Initial Realm Technique

"Hold it. What do I care if you're disappointed? Are we close?"

"If you've got even a shred of dignity, shut your mouth!"

Lu Yuan snorted, whipped his wide sleeve, and turned to walk into the County Office.

He crossed the training grounds and entered the rear courtyard. The familiar vermilion gates stood right before him.

Lu Yuan had served as a constable at the Yun'an County Office for five years. He could find the main hall with his eyes closed.

The gate stood slightly ajar, and faint voices drifted from inside.

A deep male voice said, "The prospects in Yun'an County are much the same as every year. Looks like hardly any of them will pass the selection."

Another voice followed. "My lord, there's a young man named Lin Chen who has some potential, but his temperament is unsteady."

Then came the familiar voice of the county magistrate.

"Honored sirs, thank you for your efforts. I've prepared a modest meal and drinks. Please—"

Bang, bang, bang!

Lu Yuan raised his hand and knocked, cutting him off at just the right moment.

"Come in."

He pushed the door open and entered. Three figures sat in the main hall.

A stern-looking, middle-aged man sat in the seat of honor. He wore a Dark Patterned Brocade Robe, with a Fierce Tiger Treading Evil Pattern embroidered on his Gold-Woven Cloak.

He said nothing, yet simply sitting there, he radiated a bone-chilling aura that made one's heart skip a beat.

Two men stood on either side below him: Zhou Tong, an examiner from the Demon Suppression Bureau, and the magistrate of Yun'an County.

Examiner Zhou Tong looked up, swept his gaze over Lu Yuan, and asked coolly, "Who are you?"

Lu Yuan stepped forward and cupped his fists. "My lord, I'm Lu Yuan, a constable in Yun'an County and the son of a loyal martyr. I've come to claim my Direct Promotion Token."

"The son of a loyal martyr?" Zhou Tong's gaze shifted as he looked at the magistrate.

The magistrate hurried forward and bowed to the man in the seat of honor, offering an explanation.

"Please allow me to explain, my lord. Lu Yuan's father, Lu Yuanshan, died in the line of duty when the Bat Demon attacked the city thirteen years ago. By the rules, the young man is indeed the son of a loyal martyr."

"Lu Yuanshan..."

The man in the seat of honor murmured the name. He looked at Lu Yuan, a flicker of wistfulness passing through his eyes.

"How old are you this year?"

"My lord, I just turned twenty."

"How long have you practiced martial arts?"

"Five years."

"What's your cultivation?"

"Mortal Realm, second tier."

"..."

At this, Zhou Tong frowned without thinking.

Mortal Realm, second tier. In previous years, that wasn't even enough to qualify for registration.

Though Lu Yuan was the son of a loyal martyr, the Demon Suppression Bureau didn't just let anyone join.

Zhou Tong gave a slight shake of his head. His mind was already made up.

He only had to wait for the man in the seat of honor to speak, then he'd send this clueless young man packing.

But the man in the seat of honor fell silent for a moment. He didn't refuse. Instead, he took a thin booklet from his robe.

"Lu Yuan, this is an Initial Realm technique called the Return to Origin Technique."

"You must know that stepping into the Initial Realm takes you beyond the ordinary. Here in Yun'an County, you'd be a powerful man, more than able to marry, raise children, and live out your days in peace."

"If you're willing, you can trade your Waist Token for this technique. It's far better than risking your life in the Demon Suppression Bureau."

Lu Yuan froze.

Zhou Tong froze too.

The magistrate beside them was even more incredulous.

His eyes fixed on the Return to Origin Technique. They nearly popped out of their sockets.

An Initial Realm technique!

This was an incredible opportunity to break through the shackles of the Mortal Realm!

In martial cultivation, the Mortal Realm had nine tiers. Even if you trained to the very top, you'd still be nothing more than a mortal with impressive skills.

Only by stepping into the Initial Realm could one truly embark on the path of cultivation.

But nine out of ten martial artists got stuck at the threshold between the Mortal Realm and the Initial Realm.

To cross it, an Initial Realm technique was crucial. Such treasures were available only to the imperial court and the sects.

Even when one occasionally surfaced on the black market, the price started at a thousand taels of silver—and even then, there was no guarantee you could buy it.

And now, such a treasure was being casually offered to a constable who was a complete stranger?

The magistrate opened his mouth, about to say, "My lord, please reconsider," but swallowed the words before they could escape.

The Demon Suppression Bureau did as it pleased. Who was he, a mere county official, to butt in?

Lu Yuan looked at the Return to Origin Technique, surprise flickering in his eyes.

Just as the man had said, reaching the Initial Realm in Yun'an County would make him a powerful man, more than able to live out his days in peace.

Compared with risking his life for the Demon Suppression Bureau, it was the kind of quiet life countless people dreamed of.

He looked up at the man and smiled.

There was no flattery or nervousness in it. It was as if he'd just thought of something amusing.

"Ever since I was little, my father told me never to put myself in danger."

"But... I've never listened to him."

"I want to join the Demon Suppression Bureau."

The main hall fell silent for a moment.

Before the man could speak, an ill-timed voice rang out.

"My lord, please reconsider!"

Zhou Tong stepped forward and said gravely, "Though Lu Yuan is the son of a loyal martyr, the Demon Suppression Bureau is no ordinary government office. It's not a place where people can coast through life on the imperial court's favor."

He turned to Lu Yuan, his tone cold.

"What do you think the Demon Suppression Bureau is? You're only at the second tier of the Mortal Realm. If you run into a demon one day, you'll be the first to die."

"If someone with your level of talent can join, will those young people who fought tooth and nail to earn their way in accept it?"

Lu Yuan smiled faintly and met his gaze.

"Under the Great Gan Law, the son of a loyal martyr can be directly promoted into the Demon Suppression Bureau. That's no favor. It's what my father paid for with his life."

"If I really wanted to coast through life, why would I put myself in danger?"

"I'm joining the Demon Suppression Bureau because I want to slay demons. If one day a demon kills me, then that's my fate."

Zhou Tong snorted and turned to the man in the seat of honor, bowing with cupped fists.

"My lord, the sons of loyal martyrs may be directly promoted into the Demon Suppression Bureau, but that's meant for those with exceptional talent."

"Five years of martial training and only the second tier of the Mortal Realm. It proves he simply doesn't have what it takes."

"If he's allowed to join, he'll only bring shame upon the Demon Suppression Bureau."

The magistrate stood to the side, holding his breath and not daring to make a sound.

The man in the seat of honor fell silent for a moment, then made his decision.

"Take it. Report to the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division within three days."

Lu Yuan reached out and took the Waist Token. It felt heavy in his hand and cold to the touch.

He lowered his head and looked at it. The token was made entirely of Black Iron. Cloud Thunder Patterns encircled the words "Suppress Demons" on the front, while the back bore a Horizontal Saber pointing down, piercing through a Demon Execution Platform.

"Thank you, my lord!"

With the token in hand, he said no more. He cupped his fists in salute, turned, and left.

His footsteps faded into the distance, and silence returned to the main hall.

Zhou Tong held it in for a long while before finally asking, "My lord, Lu Yuan's talent is abysmal. Even if he joins the Demon Suppression Bureau, he won't make it through the entry examination. Why give him a token?"

The man in the seat of honor didn't answer. He only gazed toward the doorway, a flicker of wistfulness passing through his eyes.

Thirteen years ago, the Bat Demon attacked the city. It was the first assignment he'd received after being promoted to Demon-Suppressing Guard.

He'd thought he was dealing with nothing more than a little demon that had wandered out of the mountains. But the Bat Demon was far fiercer than he'd imagined. One swipe of its claw sent him flying.

He lay in an alley, watching the Bat Demon lunge at him, its sharp fangs aimed at his throat.

Just then, a county constable in a coarse hemp tunic came charging in with a saber.

The fangs sank into the man's neck. Blood spilled out, and his whole body shook with pain, but he fought desperately to shield the man behind him.

"Go... run..."

He managed only three words before the Bat Demon drained his blood. He fell to the ground like a dried corpse.

His eyes remained open, staring at the sky.

Those eyes were exactly like the young man named Lu Yuan's.