```
In the panel, the number corresponding to lifespan began to change rapidly.
Thirty-four... Twenty-one... Thirteen...
Until it stopped at "one".
The realms behind the Demon-subduing Sword Technique grew swiftly as well.
[You have diligently practiced the Demon-subduing Sword Technique, breaking through to the Minor Achievement Realm in the eighth year]
[You continued to practice and broke through to the Great Achievement Realm in the seventeenth year]
[In the twenty-ninth year, your Demon-subduing Sword Technique reached the Transformative Realm, becoming complete]
[In the thirty-third year, after reaching perfection you remained devoted to the technique, seeming to have new insights, but the epiphany was not clear enough, and you failed to evolve it further...]
Demon-subduing Sword Technique (Complete)
...
Shen Yi lay on the ground, his thoughts more focused on his sword-wielding right hand.
He needed to check whether, after losing his lifespan, he had turned into a withered old man or if he could maintain his youthful appearance.
His hand's skin was still smooth, and his long fingers were as agile as ever.
Even more surprising was that his body had not only not aged, it was, in fact, becoming stronger and more robust at an unbelievable rate.
It was as though Shen Yi had truly dedicated thirty-three years to practicing the blade, abstaining from alcohol and carnal pleasures, concentrating all his thoughts on the sword in his hand.
...
The night was dark and gloomy, the courtyard deathly still.
The Canine Demon's massive body was slightly hunched as it came to the door, resting a hand against the wall and poking its head into the house.
Its pale yellow pupils indifferently surveyed everyone inside.
With the pungent smell of the wild beast hitting him, Old Man Liu was pressed against the corner, eyes rolled back, nearly passing out.
If facing Shen Yi's back could stir some courage within him to grip the wooden stick tightly, the sight of the Dog Demon's head, so close at hand, made him so petrified he couldn't even beg for mercy.
Fortunately, the Canine Demon's gaze quickly shifted from him, landing on the seemingly more tender little girl.
The Canine Demon didn't even bother with words, it simply calmly extended its paw and curled a fingertip.
Under the immense terror, the little girl's eyes glazed over as she staggered step by step towards the creature, watching its sharp claws hook around her neck.
Suddenly, she felt a warm palm cover her wrist, halting her further advance.
The Liu girl trembled, looking down.
She saw Shen Yi frowning slightly on the ground, struggling to his feet, dusting off his clothes, and still speaking in the tone previously used to shoo away flies, softly saying, "Step back, go to the corner and stay put."
...
Feeling the sudden tight grip of the claws on her neck, the little girl's emotions collapsed, utterly clueless about the nonsense Shen Yi was saying.
How could she move? Where would she go?
A ferocious smile spread across the Canine Demon's mouth, "You treacherous beast, why the rush? You're next."
Before the eyes of everyone present, a cold, dazzling glint of silver flashed suddenly inside the room!
Shen Yi was holding the long blade at an angle, the shimmering blade faintly reflecting his expressionless face.
The edge of the blade, without anyone knowing when, had a streak of blood on it, converging at the tip and forming a drop of blood that fell.
Accompanying the falling blood droplet was a healthy muscular arm, its fur sleek and shiny.
"Awooo—"
In an instant, the room was engulfed by the Canine Demon's pained howls; it hadn't even managed to see the trajectory of the blade, nor when Shen Yi had drawn his sword.
Free from the restraint of the claw, the little girl stumbled to the corner, curling up in terror.
Through her tear-blurred vision, the thin shadow in front of her charged forward with a burst of energy.
Like a ferocious death god, his powerful arms unfolded, his fingers suddenly grabbing the long fur on the Canine Demon's neck and slamming it furiously to the ground.
Under that unparalleled strength, the Canine Demon yelped in pain again, its mountain-like body crashing down!
Without giving it a chance to react, Shen Yi pressed his knee onto the Dog Demon's head, raised his hands over his head, vertically gripping the sword handle, and the long blade fiercely plunged into its throat.
Thrust!
Scalding dog blood sprayed out, staining Shen Yi's face and adding a menacing aura to his handsome features.
...
Shen Yi stood on the Dog Demon's head, his hands steadily withdrawing the sword from the flesh.
Although it was his first time slaying a demonic beast, the act of killing seemed to have been repeated countless times, deeply engraved in his instincts.
The wetness of the blood, as well as its nauseating stench, covered him.
```
I should have been shaken, continually vomiting, but my body was so calm it was incomprehensible.
This was the Demon-subduing Sword Technique, slaying demons as ordinary as eating or drinking.
I drew my sword, gazed into the unblinking eyes of the Canine Demon, and meticulously wiped the blade on its fur until it was clean.
Not only did this beast not expect it, but even I hadn't anticipated the battle to end so swiftly.
Thirty-three years of practicing the blade had nearly brought me to the pinnacle of human strength.
Having done all this, I turned to look at the father and daughter cowering in the corner.
Their eyes were filled with disbelief as well, but compared to before, the deeper fear overshadowed any gratitude.
I withdrew my gaze, not particularly concerned.
After all, only half an hour ago, I had been undressing that girl; how could they genuinely trust me?
They probably still think that the fight was an internal dispute between me and the demon.
"..."
I sheathed my weapon, kicked aside the corpse of the Canine Demon, and strode towards the courtyard.
"Government Officer Shen… do you perhaps need…"
The Liu Family girl glanced at the wrist that had just been grabbed, raised her dirt-smeared face cautiously and said, "to have your head wound bandaged first?"
At her words, the old man's vision went dark.
This foolish girl, always bringing up what shouldn't be mentioned, forgetting how that wound came to be.
In the old man's eyes, the current Shen Yi was ten times more terrifying than the Canine Demon!
Shen Yi slowly halted his steps.
A moment later he turned back and said, "That might be best."
I hadn't done much good in either of my lives; it was hard enough to do a good deed once, and it would be false to say I didn't care for any reaction.
There is no reason why a hero should walk home alone.
If not offering herself in gratitude, at least she could offer a cup of hot water to soothe my throat.
Shen Yi swaggered back to sit beside the bed. Under the awkward care of the slender girl, he stripped off his clothes. The old Master Liu's heart was filled with sorrow, yet his hands skillfully found a relatively clean cloth strip to wipe the blood from the back of Shen Yi's head.
Just then, a panel popped out.
A foreign reminder caught Shen Yi's attention.
[Absorption complete of Canine Demon with opened intelligence, not in the Initial Realm, total lifespan of one hundred seventy-five years, sixty-three years remaining]
[Current Martial Arts]
Bone-penetrating Grappling Technique (Great Achievement)
Demon-subduing Sword Technique (Complete)
[Current remaining lifespan: one year]
[Demon's lifespan: sixty-three years]
[Demon's lifespan can be used to infuse martial arts, cannot be converted to personal lifespan]
"..."
I ordered the two to take care of the Canine Demon's corpse while I pondered over this new discovery.
It must be said, the emptiness after spending is truly torturous.
Seeing only one year of lifespan left, Shen Yi was silent for a long time, then suddenly felt like slapping himself.
It clearly only took twenty-nine years to master the Demon-subduing Sword Technique, yet I had to show off, wasting four more years.
Even though I felt little allegiance to this world, if it were a game, being able to play a few more years would be better.
"So, by slaying demons and expelling evil, I can use their remaining lifespan to substitute for my own and deduce martial arts?"
"A Dog Demon with opened intelligence can live nearly two hundred years, that's quite exaggerated."
I felt a bit astonished.
But then another thought struck me.
If demonic beasts could live that long, surely there must be a way for humans to extend their lifespan?
If that were the case, it should be the dog donning the official robe and the sword, not humans ruling under the Imperial Court.
"Let it be, pondering so much now is useless."
"It seemed that during the recent deducing of the Demon-subduing Sword Technique it was mentioned that there was new progress."
With sixty-three years of demon lifespan in hand, I somewhat had the illusion of becoming rich overnight.
Why not try for ten years first to test the waters?