Surviving in a world of demons and monsters to achieve martial arts sainthood

The Qinglong River flows eastward with great force, and three boats drift downstream.

Shen Lian stood at the bow of the ship and looked out. He had come to Qingzhou a month ago when he participated in the "New Talent Competition". Now he was about to enter the Demon Suppression Division of Qingzhou Prefecture and become the official Demon Suppression Envoy of Qingzhou Prefecture. He could be said to have completely settled down in Qingzhou.

Qingzhou City has a population of over a hundred, making it a truly large city.

Soon, the boats entered Qingzhou territory, and the number of boats on the river increased.

Soon after, the ship slowly docked.

Shen Lian and the others stepped onto the dock and looked into the distance. The city wall was dozens of feet high, and the bricks were covered with the marks of time.

A plaque with the words "Qingzhou" in gold on a black background hangs at the city gate.

Guards dressed in black armor and with long swords at their waists stood on both sides of the city gate, their sharp eyes scanning the passersby.

"We've finally arrived in Qingzhou," Chen Yun said with a smile.

Shen Lian said, "Last time we came in a hurry. We left after participating in the 'New Talent Competition' and didn't get to properly explore Qingzhou."

Lin Feng stood to the side, sword in hand, his expression still indifferent.

"I'll take Jiang Han back first," Tieshan said.

Jiang Han's complexion has improved somewhat, but it is not fully recovered yet. He will need to rest for a while.

Tieshan then took Jiang Han away.

Su Qing looked at Shen Lian and the other two: "Let's go, I'll show you around Qingzhou so you can get to know it better."

Led by Su Qing, the group passed through the city gate and entered Qingzhou City.

The street was three zhang wide, lined with shops on both sides, with wine flags fluttering in the breeze.

The shouts of peddlers, the rumble of carts and horses, and the cacophony of conversations among pedestrians intertwine to create a bustling scene of everyday life.

"Qingzhou City is divided into the outer city, the inner city, and the core area," Su Qing explained as they walked. "The outer city is mostly inhabited by ordinary people and merchants, while the inner city is where officials, wealthy households, and some cultivation families reside. The Demon Suppression Division is located in the core area, adjacent to the government office and the military camp."

The group passed through the second city gate and entered the inner city. The streets here were cleaner and quieter, and the buildings on both sides were more imposing, with vermilion gates and high walls everywhere. Occasionally, a carriage would pass by, its curtains drawn low, obscuring the faces of the people inside.

Soon, a vast complex of black buildings came into view.

The high wall was built from a single block of black rock, with a black flag atop it, embroidered with the golden emblem of the Demon Suppression Division, a crossed longsword, and chains.

The main gate consists of two heavy iron and wooden doors, with the five large characters "Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division" hanging above the lintel, written in a vigorous and powerful style.

After checking the waist tokens of Su Qing and the others, the demon-suppressing envoy at the gate opened the side door and let them in.

The group stepped into the company compound, where crisscrossing paths divided the area into different zones.

"The three of you should go to the registration area to register and collect your waist tags and clothing." Su Qing pointed to a two-story building on the south side. "Afterwards, someone will arrange accommodations. Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), go to the training ground to await further instructions."

Shen Lian and the other two bowed in agreement and then proceeded to the registration desk.

The registration office was staffed by a middle-aged clerk who carefully checked the three men's hometowns, achievements, and records of the New Talent Competition, and registered them one by one in the thick register.

Afterwards, a servant led them to collect the items: two sets of Demon Suppression Officer uniforms, a bronze waist tag engraved with their names and numbers, a standard long sword, and a copy of "Essentials of the Regulations of the Demon Suppression Division".

Shen Lian's clothes were different from those of Chen Yun and Lin Feng.

In the "Rising Star Competition," Shen Lian broke into the top ten and won the championship. He was exceptionally admitted to the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division and became the official Demon Suppression Envoy of Qingzhou Prefecture.

Chen Yun and Lin Feng failed to make it into the top ten, but they made it into the top thirty, thus qualifying for the preparatory camp of the Demon Suppression Division of Qingzhou Prefecture.

If Chen Yun and Lin Feng pass the assessment within the next year, they can become official Demon Suppression Envoys of Qingzhou Prefecture.

After receiving their items, a servant led Shen Lian and the other two to their lodgings.

After passing through several corridors, we arrived at a cluster of houses with blue-tiled roofs.

Shen Lian and the other two lived in different places.

Shen Lian lived in the area designated for official Demon Suppression Envoys, while Lin Feng and Chen Yun lived in the preparatory camp's quarters. The two places were quite a distance apart.

Shen Lian pushed open the door and entered; the furnishings inside were relatively simple.

A wooden bed, a set of table and chairs, and a pot of lush green ivy placed by the window.

Shen Lian placed the flying fish robe and long sword on the table and began to read the "Collection of Regulations of the Demon Suppression Division". It detailed the duties, discipline, salary and promotion system of the Demon Suppression Division. The official Demon Suppression Envoys received a monthly salary of thirty taels of silver, and merit points could be exchanged for pills, martial arts and other items.

He nodded slightly. This treatment was much better than in Qinghe County. Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division was rich in resources, which would greatly benefit his improvement of strength.

[Host]: Shen Lian

[Realm]: Body Tempering Realm (5/10)

[Combat Strength]: 58~74

[Martial Arts]: Tiger-Taming Stance (Perfect) (8/10), Demon-Subduing Blade Technique (Perfect) (7/10)

Skill Points: 0

During this period, Shen Lian has improved both the "Tiger Subduing Stake" and the "Demon Subduing Blade Technique," and is about to break through to perfection and reach the pinnacle.

Shen Lian sat cross-legged on the bed, circulating the "Tiger Subduing Stance" mental technique. His qi and blood flowed continuously within his body, gradually becoming stronger.

Soon, the night passed.

The next morning, Shen Lian changed into his flying fish robe, with a long sword at his waist. He looked heroic and exuded a strong aura. He smiled and then left the room.

At Chenshi (7-9 AM) today, you must go to the training ground to await orders.

He doesn't know what the next steps will be.

A short while later, Shen Lian arrived outside the martial arts arena. Lin Feng and Chen Yun had arrived earlier and waited outside the arena for a while.

"Brother Shen!"

Just then, a voice rang out.

Then a man walked over; it was Chu Wen from Baiyun County.

"Brother Chu!"

Shen Lian smiled and nodded to the other party.

Previously, during the "Demon Hunting Trial," Chu Wen and Shen Lian formed an alliance to fight against Chu Chunqiu. Otherwise, in a one-on-one battle, none of the participants in the "Demon Hunting Trial" would have been a match for Chu Chunqiu.

Chu Wen broke into the top 30 of the "New Talent Competition" and, like Lin Feng and Chen Yun, became a member of the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division's preparatory camp.

After looking Shen Lian up and down, Chu Wen said, "It's been a month since I last saw you, and your qi and blood seem to have become much stronger."

Previously, when Chu Wen participated in the "Demon Hunting Trial", he did not feel any pressure when facing Shen Lian, but now he inexplicably felt a pressure.

Shen Lian chuckled and shrugged, "Brother Chu has improved quite a bit during this time."

[Combat Strength]: 45~60

A month ago, Chu Wen's combat power was only 32-40, but now it has reached 45-60, which is not a slow rate of improvement.

Chu Wen laughed and said, "Of course, the competition after entering the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division is very fierce. If you don't work hard enough, you will be left behind."

People gradually arrived at the training ground, and soon nearly thirty people had gathered.

The training ground of the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division was several times larger than that of Qinghe County. The ground was paved with bluestone, and weapon racks were set up all around, displaying all eighteen kinds of weapons.

On the east side are three bronze cauldrons, each over ten feet tall, with demon-suppressing runes engraved on their bodies and strange radiance flowing around them.

Shen Lian suddenly realized something and looked towards the distance.

Chu Chunqiu!

"It's him!" Chen Yun clenched her fists. Chu Chunqiu was one of the four great prodigies of Qingzhou, and his strength was extremely high.

Unfortunately, he was defeated by the combined forces of everyone during the last "Demon Hunting Trial".

Chu Chunqiu stared coldly at Shen Lian. Being defeated by Shen Lian and the others last time was a disgrace to him.

"His aura has become even stronger," Chu Wen said, frowning.

He had briefly fought with Chu Chunqiu, but he could feel immense pressure. Now, a month later, Chu Chunqiu's strength has undoubtedly increased.

[Combat Strength]: 64~78

Shen Lian activated the [Combat Power Detection] and checked Chu Chunqiu's combat power data. Compared to a month ago, Chu Chunqiu's combat power was stronger.

It must be said that Chu Chunqiu's growth rate is indeed quite fast.

Shen Lian subconsciously clenched his fist. Although his combat strength was somewhat inferior to Chu Chunqiu's, he might not be unable to win in a fight.

Lin Feng subconsciously gripped the long sword he was holding, his gaze fixed on Chu Chunqiu.

Chu Chunqiu is one of the four great talents of Qingzhou. If we can defeat him, it will be enough to make us famous in Qingzhou.

However, defeating it is not so easy.

Just as everyone was waiting, a group of people appeared in the training ground. The leader was a burly man with a calm and steady demeanor.

Silver Badge Envoy!

Shen Lian's gaze fell on the other party. The man was wearing the uniform of a Silver Badge Envoy, so it was clear that he was also a Silver Badge Envoy.

"I am Zhou Mang, the Silver Badge Envoy. From now on, I will be in charge of your training. Whether you are a formal Demon Suppressor or a prospective Demon Suppressor, the morning training program is the same. Everyone, start by running thirty laps to warm up," Zhou Mang announced loudly.

The training ground is about 200 zhang in circumference, and 30 circumferences would be 6,000 li, which is not difficult for a martial artist in the Body Tempering Realm.

As soon as Zhou Mang finished speaking, the bronze cauldron on the side of the field suddenly lit up, and a heavy pressure enveloped the entire field. Everyone felt their shoulders sink and their blood and qi were suppressed.

"This is the suppressive effect of the 'Demon-Suppressing Bronze Cauldron'," Chu Wen said in a low voice. "Each cauldron can release three times the gravity field, and when all three cauldrons are activated, it's nine times the gravity. Morning exercises must be conducted in this environment, as it is said to temper one's qi and blood resilience."

Shen Lian nodded, then started running.

Under nine times the gravity, each step consumed more qi and blood than before. He activated the "Tiger Subduing Stance" and his steps became much more stable.

After running just five laps, many people already had sweat on their foreheads.

By the fifteenth lap, most of the reserve team members were feeling the strain and were gradually falling behind.

In contrast, Shen Lian, Chu Chunqiu, and the others appeared quite composed.

Shen Lian felt the changes in himself and was overjoyed. The stance training method, which was originally meant to strengthen the foundation, could actually stimulate the acupoints under the pressure of gravity. He could indeed feel that the fifth acupoint had loosened up a bit under the repeated flushing of qi and blood.

This means he is getting closer and closer to the sixth level of heaven.

By the twentieth lap, all the members of the reserve camp had fallen behind, except for Shen Lian and a few others who were at the forefront and were not greatly affected.

Zhou Mang stood on the sidelines, his gaze sweeping across the entire field. Suddenly, he raised his hand and pointed: "You, step forward!"

The person chosen was a chubby young man who was gritting his teeth and enduring the pain. He was taken aback when he heard this.

Zhou Mang said coldly, "Your qi and blood are weak and your steps are unsteady. Running any further will surely damage your meridians. Go stand in a stance for two hours and reflect on how to solidify your foundation."

The young man, his face filled with shame, lowered his head and retreated to the sidelines.

Shen Lian felt a chill run down his spine.

Zhou Mang had a sharp eye and could spot the blood and qi problems in the crowd at a glance. He dared not be careless and pushed the Tiger-Taming Stance to its limit.

"This kid's gait is interesting," the stern-looking man beside Zhou Mang suddenly remarked.

Zhou Mang had already noticed Shen Lian. He nodded slightly and said, "The 'Tiger Subduing Stance' at its peak is indeed very rare. If I remember correctly, he is the Shen Lian who won the 'New Talent Competition'."

A woman standing nearby said, "I heard that he clashed with Chu Chunqiu during the 'New Talent Competition' and offended Chu Chunqiu. I'm afraid there's going to be some good drama to come."

Zhou Mang disagreed, saying, "Young people are competitive, as long as they don't violate the rules, let them be. If he really has talent, he's worth training."

Soon, everyone finished their morning exercise.

The vast majority of people were slumped on the ground, panting heavily, their clothes already soaked with sweat.

Shen Lian stood firmly, his chest rising and falling slightly.

Zhou Mang stood with his hands behind his back and said loudly, "It's clear that many of you don't have a solid foundation. The most important thing in martial arts cultivation is the foundation. Without a stable foundation, it's difficult to achieve great things. Those with weak foundations should strengthen their own foundations and not ruin their cultivation because of it."

Upon hearing Zhou Mang's words, many of the Demon Suppressors looked solemn. Although Zhou Mang did not say it explicitly, they knew that he was referring to them.

After announcing some things at the training ground, Zhou Mang dismissed everyone.

Since everyone here is new to the Qingzhou Demon Suppression Division, too much training intensity would be a bit too hasty.

Martial arts training requires a gradual and progressive approach.

After finishing his morning exercise, Shen Lian immediately headed to the warehouse.

He won the championship of the "Newcomer Competition" and obtained 300 merit points, which can be exchanged for elixirs, martial arts techniques, and so on.

The Qingzhou Demon Suppression Department's warehouse is located deep within the inner courtyard. It is a three-story stone building, guarded by two composed old men, both with cultivation levels above the seventh level.

After having his waist tag checked, Shen Lian stepped inside.

The first floor is extremely spacious, displaying hundreds of shelves categorized and arranged with weapons, materials, martial arts jade slips, and more. Each item has a small label indicating its name, function, and the merit points required to exchange for it.

Shen Lian walked slowly through the shelves, his eyes scanning the items on them.

"Peiyuan Pill, strengthens the foundation and nourishes the vital energy, helps the circulation of qi and blood, 10 points per bottle."

"A finely forged iron sword, refined through countless trials, sharp and resilient, rated thirty points."

"Detailed Explanation of Basic Footwork, Fifty Points"

……

These things mean little to him now.

Shen Lian walked straight towards the martial arts area.

"The Wind-Breaking Blade Technique, Yellow Rank, Mid-Grade, with swift blade movements, requires 120 merit points."

"Iron Bone Skill, Yellow Rank, Upper Grade, Body Tempering Auxiliary Skill, 150 Merit Points."

"The Serpent Step, a high-grade Yellow Rank footwork, is unpredictable and has a merit point of 180."

Looking at the dazzling array of martial arts on the shelf, Shen Lian finally decided to exchange for "Spirit Snake Step" and "Flying Locust Stone Technique".

With the "Snake Step," his speed would be even greater, giving him an advantage in combat.

The "Flying Locust Stone Technique" is specifically for concealed weapons, emphasizing surprise and allowing it to be used when the opponent is off guard in battle.

"Tsk tsk, my merit points are almost used up." Shen Lian couldn't help but shake his head. The "Spirit Snake Step" and "Flying Locust Stone Technique" cost him 240 merit points, and the 300 merit points he won for winning the "Newcomer Grand Competition" are now down to only 60.

After exchanging for the "Spirit Serpent Step" and the "Flying Locust Stone Technique," Shen Lian left the storeroom. Next, he needed to find a quiet place to practice these two martial arts.