Bear's Strength

Lin Jun laid the bear corpses, large and small, outside the Demon Affairs Prefecture. From afar, the sight was truly spectacular.

It looked like some wild animal slaughterhouse.

Chen Feng knew what this meant and helped Lin Jun arrange the demon corpses.

"My lord, should we notify the county magistrate?"

"No need. This county master is far more formidable than we imagined."

It was not as though Lin Jun had not tried to pry information about the county magistrate from the Bear Demon, but it had been terrified. It only dared boast vaguely a few times and did not dare speak too deeply on the matter.

However, one point could be confirmed: the magistrate of Green Forest County seemed to have reached some kind of agreement with the demons.

The agreement's term was exactly three years, and it revolved around Lin Jun.

Early the next morning, all of Green Forest County erupted.

The ten demon corpses, big and small, were simply too shocking. The entire Demon Affairs Prefecture was surrounded so tightly that not even water could pass through.

They had never imagined that Lin Jun had truly killed demons and even brought their corpses back.

Lin Jun stood before the demon corpses with a butcher's knife in hand.

"Twenty copper coins per jin. If you're not buying, don't block those who are."

That was right, Lin Jun was selling meat.

Fear of demons was carved into the bones of Green Forest County's common folk. Lin Jun wanted to tell them that demons ate people, but people could eat demons too.

"Master Lin, are you really selling it? These are demons!"

"So what if they're demons? Will demon meat kill you if you eat it? If you're not buying, don't block the people who are."

Not a single person dared buy any throughout the entire morning.

Lin Jun was in no hurry and simply waited.

At last, before night fell, the first person came to buy meat.

Then, like floodwaters bursting through opened gates, all the bear meat was snatched up. The eight cubs were packaged and sold to the restaurant.

"Master Lin, come have a drink when you have time. I'll save you a seat."

The restaurant owner urged him earnestly. Unlike the empty politeness of before, this time he meant it from the heart.

Lin Jun naturally nodded in agreement.

Judging by those who had bought the meat, demons had already been demoted from natural enemies to food.

If demons appeared again now, they would no longer be too afraid to even report it to the authorities.

Unlike the clamor outside, Zhang He, Green Forest County's second-in-command and county commandant, wore a dark expression in the inner chamber of the county yamen.

"My lord, that is what happened. The meat has all been sold now. This subordinate also bought a piece. Please inspect it."

Taking the bear paw handed over by his subordinate, Zhang He's expression turned even uglier.

Fine, fine, fine. The county master had shut himself away in seclusion, and you, Lin Jun, had to stir up something this huge, didn't you?

The air in the inner chamber was stifling to the extreme. The officials standing on either side lowered their heads, looking at their noses and contemplating their hearts.

"I underestimated Lin Jun. I never expected him to have such nerve... Heh, he fooled all of us."

No one answered. Zhang He continued speaking to himself.

"You like hunting demons, do you? You want to stand up for the common folk, do you? Fine. This old man will grant your wish. Someone!"

"Here!"

Zhang He wrote furiously, quickly finishing a letter and handing it to his subordinate.

"Deliver this letter to Elder Spiritual Insight."

"This subordinate accepts the order."

The subordinate took the letter and ran toward the city outskirts.

"Only two months remain. Why did you have to cause trouble at a time like this?"

"We have all cooperated with you for three years. If you start playing tricks now, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"You think the Demon Exorcism Bureau will care about you? You're nothing but an unofficial Demon Exorcist. If you die, no one will even collect your corpse."

Zhang He stared at the Demon Affairs Prefecture opposite him, muttering under his breath.

Lin Jun did not know he had been marked for hatred—or rather, even if he knew, he would not have feared it. He was no longer the wastrel he had once been.

He was currently studying that Demon Core.

Of course, he was not arrogant enough to actively absorb the energy within it.

[Would you like to simulate the item 'Mortal Bear Demon Core'?]

That was right. Lin Jun had not expected that he could simulate not only cultivation techniques, but even Demon Cores.

Lin Jun still had a full thousand experience points. Naturally, he would not let this opportunity pass.

"Begin simulation."

[You obtained the Mortal Bear Demon Core. The power within fascinated you. You decided:]

[1. Ignore all warnings and directly absorb the Demon Core (50)]

[2. Heed the warnings and study how to refine medicine with the Demon Core (100)]

[3. The Demon Core seemed to contain some special power. Perhaps you could absorb it (50)]

Lin Jun had initially intended to absorb it directly, but upon seeing the third option, he felt he could give it a try.

Refining pills would undoubtedly require many materials, which the panel would not provide. Gathering them would also take a long time, far too slow for Lin Jun, who was eager to grow stronger.

[You began absorbing the Demon Core's energy. The Bear Demon's berserk power instantly filled your body. You felt swollen with pain all over, wishing you were dead (-50)]

[You forcibly persevered and endured the intense pain. What awaited you next was the Bear Demon's baleful aura. The baleful aura clouded your mind, and you fainted (-50)]

[Heaven never seals off every road. You wandered between life and death, saw a streak of red light, and seized it (-50)]

[You awoke. The berserk power had shattered every meridian in your body, yet disaster had turned into fortune. Your body had been greatly strengthened, and you felt that you possessed the strength of a bear (-50)]

Two hundred experience points were spent, and the simulation ended.

The Demon Core in his hand had already vanished, leaving only a tiny bit of powder on his palm.

Looking at the text descriptions, Lin Jun secretly swallowed.

He did not dare imagine the agony he would have endured if he had absorbed it in reality.

Fortunately, he had skipped the painful stage altogether and gained power.

Yes, pure power—power without any technique whatsoever.

The true strength of a bear.

This simulation had directly granted Lin Jun the Bear Demon's talent.

Lin Jun went outside the Demon Exorcism Bureau. Looking at the century-old willow trees outside, he directly wrapped his arms around one.

"Hah!"

A small mound instantly rose from the ground. So long as Lin Jun wished it, he could pull this century-old willow tree out at any moment.

"My lord, have you eaten? Manager Song from the Joyous Arrival Restaurant sent over steamed bear paws. My lord, you..."

The moment Chen Feng entered, he saw Lin Jun had pulled the century-old willow tree in the courtyard halfway out of the ground, its roots exposed.

And Lin Jun did not even look flushed.

"...Would you like some...?"

Chen Feng had begun to stammer.

Seeing this, Lin Jun set down the willow tree and took the food box.

"Thank Manager Song for me."

Lin Jun carried the food box into his room.

Chen Feng rubbed his eyes and walked over to the willow tree.

This was a century-old willow. Though the tree itself looked small, its roots below were densely packed, tangled and sprawling.

He was a Mortal martial artist, not a demon. How could his strength be so astonishing?

Chen Feng imitated Lin Jun and wrapped his arms around the willow tree.

"Hah!"

It was exceedingly awkward. The willow tree did not budge in the slightest.

If he exhausted all his strength, it was not impossible for him to pull the willow tree up—but he would not be able to walk the next month.

Could Lin Jun be a demon in disguise?

Chen Feng was startled by his own bold thought.