After reading the report, Xu Ning put down the paper in his hand.

Xu Ning began to think, 'Dayuan Trading Company was in collusion with an outside Magic Faction, but in this case, the magic warrior appeared directly in the city…"

'According to internal reports, they didn't find out where the shop assistant learned the magic technique from… Besides, he actually hid his possession of magic techniques for half a year…'

Xu Ning felt worried.

Since this shop assistant could learn a magic technique and hide it for such a long time without being exposed, then someone else could certainly do the same.

If he continued to deduce along this line of logic, then there must be other Magic Faction warriors in Kangyun County.

'I'm guessing the higher ups have already begun to investigate other potential magic martial artists…'

If he could have thought of this possibility, Wei Changqing and the other captains must have thought the same.

'Maybe the investigation has already started in Lushui Lane, and it won't be long before Maple Lane has its turn…'

Xu Ning pondered.

It seemed that he had to be ready at all times.

'This magic technique allows one to advance so fast.'

According to the description on the report just now, the store assistant was just an ordinary person who had never practiced martial arts.

However, after only half a year of practice with the magic technique, starting from scratch, he crossed over three realms, and became a warrior in the inner enrichment realm.

Although this speed of progress was not as fast as Xu Ning, it was much faster than new talents like Tao Qingyuan and Tan Fengying.

'No wonder some warriors will go on the wrong path after getting stuck in their progress. The temptation is simply too high…'

Xu Ning sighed. 'However, although progression is fast, the side effects are also very obvious.'

'This shop assistant could act normal when he was hiding it, but once he has murderous intentions and uses the magic technique with resentment in his heart, he falls deep into a mental spiral, causing him to change his temperament and lose control over himself…'

'He no longer is a normal person. It is not worth it to give up one's spirit for the sake of martial arts.'

Xu Ning learned about the nature of magic techniques.

As long as it's a magic technique, there were bound to be fatal downfalls.

Just like in the store assistant's case, practicing it was fine, but using the magic technique would cause one to lose control over their spirit.

Or, one would need to sacrifice someone else during their practice, such as ingesting human blood, or collecting yin and replenishing yang, etc.

Anyone that practiced a magic technique would bring harm to others.

Therefore, the Source Faction strictly forbade the practice of magic technique in State Feiyun.

If a magic martial artist was discovered, they would inevitably be targeted and annihilated.

'I have to gather everyone in the guard station in a while for a meeting, to let everyone know about this and take precautions…'

Xu Ning began to ponder.

…

Several days went by.

The newcomers in Camp Site Three all went home to their families..

Xu Ning had already met with his family and used up his vacation days, so he stayed back in the county city.

In addition to Xu Ning, there was one other person who also did not return home, and that was Tao Jin.

Ever since Tao Jin lost her yellow plate, she felt like she could not face her family members.

She was going to stay in Camp Site Three, practice hard, and earn back her yellow plate before visiting her family.

'Why can't I make a breakthrough!'

Tao Jin was currently the only one left in her room.

Tao Jin sat cross-legged on her bed, activating her internal energy in an attempt to break through to the qi realm.

But after an entire morning, she still did not make any progress in her internal skill.

Thump!

Tao Jin hit the wall with her fist.

Her fist had gone red.

Tao Jin knew that there was a problem with her mental state, but she couldn't get out of her bottleneck.

Tao Jin felt suffocated knowing that she was in a rut but she couldn't escape it.

She sighed before changing her clothes and leaving the camp.

During lunch time, Tao Jin was walking by the river. She looked at the pedestrians coming and going on the small bridge, her eyes dazed.

The willow tree had begun to grow new leaves, and there were young children playing in the water by the river.

Tao Jin walked around aimlessly.

Suddenly, Tao Jin saw a man with a hat, walking towards her along the river bank.

Tao Jin didn't care at first, but she deliberately moved out of the way when passed that person.

But what Tao Jin didn't expect was that when she tried to move out of the way, the man would suddenly lean in towards her.

Tao Jin wanted to defend herself, but the person immediately sped up and walked away.

Tao Jin suddenly felt a hard object on her waist.

'What is this…'

Tao Jin found a palm-sized booklet in her pocket.

Tao Jin quickly took out the booklet.

The surface of the booklet was yellow, and there were no words or pictures printed on the cover.

Tao Jin opened the cover.

'What is this…'

When she saw what was inside the booklet, Tao Jin's pupils shrank and her eyes widened.

Four words were printed on the first page of the booklet.

Shadow Breath Blood Passage.

As a warrior who was born and raised in State Feiyun for 18 years, Tao Jin recognized this instantly.

This was a magic technique!

Tao Jin quickly turned her head and searched for the man in the hat.

But after looking around, she was not able to find that man.

Tao Jin felt sweaty and flustered.

'I must return to the camp as soon as possible and hand this magic technique to Captain Qu!'

This was Tao Jin's first thought.

Tao Jin quickly stuffed the magic technique booklet into her pocket and quickly returned to the camp.

Although she often heard about Magic Factions, Tao Jin was very nervous when a magic technique was actually in her hands.

As Tao Jin walked, she nervously looked around for the man in the hat.

Tao Jin felt that everyone close to her was a possible accomplice of a Magic Faction.

'The magic technique harms myself and others, so I must never touch it.'

'If I practice a magic technique, the Black Armored Guards will find out, and the consequences will be disastrous…"

"…"

Tao Jin didn't know why, but for some reason there was suddenly a voice in her heart, telling her the dangers of a magic technique.

This voice did not disappear until she stepped into Camp Site Three.

'I'm going to Captain Qu's study.'

But the closer she got to Qu Dayou's study, the more conflicted she was.

Just then, Qu Dayou came out of his study and ran into Tao Jin.

"Tao Jin?"

Qu Dayou saw that Tao Jin's face was pale, and she looked nervous. She seemed to have something on her mind.

"Captain Qu?"

Tao Jin didn't expect to run into Qu Dayou in advance, so she immediately panicked.

"What, you didn't go back to visit your relatives?"

Qu Dayou asked.

He had an average impression of Tao Jin, but Tao Jin was Tao Jingxing's granddaughter after all. And he had worked with Tao Jingxing before, so he knew of Tao Jin.

"No, I… I stayed in the camp to practice my martial arts."

Tao Jin replied.

Tao Jin's inner voice was urging her to hand over the magic technique.

But for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Instead, another voice appeared in her heart.

'Shadow Breath Blood Passage, the name sounds like a magic technique, but what if it's not…'

"Practice?"

Qu Dayou thought that Tao Jin was worried about her martial arts progression.

"Hone your mind first, there is no need to stress yourself all the time."

Qu Dayou explained, "Relax and let yourself progress naturally. Your talent is not bad, you will definitely achieve good results."

"Thank you for your encouragement."

Finally, Tao Jin's heart became quiet. "Master, I will be going to the dining hall to eat something…"

"Go ahead."

Qu Dayou waved his hand.

'What?'

Qu Dayou was a little confused. "If she's going to train in the camp site… why did she come towards my study?

Qu Dayou thought back to Tao Jin's abnormal behavior just now, and his eyes narrowed.

He stood there and began to think.

After a while, Qu Dayou turned around and left.