Attaining Immortality, Starting From Slaying Demons

"What are the differences among the body refining methods?"

In the courtyard, Shen Yi strolled to aid his digestion, as was his habit.

"There are many differences. For example, the Vajra Gate refines the body with qi, and there's also the accumulation of food refinement, essence blood refinement…"

Zhang the Butcher had a deep understanding of these methods and went on effortlessly, "However, usually once one reaches the Jade Liquid Boundary, similar martial arts are rarely found. So most of them are martial arts of the Initial Realm."

"Why?" Shen Yi didn't quite understand.

He was of the opinion that they worked quite well for him, refining both the internal breath and the physical body simultaneously, wouldn't that mean overwhelming dominance over peers in the same realm?

"Because of lifespan."

Zhang the Butcher shrugged, "Before entering the Jade Liquid Boundary, lifespans are just over a hundred years. But once you break through to the Jade Liquid, your life can be extended by a hundred years. Upon reaching full completion, it's another hundred years. Body refining methods might grant you strength comparable to the Jade Liquid Boundary, but without the nourishment of the heaven and earth's essence for the internal organs, it doesn't add to one's lifespan."

"If one cultivates both, this time-consuming and effort-intensive grinding process seems rather futile; it's better to learn a few more light body techniques and fist and palm strikes to be more effective."

Awakened by this comment, Shen Yi nodded thoughtfully.

Perhaps it was due to his previous experiences in deducing martial arts.

To him, the demon lifespan required for the cultivation of the Golden Yang Eight Treasures Mystical Body was much less than that of other Jade Liquid Realm Martial Arts.

In reality, it took him over forty years to reach full completion, while others, regardless of their talents and without relying on medicinal aids, would take the same amount of time.

But it was different for other martial arts.

It was just that he was slower; others were faster.

While the two men were chatting beside the tree, a figure hurriedly entered the side courtyard.

Li Mujin arrived at the stone table under the tree and sat down. She pulled out a roll of documents and, without minding the presence of an unfamiliar, strong man, looked directly at Shen Yi, "You're in trouble."

Her expression was serious with no hint of jest.

"Do you know about the recent events at Qingfeng Mountain?"

Zhang the Butcher had been making teasing gestures with his eyebrows and nudging Shen Yi with his elbow upon seeing an attractive young beauty approaching, but his expression suddenly changed at these words.

Li Mujin stared intently at Shen Yi's clean face, noticing that he did not show any signs of surprise.

She sighed softly, "It seems you already know. I've received news that the general of Linjiang Prefecture has ordered the drafting of another five hundred from the outer camp. Apart from the injured Xin Han and Ma Tao, the rest of us have been named."

"My family has always been on good terms with Qingfeng Mountain; we have deep connections... My father won't let us go."

"Moreover, Qingzhou hasn't seen any campaigns against Condensation Elixir Realm experts for many years. It's extremely dangerous, and no one can ensure what kind of accidents might occur."

Li Mujin slowly flipped open the document in her hand, her eyes flickering.

"The family has arranged an order of transfer for us as a reason to get some fresh air."

On the roster, the names of Li Mujin, Liu Xiujie, and Li Xiaoer were already listed; only one spot remained blank.

"You're a smart person, and you owe us a life-saving debt. I don't want to beat around the bush anymore; this isn't something I can decide... Come with me."

In a few words, Li Mujin laid bare the might of the noble families.

Even if the Demon-suppression General personally issued orders for them, they had ways to be exempted in advance.

For other colonels, it was a matter of life and death, a fate left to chance, but the Li family's children even had the leisure to consider their relationship with Qingfeng Mountain.

"..."

The more Zhang the Butcher listened, the more confused he became.

His expression gradually shifted from excitement to bewilderment.

He stared at the document, puzzled. It was clearly a conscription order, so why did it sound so much like a deed of servitude?

Shen Yi looked down at the table, not too surprised.

He had some inkling that this might happen, just not so soon.

Although Li Mujin appeared calm, her heart was anything but settled. She said evenly, "The message is urgent. In at most half an hour, the vice general will come with the writ."

Not wanting to give Shen Yi too much time to consider, she seized the rare opportunity presented to her.

The Demon-suppression Bureau was finally showing its fangs.

They cornered him into having no choice.

In the end, under Li Xinhan's command, there would be one more capable subordinate.

Shen Yi didn't even have a reason to feel resentment.

This was a missive arranged by the Li family; they were but juniors, who could only comply.

The other superiors at the Demon-suppression Bureau weren't fools either.

In these tumultuous times, being suddenly transferred was revealing of Shen Yi's status.

At that moment, she saw a flicker of resignation in the young man's eyes.

Shen Yi reached out to the document.
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A smile appeared on Li Mujin's lips, but it quickly solidified.

He closed it and casually pushed it back, saying mildly, "This isn't right for me."

Hearing this, Li Mujin's chest heaved abruptly, her pearly teeth tightly clenched as she gripped the other person's wrist firmly. When she raised her eyes, her expression was unusually flustered, "Do you think you might be overly confident? People can die, you know!"

Be it the great disparity from what she had imagined or the occasional flash of that black knife in her mind.

Regardless, to gamble with one's life out of sheer stubbornness was an exceedingly foolish act!

This wasn't about slaying demons for the sake of the people; it was the massacre of sect disciples!

"..."

Shen Yi withdrew his hand, about to speak.

But then, a faint sound of a door opening was heard.

Fang Heng stepped out slowly, his voice indifferent, "It's just a military order, did you really need to sneak around to get it from the Li family?"

Li Mujin's gaze swept over him, her eyes narrowing involuntarily.

She had not expected someone else to be staying in the courtyard.

If anyone else had said this, Li Mujin wouldn't have cared at all. The forces able to transfer someone from the Demon-suppression General's command were few in Qingzhou.

But the person in front of her was Fang Heng.

Among the generals garrisoning the Twelve Prefectures, his senior brothers and sisters occupied two of the spots.

"I see now, I've only made things awkward for myself."

Li Mujin put away the military orders, looking back at Shen Yi.

She didn't quite understand.

How had two people, who had been at loggerheads just a few days ago, come to work together again?

It wasn't about keeping to oneself.

It was that he had quietly latched onto the thickest leg of support within the Demon-suppression Bureau.

In comparison, the Li family indeed seemed insignificant.

Li Mujin slowly got to her feet, coldly withdrawing her gaze, "Since you don't need me, I'll take my leave."

Fang Heng walked up next to Shen Yi, his eyes brimming with surprise.

The other's casual actions seemed to bring him a step closer to being accepted by the master...

Neither his senior brothers and sisters nor himself, had precedents for withdrawing in the face of battle.

But Fang Heng was willing to break the norm once, to seek help from Senior Brother Bai, since the other had already proven his courage—there was no need to take further risks.

Truth be told, Shen Yi had only joined the Demon-suppression Bureau a few days back, hadn't even received his salary, and wasn't raised for such purposes from childhood like himself; he really had no reason to risk his life in combat.

Several people stood under the tree, each with a different expression.

Outside, however, urgent footsteps approached.

A colonel dressed in a greatcoat, leading more than forty other officers, stood imposingly at the doorway with a voice that brooked no refusal, "By command, we are to transfer Shen Yi, Colonel of the Demon-suppression Bureau's outer camp, with this general..."

The voice stopped abruptly.

The colonel frowned, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Li Mujin and Fang Heng.

Suddenly feeling a bit parched.

He had thought he was just coming to pick up a low-ranking colonel, how could he have run into so many familiar faces.

Li Mujin remained silent, Fang Heng took a deep breath, and opened his mouth awkwardly. It was the first time the rarely sociable man had to speak up for someone.

However, before he could get the words out.

Shen Yi slightly sidestepped and pushed Fang Heng back with the scabbard on his waist.

He walked calmly to the gate, standing amongst the many officers: "This subordinate acknowledges the command."

Actually, his thoughts weren't as convoluted as Fang Heng and Li Mujin imagined.

His ideas were as simple as they could be.

If he couldn't see with his own eyes the evil serpent's demise, just the thought of a Condensation Elixir Demon lurking in the shadows ready to strike made him restless.

Seeing this, the colonel sighed with relief.

But little did he know, Shen Yi's action had left the three people inside the courtyard dumbfounded.

Zhang the Butcher exchanged a glance with Fang Heng: "..."

Li Mujin stared blankly at Shen Yi among the crowd, her breathing suddenly becoming rapid.

Perhaps the environment she grew up in made her feel that everyone needed to rely on something, otherwise they felt insecure.

Even if you shuffle responsibilities, it's just to fight for greater benefits.

However, at this moment, the surge of the black-robed figure, the one dashing into the forest, the blood-soaked body casually pulling out the black gleaming blade from Meng Xian's head, all began to vividly appear before her eyes.

It turned out that from the very beginning, neither the Li family nor the General were within his considerations at all.

She bit her lip hard, watching the officers walk away, her eyes revealing an almost imperceptible hint of loss.