Great Xia Dynasty, Eastern Wasteland Prefecture.
Within Cangwu Prefecture City.
At the Cangwu County Demon Suppression Division’s branch headquarters, in the living quarters for Trainee Demon Slayer Guards, within a slightly dilapidated small courtyard.
Lin Baichuan sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes gleaming, exceptionally striking in the darkness.
“Tomorrow is the assessment day for all Trainee Demon Slayer Guards. I hope it doesn’t disappoint me…”
Lin Baichuan muttered to himself, his mind sinking into his Sea of Consciousness. Immediately, a ray of light shot out from his Sea of Consciousness, condensing before him into a property panel that only he could see.
“name: Lin Baichuan”
“identity: Demon Suppression Division Trainee Demon Slayer Guard”
“cultivation: Physical Body Ninth Grade”
“Cultivation Technique: Golden Bell Shield (First Layer, 12%)”
“Martial Skill: Seven Kill Blade Technique (Beginner, 7%)”
“Karma: 0”
...
He was not from this world. He Transmigrated half a year ago. His former self was originally a refugee whose hometown suffered a demonic disaster, and all his relatives and friends had died.
The entire county town was a thousand miles of barren land.
He, along with other refugees, begged his way to Cangwu Prefecture City, then promptly kicked the bucket, which benefited Lin Baichuan.
He Transmigrated, occupied his former self’s Physical Body, and absorbed all of his former self’s memories.
To avoid starving to death, Lin Baichuan took a chance and participated in the Demon Suppression Division’s assessment. He never expected to get lucky and actually pass the assessment, becoming a Trainee Demon Slayer Guard.
This System was activated the day he officially became a Trainee Demon Slayer Guard.
Unfortunately, the System had been activated for half a year but had not provided him with any help. This was because he had no Karma. To obtain Karma, he had to slay demons.
Ever since he became a Trainee Demon Slayer Guard, he had been undergoing closed training in the training camp.
Let alone slaying demons, he hadn't even seen a demon’s shadow.
Fortunately, those days were coming to an end. Tomorrow was the training camp assessment day. The content of the assessment was to slay a demon alone.
“Karma, I wonder what it can be used for?”
Lin Baichuan closed the property panel and muttered to himself, “Is it to directly improve my cultivation, or to enhance my Cultivation Technique and Martial Skill?”
The next day!
Early in the morning, while the sky was still dimly lit and there were even faint stars high above, Lin Baichuan was woken by a series of drumbeats.
This was the training camp’s muster drum. Once the drums sounded, all Trainee Demon Slayer Guards in the training camp had to assemble at the drill ground. Those who were late would be severely punished.
Lin Baichuan dared not show any slack. He flipped out of bed, grabbed a battle blade, and rushed out of his room.
He had actually not slept at all last night, not even taking off his leather armor. Instead, he had meditated cross-legged all night.
By the time Lin Baichuan rushed out of his small courtyard and sprinted to the drill ground, some people had already arrived ahead of him.
They stood neatly beneath a high platform at the far end of the drill ground.
At this moment, three men stood on the high platform, all dressed in black battle robes. The difference was that the leader’s clothes had a silver trim and a flame-like star embroidered on his chest.
This was a one-star Demon Subduing Captain.
Within the Demon Suppression Division, Demon Slayer Guards were also divided into different ranks.
Upon entering the Demon Suppression Division, one became a Trainee Demon Slayer Guard like Lin Baichuan and his peers. Only after passing the assessment could one become a formal Demon Slayer Guard.
That is, an Elementary Demon Slayer Guard. Above Elementary were Intermediate and Advanced.
And above Advanced Demon Slayer Guards were Demon Subduing Captains.
Unlike the Demon Slayer Guard ranks, Demon Subduing Captains were divided into seven stars, with one star being the lowest and seven stars the highest. It was rumored that above Demon Subduing Captains, there were also Demon Subduing Lieutenants.
The person in charge of the Demon Suppression Division in Cangwu Prefecture was a Demon Subduing Lieutenant.
However, Lin Baichuan had only heard these things from others. He had never seen the legendary Demon Subduing Lieutenant.
He had only seen one Demon Subduing Captain, the one standing on the high platform.
He was Gao Yunshan, the one-star Demon Subduing Captain in charge of the Cangwu County Demon Suppression Division’s training camp.
“Alright, is everyone here?!”
Just as Lin Baichuan was deep in thought, a low voice rang out, echoing across the entire drill ground.
It was Gao Yunshan from the high platform. His eyes, like lightning, swiftly swept over all the Trainee Demon Slayer Guards on the drill ground.
There were a total of eight hundred Trainee Demon Slayer Guards in the training camp, and now all of them had arrived, forming a square formation.
Seeing Gao Yunshan speak, everyone immediately held their breath and looked solemn.
“You all know what day today is. I won’t say any unnecessary nonsense. The eight hundred of you will be divided into eight groups later, and you will enter the Zhenyao Department Prison to slay demons…”
After scanning the eight hundred Trainee Demon Slayer Guards, Gao Yunshan continued, “The demons you are to slay are only the most basic Tier 1 Soldier-level demons, whose strength is equivalent to Physical Body Ninth Grade. Logically speaking, with your strength, you should be able to pass normally.
However, demons are cunning, and many unexpected situations can occur.
Whether you can pass the assessment depends on your own fortune. Everyone… do your best! This hurdle is one you must overcome to become a formal Demon Slayer Guard. No one can help you.”
After speaking, Gao Yunshan waved his hand.
Immediately, eight Demon Slayer Guards dressed in black battle robes walked over from around the drill ground. With cold faces and indifferent expressions, they arrived in front of the eight hundred Trainee Demon Slayer Guards’ formation.
Then, each led a team away.
Lin Baichuan was assigned to the third team. Leading them was a heroic and spirited woman with a cold face and eyes like blades. She exuded a chilling aura, almost as if the words “Do Not Approach Strangers” were written on her face.
No one dared to speak. This was precisely when everyone was most nervous.
Moreover, the Demon Slayer Guard leading them was such an ice-faced woman, which made them feel even more suppressed. The nerves of everyone in the entire small team were gradually tightening.
This situation became more pronounced the closer they got to the Zhenyao Department Prison. Lin Baichuan even saw cold sweat breaking out on many people’s foreheads, their faces turning pale, their eyes filled with fear and unease.
This was typical of poor psychological resilience.
The assessment task had a casualty rate, and it was not low. It was rumored that each assessment had a casualty rate of about ten percent.
In other words, out of these eight hundred people, nearly eighty would die in this assessment.
“A Martial Artist should have a fearless and courageous heart that pushes them forward. These people are already so afraid before even reaching the battlefield. Once they truly see a demon, they will probably tremble all over and only be able to display less than thirty percent of their strength.
At that point, they will die even faster.”
Lin Baichuan narrowed his eyes, observing his surroundings. At this moment, a voice sounded in his ear: “Lin Baichuan, let me tell you, demons are actually nothing to be afraid of. Just treat them like animals.
The more nervous and scared you are, the greater the possibility of something going wrong…”
The one speaking was a bald young man walking beside Lin Baichuan, holding a long spear and grinning at Lin Baichuan.
Yang Zhan, a Trainee Demon Slayer Guard, a local of Cangwu Prefecture City.
He was also one of Lin Baichuan’s few good friends in this Demon Suppression Division training camp.
“Stop showing off, be careful.” Lin Baichuan rolled his eyes at Yang Zhan, then said in a deep voice, “Demons are cunning and treacherous. Don’t fall into a trap.”
“Don’t worry, nothing will go wrong. It’s just a mere Tier 1 Soldier-level demon. It’s not like I haven’t killed one before. More powerful ones have died by my hand, not just one.”
Yang Zhan, however, grinned indifferently, his face relaxed and at ease.
Lin Baichuan couldn’t help but curl his lips, though he didn’t refute Yang Zhan’s words.
As a direct descendant of the Yang family in Cangwu Prefecture, Yang Zhan had been meticulously nurtured by the Yang family since childhood. Although he was only sixteen years old, his cultivation had already reached the Peak of Physical Body Eighth Grade, and it was rumored that he was only a step away from Seventh Grade.
With such strength, participating in this assessment was purely a formality.
“Scions of powerful families are indeed different. Whether it’s resources, platforms, or knowledge, they far surpass ordinary commoners. But it doesn’t matter, I have the System. After today, I will surely soar to great heights…”
Lin Baichuan thought to himself, his eyes gleaming as he looked forward.
The Zhenyao Department Prison had been reached.