Qingzhou Demon Suppression Bureau!

Inside the carriage.

Shen Qingyang leaned against the soft cushions, calmly watching Yang Xiao.

"There are some things I should make clear to you while we're on the road."

Yang Xiao sat upright. "Flag Officer Shen, please go on."

"The Demon Suppression Division doesn't care about your background." Shen Qingyang spoke in an even tone. "Whether you're the descendant of a military family or a farmer's son, once you enter the Demon Suppression Division, only three things matter."

He raised three fingers.

"Realm, merit, and how hard you are to kill."

"Your realm determines your starting point, your merit determines your resources, and how hard you are to kill determines whether you can stay alive long enough."

"The Demon Suppression Division has a Cultivation Manual Archive containing martial arts from every corner of the world. It has everything. There's also a Pill Archive and a Forging Pavilion. You can learn the best techniques and receive the finest weapons."

Shen Qingyang paused, his gaze sharpening slightly.

"But remember, nothing in the Demon Suppression Division is given for free."

"All resources must be exchanged for Merit, and Merit is exchanged for your life."

"Want to learn a high-level cultivation manual? Bring Merit to exchange for it. Want pills or a good saber? Bring Merit for those, too."

"The Demon Suppression Division doesn't support idlers, nor does it care about past achievements. You killed a Qi Gathering Realm Bull Demon yesterday—that was yesterday's matter. Once we reach Qingzhou, everything starts from scratch."

Yang Xiao fell silent for a moment before nodding.

"I understand."

Shen Qingyang glanced at him, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. He seemed fairly satisfied with that response.

"Once we reach Qingzhou, you'll first have to undergo a practical combat assessment. After passing, you'll receive a Demon Suppression Guard token and living quarters. After that, someone who's been here longer will familiarize you with the rules."

"If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me during this period. Once you enter the Demon Suppression Division, we won't have many chances to meet."

After two days of traveling without pause, they finally reached Qingzhou.

A magnificent city stood before them. Its walls soared into the clouds, towering several times higher than those of Xiangyun County.

The city gates were heavily guarded. Pedestrians came and went in an endless stream, while carriages and horses flowed like a river.

Shen Qingyang handed over his token, and the guards respectfully let them pass.

The carriage passed through the city, while Yang Xiao silently surveyed this prefectural city, which was several times more prosperous than Xiangyun County.

The streets were broad and smooth, with shops lining both sides and cries of hawkers rising one after another.

The pedestrians wore fine clothes and had healthy complexions, utterly different from the sallow-faced commoners of Xiangyun County.

"Qingzhou is the largest prefecture in the Cuiyun Circuit, with a population of a million and thriving commerce." Shen Qingyang's voice came from beside him. "The Demon Suppression Division is located in the north of the city."

Yang Xiao nodded and continued observing.

The carriage turned through several streets and alleys, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.

A vast complex of black buildings appeared before them. The outer wall stood a full three zhang high, built entirely from some sort of pitch-black stone brick that faintly glimmered with an eerie light.

A stone lion stood on either side of the gate. Each was as tall as two men, imposing and solemn.

Above the lintel, five large characters danced with dragons and phoenixes—Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division.

The carriage slowly came to a stop.

Shen Qingyang got out first, and Yang Xiao followed close behind.

The other two carriages also stopped. Hu Kai, Hu Qingqing, and the other newcomers filed out one after another.

Everyone tilted their heads back, staring blankly at the colossal structure before them, which was countless times more imposing than the County Yamen.

"Stay close."

Shen Qingyang strode toward the gate, and Yang Xiao and the others hurried after him.

The Demon Suppression Guards standing watch wore black armor and carried long sabers at their waists. Every one of them had a steady aura and sharp eyes.

When they saw Shen Qingyang approach, they bowed in unison.

"Flag Officer Shen!"

Shen Qingyang gave a slight nod and led everyone through the gate.

The moment he entered, Yang Xiao felt a wave of pressure bearing down on him.

The courtyard was enormous, more than ten times larger than the Xiangyun County Yamen.

Directly opposite the gate stood a massive stone stele, a full five zhang tall and pitch-black from top to bottom.

Its surface was densely carved with red names.

Yang Xiao took a few steps closer and saw the inscription clearly—the Demon Subduing Stele.

Carved upon it was the list of Demon Suppression Guards who had died slaying demons and subduing monsters since the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division was founded.

From top to bottom, left to right, the names filled the stele so densely that no one could count how many there were.

The final line at the bottom was horrifying to behold.

"Since the division was founded, 103,712 people have died in the line of duty."

Yang Xiao fell silent.

One hundred and three thousand seven hundred and twelve lives.

The Demon Suppression Division's reputation shook the world. Beyond the power of military conquest, it rested even more on the mountain of countless lives piled beneath it.

Shen Qingyang turned and walked toward the left, and everyone hurried after him.

After circling around the Demon Subduing Stele, they saw a huge building before them.

Three large characters were written above the lintel—Merit Hall.

A wooden sign stood outside the entrance, plastered with notices.

Yang Xiao approached for a closer look and saw that they were various mission bounties.

"The Merit Hall is responsible for issuing missions and settling Merit," Shen Qingyang explained. "After newcomers enter the division, they must first register at the Merit Hall and collect their identity waist tokens and Merit Booklets."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across everyone.

"But before that, you'll first be assigned a rank."

Everyone froze.

"The Demon Suppression Division has strict ranks."

Shen Qingyang's tone remained even. "Those who haven't reached the Qi Gathering Realm can only start as Patrol Soldiers, Brawny Guards, or Scouts. They'll mainly be responsible for patrols, odd jobs, and assisting with missions."

"Those who reach the Qi Gathering Realm may participate in the Captain examination. After passing, they become Demon Suppression Guards and qualify to accept missions outside the city."

His gaze landed on Hu Kai and the others. "You three go over there to register. Someone will guide you through the next step."

Hu Kai's expression instantly turned ugly.

He gritted his teeth and walked toward the side entrance without saying a word.

Hu Qingqing followed behind him, the excitement on her face gradually fading as well.

She had originally thought that once her younger brother entered the Demon Suppression Division, he would rise to the heavens in a single step. Only now did she realize how wide the gap between imagination and reality was.

Yang Xiao also saw Hu Kai's back but said nothing.

After the Yamen Runners from Xiangyun County had left, he turned to Shen Qingyang. "Where do I go?"

Shen Qingyang glanced at him and pointed toward the small path to the right of the Merit Hall's main entrance. The corner of his mouth twitched.

"Follow me."

The Captain examination was held at the Martial Arts Arena outside the Merit Hall.

Yang Xiao stood at the end of the line. Seven or eight people were ahead of him.

They were all Qi Gathering Realm martial artists, ranging in age from their twenties to their thirties.

The line moved slowly, and Yang Xiao waited patiently.

Every martial artist in line was asked a few simple questions before undergoing a basic practical combat test. Most of them passed.

After roughly half an hour, it was finally his turn.

"Name."

A middle-aged man sat behind a table. He wore black martial attire and had a steady aura. Sensing someone approach, he asked without looking up.

"Yang Xiao."

"Native place."

"Xiangyun County."

"How old?"

"Eighteen."

The pen in the middle-aged man's hand paused. He raised his head and glanced at Yang Xiao.

"Eighteen years old and at the Qi Gathering Realm?" He set down his pen and looked at Yang Xiao in astonishment. "You're the newcomer Shen Qingyang brought back?"

"Then I'll have to see what you're really made of."

He stood and walked to an empty space in the middle of the hall. Then he beckoned Yang Xiao over, a trace of interest in his eyes.

"The rules are simple. Endure ten moves under my hand, and you pass."

Yang Xiao walked to the center of the open space, his expression calm.

"Let's begin."

The middle-aged man nodded. His figure moved, and he charged toward Yang Xiao.

His speed wasn't fast, nor was his strength great. He merely displayed the level of someone who had just entered the Qi Gathering Realm.

Clearly, he hadn't taken Yang Xiao seriously at all.

For an eighteen-year-old to cultivate to the Qi Gathering Realm on his own was already quite impressive. But without undergoing the Demon Suppression Division's trials of slaughter, how much real ability could he have?

Out of consideration for Shen Qingyang, he would hold back a little.