Upon hearing this, Luo Yuan immediately bowed deeply, his demeanor extremely respectful.
"I have long admired the Demon-Subduing Division but have never had a way in. I now hope that Lord Shen can give me some guidance. If I could enter the Demon-Subduing Division, that would be ideal!"
"You want to join the Demon-Subduing Division?"
Shen Changqing’s expression was rather peculiar.
Observing Luo Yuan, he said in a solemn voice, "The Demon-Subduing Division is not as good as you imagine. Everyone who enters the Division must undertake missions to exterminate Demon Evils, and a single misstep could result in death at their hands.
"Over the years, countless Demon Hunters have died in battle.
"Someone like you, a martial artist in the late stage of the Pulse Condensation Realm, is, frankly, just cannon fodder in the Demon-Subduing Division."
He paused for a moment, observing the change in Luo Yuan’s expression.
"Moreover, having only reached the late stage of Pulse Condensation at your age means your potential is limited. Joining the Demon-Subduing Division doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll break through to the Innate Realm.
"Rather than going to the Demon-Subduing Division to die, it’s better to stay in Qutai County.
"With your current strength, although you may not measure up in the Demon-Subduing Division, you can still live comfortably in the Jianghu."
Although the Demon-Subduing Division recruited talents from various places every year, those truly recruited were basically young and talented in martial arts. Someone like Luo Yuan, who was neither young nor particularly strong, was not someone the Demon-Subduing Division would want.
It’s simple: their talent largely predetermines their path. Becoming an Innate martial artist is a low-probability event for them, and breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm is even less likely. Does the Demon-Subduing Division lack Innate martial artists? To be honest, no! What the Demon-Subduing Division truly lacks are powerhouses capable of holding sway over entire regions. To achieve this, one must be at least in the Grandmaster Realm, or even a Defender Envoy. Not reaching the Grandmaster level means there’s no hope of becoming a Defender Envoy. Even if such people offered themselves, the Demon-Subduing Division would have to consider it carefully.
Moreover, it’s difficult to ensure the integrity of those who join the Demon-Subduing Division midway. Traitors emerge even among those cultivated from the start; recruiting mid-career individuals could lead to even more defections.
Therefore, the Demon-Subduing Division rarely recruited martial artists from the Jianghu.
Unless—the person was exceptionally strong or possessed some unique quality. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵·𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮·𝓷𝓮𝓽
But unfortunately, neither applied to Luo Yuan.
Shen Changqing spoke frankly, and Luo Yuan’s face showed embarrassment.
"I understand what you mean. What you saw on Fengqiu Mountain is indeed a secret for now. However, as long as you don’t speak of it, I won’t resort to killing you to ensure your silence. In fact, if I really wanted to kill you, you wouldn’t have survived until now."
Shen Changqing directly interrupted Luo Yuan.
Luo Yuan’s sudden desire to join the Demon-Subduing Division made Shen Changqing speculate. Besides genuinely wanting the backing of a powerful entity like the Demon-Subduing Division, his request was likely also due to the events on Fengqiu Mountain. He knew some secrets and feared I might silence him.
These words completely dispelled the last of Luo Yuan’s concerns.
"Thank you, Lord Shen!"
"There’s no need for thanks. You contributed significantly to eradicating the hidden dangers of Fengqiu Mountain. The Demon-Subduing Division always rewards merit. Although you are not a member, your reward will not be lacking."
As Shen Changqing spoke, he considered what he could offer as a reward. After a moment’s thought, he took out one of his two Nirvana Fruits and gave it to Luo Yuan.
"This is a Nirvana Fruit. Consuming it can temper the physique. It’s yours now!"
Luo Yuan looked at the fruit in his hand, his expression somewhat excited.
"Thank you, Lord Shen!"
Though he had never heard of the Nirvana Fruit, the Spiritual Energy contained within it made it clear that what he held was by no means ordinary. After all, this Nirvana Fruit was given by Lord Shen himself. Given Lord Shen’s status, anything he carried would naturally be extraordinary.
A treasure! Definitely a treasure!
"Alright, you may leave now." Shen Changqing waved his hand, dismissing him.
Ever since his Physical System had formally stabilized at its pinnacle, ordinary heavenly materials and earthly treasures no longer had much effect on him. In the past, the Nirvana Fruit could still enhance his physique somewhat. But now, consuming it was no different from eating ordinary fruit.
At best, it had more abundant Spiritual Energy and a better taste. Such an item was of no great use to him anymore. Shen Changqing was even planning to sell his remaining Nirvana Fruits at an auction house when he got the chance. Giving one to Luo Yuan now was inconsequential.
After sending Luo Yuan away, Shen Changqing tidied up briefly. He then found Chang Cai to bid farewell before heading to the next location indicated in the dossier.
The trip to Fengqiu Mountain, though he hadn’t found any Demon Evils, had resulted in slaying a spirit creature, which unlocked new functions on his panel. He was quite satisfied with this.
However, a martial artist’s foundation is still primarily their own body and cultivation. All offensive Martial Arts are just icing on the cake. Without a solid base, no matter how flashy the moves, they are insignificant.
Take the Sword Elder, for example. His comprehension of the Sword Dao had indeed reached a formidable level, allowing him to contend with a Defender Envoy using his swordsmanship. But what of it? Limited by his cultivation realm, the most he could achieve was to cross swords with a Defender Envoy. If the Sword Elder had been at the Grandmaster Peak Realm, then Fu Yue would undoubtedly not have been his match. Similarly, he would likely have received a share of the five Longevity Fruits.
However, there’s no room for ’ifs’ in any matter. No. That was not how things worked.
Therefore, Shen Changqing knew very well that his own strength was the most important foundation. Only when one’s foundation is solid can one pursue other things.
The emergence of Divine Ability Value did indeed provide another avenue for enhancing offensive Martial Arts. Nevertheless, what remained truly important was the Slaughter Value.
Chang Cai was also reluctant to see Shen Changqing depart. After all, with such a powerful figure stationed in Qutai County, he, as the County Magistrate, could feel more at ease. However, Shen Changqing was a powerful figure from the Demon-Subduing Division, not someone a mere County Magistrate could command. It was even less likely that he would remain in a small place like Qutai County.
Therefore, Chang Cai could only see him off outside the city.
While Shen Changqing was systematically eliminating Demon Evils based on the dossier information and accumulating Slaughter Value, the Demon-Subduing Division in the South Nether Prefecture was thrown into major turmoil. The cause was none other than the fall of Defender Envoys.
First, the Heavenly Realm opened, and Baiyue City’s Defender Envoy, Fu Yue, perished within. Then, as the Heavenly Realm concluded, South Sea City’s Defender Envoy, Xiao An, was ambushed and killed a hundred miles outside Exiled Immortal Valley. Another Defender Envoy, Fei Yun, was gravely injured but managed to escape.
As soon as this news spread, the Demon-Subduing Division in South Sea City was infuriated. The Demon-Subduing Divisions of Baiyue City and Mountain-Breaking City were equally enraged.
If Fu Yue’s death could be attributed to the Heavenly Realm and somewhat explained away, then Xiao An’s death was a direct provocation against the Demon-Subduing Division.
Upon hearing the news, Ji Tianlu immediately ordered Xun Qu to return and secure Mountain-Breaking City, while he himself departed for South Sea City. Simultaneously, representatives from Baiyue City also made their way to South Sea City.
In South Sea City, within the main hall of the Demon-Subduing Division, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Ji Tianlu surveyed the three individuals present with an indifferent expression. Two Defender Envoys had fallen, and one was severely injured. This news had made it impossible for him to remain peacefully in Mountain-Breaking City, compelling him to travel to South Sea City to discuss countermeasures.
Currently, in the main hall, besides himself representing Mountain-Breaking City, were three others. One was a middle-aged man of about forty, his temples touched with gray—Yun Venerable, the Dominator of the South Sea City Demon-Subduing Division. Beside him sat the dispirited Fei Yun. The representative from Baiyue City was Yuan Ji, also the Dominator of their Demon-Subduing Division.
Yuan Ji spoke, his voice indifferent, his expression unchanging from the start. It was as if no one else in the room existed in his eyes. "Fei Yun, tell us what happened. Who was the attacker capable of slaying Xiao An and severely injuring you? Could a high-level Demon Evil have emerged?"
Upon hearing this, Fei Yun coughed violently, his face pale. "The attacker wasn’t a Demon Evil, but a mysterious expert from the Myriad Buddhas Sect!"
"An expert from the Myriad Buddhas Sect?" Yuan Ji’s expression shifted slightly. He was not entirely unfamiliar with the mention of a mysterious expert from the Myriad Buddhas Sect. The events that occurred in Exiled Immortal Valley had been recounted by Xiang Yuan upon his return. However, Yuan Ji hadn’t expected this expert from the Myriad Buddhas Sect to possess such formidable strength that, even when facing two Defender Envoys, they could kill one and gravely wound the other.
Ji Tianlu’s eyes also flickered.
Fei Yun continued, "His strength is immense, far beyond that of a typical Grandmaster Peak. Xiao An and I together were completely outmatched. If I hadn’t risked severe injury and used a secret technique to escape, I wouldn’t have made it out alive. I suspect... he might have broken through the limits of the human body."
"Broken through the limits of the human body!" As Fei Yun’s words fell, the already heavy atmosphere in the main hall seemed to stir.
Ji Tianlu said, "The Demon-Subduing Division has sought a way to break these limits for many years. Despite cultivating numerous Grandmasters in the Martial Hall, not one has ever reached that stage. To think someone from the Myriad Buddhas Sect has beaten us to it... it’s truly laughable!"
As he spoke, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips, a blend of mockery and derision.
It was indeed laughable. The Demon-Subduing Division had expended so much effort, collecting Martial Arts from across the land for two or three hundred years, yet not a single individual had emerged who had broken through these limits. Now, an unknown expert appears, having already achieved it. On this point alone, the Demon-Subduing Division had thoroughly lost face.
As for whether this expert from the Myriad Buddhas Sect had truly broken the limits, Ji Tianlu actually harbored little doubt. After all, being able to slay Xiao An and gravely injure Fei Yun spoke volumes.