Chapter 6: Meridian Opening (Please add to favorites and vote)

"Have you discovered anything unusual?"

"None!"

At the exit of the first level of the Demon Suppression Prison, the person conversing with Shen Changqing was the same individual who had intercepted him earlier.

After a brief inquiry, Shen Changqing handed the Demon Suppression Prison manual over to the other party.

The manual served as the credential for entering the prison.

Every Demon Slayer leaving the prison was required to return the manual to the person stationed at the exit.

Only in this way could it be ensured that the manual would not be lost.

It also prevented others from obtaining the manual and entering the prison to engage in illicit activities.

From beginning to end, those people did not notice anything unusual about him.

After leaving the Demon Suppression Prison, Shen Changqing returned to the Demon Slayer Academy.

This trip to the prison had yielded him significant gains.

If nothing else, just one visit had allowed him to raise his "Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong" from the third level directly to the fifteenth.

His cultivation realm had also transformed from the Body Tempering Realm to the Pulse Opening Realm.

The so-called Pulse Opening!

It meant the cultivation of *Zhenqi*, allowing a martial artist to possess extraordinary, transcendent power.

If the Body Tempering Realm was still within the scope of an ordinary person, then the Pulse Opening Realm was the stage where a martial artist began their transformation toward the extraordinary.

Shen Changqing was certain that among all the trainee Demon Slayers, there was absolutely no one whose realm could compare to his own.

Because anyone who had reached the Pulse Opening Realm was already a formal Demon Slayer.

"My Killing Value has been temporarily exhausted. I’ve already harvested all the potential Killing Value from the first, second, and third levels of the prison. The fourth and fifth levels likely hold even more..."

Thinking of the fourth level, Shen Changqing shook his head helplessly.

With his current strength, he was simply not qualified to go to the fourth level to harvest Killing Value.

Merely stepping into the fourth level had nearly cost him his life.

From this, it was clear that the Pulse Opening Realm was not yet considered a powerful expert.

He could also guess just how powerful the demons and monsters imprisoned on the fourth level must be.

"I need to cram some knowledge about demons and monsters, otherwise, if I encounter them in the future, I won't even know how I died." Shen Changqing made a decision to himself.

Joining the Demon Suppression Division meant that dealing with demons and monsters was unavoidable in the future.

His current understanding of such things could only be described as superficial.

Returning to his small courtyard, Shen Changqing looked at the stone lock in the yard. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he reached out to grab it.

The stone lock, which had previously been so heavy he couldn't lift it even an inch, was now in his hand. While he wouldn't say it was as light as a feather, lifting it was effortless.

"A stone lock weighing about three or four hundred catties—I can lift it easily. My own strength has reached a very formidable level."

Shen Changqing estimated to himself.

His current strength was at least eight hundred to a thousand catties.

And that was without even using *Zhenqi*.

Once he utilized *Zhenqi*, his strength would increase even further.

Setting the stone lock down, Shen Changqing shut his door and did not step out for two days, only opening the gate to head toward the cafeteria.

Although the Demon Slayer Academy was the residence for all Demon Slayers, it also had a cafeteria.

The cafeteria was exclusively for the use of Demon Slayers.

No Demon Slayer would waste time cooking for themselves, nor did the academy have the conditions for such a thing.

Therefore, the establishment of a cafeteria was quite necessary.

Presenting his identity token, Shen Changqing easily entered the cafeteria.

At this time, there were already quite a few people inside.

He got his food and chose an empty seat to sit down.

It is worth mentioning that the food provided by the Demon Suppression Division was truly excellent. Even for a trainee Demon Slayer, every meal included plenty of meat and fish, accompanied by soup boiled from the bones of unknown beasts.

After finishing everything, even Shen Changqing, whose appetite had increased significantly due to the breakthrough in his Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong, felt satisfied.

"Indeed!"

"Only when one is well-fed can they have enough foundation to cultivate."

"All the food in the Demon Suppression Division's cafeteria is prepared to the standards of martial artists, more than enough to replenish the daily consumption."

Satisfied, Shen Changqing left.

Based on the memories of his predecessor, eating a similar meal outside the Demon Suppression Division would cost a significant amount of silver, which an average commoner could not afford.

But in the Demon Suppression Division, he could eat as much as he liked.

And the standard he was eating at was still that of a trainee Demon Slayer; if he were a formal Demon Slayer, the specifications would be even higher.

Returning to his residence, Shen Changqing lived a secluded life.

Except for the necessary daily trips to the cafeteria, he stayed in his room, constantly familiarizing himself with his surging strength.

The increase in Killing Value simply raised his martial arts level.

It did not mean that his body could immediately adapt to it.

According to Shen Changqing's conjecture, if it were some offensive techniques, the increase from Killing Value would likely include a comprehensive mastery of them.

Trainee Demon Slayers were required to complete a mission every five days.

Likewise, the time allowed for trainee Demon Slayers to enter the Library Pavilion was also at five-day intervals.

When the fifth day arrived, Liu Chang appeared as scheduled.

"Have you made another breakthrough in your Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong?"

The moment he saw Shen Changqing, Liu Chang noticed something amiss.

Compared to five days ago, the surging blood and energy within Shen Changqing's body were now faintly discernible. It was clear he had achieved a profound level of mastery in the Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong.

Of course, he never imagined that the other party had broken through to the fifteenth level.

Because the peak of the Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong was the thirteenth level. Once the thirteenth level was perfected, the physical body would tend toward perfection and would not easily leak its blood and energy.

Shen Changqing had only revealed a little bit on purpose to avoid arousing Liu Chang's suspicion.

So, when the other party looked, it was already maintained at a normal level.

Hearing the inquiry, Shen Changqing smiled: "I gained a little during my few days of seclusion. It's nothing worth mentioning in front of Manager Liu."

"Body tempering is just the beginning. Once you have established a solid foundation, you can consider going to the Library Pavilion to exchange for a Pulse Opening Realm martial art."

"Although a martial artist can naturally enter the Pulse Opening Realm after perfecting the Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong, doing so takes too long."

"Entry-level martial arts are only for polishing the foundation. When the time is right, switching to an advanced martial art will allow you to enter the Pulse Opening Realm much faster."

"As long as you enter the Pulse Opening Realm, your chances of becoming a formal Demon Slayer will increase significantly."

Liu Chang explained patiently.

He had secretly taken an interest in Shen Changqing, believing the young man to be a genius.

Seeing him again today, he confirmed his judgment was correct; in just five days, the young man had achieved impressive progress in the Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong.

As long as there were no accidents, Shen Changqing would definitely be able to become a true Demon Slayer.

As a manager of the Demon Slayer Academy, Liu Chang could also receive some benefits if a trainee Demon Slayer grew into a true Demon Slayer.

However, the attrition rate for the transformation from a trainee to a true Demon Slayer was exceptionally high; very few people could reach that step.

Therefore, Liu Chang did not want to pay too much attention to ordinary trainee Demon Slayers, only acting according to the regulations.

"Thank you for your guidance, Manager Liu. If I achieve anything in the future, I will certainly not forget it!"

"Haha, it's the thought that counts."

Liu Chang smiled slightly, a rare expression on his face.

Immediately after, he took out the Demon Suppression Prison manual.

"You have already been to the Demon Suppression Prison several times, so I imagine you are quite familiar with it. This time, you will continue to patrol the prison!"

"Yes!"

Shen Changqing did not refuse, reaching out to take the manual and putting it away.

In fact, he did not have the qualifications to request a change of mission.

Whatever mission Liu Chang gave, he had to execute.

It was evident that the other party was assigning him the same mission as always, and one with relatively low difficulty, which meant he was being looked after.

Shen Changqing understood this in his heart.

After obtaining the manual and bidding farewell to Liu Chang, he headed straight for the Demon Suppression Prison.

Because he had no intention of searching for Killing Value, this patrol of the prison was very quick.

In less than an hour, Shen Changqing walked out of the prison and headed toward the Library Pavilion.

Liu Chang's words had suddenly made him realize something.

That was, the martial arts he possessed were still too few.

The Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong was good, but as the other party said, this martial art was only at the entry level, considered the lowest tier among all martial arts.

If he used Killing Value to improve, using a more profound martial art would undoubtedly increase his strength even more.

"Trainee Demon Slayer of the Yellow Division, Shen Changqing, requests entry to the Library Pavilion!"

Shen Changqing handed over his identity token directly to avoid the other party having to ask.

The old man guarding the Library Pavilion opened his eyes, and that familiar flash of blood-red light flickered once again.

But compared to last time, when he met the old man's gaze now, his fear had diminished significantly.

"Hmm—"

The old man returned the token, mentioned a few precautions, and closed his eyes again.

Seeing this, Shen Changqing put away his token, thanked him, and walked toward the shelves filled with books.

The first floor of the Library Pavilion contained not only records of martial arts but also many strange tales and accounts of demons and monsters.

However, different books were divided into different sections.

Although he wanted to learn more about demons and monsters, after Liu Chang's reminder, Shen Changqing decided to prioritize improving his martial arts first. As for other matters, he would slowly learn about them when he had the chance later.

Standing by the martial arts section, he randomly pulled out a book.

Written on it in large characters were the words: "Vajra Iron Crotch Technique!"

His mouth twitched slightly, and Shen Changqing put the book back.

The Vajra Iron Crotch Technique was also an entry-level martial art, roughly of the same nature as the Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong.

But if the two were truly compared, the former was far inferior to the latter.