Apprentice Demon Slayer

Great Xia Dynasty, Eastern Wasteland Prefecture.

Within Cangwu County City.

At the Demon Suppression Division's Cangwu County Branch headquarters, within the living quarters for Apprentice Demon Slayers, in a slightly dilapidated courtyard.

Lin Baichuan sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes flashing with brilliance, making him particularly conspicuous in the dark night.

"Tomorrow is the assessment day for all Apprentice Demon Slayers. I hope it doesn't disappoint me..."

Lin Baichuan muttered to himself, his consciousness sinking into his sea of consciousness. Instantly, a beam of light shot out from his sea of consciousness, condensing in front of Lin Baichuan into a status panel that only he could see.

[Name: Lin Baichuan] [Identity: Demon Suppression Division Apprentice Demon Slayer] [Cultivation: Body Refinement Ninth Stage] [Cultivation Technique: Golden Bell Shield (First Layer, 12%)] [Martial Skill: Seven Kill Saber Art (Beginner, 7%)] [Merit: 0]

He was not originally from this world. He had transmigrated here half a year ago. The previous body's owner was a refugee whose hometown had suffered a Demon Calamity, and all his friends and family had died.

The entire county was scorched earth for a thousand miles.

He followed other refugees, begging all the way to this Cangwu County City, and then he just kicked the bucket. Lin Baichuan then took over his body.

After transmigrating, he occupied the previous body and absorbed all of its memories.

To avoid starving to death, Lin Baichuan participated in the Demon Suppression Division's assessment with a sliver of hope. He never expected to get lucky and actually pass the assessment, becoming an Apprentice Demon Slayer.

This system was activated on the day he officially became an Apprentice Demon Slayer.

Unfortunately, the system had been activated for half a year, but it hadn't helped him at all. This was because he had no Merit. To obtain Merit, he had to kill demons.

Ever since becoming an Apprentice Demon Slayer, he had been undergoing closed-door training in the training camp.

Let alone killing demons, he hadn't even seen the shadow of a demon.

Fortunately, such days were coming to an end. Tomorrow was the training camp assessment day. The assessment content was to kill a demon alone.

"Merit, I wonder what it can be used for?"

Lin Baichuan closed the status panel and muttered to himself, "Can it directly improve cultivation, or enhance cultivation techniques and martial skills?"

The next day!

In the early morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, with stars still dotting the high heavens, Lin Baichuan was woken up by a series of drumbeats.

This was the training camp's General Summoning Drum. Once the drum sounded, all Apprentice Demon Slayers in the training camp had to go to the training grounds to assemble. Lateness would be severely punished.

Lin Baichuan dared not delay in the slightest. He rolled out of bed, grabbed a battle saber, and rushed out of the room.

He had actually stayed up all night yesterday, not even taking off his leather armor. Instead, he had meditated for the entire night.

When Lin Baichuan rushed out of his small courtyard and sprinted towards the training grounds, some people had already arrived ahead of him.

They stood uniformly beneath a high platform at the end of the training grounds.

At this moment, three men stood on the high platform, all wearing black battle robes. The difference was that the leader's robe had a silver trim, and a flame-like star was embroidered on his chest.

This was a One-Star Demon Slaying Captain.

Within the Demon Suppression Division, Demon Slaying Guards also had ranks.

Upon entering the Demon Suppression Division, one became an Apprentice Demon Slayer like Lin Baichuan. Only after passing the assessment could one become a formal Demon Slayer.

That is to say, a Junior Demon Slayer. Above Junior Demon Slayer were Intermediate and Senior Demon Slayers.

Above Senior Demon Slayers were the Demon Slaying Captains.

Unlike the division of Demon Slaying Guards, Demon Slaying Captains were divided into seven stars, with one star being the lowest and seven stars being the highest. It was rumored that above the Demon Slaying Captains, there were Demon Slaying Commandants.

The person in charge of the Demon Suppression Division in Cangwu County was a Demon Slaying Commandant.

However, Lin Baichuan had only heard about these things from others; he had never seen the legendary Demon Slaying Commandant.

He had only seen one Demon Slaying Captain, and that was the one standing on the high platform.

The person in charge of the Demon Suppression Division's training camp in Cangwu County, the One-Star Demon Slaying Captain Gao Yunshan.

"Alright, are all the people here!"

Just as Lin Baichuan was lost in thought, a deep voice sounded, echoing throughout the entire training grounds.

It was Gao Yunshan on the high platform. His eyes were like lightning as he rapidly scanned all the Apprentice Demon Slayers on the training grounds.

There were a total of eight hundred Apprentice Demon Slayers in the training camp, and they had all arrived and stood in a formation.

Upon hearing Gao Yunshan speak, everyone immediately held their breath, their faces solemn.

"You all know what day it is today. I won't waste any more words. You eight hundred people will be divided into eight groups and sent into the great prison to slay demons..."

Gao Yunshan scanned the eight hundred Apprentice Demon Slayers before continuing, "The demons you need to slay are only the most common Soldier-Tier First-Rank Demons, whose strength is equivalent to the Body Refinement Ninth Stage. With your strength, you should normally be able to pass."

However, demons are strange and unpredictable, and many accidents can happen.

Whether you can pass the assessment depends on your own destiny. Everyone, good luck! This is a hurdle you must overcome to become a formal Demon Slayer; no one can help you."

After speaking, Gao Yunshan waved his hand.

Immediately, eight Demon Slayers in black battle robes walked out from around the training grounds. With cold faces and indifferent expressions, they approached the formation of eight hundred Apprentice Demon Slayers.

Then, each led a team away.

Lin Baichuan was assigned to the third team, and their leader was a heroic and valiant woman. Her face was cold, her eyes sharp as blades, and an icy aura emanated from her, as if she had "stay away" written all over her face.

No one dared to speak. This was the most tense moment for everyone.

Moreover, with a woman as cold as ice leading them, it made everyone feel even more suppressed. The nerves of everyone in the small team were gradually tightening.

This situation became more apparent the closer they got to the Demon Suppression Division's prison. Lin Baichuan even saw that many people were sweating on their foreheads, their faces had turned pale, and their eyes were filled with fear and unease.

This was a typical case of poor psychological fortitude.

The assessment mission had a casualty rate, and it wasn't low. It was rumored that the casualty rate for each assessment reached around ten percent.

This meant that out of their eight hundred people, nearly eighty would die in this assessment.

"A warrior must have a fearless heart and strive forward. These people are already so scared before even stepping onto the battlefield. Once they truly encounter demons, they will likely tremble all over and be unable to unleash even thirty percent of their strength.

They will die even faster then."

Lin Baichuan narrowed his eyes as he surveyed his surroundings. At this moment, a voice sounded in his ear: "Baichuan, let me tell you, demons aren't that scary. Just treat them like beasts.

The more nervous and scared you are, the higher the chance of problems..."

The speaker was a bald young man walking beside Lin Baichuan. He held a long spear in one hand and grinned at Lin Baichuan.

Yang Zhan, an Apprentice Demon Slayer, was a local from Cangwu County City.

He was also one of Lin Baichuan's few friends in the Demon Suppression Division's training camp.

"Don't get cocky, be careful," Lin Baichuan shot Yang Zhan a glance and said in a deep voice, "Demons are strange and cunning, don't get caught off guard."

"Don't worry, there won't be any problems. Aren't they just mere Soldier-Tier First-Rank demons? It's not like I haven't killed them before; I've killed stronger ones than this."

Yang Zhan grinned dismissively, looking relaxed and at ease.

Lin Baichuan couldn't help but curl his lips but didn't refute Yang Zhan's words.

As a direct descendant of the Yang Family in Cangwu County, Yang Zhan had been a key focus of their cultivation since childhood. Now only sixteen, his cultivation had already reached the peak of Body Refinement Eighth Stage, and it was rumored he was only one step away from the Seventh Stage.

With such strength, participating in this assessment was purely a formality.

Noble families are different; their resources, platforms, and knowledge far surpass those of ordinary commoners. But it doesn't matter, I have the system. After today, I will soar to the heavens...

Lin Baichuan thought to himself, his eyes flashing with sharp light as he looked ahead.

They had arrived at the Demon Suppression Division's prison.