The heart-wrenching pain swept through the entire body, and nightmare-like whispers echoed by the ear.

At this moment, Long Yuan could never have imagined that he would be destroyed by Qin An with a single blade.

That blade condensed the essence of three techniques, carrying the might to destroy heaven and earth.

Even with Long Yuan's Jiao Long body, it was difficult to withstand its edge.

"Don't kill me, don't kill me..." Long Yuan trembled all over and began to beg for mercy.

The straight blade, like a cold gleam, was now inserted between the chest and abdomen.

At this moment, life was rapidly fading away, unprecedented fear devoured his mind.

Qin An's lips curled into a cold smile: "If not you, then who?"

As his voice fell, the Five-Colored True Essence poured into Long Yuan's body along the body of the Cold Star Saber.

Although Qin An was only at the Outer Elixir Realm Initial level, his Supreme True Elixir Foundation caused his combat power in the Outer Elixir Realm to double.

The terrifying Five-Colored True Essence rushed in with different attributes, as if in a realm without obstacles, instantly destroying the vitality within Long Yuan's body.

Long Yuan's eyes dimmed, and the Jiao Long true form crashed to the ground, crushing the forest within a ten-zhang radius.

The Demon Pill was clutched in Qin An's left hand, and blood dripped to the ground through his fingers.

Qin An turned his head and glanced at the Dragon General on the right, a gleam flashed in his eyes.

The Dragon General on the right had already unleashed all Secret Techniques, brimming with murderous intent, ready to decapitate Qin An.

But Qin An struck first after the event, killing Long Yuan on the spot, causing the Dragon General's body to suddenly freeze.

Now, when Qin An's icy gaze swept in, the Dragon General felt as if he were plunged into an ice cave, the shadow of death enveloping him entirely.

"Cannot act, acting means death!"

This thought emerged in the Dragon General's mind, exploding like thunder.

Unexpectedly, he developed a fear of battle and dared not attack!

Qin An continued to coldly watch the Dragon General, a hint of icy killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Still, he did not act, instead stepping forward slowly.

As Qin An stepped forward, a torrential killing intent surged like a tide.

This terrifying killing intent, combined with Qin An's act of stepping forward, shattered the Dragon General's state of mind instantly.

"Run!"

The Jiao Long true form rose, and the Dragon General fled rapidly in one direction without hesitation.

"Cannot fight, must die!"

At this moment, the Dragon General only had thoughts of escape.

In just a few breaths' time, he had already fled far away.

Qin An said regretfully: "What a pity, to complete the plan seamlessly, I must let him go; otherwise, another Demon Pill would be in hand."

Upon hearing this, Jiao Yue's heart shook tremendously.

He truly hadn't expected that despite being besieged by three Dragon Generals at the Outer Elixir Realm Small Success level, Qin An would counter-kill two of them.

This kind of power was truly terrifying.

How laughable it was that he previously thought Qin An was certainly doomed.

Looking at it now, the previous thought was absurdly ridiculous.

Qin An turned around to glance at Jiao Yue: "Go tell that fool who escaped, that I've long been exhausted and was merely bluffing just now."

"This way, it can be smoothed over."

Upon hearing this, Jiao Yue displayed an expression of mixed feelings.

According to the plan, Qin An was supposed to escape under the siege of three Outer Elixir Realm Jiao Long demons.

Yet, for the sake of two Demon Pills, Qin An stubbornly performed such an astonishing act.

At this moment, Jiao Yue truly didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

But Jiao Yue understood, this was a rare opportunity.

After bowing to Qin An, he revealed his Jiao Long form and went towards the direction where the Dragon General was.

Soon, this place was left with only Qin An.

Qin An thought to himself: "After this mission, I should be able to advance to Jin Mansion General. When the Mountain Patrol Copper General assessment arrives, I'll join the Mountain Patrol General."

Today's battle, killing two Outer Elixir Realm demons, was more than enough to advance to Jin Mansion General.

After advancing, he could exchange for Outer Elixir Realm Cultivation Technique.

Furthermore, what Qin An cared most about, the secret of the ancient battlefield ruins, could finally reveal itself.

This mission had brought tremendous rewards for Qin An.

Not merely two Demon Pills, more so, the elevation of identity and status, allowing access to the core of Xunyang Prefecture.

Thinking of this, Qin An did not overthink, stepping towards the direction of the Evil Extermination Bureau.

...

The wilderness.

As the Dragon General madly fled, he turned back to look.

After running over a hundred miles, he finally realized no one was pursuing him, and doubt began to arise.

"He is so strong, why didn't he chase me?"

"It shouldn't be, could he have let me go on purpose?"

"No, impossible!"

Dragon General simply couldn't figure out why he escaped so easily.

Amidst the Dragon General's doubts, a fierce sound of wind emerged, immediately drawing his attention.

When Dragon General turned around, he saw Jiao Yue coming, covered in wounds.

"Stop!" Dragon General shouted sharply.

Jiao Yue hastily halted his steps, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and spoke fearfully: "Sir, I've struggled with a multitude of difficulties to escape from the Evil Extermination Bureau. Please take me back to Jiao Long Hall, I have urgent matters to report to Dragon Lord."

Dragon General was slightly startled.

This scene happened to be too bizarre.

However, with Qin An not visible in the surroundings, the weight on Dragon General's heart gradually eased.

"Where is Qin An?"

Dragon General, full of murderous aura, pressed towards Jiao Yue.

Jiao Yue prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to move at all, shouted loudly: "He has long exhausted his energy, after you and I escaped, he ran in the opposite direction."

"At present, he likely reached Xunyang Prefecture."

Dragon General widened his eyes, pupils contracted: "So that's the case!"

The doubts in his mind were instantly resolved.

He initially thought Qin An deliberately let him go, now it appears that all Qin An did previously was merely bluffing.

"He at most only has Outer Elixir Realm strength," Dragon General showed an expression of regret: "Being able to kill two Outer Elixir Realm demons was already his limit, it's a pity, I've been deceived by him."

Now going after Qin An was nearly impossible.

Just as Jiao Yue said, Qin An presumably already escaped back to Xunyang Prefecture.

This contemplation left the Dragon General rather disgruntled, his gaze fiercely fell on Jiao Yue.

"What business do you have to report to the Dragon Lord? The Evil Extermination Bureau is heavily guarded; how did you manage to escape?"

The Dragon General walked up to Jiao Yue, clutching his head with sharp claws, pressing it to the ground: "If there's even a half-truth in what you say, I'll swallow you alive!"

Jiao Yue's gaze lowered, his whole body trembling like a sieve: "Sir, I swear my loyalty, never daring to forget that I'm one of the Jiao Long Hall. This time in the Evil Extermination Bureau's prison, I encountered a senior demon who painstakingly unlocked the prison, leading many demons to escape."

"It was in the chaos that I luckily escaped, but never expected to be chased here by Qin An."

Upon hearing this, the Dragon General frowned deeply.

This reason might not seem sufficient, but upon careful consideration, this method seems the only one capable of escaping the Evil Extermination Bureau's prison.

"What message do you have for the Dragon Lord?" the Dragon General asked again.

Jiao Yue raised his head slightly: "Sir, this information is extremely important, concerning a major event for the Jiao Long Hall. If delivered, not only can it spare you from punishment, but it will also bring you rewards."

The Dragon General's frown deepened, but there was a flicker of interest in his eyes.

Jiao Yue lowered his head, a crafty glint flashing in his eyes.

The words just spoken not only erased the crucial details of his escape but also highlighted the potential benefits.

These three Outer Elixir Realm great demons failed to capture Qin An, losing two in the process.

Upon returning, the Dragon Lord would surely be furious.

At that time, the Dragon General might not withstand it.

But taking Jiao Yue back might turn the situation in his favor.

Driven by benefits, the Dragon General wouldn't have many doubts.

As for how to explain once back at the Jiao Long Hall, he had another story prepared.

The Dragon General pondered, an expression of contemplation emerging.

Observing this, Jiao Yue added fuel to the fire: "Sir, time is of the essence; we must hurry. If Qin An recuperates and leads the Evil Extermination Bureau to chase us again, escape would be impossible."

The name Qin An made the Dragon General shiver involuntarily.

Recalling Qin An's earlier fierce prowess, he immediately grabbed Jiao Yue by the neck and took flight.

"When we return, speak carefully. Say that Qin An's power is insurmountable, and I wasn't acting out of cowardice. I just knew you had critical intelligence, so I did everything to save you. Understand?"

Jiao Yue nodded quickly.

Soon, the two Jiao dragon demons left the place.

...

In the blink of an eye, a night passed.

By the next morning, as the sunlight shone into Xunyang Prefecture, the whole prefecture seemed like a slumbering beast gradually awakening.

The bustling atmosphere continuously spread across the streets.

Qin An, dressed in dark robes, leisurely stepped onto the street, had a breakfast meal by the roadside, and returned to the Evil Extermination Bureau.

Upon his return, Qin An did not linger but went straight to Zhou Yuanfeng's courtyard.

At that moment, Zhou Yuanfeng was drinking wine in the courtyard.

Seeing Qin An enter, he set down his cup.

"Did it work?"

Qin An nodded: "There were some minor complications, but overall, it worked out."

"What complications?" Zhou Yuanfeng asked, puzzled.

Qin An recounted the events.

Zhou Yuanfeng's mouth twitched slightly.

Even with his composure, he found it hard to remain unfazed.

"You certainly haven't wasted a single Demon Pill. Fortunately, it's not a major issue."

Qin An nodded: "Can I now be promoted to Jin Mansion General?"

Returning this time, Qin An intended to be promoted to Jin Mansion General, and at the same time, investigate the core secrets of the ancient battlefield relics.

Improving his proficiency with the Butcher Skill would be on his agenda later.

With a flick of his fingertips on the wine cup, Zhou Yuanfeng said: "Go to the Internal Affairs Department and have them tally your achievements; you may hear news by tomorrow."

His words carried a hint of calmness.

In the past, Zhou Yuanfeng would have struggled with this.

For once Qin An became a Jin Mansion General, his next step would be joining the ranks of Mountain Patrol Copper Generals.

But as Zhou Yuanfeng gradually saw things more clearly, his internal conflict dissipated.

As Zhao Wuhuan had said, Qin An's potential surpassed even his own.

Even within Xunyang Prefecture, he was a true dragon.

Such a true dragon would never be confined to a mere Prefecture General; only patrolling the wilderness and traversing a thousand miles would suit him.

Qin An clasped his hands: "In that case, I take my leave."

As it was still early, Qin An planned to visit the butcher shop and practice his Butcher Skill proficiency.

Once his achievements were announced the next day, he would head to the Confidential Library to search for clues about the ancient battlefield relics.

Zhou Yuanfeng waved his hand, his tone changing: "Perhaps after tomorrow, we'll address each other as equals, so there's no need for such courtesy."

Qin An slightly nodded, clasped his hands again, and left the courtyard for the butcher shop on the street.

The process went smoothly, with the butcher shop owner readily agreeing due to the silver coins and Qin An's official attire.

The day passed ordinarily without incident.

Not until evening did Qin An return to the Evil Extermination Bureau.

...

The following day.

There was a knock on the door.

Qin An opened his eyes, got up, and reached for his saber: "Who's there?"

Outside, the voice of the Internal Affairs Department's Household Officer replied.

"Reporting, sir. The achievements have been tallied, please review them!"

Qin An opened the door, seeing the Household Officer standing respectfully with a wooden tray in hand.

A badge was placed on the tray.

The badge was entirely silver with intricate, exquisite patterns.

Qin An nodded, attached the silver badge to his waist, and, while touching the new Jin Mansion General Token, a deep look appeared in his eyes.

From a small soldier in Lingzhou to his current position, he had experienced countless battles.

Every step of his journey was forged through challenges.

Finally, he had shed the identity of a Copper Mansion General, becoming a Jin Mansion General. In Xunyang Prefecture, he was now a notable figure.

The Household Officer did not leave, whispering: "Since you've been promoted, please proceed to the Jin Mansion General's office immediately."

This was standard procedure.

Those who were promoted needed to meet their superior.

Qin An nodded, ready to leave, but saw the Household Officer still standing in place, frowning: "Is there anything else?"

The Household Officer hesitated before speaking softly: "Sir, the person you'll meet is somewhat unique, so be cautious."

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