Slaying Demons, Anomaly (Please Recommend)

Inside Enlightenment Pavilion.

After the three bell chimes faded, the tenant farmers who had finished comprehending the Vermilion Horn Stele began filing out in orderly fashion.

At that moment, a young figure hurried over from the rear, weaving through the crowd and faintly throwing the scene into disorder.

Someone was just about to lose their temper.

But upon seeing who it was, the anger on their faces swiftly vanished.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Lu!"

"Hello, Senior Brother Lu!"

"Senior Brother, this way..."

"..."

Everyone present took the initiative to greet him.

Regardless of age, they all addressed Lu He as Senior Brother.

At first, he had found it somewhat uncomfortable. Elderly men in their fifties or sixties calling him Senior Brother was truly a strange situation.

But later, Lu He gradually grew accustomed to it.

Such had always been the rules in the Medicine Garden.

Lu He kept nodding in response, yet rather than slowing down, his steps grew increasingly hurried.

He raised his head and glanced outside. The light was gradually dimming, and the dusky yellow sun hung trembling in the sky, on the verge of setting.

They should have returned to the courtyard by now.

Lu He pondered as his attention shifted to the Golden Book in his sight.

[Name: Lu He]

[Cultivation Realm: Foundation Establishment · Late Body-Shedding Realm (1,900 jin in one arm)]

[Method: Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Origin Visualization Diagram · Fifth Layer (13%)

Scarlet Horned-Dragon True-Intent Runes: 2]

At this point.

Three days had unknowingly passed since he discovered that nest of demon birds.

Without immortal medicinal herbs to assist him, his Body-Shedding cultivation had nearly stalled. If he wished to further increase his strength, only one path remained before Lu He—

Condense Scarlet Horned-Dragon True Talismans!

In just three short days.

He had used three of the mere seven free monthly opportunities second-class seeds received to comprehend the Vermilion Horn Stele.

At last, he had completely condensed his second True Talisman.

"The preparations are complete. It's time to raid their home."

"However, condensing the second Scarlet Horned-Dragon True Talisman was clearly much more difficult than condensing the first. It will probably only become harder the further I go. No wonder that even among the Medicine Garden seeds carefully selected by the stewards, those who condense multiple True Talismans are few and far between."

Lu He compared the two comprehension processes in detail and immediately reached a conclusion.

"Come to think of it, I recall Brother Zheng has only condensed two True Talismans as well..."

He smacked his lips.

There were still four free comprehension opportunities left this month. He wondered whether that would be enough to condense another True Talisman—

As though recalling something, Lu He's eyes flashed, and he looked at the Golden Book again.

[Current Talent Dao Diagram: White Ape Child Cave-Evolution Diagram]

[Level: Level 2 (293/300)]

[Grade: White]

[Talent:

Immaculate Heart Ape (Second Tier)]

"Just seven experience points left. At the latest, it'll level up the day after tomorrow!"

Lu He murmured inwardly.

Courtyard Number Fifteen, Grade Yi.

Before he even reached it, he could vaguely hear conversation from within.

"Bai Hao has visitors? That voice sounds somewhat familiar."

Lu He paused, then continued toward the courtyard gate.

Bang—bang bang!

A string of brisk footsteps sounded.

"Who is it?"

The gate slowly opened, and Bai Hao stepped out.

Upon seeing Lu He waiting at the entrance, he could not help but freeze for a moment, a strange look appearing on his face.

Ever since he had led the other man into the courtyard that day.

Brother Lu had seemed to vanish without a trace. He had not even attended the tea gathering a few days ago.

For him to visit now was truly rare.

"Brother Lu, what a rare guest! Come in quickly! Brother Zheng and the others are here too, exchanging insights from the last tea gathering."

Bai Hao quickly came to his senses and warmly invited him inside.

"Brother Zheng is here too? That works out perfectly."

Lu He's eyes lit up as he looked at the several familiar figures in the courtyard.

After taking a seat.

They exchanged a few pleasantries and drank two cups of tea. Seeing that it was growing late, Lu He directly stated his purpose.

Across from him.

"What? You want to borrow my precious sword? No, absolutely not!"

Upon hearing that Lu He wanted to borrow his treasured sword, Bai Hao shook his head in refusal without a moment's consideration.

"Brother Lu, we can be considered close friends. If it were anything else, it would naturally be negotiable, but there is one thing..."

He paused, and a trace of resolute finality suddenly entered his voice.

"Swords and Dao companions are not to be lent out!"

"I won't borrow it for free. I'll offer one contribution point." Lu He's voice was calm.

"One contribution point?"

Bai Hao's expression changed slightly, and his heart faintly wavered.

Not long after.

"Two contribution points!"

He gritted his teeth, struggle flickering in his eyes.

After failing to compete for the position of Spirit-Slaying Envoy and being demoted in the seed register... after all those blows, Bai Hao was now practically too poor to lift the lid off his pot.

"One and a half contribution points. Any higher, and pretend I never asked."

After thinking it over, Lu He added another half a contribution point. This was also the highest price he could offer.

Every contribution point he possessed had been hard-won and had important uses. There was no room for waste.

"One and a half contribution points... deal!"

Bai Hao drew his spirit iron treasured sword and looked at it again and again with great reluctance before finally nodding in agreement.

With the item in hand.

Lu He prepared to rise and take his leave.

He had just considered it carefully once more.

With the enhancement of two True Talismans, the limit of his explosive strength had already reached over five thousand jin, and his speed had likewise greatly increased. His overall strength had more than doubled.

Dealing with that flock of demon birds would be more than enough.

It seemed... there was no need to borrow Brother Zheng's door panel anymore.

Alright.

In truth, Lu He simply could not bear to spend the contribution points.

After all, borrowing Bai Hao's sword had cost him one and a half contribution points.

The entire exchange had happened right in front of Brother Zheng. If he borrowed Brother Zheng's weapon, he could not possibly offer less than one and a half contribution points, could he?

The instant he turned to leave.

"Brother Lu."

Zheng Jingren suddenly called out to stop Lu He. Hesitation showed on his face, but in the end, he could not help offering a warning.

"At the tea gathering a few days ago, you were the only one who did not attend. Perhaps you truly were too busy, so I said nothing."

"But the immortal path is vast and profound. We must verify one another's insights if we wish to improve quickly. You must understand that even someone as strong as Qin Lie, as well as those descendants of the stewards, would not shut themselves away to build a cart behind closed doors."

"You have talent. Do not squander it. Otherwise, how could you live up to Steward Lu's high regard?"

"I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Brother Zheng."

Lu He replied with a smile, then turned and walked out of the courtyard.

He understood what Brother Zheng meant, but he truly could not spare the time.

Behind him.

A faint, mournful sigh drifted over.

"Those heartfelt words of Brother Zheng's—I hope Brother Lu can take them to heart. Otherwise, that fine talent of his will truly go to waste. Sigh, if only I had what he..."

By the time Lu He quietly crept up to the demon birds' nest.

The sky was already completely dark.

"One, two, three... they're all home."

He held his breath and silently counted, while the White Ape Dao Diagram revolved ceaselessly in the depths of his eyes.

Boom—

Without hesitation.

Lu He leaped out directly, his speed reaching the extreme. The bluestone beneath his feet was crushed alive by the sudden eruption of immense force, its fragments driven several feet deep into the soil.

The pitch-black night was suddenly illuminated by a cold, chilling streak of sword light.

Screech—

Within the nest, the demon birds let out shrill cries and fluttered about in panic, trying to fly outside.

Yet the moment they flew out, they were cut down by a concentrated sword light like a bolt of silk, their blood scattering across the sky.

At the sight.

Human-like terror flashed through the eyes of the remaining five demon birds. They had intended to burrow into the cave behind them, yet seemed to have some misgivings. Instead, they crowded together where they stood.

What greeted them was only one merciless streak of sword light after another.

A moment later.

Lu He began wiping the blood from his sword.

"Tsk, Brother Bai's sword really is easy to use... Hm?"

As if he had discovered something, his hand stopped. Then, as though sensing something, he looked toward the Golden Book.

"This feeling... that cave abode?!"

"Could it be—"

Lu He stared at the deep, shadowy cave entrance before him, barely a foot wide, disbelief flashing across his face.