Chapter 154: I Am Indeed a Poor Man

Shen Changqing spotted a name.

Blood Rage Pill!

Effect: Increases Qi and blood by fifty percent for martial artists in the Innate Realm. For Grandmaster Realm martial artists, the increase ranges from ten to thirty percent, depending on individual strength. The more massive one’s Qi and blood, the lower the amplification effect. The effect lasts for fifteen minutes.

Side effects: Diminished effect, ranging from Qi and blood depletion in mild cases to Qi and blood backlash in severe cases, with the possibility of endangering life. Required merit points: 10.

"Blood Rage Pill!"

Reading the description, Shen Changqing was reminded of the Blood Burst Pill he had bought from the Pill Sect.

The difference being:

The Blood Burst Pill had limited applicability, offering no benefit to Grandmaster level martial artists.

The Blood Rage Pill, however, had a much higher ceiling.

Of course.

The floor was equally high.

The description alone made it clear that anyone below the Innate Realm couldn’t withstand the pill’s potency.

Possessing such a pill could prove incredibly useful in a pinch.

Qi and blood stimulation.

It could significantly boost a martial artist’s strength for a short period.

Fifteen minutes wasn’t a negligible duration; it could be a life-saver in a critical situation.

But—

Shen Changqing recoiled at the price.

Ten merit points.

He only had eighteen merit points to his name, at best, and could only afford to exchange for one pill, if he pushed it.

Flipping to the second page.

Another entirely new pill.

Similar to the Blood Rage Pill, this one was called the True Essence Pill.

Its effect was to stimulate the True Essence within the Dantian, allowing martial artists to unleash strength far beyond their normal capabilities.

After reviewing the description.

Shen Changqing realized that the True Essence Pill and the Blood Rage Pill were complementary. If both pills were consumed simultaneously, the increase in strength would be more comprehensive.

As for the exchange price.

It was identical to the Blood Rage Pill.

Clearly, these were items he couldn’t afford.

Shaking his head.

The more he looked through the list, the more Shen Changqing understood his poverty.

In the Earth-Rank Demon Slayer’s exchange list, the lowest price was ten merit points, with some items costing twenty or thirty merit points.

On second thought.

He found it reasonable.

Those who could become Earth-Rank Demon Slayers were all powerful.

A Grievance Rank monster yielded three to five merit points, while a Fiend Rank monster gave ten to thirty merit points. With higher merit point rewards, it made sense for the exchange prices to increase accordingly.

Moreover.

Although the items on the list were expensive, their effects were undeniable.

Turning another page, Shen Changqing paused.

Ice Spirit Tea!

Effect: Spirit tea harvested from glaciers. Long-term consumption can neutralize True Qi conflicts, cleanse impurities from the physical body and True Qi, and improve the quality of True Qi and the strength of the physical body.

Side effects: None. Required merit points: 0.5.

"As expected!"

Seeing the Ice Spirit Tea and recalling what Jiang Zuo had said in Jiang Zuo, Shen Changqing understood.

According to Jiang Zuo.

Black-Rank Demon Slaying Envoys could exchange one merit point for one gram of Ice Spirit Tea, with an annual limit of one hundred grams.

Now.

It was zero point five merit points per gram, half the price, and the exchange limit was increased fivefold.

Five hundred grams.

Converted, that was two hundred and fifty merit points.

Shen Changqing wasn’t sure if the average Earth-Rank Demon Slayer could accumulate that many merit points each year, but he knew he definitely couldn’t.

"Long-term consumption of Ice Spirit Tea has excellent effects, but it’s too expensive. If it’s not consumed long-term, it won’t have much of an effect. I’ll have to save it for later."

For almost half an hour.

Shen Changqing stood there, slowly turning through the list.

Because it was tailored to Earth-Rank Demon Slaying Envoys, many of the items had a significant effect on Grandmasters.

Of course.

The prices were uniformly expensive.

After turning to the last page, he returned the list.

"Thank you."

Shen Changqing expressed his gratitude and left the Treasure Hall.

He didn’t intend to take on any missions for the time being. After breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm, many issues remained unresolved. Taking on missions now would contradict his original purpose in returning to the Demon Suppression Division.

Leaving the Demon Slaying Hall.

Shen Changqing had planned to visit the Scripture Repository.

However.

Just as he was leaving the Demon Slaying Hall, he saw someone standing there waiting for him.

Jiang Zuo!

Shen Changqing was almost certain that Jiang Zuo was waiting for him.

As expected.

Upon seeing him emerge, Jiang Zuo approached.

"Brother Shen, did you successfully advance?"

"Indeed."

Seeing Shen Changqing nod in confirmation, Jiang Zuo’s eyes revealed an envious look.

"You’re probably the fastest person to advance to Earth-Rank Demon Slaying Envoy since the establishment of the Demon Suppression Division, without exception. I’ve been in the Demon Suppression Division for almost ten years, yet I’m still stuck in Black Rank. Compared to you, I’m quite ashamed."

"Brother Jiang’s promotion is only a matter of time."

Shen Changqing smiled faintly, not taking Jiang Zuo’s words to heart.

Then.

He changed the subject.

"Brother Jiang is waiting here specifically, not just to ask if I’ve advanced, right?"

Unless Jiang Zuo was exceptionally bored, he wouldn’t personally wait for him just for the sake of confirming his advancement.

"Lord Guardian has summoned you. Go there."

"Lord Guardian summoned me?" Shen Changqing’s expression faltered. "Which Lord Guardian?"

"I don’t know. You’ll find out when you get there."

Jiang Zuo shook his head, smiling wryly.

"I’m just a messenger. You can go there yourself. Anyway, you’ve been to the Council Hall before."

Council Hall.

Shen Changqing recalled the place he had visited with Jiang Zuo and nodded slightly.

He had indeed been there before.

"Alright, if you don’t have anything else to do, go there now. It wouldn’t be good to keep the Lord Guardians waiting for too long."

"Thank you for the message, Brother Jiang!"

Shen Changqing clasped his fist and headed toward the Council Hall.

The Council Hall.

It was a bit of a distance from the Demon Slaying Hall, but not too far, and having been there once before, he was familiar with the route.

However.

As he went, Shen Changqing’s mind was filled with speculation.

He couldn’t be sure.

What the Guardian wanted him for.

"Is it because of Mierba, or because I broke through to the Grandmaster Realm in less than three years?"

Shen Changqing’s mind churned with thoughts.

If it was the former, it should be more good than bad, but if it was the latter, he couldn’t determine the outcome.

Advancing to the Grandmaster Realm in such a short time would definitely arouse suspicion.

To that end.

He had made some preparations.

As Jiang Zuo said, if he kept his secrets to himself, the Guardians might not force him to reveal them.

"But—"

"If they really force me to reveal them, then I have to be ready to retreat!"

A cold glint flashed in Shen Changqing’s eyes.

The status panel was his greatest asset, something he couldn’t reveal to anyone. Moreover, the status panel couldn’t be replicated, and even if he told others, no one would believe him.

Furthermore.

He couldn’t reveal the status panel to anyone else.

If the Demon Suppression Division didn’t force him to reveal his secrets, that was fine, but if they did, Shen Changqing was prepared to leave the Demon Suppression Division.

The world was vast.

If the Demon Suppression Division couldn’t accommodate him, there were other places that would.

With his current strength, he could basically protect himself.

If a Grandmaster wasn’t capable of self-preservation, then this world would be too terrifying.

"Although the Great Qin is a powerful country in this world, this world is not just the Great Qin. There are other factions that stand alongside the Great Qin."

"Forget it, let’s see what happens first."

Shen Changqing’s expression remained unchanged as he continued toward the Council Hall.

He wasn’t sure of the Demon Suppression Division’s attitude, so there was no need to think so much.

In any case, his thoughts were set.

If the Demon Suppression Division didn’t pressure him, he would stay here peacefully. Although a Grandmaster wasn’t weak, the Demon Suppression Division was a larger backer, and having their support would increase his safety factor, much better than struggling alone.

But.

If the Demon Suppression Division was unreasonable, then he would have nothing to miss.

As his thoughts shifted, Shen Changqing arrived at the entrance to the Council Hall.

Just as he was wondering whether to go straight in, an ethereal voice echoed from within.

"Since you’re here, come in!"

The voice was unfamiliar.

Shen Changqing couldn’t recognize who it was.

Without hesitation.

He stepped into the Council Hall.

His sight was first plunged into darkness, then quickly turned to brightness. It was as if stepping over the threshold was stepping into two different worlds.

Walking forward.

Shen Changqing saw two people sitting at the head of the hall.

One was a completely unfamiliar face. If he didn’t know the other party’s identity, he would have thought he was an ordinary refined scholar.

However.

Only those of certain status could sit here.

The other person was Zhou Yuanzheng, whom he had met once before.

Shen Changqing strode forward, clasped his fist, and bowed.

"Earth-Rank Demon Slaying Envoy Shen Changqing greets the two Lord Guardians!"

"You may dispense with the formalities!"

A gentle voice rang out as the person in the center looked at him with a faint smile.

"You are Shen Changqing. As the saying goes, to see is to believe. I am Dongfang Zhao. You may not have heard of my name, but you certainly know my identity."

Shen Changqing was silent.

The name Dongfang Zhao was unfamiliar to him, but judging from their seating arrangement, it already proved much.

Both were Guardians.

Zhou Yuanzheng’s status was inferior to this Guardian Dongfang by a fraction.

As Shen Changqing thought to himself, Dongfang Zhao’s gentle voice came again.

"Don’t be nervous. The two of us summoned you here mainly to see you in person."

End of Chapter