The Initial Realm's Twelve Orifices

Compared to the vast world between heaven and earth, how tiny was a mortal's body?

Even the smallest fraction was enough to look down on the mortal world.

What the first section of the Wind and Thunder Precious Scroll described was, in truth, using the essence of weak medicinal ingredients to temper the body, gradually acclimating a mortal frame to the energy of heaven and earth, until it was strong enough to bear it.

Shen Yi had long since passed that stage.

All that remained was the slow, steady work of time, filling the twelve major orifices one by one.

Without precious medicines to help, the process could be extremely slow.

But time was the one thing Shen Yi had plenty of.

[Remaining demon lifespan: seventy-six years]

[Initial Realm Wind and Thunder Demon-Subduing True Interpretation (not yet initiated)]

[Five years passed. You used the essence of heaven and earth to mend your injuries and clear away the hidden ailments left by years of wear.]

[In the fifteenth year, thanks to your even temperament, your cultivation proceeded without a hitch, and you successfully filled your first orifice.]

[In the thirty-fifth year, all three orifices were full, and you initiated the Wind and Thunder Demon-Subduing True Interpretation.]

[In the thirty-eighth year, your progress slowed. After careful investigation, you discovered that the energy stored in your orifices had taken on your own imprint, causing it to clash with the pure breath of heaven and earth.]

[There was no way to resolve this. You could only steady your mind and proceed gradually.]

[In the sixty-fifth year, you filled five major orifices, leaving you just one step away from minor mastery of the Wind and Thunder Demon-Subduing True Interpretation.]

[Remaining demon lifespan: one year]

[Your remaining lifespan: forty-six years]

This was the first time his own lifespan had exceeded the demons' remaining lifespan.

Shen Yi sat on the stone steps, his eyes closed as he felt the world around him anew.

Of the twenty-five years added to his lifespan, he felt even more joy at what had changed within him.

The abundant energy in his five orifices flowed slowly through his limbs and bones, like nectar in a lotus pond, fragrant and intoxicating.

He raised a hand and slightly curled his fingers.

A layer of hazy white mist rose over his fingertips, flecked with faint streaks of crimson.

It was because of the Wind and Thunder Demon-Subduing True Interpretation. Since this art had been forged by wringing every last drop from his body, he had constantly used the Zhengyang Saber Technique to convert his blood and qi. As a result, even the pure breath of heaven and earth had taken on a trace of blood and qi.

Now, even a casual slash from Shen Yi far surpassed yesterday's Subduing Demon Yang-Blade.

It no longer consumed his own vitality, either. He drew strength from his orifices instead.

He had reached the Initial Realm. Naturally, he no longer needed that crude saber technique that took an unconventional path and could only grant temporary transcendence.

Shen Yi rose and walked out of the alley, feeling so light that he could almost step straight into the sky.

"I'm getting a little carried away..."

He steadied his emotions. It was hard not to feel dazed after suddenly gaining such overwhelming strength.

Three different groups of demons had him in their sights now. He was in grave danger.

He had been lucky enough to gain more than forty years of lifespan. He couldn't just throw it away.

Of course, if they dared show themselves, Shen Yi wouldn't mind testing the sharpness of the energy coursing through him.

With only a year of demon lifespan left, it was hard to feel secure...

The constabulary office.

The sun was already high in the sky.

Six constables stood ramrod straight in the courtyard, staring fixedly at the shattered door.

Head Song had been sitting inside since early morning. A bandage was wrapped around his forehead, his expression gloomy. He had barely moved all morning.

Chen Ji glanced down from the corner of his eye.

Two bodies lay covered in white cloth. They were the men who had come looking for Shen Yi last night. The stench already rising from them made it clear they were well and truly dead.

On an ordinary day, the constables under Shen Yi wouldn't have feared Head Song. They would have put on a show of respect, nothing more.

But now there were corpses.

On the other side, a group of constables from another office stood with their arms crossed, their chins raised arrogantly.

They had come with Head Song and clearly weren't the friendly sort.

Normally, no outsiders would reach the scene before the people in charge. Yet today, that was exactly what had happened.

What troubled Chen Ji most was that Shen Yi still hadn't shown up.

"..."

Just then, a tall figure slowly stepped into the courtyard.

Everyone's gaze converged on him at once.

As soon as the constables from the other office recognized him, their expressions vanished, and their hands all went to the sabers at their waists.

Head Song had acted strangely, summoning the elite constables from every office first thing in the morning.

That could only mean the higher-ups at the county yamen had changed their stance. The man surnamed Shen probably wouldn't have another chance to throw his weight around.

At the sight of their movements, the few constables on Shen Yi's side paled. Only Chen Ji furrowed his brows and silently gripped his saber hilt.

Just as the air grew taut with impending violence,

Song Changfeng suddenly dragged his injured body upright at last. He limped toward the doorway, one step at a time.

Bracing himself against the wall, he forced out a strained smile. "You're here?"

Shen Yi gave a slight nod. "Mm."

Though he didn't know why the poor old man hadn't stayed home to rest, at least he'd had someone take care of the aftermath. That saved Shen Yi the trouble of arguing about it.

"I thought you wouldn't come until the afternoon." Song Changfeng gestured for him to come in.

"There were rats making a racket at home. I didn't sleep well, so I got up early." Shen Yi entered the room and sat down in his usual seat. He looked up. "What is it?"

At that, everyone outside instinctively glanced up at the sky.

Then they looked back into the room. Lord Shen sat in the main seat, while Song Changfeng stood beside him, holding his lower back. The hand gripping his saber relaxed a little.

It was no secret that Song Changfeng was wary of Shen Yi.

But for him to come over of his own accord, bringing a group of elite constables along to make fools of themselves, was downright bizarre.

"Damn..."

The other constables felt their faces burning with embarrassment. All they could think about was getting the hell out of this place.

Unexpectedly, Song Changfeng pointed at them.

"Want to pick a couple to fill out your ranks? They're all carefully selected."

The moment he said that, their expressions changed.

Baiyun County wasn't large, and news traveled fast.

Working under Shen Yi meant good food and drink, sure, but his methods were far too sleazy. Give it half a day, and their reputations would stink just as badly as his.

Those without a shred of conscience might not care. But anyone with even a little pride wouldn't want to act as a watchdog while Shen Yi bullied respectable women.

"Are they any good?"

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow at them.

He had to admit, he was tempted.

His predecessor was dead, and he wanted to join the Demon Suppression Division. It wouldn't be appropriate to keep using the same men as before.

But he did have one requirement.

When they ran into something like what happened at Liuli Temple Village, they had to make it back alive to report it.

His words clearly struck a nerve with the men outside.

A frivolous wastrel, lost in wine and women, dared question their abilities?

At least they were better than his Bone-Piercing Grappling Hand, which he hadn't used in years.

Yet under everyone's gaze, Song Changfeng gave a bitter smile. "That depends on who you're comparing them to. Surely you're not comparing them to yourself?"

The words seemed perfectly reasonable. So why did they sound so strange?

Everyone was still chewing over what he meant.

Only Chen Ji rolled his eyes, looking as though he couldn't agree more.

With Shen Yi's absurd talent, and now that he'd taken Chen Ji's seventy-eight-character True Words, it would probably only take a few more years before he broke through both the sinew and bone stages in succession and pursued the realm of perfected flesh.