Human Clan Defender

It took almost a full day for Jiang An to reinforce all the seals once more. Shen Changqing accompanied him throughout the process.

Fortunately, aside from a Demon Evil possessing someone at the very beginning, there were no further issues.

Ten Merit Points. It was definitely a significant gain.

When they returned to the third level, Jiang An picked up the body that lay discarded on the ground, ignored by everyone, and then went upstairs.

"What happened here, Lords?" Seeing Jiang An carrying a body, all the guards' gazes focused on the two men, and the one in the lead asked with a grave voice.

Upon hearing this, Jiang An put down the body. "A Resentment Level Strange Monster broke its seal on the third level and possessed this person. However, the Strange Monster has been slain. Now, we hand this person over to you. Please see which Demon Hunting Court they came from."

"Alright!" The leader nodded, not too surprised. Given that the Demon-Subduing Prison had existed for so many years, it was quite normal for an occasional Demon Evil to break its seal and emerge.

Afterward, the two of them left the Demon-Subduing Prison directly.

Only when they got back to the Hidden Heart Pavilion did Jiang An stop. "I need to return to the Suppressing Evil Hall now. Brother Shen, if you are ever interested, feel free to seek me out there. I'll take my leave first."

"Take care, Brother Jiang." Shen Changqing nodded, not saying much else.

After Jiang An left, he too returned to his own dwelling.

A whole day had passed, and it was already early morning the next day.

Returning to the courtyard, Shen Changqing checked his attribute panel; the Slaughter Value from his kills had indeed increased substantially. The Slaughter Value contributed by the slain Resentment Level Peak Strange Monster was quite considerable. It was, of course, possible to have Slaughter Value and not put it to use. Therefore, after returning, he immediately began a new round of enhancement.

----

Name: Shen Changqing

Force: Great Qin's Demon Suppression Division

Rank: Earth Rank Demon Hunter

True Intent: Hundred Battles True Intent (10%)

Martial Arts: Invincible Golden Body (Level 17, Cannot be Enhanced, Cannot be Merged), Iron Sand Palm (Level 5, Cannot be Merged), Snare Trampling Gang Step (Level 5, Cannot be Merged), Mountain Splitting Palm Technique (Not Started, Cannot be Merged), Willow Catkin Body Technique (Not Started, Cannot be Merged), Great Sun Scripture (Level 15, Cannot be Enhanced), Tathagata Golden Body (Not Started, Cannot be Enhanced, Cannot be Merged)

Slaughter Value: 7

----

Originally, he only had three Slaughter Value points. But after killing a top-notch Resentment Level Strange Monster in the Demon-Subduing Prison and obtaining some additional scattered Slaughter Value, the total had reached thirty-seven points.

The improvement of the Great Sun Scripture was somewhat less than Shen Changqing had expected. It took fifteen Slaughter Value points to enhance it by one level. Consuming thirty points, he directly advanced it to the fifteenth level.

The fifteenth-level Great Sun Scripture had already surpassed the original seventeenth-level Heavenly Martial Gang Qi. Also, because he had made initial progress in the Physical System, his current Qi and Blood Force was entirely sufficient to support the enhancement of his Inner Strength. He no longer needed to consume Qi and Blood Pills like before to balance the expenditure.

With the fifteenth level of the Great Sun Scripture combined with my current Qi and Blood Force, I should not be too different from a true late-stage Grandmaster.

After all, the only difference between me and a late-stage Grandmaster now lies in the Spiritual System.

Shen Changqing silently estimated. At earlier stages, the differences in the Spiritual System weren't significant. Now that my Great Sun True Qi has reached the fifteenth level and its quality is strong, unless it is a very powerful late-stage Grandmaster, I'm confident in dealing with them.

Immediately following this, Shen Changqing had another thought. Just one trip to the Demon-Subduing Prison allowed the Great Sun Scripture to advance two levels. Venturing out for experience is indeed much faster than arduously cultivating within the Demon Suppression Division. However, the problem is that if the Spiritual System doesn't reach True Intent Manifestation, it will remain a weakness.

Whether to head out now is a question—

The purpose of going out would certainly be to hunt and slay Demon Evils. Now, both the Great Wilderness Prefecture and Luo'an Prefecture were engulfed in war, and the vast Great Qin seemed on the brink of instability. At this moment, only by enhancing his strength could he possibly face future events.

To enhance my strength quickly, I need to find a way to earn Merit Points. Only with Merit Points can I continue to train in the seclusion chamber.

Having nearly expended all my Merit Points now, it seems I need to find a way.

Shen Changqing's mind raced. Earn Merit Points. Then use them for secluded cultivation.

After visiting the seclusion chamber a few times, he had come to understand its importance. Mere self-cultivation was not enough to sustain that kind of expenditure.

Yet, earning Merit Points through channels other than undertaking missions was exceptionally difficult.

As a thought struck him, Shen Changqing left the courtyard and headed outside.

「Demon Slaying Hall.」

Shen Changqing once again arrived at the Treasure Repository Hall. There weren't many people now, and someone sat behind each counter. His gaze swept over them, and he eventually approached one of the counters.

"Brother Ji!"

Looking at the person before him, Shen Changqing pondered for a moment before settling on a suitable form of address. He isn't even an Earth Rank Demon Hunter, so calling him 'Senior' would clearly be inappropriate. Calling him 'Lord' would be even more out of place. So, after some thought, 'Brother Ji' seems the most fitting.

Ji Qu, who had been dozing, jolted awake at the sound of the voice. Opening his bleary eyes, he became fully alert the moment he saw it was Shen Changqing.

"Lord Shen!?" He was obviously startled but soon regained his composure. "What brings Lord Shen to visit this humble one today? Could it be that you wish to exchange for something?"

"I have some matters I would like to discuss with you, Brother Ji."

Having said that, Shen Changqing looked around and lowered his voice considerably. "Brother Ji, you once mentioned that Merit Points can be traded on the black market—"

"Does Lord Shen wish to sell Merit Points?" Ji Qu's face showed a flash of realization.

Upon hearing this, Shen Changqing shook his head. "No, I don't intend to sell Merit Points. I want to buy them."

Purchase Merit Points!

Ji Qu was momentarily stunned, then his expression turned serious. "This isn't the best place to discuss such a matter. Let's go somewhere else to talk."

Having finished speaking, he approached another counter and said to the person there, "Old Chen, I need to step out for a bit. Could you cover for me?"

"That works." An elder named Old Chen glanced at him and nodded casually in agreement.

Seeing this, Ji Qu immediately left with Shen Changqing.

Upon exiting the Demon Slaying Hall, he spoke up, "Lord Shen, do you wish to talk at my residence, or would you prefer yours?"

"Let's go to yours." Shen Changqing shook his head. He no longer lived at the Huang Department Demon Hunting Court, and returning was not an option. As for bringing people to the Hidden Heart Pavilion, that wasn't appropriate either. After all, he'd only joined the Hidden Heart Pavilion a short while ago; if he brought someone in without permission and something happened, it would be a hassle.

Ji Qu didn't overthink it and led Shen Changqing toward his own place. "I have always lived in the Earth Division Demon Hunting Court. May I ask where Lord Shen resides?" As the two walked side by side, Ji Qu couldn't help but turn his head to ask.

"I no longer reside at a Demon Hunting Court."

"Not at a Demon Hunting Court?" Ji Qu's expression showed momentary shock. Then, as if a thought struck him, his face changed slightly. "Could it be that Lord Shen has entered the Hidden Heart Pavilion?"

"Brother Ji is also familiar with the Hidden Heart Pavilion?"

Hearing Shen Changqing's counter-question, Ji Qu finally confirmed his suspicion, an admiring expression appearing on his face. "So Lord Shen truly entered the Hidden Heart Pavilion."

He expressed his amazement first, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "Lord Shen, you jest. The reputation of the Hidden Heart Pavilion is familiar to any Profound Rank Demon Hunter. Before I joined the Demon Slaying Hall, I too was a Profound Rank Demon Hunter and had the good fortune to visit the Hidden Heart Pavilion once. That place is where the true core of the Demon-Subduing Division lies. Unfortunately, I only ever visited the Martial Hall. I've only heard of the other halls by name and have never truly been to them."

As he finished speaking, Ji Qu looked towards Shen Changqing again. "May I ask which hall Lord Shen has entered?"

"The Martial Hall."

"Ah, the Martial Hall. Indeed, with Lord Shen's talent, if you were to enter the Hidden Heart Pavilion, it's most likely you would join the Martial Hall!" Ji Qu wasn't too surprised. To him, it seemed natural that Shen Changqing, upon entering the Hidden Heart Pavilion, would join the Martial Hall. On the contrary, if he had joined the Suppressing Evil Hall or the Demon Sealing Hall, that would have been strange.

As the two conversed, they soon arrived at Ji Qu's residence. It was not much different from Shen Changqing's former dwelling, just that the owner had made some modest decorations, making it more pleasing to the eye.

Inside a small pavilion, the two sat facing each other.

Ji Qu skillfully used his True Qi to boil a pot of cold water, a smile on his face. "I don't have Enlightenment Tea here, just some common Spiritual Tea. I hope Lord Shen won't mind."

"Brother Ji, you jest." Shen Changqing gave a slight smile.

Watching Ji Qu brew the Spiritual Tea, Shen Changqing noted that although it was suffused with Spiritual Energy, the difference between it and Enlightenment Tea was vast. Clearly, just as Ji Qu had said, this Spiritual Tea was evidently not of high grade.

Picking up the Spiritual Tea, Ji Qu took a small sip and then looked at Shen Changqing with a puzzled expression. "Lord Shen has entered the Martial Hall, so I imagine you are not in need of Merit Points. It's rumored that those from the Martial Hall receive a substantial amount of resources from the Demon-Subduing Division every year."

"Although the Martial Hall provides some resources, I need Merit Points for other purposes." Shen Changqing also picked up his teacup and took a sip of the Spiritual Tea.

Then he set it down and spoke seriously, "I know Brother Ji is quite familiar with the black market, so I wanted to ask you about it. Is it possible for me to purchase Merit Points?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Qu pondered for a moment. "The black market has Merit Points for sale, so naturally, they can also be acquired there. But if I may be so bold as to ask, just how many Merit Points does Lord Shen wish to purchase?"

"You must know, the price varies with the quantity of Merit Points."