Chapter 15: The Initial Realm

Compared to the vastness of heaven and earth, the mortal body is incredibly tiny.

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

What the first volume of the Wind and Thunder Sacred Scroll describes is using weak medicinal essences to refine the body, allowing the mortal form to gradually acclimate to the qi of heaven and earth, thus gaining the capacity to contain them.

Shen Yi has long since passed this stage.

What remains is slow, patient work—accumulating time to fill the twelve major orifices.

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

But Shen Yi has one thing he never lacks: 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】

【Year fifteen, thanks to your calm mindset, your cultivation proceeded without setbacks, and you smoothly filled your first orifice】

【Year thirty-five, three orifices completed, Wind and Thunder Subjugating Demon True Explanation entered the threshold】

【Year thirty-eight, your progress slowed; after careful exploration, you discovered that the qi stored within the orifices had absorbed your scent and now clashed with pure heavenly qi】

【There is no solution to this issue—only maintain a tranquil heart and proceed gradually】

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

【Remaining demonic lifespan: one year】

【Your remaining lifespan: forty-six years】

……

This was the first time his own 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 lifespan, his joy came more from within his body.

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

He raised his palm and slightly curled 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 through the Righteous Yang Sword Art, causing even pure heavenly qi to be tainted with traces of blood.

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

He no longer drained his own vitality, but drew power from the orifices.

He has already reached the initial realm, so he no longer needed that crude sword art, which only offered temporary transcendence by unconventional means.

Shen Yi rose and stepped out of the alley, feeling his body light as if he could step straight into heaven.

"Getting a bit carried away…"

He calmed his mind; such sudden strength inevitably brought a sense of daze.

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 let it slip away uselessly.

Of course, if they truly dared appear before him, Shen Yi wouldn't mind testing the sharpness of his full qi.

Only one year of demonic lifespan left—it truly made one feel profoundly insecure…

……

The magistrate's barracks.

The sun was already high overhead.

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

Chief Song 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 Bai Bu were the two men who had come to find Shen Yi last night—they now emitted a foul stench, clearly dead beyond revival.

On ordinary days, Shen Yi's constables were not afraid of Chief Song—they merely performed superficial obedience.

But now, there were corpses.

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

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

Normally, outsiders never reached the crime scene before one's own people—but today, it had happened.

And what troubled Chen Ji most was that Shen Yi still had not appeared.

"…"

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

All eyes turned toward him.

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

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

This could only mean the magistrate's stance had changed—Shen's chances of arrogance were over.

Seeing their actions, Shen Yi's own men turned pale—but Chen Ji frowned, silent, gripping his blade's hilt.

Tension crackled in the air.

Song Changfeng suddenly dragged his wounded body up from his chair, limping step by step to the doorway.

He leaned against the wall and forced out a weak smile: "You're here?"

Shen Yi gave a slight nod: "Mm."

Though he didn't know why this pitiful old man wasn't resting at home, at least the man had the sense to arrange the aftermath—saving Shen Yi the trouble of explaining.

"I thought you wouldn't arrive until afternoon," Song Changfeng extended his hand in greeting.

"Rats were running wild at home, couldn't sleep well, so I got up early," Shen Yi stepped inside, sat down at his usual seat, and looked up. "What is it?"

At these words, the people outside involuntarily looked up at the sky.

Turning to look inside, they saw Lord Shen seated in the main seat, Song Changfeng leaning against his waist beside him, his grip on the blade loosening unconsciously.

Song Changfeng feared Shen Yi — this was no secret.

But for him to come over himself, bringing a group of elite troops to make a spectacle — it was damn strange.

"Shit..."

The other constables in the barracks felt their faces burn with shame, all thinking only of leaving this dump as soon as possible.

Unexpectedly, Song Changfeng pointed at them.

"Want to pick two to fill out the team? All carefully selected."

At these words, the group's expressions changed instantly.

Bai Yun County wasn't large, and news spread quickly.

Serving under Shen Yi meant fine food and drink, but his methods were too vile — within half a day, their reputations would become as foul as his.

Those without any conscience didn't care, but anyone who still valued their dignity didn't want to be his watchdog while he bullied innocent women.

"Are they usable?"

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow and looked over.

Come to think of it, he did have a thought.

Since his predecessor was dead, and he intended to join Zhen Mo Si, using the old group to handle affairs no longer suited him.

But he wasn't without demands.

At the very least, they should be able to survive and return to report when faced with something like the Liuli Temple Village incident.

This remark clearly offended the men outside.

A debauched, hollow fool dared to question their abilities.

They were at least better than his outdated Bone-Crushing Grasp, unused for years.

Yet before all eyes, Song Changfeng gave a bitter smile: "That depends on who you're comparing 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, looking as if he understood perfectly.

Given his absurd talent and the fact he took my seventy-eight-character True Words, in a few years he might even break through both the Sinew and Bone thresholds, pursuing the realm of Perfect Flesh.

(End of Chapter)