Chapter 1 Time Flies

Time flowed on, and in the blink of an eye, Xu Jingming had been in the Demon Subduing World for half a month.

During this half-month, he secluded himself in Bai County, Cheng'an Prefecture, focusing on cultivating the Demon Subduing Secret Art.

"Seventh Uncle."

Early in the morning, Xu Jingming instructed Wu Qi, "I'm preparing to depart for the prefectural city! Can you help me inquire whether there are any merchant caravans heading to the prefectural city?"

"Yes, Young Master, I'll go inquire right away." Wu Qi nodded, immediately heading out with great enthusiasm. Ever since he learned that his young master had become a demon subduer, Wu Qi's energy and spirit had been completely different, and he was full of vigor.

Xu Jingming stood in the courtyard, sighing inwardly, "Bai County is just a small county town with a population of only two or three hundred thousand. I've been here for half a month and wandered around the city several times, but I haven't discovered any demons."

Demons are born from people's obsessions, nurtured by the demonic energy of heaven and earth.

Statistically speaking, the more populous a place is, the higher the probability of a demon being born!

"The prefectural city is the largest city in the entire Cheng'an Prefecture, with a population of several million. It must be hiding many demons," Xu Jingming thought to himself. Although there are many demons in the prefectural city, it is relatively the safest.

Because the prefectural city has the most demon subduers.

"In the entire Cheng'an Prefecture, whether it's the official demon subduers or the local demon subduers, most of them reside in the prefectural city," Xu Jingming thought to himself. "County towns and rural villages have very few demon subduers. Once a demon is born in a rural village, it's a great disaster! But in the prefectural city… even if a demon is born, it wouldn't dare to be presumptuous. Therefore, most of the most powerful families live in the prefectural city."

From this perspective, although the Chen family is one of the best in Bai County, it is very ordinary in the entire Cheng'an Prefecture.

The Qi family, which Xu Jingming wanted to visit, was the most terrifying type of family in the entire Cheng'an Prefecture.

"After half a month, my Demon Subduing Secret Art is quite proficient. It's time to venture into the prefectural city and see what these so-called 'demons' are like," Xu Jingming thought.

"This Demon Subduing Secret Art…"

With a thought, Xu Jingming's internal force immediately activated the power of heaven and earth. With internal force as the skeleton and the power of heaven and earth as the flesh, a layer of starlight robe as thin as a cicada's wings naturally condensed, draped over Xu Jingming's body.

Spell: Guardian Starlight!

As Xu Jingming took a step, a blurry starlight afterimage appeared in the courtyard. When he finally stopped, there were seven Xu Jingmings standing in the courtyard, each shrouded in starlight.

"The Demon Subduing Secret Art is very similar to how Source lifeforms use 'Cosmic Source Power'," the seven Xu Jingmings merged into one, standing in place, feeling somewhat emotional.

Source lifeforms learn scientific knowledge and study the principles of the universe and all things. Then, they use 'Cosmic Source Power' to perform various methods. As the most fundamental source of power in the universe, Cosmic Source Power can be transformed into anything.

For example, constructing a cosmic black hole with vast Cosmic Source Power.

Or using Cosmic Source Power to form a 'Galaxy Extinction Cannon'.

Therefore, every Source lifeform needs to spend a lot of time on science, and their education levels are very high! Only in this way can they promote the further evolution of their bodies and unleash increasingly terrifying methods.

"Using internal force to activate the power of heaven and earth is like a Source lifeform activating Cosmic Source Power within a range of hundreds of millions of miles," Xu Jingming thought. "The spells cast are like the technological moves they unleash."

"It's just simpler."

"The requirements for mental consciousness are also lower."

Xu Jingming pondered the three spells he had cultivated in the past half month.

Yes, although the *Ten Thousand Stars Demon Refining Scroll* and the *Great Sun Demon Subduing Diagram* recorded many spells, Xu Jingming only focused on cultivating three of them to get to the prefectural city as soon as possible.

The first is the protective spell that every demon subduer needs to cultivate. Xu Jingming chose 'Guardian Starlight'.

With starlight protecting the body, defense is greatly increased, and speed can also be greatly increased.

This spell is divided into three levels: Entry, Minor Success, and Major Success. As one gradually deepens one's control over this spell, the power of the spell becomes greater and greater, and the time required to cast the spell becomes shorter and shorter! At the time of Major Success, the spell can be cast instantly.

"In fact, the foundation of the *Ten Thousand Stars Demon Refining Scroll* is the *Light Ray Chapter*. The principles of these spells can all be found in the *Light Ray Chapter*," Xu Jingming thought to himself. "Without having studied the *Primordial Star Conjecture Light Ray Chapter*, even if you obtain this demon subduing spell, you can only imitate it and copy it. It's difficult to comprehend its essence, and being able to cultivate it to Minor Success is already good."

"But I…"

"Knowing the essence of these spells, in half a month, I have already cultivated the Guardian Starlight spell to the 'Major Success' level," Xu Jingming thought. "However, it is only Major Success. It is impossible to transform the spell into a divine power."

The *Ten Thousand Stars Demon Refining Scroll*, as one of the top demon subduing secret arts in the history of the Primordial Research Institute, is naturally of a high standard.

Those who can create the Primordial Star Conjecture lineage of demon subduing secret arts are all top geniuses. To be ranked at the top among the demon subduing secret arts of numerous top geniuses in history… it is conceivable that it is naturally very remarkable.

For those peerless geniuses of the Primordial Research Institute, the so-called Entry, Minor Success, and Major Success of the Guardian Starlight spell are all the most basic.

"Guardian Starlight, going deeper, can be transformed into the divine power 'Star God Body'," Xu Jingming thought. "The complexity, however, is increased by a thousand times."

"Those who have not obtained the *Primordial Star Conjecture* inheritance have a near-zero probability of mastering the divine power Star God Body."

Of course, it is only close to zero.

After all, there will still be some geniuses who will find another way and comprehend divine powers.

"Even I need to spend time studying the *Light Ray Chapter* and gain more insights before I can hope to transform Guardian Starlight into a divine power," Xu Jingming thought.

The second spell Xu Jingming chose was Net Technique. Net Technique is very ordinary.

Using starlight to condense into a net, it can trap enemies, bind enemies, and imprison enemies.

Xu Jingming had also cultivated this 'Net Technique' to the point of Major Success.

And if the Net Technique were to go one step further and transform into a divine power, it would be the divine power 'Heaven and Earth Net'! At that time, each node of the Heaven and Earth Net would be like a star, and its power would be far greater than the Net Technique.

The third spell he chose was Lightning!

Due to the rules of the Demon Subduing World, lightning is extraordinarily powerful. Xu Jingming chose lightning as his only means of killing enemies in his initial cultivation.

Lightning also contains some superficial principles of the *Light Ray Chapter*. Among the three spells, this one took Xu Jingming the longest time to cultivate, and he had only just managed to cultivate it to the level of Major Success last night.

"Although all three spells are at the level of Major Success, they are still within the realm of spells and have not reached the level of divine powers," Xu Jingming thought to himself. "Therefore, I am not yet a match for an Earth Demon. I can only run as far as possible."

"I can still fight those below the level of Earth Demon," Xu Jingming said with confidence.

His mental power had received the inheritance of the Primordial Star lineage for more than two months, and his progress was quite obvious in the early stages of practicing the meditation technique. He believed that he would be considered a good level among seventh-order Starry Sky lifeforms.

With the auxiliary effect of the Ice Flower Spirit Liquid, Xu Jingming's mental power had taken a deep breath and cultivated the *Ten Thousand Stars Demon Refining Scroll* to the third realm.

"Demon subduers are divided into nine realms."

"Demons are divided into three major levels: Human Demon, Earth Demon, and Heaven Demon," Xu Jingming thought to himself. "With my strength in the third realm, combined with the three spells at the level of Major Success, I am enough to deal with Human Demons."

Xu Jingming was still quite fortunate. As an external member of the Primordial Research Institute, he had obtained the strongest inheritance of humanity and had already obtained the Demon Subduing Secret Art. His starting point in the Demon Subduing World was still very advantageous.

Many eighth-order and seventh-order beings from other cosmic civilizations entered the Demon Subduing World in groups.

Generally, the seniors would first determine the strength of the 'demon' and make sure it was within the juniors' ability to handle it before letting the juniors deal with it and refine it! After all, losing 100 million cosmic dollars once if they didn't figure out the strength of the 'demon' was a small loss! If they damaged their mental consciousness, it could be a big problem.

Xu Jingming and the others were different. The best demon subduing secret arts, extraordinary talent, and nearly terrifying strength at the same level allowed them to act alone.

Like Xu Jingming, he dared to face any Human Demon.

But ordinary seventh-order Starry Sky lifeforms didn't have the courage.

..........

The next day, before dawn, Xu Jingming and Wu Qi had already left their residence.

"The Yu family's merchant house happens to be returning to the prefectural city. I spent twenty taels of silver, and the two of us can go with the caravan," Wu Qi said. "From Bai County to the prefectural city is more than a thousand li. The journey is fraught with dangers. It's better to go with a large caravan."

Xu Jingming nodded.

A county covers an area of several hundred li.

The entire Cheng'an Prefecture covers an area of two or three thousand li. Although the rural areas have a sparse population, the vastness of the region makes up for it, and the total population is still large. Naturally, some demons will be born, and there will also be bandits entrenched in the mountains.

Following a large caravan can avoid many troubles.

Soon, Xu Jingming and Wu Qi arrived outside the city gate and saw a large caravan of more than two hundred people.

"Seventh Master, you're here," a manager of the caravan walked over and said. "Wait a little longer. We haven't gathered everyone yet. We'll definitely set off within half an hour."

"No hurry, no hurry," Wu Qi nodded. After so many years in Bai County, Wu Qi still had quite a reputation.

"Young Master Chen," the manager said politely, bowed, and left.

Xu Jingming and Wu Qi stayed behind the caravan. Around them were the people who were following the caravan to the prefectural city, about fifty or sixty people.

"Brother Chen Qi!" a joyful voice sounded. Xu Jingming turned his head and saw a burly young man and an old man walking over. The burly young man was very enthusiastic. "I didn't expect to meet you here. Are you going to the prefectural city too?"

"Brother Zhao," Xu Jingming said with a slight smile.

"Father," the burly young man explained to the old man beside him, "This is my good brother Chen Qi from the martial arts hall."

"Young Master Chen," the old man nodded slightly.

"Why are you going to the prefectural city?" Xu Jingming asked. Chen Qi had learned martial arts at the martial arts hall as a teenager, but he didn't achieve much. The burly young man in front of him was called 'Zhao Zhen' and was considered a relatively excellent disciple in the martial arts hall.

The burly young man Zhao Zhen said excitedly, "I have finally reached the realm of 'internal vision of the whole body, unifying strength', which is considered to be the threshold of martial arts. My father has decided that our whole family will move to the prefectural city. In the prefectural city, I can also become a disciple under a more powerful master."

"You've entered the martial arts?" Xu Jingming smiled. "Congratulations, Brother Zhao."

In the Demon Subduing World, martial arts are also flourishing. Becoming a demon subduer is a vague and ethereal thing after all. Learning martial arts… can be learned in every county town.

"It's rare for our family to produce a martial arts prodigy, so we naturally have to go to the prefectural city," the old man also said with a smile.

While they were talking, some other people around them were also paying attention to them.

"Isn't that Chen Qi, the young master of the Chen family?"

"It's Chen Qi. I heard that Chen Qi left the Chen family and severed ties with the Chen family. The Chen family also removed him from the family tree. This news has already spread throughout Bai County."

"I heard that the Chen family forced this young master to leave. Even his mother's grave was moved out, just to clear the boundaries with the Wu family in the prefectural city!"

"The Chen family is really ruthless in their actions."

"Pity this Young Master Chen Qi. Now he has to go out and make a living."

Those people's voices were very small, but Xu Jingming's strength was too high, and he could still hear them clearly. However, he didn't care. He couldn't cover everyone's mouths.

After a while, the caravan finally set off.

The Yu family's caravan often travels back and forth between the various county towns in the prefectural city. They are experienced, and their stops and supplies are all planned and prepared.

In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed, and they were halfway through the journey.

Although they had encountered bandits along the way, the Yu family's merchant house was quite famous in Cheng'an Prefecture, and small bandits didn't dare to show their heads. As for large bandits, they would let them pass after giving them some toll money.

"It's really not easy to go to the prefectural city," Zhao Zhen said. "Your father is really good to you, moving the whole family for you," Xu Jingming said.

"Yeah," Zhao Zhen nodded, his eyes shining brightly. "When I get to the prefectural city, I will definitely work harder and become a martial arts master."

"I believe you will definitely become a master," Xu Jingming said with a smile.

"You will definitely make a name for yourself too, and let the Chen family know that they were blind!" Zhao Zhen said.

The two chatted and walked with the caravan easily. Although they were relying on their own two legs, even the relatively weak Zhao Zhen had already entered the martial arts and was considered to be at the fifth-order level in reality. If it weren't for accommodating the overall speed of the caravan, they would have been much faster.

The caravan was currently traveling through the mountains. The fog in the mountains was heavy, and an invisible aura gathered in the fog, quietly condensing into a blurry figure, spying on the caravan.

"What delicious food. Blame it on your bad luck!" The blurry figure was somewhat excited and couldn't suppress its killing intent.

Whoosh.

The blurry figure directly plunged into the crowd of the caravan. "Buzz!"

Suddenly, a talisman paper pasted on a carriage suddenly burned up. Boom, the talisman paper turned into flames and shot directly at the blurry figure.

"Not good!" The experts in the caravan immediately became alert.

Xu Jingming, who was in the crowd at the back of the team, also noticed it. He looked up, his eyes faintly glowing, and saw the vague blurry figure in the distance. He couldn't help but be overjoyed, "Have I finally encountered a demon?"

Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi thanks the new alliance leaders who gave rewards, namely: 起名真的难呀, 轻泉流响, 似温柔亦苍白, 花月233, 我没有切尔西, and also thanks old alliance leader karlking for the re-reward.

Thank you for your support!