by himself. How powerful do you think?"

"That impressive? And he's called a newcomer?"

"Of course! That's what I heard, anyway. They say he's a black-robed Demon-Suppression Guard, named Xu Ye or something?"

The moment Xu Ye arrived at the Demon-Suppression Bureau, he heard people passing by around him discussing things from time to time.

And the person they were discussing was Xu Ye.

Although Xu Ye and the others had been on leave and absent from the Demon-Suppression Bureau these past three days...

What he had done had already spread.

Quite a few people throughout the Demon-Suppression Bureau were discussing him.

He had single-handedly slain a ninth-level Meridian Opening demon.

He was simply the strongest newcomer in the history of the Demon-Suppression Bureau.

After all, although the Demon-Suppression Bureau recruited capable people and unusual talents from across the land, newcomers who had just joined were generally not strong.

And if there were any exceptionally strong ones, they would not simply be black-robed Demon-Suppression Guards.

Even among black-robed Demon-Suppression Guards, no matter how strong a newcomer was, no one had ever managed to kill a ninth-level Meridian Opening demon alone.

Yet Xu Ye had done it.

One could imagine how the others could possibly not be shocked.

At the same time, they were all curious what kind of person Xu Ye truly was.

Listening to the discussions, the corners of Xu Ye's lips curled up slightly.

He was young too. Being talked about and admired like this felt pretty great to him.

This was the benefit brought by strength!

Xu Ye sighed inwardly.

"Boss Xu!" Just as Xu Ye was thinking this, a voice called out.

Xu Ye looked up and saw Lin Yuyan walking over.

Zhao Heng was with her as well.

Xu Ye looked at Zhao Heng in slight surprise.

This fellow's injuries had actually healed for the most part, and the swelling on his face had disappeared too.

How much money must that have cost? How many spiritual pills and wondrous medicines?

Sure enough, having a powerful father made all the difference.

"What are you looking at?" Zhao Heng met Xu Ye's gaze, especially when he sensed the other man's eyes sweeping back and forth over his face.

He immediately recalled the scene of Xu Ye beating him senseless.

At once, rage surged within him.

This damned brat!

Xu Ye merely chuckled, wholly unconcerned.

He looked at Lin Yuyan and said, "How did the three days of rest feel?"

"Nothing much. It was pretty good. But Boss Xu, do you know you've become famous in the Demon-Suppression Bureau?" Lin Yuyan looked at Xu Ye with a smile, her voice full of admiration.

Hearing this, Zhao Heng curled his lip. "Tch! What's so impressive about that? Isn't it just the ninth level of Meridian Opening? Given enough time, I can reach it too."

Though he seemed unconcerned, his tone was thick with sourness.

All along the way, all they had heard was talk of Xu Ye.

Especially when those people spoke of Xu Ye, their faces practically lit up.

It left Zhao Heng feeling quite bitter.

How wonderful would it have been if all that had been directed at him?

But unfortunately, he was not worthy of it.

The moment he thought of how Xu Ye was already at the ninth level of Meridian Opening, a deep sense of helplessness rose within him.

He had always considered himself an unmatched genius among his peers.

But now that he had met Xu Ye, he was utterly eclipsed.

Xu Ye simply smiled. "My colleagues are just giving me more credit than I deserve. It's not worth mentioning."

Damn it! He really knows how to put on an act! Zhao Heng cursed inwardly.

This hateful bastard!

Not worth mentioning!

He was probably over the moon inside.

Damn it!

Lin Yuyan did not mind. She smiled faintly as she looked at Xu Ye, her eyes filled more with curiosity and admiration.

Over the past three days, she had not been idle. She had secretly had someone investigate Xu Ye.

Before investigating, she had not known. Once she did, she was shocked.

Xu Ye was not an outsider as she had imagined.

He was a native of White Cloud County, and moreover, someone born with blocked martial meridians.

Those born with blocked martial meridians simply could not cultivate.

Yet Xu Ye's strength was right there for all to see.

She truly could not imagine how Xu Ye had managed to do it.

Thus, even as she admired him, she felt even more puzzled and curious.

Xu Ye seemed shrouded in a layer of mist, making him impossible for her to see through.

But Lin Yuyan did not ask further.

After the two chatted for a while, just as Xu Ye and the other two were preparing to head out for roll call and begin patrolling the streets...

A voice suddenly rang out behind them.

"Stop!"

Xu Ye and the other two paused slightly, then turned around to look. They saw a young man dressed in the Demon-Suppression Bureau's black robes standing there.

Seeing this young man, Xu Ye frowned slightly.

Because this fellow actually resembled Su Qingxue somewhat.

Lin Yuyan and Zhao Heng both frowned as well.

Zhao Heng said directly, "Su Yu, what are you doing here?"

They were all descendants of influential families in White Cloud County, so they knew one another.

But Zhao Heng looked down on Su Yu immensely.

He was a complete and utter useless fop.

He was simply incomparable to Zhao Heng.

Naturally, Zhao Heng would not give Su Yu any face.

Lin Yuyan could not even be bothered to acknowledge Su Yu.

Su Yu was also slightly stunned upon seeing Zhao Heng and Lin Yuyan.

But he quickly recovered. "I'm part of the Demon-Suppression Bureau now too. Why can't I be here?"

Hearing this, Zhao Heng and Lin Yuyan looked toward Xu Ye.

They had investigated Xu Ye.

Naturally, they knew how Su Yu had acquired his status in the Demon-Suppression Bureau.

"Do you need something?" Lin Yuyan was the first to ask.

"I'm not looking for you two. I'm looking for him!" Su Yu snorted and pointed at Xu Ye.

Zhao Heng and the others did not welcome him.

Naturally, he did not welcome Zhao Heng and the others either.

Those who walked different paths could not make plans together!

Hearing him, Zhao Heng looked at Xu Ye.

Xu Ye said nothing. He stared at Su Yu, calm as an ancient well.

At that moment, Su Yu looked at Zhao Heng and asked, "You know him?"

If Zhao Heng and the others knew Xu Ye...

Then this matter would be somewhat difficult to handle.

Hearing this, Zhao Heng was about to speak, but suddenly thought of something and sneered. "Of course not."

Lin Yuyan glanced at him but said nothing.

She simply could not be bothered to explain anything to Su Yu.

It felt a little beneath her.

Hearing that, Su Yu nodded slightly. "Good!"

That was more like it!

What right did Xu Ye, a mere street brat, have to know people like Zhao Heng and the others?

Immediately, he could not be bothered to waste any more words. Looking at Xu Ye, he said, "You're Xu Ye? Do you know who I am?"