Human Clan Defender

Tan Tianji's words made Shen Changqing realize. Compared to the Martial Hall, the people of the Suppressing Evil Hall were indeed bona fide researchers. Such people, while not entirely lacking strength, definitely couldn't compare with the Grandmasters of the Martial Hall. Researchers were valuable everywhere. Therefore, when entering the Demon-Subduing Prison to reinforce seals, strong individuals had to accompany them. If Demon Evils truly broke the seal and emerged, the strength of the accompanying experts could also serve a protective role.

Tan Tianji said, "In the past, when people from the Suppressing Evil Hall went to reinforce the seals, they were accompanied by several Grandmasters. It's just that now, the Grandmasters of the Martial Hall have almost all been conscripted, and these old bones of mine aren't convenient to move. Although you've only recently joined the Martial Hall, your strength isn't weak. The only thing to be wary of in the Demon-Subduing Prison are those intact Demon Evils within the seals. Aside from them, the rest isn't a big problem. With your strength, even if low-level Demon Evils were to emerge, you could hold on for a while and not be immediately defeated. By then, you would naturally be able to hold out until other experts from the Demon-Subduing Division arrived."

"Just how strong are low-level Demon Evils?" Shen Changqing neither agreed to the mission nor refused it, instead asking another question. Although he understood that Demon Evils were strong, he didn't have a clear concept of their actual strength.

Upon hearing this, Tan Tianji glanced at him and replied casually, "With your current strength, if you face a low-level Demon Evil, you could probably hold on for about twenty or thirty breaths!"

Shen Changqing was speechless.

The gap was indeed huge. With my current ability to move freely among tens of thousands of troops, I can only hold on for twenty or thirty breaths against a low-level Demon Evil.

Tan Tianji seemed afraid this would damage his dao heart, so he offered words of comfort again, "You don't have to be discouraged. The strength of Demon Evils is beyond your imagination. The people in the world who can contend with Demon Evils are few and far between. If one day you manage to attain the Great Sun Furnace Realm, even just barely reaching it, you would no longer fear Demon Evils of that level. If you could—never mind, let's talk about that when you reach that realm."

As he spoke, he hesitated. Then, Tan Tianji asked again, "So, what do you think? Do you want to take on this mission? The Merit Points offered are quite substantial. Just by making a trip to the Demon-Subduing Prison, you can gain ten Merit Points, which is considerably better than doing missions for the Demon-Subduing Division."

Ten Merit Points for a trip to the Demon-Subduing Prison. Suddenly, Shen Changqing was tempted.

Last time, I worked myself to death and earned just over ten Merit Points. Now, simply by making a trip to the Demon-Subduing Prison, and if I'm lucky, with no danger involved, I can earn ten Merit Points. The reward, it has to be said, is indeed very generous.

Moreover, he had always wanted to visit the Demon-Subduing Prison.

No one knew if new detainees had been moved into the prison cells after all this time. If there were, I might be able to gain some Slaughter Value from them. For me, Slaughter Value is in severe short supply. I was already prepared to go out on missions after I finish converting the Great Sun Scripture, seeking Demon Evils to harvest Slaughter Value while also indirectly earning some Merit Points.

"When are we supposed to go?"

"In five days."

"Alright, I'll take on this mission." Shen Changqing nodded in agreement. Tan Tianji's smile grew wider, evidently satisfied with his decision.

After returning from the Martial Hall, Shen Changqing put all other matters to the back of his mind. Upon returning to his residence, he didn't go into his room but stayed in the courtyard.

Now, it was sunset. Although the sun had not yet completely set, the sunlight was no longer as strong and scorching. Shen Changqing didn't mind. He sat down cross-legged directly facing the sun, reviewed everything in his mind, and then began to cultivate the Great Sun Scripture.

The martial art lived up to its name. The essence of the Great Sun Scripture lay precisely in the words "Great Sun." This Martial Art was extremely rigid and yang, domineering in nature. Cultivating it under the sun daily allowed one to absorb the power of the Taiyang True Fire, thereby achieving twice the results with half the effort. Conversely, cultivating at night yielded minimal effects.

The process of progressing from a novice to an initiated practitioner of any Inner Strength technique was very difficult. Ordinary people cultivating the Great Sun Scripture would need a long time before generating the first wisp of Great Sun True Qi. But Shen Changqing was no ordinary person. He was a Grandmaster Realm expert with a profound understanding of Martial Arts. Even if the Great Sun Scripture was extremely mysterious, it couldn't possibly trouble him.

After focusing his mind, roughly an hour passed. Shen Changqing felt a warmth rise in his Dantian. He instantly focused his mind on that warmth and continued to cultivate according to the method of the Great Sun Scripture.

EXHALE!

INHALE!

As his chest rose and fell, the ambient Taiyang True Fire from Heaven and Earth converged towards him. As he breathed it in, it descended into his abdomen and eventually gathered in his Dantian. Suddenly, the faint warmth began to grow intensely hot with the influx of Taiyang True Fire.

Time passed, and the golden crow sank in the west. The Taiyang True Fire in the world faded, and Shen Changqing awakened from his cultivation. His thoughts settled. The True Qi in his Dantian had liquefied, remaining still like a tranquil spring. This was the Liquefied True Qi cultivated from the Heavenly Martial Gang Qi.

Above the spring, a faint light emerged, a scorching aura emanating from it. It had no discernible shape, yet it gave the impression of a Great Sun suspended in the sky, casting its light everywhere. That was the Great Sun True Qi, nurtured by practicing the Great Sun Scripture.

Two different types of True Qi coexisted in the Dantian, like two sworn enemies, ready to unleash fierce attacks at any moment. However, under Shen Changqing's mental control, the two True Qis could only remain motionless in his Dantian, unable to clash.

Two different types of True Qi cannot coexist in the Dantian. The best solution is for the Great Sun True Qi to devour the Heavenly Centipede True Qi. Otherwise, I'll always need to use some power to keep the two True Qi types separate and prevent any conflict. However—the Great Sun True Qi is too weak compared to the Heavenly Centipede True Qi. It has no way to devour it unless the Great Sun True Qi becomes stronger, or the Heavenly Centipede True Qi is weakened. For the Great Sun True Qi to become stronger, I can either rely on daily arduous cultivation or on increasing my Slaughter Value. As for weakening the Heavenly Centipede True Qi...

A thought suddenly emerged in Shen Changqing's mind. His consciousness immersed itself in his Dantian, and he tried to use his intent to divide the spring-like Heavenly Centipede True Qi.

Previously, I wouldn't have been able to use mental intent to divide True Qi because intent, in other words, is a force on the spiritual level. At that time, my own spiritual power wasn't strong. But now it's different. My understanding of the True Intent of Hundred Battles has allowed me to officially enter the Grandmaster Realm.

Therefore, Shen Changqing wanted to try if he could now sever the Heavenly Centipede True Qi with his current spiritual power.

If I can, then the subsequent transformation won't be so troublesome. But if it doesn't work, I'll have to proceed step by step.

As his thoughts moved, his intent slashed down like a knife. The spring-like True Qi rippled slightly, and a wisp of Liquefied True Qi was directly peeled away from the main body. Immediately after, Shen Changqing manipulated that wisp of Liquefied True Qi, drawing it closer to the Great Sun True Qi. Quickly, he removed his mental barrier restraining the Great Sun True Qi.

The Great Sun True Qi, like a Fierce Beast starved for a long time that had suddenly scented prey, immediately pounced on the Heavenly Centipede True Qi. Facing the threat, that wisp of Heavenly Centipede True Qi naturally refused to submit to destruction and mounted a fierce counterattack.

BOOM!!

The two forces collided, causing a considerable fluctuation. Nevertheless, Shen Changqing's Dantian had already been tempered to an extremely resilient state and was not easily shaken. Under his mental 'gaze,' the two True Qis clashed and battled incessantly. Gradually, the Great Sun True Qi began to gain the upper hand, suppressing and devouring the Heavenly Centipede True Qi.

In terms of rank, the Great Sun True Qi was cultivated by absorbing the ambient Taiyang True Fire from Heaven and Earth, making it intrinsically superior to regular True Qi. Furthermore, the rank of the Great Sun Scripture also far surpassed that of the Heavenly Martial Gang Qi. Thus, in equal amounts, the Heavenly Centipede True Qi simply couldn't withstand the Great Sun True Qi. Being defeated and devoured was only a matter of time.

Before long, that wisp of Heavenly Centipede True Qi was devoured. The Great Sun True Qi grew somewhat stronger, emitting an even more intense, scorching heat. Shen Changqing's thoughts moved again, separating another wisp of Heavenly Centipede True Qi. Compared to the previous one, this wisp of Heavenly Centipede True Qi was slightly larger. Because the Great Sun True Qi had grown stronger, it could devour even more Heavenly Centipede True Qi, and the time needed for the subsequent transformation would be significantly shortened.

Several hours passed. Shen Changqing sat cross-legged in the courtyard, motionless, his mind completely immersed in his Dantian. Every time the Great Sun True Qi devoured some Heavenly Centipede True Qi, he would use his intent to separate more Heavenly Centipede True Qi for it to consume and absorb.

The moon rose and then set. As morning mist appeared, a faint protective aura manifested around Shen Changqing's body, keeping all the mist at bay.

In his Dantian, the originally faint Great Sun True Qi was now exceptionally strong, hanging in the space above like a miniature sun. The scorching aura it emitted caused the spring-like Heavenly Centipede True Qi below to tremble slightly, as if it were about to boil at any moment.

At that moment, Shen Changqing withdrew his consciousness from his Dantian and glanced at the sky. He then immersed his mind once more.

Having devoured one-tenth of the Heavenly Centipede True Qi, the Great Sun True Qi has already grown considerably. If I don't take this opportunity to complete the transformation, with my current state, it will be difficult to bring out my full strength when fighting others.

The stronger the Great Sun True Qi became, the more violent the conflict between the two True Qis would be. He had to constantly control them with his intent to prevent a full-scale war between the two True Qis.

In light of this, Shen Changqing had already made up his mind: before completely transforming the Great Sun True Qi, he wouldn't do anything else.