Chapter 14

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

Soon it was the day for the County Town Demon-Suppressing Division to recruit personnel.

This day, early morning.

Before Lu Zhangsheng could get up, Fang Qing and her younger brother had already arrived in his courtyard, waiting early.

Several 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 Dao and was even going to participate in the Demon-Suppressing Division selection, which was something she hadn't expected.

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

The moment he saw Fang Qing, he was stunned.

He saw that the other party's face was clearly smeared with some carbon ash, covering the original rosy complexion.

The clothes on her body were also very loose, no different from other farm women.

It seems that the other party was also quite intelligent, knowing how to hide her light, otherwise, she would have been harmed long ago these years.

"Let's go."

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

Fang Qing and her brother hurriedly followed.

The three left the courtyard and walked along the street all the way.

On both sides, there was sewage and rotten animal corpses everywhere, emitting a foul smell.

Making the three of them frown.

If they had the conditions, they would have loved to move away from here early.

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

Today was a great day for the Demon-Suppressing Division to recruit personnel, and many commoners were also preparing to go to the Zhongyang Guangchang to observe.

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

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

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

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

Lu Zhangsheng was happy to be so.

Ever since his father left and never returned, many neighbors seemed to be avoiding a plague god, hiding before they could even come up, so how would they come up?

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

Fang Tao looked indignant.

He was young, so naturally, he 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 Zhangsheng was about to enter the official gate soon, so he didn't care much about these neighbors, and they wouldn't associate with them in the future.

The three walked all the way without a word, slowly heading toward the Zhongyang Guangchang.

After half a cup of tea.

Suddenly, bursts of chanting came from the intersection ahead, and the momentum was quite grand.

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

A group of men wearing white long robes walked toward the intersection, their momentum quite magnificent.

They were still muttering words in their mouths.

The loud voice resounded throughout the entire street.

Many nearby commoners saw this and immediately stood in two rows, full of awe.

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

Whenever there was a small illness or disaster in the family, there was no need to get medicine; just drink a sip of the magical talisman water and it would be fine.

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

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

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

There was still a trace of fear in her eyes.

Regarding the matter of gods, she had always been quite taboo.

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

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

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

And the temples of this person were also bulging high.

"Martial Dao expert!"

At a glance, Lu Zhangsheng knew that this person's cultivation was not shallow, at least above Flesh Refining.

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

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

However, just because of this, his heart suddenly became much heavier.

In his memory, these people from the Wenxiang Sect only operated outside the city in the past, and it was only in the last half year that they frequently appeared in the city.

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

Lu Zhangsheng wouldn't naively think that the other party was here to save all living beings.

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

These people must have ulterior motives.

Changping County was his foothold; if there were any turmoil, he would be the first to bear the brunt.

With his current strength, it was still difficult to go to the Prefecture City alone.

The wilderness was still extremely dangerous.

Before long, Lu Zhangsheng and the three arrived at a large Zhongyang Guangchang.

He looked up.

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

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

The three were dressed in Flying Eagle Uniforms, and they were also holding long blades in their hands, which flickered with fluorescence under the sunlight.

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

In the east of the square, three giant cauldrons of different sizes were placed.

The cauldrons had three legs and were made of brass, clearly of sufficient weight.

A large number of figures were densely packed around the three giant cauldrons, and everywhere was bustling with noise and excitement.

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

Very simple and crude.

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

In the past, as long as one could lift the 800-jin giant cauldron, it counted as a success.

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

Generally, the most ordinary martial artists have 800 jin of giant strength when they first enter Skin Refining.

Skin Refining 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 Refining, they have the opportunity to join the Demon-Suppressing Division.

This was also a rule set by the imperial court for hundreds of years, in order to give the commoners at the bottom a channel for upward mobility.

After passing this hurdle, they would become Apprentice Demon-Suppressing Envoys, and after a one-year assessment period, they could officially become a Yellow-Rank Demon-Suppressing Envoy.

As for why it was divided into three grades, it was not something he could know.

Lu Zhangsheng guessed that it might be related to entering the Demon-Suppressing Division later.

"Changsheng, hurry up and sign up."

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

Lu Zhangsheng nodded with a smile.

Then he walked forward.

There were already quite a few figures queuing in front of the old man, all of whom were challengers who came today.

Martial Dao cultivation is very difficult; as long as one can successfully join the Demon-Suppressing Division, the benefits are also quite a lot, so some people naturally flock to it.

Even some people who forcibly stimulated their potential and consumed their lifespan to step into Skin Refining also came to fight for an opportunity.

Such people occupy the vast majority among the commoners.

Lu Zhangsheng also honestly queued up at the back.

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

"Name?"

"Lu Zhangsheng."

"Age?"

"Twenty."

"Martial Dao cultivation, what technique is practiced?"

"Skin Refining, Iron Cloth Shirt."

Lu Zhangsheng answered one by one with a smile.

The old man was stunned when he heard Iron Cloth Shirt; he also knew this "famous" technique, and he didn't expect that there would still be people who were not afraid of death.

Every year, some commoners refine themselves to death, and he didn't expect that Lu Zhangsheng, who was young, would also choose to take the risk.

A group of martial artists standing in the back row also showed a trace of strangeness in their eyes.

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

Then the old man took out a wooden token with a pitying face and handed it to Lu Zhangsheng.

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

"Thank you, senior."

Lu Zhangsheng arched his hands, took the token, and then turned and walked backward.

He didn't make any explanation either.

It was better for him to hide; for the sake of showing off for a moment, it was clearly not worth the loss.

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

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

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

(End of chapter)