When the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training reached Perfection, his physical defense was almost comprehensively enhanced, including certain vital parts of the body. After the fifteenth layer, the defensive strength became even stronger.
Techniques like the Iron Crotch Art, which could only strengthen a single vital point, were unnecessary to learn. The book was put back.
Shen Changqing pulled out the next one. It was still a beginner's martial art, slightly better than the Iron Crotch Art, but still unnecessary to learn.
For time was limited, and he dared not waste it recklessly.
Soon after, Shen Changqing browsed through the books almost casually, simply looking at the names and putting back anything he found unsuitable.
After a long time, he took out a martial arts manual, his gaze settling on it. Pure Yang Technique! Upon opening the first page, he could see its contents.
"The Pure Yang Technique emphasizes concurrent internal and external cultivation, combining movement and stillness. It nurtures the internal organs and fortifies muscles and bones externally. This cultivation technique is intensely firm and yang, suitable for males to practice. Females, however, must ensure the free flow of Yin and Yang during practice, or it could pose a risk to their lives!"
After reading the first page, Shen Changqing understood that this was the martial art he was seeking.
Compared to the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training, the Pure Yang Technique clearly had a higher limit. Moreover, this technique cultivated both internally and externally, sharing a similar principle with the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training he was currently practicing.
With this in mind, practicing the Pure Yang Technique would surely yield twice the result with half the effort.
Thinking thus, Shen Changqing immediately sat down on the spot and began to scrutinize the Pure Yang Technique seriously. Perhaps because he had achieved success with the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training, he found that his thoughts became clearer when browsing through martial arts manuals. Content that previously took him a long time to memorize could now be remembered in just a glance or two.
In less than two hours, Shen Changqing had memorized the entire contents of the Pure Yang Technique.
At the same time, he also checked his own panel.
Name: Shen Changqing
Power: Great Qin's Demon Suppression Division
Identity: Probationary Demon Hunter
Martial Arts: Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training (Fifteenth Layer, cannot be improved), Pure Yang Technique (Uninitiated, cannot be improved)
Slaughter: 0
Without thoroughly studying a martial art, its information would not appear on the panel. Now that it was on the panel, it meant that Shen Changqing had committed the Pure Yang Technique to memory.
It's about time!
The two-hour time limit meant he could not stay in the Scripture Pavilion too long. Fortunately, Shen Changqing used one opportunity to memorize the Pure Yang Technique thoroughly, not needing to spend about a month, as he had previously, to memorize a martial art.
Upon leaving the Scripture Pavilion, he went straight back to his living quarters.
Although the Demon-Subduing Division was large, as a Probationary Demon Hunter, he could only access a few places. And those few places were almost all within the Demon Hunting Court.
Like the Demon-Subduing Prison, one must possess a Demon-Subduing Prison Manual to enter openly. Moreover, access to the Scripture Pavilion was also subject to periodic restrictions.
Of course, the Demon-Subduing Division did not restrict Demon Hunters, nor did it stipulate that Probationary Demon Hunters could not leave the Demon-Subduing Division at will.
However—Shen Changqing was currently in the Demon-Subduing Division located in the Great Qin Capital, and his predecessor was not native to the Capital City but was instead selected from another place by someone from the Demon-Subduing Division. Similarly, his predecessor dared to join the Demon-Subduing Division because he had long been alone.
Since joining the Demon-Subduing Division, the predecessor had never left it. Hence, the predecessor was very unfamiliar with the Capital City, which led to Shen Changqing, who inherited the predecessor's memories, being equally unfamiliar with it.
Having no acquaintances and being in an unfamiliar place, Shen Changqing was reluctant to waste time. Rather than leaving the Demon-Subduing Division to engage in meaningless activities, it was more practical to remain and focus on his cultivation.
Compared to official Demon Hunters, the Demon-Subduing Division had already given significant preferential treatment to Probationary Demon Hunters. They were not required to undertake overly dangerous tasks, a continuous supply of martial arts was provided, and food was supplied according to martial artist standards.
All Probationary Demon Hunters, apart from spending a little time completing tasks every five days, could use the rest of their time for cultivation.
Although Shen Changqing did not know much about this world, he had reason to believe that, apart from the Demon-Subduing Division, very few places could offer such an environment for cultivation. Therefore, Shen Changqing was unlikely to leave the Demon-Subduing Division wantonly to waste time elsewhere.
Within his room, he sat cross-legged on the bed, recalling the contents of the Pure Yang Technique in his mind.
Since he had no Slaughter Value, Shen Changqing could not take shortcuts. However, not being able to use Slaughter Value to advance didn't mean he had to waste his days idly. Instead of waiting aimlessly, it was better to rely on his own talent and practice diligently. If there were any gains, he could save a lot when he later used Slaughter Value.
「Two months passed.」
Days of focused cultivation always passed quickly.
Demon Hunting was indeed a profession with high turnover. In the span of two months, Shen Changqing observed plenty of newcomers arriving and being assigned to the Huang Department's Demon Hunting Court, where he belonged. Yet, no matter how many were brought in, the Demon Hunting Court never seemed to reach full capacity.
Clearly, the number of Demon Hunters who died was significant.
Shen Changqing didn't pay too much attention to this situation. After all, in the Demon Hunting Court, aside from Liu Chang, whom he knew somewhat, he had no other acquaintances. Therefore, whether those people lived or died seemed to have no significant connection to him.
In Shen Changqing's eyes, only improving his own strength was what truly mattered. Otherwise, he would end up just like the others.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
There was a knock on his courtyard door.
Shen Changqing opened the door and immediately saw Liu Chang standing there.
"Steward Liu!"
Liu Chang was about to nod when his expression suddenly changed. He scrutinized Shen Changqing thoroughly, an astonished and uncertain look appearing on his face.
"You've broken through to the Pulse Condensation Realm!?"
"I've been quietly cultivating the Pure Yang Technique and have recently made some progress," Shen Changqing replied with a nod.
It was only when he truly began to practice the Pure Yang Technique that he realized the compatibility between it and the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training was greater than he had imagined. With the True Qi foundation laid by the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training, Shen Changqing had smoothly transformed all his True Qi into Pure Yang True Qi in just a few days.
However, due to the timing, he had kept this hidden and hadn't revealed it easily. Up until now, Shen Changqing had calculated the time and chosen to reveal a part of his progress, which was why the other party noticed.
The confirmation sent a jolt of shock through Liu Chang.
He truly had made a breakthrough!
He had long understood that Shen Changqing was exceptionally talented, a talent many Probationary Demon Hunters couldn't match. However, he had never imagined that Shen Changqing could cultivate Pure Yang True Qi so swiftly.
It was known that the biggest difference between Pulse Condensation and Body Tempering was True Qi. Only when one possessed True Qi could one stand out from ordinary martial artists.
"If I remember correctly, it's only been a bit over three months, not even four months since you came to the Demon-Subduing Division—"
"To answer Steward Liu, three months and five days."
Three months and five days! Liu Chang nodded slightly, overwhelmed with astonishment. To break through to the Pulse Condensation Realm in about three months was undoubtedly the mark of a genius, even deserving the title of a peerless genius.
After his brief shock subsided, he recovered his composure. Peerless geniuses were indeed shocking, but the Demon-Subduing Division was not without them. After all, it is a powerful institution of Great Qin that gathered many promising individuals from within the nation. Among these people, some hidden geniuses, and even peerless geniuses, overflowed with potential. On the surface, they seemed unremarkable, but once they truly joined the Demon-Subduing Division, they would gradually shine with brilliance.
"Since you've broken through to the Pulse Condensation Realm, you also qualify to become an official Demon Hunter. However, Probationary Demon Hunters have a one-year buffer period. You can choose to continue to cultivate within the Demon-Subduing Division. With your talent, I believe you will gain a lot in the remaining seven or eight months. Remember, though the Pulse Condensation Realm is not weak, it's still insignificant before true experts, so don't become too complacent," Liu Chang earnestly advised.
Normally, if a Probationary Demon Hunter broke through to Pulse Condensation, he would have them immediately take the promotion mission to become a true Demon Hunter. But facing Shen Changqing, he made a special exception. There were some peerless geniuses in the Demon-Subduing Division, but certainly not many. Now that the Huang Department's Demon Hunting Court had finally produced such an individual, Liu Chang didn't want him to die prematurely.
Upon hearing this, Shen Changqing's face showed gratitude. "Thank you, Steward Liu!"
"Go on, your duty today is still to patrol the Demon-Subduing Prison. Remember, although you are now in the Pulse Condensation Realm, do not recklessly venture into other areas of the Demon-Subduing Prison. Just stick to patrolling the second floor. Some places harbor danger, and even with your Pulse Condensation strength, you could face fatal danger," Liu Chang said in a deep voice.
What he said was all written in the Demon-Subduing Prison Manual. However, Liu Chang worried that Shen Changqing, having just achieved a breakthrough, might develop some ill-advised ideas. If he were to ignore the warnings in the Demon-Subduing Prison Manual and trespass into other areas, he might never return.
"I understand this matter well. Steward Liu, you can rest assured." Shen Changqing cupped his hands.
Seeing this, Liu Chang didn't say anything more. He had already said a great deal, showing considerable care. If Shen Changqing truly didn't heed the advice, then dying would serve him right. Historically, there have always been those who, acting on their own accord, met their end in the Demon-Subduing Prison; Liu Chang didn't want Shen Changqing to be one of them, as that would be a great waste. Of course, if the other party insisted on not listening to advice, then dying was also what they deserved.
Good words are wasted on those headed for death.
After bidding farewell to Liu Chang, Shen Changqing quickly headed to the Demon-Subduing Prison. Due to his frequent visits, the soldiers guarding the Demon-Subduing Prison were quite familiar with him.
As per usual, after checking the manual, they stepped aside to allow him through.
Shen Changqing politely cupped his hands in thanks, then disappeared onto the first floor of the Demon-Subduing Prison.
Upon entering the second floor, a familiar chill rushed towards him. As soon as the chill approached, a scorching energy surged from his Dantian and quickly spread throughout his limbs, completely dispelling the encroaching chill.
From beginning to end, Shen Changqing's steps never faltered as he headed straight for the first cell.