Breakthrough! Body Tempering Ninth Level!

"Quick, everyone retreat into the fort!"

Niu Hanshan shouted, the hand holding his bow trembling slightly.

He instinctively looked toward Lu Yang, his thoughts drifting back to half a cup of tea ago.

"Town Chief Niu, you're a martial artist yourself, aren't you?" Lu Yang asked.

"That's right." Niu Hanshan said, "When I was young, I fought demons and injured my vital energy and blood. My cultivation has remained at the Body Tempering Eighth Level ever since."

"Are there iron bows in the fort?" Lu Yang asked.

"There are," Niu Hanshan replied.

"Then take an iron bow and stand atop the fort later. If there are only three of those 'Big Black Skins,' you needn't act—I can handle them myself. But if something unforeseen happens, I'll need you to draw your bow and support me."

If not for Lu Yang's instructions before he leaped down from the fort tower, Chen Fang would likely have already lost his life.

Now, the sudden appearance of a fourth big cat had fatally tipped the scales of the deadlock.

For now, they could only have everyone flee back into the fort and hold their ground, preserving their strength. As for those living outside the fort, there was no time to worry about them.

"Ke ke."

"Only thinking of running now? Too late."

As the black shadows flickered, three Iron Arrows plunged deep into the earth.

That Big Black Skin glanced mockingly toward the top of the fort tower.

"You lowly blood food—no matter how you struggle, it's useless."

"Today, I'll eat them first. Once I digest this blood food and advance, your shabby fort tower won't be able to stop me anymore!"

Lu Yang frowned slightly.

This Big Black Skin was clearly several degrees stronger than the Big Gray Rats he had killed.

And its intelligence was nearly on par with an ordinary human's. It truly had one foot in the ranks of enlightened demons.

If it were allowed to devour the flesh and blood of the martial artists present, becoming an enlightened demon would be no problem at all.

In the past, there had always been only three Big Black Skins that came to harass Niushi Town. Yet today, a fourth had suddenly appeared.

Though it defied common sense, it confirmed Lu Yang's earlier suspicions.

"So you really knew we were coming!" Lu Yang punched the Mountain Leopard before him away, while his blade pointed directly at the Body Tempering Ninth Level big cat ahead.

"Ke ke ke!"

Beneath the night sky, the Big Black Skin's pupils glowed a ghostly green. "Eating ordinary people is too slow. Martial artists' flesh and blood are far more useful."

With the answer already confirmed in his heart, Lu Yang sneered.

"That depends on whether you can stomach it!"

The qi and blood throughout his body gathered in his legs. Lu Yang kicked off the ground, his body shooting forward like an arrow.

His blade suddenly changed course. Rather than pointing at the Big Black Skin, it streaked toward the Body Tempering Eighth Level Mountain Leopard behind him.

"Mountain Splitting Saber Art!"

Lu Yang, who had seemed to be run ragged by the Mountain Leopard, suddenly erupted with astonishing speed. His agile figure darted through the night, closing to within several feet of the Mountain Leopard in the blink of an eye.

The next instant, the long saber in Lu Yang's hand seemed to have grown eyes, slashing down at an exceptionally tricky angle.

Its force and might were such that even if a mountain stood before it, it could split it apart!

"Pfft!"

The Mountain Leopard's massive body was cleaved in two at the waist. Demon blood sprayed forth, its innards spilling out. It flopped twice futilely on the ground before falling utterly silent.

A cloud of red mist rose from the Mountain Leopard's corpse and quietly merged into Lu Yang's body.

No one besides him noticed it at all.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for slaying one First-Order Eighth Level Leopard Demon. You have obtained 8 Experience Points."

With a thought from Lu Yang, the Attribute Panel unfolded before him.

[Host: Lu Yang]

[Realm: Body Tempering Eighth Level (0/8)]

[Martial Art: Mountain Splitting Saber Art (Mastery: (10/10)]

[Experience Points: 10]

"Ding! It has been detected that the Host's Experience Points meet the requirements for a cultivation increase. Would you like to raise your cultivation?"

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching for the author instead—it may simply have been renamed!

Increase it. Lu Yang silently thought.

In an instant, red light merged into his body. A warm current spread within him, and Lu Yang's cultivation quietly entered the Body Tempering Ninth Level!

A powerful sensation of strength instantly spread throughout his body.

Lu Yang did not pause for even a moment. He spun around, his blade streaking straight for the Big Black Skin's head.

"Roar, roar!"

The Black Panther let out a roar, a ghostly light blazing from its eyes.

"Cunning human."

"You hid your strength?"

After all, breaking through to a new realm in the midst of battle was as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

It was not only the Leopard Demon—Niu Hanshan atop the fort tower and everyone present shared the same thought.

"A soul beneath my blade dares to prattle?"

Lu Yang swept his saber out, clashing fiercely with the Black Panther's claws.

A dense shower of sparks burst through the night.

Clang, clang, clang!

The perfected [Mountain Splitting Saber Art] was powerful and heavy, and coupled with Lu Yang's current Body Tempering Ninth Level cultivation, it quickly suppressed the Leopard Demon, which excelled in speed but lacked such overwhelming strength.

"Damn it, this is... a Perfected Martial Art?!"

"That bastard actually hid something this important from me!"

That "Big Black Skin" cursed furiously. No longer willing to tangle with Lu Yang, it turned and fled.

After several swift bounds, it became a black shadow, using the cover of night to flee straight toward the forests beyond Niushi Town.

Seeing this, the other two "Black Skins" did not linger either. Relying on their swift, nimble bodies to evade the surrounding humans, they followed their leader and melted into the night.

"Stop them!"

From atop the fort tower, Niu Hanshan roared.

Several Iron Arrows shot out in haste, chasing after the two Mountain Leopards at the rear.

Tonight's hunt had been a trap laid by those prepared against those unprepared—the best possible opportunity.

The constables of Black Mountain County could not remain in Niushi Town forever. One day, they would have to return.

If they missed this chance, the Leopard Demons would become wary, and suppressing the Demonic Calamity afterward would likely be harder than climbing to heaven.

Especially that "Big Black Skin," which had clearly already stepped half a foot into the ranks of a Second-Order Demon.

If it escaped back into the mountains, then the day it fully became a demon would be the day Niushi Fort was washed in blood!

The Leopard Demons were extremely alert. As they raced at high speed, their bodies flickered repeatedly, calmly evading the Iron Arrows.

The people behind them wanted to give chase, but the Leopard Demons were too fast, and the distance quickly widened.

Looking closely, only Lu Yang remained, saber in hand, pursuing them relentlessly like a shooting star chasing the moon.

"Brother Yang, don't go!"

Behind him, Zhao Hu shouted anxiously.

Lu Yang was alone, while three Leopard Demons still lived.

If he rashly gave chase and was surrounded in turn by the three demons, the odds would be heavily against him.

Yet Lu Yang seemed not to hear Zhao Hu's warning. Saber in hand, he charged into the distant forest.

"Alas!"

Wang Fang wore a miserable expression. "Captain Lu is too impatient. This trip will likely be fraught with danger."

The other two captains did not look any better.

"Alas, young and hot-blooded. Now we're in trouble."

Atop the fort tower, Niu Hanshan stood there in a daze, somewhat regretting the shout he had made in his urgency just now.

If Lu Yang had not acted impulsively, then with his Body Tempering Ninth Level cultivation and Niushi Fort's defenses, Niushi Town would not have faced trouble anytime soon.

But if he died in the forest, those Leopard Demons would likely return tomorrow night.

Having lived two lives, Lu Yang was naturally not young and hot-blooded.

He had heard Zhao Hu's warning as well.

But he still had to pursue them. He could not simply let those experience points already within his grasp get away.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you won't have trouble finding it next time.

At the request of many readers, an ad-free VIP membership feature is now available.

Click to view