Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

Yan Yu was immune to the attacks of this water-based Taoism Method, and the reason was actually multifaceted.

The most important, of course, was the mutual conquest of the Five Elements, with earth conquering water. Coupled with the Barrier Charm's ability to resist knives and fire, it was an expected outcome that he remained unharmed.

But while he sustained no injuries, why wasn't he swept away by the water?

That's because at the very moment the flood appeared, he immediately activated the Curved Curse and thrust his Immortal Sword forcefully into the ground below.

So the most advanced methods of attack often just need the simplest way to break them... The key is whether the experience and awareness can keep up.

Yan Yu studied the meditation cushion for a long time before he discovered that there was indeed no mystery hidden within it.

The real mystery was pressed under the cushion, a delicate jade hairpin.

This object was neither a Magic Artifact nor possessed any glow of Spiritual Energy, but its design was quite elegant, and it would definitely make a great gift for a girl.

Yan Yu infused it with True Yuan and began to refine it.

Having finished treating her teammates, Su Yunjin went to check on the medical team in the corner.

"My ears are still ringing," Lin Ning complained to Zhao Yuanzhen.

"Direct your True Yuan to the meridians near your ears," the senior Cultivator Zhao Yuanzhen began to show off, reminding everyone, "Stay there for a while, and this discomfort will soon disappear."

"Really?!" Lin Ning said incredulously, "What's the principle behind this?"

"There's no particular principle," Zhao Yuanzhen said proudly, "It's just some little clever uses of True Yuan that I've discovered."

Yan Yu, listening nearby, was speechless. So the widely known techniques for using True Yuan in the Cultivation World are now all your own discovery over here?

Such a plagiarist, no shame at all!

After refining the hairpin completely, the Zhendong Army medical team, revived by Su Yunjin's treatment, heard Yan Yu say:

"It's done, I'll send everyone out."

Yan Yu teleported everyone away from the Mysterious Realm and tossed the hairpin to Ms. Lou, the head of the medical team.

She took over the control center of the Mysterious Realm, carefully stored it, and then took her team aside to make a phone call.

"Are you staying for a meal?" Yan Yu asked Li Zhaojiang.

"Forget it," Li Zhaojiang shook his head, "Both of my teammates are severely injured, how can we eat?"

"Well," Tao Xingyuan turned to look at the beautiful girls behind Yan Yu and said with a forced laugh, "Actually, having a meal shouldn't be a problem..."

"Exactly, exactly," Wang Haoran also chimed in, grinning mischievously, "It's rare for us to get together. Captain, why not make some friends?"

"Tao Xingyuan, you've got a stomach ulcer and you still want to eat?" Li Zhaojiang scolded irritably, "Didn't you hear the medical team say you should be on a liquid diet for the next few days? And Wang Haoran, your ribs don't hurt anymore, huh? Thinking about flirting with girls again!"

He turned away, waved his hand impatiently, and said:

"Let's go! No need to see us off, next time you come to our home ground, we'll host you properly!"

Wang Haoran helplessly turned and followed his captain, Tao Xingyuan still wanting to say something, but Jiang Hong forcefully dragged him away.

"Then, I'll take my leave," Li Minghu, the last to stay, said with a smile as she bid farewell to everyone, "Until we meet again."

The girls all bid her farewell. Although they had only just met, both Lin Ning and Su Yunjin were quite fond of this polite and generous Lingnan girl.

After the Annan Army team left, Chen Lingyun asked with a smile:

"Shall we play here for a day or go back to school?"

"Our team is a dictatorship during war, and a democracy after," Yan Yu declared shamelessly, "If you all want to stay, we'll stay; if no one wants to stay, we'll go back."

"What do you think?" Chen Lingyun looked at the other girls.

"Of course, we should play for a day," said the college girls, who were of an age that loved to have fun, who would want to go back to school? As for someone like Zhao Yuanzhen, who had added points to being a "foodie," she was already itching to go to the local snack shops for an "inspection."

"Then let's go back tomorrow," Yan Yu nodded, "Today's expenses will all be settled with your vice-captain."

Zhao Yuanzhen quickly took out her phone, started looking up local food guides on various apps, and announced loudly:

"Good! I'll arrange our next stops, you all follow me!"

————————

At five o'clock in the afternoon, after a hearty meal, Yan Yu was accompanying the girls shopping when he suddenly received a call from Jinling.

It was a call from Li Weiguo.

"Where are you guys?" Li Weiguo asked over the phone, "The Mysterious Realm is dealt with, aren't you hurrying back to school?"

"We are shopping right now." Yan Yu replied.

There was silence on the other end for a dozen seconds before Li Weiguo's puzzled voice came through:

"Huh?"

I guess even this old military leader who's been through half a life of war had never encountered a young man like Yan Yu who dared to speak such blatant truths.

But Li Weiguo was after all an elder with rich experiences, and he quickly caught on, continuing to say:

"Alright then, there's a new task for you,"

"What task?"

"There's a village on your side where people have died," Li Weiguo said succinctly, "The first team of patrol investigators that went in to investigate also lost contact."

"Is it that serious?" Yan Yu asked in surprise.

"The nature of the case is extremely vile." Li Weiguo said seriously, "When criminal investigators lose contact, it's routine to dispatch the armed forces. But if it is indeed a cultivator who has done this, the armed forces might not be their match, you understand?"

"Yeah." Yan Yu replied, "So is our task to kill them or to capture them alive?"

"Capture them alive if possible." Li Weiguo said decisively, "If they cannot be captured, then kill them."

"Currently, the main force of military cultivators within Yue State's borders are on an exploration mission in the Dragon Spring Mountain Mysterious Realm. I will have them send a squad to support the scene, ensuring the safety of the armed forces personnel, but since the murderous cultivator's cultivation level and strength are uncertain, it's safer to have you handle it, understood?"

"Understood."

"Good, send your location to Lou Ping via your phone, and she will coordinate with the local forces to drive over and pick you up."

Once the call was over, Yan Yu pondered for a moment, then stopped the girls who were still keen on continuing their shopping spree:

"Alright, that's it for today's leave, we've been given another task."

"Another Mysterious Realm?" Lin Ning asked in shock.

Two Mysterious Realms in one day, even an iron man couldn't handle that!

"No." Yan Yu said succinctly, "It's suspected to be a civilian cultivator committing murder."

"A civilian cultivator?" Su Yunjin asked with furrowed brows, "You mean, unofficial..."

"Someone who obtained cultivation methods from some source, illegally stepping onto the path of cultivation without authorization." Yan Yu answered, "It's already confirmed they're a cruel and evil person, so there's no need to worry about complication. We won't need to look for clues or investigate. Once there, find the person, eliminate them, and the task is over."

"How can we not worry!" Lin Ning immediately retorted, "That's a murderer! A murderer! And even if it's illegal cultivation,"

"Probably involved in some kind of evil cultivation practice." Chen Lingyun said lightly, "You know, like requiring a certain number of living beings for a blood sacrifice, and if the number needed is too great, they just resort to local resources."

Su Yunjin's complexion shifted slightly, obviously startled; Lin Ning also looked a bit distressed, but seeing how calm Zhao Yuanzhen, Yan Yu, and Chen Lingyun were, she didn't want to seem like a naive girl, so she reluctantly suppressed her disgust and said:

"So we are going there... to eliminate a threat for the people?"

"That's right." Yan Yu agreed, "That's the idea."

"Don't forget, cultivators are ultimately a military profession. We will face all sorts of enemies in the future, including demons and monsters, restricted mechanisms, and of course, living cultivators—living people."

"Impact Curse, Curved Curse, Flame Curse, so many Attack Spell Techniques are all for defeating enemies faster, or even for killing them."

"We've studied them for so long, and practiced so many times, just think of this as a pop quiz..."

"Don't compare it to a test!" Lin Ning couldn't help but interrupt once more, "Talk seriously about serious matters, can you?!"

Strangely, after her vigorous retort, she seemed to feel less tense. Even Su Yunjin's expression eased, with a sense of wanting to laugh but forcibly holding it back.

"Alright, fine." Yan Yu, seeing he had achieved his goal, was amenable and quickly corrected himself, "So, we're going to eliminate a threat for the people, how about that?"

"If you're scared, you can tell me now."

"What's the use of telling you?" Chen Lingyun asked with a smile, "Are you saying if we're scared, we can ask for leave and not go?"

"Of course not." Yan Yu mused for a moment, then said with a smile, "But I can buy you an ice cream cone."

"Do you think we're kids who'd forget our worries with something sweet?" Lin Ning asked listlessly.