Immortal Path Rank 3

"Purple Lightning Hammer..." Qin Daorong's expression drifted into the past.

The owner of the Startling Thunder Purple Lightning Twin Hammers had been the former Silver Tiger Demon Subduing Captain, Purple Thunder True Man.

Ten years ago, Purple Thunder True Man had already reached Immortal Path Rank 3. Blessed with extraordinary talent, he had been highly regarded by all. Reaching Rank 1 someday would have been no difficult feat for him.

If he hadn't met with disaster while out exterminating demons, Purple Thunder True Man would likely have shouldered the burden of the Demon Subduing Bureau by now and risen to Golden Dragon Demon Subduing Captain.

Sadly, during that demon hunt, he had lost one of his pair of Weng Jin Hammers. Qin Daorong had never expected to see one of them in the hands of an Iron Horse Demon Subduing Captain today.

"Restoring the glory of our predecessors in the Demon Subduing Bureau is only right and proper.

"Since you managed to find the Startling Thunder Hammer, it must mean you're fated to cross paths with Purple Thunder True Man. I'll grant your request.

"Tomorrow, I'll have every Demon Subduing Captain in the Bureau search for clues to the Purple Lightning Hammer whenever they head out. We'll do our best to help you reunite the pair as soon as possible.

"Then you can take Purple Thunder True Man's place in this world—suppressing Evil Spirits, vanquishing demons, and protecting the people of Great Shang." Qin Daorong nodded.

"Thank you, Lord Qin."

The vast realm of Great Shang still held sixteen provinces under its control. Beyond its borders, another twenty provinces had been affected by Evil Spirits and demons and forced to break away.

Without the help of a behemoth like the Demon Subduing Bureau, Ning Xiu's chances of finding the other Purple Lightning Hammer were slim indeed.

The Startling Thunder and Purple Lightning Hammers were each no more than a 320-pound hammer on their own.

Only when wielded together could they unleash the immortal might to summon thunder and command lightning.

"Though the four of you are currently only at the Lower Three Ranks, every Iron Horse Demon Subduing Captain is an indispensable cornerstone of the Bureau. The Demon Subduing Bureau as it stands today wouldn't exist without you. I hope you'll train diligently, reach the Middle Three Ranks soon, and establish your own Bronze Leopard Squad. Sweep the Evil Spirits from the land for the Bureau, reclaim the twenty provinces for Great Shang, and restore a peaceful world where people can live and work in peace." Song Tieshan cupped his fists.

Though he was a Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captain and Ning Xiu and the others' superior, he spoke with complete sincerity, without a trace of condescension.

He treated the four of them as future pillars of the Bureau, and Ning Xiu and the others couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

Now that the rewards had been handed out, Qin Daorong surely had plenty to tell the Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captains about the night's raid on Marquis Wuyi's manor. They would need to tie up every loose end and swiftly smooth over the fallout.

Ning Xiu and the other three bowed and left the hall. Their patrol shift for the night was over, and they were free to go back to the Demon Subduing Bureau and rest.

On the way,

"Qin Ben, I honestly didn't understand the reward you asked for. Could you explain it, so I'm not left in the dark?" Ning Xiu asked, hefting his hammer.

Liu Yong and Li Yueying also glanced over with curiosity.

After all, a Silver Tiger Demon Subduing Captain's chance to reward you for your merits was exceedingly rare. To anyone watching, Qin Ben's request tonight had seemed like a terrible bargain.

Qin Ben smiled mysteriously. "Do you know where the Demon Subduing Bureau earns its greatest merits?"

"That's obvious: sending troops to fight the Demon Countries that seized twenty of Great Shang's provinces," Liu Yong answered without hesitation.

"Exactly. And do you know about the 'Demon Subduing General Slayers'?"

"Hm? What's that?" Ning Xiu had never heard the title before and couldn't help asking.

He looked at Liu Yong and Li Yueying. They looked just as puzzled and bewildered; clearly, they were hearing it for the first time too.

Qin Ben looked at the three of them. "A Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captain can form a Bronze Leopard Squad and head out to hunt demons. Once promoted to Silver Tiger Demon Subduing Captain, he either guards Chaotian Capital, the provincial capitals, or the cities, or goes to reinforce the front lines.

"But even while you're still a Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captain, there's another thing you can do: form a squad with other Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captains, made up entirely of Bronze Leopards.

"You take them to the front lines, deep into the twenty provinces occupied by the Demon Countries, and hunt down their generals wherever you find them. That's what they call a Demon Subduing General Slayer.

"Among the Bronze Leopard Squads in Chaotian Capital are many exceptionally talented fighters. If I can bring those elites together in my squad, then when we go to the front lines as General Slayers, we'll outperform every squad of the same rank. I think that's the most thrilling thing a Demon Subduing Captain can do."

The Demon Subduing Bureau had its rules. Once you joined a Bronze Leopard Squad, you couldn't transfer unless you died or were promoted to Silver Tiger Demon Subduing Captain.

Even if the squad leader died, another Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captain would take over. The other members wouldn't be reshuffled.

That meant nearly every Bronze Leopard Squad had both powerful fighters and average ones.

From what Qin Ben said, he planned to use the privilege he'd wrangled from Qin Daorong to poach talent and form a squad of nothing but elites, then head to the front lines as Demon Subduing General Slayers.

That would certainly make the squad stronger as a whole and improve its chances of survival. In Ning Xiu's words, it'd be an all-star lineup.

Though Ning Xiu had never seen the front lines for himself, they had to be far more brutal and dangerous than the interior.

If the Demon Countries hadn't risen up and spread, Great Shang wouldn't have spent all these years failing to reclaim its lost twenty provinces and their people.

"There are missions like that?" Liu Yong exclaimed.

It wasn't that Ning Xiu and the others were ignorant. Demon Subduing General Slayers were a matter only Middle Three Ranks Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captains ever encountered.

Qin Ben had learned of it by chance from a Bronze Leopard Demon Subduing Captain while honing his Military Heart and Military Soul on the battlefield. The idea had taken root in his mind ever since.

It had inspired him to form an elite squad and venture into the twenty provinces occupied by the Demon Countries to kill their generals.

"If any of you are interested, you can consider joining my squad someday." Qin Ben cupped his fists.

"That sounds interesting. I'll think about it," Liu Yong said with a smile.

They returned to the Demon Subduing Bureau after night had fallen. The four said their goodbyes and went back to their own quarters.

As soon as he stepped into his room, Ning Xiu immediately examined the Great Sun Profound Scripture, which he had already raised to the tenth layer.

As he circulated the Great Sun Profound Scripture, heat surged through his body. Ning Xiu gave a soft snort, and two streams of white, hot vapor blasted from his nostrils.

"Cough!"

Ning Xiu gave a slight cough, and a few sparks flew from his mouth, scattering as they hit the floor.

The sparks weren't real fire. They were formed from Ning Xiu's Internal Energy, shaped like flames and scorching hot.

Though they were false flames, their power was no different from real fire. This undoubtedly made Ning Xiu's Internal Energy far more potent when he wielded it.

The Great Sun Profound Scripture recommended by the old gatekeeper at Three Saints Hall really was extraordinary. Ning Xiu felt a surge of gratitude and decided he would properly thank the old man the next time he visited.

"Martial Dao cultivators in the Lower Three Ranks train both inside and out. They focus on strengthening the body externally and liquefying Internal Energy within. Once they open a Martial Aperture, they reach Martial Dao Sixth Rank and officially enter the Middle Three Ranks. I'm already at Martial Dao Seventh Rank, with signs that my Internal Energy has liquefied. All that's left is opening a Martial Aperture." Ning Xiu stopped circulating the Great Sun Profound Scripture and thought to himself.

Compared with Buddhism and the Immortal Path, Martial Dao had no especially outstanding advantage. It was the ordinary one.

When it came to tempering the body, Buddhism followed that very path. Once mastered, it forged an indestructible vajra body: Evil Spirits couldn't kill you, and if they tried, you'd be the one sending them straight to the afterlife.

When it came to techniques, the Immortal Path had the basic Five Elements Sorcery, profound thunder and wind techniques, sword control, Magic Treasures, and a whole arsenal of moves that could rival missiles in power—far more devastating than Martial Dao techniques.

Yet Martial Dao could stand alongside those two without falling behind, earning the name "the Three Great Paths."

That was because a Martial Dao cultivator could open a Martial Aperture within the body.

The Martial Aperture was the greatest treasure in the human body, brimming with endless potential. Once opened, it could shape limitless possibilities.

With one finger, you could dam a river; with one sword, topple a mountain; with one shout, knock a million demon soldiers unconscious; with one arrow, pierce three hundred miles... These were all astonishing feats accomplished by powerful Martial Dao cultivators with their own bodies.

Only when Ning Xiu opened his Martial Aperture would he truly understand what made Martial Dao so formidable.

To Ning Xiu, Martial Dao, the Immortal Path, and Buddhism represented strength, magic, and the body.

Martial Dao cultivators trained to the pinnacle, drawing on the potential of their Martial Apertures to push their bodies to the limit. A punch or palm strike sent the force of the wind raging ahead, crushing everything in its path and sweeping up thousands of feet of earth.

One step down, and the ground caved in, rising a thousand feet into the air.

A Rank 1 Martial Dao cultivator didn't make a grand show of it when he struck, yet every punch carried tens of thousands of pounds of force, and every step covered a thousand miles. Their style was plain and unadorned, but once they got close, their opponents were as good as dead.

Speed and force—that was what made Martial Dao cultivators so terrifying.

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Ning Xiu circulated the Great Sun Profound Scripture and focused on his Martial Aperture. Before long, he entered a state of deep cultivation.

The next day.

Marquis Wuyi had colluded with the Black Heaven Gate and fallen to evil. His manor had been permanently sealed.

Within a day, the shocking news spread through every street and alley of Chaotian Capital, carried by traveling peddlers.

Everyone was stunned by the news. Though the Demon Subduing Bureau had surrounded Marquis Wuyi's manor days earlier, no one had imagined this was the reason.

That was the title of one of Great Shang's thirty-six marquises!

Marquis Wuyi could enjoy wealth and luxury for his entire life, with a harem of wives and concubines. Even his descendants could inherit it all.

It was a life countless people dreamed of. He'd had more than enough reason to enjoy it quietly, yet Marquis Wuyi had fallen to evil.

One had to admit, the pleasures of the upper class were beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

The common folk were shocked, and so was the court.

When Wu Gai, who had visited Wu Huannian at Marquis Wuyi's manor with Qin Daorong that day, heard the news, he was so stunned he could barely speak.

"How foolish! How utterly foolish! How could our Wu family have produced such an unfilial descendant, bringing shame upon our ancestors?"

The other thirty-four marquises heard the news too. Their reactions varied, their expressions complicated.

"Huannian and I used to be close. I never thought things would end up like this. What a pity."

"He's my kinsman, after all. I'll go see His Majesty and beg him to spare Huannian's life."

"After his wife died, that fellow became a loner, acting strangely and avoiding the rest of us. So this is what he was up to in secret."

BONG!

As civil officials, military generals, and imperial kinsmen heard the news and reflected on it at home, nine solemn tolls suddenly rang out from within the palace.

At the sound, everyone's expression changed, their eyes turning grave.

Nine tolls of the Imperial Bell meant an important decree was about to be proclaimed. It seemed Marquis Wuyi's fall to evil was too much even for the emperor to ignore.

"Marquis Wuyi, Wu Huannian, is a member of the Wu Imperial Clan and should have made exterminating demons his duty. Instead, he knowingly broke the law and fell to evil. Effective immediately, he is stripped of his marquis title and expunged from the imperial register. He is to be executed at a later date."

A dignified, weathered voice rang out from the imperial palace, carrying across all of Chaotian Capital. Everyone learned of Marquis Wuyi's judgment.

At the Demon Subduing Bureau, Qin Daorong heard the decree and exclaimed in surprise, "They've even had the second-rank Martial State Duke proclaim it. His Majesty is determined to stop anyone from pleading for Marquis Wuyi's life."

Inside the Demon Subduing Prison, Wu Huannian was covered in wounds and bound so tightly by various seals that he couldn't move. Suddenly, his whole body shuddered, and wisps of purple qi began to spill from him.

They dissolved into the air like dust.

Wu Huannian could clearly feel something inside him disappearing: his Merit Body.

Now that he had been stripped of his marquis title, his third-rank Merit Body naturally no longer belonged to him.

That was the disadvantage of the Official Path: all one's power depended on a single thought from the Son of Heaven.

"I'm willing to die! I'll pay for my crimes with my life! Take it—take everything I have! Just let my Wan'er live, Your Majesty! I'm begging you, Your Majesty!"

Watching his Merit Body fade away, Wu Huannian threw back his head and shouted in a frenzy, but no one paid him any heed.

Only his screams and pleas echoed through the entire cell.

At the end of every month, it was the happiest time for the Demon Subduing Captains.

That was when their monthly salary and merits were tallied, which meant they'd have money again.

Ning Xiu was in his room, reading some of the miscellaneous books left behind by its former occupant, when someone knocked on the door from outside.

He went over and opened it. An old soldier stood there in the custom-made uniform of a Demon Subduing Captain.

"Are you Lord Ning Xiu?" the man asked.

"Yes, I am."

"This is your tally for the month. Congratulations, my lord." The old soldier handed Ning Xiu a fine envelope, then promptly turned and left.

Seeing the basket of letters on his back, Ning Xiu guessed he still had to deliver them to the other Demon Subduing Captains.

"This way of getting my monthly statement is just like checking my credit card balance every month back in the day," Ning Xiu muttered, immediately opening the envelope.

As an Iron Horse Demon Subduing Captain, Ning Xiu received a base monthly salary of fifty taels, plus a little over ten merit points.

The amount was so high because it was essentially hazard pay. If you were capable, you could collect it for months or even years—or keep at it until you were old enough to retire with honors.

But a Demon Subduing Captain's real income came from additional rewards. Every mission they carried out each month earned them extra silver and merits.

Investigated a drowning in Wendeng County and captured a puppet Demon Person: reward of one hundred taels of silver and fifty merit points.

Discovered Demon Persons hiding in Spring Full Pavilion and foiled Marquis Wuyi's escape plan: reward of five hundred taels of silver and one hundred fifty merit points.

In just his first month at the Demon Subduing Bureau, Ning Xiu had earned a total of 650 taels of silver. He no longer had to worry about the remaining payment for the custom puppet he'd ordered from Nie Ying.

It felt great to be rich.

Of course, Ning Xiu knew he'd been lucky. Affairs involving people like Steward Chu and Marquis Wuyi weren't things that came along every month.

"The custom puppet hasn't arrived yet, so I won't report to Su Qianqian for the next few days. I'll head to Three Saints Hall first and pick a suitable hammer technique for the Startling Thunder Hammer. I can't keep holding a hammer and relying on basic attacks forever.

"Once I've got a hammer technique, I'll go to the Demon Subduing Prison and squeeze some benefits out of it to earn proficiency. I need to open this Martial Aperture as soon as possible."

Having made plans for the day, Ning Xiu stopped reading, shut the door, and quickly left his quarters.