Chapter 157: The Demon Suppression Division's Grand Gesture!

The Demon Suppression Division is located in the southeastern corner of Yunzhou City, occupying a vast area, and moreover possesses its own solemn and stern atmosphere.

Early the next morning, just as dawn broke, Qin Shuo rose from the inn and set out for the Demon Suppression Division to report for duty.

Upon reaching the gate, he saw He Mingjing already holding a bag of food, leaning against the stone lion in front of the Demon Suppression Division gate, leisurely waiting for him.

"Coming this early?" Qin Shuo stepped forward to greet him.

"Ah! I've developed the habit of rising early for travel; once the time comes, I simply can't sleep, so I might as well wait for you here at the division."

He Mingjing handed Qin Shuo an oil-paper-wrapped item, walking ahead to lead the way: "This is He Ji's beef pancake, famous in Yunzhou City; many captains in the Demon Suppression Division favor his."

As they spoke, the two had already stepped over the threshold and entered the interior of the Demon Suppression Division.

"I'll first take you to register and receive your uniform and waist token, then proceed to collect the reward granted to you by the Division Master."

He Mingjing led the way ahead while explaining to Qin Shuo:

"Our Demon Suppression Division's Cloud Pattern Captains receive a monthly stipend of ten taels of silver, one Blood Qi Pill and one Qi Replenishing Pill each.

Greedy Wolf Captains receive a monthly stipend of thirty taels, ten Blood Qi Pills and ten Qi Replenishing Pills each.

Cloud Dragon Captains enjoy the best treatment: a monthly stipend of fifty taels, thirty Blood Qi Pills and thirty Qi Replenishing Pills each."

Having said this, He Mingjing paused, his gaze toward Qin Shuo showing a hint of envy.

As for the stipend, it's negligible—those who can join the Demon Suppression Division aren't lacking in silver, but these Blood Qi Pills and Qi Replenishing Pills are excellent items.

Ordinary martial artists find it difficult to obtain these medicinal pills.

Especially the Qi Replenishing Pill, which can improve a martial artist's foundation and physique; long-term use brings great benefit to martial cultivation.

In Yunzhou City, this is a hard currency more popular than gold.

Martial cultivation, especially after reaching the Meridian Passage stage, requires more than just extracting blood qi from meat to continue advancing boldly.

At this point, medicinal pills become especially important.

In the martial world, who knows how many martial artists have sharpened their heads trying to squeeze into the Zhenwu Hall or Demon Suppression Division, all for these valuable cultivation pills.

"Besides, Cloud Dragon Captains may freely select one superior cultivation method from the Armory, which includes the Blade Nurturing Technique I study."

He Mingjing continued: "However, this method is rather special and not everyone can learn it.

One must possess exceptional talent in the saber art to master it.

Therefore, I suggest you, later on, avoid selecting this martial art and instead apply through the special channel for the Blade Nurturing Technique.

I myself took this route initially.

As long as you can resonate with the specially crafted long blade of the Blade Nurturing Technique, you can cultivate this method.

Otherwise, even if you choose the Blade Nurturing Technique, if your nature does not align with the saber art, selecting it will be futile—you won't succeed and will merely waste the opportunity."

"Understood, I'll follow your advice." Qin Shuo was very receptive to counsel.

Although he was deeply interested in this saber technique created by the number one martial artist under heaven,

since it can be obtained through other channels, there's naturally no need to waste a chance to select a superior cultivation method.

"Our Demon Suppression Division comprises the Armory, Weapon and Armor Room, Archives Room, Demon Catching Hall, and Sundry Room, among others.

Superior martial arts must be exchanged for in the Armory based on merit,

medicinal pills and weapons are obtained in the Weapon and Armor Room, and missions are taken at the Demon Catching Hall.

Meanwhile, the Archives Room is where merit is evaluated, and it also compiles the most detailed demonic information from all of Yunzhou..."

As they spoke, the two had already arrived at the Sundry Room for registration, receiving their uniform, saber, and token.

"The Division Master instructed that Captain Qin, for his merit in slaying the Xiaoyue Yaowang, is permitted to draw a lump sum of ten years' stipend.

I don't know whether Captain Qin will take it all or how much he will draw."

The clerk of the Sundry Room was an old man with white-streaked temples; upon learning that Qin Shuo was the newly promoted Cloud Dragon Captain, he immediately broke into a beaming smile, very enthusiastic.

"Draw ten years?"

He Mingjing stared in disbelief, hurriedly asking: "What about me? I've also been promoted to Golden Eagle Captain—how many years can I draw?"

"This... the Division Master gave no instructions!"

The old clerk stroked the small beard on his chin, his expression somewhat awkward.

"Partiality, too much partiality!"

He Mingjing flushed with anger: "Both of us are great heroes who slew demon kings—why don't I receive this treatment?"

"The Division Master said, if Captain He has any objections, he can go directly to her."

The old man was also slick, directly passing the buck to that Division Master.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, He Mingjing immediately wilted, snapping angrily: "If I can't draw it, I can't draw it—why must you use the Division Master to pressure me?"

The old clerk awkwardly offered an apologetic smile, but was not truly angry.

"Draw it all!"

Drawing ten years' monthly stipend in advance—such a grand gesture left even Qin Shuo somewhat speechless.

This also indicates that the Demon Suppression Division's reserves are far richer than he imagined.

Having looted two City Lord's Mansions and one Fang Family mansion along the way, he could already be considered quite wealthy.

But compared to this Demon Suppression Division, it's merely petty skill versus grand mastery.

The silver is negligible, but the Blood Qi Pills and Qi Replenishing Pills from ten years' stipend will be of great use to him.

Not to mention using them for his own cultivation, even just the energy storage for the Taotie Cauldron need not be a worry.

He Mingjing beside him looked somewhat envious.

He had joined the Demon Suppression Division for some years, but the earnings he accumulated over those years still fall short of Qin Shuo's single lump sum of ten years' stipend.

Comparing people to people truly can provoke anger.

Yet what made him even more envious was the old clerk's following words:

"Before leaving, the Division Master had instructed, saying Captain Qin, for having exterminated the great bandit Situ Long of Mulin Prefecture on behalf of the Divine Catcher Division, ought to receive the Divine Catcher Division's bounty."

The reward is ten thousand taels of silver and one Human Origin Great Pill.

The Divine Catcher Division had already delivered the reward early this morning.

Besides Situ Long's, there is also Sheying Guisou's, making a total of twenty thousand taels of silver and two Human Origin Great Pills.

Numb!

He Mingjing is completely numb right now!

The Human Origin Great Pill is a pill that even Refining Organs Realm powerhouses flock to.

I never expected Qin Shuo, having just joined the Demon Suppression Division, to obtain two of them—this really makes people unable to not feel jealous.

Leaving the Sundry Room, He Mingjing felt somewhat sullen and unhappy.

After this incident, he finally came to truly understand what is meant by disparity between people.

Back then, he too could be considered a heavenly pride of youth, relying on his extraordinary saber talent, gaining recognition of the Blade Cultivator technique, and becoming one of the few Blade Cultivators in the Demon Suppression Division.

At that time, his fame was unmatched, his future bright, and even the Division Master personally encouraged him to cultivate diligently.

But after meeting Qin Shuo, he found himself constantly suffering setbacks.

When they first met, the other party was still a hunter's son who had not yet stepped onto the Martial Path.

The second time they met, the other party had already reached Pulse Opening Small Accomplishment, placing him in the same realm as himself.

Now, in less than three months, he himself remains stuck at Pulse Opening Great Success, while the other party has already entered the Condensing Truth Realm.

That alone would be bad enough!

The other party, having just joined the Demon Suppression Division, has been receiving various reward pills effortlessly.

Today's harvest alone exceeds his accumulations over several past years, causing him to feel a great sense of disparity.

"At least... I still have the Blade Cultivator technique!"

He Mingjing comforted himself.

The Blade Cultivator technique is very special—only those with extraordinary saber talent can master this martial art.

Many Cloud Dragon Captains, including Flying Star General Pang Tong, have failed in cultivating this martial art, unable to obtain the sword intent recognition of the number one martial artist under heaven.

"Perhaps he merely has excellent innate talent, but his saber comprehension is not necessarily as good as mine!"

He Mingjing kept comforting himself in his heart.

Really, the feeling of watching oneself being surpassed step by step, even completely crushed in all aspects, is too unbearable.

He must find some confidence for himself, otherwise, he fears his Dao heart will shatter and he will never recover.

"What are you thinking about? So absorbed?"

On the way to the Armory, Qin Shuo clearly noticed that He Mingjing's mood was somewhat low.

"No, nothing!"

He Mingjing came to his senses, paused for a moment, and then suddenly, as if possessed, said: "Old Qin, how about...

Let's first go try the Blade Cultivator technique?"