"Fengzhou, Gu Zheng."

"Luozhou, Zuo Lingfeng."

"Haha, Hongzhou, Xiao Xianya!"

Gu Zheng and the other two clasped their fists in greeting one by one.

"Hey, a sister! I was starting to think I was the only woman here."

Zhao Danv raised her hand and gave Xiao Xianya a wave.

"Sister Zhao, from the back or the side, you look just like a man," Jiang Hao said, lifting his chin with a teasing smile. "Take me, for example. When I first saw you, I thought you were one of the guys."

"Hahaha!"

Zhao Danv didn’t get angry at all. Instead, she let out a hearty laugh. "Sometimes I think I’m a man too, but my monthly visitor always reminds me that I’m still a woman! Hahaha..."

Gu Zheng was speechless.

So was Zuo Lingfeng.

And Huang Dajin.

Even Jiang Hao himself was left at a loss for words.

That didn’t stop him from giving Zhao Danv a thumbs-up in admiration, however.

She was too much.

She was completely unfiltered, without a hint of awkwardness.

Xiao Xianya, by contrast, looked a little embarrassed.

"Sister Zhao, what did you do before all this?"

Xiao Xianya changed the subject. "I just goofed around all day. I had no interest in things like embroidery. I was always swinging swords and staffs, and I almost became a wandering heroine in the Martial World."

"Me? I was a pig butcher," Zhao Danv said with a grin, speaking frankly. "I wasn’t interested in embroidery and stuff either, and I never got the chance to try. My days were all about finding pigs, picking pigs, slaughtering pigs, and selling pork."

"Any of you gentlemen need a pig slaughtered, you can come to me! My butchering skills are famous for miles around. I won’t waste a single drop of blood!"

"...If the opportunity arises, we’ll be sure to call on you, Sister Zhao." Gu Zheng cupped his fist.

In terms of age, Zhao Danv was the oldest, and she had a forthright personality.

"Then it’s a deal."

Zhao Danv returned the gesture to Gu Zheng. "Gu, you’re from Fengzhou, right? And you cleared several Tier-2 passageways there?"

Gu Zheng replied, "It was all just luck."

"Luck is a part of strength," Zhao Danv said, raising a hand. "After the conferral ceremony, if you have nothing else to do, Gu, how about we tackle a Tier-3 passageway together?"

"Tackle a Tier-3 passageway?"

Jiang Hao rolled his eyes. "Sister Zhao, we just broke through to the Heroic Body Realm. If we go charging into a Tier-3 passageway and into the Demon Realm now, the chance of us getting killed is ninety-nine-point-nine percent. Are you sure about this?"

"Yeah, yeah."

Huang Dajin chimed in, his voice tinged with nervousness. "We should wait. It won’t be too late to tackle a Tier-3 passageway once we’ve gotten a bit stronger."

Just as Gu Zheng was about to reply, a gentle yet powerful and magnetic voice sounded from behind them.

"Dajin is right. You are all the future of the Demon Slayer Bureau. Having just broken through to the Heroic Body Realm, your current priority should be to solidify your new cultivation."

Xu Jianzhu walked in with great strides, his hands clasped behind his back.

Following him was a man in his sixties, who smiled warmly at Gu Zheng and the other five.

"Everyone, this is the Grand Director of our Demon Slayer Bureau, Xu Jianzhu, Lord Xu!"

The old man gestured and made the introduction.

"Greetings, my lord!"

Gu Zheng straightened up and saluted with a cupped fist.

"Greetings, my lord!"

Zuo Lingfeng, Xiao Xianya, Huang Dajin, and the others all saluted in unison.

"No need for such formalities. Please, everyone, relax."

Xu Jianzhu raised a hand, smiling as he walked over to stand calmly before the six of them.

"I assume you all know each other now, so I don’t need to make introductions, do I?"

"No need, no need," Xiao Xianya said with a wave of her hand. "Gu, Zuo, and I met back in Hongzhou. We even joined forces to destroy a Rule Array Hub. That Rule Array Hub was a funny one—it was actually a moving stone statue."

"A moving stone statue?"

Hearing this, Zhao Danv chimed in, "The strangest Rule Array Hub I encountered was a mountain yam. It was hiding underground, and I only found it at the very end of the seven-day buffer period. I almost ran out of time."

"So how did you find it in the end?" Xiao Xianya asked curiously.

"Luck," Zhao Danv grinned. "At the end, I threw my Bone-Chopping Blade just to vent my frustration, and it just so happened to slice into the yam."

"Amazing!" Xiao Xianya gave her a thumbs-up.

"Haha, you too." Zhao Danv raised a hand, then looked at Xu Jianzhu. "Lord Xu, when does the conferral ceremony start? Do we have to wait for the last one, Luo Cheng, to get here so we can all do it together?"

"No need."

Xu Jianzhu shook his head slightly. "Luo Cheng’s conferral was completed yesterday. He broke through to the Heroic Body Realm the day before. Early this morning, he already left for the Tier-3 passageway at Dahuashan in the east."

"He’s that diligent?" Zhao Danv’s face showed admiration.

"Luo Cheng is very diligent, but so are all of you," Xu Jianzhu said, smiling at the six of them. "To be able to break through to the Heroic Body Realm in such a short time is a great achievement. You all deserve a reward!"

"Present the seals!" the old man at the side called out, turning toward the door. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

TAP, TAP, TAP—

The sound of orderly footsteps echoed from outside the main gate.

As Gu Zheng, Zuo Lingfeng, and the others turned, they saw a group of Internal Affairs staff emerge from the left and right sides of the hall. They formed six rows and converged in the open space outside.

Each person was holding a box, varying in size and material.

"Fengzhou, Gu Zheng."

Xu Jianzhu called out, and one row of Internal Affairs staff immediately stepped forward to the entrance.

The staff member at the very front presented the Jade Box they were holding. With a wave of Xu Jianzhu’s hand, the Jade Box flew through the air and landed in his palms.

"Gu Zheng, this is your Grand General Seal. Please keep it safe."

Xu Jianzhu held the Jade Box with both hands and placed it before Gu Zheng.

"Thank you, my lord!"

Gu Zheng took a step back and extended both hands to receive the Jade Box.

"There is also the Great Sun Armor, a Cloak, a Profound Pill, a Soul Condensing Pill, and an Earth Pill." Xu Jianzhu pointed to the other staff members lined up and the boxes they held. "Take those as well. The Earth Pill at the end is stored in a Jade Bottle."

Then, Xu Jianzhu looked at the others. "The Earth Pill is most effective when breaking through to the Heroic Body: Melting Furnace. If you’re not in a hurry to refine it, you can save it for later."

"Yes, sir!"

Xiao Xianya, Gu Zheng, Zuo Lingfeng, and the other three responded in unison.

Afterward, Gu Zheng, holding the Jade Box, walked to the entrance. He took the Great Sun Armor, Cloak, and other items from the Internal Affairs staff and placed them all into his Storage Pouch.

He did not open any of the boxes during this process.

Zuo Lingfeng and the others also had their Grand General Seals presented to them one by one by Xu Jianzhu.

They then took their Great Sun Armor, Cloaks, and other items, storing them in their respective Storage Pouches.

Aside from Jiang Hao, who opened his boxes to inspect them, none of the others did.

Xu Jianzhu watched with a smile.

Once all six had received their rewards, he announced in a clear voice, "As for your Middle-Grade Spiritual Soldiers, you will follow Elder Yang to the armory to choose one for yourselves shortly."

"Next, I want to mention that in one month, the Third Prince is getting married. We will need people to maintain order. If the six of you have no other plans, you might consider helping out."

"There’s a reward, of course!"

Xu Jianzhu chuckled. "If you agree, you will immediately receive a Fifth-Turn Treasure Pill—you can choose the effect. After the wedding, you will receive two more Fifth-Turn Treasure Pills! You can choose their effects as well."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Danv was the first to respond. "Count me in!"

"I... I’ll come too," Huang Dajin said with an honest smile.

"Count me in as well," Jiang Hao added.

"Well... I’ll have to see," Gu Zheng said after a moment of thought. "I can’t commit right now."

"I’ll wait and see too," Xiao Xianya chimed in.

"I’ll wait as well," Zuo Lingfeng agreed.

"No matter."

Xu Jianzhu smiled. "You have until three days before the wedding to decide. For now, please follow Elder Yang to the armory and select your Middle-Grade Spiritual Soldiers."

"Grand Generals, please follow this old man." Elder Yang gestured for Gu Zheng, Xiao Xianya, and the others to follow him.

Gu Zheng was the first to follow.

Xiao Xianya was right behind him.

Zuo Lingfeng, Zhao Danv, Jiang Hao, and Huang Dajin followed in order.

The group of six followed Elder Yang into the armory of the Demon Slayer Bureau headquarters.

The moment they stepped through the gate, a sharp aura rushed to greet them.

The Spiritual Soldiers hummed, as if they were crying out.

Upon promotion to Demon-slaying Grand General, in addition to treasures like the Profound Pills, Soul Condensing Pills, Great Sun Armor, and Cloak, each person also received a Middle-Grade Spiritual Soldier.

Since Gu Zheng cultivated a Saber Technique, he naturally chose a Battle Blade named Red Abyss.

Compared to his Celestial Frost Blade, its body was narrower and a bit longer.

However, its properties were the opposite of the Celestial Frost Blade, possessing a natural scorching aura.

Whether it was the Divine Wondrous power born from his stat points or the one cultivated from the All Heaven Jade Void Skill, their attributes were both tranquil and pure, making them compatible with any weapon.

When imbuing the Red Abyss Blade, he could still unleash the full might of a Middle-Grade Spiritual Soldier.

...

After the six of them had chosen their weapons and emerged from the armory, Elder Yang was waiting outside the door. He said with a smile, "Grand Generals, please put on your Great Sun Armor. The promotion ceremony has been prepared."

"There’s a ceremony at headquarters too?" Xiao Xianya asked, her interest piqued.

"Of course," Elder Yang replied. "You are all heroes who have slain tens of thousands of Demon Fiends. No matter where you are, you deserve the respect and reverence of all Demon Suppression Guards."

"Come, put on your Great Sun Armor."

"Alright!" Huang Dajin, somewhat excited, took out the large wooden chest containing the Great Sun Armor. He opened it to reveal scattered Armor Plates and a helmet.

He dripped a drop of his Essence Blood onto the armor, and then, with a thought—

SHH, SHH, SHH—

The Armor Plates in the wooden chest immediately flew out, clinging to Huang Dajin’s body. They rapidly covered and interlocked with one another over his arms, chest, abdomen, and thighs, finally forming a complete set. The armor gleamed with a brilliant golden light, exuding an extraordinary aura.

The Great Sun Armor could automatically disassemble and reassemble!

"My turn."

Seeing this, Xiao Xianya eagerly took out her wooden chest, opened it, dripped her Essence Blood, and controlled the armor with her mind. The Armor Plates flew out one by one, linking together snugly against her body to form a single unit.

Finally, she put on the helmet and the Cloak. The form-fitting golden armor instantly made Xiao Xianya look even more heroically valiant.

"Haha, this is great," Zhao Danv said with a laugh as she opened her wooden chest.

Zuo Lingfeng and Jiang Hao also opened their chests.

Gu Zheng did the same.

He took out the wooden chest, opened it, and dripped his Essence Blood. Sensing the connection with the armor, he controlled it with his mind, making the Armor Plates fly out of the chest and assemble into a complete suit of golden armor along his body.

CLANK! CLANK!

Amid the clanking of the Armor Plates, Gu Zheng picked up the final piece, the helmet, and put it on.

VMMMM—!

The moment the armor finished assembling, Gu Zheng’s whole body trembled, and his mind throbbed with a strange palpitation.

A faint sense of threat was transmitted to him through his Substitute Death Paperman.

’Where is the threat coming from?’

The Great Sun Armor he was wearing!

’This suit of Great Sun Armor—equivalent to a Middle-Grade Spiritual Soldier and wearable only by those in the Heroic Body Realm—is actually a threat?!’