24: Chapter 24 Merit is King

It wasn't until Lin Feng's figure vanished that the people in the courtyard snapped out of their daze, erupting into a sudden clamor.

"Madman! This guy is an absolute madman!"

"So ruthless! He goes for the kill over the slightest disagreement!"

"Now the show really begins. Wei Jin has a backer within the Division; this kid is definitely going to suffer for this!"

Inside his room, Lin Feng turned a deaf ear to the discussions outside.

He knew that as a newcomer, constant forbearance would only lead to intensified bullying.

Only through thunderous methods could he deter these scoundrels and secure a peaceful Cultivation environment for himself.

He opened the "Demon Suppression Division Introductory Handbook" Chu Mengxi had given him and began to study it carefully.

The handbook detailed the structure and rules of the Demon Suppression Division.

The entire Nanyan Prefecture Demon Suppression Division was led by a Silver-Rank Supervisor.

An unfathomable Danyuan Realm powerhouse.

Beneath him were thirteen Copper Medal Demon Suppression Envoys, all at the Peak of the True Qi Realm.

Below the Copper Medals were dozens of Iron Medal Demon Slayers, generally at the middle to high stages of the Meridian Opening Realm.

At the very bottom were hundreds of Unranked Recruits, with Cultivation ranging from Body Tempering to the Meridian Opening Realm.

To gain a foothold, earn promotions, and obtain better resources within the Demon Suppression Division, the only way was to earn "merit points."

Slaying demons, solving sinister cases, and completing tasks assigned by the Division could all earn the corresponding merit points.

merit points were the only hard currency within the Demon Suppression Division.

They could be used to exchange for Cultivation Techniques, Martial Skills, Sharp Weapons, and Spirit Pills.

"Doing tasks to farm mobs—that works out perfectly."

Lin Feng understood the situation.

The next day, Wei Jin did not reappear, presumably having gone to heal his wounds and call for reinforcements.

Lin Feng was happy for the peace and went straight to the Armory.

The Demon Suppression Division's Armory was many times larger than the one in Qingyang County, standing three stories tall.

The first floor housed basic Cultivation Techniques and some low-tier Martial Skills, open to all Demon Slayers.

The second floor required the status of an Iron Medal or higher and the expenditure of a small amount of merit points to browse.

The third floor was only accessible to Copper Medal Envoys; every Cultivation Technique and Martial Skill inside was worth a fortune.

Although Lin Feng now held the status of an Iron Medal, his merit points were zero.

His goal for this trip was to see if there were any movement techniques more Advanced than Wind-Following Steps.

However, when he reached the entrance of the Armory, he was blocked by two deacons in charge of guarding it.

"Halt! The Armory is a restricted area; unauthorized personnel are forbidden!"

These two deacons were Wei Jin's close associates.

Clearly, they had received orders to make things difficult for Lin Feng here.

Lin Feng produced his Iron Medal token: "I am the newly promoted Demon Slayer Lin Feng, here to browse Martial Skills."

"A newcomer?"

One of the deacons said with a forced smile, "Apologies, the Armory is undergoing an inventory check today and is temporarily closed. Come back tomorrow."

"Inventory check?"

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. He had clearly seen people entering and leaving the Armory just moments ago.

This was obviously an excuse.

"What? Do you have an objection?"

The other deacon took a step forward, the aura of the fourth level of the Meridian Opening Realm faintly radiating from him.

"We are acting on orders. If you dare to cause trouble here, you are defying Division regulations, and we can take you down on the spot!"

They were certain Lin Feng wouldn't dare to make a move here.

Private fighting in the restricted area of the Armory was a serious crime.

Lin Feng looked at these two clowns and sneered inwardly. He didn't argue and simply turned to leave.

"Tch, I thought he was tough, but he's just a coward!"

"Exactly. He offended Brother Wei; does he really think he can survive in the Demon Suppression Division? Dream on!"

The mocking voices drifted from behind him, but Lin Feng ignored them.

He didn't return to the dormitory but instead went straight to the Division's Mission Hall.

The Mission Hall was bustling with people. A massive Profound Crystal Wall displayed various tasks in a scrolling list.

[Task: Clear out the Black Wind Ridge mountain bandits in the south of the city. Reward: 50 merit points.]

[Task: Investigate the disappearance of the wealthy Merchant Li. Reward: 60 merit points.]

[Task: Hunt a second-rank Yao Beast, the Iron-Back Azure Wolf, and retrieve its core. Reward: 300 merit points.]

...

Lin Feng's gaze swept quickly across the stone wall, searching for a task suitable for him.

Just then, a sarcastic voice sounded beside him.

"Oh, isn't this the tough guy who dared to cripple one of Brother Wei's hands the moment he arrived? What, got kicked out of the Armory and came here to earn merit points?"

Lin Feng turned to look; it was several more of Wei Jin's lackeys.

It seemed this group was determined to keep hounding him.

"Kid, let me give you a piece of advice."

The leading youth pointed to a blood-red task at the very bottom of the stone wall, laughing maliciously:

"See that task? 'Crying Ghost Mine,' a three-star difficulty extermination mission. It's been hanging there for three months. Seven or eight groups have taken it, and not a single person has come back alive. If you really have the guts, take that one. If you can complete it, we'll step aside whenever we see you from now on!"

This was an overt plot, a set-up intended to use a suicidal mission to eliminate Lin Feng.

Hearing this, the surrounding Demon Slayers all looked on with expressions of anticipation for a good show.

The Crying Ghost Mine was a notorious deathly Forbidden Ground within the Nanyan Prefecture Demon Suppression Division.

It was said to be occupied by an extremely powerful evil ghost, and even several Iron Medal Envoys had perished inside.

Everyone believed Lin Feng would never dare to take it.

However, as Lin Feng looked at that blood-red task, a flicker of intense interest flashed in his eyes.

[Three-Star Extermination Task: Crying Ghost Mine]

[Task Description: An abandoned iron mine thirty miles outside the city. Recently, there have been frequent disappearances of miners. At night, the sound of ghosts crying is often heard, and the resentment is overwhelming. Preliminary investigation indicates a large number of wraiths and an unknown powerful Yao Beast reside within.]

[Task Reward: 1,500 merit points, and a choice of any one Cultivation Technique.]

"Unknown powerful Yao Beast?"

"1,500 merit points?"

Lin Feng smiled.

This wasn't poison; this was clearly a gift package tailor-made for him!

He walked up to the mission counter and, under the shocked gazes of everyone present, reached out and tapped the blood-red task.

"I'll take this task."

"He... he actually took it?!"

"Crazy! He's absolutely insane! A newcomer actually dares to take a three-star difficulty death mission!"

"I bet he won't even make it through the mine entrance before being torn apart by the resentment outside!"

The Mission Hall instantly erupted. Everyone looked at Lin Feng as if he were a fool or a dead man walking.

The lackeys of Wei Jin who had deliberately provoked him were first surprised and then overjoyed, cruel smiles appearing on their faces.

In their eyes, Lin Feng was undoubtedly going to his death.

Even the deacon responsible for issuing missions couldn't help but offer a word of caution.

"Lin Feng, have you thought this through? This task is no small matter; we have already lost thirteen skilled men from the Demon Suppression Division, including a Copper Medal Envoy. Once accepted, your life is in fate's hands."

"I've thought it through."

Lin Feng's answer was crisp and decisive.

He took the mission scroll and, under the complicated gazes of the crowd, turned and left.

Upon hearing the news, Chu Mengxi found Lin Feng immediately.

"Are you crazy?"

"Do you have any idea what kind of place the Crying Ghost Mine is? The resentment there is enough to make a Meridian Opening Realm Martial Artist lose their mind and become a living corpse! Why did you take this task? Did Wei Jin and the others force you?!"

She thought Lin Feng had been goaded into acting on impulse.

"No."

Lin Feng shook his head. "I need merit points, and I also need... tempering. Besides, you know my strength."

Chu Mengxi for a moment didn't know what to say.

From his eyes, she saw not a hint of bravado or impulsiveness, only absolute confidence.

"...Fine."

Finally, Chu Mengxi sighed, took out a white jade porcelain bottle from her robe, and handed it over.

"This is a 'Heart-Clearing Pill'; it can stabilize your mind and resist the invasion of resentment. Remember, if it's impossible, withdraw immediately. As long as the green mountains remain, one need not worry about firewood."

"Thank you."

Lin Feng did not refuse her kindness and accepted the pill.

That afternoon, Lin Feng set out alone on his horse, leaving the Nanyan Prefecture capital and heading toward the Crying Ghost Mine thirty miles away.