New Feature Unlocked! Prefix Synthesis!

This was a brand-new function of the Equipment Slot.

Three prefixes of the same rank, with matching or similar properties, could be synthesized into a higher-ranked prefix.

White became green, green became blue, blue became purple...

Yang Xiao's heart stirred. He immediately began sorting through all the prefixes he currently had.

Purple prefixes: Flesh Cloak.

Seven blue prefixes: Hundred-Refined Edge, Demon-Slaying, Spirit Swallowing, Meridian Storage Spiritual Qi, Qi Condensation Crystal, Qi Sea Expansion, Thousand Faces.

Eight green prefixes: Mountain-Opening Force, Shadow Swoop, Vitality Recovery, Force Dissipation, Spiritual Olfaction, Purifying Silt to Transform Origin, Howling Shriek, Force of a Thousand Jun.

Seven white prefixes: Iron Armor, Continuous Charge, Sinking Foot, Rapid Stab, Light Body, Thick Hide, Breath Regulation.

Yang Xiao kept sorting, dividing the prefixes into categories.

The Liquid Condensation technique in the first Equipment Slot was no longer important, so he unequipped it. Then he started with the white prefixes, slotting in combinations he had carefully chosen.

The Equipment Slot blazed with golden light.

[Detected three white prefixes: Iron Armor, Sinking Foot, Thick Hide]

[Compatibility analysis: All three provide basic physical enhancement. Properties match.]

[Synthesis successful!]

[Obtained (green) Rock Body: The body becomes as tough as bedrock, the stance becomes difficult to shake, and the skin's defensive strength increases greatly.]

Yang Xiao felt a warm force surge from the Equipment Slot into his body and flow through his flesh, sinews, and bones.

His body grew denser and more solid, as though every inch of muscle held strength.

"Rock Body... Good name."

He nodded in satisfaction and began the second synthesis.

[Detected three white prefixes: Light Body, Rapid Stab, Breath Regulation]

[Compatibility analysis: All three enhance agility and movement. Properties match.]

[Synthesis successful!]

[Obtained (green) Shadow Hunter: Movement speed and attack speed increase greatly, while stamina consumption decreases.]

Another force surged into him. This time, it brought a light, nimble sensation, as though his body had grown much lighter.

Next came the green prefixes.

[Detected three green prefixes: Mountain-Opening Force, Force of a Thousand Jun, Force Dissipation]

[Compatibility analysis: All three enhance close-quarters combat. Properties match.]

[Synthesis successful!]

[Obtained (blue) Mountain-Crushing Strength: Strikes with tremendous force to shatter sinews and bones, seal meridians, and sever apertures, while reducing internal injuries caused by backlash.]

Yang Xiao spread his fair, slender fingers. Mountain-Crushing Strength was, in essence, a domineering hand technique.

At full force, it could shatter an opponent's sinews, bones, and flesh. With precision, it could seal meridians and sever apertures, disrupting the opponent's circulation of qi. Force Dissipation also strengthened his defense, making the technique useful for both attack and defense.

Compared with a prefix that merely boosted strength, this had practically evolved into an ultimate hand technique!

Keep going!

[Detected three green prefixes: Shadow Swoop, Shadow Hunter, Spiritual Olfaction.]

[Compatibility analysis: Movement and perception prefixes. Properties are similar.]

[Synthesis successful!]

[Obtained (blue) Wind-Chasing Scent Tracking: Smell and tracking ability increase greatly, while movement speed, short-range bursts, and attack speed improve, and stamina consumption decreases.]

Next came the blue prefixes.

Yang Xiao reviewed them: the seven he had before, plus the newly acquired Mountain-Crushing Strength and Wind-Chasing Scent Tracking.

That made nine blue prefixes in all, but some were unusual, such as the disguise prefix Thousand Faces.

Only six were suitable for synthesis.

Attack: Hundred-Refined Edge, Demon-Slaying, Qi Condensation Crystal—all related to killing.

Spiritual Power: Spirit Swallowing, Meridian Storage Origin, Qi Sea Expansion—all related to sustaining his Spiritual Power.

[Detected three blue prefixes: Hundred-Refined Edge, Demon-Slaying, Qi Condensation Crystal]

[Compatibility analysis: All three enhance lethal attacks. Properties match.]

[Synthesis successful!]

[Obtained purple prefix: Demon-Slaying Crystal Edge—Weapon sharpness increases greatly, damage against Demons rises by fifty percent, and released spiritual energy forms a pale-blue saber aura of extreme sharpness and astonishing destructive power.]

Yang Xiao felt a fierce aura surge from the Equipment Slot, flowing between his arm and the Spring Embroidery Saber.

It was as though blade and hand had become one, ready to unleash a fatal strike at any moment.

"Demon-Slaying Crystal Edge..."

This prefix combined weapon sharpness, a damage bonus against Demons, and crystallized spiritual energy. It could strengthen his weapon and release a more destructive saber aura at range. Extremely useful!

Onward.

[Detected three blue prefixes: Spirit Swallowing, Meridian Storage Spiritual Qi, Qi Sea Expansion]

[Compatibility analysis: All three sustain Spiritual Power. Properties match.]

[Synthesis successful!]

[Obtained (purple) Myriad Rivers Spirit Sea: Aperture capacity surges, meridians can store additional Spiritual Power, and the body automatically absorbs spiritual energy from heaven and earth, providing exceptional endurance.]

Another force surged into him, deeper and heavier this time, as though a vast ocean had opened within his body.

The instant his Aperture expanded, the speed at which he absorbed and converted spiritual energy increased as well.

Feeling the Spiritual Power rushing through him, Yang Xiao was filled with an unprecedented sense of abundance.

The synthesis was complete.

He took stock of his final set of prefixes.

Purple prefixes: Flesh Cloak, Demon-Slaying Crystal Edge, Myriad Rivers Spirit Sea.

Blue prefixes: Mountain-Crushing Strength, Wind-Chasing Scent Tracking, Thousand Faces.

Green prefixes: Rock Body, Purifying Silt to Transform Origin, Howling Shriek, Vitality Recovery.

White prefixes: Continuous Charge.

Yang Xiao felt the surging power within him, and a smile touched his lips.

Three prefixes made one.

Every trophy he had accumulated had been synthesized and refined, forged anew into a stronger system for slaying Demons.

Close-quarters killing, ranged attacks, recovery and endurance, tracking and hunting, disguise and stealth, physical strength...

Deadly attacks, offense and defense in one, lasting endurance, keen senses.

This was the well-rounded strength he truly needed!

"Next..."

The sudden appearance of prefix synthesis had thoroughly broken his train of thought.

Yang Xiao was about to resume thinking when a knock sounded at the courtyard gate.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The knocks were hurried.

Yang Xiao drew in his aura, walked to the gate, and opened it.

Xu Qingshan stood outside, but his usual smile was gone. His expression was grave.

"Brother Yang," Xu Qingshan said heavily. "Something terrible has happened!"

Yang Xiao looked at him, his brows drawing together slightly.

"Come in and tell me."

Xu Qingshan followed Yang Xiao into the small courtyard and sat on a stone stool. He looked even more serious than before, with a trace of unease.

Yang Xiao poured him a cup of tea and handed it over. "Take your time. What happened?"

Xu Qingshan accepted the cup but did not drink. He only held it in his hands.

"Half a month ago, hundreds of corpses surfaced overnight in the lower reaches of the Guanlan River."

"All their blood and vital essence had been drained. Their flesh was swollen and pale, and their eye sockets had shriveled into two pitch-black holes."

Yang Xiao's gaze sharpened slightly.

Hundreds of corpses, their blood and vital essence drained.

An ordinary Demon clearly could not have done this.

"Then three merchant ships vanished on the river," Xu Qingshan continued. "The cargo was still there, but the people were gone. All that remained aboard were a few wet puddles of slime spread across the decks."

Yang Xiao fell silent for a moment.

"What did the Demon Suppression Division find? Was it the work of a Demon?"

Xu Qingshan gave a bitter smile. "We followed the vine to its roots and uncovered a case that could shake the heavens."

He set down his teacup and paced a few steps through the courtyard, seemingly gathering his words.

"The Demon Suppression Division followed the trail along the Guanlan River and discovered who was implicated behind it all... Jiang Chen, the Guanlan Prefecture River Inspection Envoy."