Heading to Black Mountain Forest

"What's wrong?" Lu Feng asked, puzzled.

"My breakthrough failed." Chen Hu sighed, his voice dejected. "After I got back yesterday, I took both Body-Tempering Pills, but in the end, I only gained a trace of Jin force. There wasn't even a sign of a breakthrough!"

Lu Feng understood. Chen Hu's earlier breakthrough straight to Late Ming Jin after taking a Jin Origin Pill had given him the false impression that taking pills made breakthroughs easy.

He didn't tell Chen Hu that the Jin Origin Pill he had given him was a second-tier pill. He merely comforted him softly. "You only broke through recently, and your foundation isn't solid yet. It's normal that you didn't break through. There's no need to rush; take it slowly."

After a pause, Lu Feng added, "I'm going to the main hall to take some missions and earn merit. What about you?"

"Go ahead." Chen Hu shook his head, a trace of determination flashing in his eyes. "I plan to wait until Lin Shan takes a mission, then take one alongside him, so I can find a chance to get revenge. Besides, I have to report to Inspector Li Mu today."

Lu Feng understood what he had in mind. He nodded, turned, and headed toward the main hall.

"Wait!" Chen Hu suddenly called out to stop him. "It's still early. I'll go to the main hall with you and have a look around, and get familiar with the place while I'm at it."

With that, he hurried after him.

But the moment they reached the entrance to the main hall, a group of demon-slaying guards in fitted black outfits surrounded them.

Their leader was a tall man with an arrogant look on his face. He sized Lu Feng up and down before speaking in a hostile tone. "You're the newcomer who got into Commandant Su's residence without even taking the assessment?"

Lu Feng's gaze turned cold. "Who are you? What do you want, blocking our way?" he asked in a low voice.

They were all dressed as demon-slaying guards. Clearly, like him, they were members of the Demon-Slaying Bureau.

The leader sneered, his gaze contemptuous. "What do we want? People fight tooth and nail for a demon-slaying guard position at Commandant Su's residence and still can't get one. What gives a newcomer like you the right to sneak in through the back door? Today, we're going to teach you the rules of the Demon-Slaying Bureau!"

"Exactly! We gave it everything we had and still didn't qualify for Commandant Su's residence, but you two newcomers got in just like that? Tell us, how are we going to settle this?" another man in the crowd said, his tone resentful and challenging.

Chen Hu immediately blew up. He stepped forward and snapped, "Settle what? You couldn't get in because you're not strong enough. What the hell does that have to do with us?"

"What did you say?!"

At his words, the demon-slaying guards all glared at him, their presences turning sharp and fierce.

"Not happy about it?" Chen Hu stood tall, chest out, his tone full of pride. "Then come have a match with me. Whoever loses gets lost!"

Lu Feng frowned and leaned close to whisper in his ear, "Chen Hu, what's gotten into you today? There's no need to pay these people any mind. They're not worth wasting time on."

"I failed my breakthrough yesterday, and I've been holding in a bellyful of anger!" Chen Hu lowered his voice, his gaze fierce. "They've walked right into the line of fire. Don't stop me; this is just the chance I need to vent!"

"Fine! What an arrogant newcomer!"

A burly man in the crowd couldn't hold back. He jumped out and rolled up his sleeves. "I'll take you on and see if you've really got any skills!"

Seeing how determined Chen Hu was, Lu Feng stopped trying to hold him back and silently stepped aside.

The surrounding demon-slaying guards immediately spread out, forming a circle as they waited to watch the show.

Both men were barehanded. After a glance at each other, they struck at the same time!

Bang!

Their fists collided hard with a muffled thud.

Chen Hu stood where he was without budging an inch. The burly man, on the other hand, was sent staggering backward by a tremendous force. Finally, he fell to the ground with a thump, clutching his fist and baring his teeth.

"You... you're actually at Late Ming Jin?!" The fallen man stared at Chen Hu in disbelief, his face full of shock.

"What? Late Ming Jin?!"

The surrounding demon-slaying guards erupted in an uproar, every face filled with alarm.

The strongest among them was only at Middle Ming Jin. None of them could possibly match Chen Hu!

They hurried forward to help the fallen man up. Looking at Chen Hu with deep apprehension, they no longer dared to act arrogantly. They turned and scurried away with their tails between their legs.

"Haha! That felt good!" Chen Hu shook out his fist, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

"Good, very good! Fine skills!"

Just then, a hearty voice rang out. A man in a fitted dark outfit walked in from outside. He stood tall, and his presence was composed and concentrated. One look was enough to tell he was no ordinary man.

"My name is Li Mu. I'm the Inspector Li Mu you're looking for." The man smiled as he came forward, his gaze settling on Chen Hu with open admiration. "I didn't expect Xiaolian to recruit such a fierce warrior for me."

Lu Feng and Chen Hu hurriedly cupped their fists in greeting. "Lu Feng and Chen Hu greet you, Inspector Li!"

"No need for formalities." Li Mu waved a hand and patted Chen Hu on the shoulder. "Come, back to the residence with me. I'll introduce you to the others and get you familiar with things."

Chen Hu turned to look at Lu Feng, a question in his eyes.

"Go on. Get familiar with the place, and send me a message if you need anything." Lu Feng smiled and nodded.

Chen Hu then left with Li Mu, while Lu Feng turned and headed deeper into the main hall to take some missions.

At the mission board, Lu Feng quickly scanned all the missions and, without hesitation, accepted every one that involved going to Black Mountain Forest to slay demonic beasts-including two missions to slay second-tier demonic beasts.

He didn't even look at the gathering, scouting, or protection missions.

Those missions took too much time. For him, earning merit wasn't the only priority; more importantly, he needed to slay demonic beasts, gain Demon Points, and improve his cultivation and cultivation techniques.

He then went to the attendant's desk and handed his token to the goateed elder stationed there.

The elder took the token and frowned when he saw the missions listed on it. "Twelve missions in all, including two involving second-tier demonic beasts. Are you sure you want to accept them all?"

"If you fail to complete them by the deadline, the corresponding merit will be deducted. It could even affect your eligibility to accept missions in the future."

"I understand." Lu Feng nodded lightly, his tone firm.

"Very well." The elder nodded, quickly finished registering the missions, and returned the token to Lu Feng. "You have three days. Once you complete the missions, you can claim the corresponding merit. The same missions won't appear on the board in the meantime."

With the missions accepted, Lu Feng wasted no time. He immediately left the Demon-Slaying Bureau and headed toward Black Mountain Forest.

Meanwhile, at Commandant Zhao's residence.

"Are you sure? It was Chen Hu who defeated him in one move, not Lu Feng?" Zhao An sat in his chair, his face dark. After hearing his subordinate's report, his voice was full of doubt.

He had intended to use those demon-slaying guards to teach Lu Feng a lesson, but he hadn't expected them to kick an iron plate.

Could it be that they got into Commandant Su's residence because of Chen Hu's strength? Zhao An drummed his fingers on the table, silently pondering.