Perhaps because of their small size, the Martial Virtue Points gained from killing Gold-Devouring Rats were slightly fewer than those from Sharp-Toothed Dog Demons.
But that was fine. There were more Gold-Devouring Rats to come.
It was just a pity there were not enough for Shi Yan to kill.
Yes, not enough to kill, simply because there were not enough Mutation Sources.
Every base city's underground was monitored with an iron grip. Any slightest stir outside would have long been cleaned up by the Monster Suppression Bureau.
The only rats that could turn into Gold-Devouring Rats were probably those within residential areas.
Of course, there might not be many rats in residential areas either. Places where people lived underwent pest eradication every so often.
"I hope there are more Mutation Sources..."
Glancing at the blade in his hand, Shi Yan was brimming with confidence.
This was far more satisfying than killing demon beasts with his fists.
As long as his reactions were fast enough, calling it slicing melons and chopping vegetables would not be an exaggeration.
Well... only within residential areas.
After all, these were demon beasts that had only just mutated. They were dumb as rocks and easy to kill.
Arriving at the hole the Gold-Devouring Rats had crawled out from, Shi Yan bit his finger and dripped several drops of blood inside.
A warrior's blood was more capable of attracting demon beasts. He was "showing the way" for the rat demons.
Sure enough, in barely a dozen seconds, another massive rat demon poked its head out.
A crimson blade flash swept past, and Shi Yan's slash pierced straight through the rat demon's head.
[First-Order Gold-Devouring Rat killed. Martial Virtue Points +2]
The system prompt appeared again.
But Shi Yan felt it was still too slow.
So, he dragged out the corpse, drained the rat demon's blood, and let it flow into the pipe.
Newborn demon beasts instinctively wanted to evolve. Aside from eating humans, the flesh and blood of their own kind or other demon beasts was also food they used to evolve.
Sure enough, it worked well. Before long, a dense flurry of sounds came from within.
More Gold-Devouring Rats with dark golden teeth.
Shi Yan did not hold back, greeting each one with a slash.
Afterward, he continued pouring blood inside, drawing out even more rat demons.
[First-Order Gold-Devouring Rat killed. Martial Virtue Points +2] [First-Order Gold-Devouring Rat killed. Martial Virtue Points +2] ...
The system's prompts kept sounding. Gradually, Shi Yan became numb to them.
Until a special notification rang out...
[First-Order Highly Venomous Silver Ring Snake Demon killed. Martial Virtue Points +4]
"Fuck!"
Seeing the pierced snake head, Shi Yan jumped in fright and hurriedly pulled out his blade, retreating.
That was playing dirty. How could there be snakes in a residential area?
And such a highly venomous snake at that.
He could kill Gold-Devouring Rats however he pleased, but when it came to poisonous snakes, he had to be exceedingly cautious.
The Martial Virtue Points it had contributed alone showed how dangerous it was.
Regrettably, after the snake demon, there was no further movement from demon beasts in the pipes.
Sweeping his gaze over the messy ground, Shi Yan brought up his panel:
[Name: Shi Yan] [Realm: First-Order Warrior] [Special Ability: Southern Bright Blazing Fire (SSS-Class)] [Blood Vitality: 28 cards (+)] [Spiritual Power: 11 hertz] [Martial Arts: Thrusting Punch (Beginner)] [Martial Virtue Points: 209]
The harvest was not bad. At a ratio of one hundred to one, he could gain another 2 cards of Blood Vitality.
Without hesitation, a thought crossed his mind, and his Blood Vitality became 30 cards.
The "+" after his Blood Vitality vanished along with it.
Feeling his aura grow stronger once more, Shi Yan could not help feeling delighted.
Glancing at the corpses on the ground, the corners of his lips curved upward slightly.
The corpses of demon beasts that had only just become demons were not worth much, except for the teeth of Gold-Devouring Rats.
Teeth capable of gnawing through hard metal still had many uses.
Just as he was about to bend down and get to work, the door suddenly opened.
A burst of intense light shone in, nearly making Shi Yan unable to open his eyes.
Fortunately, the harsh light flashed past and did not continue shining.
Only then did Shi Yan clearly see who had come.
They were two people from the Monster Suppression Bureau, dressed in combat uniforms.
No, not two, but several!
Because outside the small shop, four more people stood ready with willow-leaf blades in hand.
Further away, two vehicles flashed their lights.
Well then, the Monster Suppression Bureau really reacted quickly!
Only a few minutes had passed from when he killed the first rat demon until now, yet they had already arrived.
He had planned to collect the Gold-Devouring Rats' teeth before continuing to keep watch here, to see whether more demon beasts would be born.
Now, it seemed that plan had fallen through.
"Shi Yan?"
The stubbled middle-aged man opposite him spoke, then looked at the corpses on the ground, his face full of disbelief.
A high school student had just killed over a hundred demon beasts, clean as a whistle?
Though Gold-Devouring Rats were not powerful, Shi Yan did not seem to have expended much energy at all.
"Uh, sir, do you know me?"
Now it was Shi Yan's turn to be dumbfounded.
He had never dealt with the Monster Suppression Bureau before, so how had they recognized him at a glance?
"Cough, cough. Of course I know you. I'm Chi Gang from the Monster Suppression Bureau. I've seen your file. Warriors have excellent memories."
Chi Gang covered up his embarrassment. In truth, he had only just learned who Shi Yan was.
Not long ago, at Lin Ye's request, he had helped deal with Shi Yan's killing of demon beasts in Bigui Residential Area.
Yet after thinking ten thousand thoughts and imagining ten thousand possibilities, he had never expected Shi Yan, who had just "caused trouble," to make such a huge commotion again.
"You're very good!"
Chi Gang did not stint on his praise, but then his expression turned solemn again.
"If you encounter something like this in the future, notify the Monster Suppression Bureau immediately. Understood?"
"I was in a hurry to come down and check what was happening, so I didn't bring my phone."
Shi Yan came up with what he felt was a fairly plausible excuse.
"Who knew I'd see demon beasts the moment I came down? They just kept poking their heads out and never stopped."
"Mhm, we understand the situation." Chi Gang glanced at Shi Yan's slippers and did not dwell on the matter. "You've done a great service. Once the Martial Arts Examination is over, come to the Monster Suppression Bureau to collect your reward."
"Go back and rest. We'll handle things from here."
"And don't spread word of this, lest it cause panic."
With that, he told Shi Yan to leave.
This time, too, they handled the matter quickly and did not make Shi Yan go to the Monster Suppression Bureau.
After Shi Yan left, Chi Gang's expression became grave.
He then activated his communicator.
"Director, it's confirmed. This eruption of spiritual energy has already affected the underground. Tell Lin Ye and have it reported to Jiangnan Base City. Also, that old fox Mo Changfeng gave that blade to Shi Yan..."
After returning home, Shi Yan did not sleep. Instead, he took out Explosive Flame Eighteen Sabers and carefully read through it.
With his current physical constitution and 11 hertz of Spiritual Power, he could go three days and three nights without sleeping.
His Blood Vitality had reached his target. Next, he needed to improve his techniques.
He did not need to practice the saber art. He only needed to memorize it.
Once he had memorized it, he could earn Martial Virtue Points and add points to it...
The next day.
In the faint morning light, he rubbed his dry eyes before slowly rising to his feet.
A flame rose from his palm, instantly reducing the book to ashes.
[Name: Shi Yan] [Current Realm: First-Order Warrior] [Blood Vitality: 30 cards] [Spiritual Power: 11 hertz] [Martial Arts: Thrusting Punch (Beginner), Explosive Flame Eighteen Sabers (Not Learned)] [Martial Virtue Points: 9]
He glanced at the panel and saw that the saber art had appeared on it.
Martial Arts proficiency was divided into four levels: Beginner, Minor Accomplishment, great accomplishment, and perfection.
Though he had not yet learned it, that was fine. Next, he only needed to earn Martial Virtue Points to improve it.
As for burning the book, that had also been Mo Changfeng's requirement. Once he had memorized it, he was to destroy it.
After tidying himself up, he headed for school.
Perhaps because demon beasts had appeared, Shi Yan saw far fewer people than usual along the way.
He even saw several newly posted notices.
"Due to demon beast activity, such-and-such school is closed."
"Demon beasts have appeared. Such-and-such company is giving all employees three days off."
Naturally, Baiyun No. 1 High School was not among those receiving a holiday.
Shi Yan stepped into the school, where there were as many students as ever.
But it was even livelier, as though everyone was discussing something.
Just then, an enormous mass barreled toward Shi Yan.
A springy belly squeezed against his waist.
Shi Yan reacted quickly, supporting the panting "enormous mass."
"Liu Wang, if you don't lose weight soon, Blue Star won't be able to hold you up anymore."
"Cut the crap, Shi Yan. Do you know something huge has happened?"
Liu Wang took several breaths. Seeing Shi Yan's baffled expression, he explained:
"The Martial Arts Examination's location has changed. It's been moved to Baiyun City!"
"Wait, are you sure you haven't got it wrong?"
Shi Yan could not help being surprised. The Martial Arts Examination was generally held by the former major base cities. Huaxia Kingdom had nineteen major base cities, and therefore nineteen examination venues.
The venues were usually near the major base cities, and candidates from every city would travel there by bus for the examination.
This time, they would not be taking the exam near Jiangnan Base City?
"That's right. It'll be in Baiyun City's outskirts, at Pig Head Mountain. The very Pig Head Mountain I can see just by opening my window!"
Liu Wang said with certainty, his eyes then lighting up.
"Do you know what that means? It means we have the home-field advantage!"
"Wait, how do we have an advantage?"
Shi Yan said, faintly sensing that the examination venue being set in Baiyun City might be related to the many demon beast incidents from yesterday.
Liu Wang's next words quickly confirmed his suspicion.
"Of course it's the advantage of knowing the terrain! Who knows Pig Head Mountain better than we do?
"Besides, the venue was moved here because a small eruption of spiritual energy turned many animals into demons.
"What kinds of animals are here? Aren't we more familiar with them? Even if we aren't, the elders in our families know plenty.
"And there's the time advantage. We don't need to take a bus to Jiangnan Base City. The time we save can be used to look up information or train."
"That makes sense."
Shi Yan agreed with Liu Wang, though the advantage did not seem all that great. In the end, however well one performed still depended on one's own hard strength.
"You could have told me this in the classroom. Was there really any need to run over here just to tell me?"
"There's one more thing. I hope you can stay calm after hearing it." Liu Wang's face was filled with rage. "It's that bitch Lu Jiaojiao. She put out word forbidding anyone from teaming up with you during the Martial Arts Examination."
Lu Jiaojiao was one of Baiyun No. 1 High School's three candidates with A-class special abilities this year. Coupled with her pretty face, her words carried considerable weight.
Now, there was probably no one in the entire school who dared help Shi Yan.
Before you continue