Lying in bed, Shen Yi tried to circulate his inner breath along that mysterious path.
A powerful sensation of being drained swept over him, as if he were swallowing the ocean while possessing only a small pond... no, only a cup of water.
The feeling was so terrifying that Shen Yi hurriedly stopped circulating his energy.
At last, he understood the helplessness he had experienced during the martial-art deduction.
Initial Realm martial artists absorbed the energies of heaven and earth very slowly.
The inner breath in the twelve major apertures was more like the principal in a savings account. In ordinary times, he only needed to spend the interest to maintain his basic martial arts.
Even an Initial Realm martial art as formidable as the Blood Baleful Blade Technique consumed very little inner breath.
But if he depleted too much, it would be like damaging the principal, and he would need a great deal of time to replenish it.
During the deduction, however, each time he used this Four-Unity True Qi, he had to spend years building his reserves back up. For ordinary martial artists, it was practically inhuman torture.
Shen Yi thought of how his inner breath had previously transformed into Jade Dew.
No wonder he had to condense the energies of heaven and earth into liquid. Otherwise, how could he possibly sustain it?
Could it be that even after learning it, I wouldn't dare use it, and could only keep it as a life-or-death trump card? Once I used it, I'd be at the mercy of my enemies?
Shen Yi furrowed his brow, then seemed to think of something.
He looked at the Wind and Thunder Demon-Subduing True Interpretation on the panel.
No matter how much demon lifespan he poured into it, this thing never produced any results. It was like a bottomless pit that devoured gold.
All it did was mindlessly draw energy from heaven and earth.
At the thought, Shen Yi's furrowed brow relaxed. This was perfect: he could replenish his reserves and try to deduce something new at the same time. One payment for two goods.
Based on his previous experience, replenishing all twelve major apertures would take about five years.
Using his own lifespan was definitely not worth it. After reaching the Initial Realm, he had only forty-six years left to live. But using demon lifespan to solve the urgent problem, then searching for a way to advance further, was still feasible.
[Remaining demon lifespan: 391 years]
Shen Yi suppressed the urge to go outside and test it, forcing himself to close his eyes.
Knowing the power of his moves inside and out was certainly important, but there was no need to disturb people's sleep in the middle of the night. That would be downright inconsiderate.
Perhaps because he hadn't slept well the night before, he fell asleep unusually quickly that night.
The sesame cakes here were warm, the cured meat chewy, the bed hard, and the woman soft. Everything felt so real.
Images of mangled corpses flashed through his mind as demons gulped down flesh and blood.
Shen Yi unconsciously clenched his fingers. With so many martial arts at his disposal, he no longer had to numb himself with the thought that "this life was borrowed." At last, he had the courage to draw his blade against demons.
Using the excuse that he had little time left to live to pick fights and throw his weight around was certainly useful, but it wouldn't last.
Living a second life was like waking from a long dream.
At the first crow of the rooster, Shen Yi opened his eyes right on time. He stepped outside to breathe in the morning dew and immediately felt clear-headed and refreshed, his whole body light.
"You're up early today."
Lin Baiwei stretched as she walked in from the backyard, looking outside in curiosity.
"Morning."
Shen Yi glanced back, a rare hint of a smile in his eyes.
"Did you find money or something?" Lin Baiwei asked suspiciously, shaking her head.
"More or less."
Shen Yi turned away and went back inside to change into clean clothes.
There were a little over twenty days until the Demon Suppression Division's inspection.
He could use that time to fill in the gaps and should be able to secure a decent position.
His current strength was enough to protect himself in Baiyun County, but anything could happen.
Take Lin Baiwei, for example. She could casually transcribe a Jade Liquid Realm martial art, which was entirely different from simply producing a martial arts manual. The former meant she had once practiced it herself.
Before her apertures were sealed, she must have been much stronger than he was now.
When bad luck struck, it struck.
With this cautionary tale right before his eyes every day, Shen Yi had no choice but to stay vigilant.
If he wanted to survive in these chaotic times, joining a respectable faction was unquestionably the best choice. It would guarantee access to both martial arts and resources.
Even if demons captured him one day, they might think twice because of his affiliation, leaving room for negotiation.
Shen Yi went out and bought two breakfasts to bring back.
After finishing them in a few bites, he headed for the Constabulary Office.
As he walked, Shen Yi suddenly slowed and glanced toward the roadside.
A young man holding up a stick of sugar figurines bowed and smiled ingratiatingly. "Sir, do you like sweets too? Why not take a couple and try them?"
Shen Yi shook his head and resumed walking. "Sorry, I didn't bring any money."
He wouldn't dare eat sugar figurines sold by a wandering martial artist.
As for why the man had appeared in Baiyun County, Shen Yi didn't want to ask. He was just a constable responsible for dealing with demons, not a city administrator.
People came and went all the time. Perhaps he encountered a few strange ones every day.
He just hadn't been sharp enough to notice them before.
Stepping into the Constabulary Office courtyard, Shen Yi saw Butcher Zhang training several people early that morning. Zhang Dahu rubbed his waist, hurriedly snatched up his blade, and ran. "I-I-I... patrol duty..."
Butcher Zhang didn't give the good-for-nothing a hard time. "He's old, and he's not going anywhere in life. The three of you, don't slack off... You dare glare at me? You ungrateful brats! If you make it into the Demon Suppression Division, your parents will bring me cured meat to thank me."
As he spoke, he kicked the Niu Brothers in the waist twice in quick succession. "Lift your hands higher! A perfectly good Demon-Subduing Blade Technique, and you two make it look like some kind of stage performance."
"I'm doing just fine as a constable. I've no intention of climbing higher. Dealing with demons could cost us our lives," Niu Er complained through gritted teeth.
"You've had it too easy for too long," Butcher Zhang sneered. "Just five months ago, the Demon Suppression Division took over Sanshui County. More than ten Captains were stationed there. In three days, they swept through the demon mountain. Over two hundred soldiers died, and more than eighty demons were slain. Do you think it's like here, where the constables die before the common folk?"
"The bereaved families only get forty taels of silver in compensation. But if you carry the Demon Suppression Division's name, even as a reserve, that amount is no more than two months' allowance."
Hearing this, the Niu Brothers silently did the math. Their sword swings gradually grew stronger.
"They recruit ordinary constables too?" Shen Yi entered the courtyard, curious.
"Otherwise, why pass down three Demon-Subduing martial arts?" Butcher Zhang smiled when he saw who it was. "As long as you master all three to a minor level within the allotted time, or one of them to a major level, you'll have a chance of being selected. At most, it'll take ten or twenty years of medicinal baths to force these people into the Initial Realm."
"Do you know how frightening it is to see Initial Realm martial artists sprout one crop after another, like rice seedlings?"
The more Butcher Zhang spoke, the more envious he became, as if he deeply resented the Demon Suppression Division's lavishness.
"If they have so many people, why do they always seem short-handed?" Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.
"Have you never harvested rice? One crop grows, and one crop falls." Butcher Zhang rolled his eyes and made a slicing motion across his neck with his palm before continuing:
"And for those with even greater talent—for instance, that Demon Catcher who was taken as a disciple by the Commander-in-Chief of Qing Prefecture's Demon Suppression Division ten years ago. Ten years! I'm still standing in stances, punching, and hauling water, while she eats precious medicines like rice. She's at the peak of the Jade Liquid Realm, and kills demons with sword qi as easily as butchering pigs and dogs."
"Damn, a secret child?" Even Shen Yi, usually so composed, couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Being a secret child would've been better." Butcher Zhang suddenly grew much more dejected and waved a hand. "You don't understand Demon Catchers. They say they get the best food and take the hardest beatings. It takes exceptional talent, but also a steady temperament—you have to endure loneliness and hardship."
"They travel alone for thousands of miles to investigate demons and uncover secrets, serving as the Demon Suppression Division's eyes and ears. Half the Demon Hanging Orders issued by the Great Gan Dynasty were carried out thanks to them."
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