Chapter 112: If I Leave and Never Return — The Life Monument, the Birdman, and the Demon King

Zhang Xu, who was recording the scene, felt that this plot and the dialogue were somewhat familiar, so he spoke subconsciously.

"What if you don't come back from this?"

After a long while, Lin Yi’s voice drifted out from the barrier where black and silvery-white light intertwined.

"If I go and do not return... then I shall not return!"

His voice grew fainter, becoming barely audible by the end.

*Slap! Slap!*

Zhang Xu slapped himself twice, filled with immense regret. How could he have said something so disheartening? It was completely inauspicious!

"No... damn it, what I meant to say was, Brother Lin Yi, you must come back, you must come back..."

Zhang Xu began to cry! He wailed uncontrollably. It wasn't just fear or despair; this time, Zhang Xu was truly moved. For the first time, he felt that he didn't really act like a man. Looking at Brother Lin Yi, that was the very model of a hero—one who acts for the sake of the country and the people. Look at that awareness, that self-sacrificial spirit to eradicate all demons and ghosts; it was something everyone should emulate!

Listening to Zhang Xu, Bai Ke and the others also broke into tears. Bai Ke roared toward the sky.

"Brother Lin Yi, you are my hero! You are certainly not the type to die young. No matter how strong this secret realm is, Brother Lin Yi, you cannot die. I will immediately contact Elder An Yingxiong, Master Mu, and the Paranormal Investigation Bureau. We must rescue Brother Lin Yi! Brother Lin Yi, even if you die, you will always be the number one hero in my heart. No man in this world compares to you."

Two streams of hot tears rolled down Bai Ke's face. However, it would have sounded better if a woman had said it. The other men from the Paranormal Investigation Bureau were equally grief-stricken.

"Brother Lin Yi is truly a great man. Look, this is a real hero! A man should be like this!"

"I am in awe. I have never bowed to anyone, but Brother Lin Yi is my only idol."

"If Brother Lin Yi dies, I, Deng Tianjiu, will take care of his parents as my own. I mean what I say; if I fail, may the heavens strike me down!"

The nearly twenty villagers from the five households of the tenth group of Shanghe Village had tears streaming down their faces before they even realized it. Lin Yi’s performance made them realize that there really were people in this world guarding the gates against the invasion of demons and ghosts, allowing ordinary people to survive. They were the final line of defense that allowed commoners like them to live in peace. With red mist spreading and demons emerging, it was these people who brought them safety and security.

If someone as noble and tragic as Lin Yi hadn't come, their fate would have been undoubtedly miserable. It was only now that the Han family realized Han Erhao hadn't followed them out. However, amidst their sorrow, they knew this was fate. As for Han Erhao... well, it was a miracle that they themselves had survived.

Looking at the staff from the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, the villagers didn't speak. Instead, they bowed deeply toward the place where the white and black light had swallowed Lin Yi.

"Our family will add a spirit tablet from now on, and we will carve the name of our benefactor, Lin Yi, upon it."

"I am completely convinced. It turns out there really are people who risk their lives to protect us. Count me in for the tablet. By the way, noble ones, what are your names? I want to set up living tablets for all of you. On the first and fifteenth of every month, I will pray for your peace, health, and longevity."

The villagers were sobbing uncontrollably. They even spoke of erecting "living tablets" for the staff of the Paranormal Investigation Bureau. Under normal circumstances, tablets were only for the deceased to receive offerings, but they could be set up for the living under specific conditions.

The prerequisite was that the living person had performed great deeds or provided significant grace to the one erecting the tablet. Only then would it not cause a negative impact on the living person. Otherwise, when certain demons and ghosts came to consume the incense, they would naturally become envious and jealous. Furthermore, certain mysterious rules might target the person for whom the living tablet was erected. Especially when placed in one's own home, the ancestors and deities already being worshipped might become jealous of the incense, potentially causing trouble. Therefore, living tablets could not be established lightly.

"I... I only just realized now that you weren't joking earlier, Brother Lin Yi. You really intended to go back to 'bully' Zhao Qilin and his lot. As expected, no matter how much you tease or joke, one thing about you never changes: you always keep your word! So... this time, I hope you keep your word again: kill all the demons and ghosts, and return alive. That is my only hope..." Bai Ke muttered to himself.

His words made many nod in agreement. Everyone recalled that at the very beginning, in the center of the secret realm, Lin Yi had said that after escorting Bai Ke and the others out, he would go back to bully Zhao Qilin. At the time, everyone had taken it as a joke. Now, thinking about it carefully, was it really a joke? Lin Yi had never lied; every word he spoke carried weight! Thus, upon reflection, they began to feel that this matter might actually be settled. Perhaps Brother Lin Yi really could bully Zhao Qilin and his cohorts?

...

At the space barrier, Lin Yi, who hadn't fully walked in yet, heard the crying and the words outside. This made him feel a bit embarrassed; he felt he had acted a bit too dramatically, as if he were toying with Brother Bai Ke's emotions. But there was no help for it; without doing this, he couldn't find another reason to return. Re-entering under any other pretext would have been too suspicious.

Moreover, after saying this, once the fragmented space barrier completely collapsed and was absorbed by the *Scripture of Severing*, he would be able to gain a massive amount of upgrade points. Otherwise, who would be able to prove that the fragmented barrier was destroyed by him? If that happened, he wouldn't get the credit. After all, if he couldn't put his badge back on, there would be no proof left—no one would know of his glorious deeds.

Thinking about this, Lin Yi no longer held back. With a flick of his hand, he withdrew the candlestick from the mysterious space of the *Scripture of Severing*. As soon as it appeared, the area was illuminated, and Lin Yi was immediately enveloped by the flames burning on the candlestick. The space barrier, with its intertwined black and white energy, was nothing before him. Lin Yi passed through it with ease. He felt that the candlestick, as he had expected, was definitely a powerful treasure. He just didn't know what level it reached.

With this in mind, Lin Yi began to bite his finger. His physical constitution was now too strong—a true quasi-grandmaster physique—so while it hurt, he couldn't even draw blood. After much effort, he finally broke the skin and dripped blood onto the candlestick, but he realized he had been hoping for too much; the candlestick didn't establish a connection with him like the *Scripture of Severing* had.

Shaking his head, Lin Yi moved his mind, and with a "bang," the Tiger Head Ghost Blade appeared in his hand. He gripped the relic in the same hand holding the candlestick. All three treasures were now out. As for the Black Blood Sword given to him by Elder An Yingxiong, Lin Yi didn't take it out for the time being. To be honest, its grade was a bit low. Holding the Tiger Head Ghost Blade, the relic, and the candlestick, Lin Yi felt he had enough.

The Tiger Head Ghost Blade was a high-grade Profound-tier treasure. According to the exchange theory, even if he didn't use it perfectly, its strength should be at the peak of the Yellow-tier, easily handling grandmasters. The relic left behind by the high monk must also be at the Profound-tier, right? In the memories of the Tiger Ghost, the flames produced by that monk’s body could burn everything. Lin Yi had already judged that the monk must have been at the Divine Ability Realm.

As for the candlestick, it was so powerful that even the masses of millions of energy units in the space barrier were no match for it. Although it was certainly inferior to the *Scripture of Severing*, it should at least be above the low-grade Earth-tier of the fragmented barrier, making it at least a mid-grade Earth-tier treasure. With all three treasures out, Lin Yi feared nothing! As for the disposable talismans he had obtained from killing the ghost children, he felt he wouldn't need them.

Using the "Secret of Movement," Lin Yi’s figure was incredibly fast. The ghost shadows that had been chasing him earlier had already returned. The path was very empty, with only streams of ominous energy moving toward the center. Lin Yi looked up at his surroundings; every part of the space barrier had developed larger cracks. Violent energy was constantly sweeping through the space.

"Impossible... how could he get out... that human called Lin Yi... actually... actually took people out..."

The vague consciousness at the energy source of the fragmented space barrier truly had a limited intellect. Upon realizing that Lin Yi had been able to lead others out through the barrier it controlled, it could no longer hold back its confusion! However, because it could only sense things vaguely, especially under the current violent energy, it couldn't grasp the specifics of what had happened.

As it foolishly uttered those words, Zhao Qilin, who had been in a state of terror, suddenly narrowed his eyes.

"What? That Lin Yi was able to leave the space barrier? That barrier has hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of units of violent energy. Even I couldn't leave, yet he could? Impossible. His strength cannot be that high; he isn't even a grandmaster. Therefore, he must have a treasure on him!"

Zhao Qilin’s eyes filled with madness as he instantly deduced the essence of the matter. Greed consumed his mind. He thought, *If I get such a treasure, I will definitely be able to completely subdue the Demon King Pearl and fully refine the Demon King's blood essence.*

*However, that brat has already left, and finding him again will be harder than climbing to heaven. For now, I must find a way to confront the Demon King.*

*Damn it, who would have thought there were two drops of Demon King blood essence in the pearl? Fortunately, I am almost done refining one!*

Just as Zhao Qilin thought this, the Demon King Pearl pierced through his mouth with a "pop"! The next moment, it floated in the blood-red column of light! Instantly, a brilliant blood-red light erupted from the pearl!

A portion of the Demon King's blood essence, which Zhao Qilin had not yet fully refined, was forcibly torn out from his body, piercing through his chest along with it. Finally, with a "whoosh," the blood-red light exited his body and drilled into the Demon King Pearl! The small, dilapidated-looking bead now grew increasingly rosy, its blood-red glow intensifying.

A burst of loud laughter echoed as that drop of blood seemed to manifest into a blood-colored figure. The figure's features were unclear, but one could vaguely discern a human physique. The only difference was that behind this human form, two wing-like structures of blood-red light were flapping. That appearance made it look... as if it were a bird-man!