23: Chapter 23 Don't Mess With Me

Nanyan Prefecture, a brilliant pearl in the southeastern region of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Its towering walls and wide streets were far beyond what a remote little town like Qingyang County could compare to.

The streets were bustling with traffic and people, and the air was filled with an atmosphere of prosperity and strength.

Lin Feng, Chu Mengxi, Zhao Tie, and Li Rui rode their swift horses through the heavy city gates, heading straight for the vast and imposing building complex in the north of the city.

Nanyan Prefecture Demon Suppression Division.

At the entrance of the Demon Suppression Division, there were no stone lions like at a county yamen; instead, there were two statues of hideous exotic beasts, three zhang tall, cast from solid Black Iron.

An invisible Aura of killing intent rushed toward them, making ordinary people shrink back.

"How grand."

Huang Fugui poked his small head out from Lin Feng's lapel, stunned by the sight before him. "Master, this place is ten thousand times more grand than Philanthropist Wang's mansion!"

"Pathetic."

Lin Feng scolded him with a smile in his heart and dismounted.

Chu Mengxi showed her copper medal, and the guards at the gate immediately saluted respectfully and let them through.

As soon as he stepped into the gates of the Demon Suppression Division, Lin Feng felt dozens of powerful and obscure Auras sweeping over from all directions.

The weakest of these Auras was at the Meridian Opening Realm, and some were even far more powerful than Chu Mengxi's.

"This is the stage for the strong."

Lin Feng thought to himself. Instead of being afraid, a strong surge of Battle Intent rose within him.

Chu Mengxi took Lin Feng to the Office of Affairs to register first.

The person in charge of registration was an old man with a goat beard who didn't even bother to look up. When he saw that Lin Feng's file listed him as a former "Qingyang County Head Constable," a hint of imperceptible contempt flickered at the corner of his mouth.

"Name, age, cultivation," the old man asked officially.

"Lin Feng, nineteen, ninth layer of the Meridian Opening Realm," Lin Feng answered calmly.

"Pulse Opening... ninth layer?!"

The goat-bearded old man suddenly looked up, a flash of shock in his cloudy eyes.

A nineteen-year-old at the ninth layer of the Meridian Opening Realm?

Such talent would be considered a Genius even in the entire Nanyan Prefecture Demon Suppression Division.

After registering his information, Lin Feng received a set of keys to his new residence and an identity token.

The residence was located in the "Tiezi Courtyard" on the outermost edge of the Demon Suppression Division. it was a collective dormitory for all new Iron Medal Demon Slayers, and the environment was noisy.

"Lin Feng, settle in here first. According to the rules, a Demon Slayer can freely accept missions to earn merit points, which can be exchanged for Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, and better housing."

Chu Mengxi instructed, "I'm going to report back now. If you need anything, you can find me at the 'Bronze Courtyard.'"

With that, she hurriedly left with Zhao Tie and Li Rui.

Lin Feng took the keys and followed the directions to the Tiezi Courtyard.

Before he even entered the courtyard, he heard a burst of noisy shouting and cursing from within.

"Newcomer! Don't you know the rules? Why haven't you greeted Brother Wei yet?"

In the center of the courtyard's Martial Arts Field, a dozen or so young men dressed in Demon Suppression Division uniforms were surrounding and pushing a newly arrived newcomer.

The leader was a tall young man with an arrogant gaze.

"Iron Medal Demon Slayer, Wei Jin."

Huang Fugui quickly reported the information in Lin Feng's mind. "He's a hack, but he has a cousin who is a Copper Medal Slayer. He's narrow-minded and loves to suppress newcomers. He's gathered a group of people to act like tyrants in the Tiezi Courtyard."

Lin Feng frowned slightly and ignored them, walking straight toward his room.

"Stop right there!"

Wei Jin had clearly noticed Lin Feng. With a flash of his body, he blocked Lin Feng's path, sizing him up with a gaze full of scrutiny and disdain.

"So you're that kid from Qingyang County named Lin Feng? I heard you got lucky and stumbled upon a great merit, which is why Team Leader Chu made an exception to promote you?"

His voice was loud and full of provocation. Everyone on the Martial Arts Field turned their gaze toward them with gloating smiles.

They loved watching this kind of scene where newcomers were suppressed.

Lin Feng glanced at him and said indifferently, "Is something the matter?"

"Is something the matter?"

Wei Jin acted as if he had heard a huge joke. "Kid, I don't care how impressive you were in the county towns below. Now that you're here, if you're a Dragon, you must coil up; if you're a tiger, you must lie down! In the Tiezi Courtyard, I, Wei Jin, have the final say! If you want to stay here, you have to follow my rules!"

He reached out and patted Lin Feng's cheek, an extremely insulting gesture.

"Every month, hand over half of your salary as a 'Protection Fee.' Also, when you see me, you must call me 'Brother Wei.' If you do that, I'll ensure you stay here safe and sound. If you don't..."

He leaned into Lin Feng's ear and said in a cold voice, "I will make you understand the meaning of a life worse than death."

It was a blatant threat and open extortion.

This was an 'Unspoken Rule' within the Demon Suppression Division and the first show of authority given to all newcomers.

However, Lin Feng's reaction exceeded everyone's expectations.

He wasn't angry or afraid; he just looked at Wei Jin calmly, his gaze as if he were looking at a dead man.

"Your hand is dirty."

"What did you say?!"

Wei Jin was stunned.

The next second.

Crack!

A crisp sound of bone shattering rang out!

Lin Feng acted like lightning, grabbing the hand Wei Jin had used to pat his face and giving it a gentle twist.

Wei Jin's entire arm instantly snapped backward at a bizarre angle, and jagged white bone even pierced through the skin!

"Ah—!!!"

A shrill scream, barely sounding human, suddenly erupted from Wei Jin's mouth!

The entire Tiezi Courtyard instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone stared at the scene before them in disbelief, their minds going blank.

This newcomer... actually dared to lay a hand on Brother Wei?!

And he crippled the other's arm in a single move?!

Has he gone mad?!

Silence.

A deathly silence.

The group of lackeys Wei Jin had brought were all frozen as if a binding spell had been cast on them, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads, completely unable to believe what they were seeing.

That was Brother Wei!

He was a veteran Iron Medal Slayer at the seventh layer of the Meridian Opening Realm, the undisputed hegemon of the Tiezi Courtyard!

He was actually crippled by a newly arrived newcomer in their first encounter?!

"My hand! My hand!"

Wei Jin clutched his arm, which was twisted like a pretzel, and rolled on the ground in pain, veins bulging on his forehead and cold sweat pouring down.

The way he looked at Lin Feng was filled with venomous resentment and disbelief.

He couldn't understand why the other party, who was clearly only at the ninth layer of the Meridian Opening Realm, would have such terrifying speed and power.

He didn't even have the chance to fight back!

"You... you're dead! You dare to commit violence and injure someone within the Demon Suppression Division? Just wait to have your cultivation destroyed and be expelled from the division!" Wei Jin roared, his voice trembling with false bravado.

Lin Feng looked down at him, his eyes showing no emotion.

"You were the one who made the first move. I was merely acting in self-defense."

He looked around at the lackeys who were as quiet as cicadas in winter, his voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"My rules are simple. There is only one."

"Don't mess with me.""}],