Chapter 311: Chapter 278 Demon Suppression Bell 1

According to Li Cheng’s understanding, Demon-suppressing Envoys were akin to mercenaries receiving a royal salary, engaged when needed and free to arrange their own affairs when not, drawing a significant stipend with a royal charter that granted them high status which no one dared to challenge.

However, to become a Demon-suppressing Envoy, one had to pass the assessments of the Demon-suppressing Department, and those who succeeded were one in ten thousand.

Li Cheng hesitated, knowing that having the status of a Demon-suppressing Envoy would not only spare him from being bothered by the inept, but also afford him great conveniences in the Imperial City. Just consider the largest royal trading company offering a twenty percent discount on purchases made inside, which was enough to tempt Li Cheng.

Yet, if he joined the Demon-suppressing Department, he would likely have to stay within the Kongqian Heaven Dynasty for a considerable length of time in the future.

But with low Cultivation, indeed, it was inconvenient to go anywhere.

“Then you must hasten to break through to the Heaven God State from the Divine Pill Realm. The Demon-suppressing Department only recruits powerhouses above the Heaven God level,” Kong Lianqing said while stroking Yin Yue’s head, her voice cool but imparting a sense of warmth to Yin Yue. “Don’t worry, Sister Kong. My foundation is stable, and my Cultivation has already reached the Completeness of the Divine Pill Realm. I only need the right opportunity to become a Heaven God,” Yin Yue said with a smile.

The Divine Power Baptism they underwent a few days ago had not only solidified her foundation but her Cultivation had also increased exponentially.

Li Cheng, what about you? Have you made up your mind these past few days?” Kong Lianqing asked, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Li Cheng looked at Kong Lianqing somewhat helplessly. She had been talking about matters related to the Demon-suppressing Department these past few days, causing Li Cheng to wonder if there was a reward for recruiting people into the department.

“What’s with that look in your eyes? It’s as if I’m trying to sell you to the Demon-suppressing Department. I’m purely thinking that you shouldn’t miss out on a good place like the Demon-suppressing Department, nor should they miss out on talent like you,” Kong Lianqing said.

Li Cheng nodded, “With what you’ve said, it would be ungracious of me not to accept. However, I can’t guarantee that I will pass the Demon-suppressing Department’s assessment.”

“With your insight, it shouldn’t be a problem at all,” Kong Lianqing assured him, her eyes betraying her pleasure.

She did not reveal how the Demon-suppressing Department conducted its assessments, seemingly a secret they kept from outsiders.

The next day, the three of them set off for Cloud Bright City. Once there, Kong Lianqing could use her Demon-suppressing Envoy status to take the Transmission Array to the Imperial City.

“The transmission from Cloud Bright City to the Imperial City requires three transfers, each costing a thousand Divine Stones. For the three of us, that amounts to twelve thousand Divine Stones. However, I have a Demon Suppression Order, and carrying a few people is free of charge, saving us twelve thousand Divine Stones.”

“Is it that expensive?”

Li Cheng raised an eyebrow; the transmission cost seemed exorbitant!

A top-grade inferior Divine Artifact could be sold for that much. Their group had just saved the equivalent value of a top-grade inferior Divine Artifact! “Indeed, it is expensive, which is why most Cultivators choose to travel by flying boat,” she explained.

Li Cheng pondered in silence. Setting such a high price meant the profits must be incredibly high—was it intentionally designed to fleece the wealthy?

Or perhaps, the high pricing was intentional to deter most people, prompting them to travel by flying boat, which surely had a purpose behind it.

Guided by Yin Yue, they easily bypassed the maze and arrived at Cloud Bright City around noon.

This was Li Cheng’s first encounter with a city in the Divine Realm. However, according to Kong Lianqing, Cloud Bright City was but a frontier town, remote and resource-poor, hence very impoverished.

Even so, the court had constructed a Transmission Array within the city, managed by the City Lord Mansion.

Upon presenting the Demon Suppression Token, the city lord personally escorted the trio to the Transmission Array, treating them with extraordinary respect.

This further solidified Li Cheng’s decision to join the Demon-suppressing Department; not for the sake of feeling superior, but because possessing a Demon Suppression Token truly made things more convenient.

If it had been him alone, the distinguished city lord would hardly have accompanied him to the Transmission Array, and might even have made things difficult.

After several transfers, they stepped out of the Transmission Array and found themselves in the Imperial City.

Be very cautious about using Divine Sense in the Imperial City. Not only are there Arrays suppressing Divine Sense here, but provoking another strong practitioner can be troublesome,” Kong Lianqing cautioned.

Without her warnings, Li Cheng already understood the protocol, but he was curious about how large the Imperial City was.

But since he was here, he would eventually find out.

“Sister Kong, how big is the Imperial City?” Yin Yue asked, voicing Li Cheng’s own curiosity.

Kong Lianqing led them out of the Transmission Array into a walled square, home to over a hundred Transmission Arrays, with many individuals coming and going.

The Imperial City is square with each side of the city wall stretching for 129,600 li. The city is divided into the Inner City and the Outer City, and right now we are in the Outer City. Follow me.”

Exiting the square brought them to a street over a hundred meters wide, bustling with traffic.

In the Imperial City, flying was permitted, but at strictly controlled altitudes of five to ten meters above the street. The flying lanes were also regulated, with lanes three meters wide, and deviations from the designated path were not allowed.

Li Cheng watched in amazement; this was essentially an advanced version of the freeway rules from his hometown.

The three of them didn’t fly but walked a few miles, and under Kong Lianqing’s lead, entered an estate.

“LinqingMansion? Sister Kong, could it be that the Demon-suppressing Department provided this residence for you?” Yin Yue asked curiously, looking at the plaque.

Kong Lianqing shook her head, “The residence provided by the Demon­suppressing Department is indeed an independent courtyard, but it’s very small and not comfortable to live in; I bought this myself.”

As they pushed the door open, they saw the estate occupied about four or five acres, with a small lake in the center taking up half of it. The surroundings were planted full of exotic flowers and rare herbs, with paths paved with white-jade­like stones.

“Miss Kong really knows how to enjoy life. Living in such a place, one would feel relaxed and joyful!” Li Cheng commented with a smile.

“I bought it 30,000 years ago when I was lucky. I slew a demon of the Heaven God State at the mid-stage and surprisingly obtained spoils of war worth a million Divine Stones, which was just enough to buy this little estate. Nowadays, some people are willing to pay ten times the price, but having lived here for so many years, why would I think of selling?” Kong Lianqing said with some emotion.

Li Cheng raised his eyebrows discreetly; now worth ten million Divine Stones? Unaffordable…

How many Divine Artifacts would that require forging?

“Sister Kong, an estate worth ten million Divine Stones, that’s a billion jin of Divine Rice; our village would take tens of thousands of years to produce that much…” Yin Yue was tongue-tied.

After a pause, Yin Yue’s eyes lit up, “Sister Kong, actually I have a method to quickly earn Divine Stones?”

“Oh?”

Both turned their attention towards Yin Yue.

Yin Yue’s eyes shone, “A Demon-suppressing Envoy can bring people to ride the Transmission Array for free, right? We could find those who need to use it and charge only half-price. If we bring a hundred people in one day, that would be an income of fifty thousand!”

Yin Yue looked astonished, and only after a while did she say, “Wouldn’t that be shameless of a Demon-suppressing Envoy? Even if being shameless is no issue, if the Demon-suppressing Department finds out, escape from death won’t be easy, especially since this matter would bring disgrace upon the Demon­suppressing Department…”

“Yama: You little clever demon!”

“There are plenty of rooms here; you can pick any you like,” Kong Lianqing changed the subject.

“Is the Demon-suppressing Department far? How about we go and try out first?” Li Cheng suggested.

Staying in someone else’s house was somewhat uncomfortable. If he could join the Demon-suppressing Department, he would settle for the small courtyard they provided at first!

Kong Lianqing looked at Li Cheng, “Do you not want to stay here or are you eager to join the Demon-suppressing Department?”

Of course, I’m eager to join the Demon-suppressing Department. I have always been curious about the mysterious assessment!”

Li Cheng spoke insincerely, but he did so without blushing or skipping a beat.

Kong Lianqing’s beautiful eyes sparkled continuously, she nodded and said, “The Demon-suppressing Department is in the Inner City. Let’s go!”

In the Inner City, just like the Outer City, walls separated it. As one stepped into the Inner City, they could clearly sense that the concentration of Heaven and Earth Divine Qi was more than ten times stronger!

The buildings here were clearly of a higher level than in the Outer City, and even the Divine Array that covered the Inner City was more advanced.

“Greetings to Demon-suppressing Envoy Kong!”

Upon arriving at the Demon-suppressing Department, people along the way kept saluting Kong Lianqing, including true gods.

Kong Lianqing simply nodded slightly in response.

They went straight to the grand entrance of the inner residence. Li Cheng curiously looked at the giant bronze bell suspended above the entrance corridor. Everyone entering and leaving the inner residence had to pass under the bronze bell. What was this bell used for?

Seeing Li Cheng staring at the bell, Kong Lianqing nodded, “That’s right, the assessment involves that bell!”

“This is the Demon Suppression Bell. You fly up there, reach out and touch the bell’s body, then feel carefully. If the Demon Suppression Bell rings, then you qualify to become a Demon-suppressing Envoy.”

Hearing this, Li Cheng nodded in understanding; it might be a test of perception, or perhaps there was something inside the bell that one needed to sense to cause it to ring.

Nonetheless, Li Cheng still curiously looked at Kong Lianqing, “No need to notify the higher-ups in the Demon-suppressing Department before the test?”

“If the bell rings, they’ll show up on their own!”

Li Cheng understood; indeed, why would the higher-ups come running only to find the bell silent? That would be a wasted trip.

With this thought, Li Cheng flew in front of the Demon Suppression Bell and slowly pressed his right hand towards it.