Soul Emperor Martial God

Eighteen Cities of the Eastern Desolate.

Gale Demon Hunting Team headquarters.

A fiery red figure dropped from the sky and instantly arrived at the Council Hall.

"Who?" The deputy captains were startled at first and shouted out loud.

"Enemy attack!" The Demon Hunter in charge of vigilance yelled.

"It's no enemy attack," Captain Ning Hao rebuked, then saluted the figure.

He spoke respectfully, "Greetings, Master Yi Xiao."

The arrivals was naturally Xiao Yi.

"No need for formalities," Xiao Yi shook his head.

"Master Yi Xiao, you've come this time to trade Demon Beast Cores and Essence Blood, right?"

Ning Hao asked with a smile.

"Yes," Xiao Yi nodded, "Please, Captain Ning Hao, call the other Demon Hunting Captains who want to trade with me as well."

"Alright," Ning Hao laughed, "Master Yi Xiao, it's been over half a year since your last visit."

"But we haven't sold these Core Essence Blood to anyone else."

"We've been keeping them just for you, Master Yi Xiao."

"The other Demon Hunting Teams did the same."

"Thank you," Yi Xiao said earnestly.

He knew full well that being a Demon Hunter, living on the edge of a knife, was not easy.

Hunting demon beasts, exchanging them for money, was almost their only source of income.

Of course, they could make some money by taking on tasks from the Demon Hunting Hall, but not much.

These Demon Hunting Teams, waiting for him even when he wasn't around for a long time, showed the trust they had in him.

"It's our honor to serve you, Master Yi Xiao."

Now, Ning Hao seemed to respect Yi Xiao immensely.

After speaking, Ning Hao entrusted Gao Shi and other deputy captains to look after Yi Xiao.

He then turned and went to notify the other Demon Hunting Teams' captains.

…

Half a day later, Ning Hao returned.

With him were over a dozen well-known Demon Hunting Captains from the Eastern Desolate, all from the Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer.

"Greetings, Master Yi Xiao," The captains variously saluted Xiao Yi.

"No need for formalities," Xiao Yi frowned slightly.

He was somewhat puzzled as to why these Demon Hunting Captains were all so respectful and always saluting him.

"Sorry, Master Yi Xiao," Ning Hao said with a guilty expression, "for making you wait so long."

"Some Demon Hunting Captains were out on missions."

"It took some time to find them."

"But, everyone rushed here immediately upon hearing of your arrival."

"Master Yi Xiao, these are the last half year's collection of Demon Beast Cores and Essence Blood." Feng Lie of the Gray Wolf Demon Hunting Team, brought out two Qiankun Bags.

"Master Yi Xiao, this is what our Silver Moon Demon Hunting Team has prepared for you." Xu Liuyun also brought out two Qiankun Bags.

…

One by one, the Demon Hunting Captains brought out Qiankun Bags.

Xiao Yi nodded and took out stacks of silver notes from his chest.

Altogether, it amounted to over a hundred million Silver Tael.

Of course, it wasn't his, it belonged to the Northern Mountain Murong Family.

"Master Yi Xiao, aren't you trading with Elixirs this time?" Ning Hao asked curiously.

Xiao Yi shook his head, "I came in haste this time and didn't refine any Elixirs."

"Oh, I see, it's all the same anyway," Ning Hao smiled as he took the silver notes.

The other Demon Hunting Captains also showed no dissatisfaction, respectfully accepting the silver notes.

Then, Xiao Yi spoke, "Actually, there's something I need to discuss this time."

"Whatever it is we can help with, just command us," the Demon Hunting Captains said, bowing their hands.

"It's nothing serious," Xiao Yi waved his hand, "It's just that from now on, I may no longer trade with you."

The Demon Hunting Teams, though well-known in the Eastern Desolate, mostly hunted lower-level demon beasts.

Almost all were Third-level Demon Beasts or below.

Only a few were Fourth-level Demon Beasts.

But for Xiao Yi now, the Third-level Demon Beast Essence Blood and inner cores were almost useless.

Even if in large quantities, they had little effect.

Only the Fourth-level Demon Beast Essence Blood and cores might still be somewhat useful.

"Ah, no more trading?" the captains showed a look of regret.

But soon, this regret faded.

Instead, they all smiled and said, "That makes sense, with Master Yi Xiao's current abilities."

"You don't really need these low-level Essence Blood and cores."

"You're not upset with me?" Xiao Yi frowned, "After all, I made you wait so long."

"How dare we," the captains shook their heads, smiling, "This trade, Master Yi Xiao, you've provided plenty of Silver Tael."

"We haven't lost out."

"Besides, if not for you, Master Yi Xiao, we'd have died long ago."

"We wouldn't dare blame you."

"Hm?" Xiao Yi's frown deepened, "What are you talking about?"

The captains laughed, "Don't be modest, Master Yi Xiao, we all know."

"Two days ago, the Demon Hunting Hall sent out a notice."

"That day, during the East Desolate Beast Tide, it was you, Master Yi Xiao, who ventured deep behind enemy lines."

"He was the first to venture into the Demon Beast Forest and even claimed the life of Old Monster Yougu from the Black Demon Hall."

"That's what stopped the Beast Tide."

"Otherwise, more Mystic Breakthrough Realm Demon Beasts and countless other demon beasts would have kept streaming out of the forest."

"If it hadn't been for Master Yi Xiao risking his own life."

"Green Light City would have been gone, and we Martial Artists and Demon Hunters who were there would have perished as well."

As he spoke, the captains suddenly showed expressions of shame.

"At the time, we all thought Master Yi Xiao, you were afraid of death since you didn't go to the East Desolate Beast Tide."

"And we even cursed you behind your back a few times."

"Thinking about it now, it really is embarrassing."

"Uh." Xiao Yi was slightly startled upon hearing this, never expecting the Sub Hall Master to have spread the word about his deeds.

But perhaps that was to be expected.

The Demon Hunting Hall oversees all the Demon Hunters under the heavens.

With good 'examples' and 'deeds,' it makes sense to propagate them to enhance the cohesion among Demon Hunters.

After all, the Demon Hunting Hall itself is quite a loose organization.

"There's more," the Demon Hunters went on effusively, proudly.

"Master Yi Xiao publicly refined a Sixth-grade Elixir a few days ago."

"He completely outshone those arrogant folks from other counties, fiercely suppressing their arrogance."

"He really helped us, the Martial Artists of Northern Mountain County, regain some pride."

The Demon Hunting Captains looked at Xiao Yi with gratitude, respect, and most of all, admiration.

When so many honors and famous deeds are concentrated in one person.

And when that person is also a young genius.

Such brilliance is bound to command everyone's adoration.

Xiao Yi suddenly realized why these Demon Hunting Captains had treated him so differently today.

After a moment, Xiao Yi gave a wry smile and cut off the ongoing cascade of praise from the captains.

"After all, this time it was indeed my fault."

"After all, I had promised you as many beast cores and Essence Blood as you needed."

"And even made you break off trade-routes with other trading companies."

"Let me do this," Xiao Yi quickly said. "I'll talk to the major trading companies and get them to trade with you again."

"No need, Master Yi Xiao," the captains chuckled.

"Now that these trading companies know we have a deep relationship with you, Master Yi Xiao,"

"They are all exceedingly kind to us and don't monopolize prices as they used to."

"The Chief Steward of the Eastern Desolate Demon Hunting Hall has also taken good care of us."

"So, there's no need for Master Yi Xiao to trouble himself."

Xiao Yi nodded, "That's good then."

With that, Xiao Yi waved his hand, and several elixirs flew out through the air.

"These are Mystic Breakthrough Bright Mirror Pills, which can enhance your Martial Arts insights and increase your chances of breakthrough," Xiao Yi said indifferently.

"Mystic Breakthrough Bright Mirror Pills?" The captains received them and were instantly astonished.

They had all heard of the Mystic Breakthrough Bright Mirror Pill.

Ranked as a Peak Fourth-grade Elixir, when taken by Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer Martial Artists, it can enhance Martial Arts Insights.

And increase the chances of advancing to the Mystic Breakthrough Realm.

"Thank you, Master Yi Xiao." The group bowed respectfully, immensely grateful.

Xiao Yi waved his hand, indicating that they need not be so formal.

The Mystic Breakthrough Bright Mirror Pills were complicated to refine, with some materials also being hard to obtain.

Xiao Yi had had to use a treasure from the Northern Mountain Murong Family's Treasure Vault to make a few dozen.

This time, he hadn't used the elixirs for trade because he had focused on refining the Mystic Breakthrough Bright Mirror Pills.

"Take them and attempt your breakthroughs, I'll protect you," Xiao Yi said lightly.

"Thank you, Master Yi Xiao."

The Demon Hunting Captains immediately seated themselves cross-legged and consumed the elixirs.

These captains were all Mysterious Profundity Ninth Layer Martial Artists.

Moreover, they had remained at this level for many years.

Their Qi Springs were already full, and since the Qi Springs themselves weren't large, converting True Qi into True Liquid wasn't too difficult.

It was just that they lacked sufficient Martial Arts insights to progress in their realm.

In simple terms, they were at a bottleneck.

With the Mystic Breakthrough Bright Mirror Pills to enhance their Martial Arts insights, their chances of making breakthroughs would greatly increase.

Indeed, it wasn't long before.

Captain Ning Hao was the first to awaken from his breakthrough, now a Mystic Breakthrough First Layer Martial Artist.

"Master Yi Xiao, if you ever need anything in the future, even if I, Ning Hao, have to ascend a mountain of knives or descend into a sea of fire, I will not hesitate."

Captain Ning Hao spoke earnestly and respectfully.

"There's no need for such extremities," Xiao Yi shook his head. "I'm leaving. The rest of you, stay protected."

After saying that, Xiao Yi vanished in a flash.

Several hours later, the captains woke from their breakthroughs.

Over half had advanced to Mystic Breakthrough First Layer. A few who were less fortunate did not breakthrough.

Upon waking and finding Xiao Yi gone, they all showed expressions of regret.

...

At this time, Xiao Yi had not left the Eastern Desolate but had merely gone to the Demon Hunting Hall.

...

The fifth update, making a breakthrough.

Although it was already the early hours of the morning, the task was finally completed.