"If I obtain another treasure, I will definitely contact Brother Zheng," Xiao Mu tactfully agreed, then bid farewell to Zheng Yunlei and his divine sense returned to his own body.

Xiao Mu directly examined the "One-Stroke Life and Death" Secret Manual underground.

By sending his divine sense into the manual for inspection, Xiao Mu quickly grasped the principles of the book.

"One-Stroke Life and Death" is about concentrating one's authoritarian power into an energy sphere, which directly attacks an enemy's lifespan, defeating them by reducing their lifespan.

According to the instructions in the secret manual, the effects of the "One-Stroke Life and Death" Secret Manual vary depending on the person. The same Authority Technique utilized on ordinary people would take away a hundred years of lifespan in one stroke, instantly disconnecting life and death, erasing them on the spot.

When applied to Mutated Beings, it depends on the relative strength of the user and the recipient; if the practitioner is stronger than the recipient, the effect of the "One-Stroke Life and Death" is potent, and if weaker, the effect is accordingly diminished.

The respective strength of the practitioner and the recipient is determined by the comparison of their authoritative power and their specific states in battle.

"An Authority Secret Manual, if mutated, would likely become even more powerful."

Xiao Mu eyed the "One-Stroke Life and Death" Secret Manual, thinking of the Mutation Technique.

He then stretched out a finger and placed it on the "One-Stroke Life and Death" Secret Manual, attempting to cause a mutation. Eventually, he learned that the mutation would require ten Energy Points.

"A single mutation requires ten Energy Points; the energy consumed is not insignificant, but considered that this is an Authority Secret Manual, spending ten Energy Points is within an acceptable range."

Xiao Mu contemplated, then proceeded to mutate the "One-Stroke Life and Death" Secret Manual. Golden Light emanated from his fingertip onto the manual, causing an instant transformation within it.

Picking up the manual, Xiao Mu sent his divine sense into it, accepting its legacy. The power from the manual transferred directly into his body, instantly enriching his mind with brand-new knowledge.

After carefully pondering the exact method of using "One-Stroke Life and Death," Xiao Mu began to practice on the spot.

He raised his right hand, extending his index finger. As his thoughts moved, a black energy gradually gathered between his fingers, growing bit by bit like a droplet seeping out, eventually becoming the size of a broad bean.

"The manual states that at the later stages of the Divine Spirit Realm, Mutated Beings can gather an authoritarian power about the size of a peanut. Mine is clearly larger due to the Mutation Technique, which has enhanced the power of the Authority Technique."

Xiao Mu retracted his finger; with a thought, the black energy sphere quickly disappeared.

"It's a pity I can't test the actual power. Logically, after the mutation, the power of 'One-Stroke Life and Death' must have increased. Others might take away a hundred years in one stroke; perhaps I could take away one hundred and fifty or even two hundred years."

"Of course, the one hundred or two hundred years are merely a form of quantification, calculated based on the life expectancy of an ordinary person as a hundred years."

"In actual use, there will be differences. For ordinary people, no matter who uses 'One-Stroke Life and Death,' it eradicates a hundred years, directly abolishing life."

"For Mutated Beings of lower Realm and Authority than oneself, it is the same eradication of life, but the years taken away by a single stroke of 'One-Stroke Life and Death' might be a thousand, two thousand, or even ten thousand."

"However, if faced with a Mutated Being whose Authority and Realm are stronger than oneself, 'One-Stroke Life and Death' might not even be able to take away a single year of their lifespan."

Cultivating the 'One-Stroke Life and Death' Secret Manual did not make Xiao Mu arrogant but rather more cautious.

Additionally, after cultivating 'One-Stroke Life and Death,' he distinctly felt certain changes within himself, primarily regarding control over lifespan; Xiao Mu felt a clear augmentation in his ability to control lifespan.

Emerging from underground, Xiao Mu decided to return to the Talisman Shop.

On his way, passing by ordinary people, Xiao Mu inadvertently glanced at someone and clearly saw their lifespan: how many years they had lived, how many they were to live, and how many remained.

Furthermore, Xiao Mu had an intuitive feeling that he could actually control the person's lifespan.

With the 'Book of Life and Death' and the 'Judge Pen,' he had the authority to extend or diminish the lifespan of ordinary people.

"I wonder if I could indefinitely extend the lifespan of ordinary people. Perhaps it's possible, but if I really did that, I might have to face the backlash of the Heavenly Dao."

Attempting simple modifications to the lifespans of a few ordinary people, Xiao Mu clearly felt the power imposed upon him by the Heavenly Dao intensify.

He could alter the lifespans of ordinary people, but he must necessarily bear the influence of the Heavenly Dao.

"This applies to ordinary people, extending or altering their lifespan, which violates the rules of the Heavenly Dao, but in battle, using 'One Stroke of Life and Death' to erase an opponent should not be affected."

Xiao Mu tirelessly probed the capabilities of the authoritative technique 'One Stroke of Life and Death,' feeling out the characteristics of this technique in use, bit by bit.

His mastery of the authoritative technique 'One Stroke of Life and Death' improved little by little through these experiments.

"'One Stroke of Life and Death' cannot be the only secret manual of cultivation for the authoritative techniques of City God; in battle, the enemy will not stand still waiting to be erased, so there must be other secret manuals, hopefully ones that restrict the enemy and others that borrow authority to escape during battle."

"Although the Five Elements Escaping Technique is not slow in escape, it is clearly not quite suitable for certain special battles."

Idea after idea flashed through Xiao Mu's mind; familiarity with the authoritative technique 'One Stroke of Life and Death' gradually led him to new insights, and also to a new understanding of his position and duties as the City God.

"Next, I must find a way to obtain other City God authoritative secret manuals, to further enhance my own strength."

"I can continue to contact Headquarters, exchange resources for authoritative technique secret manuals, or I can do so through Zhao Jingyan, Yu Jiasheng, Elder Xu, Fang Ying, as well as look for information about related secret manuals in the Great Tang Ruins."

Xiao Mu planned his next moves but ultimately decided to start by finding Li Jing's whereabouts.

※※※

Clang! Boom! Bang!

The sounds of collisions, explosions, and various authoritative powers burst in the air, clashing violently against each other.

Outside Twilight Forest Village, while Xiao Mu was experimenting with the technique of 'One Stroke of Life and Death,' Mutated Beings from the Great Tang Ruins stationed in the village were fiercely battling with Extraterrestrial Mutated Beings.

"Let me do it, Haha, let me! Die!"

In the midst of the crowd, Xu Qianwu moved as if he were invincible, with the Black Wind Spirit Commander Crown atop his head, wielding the Soul Summoning Banner and the Yin Soul Book in his left and right hands, respectively. Whenever he faced an Extraterrestrial Mutated Being, he directly deployed these two treasures.

Amidst the thunderous crashes, the Yin Soul Book slammed down like a mountain on an Extraterrestrial Mutated Being, not only smashing the being into a pulp but also automatically releasing a dark greenish-black glow from the book, consigning the foe's Yin Soul to the Reincarnation Path.

"Haha, I knew it; those who block me shall die!"

Continuously slaying Extraterrestrial Mutated Beings, Xu Qianwu was overjoyed, roaring as he charged wildly into the masses of the enemy, using his martial strength.

Black light surged around his body. With the power of reincarnation emanating from the three treasures protecting him, Xu Qianwu was like a black armored tank plowing into a defenseless crowd.

"Elder Xu, over here, help me kill this one!"

Fang Ying suddenly called out to Xu Qianwu from ahead. Together with Zhao Yaogu and Wang Yu, they were besieging a Life and Death Sect Mutated Being in his forties wearing a black suit who seemed to be quite powerful; even Fang Ying's continuous use of the Book of Life and Death and the Judge Pen hadn't been successful in killing him.

"Here I come, you waste, die!"

Boom!

Xu Qianwu descended from the sky, seizing the opportunity for a surprise attack. The Yin Soul Book and the Soul Summoning Banner smashed simultaneously onto the black-suited Life and Death Sect Mutated Being. Blood splattered, and the body of the Mutated Being split apart.

However, unlike the others, even though the black-suited Life and Death Sect Mutated Being died, no Yin Soul emerged from the corpse to be sent on the Reincarnation Path by the two treasures in Xu Qianwu's hands.

"Escaped? Immortal Divine Technique?" Xu Qianwu and Fang Ying, among others, stared at the corpse of the black-suited Life and Death Sect Mutated Being and were simultaneously stunned.

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