Chapter 3: The Demon-Subduing Radiant Blade

Shen Yi always felt this Demon-Subduing Blade Art was anything but ordinary.

His previous self had mastered the Bone-Crushing Grasp in just three to five years, but when practicing this blade art—even with full concentration—it took eight years just to achieve minor proficiency.

It took a full thirty-three years to reach perfection and glimpse a single thread of spiritual insight.

If one could fully capture this spiritual light, its effect would far surpass any ordinary martial art.

He subtly shifted his intent, pouring all ten years of demonic lifespan into the Demon-Subduing Blade Art.

【You continue refining your already perfected Demon-Subduing Blade Art; ten years pass in the blink of an eye, and that thread of spiritual light grows clearer—but your talent is mediocre, and you simply cannot fathom it.】

"…"

"That's it?"

Shen Yi's chest tightened; this was a full ten years! Ten years during which he had abandoned all distractions for this purpose!

Even if he'd just been tightening screws, abandoning all entertainment for ten years, he could've bought a small apartment in a county town.

Yet thrown into martial arts, it produced not even a ripple.

Having invested so much already, he couldn't abandon it—he simply kept pouring in more.

【Year seventeen, you finally grasp that thread of spiritual light and begin attempting to record it in a manual.】

【Year twenty-seven, you expend every ounce of energy to perfect it and name it The Demon-Subduing Radiant Blade.】

【Remaining demonic lifespan: thirty-six years】

…

"Self-created martial art?"

Suddenly, Shen Yi's mind filled with a martial blade art insight.

After absorbing it fully, he realized it wasn't what he'd imagined.

On the interface, a new line of text appeared beneath the Demon-Subduing Blade Art.

【Initial Realm. The Demon-Subduing Radiant Blade】

It was not a new martial art, but something akin to a derived technique—thus, no proficiency level existed.

After sixty years of refinement, he despairingly realized human limits were absolute.

No matter how refined his blade art became, no matter how relentlessly he trained his body day and night, he could never stand against true great demons.

Thus, he conceived a method: mobilize the body's essence and blood, refine essence into Qi, then use the long blade to command that Qi.

"Initial Realm?"

Shen Yi stared at the prefix.

The last time he'd seen this term was on the prompt after slaying the dog demon.

Intelligent dog demon, has not yet entered the initial realm.

That meant this single blade technique now touched upon some kind of realm.

"If I continue refining the Demon-Subduing Blade Art, could I one day create an entire Initial Realm martial art—not just a single technique?"

Shen Yi closed the interface, his eyes alight with excitement.

But quickly, he restrained himself, suppressing the urge to pour all remaining lifespan into it.

Clearly, self-creating martial arts was inefficient; the same demonic lifespan invested in existing arts would yield far better results.

He remembered the last time the Zhen Mo Si captain had passed down multiple martial arts—he held minor status in the bureau; acquiring them wouldn't be difficult.

"I'll rest for now."

After so many sudden changes, as his mind relaxed, Shen Yi was instantly engulfed in heavy fatigue.

He had just begun to lie down.

The Liu father and daughter brought warm water they'd prepared in advance; the girl plunged Shen Yi's feet into the water and diligently rubbed them with her rough little hands.

Shen Yi closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.

This was the first time he'd ever experienced being served by others.

Given their fearful demeanor, even if he became a wicked landlord from today onward, they'd never dare object.

But Shen Yi opened his eyes and softly said, "That's enough. Go. I'll rest tonight and leave."

He revealed no other emotion.

After all, his previous self's countless atrocities stood there—no matter how gentle he acted, it would only leave the father and daughter with needless fear.

Hearing this, the old man froze, his cloudy eyes filled with hesitant disbelief.

But he quickly recovered, grabbing his daughter and nodding frantically: "Master Shen, you're too kind—stay as long as you like. Just call if you need anything."

The two stumbled out with the basin, slipping into another room.

The Liu girl pressed against the window, unable to sleep all night—every time she closed her eyes, she saw Master Shen's snarling face; every time she opened them, she saw the dog demon's corpse, eyes wide open.

She endured until dawn, when the rooster crowed, her eyes bleary—then she suddenly spotted a figure outside.

A young man in black official robes stood tall, his back slender, a sword hanging at his waist, radiating martial vigor.

He quietly left the courtyard, and as he went, he righted the broken door the dog demon had torn down, barely shielding out the cold wind.

"Dad, Master Shen's gone."

"Huh… gone? Good… good…"

…

Morning dew dampened the streets, faint mist curling around them.

Shen Yi stepped from the mist and stood before two stone lions.

Bai Yunxian Office.

He entered through the side gate with practiced ease, walking into the patrol room.

Bai Yunxian's Criminal Office had seven or eight teams; Shen Yi was merely a minor head, commanding eight constables, with Song Changfeng as his direct superior, the Criminal Office Chief.

He sat down in his assigned place.

Shen Yi flipped through a couple of pages on the desk, but found them completely incomprehensible.

This not only showed his own lack of education, but also indirectly proved that the former owner had never cared about official duties.

The Great Qian Dynasty had been plagued by demonic disturbances for many years; although the Zhen Mo Si had been established, manpower had always been severely insufficient.

Dealing with demonic disturbances was typically the responsibility of local government offices, with the Zhen Mo Si only taking full control of an area after things had completely spiraled out of control, conducting a full demonic purge.

The result was always that the entire local office lost its posts and completely lost control of the region.

It was precisely under this overarching condition that the clever former owner had found his opportunity.

Through his skill in negotiating with demons, he had made Bai Yunxian appear peacefully calm, earning deep trust from above, while also sparing his subordinates from actual combat with demons, greatly reducing casualties and earning immense prestige.

He handled affairs well, and over several years, he had quietly begun to show signs of replacing Song Changfeng.

Of course, not everyone was convinced.

Shen Yi's gaze swept over the empty office room and the wine jars scattered on the floor beneath the desk; he picked one up at random and fell silent.

At that moment, a thin young man rushed in hurriedly.

He saw Shen Yi seated on the chair; his eyes first flickered with contempt, then quickly adjusted his expression, removed his wide-brimmed hat, revealing a handsome face: "Your humble servant pays respects to Lord Shen."

The newcomer was named Chen Ji; he had the least seniority in the office, but his reputation was considerable.

The reason was his extraordinary martial talent, which had once earned praise from a Zhen Mo Si Captain.

Unfortunately, his youthful arrogance had led him to suffer many defeats at the hands of demons, resulting in a severe reprimand from above and being handed over to Shen Yi for discipline.

His parents had died early; he had wandered through Bai Yunxian with his younger sister.

Coincidentally, the former owner had been a lustful lecher.

After open and covert struggles between them, it ended with him obediently submitting, and Shen Yi promising not to touch his sister—a fragile truce.

Sss, how does it feel like I've already courted death?

Shen Yi rested his chin, lost in thought, until Chen Ji broke the silence.

"Lord Shen, I've just returned from Liuli Temple—the village has had an incident."

Chen Ji remembered his superior's previous order; doubt flickered in his eyes, but he quickly explained: "Although you said to ignore matters outside the city for now, this demon has broken the rules—it has taken up residence in the village."

His speech grew faster, as if terrified of being interrupted—he had clearly experienced this many times before.

"I hope… Lord Shen could go… negotiate…"

When he uttered the word "negotiate," Chen Ji's face twitched with shame, yet he still forced himself to maintain respectful tone, unwilling to anger the man.

After all, given Shen Yi's nature, he usually dismissed such matters with indifference.

To get him to act, one had to flatter him into a good mood.

"I recall the Zhen Mo Si Captain brought three martial arts transcripts last time—weren't they borrowed by you?"

Shen Yi rose and walked to the office door, stretching out with a loud yawn.

"Huh?"

Chen Ji froze in place—had Lord Shen not heard a single word he'd said?

"Hand them to me." Shen Yi extended his hand.

Chen Ji took a deep breath, walked to his own desk, pulled out three meticulously preserved transcripts, his forearm muscles bulging.

He stood for a long while, then reluctantly, with visible pain, handed them over.

Knowing his nature, these precious demon-subduing martial arts transcripts would either be used to prop up a desk leg or given as a novelty to some lover for amusement—he would never even glance at them.

Shen Yi took the transcripts and strolled out the door slowly.

He left Chen Ji standing there stunned, his grip on his sword tightening.

That man named Shen doesn't even ask—do the lives of the people outside the city not count as lives?!

At that moment, half a body suddenly poked in through the door.

It was Shen Yi, returned—he wore a look of confusion: "What are you standing there for? Lead the way?"

(End of Chapter)