True Understanding of All Artifacts

"The Zhao family was lucky that Master Ciren happened to pass by."

"Otherwise, I fear they would have met the same fate as that family last time."

"That's right."

"The world is getting more chaotic these days."

"Zombies, bandits who kill people."

"I heard there could be a war up north at any time."

In the noodle shop.

Song Chengan ate his noodles while listening to Boss Shi and the others brag.

He quite enjoyed the atmosphere.

The reason these people didn't mention Song Chengan was because he had specifically asked them yesterday not to spread the word that he had saved the Zhao family.

Song Chengan didn't want to be disturbed.

So, in the eyes of Boss Shi and the others, Scholar Song was still the useless Scholar Song.

"Wu family zombies?"

"Hasn't the zombie that the Wu family patriarch turned into been dealt with yet?"

Someone asked in confusion.

Boss Shi said, "It's been dealt with."

"A few monks from Xuanqing Temple went yesterday and killed and burned the zombie."

"It's just that the monks arrived a bit late, and the zombie harmed another family this morning."

"Everyone in that family died, except for the woman who happened to be taking her daughter up the mountain to gather firewood at the time."

"By the way, Old Sun, did your boy go to participate in the Demon Suppression Division's recruitment drive?"

"I heard they're recruiting over ten people!"

The man called Old Sun heard this and revealed a knowing smile.

"My boy, he's only learned a few parlor tricks. How could he compare to others?"

"Don't joke around."

"You mean your boy isn't going to try?"

Old Sun shook his head.

"No, no, he's not going."

"This is a chance to soar to the heavens."

There's a significant shortage of people right now, and they're recruiting many. As long as you can last a few rounds at the recruitment fair, your chances are good.

"If he doesn't go now, it might be difficult later."

"For a small family like ours, we don't think about these things," Old Sun said, paid, and left.

"Oh, Scholar Song, I heard Zheng Duo found a son-in-law in Liangzhou. Aren't you worried?"

Someone who liked to gossip said to Song Chengan after Old Sun left.

Song Chengan chuckled, "Why should I worry about rumors?"

"Didn't people used to say your son looked like that Wang San from next door!"

Song Chengan chuckled again.

The speaker was named Hu Lu, a pig castrator.

This man was always loose-lipped.

But judging by this, the Zheng family hadn't officially announced that Zheng Duo had cut ties with him.

Or perhaps Zheng Duo had left in too much of a hurry.

"You're talking nonsense."

"Who said that bastard!"

"Hu Gou'er, he's my seed."

Hu Lu's face turned red.

"You good-for-nothing Scholar Song, how dare you spout such rubbish! I'll beat you to death today."

Hu Lu said, got up, and was about to hit Song Chengan.

"Old Hu, don't be impulsive!"

"Come on, come on, it's just talk, why are you getting violent!"

"Scholar Song, hurry up and leave. Old Hu has had a couple of drinks and is a bit confused."

Although the people around usually joked with each other, they all quickly got up to restrain Hu Lu when they saw he was genuinely angry and about to resort to violence.

and told Song Chengan to leave quickly.

"You gambling parasite, if it weren't for everyone here today, I'd beat you to death."

Song Chengan shrugged.

He walked out of the noodle shop, carrying the Demon Subduing Staff wrapped in cloth.

"Master Hu, you're getting worked up."

"I wonder if Hu Gou'er is really Wang San'er's son?"

"I heard your wife lived in the same courtyard as Wang San'er when she was little."

"Exactly, exactly."

"You're talking nonsense, that's my son."

"I'm not so sure."

"Otherwise, why would you want to hit Scholar Song just because he said one thing to you?"

"I look down on this person. Someone who gambles like trash, how dare he joke with me, Old Hu?"

A commotion erupted from the noodle shop.

Song Chengan ambled towards the city gate.

At the city gate.

Song Chengan saw a notice.

It roughly stated that the Demon Suppression Division in Lingqiu was recruiting skilled individuals.

They needed martial artists of third-rate or above, and several scribes.

However, what puzzled Song Chengan was that it didn't mention recruiting Qi Refiners.

The path of a martial artist was a dead end.

Even a first-rate martial artist's strength was only comparable to a Qi Refiner at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Even becoming a Martial Arts Grandmaster wouldn't be enough to match a Golden Core Cultivator.

Besides, becoming a Martial Arts Grandmaster wasn't easy.

One in ten thousand martial artists might become a Martial Arts Grandmaster.

This was why the status of martial artists in Chen Kingdom had always been low.

Of course, that was in comparison to Qi Refiners.

Compared to ordinary people, martial artists were still important figures.

As for Martial Arts Grandmasters, if one could achieve that level, they could be directly appointed as generals.

For example, the Liangzhou General was a Martial Arts Grandmaster.

Strange.

Song Chengan shook his head and left the city.

He had also thought about finding an opportunity to join the imperial court.

After all, there were no sects in Lingqiu County, and if Song Chengan wanted to grow quickly, he needed to join some power.

This was Song Chengan's first time visiting Xuanqing Temple.

From a distance, the golden roof of the temple nestled in the forest emitted a golden light, like a palace.

As he got closer.

Song Chengan was even more amazed.

Glazed tiles for the roof, red lacquered pillars.

A golden Buddha sat high above, with a steady stream of pilgrims.

Wind chimes hung under the eaves.

Under the eaves.

Song Chengan listened quietly.

The wind chimes, stirred by the breeze, produced pleasant sounds that calmed the mind and spirit.

"These are all Magic Tools."

Song Chengan exclaimed.

Was this the strength of Xuanqing Temple?

"Little monk!"

Song Chengan stopped a young monk.

"I was invited by Master Ciren to find him at the temple."

The young monk glanced at Song Chengan, his expression a little strange.

"Benefactor, follow me!"

Song Chengan followed the young monk, winding through many paths until they arrived behind Xuanqing Temple.

Song Chengan met Monk Ciren.

It was a vegetable patch.

Monk Ciren was rolling up his trouser legs and sleeves, weeding the ground!

He was still wearing the same worn-out monk's robe full of patches, looking out of place in the prosperous Xuanqing Temple.

"Benefactor Song has arrived!"

Monk Ciren walked out of the vegetable patch with a smile.

"Are you thirsty? Have some water."

Master Ciren said, drawing a ladle of water from the well in the courtyard and giving it to Song Chengan.

Song Chengan thanked him.

He took a sip; it was exceptionally sweet.

"I wonder why Master Ciren invited me here?"

"It's about the Demon Suppression Division."

"The Demon Suppression Division?"

Song Chengan was a little confused.

He didn't seem to have any dealings with the Demon Suppression Division.

"A few days ago, Lord Wu from the Demon Suppression Division found me and wanted to invite me to join them."

"But I'm old, so I declined."

"However, I want to recommend you. What do you think?"

"Recommend me?" Song Chengan asked.

Although he didn't know the old monk's exact strength, based on his actions that day, he was at least a master at the Foundation Establishment stage.

But he himself was only a Qi Refiner at the Initial Dao Seed stage.

Others wanted a Foundation Establishment cultivator, not a beginner at the Initial Dao Seed stage.

"Master, my current strength is only at the Initial Dao Seed stage."

"Lord Wu seems to want a master like you."

The old monk smiled and said, "I've only been cultivating for a little over a hundred years longer than you."

"If Benefactor Song had the same amount of time, he would have surpassed me long ago."

"Moreover, joining the Demon Suppression Division is, in essence, for the sake of the people of Lingqiu County."

"Benefactor Song, although you are just a rogue cultivator, you have a compassionate heart. If you don't join the Demon Suppression Division, who will?"

"I saw on the Demon Suppression Division's notice that they didn't say they were recruiting Qi Refiners."

"Could it be that Qi Refiners are not recruited through selection by the Demon Suppression Division?"

Monk Ciren said, "Not entirely."

"In the capital, Liangzhou, and other major regions, the Demon Suppression Division already has a complete selection process."

"It's a selection method called the 'Minor Martial Arts Examination,' and only those with a clean background who win on the arena can be selected for the Demon Suppression Division."

"However, in remote areas like Lingqiu, the selection of personnel still largely follows the earliest method of recommendation."

"So, in other words, the Captains in each region have the final say?"

Monk Ciren nodded. "On one hand, the imperial court doesn't have enough manpower and resources for this yet. On the other hand, it's also for the convenience of the Captains in various regions."

"After all, different regions have different rules."

"If Lord Wu wants to conduct affairs smoothly in Lingqiu, he needs the help of these families in Lingqiu."

"Therefore, the spots Lord Wu has are divided among the major powers in Lingqiu."

"And now, Lord Wu has given me one spot."

"What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Song Chengan knew that if he didn't accept Monk Ciren's recommendation, he probably wouldn't have a chance to join the Demon Suppression Division.

He had initially thought that the Demon Suppression Division would select Qi Refiners later.

Now it seemed that the selection of Qi Refiners was not open to ordinary people, at least not temporarily.

The earlier selections, which required at least third-rate martial artists, were probably for recruiting ordinary guards.

"Then thank you, Master Ciren!"

"As a rogue cultivator, I am in need of relying on a certain power."

Master Ciren nodded, "Very well, I shall write a letter to Lord Song immediately."

"By the way, Benefactor Song, let me see your weapon."

"My weapon?" Song Chengan, puzzled, took the Demon Subduing Staff from his back and handed it to Master Ciren.

Instantly, Song Chengan's eyes widened.

He saw crimson flames suddenly erupt from Master Ciren's hand, and then his Heavenly Master Demon Subduing Staff began to transform continuously in Master Ciren's grip.

Sometimes large, sometimes small!

Sometimes long, sometimes short!

"This is..."

"Crimson Flame True Qi."

"It ranks 581st among mid-grade True Qi, considered one of the middle four grades, and is most adept at refining Magic Tools."

"When I was young, I was fortunate enough to be taught by a Senior from Crimson Mountain."

"I have added a Magic Formation to your weapon, called the 'As-You-Wish Formation,' which can change the size of Magic Tools."

"As-You-Wish Formation?"

"Yes." Master Ciren nodded, "This Magic Formation is found on almost all Magic Tools. Its ability is to change the size of the Magic Tool, which is why those Magic Tools can be as large as mountains or as small as grains of rice."

"With just a thought, you can shrink the Magic Tool."

"Furthermore, I will teach you a method for nurturing weapons."

"If you nurture it daily, the Magic Tool will respond to your every whim."

Song Chengan cupped his fists, "Thank you, Master, for imparting this knowledge. May I ask what 'responding to your every whim' means?"

Master Ciren chuckled and accepted the bow.

"Speaking of responding to your every whim, let's take your Demon Subduing Staff as an example."

"Although it can shrink to the size of chopsticks, it still weighs over a hundred catties."

"If you nurture it with the weapon nurturing method, the Magic Tool will become sentient. Then, it will feel as light as nothing in your hand, but to others, it will weigh over a thousand catties if they try to touch it."

"Why don't you try it now?"

Song Chengan willed it with a thought.

The Demon Subduing Staff indeed became the length of chopsticks.

However, its weight remained unchanged.

"Benefactor Song, please listen carefully. This is the weapon nurturing method that Senior passed down to me."

"It is called 'True Understanding of All Artifacts'!"

Song Chengan quickly focused his attention.

"Please bestow this method upon me, Master!"

Song Chengan said respectfully.