Breaking through to late First Grade, officially joining the camp

"Ding! Congratulations on slaying a Blazing Fire Pig, host. The strong bullying the weak-how wonderful. Reward: 5 demon points."

"Ding! Congratulations on slaying a Frost Rat, host. Crushed to death underfoot-too gruesome. Reward: 5 demon points."

"Ding! Congratulations on slaying a Bewitching Moth, host..."

"..."

A string of system notifications rang out.

The demon points on his status panel were also increasing wildly.

Bang!

As the last demon spirit was slain, Chu He's expression was far from pleased. On the system screen:

Demon points: 35

Eleven whole demon spirits, yet he had only earned 35 points. Many of them had awarded not five points, but two or three. The Bewitching Moth had only awarded one, just like an early First Grade demon spirit.

"System, what's going on?"

"Host, demon points are determined by a combined assessment of the demon's strength and your strength. They are not fixed."

"If you slay demons above your level, you will receive more demon points. Conversely, slaying lower-level demons awards fewer points, or even none."

So that was it.

Chu He shook his head helplessly at the system's explanation. He had originally planned to keep slaughtering low-level demons and turtle his way to godhood! Now that hope was completely gone. He had no choice but to act audaciously and show his edge.

"Thirty-five points will only get me to late First Grade. As for the peak, I'll have to pin my hopes on the demons outside."

Chu He muttered to himself.

At the same time!

He picked up the squad leader's token at his waist. A faint light shone from it, something that had appeared after he slew the Crimson Flame Leopard.

It proved that he had completed his slaying trial and become a true Demon Suppression Squad Leader, able to go out on missions.

"Time to leave."

Chu He first went to the demon spirit office to return the keys. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he quickly left. After all, being found out would not be good.

Outside the Demon Suppression Prison.

Under the sunlight.

The corners of Chu He's mouth rose slightly. Although this trip had fallen a little short of his expectations, he was very satisfied with the outcome.

As for his actions inside the prison, there was no need to worry. Even if someone found out, they would only consider him bloodthirsty. A bloodthirsty ordinary person was a deviant; a bloodthirsty Demon Suppression Guard was a genius.

However, repeating this would be unlikely. The prison guard would not give him the keys next time.

And just as he had thought:

When the prison guard discovered what had happened during another patrol, he was merely a little shocked by Chu He's bloodlust and strength, and paid no attention to anything else!

Three days later.

"Ding! Congratulations on breaking through to late First Grade, host!"

Name: Chu He

Position: Demon Suppression Bureau squad leader

Cultivation: Late First Grade

Martial arts: Dragon Elephant Prison Suppression Art, late first layer (upgradeable), Nine Netherworld Controls (great perfection), Thunderbolt Saber (great perfection)

Weapons: One copper coin, Demon-Suppressing Saber

Demon points: 10

"As expected, adding points is the only true path."

Feeling the explosive increase in his strength, Chu He once again marveled at the power of adding points. Through normal cultivation, he would have needed at least a year to reach this level.

Moreover, within those three days, he had also raised both the Nine Netherworld Controls and Thunderbolt Saber to great perfection.

As for Thunderbolt Saber, since he had not chosen another art before, he had gone back to the Technique Repository and learned it for free!

"Next, I'll go out and show my edge. How could turtling until I'm invincible be as liberating as slaughtering my way to invincibility!"

A trace of dominance flashed through Chu He's eyes.

System: "It's obviously because you can't turtle your way to invincibility! →_→"

Chu He: "Shut your ass!"

At the center of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

A massive palace stood, named the Demon Suppression Hall.

This was where Demon Suppression Guards reported for duty after passing their trials. It was also where certain special missions were issued.

Every day.

Many Demon Suppression Guards came to report for duty, waiting for their assignments before beginning their true demon-suppressing careers.

"Zhang Tong, First Army, Third Battalion!"

"Li Wei, Second Army, Fifth Battalion!"

"Wang Jun..."

"..."

The moment Chu He stepped into the hall, loud calls reached his ears.

He swept his gaze around.

The entire Demon Suppression Hall was divided into two sections. On the left, dozens of Demon Suppression Guards stood neatly together. Whenever someone's name was called, they stepped forward, collected their Demon Suppression Army registration, and left.

On the right was a metal panel with missions inscribed on it. Some were marked unclaimed, while others had already been claimed.

Without hesitation!

Chu He walked straight toward the left, drawing the attention of the Demon Suppression steward making the loud announcements, who looked toward him.

"Who goes there!"

"Demon Suppression Squad Leader Chu He, reporting for duty after passing the prison trial!" Chu He took his squad leader's waist token and handed it to the steward before him.

"Chu He."

"The Chu He who took part in the eastern trial mountain assessment not long ago?"

The steward took the token, a little puzzled.

He had heard Chu He's name before, but the reason he remembered it was that Zhang Wei had come to ask him a favor two days earlier. He had said that a Demon Suppression Squad Leader named Chu He would report for duty in about half a year, and asked for him to be assigned under his command.

Yet only a few days had passed!

Chu He nodded. "Yes."

"Wait."

As though discovering something, the steward gave Chu He a long look and asked, "You've actually broken through to late First Grade. When did that happen?"

"Within the past two days."

Chu He had already prepared an excuse. He explained, "I built up a substantial foundation in my earlier years, so my cultivation shot straight to late First Grade. It didn't feel very difficult."

Hiss...

The dozens of Demon Suppression Guards silently sucked in cold breaths.

Although.

Cases like Chu He's had appeared in the Demon Suppression Bureau many times before, seeing one with their own eyes was still infuriating.

Damn it, they practiced Second Grade cultivation arts and still had to struggle for months just to break through to early First Grade. Further advancement might take years, yet Chu He had broken through to late First Grade in a few days and even found it easy. Just hearing it made them want to punch him! →_→

As the saying went: one step ahead, every step ahead!

What was more.

Chu He was more than a single step ahead of them. Without a fortuitous encounter, they would never catch up in their lifetimes.

"Good talent."

The steward returned the squad leader's token to Chu He, his expression settling. There was no shortage of geniuses among the Demon Suppression Guards. In fact, geniuses also accounted for the most deaths.

Unless they matured and reached Third Grade, or even Fourth Grade, they would not attract attention from above. Otherwise, they were all ordinary Demon Suppression Guards.

Like him.

Back then, he had merely been an ordinary Demon Suppression Guard, with average talent and average fighting ability. Yet he had survived to the end and attained Third Grade.

Among those who had joined alongside him, most of the highly talented ones had fallen-even more than the ordinary ones. Barely any remained.

"Chu He, Third Army, Third Battalion."

The steward did not make things difficult for Chu He and assigned him directly to Zhang Wei's unit. First, he was doing Zhang Wei a favor; second, he was showing Chu He goodwill.

Whether or not it proved useful later, at least he would not offend anyone!

"Also, you may choose five of them. From now on, they will be your subordinates."

The steward pointed toward the dozens of Demon Suppression Guards nearby.

Immediately.

All the Demon Suppression Guards straightened their backs. Although Chu He's words earlier had been arrogant, they had already seen his strength and ability.

Moreover, he clearly had someone backing him within the Demon Suppression Bureau. Following him would be better than a random assignment.

After all, if they ended up with someone who had peculiar tastes, wouldn't their vital parts be in danger?