Demon Suppressor

Great Jing Dynasty, Cangyun City.

Only the central grand hall among the glazed tiles of the Demon Suppression Palace was brightly lit.

Inside the hall, dozens of young people dressed in uniform black robes stood ramrod straight, the atmosphere heavy.

They were the latest batch of Probationary Demon Suppressors for Cangyun City's Demon Suppression Division.

Shen Che stood among them, his expression calm, his breathing long and steady.

He was different from the others.

He was a transmigrator.

Having arrived in this world, where demonic beasts ran rampant and human lives were as cheap as grass, seventeen years ago, he understood the importance of power better than anyone.

To survive, to live with dignity, he had started practicing martial arts as soon as he could walk.

Fortunately, this body's talent was decent; at seventeen, he was in the Body Tempering Realm.

With this achievement, he had successfully knocked on the doors of the Demon Suppression Division.

But only he knew that this was still far from enough.

The Body Tempering Realm was considered mere cannon fodder in this world; they wouldn't even be worthy of being a snack for a true demonic beast.

His true reliance was the "Time Manipulation System" that had been bound to him when he transmigrated.

It was just that this damn system had a activation condition—it required killing demonic beasts and obtaining so-called "time points" to activate.

This created a vicious cycle.

Without strength, how could he kill demonic beasts? Without killing demonic beasts, how could he activate the system and become stronger?

Joining the Demon Suppression Division was his only chance to break the deadlock.

"Silence."

A deep, resonant voice came from the head of the grand hall.

Everyone's bodies stiffened, and the hall instantly fell silent.

The speaker was the head of Cangyun City's Demon Suppression Division.

He also wore a black robe, but his was embroidered with a saber emblem of the Demon Suppression Division in gold thread. His face was stern, exuding authority without anger.

"I know you are all elite talents, chosen from a hundred, the pride of Cangyun City's younger generation."

Chen Xiao's voice echoed in the hall.

"But in the Demon Suppression Division, your past glories are worthless."

"Here, the only criterion for judgment is how many demonic beasts you have slain with the saber in your hand."

"Demonic beasts are not your fellow disciples you spar with in the training grounds. They are cunning, cruel, they prey on humans, and they will use every means to tear your bodies apart and devour your flesh and blood."

Chen Xiao's words were chillingly cold, causing the complexions of many young people in the hall to turn pale.

"The first lesson in becoming a Demon Suppressor is not martial arts or cultivation techniques, but courage."

"Without the heart of a strong person who dares to face demonic beasts, even the most powerful martial arts are useless."

"Tonight, your assessment task is singular."

Chen Xiao paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone.

"Enter the Demon Suppressing Prison and personally kill a demonic beast that is being held captive."

As the words fell, a wave of suppressed gasps rippled through the crowd.

The Demon Suppressing Prison!

That was where the Demon Suppression Division kept live demonic beasts, the nightmare of all children in Cangyun City.

And now, they, the Probationary Demon Suppressors, were actually going there to kill a demonic beast?

"Scared?"

Chen Xiao sneered.

"If you're scared, you can get out now. The Demon Suppression Division doesn't keep useless trash."

No one dared to move, nor did anyone dare to respond.

What a joke, after coming this far, who would back out?

"Very good."

Chen Xiao nodded with satisfaction.

"The demonic beasts in the prison have had their strength suppressed by formations, with most of them not even possessing one-tenth of their full power, and many are at the level of the Body Tempering Realm."

"For you, this is a challenge, and even more so, an opportunity."

"Slaying demonic beasts will not only temper your courage but also allow you to personally experience the aura of demonic beasts, laying the foundation for future missions outside."

With that, he waved his hand.

A clerk from the Demon Suppression Division stepped forward, holding a tray. On the tray were nearly a hundred black iron tokens, each engraved with a different number.

"Each of you will step forward and receive a token. The number on the token corresponds to your target for tonight."

The crowd lined up, stepping forward one by one to receive their tokens.

When it was Shen Che's turn, he took the token, feeling its coolness in his hand.

Three words were carved onto the token: First Floor, Ninety-One.

"The token is not only the key to opening the cell door, but also your proof of identity."

Chen Xiao's voice rang out again.

"Remember, the assessment time is one hour."

"One hour from now, gather here at the entrance. Those who are alive will have passed. Those who do not return will remain inside forever."

"Furthermore, the Demon Suppressing Prison has three floors. Your activity is limited to the first floor only. No one is allowed to go to the second floor without permission!"

"Depart."

Chen Xiao wasted no words and turned, striding out of the hall.

The entrance to the Demon Suppressing Prison was located in an inconspicuous corner of the Demon Suppression Division's back courtyard, a massive stone staircase leading underground.

The staircase spiraled downwards, seemingly bottomless. Moonlight stones were embedded in the walls at intervals, emitting a faint glow.

The light was dim, barely allowing for visibility.

After an unknown amount of time walking, the stone staircase beneath their feet finally ended.

Before them lay a wide corridor, with cells sealed by thick, bowl-thick wrought iron bars on either side.

This was the first floor of the Demon Suppressing Prison.

"Find your targets. One hour, remember the time."

Chen Xiao dropped this sentence and turned to guard the entrance, ignoring the others.

Nearly a hundred Probationary Demon Suppressors looked at each other, then quickly dispersed, each searching for their designated cell according to the number on their token.

Shen Che gripped the saber at his waist, searching according to the cell numbers.

First Floor, Number Eleven.

He passed a cell, and a frail, aged voice came from within.

"Young man, stop for a moment."

Shen Che paused and looked inside.

In the shadows of the cell sat a white-haired old man, clad in tattered prisoner's clothes, his limbs bound by thick chains.

"I observe your bones are remarkable, your Blood Essence is abundant. You are a rare prodigy in martial arts, one in ten thousand. It is a pity your cultivation method is crude and unbearable, a waste of such good talent."

The old man's voice carried a peculiar allure.

"If you release me, I will impart to you an unparalleled divine art, the Heaven Devouring Demonic Art. This art can devour all things in heaven and earth and turn them to your use. Cultivated to its extreme, it is enough to allow you to ascend to the heavens in a single step and become the supreme powerhouse in this world!"

If it were a less resolute young man, they might have been tempted on the spot.

An unparalleled divine art, ascending to the heavens in a single step – who could resist such temptation?

But Shen Che merely glanced at him.

A faint, almost imperceptible demonic aura lingered around the old man.

Though faint, it couldn't fool him.

Besides, if he truly possessed such an incredible technique, why wouldn't he cultivate it himself? Why would he be locked up here?

Was he trying to pull the wool over his eyes?

Shen Che paid him no mind and walked away.

"Hey, young man, don't go! The price can be negotiated! If not a divine art, how about a divine weapon? I know the location of an ancient treasure trove..."

The voice behind him grew more urgent, finally turning into an exasperated curse.

Shen Che ignored it.

These imprisoned Demonic Beasts would resort to any means to survive.

Temptation, deception, feigning weakness – these were all their specialties.

If you believed their lies and opened the cell door, the only outcome was to be torn to shreds.

He continued forward and soon found his target.

First Floor, Number Ninety-One.

The cell was very dim, only a humanoid silhouette curled up in the corner could be seen.

Shen Che did not approach rashly, but observed first.

The floor and walls of the cell were inscribed with complex runes, forming a suppression formation.

It was this formation that weakened the Demonic Beast's power.

He placed the token on the large lock of the cell door.

"Click."

With a light sound, the heavy iron lock sprang open.

Shen Che took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the heavy prison door, drawing the standard long saber at his waist at the same time.

"Black Tiger Saber."

The blade was long and narrow, gleaming coldly under the moonlight stone's illumination.

As the prison door opened, the silhouette in the corner moved.

It slowly stood up, revealing its true form.

It was a Demonic Beast covered entirely in azure scales, nearly two zhang tall, with a robust build. Its arms were long enough to reach past its knees, and its claws were as sharp as knives.

Its face had no nose or mouth, only a single, massive eye that stared fixedly at Shen Che, filled with savage and bloodthirsty desire.

"Roar!"

The Azure Scaled Demonic Beast let out a low growl and lunged fiercely at Shen Che.

Shen Che advanced instead of retreating.

"Black Tiger Saber Technique, Second Form, Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain!"

A flash of saber light!

Shen Che's figure passed through the Azure Scaled Demonic Beast.

Squelch!

A massive head flew into the air, and dark green blood sprayed out.

The Azure Scaled Demonic Beast's huge body swayed, then crashed heavily to the ground. It twitched a few times before becoming still.

One saber strike, decapitation.

Clean and swift.

Just then, a cold, mechanical voice sounded in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Detected host's first Demonic Beast kill, Time Manipulation System officially activated!]

[Detected host killed 'Azure Scaled Demonic Beast', gained Time Value: 10 points.]

It's here!

He had waited so long for this moment.

"Time Value..."

Shen Che's thoughts raced.

Since it's called the Time Manipulation System, the function of this Time Value is most likely to modify things related to time.

For example, the cultivation time for martial arts?