A Compendium of One Hundred Demons: My Path to Immortality in a World of Demons and Monsters

The third quarter of Hai hour.

The market downstairs fell completely silent. The streets, which had been bustling during the day, were deserted, with only the occasional sound of the night watchman's clapper coming from afar.

Xu Yuan's gaze narrowed slightly.

In the [Yin Qi Perception], an extremely subtle wisp of Yin Qi is quietly emerging from the northeast corner of the market.

This wisp of yin energy was extremely faint; if his soul had not been tempered by the Netherworld Soul Refining Technique and absorbed the soul crystal of the Soul-Devouring Demon Spirit, it would have been almost undetectable.

"They're here..."

Xu Yuan did not set off immediately, but sat by the window, observing the situation.

It wasn't until they sensed that the yin energy lingered in the northeast corner for a moment, then began to move slowly, extending into the depths of a small alley.

Xu Yuan then got up and silently jumped down.

The true energy within the three acupoints on his body circulated spontaneously, and his figure was as light as a feather. He landed gracefully from the third floor without making a sound.

Without lingering, Xu Yuan disappeared into the night, chasing after the direction of the yin energy like a ghost.

The alley was deep and dark, with high walls on both sides, so dark that moonlight could not penetrate and one could not see their own hand in front of their face.

A faint, eerie light shone in Xu Yuan's pupils, and darkness instantly turned into daylight in his eyes. This was the change brought about by the fusion of the Netherworld Guide and his divine soul.

At this moment, the wisp of yin energy stopped twenty feet ahead, and then... disappeared.

Xu Yuan frowned slightly.

In the [Yin Qi Perception], that yin qi had indeed disappeared, as if it had never existed.

But the place where it disappeared was an abandoned house.

Xu Yuan approached silently.

The gate to the courtyard was ajar, weeds grew rampant inside, and the doors and windows of the main house were broken, making it very similar to the abandoned house in Willow Leaf Lane.

"Another place like this..."

Xu Yuan did not rush in, but first carefully explored with his divine soul perception.

A moment later, a slightly strange smile appeared on his lips.

"Interesting, is this... waiting for me?"

He pushed the door open and entered.

The courtyard was deathly silent, with only the rustling of the wind through the wild grass.

Xu Yuan walked slowly toward the main house, his footsteps making a soft sound as he stepped on the gravel.

The moment he stepped across the threshold of the main house—

A dark figure suddenly pounced out from behind the door without warning!

With lightning speed, its sharp claws aimed straight for Xu Yuan's throat!

"clang---!"

Without turning his head, Xu Yuan struck out with his left hand, knocking the dark figure back three steps.

The dark figure staggered to the ground, letting out a sharp shriek.

Moonlight streamed through the broken window, revealing the true form of the dark figure.

That was a "person".

A middle-aged man dressed in coarse cloth, with an ordinary face and empty eyes...

But what emanated from him was a strong aura of yin.

Painted Skin Demon!

"A mere human at the third level of Blood Refinement dares to come and die?" The Painted Skin Demon sneered, a sinister smile spreading across his lips. "Perfect timing, I'm currently lacking essence blood for a breakthrough, and you've delivered yourself right to my doorstep!"

It raised its claws again, its nails growing three inches longer and as black as ink, and pounced on Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan did not move.

He simply watched the painted-skin ghost quietly.

Three zhang, two zhang, one zhang —

Just as the claws were about to touch Xu Yuan's throat, he raised his hand.

Pale golden true essence surged out like a tide, instantly enveloping the Painted Skin Demon.

"This...this is true essence?! You're at the Condensation Realm?!" The Painted Skin Ghost cried out in horror, struggling desperately.

But how could a mere ninth-level ghost soldier break free from the suppression of true essence condensed in the three apertures?

Xu Yuan didn't speak, he just watched it quietly.

The Yin energy surrounding the Painted Skin Demon began to dissipate, and its true form gradually revealed itself—a twisted black shadow in which several human faces struggled and wailed; these were the vengeful spirits of those whose life essence it had drained.

"So what if I've condensed my cultivation aperture?" A hysterical madness flashed in the Painted Skin Demon's eyes. "I've already devoured eight people, and I'm just one step away from breaking through to Ghost General! Even if I die today, I'll take you down with me!"

After saying this, its body shone with a great black light, and it began to burn its own Yin soul, wanting to self-destruct and fight to the death!

Seeing this, Xu Yuan still did not move.

But a faint light quietly appeared between his brows.

It was that Netherworld Guide.

As the eerie light appeared, the self-destruction that the Painted Skin Demon was frantically preparing for abruptly stopped.

The yin energy surrounding it melted away quickly, like ice and snow meeting the scorching sun, and the vengeful spirits also broke away from its body, turning into wisps of green smoke and disappearing.

"This is... a funerary object?! Who are you?!" The painted-skin ghost's voice was filled with fear.

Xu Yuan did not answer.

He simply raised his right hand and placed it on the forehead of the painted-skin demon.

[A ghost matching the criteria was detected: Painted Skin Ghost (Rank 9 Ghost Soldier)]

[Is it included in the encyclopedia?]

"Included!"

[In progress...]

[Page 4 of the character guide unlocked: Painted Skin Demon (1% completion)]

[Gained Ability: Thousand Illusions (Can change one's appearance, physique, and even aura; once changed, it cannot be detected by those of the same realm)]

[New Feature: Master of Disguise (Easily mimics the demeanor and mannerisms of others, indistinguishable to those not close to them)]

[Devouring the ghostly spirit of the painted-skin demon... Transforming...]

[Qi and Blood Essence +58]

[Soul Strength +3%]

A series of messages flooded into his mind, and Xu Yuan felt a refreshing coolness in his soul, and his senses became even more acute.

At the same time, the painted skin ghost's corpse began to melt, eventually turning into a pool of black water that seeped into the ground.

All that remained was a human skin mask as thin as a cicada's wing.

Xu Yuan picked up the mask and compared it with the one he had obtained earlier.

The two masks are made of the same material, but the textures are slightly different.

"Could it be that there is more than one painted skin demon?" Xu Yuan put away the two masks, feeling slightly puzzled.

He stood up, about to leave, when suddenly his brow furrowed.

A series of light footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard wall.

The footsteps were very light, but Xu Yuan's senses were so sharp that he instantly locked onto the person who was approaching.

"Blood Refinement Level 7, two of them. And one more... Qi Condensation?"

Xu Yuan stopped.

A moment later, three figures scaled the wall and landed in the courtyard.

The leader was a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, dressed in a black robe, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist. He had a handsome face and an extraordinary demeanor.

His body was filled with true essence, indicating that he was at the first level of the Qi Condensation Realm.

The two men behind him were middle-aged men who looked like attendants. Both were at the seventh level of Blood Refinement and were warily looking around.

The three of them were taken aback when they saw Xu Yuan standing in the courtyard.

"Who are you?" the leading youth asked, frowning. "There was a fluctuation of yin energy here just now. Did you see anything?"

Xu Yuan glanced at him and nodded slightly.

"What about evil spirits?"

"I killed him."

The young man was taken aback, then looked Xu Yuan up and down again.

Seeing that his aura was only at the third level of Blood Refinement and that he was dressed plainly, they immediately showed disbelief.

"You? A mere Blood Refinement Stage 3? You think you can kill the master of that Yin energy?" The young man scoffed. "That evil spirit is at least an eighth-rank demon soldier; even I would have to put in some effort. You, a mere Blood Refinement Stage 3 cultivator, must have gotten lucky with someone else's abilities?"

Xu Yuan didn't explain further and turned to leave.

"stop!"

However, the young man felt he was losing face and shouted sharply.

"Did I say you could leave?"