Demon Suppression Prison! Breakthrough to the Aperture-Opening Realm!

The Deputy General's courtyard stood in the northeast corner of the Demon Suppression Division.

Each Deputy General had a private courtyard. Its walls rose half a zhang higher than those around the captains' quarters, and the Demon Suppression Division's crest was cast into its black iron gate.

Yang Xiao pushed open the gate. Before him lay a courtyard several times larger than his old one.

At its center was a bluestone training ground roughly five zhang across. A row of weapon racks stood along its edge, stocked with sabers, spears, swords, and halberds. None were divine weapons, but all were fine, standard-issue blades of the Demon Suppression Division.

To the left of the training ground stood a quiet room. Its furnishings were simple: a stone couch and a meditation cushion. It was clearly meant for secluded cultivation.

To the right were a separate armory and living quarters.

Yang Xiao entered the living quarters. His things had already been laid out on the table.

There was a brand-new Deputy General's uniform, its deep blue cloth embroidered with silver patterns. Shoulder guards, bracers, and a belt were all there, neatly folded together.

The fabric was fine, and he could feel the silver-thread cloud patterns beneath his fingertips. It was far more elaborate than a captain's robe.

Yang Xiao glanced at it without putting it on, then looked toward a rosewood box on the bed.

Its lid sat half-open, revealing several bottles of precious healing medicine. They were part of every Deputy General's monthly allotment from the Demon Suppression Division, though he had no use for them yet.

He had thought he might need to clean the place, but after looking around, Yang Xiao found it spotless. Not a speck of dust remained. Someone must have cleaned it for him.

He turned and