Chapter 216: Immortal Jiao Breakthrough

"Nine Demons Transform into Demon Art."

He glanced again at the name of this new martial art.

Shen Yi sighed, sinking into inner observation, watching the crimson, ferocious Dao infant, even the Yin Spirit beside it seeming affected, exuding traces of killing intent.

How far it had drifted from the image of a young hero of the Jianghu he had imagined.

White robe, swift steed, sword at hip, roaming the four corners.

Back in Bai Yun County, it was because his life was in danger—he had no choice; even if he got any martial art to practice, he should have been grateful.

He had thought that once he resolved the troubles left by his predecessor, he might finally have some ease, to do what he truly wished—like drawing his sword to aid the oppressed, meeting a few heroic and graceful female heroes, leaving behind a romantic legend in the Jianghu.

But barely had he left the county town when he plunged headfirst into the great pit of Qingzhou's demonic calamity.

Young hero of the Jianghu, romantic legend… then the moment he showed his face, someone shouted, "That demon is Lord Shen!"

Shen Yi's eyelid twitched.

Now that he had slain the Howling Moon Demon King and Lady Qinghua, Qingzhou was temporarily stable—but he had now angered the Thousand Demon Cavern, a name that alone sounded terrifying.

In less than a year, his opponents had risen from a sentient black-furred dog demon to a Soul Transformation Realm demon emperor.

Yet Shen Yi was precisely the kind of person who despised surprises intensely.

Logically, with his current cultivation level, as long as he avoided demon emperors, he could at least protect himself—and the world was wide open.

Moreover, that demon emperor was currently too occupied to act.

But what if he just happened to run into one…

Thinking of this, Shen Yi calmed his mind and turned his gaze to the interface.

With no path ahead, he might as well stand firmer right where he was!

【Slain Hunyuan. Nine Demons Transform into Demon Art: Not Yet Entered】

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: Eight thousand five hundred fifty-two years】

He had originally planned to forge a demonic body with demon blood; this martial art's approach, however, was to nourish the immortal demons, a method resembling the feeding of the Dao infant, to grow all nine demons into demon king levels.

The nine demons remained imprisoned within his body.

After circling around, he was still refining his body.

Shen Yi channeled demon lifespan into it.

【Year One, you channel inner demon blood into your skin, flesh, muscles, and bones, nourishing the Immortal Jiao, which obediently ingests it; its body, formed from demonic energy, gains a crimson vein, and it begins digesting the demon blood】

The Immortal Jiao had originally been formed from a seed-elixir's demonic energy.

It was as distant from a demon king as ten thousand miles are from a single step, and even the assistance it provided Shen Yi had become negligible.

But now, under the infusion of demon blood, the Immortal Jiao's aura was rapidly ascending.

【Year Fifty-Two, the Immortal Jiao successfully absorbed one drop of demon blood; its cultivation neared that of the Immortal Deer; it drifted aimlessly within your body, while the Mountain Lord and Toad Lord instinctively moved aside】

…

Shen Yi stared at the interface, having a rough sense of the numbers.

Originally, Bai Lu, the weakest Embracing Elixir Realm demon lord, could only yield one drop of demon blood; minor demon kings yielded eight drops; the two true demon kings yielded forty-six and eighty-six drops respectively.

He didn't know the Immortal Jiao's upper limit.

The interface's prompts flew rapidly; demon lifespan decreased accordingly.

【Year Two thousand six hundred forty-nine, the Immortal Jiao digested the fiftieth drop of demon blood; its body was covered in crimson patterns; suddenly, these patterns glowed faintly, and an intense, domineering aura instantly spread—before this aura, even the Immortal Wolf had to yield three parts】

"Still consuming?"

Shen Yi sank into inner observation and noticed the demon blood was still decreasing.

【Year Three thousand eight hundred sixteen, as seventy-two drops of demon blood merged into its body, the Immortal Jiao finally ceased feeding, becoming even more ferocious; the other eight immortal demons hid in corners, no longer daring to approach it; your innate ability from the Immortal Jiao has improved】

【Slain Hunyuan. Nine Demons Transform into Demon Art: Entered】

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: Four thousand seven hundred thirty-six years】

From the weakest, it leapt to become the strongest.

Shen Yi felt a faint burning pain on his shoulder; he pulled open his robe and saw the dark-gold dragon pattern reappear—this time, a crimson thread ran through it, as if living blood flowed within.

The burning came from the eye atop the dragon's head, the spot where the crimson was most intense.

"..."

Shen Yi stretched his arms; this cultivation advancement was even more terrifying than when he captured the Howling Moon Demon King.

No wonder it was a demon martial art—strange as it was, the effect was undeniably powerful.

Only forty-two drops of demon blood remained in his dantian, temporarily reserved as medicinal nourishment for the Dao infant.

He redressed, released Lady Qinghua, and guided her into his dantian's Yin Spirit to further harmonize with it.

Let's see how she performs first.

If she performs poorly, or if he later encountered a stronger demon, he could reshape another demon soul and fuse her into it to replace her.

Summoning the Dao infant was too conspicuous; the red clouds too flashy.

Shen Yi simply used the Free and Easy Wind Riding Technique to return to Qingzhou City—slow, yes, but at least no one would suspect demonic invasion.

…

Inside the Zhen Mo Si headquarters, chaos reigned.

To repair the collapsed buildings.

Besides the summoned craftsmen, countless Captains had taken up manual labor, even some generals wrapped in greatcoats.

Recent duties had grown fewer; from once being constantly on the run, they now scoured the land for demonic traces.

Those fierce, cruel beasts now wished only to slip away from Qingzhou unnoticed, avoiding capture by the Zhen Mo Si's black-furred officers.

"Back already?"

In the courtyard, a document floated in midair, beside it Jiang Qiulan sat with closed eyes, meditating.

Shen Yi looked at Jiang Yuanhua, suddenly somewhat admiring the other's mindset: "Not leaving yet?"

This Yin God was nearly dissipating into smoke, yet could still remain calm and composed.

"I want to take one more look at Outside Qingzhou."

Jiang Yuanhua laughed heartily. Chen Qiankun had once said he would be abandoned by friends and family.

Now that his physical body was gone, no one could see him — a fine solution to that problem.

After all, out of sight, out of mind.

"Right, this is the document I plan to submit to the Wumiao. Take a look and see if there are any problems?"

The matter of the Howling Moon Demon King's execution certainly needed to be reported.

Since it concerned himself, Shen Yi didn't stand on ceremony — he took the booklet and began flipping through it.

It was a very properly formatted report letter.

It reported the demon king's death, but blurred the specific process with one falsehood hidden among nine truths; also omitted was Lady Qinghua.

Closing the document, Shen Yi raised his eyes: "Many thanks."

"As long as you don't mind, whatever rewards the imperial court bestows, you'll receive them all on my behalf — just keep them yourself." Jiang Yuanhua nodded.

As for merits and promotions, he was already a wisp of Yin God; these things could simply be "given" to Shen Yi.

Neither of them said it outright, but the meaning was already very clear.

Jiang Yuanhua never fully trusted anyone — that included the Wumiao. The matter of offending the Blood Demon Emperor was simply too big; it definitely couldn't be hidden, but at least the identity of the one who struck could be obscured.

Even if there was only a sliver of a chance that the Wumiao couldn't withstand the pressure and would betray Shen Yi's identity to outsiders, it had to be nipped in the bud in advance.

Of course, even if he mobilized his power as Commander to conceal it, as long as someone with intent wanted to investigate — even though Outside Qingzhou was in a remote place where the Emperor's reach was long — this matter would eventually be exposed.

But in Jiang Yuanhua's view, given Shen Yi's terrifying growth rate, even concealing it for another year or so was very necessary.

"Time to go."

Jiang Yuanhua took back the document and reminded him: "You've met Ji Wang Fei before, so you should have heard of the Mysterious Light Grotto. That place has many disciples, all with different temperaments. The Wumiao is weak there, and now has no say in matters..."

(End of chapter)