Start slaying demons from the proficiency panel.

Regardless of whether it is the lower three ranks, the middle three ranks, or the upper three ranks, there are all capable people who create their own cultivation methods.

The techniques created by lower-ranking experts are easy to learn, but their potential is limited. The techniques created by upper-ranking experts are obscure and difficult to comprehend, but their power is extraordinary.

Based on merit, any Demon Subduing Officer can choose the corresponding grade of cultivation technique in the Three Saints Hall according to their merit.

As soon as Ning Xiu arrived at the Three Saints Hall, before even entering the hall, he began searching for the figure of the old man from last time.

He soon discovered that the old man was dozing off on a cool chair behind the main hall door.

As everyone knows, the most powerful person in a temple is not the abbot, but the sweeping monk.

Therefore, Ning Xiu had reason to suspect that this old gentleman was likely a reclusive master from the Demon Subduing Division.

This time, I'll have to ask you, the expert, to help me choose the right hammering technique.

"gentlemen."

Hearing the noise, the old man slowly opened his eyes, his expression still somewhat sleepy.

After seeing Ning Xiu standing next to him, he came to his senses and asked, "What's the matter?"

Ning Xiu clasped his hands in thanks: "Last time, the old gentleman recommended that I cultivate the Great Sun Profound Scripture. Recently, I have made some progress in this technique and have come to deeply appreciate its power. So I came here specifically to thank you, sir."

“The Great Sun Mystic Scripture…” The old man, who had been somewhat bewildered, perked up and picked up a teacup from the small table next to him, saying, “It’s you. What kind of cultivation method do you want to choose today?”

"Sir, you've worked hard. Please recommend the door hammer technique to me."

"Hmm..." The old man stroked his beard and began to think. Ning Xiu was not in a hurry and stood quietly to the side.

Soon, the old man gave his recommendation.

"The hammer is a powerful weapon. If your ambition is to resist the demon kingdom on the front lines, you can choose the Shaking Mountain Hammer Technique, which focuses on breaking through enemy lines with a single point. Once mastered, it will be no problem for you to fight against a thousand soldiers single-handedly."

However, if you frequently travel for missions, you should choose the Five-Fold Hammer Force. Once mastered, this hammer technique contains five layers of force in each swing. Some say:

The first impact kills an ox; the second shatters a mountain; the third severs rivers; the fourth guarantees death; the fifth leaves even immortals sighing in despair.

"Hammer techniques have different uses. Only by using them in the most suitable places can a martial art unleash its true power. How can a killing technique kill chickens and ducks? Assassination techniques are useless for sparring. It depends on your own choice. The hammer techniques are all placed on the sixteenth bookshelf from the left in the Seventh Hall. Go and choose for yourself," the old man said.

"Thank you for the recommendation, sir. I understand." Ning Xiu nodded and then walked into the depths of the Three Saints Hall.

Watching his retreating figure, the old man's previously indifferent expression suddenly turned into one of relief.

"A martial arts prodigy."

……

Upon arriving at the bookshelf the old man had mentioned, Ning Xiu had already made up his mind and simply reached out and took down the "Fivefold Hammer Force" book from the shelf.

It must be said that the old man's description of this hammer technique was indeed quite enticing.

Ning Xiu turned his head and looked around, but did not see the figure of Master Heshan. Only then did he open the book and begin to read.

“It has been a while since anyone sent a message of peace back from Yunxia Mountain. I heard that the people there often preach Buddhism to passersby. Some wandering peddlers have also disappeared after going to Yunxia Mountain. My master found this strange and asked me to go to Yunxia Mountain to take a look.”

"Isn't Master Chanhui of Dalingyin Temple overseeing Yunxia Mountain? There shouldn't be any problems, right? He's a fourth-rank Buddhist and Taoist high monk."

"Better safe than sorry. Yunxia Mountain is a dangerous and remote place. It's best to go there in person to confirm."

"How about this, I'll go with you then, and we'll find a few colleagues who aren't on missions, that way we'll be safer."

From the other end of the bookshelf, the sound of two people whispering could be heard.

Ning Xiu pushed aside the bookshelf and peeked through the gap, only to see two Iron Horse Demon-Subduing Guards opposite him.

One of them had a shiny bald head, clearly indicating he was a Buddhist or Taoist.

Having been a member of the Demon Subduing Division for so long, this was the first time Ning Xiu had ever seen a Buddhist or Taoist monk in person. The previous owner of the house where he lived did not count, as he had already passed away.

Ning Xiu even recognized the other Demon Subduer, Ren Qianxing, an eighth-rank Puppet Master.

"Brother Ren," Ning Xiu greeted through the gap.

"Brother Ning!" Ren Qianxing clearly hadn't expected to run into Ning Xiu in such a place.

"What a coincidence, Brother Ren, what cultivation technique did you come to the Three Saints Hall to look for today?" Ning Xiu asked with a smile as he walked to the other side of the bookshelf with his book in hand.

If He Yunlang hadn't had that incident, Ning Xiu would have had a good friend in the Demon Subduing Division with whom he could chat and drink.

He doesn't know many people in the Demon Subduing Division, so when he runs into someone he does know, he naturally has to say hello.

"A technique for making puppets. Brother Ning, let me introduce it to you. This is Monk Zhengwu, a seventh-rank Buddhist or Taoist monk."

“Benefactor Ning.” Zhengwu immediately clasped his hands together and bowed to Ning Xiu.

The skin exposed outside the monk's robe showed a golden hue, clearly indicating that the person had achieved some level of Buddhist or Taoist golden body cultivation.

Once one advances to the sixth rank of Buddhism or Taoism, this golden aura will become even more noticeable and more resilient.

"Greetings, Brother Zhengwu." Ning Xiu clasped his hands in greeting.

Upon hearing his address, Ren Qianxing couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Your address is quite strange. It's the first time I've ever heard it. Just call him Zhengwu."

"That's fine too." Ning Xiu nodded.

Thinking back to when Ning Xiu was in Wendeng County, he had single-handedly killed four demons who broke into the prison, showing that he was not weak.

Ren Qianxing then asked, "Brother Ning, do you currently have any missions assigned by the team leader?"

"No, for now. After all, I just returned from Wendeng County, as you know, Brother Ren."

"That's great." Ren Qianxing patted Zhengwu on the shoulder: "Zhengwu is a monk from Dalingyin Temple. Recently, his master wanted to send him to Yunxia Mountain to visit the Venerable Chanhui, who is in charge there."

This isn't an internal task, so I can't ask the team leader to send reinforcements. I'm worried about the safety of Yunxia Mountain, so I was thinking of finding a few colleagues to accompany Zhengwu there. Since Brother Ning doesn't have any missions, could you please lend a hand?"

Ning Xiu asked, "When will we set off?"

Zhengwu replied, "Three days later. Although my master did not specify a date, it is not advisable to delay any longer."

"Alright, then I'll accompany you two."

Ren Qianxing clasped his hands in thanks: "Then thank you very much, Brother Ning. If you ever need anything in the future, just let me know, and Zhengwu and I will be happy to help you."

"You're welcome."

Yunxia Mountain is located two thousand miles east of Chaotiandu. It is a mountainous area with steep terrain and is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round.

If you want to go there, it's quite far; it won't take more than a few days to get there.

Nestled in the Yunxia Mountains are eighteen villages, each connected by mountain paths that allow for travel between them.

The village has two hundred people, and according to the rule issued by the Demon Subduing Bureau, each town and county must have a master of the sixth rank or above stationed there.

The combined population of the eighteen villages in Yunxia Mountain is comparable to that of a town or county. According to the rules, Yunxia Mountain must also send a master of at least the third rank to protect them.

To prevent the local people from being harmed by evil spirits and demons.

The highly accomplished Chan monk, a fourth-rank Buddhist and Taoist master, was sent by Dalingyin Temple to Yunxia Mountain twenty years ago to establish a Buddhist temple and oversee the local area.

For the past twenty years, the Venerable Zen Master Hui has sent his disciples back with a letter every month to report that he is safe and well. However, for some reason, no letter has arrived in the past month.

Zhengwu's master, the eminent monk Chanjue, felt something was amiss and asked Zhengwu to go and take a look.

The monk Zhengwu is a seventh-grade Buddhist and Taoist cultivator with a golden body protecting him. For him to personally undertake this kind of investigation mission is a waste of his talents, even within the Demon Subduing Division.

When strange things happen in a certain place, the Demon Subduing Bureau usually sends out a Demon Subduing Captain of the eighth or ninth rank to investigate.

Only after it is determined that the incident is caused by evil spirits or demons will the Copper Leopard Demon-Subduing Captain lead a team to kill them.

Yunxia Mountain was too remote. Ren Qianxing and Zhengwu were good friends who had known each other since the Champion Camp. Ren Qianxing was worried about Zhengwu going there alone.

That's when I thought of inviting my colleagues from the Demon Extermination Bureau to help me complete this investigation.

With a team consisting of the seventh-rank Buddhist monk Zhengwu, the eighth-rank puppeteer Ren Qianxing, and the seventh-rank martial artist Ning Xiu, the personnel configuration is quite excellent.

However, Ren Qianxing joined the Demon Subduing Division a year or two earlier than Ning Xiu, so he must have made many friends, and the team's roster will obviously grow.

However, Ning Xiu didn't need to worry about that. After obtaining the "Fivefold Hammer Force" from the book, he immediately left the Three Saints Hall and headed straight for the Demon Suppression Prison.

Right now, the most important thing is to quickly develop martial arts skills.

That day, Su Qianqian selected me to join the Sixth Bronze Leopard Team, and I could no longer comfortably stay in the Demon Suppression Prison every day to execute evil spirits and gain general proficiency.

Although Ning Xiu felt some regret, he didn't feel too much remorse.

Joining the Demon Subduing Division to protect the people and slay demons was his initial idea.

As a Demon Slayer, you can eliminate evil spirits outside. In your spare time, you can also help out at the Demon Suppression Prison if you wish, and no one will say anything to you.

Upon arriving at the familiar Demon Suppression Prison again, Ning Xiu felt a strong sense of familiarity and went straight to the head jailer, intending to request about a hundred cells to execute evil spirits.

Now that I've already reached the seventh rank of martial arts, you can't keep finding those reasons to restrict me.

【038】The Ghostly Path to Immortality

Because the Demon Suppression Prison is located underground and never sees the light of day, those who stay there for a long time all have a distinctive characteristic.

That is, the skin is deathly pale, and the blood vessels and veins are clearly visible.

When Ning Xiu found the head jailer in the hall, he noticed that the man looked extremely haggard, as he hadn't seen him for some time.

With dark purple eye circles and a deathly pale complexion, he truly embodied that saying.

'Like a ghost'

"Uncle, what happened to you? If you really couldn't withstand the evil energy entering your body, you should have applied to be transferred out of the Demon Suppression Prison instead of staying here and stubbornly enduring it," Ning Xiu said in surprise.

"Get lost! I'm a sixth-grade healer, and you're telling me I can't withstand demonic energy entering my body?" the jailer retorted immediately.

But at that moment, he noticed Ning Xiu's cultivation level, and his expression instantly turned to surprise and shock.

"You, you've reached the seventh rank of martial arts?"

Ning Xiu smiled and said, "That's right."

"It hasn't been that long, less than half a month, and you've already had some kind of epiphany?"

There is indeed such a thing as enlightenment in martial arts, but the conditions for using it are very strict and the cost-effectiveness is very low, so it is rarely seen that anyone uses it.

When someone experiences a sudden enlightenment, they lose all of their internal energy, and when that energy is transferred to another person, only one or two tenths of it will remain.

Therefore, martial arts masters usually only pass on their skills to their most beloved descendants in the clan when they are about to pass away.

In other circumstances, most martial artists would never be willing to do that.