Demons and Monsters Rampant, Humanity Declines

After bidding farewell to Chen Jianxing, the atmosphere in the Miscellaneous Room courtyard completely changed over the next few days.

Zhao Sihai no longer dared to put on airs as the foreman in front of Lin Guanhuo.

Every time he saw Lin Guanhuo, he acted as if he wanted to carve the words "ingratiate yourself" onto his forehead, and he stopped assigning tasks to Lin Guanhuo.

Lin Guanhuo knew this very well.

The reason this guy managed to become a vice-foreman had nothing to do with his skills.

It was all thanks to his ability to read the room and curry favor.

Late at night.

Inside the small room.

Lin Guanhuo sliced some cured beef and took a drink from his wine pot.

"At this point, there's no further development for me staying in this Miscellaneous Room courtyard. Now that I have this golden finger's blessing, I need cultivation resources to keep up, or I'll fall behind."

"I really need to find another place," Lin Guanhuo mused.

He had been considering his options for the past two days.

So-called martial arts families generally didn't accept disciples from outside their lineage.

The only choices were the major martial arts schools and sects.

However, Lin Guanhuo didn't have a good impression of these organizations.

Masters opened their doors to disciples to make money, to expand their influence, and some, like the Mad Saber Martial Arts School, even murdered for profit.

In comparison, although the Demon Suppressing Division was dangerous, it was at least somewhat humane.

"I'll go to the Demon Suppressing Division."

A decisive glint flashed in Lin Guanhuo's eyes.

A week later, the tenth day of the first lunar month.

This was the day the Blackwater County Demon Suppressing Division annually recruited new blood.

Early in the morning, Lin Guanhuo had already packed his bags.

There wasn't much to pack, besides a few changes of clothes and his long saber.

He left the Miscellaneous Room courtyard, where he had lived for nearly half a year, without alerting anyone.

The Blackwater City Demon Suppressing Division was located in the southern part of the city.

It occupied a vast area.

Its two vermilion gates were even more imposing than the county yamen, and within the walls, buildings stood in rows, with the faint sounds of training and the crisp clash of weapons audible.

It was rumored to have not only dedicated training grounds and a library, but also an independent pharmacy and blacksmith shop, resembling a self-contained small city.

In this chaotic era, the security for hundreds of miles around was primarily maintained by the Demon Suppressing Division, making it the vital center of the city.

If the Demon Suppressing Division fell, the city would not be far from falling.

Lin Guanhuo mingled with the crowd, being swept along by the throng into the main gate and arriving at a small square.

This was the Demon Suppressing Division's apprentice square, where they trained new recruits.

Currently, no less than several hundred people had gathered in the square.

The age range was wide, from spirited youths of eighteen or nineteen to middle-aged men in their thirties or forties with weathered faces.

"Silence!"

At that moment, a sharp shout suddenly rang out.

The entire square instantly fell silent.

On the high platform at the front of the square stood a one-eyed burly man, wearing official robes of black and red, appearing to be in his late forties or early fifties.

His gaze was piercing, sweeping coldly across the crowd.

This man was a drillmaster of the Demon Suppressing Division, named Zhou Cang.

He had been a formidable figure in the Demon Suppressing Division in his younger years, having slain no less than eight hundred to a thousand demons and monsters.

Now, retired and serving as a drillmaster, he was still contributing his efforts.

"The Blackwater Division is expanding its recruitment this year, with fifty slots available."

Zhou Cang got straight to the point without any preamble: "The rules are the same as always. First, you must be under forty years of age. Second, you must be a ranked martial artist!"

The first two conditions were standard and expected.

However, the drillmaster Zhou Cang's third condition was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the hopes of the vast majority present.

"Third, this year's recruitment is internal. Those without a letter of recommendation may leave now."

Whoosh~~~

As soon as these words were spoken.

The scene instantly erupted.

Voices of discontent and complaint immediately spread, "What?! Recommendation letters again?"

"Sir! This isn't fair! I'm already Body Tempering first grade, why can't I join?"

"Yeah! I trained hard for twenty years just to reach this grade, and because my family is poor and I have no connections, I'm being shut out?"

Many people present looked unwilling.

Zhou Cang's expression was indifferent as he looked at the crowd below, "Rules are rules. The Demon Suppressing Division doesn't support idlers, nor does it accept people of unknown origin. Without a recommender, how do we know you aren't spies sent by demons and monsters?"

Hearing this, the crowd below drooped their heads, like roosters that had lost a fight.

"Sigh, let's go, let's go. We'll try our luck at other sects... The path through the Demon Suppressing Division is blocked." In the end, the martial artists present who lacked recommendation letters could only shake their heads helplessly.

Then they left one by one.

Some people shook their heads and sighed as they walked, "These great martial arts families and powerful factions control the cultivation resources. They don't leave any room for ordinary people to live..."

"The big shots control the promotion channels, they don't want poor people to have a chance to rise. If a genius truly emerged from us poor folk and established a sect in the future, wouldn't that be taking a slice of the bosses' flesh?"

"So, this kind of recruitment is, to put it bluntly, an exchange of benefits between the major powers. No background? Even if you're a genius, you'll have to kneel outside the door!"

As the voices gradually faded.

Zhou Cang on the stage heard these words but offered no explanation.

He simply shouted loudly, "Those with recommendation letters, come forward and register!"

At this moment, the previously crowded square instantly became more than half empty.

Only a few dozen people remained standing.

Lin Guanhuo stepped forward, took out the recommendation letter from his怀, and handed it to the scribe responsible for registration.

The scribe took the letter, glanced at the signature on the cover.

Then he asked, "Name."

"Lin Guanhuo."

The scribe didn't ask further. Unless someone's brain was broken would they have the audacity to forge a recommendation letter.

Then he picked up his brush and wrote three characters on the roster.

Lin Guanhuo.

"You can go in. From today onwards, you are one of the Demon Suppressing Division." the scribe said.

Lin Guanhuo walked step by step to the inner area of the square, where there were several small training grounds, complete with dummies, sandbags, and other training equipment.

After everyone had gathered.

The drillmaster Zhou Cang, with two sabers on his back, scanned the dozens of young people below who had just passed the screening.

Then he suddenly asked in a deep voice, "Do you know the meaning of why you stand here?"

The crowd exchanged glances.

Some said it was to eliminate demons and uphold righteousness, others said it was to bring glory to their ancestors.

But Zhou Cang just shook his head.

His voice grew louder, "Human martial arts have prospered for ten thousand years."

"Many years ago, there were Martial Saints in the world. They stood at the end of the Milky Way, not returning their sabers until ten thousand enemies were slain. With Martial Saints present, humanity enjoyed peace and prosperity."

"There were also Human Immortals, who cultivated for ten thousand years, exhaling a single gust of righteous sword energy that could pierce the river of time, slaying demon ancestors before the ancient past."

"There were Martial Gods, who achieved the ultimate realm of martial arts, guarding a nation alone, their bodies indestructible for ten thousand years."

"In those days, martial arts flourished, and heavenly prodigies emerged one after another."

The crowd below listened with rapt attention, what a glorious era that was!

However, Zhou Cang's tone shifted, "Now, the world has changed, and demons and monsters run rampant. Martial Saints have fallen in battle, and humanity has declined. To prevent the final catastrophe from erupting, a Martial Saint used his body to block the source of the demons, buying humanity a hundred years of national fortune."

"Yet, even so, humanity's living space now is less than one or two tenths of its peak. Every day dynasties fall, every day homes and countries are shattered."

The scene was dead silent.

Zhou Cang's gaze was like iron as he looked at everyone, "This is the meaning of the Demon Suppressing Division's existence."

"Perhaps you don't understand what I'm saying now. You must know that we are the watchers in the long night, the last wall standing before the common people."

He suddenly drew the battle saber from behind him, "As a member of the Demon Suppressing Division, there is only one goal: to slay all demons in the world!"

"If anyone dies, I will be the first to die!"

"If anyone lives, the common people behind me will live!"

The crowd below heard this.

Their expressions became excited, and they shouted in unison, "Slay all demons!! Slay all demons!"

Lin Guanhuo glanced at the people around him.

Most of those who received recommendation letters were young masters from wealthy families or martial artists with some background.

They could have enjoyed wealth and status within high walls and grand courtyards, yet they chose to risk their lives here.

It can be seen that everyone present still has some pursuit as martial artists, and some sense of patriotism and loyalty to the country.

After all, the world cannot be entirely filled with those who fear death and seek to deceive and play tricks.

"But..."

Zhou Cang on the stage sheathed his sword.

He coldly poured a basin of cold water on everyone present: "None of that matters to you now."

"You are all rookies who aren't even good enough to be cannon fodder. There's only one thing you need to do: survive, and then find a way to kill more demons and monsters!"

"Next, I will teach you some basic stances of the Demon Suppressing Division. You will live and eat here at the Division."

"There will be a monthly exam. The assessment standard is simple: your strength test must exceed seven hundred and fifty pounds, or you must cultivate a martial art to the introductory level."

"If you meet the standard, you will be converted to a formal Division servant, receive imperial rations, and wear official clothing."

"If you still haven't passed within half a year... you will be directly asked to leave! The Demon Suppressing Division does not keep useless people!"

Seven hundred and fifty pounds?

Hearing this.

Lin Guanhuo silently calculated in his heart.

A typical first-grade Body Tempering Realm martial artist could unleash about six hundred pounds of force.

To reach seven hundred and fifty pounds was already close to the threshold of a second-grade martial artist.

For most of the newcomers present who had just entered a grade.

It was indeed somewhat difficult to increase their strength by one hundred and fifty pounds within half a year.

But for him...

Lin Guanhuo felt the power within him, like a rushing river.

He was currently a third-grade Body Tempering, possessing a thousand pounds of strength.

"Becoming a regular" by the end of the month should not be a problem.

After the speech, a steward led everyone to their accommodations.

The apprentices' dormitory was a three-story wooden building, with dozens of people living in this old building.

Lin Guanhuo was assigned a room on the second floor. Although it wasn't large, with only a bed and a desk, it was clean and quiet.

After tidying up his belongings, it was already late.

"Dinner is served!"

With the clang of a gong, Lin Guanhuo followed the crowd to the mess hall.

The Demon Suppressing Division's apprentice mess hall was spacious and bright, with dozens of long tables arranged.

Although it was a mess hall for apprentices, the food standard was four or five floors higher than that of the Miscellaneous Room courtyard.

Simply put, it was a qualitative leap from pig slop to human food, which was truly remarkable.

Steamed white flour buns and vegetable buns were served in abundance, and each person could also receive a large bowl of glistening stewed pork.

Although it wasn't as nourishing as beef, it was free, and that was enough.

"Man is iron, food is steel!"

Lin Guanhuo took his tray and sat in a corner of the mess hall, beginning to eat heartily.

He had been cultivating diligently these past few days, and recently broke through to the third-grade Body Tempering. His body was in urgent need of energy.

After all, qi and blood weren't created out of thin air; they were eaten into existence, bite by bite.

He ate over a dozen buns in one go and finished the bowl of stewed meat, including the soup.

Ugh...

Lin Guanhuo still felt a little unsatisfied.

He did a rough calculation: a martial artist who had entered a grade and practiced intensely every day would require thirty thousand calories.

Even when he ate several pounds of beef daily before, it was barely enough to keep him from starving.