Chapter Twenty-Two: The Foreign Devils’ Unyielding Desire to Destroy the Great Yuan

Baili Feihong had been pondering over the Blood Origin Art, not rushing to convert the blood energy within him into blood origin. Though the technique was excellent, using it in haste would cause his strength to decline temporarily. Moreover, at this stage, spending skill points on it would be wasteful. Relying solely on experience and proficiency was enough for Baili Feihong to maintain his advantage over other Demon Suppression apprentices in cultivation.

Blood Origin Art: Beginner 430/800.

With the foundation of the Four Seas Fist and Blood River Blade, his comprehension of the Blood Origin Art advanced rapidly.

Blood River Blade: Mastery (22198/32000).

Aside from studying the Blood Origin Art, he spent the rest of his time at the Demon Suppression Bureau learning new knowledge and cultivating the Blood River Blade. Besides taking a single Essence Blood Pill, Baili Feihong practiced the Blood River Blade ten times daily. The experience gained ranged from 10 to 100 points, a wide margin mainly dependent on his focus during training.

Ding Bo, though young, was a formidable Demon Suppression officer with impressive strength and knowledge. Under his guidance, the thirty-two apprentices were growing swiftly. The only annoyance was that apprentices were confined to the Bureau building each day for study. They could not wander or converse loudly. Other than learning from the Bureau's books, their sole activity was eating.

Among the thirty-two, two-thirds were sons of noble families. Enduring such stifling atmosphere was difficult for them, but breaking the rules meant facing Ding Bo's ‘combat training.’ After a session, their bones were nearly broken.

Ding Bo's cold face swept over the thirty-two apprentices sitting upright in the classroom. “Very good. Though two weeks is not enough to truly mold you into qualified Demon Suppression officers, you now have a clear understanding of the Bureau's existence. The time limit has passed; it's time for you to begin your duties.”

“There are many tasks within the Bureau. The mutated beasts outside the city are yours to handle. Officers have their own assignments and cannot spare the energy; exterminating beasts falls to you.”

A slight sneer curled at Ding Bo's lips. “The Demon Suppression Bureau is not an institution above others. Its harshness, you will soon understand. However, if you want a future, you must first survive.”

To slay monsters and demons meant dealing with the mutated beasts roaming the wilds. These creatures, tainted by unclean things, had become monsters, their bodies transformed. If left unchecked, they would grow into terrifying demons.

Outside Dongbin City lay Dayuan’s villages, most frequently attacked by monsters and strange demons. Within the city itself, it was much safer.

Hearing this, the thirty-two apprentices felt a surge of excitement. Every task earned merit, which could be exchanged for cultivation resources from the Bureau—techniques, pills, divine weapons, even guidance from renowned teachers.

Baili Feihong was equally thrilled. Slaying monsters meant he could gain more skill points. He also noticed that when he slew monsters, he earned more skill points than others did when they killed them—his gains were greater.

Slaying the White Tiger monster had given him two skill points. Yet, during the arena battles, other martial artists killing monsters only yielded him one skill point. Now, he had accumulated fourteen skill points, two from slaying the White Tiger, ten from piggybacking on others’ kills.

“As proof of your graduation, Lord Zheng Yishan has selected tasks for you. Next, you will each receive a letter detailing your assigned mission. Do not let others see it; if your task is sabotaged, your graduation will be delayed, and you will remain in the classroom to study alone. Only when you complete the assessment will you become a true Bureau apprentice.”

“Additionally, apprentices receive compensation—such as a certain number of Essence Blood Pills annually, and your wage. If you do not graduate, you receive none.”

Ding Bo spoke briefly, as if giving them their final lesson.

Baili Feihong tucked the envelope into his chest and hurried away from the Bureau building. Only after returning home did he open it.

A single sheet detailed his task:

“Please proceed to Huangxian Village in Gongping Town, Dongbin City. According to the local constabulary, hunters in the woods near Huangxian Village have been killed by monsters.”

“Task: Slay the monster, rid the people of harm. Assessment: Have the local constabulary transport the corpse to the Bureau’s incinerator for burning.”

“Reward: One Ding-class merit, twenty taels of Dayuan silver notes.”

There were eight grades of merit: Heaven, Earth, Xuan, Huang, Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding—Ding being the lowest, Heaven the highest. It was said there was an even higher Royal merit.

“One Ding-class merit can be exchanged for an Essence Blood Pill.”
“Ten Ding-class merits can be exchanged for the Bone Refining martial secret.”
“Ten Ding-class merits can be exchanged for one Bing-class merit.”

Baili Feihong recited silently.

No information about the monster was given, meaning he would have to investigate and track it himself. As a graduation assessment, the reward was more generous than usual.

This was Baili Feihong’s first official Bureau assignment; he could not afford to fail.

The Bureau’s base salary was modest, but task rewards were substantial. The more dangerous the task, the greater the reward, and sometimes rare resources were granted.

For Baili Feihong, merit was now the most important. Exchanging for the Bone Refining secret was urgent. He had eight Essence Blood Pills and fourteen skill points left—he could enter the Nine Blood Martial Artist stage at any time. But he refrained.

After entering the Bureau, if he advanced three realms in a day, how would his colleagues view him?

Would the Guardian view him as a demon and dispose of him?

Baili Feihong needed to advance reasonably.

Moreover, the ceiling was just ahead. He had not yet exchanged merit for the Bone Refining secret.

“Unless I follow the path of the Guardian Blood General…”

To break ten thousand realms with just the Blood Refining stage.

Baili Feihong knew of this Blood General—he was the heir of the Southern King, supported by the vast resources of his family, enabling such body refinement.

He packed his things, returned to the Bureau, borrowed a horse, and rode straight to Gongping Town, thirty li east of the city.

Baili Feihong had never ridden a horse, but his mastery of the Three Pillars of the Four Seas Fist made it easy. He sat as steady as a mountain, rising and falling with the horse. Thirty li took less than half an hour along the official road to reach Gongping Town.

“So this is Gongping Town?” Baili Feihong gazed curiously at the settlement.

The most prominent signs on the street buildings were those of casinos!

The place was bustling. Within Dongbin City, casinos were rare, but Gongping Town was the favorite haunt of outsiders and sailors.

Besides casinos, brothels were everywhere.

“Opium den?!”

A strange fragrance wafted from the opium dens. Unsteady patrons emerged, not drunk, but their thoughts and actions were muddled.

Baili Feihong gripped his blade tightly, his knuckles whitening, a flame of anger burning in his brow.

Yes, it was exactly the kind of opium den he imagined.

In his previous life, the shattered nation and a century of humiliation had begun with such opium dens.

“If memory serves, Dayuan forbids opium by law.”

Opium, also called fortune paste or longevity paste. Habitual use drained men of ambition, women of virtue, leaving them three parts human, seven parts ghost. Once addicted, cravings left one weak, limbs powerless, tears and mucus flowing, as if ants gnawed one’s bones, a thousand arrows pierced the heart.

“Foreign devils will not rest until Dayuan is destroyed.”

Recalling incidents at the docks, Baili Feihong immediately understood—the Canal Transport Guild was likely involved in smuggling opium.

“When I wield my blade, heads will roll.”

No one understood its dangers better than Baili Feihong—its toxic influence ran deeper than any demon.