Once You Enter the Demon Suppression Bureau, Life and Death Are No Longer Yours to Decide

After leaving the Demon Suppression Prison, Shen Changqing did not return to his residence. Instead, he detoured toward the Archive Pavilion.

The interval between assignments.

Was exactly the same as the interval between entering the Archive Pavilion.

Every time he left the Demon Suppression Prison.

Shen Changqing would immediately head to the Archive Pavilion.

Over two months.

Not only had he memorized the Pure Yang Art in the Archive Pavilion, he had also spent considerable effort thoroughly studying matters related to demons, monsters, and strange creatures.

As a demon slayer.

If one had no understanding whatsoever of demons, monsters, and strange creatures, then carrying out missions in the future would be nothing but a dead end.

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

After Shen Changqing left the Archive Pavilion, he returned to his residence.

And stayed there.

For five days.

Apart from necessary meals, he never stepped outside, devoting himself wholly to studying the martial arts he had obtained from the Archive Pavilion.

Before long, Liu Chang came calling once more.

There was no change to the assignment. It was still primarily to patrol the Demon Suppression Prison.

After completing his assignment, Shen Changqing made a detour to the Archive Pavilion, reviewed the martial arts he needed to memorize, and then returned home.

Time passed swiftly.

In the blink of an eye.

Shen Changqing had already been in the Demon Suppression Bureau for ten months.

Ten months.

Among all probationary demon slayers, he was considered a true veteran.

By this point.

Most of those probationary demon slayers had already begun carrying out missions. They either advanced to become official demon slayers, or died during their missions and vanished without a trace.

Within the Demon Suppression Bureau, the Demon-Slaying Institute was divided into four divisions: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow.

Shen Changqing knew little about the other three Demon-Slaying Institutes, but within his own, he had noticed that many familiar faces had already disappeared.

Although he had barely spoken with those people.

Ever since his strength had improved, Shen Changqing retained some impression of anyone he had met even once.

As for those who had disappeared.

There was only one possibility: they were dead.

As for that.

Shen Changqing remained calm inside, without much feeling.

The deaths of others had little to do with him. What truly deserved his attention was the change in himself.

It was worth mentioning.

Setting aside the month his predecessor had wasted, Shen Changqing's attainments in martial arts over the remaining months had been far from shallow.

When he looked at the panel again.

It was already vastly different from when he had first started.

Name: Shen Changqing

Faction: Great Qin Demon Suppression Bureau

Identity: Probationary Demon Slayer

Martial Arts: Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art (Thirteenth Layer, cannot be improved), Pure Yang Art (Sixth Layer, cannot be improved), Seven-Kill Saber Art (Second Layer), Iron Sand Palm (First Layer)

Kill Value: 0

The nine-layer Pure Yang Art had taken Shen Changqing eight or nine months to successfully cultivate to the sixth layer.

Such gains.

Had not relied on Kill Value, but on his own diligent cultivation.

Even Shen Changqing himself had not expected such rapid progress while cultivating the Pure Yang Art.

Though he did not believe his talent was poor, neither did he believe it could be so extraordinarily formidable.

In eight or nine months.

He had directly cultivated the Pure Yang Art from nothing to the sixth layer.

Such progress could no longer be described merely as genius.

In Shen Changqing's view.

The breakthrough in the Pure Yang Art was most likely due to the Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art.

Because the fifteen-layer Thirteen Guardians Body-Hardening Art generated true qi in his dantian every day. That true qi was then transformed by the Pure Yang Art, ultimately becoming a higher-grade Pure Yang True Qi.

In this way.

The Pure Yang Art effectively had a powerful source of replenishment, capable of constantly increasing the amount of Pure Yang True Qi.

That was why.

He had been able to cultivate the Pure Yang Art to the sixth layer in only a few months.

The Meridian Opening Realm used true qi as its standard. Any martial artist who possessed true qi could be considered a Meridian Opening Realm expert.

Yet even within the Meridian Opening Realm.

True qi could be strong or weak.

Based on Shen Changqing's estimate, with the Pure Yang Art at the sixth layer, he should be stronger than some official demon slayers.

Of course.

Without truly exchanging blows, he did not dare be completely certain.

But crushing every probationary demon slayer would not be much of a problem.

Besides the Pure Yang Art.

Shen Changqing had also taken the opportunity to practice an additional saber art and palm art.

After all, possessing true qi required corresponding means of attack. Otherwise, he would not be able to bring much of his strength into play.

The Seven-Kill Saber Art!

It was considered one of the more powerful saber arts on the first floor of the Archive Pavilion.

It emphasized using killing to end killing, making it rather suitable for demon slayers.

As for the Iron Sand Palm, Shen Changqing had chosen it casually.

For no other reason.

Its name felt familiar.

After learning the two martial arts, he discovered another issue: neither had the words "cannot be improved" after them. It was very likely that Kill Value could not be used to improve them.

As for this.

Shen Changqing needed time to verify it.

After all, with no Kill Value on him now, he did not dare be completely certain.

"Ten months have passed. In another two months, I should be forcibly sent on a mission!"

"With two months left, I should have a chance to break the Pure Yang Art through to the seventh layer. Once I succeed, my strength will rise considerably—"

Shen Changqing looked at the panel and pondered inwardly.

The Pure Yang Art had nine layers, divided into stages every three layers, corresponding to the early, middle, and late stages of the Meridian Opening Realm.

With his Pure Yang Art at the sixth layer, he was at the very peak of the middle stage of Meridian Opening.

As long as he broke the Pure Yang Art through to the seventh layer, his realm would naturally advance to the late stage of Meridian Opening.

Suddenly.

Shen Changqing's ears twitched.

He turned his head toward the tightly shut courtyard gate, his brows furrowing unconsciously.

At that moment.

Someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

Shen Changqing opened it and found an unfamiliar face before him.

"Who are you?"

"I am Jiang Fu, the new manager of the Yellow Division Demon Exorcist Court."

"Jiang Fu?"

Shen Changqing frowned again. "I remember that the manager of the Yellow Division Demon Exorcist Court was Manager Liu Chang."

"Liu Chang died at the hands of a strange creature while carrying out a mission, so the Demon Suppression Bureau specially appointed me as the new manager. You are Shen Changqing, correct?"

Jiang Zuo's expression was calm, but there was an imperceptible change in the way he looked at Shen Changqing.

True qi!

To qualify as the manager of a Demon-Slaying Institute, his realm was naturally extraordinary.

With a single glance, he could see Shen Changqing's condition.

When he took over as manager, Jiang Zuo had received the Yellow Division Demon Exorcist Court's records and knew that Shen Changqing was among the more senior probationary demon slayers.

Ten months.

To successfully advance to Meridian Opening in that time meant his talent was passable.

Sensing Jiang Zuo's gaze.

Shen Changqing nodded. "I am Shen Changqing. Manager Jiang, you have come to issue an assignment, I presume. What kind of mission am I to carry out this time?"

"Your assignment is to patrol the Demon Suppression Prison."

Jiang Zuo took out the Demon Suppression Prison Manual and handed it to Shen Changqing.

"Yes!"

Shen Changqing said no more. He put away the Demon Suppression Prison Manual and headed directly toward the Demon Suppression Prison.

Watching his departing back.

Jiang Zuo's gaze shifted once again.

After taking over the Yellow Division Demon Exorcist Court, he had received information on the assignment each probationary demon slayer carried out every time.

Among them, Shen Changqing's file was particularly unusual.

Other than the first month, when he had carried out some additional assignments.

For the rest of the time.

Every mission he had carried out was uniformly a patrol of the Demon Suppression Prison.

Jiang Zuo was no fool. From the file, he could tell that Liu Chang had taken especially good care of Shen Changqing.

The Demon Suppression Bureau rarely cared for personal ties.

He had also investigated it. Liu Chang and Shen Changqing were neither relatives nor acquaintances.

In that case.

Liu Chang's deliberate care for Shen Changqing gave one much to ponder.

"A probationary demon slayer without any background being valued by Liu Chang must have some advantage. The greatest possibility is talent!"

"Advancing to Meridian Opening in ten months means his talent is merely decent, not enough to place him among geniuses."

"Of course, he may have hidden his strength. Perhaps he advanced to Meridian Opening even earlier—who can say? There are too many people in the Demon Suppression Bureau. It would not be impossible for one or two people of exceptional talent to emerge."

Jiang Zuo pondered inwardly.

He did not know much about Shen Changqing and could only glimpse a few clues from the files Liu Chang had left behind.

Therefore.

When assigning the mission, Jiang Zuo did not deliberately make things difficult for him.

Since Liu Chang had already done him the favor of giving Shen Changqing some leeway, why should Jiang Zuo not do the same?

In any case, however a probationary demon slayer's assignment was arranged would not make much difference. Why offend an unknown factor over some trivial matter?

"Ah!"

Jiang Zuo seemed to think of something and let out a heavy sigh before leaving.

On the other side.

Shen Changqing walked toward the Demon Suppression Prison without looking back.

He could sense Jiang Zuo's gaze upon his back, but did not turn around.

His formerly calm face suddenly darkened somewhat.

Liu Chang was dead!

It had completely exceeded Shen Changqing's expectations.

In his eyes, Liu Chang had been stronger than him by an unknown margin.

Even with the Pure Yang Art cultivated to the sixth layer, Shen Changqing could not discern the slightest thing when facing Liu Chang.

From this, it could be seen.

Liu Chang's strength must have reached an extremely profound level.

Yet.

As powerful as Liu Chang was, he had still ultimately died during a mission.

After receiving the news, Shen Changqing felt immense pressure rise within him.

The complacency he had inevitably felt due to the improvement in his cultivation vanished completely.

Many demon slayers had disappeared in the past, and he had even heard plenty of news of demon slayers dying.

But Shen Changqing had not known those demon slayers well, so he had felt little.

Not until Liu Chang died.

Did a different kind of emotion rise within his heart.

No matter what.

Liu Chang had been the person Shen Changqing knew best since arriving in this unfamiliar world, and the one he had spoken with most.

Strictly speaking,

he owed Liu Chang quite a few favors.

Now that the other man was dead, Shen Changqing felt something indescribable.

Standing at the entrance to the Demon Suppression Prison,

he suddenly let out a long breath, a sentence already rising in his heart.

"Once you enter the Demon Suppression Bureau, life and death are no longer yours to command!"