Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art

Name: Shen Changqing

Affiliation: Great Qin Demon Suppression Bureau

Status: Probationary Demon Exorcist

Martial Art: Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art (Third Level, cannot be improved)

Kill Value: 0

After consuming all his Kill Value, the Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art had risen directly from not even being initiated to the third level.

He stood where he was with his eyes closed, unmoving for a long while.

After a while.

Shen Changqing suddenly opened his eyes, stepped forward into a bow stance, and threw a punch through the air.

Boom—

As his fist shot out, a faint sound of tearing air could be heard.

In an instant.

The sound faded, and Shen Changqing withdrew his fist and turned back.

"The Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art has nine levels in total. Every level successfully cultivated greatly strengthens the body, while slightly increasing strength and speed."

"With my Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art at the third level, aside from those veteran Demon Exorcists, no one among those who entered the Demon Suppression Bureau in the same batch should be able to compare with me."

"And—"

"Even those more experienced probationary Demon Exorcists cannot be much stronger than me. They may even be somewhat weaker."

Within the Demon Suppression Bureau, the Guardians held the highest status, while Demon Exorcists came second.

Among all Demon Exorcists, probationary Demon Exorcists held the lowest rank.

Anyone entering the Demon Suppression Bureau had to begin as a probationary Demon Exorcist unless their strength was already sufficiently formidable.

Simply put.

Probationary Demon Exorcists were reserves for official Demon Exorcists. Their main purpose was to improve their strength as much as possible, build sufficient foundations, complete the Demon Suppression Bureau's missions, and thereby become true Demon Exorcists.

Therefore.

There were basically no true experts among probationary Demon Exorcists.

True experts were, at the very least, official Demon Exorcists.

Of course.

That did not mean probationary Demon Exorcists simply stayed in the Demon Suppression Bureau to cultivate. Besides cultivation, they still had to complete simple tasks at regular intervals.

Only then were they qualified to receive the benefits due to them within the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Moreover.

Both the former owner of this body and Shen Changqing himself had spent a month memorizing the Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art.

Although Shen Changqing felt that the former owner had been somewhat dull-witted, even a cleverer person would need ten days to half a month to fully memorize a martial art.

They could enter the Archive Pavilion once every five days, and each visit lasted two hours.

A martial art manual contained quite a bit of content. Even a clever person would reasonably need four to six hours to memorize it.

But one had to understand.

Memorizing it was one thing; achieving success in cultivating it was another.

According to Shen Changqing's understanding.

Among those who had entered the Demon Suppression Bureau in the same batch, even the exceptionally gifted had only barely gotten started.

This showed.

With the Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art at the third level, he might not be able to sweep aside every probationary Demon Exorcist, but he could certainly be called an expert among them.

Yet when Shen Changqing saw the Kill Value on the panel had already been reduced to zero, he shook his head again.

"What a pity. The Kill Value has been used up. I need to find a way to gather more."

Gathering Kill Value.

Was the only way to rapidly increase his strength.

Great Qin had established the Demon Suppression Bureau because this world was not as peaceful as his previous life. It was filled with all manner of dangers.

Every year, countless people died within the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Shen Changqing did not wish to find his own name on the list of the dead one day.

Besides.

Every Demon Exorcist had to carry out missions. No one was exempt.

Even probationary Demon Exorcists only had a one-year grace period.

After that year was over, the Demon Suppression Bureau would force probationary Demon Exorcists to undertake missions involving demons, evil spirits, and strange creatures.

If they succeeded, they could shed their status as probationary Demon Exorcists and become true Demon Exorcists.

As for failure.

There was no need to say it; the consequences were obvious.

"Once you enter the Demon Suppression Bureau, there is no road of retreat. Either keep climbing upward, or fall upon the endless road of missions—"

No one wanted to die, and Shen Changqing was no exception.

Having entered the Demon Suppression Bureau, if he wanted to survive, he could only keep improving his strength without pause.

Therefore.

He had no choice.

Knock, knock!

Someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

Shen Changqing opened it and immediately saw a burly middle-aged man with a square face standing before him.

"Greetings, Steward Liu!"

The man was named Liu Chang. He was an official Demon Exorcist and also the steward of the Yellow Division Demon Exorcist Court.

The so-called Yellow Division Demon Exorcist Court.

Was where all Demon Exorcists lived.

It housed both probationary Demon Exorcists and official Demon Exorcists.

There were four Demon Exorcist Courts within the Demon Suppression Bureau: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. The Yellow Division was one of them.

Shen Changqing was quite familiar with Liu Chang.

Or rather, every Demon Exorcist was familiar with Liu Chang, because he was the person they dealt with most often.

When Liu Chang saw Shen Changqing emerge, his eyes suddenly flickered.

In that instant.

Shen Changqing felt as though the other man had seen straight through him.

"Looks like you have quite a talent for martial arts."

"Steward Liu overpraises me. I have merely gained a little understanding." Shen Changqing looked modest.

The improvement in his Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art was destined to be impossible to hide from others.

As an official Demon Exorcist, Liu Chang was naturally not weak. It was normal for him to see some clues, but as long as they did not exchange blows, he could not possibly see through Shen Changqing completely.

Sure enough.

At Shen Changqing's words, the coldness on Liu Chang's face eased only slightly.

"In about a month, you have already entered the gate of martial arts. Your talent exceeds that of many Demon Exorcists. If you spend some more time, perhaps you may have a chance to become an official Demon Exorcist.

"The martial path emphasizes balance between tension and relaxation. Only then can one scale the summit."

After offering a simple word of praise.

In Liu Chang's eyes, Shen Changqing had the potential to become a true Demon Exorcist. After all, there were not many who could enter the gate of martial arts within a month.

Anyone capable of doing so.

So long as they did not die halfway through, would eventually become true Demon Exorcists—and not merely ordinary ones at that.

Just as Shen Changqing had thought.

Without truly exchanging blows, Liu Chang could not completely discern his true capabilities through observation alone.

After speaking.

Liu Chang paused, and his expression became indifferent again.

"The deadline for your mission has arrived. It is time for you to complete a new mission."

"May I ask what this mission is?"

"Probationary Demon Exorcists do not have many missions. The one you need to complete now is the same as last time: patrol the Demon Suppression Prison." Liu Chang spoke blandly.

Patrol the Demon Suppression Prison!

Shen Changqing's expression changed slightly, but inwardly he was delighted.

His previous mission had been to patrol the Demon Suppression Prison. It was also because he had patrolled the Demon Suppression Prison that the panel had officially activated.

He had originally been wondering how he could find an opportunity to enter the Demon Suppression Prison without arousing suspicion.

But he had not expected.

The chance to enter the Demon Suppression Prison would come knocking on his own door.

Seeing the change in Shen Changqing's expression, Liu Chang mistook it for fear and could not help explaining.

"The Demon Suppression Prison is not actually as dangerous as you think. The demons, evil spirits, and strange creatures imprisoned within are basically bound by powerful seals. So long as you do not trespass into areas you should not enter, there will be no problem.

"The areas that must not be entered have long been recorded in the Demon Suppression Prison Manual.

"Also, remember this well: if you hear any sound in the Demon Suppression Prison, simply pretend you heard nothing."

In the past, he would not have offered an extra explanation.

However, Shen Changqing had entered the gate of martial arts in roughly a month. He was clearly a promising sapling worth cultivating.

Explaining a little now could be considered doing the other man a favor.

Perhaps when Shen Changqing grew stronger, he might bring Liu Chang some returns.

Even taking ten thousand steps back.

Even if Shen Changqing failed to grow stronger, or forgot about him after growing stronger, it would not matter much to Liu Chang.

Saying an extra sentence or two.

Did not cost him anything anyway.

At that.

Shen Changqing clasped his hands in thanks. "Thank you for your guidance, Steward Liu."

"Mm. This is the Demon Suppression Prison Manual. Take it."

Liu Chang took a booklet about a foot long from his sleeve and handed it to Shen Changqing.

"The Demon Suppression Prison Manual records the demons, evil spirits, and strange creatures sealed in every area, as well as their conditions.

"If you discover any abnormality, or if something escapes, do not enter the prison cell to investigate on your own. You only need to report it to the person stationed in the Demon Suppression Prison.

"Furthermore, you must not deliberately conceal any abnormality.

"If deliberate concealment is discovered, it will be regarded as colluding with demons and betraying humanity. There will be only one road: death."

"Rest assured, Steward Liu. I understand this matter."

Shen Changqing's expression was solemn as he put away the Demon Suppression Prison Manual.

The Demon Suppression Bureau's rules were strict and severe.

Breaking any one of them could result in severe injury and disability at best; at worst, certain death.

Though his strength had improved somewhat, he was not so arrogant as to provoke the Demon Suppression Bureau's rules.

"Go on, then."

"Yes!"

Having received Liu Chang's orders, Shen Changqing immediately headed toward the Demon Suppression Prison.

The Demon Suppression Bureau was enormous.

It was divided into several areas.

The Demon Exorcist Courts where Demon Exorcists lived lay at the outermost edge of the Demon Suppression Bureau, while the Archive Pavilion was located in the second area.

The Demon Suppression Prison.

Lay in the third area.

The fourth area was where the Guardians resided.

The reason for this arrangement was that the Demon Suppression Prison was extremely important. If any sealed demon, evil spirit, or strange creature escaped from within, it would be a devastating blow to ordinary people.

Demon Exorcists in front and Guardians behind—this was to prevent demons, evil spirits, and strange creatures from escaping.

As long as anything left the Demon Suppression Prison, the alarm would be raised in an instant.

At that time.

The Demon Suppression Bureau could immediately suppress the escaped demons, evil spirits, and strange creatures again, or kill them where they stood.

All the demons, evil spirits, and strange creatures imprisoned in the Demon Suppression Prison had been defeated by the Demon Suppression Bureau's experts.

Therefore.

There was no possibility that they could not be dealt with.

After being reborn, Shen Changqing had come to the Demon Suppression Prison once before. Since probationary Demon Exorcists received missions every three days, this was his second visit.

With the experience from his first time.

His second visit to the Demon Suppression Prison could not be called familiar as the back of his hand, but he was certainly not unfamiliar with it.

Very soon.

The Demon Suppression Prison entered his field of vision.

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