19: The demon-suppressing baptism begins!

Finally, the day of the Demon Suppression Baptism arrived.

On this day, the back mountain of the Mu Shi County Demon Suppression Division outpost was completely different from usual.

The usually quiet mountain forest was now bustling with people, all of them the most formidable young Geniuses of Mu Shi County.

These individuals either earned their spots through rigorous selection or, like Li Dong, received special quotas, granting them the qualification to be here.

The destination was the legendary Land of Baptism.

Li Dong followed the crowd into this area.

Wow, it was indeed extraordinary.

The atmosphere here felt entirely different; the air wasn't filled with ordinary Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, but a — how should one put it — more primal, more potent energy particle, incredibly dense.

Even a single breath made one's lungs feel warm, and those with weaker Cultivation would likely find it unbearable just standing there.

In the very center of this area stood a massive black Altar, looking incredibly ancient, covered in old and intricate patterns, exuding an Aura of antiquity and mystery.

Around the Altar, dozens of black meditation cushions were neatly arranged, prepared for all those participating.

It was said that this place was originally a natural Spiritual Qi spot, later noticed by a master of the Demon Suppression Division, who expended great effort to set up a Formation, transforming it into its current state, specifically for the Demon Suppression Baptism.

Such a grand undertaking.

Li Dong looked around.

Including him and his sister Li Qingyan, there were roughly thirty young people participating in the Baptism.

Each one was full of vigor, with an impressive Aura; the weakest were at the peak of Body Refining Fourth Level, and several even seemed to have reached Body Refining Fifth Level, or even Sixth Level!

It seemed Mu Shi County truly had hidden Dragons and crouching tigers.

Among them, several individuals stood out.

Young Lord Zhou Shaoyang of the Zhou Family was also present. The last time, this fellow was scared witless by Li Dong, and now, seeing Li Dong, he was like a mouse seeing a cat, hiding far away, not daring to approach.

There was also a lavishly dressed Young Master, whom people nearby whispered was the County Magistrate's son, accompanied by several retainers, making quite a spectacle.

Li Dong also noticed several other young people.

They wore the internal attire of the Demon Suppression Division, but their appearance differed from ordinary members, their temperament more composed, or rather, more arrogant.

These individuals reacted differently to Li Dong; some were purely curious, scrutinizing this 'special quota' from the countryside; others were clearly assessing him, trying to gauge his level; and one or two made no secret of their unfriendliness towards him.

Hmph, scions of influential Families, or people nurtured by the Demon Suppression Division itself?

Li Dong understood that these individuals were likely the truly formidable opponents in this Baptism.

His sister Li Qingyan had also arrived. She had Broken through to Body Refining Fifth Level, passed the regular selection, and secured a spot.

She stood not far from Li Dong, her small face a mix of nervousness and excitement, constantly adjusting her breathing.

Li Dong nodded to her, telling her to relax.

At this moment, there was some movement at the front of the crowd.

An old man with white hair and beard, and a gaunt face, dressed in a dark robe, quietly appeared before the Altar.

He didn't exude any powerful Aura, yet his mere presence commanded respect, creating an imposing presence.

This should be the person presiding over this Baptism.

"Silence!"

The old man spoke, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, instantly silencing all discussions and noise.

Everyone quieted down, waiting for him to explain the rules.

"The Demon Suppression Baptism is an important ceremony for our Demon Suppression Division to select and Cultivate future generations. This is a rare opportunity, and also a very rigorous test."

The old man's tone was flat, devoid of emotion.

"The Baptism consists of three rounds."

"In each round, the intensity of the energy drawn down by the Altar will greatly increase."

"The first round is for Body Refining and building Foundation."

"The second round is for clearing Meridians and purifying Spiritual Qi."

"The third round is for comprehending Heaven and Earth, finding one's own Dao, and also testing one's willpower and resisting Heart Demons."

"During this process, the energy impact is very fierce, posing a great test to your endurance, absorption capabilities, and willpower."

"Remember, proceed with caution," the old man emphasized, "If you feel you can't hold on, immediately crush the distress jade talisman in your hand and withdraw. If you force yourself, at best your Meridians will be injured and your Foundation unstable; at worst... your body will explode, and your soul will be gone. This is not a joke!"

Upon hearing this, many young Geniuses' faces paled slightly.

Indeed, as Zhang Wu had said, the risks were considerable.

"Of course, with great risk comes great opportunity," the old man's tone shifted. "The longer you endure, the more energy you absorb, and the greater the benefits you will receive. Finally, we will evaluate your overall performance in all three rounds, assign a Rank, and those who perform well will receive additional rewards."

After explaining the basic rules, the old man paused, then added, "In this Baptism, there is one individual who slayed a Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast and obtained a 'special quota.' This skill and merit should be acknowledged."

Although he didn't mention a name, everyone present knew who he was referring to — Li Dong!

Many people's thoughts grew more complex.

"As an acknowledgment of his ability, he will receive purer energy at the beginning of the Baptism," the old man continued. "However, this also means higher demands, so I hope you conduct yourself well."

These words were directed at Li Dong.

Purer energy? It sounded like a good thing, but Li Dong felt that this was probably also a form of pressure.

Just then, Li Dong felt a chilling gaze fixated on him.

He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Zhao Zhen!

This guy, he was actually here too!

He stood not far behind the old man, dressed in an aide's attire, a strange smile on his face that made one uncomfortable. When he looked at Li Dong, his hatred and coldness were completely undisguised.

He had actually become one of the co-presiders of this Baptism? He was also responsible for maintaining order and record-keeping? Li Dong's heart sank. This was not good! He had a bad feeling.

Zhang Wu's warning once again echoed in his mind.

That old fox Zhao Zhen indeed had no intention of letting him go! His presence here was absolutely ill-intentioned!

On the other side, Zhang Wu was also present. He stood further away, not approaching. Li Dong felt Zhang Wu glance at him, as if to encourage him. However, that look also carried an indescribable solemnity.

It seemed Zhang Wu also understood what Zhao Zhen's appearance here signified.

"Alright, the rules have been made clear. Everyone, take your positions!" the elder said with a wave of his hand.

Next was the allocation of the meditation cushion positions. It seemed to be according to some order, or perhaps pre-arranged. Li Dong was assigned a position that was relatively close to the central area.

At first glance, this position seemed good; the energy should be quite rich.

However, after Li Dong sat down and carefully sensed it, he found something was amiss. The energy flow here... seemed a bit chaotic?

Unlike the other positions, which were clearly prepared for people with connections. The energy there was stable and abundant, obviously the best Cultivation spots.

Was this a coincidence? Or... was Zhao Zhen behind this? Li Dong didn't speak or move, but his vigilance intensified.

Just as he sat on the meditation cushion and adjusted his breathing, the System's voice suddenly rang out in his mind!

"Ding! Detected special energy field [Baptism Altar], meets check-in conditions. Do you wish to check in?"

Check in? He could actually check in here! Li Dong's heart swelled with joy.

"Ding! Detected special spirituality fragments within the Baptism energy. Absorbing or killing them can yield additional benefits!"

Unexpected gains? There were even "spirituality fragments" within the Baptism energy? Was this something inherent to the Baptism itself, or... something else?

Li Dong's mind raced; it seemed this Baptism was more complex than he had imagined.

"All participants of the Baptism, concentrate your minds and prepare to receive the energy infusion!" The presiding elder suddenly raised his voice, which carried a power that seemed to penetrate people's hearts.

He formed hand seals and chanted incantations.

Buzz—!

Suddenly, that ancient black Altar erupted with dazzling light!

An incredibly thick pillar of energy light, like the Nine Heavens Milky Way pouring down, was drawn from the sky and slammed fiercely into the center of the Altar!

Rumble!

The entire Land of Baptism trembled violently!

An unimaginably powerful energy, like a bursting flood, was instantly guided and dispersed by the Altar, transforming into countless energy streams of varying thickness, surging madly towards every young Genius on a meditation cushion!

"Demon Suppression Baptism, begin!" The elder's voice, like a clap of thunder, exploded beside everyone's ears!

Li Dong only felt a powerful, irresistible surge of violent energy, like molten iron, fiercely crashing into his body!