Three days later.
Demon Suppressing Tower.
Dozens of people were already standing in the square, with Demon Suppressing Guards still arriving one after another. All of them were here for the Genius Selection Competition.
Those who could stand here generally had some real skill.
They were all young elites under forty.
Otherwise, they would not have come to participate in the Genius Selection Competition.
Some met the requirements and signed up themselves, while others had been recommended by Commanders.
Commanders generally did not recommend people.
But once they did, the candidate would most likely be selected.
After all, ordinary geniuses could not catch a Commander's eye.
The Demon Suppressing Tower had a total of nine floors.
Passing the second floor qualified one as a D-rank Genius.
Passing the fourth floor qualified one as a C-rank Genius.
Passing the sixth floor qualified one as a B-rank Genius.
Passing the eighth floor qualified one as an A-rank Genius.
As for the ninth floor, it was nothing more than a legend.
The many Demon Suppressing Guards discussed the trial with great enthusiasm.
"This time, there are more than a dozen people qualified to become D-rank Geniuses!"
"I heard Commander Shen recently took in a genius named Fu Yunxuan. She is only twenty, yet she has already reached the Mid Vajra Realm. Commander Shen said she has the potential to become a B-rank Genius."
"Situ Lei under Commander Sun is no slouch in either strength or talent. He has a chance at competing for the title of C-rank Genius."
"Left Commander also recommended someone this time. I think his name is Chu Jiang."
"Is he the one who defeated outstanding disciples from two generations of the Sword King Sect not long ago?"
Chu Jiang's name had spread far and wide among the Demon Suppressing Guards. Not only had he captured outstanding disciples from two generations of the Sword King Sect, he had even dared to demand Thousand-Year Treasure Medicine from the sect.
That courage alone was not something ordinary people possessed. He was definitely a ruthless figure.
"Speak of the devil, and there he is..."
A Demon Suppressing Guard looked into the distance as he spoke.
There—
Chu Jiang strolled over, his body tall and straight as a ten-thousand-year-old pine, lean and upright. With the Blood Sun Saber at his waist, he strode like a meteor toward the space behind Left Commander.
Left Commander nodded and smiled.
"Do you have the confidence to bring back the title of B-rank Genius this time?"
Chu Jiang spoke with utter confidence. "My lord, I am aiming for A-rank Genius this time."
All his martial arts had now been cultivated to the realm of perfection. He had every confidence.
B-rank Genius was not his goal.
"One should still keep a low profile. Don't let the wind be so strong it twists your tongue."
"A-rank Genius? You really dare to dream! Do you know that Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau has only produced two B-rank Geniuses in the past hundred years?"
"Keep your feet on the ground. You might still have a chance at D-rank Genius, so do not fantasize about things beyond your ability."
At that moment, a lazy, disdainful voice rang out.
Everyone followed the sound and saw the speaker standing behind Commander Sun. His face was cold and stern, his features strangely bewitching, and his skin dark. He gave off a gloomy air.
"That is Situ Lei, one of the favorites to contend for C-rank Genius this time. His strength has already reached the Vajra Realm Peak, and he is Commander Sun's strongest Centurion."
"He is already thirty-nine, barely qualified to enter the competition," someone whispered.
"Keep your voice down. Do not let him hear you. He is petty as hell, with the temperament of a child."
Situ Lei cared deeply about his pride. If he found out, they would surely suffer for it.
Chu Jiang snorted, showing him no courtesy at all. "So you are the great genius who barely meets the entry requirements. Anyone who did not know better would think you were some young grandmaster."
"Mind your own business. Do not act like a cat catching mice and stick your nose where it does not belong!"
"Did you eat too much salt today? Got nothing better to do?"
The crowd burst into laughter. Every line landed like a heavy blow, stabbing straight into Situ Lei's lungs.
Situ Lei's face flushed red. After holding it in for a long while, he finally squeezed out, "You have some nerve! Do you dare to spar with me and see who is the cat and who is the mouse?"
Commander Sun snorted and looked at Situ Lei. "Enough. Have you not embarrassed yourself enough? Get back."
Situ Lei felt utterly stifled upon hearing that, but he did not dare disobey the order. He could only retreat reluctantly.
Commander Sun glanced at Chu Jiang and suddenly said, "Left Commander, you have taken in quite a good seedling. I hope he will not disappoint you later..."
Left Commander replied, "That is none of your concern. Whether he succeeds or fails is my problem to worry about."
It was the equivalent of taking a roundabout jab at Commander Sun.
Commander Sun snorted and did not reply further. When facing demons and devils, these Commanders stood united against the outside world, but there was also competition among them. Friction was naturally unavoidable.
Still, they knew where to draw the line.
The Demon Suppressing Guards continued waiting for the Demon Suppressing Tower to open.
Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau did not possess control over the Demon Suppressing Tower. Not only Yunzhou, but none of Great Chu's other provincial Demon Suppression Bureaus had such authority either.
The authority rested with the Imperial Capital Demon Suppression Bureau.
The Demon Suppressing Tower in the Imperial Capital Demon Suppression Bureau was the main tower, while theirs was a branch tower.
The main tower could control all branch towers.
Only when the Demon Suppressing Tower of the Imperial Capital Demon Suppression Bureau was activated would the branch towers activate as well.
There was no difference in assessment difficulty between the branch towers and the main tower. Their standards were identical.
The branch towers simply lacked independent authority.
As for why the main tower could control branch towers across thousands of mountains and rivers, that was a mystery no one understood.
At noon.
When the sun was at its fiercest, the Demon Suppressing Tower suddenly began to emit a faint glow.
Left Commander rose to his feet and looked at the Demon Suppressing Guards.
"The Demon Suppressing Tower is open. You may enter!"
"Within the Demon Suppressing Tower, opponents are matched according to each person's realm. There is no distinction based on the height of one's realm."
"Go in."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Demon Suppressing Guards entered the Demon Suppressing Tower one after another.
The Demon Suppressing Tower contained its own separate space. Even accommodating several hundred people at once was no problem.
"I wonder whether our Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau can produce a B-rank Genius this time," one of the Commanders said.
Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau had not produced a B-rank Genius in twenty years. If none appeared this time, it would make a full thirty years.
Their Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau would truly lose face before the Demon Suppression Bureaus of other provinces.
Even the Imperial Capital Demon Suppression Bureau suspected that they lacked the determination and ability to uncover talent.
"There is no need to worry. I have confidence in Fu Yunxuan. I recognize her talent. She should be able to pass the sixth floor and be rated a B-rank Genius," Commander Shen said. His tone was calm, but filled with confidence.
The several Commanders relaxed slightly. Fu Yunxuan's talent truly was extraordinary. If even she had no hope this time, there was even less to say for the others.
Fu Yunxuan's sect had been destroyed by an evil faction. Commander Shen had rescued her and brought her into the Demon Suppression Division.
Commander Shen's strength was obvious for all to see. He was one of the three strongest people in Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau, his strength rivaling Left Commander's.
With his guidance, their chances this time were great.
"Perhaps Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau may even produce an A-rank Genius this time," Left Commander said with a half-smile.
Upon hearing that, Commander Sun could not help laughing. "Left Commander, you do not actually believe that boy's nonsense, do you?" His voice carried a trace of teasing and doubt.
Left Commander remained composed and said indifferently, "We will know when the results come out."
Commander Sun shook his head, disdain written across his face. "A-rank Geniuses are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns throughout all of Great Chu. Aside from the Imperial Capital Demon Suppression Bureau, I have only heard that Tianzhou has one A-rank Genius this time."
Commander Shen laughed loudly. "Commander Sun, do not be so impatient. What if Old Left really turns out to be right this time? That would be a tremendous blessing for our Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau."
Commander Sun said, "Let us hope so!"
He did not believe in the slightest that Chu Jiang could obtain the title of A-rank Genius.
C-rank Genius was still somewhat possible, considering the boy had defeated Gu Hongchen.
He did have some real skill.
Dear readers, the chapter was posted incorrectly and has now been corrected. This is the newly updated chapter.
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