Qin Yun and Yi Xiao arrived together at Qin Yun’s courtyard and sat down by the stone table.


    "Brother Qin," Yi Xiao couldn''t help but stare at Qin Yun before her. "This time, I''ve come to trouble you with something. It might be dangerous."


    "If there''s something you need, just say it. I’m not someone who fears danger," Qin Yun said with a smile.


    Yi Xiao also smiled.


    "I’m planning to kill the Water God demon." Yi Xiao looked at Qin Yun. "I want you to go with me."


    "Kill the Water God demon?" Qin Yun’s heart skipped a beat, his expression slightly changing. He asked, "Miss Yi, why have you suddenly decided to kill the Water God demon?"


    Yi Xiao explained, "Actually, my main purpose for coming to Guangling was to kill the Water God demon! However, when Uncle Wen knew I was coming, he asked me for help to gather that millennium Ice Jade Fruit. Now that the spirit fruit is in hand, it’s time to handle the real task. When I took this mission from my sect to kill the Water God demon, I originally had an uncle who was supposed to assist me. But he was seriously injured when he killed a congenital demon, so I had to ask for your help instead."


    "A sect mission?" Qin Yun asked quickly. "Does that mean Miss Yi is fully confident?"


    If she were fully confident...


    That would be great. The Water God demon had tormented Guangling County for too long!


    "How could I have complete confidence?" Yi Xiao shook her head. "If I were, the Water God demon wouldn''t have been able to roam free for over two hundred years."


    "If my uncle were here, there would have been a 60-70% chance of success," Yi Xiao added, shaking her head.


    "Forgive my bluntness," Qin Yun said, "but the Water God demon is very cunning. Whenever a highly skilled cultivator at the congenital level approaches, the Water God demon doesn''t dare stray too far from the river. So, it’s only possible for a cultivator at the postnatal stage to deal with him."


    "My uncle is at the postnatal stage," Yi Xiao replied. "But he practices a technique to sanctify the body. Among postnatal cultivators, his physical strength is among the best in the world. However, due to his old age—he’s over a hundred years old—he hasn''t been able to break through to the congenital stage."


    "Sanctification of the body?" Qin Yun was surprised.


    In the world, there were two main types of powerful close combat techniques: one derived from divine demon methods, which only the imperial court possessed. The imperial court had even established the ''Divine Demon Guard'' because of this! For example, Qin Yun’s father, Qin Lietu, although only at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, had cultivated a divine demon secret technique, making him equal to an average cultivator. He could even kill small demons, which qualified him to be a silver-ranked constable. It was said that the demon clans also had divine demon inheritance.


    The second type was the sanctification of the body, practiced by both Taoist and Buddhist sects, although most of these techniques weren’t as advanced. The most famous example was the Hunyuan Sect, one of the three great Taoist holy lands, known for its sanctification of the body method.


    These were the most famous close combat techniques, where the body itself could rival magical weapons, possessing immense strength.


    Hit them, and sparks would fly.


    But if they hit you, one blow could be fatal!


    In comparison, sword immortals in their early stages were close combat fighters because they hadn’t yet mastered flying sword techniques. However, a sword immortal’s physical body couldn’t compare to divine demons or those sanctified in the body. When Qin Yun fought the White Tiger demon, the demon’s strength far exceeded his own. He only managed to survive by relying on his Smoky Rain Sword Intent to defend flawlessly.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    If he were hit even once, he would be reduced to a pulp.


    But a sword immortal’s greatest strength lay in their lifebound flying sword!


    One flying sword, known as "One Sword to Break All Spells," was as powerful as sanctification of the body.


    "Yes, my uncle has cultivated for over a hundred years and is also skilled with the spear. He wields an eighth-grade divine spear. With his sanctified body technique, he was originally meant to assist me in this mission," Yi Xiao said. "But since he can’t help, I can only turn to you, Brother Qin."


    "Just the two of us?" Qin Yun asked.


    "Yes." Yi Xiao nodded.


    "Forget it." Qin Yun shook his head.


    Yi Xiao was taken aback.


    Rejected? That easily?


    "Brother Qin," Yi Xiao said, "I just need you to help distract the Water God demon. With your close combat skills, and with these two Shrinking Earth Talismans I’ll give you, your speed will surpass the Water God demon’s. You’ll be safe."


    The Shrinking Earth Talisman, derived from the Shrinking Earth Technique, was a Taoist spell usually performed by innate Golden Core masters! So, the talisman was typically created by such high-level practitioners. In the northern borderlands, only one of Yi Xiao’s friends had ever used one. The talisman could shorten vast distances in space. Yi Xiao offering two of them, each worth far more than ten pounds of Cold Essence Spirit Liquid, made them life-saving treasures.


    "With your speed, and with the Shrinking Earth Technique, your sword skills are formidable, and your life will not be in danger," Yi Xiao urged. "I just need you to come with me."


    "Why didn’t you use the Shrinking Earth Talisman in Cangya Mountain?" Qin Yun asked.


    Yi Xiao shook her head. "These were treasures given to me by my sect after I accepted the mission to kill the Water God demon. They were meant for that battle, not to be used lightly. Since my uncle can’t come, these two talismans will be yours to use."


    "Brother Qin, just come with me this once," Yi Xiao’s eyes pleaded.


    Qin Yun didn’t agree. "You’re not good at close combat. In a life-and-death battle, you’re in more danger than I am."


    Even if he faced the Water God demon in close combat, he could save his life.


    But if Yi Xiao were to get close, her chances of survival would be very slim.


    "Killing a great demon comes with risks, especially one that the imperial court and sects have failed to kill for over two centuries," Yi Xiao said. "In Guangling County, villages outside the city still sacrifice boys and girls to this demon every year. How many children are eaten? How many humans are tortured by demons? As cultivators, should we fear death? If there’s a 60-70% chance, we must act."


    "Miss Yi, you should go back," Qin Yun said.


    Yi Xiao became angry. "Go back? Are you truly afraid of the Water God demon?"


    "I’m an outsider! Both my sect and family advised against this, but I came anyway," Yi Xiao said. "I couldn’t stand the records of what the demon did. Even knowing I might die, I came. Yet, you, a local, are unwilling?"


    Qin Yun looked at her.


    Facing death, she still came.


    Her uncle couldn’t help, yet she still insisted.


    "I’m sorry, I can’t help you," Qin Yun said as he stood up.


    "Qin Yun!" Yi Xiao also stood up, her eyes reddening. "I’m not forcing you, but you’ve really disappointed me. If you won’t help, I’ll find someone else!"


    Qin Yun frowned. "Why are you so stubborn?"


    "I can’t bear it," Yi Xiao said, her eyes filled with tears. "The Water God demon has cultivated for over two hundred years. Based on our intelligence, he could break through to the Golden Core stage at any moment. If that happens, we’ll never be able to kill him, and the people of Guangling will never be free!"


    "Right now, we still have a 60-70% chance. If he breaks through, there’ll be no hope!"


    Yi Xiao looked at Qin Yun. "And you, Qin Yun, will just stand by?"


    Qin Yun froze, staring at her. "He could break through at any moment?"


    "Yes. Based on his last appearance six months ago, his accumulation is immense. That’s why I took this mission. We can’t let him go any longer. Qin Yun, join me. Together, we’ll slay the Water God demon!"


    Qin Yun was silent.


    Yi Xiao looked disappointed.


    "Three days," Qin Yun finally said. "Give me three days to think it over. I’ll give you an answer then."


    "Three more days?" Yi Xiao took a deep breath. "Fine. I’ll see you in three days."


    She turned and left.


    Yi Xiao had thought that, given the relatively low level of danger, she would be able to convince Qin Yun to help. After all, it was about slaying the Water God demon, a threat to his own land. How could he refuse?


    But she had been wrong.


    She even felt that she no longer understood Qin Yun.


    Her master’s words echoed in her mind: "Yi Xiao, you’ve spent too many years cultivating on the mountain, too removed from the world. Remember, people’s hearts are hidden. Don’t trust others too easily."


    "Did I misjudge him?" Yi Xiao silently wondered.


    Qin Yun watched Yi Xiao’s departing figure, his face pale.