Lifting the Cauldron

Lu Changsheng paid the crowd no heed and immediately began lifting the cauldron.

He strode forward to the side of the massive cauldron, planted his feet apart, wrapped both arms around it, and held it tightly against his body.

"Up!"

Lu Changsheng shouted, putting on an extremely strained look as his face flushed red.

The massive cauldron slowly rose from the ground.

"Brother Changsheng, well done!"

Fang Tao cheered loudly, his face full of excitement.

He had watched Lu Changsheng train and grow step by step, and he felt honored as well.

Just over a month ago, he had still been using a wooden stick to help pound Lu Changsheng's body every day. He had never imagined Lu Changsheng would truly become a martial artist.

It filled him with excitement.

From this day onward, the fates of both their families would be completely rewritten.

He secretly vowed to follow Brother Changsheng and train hard as well.

Fang Qing, standing beside him, was even more stunned.

She had known Lu Changsheng for over twenty years. How could she not know what sort of person he was?

He had been nothing more than a street loafer, stealing chickens and dogs, roaming the streets and alleys, never serious about anything. Yet in barely over a month, a hidden dragon had soared to the heavens. She could not help wondering whether she was dreaming, and hurriedly pinched her soft cheek.

Only when she felt the pain did she lower her hand. Looking at Lu Changsheng's valiant bearing, an unfamiliar feeling suddenly surged in her heart.

The surrounding martial artists all looked strangely at Fang Tao and Fang Qing.

Without medicinal baths to support such training, he would sooner or later walk straight into a dead end. Yet his family was still cheering for him. Ignorance truly knew no fear.

"Hah..."

At that moment, Lu Changsheng suddenly exerted himself and raised the massive cauldron above his head, holding it steadily in midair.

"Passed."

Only after Gao Yunming slowly uttered those two words did Lu Changsheng lower the cauldron.

Clang...

The massive cauldron struck the bluestone ground, producing a ringing metallic sound.

Lu Changsheng dusted off his hands and slowly walked toward Fang Qing and Fang Tao.

He was quite satisfied with his performance just now.

So long as he did not expose himself, no one would discover his true strength.

As someone with a mature mind, he naturally understood that the moment everything about him was laid bare before the world was the most dangerous moment.

Only by always keeping something up one's sleeve could one meet soldiers with generals and dam water with earth.

Moreover, martial artists classified strength in a simple and crude manner.

Though there were distinctions such as Stone Skin, Iron Skin, and Copper Skin, when it came to a true life-and-death battle, one had to fight before knowing.

A Stone Skin martial artist might not be unable to kill an Iron Skin martial artist in return.

Poisons and even hidden weapons could turn the tide at a critical moment.

As for probing another's realm, that was utter nonsense. Only when a martial artist circulated their own qi and blood could they sense the degree of Skin Refining.

In a life-and-death battle, the one who survived was the stronger one.

The Demon Suppression Department had set up three cauldrons of different weights, but they could only make a preliminary judgment of a martial artist's strength.

And strength alone was not what determined a martial artist's success or failure.

Before long, Lu Changsheng returned to where he had been.

"Train hard. If Uncle Lu saw how promising you've become today, he would be happy too..."

Light shimmered in Fang Qing's eyes as she tightly clenched her skirt in her hands.

"Sister-in-law Qing, I know. Thank you for taking care of me all these years."

Lu Changsheng smiled faintly.

Fang Qing froze at his words. She felt that Lu Changsheng had changed so much.

He actually gave her the feeling that he had grown up.

"Brother Changsheng, you looked so impressive just now."

Fang Tao said excitedly as well.

Seeing this, the neighboring residents immediately crowded around, their faces full of flattery.

"Changsheng, you've really made something of yourself..."

Fang Tao turned his head away, his eyes filled with indignation.

They had seen these neighbors' snobbish faces clearly enough.

Lu Changsheng's expression remained cold as he ignored them.

Only then did the neighbors give awkward smiles and retreat.

At the same time, they deeply regretted having completely cut ties with him when he was in hardship. Otherwise, they could have basked in his glory today as well.

After Lu Changsheng left the field, the martial artists behind him stepped up one after another to take the challenge.

By afternoon, everyone had finished.

Most of the martial artists passed the challenge. Only a handful failed even to lift the eight-hundred-jin cauldron, drawing scorn from the others.

These people who harbored wishful hopes were few in number.

Most martial artists still had a clear understanding of their own abilities.

After all, this assessment had endured for hundreds of years and was no secret.

Just after the final martial artist completed the assessment, the three examiners immediately stepped down from the platform and came before the crowd.

"All who passed will become Apprentice Demon Suppressors. Does anyone refuse?"

Gao Yunming swept his gaze across the crowd and shouted.

Seeing that no one refused, he nodded in satisfaction.

"Since everyone agrees, I will report to the Deputy Hall Master later and have you entered into the register..."

"Thank you, Senior."

Everyone hurriedly cupped their hands, their faces full of respect.

At that moment, another lean examiner smiled faintly.

"Fellow colleagues, all Apprentice Demon Suppressors must be attached to the command of a Yellow-rank Demon Suppressor. The three of us will make our selections today..."

After speaking, he turned to Gao Yunming.

"Brother Gao, then I won't stand on ceremony."

By convention, the three of them took turns selecting according to contribution points. This time, Gao Yunming was still at the bottom of the order.

Very soon, the two examiners successively selected several promising candidates from the field into their own teams, smiles never leaving their faces.

In particular, several clan disciples with abundant qi and blood, including Li Yunhua, were taken under the two men's command.

Only Lu Changsheng and a dozen or so ordinary martial artists remained on the field.

They were all people who had barely managed to lift the twelve-hundred-jin cauldron.

Of course, that included Lu Changsheng, this "oddity."

Before long, Gao Yunming casually said, "For now, you will be under my command. Go immediately to the Demon Suppression Department office to register yourselves."

He paid little attention to these martial artists who had been left over after the selections.

Who knew how many would remain after a year? Perhaps not even one would make it through. Naturally, they could not draw his attention.

As for Lu Changsheng, he was completely overlooked.

In his view, someone who practiced the Iron Cloth Shirt by forcibly stimulating their potential had virtually no chance of passing the one-year assessment.

This year as an Apprentice Demon Suppressor would be the other man's final days.

Soon, Gao Yunming and the others led the large group of martial artists toward the Demon Suppression Department office.

Lu Changsheng followed closely behind.

At the same time, he did not forget to remind Fang Qing and Fang Tao.

"Wait here for me a while."

Fang Qing and Fang Tao both nodded in agreement.

The Demon Suppression Department office was located not far from the central square, at a street corner to the west.

The surroundings were rather clean and orderly, forming a stark contrast with the filth and disorder of the commoners' district.

This was only the outer city. The inner city was surely even more luxurious.

Though both the county office and the Demon Suppression Department office were located in the outer city, their key figures rested in the inner city at night and only came to the offices during the day.

Before long, the group arrived in grand procession before the Demon Suppression Department office.

Lu Changsheng looked up. A pair of enormous stone lions stood on either side, imposing and majestic.

The two vermilion gates were several zhang tall, as though recounting the traces left by time.

At that moment, martial artists hurried in and out through the gates, and the atmosphere felt somewhat oppressive.

The three Demon Suppressors led everyone directly into the office.

Before long, they arrived before a desk in a side hall.

An elderly man with snow-white hair and beard sat upright in a chair.

"Elder Ji, we've brought this batch of martial artists."

Gao Yunming and the other two quickly stepped forward and cupped their hands.

"Everyone, line up at once and register yourselves."

The old man shouted in a powerful voice.

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng and the others immediately formed a queue that stretched like a long dragon.

As martial artist after martial artist picked up the waist badges from the desk and left, it was soon Lu Changsheng's turn.

"Name?"

"Lu Changsheng."

"Age?"

"Twenty."

"Are your relatives still alive? You may choose only two."

The old man asked each question in turn, concise and straightforward.

"Fang Qing and Fang Tao."

After a brief moment of thought, Lu Changsheng gave the two names.

He naturally understood what the old man meant. Once one joined the Demon Suppression Department, even one's relatives would receive protection. This was one of the reasons so many martial artists desperately tried to squeeze their way in.

Not only that, they would be assigned a dedicated residence near the Demon Suppression Department office, where it would be very safe.

"Mhm."

The old man nodded lightly, took out one large jade waist badge and a pair of smaller badges, and placed them on the desk.

"These are identity badges. If you fail to advance during the one-year assessment period, you must return them and forfeit all benefits..."

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

Lu Changsheng responded politely, picked up the jade badges from the desk, and turned to walk away.