Chapter 38 : Chapter 38
Chapter 38: Go Ahead and Do It
...
[With the enhancement of the Aperture Opening Pills and the Spirit-Gathering Array, your cultivation speed was astonishing. In just four months, you opened 30 apertures.]
[You gradually developed your own insights into how to open apertures.]
[On this day, you experienced a sudden moment of enlightenment and entered a state of unity between man and heaven, gaining a cultivation buff: Aperture Opening Speed +100%.]
[Only one month later, you stepped into the fourth layer of the Aperture Opening Realm.]
...
[After consuming another 1000 Slaughter Points, you decided to press on in one effort and break into the fifth layer of the Aperture Opening Realm.]
[With the support of various resources and buffs, your mind was clear and tranquil. Spiritual energy that had once been difficult to command now moved as readily as your own limbs.]
[You suddenly had the feeling that heaven itself was spoon-feeding you. One blocked aperture after another was opened with effortless ease. Day after day, you remained in bitter cultivation... Eight months later, after much effort, you opened the 180th aperture within your body.]
[During this time, your talent Refining Stomach devoured a vast amount of spiritual energy. Your body was nourished by that spiritual energy, and your physical form improved tremendously.]
[Cultivation complete. Congratulations, host, on stepping into the fifth layer of the Aperture Opening Realm. May you continue your efforts and keep up the good work ^o^/]
The fifth layer of the Aperture Opening Realm already?
Wonderful.
At this rate of cultivation, Lu Zhan felt that opening apertures in a day and reaching the Divine Sea Realm in a month might not be impossible after all.
He opened the door to the Cultivation Room and, ignoring Su Wenqing’s resentful gaze, turned and headed for the Storeroom.
“Senior, I’m here to collect the supplies for my Demon-Subduing Guard rank.”
He gave a respectful salute, only to discover that Li Cunguang seemed to have fallen asleep. Even the hem of his clothing was stained with blood.
Hm? Could it be that Commandant Li had fought someone?
Could it be...
Lu Zhan suddenly recalled the Yuan Gang Realm senior Li Buran had mentioned earlier.
So that was it.
A hint of emotion rose in Lu Zhan’s heart. Li Cunguang truly treated him well.
“Oh, so it’s you, kid. These past few days, even an old man like me sitting in this out-of-the-way Storeroom has been hearing your name everywhere.”
“I really wasn’t wrong about you. You’ve brought honor to our Demon Extermination Bureau.”
“Hahaha!”
As he spoke, a trace of a smile appeared on Li Cunguang’s tired face, and he laughed heartily.
The Demon Extermination Bureau ought to have a strong jurisdiction head like this.
This was no longer thirty years ago.
People’s hearts had changed.
There would always be some who gave rise to thoughts they never should have entertained, and from there stepped onto the wrong path.
At times like that, a blade had to be hung over their heads.
A blade that would keep them from acting recklessly.
Lu Zhan was perfectly suited to that role.
“Originally, Old Zhao and I wanted to promote you directly to captain and assign the three jurisdictions around Peach Blossom Alley to you, but unfortunately some of the old fellows above disagreed.”
“They said your merits weren’t enough and your strength still fell short. They claimed that if you were promoted too quickly, the other jurisdiction heads would grow dissatisfied.”
“Hmph. If you ask me, they’re all a bunch of senile old fools. So what if the others are dissatisfied?”
“If they won’t do the job, there are plenty of others who will.”
“And if it really comes to it, then let anyone who refuses to accept it lay down a challenge, and you can just go teach them a lesson one by one.”
At the mention of this, Li Cunguang went on and on.
He was clearly very dissatisfied that his suggestion had been rejected above. Lu Zhan felt a little embarrassed. The old man really did think highly of him.
Captain-level positions were generally held by those in the late Aperture Opening Realm. With his current cultivation, he still had not reached the level Li Cunguang was talking about.
Still, Lu Zhan suddenly understood why he had become an Official Demon Exterminator so quickly.
There was no denying it. With someone above recommending you, promotion came fast.
“Thank you very much, Commandant Li.”
“But sooner or later, I’ll earn that captain’s position.”
Lu Zhan was full of confidence. From what he knew, becoming a captain also had a seniority requirement.
One needed to have joined the Demon Extermination Bureau for at least half a year. Those six months could be seen as the higher-ups’ evaluation of him.
But since even an Apprentice Demon Exterminator could be promoted ahead of schedule, there was no reason a captain’s position could not be handled the same way.
He believed that as long as his strength was sufficient, the road ahead would be green lights all the way.
“Lu Zhan, focus on cultivating. If you need anything, just tell me. Those pills and other resources in the Storeroom are only going to waste sitting there anyway.”
“Your Demon-Subduing Guard supplies were prepared for you long ago. Go take a look.”
Li Cunguang pointed toward the table in the corner, signaling for Lu Zhan to fetch them himself.
Lu Zhan looked over. One Marrow Cleansing Pill, ten Aperture Opening Pills, and twenty Qi-Gathering Pills.
“This...”
He remembered clearly that a Demon-Subduing Guard could only collect five Aperture Opening Pills and ten Qi-Gathering Pills each month.
“Well? Satisfied? From now on, this is the allotment you’ll receive. Full seven-insurance, three-fund benefits.”
“Heh, since the Storeroom is under this old man’s authority anyway, so what if they won’t give you the captain’s slot? Your resources definitely won’t be lacking.”
“It’s just a pity that the Marrow Cleansing Pill is far too precious. Every single one is recorded in detail. Otherwise, I’d have liked to give you a few more...”
By the end of it, Li Cunguang even sounded a little regretful.
The corner of Lu Zhan’s mouth twitched. The old man was unexpectedly adorable.
The Marrow Cleansing Pill was one of the benefits of becoming a Demon-Subduing Guard. Each person was limited to one.
This thing was even more precious than the Aperture Opening Pill.
It was transferred down directly from the provincial capital’s Demon Extermination Bureau and did not pass through the city branch, so even Li Cunguang was powerless to do anything about it.
Still, the Qi-Gathering Pills and Aperture Opening Pills were genuine benefits.
Lu Zhan thanked him again and solemnly declared, “Commandant Li, rest assured. Within three months, I will definitely enter the Divine Sea Realm!”
Lu Zhan had deliberately allowed himself a little extra time.
Li Cunguang burst into laughter when he heard this. It was more pleasing than any words of gratitude.
“One day to open apertures, three months to Divine Sea. If you really pull that off, every Demon Exterminator in Linhai City will be basking in your reflected glory.”
“But be careful lately. I’ve heard you provoked people from the Five Poisons Sect. If they truly dare sneak into your jurisdiction to stir up trouble, you have full authority to deal with them.”
Lu Zhan nodded. “Understood. Don’t worry, Commandant Li. No one is going to cause trouble on my turf.”
Li Cunguang nodded in satisfaction. He liked young men with that kind of decisiveness.
“Good. Go ahead and do it. As long as it’s lawful and within the rules, no matter who you offend, the Demon Extermination Bureau will stand behind you.”
After talking for a while longer, Lu Zhan headed toward the Scripture Pavilion. At his current realm, continuing to use Mortal Rank martial arts no longer gave him as much of an advantage.
That was true even though he had already trained his Mortal Rank martial arts to the Entering the Divine stage.
He checked his Contribution Points. Yesterday, for uprooting a Five Poisons Sect stronghold, he had been rewarded with 300 Contribution Points and 10 Merit Points.
In other words, Lu Zhan now possessed 303 Contribution Points and 17 Merit Points.
Three hundred Contribution Points were enough to exchange for a very decent martial art.
Inside the Scripture Pavilion, a book covered Zhao Jun’s face as he lounged leisurely in a rocking chair, humming a little tune.
The Scripture Pavilion was quiet, making it the perfect place to spend one’s old age.
Back then, Li Cunguang had coveted this position too, but in the end Zhao Jun had gotten it, so Li Cunguang had no choice but to settle for the Storeroom instead.
Later, however, Zhao Jun began to regret it.
The Scripture Pavilion was certainly peaceful, but there was not the slightest bit of extra benefit to be had here.
Whenever he thought of that, he could not help feeling annoyed.
“Commandant Zhao, I’m here to exchange for a martial art!”
A bespectacled young man suddenly stepped forward, holding out his identity token with an excited expression.
That was right. He had become official.
A full six months.
He had taken who knew how many missions, survived brushes with death more than once, and stumbled his way forward until he had finally become a Demon-Subduing Guard.
That was the good thing about the Demon Extermination Bureau. If you really dared risk your life, it truly dared to give you resources.
In just half a year, he had gone from the eighth layer of the Qi Condensation Realm all the way to the third layer of the Aperture Opening Realm.
If his talent were judged outside, he would unquestionably count as a genius.
But after joining the Demon Extermination Bureau, he had begun to feel rather ordinary.
“Go up to the second floor yourself. After being promoted to Demon-Subduing Guard, you can choose one Lower Spirit Rank martial art or cultivation method for free.”
“You have half an hour to choose. A piece of advice for you: if there are two manuals you both want, choose the latter.”
“Of course, if you can pay Contribution Points, then whatever cultivation method or martial art you want, this place has it.”
After giving a few pointers, Zhao Jun lay back down again.
“Yes, sir!”
Lu Zhan took out his token.
“Commandant Zhao, I’m here to choose a martial art.”
The moment Zhao Jun saw Lu Zhan, he perked right up.
Heh. That useless Li Cunguang could not even get hold of a single Marrow Cleansing Pill.
Wasn’t that mistreating a genius?
It seemed he would have to step in personally and make up for the Demon Extermination Bureau’s neglect of talent.