Demon Suppressing Division

The next moment, the kitchen knife in Qin Bo's hand snapped in two.

The evil spirit's head was split in half by that very slash.

Endless red light surged in, dispelling the boundless ghostly aura within.

As the evil spirit faced death, it struck out with one palm.

The palm slammed into Qin Bo's chest, and a gray-black handprint surfaced.

Qin Bo spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward.

The old Taoist caught him in one swift motion.

"You brat, you're truly a freak!"

The evil spirit struggled in agony for a while before finally dissipating into the air.

Before Qin Bo lost consciousness, he heard the voice he had dreamed of hearing.

[ Ding, slain the evil-grade Strange being's Soul-Gathering Body ]

[ Obtained 50 years of lifespan ]

Then he gloriously passed out.

The old Taoist gazed at the unconscious Qin Bo in his arms, then glanced at the gradually dispersing black mist. The furrow between his brows finally relaxed.

"Good lad. A Body Tempering Realm cultivator has slain an evil-grade Strange being by defying his realm—what a prodigy!"

He then looked at the ghostly handprint on Qin Bo's chest.

The lingering ghostly aura was eroding his body, but before long, it was scattered by Qin Bo's vital energy and blood.

"Gasp... What kind of body-tempering method is this?! His vital energy and blood are like a dragon's, like some wild beast!"

"Just as well. This old Taoist doesn't have the strength to save you either!"

Who knew how much time had passed!

Only then did Qin Bo slowly awaken.

With a whoosh, he scrambled up from the bed and looked around at his surroundings!

"Where is this? This isn't my home?"

"Squeak!"

The room door opened.

The old Taoist paced inside.

"Oh? You're awake, boy? How do you feel? Are you all right now?"

"Taoist Master?! Are Li Dong and the others all right?"

Qin Bo only then remembered that he had slain the evil-grade Strange being at the end and received the system's notification. After that, he remembered nothing.

"The two of them have Baleful Intent in their bodies. They're still unconscious."

"What?"

"Don't worry. I've already used the power of vital energy and blood to flush out the Baleful Intent from them. Now, we just have to wait for them to recover."

Only then did Qin Bo let out a sigh of relief.

"Tell me, where did you get all this strength? You don't even know the common knowledge about breaking through realms?"

Only then did the old Taoist ask Qin Bo about the origins of his strength.

"Uh... I was born with divine strength! That's right, born with divine strength."

Qin Bo hurriedly lied.

"Born with divine strength?! No wonder. Your vital energy and blood far exceed those of others in the same realm!"

Unexpectedly, the old Taoist actually believed him.

The old Taoist stroked his beard and sized Qin Bo up and down. A sharp glint surfaced in his murky pupils:

"Those born with divine strength are one in ten thousand. With your aptitude, if you can join the Martial Dao sect, you'll surely become a great talent within ten years."

"Listen carefully, boy."

"I am the final disciple of the Heaven One Sect, Taoist Master Songhe. I have now left the mountain to enter the world, joining the Demon Suppressing Division to subdue demons, vanquish devils, and protect the peace of one region."

"Would you be willing to join the Demon Suppressing Division? This old Taoist can recommend you."

"The Demon Suppressing Division?"

That name was as famous as thunder to Qin Bo.

As a special institution of the Great Yan Dynasty, the Demon Suppressing Division specialized in matters related to Strange beings.

At first, the Demon Suppressing Division had been directly under the emperor. Its predecessor had been called the "Embroidered Uniform Guard"!

Later, Strange beings erupted across the land, throwing the world into chaos.

Moreover, the "Embroidered Uniform Guard" had consisted of martial arts experts whose vital energy and blood could injure Strange beings and even destroy them.

That was why the "Demon Suppressing Division" had been established, recruiting heroes from across the realm to resist the Strange beings together!

Although Qin Bo had heard of the Demon Suppressing Division, this was his first time seeing one of its members.

Looking at the old Taoist's unkempt appearance, he suddenly felt that the Demon Suppressing Division was unreliable!

Yet he also knew that when facing Strange beings, terrifying existences beyond ordinary understanding,

relying solely on the little power he had groped his way into mastering was far from enough. For example, he did not even have the cultivation method for what came next.

The beginner's gift package had only given him one body-tempering technique.

Taoist Master Songhe seemed to have seen Qin Bo's doubts. He stroked his disheveled beard and said:

"Boy, don't judge a person by his appearance."

"The Demon Suppressing Division is full of capable people. Heroes from every path under heaven gather there: Daoist cultivators who subdue demons and vanquish devils, martial arts masters who have entered the Dao through martial arts, and people skilled in all kinds of strange arts and secret techniques."

"In the Demon Suppressing Division, you can learn orthodox methods of fighting Strange beings, obtain all sorts of resources, and make the acquaintance of like-minded companions to fight together in defense of the common people beneath the heavens."

Qin Bo was extremely tempted. If he wanted to grow stronger, he had to slay Strange beings—and if he wanted to find Strange beings, the Demon Suppressing Division was certainly the place that knew the ropes!

Yet he still could not help asking:

"Then, if you're so powerful, why do you look like this?"

Taoist Master Songhe threw his head back and laughed.

"This old Taoist has devoted himself entirely to subduing demons and vanquishing devils. Where would I have the time to care about such outward things?"

"Besides, one's appearance is merely a sack of skin. What matters is the strength within. The Demon Suppressing Division doesn't care about these superficial things. It values only genuine ability."

"Then did you come to the Li family just to subdue demons and vanquish devils?!"

Qin Bo took a roundabout route and asked.

"This..."

Taoist Master Songhe's old face reddened.

"We cultivators must earn our own keep. I came here to take on a job. One reason was to subdue demons and vanquish devils, and the other was... to earn a little extra money!"

Hearing Taoist Master Songhe be so frank, Qin Bo could not help bursting into laughter.

The little bit of solemnity he had originally felt toward the Demon Suppressing Division instantly dissipated.

He teased, "Taoist Master, as a member of the Demon Suppressing Division, you still need to come out and take odd jobs for extra money?"

Taoist Master Songhe shot Qin Bo an exasperated look.

"What do you know!"

"Although the Demon Suppressing Division receives funding from the imperial court, its daily expenses are also enormous. Talisman materials, the repair of magical treasures—what doesn't cost money?"

"Besides, this old Taoist comes out to subdue demons and vanquish devils, earning a little money along the way. Isn't that a good thing? Maybe I'll even encounter a Strange being and prevent casualties among the common people."

"I see. Taoist Master, your righteousness is admirable!"

"So? Are you willing to join the Demon Suppressing Division?"

Qin Bo straightened up.

"I am!"

"Good. In a few days, come with this old Taoist to the Yunzhou City branch and take the examination. With your strength, I'm sure you'll breeze through it!"

"An examination?! There's an examination too?"

Qin Bo looked at the old Taoist resentfully.

The old Taoist, however, did not even blush or skip a beat.

"Tch, do you want to be some useless good-for-nothing who got in through the back door? If so, this old Taoist won't take you in."

"All right, all right. Then thank you, Taoist Master Songhe."

Over the next few days, Qin Bo followed Taoist Master Songhe to learn some knowledge about Strange beings while waiting for someone.

Only then did Qin Bo learn that their visit to Yunzhou City this time involved a major matter.

It was said that a "Fierce"-grade Strange being had been sealed beneath Yunzhou City.

They had come this time to reinforce the seal.

"Grudge, Baleful Intent, Evil, Malicious, Fierce!"

Ranked fifth, it was a Strange being capable of destroying an entire city.

When Qin Bo heard that a "Fierce"-grade Strange being was being suppressed beneath Yunzhou City, he could not help feeling a surge of horror.

A "Fierce"-grade being could destroy a city. What kind of terrifying existence was that? Just imagining it made his blood run cold.