Chapter 14

Time passed slowly, and more than half a month passed in a flash.

Soon it was the day for the County Demon Suppression Office to recruit personnel.

This day, early morning.

Before Lu Changsheng got up, Fang Qing and her younger brother had already arrived in his courtyard, waiting early.

A few days ago, the two had received the news.

Today, the two were even more excited.

Fang Qing felt as if she were dreaming; that playboy who walked the streets all day had suddenly entered the martial path and was even going to participate in the Demon Suppression Office selection, which was unexpected for her.

Soon, Lu Changsheng got up, washed, and walked out.

The moment he saw Fang Qing, he was stunned.

He saw that the other party had clearly applied some charcoal ash on her face, covering her original rosy complexion.

Her clothes were also very loose, no different from other farm women.

It seems the other party was also quite smart, knowing how to hide her light, otherwise she would have been poisoned long ago.

"Let's go."

Lu Changsheng smiled slightly and took the lead in walking out of the courtyard.

Fang Qing and her brother followed quickly.

The three left the courtyard and walked along the street.

On both sides, there was sewage and rotting animal carcasses everywhere, emitting a foul smell.

Making the three of them frown.

If they had the conditions, they would have moved away from here long ago.

At this time, figures were gradually appearing on the street.

Today is a great day for the Demon Suppression Office to recruit personnel, and many civilians are also preparing to go to the central square to watch.

In the past, some civilians had been successfully selected, and their names resounded throughout Changping County.

Making many people at the bottom excited, fantasizing that one day they could be so majestic.

Even if most people couldn't get their wish, they still had something to brag about at the dinner table.

Some neighbors saw Lu Changsheng and the three of them, but didn't talk to them, being very cold.

Lu Changsheng was happy to be like this.

Ever since his father left and never returned, many neighbors seemed to be avoiding a plague god, hiding before they could even approach, let alone come up.

"Hmph... When Uncle Lu was here, he took good care of Aunt Wang..."

Fang Tao was indignant.

He was young and naturally couldn't tolerate sand in his eyes.

In his view, some people were simply ungrateful and too hateful.

"Brother, stop complaining."

Fang Qing smiled faintly and comforted him.

She was also quite dissatisfied with this in her heart.

However, Lu Changsheng was about to enter the official gate, so he didn't care much about these neighbors; they wouldn't associate with them in the future.

The three walked all the way without a word, slowly heading toward the central square.

After half a cup of tea.

Suddenly, bursts of chanting came from the intersection ahead, with great momentum.

"The Venerable One descends to the world, saving all living beings, the scorching holy fire, purifying the filth..."

A group of men in white robes walked toward the intersection, with a magnificent momentum.

They were still chanting something in their mouths.

The loud voice resounded throughout the street.

Many civilians nearby saw this and immediately stood on both sides, full of awe.

In their eyes, these people were living Bodhisattvas who "save the suffering."

Whenever there was a minor illness or disaster in the family, they didn't need to get medicine; they just drank a cup of magical talisman water and were fine.

Over time, many civilians naturally became more and more convinced.

"It's the people from the Wenxiang Sect."

Fang Qing lowered her voice and hurriedly pulled Lu Changsheng and Fang Tao to the side to make way.

Her eyes still carried a trace of fear.

She had always been quite taboo about gods.

Lu Changsheng didn't resist either, letting Fang Qing pull him away; he looked up at the group of believers ahead.

The leader was tall, and two groups of flames were embroidered on his white robe, which was very conspicuous.

A pair of tiger eyes carried wisps of murderous aura, and sharp light flickered in them as he looked around.

And this person's temples were also bulging high.

"Martial path expert!"

At a glance, Lu Changsheng knew that this person's cultivation was not shallow, at least above Meat Refinement.

With his strength, he probably couldn't defeat the other party for the time being.

Lu Changsheng watched the group of people go away quietly before continuing to take the two siblings forward.

But just because of this, his heart suddenly felt much heavier.

In his memory, these people from the Wenxiang Sect only operated outside the city in the past, and only appeared frequently in the city in the last six months.

It seemed as if they were gradually testing the government's reaction. This made him feel a bit vigilant.

Lu Changsheng would not naively think that the other party was here to save all living beings.

When a dynasty gradually moves toward weakness, some monsters and ghosts often emerge at the first opportunity.

These people must have ulterior motives.

As his place of residence, if there is any turmoil in Changping County, he will bear the brunt.

With his current strength, it is still difficult to go to the prefecture city alone.

The wilderness is still extremely dangerous.

Before long, Lu Changsheng and the three arrived at a large central square.

He looked up.

He saw a high platform in the center of the square with three chairs on it.

At this time, three middle-aged men were sitting on the chairs, looking very majestic.

The three were dressed in Flying Eagle Garb, holding long knives in their hands, which shimmered under the sunlight.

These three were the official Demon Suppression Envoys presiding over the ceremony today.

In the east of the square, there were three giant tripods of different sizes.

The tripod had three legs and was made of brass, which was obviously heavy.

A large number of figures were densely surrounded by the three giant tripods, and it was noisy everywhere.

According to the memory in his mind, Lu Changsheng also knew the purpose of these tripods, which was to select personnel.

Very simple and crude.

The three giant tripods were 1,600 jin, 1,200 jin, and 800 jin, respectively.

In the past, as long as you could lift the 800-jin giant tripod, you would succeed.

With the strength of an ordinary Stone Skin martial artist, the full explosion of both arms is enough to lift that 800-jin giant tripod over the head.

Generally, the most ordinary martial artist has 800 jin of strength when they first enter Skin Refinement.

Skin Refinement perfection is about 2,000 jin, and those with extraordinary talent will be even more astonishing.

As long as ordinary people can step into Skin Refinement, they have the opportunity to join the Demon Suppression Office.

This is also a rule set by the imperial court for hundreds of years to give the bottom civilians a path of upward mobility.

After passing this level, they will become trainee Demon Suppression Envoys, and after a one-year assessment period, they can officially become a Yellow-tier Demon Suppression Envoy.

As for why it is divided into three levels, it is not something he can know.

Lu Changsheng guessed that it might be related to entering the Demon Suppression Office later.

"Changsheng, go and sign up quickly."

Fang Qing pointed to an old man in a black robe in front and said softly.

Lu Changsheng nodded with a smile.

Then he walked forward.

There were already many people queuing in front of the old man, all of whom were here to challenge today.

Ordinary martial arts practice is very difficult; as long as you can successfully join the Demon Suppression Office, the benefits are also many, so some people naturally flock to it.

Some people even forcibly stimulate their potential and consume their lifespan to step into Skin Refinement, and they also come to fight for an opportunity.

Such people make up the vast majority of civilians.

Lu Changsheng also lined up honestly at the back.

As the figures in front slowly decreased, it was soon Lu Changsheng's turn.

"Name?"

"Lu Changsheng."

"Age?"

"Twenty."

"Martial path cultivation, what technique do you practice?"

"Skin Refinement, Iron Cloth Shirt."

Lu Changsheng answered one by one with a smile.

When the old man heard Iron Cloth Shirt, he was stunned; he also knew this "famous" technique, and he didn't expect anyone to be afraid of death.

Every year, some civilians refine themselves to death, and he didn't expect Lu Changsheng, who was young, to choose to take risks.

A group of martial artists stood in the back row, and their eyes also revealed a trace of strangeness.

Everyone regarded Lu Changsheng as a martial artist who forcibly stimulated his potential to practice.

Then the old man took out a wooden sign with regret and handed it to Lu Changsheng.

"This is the identity certificate; it will not be replaced if lost."

"Thank you, senior."

Lu Changsheng arched his hands, took the token, and then turned and walked back.

He didn't make any explanation either.

It's better for him to hide; it's obviously not worth the loss to be in the limelight for a while.

Fortunately, no one ran out to mock him; such a scene is almost hard to see.

For people with shallow friendship, ordinary people are too lazy to pay attention.

If it's an enemy, they will try every means to kill the other party behind their back; verbal disputes are very low-level for martial artists.

(End of Chapter)