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.
Explosive Plot Song Gua crossed over into another world, bringing along a whole crew of his doppelgangers—all of them mischief-makers. This was a world where everyone could choose a class. Song Gua became a "Bondweaver," capable of borrowing power, while his doppelgangers took on a wide variety of classes, covering just about everything. The number of doppelgangers grew day by day, each one a talented individual with a charming way of speaking. Under Song Gua's brilliant leadership, they would "greet" each other daily and engage in friendly "sparring," pulling off one major scheme after another on Earth. Sometimes they were bandits—stealing bosses, plundering mines, snatching resources. Sometimes they were saviors—descending like divine warriors to face world bosses threatening to massacre cities. Sometimes they even went undercover, infiltrating various major factions to stir up trouble from within, keeping their enemies constantly on edge. To prevent their doppelganger abilities from being exposed, Song Gua made them wear masks with mahjong tile patterns and don Taoist robes in various colors. "Remember, in front of outsiders, call me 'The Dice.'" "Got it! Boss!" "Not 'Boss'—it's 'The Dice.' Think about the vibe, pay attention to the vibe." "Yes! Boss!" "For crying out loud..." From then on, whenever they appeared, they would have their own theme song playing: ~Hey~ paying respects at the mountain stronghold at night~ whose arm is draped over whose shoulder~ gather your courage and follow along...
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"
o a martial world and obtained a system that allowed him to draw one entry per year. Unfortunately, all he drew were useless white-tier entries. The probability for high-quality entries was extremely low, with the highest-tier mythic entry having a mere 0.001% chance! To increase the probability, he had to improve his martial realm, but he lacked the innate talent for cultivation. At the age of eighteen, Chen Yi fell into the hands of a gang and was forced into hard labor. Just as his life seemed destined for a bleak end, on his 18th entry draw, he actually pulled a mythic entry—Simulator! In the simulation, he could also draw one entry every year that passed, and upon ending the simulation, he would inherit all entries and his martial realm! In his first simulation, Chen Yi struggled desperately just to survive, knowing that living one more year meant one more entry draw! Finally, with hair turned white, he drew the entry he had longed for—Low-Grade Innate Talent! "Hahaha! Don't bully the old and poor! Time to cultivate and inherit my cultivation base!" ... From then on, Chen Yi continuously simulated and drew entries, his martial realm soaring higher and higher! Epic, legendary, and even mythic entries were gathered into his collection one after another! "What demon race or devil race? What dark turmoil? I don't know anything about that. They just charged at me screaming 'How can you possibly ascend to immortality?!' and got stuck to my fists, unable to be shaken off. Blind spots, speed bumps... go talk to my simulator. We're all struggling to survive out here. I'm trying so hard, so how are they still alive?"
