Merit Points Reign Supreme

Until Lin Feng's figure disappeared, the people in the courtyard seemed to wake from a dream, erupting into a clamor.

"Madman! That guy is a complete lunatic!"

"So ruthless! He attacks to kill at the slightest disagreement!"

"Now there's a good show to watch. Wei Jin has connections within the Division, that kid definitely won't have an easy time!"

Inside the room, Lin Feng remained oblivious to the outside discussions.

He knew that as a newcomer, constant forbearance would only lead to escalating bullying.

Only by employing thunderous methods could he deter the petty and secure a peaceful cultivation environment for himself.

He opened the Demon Suppression Division Handbook given to him by Chu Mengxi and began to study it carefully.

The handbook detailed the structure and rules of the Demon Suppression Division.

The entire Nan Yan Commandery Demon Suppression Division was headed by one Silver Token Manager.

An unfathomably powerful expert of the Dan Yuan Realm.

Beneath him were thirteen Bronze Token Demon Suppressors, all at the peak of the True Qi Realm.

Below the Bronze Token holders were dozens of Iron Token Demon Slayers, generally in the middle to high stages of the Meridian Opening Realm.

At the very bottom were hundreds of commoners, with cultivation ranging from Body Tempering to the Meridian Opening Realm.

And the only way to establish oneself within the Demon Suppression Division, to advance, and to obtain better resources was to earn "Merit Points."

Killing demons, solving evil cases, and completing missions assigned by the Division all earned corresponding Merit Points.

Merit Points were the sole hard currency within the Demon Suppression Division.

They could be used to exchange for cultivation techniques, martial skills, divine weapons, and elixirs.

"Doing missions and grinding monsters, perfect."

Lin Feng understood.

The next day, Wei Jin did not reappear. He was likely recuperating and gathering reinforcements.

Lin Feng, enjoying the peace, headed directly to the Armory.

The Demon Suppression Division's Armory was many times larger than the one in Qingyang County, standing a full three stories tall.

The first floor housed basic cultivation techniques and some low-tier martial skills, open to all Demon Slayers.

The second floor required at least an Iron Token status and a small expenditure of Merit Points to access.

The third floor was exclusively for Bronze Token holders, and every cultivation technique and martial skill within was priceless.

Although Lin Feng currently held Iron Token status, his Merit Points were zero.

His purpose for this visit was to see if there was a movement technique superior to Flowing Wind Steps.

However, when he reached the entrance of the Armory, he was stopped by two stewards on guard duty.

"Halt! The Armory is a restricted area, no unauthorized personnel allowed!"

These two stewards were close cronies of Wei Jin.

Clearly, they had received orders and were specifically there to make things difficult for Lin Feng.

Lin Feng displayed his Iron Token: "I am the newly appointed Demon Slayer Lin Feng, here to view martial skills."

"Newcomer?"

One of the stewards said with a fake smile, "Sorry, the Armory is undergoing inventory today and is temporarily closed. Come back tomorrow."

"Inventory?"

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. He had clearly seen people entering and exiting the Armory just moments ago.

This was obviously an excuse.

"What? Do you have a problem?"

Another steward stepped forward, subtly releasing the aura of a fourth-stage Meridian Opening Realm cultivator.

"We are acting under orders. If you dare to cause trouble here, you will be violating Division regulations, and we can apprehend you on the spot!"

They were certain Lin Feng wouldn't dare to fight here.

The Armory was a restricted area, and private duels were a serious offense.

Lin Feng sneered as he looked at these two clowns. He didn't argue and turned to leave.

"Tch, I thought he was so tough, turns out he's just a coward!"

"Yeah, offending Brother Wei and still expecting to get by in the Demon Suppression Division? Dream on!"

The taunts from behind reached his ears, but Lin Feng ignored them.

He didn't return to his dormitory but went directly to the Demon Suppression Division's "Mission Hall."

The Mission Hall was bustling with people, a hive of activity. A giant Xuan Crystal stone wall displayed various missions in scrolling text.

[Mission: Clear out the bandits in Black Wind Fortress south of the city. Reward: 50 Merit Points.]

[Task: Investigate the disappearance of wealthy merchant Li Yuanwai. Reward: 60 Merit Points.]

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[Task: Hunt a Second Order Demon Beast, the Iron Back Wolf, and retrieve its demon core. Reward: 300 Merit Points.]

Lin Feng's gaze swept quickly across the stone walls, searching for a suitable task.

Just then, a sarcastic voice sounded beside him.

"Well, well, isn't this the hotshot who dared to cripple Brother Wei's hand right after arriving? What, got kicked out of the Armory and now you want to take on tasks to earn Merit Points?"

Lin Feng turned to look. It was several of Wei Jin's lackeys.

It seemed this group was determined to make things difficult for him.

"Kid, let me give you some advice."

The leader of the youths pointed to a blood-red task at the very bottom of the stone wall and said with schadenfreude:

"See that task? 'Weeping Ghost Mine.' A Three-Star extermination mission. It's been hanging there for three months. Seven or eight groups have taken it, and not a single one has returned alive. If you've really got the guts, go take that task. If you can complete it, we'll walk the other way when we see you from now on!"

This was clearly a stratagem, a ploy to praise him into a trap, using a mission that was certain death to get rid of Lin Feng.

The surrounding Demon Slayer Envoys all wore expressions of amusement, eager to watch the show.

The Weeping Ghost Mine was a notorious death trap within the Nan Yan Commandery's Demon Suppression Division.

Legend had it that an extremely powerful evil spirit resided within, and even several Iron Token Demon Slayers had perished there.

Everyone believed Lin Feng would never dare to accept it.

However, as Lin Feng looked at the blood-red task, a flicker of intense interest flashed in his eyes.

[Three-Star Extermination Mission: Weeping Ghost Mine]
[Task Description: An abandoned iron mine thirty li outside the city. Recently, miners have frequently gone missing, and the sound of weeping is often heard at night, with overwhelming resentment. Preliminary investigations indicate the presence of numerous Vengeful Spirits and powerful, unknown Demons.]
[Task Reward: 1500 Merit Points, choice of one cultivation technique.]

"Powerful, unknown Demons?"

"1500 Merit Points?"

Lin Feng smiled.

This wasn't poison; it was clearly a custom-made gift package for him!

He walked to the task board, and under everyone's shocked gaze, he extended his finger and tapped on the blood-red task.

"I accept this task."

"He… he actually accepted it?!"

"He's crazy! Absolutely insane! A newcomer daring to take on a Three-Star difficulty death mission!"

"I bet he'll be torn apart by the resentment outside before he even gets to the mine entrance!"

The Mission Hall instantly erupted. Everyone looked at Lin Feng as if he were an idiot, a dead man walking.

The few lackeys who had deliberately provoked him were first astonished, then overjoyed, cruel smiles spreading across their faces.

In their eyes, Lin Feng was doomed.

Even the official in charge of posting the tasks couldn't help but offer a word of caution.

"Lin Feng, have you thought this through? This task is no small matter. It has already cost the lives of thirteen of our Demon Suppression Division's best, including a Bronze Token Demon Suppressor. Once you accept it, your life is your own."

"I've thought it through."

Lin Feng's reply was crisp and decisive.

He collected the task scroll and, under the complex gazes of the crowd, turned and left.

After Chu Mengxi heard the news, she found Lin Feng immediately.

"Are you crazy?"

"Do you know what kind of place the Weeping Ghost Mine is? The resentment there is enough to make a Meridian Opening Realm martial artist lose their mind and become a Living Corpse! Why did you accept this task? Did Wei Jin and the others force you?!"

She thought Lin Feng had been provoked into acting impulsively.

"No."

Lin Feng shook his head. "I need Merit Points, and I also need… tempering. Besides, you know my strength."

Chu Mengxi was at a loss for words for a moment.

In his eyes, she saw no trace of bravado or recklessness, only absolute confidence.

"…Alright."

Finally, Chu Mengxi sighed, took out a white jade bottle from her embrace, and handed it over.

"This is a Calm Heart Pill. It can stabilize the mind and resist the invasion of resentment. Remember, if things become impossible, retreat immediately. A living man can always find more firewood."

"Thank you."

Lin Feng didn't refuse her kindness and accepted the pill.

That afternoon, Lin Feng, alone and on horseback, left the Nan Yan Commandery capital and headed towards the Weeping Ghost Mine, thirty li outside the city.