Li Qianren stood alone by the window at the Demon Suppression Bureau, deep in thought.
His earlier actions weren't without purpose; he had indeed guessed the enemy's intentions, but couldn't speak of it openly as it concerned the Bureau.
Why would a Transcendent Realm master unleash a sword strike in the outskirts of Wutong Prefecture late at night, destroying a mountain without harming anyone?
Was it for sword practice?
Certainly not.
He must have been sending a signal.
But what kind of signal? And to whom?
Li Qianren knew the answer without thinking. For dark organizations like the Blood Demon Cult, their greatest enemy was the Demon Suppression Bureau, so the signal was undoubtedly meant for the Bureau.
Or more precisely, it was meant for him, a Transcendent Realm master.
Was it a show of force?
While intimidation was part of it, there had to be deeper meaning behind it.
And Li Qianren understood that deeper meaning.
The key lay in the Single-Character Sun-Burning Sword technique!
Being a member of the Blood Demon Cult, why would the enemy specifically use a sword technique belonging to the Demon Suppression Bureau? It clearly indicated they had a spy within the Bureau.
Usually, having a spy was something kept secret - who would openly admit to it?
Yet they did!
Moreover, among the Bureau's many exclusive techniques, why specifically choose the Single-Character Sun-Burning Sword?
"I never expected the Blood Demon Cult to know the secret of the Single-Character Sun-Burning Sword," Li Qianren muttered.
The Single-Character Sun-Burning Sword wasn't just a simple Mystic-grade technique; it was merely a fragment, paired with another sword technique called the Single-Character Moon-Illuminating Sword, which was also incomplete.
The Single-Character Moon-Illuminating Sword was an Earth-grade technique.
Li Qianren had learned from ancient texts that both techniques were originally part of a Heaven-grade technique!
The Cross-Shaped Netherworld Flame Sword!
Legend had it that these two sword techniques could recreate the Heaven-grade technique!
Both techniques were now in the Demon Suppression Bureau's possession. Li Qianren had studied and even practiced them, but he knew clearly that these two techniques alone couldn't recreate the Cross-Shaped Netherworld Flame Sword.
The fragments were too incomplete; even combined, they were still missing a crucial part.
The enemy's deliberate use of the Single-Character Sun-Burning Sword clearly showed they knew the secret of the Cross-Shaped Netherworld Flame Sword, and must possess the final missing fragment. After all, only a legendary Heaven-grade technique would hold such attraction for a Transcendent Realm master.
Their target must be the Single-Character Moon-Illuminating Sword.
Being an Earth-grade technique, such techniques were extremely precious and were only passed down among generations of Heaven-rank Demon Hunters. The enemy surely didn't have it.
So their actions tonight were meant to tell him they were coming for the Single-Character Moon-Illuminating Sword!
How audacious!
A cold smile appeared on Li Qianren's lips.
On the surface, the enemy seemed arrogant, but what about in reality?
If they could easily take it, why announce their intentions so openly?
Li Qianren felt he had seen through their plot.
Think about it - if a thief openly tells you they're going to steal your treasure, what's your first reaction?
You'd certainly check if the treasure is still there and increase security to guard it day and night.
But once you check, you've fallen for their trap!
Originally, the thief didn't know where the treasure was, but your actions would reveal its location.
That was their scheme!
"Heh," Li Qianren sneered. "You want me to check the hiding place of the Single-Character Moon-Illuminating Sword? I won't fall for it."
"By using this method, you've actually told me that the current hiding place is safe and doesn't need to be moved."
Gradually, Li Qianren's thoughts expanded. He even considered turning the tables, using the Single-Character Moon-Illuminating Sword as bait to lure the enemy in, then setting up an elaborate trap to capture them.
This way, he could both eliminate a master from the Blood Demon Cult and obtain their fragment to complete the Heaven-grade technique! Killing two birds with one stone!
However, recalling the power of that sword strike from earlier tonight, Li Qianren felt cautious. This matter required careful planning and couldn't be rushed.
......
Having returned to the Demon Suppression Bureau, Gu Qingfeng was unaware that his sword practice had caused his superior to engage in mental warfare with thin air for half a day.
Like a child who had just caused trouble, he was still feeling nervous.
But more than that, he was ecstatic. The combination of the Single-Character Sun-Burning Sword and the White Bone Demon Fire was incredibly powerful! Much stronger than the White Bone Demon Fire alone!
The experiment was a complete success!
The White Bone Demon Fire was like a cannonball - previously, Gu Qingfeng would simply throw it like a shot put.
The Single-Character Sun-Burning Sword was like a cannon, and their combination was far more than just a simple addition of their powers.
However, Gu Qingfeng was also troubled. He knew that final sword strike was a moment of inspiration, a fortunate coincidence. If asked to do it again, he couldn't easily replicate it.
It was like practicing basketball - if you miss ninety-nine shots and finally make the hundredth one, can you say you've mastered the technique?
Obviously not. It would require extensive practice to achieve stable performance and truly master it.
But the sword strike was too powerful, causing too much commotion. Where could he practice?
There was no way to practice secretly!
After worrying for a while, Gu Qingfeng suddenly had an idea!
What if he replaced the White Bone Demon Fire with ordinary flames?
After all, wasn't he just practicing combining fire control with the Single-Character Sun-Burning Sword?
With his fire control ability, Gu Qingfeng could manipulate any flame as easily as moving his own limbs, so there was essentially no difference between ordinary flames and the White Bone Demon Fire for him.
The more Gu Qingfeng thought about it, the more excited he became, feeling like a genius.
Ordinary flames would cause much less disturbance, allowing him to practice freely!
However, Gu Qingfeng didn't start practicing immediately, as he had returned to his dormitory. Though he had a single room, there were many neighbors nearby.
Creating flying flames in the middle of the night would make people think there was an arsonist about.
So Gu Qingfeng could only lie in bed to sleep, but he was too excited and kept tossing and turning.
Finally, he remembered he still had a Cultivation Foundation Pill he hadn't taken. Thinking about his pathetically low cultivation level, Gu Qingfeng didn't hesitate to get up and take out the pill from his chest.
The Cultivation Foundation Pill was a medicinal pill needed for Internal Qi Realm cultivators' practice. Since those in the Qi Gathering Realm couldn't absorb much of it, making it wasteful, the Demon Suppression Bureau didn't distribute them to Qi Gathering Realm cultivators.
But Gu Qingfeng was an oddity who had obtained a Cultivation Foundation Pill early on.
He didn't care about waste anymore - given his natural aptitude, without taking some pills, he might never advance to the Internal Qi Realm in his lifetime.
Speaking of medicinal pills, Gu Qingfeng recalled a story about pills that a senior member had told him when he first joined the Demon Suppression Bureau.
Long, long ago, there were twin brothers with identical aptitude, practicing the same techniques under the same master, everything the same. Yet the older brother who practiced eight hours daily couldn't match his younger brother who only practiced seven hours.
What was the reason?
It turned out that the younger brother would always spare an hour to keep their master company, playing chess or helping water the flowers. Over time, the younger brother became the master's favorite.
So the master would secretly give pills to the younger brother.
With the help of these pills, even though the younger brother practiced less each day, his cultivation level still surpassed his older brother's.
This story taught them the importance of medicinal pills.
invincible power, Gu Changge transmigrates into a fantasy world, bound to a sign-in system that grants him cultivation rewards and various peerless treasures daily. While others struggle desperately to break through their cultivation realms, he has long since reached the pinnacle of the Great Dao, becoming a reclusive Emperor whose true strength even he himself cannot fathom. Originally planning to lie low and retire peacefully on Purple Bamboo Peak, the system suddenly issues a new task — take on disciples. With no other choice, Gu Changge casually picks up a few disciples: The eldest disciple, born with a War God Constitution, is thrown a copy of "War God Stratagems" by him, and ends up conquering the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, becoming a peerless War God who sweeps across the cosmos. The second disciple, possessing a Chaos Sword Body, can break all techniques with a single sword, his swordsmanship unmatched throughout history. He points his sword at the heavens: "My master said, the sword and the man stand together. If the sword perishes... my master will give me another one." The third disciple, a reborn Empress who returns to her throne, her elegance and grace overshadowing all beings. And without anyone noticing, his own sect, the Qingxuan Sect, has become the number one sect on the continent. Looking at these unbelievably formidable disciples, Gu Changge, holding the "Primordial Purple Qi" he just signed in for, falls into deep thought: — Wasn't this supposed to be a peaceful retirement? How did I become the ultimate master?!
[Dao Companion Rental System]. By renting himself out as a temporary dao companion to daughters of destiny, Qin Hao could obtain generous rewards. His service philosophy was simple: play the role of the devoted lover, resolve their troubles, depart without a trace once the matter was settled, and absolutely avoid entangling karma. However, those daughters of destiny didn't see it that way. That night, all the major powers across the Three Realms and Nine Heavens jointly besieged the Qin Clan, plunging it into an unprecedented crisis. "It's Su Qingyue! The peerless sword immortal who attained the Dao and became an Immortal Emperor in a thousand years, the one who severed the River of Time with a single sword strike! When... when did our Qin Clan make an enemy of her?" Qin Hao stepped forward, clearing his throat lightly: "Ahem, Ancestors, don't panic. She's here for me. To be honest... she's my ex-girlfriend." From another direction, the newly ascended Empress of the Demon Realm arrived with ten thousand demons pressing on the border: "Qin Hao! Today, the entire Qin Clan shall be buried with you!" Hearing this, the Qin Clan ancestors all turned their eyes sharply towards Qin Hao. Qin Hao scratched his head somewhat sheepishly: "The Demon Empress... she's also my ex-girlfriend." Before the Qin ancestors could process this, an aloof figure traversed the River of Time: "The Qin Clan deserves annihilation!" Recognizing the newcomer, the Qin ancestors paled in terror: "It's her! Liu Ruyan, the Extinction Empress who ventured alone into the alien realm and suppressed it for an entire epoch! Didn't she vanish into the River of Time long ago? Why would she cross it just to target our clan?" Qin Hao scratched his head again, looking even more embarrassed: "My fault, my fault. She's an ex-girlfriend too." Watching countless celestial maidens descend, the Qin Clan ancestors were utterly astounded: "You scoundrel! Just... just how many women have you gotten involved with over the years?"
. As long as he maintains the villain image and follows the plot to the grand finale, he can obtain generous rewards and return to the real world. So Gu Chen'an entered the role and began to act as a scumbag villain, but who would have expected that the female leads could hear his inner thoughts. Miss Su from the Su family was shocked: "I originally thought Gu Chen'an was a scumbag, but I didn't expect he turned out to be a gentleman! What? You said I have to call off the engagement? I definitely won't, I'll piss you off!" Bai Yuan Tian was dumbfounded: "Young Master Gu is usually unreasonable and a complete brat, but he actually calls me little sweetie in his heart? What, Young Master Gu even said he likes me?" As the female leads' images collapsed more and more, the plot also collapsed with it. Gu Chen'an looked at all this chaos. "Ladies, don't aggro me, if you keep this up the male lead really will stab me, I still need to survive to the grand finale!"
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
