Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 56: What I Saw and Heard at the Demon-Slaying Division (Please read on, and give me your monthly votes!)

Beast hunters are cannon fodder.

Many die in the wild every day, and even more join the fight.

People came and went, but Liu Sheng's appearance did not cause any commotion.

At most, someone might glance at him out of curiosity.

Upon arriving, Liu Sheng resolved to listen without speaking, but after a while, he found that most of the conversation was about what had happened at the Xu family's house the previous night.

After all, so many people died in one night, almost wiping out entire families, and there were even some scandalous rumors...

It's exciting and thrilling enough.

Besides that, what these old men talked about most was the newly arrived Demon-Subduing General and the dozen or so Demon-Slaying Captains.

From their conversation, Liu Sheng gained a preliminary understanding of the current situation of the Demon Suppression Division in Shanyang County.

General Xie Bao, who subdues demons and manifests sainthood, possesses unfathomable strength. Since entering the city, he has been stationed in the Fourth Courtyard and rarely shows his face.

His thirteen demon-slaying captains all possessed the cultivation level of the fourth realm of true form, and had profound backgrounds, being either descendants of famous families or disciples of major sects.

Below them were over a hundred demon-hunting warriors, whose cultivation levels were generally at the Internal Organs Realm.

Occasionally there are a few at the Bone and Tendon Realm, but they either have special talents or amazing combat power, no less than that of the Internal Organs Martial Master.

Before the massacre at the county government office, the strongest force in the Shanyang County Demon Suppression Division was only a single demon-slaying captain.

In just a few days, the strength of the Demon-Slaying Division of Shanyang County...

It has expanded more than tenfold!
This gives a glimpse into the profound foundation of the Great Yu Dynasty.

"Such a grand display, all for dealing with Master..."

Liu Sheng lowered his eyelids, somewhat worried about his master.

The imperial court dispatched 300,000 troops to blockade Black Wind Mountain, and also sent eight great demon-subduing generals to lead troops to search the mountains and seas, vowing to capture Wu Song!

Deep within Black Wind Mountain, monsters roam freely, and those resembling giant frogs are not uncommon…

Master, you're all alone with your sword, and you've lost an arm. Can you manage?
Oh, he killed a demon-slaying captain at the True Form Realm with a single strike...

That's fine.

At this moment, the conversation of the three beast hunters nearby caught Liu Sheng's attention—

"...Captain Luo and the others have returned. Of the beast hunters who went with them...only two are still alive, more than a dozen lives have been lost!"

"...Captain Feng is doing better; four of them returned safely."

"Sigh, I've seen through it all. In the eyes of these adults, we beast hunters aren't even human..."

"The worst off was Captain Du's team. They encountered monsters both times they entered the mountains, and were almost wiped out. Even their demon-hunting warriors were reduced to only three."

"Shh, keep your voice down! She's a highly skilled disciple of Shuiyue Nunnery, known as the Blood-Handed Guanyin! If she hears you..."

Blood-Hand Guanyin, a senior disciple of Shuiyue Nunnery?
Liu Sheng's eyelids twitched, and he glanced at the figure standing outside the door with a dark complexion, his expression strange.

This was an extremely beautiful female martial artist, with jet-black hair, exquisite features, a tall stature, long legs, wearing a captain-level armor of the hundred-forged fish scales, chains wrapped around her arms, and a fierce look on her face.

At this moment, he was staring at the three beast hunters with an unfriendly expression.

Liu Sheng remembered her…

That day, when General Xie Bao, the Demon Subduer, entered the city, he was one of the three female generals riding on the back of the Great Cloud Eagle.

Unexpectedly, my luck was so bad. Both times I went into the mountains, I encountered monsters, and all my men were killed, leaving only three demon hunters...

It's important to know that in the Demon Extermination Bureau, each Demon Extermination Captain is responsible for eight demon-catching warriors!

This woman is poisonous!

Leave immediately!

Liu Sheng kept his eyes down, his mind focused, and subtly shifted his feet, inching to the side.

A dignified demon-slaying captain, who should be stationed in the third courtyard, is appearing in the first courtyard. Combining this with the information previously heard, a reasonable guess is...

Her purpose in coming was most likely to be—

Picky people!

Sure enough, she paused at the door and led three demon-hunting warriors inside.

In an instant, the entire mission room fell silent.

All the hunters wisely kept quiet, while some of the more shrewd ones had shifty eyes.

Just then, a demon-hunting warrior behind the beautiful captain suddenly stepped forward, pointed to three beast hunters, and coldly snorted:

"You, you, and you, just now you were speaking ill of Lord Du behind his back. What is your punishment?"

Liu Sheng paused, glancing out of the corner of his eye, and saw that the three beast hunters who had been discussing Captain Du earlier were now deathly pale, their lips trembling, and devoid of any color…

So scared!

After stammering for a long time, he could only offer a broken, halting explanation:

"I...we...no..." The demon hunter sneered.
"No? You mean, Lord Du, and the rest of us, have all lost our hearing?"

Or are we deliberately framing the three of you?

These words are quite malicious.

No matter how you answer, it's wrong; it's a suicide question.

It's clearly a deliberate attempt to make things difficult.

"Pfft!"

Unable to withstand the pressure, the three hunters knelt down and kowtowed, saying they deserved to die.

As a result, Liu Sheng, standing next to them, became particularly conspicuous.

The beast hunters on both sides, as well as Captain Du and her demon-hunting warriors, all looked over.

"No, why are you all looking at me? I didn't say anything!"

Liu Sheng's eye twitched, and he looked down at his toes, remaining silent.

I can't see it, I can't see it, I can't see it.

At this moment, the beautiful captain gave her subordinate a wink, and the demon-hunting warrior immediately nodded and said:

"Lord Du will not stoop to your level, but while you may be spared the death penalty, you will not escape punishment. How about you join our team and serve Lord Du?"

Now that things have been said this way, who would dare to refuse?

So the three hunters got up with long faces, looking as if they had lost their parents, extremely dejected.

"Qi and Blood Realm?"

At this moment, the demon hunter looked at Liu Sheng again, but then shook his head and looked away.

Although Commandant Du suffered heavy losses, he only recruited elite troops, such as those at the Qi and Blood Realm...

Following them into Black Wind Mountain would only be a burden and a waste of their spots.

Finally, Captain Du and his group selected twenty beast hunters, gave them some instructions, and then left.

Those selected are all martial artists at the Bone and Tendon Realm.

"So, I wasn't selected because my cultivation level was low?"

Liu Sheng slowly raised his head, unsure whether to feel fortunate or depressed.

Ultimately, their strength was too weak, and they were underestimated.

Fortunately, in three to five days, the blood and energy will be able to fill the entire left arm.

He twisted his left hand, mentally estimating that at this rate…

In about ten days to half a month, he will be able to achieve perfect Qi and Blood and break through to the Bone and Tendon Realm.

According to what his master said that night, once he enters the Bone and Tendon Realm, he can complete the third refinement in two or three months at most and try to break through the Internal Organs Realm.

Because he possesses innate talents such as copper skin and iron bones, tiger bones, and python tendons.

The results that others achieve after practicing for ten, twenty, or even a lifetime...

He already possessed it at the Qi and Blood Realm.

I stayed in the mission room for two hours, during which several teams of demon-slaying captains came to select replacements.

Compared to the various delays and reluctances they showed when being selected by Captain Du, the beast hunters were quite enthusiastic, even fanatical.

After all, most people choose to become beast hunters in order to accumulate enough battle merits and advance to the rank of demon hunter.

Unfortunately, the selection process for these demon-slaying captains was extremely rigorous; they wouldn't even glance at anyone without a Tendon and Bone Realm cultivation level.

After understanding the situation, Liu Sheng didn't go any closer, lest he make a fool of himself.

There is actually another way to join the demon-slaying captains.

According to Old He, if a beast hunter accumulates a thousand minor merits, he can apply to his desired demon-slaying captain.

Once you pass the assessment, you can join the captain's team.

So how much is one thousand small merits?
Take a task posted in the task room as an example...

Annihilating a den of alien-level moon wolves will earn you fifty minor merits.

Killing a fox demon of the spirit level will earn you 400 minor merits.

Basically, beast hunters always hunt in groups; they rarely act alone.

"Take it slow. Use this time to reflect and improve your cultivation."

Liu Sheng stayed a while longer, then accepted a task and left.

Sanhe Village, a nest of a strange species of rat?

(End of this chapter)