Human Clan Defender

Name: Shen Changqing

Power: Great Qin's Demon Suppression Division

Identity: Martial Pavilion Elder

True Intent: Hundred Battles True Intent (60%)

Martial Arts: Great Sun Golden Body (Level 29, cannot be improved further), Great Sun Scripture (Level 26, cannot be improved further), Chiyang Divine Palm (Level 2), Seven Stars Stepping on Air Step (Level 1)

Slaughter: 16

All three hundred points of Slaughter Value were completely depleted. Finally, the Great Sun Golden Body was directly raised to the twenty-ninth level.

At the twenty-ninth level, the Great Sun Golden Body further strengthened Shen Changqing's flesh and blood qi quite significantly.

His blood qi was golden, and faintly, it seemed to have been endowed with some kind of mysterious power.

But that power was too weak, and he could not perceive much of it.

Entering the second stage of the Physical System, my blood qi has transformed once. Now that the Great Sun Scripture has broken through to the twenty-ninth level, there's a trend of further transformation in my blood qi, but the feeling of this transformation isn't very strong. Truly transforming isn't something that can be accomplished at the current stage.

Shen Changqing shook his head regretfully.

The feeling of transformation is very weak now. Truly succeeding in transforming isn't something that can be achieved by simply breaking through one or two levels of the Great Sun Golden Body.

At the very least, it would require an increase of eight or ten levels to have a possibility of transformation.

In that case, the Slaughter Value that would need to be consumed would have to be at least a four-digit figure.

Moreover, based on the enhancement every five levels, the consumption will increase further after level thirty.

Troublesome!

Shen Changqing sighed inwardly.

It's truly troublesome.

I shouldn't just look at how I obtain Slaughter Value by the hundreds each time.

But the recent acquisitions of Slaughter Value were either because I encountered powerful Demon Evils or because there were clusters of them.

Without such coincidences, harvesting them in large numbers is almost impossible.

The remaining sixteen points of Slaughter Value were not helpful for improving martial arts, so Shen Changqing's attention withdrew from the panel.

His gaze shifted to the room, where many emptied bottles had been carelessly discarded.

These bottles had contained elixirs.

The source of the elixirs was the Demon Slaying Hall.

When he took the Tiger Fang Blade, he had conveniently exchanged for some elixirs to supplement his consumption, all in preparation for subsequent enhancement.

True Yuan surged. The Great Sun Golden Core in his Dantian vibrated, and a wave of heat rolled out, wrapping all the elixir bottles within it.

Facing the scorching True Yuan, the elixir bottles simply couldn't withstand such high temperatures.

In just a few breaths, the bottles melted into liquid and fell onto the ground, then mixed with the floor's bluestone bricks, leaving no clear trace.

Having done all this, Shen Changqing finally rose from the bed and walked outside.

Everything that could be enhanced had been enhanced.

What remained was to harvest more Slaughter Value.

As soon as he opened the courtyard door, he was taken aback, but his expression quickly returned to normal. "Defender Xun, what brings you here today?"

The person standing before him was none other than Xun Qu.

Without deliberately sensing it, Shen Changqing wouldn't have known that the other party was standing outside the door.

Upon seeing Xun Qu, he was inevitably surprised as well.

Xun Qu smiled, "I sensed some fluctuations in Elder Shen's aura and guessed that you were cultivating, so I didn't want to disturb you. If Elder Shen hadn't come out today, it would have been some time before we could meet again."

His perception was also extremely strong. Without having to deliberately probe, he could sense a surge of power within Shen Changqing's dwelling.

That was why he hadn't knocked on the door to disturb him but had stood outside waiting.

Upon hearing this, Shen Changqing couldn't help but be surprised.

The other party was a Defender Envoy, yet his current demeanor clearly indicated he wasn't carrying himself as one.

After all, he had never seen any Defender Envoy silently wait outside the door for a Demon Hunter.

Even if that Demon Hunter held the identity of a Martial Pavilion Elder, it was the same.

Immediately, he stepped aside. "Since Defender Xun has come, please come in and have a seat."

"Thank you." Xun Qu didn't refuse and stepped inside.

Shen Changqing casually closed the courtyard door.

In the small courtyard, there was a stone table and stone benches.

The two sat down facing each other.

Shen Changqing said, "I've just arrived here not long ago and don't have any tea to offer, so I hope Defender Xun won't take offense."

"Elder Shen jests." Xun Qu shook his head with a chuckle, then his expression turned serious again.

"Speaking of which, Elder Shen has saved my life. If it weren't for you entering Luyang City, I would likely have fallen into the hands of that Demon Evil. Thus, you need not be overly polite, Elder Shen. After all, aside from our respective statuses, I am the one who owes a debt of gratitude."

His words clearly conveyed his abundant gratitude towards Shen Changqing.

It was understandable. Given the current situation of the Demon-Subduing Division and the circumstances in Luyang City, the fact that Shen Changqing dared to venture in alone was no small feat.

If it were him, Xun Qu couldn't guarantee that he himself would indeed enter Luyang City to rescue a Defender Envoy.

After all, entering Luyang City offered no apparent gains.

That he willingly ventured into Luyang City to save me, with no vested interest, was a significant favor in itself.

Shen Changqing replied with a calm demeanor, "Defender Xun need not be so courteous. Defender Ji sent me into Luyang City and also provided corresponding benefits. Without those, I wouldn't have risked entering the city on a whim."

"There's no need to be modest, Elder Shen. What the Demon-Subduing Division offered alone isn't enough to make a Grandmaster Peak risk their life. So, regardless, I consider myself indebted to you."

Xun Qu waved his hand, firm in his conviction.

He was well aware of what Shen Changqing had taken.

That amount of stuff... under normal circumstances, it would be considered quite good.

But it was entirely insufficient to make a Grandmaster Peak risk their life for it.

Shen Changqing's response, in Xun Qu's view, was purely an act of modesty.

Shen Changqing opened his mouth but decided not to explain too much.

Forget it. Let him think what he wants.

In any case, having a Defender Envoy owe me a favor is ultimately a good thing.

Shen Changqing's demeanor, in Xun Qu's eyes, was tantamount to a tacit admission.

Then, Xun Qu glanced around, his expression turning solemn.

"Elder Shen, you must be very curious why none of the Demon Evils listed in the dossiers you've received are of the 'Demon Evil' classification, and why, despite the strength of the various Demon-Subduing Divisions, the Demon Evils in South Nether Prefecture have never been truly suppressed, correct?"

He had a look on his face that said, 'I know everything, so don't try to fool me.'

Seeing this, Shen Changqing nodded frankly. "You're right, I indeed have this question. I just figured the Demon-Subduing Division must have its reasons for not saying anything, so I didn't press the issue."

Now that the conversation had reached this point, he had a rough idea of why Defender Xun had sought him out.

Xun Qu said, "It's normal for Elder Shen to be puzzled. Tell me, Elder Shen, have you heard of the Heavenly Realm?"

The Heavenly Realm? Shen Changqing's expression froze for a moment.

Good heavens. What on earth was this Heavenly Realm?

When conversing with these powerhouses, he often felt his own ignorance.

Seeing his reaction, Xun Qu didn't wait for Shen Changqing to ask and explained first, "The so-called Heavenly Realm is actually a type of grotto-heaven or blessed land that exists within the fabric of Heaven and Earth. Strictly speaking, a Heavenly Realm is similar to Ancient Ruins. However, Ancient Ruins are left behind by Ancient Powerhouses, while Heavenly Realms are formed naturally by Heaven and Earth."

"The vastness of Heaven and Earth creates spots of exceptional favor, filled not only with rich Spiritual Energy but also with numerous heaven-sent treasures. Such places are known as Heavenly Realms."

"Throughout history, whenever a Heavenly Realm appeared, it has always drawn many powerful individuals, all eager to enter and seek the treasures within to enhance their own capabilities."

Hearing this, Shen Changqing began to understand what a Heavenly Realm was.

Then, recalling the earlier question, he couldn't help but ask, "Defender Xun, are you implying that the failure to suppress the Demon Evils in South Nether Prefecture is related to a Heavenly Realm?"

"Correct!" Xun Qu nodded.

"The Heavenly Realm is a treasure trove within Heaven and Earth, our treasure trove. It harbors many heaven-sent treasures, some of which can extend the lifespan of the Human Clan."

To extend lifespan! Shen Changqing's expression shifted subtly.

The news did indeed shock him.

The very concept of 'lifespan' had always been a profound and enigmatic matter.

He hadn't anticipated that the Heavenly Realm might contain items capable of extending the Human Clan's lifespan.

Xun Qu said, "The Heavenly Realm houses life-extending treasures, but not every Heavenly Realm contains them. Whether one obtains such treasures is entirely a matter of fortune. Thus, every appearance of a Heavenly Realm ignites a fervent pursuit among all, including Defender Envoys."

"Defender Envoys!" Shen Changqing echoed.

"Precisely, Defender Envoys," Xun Qu affirmed, his expression solemn.

"Elder Shen should know that every Defender Envoy is subject to lifespan limitations, often much shorter than ordinary martial artists. However, the treasures within the Heavenly Realm can shatter this boundary. Some Defender Envoys have previously found life-extending treasures in the Heavenly Realm, thereby living much longer than usual. Consequently, the emergence of a Heavenly Realm invariably provokes competition among Defender Envoys."

"So what you're saying, Defender Xun, is that the current state of affairs in South Nether Prefecture is because the Defender Envoys have entered the Heavenly Realm?" Shen Changqing asked.

The implications behind Xun Qu's words led Shen Changqing to make certain speculations.

"Ten days ago, a Heavenly Realm was discovered in South Nether Prefecture. Other Demon-Subduing Divisions have already dispatched their Defender Envoys to enter the Heavenly Realm, which is the main reason for the current shortage of Defender Envoys in the area. The news of the Heavenly Realm is kept clandestine, available only to Defender Envoys and the upper echelons of the top sects. Thus far, news of the Heavenly Realm's appearance has hardly spread at all."