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

In the early morning in Cangzhou, a thin mist hangs like gauze.

Xu Yuan stood at the city gate, gazing at the majestic city, but his mind was already calculating the next move in the game.

The trip to Woniu Town yielded far more results than expected.

He not only slew the Yaksha, unlocked a new illustration, and gained the [Yaksha Power] and [Night Vision] traits, but also obtained the relic "True Explanation of Demon Contract" from the former master of the Shadow Tower. He also learned some of the secrets of the internal strife within the Shadow Tower and even took in a spy from the outer tower, Black Snake, as his servant.

However, what Xu Yuan cared about most was that the Third Elder of Youying Tower must have already set his sights on him.

That's why "Bloody Hand" became the best cover.

Xu Yuan touched the hideous scar on his left foot, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

At this moment, his face was sinister, and he looked exactly like Blood Hand.

After the [Thousand Illusions] ability changes one's appearance, even one's aura can be disguised as that of an early-stage Qi Condensation Realm cultivator. Combined with the [Concealed Breath] characteristic, it is extremely difficult to see through unless the opponent's realm far surpasses Xu Yuan's.

"I'll go back to the villa to change back into my original form first, then go to the Demon Suppression Division to hand in my mission," Xu Yuan thought to himself. "Tonight, I'll use Blood Hand's identity to meet with that Third Elder."

He sneaked into the city silently, circled around a few times to make sure no one was following him, and then returned to the villa in the east of the city.

As soon as I opened the door, the thrush came to greet me.

"Master, you're back." The thrush obediently offered a cup of hot tea. "Was your trip successful?"

Xu Yuan took the teacup and nodded slightly: "Quite a harvest. By the way, do you know about the yaksha kept by the Third Elder of Youying Tower?"

Hua Mei paused, a complex emotion flashing in her beautiful eyes: "Master, are you referring to 'Black Demon' under the Third Elder? That yaksha has followed the Third Elder for many years, his strength has reached the early stage of Demon General, and he enjoys the Third Elder's utmost trust. You...?"

"Kill him," Xu Yuan said calmly.

Hua Mei gasped, then revealed a gloating, fawning smile: "That Third Elder is probably furious. He's always been proud of this Yaksha, boasting to everyone about his superb taming skills. Now that the Yaksha is dead, not only will he lose face, but his strength will also be greatly diminished."

"Oh?" Xu Yuan's eyes flickered slightly. "The Yaksha is dead. Has it affected him personally?"

"Naturally," Hua Mei explained. "The core members of Youying Tower cultivate the 'True Explanation of Demon Contract,' which links their lives to the demons they raise. The stronger the demon, the faster the master's strength increases; but if the demon is killed, the master will suffer a backlash, ranging from a drop in cultivation level to damage to their meridians."

Xu Yuan's lips curled into a smile.

It turned out to be the case.

No wonder the Third Elder was so furious that he sent Black Serpent to investigate.

Now that Yaksha is dead, the Third Elder must be weakened, making this the perfect opportunity to deal with him.

"Oh, right, Master," Huamei suddenly remembered something, "someone came to the villa during the two days you were gone."

Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed: "Who?"

"A young man named Meng Hu said he was your colleague," Hua Mei said. "He left a message saying that Commander Lei wanted you to go to the North Camp as soon as you returned, as he had important matters to discuss."

Meng Hu? Lei Zhen?

Xu Yuan nodded and put down his teacup: "I'll go right away."

………………

The main hall of the Northern Camp of the Demon Suppression Division.

Lei Zhen sat at the head of the table, with Xiao Yunhan beside him; both of them had somewhat solemn expressions.

Seeing Xu Yuan enter, Lei Zhen cut to the chase: "Has the matter in Woniu Town been investigated thoroughly?"

Xu Yuan took out the recording stone from his pocket and placed it on the table.

As true essence was injected, the image-recording stone projected a phantom image—dozens of dried corpses neatly arranged in the cave, the remains of a huge yaksha, and the stone chamber hidden behind the shattered stone wall.

Lei Zhen and Xiao Yunhan watched this scene, their expressions growing increasingly grim.

"A Yaksha at the early stage of the Demon General realm..." Xiao Yunhan took a deep breath, "Xu Yuan, did you kill him?"

"It was a lucky break," Xu Yuan said calmly. "It was in the process of breaking through, and I interrupted it and severely injured it with a talisman, which is how I succeeded."

Lei Zhen gave him a deep look, not pressing for details, but instead pointing to the pile of dried corpses in the phantom: "These people have been dead for at least three months. The county government only reported the case half a month ago, clearly someone is suppressing the news."

Xiao Yunhan nodded: "The only ones capable of suppressing this kind of news are local powerful figures. I've already sent people to investigate the distribution of power around Woniu Town."

Xu Yuan's heart stirred, and he said, "Commander, Uncle Xiao, this matter is probably not that simple."

He took the black jade slip from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"I found this deep inside the Yaksha's lair. It contains the secrets of the Shadow Pavilion, and... a cultivation technique."

Lei Zhen took the jade slip, probed it with his divine sense, and his expression changed drastically after a moment.

"The True Explanation of the Demon Contract?! This is a closely guarded secret of the Shadow Pavilion!" He suddenly looked up at Xu Yuan. "Where did you find it?"

Xu Yuan recounted how he discovered the stone chamber, omitting details about the internal strife within the Shadow Pavilion, only saying that it was a relic left by the former pavilion master.

Lei Zhen remained silent for a long time after listening.

"The Shadow Pavilion..." he began slowly. "The Demon Suppression Division has been investigating this organization for many years, but has never been able to uncover their true nature. Unexpectedly, their influence has already extended to the area surrounding Cangzhou Prefecture."

Xiao Yunhan looked at Xu Yuan: "This matter is of great importance. Have you mentioned it to anyone else?"

Xu Yuan shook his head: "I reported it immediately."

"Alright." Lei Zhen stood up and said solemnly, "Xu Yuan, you have done a great service in this matter. I need to report the Yaksha's corpse and this jade slip to the commander. As for you—do not accept any missions for the next two days and wait in the city."

Xu Yuan's heart skipped a beat: "What does the camp commander mean?"

Lei Zhen did not answer directly, but looked out the window.

"A storm is brewing..."

After leaving the Northern Camp, Xu Yuan did not return directly to the villa, but instead took a stroll around the city.

Now that he possesses the [Thousand Illusions] ability, shaking off his pursuers would be a piece of cake.

After confirming that no one was following him, Xu Yuan turned into a small alley. A moment later, when he came out again, he had transformed into the Blood Hand.

In the backyard of Yongchang Pawnshop in the south of the city, in a secret room.

Xu Yuan, or rather "Bloody Hand," was sitting cross-legged on a futon, closing his eyes to rest.

Counting the days, today is the time he is supposed to "wait for orders" every month, according to the rules of Youyinglou.

As long as he is alive, he must come here for half an hour on the first and fifteenth of each month. If there is a mission, someone will convey it.

Today is the fifteenth.

Half an hour passed quickly, and there was no movement in the secret room.

Just as Xu Yuan was about to get up and leave, the door to the secret room was suddenly pushed open.

An elderly man in black robes walked in slowly; it was the same elder he had met with last time.

But this time, he was followed by someone else.

a woman.

An extremely beautiful woman.

She was in her early twenties, wearing a fiery red dress, with a graceful figure, a cold and beautiful face, and a hint of heroism, arrogance, and a touch of allure in her eyes.

What is most eye-catching is the long sword hanging at her waist, its scabbard as red as blood, faintly exuding a scorching aura.

"Bloody Hand," the black-robed elder spoke. "This is Miss Liu. The sect leader personally instructed you to cooperate with her on a matter."

Miss Liu?

Xu Yuan's heart stirred, but he bowed his head respectfully and said, "Greetings, Miss Liu."

The woman glanced at him indifferently, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.

In her eyes, the "blood hand" at the early stage of the Qi Condensation Realm was nothing special.

"Are you the one in charge of collecting debts in Cangzhou Prefecture?" she asked, her voice clear and cold as a spring. "I am Liu Ruyan, an inner disciple of the Green Mountain Sect."

Qingshan Sect?

Xu Yuan felt a slight tremor in his heart.

Xiao Yunhan once mentioned that the Green Mountain Sect was the number one sect in Cangzhou, with influence spreading across all thirteen counties of Cangzhou.

Since Liu Ruyan is an inner disciple of the Green Mountain Sect, how could she be involved with the Shadow Pavilion?

"What are your instructions, Miss Liu?" Xu Yuan asked, bowing his head.

Liu Ruyan took out a portrait from her sleeve and unfolded it.

The portrait depicts a young man with handsome features and a calm demeanor—it is none other than Xu Yuan himself!

"This man's name is Xu Yuan, a new recruit to the Northern Camp of the Demon Suppression Division," Liu Ruyan said coldly. "I want all his information: his whereabouts, strength, interpersonal relationships, and cultivation techniques—the more detailed the better."

Xu Yuan remained calm, but his face revealed just the right amount of doubt: "May I ask, Miss Liu, who is this person...?"

"The man who killed my brother." Liu Ruyan's eyes turned cold. "I don't care who he is. Since he dared to touch the Liu family, he must pay the price."

The Liu family?

Xu Yuan instantly understood.

Liu Ruyan, Liu Qingyun... So that's how it is!

Liu Qingyun, the eldest son of the Liu family who had his life essence drained by the thrush in the abandoned mansion that day, was actually Liu Ruyan's younger brother.

"Understood," Xu Yuan replied respectfully. "I will present all the information about this person within three days."

Liu Ruyan nodded slightly, then turned and left.

Before leaving, she suddenly turned back and looked at Xu Yuan.

"You... I feel like I've seen you somewhere before?"

Xu Yuan's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "I have been active in Cangzhou Prefecture and may have met Miss Liu once."

Liu Ruyan stared at him for a few moments, then shook her head and turned to leave.

After she had walked away, the old man in black robes slowly spoke.

"Bloody Hand, you must handle this matter with utmost care," he said in a deep voice. "Miss Liu is not only the eldest daughter of the Liu family, but also a personal disciple of an elder of the Green Mountain Sect. The Sect Master values ​​her highly. If you botch this..."

"Understood, Your subordinate." Xu Yuan bowed his head.

The old man in black robes nodded and turned to leave.

The secret room returned to silence.

Xu Yuan stood still, a slow smile curving his lips.

Liu Ruyan wants to investigate herself?

That's perfect—he'll give her whatever she wants to know.

However, what the "truth" will be is beyond her control...