The oil lamp's dim light cast flickering shadows in the side room.

Liu Qingzhou closed the door, causing the lamp's flame to shiver.

Nie Ruhai leaned sideways on a chair, a porcelain tea cup twirling between his fingers, obscured by a vague, enigmatic smile.

Seeing this, Liu Qingzhou gritted his teeth and walked up to Nie Ruhai.

"About what you said earlier on dealing with Qin An..."

Nie Ruhai suddenly lifted his eyes, the tea cup clinking against the sandalwood table: "Is this how you show respect when asking for help?"

Liu Qingzhou knew exactly what Nie Ruhai meant, took a deep breath, and slightly bowed: "I earnestly seek Mr. Nie's guidance."

He didn't know what plan Nie Ruhai had, but as long as it could help him avenge, he was willing to swallow his pride.

Nie Ruhai smiled faintly, slipping out an ancient book without a cover from his sleeve, the parchment pages glowing dark red under the lamp.

"You have only your left arm, then cultivate this technique."

Liu Qingzhou was stunned, then reacted, picking up the cultivation technique.

The technique had no cover, but as Liu Qingzhou opened it and looked through carefully, his brows furrowed tightly.

"To use lifespan as a guide, expending one's own lifespan when the sword is drawn, what kind of evil art is this!"

Nie Ruhai chuckled, his fingertips grazing the cup's rim: "You don't need to worry if it's evil, you only need to know that if you want to increase your power now, only such techniques are viable."

"Besides, you don't need to continuously expend your lifespan, only at critical moments, like when killing Qin An."

Liu Qingzhou's eyes flashed with a complex expression: "But my lifespan..."

Nie Ruhai slightly straightened: "You're already at Jade Bone Realm Perfection, if you could reach the Gui Cang Realm, your lifespan would surely increase, it's just a small part of your lifespan."

"If Qin An doesn't die, you'll forever be a cripple in the Evil Extermination Bureau, how will you manage yourself?"

Liu Qingzhou fell into silence hearing this.

The room was so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard.

Nie Ruhai didn't bother Liu Qingzhou, playing with the teacup in his hand, waiting for a response.

After a long while, Liu Qingzhou raised his head: "Why are you helping me?"

He didn't give a response but instead asked the reason.

There's no free lunch in this world, Nie Ruhai must have a reason for helping him.

If the reason wasn't revealed, he would definitely not agree.

Nie Ruhai put down the teacup: "There are only ten Mountain Patroller positions, but this time there are twenty Jinzhou Guards competing, I want to eliminate a formidable enemy."

Hearing this, Liu Qingzhou showed a look of realization.

Although the Mountain Patroller is dangerous, among the Evil Extermination Bureau's Jinzhou Guards, there are always some at Jade Bone Realm Perfection willing to participate.

Just as Nie Ruhai said, it's indeed a hard position to secure.

Liu Qingzhou put down the technique: "How should I avenge? Even with a technique, how should I kill Qin An?"

Nie Ruhai revealed a slight smile: "You could also participate in the Mountain Patroller examination, couldn't you?"

Liu Qingzhou was dumbfounded at the words.

Nie Ruhai continued: "You don't necessarily have to join the Mountain Patrol. If you fail to complete the task but manage to save your life, you can still return and act as a Jinzhou Guard."

"Having the courage to take the Mountain Patroller exam would earn you respect from your peers, even if Qin An had previously shamed you."

"It's a win-win situation."

Liu Qingzhou returned to normal, falling into deep thought.

After half an incense stick's time, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in Liu Qingzhou's eyes.

"Fine!"

He put away the technique, wasting no words.

Since he could restore his reputation and kill Qin An, he was eager.

Even if he couldn't pass the Mountain Patroller examination, just finding a way to come back alive would be enough to showcase his courage.

By then, even his colleagues in the Evil Extermination Bureau would regard him highly, paving a bright future.

Nie Ruhai got up and walked to the door: "Remember, by the time the examination arrives, you better have mastered this swordsmanship."

It wasn't until Nie Ruhai pushed the door and left, that Liu Qingzhou gazed at the swordsmanship on the table, the complexity in his eyes gradually turning into a hint of ruthlessness.

"Qin An, you won't live much longer!"

...

The butcher shop.

Dark red blood seeped through the cracks of the bluestone slab, mixing with the morning dew into a sticky paste.

The pork hanging upside on the iron hook was still steaming, the white mist twisting into thin serpents in the frigid air.

Qin An gripped the Bone-Cutting Saber, its blade scraping across the chopping board with a piercing sound, startling the sparrows under the eaves into fluttering away.

"No need for a docket tomorrow."

The butcher assisting Qin An was slightly surprised.

"Mr. Qin, if you ever stop serving the official court, you could always rely on this skill in butchery to make a living."

Lately, the butcher had grown familiar with Qin An.

Although Qin An held a high position, the butcher was more impressed by Qin An's butchering skills.

This skill, not just in Lingzhou, even the butcher's deceased master couldn't compare.

Unfortunately, Qin An said today that he wouldn't come again.

Qin An washed the grease off his hands with clean water: "I used to do this, and now I've become accustomed to it. If I ever shed this official skin, I might accompany you."

The butcher waved his hands repeatedly: "Impossible, impossible. Everyone in the neighborhood knows Mr. Qin's status. In the words of scholars, Mr. Qin is merely experiencing life."

Qin An wiped away the water, took out some silver coins, putting them on the chopping board: "Take it, I'm off."

The butcher bowed: "Mr. Qin, take care."

Only after Qin An disappeared at the end of the street did the butcher carefully pocket the silver coins, sighing as he did so.

"If only all the officials were as cultured and refined as Mr. Qin, it would truly be a blessing for Lingzhou."

Tang Lingwei, who was idly wandering by the street, heard this and saw Qin An's disappearing silhouette, her mouth twitching slightly.

Refined and elegant?

You citizens have clearly not witnessed Mr. Qin's ruthlessness when exterminating demons.

"Go, buy more meat, specifically that butchered by Mr. Qin," Tang Lingwei instructed Gao Quan.

Gao Quan chuckled lightly: "Boss, you've truly become Mr. Qin's admirer."

Tang Lingwei replied impatiently: "Just go if I tell you, any more nonsense and you'll get a slap."

Finally, Gao Quan left, chuckling as he went.

...

Evil Extermination Bureau.

Back in the room, Qin An squinted his eyes, looking at the smoke in front of him, with an involuntary smile on his lips.

The smoke gathered into words, appearing in front of him like a slithering snake.

[Butcher lv.6 (0/1000): The livestock you slaughter is more delicious and can enhance its essence]

[Talent: Jade Bone Realm Blade Cultivation Technique Great Success, Jade Bone Realm Weapon Skill Insight]

[Upgrade Requirement: Slaughter ten Jade Bone Realm monsters (10/10)]

[Upgraded]

After spending several days indulged in slaughtering, today he finally trained the butcher profession to level six.

After reaching level six, not only did slaughtering livestock become more delicious, but it also gained the trait of enhancing essence.

This trait had long been mastered by Qin An.

In the future, when extracting monster cores or fake cores, he could enhance the purity of the monster cores and fake cores.

This was extremely useful for Qin An, and even for cultivators, it was a rare divine skill.

Besides, the talents were also the highlight.

Firstly, with the Jade Bone Realm Blade Cultivation Technique Great Success talent, he no longer needed to consume a lot of energy and blood to reach Jade Bone Realm Great Success when practicing swordsmanship.

In addition, there was an added talent of Jade Bone Realm Weapon Skill Insight.

Insight meant detecting the opponent's weaknesses.

If the opponent used a weapon, Qin An would detect its weaknesses when using blade techniques, exerting greater power.

"Now that the butcher is level six, I can start learning a new profession," Qin An thought to himself.

Reaching level six as a butcher brought a significant increase in Qin An's combat power.

Logically, he should level all his other professions to six, but Qin An had a different plan.

Now he had already achieved Jade Bone Realm Perfection. If he could advance to the Returning to Storage Realm early, he could live better in the perilous Lingzhou.

Qin An didn't want to enter the Returning to Storage Realm in an ordinary way. He wanted to refine all five internal organs with five Yang Elixirs and enter the Returning to Storage Realm in perfect condition.

Therefore, he needed to start a new profession, which must be related to Alchemy.

"To start Alchemy, you first need to find someone who knows Alchemy."

After pondering for a moment, Qin An pushed open the door and walked to where Yang Quanfeng was.

...

Yang Quanfeng was sitting in the courtyard, placing the just-wiped hammer on the table and frowned: "What do you want with an Alchemist?"

Qin An tilted his head and drank the tea: "I want to learn about it."

He didn't know where the Alchemist was, but Yang Quanfeng was a Jinzhou commander and had been in Lingzhou for a long time, so he must know.

Yang Quanfeng mused: "If you want to refine the Yang Elixir, I'm afraid it will be difficult."

He immediately understood Qin An's intention, thinking Qin An wanted to find an Alchemist to refine the Yang Elixir.

"There is no Alchemist capable of refining the Yang Elixir in Lingzhou. The Evil Extermination Bureau has Yang Elixirs, but they are from the central state above, and there are not many left, requiring immense achievements to exchange."

"Once you enter the mountain patrol, do a few major tasks, and you can exchange for a Yang Elixir."

Qin An knew Yang Quanfeng misunderstood, but he went along: "I want to give it a try."

He only needed to find an Alchemist, learn the methods, and attempt it using his life profession.

The formula for the Yang Elixir wasn't a secret; the method was in the Confidential Library, but no one had the skill.

Yang Quanfeng spun the wine pot in his hand with his fingers, saying, "If you really want to find an Alchemist, go to the Spring Breeze Hall in the east of Lingzhou."

"It's one of the few alchemical forces in Lingzhou, and they have dealings with the Evil Extermination Bureau; with your status, it shouldn't be a problem."

Qin An stood and cupped his fists, saying, "Thank you, sir. I must take my leave now."

With a target in mind, Qin An naturally didn't want to linger and quickly left the small courtyard.

Watching the hurried Qin An, Yang Quanfeng couldn't help but chuckle.

"If only this kid could stay under my wing, but alas, as Wan Ziqing said, I don't have the capability to keep him."

"Oh well, with him joining the mountain patrol, it's like fulfilling my dream."

Thinking of this, Yang Quanfeng was about to lift the wine pot to drink again.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he jumped up from his chair.

When Qin An came, he asked about the Alchemist, interrupting his thoughts.

Now he realized the important issue.

"That kid broke through to Jade Bone Realm Perfection?"

"How did he do it in such a short time?"

In the courtyard, the hammer fell to the ground, but Yang Quanfeng seemed oblivious.

...

Leaving the Evil Extermination Bureau, Qin An followed Yang Quanfeng's advice and headed straight towards the Spring Breeze Hall.

Upon reaching Spring Breeze Hall, Qin An squinted his eyes, examining the peculiar building.

The alchemy room, built with blue bricks, was hidden deep within the alley, its eaves hung with a bronze bell that remained motionless in the wind, as if its sound was sealed by the heat waves from the furnace.

The sulfur smell in the air made his eyes burn, and the cinnabar and orpiment piled at the corner of the wall shone with a crimson glow in the darkness.

The three-legged alchemy tripod stood in the center of the room, its belly reflecting the charcoal fire showing dark red patterns, like a lurking beast.

An Alchemist in a hemp cloth short gown knelt on a cushion, clenching a jade pestle with whitening knuckles.

The pills in the mortar were ground, the bubbling sound of the rolling medicinal liquid in the tripod frequently attracting side glances.

Upon entering, Qin An seemed to have disturbed the Alchemist's actions.

The Alchemist turned his head, and upon seeing the silver medallion at Qin An's waist, frowned slightly.

Only then did Qin An see the Alchemist's appearance clearly.

The Alchemist was old, with graying hair, and a red mole between his eyebrows.

A few young attendants were bustling around, helping the Alchemist.

Seeing Qin An approach, they quickly came up.

"Sir, my master is in the middle of Alchemy and cannot be disturbed." The young boy was just ten years old but very polite.

The Alchemist, seeing the boy stopping Qin An, continued to grind the pills.

Every Alchemist is a significant individual in a power, especially those having dealings with the Evil Extermination Bureau, and it's normal for them to have some temper.

Qin An came here to start a profession, not wanting to waste time, so he spoke straight to the point: "I want to learn some Alchemy techniques, just a basic understanding will do. Please teach me, venerable elder."

The red mole between the Alchemist's eyebrows trembled, the pestle crushed the pills with a crackling sound: "The hand that holds the blade also wants to touch the alchemical cinnabar?"

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