The piercing cold wind rampaged across the vast grassland, pressing the resilient wild grass into swaying submission.

Qin An tightly gripped his long saber, with a solemn expression on his face: "Troublesome."

The previous finger attack contained a terrifying True Essence and Power of Divine Sense, wrapped in a sinister aura that seemed capable of corroding bones and hearts.

If struck, one's True Essence would be quickly eroded, rendering them as helpless as a fish on a chopping board.

Ye Xin saw Qin An's silence and stopped speaking, lightly tapping the ground with his toes, his figure once again darting forward like a specter.

True Essence flowed from his fingertips, encircled by a chilling Divine Sense, heading directly for Qin An's throat.

If observed closely, one would notice a black aura swirling around Ye Xin's fingertips.

This cultivation technique is known as Corrupt Heart Finger, Ye Xin's signature skill.

Though those affected by this move may not die immediately, its corrosive power swiftly turns True Essence into waste, stripping them of combat ability.

Few among the Mountain Patrol Silver General practice this art due to its heavy costs.

Yet once mastered, the battle prowess surpasses that of average Silver General.

This was Ye Xin's confidence to strike boldly.

Having thoroughly understood Qin An's background, he felt assured of victory.

Qin An sensed the True Essence flowing from Ye Xin's fingertips, along with the fearful corrosive aura, and employed Dragon Roar Shadow Step, once more transforming into a fleeting shadow to dodge.

This time, the dodge nearly brushed past Ye Xin's fingertips, narrowly avoiding being struck.

Ye Xin halted his momentum and turned around, sneering: "Such an impressive body technique, but merely evading accelerates your demise. Each time you use it, my odds of victory increase—next move, you will not escape."

As his voice faded, Ye Xin raised his index finger, gathering True Essence once more, aiming straight for Qin An's forehead.

The speed and precision of this finger attack surged suddenly, sealing the surroundings with thick True Essence.

Qin An realized that if he used Dragon Roar Shadow Step again, he would be subject to Ye Xin's overwhelming attack.

Within a few moves, he'd be struck.

"Enough, it's time to use this." Qin An touched his left hand to his chest, feeling a hidden item.

There lay a silver needle, a Substitute Needle he acquired at the Ancient Battlefield remnants.

Originally intended for use against Fox Lotus, it unexpectedly resolved easily, but then came Ye Xin.

When needed, Qin An wouldn't hesitate to use it.

Moreover, this Substitute Needle isn't a once-only treasure; it can be reused in a month.

Thinking of this, Qin An prepared to use True Essence to activate the Substitute Needle at his chest.

But at this moment, Ye Xin, originally advancing with a stormy momentum, suddenly froze in his steps, showing a trace of fear in his expression.

Ye Xin's sight passed Qin An, looking towards behind him.

Qin An frowned slightly, puzzled by Ye Xin's unusual behavior.

He turned his head slightly, glancing behind him, his pupils contracted.

There stood a maiden in a green skirt, beside her squatted a mountain-like spotted giant tiger.

The fierce tiger's body surged with evil Qi, its form fluctuating between reality and illusion, revealing it as a fearsome Pseudo-God rather than a demon creature.

The maiden's bright eyes and charming teeth held a hint of playfulness in her gaze.

Especially her willow waist adorned with a badge embossed with golden patterns, revealing her identity.

"Mountain Patrol Golden General?"

Qin An wondered why a Mountain Patrol Golden General passed through this area.

But the moment this Mountain Patrol Golden General appeared, Ye Xin didn't hesitate to retract his finger, turning to flee as if he had seen something terrifying.

The green-skirted maiden smiled gracefully, disappearing with a lotus step.

Behind her, the massive tiger Pseudo-God raised its head with a long roar, the sound waves surging like tides.

Ye Xin, crazily fleeing, was halted by the impact of these sound waves, his body instantly frozen, unable to move an inch.

A silver bell-like voice sounded.

The green-clad maiden stretched out her slender, fair right hand, grabbed Ye Xin's clothes, and tossed him back.

"Bang!"

A deep sound echoed as Ye Xin landed heavily on the ground, his face etched with pain.

Qin An lowered his gaze, only to find the green-clad maiden was barefoot.

Her bare feet were wrapped with silver bells, jingling melodiously.

"Are you Qin An?" The green-clad maiden looked at Qin An with keen interest.

Qin An solemnly clasped his fists: "This humble one greets my Lady!"

Among practitioners, appearance often hides age; one able to rise to the rank of Gold General couldn't truly be a maiden.

The green-clad maiden laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with a playful, mischievous spirit.

Qin An remained vigilant.

At this moment, the tiger Pseudo-God leisurely spoke: "Lady, why feign youthfulness before a mere junior?"

This voice was surprisingly feminine.

The tiger Pseudo-God before him was indeed a female Pseudo-God.

Upon these words, the green-clad maiden's apricot eyes widened slightly: "Tiger Girl! If you keep disrupting my act, I'll have to skin you when we return!"

Tiger Girl chuckled dully, saying nothing, looking at Ye Xin lying on the ground: "How do we deal with this traitor?"

The green-clad maiden shook her head slightly, not responding, instead observing Qin An: "I'm not interested in the traitor; I'm quite curious about this little fellow, intriguing enough to have Jin Fengyu request my intervention, indeed quite amusing."

Qin An raised an eyebrow slightly: "Mr. Jin asked you to come?"

The green-clad maiden giggled: "Jin Fengyu's spies learned of your solo venture, thus he spared no effort, consulting a mystical gate diviner to discover your location."

"But he couldn't come personally, so he had me take care of it."

"I really want to know how you managed to make Jin Fengyu go so far as to ask favors from the old Taoist he dislikes the most. You look rather ordinary."

Qin An shook his head and said, "I'm just an ordinary person."

The girl in green put away her playful expression and said seriously, "You know your situation is fraught with danger?"

Qin An replied indifferently, "It's been like this since Ding County, I'm already used to it."

The girl in green put a smile back on her face, "That's really interesting."

She clapped her hands and circled around Qin An several times.

"Only those who grow up in danger have the true ability to exorcise demons and the qualifications to go further in the Evil Extermination Bureau."

"Initially, I thought you were ordinary, but your calm demeanor in the face of danger—if Jin Fengyu hadn't already favored you, I would want to have you under my wing."

"We've talked for so long, but I still don't know your name." Qin An didn't continue on this topic and asked, "How should I address you?"

"Just call me Lv Luo." Lv Luo suddenly leaned closer, her fingertip lightly grazing Qin An's chest, "Why don't you leave Jin Fengyu and follow Grandma? Grandma is much stronger than Jin Fengyu. Even that old man who refuses to take you as his disciple has to show Grandma some respect."

Qin An remained expressionless and shook his head, "If I truly agreed, Lady Lv Luo might find it immediately dull."

Lv Luo was slightly surprised, withdrawing her finger, "That's true. If you were willing to leave Jin Fengyu, I would find you rather ordinary. It's contradictory, so I won't think about it."

After speaking, Lv Luo seemed unwilling to bring it up again. She then turned to look at Ye Xin lying on the ground, a hint of regret in her eyes.

"Let him go."

Tiger Girl nodded slightly and roared.

Ye Xin, who was restrained, immediately returned to normal.

Ye Xin knelt on the ground, desperately kowtowing, "Grandma spare me, please spare my life!"

Lv Luo's tone turned icy, "You know my rules."

Ye Xin's expression turned cold, gritting his teeth, "Grandma may amuse herself among people, but she's the most intolerant Mountain Patrol Golden General. However, I've made significant contributions to the Evil Extermination Bureau and nearly lost my life several times. Considering this, can my merits cancel out my faults?"

"I wish to leave the Evil Extermination Bureau and become a civilian."

At this moment, Ye Xin had abandoned all thoughts of revenge, only wanting to survive.

Lv Luo shook her head gently, "I know your record. Ever since you joined Xunyang Prefecture, you've been brave and daring, rising from a minor prefecture officer to Mountain Patrol Silver General, saving countless citizens."

"You've even defended a county town alone, waiting until reinforcements arrived with your clothes soaked in blood, yet you remained standing, refusing to fall. I know all of this."

Ye Xin knelt on the ground, hands on his knees, fists clenched.

Lv Luo changed her tone, "But for someone devoted to exorcising demons, your knees weakened."

"I can't help it! I can't help it!" Ye Xin raised his head and said through gritted teeth, "This is just a huge dye vat. If I don't get involved, I'd be the strangest one. I just want a better life. I've shed blood for the Evil Extermination Bureau; I've protected so many citizens. Is it wrong for me to have a better life?"

Lv Luo stepped in front of Ye Xin, her eyes turning cold like icy blades, "Merits canceling faults won't happen now or in the future. You say there's no way, but if you truly remain true to yourself, aiming only to slay demons, power schemes are meaningless to you. You only saw their advantages and wanted to become one of them."

Upon hearing this, Ye Xin slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the floor for a long time without coming back to his senses.

"Do you have any last words to say?" Lv Luo asked calmly.

Ye Xin looked up in confusion, "I have no descendants, no parents above me; I'm alone in this world. But I have a question for Grandma."

"Ask." Lv Luo replied succinctly.

With a sorrowful expression, Ye Xin asked, "Grandma, I just want to know... were we fighting to the death merely to benefit those above?"

Lv Luo said earnestly, "I'm unaware of what those above think, but I only know one thing. Currently, everything we're doing is for the benefit of Xunyang Prefecture's citizens. Even if we're used as tools, so what?"

"I see." Ye Xin closed his eyes, "Please be swift."

Lv Luo turned away, "Girl, eat him. In honor of his past defense, let him suffer less."

Tiger Girl revealed a ferocious smile, opened her massive mouth, and swallowed Ye Xin whole.

Qin An raised his eyebrows slightly but said nothing, observing the entire process carefully.

Then Lv Luo turned to Qin An and suddenly threw a book of cultivation techniques to him.

Qin An caught it and opened it to find a blade skill named Heaven and Earth Heartless Saber.

"Lady, what does this mean?" Qin An asked.

Lv Luo crossed her hands behind her back, "Jin Fengyu and I can be considered friends; I'm on his side. Since you're under his command, I'll give you some benefits."

"Also... what I said earlier about admiring you was genuine. I like to give gifts to those I admire. Surely, you wouldn't dare refuse?"

Qin An chuckled openly, tucking the cultivation technique into his clothing, "There's nothing I wouldn't dare to accept."

Accept, of course, accept.

If there's a benefit to the gift, why not accept it?

Besides, once the scholar profession reaches level twelve, Qin An's next step is to elevate the butcher profession to level twelve.

By then, he will also enhance his blade skill to Great Success of the Outer Elixir Realm.

Now, getting a free blade skill saves the cost of achievements.

"Let's go." Lv Luo turned gracefully, lightly tapping the ground with her bare feet, and leapt onto Tiger Girl's back, "Remember one thing, when you go out, always remember to preserve your life; the silver needle in your possession is a treasure, use it in times of dire need."

Qin An raised an eyebrow, "Thank you for the reminder, Lady. I understand."

Lv Luo didn't speak further, and rode the pseudo-god tiger, quickly disappearing across the meadow.

Soon, the grassland was left with only Qin An.

Qin An pondered briefly, deciding not to return to the Evil Extermination Bureau just yet.

He still needed to cultivate other professions, but his achievements were not enough.

Although he had gained a demon consciousness that was equivalent to a hundred demon pills, he still needed achievements to exchange for cultivation techniques for deduction.

"Since I've come out, I might as well take on a task."

Qin An raised his hand and took his waist badge, and a light screen appeared before him.

A task jumped into his view.

"This task seems interesting and quite close to me." Qin An pondered briefly and accepted the task.

Details about the task floated in midair.

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