Entrance Examination

At dusk the next day, Lu Yuan left the official road and walked toward a memorial archway not far away.

The archway was about three zhang high, with three large characters carved in the center: Demon Suppression Bureau.

The strokes were as sharp as iron hooks and blades; one glance was enough to feel a biting, frigid aura rushing toward him.

Looking further back, a complex of buildings was built against the mountain, with black tiles and white walls layered one upon another, the Bell Tower at the highest point glowing with a scorching red light under the setting sun.

As soon as he approached, two guards in black tight-fitting outfits swept their gazes over him like hawks.

Lu Yuan handed over his Waist Token, and the guards verified it without issue.

"Go on in, follow the bluestone path to the very end."

Passing through two courtyards and three moon gates, at the end of his line of sight stood a three-story pavilion.

Demon Suppression Pavilion!

The front door was wide open, and Lu Yuan walked in with a steady stride, finding a space that reached all the way to the ceiling.

Sunlight poured down from the skylights, casting beams of light into the air where dust motes floated.

Within those beams of light stood lifelike demons.

There were beasts, scaled creatures, birds, insects, and strange monsters, all varying in size and shape.

From the ground floor to the third, lining the four walls, there were over a hundred of them.

Lu Yuan looked around, not afraid but delighted, a look of excitement bursting in his eyes.

Demons?

No, these were nothing but entries!

What a pity, if only he had killed them all himself, how great that would be.

"New here?"

Suddenly, a voice sounded from the side.

Lu Yuan turned his head to see a middle-aged man standing outside the pavilion, looking him up and down.

The man was in his forties, lean, wearing plain cyan robes, and holding a ledger in his hand.

He stepped forward quickly and bowed, "Lu Yuan, greetings, sir."

"Don't call me sir." The middle-aged man waved his hand. "My surname is Zhou, I serve as a clerk in the bureau, just call me Old Zhou. Where is your Waist Token?"

Lu Yuan handed over the Waist Token, and Old Zhou took it, opening his ledger to compare them for a moment. "Lu Yuan, from Yun'an County, descendant of a loyal martyr... hmm, it matches. Come with me."

Walking out of the pavilion and into the courtyard, the two arrived at a side room piled high with files and ledgers.

After sitting down, Old Zhou opened the ledger, picked up a brush, and began to record as he asked questions.

"Age?"

"Twenty."

"What cultivation technique do you practice?"

"The Basic Body Tempering Technique issued by the County Office, I've practiced it for five years."

"Cultivation level?"

"Mortal Realm, second layer."

Old Zhou's brush tip paused, a flash of surprise appearing in his eyes. "Five years and only at the second layer of the Mortal Realm?"

Lu Yuan nodded. "Yes."

You're still saying 'yes'?

Old Zhou's mouth twitched, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

After finishing, he put down his brush and said sternly, "Alright, the basic information is recorded. Now, let me tell you about the real business."

Lu Yuan straightened his posture.

"Every year, the Demon Suppression Bureau of each province selects new blood from the counties under its jurisdiction. No matter how you got in, you must pass the entrance examination."

"The assessment covers two main aspects: first, aptitude; second, actual combat."

"Some martial artists spend their whole lives unable to cross the Mortal Realm, some can only reach the Initial Realm, and some step into the Mystic Realm. The reason for this is simply the difference in aptitude."

"Then... how is it measured?"

"Simple."

Old Zhou pulled a foot-long Jade Stele from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"Place your hand on it. The brighter the Jade Stele glows, the higher your aptitude."

Lu Yuan looked at the Jade Stele, his heart tightening for no reason.

Five years at the second layer of the Mortal Realm—he hadn't held much hope for himself to begin with.

But what if?

Is it possible that he is actually a one-in-a-million martial arts genius?

Taking a deep breath, he reached out and pressed his hand against the Jade Stele.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

The Jade Stele showed no reaction at all, not even a faint glimmer of light.

"It didn't light up, right? It's fine. Eight out of ten newcomers don't make it light up."

Seeing this, Old Zhou did not show any disdain or contempt; as if he had expected it, he casually tucked the Jade Stele back into his sleeve.

"Don't be discouraged. You can still join the Demon Suppression Bureau without talent. Even those in the Mortal Realm can kill demons, you just won't be able to rise to the rank of Demon-Suppressing Guard."

That stung.

A flash of embarrassment crossed Lu Yuan's face.

"How is the combat test conducted?" he asked.

"Combat..."

Old Zhou walked out of the courtyard and pointed toward the distance.

Lu Yuan looked over, his gaze passing over layers of black tiles and white walls, landing on the highest point: the Bell Tower.

"Beneath the Bell Tower is the Demon Locking Well. It holds demons captured from various places, but none that have fully matured."

"The combat test mainly measures combat power to assign roles based on ability, so that talent isn't wasted and the mediocre aren't put in danger. Of course, the treatment will also differ."

"Those with the lowest combat power will take on the role of a laborer, receiving no monthly stipend, living in a grass hut at the foot of the mountain, and forbidden from taking on external tasks. They must advance to Grade C within a month, or they will be sent back to their place of origin."

"Those with Grade C combat power will take on the role of a bailiff for the Demon Suppression Bureau, receiving a monthly stipend of five taels, a reward of one dose of Body Tempering Spirit Liquid, and living in a thatched cottage on the mountainside. They may assist in official duties."

"Those with Grade B combat power will take on the role of a Demon-Suppressing Guard, receiving a monthly stipend of ten taels, a reward of one Meridian Clearing Pill, and living in a wooden house halfway up the mountain. They may take on investigative tasks or assist in official duties."

"Those with Grade A combat power will take on the role of a Demon Suppression Captain, receiving a monthly stipend of thirty taels, a reward of one Mortal Shedding Pill, and living in the Mountain Villa. They may take on tasks to slay demons."

"You didn't participate in the selection and arrived two days early. The Demon Locking Well will only be opened for the entrance examination in two days."

Lu Yuan nodded. No wonder that official told him to head to the Demon Suppression Bureau within three days; it turned out there was an entrance examination.

He continued to ask, "How are the combat power grades you mentioned earlier divided?"

"The examination lasts for one hour. Slaying fewer than ten demons is the lowest grade, thirty or more is Grade C, sixty or more is Grade B, and ninety or more is Grade A."

It was simple and clear enough.

Since it was an entrance examination, he assumed the demons he would face would all be in the Mortal Realm.

To achieve Grade A combat power, one had to kill ninety demons within an hour. Let alone ordinary people, even average geniuses couldn't reach that level.

It seemed the difficulty of this entrance examination was only stronger, not weaker, than the new blood selection.

"I see. Thank you."

Lu Yuan expressed his gratitude and headed to the grass huts at the foot of the mountain to register and move in.

According to Old Zhou, all newcomers were arranged here, and they would be divided into batches for the examination based on a draw in two days.

Lu Yuan drew the third batch.

When he arrived at the Bell Tower, the area below was already crowded with people.

As soon as he approached the Demon Locking Well, he heard waves of exclamations and flattery from ahead.

"It's only been half an hour, and Lin Chen has already killed fifty demons!"

"More than that, it's fifty-five now."

"Too strong! Is Lin Chen trying to make a push for Grade A?"

"I never expected such an expert to come from Yun'an County!"

"Sixty!"

"Good heavens! This momentum is too fierce!"

Lu Yuan looked up and saw that on the stone tablet beside the Demon Locking Well, the name Lin Chen was extremely eye-catching, with the kill count already jumping to sixty.

Lin Chen from Yun'an County—that's right, he was Lin Man'er's younger brother.

With only a quarter of an hour past the half-hour mark, having slain sixty demons, it wasn't impossible for him to aim for Grade A.

Lu Yuan was not surprised; he simply waited quietly.

Soon, the examination ended, and the text on the stone tablet changed accordingly.

Lin Chen, seventy-eight demons slain, Grade B combat power.

"Too strong!"

Although he lacked the stamina to finish, it didn't stop the many newcomers from casting looks of envy and jealousy.

Although there were three grades in the entrance examination, fewer than one in ten thousand could be rated as Grade A. Grade B was already for the strong, while Grade C was the norm.

Grade B, holding the position of Demon-Suppressing Guard, is undoubtedly a tremendous honor for a newcomer.

Above the Demon Locking Well, numerous figures appeared, and Lin Chen stepped out from the second batch with an arrogant expression on his face.

At this moment, he saw Lu Yuan in the crowd, and a cold glint immediately flashed through his eyes.

"Lu Yuan, you despicable wretch, you actually still have the face to join the Demon Suppression Bureau!"

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