Chapter 172: Dingdeng Genius Battle and Recruitment Conference
Translator: Henyee Translations
Editor: Henyee Translations
Lin Yan stood respectfully. Liu Lanqing knocked on the edge of the table and suddenly said, “Lin Yan, Huo Qing is right. The missions of the Demon Suppression Division are dangerous and strange. The enemies of the Demon Suppression Division are terrifying and cruel. Therefore, the death rate of the Demon Suppression Division is indeed not low.”
Lin Yan was silent.
However, Liu Lanqing changed the topic. “However… the best choice for a genius like you from the lower city is the Demon Suppression Division.
“Take Huo Qing’s Huo family as an example. Do you know what kind of place the Huo family is?”
Without waiting for Lin Yan to answer, Liu Lanqing explained, “The Huo family is a noble family in the prefecture capital. It has been passed down for nearly 200 years, causing it to be extremely bloated and rotten. The hierarchy is strict and it is completely divided by bloodline.
“There’s a difference in status between the first wife’s family and the concubine’s family. The surname is of utmost significance.
Not to mention that you’re from the lower city. The people in the prefecture capital, especially the descendants of the nobles, generally have prejudice against the people in the lower city and treat them as inferior servants…”
At this point, Liu Lanqing sneered. The surrounding temperature seemed to have risen a little.
She sneered and said, “That Huo Qing looks like he’s thirsty for talent and respects them.
“However, in fact, this is completely a form of competition maintained in front of the other factions.
“If he can’t fight for an outstanding genius in the lower city, not only will he be held accountable by the higher-ups when he goes back, but the entire Huo family will also lose face.
“As for geniuses, they don’t care at all!
“Don’t think that he’s making it sound good now. If you really enter the Huo Family, he’ll definitely find a random position for you and never talk to you again. Then, your life will be over. You’ll always be subordinate to others and be bossed around.”
Lin Yan nodded slowly and didn’t comment. “I see.”
Liu Lanqing sighed slightly. “Other factions of various sizes more or less have this problem. In the past few years in the prefecture capital, I’ve seen few people from the lower city who can really stand out and become the upper echelons of a faction!
“The prefecture capital is the capital of the local citizens, not the capital of the Qianyuan Prefecture!”
It was just solidification of classes. Although Lin Yan wasn’t surprised, he still cooperated and revealed a shocked expression.
Liu Lanqing changed the topic, and her eyes lit up slightly. “Among all the factions, only the Demon Suppression Division is different!
The Demon Suppression Division has many heavy duties. It’s indeed dangerous!
“However, in the Demon Suppression Division, it’s really about meritorious service and not status!
“As long as you can make contributions and do things, you can earn resources and increase your strength. Every step you take will result in corresponding returns!
“If a person from the lower city really wants to stand at the peak of the prefecture capital, he can only have a chance to achieve it in the Demon Suppression Division!”
Lin Yan was slightly excited. “Thank you for your guidance, Issuer Liu!”
Liu Lanqing smiled in satisfaction. “Of course, I won’t necessarily confine you to the Demon Suppression Division. You’re talented, so there’s no harm in interacting with the other factions. After getting to know them, you’ll know if I’m telling the truth.”
Lin Yan said gratefully, “There’s no need, Issuer Liu. You value me so much. How can I betray you?”
Liu Lanqing was even more satisfied. “No hurry, no hurry. Go.”
Lin Yan cupped his hands and left.
Outside the door, the excitement and gratitude on Lin Yan’s face slowly dissipated and he became expressionless again, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
“Sigh, what a pity. The other factions are clearly safer…”
It was all an act just now. Lin Yan sighed slightly in his heart. This was the first time he knew that the death rate of such a large faction like the Demon Suppression Division was actually extremely high!
Although he still did not know what the Demon Suppression Division was going to deal with, there was no doubt that this was a place where he had to suck blood from the tip of a knife!
Actually, he should have expected it. Previously, Ji Ying was said to be at the Black Grade Noble Realm, but he also died silently in a lower city.
It was obvious how dangerous the Demon Suppression Division was.
If he had a choice, he really did not want to enter the Demon Suppression Division at all. He could completely find a safer faction to hide in. In any case, he had the Golden Bodhi Scripture. After he accumulated hundreds of special effects, he did not believe that anyone could stop him.
Unfortunately, Liu Lanqing had already told him so. Could she really let him go?
Lin Yan could vaguely tell that the goal of the Dingdeng Genius Battle was probably to recruit talents for the various large factions, just like the recruitment convention and graduation recruitment season in his previous life.
On the one hand, the various families were recruiting talents as reserves. On the other hand, they were also showing off their muscles to the other forces and competing with each other. It was all about face.
Although Liu Lanqing said it nicely and asked him to interact more with the other factions, if he really chose another faction, wouldn’t the Demon Suppression Division lose all its face?
At that time, would Liu Lanqing let him off easily?
Moreover, the Demon Suppression Division had indeed given him some support. Lin Yan also had to rely on the Demon Suppression Division to exchange for more Spirit Marrows to quickly increase his strength.
Therefore, although it seemed like there was a choice, there was actually no choice!
The key is still strength. If I were also at the Jade Grade Noble Realm, I’m afraid no one would dare to stop me from going anywhere, right?”
Lin Yan had been observing these inspectors for the past two days. It was said that they were all sent from the various large factions from the prefecture capital. Each of them was in charge of two lower cities to choose genius seeds before gathering in Ding’an City.
However, their strength was not as great as Lin Yan thought. They were all only at the Noble Realm!
There were the most Yellow Grade Noble Realms and very few Black Grade
Noble Realms. As for Jade Grade Noble Realms like Liu Lanqing… there was not a single one!
It was obvious that the Jade Grade Force Feature was really strong and rare.
After returning to the house, Lin Yan continued to practice the Tiger-Shaped Fist after reciting the Wondrous Tao Te Ching again.
After practicing for a while, there was a knock on the door.
The door opened. “It’s you!”
The person at the door was Huo Qing.
“Brother Lin Yan, nice to meet you.” He was still dressed like a scholar and looked refined.
Lin Yan cupped his fists and looked regretful. “Mr. Huo, I know what you want to say. I’m sorry, Issuer Liu had done me a great favor. Please leave.”
Since he had decided to rely on the Demon Suppression Division for the time being, he could not be overcautious. He had to put on a proper attitude to prevent Liu Lanqing from suspecting him.
Huo Qing was stunned for a moment, but he wasn’t angry. He chuckled and said, “Brother Lin Yan, you’ve misunderstood. I admire a young talent like you. I’m here to make friends with you.”
Lin Yan was unmoved and said carefully, “Mr. Huo, you flatter me. I’m just a patrol guard of the Demon Suppression Division. How can I be worthy of making friends with you?”
“Brother Lin, don’t be humble. With your ability, your future is just around the corner!”
“Mr. Huo, you’re too kind!”
The two of them exchanged pleasantries. Huo Qing was also good at communicating. He didn’t mention recruiting at all and only said that he wanted to be friends with Lin Yan.
However, Lin Yan didn’t answer. His reply was watertight, and in the end, he blocked Huo Qing.
After sending Huo Qing off, not long after, another person came. He said that he was Fu Zishi from Blue Feather Sect, but he was also blocked by Lin Yan in the same way.
After a while, another one came!
This time, it was a spokesperson of a faction called the Jade Cauldron
Association. His name was Du Tianchi. He came to the door and said that he wanted to recruit him.
After Lin Yan rejected him with the excuse of Liu Lanqing, Du Tianchi still refused to give up. Not only did he speak arrogantly, but he also mentioned the background and forces of the prefecture capital. From time to time, he would release his Force Feature and threaten him.
Seeing that Lin Yan kept rejecting him, he had no choice but to leave.
Regarding this, Lin Yan didn’t let him go. After sending Du Tianchi away, he rushed out of the door and found Liu Lanqing to add fuel to the fire.
Liu Lanqing admired Lin Yan’s “loyal” attitude, so she brought Lin Yan to Du Tianchi, who was eating, in person. Not only did she press him to the table and beat him up, but she also burned him naked in front of everyone.
Soon, he lay on the bed like the unlucky person who was from the Heavenly Watch House. He would not be able to get out of bed for half a month.
However, on the second day, an outrageous rumor spread in the inner city.
It was said that there was a Demon Suppression Guard called Lin Yan in the Demon Suppression Division. He was arrogant and despotic, bullying the weak and wantonly beating and extorting a genius seed from the city.
Inspector Du Tianchi spoke up for justice. However, deceived by Lin Yan’s glib tongue, the Order Issuer, Liu Lanqing, beat him up on the streets. The scene was miserable. Those who saw it were sad, and those who heard it cried!
“Wow, how extravagant. It spread throughout the entire inner city overnight!”
After hearing Ning Xiaohui’s report, Liu Lanqing tapped her fingers on the edge of the table and shook her head with a smile.
Ning Xiaohui said anxiously, “Issuer Liu, why are you still in the mood to laugh! I heard that all the genius seeds are agitated and denouncing Lin Yan!”
Lin Yan stood at the side and frowned slightly.
Liu Lanqing was not in a hurry. Instead, he suddenly asked Lin Yan, “Lin Yan, what do you think?”
Lin Yan deliberated for a moment and said, “Issuer Liu, there must be something wrong with Huo Qing, Fu Zishi, and Du Tianchi!!”
Liu Lanqing asked with interest, “What’s wrong?”
“I originally thought that they really wanted to recruit me, but Issuer Liu, you said that they don’t value so-called geniuses at all.
“Coupled with this ridiculous rumor now, it’s obvious that their true goal is not to recruit me, but to cause trouble for the Demon Suppression Division!
That’s why they immediately fabricated such useless rumors when they couldn’t recruit me and drive a wedge between us. It’s also to cause you trouble.”
“Good analysis!”
The more Liu Lanqing looked at Lin Yan, the more satisfied she was. This guy was talented and had an extraordinary bearing. Most importantly, his brain was very useful!
Looking at the other crooked people under her, Fan Xiaopeng was childish, Ning Xiaohui was innocent, and Qin Xiang and Xiao Ye had their own ulterior motives. The others were also weak and stupid. The only one who could be used was Wu Qinglei, but his potential had been exhausted. Without expensive spirit transformation items, he could not climb up at all.
This Lin Yan came at the right time!
Liu Lanqing snorted. “No matter who it is, they’re too naive. Do they think these rumors can shake me?”
Lin Yan hesitated.
Why? We’re on the same side. If you have something to say, just say it!”
Lin Yan’s expression darkened slightly as he asked, “Issuer Liu, in the inner city, are these inspectors from the prefecture capital harmonious with each other?”
Liu Lanqing felt that Lin Yan was implying something and replied, “How is that possible? The various large factions compete with each other for Unusual Items, territory, and population. They fight openly and secretly. It’s too much to say that they’re fighting to the death, but they’re definitely not harmonious.
Lin Yan’s expression darkened.
“You know my personality. If you have something to say, say it quickly!”
“Issuer Liu, the right to speak in the inner city is concentrated on the various inspectors. No one is stupid. Since they don’t get along well with each other, logically speaking, how can a rumor immediately spread throughout the entire inner city overnight?”
Liu Lanqing’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. “You mean…”
“Unless all the inspectors, or most of them, tacitly agree to join forces and cause trouble for the Demon Suppression Division! Issuer Liu, how’s the relationship between the Demon Suppression Division and the various large factions?”
Liu Lanqing also realized the problem and said in a low voice, “It’s not good or bad, but the Demon Suppression Division is powerful. It can even be said that the various large factions rely on the Demon Suppression Division most of the time…”
“That’s strange…”
A trace of seriousness flashed across Lin Yan’s eyes, but he didn’t say anything else.
The Demon Suppression Division was powerful, but the various inspectors secretly joined forces to target the Demon Suppression Division…
Either doing so would bring them huge benefits.
Or, there was a problem with the Demon Suppression Division itself!