The Demon Purging Division Reserve Camp was located in the Inner City!
Being able to establish such a camp in a place as precious as every inch of land and every inch of gold in the Inner City showed just how deep the Demon Purging Division's pockets and influence ran!
Within the Inner City, apart from the county yamen and the land occupied by its various affiliated offices,
only the native Four Great Families—Zhao, Yu, Li, and Wu—could compare.
The county yamen stood at the center of the Inner City.
The Demon Purging Division, meanwhile, was located in the eastern part of the Inner City!
With Lin Feng's current speed, he arrived at the Demon Purging Division Reserve Camp before long!
Two stone lions stood at the entrance to the camp!
Two guards stood watch, both tall and straight-backed, their bearing imposing.
They wore dark black robes, with the words "Demon Purging" embroidered on their chests.
They looked exceptionally valiant!
"Stop! This is the Demon Purging Division Reserve Camp. Idlers are forbidden from lingering here!"
One of the guards saw Lin Feng approach and barked out a warning.
"My lord, this humble one is Lin Feng. I have come to take the assessment!"
Lin Feng cupped his hands toward the man, then took out five taels of silver from his robes.
He slipped them into the guard's hand.
"You two have worked hard, my lords. Please accept this little sum for some wine!"
The guard had originally worn a stern expression, but after weighing the silver in his hand, a smile appeared on his face!
Those who knew how to read the room and get things done were generally well-liked!
"So that's how it is. We have indeed been recruiting lately. Come in with me!"
With that, the guard led Lin Feng inside.
The King of Hell was easy to meet, but little demons were hard to deal with.
Lin Feng did not begrudge the money. After killing Yan Song last night, he had searched him and found another fifteen taels of silver.
He had a total of fifty-six taels of silver on him. It was only proper to spend some of it greasing the wheels.
Although Zhao Sheng had said that he had already made arrangements, Lin Feng still had to give something himself to ensure nothing went wrong.
Before long, the guard led Lin Feng across a large open area and arrived at a great hall.
Several people were already waiting inside!
"Do not wander about. Wait here for the assessment officer!"
The guard brought Lin Feng into the hall, left behind those words, then returned to the gate!
Lin Feng stepped to one side and examined the people standing in the hall with him.
There were eight of them, vaguely divided into two groups.
Seven clustered together, dressed in brocade clothes and adorned with jade pendants, belts, and all manner of accessories. At a glance, they were clearly not children of ordinary households.
The remaining one, though his clothes were not tattered, was merely dressed ordinarily!
He was likely like Lin Feng, born into a poor family.
"Another country bumpkin! You all dream of borrowing the Demon Purging Division to fly up a branch and become a phoenix!
You're simply dreaming!"
At that moment, a young man in brocade with a hooked nose looked Lin Feng over.
Then he opened his mouth to mock him.
The other six also burst into laughter.
They all came from wealthy households in the city. Though they were not members of the Four Great Families,
they had long since made arrangements from top to bottom.
Joining the Demon Purging Division was already as certain as a nail driven into a board! Today was merely going through the motions!
Lin Feng looked at the other man coldly without saying a word.
When facing people who held themselves so high above others, there was no need to pay them any mind.
Once his strength was sufficient, he could simply crush them beneath his feet!
At that moment, a member of the Demon Purging Division came over with a frown. He seemed to be in a poor mood.
This man was short and inconspicuous in appearance.
Yet the instant he arrived, no one dared make the slightest sound.
"Come over here and report your names!"
The assessment officer called out, then took out a roster and had everyone register!
When those before him reported their names, the assessment officer did not even raise his eyes.
But when he heard Lin Feng's name, he looked up at him.
Once everyone had reported their names,
the assessment officer finished recording them and led them to the assessment site.
The place was very simple.
There was only a large stone lock! It looked extraordinarily heavy, at least a thousand jin!
The assessment officer first felt everyone's bones, then took out a knife and cut across each of their bodies a few times!
Only after confirming everything did he speak.
"All nine of you meet the cultivation requirement!
The strength of a non-martial artist can no longer cut your skin. You pass!"
"But Liu Mancang's bone age exceeds twenty. He is unqualified! Leave at once!"
The assessment officer spoke slowly, finally turning his gaze toward Liu Mancang, who had come from a poor household like Lin Feng!
"My lord, this humble one is only nineteen! How could I be over the age limit?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Mancang was delighted at first, but then his expression changed drastically!
His eyes were filled with confusion!
He possessed exceptional talent and had cultivated to his current realm with very few resources!
Yet he had been eliminated!
And he clearly was not yet twenty!
How could this be?
"You dare question this official?!"
The assessment officer's expression changed as he said coldly!
The seven youths in brocade looked at Liu Mancang, mockery curling across their lips!
They took pleasure in his misfortune at seeing him eliminated!
Still, everyone was somewhat curious. Lin Feng had not been eliminated?
"My lord, I refuse to accept this!"
Liu Mancang's face turned crimson as he forced out those words at last!
Lin Feng secretly shook his head upon hearing this!
This man did not know what was good for him. He was probably about to suffer!
Sure enough, the assessment officer's aura suddenly changed, and surging blood and qi burst forth like a vast tide!
The next moment, before anyone understood what had happened, Liu Mancang was sent flying!
When they looked again, the assessment officer had somehow appeared where Liu Mancang had been standing moments earlier!
Liu Mancang spat out a mouthful of blood. He was clearly seriously injured!
Had the assessment officer not held back, Liu Mancang would likely have left his little life here!
This was already the assessment officer showing mercy. Even if he had killed Liu Mancang, no one would have dared say a word!
Everyone, Lin Feng included, had their pupils constrict!
This man was far too powerful!
"Why aren't you getting lost already?!"
The assessment officer roared again.
Liu Mancang no longer dared say another word and could only stagger out!
A trace of helplessness flashed through Lin Feng's heart. Without the Zhao Family, his own outcome today would probably have been the same!
Even if his realm and age had both met the requirements, he still would not have made it through in the end!
Because the number of slots was limited!
Those wealthy households would never allow others to reach into their bowls!
Afterward, the assessment officer had everyone lift the large stone one by one!
Though their realms were sufficient, those who had forcibly raised their cultivation through certain secret arts did not possess such strong combat power!
They would also be screened out!
Everyone soon lifted the stone.
But the hooked-nosed youth only raised it halfway before he could no longer bear it and hurriedly put it down.
He nearly injured himself.
The hooked-nosed youth did not care in the slightest about his poor performance.
Because he had long since made arrangements with the Li Family of the Four Great Families, spending tens of thousands of taels of silver!
Half of his family's assets!
The Li Family's young master had already guaranteed it!
What could possibly go wrong!
Lin Feng was the last to step forward. He easily lifted the large stone!
Then he gently set it back down.
He had done so with the greatest ease of everyone!
The final assessment was complete!
The assessment officer looked at Lin Feng and said:
"There are only seven slots this time."
Hearing this, Lin Feng saw the assessment officer looking at him!
His eyes widened, and his heart leaped into his throat!
Could it be that the Zhao Family contact Zhao Sheng had found was not influential enough?
Before you continue