Chapter 5

"The Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique is divided into thirteen levels, and many official demon hunters will perfect this martial art.

Compared to official demon hunters, I still have a significant gap."

Despite his breakthrough, Chen Changqing did not dare to be arrogant or complacent.

At the sixth level of the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique, he could only show off his prowess in front of apprentice demon hunters. To compare himself with official demon hunters, he simply did not have the qualifications.

He gathered his thoughts and focused his gaze on the flesh and blood inside the cell.

After confirming that the other side could no longer provide him with slaughter points, Chen Changqing moved on to the next cell.

The next cell.

Inside, it contained the remains of a demon.

But unlike the arm and flesh from the previous cells, this one held an eye.

A dark green eye.

The moment Chen Changqing saw the eye, he found himself immersed in the environment.

A terrifying demon was charging at him, and an overwhelming fear surged from the depths of his heart, urging his body to flee.

But just as he lifted his foot, Chen Changqing suddenly came to his senses.

"I am in the Demon Suppression Prison!"

"In the Demon Suppression Prison, all demons and monsters are sealed. How could a demon attack me here!"

"Besides, if a demon really attacked, with my current strength, I wouldn't be able to escape even if I tried. It's all an illusion, everything is an illusion!"

Chen Changqing reassured himself, standing still and watching the demon charge at him.

Because it was so close.

He could even see the scales on the demon's body and the intense, nauseating blood smell.

The scene was too real.

It made Chen Changqing, who had just managed to calm down, feel a great surge of fear again.

But—

No matter how much fear he felt, he did not move a step.

In the end.

The demon passed through him, causing no pain.

The next second.

The illusion disappeared.

Chen Changqing was drenched in cold sweat, no longer daring to look directly at the demon's eye in the cell. Instead, he calmed his mind and checked his status panel.

Sure enough.

The slaughter points, which had been zero, had now increased to two.

"Only two points?"

Chen Changqing frowned.

The previous two times were three points each, but this time it was only two points. It might be related to the demon's strength.

But having two points was better than nothing.

His frown eased.

Without daring to look at the demon's eye again, he moved on to the next cell.

—

In less than an hour, Chen Changqing had gone through the third floor.

Unlike the second floor, the third floor did not contain any monsters, only the remains of demons.

Compared to the number of cells on the second floor, the number of cells on the third floor was fewer.

After finishing the last cell.

Chen Changqing checked his status panel.

The two slaughter points had increased to fifteen.

The reason for this was that some demon remains only provided one point, or even less, leading to him only gaining fifteen points after going through the entire third floor.

Of course.

Having fifteen slaughter points was a significant gain for Chen Changqing.

If the requirements for advancing the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique did not change, fifteen points would be enough to bring the technique to perfection, with some points to spare.

Standing at the entrance to the fourth floor.

Chen Changqing, considering the risks of entering the third floor, did not enter lightly. Instead, he began to digest his gains.

Consume one slaughter point!

The Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique advances to the seventh level!

Consume one slaughter point!

The Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique advances to the eighth level!

Consume—

Soon, the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique reached the twelfth level.

At this point.

Chen Changqing's physical defense had reached a formidable level, and his passive strength and speed had also increased significantly.

Looking at the remaining nine slaughter points.

He did not hesitate and chose to advance.

Boom—

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, three slaughter points vanished instantly. Then, an extremely powerful force rose from his body, quickly sweeping through his entire body.

His blood boiled!

His bones resonated!

His flesh trembled!

At that moment, Chen Changqing felt a transformation that could be described as a rebirth.

Unlike the previous painful advancements.

This time, there was no pain, only comfort.

Time passed.

As the physical changes gradually subsided, a warm aura was born in his dantian, as fine as a hair, quickly spreading through his limbs and body.

In an instant.

The warm aura returned to the dantian and remained still.

It's over!?

Chen Changqing regained consciousness from his breakthrough state.

Immediately.

He opened his status panel to check.

Name: Chen Changqing

Affiliation: Great Qin Demon Suppression Bureau

Identity: Apprentice Demon Hunter

Martial Art: Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique (Level 13, can be advanced)

Slaughter: 6

"Hmm?"

Chen Changqing was startled by the "can be advanced" text on his status panel.

The highest level of the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique was level 13, and he had never heard of a level 14.

But the "can be advanced" text clearly indicated that the technique still had room for improvement.

"Could it be—"

"Does the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique really have subsequent levels?"

Chen Changqing was uncertain.

But seeing the "can be advanced" text, he chose to advance.

Instantly.

Three slaughter points were consumed, and the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique advanced from level 13 to level 14.

After the advancement.

Three slaughter points remained, and the "can be advanced" text was still present.

With the intention of maximizing his strength, Chen Changqing did not hesitate and chose to advance again.

His body trembled.

The slaughter points were instantly depleted.

At this point.

Checking his status panel, the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique had reached level 15, and the "can be advanced" text had changed to "cannot be advanced."

"Level 15 of the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique!"

Chen Changqing stood still, closing his eyes to feel the changes in his body.

According to the manual, when the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique reaches level 13, the body reaches a perfect stage.

Perfect body!

True Qi is generated!

As a technique for strengthening the body and laying the foundation, when it reaches perfection, the body generates a faint true Qi.

Once true Qi is generated.

It signifies that one has crossed the threshold of the Body Tempering stage and reached the Meridian Unblocking stage.

Noticing the warm aura in his dantian, which had grown from the size of a hair to the thickness of a little finger when the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique reached level 15.

"This must be the true Qi generated after the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique reaches perfection!"

Chen Changqing came to his senses, a smile on his face.

True Qi!

Monsters have ranks, and the martial artists of the Demon Suppression Bureau also have ranks.

Initial apprentice demon hunters may not have crossed the Body Tempering threshold, or they may be lingering at the Body Tempering stage.

Official demon hunters.

Generally have strength at the Meridian Unblocking stage or higher.

In other words.

After generating true Qi, he was no longer weaker than official demon hunters in terms of realm.

Just a day ago.

Chen Changqing was still someone who had not crossed the Body Tempering threshold. Now, he had perfected the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique and directly entered the Meridian Unblocking stage, equal to official demon hunters.

Such a transformation.

To say he was not happy would be a lie.

But he also understood.

Reaching the Meridian Unblocking stage was just a new beginning. Compared to the strong in the Demon Suppression Bureau, the Meridian Unblocking stage was nothing.

"Although the Meridian Unblocking stage is just a beginning, I have already surpassed the other demon hunters of my batch."

"Reaching this level in just one day will definitely raise suspicions, so I shouldn't reveal too much—"

Chen Changqing's smile faded.

Perfecting the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique within a year is normal talent.

Doing it in half a year makes one a genius.

In two to three months, one is a world-class genius.

In one month, one is a monstrous talent.

But in just one day—

Chen Changqing shook his head. That was beyond the description of a monstrous talent.

Until he grew strong enough to fear no one, he did not want to become a target too quickly.

"But I don't need to hide too much. I can find a reason to seclude myself for about a month and then announce that I have perfected the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique."

"Hiding too much would be detrimental to my development in the Demon Suppression Bureau!"

Being too shocking would invite disaster, but there was no need to hide too much. As long as the explanation was plausible, it would be fine.

Chen Changqing believed.

Revealing his talent would bring some privileges in the Demon Suppression Bureau.

After all, no monstrous talent would be treated equally.

As long as he did not act rashly.

No one should be able to tell that he had perfected the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique.

After realizing he had generated true Qi.

Chen Changqing was almost certain that the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique indeed had only thirteen levels. His ability to advance to level 15 must be due to the advantage of slaughter points.

Looking at the depleted slaughter points and the entrance to the fourth floor.

In the end.

He decided to go down.

Having harvested all the slaughter points on the third floor, he needed to go to the fourth floor to gain new points.

Upon entering the fourth floor.

An extremely terrifying coldness surged.

In that instant.

Even Chen Changqing's powerful blood and qi were instantly frozen by the cold. Fortunately, the true Qi in his dantian rose, barely dispelling the cold.

"Phew, such a powerful coldness!"

Chen Changqing took a deep breath.

He had estimated the fourth floor before entering, but it was still more formidable than he had anticipated.

If he had not advanced the Thirteen Protectors' Horizontal Training Technique to level 15, he would have died instantly upon entering the fourth floor.

Even now, with the true Qi resisting the cold, he could temporarily withstand it.

But Chen Changqing felt.

He could not hold on for much longer.