Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Six Paths Sutra of Demon Suppression

"Baili, Demon Suppressor, your performance is truly astonishing."

Ding Bo stood beside Baili Feihong, though it was unclear when he had arrived.

Baili Feihong wiped the blood from his blade, his expression cold and indifferent.

"You have guided me well, Lord Ding."

"In the future, we’ll be colleagues. I am a few years your senior—‘Lord Ding’ is too formal. Just call me Brother Ding, or simply Ding Bo."

Ding Bo smiled. Of the thirty-two apprentice demon suppressors, only Baili Feihong and Luo Jinglin had caught his eye.

Luo Jinglin had his own fortunes.

Yet Baili Feihong was shrouded in mystery, and his talent for cultivation was extraordinary.

While he could still claim the role of mentor, Ding Bo sought to forge a bond; if Baili Feihong ever rose in rank, he would have another path open to him.

"Brother Ding, you may call me Feihong as well."

Baili Feihong also smiled.

He would never reject a hand offered in friendship.

The Demon Suppression Bureau mobilized vast quantities of fire oil, burning the entire town of Dashanli to the ground.

Simultaneously, they set up checkpoints at the foot of Dashanli Mountain.

The constables from the Patrol Bureau had perished.

The Demon Suppression Bureau explained to the Patrol Bureau that they had died at the claws of demons and monsters.

As for the truth, no one bothered to investigate further.

The incident at Dashanli Mountain was not concealed.

All of Dongbin City soon knew of it.

It stirred unrest among the populace.

After all, the feng shui of Dashanli Mountain’s tombs was renowned; many citizens and wealthy families had ancestors buried there.

With Dashanli Town gone and the undertakers dead, their path to the mountain for ancestral rites was severed.

Many people felt resentment, but dared not protest.

A whole town’s population, dead overnight.

The scent of slaughter spread throughout Dongbin City.

The citizens feared the Demon Suppression Bureau.

"Your subordinate pays respects to the Lord Guardian."

Baili Feihong bowed his head, half-kneeling in salute.

"Rise."

Gongyang Yan stood with her back to him.

At that moment, they were both on the rooftop of the Demon Suppression Tower.

It was Baili Feihong’s first time atop the tower, standing before the parapet, gazing down at Dongbin City and realizing its grandeur.

"This jade slip contains a most ingenious soul-transmission technique, recording the Demon Suppression Sixfold Sutra. It is my reward to you."

The jade slip rested on the parapet beside Gongyang Yan, along with a peculiar compass.

Above the compass, a small glass dome encased a suspended drop of blood.

"This artifact is called the Demon Locator Compass. It can pinpoint the location of demons and monsters, among other functions you must discover for yourself."

Baili Feihong saluted, "Thank you for your generous reward."

He did not stand on ceremony, taking both the jade slip and compass into his hands.

"Infuse it with blood essence to activate the jade slip."

Gongyang Yan reminded him.

Baili Feihong paused, catching the meaning in her words.

He immediately infused his blood essence; the jade slip radiated light, and a soul-like imprint was triggered, flowing into his body with his blood.

His mind blossomed with countless stars.

[Demon Suppression Sixfold Sutra]

Seven characters flashed through his mind.

A grand classic, containing hundreds of thousands of words, appeared in his consciousness, branded deep within his memory.

If the Demon Suppression Sixfold Sutra were physically written, an entire bookshelf would hardly contain it.

As the verses surfaced in his mind, Baili Feihong realized they were not mere empty rhetoric, but practical teachings on cultivation.

From the cultivation of blood essence to the pinnacle of human martial arts, the wisdom of martial sages was expounded.

At its highest tier, the Sutra described the ultimate realms accessible to humanity.

What were the Six Paths?

The Path of the Body, Path of the Primal Embryo, Path of Divine Powers, Path of Manifestation, Path of Harmony, and Path of Creation.

Body tempered.

Primal Embryo infinite.

Divine Powers boundless.

Manifestation limitless.

Harmony at will.

Creation brings transformation.

Such was the marvel of the Six Paths.

"The Demon Suppression Sixfold Sutra merges the teachings of myriad sects, compiled with the wisdom of one human immortal, six martial saints, and dozens of grandmasters of manifestation. Since its birth, none have cultivated to the highest tier."

Gongyang Yan looked at Baili Feihong.

"Such a supreme scripture—what virtue or merit do I possess to view its entirety?"

Baili Feihong felt a surge of panic.

"Four refinements of the blood are not attainable by all. Blood refinement is the purest martial path; martial arts were born to combat demons and gods, inherently restraining demonic power. Thus, a blood refiner cannot be a demon spy or an evil cultivator. By this alone, you are qualified to learn the Bureau’s secret arts."

Gongyang Yan’s gaze burned.

She dearly wished to know how Baili Feihong had refined his blood so swiftly.

Yet she understood that everyone had their own secrets.

"Of course, to view the whole Sutra depends on the individual."

"Not everyone can access the full Demon Suppression Sixfold Sutra."

"The headquarters granted me the Sutra as a reward for this mission to Dongbin City."

"To award a reward before the task is complete means only one thing: a mission with certain death."

A trace of sorrow flickered in Gongyang Yan’s eyes.

She looked at Dongbin City’s bustling streets.

Lost in thought.

Baili Feihong dared not breathe deeply.

He cursed inwardly.

He had known the Sutra would not be so easily obtained.

"Someone prophesied about Dongbin City: 'It begins with blood; Dongbin shall perish.'"

Gongyang Yan spoke, her heart easing somewhat.

She was, after all, a woman, and carried too much upon her shoulders.

"My lord, prophecies are all frauds."

Baili Feihong did not believe in prophecies.

"No, it is true."

Gongyang Yan looked at him; Baili Feihong quickly lowered his head.

"You need only understand one thing: Dongbin City stands on the brink of disaster. I hope the prophecy is false, yet it was not aimed at Dongbin alone. The first three prophecies have already come to pass."

Baili Feihong was stunned.

His own strength was meager; he could not fathom why Gongyang Yan shared these matters with him.

"You are a native of Dongbin, your background clean. You were recruited by me, and no other faction would have chosen you. From the moment you stepped onto the rooftop, you bore my mark. If I die, you cannot escape."

Gongyang Yan spoke plainly, with no philosophical detours.

It was a matter of mutual interest.

"If I survive, helping you become the leader of the Demon Suppression Bureau is no issue. If I die, you have no other path. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord," Baili Feihong replied respectfully.

The words left him with no retreat.

"May I ask, why me?"

"Baili Feihong, this path was your own choice, not mine."

Gongyang Yan smiled radiantly, strikingly beautiful.

Baili Feihong was momentarily lost.

"You will have much to do. Train well. Four refinements are already the limit your body can bear for now. To swiftly gain greater power, ascension in realm is indispensable."

"Understood."

He glanced at his skill points; the killings at Dashanli had earned him several hundred.

Skill Points: 1289

Enough to sustain him for quite some time.

On the way home, Baili Feihong pondered Gongyang Yan’s words.

Why did she choose him?

"The appearance of the Underworld has upended my plans."

Gongyang Yan’s cold demeanor returned.

She required an unexpected ace.

Baili Feihong was her chosen ace.

If the Blood Guardian were in Dongbin City, Gongyang Yan would have no fear of the Underworld organization.

His blood energy could envelop a thousand miles, his vigor as strong as the sun—Underworld members dared not approach Dongbin.

But the Blood Guardian was tasked with defending the imperial palace and could not leave the capital.

So, she must cultivate her own grandmaster of blood refinement.