At that moment, a young man wearing the standard Demon-Slaying Lieutenant uniform suddenly approached from behind, hurrying over to the elderly woman. He bowed his head, cupped his hands, and said loudly:
"Reporting to Governor Winoon, Heaven-Rank Lieutenant Sevrin, Lord Sevrin, has already arrived at the branch's entrance at the foot of the mountain!"
"Hahaha."
The elderly woman looked at the young Lieutenant with a benevolent gaze, saying with a beaming smile, "Hard work for you, I can already see him."
With that, she leaned on her dragon-headed staff and slowly turned around, looking toward the three Heaven-Rank Lieutenants and the other Dragon-Rank Lieutenants, speaking in a gentle tone:
"Let's go, we shall go down the mountain together and welcome him at the branch entrance."
"Foster mother, wait a moment."
Sumin suddenly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "This son has something to say."
"Oh."
Winoon looked toward him, "What is it?"
"Foster mother."
Sumin said earnestly, "This son feels that although Lieutenant Sevrin possesses peerless, once-in-a-generation talent and is truly an unworldly prodigy.
No matter how highly you regard him, for you, the supreme commander, to personally go out and meet him would be improper.
After all, you are the Grand Governor who commands the entire Demon-Slaying Bureau. By rights, that Lieutenant Sevrin should come here to pay his respects to you. That is the proper decorum of superiors and subordinates."
The other two Heaven-Rank Lieutenants, Yine and Muan, exchanged glances before stepping forward together, cupping their hands to Winoon:
"Foster mother, Eldest Brother is right. You are both an elder and a superior; logically and reasonably, Sevrin should be the one coming to see you to accord with proper social order."
After the two of them finished speaking, Sumin added another sentence: "Foster mother, Lieutenant Sevrin comes from a savage, desolate place like Mount Qing and naturally lacks proper etiquette and manners. If you intend to teach him these things in the future, it is better to start right from the beginning."
"Eldest Brother is right."
Yine echoed support once more, "Foster mother, this son feels that teaching him propriety is best started at this very moment."
"Indeed, foster mother."
Muan chimed in, "Otherwise, having talent without propriety makes one no different from a barbarian. How could a barbarian receive your grace?"
"Sigh, fine, fine. I won't go, alright?"
Winoon waved her hand helplessly, "Then one of you go down and bring Lieutenant Sevrin up."
"Foster mother." Yine stepped forward and smiled, "Let me go."
"Alright, if you say you'll go, then go."
Winoon nodded, though she immediately added a warning, "But you are not to pull any stunts like putting on a show of force; I can see everything from up here."
"Hahaha, rest assured."
Yine laughed, "This son merely wishes to witness the demeanor of Lieutenant Sevrin, this genius youth. Very well, foster mother, you wait here quietly; I shall be gone for just a moment."
With that, he turned and strode away along the corridor.
...
Outside the sprawling architectural complex at the foot of the mountain, Sevrin stood with his hands clasped behind his back, leisurely observing his surroundings.
After some observation, he noticed that although the area was surrounded by quiet mountains, the essence of heaven and earth remained pure and abundant, far surpassing anywhere in the Mount Qing region.
Tsk, tsk. No wonder Graew hadn't bothered to occupy a massive area like Mount Qing; they simply looked down on it.
Right at that moment, Sevrin's gaze shifted slightly, calmly locking onto the thick metal gates before him.
His mental perception abruptly pierced through this barrier, penetrating the entire architectural complex ahead and "seeing" an unfamiliar martial arts grandmaster hurtling down all the way from the towering mountain peak.
The moment he "saw" this person, the individual's personal interface information naturally revealed itself before Sevrin's eyes:
[ Character Name: Unknown
Level: Mainstream Martial Arts → True Grandmaster, Occult Techniques → Object Manifestation, Bloodline Divinity → Top
Mastered Skills: "Ghost and Monster Tracking""Nine Mysterious Yang Breath Refining Method""Stuacn Spirit-Suppressing Talismans""Hano True Scripture""Flame Dragon Divine Claw""Flame Immortal Sacred Body""Dragon Returning Heaven Great Art""Shadow Escape""Falling Star Seal"
Special Traits: [Level 4 Robust Physique][Level 4 Stamina][Level 4 Iron Body][Level 4 Sharp Nails][Level 4 Intuition][Level 4 Yang-Absorption][Level 4 Spirit-Concentration][Level 4 Stone Heart][Level 4 Magical Power][Level 4 Flame][Level 4 Illusion][Level 4 Skill][Level 4 Exorcism][Level 4 Anger][Level 4 Etherealization]
Expert Shards: None ]
"Good, very good."
Sevrin smiled with satisfaction, "He actually possesses two high-grade Grandmaster-level techniques, along with two top-tier fourth-realm occult spells. On top of that, he even has a Top Grade divinity, and an offensive one at that.
This trip is well worth it; it's practically a welcoming gift. However, this person's identity must be extraordinary; otherwise, he wouldn't have such powerful skills."
The techniques, spells, and divinities he had in mind were the "Hano True Scripture", "Flame Dragon Divine Claw", "Dragon Returning Heaven Great Art", "Falling Star Seal", and the "Flame Immortal Sacred Body".
The first two were both related to fire, somewhat similar to Clover's "Thunder-Fire Tyrant Seal". They could generate high-temperature flames capable of vaporizing steel while also possessing exorcising properties, yet the practitioner themselves would not suffer burn damage.
The latter two were miraculous spells that simulated physical entities with magical power to attack enemies.
"Dragon Returning Heaven" could simulate a lifelike fire dragon with a massive range of devastation, even capable of hurtling thousands of miles away to relentlessly hunt down an enemy based on the caster's simple command.
"Falling Star" allowed the remote simulation of an almost tangible falling meteorite, crashing down from tens of thousands of meters or even higher in the firmament to crush cities and flatten camps, though its magical power consumption was immense and not easily utilized.
As for the [Level 4 Illusion] Special Trait on that stranger's personal interface, it stemmed from these two spells.
Finally, the "Flame Immortal Sacred Body" shared partial characteristics with the Mera Mera no Mi from One Piece. Aside from igniting terrifying hell-like flames, it allowed the practitioner to turn their physical body into flames, making them virtually half-immortal.
The other party's [Level 4 Etherealization] trait was linked to this divinity.
Instantly, Sevrin learned all of these techniques and skills in a single thought, pushing them all to their absolute peak.
Thus, his cultivation realm suddenly and abruptly ascended to the High stage of a Grandmaster.
His physical strength also surged simultaneously, leaping from one hundred million kilograms to one billion kilograms.
Furthermore, his range for projecting force from a distance skyrocketed from seven thousand meters to a staggering thirteen thousand meters.
At that exact second, Yine, who had been hurtling downward, landed swiftly before Sevrin.
Upon landing, however, Yine seemed to completely forget Winoon's warning.
He let out a cold sneer and abruptly unleashed a martial aura characteristic of a High-stage Grandmaster, blanketing Sevrin like an overwhelming, heaven-covering tide.
"Coming at the right time!"
Yet at that moment, Sevrin let out a hearty laugh as he unleashed a martial aura entirely uninhibited by Yine's, smashing toward him aggressively to seize the initiative.
"What?!"
Yine's expression changed drastically as he cried out in shock, "You weren't at the Early stage of a Grandmaster? How did you suddenly advance to the High stage?!"
Before Yine could finish his sentence, that tsunami-like martial will had already crashed over him in crushing waves, completely cutting off any further words.
Instantly, the desolate mountainous area around the branch entrance of the Demon-Slaying Bureau was engulfed by two rampaging, destructive psychic storms, turning into a boundless, roaring, invisible purgatory of swirling winds.
It could be said that anyone lower in realm than these two who dared to step into this zone would instantly have their soul shatter and brain fluid boil, ultimately being reduced to an ignorant, senseless cripple.
Only early-stage grandmasters could barely adapt, though they would still suffer from dizziness, disorientation, and even delirious rambling, requiring a long while to recover.
Perhaps this was precisely what Yine had intended by attempting to suppress Sevrin with his martial aura.
He wanted to make Sevrin humiliate himself right from the start.
Yet Yine, who had planned to make Sevrin look foolish, now found his face turning ashen and his expression twisting in agony under the fierce, relentless assault of those roaring psychic storms.
"Damn it! The intelligence is completely wrong, and wildly off the mark! This brat... how the hell is he this monstrous? At a mere eighteen years old, he's cultivated to the High stage of a Grandmaster, matching my realm! How on earth does he manage it?!"
Just as these furious thoughts flashed through Yine's mind, an aged female voice laden with exhaustion suddenly descended from the sky, blanketing them both:
"Alright, alright, both of you stop."
BUZZ!
Simultaneously with the voice, an even vaster and broader martial aura appeared.
The moment this aura manifested, it forcibly suppressed the sprawling mental power that Sevrin and Yine had projected outward, driving it back into their respective minds.
And so, this battle that had started so inexplicably came to an equally inexplicable end.
After Winoon spoke up, Yine instantly switched from anger to smiles, acting as though nothing had happened. He cheerfully walked over to Sevrin, seized his hand, and said loudly:
"You must be that eighteen-year-old genius grandmaster, right? Hello, I am Yine, a Heaven-Rank Lieutenant of the Demon-Slaying Bureau."
"Ah, right, Yine is it."
...
Shortly after, following behind a visibly sullen Yine, Sevrin leaped into the air and flew toward the mountain peak behind the architectural complex ahead.
The two hurtled forward at extreme speed, crossing a vast distance in barely a second or two to reach the mountaintop.
Upon arriving, Sevrin discovered that the peak had been artificially leveled into a massive platform several thousand meters wide.
Resting upon this platform was a sprawling garden estate.
Out of courtesy, Sevrin did not immediately unleash his mental perception, nor did he walk at an excessive speed.
Instead, he leisurely admired the surrounding scenery while walking slowly behind Yine, stepping forward one by one toward the depths of the garden.
After a short while, the two of them arrived one after the other at a courtyard.
Inside the courtyard, Sumin and Muan stood side by side, looking indifferently at Sevrin as he walked slowly into the compound.
Naturally, Sevrin saw them as well, or more precisely, he saw their personal interfaces:
[ Character Name: Unknown
Level: Mainstream Martial Arts → True Grandmaster, Occult Techniques → Seizing Capturing
Mastered Skills: "Ghost and Monster Tracking""Densma Sword Seal""Nine Mysterious Yang Breath Refining Method""Stuacn Spirit-Suppressing Talismans""Three Blossoms Spirit Scripture""Cloud-Chasing Step""Piercing Moon Slaughters""Mirror Curse Kill"
Special Traits: [Level 4 Robust Physique][Level 4 Stamina][Level 4 Iron Body][Level 4 Intuition][Level 4 Yang-Absorption][Level 4 Spirit-Concentration][Level 4 Magical Power][Level 4 Skill][Level 4 Curse Force][Level 4 Exorcism]
Expert Shards: None ]
——
[ Character Name: Unknown
Level: Mainstream Martial Arts → True Grandmaster, Occult Techniques → Object Manifestation
Mastered Skills: "Ghost and Monster Tracking""Dark Frost Claw""Barren Frost Intent Art""Nine Mysterious Yang Breath Refining Method""Stuacn Spirit-Suppressing Talismans""Five Yang Ice Method""Illusionary Ice Soul Record"
Special Traits: [Level 4 Robust Physique][Level 4 Stamina][Level 4 Iron Body][Level 4 Ice Soul][Level 4 Sharp Nails][Level 4 Intuition][Level 4 Yang-Absorption][Level 4 Spirit-Concentration][Level 4 Magical Power][Level 4 Skill][Level 4 Freezing][Level 4 Illusion][Level 4 Exorcism]
Expert Shards: None ]
Judging by their personal interfaces, it was abundantly clear that both of these men were Grandmasters.
The former was simply straightforwardly powerful in terms of stats, with rather ordinary skills.
There was only one technique that allowed remote cursing through mirrors and reflective surfaces, "Mirror Curse Kill", which was somewhat novel.
The second one, however, played quite a few tricks with the path of ice.
He could release the extreme cold of "Dark Frost Claw", crystallize and harden souls using the "Barren Frost Intent Art" to automatically counter incoming attacks with cold intent, create massive armies of Valiarior-level frost puppet spells using the "Illusionary Ice Soul Record", and even forge high-pressure, high-temperature explosive ice weapons out of ordinary water vapor using the "Five Yang Ice Method".
It was enough to satisfy Sevrin completely; he instantly gained three elemental attack attributes, lightning, ice, and fire, which was more than enough.
This trip to the Demon-Slaying Bureau was truly worthwhile.
However, before Sevrin could push all of these skills to their peak, Yine, who had walked into the courtyard, turned back and smiled openly at him:
"Lieutenant Sevrin, let me introduce you. These two are the other two Heaven-Rank Lieutenants of the Demon-Slaying Bureau, Sumin and Muan."
"Ah."
Sevrin glanced at Yine. "At least their names sound a bit more pleasant than yours."
Yine's expression turned cold as he withdrew his smile, speaking indifferently: "Sharp-tongued people cannot lead the Demon-Slaying Bureau toward a better future."
With that, he looked toward the other two, thinking with a cold smile:
Eldest Brother, Second Brother, you probably didn't know... this Sevrin has already stepped into the High stage of a Grandmaster.
"What?!"
"What did you say?!"
Sumin and Muan were instantly stunned, following which they cast looks of utter disbelief toward Sevrin.
Alongside their disbelief, a trace of deeply hidden killing intent gradually surfaced in their eyes.
An eighteen-year-old High-stage Grandmaster, just a step away from sharing the same realm as the Governor, and two steps away from ascending to the pinnacle of worldly might.
This kid... is truly heaven-defying and cannot be left alive.
At that moment, Yine raised his voice toward the pavilion deep within the courtyard:
"Foster mother, Lieutenant Sevrin has been brought here."
Instantly, the next second, an aged female voice drifted from the pavilion: "Understood. Also, Lieutenant Sevrin, this old woman wishes to speak with you alone. Come inside."
"This old woman?" Sevrin was momentarily startled. The supreme leader of the Demon-Slaying Bureau... was a woman.
After a brief daze, he regained his composure and lifted his feet to walk toward the pavilion.
Once Sevrin stepped into the pavilion, the three of them exchanged glances and immediately began rapid communication using their mental power.
"Both of you elder brothers saw it just now; tsk, tsk, tsk, an eighteen-year-old High-stage Grandmaster."
Yine communicated mentally, "To be honest, facing such a monstrous talent, if I were the Governor, haha, I would groom him too."
"Save the redundant talk."
Muan communicated mentally, "Right now, we should think carefully about what we're actually going to do."
"What else can we do?"
Sumin communicated mentally, "The old Governor is approaching the setting sun and doesn't have many days left. If it were still just the three of us, the old lady would naturally choose her successor from among us. Who would have thought a Sevrin would pop up.
Sigh~ Judging by the flying talisman messages sent from the Mount Qing region, this monster possesses boundless martial arts and occult talent, and on top of that, he is someone who loathes evil, possesses a pure, untainted child-like heart. Someone like this hits right in the soft spot of the old lady's heart."
"Therefore, I think..."
Yine continued, "If the three of us keep fighting amongst ourselves like this, in the end, we can only sit back and watch Sevrin take the old Governor's position, becoming the ultimate winner."
Sumin: "What are you trying to say?"
Muan: "Are you proposing an alliance?"
"Yes, the three of us joining forces."
Yine communicated mentally, "We grew up by the old Governor's side; our bonds over the years run deep. As long as we don't cross any major lines with our actions, the old woman will simply turn a blind eye."
Sumin: "What do you want to do?"
Muan: "I'll say this in advance: if you want to orchestrate an assassination and surround Sevrin, I'm not participating."
"Hmph, wanting to achieve great things while sparing your own skin..."
Yine gave a cold laugh, then continued mentally, "What I mean is, given the deep maternal bond between the old Governor and the three of us, she certainly won't hand the position over to that fellow casually.
Naturally, the old lady will care about our feelings, so she is bound to find a way to secure a massive merit for that guy to block our mouths, ensuring the entire Demon-Slaying Bureau from top to bottom submits willingly."
"Merit?" Sumin pondered, "Third Brother, are you referring to... the Allied Chaos Region?"
"Precisely."
Yine said with calculated certainty, "Within that vast, lawless chaotic region that refuses to submit to Graew's rule, various sects and cults are everywhere, and all sorts of powerful experts and heretics are countless.
Foster mother will definitely dispatch Sevrin to that Allied Chaos Region to wipe out some deeply sinful yet marginally significant sect, carving out a bloody path of military achievement. That way, he can return and directly ascend to power."
Muan said: "You want to interfere."
"Precisely."
Yine communicated mentally and coldly, "Sevrin's talent is indeed rare in this world, which by extension means... his body is a treasure vessel for transcending the world, and his soul is a supremely precious treasure."
"I understand."
Sumin spoke calmly, "You want to leak Sevrin's intelligence into the Allied Chaos Region, drawing out those ancient fiends and heretics to deal with him."
"This plan feels quite reliable," Muan said.
"Heh, hehehe."
Yine smiled sinisterly, "My connections are mostly rooted elsewhere in Graew. As for the Allied Chaos Region, I am far less established than the two of you brothers. Therefore, this time we will have to rely on the two of you to properly make contact and arrange things."
Sumin: "Very well, I will handle the arrangements."
Muan: "I agree as well, but this plan needs to be much more subtle. We cannot expose our hoofprints, otherwise the old Governor over there..."
"That will depend on your two abilities."
Yine said indifferently, "I merely brought up the idea. Take it or leave it. As for whether to do it, how to do it, and how to make it airtight, that will be up to the two of you to figure out."
With a single sentence, he cleanly absolved himself of any direct blame in the matter.
However, Sumin and Muan didn't mind; they were already enthusiastically discussing the details of the plan.
...
Meanwhile, Sevrin, having entered the pavilion, finally came face to face with Governor Winoon of the Demon-Slaying Bureau.
One old, one young, sitting opposite each other and conversing.
The moment he laid eyes on this elderly woman, Sevrin simultaneously viewed her personal interface information:
[ Character Name: Winoon
Level: Mainstream Martial Arts → True Grandmaster, Occult Techniques → Seizing Capturing, Bloodline Divinity → Top
Mastered Skills: "Ghost and Monster Tracking""Yin-Yang Eyes""Qi-Seeking Method""Hano True Scripture""Flame Dragon Divine Claw""Great Sun Divine Bird Sutra""Dragon Returning Heaven Great Art""Shadow Escape""Falling Star Seal""Densma Sword Seal""Three Blossoms Spirit Scripture""Cloud-Chasing Step""Jade Moon Code""Yucade Book""Dark Frost Claw""Barren Frost Intent Art""Nine Mysterious Yang Breath Refining Method""Stuacn Spirit-Suppressing Talismans""Cave Spirit Talismans""Charge of Streams""Divine Thunder Sword""North Wind Twelve Seals"
Special Traits: [Level 4 Robust Physique][Level 4 Stamina][Level 4 Iron Body][Level 4 Jade Bone][Level 4 Intuition][Level 4 Stone Heart][Level 4 Yang-Absorption][Level 4 Spirit-Concentration][Level 4 Magical Power][Level 4 Skill][Level 4 Ice Soul][Level 4 Flame][Level 4 Illusion][Level 4 Flow Control][Level 4 Self-Healing][Level 4 Exorcism][Level 4 Energy-Infusion][Level 4 Healing][Level 4 Etherealization][Level 4 Light Energy][Level 4 Freezing]
Expert Shards: None ]
Unfortunately, this Governor Winoon had not yet reached the highest realm of the Mainstream Martial Arts system, the Eternal Overlord.
She still remained within the various stages of the Grandmaster system, though she stood at the absolute pinnacle of True Grandmaster, the Peak Grandmaster stage.
Yet Sevrin did not harbor much disappointment.
Because Winoon's personal interface could be said to be the most dazzling one Sevrin had seen thus far.
Whether it was martial arts, occult techniques, or divinities, all were top-tier and abundant.
For instance, the "Jade Moon Code" among them allowed the practitioner, once mastered, to draw upon the power of the moonlight in the night sky.
From that, a layer of Lunar Dress with a strength reaching the Peak Grandmaster level could be condensed on the surface of the body.
Simultaneously, the practitioner could utilize this technique to absorb massive amounts of lunar power, tempering the strength and flexibility of every bone within their body.
Then came the "Great Sun Divine Bird Sutra".
This technique allowed the practitioner to transform into a blazing giant bird roughly thirty meters in size, whose speed, defense, self-healing, and attack capabilities all reached or slightly exceeded the Peak Grandmaster level.
Only, its magical power consumption was somewhat too massive for frequent use.
Following that was the "Yucade Book", an occult marvel.
It belonged to the "area-of-effect bombing" category of techniques. It could draw upon boundless starlight from the night sky, transforming it into thousands of light arrows to bombard the enemy. Simultaneously, this starlight energy could heal the wounded and the dying, with a healing capability only slightly inferior to the "Heavenly Lotus Earthly Saint Salvation Scripture".
Next was the "Divine Thunder Sword".
This method was extremely draining on magical power, but its effects were undeniably prominent.
It allowed the practitioner to etherealize their mind, body, and soul into a sword-shaped flash of lightning, covering seven to eight hundred miles in a single second, the absolute pinnacle of escape arts.
As for the "Cave Spirit Talismans".
It was an even more profound and mysterious talisman art compared to the Stuacn Spirit-Suppressing Talismans.
Only top-tier fourth-realm sorcerers could successfully cultivate and utilize it.