Great Zhou Demon Suppression Division, Assessment Quotas

"In other words, if I want to join a sect, I don't need to leave Great Zhou's borders."

A glint flashed through Lin Changqing's eyes as he asked in a deep voice, "Then how can I join a sect? What conditions are required?"

Lin Changqing did not care in the slightest that the Great Zhou Dynasty was no longer what it had once been, its prestige fading.

The Great Zhou Dynasty belonged to the Great Zhou imperial family, not to him, Lin Changqing.

Whether it prospered forever or fell to ruin had nothing to do with him.

What he wanted was to obtain more Martial Arts Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills, perfect his Five Elements Technique, and walk farther down the martial path.

Everlasting Life was his pursuit.

"To join a sect, you only need to pass the entrance assessments of the various major sects."

Chen San glanced at Lin Changqing, then his expression suddenly turned solemn as he said in a deep voice, "With Young Master Lin's strength and talent, I cannot say whether you can pass the assessments of those great Martial Arts Sects.

"But if it is merely an ordinary Martial Arts Sect, there will certainly be no problem.

"However!

"I do not recommend that Young Master Lin join a Martial Arts Sect.

"Compared to that, the Imperial Court's Demon Suppression Division may be more suitable for Young Master Lin..."

"Oh? Why is that?"

Lin Changqing raised his eyebrows, looking at Chen San with some surprise.

"Young Master Lin knows nothing about Martial Arts Sects. All sect disciples must leave their homes and travel to the sect's mountain gate.

"That is only one reason.

"The most important point is that sects are not paradises beyond the world. Competition within them is exceedingly brutal.

"Moreover, most sects are neither wholly righteous nor wholly evil. They regard all living beings under heaven as straw dogs, willing to stop at nothing to achieve their ends.

"I fear that does not suit Young Master Lin's temperament.

"More importantly, Martial Arts Sects place tremendous importance on status and rank. Their disciples are divided into outer disciples, inner disciples, true disciples, and so on.

"Unless you reach the corresponding rank, you cannot learn profound cultivation methods or Martial Skills..."

Chen San said in a deep voice, "The Great Zhou Demon Suppression Division is different. Although the Great Zhou Dynasty has declined with each passing year, its foundations remain.

"The Demon Suppression Division in particular stands apart from all the Imperial Court's major departments.

"It is the fairest place of all.

"If Young Master Lin can enter the Demon Suppression Division, then with your martial talent, you will certainly receive focused training. It will also be easier for you to obtain superior Martial Arts Cultivation Methods, Martial Skills, "and even many other resources.

"Because the Demon Suppression Division values merit. Even if you are only the lowest-ranking Demon Slaying Guard in the Division, so long as your merits are sufficient, you can learn whatever Martial Skill you wish.

"Furthermore, the Demon Suppression Division possesses the largest and most comprehensive Scripture Pavilion under heaven.

"At the beginning of Great Zhou's founding, the Great Zhou Grand Ancestor personally established the Demon Suppression Division. His might crushed the realm, and he forcibly gathered the inheritances of Martial Arts Sects across the land to establish the Scripture Pavilion..."

"Shopkeeper Chen, are you so certain that I do not agree with the ways Martial Arts Sects conduct themselves? Perhaps I am precisely the sort of person who will stop at nothing to achieve my ends?"

Lin Changqing gave a light laugh.

"If Young Master Lin were such a person, Qingfeng Stockade would not have been destroyed." Chen San smiled faintly.

"Heh heh!"

Lin Changqing smiled without speaking.

Yet inwardly, he rather admired Chen San. The man had actually seen straight through his temperament.

To be honest, if Martial Arts Sects truly were as Chen San described, then he indeed did not wish to go.

Although Everlasting Life was the pursuit of his life, that did not mean he would treat all living beings under heaven as objects to be toyed with, or even regard them as ants.

Most importantly, he did not understand Martial Arts Sects.

But he also knew that the White Lotus Sect was likely a Martial Arts Sect from beyond Great Zhou's borders.

And the White Lotus Sect's way of doing things truly displeased him, which had already given him a subjective prejudice against Martial Arts Sects.

Of course!

The chief reason was that the Demon Suppression Division possessed the most comprehensive Scripture Pavilion under heaven.

It had gathered Martial Arts Cultivation Methods from across the land.

That was what he wanted most.

Lin Changqing had long since made plans for his own martial path. His comprehension was heaven-defying; in the future, he would surely forge a path that belonged to him alone.

He would study the Martial Arts Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills of the world, drawing upon the strengths of every school.

And create a martial arts method of his own.

This was something Lin Changqing had planned long ago, and the Demon Suppression Division Scripture Pavilion was clearly better suited to him.

Countless thoughts flashed through Lin Changqing's mind, and a sharp gleam flickered in his eyes as he looked meaningfully at Chen San. "Shopkeeper Chen.

It seems you know the Demon Suppression Division very well, and think highly of it too..."

"Hahaha... To be honest, I am one of the Demon Suppression Division's External Personnel."

Chen San immediately burst into laughter. "But I dare guarantee that every word I said to Young Master Lin just now was true.

There was absolutely no falsehood in it.

I do want Young Master Lin to join the Demon Suppression Division, but I won't force you.

How Young Master Lin chooses is your freedom..."

"The Demon Suppression Division is short on people right now?"

The corner of Lin Changqing's lips rose as he gave a light laugh. "Could it be that External Personnel like you also have a task of recruiting people?"

"Ah..."

Chen San froze, then followed with a bitter smile. "Young Master Lin, you jest. I have no recruitment task. I simply think Young Master Lin has excellent talent. If you can join the Demon Suppression Division, you'll go much farther in the future.

In truth!

Whether Young Master Lin can join the Demon Suppression Division still depends on passing the assessment.

Not just anyone can enter the Great Zhou Demon Suppression Division..."

Lin Changqing nodded without replying.

He was deep in thought, still making his final calculations of gains and losses over whether to join the Demon Suppression Division.

At that moment, Chen San spoke again. "Young Master Lin can give it some thought, if you're interested.

I have a recommended assessment slot here, which I can give to Young Master Lin.

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As it happens, the Demon Suppressing Division will hold an assessment a month from now. If you miss this one, you'll have to wait another year.

Unless you catch the eye of the higher-ups in the Demon Suppression Division and are specially recruited into the Division..."

As he spoke.

Chen San took out a token of greenwood and handed it to Lin Changqing. "This is the Identity Token for the Demon Suppression Division assessment."

Lin Changqing hesitated slightly before taking the token from Chen San.

He sought the Dao and long life.

Remaining in Green Mountain Village was certainly not an option. Now, it seemed that joining the Demon Suppression Division was the best choice.

"Mr. Lin thanks Shopkeeper Chen. I owe you a favor."

Lin Changqing took the token and examined it. It was entirely like greenwood, with the three characters "Demon Suppression Division" written in bold, sweeping strokes on one side.

On the other side were engraved the words "Assessment Token," along with a string of numbers.

Presumably, they represented some sort of identification number.

"Young Master Lin is too courteous. As External Personnel of the Demon Suppression Division, it is my duty to recommend worthy people to the Division."

Chen San quickly waved his hands, then said with a bitter smile, "Of course, I have selfish motives as well.

I hope you can successfully join the Demon Suppression Division.

The Demon Suppression Division stands apart from every department of the Imperial Court. Even the lowest-ranking Demon Slaying Guard holds an exalted status, comparable to a county magistrate.

If you can become a Demon Slaying Guard, it would bring great benefits to both me, Chen San, and my Chen Family.

I'm not afraid of Young Master Lin laughing at me.

At first, I actually wanted to send the younger members of my family to take the assessment.

Unfortunately, although my Chen Family is one of Fengle County's Three Great Families, our younger generation is disappointingly lacking. They do not even qualify to take the assessment..."

"Assessment qualifications?"

Lin Changqing frowned, then asked, "What conditions are needed to take the assessment?"

"Two conditions."

Chen San raised two fingers and said solemnly, "You must be no older than eighteen, and you must have Entered the Ranks of Martial Dao. Only then can you qualify for the assessment.

And that only grants you the qualifications.

Judging by the results from previous years, without the strength of the seventh rank, it is simply impossible to pass the assessment..."

Hiss!

Lin Changqing was taken aback, then secretly drew in a cold breath.

The Demon Suppression Division's requirements were truly strict.

Only Ranked Martial Artists under eighteen could qualify for the assessment, and anyone below the seventh rank had no chance at all of passing it.

No wonder Chen San had given the slot to him.

Naturally, Lin Changqing did not believe that the Chen Family had no younger generation who had achieved Entering the Ranks of Martial Dao by eighteen.

But he did believe that if they wanted to find someone who had reached the seventh rank before turning eighteen, they probably truly could not find one.

Forget the Chen Family—even all of Fengle County probably had only a handful.

Chen San was an old fox. Knowing full well that none of his family's juniors could pass the assessment, why waste this slot?

Giving it to Lin Changqing was different. This was an investment.

Once Lin Changqing entered the Demon Suppression Division, given Chen San's understanding of him, Lin Changqing would surely owe him this favor.

Then Lin Changqing would become another pillar of support for the Chen Family.

In truth, Chen San understood this perfectly well—so how could Lin Changqing not understand it too?

This was an exchange of benefits.

Yet Lin Changqing did not resent it. For relationships in this world to endure, ties of interest were in fact the most dependable.

Chen San wanted to invest in him, while he needed the slot in Chen San's hands.

This was mutually beneficial.