Chapter 686: Preparations Before Leaving
Late at night, the stars were dazzling. The power of the stars gathered by the stars was quickly absorbed by Shen Ping, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed. In the past two years, he had been constantly studying the bloodline and stars in his body. Now, with the effect of the Earth Blood Lotus, he finally had some success.
The stars in this world were closely related to the acupoints connected to the human body’s bloodline.
The so-called Star Rank was to use the power of the stars to open the acupoints in his bloodline. The more acupoints he opened, the stronger the power of his bloodline activated by the power of the stars. Moreover, he could use the power of the stars to float in the air.
However, Shen Ping was not interested in his cultivation realm. What he was surprised about was how the power of the stars could be closely related to his bloodline. Could it be that there was some secret above the stars?
Although he had such a guess, he was not even at the Star Rank yet, so he could only suppress this guess and continue to improve his strength.
“The bloodline growth rate of the Lifeline Star Technique is ten times faster than the previous Lifeline Technique. At this rate, I’ll be able to officially break through to the Star Rank in another two years. At that time, I won’t have to stay in a small place like Li County anymore. I’ll have to go to the prefecture capital or even the continent’s capital to take a look.”
Star-ranked cultivators were already considered experts in the Great Xia Dynasty. They could suppress the demons and evil spirits in several prefecture cities.
This was especially true for Shen Ping as he had more methods to use. Naturally, he had to go to a wider place to search for natural treasures to study opportunities. After all, the time to reincarnate was limited. Although he did not know how much time passed in this world compared to the outside world, he guessed that it should not exceed a thousand years.
He ended his cultivation and continued to make blood talismans. He was already very proficient in making them. In addition, he also integrated formations into them and researched formation talismans.
The next day, Lian Nishang led her horse and waited early at the entrance of the Demon Suppression Division, wearing a slim-fitting Qilin suit. She. When she saw Shen Ping coming out, she pouted. ’’Brother Shen, you’re too slow. I’ve already waited for half an hour.”
“You’re too early.” Shen Ping rolled his eyes. “You haven’t even had breakfast, right?”
Lian Nishang stuck out her tongue and took out a flatbread from her bag. “I have it with me. I’ll eat it on the way.”
“Why is there only one horse? Our Li County’s Demon Suppression Division isn’t that poor!”
“It’s my order, Brother Shen. We’re not fifteen yet. According to the rules, we can’t ride horses on the county’s official road.”
Shen Ping smiled and did not expose this girl’s thoughts. She just wanted to ride with him so that they could be intimate.
Soon, they mounted the horse. Lian Nishang naturally leaned into Shen Ping’s arms.
“Giddyup!”
He raised his whip. The two of them rushed towards Huaikou Town. On the way, Shen Ping hugged Lian Nishang’s waist and could easily feel the swaying. He, who had an in-depth understanding of this area, immediately understood that this was the shape of a water droplet. He moved closer to her earlobe. He asked, “Are you tired? Do you want to rest for a while?”
“I’m not tired.” The girl’s body instantly tensed up, and her sparkling ears turned red, as if they were burning.
Shen Ping continued to stick close to her with a wicked sense of humor. “It’s a snake demon that’s causing trouble in Huaikou Town this time. It’s said to be at the third level. You have to be mentally prepared.”
If it was any other day, the girl had already confidently patted her chest and said that it would be easy. However, at this moment, she was almost lying in Shen Ping’s arms. She said softly, “Got it, Brother Shen.”
Shen Ping smiled and asked, “Tell me honestly, why do we have to ride together?”
Lian Nishang blushed, and her fair neck was dyed red. Under Shen Ping’s continuous questioning, she said in a soft voice, “N-Nishang wants to be closer to Brother Shen.” With that, she covered her face. Shen Ping had long known this. He gently kissed her earlobe, and the delicate body in his arms immediately trembled a few times. “Brother Shen, you’re so bad.”
He laughed and did not continue to tease this girl. He pulled the reins of his horse and hurried on.
They arrived at Huaikou Town. The peripheral members were already waiting and had arranged accommodations. Lian Nishang immediately ordered someone to boil water. This made Shen Ping feel strange. In the past, this girl was the most eager to hunt demons, but this time, she wanted to have a bath first. He seemed to have thought of something and couldn’t help but look at Lian Nishang’s waist. He thought to himself that this reaction was too fast. Back then, Wang Yun, who was at her prime, wasn’t that fast either.
However, considering that there was still a two-year gap between the two of them, he felt relieved.
The next day, Lian Nishang let the peripheral members of the Demon Suppression Division lead the way and came to a wide river. This river was the Huaikou River. Although the river was wide and a boat could be used, it was not a river. There had never been a snake demon before, let alone a Rank Three one.
“I’m guessing that he might have come from the Lai River.”
Shen Ping nodded. Lai River was a huge river that connected Laiyang Prefecture. Not only did it nurture a large number of aquatic demons, but there were also flood dragons. Until now, the flood dragons had not been killed and were only suppressed in the river.
If it was to come from the Lai River, the Demon Suppression Division of Laiyang Prefecture would definitely notice it and inform them.
After walking around the Huaikou River and understanding the terrain here, they set up camp not far away and waited. Unlike the first wolf demons, most demons after reaching Rank 3 were very irritable and conceited. They would not hide in their nests usually. Only when the difference in strength was too great would they escape.
After all, if they wanted to kill a Rank 3 demon, they had to at least have a few Rank 3 members of the Demon Suppression Division. But as this snake seemed to have been injured before, and the fact that Shen Ping and Lian Nishang’s strength was not low, Lieutenant Lei had sent them here thinking that if they could successfully complete the mission, he would no longer restrain them in the future.
Indeed, they only guarded for two days before the snake demon in the river could not help but leave the water to go to Huaikou Town to eat. Human blood food was a great tonic for demons, especially those with bloodlines.
Not long after the snake demon left the water, Lian Nishang moved. Beside the river, it could be considered her home ground. Dozens of waterspouts rose like ropes and easily trapped the snake demon. In two years, with the nurturing of the Earth Blood Lotus, the girl was only a step away from the fourth rank. The bloodline power in her body was very strong.
If the snake demon was not injured, it could still break free. However, no matter how it struggled, it could not break free from the restraints of the waterspout.
Shen Ping made a move. The lightning net worked with the waterspout to imprison the snake demon. Then, lightning balls shot out one after another, causing the snake demon to convulse continuously. Soon, it lost its breath.
When the peripheral members saw that the snake demon had bowed its head so quickly, they hurriedly praised Lian Nishang and Shen Ping.
“This snake demon is too weak.” Lian Nishang pursed her lips. This girl was still not satisfied.
Shen Ping did not discourage her. Instead, he said, “Li County is a small place. The highest level of demons is only level three. This level is not a problem for you at all. Therefore, you have to cultivate hard and break through to level four as soon as possible. Only then can you meet stronger demons in the prefecture capital.”
Lian Nishang thought about these words. After she came back to her senses, she could not help but say, “Brother Shen, did you break through to the fourth rank long ago?”
“That’s right.” Shen Ping did not hide anything. “I’m already at Rank Five.” Lian Nishang’s small mouth was wide open. She knew that Shen Ping had always been very outstanding, but she did not expect him to break through to Rank 5 in less than ten years and surpass Lieutenant Lei. “That’s why you have to work hard.” He rubbed the girl’s delicate little nose and encouraged her again.
Lian Nishang clenched her fists. “I will definitely catch up to Brother Shen.” When she returned to the Demon Suppression Division, she really stopped hunting demons everywhere and focused on cultivation.
Shen Ping was very satisfied.
“Lord Lei, after Nishang breaks through to the fourth rank, I hope to bring her to the prefecture capital.” He said a few days later when he looked for Lieutenant Lei.
Lieutenant Lei was silent for a moment before sighing. “Shen Ping, there are more and more demons everywhere now. It’s the same for Li County. All these years, it’s all thanks to you and Lian Nishang that the county hasn’t been in chaos. The Demon Suppression Division has also lost very few people. They can even take a break from their busy schedules. Once the two of you leave, those demons will definitely wreak havoc again.
“Of course, it’s not that I don’t want you to go to the prefecture capital. I just want to ask if you can let Lian Nishang stay for a few years. Although a Rank 4 can guard a county, the prefecture capital is not a county. Moreover, the strength of the demons is very strong. It might not be a good thing for her to go-”
Shen Ping said nonchalantly, “Nishang still needs time to break through to the fourth level. In these few days, I will eliminate all the demons in the entire county.” His Rank 5 bloodline power slowly spread out.
Lieutenant Lei’s entire body trembled as he felt the thick bloodline pressure. “You, you… I didn’t expect Lord Shen to already be at the fifth rank. All right, I’ll get you both reassigned.”
Rank-5 bloodline awakeners were considered experts in the prefectural city. They could even oversee a prefecture. With such an expert taking care of them, Lian Nishang naturally would not be suppressed, so he had no reason to stop them. Moreover, the two of them had indeed done a lot for Li County’s Demon Suppression Division in the past few years.
“Li County is my hometown. No matter what, I won’t let this place fall into chaos.” Shen Ping said.
Lieutenant Lei smiled. “Lord Shen is not an ordinary person. I’ve known this for a long time.”
In the following days, as Shen Ping taught Lian Nishang the Lifeline Star Technique, he went to the towns and forests alone to search for demons. With his level-five skills and many methods, those hidden demons had almost nowhere to hide. In just four to five months, he had completely eliminated them.
During the clean-up process, he was lucky enough to find a Blood Spirit Ginseng. This thing was actually in the forest near the village where he was born. Fortunately, he discovered it in advance. Otherwise, with the medicinal effect of the Blood Spirit Ginseng, it would definitely nurture a fourth-grade demon.
After soaking the Blood Spirit Ginseng in tea and drinking a cup every month, the growth of his bloodline power was faster than the Lifeline Star Technique. Thus, the time he needed to break through to the Star Realm was shortened by an entire year.
The Lantern Festival had just passed when the power of the bloodline in his body surged, and his body felt as if he was floating. Shen Ping knew that this was a sign that he was about to break through. He immediately sat cross-legged on the roof and circulated his technique. He took a piece of Blood Spirit Ginseng in his mouth and quickly absorbed the stars in the sky. Then, he used the power of the stars to activate the acupoints in his bloodline.
Boom, boom, boom. Every acupoint was impregnable. Without a corresponding cultivation technique, it was very difficult to break through. However, Shen Ping could absorb a large amount of star power by relying on his self-created cultivation technique and continuously attack it.
It lasted for dozens of days before the sturdy acupoints were finally broken.
The power of the stars washed over his body like rain.
He reached Star Realm.
He felt the difference in his body. Shen Ping vaguely sensed that there seemed to be a diagram or some kind of pattern between the acupoints and blood vessels. However, because he had only activated one acupoint, it was always blurry.
When he returned to the Demon Suppression Division, Lian Nishang secretly covered Shen Ping’s eyes from behind.. “Hehe, Brother Shen, I’ve broken through to Rank Four!”