The moonlight is like frost, and the silent forest resembles ink.

The mottled moon shadows pour down through the gaps between the leaves, sketching ghostly patterns on the ground.

As soon as Qin An finished speaking, the entire wasteland plunged into a deathly silence.

In this suffocating stillness, three figures flickered like specters among the shadows of the trees.

In the blink of an eye, the elusive silhouettes abruptly solidified, landing in front of Qin An with a few strides.

Qin An focused his gaze, a hint of gravity flashing in his eyes.

The aura of these three people was as deep as a mountain, pressing down like ice that halted even breathing.

The leader was a middle-aged man in black, toying with a gleaming dagger in his hand.

The dagger twirled between his fingers, like a snake flickering its tongue.

"Since when did the Mountain Patrol Silver Guards produce such characters?" The man's eyes held a playful smile.

Though the two beside him said nothing, their gazes swept over Qin An unscrupulously, full of probing interest.

"Who are you revered ones?" Qin An slightly raised an eyebrow: "Did you not know the Evil Extermination Bureau is handling a case here?"

Upon hearing this, the leader slightly smiled: "Take a look at this, and you'll know."

As he spoke, the man took out a token from his chest.

The token was pitch black, like ink, exuding an air of depth.

Apart from the black, there was a golden line in the middle, shimmering like the sun.

A Mountain Patrol Gold Token?

Qin An squinted his eyes: "Are the three of you Mountain Patrol Gold Guards, here to track the Fire Crow Clan Leader?"

With the Mountain Patrol Gold Token on them, the identity of these three was self-evident.

Now, it was coincidentally encountered, and Qin An knew they might indeed be here for the Fire Crow Clan Leader.

Recalling the heavily injured Fire Crow Clan Leader, even his proud wings had turned to nothingness.

It was easy for Qin An to surmise that the Fire Crow Clan Leader might have suffered a great fall at the hands of these three.

He's considered to have caught a lucky break.

Li nodded slightly: "The three of us followed his tracks here and lost contact outside this village."

"After searching for a while without any clues, we were just about to leave when we discovered his aura again."

"Then we came to this place and witnessed your mighty display."

The Mountain Patrol Gold Guard beside him had a slingshot hanging at his waist: "So young, yet able to counterattack from a Small Success realm to a Perfect realm, such a figure unknown by name, may I know your esteemed name?"

After pondering for a moment, Qin An reported his name.

There was no competition for credit among the Mountain Patrol Guards, and everything he did was coincidental, so there was naturally no danger.

If they were to fight for credit, not only Lingzhou, but the entire Evil Extermination Bureau would have no place to stand.

Besides, given the current situation, there's no harm in giving his name.

The last Mountain Patrol Gold Guard, empty-handed, pondered slightly after hearing Qin An's name, then suddenly looked up: "I think I've heard your title before, the Demon-Slaying Saber, right?"

"Recently, your name has rapidly risen among the Mountain Patrol Silver Guards, with countless Silver Guards wanting to meet you."

Qin An shook his head and said: "A trivial reputation, how dare I compare with you three gentlemen."

Using his position as a Mountain Patrol Guard to make his name known was indeed one of Qin An's goals.

Hearing his name mentioned by the Mountain Patrol Gold Guards didn't surprise him at all.

Li grinned: "Enough idle talk, let's discuss some serious matters. We claim the credit, and in exchange, offer you an opportunity. How about it?"

The three of them took on the task and had spent a lot of time tracking the Fire Crow Clan Leader.

Qin An had gotten a good deal, but he hadn't taken the task, thus he couldn't claim the credit.

Given all their efforts, Li naturally wouldn't let it go to waste.

His proposal was similar to other practices common among the Mountain Patrol Guards.

It was all fair trade, a mutual understanding.

Of course, such conditions were rare and strict.

The first is that Qin An, like now, hadn't accepted the task, and the second is being able to complete it without having taken it on.

At any other time, with the rank of the Mountain Patrol Gold Guards.

Under stringent hierarchical suppression, there wouldn't be much talking to the Silver Guards.

But since it was a trade, it was another situation.

After a brief contemplation, Qin An grew interested and asked: "What kind of opportunity?"

Talking about a trade piqued Qin An's interest.

As he couldn't claim the credit, he might as well give it up.

He had acquired a fragmented monster crystal equivalent to the power of ten demon nuclei; though it couldn't match the hundred demon nuclei in a complete crystal, it was still a generous gain.

Now Li mentioned a significant opportunity, so Qin An certainly didn't want to miss it.

Li clicked his tongue, played with the dagger in his hand, and pulled out a cultivation technique book from his bosom, tossing it to Qin An.

Qin An caught it, examining it carefully, discovering the words 'Weak Water Three Blades' written on it.

It was a knife skill of the Returning to Storage Realm.

Qin An flipped through a few pages, quickly going through it and found the Weak Water Three Blades emphasized practicing the saber technique with soft strength.

Although it was a technique with a gentle approach, it could overcome the strong with the soft.

Li spoke slowly: "This was obtained during a mission when we exterminated a certain sect's power. I noticed your saber technique, although proficient and fierce, lacked flexibility.

"If you encounter such cultivation techniques, you'd suffer greatly. This saber technique uses softness to defeat hardness, accurately complementing your saber path's deficiency, isn't it a great opportunity?"

Qin An slipped the saber technique into his bosom and decisively said: "Deal."

His saber technique was called Ice Flame Heart-breaking Technique, indeed extremely fierce, demanding every swing cuts off all emotions.

However, as Li pointed out, it was overly forceful yet inadequate in flexibility.

Anything overly forceful was prone to breaking.

And in the Evil Extermination Bureau's treasury, there was a lack of flexible saber techniques like the Weak Water Saber Skill.

Now that Li provided it, he deemed it a perfect opportunity to refine the Ice Flame Heart-breaking Technique.

Li also didn't expect Qin An to agree so readily.

But without much thought, he took the Mountain Patrol Gold Token from his waist.

"You killed the Fire Crow Clan Leader, his aura will naturally be recorded in the Silver Token. We just need to transfer it with this token exchange."

This method is known to every patrol officer in the Evil Extermination Bureau, but hardly anyone attempts it.

After all, no one would willingly hand over their achievements, and if the Evil Extermination Bureau knew about such deceitful acts, severe punishment would surely follow.

However, Qin An's situation is different now. He hasn't accepted any tasks, so he naturally isn't afraid of being found out later.

The other two patrol officers didn't speak, leaving the matter to Li to handle.

Once the two of them completed their exchange, they would naturally share the achievements with Li.

Qin An nodded, taking out his patrol silver token to clink it against Li's patrol gold token.

Subsequently, the Fire Crow Clan Leader's aura was transferred from Qin An's patrol silver token to Li's gold token.

With that, the deal was considered complete.

Li and the other two patrol gold officers exchanged a glance and then left the scene.

They came fast and left just as quickly, disappearing in a matter of breaths, leaving only afterimages.

Qin An watched the three disappearing patrol gold officers, tightening his grip on the Star of Frost in his hand.

"If I could reach the patrol gold officer's Vein Condensation Realm, even if they secretly investigate me, I don't think I'd be afraid,"

Qin An thought to himself.

Currently, his crisis stems from the demon forces like the Demon Hall, which is the obvious threat.

The hidden threat, however, comes from a secret investigation above.

The fact that he can refine the Yang Elixir is becoming increasingly dangerous.

No one knows when they might send someone down.

If he could advance to the Vein Condensation Realm, he would feel more confident confronting the hidden investigation above.

"For now, let's return. After returning, I will train the Butcher's rank to level seven, allowing me to combine Ice Flame Heart-breaking Technique with Weak Water Saber Skill."

Breaking through the Vein Condensation Realm is naturally the priority, but before that, Qin An has another plan, which is to collect another seven vein crystals to achieve a perfect breakthrough into the Vein Condensation Realm.

Other cultivation techniques cannot be neglected either.

Being able to kill the Fire Crow Clan Leader of Perfect Realm with his fists at the Small Success level was thanks to the cultivation technique.

Only by improving comprehensively can he possess the fighting power to match his realm after an advance in realm.

Thinking of this, Qin An lingered no longer, using the Dragon Roar Wind Step to become an afterimage, disappearing in the wilderness.

...

Under the moonlight, the Evil Extermination Bureau was brightly lit.

At this moment, in Yang Quanfeng's courtyard, Xiyun sat trembling on a chair, as if on pins and needles.

Not only Yang Quanfeng but the remaining eight Gold-Zhou Officers had also arrived in the courtyard.

The coffin remained locked with chains, standing upright in its original place.

After arriving, Xiyun was brought to this courtyard by the Silver-Zhou Officer.

He didn't expect that nine renowned Gold-Zhou Officers would be waiting here.

As a minor Pseudo-God, being able to sit steadily under the might of nine Gold-Zhou Officers was not easy.

Yang Quanfeng glanced at Xiyun: "Has Qin An not returned yet?"

Regarding Qin An's pursuit of the Fire Crow Clan Leader, Xiyun had already informed Yang Quanfeng and the others.

Although they were very anxious, Celestial Rain Village was quite a distance from Lingzhou.

They also needed to stabilize the coffin's aura here and couldn't spare themselves.

Hearing Yang Quanfeng speak, Xiyun thought he was being asked and opened his mouth, wanting to speak.

But he soon realized Yang Quanfeng was talking to himself, and immediately closed his mouth, recalling the figure he encountered at Celestial Rain Village.

Even the powerful Fire Crow Clan Leader was frantically pursued by Qin An, so he felt there was no need to worry much about Qin An.

Though Wan Ziqing practiced emotionless techniques, she hadn't reached the pinnacle level, and at this moment, a trace of worry appeared in her eyes.

The other Gold-Zhou Officers had complex feelings.

Especially Mo Chuan, who felt relieved aside from having mixed emotions.

Even a severely wounded Fire Crow Clan Leader, being in the Realm of Returning and Concealing Perfection, was someone he couldn't take down.

But now, Qin An was pursuing and killing him.

Remembering the past conflicts with Qin An, Mo Chuan silently thought it was a close call.

Fortunately, he took the initiative to resolve the conflict after learning of Qin An joining the patrol officers, otherwise, it might have been uncomfortable now.

Each Gold-Zhou Officer had their thoughts.

While everyone waited patiently, sudden footsteps sounded.

Then, following the sound, Yang Quanfeng and the others saw Qin An approaching under the moonlit night, his black clothes fluttering.

Yang Quanfeng visibly breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that you're safe."

Qin An nodded slightly, found a spot to sit, and locked eyes on Xiyun: "Let's start. How can we stabilize the Pseudo-God's aura?"

He didn't explain in detail about the events in the wilderness, knowing it involved trading with the patrol gold officers.

Yang Quanfeng and the others saw Qin An's reluctance to speak and understood there were secrets that those stationed in Lingzhou, like them, couldn't know, so they didn't ask further.

Next, Wan Ziqing spoke faintly.

"Tell us how to convert this Pseudo-God into a virtuous being."

This sentence was naturally directed at Xiyun.

Hearing this, Xiyun focused on the coffin.

"The Pseudo-God's unstable aura stems from both kind hearts and malice,"

"The kindness comes from its nature, while the malice is from unresolved grudges,"

"For it to recover, only resolving its grievances would suffice."

Knowing the Evil Extermination Bureau's focus on efficiency, he didn't waste words, addressing the main points directly.

Yang Quanfeng sighed hearing this: "It seems it can only be destroyed."

Everyone knew the grievances were due to the Demon Hall.

But resolving the Demon Hall? How difficult was that?

Even the central state was contained by the Demon Hall externally.

If it couldn't be resolved, destruction was the only path left.

With those words, Xiyun hurriedly spoke.

"Resolving grudges doesn't necessarily need direct confrontation; there are other methods."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.