But this unknown young man, just by relying on sheer blood courage, shattered his pride completely.
He thought ti would fade everything away.
However, when he heard the na 'Song Chai Xin' once again from his teacher, the Law Enforcent Elder of the Demon-locking Forest,
his heart was in turmoil.
Especially when...
he learned that this young man had unexpectedly transford into a Seventh-Grade Guardian, he was astounded beyond asure.
With mixed emotions, he arrived at Black Mountain.
Cui Chan didn't know how to face this young peer, the Guardian.
But the forr Song Chai Xin was weak, of mixed blood, and taciturn, yet had a deep relationship with the young palace master of the Yunluan, who was as dazzling as the Ming Pearl.
These factors combined inevitably made him the target of envy.
But what about the current Song Chai Xin?
He is completely different from before.
Once like a weed on the ground, easily trampled.
And now?
In scarlet attire, he claims territory, in just two years!
This kind of achievent...
If one still dismisses it solely based on his half-demon identity,
it's desecrating the governnt office status and martial accolades that Song Chai Xin possesses!
And as a martial artist climbing the path of cultivation,
Cui Chan cannot look down upon a seventeen-year-old Great Innate.
Especially when the disciples he brought along were inferior to him.
"Hey, do you think those dozens of recent massacres are related to the new Black Mountain Guardian?"
"How could they not be? Can demons be good? I heard that upon arrival, he beheaded several major figures from the Military Departnt and sons of noble clans, along with so demon heads, eradicated clans with ruthless thods!"
"But isn't that a good thing? There weren't many good people among those noble clans..."
"Isn't that a ans to eliminate dissidents? This power struggle above always goes like this, and even more so with demons!"
"Anyways, for us at the bottom, we're nothing but resources, unable to see any prospects of rising, just toiling away all our lives only to end in the grave... We'll never make it to an official position in this lifeti, alas!"
"Shh, an important person is coming, be careful not to get heard and beheaded without reason, let's go!"
Walking on the muddy path of Black Mountain,
the clean and tidy Yunluan Daoist robess of Cui Chan's group drew significant attention.
At the sa ti, with acute senses,
he clearly heard the appraisal of the Outer City residents regarding the new Guardian.
In addition, the Yunluan disciples accompanying him began whispering.
For a mont, even he was sowhat hesitant in his stance.
As the saying goes, "gossip is a fearful thing".
Could it be...
Song Chai Xin really is such a person?
Yet,
as Cui Chan's emotions were complex,
when they arrived at the Outer City Governnt Office, and were about to step into the Inner City and head to the Demon Suppression Bureau Chief 'Ruan Xiuxiu' to gather information...
they suddenly saw an imposing figure in scarlet attire standing prominently in front of the office, punching a golden bronze giant bell, which sounded nine tis instantly, drawing a large crowd from the Outer City!
Beside him, constables with drawn sabers served respectfully, with two separating to post notices.
This person exuded an extraordinary aura, with refined features, being a distinguished gentleman in chaotic tis, and with the scarlet officer's robe, looking even more majestic and awe-inspiring.
He surveyed the surroundings, looking at the confused onlookers, lightly opened his lips and said:
"This Guardian has been in office for seven days. The accomplishnts that you do not understand will not be elaborated on. From now on, I will only tell you three things."
He raised three fingers:
"The first thing is to reduce taxes, from five parts to three, while setting a Zhenjin Bell at the Outer City 'Office'. Anyone who can master a form of martial art and ring the bell three tis or more..."
"Can be registered as an official, becoming a constable or martial soldier, entering the governnt office system, and granted martial arts cultivation!"
On both sides, the constables posted notices from the office, clearly stating this in black and white, causing the onlookers to stare at each other in astonishnt.
This could be a genuinely good thing! Has the new Guardian lost his greed?
If the first sentence only slightly delighted people...
then the second was shocking.
What are constables and martial soldiers?
In the past, it was all hereditary and unchanging!
Since the establishnt of the Great Zhao, it has hardly changed!
Usually, even when supplenting manpower, it was recruiting martial artists, with stringent requirents, offering no opportunities for promotion to those below.
Iron governntal officials, fleeting citizens, this had always been Black Mountain's rule!
But now...
It can be foreseen that the annual quota will be extrely scarce, and succeeding in martial arts... is very difficult.
But at least it's a path to ascension!
Even if one must sell everything, they should learn martial techniques to seize this opportunity!
"The second thing is setting up a 'Hunting Registry', slightly below official registry. Henceforth, hunters can keep all the at they hunt after paying three-tenths in silver coins, and for any classified supernatural creatures, they can be offered to the office for rewards!"
So burly n with iron bows and wearing sophisticated outfits were already shocked that 'officials' now had promotion opportunities.
Upon hearing this, they were taken aback even more.
Black Mountain City has the most hunters.
Because of its proximity to the Northwest Wilderness, with countless mountains and valuable treasures everywhere, in the past, the governnt office exploited them ruthlessly. How co now after the new appointee...
Plans to change the order, to grant them wealth?
Henceforth, commoners → hunters → constables...
This, as long as one is committed to honing skills, is not impossible!
But the forr Commander of the Military Departnt was rumored to have contractual agreents with those mountain demons, and although the new appointee is also a Great Demon by hearsay...
There's no guarantee he won't break the agreent and act in daylight.
But before these people could fully process their excitent or concerns.
The young guardian raised a third finger:
"The third thing is..."
"This guardian intends to break the mountain and destroy temples, to cleanse Black Mountain!"
"To make the land within hundreds of miles devoid of 'demons', allowing all the natural treasures of the mountains to be held firmly within Black Mountain's grasp!"
As the simple words were spoken.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!!
From the Inner City, three hundred armored martial soldiers ford a military formation, capable of encircling and slaying several Great Innate, heading towards the Outer City Governnt Office in response!
Accompanying them were sotis unwilling martial artists from Martial Arts Street.
They had no choice.
They were sold to the guardian by their elders, as part of transactions, including so Great Innate experts, who couldn't escape either.
No choice!
These seismic changes,
also left the people, originally watching, speechless, unable to voice a single word of slander.
Indeed, Song Chai Xin's breaking of mountains and temples to exterminate demons was not devoid of motives to refine his Demon Suppression Dao Qi for self-improvent.
But in the eyes of those unaware...
This,
is a living embodint of a righteous chief official!
Who said he was a demon?
The one who said that is the demon instead!
As news spread from one to ten, from ten to a hundred.
Defamation naturally turns into the most glorious praise.
This is reality.
Perhaps, soday in the future, it will reverse again.
But at least for now...
He, Song Chai Xin,
is supre!
The Yunluan Mountain disciples accompanying Cui Chan were struck speechless by this commotion.
At this mont,
Ruan Xiuxiu, wielding the Yunluan Sword and wearing the Demon Hunting Robe, arrived on horseback, spotting Cui Chan imdiately, then leapt down, giving him a heavy pat on the shoulder, causing him to hiss 'ah':
"Brother Cui,"
"do you still rember the 'Song Chai Xin' who lost to you in martial arts years ago?"
"Look at him now!"
The woman pointed afar with pride in her eyes as if sharing glory and disgrace together.
Cui Chan looked into the distance, locking eyes with Song Chai Xin's gaze,
seeing the usual deanor of the scarlet guardian as he slowly nodded towards him, seemingly having long forgotten the past events.
And on this day, Cui Chan recalled the young man from two years ago.
But could never find...
that shadow of the past.
(PS: Regarding the cultivation levels, it is placed in the free section below, so it is not charged. I specifically noted for those who are unclear.)
(But honestly, those who can read to this point should understand, right?)
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