The Heavenly Court is gone, I don't want to be a True Lord.

"Could it be that the imperial court has already captured a ferocious beast's lair, and completely figured out its rules, using it as a stable resource spawn point?"

That's not right either. Such a large output of demon essences must at least be from a spirit nest. Even if you understand the rules, it's not so easy to deal with. There must be experts with Qi and Blood above the level stationed there.

Sending out such experts just to hunt down demons and obtain their essence seems like a terrible deal.

Zuo Qi couldn't figure it out, so he simply gave up trying to think about it.

Transformed into emotionless mission machines, although they did not develop any informants, He Xiao's command of the alien species made their intelligence extraordinary. They were able to conduct reconnaissance on the red ground, had a keen sense of smell, and even had birds flying overhead, making them a veritable inescapable net.

In one month, Zuo Qi and his two companions hunted down four groups of bandits, earning 2,300 merit points.

Zuo Qi was extremely cautious every time he left the city. He knew that he had come under the watchful eyes of the Xu family and the higher-ups of the happy Cult. Xu Jiang of the Xu family and Wang He of the happy Cult both held positions of some influence within their respective spheres of influence.

Unexpectedly, the two forces seemed to have completely forgotten about him, rarely appearing. In fact, during this period, Zuo Qi did not encounter any members of the Xu family in the city.

This puzzled him greatly.

They appeared frequently a while ago, looking like they were about to start an uprising, but recently they've disappeared without a trace, acting like a model citizen.

"Lost dogs are all madmen; their brains work differently than humans."

That's the only conclusion he could reach.

Zuo Qi's cultivation progressed quite smoothly. The fourth training of Qi cultivation was different from the previous three trainings. Qi and blood transformed into strength. Cultivating different techniques required Qi and blood to travel along different meridians to fully stabilize the Great Circulation. At the same time, it was necessary to open up the Qi Sea.

Zuo Qi practiced the Jade Tower Technique, with his Qi Sea located at the location of the Great Dragon of the Spine. During this time, he had been working on opening up the Qi channels in his body.

The Jade Tower Technique requires opening twelve meridians and stabilizing three or more to transform the body's Qi and blood into Jade Tower Qi.

This process cannot be rushed. He needs to constantly test the strength that his meridians can withstand and supplement the meridians in some weak areas.

Finally, after confirming that the body's meridians can withstand the condensed energy of qi and blood, one can then attempt to break through the barrier.

Zuo Qi had taken Tongluo Xuanlian, so this process would be much faster than for the average person.

However, there was something that piqued Zuo Qi's interest.

The Taizhou Six Doors (a government agency) holds a martial arts exchange event, which happens to be held in Fushan City this year. It is usually attended by officers of the rank of General Flag Officer. If one wins the championship, one can be directly promoted to Hundred-Household Officer. In addition, the Six Doors will offer prizes, including martial arts skills and elixirs.

He came from humble beginnings and had little background, so he naturally didn't want to miss such an opportunity.

……

The next day.

early morning.

The streets were bustling with people, even more so than before.

Many men and women dressed in government uniforms walked on the street.

Zuo Qi and Lin Yujun, holding umbrellas, walked down the street like ordinary people.

"There are so many people today."

"The Six Doors from various regions send people to exchange ideas every year. This year's venue is in Fushan City, which is why there are so many talented people here."

The two listened to the conversations of passersby.

Zuo Qi asked, "Yu Jun, I haven't asked yet, but why do they all say you can't cultivate?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yujun's cheeks flushed instantly, and she became quite shy. "They said... girls with big breasts can't stand in the stance for long, it's very tiring, and my older sister doesn't want me to be too tired."

Zuo Qi glanced subconsciously at the girl's bulging chest and was speechless for a moment.

To be so well-developed at sixteen is truly a gift.

He had previously examined Lin Yujun's attributes, which were no different from those of an ordinary person. He believed that cultivation was possible, but it would require enduring a lot of hardship.

"My older sister said that martial arts cultivation is very difficult and tiring. Only when one's Qi and blood are perfected can one extend their lifespan by several decades. I don't want to spend my whole life just cultivating..."

Lin Yujun herself saw things very clearly.

Zuo Qi smiled. "You're quite clever."

Although martial arts cultivation is a process of continuously strengthening one's vitality, strong vitality means that any activity requires a great deal of energy. Except for some martial artists who cultivate techniques such as breath control and do not fight with others for decades, only by achieving the Yuan Tai (original embryo) and having no leaks in life can lifespan be greatly increased.

After walking for a while, Zuo Qi bought some snacks and desserts for the two of them, and Lin Yujun ate them very happily.

Zuo Qi is also one.

Upon arriving at Wei Zhenzhen's Huanyu Restaurant, the diners inside were discussing the exchange between the Six Doors from various regions and the Six Doors in Fushan City.

These people have lived in Fushan City for many years and know a lot about exchanges.

The exchange meeting will focus on communication, but there will also be some competitions.

Martial arts competitions are common in today's world where martial arts are flourishing. There are internal competitions among sects in the martial arts world, as well as exchange meetings with sects outside. There are also similar activities in the imperial army.

The Six Doors enjoy the best resources of the current government offices, so martial arts competitions are naturally held there as well.

"A peerless genius has emerged from the Six Doors of Shoucheng. At the age of twenty-seven, he is at the peak of the third level of cultivation, and it is rumored that he is only one step away from the fourth level."

"There's also a genius in the prefectural city, possessing a life-bound bone. Not long ago, he even withstood several blows from a fourth-level master without being defeated!"

Zuo Qi was speechless. He was very curious about where these seemingly knowledgeable strangers got their information from.

Most of the time, the information was released by the local government offices themselves.

……

The next day.

Zuo Qi received news that Lu Xun wanted to see the three of them.

Although they had already been marked with Lu Xun's mark, this was the first time they had met Lu Xun.

Upon arriving at the city magistrate's mansion, I presented my token and was quickly led inside.

This is a rather grand council hall, where, in addition to Lu Xun, the co-prefect, there is also Tang Yu, the commander of the Six Doors.

Lu Xun's gaze fell on Zuo Qi, a smile on his face. "Finally, I've met the promising young talent that Wan'er and Yu Chan praised so highly. He's quite handsome."

Zuo Qi and the other two clasped their hands in greeting, "Greetings, Comrade Shou."

Lu Xun smiled kindly, "Tang Qianhu has already told me what the three of you have been doing lately, and it's been good."

Commander Tang replied with a smile, "My comrade asked me if you could be promoted. You have enough merit, but unfortunately you lack seniority."

Zuo Qi simply smiled and did not speak.

Since these two have brought up the matter of promotion, they certainly won't leave it at that; they must already have a plan.

"Right now, there's an opportunity. You know about the internal exchange meeting between the various prefectures of Taizhou and the Tian Ce Prefecture, right?"

"As the saying goes, there is no first place in literature, but there is no second place in martial arts. In the end, the exchange meeting is just a chance for young talents from all over the country to show themselves. Whether they go to other places to investigate cases or exchange for local demon essences, they will be able to do so more smoothly in the future."

People with a big reputation find it easier to get things done, no matter where they are.

"I just discussed with Commander Tang that, as is customary, the winner of the internal martial arts competition will usually be promoted one rank in addition to the reward given by the government. If you, Zuo Qi, can come out on top in this internal martial arts competition, I will propose that you be promoted exceptionally. With your previous merits, it will not be difficult for you to become a centurion directly."

Zuo Qi's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Directly promoted to a seventh-rank centurion?

That's a bit difficult, isn't it?

In the imperial court, seniority is a very important factor. I have only been a member of the Six Doors for less than half a year, yet I am about to be promoted to a centurion?

Of course, with his three training sessions, becoming a centurion would be somewhat of a stretch, and he would also encounter a lot of jealousy.

嗏

The benefits that a centurion could gain from working within the Six Doors were self-evident. For one thing, the number of items available to centurions in the treasury increased significantly.

"Don't be careless. I heard that some very good young people have come this year. Don't let me and Commander Tang down."

"yes!"

In fact, after learning about the reward, Zuo Qi planned to go all out.

The exquisite pills, crafted by the master alchemists of the prefecture, can help people break through the fourth level of cultivation. You can also choose three profound-level martial arts techniques from the prefecture's treasury.

Such a reward…

A grand gesture.

……

Lu Xun said that there might be martial artists with life bones among the participants in the competition. In order to avoid failure, Zuo Qi planned to use some of his blood and qi to nourish his fire. When he used the secret technique of fire absorption in combination with the Dragon-Slaying Halberd Technique, it would be difficult for outsiders to tell.

This is where he can still increase his combat strength, so he naturally cannot give it up.

……

In the Tian Ce Mansion.

As the commanders of the Six Doors from various places continued to arrive, thirteen fifth-level commanders had gathered in just two days.

No master of the level of suppressing evil appeared.

Therefore, Du Youxin naturally took the first seat.

"The Xu family has been quite restless lately. The demon nest in Baoyue Lake in the city is most likely a backup plan left by the Xu family. The purpose of inviting you all here today is not only to exchange ideas, but also to ask you all to lend a hand when necessary and work together to stabilize the demon nest in Baoyue Lake."

Upon hearing this, the commanders replied, "It's our duty, Commander Du, you're too kind."