New Feature Unlocked! Prefix Synthesis!

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

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

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

Yang Xiao's heart stirred. He immediately began sorting through every prefix he currently possessed.

Purple prefix: 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, grouping the prefixes by type.

The Liquid Condensation technique in the first Equipment Slot no longer mattered, so he removed it. Then he started with the white prefixes, slotting in a carefully chosen combination.

The Equipment Slot blazed with golden light.

[Three white prefixes detected: Iron Armor, Sinking Foot, Thick Hide]

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

[Synthesis successful!]

[Obtained (Green) Rock Body: The body is tough as bedrock, the stance is firm and difficult to shake, and the skin's defensive strength is greatly enhanced.]

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

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

"Rock Body... A good name."

He nodded in satisfaction and began the second synthesis.

[Three white prefixes detected: Light Body, Rapid Stab, Breath Regulation]

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

[Synthesis successful!]

[Obtained (Green) Shadow Hunter: Movement speed greatly increases, attacks become faster, and stamina consumption decreases.]

Another surge of power entered him. This time, it brought a nimble lightness, as though his body had grown much lighter.

Next came the green prefixes.

[Three green prefixes detected: 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 overwhelming force to shatter tendons and bones, seal meridians and sever apertures, while reducing internal injuries from backlash.]

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

At its fiercest, it could shatter an opponent's bones and flesh. With finer control, it could seal meridians and sever apertures, disrupting the opponent's circulation of qi. Force Dissipation also made it useful in both attack and defense.

Compared with a prefix that merely boosted strength, this had nearly evolved into a consummate hand technique!

Next!

[Three green prefixes detected: 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 greatly increase. Movement speed, short-range bursts, and attack speed improve, while 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 total, but some were unusual, such as the disguise prefix Thousand Faces.

Only six could be used 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 spiritual power.

[Three blue prefixes detected: 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 greatly increases. Damage against Demons increases by fifty percent. Spiritual qi can be released as a pale-blue saber aura of extreme sharpness and astonishing destructive power.]

Yang Xiao felt a keen force pour from the Equipment Slot and flow between his arm and the Spring Embroidery Saber.

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

"Demon-Slaying Crystal Edge..."

This prefix combined weapon sharpness, a bonus against Demons, and crystallized spiritual qi. It could not only enhance his weapon but also unleash a more destructive saber aura at range. Extremely useful!

Onward.

[Three blue prefixes detected: 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 qi from heaven and earth. Spiritual power can be sustained for an exceptionally long time.]

Another force surged into him, deeper and heavier than before, as though a vast ocean had opened inside his body.

The moment his Aperture's capacity expanded, the speed at which he absorbed and transformed spiritual qi also increased.

Feeling spiritual power surge through him, Yang Xiao was filled with a sense of abundance unlike anything he had known.

Synthesis was complete.

He took stock of his final prefix configuration.

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 prefix: Continuous Charge.

Yang Xiao felt the mighty power coursing through his body, and a smile tugged at his lips.

Three prefixes made one.

All the spoils he had accumulated were synthesized and refined into a stronger system for slaying Demons.

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

Deadly attacks, offense and defense as one, lasting stamina, keen senses.

This was the well-rounded strength he truly needed!

"Next..."

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

Yang Xiao was about to think it through when a knock came from the courtyard gate.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

It sounded urgent.

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

Xu Qingshan stood outside, but his usual smile was gone. In its place was a grave expression.

"Brother Yang," Xu Qingshan said grimly, "something terrible has happened!"

Yang Xiao looked at him and frowned slightly.

"Come in and tell me."

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

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

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

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

"All their vital blood had been drained. Their flesh was swollen and pale, and their eye sockets were empty—nothing but two pitch-black holes."

Yang Xiao's gaze sharpened.

Hundreds of corpses, drained of their vital blood.

An ordinary Demon clearly could not have done this.

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

Yang Xiao fell silent for a moment.

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

Xu Qingshan gave a bitter smile. "They followed the clues like vines and uncovered a case that could shake the heavens."

He set down his teacup and rose, pacing a few steps through the courtyard as though gathering his words.

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