Perfection of Basic Martial Arts

Two old donkeys trotted one after the other, quickly leaving the county seat behind.

Chen Ji kept his head lowered, his expression solemn.

He had not expected Shen Yi to actually agree to leave the city, and even more unexpectedly, to bring him along.

This should have been a good thing, but...

Chen Ji looked back to see Lord Shen riding his donkey, flipping through a martial arts manual with great interest.

According to past custom, before dealing with demons, the other party would always send them to buy fine wine and meat, calling it "proper etiquette."

Chen Ji had always felt stifled by this practice and found it quite distasteful.

Yet today, heading out empty-handed, he began to worry. If they failed to subdue those two monsters, the hundreds of farming households in Liuli Temple Village would likely be devoured in no time.

"Why do you keep looking back? Focus on leading the way; don't be jealous of this lord's handsome face."

Shen Yi finished skimming the manual and slowly closed it.

Two new lines of text had appeared on his panel.

[Cloud-Parting Long Fist (Not yet initiated)]

[Spirit Snake Eight Steps (Not yet initiated)]

One set of fist and palm techniques, one set of movement arts, plus the previously mastered Demon-Subduing Blade Technique.

This was all the martial arts passed down by the lieutenants of the Demon Suppression Division.

If he could bring all three styles to the minor success stage, he would possess the ability to handle minor demons.

Shen Yi did not dawdle; he poured the remaining demon lifespan, bit by bit, into the movement arts he currently lacked the most.

After all, no matter how sharp his blade was, he had to be able to catch his target.

[You possess a profound foundation in martial arts and a strong physique; it took you only one year to initiate the Spirit Snake Eight Steps.]

[Three years later, your movements have become increasingly elusive; movement arts at minor success.]

[Six years have passed, the Spirit Snake Eight Steps have become a part of your instinct; it can be called the stage of great success.]

[In the eleventh year, your body is like a ghost, your strikes formless; movement arts perfected.]

[Remaining demon lifespan: twenty-five years.]

Shen Yi felt the changes in his body and was somewhat surprised.

When pouring lifespan into martial arts, the specific progress actually took his current physical state into account.

As the saying goes, mastery in one area leads to understanding in others; an old martial artist obsessed with blade techniques would naturally progress much faster in other arts.

He subconsciously adjusted his posture on the donkey and immediately felt his body become much lighter, as if he could cover three to five zhang in a single stride.

It was a pity he had no chance to test it now.

Shen Yi composed himself and poured the remaining demon lifespan into the Cloud-Parting Long Fist, hoping to gain insights regarding the "Initial Realm" while deducing the martial art.

However, the result this time left him somewhat disappointed.

[Although you are not skilled in fist and palm techniques, after eighteen years of tempering, you can still strike like a thunderclap and shatter stone with your palms; the Cloud-Parting Long Fist has reached perfection.]

[In the twentieth year, you make no progress, falling into confusion and feeling as if you are wasting time.]

[In the twenty-third year, you begin to doubt yourself; it seems this fist technique has reached its limit after perfection.]

[In the twenty-fifth year, through years of contemplation, your attainments in fist and palm techniques have improved, and your talent for them has increased.]

Having exhausted all his demon lifespan, the gains were all displayed on the panel.

[Cloud-Parting Long Fist (Perfected)]

[Spirit Snake Eight Steps (Perfected)]

[Fist and Palm Mastery: Can reduce the practice time for fist and palm martial arts and increase the chance of gaining insights.]

Aside from the two perfected martial arts, he had also gained something akin to a talent, but there was no news of the "Initial Realm" that Shen Yi desired.

He raised his eyes slightly: "Calculate the time; isn't the Demon Suppression Division due to inspect our county soon?"

Hearing this, Chen Ji, who was focused on leading the way, suddenly trembled. A complex look flashed in his eyes, and he did not turn back: "Reporting to you, my lord, there is about a month left."

How could he not understand? Lord Shen was reminding him.

The entire Baiyun County yamen was in collusion. The most urgent matter now was to survive the inspection by the Demon Suppression Division and ensure they presented a report of a peaceful and prosperous county.

If even the slightest mistake occurred, at least half of them would have their heads hung at the vegetable market, and the youngest and most handsome one among them would undoubtedly be Lord Shen's.

No wonder the man was acting so out of character today; he had been waiting for this moment.

If there was anyone in the yamen who hoped for the arrival of the Demon Suppression Division lieutenants, it could only be Chen Ji. He truly hoped... the imperial court would slice Shen Yi to pieces.

If it weren't for the man's deception, the yamen would never have been able to suppress the news, and the Demon Suppression Army would have long since taken over this place and wiped out the surrounding demons!

"A month, is it?"

Shen Yi rubbed his temples.

According to his memories, he was merely a minor official and lacked the qualifications to communicate with the Demon Suppression Division.

If he wanted to access more profound martial arts, he could only wait obediently.

If he could truly step into the "Initial Realm" within a month, would he have a chance to join the Demon Suppression Division?

The demon lifespan was still not enough!

As his thoughts drifted, the two old donkeys stopped in front of a ridge.

Shen Yi looked at the dilapidated little temple on the hillside. The idol was exposed, covered in straw, and the altar had collapsed halfway, overgrown with weeds.

The farmers were too lazy to even worship the gods, which was enough to show the resentment in their hearts.

"My lord, this way."

Chen Ji tethered the old donkeys and pointed out the direction.

The two walked quickly across the ridge. A group of ragged farmers stood scattered in the distance, their faces gaunt and their eyes vacant as they looked over.

Upon seeing the two men's attire, they squatted back down. There were no cries of injustice, no calls for help; they knew very well who had brought this suffering upon them.

"..."

Chen Ji felt the gaze from afar, and a sense of shame appeared on his somewhat callow face.

When he saw Shen Yi's calm expression, as if no one were around, that shame turned into resentment.

He adjusted his bamboo hat, covering most of his face: "It's this household, attacked at night by the children of the Great King Huang Pizi... you'll see once you go inside."

The Huang Pizi were not common weasels.

Demons also had factions, mostly connected by blood, establishing their own mountains as kings.

Different factions had different demands for Baiyun County; some wanted fresh meat, some wanted beauties, and others liked precious treasures.

Among them was a pack of dog demons, and they were the ones most closely related to Shen Yi.

The leading demon was an old yellow dog who called himself Great King Huang Pizi.

"Open the door."

Shen Yi nodded his chin.

Chen Ji pushed open the wooden door, and a nauseating dark red color filled the narrow hut.

The room was dim. On the table were dismantled torsos, neatly stacked. Whatever didn't fit was skewered with straw and hung from the rafters.

A dog demon sat on the edge of the bed, holding a thigh in its hands, chewing on the rotting flesh with an expressionless face.

Its eyes were sharp, like a loyal guard dog.

Upon seeing the visitors, its gaze softened slightly: "I wondered who it was; why have you come?"

Shen Yi walked into the room, feeling the stench hitting his nose, and looked around.

Chen Ji had already seen this scene, but stepping into this room a second time, his face beneath the bamboo hat still twisted slightly. His hand gripping the hilt of his blade trembled violently, and he couldn't help but draw the blade three inches out of its sheath.

He was highly talented; in just three years, he had brought the martial arts passed down by the Demon Suppression Division to the minor success stage. He was fully qualified to fight this dog demon and would likely win a pyrrhic victory.

The only reason he had been able to suppress his murderous intent and report back to the yamen earlier was, first, for his younger sister at home, and second, because he was no match for the Great King Huang Pizi behind the dog demon. A rash move would only invite a greater catastrophe.

"..."

Just then, a powerful hand reached out quietly and pressed his long blade back into its sheath.

Chen Ji regained his senses and stared intently at Shen Yi's profile, wanting to see how the man would respond.

No matter how unscrupulous the man was, at least upon seeing his own kind being butchered and eaten, he should have had some reaction.

Within his line of sight.

Shen Yi finally looked at the old dog. There was neither sorrow nor joy in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted, revealing white, neat teeth. He smiled.

Seeing this, Chen Ji's heartbeat slowed. He lowered his eyes in disappointment, unwilling to listen to their pleasantries any longer.