Chapter 15: The Initial Realm

Compared to the vastness of heaven and earth, the mortal body is utterly insignificant.

Even drawing upon a fraction of it is enough to look down upon the mundane world.

What the first volume of the Wind and Thunder Treasure Scroll describes is using weak medicinal essences to purify the body, allowing the mortal form to gradually acclimate to the qi of heaven and earth, thus becoming worthy of containing them.

Shen Yi has long since passed this stage.

What remains is merely slow, persistent effort—accumulating time to fill the twelve major dantians.

Without precious medicines to aid him, this process could be extremely slow.

But the one thing Shen Yi never lacks is time.

【Remaining demonic lifespan: seventy-six years】

【Initial Realm. Wind and Thunder Subjugating Demon True Explanation (Uninitiated)】

【Five years passed, you used the essence of heaven and earth to repair your injuries and purge long-standing hidden ailments】

【At year fifteen, thanks to your calm mindset, your cultivation proceeded without setbacks, and you successfully filled your first dantian】

【At year thirty-five, three dantians were complete; Wind and Thunder Subjugating Demon True Explanation entered the threshold】

【At year thirty-eight, your progress slowed; after careful exploration, you discovered the qi stored in your dantians had absorbed your own scent, clashing with pure heavenly qi】

【There was no solution—only calm patience and gradual progress】

【At year sixty-five, you filled five major dantians, leaving only one step short of minor accomplishment in the Wind and Thunder Subjugating Demon True Explanation】

【Remaining demonic lifespan: one year】

【Remaining personal lifespan: forty-six years】

……

This was the first time his personal lifespan exceeded the demonic lifespan.

Shen Yi sat on the stone steps, closing his eyes to sense the new heaven and earth.

Compared to the twenty-five additional years of life, his joy came more from within his body.

The abundant qi within the five dantians flowed slowly through his limbs and bones, like nectar in a lotus pond—rich, fragrant, intoxicating.

He raised his palm, slightly curling his fingers.

A faint white mist rose to his fingertips, threaded with crimson streaks.

This was due to the Wind and Thunder Subjugating Demon True Explanation; as a method born from draining the body, it constantly transformed blood and qi using the True Yang Sword Art, causing even pure heavenly qi to carry traces of blood.

Now, any slash Shen Yi delivered would far surpass yesterday’s Subjugating Demon True Yang Sword.

He no longer drained his own vitality—he drew power from the dantians.

He was now in the Initial Realm; he no longer needed that crude, makeshift sword art that only granted temporary transcendence.

Shen Yi rose and stepped out of the alley, feeling his body light as if he could ascend to heaven with a single step.

“Getting a bit carried away…”

He calmed his mind; such sudden strength inevitably left him dazed.

He now bore the mark of three demonic entities—he was in grave danger.

He had lucked into forty-odd years of lifespan; he couldn’t afford to waste it.

Of course, if any of them dared appear before him, he wouldn’t mind testing the sharpness of his full qi.

Just one year of demonic lifespan—it made him feel profoundly unsafe…

……

The government office barracks.

The sun was high overhead.

Six constables stood rigidly in the courtyard, eyes fixed on the shattered door.

Song Tou had been sitting inside since early morning, a bandage wrapped around his forehead, face grim, not moving a muscle all morning.

Chen Ji glanced sideways at the ground.

Two bodies covered in white cloth—exactly the two men who had come to find Shen Yi last night—now emitted a foul stench, clearly dead beyond doubt.

On ordinary days, Shen Yi’s men weren’t afraid of Song Tou; they merely performed superficial obedience.

But now, there were corpses.

On the other side, a group of constables from other barracks stood with arms crossed, smug and haughty.

These men had come with Song Tou—they were clearly no good.

Normally, outsiders never reached the crime scene before insiders, yet today it happened.

And what troubled Chen Ji most was that Shen Yi still hadn’t appeared.

“…”

At that moment, a tall figure slowly stepped into the courtyard.

All eyes turned toward him.

Upon seeing his face, the other constables instantly wiped their expressions and simultaneously gripped the hilts of their waist knives.

Song Changfeng had summoned these elite constables from every barracks so early in the morning.

This could only mean the government office's stance had changed—Shen's days of arrogance were over.

Seeing their posture, his own men turned pale, but Chen Ji frowned, silently gripping his blade.

Tension crackled in the air.

Song Changfeng suddenly rose from his chair, dragging his injured body, limping to the doorway.

He leaned against the wall and forced a weak smile: “You came?”

Shen Yi gave a slight nod: “Mm.”

Though he didn’t know why this poor old man hadn’t stayed home to rest, at least he’d arranged for the corpses to be handled—saving Shen Yi the trouble of explaining.

“I thought you’d come in the afternoon,” Song Changfeng extended his hand in greeting.

“Rats in my house, couldn’t sleep, so I got up early,” Shen Yi walked inside, sat in his seat, and looked up: “What’s it about?”

At this, those outside instinctively glanced at the sky.

Then they looked inside: Lord Shen sat upright in the main seat, Song Changfeng stood beside him, hand loosening on his blade.

Song Changfeng feared Shen Yi—this was no secret.

But for him to come over himself, dragging a group of elites to humiliate himself like this—it was damn strange.

“Damn…”

The other constables felt their faces burn, all thinking only of leaving this hellhole.

Then Song Changfeng pointed at them.

“Pick two to fill the ranks—they’re all carefully chosen.”

At these words, their faces changed instantly.

Baiyun County wasn’t large; news spread fast.

Working with Shen Yi meant fine meals and wine—but his methods were too vile; within half a day, their reputations would be as tainted as his.

The heartless didn’t care, but anyone with even a shred of dignity didn’t want to be his watchdog while he preyed on innocent women.

“Are they usable?”

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow.

To be honest, he did have some interest.

Since the original owner was dead, and he intended to join the Town Suppressing Office, using his former men was no longer appropriate.

But he wasn’t without demands.

At least, when faced with something like the Liuli Temple Village incident, they should survive to report back.

This remark clearly offended the men outside.

A debauched, hollow fool dared question their abilities.

They were better than his outdated, unused Bone-Capturing Technique.

Yet, before all eyes, Song Changfeng gave a bitter smile: “That depends on who you’re comparing them to—surely not you?”

The words seemed harmless, yet why did they sound so odd?

The others were still savoring the hidden meaning.

Only Chen Ji rolled his eyes, clearly agreeing.

With his absurd talent and the seventy-eight-character mantra he’d taken, in a few years he’d likely break through both the Meridian and Bone thresholds, chasing the realm of Perfect Flesh.

(End of Chapter)