Demon Suppressing Breathing Technique!

In the days that followed, the Demon Suppressing Division's apprentices spent each day mastering the basic moves Zhou Cang had taught them.

One early morning, the atmosphere in the Martial Arts Arena was more solemn than usual.

Holding a roster, Zhou Cang stood on the raised platform and swept his gaze across the crowd below. He read out, "Zhang Huo, Xu Lao San, Luo Liu Zi, Xu Tian Xiao..."

He called out four names in one breath.

"Step forward!"

The apprentices whose names had been called trembled, then reluctantly stepped out.

"Go to the manager and collect five Taels of Silver. Pack your things and leave."

Zhou Cang announced without expression, "You failed your apprentice assessment."

Everyone knew the Demon Suppressing Division's selection process was strict, but no one had expected four people to be eliminated so quickly.

"I refuse to accept this!"

Just then,

the young man named Zhang Huo suddenly raised his head, his face flushed red as he shouted, "Instructor, I'm only twenty-five! And I've already reached the First Rank of the Body Tempering Realm! What gives you the right to kick me out?"

A Ranked Martial Artist at twenty-five would be treated like an elite at any small martial arts school outside.

"What gives me the right?"

Zhou Cang's expression remained impassive as he looked at the apprentice named Zhang Huo and said, "The fact that you're a walking medicine jar!"

"Do you think you can fool me about how you built that body? You've been soaked in medicinal baths and force-fed tonics since you were a child, and your cultivation was forced up before your body was ready! Your foundation is already rotten!"

"You look strong, but you're all show and no substance. On the battlefield, a single swipe from a Demon could gut you! Sending you away is saving your life!"

This...

At those words,

Zhang Huo's face turned deathly pale, and he couldn't speak for a long while.

Instructor Zhou Cang was right.

His family was wealthy. He had soaked in medicinal baths and taken pills since childhood, and they had even hired him a private Martial Master.

Yet despite all that, at twenty-five, he had only just managed to become a Ranked Martial Artist.

He had thought he could join the Demon Suppressing Division and build up his credentials, but Zhou Cang had seen through him at a glance...

"Then... what about him?"

The man beside Zhang Huo, Xu Lao San, was also unconvinced.

Pointing at Zhao Ming in the crowd, he protested indignantly, "Zhao Ming looks like he's well past thirty, doesn't he? He's older than all of us! Why does he get to stay while we have to leave?"

Everyone turned their eyes toward Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming looked weathered, like an old hand who'd seen it all.

Under everyone's gaze, he said nothing, his expression as cool and distant as ever.

"Because he's stronger than you!"

Zhou Cang said, "Zhao Ming may be thirty, but he's genuinely trained his way to the Body Tempering second-grade! And he's picked up the moves quickly these past few days. He has Martial Arts Talent."

"With the Demon Suppressing Division's resources, he has every chance of reaching the Body Tempering third-grade or even Fourth Rank before his qi and blood start to decline at forty. He might even earn a plaque."

"And you? Every one of you is an arrogant fool who thinks too highly of himself. You've practiced for three days and can't even hold a proper horse stance. Should I keep you around until next year?"

Xu Lao San was left speechless.

But he still couldn't accept it!

His family had spent a fortune over the years training him to become a Martial Artist, and had even pulled strings to get him a recommendation letter. He had thought he'd landed a secure job for life.

If he didn't get into the Demon Suppressing Division, he was finished.

When people were desperate, they always wanted someone else to take the fall with them.

His gaze darted around the crowd, then suddenly stopped on Lin Guanhuo in the corner.

"What about him?!"

Xu Lao San pointed at Lin Guanhuo. "What's he been doing these past three days? Everyone else has been practicing moves, while he's been hiding in the corner, waving his arms around like an idiot! He's been drawing his sword all day and still can't manage a proper stance!"

"How can someone who refuses to study be allowed to stay, while you kick us out?!"

Whoosh!!

At those words,

everyone's eyes turned to Lin Guanhuo again.

It was true.

Lin Guanhuo had been a loner these past three days.

He didn't mingle or practice moves.

He spent all day staring blankly at a wooden post.

To everyone else, he was clearly just coasting.

Li Miaomiao watched Lin Guanhuo from the crowd, her expression complicated.

She had thought Lin Guanhuo had an unusual bearing, but his performance these past few days... had indeed been disappointing.

Facing the crowd's doubts, Lin Guanhuo remained calm, with no desire to explain himself.

Zhou Cang glanced at Lin Guanhuo, then at the indignant Xu Lao San.

With his hands behind his back, he said coolly, "There's no reason."

"I'm the Instructor of the Demon Suppressing Division. I decide who stays, and I decide who goes."

"My word is the rule."

Xu Lao San froze.

He hadn't expected Zhou Cang to reject him so bluntly.

So unreasonable.

Xu Lao San wasn't the only one. Many of the apprentices around them wore strange expressions.

By Zhou Cang's standards, Lin Guanhuo's performance these past few days should have made him the first to get kicked out.

But now, even a fool could see that Instructor Zhou Cang was protecting Lin Guanhuo.

Could it be...

that Lin Guanhuo had connections?

Though countless apprentices in the crowd were puzzled, no one dared challenge Zhou Cang's authority.

Zhou Cang ignored their suspicions and addressed the remaining apprentices. "Listen up!"

"The Demon Suppressing Division isn't a secure job, and it isn't a charity! Don't think you'll have food and clothing for life just because you got in!"

"Here, if your skills aren't good enough, you won't just lose your job—you'll lose your life! And you'll end up harming yourself and others!"

"Those I just called out, take your silver. Leave!"

Under Zhou Cang's absolute authority,

Zhang Huo, Xu Lao San, and the others didn't dare say another word.

They could only take their five Taels of Silver in severance pay and slink out of the Martial Arts Arena.

Those who remained watched the departing figures, feeling both relieved and apprehensive.

And when they looked at Lin Guanhuo, their gazes held more distance and contempt.

So he was someone who'd gotten in through connections.

No wonder he could stay without practicing.

After the apprentices who'd been called out had left, the rest began a new day of training.

Today was a little different. They wouldn't continue practicing the basic moves from before.

Zhou Cang stood on the platform in the Martial Arts Arena and motioned for everyone to stop before saying, "You've practiced the moves from before enough."

"Today, I'll teach you the Demon Suppressing Division's basic internal cultivation method: the Demon Suppressing Breathing Technique!"

At those words,

everyone present perked up their ears.

Zhou Cang continued, "Though this breathing technique is only a basic method, it will greatly benefit beginners like you."

"Once you've mastered it, a single breath will improve both your speed and your strength!"

Then,

Zhou Cang sat cross-legged on the raised platform and said in a deep voice, "Watch closely!"

He closed his eyes.

It seemed he was activating some kind of cultivation method, and his breathing grew lower and more rhythmic.

"In... out..."

As Zhou Cang breathed, the air around him seemed to churn.

Strands of white airflow began gathering in front of him.

Before long, they visibly formed tiny white vortices, slowly circling his body.

And their numbers kept growing!!

One, two, three...

In the end, nine vortices circled Zhou Cang!

"This is the Great Accomplishment stage of the Demon Suppressing Breathing Technique. It can condense nine streams of qi."