Demon Suppression Department

Biodata

Background

The department originated as the Martial Suppression Guard, established by Great Zhou’s Founding Ancestor after he swept away countless demons and evils. After several centuries of development and restructuring, it became the modern Demon Suppression Department. Though it has faced political suppression in recent years because of its prominence, it remains a powerful state institution. 11

In Changping County, it stands apart from the county yamen and the County Magistrate’s direct chain of command. The other principal official force is the Black Armored Army, led by the County Commandant; the department nevertheless assists the County Magistrate and regularly conducts joint operations with the army and county yamen. 11 58 64

Its missions carry a severe casualty rate. This ongoing attrition drives its annual recruitment of commoner martial artists and contributes to shortages among its Apprentice Demon Suppressors. 15 18 63

Organization

Changping County branch

The Changping branch’s daily affairs were handled by three Deputy Hall Masters after the former Combat Hall Master was promoted and no replacement arrived. Qin Ruobing managed more than ten Yellow-rank Demon Suppressors and three Profound-rank Demon Suppressors, alongside her Apprentice Demon Suppressors. 25

Recruitment and advancement

Selection candidates lift cauldrons of different weights as a preliminary measure of strength, though the department recognizes that raw strength alone does not decide a martial artist’s combat ability. New trainees are also graded according to this test for resource distribution. 15 16 24

Facilities, benefits, and equipment

• The Changping office is guarded by blue-clad martial artists and marked by enormous stone lions and towering vermilion gates. 16 18
• Its compound includes the Combat Hall, Logistics Hall, Artificer Hall, and several auxiliary departments. 18
• Members and their relatives can receive identity badges and protected family housing near the office; this protection was sufficient to deter the Three Rivers Gang from openly attacking Lu Changsheng’s household. 16 17 25
• Department members receive official status, with newly joined personnel treated as ninth-grade officials. 25
• Standard presentation includes a Flying Eagle Uniform, an Embroidered Spring Saber, and an identity waist token. 25
• Apprentice resources include medicinal-bath materials; a Grade C trainee receives three portions per month. 24
• The Scripture Repository stores martial manuals and secret arts, but techniques may not be privately transmitted. Unauthorized dissemination is punishable by the department’s full pursuit. 19 99
• Patrol Envoys were issued Communication Gems, which can transmit a user’s location to allies within one hundred li when activated with a thread of qi and blood. 85

Policies and doctrine

Secrecy

The department forbids personnel from revealing information about demons and wicked spirits to ordinary people, on the grounds that public knowledge would create panic without solving the threat. 18

Mission details are likewise compartmentalized. Specific intelligence is stored in mission tokens and disclosed only to accepted participants shortly before departure, reducing the risk of leaks. 25 46

Threat classification

The department teaches recruits that Low-tier Demon Servants and the weakest Ethereal-tier Wicked Spirits possess strength comparable to Skin Refining martial artists, making them fatal threats to ordinary civilians. 18

Internal security

The department has repeatedly faced the danger of informants and defectors. Yue Shulan warned Lu Changsheng that hostile forces had planted people inside the institution, while Qin Ruobing later assessed that a Body Metamorphosis-level mole was likely present before a major operation. 46 133

Major Operations

• Early Changping incidents — Recruits were deployed against strange deaths, disappearances, Wicked Spirits, and Living Corpses as abnormal incidents increased throughout the county. 25 29
• Scent Worship Cult purge — Qin Ruobing ordered personnel to focus on the Scent Worship Cult after evidence emerged of its connection to demonic spirits. 46
• Du Ling rescue campaign — The department and county yamen investigated the County Magistrate’s daughter’s disappearance, uncovered a passage beneath White Cloud Temple, and launched broad attacks on cult strongholds. 58 64
• Citywide purge — Following attacks on department personnel, Demon Suppressors were divided into teams under official captains to eliminate cult cells throughout Changping County’s city districts. 69
• Patrol Envoy system — Six mobile specialists were appointed to rescue ordinary Demon Suppressors, counter cult ambushes, and accumulate contribution points through rapid response missions. 80 85
• Ghost Soul Emissary conflict — The department’s six Patrol Envoys were challenged by the Scent Worship Cult’s ten Ghost Soul Emissaries, whose ranks ranged from Bone Forging Completion to Blood Exchange. 83
• Wuqiong Town battle — Department forces reinforced the government’s defense against the Holy Cult, where the appearance of demon servants escalated the conflict beyond conventional martial warfare. 106 110
• Land of Chaos trials — Deputy Hall Masters entered a sealed desert world used as both a training ground and a Blood Crystal harvesting site; participants had to fight through demonfolk forces to reach its central city and leave. 145
• Spirit Void Realm expedition — All ten Deputy Hall Masters and numerous Body Metamorphosis Completion martial artists entered the unstable realm under Lu Changsheng and Ye Yiyang’s command, tasked with eliminating Heavenly Demon Sect members and gathering resources. 151
• Qingning Prefecture campaign — As Hall Master, Lu ordered a decisive assault on the Heavenly Sword Sect, then led the department in destroying the six major sects and pursuing the Heavenly Demon Sect’s forces. 177 180
• Material Realm purge — After Lu executed four corrupted Heavenly Dipper Divine Generals, he ordered the department to identify and eliminate their supporters, resulting in a widespread purge of demon collaborators. 304

Relationships

• Great Zhou imperial court — The department is a court institution created to suppress supernatural threats and enforce state authority. 11
• County yamen — Separate official institution that cooperates with the department during county emergencies and investigations. 11 58
• Black Armored Army — Changping County’s other major official force; joins the department in operations such as the assault on Fulong Manor. 11 64
• Scent Worship Cult — Principal enemy during the Changping County conflict; its infiltrators, strongholds, Protectors, and Ghost Soul Emissaries repeatedly targeted department personnel. 46 80 96
• Heavenly Demon Sect — A larger hostile organization linked to demonic corruption, infiltrators, and later warfare against the department across Qingning Prefecture. 46 177 180
• Lu Changsheng — Joined as an Apprentice Demon Suppressor, rose to Yellow-rank Demon Suppressor and Patrol Envoy, became a Deputy Hall Master, and was later appointed Hall Master. 17 52 80 140 162
• Qin Ruobing — Deputy Hall Master who supervised Lu Changsheng’s early service, assigned major missions, and supported his advancement. 18 25 80 112
• Liang Jinghui — Hall Master who entrusted Lu Changsheng with leadership of the Spirit Void Realm expedition before being transferred to the provincial capital. 151 162