"Did you notice anything unusual?"
"No, I did not!"
At the exit of the first floor of the Demon-Subduing Prison, the person conversing with Shen Changqing was the one who had stopped him earlier.
After a simple inquiry.
Shen Changqing handed the Demon-Subduing Prison Manual to the other party.
Because the manual was proof for entering the Demon-Subduing Prison.
Any Demon Hunter leaving the Demon-Subduing Prison must hand over the manual to the Defender stationed there.
Only by doing this.
Can the Demon-Subduing Prison Manual be prevented from going missing.
This also prevents others from obtaining the manual and entering the Demon-Subduing Prison to do some unsavory things.
From start to finish, those people never noticed anything unusual about him.
After leaving the Demon-Subduing Prison.
Shen Changqing returned to the Demon Hunting Court.
This trip to the Demon-Subduing Prison had brought him great gains.
Leaving other things aside.
Just by visiting the Demon-Subduing Prison once, he had raised the Thirteen Guardians Tempering Skill from the third level straight to the fifteenth level.
His realm had also transformed from the Body Tempering Realm to the Pulse Condensation Realm.
The so-called Pulse Condensation!
Is about nurturing True Qi, allowing martial artists to possess transcendent, extraordinary power.
If the Body Tempering Realm is still within the scope of ordinary people.
Then the Pulse Condensation Realm is the metamorphosis towards transcendence for martial artists.
Shen Changqing was certain.
Among all the Probationary Demon Hunters, absolutely none could match his realm.
Because anyone who achieves Pulse Condensation.
Is already a formal Demon Hunter.
"The Slaughter Value has been temporarily depleted, and any Slaughter Value on the second and third floors of the Demon-Subduing Prison was all collected by me. There may be even more Slaughter Value on the fourth and fifth floors—"
Thinking of the fourth floor, Shen Changqing shook his head helplessly.
With his current strength, he was in no way qualified to enter the fourth floor to collect Slaughter Value.
He had only barely set foot on the fourth floor and had nearly died then and there.
This alone showed that the Pulse Condensation Realm was far from being a truly mighty expert.
This also allowed him to guess.
Just how powerful the demons and strange monsters imprisoned on the fourth floor must be.
"I must make up for my lack of knowledge about demons and strange monsters, otherwise, if I run into them in the future, I won't even know how I died." Shen Changqing silently decided.
Now that he had entered the Demon-Subduing Division, it was inevitable that he would have dealings with demons and strange monsters in the future.
His understanding of those things could only be described as shallow.
Returning to his small courtyard.
Shen Changqing looked at the stone lock in the yard, and suddenly, on a whim, reached out and grasped it.
The heavy stone lock, which he could barely lift before.
Now in his hand, though not as light as a feather, was still lifted with ease.
"A single stone lock weighs about three to four hundred jin. I can lift it easily now—my strength has reached a truly formidable level."
Shen Changqing quietly estimated.
His strength now was at least eight hundred, if not a thousand jin.
And that was without using True Qi.
Once True Qi was used.
His strength would be amplified even further.
He put down the stone lock.
Shen Changqing then shut himself indoors, only opening his door two days later to head towards the dining hall.
Though the Demon Hunting Court was home to all Demon Hunters, it also had a dining hall.
The dining hall of the Demon Hunting Court.
Was set up solely to provide for the Demon Hunters.
No Demon Hunter would waste time cooking for themselves, nor did the Demon Hunting Court have such facilities.
Therefore.
Having a dining hall was quite necessary.
Presenting his Identity Token, Shen Changqing easily entered the dining hall.
By now, there were already quite a few people inside.
He got his meal and picked an empty seat to sit down.
It was worth mentioning.
The quality of food in the Demon-Subduing Division was truly second to none. Even as a Probationary Demon Hunter, every meal included generous servings of meat, along with soups brewed from the bones of unknown beasts.
After eating everything.
Even Shen Changqing, whose appetite had grown immensely due to a breakthrough in the Thirteen Guardians Tempering Skill, felt full.
"Indeed!"
"Only by eating and drinking one's fill can one have the confidence to cultivate."
"The food provided by the Demon-Subduing Division's dining hall is all tailored for martial artists—it's more than enough to replenish daily consumption."
Having eaten his fill, Shen Changqing left thoroughly satisfied.
From memories of his former life, a meal like this outside the Demon-Subduing Division would cost a sizable sum of silver tael, far beyond what an ordinary commoner could afford.
But in the Demon-Subduing Division.
He could eat whatever he wanted.
And what he enjoyed was only the standard for a Probationary Demon Hunter—for a full Demon Hunter, the provisions would be even higher.
Returning to his own quarters.
Shen Changqing pretty much kept to himself.
Apart from necessary trips to the dining hall each day, he remained in his room, steadily familiarizing himself with his rapidly increased strength.
The improvement from Slaughter Value.
Only raised his martial arts on a superficial level.
That didn't mean his body could immediately adapt.
According to Shen Changqing's guess.
If it was mainly offensive techniques, the increase from Slaughter Value would likely be more comprehensively integrated.
Probationary Demon Hunters.
Needed to complete a task every five days.
Similarly.
Access to the Scripture Pavilion for Probationary Demon Hunters was also permitted once every five days.
When the fifth day arrived.
Liu Chang arrived as expected.
"You broke through again in the Thirteen Guardians Tempering Skill?"
At a glance, Liu Chang noticed something different about Shen Changqing.
Compared to five days ago.
The surge of blood and energy in Shen Changqing's body was faintly visible, clearly showing deep achievement in the Thirteen Guardians Tempering Skill.
Of course.
He never imagined the other had reached the fifteenth level.
Since the pinnacle of the Thirteen Guardians Tempering Skill was thirteen levels. After reaching perfection, the flesh would approach completion and thus not so easily allow the blood essence to show externally.
It was only to avoid arousing Liu Chang's suspicion that he deliberately revealed a bit more.
So when the other party looked, it appeared to be at a normal standard.
Upon this inquiry.
Shen Changqing smiled: "A few days of seclusion brought limited results. It's nothing worth mentioning before Steward Liu."
"Body Tempering is only the start. Once your foundation is laid, you may consider going to the Scripture Pavilion to exchange for a Pulse Condensation Realm martial art.
Although after reaching perfection in the Thirteen Guardians Tempering Skill, a martial artist can step into Pulse Condensation naturally,
Doing so would take a very long time.
Entry-level martial arts only serve to temper the foundation. When the time is right, switching to a more advanced martial art will help you break into the Pulse Condensation Realm faster.
As long as you achieve Pulse Condensation, your chance of becoming a formal Demon Hunter increases greatly."
Liu Chang patiently explained.
He already had his eye on Shen Changqing, considering him a genius.
Now seeing him again today.
Indeed, the boy had not let him down—in just five days, he had made impressive progress again in the Thirteen Guardians Tempering Skill.
Barring accidents.
Shen Changqing was sure to become a true Demon Hunter.
As a steward of the Demon Hunting Court.
Having a Probationary Demon Hunter advance to full Demon Hunter status would bring Liu Chang some personal benefit as well.
It's just that the transition from Probationary to true Demon Hunter had an exceptionally high elimination rate; few could make it that far.
Thus.
Liu Chang rarely bothered with average Probationary Demon Hunters—he just followed protocol.
"Thank you for your guidance, Steward Liu. If I achieve anything in the future, I will surely not forget this!"
"Haha, as long as you have the heart, that's good enough."
Liu Chang smiled faintly, a rare smile appearing on his face.
Soon after.
He produced the Demon-Subduing Prison Manual again.
"You've already been to the Demon-Subduing Prison a few times, so you must be familiar with it by now. This time, you'll patrol the Demon-Subduing Prison again!"
"Yes!"
Shen Changqing did not refuse. He reached out and took the Demon-Subduing Prison Manual and put it away.
In truth.
He had no right to request a change of tasks.
Liu Chang assigned the tasks, so he must carry them out.
It was clear to see.
The other party always assigned him the same task, all relatively low in difficulty—clearly looking out for him.
To this.
Shen Changqing understood well in his heart.
Receiving the Demon-Subduing Prison Manual and bidding farewell to Liu Chang, he made his way straight to the Demon-Subduing Prison.
With no intention of seeking out more Slaughter Value.
This patrol of the Demon-Subduing Prison went by very quickly.
In less than an hour.
Shen Changqing emerged from the Demon-Subduing Prison and headed directly to the Scripture Pavilion.
Liu Chang's words.
Suddenly made him realize something.
He still knew too few martial arts.
The Thirteen Guardians Tempering Skill was good, but as Liu Chang said, it was only an entry-level skill—the lowest of all martial arts.
Similarly, if enhanced by Slaughter Value.
Using a more advanced martial art would no doubt greatly boost his power.
"Shen Changqing, Probationary Demon Hunter from the Huang Department, requests access to the Scripture Pavilion!"
Shen Changqing handed his Identity Token forward directly, saving the old man from having to ask.
The old man guarding the Scripture Pavilion opened his eyes, a familiar flash of blood-red light flitting by once more.
But compared to last time.
Now, when he met the old man's gaze, his fear was much lessened.
"Mm—"
The old man returned the token to him, casually mentioning a few things to watch for, before closing his eyes again.
Seeing this.
Shen Changqing put away his token, offered his thanks, and walked over to the shelves lined with books.
The first floor of the Scripture Pavilion.
Not only recorded martial arts, but also many strange stories and records of demons and strange monsters.
But each type of book was divided into different sections.
Although he wanted to learn more about demons and strange monsters.
After Liu Chang's reminder.
Shen Changqing decided he should focus on improving his martial arts first. As for other things, he could look into them in the future when he had the chance.
Standing by the martial arts section of the shelves.
He randomly pulled out a book.
On its cover were the words: Vajra Iron Groin Skill!
The corner of Shen Changqing's mouth twitched, and he put the book back.
Vajra Iron Groin Skill was also an entry-level martial art, more or less the same as the Thirteen Guardians Tempering Skill.
But in comparison between the two.
The former was far inferior to the latter.