Chapter 2: The Thirteen Grand Protectors' Hard Qigong

Name: Shen Changqing

Affiliation: Great Qin Demon Suppression Division

Status: Probationary Demon Slayer

Martial Arts: Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong (Third Level, cannot be upgraded)

Slaying Value: 0

Consuming all of his Slaying Value, the Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong was upgraded directly from uninitiated to the third level.

He stood in place, eyes closed, remaining motionless for a long time.

After a while.

Shen Changqing suddenly opened his eyes, stepped forward into a bow stance, and threw a punch into the air.

Boom—

As the fist struck out, there was a faint sound of air being torn apart.

In an instant.

The sound dissipated, and Shen Changqing retracted his fist and stood straight.

"The Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong has a total of thirteen levels. Successfully cultivating each level can significantly increase physical strength, as well as provide a minor boost to power and speed."

"With my Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong now at the third level, aside from those veteran probationary demon slayers, no one in the same batch of recruits entering the Demon Suppression Division should be able to compare to me."

"And—"

"Even those with more seniority, as long as they have been probationary demon slayers for less than half a year, their strength shouldn't be much greater than mine; some might even be weaker than me."

Within the Demon Suppression Division, the Demon Suppression Envoys hold the highest status, followed by the Demon Slayers.

Among all demon slayers, the probationary demon slayers have the lowest status.

Anyone who enters the Demon Suppression Division, unless their strength is sufficiently formidable, must start as a probationary demon slayer.

Simply put.

Probationary demon slayers are the reserves for official demon slayers. Their primary goal is to improve their strength as much as possible, so they have the foundation to complete the division's missions and subsequently become true demon slayers.

Therefore.

Most probationary demon slayers are quite weak; only those who stay for a long time possess formidable strength.

As for true experts, the lowest rank is that of an official demon slayer.

Of course.

It is not as if probationary demon slayers just stay in the division to cultivate in seclusion. Aside from seclusion, they must still periodically complete simple tasks.

Only then are they qualified to enjoy the benefits provided by the Demon Suppression Division.

Furthermore.

Both his predecessor and Shen Changqing himself had spent a month just to memorize the Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong.

Although he felt his predecessor was a bit slow-witted, even for a smarter person, fully memorizing a martial art would still take ten days to half a month.

One can enter the Library Pavilion once every five days, for two hours at a time.

A martial arts manual contains a lot of content; it is reasonable for a smart person to spend four to six hours to memorize it.

But one must understand.

Memorizing is one thing, and achieving success in cultivation is another.

According to Shen Changqing's understanding.

Among those who entered the Demon Suppression Division in the same batch, even those with exceptional talent had barely managed to reach the entry level.

From this, it is evident.

The third level of the Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong, while not enough to let him sweep through all probationary demon slayers, is enough to earn him the title of an expert among them.

However, seeing the Slaying Value on his panel reset to zero, Shen Changqing shook his head.

"What a pity, the Slaying Value is all used up. I must find a way to collect more."

Collecting Slaying Value.

Only then can he rapidly improve his strength.

The Great Qin established the Demon Suppression Division because this world is not as peaceful as his previous life; it is filled with all sorts of dangers.

Every year, the number of people who die in the Demon Suppression Division is countless.

Shen Changqing does not wish to see his name on the death list one day.

Moreover.

Every demon slayer must execute missions; no one is an exception.

Even probationary demon slayers only have a one-year buffer period.

After one year, the Demon Suppression Division will force probationary demon slayers to execute missions related to demons and ghosts.

If successful, they can shed the status of a probationary demon slayer and become a true demon slayer.

As for failure.

Needless to say, the consequences are clear.

"Once you enter the Demon Suppression Division, there is no turning back. You either keep climbing upward, or you fall on the path of endless missions—"

No one wants to die, and Shen Changqing does not want to die either.

Having entered the Demon Suppression Division, the only way to avoid death is to continuously improve his strength.

Therefore.

He has no choice.

Knock, knock!

The courtyard gate was knocked.

Shen Changqing opened the gate and immediately saw a burly, square-faced middle-aged man standing before him.

"Greetings, Steward Liu!"

The visitor was named Liu Chang, an official demon slayer and also a steward of the Yellow Department's Demon Slayer Courtyard.

The so-called Yellow Department's Demon Slayer Courtyard.

It is the place where all demon slayers reside.

It includes both probationary demon slayers and official demon slayers.

There are four demon slayer courtyards within the Demon Suppression Division, named Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow; the Yellow Department is one of them.

Shen Changqing was quite familiar with Liu Chang.

Or rather, all demon slayers are familiar with Liu Chang, as he is the person they interact with the most.

Seeing Shen Changqing walk out, Liu Chang's eyes suddenly flickered.

In an instant.

Shen Changqing felt as if he had been seen through by the other party.

"It seems your talent for martial arts is quite good!"

"Steward Liu is too kind; I have only gained a little." Shen Changqing replied modestly.

The improvement of the Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong was destined to be impossible to hide from others.

As an official demon slayer, Liu Chang's strength is naturally not weak; it is normal for him to see clues. But as long as they don't fight, the other party cannot fully discern his true depth.

Sure enough.

Hearing this, the cold expression on Liu Chang's face softened slightly.

"To reach the entry level of a martial art in about a month, your talent is stronger than many demon slayers. If you spend some more time, you might have a chance to become an official demon slayer.

The path of martial arts requires a balance of tension and relaxation to reach the peak."

He offered a simple word of praise.

In Liu Chang's eyes, Shen Changqing has the potential to become a true demon slayer; after all, there are not many who can reach the entry level of a martial art within a month.

Anyone who can achieve this step.

As long as they don't die prematurely, they will eventually become true demon slayers, and not just ordinary ones at that.

Just as Shen Changqing thought.

Without a real fight, relying solely on observation, Liu Chang could not fully see through his depth.

After speaking.

Liu Chang paused, his expression returning to indifference.

"The mission time limit has arrived; it is time for you to complete a new mission!"

"I wonder what the mission is this time?"

"There are not many missions for probationary demon slayers. What you need to complete now is the same as last time: patrol the Demon Suppression Prison." Liu Chang said indifferently.

Patrol the Demon Suppression Prison!

Shen Changqing's expression changed slightly, but his heart was filled with joy.

The last mission was to patrol the Demon Suppression Prison, and it was because of that patrol that he officially activated the panel.

He had been wondering how to find an opportunity to enter the Demon Suppression Prison without raising suspicion.

But he hadn't expected that the opportunity to enter would come to him on its own.

Seeing the change in Shen Changqing's expression, Liu Chang mistook it for fear and couldn't help but explain.

"The Demon Suppression Prison is actually not as dangerous as you think. The demons and ghosts suppressed inside are basically under powerful seals. As long as you don't trespass into restricted areas, there won't be any problems.

And those restricted areas are already recorded in the Demon Suppression Prison Manual.

Also, remember, if you hear any sounds in the Demon Suppression Prison, just pretend you didn't hear them."

In the past, he wouldn't have bothered to explain.

However, since Shen Changqing could reach the entry level of a martial art in about a month, he was clearly a promising talent.

Explaining this now could be considered doing him a favor.

Perhaps one day, when Shen Changqing grows up, he might bring him some returns.

Even if one takes a step back.

Even if Shen Changqing fails to grow up, or forgets him after he does, it wouldn't matter much to him.

Saying a word or two more.

There is no loss in it.

Hearing this, Shen Changqing bowed in thanks: "Thank you for the guidance, Steward Liu!"

"Hmm, this is the Demon Suppression Prison Manual, take it!"

Liu Chang took a booklet about a foot long from his sleeve and handed it to Shen Changqing.

"The Demon Suppression Prison Manual records the demons and ghosts sealed in each area and their current status.

If you discover any anomalies, or if something escapes, do not enter the cells to investigate on your own; just report it to the person in charge of the prison.

Also, you must not deliberately conceal any anomalies.

If deliberate concealment is discovered, it will be regarded as colluding with demons and betraying the human race, for which the only punishment is death."

"Steward Liu, rest assured, I understand this clearly!"

Shen Changqing's expression was solemn as he put away the manual.

The rules of the Demon Suppression Division are strict.

Violating any rule results in severe injury or disability at best, and certain death at worst.

Although his strength had improved, he was not arrogant enough to challenge the rules of the Demon Suppression Division.

"Go on!"

"Yes!"

Following Liu Chang's instructions, Shen Changqing headed toward the Demon Suppression Prison.

The Demon Suppression Division is divided into several areas.

The Demon Slayer Courtyard where demon slayers live is on the outermost edge of the division, while the Library Pavilion is in the second area.

The Demon Suppression Prison.

Is in the third area.

The fourth area is where the Demon Suppression Envoys reside.

The reason for this layout is that the Demon Suppression Prison is very important. Once a sealed demon or ghost escapes from the prison, it would be a devastating blow to ordinary people.

With demon slayers in front and suppression envoys behind, the layout is designed to prevent demons and ghosts from escaping.

As long as anything leaves the Demon Suppression Prison, the alarm will be sounded instantly.

At that time.

The Demon Suppression Division can immediately suppress the escaped demon or ghost again, or kill it on the spot.

Every demon or ghost imprisoned in the Demon Suppression Prison has been defeated by the experts of the Demon Suppression Division.

Therefore.

There is no possibility of being unable to deal with them.

Since his rebirth, Shen Changqing had been to the Demon Suppression Prison once, and since the missions for probationary demon slayers are three days apart, this was his second time here.

With the experience from the first time.

Coming to the Demon Suppression Prison for the second time, he couldn't say he was familiar with the road, but he certainly wasn't a stranger to it.

Soon.

The Demon Suppression Prison appeared within his line of sight.

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