Improving Martial Arts and Techniques

"Ah?... Execute, execute Evil Spirits?"

At the guard's words, everyone froze. Their ambition was to become Demon Subduing Captains and slay demons and suppress evil for the imperial court.

But Evil Spirits had always seemed like distant, unreal things to them. Now they were suddenly being told to go kill one themselves. It was two parts excitement and eight parts terror.

"Don't be afraid. The Evil Spirits here have all been sealed by the Demon Subduing Captains. They can't hurt anyone. Walk straight to the end over there, and you'll reach the Huang Zone, one of the four prison zones: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Huang. Each of you can pick one of the cells I mentioned and go in to execute its prisoner. Remember, no one here has ever fled in the face of danger. Don't commit the Demon Subduing Bureau's greatest taboo."

Ning Xiu thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Sir, when a Demon Subduing Captain encounters an Evil Spirit, shouldn't he kill it on the spot? How would he have time to capture it and bring it back to the Demon Subduing Prison? And even if they do lock it up, why are they looking for people to kill the Evil Spirits now? Isn't that going to needless trouble?"

"Don't be so curious about how the Demon Subduing Captains do things. Just follow the rules. Don't ask so many questions. Go on, and don't waste time."

Under the guard's urging, Ning Xiu and the others had no choice but to follow his directions and walk into the Huang Zone.

There was a cell every ten paces in this area. The doors were shut and made of iron. Aside from the numbers written on them, there was no way to see inside.

After choosing cells one by one, everyone said their farewells. Ning Xiu headed alone to the door of the cell he had chosen, Number 132.

Creak!

The instant he shoved the iron door open, a gust of frigid wind blew out from within, sending an inexplicable chill down his back.

By the light of the oil lamp in the cell, Ning Xiu immediately saw a figure pinned to the wall by several iron spikes.

The person's limbs were gaunt, their skin ashen gray, and six eyes dotted their face. A bloody, ragged gash across their abdomen was still dripping blood.

An iron sword was also embedded in their chest, apparently left behind by the previous executioner.

On top of that, the monster was covered from head to toe with cinnabar talismans. Red cords strung with bells were wrapped all around them. Rather than making anyone feel safe, the sight only seemed more bizarre.

A wooden table stood in the corner of the cell. Knives, swords, hatchets, daggers, and other sharp weapons were neatly arranged on top, presumably for the executioners.

"So all I have to do is kill this Evil Spirit, and I'm done?" Ning Xiu mused, looking at the Evil Spirit, which showed no reaction to his arrival.

No matter how he looked at it, this was a simple task—so simple that even the apprentices from Champion Camp could handle it alone. The Demon Subduing Captains didn't need to get involved at all.

Picking up the Wild Goose Feather Saber from the table, Ning Xiu walked toward the monster. He had never trained in any saber techniques, but this weapon was the most straightforward and effective to use.

It was perfect for an execution.

Without hesitation, Ning Xiu raised the Wild Goose Feather Saber and swung it at the six-eyed Evil Spirit's neck.

There was nothing to impede him. The saber cleanly decapitated the six-eyed Evil Spirit, but the instant its head hit the floor, something unexpected happened.

Eyes abruptly opened all over the six-eyed Evil Spirit's body. Every last one of them stared fixedly at Ning Xiu.

A nauseating, dizzying sensation exploded inside Ning Xiu's mind. The world spun around him, and his stomach churned as if he were about to throw up.

"Ugh!"

He could barely hold on for a few seconds before he collapsed. Bracing himself against the ground, he began vomiting violently.

Stomach acid splattered across the ground, along with one eyeball after another, which slid from his mouth. Then, as if alive, they rolled toward Ning Xiu's arm and burrowed into his flesh one by one.

Killed an Evil Spirit. Gained Universal Proficiency +500

A voice rang faintly in his mind, but Ning Xiu could no longer hold on. His consciousness blurred, leaving him no time to pay attention to anything else before he passed out.

"This apprentice must have trained a lot. His vital energy is far stronger than that of others his age. Bewildering Eye's Evil Qi only managed to knock him unconscious. He's a promising candidate for the position of executioner."

"More than two hundred apprentices were recruited from the instructors at Champion Camp this time, but only seventy-six qualified. Who knows what the others have been training for at Champion Camp? Those Demon Subduing Captains who brought them here were furious."

Their chatter was so loud that Ning Xiu had no choice but to slowly open his eyes. He could no longer keep sleeping.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying in a clean little room. Two guards stood beside him. They were the ones who had just been speaking.

Their conversation stopped as soon as they saw him wake. One of the guards asked, "You're awake. How do you feel?"

Ning Xiu raised his hands and saw that both arms had been tightly wrapped in white bandages. They gave him a dull ache when he moved them.

"Where am I?" Ning Xiu asked.

"Where else? The Demon Subduing Prison. The Evil Qi from the Evil Spirit 'Bewildering Eye' knocked you out. I carried you back," the guard replied.

Ning Xiu murmured, "The books said that when an Evil Spirit dies, its Evil Qi spills out. Ordinary people who are exposed to it might get seriously ill at best, or drop dead on the spot at worst. I can't believe I only just remembered."

"You know quite a lot. But that only applies to ordinary people who haven't trained. Apprentices like you, trained at Champion Camp, have vital energy that can counter the effects of Evil Qi. Of the people recruited from Champion Camp this time, you performed the best. If you can stick with it, you'll definitely join the Demon Subduing Bureau in time."

The guard brought an apple and set it beside Ning Xiu. "Get some rest. After Bewildering Eye dies, it can be reborn by possessing its eyeballs. We've already dug out the eyeballs from Bewildering Eye that had taken root in your arms. There won't be any lingering problems. Come report to us in two days, once your injuries have healed. We'll have a new execution assignment for you then."

After saying that, the two guards left the room.

As soon as they were gone, Ning Xiu immediately checked his Proficiency Panel.

Primordial Yang Fist: Level 4 (599/800) (+)

Golden Bell Shield: Level 3 (211/400) (+)

Universal Proficiency: 500

"So I really didn't imagine hearing that." Looking at the new information on the panel, Ning Xiu finally relaxed.

After killing the Evil Spirit Bewildering Eye, he had gained Universal Proficiency, something he had never seen before.

It looked like he could directly add those 500 proficiency points to the martial arts and techniques he had already learned.

Without hesitation, Ning Xiu put the Universal Proficiency into Primordial Yang Fist. The guard who had just left had said that the vital energy in a person's body could counter the effects of Evil Qi.

The reason he had come through contact with the Evil Spirit's Evil Qi unscathed this time was largely because he had spent the past two years diligently training in Primordial Yang Fist. That was what had made his vital energy stronger than the average person's.

If he wanted to keep working as an executioner in the Demon Subduing Prison, powerful vital energy was essential.

Continuing to improve Primordial Yang Fist would make the vital energy in his body even stronger.

Primordial Yang Fist: Level 4 (599/800) → Primordial Yang Fist: Level 5 (0/1600)

After upgrading Primordial Yang Fist, Ning Xiu didn't add any more proficiency to it. Instead, he put the remaining 299 points into Golden Bell Shield.

That would raise Golden Bell Shield by another level as well, strengthening him.

"I train hard all day and only gain a little over ten proficiency points. Killing one Evil Spirit gives me 500—that's a whole month's work in one go. It's enough to make anyone's heart collapse." Ning Xiu looked at the Proficiency Panel and laughed helplessly.

That made his job as an executioner at the Demon Subduing Prison all the more important. Only by staying in the Demon Subduing Prison could Ning Xiu get free Evil Spirits to kill and gain proficiency.

Two days later.

He had no idea what salve the guard had used on him, but after just two days, he removed the bandages to find that the wounds on his arms had scabbed over. They wouldn't affect his movements.

Ning Xiu didn't waste time. He immediately left the room and went to report to the guards.

Entering the Demon Subduing Prison through the main gate and walking straight ahead brought one to a circular hall. Four corridors branched off from it, each leading to one of the prison zones: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Huang.

When Ning Xiu entered the hall, he immediately spotted a few familiar faces, and they spotted him too.

"Ning Xiu!" He Yunlang happily approached with two others. Like Ning Xiu, they were apprentices under Instructor Wu Yan.

It was only natural to be happy to see familiar faces in an unfamiliar place.

"I haven't seen you these past two days. I thought they'd sent you back to Champion Camp," He Yunlang said with a smile.

Ning Xiu asked in surprise, "Did they send anyone back?"

"Of course. Quite a few, actually. The guards said they couldn't withstand the Evil Qi and couldn't work in the Demon Subduing Prison, so they had to be sent back for more training. Those of us who were allowed to stay are all promising candidates." He Yunlang grinned, thumping his chest.

"Ning Xiu, we've already collected today's execution assignments. You should hurry and pick yours too. I heard the Evil Spirits in the remaining cells are stronger, and when they die, their Evil Qi poses a serious threat. It's not good for our recovery," said a youth standing beside He Yunlang kindly.

"Thanks for the warning. You go ahead; I'll take my leave." After saying goodbye to He Yunlang and the others, Ning Xiu went to where the guards had gathered in the hall.

The two guards from that day were there as well. When they saw Ning Xiu, they came over and said, "Looks like your injuries have healed well."

Ning Xiu cupped his hands. "I have to thank you for bandaging me, sir. Otherwise, I'd probably have lost the use of both arms."

"No need to thank us. The Demon Subduing Prison is short-staffed, so the more people we can get as executioners, the better. Today, go to cell 260 in the Huang Zone. As usual, you can rest once you've finished the job."

"Yes, sir."

After leaving the hall, Ning Xiu drew on his experience from last time and headed straight for cell 260 in the Huang Zone.

When he pushed the door open, a damp, fishy smell hit him. The entire cell echoed with the dripping of water.

Ning Xiu walked in, but there wasn't a single Evil Spirit in sight. Only a vat filled with murky, filthy water sat on the ground.

Hundreds of silver needles hung seven inches above the vat, their tips aimed at the water's surface, apparently to keep whatever was inside from escaping.

"Umm..."

A strange sound rang out. The murky water suddenly bubbled as if it were boiling, ripples churning across the surface.

A mass of long hair floated up from the water, soon filling the entire vat. As Ning Xiu watched, a pale human face, coated in white grease, slowly rose from beneath the water.

It had to be the Evil Spirit imprisoned in this cell.