Chapter 202 An Invitation from the West Market

Ling Xiaoning spoke with great excitement, completely forgetting the thrill of the battle at Shi Town, leaving only the novelty and satisfaction of obtaining items with his first merit points.

Chen Mu looked up; the Medicinal Pill was a common auxiliary pill, having slight effects on stabilizing the mind and accelerating entry into meditation, while the Wind Chasing Steps was the most basic light-body Cultivation Technique, which could be learned even in civilian martial arts schools.

For Ling Xiaoning, these might be enough, but for Chen Mu, it was like a drop in the bucket.

"By the way, Chen Mu, besides the sixty merit points from Team C, you also got an extra twenty-five, which is incredible! What do you plan to exchange them for?"

Ling Xiaoning leaned in closer, continuing to chatter away while asking.

"I heard there are some good Broadsword Techniques in the Demon Archive Division, as well as pills that can boost Protective Aura. Do you want to go take a look?"

Chen Mu shook his head. "No rush."

Ling Xiaoning was stunned upon hearing this and couldn't help but advise him.

"No rush? You can exchange those merit points for quite a few good things! For people like us, every bit of strength we can improve counts. Who knows what we'll encounter on the next mission?"

Just as he was nagging, Lu Dachuan also walked in, carrying a wine gourd, his face showing a hint of drunkenness, obviously having just gone to have a little drink to celebrate the victory.

"Xiao Ning, showing off your little stash again?"

Lu Dachuan sat down on his bunk with a thud, took a swig of wine, and smacked his lips.

"Chen Mu is right, no rush! Merit points are good things, but they must be used where they count. Those Medicinal Pills you exchanged for with your Team C merit points are just for the novelty. If you really want to improve your strength, you have to rely on real combat and hard training."

Feng Qing had returned to the room at some point and was sitting in the corner wiping his bow. Hearing this, he looked up and said indifferently.

"Pills and Cultivation Techniques are just auxiliary; one's own Foundation is the root. In our line of work, no one who survives does so by relying on pills."

After being lectured by the two, Ling Xiaoning put his things away, looking a bit embarrassed, and muttered.

"I was just happy because I got merit points, that's all. Besides, any improvement is better than none; it never hurts."

Lu Dachuan laughed heartily and casually ruffled his hair.

"It never hurts, sure, but you must remember that external objects are ultimately external. Look at Chen Mu; in the battle at Shi Town, that Broadsword Technique, that movement technique, that reaction on the battlefield—was it eaten out of pills?"

Everyone's eyes subconsciously turned to Chen Mu. Chen Mu was sitting cross-legged, his expression calm, as if the discussion had nothing to do with him.

Lu Dachuan looked at him, rubbing the stubble on his chin, lost in thought.

"I say, Brother Chen, you really made a name for yourself this time. Flag-bearer Cheng and Chief-Lieutenant Huo must have noticed as well. I reckon that next time there's a hard battle, our Team C won't be able to avoid being on the front lines."

Feng Qing's hand wiping the bow paused, and he reminded him in a low voice.

"It might not be a good thing. When a tree stands taller than the forest, the wind will surely destroy it."

Ling Xiaoning didn't understand and looked blank. "Brother Feng, what does that mean?"

Lu Dachuan chuckled and explained on Feng Qing's behalf.

"It means that Chen Mu's performance is too eye-catching and he's easily targeted. The Demon Hunting Division isn't a monolith, either. That group from Team A, especially Qin Zheng, has always had their eyes on the top of their heads. With Chen Mu stealing the spotlight this time, it's hard to guarantee that no one will be unhappy..."

Chen Mu's expression remained calm, as if he had heard nothing.

He didn't care if he was being targeted, and he cared even less about the spotlight. The only thing he cared about was how to obtain Lifespan faster and improve his strength.

The battle at Shi Town had yielded over eight hundred years of Lifespan, which seemed like a lot, but for the unknown future levels of the Hunyuan Wuji Calamity Body, it was still far from enough.

He needed more powerful demons, more dangerous battlefields, and more efficient killing.

Ling Xiaoning looked at Chen Mu, then at Lu Dachuan, and asked cautiously.

"Brother Lu, when is our next mission?"

Lu Dachuan shook his head.

"That depends on the arrangements from above. However, with the demonic infestation in Shi Town just resolved, things should be quiet for a while in the southwest. But our Jingzhou Prefecture is so large, and demonic infestations never cease. Who knows, a new mission might come down tomorrow."

He paused, looked at Chen Mu, and his tone became serious.

"Brother Chen, I'll say a few extra words. It's good that you're strong, but don't push yourself too hard. In our line of work, living long is the hard truth. Earn your merit points slowly; you only have one life."

Chen Mu slowly opened his eyes, looked at Lu Dachuan, and nodded.

He understood Lu Dachuan's good intentions, but he understood his own path even better.

If he followed the steps, relying on the Demon Suppression Division's missions to slowly accumulate merit points, exchange for resources, and steadily improve, he might be able to go further. But that would take time—too much time—and time was exactly what he lacked most right now.

The night grew deep, and everyone gradually went to rest. Chen Mu continued to sit cross-legged and regulate his breath, his mind already immersed in the System panel.

[Chen Mu: Seventeen years old, remaining Lifespan: Forty-two years, plundered Lifespan: Three thousand two hundred and thirty-seven years]

[Mastered Martial Arts: Broadsword Technique (Perfection)! Taibao Horizontal Training (Perfection)! Sword Drawing Technique (Perfection)! Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique (Perfection)! Divine Void Step (Perfection)! Wind God Wings (Not yet started) Soul-Loss Art (Perfection)! Heavenly Illusion Shape-Shifting Technique (Not yet started) Hunyuan Wuji Calamity Body (Second Layer)]

Chen Mu's gaze moved back and forth between "plundered Lifespan: Three thousand two hundred and thirty-seven years" and "Hunyuan Wuji Calamity Body (Second Layer)".

For the second layer of the Hunyuan Wuji Calamity Body, if all three thousand years of Lifespan were poured in, he didn't know if he could achieve a Breakthrough.

Those forty-two years of remaining Lifespan were like a burning incense stick, shrinking every moment.

He couldn't stop; he needed to be faster and have more. Forty-two years was far from enough.

...

Early the next morning, the morning light shone through the hole in the curtain onto Chen Mu's side profile.

Chen Mu sat cross-legged on the bunk, the Hunyuan Calamity Astral Qi slowly circulating through his Meridians, deep as still water, meticulously repairing the subtle hidden injuries left by the fierce battle. Zhuifeng curled up at his feet, its little belly rising and falling, sleeping soundly.

The barracks were very quiet. Lu Dachuan didn't know where he had gone; he might be doing extra training at the drill ground or at a familiar tavern. Feng Qing was as silent as ever, sitting in the corner, wiping his iron bow over and over again as if he had a cleanliness obsession, his expression as focused as if he were treating a lover. Ling Xiaoning was lying on the bunk, flipping back and forth studying the sheepskin scroll of the Wind Chasing Steps, muttering to himself, occasionally reaching out to gesture a few times, causing Zhuifeng to occasionally lift its eyelids and glance at him impatiently.

A faint sound of footsteps approached from afar and stopped at the entrance of the barracks.

Chen Mu didn't open his eyes, but he had already sensed the visitor. The aura was peaceful, carrying a faint bitterness of medicinal herbs; it was Shen Suning.

"Chen Mu?"

Chen Mu finished his cultivation and opened his eyes.

Shen Suning was not wearing the black official uniform of the Demon Hunting Division today, but had changed into a light cyan ru skirt, making her look a bit less capable and a bit more gentle.

"Something the matter?" Chen Mu asked.

Shen Suning walked into the barracks, her gaze sweeping over the slightly messy communal bunks, finally landing on Chen Mu, revealing a faint smile.

"Thank you for saving my life last time. Looking at your room, besides the few things issued by the Division, I'm afraid you don't even have a decent washbasin. It just so happens that I'm off duty today, and I'm going to the West Market to buy some things. I can help you pick up some daily necessities while I'm at it. You're new to the Prefecture, so you must not be familiar with many places, right?"

Her tone was very natural, carrying a hint of care, not appearing overly enthusiastic, yet making it hard to refuse.

Hearing this, Ling Xiaoning immediately sprang up from the bunk, his eyes bright.

"Sister Suning is going to the West Market? Take me along! I want to buy some snacks too."