Chapter 1 Xu Jingming

Xu Jingming had been gone from Cheng'an Prefecture for over a month. His residence remained a ruin, untouched by anyone daring to seize it or rebuild it without authorization.

Two figures now stood upon the ruins: a burly man with a large beard and the local Demon Subduing Envoy, Liu Chang.

"Sir," Liu Chang said, "Ever since Wu Ming's battle with the Dongming Mountain Lord, this residence has been in ruins. For more than a month, it's remained exactly as it was."

The burly man carefully surveyed the surroundings, frowning. "The records state that the Dongming Mountain Lord repeatedly cried out for help before he was killed?"

"Yes."

Liu Chang nodded. "The commotion was significant at the time. Using secret techniques, I was able to remotely observe Dongming Mountain Lord's desperate cries for help. Judging from his expression and tone, he wasn't faking it! He even begged for help just before his death."

"His master? Do you think it could be a Heavenly Demon?" the burly man asked.

"The Dongming Mountain Lord possessed the strength of a peak Earth Demon; he wouldn't willingly acknowledge an Earth Demon as his master," Liu Chang replied. "Moreover, if a Earth Demon was hiding in the shadows, it shouldn't have escaped Wu Ming's notice. Therefore… considering all the available information, I'm more than 50% certain that a Heavenly Demon was concealed there at the time."

The burly man nodded. "But I examined the ruins and surveyed the surrounding ten li and found no trace of Heavenly Demon aura."

Liu Chang hesitated before saying, "After all, we're just speculating. Perhaps we're wrong?"

"Two possibilities,"

the burly man mused. "One, we're mistaken, and no Heavenly Demon was hiding there. Two, a Heavenly Demon did come, but its strength surpasses mine! I couldn't detect even a trace of it."

"Stronger than you, sir?" Liu Chang exclaimed in surprise.

"I am only a Seventh Realm Demon Subduer, after all. There are Heavenly Demons stronger than me." After saying this, the burly man paused for a moment before continuing, "Do you know where Wu Ming is?"

"He didn't even meet with us then, only spoke a few words with the Qi family before leaving the prefecture capital with his old servant," Liu Chang replied. "He hasn't returned in over a month."

"Very well, you may return," the burly man instructed.

Liu Chang bowed slightly and departed immediately.

The burly man stood alone amidst the ruins.

"Based on speculation, it's highly likely that a Heavenly Demon is lurking nearby. It hasn't made a move, probably because it views the Demon Subduer Wu Ming as prey." A cold smile crept onto the burly man's face. "It likely inferred from Wu Ming's growth trajectory that Wu Ming will soon become a High Realm Demon Subduer! And the moment he reaches the Seventh Realm is when it will strike?"

"How laughable!"

"This Wu Ming, descending into the Demon Subduing world, initially needed a long time just to kill a City Patrol Envoy, one of the Thirty-Six Envoys of Dongming Mountain. He also struggled considerably when killing the Azure Lake Demon God, yet within months, he could kill the Dongming Mountain Lord." The burly man thought, "Clearly, this Wu Ming is likely also an Eighth-Order Limit in reality. After descending, he's gradually become familiar with the Demon Subduing secret arts, which is why his strength is increasing so rapidly."

"If I'm not mistaken, he'll soon be at the Sixth or Seventh Realm level." The burly man mused.

Eighth-Order Limits only reach the limit of their physical bodies.

Their mental strength is still far from that of a Source Lifeform. Thus, after entering the Demon Subduing world, most are only Sixth or Seventh Realm Demon Subduers. After cultivating for some time and improving, most can become High Realm Demon Subduers.

"That Heavenly Demon doesn't know that we Demon Subduers who descend from the outside world have mental awareness that has already reached an extremely high level. It could have hunted him earlier."

"But it doesn't understand that, so it's patiently waiting in the shadows."

"A Heavenly Demon suspected to have Eighth Realm strength is beyond me. I need to gather my companions." The burly man thought, "As long as we discover Wu Ming's whereabouts and investigate the surroundings, we might be able to find that Heavenly Demon."

Within the human race of the universe, Eighth-Order Limits who enter the Demon Subduing world can mostly cultivate into High Realm Demon Subduers.

They are like hunters, searching for Heavenly Demons.

For them, the obsessions of Human Demons and Earth Demons are of little help! But Heavenly Demon obsessions… those are entirely different! However, Heavenly Demons are too few in number, and each one conceals its aura, hiding away.

"Heavenly Demons are too cunning, hiding one by one, disguising themselves as humans. It's truly too difficult to find a Heavenly Demon." The burly man shook his head slightly before vanishing silently.

Time flowed on, and half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Chiyun Prefecture, Lanping Prefecture, within the prefecture capital.

A youth and a hunchbacked old servant checked into an inn.

"Prepare a few of your signature dishes, and send over two jars of good wine," Xu Jingming said as he and Wu Qi set down their luggage and instructed the inn's waiter.

The waiter immediately replied, "Please wait a moment, esteemed guests. I'll arrange it right away."

This was a residence with a private courtyard, one of the inn's premium accommodations.

Xu Jingming glanced outside the door and smiled. "We have a distinguished guest."

Wu Qi's expression immediately shifted, and he looked nervously towards the door.

A figure materialized from the void, appearing in the courtyard. It was a middle-aged woman.

"Uncle Qi, go inside and rest. This person is also a Demon Subduer; I'll chat with her," Xu Jingming said.

"Yes, Young Master." Wu Qi glanced at the middle-aged woman before silently returning to his room.

The middle-aged woman smiled at Xu Jingming. "Mr. Wu Ming, you likely guessed my purpose."

An invisible wave enveloped the two of them, isolating their conversation from any prying eyes.

"In the past six months, three High Realm Demon Subduers have sought me out," Xu Jingming said. "All of them want to investigate the whereabouts of a Heavenly Demon. I can assure you, I have never met a Heavenly Demon, nor do I know where it is."

"You've never met one?" The middle-aged woman frowned slightly. "Could it be that the Dongming Mountain Lord of your Cheng'an Prefecture was deliberately lying before his death?"

"I don't know." Xu Jingming shook his head. "Perhaps he was lying, or perhaps the Heavenly Demon is too skilled at hiding."

"Having learned that you and your servant have come to the prefecture capital, I already took the step of investigating everyone suspicious around you." The middle-aged woman shook her head. "I didn't discover a Heavenly Demon."

The middle-aged woman then smiled. "I haven't introduced myself yet. I am Liu Yinshu, an Eighth Realm Demon Subduer. I've established a mutual assistance organization for High Realm Demon Subduers called 'Listening to Stories Pavilion'. High Realm Demon Subduers can join. Once you join, regardless of magical artifacts, materials, information about the whereabouts of Heavenly Demons, or even commercial transactions in the real world, everyone can help each other."

"The High Realm Demon Subduers of Listening to Stories Pavilion mainly operate in the Chiyun Prefecture area," the middle-aged woman said. "I've reviewed your records, Mr. Wu Ming. You're likely an Eighth-Order Limit in reality. After entering the Demon Subduing world, you became familiar with the Demon Subduing secret arts and quickly advanced to the Sixth Realm."

Xu Jingming smiled slightly.

"From countless civilizations within the human race of the universe, many Eighth-Order Limits come to the Demon Subduing world to try their luck," the middle-aged woman said. "Not only the Demon Subduing world, but all sorts of possibilities are tried."

Xu Jingming nodded. "All in pursuit of that glimmer of hope, breaking through to become a Source Lifeform."

"Many people try for several decades and then leave," the middle-aged woman said. "But the Demon Subduing world has one great advantage: one can determine how far one's mental strength is from a Source Lifeform based on the Demon Subduer's realm."

Xu Jingming was taken aback.

That was indeed true!

The Yuanchu Research Institute could accurately measure his mental strength index.

But ordinary Eighth-Order cosmic lifeforms don't have that opportunity. However, they could use the Demon Subduing world to determine their approximate level of mental strength.

"The Seventh Realm is considered to be the average mental strength among Eighth-Order Limits. An Eighth Realm Demon Subduer represents very high mental strength. The Ninth Realm… is even closer to a Source Lifeform," the middle-aged woman said.

Xu Jingming understood very well.

According to the data compiled by the outer members of the Yuanchu Research Institute, a mental strength index of 6,000 could roughly reach the Seventh Realm. A mental strength index of 9,000 could roughly reach the Eighth Realm. A mental strength index of 9,500 could roughly reach the Ninth Realm.

With the help of the Ice Flower Spiritual Liquid, the threshold could be slightly lowered.

"Mr. Wu Ming, if you reach the Seventh Realm, you are also welcome to join Listening to Stories Pavilion," the middle-aged woman said with a smile. "It's not that we look down on your weak strength, but only High Realm Demon Subduers have the strength to deal with Heavenly Demons."

"I understand," Xu Jingming said. "It's because my strength is insufficient."

"I believe that Mr. Wu Ming will soon reach the Seventh Realm. When that time comes, you can contact me at any Listening to Stories Pavilion in any prefecture capital of Chiyun Prefecture," the middle-aged woman said.

Xu Jingming nodded. "I will consider it."

"Then I won't disturb you any further." After the middle-aged woman finished speaking with a smile, her figure gradually faded away, disappearing completely.

Xu Jingming frowned slightly.

The Demon Subduing world, being the one most helpful to mental strength, does indeed gather a large number of Eighth-Order cosmic lifeforms. And those who can become High Realm Demon Subduers are mostly Eighth-Order Limits.

Every Eighth-Order Limit generally has a very powerful influence in reality.

"Eighth-Order Limits form organizations, and can also conduct trade in reality?" Xu Jingming thought to himself. "There are very many Eighth-Orders in the Demon Subduing world; it's entirely possible to form a very large group in reality."

Of course, Xu Jingming's ambition lay elsewhere! His goal was to become a Source Lifeform.

"Before, in Cheng'an Prefecture, I didn't see a single High Realm Demon Subduer! But in the past six months, including today's… three High Realm Demon Subduers have come looking for me, all to investigate Heavenly Demons." "From this, it can be seen how difficult it is to find a Heavenly Demon." Xu Jingming thought to himself. "Fortunately, I'm only in my thirties, and have limited experience. The obsessions of Earth Demons… are still quite helpful to me." "If I want to find a Heavenly Demon in the future, I'm afraid it won't be easy either."

Xu Jingming had also learned this from the intelligence he had gathered.

Ordinary Human Demons are constantly being bred and formed in any prefecture capital. The members of the Demon Subduing Division often go to kill them.

Earth Demons often sit in a region, ruling as tyrants, doing whatever they please, making them easy to find.

Only Heavenly Demons!

"Heavenly Demons hide among countless humans," Xu Jingming thought. "And the very few who dare to publicly reveal their identities and occupy a region have reached an inconceivable level."

Even Ninth Realm Demon Subduers, who are close to becoming Source Lifeforms, can't confidently say they can deal with all Heavenly Demons.

Someone like Chi Tong, this Ninth Realm Demon Subduer, had taken a tumble.

"Young Master." Wu Qi walked out of the room. "Has the person left?"

"Another one who came to investigate Heavenly Demons," Xu Jingming said. "They couldn't find anything, so they came to ask me."

"There are so many Earth Demons wreaking havoc everywhere; they don't go to solve them, but instead so desperately chase after a Heavenly Demon?" Wu Qi shook his head and sighed.

Just then, the inn's waiter came to deliver the wine and dishes.

"Young Master, let's have dinner first," Wu Qi said.

Xu Jingming sat down, also pondering: "I wonder if there is truly a Heavenly Demon watching me in the shadows."

"Never mind, I should concentrate on studying 'The Light Chapter' and perfecting my Divine Power. The stronger I am, the more confident I'll be in dealing with a Heavenly Demon." Xu Jingming stopped thinking about it. In the past six months, his progress had been very rapid.

Every Eighth-Order cosmic lifeform initially improves quickly, but the further they go, the slower they become, until they stagnate.

Like Xu Jingming's 'Senior Brother Gu Shan', his mental strength index was 9,123 points at the age of 500, but after the next 500 years, he was still some distance from 10,000 points.

Like Senior Sister Kabuya, ranked seventh, she joined the Yuanchu Research Institute not long ago. At the age of 155, her mental strength index had exceeded 5,000 points.

"In the past six months, my mental strength has improved quite quickly. With the help of the Ice Flower Spiritual Liquid, I've already broken through to the Sixth Realm." Xu Jingming thought, "But my Divine Power aspect is still not perfect enough."

Learning Divine Powers is fast.

But creating one yourself is too difficult.

The next morning.

Xu Jingming went out for a walk, and Wu Qi went out to inquire about the local Earth Demon news.

"How lively."

Xu Jingming came to a marketplace. In the marketplace, many vendors were selling goods. Xu Jingming watched many people bargaining, and saw some vendors with their children. In the past six months, he had refined quite a few Earth Demon obsessions.

The experiences of each Earth Demon were integrated into Xu Jingming's consciousness, and strong obsessions impacted Xu Jingming's mind.

Xu Jingming had more empathy for the lives of these ordinary people.

"It's like reincarnation in the myths of Blue Star." Xu Jingming thought, "The ordinary people in this world live here for decades, struggle, and also marry and have children… Isn't that experiencing a lifetime through reincarnation?"

"What is virtual?"

"Decades of emotional investment is reality."

In the past six months, Xu Jingming had traveled around, also watching the lives of the masses. He refined the obsessions of demons, experiencing their encounters.

He knew that these demons were too biased and had all taken the wrong path. But Xu Jingming could understand them.

"The humanity I've seen in reality is not as complex as the humanity I've seen in the Demon Subduing world." Xu Jingming was also growing. He felt that the benefits of the Demon Subduing world were not just mental demon refinement.

Seeing the masses, experiencing them during demon refinement, this was another kind of gain.

For the young Xu Jingming, this aspect of growth was very obvious.