The next day!
The rising sun cast its light over the Demon Suppression Division's station, and the morning glow streamed through the window into Lin Baichuan's room, falling upon Lin Baichuan, who was seated cross-legged on his bed.
Just then, Lin Baichuan, who had kept his eyes tightly shut, suddenly opened them, and two dazzling rays of divine light, as brilliant as the scorching sun, burst forth from his pupils.
“Hoo…”
He exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi, and Lin Baichuan's mind stirred, his System attribute panel already open in his Sea of Consciousness.
【name: Lin Baichuan】
【identity: Demon Suppression Division Junior Demon Slayer Guard】
【cultivation: Ninth Grade】
【Cultivation Technique: Golden Bell Shield (Fourth Layer, 12%)】
【Martial Skill: Seven Kill Blade Technique (Perfection, 32%)】
【Karma: 0】
…
The fourth layer of the Golden Bell Shield was the result of Lin Baichuan spending the 30 Karma he gained from slaying the demon that had taken Possession of Miaoyin, the courtesan from Tianyin Workshop, last night.
“The System is truly powerful. The Golden Bell Shield originally only had three layers. Cultivating it to the Perfection of the third layer would only grant me five thousand catties of strength. Now, with the help of the System, I can directly deduce the fourth layer of the Golden Bell Shield using Karma. Although my cultivation Realm is still the Ninth Grade Body Refinement Realm, my Physical Body strength has increased to eight thousand catties, an increase of a full three thousand catties compared to the Perfection of the third layer…”
Lin Baichuan's gaze swept across the System panel, his eyes growing even brighter.
After his attempt last night, he now felt even more keenly the profoundness of Karma, which could even deduce the Golden Bell Shield to a higher layer. It was just a pity that he didn't have enough Karma; otherwise, let alone the fourth layer, even the fifth or sixth layer would be entirely within reach.
“It is said that some Prodigy disciples of top-tier aristocratic families, when they are in the Ninth Grade Body Refining Realm, cultivate top-tier Body Refining methods that can increase their Physical Body strength to the limit of ten thousand catties.”
Lin Baichuan muttered to himself, “In the past, I naturally had no hope, but now it’s different. I have the System. I only need enough Karma to continuously deduce the Golden Bell Shield to increase my Physical Body strength.
Given time, let alone the Physical Body limit, it might even be possible to break this limit of ten thousand catties of Physical Body strength.”
In Martial Artist cultivation, the nine grades of the Physical Body are actually foundational Realms, especially the first three stages: Body Refining, Bone Tempering, and Organ Forging, which are the foundations of foundations. As the saying goes, a tall building starts from the ground up, and the stronger the foundation, the more weight it can bear.
Similarly, the more solid the Martial Artist foundation, the further one can go in the future.
This is also why the gap between true Geniuses, Prodigies, and ordinary Martial Artists grows wider and wider. It’s because their foundations are different. True Prodigies only Breakthrough the Ninth Grade and enter the Eighth Grade Bone Tempering Realm after their Physical Body strength reaches the ten-thousand-catties limit.
As for ordinary Martial Artists, their Body Refining Realm Physical Body strength is only two to three thousand catties, and some talented Geniuses might reach five to six thousand catties. Then, they Breakthrough the Ninth Grade Body Refining Realm and enter the Eighth Grade Bone Tempering Realm in this state.
In this way, the gap naturally becomes apparent.
“With the System, I can also increase my Physical Body strength to ten thousand catties, or even break the ten-thousand-catties limit.”
Lin Baichuan muttered to himself, propping himself up on the bed board with his right hand. He immediately sprang up, then landed lightly on the ground like a fallen leaf.
“Karma… It’s all about Karma. I must find a way to slay more demons to acquire Karma.”
Lin Baichuan thought to himself.
30 Karma allowed him to increase his Physical Body strength by nearly five thousand catties in one night; this was simply a myth. After tasting the benefits brought by Karma, Lin Baichuan was insatiably greedy and yearned for even more Karma.
“Lin Baichuan…”
Suddenly, just as various thoughts flashed through Lin Baichuan's mind, Yang Zhan's voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard. This guy actually came to find him on his own initiative. Lin Baichuan raised his eyebrows, and he had already walked out of the room.
“What’s wrong?”
He pulled open the courtyard gate to let Yang Zhan in, then asked in a deep voice, “Looking at you, has something happened?”
“Lu Changkong has been taken away.”
Yang Zhan nodded slightly, saying in a deep voice, “This morning, the higher-ups suddenly ordered Lu Changkong’s innocent release and will no longer pursue the Lu family’s crimes…”
“Innocent release!”
Lin Baichuan's eyes narrowed. He said in a deep voice, “Does the Lu family have such great influence?”
Yesterday at Tianyin Workshop, after they jointly slew that demon, they captured Lu Changkong. This guy was scared witless and completely lost his spirit. Otherwise, with his Peak Eighth Grade Bone Tempering Realm cultivation, plus the assistance of a Spiritual Artifact short sword, if he had wanted to leave, Lin Baichuan and the others might not have been able to stop him.
As a result, because Lu Changkong had completely lost his spirit, he didn't resist at all and was captured by Lin Baichuan and the others.
Then, he was directly taken to the Zhenyao Department Prison.
Immediately after, Yang Zhan reported this matter to the higher-ups, who originally intended to take the opportunity to act against the Lu family. Unfortunately, it didn't go as planned; the higher-ups did not order action against the Lu family. At that time, Lin Baichuan felt that something was amiss.
Sure enough, Yang Zhan brought this news early this morning: Lu Changkong was actually released without charge.
“The Lu family naturally doesn’t have such means.”
Yang Zhan sneered, “However, the people behind the Lu family do. But these are not the main points, after all, the level involved is too high, it’s not something we can meddle with. The problem now is that we have thoroughly offended the Lu family. I’m fine, the Lu family wouldn’t dare to do anything to me.
But you are different. When Lu Changkong left the Zhenyao Department Prison, he declared that he would make sure you look good…”
“Make me look good, hmph… Then let him come!”
Lin Baichuan snorted coldly, sneering indifferently, “A piece of trash, let’s see what waves he can stir up.”
“Don’t be careless. Although the Lu family is nothing in front of the Demon Suppression Division, they are a prominent aristocratic family in Cangwu Prefecture, and their strength is no less than that of my Yang family.”
Seeing this, Yang Zhan immediately said in a deep voice, “Moreover, Lu Changkong does have some strength. Last night, he was purely stunned and was suppressed by us when we had the advantage. Now that he has come to his senses, if he is determined to retaliate against you, it will still be very troublesome.
However, you are now an official Demon Slayer Guard of the Demon Suppression Division.
He wouldn’t dare to openly do anything to you. It’s just that I’m worried he’ll resort to underhanded tricks. As far as I know, the Lu family also has people in the Demon Suppression Division…”
“You mean, Newbie Mission?”
Lin Baichuan's mind was sharp, and he immediately reacted, understanding Yang Zhan's meaning.
“Exactly!”
Yang Zhan nodded and said, “The Lu family doesn’t dare to openly attack you because they cannot withstand the wrath of the Demon Suppression Division. Harming a Demon Slayer Guard of the Demon Suppression Division is a provocation to the Demon Suppression Division, and even the people behind their Lu family wouldn’t be able to protect them.
So they can only resort to underhanded tricks, and the Newbie Mission is their best opportunity. If you die during this Newbie Mission, no one will have anything to say…”