CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: RETURN JOURNEY

The village was gloomy, and the drizzle was like silk.

In the hazy rain, raindrops splattered on the black robe, stirring up splashes of water.

"Wouldn’t it be easier to just kill you?"

Qin An’s calm voice echoed.

The entire village fell silent, you could hear a pin drop.

The old tree was taken aback at first, then its branches swung wildly: "Hahaha, that’s the funniest joke your Grandpa Tree has ever heard."

Tang Lingwei gritted her teeth and said, "Qin An, you are unscathed, quickly return to the Evil Extermination Bureau and report to the higher-ups at once."

She didn’t know what Qin An was thinking, but the current situation was unstable.

Even though the old tree had flaws, its strength was more terrifying than that of the old monkey.

Now, Qin An must not be allowed to underestimate the enemy and get himself killed; only by reporting to the Evil Extermination Bureau can they hope for a slim chance of survival.

Qin An shook his head and said, "Your endurance in battle is so strong, could it have something to do with the underground?"

As these words were spoken, all the swaying branches froze.

Qin An detected a hint of fear in the old tree’s eyes, and his lips curled up slightly: "Seems like I guessed right."

The old tree was about to speak when Qin An kicked off strongly, lunging forward like a wild goose.

"You’re courting death!"

Knowing its weakness was exposed, the old tree thought Qin An’s reckless charge was nothing but courting his own destruction.

The roots surged up like a great dragon, chopping towards Qin An’s face.

If that strike hit home, Qin An’s head would be smashed to rubble.

Qin An raised his blade to block, combining the Demon-Slaying Three Yang Saber with the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Skill, intertwining ice and fire forces clashing against the roots.

The roots fragmented into countless pieces in the sky, the power of ice and fire breaking through them, the black blade reaching the old tree.

Seeing Qin An’s face, the old tree felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar.

Qin An raised the black blade, slashing down: "You’re weaker than the monkey, merely relying on a recovery advantage. Without it, you’re just an ordinary Body Storage Realm."

"All paper tigers."

The black blade was unstoppable, piercing through the old tree’s trunk, then gliding downwards.

The entwined power of ice and fire caused a terrifying explosion at the tip of the blade, unceasing like the fine rain in the sky.

The old tree was cleaved in two by Qin An.

Tang Lingwei’s eyes widened in disbelief at the scene before her.

Even if the old tree wasn’t as strong as the monkey demon, the power of Qin An’s slash was unbelievably formidable.

The world’s techniques are divided into ’methods’ and ’skills’.

’Method’ refers to the Heart Method, the core of a cultivator.

’Skill’ refers to techniques, determining the power during combat.

She was well aware that Qin An’s blade technique had reached Great Success.

Even her years of practicing the Evil Extermination Bureau’s Body-Encompassing Realm Skill had only achieved Small Success.

"No wonder he could slay the monkey demon, his talent is the most extraordinary I’ve ever seen. If Qin An joins us, our sect will flourish."

A glimmer of hope rose in Tang Lingwei’s heart.

She initially thought that even though Qin An’s talent was exceptional, it had its limits. Little did she expect she was like a frog at the bottom of a well.

Gao Quan and Yao Feng exchanged a look.

Gao Quan, in particular, couldn’t help swallowing.

Luckily, he was always sincere and had no intention of looking down on Qin An, otherwise, he might have had a hard time later on.

Where the old tree was cut, new shoots appeared, and the halves were reconnecting, showing signs of recovery.

Qin An eyed the wound.

Inside the trunk, there was nothing, but below was a diamond-shaped crystal, flickering with a dim blue light.

"This is it."

Qin An reversed his grip on the blade and thrust the black blade into the wound.

The diamond-shaped crystal trembled slightly, and an angry voice rang out.

"Who dares ruin this old one’s future!"

Qin An raised an eyebrow but didn’t hesitate.

The power of ice and fire surged down the black blade, shattering the diamond-shaped crystal into scattered pieces.

The densely covered branches withered rapidly, and the vitality of the old tree ebbed away visibly.

"You little bastard, you’re done!"

The old tree snarled, "Lord Zanpathyu will not spare you. You ruined his cultivation and can’t escape to the ends of the earth."

Qin An replied calmly, "But you must die first."

The old tree seemed to choke on its words.

Qin An swung his blade across, the power of ice and fire surging.

The old tree crumbled into a pile of dry branches.

A spherical object wrapped in twigs fell, rolling over a few times.

Supporting herself on the ground, Tang Lingwei slowly stood up: "That’s the Pseudo-God core, similar to the Blood Crystal, it can be absorbed and transformed into Qi Blood Power."

Before she finished speaking, Qin An was already circulating his qi, beginning to absorb the Pseudo-God core.

Moments later, the Pseudo-God core turned to dust.

Qin An felt the massive Qi Blood stored within, a slight joy rising in his heart.

This journey was perilous but greatly rewarding.

The Qi Blood of two Body Realm Perfection stages was enough for him to conduct a deduction after acquiring new cultivation techniques.

Now everything was prepared, all that was missing was the cultivation technique.

Once this mission was completed, he could return to the Evil Extermination Bureau and exchange for it.

Tang Lingwei had regained some strength, limping over with a somewhat grim expression.

Qin An noticed Tang Lingwei’s expression and frowned: "Zanpathyu?"

Tang Lingwei nodded: "A very strong demon, causing havoc everywhere, attempting to break through to the next realm."

"Lingzhou’s inability to take action is related to him. He’s on par with the Cangyun Valley monkey demon."

"No wonder the old monkey demon was here; this Pseudo-God tree was a creation of Zanpathyu."

"It seems we have big trouble."

Qin An sheathed his black blade, saying nothing.

The people of the Evil Extermination Bureau slay demons and exorcise evil, inevitably attracting the enmity of many demons.

The voice just now was transmitted by Zanpathyu. By ruining his plan, they would surely be targeted.

Staying in Lingzhou might be safe, but stepping outside on missions felt like having a sword hanging over one’s head.

Tang Lingwei asked confusedly: "Aren’t you worried at all?"

Qin An shook his head: "What’s done is done, why worry?"

Once you enter Jianghu, grudges are bound to follow.

Now, backing the Evil Extermination Bureau, he collected Blood Crystals and performed deductions with cultivation techniques.

Improving his Golden Finger proficiency to enhance his strength.

Though there were crises, once strength was increased, everything became ephemeral like dreams and illusions.

Tang Lingwei couldn’t fathom Qin An’s thoughts, so she changed the topic: "With you, there’s hope for our sect to rise."

The implication carried a sense of affection.

When they first met, she merely thought Qin An had a bit of talent.

But now it seemed his terrifying talent was unparalleled.

Tang Lingwei developed different thoughts.

She wanted to rally Qin An, find ways to keep him under her command, even treating him as an equal.

The rank of a Cangzhou Guard is prestigious, and Qin An would surely appreciate her gesture.

Qin An placed his hand on the hilt of the black blade, saying, "Let’s go back."

Tang Lingwei’s face stiffened slightly, knowing Qin An hadn’t accepted this sentiment, she continued: "If you stay with me, it benefits you. Other Cangzhou Guards have numerous experts under them, they might not prioritize you."

Qin An remained silent, merely rubbing the hilt with his palm.

He disliked power struggles and conflicts among colleagues.

His purpose in joining the Evil Extermination Bureau was to leverage the Golden Finger to enhance his strength.

Demons, he had to slay.

What was rightfully his, he would also take.

Tang Lingwei saw this, opened her mouth, then sighed: "Let’s go back."