One more catty, one more attribute point

```

"... you can even imagine something so outlandish, that's quite impressive."

"Why would you think that?" Su Li was very surprised.

"Because based on my observations, aptitude and physical constitution can't coexist," Zhao Jinling said with her hands on her hips and a smarty-pants expression on her face.

"Those with high aptitude are physically weak because all the nourishment goes to their brains. On the other hand, take me for example, I've always had a strong body, but my brain doesn't work as well."

...you do have a good sense of self-awareness, huh.

Su Li listened, dumbfounded, not knowing what to say.

"When Li Daoxuan told me to leave Baihua County, I didn't think much and just left," Zhao Jinling said, sitting on a cushion and holding her head with her elbow, her eyebrows furrowing, suddenly becoming sullen.

Hearing her master's name,

Su Li's expression also fell, and she reached out to pat Zhao Jinling's shoulder as a gesture of comfort.

Bang!

Just then,

the door to the tea room was abruptly pushed open from the outside.

The bright sunlight that had been filling the room dimmed significantly, and the air seemed to become much heavier.

Zhao Jinling turned her head belatedly and saw a towering figure bending down to enter the room. The door was completely obscured by him, with only a sliver of light scattering from his shoulder, highlighting the dust floating around him.

The man stood legs apart, planted firmly on the ground, his head nearly level with the tea room's ceiling.

Zhao Jinling's eyes widened, suddenly experiencing a peculiar feeling.

She remembered her childhood.

Her father, a carpenter, made her a little wooden house to play in. It had windows, a cabinet, a bed, and even lifelike little cats and dogs.

Looking at grown-ups from inside that little house gave her a similar feeling. She liked it, feeling safe within her tiny abode.

Then a demon arrived in their village, and she hid in this little wooden house.

Watching as the demon slowly tore her father apart and ate him bit by bit.

By the time the demon had consumed his legs, leaving him only half left,

her father still trembled, trying to squeeze out a smile, calming her emotions, and telling her not to make any noise.

"Your face is very pale, did I frighten you?" A deep, calm voice sounded close to her ear, pulling Zhao Jinling back to reality.

Zhao Jinling's eyes widened, her pupils trembling slightly.

She then realized that the man had sat down cross-legged in front of her, not too far away.

"No, it's okay," Zhao Jinling shook her head, "You are..."

Although she was questioning, the look on Su Li's face beside her had already given her the answer.

As expected, "Su Heng."

"Indeed!" Zhao Jinling said excitedly, "I am Zhao Jinling, this is our first meeting."

"I know the name," Su Heng nodded slightly, "Li Daoxuan and some elders have mentioned you to me."

"I'm sorry..." Zhao Jinling said timidly, "That night, I wasn't at the Demon Suppression Bureau."

"Since it was Li Daoxuan's arrangement, there must be a reason for it, it's okay," Su Heng's attitude was quite calm.

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

Su Heng stroked his chin as a rattling sound came from his body.

His figure gradually shrank to about two and a half meters, still large, but barely within the realm of a normal person's size.

At least in this room, he wouldn't feel too cramped, otherwise, with his usual size, he would be constantly careful not to break any wooden furniture.

As for how he reduced his size,

he didn't need a technique like the Bone Shrinking Technique. With Su Heng's level seven or so Bone Mutation,

controlling the bones and muscles in his body to fold was a simple task for him, although this would inevitably affect his strength.

But now, within the Demon Suppression Bureau, there was no need to worry about that.

"You've finished your retreat," Su Li said from her chair, turning around, her hands resting on the back of the chair, and waving to him.

"Yes, I had some small gains," Su Heng smiled.

"It must have been quite a gain," Su Li had a look of "I know you too well" on her face.

"It was...," Su Heng nodded, not denying it.

"And you, how far have you progressed with the Secret Techniques I've passed on to you?"

"After completing the remaining two Secret Techniques, the overall difficulty has lessened by a lot," Su Li mused, "I really owe it to you this time, I've mastered the remaining three. But to fully perfect them, it's going to take a lot of effort."

"That's not too bad," Su Heng nodded, his gaze falling on Li Hongxiu.

After annihilating the Hong Family, Li Hongxiu was promoted for her merits. Besides, with the Demon Suppression Tower destroyed, she was directly appointed as a nominal elder of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Su Heng's power was increasingly formidable, beyond description. He wasn't very concerned about potential threats.

Moreover, on that day in the Demon Suppression Tower,

Xu Hanlin left a deep impression on him.

The combination of human Cultivation Techniques and the natural talents of a demon has limitless potential.

Li Hongxiu had the same potential, perhaps even stronger. Su Heng wanted to know to what extent she could develop if fully nurtured.

```

"The fire attribute secret technique has already reached minor accomplishment; now I'm following Su Li to practice the Green Wood Longevity Technique,"

Li Hongxiu put down the pastries, knelt on the ground.

She began to speak earnestly and obediently.

"Reaching minor accomplishment in a cultivation technique within a month is also quite good," Su Heng nodded, in terms of comprehension, Li Hongxiu and Su Li were basically on the same level.

"Any progress on the Eight-Armed Dragon King's Tomb?"

"None," Su Li shook her head, "There are many secret codes in that manual, still deciphering them."

"No hurry," Su Heng then asked, "What about the Tuo Long Duke, that guy should not be dead, has he stirred up any trouble during this time?"

Speaking of demons and monsters.

Zhao Jinling suddenly became much more serious, "We have been tracking the remnants of the noble families recently and found that they are secretly contacting Corpse Mountain."

"These fools really never give up," Su Heng snorted coldly.

Whoosh!

Just at that moment.

A sharp and piercing sound of something tearing through the air struck suddenly.

Su Heng's eyes narrowed, his body slightly turned to the side, and he reached out with lightning speed.

Crack!

An arrow was abruptly held in his hand.

Li Hongxiu, Zhao Jinling, and the others all showed surprised expressions, "What's going on, how could this happen!"

"Aside from the remnants of the noble families, who else could it be!" Su Heng was initially surprised, then he said in a cold voice, "It seems these people really don't know what death is. You all stay here; I'll go out for a bit and will be back soon."

After speaking, whoosh—

Su Heng's figure suddenly disappeared, leaving only three people in the room looking at each other in bewilderment.

...

...

...

Whoosh!

In a secluded forest outside of Baihua County.

Zhao Meiying wiped the sweat from her forehead and let out a breath of turbid air.

"The withered bridge and pebbles flowing with water just make for a good testing ground," Zhao Meiying surveyed the surrounding environment, seemingly quite satisfied with the spot she had chosen at random; a smile couldn't help but appear on her face.

But after smiling for a while, she began to mutter to herself.

"Strange! Could that person be weak in legwork, to have lost track of me so easily!?"

Zhao Meiying's face was full of frustration.

Rustle rustle!

A flock of birds flapped their wings and flew away from the treetops.

Beams of sunlight fell through the gaps, the ground was covered in fallen leaves, and dust particles could be seen floating in the air.

"It's so quiet."

For some reason, Zhao Meiying felt an ominous premonition in her heart.

The "thump thump" beating of her heart was distinctly audible.

Whoo!

The fallen leaves on the ground were stirred and scattered, and the treetops rustled.

Zhao Meiying turned around abruptly; the dense forest was dark, and there was nothing to be seen.

"An illusion?" she slightly relaxed.

Boom!

Just then, a thunderous noise erupted out of nowhere.

In the peripheral view of her gaze, a large hand, like a black python, suddenly struck. Zhao Meiying's eyes widened, her muscles tensed, but she had no time to react before the large hand was pressed firmly against her neck. A massive force instantly surged through her body, her defensive strength was crushed without mercy.

Bang!

Her body, light as a toy,

Was flung with great force against an ancient tree thick enough to be embraced by two people.

A crisp crack sounded from both Zhao Meiying's spine and the large tree behind her, which then toppled down, stirring up dust. Zhao Meiying's face turned pale for a moment, her body arched unnaturally, she struggled fiercely twice, but she couldn't utter a word.

From the shadows, the owner of the hand finally began to emerge.

The two and a half meter figure gradually swelled back to three meters and sixty, the solemn and majestic face filled with murderous intent.

Their eyes met, Zhao Meiying's trembling pupils filled with terror and despair, while Su Heng's blood-red eyes flashed with undisguised violence and killing intent.

The two faces slowly drew closer, until Zhao Meiying could distinctly feel the giant's scorching breath brushing her face, lifting her garments and hair.

"Speak!" Su Heng said in a deep voice, "Who sent you!?"