Demon Suppressing Breathing Technique!

For the next few days, the apprentices of the Demon Suppressing Division's daily task was to digest the basic moves Zhou Cang had taught them.

This morning, at the Martial Arts Arena, the atmosphere was more solemn than usual.

Zhou Cang, holding a roster, stood on the high platform. His gaze swept over the crowd below as he directly 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 were called trembled inwardly and shuffled out.

"Go to the supervisor to collect five taels of silver, pack your things, and leave."

Zhou Cang announced expressionlessly, "Your apprentice assessment is unsatisfactory."

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

"I'm not convinced!"

At this moment.

The young man named Zhang Huo suddenly looked up, his face flushed red, and shouted, "Instructor, I'm only twenty-five this year! And I'm already a First Rank Body Tempering Realm martial artist! Why are you kicking me out?"

A ranked martial artist at twenty-five was considered an elite, even revered, in smaller martial arts schools outside.

"Why?"

Zhou Cang's expression remained unchanged. He simply looked at the apprentice named Zhang Huo and said, "Because you're a medicine jar!"

"How did you cultivate this body of yours? You can fool others, but you can't fool me! You've been soaking in pills and force-fed with tonics since you were young, your realm was forcibly ripened! Your foundation is rotten to the core!"

"Your physique looks good, but it's actually weak and unstable. If you were on the battlefield, a demon's claw could hollow you out! Letting you go is saving your life!"

This...

As the words fell, Zhang Huo's face instantly turned pale, and he was speechless for a long time.

Instructor Zhou Cang was right.

His family was wealthy. He had been soaking in medicinal baths and taking pills since childhood, and his parents had even hired a private martial master for him.

But even so, at twenty-five, he had only just managed to become ranked.

He thought he could gain some experience at the Demon Suppressing Division, but he never expected to be seen through at a glance...

"Then... then what about him?"

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

He pointed at Zhao Ming in the crowd and said indignantly, "This Zhao Ming, he looks over thirty, right? He's older than all of us! Why can he stay, and we have to leave?"

Everyone turned their gaze to Zhao Ming as well.

Zhao Ming had a weathered face, looking like an old hand.

Facing everyone's stares, he remained silent, maintaining his indifferent demeanor.

"Because he's stronger than you!"

Zhou Cang said, "Although Zhao Ming is thirty, he's a genuine Body Tempering second-grade! And these past few days, he's been learning the moves very quickly. He has Martial Arts Talent."

"With the resources of the Demon Suppressing Division, he has a real chance of reaching Body Tempering third-grade or even fourth-grade before his qi and blood decline at forty, and he might even get a plaque."

"And you? You're all ambitious but incompetent. You've been practicing for three days and can't even hold a stable horse stance. Are you staying for the New Year?"

Xu Lao San was rendered speechless by the retort.

But he was still unwilling to accept it!

His family had spent a fortune over the years to train him into a Martial Artist, and they had pulled strings to get him a recommendation letter. He thought he had secured a stable job.

If he didn't get into the Demon Suppressing Division, his life would amount to nothing.

When people are desperate, they always want to drag someone down with them.

His gaze swept across the crowd, then suddenly fixed on Lin Guanhuo in the corner.

"What about him?!"

Xu Lao San pointed at Lin Guanhuo, "What has he been doing these past three days? Everyone else was practicing moves, and he was hiding in the corner, flailing around! He was drawing his sword all day, without even a proper stance!"

"If someone so ignorant and useless can stay, why should we leave?!"

Swish!!

As the words fell, all eyes focused on Lin Guanhuo again.

Indeed.

Lin Guanhuo had been too solitary these past three days.

Unsocial, not practicing moves.

He spent all day staring blankly at a wooden stake.

To everyone, this was a typical case of just going through the motions.

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

Although she felt Lin Guanhuo had an extraordinary aura, his performance these past few days... was truly disappointing.

Facing everyone's doubts, Lin Guanhuo remained calm, not even feeling the urge to explain.

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

He simply clasped his hands behind his back and said indifferently, "There's no 'why'."

"I am a drill instructor at the Demon Suppressing Division. If I say someone stays, they stay. If I say someone leaves, they leave."

"My word is the rule."

Xu Lao San froze.

He hadn't expected Zhou Cang to refuse so decisively.

So unreasonable.

It wasn't just Xu Lao San; many of the apprentices around also wore strange expressions.

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

Yet now, even a fool could see that Drill Instructor Zhou Cang was showing favoritism towards Lin Guanhuo.

Could it be...

That Lin Guanhuo was some kind of connection?

Although countless apprentices were filled with doubt, no one dared to challenge Zhou Cang's authority.

Zhou Cang ignored the apprentices' suspicions and looked at the remaining ones, saying, "Listen up, everyone!"

"The Demon Suppressing Division is not a guaranteed job, nor is it a charity! Don't think that just because you're in, you'll have a worry-free life!"

"Here, lacking skill doesn't just mean losing your job, it means losing your life! Ultimately, it harms yourself and others!"

"Those I just named, take your silver. Leave!"

Under Zhou Cang's absolute pressure.

Zhang Huo, Xu Lao San, and the others no longer dared to speak out.

They could only take the five taels of severance silver and leave the Martial Arts Arena dejectedly.

Those who remained watched the departing figures, feeling both relief and awe in their hearts.

The gazes directed at Lin Guanhuo were now tinged with distance and disdain.

So he was a backdoor entrant.

No wonder he could stay without practicing.

After the few people who were called out left, the apprentices present began their new day of training.

Today was a little different; they weren't continuing to practice the previous basic moves.

Zhou Cang stood on the stage of the Martial Arts Arena, signaling everyone to stop, and then said, "You've practiced the previous moves quite well."

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

Upon hearing this.

Everyone present perked up their ears.

Zhou Cang continued, "Although this breathing technique is only basic, it will greatly benefit you beginners."

"When cultivated to Great Accomplishment, you can inhale in one breath, and both your speed and strength will be enhanced!"

After speaking.

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

He closed his eyes.

He seemed to be activating some kind of mental technique, and his breathing gradually became deeper and more rhythmic.

"Hoo... Haa..."

As Zhou Cang breathed, the surrounding air seemed to be stirred.

Wisps of white airflow began to gather before him.

Eventually, they visibly formed small white vortexes, slowly rotating around his body.

And their numbers grew!

One, two, three...

Finally, a total of nine vortexes circled Zhou Cang's side!

"This is the Great Accomplishment stage of the Demon Suppressing Breathing Technique, where nine vortexes can be condensed."