Chapter 4: Remnants of the Demon

At the end of the second floor, there was a cell.

But unlike the other cells, what was imprisoned here was not a ghost or monster, but an arm.

An arm covered in greenish-black scales, not resembling a human limb at all.

The arm was pierced by iron chains and suppressed in the deepest part of the cell.

Standing before the cell, Shen Changqing’s expression was grave.

Within his line of sight, he could clearly see that the flesh and blood of the arm, pierced by the chains, were still pulsing incessantly, as if it were a living creature.

At the same time.

He recalled the information he had seen.

Name: Unknown

Rank: Low-level Demon

Description: An arm of a demon.

Compared to the ghosts and monsters he had seen before, the introduction was as simple as it could possibly be.

However—

The simplest introduction did not mean the demon arm was weak; on the contrary, it was because the demon arm was terrifyingly powerful.

When he first saw the demon arm, Shen Changqing had been shocked by it.

He found it hard to imagine.

What kind of existence could achieve such a state?

Even after being severed, the arm would not die completely, instead requiring the Demon Suppression Division to imprison it.

Standing before the cell for a long time, Shen Changqing kept a constant watch on the changes in his panel.

But to his regret, from beginning to end, the kill value on the panel did not increase at all.

"Strange!"

"Could it be that one can only obtain kill value from each location once?"

Shen Changqing frowned slightly. The last time he had obtained kill value was in the very last cell of the second floor.

However.

Coming here again this time, he hadn't gained a single bit of kill value.

Shen Changqing couldn't help but speculate.

Perhaps one could only obtain kill value from a cell once.

Thinking of this, he turned his gaze toward a pitch-black passage behind the cell.

That was the way to the third floor.

Normally speaking.

A probationary Demon Slayer only needed to patrol the second floor when inspecting the Demon Suppression Prison.

The reason was simple.

The second floor contained a powerful chill. For a newly arrived probationary Demon Slayer who had yet to achieve much in martial arts, being able to walk through the second floor relying on their own blood energy was already the limit.

As for the third floor and the areas beyond, those were places that veteran probationary Demon Slayers needed to go down to when performing patrol duties.

In other words.

Upon reaching the end of the second floor, Shen Changqing had completed his patrol mission and could return directly.

But—

"Returning directly might complete the Demon Suppression Division's mission, but my plan to obtain kill value from the Demon Suppression Prison would be dashed."

"Right now, only kill value can rapidly improve my strength."

"If I don't have kill value, it will be very difficult for me to stand out in the Demon Suppression Division based on my own talent alone—"

Shen Changqing’s gaze was resolute.

Only by standing out in the Demon Suppression Division could one be qualified to climb higher.

And only by climbing higher could he receive better treatment within the Division, allowing his strength to improve even faster.

With so many missions ahead, how could he ensure his survival without sufficient strength?

"Demons are wreaking havoc, ghosts are rampant; there is no such thing as a pure land in this world. Only by relying on one's own strength can one carve out a path!"

He had two purposes for coming to the Demon Suppression Prison.

One was to obtain kill value, and the other was to figure out the rules governing it.

Completing the Demon Suppression Division's mission was merely incidental.

Even if there were no mission from the Division, Shen Changqing would have found a way to visit the Demon Suppression Prison.

After all, obtaining kill value in the Demon Suppression Prison to accumulate strength before carrying out other missions was far better than going into other missions without any preparation.

One must know.

In the Demon Suppression Division, no mission is absolutely safe.

Missions like patrolling the Demon Suppression Prison were considered the lowest in terms of danger, yet they still carried the risk of death; one could only imagine how dangerous other missions might be.

Therefore.

The third floor of the Demon Suppression Prison was a place he had to visit.

If he couldn't obtain kill value, he wouldn't be able to raise his strength to a sufficiently powerful realm in a short period of time.

Having made his decision, Shen Changqing resolutely stepped forward and headed toward the third floor.

——

Just as he entered the third floor, a monstrous chill surged toward him.

In an instant, that chill threatened to freeze Shen Changqing’s flesh and blood. Immediately after, miserable wails reached his ears, which quickly turned into sobbing, as if someone were crying softly.

At the same time.

It made him feel as if he were plunged into a bottomless hell, surrounded by countless demons and ghosts—

All these visions appeared, leaving him standing frozen in place.

A few seconds later.

The surge of blood energy within his body dispersed the chill.

As the chill dissipated, the various sounds and visions reaching his ears vanished as well.

Once the visions disappeared, the scene of the third floor fully appeared in Shen Changqing’s eyes.

"Hoo!"

He let out a long breath. Although his expression remained calm, there was shock in his eyes that had not yet fully faded.

Although he had long guessed that the third floor would be vastly different from the second.

However.

Shen Changqing had never imagined the difference would be so great.

If he hadn't broken through the *Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong* to the third level, he would have been completely trapped in the illusion the moment he entered the third floor.

After all, having abundant blood energy could, to a certain extent, prevent one from being troubled by illusions.

If that had happened.

Unless he were lucky enough to be discovered by someone else.

Otherwise.

There would be a high probability of him being trapped in place, only for his body to be frozen by the chill, leaving him with no way to survive.

For a moment, Shen Changqing’s vigilance toward the Demon Suppression Prison rose by several levels.

"I originally thought that although the Demon Suppression Prison was somewhat dangerous, as long as I didn't step into those restricted areas, there wouldn't be any problems."

"Now it seems that even without stepping into those areas, there is still a danger to life."

"If one's strength hasn't reached a certain level, one doesn't even have the qualification to walk freely in the Demon Suppression Prison."

As early as his first visit to the Demon Suppression Prison.

Shen Changqing had the urge to enter the third floor.

But at that time, because he had just obtained kill value, he needed to study it, which was why he had dismissed the urge.

Looking back now.

Not going to the third floor back then was undoubtedly a stroke of luck that saved his life.

Collecting his thoughts.

Shen Changqing walked toward the nearest cell.

He did not take out the Demon Suppression Prison manual, because the manual given by Liu Chang was incomplete and only contained information on the second floor.

As for the floors beyond.

There was no record of them at all.

And Shen Changqing’s own mission was only to patrol the second floor; Liu Chang had never imagined that he would take the liberty of entering the third floor.

The cells on the third floor were the same size as those on the second.

Standing still in front of the cell door.

What he saw was a piece of pulsing flesh.

The flesh was somewhat different in color from normal; besides being deep red, it was covered in cyan patterns, as if someone had carved them onto it.

The flesh pulsed rhythmically, as if it were a living creature.

"The last cell on the second floor held a demon arm, so if I'm not mistaken, the flesh before me must be demon flesh!"

Shen Changqing’s expression was grave.

He didn't know much about what a demon was.

Because a probationary Demon Slayer was not qualified to come into contact with such high-level matters.

He did, however, know a bit more about ghosts and monsters.

At this moment.

A familiar, cold, and sinister aura emanated from the cell, quickly surging into his body.

Feeling the cold aura strike, Shen Changqing did not show any vigilance; instead, his expression was somewhat joyful.

Immediately.

He calmed his mind and looked at his panel.

Name: Shen Changqing

Faction: Great Qin Demon Suppression Division

Identity: Probationary Demon Slayer

Martial Arts: *Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong* (Third Level, can be upgraded)

Kill Value: 3

"Last time I obtained kill value from the demon arm, and this time I obtained it from the demon flesh—"

Shen Changqing looked at the increased kill value and fell into deep thought.

In the Demon Suppression Prison.

There were ghosts and monsters, and there were demons.

But he hadn't been able to obtain the kill value he wanted from the many ghosts and monsters he had encountered.

Conversely.

He could obtain a certain amount of kill value from the remains and flesh of demons.

From this aspect, Shen Changqing couldn't help but speculate whether kill value could only be obtained from demons.

"I must verify this!"

Shen Changqing made up his mind, then looked at the kill value above. With a thought, he immediately began the next round of upgrades.

He had no intention of hoarding the kill value.

First of all.

As long as he didn't run around, the Demon Suppression Prison was a safe place.

Secondly, improving his strength would give him a chance to persist longer on the third floor.

He might even be able to take this opportunity to enter the fourth floor and take a look.

Although he had resisted the impact of the third floor, Shen Changqing understood that his blood energy was being consumed every moment.

It wouldn't be long before he couldn't hold on any longer.

So, from any perspective, improving his strength was a necessary thing to do.

As the thought crossed his mind.

*Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong* was upgraded.

Having had the experience of the previous few times, Shen Changqing had gradually become accustomed to the pain that accompanied the improvement of his martial arts.

Soon.

One point of kill value was consumed, and *Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong* was upgraded to the fourth level.

After a brief rest.

He began the next round of upgrades.

——

After about two quarters of an hour, Shen Changqing’s motionless body suddenly trembled, and a fairly powerful force of blood energy rose from him, only to disappear just as quickly.

Name: Shen Changqing

Faction: Great Qin Demon Suppression Division

Identity: Probationary Demon Slayer

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

Kill Value: 0

"Sixth level!"

Looking at the information above, a smile appeared on Shen Changqing’s face.

*Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong* was considered an introductory martial art for probationary Demon Slayers, with the main purpose of building a foundation and improving one's physical defense.

He had chosen this martial art.

It was also because he had received guidance from an elder when he first entered the Demon Suppression Division.

It could be said.

Among all the probationary Demon Slayers, there were not a few who specialized in *Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong*.

And since *Thirteen Taibao Hard Qigong* was qualified to be one of the foundational martial arts for probationary Demon Slayers, although its grade limit was not high, it was ultimately not something that ordinary martial arts could compare to.

After upgrading to the sixth level.

Shen Changqing felt that the chill of the third floor had weakened significantly for him.

PS: Already signed, all kinds of support are welcome!

(End of chapter)