CHAPTER 1290: CHAPTER 287: CHONG ER ON THE RANKINGS

Gu Changming nodded slightly, not refusing Li Hao’s thanks. He assisted this young man not only due to the favor of the Immortal Emperor but also because he saw promise in the young man himself.

During the Ancient Demon Tide, this young man exhibited power far surpassing his peers. To be so powerfully adverse in the True Immortal Realm, one could mistake him for a Direct Disciple of the Immortal Emperor.

"Currently, your file has just been submitted to the Demon Suppression Bureau. It will take a few days before your battle achievements can be recorded in your file, which will allow you to be promoted to a Spiritual Official. Thus, you will enjoy many benefits and rights under the Demon Suppression Bureau. Within the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, apart from the Imperial Family, no other force should make you lower your head!"

Gu Changming said, his tone casual yet exuding a certain aura of dominance.

Li Hao’s eyes flickered as he thought of his senior brother Ji Qingxuan, who had come to the frontier upon the sect’s order to earn merits, and was promoted to a First-Grade Demon Suppression Guard. Even with his cultivation at the Immortal Monarch Realm, he had yet to become a Spiritual Official, showing how stringent the hierarchy of the Demon Suppression Bureau was.

However, strict hierarchy and rules are often for those without influential backing.

"Once the military report reaches the Immortal City and His Majesty reviews it, those 1,920,000 Immortal Merits will be credited to you."

Gu Changming chuckled lightly and led Li Hao out of the Dark Hall, saying, "However, with your current Immortal Merits, you should already rank among the top twenty on the Immortal Merits list along the Qing City Mo River border!"

Li Hao was indifferent to this and asked, "Elder Gu, I noticed countless demon corpses in this frontier demon slaying. May I ask where they are sent, to the Demon Suppression Bureau?"

"Demon corpses?"

Gu Changming was a bit surprised, and then thought of the images seen on the Star Domain projection. Besides slaying the Ancient Demons, the young man also collected all the Ancient Demon corpses. Although this act wasn’t too peculiar, it was quite rare amidst such fierce battles.

Other soldiers would also search for demon corpses, and upon submission, they could be exchanged for a small amount of Immortal Merits. However, no one in the heat of battle cared for these small rewards.

"Some of these demon corpses are sent to the Demon Suppression Bureau, some to various divisions of the Immortal Army. For ten thousand years of battles, we’ve constantly been dissecting Ancient Demons, trying to better understand them and find ways to counteract them more effectively..."

Gu Changming said, "Moreover, some Immortal Pharmacists have been able to refine demon corpses and create Primordial Spirit Pills, which can temporarily boost soul power; however, prolonged use will erode the Divine Soul, leaving something peculiar in the Divine Soul Imprint that cannot be eradicated. When accumulated to a certain extent, certain mutations will occur. If it reaches the critical point..."

He paused momentarily; this was a secret of the Demon Suppression Bureau, known for ten thousand years, but only among the upper echelons of powerful factions among the Hundred Races.

Seeing Li Hao’s curious gaze, he took a breath and continued, "It will mutate into a kind of Ancient Demon, losing all reason."

Li Hao was slightly stunned, feeling both relieved and regretful.

Thinking about it, the method of refining Ancient Demons used by these Immortal Pharmacists wasn’t as effective as his cooking, given the strong side effects.

If only it was as harmless as his cooking, perhaps the Ancient Demons would have been eradicated after ten thousand years.

"So, the Demon Suppression Bureau has a lot of demon corpses? Could I take some if I become a Spiritual Official?"

Li Hao asked.

Gu Changming was somewhat puzzled, not knowing why Li Hao was so interested in demon corpses. However, considering Li Hao as the Immortal Emperor’s protégé, he must have secrets unknown to even Gu himself. He did not probe further and just said:

"When you become a Spiritual Official, you can requisition some demon corpses under the pretense of dissection and refining, but the demon corpses must not be exposed to avoid causing disasters and plagues."

Li Hao’s eyes sparkled; this way, he could save himself from risking his life slaying enemies at the border.

Moreover, the Ancient Demon invasions here on the border occasionally occur only once every few hundred years; the demon corpses in his Heaven and Earth Space would last less than ten years at the rate he consumed them.

As for hunting Ancient Demons alone beyond the region, it would be too perilous and would require Elder Wang’s company. Otherwise, if he stumbled upon a roaming King Realm Ancient Demon, he would end up as food.

To him, that’s an unnecessary risk.

"Given your age, will you participate in the upcoming Southern Domain battle?"

Gu Changming took Li Hao for a walk in the courtyard, asking with interest.

Li Hao nodded, "I’ve already been to the Immortal City Imperial Domain."

Gu Changming laughed and said, "The Immortal Dynasty has only a thousand spots. With your combat strength, securing a spot should be no problem. However, your soul life is too short, barely a century, and your realm too low. Given a thousand years, this Southern Domain battle would likely be your stage!"

Li Hao smiled and said, "It’s inconsequential compared to the eternal radiance."

"You have a broad perspective."

Gu Changming led Li Hao past a bridge to the place where Gu Xingwan had practiced swordsmanship earlier. At that moment, they saw Gu Xingwan, clad in a yellow dress, standing outside the pavilion, holding a sword with her head lowered, immersed in thought, her brows furrowed.

"Xingwan."

Gu Changming called softly.

Gu Xingwan snapped out of her thoughts and looked up, seeing the young man who made her a bit depressed.

At the moment, the young man stood beside her grandfather, his posture straight and his face as beautiful as if forged by heaven and earth, with a spring-like smile that unknowingly dispelled three parts of her depression.

She curved a sword shadow, stored the Immortal Soldier, and then walked over.

"Grandfather."

She called sweetly, glanced at Li Hao but didn’t actively engage.

Gu Changming smiled and said, "Chong Er has made great contributions this time, and I will promote him to be a Spiritual Official of the Demon Suppression Bureau, with limitless prospects. You should get along well with him."

"Him? Becoming a Spiritual Official?"

Gu Xingwan was taken aback; she knew very well the status of a Spiritual Official, an unattainable position without illustrious Immortal Merits, and Immortal Merits were just one of the requirements, along with cultivation, combat power, demon-slaying achievements within the Demon Suppression Bureau, and so on.