Unity Heaven Art
In the courtyard.
Lin Qing and his two companions stood in the crowd, surrounded by elite Martial Artist selected from various counties. Most of them were under thirty years old, with strong physiques, bulging muscles, and confident glints in their eyes.
Geniuses are often very confident, until they encounter someone even more talented than themselves.
At the very front of the crowd stood a large group of Soul-Calming Office Martial Artist, led by an old man dressed in hemp clothing, carrying a crimson longbow on his back, with sparse silver hair and sharp, eagle-like eyes.
His gaze swept over everyone present, and the moment Lin Qing's eyes met his, a strong sense of fear inexplicably rose within him, as if an electric current had run through his skin.
"Such terrifying strength. As expected, none of the Executive of the Soul-Calming Office Division are weak. They are very likely True Gang Realm experts, or even True Essence Realm experts," Lin Qing thought to himself.
Others felt the same way; after just one glance, the entire room fell silent, and some people were even trembling uncontrollably.
"Take a headcount!" Qiu Changming suddenly said in a deep voice, his voice penetrating and naturally inspiring fear in those around him.
"Yes!"
A large group of people immediately rushed out from behind Qiu Changming. About twenty strong men quickly moved through the crowd, and soon the headcount was completed.
Qiu Changming voice, "Shichuan Prefectural City comprises 128 counties, totaling 657 people. Now, everyone, follow me out of the city. I will take you to the headquarters of the Soul-Calming Office!"
"Set off!"
Thus, led by Qiu Changming and more than fifty strong men, more than six hundred people headed straight for the outskirts of the city.
The group left the East City Gate and walked briskly for about a hundred miles when they suddenly saw a small town ahead. The town was surrounded by tall, gray-white stone walls, and they could also see watchtowers and corner towers.
"See this town? This is the outpost of the Soul-Calming Office outside the city," a man announced loudly.
"Elder Qiu, are you going to enter the town?"
Accompanied by the light sound of hooves, a figure rushed out of the town, riding quickly to a nearby location, and asked loudly.
Qiu Changming glanced at them and shook his head. "No rush. I'll take them to the Blood Valley Forbidden Ground Area first, so they'll understand that becoming Soul-Calming Office Constable officer is no easy feat."
"Yes, Elder Qiu!" The man turned his horse around and galloped back to the town at top speed.
Led by Qiu Changming, Lin Qing and the others continued eastward. After traveling about thirty miles, a valley suddenly appeared ahead. Black mist churned within the valley, and a plume of black gas shot into the sky, forming a thick black cloud above.
Even more frightening was that the further Lin Qing and the others walked towards the valley, the more they could feel the chilling wind blowing from within.
The wind was biting, and Lin Qing could hear faint weeping sounds in it. Clearly, some powerful Evil Spirits was lurking in the valley, capable of affecting human Martial Artist from such a distance.
Lin Qing pondered as he continued forward. Suddenly, a strong wind blew from the direction of the valley. The wind carried a fishy smell and was slightly reddish, causing many people to vomit.
Lin Qing also felt a chill, but the next moment, a message appeared in front of him, making his body tremble.
[Deceased: Gu Jialuo]
[Realm:???]
[Progress of Salvation: 0]
[Reward: Unity Heaven Art (Sixth-tier Gold Rank, Celestial Divine Skill, Unity of All Forces, Divine Power)]
"Sixth-tier gold?" Lin Qing was shocked.
After the Rebirth Record level was raised to the Fourth Tier, it began to display the grade of each martial art. The highest grade martial art in his possession was naturally the Tathagata Fist Manual, but it was only Fourth Tier famous art. However, this Unity Heaven Art was two levels higher Tathagata Fist Manual. How powerful must this martial art be?
"If I could obtain this divine skill, wouldn't I soar to the heavens?" Lin Qing felt a surge of excitement.
It is obvious that there is a powerful Martial Artist's corpse in this valley. In his lifetime, he had mastered the He Unity Heaven Art a martial arts technique). All he needs to do is find a way to destroy this corpse to inherit the Unity Heaven Art, without even having to practice it himself.
Tathagata Fist Manual is so powerful, he couldn't imagine how monstrous the Unity Heaven Art would be.
Moreover, and more importantly, while the Unity Heaven Art may seem like a training method, high-quality training methods are often more valuable than Combat Arts.
"I have to find a way into the valley, I must obtain the Unity Heaven Art!" Many thoughts swirled in Lin Qing's mind.
Just then, Qiu Changming's loud shout interrupted his thoughts.
"Halt! The area within five miles of Blood Valley is forbidden territory. Stop here. Do you know why our Soul-Calming Office has established its headquarters outside the city?"
A moment of silence fell over the crowd, then someone shouted, "Your Excellency, I observe black mist swirling in the valley ahead. It must harbor a large number of Evil Spirits. The Soul-Calming Office is stationed here, presumably to guard against these Evil Spirits!"
"Indeed, Blood Valley is the largest forbidden area near the Prefectural City. In the past, every few years, a calamity would erupt. At that time, black mist would surge, covering the sky and the sun. Evil Spirits would pass through, and all living beings would disappear. It was truly like the end of the world."
To prevent such a disaster from happening, the Soul-Calming Office is stationed here. First, it regularly sends people into the valley to cleanse the Evil Spirits prevent their accumulation and concentrated outbreak, which could lead to a calamity. Second, if a calamity does break out, the thousands of Constable of the Soul-Calming Office and this small town will be the strongest defense line of the Prefectural City. At that time, no one can retreat even half a step. We must fight the Evil Spirits to the death. If we can win, great; if we cannot win, then we must die. This is the fate of the officers of the Soul Constable of Ishikawa Prefectural City Soul-Calming Office!"Qiu Changming's tone became more and more serious, until finally it became extremely resolute, resounding and deafening.
The crowd fell silent, reacting in various ways. Some were filled with fear, while others were excited. Lin Qing, however, remained remarkably calm, filled only with admiration for the Constable.
"I brought you here today to make you back down. It's not easy to become a member of the Prefectural City Soul-Calming Office. If you're afraid of death, it's wise to quit now to avoid dying in the Blood Valley in the future," Qiu Changming said coldly.
"Elder Qiu, does everyone have to enter the valley?" someone asked.
"Naturally, whether you are from the Night Patrol Office, the Yin-Yang Bureau, or the Netherworld Pacification Bureau, as long as you are Soul-Calming Office Constable, you must enter the valley to exorcise Evil Spirits every once in a while," Qiu Changming replied.
For a moment, many people were filled with fear. Looking at the thick black cloud above Blood Valley from afar, they knew how dangerous it was inside, and that rushing in might cost them their lives.
"What? Scared? It's normal to be scared. Anyone who wants to withdraw, step forward and return your token. I'll give you two choices: either I'll send you back to the county town, or my Soul-Calming Office Division can arrange for you to join other major forces in the Prefectural City. Make your choice," Qiu Changming said loudly again.
At first, there was no movement after the words were spoken, but as the first person stepped forward and handed over his token, a series of people followed. In the end, more than fifty people handed over their tokens and voluntarily gave up joining the Soul-Calming Office.
Lin Qing naturally didn't move. After learning that there was a powerful Martial Artist's corpse and an unparalleled divine skill in Blood Valley, he understood that he would have to step into Blood Valley sooner or later, and he would try even without the orders of the Soul-Calming Office.
"Who else?" Qiu Changming narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping back and forth, but no one else stepped forward to return the token.