Chapter 1

"Brother Shen!"

"Hmm!"

Shen Changqing walked down the road, greeting or nodding to those he knew. However, no matter who it was, everyone's face lacked any extra expression, as if they were indifferent to everything.

Shen Changqing had long become accustomed to this. This was the Demon Suppression Bureau, an institution that maintained the stability of the Great Qin, with the primary duty of slaying demons and monsters, though it also had some other secondary roles.

It could be said that in the Demon Suppression Bureau, every person's hands were stained with much blood. When one becomes accustomed to life and death, they become indifferent to many things.

When Shen Changqing first arrived in this world, he was somewhat unaccustomed, but over time, he got used to it.

The Demon Suppression Bureau was large. Those who could stay in the Demon Suppression Bureau were either powerful experts or those with the potential to become experts. Shen Changqing belonged to the latter.

The Demon Suppression Bureau was divided into two professions: the Guardian and the Demon Slayer. Anyone entering the Demon Suppression Bureau started as a low-level Demon Slayer and then gradually advanced, with the ultimate goal of becoming a Guardian.

Shen Changqing's predecessor was a trainee Demon Slayer, the lowest rank among Demon Slayers.

The Demon Suppression Bureau was neither too large nor too small. But with the memories of his predecessor, he was very familiar with the environment of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Without taking too long, Shen Changqing stopped in front of a pavilion. Unlike the other places in the Demon Suppression Bureau, which were filled with a sense of solemnity, this pavilion stood out, presenting a different kind of tranquility amidst the bloodshed.

The pavilion's door was wide open, and people occasionally entered and exited. Shen Changqing hesitated for a moment and then stepped inside.

Upon entering the pavilion, the environment changed abruptly. A mix of the scent of ink and a faint smell of blood hit him, causing his brows to instinctively furrow, but he quickly relaxed.

Everyone in the Demon Suppression Bureau had their hands stained with much blood. The smell of blood was almost impossible to wash off. To stay in the Demon Suppression Bureau, one had to get used to the blood. This was true for everyone, including Shen Changqing.

"Trainee Demon Slayer Shen Changqing of the Yellow Department requests entry to the Library!"

"Hmm."

An old man sitting at the entrance, who had been dozing off, opened his weary eyes. A faint glint of blood flashed in his eyes and then disappeared.

At that moment, Shen Changqing felt a sharp edge on his back, making his hair stand on end. If not for his strong mental fortitude, he would have turned and fled at that moment.

However, Shen Changqing understood that the person guarding the library was a powerful figure in the Demon Suppression Bureau. The sense of danger he felt was just a slight leakage of the person's aura.

"Show your identity token."

"Please inspect it!"

"Trainee Demon Slayers have the right to enter the first floor of the library, with a stay limit of two hours. Do not overstay."

"Thank you!"

Shen Changqing put the token back, and the old man closed his eyes, seemingly falling back asleep. Without paying much attention, Shen Changqing walked past the old man and entered the library.

The rules of the Demon Suppression Bureau were not many, but breaking any of them could result in death. One of the rules was not to pry into others' privacy or be overly curious.

Over the years, many Demon Slayers had been killed for prying into others' affairs out of curiosity.

Although mutual killing was strictly prohibited in the Demon Suppression Bureau, killing someone did not necessarily require direct action. Many people in the Demon Suppression Bureau, though not mad, could be impulsive and violent. Once enraged, they might kill without hesitation.

Although Shen Changqing had been in the Demon Suppression Bureau for about five days and had not seen such an example, his predecessor had been there for about a month and had heard of such cases.

As someone who inherited the predecessor's memories, Shen Changqing was very cautious about this.

The library was where the Demon Suppression Bureau stored martial arts techniques. To combat demons and monsters, ordinary human strength was insufficient. Only by practicing advanced martial arts could one have the ability to fight against them.

Thus, the library's existence was to help the people of the Demon Suppression Bureau improve their strength as much as possible. Since the Demon Suppression Bureau was an institution that protected the Great Qin, it needed to cultivate enough experts.

Therefore, there were no strict requirements for studying the martial arts in the library. As long as one had an identity token, they could enter and exit the library freely without any additional fees.

However, to prevent some people from staying in the library to avoid missions or becoming experts in martial arts with no combat experience, the Demon Suppression Bureau set rules limiting the time and frequency of visits to the library.

The first floor of the library was large. When Shen Changqing arrived, there were already many people browsing the books.

Some he recognized, and some he did not. The Demon Suppression Bureau was vast, and new members came and went frequently. Despite his predecessor staying for a month, he only knew a few people.

No one noticed Shen Changqing's arrival. Everyone was using their limited time to memorize the martial arts they needed to practice.

Shen Changqing did not pay attention to others. He went to a bookshelf and skillfully pulled out a book from the neatly arranged books.

The book had a few large characters on it: "Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique!"

The characters were unique to the Great Qin, very different from the characters Shen Changqing knew from his previous life. However, with the predecessor's memories, he could understand the text without difficulty.

Taking out the "Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique," Shen Changqing sat cross-legged next to the bookshelf and quietly read the book.

Time passed. Two hours quickly went by. Shen Changqing put the book back and stood up to leave.

As he left, the old man guarding the library opened his weary eyes and then closed them again.

At that moment, Shen Changqing felt the sharp edge on his back again, making him quicken his pace.

Soon, he returned to his residence. Once one entered the Demon Suppression Bureau, they were a part of it for life, with no possibility of leaving.

Therefore, every person in the Demon Suppression Bureau, even the lowest-ranked Demon Slayer, received exceptional treatment. For example, Shen Changqing's current residence was an independent courtyard with wooden dummies, stone locks, and other training tools.

After returning to his residence, he did not immediately start practicing but focused his mind—

Name: Shen Changqing

Organization: Great Qin Demon Suppression Bureau

Identity: Trainee Demon Slayer

Martial Arts: Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique (Not yet mastered, can be improved)

Kills: 3

"Success!"

Seeing the "can be improved" on the panel, Shen Changqing's face lit up with a smile.

The reason he had the confidence to stay in the Demon Suppression Bureau after arriving in this world was because he discovered his "golden finger" ability.

A simple and ordinary-looking panel, but Shen Changqing understood that this was the foundation for his future in this world.

Without hesitation, he focused his mind on the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique and silently said, "Improve!"

As he thought, his kill value decreased by one, and the "Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique" text twisted violently, changing from "Not yet mastered" to "First Level."

At the same time, a powerful force rose from Shen Changqing's body, causing his blood to surge and his bones to crackle as if under intense pressure.

Before he could react, the pressure intensified, affecting his internal organs.

"Spit!"

Shen Changqing spat out a mouthful of black blood, his face contorted in sudden pain.

But soon, the pain disappeared, replaced by an unprecedented sense of comfort, thoroughly cleansing his body.

"Phew!"

The comfort made Shen Changqing forget the discomfort he had just experienced. Regaining his composure, he stood in place, moved his limbs, and began to adapt to his new body after the breakthrough.

"My strength and speed have improved, though not by much. But it won't be too difficult to defeat my pre-breakthrough self!"

"But the main purpose of the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique is to enhance physical defense."

"Having successfully improved to the first level, my physical defense should have improved more than my strength and speed, but it's still far from being able to withstand blades and swords."

After moving around, Shen Changqing pinched his skin. The color hadn't changed, but the resilience had significantly increased.

This level of improvement satisfied him.

"Indeed, only by truly mastering a martial art can one truly begin to practice it. Practicing halfway through will only harm oneself and others."

Thinking of how his predecessor died from the backlash of practicing the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique without fully understanding it, Shen Changqing shook his head in frustration.

Too impulsive!

Without fully understanding the technique, he practiced it and died. It was his own fault.

Soon, Shen Changqing focused his mind again, turning his attention to the panel—

Name: Shen Changqing

Organization: Great Qin Demon Suppression Bureau

Identity: Trainee Demon Slayer

Martial Arts: Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique (First Level, can be improved)

Kills: 2

"Improving the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique to the first level only cost one kill point. It seems the cost of improving martial arts is lower than I expected. This way, my strength can improve significantly in a short time."

Shen Changqing was very satisfied. Without wasting time, he focused his mind again and began the next round of improvement.