About Plague Exterminators (II)

From the moment Zhou Zhi entered the Suhui Epidemic Prevention Center.

Zhou Zhi had been observing his surroundings.

"There are plenty of ordinary people... Most of them handle paperwork and organize files. Generally speaking, that's the lowest-level job."

"At the very top are the [Official-level] Plague Exterminators."

Like Li Xun, like Shu Ling, whom he'd met earlier, and like the short, middle-aged man Qian Yifan standing here now.

[Qian Yifan].

[Combat Level: Official-level Plague Exterminator].

[Pathogenization Index: 2.44%].

[1. Dark Skin: Long-term use of special drugs has produced a slight drug resistance. This provides some protection against Pestilence].

[???].

[...].

[This man's smile is as sinister as a sewer rat's—perhaps that's why he still can't find a girlfriend].

Zhou Zhi raised his head slightly and glanced over the man's somewhat dark skin.

Then there were the people standing in between.

Those who possessed a certain amount of spiritual power were generally called [Apprentice Plague Exterminators].

But Zhou Zhi knew that this title was merely a popular term. In reality, no such rank existed.

You were either an Official-level Plague Exterminator or an ordinary person!

And at that moment, what met Zhou Zhi's eyes was...

[An ordinary person with a faint trace of spiritual power].

[An ordinary person with a faint trace of spiritual power].

[An ordinary person with spiritual power].

And a handful of...

[Apprentice Plague Exterminators].

"So my information still recognizes 'Apprentice' as a rank."

Zhou Zhi's expression shifted.

According to what that woman had said earlier, plenty of people were competing for the current openings, even for positions outside the formal ranks.

Thinking about it, perhaps Doctor Qian was holding a selection here.

The ordinary people were one thing, but among them were several young people who had reached the [Apprentice] level. They looked about eighteen or nineteen. If Zhou Zhi guessed correctly, they were students from Changdu Medical College.

"Oh?"

Qian Yifan drew out the word, his already sparse hair swaying slightly. "Who needs you to assess him alone?"

"Deputy Captain Ni specifically asked me to look after him."

Li Xun said solemnly.

Qian Yifan walked around Li Xun and looked Zhou Zhi over.

He furrowed his brow slightly.

There was barely any spiritual power on him. It was so faint it could hardly be detected.

He did, however, have a certain unusual air about him.

Qian Yifan's thoughts stirred. Then he waved his hand. "Make way."

"Good timing. Before the selection begins, I'll teach you some basic concepts about Plague Exterminators... There'll be a test shortly, so you can get a preliminary idea of what to expect."

From Li Xun's expression, Qian Yifan could roughly guess what kind of simple, crude test it would be.

At that moment, Li Xun, the white-clad Plague Exterminator who had seemed somewhat green earlier, slowly took off his clothes and set the Plague-Slaying Blade from his waist aside.

Dozens of young men and women watched what was happening before them.

"A Plague Exterminator has three essential pieces of equipment: [Plague Armor], a [Plague Mask], and a [Plague-Slaying Blade]. Every fully qualified Plague Exterminator needs to possess them. You could even say they're extensions of the body's hands and feet."

"[The 'Plague Armor' protects against the erosion of Pestilence.]"

"[The 'Plague Mask' covers the face and prevents disease from entering through the mouth.]"

"[And the 'Plague-Slaying Blade' is used to perform Plague Extermination Arts and Clinical Martial Arts in battle, purging Pestilence.]"

"However... since this is only a test, our Plague Exterminator Li won't be using that equipment."

Qian Yifan smiled.

Among the crowd, a defiant-looking young man raised his hand.

"Mr. Qian, what kind of test is this?"

Qian Yifan waved his hand. "Just a one-on-one combat test... The most direct, brainless method."

"One-on-one, huh."

Zhou Zhi calmly watched everything in front of him.

The once-green-looking Li Xun slowly rose to his feet, giving off an indescribable aura.

"I'll hold back my spiritual power. I'm only assessing your skill."

"It's perfectly normal if you've never used spiritual power in battle against Pestilence."

Many eyes were fixed on him, all in a jumble.

But Zhou Zhi paid them no heed.

Thinking about it, that spot outside the official ranks Yu Jinhai had mentioned had indeed been a lie.

Whatever. The man was already dead.

With all eyes upon him, Zhou Zhi raised his hand.

"I have a question."

Li Xun paused. "Go ahead."

Zhou Zhi looked at the man before him. "Can I use a Plague-Slaying Blade?"

The room fell silent.

Qian Yifan's smile faded.

Not just anyone could use a Plague-Slaying Blade.

Without enough spiritual power to activate one, it was nothing more than an ordinary weapon.

Even a Plague-Slaying Blade of average quality could only be used by students in their third or fourth year at the Medical Academy!

The boy in front of them looked no older than sixteen or seventeen...

"You can, but we don't provide Plague-Slaying Blades..."

Qian Yifan began.

"No need."

Zhou Zhi cut him off. "I brought my own."

The room fell silent again.

Behind them.

Zhou Zhi walked over.

He opened the Black Box he had brought with him.

Inside the Black Box.

A slender Plague-Slaying Blade lay quietly.

Its razor-sharp edge gleamed.

"This is..."

"A standard-issue Plague-Slaying Blade from Changdu First Medical College!"

Qian Yifan paused.

Was this person a student from Chang Medical?

"Come on."

Zhou Zhi raised the Plague-Slaying Blade.

Spiritual power surged through it.

His target was...

Li Xun.

He held the blade in a Bow Stance grip. It trembled slightly.

[Lung Resection].

Zhou Zhi tilted his upper body slightly.

"Plague Extermination Arts are divided into surgery and internal medicine."

Qian Yifan's gaze fell on Zhou Zhi's hand.

The boy's grip on the Plague-Slaying Blade was steady—terrifyingly steady, as if he were a Plague Exterminator with years of clinical experience!

"Surgical techniques generally build on Clinical Martial Arts, striking at various forms of Pestilence from the outside. Changdu First Medical College, Li's alma mater, is renowned for cardiac surgery."

"Internal medicine, meanwhile, uses drugs to alter the body's functions and achieve special effects. Xuanyuan has done relatively little research in this area... The elixirs of the Chengyun Dynasty and the synthetic drugs of Ultimate Bliss are among the finest examples of this path."

Qian Yifan spoke with great interest.

Facing that razor-sharp Plague-Slaying Blade, Li Xun felt an inexplicable pressure.

His heart pounded.

Spiritual power surged.

The Plague-Slaying Blade held horizontally, Zhou Zhi charged forward in an instant!

[So fast]!

The defiant young man's expression changed.

How could he... be this fast?

"Mastering spiritual power and Plague Extermination Arts can enhance your physical abilities, but..."

Qian Yifan broke off mid-sentence.

But this was a little too outrageous.

That speed was already at the level of an Apprentice Plague Exterminator!

Li Xun jolted in shock, his pupils instantly widening.

His heart gave a violent thud.

Spiritual power gathered in his right hand, almost tangible.

It formed a blade.

[Heart Destruction Amplification].

Clang!!!

The blades crossed.

A burst of explosive force erupted.

A tremendous crash rang out through the entire hall.

"Damn..."

Li Xun's face turned deathly pale.