Yellow Rank Demon Hunters are almost all at the Pulse Condensation Realm.
Once one reaches the Innate Realm, they qualify to be promoted to a Profound Rank Demon Hunter.
It can be said—
That any Innate Martial Artist can be called a true expert in Great Qin; even within the Demon-Subduing Division, they would no longer be seen as insignificant.
A Yellow Rank Demon Hunter can deal with a Ghostly Level Fiend.
A Profound Rank Demon Hunter then has the qualification to contend with a Resentment Level Monster.
Liu Chang, Jiang Zuo, and the others—by Shen Changqing's current standards—would most likely be at the Innate level.
Of course,
It's possible they could be even stronger than Innate.
But even if they really are stronger than Innate, it definitely wouldn't be by much.
"Eleven layers of Pure Yang Technique have made me an Innate Martial Artist. As long as I return to the Demon-Subduing Division, there's a high probability I can be promoted to Profound Rank Demon Hunter."
Shen Changqing was very satisfied.
Eliminating a powerful Ghostly Level Fiend, the Slaughter Value he earned let him break through to Innate once and for all—truly an unexpected gain.
However—
His own arduous cultivation also played a part in it.
If not for diligently cultivating and raising Pure Yang Technique to the eighth layer, relying on fifteen points of Slaughter Value alone, a breakthrough into the Innate Realm would have been impossible.
After the excitement faded,
A powerful wave of weakness suddenly swept over him, causing Shen Changqing's footsteps to falter slightly.
He understood—
This was due to Pure Yang Technique's breakthrough drawing too much of his vitality and blood.
Previously, when he cultivated without taking shortcuts using Slaughter Value, his daily depletion would always stay balanced, never reaching exhaustion.
But now—
Pure Yang Technique had broken through two layers at once, and the consumption was far beyond the norm.
The leap from Pulse Condensation to Innate, especially, demanded a frightening amount of vitality and blood.
"It seems I cannot break through recklessly; either I must prepare thoroughly, or my physique must grow even stronger."
Shen Changqing let out a sigh.
If he gains more Slaughter Value later, then the Thirteen Guardians Body-Refining Skill must be improved as well.
If not—
He'd have to find some other external refinement technique to strengthen himself instead.
Abundant True Qi, formidable power—
But vigorous vitality and blood are the true foundation of strength.
Standing in place to steady himself, Shen Changqing lifted his eyes to the sky. As the monster died, the enshrouding miasma dispersed as well.
Because too much time had been spent,
The blazing sun that was once overhead had become sunset by now; darkness gradually fell across heaven and earth.
"On a moonless, windy night—the perfect time for murder and arson!"
——
Night.
The inner hall of the Yamen was brightly lit.
Zhao Fang sat rigidly in the hall. Under the lantern's glow, his face appeared somewhat sinister.
Seated beside him was a thin, middle-aged man.
"Isn't something wrong over there?" Zhuang Mingyuan spoke while stroking his short beard. His gaze was gloomy and venomous, with occasional flashes of coldness within.
"Impossible."
Zhao Fang shook his head, his gaze resting on the other's face.
"Zhang Long's strength is decent—just one step away from True Qi Generation and breaking through his meridians to become a Pulse Condensation Warrior. Working together with an elite Ghostly Level Fiend, how could they possibly have trouble dealing with some mere Probationary Demon Hunter?"
A Probationary Demon Hunter, at best, would only be at the Pulse Condensation Realm.
Besides,
Most likely just barely stepped into Pulse Condensation.
Even if, in the very worst case, he wasn't just a Probationary Demon Hunter but an experienced Yellow Rank Demon Hunter, with the strength on our side, we are one hundred percent confident of cutting him down.
"If it wasn't for worries that the Demon-Subduing Division might send several Yellow Rank Demon Hunters, we wouldn't have needed to falsify the reports. What I didn't expect was that, even faced with a Ghostly Level Fiend, the Demon-Subduing Division still sent just one Probationary Demon Hunter.
Heh, heh—who knows if he got on someone's bad side, or if the Demon-Subduing Division is truly short-staffed."
At this, Zhao Fang's expression turned odd as well.
He had prepared to deal with several Probationary Demon Hunters.
Yet after exhausting every precaution—
The Demon-Subduing Division only sent a single person over.
Such a situation—
Left Zhao Fang feeling like he'd punched empty air, frustrated and dissatisfied.
After saying this,
He suddenly remembered something else.
"If one Probationary Demon Hunter isn't enough for Blood Soul to advance, what then?"
Blood Soul—the name of that Ghostly Level Fiend—was what Zhao Fang referred to.
At these words,
Zhuang Mingyuan shook his head: "Blood Soul is already at the peak of the Ghostly Level. A Pulse Condensation Realm Martial Artist should be enough for its advancement. Even if it truly can't ascend, someone else will simply have to be sacrificed."
As he finished speaking,
A cold, sinister smile appeared on his face: "Aren't there several villages near Guyue Village? Offer them all up as sacrifices to Blood Soul, and there will be no problem at all."
At this—
Zhao Fang's brow instinctively furrowed.
Noticing his expression, Zhuang Mingyuan's face turned cold.
"Lord Zhao, do not forget—you're no longer the County Magistrate of Lin'an City, the 'Fair and Upright Senior Official' in their eyes. Now, you're merely a traitor who's thrown in with the Demon Evil.
Since Guyue Village has already been sacrificed, what harm is there in sacrificing a few more villages?
The mere leakage of Guyue Village's affair is already cause for the execution of your whole clan. Do you really think the Demon-Subduing Division would spare you or your family once they learn the full truth?"
——
Zhao Fang gave no reply.
He understood the meaning behind Zhuang Mingyuan's words.
The Demon-Subduing Division's duty, aside from slaying Demon Evil, is to root out those who betray the Human Clan and collude with demonkind.
For such traitors,
The Demon-Subduing Division has never shown mercy.
Just as the other had said, once his actions were exposed, a massacre of his entire clan would be a light sentence.
Implication of nine clans,
Eradication of three generations—
Such things are hardly unheard of.
Every year, the number of traitors beheaded by the Demon-Subduing Division is in the tens of thousands.
That is why their terrible reputation is so deeply rooted, and even the most powerful dare not easily oppose them.
Seeing this,
Zhuang Mingyuan's expression softened a little: "Lord Zhao, although my words are harsh, every one is true. Besides, you've now joined my Eternal Alliance—it's far too late to leave.
What is so good about the Human Clan? No matter how powerful the Demon-Subduing Division, how long do you think they can live?
On the other hand,
With Eternal Alliance, perhaps you will not attain true immortality, but living far longer than others will not be a problem.
As I understand, there are even some in the Alliance who've already lived two or three centuries and have yet to perish.
You joined Eternal Alliance for this very reason. If you can raise Blood Soul to Resentment Level, the upper ranks will be ecstatic, and the rewards will be generous.
With that, what's the harm in sacrificing a few more people?"
"Lord Zhao, you'd best consider your own future carefully!"
Zhuang Mingyuan's words shattered the last bit of hesitation in Zhao Fang's heart.
That's right—
Sacrificing one village is a capital crime; sacrificing two or three is as well.
So what is there left for him to hesitate over?