Regarding Meinv, Shen Changqing had grown very familiar with her. He had to visit the Demon-Subduing Prison six times each month, and each time he entered, the first Strange Monster he saw would be her.
However, Meinv's appearance was the same each time, no different from before. As time went by, Shen Changqing almost mistook that seductive woman to genuinely be Meinv herself.
In two months' time, he would punctually head to the Scripture Pavilion every five days. Besides searching for other Martial Arts, he also looked for information about Demon Evils and Strange Monsters.
These matters, in principle, he could have clarified by consulting some official Demon Hunters. Unfortunately, the Huang Department's Demon Hunting Court was vast, but Shen Changqing didn't know any official Demon Hunters, so he had no way to inquire about certain things. As for Liu Chang, he would have been a suitable person to ask. Although Liu Chang's attitude had softened somewhat, he never answered his questions, only saying what he wanted to say.
In this respect, Shen Changqing greatly admired the Demon-Subduing Division's hands-off approach. They recruited newcomers and taught them only basic rules. For everything else, they taught nothing, leaving individuals to figure things out on their own.
Therefore, he could only rely on himself to find some information in the Scripture Pavilion. Fortunately, while the Scripture Pavilion might lack in other areas, its records of Demon Evils and Strange Monsters were exceedingly abundant. If one went to the relevant section, any book pulled randomly from the shelf would contain similar information.
Gradually, Shen Changqing also came to understand a lot more about Demon Evils and Strange Monsters.
"In the thirty-first year of the Great Qin, the Sun and Moon gave no light, stars fell from the sky accompanied by meteoric fire, and on that same day, Demon Evils and Strange Monsters brought chaos to the world, plunging it into turmoil. To maintain stability, the Great Qin established the Demon-Subduing Division, tasked with slaying Demon Evils, suppressing Strange Monsters, and clearing the world to preserve peace!"
Looking at Meinv before him, Shen Changqing recalled the information stored in his mind.
It was clear that Demon Evils and Strange Monsters had not existed since time immemorial; they had suddenly appeared in the thirty-first year of the Great Qin. The present year was the three hundred and eighty-first of the Great Qin. This meant that Demon Evils and Strange Monsters had existed for over three hundred years. The Demon-Subduing Division was established after these creatures appeared. While its history was slightly shorter than that of the Demon Evils and Strange Monsters, it also spanned over three hundred years.
To think I always assumed that so-called Demon Evils and Strange Monsters emerged only after various mishaps when a person died—it seems I overthought it— Shen Changqing shook his head slightly, then promptly left the cell where Meinv resided.
For over three hundred years, the Great Qin hadn't figured out the origins of these things. Even though he was very curious, he couldn't learn much. However, there was also the possibility that the Great Qin had already understood the origins of Demon Evils and Strange Monsters but had sealed the information for certain reasons. But regardless of which it was, it wasn't something a mere novice Demon Hunter like him could get involved in.
Passing Meinv's cell, Shen Changqing walked past one cell after another, completing his inspection of the second level in less than half an hour.
After completing the inspection, he had no intention of leaving but instead went straight to the third level.
Just as he entered the third level, a shadow fell into his line of sight. Shen Changqing's expression tensed, and he instinctively circulated his Pure Yang True Qi while fixing his gaze on the shadow.
He saw that the shadow wasn't a Demon Evil or Strange Monster as he had anticipated, but a Demon Hunter. Observing the other's robe, Shen Changqing understood that the person, just like himself, was a novice Demon Hunter.
Strange, isn't it my day to patrol the third level? Why is there another novice Demon Hunter here!
Seeing Shen Changqing, Meng Shan frowned slightly. Patrolling each level of the Demon-Subduing Prison only required one person. When he took on the task, he had never seen another novice Demon Hunter on the third level.
Though curious, Meng Shan didn't show it much. He simply cupped his fist slightly. "Meng Shan, novice Demon Hunter from the Xuan Department. And you are?"
"Shen Changqing, novice Demon Hunter from the Huang Department!" Shen Changqing replied, also cupping his fist.
He hadn't expected to encounter someone from the Xuan Department's Demon Hunting Court here.
After a brief exchange, neither of them said much more. After a slight nod, they passed by each other.
Standing at the exit of the third level, Meng Shan couldn't help but look back. He immediately saw Shen Changqing's figure heading straight toward the entrance to the fourth level without any hesitation.
This scene shocked him.
Daring to go to the fourth level is not something an ordinary Pulse Condensation Realm practitioner can do. When did the Huang Department's Demon Hunting Court get such a formidable novice Demon Hunter!?
As someone who had been around for more than half a year, Meng Shan was very aware of the dangers present on the fourth level of the Demon-Subduing Prison. Even he, now just one step away from the Pulse Condensation Realm, dared not venture to the fourth level. Yet a novice Demon Hunter was bold enough to do so. The other party was either courting death or possessed formidable strength, enough to rival an actual Demon Hunter.
Huang Department's Demon Hunting Court, Shen Changqing! Meng Shan mentally noted the name. A novice Demon Hunter qualified to go to the fourth level, if he survived, undoubtedly possessed extraordinary strength. In the future, once he became an official Demon Hunter, he might have dealings with this individual.
However, he had no intention of secretly probing too much. In the Demon-Subduing Division, snooping on others' privacy without authorization could lead to a fatal disaster. Moreover, in Meng Shan's view, Shen Changqing's strength was far superior to his own. Unless he had a death wish, he wouldn't be foolish enough to court disaster.
Meanwhile, Shen Changqing had already stepped onto the fourth level. The novice Demon Hunter from the Xuan Department he'd just encountered was a trivial matter. He had noted Meng Shan's name but had no other plans for the time being.
In the past, Shen Changqing had come to the Demon-Subduing Prison no less than ten times, but he had never intended to enter the fourth level. But this time was different. Two days ago, his Pure Yang Technique had officially broken through to the third level. His Pure Yang Technique had nine levels, so breaking through to the third level was a minor achievement. Shen Changqing felt the Pure Yang True Qi in his Dantian was almost twice as potent as the True Qi from his previous Thirteen Taibao Body Hardening Technique.
Therefore, he had entered the fourth level.
It's been a long time since my Slaughter Value increased. Fourth level, don't disappoint me!
As he withstood the assault of the chilling air, his Pure Yang True Qi automatically circulated, neutralizing the coldness within his body. Shen Changqing then walked towards the first cell.
The layout of the fourth level was roughly the same as the previous two levels.
Approaching the first cell, he was immediately assaulted by a thick, pungent smell of blood. The intensity of the blood stench was so overwhelming that even Shen Changqing, who was accustomed to the smell of blood, felt a strong sense of discomfort.
He took a small step back and peered intently into the cell. There, he saw a creature covered in green scale armor, roughly human-sized but with unnaturally long arms and a featureless face, forcefully bound. Its limbs, head, and other parts of its body were all penetrated by thick iron spikes, immobilizing it. Despite obvious struggles, not a single drop of blood flowed from its wounds.
A Demon Evil! Shen Changqing's face changed immediately upon seeing the creature nailed in the cell.
Demon Evils! Those were a higher order of beings than Strange Monsters. Any single one of them, if left unchecked, possessed the power to slaughter an entire city. He had only seen illustrations of Demon Evils in the Scripture Pavilion, never a living one. This Demon Evil before him was the first he had seen.
Gazing at the Demon Evil, Shen Changqing could keenly feel the violent aura emanating from it and the nauseating stench of blood. The longer he looked, the more an uncontrollable fear welled up inside him. He forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his heart.
Though Demon Evils were strong, the cells of the Demon-Subduing Prison were not so easily breached. Although the cells appeared simple, they were equipped with numerous measures for isolation and sealing. Otherwise, the imprisoned Demon Evils and Strange Monsters would have long since escaped.
Although his gaze remained on the Demon Evil, Shen Changqing's attention was already on his interface.
Strange!
Why isn't there any change?
A few minutes passed. The Slaughter Value on the interface remained unchanged, and Shen Changqing's expression grew increasingly grim.
The Slaughter Value he had obtained previously all came from the remains of Demon Evils—
Wait, the remains of a Demon Evil! Grasping the crux of the issue, Shen Changqing immediately withdrew his attention from the interface and once again scrutinized the Demon Evil before him.
The remains of a Demon Evil could provide Slaughter Value, but the living Demon Evil in front of him could not.
So the question arose: there must be some difference between the two that prevented him from gaining Slaughter Value. The most obvious difference was that the remains of a Demon Evil, strictly speaking, were dead. Though they appeared alive, they weren't truly living in any meaningful sense. Shen Changqing had learned this from the Scripture Pavilion. The remains of a Demon Evil were not living, but the Demon Evil before him clearly was.
Having sorted through these connections, Shen Changqing confirmed one thing.
Slaughter Value can only be obtained from dead Demon Evils; it's not possible to get it from living ones.
Similarly, if Slaughter Value cannot be obtained from living Demon Evils, then it certainly cannot be obtained from living Strange Monsters either. That must be why I didn't get any Slaughter Value from those Strange Monsters on the second level.
Having pieced together the logic, Shen Changqing now understood his interface much better. At least he now had a general idea of how to obtain Slaughter Value. What remained was to verify it through practice.
But Shen Changqing also understood that he was currently unable to verify this. He had no authority to kill the Demon Evils and Strange Monsters in the Demon-Subduing Prison. Furthermore, with his current strength, he was also incapable of killing anything imprisoned there.
This will have to wait for later! Shen Changqing took a deep breath. Undeterred, he continued to inspect the other cells on the fourth level.
Unfortunately, all the beings imprisoned on the fourth level were living Demon Evils.
In the end, he could only leave, feeling helpless.