For three straight days, Xu Chang'an stayed in Pinglang Valley.
Langlang Mountain didn't have many arrangements for new Little Demons like them.
Instead, a Demon came each day to teach them various rules and general knowledge.
Langlang Mountain was small, but it had everything it needed.
The mountain comprised one cave, two peaks, three valleys, and four halls, in addition to a Spirit Plant Garden.
Golden Yuan Cave was the heart of Langlang Mountain, where the Great King resided.
Only Elders at Late-stage Qi Refining were permitted to reside on Elder Peak, the best location on the mountain next to Golden Yuan Cave.
Hundred Arts Peak was a hub for demons and apprentices skilled in crafts like Forging, Demon Talismans, Demon Patterns, Alchemy, and Array Formation.
Spirit Field Valley, Pinglang Valley, Wave Valley, the Library Hall, the Mountain Patrol Hall, the Merit Hall, and the Law Enforcement Hall each served a unique purpose.
Meanwhile, the Spirit Plant Garden was filled with vast quantities of Spirit Grass and Spiritual Items and was guarded by dedicated Demons.
The other locations were of little interest to him, but the mention of the Spirit Plant Garden made his heart stir.
'If I could just eat to my heart's content in there, what Realm would my Cultivation reach!?'
'Unfortunately, devouring Spirit Plants takes time, and converting them into Energy Points also requires a little while.'
'Otherwise, I'd throw caution to the wind, barge into the Spirit Plant Garden for a grand feast, and then flee.'
These three days of learning gave Xu Chang'an a much deeper understanding of Langlang Mountain.
Langlang Mountain had one Foundation Establishment Great Demon: Jin Yuanba.
He was said to have lived for nearly three hundred years!
For a member of the Canary Demon Race, that was an impressively long lifespan.
There were seven Sequence Elders.
Originally, Langlang Mountain had nine Sequence Elders, but word was that two had fallen in battle against Crow Crossing Mountain some years ago.
There were a dozen or so Elder-level Demons.
Below them were no fewer than a hundred Demons with ranks like Little Flag, Standard-Bearer, and Vanguard.
The rest were several hundred Little Demons, there to wave flags and shout, making the mountain seem more formidable.
'Orderly regulations, clearly defined roles, organized management.'
'This Demon Race truly can't be underestimated.'
Xu Chang'an couldn't help but marvel once again.
...
After three days, Xu Chang'an's peaceful days of cultivation came to an end.
Langlang Mountain was holding a welcome feast for the new Little Demon recruits.
And also...
To assign their posts!
Pinglang Valley was unusually lively, bustling with activity.
Long stone tables were arranged on the ground.
Dish after dish was served.
A tantalizing aroma filled Pinglang Valley.
The Demon Race wasn't concerned with refinement; every dish was served in huge, filling portions.
The forty-eight new Demon recruits of Langlang Mountain were all present.
Emulating a human posture, Xu Chang'an sat upright behind a stone table.
The Black Bear Demon sat beside him.
The contrast between their physical sizes was almost adorable.
By the way, the Black Bear Demon had taken a name for himself in the last few days: Xiong Da.
'As expected, for the vast majority of these Demons, this is likely the most sumptuous meal they'll ever eat on Langlang Mountain.'
Xu Chang'an mused, gazing at the sumptuous spread before him.
'If they wanted to eat a meal this lavish again, they would have to exchange actual Demon Stones and Merit Points for it.'
'The Demon Path was arduous. Demon Stones and Merit Points were barely enough for cultivation resources, so who would waste them on gourmet pleasures?'
'Oh, right.'
'This isn't just about satisfying one's appetite. Some of the dishes before me are seasoned with medicinal herbs and can actually aid cultivation!'
Of course, that was only true for him.
With that, he cast aside his polite posture and began to eat with gusto.
Xiong Da, who was beside him, couldn't help but marvel at the way he was eating.
'No wonder they call him a gluttonous rat. His table manners are even worse than mine.'
With that thought, he tore off a beast's leg and began to devour it in large bites.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill.
A designated Managerial Demon, seated at the head table, began the selection process.
Hundred Arts Peak required a certain aptitude and specific Skills; not just any Demon could go.
The same was true for the Spirit Plant Garden!
The Library Hall and Merit Hall had a probationary period and did not accept new recruits.
The only ones present to make selections were from the Three Valleys and Two Halls.
For an ordinary Little Demon, the best assignment among the Three Valleys and Two Halls was undoubtedly the Law Enforcement Hall.
The next best was the Mountain Patrol Hall.
After that was Spirit Field Valley. The Spiritual Qi there was denser, and though the work was hard, it was beneficial to one's cultivation.
Pinglang Valley and Wave Valley were the worst, as the jobs there mostly consisted of guard duty and miscellaneous chores.
"A Pangolin Demon... perfect for my Spirit Field Valley."
"A Black Tiger Demon! Strong and majestic. A perfect fit for my Law Enforcement Hall."
"A Jackal Wolf Demon. Medium build, good flexibility, and looks clever. A fine addition to my Mountain Patrol Hall."
"A Sheep Demon. Looks gentle and meticulous. He should be good at serving others. He's suited for my Pinglang Valley."
"A Wild Boar Demon. A sturdy frame... good material for guarding the mountain gate. Come to my Wave Valley."
"..."
The atmosphere in Pinglang Valley grew even more boisterous.
The Demons being chosen held their breath in tense anticipation.
Their few days of orientation had made a few things clear to them.
Getting a good assignment would undoubtedly give them a better start than the other Demons.
Their Demon Path would be that much smoother!
And this was the crucial moment where their posts and assignments would be decided!
The Steward from the Mountain Patrol Hall scanned the crowd, picked a few Demons, and was about to finish his selections for the day.
When suddenly, he noticed...
'Hm!? Qi Refining Second Layer! Did he break through after arriving here...?'
'His Bloodline is ordinary, which is a small flaw, but his small size should make him agile, and his Cultivation is sufficient!'
'I'll take him!'
Sitting to one side, Xu Chang'an inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just before arriving, he had used his panel to break through to the Qi Refining Second Layer.
His goal had been this very moment!
And now, everything had gone smoothly.
Although he hadn't joined the best option, the Law Enforcement Hall, he had successfully achieved his goal of entering the Mountain Patrol Hall.
It was a very good starting point!
Soon, all forty-eight Demons had been given their assignments and posts.
"Grey Rat, I'm off to Wave Valley. The Steward said I'm sturdy, tall, and strong—perfect for guarding the mountain gate."
Xiong Da grinned foolishly.
He seemed quite pleased with the post he had just been assigned.
Xu Chang'an shook his head slightly.
'What an oaf!'
'Wave Valley was only marginally better than Pinglang Valley, and far worse than the others.'
'And he's still so happy about it!'
'Well, whatever. As long as he's happy!'
...
The very next day, Xu Chang'an, in his capacity as a humble Mouse Demon, became a proud Mountain Patrol Little Demon of the Langlang Mountain Patrol Hall.
The compensation for a Mountain Patrol Little Demon wasn't bad. After six months, he could collect a bottle of Qi Nourishing Pills and three Demon Stones.
This was an improvement over his previous situation!
In exchange, however, the workload of a Mountain Patrol Little Demon was not light.
They were required to patrol Langlang Mountain regularly and to handle and report any unexpected incidents in a timely manner.
The job demanded a considerable level of both agility and cultivation.
Name: Xu Chang'an
Bloodline: Ordinary Grey Rat (Ungraded)
Lifespan: 12 years
Realm: Qi Refining Second Layer
Skills: None
Energy: (0/10)
...
Xu Chang'an had already consumed the three Qi Nourishing Pills he had left over.
Unfortunately, there weren't enough of them, and his Energy Points remained at 0.
Xu Chang'an planned to exchange the Demon Stone he had for Qi Nourishing Pills at the Merit Hall as soon as he had a free moment.
Other than that, to get more Demon Stones and Qi Nourishing Pills, he would have to wait six months to collect his stipend.