Initial Realm Cultivation Technique

"Stop right there. Whether you're disappointed or not, what does that have to do with me? Are we even close?"

"If you have any shred of dignity left, keep your mouth shut!"

Lu Yuan let out a cold snort, flicked his large sleeves, and turned to walk into the County Office.

Passing through the drill grounds and stepping into the backyard, the familiar vermilion gate appeared before him.

Lu Yuan had served as a bailiff in Yun'an County for five years; he could find the main hall even with his eyes closed.

The gate was slightly ajar, and the faint sound of conversation drifted from within.

A deep male voice said, "The prospects in Yun'an County are just like every other year; it seems few will pass the selection."

Another voice replied, "My lord, there is a youngster named Lin Chen who has some foundation, but his temperament is unstable."

Immediately after, the familiar voice of the County Magistrate rang out.

"You two lords have worked hard. I have prepared some light refreshments, so please..."

Bang, bang, bang!

Lu Yuan raised his hand and knocked on the door, cutting him off precisely.

"Enter."

Pushing the door open, he saw three figures sitting in the main hall.

In the main seat sat a middle-aged man with stern features, wearing a Dark Patterned Brocade Robe, with a Fierce Tiger Treading Evil Pattern embroidered on his Gold-Woven Cloak.

He didn't speak, but just by sitting there, he radiated a chilling aura that made one's heart tremble.

Standing on either side below him were the Demon Suppression Bureau examiner Zhou Tong and the Yun'an County Magistrate.

The examiner Zhou Tong raised his eyes, swept a glance over Lu Yuan, and said indifferently, "Who are you?"

Lu Yuan stepped forward and cupped his fists in a salute: "Reporting to the lord, I am Lu Yuan, a bailiff of Yun'an County and a descendant of a martyr, here to collect my Direct Promotion Token."

"A descendant of a martyr?" Zhou Tong's eyes flickered as he looked toward the County Magistrate.

The County Magistrate hurried forward, bowing to the man in the main seat to explain.

"My lord, please allow me to explain. Lu Yuan's father, Lu Yuanshan, died in the line of duty thirteen years ago during the Bat Demon attack on the city. According to the rules, this boy is indeed a descendant of a martyr."

"Lu Yuanshan..."

The man in the main seat murmured the name, looked at Lu Yuan, and a flash of distraction crossed his eyes.

"How old are you this year?"

"Reporting to the lord, I have just turned twenty."

"How long have you been practicing martial arts?"

"Five years."

"What is your cultivation level?"

"Second level of the Mortal Realm."

"..."

Hearing this, Zhou Tong, standing to the side, instinctively frowned.

The second level of the Mortal Realm wouldn't even qualify for registration in previous years.

Although Lu Yuan was a descendant of a martyr, the Demon Suppression Bureau wasn't a place just anyone could enter.

He shook his head slightly, his mind already made up.

He was just waiting for the man in the main seat to speak so he could chase this ignorant young man away.

However, the man in the main seat remained silent for a moment. Instead of refusing, he took a thin booklet from his robes.

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

"You must know that once one enters the Initial Realm, they transcend the mundane. Even in this Yun'an County, you would be considered a local powerhouse, enough to marry, have children, and live out your life in peace."

"If you are willing, you can trade your token for this technique. It is far better than entering the Demon Suppression Bureau to lick blood off the edge of a blade."

Lu Yuan was stunned.

Zhou Tong was also stunned.

The County Magistrate to the side was even more incredulous.

His gaze fell upon the Return to Origin Technique, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

An Initial Realm technique!

This was a heaven-sent opportunity to break through the shackles of the Mortal Realm!

In martial arts cultivation, the nine levels of the Mortal Realm only lead to becoming a highly skilled mortal at best.

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

Yet, this hurdle between the Mortal Realm and the Initial Realm trapped ninety percent of martial artists.

To cross this threshold, an Initial Realm technique was essential; these were secret treasures possessed only by the imperial court or major sects.

Even if one occasionally leaked into the black market, it would start at a thousand taels of silver, and even then, there was no guarantee of securing it.

Such a precious treasure, just casually gifted to a bailiff he had never met before?

The County Magistrate opened his mouth, wanting to say, "My lord, please reconsider," but the words died in his throat.

When the Demon Suppression Division acted, who was he, a mere county official, to interject?

Lu Yuan looked at the Return to Origin Technique, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.

Just as that lord had said, in this Yun'an County, once one entered the Initial Realm, they became a local powerhouse, enough to live out the rest of their days in peace.

Compared to the life of licking blood off a blade in the Demon Suppression Division, this was the stability many dreamed of.

He looked up at the lord and smiled.

It wasn't out of flattery, nor was it nervousness; it was as if he had thought of something interesting.

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

"However... I never listened to him."

"I want to join the Demon Suppression Division."

When these words were spoken, the main hall fell silent for a moment.

Before that lord could even open his mouth, an untimely voice rang out.

"I implore you to reconsider, my lord!"

Zhou Tong stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Although Lu Yuan is the descendant of a martyr, the Demon Suppression Division is not an ordinary government office, nor is it a place to coast on the grace of the imperial court."

He turned to look at Lu Yuan, his tone cold.

"What do you think the Demon Suppression Division is? A mere Mortal Realm second-layer cultivator—if you encounter a demon, you will be the first to die."

"If someone with your aptitude can join, how could those young men who fought tooth and nail to earn their place ever be convinced?"

Lu Yuan smiled faintly, his gaze meeting the other man's directly.

"According to the Great Gan Law, the descendants of martyrs can be directly admitted to the Demon Suppression Division. This is not a favor; it is something my father bought with his life."

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

"I am joining the Demon Suppression Division only to slay demons. If I am killed by one in the future, then that is simply my fate."

Zhou Tong let out a cold snort and cupped his hands toward the main seat.

"My lord, the direct admission for descendants of martyrs is only intended for those with excellent aptitude."

"Five years of martial arts training and only at the Mortal Realm second-layer—it shows he simply isn't cut out for this."

"If you truly let him in, it will only bring shame upon the Demon Suppression Division."

The County Magistrate held his breath to the side, not daring to make a sound.

On the main seat, that lord remained silent for a moment before finally making his decision.

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

Lu Yuan reached out to take the Waist Token, feeling its heavy, icy weight in his palm.

Looking down, he saw the token was forged entirely from Black Iron. On the front, the characters for "Demon Suppression" were surrounded by cloud and thunder patterns, while the back featured a horizontal saber hanging upside down, piercing through a Demon Execution Platform.

"Thank you, my lord!"

Having received the token, he said no more, bowed with cupped hands, and turned to leave.

The sound of his footsteps faded, and the main hall returned to silence.

Zhou Tong held back for a long time before finally being unable to resist asking:

"My lord, that Lu Yuan's aptitude is abysmal. Even if he enters the Demon Suppression Division, he won't survive the entry assessment. Why did you give him the token?"

On the main seat, the lord did not speak, merely gazing toward the doorway, a flicker of trance passing through his eyes.

Thirteen years ago, when the Bat Demon attacked the city, that had been his first mission after being promoted to a Demon-Suppressing Guard.

He had thought it was just a small demon that had slipped out of the deep mountains, but the Bat Demon was far fiercer than he had imagined, swatting him away with a single claw.

He had collapsed in an alley, watching as the Bat Demon lunged, its sharp fangs aimed directly at his throat.

At that moment, a bailiff from the County Office in coarse cloth rushed over with a blade.

The fangs pierced the man's neck, blood spilling out. The man trembled in agony, yet he desperately blocked the path in front of him.

"Go... run..."

He only managed to say those three words before the Bat Demon drained his blood, leaving him on the ground like a dried husk.

His eyes were still open, staring at the sky.

Those eyes were exactly the same as the young man named Lu Yuan who had just left.